Today was Pentecost Sunday. On Pentecost Sunday 1606, 400 years ago, Pedro Ferandes de Quiros, a Portugese born explorer for the Spanish Empire, found himself on the shores of Australia, and he declared it: The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit. This was about 100 years before Captain Cook and his mob arrived on the scene, and claimed this land for England.
The Spanish explorer prophesied: “Let the heavens, the earth, the waters with all their creatures and all those here present witness that I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in the name of Jesus Christ, hoist this emblem of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ’s person was crucified and whereon He gave His life for the ransom and remedy of the human race, on this day of Pentecost, 14 May 1606, I take possession of all this part of the South as far as the pole in the name of Jesus, which from now on shall be called the Southern land of the Holy Spirit and this always and forever to the end that to all natives, in all the said lands, the holy, sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly.”
Today, we declare again, and lay claim to the promised heritage that God has given Australia. This is His land. We are His people, created for His pleasure, to worship Him. Placed in this land, either by birth or immigration, to fulfill His will and purpose. Let it be done
And, here’s one of my favourite songs, but Geoff Bullock. It’s the only song about the Promise of God over our land that I know of.
Great Southland
This is our nation, this is our land
This is our future, this is our hope.
A land of reaping, a land of harvest
This is our land, this is our home.
CHORUS
This is the Great Southland Of the Holy Spirit
A land of red dust plains
And summer rains
To this sunburnt land
We will see a flood
And to this Great Southland
His Spirit comes.
This is our nation, this is our land
This land of plenty, this land of hope.
The richest harvest is in her peoples
We see revival, the Spirit comes.
This is our nation, this is our land,
This lucky country of dreams gone dry.
And to this people we see a harvest
And to this land, revival comes.
Geoff Bullock © Nightlight Music
An article of interest can be found at: http://www.wesleymission.org.au/ministry/tra/2004/040829.asp
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