AFRICA IN GOD’S PLAN
DR U. OBED
@
MANI CONFERENCE
TUESDAY 05 SEPT. 2011
Focus
• The God of Purpose and Plans
• The Continent – AFRICA
• Africa in God’s Plan, and
• Timing of Africa’s Blossoming
Gen 1:16-19
• “Then God made two great lights: the
greater light to rule the day, and the lesser
light to rule the night. He made the stars
also. God set them in the firmament of the
heavens to give light on the earth, and to
rule over the day and over the night, and to
divide the light from the darkness. And God
saw that it was good. So the evening and the
morning were the fourth day.”
“Then the iron, the clay, the bronze,
the silver, and the gold were crushed
together, and became like chaff from
the summer threshing floors; the wind
carried them away so that no trace of
them was found. And the stone that
struck the image became a great
mountain and filled the whole earth”
(Dan 2:31-35).
AFRICA
• The origin of the word is still a little uncertain,
but it is credible to see a connection from
Latin (Africa = sunny) and Greek (Aphrike =
not cold). The Romans were the first to use
the name. For them it covered Tunisia and the
most northern parts of Algeria and Libya. They
could also have been inspired to the name
from some of the first people they met on the
continent: The Afri, which were a berber tribe
in the Carthage area.
(contd)
• “Egypt and "Aethiopia" seem to have
been more familiar and popular with
people of old as representing the
continent. The Europeans later used the
word "Africa" to describe the entire
continent. Strangely enough (they)
changed it from the land of sunshine and
warmth to "the dark continent.””
("Wonders of the African World" by Dr. Henry
Louis Gates, Jr,).
Africa in God’s Plan
• Apostle Peter said to Cornelius,
“In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. But in every
nation whoever fears Him and
works righteousness is accepted
by Him”” (Acts 10:34-35).
Is 19:19 - 25
• “In that day there will be an altar to the
Lord in the midst of the land of Africa,
and a pillar to the LORD at its border. And
it will be for a sign and for a witness to
the LORD of hosts in the land of Africa;
for they will cry to the LORD because of
oppressors, and He will send them a
Savior and a Mighty One, and He will
deliver them.
(Contd)
• “Then the LORD will be known to
Africa, and the Africans will know
the LORD in that day, and will make
sacrifice and offering; yes, they will
make a vow to the LORD and
perform it. And the LORD will strike
Africa, He will strike and heal it; they
will return to the LORD, and He will
be entreated by them and heal them.
(Contd)
“In that day there will be a highway from
Africa to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come
into Africa and the African into Assyria, and
the Africans will serve with the Assyrians.
“In that day, Israel will be one of three with
Africa and Assyria – a blessing in the midst of
the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless
saying, “Blessed is Africa My people, and
Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My
inheritance.””
Acts 17:26
“And He has made from one blood
every nation of men to dwell on all
the face of the earth, and has
determined their pre-appointed times
and the boundaries of their
dwellings” (Acts 17:26).
• (Nation = race, tribe, people of same habit)
Dr Andrew Walls
• “Christian advance in the world is serial and in
the providence of God, it is the Christians of
Africa, and Asia and Latin America and the
Pacific that are next in the series… It means that
the Christians of the southern continent are now
the representative Christians, the people by
whom the quality of the 21st and 22nd century
Christianity will be judged, the people who will
set the norms, the standard. And the quality of
the 21st century Christianity will depend on
them.”
Articulating God’s Plan for Africa
1. Re-evangelization of the West
2. Setting of biblical norms and standards for
the practice of genuine Christianity
3. Restoring spiritual quality in the church of
the 21st century and beyond
4. Finishing the unfinished task – engaging the
remaining unreached people groups with the
gospel of the kingdom
5. Preparing the church for the Lord’s soon
return
Rom 9:25-26
• “I will call (Africa) My people, who
were not My people, and her
beloved, who was not beloved. And
it shall come to pass in the place
where it was said of (Africa), ‘You
are not My people’ there they shall
be called sons of the Living God.”
Is 60:1-2
“Arise, shine (Africa); for your light is
come! And the glory of the LORD is
risen upon you. For behold the
darkness shall cover the earth, and
deep darkness the people; but the
Lord will rise over you, and His
glory will be seen upon (Africa)”
GOD
BLESS
AFRICA