It’s Easter weekend. Hallelujah!
Across Africa—from Harare to Lusaka to Lagos—churches are full, prophets are on fire, and believers are declaring mighty things.
If you walk into any church right now, there’s a good chance the preacher is saying something like:
“By December, you shall own a house in Borrowdale!”
“Before the year ends, you shall drive a 2025 Land Cruiser V8!”
“You are now a Kingdom millionaire. Shout AMEN!”
And what do we do?
We shout, we clap, we jump, we fall, and we scream…
“I RECEIVE!!”
Now don’t get me wrong—I love God. I pray. I fast. I believe in miracles. I’ve even shouted “I RECEIVE!” a few times myself.
But here’s the real question:
After receiving, did you WORK?
The “Faith Without Sweat” Culture
In Africa, we’ve developed a spiritual formula that goes something like:
Declaration + Prayer + Amen = Success
But unfortunately, there’s a missing variable—WORK.
We’ve turned churches into motivational stadiums. We’ve confused shouting with strategy. We think God will bypass hard work because we gave Him a seed offering and attended an all-night prayer.
But the truth?
Even God doesn’t bless laziness.
Let me put it this way:
God fed Elijah using ravens… but the man was still in the wilderness.
Jesus turned water into wine… but someone had to fill the jars first.
Manna fell from heaven… but it didn’t last forever.
A Lesson from China and South Korea (Yes, We Need to Talk)
I once heard Bishop Tudor Bismark say something that shook my spirit more than a prayer line:
“Ghana and South Korea got independence in the same year same day — in 1957. Ghana is a Christian nation filled with churches, pastors, and prayer warriors. South Korea is largely not Christian—it has a mix of Buddhism, atheism, and others.
But fast forward to today: South Korea is now a first world country. Ghana is still considered a developing one.”
Boom.
He wasn’t attacking Christianity. He was challenging our misuse of it.
He said something even deeper:
“Prayer is not in the success equation. Prayer is in the revelation equation.”
In other words, prayer gives you wisdom and ideas.
But success comes from implementing what God showed you.
Dubai & China: Built on Sweat, Not Just Supplication
We LOVE visiting Dubai. Shopping at Dubai Mall. Posting photos at Burj Khalifa.
We LOVE importing from China. Buying wigs, gadgets, and kitchenware.
But let me ask:
Did Dubai become Dubai because someone shouted “I RECEIVE” at a tent crusade?
Did the Chinese become a global manufacturing powerhouse because they fasted for 40 days and nights only?
No. They worked. Relentlessly. Even on holidays. Even when they were tired. Even when no one clapped for them.
Why Prayer Is Still Important (But Not a Shortcut)
Don’t get it twisted—prayer is powerful.
It keeps us grounded. It gives us direction. It fuels our hope. It aligns us with God.
But hear me:
Prayer is not a substitute for planning.
Faith is not a replacement for focus.
Fasting doesn’t cancel the need for financial literacy.
Africa’s Superpower?
Imagine if we matched our prayer with productivity.
What if:
- Every “I receive” was followed by “I researched”?
- Every “Amen” was backed by action?
- Every night vigil was followed by an early morning business plan?
We would be unstoppable.
Conclusion
Let’s keep praying. Let’s keep fasting. Let’s keep believing.
But this Easter, as we shout “He is Risen!” let’s also rise with Him—into purpose, into discipline, into nation-building.
Because at the end of the day, faith moves mountains… but you still have to pick up the shovel.
