JUST A MINUTE PLEASE!
By Pastor Max Solbrekken
The most important question I could ask you and the most vital decision of your entire lifetime concerns the spiritual welfare of your soul and its eternal destiny!
Some preachers have soft-soaped the Gospel and watered down God’s Word to please their parishioners. They fear that if they preach the truth, people will be turned off, stop attending church and the offerings will drop!
Many mainline Protestant Churches have seen the devastating results of this. A prime example is the “free-fall” of the United Church of Canada, which has apparently been high-jacked by a group of non-believers whose main agenda is to get rid of all born-again, Spirit-filled ministers who preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ and replace them with their own type!
It appears that of their achievements, the greatest was to include practicing homosexuals and lesbians as ordained ministers on their rosters!
Now that they have achieved their goal, it is difficult to know what happens next!
That denomination is diminishing so rapidly, both numerically and spiritually, that many believe it will eventually end up as haven for advocates of a worldly, perverted lifestyle; not only in the pulpit – but in the pew!
Those churches and ministries, however, which preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray for the salvation of sinners and the healing of the sick are growing, expanding and flourishing!
Why? God honours His Holy word and answers the prayers of the penitent and faithful, but lifts His hand of blessing from the rebellious!
Jesus said, “The blind cannot lead the blind. They will both fall in the ditch.” (Matt. 15:14)
The Bible warns that there will be great apostasy and backsliding – among God’s Holy Ministers – in “the last days.” (2 Tim. 3:13; 4:34) St. Paul calls them Food Preachers or Belly Preachers. (Rom. 16:18; Phil. 3:19) They are professionals, who preach only to earn a living. They do not seek to win precious souls for Christ, because they have no spiritual life in themselves?
I’m being absolutely honest with you. Here is the truth from The Holy Bible, concerning God’s love, eternity, heaven, hell and your soul’s salvation!
NO. 1 – YOUR SOUL WILL NEVER DIE!
Your spirit (soul) is eternal and will live on even after your body dies. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7)
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, til thou return unto the ground: for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:19)
NO. 3 – YOU CAN’T FOOL GOD!
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7) “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num. 32:23)
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Rom. 8:13)
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)
“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: then shall He say also 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 away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25:31-34, 41, 46)
NO. 5 – ALL HAVE SINNED!
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) “There is none righteous, no one one.” (Rom. 3:10, 12)
“They are all gone out of the way …there is none that doeth good, no not one.’ (Rom. 3:10-12)
“All our righteousness (our own good works) are as filthy rags. (Isa. 64:6) “The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.” (Gal. 3:22)
“The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born.” (Psalm 58:3) “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
WE ARE SINNERS BY BIRTH – INHERITED FROM ADAM – AND ALSO SINNERS BY CHOICE!
St. Paul declares that we all were “By nature the children of wrath…” (Eph. 2:3)
As well as being “born in sin” (Psalm 51:5) because of Adam’s rebellion and fall and having a sinful nature, many carry some generational baggage because of the sins of their forefathers.
“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sins… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” (Ex. 34:7)
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18)
NO. 6 – JESUS DIED TO SAVE SINNERS!
Jesus said, “For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. 9:13) “For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.” (Matt. 18:11)
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6-8)
“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 might be saved.”
NO. 7 – YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS!
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13)
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man this thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Is. 55:7)
“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)
“Then Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
NO. 8 – YOU MUST BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of god hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:10-13)
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
NO. 9 - RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR BY FAITH!
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
“The Bible says, “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
Jesus said, “Come now, and let us reason together saith the lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is. 1:18)
Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)
HE WILL GIVE YOU THE POWER YOU NEED TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!
“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to then gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
No. 10 – BE BAPTIZED IN WATER (BY IMMERSION) TO IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST
Water Baptism is a funeral Service for the old man (Rom. 6:3-6). You have now become a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:17) When you were baptized in water, you confess by this act that you fully believe the Gospel.
The Bible says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, we also know that one day we shall rise from the dead or be changed at His appearing.” (1 Cor. 15:51-54)
NO. 11 – SEEK GOD FOR THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND RECEIVE POWER FOR SERVICE!
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:13)
“Draw night to God and He will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8) ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6)
Jesus promised; “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know Him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)
The Bible says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the lord our God shall call.” (Act 2:38-39)
NO. 12 – DAILY READ THE BIBLE, PRAY AND WITNESS FOR JESUS!
If you want to be a strong Christian and victorious in your living, there are some things you must do, as well as things you must not do.
1. READ THE BIBLE DAILY
I would suggest reading from both the Old and New Testament. Establish a certain pattern in your reading and read prayerfully as though it were a letter from God to yourself – which it is – “God’s Word to you.”
Study and memorize certain portions of it. Do not be afraid to mark your Bible so that you will know where to find certain passages. Before you read the Scriptures, however, ask God to enlighten His Word to your heart (Psalms 119:18) and the Blessed Holy Spirit will make ‘The Word’ real to you.
2. REMEMBER TO PRAY REGULARLY
Establish a certain period of time every day to have devotions with your family. Also set aside time for prayer and mediation when you are alone with God.
Jesus warned, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41)
The Bible says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8)
“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 any thing in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
St . Paul admonished, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17)
The Bible says, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let me sing psalms. 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. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:13-16)
The angel said to the women: “Come, and see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead…” (Matt. 28:6-7)
God has so ordained it that by our tithes and offerings – as God has blessed us – we are able to propagate the gospel and share God’s grace and love with others!
As we are faithful to do so, we will be able to reach this wicked world for our Master.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:10)
“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” (Prov. 3:9-10)
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)
“But ye seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there by no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” (1 Cor. 16:1-3)
“But as I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:6-7)
Attend a Full Gospel, Pentecostal Church where they believe the entire Bible and practice what they preach. Stay full of the Holy Spirit. PRAY IN THE SPIRIT (in tongues) every day and you will glorify God. (Acts 2:11; 10:46). Edify yourself (1 Cor. 14:4; Jude 1:20) so that you can help bring God’s healing power to those around you!
