Most times Communities and societies we live in try to make us conform and unless we stand up to them and only do only that which is good and right, we will end up looking like them. The illustration is when all the guys and the girls want you to do what they think is good in their own eyes. Often they try to get you believe that what they are offering is better than what you know. Or they show you that what you know is not good enough or completely ignore your opinion. What we need to know if we do not know it already is that those people are trying to devalue you and suggest that until one is like them one does not have a life to be excited about.

Shadrach, Meshak and Abednego Stood for the Truth
But the truth is often the reverse of what they are suggesting to you. An excellent example is a story from the Bible in the book of Prophet Daniel chapter 3. This is the story of three Hebrew boys who had been carried into exile when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon destroyed the country of Judah in 352 BC. Shadrach, Meshach and Abedinego were serving in the palace of the King when he had a dream and acted upon it. He built a golden statue and put it in the plains of Ono to worshipped by the whole of his Empire. But Daniel, and his friends Shadrach Meshak and Abednego defied the king’s command by not defiling themselves and worship a golden image because they obeyed the Commandment of the Lord- “You shall not make any graven image and worship it…”

The young people were in exile far away from home and from the temple of their God and therefore they could do anything they wished. There were no priests or other religious leaders to keep them in line so to speak. The society they lived in was very challenging because the Kings command was final and the law of the society could not be changed. Most of the people did hat they were asked to especially by the King and promotion in the Kings court often followed the obedience.  But the three boys stuck to what they knew was right and true and decided to obey the Lord God.

Dan 3:12-15

“But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon– Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego– who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Standing up even to the King the three Hebrew young men, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” They knew very well that if their God does not show up and save them they would be roasted, but we should be very clear when it comes to their obeying God. They would rather die than worship the image set up by the King.

But to their delight and to the amazement of the Nebuchadnezzar, God actually showed up  for them and they did not burn in the blazing fire which moments before, the flames from that fire killed the mighty men of the King who were commanded to throw Shadrach Meshach and Abednego into the fire.

Remaining loyal to the truth learned in the Church and other Christian group eventually pays off. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego ended in triumph for the Young Hebrew people and their God. Staying in the truth eventually pays off even for the young and old people today.

By Benoni Mugarura-Mutana

How many times are we taught lessons before we are changed by what we have learned? I am talking about the good things that change our lives for better.

Perhaps many of us are never changed by what we learn because of the way we are taught.  Perhaps we have become accustomed to ignoring important lessons, choosing to live our lives as we please.

Think of the last seminar, workshop of conference you attended.  Were you changed or did things return to normal?  Was it back to the same routine, back to old habits until the next conference or seminar?

Consider our situation in Uganda.  Our education system is based on passing examinations.  Educationists have debated this problem for years, but the change is yet to come.

Why, for instance, would any child growing up in Uganda be taught in history about the Boston Tea Party, the geography of the Rhine River or the Canadian prairies?  There are many subjects taught in Ugandan schools that are inapplicable to our situation and so the information given is forgotten as soon as it is taught.  It does nothing to increase real knowledge or give skills to the learner.

Strangely the teaching of real skills subjects – those that can prepare students for the world – are ignored and relegated to select vocational colleges and the School of Life.

Unfortunately the teaching and learning of the Word of God is often approached in the same way. It is not unusual for people to go to church every Sunday and to ignore the Word of God.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3 NIV)

This says, unequivocally, that there is no other way to heaven.  There is only one way to salvation: accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Rejection of this lesson will lead to harsh consequences.

Again Jesus says,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)

The next time you hear the Word of God, you can make a conscious decision to take it to heart in order for it to change your life.  It is intended to build you up in your faith and bring you to salvation.

The morning of Wednesday March 25th, I woke up prompted by the Holy Spirit to write this message to the Church of Uganda in particular, but to the Church of Jesus Christ as a whole. Here it is based on the two scriptures:

Matt 26:45 - Then He returned to the disciples and said to them,“Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Mark 14:41 - Returning the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Are you still sleeping? As if to say, don’t you see what is going on? The day was very dark for the Savior and He had to wrestle with the whole idea of death that was coming very fast. He had been fighting with the flesh and had told them that the spirit is willing but the flesh was weak.  It was a very difficult time for the Lord and yet the disciples were sleeping.

Matthew, in the text above says “He (Jesus) returned to his disciples…” He had gone way from them and not that far. In the midst of friends He felt very lonely and needed to wrestle alone with the fact He was as good as dead. Growing up in a Roman Empire He must have seen the people who were killed by crucifixion and He very well knew that it was soon going to be His turn. How did He know, you may ask?

“When they came together in Galilee, He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.They will kill him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.” (Matt 17:22-23)

“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death…” (Matt 20:18)

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me.”(Matt 24:9).

“We are going up to Jerusalem,” He said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles.” (Mark 10:33)

“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” (Luke 9:44)

Jesus had warned his disciples about the whole ordeal but it seems they, like Judas Iscariot thought that probably He would slip out of their hands or do something and defeat the enemies. But this was for real and He would be dead in a very short time. He had said to the whole group, “Sit here while I pray.”

He later took those who were very closer to Him, Peter James and John. These were the people He took wherever He went. Before He left them for a place a little further and “begun to be deeply distressed and troubled” and He actually said out to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” (Mark. 14:34). Then He stepped a little further and fell down on the ground and prayed that if it was possible the hour might pass from Him. The cry came from the depth of His being, “Abba, Father,” He said, “Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

How could they be asleep and resting when their Master was going through such a time of torment? Yet the Bible says that they were resting and in fact asleep. Mark says Jesus spoke out to Peter and I can hear His voice almost quivering as He said to Peter when he found them sleeping again, “Simon,” He said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” (Mark 14:37)

Could you not keep watch for one hour?  The Lord is now looking at the Church in the 21st century and asking the same question. Church are you asleep? Can’t you see the people I died for perish and yet I went through the suffering, the agony to pay the price for their salvation?

Are you sleeping to the extent that my people are being enslaved by the sins they commit, diseases and demonic oppression? Are you sleeping when wolves are devouring My sheep, is a very genuine question the Lord is asking the church today.

We must answer the question the Lord is asking. Especially if He comes the third time.

“Returning the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Mark 14:41)

Can you imagine? A third time and this time He has a very important emphasis, “Are you still sleeping and resting?”When My people are continuing to be sacrificed to demons and at the alter of the ancestral gods, you are still sleeping and resting? Busy in the politics of the church and struggling to make ends meet?

Have you forgotten the scripture that I shall supply all your needs according to the treasures I have in heaven? My people are being lied to and church you have not come out with the truth in the market place but remained in the four walls of your church building and as I said long ago, My people continue to perish for lack of knowledge!

“Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

What is your personal response?”