Nation

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Is New Zealand a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                              to many of us and not taught today to our children in schools, New Zealand has a rich and distinct Christian heritage, with our inception and  development as a nation steeped in a desire by men and women to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a new and distant land. 

 

When the Portuguese explorer Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros set foot in Vanuatu on the 14^th May, 1606 he declared:

 

“Let the heavens, the earth, the waters and all these here present witness that I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros in the name of Jesus Christ hoist this emblem of the holy cross in which His (Jesus Christ) person was crucified and where He gave his life for the ransom and remedy of all the human race… On this day of Pentecost 14^th May 1606 I take possession of this part of the South Seas as far as the pole in the name of Jesus… which from now on will be called ‘The Southern Land of the Holy Ghost’ and this always and forever… and to the end that to all natives in all the said lands, the holy and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly…”

 

 After this proclamation the ship’s canons roared and the sailors fired their muskets in celebration, and in the midst of this Captain de Quiros and his men cried out with joy…

 

 “Long live the faith of Jesus Christ!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not widely taught in schools that Abel Tasman (the first European to map New Zealand in 1642) and Captain James Cook (the first to land in 1770) were Christian men with a God-given desire to discover new frontiers. 

It is also not widely known that the  Christian gospel was not forcibly introduced the Maori people but at the request of the chief Ruatara (a nephew of the mighty Hongi Hika) the Reverend Samuel Marsden shared Jesus’ message with his people commencing Christmas Day 1814.  

A 1819 letter reveals that Reverend Marsden prayed for the Holy Spirit to fall:

“I hope and pray that they (the Maori people) would have a real Pentecost and the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon all flesh above measure.”

 

Upon his death in 1838 Marsden was buried in the cemetery adjacent to St. Johns Church in  Paremata and was lauded as an apostle to New Zealand and the founder of the Anglican mission to the Aborigines.

 

The first prominent Maori Christian leader was Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipi, an Anglican lay minister who became a skilled orator and powerful preacher with a thorough  knowledge of scripture.  Other notable chiefs who dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ included Kamiti, Pomare II, Tamati Waka Nene, Matiu Tahu, and Te Kooti, whose followers became known as “ringatu” or “the upraised hand”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probably the most influential Maori to follow Jesus was Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.  Ratana was born in 1870 and even as a young man showed a great interest in the Christian gospel. 

On the 8^th November, 1918 Ratana had a  vision during which God told Him He wanted to anoint him as His mouthpiece to unite the Maori people by turning them to Jehovah, the God of the Bible.  From that day the humble farmers’ life was forever changed and he began to  operate in a powerful healing    ministry which was noised all over the country. On one occasion 2000 people were healed in one meeting! 

Over 19,000 people joined his young movement by forsaking the traditions of their  ancestors and trusting in the Jesus that Ratana preached until his death in 1939. It is recorded that where Ratana preached unexplained light would illuminate the locations and dissipate shortly after the meetings would conclude.

There have also been many notable revivals in New Zealand’s short history.  In 1881 Thomas Spurgeon (son of famous evangelist Charles) came to New Zealand and within one year had established the Auckland Baptist Church which he pastored between 1881-93. During this time two thirds of the Maori people chose to   follow Jesus and turned from their traditional ways. 

In 1922 famous evangelist Smith Wigglesworth visited New Zealand and held powerful meetings where many miraculous healings took place which were documented on the front pages of the Evening Post, and where it was reported that people were drawn from the surrounding hills to a heavenly light that rested on the Wellington Town Hall where Wigglesworth held his meetings. 

In 1959 Dr Billy Graham visited New Zealand and one fifth of Auckland’s population attended his crusades over 11 days and a total of 16000 people recorded decisions to follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour around the nation.  Also in 1965 evangelist Oral Roberts ministered in New Zealand and thousands were saved by Jesus and many were healed.

 

                                    

                                           

 

                                                      that New Zealand as a nation and a people have been born out of a foundation of God’s love and truth that was intended to continue throughout our future, regardless of many modern politicians’ desire to rob us of our wonderful heritage. 

Many of these great heroes of our past risked  persecution, rejection from others and even death for this simple message: that God sent His one and only Son Jesus so that whoever believes in Him will not die but live forever with Him. 

 

 

So what about you? 

 

Have you met this man Jesus who has inspired all these heroes of our past to their great accomplishments?  This same Jesus who inspired Captain Cook to travel half way round to discover new worlds today wants to make His home in your life.  This same Jesus who through Ratana healed countless lives wants to heal your heart today.  This same Jesus by whose power Wigglesworth performed miraculous signs and wonders wants to give you the greatest miracle anybody could ever receive:

 

 He wants to save you from yourself and write your name as His precious child in His Book of Life so you can live with Him forever.

 

Will you let Him?

 

 

Pray this simple prayer: