|
 The
Importance of
PREVAILING PRAYERS
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
Jesus
said, "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the
heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking." (Matthew 6:7)
"I
have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming
conviction that I had nowhere else to go." -
Abraham Lincoln
WHY
ARE PREVAILING PRAYERS SO IMPORTANT?
Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed
willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
"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) "Pray
without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17))
People
have many questions regarding prayer, and many find it hard to
pray, not knowing what to say, and feeling unsure if their prayers
are being heard, or even matter! You may be someone with
questions about prayer. In the following article I will try
to answer these questions by turning to the Bible scriptures for
answers.
 DOES
PRAYER REALLY WORK - OR IS IT ONLY AN ESCAPE FROM STRESS OR
FEAR ?
Could
prayer just be the consoling of a wounded spirit or a guilty
conscience?
You
may ask, "Does prayer really work, or is it only an escape
from stress, fear or inner turmoil"? Or perhaps you may feel
that prayer is only a safety valve from anxiety and danger?
WHAT
EXACTLY IS PRAYER?
You
may wonder what exactly is prayer? Is prayer just a
formality, a tradition, a memorized group of words that we
automatically repeat when praying?
Is
prayer actually the communication between the supplicant and
Almighty God?
Or is prayer only an inner quieting of the human spirit, a
tonic of the soul?
DO
YOU HAVE TO SPEND TIME IN PRAYER TO BE A CHRISTIAN?
Is
prayer a prerequisite to healthy Christian living or is it just a
ploy of entrapment by Ministers of the Gospel or Roman priests, in
order to gain and keep church members in line?
IS
PRAYER A WASTE OF TIME ?
You
may say that you have prayed and prayed and God didn't answer your
prayers, so you gave up praying.
Is
prayer just a waste of time, like some think or say, or is
prayer a valuable tool in the Christian's arsenal against sin,
fear, sickness and the devil?
IS
PRAYER ONLY A RITUAL THAT WE DO BY TRADITION OR HABIT ?
Many
people pray as a ritual or habit, but are they just saying the
words they are taught and memorized, or are they actually praying
and communing with the LORD. When you pray, are you meeting
with God, our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord?
In
this treatise, I will endeavor to shatter all the humanistic
assumptions of modernist theologians as well as atheists and
cultists! I will share a number of concrete evidences from
personal experience, as well as from the Holy Scriptures, to prove
that "God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must do so
in Spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-4)
I
will also prove to you, through the Holy Scriptures of the Bible
that God is a loving Heavenly Father, Who desires to fellowship
with us and wants to have communion with His children.
My
friend, if you will open your heart to accept the Word of God as
the absolute and final truth, you will experience the reality of
His presence and power at work in your life! And you will know of
a truth that God hears and answers prayer.
MARTIN
LUTHER WAS A MAN OF PRAYER
At
his trial at the Diet in Worms, Germany, on April 18, 1521, Martin
Luther - the Great Reformer - was asked: "Will you recant
of your writings?"
He
answered so eloquently: "Since Your Majesty and your
lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and
without teeth. Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain
reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for
they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to
the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything,
for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here
I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me.
Amen."
As
Martin Luther presented
his case before the Emperor and the highest authorities of papist Rome
, I
hereby present my case for the reality of God, the need for prayer
and the overwhelming evidence that the Almighty does hear and
answer our petitions and supplications, when we call upon Him in
sincerity and faith.
The
Church of Scotland's Westminster Confession
states: "Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God
for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with
confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His
mercies."
God's
Word says, "And it shall come to pass that, before they
call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
(Isaiah 65:24).
The
Psalmist prayed: "Let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my
Strength and my Redeemer. Thou hast heard the desire of the
humble." (Psalms 19:14
:10:17
)
USE
NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO
Jesus
said: "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen
do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking." (Matthew 6:7)
PRAYER
IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP
Martin
Luther's Small Catechism
states: "Prayer is an act of worship wherein we bring our petitions
before God with our hearts
and lips and offer up praise and thanksgiving to Him."
PRAYER
IS A LIFTING UP OF THE SOUL TO
ALMIGHTY
GOD
King
David referred to true prayer as the "lifting up" of the
soul to Almighty God: "Unto
Thee Lord, do I lift up my soul."
(Psalms 25:1) That speaks of an intense desire to fellowship with
our Heavenly Father, similar to the flower turning its face toward
the sun to receive warmth and sustenance.
PRAYER
IS MORE THAN JUST ASKING GOD FOR BLESSINGS
Prayer
is much more than just asking the Almighty LORD for His blessings
or for intervention during trying, dangerous or impossible
situations.
Prayer
is a holy conversation with God. Prayer is a a divine
meeting and a time of intimacy with the One who is Lord over
life and death, time and eternity! Prayer is a loving
relationship and communion with our Heavenly Father, wherein
we can bathe in His presence and extol and worship our precious
Lord and Saviour.
PRAYER
INVOLVES TIME OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE
AS WELL AS THANKSGIVING TO GOD
Genuine
prayer involves a time of thanksgiving, worship and praise to the
LORD, as well as definite supplications or calling upon the Lord
for His mercy, grace and blessing! Prayer is essentially, entering
the Holy of Holies in the very presence of God and worshipping Him
in Spirit and in truth.
SATAN
TREMBLES WHEN WE PRAY
It
has been said: "Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our
wisdom, but trembles when we pray!" The book 'The
Kneeling Christian' gives this poignant and powerful assessment of
the importance of prayer.
THERE
IS NOTHING THE DEVIL DREADS AS MUCH AS PRAYER
"Fellow
Christians, let us awake! The devil is blinding our
eyes. He is endeavoring to prevent us from facing this
question of prayer. Do we realize that there is nothing the
devil dreads so much as prayer? His great concern is to keep
us from praying. He loves to see us 'up to our eyes" in
work - provided we do not pray. He does not fear because we
are eager and earnest Bible students - provided we are little in
prayer."
'THE
KNEELING CHRISTIAN'
When
my sister Astrid passed away in 1987, the above mentioned book fell into my
hands. She had purchased it from the Hull Publishing Company in
Winnipeg many years earlier, and knowing what a consistent and
ardent Christian she had been since 'Day One' in her life, I
greatly treasured it. It wasn't until I read 'The
Kneeling Christian'
in the Norwegian language, however, that I began to fully
understood its great spiritual worth.
Written
many years ago by a Minister of the Gospel in Great Britain
, the
author refused to reveal his identity, using the pseudonym 'An
unknown Christian',
this book has a powerful appeal to those who love Jesus Christ and
are sold out to His cause. Here is another excerpt from his
writing:
WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH FAR MORE BY OUR
PRAYERS
THAN BY OUR WORK
"Let
us never forget that the greatest thing we can do for God or for
man is to pray. For, we can accomplish far more by our
prayers than by our work. Prayer is omnipotent; it can do
anything that God can do! When we pray, God works.
All
fruitfulness in service is the outcome of prayer - of the worker's
prayers, or of those who are holding up holy hands on his knees on
his behalf. We all know how to pray, but perhaps many of us
need to cry as the disciples did of old: "LORD,
teach us to pray."
LORD,
TEACH US TO PRAY
MARTIN
LUTHER declared: 'If I don't spend
at least three hours in prayer daily, I would never get my work
done. If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should
lose a great deal of the fire of faith."
A.J.
GORDON stated: "You can do
more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more
than pray until you have prayed."
RICHARD
BAXTER was a mighty 'man of
prayer'. He stated: "I seek to preach as a dying man to dying
men." He delivered every message "as though it were the
last message" he would ever preach.
JOHN
WESLEY - founder of the Methodist Church stated: "Give me
100 preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but
God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen;
such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of
Heaven on earth. God does not but in answer to prayer."
Interestingly,
history credits John Wesley and the Methodist Revival that swept
Great Britain
, for saving
England
from
the similar fate of the French Revolution.
GEORGE
WHITEFIELD, a contemporary of
Wesley's wrote: "Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate
on the ground in silent and vocal prayer."
DR.
A.J GORDON wrote concerning David Brainerd: "In the depths of those forests alone, he was
unable to speak the language of the Indians, but he spent whole
days literally in prayer, that the power of the Holy Ghost would
come upon him so unmistakably that these people should not be able
to stand before him. Once he preached through a drunken
interpreter, a man so intoxicated that he could hardly stand up,
yet scores were converted through that sermon."
DAVID
BRAINARD wrote: "I cared
not where or how I lived or the hardships I went through, so that
I could but gain souls for Christ. When I was asleep I
dreamed of these things. When I was awake, the first thing I
thought of was this great work. All my desire was for the
conversion of the heathen and all my hope was in God."
Toward
the end of his life, John Wesley wrote a letter to all his pastors
and workers urging them all to read the 'Life of David Brainerd.'
DR.
A.C. DIXON
wrote: "William Carey read 'Life of David Brainerd', and
he was so moved that he went to India. Henry Martyn read
'Life of David Brainerd', and by its impulse, he went to India.
Payson read it, as a young man of 20 years, and he said he had
never been so impressed by anything in his life as by that story.
Murray McCheney read it and was powerfully impressed by it.
It
was Robert Murray McCheney who stated: "A holy Minister is an
awful weapon in the hands of God."
WHY
IS PRAYER NECESSARY ?
WE HAVE AN INNATE DESIRE TO COMMUNE WITH GOD
1.
Because we are spiritual beings with an innate desire to
communicate with our Heavenly Father and Creator. We were
created in the image of God and there is therefore a natural pull
heavenward! Although Adam's fall greatly marred this
process, through Jesus Christ''s death on the cross for us all,
believers are reinstated and again bear the image of our Father
and God!
WE
HAVE A DEEP NEED OF DAILY CLEANSING FROM SIN
2.
Because of the deep need of daily cleansing from sin, having been
reconciled to our Heavenly Father through the shed blood of Jesus
Christ our LORD.
And
the blessed assurance that this relationship will continue
throughout our lives and into eternity! Prayer keeps our
relationship current, so that doubts and fears do not enter our
hearts.
3.
Because of the many and varied problems, crises, tragedies and
human needs that we cannot personally solve, which involve
ourselves, our families and society in general
DURING
PRAYER WE CALL UPON THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP US AND GUIDE US
Prayer
calls upon the only ONE who can make the necessary modifications
to solve those problems and give us proper directions and
guidance.
4.
Because of God's generous offer to us - through the vicarious
death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ - of full
salvation which includes divine healing, the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit and eternity with Him forevermore.
Through
prayer, we take advantage of His bountiful provisions for us,
thereby allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us "with
groanings that cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:28)
PRAYER
FULFILLS OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER THROUGH PRAISE & WORSHIP
5.
Because of a spiritual hunger and longing to be in His presence -
through worship, praise and thanksgiving - we are drawn by the
Holy Spirit into the very Holy of Holies, the very presence of our
Heavenly Father through the Blood of Jesus Christ that was shed
for us on Calvary's cross.
'Dear
Heavenly Father, bless all who read these lines. In Jesus''
precious name, I pray, Amen.'
HEALING
FOR THE SICK
Through faith in Jesus Christ
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken
"...man
is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7)
"Many
are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him
out of them all." (Psalms. 34:19)
"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)
"Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
THERE
IS HOPE FOR YOU - THERE IS HEALING FOR YOU -
GOD WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS
Multitudes
today are suffering from a disease or infirmity with no relief in
sight. They have frequented doctors, clinics and hospitals with
little or no help - and are discouraged, angry and bitter!
Some
have prayed earnestly regarding their healing, had special prayer
in their church by the pastor and elders or by an evangelist whom
God uses to bring healing to the sick through faith in Jesus
Christ - and still are not healed! Many become
discouraged thinking that God is not listening to their prayers or
that they are not important enough for him to give them answers to
their prayers.
Possibly
someone reading this booklet fits one of these categories. After
your hospital visit or prayer service, you are 'not better'. You
may even be getting worse! Your faith is at a low ebb and you're
tired of being tired, sick and defeated. You are tired of hoping
and believing without any answers to your prayers.
You
feel like throwing up your hands in despair since nothing helps,
and accept weakness, pain, sickness and distress as your lot in
life!
MY
DEAR FRIEND, THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR YOU. It is not too
late. It may seem hopeless, but it is not. It may seem useless
to think of deliverance, but it is not. So long as you are alive
and there is a God in Heaven, there is hope!
The
Bible says, "With men this is impossible, but not with God,
for with God all things are possible". (Mark 10:27) It may
seem impossible to you but with God NOTHING is impossible.
Man's
extremity becomes God's opportunity. And when man fails, that's
when God can take over, for He never fails. When man 'gives up on
you', God is ready, willing and able to step in and bring to pass
a miracle in your life, because nothing is impossible with Him!
GOD
CAN & WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYER! When God could bring
the world into being by His spoken Word, hang the universe on
nothing, fling the sun, moon and stars into the far most corner of
the night to rotate in perfect harmony, HE CAN ANSWER YOUR PRAYER.
You must be patient and continue to pray and seek God, as he will
answer your prayers when he feels the time is right.
"By
the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of
them by the breath of His mouth." (Psalm 33:6). Since
He has the ability to create millions of moons, galaxies of stars
and heavenly bodies by a few words from Hs lips, most assuredly He
is able to destroy the cancer, heart disease, diabetes or
arthritis which is stealing your health.
WHEN
AT THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND, GOD CREATED A PERFECT HUMAN BEING IN HIS
OWN IMAGE AND BREATHED INTO MAN'S NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE
MAKING HIM A LIVING SOUL, SURELY HE CAN HEAL YOUR SICK SPIRIT,
SOUL (MIND) AND BODY. HE HAS PROMISED HEALING, GOD HAS
PROMISED ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS.
The
Great God Who brought back to life the Lord Jesus Christ, can
certainly quicken your mortal body. When you think of how great
and mighty our God is, certainly nothing could be impossible to
Him!
St.
Paul declares: "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus
from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken - make life in - your mortal (temporal, dying)
bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you". (Romans
8:11)
Is
God able to heal our weak, aging, temporal bodies? Yes, He is able
to and He does! Is God able to answer your prayers.
Yes - He is willing to answer your prayers. The Bible says,
"All things are possible to him that believeth". (Mark
9:23) Since He (the Holy Spirit) brought Jesus Christ back
from the dead, He can most certainly heal our diseased and dying
bodies, says St. Paul.
In
verse 26, the great apostle continues, "Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities (lit. greek - takes a hold of against
our sicknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we
ought: but the Spirit itself (Himself) maketh intercession for us
(lit. greek - and together with us) with groanings (Holy Spirit
prayer - praying in tongues) which cannot be uttered."
The
same Blessed Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus Christ from the dead
dwells within us and "takes a hold of against our
sickness" and together with us prays to our Heavenly Father
for our healing and deliverance!
"ALL
THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH"
The
Bible says, "All things are possible to him that
believeth". (Mark 9:23) The first truth we have
established is that your case is not too difficult for God and
there is a good possibility of your healing to take place We
have also established that God is able and willing to heal you -
to answer your prayers!
THE
BIBLE STATES THAT JESUS CAME TO BRING LIFE!
"The
thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and destroy, but I
am come that they might have life and have it more
abundantly." (John 10:10)
Jesus
stated that the devil came for only three reasons; to steal, kill
and destroy! But Jesus came to bring life! The devil is
a thief and a murderer (John 8:44) and came only to do evil
(steal, kill and destroy). He came to rob you of your
happiness, joy, peace, health and blessing. He came to harm you
and finally destroy you in a hospital, insane asylum or prison.
The
devil is cruel, perverted, evil, wicked and ungodly. He can only
do evil. He has no capability to do good. The devil is the death
giver!
JESUS
IS 100% GOOD! He came to bring life. He came to bring
blessings to all who would believe. HE CAME TO BRING ABUNDANT
LIFE BECAUSE HE IS THE LIFE GIVER! Some people have given the
devil the credit for healing sick people - this is blasphemous and
utterly false. It is contrary to God's Word and accuses Jesus of
telling an untruth.
We
know that Jesus is the truth, the life and the way (John 14:6).
The Word of God is pure, divine and infallible!
JESUS
SAID THAT YOU CANNOT GET GOOD FRUIT FROM A CORRUPT TREE OR CORRUPT
FRUIT FROM A GOOD TREE. By their fruits we shall know them! Jesus
said a corrupt tree 'bringeth not forth good fruit'. (Matthew
7:18) It is against the law of a thorn tree to bring forth figs -
you can't get sweet water out of a fountain that is bitter.
HOW
COULD THE DEVIL, WHO IS COMPLETELY EVIL, BRING FORTH SOMETHING
THAT IS GOOD?
Jesus
called the devil a thief who came only to steal, kill and destroy.
He came to this earth for no other purpose! Jesus came to bring
life! Healing and health is life! Sickness and disease brings
death! The Bible classifies 'healing' as 'doing good'!
"How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power,
Who went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed of the
devil." (Acts 10:38)
The
message is plain and simple: The devil made people sick but Jesus
made them well. Sickness comes from satanic sources and divine
healing has its origin in God! The literal Greek states that
Jesus Christ healed all those who "were under the dominion,
authority or lordship of Satan". That is God's Word -
Believe it and be healed;
IT
MAY APPEAR THAT WITCH DOCTORS AND OCCULTS MAY HEAL OR CURE BUT
BE NOT DECEIVED
Oh
I know there are times that it appears witch doctors and other
occultists may have affected cures by their incantations. Do
not be deceived. Satan is a deceiver and manipulator.
In the end, his involvement always brings enslavement, torment
& death.
The
magicians (witch doctors and soothsayers) of Egypt could duplicate
many of the miracles performed by Moses in the sight of Pharaoh
(king) of Egypt. There were two things they could not do, however.
#1
- They could not get rid of the plagues even though they could
duplicate Moses in bringing forth the flies and frogs. Moses had
to be called to get rid of the plagues: eg. darkness, flies,
frogs, lice, locusts. Interpretation: Satan can bring the cancer
but he has no power to heal the person from the death-dealing work
of the disease which he has brought. God is the only healer and
restorer!
#2
- When it comes to creating life, the magicians could not create
lice out of dust as Moses did in the Name of the Lord.
The
magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God".
(Exodus 8:19) Here is the interpretation: Satan is a deceiver and
trickster but he has no power to do good, heal, save or create
life! All he can do is deceive, lie, steal and kill! Only
God can heal and create life and sustain it!
There
are some things you must do if you are to be healed. Study the
accounts of sick folk - in the Bible - who were healed, and if you
do what they did, you will certainly receive healing, because
Jesus Christ is no respecter of persons!
No.
1 - WORSHIP JESUS CHRIST!
There
is only ONE HEALER, Jesus Christ. He alone is the Great Physician.
Seek Him and worship Him, and turn from every known sin. Seek the
Healer and not the healing!
Focus
your attention on Jesus. Worship, praise and magnify His Name and
His love, forgiveness and healing will automatically flow into
you!
"And,
behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if
Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand,
and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately
his leprosy was cleansed". (Matthew 8:2-3)
PEOPLE
WHO SEEK ONLY A HEALING, MIRACLE OR ANSWERS TO PRAYER
WITHOUT WORSHIPPING GOD - WILL BE GREATLY DISAPPOINTED
By
seeking God through Jesus Christ, you will establish a vital
contact with the Great Physician and receive your miracle and
answers to your prayers. People who seek only a healing or a
miracle or answers to prayers without worshipping God, will be
greatly disappointed.
ALWAYS
REMEMBER, KNOWING GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND THE BLESSED HOLY
SPIRIT - WITHOUT BEING HEALED PHYSICALLY - IS FAR MORE
ADVANTAGEOUS THAN GETTING ONLY A PHYSICAL MIRACLE WITHOUT
RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOUR AND LORD!
Jarius
was in a desperate situation. His daughter was at the point of
death when he decided to seek out the Master. Here is the Bible
account.
While
He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain
ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, My daughter is even now dead:
but come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus
arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples.
"And,
behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve
years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment: For
she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall
be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He
said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee
whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour."
"And
when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and
the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the
maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But
when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the
hand, and the maid arose." (Matt. 9:18-25)
CANAANITE
WOMAN WORSHIPS JESUS!
"And,
behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried
unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my
daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not
a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her
away; for she crieth after us." But He answered
and said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house
of Israel." Then came she and worshipped Him, saying,
"Lord, help me."
But
He answered and said, "It is not meet to take the children's
bread, and to cast it to dogs." And she said, "Truth,
Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said unto her,
"O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou
wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."
(Matt. 15:22-28)
The
Bible states, "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." (Matthew 28:9)
GOD
HEARS THE PRAYERS AND ANSWERS THE PRAYERS OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM
Without
doubt, God hears your prayers and God answers the prayers of those
who worship Him. And all who are saved and healed by God's power
WILL desire to worship Him!
The
blind man whom Jesus healed is a good example of that fact:
"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had
found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on
Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is
He that talketh with thee."
"And
he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him". (John
9:35-38)
To
the Samaritan woman, Jesus said, "But the hour cometh, and
now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth". (John 4:23-24)
No.
2 - HUMBLE YOURSELF!
Pride
is a gigantic hindrance to receiving divine healing! "But He
answered and said it is not meet to take the children's bread, and
to cast it to dogs.
And
she said, truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall
from their master's table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her,
O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."
(Matthew 15:26-28)
Here
is the account of a Canaanite woman humbling herself in the sight
of God. When she did, Jesus granted her request! Her daughter was
healed!
ANOTHER
GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW GOD REWARDS HUMILITY IS FOUND IN THE HEALING
ACCOUNT OF NAAMAN
"So
Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the
door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him,
saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall
come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
But
Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He
will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the
Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the
leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than
all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So
he turned and went away in a rage.
And
his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father,
if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not
have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash,
and be clean?"
"Then
went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according
to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like
unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (2 Kings
5:9-14)
Many
people believe that they will receive something from God because
of WHO THEY ARE OR THINK THEY ARE! We do not receive
healing because we are worthy, but because we are needy. And Jesus
Christ met that need nearly 2000 years ago on the cross!
WE
RECEIVE HEALING FROM GOD BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE AND MERCY AND
BECAUSE OF HIS WORD - NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT - HEALING IS A
GIFT
It
is only because of His great liberality to us by sending His Son
Jesus Christ, to die in our place and purchase our salvation, that
we receive forgiveness and divine healing from His gracious and
loving land!
We
must never forget that forgiveness, divine healing, the gifts and
graces of God which He bestows upon us are simply that - gifts of
God's mercy to us!
No.
3 - BELIEVE IN GOD'S INTEGRITY, ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS
TO KEEP HIS PROMISES TO US
Believe
that God's Word is absolutely true and that it will never pass
away! The Heavens and the Earth will pass away, but God's Word
will stand forever. (Matthew 24:35) God's Word is as pure
and divine as God Himself (John 1:1-4).
THE
HOLY SCRIPTURES ARE GOD'S WORD!
The
Lord God Almighty is back of His Word, and it will never fail (1
Kings 8:56). God has placed His Word above His Name (Psalm 138:2).
His Word has gone out of His mouth in righteousness and will not
return void.
"So
shall My word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not
return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah
55:11)
God
will perform every Word He has spoken. "Then said the Lord
unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My word to perform
it." (Jeremiah 1:12) "So shall My word be that
goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but
it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in
the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) Believe that
God's Word is the final authority and that IT IS GOOD TODAY!
Then, appropriate His Word to yourself, for your own individual
need!
Jesus
said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He hath sent me to
heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke
4:18-20)
The
Bible says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) Jesus asked two blind
men, "Believest thou that I am able to do this (heal
them)?" They answered, "Yea, Lord."
Then
Jesus touched their eyes saying, "According to your faith be
it unto you", and they were instantly healed!
Jesus
said, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him
that believeth". (Mark 9:23)
"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)
No.
4 - TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD!
The
Bible says, "...if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice
of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight,
and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought
upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord that healeth thee."
(Exodus 15:26)
Jesus
promised: 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
"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)
Seven
hundred years before His birth in Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit
promised divine healing through the Coming Messiah!
"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)
Here
is the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy: "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)
There
are three very important spiritual laws which Jesus Christ gave
His Church:
The
Law of Binding & Loosing
The
Law of Agreement
The
Law of God's Presence
These
three laws, when acted upon in faith, bring divine healing and
total deliverance to those who call upon the Lord in sincerity and
trust!
"Verily
I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven.
Again
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of My Father which is in heaven.
"For
where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in
the midst of them." (Matthew 18:18-20)
The
Law of Binding & Loosing is found in Matthew 18:18
The
Law of Agreement is contained in Matthew18:19.
The
Law of God's Presence is written in Matthew 18:20.
For
a full treatment of this subject, write for booklet on "The
Laws of God & Divine Healing"!
No.
5 - RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR HEALER
Confess
to the Lord that you Believe His Word and that you Know He is your
Healer!
Concur
with the Scriptures. Agree with Jesus Christ, that you Accept His
promises as true and infallible! Confess to Him that you Believe
that 'By His Stripes you are Healed'.
Then,
Thank Him for healing you and for answering your prayers.
Trust the Lord for complete deliverance. Relax and get well for
according to His Word, He has healed you.
The
Bible says, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass". (Psalm 37:5)
Jesus
said, "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye
desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall
have them". (Mark 11:24) Jesus Christ promises that he
will hear and answer your prayers.
YOU
MAY RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS. YOU MAY BE
HEALED SUDDENLY OR YOU MAY BEGIN TO AMEND AS ALSO HAPPENED IN THE
MINISTRY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!
"Then
enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said
unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the
father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said
unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole
house." (John 4:52-53)
READ
WITH JOY THESE WORDS OF LIFE: "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.
Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may
be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much". (James 5:14-16)
You
may receive divine healing in one of various ways - through the
laying on of hands, anointing with oil, prayer of agreement or
praying alone to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' dear Name, in your
home!
IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHICH WAY GOD HEALS YOU, SO LONG AS YOU ARE HEALED
Give
God all the glory. Share with others what God has done so that you
may rejoice together and glorify the Name of Jesus. Remember,
Jesus said in Mark 9:23 - "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM
THAT BELIEVETH".
Allow
me now to offer a prayer to God on your behalf.
Kind
Heavenly Father, I pray in Jesus' Name that you will extend Your
hand of mercy, forgiveness and divine healing right now to each
and everyone who is reading this booklet.
Upon
the authority of God's Word, by the blood of the everlasting
covenant, through the eternal Spirit of God and in Jesus' all
powerful Name, I command Satan to take his hands off each one
reading this booklet now!
Every
evil spirit of torment, infirmity and unrighteousness must leave
NOW, in Jesus' Name.
Heavenly
Father, please lay your healing hand on the sick, infirm and
sinful right now and save, heal and deliver them all.
THANK
YOU LORD. I BELIEVE IT IS DONE AND I PRAISE YOU IN JESUS' HOLY
& PRECIOUS NAME. Amen.
GOD'S
GUARANTEE TO ANSWER PRAYERS
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
Jesus
said, "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)
DOES
GOD ANSWER PRAYERS?
We
can come to God in prayer anytime, anywhere, and we can expect to
receive an answer from God.
God's
Word says, "Call unto Me, and i will answer thee, and shew
thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
(Jeremiah 33:3)
IF
WE WANT ANSWERS FROM GOD, WE MUST CALL UPON HIS NAME
When
we pray we anticipate God will answer us, but if we want God to
answer us, we must call upon His Name!
Jesus
said, "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)
"Come
unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
"And
him that cometh unto Me, I shall in no wise cast out." (John
6:37)
"Ask
and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find. Knock and it
shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, he
that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
"Behold
I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open
the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with
Me." (Revelation 3:20)
"Call
unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty
things which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3)
"I
will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)
GOD'S
GUARANTEE TO ANSWER PRAYERS
The
Bible is the authoritative, divinely inspired and perfect WORD OF
GOD! God's signature is on the original autographs,
written by holy men as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
St.
Peter emphasized, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
the scripture is of any private interpretation."
"For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2
Peter 1:20-21)
MARTIN
LUTHER DID NOT SEE A BIBLE UNTIL HE WAS
OVER 20 YEARS OF AGE
Martin
Luther had not seen a Bible until he was more than 20 years old
and his colleague Dr. Carlstadt had received his doctorate in
theology from a prestigious Roman Catholic Seminary without ever
reading the Bible!
THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH REFUSED CHRISTIAN LAYMAN TO STUDY AND READ
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR 100's OF YEARS
For
hundreds of years the Roman Catholic Church refused Christian
laymen the right to read and study the Holy Scriptures. They
claimed that it was too deep. "Only an educated priest or
theologian could understand God's Word", they pontificated!
This of course, was a trick of the devil!
THIS
WAS A TRICK OF THE DEVIL - SATAN KNOWS THE POWER OF GOD'S
WORD
Satan
knows how powerful God's Word is and so was using this deceptive
tactic to keep people in bondage. Jesus said, "Ye shall know
the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
No
wonder Martin Luther stated, "The papacy is a general chase
(hunting expedition) in which the Bishop of Rome is seeking to
capture and bring to hell as many unsuspecting people as he
can."
Sadly,
Roman Catholic Theologians put their own private interpretation on
God's Word, as do The Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and other
religious cults today.
When
St. Peter said, "No prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation...." What did he mean?
St.
Paul was simply saying:: God interprets the Scripture, Himself.
The
message God wants you to receive is not what a certain sect or
denomination reads into the scripture, but what He (God) is
communicating!
HOW
DOES GOD INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURES ?
God
interpret the scriptures by using other scriptures which the Holy
Spirit has anointed! Scripture interprets scripture and God
does not contradict His Word. When taken in context, you will find
that there are NO contradictions in The Holy Bible!
The
Holy Spirit and the Word of God agree totally, for the Holy Spirit
anointed holy men to write the scripture, and God has no mental
block or speech impediment!
GOD
SAID WHAT HE MEANT AND MEANT WHAT HE SAID - God
honours His Word today with all power and authority.
Jesus
Christ Himself is the Living Word of God while the Holy canon of
scripture, the Bible, is the written Word of God. Therefore, if
you will believe the Word of God and appropriate it for yourself,
Jesus Christ will come out of the pages of this holy book and come
into your heart. This offer from Christ is open to every person in
the entire world, regardless of age, race or color. This
offer is worldwide and has no strings attached.
St.
Paul said, "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)
There
are more than 33,000 promises of blessings in the Bible and they
all have to do with God's dealings with mankind! His promises are
not for angelic beings, but for lost, sinful, sick and fallen man.
His promises are for you and me!
1)
CHRIST'S INVITATION IS GENUINE
Jesus
invited, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
The
most beautiful word in any language is 'Come'. This is a word of
invitation and when Jesus calls, we must always be ready to answer
His call!
CHRIST
SAID "COME UNTO ME" - HE IS INVITING YOU TO COME TO HIM
IN PRAYER
He
said, "Come unto Me". He is the only one with solutions
to our problems and answers to our questions! How do we
come unto God? The only way we can respond to His invitation
of "Come Unto Me", in through Prayer. Prayer
is our direct communication with God.
PRAYER
IS OUR DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THE ALMIGHTY GOD
While
on a visit to the USA some years ago, the then Soviet Union's
communist president Mikhail Gorbachev stated, "Only Jesus
Christ had the solutions to every problem. I don't possess that
skill."
When
asked by US reporters, the reason for glasnost, perestroika and
the new freedom of religion which was happening in his country,
Gorbachev replied: "JESUS CHRIST"!
As
startled reporters asked him to repeat his answer, he stated
without hesitation: "JESUS CHRIST". Then, as if
realizing what he had just said, Gorbachev quickly changed the
subject.
GORBACHEV
STATED: "ONLY JESUS CHRIST HAS THE SOLUTION TO EVERY
PROBLEM"
Christ's
invitation is to "all who labour and are heavy laden",
and that takes us all in. Gorbachev was right: Only Jesus Christ
has the solution to every problem!
In
The Bible, which is the Word of God, our LORD promises rest and
peace to all the world, to anyone who responds to His Invitation.
We all need a new meeting with Jesus. No one in this world
is exempt from the cares, burdens, frustrations, temptations,
pressures, sicknesses and other pitfalls of Satan. These are all
of the world and of the flesh. But God promises that prayer
can change all this.
WE
ALL FACE TRIALS & TEMPTATIONS
We
are all constantly facing testing, temptations and trials in
various forms and fashions. The ability to pay our debts -
due to unemployment, unreasonable taxation or sickness - are some
of the biggest stress producers in this generation.
OUR
FAITH IS SORELY TRIED AS WE DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE
The
problems of life can test our faith as we deal with things like
family break-up among children, grandchildren, relatives and
friends. But Christ Jesus has promised us total victory, a release
from tension and an abiding peace as we look to Him alone and keep
our trust in His Word.
Hear
His Word again: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
If
you will notice, Christ didn't say Come to a certain
religious body or embrace a certain philosophy, ideology or
theology...but He said, "Come unto Me", and every person
in this world is included in this offer.
Jesus
didn't mention His mother Mary or His inner circle disciples
Peter, James or John or His half-brother James who became the
first authority as Pastor of the world's first Pentecostal Church
(the church was born on the day of Pentecost and exhibited
supernatural signs and wonders) in Jerusalem!
CHRIST
DIDN'T TELL US TO GO TO A HIGH PRIEST, RABBI OR PASTOR - HE SAID,
"COME UNTO ME"
JESUS
CHRIST didn't say come to the prophet, the apostle, the high
priest or the rabbi, pastor, or evangelist. He said,
"Come unto Me"!
You
will not find a single account in the Bible, of Jesus Christ ever
turning anyone away. Jesus met the needs of every person who
asked Him for help.
What
a reassuring feeling it is to know that Jesus Christ honours His
Word. When you are in need or a miracle healing or are in
danger and must have an answer to your prayers, you can depend on
the LORD Jesus Christ. He has given us the Invitation,
"Come Unto Me", it is up to us to respond to His
invitation, through prayer.
MY
OWN TESTIMONY OF GOD ANSWERING PRAYER
I
can verify that God is a "God at hand and not a God afar
off". (Jeremiah 23:23) I can confirm that God answers
prayer, through my own personal testimony.
In
1984, my team and I were conducting a crusade in Northern India,
when a staggering miracle occurred. I had planned to have a
very large crusade in the South, where nearly all visiting
evangelists go.
Previously
I had been in the South and Central parts of India, but had not
ventured into the North where the zealous, devout and often
fanatical Brahmin Hindus have almost total power. In fact,
for the previous twenty years, the number of Christians had
declined there each year!
Thousands
of pastors were ready to embrace our ministry in the South, and we
were expecting 100,000 persons on the opening night, with
prospects of larger crowds as the crusade progressed. And I
was excited about going!
GOD
CHANGED MY PLANS TO GO TO NORTH INDIA
Then
God changed my plans and I was challenged to go to North India, to
a very intellectual city of Brahmin Hindus and Moslems.
The
Hindus had just completed a ten day revival, in preparation for
our coming..iin order to rejuvenate the people in their beliefs.
This was also done to warn the people of the gospel!
On
the first night of our crusade, 1/4 million Moslems were in the
streets in a gigantic parade, to start 21 days of fasting in a
celebration called Ramadan!
We
started with 3,000 people on the opening night, backed by two
Methodist churches and about 120 zealous young people, from across
Asia, working with a group called "Christ is the
Answer".
MY
MESSAGE WAS TITLED, "JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY
AND FOREVER"
My
message was entitled, "Jesus Christ the same Yesterday, Today
and Forever"! I declared the gospel of Christ according to
St. Peter: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
I
PRESENTED THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH
AND THE LIFE"
Without
fear of contradiction I presented the claims of Christ where He
stated: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by Me". (John 14:6) "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 cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:9-10)
I
quoted St. Paul: "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)
I
declared that Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God - that
He was born of a virgin, His sinless less, His miracle ministry,
His victorious death and His glorious resurrection.
LESS
THAN 100 PEOPLE CAME FORWARD TO ACCEPT SALVATION
Less
than 100 came forward for salvation in the first service, but God
performed several miracles of healing in answer to my prayer!
THE
NEXT EVENING I CHOSE TO PREACH THE MESSAGE "THE UNKNOWN
GOD"
The
next evening there were 6,000 in attendance. Again I shared the
Word of God. I chose for my text Acts 17:18-32 where St. Paul
preached his famous Mars Hill message, "The Unknown
God".
I
SAID, "I SAW YOUR IMAGES, IDOLS & GODS MADE OF WOOD
& STONE - THEY ARE DEAD AND LIFELESS"
I
said, "I entered your city last evening and beheld your
temples and places of worship - I saw your images, idols and gods!
Idols that are made of wood, stone, plaster of paris and plastic;
gods that have eyes that see not, ears that hear not, mouths that
cannot speak, hands that have never helped anyone and feet that
are stationary"!
I
continued, "They are dead and lifeless, and so ignorant that
if I were to slap their faces, they wouldn't have enough sense to
move out of the way or say ouch."
I
THEN PRESENTED JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY TRUE SAVIOUR OF THE
WORLD
Then
I presented Jesus Christ, the only true Saviour of the world and
the Son of the Living God.
At
precisely 9:00 PM as I was making the altar call, suddenly loud
speakers began blaring out an opposing message - in the Hindi
language - in the very same venue which we were using!
THE
HINDU RELIGIOUS LEADERS WANTED TO STOP THE WORD OF GOD BEING TOLD
AND KILL ME, IF NECESSARY
Hindu
religious leaders had called a meeting and decided to conduct
another 10 day revival of their own, in the same park we had
permission to use.
They
had already alerted the police that there would be a riot on the
crusade grounds and 50 fanatics with stones & sticks were on
their way to start an uproar, stop the crusade and kill me, if
necessary!
On
those same grounds, two years previously, the Moslems had started
a riot in a Christian crusade, in order to stop the meetings.
Moslem fanatics had overturned a bus with 17 men, women and
children, poured gasoline on it, setting it ablaze and killing
them all! Of course, everyone fled and the crusade was
history!
More
than thirty years earlier, a well known American evangelist was
conducting a successful crusade in North India. Fanatics began a
riot and he had to leave.
The
Indian government then declared him non-grata-persona, effectively
barring him from the country since his crusades were dangerous and
prone to violence and riots. In this manner the bigots had
stopped one of the world's greatest soul winners from preaching in
that nation for more than 3 decades!
THE
FANATICS WANTED ME STOPPED FROM PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,
BUT GOD INTERVENED
Just
as the fanatics were entering the grounds, I was making the altar
call. More than 500 people were so gripped by the message and by
the Holy Spirit, that they rushed forward to accept Christ.
 I
PRAYED A POWERFUL PRAYER, REBUKING THE DEVIL AND CALLING UPON GOD
Then
as I prayed a powerful prayer, rebuking the devil and calling upon
God - in Jesus' Name - for miracles among the people, a 6 year old
boy who was lame in one leg from birth was instantly healed!
His
parents who were Brahmin Hindus rushed forward to testify, along
with their healed son. Upon hearing the commotion and the
testimony, the fanatics asked, "Who is that man? Is he a
prophet?" Those around them in the crowd said,
"Yes, he is a prophet from Canada".
THEY
THEN DROPPED THEIR STONES AND STICKS SAYING, "WE'LL GIVE HIM
ANOTHER DAY", AND PULLED DOWN THEIR LOUD SPEAKERS.
THE
NEXT EVENING I PREACHED ON "GOD'S LOVE AND THE BLOOD OF
JESUS"
The
next evening the crowd grew to 10,000 and I preached on
"God's Love and the Blood of Jesus"! The fanatics
who had previously wanted to hurt me, now wanted to kiss my
feet... And the revival continued with the crowd growing to
approximately 40,000 persons.
And
according to the last reports we have had, the Christian community
was not only strengthened but also is growing! Thousands enrolled
in the New Converts Class, by mail. And hundreds took special
courses for Christian Ministry! To God be the glory!
At
the time of this writing (December, 1992), we have just heard the
sad news that another well known American evangelist has very
recently been banned from India for the same reason. Hindu
fanatics took over his crusade declaring that he was fabricating
lying testimonies of people who claimed to be healed!
WE
CAN COME TO GOD ANYTIME, ANYWHERE AND EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN ANSWER
God's
Word says, "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew
thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
(Jeremiah 33:3)
GOD'S
WORD SAYS, "CALL UNTO ME, AND I WILL ANSWER THEE...AND SHOW
YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS"
All
of us have times of difficulty and trouble, and God is more
willing to give than we are to ask. In fact, Jesus said,
"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:24)
GOD'S
INVITATION IS "COME UNTO ME" AND "CALL UPON HIS
NAME"
We
are invited to call upon Him in the day of trouble and He will
deliver us and show us His mighty arm outstretched, in signs,
wonders and miracles!
All
we must do is call, and He will answer! It is humbling for us to
acknowledge our weakness and need for help. It is humbling for us
to request assistance from an outside force in this proud,
efficient and materialistic world, in which we live.
IF
WE WANT ANSWERS TO PRAYER, WE MUST CALL UPON GOD
Jesus
said, "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)
Again
our Lord stated, "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
invited, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
WE
MUST SPEND TIME IN PRAYER AND LEARN TO PRAY - WE MUST ASK GOD
FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS
The
simplest thing in the world for anyone to do is to ask for
something. And yet, it can be the most difficult! We must spend
time in prayer, learn to pray.
To
ask God for forgiveness, we must acknowledge our failings and our
sins.
To
ask God for guidance or for strength, we must acknowledge our
weakness.
To
ask God for divine healing, we must admit that we are sick and
that we need help!
But
Jesus made it so easy! He said, we must become like little
children and ask with child-like faith and expectation. And
His promise is sure and guaranteed to work. He will keep His Word!
Jesus
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)
Again
He stated, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain:"
"That
whatsoever ye ask of the Father in My name, He may give it
you." (John 15:16)
WITHOUT
CHRIST, WE ARE HOPELESS LOST AND WE ARE POWERLESS AGAINST SATAN
We
must remember Who our Source is. Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and
the Holy Spirit gives us the power to function by His grace. And
the Word of God is Supreme, that God may be all in all!
Jesus
promised, "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto Me..."
(Acts 1:8) Again our Master stated, "Without Me, ye can
do nothing"! (John 15:5)
And
our Lord said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. I
will be with you until the end of the world." (Hebrews 13:5)
2)
PRAYER REQUESTS SHOULD BE SPECIFIC AND WELL NEEDED - WE MUST ASK
IN FAITH
When
we approach God's Throne of Grace, we must ask specifically for
what we need or desire! We must be specific so that we can
prioritize our request and focus on our needs, or the needs of
others all over the world. Prayer requests should be
specific and well needed.
It
is important to lay out our needs in a definite request, believing
that He hears us and will keep His promise!
FAITH
IS EXPECTING AN ANSWER WHEN YOU PRAY - FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD
Faith
is expecting an answer when you pray. Faith is trusting God so
implicitly, that when you have met the conditions He has set forth
in His GREAT DOCUMENT, the Bible, He will respond favorably!
The
Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Here
is Moffat's translation of this verse:
FAITH
MEANS WE ARE CONFIDENT OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR
"Faith
means we are confident of what we hope for; convinced of what we
do not see."
Faith
is like the title deed to a property you own but have never seen.
You know it is yours because it has been bequeathed to you in a
will or it has been given to you as a gift - possibly in another
part of the world, and you still haven't received it or seen it.
That
is how faith works. You have God's promises regarding prayer and
His desire to answer, but the things you prayed for haven't
happened yet!
YOU
MUST KEEP TRUSTING, BELIEVING AND EXPECTING THE ANSWER WILL COME
Keep
on trusting, expecting and believing and the answer will come.
Loved ones will come to Christ, sicknesses will he healed by God's
power and your many prayer requests will be answered when you pray
in the Name of Jesus!
The
Bible says, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalms 37:5) Jesus showed us
how faith works in Mark 11:22-24:
"And
Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I
say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his
heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall
come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say
unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that
ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
In
my opinion, Hebrews 11:1 is a theologian's definition of faith.
The layman's definition of faith is found in verse 6.
"But
without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 1:6)
WHAT
IS FAITH? FAITH IS 3 VITAL THINGS:
Faith
is coming to God with your needs and making your requests known to
Him.
By
asking God for help you are exhibiting faith! This proves that you
believe He is greater than yourself and your need!
You
are in fact saying: "Lord you are bigger than I am and more
powerful and that is why I am approaching you for help"!
You
wouldn't come to God for help if you didn't believe He could help
you!
FAITH
IS BELIEVING THAT GOD EXISTS
Faith
is believing that God is real, that He is eternally existent in
three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit! And that He is omnipotent, omnipresent and eternal!
FAITH
IS BELIEVING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD
Faith
is believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on
the cross for our sins and arose from the dead for our
justification.
FAITH
IS BELIEVING IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE
The
Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Faith
is a reality!
Faith
is a fact and also action, because "faith without works is
dead, being alone." (James 2:26) Faith
is now! And faith is a present day reality and faith gets the job
done - Faith Works Miracles!
FAITH
IS BELIEVING AND EXPECTING
Faith
is expecting a miracle when we pray! Here is our Lord's
invitation to you: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
HOW
CAN I BE SAVED?
God
is able, ready & willing to deliver you!
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)
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.
HOW
CAN I BE SAVED?
1.
ACKNOWLEDGE
your sinful state (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6)
2. BELIEVE
the Gospel (Acts 16:30-31; John 3:26)
3. REPENT
of your sins (Luke 13:3; Isaiah 55:7)
4. RECEIVED
Christ as your Saviour (John 3:16; Revelation 3:20; 1 John 5:12)
5. CONFESS
Him as your Lord (Romans 10:9-10; Mark 8:34-38)
JESUS
CHRIST CAME INTO THE WORLD ON A HOLY MISSION !
"For
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)
Jesus
declared, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
Jesus
Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by Me". (John 14:6)
Salvation
is totally a WORK OF GRACE, but we must be sincere in our
prayers and believe in Jesus Christ's willingness to keep His
Word; which He always does. Jesus Christ offers salvation
and gift of salvation is free to all who accept it. If
you wish to be saved you must:
No.
1 - Acknowledge your lost state!
The
Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God". (Romans 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)
No.
2 - Believe the Gospel
"That
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already." (John 3:15,18)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and
believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto
life." (John 5:24)
No.
3 - 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)
No.
4 - 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." (Revelation 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)
No.
5 - 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)
"Also
I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him
shall the Son of man also 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)
Dear
friend, be assured that God will keep His Word,
for He said:
"Come
unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest." (Matthew 11:28) "Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink."
(John 7:37)
"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)
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.
Please
write to me and let us know of your decision to serve the Lord!
And what He has done for you. Always remember, Jesus loves you and
wants too forgive, heal, bless and prosper you.
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. "But evil men and seducers shall wax
worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2
Timothy 3:13)
"For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy
4:3,4)
The
Apostle Paul calls such preachers 'food preachers' or 'belly
preachers'. These men only preach to earn a living and not
to win men and women to Jesus Christ.
"For
they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own
belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of
the simple." ( Romans
16:18 ) "Whose end is destruction, whose God is
their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly
things." ( Philippians
3:19 )
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, not 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.
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.
Taking
Serious Chances
ARE YOU WALKING
TOO
CLOSE
TO THE EDGE?
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
It
was a beautiful Spring Day in April, 2017. Six young hikers were
enjoying their walk on top of Mount Harvey north of Vancouver,
British Columbia. One hiker fell behind. When he arrived at the
summit, his friends were not there. The five had stepped onto a
large ledge (cornice) and it broke loose plunging them 500 meters
down to the ground and their death.
It
was such a tragedy! Those hikers didn't realize the serious
situation they were walking onto, until it was too late.
The young men were unsuspecting, thinking that they were on
solid ground. Gradually, they had moved from safety to
uncertainty. Then, suddenly, the end came!
Unfortunately,
there are many people today who in a spiritual sense, are 'walking
too close to the edge' and are unknowingly in great danger
in their personal lives and even their soul's salvation! They feel
they are quite alright but have left God out of their lives and
have in their own minds constructed a new theology,
a feel good religion of being kind to their neighbour or
protecting the environment.
What
a shock for them when they finally stand before the Living God for
judgment, without the covering of Jesus' blood and the assurance
of Eternal Life! A ticket of 'Good Works' is
worthless without the Salvation of God that is given us through
Jesus Christ alone!
There
are a lot of young people who fall into a similar trap.
In their quest for action and fulfillment, they will try
anything different, trust a new acquaintance or get hooked on
dangerous drugs! Many become obsessed with lustful habits,
involved in illicit sex, drunken parties, gambling or crime~
Others
are seduced by the spirit of the Occult and become deceived by
demons of witchcraft,
spiritism, mind reading, clairvoyance,
yoga and spirit travel. Suicide demons prey on the minds of the
simple until 'a Lying Spirit' convinces them to do it, luring them
to a devil's Hell forever.
Multitudes
have lost their way in the fog of political correctness and in a
spiritual sense, have fallen off
a cliff because the ground where they were walking was
unsafe, shaky and treacherous. The tragedy is that many are
ignorant of the pitfalls and the fact that they are throwing away
their lives, by listening to the Tempter.
Eve
thought she was listening to a very intelligent and honest being
when she heard Lucifer talking to her through the voice of the
serpent. She was deceived and got Adam to partake of the forbidden
fruit, thereby plunging the entire human race into rebellion,
chaos and wickedness. Listening
to that evil, lying voice was the greatest tragedy ever to befall
mortal man!
Many
more are being deceived today in exactly the same way. They think
they are hearing very knowledgeable voices telling them that they
will get rich if they spend more time at the casino. One more
poker game and they will reclaim everything they lost. One more
throw of the dice or one more night of revelry and everything will
change for them. It was the voice of Satan, the Liar!
Then
he asked pointedly: "There is a very winding road up in
the mountain pass. Looking over the edge, it's hard to see the
bottom. Have you ever driven on such a road." The driver
nodded that he had. The interviewer said: "I've asked the
other drivers, how near could they come to edge of the road at a
full gallop and still be safe. One said that he could drive within
two feet of the edge and the other said that he could come within
12 inches."
"The
young driver stood to his feet, put the hat on his head and said,
"Excuse me sir, I am not your man. I would stay as far away
from the edge of that road as I could." As he was walking
toward the door, the Stage Coach Representative jumped up, saying,
"Stop. You are man we want. You have the job."
TOO
FAR FROM THE SHORE!
In
1924, Charles E. Moody wrote
the beautiful Gospel song : You're
drifting too far from the shore?
It has been popularized by many singers such as Hank Snow,
Vince Gill, Dolly Parton and others. Here are some of Charles
Moody's wonderful lyrics:
Out
on the perilous deep
Where danger silently creeps
And storms so violently sweeping
You're drifting too far from shore
Drifting
too far from shore
You're drifting too far from shore
Come to Jesus today
Let
Him show you the way
You're drifting too far from shore
Today,
The Tempest rose high
And clouds overshadowed the sky
Sure death is hovering nigh
You're drifting too far from shore.
What
an amazingly true statement! Far too many have loosed from their
moorings and are drifting toward open seas with no compass and no
map. Jesus is our
Way Maker, His Word our compass and guide.
To
the multitudes who have thrown caution to the wind and have
thumbed your noses at moral norms and are now in big trouble,
there is still hope for you.
If
you call out to Jesus Christ for deliverance, He will answer you.
He will rescue you from the angry waves. He will liberate you from
the powers of sin, fear, sickness and evil spirits. You will
become a new creature in Christ Jesus. He will wash you in His
blood, forgive your sins, remove the fear and fill you with His
blessed Holy Spirit! JESUS will give you His peace!
If
you do not, you will continue drifting farther from the shore and
the waves of fear, bondage, despair, despondency and confusion
will overtake you and you may never come back.
Dear
friend, if I have described your situation, remember Jesus waits
for your call this very moment. He invites: "Come unto me all
ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
(Matt.11:28). Again He
said: "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and
him that cometh unto Me, I will in wise cast out." (John
6:37).
There
is only ONE Who has the mercy and grace to reach out to you and
the power to liberate you! He said: "I am the Way, the
Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."
(John 14: 6). Amen.
DEAR
FRIEND: Please write with your prayer requests. We
will pray for you and I will write you back! When you write,
please ask for a free prayer cloth over which we have prayed with
faith in Jesus' Name, for your deliverance and salvation.
- Pastor Max Solbrekken
 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 on prayer
Power of
prayer, the Lord's Prayer, prayers answered
(King
James Version)
 1
Thessalonians 5:17
- (kjv) - Pray without ceasing.
Mark
11:24
- (kjv) - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire,
when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have
[them].
Philippians
4:6 -
(kjv) - Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Ephesians
6:18 - (kjv) - Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints;
James
5:16 - (kjv)
- Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.
Romans
8:26
- (kjv) - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered.
John
15:7
- (kjv) - If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you.
Matthew
21:22 - (kjv)
- And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye
shall receive.
1
John 5:14-15
- (kjv) - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if
we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and
if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
have the petitions that we desired of him.
Matthew
6:5 -
(kjv) - 5) And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hyprocrites [are]: for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of
the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto
you, They have their reward.
Matthew
6:6 - (kjv) - But
thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew
6:7 - (kjv)
- But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew
6:8-13
- (kjv) - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, forever. Amen.
Colossians
4:2 -
(kjv) - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with
thanksgiving;
Psalms
55:17 - (kjv)
- Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and he shall hear my voice.
Psalms
118:5
- (kjv) - I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered
me, [and set me] in a large place.
Matthew
18:19
- (kjv) - 5) -
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of my Father which is in heaven.
Hebrews
4:16 - (kjv) - Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Matthew
26:39 - (kjv)
- And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed,
saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].
Mathew
6:8-13
- (kjv) - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, forever. Amen.
Isaiah
55:6
- (kjv) - Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him
while he is near:
Psalms
127:13 - (kjv)
- Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of
the womb [is his] reward.
2
Chronicles 7:14
- (kjv) - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.
Matthew
7:7 -
(kjv) - 5) -
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you:
Psalms
88:13 - (kjv) - But
unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer
prevent thee.
Psalms
55:16 - (kjv)
- As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Joshua
1:8 -
(kjv) - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;
but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then
thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success.
1
Thessalonians 5:18
- (kjv) - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1
Timothy 2:8
- (kjv) - 5) -
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting.
James
4:10 - (kjv) - Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Luke
6:12 - (kjv)
- And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Acts
7:34
- (kjv) - I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people
which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groanings, and am come
down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into
Egypt.
Jonah
2:1 -
(kjv) - Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's
belly.
Proverbs
15:8
- (kjv) - 5) -
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but
the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.
Psalms
9:20 - (kjv) - Put
them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to
be but] men. Selah.
James
4:8 - (kjv)
- Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
[your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double
minded.
John
17:1-26
- (kjv) - 5) -
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and
said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also
may glorify thee:
Acts
1:14 - (kjv) - These
all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
2
Corinthians 12:8
- (kjv) - For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me.
John
16:24 - (kjv) - Hitherto
have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that
your joy may be full.
James
5:17 - (kjv)
- Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he
prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the
earth by the space of three years and six months.
Romans
8:26-27
- (kjv) - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered.
Acts
9:40 - (kjv) - But
Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and
turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she
opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Exodus
14:15 - (kjv)
- And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?
speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
James
4:2 -
(kjv) - Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask
not.
Hebrews
11:6
- (kjv) - But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Ephesians
3:20
- (kjv) - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us,
John
16:23
- (kjv) - 5) -
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will
give [it] you.
Mark
9:29 - (kjv) - And
he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by
prayer and fasting.
Matthew
26:36 - (kjv)
- Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and
saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Psalms
40:1 - (kjv) - (To
the chief Musician, a Psalm of David.) I waited patiently
for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalms
22:2 - (kjv)
- O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; ;and in
the night season, and am not silent.
2
Kings 20:11
- (kjv) - And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he
brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down
in the dial of Ahaz.
Daniel
9:3 -
(kjv) - And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and
supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
1
Samuel 1:10
- (kjv) - And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the
LORD, and wept sore.
Matthew
5:44
- (kjv) - 5) -
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Matthew
7:7-9 - (kjv) - Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened.
Matthew
14:23 - (kjv) - And when he had sent the multitude away, he
went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was
come, he was there alone.
Judges
16:28 - (kjv) - And
Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God,
that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Romans
15:13 - (kjv)
- 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
12:12
- (kjv) - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing
instant in prayer;
Romans
10:13
- (kjv) - 5) -
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts
2:42 - (kjv) - And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
John
16:26 - (kjv)
- At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you,
that I will pray the Father for you:
John
15:16 - (kjv) - And
Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God,
that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
John
9:31 - (kjv) - Now
we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, for he heareth.
John
4:24 - (kjv)
- God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him]
in spirit and in truth.
John
4:23 - (kjv) - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for
the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Luke
18:1
- (kjv) - And he spake a parable unto them {to this end], that men
ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke
11:1
- (kjv) - 5) -
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place,
when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us
to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Mark
13:33 - (kjv) - Take
ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
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.
Mark
1:35 - (kjv) - And
in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
John
9:31 - (kjv) - Now
we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, for he heareth.
Matthew
18:20 - (kjv)
- For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them.
Psalms
4:1 - (kjv) - (To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of
David.) Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:
thou hast enlarged me {when I was} in distress; have mercy upon
me, and hear my prayer.
Ephesians
6:18 - (kjv)
- Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for
all saints;
CONTACT
INFORMATION
For further spiritual counsel, prayer or gospel literature, please
contact us!
www.mswm.org www.maxsolbrekken.com
max@maxsolbrekken.com
 Max
Solbrekken World Mission, P.O. Box 44220, RPO Garside, Edmonton,
AB T5V 1N6 (780) 460-8444
The
House of Prayer, New Sarepta, Alberta (780) 941-2372
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PRAYER
- What is prayer? Power of prayer
