JESUS - OUR HIGH PRIEST

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV)

“Seeing that we have a High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

In the Old Testament it was unheard of for people to talk to God directly; they would always present their sacrifices and offerings to a high priest who was chosen by God to represent them in the Holy of Holies. This was a not a role taken on by any ordinary man but the high priest who was chosen by God from a specific clan because it would lead to death if done otherwise (Leviticus 16). Presentation of offerings and sacrifices was limited to the high priest who would represent the twelve clans of Israel (Exodus 28). 
We thank God because He gave the greatest sacrifice in order to redeem humanity. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (GNT) says; “Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.” 

We are no longer required to give sacrifices as was the case in the Old Testament (Leviticus 4:1-5); because at the cross, Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice. Colossians 2:13-14 (NLT) says; 
“You were dead because your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”

We are in a covenant that speaks better things than any other blood. The blood of Jesus cleanses us and takes away our sins. Jesus rendered all forms of sacrifices devoid of power. The bible says in Hebrews 12:24 (NLT) says; “You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.”

In Exodus 28:11, the twelve stones represented the tribes of Israel and the Christians in the New Testament, implying that Jesus carries us on His shoulders and the breast-piece on His heart means that God has our concerns at heart (Exodus 28:29); and that is why the bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP); “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 

Cast all your burdens, sicknesses, worries, challenges and fears unto Jesus because He not only cares but has the solutions to them as well. Jesus redeemed us and removed all limitations that were in the Old Testament law; the sacrifice of the lamb of God granted us full access to the Father through him. All we need to do is to ask in his name and it shall be done. He assures us in John 14:13 that; “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son”. 

The curtain was torn into two after Jesus’ death on the cross (Mathew 27:50-51) and we can now approach the throne of grace and forgiveness. Because of Jesus, we no longer need someone to represent us or present our issues because we can approach God directly; we are no longer bound and limited in our communication to God because at the cross, the veil was torn down. 
Jesus is the final priest between man and God. Unlike other priests who lived and died; Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead never to die again. Hebrews 7:23-24 (NLT) says; “There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever”

Before Christ, the holiest place of the tabernacle was entered once a year by the high priest. But that was just a shadow of the true Holy Place in heaven where God dwells, so our High Priest is alive forevermore; and is with God above the heavens in the holiest place in the universe. Jesus the Son of God pleads our cases by his own blood; for He has immediate access to God in heaven day and night. Hebrews 7:25 (AMP) says; 
“Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].”

He was not merely a human exalted to this priestly place. He is the divine Son of God who created the earth and the heavens (Hebrews 5:5-6). This gives his sacrifice its infinite worth. Jesus did not take the blood of calves and goats into the heavenly temple but his own precious blood (Hebrews 9:12), so our High Priest is alive forevermore; He is with God above the heavens in the holiest place in the universe and  pleading my case by his own blood.

STRIVE TO GROW SPIRITUALLY

Pr. Geoffrey Kibombo

Ephesians 4:11-15 (NIV)

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

A seed no matter how small and seemingly lifeless bears life; and when the time is right and the seed is sown, it germinates and sprouts; and then you are able to see the life within the once seemingly lifeless seed. After those stages, it bears branches and fruit. So just like a seed, Salvation bears life and anything that has life grows. In salvation there must be growth as you move from one level to the next - infant to maturity. You must grow and start to perceive things from the vantage point of maturity as seen in the scripture above 

Five-fold Ministry

We read in Ephesians 4:11 above that God put in place the five-fold ministry to cause the church to grow spiritually so that we are not shaken and tossed about by any doctrine. The things that hinder you from your blessing are increasing in your life, and thus you should position yourself to be in a place where you can stay in the narrow road amidst all the challenges. Challenges are part of your salvation life; therefore you cannot take them away. But when you are spiritually mature, you consider the challenges as an opportunity and lesson.

The role of the five-fold ministry is to bring the church to a level of growth so as to become a mature entity and take on the likeness of Christ. This way the church will not be shaken to and fro by every wind of teaching or doctrine. One of the roles of the five-fold ministry is to cause you to receive the spiritual benefits available to Christians so that they grow and attain spiritual maturity; so that they are able to make informed and, right decisions and bear fruits. 

Grow in the Word 

2 Peter 3:18 (AMP)

“Grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 

So one of the debts you have as a Christian is not only to grow in age or be in salvation for long, but for you to come to a certain level of understanding in the way you perceive things, make decisions and how you respond and react to situations that come your way. 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) says;
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”

Spiritual maturity gives you a different perspective - when you are spiritually mature, you make rightful and wise decisions amidst challenges. That is why it is important to desire maturity in our hearts and to partake of the spiritual food for mature people. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (NLT) that;
“Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready”

Paul used illustrations to prove to the Corinthians that they were still immature (1 Corinthians 11:17-18). We therefore have to come out of the spiritual childishness and ask for the grace of God, and yearn to grow. When the devil is looking for someone to use, or to lead astray, he looks for one who is immature - the devil is always prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8)

Much as he was a Jew, Moses grew up in the palace and was raised in the Egyptian culture. But when he grew up, he realised he was not an Egyptian and declined to be called a child of Pharaoh’s daughter (Hebrews 11:24-26). What made him make such a decision even when he was seeing great things in his life? He had grown in knowing God, His ways and word. Spiritual maturity causes you to make rightful decisions. I know that some believers have made wrong choices and decisions because of ignorance (Hosea 4:6), so its very crucial that you grow in knowing the Word of God so that you can make right and godly decisions. 

Grow in Faith

Luke 8:22-25 (NLT)

“One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out.  23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”

Every new believer is still spiritually young as they have to go through certain teachings. There are some elementary teachings and low level classes we need to go through. Some skipped those classes and didn’t learn some things. Every class you attend teaches and equips you with truth that helps you to overcome and be victorious. The bible teaches us that some of the elementary lessons we need to learn is to have faith in God. Many people in this generation put their faith in other things - jobs, businesses, family etc. We can see Jesus in Luke 8 above asking the disciples where their faith was. This shows that one of the things they did not comprehend is to have faith even amidst storms. The faith of every Christian should be unmoved irrespective of the situation, but stand tall and be able to move mountains (Mathew 17:20).

One of the first principles we have to know is that faith grows – little acts of faith grows your faith immeasurably. Faith grows when it’s applied and exercised several times. Some of the challenges in life come to nurture and grow your faith in God. The bible says in James 1:2-3 (AMP) that; 
"Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]."

To a believer, the desert is a training ground filled with challenges, problems and trials as lessons to grow your faith (Deuteronomy 8:2-4).  

Grow in contentment

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”

We have seen that Moses preferred to suffer the affliction with God's people because he knew the reward in the end. When one matures, they forsake what is not right, however good it may be  and wait for the things that originate from God no matter the delay. 

In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas overcome the unfavourable conditions in the jail cell to pray and praise God. They had been unjustly beaten, arrested and thrown into prison. Yet, somehow, Paul and Silas found it in themselves to praise to God. Some of us haven’t been imprisoned for our faith, but the principle is the same for us as it was for Habakkuk, Paul, and Silas - we can always find a reason to praise God irrespective of the circumstances because God’s worth never changes. It takes maturity in Christ for one to be content and happy with the little God has blessed him with. A spiritually mature person will be content in all seasons of life, and lack or trials of life will not wither or derail their faith and belief in God. When life is not fruitful and rosy some people choose the path of bitterness and complaint as their response to God but a spiritually mature Christian will choose a path of contentment and praise

We need to praise and glorify God in all seasons - whether we have plenty or in deficiency. Do not change according to the situations. Spiritual maturity enables one to be content and be grateful in all situations. David encourages us in Psalm 103 to bless the Lord and forget not His benefit. You may not have everything you need or desire but a mature believer looks back and appreciates how far God has brought him or her. Contentment is an act of maturity, learn to be content always. 

Grow in Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25 (AMPC)

“Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.”

Some Christians are like young children who you need to persuade to go to church. Such are still spiritually immature. We need to grow to the level of David who was; glad when he was told to go to the house of the Lord - Psalm 122:1. We go to church to spiritually service our souls with praise, worship, the word and testimonies. When we regularly fellowship, we partake of the spiritual food - word of God which causes us to grow spiritually. Whenever you have the ability to do so, always attend fellowship to get the spiritual food and be well fed so that when the devil tries to attack you, he will lose because you are spiritually immune to his tactics and ways.

In the spiritual world the devil can discern those who are not well nourished spiritually. But when you regularly and continuously fellowship and attend various church services like bible study, overnight, youth fellowship, combat service, Sunday service and others, you are eating a balanced diet – you learn the word, how to pray, make spiritual friends and your faith is built by testimonies of others. However, some Christians keep away from church when faced with problems yet the answer is in church - for church is the mountain of God where we get victory over our battles and overcome our challenges (Hebrews 12:22).

If you have failed to forgive someone for 10 years, it means you are stuck in the forgiveness class for 10 years. Spiritual growth is not like universal education. You will not be promoted because you are past the required age for that class, however if you fail to pass, you will never leave that class and you can even die when you are still immature in that area. In the heavenly system you will repeat that class until you transform to the likeness of Christ. Do not be like Moses who failed the class of anger management, and it eventually cost him - he was forbidden from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12).

What goes on in the fellowship or church service is necessary for your spiritual growth, therefore do not give up the act of congregating with those of like faith and belief (Hebrews 10:25). You need to listen to what is being preached by the servants of God. Each testimony, teaching and revelation of the word has a valuable ingredient needed for you to grow spiritually.

A great percentage of the problems we have in church are because of spiritual immaturity, but if we work on growing in Christ, we shall overcome most of them. What will cause you to grow in Christ and attain spiritual maturity? Going deeper in the Word of God; stretching our faith; learning to be content in all seasons, and constant fellowship.

May God give you the grace to grow to the likeness and character of Christ

1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (NLT)

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away”

LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

John 1:1 (ESV)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The Bible was written by the Holy Spirit through inspiring the prophets (2 Peter 1:19-21, 2 Tim 3:16); and after the shading of the blood and death of Jesus, it pleased God the Father to give the world the gift of the Holy Spirit since the temple - man had been cleansed. After Jesus had been taken to heaven, the Father released the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost. The bible says in Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) that;

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”

Since then, all members of the body of Christ received the Holy Spirit. You too have the Holy Spirit because you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. And because you have the Holy Spirit, He speaks to you every day about the heart of God and heaven’s plans towards man. 

The Word Nurtures the Spirit

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

In this time, some people might say, we have been seeking God for a long time and we should choose to take a break right now. But we have two lives to cater for - physical and spiritual. When we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, we became a new creation (2 Corinth 5:17). So it’s your responsibility to feed the new creation. The new being is fed by the word of God. The word you listen to helps the new creation to grow from one stage to another. When you do not feed the baby, he becomes malnourished. And when this happens, it affects the health and growth process.

As Christians, we need to know that there are spiritual responsibilities such as waging wars spiritually; but if you are weak spiritually, you can’t fight such a war.

We very well know that bad situations around us are engineered in the spiritual world. So if you keep feeding your inner man with the word of God by, fellowship, fasting and prayer, you will become spiritually stronger and withstand any challenge that comes your way, because you’re strong and healthy spiritually. Unfortunately, some Christians are spiritually weak; their spirits are malnourished – they don’t read and study the Word, don’t fellowship and their prayer lives is at the lowest.

It’s true that man does not live by bread alone because food alone cannot make you happy in this life. You need to balance your spiritual and physical life. You feed your spiritual life by feeding on the word that comes from the mouth of God and flows from the throne of God (1 Corinth 10:3).

The devil wants to use this chaotic season to kill your spiritual life, to kill the fruits of the Holy Spirit and, to take away the peace and joy of God you have been enjoying. In order to resist the devil, you will need to read, study, meditate and be a doer of the word, and by this you will have fought a good fight. 

Heed to the Word Without Any Diversion

Luke 10:42 (NIV) that;

“Few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

During a personal or communal devotion, if you want to hear and understand the words of the kingdom of God, close all the channels that might divert your attention and concentration. Things like radio, TV, phone etc can easily distract and divert you from the word so you need to close all those distraction avenues. The sermon is not made up of mere words, but come with a revelation and the Holy Spirit explains profoundly to you when you pay attention.

Once the word is preached or taught, the Holy spirit helps to interpret it for you; but if you're in church and you are doing a number of things while trying to listen to the word, you will miss God’s revelation in the word.

Mary chose to sit down and listen to Jesus yet Martha was distracted by other preparatory works (Luke 10:38-42). In the same way, what you do for God in church is good, but the word that God brings is better and more important. Try doing all the things that might distract you beforehand so that when the word starts you are focused and attentive. When you hear the word with a calm and attentive spirit, the Holy Spirit begins to interpret it and you get a revelation.

It’s the revelation that causes spiritual growth. But some ministers in church miss such a time because they are busy moving up and down. Truth is you are serving but you are losing and missing out on what is better and most needed. The greatest portion is for you to hear the word and understand the word of God so that you can grow spiritually. 

Jesus, Our breath

Job 12:10 (ESV)

“In his hand is the life of every living thing and breath of all mankind.” 

In these 30 days of congregational suspension, the devil is very calculative to make the weak backslide, to derail those that don’t have faith but we shall stand by the word that comes from the mouth of God because it is food for our spirits and it’s what makes us move. Jesus is our oxygen; if you take Him away from us we are finished. The bible says in Acts 17:28 (NKJV) that; “For in him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'for we are also His offspring."
By the time we came to Jesus we were long dead, but he breathed in us new life, so you should not let anyone or thing separate you from Jesus. In the word, we hear from Him and get life that will see us through the days to come - for His words are spirit and life (John 6:63).

Some people think that we come to church to be prayed for but that is not the case because there are things He has given us without asking. A case in point, have you asked Him for the breath of life? No. Or asked for the sun to rise? The main reason we come to church is to listen to what God is saying. In the beginning, God would go to Adam and Eve every day. Why? He wanted to communicate to them and for His presence to dwell with them.

Our life is like a phone, you need to charge the battery to keep the phone on. Whenever the word comes to you, you get charged and can hear from God clearly. The power that comes from the word is what keeps us spiritually healthy and our souls awake. That’s why we do not come to church because of the problems we have since He can even take them away without us asking. For instance, some people have testified about receiving healing without being prayed for. All they did was to sit in God’s presence and listen to the word, and God dealt with their sicknesses. 

God Will Take Care of Us

Psalm 37:18-19 (NKJV)

“The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”

From the day you received salvation, God changed your name; He started calling you an upright person; you are upright by the blood of Jesus and the grace of God. If that's the case, God knows the longevity of the upright so He guards and observes it. I don’t want us to doubt God, so stop thinking that this pandemic is going to kill you before time.

The scripture above has said that for the upright; their inheritance shall be forever. This means that the things God has given you as an inheritance are not temporary. While the situation may give you the impression that your days are numbered; but if you know the truth, take heart and stand still because God knows your days. If God purposed for you to live for 90 years, even when a bad situation comes at 60 years, you will live as long as God planned for you. So to those who are washed by the blood of Jesus, nothing will come your way; nothing will befall you because God is going to hold you and fight everything that is fighting you because he knows your days.

There are two things that God considers and guards jealously - your days and your inheritance. You might look for the background of a born-again Christian and fail to trace it simply because God picks us from dust and sets us among princes (Psalm 113:7-8, 1 Samuel 2:7-8).  

Some of the things we got in salvation were under another person’s ownership but God chose to give them to us. Just like Canaan, it was not for Hebrews but God gave it to them (Deuteronomy 1:7-8). We are co-heirs with Christ; and because we inherit whatever God gives us, He puts a caveat and a hedge upon our inheritance and protects it, and no one can take it away.

The good and blessed life that you have is inherited, so don’t pay attention to those saying that this is not your place, position or possession. When God decides to give you a place, He casts down the inhabitants. Psalm 44:2 (NIV) says; “With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.”

Stop seeing problems and you think they are going to destroy you. The God who guards those that are upright through the cleansing blood of Jesus knows your days and guards them. You will not die before your appointed days. God promises us in Exodus 23:26 (AMP) that; “None shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”

God can never change His word, secondly your inheritance shall be forever because what you have is an inheritance from God and it is everlasting. Some situations say that what you have is temporary but if you got it from God, its everlasting – we are what we are by the grace of God.

Don’t Consider the Signs

You shall not be put to shame in these hard times. There are many things standing in our way at home and places of work but never be moved by signs because the devil uses them a lot to destroy our faith. We walk by the word of God. Even when the surrounding circumstances signal death, discard them because the bible says in Psalm 118:17 (GNT) that; 

“I will not die; instead, I will live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.”

Always be interested in He who has the final say about your life because He knows your future and your tomorrow. For we are born of God; are washed by the blood of Christ and the government that cares for us is the heavenly one; so we have special protection and angels are surrounding us as seen in Psalm 37 above

People are now wondering what they will do during or after the 30 days but its not your plan that will enable you to survive. Even when you have 100 plans and God has not blessed them, none can prosper (Proverbs 3:5). Fix your eyes unto the Lord and allow your faith to grow; for He will make a way.

God knew before hand, that you would experience every situation you are going through and also came up with a solution, so when the devil raises dust, focus your eyes on God and, have faith in Him and His word.

Isaiah 45:22 (GNT) 
“Turn to me now and be saved,
 people all over the world!
I am the only God there is.”

FOCUS YOUR EYES ON GOD

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Psalm 46:1-4 (NIV)

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day”

You might be worried thinking that the world has come to an end. But personally, when I am going through a situation, I always want to know what God is saying. These days, the entire world wants to know what America and other super powers are saying about the situation, but as Christians, we long to hear from God because He has the answer and solution to our questions and worries.

You should note that there is nothing new word under the sun. Everything has happened before; and every word you expect from the throne, is written somewhere in the Bible. Everything that we are going through has ever happened. Everything that you think of has happened before. So if this is the case, the Creator of heaven and earth is the ultimate solution to every problem and the answer to every question under the sun.

God Our Refuge

Psalm 46:1a (NIV)
“God is our refuge…..”

I asked God about the current situation of the lock down; I told Him, the president was going to speak, what happens next? God told me, my child, Psalm 46. The Bible says that God is our refuge in times of trouble and for that case, we will fear not and we shall not be shaken.

The devil is always looking for someone to devour; there are so many things running after us and so we run to Jesus to seek refuge, and when we get to Jesus, He welcomes us with open arms and promises to protect us. When you present your issues before God and surrender your worries and burdens unto Him, He will invite you to dwell with Him and also unburden you.

In the same way, with all the problems in the country and the world at large, our refuge is in God because when we run to Him, we are assured of protection – God is our fortress (Psalm 46:7). The Bible says in Psalm 125:2 (NIV) that; “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

In this time when people are puzzled and scared about the recurring calamities and pandemic, just know that you are special; God is going to protect you. He is your refuge in a torn and insecure world. 
Christians are like a grasshopper in a glass bottle; when a hen tries to peck it, there is an impenetrable barrier - the glass, and so the hen ends up hurting itself. The grasshopper is safe in the bottle as long as it does not focus on the hen. Imagine you are the grasshopper, don’t look at the hen; don’t consider or focus on the virus even if it gets to the neighbourhood; It shall not come near you (Psalm 91:7, Psalm 91:9-10)

I want to tell you that during this time trust in the Lord. He who spoke is faithful; He protected Israel and they went through the desert for forty years. They were sleeping in the wilderness and going through hardships but they did not fall sick because God was protecting them. He put His protection upon them. The God who protected them will also protect you. God knows you and you need to remind yourself about this. The calamities have always been around but they did not consume the believers. In the same way, let us believe that God is going to protect us. This storm means something, It wants us to understand God more and get a revelation of His word.

God is our refuge. Just as refugees are taken care of by the host country, we equally have a host country and that is heaven and it will supply all our needs this season. He dropped Manna from heaven and no one died of hunger. Today He will not send Manna but He will make a way out because His ways are higher than ours. He will take care of your burdens when you surrender them to Him; and when they ask, the answer is that God is your refuge. So don’t fear that you are out of work or that the children are back from school. 

God Our Strength

Psalm 46:1b (NIV)
“…….and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”

By the time we came to God, we were void of strength, we were weary, could not fight our enemies and do so many things but when we came to God, He took away our weaknesses and gave us His strength and grace. Apostle Paul always says that He is an apostle by the grace of God, (1 Corinthians 15:9-10) and that is why he is called an apostle of Grace because God revealed Himself to him.

It’s God’s strength that is going to fight our battles. We are what we are by the grace of God which has molded us. Without His grace we would not be born-again. There are a number of things that have attacked you but you have overcome them by the grace of God not your strength because it is very little.

Secondly, God is our shield. We hide in the Lord; He will be at the front-line of the coronavirus pandemic and any other climate calamity. We shall hide in Him as He smites our enemies and everything that is against us. So it does not matter if the world is trembling, for the Bible has said that we should fear not (Psalm 46:2).

People are worried about their survival during this season. I want you to remember that every problem elevates the standard. God wants your faith to be elevated. This seems like the desert and just like the Israelites were in the desert and there was only sand, God had a plan; He sent them Manna from heaven. Therefore, if the situation around you is not favourable, it’s a sign that God is going to provide if you trust and call upon Him. 

The Bible says that He who does not work, shall not eat (2 Thess 3:10) but people in the desert were not working. If it is God who has brought this situation, and has ushered you into the desert, then that same God is going to provide for you all your needs, deliver you and bring everything you were not expecting so that you can know that He is God (Philippians 4:19). Some of you think that God can only work up to some extent. I want to tell you that that’s not all He can do. You are going to see the power of God (Ephesians 3:20).

God has told us to trust in Him and take our eyes off the mountains. Get your eyes from the hen you grasshopper. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Stop looking at coronavirus pandemic, it just creates fear in you yet fear is not our portion – for we are governed by faith.

God the River

Psalm 46:4-5 (TLB) 
“There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God—the sacred home of the God above all gods. 5 God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help.

There is a river inside you - Holy Spirit (John 7:39); you are the city of God; you are God’s dwelling, and the streams of the river make glad the city of God. Jesus said in John 7:38 (ESV) that; 
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 

Jesus does not just have what our souls need, but He is what our souls need in this time and always. He is the bread of life and the living water (John 6:35). We need to focus unto God, trust Him and listen to what He is saying in this trying time when the entire world is on tension. When the situation is upside-down and everyone is giving all sorts of advice, focus on God’s report and His truth - for He is our strength, our refuge; He will unburden us and take care of us in a world that is torn apart by calamities. Even when a mountain like China is uprooted and all other G-20 countries are in chaos, God will be our strength and refuge.

Anytime from now, amazing things are going to happen. In these days, God is going to make those who know and trust Him do exploits (Daniel 11:32).  There are so many things you are going to do because God is your strength, refuge and by His grace we shall overcome.

RAISING THE STANDARD

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Romans 11:11-12 (NLT)

“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

The coming of Jesus was a promise to the Jewish people. For many years God promised Israel a Messiah; for the prophets prophesied and the people waited upon the coming of the promised Messiah (Isaiah 9:6-7). As gentiles, when we talk about the Messiah we may not understand the meaning but in Israel they understood him as the Redeemer, someone who broke the yoke off their hands. Just as the other nations had their small gods and would run to them for solutions, the Israelites had one God, the Creator of heaven and earth.      

Rejected Cornerstone

Because the Messiah’s coming was a promise from God, the people waited for a long time. They probably had big imaginations about the long awaited Messiah: Some may have imagined him as one who would come with wings from heaven and land on Mt. Olive. They had big expectations about the Messiah; however, when Jesus came he came in a different way, not like one coming from heaven; for God’s plan was different. He was born to a poor family in a manger (Luke 2) and this caused some people to doubt whether He was the Son of God (Luke 20). When he grew up, He started a ministry and when he went to his own people, they rejected him and thus decided to give the offer of salvation to the Gentiles (John 1:11). Even Apostle Paul was rejected by Jews in Corinth; they opposed and resisted him, but he shook out his clothes and went to the Gentiles (Acts 18:5-7). The gospel started to be preached to the Gentiles in Rome, Greece and other parts of the world. Acts 28:28 (NIV) says;

 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

We thank God for the Grace, because the gift of Salvation which was meant for the Jews only was also extended to the Gentiles because of their disobedience. Romans 11:11 (NLT) says that; 
“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles.”

The Jews did not understand Jesus, thus rejected Him. We read this in John 1:11-13 (NKJV) that; “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We are now called his sons and daughters instead of only the Jews because they rejected him. We thank God for the Jews because had it not been for the rejection of Christ, we would not have gotten the gift of Salvation. But now we are born again and because of this we are God’s children and have the gift of Salvation

 Shaken unto His House

Whoever has confessed Christ has a prepared place in heaven (John 14:1-3) with good things, plus wealth stored over the years. Therefore be mindful that you store up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). Some Christians will however get to heaven and find nothing at all. But be reminded that whatever you give to the poor, widows, servants of God and church, you will have deposited on the heavenly account.

Every scripture and prophecy has a right season. The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and foundation of life. For His word is alive, active and sharper than any double-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12) However, we should remember that everything happens at the right appointed time. One thing God is going to do in the end times is to raise the standard of the church. The bible says in Isaiah 60:22 (AMP) that; 
“The smallest one will become a thousand (a clan), and the least one a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will quicken it in its [appointed] time.”

This happened in Egypt. God used the Egyptians to give wealth to the Jews. The same will be upon this generation. The time is now when God is going to anoint you with favor and cover you so that no evil comes near you. This is the anointing that is going to hasten the smallest and least to become mighty and great. The despised will become mighty, because the time for this scripture has come to pass. The book of Haggai 2:7-9 (NIV) God says that;

 “I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

The time for this scripture is now. This is the time when God is going to shake the entire universe and cause things to be filled in His house. Every good and beautiful thing that is desired by all nations, God will cause to come to those who love and serve Him. In this scripture God emphasizes that silver and Gold are his, because there have been people of the world making claims to these treasures. But in this generation God is going to give wealth to his people without sorrow added (Proverbs 10:22).

God is going to show this generation that the devil was clinging to the silver and gold yet they belong to Him and he possesses them. God is making it clear that this is the time when He is going to give wealth to his children. Whatever was desired by the nations, God is going to bring it to his children. The glory of this church is going to be better than the former.    

A Season of Greatness and Exaltation

In this generation few genuinely worship God and fewer people do His will. But a time has come when God is going to satisfy those who know Him and do His will. He affirms in the book of Isaiah 45:2-3 (NKJV) that;

‘I will go before you

And make the crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the Lord,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.”

We are now living in the days of these scriptures. Whatever the world desires is now in the church – peace, freedom, health, wealth and the truth. God is going to make your crocked places straight – level mountains before you. Those riches and hidden treasures that no one knows about, God is going to give unto His children. He will do this so that world knows that He is the Lord God who calls you by name (Isaiah 43:1). Those that were not known are going to be lifted and exalted. It is the season for the lowly to be exalted. The bible says in Luke 1:52 (NKJV) that;

“He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly”.

All these great things and much more will come to pass because, before Jesus returns, every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. These are the days when God is going to plant wealth in His house. Even those who have always mocked the gospel will eventually confess Christ and come to church. In these last days we always ensure to have some quality time with God. Whenever you go to another level, your enemies also increase (1 Corinthians 16:9). Every new level has a new devil, so whenever you ascend to a new level, you have got to take up your spiritual armour and every plan of the devil.

What you do not imagine or even expect, is what God is going to do for His children. What is not possible for you, God will use someone else to bring it to pass. You just need to have faith in God and His word and change your perception because God can use different avenues to bless you – for His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Always set your eyes on God and on Him alone. Psalm 44:1-3 (NKJV) says;

“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds you did in their days, in days of old: 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. 3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.”