Proposed Canadian Gospel Crusades for 2012
An Open Letter to all Pastors, Church Workers & Believers in our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ!
Dear Friends: Below are a number of Bible verses detailing the work of our Lord Jesus and His followers in the Early Church, which serve as examples for His church, of which He stated: “I will build My Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt.16: 18).
My Prayer is that we may carry on His work as He has given us a mandate in the Great Commission!
When Jesus came down from the mountain where He had been transfigured before Peter, James and John, He witnessed the unbelief of the other nine disciples unto whom He had given power and authority to heal the sick and cast out demons.
Approaching a gathering where they had tried repeatedly to exorcize the demon out of a tormented boy, He said: “O faithless and perverse generation. How long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto Me.”
Jesus rebuked the devil and he departed out of the boy who was cured from that very hour. When they asked Him why they could not cast him out, the Master answered: “Because of your unbelief. Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt.17: 17-20, 21)
Jesus entered the synagogue and read the 61st Chapter from the Isaiah Scroll: “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 broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4: 18)
St. John stated: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3: 8)
St. Luke reported: “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)
St. Peter declared: “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:22-24)
Stephen, the Deacon turned Evangelist was mightily anointed of God. Dr. Luke, left his medical practice and picked up a quill to record God’s miracles under the hands of the former Christ Hater and persecutor, Saul of Tarsus. Luke is considered one of the most precise and articulate historians ever to put pen to paper. He wrote: “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6: 8)
Philip, another Deacon from the First Pentecostal Church in Jerusalem, under Pastor James’ leadership, accepted God’s call to evangelize the heathen during a time of great persecution. Again, Luke gives us a front seat look at the Evangelist Philip in action:
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them. And many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8: 5-8)
St. Paul wrote: “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Ilyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15: 18, 19)
Jesus Christ commanded: “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)
St. Mark states: “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.” (Mark 16: 19, 20)
St. Paul declares: “And God hath set some in the church: first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments diversity of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12: 28)
Since God has set these callings and gifts in His Church, it would be dangerous to unilaterally seek to remove them, overruling Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church and the Blessed Holy Spirit Whom he has sent to lead and guide us into all truth!
In contending for the Faith, the great Apologist states: “He therefore that ministereth to you the SPIRIT and worketh MIRACLES among you, doeth he it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal. 3: 5)
He said in effect, “When you lay your hands on believers who are hungering for more of the Holy Spirit, is it the fact we have been circumcised that brings the healing or is it because we believe in the provision Jesus Christ provided by His death and resurrection and by our faith in His finished work on Golgatha?
He was saying that when we pray to God for a miracle of divine healing it is because we trust the promises of Jesus Christ saying that the stripes He took on His back during His terrible scourging has purchased our healing. Keeping Saturday holy isn’t going bring healing and forgiveness, but the shed blood of Jesus does just that!
The Epistle of Galatians has been aptly referred to as the ‘Charter of Christian Liberty’. MARTIN LUTHER said: ‘It is my Epistle. I feel like I am wedded to it. It is my Catherine.”
St. Paul wrote this epistle in about AD 56 and believers were still being filled with the Holy Spirit when hands were laid upon them and Jesus was still performing miracles in the church at Galatia!
As long as we are living in the Day of Grace and until Jesus comes for His Church, He will continue to save, heal, baptize those who trust and believe in Him as Saviuor & Lord! Whoever teaches otherwise are either pushing their own agenda for ulterior reasons or are literally incompetent!
OUR GOAL: BE A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY!
The PURPOSE of our crusades is to CHALLENGE Christians to RETURN to their first love for Jesus Christ, and to reach those who have dropped out of Church and have drifted away from an active Christian Life style!
And finally, we desire to reach those who have not known the joy of sins forgiven and God’s peace in their hearts and lives. Our goal is to help all who are struggling with the ‘battles of life’ that has caused them to turn to alcohol, drugs, gambling and loose living.
Our focus will be to bring healing to hurting people whether it is to help restore broken lives, broken marriages, broken home, as well those who are depressed, fearful or sick in the spirit, soul and body!
We present Jesus Christ and His blessed Gospel of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit which is attained only through repentance toward God and faith in His Son’s vicarious death on the cross and His glorious resurrection from the dead. Like St. Paul, we preach only Christ crucified, risen and coming again!
Our Lord WARNED: “And there shall be SIGNS in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon earth Distress of Nations (Israel in grave danger, Arab world in total turmoil), with perplexity (seems to be no way out; the sea and the waves roaring (Tsunamis – Indonesia Japan). Men’s hearts failing them for fear (Heart trouble – Number 1 Killer), and for looking after those things are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
“And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when THESE THINGS begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21: 25-28)
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war; With the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle see His banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war; With the cross of Jesus going on before!
At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise; Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Like a mighty army moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane; But the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of Hell can never against that church prevail; We have Christ’s own promise and that cannot fail.
By the grace of God, I have had the privilege of preaching the Word of God for 50 years across the world. Our Blessed Lord has given us many souls for our hire and many victories against the works of darkness, and the marvellous healing of sick and suffering humanity in many dark places of the world!
To Him be all the glory, honour and praise, for He alone is Worthy!
Now, I feel free to spend my time reaping souls for our Master Jesus Christ the Lord, across the Nation of Canada. In March, 2012 we will begin producing and releasing TV Programs in Alberta and later across Canada.
I covet your prayers and support for this very worthy project of reaching lost, dying and hell-bound souls for our Saviour. And to bring divine healing to the weary and discouraged, defeated, sick and tired children of God!
Our slogan and rallying cry is 2,000 years old: By Grace alone! Through Faith alone! In Christ alone!
Your servant for Jesus’ sake alone,
Pastor Max Solbrekken – 2 Cor. 4: 5 - [email protected]
