FOUR ESSENTIAL TRUTHS
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

  There are four essential truths that must not be diminished, downgraded or dismissed! Four truths that are absolutely essential to the preservation of the Christian Faith and the propagation of Christ's Gospel! We must hold them dear, practice them regularly and obey God, thereby proving our love, devotion and obedience to Jesus Christ!

1. GOD'S WORD HAS THE POWER to free us from all bondage, sin, fear and sickness.  When Jesus of Nazareth met the Devil in the Wilderness Temptation, He used the Word of God to defeat him. Three times, our precious Lord Jesus firmly stated, “IT IS WRITTEN.” (Matt.4: 1-10:).

    The devil had to leave, when Jesus commanded: “Get thee hence, Satan (Liar): for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him Only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth Him, and behold angels came and ministered unto Him.” (Matt.4: 10, 11)

   We are authorized to use the WORD of God to defeat Satan and his minions! He must OBEY our commands when we speak authoritatively in Jesus' Name. Our Saviour commanded His followers to take His Gospel, His Name and His Power into all the world to liberate lost humanity!

    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 hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-18)

   The Holy Record states: “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them He was received up into Heaven, and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with SIGNS following.” (Mark 16: 19,20).

    The Bible says, "He hath sent His Word and healed them, and delivered them from all their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men."  (Psalms 107: 20, 21).

    There is DIVINE HEALING in God's Word. There is Deliverance from Satan's destructive attacks in God's Word. There is Victory and Freedom in God's Word for sin-sick souls and weary believers in Christ who are yearning for peace of mind and healing for their spirit and body!

    God's Word guarantees a New Life for Satan's slaves who are trapped in the occult, pagan religions and false cults! Jesus declared: “Ye shall know the Truth and the truth shall make you free. And whomsoever the Son makes free are FREE indeed.” (John 8: 32, 36)

            JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD!

  GOD'S WORD is the incorruptible SEED: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. But the Word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the Word by which the Gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1: 23, 25)

    “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with 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 light of men.

    “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.” (John 1: 1-4, 9,14)

    The Holy Bible is the written Word and Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God. The written Word and the Living Word agree, and therefore when we speak His Word in faith and with authority, it is the same as if He were present. 

    And in reality, He is Present for He said: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. I will be with thee until the end of the world.” (Matt.28: 20; Heb.13:8)

    “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18: 20). 

   Therefore, His Word spoken in FAITH has great saving, healing and delivering power! Our Lord stated: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35); “...And the Scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35)

    The Bible says: “For the Word of God is quick (living) and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4: 12)

    The Word of God, therefore, ministers to our entire being, spirit, soul (mind) and body. What does the Word of God do? It convicts of sin and heals the spirit, brings peace to the mind and heals the body! One preacher said, “Where can you see divine healing in that Scripture? It simply means that God knows our thoughts and He convicts us and forgives our sins.”

    I asked? “What is the Word of God doing in our bones, joints and marrow? There is NO sin in our bones, but there might be some arthritis, cancer or rheumatism there. The Word of God penetrates the joints, bones and marrow and destroys the disease and heals the sick person!”

2. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST is so powerful that it cleanses us from all our sin and purges the conscience.  The Bible says, "If we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son cleanses us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)

   St. Paul wrote: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (qualified) to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in Light: Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have Redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1: 12-14)

    The Blood of our Saviour has effectively destroyed Satan: “For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) also Himself likewise took part of the same (incarnated: 

   "God in human flesh): that through DEATH, He (Jesus) might DESTROY him that had the power of death, that is the DEVIL: And DELIVER them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14, 15)

 Christ's Victory and Satan's Defeat equals our Liberty! God knows it and waits for us to use the authority He has given us as His Blood washed and Spirit filled sons of God. 

   Satan know it and flees when we use Jesus Christ's holy Name with faith in His all atoning and liberating Blood, and we know it when we believe God's ever living Word and observe the powerful effect His Word and Blood has in the spirit world!

    St. Peter declared: “For as much as ye know that ye were not Redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (empty lifestyle) received by tradition of your fathers; but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and spot:

     “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 1: 18, 19; 2: 24)

    The BLOOD of Christ is the only solvent that can PURGE the conscience from all guilt, condemnation and tormenting fear. The Holy Bible declares: “How much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot (Jesus was perfect) to God, purge your CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the Living God?” (Heb 9: 14)

     “...For the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him (Satan) by the BLOOD of the LAMB, and by the Word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev.12: 10, 11)

3.THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD baptizes us into the Body of Christ at conversion and as we totally surrender to God, He fills us with His presence: “For by One Spirit are we all baptized into One Body (His church), whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into One Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:13). 

   Jesus Christ decreed: “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I Go Unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, I will do it.

    “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter that He may ABIDE with you Forever, even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; for He dwelleth in you, and shall be in you.

     “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come unto you.” (John 14: 10-18); “But ye shall receive POWER after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

    The Book of Romans has been called the 'Roman Road to Salvation'. Martin Luther found Christ while reading it. The same was true with William Cowper. The Holy Spirit draws sinners to Christ and strengthens believers to continue trusting in His Name!

    St. Paul wrote: “But if the Spirit of Him that raised Christ from the dead (Holy Spirit) dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make life in) your mortal (sick, frail, weak) bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11).

    Because the Holy Spirit resides in us, He renews our frail bodies with the life of Jesus Christ the Great Physician! That is how miracles of healing are often wrought.

    “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 11: 26, 27)

    A Greek scholar states that the Holy Spirit takes a hold of against the infirmity and prays through us (in the Holy Spirit) to the Father. He knows what we need and as we intercede, He brings those needs to our Heavenly Father. The entire Godhead is involved, as we pray in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ!

     Jesus stated: “No man can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44);

   “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me. 

    "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment: of sin because they believe not on Me; of righteousness because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more: Of judgment because the prince of this world (Satan) is Judged.” (John 16: 8-11)

    The Holy Spirit was sent reprove the world of their UNBELIEF in rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord. He came to judge the world of their refusal to Repent and accept Christ's Righteousness. 

    And He came to Demonstrate Christ's Victory over Satan, by casting out devils and healing the sick.

   The Bible says: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein in excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18, 19). 

    If the Holy Spirit is not active and working in the Church, it is no longer a Living Church. The Holy Spirit has been given to direct, teach and empower the Church until Jesus returns.

   The Holy Spirit is restraining the Antichrist. He cannot take over the earth until the Holy Spirit's work is complete: 

   “For the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He (Holy Spirit) be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked (Antichrist) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and DESTROY with the brightness of His coming.” (2 Thes. 2: 7,8)

4. THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST is the greatest weapon to drive Satan from us.  Jesus said: "And these SIGNS shall follow them that believe.  In My Name, shall they cast out devils...

   "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the WORD with signs following.” (Mark 16:15-20)

    “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy Name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. 

  "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 10:17-20)

    “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them POWER and AUTHORITY over all Devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9: 1,2); 

    “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and HEAL the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10: 8,9)

           SEVEN TIMES JESUS INVITES US!

  Seven times in John's Gospel, Jesus invites us to pray in His name and assures us that we will receive an answer. And because He is the Truth Himself, we know His World is true! He said: “The Heaven ans earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.” (Matt.24: 35)

    “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works shall he do because I go into My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14: 12, 13);

    “If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” (John 14:14); “If ye shall abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15: 7); 

    “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth much fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask f the Father in My Name, He may give it you.” (John 15: 16);

   “And in that day (after the descent of the Holy Spirit) ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.” (John 16: 23); 

    “Hitherto ye have asked nothing in My Name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16: 24);

   “At that day, ye shall ask in My Name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.” (John 16: 26, 27)

    The HOLY BIBLE states: “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);

   “God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH. 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 men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who GAVE Himself a Ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2: 3-6)

     The Old Testament prophet declared: “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy that He cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have His face from you, that He will not hear.” (Is. 59: 1,2)

    Here is the remedy: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is. 1:18):

    “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 Sin. If we confess our sins (to God) He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: and He is the propitiation (the satisfaction) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the SINS of the whole world.” (1 John 1: 7, 9; 2: 1,2)

    Jesus Christ's vicarious Death satisfied His Father and the Courts of Heaven that His holy Blood shed on Calvary's cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world, met the Demands of Divine Justice to free us from all ours sins and the penalty thereof. Praise the Lord and thank Him for His Amazing Grace! Amen.