THE SEVEN WOUNDS OF CHRIST

                      ~ BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED ~

                                        By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

 Healing Through the Blood of Jesus

The ancient prophet Isaiah set forth a graphic picture of the coming Jewish Messiah in the 53rd. chapter of the book we call 'The Gospel of the Old Testament.' "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

We can receive total healing through the wounds of Jesus Christ - According to the prophets, the Messiah would suffer, bleed and die for His people. He would be cut off in death, but rise again in power.  He would be wounded, bruised, chastised and striped in order to purchase our salvation and bring deliverance from sin, sickness and eternal death.

And St. Peter records the glorious results of Christ's terrible sufferings as our substitute. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

THE SEVEN WOUNDS OF JESUS 

SPELL COMPLETE REDEMPTION

Jesus Christ received seven specific wounds in His body during His week of suffering and death. The number seven in biblical terms speaks of perfection and completeness. Wounds according to the dictionary are divisions of the soft part of the body by a mechanical force applied externally. They are classified as: contused, lacerated, penetrating, perforating and incised! Jesus Christ received each of these plus an additional two, by mutilation and falling.

1) THE CONTUSED WOUND  - produced by a sharp instrument. "They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." (Micah 5:1) St. Matthew wrote, "They smote Him with rods." (Matthew 26:67; John 18:22) (Newberry & Revised) "Then they did spit in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him with the palms of their hands." (Matthew 26:67)

Very definitely, Jesus suffered pain and humiliation as Roman soldiers beat Him about the face with their rods! Others, including the servants smote Him with their hands. The rod would cut into the flesh, leaving a contused wound.

2) THE LACERATED WOUND  - produced by a tearing instrument.

The Romans used the cruel cat-of-nine tails to scourge criminals. On the end of the whip were nine pieces of leather to which were attached sharp ivory or metal balls with protruding nails. As the whip was cracked, it would tear out pieces of the flesh. Jewish law demanded that not more than 40 lashes be administered, since often the victim would faint or even die during the scourging.

The Romans did not need to adhere to Jewish law. As a matter of fact, crucifixion was a Roman mode of execution! The Romans always scourged a condemned man before crucifying him. 

Some historians and Church Fathers believe that Jesus Christ may have received many more than 39 stripes.  The more punishment a prisoner took on the whipping pole, the shorter was the guard duty for the Roman Soldiers at the scene of execution.

Since the Jewish leadership had accused Him of perverting the people, the Romans certainly had no reason to "go easy" on Him! And no doubt the tough Roman soldiers would have been happy to see Jesus squirm and cry out - especially since he had refused to talk to the Governor!

We do know that St. Paul was whipped by the Jews on five separate occasions: "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." (2 Corinthians 13:24).  Paul was not a candidate for crucifixion, by the Romans. He was prosecuted under the jurisdiction of the Jewish hierarchy.

If Jesus received 39 stripes in Pilate's Judgement Hall, that would have inflicted a total of 351 gashes on His lacerated back. If He received more than 39 stripes, the gashes would have been more numerous.

CHRIST'S WOUNDS PURCHASED OUR HEALING:

SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL

The Old Testament prophet declared, "The ploughers ploughed upon My back. They made long furrows." (Psalms 129:3) Seven hundred and fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied concerning the Messiah, "I gave My back to the smiters" (Isaiah  50:6)

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) St. Matthew records, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him." (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1)

Prisoners who were scourged usually lost a lot of blood and sometimes fainted. Jesus suffered the agonizing and brutal scourging for us!

3) THE PENETRATING WOUND: a deep wound caused by a sharp, pointed instrument.

The crown of thorns that was pressed upon the head of Jesus caused such wounds. The Jerusalem thorn, known as the Arabian Nebulae, was 4 inches long and as sharp as a needle.  The cruel diadem containing over 100 spiculets, was driven into His head with blows from the rod.

The Bible scriptures record, "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews." (Matthew 27:29)

"Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" (John 19:5)

It was the Governor's intention to scourge Jesus and then release him.  He had hoped the pitiful sight of a weary, weak and bloodies man would satisfy their blood lust and evoke sympathy for the prisoner. Instead of being satisfied, they craved more blood, crying out "Away with Him, crucify Him, crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)

 THORNS SPEAK OF THE ORIGINAL CURSE! Thorns speak of the original curse, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;"  "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee..." (Geneses 3:17-18)

JESUS TOOK THE CURSE FOR US!

Jesus Christ  bore the penalty for our sins, transgressions, sicknesses, diseases and pains! St. Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)

In the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, Moses enumerates the blessings of keeping covenant with God. He also lists the curses! The curses include sickness, disease, insanity, torments, plagues, pestilence, famine and war. The Apostle to the Gentiles states unequivocally that, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." So we are free!

The Roman soldiers tried to drive Jesus insane by beating that crown of sharp Arabian Nebulae into His head. But He didn't lose His sanity but rather through this horrible experience purchased our peace and tranquility.

"And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself." (Colossians 1:20)

Because of the penetrating wounds He bore for us, WE HAVE PEACE!

4) THE PERFORATING WOUND:  From the Latin word; "to pierce through".

A Messianic psalm stated, "They pierced My hands and My feet" (Psalms 22:16) At the time of David's prophecy, he knew nothing of crucifixion, for the Hebrew method of capitol punishment was stoning!

The prophet Zechariah also foretold of the Messiah's death by crucifixion. "And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then shall He answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends." (Zechariah 13:6)

By the time Jesus was born, the Romans had conquered Palestine and crucifixion had become the mode of execution. The New Testament records: "And when they were come... to Calvary, there they crucified Jesus."  (Luke 23:33; John 19:16-18)

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) Jesus Christ suffered the torments, agony, pain and death of the most horrible of all deaths - The Death of Crucifixion! He suffered for us. He bled for us. He died for us! And He arose again from the dead, for us!

5) THE INCISED WOUND: a cut produced by a sharp edged instrument:

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)

As the Sabbath was approaching the soldiers helped speed up the expiration of the victims by smashing their thigh bones, thus allowing asphyxiation. When the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he noticed that He was already dead. 

The soldier then went on to the thief on Jesus' other side and with his large axe, smashed the femur bone (thigh bone) causing a quicker death. In order to verify Jesus' death, the soldier then plunged his spear into the left side of Jesus!

This fulfilled the Scripture, "They shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10) So large was the wound that after the resurrection, Thomas "the doubter" was invited to thrust his hand into that wound.

"Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing."  (John 20:27)

St. John was standing near the cross and noticed blood and water coming out of His side.  The pericardium is a closed sac encasing the heart, lubricated by a small amount of fluid to facilitate the motion of the heart.

Mallory & Wright's pathological technique answers the question, "How could John have seen such a small amount of water flow out of the wound? The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is about a teaspoon, but it may be increased to 100 c.c. (24 teaspoonfuls) where death agony is prolonged."

Another miracle was that contrary to nature, blood flowed from a dead man, proving that the blood of Jesus did not die but is efficacious even today !

"There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emanuel's veins,

And sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty stains."

The blood and water which St. John saw coming out of the side of Christ may also have been the physiological aspect of death.

Medical science teaches that, "Blood in a cadaver readily separates into clear serum and red blood cells, thus certifying that the person is clinically dead." It could be that both of these things were happening at once. Either way, it proves that the death of Jesus was a reality and that there is life through His precious blood!

The Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins." (Leviticus 17:11,14); "It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." (Hebrews 9:22) "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)

THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, SHED FOR US ALL ON GOLGOTHA, HAS PURCHASED OUR SALVATION

I)  WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of His grace."(Ephesians 1:7)

(II) WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:18-19). "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."  (Acts 20:28)

(III)  WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"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 His Son cleanseth us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)

(IV)  WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD

"And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood."  (Revelation 1:5)

(V)  WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans  5:9)

"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 the righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"(Romans 3:24-25)

(VI)  WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"And having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to receive all things unto himself;" (Colossians 1:20)

(VII)  WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;" (Hebrews 10:19-20)

(VIII)  WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

(IX)  WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11)

(X)  WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own blood, suffered without the gate."  (Hebrews 13:12)

(XI)  WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience (mind) from dead works, to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)

(XII)  WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"These are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them..."

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  (Revelation 7:14-17)

6) WOUNDS BY MUTILATION  - the plucking out of His beard.

"I gave My cheeks to them that plucked out the hair." (Isaiah 50:6)

Not only did they slap and spit upon His face but they yanked out His beard causing the wounds of mutilation. Can you imagine the awful pain, as cruel Roman soldiers pulled out His beard! The blood flowed down upon Christ's chest as cruel tormentors mutilated His face by tearing out handfuls of His beard.

He did it for us, because by "His Sore" (original Hebrew) we are healed! He was "one sore" from head to toe, by the time He had undergone the full mistreatment which the Roman soldiers heaped upon Him! He suffered more than any man and He did it all for us - to purchase our salvation.

7) WOUNDS BY FALLING:

They laid the rugged cross upon His lacerated, bleeding back and forced Jesus to carry His own cross, as was the custom for condemned criminals. Due to loss of blood because of the scourging, He was unable to do so. As He stumbled and fell, His body received more bruises and sores, and He suffered more pain, for us.

Historians claim, that after His striping in Pilate's Judgment Hall, Jesus was subjected to a heavy wooden cross laid upon His raw, bleeding back. Apparently, the cross bar was tied to His wrists. When He stumbled and fell, He had no way to protect Himself, so His body was further bruised and battered! And Roman soldiers then forced a stranger, Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross up Calvary's hill.

"And He bearing His cross went forth to the place of a skull..." (John 19:17) "And as they led Him away they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus." (Luke 23:26) 

"And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear His cross."  (Mark 15:21) St Paul also refers to Rufus, undoubtedly Simon the Cyrenians' son: "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine." (Romans 16: 13)

Apparently, that event caused such an impact upon the Cyrenian that he became a convert to Christ. And his two sons also became missionaries for Christ and preached His Gospel after His resurrection.

CHRIST WAS WOUNDED FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH SEVEN WOUNDS IN ORDER TO BRING US HEALING!

And St. Matthew stated, "When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick:"

"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Easias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)

"It is no wonder, St. Thomas, upon his encounter with the risen Christ declared, "My Lord and my God." (John 20: 28)

MAY THE RISEN CHRIST BLESS AND HEAL YOU AS YOU APPROPRIATE HIS PROMISES FOR YOURSELF.

I pray you will receive total healing through the wounds and blood that Jesus Christ shed for you. Amen.

NO COMPROMISE!

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 "Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter"(Gr.) meaning: "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour."

Ichthus (ikh-thoos or ichthys) the Greek word for fish is a many centuries old symbol. During the early persecutions of the Church, the ichthus sign was used as a secret sign or identification mark for the followers of Jesus the Christ, Who was crucified outside Jerusalem's City walls and raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit!

In some cases these five Greek letters were found inside the ichthus: Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma translating into the English as  IXOYE, meaning: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour." The Greek rendering is, "Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter".

1. Iesous means Saviour, salvation of God: The angel spoke in Hebrew: "Ye shall call His name Yeshua (Jesus) for He shall SAVE His people from their sins. (Matt 1:21);  "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Tim.1:10)

The word save in the Greek is 'sozo' which means to save, heal, protect, make well and deliver. In James 5:14,15 the Holy Scripture uses this same word save (sozo) to declare that Jesus Christ heals  the sick in answer to believing prayer. This same great truth is brought forth in Isaiah 53: 3-5, Matt.8:16,17 and 1 Peter 2:24. Jesus is that Saviour: Yeshua ha Maschiach! Isaiah 7: 14;  Luke 2:30; Phil.2: 5-11; Acts 3: 13-16; 4: 12; 1 Tim.2: 5. 

2. Christos means anointed One: Jesus is the Anointed One. Says who? St. Paul - Acts 9: 17-20; St. Peter - Matt.16: 13-17; Martha - John 11: 25; Philip - John 1: 40,41; Nathaniel - John 1: 49; Ethiopian Eunuch - Acts 8: 37; Apollos - Acts 18: 28.  

3. Theou Uios means God's Son: Jesus is the One and Only Son of God from eternity. He was true God from eternity and true man born of a virgin woman, without sin. He was incarnated - God in human flesh - in order to suffer, bleed and die for the sins of the world and rise again in power over death, hell and the Devil! John 20:30,31; Rom.1:4; Heb.1:1; 2-12; Matt.3:17; John 8:58; 1 John 2:20; 4:1; 5:24.

4. Soter means Saviour: Jesus is the Only Saviour of the world! Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; John 3: 16,17;Mark 14:61,62; John 6:66-69; John 14:6; 1 Tim.2:3-5; Heb.1:1-13; Rev.1: 8. God the Father calls His Son God: Heb.1:1-10; Rev.1:1-10.

Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul states emphatically concerning Jesus Christ: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Tim.3:16)
         JESUS SAID CONCERNING HIMSELF:

“I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.… The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10: 9-11,14)

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 32, 36)  –JESUS CHRIST

“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, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2: 3-6)  – ST. PAUL

“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.” (Acts 4: 12)  – ST. PETER

I AM NOT INTOLERANT, BUT I AM DOGMATIC: I AM A PURIST CONCERNING GOD'S WORD & DEFINITELY NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT, BUT BIBLICALLY CORRECT. I AM NOT STUPID LIKE APOSTATE THEOLOGIANS. I DO NOT JUDGE GOD'S WORD. IT JUDGES ME! - HEBREWS 4: 12

I have no truck with falsehood, lies or mere theories of men! I will not compromise the truth! The truth is that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, and the Only Saviour of the world. There is none other! Only Christianity boasts a resurrection and Only Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe the Gospel, repent of their sins and receive Him into their heart as Lord and Saviour! (Isa.45: 5,6; Acts 4: 12)

   

     THE BIBLE SAYS: “I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God beside Me…That they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Is. 45: 5,6)

     Jesus Christ declared: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14: 6); “Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy leaden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11: 28)

     HE INVITES: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him and will sup with him and he with Me.” (Rev. 3: 20)

    Open your heart and life to Jesus Christ today, my friend, and you will never be sorry!  Amen. 

                       JESUS● CHRIST● GOD’S SON● SAVIOUR!

Breaking News: Alberta Gospel Singer Vern Peterson joins Pastor Max Solbrekken at Christ the Healer Gospel Church in Saskatoon March 28 & 29 for Revival Meetings!

HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTING 

BREAKS SATAN'S BONDAGE

                                                 By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Isa. 10: 27)

AUGUSTINE, Bishop of Hippo, stated: “The New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the New revealed.” Much of the Old Testament is hidden from the eyes of believers in Christ because they have failed to search out the Holy Scriptures. Jews have ignored the New Testament and missed the correlation between the two Testaments. The Holy Bible is not complete without both Old and New Testaments!

People have asked: “Why do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God?” My answer is: “There are hundreds of reasons why the Holy Bible is God's Word, however, I need only one. Jesus Christ, God the Son from Eternity Who is the Living Word, believed the Holy Scriptures to be the very Word of God. Since the Creator of all things was in total agreement with the Old Testament, even quoting it to Satan in His Wilderness Temptation, how could I not believe Him?”

St. John stated: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the life of men. For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. He used the word Logos in referring to Jesus Christ Who is the Word of God!

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. No man hath seen God at any time; the Only Begotten Son which is in the BOSOM of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (John 1: 1,2, 14)

JESUS BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water but one mightier than I cometh the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the HOLY GHOST and with FIRE.” (Luke 3: 16); “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1: 29)

John the Baptist was considered the greatest prophet and the forerunner of the Messiah. He was six months older than Jesus of Nazareth. God had given John the Baptist a sign of how he would recognize the Messiah. And as He was being baptized, the Heavens opened and the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove settled and remained upon Jesus. An audible VOICE came from Heaven, saying, “Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3: 11-17; Luke 3: 21, 22; John 1: 26-34)

The Yoke of Satanic Bondage is broken off our spirit, soul and body by the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit! The yoke of fear, torment, guilt, condemnation, pain, sickness, disease and unrest must leave because of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit!

The BLOOD of Jesus Christ, shed for us on Golgotha cleanses, purges, washes and frees us from all anxiety, nervous tension, oppression, satanic attacks of sickness, disease and death. Jesus said, “Ye shall KNOW the Truth and the Truth shall make you FREE. If the SON therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 32, 36)

Jesus Himself is the TRUTH, and His Word the Logos gives us the assurance that He will love us, care for us and protect us: “...And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the (age) world.” (Matt. 28: 20); “… For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb.13: 5). In the original, Jesus used a double imperative here. It should read: “I will never, no never leave thee. I will ever, no never forsake thee.”

The word always is a measure of time while the word alway is a measure of distance. He declared that He would be with us the “whole distance, all the way” until we see Him face to face! Hallelujah. The words of an old Sunday School chorus comes to mind: 'With Jesus in the vessel, we can smile at the storm, smile at the storm, smile at the storm. With Jesus in the vessel, we can smile at the storm as we go sailing Home.' Whatever enemy we face, we have ultimate peace, assurance and victory!

VICTORY THROUGH THE BLOOD!

The Victory is ours: Victory over the world, the flesh and the devil! Victory through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant. Victory through the Eternal Word of God. Victory through the Blessed Holy Spirit. Victory through the Matchless Name of Jesus Christ! We have victory through our Lord, the Liberator of Lost Humanity, the Emancipator of the Human Race, the Saviour of the world, the Great Physician and the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and Fire!

We are fully armed with the precious promises of God, the sword of the Spirit, and purged by the Blood of the Lamb, endued with the power of the Holy Spirit and hid with Christ in God the Father Almighty – One True God, world without end!

The Bible declares: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper: and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 54: 17)

The Yoke shall be Destroyed because of the Anointing and it is God who anoints us with His Holy Spirit: “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us. And now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Cor. 1: 20 -22)

“But ye have an UNCTION from the Holy One, and ye know all things. But the ANOINTING which ye have received from Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the anointing teaches you all things, and is TRUTH, and is NO LIE and even as it hath taught you, ye shall ABIDE in Him.” (1 John 2: 27)

Jesus said: “Behold I give unto you POWER to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 19). I stand foursquare on God's Word and all the promises of Jesus Christ!

                                                  WE ARE YOKED WITH CHRIST!

Prophecies in Holy Scripture relevant to the times they were given, are sometimes a type for later events as well! This is the case with Isaiah 10:27. The local setting referred to the heavy burden of tribute imposed upon HEZEKIAH by the king of Assyria recorded in 2 Kings 18: 14. It could also refer to God's deliverance from the future Babylonian captives, which is a type of our deliverance from the bondage and burden of sin, fear, guilt, condemnation and satanic tyranny, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

In his exposition of Isaiah 10: 27, JOHN GILL states that the Jewish Targum refers it to the Messiah: “The people shall be broken from before the Messiah”, Who was anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows and for Whose sake, and by Whom the Yoke of sin, Satan, and the law has been destroyed. VITRINGA interprets it of the Spirit of God, and His powerful operations, Whose gifts and graces are often compared to Oil and Ointment and makes the words parallel to Zech. 4: 6.”

Our Lord Jesus said: “Take My Yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt.11: 29, 30)

What was He saying? When you are yoked to the Devil, he makes you carry the burdens of sin, guilt, condemnation, fear, lust, hate, pride and perversion! He bogs you down with sickness, disease and death! Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

Why is that? He has already carried the load for us. As He prayed in Gethsemane, His sweat drops were as it were drops of blood. He was carrying our load when they cursed Him, blasphemed Him, scourged Him and nailed Him to the 'cursed tree'.

He did all the heavy lifting for us on the whipping pole in Pilate's Judgment Hall and on the CROSS on Golgotha. And when He cried, “It is finished”, He had paid for all our sins, fear, sickness, disease and eternal damnation!

After His resurrection and ascension to the Throne of God, JESUS poured out the Blessed Holy Spirit upon His Church to INDWELL us and give us power over the world, the flesh and the Devil! The Evil One is DEFEATED for time and eternity and we are FREE; bound to our Lord Jesus by love's strong cords - yoked together with our Saviour forever! All hail the power of Jesus Name for time and Eternity! Hallelujah and Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION!

Through the blessed Holy Spirit Who indwells us, we have been given the Ministry of Reconciliation! St. Paul writes: “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. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor 5: 18-21)

The Bible says: “But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath BLINDED the MINDS of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” (2 Cor. 4: 3-5)

We are Ministers of Christ, spreading His Gospel to the ends of the earth. As Ambassadors, we represent Jesus Christ to the world, through our conduct of word and deeds! We are the Only Bible some people will read! Again, St. Paul writes: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST. And ye are Christ's and Christ is God's. Let a man so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and stewards of the MYSTERIES of God.” (Eph.3: 11,23. 4:1; 1 Tim.4: 6).

St. Paul corrected a backsliding church: “O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the TRUTH...This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? He that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal. 3: 1, 2, 5)

                                    THE ANOINTING OF GOD BREAKS THE YOKE!

Everything that has been created and the miracles that the Prophets did was done by the Spirit of God. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan and to overcome him using the Word of God! Jesus began His earthly ministry immediately after He was baptized and received the Holy Spirit.

“And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.” ( Matt.4: 23, 24)

The Bible states: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” (Acts 10: 38)

MICAH the prophet stated: “But truly I am full of power by the SPIRIT of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3: 8). The prophet EZEKIAL declared: “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the SPIRIT of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.” (Ezekiel 37: 1).

PHILIP, a deacon in the church in Jerusalem went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them, and the whole city embraced the Gospel when they saw the miracles, signs and wonders the Holy Spirit did through his ministry.

The Bible says: “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. Then the SPIRIT said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias...” (Acts 8: 26-30)

“And he commanded the chariot to stand still: And the went down both into the water, both Philip]and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the SPIRIT of the LORD caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus...” (Acts 8: 38-40)

ST. PETER saw great miracles of healing and deliverance in his Ministry. Here is the record of the Holy Spirit working in his life: “While Peter thought of the vision, the SPIRIT said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee, Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them doubting nothing: for I have sent them.” (Acts 10: 19, 29)

The commentary on BARNABAS states: “For he was a good man, and full of the HOLY GHOST and of faith: and much people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11: 24). The Holy Record states: “As they ministered and fasted, the HOLY GHOST said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on the they sent them away. And they being sent forth by the HOLY GHOST, departed.” (Acts 13: 2-4)

All through the Book of Acts, we read of the Ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT in the life of St. Paul and other apostles, prophets and leaders of the Church. Oh, how we need that today in our midst. How weak the Church has become! Some theologians and preachers say that God has changed His method of reaching the lost and dying and that He no longer works supernaturally in His Church.

That is a LIE from Hell. Show me where He has abrogated, retracted, changed His Will or amended His Word. Away with such lies, blasphemy, modernism, false cult teaching! Shame on the lazy, overfed preachers who do not search the Holy Scriptures and do not FAST, PRAY or SEEK the Lord Jesus Christ for His ANOINTING and Holy Spirit power!

Here is a word from the late D.L. MOODY for lukewarm, backslid preachers: “Shame on the Christianity of the 19^th Century. It's a weak and sickly thing. Would to God we had a few men like Daniel living here today!” What would D.L. Moody say today?

Here is what Jesus Christ, the head of the Church said: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and true witness, the beginning (The One Who began Creating) of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art LUKEWARM, I will spue (vomit) thee out of My mouth. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent.” (Rev. 3: 14-16, 19)

ST. JOHN was on the Isle of Patmos, exiled for the Word of God. The HOLY SPIRIT moved dramatically in his life. He writes: “I was in the SPIRIT on the Lord's Day, and heard behind me a great VOICE, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand on 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 forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and Death.” (Rev. 1: 10,11,17,18)

                  NEVER FORGET: GOD IS IN CHARGE!

St. Paul stated: “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)

“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 we also appear with Him in glory.” (Col.3:2-4)

 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the HOLY GHOST which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Cor.6: 19,20)

The Bible says: “For our God is a CONSUMING FIRE.” (Heb.12: 29); “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.” (Heb.10: 31). The most important thing we need today is the Mercy of God and the Fear of God. Then we will see the Fire of the Holy Spirit melting hearts and changing minds, with a genuine Holy Ghost Revival moving in all churches across our land! May God help us all to obey the call of God and by His grace “do the first works”. Amen