By Hannington Sebuliba
Of recent, Anglican Churches had abandoned their melodious opting for short choruses commonly used in Pentecostal Churches accross the country. St. Stephen's Kitende Church of Uganda has broken the norm by using the very hymns people have been calling funeral songs for Praise and Worship.
This Tuesday afternoon, I went to Kitende and was mesmerised to hear Rev. Samuel Muwonge and his worship team singing Tulina Omubeezi waffe and Yesu Mukama wange in a worship mood accompanied by a keyboard.
His sermon was on the theme: You are not alone
He started by saying "Am talking about God's presence even as you do your work, God is with you. You are not alone.
Whether financial brokenness poverty the assurance is that God is with you. He can't abandon you." He added that God is going to be with you. That's why David says even though I walk through the valley of death, I will not fear because you are with me.
He said that when we call Jesus he will answer our calls. He assured the congregation that once God stamps in your requests, nothing can go wrong.
He said that even amidst troubles of this world, God cannot abandon his peoplee. He then burst into a song 'awali Yesu byonna biyinzika' loosely translated that Where there's the presence of Jesus, all is possible.
He said that during times when you are down, the Lord comes and His presence is manifested and that becomes a testimony so that those who were underlooking you will be shamed.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
He said that whenever people mudsling you, God comes out at an opportune time to manifest His greatness.
Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore". This verse describes a life guided by God, where the highest joy and eternal pleasures are found in His presence.
Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken you.
Psalm 139:7
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence.
Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope".
This verse expresses a deep, earnest expectation of God, with the phrase "my soul waits" indicating that the waiting is not just a physical act but involves the entire being.
It signifies putting hope in God's promises and His word during times of difficulty or longing for redemption.
Meaning of "wait": The Hebrew word for "wait" (qâwâ) carries a sense of eager expectation and longing, similar to how watchmen wait for the morning. It implies more than passive waiting; it's an active hope.
"My whole being waits": The repetition of "my soul waits" or "my whole being waits" emphasizes that this is an intense, whole-person response to God, engaging all aspects of the person's mind and heart.
He said whatever rubbish they say about you, it can't block the Lord from blessing you. He gave the example of Joseph who was sold by his brothers and even Pontifa's wife talked ill about him to the extent of imprisoning him but at the end of the day, he became Prime Minister in Egypt.
He prayed to the congregation to recieve something that will be testimony to those around them.
