CALLING 10 000 NELSON MANDELA’S TO ARISE

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918 - 2013

There is a prophetic call going out to our Rainbow Nation at this time. It is a call for 10 000 men and women to arise to continue the amazing legacy of Nelson Mandela. 1Chron 12:32 speaks about the “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do”. Madiba was such a man. He understood the times and knew what South Africa should do. We are believing that 10 000 others, across our land, are arising to do the same.

At our Service on Sunday 8 December, the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, we took time to pay tribute to the legacy of Madiba. Thuli Motloli, Rofhiwa Takalani and Colleen Kruger shared powerfully, how Madiba had impacted their lives.

Ps Jacques then preached about “Madiba and his Faith”. James 2:18 says: ‘I will show you my faith by what I do.’ Nelson Mandela lived this. As a Statesman and crusader for National unity, he never took strong ‘religious’ sides but he lived a life that showed a deep, unwavering faith. He stayed true to his convictions and he could see a free, non-racial, democratic South Africa that few others could see at the time. He lived what Francis of Assisi said: "Preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words.”

Madiba did say the following, at an Easter Church Conference, in 1994:

"Each Easter marks the rebirth of our faith. It marks the victory of our risen Saviour over the torture of the cross and the grave. Our Messiah, who came to us in the form of a mortal man, but who by his suffering and crucifixion attained immortality. Our Messiah, whose life bears testimony to the truth that there is no shame in poverty; those who should be ashamed are they who impoverish others.”

He was always grateful to the Methodist Missionaries who schooled him and had this to say about their impact: “I saw that virtually all of the achievements of Africans seemed to have come about through the missionary work of the Church.”

When he paid an impromptu visit at our His People service in Cape Town in 1996 he strongly urged the Church to continue being the watchdog of the nation. 

President Nelson Mandela speaking at His People Church

One of Madiba’s most powerful statements revealing his faith is the following:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us . . . And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Do you hear the call of our Lord Jesus through those words to arise? May the life of Madiba inspire you to live the life you were called to live.