Category: He leadeth me

Dear young man…

Emmanuel Ebinyu1 Comment

Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendour of old men is their grey head.

Youth is beautiful – a time of strength, beauty, opportunity, and unending potential. However, many young people are simple-minded (Proverbs 1:4) and take occasion to indulge in expeditions that bear a cost far too great to bargain for, and soon they pay with the price of their souls (Matthew 16:26). It is an old English saying that reminds us that there is always payment for the piper.

Youth will simply take the path of adventure, wherein their strength and beauty are appreciated and they are given a place to try out many things. This is why they are always at the forefront of revolutions, innovations, “daredevil” adventures, and all manner of firebrand causes.

In Genesis, we see a man whose strength brought him trouble. Driven by lust, Reuben climbed into his father Jacob’s bed and slept with one of his father’s concubines (Genesis 35:22), an act that brought him trouble and the loss of his place as the firstborn, (the firstborn always took the double portion according to Deuteronomy 21:17), to Joseph (later Ephraim), and eventually to Judah (Psalms 78:67–68) in the blessing of Jacob upon his sons (Genesis 49).

Genesis 49:3-4
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it – He went up to my couch.

In the examination of Reuben, who at the time of his error was a youth, we observe that strength is not always an advantage, for even the “battle is not to the strong” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

Youth ministry, therefore, is a special place in the body of Christ, a time to build godly foundations for the young who will not depart from those ways when they grow old, because cycles of nature that result in age and physical growth are inevitable under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:4–7). A young man, above all, desires the instruction of his father, according to the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:1-2
1My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

In life, there is such a thing as a good foundation. The Lord Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7:24–27 about the two kinds of foundations: solid rock, which provides assurance when the vagaries of life eventually come around (and believe me, they do); and sand, which is the way to a quick fix and will fail in the evil day.

Initially in my journey of discipleship, I thought that as a young man, I needed the things that would entertain me, or even excite and appeal to the standard of the time. I hoped that Church would find a way to always throw one or two updates in their programme to accommodate my energy and the trends of the season that many may be drawn to. But this is the equivalent of asking God to “be flexible” in his commandment and law because a “new breed” is on the scene. It was when I read some scriptures that I invalidated my own views.

Jeremiah 6:16
16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Job 8:8-10
8 “For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers; 9 For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow. 10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and utter words from their heart?

The old paths. The former age. The things discovered by the fathers. These things resounded deep in my heart and soul.

My professor has a saying, “A brilliant flash overview,” to refer to one who has finally come to knowledge already matured in the field. I believe that many young people, when met with their moments of a “brilliant flash overview,” assume that it is a new thing peculiar to their generation, though there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10), and would not believe that those gone ahead of them have passed through the same stages, albeit successfully, to lead good and fulfilled lives. This is why instruction is important for a young person. They need it more than food (Job 23:12).

Proverbs 2:10-12,16
10 When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things….16 To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.

When I first read the story of Reuben, I was saddened to know a man could lose his place because of the consequences of his error. But the Lord is gracious and merciful; when we repent and return to his ways, he will restore us. And I was delighted to read Deuteronomy 33:6, when Moses, in his kingly anointing over Israel, declared upon Reuben a blessing.

Deuteronomy 33:4-6
4 Moses commanded a law for us, A heritage of the congregation of Jacob. 5 And He was King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.
6 “Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few.”

Wisdom inspired by God in scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) that provides knowledge, counsel, good judgement, discretion; and the Holy Spirit, who guides men in their walk, are important aspects that we must emphasise to the youth because soon they will have to ‘put away childhood and youth’ (Ecclesiastes 11:10). Like I once heard from a great man in a sermon, “Young people must be filled with the Word and Spirit of God, not festivities.”

Shalom

My plate

Charlene Nagawa4 Comments

He prepares a table before us; in the presence of our enemies. He fills our cups and they overrun. I was invited to this event, organised by the King. The invitation read, “I know the plans I have for you…” To be fair, I did not read the rest. I shut it quickly and rushed to the event. The welcome team informed me that I had been allocated a table. I thought to myself, “He knows the plans He has for me…”

It was nice to see familiar faces at the table. It was beautifully set, as usual. I questioned my familiarity with the set up and I sensed a certain level of boredom. I felt like I had been there before. BEEN THERE! DONE THAT! Nevertheless, I sat expectantly.  The King arrived at the table and I kept looking around and wondering whether I was dressed right or whether I was dressed like others. The hosts began to worship and I managed to utter out specks of worship. At this point, I noticed a placard before me which read “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

The King spoke, “Quiet your soul and worship me, there is always a mystery to unveil”. An attempt at worship caused the elders to cast their crowns and sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy are you Lord…” I cut that short, I was more interested in knowing these plans He has for me. Excited to see my breakthrough and hear of when it will happen. After all, one of the wall hangings in the room read, “Seek me, and you will find me, and I will show you great and marvellous things.”

So we sat down. The King spoke, but my mind drifted to so many times. I heard so little from him that it forced me to keep inquiring from my neighbours who, might I say, paraphrased it for me according to their understanding. It seemed okay and I was distracted anyway.

Food was served, the daily bread, and it looked amazing but only for a moment. I looked at another’s plate and I realised the serving was very different. I then got disgruntled and called the Angel waiting on us and asked him why I got something different. I looked closely at my plate and realised there were some things that I did not particularly like. They seemed heavy for my stomach; and some – I generally would not pick them on an ordinary day. My heart sank. 

The King rose from his seat and walked up to me. He touched my hand and said “What you have on your plate is sufficient because I am sufficient for you”. He also added, “Do not look at another’s plate. You are unique and your plate is uniquely for you. You must listen to me. You must quiet your soul. You must have a gentle heart and always be thankful. You will rest knowing that my plans for you are good.” The King then walked back to his seat.

The Helper of the King remarked, “I know you did not read the entire invitation”. I immediately reached out to my bag and opened the invitation again. I missed the last clause. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future a hope”.

Putting away childish things

Emmanuel Ebinyu6 Comments

Jacob is my favourite biblical character thus far. He embodies the characteristics of a man who had his fair share of the salvation journey. In Genesis 27, he is the child of his mother, supplanting Esau for the blessing. Genesis 28 is his first encounter with the God of Abraham and Isaac, the first glimpse of what his life was about. In Chapter 29, he continues life’s sojourn to the place of stewardship in Laban’s house. Throughout Genesis 29 to 35, we read about his progression from a young trickster to an old wise man whose encounter with God changes his identity forever, culminating in his ultimate life testimony when he was passing the blessing to Joseph, as captured in Genesis 48:3-4.

Genesis 48:3–4 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
3  And Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to me at Luz [Bethel] in the land of Canaan and blessed me.
4 And said to me, Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make you a multitude of people, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.

When I read Jacob’s story, I see a man who struggles with life, culture, choices, destiny, obedience, stewardship, honour, and everything that living on this earth may bring to anyone. But the scriptures tell us of a man who found the place he may call home—the place God always called him to—the place of his encounters at Bethel.

As a young Christian at the university, in our beloved Makerere University Christian Union, I always looked forward to gaining more knowledge. ‘Epignosis’ and ‘Gnosis’ (and many other Greek words) were part and parcel of the sermon content we looked out for because we were young and grasping for the spectacular in a bid to show our prowess and prove our potential. It was indeed a glorious time; much of it was spent reading the New Testament and continuously immersing in Paul’s letters and his gospel. Gazing back at that time, I now understand why this was important. I see the significance of Christ being formed in us (Galatians 4:19), and I honour every labour that men put in for our growth.

Then came the time after university, when we leapt into the great expanse of the marketplace and nations, just as Jacob had to leave the covering of Rebecca, his mother, and his father’s house. It was inevitable that we dispersed after university; as scriptures elaborate in Ecclesiastes 1:4, ‘one generation passes away and another comes.’ From then on, I had to intentionally walk by the statutes, laws, judgements, testimonies, commandments and ultimately the fear of God, as I had so learned, and I had to ‘allow another to take hold of me.’

“Learning” Christ was wholesome. But, soon after, I had to ‘work out my salvation with fear and trembling’, because I was no longer in the presence of fellow Christians nor under the covering of University Christian Union leaders (whom we affectionately called Papas and Mamas) (Philippians 2:12). Therefore, another had to take hold of me—the Lord’s Spirit himself. God, in his faithfulness, has been and is still ‘working in me,’ as he does in all of his children, ‘both to will and to do.’ Teaching me principles through the lives of men like Jacob, some of which have become increasingly relevant to my salvation journey as I progress through young age towards maturity and sonship:

Discipleship
Possibly the most significant component of the journey. Jacob went into Laban’s house and learned how to raise cattle (Genesis 30:29), and this would be his testimony as his occupation (Genesis 47:3). Every Christian must become an apprentice to a system of soul-winning, follow-up, service, and patterns (Matthew 28:20). It is thus necessary to be planted in a church or ministry in order to be instructed (Psalms 92:13).

Stewardship
Genesis 30 and 31 outline the back and forth between Jacob and Laban’s family concerning the wealth of Laban–his cattle. Laban greatly prospered during Jacob’s tenure with him (Genesis 30:27–29), and the testimony of scripture is that Laban bore witness of increase because of Jacob’s stewardship.
We are all to be stewards of God’s mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1-2), whether in employment, family, or ministry. Our way is the way of God—to be true to Him who called us into the fellowship of his dear son.
The Word of God, the Way of the Lord, is our way, and we are its custodians in this world. And because we are children of God, guaranteed to bear fruit if we abide in Him (John 15:1–15), the world will only recognise us by our fruit, whose manifestation it surely yearns for (Romans 8:19-22).

Instruction (And to be instructed (Jeremiah 6:8))
Heeding to godly counsel, convictions, testimonies, commandments, and laws that keep us in the way of righteousness and justice is important. Several aspects speak to any young person, including cultures, family, trends, the physical, and the economy. But only the Word of God can give us ‘light and life‘ (John 1:4, 8:12) and a sure inheritance. For Jacob, he made a vow (Genesis 28:20-22), whereby the Lord would be his God, and he followed it up with action (the paying of a tenth – Genesis 28:22). I believe that it is this conviction that got him through the difficult periods of his eventuality.

Contentment
The evil day is a surety beneath the sun (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7), the floods of ungodliness will appear someday (Psalms 18:4-5), and worries of all kinds will sneak in because of the sinful nature of this present time. It is good to be still and know that the Lord is God (Lamentations 3:27) and that he is the ultimate inheritance of the saints (Acts 20:32). You must carry contentment and a grateful heart along (1 Timothy 6:6).
After naming himself Esau (Genesis 27:19), Jacob had to eventually answer to his own name (Genesis 32:26-28). For in the acknowledgement of his identity and the unwavering acceptance of himself, his destiny was then truly blessed.

The Secret Place
The encounter at Bethel, where Abraham first raised an altar to the Lord (Genesis 12:7), was Jacob’s first stop on his journey away from home. During his life, the altar of his meeting with God, which he raised (Genesis 28:18-19), called to him and guided him to the blessing that was his inheritance.
As a Christian, you must learn to pray (Luke 18:1), seek God from a pure heart (Isaiah 55:6), meet him in his sacred tabernacle (Psalms 48:1), face to face (Isaiah 33:17, Job 19:27), and observe the beauty of his holiness (Psalms 27:4).

Jacob met God in his life and certainly fulfilled his mission, dying in Egypt at the beginning of the children of Israel’s sojourn there, as prophesied in Genesis 15:13. His life bears witness to the fact that he lived according to the God of his fathers and was buried alongside his people (Genesis 49:29-33). And now the Lord is Jacob’s God, speaking of the people who seek their God (Psalms 24:6).

Every man and woman must therefore put away childhood (Ecclesiastes 11:10), “embrace sound doctrine”, and “make full proof” of their life and destiny as God intended it in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 4:3-5). And if you’re still unsure, remember those who, through faith, received a favourable report (Hebrews 11:2). And might I take the liberty to say – remember Jacob.

The Lord will help us, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

My King then spoke…

Charlene Nagawa2 Comments

I was faced with a very hard decision a couple of weeks back. I had to make a choice between what God had in store for me and what the world offered me. To be fair, the only evidence I had of God’s promises was a dream and a prophetic word. Also, I was confident in what the goodness of the Lord is or at least I thought I was. The world presented security, stability, and status. The world gave me evidence which I could see  and touch. 

Honestly, I have faced similar decisions in the past, but this time I was shaken. I felt completely unstable, and everything I was waiting on the Lord for seemed unrealistic. I went back to my prayer journal to read my conversation with God regarding this matter, but I still did not feel confident in the promises of God. I was not as grounded in the will of God. I was more willing to compromise than ever before and I felt no conviction. I asked Jesus, “why has this decision been much harder for me to make? Why is my ground so unstable?”. My King then spoke…

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. Guard your heart, for out of it flows the matters of life. Depending on where your treasure is, that is where your life will flow. Whatever you engage in will give the beat to which your life will dance. All decisions will seem normal and easy based on your treasure and the values you relate to in that season. If your treasure is on earthly things, your spirit will always struggle with My Will and be comfortable with the world’s offer. But when your treasure is in me, your spirit will be more confident in My Will and Direction and very uncomfortable with the world. You make many decisions based on feelings nurtured by knowledge. The informed decision is stamped by how you feel at that time and how you feel is nurtured by the information presented in season. You cannot control your feelings, but you can direct them by investing in me, as a treasure. Again, guard your heart for the matters of life flow from it. 

I am in awe at the goodness of God in sharing with me this revelation. Many times we say, “It felt right. I had a good feeling about the whole situation. How did it collapse before me?”. Well, it had to feel right based on where your treasure is. I made the choice then, that my treasure should be in God so that His Will would be easy for me to pursue and anything outside His Will would be a struggle to follow.

Has it been easy since then? Definitely not. My fire was up at the point of revelation but as the days went by, the flame was faint. But this I remembered, “Better is one day in the house of the LORD than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a door keeper at the house of the LORD than to dwell in the tent of the wicked”. So I asked God, who is the author and perfecter of my faith, to fan into my flame as I pursue his will for my life… but the cycle never ends.

(Scriptural Reference: Matthew 6:19-21)