THE PRINCIPLES OF
FAITH
HOW THEY FUNCTION
by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D
PREFACE
"And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a
certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for
he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for often he falls into the fire, and often into
the water.
"And I
brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and
perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? Bring him hither to Me. And
Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured
from that very hour.
"Then
came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said: Why could not we cast him
out? And Jesus said unto them, Because
of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place;
and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this
kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matt. 17:14-21)
In
this concise work we will consider FIVE PRINCIPLES OF FAITH:
1)
Read and Hear God's Word.
2) Think and Meditate on
God's Word.
3) Believe God's Word.
4) Speak or articulate God's
Word.
5) Act upon God's Word!
Thousands have been saved and healed by
our Lord Jesus Christ in our crusades listening to the preached WORD and through reading or having someone read these
inspired messages to them.
You can do the same because God is no
respecter of persons and what He will do for one, He will do for all who accept His promises and act upon them!
Although I preached these messages more
than a decade ago, they are as valid and important today, as ever! Amen.
Max Solbrekken
Edmonton, 1993
CHAPTER ONE BACK TO BASICS
"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb.
11:6), but with faith "all things are possible". (Mark 9:23)
Faith and unbelief are diametrically
opposed, because faith comes from God's Word, while unbelief germinates where "there is ignorance" of the
Scriptures!
Faith is born of God but unbelief is the
product of satanic invention for faith is a positive power, while unbelief is a
negative force! Faith is a divine gift,
but unbelief has its origin in superstition, fear and unrighteousness!
Faith is rooted in trust, sincerity and
truth, while unbelief is anchored in skepticism, resentment and deception!
Faith touches the heart of God and opens
Heaven's store - house to believers.
Unbelief closes the "channels
of blessing" and sets the soul on a rebellious course of self-will and
transgression!
Faith works, and so does unbelief. Both bring forth an abundant harvest; one
good and the other bad. One produces
life, the other death - for time and eternity!
The best example of ‘living faith’ is found in the dynamic life
of Jesus Christ. He did no sin, neither
was guile found in His mouth. He obeyed
His Father's will so implicitly that "a voice came from Heaven, saying: This
is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.
Hear ye Him". (Matt. 17:5)
No wonder Jesus could heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast
out demons, multiply the loaves and fishes, walk on the water, commandeer the
elements and raise the dead! He always did those things that pleased His
Father!
THE
KEY TO MIRACLES, TOTAL VICTORY,
ANSWERED
PRAYER AND PROSPERITY!
If we are to see the power of God in our lives, we must follow
the example of Jesus in obedience, dedication, consecration and submission to
God. We must follow the Master in a life of holiness, humility and single-mindedness
of purpose!
Jesus said, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will
of the Father which hath sent Me." (John 5:30); "For
I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent
Me." (John 6:38); "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His
work." (John 4:34); "I always do those things that please
Him." (John 8:29)
Our Lord stated, "I must work the works of
Him that sent Me, while it is day..." (John 9:4); "Not
My will, but Thy will be done." (Luke 22:42)
We must do the same, if we want the SAME COMMUNION with "the
Father". If we do not have that fellowship, we cannot
do the same works!
Jesus said, "As My Father hath sent Me, so send I
you". (John 20:21) "The
works that I do shall ye do also, and greater works than these shall ye do,
because I go unto My Father". (John 14:12)
The Holy Scripture emphasizes, "And whatsoever we ask, we
receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are
pleasing in His sight.
“And this is His commandment; That we should believe on the
name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keeps His commandments dwells in
Him, and He in him. And hereby we know
that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." (1 John 3:22-24)
Here are the two essential things the
Church of the Living God must possess, to do the works of God: First, believe
on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Redeemer. Second - to have
fervent love (Gr. agape) one for another!
OUR
ATTITUDE TO OTHERS
REFLECTS
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD!
St. John
declared, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and
His love is perfected in us.
Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath
given us of His Spirit. And
we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of
the world.
"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that
God hath to us. GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwells in love dwells in God and God
in him.
“Herein is our love made perfect, that
we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is, so are we in
this world." (1 John 4:11-17)
The Bible says, "And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall
appear, we may have confidence,
and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth
righteousness is born of Him." (1 John 2:28-29)
There are
three hindrances to receiving the power of God!
1. SINS OF CARNALITY OF THE FLESH & MIND!
The first great hindrance is the
sins that we allow in our lives! Sins of carnality and worldliness of the flesh
and the mind rob believers of the intimacy necessary to function as the true
Body of Christ!
The
Bible says: “For they that after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but
they that are after the Spirit the things that are after the Spirit. For to be
carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom.8:5,6)
Living in continual sin automatically creates GUILT in a
Christian’s spirit, straining the sweet
fellowship between God and that individual! Sin causes a blockage in the flow of the Holy Spirit, because guilt
brings condemnation and fear!
St. John wrote: "Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, we
have confidence to ask what we will and it shall be done unto us..." (1
John 3:20)
Guilt also brings DOUBT with it, thus
hindering the ability to pray the "prayer
of faith". Satan, the originator of sin, fear and doubt, is the winner
in that situation. The only way back into fellowship with the Father is through
REPENTANCE and TRUST.
The Scripture says, "...but if our hearts condemn us, then
God is greater than our hearts and knows all things". (1 John 3:21) Our Lord knows that sin
in our lives will rob us of faith and bring condemnation, but the shed blood of Jesus Christ is the remedy for sin and removes
the guilt and condemnation!
The Bible states, “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
cleanses us from ALL sin.” (1 John 1: 7)
JESUS’
SHED BLOOD BRINGS PEACE!
"There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit". (Rom. 8:1)
St.
John stipulated, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness". (1 John 1:9)
Repentance brings immediate
relief through God’s forgiveness. Condemnation leaves and faith rises in our
hearts opening the door to God’s miracles in our lives!
The Bible states: “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward
God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1
John4: 21, 22)
Our hearts rejoice as we meditate upon the
great salvation Christ purchased for us on Calvary's
Cross! Jesus is even now seated at our
Father's right hand in Heaven, making intercession for us as our High Priest.
And as our Advocate Jesus is pleading our case before the Father: "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)
SATAN: ACCUSER OF
GOD'S PEOPLE! The Holy Bible says: "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 brethen is cast down,
which accused them before our God day and night.
"And they (believers) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto
the death." (Rev. 12:10-11)
How to overcome: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Draw nigh to God and He
will draw nigh to you.” (James 4: 7,8); “Be sober, 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, 9)
God desires to forgive every sin and bring us into fellowship,
so that our prayers may be answered. The
Bible says, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being
heirs together of the grace of life;
that your prayers be not hindered". (1 Peter 3:7)
(II)
– LACK OF TOTAL COMMITMENT TO CHRIST!
Many Christians are not fully committed
to Christ and His Gospel. They have very little desire to see His agenda go
forward! They have not experienced His saving grace or sanctifying power,
therefore, have no real understanding of spiritual things.
Or, they have - over the years - lost
their focus of why Jesus came to earth in the first place. They have forgotten
the awful price He paid in order to redeem fallen man! Like the Church at Ephesus, they have “left
their first love.” (Rev. 2: 4)
Following His program is not
their Number One priority. Some have
ulterior motives and others are not willing to dedicate themselves sufficiently
to the task. Therefore, the work of Christ has suffered!
I have noticed in recent years, a lack of real desire and
dedication in the lives of God's people to emulate JESUS! He must be our example and role model! We must obey Him totally, and put forth effort commensurate with His PERSON and
MISSION, which can be nothing less than TOP PRIORITY!
There is, however, hope for all! Jesus
said to the Christians at Ephesus:
“Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first
works: or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of
His place, except thou repent.” (Rev.2: 5)
The candlestick or light stand bringing
light speaks of the Holy Spirit and
the Word of God and the Gospel! Ephesus today lies in ruins and the Church is
gone. The Muslim hordes overran the area years ago and the Gospel light went
out! How sad!
The question is: “Will that also happen to our
beloved nation, because of the backsliding of our clergy and the worldliness of
the Church in general?” I pray fervently, that such a tragedy will not
happen. Rather, that God will be merciful and send us a grass-roots-revival that
will change our spiritual landscape!
The word Christian means, "Christ-like ones"
and also has the connotation that we are members of "The Family of Jesus"!
In his letter to Timothy, St.
Paul throws light on this problem. We see shades of FEAR developing in young
Timothy, which the apostle seeks to dispel. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of love and of
power and of a sound mind." (1 Tim. 1:7) Again He speaks of the fact that Onesimus "was not ashamed of my chain." (2 Tim. 1:16)
Evidently, Timothy was feeling the pressure of St. Paul being in prison, wondering, "Who
will be next"? "Will I also be
beaten, striped, imprisoned and martyred for the name of Jesus and because of
my fellowship with 'this outspoken man' who always seems to be getting into
trouble?"
Jesus emphazised: "Except a corn of wheat fall to the
ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit".
(John 2:24)
St. Paul
taught us ‘How to Become a Man of God’.
This was my premier message to 5000 preachers at the ‘Assemblies of God Conference’
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1987 and also at the ‘Christ
For the Nations Bible Institute’ in Dallas, Texas.
THE KEY IS TO DIE TO SELF!
The old nature and the ‘old man’ in us,
our ego, pride and stubborn will must die, so that God’s life will come to the
forefront in our lives! We must be in total submission to the Holy Spirit and
the Word of God!
Like St. Paul, we also must be
captive to the Word of God! The great Apostle stated: “…I am ready not be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts
21: 13) “…For the hope of Israel,
I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28: 20); “Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.” (1 Cor.9:16)
Defending his courageous stand for Christ
and His Gospel against the evils of the Roman Church, Dr. Martin Luther stated: “I am captive to the Word of God. Unless I can be instructed and convinced with
evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of
reasoning ... then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor
wise to act against conscience." Then he added, "Here I stand. I can do no other. God
help me! Amen."
WILLIAM TYNDALE was a student in Cambridge when Martin
Luther posted his 95
Thesis on the door of the Wittenberg
Church. He was troubled
about the problems within the Church. In 1523 taking advantage of the recent
invention of the printing press, Tyndale began to cast the Scriptures in the current
English. His aims were simple but ambitious, as expressed to an educated man.
William Tyndale said: “I
defy the Pope and his laws; and if God spare my life, ere many years I will
cause a boy that driveth the plow shall know within his lifetime more of the
Scriptures than thou dost.”
He was born in Slymbridge in about 1496. After being educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, he became
a chaplain. While studying at Oxford he became very interested in the ideas of John
Wycliffe and the Lollards. Tyndale became convinced that the church
had become corrupt and selfish.
Like
Wycliffe, Tyndale thought it was important that people had the opportunity to
read and interpret the Bible for themselves. Tyndale wanted to translate the
Bible into English but at that time Henry VIII and
the English church were very much against the idea.
In 1524
Tyndale went to Hamburg where he met Martin Luther and
the following year moved to Cologne where he managed to arrange for his
translation of the Bible to be printed.
In 1535
William Tyndale was betrayed by Henry Phillips and arrested in Antwerp and
imprisoned in a castle near Brussels. He was found guilty of heresy and on 6th
October, 1536, he was strangled and burnt at the stake.
Tyndale did
not die in vain. Two years later Henry VIII gave permission
for the publication of the English Bible. However, people were not allowed to
read it aloud to another person; nor were people below the rank of gentleman
allowed to own a copy of the English Bible.
St. Paul understood that the Gospel of Christ and
fellowship with Jesus is more important than one's own life - which is only
temporary! Eternal life through Christ
is much more important! That is why he wrote, "For
me to live is Christ but to die is gain". (Phil. 1:21)
Many Christians have not learned that, "It costs something to be a man of
God". There is a price to pay - in
order to have God's faith and power, operating in our lives!
And unfortunately many are not willing to pay that price, so
they have only the message - without the power! Preaching
faith, but having only presumption.
How sad! This combination produces sensual, fleshly believers, with the
"yuppie attitude" - WHAT CAN I GET
OUT OF THIS FOR MYSELF? instead of the true Christian spirit of "What can I give?"
LORD, DO IT AGAIN!
Here
is Billy Graham’s prayer: "Lord, do it again! Do what You did when the apostles were
called. Do what You did following
Pentecost! Do what You did with Saul of Tarsus, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, John
Wesley, George Whitefield, D.L. Moody and William Booth. Lord, do it again. And help us to reach the
world for Christ.”
(III) AN ALMOST TOTAL ABANDONMENT OF FERVENT
PRAYER BY CHRISTIANS AND CLERGY ALIKE!
A number of years ago, a
survey taken among Christians in the USA revealed that the average Christian
spends 3 minutes in prayer daily and
the average clergyman gives only 7
minutes to God in daily prayer!
WHAT A SHAME!
They feast when they should be fasting and the supper room has
taken priority over the Upper Room! Remember,
the Early Church was born in a prayer meeting!
One hundred and twenty believers were closeted in a place of
prayer and supplication - seeking God for an endowment of power - when the Holy
Spirit fell upon them!
In order for "the Church of the 21st
Century" to grow, advance and occupy for Christ, an intense desire
for prayer and seeking God must pervade the believing saints. That was the SECRET of the success of the 1st
Century Church!
We must continue until the fire of God falls afresh on the
altar of our souls and WE AGAIN BECOME LIVING STONES crying out to a dying
world, that Jesus Christ is Lord!
John Knox prayed: “O
God give me Scotland or I die”! And the wicked blood-thirsty ‘Mary Tudor - Queen of Scots’ agonized
that she feared the prayers of John Knox, more than the armies of England!
God heard and answered his prayers, and that is why Scotland is Presbyterian today and NOT
PAPIST!
We must take as our models holy men and women of God who in
past centuries, have shaken cities and stirred nations for God through their
selflessness, fearlessness, piety and faith in God!
We must die so that He can live through us! God has given us His blueprint for Revival
and Healing: "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then
will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land". (2 Chron. 7:14)
There are four things we must do, if we expect God to send a
gracious spiritual awakening and healing to this nation.
1) WE MUST HUMBLE
OURSELVES!
One of the five sins of Sodom
was pride! “Behold, this was the iniquity of
thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in
her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and
needy.” (Ezek. 16:49)
Humility is the opposite of pride and God "hates a proud look and a
haughty spirit". (Prov.6:16-17)
HUMILITY THEREFORE REQUIRES REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION OF SIN!
God's Word states, "For
thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite ones". (Isaiah
57:15)
The Bible says, “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith,
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (James 4:6,7,10)
By humbling ourselves we are saying, "God, take control of my
life. I want You to move into my life
and set up Your throne in my heart. From
this moment forward, I desire You to take charge of my life".
Why is this so important?
God delights in making something out of nothing so that “No flesh should
glory in His presence”. (1 Cor.1: 29)
PRIDE WAS SATAN’S SIN!
Pride precipitated his tragic, awful fall!
The Bible says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how
art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the
sides of the north: I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
(Isaiah 14:12-14)
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast
corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will
cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold
thee.” (Ezek. 28:17)
2) WE MUST PRAY!
There is an old adage: "Prayer Changes Things!" That's absolutely right. Prayer changes people and situations, as
well! Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you: For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
He admonished: “...Pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you”. Again, He said, "Watch
ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is
weak". (Mark 14:38)
IT ALSO CHANGES THOSE WHO PRAY! When
we begin to pray in earnest, God communes with us and speaks to us by His Word
and the Blessed Holy Spirit. And it
doesn't take Him long to soften our hearts, penetrate our minds and affect our
stubborn wills.
One of the characteristics of the life of Jesus, was the regularity and fervency of His prayers to His Father, and the consistency with which His requests were granted! And if we hope to
affect our families, our communities and our world for God, we must follow the
example of Jesus and the admonitions of the apostles.
St. Paul
admonished, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting". (1 Tim. 2:8) "Pray without ceasing." (1
Thes. 5:17)
“Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
(Phil. 4:6)
And St. James stated, "Confess your faults (troubles) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much". (James 5:16)
3) WE MUST SEEK
GOD'S FACE!
To seek
someone's face speaks about closeness and nearness! A
personal experience is necessary. God desires our
input - an earnest desire to WALK WITH HIM, so that we may see His
face!
We cannot follow afar off and expect to enjoy God's special
favour and smile upon our lives! He is
our Heavenly Father and desires the special Father/Son relationship which was
purchased for us through the death of His Son!
Like a child sitting upon his father's lap touches his heart,
so we touch the heart of our Heavenly Father when we draw near to Him. St.
James said, "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh to you"
(James 4:8)
Seeking the face of God also implies intense and specific
effort in focusing upon God and doing His will! That is why Jesus said, "Strive
to enter in", and St. Peter declared, "make your calling and
election sure". (2 Peter 1:10)
God's Word says, "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when
ye shall search for Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) The word ‘diligence’ is often used in
conjunction with ‘walking with God’!
St. Peter writes: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye
shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:10)
And St. Paul
admonished: “But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (1 Cor.
11:28)
WE NEED A REVIVAL OF
EXPECTANCY & EXCITEMENT
Below are excerpts of a speech made by
Billy Graham at the convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Denver, Col.,
USA,
in the 1960’s.
His address was called, 'Spiritual Expectancy & Revival'.
"Here we have a great deal to learn
from Pentecostalists and the Assemblies of God.
They have enthusiasm for Christ.
I do not believe in cheap sensational emotions for emotions sake. But I believe we have gone too far and we
don't have the feeling, the emotion, the tears and the compassion we ought to
have.
"Our Lord wept publicly. He was moved to tears. And who can forget Gethsemane? Emotion!
Dr. MacKay says that Naziism had fire, Fascism had fire, Communism has
fire - The Church needs to catch fire!
Grady Wilson and I were in Moscow two years
ago. We saw 50,000 young people in Red Square, stomping their feet, clenching their fists
and shouting, ‘We're going to change the world.
We're going to change the world!’
And they looked like they meant it.
"Where are the young people today -
stomping their feet for Christ and saying, ‘We're going to change the
world’? There was feeling in Moscow. There was electricity there.
"At Pentecost people thought the 120
were drunk. People don't think we're
drunk anymore - they think we're dead!"
4) WE MUST TURN FROM OUR WICKED
WAYS!
There is nothing more abhorrent to God our Heavenly Father,
than the transgression of His laws. When we revolt against God's order, we sin
against Him, ourselves, our neighbours and also the universe! This universe was created to
accommodate order, precision and truth.
It operates on a tight schedule - planets orbiting in perfect precision,
according to the WORD OF GOD.
In this generation, there has again risen to the surface, the
age-old time-worn, damnable doctrine of Gia or Mother Earth worship. The New Agers say that the earth has a
spirit. This lie has been handed down
from time immemorial and practiced by the ancient
Hindus, the Vikings and Indians!
OLD SIN FOR NEW AGE MOVEMENT!
And God hates it. Hear
His Word: "Thou shalt have no other
gods before Me". (Exodus 20:3) "...and there is no god else beside
Me. Look unto Me and be ye saved, all
the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." (Is.
45:21-22)
Sin is an aberration and brings disorder; in the spirit, mind
& body! The word SIN, in the Greek
means "missing the mark".
So sinning is certainly nothing to be proud of - for it always brings
shame, remorse, sorrow, sickness and death!
In God's books, sinners are categorically classified as Losers!
Sin cannot produce Winners! Since
Satan, the eternally lost entity and author of sin and rebellion, is a COSMIC
LIAR and perpetual LOSER, why should anyone in his
right mind, follow him? That doesn’t make any sense at all!
MUCH MORE TO FOLLOW.... Write us soon: [email protected]
