Yesterday, I prayed into the night with some of my friends and around 12 am, I was led to continue reading a book by Cindy Trimm-The Prayer Warrior's Way. The book expounds the role of prayers in living a supernatural life daily. She used stories to pass across her message and one of the stories she used is the story of a British Politician- William Wilberforce.
In the morning, I retired to my bed and decided to listen to a message. I eventually decided to listen to a message preached in 2017 by Pastor Olubi Johnson- Africa Will Surely Rise. The message was a prophetic expository of the school anthem of the first secondary school in Nigeria- C.M.S Grammar School, Bariga. The school was founded by missionaries. He said he doesn't know all of them except a man called William Wilberforce!
Again? This same name? What stunned me more was that the missionaries established the school on June 6th! It happened on this very day. Wow! I knew I have to pay attention to William Wilberforce. So I went back to the Cindy Trimm material to read again, I checked Google to read more and listened to Pastor Olubi Johnson's message for the second time in the same day.
What did I find? William grew up without his parents and he was a sickly child. He later inherited his grandfather's wealth that made him to live a rich life. By age 21, William was influential enough to win a seat in the House of Commons in 1780. William was not a man who had a lot of interest in God, but he was a good Christian, having been saved during an Easter service where the hymn- Amazing Grace by John Newton was sang.
That dimension of God that pulled him to the cross never left him as John Newton was a captain of a slave ship when the Holy Ghost convicted him of sin. William went on to play a key role in the abolishing of slave trade. In a sense, William Wilberforce was a heir to whatever that Lord placed on John Newton. Cindy Trimm mentioned that 'he was influenced by John Newton'.
At that time, slave trade had entered the fabric of the influential people in Britain. It was the most lucrative business to do. Tens of thousands of slaves were captured from Africa and sold. No one ever saw an end to the business of slave trade. Majority were in full support of its continual. So when William Wilberforce came up with his move to abolish slave trade, he was quickly dismissed, but he didn't stop.
William and his team did not focus on abolishing slave trade in Britain by legislation. They gathered daily in Clapham Common to study the role of prayers in civilization and prayed every day! God had shown William something about the black race that he could not just ignore. Just like Paul, he was not going to be disobedient to the heavenly vision!
William and his team fought the battle of slave trade abolishing for about 4 decades. Eventually, he won! God is bringing his witness to our remembrance at this crucial season of black emancipation. The witness of the men of old is a very strong point of reference in the courts of heaven. Their labours are often available for us to walk in, just like a well that was dug and made available for generations to feed from.
What did William Wilberforce see about the black race? What did he make available for the black race to enjoy? Where is the well of William Wilberforce? As it is, Africa will begin to see Politicians that have been given a vision by the Lord and they will run with it until it is accomplished. This is the time that Africa will rise!
See the first school anthem of C.M.S Bariga-
"Lives are in the making here
Hearts are in the waking here
Mighty undertaking here
Up and On
We are arming for the fight
Pressing on with all our night
Pluming wings for higher flight"
The last verse of the anthem says Africa will surely rise! William Wilberforce and his team saw something about Africa. I believe that their witness is speaking right now! God is raising leaders like them in Africa. It is true: Africa Will Surely Rise
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