Category: Blog

You’ve heard the comment, they’re coming for us.

After a church service where I had been speaking, on the subject, how this nation, New Zealand, founded on Christian beliefs, had forgotten God.

Amidst the tea coffee cake and chat, I was approached by an elderly chap with an extended hand.

As our hands shook, he gripped his other hand to the handshake, looked me in the eye and spoke these words to me.

“You know, it’s only a matter of time before “they will come for you.”

He released my hand, turned, and walked away.

I didn’t need to follow him and ask what he meant because I knew.

Recently, a friend sent me a YouTube clip featuring the Indian born International Bible Teacher Derek Prince.

Prince was answering a question about the state of Christianity in New Zealand

In his superb English accent, he responded “if I have to sum up what threatens Christianity in New Zealand I would use just one word- Indifference.”

Indifference- prophetic and true.

We as a nation have for some time and remain indifferent to God’s word.

We have adapted to the cliché “She’ll be right” and it’s been to our detriment.

They’re coming for you.

Many who are old enough remember what happened in Nazi Germany.

During that time the outspoken Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote

“First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

New Zealand is not Nazi Germany, but you can’t help compare the similarities.

We as a nation have become, not just indifferent to God, but to the tidal wave of cultural changes, which engulfs us today.

Cancel culture, wokeness, political correctness, the erosion of the family, no jab-no job, medical apartheid, racial division, the acceptance of a sexualised culture

and the list is incredibly long.

They’re coming for us.

 but here is some breaking news, we don’t have to wait.

They have been in our midst for some time.

Revelation 12:9

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

You see the father of the lie, the angel of darkness who transforms himself into an angel of light, the deceiver, the one who prowls around looking to devour,

The one called the accuser, Lucifer, The Devil, Satan,

He and his demons have but a short time but, they are amongst us.

They have come for you and me.

You may scoff, but they are here for us, they are here for our children.

They started to close the nets which they surrounded us with, while we were going about our normal lives.

While we argued over so many things and mesmerised by the “must have” trinkets society says we should have.

While we were absorbed by the pandemic, global warming, the economy, unemployment, rising fuel and food prices, celebrity weddings, and sport stars.

Satan closed his net around you, your children, and grandchildren and as a nation we remain indifferent.

We have remained indifferent towards our children’s education, allowing them without any resistance to a very left leaning liberal school curriculum, which teaches an ideology foreign to family, values, morality and other societal boundaries.

We have cheered on the many, many groups, each with an agenda which is now way beyond Darwinism.

We fail to see they are after the minds of your children.

But it’s too late-they have captured them.

Adults are obsessed by a culture based around oneself, group thinking, sex, food, and political correctness.

Their indifference has allowed themselves to accept anybody and everything,

wanting to change history to suit their own agenda.

If it’s not right in their eyes, they will make it right even if it’s not.

They do not accept sin, responsibility and certainly not morals or values

Satan and his demons have already won.

Adults, mums, dads, grandparents, single or living together,

His influence has blindsided and captured our political leaders, even church leaders.

If you are a follower of God, you are not immune, they are especially here for you now.

Like a wolf, Satan and his demons will try to separate you from your flock, you will be isolated in society as is already happening.

If your involved in a community group, local or national politics and believe in the bible, you will be persecuted for your beliefs and considered to be on the lunatic fringe.

We will be called things that we’re not and persecuted, – not for being followers of Christ, but for being radical fundamentalists who do not know the true way of Christ.  Which of course is love and tolerance.

Because of our biblical stance and our condemnation of all things evil,

Christians will go down as the greatest bigots and haters of mankind and history.

Little by little the net closed in but then did you notice, it stopped being little by little. It quickly become week by week.

Look how quickly New Zealand changed in just a matter of weeks.

John 15:20

Remember what I told you:

‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

 If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

But at the same time, know this.

Persecution is always meant for evil, but God always means it for good.

And is it not better to suffer in this life to have an extra weight glory?

So, your mind must be filled with the word of God.

The man who shook my hand was right, without a doubt, they will come for me.

If they haven’t already, Satan and his demons are coming for you.

They want you – your children – your grandchildren to believe their lies,

 to turn you away from the truth.

But you know what. I’m not fazed, wary yes, but not fazed about Satan and his demons.

I don’t say that because I am indifferent, and constantly check myself daily.

I say it because of who is truly coming for me, the one who has my name

inscribed in the lamb’s book.

He is coming for me, and he is coming for you.

Now is not the time for indifference.

We must be firm in our belief, our actions, and in our hearts, that it is Jesus

and only Jesus who we want to come for us.

Despite all the lies we must hold firm. We need to resist the wiles of Satan.

Now is not the time for being lukewarm, we must always be “Hot” for God.

Look to the heavens as your salvation draws near.

Believe Jesus is the only one who is coming for us.

Accept He and only He is our saviour.

Resist anyone else who comes in his name because it is Jesus and only Jesus who is coming for me.

Harold Camping was ridiculed last decade because he said the world was ending on May 21, 2011.

It didn’t, nor did his new date, but Mike Bain from Christian Voice New Zealand discusses why he admires a man thought by many to be foolish.

In the early part of the last decade, the Christian Community and its associated bookshops were awash with end times prophecies and books.

Names like Jonathon Cahn, Perry Stone, John Hagee, Joel Richardson, Mark Hitchcock, even David Jeremiah all have written books outlining the end is nigh.

A decade on, if you go into a bookstore, you’ll still find updated accounts of the end times from these same authors and some new ones.

Not for a minute am I mocking them

Never have any of them written or said they knew the world as we know, it was going to end.

But honestly, there came a time when I think even students of eschatology were over it.

Someday, there might be an actual person who accurately predicts judgment day.

If they do, it will be a fluke and it wasn’t the quasi-scholarly elderly pastor Harold Camping who crisscrossed the U.S. with the date of “May 21 2011”

Harold didn’t learn the first time.

Much to Camping’s wife’s disgust when May 22 arrived Harold realised, he made an error of judgement, but he wasn’t deterred he made another prediction, which again was wrong.

I think this is when Mrs Camping put her foot down and said “enough. “and took his computer away from him.

Harold like Chan, Hagee, Stone, Hitchcock Richardson, and Jeremiah have read in God’s word, the Bible and compared today, to the time when GOD himself said “enough” and opened the floodgates of heaven and let it rain for forty days and forty nights.

All of these watchmen I’m sure have a very good knowledge of the bible and are careful not to set a date because they’re aware of some very important facts.

The most obvious was in answer to the burning question of when.

Jesus himself clearly states in Matthew “concerning that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father, but he did give the apostles an indication,

³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

But let’s look at the other important fact about the timing of the end.

In the days pre flood what was the task God gave to Noah?

If you said Build an Ark? You were only part right.

While building the ark, Noah, Noah’s wife, Noah’s family, and their wives were steadfast in their belief in GOD.

Their witness to everyone around them spoke volumes as a witness to their belief that the earth and every living thing apart from who and what was onboard the Ark would be destroyed.

Likewise, Jesus talked about when his fathers will to put an end to the wickedness. lawlessness self-indulgence, sinful and did I mention. “Godless” culture we see today, he has set a task for those to survive.

You see in Olivet discussion with his apostles Jesus spoke of a composite sign, you know the one Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. and so forth, and all these things will be seen in one generation.

Many older Christians have seen many days when this has been fulfilled.

And we ask, why the return Jesus has not fulfilled.

The answer is simple.

Like Noah had a task to build an Ark

We, you, and I have a task.

Jesus words are recorded in Matthew 24 :9 says things will be rough for all believers “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 

¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

And here is the task 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

So here is my question to you.

What have you done today to further the work of the great commission Jesus speaks about in Matthew 28?

Who have you told about Gods forthcoming kingdom?

Have you let your light shine or is it dimming because you have allowed yourself to be wrapped up in the foliage of today’s culture?

I said at the outset I wasn’t mocking the likes of Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Perry Stone, Mark Hitchcock, Joel Richardson, David Jeremiah, or anyone else who acts like the watchmen on the cities walls and brought attention to the ugliness surrounding us.

They have made it possible through their writings to draw attention to the forthcoming kingdom.

You know I admire the courage of Harold Camping.

Harold’s mistake was putting a date on the end, for which he was mocked, humiliated, and discredited just like Noah and the early prophets we read about in the Old Testament.

I admire Harold because 1/ He ignored his wife’s suggestion he kept quiet and lived to talk another day and 2/Harold was selflessly prepared to draw attention to what will be a catastrophic event which will catch many by surprise.

Its up to us now to ensure we must fulfil our task, it’s not like we have to build an ark or anything like that.

 All we are being asked to do is at the very least tell someone about Jesus Christ today about his love, his mercy for all who accept him.

Its so simple,

Be bold like Harold

Let nothing stop you -tell someone today.

You owe it to them.

So where are they?

New Zealand society has seen legislation passed in our house of parliament restricting travel,

• where you can eat,
• where you can go,
• who and how many people you can be associate with,
• how many mourners you can have at your funeral,
•  where you must scan your family in for Christmas dinner.
• How many guests can attend your wedding?
• Which toilet you can use and worse of all,
• Where hospitality business trade in fear of  a $15,000 fine for compliance failure over vaccination passes
• We are encouraged to turn on our neighbour, to dob them in.
• Having to produce a pass to get a haircut, play sport, to participate in life.
• who and how many people can attend church.

So where are they

Where are they, I ask

Have these leaders all been muted or are they cowering from a government rampantly imposing restriction one after another?

Who are we talking about?

My friends, I am talking about the voice of the church in New Zealand.

A voice that has been quiet for far too long

A voice we should have heard roar like a Lion with despair

When this government changed the status of marriage.

When it legalised prostitution.

When it altered the protection clauses for the unborn.

When it allowed people the choice whether they lived or die.

When it refused to acknowledge the name of Jesus in its debating chamber.

This same government has turned truth upside down to the point where everybody is confused as to what is real and what is not.

So where are they?

Where is the voice of the church in 2021?

Let me tell you where they are.

Right now they are locked in their churches like the apostles were following the death of Jesus, hiding and whimpering for fear of man.

To those pastors, ministers, priests, and other church leaders to get out the bible.

Open it and roar with the authority of the word of God your condemnation like a lion who is protecting his pride, his family, his territory.

This country has never, ever been in such dire straights as it is today.

Friends, what is happening in New Zealand is not a matter of health, the pandemic was and remains an excuse for control.

If you think New Zealand is going to return to its old way, think again.

This is the time we should see and hear the pulpits across this nation on fire, for the truth of God.

Dispensing salt to alter the culture to bring Light for those to find their way out from the darkness.

If you are failing, then can I suggest you are as much use as the slave who hid his masters talent.

But its not just the church leaders I am directing this to it is those in the congregations of this nation who are standing in front of their pastors.

I am talking to you if you are in a congregation who has criticised your pleaders for the fiery sermon he may have delivered on sin.

To those who may have left a church to seek a congregation where their ears can be tickled every Sunday.

To you I say: “Get out of the way and let your leadership through.”

We call these people shepherds; we call them leaders. You can call them a dozen names.

But remember who called it is who calls them to the role

Who called you and remember the reason you were called?

We all want a simple life but friends, now is not the time.

We do not want to be in a church congregation like the one in war time Germany which was adjacent to a rail line.

The congregation knew the long train regularly going past during the service with boxcars full of Jewish men women and children on their way to the Gas chambers.

When they heard the train coming, they sang louder not to give the occupants hope but to drown out the cries from the train.

Solomon reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Just like Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Esther, Ruth, David, Noah. Isaac, Paul, and others were called to serve God is calling you at this time

Now is not the time for timidity.

God’s people are looking to you for leadership.

They are frightened and confused.

When they see government demanding segregation and encouraging discrimination and see leadership complying by discriminating who can or cannot attend a service.

And then teach about the three Hebrew boys who refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar.

Their refusal showed they feared God, rather than man as they were cast into the fiery furnace.

That is how our church leadership should be.

They should fear displeasing God rather than fearing man.

Our pulpits need to be on fire.

We can see and we can grumble about what is happening in our country.

But we need to stand together to stop this evil which is dividing our nation.

We need not whimper but the church needs to roar.

We need to oppose this oppression happening in this nation.

Its only a vaccine, It is only a booster, its only an ID bracelet,

Its only, its only, its only, but it is not

Wake up church and strengthen what remains

So, the question is where are they?

Where are these mighty men of God?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said

“If I sit next to a madman as he drives a car into a group of innocent bystanders,

 I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe, then comfort the wounded and bury the dead.

 I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”

If we as followers of Christ believe in Justice, truth, and love, then we cannot be mere spectators as some were in Nazi Germany.

We must with all our strength wrestle and speak out with conviction about the direction we are heading .

We must stand with our brothers and sisters

We must stand with our king and saviour without fear

We must not remain silent when we’re called to speak out against the injustice facing this once proud Christian Nation.

Technology sure has changed life

When I was a child growing up in a small Otago town in the early sixties.

Television was something only a “few” had

If we wanted to watch TV, we would go up to the local appliance store to watch a single black and white TV in the stores window.

I remember the sound piped through a little speaker to the footpath was difficult to hear,

It was great as other members of the community stood shoulder to shoulder sometimes six deep watching this new gadget.

Friday nights, were late night shopping nights and watching TV was not a priority,

Dressed up in our “going out clothes” we would as family off downtown.

Everybody, and I mean everybody would be out, and it was a bit of a buzz.

Sometimes on a Friday night a group called the Open-Air Campaigners would be there in their drop sided caravan playing music and talking about God.

Having been brought up in a catholic home the concept of God was not foreign to me.

A young man approached me and started to speak with me.

I still recall his words to me.

He told me that when Jesus returns to the earth, everyone in the world will see him.

I had never heard that statement before, but to be fair at my catholic school we never really spoke about anything so deep.

And of course, we were discouraged from talking to people with other beliefs, because they would possibly conflict with our indoctrination.

I left him thinking he was some sort of nut job. Even at an early age I knew the earth was round and if I see Jesus’ return, there are others on the other side of the world could not.

But it was a statement which resonated with me, which I never forgot.

I admit despite all my training and investigation into the Bible, I remained sceptical throughout the years.

Sure, as television technology advanced, we could see things like an All-Black game being played in the Northern Hemisphere, but it just didn’t click.

It took until 2011 and an event in New York that the penny dropped.

I was a part of a global audience watching the same pictures as everyone else in the world.

My community seemed larger that day.

But the words of the young open-air campaigner came back to me and I finally could comprehend what he was talking about.

Like 9/11 as the world stopped in disbelief over an act of terrorism, regardless of what they’re doing or where they are, the same world will stop and see the return of Jesus.

While most of the worlds population watched in shock and despair as the events unfolded in 2011, there were others who were rejoicing at the attack on America.

Revelation 20 describes the return of Jesus this way

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.

 With justice he judges and wages war. 

¹² His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.

 He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 

¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 

¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[a] 

He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

 ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

At that time, the eyes of the world will be fixated on his return.

Like we did outside the appliance store and in 2011 we will all stand shoulder to shoulder and look up and rejoice for our Salvation is near.

But for others there will be the gnashing of teeth knowing their day of judgement is near.

To the young campaigner half a century ago, your words were not in vain,

They did not fall on dry ground.

And you will not believe the message I have and still tell everyone yes you guessed it

Look up for this is where your salvation will come from.

For centuries there has been a long-held belief that evil comes from Satan and his band of demons.

Hollywood over the years has painted these demons as anti-type angels with venom dripping from every part of the body and usually with a raspy voice for effect.

Conspiracy theorists would have you believe and are right evil comes in the form of organisations such as the illuminati, the freemasons, or other places.

I would even venture it comes from within government circles and from observations in history that assumption is also correct

But if we were looking for evil, look in the mirror.

There you will find a person who is capable of evil.

Not you?

Think about it honestly, are we capable of evil.

The answer is yes, but sometimes we just don’t know when it could happen.

Circumstances change often during the day and life sometimes shows us no mercy.

It can be a major event in our lives where someone or the system has offended us.

Out of nowhere comes this feeling that you cannot control.

You may want to simply curse at another motorist who inadvertently cut you off.

You may even wish harm on another individual who wronged you.

You may well regret your thoughts in an instant, but we are all capable of thinking evil thoughts.

Now I know thinking and acting on your thoughts are different, but really, they are the same.

But why do you have these thoughts, how can you control them.

First up let’s understand everyone has them Matthew 15: 9 tells us, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

Not for a moment am I suggesting we are at this point where we would act on any of the things I listed.

We are all guilty of thoughts but dare I say it an evil thought is like a planted seed; all it need is fertilisation to make it grow.

So, what can we do about it?

Proverbs 4; we are to Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

And if we do Pauls words to the people in Philippi should provide comfort that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The times we are living in are fraught with issues which we encounter daily.

Currently in New Zealand we have a divided nation, and unfortunately things will get worse before they will get better.

The mandating of vaccination certificates for citizens allowing them to live a free and normal life while the doors remain closed to others is not the kiwi way.

In a country which prides itself on welcoming all and shows compassion to other citizens of the world I personally cringe when I hear and now see our fellow citizens showing both judgement and discrimination towards one another.

Evil presents itself in differing forms and in these trying times we must continue to show compassion and love for one another.

We should as James puts it no be discriminatory between ourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.

Following on from the implosion of the last National Party leader we have now been introduced to a fresh face with a lot of commercial experience to lead the party with an aspiration to lead the country, come the next election

In his opening speech Christopher Luxon promised a fresh start to the beleaguered political party, drawing a line under the past and moving on with a united team.

He spoke of his desire to see New Zealand move forward.

Ahh the sweet sounds of naivety.

The reality is as Luxon is finding out is that political office comes with a new kind of pressure he may have never faced in a commercial world.

In this new age of politics, he will be closely scrutinized.

So close he will find out about things he may have forgotten about or indeed, maybe news to him.

when you wear the Christian T shirt, it comes with responsibility and commitment

Mike Bain Christian Voice New Zealand

He has had a taste of what is to come from the media and public alike.

Much has been said about his wealth, and his seven properties,

His answer has been to say, I can’t help it if I am successful.

Riches aside I am more concerned about the media’s obsession with his Faith.

Much has been said about the fact that Luxon professes to be an evangelical Christian.

You would think this as a good thing, right?

A man who holds biblical views and principles, a man who believes in morals and integrity, love for one another etc etc.

Yes, Christopher Luxon claims to be a Christian.

But he was quick to temper the medias onslaught by admitting yes,

He held Christian beliefs but hadn’t been to church for five years.

It is not up to any of us to judge Luxon or his claims to be a follower of God.

But keep in mind the warning Jesus gave to his disciples

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, he describes such people as false prophets and they are not what they appear as “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 2 Thessalonians 2:

In today’s society, it is a tough row to hoe admitting your faith to God as the hypocrisy police will be all over you if they find a chink in your armour.

But its one thing admitting you have faith

Its another, when it comes to practicing it.

You see Luxon’s response immediately made me think of the apostle Peter after the arrest of Jesus where he was asked if he was a follower of Christ.

There, right there in the heat of the brazier Luxon, did what Peter did.

By fudging his answer, he denied Jesus Christ and this my friends were just in the first few days of him becoming the leader of his political party.

You may think it’s a tough call, but when you wear the Christian T shirt, it comes with responsibility and commitment which you do not water down for political expediency.

He maybe the man God uses to rid this country of this leftist government, but Luxon will face intense scrutiny not only from the media, or the electorate at large, but also from his creator.

He maybe well to do, with material riches

 Who knows he may be just the man and I hope God continues to bless him?

 but if I had a word of advice for Christopher Luxon and his admission of faith, that would be to heed the words found in Matthew 7 where Jesus says Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

When New Zealand was first established between Māori and the colonials it was based on mutual respect and a willingness to get along.
Māori were introduced to the God of the Bible from people like Samuel Marsden and other missionaries of the time.
So, it would be fair to say as New Zealand grew, it grew as a Christian nation.
I would even go as far to suggest this foundation established and shaped New Zealand’s beliefs and acceptance.
After all it was New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote.
Our decency and spirit for justice seen us join in and sacrifice our own in defeating evil forces during two world wars.
We have as a nation never stood back when it comes to fighting for the freedoms of citizens worldwide in different conflicts since then, in Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and many other countries around the world.
In the 1970s we were outraged at nuclear bomb experiments In our backyards, we protested and then declared ourselves nuclear free.
Our sense of adventure, our courage and No 8-wire spirit saw us conquer the skies with the first manned flight, the conquering of the tallest mountain and dare I say it, winning the 2015 Rugby world Cup.
Speaking of Rugby, we marched and in 1981 we fought in the streets raising awareness of the injustice of Apartheid in South Africa during a rugby tour.
We as a nation have welcomed many different races to be kiwis alongside us.
Yes, we have been welcoming, willing to stand up against injustices and at times we have led the world with our culture.
Never could I ever imagine the day when, we as a nation would welcome the division of our population based on whether they have been subjected, out of fear, coercion, bullying into participation of a medical experiment.
Division is not the New Zealand way.
Gone is the team of five million.
Gone is the kindness.
Instead, we have the haves and the have nots.
Gone is the respect and tolerance we had for those in our community for individual choice.
If you can legislate for a two-tier system because of a vaccination, what is the next step.
This New Zealand government has pointed to it being the only source of truth.
I want to take this opportunity to disagree.
If we are looking for a single source of truth, there is only one place you can find it.
And where is that I hear you asking.
Here is the answer, The bible, 66 differing books all leading to one thing.
A book which speaks of courage, adventure, culture, a fight for injustice, and best of all love for neighbour.
To return New Zealand we don’t have to lead the world, protest, ascend greatness, or even play a game of rugby.
If New Zealand is to survive to be a worthwhile nation
We as New Zealanders need to put Christ back on the throne.
How do we do that?
We put Christ back on the throne of our hearts and our conscience.
We put Christ back on the throne of our families as much depends on us.
We get back in our right biblical place.
We put Christ on the throne of law and order and political order, as much depends on us.
As much as we can, we must push back against the darkness.
And we need to be taking that truth to world who is in bondage to darkness.
It is in this darkness New Zealanders are happy to divide themselves.
Jacinda Ardern may preach kindness.
But it is Jesus who promotes love for one another.
And you cannot show love if you separate your fellow countryman based on race, ethnicity, or vaccination certificate.
Let me leave you with this thought from an admonition Paul had for the Galatian congregation
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)

Not sure if you are noticing

There’s a change happening in the country

You may be forgiven if you hadn’t noted because we have been subjected to gradualism.

To explain gradualism, you must know about the frog.

In this story if you were to out a frog into a pot of cold water, you have a happy frog.

But if you turn the heat up gradually the frog gets used to the new temperature and remains happy.

When the water is boiling, he doesn’t jump out of the pot, he stays there Happy in his little life.

Even though the temperature is boiling he doesn’t notice its bad for him as he has been subjected to the gradual rise in the temperature/

In New Zealand we have seen a gradual change in our culture and what we as Christians will today accept as the normal whereas a few years ago we would have frowned.

In decades past thousands and I mean literally thousands marched down the city streets of New Zealand protesting the killing of the unborn.

We were opposed to same sex marriage

We were opposed to Euthanasia

But today we accept it as being the norm.

I don’t know if you have noted how influential the Gay community is in pushing its agenda through Television shows and movies, these people want us to accept it as normal.

I recall people being outraged by foul language being used in the streets, and some were even prosecuted in the court for swearing.

But the foul mouthed, blasphemous Scottish comedian Billy Connelly appeared on many tV screens across the country and the audience soaked him up.

Guarantee if your daughter brought home a boyfriend who used similar language, he would probably be frog marched out the house/

You see gradualism has been happening and its affected our values our morals and our standing with our creator.

Today we are witnessing another change in our society and this one is to quote Jesus is happening like a thief in the night.

Under emergency powers the New Zealand Labour led government is changing laws to suit their own agenda.

They have and continue to use the current pandemic to install fear into the population to accept their agenda under the guise of health and safety.

Heed the warnings, there are many in this country who are awakening, and some are starting to push back.

Christians who maybe asking is it Ok to push back.

The answer is in Romans 13 and yes, it is ok.

But we should not do it alone.

We need the church and its leadership to rise and say enough is enough.

We cannot and should not rest on our pulpits.

And this is the warning I give to the church,

If you don’t stand up and lead your people, they will drift off and find someone who will.

The Bible talks about such a leader who will give them an answer.

This leader is identified as the Anti-Christ.

Vaccination passports are not the mark of the beast but it’s a pointer of the things to come.

So, wake up church, wake up, the water in the pot is near boiling point.

My friends as we await the coming of Jesus Christ, I don’t have to tell you,

The signs are here, we are very near the end.

This is our time. We have been called, we need to ensure we are right with God today, and we must continue to carry out his commands of taking the Good news of Gods kingdom to every man woman and child that we can reach.

If someone gives you something, it’s yours, right?

But what if you found something and it was full of riches, you can claim it be yours but is it.

It’s a simple question and the answer is certainly simple.

If you discover or find something, yes you can claim it but it begs the question as to whom it actually belongs too.

One of the big issues now is a bit like this.

On one hand we have a group of people claiming they own the land and everything on it.

But on the other hand, theirs another group that says hang on, it doesn’t work that way.

The current debate about the three waters that is the fresh water, the grey water and then there is the black water.

Let’s start with the black water, I’m more than happy for anyone to lay claim to this not so valuable resource and given all the talk from our politicians, well its only likely to increase.

The grey water, well it to can belong to any entity which wants to take care of it.

Ah but the fresh water, this is an asset which came with the land in form of rivers and lakes.

Here’s the thing, no one owns this resource, but it is up to mankind to protect it because of its value to all.

From a biblical perspective mankind was put on this earth which was created by God and in his words it was good.

Adam and Eve had been given the job to look after and expand on the garden of Eden.

But later on in the Bible we see a covenant given to Abraham where land, entitlement was given by God.

The land spoken about was vast, so Abraham and his descendants were entitled to settle there.

No arguments this was land given by the creator to Abraham, which gave him and his descendants rights to everything the land contained.

Not just in New Zealand, but worldwide, land has just been inhabited by man either through discovery or conquest, but here is the point.

Unlike the land God gave to Abraham and his seed, no one really has entitlement to ownership of the land but they are allowed by the grace of God to occupy it.

Water is such a valuable resource which is and should be freely available to all who occupy the land.

When we start squabbling who owns what we need to stop and remember, this is God’s earth, he created it with light, darkness, mountains, valleys, plants, animals, rivers, lakes, and seas and it is He who has sovereignty over it.

To squabble over these things is as King Solomon voiced it in the book of Ecclesiastes Its like chasing the wind

Traffic lights vaccination targets Vaccination passports, open borders, freedom, and free speech.

There is a lot going on in little old New Zealand now.

So, I thought it was right time to suggest we cancel Christmas.

Now this is a decision I have thought about for a few years, so I haven’t taken it lightly.

Every year we Christians ask what the reason for the season is, and every time we answer that Jesus is the reason.

But ask someone who is from a secular background and their answer will be a lot different.

It will feature time spent with families, presents and holidays.

All good reasons but they miss the point.

Christmas Day along with Easter are deeply rooted as traditional Christian holidays based on traditional and theological Christian beliefs.

My reason I want to cancel Christmas is not so much of being a grinch but being realistic.

The 2019 statistics showed a belief in God by the population has diminished to less than 39%.

But then in that figure is a lot of other beliefs like Eastern religions and the Church of the Spaghetti Eating Monster and let’s not forget the Jedis who number around 20,000.

Christmas is a time when the country stops to rest, but unfortunately not to reflect.

If it did then most people would reflect on what and why Christmas and the birth of Christ is so important.

I can hear somebody saying but didn’t Constantine combine a pagan festival in with Christmas.

Yes, that is true, but Christmas is and always will be about the birth of Jesus.

I want to see the Christmas holiday scrapped for non-believers.

After all we are no longer a Christian nation so why should the majority take the day off work.

Why should they have the gifts of giving and receiving, why should they be able to sit down and enjoy a meal and time together.

Why because these things are traditional, and an effort to go through the motions for just one day.

But everything I have spoken about is an integral part of what God has given us.

We reflect God’s grace in giving out of love.

But can we confidently say most people on Christmas Day will think on these things.

Will parents explain to their children about Jesus, about Mary, about Joseph, the angels the shepherds the wise men about the virgin birth about our Father in heaven?

You would hope they would but sad to say, it would go against the grain of those who do not believe.

But here’s the thing, if the government cancelled Christmas (and its possible because this is the same government who took Jesus out of the parliamentary prayer) as it is no longer relevant to the beliefs and the culture of New Zealand.

A Nation which rejects God

I wonder if it would be accepted or would there be an outcry.

• Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season,
• without him he could not have impacted the world,
•  he could not have died for our sins,
• he could not have risen to sit at the right hand of God,
• he could not come again and reclaim this earth for what it is- God Creation
• and establish his kingdom.

Amen