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IN DEFENCE OF MY INHERITANCEAugust 1, 2007 In what is considered the last Israeli resistance against the Roman Invasion, a small cluster of surviving Israeli soldiers retreated to what is now known as the Fortress of Massada. Aware of the inescapable plight before them, they decided not to give any pleasure to the Romans by making an astounding decision to rather kill themselves than die at the hands of the uncircumcised Roman soldiers. So they did. Upon arrival, the Roman soldiers found none of the Israeli soldiers alive! History calls it “heroism” for the sake of their inheritance (nation). It is said that every soldier enlisted in the Israeli army is required to stand at the fortress of Massada and make a vow that the land of Israel is more important than his or her individual life. All in defense of their inheritance! You cannot sacrifice for a cause or land you neither love nor appreciate. Africa’s challenge reminds me of the crisis Israel faced in 1 Samuel Chapter 17, when a national threat came in the form of goliath. The threat intimidated and hypnotized the whole nation. The greatest challenge for Israel was not the size of the ‘threat” but a lack of a man to deal with the threat. The scriptures describe this situation in the following words, ‘ when Saul and ALL Israel heard those words of the philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid’. Verse 11. In all Israel, there was no man, not even the King who could risk his life for the nation (Inheritance). David represents a new breed of leadership that understands the value of the inheritance given to them by God. The land of Israel was their God-given inheritance, but someone had to feel for it in order to defend it. Africa is under siege. The threat is greater than Goliath. Men with unsurpassed education and faith in God are overwhelmed by the challenge of a continent bleeding in poverty, disastrous governance records, blatant corruption and the devastating plague of HIV/AIDS. Like Israel, we have taken shelter in caves, and are afraid for our lives. I am convinced that the church in Africa remains as the only hope in the healing process of our continent, but not in her current form. As David broke the spell over Israel, the church must break the spell over Africa. The key is to identify the Goliath (threat) of Africa and fearlessly face it. The greatest threat to Africa today is that of bad governance. Politics has for years been left in the hands of the ungodly. The second threat to Africa is foreign domination. Each African nation must answer the question: who is in charge of our nation? Whose voice is respected and feared? Is it the masses, the government or the president? For most of Africa, the answer is none of the above. The loud intimidating giant is the foreign imposition of views, policies, culture and values. Every Goliath needs a David. Until David comes out of hiding and tending sheep, the nation will remain bound and hypnotized by Goliath. In recent past, with the Church still carrying on with the usual activity, the giant of apartheid in South Africa persisted for years until Nelson Mandela came out of Prison and broke the spell. In the United States, the giant of segregation persisted for centuries, until Martin Luther King Jr. came from the pulpit and broke the spell. The giant of colonialism across Africa persisted for years, until identifiable nationalists rose up in every nation and broke the spell of colonial powers. Africa continues to be exploited by foreign powers. Dubbed as the richest continent in the world with untapped resources, the unexplainable poverty levels have caused most African leaders to mortgage our inheritance to the highest bidder. The lack of respect and love for our inheritance has made us swindle ourselves through corruption and injustice. To have a love, passion and feeling for your nation, you need to accept it as being yours and that God expects you to give an account for your inheritance. Like Israeli soldiers at the fortress of Massada, we must stake our lives to defend the integrity and fortunes of our continent. Time has come to identify the Goliath that has held your country captive and whosoever confronts that Goliath, whether he is Christian or Moslem, becomes the respected power in that land. David was not among the soldiers listed for war, but he knew two things above the others, firstly that, no one can and should challenge God’s authority as Goliath was doing. Secondly, he understood that the land of Israel was his responsibility to defend, at any cost. Today, the Church has made great progress on the continent, with some of the best preachers of our day being Africans. Great churches and universities and Bible Schools have been built, conferences to teach the authority of the believer have reached fever pitch. Gospel crusades are unprecedented. The Church is a power ready to be unleashed on the political and socio-economic darkness that has haunted our great continent. But just like in the valley of Elah, we need Davids’ that are able to identify the national challenge and confront it regardless of the cost. Everyday, I hear in my spirit the sarcastic words of Goliath, “…give me a man…” I pray that you are that ‘man’ for your nation and generation. • Back |
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