Te faaite ra te Bibilia eaha te tupu ia haamoe te hoê nunaa i te Atua. Heoi ano, ahakoa te hitori me nga whakatupato a te Paipera, there are many nations that once served God and followed His Word and walked in God’s way but down the road have forgotten God and traded His way for other ways. These nations left God’s Word and trusted in human wisdom and knowledge and adopted other religions, (Tai rāwhiti) rapunga whakaaro, me nga mahi, which has led to chaos. They reap the same mischief as heathen nations. We not only see a change in climate but also a change in morals and people’s behavior. We see an increase in dissatisfaction and rebellion against authorities and the law, mauahara, te pukuriri, whakateka, poke te moepuku me te whanoke, (sexual and/or physical) tūkino, (criminal) tutu, etc. Te (political) leaders don’t have the answer and adequate solution for the contemporary chaos and all the problems in nations.
Have times changed or did the people change?
People may say that times have changed and that the world has changed, but the truth is that people have changed. The people have forgotten God and left God’s way and now they reap the fruits thereof.
This phenomenon already occurred in the Old Covenant.
What happened to the nation of Israel when the people forgot their God and left His ways?
It happened often that the people of the house of Israel forgot the Lord their God and left His ways. God’s people rebelled against God and trusted upon their own understanding. They turned away from God, and committed spiritual adultery by turning to the idols of pagan nations and getting involved with pagan cultures and adopting their doctrines and rituals.
God was not good enough for them. God’s people wanted the same things as the heathen nations. And so the rebellious people defiled their land, which God had blessed. They defiled the land with uncleanness and things, which were an abomination to God and opposed His will.
Although God’s people kept the Sabbaths and went to the temple and kept the statutes, ture patunga tapu, nga tikanga, me nga hakari, their hearts were far from God.
The priests didn’t say, Where is the Lord? And they that handle the law didn’t know God.
The pastors transgressed against God and misled the people. Their doctrines led the people astray and caused the people to leave the Word of God. (Panuitia hoki: ‘He maha nga minita e arahi ana i nga hipi ki roto i te hohonu').
They perverted their way and forgot the Lord their God and trusted falsehood.
They committed adulteries and God saw their lustful neighings, the lewdness of whoredoms, abominations, and their burned incense to vanity (worthless idols). The people made their nation desolate and a perpetual hissing.
The prophets prophesied lies in God’s Name from the deceit of their own heart and didn’t profit the people. They prophesied false dreams and told them and caused the people to err by their lies and by their lightness. They perverted the words of the living God. (Panuitia hoki: ‘Me pehea e mohio ai koe ki nga poropiti teka i to tatou wa?').
The people had built temples in their nation for other gods (other religions and philosophies).
God’s people had forsaken God, the Fountain of living waters. They had hewn them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that couldn’t hold water
The people turned their blessed nation into a waste
And so God’s people made the promised land, which God had given them and had blessed, a waste, where evil reigned and the people lived in sin and iniquity.
Because the nation left God and His Word and because of the wickedness (mahi kino) of the people, the people brought mischief upon the nation. (Panuitia hoki: Ko te mahi kino ka kawea mai ki runga ki a ratou ano).
The people played the harlot by going after other nations and their gods and adopting their cultures and going their ways, instead of staying faithful to their Maker, the living God, and obeying His voice and serving Him only.
Because God’s people rebelled against Him and refused to submit to Him, God took the Kingdom of God from them and gave it to a nation, a people, that would love God and obey God, and stay faithfull to God and His Word. (Aue. Ihaia 2:6-9, Heremaia 2, 3, 7, 13, 18, 23, 50, Hosea 8:14, 13:6-14:1, Matiu 21:43)
What happens when a nation forgets God and leaves His Word?
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Waiata 9:17).
Just like God’s people in the Old Covenant, there are many people today, who once believed in God and His Word and obeyed Him and served Him, but down the road have left the Word and turned away from God and forgotten God. They opened themselves for strange religions, (Tai rāwhiti) rapunga whakaaro, mau haapiiraa, alternative healing methods and practices like Tau Hou, ioka, whakaaroaro, toi hōia, acupuncture, reiki etc. and walk in sin.
Because of their iniquity and sin, they have perverted and defiled not only their lives but also the nation.
They have allowed evil spirits in their lives, who are not constructive but steal, whakamate, ka whakangaro. They cause chaos, which is visible in their lives and in the nation.
When a nation forgets God
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Whakatauki 14:34)
Due to apostasy and the increase of wickedness, the power of the kingdom of darkness has increased and reigns in many lives. This has led to a change in lifestyle and behavioral conduct and a change of laws and moral precepts, which don’t correspond with the Bible but contradict the Bible and are not according to the will of God.
Both the laws and ethics of many nations are no longer founded on the Bible, but upon human knowledge (pūtaiao), rapunga whakaaro, whakaaro, karekau, me ngā kare.
The things, which God considers evil are considered good and the things, which God considers good are considered evil.
ta te Atua, “Thou shall not kill.” But the changed laws approve among others abortion and euthanasia.
This is just one example of laws that are changed, due to apostasy.
But there are more laws that have been changed. And there will be more laws that will change, which shall lead to the persecution of true born again Christians, who love God with all their heart, wairua, hinengaro, and strength and fear God and stay faithful to Jesus Christ and keep standing on the Word and therefore don’t compromise.
When the people forget God
The majority of people don’t love and fear God anymore. They no longer live according to the will of God but have left the ara o te Atua.
They are not humble anymore, but prideful and have no respect for the authority of parents, kaumatua, (political) rangatira, police, law enforcement agents, nga kaiwhakahaere, Kaiako, etc. But they are selfish and do what they want to do.
They don’t obey the civilization laws (secular law), marital and/or family precepts, company policies, school policies, etc. Engari, they despise them and rebel against them and live according to their own will.
They don’t speak the truth but love to speak lies
They are lovers of sin instead of righteousness.
They’re not loyal but commit adultery and are covenant breakers.
They are not long-suffering but are easily agitated and angered and react aggressively.
They don’t have peace, but experience stress, māharahara, māharahara, and panic attacks. Many don’t control their thoughts and therefore their mind is a chaotic mess. They have a negative mindset and destructive behavior, that not only cause destruction in their own lives but also in the lives of others.
People have become prideful and selfish and rebellious and this already starts from a young age.
When parents and schools forget God
God has given parents the responsibility and task to raise their children in the fear of the Lord and protect their children in this world. But many parents are too busy with themselves. They’re so busy with their own lives, that they don’t have time for their children and don’t raise them the way they should.
They don’t teach their children in the Bible (te Kupu a te Atua), so that they get to know the will of God. They don’t correct their behavior when they need to.
They’ve shifted their responsibility to others and entrust the nurture a.o to schools and children’s daycare. Although many schools and children’s daycares bear the name ‘Christian’, what they teach and how they act say something else.
In most schools, prayer and Bible teachings are prohibited and children are not taught Biblical principles. Instead many schools compromised and adopted the principles, ako, matatika, and morals of other religions and Eastern philosophies.
The teachers deny God by teaching evolution. They teach the children to consider things, which God considers evil, as good and to consider the things, ki ta te Atua i pai ai, rite kino.
They encourage them to lie if they can substantiate their lie.
Instead of telling children that premarital sex is not according to the will of God and encouraging them to wait until they get married, they encourage them to have sexual intercourse by teaching safe sex during sex education. Sometimes they even distribute condoms, which according to them makes premarital sex ok.
They get the children involved with false religions and (eastern) rapunga whakaaro. The children submit themselves to false gods and allow demonic powers to enter their lives through a.o. whakaaro, whakaaroaro, massage, ioka, and self-defense, which is a derivative of martial arts.
When the children come home, their minds will continue to be fed and developed through social media, pouaka whakaata, Pukapuka, a kēmu, which are occult and full of violence and their message diametrically opposes the Bible.
And then many parents wonder why their children don’t want to listen and are rebellious and uncontrollable and don’t want to go to church and as they get older become apostate. He ngawari te whakautu.
Instead of raising your children by yourself in the Bible and with the things of the Kingdom of God, so that the Word abides in them and they belong to God, you have given the responsibility to strangers, who have raised your children and fed your children with the things of the world. Therefore they have developed the mindset of the world, which diametrically opposes the Bible, and belong to the world.
The persecution of born-again Christians
When a nation departs from the living God and turns her back to God and relies on her own knowledge, whakaaro nui, and understanding and serves her own gods, whom she has made, the sin and iniquity shall increase.
Ko era, who are righteous through regeneration in Jesus Christ and live holy and righteous lives, in obedience to Him, shall be persecuted.
Mahi i nga mea katoa ma te amuamu me te kore tautohetohe: That you may be blameless and harmless, Nga tama a te Atua, kahore he riri, i waenganui o te iwi parori ke, parori ke, i roto i a ratou e tiaho ana koe hei whakamarama i te ao; Holding forth the Word of life; kia hari ai ahau ki te ra o te Karaiti, e kore ahau i oma noa, kihai hoki i mahi noa (Philipi 2:14-16)
But you are a chosen generation, tohunga ariki, he iwi tapu, he iwi motuhake; that you should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; I nga ra o mua ehara i te iwi, engari inaianei he iwi ratou na te Atua: kihai nei i tohungia, inaianei ia kua tohungia (1 Pita 2:9-10)
The wickedness shall be so great because of sin, which reigns in the lives of people, Ko ratou (te hunga hara) can’t endure the saints (te hunga tika), atu.
Since not every Christian is willing and/or able to pay the price for following Jesus, many believers shall depart from the Word and compromise with sin. Ko te hua, there will hardly be any sons of God (e pa ana tenei ki nga tane me nga wahine) left on earth. (Panuitia hoki: ‘Tatauhia te utu‘ a ‘Ko te whai i a Ihu ka utu koe i nga mea katoa').
I roto i te pae varua, the light will almost be extinguished, by the darkness that reigns and covers the earth
I roto i te ao maori, this will not only become visible in the lives of people, who walk in disobedience to God in darkness; I roto i te hara, ko te he, he kino. But this shall also become visible in the natural elements of creation, which become disobedient to God and His Word.
We already see this phenomenon at the seas that cross the boundaries, which God has set (Ps 104:9). And so the sun shall eventually not give its light, so that the light will be diminished on the earth.
What happens when the Church forgets God
And what does the Church do? The majority of the Church has forgotten God and is focused on herself and the mahi whakangahau o te tangata kikokiko. Everything revolves around pleasing the flesh. That’s why many churches make effort to create the right ambiance and speak the right words.
Many churches use neon lights, rangi, and motivational speakers in the church and the motivational speakers . These lights and music, and motivational sermons stimulate pleasant feelings and the motivational self-help sermons cause the people to be uplifted and temporarily motivated.
Many churches have a worldly mindset and allow sin and iniquity.
They even open their doors to other religions and philosophies and allow them to have their service in the church.
And so the Body of Christ is defiled with all kinds of uncleanness and idolatry and the abomination of desolation has been put in the temple.
But where is the holy nation, the Bible is talking about? Where are the tama a te Atua?
Many confess with their mouth that they believe in Jesus Christ and belong to God’s people, while in their hearts they have forgotten God and have rejected His Word. They belong to the world and serve the devil through their flesh.
The church is blinded and asleep, thinking they walk on the right path of life because of their humanistic works.
But it’s about time that the Church of Christ wakes up and stops pleasing and entertaining the flesh and whakawetohia te kikokiko and focus on Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God and the lost souls, who wander in darkness and are on their way to hell.
The hope for the nation
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, me te arero, me nga tangata, saying with a loud voice, wehi ki te Atua, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters (Whakakitenga 14:6-7)
The Church should have the same compassion as Jesus and pray like Jesus prayed and claim souls for the Kingdom of God and destroy the works of the devil instead of allowing them and strengthening them. (Panuitia hoki: Te whakangaro i nga mahi a te Atua hei utu mo nga mahi a te rewera).
The Church is seated in Jesus Christ and has been given all authority in heaven and on earth to resist the temptations of the devil and resist sin and reign together with Jesus Christ over spiritual principalities, rangatiratanga, mana, and rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The time of complaining and begging to God, asking ‘why’ and ‘Lord, will you….” is gone.
It’s time that the Church grows up into maturity and gets to know the will of God and submit to Him. So that the Church lives in holiness and righteousness according to the will of God and walks as sons of God in the authority of Christ and prays like spiritual warriors and calls those things which are not as though they were.
It’s about time that Church becomes bold and preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Truth of God’s Word, instead of allowing sin and compromising with other religions and philosophies and adopting their doctrines, tikanga, me nga mahi.
Because only then will there be hope for the nation.
When the Church submits to Jesus Christ; the Word and makes Him the Head of the Church and obeys Him and does what He has commanded to do, then souls will be saved for the Kingdom of God and there shall be a change and revival in the Church. The lives of people will change, which has an effect on the nation.
Ka hari te iwi ko Ihowa nei to ratou Atua
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance (Waiata 33:12)
God is no Respecter of person. Engari i nga iwi katoa e wehi ana ia ia ia, and works righteousness is accepted with Him (Nga Mahi 10:35)
When the people of a nation return to God and asks forgiveness and repent to God and serve the Almighty God, then God shall return and forgive and heal the nation.
While all kinds of things are going on in the nations around them, the nation that serves the Lord God shall be protected and no evil will come upon the nation.
The nation shall be blessed and prosperous and the soil shall be fruitful and give its fruit. This shall not be the result of people’s intelligence and abilities and/or the weather, but because of the greatness of the Lord our God. So that no person shall boast in himself, nor in nature, but shall boast in Him.
He shall protect the nation and provide for the nation, when the nation serves Jesus Christ and live according to the will of God and walk in His ways.
'Kia tote mo te whenua’
