Prayer-School Prayer Practicum

Targeting South Africa

Prayer Target: The Needs Of the Various People Groups

BACKGROUND: The continent AFRICA

The continent of Africa has always been known as "Dark Africa". Most of its countries were in bondage to droughts, poverty, misery, under-development, unfruitfulness, wars, even genocides and corrupt governmental structures. This dark picture was despite the fact that, even from Biblical times, Africa (Egypt) had repeatedly been a place of provision. Because of Africa's important role in God's end-time purposes, it has been a major target of the enemy over many centuries. BUT ... praise God. This is Africa's hour. And she is about to be born. Africa is about to be birthed into her redemptive purpose. In recent years various prophecies have confirmed that God has already started a major outpouring of His Spirit all across this continent. According to these prophecies it would start from the bottom (South Africa) and spread upwards throughout the continent: God's fire ... from Cape to Cairo!

We have a song that we sing which says: "Jabulani, Jabulani Africa" which means "Sing for joy, o Africa". It continues to say: "The Lord your God has risen upon you now." Africa, you will no longer be called "dark", for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you in this hour. Arise slumbering giant, for it is your turn to contribute to the church of Christ on earth your redemptive gift. (I believe this gift may be in the area of worship and spiritual warfare.)

BACKGROUND: SOUTH AFRICA as a nation

In recent years South Africa has been referred to as the "Rainbow nation". God has sovereignly determined that the population of Africa's southern-most nation would constitute a large variety of people groups, cultures and languages. For such extreme cultures to unite as a nation, it would truly take a miracle from God. In South Africa "first world" technology and sophisticated lifestyles live side by side to "third world" poverty and extremely poor living conditions. South Africa truly is a nation of many contrasts and great variety. This very fact had been our downfall in the past, but in it also lies our greatest strength.

By God's grace, the nation of South Africa will become " HIS rainbow (glory) people". The tremendous outpouring of rain (to the point of flooding in many areas) in this nation the past three months, is symbolic of God's spiritual rain being poured out over South Africa. We truly have seen rivers in the desert. Farmers in the Eastern Cape Karoo area (a desert region) had to use rubber boats to get to food supplies. It's time for "dinghies in the desert" in this nation.

BACKGROUND: Heritage of people groups in SOUTH AFRICA

Each of the population groups in South Africa has unique weaknesses and strengths.

Amongst the WHITE population groups there are (praise God) a lot of godly spiritual roots and ancestry - most of ancestry being from European countries. Unfortunately Freemasonry with its occultic roots also slipped in, and today is one of the bastions that needs to be demolished in this nation. Amongst white South Africans, RELIGION and TRADITION (particularly amongst conservative whites), PRIDE (stiff-neckedness) and sophisticated IDOLATRY (spirit of harlotry.. going after other things, such as materialism, success, status, including sexual immorality) are some of the major stumbling blocks to be removed for God to break through in this nation. RATIONALISM seems to be a greater stronghold than New Age and similar philosophies. South African MEN need special prayer. Pray that they may be broken, that God will give them hearts of flesh.

Amongst BLACK people groups, there are more UNGODLY spiritual ROOTS. Most of the ancestors of black people groups were involved in unholy pacts made with various demonic spirits, commonly referred to as "ANCESTRAL WORSHIP". Amongst the spirits worshipped are "rain and water spirits", spirits associated with various animals or heavenly elements. We also find that many so-called "believers" would "accept" Jesus, yet they would still cling to their (cultural) ancestral spirits. Most of these people are being deceived and ignorant of the fact that the "spirits of their ancestors" are actually demonic spirits.

Amongst our COLOURED (brown) people, there are great hurts. Many of them are suffering from sins committed against their forefathers. As a people group they are suffering from REJECTION and are in bondage to a spirit of SLAVERY (poverty). Their hurts over the past few generations have resulted in a culture of ALCOHOL ABUSE and various other abuses within family life. Pray that they will forgive those who have sinned against them in past generations, and that they will be able to receive the Spirit of adoption whereby they can cry out: Abba Father!

Another (smaller) group in our nation is the INDIAN people. The majority believe in Allah; the Muslim faith seems to be their greatest stronghold. Pray that God would reveal Himself to them in dreams and visons.

General prayer:

Pray for a SPIRIT of REPENTANCE to come upon all people, both believers and unbelievers. Pray for GRACE and MERCY, for God to forgive us as a nation (for the sins of this generation and the sins of our forefathers.)

White people groups need prayer:

1. To be set free from the spirit of RELIGION (dead works, form of godliness) and TRADITIONS of forefathers. Pray that they will again tremble at God's word (Is 66:2), and that the fear of God (in stead of the fear of man) will come upon them.

2. To be set free from PRIDE, RATIONALISM, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, STIFF-NECKEDNESS, spirit of CONTROL and manipulation of weaker ones. Pray for generosity and a release of resources and sharing of skills.

3. To be set free from the spirit of HARLOTRY (following after other gods) including unholy living, materialism, sport, substance abuse, gluttony and various other idols which take precedence over God.

1. To be set free from SPIRITS of WITCHCRAFT and ANCESTRAL WORSHIP practices. Pray for them to be set free from DECEPTION. Pray that they will be able to see God's truth, which will set them free. Pray for unholy covenants (ancestral pacts with Satan) to be broken.

2. For GRACE to FORGIVE political injustices and sins committed against them in the past. For HEALING of their spirits and souls.

3. To be set free from a spirit of POVERTY and SLAVERY. Pray that they will be able to see themselves as God sees them. Pray that they will repent of acts of MURDER and VIOLENCE and a general lack of respect for the sanctity of human life. Pray for the root of bitterness to be repented of and dealt with. This results in extreme ALCOHOL ABUSE and many other evils.

4. Pray for the RESTORATION of BROKEN HOMES, for fathers to be united to their families. Pray for fathers to take up their responsibilities as providers.

5. Pray for HOPE and FAITH in their hearts, instead of despair. Pray for creativity and taking up of responsibility for themselves to find employment.

6. Pray for the RESTORATION of RESPECT towards black women amongst men in black cultures. Pray for the RESTORATION of thousands of physically and sexually abused black children and women. Pray for the PROTECTION of children and women in black communities.

Coloured people need prayer for:

1. To be set free from a spirit of REJECTION and a spiritual "illigitamacy". Pray that they may come to know the acceptance of the Father and experience the spirit of adoption.

2. To understand their unique redemptive purpose as a people group, and start to LOVE THEMSELVES, as God loves them.

3. To be set free from a spirit of SLAVERY and POVERTY. Pray for grace to forgive their white oppressors of the past and the all the offenses and injustices committed against them in the past.

4. To be set free from FALSE RELIGIONS (works and forms of godliness) and TRADITIONS of forefathers.

5. To be set free from hopelessness, resulting in a CULTURE of ALCOHOL ABUSE and SEXUAL sins (eg INCEST).

Immigrants (from the East and India) need prayer for:

1. That they will meet Jesus Christ and be set free from the DECEPTION of all their false gods and religions.

2. That they will feel ACCEPTED by this nation, and that they will be prepared to bring their unique cultural giftings and CONTRIBUTE to the strengthening of this nation ... towards our God-ordained calling in this continent.

GUIDELINES FOR THIS WEEK'S PRAYER TARGET

Ask the Holy Spirit

• which people group and
• which need