Psalm 46:1-7
Gen. 15:1-6
Rev. 14:6-7
Text. Luke 12:1&4-9.
Occasion: 62nd PC Day celebration
“The Lord Is Your Strength!”
William Shakespeare wrote that “A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once.” The truth is that this dieing a thousand times is born out of fear.
There are so many things that generate fears in us and as such we become cowards.
Ironically those of us who are Christians who are supposed to bear the realities of life with confidence rather fear our fellow humans whom we ourselves have raised to the rank of gods!
Our insecurity leads us to depend on other humans who play upon our psychics and tell us they are stronger than God himself. Some of us foolishly believe them.
We often hear funny stories how some of us go to strange places in order to receive powers which we believe makes us more fortified than what God has offered us through Jesus Christ!
That’s exactly the weakness of some of us including clergies. Few weeks ago we were in Nairobi to attend the first ever sympossium on “Misleading Theologies” organised by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC).
Among the areas of false theologies we identfied included false theologies of healing, false theologies about wealth, false theologies about power and authority.
Africans including Christians are so afraid and uncertain about life that they can believe anything. The moment they hear about a fake prophet they flock there to be decieved.
Recently we saw a fake Jesus dancing in a church in Kenya brought by a fake Kenyan prophet. He was an American, so the Kenyan government took a bold step and deported him.
Not long ago somebody was supposedly raised from the dead in South Africa. It turned out it was all a scam!
Just google the word magic rings and you will see various kinds of rings being advertised and how when you use it you will control the people.
The question is, Why are we afraid? What are your fears when Jesus Christ is the Super Power beyond any human power?
We put people in power and we tend to become scared of them such that their words become law!
Today we are celebrating the 62nd anniversary of our autonomy as an indigenous Church. Never before since her autonomy has the church been rocked by scandals of misappropriation, outright theft, inflation of contracts, manipulations and blatant official lies which is the worst misleading theology that is rocking the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon toay!
Luke tell us that a crowd of many thousands gathered such that they were trampling on one another. The PCC is such a large crowd of thousands and today Jesus is telling us, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
The hypocrisy may be worst today than those of the Pharisees. But Jesus says, “there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.”
We may rejoice that we have deceived human beings, but Jesus says, “I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Whatever manipulators and liars achieve today is short-lived for truth shall prevail; if not today, but someday it will be revealed! Truth remains truth!
Trust in the Lord for what he has promised to do is what he will do. Abram thought he had no heir to inherit him but God told him “Do not be afraid…” for your offspring shall be as countless as the stars up at the heavens. And it came to pass.
Revelation tells us, “fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made heaven and earth…”
The psalmist reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…The Lord Almighty is with us” and he is our fortress!
Dear people of God, stand firm in the Lord, uphold the truth and fear God alone!
In every circumstance when fear threatens, stand firm for the Lord is your strength! Seek his face under any situation and circumstance. Jesus Christ assures, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Therefore my friend, “Fear Not” for the Lord is your strength!
Happy Presbyterian Church Day celebration. Amen!