The presence of Jesus brings Peace
By: Ivan Naijuka
The archbishop of the Anglican communion of North America, The Most Rev. Foley Beach has challenged the congregation at All Saints’ Cathedral – Kampala to continue being faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Arch. Bishop Foley Beach
“I rejoice and give thanks to God for the Church of Uganda for remaining steadfast in the teachings of the true word of God” Archbishop Foley Beach said.
In his sermon based on the gospel according to Apostle John 20:19-23, the archbishop urged the audience to have hope and believe in the risen Lord.
Archbishop Beach, commended five lessons Christians ought to learn from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
Referring to the Apostles who were hiding from those who had killed their master (Jesus), the archbishop said that after seeing Jesus, their fears turned into joy. “Therefore, anyone who meets Jesus Christ; even today all your fears and anxiety will change into happiness and joy” He said.
In addition to that, Foley expounded that Jesus gives peace when he meets you. John 20:21 “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (NIV). For the peace He gives, there is no blame, no rebuke and no condemnation, he added.
He added that, when Jesus has given you peace, he would like to see you work, therefore he gives assignments. In verse 21, Jesus is sending His disciples to go to the world to proclaim His message. Therefore, as good followers of Christ, we should be flexible for the work of our Lord.
More to that, he said that Jesus is our good example whom we should look up to in everything. He gave His disciples the way to do the assignment He had given them. “Vs. 21 … As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Therefore the lord urges us to go out to love, comfort, forgive, proclaim; healing, blessings and sharing of God’s word like His father did.
Jesus also gives power. According to Vs. 22, “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. (NIV). No human being has the power to do the work of God without the Holy Spirit. By receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles were able to do the assignment Jesus had given them. No human being has the power to do God’s ministry without the power of the Holy Spirit, he said.
Lastly, Jesus gives a message. On Vs. 23, “if you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jesus gave us that power but the scriptures assures us that forgiveness is from the Lord alone. We believe that when we ask Him for forgiveness, he does so because we are His children. John 1:12, that message is to all of us, to go and forgive one another so as to be in fellowship with God.
He urged Christians to go out to the world and proclaim the good news. “Therefore, since we have received the message of the gospel, God expects us to be His messengers.
Archbishop Beach anchored these words while preaching at All Saints’ Cathedral- Kampala in the 9:30 and 11:30 services.
In attendance, was the host, His Grace, the archbishop of the province of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali who was accompanied by the provincial secretary, The Rev. Canon Capt. William Ongeng and Rev. Canon Dr. Alison L. Barfoot Assistant to the Archbishop for International Relations.