Sermon: “Lord, Roll Back The Covers and Let Them See The Goodness You Have In Store!”
April 23, 2023
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To Preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19)
We all need a fresh Anointing from the Holy Ghost to engulf our hearts and roll back the covers and let us see the goodness God has in store for us in the midst of tragedy and sorrow.
Introduction
Praise the Lord to the kings and priests unto God, the Saints, washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ! God’s mercy and grace has been poured out on every born-again Cristian. The Spirit of the Lord that rested upon Jesus Christ for the purpose of preaching the gospel to the poor in spirit, mind, and body has been entrusted in us, as we are the joint-heirs of God and Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:17)
On March 26, 2023, one of our dearly beloved members of Exousia Ministries, Inc., Deacon Jalahni Antonio Harrington, was tragically murdered. Our hearts have sunken and been deeply saddened since learning of the news. I have personally shared many times with you that I “hate premature death,” and hearing the news of Jalahni’s passing angered me. Satan is a thief, liar, and a bum and he must repay double what he stole from us
We had Jalahni’s Home-Going Service on April 14th and what an uplifting and joyful Service it was. I believe every person who attended the Service was mightily touched and moved by the Spirit of the Lord. Now, day by day, we must move forward with healing the broken of heart with the Anointing of Christ.
There are plenty of opportunities for Minister Antonia, (Jalahni’s Mom) her family, as well as the friends of Jalahni, and all of us, to feel discouraged, given that gun violence has become a “Pandemic” in our country. Last weekend alone 38 people were shot in Chicago, Illinois. Losing one young person to gun fire is too many, and we lose thousands of youth to gun violence every year.
Jalahni’s senseless death only reminds us of the height of moral depravity and decay among people in our society today. Indeed, we all need Jesus Christ in order to put life in its proper perspective, and to receive what God has in store as a result of the passing away of Jalahni. I know it may sound strange to you, so I will remind you several times in this Sermon, but in every death we experience among God’s people, God wants us to see and receive His goodness behind it!
In this Sermon, I intend to speak directly to Minister Antonia and also to every born-again believer in Jesus Christ who might hear or read these words. At the end of the Sermon, I have for Minister Antonia’s family and Jalahni’s friends, what I call “Five-Steps of Encouragement to Over Take Discouragement.” If these steps are followed, the family and friends of Jalahni will see and experience the goodness of God in the days that lie ahead.
The enemy Satan, seeks in this tragic moment to impress negative thoughts that trigger feelings of seeming deep and unmovable sorrow, un-forgiveness, revenge, and hopelessness—that ultimately bring about discouragement. Discouragement can cause us to stand still, draw back, and give up and quit on the dreams God has set in our hearts.
Without spiritual medicine (the Word of God) applied in our hearts, the burden of moving forward in tragedy and grief can become untenable and send us walking down the wrong pathways in life, and into destruction. (Prov.14:12-13) I have seen this many times when people lose love ones to death—they choose to grieve alone, spiral into depression, turn away from God, and miss out on the goodness of God hidden in their hearts.
God does not want us to live in pain, sorrow, and discouragement. God wants us all to be of good cheer, good courage, strong, and to move forward in life. Yes, Jalahni is in heaven, and we remain on earth, and as God gives us strength, we must take steps forward. Again, please know that whenever tragedy strikes, behind it God has a promise of triumph planned for us to walk in.
As I saw the many teenagers and young adults who were gathered at the Interment Service, weeping and filled with despair where we laid the body of Jalahni to rest, I heard the Lord say, “They need the covers pulled back!” Meaning, God wants Minister Antonia, the family, and especially the young people to come and see what God has in store as a result of the death of Jalahni.
So Let the Spirit of the Lord Speak to us today!
Let me get out of the way, and let the Holy Ghost speak as He pleases today. In the passage of Scripture at Luke 4:18-19, Jesus Christ was quoting from the Book of Isaiah 61:1-2. He was announcing to the congregation in His hometown of Nazareth, in the synagogue, that He is the Messiah; that God had appointed Him to the Office of the “Anointed One,” and had smeared on Him an “Anointing” to remove “burdens and destroy yokes.” Yes, this is what the Anointing does, you see. (Isa.10:47)
The Anointing is what delivers God’s people and sets the captives free. The Anointing is literally God on flesh doing what flesh cannot do! It is God’s supper added to our natural, giving to us the supernatural power and favor of God in manifestation!
Please understand Jesus Christ adorned with the Anointing, came to appoint and to give to them who mourn in Zion (The Church) beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, so that they may be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. (Isa. 61:3) The Anointing is for you Minister Antonia! Receive a fresh and flowing Anointing in you, through you, and for you today!!!
My God, when the Anointing of God is released on those who are in mourning—God plants seeds (miracle gifts of divine favor) into their spirits that are to be revealed and manifested so God may be glorified in the earth!
As I said earlier, we are born-again Christians and the rightful heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:17) Therefore, God through Jesus Christ has shared with us “The Anointing of Christ.” The Apostle John, wrote: “You have an unction (an anointing) from the Holy One and you know all things. (I Jon 2:20) Every one of us who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have been Anointed to remove burdens and destroy yokes.
God says my Churches, my people, have not preached and taught and demonstrated enough on “My Anointing,” as it relates to its power to remove griefs and sorrows when love ones pass away. We have taught a lot about the Anointing as it relates to healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out devils. But, not much about the Anointing’s power to remove the spirit of grief in the lives of people who suffer the loss of a loved one.
Oh, but you Minister Antonia, and your family who believe, or would come to believe in Jesus Christ, have been appointed (chosen) to receive beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, so that you and your family may be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord. And, what do we expect to harvest from the tress of the Lord, but an abundance of fruit—“God good works”!!!
I believe that one of the gifts, God in Christ Jesus has given to those who follow the Lord, is the ability to remove griefs and sorrows of others. I believe there is a fresh and rich Anointing resting on all of us in Church today that is able to touch Antonia and remove all grief and sorrow. Just as Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again from the dead to remove and wash away our sins, Jesus is going to remove and wash away the burden of sorrow pressing on your heart.
MY, My, my we use our faith in Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness of sins. We should also use our faith to receive the removal of griefs and sorrows. Moreover, Jesus Christ bore all of our griefs and sorrows on His cross over 2000 years ago—so I say to all of us why should we try to labor and carry the burden and sorrow of the passing of Jalahni? (Is. 53:4) It seems to me that in times of tragedy, God is saying to us, though the world may focus on sorrowing in death, that God wants His people to focus on His promises.
Unfortunately, I find that the people of God, born-again Christians have morphed into becoming fashioned after the world in its thinking and coping with the death of loved ones, even in the most tragic of circumstances like Jalahni’s. So many Christians when they heard about Jalahni’s murder—have piped to themselves and others—“oh how sad. I’m so sad.”
The Bible tells us not to grieve and sorrow as others, but we are found saying things like, “nobody can tell you how to grieve,” or how long it should take to grieve,” and “everybody grieves differently,” and “it takes a long time to process and heal from the death of a loved one,” “We will never heal from this,” “I have to bear this grief all my life.” “My life is destroyed.” Christians also say, “I don’t know what it’s like to lose a child, oh my God, I can’t imagine what she (Antonia) is going through, and if it were me I think I would lose my mind.”
God understands all of these raw emotional expressions of hurt and pain we feel in time of death, especially in sudden and premature death. But dear Saints of God, please understand that God knows more and has had far more experience with death, grief, and sorrow than we will ever endure! For consider, God lost the world and all of mankind He created to sin and death. From heaven, God had to send His only begotten son Jesus Christ to save the world, so we all would not perish but have everlasting life. God had to separate Himself from Jesus on the cross as He bore the griefs and sorrows and sins of the world in His own body. God is longsuffering as He waits for all men to repent and believe on Jesus before they perish and the world dissolves with fervent heat. And daily, many people do not accept Jesus Christ as Lord, and die and go to hell for all eternity. (II Pet. 3:8-10)
But the Bible gives us specific instructions on how we are to grieve and handle all burdens, including death. We are to take them all to the Lord—take them to the Anointed One and His Anointing in prayer—and leave them there. Let’s examine what the Word says:
I Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Philippians 4:6-
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
John 14:13-14
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Gal.6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Matt. 11:28
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Can you see from these Scriptures that in your darkest of hours, God wants us you to come and earnestly pray with Him? In the place of prayer, God wants Minister Antonia and all of us, by faith to cast our griefs and sorrows of Jalahni’s death on Him. The place of prayer is where the presence and Anointing of Jesus Christ is smeared on us and released. I’m talking about fervent (boiling hot) prayer with thanksgiving unto God is what will remove the burden and destroy the yoke—the pain—of losing Jalahni. In the place of prayer, is where we have the power of the Anointing to take the burdens of Jalahni’s death off of the heart and shoulders of Minister Antonia and give them to the Lord!
We are not interested in relying on “time” to help us get through, and get better with the passing of Jalahni. We need the Anointing of Christ now to do a special work—for God’s super to get on our flesh and minds and revive and refresh us again! We need the Holy Ghost to help us in our infirmities. (Rom.8:26-28)
We want the Anointing of Jesus Christ to take away the “pain” of the loss. Only the Anointing can dismantle and dissolve the pain. When the pain is removed, then you can have God’s peace flood your heart, soul, brain and physical body which surpasses all knowledge. Such that you are not just “holding up and keeping it all together” as they say in the world under the situation—but that you are able to with God take the covers back, roll them back—and see the “seeds” of promise that God has planted in you. So you can see and receive the oil of joy and the garment of praise that is set before you! Most people never see the goodness of God in death because they try to morn and recover without Him in the place of prayer! Because we do not abide in prayer through the experience of the death of loved ones—we strive to go back to life and activities as normal. But, God desires to give to you a “new normal”—to take you to a higher place in Him where there is more mercy and favor, prosperity, healing and health, and life in abundance!
Just as for those who die in Christ, Jesus has taken the sting out of death, God has also taken the sting out of grief and sorrows that we experience on earth. Jalahni never saw death—he never tasted or experienced death—but sailed over death into life eternal with Jesus Christ. (John 3:16 & 8:51) So in like manner, for those of us who remain on earth, Jesus Christ has a “rest” for those who are heavy laden and burdened with sorrows. Jesus desires to exchange the heaviness and the burned of the loss of Jalahni we feel, for His rest. I believe we can live in a place in the Anointing of Jesus Christ where griefs and sorrows have no effect on us.
I believe the “Anointing of Christ takes hold of the pain associated with grief and sorrow and carries it to Jesus. When there is no pain—griefs and sorrows die and cease to have any place in you. The anointing has the power to take the pain away in this moment. Not 1-month, 3-months, or 12-months from now—but right now! Right now righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost is available and ready to be released through the Anointing when we pray with fervency with the Lord!
You see Antonia, when you are at rest, because you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, the seeds God has planted in your heart as a result of Jalahni’s death, will be revealed to you. God will roll back the covers of your spiritual eyes (in your heart) and show you the seed(s) He has planted in you to bring Him glory! And, the Holy Ghost will lead you into multiple assignments, favors, and ministries, to bring Him glory. I believe Antonia, that praying in the Holy Ghost will release the peace and joy of God that removes the “pain” from the grief and sorrow of loss and causes it to disappear!
I know this to be true in my own life, because just before my brother Duan past-away back in November 1999, I was fervently praying in the Holy Ghost, and after I received the news from my mother that he had past, I had unspeakable peace and joy. As my mother was telling me about his death, I told her, “Mom” everything is all right!
You see, earlier that same morning, I was with my brother in the hospital and was a complete wreck, saddened, burned, broken, crying and lost. But, the burdens of my heart drove me to immediately go home and fall on my knees and cry out to God for over two-hours. And the power and presence of Jesus Christ and the Anointing met me there. I received forgiveness for my sins. He took the covers off my spiritual eyes, and revealed the “seed” that had been planted in me, by my brother’s death.
God told me to go and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to declare His name to everyone. From my brother’s death came all of the Ministry of Exousia Ministries for the past 23-years. From that two-hour prayer session, I had total peace during His Home-going, peace when they laid him to rest, peace when folks tried to dissuade me from becoming a minister, peace, peace, peace!!! The miracles birthed out of my life due to my brother’s death are beyond measurement!
I believe God is doing the same thing for you Minister Antonia. But we must go to the place of fervent prayer and allow God to pull the covers back and let you see for yourself what is in store. I tell you “double good” is coming your way for the shame, and double shall you possess in your land with everlasting joy!!! (Isa. 61:7) All to bring God glory! God will turn all the “bitter” from this tragedy into “butter” that taste so much better! God will cause you to laugh in the face of the enemy Satan, pray for the souls of the perpetrators who murdered Jalahni, forgive them, and seek “God’s justice” for all.
Yes, we are to mourn, but our mourning must be with God, so that we might receive comfort from the Anointing of the Holy Ghost and be blessed of God (prospered and made whole again) (Matt. 5:4) For Mary, the mother of Jesus, wept for her son at the foot of the cross, and then was made glad when Jesus was Resurrected from the dead on the third-day. Then the opportunity came for Mary again to become despondent when Jesus left and went back to heaven and sat down at the right hand thrown of God.
But, Mary was found numbered among the 120-believers tarrying for the Holy Ghost—the Comforter to come—and on the day of Pentecost she was filled with the Holy Ghost and power. Filled with righteousness, peace, and joy. (John 14:26-27, Acts 1:13-14, & Rom. 14:17) This is what we all need when our loved one(s) is absent from the body and present with the Lord—we need to be filled up with the Holy Ghost and power and continue in prayer! An Anointing that brings peace that surpasses understanding—removes the pain, and overrides and pays no serious regard to grief and sorrow!
I say to you Minister Antonia, God wants you to have a Joshua experience. In Joshua’s case his mentor Moses—the Man of God—had died. But, God pulled the covers back off of the eyes of Joshua and told him it was time to lead the children of Israel into the promise land. (Joshua 1:1-9) As I have said before—please know, that whenever tragedy strikes, behind it God has a triumph planned for us to walk in. It’s always a big plan and one that will require us to walk by faith and not by sight. A plan that requires us to be strong and of good courage. A plan that requires us not to be afraid nor dismayed—because God is with us—and with you everywhere you go!
As we pray now in the Holy Ghost, Lord Jesus take us into your precious and mighty Anointing. Give us a great outpouring of the mighty running rivers of the Anointing of Christ; that will saturate our hearts and souls, purify our conscious of dead works and vanity, and cause us to sing praises unto God our Father as we pass through hard times.
Holy Ghost open Antonia’s eyes to the promised seed(s) you have planted in her spirit resulting from Jalahni’s promotion to glory, and give her the strength and fortitude to let the life of Jesus take full control and manifest Himself through her in the earth. Lord get all the glory intended from her life. Let us pray in the Holy Ghost.
Now for the family and friends of the late Deacon Jalahni A. Harrington—from the Lord—I give to you these “Five-Steps of Encouragement to Over Take Discouragement.” If taken, these 5-steps will remove discouragement and bring the promises of God flowing into your lives.
I say to you the family members or friends of Jalahni, God has great things in store for you that are coming to pass as a result of Jalahni’s promotion to heaven. In order to see the things God has in store, in the days to come, you must not let grief become discouragement, and act as a barrier to God doing miracles and wondrous works in your life. This is what God wants you to do:
- Daily, for 15-minutes, pray unto God—cry unto the Lord and He will hear you. (Ps.50:15)
- Daily, read at least one Psalm from the Book of Psalms. As the Word of God is “medicine,” God will begin the process of healing your broken heart and taking sickness and illness away from you. (Prov. 4:20-22)
- Ask God through Jesus Christ to fill you with the Holy Ghost, and give you rest, as He did in the life of Jesus Christ. Tell God you want to be full of the Anointing of Jesus Christ. (Luke 4:18 & Acts 10:38)
If you are a Non-Christian, Jesus loves you. Choose to believe in Jesus Christ that He is the Savior of the world. There is no other name given to us whereby we must be saved, other than the name of Jesus. (John 3:16-18, Acts 4:12, & Mark 16:15) Repent of your sins and invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and live forever, and you shall be saved. (Rom. 10:8-12) Go to Church and serve the Lord with gladness.
- Ask God to pull the covers off of the eyes of your heart and show you the promise land--meaning, the next place of success and prosperous enterprise for your life. (Joshua 1:8)
Moreover, to also reveal to you, the “Service” God would have you do for Him, and then ask the Holy Ghost to lead you into it. (Ps.116:12-14) Ask God for His grace in leading and putting you in the pathway of anointed/godly leadership and mentorship in education, business, and ministry pursuits.
The key to having “good success” in life, is learning to separate yourself from negative influences, and joining yourself with people who have arrived and are thriving in the promised-land you aspire to obtain. (II Cor. 6:17)
- Remember to “Love everyone, forgive everyone, forget every wrong done to you, and be kind-hearted to every person you meet.”
Do these five things daily and the God of Peace will rest upon you.The Holy Ghost will teach you how to go about doing “good” and healing others of their broken hearts. Amen! God loves you, and I do too!
Yours in Christ-Pastor Darryl
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See you next week the Lord willing!