Africa – South Africa

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   Overview                            

• Situated at the Southern tip end of the Continent of Africa;
• Capital – Pretoria, Cape Town;
• Population – 54million (Statistic);
• Languages spoken – 11 different official languages;
• Different and vast with tourist centre – Has one of the largest game reserve in Africa – The   Kruger National Park; Mountains; Museum;
• Was one of Africa’s country with the largest economy until it went into recession period which  slowed down the economy sectors of mining and manufacturing;
•  Ruled by a white minority government from 1948 till 1994 (when the apartheid era subsided);
•  Separation of races due to the apartheid policy;
•  Opposition from the Africa National Congress (ANC) and other groups’
•  New democratic elected leaders encouraged reconciliation, but the damage of the 20years of  conflict left lawlessness and social inequality;  
• ANC rule has not been able to overcome the damage which has caused the widespread of poverty, crime rate and continuous unemployment;
• High rate in poverty and unemployment because farmland is still in possession of the white-owners. Because of this, ANC government assures to boost black ownership through the new legislation this year;
• Was the 1^st country on Africa soil in the festival of soccer to host the Fifa Football World Cup 2010 event;
• Major problem – Rate of HIV/AIDS patients – which makes South Africa to be the second highest in the world. 1 out of  every 7 citizens is infected.

   Head / President – Jacob Zuma – 73years – (2009 to re-elect in 2004 till present)

   

    Religious sects in South Africa:

•      Islam = 1.5%
•      Hinduism = 1.2%
•     Traditional belief (called Zulu religion) = 0.3%
•       Judaism = 0.2% (which are mainly the white South Africans)
•      Other beliefs = 0.6%
•       No religion = 15%
•      Undetermined = 1.3%
•       Christianity = 86.8% of both white and black South Africans*

• What was the foundation of Christianity in South Africa?

  Christianity came into South Africa in 1908 by 5 America missionaries – the Apostolic Faith Mission, which became a Pentecostal Christian Denomination in South Africa. It was the largest Pentecostal Church and had 7.6% of the South Africa population. Though it had an interracial character at the beginning, this was short lived, as it reunited the black and white branches of the churches by 1996. Another similar faith mission was the Assemblies of God. But the present day church? Did the bible not say that there is no other foundation that can be laid, than that which has been laid which is on Christ Jesus? What can be said then of some of the so-called South Africa “Pastors” manipulating/terrorising/pilfering the innocent souls of men, women and even children? [Eating grass; eating clothes as chocolate; drinking fuel as pineapple juice; jumping/stepping on them as a form of deliverance e.t.c]

Could the variety of religious beliefs be the problem affecting South Africa? Or could it be the right to freedom of religion; freedom of thought; freedom of belief as well as freedom of opinion? Why are the sheep following the voice of the stranger, and not fleeing from him – John 10:5? Why are the sheep hearing the voice of the thief and the robber? Has the hireling not left the sheep for the wolf to scatter? In South Africa, is the thief not stealing, killing and destroying the souls of the sheep?

Isaiah 1:21-26

²¹ Jerusalem, once a faithful wife! And now a prostitute! Running after other gods! Once “The City of Fair Play,” but now a gang of murderers. ²² Once like sterling silver; now mixed with worthless alloy! Once so pure, but now diluted like watered-down wine! ²³ Your leaders are rebels, companions of thieves; all of them take bribes and won’t defend the widows and orphans. ²⁴ Therefore the Lord, the Mighty One of Israel, says: I will pour out my anger on you, my enemies! ²⁵ I myself will melt you in a smelting pot and skim off your slag. ²⁶ And afterwards I will give you good judges and wise counsellors like those you used to have. Then your city shall again be called “The City of Justice” and “The Faithful Town.”

Prayers:

§  GOD’s mercy upon South Africa - for He delights not in the death of sinners but that they turn from their wicked ways to live – Ezekiel 18:32.

§  Psalm 9:17 - Our Father in heaven, temper Your anger of judgement upon South Africa because they have forgotten You the Sovereign GOD, please O LORD, see the blood of the Cross.

§  Pray as the Spirit leads you for the re-elect President – Jacob Zuma.

§  Thank You Jesus for silent labourers that You are raising in South Africa. Thank You for the steady growth of the work of discipleship that You are blessing.

§  Let us ask the GOD of harvest to hasten and quicken the work of discipleship for His purpose, so that His chosen and genuine labourers will be able to go into the work of harvesting souls from the hands of thieves and robbers in South Africa – Luke 10:2.

§  Pray that the lives of these brethren (labourers) will reflect Jesus and Him only, who will be able to draw all men in South Africa unto Himself – John 12:32.

§  Let’s pray that every discipleship resources needed (human, literatures, materials, finances e.t.c) for the great work ahead, be provided by the Great Provider Himself.

§  Pray that as South Africa is a large city, this shall not be a challenge to the work of discipleship, but that the new wine will flow to every needed place as the Spirit of GOD desires.

§  As the LORD liveth, and His Spirit is alive, declare every city/town of South Africa for Jesus as the Spirit gives you utterance. We declare Lesotho for Jesus; we declare ….

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Regard Not the Things of the Past Concerning the New NIGERIA (2)

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Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) – Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it shall spring up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Presently in Nigeria (within the week of Friday 3^rd and Friday 10th):

  Ø Twin bomb blast at Jos – one at a crowded mosque and another one simultaneously at a restaurant on Sunday the 5^th of July;

  Ø  Female suicide bomber detonated an improved explosive device, killing no fewer than 40 people at Sabon-Gari in Kaduna;

  Ø  Male and female suicide bombers blowing themselves up in the midst of crowd (in markets, churches; hospital etc);

  Ø  More than 200 people killed (not to mention injured) over the series of attacks by Boko Haram over the past few days. Their intention is to implement a strict form of Islamic law in Nigeria;

  Ø  Reports revealed that the elected President urges Muslims in Nigeria and across the world to reject with one voice the attackers claim to be acting in the name of Islam, and tell the terrorist to stop the abasement of their religion;

Reaction of some of the citizens:

•  Mouth wagging against the President not being able to meet the expectation of the people in dealing with the major deepening economic crisis and the Islamist insurgency in the northern part of Nigeria; other expectations are:
•  Fight and eradicate corruption,
• Nomination of ministers,
• Rise from the present fall of the currency,
• Economic stability,
• Rescue and return of the Chibok girls [Bring-Back-Our-Girls campaigners],
• Seek and attain international supports/assistance, even if these are to the detriment of the country,
•  Roll out employment programme as promised during his campaign,
• Improve the quality of education while still making it affordable for the masses,
•  Housing for people with low income,
• Critics are beginning to mock him as a sluggish elderly man and termed him as “Baba Go Slow” after his barely over a month or two months of attaining office.

Any Similarities Of The Above In The Bible? Yes, The Israelites!

Exodus 3:7-8a (TLB) – I have seen the deep sorrows of my people in Egypt and have heard their pleas for freedom from their harsh taskmasters. I have come to deliver them from the Egyptians and to take them out of Egypt into a good land, a large land, a land flowing with milk and honey…

Seen…. Come…. Take….

These are only actions [deeds, accomplished, achieved] that can be completed only by GOD, and not man. The complaint of the Israelites about their hardships (to mention a few):

1. Bitter water of Marah – Exo 15:22-25 (TLB)

2. Cry for food – Exo 16 (TLB)

3. Wail for water to drink (Meribah) – Exo 17:1-7 (TLB)

4. Complaint against each other – Exo 18:13 (TLB)

Making reference to the wilderness experience of the Israelites, Apostle Paul warned us:

1 Corinthians 10:1-11 – The Living Bible (TLB)

¹ For we must never forget, dear brothers, what happened to our people in the wilderness long ago. God guided them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them; and he brought them all safely through the waters of the Red Sea. ² This might be called their “baptism”—baptized both in sea and cloud!—as followers of Moses—their commitment to him as their leader. ^3-4 And by a miracle God sent them food to eat and water to drink there in the desert; they drank the water that Christ gave them.* He was there with them as a mighty Rock of spiritual refreshment. ⁵ Yet after all this most of them did not obey God, and he destroyed them in the wilderness. ⁶ From this lesson we are warned that we must not desire evil things as they did, ⁷ nor worship idols as they did. (The Scriptures tell us, “The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to dance” in worship of the golden calf.) ⁸ Another lesson for us is what happened when some of them sinned with other men’s wives, and 23,000 fell dead in one day. ⁹ And don’t try the Lord’s patience—they did and died from snake bites. ¹⁰ And don’t murmur against God and his dealings with you as some of them did, for that is why God sent his Angel to destroy them.¹¹ All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us—to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them in these last days as the world nears its end.

Prayers:

  Ø On behalf of Nigeria, we will cry for mercy. GOD’s mercy because just like the Israelites who had barely come out of Egypt had started complaining, so are the people of Nigeria complaining about the present government within their almost two months in office.

  Ø  Plead for Christ mercies for the murmurs, groanings and complaints of the masses of/in Nigeria. The bible says Moses was always pleading and begging GOD on behalf of the Israelites. Beloved, let us ask for His compassion upon our nation and our people that are dying daily.

  Ø Beg GOD that as we stand in the gap and as we intercede that Nigerians will not try the patience of GOD. Verse 9 of the above scripture says “…. they did and died from snake bites.” Could these snake-bites be the increase in the waves of raids, explosions and suicide bombings in the northern part of Nigeria?

  Ø For the GOD who is interested in the affairs of men, are His dealings, plans and programmes too slow in our sights? Plead that He will not send destruction unto the nation as He dealt with the Israelites. Ask for His mercy of forgiveness.

Heb 3:16-19 (TLB):

¹⁶ And who were those people I speak of, who heard God’s voice speaking to them but then rebelled against him? They were the ones who came out of Egypt with Moses their leader. ¹⁷ And who was it who made God angry for all those forty years? These same people who sinned and as a result died in the wilderness. ¹⁸ And to whom was God speaking when he swore with an oath that they could never go into the land he had promised his people? He was speaking to all those who disobeyed him. ¹⁹ And why couldn’t they go in? Because they didn’t trust him.

Heb 4:1-3a (TLB):

¹ Although God’s promise still stands—his promise that all may enter his place of rest—we ought to tremble with fear because some of you may be on the verge of failing to get there after all. ² For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us—has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn’t do them any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith. ³ For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest.

Heb 4:11 (TLB):

¹¹ Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in.

PRAYERS:

  Ø  There is a gap between promise(s) and its fulfilment. Let us pray that the whole nation be blessed by the Spirit of GOD with the wine of patience - patience to be able to experience that rest, for in patience, can we possess our soul. Lk 20:19; patience in trusting GOD and patience in obeying Him; so that Nigeria is not wandering in her wilderness.

  Ø  Perhaps Nigeria is still enslaved in/with her past (Egypt), and cannot enter the “promised land” (GOD’s rest) without leaving “Egypt.” Thou Our Saviour, Deliverer and Healer – JESUS CHRIST – please set Nigeria free. Where Nigeria and Nigerians needs healing, heal. Where Nigeria and Nigerians needs deliverance, deliver. Where Nigeria needs salvation, send men/women of salvation.

  Ø  Amidst the instructions and promises of GOD concerning Nigeria, O LORD, let not fear or lack of faith make Nigerians to see the “roads ahead” look difficult. Help Nigeria to humble herself before the LORD, seek His help and be able to enter into that rest of GOD.

  Ø  Holy Spirit as You observe Your cleansing, daily breathe upon and through the churches, so that the complete message of the gospel is preached so that men/women/youths/children comes into understanding that development cannot take place in a day but gradually; and that promises could only be fulfilled seeing GOD and not the government.

  Ø LORD JESUS, You said “My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth.” Therefore O LORD, endow Nigeria with Your divine peace.

  Ø As of the matter of Boko Haram and all their worldwide co-horts, JESUS, encounter them in Your own way, as You do not delight in the death of sinner but for them to come into repentance. Thank You for as many of them that You are rescuing and bringing out of this coven of darkness into Your divine marvellous light.

THANK YOU BLESSED TRINITY THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR US WHEN WE CALL ON YOU.

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