We have a new fire and impetus to reach Saskatoon for Jesus with the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray with us and join hearts and hands to fulfill God's calling in our lives! - Pastor Max Solbrekken

Seventh Anniversary A Blessed Time!

CHRIST THE HEALER 

GOSPEL CHURCH 

Evangelist Fred & Edith Bourke from NWT

used mightily in the Far North brought a

great blessing to Saskatoon, Sept 26-28.

Northern Glory Gospel Band

~ One of Canada's Finest ~

Evangelist Lonnie & Becky Sims

~Lonnie leaves soon for crusades in Brazil ~

'Only One life, it will soon be past:

Only what's done for Christ will last!'

                                                   - anon

All honour, glory and praise goes back to Jesus Christ for all His wonderful works which He has done that we have witnessed during the last few months across our nation. Who can even try to understand Christ and His great love, mercy and grace toward us. It is beyond comprehension - Pastor Max Solbrekken

                                                                              

                                   Max Solbrekken prays with a young  man 
                                  who is surrendering his life to Jesus Christ!

Metro Thomas rejoices after coming up from the Waters

of Baptism. Evangelist Fred Bourke assists Pastor Max

 Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;  but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16: 16); "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying  save yourselves from this perverse generation. Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized..." (Acts 2: 37-42); "Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 3,4)

                                                 

 

Max Solbrekken & Vern Temple in Prince Albert Crusade

                          Max Solbrekken with his first Gospel Tent, 1964
JESUS SAID, "THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTEOUS, BUT THE LABOURERS ARE FEW; PRAY YE THEREFORE THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, THAT HE WILL SEND FORTH LABOURERS INTO HIS HARVEST." - ST. MATTHEW 9: 35-38

God is so good. It was Rev. Max Solbrekken’s first trip to NL when I gave my life to the Lord and his last trip to NL when, our son, Dean gave his life to the Lord. How amazing is that. Where would my family be today if Rev. Solbrekken had not said yes and come to NL for those Evangelistic Services? Thank you Rev. Solbrekken. - Adam Milley

Adam &  Bride Milley

The Adam Milley Family 
My Personal Testimony
By: Adam Milley,NL 

My testimony actually starts before I was born. My grandparents had 2 children, both girls. My mother was the first married and the first to have a child, a son, me. We all lived together. My father was away from home for months at a time working so my grandparents became the stable people in my life. I remember my grandmother rocking me until I was a big boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old. She would always tell me that I would be a minister some day.

I grew up in a Christian home, attending church whenever the doors were open, until I was 15 or 16 years old. By the time I was 28 I had been working for several years, gotten married, had 3 children and had only been in church about a dozen times.

In Oct. of 1967 I heard that Rev. Max Solbrekken was going to be in Lewisporte, doing Evangelistic Services. I decided I would go to at least 1 of the services.

I went to the service and Rev. Solbrekken had my undivided attention during his sermon. When he finished preaching he bowed his head and prayed. Then he said, “There are 10 people here tonight that need to be saved. The Lord will never speak to you again in the way that He has spoken to you tonight”. He asked for these 10 people to come forward has he counted to 10. He just counted, there was no singing. Some people went forward. I wanted to go but I couldn’t seem to get the courage to take that first step. He continued to ask for however many was left from the 10 he’d mentioned previously. 

Everything was going through my mind and then this thought came to me, “If you don’t go forward for yourself, go for your family”.  That was the deciding point. I stood and went forward, knelt at the altar and couldn’t remember what I needed to say to give my life to God. Someone laid a hand on my shoulder and said, “Lord save this man”. Then I remembered the man in the Bible that said, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner”. So I repeated those words and stood to my feet a sinner saved by the grace of God. I put my hand in my pocket and felt my cigarette pack. My heart sank. Rev. Solbrekken was about to pray so I said to myself, “Lord let my smoking be covered in his prayer”. I have never had a desire for a cigarette since.  I’m not sure of the exact date in Oct. 1967 but it was on a Tuesday night.

My wife gave her life to the Lord on Jan. 18, 1968. We had 3 children at that time so we started having “Family Prayers” or “Family Altar”. As the children got older and #4 child came along, they each started taking their turn praying during our “Family Altar” time.

Our children grew up and went on with their lives. Our oldest, and only girl, went to nursing school and the 3 boys went to Bible College. Several years later, one morning during my devotions, I opened my Bible to 1 Kings 8:17 – 19 where it talks about David wanting to build the temple but the Lord tells him that his son would build it. I believe that morning the Lord was telling me that the Words my grandmother had spoken to me while she rocked me were not meant for me directly but for my family. He also reminded me of my thoughts on that night, in Oct. 1967, when I went forward for salvation, “I did it for my family” and because of that He would use my whole family in ministry. Today, all 4 of our children and their spouses are involved in some form of ministry.

Our son, Dean is a missionary in Peru. He & his wife, Ruth, are part of the Pastoral staff in one of the largest evangelical churches in Peru. Dean gave his life to the Lord and experienced a mighty deliverance in Rev. Solbrekken’s last service in NL, in May 1988.

Our daughter, Deborah and her husband, Oral, spend 6 months of the year in Peru also. They help out with Dean’s ministry while they’re there. Then when they’re home in Canada they are involved in a Motorcycle Ministry where they show God’s love to outlaw bikers. Their son, Dustin, is a missionary in Peru too. He works with a church there and teaches at the Bible School that’s affiliated with that church.

Our son, David, and his wife, Elaine are the senior pastors at the Pentecostal church in Labrador City. David has his Doctorate of Ministry and Elaine has her Masters in Theology. Their son, Andrew, and his wife, Meaghan are also Christians and are very involved in the church.

Our youngest son, Dwayne is in senior management with a Christian organization, Christian Horizons, in Ontario. His wife, Karen, is a Pastor at “Church on The Queensway”, in Toronto. Dwayne also leads worship at church. They have done many mission trips over the years and because of the impact of these mission trips they are now in the process of adopting a little girl from India.

God is so good. It was Rev. Solbrekken’s first trip to NL when I gave my life to the Lord and his last trip to NL when, our son, Dean gave his life to the Lord. How amazing is that. Where would my family be today if Rev. Solbrekken had not said yes and come to NL for those Evangelistic Services?  Thank you Rev. Solbrekken.

Dear Friends: Don't cave in to the bullying of biased, anti-Christian Bigots. Thank you! - Pastor Max Solbrekken

1. [email protected]

Dear Upholders of Justice & Truth:

The Supreme Court of Canada has already ruled that Trinity Western graduates must be allowed in other professions, such as teaching.

It has come to our attention that a vocal group of bigoted lawyers are seeking to impose their biased discriminatory anti-Christian position against Trinity Western graduates . Canada is not Iran.We are still a law abiding nation and must stand against discrimination. Stand up and be counted. Make your voice heard in favour of anti- discrimination and in favour of the Supreme Court ruling for Trinity Western's legal Rights.

For the sake of our Nation,

Yours very truly,

Rev. Max Solbrekken, D.D., D.Th

Jesus said: "Beware of False Prophets, which come to you in Sheep's Clothing, but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves. Ye shall Know them by their FRUITS." (Matt. 7: 15-18) - Pastor Max Solbrekken

      CHRISTIANS WORSHIP THE TRUE

GOD: NO SUBSTITUTES OR IMITATIONS

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I AM THE LORD and there is NONE ELSE…Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Is. 45: 18-22)

       “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). Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; and no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14: 6)

      "But to us - Christians - there is but ONE GOD, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him." (1 Cor.8:6)

       SAUL OF TARSUS met Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road on His way to kidnap followers of Jesus of Nazareth and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains, to be interrogated, scourged and killed if they would not recant their belief in Yeshua Hamashiach!

     Nearing Damascus with his team of kidnappers, Saul was thrown to the ground by the appearance of Jesus the Risen Saviour, leaving him blinded and soundly shaken, with the voice of our Lord ringing in his ears! (Acts 9:1-20)

    He was gloriously converted and filled the Holy Spirit and called by Jesus Christ to carry His Gospel to the Gentile world! For about thirty years St. Paul preached the Gospel of Christ and founded churches across Asia Minor and Europe.

     He was persecuted, imprisoned, scourged, stoned and finally martyred for the sake of the gospel which he loved. He said: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim.4: 4, 7)

ST. PAUL: APOSTLE, PASTOR

EVANGELIST, CHURCH BUILDER!

     St. Paul was tutored personally by our Saviour in Arabia, and even taken to Heaven to witness things that he was not allowed to reveal. No one suffered as much for Jesus Christ and His Church as the previous Jewish Enforcer! And no-one was given as much theological knowledge as was Paul, 'the little one'!

     It is little wonder then that St. Paul, who founded the Church among the Gentiles, would sound the alarm about the identity of the True God. He was the man who corrected St. Peter, one of three leading elders in the church in Jerusalem, because of his partiality in Antioch!

     "For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision (Jews), the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles. And when JAMES, CEPHAS and JOHN, who seemed to be PILLARS  perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go to the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

      "But when PETER was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." (Gal.2: 8-14). St. Peter was a great Evangelist and St. James was the leading Pastor of the Church in Jerusalem, but St. Paul laid the foundation of Christ's Church among the Gentiles, built upon the Rock Christ Jesus, the Church's one FOUNDATION and Chief Cornerstone! (Isa.28:16; Psa.118:22; 1 Peter 2: 5-7; Acts 4: 22; Eph.2:20)

      St. Paul said: "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise Master Builder, I have laid the FOUNDATION, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereon.

     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 .... Know ye not that YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor.3: 9-16)

       St. Paul states: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our SAVIOUR; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH. For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and man CHRIST JESUS, Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Tim.3: 3-6)

     The great Apostle cried out: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole 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 the Spirit in the inner man.” (Eph.3: 14-17)

     St. Peter declared: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the STONE which was set at naught by you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner.

      "Neither is there SALVATION in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be SAVED, than the name of JESUS." (Acts 4: 10-12)

      St. Paul stated: "But to us - CHRISTIANS - there is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him." (1 Cor.8:6)

     There is NO ROOM here for pretenders and imitators like Zeus, Thor, Allah, Shiva, Gia, Buddha, Mohammed, Vishnu and Confucius. 
    JESUS CHRIST said: "Beware of FALSE PROPHETS, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are RAVENING WOLVES. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 
   "Even so every GOOD tree brings forth GOOD fruit; but a CORRUPT tree brings forth EVIL fruit. Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."Matt.7: 15-20)
  Here is the bottom Line: What did Thor the god of the Vikings do for the Norwegians? What do the millions of Hindu gods do for India? What has the god of the Mohammedans done for anyone, but bring war, hate, kidnapping, suicide bombings, slavery, beheading? 
   Jehovah (YHWH) the True God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has for thousands of years corrected and protected His people against the forces of Hell, and made Israel the envy of the world!
   The BEST NEWS: Almighty God gave His Son Jesus Christ to pay the price of Redemption by dying on a Roman cross on Golgotha's Hill, just outside of Jerusalem's city wall for all the sins of the entire world, past, present and future! 
  Through His death and Resurrection, our Saviour met the Demands of Divine Justice thereby offering eternal life to every Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Animist, Atheist and Christian who honestly repents of his sins and trusts in Christ's precious blood. 
    Speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus said: "Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for Salvation is of the Jews." (John 4: 21, 22)

SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS!

     Our Lord stated: Salvation is not of the ARABS or the NORWEGIANS or the BRITISH or the INDIANS or the AFRICANS or the NORTH AMERICANS! Jesus Christ said, "SALVATION is of the JEWS!  

    The Jewish Race are God's Chosen people and Jesus was born of a Jewish Virgin, whose name was Mary (Miriam). Jesus Christ was TRUE God from Eternity and TRUE Man, God in human flesh. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit so the blood that flowed through His veins was not contaminated with SIN like the rest of the human family. Medical Science states that the blood of the mother does not enter the child’s blood stream, so His blood was perfect and pure from SIN.

      JESUS stated: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 23, 24)

     Here, Jesus spoke of THREE GROUPS of worshippers: The First group are like the Samaritans who did not know what they worshipped. The Second group were the Jews who had the Word of God and they did worship God. Jesus said that the Third group, however, were still to come.

    After His death and resurrection Jesus would ascend to Heaven and pour out the Gift of the Holy Spirit upon His Church! This would be the group that would be most acceptable to God. They would worship God in Spirit and in Truth! (John 7: 37- 39).

     Jesus uttered these words to His Heavenly Father: “Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee. As 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 may know Thee, the ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17: 1-3).

     St. John stated: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave His Son.

      “And this is the record; that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:10-12)

JESUS WAS DEAD BUT IS ALIVE!

       When our Crucified, Buried and Risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ appeared to St. John on the Isle of Patmos in AD 97, the beloved Apostle fell to the ground. He testifies:

      “And I turned to see the VOICE that spake with me. And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

      “His head and His hairs were white as wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.

       “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the Last:  I am He that LIVETH and was DEAD; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev.1: 12-18). Amen. 

A CRITIQUE OF THE SCRIPTURES

  REGARDING DIVINE HEALING

   By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D

      Does God still heal the sick in answer to the prayer of faith, as promised in the Holy Bible? Do signs, wonders and miracles still follow the preaching of God's Word as they did following Pentecost? Are the heathen still awakened to belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour when they behold miracles of divine deliverance in His name, as happened in St. Paul's ministry?

    Do unclean spirits still cry out in fear when driven from their captives as the blood of Jesus Christ is applied, as happened in the ministry of Philip at Samaria? Do sinners still weep their way into the Kingdom of God as the Word of God is proclaimed with unction and power, as under the preaching of St. Peter?

     Is the Holy Spirit still alive and operating in the Body of Christ today, as is promised in First Corinthians 12: 1-11? Does the blessed Holy Spirit still lead, guide and direct the activities of the Church as He did at Ephesus?    

       Is Jesus Christ still obeyed and worshipped as the Head of the Church as He was by St. John on the Isle of Patmos? Does His Church obey Him and worship Him as did Thomas after seeing the resurrected Christ?

                       SCRIPTURES ARE STILL VIABLE!

     In this apologetic, I will prove that the Holy Scriptures are reliable and viable today! And that God is unchanged and His Word immutable as always! He is eternal, the same yesterday, today and forever! He is still approachable and always keeps His Word, regardless of what detractors and enemies of the Gospel might say!     

     The Holy Scripture is the only reliable and trustworthy source we have because they are the lively oracles of God, written with His finger and spoken by His mouth, given through His Son Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit to His Prophets and Apostles!

      The BIBLE states: "God, who a sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.

     "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His Power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High." (Heb.1: 1-3)

      St. Peter said: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1: 20, 21)

      St. Paul stated: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good work." (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17).

                    THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT!

     King David stated: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." (Psalms 19: 7-9)

     God’s CREATION praises the Almighty and testifies to His amazing, magnanimous work. The heavenly bodies shout out His might, power and Creative GENIUS:

   "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters SPEECH, and night unto night shows Knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their VOICE is not heard." (Psalms 19: 1-3)

     Presenting Christ to the Pagan, St. Paul stated: "Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from Heaven, and fruitful season, filling our hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:17)

     The Bible declares: "For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth and it abides. They continue this day according to Thy ordinances: for all are Thy servants." (Psalms 119: 89-91)

GOD CANNOT CHANGE, LIE OR FAIL!

      It is impossible for God to change, lie or fail! He is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Eternal and Immutable, meaning that our Heavenly Father is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere present at once, everlasting and unchangeable!

     God's Word, therefore, cannot change, mislead or fail: “God is not a man that He should LIE; neither the son of man, that He should repent (CHANGE): Hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Num.23:19).

     “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it; He created it not in vain; He formed it to be inhabited:

      “…Have not I the Lord? And there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; and there is none beside Me. Look unto Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.

     “I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isa.45: 18, 21-23)

     His Word is TRUE: “Every Word of God is PURE: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add NOT thou unto His Words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a LIAR.” (Prov.30:5,6); Our Lord declared: "Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth." (John 17: 17); “In hope of Eternal Life, which God, that cannot lie promised before the world began.” (Titus 1:2)

                         IMMUTABILITY OF HIS COUNSEL!

     “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the IMMUTABILITY of His Counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things in which it was IMPOSSIBLE for God to LIE, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Heb.6:17, 18)

      The Holy BIBLE says: "The grass withers, the flower fades: but the Word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40: 8). "But the Word of the Lord abides forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1: 25)

     Moses said: "Know therefore, that the Lord Thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments  to a thousand generations." (Deut.7: 9)

     St. Paul stated: “…If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands SURE, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are His, and let everyone that names the name of Christ, depart from iniquity." (2 Tim.2:12,13).

      God's Word is steadfast and true! He promised: “So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11)

      JESUS CHRIST said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall NOT pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)

                       JESUS BELIEVED THE SCRIPTURES!

     There are hundreds of reasons why I believe the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative and infallible Word of God but the premier reason I know the Bible is God’s holy and inerrant Word is that Jesus of Nazareth believed the Old Testament Scriptures and lived by them. And He died and rose again according to the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms!

     Our Lord declared: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matt.5: 17, 18)

      In His discussions with the scribes and Pharisees He referred back to the Holy Scriptures: “Have you not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female…” (Matt.19: 4); “Have ye not read so much as this, what David did when himself as an hungered, and they which were with him…” (Luke 6: 3); “He said unto them, What is written in the law? How readest thou?” (Luke 10: 26); “Is it not written in your law, I said ye are gods….” (John 10: 34)

     JESUS also used the Scriptures in defeating Satan during His Wilderness Temptation: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matt.4: 4); “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matt.4: 7); “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt.4: 10)

     OUR LORD referred to Adam and Eve (Mark 10: 6-9), Moses (John 5: 46), Jonah (Matt.12: 40), Sodom and Gomorrah (Matt.10: 15); Noah (Matt.24: 37) and David (Matt.22: 43).

      Jesus of Nazareth believed that the Old Testament Scriptures are inspired (Matt.22: 43), authoritative (Matt.4: 4, 7, 10) and infallible (John 10: 35).

                           I HAVE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!

      I have total faith in Jesus Christ, True God from Eternity and True Man through His Virgin Birth! The writer to the Hebrews (Most likely St. Paul or Apollos) gave us this great commentary on our Saviour:

      “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the Express image of His Person, and upholding all things by the Word of His Power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the

Majesty on High.

      “Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by INHERITANCE obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, THOU ART MY SON, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?

      “And again, when He bringeth the first begotten into the world, He sayeth: And let ALL THE ANGELS WORSHIP HIM. But of the Son He sayeth, Thy Throne O God is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy Kingdom.

     “And Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: They shall perish: but Thou remainest; and they all wax old as doth a garment;

     “And as a vesture shall Thou fold the up, and they shall be changed, but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.” (Heb.1: 3-12).

Note: This is the first installment in this paper. MS

GOD & MAN RECONCILED

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

     "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)

      The story of God reaching out to fallen man in love and compassion is the greatest and most fascinating in the annals of human history. Never has there been so much heartbreak, deception and treason with eternal loss connected with the sin and fall of Lucifer!

      When Adam and Eve were confronted by their Heavenly Father in Eden's Garden, the man blamed his wife but Eve pointed her index finger at the snake, saying: "The serpent beguiled (deceived) me!" (Gen.3: 15)

      She was right, the Devil is to blame! The Liar deceived the weaker vessel, and Adam not being deceived, sinned with his eyes wide open not wanting to lose his wife!

      O' the enormous consequences of that tragic and momentous hour of decision, which plunged the world into turmoil, fear, consternation and eternal death! The Greek tragedies of  mythology cannot be compared with the enormousness of the chaos Satan so cleverly organized against God and His greatest creation, Man!

      Since that awful hour, man has been afraid and hiding from God, trying desperately to somehow regain the loss of love, trust and belonging that was taken away by his treasonous actions. And we their offspring have also failed miserably, by doing our own thing;  trying to find peace in a wretched world of our own making!

                          ADAM'S SIN INFECTED US ALL!

       Adam's sin had infected the whole human race and brought forth its evil fruit resulting in the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Our loving Heavenly Father warned Cain of the slippery slope he was threading toward, with no avail.

      The Lord had instituted the Sacrificial System in order to save Adam and Eve until the fullness of time when He  would Redeem mankind through the sacrifice of His own dear Son!

      To deal with man's sin, an innocent animal was slaughtered to provide blood to cover their sins and skin to cover their bodies. Cain and Abel both knew the rules. Cain, however, being a type of mankind wanting to get Salvation by making their own rules, disobeyed God's injunction regarding the Blood Covering.

     The Bible says: "And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.

     "But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect...And Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his bother, and slew him." (Gen.4: 3-8). The power of sin prevailed and Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and pride, becoming the Worlds First Murderer.

      For 4,000 years, God dealt with sin and its forgiveness through the Sacrificial System, until one day, the Eternal God brought His Son Jesus Christ to Mount Calvary to die on the Cross that He carried, to Redeem fallen man by meeting the demands of Divine Justice for our sins.     

      When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son on Mount Moriah, it was a pre-picture or type of what He Himself would have to do! Abraham's only son, Isaac, carried the wood for the burnt offering, but escaped death by the substitute ram provided by God, that was caught by his horns in the bushes.

      It was not the Romans or the Jews who killed Jesus of Nazareth. He died as our SUBSTITUTE by the will of God, because there was no other way to redeem Adam's fallen race!

                      JESUS' BLOOD PURGES AWAY SINS!

     The Bible states: "Without the shedding of the blood there is no remission for sins." (Heb.9:22); "It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." (Lev.17:11); "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sins," (1 John 1:7); "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His (bloody) stripes we are healed."(Isa.53:4,5)

      Jesus Christ our Lord stated: "Drink ye all of it. For this is the blood of the New Testament, which is shed or many, for the remission of sins." (Matt.26:28).

      St. Paul declared: "But commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies we were RECONCILED to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

     "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the Atonement." (Rom.5:8-11). Malcolm Muggeridge said it so well:

    "Christ is the only answer to an insane world. They will not understand that the trouble with the Western Civilization is not economics, but mere good and evil. They are thinking they can make things work by policies, inventions, but man will never live in this world without God."

                            PROPITIATION & RECONCILIATION

      There are two words in the Bible that may be foreign to a lot of people. There are propitiation and reconciliation. The word propitiation means satisfaction, covering, expiation. St. Paul states that Jesus Christ’s vicarious death as our Substitute satisfied Almighty God’s Just Demands as payment for mankind’s treasonous sins beginning with Adam in Eden’s Garden. The pure and innocent blood of His only begotten Son, Who was incarnated (God in human flesh) for the express purpose of redeeming mankind, has covered and washed away our sins!

      “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

       “Whom God hath set forth to be a PROPITIATION through faith in His Blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God.” (Rom.3: 22-25)

       To RECONCILE means to bring together those who have been separated, a reunion, reuniting, straightening out differences, and making peace with one another!

      St. Paul is the only writer to use the words RECONCILED and reconciliation to express the amazing redemptive action that takes place when a sinner falls on his knees and opens his heart in confession of his sins to our Heavenly Father and his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour!

       Here is what happens: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away and all things are become new. And all things are of God, Who hath RECONCILED us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; That is, that God was in Christ, RECONCILING the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5: 17-19)

     When God the Father was judging His incarnated Son Jesus of Nazareth for the sins of the world, the Holy Spirit was in Christ redeeming the world to Himself! The Miracle of the Incarnation (God in human flesh) made it possible for Jesus Christ to be God’s perfect Sacrifice (Pascal Lamb) to shed His perfect blood for the Redemption of sinful man! (2 Cor.5: 21)

      My dear friend, will you receive Him today as your Lord and Saviour? Please do so and He will turn your darkness to light and your night into day. God bless you as you call upon Him now! Amen.

Fort McMurray's Family Christian Centre is a genuine Pentecostal Church bursting at the seams (1,300 and growing) with spiritually hungry and dedicated believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and God! It is a beacon of light in the darkness of sin, a theologically correct pillar of truth in a sea of compromise and a pulpit proclaiming the glorious Gospel of the Crucified, Risen, Conqouring and Coming Lord of all lords and King of all kings. Donna and I witnessed God's love, grace and power in action on Sunday September 14, 2014. We salute and thank Pastors Edwin and Rhoda Rideout and their great staff of dedicated labourers for their graciousness to us and their genuine and sincere worship to our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Pastor Max Solbrekken

   REVIVAL FIRE, TEARS OF REPENTANCE & JOY, 

DIVINE HEALING & MIRACLES By GOD'S GRACE!

 Max Solbrekken preached and ministered in three services at Family

 Christian Centre at 160 Dickens Drive, Fort McMurray, AB

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST:

MANKIND’S ONLY HOPE!

                     By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.    

      “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the CROSS OF CHRIST should be made of none effect. For the PREACHING OF THE CROSS is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. But we preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1: 17, 18, 23, 24)

      For many years, the Christian Church has presented the claims of Jesus Christ to be able to save lost souls, heal the sick and liberate the suffering and wounded granting Eternal Life, on the basis of His shed blood, vicarious death and glorious resurrection.

    With gusto and great fervour, saints of God have preached the Word and written songs, proclaiming the power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ to break every fetter and to set the captives free. Hallelujah!

    In his book, ‘The Cruciality of the Cross’ Dr. Henry Mabie writes: “The Greek word used by Paul in 1 Cor.1: 18, is Logos...” not preaching but “the subject matter of preaching; with the very essence of that which was to be preached; with the Logos of the Cross, which constituted a rationale, it’s Divine reason, a reason which…he declares to be the wisdom of God. This ‘Logos of the Cross’ is conceived by Paul to be the key which unlocks the riddle of the universe, solves all mysteries and reconciles all things.”

                        A SUBJECT MATTER SO MAGNANIMOUS!

     The sacrificial death of the incarnated (God in human flesh) Son of God to redeem the world, is a subject matter so powerful, so magnanimous and so incomprehensible that mortal man can only stand in holy awe at its immensity, enormity and grandiose love that we are left speechless!

     The blood of Jesus Christ which He freely gave for sinful, rebellious and hell-bound, guilty sinners, purges our consciences from all guilt, delivers us from the power of sin and liberates us from Satan and his evil kingdom, for time and eternity!

      And as Dr. Henry Mabie states: “This Logos of the Cross is conceived by Paul to be the key which unlocks the riddle of the universe, solves all mysteries and reconciles all things.”

    I agree one hundred per cent with that analysis and commentary - which is the greatest I have ever heard - but still doesn’t even begin to cover the eternal consequences of the incarnation, passion, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord, Creator and God!

      St. Paul came closer when He wrote: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” (1 Cor.2: 9)

      How helpless we are without His indwelling presence and yet how strong when He is moving within us by His awesome power. How amazing that the God of Heaven and Ruler of the Universe would deign to identify Himself with mere earthlings and to dwell within us.

     It has been said that truth is stranger than fiction. It is difficult to understand why so many have been blinded by Satan and coerced into rejecting Jesus Christ, Who gives Eternal Life freely to all who humble themselves and receive Him as Lord and Saviour!

     That men and women endowed with a free will would choose to follow a murderous Liar, manipulating Deceiver and the despicable Enemy of God down the broad road that leads to perdition and Hell is an enigma of the very worst kind! How is it possible that thinking individuals made in the image of God, could become so deceived?

                           GOD'S ABSOLUTE INTEGRITY!

      And yet, Almighty God in His absolute integrity and fairness and knowing the wickedness and cunning of the defrocked and fallen Lucifer, still created our first parents Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden's Garden with a free will to follow good and reject evil!

    After their disastrous fall by committing high treason against their Creator and God, the love of our Heavenly Father drove them out of Eden so they would not partake of the fruit on the Tree of Life and live forever in their sins!

     In His great mercy, God made a way of escape from their sins and the snare of the Devil, through the sacrificial system which pointed to Christ. In passing judgement on the serpent as an accomplice of Satan, He laid out His great plan of salvation which had been hidden in His heart from before the foundation of the world.

     He said: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her SEED (Christ); It shall bruise (crush) thy head, and thou bruise His heel." (Gen 3:15)

       This is what we call in theology, the 'Law of the First Mention'! The first mention is of the Deliverer Whom God would send to crush Satan's head. The second is the Virgin Birth of the Deliverer. He is called the SEED of the woman! God's only begotten Son would be incarnated (God in human flesh) to emancipate Adam's fallen race through the sacrifice of Himself, to meet the demands of divine justice in payment for our sins!

    How could anyone with a natural mind, if not inspired by the Holy Spirit, be able to digest these amazing truths? The Bible clearly states: “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor.2: 14)

      There is a vast difference between the carnal and the spiritual man. And because we have not allowed the Liar any place in us, we can truthfully and boldly declare that God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (everywhere present at once).

    We know that God's Word is incomprehensible (unknowable) and that Jesus Christ is TRUE GOD from eternity and TRUE MAN through His incarnation (born of a virgin) and the Only Saviour of the world.

A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST JESUS!

      St. Paul was not a believer in Jesus Christ at first. He was a blatant blasphemer, injurious and a hater of believers in Christ. That all changed when he met JESUS on the Damascus Road. (Acts 9, 22 and 26).

      He stated: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, Who hath RECONCILED us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

    "That is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Cor.5:17-20)

      Again he stated: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." (1 Cor. 2: 7, 8)

      Here is the real reason so many reject the Saviour Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

      "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

     "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hates the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3: 16-21)

                    THE CASE FOR CHRIST OUR LORD!

       Loudly and triumphantly, I make the case for Christ! There is no-one like Him. He is the One and Only Saviour of the world. He is the Great Physician Who heals us from all our sorrows, problems, sins and diseases! He baptizes believers with the Holy Spirit and Fire!

      The Bible says: "He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1: 11, 12)

      Believe on Him today and He will give you the power to become His ADOPTED CHILD: "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ.

      "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

      "Having predestinated us unto the ADOPTION of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us ACCEPTED in the Beloved." (Eph.1:2-11)

JESUS OUR HIGH PRIEST & INTERCESSOR!

      "But this Man, because He continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to SAVE them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7: 25)

       JESUS OUR SUBSTITUTE: "For such an high priest became us, Who is Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher hat the heavens. Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself." (/Heb.7: 26, 27)

       JESUS' ENDLESS LIFE: "For that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an ENDLESS LIFE. For He testifies, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb. 7: 15-17)

     Jesus Christ declared: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

    "And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the First and the Last: I am He that Lives and was dead; and behold, I AM ALIVE forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and of Death." (Rev. 1: 8, 17, 18)

    JESUS IS MY LIFE: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.  I am the Vine, ye are the branches:

    "He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: For without Me, ye can do NOTHING. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15: 4-7)

     Again our Lord promised: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and YE in ME, and I in YOU. He that hath My commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.

     "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14: 18-20, 21, 23).

    "I am the LIVING BREAD which came down from Heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

     "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eats My flesh and drinks my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

     "He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood, dwells in ME and I in him. As the Living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eats Me shall live by Me. This is the BREAD which came down from Heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live forever." (John 6: 51-58)

     After stating that to receive Eternal Life we must eat His flesh and drink His blood, Jesus clearly emphasized that He was speaking about the spiritual experience of becoming ONE with Him and the Heavenly Father, through the Holy Spirit.

      He was NOT advocating eating His actual physical flesh and drinking His physical blood. It was an analogy of the nearness, closeness and oneness of Jesus Christ to His Children through the new Birth!

     It is drawing strength and life from Him Who purchased our Redemption by His atoning work through His intense suffering and vicarious death on the cross.

    "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and with His STRIPES we are healed." (Is. 53: 4.5)

     Our Lord Jesus said: "It is the spirit that quickens (makes life); the FLESH profits NOTHING; the words that I speak into you, they are spirit and they are life." (John 6: 63)

MYSTERY OF CHRIST IN US!

     This is the great Mystery that was revealed to St. Paul through the Holy Spirit, namely, Christ entering into the very innermost being of believers at the time of conversion to Jesus Christ!

     He said: "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)

      When we received Christ as personal Saviour, He took up His abode in our hearts and lives! By Jesus Christ living within us through the blessed Holy Spirit we automatically receive His life within our being! He gives us His life because He is the Creator and the Life giver! We draw His life into ourselves by becoming a part of Him, as He enters our lives with His Holy Spirit!

      Through our union with Jesus Christ we are protected from the power of Darkness which is seeking to envelope the world. The Blood of Jesus Christ is the only solvent that is able to wash sinners from the filth, stench and corruption - both spiritually and physically - that is Satan's signature plan and strategy!  Christ's Victory is Satan's Defeat and our Liberty!

     St. Paul states: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are Above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things Above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your LIFE IS HID with CHRIST IN GOD. When Christ WHO IS OUR LIFE shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in Glory.

     "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience."

      Jesus spoke of the 'PROMISE OF THE FATHER' to His disciples before His departure to Heaven. He was referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His band of followers, who would comprise the Church (called out ones) which He would build.

      The HOLY BIBLE says: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

     "But this He spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39)

     What an honour to be filled with God, the Blessed Holy Spirit! To be called by the Holy Spirit, saved by the precious BLOOD of Jesus Christ and filled with that Holy Spirit of Promise and be led by His nail scarred hand!

    The great Apostle to the Gentiles stated: "For in Him (Christ) we live, and move, and have our being..." (Acts 17: 28)

JESUS IS MY AGAPE LOVE!

     Jesus said: "As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love If ye keep y commandments, ye shall ABIDE IN MY LOVE; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

     "These things have I spoken unto you, that My JOY may remain in you, and that your JOY might be full. This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15: 9-12).

     St. Paul testified: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal.2: 20)

     St John declared: "Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them (evil spirits): because Greater is He that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4). Greater is Jesus Christ Who purchased our forgiveness, peace, joy, healing and abundant life through His death on the Cross.

     He ABIDES within us together with the blessed Holy Spirit, Who leads us and gives us the wisdom, strength and power of the Risen Jesus Christ to show forth the love, mercy and grace of God to a lost and dying world!

    Christ's Victory is Satan's Defeat and our Liberty! Amen.