I Made it Out Alright

Introduction

We have made it to another Watch Night Service. It’s another year that has come and nearly gone. I believe we all ought to be able to celebrate the fact we can say as of a few more minutes, We made it out alright.

Now this is not without the understanding that we had to go through some moments to get us to this point. We’ve had some ups and downs, some laughs and tears, some builds up and break downs. Paul Jones said I’ve had some good days, I had some hills to climb, I had some weary days and some sleepless nights, but when I look around and I think things over all of my good days, outweigh my bad days and I won’t complain. I just got to give God praise because in spite of my circumstances he continues to hold you up. And because of that you can testify tonight that You made it out alright.

Introduction

Our text tonight is begins by telling us that Herod Agrippa I is on a killing spree. The bible tells me that he intended to harm certain of the church. His eyes was set on James the brother of John. James was killed by Herod and after he killed James, the Bible says he proceeds to apprehend Peter because his persecution of the church pleased the Jews. Here it is, he had his attention set on James and then went after Peter. May I submit to you that you should be on look out at all times? For some of you, everything is good, you don’t have anything going on. It seems like you’re walking along on a flowerbed of ease, but can I remind you the old saying, “every dog has his day.” You may not be suffering right now, but you should be on the look out because whether you believe it or not, you are on the radar of the Enemy. That’s why Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He’s always looking for someone to attack. But what I’m grateful for is the fact that just as I am on the radar of the enemy, I’m on the Radar of God. Isaiah 59:19b, When the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. Tell somebody, I’m on God’s radar. He’s watching me to protect me from the plans of the Enemy. Now don’t get that twisted, that does not mean you’re not going to have to go through some stuff. It’s just means no matter what you go through, you’ll do just that go THROUGH. You won’t die in it, you’ll live though it.

Herod Killed James, and NOW has apprehended Peter all because the people could not accept the Assignment that they had as leaders of the Church.

Body

Move #1

Can I submit to you that everybody is not going to accept your assignment? Yes, you’ve been called, and yes, you are gifted and yes, you have been anointed, but don’t you realize that being called, gifted, and anointed means that you must be prepared for the enemy to try and stop you? It’s left on record in 2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” You’re going to have to go through some stuff for the sake of the assignment on your lift. You’re not too good to go through storms of life, trials and tribulations. But you have to realize that the trial you’re in does not negate the assignment God has placed on your life. I don’t care what you’re going through, you still have a mandate from God to do what he called you to do. It’s not only on the Pastor, Deacons, Trustees, or Mothers, but every last one of you that is holding a pew down right now, you have an assignment and you have to be like the old church when it comes to the God of your salvation, IF I DIE LET ME DIE, IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD. I have to hold out I can’t allow my assignment to go to waste. Yes I may have a problem but that doesn’t stop my assignment, can I prove it to you? Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Samson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David was an adulterer and a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once), Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer, Lazarus was dead! But God still used them.

Move #2

Peter is now in Jail being watched continually for 24 hours a day by 4 sets of 4 soldiers at all times, all while knowing that Herod has the intentions of killing him. May I submit to you that you should not be surprised at the fact that the enemy is trying to stop you in all areas of your life? Jesus says in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus says the enemy comes as in future tense, he may be already there in some of your lives, but I took notice to that scripture, the enemy comes (Future tense) but Jesus says, I came (Past Tense). In other words, before the enemy can even come to do damage, God said I already came to fortify you, to strengthen you. Peter is in prison, but the text says that while he’s locked up in Prison, the Church was praying earnestly for him. This means they were praying continuously. I wonder do you understand the power of gathering of praying saints. I know you say you don’t have to come to the building to be saved, I know you say you don’t have to come to church to have a relationship with God, but don’t you realize that the Power is where there is two or three gathered in his name. I don’t see in scripture where he say he’ll be in the midst one and only, but I see where he say he’ll be in the midst of two and three. When the church comes together there ought to be power!!!! There shouldn’t be a need to beg you to Praise the Lord, there should be power evident because we’ve gather together. The bible says one can chase a thousand, but two can put two thousand to flight. WE can take this world by storm if we can learn to come together and pray. Don’t you realize there is power in prayer? Some of you need to stop talking and start praying? There is a need for prayer in the Body of Christ. We’ll come to Sunday School, we’ll come to Sunday Service, but we won’t come to prayer meeting. We don’t have time to pray, but how many of you can testify, you can’t make it without prayer. Prayer is the Key! If you didn’t have a prayer life in 2022, that should be your new year’s resolution to grow in your prayer life. If you have had a good prayer life in 2022, all I got to tell you is JUST KEEP ON PRAYING!!!

The church was praying for Inmate Peter, remember I told you that while the enemy has you on his radar, God has you on his radar as well. Peter was in prison, the Church was praying, and God was working. Because while they were praying God was moving. I don’t know who needs to hear this but I have a Word for you!!! WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, GOD IS ALREADY WORKING IT OUT. I know you came to church today trying to put things together for tomorrow. You didn’t come to church burden-free, as a matter of a fact, some of you came to church tonight saying, “God if you don’t do something for me, I might just lose my mind.” If that’s you, LET ME CLEAR MY THROAT..... WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT GOD IS WORKING IT OUT. God is already moving on your behalf. He’s already shifting things in your finances, in your job, in your career, in your home, in your family, in your mind, in your heart, GOD IS ALREADY MOVING. Tell somebody GOD IS WORKING IT OUT!!!

So the Church is praying, Peter is locked up, and all of a sudden while peter is sleep, there came a tap on his side, saying Peter, get up!!! Put your clothes on and hurry up. We’re leaving this place.

Let me pause here and tell somebody, you’ve been sleep too long, you been in the same place too long, it’s time to get up and get up quick, we’re leaving this place. I’m on my way to a new place in God.

Peter got up and as soon as he got up, the chains that the enemy put on him fell off. I don’t know who needs to hear this but God is getting ready to liberate you, he getting ready to free you, all you have to do is get up. Get up from your rut, get up from the muck and the mire. Tell somebody get up, the chain can’t hold you if you get up, as a matter of a fact, it’ll fall right off, if you GET UP!!! Ask your neighbor, where you going? Tell them, I’m going to another level!!!! I’m going to another dimension, let me take 25 seconds to prophesy to Union Grove, we’re going somewhere, we’re getting up!!! No more church as usual, We’re moving from bondage to freedom!!! For who the Son sets free..... Is free indeed!!!

They go though the corridors of the prison and when they found themselves at the iron gate, the bible says that the gate opened by itself. They walked though the gate walked down the street and Peter looked around and the angel was gone.

And Peter said, Now I KNOW FOR SURE, that God has sent his angel and has delivered me from the Hand of Herod, and from the expectation of the Jews. In other words, Peter said, I made it out alright. I made it out of what the enemy had planned for me. He planned to kill me, but I made it out. Is that your testimony? That the enemy had a plan, he had a plan to take your children, he had a plan to take your mind, he had a plan to take your health, he had a plan to take your very livelihood, but while he was planning for your destruction, God was protecting you destiny.

I have to close but I must tell you, that not only did you make it out from his hand, but from the very expectation of those around you. They were expecting you to quit, they were expecting you to throw in the towel, they were expecting you to walk away from it all, may I have a moment to testify they said I wouldn’t make it, they said I wouldn’t be here today, they said that I wouldn’t amount to anything, but I’m glad to say, that I’m on your way, and I’m going more and more each day. There were many that started out me, but now, they’ve gone astray, but I’m still holding to his hand. And because I held on, I can say, I made it out, I made it out alright.

2022 HAS BEEN A ROUGH YEAR, 2022 HAS LEFT SOME MAJOR SCARS BUT I CLAIM THE FACT THAT I MADE IT. SOMETIME ON THE MOUNT WHERE THE SON SHINES SO BRIGHT, SOMETIMES IN THE VALLEY, IN THE DARKEST OF NIGHT. SOME THROUGH THE WATER, SOME THROUGH THE FLOOD, SOME THOUGH THE FIRE, BUT ALL THROUGH THE BLOOD.

I GOT TO QUIT BUT IS THERE ANY PRAISERS IN THE BUILDING ON TONIGHT THAT CAN SAY, “I’M SO GLAD I MADE IT, I MADE THROUGH. SO IF SEE ME CRY, IT’S JUST A SIGN THAT I’M STILL ALIVE. I’VE HAD SOME SCARS BUT I’M STILL ALIVE.”

I MADE IT, I MADE OUT ALRIGHT.

Got some scars, but I made it

Had to shed some tears, but I made it

Lost some folk, but I made it

Took some Ls, but I made it

Suffered defeat, but I made it

Made some bad decisions, but I made it

Been lied on, but I made it

Been talked about, but I made it

Been scandalized, but I made it

I MADE IT, I MADE IT OUT ALRIGHT