HOW TO TOUCH GOD'S HEART
TO SEND A BIBLE REVIVAL!
QUESTIONS ALL CHRISTIANS MUST ANSWER
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D,D.
Here are a number of questions that we must ask ourselves, before we can expect to see God pour out His Spirit in our churches and across the nation. John Wesley stated that God does nothing except by prayer and everything by it!
1. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE AWFULNESS OF SIN?
Sin is hurtful. It is divisive and destructive. It is the enemy of God and man. It is an affront to God's authority and a transgression of His righteous laws. It is perversion in its highest form. Sin is the creation of satanic origin and the fruit of disobedience and rebellion. It is diabolical at its roots, a stench in God's nostrils and an abomination in His sight.
In 'Sin an Ugly Three-letter Word', I quote from famed psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger's book, Whatever Became of Sin? He describes the subject as 'a transgression of the law of God, disobedience of the divine will; moral failure...Sin has a defiant, or disloyal quality; someone is defiled or offended or hurt'.
Sin brought fear into the world: “And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him: Where art thou? And he said, I heard Thy voice in the Garden and I was afraid, because I was naked and I hid myself.” (Gen.3:3: 9). Fear was unknown before 'The Fall'. Fear is a crippling thing and unknown in Heaven.
Sin brought death to the human race. God spoke to Adam after his sin of high treason: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3: 19).
Sin separated God from man: “Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of tree of life.” (Gen. 3: 24, 25)
Sin brought murder into the human family: “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (Gen. 4: 8)
Sin brings condemnation, guilt and fear. It brings sickness, sorrow, death and war: With sin came also unbelief, condemnation, oppression, fear, hatred, and pain. “The Bible says: “For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness, what fruit had ye then in those things ye whereof ye are now ashamed?
“For the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from Sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6: 20 -23)
Sin brings separation between families, loved ones and friends for time and eternity: Sin causes infidelity, adultery, divorce which tears families apart. It causes break-up of the home, depression, fears, anger and sometimes suicides and murder! Sin separates loved ones here on earth and also in eternity.
Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour receive eternal life, and those who do not are lost forever separated from Christ and their loved ones.
“Then shall He say unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go way into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25: 41, 46)
2. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE AWFUL COST OF SALVATION?
The world was lost in sin, fear, torment and eternal death. Satan the enemy of God and man had perverted the human race with his lies about the Creator, Almighty God. He had tried to subvert the angels in Heaven with his deception. (Is.14:12-17; Ezek.28:12:17; Rev. 12: 7-9)
The Sovereignty of God demanded punishment for SIN and the Cross provided the Final Solution! For a time God winked at or overlooked sin in His great mercy and kindness by allowing the sacrifice of innocent animals, lambs, goats and bullocks (occasionally a red heifer) to suffice. When the fullness of time had come, Almighty God, our Heavenly Father gave Himself in His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The word propitiation means the covering, mercy seat, satisfaction and expiation. Jesus of Nazareth, the only perfect, righteous One had to die to cover and remove our sins to satisfy the righteous demands of Divine Justice!
On the Day of Atonement, a cry was made from Jewish Synagogues confessing their need of a Sinless One who would be able to atone for them. Year after year, the Cry from the Synagogue was made, but there was no Messiah to answer their call.
“And still the Cry of the Synagogue comes to us through the many centuries of past unbelief and ignorance: “Let One Innocent come and make atonement for the guilty!” to which no other response can ever be made than that of the apostle: “Such an high priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the Heavens.” - Alfred Edersheim, 'The Temple, in Ministry & Service'
Year after year, the Cry from the Synagogue was made, but there was no Messiah to answer their call. Then, John the Baptist announced: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am unworthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” (Matt.3:11); “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)
RASHI, a well-known and respected Medieval Jewish Commentator said: “I see the paschal blood and propitiate you. I mercifully take pity on you by the means of the pascal blood and the blood of circumcision, and I propitiate your souls. (Ex.R.15, 356, 35a). Rabbi Abraham ibn Era also links the Passover with the Atonement: “The mark of blood was designed as an atonement for those within the house who partook of the paschal offering, and was also a sign for the destroying angel to pass by the house.” (Socino Chumash, p 388)
St. Paul declared: “But we see JESUS, Who was made a little lower that the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with Glory and honour; that He by the Grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb.2: 9);
He has purchased Eternal Life for all who will receive Him as their Lord and Saviour! The Bible says: “And He (Jesus Christ) is the propitiation (God is satisfied with Christ's Sacrifice) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)
That takes in everyone from all the nations of the world, including the Mohammedans, Hindus, Buddhists, Communists, Atheists, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Christians!
Clearly stated, there is but ONE God and Father, and ONE Lord Jesus Christ Who is both Creator and Sustainer of the world and sole Saviour and Redeemer of the human race, and ONE Blessed Holy Spirit who draws all men to Christ.
All other so-called gods, goddesses and deities are mere counterfeits, imitators and pretenders! It is Christ and Christ alone Who saves, heals, delivers and liberates from sin, fear, sickness, disease and all the powers of Darkness and Satan!
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) also Himself 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 were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Heb. 2 1, 15)
Prophets like David, Isaiah and Malachi prophesied His coming and when He arrived, the chief priests and the nation of Israel rejected Him. St. John wrote: “He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:
JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S PASCHAL LAMB!
You may ask, "What has the God of the Old Testament to do with Jesus Christ?" In short, the answer is "everything", because Jesus of Nazareth was God the Son from Eternity who was incarnated (God in human flesh) and born of the virgin Mary, so that He could meet the demands of divine Justice in paying for the sins of Adam and the human race.
God's Word states: "To wit (that is) that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5: 19). When did this occur? As Jesus the Son was dying on the Cross, being judged by His Father on our behalf, the Holy Spirit was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
The great transaction occurred as our Saviour suffered untold AGONY as our Substitute on the cursed Cross. (Heb. 2: 9-10). As God's Paschal Lamb, Jesus became the Sin Offering for all mankind, past, present and future. As Israel's paschal lamb had been examined for three days and found to be perfect in all respects, Jesus of Nazareth had been examined for three years by God and man, and found perfect. (Heb. 5: 5-9: 7:25-27).
Pontius Pilate repeatedly said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person" (Matt.27: 24, 25);"I find no fault in Him." (John 19:6) and God the Father spoke with audible voice, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."
The Bible says: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood, He entered in once to the Holy Place having obtained Eternal redemption for us." (Heb.9:12). It was His own blood that opened the door of Heaven for Jesus Christ and it is His precious blood that will open the Door of Heaven for us!
Dr. Andrew Murray writes: "This does not mean that the Holy Spirit was in Jesus (the Lord), and bestowed upon His Person and His blood a Divine worth. It is much more than that - it indicates that the shedding of His precious blood was brought about by the Eternal Spirit and that the Spirit lived and worked in that Blood, so that when it was shed it could not decay as a dead thing, but as a Living Reality it could be taken up to Heaven to exercise its Divine Power from thence."
THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION!
Many Christians live with condemnation because of past sins and Satan has a way of bringing guilt upon believers. The Word of God, however, states: "There is therefore NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." (Rom.8:1, 2).
The Bible gives us the answer: "How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot unto God, purge your conscience to serve the Living God." (Heb.9:14);
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom.3:23); "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom.6:23)
These two Scripture texts lay out the good news as well as the bad; perdition and salvation! It's not a pretty picture, but it is the truth. We must face facts and then do an about turn in our thinking, believing and living! Our steps must be ordered of the Lord. We must put Christ first in our lives!
For four thousand years, God, in His great mercy and kindness allowed the sacrifice of innocent lambs, goats and bullocks (occasionally a red heifer) to suffice. When the ‘fullness of time’ had come, Almighty God gave Himself in His SON, to be the propitiation for our sins. The word propitiation means the covering, satisfaction and expiation. The only RIGHTEOUS ONE, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, had to die to cover our sins and satisfy the demands of Divine Justice!
Our righteous, just and merciful God had to bring judgment upon all sinners through the vicarious death of a righteous man. No man could qualify because all are born in sin, therefore He had to pay the sin debt Himself. The incarnation of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, settled the sin question for time and eternity, through His sacrificial death on Golgotha!
That is why Jesus of Nazareth had to be crucified. He was born to die; to be crucified in order to pay the sin debt for all unrighteous humanity, to meet the demands of Divine Justice for our awful sins against the Almighty.
In 1978, I was preaching in Ghana, Africa in a large Gospel Crusade. Usually, I would have a team member with me, but that didn't work out. I was unable to eat their food and I was homesick. The netting around my bed was broken and since I had forgotten to take my anti-malaria pills, I didn't get much sleep.
I was unhappy even though we were seeing many souls come to Christ and powerful miracles were taking place. I was studying the Bible when a Word from God suddenly jumped out at me with such force that I was shocked. Our Heavenly Father let me know what it cost Him to provide the Great Salvation that I was proclaiming so freely.
"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also, freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)
GOD GAVE HIMSELF THROUGH HIS SON!
I had read that verse many times but never fully understood it. I was torn to pieces as I saw how the Father had ‘turned over His only begotten Son' to murderers who would mock Him, spit in His face, scourge Him and nail Him to the Cross of shame for us. I wondered how He could do that, as I personally would never allow anyone to harm my wife or children. Only over my dead body, would anyone molest, rape or kill my family!
The Bible says: "Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (heb.choli) 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 upon Him the iniquity of us all. Yet it pleased the Lord to ‘bruise Him’; He hath put Him to grief..." (Isaiah 53: 4-6, 10)
God the Father laid our sins, sicknesses and pains on His Son. It was God the Father that smote His Son for us, and what really tore me up was that God was pleased when Jesus suffered, bled and died for us! I prayed and wept for several days after God had spoken to me!
HOW GOD CALLED ME TO ARGENTINA!
Even though Argentina was under strict Military Rule, God miraculously and unexpectedly opened the door for our Historic May 5-15, 1978 Cordova Miracle Crusade in the Rocco Football Field. All crusades had been shut down under Marshall Law. Evangelist Louis Palau had left Argentina and Pastor Omar Cabrera had been ordered to leave because his name had been found by the Military on a Rebel Hit List marked for assassination. He was in the USA
In
the summer of 1977, I received a call from Demos
Shakarian's son Richard, enquiring if we would invite Omar and Marfa
Cabrera to Edmonton for some Gospel Meetings.
I
asked, "Who is Omar Cabrera?" Richard
stated that Omar Cabrera had been ordered by the Military Junta to
leave Argentina, because his name had been found on a 'Rebel Hit
List'. He was living in the USA and doing some book translations for
a Ministry.
He stated that Omar Cabrera had written a book
titled, 'Guns, Guts and God in Latin America'. The
Roman Catholic Church opposed him, as did the Military Junta, the
Medical Profession, and the Evangelical Church. And
because he wore the clerical collar, even the Pentecostal Church was
critical of him!
I said: "The Bible states to beware when all men speak well of you, and there must be something special about a man who against all odds wouldn't leave his post until forced to do so. I will be pleased to have such a man."
My background in the Lutheran Church and admiration for the Father of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, immediately made me want to meet this fearless Argentinian Crusader!
OMAR & MARFA COME TO CANADA!
Donna and I warmly welcomed Omar and Marfa and we had great fellowship. Omar said: "Brother Max, I want to go to Ascunsion, Paraquay. We will rent the large stadium there and have a Crusade. It will cost $10,000, and you will pay for it. We will reach many people and we will build a large church seating ten thousand. It will cost $100,000 and you will pay for it!"
I said: "Omar, we will start with the crusade." Omar began making arrangements for the crusade but was repeatedly unable to get the stadium for the dates we put forth. There was always a block; nothing was working in our favour.
In the spring of 1978, I had just returned from crusades in Ghana, Africa, and people were beginning to ask about our proposed Paraguay Crusade. I called Omar to share my concerns. I said, "Omar, I believe we should have the crusade in Argentina!"
He was adamant, declaring that he would not ever go back to Argentina. Several times I stressed that I felt God wanted us to hold the crusade in Argentina, against all odds! Finally, he relented saying: "OK, we will try Cordov
MANY THOUSANDS SAVED & HEALED!
He
was able to rent the Rocco Football Field for May 6-15,
1978. It was a miracle of God. The Chief of Police left town, being
afraid to sign the permit.
The Crusade began with
6,000 people and miracles began at once. The Roman Catholic
Church lost control of the people as nuns and priests rejoiced openly
and praised God! The crowd grew to 10,000 almost immediately. The
Police Chief returned and signed the permit.
I said to Omar: "I would like to speak to the four Colonials of the Military Junta which rules the Cordova District." They invited us to meet with them. After bringing them greetings from Canada, I laid out God's Salvation Plan. For about fifteen minutes I preached the Gospel with great anointing. I spoke about God and the Devil, Sin and Salvation, Christ and His shed blood, Heaven and Hell and Judgment!
Suddenly, the leading Colonial cried out: "What do you want from us?" I answered: "Stop Persecuting the Evangelicals. Stop Persecuting the Pentecostals!" He answered: "Okay! What else do you want?" I said: "Get down on your knees and give your hearts to the Lord." They looked shocked.
Omar let out a great big laugh and I smiled. They relaxed. Then, I said: "I would like to pray for you and your families." He said: "We have been hearing good things about your crusade. At first we thought you were Jehovah Witnesses but realize that you are a blessing from God." Reverently, they bowed their heads as I prayed for them, their families and their nation!
OFFICIAL PERSECUTION STOPPED!
From that moment forward the official persecution stopped. That was the turning point for Argentina! There were no crusades being held there because of the Military Rule, but God opened the door for Omar Cabrera and me to reach Cordova for Christ.
Great Miracles happened every night and the crowd grew to 48,000 on May 15, 1978. During the final service, Omar announced that we would be back there in two weeks for another Crusade, which drew 17,000.
His Cordova Church grew to 8,000 in 9 months and within 18 months he had 150 churches with 450 pastors across Argentina!
Then, Carlos Anacandia got saved and began to preach and the rest is history as he and others have reached several millions for Jesus. That is how the official persecution stopped and how the REVIVAL started in Argentina in May, 1978. Praise the Lord!
‘MRS ZERO KILOMETER’ LIKE A NEW CAR! Says Marfa Cabrera, Cordova, Argentina
She calls herself ‘Zero Kilometer’ just like a new car with NO MILEAGE! For 21 years this lady had suffered with arthritis and for the last 14 years she sat in a wheelchair or used crutches. In order to make a living during these many years she sold various articles on the street corners. Everyone knew she was crippled!
She was instantly HEALED in the Max Solbrekken Crusade in May, 1978, and has been giving her testimony to thousands on the street corners and radio, T.V. and newspapers during the last two years, since her miracle. She has been interviewed by the Media. Through her testimony 3,000 persons have been influenced to attend Omar Cabrera’s Crusades. Praise the Lord. Amen.
Jesus stated: “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works shall he do, because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)
Everything Jesus of Nazareth did was in obedience to His Heavenly Father’s will. In this Scripture text He makes that very plain. Every time a miracle of healing is done in Jesus’ Name, God the Father is glorified! And that is why we must obey His Word and place our trust in the Holy Spirit and the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, for God’s glory alone!
Any intelligent person reading Jesus Christ’s Words must conclude that He came to earth to destroy the works of the devil! Everywhere He ministered, Jesus of Nazareth healed the sick and cast out evil spirits. He commanded His twelve apostles and seventy disciples to do the same! Finally, He sent the Blessed Holy Spirit to empower His Church to do the same as He had done!
Here is Jesus’ Great Commission to His Church: “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be Saved, but he that believeth not shall be Damned.
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hands upon the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-18). Amen.
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST AVAILS!
The hymn writer penned the life-giving words: “The Blood avails, the Blood of the Bleeding Lamb. Just like olden Days, Praise God the Blood avails!
The Cross of Christ has been referred to as the 'Axis of Salvation' and the climax of the cosmic conflict between God and Satan, between good and evil. What happened on Mount Calvary on the 14th of Abib in ca. 33 A.D. forever marked our Heavenly Father as the God of Majesty and Power, of Compassion and Love, of Righteousness and Justice!
Early that morning, the stage had been set for the 'Greatest Transfer of Mercy and Grace', ever known in the universe and will endure throughout Eternity. Adam had committed gross sin against his Father and God, and had been ejected from the Garden of Eden. God the Son, had been incarnated to die as God's Paschal Lamb to liberate the human race from sin, sickness and the devil!
At 9:00 o' clock on the great Day of Atonement the high priest tied the paschal lamb to the Altar in the temple. At that very hour, Jesus the Lamb of God, was nailed to the Cross on Golgotha. For six hours they both waited for death. At 3:00 o'clock, the high priest, having transferred the sins of Israel onto the head of paschal lamb, cut its juggler slaying it.
At precisely the same moment, Almighty God tore the veil from top to bottom and left the temple. Instantaneously, He stood on Golgotha's Hill and laid the SINS of the world - past, present and future - on the head of His Son. At that moment Jesus shouted out His Victory Cry, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
Speaking in Greek, Jesus declared: ‘tet-el-estai’, taken from the verb teleo which has three essential meanings: to finish something, to bring something to an end; to fulfill something; to pay that which is owed.”
Jesus had finished His mission and brought to an end Satan's domination over the human race. He had fulfilled all the O.T. prophecies about the Messiah and paid for all our sins, sicknesses and pains! The fountain was open, His blood was flowing and there would no longer be any need for the Holy of Holies or the blood of bulls and goats!
“And the sun was darkened, and veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:45, 46)
The Bible says: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Rev. 5: 6)
The Bible says: “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 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)
3. Have you considered the masses of lost souls for which Jesus died? He died for the sins of the entire world; past, present and future! And He puts us on notice: We must reach the lost and dying for Him. That’s why He gave us the Great Commission!
A great thing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is His universal appeal to everyone! The angel of God stated: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1: 21).
His mandate was to save His people from their sins! Isaiah, however, states that the Gentiles would also believe in Him: “Be hold My servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles. And in His Name shall the Gentiles trust.” (Matt.12: 18, 21)
Jesus’ appeal reached the Magi of the east. (Matt. 2: 1, 2). To lowly shepherds, God’s angel said; “I bring good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10, 11); “And there were certain Greeks among them...saying: We would see Jesus.” (John 12:20,21).
“And many of the Samaritans of that city ...besought Him that He would tarry, and He abode with them two days…Now we believe… for we have heard Him for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” (John 4:30-42)
Jesus of Nazareth died for the entire world: “For this is good and acceptable, in the sight of God our Saviour, Who will have all men to be SAVED and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who GAVE Himself a Ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim.2: 3-6)
St. John stated: “My little children, these things write I unto you. That ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous: And He is the Propitiation for our SINS: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the Whole World.” (1 John 2: 1-2).
The BIBLE states: “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the HEATHEN for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” God the Father promised His Son the Heathen for His inheritance. He wants to SAVE those who know Him not, the heathen who have never heard of the vicarious death of His Son for all mankind!
Why will God the Father give the Heathen to His Son as His possession? These are souls for which Jesus Christ suffered bled and died! Concerning Jesus Christ, St. Paul states: “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath 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.” (Phil. 2: 8-11).
Almighty God exalted His Own Son, Jesus Christ and gave Him a name that is greater than any other name because He was willing to be incarnated, suffer, die and be raised from the dead to save the world. And that is why He founded the Church to carry out His commands, to preach the Gospel to the world’s lost humanity!
Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. 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 their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15- 18)
The Bible says: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8); “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life. For God sent not His Son into the world, to condemn the world but that the world through Him should be saved.” (John 3: 16.7)
“How that 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). He had purchased Eternal Life for all who would receive Him as their Lord and Saviour! The Bible says: “And He (Jesus Christ) is the propitiation (God is satisfied with Christ's Sacrifice) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)
That takes in everyone from all the nations of the world, including the Mohammedans, Hindus, Buddhists, Communists, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Christians!
Clearly stated, there is but ONE God and Father, and ONE Lord Jesus Christ Who is both Creator and Sustainer of the world and sole Saviour and Redeemer of the human race, and ONE Blessed Holy Spirit who draws all men to Christ.
All other so-called gods, goddesses and deities are mere counterfeits, imitators and pretenders! It is Christ and Christ alone who saves, heals, delivers and liberates from sin, fear, sickness, disease and all the powers of Darkness and Satan!
4. Have you considered the Greatness of the Gospel of Christ? That God became man that He might save you and the entire world? That His Gospel is greater than life itself? Has it dawned on you that Christ should be first in your life?
‘When God became a man’ sung by Don Francisco, is biblically true: 'He didn’t come to terrify, to judge or condescend; to call us all His servants, but to lift us as His friends; to save us all from Satan’s power to reign at His right hand – when, once for all eternity, God became a man’.
St. Paul stated: “But what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung (garbage) that I might win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
“That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, bring made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.3: 7-11, 14).
Through His vicarious death for us all, Jesus purchased Eternal salvation for all who believe: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself from our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and or Father.” (Gal. 1:4)
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself; he that believeth not hath made Him a liar: because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5: 10-12)
There was no sickness, disease or death in the Garden of Eden. Sin brought a curse upon the earth that touched every man, woman and child. Jesus of Nazareth, however, broke that curse when Messiah Jesus bore that curse for us all: “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.” (Gal.3:13).
Fear was conquored by Christ's Victory over Satan on the 'Blood of His Cross'. The Bible says: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tm.1:7). Jesus said: "If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you. Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7). Again, He said: "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing!" (John 15: 5).
Dr. Andrew Murray said: "Abiding in Him is a living union in which man is nothing and Christ is all in all. We must LOSE ourselves in Him and become NOTHING!"
St. Paul tells us of the great benefits derived by abiding in Christ: "In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power." (Col.2: 3, 9,10)
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Col.3: 1-4). "To declare, I say at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom. 3: 24-26).
JESUS OF NAZARETH CONQUORS FOR US!
Quoting the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He 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)
“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. 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 16:15-20)
The BIBLE says: “To the praise of the glory of His Grace, wherein He hath made us ACCEPTED in the Beloved. In Whom we have REDEMPTION through His BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1: 6, 7)
“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: In Whom we have REDEMPTION through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
“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. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet hath He reconciled; In the Body of His flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovaeble in His sight.” (Col. 1: 12-22)
The Bible states: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Rev. 5: 6)
“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 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 m 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)
5. Does the Spreading of the Gospel of Christ really matter? Have you considered the Importance of the Mission, and the great opportunity afforded you to be a member of Christ’s body? What are the Priorities in your Life? Is it me, myself and I? Or is it, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me? Is it, Christ in me loves you?
Jesus stated: “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when He cometh in the glory of the Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34 -38)
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee withersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.
“And He said unto another, Follow Me. But He said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God. Another also said, Lord, I will follow; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
“And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9: 57-61)
THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST!
The Bible says: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that LOOK for Him. He shall APPEAR the second time without sin unto Salvation.” (Heb.9: 28);
St. John wrote: “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, purifieth himself as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2, 3)
The Word of God declares: “For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all me, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
“Looking for that blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might Redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2: 11-15)
St. Paul said: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in Glory.” (Col.3: 3, 4); “For our conversation (lifestyle) is in Heaven: from whence we also look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil.3: 20, 21)
St. Peter declared: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, thou now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Receiving the END of your faith, even the Salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1: 7-9)
Jesus said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark. And knew not until the FLOOD came and took them all away; so shall it also the Coming of the Son of man be.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also READY for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. 24: 36-39,42, 44).
Jesus warned: “Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev. 22: 7); “And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man affording as his work shall be.” (Rev. 22: 12); “He which testifieth of these things saith, Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22: 20). The word quickly is also translated by some as at once, without delay and soon!
The Big Question is: “Are we doing all we possibly can to reach the lost and perishing souls all around us? We must start with ours delves, our families, our friends and then our fellowman?
6. Has the Holy Spirit opened to you the Holy Scriptures that definitely teach that believers in Christ are invited to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and power? Has He given you the assurance that He will grant you the faith and power to heal the sick, cast out devils and do the works of Christ, according to His Holy Word?
John the Baptist declared that Jesus of Nazareth the Jewish Messiah would die as God’s Paschal Lamb to “take away the sin of the world” and to “baptize you with the Holy Ghost and Fire.” (John 1:29; Luke 3:16).
Jesus is truly the Lamb of God which bore all the world’s SINS, past, present and future on the Cross, meeting the righteous demands of Divine Justice on our behalf. Before He could pour out the Gift of the Holy Ghost on His Church, He had to pour out His blood on the ‘cursed tree’. (Luke 24: 47; Gal. 3:13)
Jesus said: “And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be ENDUED with Power from on High.” (Luke 24:49). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples:
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20: 21-23).
We see two things here: First, as the Father sent Jesus, He sends us with the same Message and with the same Power. Second, And when we have delivered the message of God’s Grace and sinners have sincerely cried out in faith to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, we have the authority to declare their sins forgiven!
That is why Jesus could say: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and GREATER works than these shall he do: because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14: 12-15)
Concerning Christ, St. Luke reports: “To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of then forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God: and being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT for the Promise of the Father, which saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1: 3-5)
Here is what happened in the Upper Room: “And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind and if filled all the house where they were sitting.
“And there appeared unto them cloven, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and begat to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2: 1-4)
ARGENTINA REVIVAL BEGAN IN 1978!
It all began in the summer of 1977 when I received a call from Richard Shakarian asking if we could open the door for Omar Cabrera. I asked, “Who is Omar Cabrera?” He said that he was the author of the book, ‘Guns, Guts and God in Latin America’ and that he had been opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Military, the Medical profession, because he prayed for the sick, the Evangelicals and the Pentecostals (because he wore a clerical collar).
No crusades were being held there because of the Military Rule. Louis Palau had left earlier and Omar Cabrera had been ordered to leave Argentina for his own safety because his name was found on a Rebel Hit List. He was translating some books for a Ministry in the USA, but was ready to preach.
I said, “He sounds like my type of a man. The Bible says that we should fear when, ‘All men speak well of you’. We welcome him to Canada.” When Omar and Marfa arrived Donna and I welcomed them and we became good friends. He stated that he would never return to Argentina and was setting his heart on Paraguay. He asked me to conduct a crusade at the Stadium in Asuncion. It would cost $10,000.
We agreed to work with him on that project. We raised quite a lot of money for that crusade, but Omar was having problems putting the crusade together. When I returned from Ghana, I called Omar stating that it was imperative that we have the crusade soon. I felt that we should hold the Crusade in Argentina. Omar stated that was not possible and he would not return there. I said, “Omar, I believe that God wants us to have the crusade in Argentina!” Suddenly, he said: “O.K. we will try Cordova.”
The amazing thing is that everything worked out perfectly. We got a permit for the Rocco Football Field in Cordova for May 5-15, 1978. The Chief of Police, however, left town without signing the permit.
We started with six thousand in attendance the first night. By the fourth night we had 10,000 and the Chief of Police finally came back to town and signed the permit. The Roman Catholic Church which had opposed the Crusade, lost control over their people. Nuns and priests attended openly rejoicing in the great things which God did and carrying their tape recorders to get the messages I brought!
I had requested a meeting with the Military Junta and demanded that they stop their persecution of the Evangelicals and Pentecostals to which they agreed. From that day onward the persecution stopped and the Revival steam rolled ahead.
After preaching to the four Colonels for 20 minutes about God and the Devil, Heaven and Hell, the Cross and the Blood of Christ, the leading Colonel said loudly, "What do you want from us?"
I said: "Stop persecuting the Evangelicals and the Pentecostals!" He said: "O.K. What else do you want?" I answered: "Get down on your knees and give your hearts to the Lord." They were shocked. Omar let out a big laugh, I smiled and they relaxed.
I said: "I would like to pray for you and your families.” Immediately, he said: "Yes, please do." After prayer, they all shook my hand and told me about the good things they had heard about the crusade. That is how the official persecution stopped and how the Revival started in Argentina in May, 1978. Praise the Lord!
Great Miracles happened every evening and the crowd grew to 48,000 on May 15, 1978. Omar Cabrera then continued the Crusades and his Cordova Church grew from zero to 8,000 in 9 months and within 18 months, Vision de Futuro had 150 churches with 450 pastors.
In our Crusade, a lady who had operated a kiosk for thirty years was instantly healed. She called herself Mrs. Zero Kilometer like a new car with no kilometers. She hung up her crutches and put her wheelchair on display. Three thousand people visited Omar’s Church because of her testimony alone!
Our Crusade in Sante Fe in 1980 was very strong. In that meeting little five-year-old Julio Diaz who was born without ureters received a creative miracle. It was a very cold evening and I was surprised to see so many in the open Stadium. Donna and Marfa stayed in the small enclosed area as Omar and I walked across the grass to the stage which had been built for the crusade.
As I delivered the message of Christ, the people in the bleachers drank in every word. I was amazed at how many came and stood before the altar for salvation. When I prayed a prayer for the sick and suffering many were touched by the Holy Spirit. I asked people to lay their hand upon their chest and believe as we prayed the prayer of faith for healing and deliverance. I asked those with sick children to lift them up the Lord as we prayed. Again, there were a number who testified to healing from our Lord!
Unbeknown to me there was a woman in the crowd with a needy child. His name was Julio Diaz. He was born without any ureters. He was five years old and had suffered through a number of surgeries but was no better. A nurse warned Julio’s mother not to allow any more surgeries. They had inserted tubes into his body with plastic bottles tapes to his chest to hold the urine.
Julio’s Dad had lost his job a week earlier because of his drinking. When Julio’s mother saw the large ad in the newspaper she asked his Dad to take him to the crusade. He answered, “I’ve taken Julio to every doctor, priest, the Bishop and the Obia man. You take him to the crusade.” In faith she lifted Julio up to the Lord while I prayed.
In the morning they were awakened by Julio jumping up and down. The tubes had been pulled out of his body, the plastic bags were lying on the floor and Julio stood the buck naked urinating on the floor. He was saying, “Mommie, Daddy, look what I can do. The other children got out of bed laughing and clapping and followed him from room to room.
His mother called the doctor, saying, “The tubes are out. The tubes are out.” He said, “Mrs. Diaz, you know we do not have the equipment to put the tubes back in. You must take him to Rafaela at once.” She said, “Dr. I am not taking him to Rafaela.” He answered, “Are you loco? His body cavities will fill with urine. You must take him at once to Rafaela.” She answered: “I took Julio to the Gospel Crusade last night at the Stadium and he is completely healed. He is urinating all over the floor.”
The doctor said, “Bring him to the hospital immediately. I must see this.” The ex-rays proved that God had created new ureters. The next morning, Omar called me to come at once. The Roman Catholic radio station journalist as well as their reporter for the R.C. weekly magazine had seen the x-rays and wanted to interview to interview us and Julio’s Mom and Dad. They said, “This is too great for just for Evangelicals to see. We must let everyone know what God has done!” And millions read and heard what God had done for little Julio Diaz. Praise the Lord!
GO INTO ALL THE WORLD!
This Gospel is for ALL people of ALL the world including the Muslim World! Jesus Christ commanded: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ...." (Mark 16: 15-20)
King David prophesied: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His ANOINTED, saying, Let us break the bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (Psalms 2: 2, 3)
The Apostles prayed, quoting David: "For a truth against Thy Holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done." (Acts 4:25-28)
The whole world was involved in carrying out the will of God in the sacrificial death of Christ for us all. King Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and Israel is a representation of the Entire World that stands guilty in the SIN of crucifying the Son of God!
And the entire world is invited to receive God's forgiveness, peace, healing, blessing and deliverance which has been purchased for us all through the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ our Lord and His glorious resurrection from the dead!
The Bible says: "Looking for that blessed HOPE and the glorious appearance of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Who GAVE HIMSELF for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13, 14)
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
"Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3: 4-7) All glory to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
Is God able to save and fill with His Holy Spirit, the tough, evil, perverted Muslim terrorists? Read Acts chapters 9, 22 and 28. If He can reach a Jewish terrorist He can reach a Muslim terrorist! Nothing is too hard for our God!
A GREAT MIRACLE IN NORWAY!
In late August, 2001, I was preaching in Aal, a small town in Norway and learned about a refugee camp where hundreds of Muslim refugees from the Kosovo War were being housed. I asked if anyone was reaching them with the love of Christ. They answered, “No”.
I challenged the Pastor’s wife who was teaching them Norwegian, to invite them to our Revival Meeting. She answered that it was against the new school rules to talk to students about Jesus!
I countered: “St. Peter said, ‘We ought to obey God rather than man’. It seems rather strange to me that a Pentecostal Pastor’s wife would not have the courage to obey God rather than rules put in place by some political hack”
She said: “O.K. I will ask them.” She did and eight people accepted. The Pastor picked them up and brought them to the meeting. All received Jesus Christ as their Saviour and since August 2001 until now that Church has baptized more than 1,000 Muslims to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Bible says: “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have ALL men to be Saved, and to come to the knowledge of the Truth. For there is ONE GOD, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave Himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2: 3-6)
7. Is Prayer an important part of your Christian life? Have you made it a Priority? Have you heard the Holy Spirit calling you to Pray for Labourers in His Vineyard? Does He often urge you to seek Him in desperate, urgent and prevailing prayer?
JESUS said: “The HARVEST truly is great, but the labourers are few: PRAY ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that He would SEND forth labourers into His Harvest. And HEAL the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10: 1,2)
Our Saviour was so concerned for precious souls that He sent out seventy evangelists into every city and place, where He Himself would visit. He had instructed them to preach and heal the sick. Here is their Report: “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 be any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:17). Earlier, He had sent out twelve disciples: “Then He called the His twelve Disciples together, and gave them power and authority over devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to HEAL the sick.” (Luke 9:1, 2)
The BIBLE says: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the Coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and the latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7, 8)
St. James challenges us to win souls, because the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh! He uses the analogy of a farmer who waits for the harvest of the precious fruit of the earth. The precious fruit of the earth is not apples, oranges, pears, wheat or corn. It is the SOULS of men and women, boys and girls. He is referring to our Heavenly Father who has sown so much and now it is time to REAP the Harvest.
God our Heavenly Father is the Grand Farmer Who has waited a very long time for the PRECIOUS FRUIT of the earth. Because of His great LOVE for us all, He laid the SINS of the whole world on Jesus Christ. He has invested everything by giving Himself in the Person of His Son, who was incarnated (God in human flesh) to Redeem us by shedding His precious BLOOD on Golgotha’s cross for us all.
The BIBLE says: “For God so loved the world that He Gave His only begotten Son that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be Saved. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3: 16, 17, 36)
WE MUST PRAY FOR LABOURERS!
Here are the seven invitations our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ personally initiated, together with the conditions necessary for their implementation!
Number 1. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14: 13).
The language that Jesus chose in issuing this promise is easy to understand. There is nothing duplicitous about it. He had nothing to hide and He had no problem expressing Himself.
Our blessed Saviour is TRUTH personified and His words were straight forward and to the point! He uses the word ‘whatsoever’ which means exactly what it says. There are no limitations. It covers whatever our needs are!
He specifies, however, that we must ask in His Name. Herein, lies the key to receiving from Him answers to our prayers. We must understand the value of His NAME; the authority and power that is inherent in His Name!
Number 2. “If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14: 14). Here, Jesus repeats almost word for word what He had said earlier. He stresses that nothing is too hard for Him.
We can bring Him the most difficult problems we have and He is able and willing to help us solve them. It staggers the imagination that the Creator, Life Giver and Great physician promised: “If ye shall ask Anything in My name, I WILL DO IT.”
St. Paul quoted Isaiah: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him.
GOD HATH REVEALED IT TO THEM!
“But God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Cor.2: 9,10)
The nation of ISRAEL was terribly backslidden and Isaiah called upon the Lord for mercy. In Chapter 63, he rehearses how the Lord had delivered them through Moses and asks for God’s deliverance again.
“Oh that Thou would rend the heavens, that Thou would come down…to make Thy name known…that the nations may tremble at Thy presence.”
Then, Isaiah stated: “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” (Is.64: 4)
The great Baptist preacher, DR. VANCE HAVNER, writes: “Paul quoted that in 1 Corinthians 2: 9, and he had in mind not only heaven but the riches of God’s grace for us here and now. “It is impossible to imagine, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, what God can do TO us and THROUGH us and FOR us when He can find a man who really cares enough to be His instrument.
“That is indicated in verse 5: 'Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in Thy ways.' “God will meet any man more than halfway if that man is in dead earnest and means business with heaven!”
Here is the question: Who among us will be that man whom God can use to bring His people back into fellowship with Him? To bring the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ into repentance and faith, in order to see His power in revival fire with forgiveness, divine healing and deliverance in His Church again?
Again, our Lord teaches us the value and power that is inherent in His Name! Here is the reason the incomparable name of our Saviour Jesus Christ is so influential, so powerful and life giving.
WHY JESUS’ NAME IS SO POWERFUL!
St. Paul declared: “Christ Jesus…Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (He is God the Son): But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
“That at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil.2: 5-11)
In the Great Commission, Jesus gave His Church AUTHORITY and POWER in HIS NAME to speak in new tongues, preach the gospel, cast out evil spirits, heal the sick and be protected from the devil and his cohorts!
He said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature…And these SIGNS shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-18)
Unbelieving theologians, using some later discovered older manuscripts with a few missing verses from St. Mark’s Gospel chapter 16 have sowed seeds of doubt as to the veracity of that text. What they don't disclose is that the same manuscripts have missing verses and entire chapters from other parts of the Bible, yet that information has been withheld from the population at large!
GOD'S WORD IS INSPIRED & INERRANT!
In his book, ‘Bodily Healing & The Atonement’, DR. T. J. McCROSSAN wrote: “A few scholars have denied the authenticity of the verses in Mark 16, but IRANAEUS quotes these verses as a part of Mark’s Gospel, and remember he was a pupil of John the Apostle. This is positive proof that these words are genuine.”
Number 3: “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15: 7). Here is one of the most important lessons we must learn and practice in order to receive miracles from God.
We must abide in Christ, meaning to give ourselves totally and unreservedly to Jesus Christ until we receive the assurance that we are His, and secondly to take His Word into our hearts to resonate and become a part of us.
Number 4: “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bare forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in MY Name, He may give it you.” (John 15: 16)
We are important to God since He has chosen us for Himself. When we understand the bond we have with Him and are able to call Him our Father, it is easy. One of the first things that Jesus taught His disciples was that God was their Father, something none of the prophets stated.
Jesus teaches us that when we bare bear fruit, we please the Father. Bearing fruit for the Master also shows our devotion to Him and faith in Him. We must show God we mean business, by living the life He demands!
“But without FAITH it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”(Heb. 11: 6)
Number 5: “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” (John 16: 23)
He referred to the day when He would pour the Holy Spirit upon them. He would no longer be with them, but they would not be alone because He would send them theComforter, the Divine Helper.
He had walked with them for more than three years. He would soon leave them to sit on His Father's Right hand, and they were instructed to pray directly to Him for whatever they needed.
The only prerequisite was, they must ask in His NAME. He was teaching them to use His name and His Heavenly Father would honour that name, as though He were still with them.
Number 6: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16: 24). Jesus continued teaching on the importance of His name. He and His name were synonymous.
His Father would honour His Name just as if He were there in person. And He wanted them to be filled with joy by having their prayers answered!
Number 7: “At that day ye shall ask in My name: and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.” (John 16: 26-27)
There is only one prerequiste for the Father to love us and that is that we love His Son and believe the record that He gave of His Son. If you love Jesus Christ and believe that our Heavenly Father sent His Son to this sin-cursed earth to save us from our sins, He is obligated to love us and come to make His abode with us.
JESUS made it clear that God knows us personally and He doesn't need to run interference for us, but we can have our prayers answered simply by using His name and our faith in His Word. He will keep His promises to us, when we PRAY to our Heavenly Father in faith in Jesus' name! Amen.
THE SEAL OF GOD'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT!
Dr. John Lake, who was used greatly in the Ministry of Healing stated: “Divine Healing is the seal of God's acknowledgment, the proof to the world that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. John the Baptist was in prison. He was troubled with doubt, as to whether Jesus was the Christ. He sent two of his disciples to Jesus to put the question, “Art Thou He that should come, or look we for another?”
His answer was to appeal to the signs of His Ministry. These were, and still are God's answer to doubt and unbelief:
“Go and show John those things which ye do hear and see; The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”
“These are still God's SEAL and Endorsement of the preaching of the True Gospel. The preaching that lacks the SIGNS which Jesus promised lacks Divine attestation by which God confirms the preaching of His own True Gospel.
The results should be, “And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them to confirm the Word with SIGNS following.” (Mark 16:20)
A NATION WITHOUT AN ANCHOR!
In a Sept. 18, 2012 piece titled, 'A Nation Without an Anchor', Wes Moore writing about the USA stated: "Today we damn the Ten Commandments of Moses, and applaud the Five Pillars of Islam. We teach astrology to our fifth graders, but ban prayer. We ridicule faithful marriage, but idolize men sleeping with men. We devalue hard work and enterprize, and exalt the free ride. So, what's the underlying cause of all this?
“Why does the moral compass spin so widely? Why do we have to fight for things we once took for granted, and why are we all so full of fear? Because our nation has left its anchor. We're like a boat once tied down to shore, but now floats aimlessly for open water. We've been set free to go wherever the raging waters see fit. What is the anchor we have lost? The Bible!"
Human nature has not changed, people haven't changed and the Word of God has not changed! Human nature is still corrupt and human beings across the board are still at enmity against God and continue to follow their own corrupted, perverted and selfish will and agenda!”
The Bible speaks to man's depraved condition: "For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jer. 2: 13). There is hope, however, the Ever Living One whose name is HOLY, reaches out to sinful earthlings like us all.
Here is His proposition: "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron.7:14).
Again, He calls out to lost, sick and suffering mankind: "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): Our Saviour invites us all: “Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11: 28). Amen.
