Thousands attend Max Solbrekken Port au Prince Crusade
at the Du Valier Stadium in 1972. God received glory and
praise. He performed staggering miracles as God's servant
prayed. The nation of Haiti was blessed of God!
Gospel Crusade in Duvalier Stadiun, Port au Prince, Haiti
deliverance in Duvalier Stadium 15 year old insane
boy was suddenly made well. Thousands heard
his testimony by live radio broadcast across Haiti.
16 year-old Geraldine Rideout weighed 25 pounds, was 2 1/2 feet
tall. She had never stood in her life, suffering with Osteo Genesis
Imperfecto. She was made whole by Jesus Christ in 1968, at the
F. G. Bursey Memorial Tabernacle, Lewisporte, Nfld. At age 21,
she started attending school in grade one. Geraldine graduated.
She spent 16 years travelling and singing the Gospel across the
province of Nfld. We took her to Europe and Norway where she
testified to the grace of God. She got married at age 46. Amen.
Pastor Max Solbrekken with Geraldine Rideout, 1980
THE
DOUBLE CURSE
and
THE
DOUBLE CURE
By
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D
The Bible states: “And the
Lord turned the captivity
of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice
as much as he had before.” (Job 42: 10); “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.” (Is.
53: 4,5)
“Bless
the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who
forgiveth all my iniquities and healeth all my diseases.” (Ps. 103:
1, 2); “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him.” (James 5:15)
In
the above Scripture texts we see two things: sin and forgiveness;
sickness and healing! Job was
greatly afflicted with sore boils over his entire body until God
healed him. Isaiah declared that Messiah's vicarious death provides
forgiveness of sins and healing of
sicknesses and diseases. And St.
James states that the prayer
of faith saves (heals) the sick and forgives those who have sinned!
Jesus Christ said: “For the
Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke
19: 10); “And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men
seek Thee. And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns that
I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And He preached
in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”
(Mark 1: 37-39)
SICKNESS
& DISEASE IS
CAPTIVITY!
Sickness
and Disease is Captivity. Destruction of the house and death of Job's
children is captivity. Losing his property and reducing him to
poverty is captivity. The horrible boils covering his body which
Satan brought upon Job is cruel captivity!
Without
doubt, Job was a captive of Satanic invention. Job was assaulted by
the Devil and all his emissaries who killed his servants and stole
his cattle. He was targeted by Satan who engineered the storm that
destroyed his house and killed his children. It was Satan who brought
destruction, death, sorrow, sickness and pain upon a godly man!
The
GOOD NEWS is that even though Job suffered under the brutal hand of
Satan for about six months to a year, in the end he was exonerated.
God totally healed him and restored back to him twice as much as
Satan had stolen!
Sickness
and disease is Captivity.
Christ, however, has purchased our Freedom from Satan's Prison House
of fear, bitterness, anguish, torment, condemnation, doubt,
oppression and depression, which often accompany severe sickness and
disease!
The
shed blood of Jesus Christ brings peace, forgiveness with assurance,
wholeness of spirit, soul (mind) and body. Divine Healing from our
Lord causes joy and blessings beyond compare, and a tranquility
filled with thanksgiving and praise unto Jesus Christ our Lord!
JESUS
CAST OUT MANY DEMONS!
Jesus
cast out devils everywhere He went. Demons feared Jesus during His
earthly ministry and they fear His servants today as we preach in His
Name! The Holy Bible states: “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.”
(Luke 4:14; 32-35)
The
scribes, pharisees and chief priests were amazed by the power and
authority Jesus of Nazareth possessed. Our Master was able to heal
the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and perform other great
miracles after He was filled with the Holy Spirit. (John 3: 34). He
had taught in the synagogue for years without any miracles of healing
or deliverance, before He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
“Now
when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers
diseases brought them unto Him: and He laid His hands on every one of
them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out,
and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them
suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ.”
(Luke 4: 1) The
Bible says: “The thief cometh not but for to steal, kill and
destroy; I am come that they might have life and that they might have
it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10): “And the seventy returned
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.”
Just
prior to His ascension, our Lord Jesus Christ issued the Great
Commission to His followers: “And He said unto them, Go ye unto all
the world, and preach the Gospel unto 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)
My
Prayer is: “Come Lord,
turn the captivity of sickness, disease and pain away from Thy
children according to Thy Word and Thy precious promises which fail
not, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son! Amen.”
WHY
DID JESUS HEAL THE SICK?
1.
SATAN IS THE SOURCE OF SICKNESS & DEATH:
There
was no sin, sickness, disease or death in the Garden of Eden before
the Fall: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God
created He him, male and female created He them. And God blessed
them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish
the earth and subdue it. “And God saw that everything that He had
made, and behold, it was very good...” (Gen, 1: 27, 28, 41)
The
Holy Bible states: “And
the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden
thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. Thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest of it
thou shalt surely die.”
(Gen. 2: 16, 17)
“And
the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees
of the garden; But of the fruit in the midst of the garden, God hath
said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye
die.” (Gen. 3: 4).
And
the serpent (Satan)
said
unto the woman: “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in
the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye
shall be as gods, knowing good and evil...
(Gen.
3:19)
When
God's Hammer fell, He stated:
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to
the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art and, and
unto dust shalt thou return.”
(Gen. 3:19)
“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 if by one
man's offense, death reigned by one, much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5: 12,17)
“The
thief (devil) cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy; I am
come that ye may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:
10); “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour:
whom resist steadfast in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8)
2.
HE CAME TO LOOSE THOSE WHO WERE BOUND:
His
mandate was to Liberate the Captives held by the tyrant Satan, the
enemy of God and man. Our Saviour spent three years dismantling the
kingdom of darkness by preaching the Word of God, healing the sick
and casting out evil spirits!
Jesus
came from Heaven to bring freedom to Adam's fallen race. After being
filled with the Holy Spirit at the Jordan River and defeating the
great Liar in the Wilderness Temptation, He returned in the Power
of the Spirit
declaring that He was the One whom Isaiah prophesied would usher in
the Gospel Age, which was called the “acceptable year of the Lord.”
Immediately, He began casting out devils and healing the sick!
This
text defined His Ministry: “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 brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty to them that are bruised.”
(Luke 4: 18).
Here
is Moffat's translation of Isaiah 61:1:“The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. He hath anointed Me to preach the Good
News, to tell the Prisoners that they are Free, to tell the Captives
that they are Released.”
St.Paul stated that Jesus Christ's vicarious death on Golgotha and His
glorious resurrection three days later, totally destroyed Satan's
power over the human race: “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)
When
something is destroyed, it cannot be fixed.
Satan is an eternally
doomed despot and in the future will be cast into Hell and later, the
Lake of Fire forever. It will take only one angel to bind him and
cast him into the bottomless pit!
“And
I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the
Bottomless Pit and a great chain in his hand. And laid hold on the
dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him
for a thousand years, and cast him into the Bottomless Pit, and shut
him up...” (Rev. 20: 1,2)
3.
TO BEAR AWAY OUR SINS, SICKNESS & PAIN:
Seven
hundred years before our Saviour was born in Bethlehem, God's prophet
declared: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him;
He was despised and we esteemed Him not.
“Surely
He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem
Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. 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.
“All
we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own
way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is.
53: 3-6)
“So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time
without sin unto salvation,
"Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a Body hast Thou prepared Me; by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.
"Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a Body hast Thou prepared Me; by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.
“And
every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the
same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins:
But this Man, after He had offered one
sacrifice
for EVER,
sat down on the right hand of God:
“For
by One Offering He hath perfected for EVER
them
that that are sanctified. And their sins and their iniquities will I
remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin.
Please
Note: When you have confessed your sin to God, it is forgiven.
Therefore, it is foolish to continue asking for forgiveness for
something that no longer exists. There is no forgiveness for that
which is already forgiven. Therefore, thank God for His amazing grace
and mercy. You are then Free and God's Peace belongs to you!
“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;
and having an High Priest over the House of God:
“Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; For He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 9:28 10: 5,9-14,
17-23)
This
is the greatest truth ever revealed to mortal man! Nothing in a
million years could compare with the magnanimous goodness, mercy and
grace of Jesus Christ's gift of eternal salvation freely given to us
through His all atoning, compassionate and vicarious death for us on
Golgotha's Cross.
We
have been PERFECTED forever through Christ's PROPITIONARY OFFERING,
because He was delivered for our offenses and was raised for our
justification! (Rom. 4:25). Hallelujah to God the Father, His
glorified Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit!
4.
TO BREAK THE MOSAIC DEUTERONOMY CURSE:
In
the Covenant of Blessing and Cursing, Moses declared: “But it shall
come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy
God, to observe to do all His commandment and His statutes which I
command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee and
overtake thee.
“Moreover
He will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt which thou wast
afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
Also every sickness,
and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them
will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
“And
the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way
which I spake unto thee Thou shalt see it no more again: and
there ye shall ye be sold to your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen,
and
no man shall buy thee.” (Deut. 28: 15,60,61,68)
The
Mosaic Covenant that God made with the Children of Israel was one of
Blessing and Cursing which stated that if they would obey the Lord
and refrain from pagan idolatry they would be the most blessed in all
the earth, but if they disobeyed, His blessings would leave them and
they would be cursed.
In
His mercy, God the Son was incarnated (God
in human flesh),
true God from eternity and true man through His virgin birth and
became a curse, by dying as God's paschal Lamb for them and the whole
world. He had come to lift the curse, but was reviled and rejected
by their religious leaders.
St.
Paul wrote: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that
hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the blessing of
the Spirit through faith.” (Gal.3: 13).
When
the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah, Almighty God turned His
back upon His people. During their revolt against the Roman Empire,
eventually the city of Jerusalem as well as the Temple were totally
destroyed, more than one million Jews were dead, 97,000 were enslaved
as gladiators and eventually were killed.
Everyone
under 17 years of age were sold as slaves.
There was such hatred for Jews, however, that only Egypt would take
Jewish slaves. Here we see the perfection of God's Word regarding the
fulfillment of the Mosaic Covenant: “And the Lord shall bring thee
into Egypt again with ships by the way whereof I spoke unto thee.
Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your
enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.”
(Duet.28: 68)
When
Jesus was lifted up on the cross for the sins of the world, He broke
that curse and through His shed BLOOD He has purchased our freedom!
5
. TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL
St.
John declared: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that
He might DESTROY the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8). Through
many years of studying the Holy Bible and other theological materials
and a half century of ministering God's Word to multitudes across the
world, I am convinced there are five works of the Devil.
The first work of the devil is Sin, which is a transgression or
disobedience of God's laws (1 John 3:4). Through the call of the Holy
Spirit and preaching of God's Word, sinners are born again. There
is deliverance of sin through Jesus' precious blood.
The
Bible states: “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. My little children,
these things I write 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 (expiation, covering, satisfaction)
for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world.” (1
John 1:7; 2:1,2); “In Whom (Christ) we have Redemption through His
Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His
grace.” (Eph.1: 7)
The
second work of the devil is Fear. The Bible says: “For God hath not
given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.”
(2 Tim. 1:7). Satan is the author of fear. Fear hath torment and
perfect love casteth out fear. When Jesus spoke to troubled people,
He said: “Be not afraid.” (Matt.14: 27);
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27)
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27)
The
third work of the devil is sickness, disease and death. Sickness is
incipient death. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead and He has
given us the power to heal the sick in His name. Through His
vicarious death and resurrection, He tasted death for every man. And
because He lives, we shall live also! Jesus Christ Lord of the Living
and Dead!
“And
when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power
against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease. And as you go, preach, saying,
The Kingdom of God is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out devils.” (Matt.10: 1, 7,8):
The
fourth work of the devil is poverty. When He witnessed a funeral
procession with a widow mourning the death of her only son, He was
moved with compassion and stopped the procession. He raised the boy
from the dead and him gave him back to his mother. He made sure that
she would be cared for!
“And
when He saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep
not. And He came and touched the bier; and they that bare him stood
still. And He said, young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that
was dead sat up and began to speak. And He delivered him unto his
mother.” (Luke 7:13-15)
The
fifth work of the devil is demon oppression and possession. On
multiple occasions, Jesus cast out demons from those who were bound
by them. He commanded them to be quiet and to leave, which they did.
The demons were terrified of Him and begged that He might not torment
them for they knew who He was. He commanded them to depart. And He
gave us his power to do the same!
In
his Great Commission He says: “And these signs shall follow them
that believe. In My Name, shall they cast out devils...” (Mark 16:
15-20)
After
Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven, St. Peter said, “How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power Who went
about doing good and healing those who were oppressed of the devil
for God was with Him.” (Acts 10: 38)
The
Bible states: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us
meet 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. 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 an powers, He made a show
of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
“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.1:13; 2:14,15; 3:3)
6.
TO DO HIS FATHER'S WILL
“Giving
thanks to the Father, which made us meet to be partakers 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)
“For
as much then as the children are of flesh and blood, He also Himself
likewise also took part of the same; that through Death
he might Destroy
him who had the power of death, that is the devil. And Deliver
them who through fear of death, where all there lifetime subject to
Bondage.” (Heb 2: 3-4)
“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 have spoiled
Principalities and powers. He made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2: 14, 15); “For ye are dead,
and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Whom is our lie
shall appear then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Col.
3:3,4)
The
Bible is very clear on the reason God the Father gave His Son as His
paschal Lamb to shed His pure and perfect blood on the Cross so that
we could be Redeemed and become God's children. St. Paul who
formerly was an enemy of the Gospel, writes: “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 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)
Divine
Healing is God's will. Jesus healed the sick wherever He went
preaching the Gospel. Why did He heal the sick? He came to do His
Father's will, and His Father's will is to make everyone whole. He is
the Creator, the Life Giver and the Great Physician!
The Bible states: “And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw
His Miracles which
He Did on
them that were diseased.” (John 6: 2,3); They were HIS miracles and
every miracle which is performed on the sick in JESUS' Name are God's
miracles alone! They belong to Him and we gladly give Him all the
thanks, honour and praise!
“Then
said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then
shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself, but as
My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me
is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone: for I do always that
please Him.” (John 8: 28. 29)
In
his Pentecostal message to the multitudes in Jerusalem, St. Peter
declared: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a
man approved of God among you by and wonders and signs, which God did
by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” (Acts 2:
22)
Concerning
the Coming Messiah the Prophet David prophesied: “Then said I, Lo,
I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy
will, O God.” (Heb. 10: 9; Ps. 40: 7)
7.
TO FULFILL THE SCRIPTURES
Seven
hundred years before Jesus Christ's birth in Bethlehem, the Prophet
Isaiah foretold His coming: “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God,
and afflicted. 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.” (Is.53: 4,5)
St.
Matthew confirms Jesus' Ministry: “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 Easaias the prophet, saying:
Himself took our Infirmities and bare our Sicknesses” (Matt. 8: 16,
17)
“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 we are
healed.” (1 Peter 2:24); “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that
is within, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget
not all His benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: Who healeth
all thy diseases.” (Ps. 103: 1-3)
DOUBLE
CURSE & DOUBLE CURE!
Reviewing
the great truths presented here:
- Psalm 103: 4, 5 -forgives all and heals all.
- Isaiah 53: 4, 5 – three fold healing: spirit, soul, body
- Psalm 102: 19. 20 - to lose those appointed unto death
- James 5: 14, 15 – Healing and forgiveness for us
- Heb. 2: 3, 4; Acts 2:22 – Jesus' Earthly Ministry
God's
Word deals specifically with Deliverance from the powers of Darkness
and Satanic oppression, curses, plagues, bondage, fear and torment.
Our Lord Jesus came against Satan and all his evil works and brought
deliverance, healing and blessing to mankind. As His servants, we
have been given the authority and power to continue His work.
JESUS
said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every
creature...And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name
shall the 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)
Isaiah
prophesied the coming of our Saviour. He also preached powerful
messages of righteousness and laid out specifically what God's people
must do to prepare their hearts for a great Revival! Here he teaches
the importance of fasting and prayer:
“Is
not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to
the hungry, and that thou bring the poor to thy house? When thou
seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?” (Is.
58: 6,7)
Early
in my Ministry for JESUS, I learned the value of fasting and prayer!
For years, while working as a pastor and evangelizing simultaneously,
we usually began the New Year with seven days of fasting and prayer.
A number would join us in this effort, with great blessing.
Personally, I would continue the fast for a longer duration.
The
disciples of Jesus had tried in vain to free a little deaf and dumb
boy from demon spirits. When Jesus came on the scene, He healed him.
When they asked why they could not, Jesus answered: “Because of
your unbelief...Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and
fasting.” (Matt. 17: 17-21)
Jesus
Christ our Lord said: “Can the children of the bridechamber fast,
while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the
bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come, when
the bridegroom is taken from them, and then shall they fast in those
days.” (Mark 2:20)
This
is God's way to reach those who are unsaved, sick or suffering from
demon oppression. God's promises are sure and certain and when we
seek God in fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to
liberate Satan's slaves in Jesus' Name!
HERE
IS HOW GOD DEALS WITH THE ENEMY:
1.
Curses - Deut. 28: 15, 18, 22, 27, 28. 34, 35, 45
2.
Plagues - Mark 5:25
3.
Bondage – Luke 13: 11; Is. 58:6
4.
Oppression – Acts 10:38; Is 58:6
5.
Captivity - Job 42: Luke 4:18
6.
Sicknesses & Diseases -Is. 53: 4, 5
7.
Fear – John 14:27, 1 John 4:17, 18; 2 Tim. 1:7
The
Holy Bible states: “God is not a man that He should lie, neither
the son of a man that He should repent (change). Has He said and
shall He not do it, or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?”
(Nu. 23: 19)
God's
great heart of mercy and grace desires to bless and heal all who are
hurting and suffering today. I do not believe it is God's will for
any of His children to suffer the pain, agony and torment which Jesus
suffered for us on the whipping pole and on the cross!
God's
Word cannot return unto Him void. It must accomplish that for which
it was sent. It is impossible for God to fail. He has placed His Word
above His Name, therefore it is impossible for God's Word to fail.
“He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from all their
destructions.” (Ps. 107: 20).
All
sickness and disease was conquored by our Saviour Jesus Christ who
took upon Himself our sicknesses and pains. The Bible says: “For 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.” (Is. 53: 4, 5)
“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
Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bear
our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8: 16, 17);
“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). Our Lord is good and His mercy
endureth forever.
My
deepest convictions and personal belief about Jesus Christ is
identical to the Holy Scriptures. I concur totally with the Word of
God! Amen.
JOHN
ALEXANDER DOWIE
Dr.
John Alexander Dowie was born in 1847 in Scotland. He emigrated to
Sydney Australia as a Congregational Minister. In 1874 a serious
plague swept through the city of Sydney leaving a swath of dead and
dying. Pastor Dowie had buried 40 members of his congregation within
a month and another 30 members lay dying.
He
did not know what to do as his prayers seemed to rise no higher than
the ceiling. As he sought God in desperation, suddenly while reading
Acts 10:38, the revelation of God came into his spirit. He saw for
the first time that
it was Satan who made people sick and that Jesus made people well.
With
great hope in his heart, he read: “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; for God was
with Him.” (Acts 10: 38)
At
that very moment, he got a call that a young girl was on her
deathbed. He rushed over to see her. The doctor was on his way out
and realizing that there was no hope, said to the preacher: “Aren't
God's ways mysterious?”
Dowie responded, “No, that
is the work of the devil. It is time to call on Him Who can destroy
the work of the devil, to slay that deadly foul destroyer.” He
walked in and began to pray!
Dowie wrote, Here is the prayer I prayed
as I remember it: “Our
Father help and teach me how to pray and Holy Spirit teach me to
pray, and plead Thou for me O Jesus, Saviour, Healer, Friend,
Advocate with the Father. Hear and heal, Eternal One, from all
disease and death, deliver this sweet child of Thine. We claim Thy
promise. I rest upon Thy Word, We claim Thy promise now. Thy Word is
true, “I am the Lord that healeth thee”. Then heal her now. Thy
Word is true, “I am the Lord, I change not.” Unchanging God,
“then prove Thyself to heal her now. Thy Word is true, “These
signs shall follow them that believe. In My name shall they lay their
hands on the sick and they shall recover.” And I believe. I lay my
hands on her in Jesus' Name and claim Thy promise now. Thy Word is
true, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick.” Trusting in Thee
alone, I cry, O Saviour now for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Her
mother asked, “Is she dead?” “No”, I answered in a whisper
lower still. “Mary will live. The fever is gone. She is perfectly
well and sleeping like
an infant sleeps.” Dowie called for some food to be brought to the
girl and the nurse brought some cocoa and some slices of bread. Dowie
bent over the girl and called, “Mary”, and she awoke. “O sir,
when did you come? Mother, I feel so well and hungry too.”
And
Dowie left that home with a song of triumph that Jesus still is the
same today!
LET
US BELIEVE & RECEIVE!
St.
Paul stated: “He staggered not at the promise of God, but was
strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded,
that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And
therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now, it was not
written his sake alone, that it was imputed to him.
“But
for US also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead: Who was delivered for our
offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
(Rom. 4: 23,24)
What
was he saying? The WORD of God does not change. It is eternal as God
is eternal. The Almighty has placed His Word above His name. You can
bank on it. It will not fail for our Lord cannot fail.
The
second
great truth I wish to leave with you is that there is only One True
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! In the divine economy of God there
is no room for counterfeits or manufactured man made gods!
The
very first of the Ten Commandments written with His own finger in two
tables of stone, states: “Thou shalt have no gods before Me.”
(Ex. 20: 3). The Bible says: “For though there be that are called
gods, whether in Heaven or in earth (as
there be gods many, and lords many),
but TO US there is but One God, the Father, of Whom are all things,
and we in Him, and One Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and
we by Him.” (1 Cor. 8:5, 6). Amen.
