Renewed Zeal for Gospel Ministry
“I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare.” (Isa 42:8-9)
This theme of the year is worth reconsidering for emphasis and focus.
Looking back, there are many ‘former things’ to praise and thank God for in the first part of this year and before. Oh, when the church gathered in warm and nice congregational worship and fellowship – after missing this for over two months we thank God much more deeply for the church. Oh, when we received the new Archbishop at Namirembe and at All Saints Nakasero, it was national celebration! Yet only seventeen days later, the country entered into a lockdown for fear of Coronavirus disease. Yet, even in this season, the Lord God has done mightily and there are many more testimonies of God’s greatness at personal and community levels. He has done great things!
Today’s message is to reinvigorate us for action. When good things happen and peace prevails, there is a tendency for people to relax and lose the fervour to grow and do more; prayer life may slacken or they may see less the needs of others. Or other times challenges may press hard upon believers and they slacken in their faith and commitment and participation in the Lord’s work. This should NOT be our portion. I call upon you to embrace Renewed Zeal for Gospel Ministry. Today’s full Scripture points to growth and going higher: Isaiah 42 has loud Messianic tones, with clear pointers to Jesus Christ who would be a humble servant with a global mission.
God called His Son with assignments of lighting up a dark world, healing the sick and releasing captives – this is prophesied by Isaiah and affirmed by Jesus when he read the similar words of Isaiah 61 in a synagogue and declared their fulfilment. The foretaste of this was when Emperor Cyrus declared release of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity. But much more was in store.
One key characteristic of God’s mission is that it is unstoppable! World powers that have tried to extinguish it right from Old Testament to Modern times have not succeeded; not even pandemics or other catastrophes. The call to Renewed Zeal for Gospel Ministry is here for those who are ready to continue higher on mission with the Almighty God. Does it call for new disciplines, new tools, new schedules, new skills, revised budgets – all it takes is worth delving into; that is what zeal does.
From a humble background, William Carey challenged and impacted his generation to do at least as much as commercial ventures were doing, and to follow as far as commerce would go in order to proclaim the gospel. He is named among the Pioneers of the World Christian Movement. He advocated for using all ‘means’ for the conversion of heathens and all gospel mission purposes. Rejoice and give thanks to God for the former things that have come to pass, and embrace the new things He declares with renewed zeal for gospel ministry.
God bless you all.