ACK Gatwe Parish – Christians gathered for a Confirmation Service at ACK Gatwe Parish were challenged to respond to God’s gracious invitation as The Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph K. Kibucwa preached from Isaiah 55:1–6 and Psalm 17, delivering a sermon titled “Three Players (Actors).”
Drawing from the prophet Isaiah, Bishop Kibucwa described the passage as God’s invitation to a world filled with people who are spiritually thirsty, dissatisfied, weary, and searching for lasting fulfillment. He noted that although many people pursue wealth, pleasure, and worldly success, they often remain empty because true satisfaction is found only in God.
The Bishop identified three key players in the passage.
The first player is the Inviter—God Himself. He explained that God is the One who lovingly extends the invitation to everyone, regardless of their background or condition. God’s invitation is open to all, demonstrating His desire that no one remains spiritually hungry or separated from Him.
The second players are the Invitees. According to the Bishop, these include those who are thirsty, weary, dissatisfied, poor, and those who have laboured without finding fulfillment. Isaiah asks, “Why spend money on what does not satisfy?” reminding believers that material possessions, achievements, and worldly pleasures cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart. God calls everyone—including those who feel exhausted, discouraged, or spiritually empty—to come freely and receive His grace.
The Bishop then focused on the Invitation itself, highlighting four powerful words repeated throughout Isaiah’s message.
The first word is “Come.” He noted that Isaiah repeats this invitation three times, emphasizing God’s open call to every person. God invites people to come just as they are, without first trying to make themselves worthy.
The second word is “Listen.” Bishop Kibucwa encouraged the congregation to listen attentively to God’s voice, drawing a parallel with Mary, who chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His teaching. He also connected this with Psalm 17, where David cries out for God to hear his prayer, reminding believers that listening to God is as important as asking God to listen to them.
The third word is “Seek.” Christians were urged to seek the Lord wholeheartedly, with the assurance that those who seek Him will find Him. The Bishop reminded the congregation that the church is a place where believers come to seek God’s presence and direction for their lives.
Finally, he emphasized the word “Call.” God invites His people to call upon Him while He is near, promising that He hears the prayers of those who call on Him in faith. The Bishop illustrated this by recalling how the disciples called upon Jesus during the storm, and He responded to save them.
Concluding the sermon, Bishop Kibucwa reminded the congregation that only God can truly satisfy the human heart. He urged everyone present to accept God’s invitation, come to Him in faith, and experience the lasting peace and fulfillment that only Christ can give.
The service concluded with an altar call, where worshippers were invited to commit their lives to Christ, followed by prayers of blessing for the confirmation candidates and the entire congregation.
