It is with great sadness that we learnt about the death of President John Magufuli. Today we want to salute the President for the brave stance he took by seeking God for leading his country through this worldwide pandemic. We pass our condolences to his family and his people.
The question that may come to us when we hear this news is whether the President took the right stance on calling on God and encouraging his people to seek God's protection through fasting and praying and for not following the way of the rest of the world by rolling out a man-made solution in response to the pandemic. In order to answer this question, we need to look at scriptures for guidance.
God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
- As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa.55:9)
The Lord watches the sins of the wicked and they will by no means go unpunished.
- Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. (Pro.11:21)
Brothers and Sisters, let us be comforted today. Father AhaYah has not left us, nor has He forsaken us. Let us accept what He has allowed knowing that what the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good (Gen.50:20). Let us observe the events that are happening around us and across the world and recognise, firstly, that we at war against the age-old enemy of our souls, satan; and secondly that we are at the time of the end. The return of Jesus is at hand. Jesus warned us of the persecution of the saints.
- "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name" (Matt.24:9).
- "Also, it (the beast) was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation." (Rev.13:7)
- Paul wrote in the letter to the Philippians: "Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil.1:20-21)
- "But he (Stephen), full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55)
We are in the time of sorrows. A time foretold in the Word of God. Much more is coming. To stand in these days will require us to be spiritually prepared and walking closely with God and in the power of His might. This is not the time for us to cave in under the pressure and affliction from the enemy. Consider these words of wisdom:
- For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised….but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (Heb.10:38)
- Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (Luke 17:33)
- And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev.12:11)
My Prayer
Father AhaYah, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Father today we asked that You to please comfort the loved ones of John Magufuli and the people of Tanzania. Please strengthen them at this time of loss and surround them with Your love and peace.
We pray for the people of Tanzania that they will remain united, that they will continue to look to You for protection during these perilous times. Father I pray for each person in this land, that they will seek You for direction and guidance. Please draw them to You and lead them into repentance of sin. Please strengthen them and guide them to make themselves ready for Your soon return.
Father AhaYah, we pray for the new President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan. Father please bless her and grant her wisdom and strength to lead this country and its people according to Your will. Please make a way for her where there is no way and surround her with people who know You and who fear only You.
Father, You are our rock and our salvation. It is only with You that we have safety. Father, please grant all of us courage not to buckle under the affliction from the wicked that we encounter across the lands, those who oppose us because we look to You for protection and not to man. Father Your word assures us that when the enemy comes in like a flood that You will raise up a standard against him. Father AhaYah, please arise, and establish Your word this day. We pray in the name of YashaYah, our Saviour and our Redeemer. Aman.