|
 THE
CURSE OF ALCOHOL
Alcohol
addiction larger problem than drugs
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
"And
it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21)
ALCOHOL
ADDICTION HAS BECOME A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM THAN DRUGS
The
man who drinks a little alcohol, drinks too much alcohol. If
you don't think so - well let us look at the sordid record of
alcohol consumption across the world today.
Alcohol
s fast becoming a bigger problem than drugs right here in Canada
and worldwide as well.
Kids
are drinking alcohol at younger and younger ages and are drinking
alcohol in such excess that every weekend the hospital emergency
rooms are full of young teenagers with Alcohol poisoning.
There seems to be a desperate need for young kids to escape from
reality and turning to that bottle of alcohol seems to be the
answer for so many young people searching for happiness.
In
Alberta, Canada, figures show that more money is spent each year
on alcohol than is taken in province wide in oil revenue.
Alberta, Canada's Oil Province will soon become known as the
'Alcoholic Province'. And the destruction that follows the
drinking is leaving families in ruins with scars that do not heal.
Alcohol
can lead to cheating on your spouse, violence and turmoil in
families, divorce and confused troubled children having no
stability and no where to turn - so they in turn start drinking to
ease the pain and loneliness.
Drinking
and driving has killed thousands and caused a life time of
heartache and pain for surviving family members. As the
drinking of alcohol continues, what follows is loss of jobs,
violent fights that at times end in death and murder, car
accidents an deaths caused by drunk drivers.
Someone
once said, "Alcohol gives you a red nose, a black eye, a
green brain, brown breath and a blurry outlook."
Many
people drink alcohol to get their courage up....others drink
alcohol to get happy, but the happiness is just temporary.
One
day you wake up with a hangover and realize that you have no job,
your wife has left you, your kids have drifted away from you and
you are all alone. If that isn't bad enough, your children
are following your example and have now turned to drinking to ease
their own pain.
So,
what is the solution to your problem? You know you need
help, but the addition of alcoholism has set in and you now need
to drink. You continue to drink to dull the pain, to feed
your addiction. Slowly the problem progresses from bad to
worse. The depression deepens and the endless battle of
trying to find happiness causes you to drink more alcohol.
What is the answer to the mess your life has become.
Alcoholism
is becoming a world wide disease spreading quickly.
Oppression and lack of freedom experienced by 97% of the citizens
of the former Soviet Union for 70 years, and the majority of
blacks and coloreds in South Africa until recently, was the excuse
given for excessive alcohol intake.
The
heavy alcohol drinking of Russians has paid off handsomely,
producing a nation of drunks, broken homes and abject poverty.
And the hardships suffered by many Canadians, unemployment, has
given rise to the same mental attitude...endure hopelessness
through alcohol consumption.
Social
drinkers get hooked and eventually graduate to the class called
alcoholics or alcoholism. Judge Lewis Drecker of Cleveland,
Ohio stated: "The chronic alcoholic and excessive drinker is
a graduate of the moderate drinker."
ALCOHOL
WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY YOUR LIFE AND TAKE YOUR FAMILY ALONG FOR
THE RIDE
Alcohol
has been the ruin of many great men in every walk of life, and for
thousands of years. Connie Mack stated, "All the
umpires put together have not put as many ballplayers out of the
game as 'old man booze'."
Friedemann
Bach, the most gifted son of the great German composer Johann
Sebastian Bach, went to pieces through drinking alcohol.
Michael Hayden, younger brother of Joseph Hayden, and hardly less
gifted, was also ruined by alcohol. Franz Schubert became a
constant wine drinker and died in his early thirties.
ALCOHOL
CAUSED ROBERT SCHUMANN'S NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
After
the death of his wife, Rembrandt, then 36 years of age, became an
alcoholic. "I call drink the greatest trap that life
has put before the feet of genius." - Upton
Sinclair
J.C.
Penny never drank anything stronger than ginger ale. When
someone reported that he had indulged in cocktails, he said,
"My reputation which I value has been damaged. From
henceforth it will be plain water or tomato juice for me."
Charles
Lamb, English essayist, confessed that - because of alcohol, he
was, "gliding into the abyss with open eyes and bound will,
seeing his own destruction before him without having the strength
of will to break away and with all good drained from his
heart."
THE
ALCOHOLIC COMMITS SUICIDE ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN
Vance
Havner - well know Baptist minister and writer stated: "The
alcoholic commits suicide on the installment plan."
Marjorie Black - chairman of the American Medical Committee on
Alcoholism stated: "The requirement of our society that
drinking is a social obligation to which one must conform is one
of the major causes of alcoholism in our country."
Abraham
Lincoln said, "Alcohol is the greatest and most blighting
curse of modern civilization. The liquor seller is simply
and only a privileged malefactor - a criminal."
Iry
Thomas - former Edmonton bureau chief for CHQU Radio - struggled
with alcohol from the age of 19 years. Twelve years of going
to bed drunk every night, with the exception of 6 or 7 sober
nights a year. Only July 30, 1982, he beat booze when he
decided that he'd had enough and called out to God for help.
On the verge of losing everything, friends, health and job, Iry
became a tea drinker and is now a very happy man.
And
by the help of God and the Holy Spirit, he is still free from
alcohol. It can be done by faith in God, commitments to
Christ and some old fashioned will power.
Marv
Mohr was an alcoholic when he began attending Faith Cathedral,
Edmonton in 1985. He had been hooked on alcohol for 16
years, even though he could still hold good jobs because of his
relative youth, talents and work ethics. His marriage had
ended up 'on the rocks' and realizing his need for spiritual help
he called upon the Name of Jesus for help.
Through
Biblical counseling and prayer, we were able to help Marvin back
to God and a new life in the Holy Spirit. Today he is a
prosperous businessman on the West coast, with a heart for God and
the work of missions.
Gerry
Eppinga immigrated to Canada from Holland as a very young man.
After about 5 fives of hard work and prosperity, but extremely
lonely, he got involved with the wrong crowd and spent his time in
the bars every weekend and soon each evening.
It
wasn't long before Gerry became addicted to alcohol. He lost
his desire to wok and inched his way downward to a place where he
was losing his health, money and ability to work were gone.
He ended up running a nightclub in Prince Rupert and began
supplying the Native Indians with illicit drugs with as many as 8
pushers. He was banned from every bar in that city.
Then,
Gerry heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our crusade in the
Islander Hall in 1975. He was gloriously converted and was
delivered from his demon spirits. Gerry's Club 7 nightclub
was situated on the main floor of the Islander Hall and we were
conducting a gospel crusade in the large ballroom above.
When
I heard loud rock and roll music, I inquired from whence it came.
Someone said, "That's from Gerry Eppinga's Club 7."
I declared to the congregation, "Let's close down that hell
hole, in the Name of Jesus."
The
next evening, Gerry attended the service and was converted.
During the sinner's prayer and 'confession of faith', the evil
spirits threw him in the air, screaming. I commanded them to
leave in Jesus' all powerful Name and they had to go.
Gerry
became a successful man, an ardent Christian and a witness of
Jesus Christ. He sold his business, attended Bible College
and spent a number of years as a missionary to the Haida Indians
of the Queen Charlotte Islands. At this time, Gerry
ministers to the Dutch population of B.C.'s lower mainland and his
former homeland of Holland. God has endowed him with a
marvelous gift of preaching.
Don
McInness of New Sarepta, Alberta, couldn't function as an engineer
without his daily bottle of hard liquor - which he had consumed
for many years - until he met Pastor Marvin Swanson of the New
Sarepta Country Church. Pastor Swanson, formerly a heavy
drinker, led Dan to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and
he was delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is
still free from alcohol and very active in the church.
Randy
Huisman of Smithers, B.C. was hooked on booze from his late
teenage years. After years of heavy drinking - whiskey on a
regular basis - he thought of suicide, but God intervened and he
received Jesus Christ into his life. Together with his wife
Patti, Randy is a solid, sincere and motivated soul winner.
Russell
Brass, formerly of Keys Reserve near Norquay, SK was brought to
Faith Cathedral, Edmonton in 1985 by his nephew Reverand Allan
O'Soupe.
Russell
who had diligently consumed about a gallon of wine on a daily
basis for almost 40 years was saved and set free from his sin, as
I prayed in the Almighty Name of Jesus Christ. Russell
stopped drinking immediately and remained sober, free and full of
God's joy for the next 8 years until his death - Hallelujah!
HAS
ALCOHOL TAKEN YOU CAPTIVE? Jesus came to set the captives
free
Don't
forget my friend, Jesus came to set the captives free. Hear
His words of truth and liberty. Believe them and be free.
"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 broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised." (Luke 4:18)'
"Know
ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, no idolaters, no adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1
Corinthians 6:9-10)
They
used to be called drunks - high class drunks, middle class drunks
and skid-road drunks. Preachers used to call drunkenness a
SIN and medical doctors warned about a deviant lifestyle that
leads to sclerosis of the liver, heart disease and death.
Drunkards
have come "come up in the world". They are now
called alcoholics and excessive drinking is no longer considered
sinful by many but a terrible disease called alcoholism.
Alcoholism
is one of North America's leading health problems
That
alcoholism is a serious problem in North America is an
understatement. It is a major problem which will NOT go
away. A recent report from the North American Indian
Counseling Services says, "Alcoholism is one of North
America's top health problems, along with cancer, heart disease
and mental illness."
The
report lists the harmful effects of alcoholism for the individual,
their families and the economy. It warns that alcoholism
ruins a person's life, causes loss of self respect, happiness and
affects health and safety.
Nineteen
out of twenty alcoholics are intelligent men and women, not skid
road types. The average alcoholic has 4 others in their
family. Loss of income and loss of respect lead to greater
problems.
The
loss to the economy is staggering. Ten billion dollars is lost
annually directly related to alcohol. Alcohol directly
affects loss of work hours to businesses, industry and civilian,
government and military occupations.
Over
100 billion dollars each year is spent on health and welfare
services and medical costs stemming from alcohol.
Over
100 billion dollars is spent on health and welfare services for
alcoholics and their families. 30 billion dollars in
property damage, medical costs and the overhead costs. This
amounts to an average annual cost of $14 nationally. We all
pay for this.
WHAT
ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOLISM?
The
symptoms of alcoholism are: loss of control over alcohol intake,
developing a need to drink more and more to achieve the same
effect, painful withdrawal symptoms and hangovers, uncontrollable
reliance on alcohol to cope with problems
WHAT
ARE THE STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM?
Early
stages of alcoholism -
Increased use of alcohol at social functions, drinking to relieve
tension, drinking every day as a relaxant, getting drunk when not
intending to.
Middle
stages of alcoholism
- The person develops a cycle drinking more and more, the person
experiences guilt and isolation when drinking, needing a drink
first time in the morning, occasional blackouts, preferring lower
class of companions to drink with
Final
stages of alcoholism
- The person is often lonely and depressed, living to have the
next drink, having severe personality swings, Liver damage and
major health problems
SIGNALS
YOU HAVE HIT ROCK BOTTOM - Death,
prison, mental institution, marital breakup, violence
There
is hope for the alcoholic and other addictions
Don't
forget my friend, Jesus came to set the captives free. Hear
His words of truth and liberty. Believe them and be free.
"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, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised." (Luke 4:18)
JESUS
CHRIST DIED
FOR YOU
#1
- JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU
No
more beautiful words were ever spoken by men or angels than these,
"I know God loves me!" Praise God. Say these
precious words and believe them and you will see what a change
will be affected within your life.
#2
- JESUS CHRIST KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU
"For
the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
"Tis
so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to
rest upon His promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord."
In
every situation of life God knows about you! During every
trial, heartbreak and discouragement in the temptations and
struggles of life Jesus knows about us and makes a way of escape.
(1 Corinthians 10:13) God knows and He is ready to help -
Say it to yourself, "God knows about my existence and He
loves me - His eyes are upon me and I know everything will be
alright."
#3
- JESUS CHRIST CARES ABOUT YOU
"Casting
all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." (1 Peter
5:7)
Life
often seems like a rat race with dog eat dog and whoever gets in
first get what he needs and whoever gets in last misses
everything. People can often be hardhearted and cruel -
circumstances and situations can make life almost unbearable.
Many times Satan has filled peoples' hearts and minds with such
tremendous disillusionment and depression that they have in utter
hopelessness taken their own lives.
The
hymn writer penned the words, "What a Friend we have in
Jesus, All our sins and grief's to bear! What a privilege to
carry - Everything to God in prayer."
I
am thrilled with the great news of God's love every time I hear
it. I am thrilled that God loves me, He knows all about me
and that He cares about me - my difficulties and my needs.
Praise God! Say it to yourself - "I know God cares
about me and will help me!"
#4
- JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
"But
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
You
can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
No wonder the Apostle John wrote, "We love Him because He
first loved us." There is a word that is seldom used in
today's world but one which is probably one of the most powerful
in our vocabulary. It is the word "Apodictic" and
it means "Evident beyond contradictions". It is
one of my foremost words because it relates to the gospel and to
Christ our wonderful Lord. When you speak about God, His
power, His words, His promises, His grace, His goodness and His
mercy and love, the word Apodictic covers them all!
Evident
beyond Contradiction! His existence is so real that only a
foolish person could try to contradict the fact! No wonder
the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no
God". (Psalm 14:1)
 NO.
5 ~ JESUS CHRIST AROSE FROM THE DEAD AND WILL HELP YOU TODAY
A
dead man has no power to help anyone - He cannot even help
himself! That is why so many traditional churches and nominal
Christians receive no answers to their prayers and have no victory
in their lives. They believe in and worship a dead Christ. They
wear crucifixes that have a resemblance of Christ, dead on the
cross. Beloved friends, the cross is empty - Jesus Christ is alive
for evermore with all power at His disposal.
He
has the power to set His children free from every bondage and
situation in which we find ourselves that is embarrassing,
improper, humiliating and painful.
“Lo
behold the man of sorrow, lo behold Him in plain view. There He
stands that mighty conqueror, since He rent the veil in two."
“I
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. You ask me how I
know He lives, He lives within my heart.” Hallelujah.
The
very essence of Christianity, the heart of the gospel and the
foundation truth of the church is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son
died upon a cross for our sins and that He was raised from the
dead on the third day for our Justification! (1 Corinthians
15:1-4)
Of
all religions only Christianity can boast a resurrection and only
Christ is a Saviour, for He only is Alive Forevermore. Praise His
Name.
JESUS
IS THE ONLY WAY
No
wonder Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved”. (Acts 4:12)
Why?
Because the name of a dead man can save no one but Jesus is not
dead HE IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE! Hallelujah. His entire ministry
while upon this earth revolved around preaching the gospel,
healing the sick, forgiving the sinful, restoring the diseased
back to health, feeding the hungry and raising the dead.
When
He was crucified His ministry came to an end abruptly - until 50
days later - after He had risen from the dead and spent 40 days
with His disciples He ascended into heaven and poured out upon His
followers the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4)
Then His ministry continued greater than ever through those who
believed upon Him - The blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame
walked, the dead were raised and the gospel was preached to
multitudes.
“Now
Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his
mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of
the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that
entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go
into the temple asked an alms.
And
Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of
them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I
have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up
and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:
and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he
leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:1-9)
“And
by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought
among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's
porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the
people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the
Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
“Insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them
on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing
by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out
of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and
them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed
every one.” (Acts 5:12-16)
THE
GREAT COMMISSION
It
is evident the Book of Acts is a continuation of the ministry of
Jesus Christ through His followers by the power of the Holy
Spirit, and that it is God’s will for His power to continue to
bring blessing and healing to His people in every generation until
the church age is over and Christ sets up His kingdom and ushers
in the millennium -
Notice
His words to all who believe, “And he said unto them, Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that
believe, In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink
any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover”. (Mark 16:15-18)
The
Holy Bible says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
If
you are called, you are saved and if you are saved, the baptism of
the Holy Ghost and power is for you! Again see what St. James
writes to the church, “Is any sick among you? let him call for
the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith
shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he
have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him”. (James
5:14,15)
THE
SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN
Now
in closing let us see what Jesus Himself said concerning praying
and receiving an answer....
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened.” (Matthew 7:7,8)
“Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe
Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in
My name, I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)
“Jesus
said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to
him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23)
“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 for them
of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
“If
ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)
My
beloved friend, Jesus Christ is indeed alive and waiting to hear
from you. If you will accept Him as your personal Saviour and
trust in Him you will definitely receive answers to your prayers
and the assurance that all is well with your soul, for He has
promised and guaranteed you that His word is true and the
scripture cannot be broken. (John 10:35)
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).
THE
DEVIL IS TO BLAME
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)
WHOSE
SIDE ARE
YOU ON?
by: Rev. Max
Solbrekken, D.D.
CHAPTER
1: TWO ROADS
Millions
today are groping in the darkness of despair as they journey down
life's road toward eternity!
Multitudes
have not found the way of true happiness and joy and are searching
for peace and an answer to life’s problems, heartaches and ills.
Many others have known the true essence of life but somehow
have gone astray, lost the way and are haphazardly adrift on the
sea of life.
The
saying goes, “When in Rome do as the Romans do”,
or “Follow the crowd”.
The great bulk of humanity are doing just that.
They are following the crowd.
Take the easy way out or the path of least resistance.
The sad part is that the crowd is not always right, and the
path of least resistance is often the wrong path which becomes a
rut into which the journeyer finds himself bogged down.
Chained by bad habits and inability to say “No”
to evil suggestions and fettered by wicked companions, such a
person becomes an easy mark for Satan.
My
dear friend, perhaps you are one of the restless multitudes in
this rut, the broad road that the Bible speaks of which will
eventually take you to doom and damnation in Hell, unless you
repent of your sins and get off this road.
The
Bible says: “There
is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are
the ways of death”. (Proverbs 16:25)
It
seems natural to do what others are doing, however, the natural
man is often motivated by the lusts, greed and prides of this
wicked world. The
Carnal man is sinful and out of fellowship with the righteousness
of God. Therefore, the
natural man is at enmity with God.
God's
word states: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be.” (Romans 8:7); “Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the
enemy of God,” (James 4:4) Sinful man cannot do good unless God
intervenes and changes his nature through the process of new
birth: “Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say
unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God.” (John 3:3)
Look
around and follow the current events in the news media to realize
that this world is corrupt and continually getting worse with
wars, social and political upheavals, increases in the crime rate,
immorality, sex perversion and broken homes.
FOLLOWING
THE CROWD: A BAD IDEA!
In
other words, the CROWD is corrupt and getting worse. If you follow
this crowd you will find yourself in bad company and serious
trouble spiritually! The
Bible says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”. (Matthew
7:13-14) Jesus urged, “Strive to enter in at the strait
gate: for many, I say
unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able”. (Luke
13:24). To strive means to “put some effort” into finding the
right way.
It
must be very important to enter the straight gate or Jesus would
not have admonished us to STRIVE TO ENTER IN.
The reason is that the wrong road leads to an eternal hell,
and the right one takes you to Heaven.
The Bible says: “Wide
is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction and
many there be which go in thereat”.
Many
are on this broad road because the gate is wide enough to take in
everyone, regardless of a person’s wickedness, evil habits or
unrighteous companions. There
is plenty of room, and no questions asked - that is of course,
until it is too late to get off.
The murderer travels this road together with the gambler,
drunkard, liar and thief.
It
is the broad road and is easy travelling because this road has a
slight downward grade, although not very noticeable at the start.
The self-righteous Church member who has never been saved
together with the modernistic theologian, the atheist and the
communist, all have plenty of room to travel without even rubbing
shoulders, because the road is so wide.
The
alcoholic, drug user, the unfaithful, deceptive wife or husband,
rich and poor, well and sick, young and old, respected and
despised, educated and illiterate, bond and free, all may travel.
Caution
is thrown to the winds and off you go merrily on your way - the
music blares and you sail along!
TRAVEL
NOW - PAY LATER, SEEMS TO BE THE SLOGAN
- Yes, this is the broad road to destruction.
JESUS warns you to get off it NOW. Don't stay on it a
minute longer. Jump off it immediately and enter the Straight Gate
onto the NARROW Road that leads to LIFE and Eternal Bliss!
DO
YOU KNOW WHICH ROAD YOU ARE ON?
You
may ask, “How do I know which road I am on?”
I am glad you ask that question, because I have the answer
for you. The Bible
says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”.
(Romans 3:23) “There
is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 2:10)
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my
mother conceive me”. (Psalms 51:5)
The
Scripture tells us that through Adam’s transgression the whole
human race was plunged into sin.
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned.” (Romans
5:12) Through the
Scripture we see that everyone is born in sin and because of the
fall, the human race inherited the stigma of sin.
Secondly,
we learn that man’s nature is sinful and he is a sinner by
choice. The Bible
says: “All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all.”( Isaiah 53:6) ; “The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked:
who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“The
fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is
none that doeth good. The
Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if
there were any that did understand, and seek God.
They are all gone aside, they are all together become
filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalms
14:1-3)
We
have now established the fact that all human beings are sinners,
not only by birth and nature, but also by choice.
Jesus exhorts everyone to, “Enter into the strait
gate”, because everyone naturally is on the broad road to start
with, and must turn off to get on the right road.
ALL
A SINNER MUST DO TO GO TO HELL IS TO CONTINUE WHAT HE IS DOING,
but there is a way of escape. There is a way out and salvation is
available for everyone who believes and turns to the Lord. Jesus
Christ came to redeem us and save us from our sins, the power of
Satan and the broad road.
Lost
souls must call out to God for mercy, receive His wonderful
salvation - purchased by Christ’s blood and get on the narrow
road and enter the straight gate which takes us to Heaven.
Jesus said: “Except a man be born of water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God”. (John 3: 5)
Here
is your answer - All those who have not had a personal encounter
with Jesus Christ, been born again by the incorruptible Word of
God and by the Spirit of God and had their sins washed away by
“the precious blood”, is on the broad road and lost in their
sins!
NOT
VERY MANY ARE GOING TO BE SAVED!
The
Bible states that because, “Wide is the gate and broad is the
road”, many will go in thereat.
The broad road is crowded with journeyers travelling toward
their doom and destruction. In
Matthew 7:14, the Bible declares, “Because strait is the gate
and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be
that find it”. He
asked how many would be saved? He answered: “Strive to enter in
at the strait gate: for
many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be
able”. (Luke 13:24)
The
Gate to Heaven is straight - no crookedness can enter there.
Foolish pride must be swept away.
There is no room for human reasoning because the gate will
not move, be enlarged or slanted to take in the new ideology,
theories or curricula of sinful, carnal humanity.
Some preach that there are many ways to be saved and gain
admittance into the Kingdom of God.
This
is utterly false.
“Jesus saith unto
him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John
14:6)
Jesus
did not say, I am one of the ways, but He said I AM THE WAY.
No wonder our Lord said, “Strait is the gate”, for that
gate will not bend or expand to accept any other doctrines or
beliefs except the words, teachings and doctrine of Jesus Christ,
the Son of the living God. The
gate that Jesus spoke of will not conform or change to fit the
traditions or customs of a changing world and a carnal, secular
society. NO, THANK
GOD! The Gate that
leads to God and Heaven is FIXED forever and is as unchanging as
God Himself.
Anyone
entering this gate must humble himself, and in order to enter the
straight gate must do so on his knees
leaving behind him all his unbelief, pride, lust and greed.
There is no room for excess baggage as the individual
passes through this gate. Webster’s
Dictionary defines the word “straight” as Jesus used it here
as, “Being in a right line”.
That right line is God’s way - none other will do!
The
hymn writer penned the words
“Just
as I am without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.”
Without
exception, everyone must come the same way, and there is no
respect of persons - rich and poor, educated and illiterate, wise
and foolish - all must come in through the same gate and conform
to the straightness of this gate.
There is no favoritism or partiality.
There
is only one way to God, Heaven and eternal life.
It is a definite, certain and fixed way, and that way is
Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Jesus said, “I am the door:
by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved”. (John
10:9). Here Jesus
emphasizes that there is only one door, and to be saved we must
come through Him.
There
are not many doors to God’s Kingdom, but one only - the Lord
Jesus Christ. Jesus
says, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me”. (John 14:6)
There it is! Mohammed,
Buddha, Confucius, Shiva or the Pope
will not do - the Virgin Mary, St. Peter or the angel
Moroni cannot save you. There
is no other way to be saved than by and through God’s Divine
Resurrected Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
St. Peter declared, “There is none other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved”. (Acts
4:12)
THERE
ARE MILLIONS OF GODS!
The
heathen have millions of gods and false Christs, but there is only
ONE TRUE CHRIST and His Name is the Lord Jesus Christ - the
only one who is able to save you.
The Bible says, “There is one mediator between God and
men, the Man Christ Jesus”. (1 Timothy 2:5)
Jesus Christ the resurrected Saviour is the mediator
between Almighty God and sinful man.
Millions
of people seek peace and forgiveness by bathing in some river or
by having holy water - supposedly blessed by a religious person -
sprinkled upon them. Others,
by making pilgrimages to shrines, reciting repetitious prayers
continually, counting beads or doing penance by lying on spikes,
walking on coals of fire, beating themselves and even carrying a
cross on their back or abstaining from food.
BUT,
OH, HOW FUTILE! WHAT A
WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY WHEN WE KNOW THE TRUTH - when Jesus
Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and has shed His blood;
suffered and died so that we can be forgiven, healed and blessed;
and that He rose again from the dead and lives forevermore!
There
is only ONE Who can give peace to troubled minds, joy to tortured
hearts, new life to the lost and forgiveness to the sinful, and I
must shout it out loud and clear, His Name is Jesus.
He alone is the Saviour of the world.
The
hymn writer stated:
“What
can wash away my sin,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me pure within
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! Precious is the
flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
God's
Word says, "Without shedding of blood is no remission."
(Hebrews 9:22); "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth
us from all sin." (1 John 1:7). Many ask, "Why
could not Buddha, Mohammed or the Pope be saviours as well as
Jesus? The answer is very simple!
The
Bible declares, “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).
God had only One Son, and His only begotten Son’s name
was not Buddha, Mohammed, Shiva or Pope Pius. The name of God’s
Son is JESUS.
The
angel said to Joseph: “Thou
shalt call His name Jesus: for
He shall save His people from their sins”.
(Matthew 1: 23); Jesus said, “As My Father
hath sent Me, even so send I you”. (John 20:21);
“As Thou hast sent Me into this world, even so have I
also sent them into the world.” (John 17:18)
Jesus
repeatedly stated that He is the Son of God. (John 5:18; 10:30 -
33; Mark 14: 61,62) And don’t forget that Jesus Christ was the
only One Who died on the cross for our sins, fulfilling the Old
Testament prophesies (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; 1 Peter
2:24), and we read that
Jesus was, “declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the
dead”. (Romans 1:4) Praise
the Lord!
So
we see that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead sets
Him apart from all other men of all ages and gives final proof to
the fact that He was, is and always will be the Divine, Holy Son
of God and the only Saviour of the world.
Jesus Christ stands completely and altogether above
everyone else because He was the only one who had power to rise
from the dead.
A
dead man cannot help you and all of those other people who have
been mentioned are dead and gone, but Jesus Christ lives on in
power and greatness; resurrected and alive; able to save and
deliver all who come unto God by Him. (Hebrews 7:25)
ON
WHICH ROAD ARE YOU TRAVELLING?
Now
I want to ask you a pointed question:
Who's Side are you on?
On
which road are you travelling? As you read these lines I must
remind you that you are on one of these roads, either the broad
road with the wide gate which will take you to an eternal hell, or
the narrow road with the straight gate that brings you to Heaven
and Eternity with God. There
is NO middle road and NO neutral ground. You are either on one
road or the other. We
are all travellers into Eternity.
Every person living today is on one of these roads.
If you have not given your heart and life to God and
accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, Lord and Master, then you
are a lost soul on the road to hell, and will never have peace,
joy or happiness in this life or the one to come, if you continue
in the way you are going.
TODAY,
AS YOU READ THESE LINES YOU CAN COME TO JESUS AND BY FAITH TURN
YOUR LIFE OVER TO GOD; GET OFF THE BROAD ROAD AND GET ON THE ONE
THAT LEADS TO GLORY. “By
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: not
of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
As
the Holy Spirit moves upon you, will you not surrender your entire
life to the Lord; slip down on your knees in prayer to God; cry
out for mercy as the publican did in the Bible, “God, be
merciful to me a sinner”; (Luke 18:10-14)
Accept the full and free salvation that God offers you now,
and you will enter the straight gate and be on the narrow road of
Christian living. Jesus
said, “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11:28)
Amen.
MAX
SOLBREKKEN WORLD MISSION
Box 44220
RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6 www.mswm.org
email: max@maxsolbrekken
FOUR
ESSENTIAL TRUTHS
that must not be
diminished, downgraded or dismissed!
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken
THE
WORD OF GOD has power to free you from bondage, sin, fear and
sickness. The Bible says, "He hath sent His Word and
healed them, and delivered them from all their destructions."
(Psalms 107:20)
THE
BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST is so powerful that it cleanses us from
all our sin and purges the conscience. The Bible says,
"If we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have
fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's
Son cleanses us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)
THE
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD baptizes us into the Body of Christ at
conversion and as we totally surrender to God, He fills us with
His presence (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Bible says:
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein in excess; but be filled
with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18, 19)
THE
NAME OF JESUS CHRIST is the greatest weapon to drive Satan
away from us. Jesus said: "Go ye into all the world and
preach the Gospel unto every creature, He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be
damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe.
In My Name, shall they cast out devils..." (Mark 16:15-20;
Luke 10:17-20)
HEALING
FOR
SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
The
Greek word SOZO means to 'protect, deliver, heal, preserve, save
and make well.' In reality it means the 'Salvation of God'.
Seven hundred years before Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the Prophet
Isaiah declared, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a
sign, Behold a VIRGIN shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall
call His name Emmanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
The
Angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph saying, "....Fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and
thou shalt call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from
their sins."
"Now
all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of
the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold a 'virgin' shall be with
child, and shalt bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US."
(Matthew 1:20-23)
The
name of 'Jesus' in Hebrew is 'Yeshua' which means 'the Salvation
of God'. God's salvation for mankind is 'forgiveness,
healing, protection, wellness and deliverance' from the power of
the Devil and His evil work.
The
name of 'JESUS' means: 'Saviour, the salvation of God; the God who
saves, heals, protects, delivers and makes well."
Everywhere
our Lord went, he preached the Gospel and confirmed His message by
healing the sick and casting out evil spirits from those who were
bound: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that
He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
The
Bible states: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Ghost and power who went about doing good and healing all who
were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts
10:38)
"...Jesus
of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and
wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye
yourselves also know." (Acts 2:22)
"How
shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by
them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with
signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy
Ghost, according to His own will." (Hebrews 2:3,4)
GOD'S
WORD says: "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the
elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall
'SAVE' the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have
committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:14,15)
The
word SOZO used here means to heal the sick and make them well, is
used interchangeably for forgiveness and healing for body or soul
in the following Scriptures: Mark 5:23, Mark 5:34, Mark
6:56, Mark 16:16, Luke 8:36, Luke 17:19, Luke 18:42, Acts 2:21,
Acts 14:9, Acts 4:12 and Ephesians 2:8.
THE
HOLY RECORD states: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget
not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who
healeth all thy diseases." (Psalms 103:2,3); "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." (Isaiah 53:4,5)
"And
when the even was come, they brought unto Him (JESUS) 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);
"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by
Whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
The
BIBLE says, "He hath sent His Word and healed them and
delivered them from their destructions." (Psalms 107:20);
"He brought them forth with silver and with gold' and there
was not one feeble person among their tribes." (Psalms
105:37)
"I
am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything to hard
for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27); "And ye shall serve the Lord
your God, and He shall bless thy bread and thy water, and I will
take sickness away from the midst of thee." (Exodus 23:24,25)
GOD'S
HEALING COVENANT WITH ISRAEL
In
His great love and concern for His people, Israel, Almighty God
made a 'Healing covenant with Moses' on their behalf. Here
it is:
"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." (Exodus 15:26)
The
ten plagues which Jehovah the Covenant God of Israel released upon
the Egyptians that finally forced Pharaoh to allow the Hebrew
slaves leave their bondage did not adversely affect God's people.
The
promise of divine healing and health was reserved for the Hebrews
and by extension to all who trust in Christ our Great physician
Who fulfilled all the types of the coming Messiah.
"He
brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not
one feeble person among their tribes." (Psalms 105:37)
"Then they cried unto the lord God in their trouble, and He
saveth them out of their distresses. He sent His Word and
healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."
(Psalms 107:20)
"God
is a very present help in time of trouble." (Psalms 46:1);
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be
afraid?" (Psalms 27:1)
"No
good thing will God withhold from them who walk uprightly."
(Psalms 84:11); "There shall no evil befall thee, neither
shall any plague come nigh unto thy dwelling." (Psalms
91:10); "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee
the desires of thine heart." (Psalms 37:4); "Unto you
that fear My name shall the Son of righteousness arise with
healing in His wings." (Malachi 4:2)
"No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue
that shall rise against thee shalt thou condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is
of Me sayeth the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17)
Divine
Healing is promised for those who fast and pray and seek the Lord:
"Is not the fast that I have chosen? To lose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke?"
"Is
it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the
poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the
naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh?
"Then
shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall
spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee,
the glory of the Lord shall be thy rear guard. Then shalt
thou call and the Lord shall answer: thou shall cry, and He shall
say, Here am I..." (Isaiah 58:6-8)
THIS
IS THE REASON JESUS CAME
"For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy
the works of the enemy." (1 John 3:8); "The thief
(Satan) cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am
come that you might have life and more abundantly." (John
10:10)
"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); "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel unto every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned."
"And
these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they
cast out devils...they shall lay their hands on the sick, and they
shall recover." (Mark 16:15-20)
Jesus
said: "Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden and
I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28); "All that the
Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I
will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
He
invites us to fellowship with Him through prayer, praise and
meditation. He said, "Ask and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For everyone that asketh receiveth; he that seeketh findeth; and
to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7,8)
Then
He shared this great analogy: "And what man is there of you,
whom if his son asks bread, will he give him a stone?" Something
useless! "Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a
serpent?" Something dangerous!
"If
ye then, being evil, know to give god gifts unto your children,
HOW MUCH MORE shall your Father in Heaven give good things to them
that ask Him? (Matthew 7:9-11) He stated: "I will never
leave thee nor forsake thee. I will be with thee unto the
end of the world." (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)
In
this PROMISE our precious Lord Jesus used a 'double imperative' to
drive home a very important truth. He actually said: I will
never, NO NEVER leave thee. I will never, NO NEVER forsake
thee, I will be with thee until the end of the world.
Of
all the promises our Lord gave us, I think this is the most
touching. Jesus was so concerned that we know the truth of
His presence and nearness to us at all times!
"The
promises of God in Christ Jesus is Yea and Amen." The Bible
states: "If God be FOR US, who then can be against us?"
(Romans 8:31) "Greater is He that in IN US that he that is in
the world." (1 John 4:4) His promises are 'YES'...and
not NO.
"God
hath delivered us from the power of DARKNESS, and hath translated
us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, in Whom we have REDEMPTION
through HIS BLOOD." (Colossians 1:13, 14)
When
Satan's power was defeated in our lives and we were translated
into Christ's KINGDOM, Satan's power to harass us was finished.
We can tell him to remove his sickness and disease from us for we
are God's PROPERTY.
We
have been purchased by His blood: "Ye are BOUGHT WITH A
PRICE: therefore glorify God in your BODY, and in your SPIRIT,
which are GOD'S." (2 Corinthians 6:20)
My
Friend: In the NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and upon the
authority of God's Word and by the BLOOD of the everlasting
covenant, I command the pain to LEAVE YOUR BODY and the power of
Satan to be broken off your entire being.
We
can legally say: "SATAN: IT'S OVER! YOU HAVE LOST
and WE HAVE WON through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! Amen.
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