The Divine Appointment at the Garden Tomb
Posted July 15, 2016
I met Bartholomew Manjoro, a student at
Christ for the Nations (Dallas, Texas), when he visited my ministry in 1984.
He was associated with Forward in Faith Ministries of Harare, Zimbabwe.
Bartholomew was the number two man in the organization and had been with
them for about twenty years. He attended Water of Life for several months.
He and I became good friends and he invited me to come to Zimbabwe in 1985.
October 1984 I led a tour to Israel. While at the Garden Tomb in
Jerusalem, there was an African man and two African women, myself, and two
women from Water of Life with me, inside the tomb at the same time. The
power of God was strong and all of us were shaking while standing in the
cave at the entrance of the tomb where the visitors could stand while
looking at the tomb itself.
The Garden Tomb where I met Ezekiel Guti. Debbie Geer is standing in the doorway.
After we exited one of my party, Ron
Kepler, an Assembly of God preacher, began talking to the African man that
was in the tomb with me. The man introduced himself to Ron as Ezekiel Guti,
Founder of Forward in Faith Ministries, in Harare, Zimbabwe. My friend then
said, “Doyle Davidson is going to Harare in January”. Ezekiel then asked,
“Where is he coming to?” Ron replied, “Forward in Faith Ministries”. Ezekiel
was amazed and said, “I don’t know about this, who is this person?” My
preacher friend then told him of me and Water of Life Ministries but Ezekiel
answered, “I have never heard of him.” Ron then went on to say, “He used to
be a veterinarian…” Ezekiel then responded, “Oh, I know who he is now!”
Ron then came to me and said “Ezekiel is here!” and then reiterated his
conversation. Ezekiel and I then met and talked. We both knew that God had
arranged our meeting at the tomb. My plans were to be in Harare the second
Sunday in January 1985, but after our meeting and talk, Ezekiel asked if I
could be there the first Sunday; it was to be their “Big Sunday” with
preachers coming from all over Africa.
New Year’s Day 1985 we left
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport headed for Harare. After our arrival I spoke on
Friday and Saturday night at local churches in the area. On their Big Sunday
I was scheduled to speak just ten minutes after they conducted some
business. The meeting had to finish by 4:00 PM so everyone could catch the
last of public transportation. At 3:00 PM Ezekiel came to me and told me
they had finished all their business much sooner than they expected and
asked if I could speak for an hour. I said “Sure.” I spoke to four thousand
people in the sanctuary through an interpreter. I preached on 2 Corinthians
8;
2 Corinthians 8:
1 Moreover, brethren,
we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of
affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto
the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record,
yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that
we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we
hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will
of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus,
that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every
thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in
your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by
occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your
love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,
that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for
this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also
to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing
of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance
also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing
mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that
he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be
eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at
this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their
abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had
gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, which put
the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the
exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the
brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was
also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is
administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your
ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should
blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for
honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of
men.
22 And we have sent with them our
brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now
much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Whether any do enquire of Titus,
he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be
enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of
Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and
before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your
behalf.
Ezekiel came to me afterwards and said, “I have heard
many preach on that chapter but I never heard anyone get out of that chapter
what you did.” It was just God ministering prosperity to Harare, Zimbabwe. I
have been ministering to Zimbabwe ever since.
God sent me to
Zimbabwe as an apostle and prophet and I am to them an apostle and prophet
still.
God bless you,
Doyle Davidson
Originally posted in A Work of Righteousness 1984
kd/kc
