His Amazing Glory
THE GLORY OF THE GOSPEL ~ ARISE NEW ZEALAND
IAN JOHNSON
Jul 01, 2005
On Christmas day 1814 the gospel was first preached in New Zealand at Oihi bay in Northland. God had a plan for the salvation of the nation then, and He has a plan now, My hope is that God will inspire many to take up the challenge to preach the Gospel afresh, In the ends of the Earth. Come on New Zealand those who have gone before gave up much to preach the gospel in this land, it is time to stir ourselves again, let’s get preaching again. Not a PC Gospel, Not a hell fire Gospel, but a Gospel about the wonders of our God! The Gospel of Jesus Christ and his amazing love for mankind, A holy God who has opened a way for sinners to be set free in his immeasurable grace!
A generation of New Zealanders has no knowledge of the wonders and the Glory of our God. Ask many in Church in this age, and they will faithfully tell you alot about the church, The Music, the programs, but ask them to tell you about the wonders of God, ask them to tell you about the infinite God who has become the intimate God in Jesus, Ask them to explain the grace of God and ask them to see into his holiness and die! and many will scratch their heads and walk back to the church cafe!
The foundation has been laid Its time to pick it up again. Time for the intercessors to call in the great wealth in the Spirit that awaits the Church Isaiah 49: 8: "Thus says the Lord, in an acceptable time I’ve heard you. In the day of salvation I’ve helped you. I will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate inheritances." Isaiah 58:12: "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In."
The Rev Samuel Marsden set out for New Zealand with a mission for the country, and with a heart for the nations of the South Pacific. Before completing his degree, God appeared to be opening the way for Marsden to carry the gospel of His son to distant lands" According to his autobiographer S.M. Johnstone, Samuel Marsden was a "Strong willed, courageous personality, a born organiser with a passion for work, devotion to duty, a leader of men and a grand old man."
But Marsden was also a man with a divine calling to evangelise the indigenous people of New Zealand and the South Seas. He was also a man of Gods word. "But he tells us of the source of consolation: meditating on the Scriptures, and a study of the life of David Brainerd, the evangelist of the Indians of Pennsylvania." ( Brainerd was a powerful minister of the gospel who saw the miracles of God in his ministry)
Marsden came to New Zealand with one purpose in mind! To see the entire nation saved in the name of Jesus. He came expecting to see a great turning to the Lord and he came to express the wonders of His God. The first message he preached from Luke 2:10 "Ï bring you good news"
The sound of the good news has been echoing around the nation for 191 years and there have been many faithful ones who have preached this gospel, I have no doubt that many are preaching even as I write this, but as an Evangelist it is my role to stir the Church again and again to draw on the foundations laid by the holy Spirit . To repair the breach, to mend the nets, to put out the boats to fish again! The things that happen in Church are all good, but the Evangelist is still tied up and kept on a leash in case they upset someone.
Marsden also said "It is my opinion that God will ere long visit New south wales with His heavenly grace. Out of these stones he will raise up children unto Abraham. There has not yet been shaking among the dry bones, but the Son of Man is commanding a shaking, and I hope by and by, the Lord will command the wind to blow. Stir up thy strength O Lord and come among us." (From Samuel Marsden Biogrophy by S.M. Johnstone) (New Zealand was part of New south wales at the time)
EZEKIEL 37 9 Then he said to me, "Speak to the winds and say: ’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so that they may live again.’ " 10 So I spoke as he commanded me, and the wind entered the bodies, and they began to breathe. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army of them.
New Zealand is the South wind. May it blow not as a gentle breeze but as a hurricane of praise to the Living God, even as marsden prophesied the wind, so I join with him and say "Come among us Lord, stir up thy strength and blow!
Marsden sailed to New Zealand in obedience to what he believed was the calling of the Lord. "He knew that the people of New Zealand were full of superstition, and wholly under the power of darkness. There was, as he saw it, only one remedy which could effectually free them from their cruel spiritual bondage and misery, and that was the gospel of a crucified saviour."
Professor Manning Clark records the scene at Oihi beach in the Bay of Islands (The entry point of the Gospel in NZ) on Christmas day 1814 as follows: "Surrounded by savages who had massacred his countrymen, Marsden wondered much at the mysteries of Gods grace, He began the service by singing the old hundredth psalm and a very solemn silence prevailed. Marsden preached to them, taking his text the tenth verse of the second chapter of St Luke’s gospel ’behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy’ He said as part of his message, "Every night I go down on my knees to ask the father of mercies to crown my feeble efforts in New Zealand for the evangelization of its people", adding with fervor his hope that all Christian societies might unite in love and in one body against the prince of darkness."
Marsden concludes his service in these words: "In this manner the gospel has been introduced to New Zealand, and I fervently pray that the glory of it may never depart from its inhabitants till time shall be no more" (Page 129- Samuel Marsden by S.M. Johnstone) The day was concluded with communion on board the ship ’Active’.
Can we disappoint our brother by just playing Church, or do we join with him in a new Pioneering push for the Gospel. A new generation awaits the sounds of the glory of the Gospel in our Land. There are many who are rising to the challenge
Lord bring again the sounds of the Glory of your gospel in this dry and barren land. Call a new generation to strike fear in the heart of the enemy. Raise up a fearless troop who will proclaim the wonders of our God. Who will with shouts of praise fall face down in worship as they look into your Glory.
LEVITICUS 9.: 23 Next Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to the whole community. 24 Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw all this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground. We have a responsibility to those who have gone before to enter the tabernacle again, and to gaze upon his Glory, and then to return and bless His people! Heavenly visitations await those who will seek Him. This Gospel is glorious. Rise up NZ! Preach it again. Ian Johnson 01:07:2005 His Amazing Glory Ministries www.papelim.org.nz
