THE DEVIL IS A LIAR:
GOD'S WORD IS TRUE
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
During our 1966 Gospel Crusade at the Gandhi Park, Guntur, AP, India, I heard a voice saying, “My son, you are helping to fulfill My Word.” No-one was speaking to me, so I asked: “Is this You, Lord? The words were repeated. In astonishment I said, “How could I a young preacher from Canada help fulfill Your Word?” He said, “Ask, Brother Vandenam how many people in this crowd have never heard the Name of Jesus Christ before.” When I asked Brother Vandenam that question, he replied, “About 95 % of this large crowd have never once heard the name of Jesus Christ before!”
The Lord directed me to read Isaiah 45:5,6: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me; I girded thee thou hast not known Me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord and there is none else.” Then I understood, that God wanted His Gospel preached with Signs following to all people everywhere, and by His grace I had been called to be a part of that number!
CHRIST MADE SALVATION POSSIBLE!
A pastor was in his little home office on a Saturday with two things on his mind, while his wife was at a Women's Meeting. Preparing his Sunday sermon while looking after his six -year - old son was always a tough call. After giving him colouring books and other games to keep him busy, he finally came up with a winner to keep him busy for a half hour.
He dug out an old magazine with a large picture of the globe on the Front Cover. With his son watching, he cut it up into numerous pieces. He gave him glue, saying, “Son you're a clever boy. Put the world back together.” Five minutes later his son was back, saying, “I did it, Dad.” The pastor said, “I can't believe it. How did you do it?” His son replied, “I've looked through that magazine before and saw that on the inside cover was a picture of a man, so I put the man back together and the world came back together.”
When the man is converted, the world will be changed. The Bible says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5: 17); “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I but Christ liveth in Me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for Me.” (Gal. 2: 20)
WITHOUT HIM I CAN DO NOTHING!
The Lord says: “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Is.45: 22-23)
The Lord gives us the answer to all our dilemmas, difficulties and problems. He is the Answer. Look to Him. He answers prayer. He has all knowledge and wisdom and health because He is knowledge and wisdom and health. He imparts love and grace and power because He is Love, Grace and Power!
When everything has failed, your world has fallen apart and all hope is gone, here is the unvarnished Truth: The Word of God is True and the Devil is a Liar! That is an indisputable fact. You can build your life on that foundation! If you enjoy being lied to, taken advantage of and destroyed, follow the Devil! If you want the truth, peace, forgiveness and healing, follow Jesus Christ.
If you want to spend Eternity in torment, regret and fear in Hell, follow the Liar, Satan. If you want to live eternally in a place of peace, joy and love in Heaven, follow the Author of Eternal Salvation, Jesus Christ who purchased your salvation through His vicarious death on the cross and His glorious resurrection!
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!
Jesus Christ called the Devil a Liar and He was spot on. He uncovered the masquerader, pulled back the curtain and let us see the naked truth about world's most wicked slanderer, thief, and mass murderer! The Holy Bible details the fall of Lucifer, his ejection from Heaven, as well as his eternal abode in the Lake of Fire!
“How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations? For thou hast said in thine heart, I WILL ascend into heaven. I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of God: I WILL sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL be like the most High.
“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
GOD SAID: THOU HAST SINNED!
“And
thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the
mountain of God and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the
“Thou wast perfect in all thy ways from the day that thou wast created, til iniquity was found in thee. Thine heart wast lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground O covering angel. I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” (Ezek. 28:13-17). Satan is called the 'cosmic liar' because he operates in both earth and atmosphere. He is the prince of the power of the air and the god of this world.
St. Paul says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of the disobedience.” (Eph. 2: 2); “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4; 3,4).
MANY ARE BLINDED BY SATAN!
Bereft of eyesight is a serious loss, but even worse is losing your sense of right and wrong, deceived about sin and salvation, God and the Devil, Heaven and Hell! The Bible states that Satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds of unbelievers. No wonder so many fall for his lies and are readily willing to reject Christ and His Gospel.
That is why St. James states: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (Jame 4: 7,8,10).
St. Peter writes; “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:6-9)
The Bible says: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Is. 41: 10). Jesus promised: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27)
SATAN: LIAR, THIEF & MURDERER!
The Holy Bible states: “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you. I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the DOOR: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be SAVED, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief (Satan) cometh not but for to Steal, and to Kill, and to Destroy; I am come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10: 7-11)
It may come as a surprise to many sinners and unbelievers, that their decision to reject the Gospel of Christ and continue obeying the lust of the flesh and the pride of life is not their decision at all, but they are obeying the promptings of Satan himself. They are not 'their own man' at all, but they are Satan's little puppet, following his evil intrigue! They are blinded by the Deceiver!
JESUS said: “Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a Murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a Liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
St. Paul says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high place. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.” (Eph. 6: 12,13)
LUCIFER CAST OUT OF HEAVEN!
On the Island of Patmos, the Lord gave St. John numerous prophetic visions which are recorded in the Book of Revelation! Some have been fulfilled. Others are being fulfilled as we near the final stages. Antichrist powers are becoming more aggressive against the Church as Satan knows his time is short and will fight to the bitter end. His reservation for eternity in the LAKE OF FIRE cannot be altered!
The Bible states: “And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven.
“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the Accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye Heavens, and ye that live in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that He but a short time.” (Rev. 12: 7-12)
JESUS SAW SATAN FALL!
The Bible states: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 17-19)
This is one of the most victorious and joyful Scriptures coming from our Saviour. It was first hand information of Lucifer's Defeat, as the Archangel Michael and his angels cast him unceremoniously to the earth. And God the Son, Jesus Christ, witnessed it all and related it to His disciples with this statement:
“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. Not withstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather that your names are written in Heaven.” (Luke 10: 19-20). Jesus stated that His disciples have power to cast out unclean spirits from their victims! They should not be surprised that evil spirits obey them, when they speak in His Name!
“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes: even so it seemed good in Thy sight.” (Luke 10: 21). Jesus was overcome with joy and spun around, (gr.agalliao) rejoicing in the spirit, thanking His Heavenly Father!
The Great Commission states: “Go ye into 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)
PURPOSE FOR THE INCARNATION!
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have Redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
“For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
“And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all Fullness dwell; And having made peace through the BLOOD of His CROSS, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.” (Col.1:12-20)
SAVED BY GOD'S GRACE!
Almighty God saved us all from the powers of darkness through His Son's vicarious death for the sins of the world and His glorious resurrection! He came to earth to redeem sinful man and make us members of the Body of Christ! Through His great mercy and grace, He has adopted us as His sons. He came to glorify His Father and make Him our Father also!
“But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a Son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal. 4:4-7)
The Holy Bible states: “And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched Him whether He would heal on the sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
“And He saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath day, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when He had looked about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored whole as the other.
GOD ANOINTED JESUS CHRIST!
“And He spake to His disciples, that a small ship should wait on Him because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him. For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And He straightly charged them that they should not make Him known.” (Mark 3: 1-12)
“And they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew Him, and ran through the whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was. And whither soever He entered into villages or cities country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment and as many as touched Him were made whole.” (Mark 6: 54-56)
St. Peter declared: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38). This great witness given by Simon Peter about the Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of our Lord Jesus, summed up God's will about making people well, whose lives had been harmed by the Devil!
There are many reasons why honest, Spirit-filled Christians believe that Divine Healing should be a common practice today. The Ministry of Jesus Christ with Miracles of Healing and deliverance from demon powers is evidence enough. And secondly, everything Jesus did was according to the Will of His Father and for His glory alone!
Our Lord said: “I can of Mine own self do nothing: As I hear I judge. And My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” (John 6:30); “And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things the please Him.” (John 8: 29)
IS ANY SICK AMONG YOU?
The Holy Bible states: “Is any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the Prayer of Faith shall save the Sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5: 14, 15).
Serious Bible Scholars should agree that Divine Healing by the wounds of Christ is also a Sacrament, as well as Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Divine healing is also found in the 1 Cor. 19:16: “... The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”
TO DESTROY SATAN'S WORKS!
“He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3: 8).
As I see it, the works of the devil are these: sin, fear, sickness, disease and death, poverty and demons! He forgave sinners, brought peace to the troubled, healed the sick and diseased, raised the dead, ministered to the hungry and cast out demons from those who were tormented! His vicarious death and resurrection brought forgiveness, healing, restoration and eternal life to those who believe!
TO SET THEM AT LIBERTY!
“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 them that are bruised.” (Luke 4: 18)
TO BEAR THE CURSE OF THE LAW!
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal. 3: 13, 14; Duet.28:61)
TO HEAL ALL THAT ARE OPPRESSED!
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and Power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.” (Act 10: 38); “Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (heb.kholle), and carried our pains (heb.makob): 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 on 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, andasa sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” (Is. 53: 4-7)
TO DESTROY SATAN PERSONALLY!
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed: It (Christ) shall bruise (crush) thy head (kill), and thou (Devil) bruise His (Christ) heel (He resurrection) .” (Gen.3:15);
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself 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)
TO SAVE SINNERS THROUGH HIS VICARIOUS DEATH!
“For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10); “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 very knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 5-11)
TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER!
“I can of Mine own self do nothing: As I hear I judge. And My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” (John 6:30); “And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things the please Him.” (John 8: 29; Heb. 10:9)
TO FILL BELIEVERS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; een the Spirit of Truth: when the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not; neither knoweth Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come unto you.”
TO BUILD HIS CHURCH!
“And He (Christ) is the head of the church: Who us the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence . For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell. And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven. And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through Death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.” (Col. 1:18-22)
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Tim.3:15)
“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that 1 am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona (son of Jona); for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father in heaven.” ( Matt.16:15-17). Here Jesus laid out the confession everyone must make to be saved and become a child of God. It was revealed to Simon the son of Jonas!
Martha made this same confession: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead yet shall he live. Believest thou this? She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (John 11: 25-27).
The Samaritan woman confessed Jesus as Christ: “The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He....Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: Is not this the Christ?” (John 4: 25-29)
St. Paul writes to the church: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph.3:17-21)
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye gave not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye ave received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 14-17)
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John 1-3)
JESUS CHANGED MY LIFE!
Ever since a little boy I have had a holy awe in my heart for Jesus of Nazareth. He is the greatest hero that ever lived, and in His death He out-shined them all. His descent from Heaven to liberate sinful man was downright majestic. He who was true God from Eternity together with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, came to earth, to be incarnated, born of the Virgin Mary, as true man.
The great King of all ages saw the wretched condition of His creation, and made the journey from Heaven to earth to defeat the Evil, lying and hate-filled Satan who was holding mankind hostage! Through His vicarious death on the cross for us all, Jesus Christ defeated the Evil One, the Prince of Darkness to free us all! Our Saviour paid the ransom price to meet the righteous Demands of Divine Justice in the Courts of Heaven, to atone for the sins of us all!
Through His great love and grace, Jesus Christ defeated the most wicked and sinister of them all, the Devil, the scum of all criminality, the foul stench of the universe, the rot of all corrupt lying perverts! Jesus of Nazareth defeated him in the wilderness temptation, during His amazing earthly ministry, healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, casting out foul demons, feeding the multitudes, raising the dead and saving the world through His crucifixion and death on the cross!
It is impossible to describe His victorious resurrection from the dead and establishing His Kingdom in the hearts and lives of multitudes who make up His Bride, the body of Christ, the Church! Glory, honour and praise be unto Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Saviour of the world, conquorer Satan, death, hell and Liberator of Mankind! Amen.
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present, evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Gal.1:3,4)
