Dr. Kurt E. Koch (1913 – 1987)
GOD AMONG THE ZULUS
By Dr. Kurt E. Koch
1966-1976
by
Kurt E. Koch Th.D.
Bibel- und Schriftenmission
D-73527 Schwäb. Gmünd-Lindach
Germany
www.schriftenmission.de
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English translation of the German book,
Gott unter den Zulus,
PUBLISHED BY BIBEL- UND SCHRIFTENMISSION
ISBN 3-924 293-62-7
All rights reserved
Copyright: Erlo Stegen
Authorized to publish here by BIBEL- UND SCHRIFTENMISSION and Bärbel Koch
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Dr. Kurt E. Koch
Kurt E. Koch, born 1913. After studying theology and after further
studies in medicine, received a Doctor of Theology degree at Tubingen
University, Germany.
22 years pastoring in the state Lutheran Church, predominantly in youth
work and in evangelism. Founding and directing of a Bible mission, financing of
the printing or own publication of Bibles or parts of the Bible into
approximately 30 languages, particularly into languages of Stone Age tribes.
Itinerant missionary and evangelistic work in over 100 countries,
lecturing at universities, seminaries, Bible schools and churches on all 5
continents.
With God's help, author of more than 100 books and brochures. As of
November 1986, 96 copyrights awarded for translations into foreign languages.
Regarded by many to have been the world's leading authority on the
occult.
Several international recognitions, among them Life Membership in the
Academy of World Literature (Cambridge, England). Further, a number of
international book prizes.
The central experience of his life: forgiveness of guilt and sin by Jesus
Christ. The experience of being a child of God and the certainty of eternal
life due to the mercy of the Lord. The faithfulness of God in the most
difficult times. Experiencing"the exceeding riches of His grace" (Eph. 2:7).
The most important experience in his work was the visit to all present
revival areas in the world and his books about these spiritual movements.
This book reports on his research into the revival which has been taking
place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa since 1966, now known as KwaSizabantu
Mission.
PREFACE
This story is so important because it has meaning for the future. The church
of Jesus remains alive through revivals.
China is a good example for our times. Although the congregations of
Christ have passed through the fiercest persecution, they have not been blotted
out as in previous history. One reason for this is the revival experienced at
the beginning of the last century. Dr Jonathan Goforth writes on God's working
in his book By My Spirit.
All revivals have similar
trademarks: conviction and confession of sin, freedom from sin, the preaching
and singing of the victory of Jesus through the Blood of the Lamb and the
confirmation from heaven through signs and wonders. Prayer precedes all this.
We print this new book on revival that you may know that South Africa
needs prayer. Not only do the Europeans in Africa need revival. If one looks
around, one realises that each church needs revival. God's solution for Africa
is also a solution for the whole church. Apartheid is not worse than homosexuality,
adultery, the murder of innocent unborn children, hypocrisy, and so on.
HOW GOD ORGANIZES
On April 9th 1976 I sat together with my organizer in Pretoria
planning our South African lecture tour. He mentioned, "We have to get into the
universities so that the students can hear this special message."
That evening I was on board a Lufthansa flight back to Germany. This was
going to be a tiring 13 hour flight. Feet tend to get swollen. After leaving
Nairobi, the last of 365 seats was occupied by homebound students of German
officials, and business people going home for the Easter holidays.
One thing on that flight helped me to forget my inconvenience. As I took
my seat I prayed to the Lord,"Lord Jesus, please allow me to have someone in
the seat next to me with whom I can speak about You. Please grant me that
opportunity."
Barely ten minutes after take-off, my neighbour pulled out his Bible and started
reading the Book of Esther. I couldn’t believe my eyes that my prayer was
answered so swiftly.
I expressed my joy to him and said,"Just a few minutes ago I asked the
Lord, ‘Please grant me a neighbour with whom I can share the Gospel.’ And here
is His answer."
My joy was even greater when this disciple of Jesus said,"I prayed that
way as well."
This wonderful experience was just the beginning. As we exchanged our
addresses, my neighbour responded almost unbelievingly,"You’re not Dr Koch the
author?" I told him I was.
“I have read both Revival in Indonesia and Between Christ and
Satan. Are you going to return to South Africa? I am a lecturer at Pretoria
University. I would like you to speak to the students."
This was a further miracle: Just a few hours previously my promoter had
explained his intentions to take me to the universities, and here was the first
opening.
I passed on the address of my promoter and organizer. Then the lecturer
continued reading in the book of Esther, as I did in Chronicles.
The tiring flight that night turned out to be far more pleasant as we
shared the wonderful guidance the Lord had granted us. Among the 365
passengers, two disciples of Jesus, a German and a South African, were seated
together. This was indeed God's providence, and it became even more obvious as
we continued our conversation. The forefathers of my new friend, the Röttchers,
were German immigrants; two of the three generations lived in Muden in KwaZulu-Natal,
which I had just passed through some days before. We even found out that he is
distantly related to Erlo Stegen, who is a powerful tool in God's hand.
When the Living God does something, He does it thoroughly, and we are
left to marvel.
MY WAY TO THE ZULUS
In 1963, Pastor Albert Brandt from Pretoria organized a lecture tour for
me through South Africa. On this tour I received an invitation from Dr Peter
Beyerhaus, now Professor at Tübingen University in Germany, to speak at the Theological
Seminary in Mapumulo. I remember my last lecture on the theme"The Reality of
the Holy Spirit in our Lives" very well. I myself was deeply moved. As I prayed
in closing, I pleaded to God for a revival among the Zulus. Afterwards several
Zulus came forward for counselling, saying that the message had touched both
heart and conscience.
Among the listeners there was also a young white man whom I didn’t know
at that time. He also remembered the last message about the reality of the Holy
Spirit in our lives. Twelve years later he wrote,"The Lord has answered your
closing prayer. We are experiencing revival among the Zulus."
On his tour through Germany in 1975, this brother, Erlo Stegen, invited
me to visit the revival in South Africa. I also heard of some further incidents
among the Zulus. Our common friend, Karl Stöckmann, said to me,"Similar things
are happening to those taking place in Indonesia."
It has been my habit to visit the different revivals granted by the Lord.
So I left to visit the Zulus in March 1976. There was no exaggeration in the
things I had heard. After several weeks with the Zulus, I had to say with the
Queen of Sheba,"…the half was not told to me..." After my report on Indonesia,
I was heavily attacked by the new rationalists, the super-orthodox and others
who were envious. Because of this I made certain I had witnesses of integrity
and well-documented photographs.
On top of all this, I want to say that none of the testimonies or reports
have been invented or exaggerated - they were well-researched, as in the Indonesian
report. It is a tragic thing that, whilst serving the Lord, I have received the
most violent opposition from Christians. Erlo confirmed the same thing to me in
one of our quieter moments.
In the past ten years many similar miracles have occurred in both
Indonesia and among the Zulus. In all these revivals it is the same Lord at
work.
SOME ZULU HISTORY
Here is a short overview of Zulu history for those who are interested.
The following books can be of help:
The Washing of the Spears by Donald R. Morris
Shaka Zulu by R. Ritter
40 Years among the Zulus by the missionary Tyler
500 Jahre Geschichte Südafrikas by Dr Müller
The tribal area of the Zulus reaches from the Pongola River in the north
to Pondoland in the south, and from the Blood River to the coast. Those
unfamiliar with these geographical details will find Durban on the East Coast.
From there northwards to the borders of Swaziland is the domain of the Zulus.
We need to take a closer look at the origin of the Zulus. Around 1680, a
sub-chief of the Nguni clan wandered towards the Indian Ocean. There were just
a small number of about 100 people with him. When Mandalela, the sub-chief,
died, his son Zulu became the chief of this clan. They proudly named themselves
"Ama Zulu", meaning,"People of the Heavens". This is indeed a wonderful name,
if one thinks of the great spiritual movement taking place among the Zulus.
One hundred years later this tribe had increased in number to about 15,000.
In the 1780's, Senzangakona was the tribal chief. When he received news that a
son by the name of Shaka was born to Nandi, a girl from a neighbouring tribe,
he brought them into his royal kraal. Nandi was Senzangakona's third wife.
Six years later the tribe was hit by a terrible famine. Senzangakona expelled
Nandi and her son, in order to reduce the number of people who ate in his
kraal. This was the beginning of a time of terrible hardship for the two
refugees. They did, however, find some shelter among their own tribe, the
Elangeni, but they were despised. Shaka grew up without any accommodation or
fatherly protection. He was ridiculed by those of his own age. Hatred against
the tribe of his father and the clan of his mother began to consume him. He
swore to himself to take vengeance when the occasion presented itself.
Things became intolerable for the two refugees, and Nandi decided to make
a second attempt at being received in the clan of her uncle, Dingiswayo, of the
Mthethwa. Here they were welcomed warmly. Now Shaka was a herdsman like all
those of his age, but he towered above them with his skill and courage.
Dingiswayo, the clan chief, discovered this as well. There were none like Shaka
- he was especially skilled with the spear. At one time he killed a leopard in
a tree with his spear. On another occasion he speared a black mamba, a snake
well-known for its split second attacks and reactions. It hadn’t previously
been known that someone had hit and killed a mamba with a spear.
Shaka wasn’t only a warrior, he often meditated, separating himself from
the others and dreaming big dreams. These were not fruitless dreams. At the age
of 23 he was recruited by the troops of Dingiswayo. In his six years of
training, Shaka not only developed into an invincible warrior, he changed many
things tactically and strategically, and developed and improved the weapons.
Some of the changes that he introduced were: warriors had usually been equipped
with three or four light spears to throw, now they would use a heftier spear to
stab the enemy. Shaka explained,"One doesn’t throw away one's weapons…" Also,
the shields were bent forward at the upper edge. The aggressors were trained to
push the enemy's shield to the left with the bent shield, at the same time
stabbing him in the heart with the right hand. This was a new method of
hand-to-hand combat. Shaka also discarded his sandals, so he demanded that the
other warriors go barefoot as well. This was a further improvement to get the
warriors to be more agile. Because of the thorn bushes the soles of their feet
got very tough.
Dingiswayo recognised Shaka's talent for leadership, and sent him back to
the Zulu tribe at the age of 29. He hadn’t seen his tribe for 23 years, and his
father had died in the meantime. Dingiswayo wanted him to become the leader of
the Zulu tribe. But this was not an unselfish move. He wanted him to lead the
Zulu tribe because he expected them to become a military force, and therefore a
buffer zone between himself and the attacks from the north.
Shaka wasn’t welcomed in his home tribe because they hardly knew him. In
the meantime, his half-brother had taken over the throne of his deceased
father. As he arrived with a small escort, his half-brother was bathing in the
river. Without regard to the icy countenances of the tribal leaders, he went
and sat on the throne of his father. All opposition was avenged with the death
penalty. No one considered opposing him. This was the beginning of a great Zulu
era. In the twelve years from 1816 to 1828, Shaka built a monumental kingdom.
He was called the Napoleon of the Zulus, and his soldiers the"black Spartans".
At the beginning of his rule, the Zulu tribe only had about 350 badly
trained soldiers. A year later, Shaka had 2,000 disciplined men, scaring every
neighbouring tribe. When he first banned sandals, there were complaints and
murmuring, but he punished them by getting the reluctant soldiers to dance to
music on a spot with many thorns. Men who were not able to keep in time to the
music were killed without further ado. Now, every tribal chief was allowed to
do this, but Shaka made use of this right too freely. The slightest offence
could invoke the death penalty. Morris reports in his book that every barber
that pulled his hair while cutting was executed. Everyone who sneezed during a
meal would also be put to death.
In a span of three years he had expanded his troops to 20,000 of the
best. This number was possible because many neighbouring clans joined the Zulus
voluntarily. The training was so hard, that the troops could manage a march of
80 km a day on rough ground. The English troops and the settlers only managed
24 km. But Shaka didn’t require anything that he himself wasn’t able to fulfil
or do. When his mother Nandi fell seriously ill, he was 128 km away from his
mother's kraal. After receiving the news from a messenger, he covered the
distance in 20 hours without a break.
Shaka had ample opportunities to prove his superior tactical skill. The tribe
of Ndwandwe attacked him with 18,000 men. It was the largest army that he had
had to battle against. They had invaded his area. How did he manage his
defence? On the first day he didn’t attack. At night he sent many small
interfering contingents to keep the enemy from sleeping, and removed all cattle
and food stock from the threatened area. The next day he encountered a tired
and hungry army. The Ndwandwe were badly defeated. With his strategy he even
conquered the king's kraal. During the second night he sent his soldiers to the
kraal of the king, singing the victory anthem of the Ndwandwe. Zwide, the king
of the Ndwandwe, thought that his men were returning victorious. Before he
realised his mistake, it was too late.
Now it is not the objective of this book to report on all the great
tribal wars and conquests of the Zulus. At the age of 29, Shaka controlled 16
square kilometres. In the end he reigned over an area half the size of
Switzerland, just to get a European comparison. Many clans and tribes
voluntarily joined, calling themselves Zulus, enjoying the fame of this
invincible king. But Shaka's victories went to his head. The experiences of his
youth had caused such hatred that more and more he became a despot and a
tyrant.
After the death of Nandi, his mother, it seemed that he had lost all
sanity. During the funeral ceremony, he had the arms and legs of ten of his helpers
broken and buried them alive with his deceased mother. During the following
year, every woman who fell pregnant was killed together with her husband. He
ordered the bodies of a hundred pregnant women to be opened, so that he could
see the unborn child. These gruesome things are recorded on pages 98–107 of
Morris’ book.
Shaka's end was like that of many tyrants. He was ambushed and killed by
his half-brother and two accomplices. This happened in 1828, after Shaka had
turned 41. He had reigned 12 years, during which time he had led his people to
become a great nation. But kingdoms founded by tyrants never last long. 50
years after Shaka's assassination, the English and other European settlers
conquered the Zulus.
There is not much that can be said about the religious condition of the
Zulus. From birth Zulus are bound by heathen witchcraft. Shaka and all his
clans made offerings to the spirits of the forefathers. After Nandi had passed
away, Shaka killed 40 oxen to pacify the ancestors so that they would give her
a dignified reception.
It would be fitting now to give some history of missionary activity in
this area. A number of books have been written on this subject. About 50
different larger and smaller groups of missionaries have laboured in South
Africa over a period of 150 years. But it isn’t the aim of this book to publish
an account of their work.
There have been many pioneers in the Zululand area, such as the European
missionary Merensky from the Berliner Mission in 1858. In the same year there
were missionaries of the Hermannsburg Mission in the Transvaal and later in KwaZulu-Natal.
In a place near Pietermaritzburg they founded a mission station and a school,
which today still has over 300 schoolchildren. Mostly they were children of
German settlers.
Many towns in KwaZulu-Natal have German city names, such as Hermannsburg,
New Hanover, Harburg, Lüneburg, Uelzen, Wittenberg, Wartburg and others. One
can understand why it wasn’t hard for the Lutheran Mission from their homeland
to get a foothold among the settlers who needed spiritual care. Erlo Stegen and
his brothers also attended the Hermannsburg School. The Stegen family, which is
still involved today in active mission work, has its roots in the Lilienthal
Lutheran Church.
THE GLORIFIED LORD
This book is a report of the spiritual happenings among the Zulus in the
present time. Our eyes need to be fixed on the exalted Lord and not onto man.
It is idolatry and a mockery of God to glorify man.
In mentioning the names of those used by the Lord, it is for the sake of
clarity and simplicity. Although it would seem that honour is sometimes given
to man, it is the Lord who is honoured by humble men.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7:"What do you have that you did not
receive?" The things that have happened and still do happen among the Zulus are
done by the exalted Lord. For this reason our eyes need to be fixed on the
originator of this movement, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Where man is glorified in a cult-like manner, revival will end abruptly.
For this reason a God-given revival does not come easily, but it can easily be
lost. The Bible says:
Deuteronomy 32:3:"For I proclaim the name of the LORD: ascribe greatness
to our God."
Psalm 16:8:"I have set the LORD always before me…"
Psalm 115:1:"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your Name give
glory..."
Isaiah 42:8:"I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not
give to another…"
Matthew 17:8:"When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but
Jesus only."
Revelation 4:11:"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power."
Just a brief example which highlights the meaning of the above portions
of Scripture: Many years ago I conducted a Christian meeting high up in the
Black Forest region in Germany. After the meeting, a Christian brother
accompanied me down the steep slopes to the valley. It was so dark we could
barely see our hands before our faces. So we held each other by the hand so as
not to topple down a gorge. To find our way we would look heavenwards. There
between the tree tops one could make out the slightly brighter sky, which
helped us to keep course on the pitch black track.
This minor experience has become a great parable to me. The times in
which we live are getting darker and darker. Therefore we need the help of a
companion, and we need landmarks, which we receive by looking to the Lord.
Regarding the revival among the Zulus, a truth has become clear. As Jesus
sent his disciples two by two, the Zulus do the same. In addition, we need
guidance by looking unto the Lord. Erlo Stegen has a number of co-workers, and
each one looks to the Lord for direction and not to one another. In this book
it will be noticed how that guidance brings unity and glory to God in all that
has happened.
Philippians 2:9:"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him
the name which is above every name…"
THE JUDGING LORD
In Judges 7 we read about the battle against the Midianites. As the war
cry sounded,"The sword of the LORD and of Gideon," the army of the Midianites
staggered and fled in disarray and bewilderment. We read in Judges 7:22:"…the
LORD set every man's sword against his companion, even throughout the whole
camp…"
It was God's judgment that they were thrown into confusion, killing each
other.
In Isaiah 37:37-38, we read again about the judgment of God. Sennacherib
was before Jerusalem, mocking the living God. The Lord slew his army of 185,000
men in one night, so that he withdrew to his country. But he didn’t escape his
own judgment. As he was worshipping in the temple of his idols, Adrammelech and
Sharezer, his sons, slew their father.
With the Midianites, it was the swords of the members of their own tribe
against each other.
With Sennacherib, it was the swords of his own family members against
each other.
Amongst the heathen, warring Zulu clans, one gets the impression that all
this happens because of God's, judgment when they are not prepared to open up
for the Gospel. Let us consider tribal warfare at the present time.
I personally know of three incidents.
1. The Murder of a Prince
In March 1976 I was travelling with Erlo and the team to Mahambeni in the
Transkei. On the way, while passing a kraal, Erlo told of how a man was
murdered by his wife.
A tribal chief had invited Erlo and the team to preach among his tribe.
This was of such significance because this tribal chief had 30 chiefs who
served under his rule. This was a large area to be reached with the Gospel.
After a journey of some hours they were passing a kraal in which men were
busy digging a grave. A co-worker said to Erlo,"I have the impression that the
Lord wants us here." Other co-workers supported the idea. Erlo replied,"We are
late, the tribal chief is expecting us, there is no time."
When they arrived at his place, the tribal chief apologized over and over
again, saying that it was impossible to organize a meeting. He said,"I don’t
have any time for you because government officials have arrived." Erlo said,
"This is no problem at all; we know where the Lord wants us to be."
The team rushed back to the kraal and a police car was already there.
Erlo asked,"What has happened here?" The police said,"A man has been
murdered."
“Do you have someone taking the funeral?"
“No."
“Can we take it?"
“Gladly!"
Some of the co-workers helped to complete the digging of the grave, while
the police went to get the murdered man out of the police car. Erlo asked to
see the deceased. The sheets that covered him were taken away. Here was a man
with a badly fractured skull and a lacerated face. Erlo was told what had
happened.
The son of the king had fallen in love with a girl from the enemy tribe.
He agreed to meet her."Tonight I will come to you," he said.
That evening he knocked on the door of her round hut. Every member has
their own hut, except the small children. The desired girl opened and left
immediately. She said,"I’ll be back in a moment."
The girl hurried into the neighbouring huts and said,"The king's son is
here - come with your bush knives!" This was the moment of vengeance against
the king's family, which they hated. Years before, a relative of the king's
family had murdered a man from this tribal enemy. They took their long bush
knives and entered the girl's hut. The prince, as was the tradition, had left
his weapons outside the hut. The women massacred the young man, splitting his
skull so badly that his brains fell out. Then they dragged the corpse out of
the hut and left him near his kraal.
It was an easy thing for the police to solve the case. They just had to
follow the blood trails. They found parts of his body, some skull, some bone
and parts of the brain. A few of the women were arrested.
No woman was allowed to attend this funeral, because it was a disgrace to
be murdered by a woman. Erlo preached the Gospel and a great miracle occurred.
The wife and mother of the reigning king were converted, as well as many
others. The co-workers had gone into the huts to bring the Gospel, because the
women hadn’t been allowed to attend.
This makes it very clear that this was the leading of the Holy Spirit, as
the co-worker had said,"I have the impression that the Lord wants us here."
In the revival among the Zulus, the guidance and leading by the exalted
Lord often occurs, even predominates.
2. 24 Years of Tribal Feud
On this same mission trip with the co-workers during March 1976, we went
to the farm of Hogart Joosten, a farmer of Dutch lineage. The farm is called Mount
Elias and is 256 hectares in size.
Eight kilometres away, two clans, which were previously one, were at war.
The smaller tribe, Ntanzi, was surrounded by the larger tribe, Ngubane.
This smaller tribe had hardly any freedom to move around, which is the
reason why the killing had been going on since 1952. It was said that they had
had peace in the past year, but hatred had broken out again in 1975. This meant
that men were unable to rest at night, continually expecting clashes.
Men working in faraway cities such as Johannesburg or Durban would
continue their fighting there. If a worker returned to his home, he had to stay
wide-awake to avoid being killed.
Hogart Joosten reported that a worker coming home from Durban was warned.
He had, however, neglected the warnings, was ambushed and killed. As we were on
Mount Elias in March 1976, we were told that another three people had been
killed in the first half of the current month. One case seemed to be especially
tragic:
A young man fled with many women and children when he was hit by a
bullet. He was still alive as his mother threw herself over him to protect him,
begging for his life. The adversaries pushed her aside and stabbed him to
death. Women and children were not killed, only men.
The murdering comes to the farms at times. Hogart told me that one day
seven Zulus appeared on the farm, searching for the tractor driver who belonged
to the enemy tribe. They forced themselves into the house and fired ten shots.
Only four went off, the other six bullets falling to the ground. The firing
device had failed to work properly. The victim, a father of five children, was
shot through the hand, and has had to hide since. Some white people offered to
give him a job on another farm, although they also risked being killed for
hiding a wanted man.
After these series of murders, the chief of the Ngubane was questioned by
the chief of police. He was reproached for all these murders, upon which he
laughed and said,"This has happened since 1952, and there's not much that can
be done." But from that day on he increased his personal security.
Many tribal chiefs have seen the power of the Gospel. They realise that
only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can end these tribal conflicts. Various chiefs
have asked Erlo Stegen,"Please come to us, so that the Gospel will end all
this strife and warfare."
3. The Hundred Year War
We know about the 30 year war from 1618 to 1648 in Europe, and all the
harm that was caused. The older generation will also remember World War One and
Two and the horror that accompanied them.
The Zulus know the hundred year war from 1872 to 1972. This war didn’t
end with an atomic bomb, but through the conversion of a king. Because of its
uniqueness, this story must be recorded.
I am grateful that, through the merciful leading of the Lord, I have been
able to experience the revival among the Zulus, and especially that I have been
able to get to know this Christian king.
Here is some background to the war. The Tembu were a tribe with 13,000
people, south of the Tugela River. The Mabaso were about 6,000 strong, and live
to the north of the Tugela River.
In 1872 the Tembu wanted to have more living area because of their large
population. They approached Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the government official,
and asked to have the area of Jozini that belonged to the Mabaso. Their request
was granted. This forced a change of land ownership and led to many future
clashes. From that day on these two tribes were deadly enemies.
In 1898, the government official responsible wanted to settle the matter.
He gave the Mabaso their land back again, which in turn angered the Tembu. They
now continually entered into the Jozini and Mabaso area, killing people and
burning their houses.
This would happen as follows: around midnight the aggressors would knock
on the door. The inhabitants would come out, knowing that the houses would be
set on fire. Women and children were let free whilst the men would be shot or
stabbed. Sometimes even boys of eleven were killed.
During these raids, some men would clothe themselves as women. Because of
this, everybody was forced to undress. Women with infants had to show the
gender of their children. At times all males were killed.
Amongst these terrible tribal clashes certain occurrences stand out. In
1922 the Tembu attacked the Mabaso. They managed to get right through to the kraal
of King Cikazi. Because he was out hunting, they went after him. Cikazi was
alone with his horse. With his gun he killed 12 Tembu and then rode over the
cliff edge and plunged into a gorge, just to avoid being captured by the Tembu.
The death of the king caused another series of murders. About 120 died on
both sides in the clashes that followed. Every two or three years, new waves of
murdering, violence and arson rocked the area. The land of the Tembu and the
Mabaso were the areas of the greatest unrest in South Africa.
Every attempt was made by the South African government to end these
bloody vendettas. On one occasion the police came with 4 helicopters, and 70
policemen searched houses. Guns and rifles were confiscated and owners taken into
custody.
One of the largest police actions had about 200 policemen - an all-out
attempt to stop the murdering. This was in the area of Xobonayawo, where 21 men
from the enemy clan were chased over a precipice.
It is officially stated that from February to June 1972, 921 houses were
burnt and 16 men killed. The actual death toll among the tribes is not known.
The ongoing eruptions caused great uncertainty among the Zulus. Often the
men and their families would seek protection at the white people's
houses or buildings. During the night they would sleep in hospital corridors,
police stations, courthouses or the gardens of whites. This caused sanitary
problems, and the need to get vaccinated against typhus. The people were told
to use the toilets. The excrement in the gardens not only fouled the air but
also attracted vermin, especially rats. The shops sold food and nothing else.
People would say,"Everything will be destroyed or burnt during the next raid."
Not only did the Zulus suffer under these insecure circumstances. The
whites were also affected. Government officials would try to resist to the
utmost being moved into the violent areas. If they were forced, they would
demand to be replaced after three months. Public life and commerce seemed to
come to a complete standstill. It was also very dangerous to move around in the
villages. A regular job was virtually an impossible thing.
During these terrible times, Erlo came to Tugela. This was in 1966. An
attorney who recognised him as he was travelling by stopped him. He said to
Erlo,"Come with me - in this building there are many corpses. Can’t you men of
the Gospel do something to end this carnage?" Erlo had suspected something was
wrong as he passed the many smoking kraals. He answered that he would bring his
co-workers and start a crusade in Tugela. A tent was brought for the
evangelistic meetings and stayed there for the next two months.
This was the beginning of a visitation of God. Hours before the meeting,
members of the team checked the tent. On previous occasions the heathen had
plotted attacks on the tent. Although the meeting was to begin hours later,
many had already gathered, waiting for the message. Had the hardships made them
ready and receptive to the Gospel?
A woman in traditional dress asked,"Is this the spot where we can unload
our sins? I have found no other help - will I receive help here?" Although this
heathen lady couldn’t read or write, she bought herself a Bible. She took the
Bible to someone who could read and said,"Read this for me! The Lord has said
that I should hear this." She did the same in church meetings, bringing her
Bible to the preacher and asking him to read a certain passage. Amazingly,
these passages always matched the sermon. This was the sign that the Holy
Spirit had inspired them. From 1964 to 1966 only women were converted in the
Tugela area. Only after the beginning of the revival were men also gripped by
the Gospel.
In 1967 there was a meeting 40 km away from Tugela. After the meeting,
which lasted till midnight, the preacher went around the house to pray. As he
was praying he felt an invisible hand lifting his arms, turning them in the
direction of Tugela. Then he heard a voice saying,"Where you are pointing, I
will work mightily. The men will now come and accept salvation."
4. The Conversion of Gabajana Mabaso
The following report was given to me personally by Gabajano, as I was
visiting the team in Tugela.
Gabajano comes from a royal background. In 1967 Erlo came back to preach
the Gospel among the Mabaso tribe. When Gabajana heard the message he realised,
"This is what I need." And he accepted Jesus.
Before he was converted, he would go from one sorcerer to another. He
acquired so many idols and witchcraft fetishes they could have filled a room.
He practised ancestral worship and offered cows and goats to the spirits of the
ancestors. Nothing would help, and he became more and more restless.
Shortly before he got converted he had two dreams. In the first one he
saw two Bibles come down, and a voice saying,"Read this! Go to the
Christians!" Some time later he saw a second dream in which he was told,"Don’t
go to the Christians. Stay faithful to the ancestors!"
Gabajana decided to follow the first dream and tried to get connected to
a church. However, he was disgusted that during the church meetings they would
beg for money. So he stopped going there.
Then Erlo came to Tugela for a crusade. In his services they never take a
collection. The Zulus often refer to the Gospel that churches which take
collections preach as being"dead"; but they call it a living Gospel that Erlo
and his team preach. But to clarify things, the decision not to collect
offerings came from the Zulus, and not from the whites.
This reminds me of an example back home. 20 kilometres away from my
birthplace, in a village called Spöck, a revival occurred through a Reformed
Pastor. People would come near and far to Spöck. This was told to me by my
grandmother. The surrounding ministers and pastors accused Spöck's Pastor
Henhöfer:"He's taking all the members away from us." At that time the Archduke
of Baden was also the Bishop of the Reformed Church. Henhöfer and his accusers
had to go to the castle for interrogation. As the main charge was read, Henhöfer
defended himself by saying,"Feed your chickens, and they will stay with you.
They will recognise if their food is sand or wheat." That was the end of the
matter. The revival couldn’t be stifled.
The Zulus also know what sand or wheat is, or to express this in biblical
terms, what chaff or wheat is. That is why they go where they receive bread and
not stones. These are biblical truths:
Matthew 3:12:"…and…He will…gather His wheat into the barn; but He will
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Matthew 7:9:"Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for
bread, will he give him a stone?"
There was tremendous change in the life of Gabajana when he accepted the
Gospel. He destroyed all his idols in obedience to the Lord, and professed his
faith in Christ. In 1972 when he became king, his influence spread.
His predecessor was a drunkard and remained a heathen. One day this
drinker went to a witchdoctor, but he couldn’t be helped. He died in his kraal.
The witchdoctor begged those who carried the king:"Please take him to hospital
immediately and say that he died on the way, otherwise this will mean jail for
me." The South African government at that time did not allow any witchcraft. So
the bearers granted the witchdoctor his request.
All the regiments came to the funeral to bury the king according to the
heathen rituals. But Gabajana, who was now the legal successor to the deceased
king, refused to have a heathen ceremony. He raised his hands and said to all
the people, including the soldiers,"In future we will not bury our descendants
according to heathen traditions, but with the Gospel and prayer and singing."
Some soldiers murmured, but the generals ordered them to be quiet. After
this courageous proclamation, no heathen funerals were held again. God granted
authority to this king, and the army and the people complied.
The king also got rid of all other evil traditions. At weddings, because
of the alcohol consumed, there would usually be fighting, even knifing. Since
Gabajana became king, these clashes have come to an end in his tribe.
King Gabajana also ended the 100-year-old war. This is no small matter
that the murdering, the plundering and the burning of houses have come to an
end. How did this all happen? One evening the king heard that a group of young
men intended to attack the Tembu the next morning. He sought them out and
pointed out to them how much grief this hundred year feud had caused, and he
strictly forbade them to attack.
The Tembu got news about this and sent messengers to the king, thanking
him. They said,"Never before have we experienced that a king was sober-minded
and willing to stop all this murdering. We respect this, and we will also not
attack again." This brought about peace between the traditional tribal enemies.
This all happened in mid-1972, not long after Gabajana had become king.
These marvellous things were not the result of diplomatic negotiations,
or the success of military action, but the grace of the Lord to His faithful
witness. It reminds one of Zechariah 4:6:"…not by might, nor by power, but by
My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."
These tribal feuds reveal the folly of many globetrotters, ethnologists
and adversaries of Christian missions. How often don’t we hear it said,"Let
the heathen live happily amongst their primitive races, and don’t force western
culture and religion on them. Two things are wrong with this: none of the
heathen are forced to believe in Jesus; secondly, we recognise how"happy"
these primitive races are without the Gospel. It was the Gospel that ended all
the murdering. Many would point to the terrible wars in the"Christian"
countries and say that they were not able to prevent them. It is easy to
contradict such arguments. Name a Christian country! There are none! There are
Christians but no Christian countries. Presidents are seldom Christians. There
are very few, such as South Korea's first president, Syngman Rhee, and King
Gabajana Mabaso.
THE PLANNING LORD
It should be emphasized again that this book was written looking up to
the exalted Lord. All ministries in the church derive from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
This chapter heading speaks about planning. God's planning in the Bible,
in the church and in mission work is predominant. If a book were written about
all the blessed planning of the Lord, it would make marvellous reading. We
would come to the same conclusion as John, who says:"…I suppose that even the
world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen." (John
21:25)
A few examples of God's planning: In Genesis 15:18, God promises Abraham
-"…to your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the
great river, the River Euphrates." Because of God's planning there are still great
things in store for Israel - a country that will extend from the Nile to the
Euphrates according to God's promise, and no Arab or Russian will prevent this.
Let us consider some planning from the New Testament. Jesus promised His
disciples in Matthew 10:19-20:"But when they deliver you up, do not worry
about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour
what you should speak: for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your
Father who speaks in you."
On many occasions since then, in persecution, witnesses of Jesus have
experienced being the mouthpieces of God.
Erlo Stegen has often been mentioned because he has been the chief
instrument that God has used in the revival among the Zulus. Therefore we need
to describe his spiritual development. I have said to Erlo, if he or any of the
co-workers should become proud because of the many blessings of God, this would
mean the death of the revival.
1. Youth and Conversion of Erlo Stegen (FOR A MORE DETAILED BIOGRAPHY, CLICK HERE)
Through the Lutheran mission work, churches such as the congregation in
Lilienthal, about 55 km from Pietermaritzburg, came into being.
In the vicinity of the church of Lilienthal there was a farm called
Paardefontein, the home of Karl Stegen and his family. His forefathers had
immigrated from the Lüneburger Heide in Germany. They were strict Lutherans and
were attached to the Hermannsburg Mission. Karl Stegen's five sons (including
Erlo) and one daughter attended the Hermannsburg School, where they were given
a German education.
One day, at the age of four, Erlo had a terrible fall. He became
unconscious with a serious concussion and paralysis which lasted for eight
days. It was several days before he regained consciousness, and from that time on
he suffered ongoing severe headaches. The accident also left him somewhat
uncertain whenever he fell or bumped his head. It also clouded his whole school
career so that he had to quit after his ninth school year, although he would
have loved to go further.
This congregation at Lilienthal had, in 1949 and 1950, a deeply-believing
minister, and the whole area was touched by his message. Through this Christian
pastor Erlo was converted, as a fifteen-year-old, in 1950. In the following
years he worked on his father's farm. One day his mother gave him a book by W.
Heukelbach, Vom Gottesleugner zum Evangelisten (From an Atheist to an
Evangelist) as a present, and it was a great blessing to him. Erlo at this time
began to feel the calling to serve the Lord. He shared this thought with his
minister, who took him shortly afterwards to a Christian conference in the
Transvaal.
During this conference a great struggle went on in Erlo's heart. He asked
himself,"Should I really become a preacher, or rather earn money as a farmer
and support the Lord's work financially?" At a quiet spot on the conference grounds,
he laid out his plans before the Lord. He asked,"Lord, please put Your seal on
this. I would like to convey this plan of mine to my pastor and my parents as
my final decision. Please give me a verse from Scripture confirming that this
is the right way for me." He randomly opened the Bible, and before him was
Matthew 4:19:"Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men.’"
After reading these words, Erlo became defiant. He told me as he related
this incident,"It was only the mercy of God that I didn’t throw the Bible
away. I was so annoyed that I thought: I will show You that I’m not going to
obey - I’m going my own way without You." Shortly afterwards, he went to the
minister and said,"I am going home." The minister asked,"Are you absolutely
sure that this is God's way for you?" He answered,"Yes."
So Erlo went home. After he had arrived, his mother asked him,"Are you
sure that this is the correct way for you?" He got so irritated that he replied
brusquely,"Don’t you want me here any more?" Then he went to his room and
slammed the door.
From 1950 to 1952 Erlo went through terrible torment. He had deliberately
gone against God's call. If he heard any unusual sound anywhere, he would
imagine that the day of final reckoning had arrived.
As he was kneeling one day in his bedroom, Erlo was reading a text about
the love of God. The resistance in his heart crumbled at the realisation that
God still loved him, in spite of his disobedience and rebellion. He burst into
tears, overwhelmed by the love of God. Shortly afterwards, he withdrew into his
room and asked the Lord for guidance. He opened the Bible at John 21:15-17 and
read,"Feed my sheep!" He stood up, went to his parents and said,"God has called
me." There was no doubt after this. He was enrolled at the Bible House in
Pretoria and was trained as a pastor and evangelist. However, his inward development
was by no means completed.
2. Disappointments in the Ministry
Erlo's first evangelical
activities took place over a period of about twelve years, from 1954 to 1966.
In 1955 the Bible School was moved to Claridge near Pietermaritzburg. This
lovely place became familiar to me during my two South African visits - KwaZulu-Natal
is, of course, known as the garden of the country.
Erlo's first depressing discovery was that the preaching of the Word
today and its results do not correspond with what the Scriptures say. Erlo
compared the Acts of the Apostles with Christian life today and had to admit
that we have sunk far below the standards of the New Testament. As he studied
the Bible he would stop at certain promises, asking himself why they are no
longer fulfilled today, especially three verses in the Gospel of John:
John 15:7:"If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask
what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
John 7:38:"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his
heart will flow rivers of living water.’"
John 14:12:"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the
works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father."
Erlo sought the key to the life of the first Christians. He read every
book on revival he could get. In biographies of great men of God he searched
for the secret of their authority and power. He practised intensive prayer and
used every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel.
Some believers had donated money for a tent. With this he began his tent
crusades, always with the yearning for revival. He extended the crusades to
ten, twelve and even fourteen months, thinking he could force a spiritual
awakening.
Perhaps it was not quite right to stretch these Gospel missions to fifty-two
or even sixty weeks, with services twice daily. Elias Schrenk preached six
weeks at the most. It is easily possible to preach people"to death", as it
were. In any case it worried Erlo very much that less people would come to the
meetings as time went by.
On a mission tour through South West Africa (now Namibia) he learned a
very important lesson from a farmer there. He showed him a bore-hole from which
the farm had its water supply. He said,"This water is so rich with minerals
and chemicals that plants die if they are continually watered with it." Erlo
thought,"That is just as it is with my ministry. The longer I preach, the less
people are attracted by the Gospel."
The thing most lacking, the young preacher realised, was power in
ministry and counselling. One day a mother came to Erlo after a service and
asked,"Is it true that Jesus is still the same today and still answers
prayer." Erlo confirmed the truth of this. The mother rejoiced and said,
"Please heal my daughter." The Zulus are childlike in their faith, and they accept
the Bible just as it is written.
Erlo accompanied the woman to her home. There he saw her daughter tied to
a pole with wire. The wire had cut deep into her flesh, because the demented
girl was tearing on the wire to get loose. Erlo asked the mother,"Why do you
bind the girl with wire?" The mother explained,"My daughter (about 20 years
old) runs around naked in the schools, breaks into houses and pulls out
vegetables in the neighbouring gardens, and she becomes violent." But Erlo
persisted,"But can’t you use a rope, which won’t cut into her flesh like
this?" The mother answered,"She breaks whatever else we tie her with." Erlo
decided to take the girl to his parents’ home in order to pray for her
continually. Her mother was very grateful.
At his parents’ home Erlo and three of his co-workers prayed. As she
wasn’t tied up, things quickly became chaotic. The demented girl smashed
furniture, tables, chairs and windows - even the bed and bedding. Eventually
they locked her in an empty room to prevent everything in the house from being
destroyed.
Four people prayed almost day and night for three weeks. Eventually, Erlo
was virtually a wreck, and at the end of his physical strength. Spiritually,
too, he was exhausted. Nobody was able to answer the questions and the cries of
his heart,"O Lord, why are we today so utterly powerless?"
That was the situation after twelve years of service."I’m on this side,"
he thought to himself,"and on the other side is the early church, which lived
in the fullness of Jesus and in the Spirit. ‘O Lord, if there is no access to
the events of the early church, if there is no bridge from the twentieth to the
first century, would it not be better to just give up?’" Erlo began to doubt as
he had done fourteen years before. Were the Bible critics and the modernists
right after all to claim that all these miracles were nothing but mythological
humbug, with no basis in reality?
Nevertheless, this spiritual bankruptcy was in Gods’ plan. As long as we
persist in doing things our way, even if we work with the best intentions,
fulfilling our duty to the utmost, the power of the glorified Lord cannot be
revealed in our ministry. The moment we come to a dead end, to the end of
ourselves, where self-reliance is shattered, then and only then can the Lord
begin. Erlo was to experience this. The Lord did not abandon him in his doubt
and distress.
THE BLESSING LORD
There are men in the Bible who fought hard for the blessing of God. We
would like to mention two of them.
In 1 Chronicles 4:10 we read,"And Jabez called on the God of Israel
saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your
Hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not
cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested."
This striving for the blessing of God is even clearer in Genesis 32:26,
where Jacob wrestled in Peniel. Jacob cried out:"…I will not let You go unless
You bless me", and his prayer has been an encouragement to believers throughout
the ages.
1. The Struggle for God's Blessing
Erlo was driven into this battle for God's blessing. As he travelled
around with his tent seeking for the believers he had previously counselled, he
would usually find them in a deplorable spiritual state. Often they had
quarrelled and were at enmity with one another. Sometimes it would take a
fortnight to straighten things out again. Those who did not belong to a church
he would organize into Bible groups. Often during later visits the same
corrections had to be applied. Often the troubled preacher would ask the Lord,
"Must things continue in this powerless and lifeless way? A continual life of
falling and rising? Not one victory after another, but usually one defeat after
the next?"
But the time of a divine new beginning had arrived.
In the fall of 1966 Erlo was in Mapumulo. After all the bitter
experiences of the past years, he began a Bible study with the Christians, so that
they might examine their lives in the light of the Holy Scriptures. They began
to read the Acts of the Apostles. The place that they were gathering in was an
old cowshed, and they had cleaned out the dung and whitewashed the walls.
In the third chapter they read about the healing of the man lame from
birth. Erlo related an incident he had heard about. A well-known padre held a
mass in a cathedral, and the people had given generously in their offerings. In
the vestry there was a table with a huge pile of banknotes ready to be counted.
The padre said to the young priest,"Peter can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold
have I none...’", to which the young priest responded,"Neither can he say,
‘Rise up and walk!’"
Those times of Bible study became hours of self-examination for all that
were present, and for Erlo as well. The shed in which they were gathering had a
window facing the tennis courts, where the more well-to-do of the town would
often play. As their prayers and pleadings could easily be heard outside, Erlo
wanted to close the windows. The Lord reprimanded him and said,"Then I’ll
remain outside, as it seems to be embarrassing to you for those outside to
hear. You worry about what others think." On another occasion Erlo was walking
past when they had already gathered to pray. He wanted to quickly shave and
change his clothes before going in. Again he was reproached in his heart,
"There is still pride in you. You are ashamed to come before the people
unshaven!"
The exalted Lord had begun to purify His children. The hours of prayer
became more and more hours of repentance and weeping over their uncleanness.
Things became so intense that everything else was forgotten. They often forgot
to eat, drink and sleep, and even Christmas was forgotten in these times of
prayer. Here were twenty to thirty people who were gripped by a spirit of
repentance and prayer.
2. The Heavens Open
A few weeks before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit a woman in the
prayer circle stood up and said,"I can no longer stand this condition of
powerlessness. Can’t I pray?" They willingly granted her request. Then this
woman, who had come to the Lord only three months before, tearfully pleaded
that the Lord would reveal Himself again as He had in the Bible. Erlo was
gripped by this prayer. Later he said to his brother,"My heart burned in me,
like it did in the disciples on the road to Emmaus when Jesus spoke to them. I
believe that this prayer was from the Holy Spirit, and if it was, then we will
soon experience what the early church experienced."
Erlo's impression was confirmed. A few weeks after the prayer of that
woman, those gathered together in prayer experienced something beyond
description. The Spirit of God came over them, and they sensed a strong wind
and heard a sound. A tremendous conviction of sin came over them and at the
same time an inexpressible assurance of the presence of God. All the trials and
anguish they had gone through were swept aside by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A new era in Erlo's and his co-workers’ ministry had been ushered in.
When the expression"the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit" is used, often there is criticism from conservatives
and the orthodox, who maintain that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred
only thirty-three years after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ - never to be
repeated. They say that the Holy Spirit is alive in His Word and in His church.
I do not disagree with this theology, but I would like to say a few things in
this regard.
Why is it that things that occur during great revivals remind us of the
happenings in Jerusalem? For instance, in a meeting on the Solomon Islands in
August 1971, the Holy Spirit came down upon a gathering of 3,000 people like a
gale. People were lying on the ground weeping over their sins. American theologians
who were exponents of dispensation theology declared this to be an untrue
report. To me it is inconceivable that spiritual experiences which have been a
reality in the lives of many thousands of people can simply be discounted by a
few men who are caught up in their fruitless theologies.
The great event in Jerusalem does not have to be repeated. The point at
issue is that the Holy Spirit comes to dead congregations, to nominal
Christians and to the heathen. No orthodox theologian can prescribe to the Holy
Spirit how to act. We often forget the lesson that Nicodemus received from the
Lord in John 3:8:"The wind blows where it wishes…" (the wind being likened to
the Holy Spirit). We could just as well add,"…when and where He wishes". I
have the impression that certain theologians want to hide their spiritual barrenness
behind their theology.
Not only the orthodox, but some other spiritual enthusiasts will have
questions concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Mapumulo. They will
want to know,"Were there any spiritual gifts manifested?" This can be answered
in the affirmative. Many examples will be referred to.
The great happenings in Mapumulo in the beginning of 1967 have been repeated
on a smaller scale in other places. This can be fully supported by the Bible.
In Acts 2, we read of the outpouring in Jerusalem. Then in chapter 4:31 we
read,"And when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered together was
shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word
of God with boldness." This was a repetition of the occurrences in Acts 2, in a
smaller measure.
So those who hold that the occurrences in Acts 2 may not be repeated find
themselves corrected by the book of Acts itself. Those who haven’t experienced
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives can and may experience it.
This is repeated in Acts 8:17. 10:44 and 19:6. Paul writes to the Ephesians,
who had received the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts 19, and, in Ephesians 5:18,
urges them again,"… be filled with the Spirit." All the theological problems
concerning receiving the Holy Spirit are not dealt with here. (But I have dealt
with them in my book"Charismatic Gifts".)
3. Results of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
The great spiritual experience in Mapumulo immediately began to yield a
rich harvest of blessing. Such fruit can be compared with Luke 9:1-2. Authority
and power became apparent in a threefold manner: in preaching, healing and
deliverance.
a) Preaching
The power of the Gospel was so apparent that people from far and near
streamed in to hear the Word. At times, when Erlo came out of his house, two
hundred people were already waiting, without any invitation - simply out of an
inward compulsion to come and hear the Gospel. After the preaching, many would
stay behind for counselling, confessing their sins and making their lives right
with God. This repentance and confession continues up to the present. As I
travelled with Erlo and the team I witnessed personally that hundreds, even
thousands, found the Lord. One of the co-workers, previously a storekeeper,
counted 3,900 people who remained behind for counselling in a period of nine days.
It is not a matter of focusing on numbers. The angels in heaven rejoice over
one sinner who repents. The numbers just reveal how mightily the Lord is at
work in this revival.
Once I was at a place called Nyanisweni in the Transkei. A white South
African travelled from far away to meet me. He had read my books and wanted to
see me personally. When hundreds of people stayed behind for counselling at the
end of the meeting, he said to me,"Only God can do that - such a thing only
occurs in times of revival."
I experienced the same in one of the meetings. On Saturday, March 27th 1976, Erlo asked me to speak at KwaSizabantu. I spoke on witchcraft, because
all heathen Zulus are affected by this from childhood. After the sermon, Erlo
addressed the crowd of about a thousand,"All who haven’t confessed their sins
of witchcraft can stay behind for counselling." In Germany perhaps four or
five might stay behind, but at this meeting, between four and five hundred
remained behind. Now this was definitely not the result of my preaching, but
the presence of the Spirit of God and the atmosphere of revival which was experienced
by Erlo and his team. Erlo travels with a large team of co-workers because of
the many people seeking to be counselled.
b) Healing
In Nqutu Maposwane two sick women lived next door to one another. One of
them suffered severe internal pain. She needed to be picked up and brought back
after the service by car. As she heard the Gospel, she opened her heart to the
Lord Jesus. At a later stage Martin Stegen took this lady to a service in
Tugela Ferry. Erlo prayed with her and immediately this woman was free of her
pain.
This instantaneous healing encouraged her neighbour to ask for prayer as
well. She was completely paralyzed and unable to provide for her six small
children. She asked if someone from the team would come and pray for her. Erlo
was busy with a service in the Kranskop area, so Martin Stegen offered to take
her there. They carried the lame woman on skins to a truck which took her to
Kranskop. As they were travelling, she lost her scarf when the wind blew it
away. They drove back, picked it up, and just made it for the beginning of the
service, which was held in the open. They carried her to a place among the
people. She listened to the message and remained for counselling. One of the female
co-workers spoke with her, and afterwards the whole team prayed for her
healing. After the prayer, she stood up and walked back to the truck. They
arrived back at her home late that night, and her relatives came out to carry
her back into the house. She climbed down from the truck without any help, and
walked back and forth in front of the headlights of the truck. Nobody uttered a
word at first, and then eventually somebody said,"Do you see? God really does
exist!" There will be more examples in later chapters.
c) Deliverance
Erlo had no previous counselling experience with demon-possessed people.
After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Mapumulo, a witch came for spiritual
help. She had a school for training young witches, and she possessed strong
mediumistic power. When she requested help, Erlo called five of his co-workers
into the room. They sat down in a circle and prayed and sang the song,"My
Jesus lives, why should I be afraid?" As they sang, the witch stood up and
moved into the centre of the circle. Then she went down on hands and knees, and
the expression on her face became like that of a ferocious animal. This is what
spiritists would call a transfiguration, a change of appearance. There are
examples of this in my book Occult ABC (Kregel Publications,
Grand Rapids, MI, USA, www.kregel.com).
When these six believing men and women saw this devilish appearance on
her face, fear clutched their hearts, so that one of the co-workers jumped up
to leave. However, Erlo called out,"The Lord is victor! Don’t leave!"
The witch came from an area where no English is spoken, so she was unable
to speak any English. While they carried on praying for her, she suddenly began
to speak in excellent English. Then the sounds of many animals were heard
coming from her. At first it was dogs barking, and afterwards pigs grunting.
Erlo then commanded the evil powers to leave her, in the name of Jesus. A
mocking voice said,"We will not leave; no power can drive us away!"
As they continued praying, Erlo repeated the command to leave in the name
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The spirits then said,"God the
Father we know and God the Son we know, but we have not encountered the Holy
Spirit until now, and because He has come, and because of the Triune God, we
are in the fire. We have to leave the battleground."
The witch's appearance changed immediately. Her face beamed and she cried
out,"How wonderful! I am completely free!"
The evil spirits never came back again, and after this many witches who
had heard about Jesus’ victory came to be delivered.
Salvation - healing - deliverance. This was the threefold message and
authority of the first disciples of Jesus. Theologians often say that this is
no longer applicable in the 20th century. But they can keep their
theology. It is better to have the living Lord -"Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
We experience the blessing Lord as a fulfilment of God's Word in Malachi
3:10,"’And try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for
you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you such blessing that there will
not be room enough to receive it.’" Blessing in fullness is here indeed
in the revival among the Zulus.
d) The Extensive Blessing of the Gospel of Christ
The Apostle Paul speaks (in Romans 15:29) about the fullness of the
blessing of the Gospel of Christ. As we have noticed, this blessing has a
threefold impact. It is a great gift of God in the Zulu revival that this
threefold stream of blessing has been manifested in very real experiences. Here
is an example of it:
A fourteen-year-old heathen girl by the name of Mjuda had lain ill for
three years. Witchdoctors, fortune-tellers, Zionists and doctors were
consulted, but to no avail. The witchdoctors said the reason for her sickness
was that she hadn’t brought a sacrifice for her deceased mother. If she didn’t
perform this duty quickly, the spirits of her ancestors would demand her life
as a sacrifice. This illness, they declared, was the beginning of that process.
Mjuda had the same symptoms as her
deceased mother and grandmother. Her sister had also been ill for a long time.
The witchdoctor said that the spirits wanted her sister to become a witch. It
is an amazing thing that sick Zulus often recover quickly when they surrender
themselves to the spirits. However, Mjuda's sister strongly resisted that
suggestion. Things became worse with Mjuda's sister, and she walked about
stooped and twisted like an aged woman. Her skin colour darkened, almost
turning black. Then a Christian woman told her about KwaSizabantu. She came to KwaSizabantu
and experienced a sound conversion, and was also healed and set free from the
attacks of the evil one.
Here again is clear evidence of the threefold nature of divine help:
Salvation - Healing - Deliverance.
The healed girl immediately hurried back to Mjuda to tell her about
Jesus, that He is the only Saviour. Mjuda was at this time under the care of a
Zionist. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, I must point out that the
Zionists in South Africa have nothing to do with the Zionist movement in
Israel. The South African Zionists are a sect, mixing the biblical with the
occult. For example, they practise fortune-telling and call it prophecy,
believing it to be a gift of the Holy Spirit. This is a grotesque distortion of
the truth!
Mjuda was brought by her sister to KwaSizabantu. As she was being prayed
for by the team, it was revealed that she was possessed. When the demons were
commanded to leave her, they asked:"Allow us to take Mjuda with us, because
she has been our dwelling and our home. We are her rightful owners and have
lived in her since childhood." They then laughed scornfully. The expression
"Take her with us" meant that the demons planned to kill her as they were
driven out.
With great determination, the team commanded the demons to leave Mjuda.
Then the demons pleaded:"Let us sleep in her for another day, for we are now
burning - it is extremely hot here. We also fear this place KwaSizabantu and
all who live here." Again the team commanded them to leave. This time the
demons asked,"But couldn’t we at least return to her parents’ home? There it
is nice and cool - not burning hot like here. There we will be able to rest."
After this battle with the demons, Erlo asked Mjuda if she was still
clinging onto any hidden sins. Then she brought two more things to light. After
she was prayed for, the Lord Jesus set her completely free and healed her at
the same time.
The conversion and deliverance of Mjuda also had a sequel. Her father,
also a heathen, had forbidden his daughters to attend school, with the result
that they were illiterate. The heathen believe that schooling simply makes
their children proud, so that they no longer honour their parents. The father
was also convinced that the heathen belief was better than Christian teaching.
Mjuda really suffered under this conviction of her father's. She had already
tried to get friends to teach her how to read and write before she became a
Christian, but without success. She was just unable to grasp it. When she
surrendered her life to Jesus, a miracle occurred; she found that she was able
to read, write and count money.
This account shows that Mjuda and her sister had experienced a threefold
miracle - the threefold blessing of the Gospel: salvation from
the power of sin, the healing of a long illness and deliverance from the power
of demons.
THE SAVING LORD
The sign of a genuine revival is that thousands of people repent,
recognising and acknowledging their sin, and in faith accepting Jesus as their
Lord.
A person's salvation takes priority over his healing. We dare not reverse
the biblical order.
Artificial and emotional stimulation of spiritual power is a sign of a
fake revival. Outward tumult with a lot of noise often covers inward poverty and
need. I have encountered more fake revivals than genuine ones.
In the great biblical theme of salvation, it is not compromising the
truth of John 3:16 (“…whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
everlasting life") by also including 1 John 1:9:"If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." It is the same apostle who brings both truths.
I have become acquainted with all the revivals of the present day. In
God's undeserved mercy He has allowed me to visit them all, on every continent.
As a result I am able to compare them and notice their different
characteristics. The revival among the Zulus is especially sober and free from
sentimentality. The fundamentals have remained, namely that we must acknowledge
that we are lost, and that we must accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and
allow Him to rule in our lives.
I am deeply grateful that through the years this revival among the Zulus
has not waned. Many revivals, especially in the western world, have cooled off
after a short period of time!
The next chapter will be looking at this central theme - salvation for
the lost, in this life and for eternity.
1. Dubulile Zuma
Dubulile was a cook in the Scottish hospital at Tugela Ferry. Over the
years she stole a lot of groceries. All in all it amounted to fifteen full
sacks. At night her mother would come to the fence and pick them up. This
simple system proved to be very effective. As time passed this larcenous cook
stole two dozen cups and plates, also four to five dozen knives, forks and
spoons. She even managed to steal six steel-tube chairs.
In 1974 her mother passed away. The daughter was twenty years old at the
time. The evangelist Barney, whose testimony we shall hear
later, conducted the funeral. Among other things, he mentioned that one should
put one's life in order before one died, even stolen things. This wouldn’t be
possible afterwards, in hell. He knew nothing about the daughter's thefts. He
was obviously preaching under the guidance of the Spirit.
After the funeral service, Dubulile could find no rest. For six months
she endured the torments of an aroused conscience, then finally she went to see
Bill Larkan. He is one of the leading Christians in Tugela Ferry, and he was a
witness of these happenings.
Dubulile confessed all that she had done. She then asked Bill, who speaks
both Zulu and English, to accompany her to the hospital. (The hospital
supervisor only spoke English.) Bill had to take his pick-up to load all the
stolen things. The cook knew that this could land her in jail if the police got
to know what she had done. Nevertheless, she wanted to confess everything.
The matron who had been summoned wept for joy and forgave her everything.
However, the supervisor looked at her sternly. Bill couldn’t make out his
reaction as he listened to the confession, but he, too, forgave the girl. He
took back all the stolen articles - chairs, plates, knives and forks. Then
Dubulile sought to pay for the stolen groceries, but the supervisor was happy
to write off the whole amount.
Afterwards, the supervisor called
the whole staff together, including the servants, and told them what had
happened. He said,"This is the first time that a black thief has ever come and
confessed everything." To Bill he said,"Every year we have things worth
thousands of rand stolen. We don’t know how to stop all the thievery."
During this public confession the
supervisor showed himself to be a spiritually- minded person. In front of all
who were present, he took a stone and placed it on his desk and said,"I have
put this stone on my desk to remind me continually of what Jesus said, ‘He who
is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.’"
This Bible passage has great meaning for me, too. I wish that many of our
fellow ministers had a similar attitude, and would also have such stones on
their desks. Less harm would be done.
Back to the cook Dubulile. Her confession and putting things right had
three consequences. From that time on, she was given a position of
responsibility in the hospital, with the matron putting a lot of trust in her.
Other thieves in the hospital, however, troubled her, simply because they were
unable to steal as before, the supervision having been tightened.
In addition, Dubulile's confession encouraged other employees to confess
their thefts and begin a new life with Jesus.
The hospital was blessed by this cook's conversion. Bill Larkan visited a
village 300 km away, where he was asked whether Dubulile was still following
the Lord Jesus, so far had the news spread. Bill was able to affirm this. Later,
when Erlo's crusade tent came to this village, there was a great haul of souls.
Many came to faith in Christ. This, too, was the fruit of Dubulile's
conversion.
The cook worked in the hospital for another year and then was called into
full-time ministry. She has been in the Lord's service ever since.
2. Barney Casuyise
Barney is a member of Erlo's team, and I had the privilege of being with
him daily. He was the man who conducted the funeral of Dubulile Zuma's mother.
Barney told me that his father was a leader in ancestral worship. As a
heathen he wore heathen clothing. He even forced his children to wear heathen
skins instead of the usual clothing. When Barney came from school he had to
change immediately. When he was sent to the neighbouring village he also had to
wear these skins. On the way he would undress behind a tree, having taken his
trousers with him secretly. On his way back he would change again. During one
of these walks to the neighbouring village he met another youngster with whom
he began to quarrel. This is quite common among the proud, aggressive and
heathen Zulus. His opponent hit him over the head with a bush knife, causing a
deep wound. He still has the scars.
One day Erlo's tent came to his
village. Barney opened his heart to the Gospel, but was terribly afraid to
become a Christian. His father, who worked in Johannesburg, had threatened to
stab any of his children who abandoned ancestral worship.
Then the tent arrived a second time. This
time Barney decided to follow Jesus, forgetting all fear for his father. When
his father came home, he asked for forgiveness for all his wrongdoings and
confessed everything. The father was so impressed he forgot about his threat.
This was the first son of the family who turned to Christ, and he became
a living example to the others. By and by, all seven brothers and sisters came
to the Lord. Eventually he went into the ministry of the Gospel full-time,
working with Erlo in their different evangelistic campaigns. His father is also
a believer now.
3. Thembani
Thembani visited me with her son, and Erlo was the interpreter. Her
husband was an alcoholic, and the family suffered extreme poverty because of
it, not even having blankets to sleep under. They weren’t able to buy
themselves food or clothing. Their first three children died of hunger - there
was nothing to eat. Before they died, a doctor had been consulted, and had
diagnosed malnutrition.
When the husband came home he would often beat his wife and children, and
they would flee into the forest. After the three children had passed away, the
tent came to their village. Thembani attended the meetings and was spiritually
stirred, eventually going for counselling to Erlo. The Lord's servant said to
her:"Don’t look at your husband. Trust fully in the Lord, and God will take
care of him and lead him." The woman got converted.
The second change in the family came about when she asked her husband for
forgiveness, having often been ill-tempered with him. Her husband then became
restless, following this confession.
He went to Erlo and said,"I am sick." However, he wasn’t sick at all,
but half drunk. In his jacket he still had a half bottle of liquor. Erlo knew
nothing about this, but learnt about it later.
The counsellor then said to him,"If you are sick, then let us pray and
ask Jesus to touch you." They then knelt and prayed together.
When the alcoholic went back to his hut, he gave the left-over liquor to
his neighbour, who was amazed and asked him,"Why do you give me this liquor?"
He answered,"A man prayed with me, and I cannot drink alcohol any more." The
liberated drunkard then went to the tent and gave his life to Jesus.
Thembani had another three children. She prayed,"Lord, give me a sign
and grant that at least one of my children gets saved, in order to kindle a
fire among the others." Her prayer was answered. The oldest son came to the
Lord, and soon the others followed. The fire kept going further. A grandchild,
the son of her oldest boy, is a four-year-old boy who is already working for
Jesus.
I also came to know Thembani's husband, the one-time drunkard. After
quitting his drinking, he began working diligently. Today he is a wealthy man.
This is a family finding salvation through three generations. This
reminds us of 2 Timothy 1:5 where Paul, writing to his co-worker Timothy,
refers to Timothy's believing mother Eunice, and his believing grandmother
Lois.
4. The Testimony of an Illiterate
A young man frequently attended Erlo's services, but he was impenitent.
He opposed this way of preaching the Gospel. One day, on the farm where he
worked, he had a unique experience, in bright sunlight. Suddenly it became dark
around him, and he saw a slate on which all his sins were listed. He is
illiterate, so he cannot read, yet at this moment he was able to recognise all
his wrongdoings. Deep conviction of sin came over him and his whole body
trembled. Then it became bright around him again.
That very moment he determined to get his life in order. Immediately he
wanted to go and see a Christian nearby, but then he remembered that he was to
be a faithful servant and complete the assigned work given to him by the
employer. After work, he rushed to see this Christian, who was able to write,
and explained to him this experience."Please write all my sins down on paper.
I want to send it to Erlo." This was done. The next step was, as far as
possible, to set about putting right all the wrong things he had done. To
reconcile with his family and relatives he had to walk 172 km.
The enemies of revival say that Erlo compels people to confess. This is
nothing but slander. Often such enemies opposing confession are nominal
Christians, not prepared to bring their sins to the light as mentioned in 1
John 1:9.
5. The Conversion of a Minister
In a place called Nxamalala there was a pastor serving in a church, with
his wife also helping with counselling. One day the pastor had a stroke and was
paralyzed down one side.
A Christian lady recounted this to Barney, and he and Bill set off to
visit and to conduct a Bible study at this man's house. There were about ten to
twelve people present. Suddenly the pastor broke out in tears and confessed,"I
haven’t understood and grasped the Gospel up to now. For the first time it is
becoming clear to me."
He brought many sins to light, after which he said,"I cannot preach
until my life is sorted out completely." After this confession, the pastor
received forgiveness and salvation. His paralysis disappeared as well. Since
then, he is a transformed man, his life witnessing that the Lord is with him.
6. Schools Experience the Gospel
During one of my travels with Erlo, we stayed with his brother Heino near
Mtunzini. From there visits were made to different schools.
One afternoon the team was scheduled to be at Impande High School. As the
Gospel was presented, the students and some teachers were overcome by the
Spirit of God and began to confess their sins. There was such sorrow for sin
and weeping that Erlo had to comfort them. All the students confessed their
sins. The team, consisting of forty co-workers, had been brought by Friedel
Stegen (Erlo's brother) in a bus. They helped with all the counselling, which
took about three and a half hours. One person could never have coped alone.
Among the counsellors were Erlo, Friedel, Joe, Horst, and Trevor. The others
were Zulu co-workers.
Friedel observed how a girl, after putting her life right, went to her
boyfriend from the same school, and said,"Now it is finished."
The students were between the ages of 14 and 20. Erlo and his team were
asked to return soon by the principal of the school.
That same evening, the team was at Kwa Dlangezwa High School. This too
was an all-Zulu school.
The principal, with whom I was able to speak, was a respected man among
the students, No student had ever seen him agitated. The whole school had
exemplary discipline. I asked him how many students were gathered, and he
responded,"Six hundred and forty - the entire school is present."
After the preaching, Erlo, as he usually did, announced,"Those who want
to surrender their lives to Jesus may stay behind."
Only about thirty students left the hall. For forty to counsel so many in
one evening is not an easy thing. So Erlo said,"Because so many have stayed
behind, I propose that some of you write out your confessions. It isn’t
possible to counsel so many in one evening. The ones that really need a
counsellor can stay behind." About seventy remained and were counselled by
various co-workers. Because I do not speak Zulu, I waited nearby. Immediately
some students came for counselling, and began to put their lives right in
English. All the students in this high school speak English.
The experience we had at a third school needs to be reported. The
principal of this school wasn’t prepared to have the team come, but because of
the persistence of the vice-principal, the team was allowed to speak to the students
for fifteen minutes, but without any counselling.
Thoko, a 22 year old co-worker, took the message. In closing she said,
"All who want to make their lives right with God may write to the team." She
then gave the students the address of the mission.
What happened? The team received 611 letters, all containing confessions,
seeking to straighten out their lives. Because it was impossible to answer all
of them, the students received a general letter.
Never had I heard of such happenings in revivals, where after just one
meeting, hundreds of young people at such a critical age turned to the Lord.
Only our exalted Lord, only the Holy Spirit, could work in such might and
power to humble young people. Any human praise has no room here whatsoever. Anyone
who claims even a smattering of credit insults the Lord.
I ask all readers to pray that no human honour creeps in. Such a thing
would bring a quick end to revival.
The exalted Lord is the Saviour, and not one successful missionary.
THE HEALING LORD
So often, healing through faith has developed into a false doctrine.
Extremists reject doctors altogether, although God has given us understanding
to use. Others make healing by faith a criterion upon which to decide whether a
church is alive or not. Some go so far as to say that illness is a result of
specific sin.
Erlo and his co-workers, and I include myself, reject such extremes. Many
healings through faith do occur in revivals, especially among the illiterate.
These parallels have been noticed in Timor, Indonesia, and among the Zulus.
The Bible often refers to extraordinary healings - there are 125 recorded
in the New Testament alone. We shall mention just two from the Scriptures:
The healing of Naaman's leprosy (2 Kings 5)
The healing of the two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31)
It is not possible to mention all the healings performed by the Living
Lord among the Zulus. Just as an introduction, I would like to mention two that
I was privileged to witness myself.
On 29th March 1976, I accompanied the team to Mahambeni in the
Transkei. After the service, the tribal chief, Sibizani, Erlo and I sat in a small
tent. Then a young man, 22 years of age, came and reported as follows:"Five
weeks ago you were here. During the message, I realised that something was
happening to me. I had been an epileptic, and from that moment on I have been
healed." Then he added,"I have come to thank you." Erlo responded,"You have
to thank the Lord. It was He who healed you - follow Jesus from now on."
The second example in Mahambeni stirred me even more. A man arrived on
horseback. He stopped in front of Erlo and me and said,"When you were here
five weeks ago, I received my sight during the service. I have come to thank
you. I want to follow Jesus." He then put his life right, being counselled by a
co-worker because Erlo was busy.
Many Christians in Europe and America do not believe such accounts. Erlo
and his co-workers and I are not liars. There is a judgment on those who do not
believe the truth. Because of their unbelief they do not experience the full
blessing of the Lord's salvation.
I would like to report on the following different kinds of healings:
1. The Healing of Leprosy
In one of the meetings at
Kranskop, the following incident took place. The gathering place was crowded to
capacity. Martin Stegen stood at the door to allow the seriously ill to gain
entrance. As he was standing there, a leper came, his whole body full of ulcers
(as the Bible says, full of sores). Martin considered warning the other people
not to touch the man lest they become infected, but it was too late. The throng
just pushed the man forward. Martin prayed:"Lord please grant that nobody
becomes infected."
When the man with leprosy left the meeting, he was healed and beaming
with joy. The scars were everywhere, but his skin shone like that of a small
child.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:8,"…cleanse the lepers…" Why do so many
Christians, especially those who hold to dispensation theology, believe that
this only applies to the first century? Does the Bible need to be divided into
the time of the early Christians and our modern age? The devil is full of guile
and he is wily. He well understands how to use apparently biblical theology to
undermine the Bible. This robs Christ's’ church of much fundamental truth.
Those Christians and theologians should unconditionally read Revelation
22: 19, where it says,"And if anyone shall take away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the book of life, and
out of the holy city, and from the things that have been written in this book."
2. The Healing of Kidney Disease
Martin Stegen is my reporter, not a relative of Erlo's, but a blessed
co-worker.
The Gospel spread in the Mfolozi valley as people heard of the miracles
that were happening in the revival. A sick man returned from Johannesburg,
having been discharged from hospital. The doctors were unable to help him any
more. He was so weak that he was unable to walk, and he had blood in his urine.
His relatives had heard about the tent campaign and planned to bring the sick
man to Erlo.
Transporting him was exceedingly difficult. On the first part of the
journey there were no roads, and he had to go to the main road by sled pulled
by an ox over rough terrain. This was a distance of 18 kilometres and it took
hours. After some time along this bumpy trail, the man lost consciousness.
"Shall we return or continue?" his relatives asked themselves. Opinions
differed until the majority decided to continue."If he dies," they said,"then
let him die where the Word of God is preached."
At last they made it to the main road. From there it was another 260 km
to KwaSizabantu, the centre of the revival. Amazingly, the desperately ill man
survived the perilous journey.
At KwaSizabantu he heard God's Word. The following day he was counselled
spiritually. After twenty-four hours he could feel life in his feet. He swung
his legs out of bed, stretched them and sensed that he had strength to walk. He
got up, dressed himself, and walked. He was healed.
After hearing of this miracle, many people from the Mfolozi valley,
including those that were sick, were drawn to hear God's Word and experienced
the power of the Lord.
There was a family named Sibiya who brought their 15-year-old son, who
was mentally deranged. Martin picked him up from his home village and took him
to his home to stay for the night.
Before going to sleep, Martin suddenly thought,"What would happen if
this young boy died without hearing the Gospel?" So he got up again and spoke
to him about his salvation. The youngster was prepared to make his life right
with God, but didn’t confess everything. Nevertheless, the following morning,
when he went to the toilet, a cluster of worms came away.
Martin brought the boy to KwaSizabantu, where he confessed everything.
His mind became completely clear, and he went home healed.
3. The Healing of Dropsy and of a Cripple
A man who grew up in a Christian home rejected his parents’ faith and
went back to witchcraft. He used his black magic on blacks and whites, but said
that it was especially difficult to treat whites with it, because with them he
needed especially strong medicines. When asked what type of medicines these
were, he answered,"Flesh, fat and hair from white people."
“Where do you get these things from?" one of the team asked,"Surely you
can’t murder a white person just to get some flesh."
He explained it this way,"I bribe a black helper in an operating theatre
to provide the necessary body parts. The second procedure is less difficult.
From these parts I create a ‘medicine’ which is put into the white person's
food - this really works."
The quality of the ‘medicine’, however, is shown by the fact that he
himself could not cure his own illness. His dropsy became worse and worse, and
his body was so badly swollen that it was impossible to find suitable trousers
for him. In the end he wore a large coat. This condition caused him to seek
Christian counselling. After his confession and his declaration to part
unconditionally with witchcraft, things became better. Within a day he lost a
great deal of water.
After having dealt with the main problem, his faith began to cool, and
immediately the dropsy began to return. He now realised that he was dealing
with a holy God, so he once again confessed and made his life right, becoming
serious about his discipleship. This brought relief and complete healing.
He now ceased all witchcraft activities. When people came to him seeking
help, he would point to Jesus and recommend that they go to KwaSizabantu. This
is how he helped a woman who had been ill for 23 years. He testified to her of
his healing by Jesus, and she was encouraged to seek help from Him as well.
This then is her story:
This woman comes from Busisiwe, a village 20 kilometres from Tugela
Ferry. She suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, and was so crippled that in
order to move from one room to another she had to be supported on either side.
If there was no one to help, she would crawl around in terrible pain. Her
husband was a well-known witchdoctor, earning a great deal of money from his
craft. He used to spend about R30 a month on medicine for his wife, but without
success.
In the 23rd year of her illness, she had a dream. She saw a
huge tent in which a white man was preaching the Word of God. There were one or
two whites, but otherwise the tent was packed with Zulus. Among them were many
women with sicolos. (Sicolos are beautiful but uncomfortable
hairstyles, often worn by married Zulu women. The hair gets woven together with
coloured fibres to create a hat-like form; this is worn for life, and they even
have to sleep with them. They also carry burdens by placing the burdens in
empty cans balanced on the front part of their heads. I have been able to take
many photos of women with sicolos).
In her dream, she heard a voice saying,"Find this man - he will show you
the way of salvation." This rather worried her because she had no idea how to
go about the matter. Then this former witchdoctor explained the dream to her,
and spoke to her about the Gospel. He promised to inform her when the tent came
back to Tugela Ferry. It was to be another two years before that happened.
When Erlo returned to Tugela Ferry this former witchdoctor asked one of
the co-workers to get this lady. At first this brother hesitated to drive such
a distance for one person, but in the end agreed.
So the woman was brought in the co-worker's car and carried into the
tent. Here this woman recognised that which she had seen two years before in
her dream. Without anybody in particular praying for her, the power of God came
over her, and she was able to walk without any help. She was a bit disappointed,
though, when it was said that there was to be no special prayer for the sick at
the end of that service. But Bill carefully explained to her,"Don’t worry;
your time will still come. Ask God to reveal the sins in your life, and then
put them right." Bill visited her several times, and she confessed her sins,
her health improving after each occasion. Three weeks later there was a meeting
in Kranskop to which she was brought. As they were travelling there, the Lord
touched her and she was fully healed without anyone praying for her.
This completely changed her life. She needed no further medicine, and she
opened her home to the evangelists. Six months after her healing she testified
in front of a large congregation and brought all her witchcraft articles to be
burned.
Her husband was overjoyed at his wife's healing and that the Gospel was
preached in his house. However, he wasn’t prepared to make a decision himself
yet. The woman was unperturbed at the resistance of her husband and
wholeheartedly followed the Lord. It helped that her husband seldom came home,
because he worked in Johannesburg.
Martin Stegen told me of another man with dropsy. When the revival reached
the area around the Usinga Mountain, there were three sick men in the vicinity.
One was blind, another lame and the third had dropsy, and was already bed-ridden.
The first two had help from their families - the blind man had someone to lead
him about, and the lame man had someone to care for him. The condition of the
man with dropsy was so serious he was not expected to live much longer.
The three men heard that a preacher was holding services in their area
and that he refused to accept offerings, but advised the people rather to spend
their money on Bibles and songbooks. The three sick men said to each other,"If
such a man doesn’t love money, then we have to hear him."
All three came to the service. It was a real challenge for the man with
dropsy, because he could scarcely breathe, let alone walk.
All three asked for prayer. Naturally they were told that spiritual
matters were to be dealt with first. The first session of prayer for the man
with dropsy had no immediate effect. After some time he came again, went for
counselling and was prayed for - this time, within a day, he recovered
completely from his illness. A huge amount of water came away.
However, there was yet another, a third experience. After his recovery,
he slackened in following the Lord and his abdomen became swollen again. This
caused him great fear, and he travelled back to KwaSizabantu for the third
time. He remained there for several weeks, while the Holy Spirit revealed many
sins and omissions. Under a great sense of guilt, he put things right with God,
and made a complete recovery - since then he has faithfully followed Jesus and
attends the services regularly. He was also able to work and was employed as a
shop assistant.
His wife also received help from the Lord. From time to time she was
gripped by a compulsion to be destructive, smashing furniture and other things.
After her husband finally decided to follow Jesus, she too was touched by the
Holy Spirit, was converted and healed. Both of them come faithfully to KwaSizabantu,
and two of their children are full-time missionaries.
We haven’t yet heard the end of the stories regarding the lame and the
blind men. The lame one was eventually able to walk and to work again. The
blind man was only partially helped. His sight was not restored, but the terrible
pain which he had endured disappeared. There isn’t always complete healing, but
no one leaves without a measure of the Lord's blessing. When Jesus is sought
with all one's heart, something happens, even if not all desires are fulfilled.
4. The Healing of Heart Disease
In Kwahlati Elenge a family came to believe in Christ. The man had a
heart disease and desired to be taken to KwaSizabantu. His condition, however,
was very serious. At KwaSizabantu he was prayed for after confessing his sins,
but then he asked to be taken home, as he preferred to die there.
Some days later Martin Stegen visited him. Again he confessed things that
had come to his mind. Martin thought that he would soon pass away, and
therefore planned to visit him two days later. However, because of pressure at work,
he only managed to see him two weeks later. He was astounded to see the man,
who had had such swollen knees, completely normal and walking around. This old
man lived for some time after that, and died at the age of seventy-six - and
his death was not caused by his previous heart condition.
Two of his children are also in full-time ministry.
5. The Healing of Deaf-Mutes
At KwaSizabantu many different forms of healing take place. Some get
healed after confessing their sins and being prayed for with the laying on of
hands. Others are healed during the service, often without the preacher even knowing
of it. Usually these people would ask to be counselled after the service, and
they would then put their lives right with God.
A third form of healing occurs on the way to KwaSizabantu.
Yet another form of healing takes place later. Often the sick, having
been converted at KwaSizabantu, would travel home and receive their healing on
arrival. However, we shouldn’t forget that it also happened that the sick were
not healed. Healing does not depend upon the will of the counsellor or the
desire of the patient, but on the will of God alone.
Here are some examples of how some deaf-mutes were healed:
a) A deaf mute girl was taken by car to KwaSizabantu. As she got out of
the car, her mouth was opened and her ears were healed.
There had been no counselling as yet, but she then went for counselling,
confessed her sins and gave her life to Christ.
b) A mother came to KwaSizabantu with her three children, all deaf-mutes.
She opened her heart to the Gospel, was counselled and accepted Jesus as her
personal Saviour. The co-workers then prayed for her and her children. One of
the children spoke immediately, but the other two still had to wait. The mother
and her children then came a second time. As they were crossing the river, one
of the two deaf-mutes said,"This is wrong, we have to cross over there." The
third child was also healed. So it can be seen that things never go according
to a set pattern.
c) A wonderful healing occurred just weeks before these reports were
written.
A man, blind, mute and lame, was brought to KwaSizabantu on February 29th 1976. A Christian brother brought him by car. In the middle of a sermon he
looked around in astonishment. His eyes and mouth had been opened. Everyone
rejoiced with him, and when he went home, he got out of the car without any
help. While I was staying at KwaSizabantu he attended a service again. A daily
reading for the 29th February read as follows,"…O Lord God of our
fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms
of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one
is able to withstand You?" (2 Chron.20:6) Hasn’t this been fulfilled in this
man's life?
These healings were spoken of in ever-widening circles, even though there
were no modern means of communication in some of these areas.
Martin Stegen was asked to take people to a service. He went there with
his small truck, which can take about fifteen people at a time. But when he
arrived, there were a hundred waiting. A man said to him,"Don’t disappoint
these people - please help them." So Martin held a short service for them. Then
he had planned to take fifteen of them to the service. However, this was human
planning. After the message, a spirit of repentance came upon them, and they
all wanted to confess their sins. So Martin had to stay from morning till
evening, counselling the people. The name of the place is Maposwane.
The conversion of these hundred people became another cornerstone in the
revival. More and more people desired salvation. The healings were not the main
thing, but the drawing of people by the Holy Spirit to get things in order with
God.
Once there was a tent campaign at Efaye in KwaZulu-Natal. Martin had
transported many people from far away. Through his experience at Maposwane he
decided to use a larger vehicle. However, the truck he used was so full that
the mothers had to hold their children up to prevent them from being crushed.
I want to mention something I observed personally. At Mahambeni, a truck
arrived for a service with about 200 people on it. Some of the young people who
had no room clung onto the railings. Martin drove this truck and its many
people 250 kilometres to the service. Some of them arrived with swollen feet.
Erlo preached the message, after which hundreds responded and accepted Jesus,
and many were healed, even those with heart problems.
One of the most difficult journeys bears mentioning. After the service,
at about 4:30 pm, Martin drove them all back home. The last one to arrive at
home was an old man, who arrived at 6:45 the next morning. Nobody complained -
they sang songs and were full of joy. Some of them had travelled fourteen
hours. This is what happens when God's breeze blows through the land.
We have often mentioned Martin and his truck. Martin is a farmer on 680
hectares of hilly land, with mainly plantations and pasture land. He is the
owner of the pick-up and the truck mentioned. One of the fruits of the revival
is that farmers and businessmen are available for the Lord's work at all times.
In the evangelistic campaigns in KwaZulu-Natal and the Transkei, businessmen
Horst Witthöft, Trevor Dahl and Friedel Stegen were with us together with
farmer Joe Newlands. Some brethren would take their wives along to help with
the cooking for the team. Their priorities were not their own businesses, but
the matters of the Lord. Men who owned pick-ups or trucks made them available
to be used by the Lord. The Zulus were transported in them without having to
pay. Nobody asks about the costs, but the Lord knows.
The Lord Jesus asked his disciples once,"Did you lack anything?" They
replied,"Nothing!" All that we own is entrusted to us, that we might use it in
the Lord's service. Blessed is the one that does so joyfully. He is blessed
here on earth, and will be greatly rewarded in heaven, although we do not
labour for the sake of a reward.
6. The Healing of Barrenness
It is considered a disgrace for Zulu women to be barren. So when a barren
woman finds the Lord, she usually prays earnestly for children, and God has
often answered before being asked. It has often occurred that when women have
been converted, their barrenness has been healed.
I got to know one such woman from Tugela, and heard her testimony.
She had been married for several years, but was unable to have children.
In a service conducted by the team, she found the Lord. Since then she has had
a child every year, and they now have five.
Her husband was still an unbeliever, and his friends constantly urged him
to stop his wife following the"religion of the whites", but he answered,"What
can I say against Christ after experiencing these miracles."
Among the Mabaso, there was still a faction fight going on in 1971, but
these were ended by Gabajana in 1972, as we reported. It took the police two
years to get the names of all the participants. In 1973, eighty men were
arrested, among them the husband of this woman who was so fruitfully blessed.
When he was in jail with his comrades, he told them about the faith and
the experiences of his wife. He added,"There are people who worship a Living
God." Then he wrote a letter to his wife, giving her the names of all his
comrades, and asking if she would take their jackets to KwaSizabantu to be
prayed over. According to his heathen view of things, he hoped to receive help
for himself and the other seventy-nine.
The woman passed on this request to Erlo. His response was,"We do not
pray for jackets, only people." However, the team came together to pray for the
eighty imprisoned men and the miracle happened - they were all released.
This made a great impression on these eighty heathen men, especially on
the husband of the Christian woman, who was filled with gratitude. He went back
to his work in Johannesburg, bought a second hand vehicle and gave it to the
preacher at Tugela Ferry. Although he was a heathen, he gave it a biblical
name:"Noah's Ark". His explanation was,"Noah's ark carried the people of God
- this vehicle shall carry the soldiers of Christ."
In May 1975, Barney picked the vehicle up in Johannesburg. Barney is a
preacher at Tugela Ferry, one of Erlo's co-workers. He used the vehicle until
December 1975, when the owner needed it for himself.
This vehicle was the means of teaching many lessons to its heathen owner.
Barney said to him once,"You should give your life into God's hands, just as
you have given this car for His ministry, and quit your ancestral worship. Do
not thank the ancestors for your release from jail, but God. Nor should you
hang a gall bladder in your vehicle for protection against evil spirits, but
trust the Lord Jesus."
Now the vehicle owner had a driver, a heathen, because he didn’t have a
driver's licence. Before they started the car the first time, the owner asked
the spirits of the ancestors to protect them. The driver turned the ignition,
but the engine wouldn’t start. Then the owner remembered what Barney had said,
"This vehicle belongs to the Lord and is holy." So he said to his driver,"This
vehicle was always started with prayer, so come on, pray to the God of the
Christians!" The heathen driver answered,"I can’t." The owner then forced him
by saying,"We have to get moving. I’ve hired you to drive this vehicle!" The
driver then prayed, under protest, but nothing happened. The owner complained,
"You aren’t praying properly. We’ll get my wife to do it." His wife came and
prayed and the vehicle started. The owner, again impressed by the prayer of his
wife, said to the driver,"You see, this vehicle only starts by prayer to the
God of the Christians." From that day on the heathen driver had to pray to the
God of the Christians before they got going!
To the European Christians who have been overcome by rationalism, this
would all seem to be either childish or beyond belief. But it is the nature of
the Zulus to be simple and childlike in their faith, especially when they have
seen and experienced what God can do.
The team is still praying that the owner of this vehicle will become a
Christian. He is not far from the Kingdom of God, and his wife is a living
example to him.
7. The Healing of Cripples
There are many sick people among the Zulus. They are accustomed from
childhood to go to witchdoctors, where they receive no real medical help, but
in fact get more and more bound by witchcraft.
Because we have a merciful God, this situation is taken into account. As
it was in Timor, Indonesia, many were healed at the same time as they were
converted. On the island of Timor, approximately 30,000 were healed in a period
of two and a half years from the beginning of the revival. This number was
given to me by two servants of God, Daniel of Timor and Petrus Oktavianus from
Batu.
Let us hear some more reports from among the Zulus:
a) A fifty-year-old woman was paralyzed on one side of her body. She was
pushed in a wheelbarrow (with a steel wheel) for about thirty kilometres by
several men, on a rough trail over mountains and through valleys. When she
arrived at Mapumulo her body was sore and aching. After spiritual counselling
and prayer, she stood up, but still slightly dragged her leg behind her. All
the same, she was overjoyed and thanked the Lord for what had happened. The
partial healing wasn’t the end of the story.
The day hadn’t yet come to an end when the blood circulation in her lame
arm and leg began to take effect. Eventually she was able to move her fingers
and toes, and before leaving Mapumulo to go home she was completely healed. The
clear evidence of her healing was that she was able to walk all the way back
home, over the same tortuous trail with its mountains and valleys. When she was
two kilometres away from her home, her husband recognised her coming down from
the mountain. He called out,"It's my wife - she's healed!"
Her husband was also ill with malfunctioning glands, was so fat that he
could barely walk, and his knees were swollen and painful. After seeing the
miracle his wife had experienced, he asked her to show him the place where she
had been helped.
On a Monday morning they set out, but this was a very difficult journey.
It was Wednesday by the time they arrived at the place where they could get a
car to take them further.
On arrival, the man asked to be shown the way to Jesus. After being shown
the way, the co-workers prayed for him with laying on of hands. They heard his
knees cracking, and he said it was as if someone was cutting his knees with a
knife. Then he got up, moved his legs in all directions with ease and
flexibility, and he felt as if his body had become light.
In the revival among the Zulus it has often been seen that one healing
succeeds another, and often a husband follows his wife to conversion or vice
versa.
b) A practically helpless woman was brought to KwaSizabantu while youth
services were taking place. A white teacher who had heard about the miracles
taking place at KwaSizabantu came to visit his son, who was attending the
meetings. This teacher happened to be passing by as this woman came from
counselling, joyfully telling everybody that she had just been healed, so he
was able to witness the power of the Lord first-hand.
c) Two siblings from Efaye were ill. The brother was lame and helpless
and his sister needed to be fed like a baby. Both of them were brought to KwaSizabantu.
Erlo first spoke to the brother, who confessed his sins. There was a slight
improvement when he was prayed for, and his paralysis partially disappeared.
Then Erlo spoke to the sister, who seemed to be totally blind
spiritually. When she was asked by a counsellor,"Have you ever given your life
to Jesus?" She said,"No. I don’t have any sin." Shortly afterwards she became
very ill, and asked Erlo to pray for her, but there was no breakthrough. The
following day she lay on the floor vomiting, feeling as if she were about to
die. Then she began to realise her sins, and went to Erlo a third time. This
time she confessed all her sins, and also went immediately to her brother and
put some matters right. From that moment on, all her health problems
disappeared and she was healed.
Her brother then confessed a second time as he brought further things
that he had remembered to the light. This time he was completely healed, after
prayer.
The thought may arise that it is easy to convert the Zulus and for them
to experience healing, but we need to remember that the Zulus are a proud
nation, their national pride dating back to the time of their forefather Shaka.
Missionaries have found it hard to reach the heart and conscience of the Zulu
people.
No, these wonders and miracles among the Zulus reveal that a time of
God's grace, such as never before in their history, is being experienced.
A similar, but smaller, happening has occurred just recently, while I
have been writing, in another revival among the Bushmen in an area where the
Dorothea Mission is active. God willing, I will be travelling there on my next
journey to South Africa. I have previously reported on the Dorothea Mission in
the book Jesus auf allen Kontinenten (Jesus on all Continents) (Bibel-
und Schriftenmission Dr Kurt E. Koch, www.schriftenmission.de).
d) The healing of eighteen-year-old Anna Greta Khumalo was an amazing
occurrence. Bill Larkan, a recruiting officer for a mining company in
Johannesburg at the time, gave me this account, and Erlo filled in the rest of
the details.
Anna Greta was completely paralyzed. She lay in bed, unable even to swat
flies. From her childhood she had had to be carried to the toilet as well.
Christians that knew about her visited her from time to time, and it was
through them that Bill Larkan heard about her, and then visited her.
Counselling her seemed almost impossible, because she could only whisper;
sometimes she was not even able to speak at all. Later, one of Erlo's
co-workers counselled her, asking only questions to which she could answer
"Yes" or"No" by blinking her eyes.
Her parents had tried almost everything to help Anna Greta. Over a period
of three months she was treated at the Baragwanath Hospital, the doctors
assuming that she was insane. Then she was transferred to Dundee, but again
there was no improvement. Eventually she was taken to specialists at the
Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. But nothing changed - there seemed to be
no improvement. Now and again her parents also tried witchdoctors, not
realising that through this they were only worsening her condition.
One of the witchdoctors used an original but totally absurd therapy. He
shaved some hair off the head of the paralyzed girl, then cooked a frog and tied
the hot frog onto her head. It is not necessary to comment on such terrible healing
methods, which bring no relief or help at all.
Bill visited her again and said that Erlo was coming to Tugela Ferry
again for a tent campaign. She agreed to be taken there.
She was carried on a mattress to Bill's car, and from there likewise into
the tent. After the service Erlo spoke to her while the team was interceding in
prayer. As he was speaking to her, he was urged to say,"In the name of Jesus,
stand up!" She hesitated, but then Erlo repeated the order and she stood up.
Bill told me that he and others literally ran to the room where the miracle
happened.
The same night her sister, a teacher in Dwaleni, was notified that she
should come, but not told about the healing. She thought that the men had come
to report the passing away of her sister Anna Greta. As she came to the room
where Anna was, her healed sister appeared in the doorway. The teacher thought
it was a spirit, and she lifted up her hands and retreated in shock - and small
wonder, for she hadn’t seen her sister walking for three years, and for the
last six months she had been totally helpless!
The next day some co-workers went with Anna Greta to see her father, who
was working as a prison warden in the village of Pomeroy, about 25 kilometres
from Tugela Ferry. On arriving at the prison courtyard they asked a man to call
her father. When he opened the door, the co-workers and Anna Greta went to meet
him. He stood as if turned to stone or as if he had seen a ghost. Then he
understood that this really was his daughter."What has happened?" he asked as
they fell weeping into each other's arms."Jesus has healed me," she answered.
"Come into my room," he said,"and tell me all that has happened." In all the
excitement he forgot to lock the gates of the prison.
This healing had a terrific impact on everybody. First, three court
officials came to examine the case and cross-question the girl. There were, of
course, certificates from the hospitals as ample evidence of her previous
condition. The men were impressed by the healing, even though they were not
believers, and they said to the girl,"Do you know who healed you? It is the
One who can kill people or raise them from the dead!" They encouraged her, and
said to her,"Cling to the God who has done this."
The spiritual effects were far greater than just the fact that three
doubters came under conviction of the truth. Many people came running to see
Anna Greta, and there was a great openness to the Gospel. Hundreds lined up for
counselling, and about two hundred asked for prayer. Naturally only a small
number of all those people were able to be prayed for by the laying on of
hands, as in James 5:14. The others were prayed for collectively, and the
laying on of hands was used only for the seriously ill and the blind. Some of
the many healings will be recorded in the following sub-chapters.
These occurrences bear witness to Psalm 68:20:"Our God is the God of
salvation; and to the Lord are the issues of death."
8. The Healing of the Blind
This account closely follows the previous one. After the healing of Anna
Greta, many sick people streamed in from distant places, and from totally
heathen areas messengers were sent with the request,"Send us men who have the
living Gospel. We have heard what has happened among you."
Naturally, such times of great excitement are dangerous for disciples of
Jesus. We remember the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:21,"And they that
had eaten were about five thousand men, apart from women and children." The
disciples were in danger of becoming too absorbed in their feelings, so Jesus
"constrained…" them, compelled them to get into the boat and commanded them to
go across the Sea of Galilee before him. He knew what awaited them - a fierce storm
would rage, bringing fear and desperation to them. This was to be a beneficial
lesson, providing inner correction to their souls.
Erlo knows the danger of great miracles. This is one of the reasons why
he often takes the team aside for a time of quietness, where they thank the
Lord for all that they have experienced, and prepare themselves in prayer for
whatever lies ahead. I was able to see the old house near Kranskop in which the
team gathers for prayer.
Here are some instances of what the Lord did for the blind:
a) The Healing of Eleven Blind People
On the second day after Anna Greta was healed, eleven blind people were
brought. The power of God was so mightily present, that as soon as they entered
the room, they called out,"I can see." Every one of the blind recovered his or
her sight.
That same day Martin Stegen drove from Elandskraal with a group of
people, a distance of forty kilometres from Tugela Ferry. The vehicle was
already overcrowded, and as they were travelling, they saw a blind mother and
her child standing beside the road. They waved down the vehicle and pleaded
earnestly with Martin to take them along to the meetings at Tugela. Martin said
that he really hated to leave them behind, but there was no space, and nobody
was willing to get off either. So the woman had to be left behind, in tears.
On Sunday they heard that the blind woman who was left behind had been
healed. When they investigated, to find out what time this had happened, they
determined that it was at the same moment as when the eleven other blind people
had been healed.
b) Grandmother Ntjali
An old, blind woman from Elenge was brought to KwaSizabantu. She stayed
for some time and then went back home without receiving her sight. She came a
second time to be at this blessed place, but still wasn’t ready for God to
work. During her stay, she neither went for counselling, nor did she surrender
her life to Jesus. Again she went back home disappointed. One day some Zulus
came and sought help. They were asked,"How do you know that the Lord has
revealed Himself here in this place?" They answered,"Grandmother Ntjali has
told us about it; she has received her sight." Soon after, Ntjali came to one
of Erlo's co-workers, and after counselling, she surrendered her life to Jesus.
Healings occur not only when Erlo prays for the sick - his co-workers
have similar experiences.
At one stage, Erlo wasn’t present at KwaSizabantu. A blind woman wanted
to be prayed for by Erlo. However, because of his absence, a co-worker offered
to help. She made a thorough confession, and while she was still busy dealing
with her life, she suddenly said,"I can see the wall." As she looked around,
she realised that she had received her sight and was fully healed. This was a
special blessing from God, as she had been totally blind and her eyes had never
been fully developed.
A similar example can be mentioned here. Martin was on a visit to KwaSizabantu.
While he was there he took over the counselling of two blind men who were lying
side by side in the mission hospital. First he spoke to one of them in a
separate room. When that one came back, his neighbour asked him,"Can you see?"
The first man answered,"I can see spiritually, and that is the most important thing
- that our lives are put right with God." The second man rejoiced at this, but
didn’t realise that he was to experience something even greater. As this second
blind man was spoken to and prayed with, his eyes were opened, and his lameness
disappeared. This man had found Jesus, received his sight, and been healed of
his lameness. He told all the visitors at KwaSizabantu,"I have been blind
since 1941 and lame since 1942. Now the Lord has touched me in this threefold
way." Everybody rejoiced with him, and he became an impressive witness to both
heathen and believers alike.
c) The Healing of Blindness during Counselling
A blind man was brought to KwaSizabantu. He wanted Erlo to speak to him,
but Erlo at first declined, because he was busy with a matter concerning a
co-worker. Eventually Erlo gave in, and the blind man asked him,"Please open
my eyes."
“How can you ask me such a thing?" said Erlo,"I cannot heal anybody.
Only Jesus can do that." The blind man said,"But I have heard of blind people
who have received their sight here at KwaSizabantu." Erlo replied,"No, it
doesn’t happen that way. First your spiritual eyes need to be opened. Have you
ever seen and understood what Jesus has done for you?" But the blind man
couldn’t grasp it. Then Erlo explained the Gospel to him,"God is holy. We are
all sinners, which is why God in His love sent His Son to die for us." Before
Erlo could finish speaking, the blind man called out,"Now I understand what
you mean!" and he immediately began confessing his sins. While he was doing
this, he suddenly leapt up and cried out,"I can see! Thanks be to the Lord -
He has opened my eyes."
The psalmists sing much of the wonders of God. Let him who glories, glory
in the Lord.
The word"alone" occurs many times in the Bible, and emphasizes that we
should never rob the Lord of His honour.
Psalm 72:18:"Blessed is the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does
wonderful things."
Psalm 136:3-4:"Oh give thanks to the Lord of lords; for His mercy
endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders; for His Mercy endures
forever."
Deuteronomy 32:3:"Because I will proclaim the name of the Lord, ascribe
greatness to our God."
Nehemiah 9:6:"…You are Lord alone…"
One more jewel in closing off this section concerning blind people: A
blind woman who was on her way to KwaSizabantu said,"I do not want to receive
my sight. The first thing I want to be able to see is the Lord Jesus in His
Kingdom."
9. The Healing of a Tumour
Shortly after the beginning of the revival the co-workers were gathered
for prayer. Suddenly they heard a loud bang outside. They ran out and saw that
the windscreen of one of the mission trucks had shattered. It was obvious that
no external impact had damaged the glass, and there was nobody around, nor was
there an obvious explanation of why this had happened. They returned to prayer
and asked the Lord what this meant. The Lord answered that they should expect
something unusual.
Soon afterwards, a man of forty-four was carried by several women to
Mapumulo. He was ill and unable to walk because of a huge malignant tumour in
his abdomen, and both his legs were paralyzed.
On that day, so many had come that the meeting place was too small, and
many had to sit on the lawn outside. They heard the Gospel and the call to make
their lives right with God. After the message, one after the other came for
counselling. However, the lame man stayed seated because he couldn’t walk. Then
one of the co-workers went to him and began to counsel him. The man confessed
all his sins and revealed that he wanted to follow Jesus. The co-worker then
prayed with him, and had hardly said"Amen" when the tumour burst open. It
caused a dreadful stench, which permeated the whole area, causing those who
were near to move rapidly away.
Many were flabbergasted as they noticed the healed man standing in the
room for prayer unassisted. None of his lameness remained - his healing was
complete! The people glorified and praised the name of the Lord, singing,"The
Lord is mighty, there is none like Him."
10. The Healing of Toothache
In a letter to me, Erlo wrote,"Some years ago I was called to visit an
elderly lady. I was told that she was sick and wanted to be prayed for. When I
arrived I saw that one side of her face was swollen, and I asked her what I
could do for her. She responded that she had terrible toothache. I advised her
to go to the dentist and get the tooth removed. It was a small matter. She
didn’t appreciate my comment, and answered rather sharply, ‘I haven’t called
you to send me to the dentist, but so that you pray for me!’ I took this in
good humour and found it quite difficult to remain earnest. So I prayed, ‘Lord
Jesus, You see this woman. She would like You to heal her tooth, Amen.’ That was
certainly a very brief prayer, and yet the Lord answered. The toothache and the
swelling vanished completely. Since that time many years have passed and this
woman hasn’t had toothache since."
11. The Healing of the Intestines
A fifty-five-year-old woman by the name of Xobisile had suffered for a
long time from stubborn diarrhoea. Her condition deteriorated because no doctor
was able to help her. Finally she became bed-ridden, and on top of that she
developed phlebitis. Her leg became swollen and began turning blue, causing her
terrible pain. Her neighbours would hear her loud groans. It seemed as if she
was losing her mind.
On a certain Tuesday she received a visit from someone who told her that
there was a white man who prayed for the sick. She was asked if she would like
to be taken there.
Erlo used to take a service every second Wednesday in a neighbouring
village, so she was taken there, although the journey was a difficult one.
First she had to be carried up a steep hill and then to a road from where she
could be picked up.
Many sick people had already gathered when she arrived. Before the Gospel
was preached, Erlo told the sick people that they needed to cleanse their lives
in the presence of the Lord and to mean business with Him. Then a song was sung.
A young co-worker led the singing.
During the singing, the woman suddenly felt her swollen leg burst open,
and a huge amount of pus streamed out. She said that it flowed out in four
different colours, and the swelling disappeared immediately. Her intestinal
problem was also healed. In addition, the skin on her healed leg started to
peel off, and a new skin began to appear. This occurred in 1967.
Nine years later this healed woman had another experience. Because she is
illiterate she cannot read the Bible. This is why the Lord sometimes spoke to
her in dreams. On one occasion she was told that before she did anything, she
should start with prayer. One day she forgot this lesson. She wanted
a lift on a truck, and while she was running after it, as it was pulling away, she
sprained the foot that had been healed nine years previously. Her foot became
swollen and very painful. Then she prayed and asked herself what the Lord
wanted to tell her through this. It was revealed to her that she had started on
that journey without prayer. She repented and asked the Lord for forgiveness,
and the Lord had mercy on her - the swelling and the pain disappeared
immediately.
12. The Healing of Internal Bleeding
Sister Helga had worked for several years in South Africa and was part of
the revival. After returning to Germany she felt sudden strong pains in both
her legs, and at the same time she started running a high temperature. Holes
began to form under both her feet, and she started haemorrhaging in her intestines.
She was then taken to hospital. After a week both her legs were paralyzed from
the knees downward, and she couldn’t even move her toes. The doctors were
unable to make a precise diagnosis or treat the obscure symptoms. They were
faced with a medical conundrum. All attempts at therapy and medication seemed
to fail, and Sister Helga was transferred from one hospital to another, without
significant results.
In this seemingly hopeless situation, Helga informed Erlo Stegen. Erlo
prayed intensely for her, and intended to visit her while on a planned trip to
Germany. One of the co-workers telephoned the Tübingen Hospital, and was quite
amazed that Helga herself came on the phone. She reported joyfully that she was
able to walk again, and that the internal bleeding had ceased. She told the
co-worker,"On a certain day I felt that the Lord had touched me. A feeling of
warmth flooded my whole body. From that day on my healing began, and I improved
rapidly. The professor who was treating me as well as the doctors and nurses
were greatly impressed by the healing. They said, ‘You have experienced a
miracle!’" They had ruled out all possibility of recovery and had expected her
to die.
13. The Slipper
The following story will no doubt anger many Christians. Erlo gave me a
written account of it. If I myself did not agree with it, I wouldn’t have
recorded it here. But for those who constantly criticize, I will mention
another example beforehand.
In Acts 19:12 we are told how the apostles used handkerchiefs, which were
laid on the blind and the sick, and they were healed.
This passage rightfully remains in the Bible. I have no criticism of it
at all, but in the history of the church it has often been misused, which is to
be rejected categorically. Instead of many examples from the five different
continents, let me mention only one from the USA.
A well-known healer from an extremist group said after a meeting,"We are
going to raise a collection now. But I do not want any money, just your
handkerchiefs, no matter if they are dirty or clean. After I have prayed over
them, you can have them back." The ushers collected all the handkerchiefs, and
they were prayed over. Then this shrewd businessman said,"Now, you can buy the
handkerchiefs back for 25 cents. Put them on the sick part of your body and you
will be healed, according to Acts 19:12." There weren’t enough handkerchiefs to
go around, because those who were first in line bought several.
This is not only mischief, but also a misuse of the Bible - one might
even classify it as white magic.
From this negative story we come to a positive one. In Madras, a
Christian leader, Father Daniel, spoke to me about his friendship with Sadhu
Sundar Singh. In his younger years, Brother Daniel acquired this friendship
with this well-known man of God. Before the Sadhu disappeared in the Himalayan
Mountains, he gave a blanket to his young friend Daniel, which the Sadhu had
used to sleep on and which had given him protection against rain and cold. It
is a story similar to that of Elijah and his successor Elisha. One day Brother
Daniel was called to a seriously ill person. He prayed for the man, laying the
Sadhu's blanket on him, and the man recovered. Since this story seemed a bit strange
to me, notwithstanding Acts 19:12, I asked Brother Daniel,"How often have you
done this?" He replied,"Only once - I never repeated it." I was satisfied with
that.
Because Brother Daniel is a sober man of God, I will leave the story as
it is without criticism. Brother Daniel, who died several years ago,
experienced many miracles in his ministry. I have written his biography in the
previously mentioned book, Jesus auf allen Kontinenten (Jesus on all
Continents).
There are many Christians who criticize Sadhu Sundar Singh. One can ask what
man of God man doesn’t experience this. I need to add that many things occur in
the life of this saint which I cannot always understand or follow. But I am not
his critic or judge. Every person is accountable to the Lord.
Now to Erlo's account, which I firmly believe to be true, otherwise, as I
said previously, I would not publish it.
Erlo was on a journey while a very sick person was in hospital at KwaSizabantu.
Although many prayed for him, his condition worsened, and it became clear that
he was dying. They carried him into another room, because he could not stay
with the other patients. Some co-workers knelt down in the room and cried to
the Lord. One of the co-workers saw a slipper under the bed. She remembered
Acts 19:12 and prayed,"Lord if your servant was here, he would have prayed
using the gift that you have given him." She took one of the slippers and held
it over the sick man, and prayed again,"Lord Jesus, You worked through the
handkerchiefs of your servant Paul - please work through what I am doing now."
From that moment on, the patient improved. The co-workers rejoiced with
inexpressible joy. They praised the Lord for being still the same today. It has
to be emphasized that this matter was not handled lightly, but came from deep
distress, and was never repeated again. Extremists misusing Acts 19:12 have no
right to use this example to justify their actions. Although two people may do
the same thing, it does not follow that it is really the same. Let those who
are wise in their own eyes, and who scoff in arrogance at these things,
remember the words of Jesus,"Truly I say to you, whoever shall not receive the
Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter into it." (Mark 10:15)
Many healings have been reported in this book, but we have to keep in
mind that the most important issue is the salvation of a person. The renewal of
the soul is a thousand times more important than the renewal of the body. And
yet the gracious Lord helps His children. Matthew 9:36 says,"But seeing the
crowds, He was moved with compassion…" The Lord's ministry was full of
compassion.
There are many forms of healing, but they all have one thing in common.
Often when those who are healed do not fully surrender their lives to Christ,
the malady returns. And not all of the sick are healed. At times the Lord lays
burdens on us, and doesn’t take them away, but He helps us to bear them. There
are many blessed"burden-bearers". Such burdens which the Lord does not take
away have the purpose of preparing us for eternity.
We should not overlook the fact
that in revival times great things occur - things that we spiritually stiff
Western Christians only know from hearsay.
Perhaps the reader will grasp what it has meant to me to experience all
these events in the different revivals.
Following the Lord Jesus, I have often experienced how the Lord has led
me to countries in which I found open doors. On one occasion, I waited four
hours in Djakarta (Indonesia) for a connecting flight. Next to me was a
passenger waiting for the same flight. We introduced ourselves. When he heard
my name, he said that I must have a namesake in Germany who had written the
book Christian Counseling and Occultism, and another one, Between
Christ and Satan. He was astounded to have the author sitting next to him.
He invited me then and there to lecture in his church in Melbourne (Australia)
for eight days. On my second Australian tour I was able to comply. I have often
experienced this type of guidance.
I have had similar experiences from time to time as I have followed
Jesus. I have an absolute abhorrence of writing books. There are so many
desperately tedious books written - please excuse the expression - that I
rebelled when asked to write down my experiences. A Christian in a high
position urged me to get all this down on paper. Often he would say,"Just
write as you speak." Two years later I gave up my resistance, and wrote the
book Höhenflug (Soaring High), which was printed in 11 or 12 editions. I
was always pushed into writing - it was never on my own initiative.
A third experience fills me with great gratitude. When I started writing,
the Lord would send me the material that I needed. People who were unknown to
me would send me reports from many continents, for which I hadn’t even asked,
and the material would often fit in exactly with the topic on which I was
working. Such an experience was the reason for my adding to this chapter on
healings.
14 Appendix: Healings in Indonesia
While I was reporting in the previous chapter on the healing of lame and
blind people, a letter from Rote (Indonesia) reached me, with reports that fit in
perfectly with this topic. This is how the Lord works with me - not that I
deserve it, but the manner in which He supplies me with material confirms that
He wants me to write.
Now to the letter itself: the writer is Pastor Mus Zacharias from Baa
Rote, NTT. Rote is an island about sixty kilometres away from the island of
Timor. These two islands have been experiencing a great revival since 1965. I
have written on the history of Pastor Zacharias and the revival in Rote in my
book, Uns, Herr, wirst Du Frieden Schaffen (To us, Lord, You will give
peace) ( Bibel- und Schriftenmission Dr Kurt E. Koch, www.schriftenmission.de).
The letter is dated 12th April 1976, and it reached me on 28th April 1976. In the first two parts of the letter Pastor Zacharias reports
on how the revival is continuing. He is very exact about this, dividing the
letter into different sections, A, B and C, with numerical subsections, in turn
divided alphabetically. This is from part C, 1-9, and I have neither added nor
taken anything away from what is written.
(1) A woman from the village Oehandi was eight months pregnant. From the
sixth month on, she had felt no movement from her child. It seemed as if her
developing child had been dead for three months. The team visited her and
prayed for her, and the dead baby was born. Nothing happened to the mother, and
she is quite well.
(2) A church member in the village of Oehandi was demon-possessed. He
would often fall writhing to the ground and become unconscious. The team prayed
for him and drove out the demons in the name of Jesus. He was set free.
(3) Chris Mooy, an 18-year-old, had been lame from childhood. He lived in
the village of Oeseli, about 16 kilometres from the village of Lidamanu. The
team was called to come and help this lame boy. So they set out to walk to
Oeseli. After praying for this young man, he was healed instantly.
(4) Oci Modok, a woman from Dengka, also about 16 kilometres from
Lidamanu, was mentally deranged. She would tear off her clothes and wallow
naked in the miry clay, screaming out loudly without any cause. She was healed
after seven days of prayer.
(5) Saa Henuk in Dengka was also mentally deranged. With unkempt hair,
she would scream without reason and frighten people by running after them.
Sometimes she too would wallow in the dirt on the ground. She was emaciated.
The team persisted - they prayed for her for three months, and then she was
healed. Now the woman works and goes to church like many others. She has also
put on some weight.
(6) Pelipus Merukh in the village of Oedai had been lame for four years.
The team prayed for him when they came to his village. One week later they
received the news that he was able to walk again. He was healed.
(7) A two-year-old boy from the village of Oehe was lame. When they
prayed for him he was healed.
(8) The team left for Della, about 24 kilometres from Lidamanu. They
preached the Gospel and showed a drama. Many people recognised their
sinfulness, wept over their sins, and repented. A witchdoctor asked the team
for spiritual help. All his fetishes and occult materials, such as amulets and red
clothing, were burned. The team also visited a pastor, spoke uncompromisingly
to him about the Word of God, and helped him to be set free from the powers of darkness.
(9) On the way back to Lidamanu, the team came through the village of
Oeseli, about 16 kilometres from Lidamanu. They visited the pastor and his
church members and preached the Gospel. The pastor and eight families repented.
This is the third part of Pastor Zacharias’ letter. We should actually be
astounded that the same things happen on the island of Rote as those that
happen among the Zulus. Rote is about 600 kilometres from the Australian coast,
and 10,000 kilometres from the Zulus. The people of Rote know nothing about the
revival among the Zulus, and the Zulus do not know where the small island of
Rote is. How wonderful it is that often the same miracles occur in totally
different places on the globe!
The only explanation is that the Holy Spirit works in similar ways in His
church. Erlo once said:"We live in the same time of grace as the early
Christians. Why should we not experience the same?"
Why is it that so many nominal Christians, professors of theology,
lecturers at theological seminaries, as well as some believing Christians, deny
what is happening in revival areas? There are many reasons:
(1) The devil is interested in making out everything which happens in
God's Kingdom to be a lie.
(2) Many Christians in the west try to justify their unbelief, because
they live in a frightful state of poverty as regards their faith.
(3) Our professors and lecturers are by and large unconsciously
contaminated by rationalism, which robs them of their childlike faith, and they
are unable to grasp biblical occurrences.
(4) Many create their own theology, which makes it impossible to believe
in miracles. The previously mentioned dispensation theology in the U.S.A.
claims that wonders and miracles were for the first century alone. Robert
Sumner, writing in the magazine, Biblical Evangelist, says,"We know
what the Holy Spirit can do, but He doesn’t do it!" I have this specific
journal with the article concerned. So Sumner knows what the Holy Spirit does
or does not do.
(5) The manner in which the events of the revivals are investigated is
disastrous. I have experienced this with a lecturer from Dallas, and with a
believing professor in Europe. They visit the revival areas to ascertain the
truth of my reports. Firstly, they visit the President of the Church, or the Bishop.
These are often unbelieving, nominal Christians, who are in opposition to
revivals. We also have mission directors and leaders of Bible schools who are
nearer to nominal Christianity than to being born again through the Holy Spirit.
These visitors from overseas believe that their views are confirmed by these
men, their unbelief is strengthened and they return home and spread untrue
accounts of the revival. In this manner Satan has attained his goal. And whom
has he used as instruments? Not people of this world, but those,"…having a
form of godliness, but denying the power of it; from such turn away." (2 Tim.
3:5)
It was a great gift from God to me that at the time of this writing about
the Zulu revival we received the report from Rote. As mentioned on the first
pages of this book, I repeat - this is how God organizes.
THE LORD WHO HELPS
In the blessings of Moses (Deuteronomy 33:26) we read,"…who rides on the
heaven for your help…" And King David testifies,"Salvation belongs to the
Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people." (Psalm 3:8) One of the great prayers
of the people of God we find in Psalm 121:1-2,"I will lift up my eyes to the
hills. Where shall my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made
heaven and earth."
KwaSizabantu is mainly concerned with being instrumental in bringing
God's help to those in need. The meaning of the name KwaSizabantu is
"the place where people are helped". As a matter of fact, this area, between
Mapumulo and Kranskop, about 145 kilometres north of Durban, had this name
before the mission moved there in 1971.
KwaSizabantu has become a spiritual centre in the past years with a local
influence diameter of some 650 kilometres. Some geographical observations might
be useful in defining the rough borders of the revival area. On the southern
side there is Port Shepstone, Harding and Riverside; to the west,
Pietermaritzburg, and on to the Drakensberg; to the northwest and
to the north the mission outreaches extend as far as Ladysmith, Newcastle,
Paulpietersburg and Vryheid; and to the northeast as far as Eshowe and
Mtunzini. The revival area lies between the 27th and 31st degree of latitude,
from the Transkei to the southern border of Swaziland.
Larger cities, such as Durban, haven’t at the time of writing been
affected by the revival as yet. This was the same in the Indonesian revival.
The national Churches were originally against the revival. These rigid fronts
have loosened to the extent that Erlo has often been invited to speak. I myself
had the opportunity to speak in the Dutch Reformed Church in Greytown, although
it was known that I was in full agreement with the revival at KwaSizabantu.
Indeed, at the end of that service an elder spoke to me, saying that he also
hoped that the Spirit of the revival would flow in power in his Church.
After this general introduction, I would like to mention six areas in
which God's help has been experienced, either passively or actively.
1. God's Help in Hospital
When I was visiting the revival area of the Zulus I stayed at Erlo's
place. On the second day I was told of a hospital. Immediately, I thought of
doctors, nurses, an operating theatre, medicine and so forth. However, while I
was visiting the hospital, I was quickly enlightened.
There is no medical help in that hospital, only counselling and prayer.
Those who wish to see a doctor are free to do so. There is a Christian doctor in
Kranskop who can be consulted, although this happens very seldom.
The building, the provision and caring for the patients is a long chain
of miracles. There will be a separate chapter on provision. First, a few words
about the patients:
Many things have been mentioned about the healings, so I will just record
what I personally experienced during my visit.
The healing of an abscess. A woman was introduced to me who had had a
large abscess on her hip. On account of this, she had been hardly able to move
- she had been in this condition for about a year. After she had been prayed
for, hard pus balls the size of hens’ eggs poured out of the wound, which then
healed very quickly. The woman was soon able to walk, as she showed me.
The drinker. A senior schoolmaster lost everything because of his
addiction to alcohol - his job, his possessions and his family. His wife was
living in Cape Town with their five children, and wanted to put him into an
institution for treatment. Käthe Vick, a German missionary from Gödenstorf
(Lüneburger Heide) works among the Indian people, and he came to KwaSizabantu
through her. At first the teacher was determined to leave, but somehow he began
to feel a great sense of peace at this revival centre. He used to sit next to me
at the table. He was cured of his alcohol addiction and now studies the Bible,
which he knew nothing about before.
The arsonist. A young man had set fire to a factory. The police were
unable to solve the case. The young man was brought to KwaSizabantu, where I
also met him daily at the table. He was a heavily addicted smoker. When Erlo
discovered this, he said to him,"You cannot do this here. Either you give your
life to Jesus and quit smoking, or you cannot remain here." The young man
packed his things and left immediately. He was only a few kilometres down the
road when he was attacked by some Zulus. They said to him,"Either you give us
everything or we’ll stab you." So he lost everything he had and stood on the
road with nothing. After some days he phoned Erlo, asking if he could come
back."I don’t smoke any more," he said,"I’ve learned my lesson." He went
back, was accepted, and started a new life with Jesus.
2. A New Garment
A converted witch went back to her old life. Erlo visited her more than
once. She was dirty, and the odour was terrible. Her neighbours used cruder
expressions to describe her; they called her a revolting, stinking hag. She
walked around in rags and she never washed.
A Christian lady had mercy on her and got a new dress for her, which she
gave to Erlo for her. She smiled ecstatically and was so grateful that she came
to the next service wearing her new dress. But what did the other people see?
The rags showed both above and beneath her dress. Another church-goer said to
her,"You have to take off the rags before wearing the new dress!" to which the
witch replied,"This is none of your business, they belong to me." When she was
asked to at least wash herself, she responded,"My skin cannot stand any
water."
Erlo had wanted to help this woman, both spiritually and materially, but
she wouldn’t accept it.
In his preaching he would often use this example."God offers us the
garment of salvation and a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), but many
refuse to take off their old rags."
3. Car Trouble
A heathen man wrote from Johannesburg to his Christian wife, to let her
know that he was bringing a witchdoctor to cast a protective spell over his
house and family. He wrote that he would need blood from his wife and from all
the children, which was to be mixed with witchcraft medicine and painted on the
walls. The woman shared these intentions with her pastor. They laid the matter
before the Lord and asked for His help. And help did indeed arrive. While the
husband was on his way from Johannesburg to Tugela in a taxi, together with the
witchdoctor, the vehicle broke down and wouldn’t start again. To this day, the
witchdoctor has never turned up. Her husband arrived alone, never mentioning
anything about their breakdown. He knew that his wife rejected having anything
to do with witchdoctors and their devilish practices, and he recognised that
the breakdown was a judgment from God.
4. Marital Problems
Women often come for counselling to Erlo or to his co-workers, sharing
their difficulties. Often it happens that married men stay away in cities for
five or six years, neither corresponding with their wives, nor supporting them
with any money. Usually the wives are advised to first make their lives right
with God, and that He would then take care of the rest. There is also the
experience of sons and daughters who have left their homes, seeking the world
and its pleasures. Here are two examples from Erlo's counselling:
A man had been away from home for six full years. His wife came and
brought her complaint, but she was pointed to Jesus. She was told,"It is not
the sin of others which hinders God's help, but your own sins that are not
forgiven." She understood the lesson, confessed her sins and found peace with
God. Then three miracles occurred one after another. First her husband wrote
her a letter, then he sent her money, which he had never done before, and then
he came home. This was how the Lord overcame that problem when the woman fully
surrendered her life to Him.
The next example is somewhat more complicated. A husband had not come
home for years. When his wife needed money, she had to travel to the city to
find him, and then he would often treat her badly. So this troubled woman went
for counselling. She was told that her husband's sins wouldn’t cause her to
perish, but her own."Surrender your life, your distress and your
disappointments to the Lord. He will never fail." She obeyed this advice and
surrendered herself to Jesus.
This didn’t solve all her problems. She told her counsellor that her
husband was living with another woman, with whom he had three children. Her
concern was what attitude to have towards this woman. She was told,"Love her!
God's Word says, ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute
you.’"
Here too, some amazing things occurred. A few days later, her husband
came home and asked if she had got converted and was now walking with God."Why
do you ask me such a question?" she asked in amazement. He replied,"I fully
intended never to come back to you, and I was convinced that nothing could
force me to. But there was One who drove me back. It is God! From a certain day
on I had no peace because of our separation. The voice of my conscience kept
saying, ‘You have to go back to your wife and children.’" On enquiry, it was
found that his lack of peace had begun on the day that she had surrendered her
life to Christ.
When he went back to the city, God intervened a second time. The mother
of his three children, the one who was living with him in the city, died. The
man took the three children home, and asked his wife if she was willing to take
care of them. With a good heart, she received the children of the deceased
woman as if they were her own. The couple, now reunited, live a happy family
life.
Bruno Engelbrecht, living in Ladysmith at the time, gave me a remarkable
account of God's help.
A family who previously lived in Tugela Ferry now live about 30 kilometres
from Ladysmith. The wife, Meti, attended the services. Her great distress was
that her husband had disappeared ten years previously, and she didn’t know
where he was.
Meti found the Lord Jesus through the preaching of the Gospel. She
repented of everything that the Holy Spirit revealed to her as sin and guilt.
But there was one thing that troubled her. She hadn’t registered her move from
Tugela to Ladysmith with the authorities. She wanted to work in Ladysmith, but
used the identity documents of her son, who was already working there. On top
of this, she had stated that her husband was dead. In her heart she knew that
this had to be sorted out, but she was afraid. Bruno and the other brethren
prayed that the Lord would help her, and that her husband would return. She
then went to the authorities and confessed everything. After listening to her,
the official said:"Woman, may God bless you." Meti was amazed how things had
turned out.
Her amazement was even greater when she heard some days later that her
husband had returned to Tugela, not knowing that his family had moved to
Ladysmith. The eldest son then went to get his father."Where is the strong
medicine man that has given you the ‘muti’ to charm me back?" he immediately
asked after his arrival. Meti said to him that God was her ‘medicine man’,
testifying of the power of the Gospel to her husband.
He told her how he had laboured in the mines until he had fallen ill.
When he was in hospital, he had a dream in which he saw his wife, beautiful and
pure. A voice said to him,"What would you say to God concerning your family if
you were to die?" From that moment on he had the strong urge to return to his
family. As soon as he made the decision to return, his illness improved
rapidly.
Now that he was reunited with his family, he accompanied his wife to the
services, where his conscience was touched. One day he went to see Bruno, and
with genuine remorse he repented of his sins and accepted Jesus as his Lord and
Saviour. His wife saw and rejoiced in the total change in his life, and he was
set free of drinking and smoking. He gave her all his pipes, telling her to
hide them and never to give them back, even if he asked for them."The Lord has
shown me that I have to forsake these things." Later the pipes were burned, and
the addiction to smoking and drinking had come to an end.
Shortly after his conversion, Eliphas - that was his name - fell ill.
Although his illness became progressively worse, he would never complain. When
asked how he was, he would say,"I am fine." Eventually they had to take him to
hospital. When his wife and another Christian friend visited him, he said,"I
am well, because my life is in order with God, so I do not fear death." He told
his wife not to wear any mourning clothes when he died."It won’t help anyway,"
he said,"I’m going home to be with the Lord." He explicitly forbade his son to
allow heathen ceremonies and sacrifices. He died the next day.
5. Aid after Snakebite
One day Erlo drove me to Kranskop Mountain. It is in the shape of a
sphere, with steep sides rising above a wonderful countryside. He informed me
about the numerous baboons that hide in the crags of the mountain, causing a
lot of damage to farmers. They plunder the fruit trees and take whatever they
want, causing havoc. Farmers have to have guards to protect their fields and
trees.
I asked Erlo about the feared and venomous snake called the mamba. In
South Africa they have green and black mambas.
Joe Newlands from Erlo's team told me about a farmer who lost eight cows
that were killed by a black mamba. This snake hid in a tree, from which it
would strike the cows from above. I asked Joe when a mamba would attack. He
mentioned two possibilities: when it has young ones or when someone or some
animal comes between it and its lair.
But Erlo's answer to my question was:"Forget the snakes, they are scared
of people, and we are under His protection. At KwaSizabantu we do not even have
a serum against snake bites." One may call this recklessness, but it is not so.
Those who experience God's guidance and help so intimately have a relationship
of trust with the Lord often different from many believers. On the other hand,
the serum is of no use in the case of the black mamba, because when somebody is
bitten, the venom acts so quickly it's almost impossible to inject the serum on
time. Nobody has ever died from a snake bite at KwaSizabantu. Erlo tells of two
incidents where people have been bitten by snakes.
An unbelieving woman came to the service at Mtunzini. On her way she was
bitten by a snake. When she arrived, her foot was so swollen and painful that
she wasn’t able to set it on the ground. It felt like needles were jabbing her.
After she had confessed her sins and was prayed for, the pain was gone and she
was able to walk. She had found the Lord and received help through this
incident. It has to be mentioned that she wasn’t bitten by a mamba, but by
another poisonous snake - however, that in no way alters the fact that it was
God who helped her.
The other incident was far more dangerous. A believing woman was bitten
by a snake. She was to be brought to KwaSizabantu, but it was impossible
because the road had become impassable - torrential rainfall had caused a
bridge to be washed away. They had applied a tourniquet to her leg to hinder
the poison from going further up her body. The bite was on her foot, and the
leg had become very swollen and inflamed. The tissue had already started to
decay and a hole of about 5 cm had formed, exposing the tendons and the nerves.
After she was prayed for, there was immediate improvement. A few days later,
the wound had closed and healed completely. Now there is just a small scar.
6. Help against Theft
KwaSizabantu has about ten hectares of land on which they farm potatoes
and vegetables for the hospital. One day it was noticed that a large number of
potatoes had been dug out. Erlo was called. He got together with his co-workers
on the land and prayed,"Lord, this is Your property. The potatoes belong to
You. Please stop the thieves, but not in anger. It is enough if the stealing
stops."
That very night their prayer was answered. There were men outside
knocking at Erlo's door. He asked,"What is it?" They replied,"We have the
thief. You will have your potatoes back."
What had happened? A young man visited his fiancée one night. He saw the
potatoes in her house and asked where she had got them from. She told him that
she had dug them from the white man's garden. He excused himself and said that
he would be back soon. He hurried to his father, who was an aide to the chief,
and said,"Come quickly, I have caught a thief!"
His father took a spear and went with his son, who led him to his
fiancée. The father took the thief to the police, and she was taken into
custody. The potatoes had to remain there as evidence, awaiting the trial.
The young man broke off the engagement, saying to his prospective bride,
"I do not want to have a thief as my wife." When Erlo received the potatoes
back, he gave them to the chief's aide as a present.
Many amazing things happened in relation to this incident. The Lord
answered Erlo's and the co-workers’ prayers swiftly. Stealing from whites is
not regarded as wrong by the Zulus, and yet this theft was immediately reported
by a Zulu. The chief's aide is openly a heathen, yet he acted correctly and in
the interests of the whites. The young man cancelled his engagement. Honesty
meant more to him than his love for his fiancée. Would a nominal Christian have
acted in the same way?
David teaches us a lesson here:
Psalm 62:1:"Truly my soul waits upon God; from Him comes my Salvation."
Psalm 33:20:"Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our
shield."
Psalm 25:5:"… for Thou art the God of my salvation; …"
7. Help in a Thunderstorm
The team was in a certain region to find out if a tent campaign was
feasible. The tribal chief of the area urgently advised against it, as the whole
region was hostile to the Gospel. By early morning men and women were already
drunk, and stealing was very common, even the theft of cattle. Because of these
things, the chief warned strongly against such an undertaking.
None of these negative considerations hindered the team. They were sure
that it was the Lord's will for them to be there.
One morning they set out to reach this tribe, three hundred kilometres
away. It seemed as if all hell had broken loose against the team. Before the evangelistic
campaign could begin, it hailed so heavily that the people weren’t able to
come. Discouraged, they took the tent down and went home. It often happens that
the Lord converts the evil attacks of the devil into fruitful blessings for His
Kingdom, and this is what happened here.
After several weeks the team met some Christians from that area. They
related that after the apparently fruitless campaign great things had happened.
They said,"Such a hailstorm in our area is something very unusual, especially
in winter. The hail fell along a narrow strip, leaving the place untouched
where the tent was pitched. Although there were large hailstones everywhere on
the ground, there was virtually no damage anywhere." This unusual hailstorm was
a sign from heaven to these superstitious heathen, and many were converted.
A similar miracle occurred later. The tent was already pitched when a
strong and persistent rain fell over the whole region, except where the team
had begun the campaign. Rain in these regions often means impassable roads and
paths. Cars sink up to their axles and people are not able to go through the
mud and slush.
Similar things have been reported in the Indonesian revival. We have a
God who is also Lord over the weather. One remembers what the disciples called
out in Mathew 8:27,"… what kind of man is this, that even the winds and the
sea obey Him!"
THE LORD WHO DELIVERS
The New Testament has a message of deliverance. We hear it again and
again:
Luke 4:18:"The Spirit of the Lord is on me; because He has anointed Me
to … proclaim deliverance to the captives …"
John 8:36:"Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free
indeed."
Colossians 2:15:"Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show
of them publicly, triumphing over them in it."
Freedom for the captives! That is the biblical message of joy that we
hear about in this chapter.
1. Deliverance for Drunkards!
A woman from Efaye had a unique son. He lived a life of abstinence, was
frugal, and didn’t drink or smoke. His mother, on the other hand, was a smoker
and a drunkard. Her son often said to her,"If only you wouldn’t drink and
smoke."
One day his mother bought him a pair of shoes, but he gave them back and
said,"I don’t need them any more."
“Why not?" she asked him.
“I’m going somewhere to work."
“Where is that?"
“I’m not allowed to tell you."
“What is it like there?" she enquired.
“Wonderful - it is always green there."
“When are you leaving?"
“I’m leaving on Saturday and coming back on Monday for the last time."
On Friday he went to work and asked his sister to accompany him. At a
shop he bought groceries and tobacco for his mother, but he told his sister,
"Tell mother that I have only bought tobacco because she wants it, but I abhor
smoking."
His sister went home and did what she was told. The next day a message
came that he had disappeared. In the late afternoon they found his body. He had
either been attacked or had had an accident. It seems that he had had a
premonition that he was going to die.
The mother was absolutely shattered by his death. The conversation she had
had with her son before his passing away had burned deeply into her conscience
- so much so that she sought a counsellor before whom she could confess her
sins. The pastor to whom she went rejected her, saying that they didn’t confess
sins in his church. The disappointed mother left and said,"I never want to
attend his church again."
However, her conscience troubled her increasingly, and her physical
condition deteriorated as well. She suffered from a shortage of breath and was
unable to sleep properly. Because her feet were crooked, she slept on her
knees.
Then one day she heard about KwaSizabantu. There it was possible for her
to confess her sins and be prayed for. So she went there, confessed her sins and
found that her shortage of breath was gone.
A week later her previous difficulties returned, and she wondered what
this could mean. Then she remembered a bottle of witchcraft medicine that she
had kept. She confessed this immediately and promised to destroy the bottle.
All her ailments stopped completely, she gave up smoking and drinking alcohol,
and began a new life following Jesus.
An alcoholic from Lusikisiki was brought by his family to KwaSizabantu in
a drunken condition. This had been his condition for the past 18 months - a
constant state of delirium. It was a miracle that he was still alive. Now at KwaSizabantu,
he received no alcohol, and the symptoms of withdrawal were terrible.
His mind was so confused, and he was so rebellious, that three men had to guard
and subdue him. He was counselled and prayed for by the team, and by God's
grace a complete victory was granted and he was delivered. After two years Erlo
heard that he had never touched alcohol again. The Lord used him as a witness
to alcoholics, and many who were bound found their way to Jesus through him.
Some drunkards say,"We want to see if this God really does save and set
free." They drink alcohol and get very ill, and often they realise,"Yes, it is
true. We cannot continue with alcohol. It's better to leave it altogether."
An old woman did the same thing. After being counselled and shown the way
to Christ, she wanted to test if she really was free. After being prayed for,
she went to the first bar she could find and drank a lot of beer. The normal
beer that the blacks brew is called"Tshwala". The real drunkards,
however, drink a strong beer called"Gavien". This is really strong. After
drinking this, this old woman left the bar and was violently ill. She then
realised and admitted that the Gospel creates new men and women. Needless to
say, delivered alcoholics are never advised to test their drinking
capabilities.
A man who had started drinking in 1945 had remained addicted until 1972.
He was jobless and was unable to support his family. His children were looked
after by relatives, but his wife had to work to support herself and her
husband. This was martyrdom for this woman. If she gave him food, he would spit
it back into her face. Because he wouldn’t wash himself, she would try to do
this as well, but he would just throw the water over her.
This heathen woman then asked the Christians to pray for her husband.
They visited them and invited them to attend the services. The woman agreed but
her husband at first refused. Eventually, they managed to bring the drinker to
the services. Under the message he became aware of what a sinner he was.
Some Christians at KwaSizabantu invited him to come to the mission. They
said to him,"Just try for once this man called Jesus, who saves and delivers
those who have been down in the gutter." He agreed to it and came on December
16th. He said that he wanted to be saved and delivered. He was
prayed for, and the Lord did a mighty thing. Twelve days later this slave of
alcohol was free.
But he had another problem; he was also addicted to smoking. As he sat
outside the mission hospital, he tried to smoke. He lit a cigarette, but he
couldn’t stand the taste. He was determined to smoke it to the end, but it was
so distasteful that he threw it away. He went back to his room and threw the
pack away. A deep change had taken place in him. He went outside, and jumped
and skipped for joy. He had been so stiff before, he could hardly walk, but now
he romped and skipped with the children.
Other patients thought that he was out of his mind and crazy, but he
replied,"No, I’m not crazy. I have found Jesus." His life had become new.
Shortly afterwards his wife was also saved, and they started a new marriage
together. He found a good job, and earned himself a living. With a loan from a
bank, he built a house with two flats. He was then able to rent them out and pay
off his loan.
This man had had the reputation of being the worst drunkard in Eshowe.
Today he is respected by his fellow citizens. He has six children, three boys
and three girls. His moral conduct and testimony has become a clear beacon
leading others to Jesus. By God's grace he still is a delivered man from his
addictions to alcohol and smoking.
2. Deliverance of the Possessed
A European family once asked Erlo to help them. They were having problems
with their three-year-old son. While playing, he would often injure himself
unnaturally, even breaking his bones. The parents had to constantly watch him.
There was seldom peace at night - he would cry and scream, saying that he saw a
red ball. It often seemed as if he was insane. Even his parents weren’t able to
hold him when Erlo tried to lift him onto his knee. Then Erlo prayed in the name
of the Triune God, and at that moment seven demons spoke out of the boy's
mouth, showing respect and reverence for the name of Jesus. They left the boy
and he was delivered and transformed, becoming polite and well-behaved and
thankful in all things.
Erlo told me that shortly after the beginning of the revival, for several
months, demon-possessed people and witchdoctors would come. The co-workers and
Erlo never became weary of seeing to all that came, often labouring without
sleep and food. But they received power from above, as mentioned in Isaiah 40:29:
"He gives power to the faint; and to him who has no might, He increases
strength."
“…He increases strength." - This was also given to the Korean believers
who prayed through many nights.
“…He increases strength." - This was the experience among the Timor
teams, often without food for 36 hours, walking through the jungle and preaching
long in remote areas.
“…He increases strength." - This was also their experience at KwaSizabantu
when the Holy Spirit came down and God's power was evident in the work of the
mission.
Here is the account of an experience with a one-year-old Zulu child:
The mother put this small child on the bed so that she could clean the
house. Then it was as if somebody said to her,"Look at your child's arm!" When
she looked, she saw the arm hanging down limply. She took the arm in her hand -
it had no strength and just seemed to swing like a pendulum. This had never
happened before.
While the mother considered what this could mean, she heard God's voice
saying,"Take your child to the service, and you will experience the power of
God." They stayed behind after the service and asked Erlo to pray with the
child. Erlo laid his hand on the child's head and prayed. The child began to
scream terribly, and its head swivelled around under Erlo's hand. He prayed
until the child eventually calmed down. Then the child was at ease and even
began to laugh, and the arm was normal again."…He increases strength" when God
starts to work.
One time a sturdy woman came for counselling. She claimed to be haunted
by evil spirits. As she was prayed for, a fierce battle raged, and the team was
called to support with prayer. After several hours of wrestling in prayer, the
demons revealed themselves,"We are many, and we will not leave without
shedding blood." They were commanded to keep silent, while the woman began to
vomit a tremendous amount of blood. She was free!
Erlo told me some of the things that happen when demon-possessed people
are delivered. He confirmed what I had already written in my previous books.
Some fall to the ground as if dead.
The tongues of some move like that of a serpent.
Others stiffen, but when they are delivered their bodies relax.
Some froth at the mouth like epileptics.
Some who are delivered have said that it felt as if the bark of a tree
was loosened from their chest.
Some leave a foul odour of sulphur or decaying flesh behind when they are
set free.
These symptoms were reported to me by Erlo, and I have mentioned even
more in some of my books. One thing is very obvious and clear -
demon-possession in South Africa has the same characteristics as in other
countries and on other continents. The opinions of psychiatrists, that
demon-possession does not exist, but that it is only hysteria and mental
disorder, is not supported by the evidence at all. There are symptoms of
demon-possession that are not found among those with a mental disorder. I have
dealt with these matters in my book Occult ABC (Kregel Publications,
Grand Rapids, MI, USA, www.kregel.com). In addition, my book Demonology Past and Present gives further information.
3. Liberation of Witches and Witchdoctors
The heathen among the Zulus have been involved with witchcraft for many
generations. What they call ancestral worship is nothing but spiritism, because
they bring sacrifices to their ancestors. They contact their forefathers, ask
for advice and pray to them. Expectant mothers dedicate their unborn children
to the ancestors, and ask for protection and help. Even when a heathen Zulu
becomes a Christian, he has to be delivered from the occult bonds of his
forefathers.
The same is true of witchcraft. Usually it is associated with homoeopathy.
There is nothing wrong with the use of herbs and roots into which God has
placed natural healing power. But the blending of homoeopathy with witchcraft certainly
contaminates spiritually every patient that makes use of it.
I spoke to Dr Beyerhaus about 14 years ago - who was lecturing at that
time in Mapumulo - on the entanglement of the Zulus in witchcraft. He told me
that as many as 99 per cent still practised witchcraft. I cannot say anything
about percentages.
With regard to witchcraft, the following is an example of thousands of
similar cases in Germany, England, the Balkans, Switzerland and elsewhere.
A crippled girl was brought to a"prophetess", through whom this girl was
healed with witchcraft. The name used here - prophetess - is nothing but a
disguise for someone working as a witch. Shortly afterwards she was able to
work again. Erlo met this girl and tried to counsel her, but she was
spiritually dead and as hard as a rock.
This happens in thousands of instances. In principle they are physically
healed but spiritually they are closed. But when a witch or a witchdoctor is
delivered by Jesus, or the patient of a witch or a witchdoctor comes to Jesus,
this is often a powerful testimony in the surrounding areas, and many are led
to the Lord. We see this in the following example.
4. The Former Witch Magakanye
When I was at KwaSizabantu, Magakanye visited me. Heino Stegen was her
translator. This woman works for him on the farm as a supervisor, and is a
great blessing to the working women. Here is her story:
Magakanye was a fortune-teller and a healer. She used witchcraft and
herbs. As she was herself ill and barren, she would offer sacrifices to her
forefathers and ancestors. This was what she was told to do by her witches.
Subsequently, she had three children. Now, to become a witch oneself, you have
to sacrifice and bring blood offerings. Magakanye started to dress with skins
because she began to develop magic capabilities, and was esteemed by those
around her. This heightened her feeling of self-importance.
Then the Lord's hand struck her. A bolt of lightning destroyed her home
and everything that she had. With all her possessions gone, she became a
pauper. It was at this time that she met Erlo, who said to her,"Perhaps the
lightning will strike you the next time, if you don’t abandon your witchcraft."
Indeed, she had already become afraid that this could happen.
At about that time Erlo was holding a tent campaign at Kingscliff.
Hundreds came for counselling, but when Magakanye heard of this, she said
scornfully,"What, me confess my sins to a white man? That will never happen!"
But her curiosity brought her to the tent, where she was struck by the
message of the Gospel. Going for counselling, she confessed all her sins before
Erlo. Then she made matters right as far as was possible, returning stolen
goods, etc.
I know all the objections arising from Europeans concerning doctrinal matters,
especially the Germans who say that this is violation of the confidential
nature of confession. This is not the case. When Zulus come to the Lord, they
publicly testify in detail, and it can certainly be repeated in a book. This
ongoing spirit of criticism is one of the reasons why God cannot reveal himself
to many white people and grant them revival. Erlo has confirmed to me that it
is very difficult to win white people for the Lord. When Zulus are saved, they
will accept these biblical truths in a simple and childlike manner, and
trustfully, without destructively relying on their reasoning. For them,
spiritual truth is a matter of the heart, not something to be reasoned through,
as whites often do.
While Erlo was counselling her, it became evident that the witch was
demon-possessed. As Erlo began to pray, the demons began to speak:"We cannot
stand it any longer - we are going back to where we came from."
After her deliverance, Magakanye returned to her husband, full of joy,
confessing Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, her husband was sympathetic towards her,
and encouraged her to walk with God, having received such a blessing. Not long
after, her husband also made his life right with the Lord.
Since her deliverance, Magakanye has a heart burning to lead others to
Jesus. Her former heathen friends, especially witches and witchdoctors with
whom she mixed, say that she has been bewitched by the whites. They are,
however, amazed about her new life and her courage to testify.
Magakanye is illiterate and not able to read the Scriptures. Yet when she
sins, she senses it in her heart and makes it right with God. As with many
illiterate Christians, she also has visions and dreams now and then. One day
she said to her son, who is able to read,"I had a vision of a man called ‘The
Word of God’. Is there such a thing in the Bible?" The son said,"Yes, in
Revelation 19:13 it is written ‘… and His name is called The Word of God.’" Her
husband and her three children are followers of Jesus. Because the children
have gone to school, they are able to read Bible passages to her.
Every day Magakanye experiences new things with God. As a supervisor in
Heino Stegen's sugar cane plantation, she has many opportunities to speak to
the workers about their salvation. Not a day passes without her speaking to
someone about Jesus and praying with them.
Once she had a vision out in the sugar cane plantation. She saw a man who
was made to be sin for mankind. In the evening she asked her son about such a
Bible passage. He read it to her,"For He has made Him to become sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2
Corinthians 5:21)
At the end of our interview, there was to be a surprise for me. Magakanye
explained that she was blessed by my ministry, and she wanted to give me a
thanks-offering. At first I rejected it, saying that I greatly respected her
goodwill. I do not accept any money on the mission fields, but rather bring offerings
to where the work is done. But she insisted that I accept her thanks-offering.
She gave me fifteen rand, a handsome amount for a Zulu. Her companion added
another ten rand. I was touched by this offering, which remained in South
Africa, and thanked them both heartily:"After eight or nine African tours,
this is the first time that I have received a missionary gift from black
Africans. It means far more to me than its mere monetary value."
5. The Anglican Priest
A priest had become ill, and his wife had for years suffered from a
serious internal complaint. In one of the services at Kranskop she accepted
Christ, and after being prayed for, was completely healed.
She then asked Martin Stegen to speak to her husband. Martin, a layman,
explained the way of salvation to the priest, and advised him to make his life
right with God. This Anglican was honest, confessed his sins and accepted Jesus
Christ as his personal Saviour. Soon after this his health improved.
A chain reaction followed among the members of his family. The priest's
daughter, who lived in Durban, had been a witch before she got converted. She
was now a living Christian example to her heathen husband. Even the children
turned to the Lord because of her exemplary life as a mother and through the
ministry of the team.
If the judgment of God goes down to the third and fourth generations, how
much more will His compassion and mercy reach many more generations?
6. The Witchdoctor in the Mortuary
In 1974, a witchdoctor was taken to the King Edward Hospital in Durban.
His medical condition deteriorated and he died. The doctors, according to their
medical assessment, also believed that he had died, and he was then taken to
the mortuary.
Later, as a nurse came by, she noticed that the deceased moved. She
hurried to the doctor and reported the incident.
The witchdoctor, now having regained consciousness, asked to be
discharged from hospital in order to settle important things at home. Seriously
ill, he went home to his loved ones, where he reported what he had experienced
between life and death. He said,"God has spoken to me and revealed all my
sins. He showed me that I am eternally lost if I die in my sins. The Lord told
me to make my life right, and He also showed me a man who could point out the
way of salvation to me." This confession had a great impact on his family.
The question now was: how was he to find the man whom the Lord had revealed to
him.
When the Lord plans a man's salvation, He will not miss out on anything, however
impossible it may seem.
In the witchdoctor's neighbourhood there was a shop. The owner had been a
drunkard. He had wasted his money, which he had inherited from his wealthy
father, in less than two years, on alcohol and prostitutes. The business he ran
was bankrupt, his health was ruined, and his kidneys failed. His legs were so
swollen that they actually burst. This was the end of the line, both for his
health and his business. After this, he was brought to KwaSizabantu, where he
confessed his sins, repented and was healed, by God's grace. He restarted his
business and was successful, with the blessing of the Lord.
God used this shopkeeper to help this desperately ill witchdoctor. When
he heard of the witchdoctor's vision, and that he was hovering between life and
death, he said to him,"I will take you to the man you have seen in your vision
- he lives at KwaSizabantu." The Christian shopkeeper then drove the
witchdoctor the 144 kilometres to KwaSizabantu. Seeing Erlo, the witchdoctor
cried out,"This is the man that I saw in my vision - he will show me God's
salvation." He confessed all his more serious sins, and accepted Jesus as Lord
and Saviour.
That night the witchdoctor slept soundly. The next morning he again came
to Erlo and asked,"Can I confess again? More sins have been revealed to me."
He then confessed everything that he had overlooked the previous day. He said,
rejoicing,"Now I can return home and die in peace. I have experienced the One
that died on the cross for me." The saved witchdoctor went back to his family.
Shortly afterwards, news came that he had passed away peacefully. Before he
died, he had requested that his funeral be held by the man who had led him to
Jesus Christ. And that is what happened. Many former friends and witchdoctors
came to the graveside, and although many were drunk, some of them got
converted.
7. The Blood of Jesus Christ
A leading witch, who had many other witches under her influence, brought
sacrifices to her ancestral spirits. In return, the spirits would, it seems,
give them extraordinary talents. They told this witch,"Go down to the river to
get water, there we will equip you accordingly," which she did. Down at the
river she received supernatural abilities. She had the ability of clairvoyance,
to see and hear over large distances. When, for instance, people had lost a
goat, they would receive exact information as to where to find their animal.
Before a question was asked, she already knew the answer.
This witch was so successful that she didn’t need any magic formula - it
was as if she had direct contact to the demons. She declared openly that she
had contact with three different demons.
One of them was Dlosi, the spirit of her deceased father; another demon
was Ndegi, which spoke out of her chest; and the third was the spirit Ndawo.
Mostly she received crucial information from the spirit Dlosi, which ruled over
the other spirits. There was also the spirit Izizwe, also known as the spirit
of the people, who would enable possessed people to speak in different
languages.
But God was after this heavily possessed woman. In her old age she had a
dream in which she was told,"Go to a place where a tent is pitched. There you
will be told what to do."
She found the tent, and the evangelist Erlo was inside. She went to him
and asked, "What must I do?"
Erlo's answer was, "You have to separate yourself from these
spirits. You must come to Jesus and accept Him as your Saviour." The
moment she heard this advice she began to scream hysterically. A fierce
struggle followed.
Finally, the witch said,"I cannot separate myself from these spirits - I
will be killed instantly." Erlo replied,"As long as you don’t separate
yourself from these spirits, I cannot pray for you."
The disappointed woman left the tent, but the Lord didn’t let her go.
Wherever she went, she saw blood. She couldn’t understand and asked others,"Do
you also see blood?" They said they didn’t. But she was unable to get rid of
this vision that she saw day and night - everywhere there was blood!
She became so frightened that she went to Erlo and said,"I’m ready to
let the spirits go, and to become a Christian."
The pastor said to her,"The blood that you see everywhere is the blood
of Christ, shed for all our sins." She then confessed all her terrible sins, and
all her witchcraft articles were burned. The Lord Jesus Christ was victor over
all the evil powers.
1 John 1:7 says,"The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from
all sin."
8. A Pastor and yet a Witchdoctor
There are many nominal Christians who are spiritually blind, and who
expose themselves to evil spirits. This was the case with an Anglican priest,
who was at the same time a witchdoctor. Although his father had also been a
minister of the Anglican Church, he had absolutely no spiritual insight.
His daughter continued with ancestral traditions, getting rid of her
normal clothing and wearing heathen attire. She also became a witch as well as
a spiritistic medium. The spirits of the ancestors and Shaka's spirit spoke to
her: "Give us access, allow us to enter, and we shall heal you." She had
been ill for many years.
She accepted this offer and brought sacrifices to the spirits. In turn,
these spirits also troubled her sexually - this is the phenomenon of the
"incubi" and the "succubae", which are discussed in my book Christian Counseling and Occultism (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids,
MI, USA, www.kregel.com). For eight long years she was terribly tormented by
these spirits, who failed to keep their word about healing her.
This witch had neither a marital nor an intimate relationship with her
husband, which is not unusual among Zulu witches. Such witches often allow
their husbands to have concubines, unless the spirits permit them to live in a
normal marital relationship. In this case, however, the husband refused to have
a concubine.
One day she heard of another witch who had obtained deliverance at KwaSizabantu
through Erlo's mission work. This lady then arranged a meeting with Erlo
in Johannesburg, and he showed her the way of salvation. She then confessed
everything and destroyed all her witchcraft utensils. From that day on she was
free, and her married life changed completely as a result of her conversion.
Afterwards, they were blessed with five children.
9. A Night-Club Dancer and a Witch
At the night club where this dancer performed, the patrons were sophisticated. Because of her attractive and well-trained
body, she performed excellently. Her husband was a highly respected government official.
Soon after her marriage she became physically and mentally ill. For a
period of three years she would dream of serpents and rivers, bathing with
unknown children and snakes. In her desperate situation she sought help from
people who could pray. She visited different congregations, but found no help.
For a short period of time she joined a group which practises ancestral
worship, but she received no help there either! She then sought out various
witchdoctors, but without success. Last of all she got involved with the spiritists.
While among the spiritists, her snake dreams were
interpreted. She was told that this was a precious gift from her grandmother,
and that she was predestined to be a fortune-teller. Then she was encouraged to
develop these abilities and to attend the Umlasi school for witches.
The young woman accepted this advice. When she was admitted to the school
for witches, she was initiated by having a spear laid on her head and then she
was clothed in a leopard skin. These were symbols of the gifts she had received
from the ancestral spirits. During her studies she made little progress. Other
classmates quickly finished in one or two years, developing their mediumistic
capabilities and then leaving the school as fully-trained fortune-tellers. She
needed seven years of study.
During her training she made an interesting discovery - her
eight-year-old daughter seemed to have occult capabilities. For a period of
three days this child was in a spiritistic trance. When she came to herself,
she spoke in foreign tongues which nobody understood. Apart from these
extraordinary happenings, she had the ability of a clairvoyant and a fortune-teller.
She was able to reveal hidden things, and had knowledge that a child her age
could never have.
During this period, as the child developed to be a successful clairvoyant
and fortune-teller, her brother lost the ability to speak. The sister's
explanation was that a great spirit had taken hold of him. According to
Christian insight, both children had been possessed by evil spirits - the girl by an
unclean spirit of fortune-telling (see Acts 16:16-18), and the boy by a spirit
of deafness and muteness (see Mark 9:25).
The school of witches attended by this young woman had a
combination of ancestral worship and spiritism. Some Old Testament
customs were even practised in this occult community. Sacrifices were offered
and confession of sins required. If the pupil was able to offer a cow, great
power from the spirits was poured into him. The more blood was shed, the more
occult authority obtained.
In other schools of witches, no sins were confessed, but items of
witchcraft were used. Here at the Umlasi school, beer was brewed and incense burnt. While burning incense they would
speak to the spirits of the dead.
The senior teacher of the Umlasi school for
witches died after seven years. After his death he appeared to the young woman
in a dream, telling her,"The reason for your not making progress is because
you have not confessed everything. You are hiding a sin." Convicted, this
unsuccessful pupil went to her husband and confessed that he wasn’t the father
of her first child. He hadn’t known this. Nevertheless, he forgave her, but
demanded that she didn’t inform the child that he had a different father.
With this, the spirits’ demands were fulfilled, and the hidden sin
revealed. Nevertheless, as it so often happens, the spirits didn’t keep their
promise. The young woman found no peace. Again she called on the spirits, which
in turn demanded another cow as an offering to purify her and her family. This
happened over and over again, until she didn’t have any more cows. The spirits,
however, let her know that she was still to become a witch.
Now and then the miserable woman would go to a church, seeking to attain
rest and peace. But she could not sit through any services, because she would
fall unconscious as soon as she heard Christian songs or prayers.
I have often encountered such situations, where people under spiritistic
influences fall unconscious or into a trance as soon as they encounter godly,
spiritual things.
But God had a plan to help this woman, who had no peace. On one of these
occasions, after a service in which she lost consciousness, she met some people
who knew and told her about KwaSizabantu. She went there, met Erlo, confessed
her sins and then publicly burned her witchcraft items. She then found peace
and deliverance through Jesus Christ. Later she went to many people, putting
right many things that were wrong.
Further miracles took place. Her daughter was delivered from her slavery
to the occult, and her son began to speak again. In this way, Christ brought a
great victory to this afflicted family.
10. The Symbol of the Snake
Throughout history, for thousands of years, witchcraft has always been
connected to the symbol of the snake. Yet the Rod of Aesculapius has nothing to
do with witchcraft or sorcery. A thousand years before Christ, a famous
physician in Greece called Aesculapius used methods of treatment
rediscovered in the 19th century. He used bee and snake poison to treat
rheumatism. For this he kept snakes in stone pits and used their venom.
Many pharmaceutical discoveries
were made by him, and this was a reason why he was regarded as a god of medical science
at that time. His trademark, the snake on a rod, is still used in Europe as a sign for medicine outside of pharmacies and
doctors’ consulting rooms.
We find the symbol of the snake in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were
seduced by Satan in the form of a serpent. It is also known that the Egyptians
performed magic using the snake (Ex. 7:10-12). In the Bible (2 Kings 18:4), we
find the Israelites burning incense to the copper snake called Nehustan. Moses
had used this snake as a sign of deliverance (Num. 21:8), but 600 years later
the people of Israel were using it as an idol in witchcraft. Snake rituals are
found in every century. One of the most influential was the Ophite sect, which combined
heathen philosophy with Christianity. Snake rituals are still known among many
heathen tribes, such as in Liberia, where I met a group known as the Cobra
cult.
Witches often have dreams and visions of snakes.
After a long time of illness and losing weight, a Zulu lady was
eventually unable to get up any more. This, to the Zulus, meant that she had to
become a witch. During the second stage of their preparation such women dream
of snakes and water, as has already been mentioned. This woman dreamed of deep
water from which she emerged with a snake in her hand. After this, she dreamt
that a white man came towards her, laid his hand upon her and warned her,
"These are the powers of darkness. They cannot help you - you must seek help
from Jesus." The next day she received a visit from someone who was a complete
stranger to her. The stranger told her,"There is a place where people receive
help. You can also find help there." The distressed woman had never heard of
such a place before, but somehow she got in touch with one of Erlo's
co-workers, who arranged for her to be brought to Claridge, where a service was
to be held on the following Sunday. She knew and spoke no English. Erlo conducted
the service that morning in English.
She then declared,"This is the man I saw in my dream. I also heard his
sermon in my dream." After the service she came to Erlo for counselling. Now
Erlo speaks four languages fluently: English, Afrikaans, German and Zulu. It
was the first time she had attended a Christian meeting. She confessed her sins
and surrendered her life to Jesus Christ, and was healed. Up to this day, she
is a living testimony to the Lord.
11. Examples out of a Witchdoctor's Workshop
A certain witchdoctor had fourteen wives. His son, who had been ill, had
got converted and had recovered. With Martin Stegen, this son visited his
father. They met a partially paralyzed man on the premises, who was seeking
help from the witchdoctor. Martin spoke to this man about the Lord's work at KwaSizabantu.
The lame man responded joyfully,"That's where I want to go." At KwaSizabantu
he received partial help. Now the previously-mentioned witchdoctor was a mighty
man, having power even over some forces of nature. He was able, for instance,
to even kindle a fire by witchcraft. However, these things did not profit him.
He died a poor man.
One often sees this. Witches, magicians and witchdoctors make a lot of
money and become wealthy. But it is easy come, easy go! What the devil brings
in for them, he just as easily takes it away again. At the end of his life, a
witchdoctor is a cheated and disillusioned person.
A certain witchdoctor was assigned to eliminate a woman by means of
magic. Indeed, the woman became very ill. But because she had heard of KwaSizabantu,
a place for spiritual help, she went there. She was prayed for and the Lord
healed her. After she had returned home, the witchdoctor became ill, and
admitted,"I wanted to kill this woman, but the people who have prayed for her
are stronger than I am." Before he died, he said,"Burn all my witchcraft
items. I would love to go to KwaSizabantu to receive help as well.’ Sadly,
death overtook him before he got so far.
When a magical attack by a witchdoctor is warded off by prayer, it often
happens that the attack strikes back at the witchdoctor. I
have more examples of this nature.
The dreaded evil of witchcraft among the black people of Africa is
practically out of control. They are born with it and it is part of their lives.
The ones choosing active witchcraft often turn out to develop strong occult
capabilities and powers. They can even murder over long distances with black
magic, and find hidden things.
A lot of skulduggery, deceit and meaningless superstition exist. For
instance, whenever someone falls ill, the witchdoctor insists that this is
caused by some other person. Innocent people come under suspicion and endless
disputes and conflicts follow. Blood feuds and vengeance then occur, dragging
on from generation to generation, mostly beginning with groundless suspicion.
One can understand why Erlo sometimes says to believers, "Suspicion is
sin." Because of such false accusations, many witchdoctors have blood on
their hands.
Here is an example of suspicion: A man's house had caught fire and burnt
down. The aggrieved man then enquired of the witchdoctor,"Who has done this?"
The answer was,"Your neighbour." He was then given witchcraft medicine to
expel his neighbour. The person under suspicion was eventually not able to stay
any longer, and sought a new place to live.
After five or six years, Erlo held an evangelistic campaign at that
location. The daughter of the man whose house had been burnt down confessed
that she had set fire to the house in order to take revenge on her father. The
witchdoctor had brought an innocent man under suspicion, thereby chasing him
away from house and home.
The Christians call suspicion the gospel of the devil.
A witchdoctor from Nqutu was very handicapped by partial paralysis and
blindness. These handicaps made him receptive to the Gospel. As Martin Stegen
preached the Gospel, his heart was warmed, so that he gradually became ready to
destroy all fetishes and charms. He filled two sacks with his witchcraft
paraphernalia, and had them brought to the river. He threw one of the sacks
into the river, but was suddenly struck by the thought,"These items ought to
be burned." So he enquired at KwaSizabantu if the second sack could be taken
there. After receiving permission, he arranged a trip for himself and his sack.
At KwaSizabantu, the place where God continues to work, he went for spiritual
counselling. After being prayed for, he was healed, so that he was able to walk
and see again.
His second sack was burned on April 4th 1976 at KwaSizabantu.
I was there personally and took some photos.
12. Demonic Attacks
A believer who lived an exemplary life came to KwaSizabantu. He seemed to
be in a state of depression and confusion, as if strange powers had taken hold
of him. Just by the way, this brings up the question as to whether believers
can be possessed by an evil spirit. However, let us hear the whole story.
In the first week at KwaSizabantu he was often prayed for, though without
any significant change. During the second week, the attacks seemed to move to
his face, so that the muscles in his face tensed and distorted his expression.
His face became so swollen it looked as if it had been beaten by fists. But
with this change his mind became clear again.
The next thing was that his mouth seemed to be forced open. This third
attack was so painful that he couldn’t hold back the tears. He couldn’t close
his mouth at all, even with external help. His jaw was as if it was tightly held
in a vice. When it was possible on one occasion to press his mouth shut using extra
force, then he couldn’t open it and had atrocious pain. There was the risk of
injuring him, causing him to bite his tongue, or his lips or the inside of his
cheeks. Once his mouth was closed, it wouldn’t open, so there was no way for
him to eat. As soon as he was prayed for, however, this terrible spasm relaxed.
After a few days, this spasm moved downwards towards his throat. His
voice box was affected, so that he was unable to speak. He lost his voice. It
was even hard to understand or to make out what he was whispering. His neck and
veins started to swell.
After a couple of days the attack moved from his neck to his heart. The
heart started beating irregularly, as if it would stop altogether. Then he
started beating his chest as if to reactivate his heart.
After the heart his lungs were affected, so that he almost choked. All
doors and windows had to be opened to get enough air. He seemed to be
suffocating.
Then his spine seemed to be bent backwards, as if it would break. He
would fall backwards onto his head and it was impossible to bend his spine back
again. After several minutes the situation normalized again.
Now the attacks were so severe and dangerous that it wasn’t possible to
allow this man to be alone - there were always two people with him.
The believer who had to undergo all this was a great help in this battle.
He would examine his life for unconfessed sin as the cause, and there
was a great desire that all works of darkness came to the light. He would guard
his heart with prayer and supplication, and take care that nothing came between
him and the Lord. There was always good co-operation with Erlo. This battle
lasted for three weeks, until he was completely free.
It is clear that the Lord's blessing is upon this brother. He is a man
known for his walk with the Lord.
This account is exactly as I received it from Erlo, although there may be
some differences due to translation. Now because of my considerable
experience in such matters, I would like to comment on this case.
If a psychiatrist got hold of such a report, he would probably consider
these symptoms to be some involuntarily, psychologically caused manifestations
of hysteria. This is completely wrong. Anyone who lacks experience in occult
oppressions cannot judge this situation correctly.
This wasn’t a mental disorder, but an oppression, or, as mentioned in the
heading, a demonic attack.
These attacks occur in families where parents or grandparents have lived
in active ancestral worship, or where they have passed on occult powers to
their children. However, these attacks only occur when the recipients of such
successive powers denounce them and follow Christ.
We find almost all of these points in the case of this brother who had
suffered such frightful attacks. His grandfather was an active witchdoctor who
had committed a great deal of evil. The grandson was a believing Christian who
had rejected these inherited magical powers. There are many more matters along
these lines which could be mentioned.
13. The Death Spell
This chapter partially explains the demonic attacks seen in the previous
chapter. The witchdoctor in the following account was the grandfather of the
believer about whom we read in the previous chapter.
This witchdoctor had four wives. One day there was a family quarrel - two
on each side - about a deceased twenty-two-year-old daughter. Now among the
heathen there is no such thing as a natural death. In every case there is
somebody to blame. This also relates to what we previously mentioned regarding
suspicion.
After her death a witch was asked,"Who is to blame? Who has caused this
death?"
The witch answered,"I suspect a mthakathi ‘on the other side’." A mthakathi is someone who murders through witchcraft.
This was an unfounded suspicion with devilish motives. Among the
women under suspicion ‘on the other side’ was a Christian. Many witches and witchdoctors
are inclined to make a scapegoat of Christians.
The man then called for a very famous witchdoctor from another African
tribe to come. This man was so powerful that he had power over natural forces.
In Tibet he would have been regarded as a Llama who had reached the third
degree. Yogis who have become masters of the third degree also gain certain
control over natural forces.
This powerful witchdoctor now had to determine who the person was who had
caused the death spell. First of all, he staged a fearful storm with
thunderclouds, lightning and hail - a storm that caused great damage, even
uprooting trees.
The Christian woman among those under suspicion knelt in her hut with her
daughter beside her. She wept and called to God, "If this must be my last
hour - if this is Your will that I die, then I’m ready. Just one thing I pray,
Lord - please spare my small child. She's all I have."
At the same moment, a woman on the opposing side, the side which had
called the witchdoctor, was putting wood onto the fire. Suddenly a bolt of
lightning struck her. It was as if someone had hit her head with a hammer. She
screamed, "Stop all this, otherwise we ourselves will perish."
Here we have a case of something already mentioned in this book, that a
magical attack, spiritually deflected, strikes back at those who have initiated
it.
After the storm the father went to the mother of the child to see if they
were both still alive. He was surprised that the spell hadn’t worked. Nevertheless,
he separated himself from both of the women and their children. He said,"I
don’t want to have anything more to do with you. I will neither care for you,
nor will I put my foot into your huts again. Go away!"
He removed every piece of furniture and sent them away empty-handed, although
the daughter's mother pleaded with him,"Please forgive me for all the things
I’ve done wrong. Can’t we be reconciled?" He rejected it, and remained as hard
as a rock,"No, my decision is made!"
Two years later, this man became seriously ill and had to be brought to
hospital. As he was lying awake on his bed, he had a vision. He saw the two
women with their children whom he had sent away. Then a voice said to him,
"These people are innocent. You have done great wrong in driving them away. Because
of this you have no place in heaven."
As he lay in hospital, his future appeared bleak and fearful to him. He
related this incident to one of the relatives who visited him, and asked him to
slaughter a beast for a large reconciliation meal. Those expelled were to be
brought back. He pleaded earnestly,"Please be reconciled with me and with one
another."
In all these fearful circumstances, the Lord had kept His hands over the
mother and small child, and the child is an adult today, in full-time service
with Erlo's team. Again, it wasn’t the devil, but God who had the final say.
14. Liberated from a Poltergeist
Poltergeists or ghosts are seen on many continents, but such sightings
are often judged differently. Rationalists, with their limited field of vision,
ridicule such happenings as being unreal. Others regard it all as a joke.
Non-Christian psychiatrists see the source of such occurrences as only being in
the mind of mentally disturbed people, having no real existence in the world.
All these explanations have little to do with such phenomena. There is no doubt
that such spirits actually do exist objectively, and are bound to persons and
places, as well as in the deluded ideas of paranoid people.
Here is an example from Erlo's experience. A Zulu woman by the name of
Nontshaka arrived in a miserable and confused state at Mapumulo, and told the
following story:
Her neighbour had died.
From that time on, she continually reappeared, declaring herself to be
the Holy Spirit. Nontshaka was terrified, and brought her children into her
room, so that they wouldn’t be alone. Along with this one, other ghosts
appeared, and as a result Nontshaka even lost her speech. A glowing coal, which
was also seen by the children, floated all around in the rooms of the house.
Nontshaka became so haunted she couldn’t sleep in her house any more. So
she stayed overnight at friends’ and relatives’, but the ghost followed her
there. Even the hosts of the houses where she stayed at night observed the same
things.
There was no doubt, this was a ghost that was personal and real. In the
end, no one dared to have Nontshaka in their homes because, as they would say,
"You bring us bad luck and death. Because of you we cannot sleep any more."
So she had to return to her own house again. At night the ghost would not
allow her any rest. It would enter her room through locked doors, open
cupboards and even remove articles that Nontshaka had previously bought from
her deceased neighbour. These articles were in some way a bridge of contact
between the ghost and the haunted lady. Articles sold by witchdoctors and
demon-possessed people cause this type of"communication", and are a basis of
contact or bond between purchaser and vendor, in this case a poltergeist or
ghost. [The word poltergeist is taken from German and means ‘a spirit
that knocks’].
In her dilemma, Nontshaka was advised to go to see Erlo at Mapumulo. In
Mapumulo, a Zulu believer had offered his house to be used for accommodation.
Nontshaka stayed overnight in this house with many others. The next morning,
all those that had been in the house said,"All night there was a terrible
noise in this house. On top of that, there were glowing coals floating around
in all the rooms. We couldn’t sleep!"
The next day Erlo asked his team who would be prepared to sleep the next
night with this woman. Two Zulu women co-workers volunteered. The next night
they put the haunted woman between themselves and prayed earnestly for God's
protection. Nothing happened! This burdened woman explained that this was the
first night that she could sleep right through the night without being haunted
by the poltergeist. The glowing coal didn’t appear either. She went for
spiritual counselling, was prayed for and is totally liberated. Never again was
she haunted.
This is a fulfilment of God's Word in 1 John 3:8,"…For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of
the devil."
15. The Cleansing of a Haunted House
One day a believing Christian woman sent for Erlo. The house where she and
her family lived was haunted by ghosts. Many families that had lived in this
house previously had experienced that, very soon after moving in, a family
member would die. The deceased person was then seen in a ghostly appearance by
all the residents. Erlo was then told of many baffling and frightening events
that had occurred.
The Christian woman reported the following: As the housemaid was cleaning
the corridor, behind her, where everything had already been cleaned, a brown
piece of paper was lying on the floor. Her mistress initially wanted to
reprimand her, but bent down to pick the paper up. Before she got to it, the
paper flew up, without any gust of wind, and vanished in the balcony. Another
time this lady also saw a monster in the house.
However, the actual reason why Erlo was called was because something
strange had occurred the night before. Before the son went to bed, he drank out
of a water jug. He placed the jug back on the table which was covered by a
white tablecloth. When the family got up the next morning, the remaining water
in the jug had turned to blood. The edge of the jug also had bloodstains. On
the tablecloth there were three drops of blood, which couldn’t have dripped
from the jug. One was to the right, one to the left and one in front of the
jug.
All the doors and windows were checked to make sure that nobody had
entered that way. Everything was still securely locked. The police were also
unable to discover from where this blood had originated.
This written report was given to me by Erlo. There he mentioned, quoting
Colossians 2:15,"We prayed to the One who disarmed powers and authorities and
made a public show of them, and triumphed over them.’ He won the battle over
them by dying on the cross." The Lord revealed His victory here, too. From that
very moment, as Jesus Christ took over protection of that home, no ghostly
appearances were ever seen again.
Paul writes to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 15:57,"But thanks be to God! He
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
16. The Deliverance of a Minister's Daughter
The following written account was given to me by Bill Larkan, in whose
house I stayed. The incident he recounts occurred while I was travelling with
Erlo in KwaZulu-Natal.
Pastor H. from the town of L. in KwaZulu-Natal had a daughter who was in
her tenth year at school, and she was demon-possessed. When she had an attack,
no one could hold her, and she was so violent that she would bite her lips and
her tongue to shreds. Her father had already called many men of faith to pray
for her, but without any improvement.
At this time there was a tent campaign at Hammersdale. The pastor, who
was in that mission, took his daughter along to the meetings and once again
prayer was offered for this possessed girl. However, her condition did not
improve. Nevertheless, the evangelist conducting the tent campaign did not
give up. He said, "Leave your daughter with us! She can go to school from
here and we'll pray for her daily." Her father agreed and so the girl
stayed at Hammersdale.
After some time, the pastor received a phone call from Hammersdale. The
evangelist reported,"Your daughter had many demons, of which many have left
through prayer. There is, however, one remaining, adamantly refusing to leave.
Because the crusade tent is to be moved to another city, we cannot leave your
daughter behind alone. Please do come and pick her up."
The disappointed pastor mentioned to his wife,"I have heard so much
about KwaSizabantu - let me take her there." When the girl's father arrived in
Hammersdale to pick her up, things seemed to go well. She said,"I feel so
well, let me attend school today." Her father agreed and waited in the
neighbourhood, reading the Bible. Suddenly he heard a car stopping nearby. A
teacher had brought the screaming and violent girl; it seemed as if all the
demons had repossessed this girl. She was bleeding, her tongue and lips bitten
again. A strong fellow student had come with the teacher to restrain the
struggling girl.
Pastor H. now decided that he would not take his daughter back to L. but
would drive her straight to KwaSizabantu. He asked the young student to accompany
him because he would not have been able to safely steer the car and restrain
the uncontrollable girl at the same time. At KwaSizabantu they were told that
Erlo was down at Tugela Ferry. Impulsively, he decided to leave his daughter at
KwaSizabantu and returned to L.
After several weeks, the pastor received news that he could take his
daughter back home. He said to his wife, "I want to go myself to see how
she is doing!" At KwaSizabantu he met Erlo, who he asked how his daughter
was doing. Erlo replied with a smile, "Ask your daughter yourself!"
It was an unforgettable experience for this pastor to see his daughter
again. She said, "Oh, father, I have got rid of all my burdens and sins. I
have confessed them and put in order as much as possible." Both father and
daughter returned home. She returned to school, and never again did she
relapse.
Back at home this girl continued her confession, making many things right
with her parents. It seemed impossible to the parents that a child was able to
sin so grievously.
Pastor H. handed this account to Bill Larkan at a funeral and added,
"There's such a wonderful change in my daughter. She has never been so
obedient or as good as she is now. What a wonderful and glorious God we have -
He has led us in a wonderful way."
Ever since, this minister and his wife are close friends of Erlo's. They
pray that the Lord continues to equip him in the ministry in God's Kingdom.
THE LORD WHO RAISES FROM THE DEAD
The following chapter is highly controversial. Are people still raised
from the dead in this day and age? Let us always remind ourselves - spiritual
resurrections are definitely more important than physical ones. In the Gospel
of Luke, 15:24, we read"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found..." The reality of conversion, a person being born
again, the spiritual resurrection and the new creation, are so much more
important today than the resurrection of the body.
Nevertheless, the question isn’t answered yet - do resurrections still
occur today or not? In the Gospel of John, 14:12, it is written,"Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he
do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my
Father." This Word remains firm as a rock, regardless how critics reinterpret
the matter.
In church and mission history there are examples of people who have
passed away and come back to life, after being prayed for. This only applies to
people that haven’t been buried. On the other hand, there are incidents where
there is no medical evidence. An ordinary layman cannot distinguish
between one who is apparently dead in a so-called cataleptic fit, and one who
is dead indeed. Nevertheless, there are a few examples:
We learn this about John Knox, the Scottish reformer (1505-1572): Knox
had a friend, a young aristocrat, who actively supported the evangelical cause.
This young man died and left an empty place which could not be filled. Knox was
very distraught over this loss; for thirty-six hours he knelt beside the
corpse lying in state, and begged the Lord to give him back
again. After this long prayerful vigil, life came back into the corpse. For
most theological university lecturers this is an embarrassing matter, because
they simply cannot believe it. Is then anything impossible for the Lord? Can
the Creator of all life not restore life back to the dead?
Years ago, I had the opportunity of visiting Father Daniel in
Madras, mentioned in the German book Jesus auf allen Kontinenten (Jesus
on all Continents). During the course of the spiritual work done by Father
Daniel and his son, Joe, a dead girl was revived. When Joshua Daniel reported
this during a retreat in Hoechst (Germany), he was regarded as a Pentecostal
fanatic. But the question is, do you label someone as a Pentecostal fanatic
because he trusts God in all things, and takes Him at His Word? In that case,
it is not a title of shame, but of honour. I might mention, by the way, that in
my long life of following Jesus, He has taught me not to give credence to
religious labels.
There are Pentecostals inspired by the Holy Spirit and others who are
inspired by the devil. The same applies to Lutherans, Methodists, Calvinists,
Anglicans, Presbyterians and any other Church denominations. At the gates of
eternity, no Church membership counts, but the state of our hearts before God.
Neither baptism nor financial contributions to the Church or any social
certificate procures entrance into the Kingdom of God, but only rebirth through
the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3)
Now let us consider another mission field. Some years ago I visited the
"Mission Biblique" at the Ivory Coast. The missionary, Sahli, told me of his
experiences among the Gueré tribe. Some of these are recorded in my book, Name
uber alle Namen, Jesus (Name above all
Names, Jesus) (Bibel- und Schriftenmission Dr Kurt E. Koch,
www.schriftenmission.de). Among the Gueré
tribe, Christians were persecuted and killed. A Christian who had died there
was revived after being prayed for by the believers.
Reference may also be made to the island of Timor, where there has been a
deep and far-reaching revival since 1965. In my book, The
Wine of God, I have also reported on the issue of the raising of the
dead, as well as in the book Uns, Herr, wirst du Frieden schaffen (To
us, Lord, You will give peace). A two-year-old girl died in a hospital
and was returned to her parents for burial. The parents searched and sent for a
woman from the revival area, who came at last - but two days late. The little
corpse was already beginning to show signs of decomposition in the tropical
heat. Nevertheless, the Lord answered the prayer of the messenger and raised
the child. This report is from a European missionary, who has never made this
public before for fear of criticism.
The following are three examples which indicate a condition between life
and death.
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4,"I know a
man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether
it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows. And I
know that this man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know,
but God knows - was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things,
things that man is not permitted to tell."
Here is an example that will again elicit much criticism among nominal
Christians and rationalists.
When I was evangelizing in Chicago, I heard of Dr Otto Hunt, a
solicitor in this cosmopolitan city. He is a believer and serves as treasurer
of the Pacific Garden Mission, which works among the destitute, alcoholics and
drug addicts of the city. Here I refer to Lee Bryant's book, Come fill the
Cup.
At the age of sixty-three, Dr Hunt ended up in hospital with an
incurable disease. He had already lost so much blood that the doctors were not
even taking the trouble to help him. Eventually, he was simply covered with
a white sheet and sent to the mortuary.
Hunt himself had a remarkable experience. It was as if his spirit or soul
had withdrawn from his body and ascended. He then heard the wonderful singing
of angels, and it was clear to him that he was in fact departing from this
world. He prayed to the Lord Jesus and said,"Lord, I have found no successor.
What will happen to my practice?" The Lord answered:"All right, I consent. I
will send you back."
The nurse who at that moment was passing through the room saw the
presumably dead person moving under the sheet. He was then re-examined. After
regaining full consciousness, he soon recovered.
The positive re-entry of Dr Hunt into life is clear as stated in the
following: He married for the first time, to a thirty-five-year-old German lady,
and at the age of seventy became a father! The Lord thus granted this man a
completely new life. During my time in Chicago, Dr Hunt was still involved in
his work for the mission.
After this introduction and spiritual preparation, we may consider the
history of Lydia Thofozi, whom I know well - in fact, her photo appears in this
book.
Lydia is one of Erlo's co-workers. She found Jesus in
1968. Since that time her spiritual life has been marked
by steady spiritual progress. When I met her in 1974, she had turned
twenty-four. A year previously, in 1973, she had become seriously ill.
The first doctors who were consulted treated her for a type of hepatitis infection. Her condition, however, noticeably deteriorated. A second reputable
physician was then consulted, who diagnosed a form of bilharzia. A third
doctor, however, diagnosed a cardiac failure and hospitalized
her.
Lydia herself, however, asked to be taken back to the"faith and prayer
hospital" at KwaSizabantu. She was taken back to Kranskop, where prayer
meetings were being held. Her condition worsened, so that she could only
receive food in liquid form. Shortly before she died, she vomited everything
she had drunk, even milk. Many prayers were said for her, and her friends took
turns at night to watch at her side, using the night for prayer.
During the day, the team members got together in prayer fellowship. But
they couldn’t arrest the course of her illness. Lydia's fingernails turned blue and a deathly pallor crept across her face. When they
felt her pulse, there was nothing. Her face and hands were cold. Lydia had
passed away.
The co-workers gathered in the room of the now deceased, in deep sorrow
and prayer,"Lord, she was such a help to us. How are things to continue now?"
What did Lydia experience? She saw the Lord Jesus with arms outstretched
towards her; she was in a very wonderful place. Was it paradise? Many believers
were present there, all arrayed in white, and in complete harmony and wonderful
unity with the Lord. Nothing hidden, no questions, everything was plainly
revealed. Jesus was the Light penetrating and illuminating everything.
Jesus then said to Lydia,"I will send you back to earth." Lydia had no
feeling of objection, although she would have preferred to stay with the Lord.
She only requested,"Lord, may nothing ever come between You and me."
In the meantime, Erlo and his co-workers withdrew after hours of prayer
and weeping. Just one friend remained.
After their time of prayer, the co-workers returned to the room where
Lydia lay. As they were praying, Lydia woke up. None of the team had prayed for
her resurrection, nor even thought about it. They had simply bowed to His will.
Lydia now was able to get up, which was not previously possible. She
related all that had happened, and then asked to eat and drink something. She
was able to keep the food down. Quickly she regained strength, and ever since
has been a testimony for the Lord Jesus. Especially her tribal people, the
Zulus, recognise her testimony. They say,"Now we know that heaven and paradise
are not only something to do with the white man's religion, but it is the truth
which applies to us as well, for Lydia is one of us."
How many unbelieving critics miss out on this glory? They are wise in
their own eyes, sitting beside the streams of living water, but unable to
drink.
THE CALLING LORD
In the Bible we find many who were called: Abraham (Genesis 12), Moses
(Exodus 3), Gideon (Judges 6), Samuel (1 Samuel 3), Amos (Amos 7), Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 1), the disciples of Jesus (Matthew 10), and many others. We cannot
mention them all here.
The Lord's calling is still heard today. All the well-known men of God
have similarly experienced God's calling. Many missionaries, evangelists and
believing ministers, at certain times and places, became aware of this call.
This wasn’t different in my life. During my high school years, I planned
to study forestry. I love the Black Forest (Germany) with its fir trees. People
that have visited me know that I have many conifers in my garden. I have
collected up to 150 different species from all over the world. This collection
marked the culmination of my career plans.
My youthful ambitions, combined with a deep love for nature, plants and
animal life, came to an abrupt end.
On the eve of my seventeenth birthday, 15th November, 1930,
the Lord cut across my career plans with a threefold experience.
My first discovery was that I was a lost sinner, justly deserving the
condemnation of hell. I trembled before God, realising that I would come to a
horrible end if He didn’t have mercy on me.
The second discovery was that Jesus Christ Himself had died on the cross
for me, a miserable sinner. It was an amazing experience to realise that Jesus
had taken away my guilt and atoned for my sin. The terror of judgment gave way
to inner peace. It was a great blessing to know my sins were forgiven, to have
assurance of salvation and to be accepted as a child of God.
Thirdly, I discovered that the Lord wanted me in His service. In a flash
it was completely clear to me that my commission was to proclaim the Gospel.
Whoever enters my study today is unavoidably confronted by a five-metre wide
banner which bears the text,"Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to
every living creature!" (Mark 16:15)
As a seventeen-year-old at that time, I did not realise to what extent
the Lord would fulfil His Word. During my twenty-two years of ministry, I
waited impatiently and had no clue what the Lord would do. Then suddenly the
doors opened worldwide. When the first of my books to be translated into
English, Between Christ and Satan, was published in the USA (new title: The
Lure of the Occult, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, USA,
www.kregel.com), I received many invitations to share the Gospel and to
lecture. About 90 churches In California, as well as others in Australia,
Eastern Asia, Africa, South America and the South Sea Islands sent invitations.
Today I look back to travel schedules in about 135 countries. Hundreds of
mission fields have been visited, where I could serve with the Gospel. I can
but marvel at what the Lord does.
How often I was unfaithful and dishonoured His name, yet He remained
faithful. I have disappointed many people, not deserving all His goodness
towards me. And yet, He has not neglected to pour out His blessings on me. How
incomprehensible is His compassion, and how steadfast His ongoing faithfulness,
as mentioned in the German song Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe (I
worship the Power of Love). For years a text has been before me,"…and they
came up and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him." (Matthew 28:9, RSV). In
many times of severe temptation and affliction I have clung to the Lord's feet,
finding peace and rest. A book was born out of this experience called Bei
Ihm (With Him) (Bibel- und Schriftenmission Dr Kurt E. Koch, www.schriftenmission.de).
I had it published under the pseudonym of Peter Distel.
I experienced what God had promised Israel, His gifts and the calling are
irrevocable. The Lord didn’t revoke my calling, although many believers did.
God's calling to labour in His Kingdom is something experienced by many Zulus.
I have already depicted other examples in this book. Here is one more:
A fifteen-year-old girl, who had made the decision to follow the Lord,
received God's calling to the mission. Her mother said that she wouldn’t allow
it, after her daughter spoke to her about it. She said she wanted her daughter
to continue her studies because of her good marks at school. But the daughter
had no peace and was unable to sleep at night. The Lord continually made it
clear that He had need of her. She shared this again with her mother, explaining
her situation. But her mother's response was,"These are only childish dreams.
You are just too lazy to finish your school studies. I will not agree to let
you go."
There is a song which expresses,"What the Lord has in mind, what He has
willed and planned, will come to pass for His council and purpose."
After this dispute with her mother, the young girl had a car accident.
During a journey, the car door suddenly flew open, and she was hurled out, but
she was not injured. Her mother did not understand that God was speaking. Again
the Lord spoke. The young girl became seriously ill. Neither prayer nor medical
aid brought any sign of improvement. On the contrary, things grew worse. At
times she lost consciousness. Her parents began to fear for her life.
Erlo's team called on the Lord, asking what He meant by this. Then the
Lord revealed Himself to them, saying that it was the mother's fault for not
allowing her daughter to obey God's calling. The mother responded to the Lord's
answer and repented in"sackcloth and ashes". She came to Erlo, fell on her
knees, and cried out three times,"Lord, I’m willing to give You my daughter.
I’m prepared that Your will be done."
At that very moment the desperately ill child regained consciousness, and
was immediately healed. Not the slightest sign of her illness remained. To this
day the girl is a blessed instrument of the Lord. Her mother rejoices that the
Lord is using her daughter.
THE LORD WHO PURIFIES
The purification of Christians is very important in the Bible. Here are
some instances:
In Ezekiel 36:25, the Lord says, "I will sprinkle clean water upon
you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your
idols."
Many Christians have certain areas of their lives which are kept from the
Lord. Whoever has a prohibition sign, such as"No admittance", loses all the
blessings prepared for him.
There are even Christians who not only post prohibition signs in their
own lives, but also in the lives of fellow Christians. They do not acknowledge
God's forgiveness in the lives of other people who have repented, and it is as
if they demand that God should ask such legalistic Christians for permission to
forgive others their sin. Let me take David as an example. God had forgiven
David, and later even said,"He is a man after My own heart." But Shimei cursed
and said;"Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel!" God said to
Peter in Acts 10:15:"Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
Legalistic Christians, however, are hard to convince, knowing everything far
better, overlooking biblical truths and explaining them away, thus making them
invalid. This they do to appear to be better off than common sinners in their
own eyes. James 2:13 says,"…because judgment without mercy will be shown to
anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
Purification is a precondition for fruitful service in the Kingdom of
God. Jesus said in John 15:2,"…every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so
that it will be even more fruitful." There is a similar message in Hebrews
9:14,"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts
that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Our purification is
often the precondition to the Lord revealing Himself and answering our prayers.
Here are some examples:
1. Cleansing Leads to the Cure of Enteritis
I received this report from Bruno Engelbrecht. When his youngest child
was three months old, she became seriously ill. The doctors diagnosed enteritis
(inflammation of the small intestine). She received treatment, but without
success. Again her father went to the doctor to get more effective medicine.
However, Bruno hadn’t asked if this was God's will. (NB: One of the attributes
of the revival among the Zulus is that the Lord should be consulted in all
decisions.)
The stronger treatment just made things worse, so the parents feared for
their daughter's life. They pleaded with the Lord, asking Him to point out if
they had sinned. The illness lasted a whole month. When the child was four months
old, her weight was just 28 grams more than when she was born.
Through prayer it dawned upon the parents that they hadn’t sought the
will of God. They humbled themselves and repented. Immediately, the Lord
intervened, and snatched the little one from the brink of death. From that
moment on, they had to feed the child every two hours, because of her appetite.
Within three days she put on 400 grams, and recovered completely. She is her
parent's sunshine and loves the Lord Jesus.
2. Cleansing Leads to the Cure of Nephritis (Kidney Inflammation)
This report is from Bruno Engelbrecht again. Let him relate it himself.
"Our second son fell ill with nephritis, and was taken to hospital. Things
improved slightly, but the high blood pressure wouldn’t normalize.
A nurse explained that they were worried about his recovery. I started
to re-examine my life carefully in the Light of God. I sorted out all the
things that the Lord revealed to me, and shared it all with my counsellor, who
was Erlo. After that we prayed together. The time was 3:45 pm. After returning
home, I visited my son to find that things had improved. The next morning I
enquired again at the hospital regarding my son's condition. The nurse let me
know that she had checked his blood pressure at about 5:00 pm, finding that
everything had normalized. A few days later he was able to leave hospital. The
remaining tests showed a complete recovery, as the doctor said,"The youngster
is completely healthy, without any lasting kidney damage."
“At about the same time, another child in our region had the same illness
in the kidneys. Months later this child was still ill. We are so grateful
towards our Lord. We praise Him for His faithfulness and love."
3. Forgiveness Causes Change in Condition
Bruno was called to visit a sick lady in hospital. She had been ill for
quite some time. The invalid knew the Gospel - she had been to the services.
She desired to be counselled spiritually, and she confessed her sins. After
some days, Bruno received a message that she had been doing better since his
pastoral visit. She mentioned to a visitor,"I didn’t know what a hindrance sins
can be in a life. Now I have seen it, after confessing my sins and having been
forgiven. A great change has taken place in my life."
4. Complications after Surgery
A nurse from Grey's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg called Erlo and asked
him to pay a visit. A European woman had had to undergo surgery, and one of her
breasts had been removed. Complications then arose - the doctors said there was
no hope of the patient surviving.
The lady didn’t know Erlo, and it wasn’t even possible for Erlo to come
immediately because of his tight work schedule.
In the meantime, a co-worker had a vision that Erlo was to visit a
European lady in hospital. In this vision Erlo had come to visit the patient,
and, as he sat beside her, she stretched her dirty leg towards Erlo's face.
This repulsive vision kept Erlo from visiting her. To him it was as if the
patient was against the Gospel. After some time the nurse called again, asking
when Erlo would finally be able to come. He shared the thought with the
co-workers, who urged him to go as quickly as possible. With mixed feelings he
then drove to Pietermaritzburg to visit the patient.
The ill lady apologized for calling him. She believed that prayer for her
health wouldn’t help. Erlo asked her,"Why not? Why do you doubt?" She related
what she had experienced with her small daughter. After two sons, she had
received a very pretty daughter, who had become seriously ill after birth. Now
this mother was a believing Christian, and she had pleaded with the Lord to
preserve her child. Her prayer wasn’t answered, and the child passed away.
From that day on, the mother had doubted whether God answers prayer. Now
and then she would speak to counsellors and ask why her daughter had had to
die. The answers she received didn’t satisfy her. One counsellor had said,"You
need to accept the passing away of your daughter as God's will."
During Erlo's visit, she asked him the same question,"Why did the Lord
not answer my prayer? Will it be of any use to pray for me now? Won’t it just
be a repeat of my previous experience?"
The patient was still clinging to life. She wasn’t ready yet to part from
her husband, her children and her friends. She said,"It is too hard to part. I
love them so much."
At first, Erlo didn’t know how to answer. If others couldn’t help, how
could he? Quietly he prayed in his heart, asking God how he was to respond.
Suddenly the words of Isaiah 59:12 came to his mind."Lord," he said,"how can
I tell her that sin is the reason?" He couldn’t forget that vision of the
outstretched dirty leg. He expected to be thrown out of the room if he
mentioned this verse. But with much trepidation, he recited the verse,"For our
transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us: for
our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; …"
The ill lady listened and then reacted immediately."That is the answer
to my questions. I even know what is between me and the Lord. Now I understand
why my prayers haven’t been answered." Without being asked, she started to
confess her sins. With this experience the vision was proved true. The patient
added that she would make restitution by letter at once.
Erlo mentioned in his report that this was actually a small matter. But
God has different measures. In the eyes of this Holy God, small things have
great importance.
Erlo prayed with the sick lady. She received forgiveness and immediate
healing. From that moment onward, things improved. The radiation treatment was
enough to destroy the cancer in her body. The personnel in the hospital were
amazed to see such changes. Not long afterwards, she was able to go home.
Six years later she arrived at KwaSizabantu with her husband, and full of
joy. She asked Erlo if it was a sin to ask the Lord to take her home. She
longed so much to be with the Lord. Erlo read the following passage to her in
Philippians 1:21-23, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If
I am to go on living in the body, it will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what
shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart
and be with Christ, which is better by far; …" She said,"That is my desire."
Six months after this visit to KwaSizabantu, the Lord called her home.
5. Discarded
Jesus said in John 15:6,"If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a
branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown
into the fire and burned." This very truth is found in the following example of
a young man. In a certain place, M.L., God's Spirit kindled a fire. There was a
young man among those attending the services. Very soon, discerning Christians
sensed that something was wrong. Somehow, there was a lack of determination to
leave the secular world behind. He would meet girls in secret, and he ended up
completely attracted to the worldly life. At times, seeing others getting to
grips with the Lord, he would say,"One doesn’t need to be too radical about
things. We need to be a bit more open to the world - there's no need to give up
everything." The pastor in charge often challenged this young man, but without
success. More and more he became a tool in the devil's hands, until he was
confronted and told either to choose repentance and follow Christ, or to stay
away from the congregation. The young man was bored with all the admonitions,
and left. Some time later, he was on a truck with three others. As they were
travelling, the truck turned over, and landed on him, squashing him to death.
The other three passengers were uninjured.
Discarded!
6. Ralph Witthöft
In the previous report we saw how a young man did not accept that he
needed to be purified, and he was discarded!
The following story tells us of a young man who allowed himself to be
purified, and he was accepted!
Ralph was called into eternity at the age of 21. His life-story is the
fulfilment of the words in Titus 2:14,"Who gave Himself for us, that He might
redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people that are His very
own, zealous of good works." Here we have a new perspective, where the Lord
prepares, cleanses, purifies and sanctifies His children for eternity.
Another experience is to be recorded in between. I had a friend by the
name of Fritz Rienecker. I had great respect for this man, who was a purified
and truly sanctified Christian. As time came for him"to bid farewell to this
life", he began to prepare himself. As he was facing eternity, this follower of
Christ was seized by a deep spirit of repentance. Over a period of months he
went through a process of self-examination, making"small" things right. He
would repent deeply and thoroughly, although he had been a disciple of Christ
for years. This was to be his last time of cleansing before parting from this
world. I was gripped by fear when I heard this. If such a brother, who lived
such an exemplary, sanctified life, was preparing himself to meet the Lord,
where was I then? Where would I be found? I felt I could not compare myself to
him.
During Ralph's two last weeks, these were the four signs of his preparation:
He knew that his time had come to go home.
He was a tremendous blessing in his surroundings.
He rectified many"minor" things.
A tremendous joy filled his heart.
These four attributes were very closely related to one another. Not one
of them can be explained by itself. All things done by Ralph during these last
weeks were a process through which he was becoming conformed to the life of
Jesus Christ.
On one occasion he called Thembi, one of the helpers, and told her,
"Thembi, live only for Jesus." She answered him,"I have no speaking gift. I’m
not able to preach the Gospel." Ralph said,"That is not what I mean. I’m
referring to Col. 3:23, where it is written, ‘And whatsoever ye do, do it
heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.' Do your daily duties with your
eyes fixed on the Lord! Do them continually with regard to the Lord Jesus."
To Patrick, a believing brother from the nearby area, he said,"Watch
yourself, my brother, that nothing remains in your life which needs to be put
right. If you are reminded of something while listening in a service, do not
leave the place without bringing the matter to the light. Don’t allow yourself
to be sidetracked by Christians leaving the service with their sins unforgiven."
He taught Victor, a lorry driver, how to get rid of air in the diesel
fuel system."If you don’t do this, you’ll fail to start the engine." Victor
then asked him,"Where are you going, Nkosana (Boss)?" Ralph answered him,"We do
not remain here on earth forever." Throughout the day he kept singing,"Bless
the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Ps.
103:1)
Days later he said to a domestic helper in Friedel Stegen's household,
"There is such a tremendous joy in my heart." When he heard the girls speaking about
worthless things, he would reprimand them, and say,"Bring me a Bible." Ralph
opened up at Psalm 23, and marked several parts in the passage which were
important to him."When I am gone, read these portions of Scripture and think
about them." One young girl asked,"Nkosana, are you leaving?" Ralph didn’t
answer. He went out under the mango trees and continued singing from Psalm 103.
Again one of the young girls approached him and said,"Nkosana, you are so
strange." Ralph answered,"There is such joy in me, and I cannot explain it to
you."
The last three days before he died he would get up at four in the
morning, and they would hear him singing and praying. Repeatedly, he would tell
the Zulu helpers,"There is such a tremendous joy in my heart." Then he asked
the helpers to clean and tidy his room."Please clean my shoes, and take all
the money out of my pockets. The coins can be given to my three small cousins.
Take my brown suit and give it to Mandla (one of Erlo's co-workers). Give my
nicest Sunday shirt to Arno (Friedel's son)." The helper girl asked in shock,
"Where are you going? What will you wear on Sunday? You’re giving you newest
shirt away." Ralph answered,"I have no time to waste." The girl was trembling.
"Nkosana, but where are you going?""Don’t ask me such a question. I’m busy
with the things of God." Then he added,"Take thirty rand and give it to my
brother Edmund. Give five rand to Victor. I cannot have debts."
The helpers were wondering what was going on with Ralph - he seemed to be
so strange. He kept on singing about the joy he had received from Jesus.
On his last day he advised one of the co-workers,"Take my torch and put
it beside Aunty Rita's bed. It will be a help to her if the light goes out due
to a power generator breakdown." He kept on singing and saying,"Let us burn
for our Lord Jesus. I repeat, live only for the Lord - be on fire for God."
They answered him,"Yebo, Nkosana" (Yes, Boss).
Towards evening he got himself ready to drive to Muden to pick up green
beans. One of the helpers, Mjolozili, a close friend of his, urged him,
"Nkosana, don’t go. Stay here today - perhaps you can go some other time."
Ralph refused, and said goodbye with the following words,"Sala kahle, Mtaka
Baba." (Farewell, stay well, my father's child).
Ralph departed, never to return again. A young man accompanied him on the
journey. As they were returning home, they came into thick mist. A truck and
trailer, travelling in front of them, was turning off into a side road. Ralph
saw the truck too late, and hit the trailer. He was killed instantly. His
passenger survived.
Erlo showed me the spot, and personally gave me this account, some of it
in written form. I have shortened it, otherwise this book would have been far too
long.
Ralph's burial turned out to be a great blessing. His life was a powerful
testimony to Jesus. He had never preached, but his whole life was a powerful
sermon. He finished his course early. People turn to the Lord right up to this
day when they read or hear of the account of his life. One could say of Ralph,
as with Paul,"But we all, as with unveiled face we see the Lord's glory
mirrored, are changed into the same likeness from one degree of glory to
another, derived as it is from the Lord's Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18)
THE WORKING LORD
It is said in the USA that Paul Tillich, a professor of theology, was the
initiator of the "God-is-dead" theology. His adherents act as if God
has given His notice of departure from His creation. They say He has become
old, that He is losing His governing control over this earth. This is nothing
new from these semi-atheists.
The exponents of the deism worldview have already been spreading this for
centuries. However, deism is itself not a child of the age of enlightenment.
Even in ancient history, as well as in the Old Testament, statements have been
made implying that God was indeed the creator of heaven and earth, but has now
retired.
In the Old Testament these views are shown up as signs of unbelief and
rebellion against God. The Scriptures say,"Then said He unto me, ‘Son of man,
hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every
man in the chambers of his imagery?’ For they say, ‘The Lord seeth us not; the
Lord hath forsaken the earth.’ He said also unto me, ‘Turn thee yet again, and
thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.’" (Ezek. 8:12-13)
In Isaiah 40:27-28, reference is again made to the same attitude,"Why
sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, ‘My way is hid from the Lord, and
my judgment is passed over from my God?’ Hast thou not known? Hast thou not
heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the
earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?"
These verses show that it is thoughtless, even blasphemous, to imply that
God has resigned from His creation and from His people.
No, the Bible has a different message altogether:
Isaiah 43:13:"I shall perform and who shall undo it?"
1 Cor. 12:6:"It is the same God which worketh all in all."
Mark 16:20:"And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
This is the same Lord who works in all spiritual revivals, and is
experienced in reality by every true follower of the living Lord Jesus Christ.
In this chapter, this passage in Mark shall be emphasized: that signs
follow, and do not precede, the Word of God. It can happen that the Lord grants
a miracle prior to a conversion, but the proclamation of the Word is
fundamental. Hebrews 1:3 says,"He sustains the universe by His almighty Word."
Luther emphasized this very strongly: Sola Scriptura.
1. The Gifts of the Spirit
At the beginning of the revival, which Erlo and the team called the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the various gifts of the Holy Spirit became
evident.
Erlo himself preached with divine authority, leading thousands to
conversion. I myself can testify that hundreds stayed behind for spiritual
counselling. It hadn’t always been like that. Prior to the revival he would often
end up in despair, seeing few people attending the meetings and a sprinkling of
converts.
Erlo explained it this way,"God grants gifts - we cannot apportion gifts
to anybody. As soon as our lives are in order with Him, the gifts are revealed.
The bearers of these gifts do not necessarily need to know it. It is sufficient
that the congregation is aware of it. So as soon as a gift becomes evident, we
pray and ask the Lord to sanctify and increase it."
Presumptuous gifts, those not from above, become a stumbling-block to a
follower of Jesus. Erlo related such examples to me.
There was a man brought to Erlo with partial paralysis, both of body and
spirit. He had to be carried because he was unable to walk. He was a follower
of Christ. When he was counselled, something was revealed. After he had prayed
for a man possessed by an evil spirit, he himself had become heavily burdened
and afflicted. It showed that this believer wasn’t equipped or anointed for
such a ministry. He had just taken this upon himself. After Erlo prayed for
him, the paralysis and the depression vanished.
A Christian co-worker really thought that he had the gift to cast out
evil spirits, so he prayed for three demon-possessed people. Subsequently, he
fell into great distress and temptation and acquired the same characteristics
as the three possessed people. A transfer had taken place. This often happens
in struggles with those who are possessed, if the counsellor or intercessor is
without spiritual authority or the protection of the blood of Christ. This
co-worker also needed prayer until he himself was free.
In a certain place there was a great deal of witchcraft and spiritism. A
seventeen-year-old girl that had often disturbed the services was brought for counselling. While she
was being prayed for, she began to rampage. Up to seven
men had to hold this girl down, at times without success - she possessed such
supernatural power. But when a minister's wife was present,
sometimes just touching her would immediately cause her to calm down. The
co-workers recognised this, and asked her to care for the girl. But the lady
said,"I can’t do this." The others had recognised that she was empowered in
this type of ministry.
Erlo emphasizes that when a special spiritual gift is recognised by
others, this co-worker should be anointed to perform such a ministry.
A man who was recognised by the co-workers as having a spiritual gift
prayed for a demon-possessed person - but without being anointed. Immediately
something jumped from the possessed person to the praying one. We should never
take on the serious duty of counselling without protection. This is the reason
why Erlo makes a clear distinction between having a ministry and being anointed
for it.
2. Speaking in Tongues and Interpretation
In the Christian church there is much wrangling about speaking in tongues
(glossolalia). Some are intensely for it and others
intensely against it. Who is actually right?
In my previous manuscript for this book, I had presented my point of view
of the matter. Erlo then asked me to leave it out, because the issue had been
dealt with in many other books concerning the charismatic movement. So let us
hear what Erlo says:
He believes that spiritual gifts still exist today. He himself and the
co-workers are daily confronted with the evidence of what the exalted Lord still
does in our day. Erlo emphasizes,"We still live in the same period of mercy
and grace, and there is desperate need for certain spiritual gifts. We need the
gift of discernment, otherwise we’re lost. We need the gift of wisdom to
counsel seriously. One person alone doesn’t possess all the spiritual gifts.
They are all shared. Before the revival I was a maverick. After the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit I worked together with my co-workers. We are one body. Each
and every one depends on the other. Spiritual gifts get fouled by pride and
even lost by conceit."
I asked Erlo for his opinion concerning the worldwide debate on speaking
in tongues. Here is his answer:"Before the revival came, I was in opposition
to this gift. The Lord then asked me,"Why are you against this?" I responded,
"Because there has been so much abuse and mischief." The Lord then answered,
"Aren’t there thousands of car accidents and yet you use your car without a
thought."
I wanted to know if there was any speaking in tongues at all at the
beginning of the revival. Erlo responded,"Only one person spoke in tongues.
She didn’t come from the Pentecostal, but from the Lutheran Church. Speaking in
tongues was only a marginal problem. We are vigilant, making sure that the
order contained in 1 Cor. 14:28 is maintained: ‘If there is no
interpreter, let them keep still in church’. We do not allow any speaking in
tongues without interpretation."
Erlo mentioned various examples of misuse:
A young man pleaded in prayer to receive the gift of speaking in tongues.
He received what he had asked for. During the following three days he prayed in
tongues and couldn’t stop. Close friends were unable to converse with him
normally. To keep quiet he had to hold his tongue. Even at work he continued speaking
in tongues, becoming a mockery to everyone. Speaking in tongues had become an
obsession. He went for counselling, repented of his pride, and was set free. He
didn’t pray a second time for this gift.
In some cases they had to deal with demonic speaking in tongues.
A woman had a gift of speaking in tongues. The co-workers realised that
things in her Christian walk were wrong, so they prayed and received clarity.
When the lady started to speak in tongues again, the brethren commanded the
false spirit of tongues to depart from her, in the name of Jesus. The demons
started speaking,"We didn’t expect this - we thought we could interfere in
your work."
One of the co-workers’ wives started speaking in tongues. She wasn’t
happy with it, however, and prayed to receive a more attractive tongue. Her
motives were pride and arrogance - she just wanted to be better than others.
Her husband was also dragged into this unspiritual conduct. He reported to KwaSizabantu
that the Lord was working marvellously. Erlo went there, along with other
brethren. The lady greeted them in tongues as soon as they entered the house.
Nobody understood her. Her heathen housemaid then explained,"She says that you
have to close the door." An interpretation by a heathen? Does this come from
the Holy Spirit? Everyone was talking about this lady in that region. She would
visit people in hospital and speak to them in tongues, without any
interpretation. She deviated completely from biblical principles, and no longer
works with Erlo.
It bears emphasizing that the most important spiritual gift in our time
is to have the spirit of discernment.
3. The Gift of Prophecy
In a distant place, about 300 kilometres from KwaSizabantu, the team
prepared an evangelistic campaign. They pitched a tent on a Saturday. Due to a
lot of work it was impossible for Erlo to be there personally.
On the Monday morning, a co-worker said to Erlo,"God has revealed to me
that we must go immediately to where the campaign is being held."
Most, or many, theologians would say,"This is fanaticism!" But let's
hear more about it.
This revelation was taken seriously by Erlo. They dropped everything and departed
at 4 pm. At midnight they arrived, having driven 300 kilometres on bad roads.
When they arrived, there were still some people in prayer. The praying voices
came from the tent, and there was weeping for joy. They called out,"Are You
like this, Lord?" To them it seemed like a dream - they couldn’t grasp it. What
was the reason?
On Sunday some of the co-workers had felt urged to go around the area
with a loudspeaker mounted on a car and announce,"The pastor (Erlo) will be
here on Tuesday to pray for the sick!" Nobody knew about this at KwaSizabantu,
but the Lord had made the impossible possible. He, the Lord, had given the
brethren the gift of prophecy, as well as the brethren at KwaSizabantu. Thus
the great joy and the amazed praying which was coming out of the tent to greet
Erlo.
On Tuesday morning many people came. Erlo and the team were busy the
whole day, preaching about Jesus and praying for the people. Many were saved,
and the power of the Lord was so mighty that the blind were healed, the dumb
began to speak, and many other miracles occurred.
In the face of these occurrences, I dare not say that the times of
spiritual gifts came to an end in the first century.
4. The Gift of Healing
A young man by the name of Mangalelwa contracted a stubborn illness. He
suffered severe pain day and night. During this time he heard that Erlo was to
speak at Nqutu. Now the road leading to Nqutu passes through the village in
which he lives. He expressed a desire to be prayed for by Erlo. After being
carried to the road by his relatives, he was picked up by a passing truck. Even
the journey on the road was torture for him.
After attending the service in Nqutu, he had the opportunity to speak to
Erlo. He confessed his sins and surrendered his life to Jesus. The miracle
occurred and he was completely healed.
Later his spiritual life grew shallow, and he became lukewarm and slack.
Immediately his severe pain returned, and he vomited blood and pus. His
stomach, intestines, kidneys and bladder were severely infected. He asked the
doctor for a kidney transplant, but the doctor refused, saying that it wouldn’t
prolong his life.
He asked to be taken to KwaSizabantu, where he was prayed for. Again the
Lord was merciful to him and healed him.
Many had come to see this miracle when he came home. His relatives had
lost hope for his recovery and thought they would never see him alive again. Is
there anything impossible with God?
Up to this day this man is completely healthy, and working again.
In one of the tent campaigns in Msumbe, an old man by the name of Donqabe
came to the meetings. After the campaign, Erlo flew to Europe. Donqabe had been
bitten by a snake shortly before and one of his legs was paralyzed. He would
drag himself forward to walk. Having heard many wonderful things about KwaSizabantu,
he wanted to go there to get help.
He arrived on a rainy day, and was brought into a lovely warm kitchen.
Now not only was he lame in the one leg, he also had a stiff neck, having been
kicked by a donkey.
The tent campaign had prepared him spiritually. He started speaking in
the kitchen, and said that he didn’t want to keep any bad and unclean things in
his life. The same day he asked to be counselled by a co-worker and later went
to bed. The next morning he woke up to find the paralysis gone. He thanked the
Lord immediately for his great relief, but didn’t stop at that. He sought for
more, both spiritually and physically, and kept confessing the things revealed
to him. One morning he awoke to find that his stiff neck had been healed.
Shortly after, he travelled home. There he went through everything, just
in case there was something not pleasing to the Lord. He found two drums containing
items used for fortune-telling, and some literature from the Jehovah's
Witnesses. All these items were burned, because he didn’t want anything
idolatrous in his house any more.
This example shows that it wasn’t just a matter of one specific healing
gift, but that several things worked together. It was the honesty of this
paralyzed man, willing to get everything into order with God, the counselling
of a co-worker and the spiritual atmosphere at KwaSizabantu.
A young teacher suddenly went out of her mind. She became so wild she was
almost impossible to subdue. After being brought to KwaSizabantu, the
co-workers prayed for her that the Lord would touch her understanding, so that
she could make her own decision to follow the Lord.
This is how the people at KwaSizabantu and the co-workers
pray and deal with mentally ill people. First they pray that their minds will
clear up, so that they are able to make conscious decisions for Christ. Once
this stage is reached, they usually make their lives right and confess their
sins. Then the Lord starts to reveal Himself.
The previously mentioned teacher experienced this very thing. After
regaining her understanding, she confessed all her sins. The co-workers prayed
for her several times until she was fully liberated. Two days later she took up
her work again.
The case mentioned here has nothing to do with the gift of healing given
to individuals, but the intercession of the brethren. It has been said by men
of God that spiritual gifts aren’t given to individuals, but to the church. Of
course this isn’t absolute, because both happen in revivals - spiritual gifts are
given both to individuals and to the church.
In Timothy's case it was an individual. Paul says,
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with
the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (1 Tim 4:14)
5. The Gift of Miracles
In this chapter we turn our attention to the illiterate. We
have already related the story of Magakanye, who was also an illiterate.
All biblically sound evangelists say that God's Word is the foundation of
our creed and life. But then what happens with illiterates who cannot read?
There have been thousands in the Timor revival. There are also many among the
Zulus. The Lord has solved this problem in four different ways.
In Soe, the revival centre of Timor, Bible passages were read over and
over again until the passage was known by heart. This is usually an acquired
attribute that illiterates gain from childhood.
The second form of how the Lord leads and guides is through dreams, or
the miracle of hearing God's voice. Erlo told me the following: A believing
girl, through whom the Lord worked mightily, one day sensed that something was
wrong in her life. To her it seemed that her first love had grown cold. She was
illiterate. She was driven to prayer, to ask the Lord,"Lord, why can’t You
work as in the beginning?" The Lord answered her in a dream, saying,"Read
Isaiah 59:1-2." After coming to Erlo, the girl asked,"Is there a book in the
Bible called Isaiah?" When Erlo confirmed this, she continued,"Is there a
chapter 59?"
“Yes."
“Then please read verses 1 and 2."
Erlo read,"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made
a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from
you, that He will not hear."
This was the girl's confirmation that the dream had been from the Lord.
Hearing this, she repented.
Similar things happened in the Indonesian revival. Often there was only
one person in a team who could read. Words especially spoken to illiterates by
the Lord were then read to them.
The third way God instructs the illiterate is a miracle of its own. It has
often happened that illiterates who owned a Bible asked the Lord to enable them
to read. As they opened the Scriptures, they were able to read and understand.
When they closed the Bible, these capabilities were gone. No other book or
newspaper could be read - only the Bible.
Such things didn’t only happen in the revival among the Zulus - the same
has been experienced on other mission fields.
Here is an example from Egypt: An ordinary Egyptian lady became a
Christian. As an illiterate she wanted so much to read the printed Word of God.
The Lord granted her a dream, in which an angel gave her a red, hard-back New
Testament. When she woke up, she prayed more fervently to receive God's Word.
Not long after, she received a New Testament exactly like the one of which she
had dreamed. She wasn’t able to read it, but she didn’t give up. She prayed,
"Lord, please open my understanding for Your Word. Help me to read." Things
didn’t happen suddenly. It took weeks. But without any help she managed to
learn to read the New Testament in a short period of time. She could read no
other literature.
The fourth way the exalted Lord helps the illiterate is a tremendous
miracle. To illustrate this, here is the example of Mabanga, reported to me by
Erlo. He had never attended school. Relatives explained that he was abnormal.
On top of this, he was sickly. His father, who had the ability to heal many
with witchcraft and magic, was unable to help his own son. The parents sent
their son to a sect which mixes spiritual things with the occult. Erlo was busy
with his team in that area. This witchdoctor's son had a dream at this time.
Somebody handed him a Bible, and a voice told him to read a particular Bible
verse. This young man couldn’t read, but got hold of a Bible the next morning,
opened it, and was able to read. The verse he was to read was James 5:16,
concerning the confession of sins.
Afterwards, the co-workers came past with a truck to pick up people for
the services in Nqutu. This young man went along and listened to God's Word. He
got the opportunity to confess his sins. After being prayed for, he got well
again, and from that moment on he was able to read and write.
Mabanga has become a faithful servant of the Lord. Often he is busy with
retarded people, leading them to the Lord.
To nominal Christians this sounds unbelievable. I refer you to Erlo; he
is a witness to these miracles.
All examples mentioned in this fifth section testify about the Lord who
still performs miracles. None of the gifts were given to His messengers to
possess as such, for it is the exalted Lord Himself in action.
“Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O
LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." (Exodus 15:6)
“Who does great and unsearchable things, marvellous works without number."
(Job 5:9)
Let this not be misunderstood; there are many examples in God's work
where the Lord grants His servants a special anointing to perform miracles. It
does not mean a permanent possession for a child of God. It was, and is, the
equipping of him or her for a special assignment. I could enumerate many more
examples. However, this book already contains enough of what nominal Christians
and"barricaded" theologians would term"impossibilities".
6. The Miracles of Light
I have often heard reports from revival areas concerning the"miracles of
light". Let us see what the Bible says about this:
Luke 2:9 reads,"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." The
shepherds were terrified when they saw this supernatural light. When the Apostle
Paul met the Lord, a similar miracle took place. Acts 9:3 reads,"And as he
journeyed, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly there shone around about him
a light from heaven."
The Apostle Peter is the third witness to see a miracle of light,
mentioned in Acts 12:7,"And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and
a light shone in the prison and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up,
saying: ‘Arise up quickly’. And his chains fell off from his hands."
Over and over again I feel sorry for the rationalistic theologians who
regard the biblical miracles as mythological derivations, and even more, those
Christians who confine all miracles to the first century.
In revivals one finds all these things happening today, as happened and
were recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
In a previous chapter I already mentioned that a team in Timor saw an
illuminated church in the jungle. The congregation was assembled and the church
was lit up by a light from heaven.
On one occasion the team was travelling through the jungle on a mule
track. There was neither moon nor starry sky, but a light from heaven shone and
showed them the way to their destination.
A similar episode occurred among the Zulus. Bruno Engelbrecht records:
“I had brought some Christians home with the car late at night, and it
was very dark. From the place where I had dropped them off, they had to walk
for another kilometre to their home. Later they told me how their whole pathway
home was lit by the Lord."
The Lord who led the people of Israel by a pillar of fire at night is
still alive. In my youth there was a revival in Pfinztal, and I attended many
of the meetings. One chorus that we loved singing was,"The same, yes, the
same, God is still the same!"
In the story of creation, we read,"And God said: ‘Let there be light!’
And there was light." (Genesis 1:3) God has not ceased speaking.
The self-revealing Lord
After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, Peter began his
discourse,"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it
shall be in the last days,’ says God, ‘I will pour out my spirit upon all
flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.’" (Joel 2:28)
This portion of Scripture has been doubly misused by the evil one to try
and stop or limit the working of the Holy Spirit. What are these misuses that
lead people astray?
(1) Extremists use this portion of Scripture to confirm their most
foolish fantasies as special revelations of the Holy Spirit. Professor Dr Hans
Rohrbach summed it up this way:"Ninety-nine per cent of all visions,
revelations and dreams are not inspired from above." I subscribe to that as
well.
(2) Most theologians make the opposite mistake by claiming that these
verses only apply to the apostolic era, especially the American
dispensationalist theologians. What they are actually saying is that Joel's
prophecy was finally fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and has no meaning for
us today.
There is no"golden mean", but only the biblical truth.
I have to refer again to the Indonesian revival, seeing that there are
many similarities between it and the revival among the Zulus.
During the initial stages of the revival in September 1965, Pastor Daniel
was very sceptical. As he was sitting in one of the huge revival meetings in the
church at Soe, he sat on the stage with a great deal of criticism in his heart.
He thought,"This is just fanaticism!" Immediately a schoolchild jumped up and
said,"Pastor Daniel, the Lord has shown me your thoughts. This is not
fanaticism! Read Acts 2:17!" It happened three times during those first revival
meetings that children rebuked two of the ministers with Bible verses. (I have
reported on this in my book Uns, Herr, wirst du Frieden schaffen (To
us, Lord, you will give peace).
Because children have been mentioned here as receivers of God's
revelation, let me first give a report about Zulu children. Psalm 8:2
underlines this:"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have ordained
strength …"
1. The Four-year-old Kwasi
I got to know both Kwasi's grandmother, Thembani, and his father in
Erlo's house. Their story has already been recorded in this book.
This four-year-old grandson is an amazing child, mightily used by the
Lord.
Of course I know the adults’ objections:"What, just a child!" Others
will say that children need to prove their conversions during adolescence. That
is true! However, the Lord said,"… allow the little children to come to Me,
and do not hinder them. For of such is the Kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever
shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter into
it." (Mark 10:14-15)
Kwasi experienced the Lord Jesus, and he would testify about his Lord
wherever he could. He would gather children, even those older than himself, and
tell them stories of Jesus. And he wouldn’t neglect to give his testimony to
the adults! One day a raw heathen went to see his boss. He confessed all his
thefts and other offences as well. The employer was astounded and asked his
employee,"What's going on - why are you confessing all these things?" The man
replied,"I heard Kwasi, the four-year-old, speak about Jesus, and this to me
was a gut-wrenching experience."
Kwasi would also go from house to house, visiting the neighbours in his
area. He would call them together and speak about the faith. Because of his
testimony, adults would surrender to Jesus.
2. The Eleven-year-old Lindiwe
This book will not be translated into the Zulu language. That is good
because Lindiwe will not fall into the danger of becoming proud. I am fully
aware that the evil one tempts and attacks both children and adults whose testimonies
get published. This is why I suggest that all who are blessed by Lindiwe's
experiences intercede for her in prayer.
The Zulu name Lindiwe means"wait for the Lord". At the age of nine she
was converted. She wrote a letter to Erlo which touched his heart -"I ask God
that He will create in me a holy life. Please help me and teach me how to
overcome sin and live in victory. I don’t want to spend my life in sin."
Lindiwe often had dreams and visions. Before the revival began, Erlo
would preach against dreams, saying that the daily experiences of life
influenced dreams, or they could be a result of childhood adventures. He has
subsequently somewhat revised his views.
Once, Lindiwe saw the Lord Jesus in a dream. His garments were shining so
brightly that her eyes were dazzled. In this brightness and holiness, she
realised how terrible her sins were. She had thought herself to be a good
Christian after her conversion, and everyone, even her parents, did too. After
this dream she went into deep repentance, continually weeping. Her Christian
parents were unable to console her. She was so conscious of her sins that she
doubted whether she would ever be forgiven. Three days later, she confessed all
that had been revealed to her in the dream. Then the feelings of guilt
disappeared.
The first series of her dreams and visions related to sin, repentance and
cleansing. The Lord Jesus said to her in another dream,"Make everything right
in your life, and then tell others to do so as well. The sin of mankind is so
heavy. Sins look so small and harmless, which is why they creep so easily into
your lives. I will show you people who have carelessly given themselves over to
sin. Do you see this man who despises Me? Do you see that house where I suffer?
The husband is quarrelling with his wife, and the children are not obeying
their parents? Do you see those cheeky schoolchildren, frivolous people and
others constantly cursing?"
In another vision, on 11th March 1975, Lindiwe was led to a
place where her earthly clothes were taken off and new ones put on. The Lord
led her to the heavenly mansions, according to John 14:23,"In my
Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also." The Lord led her through many rooms and said to her,"If you are
faithful to the end, you will receive your own room."
Erlo would always examine dreams and visions carefully, comparing them
with the Bible, seeing if they were in agreement with the Scriptures.
Everything was noted down carefully, especially hidden things which were
revealed. The experiences were tested to see whether they were authentic,
whether visions were fulfilled or whether they were mere fantasies. For
those who shun these visions and dreams, and regard them as mere childish
fantasies, I include the following visions:
a) Vision of a Schoolgirl
Lindiwe had a dream in Kranskop. Erlo was to tell a European schoolgirl
in Durban to come to KwaSizabantu, and she gave him the address she had seen in
the dream. This case was easy to verify - was this dream genuine or not? Erlo
doubted it.
However, he prayed,"Lord, this girl is at school - she won’t be able to
come."
The Lord answered,"Why shouldn’t this be possible? Can’t I do as I
will?"
“But I can’t just take this child out of school. It is only possible at
weekends."
“What if the child were sick? Could she then go to school? Is sickness
more powerful than I am?"
“No, You are more powerful than any disease, but really, in this case it
isn’t possible. The school will definitely not allow it."
“You call me Lord. Am I or am I not?"
Friedel, Erlo's brother, came to see him the next morning. Erlo said,"I
slept so badly last night. Won’t you call this schoolgirl's parents, and ask if
their daughter can come or not?" Friedel called and received the following
answer,"We’ll gladly send our daughter, but the problem is that she swallowed
too many sleeping pills last night, in an attempt to commit suicide. She is
still unconscious, but you can pick her up once she has regained
consciousness."
Erlo felt as if the ground would swallow him up. If he had acted the
previous day, and obeyed God's order, this suicide attempt could have been
avoided. The schoolgirl was only fourteen or fifteen years old. They picked her
up from Durban and took her to Kranskop, where she made her life right and
became a believer.
Can you doubt the genuineness of Lindiwe's dream?
b) Vision of a Criminal
Lindiwe had a vision concerning a young Zulu woman from Durban. When she
was a young girl she had moved to Durban and joined a group of gangsters. Now
at the age of twenty-four, she would hang around at night and get up to mischief.
She would seldom be at home because of her nightly excursions. Her believing
mother continually prayed for her wayward daughter.
The work of salvation for this young woman started with Lindiwe's vision.
She had received her name and address in the vision. Erlo was to speak to her,
so he sent a co-worker to pick her up. When the co-worker found her, she said,
"How did you know that I was at home today? Who told you this?" The co-worker
responded,"God has sent me."
The young woman was ready to go to KwaSizabantu immediately. She left all
her belongings at home. Erlo spoke to her like a father, asking"Is your life
right with God? God is calling you, He is seeking you." Immediately, she came
under deep conviction of her sins, and said,"I have decided today to follow
God's ways." She confessed her guilt and her sin, and all that had been
revealed to her, and told Erlo that there were many things she had to put right
in Durban.
Day after day she would seek people with whom and against whom she had
done wrong, and ask for forgiveness. Then came the most difficult task. She had
to go to the police to expose her misdeeds. At eight o’clock one morning she
turned up at the law courts, confessed her wrongdoings, and testified about
Jesus. She was told,"These are serious matters - you will have to stay in jail
for a long time." She was sent from one office to the next, each one higher
than the last, relating the same things and testifying of her faith. Each time
there was the same answer,"This will get you many years in jail." She was sent
from one person to another the whole day until she was ordered to see the chief
magistrate.
It is obvious that it was God behind all these interrogations. In every
office she confessed her crimes and testified of Jesus. Through this, the
entire law court staff was faced with the fact that the Gospel transforms
people.
In the chief magistrate's office, she asked if she could first pray. This
was granted. [Just an observation: In South Africa and some other nations, not
all law enforcement officers are negative towards Christian values, as they are
in Europe and some other western countries.]
After her prayer, the chief magistrate asked her,"What has God said to
you now?" She answered,"God quickly hears our prayers, but He may take time to
answer."
The chief magistrate also told her,"You must expect a severe sentence."
She said,"Yes, I know. I committed all these crimes because I did not
know the Lord." Again she testified what the Lord had done for her.
The chief magistrate said,"That is of minor interest to me, but I would
like to know why you have come to report yourself." The former gangster
replied,"I’ve told you already. It is because I’ve found Jesus."
He again said,"You must expect a severe and a long sentence."
She answered,"Well, if that is God's will, then I’m ready - ready to
witness for Jesus in jail."
After all the cross-examinations, the lawyers discussed the matter. What
was to be done in such a case? Eventually they decided,"We’ll cancel the whole
matter."
Relieved and happy, this brave Christian went on her way. She came back
to KwaSizabantu and thanked the Lord for His guidance and help.
Let me ask again,"Can you doubt the genuineness of Lindiwe's vision?"
c) Vision of a Hospital Employee
Lindiwe had another dream, concerning a hospital employee. This lady was
known to be very dominating in her area. The Lord Jesus spoke to the
eleven-year-old Lindiwe,"It's time that this lady got converted. Pass the
message on to Erlo that this woman has to be visited."
As in all previous visions, Lindiwe received the lady's name and address.
She passed the commission on to Erlo. He then took co-workers along to
find the lady. As they were heading towards her home, some of the co-workers
told Erlo that he would have to go to the hospital, because she wasn’t at home.
Erlo responded,"But in the vision there was nothing mentioned about the
hospital; her home was mentioned."
Indeed, they did find her in the backyard of her home, plucking a chicken
for a meal. Her husband had come from Johannesburg and was to drive back again
that day. He had said to her,"Fry this chicken for me and pack my
suitcase. I want to go and visit my friends before I leave."
This lady now asked why Erlo was visiting. He answered,"The Lord has
sent me to ask you if your relationship with the living God is in order." She
immediately burst into tears, and admitted,"I am a great sinner. I am on the
way to hell."
Erlo continued,"Jesus is calling you. Come to Him."
She replied immediately,"I will leave everything behind and come along
to make my life right."
“What about your husband? He will come back and nothing is cooked!"
She answered resolutely,"When God calls, there is no way for me to wait
and consult with flesh and blood. I will write a note to my husband that I am
changing my ways today, and leaving with the pastor to get my life in
order."
Erlo was amazed that a person could leave everything behind and follow
Jesus, as it happened in Luke 5:28; that such things happen even today.
The lady packed her belongings and was about to leave, when her husband
unexpectedly turned up and asked what was going on.
The quick return of her husband shows that God's plan fits perfectly
together. He explained why he had returned so quickly. As he was on his way to
see his friend he passed through a narrow pass in the road. At a certain place
there was a cleft, a hole where he could see his home through the rocks, four
kilometres away. As he was looking, he saw something shining in front of the
house. It was the sun reflecting on the windscreen of a car. Somehow he felt
constrained to return. So here he was, asking his wife why she was packing her
belongings.
The woman told him that she had decided to follow Jesus, which was why
she was leaving with the pastor and his co-workers.
Her husband said,"When God calls you, I cannot stop you. Go and follow
His calling!" The Lord had given this man the right words even though he is
still a heathen to this day.
After attending a service, she went for counselling and put things right.
Her life changed completely, and there was a great sensation when she went to
her neighbours and friends, making things right. All the hospital personnel
marvelled that such a hard, dominating person could become so transformed. Many
were converted, and even bitter opponents of the Gospel surrendered to Jesus. A
small revival broke out in the area.
The three visions related above were clearly confirmed by the progress of
occurrences. Not only were the visions confirmed, but the Lord used Lindiwe in
other ways as well. She served the Lord not only through visions, but also
through her mission work among children. She was also used to bear witness to
the Lord to adults from time to time.
3. The Fifteen-year-old Nokutula
All Zulu names have a meaning. Nokutula means"She who found peace". This
girl, who is an orphan, came one day to Erlo, asking if she could help in his
household. When the wage matter was discussed, Nokutula said,"I do not want
any payment." Erlo asked,"Why not? Every worker is entitled to a salary." She
answered him,"You are my spiritual father. Do children ever receive payment
for helping their parents?" That's where the matter ended.
Nokutula is a very shy and quiet girl. Being next to her you would think
she was unable to speak.
One day this young Christian girl said,"The Lord has called me to go
into a dangerous area to proclaim His name." Erlo laughed. Towards the end of
the week she came to him again and said,"How will I appear before the Lord if
I do not heed His calling?" Erlo allowed her to go. An older girl accompanied
her to this place with a bad reputation. Many dangerous criminals lived there.
But the miracle happened. These rough men repented, got converted and gave up
their lives of crime.
This is what the Holy Spirit does. Before revival came, things were so
difficult, but now it was so easy to lead people to the Lord Jesus.
4. Thoughts Revealed
It has already been recorded that during the revival in Timor the
critical thoughts of Pastor Daniel were revealed by a child. The same thing occurred
in the revival among the Zulus.
A group of people were meeting together for prayer. During these prayer
meetings they would also sing hymns. During the time of prayer, one of the
participants thought,"When will this come to an end? It's lasting so long."
During the singing, another person thought,"Why do they continually repeat the
same hymns?" The Lord revealed these critical thoughts to a child, and the
matter was made public.
The Lord revealed through this that He is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.
“…for the righteous God trieth the hearts and the reins." (kidneys) (Ps.
7:9)
“…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
(Heb. 4:12)
5. Immanuel's Vision
These visions will provoke criticism. Those who are familiar with the
history of sects and extremists will know that these spiritual"separatists"
often refer to their lumen internum, their inner light, in order
to develop their own crazy ideas. That which is considered by them to be from
the Holy Spirit, is simply a swamp flower growing from the jungle of their own
religious fantasies. The visions mentioned in this chapter do not have this
characteristic. They are clearly given by the exalted Lord, proving their
genuineness through the results they produced.
The following figure of speech also needs to be looked at:"The Lord has
spoken to me." How do such messages of the Lord occur in the revival area?
There are different possibilities.
Some have a dream in which the Lord speaks to them. Others see visions,
as the one mentioned below. Some hear the audible voice of the Lord. Usually
this happens to the illiterate, those not able to read the Bible. Last but not
least, the Lord uses the Holy Spirit to inspire a person's reason, will and
insight, so that the one concerned is unquestionably sure of the will of God.
Before we turn to Immanuel's vision, let us consider an
example from the revival in Indonesia. It is in the book Uns,
Herr, wirst du Frieden schaffen (To us, Lord, You will give
peace), which has already been mentioned. Many miracles that have occurred in Timor's
revival have happened in the Zulu revival as well.
This is the report of how the Lord informed illiterate people of an
upcoming event. In 1969 I was part of an international team visiting Timor.
There were ten of us from overseas who were announced to be coming to Soe (Timor).
Pastor Daniel told this to his congregation, but most of the teams who were
busy with mission work in the jungle knew nothing about the planned conference,
or about the visiting international team. There were no telephones, no mail,
and no messengers in the jungle.
A few days prior to the conference, a team returned to Soe from a long
absence. I got to know this team later. They reported back to Pastor Daniel and
said,"The Lord has told us that there will be a conference in Soe with seven
international men of God." This team had no possibility of receiving any notice
of this, and on top of that, all but one of that team were illiterate. Pastor
Daniel answered,"There will be ten members in this international team, not
seven."
When the time came the team arrived. We were only seven, because three
Japanese men were unable to get entrance visas. Pastor Daniel, who was also
running a post office, had received a letter informing him of the arrival of
ten. The illiterate team had no information whatsoever, but the Holy Spirit
knew it better.
I experienced this personally, which is why this has a special
significance for me. Such things happened over and over again among the Zulus;
people were moved by the Holy Spirit to come to the place of a gathering. Later
we will hear more about this.
This clearly illustrates that Jesus’ disciples hear their Lord's voice -
this is not fanaticism.
Erlo knows of many similar instances, but also instances of false
information. That is why he has a special task to carefully verify everything.
As has already been mentioned, these visions are carefully noted down, to see
if they come true or not.
At the beginning of the revival, Erlo was encouraged by Immanuel's vision
to be cautious and watchful.
It was in the late autumn of 1966. Erlo was still at Mapumulo. Thirty
brethren had gathered to pray for revival. As was already mentioned, they
cleaned what had been a cowshed and whitewashed the walls. One evening the
Christian brother Immanuel saw two words written on the whitewashed wall:
"test" and"prove". The next morning, Immanuel asked Erlo,"Where are the two
words I saw last night on the wall -"test" and"prove"?"
Erlo said,"There were no words written. We had the walls whitewashed."
Immanuel insisted,"But I saw them."
After this conversation, Erlo went home and opened his Bible. His eyes
fell on 2 Corinthians 13:5"Examine...prove!" He realised that
Immanuel's vision was genuine. This was the first vision seen in the revival.
It was given to someone who doesn’t easily speak and was so shy that he
couldn’t look into anybody's eyes. At the same time, this vision was a
commission to test and examine all visions and dreams, to discern between the
Holy Spirit and the evil spirits. This commission has been taken seriously
through the years.
6. A Vision Confirmed by a Dream
Erlo was in Kranskop on a missionary outreach. There the Lord showed him
through a vision that a young woman should come to the service. So a co-worker
and Erlo left to pick up this woman. It was about thirty kilometres to her
place. The last part of the way, a sharp incline, had to be gone on foot. The
two arrived after midnight. There was still a light on in the house. After
knocking, they were let in. They told the woman they had come at God's request
to take her to the services at Kranskop.
The woman replied,"I knew that you were coming - I’ve been waiting."
Both brethren were astounded, and asked,"Who notified you? There is neither
phone nor mail." She responded,"The Lord Jesus informed me through a dream. I
just woke up before midnight, packed my bags and organized the things for the small
child." The brethren wanted to know more, and asked,"How did the Lord speak to
you?" She answered,"A man said to me, ‘Get up and prepare yourself. Someone is
coming to take you to Kranskop.’"
After waking up before midnight, there were questions in her mind: What
significance does this dream have? How strange, somebody picking her up at
midnight. Although there were these doubts, she followed the instructions and
indeed, here were the brethren.
All three went onto their knees and thanked the Lord for His wonderful
leading and guidance.
This woman is now a richly blessed full-time mission worker, together
with her husband.
7. Vision of a Zionist Pastor
About a hundred kilometres north of Durban, in the area of Chibini, lived
a Zionist pastor by the name of Magubane. It has already been mentioned that
the Zulu Zionists have nothing to do with the Zionists in Israel. This sect is
a mixture of Christianity, heathenism and witchcraft.
Magubane informed his congregation that the Lord had revealed to him that
a white man would come, who would show them the way of the truth. Magubane
didn’t know who this white man was, but he searched for him. Some of the
congregation advised him to go to Durban and look for him among the white
missionaries. However, things didn’t get that far.
Three months later, Erlo and his team pitched their tent in Chibini. Many
Zulus said,"This is the white man spoken of by Magubane. Let's hear what he
has to say."
Magubane was not present during the first days of the tent campaign.
After he returned, he didn’t miss a service, and he came to believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ. He made a radical decision, and burnt all his official church
vestments and robes as well as the cross carried by the Zionist pastors. This
cross was not a small thing attached to a chain; it measured 1.5 metres, was
made out of wood and was carried on the shoulder. Magubane also destroyed the
Nehushtan, a bronze image of a serpent (Numbers 21:8, 2 Kings 18:4). The"Rod
of Moses" was burnt along with Zionist drums.
That was the end of Magubane's old life. He broke his ties with the sect,
and surrendered his life to Jesus. He now works with Erlo and the team.
8. Vision of a Catholic
In the time I travelled with Erlo through the revival area, I recognised
that after some rainy days, the weekends would have fine weather, making it
easier for the people to come to the services. When it rains, the roads are
often so muddy that many are unable to come. I was told by Erlo that for years
he had noticed that the Lord gave them good weather for the meetings.
On one evangelistic tour things were different. In a certain place they
had put up the tent when a terrible thunderstorm came up. The heathen Zulus are
terrified of lightning. The team didn’t expect many to come, but as the crowds
poured in, soaking wet and on foot, the brethren rejoiced. Many found the way
of salvation during the preaching.
Among the converts there was a Catholic woman. Years before, in a dream,
she had met the Lord. He had prophesied that one day white men would come and
show her the way of life. She hated the whites, but she had such a deep desire
for salvation, she came anyway. She was even told that on that day there would
be a terrible thunderstorm. When she was there that evening, she remembered the
dream precisely, and experienced its fulfilment.
Our God is so great! He has no lack of ways and means. His thoughts and
plans are impenetrable and inscrutable.
9. Vision in Pelotas
Pastor Müller invited me for a lecture series in the city's Lutheran
Church. By special request I began on Sunday to speak on the topic of
spiritism. There are spiritists in the city. There was such a throng of
visitors that the lectures had to be transmitted to a neighbouring hall. On the
third day, people started coming for counselling. On Wednesday morning a
Catholic man reported remarkable things. Here is his report:
“Three weeks before this lecture series began, I had a
vision. I saw a cross, under which a man was preaching God's
Word in a foreign language. Eventually this foreigner disappeared, and I heard
the voice of Jesus say,"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to
the Father but by Me." During the following three weeks I forgot this dream. I
didn’t remember it at all. But then somebody gave me an invitation to these
lectures. Services in the Lutheran Church didn’t interest me. I’m a Catholic
and a spiritist. But there was something that attracted me. The title on the
pamphlet was,"Spiritism in the light of spiritual counselling". This
looked interesting to me, so I went to hear the lecture, and I was gripped by
it. This was exactly what I had seen in my vision."
Let me now continue. This Catholic and spiritist attended all lectures,
and here he was with me, confessing his sins and turning his life over to
Jesus.
This then is the counterpart to the previous vision of the Catholic lady.
Barely a reader not living in Brazil will have noticed that this didn’t
happen in the Zulu revival. Pelotas is situated in southern Brazil.
Geographically, both examples, Durban, South Africa and Porto Alegre, Brazil,
lie on the 30th degree of latitude, 8,000 kilometres apart.
Behind both examples there is a secret. The Holy Spirit acts in the same
way on different continents. Example 4 reports on Timor in Asia, example 7 in
Africa, and this vision in Pelotas in South America. We have three very similar
experiences on three different continents - it is the same God, the same Lord
and the same Holy Spirit.
Whoever wants to bring these experiences down to nothing by criticizing
may do so. But by doing so, they will have to make Erlo and myself out to be
liars. However, this will not cause any martyr complexes in us at all.
10. Spiritual Counselling through a Dream
A young Zulu was attending a theological seminary near Pietermaritzburg.
He intended to become a pastor. During his studies he fell in love with a girl.
Soon she expected a child from him. Both of them concealed it until it became
obvious. The young student was called to the principal and questioned. He
admitted what he had done, and so he had to leave the seminary.
The desperate man sought a job and found one, only to lose it shortly
afterwards. He borrowed money to keep alive, promising to pay it back soon.
However, because he was unable to, he had to borrow money again. His debts just
grew and grew. Now and then he would find a job, but shortly after he would
lose it again. The girl's parents demanded that he marry the girl, but he
couldn’t do so without money. The Zulus have the tradition whereby they have to
pay for their bride. He was in such trouble that he even thought about
committing suicide.
One day, about 50 kilometres from Mapumulo, he heard Christians singing
hymns. He thought that perhaps God would have a solution for him. Late that
night he found his way to Erlo, who was already in bed. He shared his problems
with him. Erlo didn’t know what to say, so he just said,"There is no way that
I can help you financially. I will pray that the Lord will show you a way out."
Early the next morning he came back again, excusing himself for
disturbing so early."I had a strange dream last night, after which I was
unable to sleep," he said."Perhaps God wants to show me a way out."
This was his dream:
He was walking alone on a path, and his situation was troubling him as he
was walking. So he prayed,"God, where are You? Won’t You help me?" The path he
was walking along led straight to a stone wall. There was no opening in the
wall through which to go.
He looked up to see whether he could climb over. It was unbelievable that
his path was walled up like this. It seemed to him, though, that God was on the
other side of the wall. He prayed, but his prayer didn’t penetrate the wall.
God seemingly wanted to say something to him. At last he heard a voice in the
dream:
“Do you know what this means? It is you that has built this wall; every
stone was laid by you."
He answered,"But I’m no bricklayer."
The Lord answered,"Every stone is a sin that you have committed."
That very moment, the biggest sin in his life came to his mind, and he said,
"Lord Jesus, I should never have done that." As he said this a huge rock fell
out of the wall and fell down into a bottomless pit. Then the next sin was
revealed to him, again he acknowledged it, and another stone toppled down. By
and by a hole seemed to be created. He woke up and started to note down all the
sins that came to his mind. With that note he came to Erlo early that morning,
confessing before him all that he had done.
Erlo prayed with him. The young man was filled with great joy, as though he
could fly.
The next day he came again. The Lord had revealed further sins which he
made right in a third confession. This went on for the whole week; day after
day the Lord showed him other sins. By the end of that week, everything was
brought to light. The forgiveness of his sins changed his life and even his
appearance.
After the purification of his life, God's blessing was on him. He got a
job from a businessman he had never seen before. This man said to him,"If you
have debts, I’ll pay them for you." Three months later he was happily married
to the mother of his child. His wife also found the Lord, and became a great
blessing to others. After the first trading year, the owner of the business
(who had six other businesses as well) said,"This man has earned us the
biggest profit of all seven companies."
This Christian, who had at first wanted to become a pastor, remained a
businessman but preached the Gospel as well. He and his wife work together with
Erlo.
During the counselling process, Erlo showed him that he had passed
through two stages:
1. Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God - like
a wall (Isaiah 59:1-2)
2. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered
(Ps. 32)
11. Dreams of Warning
A young man by the name of Tkomu got converted. Soon after, he became
lukewarm and idle in his Christian life. He was 18 years old,
and attending a high school.
The Lord tried to warn him and straighten him out through a dream in
which he saw a tremendous fire in the distance. Many people were standing in a
queue. The fire came nearer and nearer, and some of those waiting were already
burning. As the fire approached him, he lifted his hands, crying out,"Please
wait, don’t throw me into the fire yet!" He was told,"Move to the side." After
that he awoke. This dream had no impact on him at all; he continued to cause a
lot of heartache to the believers. He would keep new converts away from the Gospel
and produce confusion.
The Lord tried again with a second dream. Again he saw people standing in
a line waiting for judgment. One after another was grabbed by their legs and
put head first into boiling water. When it was his turn, he begged,"Please
forgive me. Give me some more time!" He was again moved to the side, after
which he woke up.
Nothing changed with this imposter. He continued to be a stumbling-block
for the believers. Then the Lord gave him a final dream, in which He warned him,
"If you don’t completely surrender, you will end in darkness and in the fire."
This dream troubled the young man greatly. To him it was like with Job,
"Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions." (Job
7:14) He knew that he was on the brink of great danger, but he wouldn’t repent.
After his third dream he went to the school shop, where he got into an argument
with a man. As the quarrel escalated, he drew his knife and tried to stab the
man. The latter tore the knife out of his hand and stabbed him in return, so
that the aggressor was seriously wounded. He fell to the ground and wailed
loudly in pain for help, but those standing around did nothing. This sometimes
happens with accidents. The young man bled to death. His time of grace had
passed. He had cast the three warnings to the wind.
12. Joe Newland's Vision
I know this brother. At one time I was a guest in his home. We also
travelled together through KwaZulu-Natal. He is a sober, down-to-earth
Christian.
About seven years ago, this brother was in prayer before the Lord. Suddenly,
in a vision, he saw a place in the mountains where people were looking towards
heaven with raised hands, praising God. And the Lord was very pleased with
them. Shortly before I myself visited the Transkei, the tent was pitched there
for the first time for a campaign. Before they began to preach, a severe storm
broke out. There was thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down. Joe had
returned to his home. As the storm continued, Joe became uneasy about the tent.
Perhaps the tent would be damaged or even be torn away. He had an inner urge to
go back and check the tent, which was 45 kilometres away from his home.
On the way he arrived at a torrential river. The day before the team had
observed how a horse was swept away. Usually this was a stream about two to
three metres wide, but now its width was between eighty and a hundred metres.
Joe didn’t risk driving through. He waded in to see if he could make it with the
car, but the river was far too deep. While he was standing in one of the
deepest spots, it was as if the heavens opened and somebody said,"The Lord has
great things in mind with the tent." Joe was so full of joy that he started
singing,"Lord Jesus, kindle Your fire and let it burn." While returning to his
car he praised the Lord. But his way back was also cut off by the rising
floods. Joe had no other choice but to wait in the car until the fierce current
ebbed away, so that he could continue on to the tent.
The following days confirmed his vision. Hundreds of people surrendered
their lives, and miracles happened. A blind woman regained her sight. The girl
that guided this blind woman was also very sickly. When the blind woman
recovered, she said to the girl,"Now I can see and don’t need your help any more,
but go to KwaSizabantu to get prayed for." So the previously blind lady, whose
sight the Lord had restored, went home without the girl.
In the USA I once heard the following statement,"Our theology is
life-related." This can also be misunderstood.
For years I would preach against dreams, visions and other experiences,
until I personally met up with the various revivals. I have become more careful
and restrained with my judgment.
Although we have the written Word of God, the Lord Himself has chosen to
speak to people through visions and dreams on special occasions.
The need for discernment remains one of the urgent issues among
Christians today.
The speaking Lord
We know from the Scriptures that God often spoke directly to people, as
in the following examples:
“The Lord had said unto Abram..." (Genesis 12:1)
“...God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, ‘Moses,
Moses!’" (Exodus 3:4)
“The Lord called Samuel!" (1 Samuel 3:4)
“...The Lord said unto him (Saul), ‘Arise and go into the city...’" (Acts
9:4-6)
“There came a voice to him (Peter)..." (Acts 10:13)
Can the Lord still speak directly to people? There are different answers
to this:
a) One American newspaper said,"God can do it, but He doesn’t." It
amazes me that the editor seems so sure of his case.
b) Many theologians agree that God's direct speaking ceased when the
written Bible came into existence. They say that the formation of the canon of
Holy Scripture was the end of God's direct speaking.
Of course there is some significance to this theological point of view
and nothing needs to be added to the Scriptures. All that is written and sealed
suffices completely for our life and salvation. That doesn’t change the fact
that in reality God speaks directly to man, especially to the illiterate, and
of course to others as well.
Men of God on the mission fields have also experienced this direct
speaking. This book includes many examples of that kind. Let me show this by
comparing this with other revival areas.
Years ago I visited Father Daniel in Madras. God used this man, who is
now in eternity, exceedingly. Father Daniel granted me a lot of time and many
days to record his experiences. In his early days as a Christian he was greatly
troubled because God doesn’t speak to us as in the days of Abraham. This drove
him to repentance, and his entreaties and prayers were heard. God granted him
this way of speaking to him directly. Besides the examples I heard from him, let
me relate one of the examples I heard from his son, Joshua.
Joshua was driving his parents across the country. His parents were in
the back seat. His father was reading the Scriptures when he suddenly said,
"Joshua, the Lord has told me there is danger ahead." The son thought
logically,"Why should there be any danger here? There's no traffic, lovely tar
roads, and it's absolutely straight." So he didn’t reduce his speed. As they
approached a slight bend, there was, humanly speaking, nothing risky. However,
Joshua lost control of the vehicle and it turned over several times. Nothing
happened to his parents, but Joshua had to go to hospital with his injuries.
The car was a wreck."The Lord told me…" was not fanciful, but the reality of
God speaking.
There are few instances of God speaking directly on the European
continent. Westerners, by and large, are so haughty and fixed in their views
that they don’t know what it is to have an open attitude towards the
Scriptures. And yet we do experience this among us. Years ago, I reported about
Mother Knies, and how she often experienced such things. It would be beyond the
scope of this book to retell her experiences.
But let me mention just one incident concerning my best friend, Gottlieb
Weiland. He is already with the Lord. In the early 1930's, as a young
evangelist, he received a message from the Lord,"Take your bicycle and ride up
the valley." He had no idea where to go, but obeyed, not even knowing what was
to be done. As he was passing the different villages, he would repeatedly ask
the Lord,"Lord, do You want me here?" In a certain village, the Lord showed
him a house which he was to enter. He found a disturbed and haggard woman who
was absolutely flabbergasted to receive a visit. During the counselling that
followed, it became clear that she had been about to commit suicide by hanging.
When Weiland had entered the house, she had quickly hidden the rope behind the
curtain. While they were speaking, she got it and showed it to her visitor.
Through God speaking directly, the suicide was averted; it is hard to think of
what would have happened if Weiland hadn’t obeyed.
1. Inspired by the Holy Spirit
In Luke 2:27 it says,"And he (Simeon) came by the Holy Spirit into the
temple." This means that Simeon was a person to whom the triune God could speak.
The Apostle Paul and his co-workers were also among those who arranged
their travelling plans according to the will of God. In Acts 16:6-7, the Holy
Spirit cut across their plans twice.
In the Zulu revival many similar things have occurred. It would happen
that two hundred or more would gather in one place without anyone being called.
They would wait until Erlo or his co-workers would bring the Gospel. The people
who were led to these gatherings were as if they had been"selected" by the
Holy Spirit, ready to receive the Gospel. Many were converted, and numerous
sick people were healed.
This also happened in Madlala. People from distant places, sometimes as
much as twenty-five kilometres away, came by foot to the meetings without being
invited or called. The same thing occurred at Erlo's hospital. The Lord sends
people, not randomly, but"by choice".
Erlo explains,"At certain times many people who are mentally ill come.
Many are very dangerous and need to be watched day and night. At times they run
away and we have to search for them - sometimes for hours or days. Two to three
days later they are healed and in their right mind."
There is not even one psychiatric clinic that I know of where mentally
ill people get healed after a couple of days. Erlo continues,"It is obvious
that God is at work with His planning. The mentally ill come from four
different directions, some travel over hundreds of kilometres. They are often
brought by their relatives, without asking, to KwaSizabantu. After the mentally
ill have received help and have left for home, the drunkards come, then those
possessed with evil spirits. One sees the Lord sending them in groups, making
the work so much easier for us." The people who come seeking help have no means
at all of communicating. No phones or letters, just the Holy Spirit operating
in waves.
The youth work started similarly. One day a girl called from Durban,
asking if she could come. Durban, of course, is a large city with telephone
communications. The following day more young people arrived. By the end of the
week there were eighty children, for whom the Lord did marvellous things.
During the school holidays another two hundred came. The following holidays
four hundred came. Then more than a thousand came.
By way of comparison, let us take another example from the Timor
(Indonesia) revival. The team's itinerary was determined by the Lord. He also
made known the destinations and the times of departure. There was no notice
given in advance for the locations or villages which were to be visited. As the
teams arrived in these jungle locations, they would find all the villagers
assembled, called together by the Lord.
The following is a special example:
One of the teams was on its way to a remote village. As they approached
their destination, from far away they could see a light in the church. There
were no electrical lights - they used petroleum lamps. (In some cases the
gatherings were lit up by a supernatural light from the Lord). When they
arrived they were amazed to see the church packed with people. The team asked,
"But who informed you of our coming?" The congregation replied,"We heard your
trumpets on the mountain, so we gathered in the church and were waiting for
you. Where are your instruments?" The team replied,"We don’t have any trumpets
to call you all together."
There was great amazement on both sides. Nowhere in the whole region are
there any trumpets. The jungle inhabitants are very poor, much poorer than the
Zulus. So the Lord Himself or His angels gathered the people.
It is good for us that we western people, who are contaminated by
rationalism, are confronted with such examples. If we are honest and not
restricted by man-made theology, there's a chance that our Christian faith can
reach new heights.
2. A Midnight Mission
I received a report from Erlo once about being called out at night. He
relates it as follows:"One night the Lord said to me, ‘Go to Z. He needs you.’
The elderly man concerned lives about 145 kilometres from here. I couldn’t
understand what this call-out was about. People are asleep at midnight. In
spite of these thoughts, I left immediately. Around one in the morning I still
had about one-and-a-half kilometres to go. Here I met him in his car with an
engine breakdown. He only has one leg, and here he was, stuck on the road in a
deep gorge, with a steep hill in front of him, an impossible situation on a
very cold night. This heathen man asked me, ‘Where do you come from?’ I
answered, ‘The Lord Jesus has sent me to help you.’ I had arrived on time. The
engine had just given up the ghost and wasn’t able to be restarted, so I took
the disabled man home. Here we sat together - this formerly hard and
indifferent man and I. But now he was prepared for the Gospel. He just said,
‘God is indescribably almighty; I cannot continue living without Him. The
Gospel you are preaching is the true one; there is nothing more that I desire
to have than to possess this life.’ That night the angels rejoiced because of a
sinner that repented."
3. Spiritual Counselling through the Information of the Holy Spirit
Two Zulu ladies living in a large city had to make things right with
people they had wronged. They prayed, because their consciences would give them
no rest. One day both of them said to Martin Stegen,"The Lord has let us know
that we will find the people concerned." They returned rejoicing in the evening
and reported to Martin,"It was exactly as the Lord had foreseen. We found the
people concerned and were able to settle the matter."
Erlo and his co-workers have often experienced that they, under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had to carry out commissions and counsel
people.
One day the exalted Lord told Erlo to send for a seventeen-year-old girl who
lived 130 kilometres away from KwaSizabantu, in order to show her the way to
Jesus. This girl led a horribly sinful life.
Some co-workers left immediately and called on this girl, telling her
what God wanted her to do.
She almost fainted when she heard this, but agreed immediately to go with
them to KwaSizabantu. After thoroughly cleansing her life, she found the Lord
and put her life in order.
It can be seen how accurately God had planned these circumstances, by the
fact that before the arrival of the co-workers, this girl had just arranged to
flee to Johannesburg. The Lord had thwarted these plans at the right moment.
Today it is obvious, through the fruit of her life, that she is a chosen
vessel of the Lord. She is in full-time ministry, and has led many to Jesus.
The following example is similar. The Lord revealed to the team that
there were three people who had to make their lives right with God. They would
be brought by the Lord to attend the Sunday morning service. The first one had
a job in Durban, 145 kilometres from KwaSizabantu. The second one was a
teacher, 60 kilometres away in a different direction. The third woman lived 30
kilometres to the northeast of KwaSizabantu. It was not known whether these
three women had ever been together in a service at the same time.
Erlo wasn’t able to preach on that Sunday because he was somewhere else,
so he told the co-workers,"When these women come, please tell them to wait for
my return. I want to speak to them."
And indeed, all three of them were there on that Sunday. Although they
were in a hurry, they waited until evening, when Erlo returned. All three were
claimed by the Lord.
4. The Lord Prevents a Marriage
A girl got converted before her marriage. According to the Zulu culture a
price of eleven cows was to be paid for the bride by the future husband, apart
from other presents. There were still three cows to be paid. After this the
marriage would take place. Through her conversion there seemed to be some
uncertainty. The man wanting to marry her was a heathen, and she was to be his
second wife. She prayed to the Lord about this, asking,"Lord, is it Your will
for me to marry him?" The answer came categorically,"No!"
The question was, would this girl understand the voice of the Lord? Or
would she be like many young people that have fallen in love and are deaf to
the Lord's voice, just listening to their own desires?
This girl went to see a counsellor and said,"The Lord does not agree
with this marriage." She even declared herself willing to pay back the eight
cows. The will of God was more important to her than marriage. She had already
started with the repayments. It will take her years to pay back the whole
amount.
After seeing the counsellor, she spoke to her brothers and to her fiancé
and informed them about her decision. The disappointed ex-fiancé was furious
and went to her heathen brothers, telling them that he didn’t agree with her.
Her brothers just said,"We’ve got nothing at all to do with our sister's
decision. You can do as you wish."
The new convert was determined at all costs to follow the Lord, even if
it cost her life. From that time on, she was in continuous danger of being
ambushed by her ex-fiancé and his people. But the Lord kept His hand over her.
Daily this faithful Christian would commit herself to the protection of the
Lord. In the mornings and evenings she had to walk a long way to work and back.
The girl's ex-fiancé was livid and threatened,"If only I had a gun, I
would execute all the Christians on the spot." He repeatedly threatened the
Christians.
In the end, this was what happened to him:
He was a security guard for a business in Johannesburg. One night thieves
broke into the factory and shot him, severely injuring him. After medical
treatment, he recovered from his injuries. This was a warning to him, but he
did not heed it at all. He continued with his hatred towards the Christians.
The hand of the Lord hit him a second time. He was at another place in
Johannesburg, when he was ambushed and stabbed. The stab wounds were in exactly
the same place where he had been shot previously. They moved him from one
hospital to another, but in 1976 he died in the Edendale Hospital at
Pietermaritzburg.
The son's heathen father asked Erlo to take the funeral. Erlo asked,"But
why do you, a heathen, ask a Christian to take the funeral?" The father
answered,"This is our third death in a year. Therefore I ask you to plead with
God to bring these disasters in our lives to an end."
The wife of the deceased didn’t agree to this. Being a heathen, she
wanted a heathen funeral. So she asked that her husband's corpse be taken out
of the coffin and laid in a cloth or skin. This is a heathen tradition. The
heathen pall-bearers refused, however, because the man had been dead for three
days, and had started decaying in the African heat.
The funeral was held at Tugela Ferry, a place where many things have
happened that have been recorded in this book. Many true Christians live there.
The funeral was attended by a good number of people, providing a wonderful
opportunity to spread the Gospel.
This incident of death has an anecdote. We have already heard about the
car at Tugela Ferry which was named"Noah's Ark". After the death of this man,
four men and three women set off to get the corpse. Because the seriously
injured man had been taken to different hospitals, there was some
misunderstanding as to where he was. So instead of going to Pietermaritzburg,
they went to Durban. On their way back to Pietermaritzburg, while still in
Durban, they had a breakdown."Noah's Ark" just stood still, unable to start. A
mechanic came, but was not able to repair the vehicle, so the seven had to stay
over in Durban.
The next morning an Indian man came, who was known as a good car
mechanic. He checked everything and said,"The car is all right, it should
run." But"Noah's Ark" wouldn’t move.
Among the seven there was a Christian woman. The unbelieving father,
Zondo, said,"Don’t you know that this car only starts with prayer?" All seven,
six heathens and a Christian, knelt down beside the road and prayed to God for
"Noah's Ark". After the prayer the driver said,"Let us try again." The engine
started immediately. During the next 210 kilometres that they had to travel
there was no further breakdown.
Thus, many things happened just because this engaged girl listened to the
voice of the exalted Lord. Many heathens who heard all that had happened, from
the engagement to the funeral, began to understand. To hear and obey the voice
of the"Speaking Lord" is an essential lesson in the life of a Christian.
The Lord who leads and guides
In Psalm 4:3 King David confesses,"Remember that the Lord has chosen me
to be His own, and hears me when I call to Him." The precondition is that we
allow ourselves to be led. Even the Apostle Peter had to learn to be led. We
need to remember what Jesus said in John 21:18,"I tell you the truth: when
you were young you used to fasten your belt and go anywhere you wanted to; but
when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie them
and take you where you do not want to go."
Some examples of guidance in the Zulu revival:
1. The Tobacco Story
A co-worker told me his story. In 1951/52 he was a salesman in a shop in
the Matatiele District near the Drakensberg. One day, an elderly man entered
the shop and bought himself tobacco for 15 cents. While this customer was in
the shop, the salesman sold something else to another customer. After coming
back to this elderly man, he asked for the 15 cents again. The elderly man
defended himself, saying,"I’ve paid for the tobacco." The young salesman
denied this, grabbed him by the collar and said,"You’re not leaving until
you’ve paid." The customer had no choice but to pay for the tobacco a second
time.
The narrator has been a Lutheran from childhood because of his parents.
But he didn’t have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. One day he met
a pastor who showed him the way of salvation. Through this, an essential step
was taken.
Years later, the Lord made it clear to him that this tobacco matter had
to be put right. He remained stubborn, and said,"Lord how can I drive 800
kilometres, using 30 rand for petrol, to pay back 15 cents? Besides, I have no
clue who that customer was." But his conscience just wouldn’t let him rest.
Obeying his inner urging, he set out on his way. While he was travelling,
he remembered a matter of dishonesty concerning some apples. He decided to put
that right as well.
His first mission led him to a neighbouring shop to settle the apple
incident. He asked the salesman about the man to whom he had sold tobacco, and
told him the whole story. The salesman could hardly believe that after so long,
someone would come to make such a small thing right again. It was also a good
opportunity to testify to the salesman about the Lord Jesus.
Then the co-worker looked for the shop in which he had worked such a long
time ago. Here he found out about the tobacco buyer. He was told that he had
died, but that his son was living nearby.
After that, he saw the tribal chief to find out in which village the son
was living. The chief informed him that he himself had been present when he
compelled the man to pay again. The co-worker explained to the chief that he
had come to sort this out, because he had found Jesus. He handed the chief the
15 cents plus all the interest, because the son of the tobacco buyer wasn’t
available, asking him to give it to the son.
On his way back, the co-worker went back to the neighbouring business and
told the salesman how the matter had been solved.
Hearing this confession, the conscience of the salesman was touched, and
he related that he had recently said to the Lord in prayer,"Lord, I want to
fully belong to You." The Lord had then replied that He would show him the way.
This had happened repeatedly. Now he knew what to do, and was counselled by
Erlo's co-worker.
After that blessed day, this Christian co-worker went to see an old
friend of his, because the journey back was too long to go on on the same day.
There he was phoned by the salesman from the neighbouring business again,"Can
I see you again tomorrow, the Lord has shown me that there is more to be put
right." The next morning he confessed a second time and asked finally,"Can I
give you a gift?""Not to me" the co-worker said,"But if the Lord wants you to
give something for the mission, you may gladly do so."
The salesman gave him a check of over 500 rand. The co-worker remembered
quarrelling with the Lord about thirty rand, and here he was going home with
500 rand.
The 15 cents had brought in high interest on both sides, and in addition
to that, three men had been confronted with the Gospel.
David says in Psalm 23:3,"… He leads me in paths of righteousness for
His names’ sake."
2. The Half-Crown
Since the revival among the Zulus began, even the marriage customs have
changed. The heathen Zulu's marriage simply begins by him visiting the girl he
loves at night. The official marriage happens later when the bridal price has
been paid.
The Zulu believers have changed this by being a good example and
testimony. When a Christian young man wants to marry, he will first go to his
counsellor and share this. The counsellor then goes to the girl on
behalf of the young man to request her hand in marriage. The girl then prays about
it and answers through the counsellor. There is no contact between them. They
keep themselves pure until their wedding day. Here is an
example:
A Christian man came to Erlo and said that he would like to marry a
certain Christian young lady. He asked Erlo to speak to herl. Erlo answered by
saying that he should ask the Lord again if this really was His will.
After some days, he returned and said,"I really have the impression that
the Lord wants me to marry her." So Erlo went to her and asked her if she agreed
to marry him. She said,"I have no ambition to marry at all; I want to remain
in full-time ministry." Erlo said to her,"What you plan to do does not count.
God's will is what matters. Pray and find out what He says."
She asked the Lord for a clear sign and His guidance in the matter. She
received an answer through a dream. In the dream she found herself in a strange
room with a table in the middle. On the table there was a glass bowl. A child
entered the room and gave her a half-crown. This was a common coin at that
time. Then a man entered the room and put another half-crown into the bowl
without looking at her. The child then told her,"Put your half-crown into the
bowl as well." She obeyed and saw how both half-crowns became a whole crown.
After this happened, the child disappeared. Through this, she received her
answer. They are co-workers together.
3. Marriage against her Will
Erlo came to a Zulu Christian woman, Grema, and told her that a young man
wanted to marry her. He asked Grema to pray about it so that she could give him
her answer. Now Grema's ideas about marriage were a bit eccentric. She said,
"This man must have fallen if he is busy thinking about getting married. A Christian
who is burning for the Lord doesn’t waste thoughts on marriage." Erlo had to
correct this point of view.
After some time, Erlo came and asked her if she had prayed about the
matter. Grema answered as the first time,"No, I’ve got nothing to do with it.
I’m not wasting any time on marriage." Erlo asked if she knew how God could
answer. She said,"Through His Word, or through a dream or a vision or directly
to our hearts."
After Erlo's second visit, she prayed earnestly, for the first time,
concerning marriage. The Lord answered her by telling her to open the Bible. Grema
opened at Acts 10, and read on to verse 15:"What God has made clean, you do
not call common." Now she realised that she had despised marriage in an overly pious
way. The Lord made it clear to her,"God has given marriage, and you call it
something unclean." Grema understood the lesson.
After this spiritual correction, she went to Erlo and brought him her
answer. The couple married and received four children from God. The names of
the children all have a meaning, according to the custom of the Zulus:
The first child is called Mfihlo, meaning"secret" or"mystery".
The second, Nontando, meaning"the will of God".
The third, Nhlakanipho, meaning"wisdom".
The fourth, Kwenzaokwenkosi, meaning"it is from the Lord".
Both parents are in the Lord's service.
The husband is one of the team of co-workers and his wife works in the
hospital. Both live wonderfully together and enjoy their work in the ministry.
She is glad that she was obedient, although her husband is often away. Both of
them do their work in faith that the Lord will provide. It sometimes happened
that there was little or no food. She would then pray to the Lord and He would
provide for both her and her children. The marriage was brought about by the
leading of the Lord, but Grema had to learn to follow His guiding.
4. Unwillingness to Marry
A co-worker came to Erlo and said that he had the assurance that he was
to marry a certain young lady. Erlo sent him away again and told him to pray
for full certainty. The young man came back and said that he was sure about the
matter.
So Erlo went to her, but she wasn’t interested in marriage at all. Erlo later
came again and asked her if she had the assurance as to what to do. She
answered,"No!" She had not taken the matter seriously. After Erlo's second
visit, she prayed earnestly to the Lord about it.
The Lord answered through a dream. The young lady saw the man standing in
a certain place. The next day she came to that place and saw him in reality
standing there. But she wanted to be very sure, so she asked the Lord for a
second sign. He granted this to her. In a vision she saw a white dove standing
on a crystal glass, and a voice said to her,"Be very careful with this dove,
it belongs to you. Don’t you see that because of your stubbornness and your
unwillingness, it is already injured on the foot?" There were many Bibles next
to the dove. When she heard and saw this, she knew that it was God's will to
marry the man. The Bibles were a sign that the man was preaching the Gospel.
Not only was this a happy marriage, but a great blessing in the Kingdom of God
as well.
5. Difficulties with Polygamy
A heathen had become a Christian, but he had two wives. He had married
the first wife because of his parents; his second wife was his own choice and
his first love. He gave all the money that he earned to his favourite wife. The
first wife didn’t receive anything at all and was totally neglected. He lived
only with his second wife in a real marriage relationship. So now that this
heathen man, who had been a strong opponent of the Gospel, had turned to the
Lord, he asked the Lord what he should do. Would he have to send his second
wife away, the one he dearly loved?
Such marital problems have been solved differently on the mission fields.
In Liberia I got to know a man who had been a heathen and become a Christian.
He kept his main wife, gave the other three wives money and sent them away. In
New Guinea and the South Sea Islands, I have come across other cases where overzealous
missionaries insisted that the new converts should send their other wives away
and keep just one. This has proven to be a hindrance to the Gospel, because
those sent away would say,"Christianity is a brutal religion, it robs us of
our husbands, our children, our homes and our livelihood. Did the missionaries
come for that purpose?"
Knowing this, I asked Erlo how this problem was solved among the Zulus.
Would the new converts have to send away their wives, except for one? Erlo
answered as follows,"We do not have any laws concerning this. We tell the husbands
to ask the Lord what His will is." Erlo added,"I haven’t heard of any that
were sent away. Of course, when a Zulu girl gets converted, the Lord doesn’t
allow her to marry a heathen." I have already reported such a case.
Now back to the man with two wives who had become a Christian. He
sincerely asked the Lord what His will was. What happened? He went to his first
wife, whom he had totally neglected, and asked her for forgiveness. He gave
both wives the same amount of money and he lived in a real marriage
relationship with both of them, not only with the one.
This made a great impression in his area, and it was said,"This is the
true Gospel, because it brings fairness to the neglected one."
6. Well-meant Zeal - but still Wrong
Two young Zulu women came to believe in Christ. They were in the
beginning of their first love, and burning for their Lord. When their husbands
returned from their jobs in Durban, they both declared,"We have found Jesus,
and for that reason we are not allowed to brew any beer any more." It is a
common thing among the Zulu women to brew beer for their men and their friends.
However, the Zulu Christians don’t do this.
Both husbands were outraged, and wouldn’t accept it. The women defended
themselves against their husbands with the Bible verse,"… we ought to obey God
rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
The disappointed men went back to Durban and their reply to their wives
was to stop giving them money. They wouldn’t come home on weekends either, but
stayed in Durban with other women.
Erlo heard of this and asked the two wives to come and speak to him. He
told the two hotheads,"The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of peace and not of
conflict. Your behaviour has caused your men to commit adultery, and to become
more radically opposed to the Gospel. Go back to your husbands and ask for
forgiveness. Be submissive to them and pray that the Lord will set them free."
Both women did just this, and the men were deeply moved. The one man said
to his wife that she would never have to brew beer for him again. The other one
said,"Just brew beer for me, and not for my friends and visitors."
The different attitudes of the men also brought about different results.
The first man comes to the services, whereas the other one became paralyzed,
and remains so to this day.
It is the wise who win souls, but this doesn’t mean that godly wisdom
leads to compromise. If these women had initially asked to be led by the Lord,
a lot of distress and strife could have been avoided.
God's leading demands quietness.
Where our foot still wants to go,
The will of our everlasting Father,
Is exchanged for our own.
Deep and godly matters,
Do not allow anything,
That man would force by taking it by storm,
But rather lead to His peace.
To allow the Lord to lead and guide in every situation is almost a
greater decision than that made at conversion. For me it wasn’t as hard to turn
to the Lord, comparatively speaking, as to be ready to be led by Him at all
times. In this I’m still a beginner. I mention this with deep sorrow.
7. Guidance in Prayer Life
As I was writing this book, a letter from Erlo reached me. In it he wrote
some very important things that give food for thought."When we speak about
prayer we should know that the Lord Jesus put ‘watching’ first. He said, ‘Watch
and pray!’ There are Christians who have prayed themselves to a standstill. The
enemy can enter into prayer and deviate people from that which is essential. One
can go to destruction on one's knees."
There are forms of prayer which do not draw us near to the Lord, but away
from Him. Jesus labelled as hypocrisy the prayers of the Pharisees.
Hypocritical and thoughtless prayers, such as those of the Pharisees, haven’t
died out yet. I am reluctant to name all the different forms of unavailing
prayer.
In the Zulu revival there are many Christians whose whole lives are lived
in an attitude of prayer. They pray ceaselessly, day and night. Not on certain
occasions or at certain times, but always when the Holy Spirit constrains them.
Everything else is of secondary value, and in the background.
Not only do adults have this prayerful attitude, but it is also found
among the children. The Lord often revealed Himself to an eleven-year-old and
showed her the state of several Christians and even churches. She would then
pray fervently that God would have mercy on them - and the Lord answered her
prayers!
It also happens that the Holy Spirit moves Christians to withdraw into periods
of quietness. They pray for a day or more, sometimes even a week, until God
answers.
I know of such examples in missionary history. Eva von Tiele-Winckler
once prayed for ten days for a certain Chinese province, without having any
background information. Later she learnt that a mission station was being
threatened by gangs of robbers during this time, but the missionaries were
spared.
Erlo wrote some more things in the letter."There are people of prayer
here that will not be prevented from interceding, even when an important visit
is at hand. The visitors have to wait until the time of prayer is over. I know
of instances when visitors came early in the morning and had to wait the whole
day. If the people praying were told that visitors were waiting, they would
respond, ‘We have an appointment with God.’ Fellowship with the Lord is more
important to them than any person or matter. Visitors that are able to wait
patiently are richly blessed by the Lord. People who find other things more
important or urgent, lose that blessing. This life with the Lord cannot be
compared with anything else."
In the same letter Erlo gave a very clear example of such a prayer life.
"A pastor came to us from a place about 145 kilometres from KwaSizabantu. His
desire and longing was to live a life filled with the fire and Spirit of God.
We went to a woman, a Mrs B., who I know has a genuine life of prayer. It
wasn’t possible to reach the house by car, so we had to walk the last part.
When we arrived at her house and were standing at her door, we heard Mrs B.
praying. We heard her mentioning the pastor's name and mine, praying that the
Lord would grant us what we need. She didn’t know of our coming or that this
pastor was with me. She had already been in prayer for several hours, because
the Lord had laid a burden on her heart to intercede for us."
The psalmists often speak about the guidance of God. David says in Psalm
31:3,"For You are my rock and fortress; and for Your name's sake lead me and
guide me." Also in the well-known Psalm 23, verses 2-3, which have already been
mentioned,"…He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me
in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." He leads me! This has to be
learned: to allow oneself to be led in total obedience and sensitivity to the
promptings of the Holy Spirit, to observe and not to miss His guidance.
THE PROTECTING LORD
Consecrated children of God are always under fire:
-Satan will never allow them to rest.
-Nominal Christians provide heartache and distress for them.
-Cold orthodox people despise them.
-Rationalists ridicule them.
-Lukewarm Christians regard them as eccentric.
-Hamstrung theologians call them a sect.
Opposition and attacks serve to strengthen our faith, and help us to hold
more firmly to the Lord.
Men in the Scriptures also suffered persecution. This is why we have so
many wonderful psalms that mention God's protection. Remember Psalm 46, which
inspired Martin Luther to write the great Reformation hymn,"A
mighty fortress is our God."
Or let us meditate on Psalm 91, which has often been a tremendous help to
me:"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my
refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver
thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence ... Because
thou hast made the Lord thy refuge, even the most High, thy habitation …"
Erlo, his team and the whole revival have often experienced a lot of
opposition, but also the help and protection of God.
1. Protected from Church Authorities
In almost every revival there has been opposition from the Churches and
the pastors. Often, after some years, this antagonism falls away, and the revival
begins to penetrate the Church. This has often been to the advantage of the Church,
but has adversely affected the revival. I have many examples that I could
quote. Here is one that I experienced myself:
In the 1930's there was a minor revival in the area of the Pfinz valley
and the district of Hardt, through the evangelist Gottlieb Weiland. The pastors
and ministers of the different Churches were more or less in opposition, railing
against the fellowship of Christians who had come to the Lord through the evangelisations
- calling them fanatics. One pastor and his wife especially found no good in
them at all. Then came the time of the Third Reich (Hitler's era), and nobody
was courageous enough to accept the office of a church elder. Then the brethren
of the fellowship were considered good enough to fill the gaps. One of them was
my father. This was, outwardly at least, the end of the opposition to the
Christian fellowship.
In the beginning Erlo and his team also experienced the opposition of the
Churches. In my presence, an ecclesiastical lecturer in South Africa described
Erlo's group as the worst form of sect. This lecturer has not reversed what he
said to this day. When this book has been printed he will receive a copy of it.
Believers and Christian workers who have never confessed their sins will
always resist confession.
Christians who do not reveal the power of God in their lives will always
try to criticize it in others who do.
Ministers and pastors who see that their members are leaving because they
are receiving stones instead of bread are full of envy, sowing demonic seeds of
verbal abuse. Such people do not realise that they are tools in the devil's
hands.
Many believers cannot grasp what the words of Jesus mean where He says in
Matthew 12:36,"But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof on the day of judgment".
2. Protected from Secular Authorities
Erlo wanted to preach in a certain district, K. He wasn’t allowed to
preach or put his foot in the place by order of the court. So he preached
outside the forbidden district. Only two people came, which was a discouraging
experience. There seemed to be no hope that something could happen there. All
the inhabitants were against this evangelisation. In his distress, Erlo turned
to the Lord and asked Him for a word from the Bible. He received this promise:
"To you and your seed will I give this land." This greatly encouraged him.
On the Sunday following, he listened to a radio message on Psalm 2:"Why do the
heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?"
Erlo was comforted and intrigued to know how the Lord would change the situation.
Shortly afterwards, a man who wanted Erlo to conduct his funeral died, and Erlo
was asked to bring the message. But Erlo responded that he couldn’t do so
unless he was given permission by the authorities. The local authorities passed
this on to the higher administrative office which had forbidden Erlo to preach.
They had no choice but to respect the will of the deceased and that of his
relatives, giving Erlo the permission for just one day of preaching. Days later,
another man, who had made the same request, died. The whole procedure started
all over again. Again Erlo received permission for just one day. This rare
thing happened so often that within a short period of time ten people passed
away who all had made the same request. In this way God overcame the ban, and
made it possible that the Gospel was preached. His blessings flowed and many
were saved.
3. Protected from Non-believing Relatives
In the prophet Micah 7:6 we read,"…a man's enemies
are the men of his own house". The New Testament adds the following words in
Matthew 10:21,"And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the
father the child, and the children shall rise up against their parents, and
cause them to be put to death." The Gospel discerns the spirits, and this is
the case in every nation.
As I was writing this chapter a minister from a church in Mosbach asked
for prayer concerning a Catholic girl. The sixteen-year-old Birgit was
converted and wanted to be baptized in an evangelical congregation. Her
Catholic parents put her under house arrest and prevented her from going to the
service and being baptized. They let her pastor know that in the age of ecumenicism
there is no such thing as enticing someone (to another Church). This answer
reveals the character of both ecumenicism and the Catholic Church. Neither knows
what conversion and rebirth are.
Now to a case regarding a Zulu Christian, a seventeen-year-old girl, who had
attended a Christian church since 1968, but hadn’t received anything spiritually.
One day she was invited to meetings Erlo was holding, and found Jesus. Her
mother and both her older brothers, however, wouldn’t allow her to attend the
services. She would often get beaten. One day one brother whipped her with a
hippo lash and the other with a cane, to drive her Christian faith out of her.
She was so badly treated that she still has scars. Her mother even tried to
strangle her. Though greatly tested and distressed, she said,"I will not
forsake Jesus." Her mother challenged her to choose either to forsake the
services, or to leave home. Again she remained faithful to her Lord. Her mother
tore the clothes from her body and chased her out of the house naked.
She fled to a neighbouring house, but came back for a loin cloth. As she
said farewell the second time, she said,"Even though you hate me, I will keep
on loving you." So she left her village and her home for a long time.
After this her mother fell ill. The daughter found a place of work, and
with the money she earned she supported her family for months, winning them
through this. Her mother is now a Christian, and one of her brothers attends
the services.
This young Christian overcame hatred with love.
4. Protected from their Husbands
Two women from Tugela Ferry turned to the Lord. Their husbands, working
in Johannesburg, were informed. Both of them reacted with threats."When we
come home we will beat the faith of the whites out of you." The women were
afraid and asked their counsellor what to do. He encouraged them not to be fearful,
Jesus would protect them.
When the men came home to Tugela Ferry, they encountered transformed
women who honoured them - they were not as they had been before. They treated
their husbands as kings. Previously, they would bring cold water for their
feet, now they brought warm water. The men's anger disappeared very quickly.
Their booze-drinking friends asked them,"Have you driven the ‘white’
religion out of them? Have you beaten them?" But the men answered,"If the God
of the whites can do something like that in women's lives, then we have nothing
against it." And they told of the great changes that had come about in their
wives.
When they were about to return to Johannesburg they said,"We do not
forbid you to go to church. You may continue with this living Gospel." Not only
their husbands, but their parents as well, were gripped by the Gospel through
this change in their lives.
A heathen woman came to believe in Jesus after the loss of her first
child, then gave birth to another child. When her second child was three years
old, her husband demanded that she convert back to heathendom. He forbade her
to attend the services and fellowships with Christians. Then he brought idols
and offerings for the ancestors, so that the spirit of the forefathers would
bless their child. Then he clothed the child in the heathen way, with skins.
Two months later the child died. The heathen father was so shocked that he
allowed his wife to attend the services again.
They then had three more children, who are all healthy.
5. Protected from Gangsters
A Zulu woman by the name of Esther lived in Johannesburg and heard the Gospel
for the first time. However, she didn’t make things right in her life, because
she worked together with gangsters that smuggled diamonds. She was their
translator. They had the following trick: they would sell diamonds to someone,
but as soon as they had the money in their hands, they would take off with the
money and the diamonds. And in the same way they would cheat the next person.
One of Erlo's co-workers showed Esther the way to Jesus. Esther said that
if she quit the gang they would murder her, because she knew too much. The
co-worker encouraged her and said to her,"Esther, rather be shot than forsake
the Lord". Esther then dared to make this difficult decision, looking to the
Lord.
The gangster boss came to her the following day, and she was scared to
death. But he was very pleasant, and said to her,"Esther, we know that you do
not want to work with us any more. Just hand me all the documents!" Esther gave
him the documents without a word, and he then disappeared, not harming a hair
on her head.
Her husband's story is intriguing in itself. Esther's conversion also
affected him. He had previously had a lung disease. After being ill for seven
years, he went to see a doctor, who had him X-rayed. He was told that his lungs
were free of tuberculosis.
Now he experienced a second miracle. As it had been with his wife, he was
also involved in crooked business. He was a drug dealer with a long record of
convictions. When he was caught again, the magistrate took out his long list of
previous convictions, and contemplated it for a long time. At length he tore up
the considerable file, and said to Jim,"Let us begin from scratch again." He
didn’t have to go to jail. He only had to pay a fine.
6. Protected against Magic
In a place called Hammersdale, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, a
young man fell in love with a girl who had a witchdoctor as a boyfriend. This
witchdoctor put a curse on his rival so that he became sick. Although the
bewitched lover was a heathen, he cried to the Lord.
The Lord answered him in a dream and said to him,"There is a place
between Kranskop and Mapumulo where you can receive help."
The heathen man came to the police station at Kranskop and asked where KwaSizabantu
was. He was shown the way, and there he found the way to salvation. He
confessed his sins and thereby placed himself under Jesus’ protection; so the
witchdoctor was rendered powerless.
7. The Daughters-in-Law
A heathen woman from a big kraal with 18 huts came to the Lord. Her life
was so changed, that after some time both her daughters-in-law came to her and
said,"Your life and faith appeals to us. We would also like to become
Christians."
Both daughters-in-law belonged to one man, the son of this converted
heathen mother. After hearing of their conversion he was furious. He wrote to his
mother that he would come and drive this new faith out of them. If they
wouldn’t stop with it, he would chase them away.
After receiving this letter, the mother went to KwaSizabantu to fast and
pray for three weeks. After this period she went home and said,"God has heard
my prayer." When her son came home from Johannesburg, his anger had abated. He
told them,"After writing this letter, my hatred against the Christians
disappeared. I now have a different attitude."
He gave his mother and both wives forty rand each and sent them to town.
"Go and buy yourselves some clothes," he said."I also want you to continue
with this new Gospel, and you are not allowed to participate in heathen feasts
any more. If you are not faithful to this new Gospel, I will chase you away."
This man later came to KwaSizabantu with both his wives and surrendered
his life to Jesus. He also asked Erlo to intercede in prayer for his wives,
because they always had miscarriages. Shortly afterwards one of them received a
big, healthy and strong child. The other one hasn’t received a child yet. This
is a very recent report.
Since his conversion, this man has supported his wives and mother very
well, and gives them more money than ever before. The whole family will be
coming to services in April 1976 for preparation for baptism. They intend to be
baptized soon.
So the Lord has made a"Paul" out of a"Saul".
8. The Angels are Watching
In Hebrews 1:14 it is written,"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" I believe in
guardian angels. I have heard many stories about such angels on the mission
fields.
But let me mention a German story first. As a young minister I was in
Hornberg in the Black Forest. This congregation was my first love. I
also loved the Black Forest, and because of that I almost became a nature
fanatic.
The care for all the people of the146 Black Forest farms in my circuit
wasn’t a heavy duty, but a form of recreation to me. I owe much gratitude to
the regional Bishop Kühlewein, who placed me in this wonderful spot to assist
his son.
On the long trails of this vast parsonage I often passed the Huberfelsen.
These rocks have quite a history. One evening, history recalls, some young men
waited in ambush for the minister of the congregation, Pastor Blum. They
intended to beat him with sticks, and for that purpose they chose these rocks.
As Father Blum came by, he greeted the young men. None of them answered him or
moved. When he went home the same way, the men were still standing there with
their clubs. The same thing happened, whereupon Father Blum said,"It's time
for you to go home."
Three months later, Father Blum was called to Prechtal, to the deathbed
of a young man. This young man then confessed that he and his friends had intended
to beat him at the Huberfelsen, but they saw a white figure walking next to
him. Besides that, they were completely paralyzed. So they planned to do it on
his way back. The same thing happened. The white figure held his hands over
Father Blum's head, and they were again paralyzed.
This is one of many proofs of the existence of guardian angels. I could
also mention several personal incidents here as well, but I do not think it
would be appropriate to subject myself to the mockery of the rationalistic
theologians.
Just one more example from China. Before Mao took over the power in
China, many raiding gangs had terrified both the population and the mission
stations. One day, a small city in the province Kweichow was surrounded. In
the mission station, the believers were on their knees asking God to protect
them. After some days, the gangs left without harming them. Months later the
missionaries heard from a man who had defected from the enemy gang, who
explained why they had withdrawn. The whole city had been surrounded by one or
two rows of"white soldiers". The raiding gangs thought them to be western
soldiers, which was why they didn’t dare to attack. We know who the"white
soldiers" were. They were messengers of God, sent to protect those who had
asked for protection.
Now to Erlo's experience. The team was conducting a tent campaign in
Ladysmith (KwaZulu-Natal). Many girls were converted, exposing their unclean
relationships. The men concerned were very angry, and they intended to take revenge.
They planned to come at night and rip up the tent. When they arrived, the whole
tent was surrounded by soldiers. The men fled immediately. Erlo's team hadn’t
ordered any soldiers at all, nor had they seen any.
Here is the correlation with Father Blum. Under his preaching there were
girls who came to the Saviour. From that time on they attended the Bible
studies rather than visit their boyfriends. At Prechtal in the Black Forest and
in Ladysmith, the reason for the intended revenge was the same.
In Isaiah 37:35, the Lord says, "For I will defend
this city to save it for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake."
In Psalm 91:14, we read words which have helped me many a time, "...therefore
will I deliver him ... because he hath known My Name."
THE HOLY LORD
This is possibly the most amazing statement in the Bible: "Ye shall
be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Lev. 19:2) The New Testament
complements this statement with the words, "It is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31)
How do we sinners live in the presence of the Holy God?"For
the Lord thy God is a consuming fire." (Deuteronomy 4:24)
In the Zulu revival the holiness of God has often become terrifyingly
apparent.
Here are some examples:
1. Kista Pillay
The witnesses of the following are Erlo and sister Käthe from Gödenstorf
in Germany.
Kista had been a member of the secret police in Pietermaritzburg, but was
then stationed in Benoni, near Johannesburg. His mother earnestly pleaded,
"Come back. In Johannesburg you’ll be killed." He at first resisted because
of his good position, but he then left the police and came back to Pietermaritzburg.
His mother's persistence had won the battle.
Kista found a job in a hotel where provisions had to be guarded, because
of thieves. In his first week there was a case of theft, and then again in the
second week. The manager called for him and threatened to dismiss him if this
didn’t stop. Kista asked for one more chance."I’m innocent. I’ll find the
thief," he said. In the third week there was another theft, but this time he
caught the thief. It was a Zulu, and Kista hit him and dragged him to the manager,
who dismissed him on the spot. However, the Zulu was a sorcerer, and this
caused a bad sequel.
Kista, an Indian man, received a lot of trouble from this day on. During
the night he would get beaten by invisible powers. One evening there was a noise
on the roof, and Kista went out to investigate. When he didn’t return, his wife
went out through the back door to her parents, who lived in the neighbourhood.
They all came back together and found him lying unconscious outside the front
door. From that time on he was unable to keep any food down, vomiting
constantly. During the next eight months he could only take in liquids. Night
after night he was beaten by these invisible powers. Many doctors were
consulted, and among them were five specialists - but they found nothing.
Let me just mention, by the way, that I have many such cases in my index. This belongs to phenomena called
persecution sorcery. Rationalists would laugh about this, but they also
laugh about Christians who are aware of the existence of the devil.
One day their laughter will fade away, when they recognise the reality of
the one whose existence they had denied. It would be better for them to
repent while there is still time.
After all these terrible visitations, a famous doctor from Cape Town came
to see Kista and said to him conceitedly,"If I cannot help you, then no one
can." The Indian man answered,"And yet, I have heard of one who can help when
all doctors have failed.""Who is that?" the doctor asked. Kista answered,"It
is Jesus, the God of the Christians. He can help." The doctor rejected this, saying
that he didn’t believe it."That is the reason why you cannot help me," Kista
said, who was by now ‘skin and bones’. The famous doctor was also soon at the
end of his tether.
While in this condition, he got to know sister Käthe, who advised him to
go to Erlo's hospital at KwaSizabantu. Kista agreed to be taken there. When his
wife heard this, she implored him to let go of this idea. She sought out a Hindu
temple and asked a fortune-teller what she should do. The witch warned her,"If
your husband goes there today, he will be a dead man tomorrow."
The prophecy was not fulfilled. Kista arrived at KwaSizabantu and did not
die! However, at this place of prayer, the haunting continued - the noise on
the roof, the knocking at the door, the walking in the passage, the scratching
on the windows and the beatings by invisible forces. But he was shown the way
to Jesus and was now ready to follow. Then the miracle happened. After eight
months he was able to eat solid food and keep it down.
But the attacks still kept on, to a certain extent. Erlo spoke to him and
asked,"Do you still have hidden things in your life from which you are not
ready to separate yourself?" He said he could think of nothing.
One night Kista went to the toilet. In the corner of the passage he saw a
small table with a Bible on it. As he went around the corner he saw a spirit
resembling the Zulu sorcerer. The apparition spoke to him,"You thought that
you could escape me, but I have followed you here. You will never get away from
my power." Kista didn’t know what to do; then he grabbed the Bible and held it
towards the spirit, and it fled immediately.
The attacks continued, and again Erlo asked him,"There must be something
which gives the enemy a foothold in your life!" Kista answered,"I know of
nothing." Then Erlo smelt cigarette smoke, and asked him,"Do you smoke?" Kista
answered,"Yes, but is that wrong? Then I’ll stop it immediately."
Kista repented and stopped smoking immediately. All the attacks stopped
as well.
I would like to make a comment here. Many Christians in Europe and North
America will find this too far-fetched - that smoking should be such an evil
thing, that it opens someone up to be targeted by the enemy. Some will even
point out that well-known men of God were also smokers. I know of this. In
revival areas the holiness of God is so pervasive, that bad habits, regarded
simply as weaknesses on other continents, are shown to be sinful. The
lukewarmness and readiness to compromise among the Christians in Europe is one
of the reasons why the Lord cannot grant revival.
Back to Kista! Satan attacked once again very fiercely. One night a
smartly dressed gentleman came into his room, sat at Kista's bedside and
offered him a cigarette.
He refused and said"No, I do not smoke!" The
"gentleman" said,"There is nothing wrong with it - if I smoke, you can too."
Kista responded,"You smoke because you are not a believer. I do not smoke
because I belong to Jesus!"
Then this gentleman started beating him viciously. Kista thought that it
must have lasted for three to four hours. Finally Kista was on his stomach,
praying,"Lord Jesus, You have purified me. Please, will You take me under the
protection of Your Blood?"
At that moment, the visitor ran to the door. Kista saw him going and
noticed a long tail. From that day on he had peace. He went back home to
Pietermaritzburg and gave his testimony of Jesus to his Hindu relatives. Many
were converted and came for counselling to Erlo.
Some months later Erlo asked Sister Käthe how Kista was doing. She said
that something was wrong in Kista's life. It was as before, when he wasn’t able
to keep his food down. She said she wanted to visit him.
Sister Käthe visited Kista. When he saw her, he quickly threw away the
cigarette he was smoking. He was in very serious condition. She spoke in plain
language to him, and said,"Kista, you thought that you could fool God. Now the
Lord has caught you out again. Don’t you want to go back to KwaSizabantu? I’ll
have to ask Pastor Erlo if he will take you back after this backsliding." Kista
agreed.
So Sister Käthe called Erlo and asked if Kista could come."As long as he
is alive," Erlo replied,"there is time to repent and turn back to God." Sister
Käthe brought Kista this message and fixed a day when he was to be picked up.
When she arrived on the appointed day, Kista's flat was locked. The Indians
usually lock their houses on the outside with a padlock, but because there was
no lock on the outside, she could only suppose that he had changed his mind and
locked the door from the inside. Nobody answered. All the calling and knocking
was in vain.
Erlo soon had to leave for Europe. Kista's condition worsened, and he
died while Erlo was still overseas. Kista had missed his opportunity!
In revivals the blessings of God are glorious, but His judgments are
fearful.
In Malachi 1:14, the Lord says,"My Name is
dreadful (full of terror) among the nations." He is at times also terrible
among apostates (those who fall away).
2. The Apostates
In Tugela Ferry a blind witchdoctor was healed. After his healing he went
into the mountains to collect herbs. While he was digging his eyes were again
closed. He was unable to go home on his own because he couldn’t see at all, so
he started to call out loud for help. When his cries were heard, they brought
him down from the mountain. Now he realised that God is not mocked. He went
back to the Christians and asked for prayer, but he wasn’t healed the second
time.
There may be some misunderstanding concerning the wrong in the use of
herbs. The Zulu witchdoctor, however, combines many magic practises with the
use of herbs. When this witchdoctor reverted to his previous practices, his blindness
returned.
An old man had malformed legs. His only means of moving was by use of his
hands, propelling himself along while in a sitting position. He confessed his
sins and was prayed for, after which his legs straightened, and he returned
home the following day. When his heathen relatives saw this miracle, they
suggested offering a cow to the ancestors as thanks. The healed man agreed.
While this was being done, he became paralyzed as before, and after some time
he died.
An alcoholic woman found the Lord. After a period of time she became idle
and lukewarm in her Christian life. Becoming seriously ill, she consulted
doctors and even witchdoctors, but nobody was able to help her. Then she sent
for an evangelist, and one of Erlo's co-workers came. Her intention was to
confess her sins, but every time she tried to confess before the co-worker, an
invisible hand seemed to strangle her. She was able to say anything else
without hindrance, but the moment she tried to confess her sins, she was unable
to speak. The invisible hand strangled her, preventing her from breathing
properly. She died without making her life right.
An epileptic came to the Lord and was completely healed. He was a
testimony for Jesus, fit and transformed, and he asked if he could work at KwaSizabantu.
Then he backslid. One Sunday evening he returned home drunk, and there and then
his fits started again. The team's prayers were this time unable to help. The
epileptic fell unconscious and died after two days.
Backsliders are a serious problem for counsellors. I myself try to point
out and show the mercy of God to backsliding Christians. I
mainly use two Bible passages:
Jeremiah 3:22:"Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your
backsliding."
Hosea 14:4:"I will heal their backsliding."
Both passages mention that the backslider may come back to the Lord,
which I have also seen happening. There are those who manage to return.
On the other hand, one observes very often that in revivals higher
standards prevail. When God's glory is so mightily revealed that lost sinners
are delivered, the blind see, the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, then
God's holiness and His revelations take on new dimensions. This was so in the
Indonesian revival and is likewise so in the Zulu revival.
3. Half-heartedness
A witch was brought to KwaSizabantu. She had lost her senses, and she
raged and screamed. It wasn’t clear whether she was insane or possessed. She
was locked into a room by herself, but her screaming could be heard from afar.
She would bang the walls and even try to climb them. The food which was brought
to her was thrown around so that her room soon looked like a pigsty.
After the team had interceded for her in prayer, her condition improved
so that it was possible to speak to her. She was counselled, and made her life
right with God. When she saw the soiled walls, she asked,"Have I done this?
How could I ever have done such a thing? Give me water, soap and a brush so
that I can remove the filth." She got to work and started cleaning and
scrubbing the walls.
She was ready to burn her charms, but there was one thing from which she
wasn’t ready to part. This was just too valuable to her."I cannot give this up,"
she said,"it's far too precious to me!" What happened? Her condition worsened,
she rampaged more than ever and was picked up from KwaSizabantu in that state.
Rendering ninety per cent of one's life to Jesus is nothing but a
complete rejection of Him.
4. Lost Power
The story of two blessed Christians is reported here:
A farmer who was converted had good counselling qualities. Many found the
Lord Jesus through his testimony. One day he came to Erlo, weeping. He said,"I
haven’t led anyone to the Lord in the past two weeks. There is something wrong
with my life. The devil has victory in my life." He confessed his sins and
received peace and forgiveness again. When he returned that night, there were
people waiting to be counselled. He asked those who were waiting why they had
come."We want to get our lives right with God," they said. From the very hour
that the farmer made his own life right before God, the Holy Spirit started to
work again. God withdraws His blessings when something isn’t in order. Even a
minor unfaithfulness will cause His power to stop.
A white Christian was blessed in his work for the Lord. He would daily
lead people to the Lord. Suddenly it was as if everything was cut off. Not one person
came for counselling in three months. Even his Christian brethren avoided him.
He had sinned in secret and nobody knew about it, but the Spirit of God, who
sees into every dark corner, had withdrawn. The brother pleaded for three
months daily on his knees, asking the Lord for forgiveness. Three or four times
he confessed to the Lord,"Lord, forgive me without me telling anyone. What
will that person think of me if I tell him what I have done?" But the Spirit of
God did not work, and the brother found no peace. Finally he said to the Lord,
"Lord, even if I lose my position, I cannot continue like this. I need peace in
my heart." He went to Erlo and confessed his wrongdoings. Then he asked,"Do I
have to stop with my ministry?" Erlo replied,"The one who confesses and
repents of his sin, receives forgiveness from the Lord. And if the Lord
forgives, I forgive as well." The brother went on his way home with a light and
joyful heart. When he arrived home he found three people waiting for him. When
he asked them what they had come for, they said that their sins plagued them,
and that they were seeking forgiveness and peace. One after the other
confessed, and all three were led to the Lord. From the hour that he had
confessed his own sins, streams of living water flowed out of him once again.
By the way, these three had no idea when the brother was to come home - they
were brought by the Spirit of God!
Through repentance and confession, back came the lost power!
5. Missed Chance
In a place called Ntunjambili a woman fell so ill that she lost consciousness. When
she regained consciousness, she said,"I’ve been shown that I have to go to KwaSizabantu
to make my life right. I’m ready to go." Her relatives carried her to a car and
drove her to KwaSizabantu. Things had already improved by the time she arrived,
and with some support she was able to walk slowly. Her recovery progressed very
well and after some hours one hardly noticed that she had been grievously ill.
Things went so well that she was able to sit on her bed and converse. But she
had forgotten why she had come.
She was asked by a co-worker if she would like to be counselled before
she prayed with her."No," she said,"there is nothing". The co-worker urged
her, saying that she had come in order to be prayed for. The relatives had
already mentioned before coming that the ill woman wanted to make her life
right with God. But she avoided talking any more about it. She said"But I’m
fine now."
An hour later the co-worker informed the team that the condition of the
woman had worsened. The team immediately went to see her and found that news
confirmed. Her condition made it necessary to place her in a private room.
The sick woman declared,"I have gone astray. I’m lost, and I’m in a dark
world. It is so dark that I cannot describe what it is like! Pray for me!" The
team prayed, but it didn’t help. Erlo told her to pray as well, whereupon she
prayed the Lord's Prayer. She groaned,"O woe is me, where am I?" She grabbed
Erlo's hand and held it tightly, wailing again,"I cannot describe how awful
this world is where I am." She continued praying some sentences and then called
out,"The darkness is too great. Is there no one who can help me? God gave me
my chance, and I neglected it."
All the co-workers prayed, but without success. The sick woman passed
away into eternity, unsaved.
In Job 33:29-30, it is written,"All these things
God does, twice, yes thrice, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit,
that he may be enlightened with the light of the living."
We do not know if God granted this sick person more than one opportunity,
but perhaps there are more severe conditions in times of revival. This woman
had heard the Gospel in a mighty way and experienced her healing at KwaSizabantu.
She would have received forgiveness of her guilt and sins if she had repented
and confessed.
6. Mandlenkosi
Mandlenkosi was the son of a believing mother and a godless father. When
his mother turned to the Lord, his father almost beat his wife to death. She
lay on the ground, unable to walk. In the night she managed to crawl out and
hide herself in the high grass. In spite of all the opposition and the beatings
this mother stayed faithful to the Lord. From that time on, she became a great
prayer warrior, interceding for her children and committing them to the Lord.
As a child, Mandlenkosi felt called to the Lord's ministry. In his
holidays he would come and help Erlo.
One day his father said:"Okay, you have learned enough. Now go to the
city and earn your living." Mandlenkosi went to Durban.
He did not come back to KwaSizabantu again. After two years, his mother
came to Erlo, told him that her son was in jail, and asked him to pray for him.
What had happened?
Mandlenkosi was involuntarily drawn into a criminal youth gang. One day
while he was walking along the road, a group of young criminals met and
molested him. They threatened him and told him that if he wouldn’t go along
with them, he would be killed. Then they asked him if he had a pocket-knife.
The leader took it and Mandlenkosi followed them.
Shortly afterwards, the gangsters met a widow accompanying her son to
work, both of whom they didn’t know at all. The gang leader used Mandlenkosi's
knife and stabbed the young man in the heart. It was plain murder without any
reason, just out of a desire to kill. The gang continued on their way and
murdered a second person the same day. The leader threatened that anybody who
blabbed would be killed.
Mandlenkosi didn’t report the murders to the police, which would have
been his duty, but somebody else did. The whole group was arrested and
condemned to death by hanging. South Africa still had capital punishment for
both blacks and whites.
The convicted murderers were taken from the Durban jail to Johannesburg.
There they had to wait for almost a year until their sentence was carried out.
During this time, Mandlenkosi found his way back to the Lord. He received a
Bible which he faithfully read. He wrote a letter to Erlo which he asked to be
read to the congregation.
When the sentence had been announced, the gang leader had warned the gang,
"Don’t weep! We are not womenfolk." This courage disappeared when the day of
execution was fixed. An official came to their cell and told them that they
were to be hanged the following day. This was the end of their boldness; they
buckled and wept like small children. Only Mandlenkosi stayed comforted.
One of Erlo's co-workers accompanied Mandlenkosi to the place of
execution. Mandlenkosi sang as he went to the gallows.
The judge said that, if it had not been a double murder, and if
Mandlenkosi had reported it to the police, he would have had a chance of
escaping the death penalty, but there was now no chance at all.
Mandlenkosi's letter was read to many of the congregations by Erlo. His
last testimony was a blessing to many lukewarm and idle Christians. This is
what he wrote:
“Baba Umfundisi (Father Pastor) and brethren in Christ,
I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus. I thank God that, through the
mercy He has granted me at the end of my life, I could find my way back to Him,
and call myself His child.
I thank Him for this opportunity to write to you. Please tell all the
brothers and sisters in the Lord never to promise anything without keeping it.
(Deuteronomy 23:21: ‘When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall
not be slack in paying it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you,
and slackness would be sin in you.’)
I promised something that I did not keep, and that is why I am here. I
want to tell you that you should live for the Lord. I greet you all for the
last time with the following song:
Rejoice that we are children of God,
We belong to the Lord,
We have this testimony,
We thank You, Father, for Your Love,
And that we may know our Saviour.
Brethren, let us go forward,
To meet our Bridegroom,
Led by the Holy Spirit,
We will overcome with the Lord.
It is Christ who has overcome death,
And broken down the might of hell,
He has risen from the tomb, Hallelujah!
All the bars are broken.
Please greet my family and tell them not to weep, because I am going to
my Father's house. Tell my brothers and sisters to be converted, and not to do
what I have done. Greet my only small brother - please help me, Umfundisi - tell
him that he should live for Jesus alone. Tell my sisters, my grandfather, my
grandmother, not to weep and grieve over my death, because God has granted me
another chance to repent and be converted. I am Mandlenkosi (meaning ‘Strength
of the Lord’)."
This chapter shows the holiness of God. The examples out of the Zulu
revival are an illustration of this. These are examples that evoke fear. How
many Christians have made a good start and then got stuck halfway, like the
woman from Ntunjambili! Many have lost their first love. Others have not been
ready to surrender their reserved areas to the Lord, such as the witch who
wasn’t ready to give up her favourite charm, and then have ended terribly. All
these examples should enlighten and quicken us. Has Jesus got access to all the
rooms of our hearts? Is Jesus truly Lord, or do we decide and determine for
ourselves? The letter to the Hebrews (12:14) says,"Follow peace with all, and
holiness without which no one shall see the Lord."
Who can live this life of sanctification? No one! Do we then need to
despair? No! The merciful Lord has prepared a way for us. We read in 1
Corinthians 1:30,"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us
wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." This is our
rescue! But the price of sanctification is very high. It demands our total
devotion. I also ask every reader of this book to pray for me, that this devotion
be granted to me as well.
THE CHASTENING LORD
Many have a faulty understanding of God. This comes, for instance, from
the expression"from our loving God". We do not only have a loving God, but a
holy and righteous God. His many judgments mentioned in the Bible attest to
this.
We have a God who rewards, avenges and punishes. Let me just mention two
Bible passages.
Nahum 1:2:"The Lord is a jealous God and avenging; the Lord avenges and
He is full of wrath; the Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries and reserves
wrath for His enemies."
1 Thess. 4:3,6:"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that
you should abstain from fornication … that no man goes beyond and defrauds his
brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of these, as we also
have forewarned you and testified."
In the Zulu revival there are mighty examples of God's intervention, as
well as the chastising judgments against impenitent people.
1. Judgment on Nominal Christians
In the autumn of 1966 Erlo asked the Christians in his area to pray for a
revival. Twenty to thirty responded to the request and gathered daily to pray.
Other Christians were opposed to it, giving various reasons for their
apathy. They said that they were content with what they had. What more did they
need?
Erlo answered them,"Don’t you see that our services and our congregations
are without power and spiritual authority? The dance floors, the soccer fields
and alcohol are more important to the Christians than the working of the Holy
Spirit."
Their paths separated right there, some continuing to pray faithfully and
intensively for revival while others pursued their worldly pleasures.
God didn’t let them wait long for an answer. The one group experienced a
wonderful spiritual blessing and revival, while the others saw the judgment of
God. Here are some examples:
A Christian woman had four daughters, all of whom had illegitimate
children.
Another woman had two daughters, and both experienced stormy marriages.
One mother asked Erlo to pray for her son who was in jail.
The son of another Christian was a drunkard, often beating his wife and
children and chasing them out of the home.
Many other things occurred which cannot be mentioned here.
One of the Christians who scorned Erlo's message subsequently had an
abnormal child.
Paul writes Galatians 6:7,"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For
whatever a man sows, that he will reap." Nominal Christianity is worse than
heathendom.
2. Judgment on a Prostitute
A young girl was converted in 1967. She was zealous in leading others to
the Lord, even warning them not to trifle with the Lord.
However, her first love began to wane, and her zeal slackened. In the end
she went back to the sins of the world. She became a prostitute and lived a
wicked life. For nine years she was not seen in church.
In March 1976 she came to KwaSizabantu and attended a service held in the
garage. More than a thousand visitors were present. A terrible thunderstorm
came up. The girl was sitting in the middle of the crowd when a bolt of
lightning came down and struck her, knocking her unconscious to the ground.
Nobody else was injured. So they carried her to hospital, where she regained
consciousness after some hours - but she was unable to speak.
After a few more hours she slowly began to speak. She asked to speak to
the pastor and said,"This has happened because of me. As Paul was thrown to
the ground (Acts 9), so was I. I brought this upon myself because of my sinful
life."
An incredible confession followed. The counsellor said that he couldn’t
ever remember having heard such a dreadful confession. Her sinful life could
fill a book. One side of her was still paralyzed. When Erlo came home from a
service in another area, he noticed that it had only rained at KwaSizabantu.
All the surrounding areas had sunshine and blue skies. A Christian living three
kilometres away hadn’t noticed the storm. It seemed to be confined to a small
spot at KwaSizabantu.
This girl who had been hit by lightning wanted to speak immediately to
Erlo. She said,"I have asked the Lord for forgiveness, I want to ask Pastor
Erlo as well." Erlo prayed with her and the lameness disappeared. She also
wanted to see her mother and ask for forgiveness, as well as many others to
whom she had done wrong.
In this case, the judgment of God was transformed into a judgment of
mercy.
“…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." (Romans 5:20)
If the Lord granted this prostitute a second chance, this doesn’t mean
that we can rely on a second chance.
“…Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts..."
(Hebrews 3:7-8)"looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, …"
(Hebrews 12:15)
3. Judgment on a Witchdoctor
A very old man came with his wife to KwaSizabantu. Some of the co-workers
informed Erlo that a famous witchdoctor had arrived.
Erlo asked the visitor,"What do you want here?" He answered,"God has
sent me here and told me to make my life right before I die."
“How did God tell you?"
“Through a dream," the witchdoctor replied.
Erlo was very busy at that moment, so a co-worker showed the old man the
way of salvation. He promised to follow Jesus. Erlo then prayed with him that
he would be free from the evil powers that he had served.
The next morning the old man said that he felt very well and wanted to go
home. Erlo asked him if he wouldn’t stay a bit longer than just that one day.
The old man reckoned that he had attained his goal, and there was no use in
staying longer.
Three weeks later Erlo had a phone call from a doctor saying that an old
man there was asking to come to the mission. Erlo thought that this was an
elderly person without a home wanting to stay somewhere. Two days later a car
arrived bringing the patient from that doctor. It was the former witchdoctor,
looking like a dying man.
Erlo asked him what had happened. He responded by saying that when he had
entered his house, his previous illness had struck him again. He reckoned that
the problem was the house. Erlo said to him,"I do not believe that. Either you
have sinned again or you didn’t confess everything the first time. Hasn’t the
Holy Spirit shown you anything?" The now seriously ill man said that he knew of
nothing. Erlo made the conditions very clear."If you don’t take matters
seriously with God, I will not pray with you."
The ill man lay there for about three to four days without bringing anything
to the light. Different co-workers spoke to him, encouraging him to do so, but
it was all in vain. He was as hard as a rock.
After several days there was a loud cry in the hospital. Co-workers
dropped everything to see what was going on in the room from which the
commotion came. The room was already filled as the co-workers forced their way
in. There was the witchdoctor sitting on his bed, his eyes huge, as if they
would pop out of his head. It was as if he was seeing something dreadful.
The witchdoctor cried,"Woe is me! The blood cries out. The Lord God says
that the faithful and true witness was there when I murdered him!" Erlo asked
him what all this meant. He didn’t understand it. The man continued,"Woe is
me! The blood cries out." Then he named a second person that he had murdered.
This went on and on."Woe is me! The blood cries out." Then he named all the
women with whom he had had adulterous relationships, and the girls he had
seduced. Erlo tried to calm him down, but he cried ever louder, so that Erlo
had to send the children out of the room.
When the old man had calmed down a little, Erlo tried to approach him
spiritually, quoting,"…and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from
all sin." (1 John 1:7) The witchdoctor shook his head.
When the name of the first murdered person had been called out, his wife
had run out of the room. She later said to Erlo,"My brothers had accused my
husband of killing that person, and I vehemently denied it and defended my
husband. And now he is saying that he has done it. What will my brothers say?"
The old witchdoctor was still conscious for the next few days. Many
co-workers, as well as his wife, pleaded with him to come to the cross and ask
Jesus for forgiveness, but he refused to accept anything. Over and over again
new confessions would burst out of him."I milked somebody else's cow," he
admitted one time. Before he lost consciousness a young female worker came by
and pleaded with him to make his life right. As she passed his bed, he stretched
out his hands to grab her under her dress. She jumped aside and said,
"Grandfather, what are you doing?" He answered,"I cannot do otherwise. I’ve
been given over to sin. There is someone who says,"Take your full measure of
sin"." Shortly before he died he made movements with his hands as if he was
rolling tobacco between his fingers to do witchcraft. Naturally, Erlo has no
tobacco in his house.
This is how the old witchdoctor went out of this life. The very things he
had hidden and not confessed when he was first counselled were now broadcast in
such a way that many heard what he had done. He died in these sins. The time of
mercy and grace had passed him by. Genesis 4:10 reads,"The voice of your
brother's blood cries to Me from the ground."
4. Judgment on a Preacher
A black man from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was a preacher in KwaZulu-Natal.
His work among his congregation was unproductive, because he himself was not a
believer.
He found the Lord In 1956, and from that time on, his congregation flourished.
Many found the Lord Jesus through him, and captives were set free.
In 1966 this preacher had contact with Erlo, and also participated in the
prayer meetings in Mapumulo. This Rhodesian brother had a strange way of
praying. He would put his head between his knees and roll on the ground like a
snake. He would even press his head to the ground, like a huge snake ready to
attack. In one prayer meeting he also confessed that it was dark around him,
and he asked for prayer.
After the revival began, in 1967, this Rhodesian preacher strongly
opposed and attacked Erlo and the team wherever he could.
After a while the reason for the strange manner of this preacher became
clear. He told his wife that his grandfather had been a well-known witchdoctor,
who knew at the start of each day the things that would happen during the day.
The preacher's father was also a witchdoctor. As a young lad he would carry his
father's bag with all the charms and fetishes, usually when they were hunting
snakes. His father had developed a system of catching large snakes alive. He
used a longish cage which narrowed towards the end. The floor of the cage had
razor blades pointing upwards. At the end of the cage they would place bait.
The snake would crawl in towards the bait, injuring itself on the razor blades.
The father would then grab the head of the snake, and the boy the tail, and
they would drag the snake home to make charms and fetishes. This sorcery with
snakes was most probably the reason for the strange prayer methods of the
preacher.
One morning at breakfast he told his wife that he had dreamed of his
grandfather, and that he longed to see their home country, Rhodesia, again. He
also wanted to stop preaching and earn money by driving tractors. His wife
responded,"I do not agree with this at all - you once said that God had called
you to preach."
From that day on the preacher was in opposition to the work of God.
Eventually he said,"My conscience burns me like a red-hot iron. There is no
more forgiveness for me."
Some days later this preacher hanged himself on a tree.
His congregation was devastated when this happened - that their pastor
should take his own life and come to such an end, a man who had led so many to
Jesus. Many were made to stumble and to doubt because of it.
His wife, who was later counselled by Erlo, revealed many hidden and
unclean things in her husband's life.
The fate of this preacher can be largely attributed to the sorcery
practised by both his father and grandfather. The most terrible things occur to
descendants of families in which a great deal of witchcraft has been practised.
Naturally this man bore a great responsibility because he had continually criticized
the revival.
There are three things that led to this suicide: The witchcraft of the
forefathers, the opposition in his own life to the working of the Holy Spirit
in the revival and impure motives in the ministry of the Most High.
But let us guard against throwing stones. It is not we who are allowed to
judge!
“For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the
Son." (John 5:22)
THE PROVIDING LORD
King David had a golden rule regarding God's provision -"Cast
your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never allow the
righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22)
There is such a thing as a life without reality, and conversely there is
a genuine life of faith. Some months ago I received a letter which related the
following:
A sick lady approached a well-known faith healer concerning her illness.
I will not mention his name to shame him or unmask him, but he has caused much
damage in the Kingdom of God. The letter-writer asked for prayer because she
suffered from a chronic disease. She received a letter from the wife or the
mother of this extremist, asking for the payment of 500 German marks, upon
which she would be prayed for.
This is not a life of faith, but"supposing that gain is godliness." (1
Timothy 6:5)
There are also other forms of collections and begging. On my lecture tour
through Florida, a well-known pastor, in whose church I preached, said that he
wouldn’t ever ask J.W. to preach again. This man would preach for 45 minutes on
collections and 15 minutes on the Word of God. It may be that that is an
exaggeration, but it is typical of this type of evangelist that I have heard of
in other places.
There are other methods, such as announcing a minimum amount to put in
the collection plate. I was present myself when the collection was taken in a
service at Pacific Palisade (California), where the people were encouraged not
to give less than $10.
Erlo isn’t out for money, he seeks for souls. This is certainly one of
the reasons why so many turn to the Lord in his meetings. The Lord supplies all
that is needed so that many more than a hundred have enough for their daily
needs. At youth gatherings it can easily be up to 1,000 young people, and at
conferences even more people sit down to ample meals, and are fully satisfied.
Those who venture out in faith on God's account will experience that at
times things get narrow, but in the end you see the fullness of His wonders. I
have already experienced something of this.
It was very difficult to get information out of Erlo as to how this great
work is financially run. I tried for 2½ long weeks to find out. In the end he
sent me some co-workers to give me some information. They told me,"You are the
first visitor receiving such insight."
1. Beds for Erlo's Hospital
Before I left for South Africa in March 1976 to visit Erlo, I got my
first example of how the Lord provides. On the afternoon of Thursday, 18th March 1976, I travelled to Frankfurt to fly with Lufthansa to Johannesburg and
Durban. Some hours before my flight, a money courier brought me 1000 German
marks in cash from a brother E. in Frankfurt. I knew that this money was to be
used for Erlo's mission. I took it along in cash and gave it to Erlo. Someone
may quote the Bible passage in Matthew 6:3,"Do not let your
left hand know what your right hand is doing." But this passage doesn’t fit in
this case because I was not the donor, only the bearer. Later I noticed how
this donation was in the Lord's planning.
In the second week of my stay, Friedel, Erlo's brother, mentioned that a
hospital in Dundee was selling good bedsteads, and that he would have to go and
see. They were urgently needed for the hospital. Friedel set out and got 20
bedsteads for the equivalent of 1000 German marks.
Now this is only half the story. Erlo told me that Muslims from Durban
were visiting. Some even came for counselling. When they saw the mission and
the work they were doing, they sent 48 new mattresses from Durban.
While on the subject of the hospital, here are some other facts: At the
beginning of their mission work, their enemies would say that they only wanted money
from the people. Erlo, as it were, took the wind out of their sails by never
asking for donations. Then the religious people turned things around by saying
that the visitors only come to be fed and showered with love. Satan will always
find his helpers to target the messengers of Christ.
After they had settled at KwaSizabantu and had built the hospital, the
black Christians said to Erlo,"Just do the preaching and the counselling, and
we’ll provide the food." Then Erlo asked them,"Do you know what it means to
feed a hundred people a day?" Erlo's black friends sadly answered,"Does the
Lord not know then?"
The hospital has been running since 1970. Often the faith of the black
Christians has been tried, but never have they been disappointed.
What does a bill look like when a patient, healthy in body, soul and
spirit leaves hospital?
Doctor's bill
Laboratory bill
Medication
Hospital fees
Total
|
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00 |
There is barely a hospital in the
world where everything is free of charge. Of course no bills are sent out for
all of this. There are no doctors, there is no laboratory and no medicine. The
black and the white nurses receive no salary; every one of them depends on the
Lord. When a co-worker needs shoes or a shirt, he will pray for it. Just a
small example:
On April 1st 1976, I stayed overnight on Joe Newland's farm in Creighton.
The men stayed in one house and the women in another. One of the women washed her
daughter's pullover, and the colours ran. It looked as if it was ready for a
carnival. The daughter said to her mother,"Mother, please buy me a new
pullover. I cannot wear this any more." Then her mother said to her,"Am I God?
Go to Him and ask Him for one." The daughter thanked her, saying that she would
do just that. On April 3rd a white woman came and brought some
pullovers for the team. The girl received one
of them. She burst into tears, went to her mother and said,"The
Lord has already given me a pullover." Both of them thanked the Lord for His
swift answer.
2. Transport Matters
More and more people attended the services at Tugela Ferry which were mentioned
earlier. One of the brethren who owned a Land Rover would drive 12 times back
and forth to pick up all people living far away. The co-workers told Erlo that
they were praying for a trailer in order not to have to drive so often. Erlo
responded by saying that they had been praying for three weeks that the Lord
would grant them a lorry. Three days later, an unknown white woman attended the
service. She didn’t understand a word of Zulu that was spoken, but at the end
she said,"I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in such a way that I can
hardly believe it." Then, with tears in her eyes, she said,"I would like to do
something for these black Christians." The co-workers thought that perhaps she
would donate some Bibles, but to their surprise she donated a truck. And this
woman did not even belong to the mission. The truck was large enough to take up
to 200 children.
For three weeks and three days they had prayed at KwaSizabantu for a
truck at Tugela, and the Lord heard and sent a woman unknown to them to meet
that need.
A truck doesn’t run on water - it needs diesel fuel. 100 kilometres from
there were many Christians who wanted to come to the services at Tugela Ferry.
Bill Larkan, one of the leading Christians there, intended to pick them up, but
he had no money for diesel. So he prayed,"Lord, please give us the necessary
money before Friday so that we can purchase diesel to drive." Friday afternoon
came, but still no money. Bill was sitting under his vine-covered arbour,
thinking that he probably wouldn’t be able to pick up the people. Suddenly he
heard somebody calling his name three times. A woman came to him and said,"I
live 18 kilometres away, and we were having a prayer meeting. We felt led to
send you a sum of money." She gave Bill R9.60. Bill immediately went to the
filling station and had the truck filled with diesel. When the tank was full,
the indicator read R9.60. How precisely the Lord answers!
The repair of the truck is also a wonderful story. Barney had loaded
grass for huts, and was on his way from Tugela Ferry to KwaSizabantu when the
truck broke down 11 kilometres from Greytown. Barney informed Erlo, who told
him,"Leave the truck where it is and come home. You can get it tomorrow."
Barney arrived around 2:00 a.m. The next day some of the co-workers left to
repair the truck. When they arrived at the place, the truck was gone. They were
shocked, but they prayed that they would find it again. They thought that the
thieves might have rolled the vehicle down a slope. Erlo asked the Lord,"Have
I acted against Your leading?" Finally, they reported the theft to the police,
and sadly set off for home. They hadn’t gone far when the police came up behind
them, while they were travelling, and stopped them."The truck has been found.
It has already been repaired at the garage," they said. When the co-workers
went back to the garage, the manager came out, apologizing profusely. He
explained,"There has been a complete misunderstanding. Last evening, another
truck of the same make also had a breakdown near Greytown. The owner called us
and asked us to come get the truck and repair it. After setting out we found
your truck first, so we towed it back and repaired it. Then the owner of the
other truck called again and asked us why we hadn’t yet towed his truck in.
Then we realised our mistake and informed the police. Here is your
truck - please take it." When the co-workers enquired about the cost of
the repairs, he answered that they had had enough worries and that there was no
charge. Erlo and the co-workers thanked the Lord for sending His angels to
repair the truck free of charge. They also used the opportunity to speak to the
white manager about the Gospel.
The Lord doesn’t only care for the vehicles, but much more for the people
using them. Erlo once travelled with a team of five to a place about 100
kilometres from KwaSizabantu. It was a dusty gravel road with many curves,
rough and bumpy. It was also hot and they were thirsty. At about lunchtime,
they ate some bread while travelling, but they had had nothing to drink. The
area was unknown to them and they didn’t know where to get something to drink.
Suddenly one of them said,"Stop, there is something to drink!" Now because
Erlo was travelling quite fast, it took some time to stop. After they had come
to a standstill and opened the back door, they saw a water tap about a metre
away from the door, on the side of the road. Erlo was stunned. He asked,"Did
you know that there was a tap here?" The co-worker replied,"I didn’t know, but
I felt as if the Lord wanted to give us water here." All six thanked the Lord
for His wonderful care and guidance. When relating this experience, Erlo said,
"I had never before seen a water tap beside the road. When we drove on, we
passed a house. Perhaps the water pipe was laid from there, but for what reason
we do not know."
While we are referring to motor vehicles, I would like to relate
something about a driving test. One of the co-workers needed to get his driving
licence for the bus. The licence officer was very strict - a feared man! The
officer and the learner got into the bus."Get going," the man said. The
co-worker asked if he could pray first. Then he prayed loudly, asking the Lord
to be with him and help him, and to protect them. After opening his eyes, he
saw that the inspector had stubbed out his cigarette. After the test, he
thanked the Lord for protecting them. Without any further questions, he
received his licence. After the officer had left, some Zulus said to the
co-worker,"You must have used a strong spell that everything went so well."
The co-worker responded,"No, I didn’t bewitch the man. I do not use charms.
One thing I do - I talk to the Lord Jesus about everything."
Speaking about driving reminds me of four-year-old Kwasi. He is a young
child who has a childlike and intensive prayer life. We have already heard how
the Lord has used him mightily. One day he was travelling with a woman in a car
when he said to her,"You are fortunate to have me with you. I can be of great
help to you." The woman laughed and said,"How can you be of help to me? Can
you drive?""No," he said,"but I can pray if the car doesn’t start - and it
will start again." The lady thought that he was just exaggerating as children
sometimes do. After the trip she spoke to Kwasi's mother about it. His mother
replied,"You can really take him at his word," then she told her what had
happened on a previous night. They were about to drive home, when the engine of
the car wouldn’t start, and the lights didn’t work. She intended to call a
mechanic, but Kwasi said to her that they should pray. After saying,"Amen", he
told her,"Mother, start the engine. It will work." She didn’t want to believe
it, but she tried the lights first and was amazed that they went on. Then she
turned the ignition and the engine started! They got home
without any problems.
In Matthew 18:3, the Lord says,"Verily I say unto
you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven." Our pride, presumption and arrogance hinder the
power of the Lord.
I once experienced a similar thing while conducting various lectures in
Switzerland. On a Saturday evening I was to speak in Zürich and on the Sunday
morning in Pruntrut, to the congregation of Pastor Dr Külling. I set off early
on Sunday morning to arrive on time in Pruntrut, 150 kilometres away. It was a
difficult situation, because on that morning there was black ice on the roads.
In one of the curves before Wollhusen a mail bus was approaching on the wrong
side of the road. I couldn’t avoid it, because there was a convoy of military
cars next to me, and on my right a wall. There was simply no alternative - the
bus was overtaking in a blind corner, and I was going to hit it head-on. I
tried to slow down carefully, but my car was starting to skid on the ice. I
tried to correct, but then hit the wall with my right front wheel, bringing the
car to a stop. The bus also stopped, but then took off as soon as there was a
gap in the military convoy. I took down the number-plate but didn’t report the
driver. When I wanted to continue I was unable to steer properly. The car
seemed to veer to the left and then to the right as if the steering was
damaged. On a second attempt the same thing happened. Here I was, asking,"Lord,
what shall I do? It is Sunday morning. There is no garage open and in two hours
I have to speak in Pruntrut, and with this black ice I need all the time
available. Can’t You repair my car this moment? There is no more expert
mechanic than You!" After speaking to Him I started off again carefully. My
steering was as if it had never been damaged, and I arrived in Pruntrut on time
with one more rich experience of faith. Never did a repair need to be made to
the steering of that car, and the wonderful experience made me forget my
annoyance with the bus driver near Wollhusen. In fact, just the opposite was
the case. I was thankful to him for what had happened. Had it not been for his
irresponsible driving, I wouldn’t have experienced the Lord's help.
3. Self-Help
To live a life in faith doesn’t mean to lay one's hands down and wait for
the Lord to do everything. The words of Paul would apply here,"…if any
would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) And:"…to
work with your own hands, as we commanded you." (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
The co-workers’ task is not only to ask the Lord for provision, but to
labour and share in the hard work, not only in a 40 or 45 hour week. They
cultivate the more than 10 hectares of farmland at KwaSizabantu, and care for
the many sick in hospital. Christians from far away are picked up and taken
back, sometimes well into the night or even in the early hours of the following
day. Cars are repaired by some co-workers who are very gifted technically. This
all happens in a selfless manner without murmuring or complaining.
Those who support the work have the same attitude. Women buy wool, knit
pullovers and donate the money earned to the work of the mission. Others
cultivate vegetables and bring the harvest to KwaSizabantu, and still others buy
at good prices on the market and sell with some profit in the country areas,
bringing their small gain to the Lord.
I was reminded of the selfless Korean Christian rice farmers that would
sell their expensive rice and buy the cheaper millet for their own sustenance,
bringing the difference to the Lord.
Not only is there prayer at KwaSizabantu, but also faithful labour. That
is why the blessing of the Lord is on all that they do.
Sometimes the self-help is followed up by the Lord's direct support. Here
is a wonderful example:
Some co-workers came to Erlo and asked him to supply them with seed
potatoes. They intended to plant them. Erlo was surprised and asked why they
wanted to plant at this time of the year. He said,"I am a farmer's son and
acquainted with farming. It's not potato-planting season." The co-workers
insisted, saying that the Lord had told them to do so. Erlo gave in and
supplied them with seed potatoes. The potatoes were planted and they received a
plentiful harvest. In addition to that, the potato prices had gone up, so that
they received a good profit and enough food.
This amazing crop of potatoes reminds one of Peter's wonderful haul of
fish described in Luke chapter 5. Jesus had said to him,"Launch out into the
deep, and let down your nets for a draught." Peter could have replied,"Lord,
we are fishermen. We assure you that it is not a good idea to cast out the nets
in broad daylight. We realise that you‘re an excellent teacher, but we happen
to know more about fishing." However, Peter's answer was,"At Your word I will
let down the net." The result was that they caught such a quantity of fish that
their nets broke. Erlo explained to me that, having grown up on a farm, he had
been quite sure that the beginning of winter was not the time to plant
potatoes. But the Lord ordered,"Plant potatoes!" and the result was an
abundant crop.
4. Direct Help
There are situations where goodwill and hard work do not help, and one
can only pray, keep trusting and confiding in the Lord alone and waiting on His
promises.
Before Erlo was married, there was a day when they had nothing to cook
apart from a small amount of flour. The team went to their place of prayer in
the forest."Dear Lord," they prayed,"please help us. All we have is a little
flour, and we don’t know how to prepare our next meal." On their way home one
of the women saw some weeds."Those weeds are edible," she said,"We can take
the leaves and cook them for lunch." They took the leaves and cooked them with
a little fat, preparing lunch with them. They were embarrassed when a white man
came for lunch. They would have loved to give him something better. They prayed
before eating and asked the Lord's blessing on the food. After the meal, the
white man burst into tears and said that he couldn’t bear to see them live in
such poverty. He took a co-worker with him to a shop and bought groceries
without sparing, even meat, so that all those who were sick and the co-workers
had enough again. The pantry was also full again. The co-workers went back to
their place of prayer, and thanked the Lord for His rich provision. Erlo added,
"This has continued over many years. We have not known a day without food."
Elijah's ravens are still alive. Even the old promises have kept their
power until this day.
In 1 Kings 17:16 we read,"And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did
the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by
Elijah."
One time when Erlo was in Germany a similar thing happened. Supplies had run
out. All the co-workers came together for prayer, as they had no food for the
following day. Just before sunset a white man came with a car loaded with
groceries. Shortly afterwards a black man also came with a car loaded with
food. Again their needs had been met.
During the first few months of 1976, there was little money available. It
was the practice at the mission to pay the grocery bills at the end of each
month. The same applied to the hospital. One evening, Kay, Erlo's wife, came to
the co-workers and told them that the monthly bill was already too high, and
that there was not enough money to pay it. Nothing more was to be ordered. The
co-workers closed the door and got onto their knees, beseeching the Lord for
help. A few days later, the monthly bill arrived and it was higher than ever,
amounting to R6006. Then an unknown donor paid R6000, so only R6 remained. This was
undoubtedly the Lord!
Other matters of provision arise when big conferences are held at KwaSizabantu.
I was present at one conference on April 4th 1976. Before such
events the team comes together for prayer, asking the Lord to provide what they
need for the many people who come. They buy as many groceries as the money they
have will buy. Some people donate money or food. But that day there were so
many people that those who were cooking were afraid that they would not have
enough."Lord," they prayed,"may the miracle of the bread and fish be
repeated, so that nobody leaves hungry." They prayed while they were cooking
and serving,"Lord, You take the spoon and dish up the food." While they were
busy putting out more plates, a visitor to the conference looked at the food
and asked if there was enough. They replied,"Don’t discourage us, we have
prayed about it!" Then the Lord answered. There
was so much meat, bread and maize left over, that they had enough for the
following day. Before the trucks and private cars left, the kitchen staff asked
many of the drivers if the people had had enough to eat."We have had more than
enough," they responded.
It often happens that problems of provision arise in this work of faith,
simply because of the growing numbers of people who come to KwaSizabantu, who
receive free meals and accommodation. To feed not only hundreds but thousands
is no small task.
In May 1976 such a problem arose. Some of the older co-workers reported
to Erlo that the younger co-workers and the patients in hospital had hardly
anything to eat. There was just a little maize meal left. The
weed leaves mentioned previously are hardly edible at the beginning of winter.
The winter in South Africa is at a different time of the year to that of
Europe.
Erlo was shocked when he heard this. Already days had passed in which the
people in hospital had only had this maize and the barely edible weed leaves. I
will let Erlo continue in his own words. He gave me this written report when
the book was about to be printed. This was written in his letter:
“I told my co-workers that they should immediately get a large order of groceries
from the shop, even though there was no money. Our cash box was empty, but I
did this in faith. I thought if the Lord wouldn’t send money, then He surely
would provide in some other way. I sent the car without money to the shop. It
had just left when I received a phone call from a man who told me that he had
R500 to buy groceries for the hospital and the co-workers. And he added,"If
you need something right away, just let them know that I will pay." After this
phone call I was unable to speak, and I went into a room and fell on my knees
before Jesus, weeping tears of gratitude and joy. After that I let the
co-workers know how the Lord had answered, and they immediately sang songs of
praise to the Lord."
The same month there was a similar incident. Several young co-workers
came to Erlo and said,"We have the impression that the Lord wants us to
minister in different places." Erlo said,"If the Lord has given you this
leading, then pray about it and ask Him to provide the necessary money, so that
you are not a burden to anyone." At that time there was no money. After some
days, a Christian visited KwaSizabantu and spoke to Erlo. He said,"I have
received instructions from the Lord to give you a certain amount of money for
the co-workers to go out to different places, or as the Lord leads." Erlo told
him that the co-workers were in fact busy praying for the means for this very
thing, so it must have been the Lord that led him in this way. The joy was
great on both sides. When Erlo opened the envelope there was R1000 inside.
Erlo gave me a wonderful example of how the Lord provides, in a letter
written on June 9th 1976. He was asked by a heathen man to visit
some relatives of his, very elderly women who were no longer able to walk. This
trip took Erlo into a completely new area, where he had never been before. He
sat there for hours with these women, telling them about Jesus. Time went by almost
unnoticed, until eventually Erlo said to his companion,"We must hurry back. I
have to speak in a tent meeting this evening. I don’t know how we will manage
to eat something. We can’t eat here - to make a fire and cook something would
cause us to arrive too late. Do you mind if we go without eating?" So off they
went. They had hardly driven 200 metres when a girl stopped them. Erlo asked
what she wanted, and she said,"My mother has sent me to tell you that the food
is ready, so please come and eat." Erlo asked the hospitable woman how she knew
that they hadn’t eaten, and that they were passing by that place. She said,
"When the food was cooked and I saw the car coming, I felt that God was telling
me to invite you in and give you food. So this is how it happened." Erlo
realised that this was a miracle, as the woman was a heathen and they were
complete strangers. And so the Lord provided"a table" for His servant as in
Psalm 23 -"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies." Gratefully, Erlo accepted this meal that the Lord had provided for
him.
The provision of a mission such as KwaSizabantu is not only a matter of
nutrients. Many other larger and smaller things are needed.
The mission has, at the time of writing, a bus, two trucks and eight
cars, which travel great distances and need huge amounts of petrol or diesel.
The people who are transported are never asked to pay, but the Lord looks after
His children. We have already related the story of the white lady who sponsored
a truck because she sensed the power of the Spirit of God. Erlo has driven me
considerable distances in a car that was given to him as well.
The account of the construction of a fence around the hospital made a
great impression on me. It would often happen that mentally ill patients would
run away, and it would take hours and sometimes days to find them. So they
asked the Lord to provide for them to buy tall fencing to put around the
hospital. They needed approximately 400 metres. Then somebody gave them an
amount of money with which they bought the fencing material. They erected the
fence with the rolls of wire they had bought and it was the exact length they
required. Nobody had measured it, but the Lord had provided the exact quantity
needed.
With this, my report has come to an end. I would, however, like to finish
with an epilogue.
Glory to the Lord
The sovereign work of the Lord over the past ten years among the Zulus,
Indians and whites at KwaSizabantu is absolutely miraculous. We praise and
worship God in thanksgiving with the words of Psalm 95:1-8:
“O come and let us sing unto the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the
Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and
make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand
are the deep places of the earth, the strength of the hills is His also. The
sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us
worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of
His hand. Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart!"
Million-fold blessings of three millenniums have been given in the
thanksgiving song of David, which every Christian should know by heart.
How often I recite this in sleepless nights or while driving! Also Psalm
103:"Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all
thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from
destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who
satisfieth thy soul with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the
eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are
oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of
Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in
mercy."
It is a tremendous inspiration, not only for the Zulus, but also for all
the Christians who hear of it, how the exalted and risen Lord has come down and
revealed the glory of His name.
The Ugandan revival fire from 1931 has almost burnt down, but the Zulu
revival flame still burns with a bright shining light.
When will we, the hardened people of Europe, be next? There hasn’t been
any great revival on our continent, if I’m right, since the Welsh revival of
1905–1909, which was very brief, and did not have a great
impact on the mainland. The revival in the Hebrides (1949) was confined to the
Gaelic-speaking population. Russia with its blood-stained and blood-soaked soil
has known a man-to-man revival under the Bolshevik oppression, but it has not
been widely seen.
THE LONGING FOR REVIVAL
There are many Christians worldwide who long and pray for revival. Often
the question is,"What must we do in order for the Lord to grant us a revival?"
We know very well how a revival can be hindered, but it is still a
mystery as to what conditions need to be fulfilled for the Lord to grant a
great spiritual breakthrough.
Although the Holy Spirit is able to unconditionally reveal Himself to
man, often He waits for certain preconditions to
be met.
It is impossible in one chapter to name all the conditions needed for
revival, but here are some important characteristics from the Zulu revival that
should be mentioned.
1. Continuous Prayer
Long periods of prayer have been preparatory in all revivals.
The Korean revival was granted after all the Christians were gathered for
daily prayer in Pyongyang from Easter to Pentecost in 1906. At first it was one
to two hours, then five to seven hours, even eight a day. The Korean revival
has remained a prayer revival. I have described this in my paperback, Koreas
Beter (Korea's Prayers).
The revival in the Hebrides was granted after two women had prayed for
thirty years.
The Indonesian revival occurred in Soe/Timor through prayer groups that
had prayed for many years without the knowledge of either of their two pastors.
The Canadian revival in 1971 was preceded by the prayer of thousands.
Ernest Manning, the Governor of Manitoba Province for thirty years, was a
Christian. In 1966, over the radio, he called all Christians to unite for the
hundred-year-celebrations of Canada, expressly to pray for revival. Many
heeded this call.
The Zulu revival began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the
beginning of 1967. Erlo, together with thirty other Christians, had been
praying daily for weeks, experiencing the process of purification and
cleansing. We have already mentioned this in a previous chapter.
2. Overwhelming Conviction of Sin
Erlo told me,"We experience how, through the working of the Holy Spirit,
a deep knowledge of sin comes over people. One day I met a huge, well-built,
but hard man. He was sobbing and crying like a small child who had been
punished with a cane. I asked him what had happened, and he replied, ‘I am a
terrible sinner. I have sinned against God, and I’m right on the brink of
hell.’ The man was broken-hearted. When God convicts a man of his sin, even the
smallest transgressions become like a heavy burden."
It sometimes happens in services that people cannot bear their sins any more,
and they get up and begin to confess their sins out loud.
This happened as well in the Korean, Indonesian and Canadian revivals.
One recognises that the Holy Spirit is the same on all continents, and often
convicts in the same way.
Erlo tries to stop these public confessions, and sends such people with a
co-worker into a counselling room, or asks the person concerned to wait until
the service has ended. Public confession can sometimes cause problems.
It happens at times in services that people fall weeping to the ground
under the weight of their guilt. This repeats itself in almost every revival. Erlo isn’t somebody who stirs his
listeners emotionally; I think the contrary is the case - to me he is the most
sober and unemotional revival preacher that I have ever heard.
Such a deep and radical conviction of sin is brought about by the Holy
Spirit. A mere superficial knowledge of sin leads to shallow conversions, but
the greater the sense of sin a person feels the better. Only the one who has
been forgiven much can truly love wholeheartedly. One who has not experienced
great forgiveness cannot really know the true meaning of love.
Erlo wrote once in a letter,"It happened during a service one day that
somebody tugged at my jacket. When I looked around, I saw a man who was very
determined, and he said in a trembling voice, ‘Come with me!’ I followed him
and wondered what he had to say. ‘I cannot stand this any more. My sins are so
great. Can I ever find forgiveness?’ I pointed him to Isaiah 1:18: ‘Though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.’"
It has happened at times that cunning and cruel murderers have recognised
their sin and come to repentance.
3. Readiness to Confess
The Zulu revival is a revival of confession of sin, as has been seen in
the many examples related. People who are not ready to surrender completely and
reveal everything that cannot stand the light of God receive no help. People
who do not recognise their sin, or who half-heartedly confess, are held back
spiritually and experience the judgment of God. Two examples:
The team conducted a communion service on Mount Elias. A woman partook of
the Lord's Supper without having confessed her sins. She immediately fell ill,
and her condition worsened, so that she was unable to go home. Things got so
bad that it was feared she would die. She was taken to KwaSizabantu immediately
after the service. There she revealed her hidden sins, and received
forgiveness. The Lord withdrew His punishing hand from her, and she was healed
on the spot.
At Claridge a similar thing happened. A believing man came to the Lord's
Supper rejoicing because he had missed out on it for a long time. But there was
something wrong in his life, which he had avoided confessing before taking part
in the communion. After the service he fell ill, and his conscience plagued
him, but he carried on in this condition for two weeks. Then he confessed his
sin in Erlo's presence and the Lord had mercy on him.
Such radical things usually happen only in revivals. I have experienced
mass communions where no participant had confessed any sins beforehand.
Personal confession was abolished in state Churches over a hundred years ago.
The other problem is that nominal Christians, who do not belong to Jesus, just
partake of the Lord's Supper out of tradition.
4. Uncompromising
Double-minded Christians cannot count on experiencing revival. Here is a typical example:
Co-worker Lionel Muller brought a mentally
disturbed man to a service at Kwambonambi. The sick man was to be
counselled spiritually after the service.
This man continually brushed his head on the right side with his hand
from the back to the front and then vice versa. Through this, the hair on the
right side of his head was worn away, leaving him bald on that side. He also
walked with great difficulty, being chronically knock-kneed. His knees would
rub against each other, and as a result his feet were well apart and turned out
at an angle. In addition, his body from the waist upward would sway from one
side to the other.
In the services he would cause a great deal of disturbance. When he was
prayed for, he said that his radio wires had been cut off, and that he couldn’t
transmit any more. That meant that in answer to intercessory prayer a healing
process had begun. His mental illness was completely cured, and his hair grew again, because he had stopped rubbing his head.
However, spiritually there was no growth. When he was advised to surrender
his life to Christ, he would get furious. One thing he couldn’t stand was to
confess his sins and to make his life right. After several weeks he said,"I’m
going home. All this prayer is too much for me. I do not want to have anything
to do with fanatical Christianity. I prefer our Church, which is lenient and
follows a middle course, allowing us to do as we please."
Erlo told him,"The Lord has done a lot for you, and healed your
understanding. Wouldn’t you like Him to heal your legs as well?" However, the man
said stubbornly,"No, I would prefer to keep to a middle course and have a calm
and peaceful life." He wouldn’t agree to an uncompromising and radical way of
dealing with sin. He left the one place where he could have been helped.
My late friend Gottlieb Weiland used to ask the children,"How many whole
Christians result from a thousand half-Christians?" Many would be fooled by
this loaded question, and then he would roar,"A thousand half-Christians will
not even produce one whole Christian!"
The Holy Spirit will never allow compromise!
5. Undivided Devotion
At the revival centre in Soe, Timor, Franz Selan pointed out the
following Scripture passage to me:"…cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts, ye double minded," (James 4:8), or as the Berkeley
version puts it, ". . . you people of divided interests."
Divided interests, divided hearts, divided commitment, secondary
objectives!
Here is an example of this from the Zulu revival:
A congregation under Erlo's oversight wasn’t progressing. This situation
drove Erlo and his team to prayer. It became clear to those praying that
revival could also come to this lukewarm congregation if the Holy Spirit was
able to act freely in the lives of the people.
At the next service Erlo challenged the congregation to choose."Are you
willing to serve the Lord with an undivided heart? Will you give the Spirit
free access to your lives and submit to Him? If you cannot go this way, I am
ready to make way for another preacher. Please tell me what you have decided."
The following Sunday Erlo spoke to the congregation and said,"None of
you have come and asked me to leave, so now I ask you that all who are not
ready to follow the Lord in an undivided and uncompromising way may leave the
congregation. I prefer to work together with two who follow the Lord
wholeheartedly than two hundred lukewarm Christians. Two wholehearted
Christians honour the Lord more than all the others that follow the crowd."
Erlo withdrew to Kranskop together with his co-workers to pray. The Lord
revealed to them that He wanted to use this congregation, but that there were
things that needed to be made right in the lives of the people, things that
hindered Him from working.
These revelations led the whole team to search their lives, and to
repentance. They couldn’t expect things from a lukewarm congregation that they
themselves weren’t ready to fulfil. The most important lesson was that they
needed to be entirely one with Christ as He is one with His Father. Without
this oneness with Him every ministry is fruitless.
In those days of purification and searching their lives, the Lord
repeatedly spoke to the team through eleven-year-old Lindiwe. We have already
written about her. This lukewarm congregation was to be called together,
children and adults. When they were assembled, there were so many that the room
was too small. The adults and the children had to be separated.
They shared with the congregation all that the Lord had revealed to the
team during their time of prayer. Here are some of the points:
a) Do we thank God for all that faces us daily?
b) Do we consult Him in every decision?
c) Are our actions and lives a testimony to Him?
d) Do we observe and esteem each other as better than ourselves? (If I
interrupt somebody while he or she is still speaking, that is not according to this
biblical standard.)
e) Do we speak about others’ mistakes, without speaking to them
ourselves?
f) Are we dedicated Christians or do we only follow the crowd
superficially?
g) Do we have a sharp sense of hearing, and a fine intuition for that
which the Lord wants to tell us?
h) Can the Lord rule over our time, our will and our possessions?
i) Do pride and egotism crawl imperceptibly into our lives?
During this meeting with the congregation something unusual happened. The
number of those attending was getting smaller and smaller, until only the team
was left. What was happening? The
Holy Spirit had gripped the congregation, and they were going their way to make
things right. Children went to their parents to reconcile, parents made peace
with their children. Employees went back to their employers to give back stolen
things.
People who detested one another, reconciled. Hatred turned to love. Those
who had transgressed the law went to the authorities and reported their wrongdoings.
Debts were paid and children asked forgiveness of their teachers.
The fear of the Lord had fallen over the congregation. Old and young
started a new life. People turned from their sinful habits. Lukewarm and
indifferent Christians experienced a genuine love towards the Lord. Items of
witchcraft and sorcery were removed from homes. Pornographic pictures were burnt,
even all worldly books were destroyed by fire.
The congregation started living a life of love. The unity in the Spirit
was given to them, so that thousands were attracted. After a year the numbers
had almost doubled. A fire was kindled that spread in every direction.
The things that had begun here repeated themselves often in other
villages, through the Holy Spirit, without any preachers.
In this revival congregation there was a fulfilment of what the Apostle
Paul wrote to the Philippians in Phil. 2:1-4:
Fellowship of the Spirit, tender love and mercy, oneness, like-mindedness,
humility, esteeming others higher than themselves, considering their neighbours,
serving one another.
6. Grasped by the Fire
Matthew the evangelist writes in chapter 3:11,"He shall baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." When Erlo was in Mapumulo with several
Christians, united in prayer, imploring the Lord for His Holy Presence and the
outpouring of His Spirit, something happened that they hadn’t experienced
before.
One of those praying called out,"My eyes! My eyes are burning like
fire!" Another said,"O Lord, I am dying. My lips are burning, my tongue is
burning. I’m a sinful woman!" A third person tore the shoes from his feet and
threw them far away, saying that his feet were burning; then he tried to hit
his feet in order to extinguish the flames. Naturally, no fire was seen. This
was a spiritual experience. Most of those present called to God to have mercy
on them. All those who were praying experienced what is written in Hebrews
12:29,"… our God is a consuming fire."
This godly burning was not a unique experience. It was repeated in other
prayer meetings. A woman called out that her whole body was burning; she jumped
up from where she was sitting, as if she was on a fiery grill."I am unworthy,
I am unclean, my life is not in order, and I should never have come into the
presence of God with my sin. Allow me to leave the room immediately to bring my
life into order, otherwise I will die." She truly repented, and today is a
shining example before Christians and heathens.
Not all can deal with the fire of God's holiness. Some are burned. Here
are two examples:
In a prayer meeting, a believer called out,"God, You are holy, holy!"
Later he told the team that while he was praying, he had the feeling of being
cut in two from head to foot. Erlo was alarmed because the brother had used the
same expression as the Lord had used about the evil servant who beat his fellow
servants. (Matthew 24:48-51) Not long after, it was revealed that he had sinned
terribly against other brethren. Soon afterwards he died a terrible death.
In the fire of God, people who are honest and repent, confessing their
sin, find mercy, while others who don’t are consumed by it.
I would like to add a personal experience to that of Erlo's. Many years
ago a preacher came for counselling. He confessed that while he was serving the
Lord's Supper at the altar, he had a feeling as if someone was cutting him into
two parts. The painfulness of this experience was so dreadful he had to quit
his job as a pastor. The background of this was that the minister had sinned
terribly and had not repented.
As there are two examples before us of men having experienced the
sensation of being cut in two, we need to look at the Greek text of Matthew
24:51. The original says,"kýrios dichotomései autón." Luther translated
it,"The Lord will cut him apart." But the Greek verb, dichotoméo, means
more. It means to cleave in two, saw apart, cut in pieces.
Both the African and European brother had this dreadful feeling of being
cleaved in two.
The fire of God is either a purifying process for our salvation or it
destroys us.
Without this purifying process and refinement in God's fire, there is no
revival.
Not everything is covered concerning the basic principles of revival in
this last chapter. But he that has ears to hear and eyes to see, will sense
from the examples in this book, that they point to one objective - recognising
and confessing our guilt, undivided devotion towards the Lord, complete
obedience, being under God's control, recognising and following His guidance
and walking in the Spirit. These are some truths which have priority in the
Zulu revival.
In conclusion, we need to go to those truths mentioned at the beginning
of this book: if we lose our sight of the Lord, His power is gone. If Jesus
isn’t the first and last goal, then He is unable to reveal His power and glory
in our lives. Let me close with two passages of Scripture.
2 Chronicles 20:12:"… we have no might against this great company that
cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee."
Psalm 25:15:"My eyes are ever towards the LORD …"
“Lord, do not cease to bless the Zulus. Preserve the fire of Your Holy
Spirit, which you have kindled in the revivals on the different continents. And
come soon, Lord Jesus! Amen."
Epilogue
In March 2007 the KwaSizabantu Mission had a celebration to thank God for
His working during forty years since the start of Revival at the end of 1996.
The big auditorium was filled with people from all over the world. There are
many branches of the Mission in overseas countries, and some of the leaders
shared what the Revival has meant to them personally, to their families and in
their countries. They thanked God for the rivers of living water which began flowing
in KwaZulu-Natal.
Dr. Mangosuthu Buthelezi (Chairperson of the House of Traditional
Leaders, KwaZulu-Natal) said in his address to the audience:"This place
(KwaSizabantu Mission) has been a place of hope and healing to countless men,
women and children, amongst whom I include my own family, my wife and
children." Dr. Zweli Mkhize, the provincial MEC for Finance and Economic
Development, also addressed the audience:"The Revival which started in 1996
has touched thousands of lives in KwaZulu-Natal and many parts of the world. To
our people it has brought about spiritual growth, reconstructed families and
created a sense of strong values, knowledge of God, of peace, caring, respect
and love for fellow human beings.
(Excerpt from Newsletter, Erlo Stegen, March 2007)
Since the first edition of this book in 1976, the KwaSizabantu Mission
has grown from year to year. By 2010 many new buildings had been built:
The auditorium, seating ten thousand people. The first auditorium burnt
down in 2008 and could be rebuilt, by God's grace and with His help, in 2009.
The Domino Servite School, the Cedar College of Education, Tabitha Adult
School and Thembalethu Play Centre, as well as a guesthouse, coffee shop,
bakery and a small supermarket.
The mission is independent as far as its livelihood is concerned. About
one third of the 300ha farm is planted with avocado trees. These fruits are
sold domestically and exported to Europe as well. Another project is the
hothouses with the production of sweet peppers (paprika) in high quality. The
discovery of a pure water source made it possible to build a water-bottling
factory on the mission's property. Hundreds of thousands of bottles of pure
mineral water are produced and sold throughout the year.
A dairy, as well as an electrical workshop, a mechanical workshop and a
wood workshop should all be mentioned. There is also a radio station, called
"Radio Khwezi" (Radio Morningstar).
Finally, a very important project should be mentioned. The province KwaZulu-Natal
is one of the hardest hit by the Aids pandemic. In 2006 the KwaSizabantu
Mission started a ministry for Aids patients called"Emseni Care Centre"
(Emseni=Place of Grace). The patients get spiritual and physical help. God is
working among them in His mighty power. Many patients could testify to their
experience of how Jesus changed their lives. The following testimony of
Gcinephi Khuzwayo stands for many others:
Gcinephi grew up in a Christian environment. In spite of that she decided
to go her own way in life. She was an athletic girl weighing 83kg. In 2004 she
got a job in Pretoria. Enjoying her new lifestyle, she preferred relationships
with married men, thinking that to be safer than with unmarried ones. But soon
she lost weight and reached 45kg. She went home and was subsequently tested HIV
positive. At hospital the doctor told her that she was beyond medical help. He
did not even put her on antiretrovirals. Her weight had already dropped to
22-23kg.
Gcinephi's mother suggested that she might be brought to KwaSizabantu
Mission. At the end of March 2006 Gcinephi arrived at Emseni Care Centre in
critical condition. She was incontinent and could not straighten her legs.
Under the influence of the Gospel and loving care she was convicted of her sins
and realized that she would die and not reach heaven in her spiritual state.
She asked for counselling and testifies of having had three main sins, pride,
stubbornness and immorality. She made peace with God and immediately there was
an improvement in her physical condition. During the July Youth Conference in
2006 she gave her testimony, even though she was still sitting in a wheelchair.
During the December Youth Conference the same year she could speak standing in
front of the young people. By then she already weighed 56.2 kg.
After a further test the CD4 count was within normal range and the viral
load test showed the levels of HIV to be so low as to be undetectable. Gcinephi
cannot stop praising God for His goodness to her."What can I say about the
grace of God which has been shown to me? I came from the dead, because the
doctor had said: ‘You are as good as dead!’“
The matron in charge of state hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal said:"There is
no hospital like Emseni Care Centre. One cannot see that the patients are patients,
but instead they have shining faces and they are a picture of health."
May this short report be the answer to the question whether the
KwaSizabantu Revival is still alive. The principles are firmly based on the
foundation of the Bible and are followed by the leaders and co-workers of the
mission. May God in His grace continue His work saving people out of sin and
bondage above all we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20).
February 2011
Bärbel Koch
KwaSizabantu Mission
www.kwasizabantu.org.za