How good of Ted and Betty McJunkin to provide transcripts of Festo's clear word of God's grace! Thank you, Ted and Betty. And thank you, Lord, for the messages from the heart of Festo Kivengere.
MARY’S LORD
Festo Kivengere, the late Bishop of Uganda
Jesus, in His mercy and love, one day picked up a bit of broken humanity from the road to disintegration and dismissed the forces that were breaking her life apart. Then, in His almighty love, He put the pieces together and out of that action came a beautiful lady called Mary of Magdala. After that, her whole attention was focused on the Person to whom she owed every drop of her life. To Mary, life was utterly meaningless apart from Christ. Christ was all for her so she followed Him. Words could never put together her love for the Lord Jesus.
Then one day she stood with the others watching what looked like a tragedy, a disaster. This One who had put her life together was taken by rough hands, nailed onto a piece of wood, crucified in shame and desolation, and left there to die. This was so completely shattering to Mary that she forgot what He had taught her.
There are certain experiences that when they take place, they make you forget what had been a treasure to you. You turn away in utter disappointment and complete darkness. She could have turned into a bitter, disappointed personality. However, in John, chapter 20, Mary was at Jesus’ tomb because she could never be comfortable anywhere except as near as possible to the One who loved. She didn’t actually expect to see Him alive; she may have had a faint hope of seeing her dead Lord at least. She was saying, “They have taken away my Lord.” He was her Lord, dead or alive.
If you linger near where Jesus is, you are likely to run into a few surprises. Even if everything is dark and your experiences are dry, stay there. In the end, she saw angels and they spoke to her. Most of us would have left the tomb shouting "Hallelujah” and reporting far and wide about this angelic experience. It was no small thing to see an angel. But this was not for Mary. It was “my Lord,” not “my angel” she cared about. He as the One who had done what no one else could have done for her. It is a wonderful thing when a soul refuses to be satisfied except with the fullness of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps it was a gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit, but something made her turn. Before anything happens to us, we have to turn. There is a turning point which is absolutely crucial. Mary had to turn, and the turning as not easy because in front of her were angels and an empty tomb – a certain amount of comfort. Some spiritual experiences we treasure can actually hinder us from discovering our Lord.
All the time Jesus was waiting there, longing to reveal Himself. When she turned, she saw Jesus, but couldn’t recognize Him. I suppose her tears stopped her. Disappointment created a kind of smog; the atmosphere was rather polluted. The beauty of it was that He had found her. The redeeming feature of New Testament experience is that even though you are miserable and going around in circles, He has found you. This is the unchanging rock on which the church is built. Jesus spoke one word: “Mary!”
Immediately the Spirit of God clarified the atmosphere. The bells of heaven rang. The voice was none but His who had exorcised those dangerous demons out of her life! She heard, and immediately the hearing led to seeing and she discovered Him. She rushed in her excitement to lay hold on the feet of the physical Jesus Christ and He said, “No, you don’t need that. It will break your heart if you hang on to my physical person. You need something more permanent – you need a spiritual encounter so that you know I will never be away from you. When my physical body was taken away, you nearly died. Mary, I am going to give you something that will never leave you again. “So Mary, don’t waste your time touching the physical. You’ve got something more than that. Run quickly!”
She took to her feet to go and tell the story – tell those miserable disciples. They were bewildered in the house, absolutely dejected. Not only did they have no testimony, they were talking about the tragedy of Calvary – disastrous! She burst into the room and didn’t know how to begin. Start with the angels and the empty tomb? No! Her testimony is very clear: “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” Mark that. That is the key – “I have seen the Lord. Can you go out to the world at this Easter season and say, “I have seen the Lord.”? That is renewal. Whenever there is revival, attention is fixed on One Important Person. When the Lord is there, all the community of God is on the move, men and women, boys and girls, all talking about Jesus, passing it on. The outside community cannot help feeling the impact. Open up to the influence of the Holy Spirit so that He may reintroduce you day by day into the Presence where tears are wiped away, where disappointments are removed, and where darkness gives way to light so that you can say, “I have seen the LORD!”
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
A word from Festo via Ted and Betty
Accused in Court
Festo Kivengere
You and I have stood like bankrupts in a court of law. We know what it is to be moral insolvents – to owe millions morally and have not a cent in our moral bank accounts to pay. You turn to one side and there is someone with an “IOU” of love. Instead of loving, you hated, and now you must pay. You turn another way and there is a broken relationship staring in your face. You know you are guilty. You try another direction and you find a paper signed by your conscience saying, “you were not honest here.” Life is full of these accusing documents and your conscience has signed them all. Even the things in your life you are proud of don’t help out now. You may pretend that you have forgotten, but you haven’t.
We owe these debts to Him from whom we came. Most of them we also owe to humanity – to the men and women, boys and girls who stand around us remembering our deeds. They were hurt by the words we spoke, the attitudes we took, the actions we did, the lies we have told. Life seems to one huge courtroom and we stand there bankrupt, trembling, with nowhere to look. We are not able to lift these eyes and look at the eternal, perfect God. Nor can we look at each other. We have become men and women running away from reality with crushing burdens of guilt and fear.
Then, behold! Another One comes. God steps into the court. The Judge Himself has decided to become the “friend of the accused.” Jesus, because God so loved us, took it upon Himself to stand where the guilty one stood, to take on Himself the responsibility of what we owe! Jesus! Bless Him! He is the only one who could have done it, the only one not bankrupt: perfect in His humanity, perfect in love, unlimited in grace. What a Savior!
When the Spirit of God opens your eyes, you look and find you are no longer alone. The Friend who has come to your side is no one else but the Son of God! Love stepped into the courtroom and took up every accusing document. St. Paul wrote it beautifully in Colossians 2:13, 14. He did not cancel the record as with a pen, leaving the figures readable behind. No! He actually wiped the papers clean. He paid the whole debt and wiped your conscience clean. Then He took the charges and nailed them to His cross. As they crucified Him, they crucified all your accusing guilt, and mine. That is the Gospel. That is the excitement, the miracle of New Testament love. This is the kind of forgiveness which can send you out singing from the bottom of your heart: “It is done! I am no longer guilty. The accusation is gone!” This is the kind of forgiveness which can send you straight to those people around you who hold things against you. I had to go to one after another saying, “God has forgiven me, won’t you forgive me too?” Then freedom came! And great joy in reconciliations.
Festo Kivengere
You and I have stood like bankrupts in a court of law. We know what it is to be moral insolvents – to owe millions morally and have not a cent in our moral bank accounts to pay. You turn to one side and there is someone with an “IOU” of love. Instead of loving, you hated, and now you must pay. You turn another way and there is a broken relationship staring in your face. You know you are guilty. You try another direction and you find a paper signed by your conscience saying, “you were not honest here.” Life is full of these accusing documents and your conscience has signed them all. Even the things in your life you are proud of don’t help out now. You may pretend that you have forgotten, but you haven’t.
We owe these debts to Him from whom we came. Most of them we also owe to humanity – to the men and women, boys and girls who stand around us remembering our deeds. They were hurt by the words we spoke, the attitudes we took, the actions we did, the lies we have told. Life seems to one huge courtroom and we stand there bankrupt, trembling, with nowhere to look. We are not able to lift these eyes and look at the eternal, perfect God. Nor can we look at each other. We have become men and women running away from reality with crushing burdens of guilt and fear.
Then, behold! Another One comes. God steps into the court. The Judge Himself has decided to become the “friend of the accused.” Jesus, because God so loved us, took it upon Himself to stand where the guilty one stood, to take on Himself the responsibility of what we owe! Jesus! Bless Him! He is the only one who could have done it, the only one not bankrupt: perfect in His humanity, perfect in love, unlimited in grace. What a Savior!
When the Spirit of God opens your eyes, you look and find you are no longer alone. The Friend who has come to your side is no one else but the Son of God! Love stepped into the courtroom and took up every accusing document. St. Paul wrote it beautifully in Colossians 2:13, 14. He did not cancel the record as with a pen, leaving the figures readable behind. No! He actually wiped the papers clean. He paid the whole debt and wiped your conscience clean. Then He took the charges and nailed them to His cross. As they crucified Him, they crucified all your accusing guilt, and mine. That is the Gospel. That is the excitement, the miracle of New Testament love. This is the kind of forgiveness which can send you out singing from the bottom of your heart: “It is done! I am no longer guilty. The accusation is gone!” This is the kind of forgiveness which can send you straight to those people around you who hold things against you. I had to go to one after another saying, “God has forgiven me, won’t you forgive me too?” Then freedom came! And great joy in reconciliations.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Go Forward
From Betty McJunkin
This morning I was reading some old letters from our dear Tanzanian brother, Matt Nyagwaswa. His words are still full of life and encouragement so I wanted to share them with you.
***************
“I was reading Exodus 14:15 a few minutes ago and this is what God said to Moses. “Tell my people to go forward.” Forward? How could one go forward under such difficult and confusing circumstances? Behind Pharaoh and his strong army produced a cloud of insecurity. And ahead they stared hopelessly at that wide sea of despair! At their right hand and left there were high mountain ranges representing insurmountable problems of every kind. Now tell me, how can one go forward under such circumstances? Yet the Lord knew what He was talking about.
“Go Forward” by faith. Your salvation lies ahead, not behind, not where you are, but forward.
Keep repenting even if no one else is interested in repenting.
Keep walking in the light even if no one else cares.
Keep breaking even if everybody around you carries a stiff neck!
Keep walking even if all others are standing still or even sitting down!
“Go Forward”. The Lord gives the strength, the ability and the needed GRACE only as we obey Him and not in advance! Praise the Lord! He knows we are feeble and weak, but He is strong and able to make us walk in His strength.
As we make use of the rod of our testimony, the sea parts in two and the road is formed for us to pass . What excitement as God does the work while we follow Him.
I am easily discouraged when I am faced with too much work (as I am now), the car needs major repairs, I have to travel to West Africa for a whole month to attend an official seminar (what self-pity and murmuring!). But Jesus says, “Go forward”, for all that you see now, you will not see again. Pharaoh’s army will disappear. The sea will not threaten. Just walk forward with Me. Praise the Lord we are not alone; He is with us.”
This morning I was reading some old letters from our dear Tanzanian brother, Matt Nyagwaswa. His words are still full of life and encouragement so I wanted to share them with you.
***************
“I was reading Exodus 14:15 a few minutes ago and this is what God said to Moses. “Tell my people to go forward.” Forward? How could one go forward under such difficult and confusing circumstances? Behind Pharaoh and his strong army produced a cloud of insecurity. And ahead they stared hopelessly at that wide sea of despair! At their right hand and left there were high mountain ranges representing insurmountable problems of every kind. Now tell me, how can one go forward under such circumstances? Yet the Lord knew what He was talking about.
“Go Forward” by faith. Your salvation lies ahead, not behind, not where you are, but forward.
Keep repenting even if no one else is interested in repenting.
Keep walking in the light even if no one else cares.
Keep breaking even if everybody around you carries a stiff neck!
Keep walking even if all others are standing still or even sitting down!
“Go Forward”. The Lord gives the strength, the ability and the needed GRACE only as we obey Him and not in advance! Praise the Lord! He knows we are feeble and weak, but He is strong and able to make us walk in His strength.
As we make use of the rod of our testimony, the sea parts in two and the road is formed for us to pass . What excitement as God does the work while we follow Him.
I am easily discouraged when I am faced with too much work (as I am now), the car needs major repairs, I have to travel to West Africa for a whole month to attend an official seminar (what self-pity and murmuring!). But Jesus says, “Go forward”, for all that you see now, you will not see again. Pharaoh’s army will disappear. The sea will not threaten. Just walk forward with Me. Praise the Lord we are not alone; He is with us.”
Monday, January 9, 2012
Jottings on Ephesians
I find it helpful, in probing the meaning of the passages of Scripture to do so with a pencil in hand and a pad on the desk. That helps me focus and to follow the lead of the Spirit as I move through a passage.
I will share some of my jottings on reading Paul's mighty letter to the believers at Ephesus. Join me if you wish.
Or you might be interested in this kind of Bible Study for yourself. In any case, for a few days I will be sharing my jottings on Ephesians here.
May the Spirit of the Lord enlarge Jesus Christ as we read, think, write and live.
***************************************
Eph. 1:1 Paul. Greek name used as he ministered among Greeks.
Apostle, “One of” the apostles. He was not unique in that regard. Furthermore, even though he was not a disciple of Jesus as were many others he met Jesus Christ and was instructed by him in things pertaining to salvation.
Jesus Christ. He center of Paul’s affection, dedication and hope. Jesus is the human name, common among Jews at the time, actually Joshua, and Christ the one from God, came to earth..
By the will of God. Paul did not choose to follow Jesus. He was chosen by God, it was God’s will, and Paul said, “Yes, Lord.” Those to whom Paul is writing have that same calling, all servants of the same mighty Lord Jesus.
Saints in Ephesus. IN EPHESUS
Faithful in Christ Jesus. IN CHRIST
Paul, in these couplets, is laying out the context of his letter. How do followers of Jesus in right where they are? How do they announce the kingdom and invite people into it?
2. “Grace and peace to you.” To receive grace is to know peace because where grace does its good work because of the atoning work of Jesus, peace simply follows. There is no other foundation for peace except to fully receive the full work of God’s grace in our hearts.
The source of grace and truth are, of course, “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As I unpack this I am impressed with Paul’s testimony. God is our Father and He is also Father of Jesus Christ. We are brothers with Christ, co-heirs, in fact, of all the promises of God.
Lord Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Paul can declare without a doubt that God is the source of peace and grace.
3. First, “praise be to God.” This not necessarily Christian. It is a universal virtue, to thank the creator and sustainer God. Paul is not generic but specific. God is Jesus Christ’s Father! In more than a symbolic sense, certainly. He is real! God is Jesus’ heavenly Father. I can only begin to fathom what that means. Jesus is not a worshipper of God, He is God. Jesus is not inherited. He and His Father have the same genes, so to speak. Beyond all that is the fact that they are one ontologically as well as one in virtue. This is at the core of my faith. Who is Jesus? Paul takes us way beyond biology and essence and introduces us to a relationship that is perfect.
God, the Father, has blessed us... “Has” is an important word, it is finished, it is done. I think Paul is expansive here, because what Jesus accomplished in the Father is available to all, everywhere.
Blessed. A marvelous word, not a reward for a job well done, but a gift of grace. God decides to bless me. I can desire or even pray for that but it is God that initiates all blessing.
What kind of blessing? In OT the promise was usually for personal and communal well=being like health, wealth, and property. Little attention to the spiritual side. Here Paul speaks in certain terms, spiritual blessings. These are the kind of blessings that are won for us by Jesus himself. They do not result from God’s abundant largess, but are the result of the mighty atoning work of Jesus that gives God the opening to pour out his storehouse full of blessings. This is why the work of Jesus is so important for out welfare.
“Every spiritual blessing.” Not every “material blessing.” Jesus tells us to seek first his kingdom and then our needs will be met. If we seek our kingdom first and then get interested in his kingdom, self will still be the center and then we are in jeopardy.
“In Christ.” It is all in Christ Jesus. He is the Lord of all, with his Father and the Holy Spirit.
4. “For he chose us.” Both Jews and Gentiles. This is the mystery that Paul happily shared with everyone; Jesus’ atoning work opens the door to God for everyone who comes through Christ, the covenant in Christ’s blood has no reference whatsoever to Israel or an other nation or culture.
4. “Before the creation of the world.” Some may think that God planned that only through the people called Israel could people truly know God. Then when Israel failed to be an instrument of God’s purposes he had to abandon that plan and institute another. No, Paul asserts, the work of Jesus Christ to give himself so that all people everywhere could enjoy the fulness of life with God is not plan B, but was already accomplished in the heavenlies before the first stara was hurled int space. Jesus is the answer.
“In him.” That means “in Jesus.” As it was determined that Jesus make it possible for sins to be forgiven, then everyone who comes to God is in fact “in Him.”
4. The purpose of God’s calling is not primarily to work for him or even to serve him but the calling of God, the choosing of God, is that we might be “holy and blameless” in his sight. Our calling is the call of a lover to come, walk closely with him. It is a call of love, prompted by love, made possible by love, fulfilled in love. It is not perfection of character, holiness is a love relationship that is so strong and firm that all of life revolves around that relationship.
Of course, it is impossible to be holy and blameless by our own strength and determination. Whom to hide. He becomes our holiness, our blamelessness. Jesus was holy and blameless, now it is up to us to exhibit that same character, flawed though it may be.
“In love he predestinated us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” Again, it all flows from God’s love; unfathomable yet as real and essential as anything can be.
It is difficult to try to describe the love of God because all we have are human, earth-bound words and concepts. We will need to wait until we are lifted into a realm with “divine” vocabulary to describe the virtues of our wonderful God. In the meanwhile we use weak terms, like father/son, to tell of the wonders of God’s love.
“He predestined us....” It all begins in his loving his loving heart. We can not choose, we can only accept or reject. God does the choosing.
The more I think about this the more I am convinced that Paul is describing the nature of the Kingdom of Christ, the door is completely open to anyone and that we enter because of an through the atoning work of Jesus.
This choosing does not imply another side, rejection. Jesus made it very clear that all who believe in Jesus are received, by grace. In a way God chooses every person to believe in Jesus but not all do. I think I must abandon the thought that Jesus, God in his love, rejects people simply because he wills it so. That is contrary to all scripture. The choosing, I am convinced that Paul is referring to here has to do with God leveling the ground by the atoning work of Jesus so that both Jews and Gentiles enter in precisely the same way, through the finished work of Jesus. There is no other merit.
4b. “In love he predestinated us.” I find this theme of God’s love again and again. It is all rooted in his powerful love. Because he is love he did it all. And because he loves me, and that is even more astounding, he made plans to make it possible to have fellowship with him, and did everything necessary to make that love do its wonderful work!
I will share some of my jottings on reading Paul's mighty letter to the believers at Ephesus. Join me if you wish.
Or you might be interested in this kind of Bible Study for yourself. In any case, for a few days I will be sharing my jottings on Ephesians here.
May the Spirit of the Lord enlarge Jesus Christ as we read, think, write and live.
***************************************
Eph. 1:1 Paul. Greek name used as he ministered among Greeks.
Apostle, “One of” the apostles. He was not unique in that regard. Furthermore, even though he was not a disciple of Jesus as were many others he met Jesus Christ and was instructed by him in things pertaining to salvation.
Jesus Christ. He center of Paul’s affection, dedication and hope. Jesus is the human name, common among Jews at the time, actually Joshua, and Christ the one from God, came to earth..
By the will of God. Paul did not choose to follow Jesus. He was chosen by God, it was God’s will, and Paul said, “Yes, Lord.” Those to whom Paul is writing have that same calling, all servants of the same mighty Lord Jesus.
Saints in Ephesus. IN EPHESUS
Faithful in Christ Jesus. IN CHRIST
Paul, in these couplets, is laying out the context of his letter. How do followers of Jesus in right where they are? How do they announce the kingdom and invite people into it?
2. “Grace and peace to you.” To receive grace is to know peace because where grace does its good work because of the atoning work of Jesus, peace simply follows. There is no other foundation for peace except to fully receive the full work of God’s grace in our hearts.
The source of grace and truth are, of course, “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As I unpack this I am impressed with Paul’s testimony. God is our Father and He is also Father of Jesus Christ. We are brothers with Christ, co-heirs, in fact, of all the promises of God.
Lord Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Paul can declare without a doubt that God is the source of peace and grace.
3. First, “praise be to God.” This not necessarily Christian. It is a universal virtue, to thank the creator and sustainer God. Paul is not generic but specific. God is Jesus Christ’s Father! In more than a symbolic sense, certainly. He is real! God is Jesus’ heavenly Father. I can only begin to fathom what that means. Jesus is not a worshipper of God, He is God. Jesus is not inherited. He and His Father have the same genes, so to speak. Beyond all that is the fact that they are one ontologically as well as one in virtue. This is at the core of my faith. Who is Jesus? Paul takes us way beyond biology and essence and introduces us to a relationship that is perfect.
God, the Father, has blessed us... “Has” is an important word, it is finished, it is done. I think Paul is expansive here, because what Jesus accomplished in the Father is available to all, everywhere.
Blessed. A marvelous word, not a reward for a job well done, but a gift of grace. God decides to bless me. I can desire or even pray for that but it is God that initiates all blessing.
What kind of blessing? In OT the promise was usually for personal and communal well=being like health, wealth, and property. Little attention to the spiritual side. Here Paul speaks in certain terms, spiritual blessings. These are the kind of blessings that are won for us by Jesus himself. They do not result from God’s abundant largess, but are the result of the mighty atoning work of Jesus that gives God the opening to pour out his storehouse full of blessings. This is why the work of Jesus is so important for out welfare.
“Every spiritual blessing.” Not every “material blessing.” Jesus tells us to seek first his kingdom and then our needs will be met. If we seek our kingdom first and then get interested in his kingdom, self will still be the center and then we are in jeopardy.
“In Christ.” It is all in Christ Jesus. He is the Lord of all, with his Father and the Holy Spirit.
4. “For he chose us.” Both Jews and Gentiles. This is the mystery that Paul happily shared with everyone; Jesus’ atoning work opens the door to God for everyone who comes through Christ, the covenant in Christ’s blood has no reference whatsoever to Israel or an other nation or culture.
4. “Before the creation of the world.” Some may think that God planned that only through the people called Israel could people truly know God. Then when Israel failed to be an instrument of God’s purposes he had to abandon that plan and institute another. No, Paul asserts, the work of Jesus Christ to give himself so that all people everywhere could enjoy the fulness of life with God is not plan B, but was already accomplished in the heavenlies before the first stara was hurled int space. Jesus is the answer.
“In him.” That means “in Jesus.” As it was determined that Jesus make it possible for sins to be forgiven, then everyone who comes to God is in fact “in Him.”
4. The purpose of God’s calling is not primarily to work for him or even to serve him but the calling of God, the choosing of God, is that we might be “holy and blameless” in his sight. Our calling is the call of a lover to come, walk closely with him. It is a call of love, prompted by love, made possible by love, fulfilled in love. It is not perfection of character, holiness is a love relationship that is so strong and firm that all of life revolves around that relationship.
Of course, it is impossible to be holy and blameless by our own strength and determination. Whom to hide. He becomes our holiness, our blamelessness. Jesus was holy and blameless, now it is up to us to exhibit that same character, flawed though it may be.
“In love he predestinated us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” Again, it all flows from God’s love; unfathomable yet as real and essential as anything can be.
It is difficult to try to describe the love of God because all we have are human, earth-bound words and concepts. We will need to wait until we are lifted into a realm with “divine” vocabulary to describe the virtues of our wonderful God. In the meanwhile we use weak terms, like father/son, to tell of the wonders of God’s love.
“He predestined us....” It all begins in his loving his loving heart. We can not choose, we can only accept or reject. God does the choosing.
The more I think about this the more I am convinced that Paul is describing the nature of the Kingdom of Christ, the door is completely open to anyone and that we enter because of an through the atoning work of Jesus.
This choosing does not imply another side, rejection. Jesus made it very clear that all who believe in Jesus are received, by grace. In a way God chooses every person to believe in Jesus but not all do. I think I must abandon the thought that Jesus, God in his love, rejects people simply because he wills it so. That is contrary to all scripture. The choosing, I am convinced that Paul is referring to here has to do with God leveling the ground by the atoning work of Jesus so that both Jews and Gentiles enter in precisely the same way, through the finished work of Jesus. There is no other merit.
4b. “In love he predestinated us.” I find this theme of God’s love again and again. It is all rooted in his powerful love. Because he is love he did it all. And because he loves me, and that is even more astounding, he made plans to make it possible to have fellowship with him, and did everything necessary to make that love do its wonderful work!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Apology or Repentance?
Ted and Betty found this on the internet. Thanks, Ted and Betty.
Christians in the rut of sin
By Rev.Dr. John Senyonyi, 03-11-2010
I heard the late Bishop Festo Kivengere preach many times. Once in 1987 at the Makerere University Main Hall. Bishop Festo preached at the final service of our mission. The message was so captivating that I found myself sitting on the edge of my chair midway through the service! The atmosphere was electric.
I did not have the privilege of hearing Mr. William Nagenda preach. I am told that he was an even more spellbinding preacher. One time Bishop Festo was on a mission with Nagenda. After one of their preaching sessions, and Nagenda having done his bit rather alluringly, Festo felt a tinge of jealousy. So when they got back to their room, Festo repented and apologized to Nagenda of this jealousy.
Today this is a rare occurrence among preachers; even worse among Christians. People have come to me to apologies and are so vague that I cannot tell what they are apologizing about. They are probably not clear of their sin and they apologize because it is a Christian thing to do.
It is no wonder that in our day and age the preaching of repentance is considered archaic. As a consequence, the bulk of our Christians live below God’s best for them. Their satisfaction is sought in tangible things. They are Christians living in the Rut of sin. They are defeated in their private life which eventually becomes their public shame.
Without repentance, it is impossible to make spiritual or character progress; it is impossible to begin anew.
Repentance is recognition of our sinfulness, and that it is impossible to free yourself from your sins. Jeremiah says that no soap can suffice to wash away our sins. The only detergent strong enough to deal with sin is the blood of Jesus, and that wash is appropriated through repentance.
What is repentance? I must make this distinction: we apologize to man, we repent to God. Repentance is a deeply spiritual discipline but must not be separated from putting right with man where we have hurt another. Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive our neighbors,” indicating that the sin that separates you from your neighbor separates you from God.
Repentance has three aspects to it: the intellectual, the emotional and the volitional. I want to focus on these without sounding academic.
The Intellectual is the change of your viewpoint. “Through the law we become conscious of sin;” we are made aware of and know our sinfulness. It is healthy to have the knowledge that distinguishes right from wrong, to know we have sinned and that God knows what we have done.
One of the secularizing influences in our world today is the ‘gelatinizing’ of sin. It goes something like this: “There are no moral absolutes. Right and wrong are the preserve of a community.” Therefore what is wrong in one community may be right in another. The knowledge and judgment of right and wrong are localized. This is unbiblical and anti-biblical.
Worse still, even those who espouse this fallacy cannot be consistent with it. If all morality is relative, then killing or adultery or corruption would be virtues in one society and vices in another.
The biblical position gives a consistent worldview that there are universal values that are true for all people everywhere and for all time. Therefore when we know what is wrong and we do it, we are struck with guilt. This is an important first step for real repentance to happen.
However, knowledge alone is not enough for repentance to happen. In fact knowledge causes fear of punishment; it aggravates insecurity in the heart. I am sure you are familiar with this feeling. At the human level you may sense alienation from the one you have wronged, and be gripped with the fear of punishment for the wrong committed.
Second is the Emotional part of repentance. When sin is not attended with shame about what we have done, it tends to be repeatable. This is the positive side of shame – the sorrow about the wrong we have done. It is usually called guilt; when remembrance of your sin causes you to feel unworthy.
David knew about this feeling at different times. He poignantly expressed it in Psalm 51. He committed adultery, lied and then murdered the husband of Bathsheba. But he had no peace. We hear him cry for release from the bloodguilt of his sin in that Psalm. Elsewhere (Psalm 32) he talks of the drain of sin.
Guilt takes a toll on your health. Grieving over sin can be dangerous. Indeed Paul talks of two different kinds of sorrow over sin; the worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. The former leads to remorse and despair. People overtaken by worldly sorrow sometimes commit suicide or descend into lunacy.
This is what happened with Judas. Both Judas and Peter denied Jesus; they both were remorseful. Peter however, had godly sorrow and went up to the third step of repentance while Judas halted his steps at feeling emotionally defiled. Emotional sorrow may not see hope and that is why it can be catastrophic.
Similarly, Esau (the brother of Jacob) sinned when he despised his inheritance. Later he wept before his father, Isaac, for the blessing of a firstborn. When he did not get it, he sunk into more ungodly relationships in the hope that he would appease his parents. He did not repent.
True and genuine repentance must finally become Volitional. This means a change of purpose, a turning away from sin to seek God’s pardon and cleansing. True repentance issues forth into real active life.
The Samaritan woman was living with a man she was not married to. Her repentance meant she could not return to the man because he was not her husband. Present day preachers soothe adulterers and fornicators into remaining in such relationships but this is not the Gospel of Christ. It is not also the Gospel of the East African Revival.
Repentance without a change of life is impenitence. Authentic repentance is what we see in Peter, David, the prodigal son, St. Paul, and many others. True and genuine repentance never leaves a sinner wallowing in their sin; it results in salvation.
I stand in a long line of saints to proclaim that when a sinner repents, it entails intellectual understanding and acknowledgement of their sin. It leads to contrition and shame over what they have done. And finally the sinner commits to a change of direction and thus of lifestyle.
Go and do likewise. Amen.
Rev.Dr. John Senyonyi is the Vice Chancellor, UCU.
Christians in the rut of sin
By Rev.Dr. John Senyonyi, 03-11-2010
I heard the late Bishop Festo Kivengere preach many times. Once in 1987 at the Makerere University Main Hall. Bishop Festo preached at the final service of our mission. The message was so captivating that I found myself sitting on the edge of my chair midway through the service! The atmosphere was electric.
I did not have the privilege of hearing Mr. William Nagenda preach. I am told that he was an even more spellbinding preacher. One time Bishop Festo was on a mission with Nagenda. After one of their preaching sessions, and Nagenda having done his bit rather alluringly, Festo felt a tinge of jealousy. So when they got back to their room, Festo repented and apologized to Nagenda of this jealousy.
Today this is a rare occurrence among preachers; even worse among Christians. People have come to me to apologies and are so vague that I cannot tell what they are apologizing about. They are probably not clear of their sin and they apologize because it is a Christian thing to do.
It is no wonder that in our day and age the preaching of repentance is considered archaic. As a consequence, the bulk of our Christians live below God’s best for them. Their satisfaction is sought in tangible things. They are Christians living in the Rut of sin. They are defeated in their private life which eventually becomes their public shame.
Without repentance, it is impossible to make spiritual or character progress; it is impossible to begin anew.
Repentance is recognition of our sinfulness, and that it is impossible to free yourself from your sins. Jeremiah says that no soap can suffice to wash away our sins. The only detergent strong enough to deal with sin is the blood of Jesus, and that wash is appropriated through repentance.
What is repentance? I must make this distinction: we apologize to man, we repent to God. Repentance is a deeply spiritual discipline but must not be separated from putting right with man where we have hurt another. Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive our neighbors,” indicating that the sin that separates you from your neighbor separates you from God.
Repentance has three aspects to it: the intellectual, the emotional and the volitional. I want to focus on these without sounding academic.
The Intellectual is the change of your viewpoint. “Through the law we become conscious of sin;” we are made aware of and know our sinfulness. It is healthy to have the knowledge that distinguishes right from wrong, to know we have sinned and that God knows what we have done.
One of the secularizing influences in our world today is the ‘gelatinizing’ of sin. It goes something like this: “There are no moral absolutes. Right and wrong are the preserve of a community.” Therefore what is wrong in one community may be right in another. The knowledge and judgment of right and wrong are localized. This is unbiblical and anti-biblical.
Worse still, even those who espouse this fallacy cannot be consistent with it. If all morality is relative, then killing or adultery or corruption would be virtues in one society and vices in another.
The biblical position gives a consistent worldview that there are universal values that are true for all people everywhere and for all time. Therefore when we know what is wrong and we do it, we are struck with guilt. This is an important first step for real repentance to happen.
However, knowledge alone is not enough for repentance to happen. In fact knowledge causes fear of punishment; it aggravates insecurity in the heart. I am sure you are familiar with this feeling. At the human level you may sense alienation from the one you have wronged, and be gripped with the fear of punishment for the wrong committed.
Second is the Emotional part of repentance. When sin is not attended with shame about what we have done, it tends to be repeatable. This is the positive side of shame – the sorrow about the wrong we have done. It is usually called guilt; when remembrance of your sin causes you to feel unworthy.
David knew about this feeling at different times. He poignantly expressed it in Psalm 51. He committed adultery, lied and then murdered the husband of Bathsheba. But he had no peace. We hear him cry for release from the bloodguilt of his sin in that Psalm. Elsewhere (Psalm 32) he talks of the drain of sin.
Guilt takes a toll on your health. Grieving over sin can be dangerous. Indeed Paul talks of two different kinds of sorrow over sin; the worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. The former leads to remorse and despair. People overtaken by worldly sorrow sometimes commit suicide or descend into lunacy.
This is what happened with Judas. Both Judas and Peter denied Jesus; they both were remorseful. Peter however, had godly sorrow and went up to the third step of repentance while Judas halted his steps at feeling emotionally defiled. Emotional sorrow may not see hope and that is why it can be catastrophic.
Similarly, Esau (the brother of Jacob) sinned when he despised his inheritance. Later he wept before his father, Isaac, for the blessing of a firstborn. When he did not get it, he sunk into more ungodly relationships in the hope that he would appease his parents. He did not repent.
True and genuine repentance must finally become Volitional. This means a change of purpose, a turning away from sin to seek God’s pardon and cleansing. True repentance issues forth into real active life.
The Samaritan woman was living with a man she was not married to. Her repentance meant she could not return to the man because he was not her husband. Present day preachers soothe adulterers and fornicators into remaining in such relationships but this is not the Gospel of Christ. It is not also the Gospel of the East African Revival.
Repentance without a change of life is impenitence. Authentic repentance is what we see in Peter, David, the prodigal son, St. Paul, and many others. True and genuine repentance never leaves a sinner wallowing in their sin; it results in salvation.
I stand in a long line of saints to proclaim that when a sinner repents, it entails intellectual understanding and acknowledgement of their sin. It leads to contrition and shame over what they have done. And finally the sinner commits to a change of direction and thus of lifestyle.
Go and do likewise. Amen.
Rev.Dr. John Senyonyi is the Vice Chancellor, UCU.
Friday, November 18, 2011
A nudge from Chuck on humility
What Is True Humility?
Adrian Rogers
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. James 4:10
Have you ever wondered what humility is all about? True humility is not thinking negatively about yourself. It is agreeing with what God says about you. The grace of God will exalt a person without inflating him and humble a person without debasing him. I am what I am because of Christ. In this life, you are not going to be sinless, but as you deal with sin in your life, you can come closer to being free from sin. Sinless? No. Blameless? Yes. As you confess and stay prayed up, you can be blameless.
Adrian Rogers
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. James 4:10
Have you ever wondered what humility is all about? True humility is not thinking negatively about yourself. It is agreeing with what God says about you. The grace of God will exalt a person without inflating him and humble a person without debasing him. I am what I am because of Christ. In this life, you are not going to be sinless, but as you deal with sin in your life, you can come closer to being free from sin. Sinless? No. Blameless? Yes. As you confess and stay prayed up, you can be blameless.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A word of grace from Chuck
Friends....
I heard T.D. Jakes Sunday preaching on “Who told you?” referring to Adam’s discovery that he was naked. God responded, “Who told you?” He made the point that sometimes we say to ourselves I am not this, or that such as “I’m so dumb” and God answers who told you? or, I’m just a loser...or I’m too old, I could never do that....why am I always this way, etc. We need to get a second opinion: God’s opinion as to what HE thinks of me. Sometimes our mood is governed negatively by what others tell us what we are and how we’ve done something. Get God’s opinion. I was greatly helped by this thought: “Who told you?” Thought you might want to chew on it and see what you can get out of it. Put it into practice: “Who told you?”
“Amazing Grace, how sweet it sounds!”
chuck higgins
I heard T.D. Jakes Sunday preaching on “Who told you?” referring to Adam’s discovery that he was naked. God responded, “Who told you?” He made the point that sometimes we say to ourselves I am not this, or that such as “I’m so dumb” and God answers who told you? or, I’m just a loser...or I’m too old, I could never do that....why am I always this way, etc. We need to get a second opinion: God’s opinion as to what HE thinks of me. Sometimes our mood is governed negatively by what others tell us what we are and how we’ve done something. Get God’s opinion. I was greatly helped by this thought: “Who told you?” Thought you might want to chew on it and see what you can get out of it. Put it into practice: “Who told you?”
“Amazing Grace, how sweet it sounds!”
chuck higgins
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)