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CHRISTMAS
CAROLS
 Emmanuel:
God With Us
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken
"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)
FAIRWEATHER
CHRISTIANS
A
Vancouver pastor picked up a visiting missionary at the airport on a
Sunday morning some time ago. As they hurriedly drove across the
city, it seemed as though every light was green as they rolled along
towards the church. The pastor was overjoyed and jubilantly
exclaimed, "My, isn't it wonderful how we have had all the green
lights. We haven't encountered even one red light all the way from
the airport. Surely God is with us"!
The
missionary very wisely
replied, “If we would have hit only red lights along the way this
morning, would God have still been with us”?
A
young Christian man died in a communist prison approximately 5 years ago,
in Eastern Europe. He had been incarcerated for approximately 8 years.
Beaten, bruised, tortured and brainwashed, finally he succumbed to the
guards brutality and they found him dead one morning in a pool of blood on
the dungeon floor. Vital organs had ruptured as a result of the traumatic
beatings and he hemorrhaged blood until he died.
In
the last minutes of life he had staggered over to the edge of that dungeon
and left his testimony on the wall written in his own blood, with his own
finger. So great was the impact of his testimony that the guards who found
him accepted Christ as their Saviour and passed the story on to the Full
Gospel Christians in Western Europe. This is what he wrote: “I believe
in the sun even when it’s not shining and I believe in love even though
I feel it not and I believe in God even when He is silent, so by faith
I’ll hold on to what I have got”!
He
hadn’t seen the sun in 8 years. He had felt and seen only hatred from
his captors in 8 years and for 8 long years he had prayed for release from
that living hell without an answer, but still he believed in God!
Hallelujah!
EVEN
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG WE STILL HAVE GOD’S ABIDING PRESENCE
In
1982 my father, Ingvar Solbrekken was walking down the highway from his
home in a little town in Saskatchewan to his farm when he was involved in
a tragic accident. An old man, aged 86, was driving down that road and
struck my father with his automobile, rendering him almost dead on the
side of the road. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and then by ambulance
to Regina where he lay near death with brain concussion, ruptured bowel,
broken pelvis and right leg and foot.
As
well as this he was fighting pneumonia and infection from the operation on
his stomach. Even in the coma my brother Emil and I who were at his
bedside often kept telling him, “Papa, God is with you, Jesus is here,
God is with you - everything will be all right”!
How
wonderful, that God is with us always. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.
In good times or bad times; in joy or sorrow; in sickness or health! God
is with us - Praise His Holy Name.
THE
MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL, THE HOLY BIBLE - THERE IS HOPE FOR ALL, IF GOD IS
WITH US
Over
seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth the prophet
Isaiah speaking by divine inspiration declared that God would send His Son
to become the Saviour of the world. The book of Isaiah is aptly called
“The Gospel of the Old Testament”. How precious to read of the birth,
life and death of Christ in this Old Testament Gospel! What good news that
God had perfected a plan for the salvation of lost mankind through His
virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death and glorious resurrection of
the Messiah King of Israel! He would be rejected by men and forsaken by
God but brought back to life and restored to a place of glorification with
His Father so that you and I can receive eternal life.
The
sign of the virgin birth - What a Miracle! To be supernaturally conceived
by the Blessed Holy Spirit and born naturally of a virgin mother. Talk
about confounding the mouths and minds of those who rejected Him.
IT
BLOWS THE MIND, ALMOST
No
wonder the Bible says, “The natural man understandeth not the things of
the Spirit of God for they are spiritually discerned”. (1 Corinthians
2:14) Again the scripture declares, “Had they known who He was they
would not have rejected the Prince of life”. (1 Corinthians 2:8) They
tried to reason it all out and couldn’t. The intellectuals failed
miserably; and they are still messing up today trying to incorporate
Jesus, the Christ into their natural minded stereotype. It can’t be
done.
Why
can’t puny little man take God’s Word at face value - accept the
Gospel of Christ for what it’s worth and embrace it all, including the
supernatural aspects of: (1) Who He is, (2) Why He came, (3) What He did,
and (4) What it all means and how it relates to us today. But NO, the
egotistical proud earthling wants to find his own way, chart his own
course and fly his own craft to the stars! The Bible says, “He came unto
His own, and His own received Him not. But to as many as received Him, to
them gave He the power to become the sons of God”. (John 1:11-12) What a
position we enjoy as redeemed blood-bought children of God. I can hardly
contain it all! Hallelujah.
It
is so simple that many feel it is too elementary. It’s a fact of life
that in everything from religion to politics, people like to make things
as complex as possible. Yet no tool or gadget is as good, effective and
usable as the most simply operating one. The simpler anything operates the
more valuable it is and the more reliable and easy to maintain.
Hear
the plain, simple and yet profound truth: “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. 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) Jesus confirmed that statement when He declared:
“They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are
sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.
(Mark 2:17) Again He said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10)
WHO
IS EMMANUEL - JESUS CHRIST LORD GOD SAVIOR CHRIST MESSIAH?
Emmanuel
... “The prophet answered by saying, And shall call His
name Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
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God
With Us ... “Which being interpreted is, God with us.”
(Matthew 1:22-23)
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Jesus
... “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His
name Jesus” (Savior, Salvation)
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Savior
... “For He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew
8:21)
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The
Lord ... “And thou, child, (John the Baptist) shalt be called
the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of
the Lord (Jesus Christ) to prepare His ways.” (Luke 1:76)
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Savior
... “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
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Lamb
of God ... “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto Him, and
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.” (John 1:29)
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The
Christ, Anointed One, Messiah ... “Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
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WHAT
JESUS CHRIST SAID OF HIMSELF |
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"Before
Abraham was I am." (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14)
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"I
am the Bread of Life." (John 6:35; John 6:41, 48, 51)
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"I
am the Light of the World." (John 8:12)
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"I
am the Door." (John 10:7)
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"I
am the Good Shepherd." (John 10:11)
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"I
am the Resurrection and the Life." (John 11:25)
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"I
am He (the Christ)." (John 4:25-26)
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"I
am from above." (John 8:23-24, 28)
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"I
am the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6)
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"I
am the True Vine." (John 15:1)
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"I
am the Alpha and Omega." (first and last) (Revelation 1:8)
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"I
am the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8; Revelation 9:14)
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Just
recently the well-known radio commentator and author Charles Templeton,
from Toronto was a guest on our 2-hour weekly radio talk show “Nightwatch”.
When I questioned him about his agnosticisms and his relation to Christ,
he replied, “Jesus in my estimation is a moral genius...He has
influenced my life more than any other person that has ever lived”!
That’s quite a statement.
Then
I asked him, “Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God”? Charles
Templeton answered, “No, I do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God”!
Now
let me ask him another question: “How can Jesus Christ be a moral genius
and also be a liar: if He is not the Son of God for He claimed He was the
Son of God”?
WHAT
THE HOLY BIBLE SCRIPTURES SAY OF JESUS CHRIST ~ SON OF GOD
“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and
the life was the light of man.” (John 1:1-4)
“God...Hath
in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness
of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all
things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much
better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:2-4)
“And
I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him
was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make
war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns;
and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of
God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp
sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them
with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and His thigh a name
written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
“For
unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall
be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah
9:6)
WHAT
GOD THE FATHER SAYS OF HIM
“For
unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day
have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall
be to me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the
world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. But unto the
Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: A scepter of
righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved
righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath
anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord,
in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens
are the works of thine hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest: and
they shall be changed: but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail.
But to which of the angels said He any time, Sit on my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool?” (Hebrews 1:5-6, 8-13; Psalm 2:7)
“And
Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven,
saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew
3:16-17)
“While
He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice
out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased: hear ye Him.” (Matthew 17:5)
WHAT
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS OF JESUS CHRIST ~ EMMANUEL
“But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My
name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I (Jesus) HAVE SAID UNTO YOU.” (John 14:26)
“But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall
testify of Me.” (John 15:26)
“Howbeit
when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:
for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that
shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me:
for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John
16:13-14)
WHAT
THE PROPHETS SAY OF HIM
“...which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world
began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord
your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye
hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to
pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be
destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and
those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of
these days.” (Acts 3:21-24)
“Then
He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken; Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and
to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He
expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
Himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)
“To
Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever
believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)
WHAT
HIS MOTHER SAID OF HIM
“His
mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, DO IT.”
(John 2:5)
WHY
DID JESUS CHRIST COME?
“These
things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.” (John 16:33)
“...That
He (Jesus) should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And
this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:2-3)
“Be
it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are
justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law
of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)
“For
the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke
19:10; Matthew 18:11)
“...For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the
works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
“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.” (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17)
WHAT
DID HE ACCOMPLISH?
“...Thus
it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke
24:46-47)
“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 which is
above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things 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)
“Who
(God) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of His dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13)
“And
(Jesus) having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
HOW
DOES ALL THIS RELATE TO US TODAY
“But
as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)
“For
the Father judgeth no man, but hath quickened them; even so the Son
quickeneth whom He will. For all men should honour the Son, even as they
honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father
which hath sent Him. 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
5:22-24)
“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)
“Jesus
cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him
that sent Me.” (John 12:44)
“Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me,
and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.” (John 13:20)
“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
Me name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If
ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My
commandments. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth
Him, but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I
will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:11-18)
“But
ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“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)
“Let
not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My
Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
“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)
“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; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
“Come
unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
“So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look
for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
(Hebrews 9:28)
“Wherefore
He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,
seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
GOD
IS WITH US - EMMANUEL
When
God laid Salvation’s Plan, He included you and me - We are the
recipients of His divine grace! Hallelujah.
The
Bible says, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk
uprightly.” (Psalms 84:11) And “For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) How great and majestic is
the glorious salvation of our Blessed Christ and Redeemer. The very word
‘Jesus’ in both Hebrew and Greek means ‘Saviour’. The angel spoke
to Joseph in Hebrew and said “Ye shall call His name Jesus (Saviour) and
He shall save (salvage) His people from their sins”. (Matthew 1:21)
What
good news, God is with us - Jesus is God and He is with us. God is not
only with us but through the baptism of the Holy Ghost He is in us!
Jesus
said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth:
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth
Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will
not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”. (John 14:16-18) Note
these precious words: “At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father,
and ye in Me, and I in you”. (verse 20)
“And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)
THINK
OF IT. GOD IS WITH US AND ALSO IN US. HOW MARVELOUS, HOW WONDERFUL
Let
this scripture grip your heart as it has mine.
“He
that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and
he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love Him, and
will manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21)
IF
GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? WHAT ASSURANCE
The
great apostle to the Gentiles certainly spared no words when it came to
giving us assurance of God’s great power that is very available and
readily accessible to His people. Let me share only a few:
“And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
AND
WE KNOW...NO DOUBT, NO MEALY-MOUTHED UNCERTAIN TEACHING, WHATSOEVER!
Definite, definitive and unfailing are the promises of God. We need not
worry, fret or doubt. WE KNOW! WE KNOW! WE KNOW.
St.
Paul knew a great many things about our Blessed Lord and His marvellous
salvation which unfortunately, many so-called preachers seem to be in
doubt today. The following scripture gives one of the keys to his success
- notice his sincere desire in this prayer.
“That
I may know Him and the power of His resurrection...” (Philippians 3:10)
Here’s
another of his positive confessions and professions:
“...I
know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep
that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
“Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is
written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
FOR
I AM PERSUADED
“If
God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) “Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God’s Elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is
he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yeah rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us”. (Romans 8:33-34)
THEY
THAT ARE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THEY THAT ARE WITH THEM
Let
me share with you a little about the great miracle that happened at
Dothan. A miracle of God’s power, provision and grace! It was told to
the King of Syria that the reason he was unable to get the advantage over
the Israelites was due to the supernatural gifts of God by which the
prophet Elisha was able to warn Israel of the plans, designs and purposes
of their enemy, coming against them. Finally the King of Syria sent his
army to Dothan with orders to capture the prophet. The servant of Elisha
was greatly concerned when he saw the place surrounded by hostile men of
war. He cried out, “Alas my master, How shall we do”?
Notice
the prophets answer: “Fear not, for they that be with us are more than
they that be with them”. (2 Kings 6:16) Elisha then prayed for God to
open the spiritual eyes of the young man and he saw. “...The mountain
was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha”. (v. 17)
Praise God.
Jesus
said, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth...and lo I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world”. (Matthew 28:18-30)
What
a promise! I am with you always! Even to the very end of the age -
Hallelujah.
Again
our Lord said, “...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.
(Hebrews 13:5)
NEVER,
NEVER, NEVER WILL JESUS LEAVE US! He will be with us in good times and bad
times, in sickness and in health, in success or failure, in testings,
trials, tragedies and sorrows. He will be with us in times of poverty or
prosperity right up til the END; including the journey through the valley
of the shadow of death! (Psalms 23)
Jesus
promised, “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”. (John 10:27-29)
NO
ONE CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD...NO ONE CAN PLUCK US OUT OF OUR FATHER’S
HAND; NO ONE, NO ONE, NO ONE! WE ARE PROTECTED FOR TIME AND ETERNITY,
PROVIDED WE WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL TO GO HIS WAY! WE ARE THE ONLY
ONES WHO CAN CHOOSE TO DEPART FROM HIS LOVE. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US IF WE
WANT HIM TO STAY.
St.
Paul said, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw
back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the
soul”. (Hebrews 10:38-39)
Please
remember, dear friend: “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
His Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1:7) Also never forget that
there are conditions as well as promises. Here is a good example.
“If
ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My
commandments.” (John 14:14-15)
“In
all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
(Romans 8:37)
St.
Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me”. (Philippians 4:13) We can do the same for Jesus our Lord is “No
respector of persons, places or times”! (Acts 10:34) “He is the same
yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
NO
OTHER MESSAGE IS AS URGENT
The
Bible says, "The king's business requires haste" (1 Sam.
21:8) and Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 19:16)
Jesus
said, "Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh
harvest. Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields;
for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth
wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and
he that reapeth may rejoice together." (John 4:35-36)
Again
Jesus declared, "I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while
it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work". (John 9:4)
HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE APPROPRIATE GOD'S PROMISES FOR OURSELVES AND ALLOW
HIM TO MOVE IN OUR LIVES AS HE WISHES, SO WE CAN BECOME EFFECTIVE AS
WITNESSES TO A LOST, NEEDY, SICK AND CONFUSED WORLD
We
must go forth with the message of God's great love, mercy and peace. Let
us not slacken off in proclaiming to the unreached masses that Jesus
Christ came into this world to "seek and to save that which was
lost"!
It
is imperative that we ‘lift up’ the bloodstained banner of the Cross,
knowing that there is only one way to Heaven and that Jesus Christ is that
way. May we constantly remind ourselves: "Only one life, it will soon
be past - only what's done for Christ will last".
I
am praying for you and your family at this beautiful time of the year.
Please pray for Donna and myself, our family and staff,
to be more effective in reaching multitudes with the gospel of Christ,
through our radio programs, printed materials and crusades across Canada
and abroad.
My
prayer is that we will all be fully awake, alert and aggressively building
His Kingdom, when He returns!
Have
a safe, peaceful and contagiously joyous Christmas!
 WHAT
YOU MUST DO TO RECEIVE
GOD'S GIFT OF SALVATION
1.
You must admit that you are a sinner
The
Bible says, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
"For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
"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)
2.
You must be willing to turn away from sin - to repent of your sins
Jesus
said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish." (Luke 13:5)
"And
the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men
every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)
3.
You must BELIEVE that JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU, was buried, and rose
again from the dead.
"But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"That
it 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." (Romans 10:9)
"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)
4.
You must INVITE JESUS into your life to become your personal Saviour.
"For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
(Romans 10:13)
"For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
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.
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