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It’s 12pm Auckland time, Sunday, January 30th, and I have just preached my last sermon at Takanini Church (for a while anyway). On Wednesday Penny and I get on a plane and go back to the U.S.A.

It has not been a peaceful year. We have had four funerals. Particularly, the loss of our friend, pastor David Burge, in July was devastating to the church. David’s sudden battle with leukemia was the reason Penny and I decided to come to New Zealand. Not only had he served here for many years, many of his family members (including wife Tarnya and eight children) attend here. The church bears the mark of David’s style: down to earth, humorous, and unique.

I will remember Takanini church as the place where Penny and I learned that we can still function in pastoral ministry. We had been teaching people how to pastor for thirteen years at Oro Bible College in the Philippines. But God sent us from there to here. We went through culture shock again, but it was not so bad this time, partly because New Zealand is more like the U.S.(as far as climate and culture are concerned), but mostly because we knew to expect the unexpected.

One thing I didn’t expect is the way Takanini church managed to contain so many talented and committed people who are “plugged in” to personal ministry. Several people of various ages make up a worship team that offers genuine worship in a variety of styles every Sunday morning. some members run their own missions programs, here and elsewhere. It was our honor to serve with elder Gary Schache, who manages oversight of the ministries of the church, and puts together the worship services. We were also joined by his father, Ernie, who came on as elder on the same day we joined the team. Ernie is providing exceptional leadership while still serving ACGC as a missions ministry manager.

We have also appreciated getting involved in the lives of several young couples who are in the hectic days of raising large families. The phrase “never a dull moment” comes to mind as I think about how the families of Takanini show what it means to serve Christ in a world where just meeting everybody’s needs is a challenge. Penny and I are almost past the child-rearing phase, and are learning the ropes on the grandchild-spoiling phase. We will remember with admiration the families of Takanini.

We are going to miss Takanini church. Our ministry here has enhanced our ability to serve Christ, and the friendships we have gained here have enriched our lives. God bless you, Takanini church.

Romans 12: 14-18 ESV

“14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

I’m really grateful for the part that the LORD has allowed me to play over the past few months in the ministry at Takanini Church. It has been a time of growth and increasing clarity for me, and I hope that I have been able to help you in some ways too. As I began to think about my last message here, I became concerned – perhaps a bit more concerned than usual – about the content of those messages. I think the LORD led me to one of those KEEP ON passages because as Penny and I leave New Zealand and Takanini Church transitions, these ideas will help the church to remain stable in a time of change.

The context of this morning’s text is first century Rome. Paul is writing as a way of introducing himself and his message to the Roman Christians. He anticipates a ministry there, and he wants people to be ready. Paul was a spirit-filled Christian man whom God used mightily. If we are not careful we might presume that wherever Paul went the seas divided and everyone got along. That was not the case. According to Acts and the Pauline epistles, everywhere Paul went there was controversy, misunderstanding and strife. And Paul was not the exception. The letters of Peter, John, James and Jude also show that the first century church was not the ideal. Fortunately for us, the first century churches went through numerous battles. I say that because epistles like Paul’s to the Romans addresses those problems with real solutions.

Usually Paul spends half of each of his letters addressing some doctrinal issues, then spends the other half on practical issues. Today’s text is within that second half of Romans. He had already made his point that everyone is equal in that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. Then he made the point that Christ’s death on the cross was the means God used to offer redemption for all of us.

There were basically two types of people in Rome who had accepted God’s redemption through Christ. There were Jewish believers who realized the Jesus was the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament, and so accepted him as their Lord. There were pagans from the other nations of the Roman empire who accepted Christ as well. The problem was, these two types of Roman Christian did not always get along.

It is in that context that Paul gives the church this command: “Keep on living in harmony with one another.” Perhaps if Paul were a modern-day church growth expert he would have analyzed the situation in Rome and said: “Look, guys, you are too different. What you should do is split into two different denominations. The First Messianic Jewish General Conference can keep its traditions and target other Jews in the community; the New Gentile Church of Jesus can concentrate on the pagans who are hearing the message about Jesus for the first time.” But Paul did not say that. He had in mind for the Roman churches to sing their different tunes in harmony with one another.

How does a church or group of churches live in harmony with one another without compromising their diversity? One of the keys is found right here in today’s text. Paul tells the Roman Christians to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (14). Where is this persecution coming from? The church was being persecuted by the Roman government during this time, and they were also being persecuted by Jews who had rejected Christ as the Messiah. Can you see how an undisciplined mouth could have caused disharmony in the churches at Rome? Cursing Caesar would have been insulting all Gentiles. Cursing the Jewish persecutors would be insulting all Jews. The best reaction: bless your persecutors.

Secondly, Paul tells the Roman Christians to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (15). He’s telling the people to not remain spectators in their community’s life. They need to adopt one another as family, and get involved in each other’s lives. Believers are a family and it will not do for a family member to forget your birthday or anniversary, or to not attend your funeral. Often we think the easiest way to keep harmony is to restrict the time we have around each other. That is not what God wants. He does not want his family only meeting for an hour or two every Sunday, and then retreating into the safety of our own foxholes!

Thirdly, Paul tells the Romans “Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited” (16). He encourages the church members to stay low enough on the totem pole so they can still see everybody. Jesus had proclaimed the same message with a wash basin and a towel. In the first century Roman church, both major factions had reason to take pride. The Jews could have pride in their biblical heritage, while the Romans could have pride in the fact that they did not stand on tradition. Either way, pride could destroy the church’s harmony, and thwart its mission.

Fourthly, Paul warns against the spirit of revenge. He says “Repay no one evil for evil” (17). He wants them to avoid payback, because it never accomplishes anything but disharmony. It is wise to overlook an offense. Notice that Paul assumes that people are going to do evil things. Remember, this is a church context. There is no church anywhere that is immune to people doing stupid, childish, evil things. If you are still looking for such a church, you can stop now. You will not find it. I think God allows those kinds of things to happen in our church communities because he is looking for us to be wise enough to obey this command. When his people turn the other cheek, he is glorified.

Finally, Paul says “give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all” (17). Disharmony happens because I want to play my instrument and I don’t care how it is going to sound when you are playing yours. The trouble is, a church is not a solo concert. It is an orchestra. The music has to come from all the instruments, and it has to harmonize in such a way that all the music together sounds good. Even the greatest of all conductors cannot make an orchestra work if the musicians do not have respect for each other, and cooperate.

I want to tell you that it has been a great honour for me to teach in this pulpit and to be a part of this community for the past year. I am convinced that Takanini Church has what it takes to share the light of Christ’s gospel and lead people to him. I am also convinced that Satan is looking for an opportunity to spread disharmony and discord here, just as he was in Rome. That is why I chose this as my concluding message.

LORD, guard us from disharmony. We commit ourselves — so far as it depends on us, to live peaceably with all.

Way back in 1990 Hal Patterson asked us if we would consider training to teach at Oro Bible College. We told him that God was not through with us at the church we were pastoring but we would call him when that ministry came to an end, figuring it would be 10+ years and he would forget. 3 Years later God called us beyond that local church so we called Hal. We trained for missions. Then in Feb of 1996 in North Carolinas biggest ice storm we met with the executive council. As they say the rest is history.

In the past 15 years we have counseled, witnessed in foreign languages, did spiritual warfare with those oppressed by demons, helped the poor and hungry at our door, taught theology, Bible and even PE., climbed mountains and went into squatter areas of cities in the name of Christ. We have prayed for nationals and watched God change lives. If that was not enough the Lord helped us manage a field and orient missionaries to living in foreign cultures. We preached, taught, prayed . We sweated through tropical heat and were chilled by New Zealand winters without central heating. We have survived and made friends and disciples in his name in many places.

It has not all been glamorous. Watching our children leave home to go to the US was a gut wrenching thing we endured. There were times of civil unrest. Terrorism almost ended one of us. If that was not enough, we and the children came down with tropical diseases. Tiredness, spiritual dryness and loneliness mocked us. However God is and always has been faithful. If we had to do it all over again we would do the same thing.

As we come to the end of our time as AC Missionaries we reflect that we are not the same people we were in 1996. We are now part American, part Filipino, part Kiwi. Our desire to serve Christ wherever he calls is still with us and we pray continually for those who are lost in the remotest parts of the earth to come to know him. With that we leave with one question, “Who will go for HIM.”

-Penny Vann

{For audio mp3, click here.}

Zephaniah 3:8-15 ESV

“Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. 9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord. 10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. 11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, 13 those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” 14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.

We have been spending some time in the OT prophets. Over the past few months we have been looking at these ancient books and trying to see what God’s reaction is to us in the present. We have found that the messages of the prophets are quite relevant.

Zephaniah is labeled a minor prophet since it is one of the shorter books. Its prophecies are very much like those of the major prophets. There is a series of oracles which foretell God’s judgment upon the nations that surrounded Judah. Then, there is a final oracles of judgment against Judah itself. Then, in its final chapter the future blessings are revealed

The name ZEPHANIAH means hidden of Yahveh. I think the name is especially appropriate because of this blessing section of the book, part of which serves as today’s text. Hidden behind all those pronouncements of judgment and destruction is the hope of a bright future for God’s people. Also, just as the judgments came on all the nations, including Judah, the future blessings will belong to all the nations, including Judah.

The context of Zephaniah’s message is very significant. It was during the reign of Josiah, so there were some in Judah and Jerusalem who were submitting to Josiah’s reforms. But like all revivals, not everyone revives. There are still too many ethnic Israelites who are inwardly pagan. Because of this, judgment is going to fall on Judah as well.

But the good news is: God is in control. He is going to restore not only Judah and Israel but all those Gentile nations as well. Hidden behind this message of gloom is the message that the creator is going to re-create the planet.

What will be is hidden. It is like a caterpillar in a cocoon. Zephaniah’s messages of blessing is a way for us to see what God intends for our own future.

The recreated us will have new speech. Verse 9 (NET) says “Know for sure that I will then enable the nations to give me acceptable praise. All of them will invoke the LORD’s name when they pray, and will worship him in unison.” Verse 13 says “those who are left in Israel …shall… speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue.” Our tongues will be transformed – and that means that our hearts are also. The tongue only says what is in the heart. God is longing for the day when the whole creation prays, praises, and worships him in truth. It will happen. It is our future.

God says “I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.

But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. ” God wants a people who humble themselves, and seek his face. In fact, the only way to get into God’s future kingdom is by repenting and throwing yourself on the mercy of God. Those who are proud of their achievements need not apply. Jesus said “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt.23:12).

You have to remember that it was Satan’s pride that caused rebellion in the first place. Christ is our model. He came as a servant.

God says that his new people “seek refuge in the name of the LORD,” “they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid,” because he “has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.” Those of us who are fortunate enough to have won the life lottery do not have to live our lives in fear. We have to realize that most of the world is not so lucky. God wants true peace for the entire planet. He created this world to thrive in peace. The wars and conflicts among us are the result of sin.

Someone has said “war is hell” and that is not true. But it is going to take hell – the real hell – what the Bible calls Gehenna – to destroy the war. Zephaniah gives his listeners a glimpse into a future without fear. That future belongs to those of us who seek refuge in the LORD’s name today.

God tells his people “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” I want you to understand that the normal human state is ecstatic joy. Remember that when he first created us, God put us in Eden, which was a paradise. The toiling, pain, sorrow, depression and death all came as a result of judgment. Why is God telling Zion to rejoice? Because “The LORD has taken away the judgments against you.” God intends on taking away from us all those “normal” things that make us miserable. I don’t think we are going to have to learn how to worship and praise and sing aloud for joy. I think it is going to be spontaneous. What is more, our celebrations are going to make us want to celebrate more and more. That is what we have to look forward to.

This week we have been looking at a portion of scripture that reveals a small glimpse of what life in God’s eternal kingdom is going to be like. I hope it has whetted your appetite. I don’t know where you stand before God today – no one knows for sure but you and him. What I do know is that the eternal life that God offers those who take refuge in him is worth it.

LORD, we have decided to be in that number when the saints go marching in to your eternal kingdom. Our lips thirst for the purity that you offer for them. Our knees bow to you, we offer our lives for your service in imitation of king Jesus. Our hearts are longing for the peace and joy that cannot be taken away. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

In case anyone is interested in missions history, some of our older newsletters (going back as far as 1999) are available here.

We want to thank those of you who have supported us with your prayers and gifts over the past fourteen years. Your support opened the doors for effective ministry, and has not been forgotten.