23/08/2026
La Parole Éternelle—English Congregation | Sunday 23rd August 2026
Theme: “TRANSITIONING: ‘WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? YOU MUST FOLLOW ME’” (John 21:22).
Speaker: Brother Steve Kamwenyi
Following Jesus may be difficult during adversity, but we must follow anyway. He provides us with strength, and it is the best thing for us to do.
I titled this period “Transition” because the disciples were not sure about the future. They were working with Jesus throughout His ministry; then He died and rose again. However, their future was still uncertain.
Walking with Jesus comes with countless blessings, but sometimes with unmeasurable challenges. (Read John 21:18-23.)
“18 ‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’” (John 21:18-19, NIV).
In giving Peter this message, Jesus began with the phrase, “Very truly I say to you.” By using such a phrase, He made sure that this important truth was taken with the seriousness it deserved.
Similar warnings were given to the apostle Paul first by the Lord and later by some New Testament prophets.
“15 But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’” (Acts 9:15-16, NIV).
The Lord warns his servants about challenges ahead, so that they are prepared. He warned Peter about His failure and predicted his repentance and restoration. In our text He told him about his future.
“31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32, NIV).
The Lord knows everything; our past, present, and future are written out, and He has all the details. You and I cannot be playing in sin, even in secret, since the Lord sees it all.
The Lord has a plan for each of us, and He shows no favoritism. Despite your challenges, he has a plan.
Jesus said that he would die on the cross to glorify God, but how can death glorify God?
Hard things that we face, which are beyond our control as believers, are not meant to destroy us, but to bring glory to God.
You don’t have to be afraid of death as believer if you are in His will. “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20, NIV).
This is what the Lord meant when He said Peter’s death would glorify Him.
What does that mean to us? We must follow the Lord. We may believe that others are being blessed and enjoying life and wish you were like them, but what is that to us? We must follow the Lord.
Some truths in the Bible are hard to comprehend. We may ask ourselves, “Lord, how can you be glorified by our challenges?”
Practical points to consider:
1. THE LORD HAS A CLEAR AND SPECIFIC PLAN NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Your current situation and circumstances will not stop God’s plan for your life. Moses was born in a very challenging moment, a time when children were being killed at birth, yet he managed to escape death and fulfill God’s plan for his life.
God saw young Moses through all his challenges and accomplished His will through him.
Peter did not understand that God’s plan for him was not going be the same as Hiis plan for John.
2. WE MUST REMAIN FOCUSED ON THAT PLAN NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE.
Instead of paying attention and focusing on what the Lord had told him and how he must prepare himself for that, Peter became curious about what would happen to John.
Misplaced curiosity only leads to comparison, and comparison will lead to competition. We are not meant to compete, but to complete each other.
We must follow Him through words, prayer, and service and must not lose focus.
YOU NEED TO DECIDE THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU—NO MATTER WHAT WORKS OR DOES NOT WORK—YOU WILL CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THE LORD UNTIL YOU SEE HIS RETURN.
Paul told the Ephesian elders, “22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:22-24, NIV).
We don’t know the things that await us on our Christian journey, the challenges that we are facing now or may face later. Let us pray that none of those things will remove us from following the Lord wholeheartedly.
