|
 A
Course in
"BASIC
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D
WHAT
EASTER REALLY MEANS:
On
Easter we remember Jesus' crucifixion (death on the cross) on
GOOD
FRIDAY, and we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead,
on Easter Sunday, known as the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
PREFACE
TO NEW EDITION (1998)
This
little book I wrote in 1980 was called "The Truth Shall
Make You Free!" We printed 10,000 copies of
that edition and they were given out as quickly as we could supply
them. Now 18 years later we are reprinting this fine
booklet, but under a different title.
I
felt "A Course in Basic Theology" was a
more appropriate title. May the Lord bless this book and
bring deliverance and healing to multitudes. - Max
Solbrekken, Edmonton
DEDICATION
I
wish to dedicate this book to all serious Bible students who
desire God’s power in their lives with which to bring
liberation, divine healing & deliverance to their fellowman.
Also
to all who are hurting because of Satan’s snares, entrapments
and torments. May each reader appropriate the promises of God
found in this book and be liberated from sin, fear, sickness,
disease, poverty & untimely death. And from demon
possession! Amen.
 PREFACE:
THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
"Ye
shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
(John 8:32)
The
truth liberates the soul, the conscience and the mind of man! The
truth breaks the chains of darkness, superstition and fear. It
opens the prisons of doubt and unbelief! The truth removes
mountains of discouragement, negativism and oppression! The truth
defeats giants of despair, heartbreak and loneliness, and opens
within us wells of joy, rivers of peace and floodtides of
love. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free!
 Free
from all bondage, sickness & sin
Free
from fears & the troubles within:
Free
from the devil and his evil power
Delivered
by Jesus in this very hour
Jesus
prayed: "Thy Word O lord is Truth." (John 17:17)
Our Lord said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) The Bible
teaches that the Word of God is Spirit and Life, (Philippians
2:16) and that Jesus also is the Word of God. (Rev. 19:13)
THE
BIBLE & OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ARE BOTH REFERRED TO AS THE WORD
OF GOD
Both
the Bible and our Lord Jesus Christ are referred to as the Word of
God and only Jesus and the Word has the power to make people free!
The Bible is the written Word of God and Jesus is the Living Word
of God! And if you will believe it my friend, Jesus Christ will
come out of the pages of this book and enter your heart!
Our Lord
Jesus Christ made the statement, "Whosoever committeth sin is
the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house
forever, but the son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall
make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John
8:34-36)
ANYONE
WHO COMMITS SIN IS THE SERVANT OF
SIN AND IS NOT FREE
The
Bible states that anyone who commits sin is the servant of sin and
is NOT FREE, but thanks to God, THE TRUTH WILL LIBERATE THEM! The
Apostle John wrote, "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)
Here
are some very important facts about the TRUTH of GOD.
 WE
MUST HEAR THE TRUTH
-
"So
then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."
(Romans 10:17)
 WE
MUST BELIEVE THE TRUTH
- "How
shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how
shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14)
WE
MUST HOLD FAST TO THE TRUTH
- "Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good." (1
Thessalonians 5:21) “Take heed unto thyself, and unto
doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself and them that hear thee.” (1 Tim. 4:16)
"Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and
instruction and understanding." (Proverbs 23:23)
WE
MUST TELL THE TRUTH
-
"For
we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known
unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
eyewitnesses of His Majesty." (2 Peter 1:16)
"Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; rebuke, time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears." (2 Timothy 4:2-3)
"If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John
1:9)
WE
MUST OBEY THE TRUTH
-
"If
ye love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
"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)
"Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in
My word, then are ye My disciples indeed." (John 8:31)
"If
ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved
away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which
was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I
Paul am a minister;" (Colossians 1:23)
"Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you
by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
SATAN
IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM
Jesus
called the devil a liar and a murderer:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode
not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the
father of it." (John 8:44)
SATAN
IS A COLOSSAL DECEIVER AND LIAR AND THERE
IS NO TRUTH IN HIM
He
may tell some truths or half truths in order to deceive and
enslave the human race, but he himself is TOTAL DARKNESS AND THERE
IS NO LIGHT OR LIFE IN HIM. When you receive Jesus Christ as your
personal Saviour, you say farewell to the kingdom of darkness and
you are automatically translated into God's glorious Kingdom!
"Even
the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
but now is made manifest to his saints. Which is Christ in you the
hope of Glory." (Colossians 1:26-27)
YOU
ARE PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE, BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
The
Bible says, "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 anything
made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of
men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not." (1 John 1:1-5)
"And the Word was
made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and
truth." (John 1:14)
The
Scriptures declare that sinful men rejected Him because their
deeds were evil! They hated the Light and loved the darkness.
(John 3:19) The Bible says, "In Him (Jesus Christ) was Life
and the Life was the Light of men." (John 1:4) Again the
Scripture says, "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)
WHEN
THE LIGHT IS SWITCHED ON, THE DARKNESS FLEES AND WHEN JESUS COMES
INTO A LIFE IN HIS GREAT POWER, ALL SIN, FEAR, OPPRESSION,
SICKNESS, DISEASE AND EVIL POWERS LEAVE! PRAISE GOD.
There
are five glorious truths that I wish to set forth in this lesson,
to help build your faith! As a stone mason lays block upon block,
so I present these truths ‘Scripture upon Scripture’,
knowing that the Word of God creates faith in our hearts and faith
gets the job done! Praise God.
#1
- GOD HAS NOT CHANGED, CANNOT CHANGE AND WILL NEVER CHANGE
"I
am the Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3:6)
Here,
the Living God makes one of His most significant statements of
fact. He is changeless, always constant and timeless! Nothing can
alter that great truth! Men are born, live, pass on and are gone
like the grass of the field, but God remains the SAME.
The
Bible says, “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 all shall
wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them
up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy
years shall not fail." (Hebrews 1:10-12
WE
MUST OBEY THE TRUTH
Here
are several great truths about God:
(1)
GOD IS ETERNAL
God
is eternal - without beginning or end - everlasting and always
God.
The
Psalmist David wrote: "Lord, Thou has been our dwelling place
in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or
ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from
everlasting to everlasting, thou art God...
"For
a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is
past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalms 90:1-4)
"The
eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting
arms..." (Deuteronomy
33:27)
(2)
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT
God
is omnipotent (meaning) - He is all powerful.
"I
am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I
girded thee, though thou hast not known Me: That they may know
from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none
beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else."
(Isaiah 45:5-6)
"I
have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My hands,
have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I
commanded.” (Isaiah 45:12)
Jesus
said: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in
earth." (Matthew 28:18)
(3)
GOD IS OMNISCIENT
GOD
IS OMNISCIENT
(meaning) - He is all wise & all knowing.
"For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent.
"Where
is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this
world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
"For
after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after
wisdom:
"But
we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and
unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because
the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God
is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 2:18-25)
"To
God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."
(Rom. 16:27) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him." (James 1:5)
(a)
GOD HAS NOT CHANGED:
From
eternity to eternity He is God! He was the same in the beginning
of man’s existence, He is the same today and He will be the same
throughout eternity! Praise God.
(b)
GOD CANNOT CHANGE:
It
is impossible for God to be anything but Who and What He is today
- kind, loving, generous, good, holy, just and true.
(c)
GOD WILL NOT CHANGE IN THE FUTURE:
The
Bible says: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which is to come, the
Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
"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 all shall wax old as
doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they
shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and thy years shall
not fail.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)
(d)
GOD IS IMMUTABLE:
He
is perfect in all things; totally truthful, and since He never
makes a mistake He doesn't need to apologize for error. There is
no error in God. If He has said it, that settles it. God is God
and is changeless and unalterable. The “immutability of His
Word” speaks of the permanent character of His Word. Since
God and His Word are one, He is permanently error-free, righteous
and perfect! Glory to His Name. You can believe unreservedly on
Him with total trust. (Hebrews 6:13-18)
BECAUSE
GOD HAS NOT CHANGED
GOD
STILL ANSWERS PRAYER
(1)
God still answers prayer: “Call unto Me, and I will answer
thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest
not.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
"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)
GOD
STILL FORGIVES THE SINNER
(2)
God still forgives the sinner: "And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved." (Acts 2:21)
"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. If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (l
John 1:7-9)
GOD
STILL BRINGS PEACE TO THE TROUBLED AND REMOVES GUILT
(3)
God still brings peace to the troubled and removes guilt:
"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe
also in Me. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not
as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:1, 27)
"Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit." (Romans 5:1; 8:1)
GOD
STILL CARES
(4)
God still cares: “And the Lord said, I have surely seen the
affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their
cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
And
I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a
large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of
the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” (Exodus 3:7-8)
"Casting
all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
GOD
STILL MEETS OUR NEEDS
(5)God
still meets our needs: “Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house. And prove Me
herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall
not be room enough to receive it.
"And
I will rebuke the destroyer for your sakes, and he shall not
destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast
her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of
hosts.” (Malachi 3:10-11)
"But
my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory
by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
GOD
STILL HEALS THE SICK
(6)God
still heals the sick: "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: 17-18)
"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)
GOD
STILL FILLS BELIEVERS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
(7)
God still fills believers with the Holy Spirit: "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
ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:13)
GOD
STILL BLESSES AND LOADS US WITH BENEFITS
(8)
God still blesses and loads us with benefits: "Bless the
Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who
forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy
diseases." (Psalms 103:1-3)
"Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)
GOD
STILL PROTECTS US FROM DANGER, EVIL AND SATAN
(9)
God still protects us from danger, evil and Satan: "There
shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy
dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep
thee in all thy ways." (Psalms 91:10-11)
Fear
thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isa. 41:10)
"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee
with lovingkindness and tender mercies." (Psalms 103:4)
"And
the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils
are subject unto us through Thy name.” (Luke 10:17)
GOD
STILL LEADS, GUIDES & DIRECTS US
(10)
God still leads, guides & directs us: “For as many as are
led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have
not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
"The
Spirit (Himself) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we
may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:14-17)
#2
- GOD HAS NOT LIED, CANNOT LIE AND WILL NEVER LIE
(a)
We know what God will do in the future by what He has done in the
past, because He has not changed. He has always told the truth for
He is the truth and since it is impossible for God to lie, we know
we can put our trust in Him as God.
(b)
He is too good to do anything wrong. He is too wise to make a
mistake. He is too powerful to allow Satan to harm His children
who call upon His Name in faith and who trust in His truth.
(c)
He is too conscientious and correct to lose our number, forget us
or leave us to aimlessly drift on the sea of life and death
without His divine guidance and direction.
(d)
The
Scripture emphatically declares: "God is not a man that He
should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent (change
his mind) hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken,
and shall He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
Samuel
the Prophet declared: "And also the Strength of Israel will
not lie or repent: for He is not a man, that He should
repent." (1 Samuel 15:29)
GOD
IS CONSTANT
You
can believe the Word of God because it is ever and always the
same. St. James said, "A double minded man is unstable in all
his ways!" He admonishes us to ask God for our needs, in
faith. And He assures us that our needs will be met, because we
are dealing with one Who is always the same and Who is liberal in
His giving.
"Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning." (James 1:17)
St.
Paul, in writing to Titus made the great declaration that I am now
making - "God cannot lie." (Titus 1:2)
Since
it is impossible for God to lie, His nature is totally against
falsehood and His commandments all demand truth and condemn lying.
We can rest assured that His promises are trustworthy.
The
Bible says, "I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104)
"Lying
lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His
delight." (Proverbs 12:22),
"And
He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful." (Revelation 21:5)
Our
Lord Jesus Christ stated, "I am the Way, the Truth and
the Life." (John 14:6)
God
has never lied, cannot lie and will not lie, for He not only
speaks the Truth but HE IS THE TRUTH.
THERE
IS NO TRUTH IN SATAN ! HE IS A LIAR
Jesus
Christ's description of the Evil One was an indictment: "He
was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him." (John 8:44)
False
teachers who give themselves over to Satan, become perverted,
because he is perverted
"And
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which we
not convenient." (Romans 1:28)
"Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
The
Holy Scriptures make it very plain that the blessed Holy Spirit is
the Spirit of Truth
"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)
"...the
anointing of God teaches you all things and is truth and is no
lie." (1 John 2:27)
WHO
IS A LIAR? HE WHO DENIES CHRIST'S DIVINITY
St.
John declared, "I have not written unto you because ye know
not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the
truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is
the Christ? He is anti-christ, that denieth the Son, the
same hath not the father: but he that acknowledges the Son hath
the Father also." (1 John 2:21-23)
All
who advocate teachings, ideologies and doctrines which disagree
with the Holy Bible - which is the Divine, Infallible Word of God,
were labeled liars by the Apostle Paul when he wrote:
"For
what is some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the
faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be
true, but every man a liar.." (Romans 3:3-4)
It
matters not what men say about the Word of God - It will stand the
test of both time and eternity; never swerving or changing, but
always constant and firm. Praise God.
IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE
The
writer to the Hebrews (probably St. Paul) wrote about two
immutable things, which he gave as a proof that God can be trusted
to be absolutely steadfast, trustworthy and honourable in all
things.
"For
when God made promises to Abraham, because He could swear by no
greater, He swore by Himself, saying, Surely, blessing I will
bless thee, and multiplying I will multiple thee.
And
so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For
men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation to
to them at end of all strife.
"Wherein
God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of His counsel (the permanent character of His Word)
confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in
which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong
consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope
set before us:"
"Which
we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast and
which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner
if for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedek." (Hebrews6:13-20)
#3
- GOD IS NO RESPECTER, OF PERSONS, PLACES OR TIMES
What
He has done for one, He will do for all that believe. WHY IS
THIS?
He is no respecter of persons. The only thing
that God answers to is faith and sincerity. If we mean
business with God, calling upon Him in humility and faith, He will
answer. Jesus often said to those whom He saved, healed and
delivered, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
(Luke 7:50).
"Arise,
go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." (Luke 17:19)
"According to your faith, be it unto you."
(Matthew 9:29)
"If
thou wouldst believe thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
(John 11:40)
FAITH
STIRS THE HEART OF GOD AND CAUSES
HIM TO WORK ON OUR BEHALF
The
Scripture says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the
LORD shall be saved." (Acts 2:21) "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)
Again
the Bible says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved, but he that believeth shall not be damned." (Mark
16:16)
"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 16:17-18)
Jesus
said, "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
eternal life." (John 3:15)
"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 5:4)
St.
Peter said, "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)
The
Angel said, "Fear not; for behold I bring you tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people." (Luke 2:10) Jesus
said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)
The
Scripture says, "He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away." (Luke 1:53)
James
declared, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him." (James 1:5)
DRAW
NIGH TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU
Again
the Word of God declares, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw
nigh to you." (James 4:8) James further declared,
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he
will flee from you." (James 4:6)
PUT
ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD
The
weapons of our warfare are for all Christians and are provided for
all who will put them on and use them.
"For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4)
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)
Jesus
said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost." (Matthew 28:19) Again the Bible says, "And this
gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
(Matthew 24:14)
St.
Paul said, "For there is no difference between the Jew and
the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call
upon Him." (Romans 10:12)
1)
GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS
"Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts
16:31)
ALL
WHO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED
"And
it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved.: (Acts 2:21) ALL WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL,
REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND CONFESS THEM TO CHRIST ARE FORGIVEN.
GOD
ANSWERS THE PRAYERS OF ALL WHO ASK IN FAITH
"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." (Matt.7:7-8) St. Peter said, "Of a truth I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34)
St.
James wrote that "God gives to all men liberally and
upbraideth not." (James 1:5)
2)
GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PLACES
Because
God is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent there is no
problem for Him to be everywhere at the same time.
Since
He does not grow old, but remains the same, He can still operate
effectively during the totality of our earth’s history - past,
present or future.
And
because God does not change, He will still perform those same
great miracles which He has performed in the past in any place,
any time or for any one He so chooses! He is God and therefore,
has all power, knows all things and can do all things.
Time
does not deter God! Geographical boundaries give Him no problem,
for He created everything and owns everything. He is not a
stranger to any place, anything or anybody.
What
He did in Jerusalem He can do in Africa, Canada or Russia.
The
color of the skin, the language of the people or climatic
conditions have no effect on Him. He is true to His Word, always
honours faith, rejects partiality, responds to worship and praise,
delights in the truth and enjoys showing mercy, compassion and
tenderness.
He
still drives out fears, enjoys liberating the slaves of Satanic
bondage and sin. And He hastens to heal all the sick and diseased,
who recognize Him as Lord and Healer.
3)
GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS AND ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM IN FAITH
GET A HEARING AND ARE BLESSED:
Regardless
of who you are, or where you live, God will hear you if you call
upon him in faith. I repeat, God is no respecter of places,
nationalities or geographic boundaries.
St.
Paul stated, "There is no respecter of persons with God. For
as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without
the law; and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by
the law." (Romans 2:11-12)
Rich
and poor, black and white, red, yellow and brown all stand on even
ground in His sight! (There are certain promises made to Israel
that do not apply to the Gentiles. These are an exception, for
Israel has played and will play a special role in the history of
God's dealings with man).
His
love transcends all borders as St. Peter discovered when he and
six of his Jewish brethren went - by the command of the Lord - to
minister to Cornelius and his household.
"While
Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which
heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the
Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they
heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Acts
10:44-46)
FOOLISH
MEN HAVE TRIED TO DICTATE TO GOD
You
cannot lock God in a time capsule or a straight jacket, dictating
to Him when, where and upon whom He can or cannot work His works.
He
is God and cannot be bound by our finite minds and often
"wrong thinking" in the natural.
Theologians
have tried to do this repeatedly! Just as they have put a TIMING
DEVICE on HIS ABILITY and PREDESTINED HIS WILL in such matters, He
suddenly breaks forth in sovereign and glorious demonstration and
does the unthinkable in the most unusual places and forbidden
(so-called theological) times.
Revival
after revival has broken loose in nation after nation, century
after century, and will continue to do so until Jesus comes and
the Church is raptured.
The
Pharisees and Sadducees were disturbed that Jesus broke the
Sabbath by healing the sick on that day. (John 5:10-18)
Jesus
declared that He had been sent only to the lost sheep of the House
of Israel (Matthew15:20-28), yet He was drawn by human need and
went to the Well of Sychar in Samaria in order to save an
adulterous woman, as well as many of her friends. (John 4:28-30) A
great revival was the outcome, as He stayed for two days
ministering to them.
Almighty
God upset Peter by giving him a vision of unclean animals and
telling him to rise up, kill and eat, thereby sending him to the
Gentiles. (Acts 10:9-16). The Apostles and Disciples of our
Lord continued to preach the Gospel and work miracles in Jesus’
Name, even though they were forbidden to do so by the religious
authorities in the face of imprisonment and death. (Acts 4:16-21)
God
worked miracles through the ministry of lay people like Stephen
and Philip who were only deacons (Acts 7:5-8) and used the common
people to spread the Gospel during times of great persecution.
(Acts 8:1-5). The Early Church grew and multiplied covering
the earth even in times of poverty, testing and persecution.
The
Protestant Reformation altered the balance of power - The Gospel
of Christ began to triumph again
Martin
Luther shook the Roman Catholic conglomerate when he opposed many
of its corrupt practices, and great revivals broke loose bringing
liberty and Holy Ghost joy to millions, against the objections of
a powerful ruling church and state.
John
and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, John Knox, D.L. Moody,
Charles Finney and other great evangelists proved that God was not
through working among men, spearheading revivals that shook the
world.
John
Lake, Charles S. Price, William Freeman, Jack Coe, Gordon Lindsay,
Oral Roberts and other great evangelists led multitudes into the
knowledge of God's healing stream.
At
this point in time, millions of people from all major
denominations upon the face of the earth are being filled with the
Holy Spirit speaking in tongues in a great charismatic revival.
Many
religious leaders would like to stop the revival if they could,
but it cannot be quenched. It burns on in Holy Ghost flame and
fire! Yes, God is working His miracles today, despite and in spite
of the foolishness of man's narrow and restricted vision and
misconceptions - Praise the Living God.
GOD
HAS NEVER FAILED
Although
man has failed in everything he has tried to do, God is perfect
and has never failed. He cannot fail and He will not fail! King
Solomon, in his anointed dedicatory prayer made the statement,
"Not one word of all His good promises has failed." (1
Kings 8:56)
God
has not failed, He cannot fail and He will not fail! It is
impossible for God to fail.
HE
CANNOT DENY HIMSELF, FOR HE IS FAITHFUL WHO HAS PROMISED
(2
Timothy 2:13) The Scripture says, "The callings of God are
without repentance." (Romans 11:29) When He gives
us something, He does so because He so desires, and He does not
ask us to return that gift.
The
Bible says, "The foundations of God are sure having this
seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His." (2 Timothy
2:19)
He
called Samuel by name and He also knew Jeremiah and Jacob
personally
Since
He knows us by name, He is able to supply our needs as well as
keep us in His perfect will! He also sees the sparrow fall, knows
the number of hairs on our heads and clothes the lilies of the
field.
Certainly
He has enough grace, goodness, propriety and good sense to look
after us! His wisdom is greater than all and we are His creation,
as well as members of His body and sons and daughters through the
new birth.
And
by adoption, we have become heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ (Romans 8:17), bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.
(Ephesians 5:30)
Why
is this? We are the body of Christ and members in particular of
His body. (1 Corinthians 12:12) Praise God.
Since
He has become so involved in our lives and invested so much in us,
certainly - in His divine wisdom and understanding - He will not
discard us, as some would have us believe.
JESUS
SAID, "I WILL NEVER THEE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE."
Jesus
said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
(Hebrews13:5) Here, Jesus used a double imperative: "I will
never, no never leave thee. I will never, no never forsake
thee." I will be with thee unto the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:20) No wonder St. Peter declared that we are
"...kept by the power of God through faith..." (1 Peter
1:5)
You
cannot divorce God's presence from His power! Many
desire God's presence with them, but they do not expect Him to
effectively use His power to work a miracle for them.
You
cannot separate the healing, saving, delivering and keeping power
of God from His ever-abiding presence! You can always depend
upon the Lord because of His faithfulness and dependability.
"Jesus
never fails - Jesus never fails - Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but Jesus never fails!" God has not failed in the
past, is faithful now and cannot and will not fail in the future.
What a glorious truth and what an Almighty God we serve.
Hallelujah.
GOD
REMAINS FAITHFUL STILL
Often
among us humans there are gross contradictions or seeming
contradictions as situations change, attitudes change and
positions change to adapt to the new realities of life. Not so
with God - He is changeless and His purposes, aims and goals forge
ahead unabated.
During
World War II we certainly saw evidence of how leaders and nations
changed their positions. Stalin fought alongside Hitler until he
realized the West would ultimately win, then the wily communists
left their Nazi bed-partners and joined with the West.
The
Pope of Rome blessed Benito Mussolini together with his war
machine to go out in murderous raids against Ethiopia to plunder,
murder and rape. When the Roman Catholic church saw that Mussolini
would fall, they quickly changed their minds and swung over to the
Allied side.
The
U.S.A. was going to keep out of the war until the Imperial forces
of Hirohito smashed the U.S. Naval Japan’s base in Honolulu.
That changed their position totally and thrust them into the
Second World War, bringing ultimate victory to the Allied forces.
And
very recently, US President Bill Clinton labeled Osama bin Laden
as the world’s leading terrorist. During much publicity about
his shameful, gross conduct that led to his impeachment, Clinton
suddenly sent US warplanes to strike at Osama bin Laden’s camps
in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Then,
suddenly Bill Clinton is seen leading NATO airplanes against
President Slobodan Milosonic's Ugoslavia. Nato then began a close
relationship with the KLA - formerly labeled as Kosovo's
bloody "terrorists", suddenly turned freedom fighters.
And
where have they been getting their financing? Through "drug
running", the mafia & guess who - Osama bin Laden.
Clinton & Osama are friends at long last! What strange bedfellows.
GOD
HOWEVER, DOES NOT CHANGE AND CANNOT DENY HIMSELF
St.
Paul declares, "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer,
even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound." (2
Timothy 3:10)
You
cannot destroy, bind or nullify the Word of God. The Bible says,
"The Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35) and
"The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any
two edged sword..." (Hebrews 4:12) Certainly we can trust the
Word of God for time and eternity.
Paul
continues: "If we believe not, yet He remaineth faithful; He
cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 3:13) Even though we fail
Him, His Word is still true and He will not deny Himself or fail
us.
LET
GOD BE TRUE
"For
what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith
of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every
man a liar.." (Romans 3:3-4)
Does
God fail? Can He fail? Will He fail? Certainly not! Is He
trustworthy? Can we depend upon Him? Most certainly we can.
The
Scripture states that even if some do not believe, that does not
nullify the Word of God! Then St. Paul comes on strong: "GOD
FORBID" yea, let God be true and every man be a liar.
May
I add that every person who denies the Word of God, opposes the
Word of God.
ANYONE
WHO CHANGES THE WORD OF GOD IS A COLOSSAL LIAR AND ENEMY OF THE
KINGDOM OF GOD
That
is the reason God hates the false way of the so-called Christian
cults eg. Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Science, Scientology,
Christadelphian, H.W. Armstrongism, Branhamism, New Age Movement
and others, who teach for the Word of God their own man-made,
accursed traditions and teachings.
The
reason I say accursed is because that is what they are! I am
quoting St. Paul: "I would that ye are so soon removed from
Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel;
which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and
would pervert the Gospel of Christ."
"But
though we or angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As
we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other
Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)
THE
GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD
The
Scripture speaks of Israel, who has backslidden and been judged
severely, but who will be saved in the end. We are the bride of
Christ (Revelation 21:9) to be married to Christ - the Heavenly
Bridegroom - in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (Revelation19:9)
Israel however is the wife of God and He is married to the
backslidden Israel. (Isaiah 64:6-7)
However,
because of His faithfulness, she shall be given a final chance and
after He has taken her through much tribulation, in the end,
Israel shall be saved.
"And
so all Israel shall be saved...for this is My covenant unto them,
when I shall take away their sins. For the gifts and callings of
God are without repentance." (Romans 11:26, 17, 29)
After
crucifying His Son on the Cross and after they have embraced the
false christ (the Anti-Christ) during the first 3-1/2 years of the
Great Tribulation, still God will forgive Israel and bring them
into the fold in the End Time, because of His Covenant with
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, WHICH HE WILL NOT BREAK UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES. Praise the Lord.
What
a great, good and wonderful God we serve and how thankful we
should be for His grace, mercy and longsuffering towards us.
GOD
ALWAYS FULFILLS HIS WORD
Repeatedly,
we read in the Holy Scriptures the words "...that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets.." (Matthew 1:21;
2:17)
You
can be absolutely certain that whatever the prophets declared
would come to pass, shall come to pass! There is no doubt about
the veracity of God's Word.
When
you read in the Holy Bible: "Thus saith the Lord..."
You can be absolutely certain that it will happen - it will come
to pass. Again we read often "...and it shall come to
pass..."
Make
no mistake about it, when God has declared something, whatever He
has declared will in fact come to pass. Let us look briefly at
only a few verses of Scripture to back up these claims.
(I)
- THE BIRTH OF JESUS
"Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name
Emanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) "...the Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
"Now
all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of
the Lord by the prophet, saying.." (Matthew 1:22)
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
His Son..." (Galatians 4:4)
(II)
- THE DEATH OF JESUS
"Then
saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this
night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep
of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matthew 26:31)
"And
forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed
Him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?
Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him away."
(Matthew 26: 49-50)
"In
that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as
against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily
with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me. But
all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled."
(Matthew 26:55-56)
"Ye
know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son
of man is betrayed to be crucified." (Matthew 26:2)
"Then
Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned,
repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to
the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have
betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see
thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple,
and departed, and went and hanged himself."
"And
the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not
lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price
of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's
field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The
field of blood, unto this day."
"Then
was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that
was valued, Whom they of the children of Israel did value; And
gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
(Matthew 27:3-10)
(III)
- THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
"In
the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day
of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the
sepulchre.
And,
behold there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his
raiment white as snow:
And
for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And
the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I
know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for
He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the
dead, and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall
ye see Him: lo, I have told you."
"And
they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy;
and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell
His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they
came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him."
"Then
said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they
go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me." (Matthew
28:1-10)
(IV)
- THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST
"And
it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit
upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days
will I pour out My Spirit." (Joel 2:28-29)
"But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall
come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My
Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men
shall dream dreams: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:
16-17 & 21)
"For
these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third
hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel;" (Acts 2: 15-16)
"This
Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore
being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the
Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this,
which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:32-33)
(V)
- SALVATION AND DIVINE HEALING
"And
it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:17) "And the same day
there were added unto them about 3000 souls." (Acts 2:41)
"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. And with many other words did he
testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation."
"Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
"And
fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by
the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all
things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted
them to all men, as every man had need."
"And
they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
of bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and
singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved."
"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)
"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)
God
says in His Word, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I
will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." ( Psalm 50:15)
GOD
IS NEVER LATE. HE IS NOT TOO BUSY TO ANSWER US
God
is never too busy or too tired to answer us. God is not on
vacation or sleeping. God is not on strike, or out of
business. God is waiting for us, ready and willing to hear
our prayers and to meet our every need.
We
can come before Him any time of day or night. Jesus said,
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Hear
the Word of the Lord to you, my friend: "Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him
return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our
God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)
Again
our Lord says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith
the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
The
Lord's invitation to us all is "Before they call I will
answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." (Isaiah
64:24)
God
our heavenly Father is always on time. He is never late and He
does not go on vacation. Our lord is always there when we need
him. He is always and He never sleeps.
The
Bible says, "He never slumbers nor sleeps." (Psalms
121:4)
GOD
IS NOT ON STRIKE, GOD IS NOT OUT OF SORTS.
GOD IS READY TO SET YOU FREE
God
is never on strike, nor is He ever out of sorts. Our Blessed
LORD is still very much in the business of setting people free
from sin, fear, sickness, disease and the power of all evil
spirits.
The
Bible says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I
do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
"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."
I
wish to share one final Scripture before I close this message:
Jesus said, "Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
(Mark 11:24)
Please
remember:
GOD
HAS NOT CHANGED, will not change and cannot change.
GOD
HAS NOT LIED, cannot lie, will not lie. You can trust
His Word to you
GOD
is no respecter of persons, places or times
GOD
HAS NEVER FAILED, cannot fail and will not fail
GOD
IS ALWAYS ON TIME, always there when you need Him, always
ready to answer your prayer and fulfill His Word in your
life.
AND
NEVER FORGET, GOD CARE ABOUT YOU! Amen.
All
About Christ:
TRUE
GOD & TRUE MAN
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D
In
the Book of Hebrews we learn more and more about Jesus of
Nazareth: who Jesus of Nazareth was; why Jesus was incarnated;
why Jesus suffered His victory over Satan and the kingdom of
Darkness; Jesus of Nazareth's ongoing work on His Father's right
hand as our Intercessor, Advocate and Heavenly high Priest!
St.
Paul writes: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners
spoke unto the fathers by the prophets, 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."
"For
unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee? And again, when He bringeth
in the First Begotten 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 forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is
the scepter of Thy Kingdom.
"Thou
hast loved righteousness, and hateth iniquity; therefore God, even
Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy
fellows. And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning hath laid the
foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine
hands: They shall perish: but Thou remainest; and they shall was
old as doth a garment;
"And
as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed;
but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. But to
which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My Right Hand,
until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? Are they not all
minstering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be
heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:1-14)
JESUS
IS THE SECOND
PERSON OF THE TRIUNE GOD!
Jesus
Christ is the Divine, Uncreated Second Person of the Triune
God. He is Creator, Sustainer, Liberator, Saviour and Healer of
all who call upon Him in sincerity, humility, faith and truth. He
is the Final Word of God given to mankind. He is the First
Cause of Creation, having created all things. He is the Sustainer
of His creative works and keeps His universe operating perfectly.
He is our Saviour, Physician, Advocate, Intercessor and High
Priest.
Through
the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit makes the Father
known to us. And we are made known to Him only through
His Son Jesus Christ, Who is the Mediator between God and man!
(1 Timothy 2:3-6)
St.
Paul writes that Christ Who is our Peace, has brought Jews and
Gentiles together through His sacrificial death on the Cross,
"having broken down the middle wall of partition between
us. That He might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the CROSS, having slain the enmity thereby:
"And
came and preached PEACE to you which were afar off, and to them
that were nigh. For through Him (Jesus Christ)
we both (Jews and Greeks) have access by one
Spirit (Holy Spirit) unto the Father."
(Ephesians 2:14,16-18).
This
Scripture proves the VALIDITY of the Holy
Spirit as a Person, and the TRUTH of the Triune
God; God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! These three are ONE!
Blessed be His Name forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus
said: "No man knoweth the Father but the Son and
whosoever He will reveal Him unto." (Matthew
11:27);"The Father loveth the Son and hath given all
things into His hands." (John 3:36). Thank God, we
are in His hands!
The
Bible states: "Giving thanks unto the Father, Who
has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
in LIGHT: Who 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, even the forgiveness of sins."
(Colossians 2:12-14)
St.
Paul warns: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the traditions of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ. For in Him (Jesus Christ) dwelleth all the fullness
of the GODHEAD bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the
head of all principality and power." (Colossians 1:9,10)
This
the Gospel of Christ:
"Buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also ye are risen with
Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath RAISED Him
from the dead. 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 show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
(Colossians 2:12-15)'
1.
COMING TO CHRIST!
A
miner lay dying alone in a
shack in the hills of California during the Gold Rush. A wonderful
Christian lady came to visit him. He was at the point of death as
she read John 3: 16 from the New Testament: "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."
Suddenly,
the dying man opened his eyes and in a weak voice asked, "Is
that in the Bible?" She answered, "Yes, it
is in the Bible." He asked: "Who is He
speaking to? Is He speaking to me?" The lady
answered: "Yes. He is speaking to you." Weakly
the man asked: "Did He say anything else?" She
said: "Yes. He said, unto them who
receive Him, He gives the power to have eternal life."
The
dying man said: "I receive Him. I'm satisfied."
Then, he closed his eyes as the angels came and carried him Home
to JESUS!
Our
Lord said: "Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
JESUS
stated: "Come unto Me all ye who labour and are
heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and
learn of God; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is
light." (Matthew 11:28, 29)
"Ye
are from beneath; I am from Above: ye are of the world; I am not
of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in
your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in
your sins." (John 8:23, 24)
Our
Lord declared: "Ye shall know the truth, and the TRUTH
shall make you FREE. If the Son therefore shall make
you FREE, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8: 32, 36)
"All
that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to
Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from Heaven, not to
do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is
the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath
given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the
last day.
"And
this is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone which seeth
the Son, and believeth on Him, may have EVERLASTING LIFE: and I
will raise him up on the last day." (John 6: 37-40)
"In
the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that
believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, Out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the
Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the
Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet
glorified." (John 7:37-39)
JESUS
said: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any
man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and
will sup with him and he with Me." (Revelation
3:20). Having purchased our eternal salvation through the shedding
of His pure and precious BLOOD and rising victoriously from the
dead, He is waiting NOW to receive sinners and saints into His
arms of Love and Mercy!
An
old Gospel Hymn, LORD I'M
COMING HOME' by William J. Kirkpatrick
I’ve
wandered far away from God, now I’m coming home
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod, Lord I’m coming home
Coming Home, coming home, never more to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love, Lord I’m coming home.
I’ve
tired of sin and straying Lord, now I’m coming home
I now repent in bitter tears, Lord, I’m coming home
Coming Home, coming home, never more to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love, Lord I’m coming home
The
Bible says: "Therefore being justified through FAITH, we
have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By Whom also we
have access by Faith into this GRACE wherein we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God. For when we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God
commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:1,2, 6,8)
MARTIN
LUTHER was found lying under a crucifix sobbing uncontrollably,
sobbing, "For me, my God, for me! (Fur mich,
mien Gott, fur mich.') He had been reading Romans
and suddenly realized that Jesus Christ, God's Son had died for
him personally. Not just for the entire world, but for Martin
Luther! This is the work of the blessed Holy Spirit, to reveal
Christ to every seeking soul!
2.
HONOURING CHRIST!
The
number one prerequisite to get to the Father’s heart, is to
believe that He sent Jesus Christ to this world to save
sinners. When we love His Son, the Father has pledged to love us
and make His abode with us.
Jesus
promised: "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.
"If
a man love Me, He will keep My words: and My Father will love him,
and We (My Father and I) will come unto him, and make OUR
abode with him." (John 14: 21, 23).
"That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the
Father. He that honoureh 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 who sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation, but is passed from death unto life."
(John 5:23, 24)
On
a number of occasions God the Father honoured His Son, exalting
Jesus of Nazareth.
The first was when He commanded the holy angels to worship Him.
(Heb.1: 6).The second was when He sent angels to the
shepherds to herald His Birth. (Luke 2:8-14).
At
His Baptism, God the Father spoke in an audible
voice, saying, "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well
pleased." (Matthew 3:17). During His Transfiguration
on the Mount, He spoke again, saying, "This is my
Beloved Son, Hear ye Him." (Luke 9:35)
St.
John wrote: "And this is the record that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this LIFE is in His Son. He
that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not Life." (1 John 5: 12)
"Who
is a LIAR, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He
is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Whoso denieth
the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth
the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22, 23)
"He
came unto His own and His own received Him not and as many as
received Him, gave He the power to become the sons of God, to as
many as believe on His name." (John 1:11,12)
"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 has 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 of
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)
Andre
Crouch wrote the song, 'Oh, it is Jesus. Yes, it is Jesus in My
Soul'.
Oh,
it is Jesus, Yes it is Jesus, Oh, it Jesus in my soul
For I have touched the hem of His Garment, and His blood has made
me whole.
I
tried all that I could, seemed like nothing did me any
good.
Then I heard Jesus, He was passing by, and I decided to
give Him a try.
Oh,
it is Jesus, Yes it is Jesus.
Oh, it Jesus in my soul, For
I have touched the hem of His Garment,
And
His blood has made me whole
3.
TRUSTING CHRIST
What
does it mean to TRUST in Jesus? When a sinner has fallen at the
feet of Jesus Christ in repentance and heard Him
say: "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more"
or "Go in peace, thy faith hath made thee whole",
condemnation and guilt must leave!
All
fear is gone, and like Philip, having seen the nail prints in His
hands and the wound in His side, we fall down before Him crying:
"My Lord and My God." (John 20: 26-28).
When we call Him Lord, we are saying: "You are my
Master, I trust You and I want to serve You." When
we call Him God, we are saying: "You are my God,
therefore I worship you!"
All
doubt has vanished and we no longer trust in ourselves for
FORGIVENESS or HEALING, but we TRUST only in His merit for life
eternal, liberty and freedom. His Word becomes a reality:
"For 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)
It
is easy to trust a man's word when you know the reliability of the
man! Our trust is in CHRIST JESUS, the Author and Finisher (perfector)
of our FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the
Throne of God." (Hebrews 2:2)
The
BIBLE states: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge of the truth. For there is ONE God, and ONE Mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself, a
Ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:
3-6)
"For
when we were yet without strength (hopeless), in due time Christ
died for the ungodly. But God commendeth His love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more
then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through Him." (Romans 5:6,8,9)
"That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation." (Romans 10:9,10)
THE
TRUTH & ONLY THE TRUTH!
Herein
lies the Truth of the whole matter! Only those who believe that
Jesus of Nazareth was God the Son from eternity - God incarnate
– but humbled Himself and was made in the likeness of human
flesh so that He could die as God's Paschal Lamb for the sins of
the world and rise again from the dead, can be SAVED.
All
others who refuse God's provision of salvation, trusting only in
the lying words of false prophets and their own goodness will be
LOST. Period!
St.
John declares: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness
of God is Greater: for this is the witness of God which He
testified of His SON. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the
witness in himself: he that believeth NOT hath made Him a LIAR;
because he believeth not the Record that God gave of His Son. And
this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this
Life is in His Son.
"He
that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. These things have I written to you that believe on
the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have Eternal
Life, and that ye may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God.
"And
this the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He hear us: And if we KNOW that He hear us,
whatsoever we ASK, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we
desired of Him." (1 John 5:9-15)
Jesus
said: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in
God, believe also in Me. I am the Way, the TRUTH and the Life. No
man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:1,6).
The
BIBLE states: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs
3:5,6); "Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power
of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15: 13)
"TRUST
in the Lord, and do good. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He
shall give thee the desires of thine heart; Commit thy way unto
the Lord; TRUST also in Him; and He will bring it to
pass. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."
(Psalms 37:3-7).
Louisa
M.R. Stead wrote the marvelous old Gospel Hymn 'TIS
SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS':
Jesus,
Jesus, how I trust Him, how I’ve proved Him oer and oer
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus, O for grace to trust Him more
Tis
so sweet to trust in Jesus. Just
to take Him at His Word
Just
in simple faith to trust Him, And
to know, Thus saith the Lord
I’m
so glad I’ve learned to trust Him, Precious
Jesus, Saviour, Friend
And
to Know He’ll never leave us, He’ll
be with us to the end
Jesus,
Jesus, How I trust Him, How
I’ve proved Him oer and oer
Jesus,
Jesus, Precious Jesus, O
for grace to trust Him more
4.
KNOWING CHRIST!
St.
Paul declared: "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
"And
be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the
Righteousness which is of God by FAITH. That I may
KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His
death." (Philippians 3: 8-10)
"For
the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these
things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Let us therefore FOLLOW after the things which make for PEACE and
the things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans
14: 17-19)
In
His High Priestly Prayer Jesus said: "And this is Life
Eternal that they may KNOW Thee, the Only True God,
and Jesus Christ which Thou hast sent." (John 17:3).
Hosea
paints us the prophetic picture of Jesus Christ the Coming
Messiah: "Then shall we KNOW, if we follow on to KNOW the
Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall
come unto us as rain, as the latter and the former rain on the
earth." (Hosea 6: 3).
"And
we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may KNOW Him that is True, and
we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is
True God, and Eternal Life." (1 John 5:20)
"These
words spoke Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and said,
Father the hour is come: glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may also
glorify Thee. As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He
should give ETERNAL LIFE unto as many as Thou hast given Him.
"And
this is Life Eternal, that they might Know Thee the Only TRUE God,
and Jesus Christ, which Thou hast
sent." (John 17:1-3).
Anna
W. Waterman wrote,
'Yes, I Know I Surely Know':
Come
ye sinners, lost and lonely, Jesus' blood can make you free.
For he saved the worst among you, when He saved a wretch like me
And I know, yes, I know, Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner
clean.
and I know, yes, i know, Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner
clean.
To the faint He giveth power, through the mountains makes a away
Findeth water in the desert, turns the night to golden day.
In temptation He is near thee, holds the powers of Hell at bay.
Guides you to the path of safety, gives you grace for every day.
Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean.
5.
FOLLOWING CHRIST!
Jesus
called four fishermen to follow Him. Immediately, they left their
Commercial Business to join His band. Peter, Andrew, James
and John heard the Master’s call: "Follow Me and I
will make you fishers of men." (Matt.4: 19). Mark’s
Gospel tells us the process in becoming genuine fishers of men.
Jesus trains us for this important work. He said: "Come
ye after Me and I will make you to BECOME fishers of
men." (Mark 1:17).
The
Rich Young Ruler sadly rejected Christ’s offer: "Jesus said
unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, Go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come
and FOLLOW Me. And when the young man heard that saying, he
went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." (Matthew
19:21)
Oh,
what a poor choice he made. He chose riches and wealth over being
a follower of Jesus and a disciple of Christ; and possibly even
Heaven over Hell. Riches and money will pass away, but God’s
Kingdom will never pass away!
JAN
CALVIN stated: "I gave up all for Christ and what
have I found, I have found everything in Christ."
About JONATHON EDWARDS, it was said: "When he found his
own soul needed Jesus Christ, it became a passion with him to take
Jesus Christ to every soul."
HUDSON
TAYLOR said: "We are asked to do an impossible task,
lest we work with Him Who can do the impossible." (‘Go
Forward on your Knees’).
On
a plaque in a church seating 1,000 people in the New Hebrides
Island Aneytim in the South Pacific, are these words: "When
John Geddie landed in 1849 there were NO Christians here, but when
returned home in 1877 there were NO Heathen."
Ten
years before Geddie’s arrival, Presbyterian missionaries,
John Williams and James Harris had been killed and
eaten by cannibals in Ebromanga. Altogether three Canadian
missionaries were killed by cannibals. JOHN GEDDIE took up the
challenge and won them all to Christ within 28 years. What a
Victory!
C.T.STUDD
stated: "Some people want to live near to the Church
and Chapel bell, but I want to set up a rescue shop within a yard
of Hell. Let the Victors when they come, when the Forts of folly
fall, find the body near the wall."
RICHARD
BAXTER said: "I preach like a dying man to dying
men. Every time I preach, I preach as if it were the last time I
would preach."
DR.
DAVID LIVINGSTONE wrote: "For my own part, I have
never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an
office. People talk of the sacrifices I have made in spending so
much of my time in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is
simply paid back of a small part of a great debt owing to our God,
which can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own
best reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing
good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny
hereafter?
"Away
with such a word, in such a view, and with such a thought! It is
emphatically not a sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.
Anxiety, sickness, suffering or danger now and then with a
foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life,
may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver and sink, but let
this be for only a moment. All these are nothing compared with the
glory which shall hereafter be revealed in and for us.
"I
never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk when we
remember the GREAT SACRIFICE which He made when He left His
Father's Throne on High, to give Himself for us."
Dr.
Livingstone stated, "I march to the Drumbeat of
Heaven." When his wife Mary passed away, he buried
with his own hands. He wrote that he felt like something of
himself had died, when she left him. When the explorer, Dr.
Stanley, finally found him, Dr. Livingstone refused to leave,
saying:"I cannot leave. My heart belongs to Africa."
The next time Stanley found him, he was on his knees, with his
face on an open Bible. He was dead! - (Taken from 'The
Call To Be a Missionary'.)
6.
PRAYING TO CHRIST!
Jesus
said: "Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in
God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1). "Jesus said
unto him. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh unto
the Father but by Me. Believest thou not that I am in the
Father and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto
you, I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He
doeth the works.
"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 anything in My
name, I will DO it. At that day ye shall know
that I am in the Father and the Father in Me."
(John 14: 10-14)
Many
people in the Bible accounts, prayed directly to Jesus and He
forgave and healed them. They knew that He was the Messiah, the
Son of God and therefore divine. The lepers,
paralytics, blind, tormented, sinful and dying
reached out to Him calling Him the Son of David, meaning Messiah,
the Son of God!
When
he was sinking, Peter cried out: "Master save me I
perish." Our Lord leaped over the boisterous
waves and rescued him (Matthew 14:30). The thief on the cross who
called out to Him, "Lord, remember me when thou
comest into Thy Kingdom" was heard and granted
Eternal Life! (Luke 23: 42). Saul of Tarsus cried out from his
prostate position on the Damascus Road, "Who art Thou,
Lord", and "What wilt Thou have me to do?"
(Acts 9: 5)
St.
Paul writes: "Unto the Church of God which is in
Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be
saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, both theirs and
ours." (1 Corinthians 1:2)
The
Gospel Hymn, 'HE TOUCHED ME' is an anointed Worship song:
Shackled
by a heavy burden, 'Neath a load of
guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me, now
I am no longer the same.
He touched me, oh He touched me, And
oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know, He
touched me and made me whole.
Since I met the blessed Saviour, Since
He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him, I'll
shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, oh He touched me, And
oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know He
touched me and made me whole...
7.
WORSHIPPING CHRIST!
"And
after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with
them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, reach
hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand,
and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.
(John 20: 27).
Since
Jesus Christ is God we must worship Him as God!
Thomas had refused to believe that Christ had risen from the dead,
until he saw the nail-prints in His hands and the wound in His
side: "And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and
my God." (John 20:28)
There
are numerous accounts in the Word of God to verify that Jesus
Christ - True God from eternity and True man through His virgin
birth – accepted worship as God, together with the Father and
the Holy Spirit!
St.
John calls Him the Word of God, the True Light, the Only Begotten
of the Father full of Grace and Truth (John 1:1-18), and John the
Baptist declared Him to be the Lamb of God which taketh away the
sins of the world. (John 1:19)
The
Word of God states: "God…hath in these last days
spoken unto us By His SON, Whom He hath appointed
heir of all things, of 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." (Hebrews 1:1-3)
God
the Father called Him, My Beloved Son in
Whom I am well pleased: "Thou art My Son, this day
have I begotten thee; I will be to a Father, and He shall be to Me
a Son. And let all the angels WORSHIP Him." (Hebrews
1:5, 6)
GOD
CALLS JESUS LORD AND GOD!
"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 work of Thine hands. They shall
perish, but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a
garment.
"And
as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed:
but Thou art the SAME,
and Thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said He
at any time, Sit on My Right Hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy
footstool?" (Hebrews 1:10-13)
JESUS
said: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, saith the Lord, Which is, and which was, and which is to
come, the Almighty. And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as
dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me. Fear
not. I am the First and the Last: I am He that liveth and was
dead: and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: and have the Keys
of hell and of Death." (Revelation 1:8,17,18)
In
1863, William P. Mackay wrote the powerful hymn, ‘We
Praise Thee O God’
We
praise Thee, O God, For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died and is now gone above..
Hallelujah!
Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
We
praise Thee, O God, For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior, And scattered our night.
All
glory and praise, to the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins and hath cleansed every stain.
Hallelujah!
Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
Revive
us again; Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.
Hallelujah!
Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
8.
LIVING FOR CHRIST
St.
Paul stated: "For to me to live is Christ, and to
die is gain. For if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my
labour; yet what I choose I do not know. I am in a straight
betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ;
which is far better." (Philippians 1:21-23)
The
great Apostle met Jesus Christ in a blinding light on the Damascus
Road and his life was changed. He was tutored by our Lord during
his two year stay in Arabia. On several occasions he had been
visited personally by the resurrected Christ and was even taken to
Heaven and heard words which he was forbidden to speak.
It
is little wonder then that he longed to go to be with Christ!
St.
Paul knew, however, that his presence was of vital importance
among the Churches he had founded in the Gentile world. He knew
his calling and the work Jesus had outlined for him to fulfill.
Writing
to the Galatians Church, he stated: "I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians
2:20)
Here
is solid Bible teaching on how to please God in Holy Living:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are Above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
"Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye
are dead, and your life is HID with Christ in
God. When Christ, Who is our LIFE, shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with Him in glory."(Col.3: 1-3)
In
my message, ‘What is a Christian?’, I
maintain that a Christian is Christ living out His life through
us. In John’s Gospel our Lord makes it clear that His desire is
to dwell within us through the Blessed Holy Spirit!
A
CHRISTIAN is a heart
through which Christ loves, forgives and pardons, a
mind through which Christ thinks and understands, a
voice through which Christ pours out His
invitation and warning to the sinful and hurting, hands
through which Christ heals the sick and suffering, eyes
through
which Christ sees the poor, lonely and struggling, ears
that hear the cries of those who have been left behind, the
disadvantaged, the backslider, feet that
carry Christ’s Gospel of Mercy and Compassion to a world of
lost, sinning and wounded people. Amen.
He
said: "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). In His High Priestly prayer, He articulated the same
message: "He is in His father, we are in Him, and He is in us:
"That
they all may be one: as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee,
that they also may be one in US: that the world may believe
that Thou hast sent Me."
"And
the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them: that they may be
one, even as WE are one. I in them, and Thou in Me,
that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know
that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved
Me." (John 17: 21-23)
The
Story behind the Gospel Hymn, ‘I have Decided to Follow
Jesus’: About 150 years ago missionaries stirred by the Welsh
Revival went to India. A Welsh missionary brought a man and his
family to Christ in Assam. A number of his neighbours received
Jesus Christ through their witness. The Tribal Chief called the
village together. He demanded that the kman and his family publicly
recant their belief in Jesus Christ.
The
man refused and the Chief was enraged, saying that they would all
be killed if he did not give up his faith in Jesus Christ. He was
unmoved and began to sing: "I have decided to follow Jesus, I
have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, No
turning back. No turning back. The chief signaled his archers and
the man's two sons were arrowed. The Chief asked him if he would
change his position.
With
his two sons dying on the ground, the man continued to sing:
"If none go with me still I will follow; If none go with me
still I will follow. If none go with me still I will follow. No
turning back, No turning back." The Chief signaled the
archers and the man's wife was killed. Again the Chief asked the
man to reject Jesus Christ. He sang these words as his final
reply: "The Cross before me, the World behind me; the Cross
before me, the World behind me; The Cross before me, the World
behind me. No turning back, No turning back."
Again,
arrows found its target and Christ's true believers all lay dead
on the ground. The Chief couldn't understand why a man would give
his life and those of his family for a belief in a man who had
died so many years ago in a land so far away. There must be
something special about such a faith. He decided that he would
taste that faith for himself and publicly made that confession and
when he did the entire village of Assam was converted to Christ.
As
a little boy, I sang that song in the Evangelical Lutheran Church
and can remember those days when our Church still believed the
Gospel of Christ and the Holy Bible as Gods Word.
9.
WALKING WITH CHRIST
St.
Peter wrote: "For even hereunto were ye called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
FOLLOW HIS STEPS.
(1 Peter 2:21)
JESUS
said: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest Take My yoke upon you and learn of
Me: for I am lowly and meek in heart and ye shall find rest unto
your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew
11:28-30)
St.
John declared: "But if we say we have fellowship with Him,
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. 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 cleanseth us from
all sin." (1 John 1:6,7)
"And
hereby we do know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that sayeth,
I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a LIAR, and the
TRUTH is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is
the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He
that sayeth he abideth in Him ought himself also WALK, even as He
walked." (1 John
2:4-6)
St.
Paul stated: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so WALK ye in him: Rooted and built up in Him,
established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
thereunto with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy or vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him,
Which is the Head of all principality and power."
(Colossians 2:6-10)
The
great Apostle said: "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye
followers of me. Follow me as I follow Christ." (1
Corinthians 4:16); "Be ye followers of Me even as I also am of
Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)
"Brethren,
be followers together of me, and MARK them which WALK
so as ye have us for an example. For many WALK, of whom I
have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are
the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction,
whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things." (Philippians 3:17-19)
WHAT
OUR PRAYER SHOULD BE!
My
Prayer: "Let me
walk with you Jesus. I want to feel your strong hand in mine. I
need your powerful arms around me. Breathe your life into me, Lord
Jesus; into my spirit, soul and body.
Fill my mind with your
thoughts. Breathe upon me, O' breath of God. Heal my inner man as
well as my outer man. Grant unto me the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Open my spiritual eyes to the needs of others and my spiritual
ears to the cries of the poor, lonely, fearful and sick and
suffering.
Give me the anointing and Holy Spirit unction to pray
the prayer of faith for all who suffer, for Thy honour and glory
and the advancement of Thy Kingdom. Help me always to be a stepping
stone instead of a stumbling block.
Help me always to believe
instead of doubt, to be kind instead of unkind, to be caring
instead uncaring, to be a help instead of a hindrance, to be a
part of the building crew instead of the wrecking crew.
O' God ,
give me grace to always lift the heavy end of the load when
helping my neighbour and put the best construction on all that he
does. If I cannot, help me to bite my tongue and say nothing! In
Jesus' holy and precious Name. Amen.
10.
SUFFERING FOR CHRIST
Like
St. Paul, we should all live crucified lives, wholly given over to
our Lord and His Gospel. He declared: "But God
forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I am crucified
to the world." (Galatians 6:14)
"From
henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the Marks of the Lord Jesus Christ." (Galatians
6:17).
The
horrible persecutions that St. Paul suffered for his Lord had
marked his body with many scars from the beatings,
scourging and stoning he had endured from the Jews and
the Roman Authorities. No one could fault his love for Jesus
Christ and His loyalty to the church! He was saying,
"If you doubt my beliefs, check out
the ugly marks on my battered body."
Like
St. Paul, the great soul winner, prayer warrior and preacher
ROBERT MURRAY McCHENE said: "I will never listen
to a man who has not sat, where I have sat."
Jesus
said: "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)
St.
Paul says: "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of
David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel. Wherein I
suffer as an evil doer, even unto BONDS, but the Word of God is not
bound. "Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s
sake that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ
Jesus with eternal glory."
"It
is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also
live with Him. If we SUFFER, we shall also reign with Him:
if we deny Him, He also will deny us: If we believe not, yet He
abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy
2:8-13)
Our
Lord and Saviour warned: "Whosever will come after Me, Let
him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall
lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save
it."
"For
what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and
of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation: of him also
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of
His Father with the Holy angels." (Mark 8: 34-38).
A
Great Hymn, ‘Where
He leads Me I will Follow’:
I
can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling, Take
thy cross and follow, follow me.
Where
he leads me I will follow, where he leads me I will follow,
where he leads me I will follow; I'll go with him, with him all
the way.
I'll
go with him through the garden, I'll go with him through the
garden,
I'll go with him through the garden, I'll go with him, with him
all the way.
I'll go with him through the judgment, I'll go with him
through the judgment,
I'll go with him through the judgment, I'll go with him, with him
all the way.
He
will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory,
He will give me grace and glory, and go with me, with me all the
way.
11.
WAITING FOR CHRIST
"For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all
men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world;
"Looking
for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a
peculiar (purchased) people, zealous of good
works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
The
Return of Christ is called "The Blessed
Hope" and it is! It will be the Crowning Day
for all of us who believe the Gospel and especially for those who
preach the gospel. Titucalls it, "the
Glorious Appearing". He also refers to Jesus Christ as the Great
God and our Saviour!
What
a moment that will be, to look upon Him Who gave
Himself for us that He might Redeem us from our iniquities. He
will not come as the lowly Galilean Who walked the dusty streets
and roads of Israel, or riding on a donkey into Jerusalem, or as
God’s paschal Lamb hanging on the cursed tree!
He
will come as the Great God to judge and to Reign. Hallelujah! He
appeared ONCE as the Lamb of God to put away
Sin by the SACRIFICE of Himself, and He shall appear the
SECOND time as the Great God and the Lord of Glory!
When
Jesus of Nazareth arose from the dead, triumphant over death, hell
and the devil, He ascended into Heaven carrying His own precious
blood into the Holy of Holies!
The
Bible says: "Neither by the blood of goats and
calves, but by His own BLOOD, He entered in ONCE
into the Holy Place, having obtained Eternal Redemption for us.
For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer
sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh;
"How
much more shall the BLOOD of Christ Who
through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living
God." (Hebrews 9:11-14)
"For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figure of the true, but into Heaven itself,now
appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should
offer Himself often, as the high priest entered into the Holy
Place every year with the blood of others;
"For
then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the
world: but now once
in the end of the world
hath he appeared to put
away sin by the
sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment.
"So
Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of
many: and unto them that look for Him shall appear
the Second Time without Sin unto Salvation."
(Heb.9: 24-28)
He
came the FIRST TIME as the Saviour to bear away the sins of the
world and PUT AWAY SIN through His sacrificial
Death on the cross. When He comes the Second Time it will not be
to SAVE, but to JUDGE and to REIGN forever!
St.
Paul wrote: "For from you sounded out the Word of
the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad: so
that we need not speak anything.
"For
they themselves show of us what nanner of entering in we had unto
you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the Living God:
and to wait
for His Son from Heaven, Whom He
raised from the dead, even JESUS, which delivered us from
the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
The
Gospel that St. Paul preached had brought real fruit in
Thessalonica. The pagan had turned to God from the worship of
idols to serve the Living God and they had prepared themselves for
the Coming of Christ whom thy worshipped as Saviour and God.
He
remembered their work of faith, their labour
of love and their patience of Hope
in the Lord Jesus Christ. He stated: "For our Gospel
came not unto you in Word only, but also in power and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance." (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
This
is the secret to true evangelism! The message we articulate
must not only be God’s Word, but it must be delivered in the
power of the Holy Spirit and assurance!
The
great Apostle had informed them of Jesus' promise to Return
for His Church when all things were fulfilled. It was a part of
the Gospel message then and it still is today! St.
Peter declared:
"Repent
ye therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out,
when then times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord. And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you; Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of
restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of
all His holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:19-21)
According
to this prophecy, there will be a great revival across the world
prior to the Return of Jesus Christ. We believe that we are seeing
that today across Latin America, Brazil, the Philippines,
Africa, Eastern Europe and believe it will as happen in Canada.
To
wait for his Son’s return is to expect, earnestly desire and
long for His Coming in a prayerful and joyful attitude as we
continually declare His Gospel! The Word of God warns us:
"Cast
not away your confidence (faith) which hath great recompence of
reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the
will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a
little while, and He that shall come, will come and will not tarry." (Hebrews
10:35-37)
St.
John writes: "And now, little children, Abide in
Him; that when He shall APPEAR, we may have confidence, and not be
ashamed at his Coming." (1 John 2:28)
"Beloved,
now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be, but we know that, when He shall APPEAR, we shall be like
him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:3)
"And
when the Chief Shepherd shall APPEAR, ye shall receive a crown of
Glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5:4);
‘He which testifieth these things sayeth, Surely, I Come Soon.
Amen, Even so, come Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus be
with you all. Amen." (Revelation 22:20, 21).
WHEN
THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER – James M.
Black, 1893
When
the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When
the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
On
that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall
rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Let
us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
12.
REIGNING WITH CHRIST
About
Christ, GEORGE W. TRUETT stated: "I find no
fault in Him."...You can find fault in anyone else, but you
can find no fault in Jesus. Holy, harmless, undefiled,
sinless: there He is! Christ is God's way to man; Christ is man's
way to God. Christ is the true Jacob's ladder. By Him the penitent
sinner, the believing soul, the redeemed child of God may come
unto the Father and enter into the house of many mansions.
Jesus
is the Word of God; His Ultimate, Final and Last Word to the
world. He is the Creator of all things and therefore, the First
Cause of creation. He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily and
the Sustainer and the Guardian of all things. He is the Forgiver
of our sins, the Healer of our sicknesses and diseases and the
Finisher and Completer of our Eternal Salvation.
He
is the Believer’s Merciful and Compassionate High Priest,
Intercessor and Soon Coming King! All glory and praise to our
Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ Who reigns forever with our God
and Father and the Blessed Holy Spirit. World without End! Amen.
The
Holy Scriptures declare: "For as many as are led by
the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
"The
Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the
children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and
joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with Him, that we
may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:14-17); "Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall APPEAR,
we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is."
(1 John 3: 3)
"It
is a faithful saying; For if we be dead with Him, we shall also
live with him. If we suffer with Him we shall also REIGN with
Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we believe not, yet
He abideth faithful: He cannot deny
Himself." (2 Timothy 3: 11-13). Amen.
'THE
KING IS COMING' – Written by
Bill and Gloria Gaither
The
marketplace is empty, no more traffic in the street
All the builder's tools are silent, no more time to harvest wheat
Busy housewives cease their labor, in the courtroom no debate
Work on earth has been suspended as the King comes through the
gate
Happy
faces line the hallway, those whose lives have been redeemed
Broken homes He has mended, those from prison He has freed
Little children and the aged hand in hand stand all aglow
Who were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow
The
King is coming, the King is coming
I just heard the trumpet sounding and soon His face I'll see
The King is coming, the King is coming
Praise God, He's coming for me
I
can hear the chariots rumble, I can see the marching throng
And the flurry of God's trumpet spells the end of sin and wrong
Regal robes are now unfolded, heaven's grandstands all in place
Heaven's choir is now assembled, start to sing "Amazing
Grace"
THERE
IS POWER
IN
THE BLOOD OF JESUS
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D
"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)
HOW
TO RECEIVE TOTAL HEALING THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS
The
ancient
prophet Isaiah set forth a graphic picture of the coming Jewish
Messiah in the 53rd chapter of the book we call "The
Gospel of the Old Testament."
"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)
We
can receive total healing through the wounds of Jesus Christ -
According to the prophets, the Messiah would suffer, bleed and die
for His people. He would be cut off in death, but rise again in
power. He would be wounded, bruised, chastised and striped
in order to purchase our salvation and bring deliverance from sin,
sickness and eternal death.
And
St. Peter records the glorious results of Christ's terrible
sufferings as our substitute. "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
SEVEN WOUNDS OF JESUS SPELL COMPLETE REDEMPTION
Jesus
Christ received seven specific wounds in His body during His week
of suffering and death. The number seven in biblical terms speaks
of perfection and completeness.
Wounds
according to the dictionary are divisions of the soft part of the
body by a mechanical force applied externally. They are classified
as: contused, lacerated, penetrating, perforating and incised!
Jesus Christ received each of these plus an additional two, by
mutilation and falling.
1)
THE CONTUSED WOUND
- produced by a sharp instrument.
"They
shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek."
(Micah 5:1)
St.
Matthew wrote, "They smote Him with rods."
(Matthew 26:67; John 18:22) (Newberry & Revised) "Then
they did spit in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him
with the palms of their hands." (Matthew 26:67)
Very
definitely, Jesus suffered pain and humiliation as Roman soldiers
beat Him about the face with their rods!
Others,
including the servants smote Him with their hands. The rod would
cut into the flesh, leaving a contused wound.
 2)
THE LACERATED WOUND
- produced by a tearing instrument.
The
Romans used the cruel cat-of-nine tails to scourge criminals. On
the end of the whip were nine pieces of leather to which were
attached sharp ivory or metal balls with protruding nails. As the
whip was cracked, it would tear out pieces of the flesh.
Jewish
law demanded that not more than 40 lashes be administered, since
often the victim would faint or even die during the scourging.
The
Romans did not need to adhere to Jewish law. As a matter of fact,
crucifixion was a Roman mode of execution! The Romans always
scourged a condemned man before crucifying him.
Some
historians and Church Fathers believe that Jesus Christ may have
received many more than 30 stripes. The more punishment a
prisoner took on the whipping pole, the shorter was the guard duty
for the Roman Soldiers at the scene of execution.
Since
the Jewish leadership had accused Him of perverting the people,
the Romans certainly had no reason to "go easy"
on Him! And no doubt the tough Roman soldiers would have been
happy to see Jesus squirm and cry out - especially since he had
refused to talk to the Governor!
We
do know that St. Paul was whipped by the Jews on five separate
occasions: "Of the Jews five times received I forty
stripes save one." (2 Corinthians 13:24) Paul was
not a candidate for crucifixion, by the Romans. He was prosecuted
under the jurisdiction of the Jewish hierarchy.
If
Jesus received 39 stripes in Pilate's Judgment Hall, that would
have inflicted a total of 351 gashes on His lacerated back. If He
received more than 39 stripes, the gashes would have been more
numerous.
EACH
WOUND HELPED TO PURCHASE OUR HEALING: SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL
The
Old Testament prophet declared, "The ploughers ploughed
upon My back. They made long furrows." (Psalms 129:3)
Seven hundred and fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied
concerning the Messiah, "I gave My back to the smiters"
(Isaiah 50:6)
"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)
St.
Matthew records, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and
scourged Him." (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1)
Prisoners
who were scourged usually lost a lot of blood and sometimes
fainted. Jesus suffered the agonizing and brutal scourging for us!
3)
THE PENETRATING WOUND:
a deep wound caused by a sharp, pointed instrument.
The
crown of thorns that was pressed upon the head of Jesus caused
such wounds. The Jerusalem thorn, known as the Arabian Nebulae,
was 4 inches long and as sharp as a needle. The cruel diadem
containing over 100 spiculets, was driven into His head with blows
from the rod.
The
Bible scriptures record, "And when they had platted a
crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His
right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him,
saying, Hail, King of the Jews." (Matthew 27:29)
"Then
came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple
robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" (John
19:5)
It
was the Governor's intention to scourge Jesus and then release
him. He had hoped the pitiful sight of a weary, weak and
bloodies man would satisfy their blood lust and evoke sympathy for
the prisoner.
Instead
of being satisfied, they craved more blood, crying out "Away
with Him, crucify Him, crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)
THORNS
SPEAK OF THE ORIGINAL CURSE
Thorns
speak of the original curse, "Cursed is the ground for thy
sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy
life;"
"Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee..." (Geneses
3:17-18)
JESUS
TOOK THE CURSE FOR US
Jesus
Christ bore the penalty for our sins, transgressions,
sicknesses, diseases and pains!
St.
Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree."
“That
the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith."
(Galatians 3:13-14)
In
the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, Moses enumerates the
blessings of keeping covenant with God. He also lists the curses!
The curses include sickness, disease, insanity, torments,
plagues, pestilence, famine and war. The Apostle to the
Gentiles states unequivocally that, "Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law." So we are free!
The
Roman soldiers tried to drive Jesus insane by beating that crown
of sharp Arabian Nebulae into His head. But He didn't lose His
sanity but rather through this horrible experience purchased our
peace and tranquility.
"And
having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to
reconcile all things unto Himself."
(Colossians 1:20)
Because
of the penetrating wounds He bore for us, WE HAVE PEACE!
4)
THE PERFORATING WOUND:
From
the Latin word; "to pierce through"
A
Messianic psalm stated, "They pierced My hands and My
feet" (Psalms 22:16) At the time of David's
prophecy, he knew nothing of crucifixion, for the Hebrew method of
capitol punishment was stoning!
The
prophet Zechariah also foretold of the Messiah's death by
crucifixion. "And one shall say unto Him, What are these
wounds in Thine hands? Then shall He answer, Those with which I
was wounded in the house of My friends." (Zechariah 13:6)
By
the time Jesus was born, the Romans had conquered Palestine and
crucifixion had become the mode of execution. The New Testament
records: "And when they were come... to Calvary, there
they crucified Jesus." (Luke 23:33; John 19:16-18)
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Jesus
Christ suffered the torments, agony, pain and death of the most
horrible of all deaths - The Death of Crucifixion! He suffered for
us. He bled for us. He died for us! And He arose again from the
dead, for us!
5)
THE INCISED WOUND:
a cut
produced by a sharp edged instrument:
"But
one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith
came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)
As
the Sabbath was approaching the soldiers helped speed up the
expiration of the victims by smashing their thigh bones, thus
allowing asphyxiation. When the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he
noticed that He was already dead. The soldier then went on to the
thief on Jesus' other side and with his large axe, smashed the
femur bone (thigh bone) causing a quicker death.
In
order to verify Jesus' death, the soldier then plunged his spear
into the left side of Jesus!
This
fulfilled the scripture, "They shall look upon Him Whom
they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10) So large was the
wound that after the resurrection, Thomas "the doubter"
was invited to thrust his hand into that wound.
"Then
saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands;
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not
faithless, but believing."
(John 20:27)
St.
John was standing near the cross and noticed blood and water
coming out of His side. The pericardium is a closed sac
encasing the heart, lubricated by a small amount of fluid to
facilitate the motion of the heart.
Mallory
& Wright's pathological technique answers the question,
"How could John have seen such a small amount of water flow
out of the wound? The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is
about a teaspoon, but it may be increased to 100 c.c. (24
teaspoonfuls) where death agony is prolonged."
Another
miracle was that contrary to nature, blood flowed from a dead man,
proving that the blood of Jesus did not die but is efficacious
even today !
"There
is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel's veins,
And sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty
stains."
The
blood and water which St. John saw coming out of the side of
Christ may also have been the physiological aspect of death.
Medical
science teaches that, "Blood in a cadaver readily separates
into clear serum and red blood cells, thus certifying that the
person is clinically dead." It could be that both of these
things were happening at once. Either way, it proves that the
death of Jesus was a reality and that there is life through His
precious blood!
The
Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no
remission of sins." (Leviticus 17:11,14)
"It
is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." (Hebrews
9:22) "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth
us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)
THE
BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, SHED FOR US ALL ON GOLGOTHA, HAS PURCHASED
OUR SALVATION
I)
WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"In
Whom we have redemption through His blood, even THE FORGIVENESS OF
SINS, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians
1:7)
(II)
WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers;"
"But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:"
(1 Peter 1:18-19)
"Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."
(Acts 20:28)
(III)
WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"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 sins."
(1 John 1:7)
(IV)
WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD
"And
from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own
blood."
(Revelation 1:5)
(V)
WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Much
more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him."
(Romans 5:9)
"Being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in His blood, to declare the righteousness for the remission
of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
(Romans 3:24-25)
(VI)
WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to
receive all things unto himself;"
(Colossians 1:20)
(VII)
WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated
for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;"
(Hebrews 10:19-20)
(VIII)
WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"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)
"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)
(IX)
WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word
of their testimony."
(Revelation 12:11)
(X)
WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Wherefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own blood,
suffered without the gate." (Hebrews
13:12)
(XI)
WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"How
much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal
Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
(mind) from dead works, to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews
9:14)
(XII)
WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"These
are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and
night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them..."
"For
the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes."
(Revelation 7:14-17)
6)
WOUNDS BY MUTILATION
- the plucking out of His beard.
"I
gave My cheeks to them that plucked out the hair." (Isaiah
50:6)
Not
only did they slap and spit upon His face but they yanked out His
beard causing the wounds of mutilation. Can you imagine the awful
pain, as cruel Roman soldiers pulled out His beard! The blood
flowed down upon Christ's chest as cruel tormentors mutilated His
face by tearing out handfuls of His beard.
He
did it for us, because by "His Sore" (original
Hebrew) we are healed! He was "one sore" from
head to toe, by the time He had undergone the full mistreatment
which the Roman soldiers heaped upon Him! He suffered more than
any man and He did it all for us - to purchase our salvation.
7)
WOUNDS BY FALLING:
They
laid the rugged cross upon His lacerated, bleeding back and forced
Jesus to carry His own cross, as was the custom for condemned
criminals. Due to loss of blood because of the scourging, He was
unable to do so.
As
He stumbled and fell, His body received more bruises and sores,
and He suffered more pain, for us.
Historians
claim, that after His striping in Pilate's Judgment Hall, Jesus
was subjected to a heavy wooden cross laid upon His raw, bleeding
back.
Apparently,
the cross bar was tied to His wrists and the stock to His left
ankle. When He stumbled and fell, He had no way to protect
Himself, so His body was further bruised and battered! And Roman
soldiers then forced a stranger, Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross
up Calvary's hill.
"And
He bearing His cross went forth to the place of a skull..." (John
19:17) "And as they led Him away they laid hold upon one
Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid
the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus." (Luke
23:26) (Mark 15:21)
Apparently
that event caused such an impact upon the Cyrenian that he became
a convert to Christ. And it appears that his two sons also entered
the Ministry and preached the gospel of Christ after His
resurrection.
CHRIST
WAS WOUNDED FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH SEVEN WOUNDS IN ORDER TO BRING
US HEALING
And
St. Matthew stated, "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 Easias the prophet,
saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses."
(Matthew 8:16-17)
"It
is no wonder, St. Thomas, upon his encounter with the risen Christ
declared, "My Lord and my God." (Jn.20:28)
MAY
THE RISEN CHRIST BLESS AND HEAL YOU AS YOU APPROPRIATE HIS
PROMISES FOR YOURSELF.
I
pray you will receive total healing through the wounds and blood
that Jesus Christ shed for you.
"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)
Amen.
JESUS
CHRIST
IS
THE
GREAT
DELIVERER
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D
Jesus
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Right
from the Garden of Eden, the stage was set for the Mighty
Deliverer to step onto the world stage! The promise came
from Almighty God Himself, who had earlier created the heavens and
the earth, the cosmos and everything herein.
Although
the great plan of redemption and the 'Coming of the Deliverer'
to ransom fallen man was already a done deal, it was
not until the wicked, treasonous Lucifer had caused the greatest
catastrophe to befall the human race, that the great God and
creator made it public.
Certainly,
Adam and Eve, the first human beings to rebel, couldn't have seen
the announcement coming, as things had escalated out of the
precise order they were so accustomed to previously.
The
Wicked One, the conniving deceiver, undoubtedly knew there
would be a strong response from the EVERY LIVING ONE to his
dastardly deed. But, the 'Coming of the Deliverer'
was more than he had expected.
He
was stricken with PANIC as he heard the Almighty question Adam and
Eve: "Adam, why did you do this"?
Adam passed the buck, using a blame game approach: "The
woman you gave me is to blame. She gave me the fruit.
It is not my fault."
God
asked the woman: "What hast thou done?"
Eve answered truthfully, "The Serpent beguiled me and I
did eat." She pointed at the devil in the SNAKE and
said, "Satan is to blame. He beguiled me."
The
eternal God stated: "Because you have done this
unrighteous deed, I have placed enmity between man and snakes.
People will loath serpents and hate them. Snakes will crawl
on their belly and eat dust because it allowed the deceiver to
enter its body. Lucifer, you will identify with the
lowest of the low and be named the great Serpent
THE
DELIVERER'S VIRGIN BIRTH
“The
Deliverer will be born to a woman without a human father.
He will be True God from eternity and True Man through His virgin
birth; incarnated (God in human flesh) without sin. He will
meet the Demands of Divine Justice to atone for the sins of the
world. Through this act of LOVE,
He will atone (pay the penalty) for Adam and Eve's
treasonous deeds. The
shedding of His righteous, sinless blood, and His
resurrection from the dead will guarantee forgiveness for
members of the human race, who will receive Him!
“But,
for you, Lucifer, there will be no peace or redemption.
Your fate is sealed forever.
You are an eternally doomed Despot. The blood of the Deliverer
will obliterate your
power to dominate Adam's race. In the future, your sins of Pride,
Greed and Hatred will fuel your torments.
“Fear
will constantly haunt you as you search for clues of the Coming
Deliverer. You will seek to destroy Him, but will be unable to
do so. Because of His perfect redemption, He will bring
total liberty, forgiveness, healing and eternal life for Adam's
fallen race!
In
the Final Battle, the Deliverer will CRUSH your head,
Lucifer. And you will be cast into the Lake that burns with Fire
and Brimstone for ever and ever. Throughout eternity, Lucifer, you
will be known as Satan, the Liar, Deceiver, Opposer of all
righteousness – an Enemy of God and Man!
“Your
name Devil, will identify you as a Liar above
all liars, a Swindler, Traducer, and Slanderer.
You've have earned your titles well;
Beelzebub means the Master of flies; dirty,
filthy flies! You deceived the woman, but the God/Man Who will be
born of a Virgin, will lift the heavy burdens from God's children.
His pure and perfect blood will be shed for all human beings and
will free all who believe on His Name."
IS
YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?
JESUS
said: “And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake
of Fire and brimstone where the Beast and False Prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
“And
I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no
place for them. And I saw the dead small and great, stand before
God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which
is the Book of Life
and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works.
“And
death and Hell were cast into the the Lake of Fire. This is the
Second Death. And whosoever was not written in the Book of
Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” (Revelation 20:10
15)
What
is the Book of Life? Whose names are recorded in the
Book of Life? Are some names blotted out of the Book of Life? Why
do many Jews during the Jewish New Year season use this greeting: “May
your name be inscribed in the Book of Life?"
After
their campaigns, Jesus' disciples were joyous: “And the seventy
returned again with JOY, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject
to us through Thy name.
“And
He said unto them, I beheld
Satan as lightning FALL from Heaven. Behold I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power
of the enemy: and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.
“Notwithstanding
in this rejoice not, that the (evil) spirits are subject unto you:
but rather REJOICE because your names are written in Heaven.”
(Luke 10:18-20)
At
the very moment a person is born again by the Holy
Spirit and the Word of God, his name is inscribed in the Lamb's
Book of Life. That is the MIRACLE of Christ's redemptive work in
our hearts and lives.
PASSED
FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE!
Jesus
stated: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My
Word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto
life.” (John 5:24)
The
BIBLE says: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the
world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Behold, now
are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like
Him; for we see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:1,2)
“No
man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God
dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we
that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of
His Spirit.
“And
we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the
Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the
Son of God, God dwelleth within him, and he in God.” (1 John
4:12-15)
“Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth Him
that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him. He that
believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar because he
believeth not the RECORD that God gave of His Son.
“And
this is the record, that God hath given to us ETERNAL LIFE, and
this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
“These
things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son
of God: that ye might know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
might believe on the name of the Son of God.
“And
we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given an
understanding, that we may know Him that is true and we are in Him
that is TRUE, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son
Jesus Christ. This is true God and eternal life.”
(1 John 5: 1,11-13,20)
THERE
IS ONLY ONE WAY TO HEAVEN
In
his letter to former pagans in Corinth, St. Paul the Founder of
the Church among the Gentiles, declared that Jesus Christ is the
ONLY Saviour and that all other deities or paths to God, Heaven
and eternal life are false. He said that they will not save you!
“But
to us (Believers) there is but ONE GOD, the Father,
of Whom are all things, and we in Him; and ONE Lord Jesus
Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1
Corinthians 8: 6). The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins. Jesus
Christ saves us by His Blood. The Blessed Holy Spirit brings us
into the presence the Father.
The
Bible says: “For through Him (Jesus Christ) we
both (all believers) have ACCESS
by one Spirit (Holy Spirit) unto the
Father.” (Ephesians 1:18)
Jesus
Christ is the only WAY to God and Heaven! He said: “I
am the DOOR, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be SAVED,
and shall go in and out and find pasture. The
thief (Satan) cometh not but for to steal, kill and
destroy. I am come that you may have life, and have it more
abundantly.” (John 10:9,10). Amen.
ARE
YOU READY
TO MEET GOD?
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
CAN
I ASK YOU A QUESTION? ARE YOU READY TO MEET GOD?
The
most important question I could ask you and the most important
decision of your entire lifetime revolves around the spiritual
welfare of your soul and its eternal destiny.
There
are preachers today who have soft-soaped the Gospel and watered
down God’s word to please their listeners in order to keep their
parishioners coming to church.
They
are afraid that if they preach the truth, as it is written, people
will not like it and their offering plates will not bring in too
much money.
The
Bible warns that this would be the case in the end time, of which
we are now living. (2 Timothy 3:13) (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Apostle
Paul calls such preachers Food Preachers or Belly Preachers.
(Romans 16:18) (Philippians 3:19) These men only preach to earn a
living and not to win men and women to Jesus Christ.
I’m
going to be absolutely honest with you and tell you the complete
truth as found in God’s Word concerning your soul, death,
judgment, heaven, hell and eternity and the gift of salvation.
Then I will also show you how you can be saved and forgiven by the
precious blood of Jesus Christ.
 #1
- YOUR SOUL WILL NEVER DIE
Your
soul is eternal and will live on even after your body dies.
(Genesis 2:7)
#2
- ONE APPOINTMENT YOU CAN’T CANCEL OR POSTPONE
"It
is appointed unto man once to die but after this the
judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)
#3
- YOU CAN’T FOOL GOD
"Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) "Be sure your sin
will find you out." (Numbers 32:23)
#4
- YOU’LL PAY FOR YOUR SINS IF YOU DON’T REPENT OF THEM
"The
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) "The wicked shall
be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
(Psalms 9:17)
"When
the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And
before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep
from the goats:
And
he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come,
ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world:
Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but
the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46)
#5
- ALL HAVE SINNED
"For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans
3:23) "And we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) "There is none
righteous, no, no one." (Romans 3:10)
#6
- JESUS DIED TO SAVE SINNERS
Jesus
said, "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance", (Matthew 9:13) and "For the Son of man
is come to save that which was lost." (Matthew 18:11)
"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)
"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)
#7
- YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS
"He
that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
"Let
the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts
and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)
"Except
ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
#8
- YOU MUST BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
"That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
#9
- ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR BY FAITH
"For
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) "Come unto me all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
(Matthew 11:28) "Come now, and let us reason together saith
the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool." (Isaiah 1:18) "Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out." (John 6:37)
#10
- HE WILL GIVE YOU THE POWER YOU NEED
"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)
"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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth." (Acts 1:8)
HOW
CAN I BE SAVED?
Many
are asking this question today. They are wanting to know how to
"make things right with Almighty God." They realize
somewhere along the way, they have lost sight of God - they have
lost contact with the Eternal One - the Great Creator, God, who
loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for lost
humanity.
Multitudes
today are groping in darkness - looking for a ray of light to
point them to the Heavenly way - but alas, they search in vain,
they stumble and fall in the shadows of sin, worry, fear, anxiety,
loneliness, heartbreak, sickness and confusion.
Many
people have tried to live a better life, turn over a new leaf,
rehabilitate themselves, only to find that their strength in the
time of testing and temptation has failed and they are back where
they started. So now, not only are they defeated, but they are
also bewildered, perplexed and tormented, not knowing which way to
turn.
Dear
Reader, perhaps you are one of these poor unfortunate souls. THEN
LISTEN CAREFULLY, for I have good news for you. There is still
balm in Gilead for your sin sick soul. There is still deliverance
for the bound, victory for the defeated and peace for the
troubled. There is still healing for the sick and salvation for
the lost.
THERE
IS STILL HOPE - LOOK TO JESUS
THERE
IS STILL HOPE FOR YOU. There is
life for you. There is still forgiveness and happiness for you. LOOK
TO JESUS, the author and finisher of your faith, (Hebrews
12:3).
LOOK
TO JESUS, the mighty conqueror
(Revelation 1:17-18).
LOOK
TO JESUS, the Saviour of the
World (Luke 2:11).
Don’t
look at your sinful condition, LOOK TO JESUS; don’t look
at your hopelessness, frustration and bewilderment, LOOK TO
JESUS.
Don’t
look at your sickness, grief and loneliness, LOOK TO JESUS.
Don’t
look at your friends of other Christians who have failed, but LOOK
TO JESUS who never fails.
The
Bible says in Isaiah 45:22, "Look unto me and be ye saved,
all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is NONE
else."
There
is only one way to be saved and that is through Jesus Christ, the
Son of the Living God.
Jesus
said in (John 14:6), "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,
no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Jesus said in (John
10:9), "I am the Door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
SAVED, and shall go in and out and find pasture."
THERE
IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GO - that way is JESUS. There is only one
door to God, and that door is Jesus. There is no other.
Mohammed,
Buddha and the Roman Pope, a church organization - none of these
will open the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven, but Jesus Christ,
the one who came from heaven, who died on the Cross, rose again
from the dead - He is able to forgive you, save you and bring you
into the Kingdom of God. GLORY TO HIS NAME FOREVER.
The
Apostle Peter said in (Acts 4:12) concerning Jesus Christ,
"Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is none
other name under Heaven, given among men whereby we must be
SAVED." There you have it. the only name that can bring
salvation, blessing and deliverance is the Mighty Name of Jesus.
The Angel said unto Joseph (Matthew 1:21), "Ye shall call His
Name Jesus, for He shall SAVE His people from their sins." In
(Romans 10:13) we read, "For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be SAVED."
The
Philippian jailer asked the same question many today are asking
and he got an answer he was converted, his life was changed. He
met the master, Jesus. You can do the same. There in the prison
house he cried out (Acts 16:30), "Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?" Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and be Saved." He believed on Jesus Christ and was Saved. you
can do the same.
But
you ask - how can I believe? What must I do to believe in Jesus
Christ? Where do I start? I am glad you asked these questions,
because I have the answer for you from God’s word - Here is what
you must do to be saved.
#1
- REPENT OF YOUR SINS
To
be saved you must repent of your sins and see yourself as you
really are - You must realize you are lost and undone, without
hope. You must see God’s Holiness and realize that you have
sinned against the Almighty. You must be sorry for your sins, you
must hate your sins and be willing to forsake them (Matthew 4:17)
your sins have condemned you (John 3:18) your sins have separated
you from God (Isaiah 59:2). The Bible says (Romans 3:23),
"For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of
God." Also in (Isaiah 53:6) the word of God says, "All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own
way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
GOD
HATES YOUR SINS
- but God loves you. God wants to rescue you out of your sins. You
must be willing to give yourself completely over to God and turn
your back on all unrighteousness.
#2
- YOU MUST CONFESS YOU SINS TO GOD
(1
John 1:9) "If we confess our sins (to God), He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." You must tell God you are a sinner and that
you cannot save yourself. You must confess to God that no one else
can save you except Jesus Christ. You must ask God to have mercy
on you (Luke 18:13) and to forgive you. Then you must confess to
God that you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Jesus
Christ died on the Cross of Calvary for your sins, that He rose
again from the dead and that He is able to save you (1 Corinthians
15:1-4) (Hebrews 7:25).
#3
- YOU MUST ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR
Tell
God that you accept His pardon and that you now, through faith in
God’s word accept Jesus Christ into your heart and life.
(Ephesians 2:8-9) "For by grace are you saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast." Salvation is absolutely free -
you cannot work for it - you cannot pay for it - It is free - you
just receive it from God.
After
you have prayed to God asking Him to forgive you - then you must
believe He has heard your prayer and forgiven your sins. That is
faith. You say that is hard to do. No - it isn’t. If you believe
that God told the truth and the Bible is God’s word - God will
do what He said He would do. If you have prayed the sinner’s
prayer asking God to forgive you, (then he has forgiven you; His
word tells you that and His word is the truth) and if you are
forgiven, then you are saved. You must then continue to live in
God’s way - you must live for God. Believe that you are saved,
begin to praise and worship God and thank him for saving your
soul.
But
you have doubts and say, "I don’t feel any different."
You say you still feel the way you did before, you don’t feel
like you are saved. Always remember, you are NOT SAVED by your
feelings, you are saved by FAITH IN GOD’S WORD. If God said it -
it is the truth, whether you feel like it or not. However, when
you stand of God’s word and by faith accept the Salvation that
God offers, you WILL FEEL DIFFERENT.
You
will believe before you feel - you will feel the cleansing, you
will feel the forgiveness of God, you will feel the assurance when
you believe God’s word and have confessed Jesus Christ as your
Saviour. (Romans 10:9-10).
You
will begin to feel peace, the peace that comes from knowing you
are saved, that your sins have been forgiven and you will feel
hope and optimism.
The
Word of God states (John 6:37), Jesus said, "Him that cometh
unto Me, I will in no wise cast out." You have come to Jesus
by faith; He has not cast you out - Jesus has taken you in - you
are SAVED. Praise God.
Raise
your hands to God (in complete obedience and surrender). Say
"thank you, Jesus, for saving my soul." Praise Him and
Worship Him for what He has done for you.
You
are now saved, you have passed from death unto life (John 5:24).
Your name has now been written in the "Lamb’s Book of
Life." (Revelation 20:15) The Angels are rejoicing in Heaven
over this great victory over the devil. God has snatched your soul
from Satan’s grasp and the angels are rejoicing over this. (Luke
15:7)
RISE
from you knees full of peace (John 14:27). Now go and tell someone
about Jesus Christ and his love. Tell people what God has done for
you. (Romans 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God
hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto Salvation."
Seek
the Lord (James 4:8) and ask Him to fill you with the holy Ghost
and Fire.
Ask
God to give you power for service (Luke 3:16) (Acts 1:4) (Acts
1:8) (Acts 2:4) (Acts 2:38-39). Read your Bible every day and pray
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
As
you go about your life, witness to people about Jesus Christ. Find
a good church where the pastor and the congregation believe the
whole Bible, where they believe in holiness of life and separation
from the world.
Find
a church where they believe in prayer for the sick and where the
pastor and congregation have a burden to see the lost saved and
brought to Jesus Christ.
May
the Lord bless you and give you peace. Write me a letter if you
have accepted the lord Jesus Christ as a result of reading this
message.
 WHAT MUST
I DO TO
BE SAVED?
Jesus
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Yes,
my dear friend, God is still in the business of setting men and
women free from their sins, sorrows, heartbreaks, fears and
troubles. In this age of frustrations, nervous tensions and
mental collapses, Jesus Christ is still granting peace to the
troubled, joy to the discouraged, strength to the weary and
healing to the sick!
1
- You must admit that you are a sinner
The
Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God”. (Rom. 3:23) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2
- You must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
You
MUST believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Jesus died
on the cross, was buried and rose again from the dead.
“That
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: buot he that
believeth not is condemned already.” (John 3:15,18) “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on
Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
3
- You must repent of your sins
The
Bible says, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
(Luke 13:3) “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous
man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”.
(Isaiah 55:7)
4
- You must receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour
The
Bible says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
“Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with Me.” (Rev. 3:20) “He that hath the Son hath life: and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
5
- You must confess Jesus Christ as your Lord
The
Bible says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation”. (Romans 10:9-10)
“…Whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man confess
before the angels of God: But he that denieth Me before men shall
be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8, 9)
HOW
DO I INVITE
JESUS CHRIST INTO MY LIFE?
Pray
to God, a prayer - from your heart.
Tell Him that you
are a sinner and that you need forgiveness. Tell him that
you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins. Tell him that
you are willing to change, to turn away from sin. Ask Jesus
Christ to come into your heart and life and be your personal
Saviour.
"But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2
Corinthians 5:17)
If
you prayed and ask Jesus Christ into your heart - YOU HAVE NOW
RECEIVED THE GIFT OF SALVATION - YOU HAVE BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
God Bless You.
-
Powerful AUDIO Bible sermons/messages
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken
- click on
message to listen -
Bible
Scriptures verses about
 death
crucifixion of Jesus Christ, resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter
(King James Version
-KJV)
Isaiah
7:14 - (kjv) - "Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name
Emanuel." Luke
1:35 - (kjv) - "...the
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Galatians
4:4 - (kjv) - "But
when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His
Son..." John
5:24 - (kjv) - 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. Matthew
26:49-50 - (kjv) - "And forthwith he came to
Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him. And Jesus said unto
him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid
hands on Jesus, and took Him away." Matthew
26:55-56 - (kjv) - "In
that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as
against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily
with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me. But
all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled." Matthew
26:2 - (kjv) - "Ye know that after two days
is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be
crucified." Matthew
27:3-10 - (kjv) - "Then
Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned,
repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to
the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have
betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see
thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple,
and departed, and went and hanged himself." "And
the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not
lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price
of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's
field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The
field of blood, unto this day." "Then
was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that
was valued, Whom they of the children of Israel did value; And
gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." Matthew
28:1-10 - (kjv) - In
the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day
of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the
sepulcher. And,
behold there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his
raiment white as snow: And
for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And
the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I
know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for
He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the
dead, and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall
ye see Him: lo, I have told you. And
they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy;
and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell
His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they
came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him." Then
said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they
go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me. Luke
13:3 - (kjv) - I
tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish. Acts
17:30 - (kjv) - At
the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commanded all
men every where to repent: Acts
3:19 - (kjv) - Repent
ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord; 1
John 1:9 - (kjv) - If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our]
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Revelation
2:5 - (kjv) - Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the
first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Acts
2:38 - (kjv) - 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. 2
Peter 3:9 - (kjv) - The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Mark
1:15 - (kjv) - And
saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2
Corinthians 7:9 - (kjv) - Now
I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to
repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye
might receive damage by us in nothing. Matthew
3:2 - (kjv) - And
saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Joel
2:13 - (kjv) - And rend
your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your
God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of
great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Jeremiah
18:8 - (kjv) - If that
nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I
will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Revelation
3:19 - (kjv) - As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent. Matthew
4:17 - (kjv) - From
that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jonah
3:10 - (kjv) - And God saw
their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God
repented of the evil, that he had said he would not do unto them;
and he did [it] not. Acts
20:21 - (kjv) - Testifying
both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God,
and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts
8:22 - (kjv) - Repent
therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
though of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Jonah
3:9 - (kjv) - Who
can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away from his
fierce anger, that we perish not? 2
Timothy 2:25 - (kjv) - In
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth; Mark
1:4 - (kjv) - John
did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins. Hebrews
12:17 - (kjv) - For ye know
how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he
was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he
sought it carefully with tears. Romans
2:4 - (kjv) - Or despisest
thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Acts
26:20 - (kjv) - But
shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and
throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles,
that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance. Luke
3:3 - (kjv) - I
came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke
3:3 - (kjv) - And
he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism
of repentance for the remission of sins; Mark
6:12 - (kjv) - And
they went out, and preached that men should repent. Mark
2:7 - (kjv) - When Jesus
heard [it], he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need
of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to to call
the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew
27:3 - (kjv) - Then Judas,
which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned,
repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to
the chief priests and elders, Matthew
9:13 - (kjv) - But
go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. John
6:50 - (kjv) - This
is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat
thereof, and not die. Matthew
6:13 - (kjv) - And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen. Isaiah
57:15 - (kjv) - For thus saith
the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is]
Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that
is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Philippians
1:23 - (kjv) - For
I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be
with Christ; which is far better: Romans
6:23 - (kjv) - For
the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Galatians
6:8 - (kjv) - For he that soweth
to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Jeremiah
10:10 - (kjv) - But the
LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting
king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall
not be able to abide his indignation. Psalms
90:2 - (kjv) - Before
the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the
earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou
[art] God. Psalms
72:17 - (kjv) - His
name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as
the sun: and [men] shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call
him blessed. Psalms
41:13 - (kjv) - Blessed
[be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting.
Amen, and Amen. Matthew
5:8 - Blessed
are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matthew
5:12 - Rejoice,
and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew
5:20 - For
I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew
6:20 -
But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matthew
8:11 - And I say unto you, That
many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with
Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew
13:30 - Let both grow together until the harvest: and
in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye
together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:
but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew
13:43 - Then shall the righteous
shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who
hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew
13:49 - So shall it be at
the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the
wicked from among the just. Matthew
18:10 - Take heed that ye despise
not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, That in heaven
their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in
heaven. Matthew
19:21 - Jesus said unto him, If
thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow
me. Matthew
22:30 - For in the resurrection
they neither marry; nor are given in marriage, but are as the
angels of God in heaven. Matthew
25:34 - Then shall the King say
unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world: Matthew
25:46 - And these shall go away
into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Luke
10:20 - Notwithstanding in this
rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather
rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke
12:8 -
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him
shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. Luke
12:32 - Fear not, little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke
12:33 - Sell that ye have, and
give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure
in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth,
neither moth corrupteth. Luke
15:6 - And when he cometh home,
he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them,
Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke
15:7 - I say unto you, that
likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no
repentance. Luke
15:10 - Likewise, I say unto you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth. Luke
15:32 - It was meet that we
should make merry, and be glad for this thy brother was dead, and
is alive again, and was lost, and is found. Luke
16:22 - And it came to pass, that
the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; Luke
20:34 - And Jesus answering said
unto them, The child of this world marry, and are given in
marriage: Luke
20:35 - But they which shall be
accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from
the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Luke
20:36 - Neither can they die any
more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of
God, being the children of the resurrection. Luke
22:29 - And I appoint unto you a
kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; Luke
22:30 - That ye may eat and drink
at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. Luke
23:43 - And Jesus said unto him,
Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. John
5:28 - Marvel not at this: for
the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall
hear his voice, John
5:28 - And shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that
have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John
10:28 - And I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand. John
12:26 - If any man serve me, let
him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if
any man serve me, him will my Father honour. John
13:26 - Simon Peter said unto
him, Lord, whither goes thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I
go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me
afterwards. John
14:2 - 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. John
14:3 -
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
17:22 - And the glory which thou
gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are
one. John
17:24 -
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me
where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given
me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Acts
7:55 - But he, being full of the
Holy Ghost, look up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, Acts
7:56 - And said, Behold, I see
the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand
of God. Romans
5:17 - For if by one man's
offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one, Jesus Christ. 2
Corinthians 5:1 - For we know
that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens. 2
Corinthians 12:2 - I knew a man
in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot
tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
such an one caught up to the third heaven. 2
Corinthians 2:3 - And I knew such
a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell:
God knoweth;) 2
Corinthians 2:4 - How that he was
caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is
not lawful for a man to utter. Ephesians
1:18 - The eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope
of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints, Colossians
1:5 - For the hope which is laid
up for you in heaven; whereof ye heard before in the word of the
truth of the gospel; Colossians
1:6 - Which is come unto you, as
it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also
in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in
truth. Colossians
1:12 - Giving thanks unto the
Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light. Colossians
3:4 - When Christ, who is our
life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 1
Thessalonians 2:12 - That ye
would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and
glory. 1
Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever
be with the Lord. 11
Thessalonians 1:7 - And to
you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall
be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 11
Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he
called you by our gospel, to the obtaining the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Hebrews
10:34 - For ye had compassion of
me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,
knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an
enduring substance. Hebrews
11:16 - But now they desire a
better country, that is, an heavenly : wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a
city. Hebrews
12:22 - But ye are come unto
mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. Hebrews
12:23 - To the general assembly
and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to
God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Hebrews
12:24 - And to Jesus the mediator
of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh
better things than that of Abel. Hebrews
12:28 - Wherefore we receiving a
kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may
serve God acceptably: with reverence and godly fear. Hebrews
13:14 - For here have we no
continuing city, but we seek one to come. 1
Peter 1:4 - To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled; and that fadeth not away, reserved
in heaven for you, 2
Peter 1:11 - For so an entrance
shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2
Peter 3:13 - Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness. Revelation
2:7 - He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God. Revelation
3:21 - To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation
4:4 - And round about the throne
were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and
twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on
their heads crowns of gold. Revelation
5:9 - And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Revelation
7:9 - After this I beheld, and,
lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their
hands. Bible
Scriptures verses on Values, morals
Moral & values taught by
Jesus Christ
(King
James Version) Matthew
6:24 - (kjv) - No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Acts
20:35 - (kjv) - I have shewed you
all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is
more blessed to give than to receive. Luke
6:32 - (kjv) - For if ye
love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also
love those than love them. Romans
14:1
- (kjv) - Him
that is weak in the faith receive ye [but] not to doubtful
disputations. Mark
11:25
- (kjv) - And
when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that
your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses. Leviticus
19:18
- (kjv) - Thou
shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people, but thoo shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I [am] the
LORD. Leviticus
19:9-10 - (kjv) - And when ye
reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the
corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of
thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither
shall thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave
them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. Colossians
3:12-14
- (kjv) - Put
on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness. 2
Timothy 3:16
- (kjv) - All
scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: Colossians
3:1 - (kjv) - If ye then be risen
with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God Philippians
3:18-19 -
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you
even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Philippians
3:1 -
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same
things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is]
safe. Ephesians
5:5 -
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians
5:1-7 -
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; Ephesians
4:32 -
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians
4:1-6 -
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Galatians
6:7-8 -
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap. Romans
14:10-12 -
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at
nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment
seat of Christ. Romans
13:1 -
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans
12:2 -
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans
12:1 -
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
[which is] your reasonable service.
Romans
3:23 -
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
John
8:1-8 -
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
John
3:17 -
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 -
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
2:3-6 -
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him,
They have no wine.
John
1:8 -
He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that
Light.
John
1:1 -
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
Luke
16:13 -
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise
the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke
10:25-28 -
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying,
Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Matthew
1:16 (kjv) - And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom
was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew
1:18 (kjv) - Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on the wise: When
as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came
together, we was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matthew
27:22 (kjv) - Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with
Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be
crucified. Mark
1:1 (kjv) - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. Mark
12:35 (kjv) - And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the
temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? John
1:17 (kjv) - For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ. John
17:3
(kjv) - And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John
20:31
(kjv) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name. Acts
2:36
(kjv) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that
God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord
and Christ. Acts
2:38
- 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. Acts
3:6
(kjv) - 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. Acts
3:20
(kjv) - And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you. Acts
4:10 (kjv)
- Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that
by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom
God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here
before you whole. Acts
5:42
(kjv) - And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased
not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts
8:12
(kjv) - And when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptized, both men and women. Acts
8:37
(kjv) - And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Acts
9:34
(kjv) - And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee
whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
For further spiritual counsel,
prayer or gospel literature, please contact us!
www.mswm.org
www.maxsolbrekken.com
email: max @maxsolbrekken.com Max
Solbrekken World Mission, PO Box 44220, RPO Garside, Edmonton,
AB T5V 1N6 (780) 460-8444
The House of Prayer, New Sarepta, AB (780)-941-2372
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