GROWING ARE YOU

Well what did you think when you saw the title of my newest article? Whatever you may have thought but I bet you didn’t think about what I am gonna write about?

Follow a common conversation concerning a book.

Mike: What book is that?
John: It is “The Goal” by Eliyahu Goldratt about the theory of constraints
Mike: I have always loved to read that book. I have heard about it. Can I borrow it?
John: True you can.
Mike: Thanks. Actually I can give you the one I am currently reading. It is called Answered Prayer Guaranteed by Fredrick K.C Price. It is good and enlightening about prayer.
John: Thanks, I will read it right away.

Can you testify that you have been involved in such a conversation? Well brace yourself for an enlightening study that will illuminate your mind.

Discipline:
I have realized that one of the factors that hinders our growth is lack of discipline even in good things. I have found that individually this has hindered my growth. I have seen a person with a book on marriage while I was doing my studies on the impact of your words and asked for the book and started reading it.

This has resulted in scanty and limited information on many issues. It is okay to have knowledge about a number of issues (I do) but when it comes to your Christian walk, you got to be consistent and disciplined. If you are studying about marriage, plunge yourself in all materials you can get and do not try to start another series on End times. Information about other things can come in but if you have placed your hands to the plow, don’t turn back. Study to show yourself approved of God. It is okay to allow allowance of reading or studying about other interests you have but be consistent on that which you have purposed to do.

The above is one reason why I rarely visit churches especially on Sunday morning because half information is as dangerous as a lie. One church started a series on demonology and you find the series midway say about who satan is and then leave next Sunday to visit your friend’s church where prayer is being taught. You will end up confused. Be focused on the one right thing and you will benefit. Don’t be moved by emotions and the phrase ‘Where is it Happenning’ or ‘kibaluseewa’.
You will grow if you are consistent in your life.

WHAT OFFENDS YOU?

Taking offense is similar to the word touchy.People take offense at many things especially words. The question is what makes them offended and should they be offended.
I have realized of recent that people get offended when the Word is preached. For example, I have realized that some folks get offended when told to watch their words. It is a pity to get offended at the word of God. When God gives his word, it is true. Many a time we miss the kingdom just because we are offended by the truth. The rich young ruler missed the kingdom because he grieved at the word spoken.(Luke 18:23)

A clear example is when one is told that God didn’t make them sick and they should stop saying the negative, I have heard them say well I can’t say I am well when I am not and then get offended. I have heard people say such terms,
• I am dying to go
• I laughed to death or that tickles me to death
• Take care and it is a pain in the neck
When they are told to change their words, they get offended just as I did when I was first told by a friend to watch my words. Listen, if you are told the truth, don’t be offended but receive the word spoken. Believe it or not, you are ensnared by your words. You will be defeated if you don’t watch your words.

Taking offense at words or actions results into sin. Love is not touchy and being offended because of the truth will affect your Christian walk. It is better to receive the word and check it and change. We have been fed on a psychology of unbelief so that when our beliefs are challenged, we easily put our guards up and end up offended and resenting the preachers. As Christians, we need to grow and you won’t be able to do so unless you desire and receive the sincere milk of the word (1Pet 2:2). Offense will affect you because you will resent folks and start saying things like, “well they are also like me”, “they are trying to be like God”, “who do you think you are?” and down the trench you will go.

Avoiding offense is a decision that you decide to take before and during the temptation to get offended because of anything. Let me also say this. You may be right to get offended about something (of course never at the word of God) but the word of God says Love is not touchy or resentful. Are you already there-at the point of not being offended? Many of us are not, but thank God that we can grow in Love and get our lives in a better position to receive from God, live healthy lives and be rich. Be watchful of your words and what others say but avoid offense.

The Conforming Church

The Conforming Church, the Condemning Church
Go ye into the world and preach politics! Involve yourself in the world; conform to their standards so that they become believers. This is what is taking place but that is not bible.

I have had a burden for my nation in the past months especially concerning the leadership and the church as a whole. This has been on my heart for some time and I want to share it.
The Church has never been called to politics but to preach the gospel to all men and make disciples out of them. Interestingly, the church in Uganda has taken to politics to a level where divisions are evident in congregations due to different political affiliations. Listen, God has called us to be witnesses of this gospel to all men and not to campaign for any party in our pulpits. Secondly, we have not been called to join the heathen and say all the nonsense about the economy, forests, etc. Well, I can hear some voices saying that evil prospers when good men keep quiet. I have grown to hate popular sayings because people just quote them without thinking. It is not about talking but standing up for the truth and doing the right thing.

The Church is not praying for the leadership of this nation especially His Excellency the president-Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his cabinet. All we are doing is linking up with the heathen and speaking nonsense. I don’t care whether you support NRM, FDC, CP, JEEMA, or even the independents, you as a believer MUST (mark the word, must) pray for the president and all leadership. I can say boldly that Evil triumphs when the righteous of God ignore their positions. Museveni is not the problem, and if you think that by change of governments, you will get rich, and all will be well, you have another thought coming. The bible gives us ways to become rich and I for one don’t believe that my increase depends on the economy of any state in this world. Well, you may be asking, “now, who is the problem?” The answer is it is you because you are not praying and even when you pray, you undo your prayers with your words.

Recently as I chatted with a friend, she talked about church leaders inviting secular artists into their churches to entertain the congregation. I didn’t pay attention to it until I landed on a paper supporting it. I learnt a long way back that attacking God’s ministers is one of the easiest ways to get sick quick but it is biblical to judge the fruit for by their fruit you will know them. The church is not an entertainment center and it shouldn’t be. Increase in church numbers is important if it is about the word of God and not “Katemba”. As believers, we must be a strong force and not wimps who are fed on unbelief and trash this week and a little snack of the word the other week. Just call a prayer meeting vs a dancing show and see the one that attracts more. This is one reason why we are having many people who just live from miracle to miracle. Whether the heathen sing “gospel” songs, we need to see those save for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Putting the name Jesus in a song doesn’t make it a gospel song. There is a rally driver called Jesus. We need fruit.

WAY FORWARD: Constructive criticism is okay but dishonoring your president or pastor or Jesus is wrong. The bible says, “Render honor to whom honor is due”. If you think he doesn’t deserve it, then pray for him but I know he deserves it. I have heard Christians say, “omusajja akaddiye”, “Man, the guy has lost it” while another literally said He was stupid. I just knew they were not praying and if they were, they were praying for his dismissal. It is little wonder that we even don’t get answers to our personal needs.
Prayers should be made first of all for those in leadership. Listen and this is what I sense in my heart, the church needs to pray that peace shall continue to prevail that the gospel may be preached. The devil has sought to concern the church with minor issues and by the time it wakes up, it may be too late. I have included an excerpt from the book, “The believer’s Prayer Life”

First Of All
Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Peter 2:13-16

In 1 Timothy 2, we are told to pray first of all for all men but in particular for kings and all who are in authority. Before praying for ourselves or something else, we must first of all pray for our government authorities. Of course if we were going to eat and I asked you to pray for the food, you wouldn’t start praying for kings and all who are in authority. That would be misplaced. All that Paul is telling Timothy is that praying for our leaders should have priority in our prayer life. Why should we put them first in our praying? Why should we give them priority? Verse 2 and 3 say,

“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and reverence. For [or because] this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

It’s for our benefit: that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. It is also for the sake of the gospel. You see if there is trouble on the political scene, the Word of God cannot be spread effectively and people will not be reached. So God wants us to pray for our leaders so that the Gospel will have a free course in our nation and there will be peace. The bible says that government authorities are God’s judgement arm on those who do evil.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” -Romans 13:3, 4

God’s word says the authorities are God’s ministers sent to execute wrath on him who practices evil. So we can bring God’s word to Him like lawyers believing that our leaders will indeed be what the Word of God says they are – a terror to evil works – a terror to drug abuse, abortion, sexual abuse, child abuse, pornography, crime and anything else that is evil. If we pray for our leaders based on God’s word, these evils will no longer run rampant in our country.

Contentment not Competition

Never in our age have we seen such emptiness and lack of satisfaction among people like in this generation. In the age where the companies produce new technology making a product they produced 2 weeks ago obsolete, contentment is very crucial.Contentment is learnt.
Contentment as different from satisfaction is not dependant on the outside. Contentment looks at all situations and its attitude still remains despite the situation. Contentment is learnt and you grow in it. You can be content in lack, plenty or even famine because you don’t look to the outside but the inside. Paul in Phil 4:11 stated that he had learnt to be content in any state. Satisfaction is about being filled and it is dependant on what comes from out. Prosperity is our inheritance as children of God but if you don’t learn contentment when you still have little, you won’t be content with a lot.

Contentment Comes due to Revelation
In Hebrews 13, the Holy Spirit teaches us not to covet but to be content with such things as we have. This contentment is a result of revelation of God’s abiding presence. When you understand that God will never leave you nor forsake you, you start being content even in the midst of lack because you are ready and equal to anything. Phil 4:13, a common text of scripture, in the Amplified Bible reads “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” This is one reason why people have ended up with schemes to get rich quick bse of lack of knowledge of this basic truth.

Godliness with contentment is great gain
The bible states clearly that godliness is profitable not only in this life but also in the life to come. (1Tim 4:8). Now godliness is profitable, but now notice that the bible adds that godliness with contentment is great gain(1Tim 6:6). Lack of contentment is one reason why some people wanting to grow rich have ended up in destruction. Being rich is okay and it is ours but you have to learn to be content in order to enjoy the riches and also keep your soul otherwise… So grow in contentment. Competition is healthy but if you are trying to keep up with the Joneses, you are in for a rude awakening. Learn to run the race set before you, be motivated by others but don’t try to outrun anybody.

Remember that Contentment is learnt.

Trouble the Trouble and Leave it Restless

Hey, I am broke. My life is not interesting at all. All I have is problem after problem and I can’t figure out what tomorrow will bring. From the way things appear, I can not expect any better. I am just an old sinner saved by Grace and probably God is mad at me for the sin I committed last week which I confessed to him. I surely do not know what to do but I just have to bear and go on. You know life is not easy. Sometimes you are up and then down. It is like I am the headquarters of problems from which others correspond.
Hey! What are you talking about? You ask. I am talking about the common course of our mouths when we are faced with hard times. Look, at least you have said one of the above statements in your life expressly or impliedly. Actually I limited the list cause I have heard some weird ones especially in my native language (luganda).

Lets get this clear that anybody on the face of the earth has and will have problems or trouble but you don’t have to stay in it. But, you determine whether you stay in it or not. Behold, your problem is not unique to you alone. Gird your loins now for what I am about to share will set you free.

First, problems will come. Secondly, know the source of your problem-you, satan or other people. Lastly act in line with the word of God.

Trouble will come and Know its source.
Joh 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you*, so that in Me you* shall be having peace [or, freedom from anxiety]. In the world you* have tribulation, _but_ be taking courage, _I_ have overcome the world!” (ALT)
Psa 34:19 “Many7227 are the afflictions7451 of the righteous:6662 but the LORD3068 delivereth5337 him out of them all.4480, 3605 “(KJV+)
Eph 6:13 “For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you* shall be able to resist in the day of evil, and having accomplished [or, overcome] everything, to stand firm. “(ALT)

God has already warned us that the evil day will come, that tribulation and afflictions will come but we need to be prepared. I want to emphasize this so that you have the right perspective of trouble because your perspective will affect your overcoming. EVIL DOES NOT COME FROM GOD. Earthquakes, hurricanes are not acts of my God but another god-satan. Unless you cause the problem by being a busy body or poking our noses into other peoples affairs (1Pe 4:15), God has no evil for every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17), it is satan who causes them. God is good and when you talk about God, you talk about good. Some people get in trouble and are devastated because they don’t have knowledge and blame God while others accept it as the will of God. We need to understand that accepting trouble as the will of God has led to people settling with lack, sickness and other problems. Look, trouble comes but we are supposed to get through it, becoming better and better. There are situations that occur and immediately I tell the devil, I’ve been here 10 times and I know I will overcome and I did. That is the spirit of a fighter. Be a fighter. Do not fight your mum, wife or friends, but the good fight of faith.

What to do when trouble comes.
Act 27:22-25 “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of life among you, but of the ship.
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Saying, Fear not, Paul;…Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it will be even as it was told to me.”

Psa 50:14-15 “Offer to God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows to the Most High:
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
Psa 107:17-20 “…Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
Read James 5:13, Psalms 91:15, 1 Pet 4:9

When you understand that God is good and that He has a plan to do you good and that He is willing to do you good, you will win in every circumstance. Trouble doesn’t indicate the presence or lack of the will of God. We have one camp saying that if you don’t have hard times, then there is something wrong so they are looking for something hard. Another camp says that when you have faith, you are just floating on the river of time on flowery beds of ease ( Kuseyeya stuff). They are both equally wrong because trouble will come but its absence doesn’t show that you are not in the will of God. There is the trial of their faith but it is not continuous. So let’s deal with the way to overcome.

1. Shut Up!
It is better to shut up than yap about your problems to every one who dares to listen. I am not against sharing problems but organizing pity parties. Don’t look for people to say sorry, but instead look for people to help you get out. Secondly often times, instead of being objective, we complain about how he/she caused it, how it is their fault and wind up getting more frustrated. God doesn’t like complaining, murmuring because it is a sign of doubt and unbelief. It is an evil report. Read Numbers 14. When am in a problem, I look for people who will give me the WORD OF GOD cause experiences can only help so much. Don’t misunderstand me, they are good but are limited in their operation. When you keep quiet you are able to think. Sometimes we talk much and say stuff that seems pious but it is just unbelief Things like “if God could just take half of this”. Sorry, He wants to save you of it all.

2. Pray and call Upon God
Ps 50:15. God says call unto me in your day of trouble and I will come and deliver you and you shall glorify me. Listen, God desires that He helps you in your day of trouble so call unto him(pray). People spend a lot of time talking about the problem instead of praying. Daniel when he had understood by the books that their end of their captivity was past, held debates and made consultations. No! He sought God through prayer. Let your first response to problems be like that of the apostles-prayer. (Acts 4:24-31)

3. Cast Your Cares Upon God
People usually say take care. A friend of mine usually says cast care. I know his basis is 1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Please understand that you don’t have any business worrying about tomorrow or the future because Mat 6:27. Learn to cast your cares upon the Lord and leave them there. We cast them their through prayer and we take them by our speaking. You pray believing God for money and then you meet me, I tell you how the economy is weird and you start narrating how you have not had money for a week and even don’t know how the next week will be. Look you have taken it up again, please cast it again and leave it there. When you are in the company of pity party goers, complainers and their other counterparts, doubters etc, just SHUT UP!

4. Rest and Sing
Paul said, “I believe God… that it shall be as it was told me”. Look until you know what God has said, you will be restless and look like a like a hen in a west Texas hailstorm-perplexed. It is people who believe and whose minds are stayed on God that will be kept in perfect peace. These folks know that God has and will never disappoint his chosen ones so they bank on Him. Learn to sing when all that is around you is weird. When your back is against the wall so to speak and every circumstance is against you so to speak, instead of complaining, begin to praise and give glory to God.(Rom 4:20).