Message to Canada  COME BACK TO GOD By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.        On a Sunday morning in Feb 1977, I awakened with a stirring message burning in my soul and spirit. God spoke to me to bring a message to the nation of Canada!     The Holy Spirit had been speaking to me while I was yet sleeping and the words, 'Canada - Turn Around' were on my lips. I was automatically aware that I was to bring that message to the people!      He instructed me to spread the message by television, radio and printed page. I was to call the message, 'Canada - Turn Around; Canada - Come Back to God'. It was a special message from God to all Canadians. There was an urgency in my spirit as I thought about the other times God had spoken to me to bring a message to our nation.  A SALUTE TO CANADA!     The first time was in 1967.  I delivered a  powerful Centennial message entitled, "A Salute to Canada."  This message stirred a lot of people. It stirred Canadians and people in other parts of the world.  It also brought a personal greeting and thanks from our Justice Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau.     Then in 1972, I was given a word from the Lord to deliver a hard hitting message by radio and printed page called, "My Message to Prime Minister Trudeau". It was a warning to all Canadian elected officials and Government Leaders across the world, to turn to God for direction and help for themselves and for the people.         I gave Biblical examples of what happened to kings and heads of government who became proud and egotistical and served pagan gods and bowed down to idols and images.      An audio tape as well as a print out of that particular message was sent to world leaders as well as all Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) in Ottawa and Members of all Provincial Legislatures (MLAs).  I received a lot of mail thanking us for that very direct and stirring prophetic message. ITS TIME TO COME BACK TO GOD        During 1977-1978, I immersed myself in the words of Jesus Christ regarding God's coming Judgment on all ungodliness, as well as His message of grace and mercy toward all who repent of their sins and return to our Heavenly Father!        My heart was aflame with God's love and compassion with a burden for those who are still in heathen darkness, perversion and deception. And for backsliders and lukewarm Christians, both in the Church and the world.        God's Word is crystal clear.  He hates our sin, but LOVES US!  We cannot judge His Word but His Word judges us.  We cannot expect God to change His Word to please us.  We must change to please Him!        The Bible says, "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)      By God's grace, I shared the message "Canada - Turn Around" to multitudes across our wonderful nation of Canada and around the world, personalizing it for those countries, with great blessing.              MULTITUDES HEARD THE GOSPEL!    We built Faith Cathedral in 1980 and I had the privilege of pastoring that wonderful Church from October 26, 1969 to October 26, 1991, when we amalgamated with People's Church allowing me the opportunity to invade Eastern Europe with Christ's powerful Gospel.         God granted us many revivals across Canada and the world at large during that time period.  All glory to His name!      Our Gospel Crusades in Manila and San Fernado, Philippines in 1992 were filled with God's blessings of forgiveness, divine healing and miracles! The Crusade with Dr. David Sumrall at the Cathedral of Praise in Manila was a great highlight because in 1966, Tom Tutyko and I conducted a 26 day-long-revival there with Rev. Daniel Marocco at Bethel Temple and at the famous Plaza Miranda Park .    From 1989 to 1995 I had the privilege of preaching in powerful and unprecedented crusades in Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Latvia with much success, to the glory of God. Two weeks after Satanic Islamic Terrorists bombed the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1998),God gave us a wonderful Crusade in that country.     In 2004 and 2005 we conducted many powerful crusades in Brazil and in 2006 and 2007, God led me to preach in the Sudan, Egypt and Europe. Our Crusades in Norway, Portugal, and the Philippines in 2008 were anointed of God and we had a major Crusade in Kampala, Uganda in 2011.    In 2007, God also led us to found Christ the Healer Gospel Church in Saskatoon, SK and in 2011 we planted the House of Prayer on Hiway 623 south of New Sarepta, AB!   Now in 2014, our goal is to reach Canada for Christ. Ministers are reaching out to us desiring Revival Meetings with God's saving, healing and delivering power. I thank God for His marvellous mercy, grace and love toward me and my family!                      WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REPENT?      St. Paul lays out the most important doctrine of the Christian Church - after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ - in this testimonial:       "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly and from house to house;Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, and FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." (Acts 20: 20, 21)       In order to be SAVED you must REPENT to GOD the Father and by faith receive JESUS CHRIST into your heart and life as your Lord and Saviour! Repentance and Faith are the two prerequisites to receive saving grace, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and God's power over Satan and his kingdom!      The definition of 'Repent' from the Mirrian Dictionary is: 'to feel or show that you are sorry for something bad or wrong that you did and that  you want to do what is right': to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life; to feel regret or contrition/to change one's mind.        Softly and  tenderly, the Holy Spirit is calling.  It is time to answer His call. Our Lord is calling everyone to repent.  Jesus Christ is calling the world to turn away from Satan and to turn to Him.       The Lord is calling us all to repent of sin and completely reject the Devil, the god of this world.  St. John declared: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8); Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."  (Luke 13:3)      Multitudes have turned their backs on God and have become proud, selfish and spiritually comatose.  During the past 40 years or more, our nation and the world has seriously veered off course and departed from righteousness. We are a people divided, despondent and depressed; politically, economically and spiritually!       Unhappy, fearful and depressed people are the norm these days, without hope for the future.  To say that we are living in a very dangerous and frightening time is an understatement.  We are definitely in the end times and are facing more terrorism, unrest and calamities both natural and man-made, with one world crisis after another!      The Bible clearly draws time lines with world events and we are drawing near the second coming of Jesus Christ and the Tribulation! IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS!      We need to get serious about the consequences of rejecting God.  A divine call has gone out to our Nation and the world to repent.  Now is the time to turn around, to repent and forsake all sin.  We must repent of our sins, surrender our wills to God and give up the futile effort of "doing things our own way."       It's time for the NATION to turn back from our rebellious ways in repentance and faith, confessing to Christ our sins of unbelief, pride, immorality, jealousy, envy and prejudice. The time has come for a wholesale rejection of Satan and evil and complete repentance.      It's time to confront the devil (the Liar) and call upon the name of Jesus Christ.  We need to rebuke Satan (the Enemy) and turn away from lust, greed, hatred, selfishness, anger, bitterness and deceit.       Jesus Christ our Lord has given us power over the devil.  We are instructed to confront the devil - in the Name of Jesus Christ - telling him that he's not welcome in our lives anymore.  The Bible says, "Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)                       CALL UPON THE NAME OF LORD!     It's time, my friend, to WAKE UP and think about eternity and where you will spend it.  We must reject and renounce the many dangerous, deceptive and occultist doctrines of the New Age Movement.    As well as the cult of Secular Humanism that teaches, 'man ascended from the world of monkeys and apes, is self-sufficient and is his own God'. Let us open our Bibles to read what God requires of us! It us so important that we understand who is in charge here.      We need to humble ourselves and pray.  We need to call upon the Name of the Lord and turn away from evil.  Satan (Enemy) is the creator of evil, death and destruction and wants to destroy us and all things around us. The Bible speaks about humility, repentance and submission to the Almighty God and a total rejection of Satan, who is the god of this world! St. James states, "Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) COME HOME TO JESUS!      It's time to come home and be reconciled to our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To accept the invitation of our LORD Jesus Christ to talk things over.  We need to straighten out past failures and right wrongs. We need to receive total forgiveness and assurance, with new direction for the future.       The Bible says, "Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)       The divine call of God does not differentiate between rich or poor, educated or illiterate, men or women, young or old. There is no class distinction or favouritism due to race, colour, nationality or culture with the Almighty.      All may approach the Throne of God in repentance and faith to receive the full blessing of God! The invitation of salvation is available to all.  Every person alive may approach the throne of God and repent of their sins.         We all can receive the mercy and grace of the LORD.  Through faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary's cross we are saved. How is this possible? The Gospel is free to everyone! We are saved by grace through faith. t is the gift of God.       The Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   (Ephesians 2:8-9)       ETERNAL SALVATION IS FREE!       Christ is calling you and waiting for you to answer Him! There is no entry fee, cover charge or red tape to delay our coming to Jesus Christ and repenting of our sins.  There is nothing  to stop the process of salvation from functioning in our lives.  Christ waits for you to repent, Christ Jesus our Lord is willing to accept all  who will repent and Jesus Christ has promised to forgive your sins.     The prophet invited, "Lo, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; come, ye, buy wine and milk without money and without price."  (Isaiah  55:1) And Jesus assures us: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out."  (John 6:37) REDEMPTION AND FREEDOM PAID!      The enormous cost of our freedom - redemption from sin and the power of Satan - has been paid for us, through the vicarious (substitutionary) death of Jesus Christ. He died as God's Pascal Lamb for the sins of lost humanity, past, present and future!       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); Our Lord said, "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."  (Luke 13:3)        St. John declared, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8). St. Paul emphasized,  "That through death, He  might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."  (Hebrews 2:14) GOD WANTS YOU: HE IS WAITING!       God is waiting for you to turn to him, to submit yourself to Him Ask for forgiveness and be cleansed in the Blood of the Lamb. The good news is that God wants us. He wants you and me. No exceptions, and no questions asked. We come just as we are.       He knows all about us and yet He wants us, even though we are sinners. WHY? He is a specialist in the field of cleansing, reconciliation and re-birth. If we confess our sins to Him, God is faithful and just to forgive us!      The Bible states, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous."  (1 John 1:9)                           JUST AS I AM, I COME! An old hymn says: Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bidst me come to Thee. O Lamb of God, I come. I come! Just as I am, and waiting not, To rid my soul of one dark blot Because Thy blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come. I come! Just as I am; poor, wretched, blind, Sight, riches, healing of the mind All that I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come! Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come. I come!'        The Bible says: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him..."  (2 Chronicles 16:9); "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."   (1 Peter 3:12)        The very first sermons  preached by our LORD were the call to repentance and salvation, "Repent and believe the gospel."   (Mark 1:15)  The same was true of the great prophet, John the Baptist, (Luke 3:3; Matthew 3:2) as well as all of the Apostles! (Mark 6:12)      St. Peter declared, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."  (Acts 2:38)                 WHAT DOES REPENTANCE MEAN?      To repent means to turn, to change course!  Repenting is godly sorrow for sin.  Repentance means  being sorry enough to stop committing sin and to change your life.      After St. Paul’s letter reached the Corinthian Church, they were sorry for their sins and repented, changing their evil ways.       He writes: "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation..."  (2 Corinthians  7:9-10)       Repentance is forsaking evil. To repent is a Change of lifestyle and thinking! Repentance is a complete forsaking of evil, unrighteousness of the world, the flesh and the devil.  When you repent you are changing, turning around.      Jesus said,  "..Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."  (Luke 13:3). In his Mars Hill sermons, St. Paul shared with pagan Greek intellectuals the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His glorious resurrection from the dead.                              DAY OF JUDGEMENT!       Then he challenged them: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead."     There will be Two Judgments! Don’t let anyone deceive you, my friend, there is going to be a 'Great Day of Judgment’' when all of us will stand before Almighty God to give an account of our lives. We are living in the end Times, the second coming of Jesus and rapture of the Church is near.       THE FIRST JUDGEMENT is the Great White Throne Judgement! There will be two judgements: the first judgement is one is called, "The Great White Throne Judgment' where all sinners and unjust persons shall be judged in relation to their acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ the Jewish Messiah.       Here is Christ Jesus' SOLEMN WARNING: "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 hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast out into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)       THE SECOND JUDGMENT is called the Bema Seat Judgment of the Saints. That is where all believers who have trusted in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour will be judged for our works.       St. Paul warns: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."  (1 Corinthians. 3:8)      In his defence before King Agrippa, the great Apostle rehearsed his Damascus Road conversion experience, and the words of Jesus Christ to him:     "Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me."  (Acts 26:17-18)        So urgent is the call for people to repent of their sins, the Bible says: "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."  (2 Corinthians 5:11) The Bible specifically declares: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God". (Rom. 3:23) SINS MUST BE PAID FOR UNLESS YOU REPENT OF THEM!     "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (Romans  6:23). The great apostle wrote to the church in Rome concerning those committing sinful acts and others who condemn them, being guilty of the same sins.      "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?    "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the DAY OF WRATH and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;"     "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, ETERNAL LIFE:     "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;"  (Romans 2:2-9) GOD'S GOODNESS & PATIENCE!     God's goodness, mercy and patience causes us to repent of our sins and turn to Him: "Or despisest thou the riches of His GOODNESS and FORBEARANCE and LONGSUFFERING; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Rom. 2: 4)     Jesus said, "Behold, I come quickly" - literal Greek: Without delay, at once, soon. (Revelation 22:12). St. Peter gave two reasons why Jesus had not yet returned: 1) One thousand years with us is like one day with the Lord! 2) God's mercy is reaching out for more sinners to be saved.     "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  (2 Peter 3:8-9)       The Bible says, "Repent and be baptized...and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  (Acts 2:38-39)   "Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out..."  (Acts 3:19)    And Jesus says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the 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."   (Revelation  3:19-20)       May the Lord bless you and give you peace. Write me a letter if you have accepted the LORD Jesus Christ as a result of reading this message! Amen.