WHY I BELIEVE IN

DIVINE HEALING

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Max Solbrekken preaching in Romania (1992)

PART 1

     Divine healing emanates from Almighty God, because God is Life! He is the sole creator of the world and giver of life. Besides Him, there is no one capable of creating or granting anything. And without Him, there is no life whatsoever. It is only natural for God to heal, because He is the fountainhead of health and life!

    Divine healing emanates and flows from Him because He exudes love, peace, health and Eternal Life! Like the warm rays emitted by the sun fall on those exposed to its radiance, so it is with those who draw near to God!       
    They become automatic recipients of His grace, mercy, love, peace, forgiveness and health! Our Heavenly Father daily showers His children with loving kindness and tender mercies (Ps. 103:1-6).

    Because God is Love and perfect love casts out fear, there is perfect Peace and Healing in God.(1 John 4: 18). And since fear brings torment and disunity between God and man and disharmony among men, God's love restores the harmony within the entire human being; spirit, soul and body!

    As the healing process changes the recipient's attitude toward his Maker, the spin-off effect touches those around him, bringing harmony out of discord. Because JESUS IS OUR PEACE, we walk in healing and health.            
   When the 

fear, torment, unrest and uncertainty is gone, the healing process starts functioning in the believer's life.  As we believe God's Word and appropriate His promises for ourselves, we recognize His power actively operating, bringing healing to ourselves and others!

    St. Paul stated, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

    "And what is the exceeding greatness of His Power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, by allowing HIS POWER to operate in us! 

   "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power according to the Power that worketh in us”. (Eph. 3:20)

    The key to receiving God's power, is to invite the Blessed Holy Spirit into our lives to work in us mightily, according to His own will. Praise the Lord! And since the Joy of the Lord is our strength, Divine Healing continues to flow as we serve Him with gladness

                                    GOD IS AGAINST SICKNESS!

    God is against sickness because God is good and sickness is the exact opposite of that which is good. It is an evil, destructive force which tears down God's perfect work! Sickness is a blight and a scourge on the human race and a direct result of Adam's transgression and disobedience to Almighty God!

     Sickness and disease is incipient death, which is a slow form of demise; or death on the installment plan. For with sin came fear, torment, sickness, disease and death!

     When Jesus walked upon the earth, He took a stand against six things: sin, sickness, fear, demons, poverty and death! He preached the gospel to the poor, so they could have their needs met for body, soul, mind and spirit! He forgave the sinner, healed the sick, dispelled fear, cast out demons, fed the hungry and raised the dead!

     In the Nazareth synagogue, He openly challenged the powers of darkness by publicly reading the words of Prophet Isaiah, concerning Himself.

   "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19)

    Then He went out to the poor, sinful, sick, and the needy and liberated them by the Almighty Power of the Holy Spirit! The Bible says, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people". (Matt. 9:35-36)

                              EVERYTHING GOD MADE WAS GOOD!

    After God had created the heavens, the earth and everything else, He declared it all "good". Adam was created in the very image and likeness of        God and He is perfectly well in every respect. In Him, there is no blemish, frailty, weakness, disease or death! He is ageless, timeless, unchanging and the very epitome of perfection in every area of His triune being - Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

    In Him is perfect soundness, perfect goodness, perfect purity, perfect love, perfect peace, perfect righteousness and perfect health! Adam was made by the hand of God, out of the dust which He had previously spoken into existence - out of nothing.

     Out of Nothing – Bereshith Bara – Ex Nihilo! God created the worlds out of nothing. He made the atoms - the building blocks of the universe, out of nothing. And He still specializes in doing the impossible. He is the world's ONLY Healer! 

      And since He is the Healer, it isn't difficult for Him to HEAL us all. Our Creator God made us in the first place, so it is not difficult for Him to heal us and make us all well!

    The Bible states, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in His Own image, in the image of God created He him: male and female created He them". (Gen. 1:26-27). 

    "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul". (Gen. 2:7)

A study of the original Hebrew texts teaches us how important we really are to Almighty God. The word man is 'adahm' which literally means "the blood of God". The word image is 'damoot' and denotes "an exact duplication in kind".

    The Hebrew word for dust is 'afar' which means "minute particles" and the word ground is taken from the Hebrew 'adahmah' which has the literal meaning "the totality of all that God is". What does this mean and how does affect me? And why should I care about the literal meaning of these Hebrew texts?

    That may be your attitude now, but after you have read what I have to share next, you will rejoice with all true believers in Christ, for God's great plan for our lives!

     "And God said, Let us (Elohim-triune God) make the blood of God (man) an exact duplication in kind (in our image) of ourselves." God took of Himself to make man. He took of His own life (the life is in the blood), that is why we are so precious to Him!

     He made us triune (spirit, soul and body) just like Himself. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit! We were created "an exact duplication in kind" of God. He made man out of minute particles (dust) of the totality of all that God is (ground).

    Science has recently discovered that everything is made out of minute particles, exactly as the literal Hebrew stated!

    There was nothing here in the begi­nning, so God took of Himself to make everything that now exists!  For God is all in all! Without Him, there would be nothing and if He decided to take His hand off this world, we would cease to exist.

                                 ONLY IN HIM IS THERE LIFE!

    He alone is Life and the Giver of Life for Time and for Eternity! That is why St. Paul stated, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being". (Acts 17:28). God took of Himself to make the earth, but He took of His own BLOOD (life) to make man!

     That is why God "will destroy them that destroy (corrupt) the earth". (Rev. 11:18) And why He is angry with those who worship mere men! And that is why God will judge those who worship the earth, instead of worshipping Him and His Son Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world in order to purchase our redemption.

     Christ's Victory over Satan has purchased our Liberty from the Evil One, for Time and for Eternity! May God deliver everyone reading these lines, from the cursed doctrine of Mother Earth- GAIA worship!

   Those who do not turn from the occult New Age Movement and their deceptive teachings, will discover - possibly too late - that they have been deceived, and are in fact, worshipping Lucifer (Satan) who is the architect of GODDESS and Mother Earth-GAIA worship!

     There are those who say that the earth has a soul and we must worship the earth.  This is blasphemy! St. Paul tells of the terrible judgment of God upon those who worship created beings or creatures rather than the Living God and His Son Jesus Christ. (Rom 1:18-26)

   Moses wrote, "And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (nephish); and man became a living soul". (Gen. 2:7)

    The word nephish means "spirit". God breathed His own ETERNAL SPIRIT into Adam! That is why St. Paul speaks of the "law of God in our members", referring to our conscience. And the Bible speaks of God placing "eternity in our hearts" (Ecc. 3:11), again alluding to our God given conscience!

                              WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?

    What was the real reason for sending His Son to die on the cross? St. Paul calls Jesus Christ, "the second Adam" and "the last Adam". "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. "And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

    "The first man is of the earth earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." (1 Cor. 15:22,45,47) The first Adam (blood of God) disobeyed, betrayed His trust and sold out to God's enemy (Satan), plunging the entire human race into sin, death and destruction!

    That is why God sent His own Son as the second Adam (blood of God), to shed His pure and holy Blood through His vicarious death on the cursed tree, thereby meeting the righteous demands of Divine Justice in the courts of Heaven, paying the penalty for our sins. 

   The sacrificial death of the Jewish Messiah destroyed Satan's power over mankind who would embrace the Gospel of Christ!

The precious blood of our Saviour has redeemed us from the

Curse of the Law and the power of Satanic Bondage! It has freed

us from the slavery of sin, fear, sickness, disease and death!

     St. Paul writes: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He 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)

    "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Col. 2:14-15)

    "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

    "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:7-11)

    And St. John wrote, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

                 ADAM WAS A PERFECT SPECIMEN!

    After God had made Adam in His own image, He was very pleased. The Bible states: "And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, IT WAS VERY GOOD." (Gen. 1:31). 

    Evidently, Adam was a perfect specimen. God made him according to His own will; perfect in all respects.  And he was perfectly healthy; spiritually, mentally and physically!

     Adam had everything he could ask for. A beautiful young wife, a good job with full fringe benefits, perfect health and no bills to pay! And perfect fellowship with his Creator and God, and a guarantee that if he kept some simple rules, he could stay in this idyllic place forever!

    Into this beautiful picture enters the world's greatest liar, deceiver and thief - Satan himself! And after his subtle con job had beguiled Eve, the entire human race was enslaved and hell bound! Eve was the first to disobey God and her sin soon contaminated Adam. 

    was a quick study and also transgressed against the Almighty. Apparently he understood the gravity of the situation, but didn't want to lose his wife

                         WORLD'S GREATEST TRAGEDY!

     Their act of disobedience, rebellion and high treason, soon infected their son Cain who became the world's first murderer! And since that infamous DAY in the Garden of Eden, the human race has been contaminated with Sin! And the results have been disastrous - bringing guilt, condemnation, fear, doubt, sickness, disease and death upon the entire human race!

     But the good news is that God foresaw it all, and had prepared "a way of escape" for fallen man. Through Jesus Christ, His Son, Almighty God made a way for mankind to be reconciled and restored to fellowship and communion with Himself. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

     "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ dies for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God 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.

    “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Rom. 5:1, 6-12, 19)

                                IN DYING THOU SHALT DIE!

"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it". God warned Adam, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Thou shalt not eat of it.” The literal Hebrew says, "For in the day that thou eatest of it, in dying shalt thou die"!

    In other words, the process of death would immediately begin in their bodies and they would eventually die! From that day til this, death has reigned supreme over the human race. Everyone eventually dies, and the process of death works from the day an infant is born until he finally expires!

    The Good News is that Jesus Christ – the Second Adam – overcame death, Hades and the Grave for us when He conqoured Satan by shedding His pure and perfect Blood for our total Freedom from the curse of sin that we had broken. Amen.

         

I AM NOT AFRAID TO DIE:   BECAUSE I KNOW JESUS!

                              By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    Two months before his death, my brother Fred had a serious talk with his son, Dan. He said, “I am not afraid to die. I know Jesus.” Those were comforting words to hear and became the title of this article and the theme of the message I brought at his funeral on July 17, 2017.

    Dan suggested that I share that with family and friends who attended the burial service and the Memorial. I'm sure that Fred would have wanted everyone to know that. A couple years earlier while preaching at the Vancouver Native Pentecostal Church, Fred and Irene joined Donna and me in praising Jesus Christ.

     In His High Priestly prayer, Jesus said: “Father the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also 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 might KNOW Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17: 1-3)

St. John declared: “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may KNOW Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is TRUE God and Eternal Life.” (1 John 5:19, 20)

   St. Paul prayed: “That I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” (Phil.3:10); “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

    “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye be rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length, and depth and height; and to KNOW the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:16-19)

      Jesus Christ stated: Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you FREE. And whomsoever the Son makes free is free indeed.” (John 8:32, 36)

                           WHY IS JESUS SO IMPORTANT?

    What is it about knowing Jesus that removes the fear of death? Who is this Jesus Christ, that at the mention of His name sinners are saved, demons flee, the spirit of FEAR departs, sicknesses vanish and troubled minds and souls receive PEACE?

    We'll let Jesus answer for Himself: He said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” (John 14: 6).

Why could Jesus make that statement? He is God the Son from Eternity, but because of His great love for us, He left Heaven's glory and came to this world as God's Paschal Lamb to purchase our salvation.

    By a Divine act of God, He was incarnated and took upon Himself human flesh, so that He could suffer, bleed and die to atone for the sins of the whole world, past, present and future. The Bible says: “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

    “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal. 4:4-6)

    Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul wrote: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

     “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 5-11)

                           JESUS CHRIST IS ETERNAL LIFE!

     Our Lord said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto Life” (John 5: 24)

    St. John declared: “Behold, what manner of LOVE the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

    “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we KNOW that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him like He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth Himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John 3: 1-3)

    The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on 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.” (John 3:16,17)

     St. John declared: “He that believeth on the Son hath Everlasting Life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” (John 3: 16,17,36)

     Again he wrote: “But these things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have Life through His Name.” (John 20: 31).

    Not only does Jesus Christ give Eternal Life to those who receive Him as Lord and Saviour, but Jesus is Himself Eternal Life! The Bible states:                “Hereby know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

    “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, and He in God. 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.

    “These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have Eternal Life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God.” (1 John 4: 13-17; 5: 11-13)

    St. Paul, who had been a blasphemer and an enemy of Christians was suddenly converted when he met Jesus Christ in a blinding light on the Damascus Road, became His Greatest Witness and spread His Gospel across the Gentile world.

    He said: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1: 16);

   “Grace be to you and PEACE from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who Gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present EVIL world, according to the will of God and our Father: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1: 3-5)

    The Bible says: “In this was manifested His love toward us because He sent His Only Begotten Son into the world, that we might LIVE through Him.” (1 John 4:9)

     “For as by one man's disobedience (Adam) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of ONE (Jesus) shall many be made righteous. That as sin has reigned unto death, even so might Grace reign through righteousness unto Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 5: 19, 21

                         JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST!

    God's Redemption for us through Jesus Christ gives us access through Prayer to the very Throne Room in Heaven, where the Son of God is constantly interceding for us to His Heavenly Father!

     “But this man (Christ) because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him. Seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than, and made higher than the heavens.” (Heb.7: 24-26)

     “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet Without Sin. Let us come boldly to the throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need.” (Heb.4: 14-16)

     “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 past, through the forbearance of God.” (Rom. 3:23-25)

    The meaning of the word propitiation is, ‘satisfaction, mercy seat, expiation’. God the Father was SATISFIED with Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death for us on the cross. His shed blood atoned for our sins and met the righteous demands of Divine Justice against Adam and Eve for the sin of high treason and rebellion, in the Courts of Heaven!

    St. Paul declared: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also, freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?

“It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom. 8: 32-34)

                                          JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ADVOCATE!

Jesus is our Advocate who pleads our cause before the Father: “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 for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2: 1,2)

St. John states: “But if we walk in the light as He (Jesus Christ) 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, He is faithful and just to forgives our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His Word is not in us. (1 John 1: 7-10

      “If ye then be risen with Him, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth 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.” (Col. 3: 1-4)

     Speaking to His disciples, Jesus spoke of His soon departure. He would send the blessed Holy Spirit to live within them. He was not leaving them comfortless but would come to abide with them and in them.

     He said: “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 keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; he that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

                                         JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LIFE!

     “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: 20,21, 23);

     “That they may be one, as Thou Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory that Thou gavest Me I have given them that they mayest be one, even as We are one.

    “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (John 17: 21-23)

     “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)

     “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ. before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame According as He hath chosen us in Him 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 His glory of His Grace wherein He hath made us Accepted in the Beloved.” (Eph. 1: 3-6)

    “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given to us an understanding, that we may KNOW Him that is true, and we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is True God and Eternal Life.” (1 John 5: 20); “For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)

                          WE ARE ADOPTED SONS OF GOD!

   The Bible declares our freedom from the powers of darkness. By a Divine miracle of God we have been made sons of God, joint heirs with Christ in His Kingdom! We have been liberated from the slavery of servitude to this world's lusts, pride, hatred and fears.

    “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father. The Spirit witnesseth with our spirit that we are the children of God:

     “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom.8: 14-17). 

     In His great Mercy, Jesus took our place on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He died for us so we could become righteous through His death and resurrection and to live eternally with Him as His adopted son.

    When the Hammer of God's judgment for the sins of the world came down, it fell on Jesus. He took the blow that we should have taken. He is our Substitute! Our 'Old Man' is dead and the 'New Man' is born again and made one with Christ! He is in us and we are in Him, forever saved, sanctified and sealed through the precious blood of Christ and the blessed Holy Spirit of God!

    “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.

“Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. But now, being made FREE from Sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto Holiness, and the end Everlasting Life.” (Rom. 6:4-9,22)

JESUS THE GREAT I AM!

    Here is the bottom line: Because of Adam's rebellion, sin entered the world and death through sin. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23); “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23);         “For by grace are ye saved through Faith: and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2: 8,9)

     “Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6): “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger: and he that believest on Me shall never thirst. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 47, 48)

      “I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep, and is known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 6: 14,15); “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And he that liveth and believest in Me, shall never die.” (John 1: 25, 26);

    “I am the true Vine and ye are the branches; He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15: 7)

   By God's Grace alone and through His infinite Mercy, I have been Redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, forgiven of all my sins, justified by His glorious resurrection and placed into His everlasting Kingdom!  Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling. Take me as I am. My only plea, Christ died for me. O' take me as I am! My Lord and my God, how I long to see Thy face, a blood bought sinner saved grace! Fill me with Thy precious Holy Spirit and grant unto Thy humble servant a full portion of Thy Spiritual Gifts to bring Healing and Deliverance to Thy suffering Church here and abroad. For Thy honour and glory alone! Amen.

Max & Fred Solbrekken in Hawaii

History often repeats itself. This smells very suspicious. It looks like a page out of an old Soviet playbook. - Pastor Max Solbrekken.

The Justice Centre has released correspondence sent to independent schools by Curtis Clark, Alberta’s Deputy Minister of Education, threatening schools with defunding if they do not remove the following content from their “Safe and Caring” school policies:

• “We believe men and women were created in the image of God, after His likeness, and therefore have transcendent, intrinsic worth.” (allegedly violates School Act because this is “unwelcoming, uncaring and/or disrespectful”)
• As part of the school’s Personal and Social Value Commitments: “To develop godly attitudes toward marriage and the family along with the understanding and skills needed to establish a God-honouring home.” (allegedly violates School Act for being “unwelcoming, uncaring and/or disrespectful”)
• “…parents have been given the responsibility to raise their children, and are the primary educators of their children.  Therefore, the school will involve parents as appropriate and necessary regarding their children’s participation in school student groups in accordance with the usual practices of notification.” (allegedly violates the School Act)
• “the unchangeable and infallible truth of the Word of God” (allegedly violates School Act requirement that “diversity” must be “respected”)
• “Upon receipt of a request for a club or activity, the principal shall determine whether the requested club or activities would create a safe, caring, welcoming and respectful environment and is consistent with the vision and mission of the school.” (allegedly violates School Act for being “unwelcoming, uncaring and/or disrespectful”)
• “God created mankind as male and female, equal in dignity and worth, yet with distinct and complementary roles” (allegedly contrary to School Act requirement for “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment”)
• “Proposals for student clubs and activities will be evaluated according to their promotion of the values, principles, mission and vision of the school” (allegedly contrary to the School Act)
• “God’s institution of marriage, a covenant relationship between one man and one woman, is the sole environment within which sexual activity is permitted, and is the context in which children are to be raised.” (allegedly violates School Act requirement for “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment”)
• “Obedience to God’s law supersedes subjection to human authority” (allegedly contrary to the School Act)
• “… the above doctrines will be taught as truth in our school.” (allegedly violates School Act by disrespecting “diversity”)
• “All school groups, clubs and activities must teach, demonstrate and embrace the biblical perspective that is the foundation for all school activities” (allegedly violates the School Act)
• “Names of student groups will be in harmony with the teachings of Scripture and the values and faith perspective of the school community” (allegedly violates the School Act)
• “The school’s teachers and staff need not teach ethics or religious doctrines that are contrary to the school community’s faith/value commitments in a way that portrays them as equally credible or worthy of belief.” (allegedly violates School Actrequirement to respect “diversity”)
• “As appropriate, if a parent or student believes the faith and/or value commitment of the School and the parent’s or student’s faith and/or values are incompatible, and continuing to enroll the student in the School is not in the best interest of the student, then the School shall assist the parent or student to enroll in another school for the subsequent school year.” (allegedly contrary to the School Act as unwelcoming, uncaring and/or disrespectful)
• As a requirement on a form for setting up a student organization: “Please explain how the formation of this club will help the school better achieve its mission and vision.” (allegedly violates School Act for being unwelcoming, uncaring and/or disrespectful)

Alberta Education states that failure to remove the above content from a school’s “Safe and Caring” policies “may result in funding implications … and the suspension or cancellation of accreditation.”

Schools in receipt of these demands and threats from Alberta Education, along with all schools in Alberta, had submitted their policies to David Eggen in March of 2016.  Since March of 2016, in the past 2½ years, schools have not received a response from David Eggen as to whether he considered their policies to follow the School Act.

It was not until the week of September 4, 2018, that some schools finally received specific feedback about their policies from the Alberta Government, well after the start of the 2018-19 school year.

“By demanding that independent schools remove religious content from their safe-and-caring policies, David Eggen is attacking the welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that these schools have in place,” stated lawyer John Carpay, President of the Justice Centre.

The Justice Centre represents parents and dozens of schools in a constitutional challenge to the Bill 24 secrecy provisions, which require withholding information from parents about their own children as young as five years old.

“In the name of ‘diversity’ David Eggen is attacking the constitutional right to have thoughts, opinions and beliefs different than his own,” continued Carpay.

“The government is requiring schools to repudiate their teaching that every woman and every man has transcendent, intrinsic worth, as created in the image of God.  How is this respectful?  How is forcing schools to conform to the state’s beliefs welcoming, or caring?” continued Carpay.

“The government insists that a school’s core values, such as the intrinsic worth of every person, play no role in its anti-bullying policies.  In this way, the government insists on a lack of integrity, because schools can no longer allow their foundational beliefs to permeate all aspects of school policies and practices,” continued Carpay.

“This is a naked and aggressive attack against the Charter rights and freedoms of every citizen, and designed to intimidate schools which are now asserting their Charter rights in court.  These bullying tactics are what you would expect in a repressive third-world dictatorship, not in a functioning democracy that respects the rule of law,” concluded Carpay.

AFTER NEXT YEAR'S  ELECTION  WILL JUSTIN TRUDEAU STILL BE KNOWN AS KING OF WEED? 

 IN 20 YEARS, WILL HE BE REMEMBERED AS THE MAN WHO GAMBLED WITH OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES?  - Pastor Max Solbrekken

Two Questions: Since cannabis is a psychotrophic substance and users experience a drop in IQ of 6 to 8 points, are any of our elected representatives cannabis users and how long have they been using? - Pastor Max Solbrekken

WHY DO WE CARE?

I have heard some people say that "legal pot" is a "done deal" and that there's no point in arguing the fact. I have even heard some otherwise conservative folks say that people should be free to choose pot if they wish.

The problem is twofold.

For one, cannabis is a psychotropic substance. It actually alters your thinking and your brain chemistry. Users experience a drop in IQ of 6 to 8 points. For youth up to age 25, it has been proven to cause brain damage. It impairs people's ability to drive, to complete complex tasks, or to operate machinery. Plus, it is addictive and can lead to harder drug use for avid users.

Do we really want to unleash this new vice on our youth and communities? Do we really want to make it legally available, accessible, and "normal"?

Secondly, Canada is a part of a far bigger, wide-reaching global strategy to combat illicit drugs. Since signing the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961, along with its associated pacts in 1972 and 1988, Canada has made a long-term commitment to fight drugs (including cannabis) through criminal sanctions, fines, and restrictions. We have agreed that the production, sale, and distribution of non-medical marijuana will be kept illegal, with strict penalties for violators. As recently as 2016, Canada re-affirmed its commitment to the Single Convention. In fact, just last month, Canada signed a non-binding agreement to again affirm its previous anti-drug commitments. (See CBC report.) Do we really want to throw out our long-term strategy and be a turncoat to our international partners? Wouldn't it be better to work with our treaty partners to draft a new strategy - if such a strategy is truly warranted?

This is why we care.

We care about our youth. We care about our communities. We care about our country and its reputation on the world scene. We believe God has given us this burden.

We think it is both irresponsible and reprehensible what Mr. Trudeau has done by speedily pushing through the Cannabis Act (C-45) - especially with so many concerns expressed by such a diversity of Canadians - MPs, Senators, healthcare professionals, community groups and associations, native groups, etc. 
 -- David Cooke and the Entire CitizenGO Team

CHRIST’S SEVEN-FOLD

INVITATION TO PRAYER!

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name I will do it.” (John 14: 13, 14)

    By God’s grace, I will prove definitively and conclusively in this brief treatise, that God not only answers the prayers of His trusting children, but that He delights in doing so!

    The Bible says: “Now unto Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph.3: 20,21)

FOUR THINGS NOTED HERE!

    First: God has the ability to meet every need presented to Him in sincere prayer. Our Sovereign Lord is omnipotent, meaning all powerful. Nothing is difficult for Him. He spoke the worlds into being and upholds all things by the Word of His power. (Heb.1:3)

    Jesus demonstrated His awesome power when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Before healing the paralytic, our Lord emphasized that He could just as easily forgive sins as heal the sick. He didn’t say, “Which is harder?

    Second: Our greatest needs are miniscule compared to the greatness of His ability to answer. Third: He performs miracles in direct proportion to the Holy Spirit’s power that resides within us. Fourth: We will glorify Him forever by Jesus Christ!

    Jesus said: “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.” (John 15: 4,5)

    The Key to answered prayer is to “ABIDE IN CHRIST”. We know that God is more willing to give than we are to ask. When you consider how much He has already given us, then it is not difficult to believe that He desires to continue giving and meeting our needs! Consider these Scriptures:

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3: 16); “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us…” (1 John 3: 16); “I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep.” (John 10: 11)

    “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13); “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom.5:8)

JESUS GAVE US THIS ANALOGY!

  Jesus invited: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.” (Matt.7: 7,8)

   Our Lord stated, no father would deny his son’s request for bread by giving him a stone (something useless) or instead of a fish, give him a serpent (something dangerous) to eat.

    He concluded: “If ye then, being evil (carnal), know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven GIVE GOOD THINGS to them that ask Him?” (Matt.7: 11)

    Only an ignorant or belligerent person would deny the willingness of God to meet the needs of those who cry unto Him in desperation! In the following parable, Jesus clearly made a case for determined and consistent prayer:

    “And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not faint (cave in); Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man.

     “And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto Him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man;

       “Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says,

   “And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily!” (Luke 18:1 – 8)

JESUS CHRIST: THE

EXPRESS IMAGE OF GOD!

   It makes you wonder if any of today’s evolutionists, politicians or modernist theologians even have a clue of Who Jesus Christ really is!

   St. Paul made it clear that they just “don't get it.” Here are the anointed words of that great theologian who brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile world:

    “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (mature): yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:

    “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: 5-8)

    The One who made all these staggering statements about our Heavenly Father was Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, Redeemer of Israel and Saviour of the World!

    The Bible says: “God…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: 1-4)

                 That Scripture make these things are very clear:

1. God had spoken to the world previously through His holy prophets, but He sent His Own Son to speak to us.

2. Jesus Christ is heir of ‘all things’.

3. Jesus Christ is the Divine Architect and Creator of the worlds.

4. Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal the Father to us.

5. The cosmos, solar system, planets, stars and universes are kept in their orbits and proper functions by Christ’s power.

6. Jesus Christ doesn’t need any help to save us. He alone shed His precious blood to purge us from our sins.

7. Jesus Christ is NOW seated on the right hand of the Majesty on High!

JESUS PERSONALLY

INVITES US TO PRAYER!

    We can trust His Word completely because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life…” (John 14: 6), Jesus Christ cannot change, fail or lie, because He is Holy, Righteous, Eternal, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and His Word is Immutable!

     He ALONE could say: “…I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that hath sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things that please Him.” (John 8: 28, 29)

     Seven times in John's Gospel chapters 14, 15 and 16 our precious Lord Jesus Christ invites us to bring our requests to God in prayer. He would not invite us to pray if He were not prepared to answer!

   There are hundreds of Scriptures that promise answers to our sincere, faith-filled prayers, as we call upon the name of the Lord in Jesus’ holy name.

  I have chosen three chapters from St. John’s Gospel where Jesus specifically invites us to pray, because He declares that we will receive an answer to our prayers!

SEVEN INVITATIONS TO PRAYER!

   Here are the seven invitations our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ personally initiated, together with the conditions necessary for their implementation!

     NUMBER 1. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14: 13). The language that Jesus chose to use in issuing this promise is easy to understand. There is nothing duplicitous about it. He had nothing to hide and He had no problem expressing Himself.

   Our blessed Saviour is TRUTH personified and His words were straight forward and to the point! He uses the word ‘whatsoever’ which means exactly what it says. There are no limitations. It covers whatever our needs are!

    He specifies, however, that we must ask in HIS NAME. Herein, lies the key to receiving from Him answers to our prayers. We must understand the value of His NAME; the authority and power that is inherent in His Name!

   NUMBER 2. “If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14: 14). Here, Jesus repeats almost word for word what He had said earlier.       He stresses that nothing is too hard for Him. We can bring Him the most difficult problems we have and He is able and willing to help us solve them.

It staggers the imagination that the Creator, Life Giver and Great physician promised: “If ye shall ask anything in My name, I Will do it.”

    St. Paul quoted Isaiah: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him.

GOD HATH REVEALED THEM!

    “But God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Cor.2: 9,10)

    The nation of ISRAEL was terribly back-slid and Prophet Isaiah called upon the Lord for mercy. In Chapter 63, he rehearses how the Lord had delivered them through Moses and asks for God’s deliverance again.

     “Oh that Thou would rend the heavens, that Thou would come down…to make Thy name known…that the nations may tremble at Thy presence.”

    Then, Isaiah stated: “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” (Is.64: 4)

    The great Baptist preacher, DR. VANCE HAVNER, writes: “Paul quoted that in 1 Corinthians 2: 9, and he had in mind not only heaven but the riches of God’s grace for us here and now. It is impossible to imagine, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, what God can do to us and Through us and For us when He can find a man who really cares enough to be His instrument. That is indicated in verse 5: “Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in Thy ways. God will meet any man more than halfway if that man is in dead earnest and means business with heaven.”

                                        Here is the Big Question?

   Who among us will be that man whom God can use to bring His people back into fellowship with Him? To bring the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ into repentance and faith, in order to see His power in revival fire with forgiveness, divine healing and deliverance in His Church again?

    Again, our Lord teaches us the value and power that is inherent in His Name! Here is the reason the incomparable name of our Saviour Jesus Christ is so influential, so powerful and life giving!

JESUS’ NAME IS ALL POWERFUL!

    St. Paul declared: “Christ Jesus…Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (He is God the Son): But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

     “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

    “That at the NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil.2: 5-11)

   In the Great Commission, Jesus gave His Church AUTHORITY and POWER in HIS NAME to speak in new tongues, preach the gospel, cast out evil spirits, heal the sick and be protected from the devil and his cohorts!

   He said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature…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)

  Some unbelieving theologians, using some lately discovered older manuscripts with a few missing verses from St. Mark’s Gospel chapter 16.        The same manuscripts have missing verses and entire chapters from other parts of the Bible yet that information has been withheld from the population at large!

   In his powerful book, ‘Bodily Healing & The atonement’, DR. T.J. McCROSSAN wrote: “A few scholars have denied the authenticity of the verses in Mark 16, but IRANAEUS quotes these verses as a part of Mark’s Gospel, and remember he was a pupil of John the Apostle. This is positive proof that these words are genuine.”

    NUMBER 3: “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: 7).

    Jesus makes it plain that there only two things necessary to get an answer to our prayers, namely, abiding in Christ and His Word abiding in us. Every born again believer is abiding in Christ, if he has genuinely repented and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour!

    That means believing God’s Word and inviting Him to live in us. And secondly, we must allow His Word to find a lodging place in our hearts, which then creates faith to receive Christ’s miracle.

    The BIBLE states: “If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a New Creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5: 17); “For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col.3: 3)

    NUMBER 4: “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bare forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in MY Name, He may give it you.” (John 15: 16)

      Here the Master makes it plain that we have not chosen Him, but that He has chosen us, therefore we should bear fruit for Him and His Kingdom. And then, we should expect Him to answer our prayers.

     NUMBER 5: “And in that day 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)

     Here, Jesus is specifically speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. He introduces us to the truth of the Holy Spirit’s power in the Church after His departure to Heaven and the great power inherent in His Name!

     They must rely on the Great Power His Name has when asking the Father for something. And the great authority it has with the Father as He will answer our prayers when it is tied to the Name of Jesus!

     NUMBER 6: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16: 24)

Believers had asked Him personally for miracles of healing and He had responded in a gracious manners. Great multitudes had felt His touch and been healed and blest. Now He was leaving them and He would send the Holy Spirit to lead them.

   He had, however, told them of His kind and loving Heavenly Father whom they could approach using His name. Jesus wants us to ask our Father for all our needs using His exalted Name so that He may answer and our joy be full.

      NUMBER 7: “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)

     Herein lies a great truth. There is so much love between the Father and His Son that if we love Jesus, the Father automatically loves us! All we must do to get the Father to love us is to believe that Jesus was sent to this earth by His Father to redeem us through His vicarious death and glorious resurrection! We are then invited to ask for whatever we need in His Name and we will receive. 

    May God's blessings rest upon you, my friend. Amen.