Rev. Max Solbrekken & Sadhu Vandenam in
                         Ghandi Park, Guntur, AP India Crusade, May 1966

        PREACH THE WORD!

                 By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D., D.Th.

Here is a reprint of a vintage Revival Message delivered by God’s servant, Max Solbrekken in 1965. It was also carried in the ‘Cry of His Coming’ Magazine that same year! It was heard over many radio stations in the 1960’s across Canada! This message is needed more now than ever in our nation’s history! It is a message for Christians of all denominations! May it trigger a revival of repentance and righteousness and may God richly bless our Nation in this time of Spiritual Crises! Our prayer is that a “grassroots revival” will sweep like a prairie fire across Canada! Amen.

     "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ…preach the word… reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…and they shall turn away their ears from the truth...But watch thou in all things…do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Tim. 4:1-5)

    The Apostle Paul was writing his last letter to Timothy.  It was an epistle of advice and admonition to the young ‘Soldier of the Cross’.  St. Paul was nearing the end of his ministry and awaiting execution and his appointment with God.  He would see Jesus whom he loved so dearly and had given his entire life.  Soon his life's blood would be spilled in a martyr's death!

    He was ready to go because he had given his best for Jesus!  He writes:  "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith". (2 Tim. 4:6-7)

          WHAT A TREMENDOUS STATEMENT!

    Here was a man who had stood against the powers of darkness, withstood false and compromising brethren, been mobbed, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, attacked by wild beasts, bitten by a serpent, taken up as dead after stoning, preached to rulers and kings, healed the sick, cast out devils and even raised the dead. (1 Cor. 11:23-31; Acts 16:22-24; 20:9-12)  

    Through all this he had not compromised!  He had not erred from the truth but stood true to the Lord.  Now, this great ‘Man of God’ writes to Timothy - his son in the faith - with final instructions. St. Paul was a wise leader who had seen the folly caused by false teachers.  He had seen people enter the ministry just for the prestige (John 5:44), or position (Phil. 2:15-19; Rom. 16:17-18).

     He knew that conditions wouldn’t get any better but rather grow worse.  Therefore, he warned Timothy to hold to God's Word and not listen to modernistic theologians who had begun spreading their damnable heresies: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution". (2 Tim. 3:12); "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived". (2 Tim.3: 13)

    Paul admonishes the young man not to be swayed by their evil doing, "but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus". (2 Tim. 14-15)

                      HOLY SCRIPTURE NECESSARY!

     Paul warns about deviating from the teachings of Christ, because "they are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus".  Our Lord said, "In the Scriptures ye find eternal life". (John 5:39); "Ye believe Moses and it was he who testified of me"? (John 5:45-47)

     It’s impossible to receive salvation outside the Word of God because we are "born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever". (1 Peter 1:23)

   We are saved by God's Word and the Holy Spirit."The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ". (Gal. 3:24); "The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

     The Word of God goes like a dagger to our hearts as the blessed Holy Spirit applies the conviction or the blessing which accompanies the preaching, reading and hearing of God's Word. 

    The Word of God prepares the soul for salvation and the body for healing: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". (Rom. 10:17). The Bible says: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  

   "And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” (Rom.10: 13-15)

    The Word of God must be preached before souls can be saved!  St. Paul declared, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:  not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  

     Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this world?  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (1 Cor.1:17-21)

    God has ordained that through the preaching of the Gospel, sinners are saved by believing His Word and receiving Jesus into their hearts and lives! He admonishes Timothy: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:  for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee". (1 Tim.4: 16)

    The Bible is the written Word of God and Jesus is the living Word of God! When the Holy Scriptures are preached under the unction of the Holy Spirit and a sinner responds by repenting of his sins, Christ is formed within him as an explosion of God’s love takes place in his heart and he is born again! (John 3: 3, 7; 2 Cor.5: 17)

                 ALL SCRIPTURE GIVEN BY GOD!

   St. Paul knocks out the ‘Modernists' theology’ when he says: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine; for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". (2 Tim. 3:6)

    The New United Church curriculum calls the first eleven chapters of Genesis, a MYTH, and speaks of a possible error in translation of Isaiah 7:14 which deals with the virginity of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

     These false teachers deny the miracles in the Bible, the resurrection, ascension and second coming of Jesus Christ as found in the Scriptures! 

     Their teachings are diametrically opposed to the Holy Scriptures! They are, therefore, declaring many portions of the Word of God null and obsolete. God’s Word, however, stands like a towering giant of truth, like a bright shining lighthouse casting its constant beam upon the darkness of this sin-cursed world!

      Mere mortals – blinded by the devil and their own lust and pride – have tried before and are trying again to put out that light, but it shines on in equatorial strength, reaching the darkest recesses of human hearts and lives wherever it is preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit! 

   The Bible says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God". Down comes the modernists' theory as the Word of the Lord cuts it to shreds! 

                      WHO CAN STOP A RIVER? 

   No one can stop the pressing, surging force of a river that is fed by continual mountain streams, rain and snow.  You may dam it up, but it will detour, it will go underground! Underground rivers are the most powerful and when persecution forces the Church and the Word of God underground; God is in control and His agenda must go forward

     No one can stop a river and no one can stop God's Word, the Holy Bible, because it is the River of Life.  It flows on in power and greatness, not affected by the railings, lies and unbelief of atheists, communists, modernistic theologians and others! 

    The Bible says: "For what if some did not believe.  Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?  God forbid:  Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.”  (Romans 3: 3-4)

Some honest people ask: 

                     HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 

     We’ll let God answer that question: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God", and "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21)

   The Blessed God of Heaven by His Holy Spirit moved upon godly patriarchs, prophets and apostles of the Lord and inspired them to write down the words of truth, which we know today as the Holy Bible!

     St. Paul - the great apostle - urges Timothy, "To preach the Word".  He was ordered to disregard any new theory, new concept, new curriculum or philosophy and preach only God's Word.  

    He said, "I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to preach the Word".  He must not dwell on fairy tales, endless genealogies, humanistic rationalism or the philosophies of men, but preach the Bible Word of God!

   Theories and philosophies often change but God’s Word – the Holy Scripture - stand firm forever! Traditions, customs, rituals and dogmas lose their impact as the years come and go, but the Holy Scripture is still as fresh and invigorating as the moment it was recorded, and is as up-to-date today in solving the problems of the human race as the day these divine, infallible truths fell from the lips of Almighty God!

  As time passes, many things devalue, become obsolete or lose it's worth, but God's Word is immutable, remains priceless and never varies as the centuries come and go.  We live in a changing, decaying and sinking world.   Yes, this world of ours is a dying world, but the gospel we herald brings life and the Word of God we preach is unshakable and immovable!

                       THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS

     To think that men and women of our generation have had the audacity to challenge and try to change God's own Holy Word is outrageous!   

    Who are these wise guys who think they know more than the prophets of old, who heard the mighty voice of God and felt the moving of His Spirit imparting Holy Scripture? (2 Pet. 1:21)  

    Who are these “arrogant twerps” that disregard the writings of men like Moses and early apostles? Do these modernists - Bishop Pike, Moderator Howse, Chaplain Smillee and others - know more than Jesus Christ, the Son of God?  Does their knowledge of spiritual things surpass the great spiritual knowledge of Martin Luther, Jan Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, D.L. Moody and William Booth?

     It is almost absurd, it seems to me, to attempt a comparison or even write in the same article about these holy men of God which I have just mentioned and  the alleged apostates referred to earlier.  The difference is as black to white and darkness to light!  

    All the Apostles, Church Fathers and Reformers believed the Bible to be the Divine Word of God. Their faith was unquestionably grounded in the truths of Holy Scripture, believing that in order to enter the Kingdom of God one must be born again by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!  Jesus said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. (John 3: 3)

    These Godly church leaders had a bedrock faith in the vicarious and efficacious atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. They understood that His sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension and imminent return will forever be an integral part of our eternal redemption and salvation! 

    I cannot believe that any of the ‘Modernists’ and apostates who have blasphemed God's Word by their sacrilegious actions have ever been born again or know what it means to have fellowship and communion with Jesus Christ (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17).
    In a Regina Leader Post report by Tom Jarvis titled, A Massive Irrelevancy, Rev. Ben Smillee, a United Church pastor and chaplain, ridiculed the Bible and Billy Graham!

     "The Toronto Telegram printed it in full, with a somewhat shocking headline in large type which speaks of: FUNDAMENTALIST BELIEF IN CLAY-MADE MAN, A FLOATING ZOO, AN AMPHIBIOUS-FOOTED JESUS, A SON OF GOD WHO WAS A HOME BREW ARTIST AND AN ASCENSION THAT LOOKS LIKE A CAPE KENNEDY BLAST-OFF."

  Have you heard of such sacrilege?  Have you heard anything more blasphemous?  And this statement was not articulated by an atheist or communist but by a prominent United Church Minister.  Does that man feel he knows more than the patriarchs, the prophets of old, the apostles who all believed the writings of Moses concerning the creation of all things by God, out of nothing? (Psalms 8:3; Isaiah 45:18).

     Does he presume to know more than Peter, Paul, Stephen or Philip, who preached the Word of God in the First Century?  Does that arrogant individual (Ps. 14:1) actually believe that he knows more than the early Church Fathers who ‘stood foursquare’ on God's Word?  And the many who died as martyrs', rather than deny the Holy Scriptures? 

     This article was carried by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, June 5, 1965, ‘Howse Says Literal Believer In Bible Lacks Understanding’: "The Moderator of the United Church of Canada says Christians who believe literally in all of the "metaphors and imageries" of the Bible exhibit "lack of understanding".  

    The Rt. Rev. Ernest Howse of Toronto, in an interview Thursday said that one of the most significant religious trends today is the movement away from "Medieval imagery and hypocrisy".  

   Dr. Howse, who had been in Banff for a meeting of the United Church's Alberta Conference, said people should not take literally such events as Christ's physical resurrection and the virginity of Mary.  

   The Moderator said the United Church's new curriculum which allows for liberal interpretation of the Bible, is "really nothing new at all".  There is nothing in the curriculum which was not accepted when I was in college 30 years ago.  "If people are shocked by it, then it is evident our ministers have not been adequately teaching their congregations."

             IS THE MODERATOR AN APOSTATE?

     In reality, he is saying that Jesus was ignorant, because He claimed to be the Son of God (John 20:17-19; 14:9) and that He would rise from the dead (John 2:19-21; Matt. 20:19). He ultimately ridicules Jesus, Who said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:7).

       These modernists deny the miracles in the Bible, calling them myths and allegories, but Jesus believed all of them!  They have categorized the event of Jonah and the great fish a myth, but Jesus believed and preached that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish that God had prepared. (Matt. 12:39-41).

    Some theologians believe that Moses did not write the first five books of the Old Testament, which we call the Pentateuch, but Jesus Christ Who was perfect and without sin (John 8:6) and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6) said: "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me:  for he wrote of Me.  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:46-47)

   WHOM SHALL WE BELIEVE? These "know it all, religion without salvation, wise guys" or the righteous, holy, pure, incarnate, resurrected Son of God, Who is the same yesterday, today and forever? 

   My friend, I will take my chances with Jesus! I stand squarely on God’s Word against apostasy, unbelief and modernism, and have the assurance that my salvation is secure, because my faith is not founded upon some unproven theory, new concept, new thought, new curriculum, philosophy or ideology! 

                   MY FAITH IS IN JESUS CHRIST!

     My faith is rock-solid in the divine, infallible, incorruptible Word of God and in Jesus Christ, the resurrected Saviour of the world, Redeemer and Only Potentate!

      St. Paul admonished Timothy to preach the Word and not deviate from the great truths of Holy Scripture.  I must admonish those reading these lines to stick to the great Bible truths of Christianity and not be deceived by smooth, silver-tongued theologians who have substituted man-made doctrines for the great doctrines of an eternal and Almighty God.  

     If you have erred because of these apostates, then repent and return to God and the Bible because our Saviour stated: "I am the way, the truth, and the  life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me". (John 14:6) Amen.

Pastor Max Solbrekken Prayed on Oct 26, 2006 . Jesus Gave Me New Knees. My Doctor said,  Call the Hospital. Cancel  the Operation! Rigmor Sund on Visjon Norge TV  June 3, 2012

                                 RIGMOR SUND, NORWAY

                 AMAZING MIRACLE, OCT 26, 2006

    After suffering excruciating pains and waiting for surgery for a long time, Rigmor Sund received replacements in both knees after prayer. Her doctor was overjoyed and said, “Call the Hospital immediately and cancel the operation.”

     Rigmor Sund’s testimony over Visjon Norge TV on June 3, 2012:

My surgery was scheduled for November 7, 2006 at the Hospital in Kristiansund. I lived in northern Norway but was staying in Eide which is 30 kilometers from Molde in Romsdal. When my knees began causing me excruciating pains, I was given an MRI which showed both knee caps were worn out and I needed complete replacements. Naturally, I was shocked because I had no desire for the operation. I could no longer drive the car and the pain was getting worse
                   I had two good Lutheran 
                 friends who encouraged me!    

    Then something wonderful happened. My friends told me that Max Solbrekken would be preaching in Molde on October 26 and that he prayed for the sick. My heart leaped within me with expectation. My friends said that would gladly drive me to the meeting.

     The meeting was anointed of God and when Max Solbrekken called for the sick to come forward, I answered the call. When he laid his hands upon me and prayed, I did not feel anything special happening there and then. And when we drove home we agreed it was a very fine meeting.

      I always dreaded getting into bed because of the pain I endured if I only moved myself a little. I had to use both my hands to lift my legs onto the bed, as I was unable to get into bed normally, and if I moved during the night the sharp pain of bone rubbing against bone would awaken me.
That night I slept till morning and when I awakened, I had brand new knees!

    I was able to walk, run up and down the steps, drive my car and kneel in prayer! I had been healed. Jesus had touched me and I was filled with joy. By Max Solbrekken’s prayer, the Lord had come into me with His healing power.

    I went immediately to see my doctor to tell him that I was healed and did not need the operation. All my medical reports are in a docket at the Hospital and I am as free as a bird!

     I praise God and thank His servant Max Solbrekken for his faithfulness in praying for me!!! My testimony went far and wide for Jesus in EIDE and district, but I was unable to contact Max Solbrekken until I saw him on Visjon Norge TV on May 31, 2012. I attended his crusade and told him the news. How I thank JESUS for His miracle for me and His sacrifice on the cross for us all! Amen.

                 v  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       GOD’S PROMISES ARE AVAILABLE!

                      By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

        President Abraham Lincoln said, “Believing everyone is dangerous but believing no-one is very dangerous.”  One of the greatest problems some people have is TRUST. It seems like doubts are inbred into the human psyche. Although some are gullible and believe anything or anybody, many others struggle with the doubt factor. As believers in Jesus Christ, we move out of the human sense realm into the spiritual arena of faith in the Eternal God and His unchanging Word, amazing Grace and Eternal Life!

    The Bible says: “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of a man that He should repent (change): hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?” (Num.23:19).

     To become a Christian, one must believe the Holy Scriptures are true. We must believe that God sent His only begotten Son into this world to atone for our sins. We must believe that our Heavenly Father accepted the vicarious death of Jesus Christ as a propitiation for our sins. We must believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead for our justification! (Rom. 3: 25; I John 2:2; 4:10)

     “Now it was not written for 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 offenses, and raised again for our justification.” (Rom. 4: 23-25)

      Jesus said: “If thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:23, 24)

     Repeatedly, Jesus spoke about the importance of believing the Word of God and that He was the Son of God and the Jewish Messiah which was prophesied should come! Speaking to Philip, Jesus said: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.

    “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do also; because I go unto My Father.” (John 14: 10-12)

            WHATSOEVER YE ASK IN MY NAME!

    JESUS SAID: “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. If ye love Me keep y commandments.

     “And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth: whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.” (John 14: 13-20)

     “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

     “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might, He increaseth strength…But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40: 28-31)

       God’s promises are still available today because He is still available. He is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Matt.11:28). He invites: “Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is. 1: 18);

     “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.

    “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

    “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher that your thoughts.

      “So shall My Word be that goeth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where unto I sent it.” (Is. 55: 1: 6,7-11)

     “Bless the Lord: O my soul: and all that it is within Me, 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; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth  thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who  satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is  renewed  like the eagles.” (Psalm 103:1-5)   

                   BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED!

     The Bible states: “Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (kholee, heb), and carried our pains (makob-heb): 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 every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.

     “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise  Him: He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for SIN, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.” (Is. 3: 4-11)

      The Son of God was incarnated (God in human flesh) and shed His pure and sinless BLOOD on the cross to redeem a lost world that had rejected God. He took our place on the cross as our Substitute, died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification! Glory to His Holy and matchless Name!

     Almighty God saw the untold sufferings and pains that Jesus bore for us and He was satisfied that His only begotten Son had met the righteous demands of Divine Justice and fully atoned for the sins of sinful mankind, past, present and future!

        SALVATION THROUGH JESUS’ BLOOD!

     In His great Mercy, Almighty God bared His mighty arm to save, redeem and deliver us from the power of Satan, sin, fear, sickness and disease. Through His abundant Grace, our Heavenly Father reached out with Love and Compassion to sinful mankind by giving His only begotten Son as His paschal Lamb to atone for our sins, by the offering of Himself.

    Through His vicarious death on the Cross and glorious resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of the Coming Redeemer! This prophecy referred to Christ’s victory over Satan, which God delivered to the devil, after the sin and fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

    “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and Her SEED; It (seed of the woman) shall bruise (crush) thy Head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” (Gen. 3:15). God promised to send the Deliverer to Destroy Satan’s power. The Deliverer would be born of a VIRGIN, meaning that God would send own His Son, incarnated (God in human flesh). In the battle the Deliverer’s heel would be bruised, referring to Christ’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection.

     “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a SIGN: behold, a VIRGIN shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9: 6)

     The child is born but the Son is given. The Son was not born because He was God’s Son from Eternity, who was incarnated to be the Saviour of the World through His virgin birth, atoning death and glorious resurrection from the dead!

                      JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE!

     Our Saviour said: “The thief (Satan) cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that ye might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10): “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die…” (John 11: 2, 26)

     “And Jesus said unto them, I AM the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me, I will in wise cast out. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

    “No man can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Verily, verily I say unto you. He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life, I am the Bread of Life.

     “I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.

     “Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in Him.

    “He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in Him. As the Living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so He that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from Heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna   and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.” (John 6: 35-58)

                 JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE!

     What did Jesus mean by these statements? He was declaring that He was the answer to all their physical and spiritual needs because He was their promised Messiah.

     He was giving His flesh to be beaten, scourged and crucified for the Healing of our physical bodies and His blood for the forgiveness of our sins!  On the eve of His crucifixion Jesus ordained the Holy Communion Service:

     “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and break it and gave it to His disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take eat; This is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is My BLOOD of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26: 26-28)

     St. Paul wrote: “For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.

    “After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new Testament in My Blood: this do ye, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.

      “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine Himself, so let him eat of that  bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (1 Cor.11: 23-29)

                     WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

     The Roman Catholic Church teaches the doctrine of transubstantiation, which means:  "the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood.”  This of course, is wrong. If you were to put the bread under a microscope after the priest had gone through his ritual of turning it into flesh, it would still be bread.

     They have used a purely spiritual procedure and turned it into nothing! The doctrine of transubstantiation is a Roman Catholic man-made doctrine. The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion is a sacrament.

      When we partake of the wine (cup) we receive by faith what His blood has done in forgiving our sins. It is a witness to the truth that Jesus Christ shed His perfect and holy Blood for our Redemption. The bread represents the body of Christ that was beaten and scourged for the healing of our bodies. We receive the emblems of Christ’s broken body and shed blood by faith in Him! Hallelujah!

                GOD HAS GREAT COMPASSION!

  With great anticipation our Lord waits for our cry for Help! He desires to fellowship with us and answer our prayers. He wants to help us! He is filled with compassion to meet the needs of His children!

     Jesus said: “Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28, 29)

     Wherever there are troubles, problems and difficulties, you will find Jesus Christ forgiving, restoring and healing. He is the Great Physician and Healer of broken hearts, wounded spirits, and weak, diseased bodies!

     “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias he prophet, saying, Himself took out 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 were healed.” (1 Peter 2: 24)

     The old Gospel Song says, ‘Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus. He’s the only one who cares and understands. Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him, and you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands!’

    In the Holy Scriptures we see Him being moved by Compassion: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was Moved with Compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt.9: 35, 36)

       POWER, LOVE & A SOUND MIND!

      God has three wonderful gifts for each of us who love His Son! The Bible states: “For God hath not given us the spirit of Fear, but of Power and Love and a Sound Mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7).

     FEAR is an evil spirit that Satan uses to steal, kill and destroy! He works in the world of darkness, killing and thievery. He is the world’s greatest Thief. He steals peace and joy and health from people that he torments. He is a Tormenter extra ordinaire. He binds his victims with lies, distortion, unrealities and painful sicknesses and diseases.

     He is, however, no match for our wonderful Jesus Christ, who has stripped him and decimated his kingdom, exposing him and binding his power! The Bible states:

    “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) also Himself likewise  took part of the same; that through Death He might Destroy him (Satan) who had the power of death, that is the Devil; and Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetimes, subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2: 14, 15)

     Christ’s vicarious, substitutionary death on Golgotha has stripped the devil of his power to run roughshod over believers in Christ. The Bible says: “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will FLEE from you.” (James 4:7).

      For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind! God has given us power over the devil, sin, sickness, fear and all evil!

       JESUS said: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 18, 19)

      Jesus has given us the POWER of God’s Word: “It is written” defeated the devil in Jesus’ wilderness temptation. His Word still works today to defeat and destroy Satan’s Evil work. The POWER of Jesus’ precious Blood cripples the Enemy! Demons scream in fear when the Blood of Jesus Christ is applied and used against them.

     The POWER of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God and works miracles when used in conjunction with the Word of God. The Bible says: “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)

     The Second gift that God has given us is LOVE! God is love. We have God’s love because His gifts operate by love. We have God’s love because we have Jesus and the Holy Spirit, therefore God fills our hearts with gratefulness to Him.

     With His great love comes His Peace that floods our souls and flows over to others. The Third gift He has given us is a SOUND MIND, which is the mind of Christ! The Bible states: “Let this Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2: 5). The mind of Christ is a Pure mind, a Righteous mind thinking godly thoughts, an Honest mind and a Compassionate and a settled, Clear- thinking mind!

     “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1: 4)

     “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12: 1,2)

   Our prayer should be: ‘Cleanse me O Lord and give me the Mind of Christ and the Faith of God to always do Thy will and be a blessing to my fellowman’. Amen.

                                   Prepare to

Meet thy God!
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

           

       Prepare to meet thy God! This was the admonition that Prophet Amos thundered out in his day. God’s people had backslidden, corrupted themselves and forsaken the true and living way.

They had gone after the strange gods of the heathen, and were worshipping at the altars of pagan idols. They had forgotten how gracious the Lord is and had turned their backs on Him!

AMOS was a prophet who had not corrupted himself as others had done. God had a vessel He could use - a mouthpiece with which to warn and admonish His people of coming judgment for sin, and forgiveness for those who would repent! God’s message to the people then is the same as now: “Prepare to Meet Thy God”!

One day every living soul will stand before God and give an account of his or her life! The Bible says: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor.6: 10,11,17,18)

In a T.V interview, Billy Graham revealed that during a recent bout of illness he thought he was going to die. When he realized that he would meet God - face to face - he began to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for any sins of commission or omission of which he was guilty! He kept saying: “I should have studied more. I should have prayed more!”

Recently, Oral Roberts told of a vision he had just received from the Lord. He was walking down a road, when he saw a dark cloud over America and God told him that judgment was going to fall upon that nation. The Lord told him that preachers were not preaching the gospel.

       God wants preachers to get back to the Bible and “preach the gospel!” Oral Roberts then revealed the conviction that gripped him as God made him aware that time was short and that Jesus would soon return! He said: “I tried to remember the last time I preached on the Second Coming of Christ and I couldn’t remember.” He repented and asked God’s forgiveness. The “Man of God’ repeated: ‘Preachers, get the fire of God in your bellies and preach the gospel!”

THE BOOK OF LIFE TO BE OPENED!

     “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

     “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books

were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire

     “This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:11-15)   

      The Bible says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27). The ‘Message of the Prophets’ was always the same. It was two-fold: Man must repent to receive mercy and forgiveness or reject God’s Way and be judged. It was a message of mercy and judgment!

       IT IS THE SAME TODAY! God has not changed, but many of ‘today’s preachers’ have compromised and are not preaching THE WHOLE TRUTH because of FEAR. They lack the boldness, courage and faith to stand up and tell it like it is! ‘Easy believe-ism’ doesn’t make any room for repentance!

      JOHN WESLEY  - founder of the Methodist Church - whose Ministry is credited with turning England back to God and saving that nation from the same fate as that which befell France in the ungodly, brutal and bloody French Revolution, stated: "I must preach law before I preach grace."

What did he mean? In order for people to realize that they need God's FORGIVENESS, they must be convicted of their sins! And how does that take place? In several ways: God can arbitrarily speak to people by His Holy Spirit in answer to the fervent prayers of relatives or other concerned Christians!

MESSAGE ON BUS SEAT BENCHES!

       Usually, however, sinners are convicted through the anointed preaching of God's Word. Millions of people are saved today because of the powerful preaching of anointed Spirit-filled men and women of God, who have refused to compromise their message!

In 1970, Edmonton Transit bus driver, Eric Dykstra and his entire family were converted to Christ because of the dozens of bus seat benches which carried our advertisement with the clear-cut message: ‘Get Right With God!’

In a letter dated May 8, 2002, about five weeks before his death, Eric wrote: "It has been 32 years almost to the day that I accepted the Lord's saving message as preached by you that Wednesday evening at the Edmonton Revival Centre. That was May 6, 1970.

"After you laid your hands on me and my family, the roof of the old theatre didn't split open for angels to descend, but I received a depth of peace in my inner being I had never before experienced. Without realizing it, we stood at the jump-off point of an exciting brand new phase of our lives.

"Our kids all believe in their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (One is even an M. Div and pastored for five years). Our grandchildren are taught the Word and the ways of the Lord Creator, at home and at their respective churches. Your faithfulness to God and perseverance in your Ministry has brought wonderful blessings to countless families around the globe!

"I have at times speculated what would have happened if in the late 60s all these messages, 'Get Right With God!' hadn't been scattered throughout the city by way of bus stop benches. Driving my routes and spotting those ads repeatedly gave me opportunity to meditate on their meaning!"

Eric’s last wish was that since I was the one who brought him into the kingdom of God through the ‘message of the cross’, it would be appropriate that I should close the last chapter of his life by officiating at his funeral!

In the packed Highlands Baptist Church, his family members related the story of his wonderful conversion and his godly life thereafter. And by the grace of God, I had another privilege of presenting the claims of Christ once more!

DR. OSWALD SMITH SPEAKS OUT!

In his book 'The Fire of God' (1948), the man that Billy Graham called, "one of the world's greatest Missionary Statesmen" wrote:  "In my study of revival and evangelism I have discovered that those most mightily used of God always majored on five subjects.

“These five subjects inevitably produced conviction. First, sin and salvation, then heaven and hell, finally judgment! You see, a great many messages must necessarily be given on sin for sin to be exposed if there is to be genuine conviction!"

       Dr. Oswald Smith states: "When I was converted in the year 1906 in the great Torrey-Alexander campaign which was held in Massey Hall, Toronto, I noticed, as I walked along the streets or through the stores, or rode in the street cars, thousands of little white cards, one inch wide and six inches long. On both sides these four words were printed in bright red type, "Get Right With God."

"It made no difference which way the card fell, the message was always there! As a result, thousands were convicted. So many tens of thousands of these little white cards had been distributed that it was impossible to get away from them. Everybody saw them. They were lying about on every side and those four little words preached a sermon that could never be forgotten."

I remember hearing Oral Roberts - while in his prime - speaking on the sin of compromising the truth. In his anointed message, the man who won ten million souls to God and brought the healing power of God to our generation thundered out these words: "I hate compromisers!"

I’m sure that Oral Roberts meant that he hated the SIN of COMPROMISE rather than those who compromise, in the same way as Jesus stated: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans (an heretical cult), which thing I hate.” (Rev.2: 4)

Some say: “I don’t preach from the Old Testament prophets”, others reject the epistles of St. Paul or the letters of St. John because of the strong disciplinary messages they bring! They only preach the saving grace of Jesus Christ, but have forgotten that our Lord Himself warned strongly against sin and sin’s corrupting and damning influence!

Here is what He said: “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” (Rev.2: 6,15,16).

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Rev. 2: 20 -23).

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD!

Jude, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and brother of James writes: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

     “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before ordained unto this condemnation, ungodly men, TURNING THE GRACE OF GOD INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward DESTROYED THEM WHICH BELIEVED NOT. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, HE HATH RESERVED IN EVERLASTING CHAINS OF DARKNESS unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 3-6).

        And MICAH prophesied against the backsliding preachers, who had been bought off and corrupted by worldly minded and sinful people around them, which caused them to prophesy only what the people wanted to hear: “But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgment and might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin”. (Micah 3:8)

God is very merciful and will forgive all who come to Him in humility, desiring forgiveness and salvation (John 6:37; 3:16), but He also is a God of judgment and justice!

The Bible says, “I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments”. (Ex. 20:5-6)

The Bible says: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit real life everlasting.” (Gal.6: 7, 8)   

Remember my friend, you reap what you sow and be sure your sin will find you out (Jonah 1:7). And don’t forget “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Sin must be paid for, if it isn’t repented of (turned from), and “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Rom. 6:23)

We are living in a day when preachers have given in to 'political correctness' and the 'seeker sensitive' philosophy, so that there is no longer any conviction of sin! It's easy to get swayed by great crowds who applaud a "God loves you" message, with no demand for a new lifestyle! But, the Bible says: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things become new." (2 Cor.5:17).

IN MY CRUSADES AROUND THE WORLD, I have noticed that multitudes delight in repeating the sinner's prayer and receiving physical healing, but only a small segment desire to make Jesus their Lord and forsake their idols and leave their pagan beliefs. If a preacher, therefore, isn't clear on God's hatred for sin and idolatry, he leaves them in a very precarious position!

The Evangelist goes away with pictures of the great crowds, but the missionaries and pastors have a difficult time, to make disciples out of them, unless the messages they heard were empowered with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, causing genuine repentance and the ‘fear of the Lord’!

JESUS WARNED PREACHERS!

Our Lord Jesus Christ emphasized: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." (Matt. 23:15).

He said: "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me: and him that cometh to Me I will in wise cast out." (John 6: 37).  He also stated: "... but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 3: 13).

I remember preaching in Wetaskiwin, Alberta in 1962. The pastor of the Full Gospel Church was a man of faith and a strong advocate of the ‘eternal security’ doctrine!

Donna and I stayed overnight in the manse and while having a snack with them, he was eager to debate the merits of that teaching. Being a guest in their home, I sought to side-step a verbal debate. He was a gentleman and declared that there would be no hard feelings, if I disagreed with him! He stated that Judas had been “a devil from the beginning” and was not a believer, and therefore could not have fallen from grace!

I quoted the Bible: “For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.” (Acts 1:17); “…That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” (Acts 1:24, 25).

I also shared the Scripture: “And after the sop, Satan entered into him.” (John 13:27). He countered that the Bible says: “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil.” (John 6: 70). Then, I asked him: “Can a devil cast out a devil?” He answered, “Certainly not!” I concurred that our Lord Jesus Christ stated, that it is impossible for the devil to cast out a devil or he would make an end of himself! (Mark 3: 22-26)

THEN, I DROPPED THIS BOMBSHELL!

“And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits: And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6: 7, 12,13)         

Was Judas one of the twelve apostles to whom Jesus gave the power to cast out devils and heal the sick? Yes, He was! The Bible says: “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 disease.

“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon…and Andrew his brother…and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” (Matt.10: 1, 7,8)

That pastor then turned to me and said: “You are right!” He clearly indicated that his teaching was spurious! I asked him point blank: “What are you going to do about it?” He stated that he did not know! I wondered if he would begin preaching the truth! Sadly, some time later I heard that he had started a new church in Calgary and was preaching: ‘Ultimate Reconciliation & Restoration of all Things’- which is diametrically opposed to the Holy Scriptures:  Everyone - including the devil - will be saved and restored!

         PASTOR SAYS ‘THERE IS NO HELL’!

      During a Mission in Norway a number of years ago, I was watching the National news and saw an interview that made my heart sick. A leading Swedish Pentecostal pastor - in whose former church I had preached - was being interviewed by the News Media. He stated that he no longer believed in the existence of Hell!

He was asked: “What about Adolf Hitler? What would be done with him?” His answer was: “He might have to walk barefoot on a rocky road for some kilometres, to atone for his sins”! The same demon that convinced Adam and Eve that God didn’t mean what He said, had apparently convinced that preacher that he knew more than God about Hell! What was the devil’s lie? It was the damnable teaching of ‘Ultimate Reconciliation & Restoration of All Things’!

     That pastor didn’t change his doctrine instantly. He had been listening to the wrong voice for a considerable time, before it overtook him completely!

I am saddened, when I hear that a preacher has suddenly opted for a doctrine which negates a certain portion of Holy Scripture, in changing the laws and structure used by the Almighty in His great plan of salvation! The immediate effect of tampering with God’s Word, makes the “Cross of Christ of no effect”, because the wisdom of man – which is foolishness to God – has usurped God’s profound and perfect wisdom!

     If a ‘man of God’ changes his message to please the world, flesh or the devil, that is a sure sign that he is heading in the wrong direction! It is true that God has given us the ‘ministry of reconciliation’, but there are no short cuts! God makes certain demands on all of us, and the first is that “we fear and love God”, as anyone who has studied Martin Luther’s Catechism would have learned at a young age!

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

As the Word of God reaches sinful man, conviction grips his heart and repentance (godly sorrow for sin) births within him a holy reverence for God! As that sinner cries out to Almighty God for mercy and forgiveness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is an explosion of Heavenly love. The Holy Spirit and the Word join together in a holy union and Christ is formed within him!

     And as the blood of Jesus is applied to that seeking soul, the joy and peace that only God can give fills his spirit, soul and mind! Hallelujah!

     St. Paul warned: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

      “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13: 11-14)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror (wrath) of God, we persuade men..." (2 Cor. 5:10-11)

The great Apostle admonished: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick (living) and dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4: 1-2)

MY MESSAGE TO BISHOP ÅRFLOT!

 While in Norway a number of years ago, I read about an interview a newspaper journalist had with the leading bishop of Norway’s Lutheran State Church, regarding ordaining homosexual priests into the Ministry!

 I was shocked to learn of his perverted view. He stated: “I cannot find any clear direction in the Bible about homosexuality!” In my interview on TV, I was asked to comment on his position.

I said: “Bishop Årflot, if you need new glasses, I will gladly buy you a pair of glasses. If you need a Bible, I will buy you a Bible. If you need theological training, I will pay your fare to Canada and all your expenses at a Pentecostal Bible College, so that you will know what the Bible teaches.”

He didn’t accept my offer. I didn’t hear from him! Too bad! I am wearied and disgusted by ‘men of the cloth’ who blatantly disregard the Word of God to preach their own warped and confused theories, philosophies and sickening views!

How dare they cherry-pick which part of God’s Word that they will believe and which part they will disregard and throw out? Without doubt, they are apostates and cultists!

You may be able to fool your husband, wife, friends or even the preacher, but you cannot fool God. He knows all about you, and if you reject Him as your Saviour, He will be your Judge on that day. (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20: 10–15).

Listen to the words of invitation given by our blessed Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ: “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. (Matt. 11:28)  

Do not turn a deaf ear to His great offer of Salvation and blessing, but believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today, my friend! Receive Him into your heart by faith, repent and turn away from your sins, and you will receive the gift of Eternal Life. Do not delay, but call out to the Lord for mercy now!

Here is His personal promise to us all: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).   Amen.