A New Course for Kibaha
7 Jun 2001

Blessings Beloved,

I AM THROUGH WITH MEETINGS A blast from the shofar brought by Team Two opened the Kibaha conference amidst typical anointed Africa praise. Interesting, we have never used a shofar here in Africa but I felt the Lord wanted it blown to start the conference. I shared about how shofars were used for several reasons in the Old Testament -- one of those was to call sacred assemblies or God-ordained meetings. "You have attended conferences before and other meetings," I told them. "I no longer have time for such meetings or conferences. I only have time for encounters with God. I am through with meetings." They cheered in agreement as I told them we had come under the direction of the Lord and we expected him to manifest His presence. The shofar was a fitting symbol of the seriousness in which we are approaching these meetings in Kibaha.

WAR IN THE HEAVENLIES The resistance is heavy and the attacks against the team are under way. We send out a call for prayers as God directs. Across the street is a Muslim mosque. Today is a public holiday: Mohammed's birthday. The chants and prayers over loudspeakers could be heard long into the night.

During the day an interesting phenomenon occurred as demons slammed doors with such force it shook the building and plaster came off the walls. The team members have also been attacked, and we have had to pray already over each other; all are fine now. It seems as though war has been declared. I expected the resistance today because we have called for a unity meeting of all churches and pastors in Kibaha and they have agreed. It will be Thursday night and it will be a Spirit-led call to repentance and cleansing.

Things seem to be accelerated in the spirit. We are headed for a busy weekend as we attempt to plant three churches in three days -- Friday through Sunday. Two of them will be in Kibaha and one in Dar es Salaam.

PRIDE INTO RELIGION I started the conference with a message about those God is raising up in the last days. Those who have given themselves to the Lord fully are now walking in the favor of the Lord. Pride is one of the great blocks to the glory. It tells us we have nothing to repent of or that what we are doing is God-directed. Pride manifests itself in terms of religion.

Their eyes widened as I told them that religion is man's attempt to please God, but it always turns into man making HIMSELF god. "They worship me with their lips but their hearts are far from me; they are more concerned with the rules of man then they are with my commandments" (Isaiah 29:13). Christianity is not a religion -- it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is supposed to be about your inner walk or relationship with God. But we turn it into a business and wonder where God is.

They seemed a bit shocked with the tone of the message. The other team members shared along the same lines. Cleansing, division -- each was saying to these leaders, "Yes, God is moving in your land, but there is a great responsibility."

A COURSE CORRECTION Each team member shared an anointed word and several words were given that tied the whole theme of the conference together. God was calling for a course correction.

At the end of the conference I had a vision of each person standing in the room facing away from me. So I asked everyone to stand and turn around. Then I told them, "It is not enough to be sorry or weep; you must understand God is demanding his people turn and change direction. He is calling you to walk toward Him. You can let nothing stand in your way -- not visions, plans, ambitions, desires, or calling."

They all turned around and we worshiped, first in our hearts and then as we sang. I feel so strongly that we surprised them, because we did not talk of methods or techniques of discipleship. We called them to be holy, as our Lord is holy. They answered the call and the Lord did not disappoint their cry for His glory. It came powerfully at times, and at other times softly. It was as though each got what he needed.

"WE ARE ON A NEW PATH" There were several altar calls throughout the day as they came forward and the team prayed for them. This team seems to be very gifted in personal prayer ministry. Many coming forward are overcome or fall to the floor weeping. Some just fall to their knees with their hand in their faces, weeping.

The chairman stood and said, "We have heard what God has spoken here today. We are on a new path now and we will call our people to come toget sent to do. Tonight we had a powerful time of prayer as the team prayed for the meetings and each other. The Lord spoke to me there was more accomplished in the spirit today than in the natural. We all are filled with the Holy Spirit and the Joy of the Lord (Acts 13:52).

Digging the well in Kibaha, Stephen Gray

Peace to you Beloved, The victory was accomplished in Kibaha Thursday night, and we expect to spend the next three days here enjoying the fruit as we preach the Gospel and plant churches.

A BREAKTHROUGH AT HAND In the years I have been coming to Africa I have been blessed to witness many powerful services. The Holy Spirit just seems to be so close and powerful here. But last night was one of the most incredible encounters with God I have had.

The resistance against this team as we came into Kibaha has also been the most intense ever. I have tried not to dwell on the enemy's actions -- but you must know, saints -- even with the tremendous warfare and attacks, our God was victorious. It was a mighty and powerful display of our Father's sovereignty.

All but a few of the churches in the region gathered at a church in Kibamba. It is a little village just a short distance from the town of Kibaha. The pastors had picked this as a central location. As we walked in, the church was packed and many were standing in the back and even outside around the doors. There was a strange mixture of seriousness and celebration, as though everyone sensed a breakthrough was at hand.

FIERCE DEMONIC RESISTANCE Our mission team consisted of Ralph and I and three ladies, all teachers and intercessors now tempered through the fierce resistance they had encountered. Earlier that day they told me, "This has been the most incredible and flesh-burning trip of our lives." They have been hit with sickness, demonic attacks -- even manifestations of demonic activity. There have been tears as they were brought to their limits and then joy as they learned they had the power to resist such great opposition.

We had many key and important words from intercessors back home. Some of you sent messages with keys you may not have realized but they gave us answers to strategy for prayer. Sometimes the words we were getting about victory matched yours almost word for word. It was incredible to watch all this unfold.

A VICTORY WON THROUGH PRAYER There were several periods during the week when key things happened. One of the ladies shared a series of powerful testimonies; two others spent the night in prophetic intercession and intense warfare. All of us prayed and ministered to each other. Even the pastors and conference attendees seemed to understand and pick up the call for intercession. It was a victory for our God won through the faithful prayers and intercession of the body of Christ here and back home. The darkness was pushed back in this corner of the world.

Below is a quote from one mission team member, Bonita Chapman: Yesterday was a real breakthrough day. The final day of the conference was great. There were lots of responses, the Spirit ministered in power. Last night at the all-church meeting the Spirit fell powerfully on all the pastors and intercessors. It was awesome."

AN AIR OF ANTICIPATION Once the introductions were over Thursday night, I was called to the platform and given the service. I was so concerned to wait on the Lord and hear what He wanted. The church was packed with people from all over this region. They were all waiting and watching to see what would happen. The air of anticipation was thick and the presence of God was already strong. I led them in prayer and asked God to come and take over.

During the introductions one of our team members talked about just wanting to hug the people. The Lord had me take her around the room and she began to hug some of the ladies. The embraces were like old family friends had found one another. It was powerful and broke some things in the spirit. The Lord showed me later this simple act of love broke the fear of man off these people that allowed greater unity to come as the Spirit moved us into one accord.

Then the Lord said worship, and we did. I led them in prophetic songs to the Lord: "we love you Lord we need you Lord we humble ourselves Lord." I had the women sing and then the men and then everyone together. It seemed so powerful and beautiful -- almost angelic. Just their voices in that beautiful acapella tone in harmony and in one accord.

THE JEHOSHAPHAT CHARGE Finally, the Lord said, "Call the pastors forward," which I did. Then the Lord had me pray the prayer that Jehoshaphat prayed in 2 Chronicles 20. It felt like a charge or declaration. "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'" Our God in heaven and earth will drive out the inhabitants of this land. Those words seemed to vibrate with power and anointing as I read them.

AN EXPLOSION OF INTERCESSION I read the whole prayer and then the Lord showed me the intercessors taking hands and circling the pastors. I called them forward, and then we waited. No one speaking. No one singing. It seemed like some minutes went by and then the Lord told me to have the pastor whose church we were in to begin to cry out to God.

It felt like the window of heaven was quickly thrown open and God said, "Pray now -- cry out to me." It almost felt like God was telling us to charge through our intercession. The pastor began to pray in such power and through tears. I did not understand all the words, but God knew. God heard and the Spirit of intercession fell with a force I have never witnessed. It was a supernatural move of inter- cession that took our breath away.

The pastors all gathered in a group at the altar of this church with the intercessors circled around them. The Holy Spirit enveloped them as a wave of weeping, travail, shaking, tongues, cries of repentance flowed like lava down a mountain. I moved over to the side of the platform as if to get out of the way. I no longer had control -- God had come and He was in control. They prayed with such force, I realized that only the Spirit of God could pray through intercession to accomplish what they all desired, for God to heal their land.

A WIND FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Then our team encircled this group and began to join in with them. I am not sure what happened, but at one point a strong wind blew into the church from left to right. We all felt it. It was very apparent and brisk and the presence of God increased dramatically in the room and took everything to a higher level. The pastors -- and now intercessors -- seemed to be caught up in a Holy Ghost translation. They didn't even seem to be in this earthy realm anymore; they all seemed drunk. Then the Lord said, "Now -- lay hands on them and pray for the glory to be imparted to them." I began to lay hands on the pastors and they fell like great stones to the floor trembling under the power of His glory. The rest of the team also made their way around the group and laid hands on them.

THE LORD IS MY BANNER After what seemed like an hour, the Lord showed me a banner being waved over this group and the scripture from Exodus 17:12-16 came to my mind. I turned and read. "When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up -- one on one side, one on the other -- so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." My Bible note on this verse says, "my banner" means "God promises to fight for His people."

They began to cheer because the presence of God increased again as I read this promise, "The Lord is my banner." He will fight the war, he will fight from now on in this land against the enemy. It was an incredible powerful promise. God had heard their prayers and would drive out the enemy and would continue to fight them from generation to generation. Wow, I was amazed even as I read this. This had been a mighty victory.

OUR GOD REIGNED I told them, "You have humbled yourself and prayed and sought His face and turned from your wicked ways and He has promised to heal your land." Praise broke out. It was a glorious victory. Deo, one of our African team members, prayed to close. He prayed a powerful prayer claiming victory and people began to shout and celebrate even during the prayer.

We walked outside the church on what had been a clear night. It started to rain -- very faintly, but it was raining. It only lasted perhaps 2 minutes. Our God is so good. He had heard; the victory was won. Our God reigned.

In His Africa, Stephen Gray