This is a brief excerpt of the sermon given by Pastor Alexander Thomas during the Watch Night service on Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 at the International Church Atlanta, Georgia.       

This New Years message was taken from 1 Samuel chapter 16

We need to move on
Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 1 Samuel 16:1 (NKJV)

The past year there are incidents in our lives that are painful, regrettable, hard times, problems and disappointments but we must move on. God’s word to Samuel was quit mourning for Saul because I have rejected him. How Samuel need to go? He needs to fill his horn with oil and moving. Oil in the Bible is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (Verse 13). In order to be successful this new-year we need to filled with the Holy Spirit and keep moving with the Lord. If we remain in the past disappointments, we will miss the present move of God.

The anointing on our lives
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:13 (NKJV)

Samuel looked over seven of Jesse's sons, thinking that the whole family was there, but he was operating by sight and not by faith. David is anointed as king of Israel, but Saul is still on the throne. Jesus is the Christ, or the “Anointed One.” Jesus will rule this planet someday. Jesus calls the devil the prince of this world (John 14:30). Paul calls him the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Had an election been held in Israel to choose a replacement for King Saul, it's not likely that the people would have chosen David, but he was God's first choice. Notice that Samuel anoints David in the midst of his brethren. David will eventually be anointed three times. The second time is in 2 Samuel 2:4, when he is anointed over the tribe of Judah. The third time is in 2 Samuel 5: 5, when David was anointed as king over all Israel. Anointing is recognized by others in stages. It doesn’t happen overnight. As it did with David, it comes when you fight battles on behalf of others, when you gain victory for others by fasting and praying. David was a man after God’s own heart, yet it took many years before his anointing was recognized. Saul was impatient. David, on the other hand, patiently waited. So we must be waiting patiently to be used by the Lord.

Worship
And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. 1 Samuel 16:23 (NKJV)

When music was played by David the 　godly man, the demons fled. There is power in praise and worship. Worship works wonders. When we are depressed, when we feel attacked by the enemy, I have found that one of the best things we can do is worship the Lord. Our battle is against the devil and his army, and human weapons are useless in that conflict. Faith and worship will work.