Tuesday, February 26, 2013

BABYLON THE GREAT 
IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN.!
 By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
      "And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev. 18: 2)
       In 1965, having seen firsthand the free fall of the United Church of Canada, from a genuine Christian Church into a cesspool of  modernism and situation ethics and a denial of the basic doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, denying the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis, casting doubts on the virgin birth of Christ and His glorious Resurrection from the dead, I felt obligated to write this book!
      Since that date more churches have fallen and more will fall so that they may be judged together with the Mother of Harlots which Jesus Christ spoke about to St. John in the book of the Apocalypse, the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ! (Rev.17: 1)
     "And I heard another voice from Heaven , saying, Come out of her My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (Rev.18: 4)
 HOW COULD PROTESTANT 
   CHURCHES STRAY SO FAR AWAY?
      Did I ever think that former Evangelical Protestant Churches like the Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists and Lutherans could ever fall for the perverted teachings of the spiritually bankrupt United Church? The answer is, "No"! 
     When the brilliant Augustinian monk and theologian Dr. Martin Luther was allowed to visit Rome, which he thought was the thrice-holy City, he was so sickened at the perversion and sinfulness he saw in Rome that he wrote: "If there were a Hell, Rome was built upon it." 
     Luther was disappointed, shocked and sickened. He saw a disregard for the fundamental truths of the Christian faith. There were priests so drunk they couldn't finish the mass. In some areas of Rome were priests who had broken their celibacy vows. He heard of some priests who bragged that they were righteous because they had sex only with women!
      He stated that some priests committed such perverted, filthy acts among themselves that he could not put a name to it! It is no wonder then that Martin Luther said that Rome was "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."
     On June 29, 1972, POPE PAUL V1 stated: "From some fissure the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God."
PROTESTANT TEMPLE DEFILED!
      Today in A.D. 2013, we know that Satan has also entered the Protestant Temple and there are in some instances ordained Ministers who are avowed homosexuals leading the flock of God to a Christ-less eternity in His name!
      How sad and how regrettable that the CHURCH which is ‘the pillar and ground of truth’ (1 Tim. 3:15) should be DISGRACED by becoming the laughing stock of the world and "the habitation of demons and every foul and evil bird."
     On August 25, 2012 I wrote a commentary in my Blog on a News Report titled: 'The Imploding and very Liberal United Church of Canada'. Here are my comments:
      The United Church of Canada is AN EMBARRASSMENT to the Christian Community and an AFFRONT to God. St. Paul said that it was a shame to even speak of some of the things people did in private.
     This is of course a sign of the last days and a fulfillment of God's Word: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For, it is a SHAME even to speak of those things, which are done of them in secret." (Eph. 5:11, 12)
     "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. For many walk, of whm I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ENEMIES OF THE CROSS of ChristWhose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things." (Phil.3: 17-19)
                          HAVE THEY NO SENSE OF SHAME? 
     There seems to be no sense of shame among the leaders of the United Church of Canada. In 1965 after their denomination had brought out their New Curriculum, I preached  widely on the radio and in my crusades about the serious violation of that Church's 1925 Constitution which upheld the Bible as the basis for  faith, morals and practice.
      By gutting the first eleven chapters of Genesis, calling it a myth or folklore, and questioning the miracles in the Bible, the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth and His glorious resurrection from the dead, they were well on their way to IMPLODING and self destruction.
      There have been a number of sick jokes about that denomination turning their pulpits into fruit stands,  but for me and serious Christians, what is happening there is not a joke but a genuine travesty for us all. 
      The BIBLE Warns: "For we know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
     "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." (Eph. 5:5-7)
      May God in His mercy reach out to that sick, impoverished organization in their deception, and cleanse and restore it to a genuine House of God again." Amen.
                   SATAN'S MASTERPIECE!
       In 1965, we published our findings regarding the United Church of Canada's New Curriculum in the 'CRY OF HIS COMING'. The departure from the 'Faith of Jesus' from their 1925 Constitution when three godly, biblical Churches amalgamated, caused me deep concerns about that fine Church. 
      I asked our Artist to draw how I and many fellow Ministers of the Gospel felt about the backsliding of Canada's largest Protestant Church. The above depiction was prophetic. 
      My heart goes out to many devout believers in the deity of Jesus Christ who now struggle with anxiety, frustration and  shame about their beloved church and about the spiritual life of their children and grandchildren. 
     We are always ready to pray for and give guidance to those who have bullied by those who have high-jacked their church.
                                                                         - Pastor Max Solbrekken
                   The Imploding and Very
Liberal United Church of Canada
                           htt://juicyecumenism.com
  
     In the mid 1960s the United Church of Canada had 1,1 million members and in 2010 had 490,000. Almost certainly it has lost thousands more since.
     It is also perhaps Canada's and even North America's most liberal denomination, specializing in environmentalism, Palestinian advocacy, and same sex marriage. One of its prominent ministers is a celebrated and outspoken atheist.
    Its former chief officer openly denied Christ's deity. Its current outgoing moderator, and advocate for "climate justice" was unable to tell a reporter what doctrines were essential to the church.
     On Thursday the denomination elected the first openly homosexual moderator, perhaps the first major church in the world to do so. Four of the fifteen candidates were openly gay. 
     Founded in the 1920s as a merger of Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians, the United Church has long been defined by its radical politics rather than cohesive theology.
DISTANCED OURSELVES FROM JESUS?
    “In the 1960s and ’70s we became embarrassed about Jesus,” one woman pastor told a Canadian newspaper, the National Post, last year. 
     “And so we distanced ourselves from Jesus, and the point is without Jesus there’s no point in having a church. iTunes has better music and the NDP [National Democratic Party] has better policies; everything else we do know somebody else does way better. The only thing we can do is this Jesus thing.”
      She said: "I would say that the United Church no longer has many unifying factors."
      A Redeemer University church historian told the same newspaper about the United Church: “What is this organization bringing to the table that doesn’t already exist from a secular perspective?
      There are many people concerned about the environment who have no belief in God. If you are essentially not bringing anything that’s different, there’s a risk you will be perceived as redundant and groups who are redundant lose members.”
       He added: "Everyone speaks about the environment and Palestine and the environment. You can find it everywhere." Vibrant churches are distinct from secular culture and have doctrinal boundaries, he said.   The outgoing moderator, when pressed to explain the United Church’s core doctrine last year, hesitantly replied that theology was “difficult to pin down with prose,” since words of faith are “words of poetry, words of heart and words of soul.”
      Of course, the church has had no reluctance finding words of condemnation for tar sands oil exploration or Israel, issues where truth is evidently more manifest. “I don’t believe Jesus was God, but I’m no theologian,” the church’s then moderator admitted in 1997. No doubt.          Even more so than the U.S. United Church of Christ or Episcopal Church, the United Church of Canada has been a laboratory of liberal theology. The results are disastrous, and its future is grim. It lost 55 percent of its members while Canada’s population grew 78 percent. Maybe its example will at least warn others.
    Meanwhile, in recent years, some surveys have shown an increase in Canadian non Catholic Church attendance overall. Non-denominational churches and conservative denominations like the Assemblies of God and Christian Missionary Alliance are growing. Prime Minister Stephen Harper belongs to the later.
                   A TIMELY WARNING TO ALL!
     "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates." (2 Cor. 13:5)
    "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor homosexuals, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards or revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. 
     "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body.
    "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are BOUGHT with a price (blood of Jesus): therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor.6: 9-20) 
     "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.
     "AND I WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY." (2 Cor. 6: 17-18) Amen.
                             
                      THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL!

       My counsel to everyone reading these lines is to repent and turn to God before it is everlastingly too late. The “handwriting is on the wall” and the judge is even now ready to slip the scales under this wicked world. Like King Belshazzar of Babylon, many will discover on ‘That Day’ that “they are found wanting” when they are weighed by the Judge of the entire world.
      There is MERCY to be found from our gracious and loving Heavenly Father Whom our Lord Jesus came to reveal to a lost, sick and suffering world. His parable of the ‘Prodigal Son’ is an invitation to all sinners and backsliders who have drifted away from the fold. And Jesus Christ Who announced Himself as the ‘Good Shepherd’ went ‘the second mile’ , first in going all the way to Golgatha to die on ‘that old rugged cross’  for our sins and secondly by sending the blessed Holy Spirit to ‘call us back to God’.
     Jesus told of the Holy Spirit’s amazing work: “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of righteous because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment because (Satan) the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16: 8-11)
     The Holy Spirit of Truth convicts us of sin and introduces us to Jesus Christ who Alone is able to remove our sins through His shed blood and give us His righteousness. He is the ONE who draws us to Jesus and puts a desire and fire in our hearts to love, worship, adore and serve our Saviour Jesus Christ.
      Jesus stated: “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw Him: and I will raise Him up at the last day.” (John 6: 44)
      There is hope even for those deceived by apostate perverted church leaders to “flee from the wrath to come” (Matt. 3: 7) and throw yourself at the feet of Jesus as you cry out for mercy and forgiveness, saying, “Be merciful to me a sinner.”
     We have His promise: “Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ (Matt.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.” (Is.1; 18)
       For the perverted leaders of apostate churches, there is also hope: Fall upon your knees in genuine repentance. Throw yourself into the arms of the Saviour like Simon the false prophet, who was warned by St. Peter: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of wickedness, and the bond of iniquity.” ( Act 8: 9:24) Amen.

Friday, February 22, 2013

The Bible says: "And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And as soon as He had spokern, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." (Mark 1: 40-42). JESUS is the same yesterday, today and forever and is still to this very day answering prayer and performing miracles. Ask Him for what you need in faith believing. He has promised to answer. Please read Matthew 7: 7-11 and Matthew 18: 18 -20. - Pastor Max Solbrekken

Pastor Max Solbrekken praying for the sick
in Lisbon, Portugal Crusade,  2008
Pastor Max Solbrekken praying for the sick in the
San Fernando, Philippines Crusade, 2008
Pastor Max Solbrekken & Peterson Sozi pouring forth the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ In Kampala Crusade, 2011
Pastor Dan McLean prays powerful prayer of
faith for deliverance at Kampala Unity Crusade, 2011
A MESSAGE OF HOPE & HEALING 
FOR BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS 
WHO ARE WEAK, SICK & DISEASED!

Greetings in Jesus' precious name!

Thank you for writing and sharing your great need. Jesus knows our desperate needs and is still the compassionate High Priest Who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities! (Heb.4: 15)  

As we pray and lock in with the Holy Spirit in desperation and fervency He takes over and prays to the Father on our behalf.

 St. Paul wrote: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: But the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26) 

The literal Greek text says: the Spirit Himself takes a hold of against our infirmities, and prays through us to the Father on our behalf. It would be like a serpent trying to bite you and you would grab it by the throat and hold it away from you until you got more help to destroy it.

In Romans 8: 11 St. Paul writes: "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) bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you."

This Scripture states that the blessed Holy Spirit Who lives in us has the ability to heal and make life in our aging mortal bodies in the same way as He made life in the body of Jesus when He raised Him from the dead!

Some preachers say that this refers to the resurrection of our bodies, however, St. Paul specifically refers to our mortal bodies, not corpses. This is for us while we are alive and frail or sick. Notice: "By His Spirit that dwelleth in you." The Holy Spirit dwells only in living beings, not in dead decayed flesh!

Please join together with us according to Matthew 18:19 for an answer to your prayers!

Your servant for Jesus' sake,
Pastor Max Solbrekken 
2 Corinthians 4: 5

Sunday, February 17, 2013

JESUS CHRIST 
DIED FOR YOU!
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
Yes, my friend, Jesus of Nazareth died for you nearly 2,000 years ago on a rugged cross outside Jerusalem’s city wall, at a place called Golgotha!

It was the greatest expression of love and the greatest price ever paid for anything! When Jesus paid the supreme penalty - His life’s blood - He purchased eternal life for every human being who would accept this wonderful gift.

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)

God loved the world so dearly - that’s you and me - that He sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins and purchase our freedom!

All I had to do to receive this wonderful gift of salvation was to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to receive Him into my heart by faith, turn from my evil ways and live for Him by His strength and grace.

That’s all you have to do to be saved, as well! If you receive Jesus Christ and His gift of love, you will never be sorry!

Here’s something else - This gift is absolutely free! In fact, you could not buy it if you wanted to. The Bible says: “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)
You do not pay for a Gift!

All that is necessary to receive a gift, is to accept it! God gave His Son to die on the cross and Jesus died willingly. He died that we might live. Hallelujah!

The Bible says, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. (Rom. 5: 8)
            WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE? 
My friend that is real love! You ask, “Why did Jesus have to die?” It was because of your sin and mine. God is so holy, righteous and pure that He could not look upon sin, and our sins had separated us from God!

The prophet declared, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Because of man’s rebellion, we became partakers of Satan’s penalty and were consigned to an eternal death! God does not want people to go to Hell, so He made a way of escape for us all!

A law in God’s Word stated: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sins” (Heb. 9:22). In other words, innocent blood had to be shed! Jesus had to die so that everyone who accepts God’s promise could be forgiven.

When Jesus died, He poured out His precious blood for the sins of the whole world! And all who receive His Word can be free, cleansed from their sins and pardoned of their guilt! The Word of God states: “And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sins”. (1 John 1:7,9)
                   WHY MUST I BE SAVED!
But you say, “I do not feel that I am such a bad sinner.” The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. (Rom. 3:23); “All we like sheep have gone astray and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all”. (Isaiah 53:6)

God’s Word states: “There is none righteous; no, not one”. (Rom. 3:10); “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”. (1 John 1:8)

By now, you will sense the need to be forgiven of your sins. The Bible says: “If we confess our sins (to God), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:9)

You may feel you are TOO WICKED to find mercy, but listen to the words of Jesus: “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out”. (John 6:37); “I am come to seek and to save that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10)

You may think, “I could never live a Christian life, because I have no power”. You are right! You cannot live a Christian life in your own strength, but God will give you the needed power!

The Bible says, “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)
JESUS IS WAITING FOR
AN INVITATION TO COME IN!
Jesus Christ is waiting patiently for you, my dear friend, to come to Him. He declares:

“Behold, I stand at the door (your heart’s door), and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door; I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Rev.3: 20)

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”. (Rom. 10:9-10)
HE CAME TO EARTH
THE PROMISE TO FULFILL!
The hymn writer penned these powerful words about
Redemption’s Story of God’s great love! Nothing is greater than the love of God for us! NOTHING.!!!

He came to earth the promise to fulfill,
A rugged cross He bore up Calvary’s Hill.
And for my sins He cried, ‘Father forgive’
Born to die, that I might live.
Born to die, a cruel cross to bear,
Born to die, His everlasting love to share.
Between two thieves He bowed His head
and cried: It’s finished now, I came to die!
                                                            - anon
Please Note: Please pass this Gospel tract to others.
You may write to us for an assortment of tracts that I have written. Send a donation to cover the costs of printing and shipping and we will gladly send you what you are able to prayerfully distribute for our Lord! - M.S.
                  Max Solbrekken preaching on the Resurrection of
                     Jesus of Nazareth at the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem


Thursday, February 14, 2013

God so Loved the World & Gave His Son. Jesus Died, Was Buried & Arose From the Grave. Sinners Believe, Repent, Receive Christ, Are Forgiven & Born Again. Begin Witnessing For Jesus Christ.! - Pastor Max Solbrekken

Christ Has Died! Christ is Risen! 
Christ Will Come Again!
Pastor Max Solbrekken with Dr. David Perreia in  Lisbon
Portugal Gospel Crusade, 2008
Preaching the Gospel in Timoshvara, Romania, 1990.  Jesus 
said: "Go ye into all the world and preach My Gospel. He
 that believeth and is baptized shall be saved... and these signs
shall follow them who believe. In Myname shall they cast out
 devils...they shall lay their  hands on the sick and they shall
hey shall recover!" Mk 16:15-18
Kampala Police Band leads march to the Crusade Grounds
Max Solbrekken Uganda Unity Gospel Crusade, 2011
Pastor Max Solbrekken & Pastor Peterson Sozi pouring
out the Gospel of Christ with great passion & fire, 2011
Night after night they came seeking Jesus the Christ
who would forgive their sins and give them peace, 2011
Altar calls in each service brought  large numbers of young 
people to Jesus Christ, even though we had unseasonable
rains after the long drought. They ran through the mud in 
the field to meet with the Saviour Jesus Christ, 2011
Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Trinidad, 1968

Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Mozambique, 1988
Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Brazil, 2005
Pastor Max & Peterson Sozi at Minister's Conference
Unity Gospel Crusade Kampala, Uganda, 2011
Pastor Max & Pastor Peterson Sozi at Unity Gospel 
Crusade Kampala, Uganda, 2011
FROM THE THRONE OF GLORY
TO THE CROSS OF SHAME
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most remarkable, indescribable and phenomenal gift that Almighty God has given to the world. It is incomparable and most amazingly unique in the annals of mankind! It is the One and only such gift proffered in human history and will never again happen throughout time or eternity!

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? It is the gift of God, the unspeakable gift of His Son, Who was incarnated (God in human flesh) to be sacrificed as God’s Lamb to meet the demands of Divine Justice in payment for our sins and purchasing our FREEDOM from the Penalty of the Law. (Ezek.18:4; 2 Cor.9:15)

The extent to which our Heavenly Father reached out to fallen man is unfathomable to the highest degree. He gave His Son to be so degraded in His humiliation that, “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men”. (Isaiah 52: 13,14)

When Jesus was lifted up on the Cross He became a curse as our sins were piled upon Him, and through His death and resurrection He abolished death and purchased eternal life for all who receive Him.
CHRIST HAS ABOLISHED DEATH!
St. Paul writes: “God, Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ Who hath abolished death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Tim.1:9, 10)

The Holy Scripture says: “Christ hath REDEEMED us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, CURSED is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal.3:13)

Could anyone find words in any language to fully articulate the magnitude of God’s richness, graciousness and beneficence in sending His Son to this sin-cursed world in search of lost and sinful men?

The answer is, “Not in a million years would that be possible! There will never be enough time for us to thank and praise our precious SAVIOUR for the immenseness of His mercy, love and grace given us through the shedding of His holy and precious BLOOD!"

The Word of God teaches about the wideness of God’s mercy and the depth of His love: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the family in Heaven and earth is named; that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man:

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the BREADTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT; And to KNOW the LOVE of CHRIST which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fullness of God.

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.” (Ephesians 3: 3-20)

There is no sin, fear, lust, greed, hate, guilt, sorrow, perversion or addiction that Jesus will not forgive, and liberate us from when we call upon His name in sincerity and faith!

The love of God reaches the darkest recesses of the heart, mind and conscience and liberates the toughest, meanest and most jaded among us! His blood purges away all condemnation and depression and tormenting demons and gives us Peace, Joy and Love. Amen!
                   THE GOSPEL IS JESUS HIMSELF
He alone is the Good News! Without Him there is No Good News. Without Him there are No Glad Tidings! Our Lord said: “Without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5);

Then answered Jesus, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for whatsoever things He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth, and He will show Him greater works than these that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickens them, even so the Son quickens whomsoever He will.

For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son, honours not the Father which hath sent Him.” (John 5: 19-23)

Jesus answered, My doctrine is not Mine but His who sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or if I speak of Myself.” (John 7: 16-17)

And yet if I judge, My judgment is TRUE; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. I am one that bears witness of Myself and the Father that sent Me bears witness of Me.” (John 8: 16, 17)
JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD!
Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command have I received of My Father.

I and My Father are ONE....Many GOOD WORKS which I have showed you from MY FATHER; for which of those works do ye stone Me? Say ye of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemeth; because I said, I am the Son of God? 

"If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But, if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the WORKS: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10; 30-38)

St. John wrote: “He that cometh from ABOVE is above ... For He whom God hath sent speaks the words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. For the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into His hand. 

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 abides on him.” (John 3: 31, 34-36)
                 THE CROSS IS OUR FIXED POINT!
What happened on the CROSS on Golgatha is the greatest event in the world's history. The Cross is our fixed point. It is the centre of our faith. It is the Hope of Humanity. It was there that Man was reconciled to God through His perfect and holy Son. Jesus took the hand of God in one hand and the hand of man in His other and brought us together at the Cross

Hanging on the CROSS, our Saviour cried out: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Speaking in Greek, Jesus used the word tetelestai’ taken from the verb teleo’ which has three essential meanings: 1) to finish something, 2) to fulfill something, 3) to be paid in full.

Jesus of Nazareth, True God from Eternity and True Man born of a Virgin, had finished the work of REDEMPTION having shed His precious blood on the ‘Cross of Shame’ as God’s Pascal Lamb.

He had fulfilled all 332 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Coming Messiah and He had paid for all our sins, sicknesses and diseases! 

When He cried out ‘tetelestai’, the fountain of blood had been opened for sin and uncleanness and Jesus Christ had conquered Satan, once and for all time and eternity. (Zech.13:1; Heb.2:14,15) Praise the Lord!

Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (heb. kholee) and carried our pains (heb. makob): 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 upon Him; and with His stripes we were healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53: 4-6)

FROM THE THRONE OF GLORY
TO THE CROSS OF SHAME!

  Don Francisco brings out this great truth in the song,

 The Center of The Ages’. Here are some of the lyrics:


He didn't come to terrify

To judge or condescend

To call us all His servants


But to lift us as His friends


To save us all from
Satan's power


To reign at His right hand


In the little town of Bethlehem


When God became a Man



Today the God of Majesty


Was given to the earth


A gift of such magnificence


We could never plumb it's worth

And the rudeness of the setting

Just ignites the Jewel's fire

A pearl beyond the greatest price

The Joy of Man's desire



He didn't come to terrify


To judge or condescend


To call us all His servants


But to lift us as His friends


To save us all from certain death


To reign at His right hand


When once for all eternity

God became a Man




IT STARTED IN THE GARDEN!


Although the plan of Salvation - through the shed blood of Christ - was in the heart of God before the foundations of the world were laid,  it was in the Garden of Eden that the traitor Lucifer made his diabolical move of HIGH TREASON against the Almighty, plunging humanity into sin and degradation!

And it was in the Garden of Eden that God  announced the coming of the DELIVERER who would crush Lucifer's head and free the sons and daughter's of Adam and Eve!  Here is the Holy Record of that awesome event that has dramatically shaped the course of History.

God said, “And I will put enmity between thee (serpent) and the woman and between thy (Satan) seed and her (Virgin) seed. It (Christ) shall bruise (destroy) thy head and thou (Satan) shall bruise His heel.” Jesus was bruised on the cross, but healed when raised back to life. (Gen.3: 15)

For several thousand years the Jewish people had waited for their Deliverer of which Moses and the prophets had spoken and to Whom Almighty God alluded, when He announced the coming of the Messiah and His ultimate victory over Satan.

After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus conversed with two of His disciples who were walking to Emmaus. Here is a portion of what He said to them: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ ti have suffered these things and enter 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)

St. Paul lays out the great truth of the 'MYSTERY OF THE AGES' in his Epistles: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God (He is God the Son) 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 of  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)


"Even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is CHRIST IN YOU, the Hope of Glory." (Col.1: 26-27)

                   WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? 
When we have our theology RIGHT concerning Jesus Christ we become one with Him and are grafted into Him the TRUE VINE and become the children of God through the New Birth. And secondly, we are able to lead others to the saving knowledge of God! (John 15: 1-8)

Those who have their theology WRONG concerning Jesus Christ are LOST and secondly they lead others to Hell, since they are blind leaders of the blind, as Jesus Christ warned! (Matt.15: 14). 
Here is what our Lord Jesus Christ said of Himself after His Resurrection from the dead: 

"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 gory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in ALL THE SCRIPTURES the things concerning HIMSELF." (Luke 24: 26-27)


St. John, the Beloved gives this WARNING to those who trifle with and twist the Word of God to enhance their own perverted agenda:


"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS OF GOD. And every spirit that confesseth NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD; And this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4: 1-4)   

                      WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 
There are ca. seven billion people on this Planet, all born of flesh and blood. We have all 'come in the flesh'. That is normal, but when God was INCARNATED in human flesh, that was the Miracle. 

The blood that flowed through His veins, however, was not contaminated with SIN as ours is because God was His Father!

That is the Amazing Love of our Saviour. He entered into our time and space for the express purpose of our Redemption! He Who was God the Son, wrapped Himself in human flesh in order to be sacrificed for the sins of the world! 

All who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was more than a man, more than a prophet, and reject Him as God the Son from eternity who was made Man (incarnated) in order to redeem a sinful world to Himself, CANNOT and will not be saved and will be doomed to Hell forever.


St. Paul WARNED: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (suspended). Maranatha." (1 Cor. 16:22) 


According to this Scripture there will be both a blessing and a curse upon humankind as Christ come to judge the world in His Kingdom. Those who are SAVED will be blessed and those who are not SAVED will be rejected. 'Anathema' was used as a Church censure or final excommunication!


The Indians on Canada's West Coast sing an altar song with these words:  "There'll  be sorrow and there'll will be pain. There'll  be rejoicing and there will be weeping when My Lord shall come again." 


Maranatha is 'Aramaic' as an imperative: 'marana-tha' meaning "Our Lord Come", or as an indicative: 'maran-atha', meaning "Our Lord is come"  


Theologians wonder why St. Paul inserted, without translation, an Aramaic formula in a Greek letter to Corinth where Aramaic was not current. 


It is believed that the word 'Maranatha' was a fixed and widely circulated formula. It was undoubtedly a KEY EXPRESSION in the liturgy of the Primitive Church in Palestine and that from there it passed into Greek Christendom without translation in fashion similar to  'Amen' and 'Hallelujah'


In His High Priestly prayer to His Father our Lord Jesus stated: "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. Ad Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He 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: 1-3). He said: "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.: (John 14:6) 

Dear Friend; Put your trust in Jesus Christ whose love for you is so enormous that He took your place on the cross and rose from  the dead. He is even now waiting to enter your heart and make you His very own for time and eternity! Amen.
               

Note: This is the first installment of the book by Max Solbrekken, 'From the Throne of Glory to the Cross of Shame'