The Truth Shall
MAKE YOU FREE
By Pastor Max Solbrekken. D.D.
The truth liberates the soul, the conscience and the mind of man! The truth breaks the chains of darkness, superstition and fear, opens the prisons of doubt and unbelief! The truth removes the mountains of discouragement, negativism and oppression! The truth defeats the giants of despair, heartbreak and loneliness, and opens within us the wells of joy, the rivers of peace and the floodtides of love! Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!"
FREE FROM ALL BONDAGE AND SICKNESS AND SINFREE FROM THE FEARS AND THE TROUBLES WITHIN: FREE FROM THE DEVIL AND HIS EVIL POWER DELIVERED BY JESUS IN THIS VERY HOUR.
In His prayer, Jesus made the statement, "Thy Word O Lord is Truth." (John 17:17) Again our Lord said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) The Bible teaches that the Word of God is Spirit and Life, (Phil. 2:16) and that Jesus also is the Word of God. (Rev. 19:13)
The Bible and our Lord Jesus Christ are referred to as the Word of God and both Jesus and the Word liberate people! The Bible is the written Word of God, and Jesus is the Living Word of God! Our Lord Jesus Christ made the statement: "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth ever. If the SON therefore shall make you Free, ye shall be FREE indeed." (John 8:34-36)
The Scripture states that anyone who commits sin is the servant of sin and is NOT FREE, but thanks be unto God, the TRUTH will make them Free! The Apostle John wrote, "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE TRUTH
1. We must hear the truth - "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom.10:17)
2. We must believe the truth - "How shall they believe in Him of whom they
have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14b)
3. We must hold fast to the truth - "Prove all things; hold fast that which is
good." (1 Thess. 5:21. Take heed unto thyself, and unto doctrine; continue
in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear
thee." (1 Tim. 4:16). "Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom,
and instruction and understanding." (Prov. 23:23)
4.
We must
tell the truth - "For we
have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His
Majesty." (2 Peter 1:16). "Preach the word; be instant in season, out
of season; rebuke, reprove, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears." (2 Tim. 4:2-3). "If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1 John 1: 9).
5.
We must
obey the truth - "If ye love
Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15). "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) . Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him,
If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed." (John 8:31)
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and
settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have
heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof
I Paul am a minister;" (Col. 1:23)
"Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5:20)
SATAN IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM
Jesus called the devil a liar and a murderer. Here are His words: "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)
SATAN IS A COLOSSAL DECEIVER AND LIAR - THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM!
He may tell some truths or half truths in order to deceive and enslave the human race, but he himself is total darkness and there is no light or life in him! When you accept Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour, you are saying farewell to the kingdom of darkness and you are translated into God's glorious Kingdom.
"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. Which is Christ in you the hope of Glory." (Col. 1:26-27) You are also passed from Death unto Life because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Light of the world!
The Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (1 John 1: 1-5) "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
The Scriptures declare that men rejected Him because their deeds were evil! They hated the Light and they loved darkness rather than Light! (John 3:19) The Bible says, "In Him (Jesus Christ) was Life and the Life was the Light of men." (John 1:4) Again the Scripture says, "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 3:36)
When the Light is switched on, the Darkness Flees and when JESUS comes into a person’s life in His great Power, all sin, fear, oppression, sickness, disease and evil powers Leave! Praise God!
There are five glorious truths that I wish to set forth in this lesson as a wise master builder, to help build your faith! As a mason would lay block upon block, so I present to you Scripture upon Scripture, knowing that the Word of God creates faith in our hearts and Faith gets the job done!
No. 1 - GOD HAS NOT CHANGED, CANNOT CHANGE AND WILL NEVER CHANGE!
He declared: "I am the Lord, I change not." (Mal. 3:6)
Here, the Living God makes one of His most significant statements! He is changeless, always constant and timeless! Nothing can alter that great truth! Men are born, live, pass on and are gone like the grass of the field, but God remains the SAME. St. Paul, very forcibly declares this fact in his writing to the Hebrews.
"And Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail." (Heb.1:10-12)
Five great truths concerning God:
GOD IS ETERNAL - without beginning and without end - everlasting and always God. The Psalmist David wrote: "Lord, thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Ps. 90:1- 4):
"THE ETERNAL GOD IS THY REFUGE AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS..." (Deut. 33:2)
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT - He is all powerful: "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though 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." (Isa. 45:5-6): "I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. (Isa. 45:12) Jesus said: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." (Matt.28:18)
GOD IS OMNISCIENT - He is all wise. He knows everything: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God bythe foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1 Cor. 2:18-25) "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." (Rom. 16:27) “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
God cannot change! It is impossible for God to be anything but Who and What He is today – Righteous, Holy, Merciful, Gracious. He is kind, loving, generous, good, just and true. God will NOT change: He is Eternal, without beginning or end! He cannot Change in the future: In the Apocalypse we read: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Rev.1:8)
BECAUSE HE HAS NOT CHANGED:
(1) God still answers prayer: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8)
(2) God still forgives the sinner: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21) "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of JesusChrist His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (l John 1:7-9)
(3) God still brings peace to the troubled and removes guilt: "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. 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 14:1, 27) "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 5:1; 8:1)
(4) God still cares: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
(5) God still meets our needs: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)
(6) God still heals the sick: "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 layhands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16: 17-18) "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)
(9) God still protects us from danger, evil and satan: "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalm 91:10-11) "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isa. 41:10) "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies." (Psalm 103:4)
No. 2 - GOD HAS NOT LIED, CANNOT LIE AND WILLNEVER LIFE
(a) We know what God will do in the future by what He has done in the past, for He has not changed. He has always told the truth for He is the truth and since it is impossible for God to lie, we know we can put our trust in Him as God.
(b) He is too good to do anything wrong, too wise to make a mistake, too powerful to allow satan to hurt His children who call upon His Name in faith and who trust in His truth.
c) He is too conscientious and correct to lose our
number, forget about us or leave us to aimlessly drift on the sea of life and
death without His divine guidance and direction.
(d) The Scripture emphatically declares: "God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent (change his mind) hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19) Samuel the Prophet said a big 'Amen' to this great truth when he declared, "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie or repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent." (1 Sam. 15:29)
GOD IS CONSTANT
You can believe the Word of the Lord for it is ever and always the same. St. James said, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways!" He admonishes us to ask God for our needs in faith and he assures us that our needs will be met, because we are dealing with one Who is always the same and Who is liberal in His giving. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)
St. Paul wrote to Titus: "God cannot lie." (Titus 1:2)
SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE AND HIS NATURE IS TOTALLY AGAINST FALSEHOOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS AND STATUTES ALL ADVOCATE TRUTH AND CONDEMN LYING, WE CAN REST ASSURED THAT HIS PROMISES ARE TRUSTWORTHY!
The Lord says, "I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104) The Bible says, "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight." (Prov. 12:22) God has never lied, cannot lie and will never lie, for He not only speaks the Truth but He is the Truth! Again the Bible says, "And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Rev. 21:5) Our Lord stated, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6)
THERE IS NO TRUTH IN SATAN
Jesus Christ indicted Satan when He said concerning the evil one, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." (John 8:44) False teachers who give themselves over to Satan become perverted.
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." (Rom. 1:28) "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Tim. 4:1-2)
THE HOLY SCRIPTURE MAKES IT VERY PLAIN THAT THE BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH: "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me." (John 15:26) "...the anointing of God teacheth you all things and is Truth and is No lie." (1 John 2:27)
St. John declared, "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-christ, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:21-23)
All those who advocate teachings, ideologies and doctrines that disagree with the Holy Bible, the Divine Infallible Word of God were labelled liars by the Apostle Paul when he wrote, "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:3-4)
It matters not what men say about the Word of God: It will stand the test of both time and eternity; never swerving or changing, but always constant and firm. Praise God!
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, Confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for Godto lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek." (Heb. 6:13-20)
No. 3 - GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, PLACES OR TIME
The Scripture says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21) "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 3:36)
“Is any sick among them? 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 5:4)
St. Peter said, "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)
James declared, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5) Again the Word of God declares, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." (James 4:8) James further declared, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:6)
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD
The weapons of our warfare are for all Christians and are provided for all who will put them on and use them. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." (2 Cor. 10:4) "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Eph. 6:11) Jesus said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 28:19)
Again the Bible says, "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14) St. Paul said, "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him." (Rom. 10:12)
ALL WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND CONFESS THEM TO CHRIST ARE FORGIVEN.
God answers the prayers of all who ask in faith. JESUS said: "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) St. Peter said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34) St. James wrote that "God gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not." (James 1:5)
I repeat, God is no respecter of places, nationalities or geographic boundaries. St. Paul stated, "There is no respecter of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law; and as many as have sinned in the lawshall be judged by the law." (Rom. 2:11-12)
The rich and poor, black and white, red, yellow and brown all stand on even ground in His sight. (There are certain promises made to Israel that do not apply to the Gentiles - these are an exception, for Israel has played and will play a special role in the history of God's dealings with man) His love transcends all borders as St. Peter discovered when he and six of his Jewish brethren went by the command of the Lord to minister to Cornelius and his household.
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the HolyGhost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Acts 10:44-46)
FOOLISH MEN HAVE TRIED TO DICTATE TO GOD
You cannot lock God up in a time capsule or a straight jacket, dictating to Him when He can work His works and when He cannot or upon whom He can work His works or where! He is God and cannot be bound by our finite minds and often "wrong thinking" in the natural!
Theologians have tried to do this again and again. Just as they have put a TIMING DEVICE on HIS ABILITY and PREDESTINED HIS WILL in such matters, He suddenly breaks forth in sovereign and glorious demonstration and does the unthinkable in the most unusual places and forbidden (so-called theological) times!
Revival after revival has broken loose in Nation after Nation, century after century, and will continue to do so until Jesus comes and the Church is raptured. The Pharisees and Saducees were disturbed that Jesus broke the Sabbath by healing the sick on that day. (John 5:10-18) Jesus Himself declared that He had been sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matt. 15:20-28) yet He was drawn by human need and went to the Well of Sychar in Samaria in order to save an adulterous woman, as well as many of her friends. (John 4:28-30) A great revival was the outcome, as He stayed for two days ministering to them!
The Gospel cannot be quenched, but burns on in Holy Ghost flame and fire! Yes, God is working His miracles today despite and in spite of the foolishness of man's narrow and restricted vision and misconceptions - Praise the Living God!
The U.S.A. were going to keep out of the war until the Imperial forces of Hirohito smashed the U.S. Naval Japanese base in Honolulu. That changed their position totally and brought them into all the theatres of the Second World War, bringing ultimate victory to the Allied forces. God, however, does not change and cannot deny Himself. St. Paul declares, "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound." (2 Tim. 3:10)
You cannot destroy, bind or nullify the Word of God. The Bible says, "The Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35) and , "The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword..." (Heb. 4:12). Certainly we can trust the Word of God for time and eternity!
The Apostle Paul continues: "If we believe not, yet He remaineth faithful; He cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim. 3:13) Even though we fail Him, His Word is still true and He will not deny Himself or fail us! "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar..." Rom. 3:3-4)
Does God fail? Can He fail? Will He fail? Certainly not! Is He trustworthy? Can we depend upon Him? Most certainly we can! The Scripture states that even if some do not believe, that does not nullify the Word of God! Then St. Paul comes on strong: "GOD FORBID" yea, let God be true and every man be a liar!
May I add that every person who denies the Word of God, opposes the Word of God or who changes the Word of God is a collosal liar and an enemy of the Kingdom of God!
St. Paul wrote: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that call you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel; which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we or angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed!" (Gal. 1:6-9)
THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD
The Scripture speaks of Israel the wife of God who has backslidden and been judged severely, but who will be saved in the end. We are the bride of Christ (Rev.21:9) to be married to Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (Rev. 19:9) Israel however, is the wife of God and He is married to the backslidden Israel. (Isaiah 64: 6-7)
However, because of the faithfulness of God she shall be given a final opportunity, and after He has taken her through much tribulation, in the end Israel shall be saved. "And so all Israel shall be saved...for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance." (Rom. 11:26, 17, 29)
They crucified His Son and will embrace the anti-christ during the first 3-1/2 years of the Great Tribulation, still God will forgive Israel and bring them into the fold in the End Time. Why? His Covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, will He not break under any circumstances. Praise the Lord!
What a marvellous, good and wonderful God we serve and how thankful we should be for His Grace, Mercy, and Longsuffering toward us all!
GOD ALWAYS FULFILLS HIS WORD
Repeatedly, the Holy Scripture says, "..that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets.." (Matt. 1:21; 2:17) Whatever the prophets declared, shall come to pass! There is no doubt about the veracity of God's Word. When the Bible states, "Thus saith the Lord..." it is the truth! Again we read, "...and it shall come to pass..." Whatever He has declared, will come to pass. Let us look briefly at only a few verses of Scripture to back up these claims.
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emanuel." (Isa. 7:14) "...the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying.." (Matt. 1:22) "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son..." (Gal. 4:4)
THE DEATH OF JESUS
"Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matt. 26:31) "And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." (Matt 26: 49-50)
"In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." (Matt. 26:55-56)
"Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified." (Matt. 26:2) "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
“And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." (Matt 27:3-10)
THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28-29)
"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2: 16-17, 21)
"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" (Acts 2: 15-16) "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:32-33)
SALVATION AND DIVINE HEALING
"When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." (Matt. 8:16-17). “Who His own Self (Jesus) bare our own sins on the tree (cross) , that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: By WHOSE STRIPES ye were Healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
God says in His Word, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." ( Ps. 50:15)
"And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21). "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. 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.
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
“And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking of bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2: 38- 41)
No. 4 - GOD IS NEVER LATE. HE IS NOT TOO BUSY TO ANSWER US. HE IS WAITNG FOR US, READY AND WILLING TO HEAR OUR PRAYERS AND MEET OUR EVERY NEED!
.We can come before Him any time of day or night. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) Hear the Word of the Lord to you, my friend: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isa.55:7)
“Again He says, "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." (Isa. 1:18) The Lord's invitation to you and me is, "Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." (Isa. 64:24)
The Bible says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Again our Lord said, "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 beopened." (Matt. 7:7,8 ); “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in , believing, ye shall receive.” (Matt.21:22)
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5: 14,15). I wish to share one final Scripture before I close this message: "Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24)
2.
God has not lied, cannot lie, will not lie. You can trust His Word to you.
3.
God is no respecter of persons, places or times.
4.
God has never failed, cannot fail and will not fail.
5.
God is always on time, there when you need Him, ready
to answer your prayer and fulfill His Word in your life.
AND NEVER FORGET GOD CARES ABOUT YOU! Amen.
