This Is The Moment: Let us grasp the opportunity
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
“What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them: This is the work of God that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” (John 6: 28-29)
It was ‘Question and Answer Time’ in the ‘Christ’s Bible College’. The greatest of all Teachers answered the direct question that was burning in the hearts of His students! They had seen the mighty works of Jesus the prophet/teacher from Galilee and they longed to become active in the salvation/healing crusades that He was conducting.
They knew that a good rabbi taught his disciples not only by word, but by example and that they would soon be called upon to follow His example in practical hands-on ministry!
The Great Teacher answered: “If you want to do God’s work, believe on Him whom He has sent!” Why is this important? The entire Gospel of Christ and the work of the Church is wrapped up in Jesus Christ, and NONE other!
To believe on Jesus Christ is to believe that HE is the ONE that the Father sent into the world as the sole Redeemer, Saviour and Liberator of the human race! There can be no equivocation, no deviation, no compromise and no watering down of that message!
Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life and 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…I am come that they might have life and that more abundantly.” (John 10: 9, 10)
Redeemer, Saviour, Liberator!
Jesus was very specific and emphatic. He made no bones about His identity. He said: “I and only I, am the Door. I and no on else, is the Way the Truth and the Life. I and only I, am the Resurrection and the Life. I and none other, is the True Vine and the Good Shepherd. I am He that was dead and behold, I am ALIVE forevermore!
Believing on Jesus Christ is receiving Him as Lord and Saviour. It is obeying His Word, abiding in Him and serving Him. When we do that, He enters into us, giving us His nature and filling us with His Holy Spirit as we seek Him with all our heart, soul and spirit!
“At that day (after My ascension) ye shall know that I am in My Father and ye in Me and I in you…and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father and I will love him, and will manifest Myself unto him. If a man love me he will keep My words: and my Father will love him,
We then become temples of the Holy Spirit and He lives in us. He walks in us, leads us and guides us into all truth! He becomes one with us; He is in us and we are in Him! (2 Cor.6: 16; Acts 17: 28)
Only those who BELIEVE that Jesus Christ was sent to earth by God the Father, have the authority to do His works. Christians BELIEVE that our Lord was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. We BELIEVE that Jesus Christ returned to Heaven and sat down at His Father’s right hand, and is presently representing us as our Advocate and High Priest. (Heb.10:10-20)
He gives us the AUTHORITY to do the works that He did by the same Holy Spirit, through which He performed miracles. The Bible says: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10: 38)
Jesus stated; “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.” (John 14:12)
Believing on Jesus is more than having a head-knowledge of the Saviour. It is belonging to Christ and abiding in Him and He in us! St. Paul described it so well: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, being made conformable to His death…” (Phil.3: 10)
Certainly, Paul knew Jesus Christ. He met Him during his Damascus Road experience when the glory of the Lord blinded him. He spoke to Him and heard His voice on numerous occasions in Damascus, Arabia, in Jerusalem and other places. If anyone knew Jesus, Paul did!
Yet, he wanted to get to know Him better. Although he did not know Jesus in His earthly flesh, he said: “Wherefore from henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth we know Him, no more.” (2 Cor.5:16)
Before He went away Jesus promised: “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 (like Paul on Malta) and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hands upon the sick and shall recover.” (Mark 16: 16-18)
Can We Believe in Jesus?
Yes, we can and we DO believe in Jesus. And He will work through us like He did with His followers in the Early Church: “And they went forth preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them confirming the word with signs following.” (Mark 16: 18-20)
The Question they asked is one that we all should ask! “What is it you want me to do Lord so that I may please You? How may I also do the works that You are doing?”
The Master is calling, let us answer that call. The need for workers is urgent, let us not fail Him. The harvest is great, the labourers are few and time is short! Here is our Lord’s Harvest Call:
“Then saith He unto His disciples, the Harvest truly is plenteous, but the labouers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send out labourers into His harvest.” (Matt.9: 37, 38)
Here is our Lord’s Great Commission: “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, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-19)
Now Is the Moment: Let Us Grasp The Opportunity!
This is our finest hour, may we not lose it. This is the most opportune time, let us not waste it! God has opened the door, let us not linger. Christ has given us the key to Revival, let us use it! The Holy Spirit is waiting to work a miracle, Why not ask Him? God has promised to answer prayer, let us believe Him.
All things are now ready for the ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb’. Are you ready? If you are not, come to Him today and receive Him as your personal Saviour. (John 3:16, 17, 36; 5: 24, 25).You will never be the same again! Amen.
