|
 The
Indestructible
GOSPEL
OF
JESUS CHRIST
by
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
 THE
ETERNAL GOSPEL OF CHRIST -
Incomparable,
Indestructible & Irresistible
"For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth." (Romans
1:16)
St.
Paul was a preacher of the gospel for many years and was called
the 'Apostle to the Gentiles.'
His
encounter with Jesus Christ on the 'Damascus Road' made such an
impact on his life that he recounted it repeatedly in his
preaching and before important people like Governor Felix and King
Agrippa!
Writing
to new converts in Rome, he stated: "The Gospel of Christ is
the power of God unto salvation..." (1 Corinthians 1:16)
The gospel is the power of God. What an awesome statement!
Writing
to new converts in Rome, he stated: "The Gospel of Christ is
the power of God unto salvation..." (1 Corinthians 1:16)
The gospel is the power of God. What an awesome statement!
Paul
was anticipating a visit to Jerusalem and ultimately to Rome -
where he knew he would suffer imprisonment - so he wrote the
epistle to educate, prepare and strengthen the saints, who would
also suffer such a fate for their belief in Jesus Christ!
Christians
everywhere were being persecuted and undoubtedly, many believers
were afraid to witness their faith publicly or were ashamed of
being a part of a movement that was so maligned, and that made
them a laughing stock before their peers!
Apparently,
Timothy was feeling the pain of Paul's persecution and having
anxious moments about his own life being so closely allied to the
great Apostle.
JESUS
DEMANDS TOTAL SURRENDER!
St.
Paul admonished Timothy: "God hath not given us the spirit of
fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Be not thou
therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His
prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God:
"Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according
to our works; but according to His own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2
Timothy 1:7)
"Onesiphorus
oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain." (1
Timothy 1:16) To Church at Philippi, he wrote: "For me
to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)
Jesus
didn't pull any punches. Jesus didn't make it easy for
people to follow Him. He demanded all or nothing and because
He gave all, He expected His followers to do the same.
Our
Saviour said: "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever
will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his
life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it."
(Mark 8:34-36)
To
the man who exclaimed: "Lord, I will follow Thee
whithersoever Thou goest", Jesus answered, "The foxes
have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of
Man hath not where to lay His head."
Our
Lord said to another, "Follow Me", but he said,
"Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father."
Jesus answered, "Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou
and PREACH the Kingdom of God."
According
to Jewish tradition, the eldest son had first right to the
inheritance and had to take charge of family matters when his
father died. In this case, the man's father may have still
been alive but he felt it his duty to stay at home until his
passing.
Jesus
had a different view on the matter. His message is this, if
you are called to follow Him and proclaim His Gospel that trumps
other obligations that are not as important. Even if the
man's father was already dead, others could be assigned to bury
him!
In
other words, let those who are spiritually dead bury their dead
and allow those that are spiritually alive to preach the gospel
and save precious souls to Christ!
"And
another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go
bid them farewell which are at home at my house. And Jesus
said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62)
What
is Jesus teaching us through this? Jesus is serious about
our spiritual life and eternal salvation. Everything fades
into insignificance when you compare temporal things with the
spiritual needs of the individual. Jesus came to seek and to
save the lost. He came to heal the broken hearted and mend
sick bodies and spirits. (Luke 4:18-19)
Nothing
is as important as pleasing God and sharing His mercy and love to
family, friends and neighbors. He stated: "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-39)
 JESUS
IS STILL THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
Jesus
gave His life so that we may live. Jesus is our Saviour,
Redeemer, Deliverer, Healer and Sustainer. His Gospel
is the greatest news our sinful and sick world could ever hear.
He
stated: "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay
down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do
whatsoever I command you." (John 15:1)
"I
am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.
As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father and I lay down
My life for the sheep." (John 10:14-15)
"For
when we were without strength (hopeless), in due time Christ died
for the ungodly. But God commendeth His love toward us, in
that, whole we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:6,7)
At
the Council of Nicea in AD 325, ATHANASIUS the intrepid Champion
of the true deity of Jesus Christ vigorously opposed the spurious
attacks of ARIUS and the UNITARIANS who denied our Saviour's
divinity. A wishy-washy friend warned the great Man of God
thusly: "Have a care Athanasius: The world is against
you!" Athanasius answered: "Then, I am against the
world!"
WHAT
MAKE THE GOSPEL SO POWERFUL?
What
was it about Jesus of Nazareth that so captivated the apostles and
early disciples that they forsook all earthly conveniences,
fortunes and zones of comfort to follow Him, even to their deaths?
What
impressed Matthew the tax collector, Luke the physician and Zenas
the lawyer, to forsake all and follow the Master? And what
has inspired millions more down through the last two Millennia to
worship the Lord Jesus Christ as very God and to make known His
name to multitudes everywhere, often at the cost of their lives?
What
was it that caused Peter and Andrew, Thomas and Bartholomew to
follow in the footsteps of Jesus? What was it that caused
the proud Pharisee Saul of Tarsus to humble himself, repent of his
folly and become the greatest of all Gospel preachers, after his
encounter with Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road? What made
this 'Jewish terrorist' and injurious persecutor of Christians and
blasphemer of Jesus, make this sudden switch?
What
inspired Silas and Timothy, Barnabas and Apollos, Jude and Agabus,
to pick up the torch of this Evangelical Gospel? What was
the reason that Justin Martyr and Polycarp declared their faith in
Jesus Christ at the cost of their lives?
What
made John Huss go to his death so that the Gospel of Christ would
not be compromised? What inspired Bishops Lattimer and
Ridley to shout God's praises and continue to confess Christ from
Papal Rome's Burning Stake?
It
was, my beloved friend, the indisputable, indestructible,
unmistakable call of the Holy Spirit of God upon those whose love
for Jesus Christ and His gospel had become greater than life
itself!
JESUS
CHRIST: GOD INCARNATE !
Jesus
stated: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they
follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is
able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father
are one.
"Say
ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the
world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God.
If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But, if
I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may
know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
(John 10:27-29, 36-38)
It
is the amazing truth that Jesus of Nazareth who was born in a
stable in Bethlehem was more than a man. He was the Eternal
Son of God from Heaven and the Creator of all life. He was
God incarnate (God in human flesh).
He
came to earth on a specific mission to redeem Adam's fallen race
from sin, fear, sickness, disease, death and demons!
JESUS
OF NAZARETH was born to die in order to defeat Satan, the enemy of
our souls. And to rise from the dead, victorious over death,
hell and the grave! Jesus Christ is truly the Saviour of the
world, the Liberator of sinful man, the Healer of every sickness,
the Emancipator of the human race and the Possessor of Eternal
Life!
Here
is the final victory speech of St. Paul who was personally
recruited by the Lord Jesus Christ to spread His glorious Gospel
across the Gentile world:
"For
I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at
hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also
that love His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6)
The
Gospel is the GOOD NEWS of God's unconditional love, unmerited
mercy and prevenient grace toward lost and perishing humanity.
How do I know all this? God Himself says so. His Holy
inerrant Word proclaims that it is so. And He cannot deny
Himself, change, make a mistake, fail or lie!
HISTORICAL
RECORD VERIFIES AND CONFIRMS THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND MERCY
OF GOD
The
historical record verifies and confirms it. God's dealings
with mankind recorded in sacred as well as secular writing show
His unconditional love for carnal, lost and ungodly men by
providing a way of escape from Satan the perverted Evil One called
Satan the Hater, Oppressor and Adversary of God and man!
His
greatest mission of unconditional love, overcoming all barriers of
sin, death and judgment was manifested on Calvary's cross nearly
2,000 years ago when the incarnated SON of God paid the ransom
price for the souls of lost humanity, meeting the demands of
Divine Justice through His perfect, vicarious and all atoning
death and glorious resurrection from the dead!
He
sought us before we knew Him or even thought of Him! The
songwriter scribbled these words: "When He was on the cross I
was on His mind. He loved me before I knew Him.." And
St. John wrote: "We love Him because He first loved us."
(1 John)
It
is the power of God because it changes those who receive its life
giving message. It not only transforms the inner man but it
heals sick and diseased bodies through the efficacious power of
the shed blood of Jesus that was given freely for us on Calvary's
tree.
THE
RIDDLE OF THE CHANGED CALENDAR
Almost
2,000 years later, Dr. A.U. Michelson, another prominent Jew wrote
in 'The Riddle of the Changed Calendar' as follows:
"What
mighty earthly monarch decreed and ordained the rise and fall of
the tides? We all know there was none. It is a decree
of nature, of a force not set in motion by man. Nor could
the entire human race do anything to check its regular flow and
ebb.
"Again,
what earthly monarch decreed or commanded, or even suggested that
all civilized peoples should date their calendars backward and
forward, B.C. and A.D. from the birth of Jesus Christ?"
"History
furnishes no clue to this question; for there never was such an
edict; no such suggestion ever came from the lips or the pen of
any world potentate. Each human ruler would much prefer to
impose upon the face of history a date system whereby some great
deed or victory of his own should forever be commemorated.
Such futile attempts were repeatedly made; some even
simultaneously with the slow, but inexorable, forward march of the
Christian calendar."
"The
most notable attempt in modern days to find a new starting point
for civilized time was that undertaken by France in 1793.
This revolutionary calendar fell with the cause it represented.
It lasted just thirteen years, and its only legacy to history is
the tangle of dates which confuses the record of these thirteen
years."
"Ancient
history also is strewn with these forgotten way marks of time -
Babylonian Eponyms, Greek Olympiads, Roman Consulates. For
centuries before the birth of Christ, the letters A.U.C.
designated the founding of that great city, And, yet when, and by
whom, was it decreed that the letter A.U.C. should give place to
A.D. and B.C.? No imperial edict forced this change; yet all
civilized time bears the signature of Jesus Christ. How did
this come to pass? Again history is mute in answer to this
question."
"Who
is the person to whom the whole civilized world gives daily
recognition?"
He
was a humble inhabitant of an obscure town in a small province of
the then existing Roman Empire. His public life was short.
He wrote no book. He overthrew no government. He left
no great band of highly influential followers. In fact,
after three years of pedestrian itineraries, He was put to death
as a criminal. His followers, few and humble, forsook Him
and fled.
To
reject the claims of Jesus as being equal with God, as being God
the Son, the very almanac of the modern world is an incredible
absurdity.
If
a jury of historians had to explain, on purely historical grounds,
the letters A.D. and B.C. which now serve universally as the point
from which civilized time is reckoned, they must report that
"some force", mysterious in origin, and independent of
human will, but with range and energy sufficient to affect all
civilized nations, and persistent enough to run through all the
centuries, has "somehow" put the impress of Christ's
hand on all history!
What
possible explanation is there for this enigma?
Here
is a man of the darkest age of the world. He lived in a
subject province. He never wrote a sentence that has been
preserved. He died when He had scarcely reached manhood; and
He died cast out by His own race, and abandoned by His scanty band
of followers.
And
yet, twenty centuries after He hung upon a cross, His birth is
accepted by believers and unbelievers alike, at the point from
which all centuries are dated. Every morning all the
newspapers of the world, even though some are impregnated with
hatred and ridicule of Jesus Christ, adjust their dates to His
cradle. The very dates on our cheques and letters, all
governmental records, all legal documents, all literature, yes,
all are unconsciously a testimony to the birth of Jesus Christ.
There
can be but one explanation for this riddle of the 'Changed
Calendar.' It is that He who hung upon that Roman cross,
was, at He claimed, more than a man, that he was, in fact, God
incarnate. God in the person of His Son - Himself the
Creator of Time. And this Lord of Creation performed upon
that cross a far mightier work than all human achievements put
together - namely, the redemption of the human race; available to
all who will believe and receive Him as Redeemer and Lord.
DEATH
BED CONFESSION OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
Frederick
W. Kates, writing in The Churchman says, "It is hardly to
such a man as Napoleon Bonaparte one would turn for spiritual
enlightenment: but it is interesting indeed to note what he
said about Jesus of Nazareth and the Christian Religion".
"I
see in Lycurgus, Numa, and Mohammed only legislators who, having
the first rank in the state, have sought the best solution of the
social problem"; said Napoleon, "but I see nothing there
which reveals divinity ... nothing announces them divine. On
the contrary, there are numerous resemblances between them and
myself, foibles and errors which ally them to me and to
humanity."
"It
is not so with Christ", he continued in this conversation
with General Bertrand, one of his companions during the twilight
days of his meteoric career.
"I
search in vain in history to find the equal of Jesus Christ,
beyond the march of events and above the human mind."
"Everything
in Him astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will
confounds me. Between Him and whoever else in the world,
there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a Being
by Himself. His ideals and His sentiments, the truths which
He announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either
by human organization or by the nature of things."
"His
birth, and the history of His life; the profundity of His
doctrine, which grapples the mightiest difficulties, and which is,
of those difficulties, the most admirable solution; His Gospel,
His apparition, His empire, His march across the ages, and the
realms, is for me a prodigy, a mystery insoluble, which plunges me
into a reverence which I cannot escape, a mystery which is there
before my yes, a mystery which I cannot deny or explain.
Here I see nothing human."
"The
nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is
above me, everything remains grand - or a grandeur which
overpowers."
"His
religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is
not that of man. There is a profound originality, which has
created a series of words and of maxims before unknown.
Jesus borrowed nothing from our sciences. One can absolutely
find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation or the example of
His life."
In
another place Napoleon wrote: "I know men; and I tell you
that Jesus is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance
between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other
regions. That resemblance does not exist. There is
between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of
infinity...."
Napoleon
states his conception of the Christian religion in the following
words when he says it is "neither ideology nor metaphysics,
but a practical rule which directs the actions of man, corrects
him, counsels him, and assists him in all his conduct."
"The
Bible contains a complete series of facts and historical men, to
explain time and eternity, such as no other religion has to offer.
If this is not the true religion, one is very excusable in being
deceived for everything in it is grand and worthy of God."
Referring
to Christ's empire and His Church in contrast to his own passing
fame and glory, Napoleon who has been described as the
"world's greatest traveling man of slaughter" said:
"You
speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests, and of the
enthusiasm they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can
you conceive of a dead man making conquests with an army faithful
and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten
me, even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal.
Such is our power!"
"Such
is the history of the invasion and conquest of the world by
Christianity. Such is the power of God of the Christians;
and such is the perpetual miracle of the progress of the Faith and
the government of His Church. Nations pass away, thrones
crumble, but the church remain. What is, then, the power
which has protected this church, thus assailed by the furious
billows of rage and the hostility of ages? Whose is the arm
which for eighteen hundred years, has protected the church from so
many storms which have threatened to engulf it?"
"Alexander,
Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires. But on what
did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force!
Jesus Christ alone founded His Empire upon love; and, at this
hour, millions of men would die for Him."
Then,
and rather pathetically, the great Napoleon remarked to his
companion: "We are mere lead now, General Bertrand, and
soon I shall be in my grave. Such is the fate of great men!
So it was with Caesar and Alexander, and I, too, am forgotten, and
the name of a conqueror and an emperor is a college theme."
"Behold
the destiny, near at hand, of him who has been called the great
Napoleon! What an abyss between my deep misery and the
eternal reign of Christ, which is proclaimed, loved, adored, and
which is extending over all the earth! Is this to die?
Is it not rather to live? The death of Christ - it is the
death of God!"
TO
GOD THE FATHER BE GLORY - THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
St.
John the Apostle had been exiled to the Island called Patmos for
his testimony about Jesus Christ. It was while he was serving his
sentence there, that he was visited by the Eternal living and
resurrected Son of God in all His glory.
At
the very presence of the Glorified Christ, John fell at His feet
as dead but Jesus laid His hand upon him, saying: "Fear not;
I am in the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was
dead; and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys
of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:17, 18) To God be
all the Honour, Praise and Glory forever and ever. Amen.
WHY
WAS
JESUS CHRIST BORN?
Jesus
Christ was born to to destroy the works of the devil
Sin,
however, was in the world because Satan (the devil). The
devil, who is the father of sin and death, had been cast out of
Heaven and is called the 'Prince of the power of the air', as well
as the 'god of this world'. (Ephesians 2:2; 2
Corinthians 4:4)
The
devil had caused previous disruption and chaos. (Genesis 1:2;
Ezekiel 28:13-19; Isaiah 14:12-17).
Because
of Satan (the devils) rebellion and hatred for God, he had
cunningly planned his strategy by tempting Eve, with the Tree of
Life, in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-6; Job 1:8-22;
Job 2:1-8)
GOD
CALLED ADAM WHERE ART THOU?
The
great transgression had been made by Adam & Eve. Now,
for the moment of truth. How would Adam & Eve feel?
Would they now be wise as God, as Satan (the devil) had promised
them? Was the rebellion and disobedience towards God worth
it? No - a thousand times NO.
Adam
& Eve's eyes were opened. But, what did they see?
Adam & Eve saw their own vulnerability, stupidity, weaknesses,
sin and nakedness. Fear stalked and filled their souls.
They had never felt fear before sin entered their lives.
They realized they were naked, vulnerable and inadequate.
Now, they realized they must face the music, and meet God alone.
But
where was Satan (the devil)? Where was the evil one who had
been their wise tempter such a short time ago?
Of
course, the devil was gone, to gloat over his victory. I'm
sure that the devil, the liar and deceiver was not far away,
probably hiding behind a tree, excitedly waiting to see the
inevitable outcome of their sin. The inevitable outcome, the
separation, dis-fellowshipping of God and His special creation,
man.
THE
DEVIL REJOICED OVER ADAM & EVE'S FEAR & TERROR
Evil
satisfaction filled the devil's heart as he observed Adam &
Eve's plight, their complete confusion, perplexity, fear and
terror.
Adam
& Eve heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in
the cool of the day. God said, "Adam, where art thou?
ADAM, WHERE ART THOU?"
As
God called Adam that day, He is still calling you and me.
"John, where are you? Mary, where are you?"
Adam
answered, "We are hiding, we are naked, we are afraid"!
God questioned, "Who told you that you were naked? You
were clothed with My glory. Have you eaten of the fruit that
I forbad you"?
Adam
gave a typical answer from a typical sinner! Adam said,
"The woman you gave me, she gave me of the fruit. It is
Eve's fault, she gave me the forbidden fruit and it's really Your
fault, Lord, because You gave me the woman".
EVERYONE
LIKES TO PASS THE BLAME TO SOMEONE ELSE
It
seems normal for people to justify themselves. It's much
easier to pass the buck, or to blame someone else rather than take
the blame, saying, "I made a mistake, I am wrong, please
forgive me."
It's
similar to the preacher who enjoyed portraying woman in a negative
way. One Sunday morning as he was preaching on 'The Fall of
Man', he vigorously attacked Eve. If Eve, the weaker vessel,
hadn't fallen, the world wouldn't be in the mess it's now in.
The preacher nailed Jezebel and Delilah. "Women are the
ruination of many good men", he shouted.
At
the close of the service, the minister stood at the door shaking
hands. Some complimented him on a wonderful sermon, while
others were glad to get out the door.
A
tall lady shook his hand and she wasn't smiling. She
squeezed his hand until he said, "Woman, you are hurting
me". She looked him square in the eye and asked,
"Pastor, what is the telephone number of the Garden of
Eden"?
He
answered, "I don't know what you are talking about".
She squeezed his hand again until he said, "Ouch".
She spoke again, "Pastor, do you know the telephone number of
the Garden of Eden"? He answered, "Woman, I do not
and by the way you are hurting me." She said,
"Well, I know the telephone number of the Garden of Eden.
It's Adam 8-1-2", and she let go of his hand and left.
Adam
ate one too! Eve wasn't the only one to blame. Adam
also disobeyed God, but really the blame goes into further -
straight to the evil one, the devil (Satan).
God
didn't argue with Adam. He turned to Eve and said,
"Woman, what is this that thou hast done?" Eve
made more sense than her husband. She put the blame where it
belong. "The serpent beguiled me and I did eat."
I
agree with Eve. Satan (the devil) is the culprit. The
devil is to blame for all the sin, fear, heartbreak, divorce,
alcoholism, drug addiction and juvenile delinquency. He is
the architect of all that is evil, wicked and destructive.
Riots, anarchy, thievery, murder, sickness, disease and war are
the outcroppings and results of his plans, goals, purposes and
seduction.
SATAN
(the devil) IS TO BLAME.
Shout it loud and clear - the devil is the troublemaker.
JESUS
CALLED THE DEVIL A LAIR & MURDERER
Jesus
called him a liar, deceiver, murdered and thief. (John 8:44;
John 10:10) Our Lord said, "The thief cometh not for to
steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life
and more abundantly." (John 10:10)
YES
- THE DEVIL IS TO BLAME FOR ALL SIN
God
said, "THE SEED OF THE WOMAN SHALL BRUISE THE SERPENT'S
HEAD."
Almighty
God called out "Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou
among all the beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shalt thou
go all the days of thy life..." (Genesis 3:14-15)
It
is noteworthy that some scientists believe that at one time
serpents and snakes walked upright and didn't crawl on their
bellies as today.
"And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed
(the wicked) and her seed (the righteous). It (Jesus, the
seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head..."
JESUS
DEFEATED THE DEVIL WITH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS
On
Golgotha's Hill, Jesus defeated the devil. When Jesus paid
the supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world, and rose again
from the dead. He had delivered the death blow to Satan.
When
Jesus cried, "It is finished", He had defeated Satan
(the devil) and since that very hour the blood of Jesus Christ
washes away all the sins of the repentant sinner, and His stripes
bring healing to the believing, sick person..
The
Bible says, "He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace
was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah
53:5)
WHY
DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but
have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the
world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might
be saved." (John 3:16-17) Hallelujah.
The
Bible says: "Neither is there salvation through any other,
for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby
you may be saved, but by the Name of Jesus"! (Acts 4:12)
"There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ
Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)
JESUS
CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE
Jesus
said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more
abundantly." (John 10:10) And St. John stated:
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that He might
destroy the works of the devil". (1 John 3:8) The
Scripture says, "When the even was come, they brought unto
him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the
spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: That
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet,
saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)
WHAT
DID ISAIAH PROPHESY?
Hear
it and hear it well: "But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The
chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Jesus) and by His stripes
we are healed."! (Isaiah 53:5)
The
Bible says, "Who His own self (Jesus) bare our sins in His
own body on the tree (cross) that we, being dead to sins should
live unto righteousness, by Whose stripes ye were (at the cross)
healed"! (1 Peter 2:24) "He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall
not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John
3:36)
THERE
IS ONLY ONE WAY - JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE
LIFE
Jesus
said, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man cometh
unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) Again our
blessed Saviour said, "I am the door, by Me if any man
enter in, he shall be saved..." (John 10:9) Again He
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
WHY
DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?
The
Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no
remission for sins." (Hebrews 9:22) "It is the
blood that maketh atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11)
Again, "The soul that sinneth it shall surely die."
(Ezekiel 18:20)
In
Old Testament times, an animal - without spot or blemish - would
be sacrificed, spilling his blood. (Atonement means
"covering") AS THE LAMB DIED ON THE ALTER IN
THE TEMPLE, JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD, DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR
THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
The
Scripture says, "If we walk in the light as He is in the
light we have fellowship one with the other, and the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (John 1:7)
Jesus
is the Lamb of God, Who was slain for our sins! "One of
the elders saith unto me, weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and
to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in
the midst of the throne...stood a lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of
God sent forth into all the earth.
And
He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat
upon the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four
beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,
having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odors,
which are the prayers of saints.
"And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation;....Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,
and glory, and blessing."
"And
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the
earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard
I saying, Blessing, and honour, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and
ever." (Revelation 5:5-13)
JESUS
SPOILED SATAN'S KINGDOM
The
Bible says, "And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him,
having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross, and having
spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:12-15) Oh, Praise
God.
We
serve a risen Saviour, he's in the world today. I know
that
He is living, whatever men may say...
I see His hand of mercy....I hear His voice of cheer....And just
the time I need Him....He's always near.
He
lives....He lives...Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me, along life's narrow way.
He
lives...He lives....Salvation to impart....
You ask me how I know He lives....He lives...within my heart.
What
power! What might! What strength, and what great
ability Jesus has. St. Paul brings it out so graphically in
his epistles. Drink in these truth and be set free and
filled with all knowledge, joy and Holy Ghost power.
"The
eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know
what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of glory of
His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness
of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of
His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when he raised Him
from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly
places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,
but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things
under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the
church." (Ephesians 1:18-22)
The
Bible says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20)
St.
Paul writes, "Who (God) hath delivered us from the power of
darkness (Satan) and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His
dear Son (Jesus Christ) IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS
BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13)
In
referring to Jesus, John the Baptist made the startling statement,
"Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away from the sins of
the world." (John 1:29) To this agree the angel's words
to Joseph, "Ye shall call His name Jesus (Salvation) for He
shall save (salvage) His people from their sins." (Matthew
1:21)
"Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in
the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but
made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in
fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name is above
every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven and in earth, and things under the earth; and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)
THIS
DAY IS THE SCRIPTURE FULFILLED
The
book of Isaiah is called the "Gospel of the Old
Testament". The 53rd chapter prophecies the death of
Messiah Who would bring forgiveness and healing to His people.
Isaiah 7:14 speaks of His virgin birth; Isaiah 9:6 speaks of His
Kingship and the fact that He is very God; Isaiah 28:11-12
foretells the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the end-time phenomena
of glossalalia, or "speaking with other tongues" as a
gift of God to bring stability, rest and peaceful strength to the
Church in times of pressure and tension. Isaiah 61:1-3
prophecies the Gospel Age of His salvation with forgiveness,
healing, deliverance and joy!
"And
he came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His
custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and
stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the
book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book,
He found the place where it was written,
"The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath anointed Me to
preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, the
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
"And
He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister and sat
down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue
were fastened on Him. And He began to say unto them, This
day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:16--21)
Jesus
entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah the
Prophet. He ended the reading by saying, "This day is
this scripture fulfilled in your ears". He declared Himself
the Son of God and Jewish Messiah by those words.
The
year of Jubilee could not begin until first the Great Day of
Atonement had taken place. He would die on the cross like
the lambs died on the alters of Jerusalem because He is the Lamb
of God which taketh away the sins of the world." (John 1:29)
He
would fulfill the Old Testament 'Great Day of Atonement' when the
high priest entered into the Holy of holies with the blood of the
sacrificial animal. Jesus was not only the sacrifice but
also the high priest Who carried His own blood into the Holy of
holies in Heaven itself. (Hebrews 9:11-14)
The
scapegoat (Leviticus 16:7-21) is also a type of Jesus carrying
away our sins. He is our substitute! Every 50th year
Israel celebrated the 'fear of Jubilee' when all the prisoners and
slaves were freed and debts were forgiven. This is a picture
of the Gospel Age when everyone is set free by the blood of Christ
and His everlasting Gospel! THEY WERE OFFENDED IN HIM.
My
dear friend, Let me admonish you to receive him into your heart
and life as your Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Baptizer and
King.
JESUS
CAME TO SEEK & SAVE THE LOST
Jesus
said, "I am come to seek and save that which was lost."
(Luke 19:10) You are included in that number, for "All have
sinned and come short of the glory of God". (Romans 3:23)
You say, 'I cannot live a Christian life in my own strength'!
You
are absolutely right. You can't do it in your own power, but
He will change you and give you the power to live for Him.
The
Bible say: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him
not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His
name." (John 1:11-12)
Jesus
promised, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you...." (Acts 1:8) Finally Jesus said,
"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews
13:5) "...and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of
the world." (Matthew 28:20)
DEAR
FRIEND: Please write with your prayer requests. We
will pray for you and I will write you back! When you write,
please ask for a free prayer cloth over which we have prayed with
faith in Jesus' Name, for your deliverance and salvation.
- Pastor Max Solbrekken
CHRIST'S
CROSS
and
the Final Solution
By Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D.
Watching
the almost apocalyptic beheading of twenty-one Egyptian Christians
by hate filled, demon possessed Islamic terrorists - following in
the steps of their genocidal seventh-century leader - almost makes
any normal person sick.
"They
are not human; worse than beasts", you say! Yet, the
Bible says that God loves them and Jesus died
for their sins, as evil as they are. By looking into their eyes
you see what happens when the devil takes control of a soul! Pray
for their salvation!
Remember
that Saul of Tarsus was a Jewish Terrorist who killed
believers in Yeshua Ha Maschiach (Jesus the Messiah) and
how Jesus changed him! He changed his name to Paul and
under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, wrote nearly one-half of
the New Testament! Can these evil men change? Yes! With God all
things are possible! (Mark 9: 23; 10:27)
Having
said that, "Would you want these inflamed criminals, who have
innocent blood on their hands living in your neighbourhood? To be
free to molest, rape and brainwash your children and take over the
country?" I think not!
These
barbarians are taught from early childhood to hate, rape and
murder defenseless people who do not bow their heads to the ground
in worship to their 'moon god'. They are slaves to a
politically dangerous system of cruelty and inhumanity!
Yet,
as children of God and believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are
commanded to love them, pray for them and to win them for Christ
and His Kingdom.
JESUS
CAME TO SAVE SINNERS
The
Good News is that Jesus Christ came into the world to "seek
and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) He didn't
come for the righteous, but He came for sinners. The Holy Bible
states: "All have sinned and fallen short of the Kingdom
of God." (Romans 3:23) That includes us all, no
exceptions!
The
Scriptures declare: "God hath concluded all under
sin", so that we are all guilty and without excuse: "…That
every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty
before God." (Romans 3: 19). Again, St Paul writes:
"The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 23)
We
are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone,
and in Christ alone! It is not by works of
righteousness, but by His grace that we are saved. (Ephesians 2:
8, 9). Christ alone suffered, bled and died for our sins to
bring us to God.
The
Bible says: "Being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set
forth to be a propitiation (satisfaction,) through
faith in His BLOOD, to declare His righteousness for
the remission of sins that are passed, through the forbearance of
God;
"To
declare, I say at this time His righteousness: that He might be
just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus."
(Romans 3: 24-26). The Sovereignty of God demanded punishment for
SIN and the CROSS provided the FINAL SOLUTION.
For
four thousand years, God, in His great mercy and kindness allowed
the sacrifice of innocent lambs, goats and bullocks (occasionally
a red heifer) to suffice.
When
the ‘fullness of time’ had come, Almighty God gave Himself in
His SON, to be the propitiation for our sins. The word
propitiation means the covering, satisfaction and expiation.
The only RIGHTEOUS ONE, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, had to die to
cover our sins and satisfy the demands of Divine Justice!
Our
righteous, just and merciful God had to bring judgment upon
all sinners through the VICARIOUS death of a righteous man. No man
could qualify for all are born in sin, therefore He had to pay the
sin debt Himself.
The
INCARNATION of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, settled the
sin question for time and eternity, through His sacrificial death
on Golgotha!
JESUS
WAS BORN TO DIE IN OUR PLACE
That
is why Jesus of Nazareth had to be crucified. He was born to die;
to be crucified in order to pay the sin debt for all unrighteous
humanity, to meet the demands of Divine Justice for our awful sins
against the Almighty.
This
is possibly the Bible’s greatest verse: "He that
spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans
8:32)
In
1978, I was preaching in Ghana, Africa in a large
Gospel Crusade. I became very homesick. I could not eat their
food. The netting around my bed was broken and since I had
forgotten to take my anti-malaria pills, I didn't get much sleep.
I
was very unhappy even though we were seeing many souls come to
Christ and powerful miracles were taking place. I was studying
Romans when suddenly it jumped out at me with such force that I
was shocked. Our Heavenly Father let me know what it cost Him to
provide the Great Salvation that I was proclaiming so freely!
JESUS
WAS SMITTEN OF GOD
I
had read that verse many times but never fully understood it. I
was torn to pieces as I saw how the Father had ‘TURNED
OVER’ His only begotten Son to murderers who would mock Him,
spit in His face, scourge Him and nail Him to the Cross of shame
for us.
I
wondered how He could do that, as I personally would never allow
anyone to harm my wife or children. Only over my dead body, would
anyone molest, rape or kill my family!
Then
He took me to Isaiah: "Surely He hath borne our
sicknesses (heb.makob ) and carried our
pains (heb.nasa): yet we did esteem Him stricken,
SMITTEN OF GOD and afflicted.
"But
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and
with His stripes we are healed.]
"All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his
own way; and the Lord hath LAID
UPON HIM the iniquity of us all. Yet it pleased to BRUISE
HIM; He hath put HIM TO GRIEF..." (Isaiah 53:
4-6, 10)
God
the Father laid our sins, sicknesses and pains on His Son. It was
God the Father Who smote His Son for us, and
what really tore me up was that God was pleased
when Jesus suffered, bled and died for us! I prayed and
wept for several days after God had spoken to me!
Shortly
after that crusade, God opened the door to ARGENTINA. No
crusades were held there because of the Military Rule,
but God opened the door for Omar Cabrera and me
to reach Cordova for Christ.
Great
Miracles happened every evening and the crowd grew to 48,000 on
May 15, 1978. Omar Cabrera then continued the Crusades and his
Cordova Church grew from zero to 8,000 in 9 months and within 18
months, Vision de Futuro had 150 churches with 450 pastors.
Then,
Carlos Anacandia got saved and began to preach and the rest is
history as he and others have reached several millions.
I
SPOKE TO THE MILITARY
Interestingly,
when Omar contacted me his heart was to go to Paraguay, but that
wasn't working out. The Holy Spirit put Argentina on my heart.
Omar had been forced to leave his country when his name was found
on a Rebel hit list. He said he was finished with Argentina and
would never return, but I was adamant that we should hold the
crusade there. Finally Omar said: "Okay, we'll try
Cordova."
We
started with 6,000 in attendance the first night. By the fourth
night we had 10,000 and the Chief of Police finally came
back to town and signed the permit. The Roman Catholic Church
which had opposed the Crusade, lost control over their people.
Nuns and priests attended openly rejoicing in the great things
which God did and carrying their tape recorders to get the
messages I brought.
I
had requested a meeting with the Military Junta and
demanded that they stop their persecution of the Evangelicals and
Pentecostals to which they agreed. From that day onward the
persecution stopped and the Revival steam rolled ahead.
After
preaching to the four Colonels
for 20 minutes about God and
the Devil, Heaven and Hell, the Cross and the Blood
of Christ, the leading COLONEL said loudly, "What do
you want from us?" I
said: "Stop persecuting the Evangelicals and the
Pentecostals!" He said: "O.K. What else do
you want?"
I
answered: "Get down on your knees and give your
hearts to the Lord." They were shocked. Omar
let out a big laugh, I smiled and they relaxed. I
said: "I would like to pray for you and
your families."
Immediately, he said: "Yes, please do."
After prayer, thy all shook my hand and told me about the good
things they had heard about the crusade.
That
is how the official persecution stopped and how the REVIVAL
started in Argentina in May, 1978. Praise the Lord.
JESUS
COMMANDED: GO INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY
CREATURE
This
Gospel is for ALL people of ALL the world including
the Muslim World! Jesus Christ commanded: "Go ye
into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ...."
(Mark 16: 15-20)
King
David prophesied: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and
the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord,
and against His ANOINTED, saying, Let us break the
bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (Psalms 2: 2, 3)
The
Apostles prayed, quoting David: "For a truth
against Thy Holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod,
and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the
people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do
whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be
done." (Acts 4:25-28)
The
whole world was involved in carrying out the will of God in
the sacrificial death of Christ for us all. King Herod, Pontius
Pilate, the Gentiles and Israel is a representation of the
Entire World that stands guilty in the SIN of crucifying the Son
of God.
And
the entire world is invited to receive God's forgiveness,
peace, healing, blessing and deliverance which has been purchased
for us all through the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ our Lord
and His glorious resurrection from the dead.
The
Bible says: "Looking for that blessed HOPE and the
glorious appearance of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Who GAVE HIMSELF for us, that He might redeem us from all
iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works." (Titus 2:13, 14)
"But
after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
"Which
He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that
being justified by His GRACE, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3: 4-7) All
glory to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Is
God able to save and fill with His Holy Spirit, the tough, evil,
perverted Muslim terrorists? Read Acts chapters 9, 22 and 28. If
He can reach a Jewish terrorist He can reach a Muslim terrorist!
Nothing is too hard for our God.
PREPARE
TO MEET THY GOD
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
Prepare
to meet thy God!
This was the admonition that Prophet Amos thundered out in his
day. God’s people had backslidden, corrupted themselves and
forsaken the true and living way.
They
had gone after the strange gods of the heathen, and were
worshipping at the altars of pagan idols. They had forgotten how
gracious the Lord is and turned their backs on Him.
GOD
HAD A FEARLESS PROPHET THAT HE COULD USE: A MAN WHO HADN'T SOLD
OUT!
But
God had a man He could use! Amos was a prophet who had not
corrupted himself as others had done. God had a vessel He could
use - a mouthpiece with which to warn and admonish His people of
coming judgment for sin and forgiveness for those who would
repent!
God’s
message to the people then is the same as now: “Prepare to Meet
Thy God”! One day every living soul will stand before God and
give an account of his or her life.
THE
BOOK OF LIFE WILL BE OPENED & THE DEAD WILL BE JUDGED
“And
I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no
place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before
God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which
is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books according to their works and death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire.”
(Revelation
20:11-15)
The
Bible says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment:” (Hebrews
9:27) THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS was always the same - they
were two-fold - People must repent to receive mercy and
forgiveness or reject God’s Way and be judged. It was a message
of mercy and judgment!
It
is the same today. God has not changed, but many of ‘today’s
preachers’ have compromised and are not preaching ALL THE TRUTH
because of FEAR. They lack the boldness, courage and faith to
stand up and tell the Truth.
JOHN
WESLEY
-
founder of the Methodist
Church - whose Ministry is accredited with turning England
back to God and saving it from the same fate as that which befell
France in the ungodly, brutal and bloody French Revolution,
stated: "I must preach law before I preach grace."
What
did he mean? Simply this, that in order for people to realize that
they need God's FORGIVENESS, they must be convicted of their sins!
And how does that take place? In several ways: God can arbitrarily
speak to people by His Holy Spirit in answer to the fervent
prayers of relatives or other concerned spiritual prayer warriors!
Usually,
however, sinners are convicted through the anointed preaching of
God's Word. Millions of believers are saved today because of the
powerful preaching of anointed Spirit-filled men and women of God,
who have refused to compromise their message!
In
1970, Edmonton Transit bus driver, Eric Dykstra and his entire
family, were converted to Christ in our Church because of
the dozens of Bus Seat benches which carried our advertising with
the clear-cut message: "Get Right With God!"
In
a letter to me, dated May 8, 2002, about five weeks before his
death, Eric wrote: "It has been 32 years almost to the day
that I accepted the Lord's saving message as preached by you that
Wednesday evening at the Edmonton Revival Centre. That was May 6,
1970.
"After
you laid your hands on me and my family, the roof of the old
theatre didn't split open for angels to descend, but I received a
depth of peace in my inner being I had never before experienced.
Without realizing it, we stood at the jump-off point of an
exciting brand new phase of our lives.
"Our
kids all believe in their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (One is
even an M. Div and has been a pastor for five years). Our
grandchildren are taught the Word and the ways of the Lord
Creator, at home and at their respective churches. Your
faithfulness to God and perseverance in your Ministry has brought
wonderful blessings to countless families around the globe!
"I
have at times speculated what would have happened if in the late
60s all these messages, 'Get Right With God!' hadn't been
scattered throughout the city by way of bus stop benches. Driving
my routes and spotting those ads gave me repeatedly opportunity to
meditate on their meaning!"
DR.
OSWALD SMITH
SPEAKS OUT!
In
Dr. Oswald Smith's book, 'The Fire Of God' (1948), the man
that Billy Graham
called, "one of the world's greatest Missionary
Statesmen" wrote: "In my study of revival and
evangelism I have discovered that those most mightily used of God
always majored on five subjects. These five subjects inevitably
produced conviction. First, sin and salvation, then heaven and
hell, finally judgment. You see, a great many messages must
necessarily be given on SIN for sin to be exposed if there is to
be genuine conviction!"
Oswald
Smith states: "When I was converted in the year 1906 in the
great Torrey-Alexander campaigns which was held in Massey Hall,
Toronto, I noticed, as I walked along the streets or through the
stores, or rode in the street cars, thousands of little white
cards, one inch wide and six inches long. On both sides these four
words were printed in bright red type, "Get Right With
God."
"It
made no difference which way the card fell, the message was always
there. As a result, thousands
were convicted. So many tens of thousands of these little white
cards had been distributed that it was impossible to get away from
them. Everybody saw them. They were lying about on every side and
those four little words preached a sermon that could never be
forgotten."
I
remember hearing Oral
Roberts - while in his prime - speaking on the sin of
compromising the truth. In his anointed message, the man who
won ten million souls to God and brought the healing power
of God to our generation, thundered out these words: "I
hate compromisers!"
PREPARE
TO MEET THY GOD
It
was the same during the time of MICAH THE PROPHET. Micah
prophesied against the backsliding preachers, who had been bought
off and corrupted by worldly minded and sinful people around them,
which caused them to prophesy only what the people wanted to hear.
He declared, “But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of
the Lord and of judgment and might, to declare unto Jacob his
transgression and to Israel his sin”. (Micah 3:8)
God
is very merciful and will forgive all who come to Him in humility,
desiring forgiveness and salvation (John 6:37; 3:16), but He also
is a God of judgment and justice!
The
Bible says, “I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting
the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto
thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments”. (Exodus
20:5-6)
Remember
my friend, you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-8), and be sure
your sin will find you out (Jonah 1:7). And don’t forget “It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
(Hebrews 10:31). SIN MUST BE PAID FOR IF IT ISN’T REPENTED
OF, and “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Romans 6:23)
We
are living in a day when preachers have given in to 'political
correctness' with their 'seeker sensitive' philosophy, so
that there is no longer conviction of sin! It's easy to get swayed
by great crowds who applaud a "God loves you",
with no strings attached preaching, but the Bible says:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold all things become new."
In
my crusades around the world, I have noticed how everyone wants to
say the sinner's prayer and be healed physically, but many in
reality do not desire to make Jesus their Lord and forsake their
idols and leave their pagan beliefs. If a preacher, therefore,
isn't clear on God's hatred for sin and idolatry, he leaves them
in a very precarious position!
JESUS
WARNED PREACHERS THAT WE MUST PREPARE TO MEET GOD
Our
Lord Jesus Christ emphasized: "Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one
proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child
of hell than yourselves." (Matthew 23:15) He said:
"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me: and him that
cometh to Me I will in wise cast out." (John 6: 37).
He also stated: "... but except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish." (Luke 3: 13)
St.
Paul warned: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is
high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer
than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on
the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in
rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in
strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not
provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
(Romans 13: 11-14)
"For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore
the terror (wrath) of God, we persuade men..." (2
Corinthians 5:10-11)
The
great Apostle admonished: "I charge thee therefore before
God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick (living)
and dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the WORD; be
instant in season , out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with
all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4: 1-2)
You
may be able to fool your husband, wife, friends or even the
preacher, but you cannot fool God. He knows all about you, and if
you reject Him as your Saviour, He will be your Judge on that day.
“When
the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the Holy Angels
with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory, and
before Him shall be gathered all nations and He shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the
goats - and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but
the righteous into life eternal”. (Matthew
25:31-46)
Listen
to the words of invitation given by our blessed Lord and Redeemer,
Jesus Christ: “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11:28)
DO
NOT TURN A DEAF EAR TO THIS GREAT OFFER OF SALVATION AND BLESSING,
BUT BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TODAY!
Receive
Him into your heart by faith, repent and turn away from your sins,
and you will receive the gift of Eternal Life. DON’T DELAY, BUT
CALL OUT TO THE LORD FOR MERCY TODAY!
For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting
life.”
(John 3:16) Amen!
WHAT MUST
I DO TO BE SAVED?
Jesus
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Yes,
my dear friend, God is still in the business of setting men and
women free from their sins, sorrows, heartbreaks, fears and
troubles. In this age of frustrations, nervous tensions and
mental collapses, Jesus Christ is still granting peace to the
troubled, joy to the discouraged, strength to the weary and
healing to the sick!
 1
- YOU MUST ADMIT THAT YOU ARE A SINNER
The
Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God”. (Rom. 3:23) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2
- YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD
You
MUST believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Jesus died
on the cross, was buried and rose again from the dead.
“That
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already.” (John 3:15,18) “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on
Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
3
- YOU
MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS
The
Bible says, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.” (Lu.13:3) “Let the wicked forsake his way and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord,
and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will
abundantly pardon”. (Isaiah 55:7)
4
- YOU MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR
The
Bible says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
“Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with Me.” (Rev. 3:20) “He that hath the Son hath life: and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
5
- YOU MUST CONFESS JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD
The
Bible says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation”. (Romans 10:9-10)
“…Whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man confess
before the angels of God: But he that denieth Me before men shall
be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8, 9)
HOW
DO I INVITE
JESUS CHRIST INTO MY LIFE?
Pray
to God, a prayer - from your heart.
Tell Him that you
are a sinner and that you need forgiveness. Tell him that
you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins. Tell him that
you are willing to change, to turn away from sin. Ask Jesus
Christ to come into your heart and life and be your personal
Saviour.
"But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2
Corinthians 5:17)
If
you prayed and ask Jesus Christ into your heart - YOU HAVE NOW
RECEIVED THE GIFT OF SALVATION - YOU HAVE BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
God Bless You.
-
Powerful AUDIO Bible sermons/messages
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken
- click on
message to listen -
BIBLE
SCRIPTURES ON:
Satan,
the Devil, evil, evil spirits, demons, the full amour of God  Revelation
20:1-3 - (kjv)
- "Behold,
I give unto you power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing
shall by any means hurt you."
The Scripture says that 'one day' an angel will come from heaven
and bind Satan, casting him into the bottomless pit for a thousand
years. It won't take ten thousand angels; it won't take a
hundred angels' it will take one angel to bind the devil and cast
him into the pits of hell forever."
Ephesians
6:10-11
- (kjv) - "Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in
the power of His might. Put
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
"Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod
with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"
"Above
all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is he word
of God; Praying always with al prayer and supplication in
the Spirit, and
watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints."
2
Timothy 1:7
- (kjv) - "God
hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind."
1
Peter 5:8
- (kjv) - "Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Hebrews
2:14-15
- (kjv) - "Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also
Himself likewise took part of the same; that through DEATH He
might DESTROY him that had the power of death, that is the DEVIL;
And to DELIVER them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage."
John
10:10 -
(kjv) - "The
thief (the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly."
1
John 4:4 -
(kjv) - "Greater is He that is in you, that he that is in the
world."
Matthew
6:9-10 -
(kjv) - After
this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name...Thy kingdom come. They will
be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Luke
10:19 -
(kjv) - "Behold
I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over
all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt
you."
1
John 5:14-15
- (kjv)
- And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us: .. And if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we desired of him.
Philippians
2:13 -
(kjv) - For
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
Romans
8:32 -
(kjv) -
He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with
him also freely give us all things?
Bible
Scriptures on:
divine
healing, healing, healings of Jesus Christ, healing miracles
(King
James Version)
Matthew
18:18 - (kjv)
- "Verily I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on
earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done of
My Father which is in heaven.
Matthew
18:19 -
(kjv) - "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree
on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done
of My Father which is in heaven.
Matthew
18:30
- (kjv) - "For
where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in
the midst of them."
Exodus
15:26
- (kjv) - "And
said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy
God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear
to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of
these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians:
for I AM the LORD that healeth thee."
Hebrews
12:12-13
- (kjv) - Wherefore
lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; ..And make
straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
the the way; but let it rather be healed.
Proverbs
4:20-22 -
(kjv) - My
son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings... Le4t
them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine
heart...For they are life unto those that find them, and health to
all their flesh.
Psalms
103:3 -
(kjv) - Who
forgiveth all thine iniquies; who healeth all thy diseases,
Matthew
6:9-10 -
(kjv) - After
this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name...Thy kingdom come. They will be done in
earth, as it is in heaven.
3
John 1:2 -
(kjv) - Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.
1
John 5:14-15 -
(kjv) - And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us: .. And if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we desired of him.
Philippians
2:13 -
(kjv) - For
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
Romans
8:32 -
(kjv) -
He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him
also freely give us all things?
JESUS
HEALS A LEPER
Matthew
8:2-3
- (kjv) -
And, behold, there came
a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean...And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him,
saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately is leprosy was
cleansed.
Psalms
30:2 -
(kjv) -
O LORD my God, I cried
unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
Jeremiah
33:6 -
(kjv) -
Behold, I will bring it
health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the
abundance of peace and truth.
1
Peter 2:24 -
(kjv) -
Who his own self bare
our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being bead to sins,
should live unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed.
Matthew
4:23-24 -
(kjv) -
And Jesus went about all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease among the people... And his fame went throughout all Syria:
and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with
divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with
devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy,
and he healed them.
Matthew
8:16
- (kjv) -
When the even was come, they brought
unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the
spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.
Jeremiah
30:17
- (kjv) -
For I will restore health unto thee, and
I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD: because they called
thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jesus
healed the woman with an Issue of Blood
Matthew
9:20-22 -
(kjv) - And, behold, a woman,
which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind
him, and touched the hem of his garment....For she said within
herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole...But
Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be
of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman
was made whole from that hour.
Matthew
12:15 -
(kjv) - But when Jesus knew it,
he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him,
and he healed them al.
Matthew
14:13-14 -
(kjv) - When Jesus heard of it,
he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the
people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the
cities...And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was
moved with compassion towards them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew
14:34-36 (kjv) - And when they were gone over, they came
into the land of Gennesaret....And when the men of that place had
knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about,
and brought unto them all that were diseased....And besought him
that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as
touched were made perfectly whole.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
For further spiritual counsel, prayer or gospel literature, please
contact us!
www.mswm.org www.maxsolbrekken.com
max@maxsolbrekken.com
Max
Solbrekken World Mission, P.O. Box 44220, RPO Garside, Edmonton,
AB T5V 1N6 (780) 460-8444
The
House of Prayer, New Sarepta, Alberta (780) 941-2372
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