South Africa and the whole African continent is at such an important place in history and at the turning point to enter an era of blessing and prosperity. God has taken different parts of the world through cycles of blessing and prosperity in their appointed season and it is now Africa’s turn to enter into this cycle, but only if we remain faithful to giving God His rightful place. The love of God the Father is upon Africa and its people right now, calling us to turn to Him and receive His blessing.
Every African has been blessed to be born through a God appointed ancestral lineage and it is important to always honour our parents and forefathers, where we have come from and our unique culture as a people. Our ancestors form an irreplaceable part of our heritage and this should always be acknowledged, honoured and celebrated. We also need to recognise that God the Father is the supreme giver of life and also the one who determines each of our days of existence. God is the source of our existence, protection, provision, power and blessing. God is the source of life and the only one who we should pray to and worship.
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In past and present history people of all cultures have fallen into the trap of elevating ancestors in God’s place or seeing them as intermediaries to God, and hence have been caught in idolatry which results in curses from this misalignment. As the Bible says in the book of Isaiah 8:19-20 ‘Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark’.
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Africa’s history is a big part of the Bible – arguably more than any other land other than Israel and the Middle East. Our forefathers are part of that biblical history with the first ever person outside Jerusalem to know and accept Yeshua as their Lord and saviour being an African (Ethiopian eunuch). A long time before Christianity was known in the western world, our ancestors here in Africa already knew and accepted this truth of Yeshua being our true connection to God. Africa hosted Yeshua in His early days, and even before Yeshua, Africa played a role in hosting the father of faith Abraham, and also had kings and queens visiting Israel to worship the one true God as shown biblically by the Queen of Sheba.
The sacrifice of Yeshua on the altar of Calvary and the outpouring of His Blood is the only sacrifice that is perfect and acceptable in the eyes of God. Yeshua made himself the sacrifice for us and for the land of Africa. He has reconciled us in full to God through His sacrifice and blood. This we need to celebrate knowing that there is no need for us to sacrifice animals or humans to appease God – Yeshua has done that for us forever because He is the perfect offering and sacrifice for all mankind. This is really Good News to celebrate as we honour and thank God for who He has created us to be and the ancestral lineage that He has chosen to give us earthly life through.
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A sad truth that is critical to pay attention to is that the unique identity and heritage of Africa and the unique culture that God created the African with was simultaneously challenged, demonised and eroded by a defiled form of Christianity that expected Africans to worship God according to Western culture and give up the original design that God gave us. The toxic mixture of the Gospel, the spirit of religion, the spirit of superiority and the spirit of mammon has led to many lies and much defilement, that has caused many hearts of Africans to be broken and exploited, for many Africans to be taken captive and held in oppression physically, economically and spiritually.
It is now important that this situation be clearly acknowledged and the “True Good News” (true Gospel) that embraces the unique God-given cultural DNA and identity of the African now be preached to reverse this defilement. If this is not done the African will continue to seek meaning and identity outside a God who has incorrectly been presented as a God who rejects their identity, culture and traditions (including their ancestors/forefathers). This means the world will also miss the authentic voice, sound and identity of indigenous Africa in the flow of praise and worship being lifted up to God across different cultures.
The voices of condemnation that shout blanket insults to the African identity, heritage, culture and traditions need to be silenced, to repent and come into alignment with a truth of God’s DNA in the African and not continue to impose a Westernised view of religious do’s and don’ts upon Africa. Likewise, it is critically important that we as tribal groups within Africa don’t raise up inter-tribal and xenophobic condemnation and insults, but must seek unity in love and help each other all find truth.
The God of the ancestors of Israel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is the same God of the ancestors of the Khumalo’s, Cele’s and Shabangu’s – likewise is the same God of the ancestors of the Smith’s, Alexander’s and Boyd’s – likewise is the same God of the ancestors of the Du Plessis’s, Van Wyk’s and Pretorius’s. Every nation, tribe and tongue should commemorate, acknowledge, celebrate and respect where they have come from and their uniqueness in heritage and culture and their God-given identity. No nation, tribe or tongue has the right to impose their culture on another or ridicule that of another.
But the one thing that unites us is that we all carry the manifold DNA of God and are saved by the same Blood of Yeshua and reconciled to the same God through That Blood. Likewise, what applies to all is that God requires that no nation, tribe or tongue should venerate, worship, or consult their dead.
God is “the Ancient of Days” and has placed a part of Himself in the KhoiKhoi nation (1st people of Southern Africa), just as He has in the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Shona, English, Afrikaner and other tribes. This aspect of God manifesting himself uniquely in different people groups joined together in unity gives the world the true representation of Himself.
God never intended that one people group impose and demand that another group conforms to their uniqueness; but He calls us to celebrate each other as we recognise the DNA of God in each other, wherein confirming The Truth that we all come from ONE SOURCE.
‘And He made from [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands and abodes). So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us. — Acts 17:26-27
The cloud of witnesses (forefathers/ancestors) in the heavens are cheering us on to get this issue right. ‘Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weigh, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ — Hebrews 12:1-2.
There are ancient truths and redemptive gifts that God has placed in every people group, and the combination of these truths and gifts will lead us back to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and redeem us from the defilement we have carried by eating from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left around you will shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.” — Ezekiel 36: 35-36
Yeshua’s first words when He stepped into a synagogue was to read from the book of Isaiah where it says “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” — Luke 4:18-19.
Yeshua wants these words fulfilled over Africa and its people as much as He wants them fulfilled in America, Europe, Asia and the whole earth.
Dear Africans, let us give due respect and honour to our forefathers/ancestors and celebrate them together with our culture and traditions, but not fall into idolatry by worshipping them, sacrificing to them or trying to communicate or consult them. God the Father is the only one we should worship and consult, God the Father is the only one who determines our future and prosperity. Yeshua’s Blood and sacrifice has made this possible for us and given us direct access to God.
We have to step into this truth so that we can receive the abundant blessings that God has prepared for us. Let all the tribes and tongues of Africa activate and release the Blood of Yeshua into the land of Africa to redeem the land and its people from defilement of human blood and greed; and the spirits of death and poverty, and from any connections to the spiritual realms of darkness and death.
Perhaps this call for Ancestors Day is the catalyst we actually needed for us to address the deeper issues and wounds that need to be healed in Africa by applying the antidote of “The Truth”. Knowing “The Truth” will set all of us free. Maybe this is the opportunity for us to radically love each other to a point where righteousness and justice will be established together through truth, mercy and unconditional love for each other. (Psalm 89:14 — Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face).
Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. — John 8:36
Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God — the Lord, the God of their ancestors — even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. — 2 Chronicles 30:18-20
May we pray for each other as Hezekiah prayed that God may forgive and heal all of us and that we may find the place of true identity and freedom as a continent united as ONE by the Blood of Yeshua across the different nations, tribes and tongues.
Arise, voice of Africa
Arise, sound of Africa
Arise, identity of Africa
May your voice, sound and identity arise in praise and worship to Yeshua whose Blood has paid for your freedom and prosperity.
Both heaven and earth need to hear the authentic voice, sound and identity of indigenous Africa.
Indeed, a Word of the Lord has come forth in this hour: The Lord is saying that this HIS Harvest Generation will eat again from The Tree of Life, will lead as a child leads, back to Eden. These who’ve been taught evil for good, who’ve eaten of evil, gorged on deceit, will lead My people to Eden to eat from My Tree of Life, My Tree of Truth, My Firstfruit. See, the very ones, the very sons, who seem to have overeaten every evil, will lead as a child would lead My People back to Eden, My Tree, even Me.
Zvikomborero Kuwana
