MATCHING WITH GOD’S WILL.
(Photo: Praising the Lord with dances: Girls from the EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH of Gitega, BURUNDI)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:1-3

‘And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying,
“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then
Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying:
“I am willing; be cleansed.”
Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.’

Matching our prayer with God’s will has never been an easy matter to men. Another hero of the faith, Moses, well-known as being the special God-elect Liberator of Israel, was surprised when a certain day the Lord refused granting his prayer:
“I pray, let me cross and see the good land beyond the Jordan,
Those pleasant mountains and Lebanon.”… But the Lord said to me:
“ENOUGH OF THAT! SPEAK NO MORE TO ME OF THIS MATTER.”
(Deuteronomy 3:25.26)

Leaning on God’s will is a proof of humility, submission, obedience, full dependence and patience. Before he came to Jesus, this leper had certainly listened (even from afar) to all the teachings of Jesus as recorded from chapter 5 up to 8 in this book. Unfortunately, Matthew notices something strange:

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the
People were ASTONISHED at His teaching.” (Matthew 7:28).

ASTONISHED! Yes, of course, because nobody from the multitude had the vision To WORSHIP Christ. They simply were  “ASTONISHED“. How odd it was after having listened to a so deep sermon about the GREAT PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD! The leper as for him had received Jesus’ teachings in his heart and was inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit to WORSHIP HIM.

Lepers were an Israelite UNCLEAN classified people category UNWORTHY of any consideration, and a TRASH-SOCIETY of men deserving no respect nor human right except those of having a nationality and hanging begging on streets and breathe as anybody else and finally die and be buried some day. But it was only this poor leper from a desperate and solitary dark life who understood that Jesus deserved worship as the King of the New Covenant. Furthermore, that’s what the Father wanted the multitude (and the Disciples as well) to understand and believe. But none did. Hence, the leper’s belief having matched with God’s will deserved cleansing from his leprosy immediately because he had become A CHILD OF THE KINGDOM.

But see how even the great Moses simply wanted TO CROSS the Jordan and SEE the good land beyond and the pleasant mountains INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE LORD for the great things He did for them during the wandering in the desert and for the additional victories He was going to grant them against the giant Anakin and the other tribe populating the promised Land. Moses wanted to enter Canaan as a TOURIST and not as the well-known COURAGEOUS LIBERATOR and CONQUEROR he had been for 40 years in the wilderness. Crazy Moses! His calling and Ministry got to end immediately: “ENOUGH OF THAT!” (Deuteronomy 3:26).

Similarly, isn’t the Christian Church in the 21st century filled with such ‘Moses’ coming in just TO SEE and WATCH the good land and the pleasant mountains of wealth and pride that reign over beautiful cathedrals and marvelous choirs led by super-professional directors and organists and guitar players? This prevails while Jesus as for Him is at the right hand of the Father in heaven making intercession for us (Romans 8:34), praying that our generation may understand what the Holy Trinity wants for the Church in these times of unbelief, saying:

‘Oh. Father, soon You shall send me back to rapture the believers.
“SHALL I REALLY FIND FAITH ON EARTH?” (Luke 18:8).

That’s the subject that is currently discussed about in God’s Office in heaven. Therefore, a universal call has already been issued announcing the recruitment of those who wish to respond to Christ’s concern of finding FAITH ON THE EARTH when He comes:
– Am I, are you candidate to the worldwide Prayer battle front?
– Are my prayers, your prayers, our prayers really MATCHING WITH GOD’S WILL for His Church in this age?
– 2000 years have passed since the Church of Christ was born in Jerusalem. Are we all the CHRISTIANS still ONE IN THE FAITH IN ONE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS-CHRIST (John 3:16)? Are we still ONE WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON (John 17:21)?

Dear true Intercessors of all nations, if this is not, then:
1. Come, and let us immediately PRAY and unite as ONE INTERNATIONAL INTERCESSORY CHRISTIAN ARMY.
2. Let us PRAY and start meeting in a NON-STOP FIRE PRAYER CONGRESS planed to be launched soon in Burundi, Africa.
3. Let us PRAY and set Teams called from all the nations and especially devoted to UNCEISING PRAYER to participate permanently in this program in order to have the FAITH SEED planted by the Lord Jesus-Christ form and grow again within His Holy Church. This is the Revival expected in this 21st century: PRAYER! PRAYER! PRAYER! What about Psalm 86:9: “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You”?. Could it put a flame on this vision?

I am continually dreaming seeing every nation represented by 12 intercessors (like the 12 spies and the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Disciples) all gathering (Acts 2:1) WITH ONE ACCORD (praying for spiritual Unity in the Faith of the Church), IN ONE PLACE (my country, Burundi, of course) during a month and then relieved by other teams for another month, and so, and so, a NON-STOP MINISTRY (for years, even for centuries) UNTIL THE LORD JESUS-CHRIST COMES ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GLORY! (Matthew 24:30). PRAYER was the FIRST Christian Project at the birth of the Church, and so PRAYER will be the LAST Christian Project before the Rapture of the Church!

PRAYER must be the leading and prior worldwide Christian Church PROJECT, I mean the UNIQUE PROJECT on which all Denominations and Christian Organizations, Missions and Ministries, Christian Foundations as well as Christian Governments SHOULD FOCUS ON AS A RESPONSE TO GOD’S WILL and to the current world challenges. Christians, and you nations of the world, don’t you have eyes to see and realize that our planet is presently HIT and SUFFERING FROM THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BRIDE (the Church) and THE BRIDEGROOM (Christ Jesus). An African wisdom says: “When two elephants are fighting, destructions fall on the grass on which they stand!”

Do not complain saying “We have no means for such a huge project”. No! What you claim to have IS NOT YOURS, IT BELONGS TO THE LORD OF LORDS, JESUS CHRIST. (Mathew 11:27). Let Him use it to fulfill His will for your welfare and your blessing. Haven’t you been praying saying: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.” (Matthew 6:9-10). Now, the ANSWER is there!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com