جارٍ تحميل الأرشيف الحي.
A Call to the Church and Nation
واصِل الاستكشاف
مرتبطة بالمقطع الكتابي أو بموضوعات مشتركة.
لم تُترجم هذه الصفحة بالكامل بعد. يظهر بعض النص أدناه أو كله بلغة English، وهي لغته الأصلية.
We recently held a beautiful father-son hangout where fathers wrote letters to their sons, pouring out their hearts with things they needed to say. Ten minutes were not enough—some fathers needed fifteen minutes or more. We challenged the sons to keep these letters until September 5th, 2035, a full ten years from now, so that we can sit together and ask ourselves: Did we actually do the things we said?
Between now and then, with God on our side, we will be empowered to raise the next generation of young men who will transform this nation for the glory of God. The men's ministry here at Watoto Church is committed to helping every man be a godly man—a man building his life after Jesus, a great man who spends his life in service for others, and a man who is generous with his time, treasure, and talents to build the kingdom of God.
We have just come through a beautiful sermon series on God's heart for community. It became clear to us that community belongs to God and that Jesus loves every community, no matter how broken or dysfunctional.
Jesus has a heart of compassion when he looks at every community because of the pains and sufferings of the people. His heart goes out when he sees injustice and pain. This heart of compassion is not merely pity or sympathy—it is a heart moved to action, to do something about the pain in our community.
Through Watoto Neighborhood over the last 17 years, more than 7,500 women have seen their lives completely transformed and today are living with dignity and purpose, raising their children to be godly transformational leaders. But that is just the beginning. There is so much more that God wants to do.
I want to encourage every cell in the community to be on the lookout for the orphan and the widow. Visit them, feed them, encourage them, provide for them. Why? Jesus said, "Whenever you did it to the least of these, you did it for me." Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus so that we may see healing come where there is pain and brokenness.
But here is one thing that all of us must understand: God not only wants us to have a heart of compassion for the vulnerable in our community. God wants us to carry a heart of commitment, of love and passion for our country.
Whether you are a citizen living here in Uganda, or a citizen living abroad in another part of the world, or whether you come from a different country but have come to love and live and work here in Uganda—God wants you to be a person that loves this country, is committed to this country, and is working to see that God's plan and purpose for this country comes to pass.
Our nation, Uganda, is at a crossroads. Early next year we will be voting into place leaders at different levels for our nation. These are critical days. My prayer is that the spirit of God will guide us to vote so that the leaders we put in place will serve God's purpose for this nation.
The decisions we make will affect the destiny of this land. With much prayer and discernment, may the Lord lead us to do what is right before Him.
In a couple of weeks, Uganda will be turning 63, celebrating 63 years of independence. Throughout this year, as your pastors, we have been praying and giving this much thought—talking about where Uganda has come from, where Uganda is now, and where Uganda is headed in the future.
Every Ugandan wants a country where systems and processes work. Every Ugandan wants a country where there is justice, where there is order rather than confusion, where there is the rule of law. Every Ugandan wants a country where we can raise our children in the fear of the Lord, where there is equal opportunity for all so that we may succeed and flourish.
It is important for us to recognize that while there may be so many things in our nation that leave a lot to be desired, there are also areas where strides have been taken and we are beginning to see light and hope.
The reason we sense that Ugandans carry a heavy heart about the things happening in this nation is that we feel disengaged, disinterested, hopeless as we think about the future. We complain, we grumble, because certain things just don't work.
Many of us have prayed, hoped, and dreamed of something better. As we experience delay, we have given up. Some of you are just waiting for the next opportunity to get out of this nation. You're traveling tonight and saying, "I don't want anything to do with this country." You're leaving with no plans to return. We've resigned. We've lost confidence. We're hopeless. No commitment. No passion.
But I believe that God has given us a word in season as your pastors to bring to you. I believe it is a word that is going to turn our hearts and minds once again to believe that God's plan and purpose for this nation shall come to pass in Jesus' name.
The Bible teaches us what happens when we have hope for something better and it doesn't come to pass. In Proverbs 13:12, the Bible says:
Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life.
I believe this is going to be a faith-building word. I believe it is going to be a word that will stir up hope once again. I believe it is going to be a word that will open our hearts and minds, cutting deep to the core so that we reflect and begin to walk in obedience to this word. By faith, we will see God's plan begin to unleash over this land.
As we gave much time and thought to this, God led us to Isaiah 60:1-3. I want to read from the Amplified Version:
Arise from depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you. Rise to a new life. Shine. Be radiant with the glory of the Lord. For your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and a dense darkness all peoples. But the Lord shall arise upon you, O Jerusalem, and his glory shall be seen on you. A nation shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.
This was a word to Israel. We believe this word for our nation in Jesus' name.
Uganda Arise. Uganda Arise.
When Isaiah the prophet declared these words, Israel was not in a good place. Israel as a nation had walked away from God. They worshipped other gods. There was sin all across the land. There was injustice, there was corruption. God wasn't pleased with them. They had lost their way.
Each time the nation of Israel lost their way, God always raised up a prophet to call them to Himself. They were the voice of God saying to the people, "Return. Repent. Come back to the Lord." They pleaded with the nation.
I believe in this season we are going to be prophetically calling Uganda back to the Lord. I believe we are going to plead with the nation. I believe we are to be praying for the nation and saying, "Uganda Arise. Return to the Lord."
Every time Israel returned to the Lord, as you read in the scriptures, they experienced the blessing of God. I believe that as Uganda begins to arise and return to the Lord, the glory of the Lord is going to shine on this land like never before in Jesus' name.
God sent the prophets because He had never given up on the nation of Israel.
Can I tell you something, Watoto family? God has never given up on Uganda. God has a beautiful purpose and plan for this nation. Whether we believe it or not, it will come to pass in Jesus' name. So we best believe it.
I believe God's seasonal favor for Uganda has come in Jesus' name. I believe His season for blessing has come over our nation. I believe the day of restoration has returned to our nation in Jesus' name.
When we read that scripture, we see three things.
First, He says Arise. In other words, wake up. Get up from depression. Get up from despair. Get up from complacency. Get up from defeat. Uganda Arise.
Second, He says Shine. In other words, step into God's purpose and be radiant witnesses of His goodness so that many other nations will come running to Him. God is saying, "Uganda Arise. Shine the light of Jesus so that many other nations will come and bow down to Jesus."
Third, "For your light has come." It speaks of the arrival of God's salvation, God's restoration, God's grace upon this land in this season. That light is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ, who said in John 8: "I am the light of the world." Jesus is the light to every nation.
We live in a day where there is deep darkness all across the world. That darkness hasn't spared the continent of Africa and the nation of Uganda.
But I believe that as a nation, as we bow down to Jesus Christ, He is going to destroy every power of darkness that wants to stand in His way concerning Uganda. I really believe that as we decide, as we carry a conviction, and begin to walk in courageous action of obedience to Jesus Christ, He's going to arise over this nation. Every power of darkness will be pushed back, and the glory of the Lord will be seen in this nation in the name of Jesus.
Paul the apostle was writing to the church in Ephesus, and he said to them in Ephesians 5:14:
Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Ephesus was a city that had life. It was a business city, an entertainment city. It had poets, musicians, artists, and all kinds of philosophers. Yet it was in that city that Paul preached the gospel so powerfully that people turned away from the worship of other gods, burned the artifacts of witchcraft and idolatry, and bowed down to Jesus Christ.
He challenged the people of God who had turned away from the worship of idols to Jesus Christ to live as children of the light in that city where there was darkness.
In many ways, the body of Christ has been asleep. Yes, there have been ramblings of life where there are things that we do or say, but God is saying to us in this season: The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Uganda, we must arise and lead this work of restoration, this work of revival. We must be the first. We can no longer afford to be a sleeping giant.
There is a mandate on us as the people of God—in your family, in your community, in your university, at your place of work, wherever God has placed you. In the marketplace, whether in politics, media, arts and entertainment, in the family sector, in business, in governance, in healthcare—God wants us to arise.
We have been asleep for a long time, but as we arise, look out. Something new is about to happen in this nation.
The world worked so hard to push the Church of the Lord Jesus to the sidelines. "Get out of the schools. Get out of the marketplace. Get out of the family. Get out of business." No, we will no longer be asleep. The Church is going to arise, and something is going to break over this nation. The glory of the Lord shall be seen in Uganda.
Arise, awake O sleeper. Arise from the dead. The One who is for us does not sleep or slumber. Arise, and Christ will shine on you.
Uganda Arise is a call from the very heart of God. I hope you hear His voice. I hope you hear the urgency in the voice of God saying, "Uganda Arise." It is a call. It is a commandment. It is like the trumpet call.
God wants to do something in our day, but we will not experience it if we are asleep, if we are undercover, if we are lazy, if we are disengaged, if we are carriers of hopelessness and negativity. It will not break forth. But as we arise and walk in this commandment from the Lord, look out. Something is going to happen.
Essentially, Uganda Arise is a call to three things.
Uganda Arise is a call for us to walk away from the works of darkness. Paul writes to the believers in the city of Ephesus who were once part of that culture of evil. In Ephesians 5:11, he says to them:
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
There is a spirit of this age, the spirit of the world, an antichrist spirit that wants to lead Uganda into darkness and destroy this nation. His name is Satan, Lucifer, the Devil. He hates God's purpose and plan for this nation. He has sown within the fabric of our culture, in our hearts and minds, and he has tricked us into accepting the unfruitful works of darkness.
Those things that we do that choke, that kill, that destroy God's purpose and plan for this nation—the injustice, the lawlessness, the chaos, the disorder, the greed for power, sexual immorality—they are dragging this nation down.
Although we are known as a Christian nation with our motto, "For God and My Country," we are walking farther and farther away from God. We are lowering our standards. We are letting within our borders the unfruitful works of darkness. Not only letting them in—we are participating in them. We are excusing them. We are allowing them to happen even in our families. And our nation is going to the dogs.
Each of us Ugandans, it is time to arise and say: Enough is enough. We will not take any part in the unfruitful works of darkness. We're going to turn our back on evil and sin. We are going to begin to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ. And one Christian at a time, we are going to see Uganda begin to rise up out of the ashes, and the glory of the Lord will be seen upon this nation. We will shout together: "Look what God has done! It is marvelous in our eyes!"
It is going to happen. The question is: Will you be a part of it? Will we continue to pander to corruption? Will we continue to excuse the works of darkness? Will we continue to participate in them, saying, "This is Uganda"? No. Wake up, O sleeper, and Christ will shine on you.
Jesus wants His glory to be seen on this nation. We must turn our backs on sin, rebellion, and anything that looks like it.
King Josiah in 2 Kings 22 became king when he was eight. In his eighteenth year of rule, when he was 26, they discovered the book of the Lord in the temple. They read it to him, and he tore his clothes. He recognized from these words of the book of Deuteronomy how far Israel had walked away from the Lord.
He had the law read out to all the people of the land and began to institute reforms. He dealt with all the false priests and kicked them out. He destroyed the high places where they burned incense and gave offerings to false gods. He pulled down the Asherah poles. He kicked out male prostitutes in the temple. He destroyed the works that submitted Israel to darkness.
That same heart that was in King Josiah must be in all of us—starting from our homes all the way to the marketplace. We must have a zero tolerance for the works of darkness. We must kick it out and have nothing to do with it.
But Uganda Arise is not only a call to walk away from the works of darkness. Uganda Arise is a call to expose the works of darkness.
In Ephesians 5:11 and 13, Paul writes:
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them... Anything exposed by the light becomes visible.
There is a lot that has been hidden in our nation for far too long. Systems and structures have been put in place to justify the works of darkness. Systems and structures have been put in place to protect workers of darkness. Processes have been put in place to enable works of darkness.
It is time for us to say: Enough is enough. We are going to expose it, because when we shine the light, darkness and its works become visible. Suddenly, people's eyes are opened. The eyes of the world have been blinded. The devil has blinded people's eyes so that what is evil looks good and what is good looks evil.
The world and this nation is groaning for the true sons and daughters of God to be made manifest so that we can expose the works of darkness. The Bible says this is the reason that Christ came—to expose the works of darkness. Christ in us. It is our turn now. Jesus is saying: Arise. Expose the work of darkness.
How do we expose the work of darkness? Two ways.
First, we report darkness. We say: This is going on, and it's not right. It must be dealt with. We have a voice. We must speak. We must mobilize. We must challenge the status quo. Things can't keep going on the way they are going.
Drug abuse is not right. Theft is not right. What are we going to begin doing? Corruption in this company is not right. What are we going to begin doing? Things at the university are not the way they should be. What are we going to begin doing? Expose it. Talk about it. Address it. Propose solutions. Bring suggestions. Engage in the community.
Second, you shine the light by living out the character of God. You begin to raise up an image of a life submitted to God—of an organization submitted to God, of a politician submitted to God, of a doctor submitted to God, of a teacher submitted to God, of a businessman submitted to God. You lift up those images. A family submitted to Jesus Christ. And suddenly, people will see what they've been looking for, and they will say: "That is what I want."
When you shine the light, you begin to live out the character of God. You raise up an image of a life submitted to God—of an organization submitted to God, of a politician submitted to God, of a doctor submitted to God, of a teacher submitted to God, of a businessman submitted to God. You lift up those images. A family submitted to Jesus Christ.
Suddenly, people will see what they've been looking for, and they will say: "That is what I want." We need to paint pictures so people can see. We need to live out the character of Christ so that Jesus becomes desirable to everybody.
When we live out the character of God, suddenly we present a contrast. There are some people that are going to get fired from their jobs because your excellence and diligence and incorruptibility will become the standard. The ministry of health is waiting for you. The media, arts and entertainment is waiting for you. Politics is waiting for you.
Expose the works of darkness. Don't defend it. Don't excuse it. Expose it.
Uganda Arise is not only a call to walk away from the works of darkness. Not only a call to expose the works of darkness. Finally, Uganda Arise is a call to walk in the way of Christ. It is a call to walk in the light of Christ.
Paul writes to Christians in the city of Ephesus where there was evil. He tells them: "Remember where you came from. There is a day you were doing these evil things, but the Lord saved you."
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light, for this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
There are a lot of people who are instituting what is not good for this nation. We need to arise and fight for what is good. And what is good is not a matter of your opinion. What is good is when you go to the word of the Lord and say, "This is what the Lord requires. This is what we do."
Homosexuality and lesbianism are not bringing any good to this nation. Someone must fight for the family in this nation and for doing what is right.
What is right is a question of standards. There is a right way to do things. Who is going to ensure that right is happening? That righteousness is our portion? We need to arise and walk in the light of Christ, doing what is right.
Doctors selling fake medication is not right. Lecturers sleeping with their students is not right. Pastors defending finding another wife is not right while mistreating your other wife. Politicians running away with money that was designated for poor families is not right.
When it comes to what is true, scripture tells us that we, the people of God, are the custodians of truth. We are the pillar of truth. We must be the conscience of this nation.
There are people who have titles, dress up in suits, and are very educated, but are participating in the destruction of this nation. Who is going to hold them to account and fight for what is true?
Stop behaving like our nation is forsaken. Begin leading like this nation is blessed. Begin leading like our potential in the next generation is such a big opportunity. Begin telling the truth about our land and pursuing what God is saying for this land. Stop submitting ourselves to the lies.
Uganda arise. This is a call to you, my brother, my sister. This is a call to the body of Christ. Wake up, O sleeper. The days of being the sleeping giant are behind us. Arise, and the glory of the Lord will shine on us.
Everything we're going to share with you over the next couple of weeks is built on those three principles. As we walk in obedience to this word, may the glory of the Lord be seen over this land.
