THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE
By
Pastor Max Solbrekken D.D.
“And
from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven
suffereth violence and the violent take it by force.” (Matt. 11:
12).
John
the Baptist had preached a strong message on Repentance and Holiness
and great crowds had heard him with joy, confessing their sins and
were baptized by immersion.
His
message was death to sin and new life through keeping God's
commandments. His death dealing, life giving messages didn't spare
anyone from the rank and file to the religious pharisees and even
King Herod, who imprisoned him.
The
Bible states: “Now when John heard in prison the works of Christ,
he sent two of his disciples; and said unto Him, Art Thou that shall
came or look we for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go
and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:
“The
blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor
have the gospel preached unto them. And blessed is he, whosoever
shall not be offended in Me.” (Matt. 11: 2-5)
John
the Baptist was a CHOSEN vessel sent to introduce Jesus of Nazareth
to Israel as the Messiah, the Christ of God. When he had first met
Jesus at His baptismal, he had seen the Spirit of God descending upon
our Lord and remaining on Him. The Heavenly Father made it clear to
him that Jesus of Nazareth was the One which He had sent.
The
Bible records the stunning event: “And Jesus, when He was baptized
went up straightway up out of the water: and lo, the Heavens were
opened to him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and lighting upon Him: And lo, a voice from Heaven, saying, This is
My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3: 16, 17)
DOUBTS
BEGAN TO CROP UP!
Sitting
in the prison and hearing of Jesus' miraculous Ministry, John the
Baptist began to have some doubts. For one thing, Jesus did
spectacular miracles and healed the sick, while John the Baptist did
not have those gifts. There were other things like spending time with
people at social functions that brought doubt into his heart. Satan
is a Master at spreading Doubt.
A
PATTERN was set here for all who follow the Master and Preach the
Gospel of the crucified and resurrected Christ. It only happens
through the Word of God, by the Name of Jesus and in the power of the
Holy Spirit. And it still astonishes people!
John
the Baptist did no miracles yet Jesus' Ministry was based on the
miraculous. Upon being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was driven
by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil during His wilderness
Temptation. After His victory over Satan, He came back into the arena
of human suffering, healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits.
The
Bible declares: “And Jesus returned in the POWER of the Spirit into
Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region
round about. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His Word
was with Power.
“And
in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean
devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let
us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art
Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee Who Thou art; the Holy One of
God.
“And
Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And
when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and
hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves,
saying, What a Word is this!
For with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits and
they come out.”
(Luke 4: 15, 32-36)
GO
AND SHOW JOHN AGAIN!
Jesus
settled the problem immediately. He said: “Go and show John AGAIN
those
things which ye hear and see. It is interesting how miracles of
healing played such an important place in Jesus' Ministry. which they
had again witnessed.
“The
blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor
have the gospel preached unto them. And blessed is he, whosoever
shall not be offended in Me.”
(Matt. 11: 2-5)
Jesus
began to commend John the Baptist as the greatest prophet ever born
of women. Then, He stated: “And from the days of John the Baptist
until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent
take it by force.” (Matt 11: 12)
What
did He mean by that statement? The crowds had thronged his meetings,
many of them crushed by condemnation for their sins, had cried out to
God for mercy. It was like a battlefield with ungodly men
surrendering in droves.
The power of God bringing godly sorrow and
confessions of the most terrible sins, made them ready for the waters
of Baptism. And the shouts of victory from those whom God had
cleansed and forgiven rose up everywhere.
Can
you imagine the thousands who attended those meetings where the
Baptist thundered out his message: “And
now also the AXE is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore every
tree that which bringeth not forth good fruit is HEWN down and cast
into the FIRE.”
What
a REVIVAL that must have been. And, even today, the Kingdom of Heaven
is advancing powerfully and men of faith take hold of the promises of
God with an ardour that resembles violence!
The
Gospel of Christ is so life transforming and the baptism of the Holy
Spirit so powerful that sins, fears and evil habits are shaken off
people and vanish almost supernaturally. Talk about the 'Holy Ghost
and Fire'!
JESUS:
BAPTIZER IN THE HOLY GHOST!
The
Baptist stated, “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)
What
an introduction John the Baptist gave to Christ Jesus our Lord.
John's Ministry had been full of emotion, repentance, confession and
baptism. Jesus' would be greater and include the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit Himself and His Fire! Isn't that powerful?
One
of the reasons that God the Son was incarnated (God
in human flesh)
was to bring mankind back to God, to make His Father our Father also!
By shedding His pure and holy blood on the Cross, He guaranteed our
Eternal Salvation.
The
reason that Jesus could not pour out the Holy Spirit upon the Church
until after His resurrection and His ascension was because He had to
pour out His BLOOD to satisfy the righteous demands of Divine Justice
in the courts of Heaven, to atone for our sins!
After
His glorious resurrection, Jesus promised His disciples: “And,
behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on High.”
(Luke 24: 49)
“Then
said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent
Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” (John 20:
21,22)
“And
being assembled together with them commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father,
which saith He, Ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with
water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence.” (Acts 1: 4, 5)
The
BIBLE states: “And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place. And Suddenly there came a
sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting.
“And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.” (Acts 2: 1-3)
When
the multitudes came together to see what was taking place, St. Peter
stated: “But
this is that which was spoken by JOEL the prophet;
"And it shall come
to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream
dreams.
"And on My servants and on My handmaidens, I will pour out in
those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
“Ye
men of Israel, hear these words: JESUS OF NAZARETH, a man approved of
God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs which God did by Him
in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him being delivered
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,
and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.
“Whom
God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was
not possible that He should be holden of it. This JESUS hath God
raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
"Therefore being by the right
hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of
the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
(Acts 2: 16-18, 22-24, 32, 33)
FULFILLING
THE GREAT COMMISSION!
Let
us take Jesus at His Word and like the Early Church, we will be able
to fulfill the Great Commission He left us! He said: “Go ye into
all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
“And
these SIGNS shall follow them that believe. In My name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take
up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt
them. They shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.
“So
then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into
Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and
preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the
Word with SIGNS following. Amen.” (Mark 16: 15-20)
This
Gospel is for ALL people of ALL the world including the Muslim World!
Jesus Christ commanded: "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved ...." (Mark 16: 15-20)
King
David prophesied: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and
the rulers take counsel together, AGAINST
the Lord, and against HIS ANOINTED,
saying, Let us break the bands asunder, and cast away their cords
from us. (Psalms 2: 2, 3)
The
Apostles prayed, quoting David: "For a truth against Thy
Holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius
Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered
together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined
before to be done." (Acts 4:25-28)
The
whole world was involved in carrying out the will of God in the
sacrificial death of Christ for us all. King Herod, Pontius Pilate,
the Gentiles and Israel is a representation of the Entire World that
stands guilty in the SIN of crucifying the Son of God!
And
the entire world is invited to receive God's forgiveness, peace,
healing, blessing and deliverance which has been purchased for us all
through the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ our Lord and His glorious
resurrection from the dead!
The
Bible says: "Looking for that blessed HOPE and the glorious
appearance of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Who GAVE
HIMSELF for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify
unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus
2:13, 14)
"But
after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
"Which
He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being
justified by His GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope
of eternal life." (Titus 3: 4-7) All glory to God the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
Is
God able to save and fill with His Holy Spirit tough, evil, perverted
Muslim terrorists? Read Acts chapters 9, 22 and 28. If He can reach a
Jewish terrorist He can reach a Muslim terrorist! Nothing is too hard
for our God!
A
GREAT MIRACLE IN NORWAY!
In
late August, 2001, I was preaching in a small town in Norway and
learned about a refugee camp where hundreds of Muslim refugees from
the Kosovo War were being housed. I asked if anyone was reaching them
with the love of Christ. They answered, “No”.
I
challenged the pastor’s wife who was teaching them Norwegian, to
invite them to our Revival Meeting. She answered that it was against
the new school rules to talk to students about Jesus!
I
countered: “St. Peter said, ‘We
ought to obey God rather than man’. It seems rather strange to me
that a Pentecostal Pastor’s wife would not have the courage to obey God than rules put in place by some political hack.”
She said: “O.K. I will ask them.” She did and eight people accepted. The Pastor picked them up and brought them to the meeting.
All received Jesus Christ as their Saviour and since August 2001 until now that Church has baptized more than 1,000 Muslims to Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord forever and ever! Hallelujah and Amen.