WORTHY IS THE LAMB

                                                 By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D. D.

 “And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on a throne a Book written on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice;Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the seals thereof?

“And no man in Heaven, nor in earth was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not. Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven seals thereof.

 “And I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

 “And when He had taken the Book, the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song saying,

“Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth.

 “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels around the Throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Rev. 5: 1-14)

JEUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD!

For thousands of years Jewish people looked for their promised Messiah. On the Day of Atonement rabbis would stand outside the synagogue saying, “Let one Innocent come and atone for the guilty.” Many years passed and no-one came because there are no innocent people. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom.3:23); “…There is none righteous, no not one.” (Rom.3:10).

God had promised that He would send a Deliverer to free His people from Satanic bondage: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee thou hast not known Me: That they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none else. Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for there is none else.” (Is.45: 5,6,22)

Then, one day John the Baptist pointed to Jesus of Nazareth, saying, “Behold the LAMB of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) The perfect, holy and Innocent ONE had come to REDEEM the world through His perfect atonement upon a Roman Cross on Golgotha!

St. Paul wrote about Him: “But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchanging priesthood. Wherefore He is ABLE also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, Who is Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate from sinners, and made Higher than the heavens;

“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for their own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did ONCE, when He offered up Himself.” (Heb.7: 24-27)

THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS!

“Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask ye a Sign from the Lord thy God; ask it even in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And He said, Hear ye now, O House of David; is it a small thing to weary men, but will it weary my God also!

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a SIGN: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his Name Immanuel.” (Is. 7:10-14). Then, one day, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus of Nazareth and said, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1: 29)

The Word of God states: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made  in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11)

When Moses led the Jews from Egypt through the wilderness, they rebelled and God sent fiery serpents. Moses cried to the Lord.“And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Nu. 21: 8-10)

   MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT!

When they looked at the serpent, it spoke of victory over the serpent’s bite. It goes back to Satan in the Garden of Eden who had tempted Eve. After Adam and Eve’s disastrous fall, God spoke to Satan who was hiding in the serpent, saying:

 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed: It shall bruise (crush) thy head and thou shalt bruise His (Christ) heel. (Gen. 3:15). Almighty God stated that when the SEED of the woman (Christ) would come, the devil would bruise His heel. He would die on the cross but RISE again. Christ rose from the dead and crushed Satan’s head!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of God be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3: 14,15,36)

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. 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)

FINISHED, FULFILLED, PAID!

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30). Jesus spoke in Greek, uttering the word tetelesta, in His victory cry. The word tetelestai has three meanings: to finish something or make an end to something; to fulfill something; to pay that which is owed!

Jesus had finished His work of Redemption and brought to an end Satan’s domination over mankind. He had fulfilled all the Old Testament scriptures about the Messiah. He had paid for all our sins and diseases!

About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, prophet Isaiah declared: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was laid upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53: 3-6)

JESUS CHRIST PASSOVER LAMB!

John the Baptist stated that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. This is He of whom I said, after Me cometh a man which is preferred before Me: for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

“And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

“And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he sayeth, Behold the Son of God.” (John 1:29-36)

REDEMPTION TROUGH HIS BLOOD!

St. Paul declares: “God hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His Son; in whom we have Redemption through His BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins. And having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the Body of His flesh through Death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.” (Col.1:13-14, 20-22).

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took them out of the way, nailing them to His CROSS. And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:14: 15)

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for Me.” (Gal:2:20)

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God, day and night. And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev.12: 9-11)

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev. 20:10).Hallelujah!

“And I saw a great White Throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” (Rev.20: 11-15).

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!

The sovereignty of God demanded punishment for SIN and the CROSS provided the Final Solution! For a time, God overlooked or winked at sin by allowing the sacrifice of innocent lambs, goats and bullocks (occasionally a red heifer) to suffice. When the fullness of time had come, Almighty God our Heavenly Father, gave Himself in His SON to be the propitiation for our sins. The word propitiation means ‘the covering, satisfaction, expiation’.

Jesus, the Righteous One humbled Himself and laid down His life, thereby meeting the righteous demand of Divine Justice to atone for sins of Adam and the entire fallen race.

The fifth chapter of Revelation is unique and difficult to understand but it totally glorifies Jesus Christ. His sacrificial death on Golgotha for the redemption of mankind and His glorious resurrection from the dead liberated the human race from Satan’s kingdom of Darkness!

It focuses on Christ’s victory as King of kings, Lord of lords, Saviour and Redeemer of the world. His sacrificial death on the Golgotha’s Cross has purchased our freedom from sin, fear, condemnation, sickness and disease. Through His precious Blood we have received His peace, joy and eternal Life!

GOSPEL OF CHRIST WORKS!   

The Gospel of Jesus Christ works. God anoints His Word through the Holy Spirit. He answers prayer and performs miracles of healings and deliverance for those whobelieve. The Bible states: “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.” (Heb. 11:6)

“Afterward He appeared unto the eleven and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen Him after He was risen.And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

“And these Signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; thy shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word with Signs following.” (Mar 16: 14-20). The Key to miracles is found in this text: “The Lord working with them.”

If the Lord is not involved in the prayer, there will not be any miracle! He confirms the Word preached. He gives us the faith necessary! He is the Miracle Worker! It is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone!

                                           FOR GOD’S GLORY ALONE!

Here is a personal letter we received four years ago:

Max, my life was impacted greatly, and I thank you for coming to Dawson City in the 1980’s to minister to Dawson City Pentecostal Church. I remember you had some individuals with you and we had services in the School Auditorium. You prayed for many people over two days, including me.

We had about six Bible School students with us. One was healed of Asthma and another was healed emotionally. Jim’s niece walked home from being in a wheelchair and one First Nation individual was set free. It meant alot that you came up there to Dawson City. God bless you, Max. We also came to see you in Edmonton.

Jim & Elaine Caruso, Langley, B.C.         

               GOD HEALED OUR DAUGHTER’S KIDNEYS!

“God healed our daughter’s kidneys” says Nina and Lasse Steen of Bergen, Norway. In December 1983 God visited our home and healed our 5 year old daughter Cecilie. Ever since birth she had trouble with her kidneys and would wet her clothes many times every day. There was nothing she could do about and nothing the doctors could do, until last December when God sent his servant Max Solbrekken from Canada to hold a large crusade at the Eldorado Centre here in Bergen. Hundreds of people were saved, healed, and blessed during those wonderful days.

Pastor Solbrekken stayed, by the divine will of God, in our Mission Hotel. Daily he came and worshipped with us, and faith arose in our hearts to ask him for our little Cecilie. We were having coffee together one day when little Cecilie came in with her friend from outside where she had been playing. As usual, she was soaking wet.

After Nina washed and changed her clothes, Pastor Solbrekken put her on his knee and prayeda gripping prayer to the Lord for her healing. She was instantly healed and a staggering miracle occurred. There hasn’t been as much as a drop since that day. To God be the glory, great things He hath done.

  JESUS HEALEDMY CRUSHED HIP BONE!

By Vigdis Simonsen of Narvik, Norway

I had been a backslidden Christian for 16 years. In spite of this, I decided to attend the meetings of Max Solbrekken in Narvik. When Max made the altar call the first night I attended, there was a terrible battle going on within me. It was as if I heard a voice saying, “This is not for you…You are not among the chosen ones.”But, there was another voice telling me that this was my opportunity, however, I remained quiet in my seat.

When I returned to my home, it was as if a voice was telling me that this chance would be one of my last ones. It became very serious to me and it also scared me. So, I went back to the Meeting the next night and this time I answered the call to receive Jesus Christ as my Saviour! But, something else happened. To explain that, I must go back a little in time to give you the whole story.

Before Christmas, I fell and broke my hip and had to have surgery. I had to stay home for 16 weeks. When I went back to the hospital for a check up, the doctor was not at all pleased with the fracture. I was told to use two crutches until the 4^th of April. But, when I went for another check up, the doctor was still not pleased with the result because the fracture had not healed like it was supposed to. So, I had to continue using two crutches until the 16^th of May. When I saw the doctor again he was still not satisfied, but I was allowed to drop one crutch on my own recognizance. He said that I must be extremely careful, and only step very cautiously on my foot; and I was only allowed to this indoors.

When I came to the Meeting the second night (July 3), I could neither bow my left knee – where my hip had been fractured – nor could I walk straight. I was dragging my left leg behind me, and there was much pain. It was almost impossible for me to walk up the steps of the stairs. When Max Solbrekken had finished praying for everybody that had come forward, someone asked him to come down to where I was sitting.

He laid his hand on my hip and prayed for me. warm went through my hip and my back and my leg and all the pain disappeared immediately. Afterwards I walked back and forth on the floor, and I even ran up and down the stairs to the platform with no pain and no difficulties whatsoever. I can’t explain what happened, but I was instantly and completely healed, and I can only thank God for what He did for me. He is wonderful!

Note: These testimonies taken from the Cry of His Coming July, 1984.

Max Solbrekken World Mision Box 44220 RPO Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6. Email:[email protected]; comehometoJesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Blog: MSWM; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donations to max@ maxsolbrekken.com. Thank you so much. May richly bless you. Amen.

                                       MYSTERY OF THE GODHEAD                                        by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

The Holy Bible is the Book of God. It is filled with great truths which are above and beyond our understanding. Jesus quoted from it and demonstrated its message by fulfilling many of the Old Testament prophecies through His words, ministry, miracles and wonders. He purchased our eternal salvation through His vicarious death on the cross and His glorious resurrection from the dead.

“In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth… Elohim is a pluralized form of God which nevertheless retains a mysteriously singular meaning!  In Genesis 1: 1, 26 we have the verbs ‘created’ and ‘said’ in the singular, the Name of God in its plural form ‘Elohim’ and the plural pronoun ‘us’.

In the Hebrew language the noun, its verb and its adjective must all agree in number and gender. But, in the Genesis Record God announces Himself as Elohim totally pulverizing these grammatical rules!

WHY IS THIS?

No human language can adequately contain or express God Almighty! God’s announcement of His Person shows the uniqueness of the Divine unity of the Eternal. God said to Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son. (Gen. 22:2). He used the word (yahid). When Adam and Eve became one flesh, the word (ehad) is used to denote a compound unity.

In Deut. 6:4, the Word of God states, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord (compound unity, Ehad). Hebrew scholars have recently translated the (Shema) of Adam - the blood of God, from the dust of the earth. Dust (minute particles) ground (adamah – the totality of all that God is!) And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

Deut. 6:4 say: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord Alone”, instead of “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” The Ugaric Tablets recently unearthed by archaeologists in the ancient Masoretic Text changes the meaning of this text from God’s oneness (a theological point) to God’s exclusivity, at a time there were many pagan gods being worshipped!

GOD CREATED MAN FROM DUST

“And God said, Let Us (Elohim) make man (Adahm, Adam, the Blood of God) in Our image, after Our likeness (damos, an exact duplication in kind)…So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Gen. 1:26,27)

“And the Lord God formed man (breath of life) and man became a living soul.” (nephish, spirit). (Gen, 2:7). In the Hebrew the word man, is called Adahm, Adam, the blood of God.

God took of Himself to make the earth and when He made Adam he used the dust (afar- minute particles) of the ground (adhama – the totality of all God is). God made Adam from the ground which He had made.

ONE & ONLY ONE TRUE GOD

One and Only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Divine Economy of God there is no room for counterfeits or manufactured gods. The very first of the Ten Commandments, Almighty God wrote with His own finger on two tablets of stone these awesome words: “Thou shalt have NO gods before ME.”

THE TRIUNE GOD: God the Father (Ps. 46:1; Jer. 2:13. God the Son: Zech 13:6,7; John 4: 10. God the Holy Spirit: Gen 6:3; Acts 2: 1-17; John 7:37, 38)

The Father is made of None, neither created or begotten. The Son is of the Father Alone; not made, nor created but Begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Son, neither made nor created but proceeding. - ATHANASES CREED (Confession of Faith).

What does this all mean? Everything that God did came from Himself alone. When God created the earth He took of Himself. When He made Adam He used the ground into which He had given life. In this great Creation we find the Hebrew words bara to create, asah to make, yatsar to formed used interchangeably.

In Genesis 1: 12 we read: "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed is in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." Here, the Latin word is ex nihilo meaning, 'out of nothing".

To wrap it all up we discover that in the beginning, Almighty God took of Himself to create, make and fashion all things out of Nothing!

TESTIMONY OF JESUS: THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

 “And he saith unto me; Write, blessed are they which are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And he saith   unto me: These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. 

"And he saith unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19: 9. 10)

Every prophecy given in the Holy Scriptures or through the Old Testament prophets in the Synagogue or in the New Testament Church had ONE goal in the final analysis – that was to declare the Testimony of Jesus, which is the Record that Almighty God gave of His Son:

The Redemption of the human race and the glorification of the Father through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and His glorious resurrection from the dead, three days later!

THE GREATEST SIN

The greatest sin anyone could commit is to reject the Testimony that God the Father gave of Him: He is the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! The Testimony that Jesus gave of Himself. (John 14: 11-14) And the testimony that His Heavenly Father gave about Jesus Christ His Son: If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the Record that God gave of His Son. And this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5: 10-12)

If Jesus is the Subject, then Jesus is the Source. If Jesus is the Object, then the Testimony concerning Him is the Source. The Holy Spirit is the Source of all prophecy and the primary focus of the revelation He provides concerning Jesus of Nazareth

Every prophecy given ultimately pointed to and must continually point to Jesus Christ, the Saviour, Redeemer, and Liberator of mankind. He fulfills all prophecies; past, present, and future! 

True prophecy is that Jesus Christ who created the world and all things in it, died vicariously on the Cross at Golgotha for the sins of His creation to bring us to God the Father, and to reign with Him throughout eternity!    

JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, His followers were identified as following The Way. “And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1,2)

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6). There is only one way to God the Father, Eternal Life and Heaven. Jesus Christ alone is that way. 

Through His vicarious death for us on Golgotha and His resurrection from the dead on the third day, He met the righteous demands of divine Justice in the courts of Heaven!

Jesus Christ is the Truth. In Him there are no falsehoods or lies. You can trust Him completely because He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has not lied, He will not lie, and He cannot lie because Jesus Himself is the Truth!

He said, “Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you true. If the SON therefore shall make you free, ye shall free indeed.” (John 8: 32,36). Jesus is the Word of God and is the Truth. He alone can be trusted, for He is God!

Jesus Christ is the Life

The Bible says: “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. This is He of whom I said; After me cometh a Man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel therefore am I come baptizing with water.

“And John bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not, but He that sent me baptize with water, the same said unto me, 

"Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God.” (John 1:29)

HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE

St. John stated: “And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal Life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath LIFE, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:11-13) 

My precious friend, call upon the Name of the LORD in faith, asking Him to wash away your sins and He will become your Saviour, Lord and Master! In faith ask Him to heal you. By His stripes we are made whole! 1 Peter 2:24. Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6; MSWM; [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Donations may be sent by e-Transfer. Make your donation to [email protected]. Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you!

 

                                                 EMMANUEL:

GOD WITH US

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:  Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” (Is. 7:14). “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

“Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice, from that time forward, even forever...” (Is. 9: 6)

 “… His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men. He is despised and rejected (forsaken) by men, A Man of sorrows (lit. pains) and acquainted with grief. (lit. sicknesses) And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him.” (Is.52: 14; 53: 3)

     “Surely He has borne our sicknesses (heb. makob) and carried our pains (heb. nasa); yet we esteemed Him smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities; The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; And by His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53: 4, 5)

WE HAVE ALL GONE ASTRAY! 

“All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise (crush) Him.” (Is. 53: 6, 7, 10)

     “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the Majesty on High.” (Heb.1: 1-3)

                                   FAIR-WEATHER CHRISTIANS!

     A visiting missionary arrived at the Vancouver Airport on a Sunday morning. As the Pastor hurriedly drove toward the church, it seemed as though every light was green.  Overjoyed, he jubilantly exclaimed, “My, isn’t it wonderful how we have had only green lights.  We haven’t even encountered one red light all the way from the airport.  Surely, God is with us”!

    The missionary wisely replied, “If we would have hit only red lights along the way this morning, would God have still been with us”?

   A 28 year-old preacher died in an East European Communist prison during the 1970s.  He had been incarcerated for eight years for telling little children about Jesus!  Beaten, bruised, tortured and brainwashed, he finally succumbed to the guard’s brutality and they found him dead one morning in a pool of blood on the dungeon floor.  Vital organs had ruptured as a result of the traumatic beatings and he hemorrhaged blood until he died.

    In the last minutes of life he had managed to stagger to the dungeon wall and with his finger write his testimony in his own blood.  So great was the impact of his testimony that the guards who found him the next morning accepted Christ as their Saviour. And they passed the story to Pentecostal Christians in Western Europe, via the underground route!  

    This is what he wrote:  “I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining and I believe in love even though I feel it not. And I believe in God even when He is silent, so by faith I’ll hold on to what I have got”!

     He hadn’t seen the sun in 8 years.  He had felt and seen only hatred from his captors and for eight long years he had prayed for release from that living hell without an answer, but still he believed in God!  Hallelujah! Jesus said: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5) 

    Even when things go wrong, we still have God’s abiding presence!  How wonderful, that God is with us always.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us.  In good times or bad times; in joy or sorrow; in sickness or health!  God is with us - Praise His Holy Name.

THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL:

THERE IS HOPE IF GOD IS WITH US!

    More than seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet Isaiah - speaking by divine inspiration - declared that God would give His Son to become the Saviour of the world.  

     The Book of Isaiah is aptly called ‘The Gospel of the Old Testament’.  How precious to read of the birth, life and death of Christ in this Old Testament Gospel!  

     It is good news that even “before the foundation of the world”, God had a perfect plan for our salvation through the virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death and glorious resurrection of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah of Israel!  (Eph.1: 4,5)

      He would be rejected by men and judged by God – because of our sins - but brought back to life and restored to a place of glorification with His Father, so that you and I can receive eternal life.

The Sign of the Virgin Birth - What a Miracle!  To be supernaturally begotten by the Blessed Holy Spirit and born naturally of a virgin mother.  Talk about confounding the mouths and minds of those who rejected Him.

IT ALMOST BLOWS THE MIND!

    No wonder the Bible says: “The natural man understandeth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are spiritually discerned”. (1 Cor. 2:14)  Again the Scripture declares: “Had they known who He was they would not have rejected the Prince of life”. (1 Cor.2: 8)  

    They tried to reason it all out and couldn’t. The intellectuals failed miserably; and they are still messing up today trying to incorporate Jesus the Christ, into their natural-minded stereotype.  It can’t be done!

Why can’t puny little man take God’s Word at face value - accept the Gospel of Christ for what it’s worth and embrace it all, including the supernatural aspects of:  (1) Who He is, (2) Why He came, (3) What He did, and (4) What it all means and how it relates to us today?  

    But NO, the egotistical, proud earthling wants to find his own way, chart his own course and fly his own craft to the stars!  The Bible says, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But to as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God”. (John 1:11-12)  

      What a position we enjoy as redeemed blood-bought children of God.  I can hardly contain it all! Salvation is a FREE gift from our Creator! 

    COMPLEX? Yes, God’s part was profound, complex and elaborate! Our part, however, is easy! It is so simple that many feel it is too elementary.  It’s a fact of life that in everything from religion to politics, people like to make things as complex as possible.  Yet no tool or gadget is as good and effective as the one that is user-friendly.  The simpler anything operates the more valuable it is and the more reliable and easy to maintain!

Here is the plain, simple and yet profound truth:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved”. (John 3:16-17)  

    Jesus confirmed that statement when He declared:  “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”. (Mark 2:17);  “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10)

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

4.  Emmanuel - “The prophet answered by saying, And ye shall call His name Emmanuel. (Is. 7:14); God With Us ... “Which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matt. 1:22-23)

5.  Jesus ... “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus.” (heb. Yeshua ~ meaning ‘The Salvation of God; the God who saves, heals, makes well, protects, delivers’)

6.  Saviour ... “For He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt.8: 21); “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

7.  The Lord ... “And thou, child, (John the Baptist) shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord (Jesus Christ) to prepare His ways.” (Luke 1:76); 

8.  Lamb of God …“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto Him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John1: 29)

9.  The Christ, Anointed One, Messiah ... “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16)

WHAT JESUS SAID OF HIMSELF!

•                “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58; Ex. 3:14)

•                “Moses wrote of Me.” (John 5: 46)

•                “I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35; 6:41, 48, 51)

•                “I am the Light of the World.” (John 8:12)

•                “I am the Door.” (John 10:7)

•                “I am the Good Shepherd.” (John 10:11)

•                “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25)  

•                “I am He (the Christ).” (John 4:25-26)

•                “I am from Above.” (John 8:23-24, 28)

•                “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6)

•                “I am the True Vine.” (John 15:1)

•                “I am the Alpha and Omega.” (first and last) (Rev. 1:8)

•                “I am the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8; Is. 9:14)

 

    In the 1980’s the well-known radio commentator and author Charles Templeton from Toronto, was a guest on our 2-hour weekly radio talk show “Nightwatch”.  When I questioned him about his agnosticism and his relation to Christ, he replied, “Jesus in my estimation is a moral genius...He has influenced my life more than any other person that has ever lived”!  That’s quite a statement.

    I asked him, “Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God”?  Charles Templeton answered, “No, I do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”! Then I pinned him with this question:  “How can Jesus Christ be a moral genius and also be a colossal liar, for He claimed He was the Son of God”?

WHAT DO THE 

SCRIPTURES SAY OF HIM!

    The Bible says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life; and the life was the light of man.” (John 1:1-4)

   “God...hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Heb. 1:2-4)

    “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God.  

   “And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  

      “And He hath on His vesture and His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:11-16); “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6)

WHAT DOES GOD 

THE FATHER SAY OF HIM?

    “For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?  And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten (the first in rank) into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.  

    “But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:  A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.  

    “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands.  They shall perish, but thou remainest: and they shall be changed:  but Thou art the same and Thy years shall not fail.”  

    “But to which of the angels said He any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?” (Heb. 1:5-6, 8-13; Ps. 2:7)

    “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17) 

     “While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him.” (Matt. 17:5)

WHAT DOES GOD THE 

HOLY SPIRIT SAY OF HIM?

    “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I (Jesus) have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

    “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” (John 15:26)

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:13-14)

     “BBBBBBB

WHAT DO THE 

PROPHETS SAY OF HIM?

    “...which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.  

     “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” (Acts 3:21-24)

“Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)

“To Him give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)

      It is also important to know what His mother had to say about Jesus:  “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1: 46, 47); “His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5)

WHY DID JESUS COME?

    “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“...That He (Jesus) should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.  And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17:2-3)

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

   “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10; Matt. 18:11); “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

    “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5; Matt. 8:16-17)

WHAT DID HE ACCOMPLISH?

     “...Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47)

     “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  

    “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: 

    “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11)

“Who (God) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” (Col. 1:13); “And (Jesus) having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:15)

HOW DOES ALL THIS 

RELATE TO US TODAY?

    “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)

     “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath quickened them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.  For all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.  

    “He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:22-24)

    “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

      “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me.” (John 12:44); “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.” (John 13:20)

    “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.  

     “And whatsoever ye shall ask in Me name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.  If ye love Me, keep My commandments.  

   “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him, but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless:  I will come to you.” (John 14:11-18)

     “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

     “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned.  

    “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

     “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

     “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

      “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8)

    “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

     “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb. 9:28)

     “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

EMMANUEL: GOD IS WITH US!

    When God made Salvation’s Plan, He included you and me - We are the recipients of His divine grace!  Hallelujah!

    The Bible says, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Ps. 84:11); For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)  

     “How great and majestic is the glorious salvation of our Blessed Christ and Redeemer.  The very word ‘Jesus’ in both Hebrew and Greek means ‘Saviour’.  The angel spoke to Joseph in Hebrew and said “Ye shall call His name Jesus (the salvation of God) and He shall save (salvage) His people from their sins”. (Matt. 1:21)

    What good news, God is with us - Jesus is God and He is with us.  God is not only with us but through the baptism of the Holy Ghost, He is in us!

     Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

   “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”. (John 14:16-18)  Note these precious words:  “At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you”. (v. 20)

    “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

  GOD IS WITH US AND ALSO IN US.  HOW MARVELLOUS, HOW WONDERFUL!  Let this Scripture grip your heart as it has mine:

    “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love Him, and will manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

IF GOD BE FOR US:

WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? 

    Oh, what a Saviour we have! Oh, what a Gospel is ours! ‘Blessed assurance Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of Glory Divine, Heir of salvation, purchase of God; Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song; Praising my Saviour all the day long.’

    The Apostle Paul spared no words in assuring us of God’s great power that is available and readily accessible to His people.  Let me share only a few:

    “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

     AND WE KNOW! There is nothing ambiguous, doubtful or uncertain here! Definite, definitive and unfailing are the promises of God.  We need not worry, fret or doubt.  

  St. Paul knew many things about our Blessed Lord and His marvellous salvation which unfortunately, many so-called preachers seem to be ignorant of or doubtful about today.  

    This Scripture gives one of the keys to his success: namely, his sincere desire to know Jesus in a deeper and fuller way: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection...” (Phil. 3:10)

WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW!

    Here are several more of his confessions of faith: “...I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12); “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  

    “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:35-39) 

     “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

    “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s Elect?  It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died, yeah rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us”. (Rom. 8:33-34)

THEY THAT ARE WITH US ARE 

MORE THAN THEY THAT ARE WITH THEM!

     Let me share with you a little about the great miracle that happened at Dothan.  A miracle of God’s power, provision and grace, indeed!  

    It was told to the King of Syria that the reason he was unable to defeat the Israelites was due to Prophet Elisha’s supernatural God-given gifts whereby he was able to warn Israel of the plans, designs and purposes of their enemy! 

   The King then sent his army to Dothan to capture the prophet. Elisha’s servant was greatly concerned when he saw the place surrounded by hostile men of war.  He cried out, “Alas my master, How shall we do”?

    The Prophet answered:  “Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them”. (2 Kings 6:16)  Elisha then prayed for God to open the spiritual eyes of the young man and he saw, “The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha”. (v. 17)

    Jesus said, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth… and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. (Matt. 28:18-30). 

    WHAT A PROMISE!  I am with you always!  Even to the very end of the age.” Our Lord said, “...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. (Heb. 13:5) The literal Greek is even stronger. Using a double imperative Jesus actually said: “I will never, no never leave thee. I will never, no never forsake thee!” Hallelujah!

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER:

  JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE US!

     He will be with us in good times and bad times, in sickness and in health, in success or failure, in testing, trials, tragedies and sorrows.  He will be with us in times of poverty or prosperity right to the end; including the journey through the valley of the shadow of death! (Ps. 23)

    Jesus promised, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all: and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand”. (John 10:27-29)

 

NO ONE CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD...NO ONE CAN PLUCK US OUT OF OUR FATHER’S HAND; NO ONE, NO ONE, NO ONE!  WE ARE PROTECTED FOR TIME AND ETERNITY, PROVIDED WE WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL TO GO HIS WAY!  WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN CHOOSE TO DEPART FROM HIS LOVE.  HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US, IF WE WANT HIM TO STAY!

    

    St. Paul said, “Now, the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul”. (Heb. 10:38-39)

Remember, dear friend:  “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1:7)  

     We must never forget that there are conditions as well as promises: “If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.  If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:14-15)

  St. Paul said “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Rom. 8:37); “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. (Phil. 4:13)  

   We can do the same because God is: “No respecter of persons, places or times”. (Acts 10:34) And our dear Lord has not, cannot and will not change because: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8)

GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU!

     This final truth: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (evil spirits): because GREATER IS HE that is in you (Jesus, the Holy Spirit) than he (the devil) that is in the world.” (1 John 4: 4)

    “Submit yourselves unto God, resist the devil and he SHALL FLEE FROM YOU.” (James 4: 7); “Be sobre, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith…” (1 Peter 5: 8). Amen.  

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton AB T5V 1N6; Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Blog:  MSWM; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Send your donation to [email protected]. Thank you and may God reward you for your kindness!