In 1 Corinthians 2:9, the Apostle Paul proclaims a revelation from the Spirit of God.
He quotes the Prophet Isaiah, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’”— (Isaiah 64:4, ESV). He then proclaims thus: “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit” (v. 10a).
This wisdom, as Apostle Paul makes clear is from the Spirit of God – Who “searches all things, even the deep things of God” (v. 10b, NIV).
Another clarification is ‘this wisdom is not of this age or of the rulers of this age’. ” But…the wisdom of God…, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7, KJV).
As it is written, answering a question by one of His Disciples, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37, KJV).
This ‘first and great Commandment’ is foundational to knowing what God has prepared for those who love Him.
As I was fellowshipping with God in the Holy Spirit, He intuitively conveyed what I received about Jesus. On the day He died He was buried. On the second day, which was a Sabbath, He rested to fulfil the law. On the third day He rose, and He appeared severally to His disciples on diverse days before ascending into heaven.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the righteous law of God in all aspects.
I proclaim this knowledge was not taught to me by human wisdom, but by the Spirit. In spirit I sought and waited patiently for instructions whether, and how, to impart to others this spiritual knowledge; That on the second day – between Jesus’ sacrificial death by crucifixion on a cross, shedding His atoning blood on the cross, and resurrection on the third day – Jesus rested, buried in a grave having finished His work, thus fulfilling the righteous law God instituted at creation as Scriptures confirm (Genesis 2:2-3).
The Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament ends dramatically, just as it begins, with the Great Commission - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching then to observe whatsover I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20. KJV).
Our Father, we desire that they also, whom Your beloved Son Jesus Christ has given us, be with us in Him (The risen King) so that they may hear Your Word – The Gospel of Jesus Christ – be quickened, believe, receive and continually know (You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent) having their eyes opened to see His glory, which You have given Him, for You loved Him before the foundation of the world, and He loved us and gave His life as a ransom for our sin that we would be called children of God. Amen
In Part One we established that Christianity in Africa has acquired superpower status. ‘Acquired’ is probably not the right choice of word for none did anything to deserve it. It’s all by God’s grace.
Attained is a more accurate description. The Church is the bride of Christ. The Gospel of Matthew records in verse 18 of chapter 16 the following statement, “thus art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church” (KJV) The Church belong to Jesus Christ, and He is the master builder. We are co-workers in His project. Hence, only Jesus Christ deserves the glory for the growth of the Church in Africa.
We will return to this crucial point in future posts because there’s a big misunderstanding of positions and roles in various ministries. My aim here is to take the conversation a step farther. To do this, I pivot to my Podcast on God’s promises to the Church (not only in Africa, but worldwide) aired in June 2023 to provide the context of what we characterize here as the Prophetic Moment. Of course, the focus is on the Church in Africa.
In Psalms 87, a Psalm for the sons of Korah (Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph), it says “…The Highest Himself shall establish her” (v. 5c, KJV). This proof that it is the hand of God at work in establishing His Church. So, whether you live in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya or Zimbabwe, wherever there is a Church know you and you are not just a statistic. “The LORD shall count, when He writes upon the people, that this man was born there” (v. 6, KJV). It might also be helpful to remember that “…glorious things are spoken of thee” (Psalm 87: 3, KJV). Which are these glorious things the Korahites speak about?
To be sure, although many of God’s promises to His glorious Church are recorded in the Psalms, they can also be found throughout the Old and New Testament Scriptures, as the following references, among others, aptly reveal.
Isaiah, 49:15b “…I will not forget thee.”
Isaiah, 54:1: “Sing, O barren woman, thou that didst not beat; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah, 31:9 “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”
Ezekiel, 34:15, 31. “I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.” “And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.”.
Haggai 2:5 “According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.”
Matthew 16: 18-19: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Revelation 14b-15: “…These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”
Since we know that God is faithful, and His promises are yes and amen, the Church is dutybound to appropriate His promises altogether and not be selective about it, as some prosperity preachers have tended to emphasize. When God says, ‘be holy because I AM HOLY’, that is essentially what He means.
As the redeemed of the LORD, the Church ought to say so. This is essentially what Isaiah means when He says, “And they shall call them, the holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, sought out, A city not forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12, KJV). Let the Church go forth in power of the Holy Spirit. As Apostle Paul reminds us, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9, KJV).
Its official. Globally, Africa is now a Christian superpower! This is a significant milestone in the history of Christianity. It would be a catastrophic mistake, however, if we characterized it only as a “historical” talking point. It is a prophetic moment in the life of the Church. How so?
To understand the significance of a prophetic moment, consider the words spoken by Jesus at His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, commonly known as Palm Sunday. The Gospel of Luke records that when Jesus came near the city, He wept over it (verse 41), saying, “if thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:42, KJV).
What is the opportunity ensconsed in this prophetic moment? Does Africa know God’s blessings (“the things that belong unto thy peace”); her calling? Or, like Jerusalem, are we blinded by unbelief?
With the much-anticipated return (Second Coming) of Jesus Christ on the cards, the growth of the Church in Africa is indeed very good news. It manifestly demonstrates that the Holy Spirit is breathing into the Church, sanctifying the bride in preparation for when the Groom arrivals. And we know “the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night…” (2 Peter 3:10a, KJV). In all that we do, the Chruch in Africa (and worldwide) must be ready, “for in such as hour as ye think not the Son if man commeth” (Matthew 24:44, KJV).
Who Am I in Christ? The Bible tells us who we are in Christ Jesus.
Perfect (because I walk before Him) Saved (because I entered through the Door) A branch (for I abide in the true Vine) I am not of this world (because I died with Christ and was resurrected with Him) I am strong, because I am weak I am fearfully and wonderfully made (because marvelous are His works) I am His servant (because He is the Master) I am His (for He is mine) I am like a green olive tree in the House of God (because I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever) I am helped (for the LORD is my strength and my shield)
Son of the Most-high God Holy Ghost filled Blessed
Read your Bible and find out what you are, or can be, in Christ Jesus
Is it not amazing what happens when we obey God’s Word?
Psalms 46:10 (KJV) reads, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
I have been still before the LORD this week and true to His Word, I know HE IS GOD! I have witnessed grace, healing, revival, joy, fellowship, protection, provision, peace, love, name it.
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalms 34:3, KJV).
First things first. I am born-again. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Whilst I was still a sinner, He redeemed me (and you) by His precious blood. I am free, and co-heir with Christ Jesus in the kingdom of God.
It is my prayer that this blog will inspire you to a deeper walk with Christ. To Him be the glory, now and forever.
