Quartely Report for March 2012

Hi Brethren, It has started to rain today in Kabale, and as I watched the rains pouring down and watering the ground, I remembered the faithful of God. Many times we forget that God is faithful especially when there is a delay to want we want. However we need to always remember that God is faithful. Let’s always remind ourselves that we serve a faithful God no matter what challenges we face in life. We should never lose our hope and trust in Him for He has been faithful from generation to generation. As we plant our seeds let’s know that He will water plants for he is faithful to provide food for his children. Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. I pray that you may find satisfaction in his faithfulness this day

It takes Faith and Courage to conquer.
1. Faith and Courage are certainly essential elements in the Christian life and the Church. We need both to actually do the assignment that God has given each one of us.

Elements of faith in Caleb and Joshua
• Calab and Joshua When Spying the land he come with faith report 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
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• Daniel 3: 14 -18 Daniel in the fire. They have faith and courage to go against the King’s rule.
• 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

• God has deposited a measure of faith in every believer. Romans 12: 3, why, Because
• Without faith, it is impossible to please God He 11:6
• The Christian is saved by faith – Ep 2:8
• The Christian is to walk (live) by faith – 2Co 5:7

It is important to realize, however, that there are different kinds of faith, but only one that is truly “saving faith” In James 2:14-26, we find James discussing the different kinds of Faith, with an emphasis upon that faith which works to the saving of The soul

I. DEAD FAITH (14-17)
A. THIS KIND OF FAITH…
1. Substitutes words for deeds (consider James’ example)
a. People with this kind of faith:
1) Know the correct vocabulary for prayer and sound doctrine
2) Can even quote the right verses from the Bible
b. But their “walk” does not measure up to their “talk”!
2. Is only an INTELLECTUAL faith
a. In one’s mind, he or she knows the doctrine of salvation
b. But they have never really submitted themselves to God and trusted in Jesus for salvation
c. They know the right “words”, but they do not back up their words with their “works”! James 2:26 NIV As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

II. DEMONIC FAITH (18, 19)
1. They believe in God (no atheists or agnostics here!)
2. They even believe in the deity of Christ – cf. Mk 3:11-12
3. They also believe in the existence of a place of condemnation cf. Lk 8:31
4. And they believe Jesus will be the Judge! – Mt 8:28-29

III. LIVING FAITH (20-26)

A. WHAT KIND OF FAITH IS THIS?
1. We know from other passages that such faith is based upon the Word of God – cf. Ro 10:17
2. Dynamic faith involves the WHOLE MAN
a. DEAD faith touches only the intellect
b. DEMONIC faith involves both the mind and the emotions
c. DYNAMIC faith involves the intellect, the emotions, AND the WILL!

1) The MIND understands the truth
2) The HEART desires and rejoices in the truth
3) The WILL acts upon the truth
3. True, saving faith, then, LEADS TO ACTION
a. It is not intellectual contemplation
b. It is not emotionalism
c. It is that which leads to obedience in doing good works.
“God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything and whoever does not have faith will have nothing” Martin Luther.
Galatians 3:9 NIV So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Matthew 13:58 NIV And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 21:21 NIV Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
If we put our faith into action we can accomplish every task that Jesus gives us to do. Hebrews 11:33 NIV who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions…….
Therefore since God has given us a measure of faith let’s ask him to give us courage to excise our faith. Joshua 1: 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Are You A Disciple Of Jesus?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

INTRODUCTION: The above statement was made by Jesus to His apostles shortly before He ascended to heaven – Mt 28:18-20. 2. Commonly called “The Great Commission,” notice the main thought of Jesus’ command…

(a). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” (b). To “make disciples,” therefore, is the GOAL of evangelizing the world for Christ.

I. THE DEFINITION OF A DISCIPLE: A. THE WORD “DISCIPLE”…

(1 The word “disciple” literally means A LEARNER, (2. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, it denotes “one who follows another’s teaching” (3. But a disciple was not only a learner, he was also AN ADHEREN. (4. For this reason disciples were spoken of as IMITATORS of their teachers.

B. THE GOAL IN BEING A DISCIPLE. (1. Stated by Jesus himself: to be like the teacher – Lk 6:40 (2. To be Christ’s disciple, then, is to strive to be like Him!

3. According to the apostle Paul, this coincides with God’s goal in the redemption of mankind, that they be conformed to the image of His Son – Ro 8:29

II. THE MARKS OF A DISCIPLE

1. The disciple abides in the teachings of Christ
2. The disciple loves the brethren
3. The disciples bears fruit to the glory of God

• III. THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE
• A. JESUS MUST COME FIRST – Lk 14:26
• B. WE MUST BE WILLING TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST – Lk 14:27
• PUTTING IT SIMPLY, WE MUST FORSAKE ALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST Lk 14:33

1. In other words, Jesus must be KING and LORD of our lives. 2Nothing can take precedent over Him and His Will for us

IV. THE REWARDS OF BEING A DISCIPLE

-1- We shall be saved from the wrath of God which is yet to come upon the world for its sins – Ro 5:9 -2-We can look forward with joyful anticipation of eternity with God, free from sorrow, pain and death – Re 21:1-8

(1). Jesus offers a PEACE the world cannot give to calm the troubled heart – Jn 14:27, (2). His words inspire JOY to lift our spirits out of any depression – Jn 15:11 (3). He also offers to those who follow Him the ABIDING LOVE OF GOD, which can cast out fear – Jn 15:9; 1Jn 4:18 (4). And he makes it possible for us to be members of THE FAMILY OF GOD, which is able if need be to replace our physical family Mk 10:28-30

CONCLUSION 1. Only those scripturally baptized and demonstrating the “marks” of discipleship, despite the “costs,” can truly be called disciples of Jesus! 2. Only they can realistically look forward to the “rewards” of discipleship, and take consolation in the promise of Jesus: “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Mt 28:20

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, then the prospects of “A Closer Walk with Jesus” and more fruitful service as a disciple should be of great interest to you