BRINGING IN

         THE SHEAVES                by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D. 

 There was never a time during my childhood - living on a farm in Saskatchewan - that I enjoyed more than ‘Threshing Time’. I loved to play baseball, hockey, badminton and rugby.  I thoroughly enjoyed swimming, fishing and camping.  ‘Sports days’ and red ribbons for first prizes - from the smaller events to a provincial championship in Saskatoon, were great.

Milking cows, feeding chickens, chopping wood for the old stove, working in the hay field, looking for rhizatonia and blackleg among the registered potatoes, riding horseback, driving the tractor and watching the land turn black as loam, as the weeds were destroyed.

All these hold special memories in my mind.  Mother, Dad, brothers and sister together with church and family altar are something special of course, which stand alone in an individual’s memory lane almost as something sacred.

THRESHING MACHINE PARALLEL OF THE CHURCH

Plowing the ground, cultivating, disking and seeding were part of the job - and necessary - but not too exciting.  Even cutting down the wheat with the binder and stooking the fields were not really stirring, but when the threshing rig moved onto your yard and the straw came roaring out of the blower into the large pile and the wheat poured into the granary, that was exciting. That was life!

The old threshing machines are long gone, and large hi-tech combines operated by one person have replaced the large threshing crews.  Maybe some of the sentimentality or excitement is gone, but when the grain pours into the big trucks and is transported into large grain silos or the elevator in town, there is still a lot of excitement in the air.

Without doubt, harvest is a very rewarding and exciting time!

The time of “seeding, spraying and irrigating” is a very vital aspect of farming, as is evangelizing and reaching out for a harvest of souls.  The time spent in prayer around the altars, the hours of labour utilized in poring over the Word of God in deep intensive study, and the years of sharing the Word by testimony, giving and going may not be as rewarding or glamorous as one would like.

WHEN THE REVIVAL STRIKES AND AN AWAKENING BEGINS TO STIR SOULS TO A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, ENTHUSIASM AND EXCITEMENT IS GENERATED WITH AN UPSURGE OF EXUBERANCE AND HOLY JOY!

There is nothing as rewarding as seeing souls weeping their way through to God at an old-fashioned altar.  Wrongs being righted and new lives made of old ones in a Heaven-sent-revival.

The church packed out with seeking souls, stirring revival messages sinking deep within the innermost being.  Serious meditation and somber moments as well as unconcealed joy, love and warmth being poured out by numerous church goers who have just found a new plateau in God.

And then, there is the Holy awareness of a mighty and powerful God who has just granted a miracle healing to an arthritic or given sight to the blind eye of some unfortunate accident victim or opened a little boy’s deaf ears.

The Bible tells of a revival conducted by Philip the Evangelist as follows: “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them.  And many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city”. (Acts 8:5-8)

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE! 

No greater joy has been experienced in my own personal life than the marvellous times of refreshing. we receive in a great Awakening or Revival!  After my conversion to Christ, I took great pleasure in preaching the Gospel of Christ to any and all who would listen; hitchhikers I picked up, customers, fellow commercial travellers.  All I needed was an opportunity, an open door and I was sharing Christ in His fullness.

Our Gospel Ministry - which blossomed into a world-wide crusade in 1963, began with a “one-on-one” soul winning thrust in personal evangelism.  I still love to get one or two people alone in a serious discussion about world conditions and the solution to those problems.

A personal encounter with Jesus Christ results in a radically changed lifestyle, approach and set of values!  After I had preached repeatedly in many Indian villages, a variety of churches and numerous street meetings, and after personally witnessing to hundreds of people individually about our Lord Jesus Christ, and six years of intensive meditation, study and prayer, I was prepared to begin this worldwide ministry!

ST. PAUL SAID, “GIVE DILIGENCE TO READING”.

To this day, I usually take with me on my travels, some books to read together with my Bible and trusty laptop computer.  As I grow older, the more intense becomes my desire to meditate, study, research, read and then to put down on paper that which God has revealed to me, so that others may also be blessed.  Praise God forever!

I believe it is important that we listen to and view things that enlighten, uplift and edify us rather than make us slaves to T.V. programs containing loose, immoral jesting or sex scenes.  Many of today’s talk shows, gaming shows and soap operas are enthusiastic messengers for carnality, worldliness and satanic influence!

I am against the weird music that constantly blares out from major radio stations, demoralizing and hypnotizing our youth with its degrading lyrics and sensual, lusty beat! It is important to listen to Christian music and the Word of God as much as possible.

PERSONAL EVANGELISM - A JOY!

Let me share three instances of personal evangelism: In 1957, while driving down the highway with a friend to whom I had been witnessing about Christ, I picked up a young man from a nearby Hutterite colony. 

Upon speaking to him, we realized that he was totally deaf and could not hear.  I pulled the automobile over to the side of the road and proceeded to pray for him.  In the course of the session, Jesus set him free from ‘spirits of deafness’! 

He began to speak, declaring that his ears were opened.  Talk about joy in that automobile, as I led him to Christ.  We all rejoiced together concerning God’s mighty works!

Another case is that of an Electrolux salesman who kept coming to our home.  Donna and I were newly married and had purchased our first new home.  I was doing well in business, and we were prospering in every area of life.  We owned an Electrolux vacuum cleaner but didn’t have a polisher. 

My friend, Bob the Electrolux salesman wanted to sell us one!  I had begun to witness to him about Jesus Christ and didn’t want to lose him, so I encouraged him to continue coming to see us.  We eventually ended up buying the polisher, even though we didn’t have a need for it at that time!

Our agreement was that we would buy the polisher from him if he would allow me to preach to him for 30 minutes. Bob and I were in the front room, while Donna was tending to something in the kitchen.  We were having a coffee, and I was preaching the Gospel to him.  Tears came to my eyes as I told of the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross. 

THE GOSPEL OF THE JESUS CHRIST!

I painted him a very vivid picture of our wounded, bruised, chastised, striped Saviour. I went into detail, describing the horrible crucifixion of Jesus and how he suffered for us on that cross! I shared with him Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the grave!

I expected him to be moved towards Christ, but to no avail!  His heart was cold as ice.  He said, “Look Max, are you finished”?  I said, “Yes, I’ve given you the best I possibly could”!  He answered, “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel a thing!  You haven’t moved me one bit.  I have no desire to give my heart to Jesus”!

He was about to excuse himself and leave when suddenly the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Tell him what happened when you were filled with the Holy Ghost”!  I said, “Just a moment Bob, I have one more thing to share with you before you go.  It will only take a minute”.

He answered, “Sure Max, I’m listening”.  I then related to him how God had baptized me with the Blessed Holy Ghost the very next evening after my conversion.  How I had been overcome with the Spirit of the Living God and fell onto the floor under His influence.  I shared how I had been filled with fire and power from the risen Christ.  And that the love of God had flooded my entire being and I received a great desire to tell people about Jesus!

I’VE GOT TO BE SAVED RIGHT AWAY

Suddenly, Bob sat on the edge of his chair, his eyes wide open and a startled look on his face.  He interrupted me and said, “Max, your face is shining, what’s going on”?  I answered, “Bob, it’s the Holy Ghost”. 

He said excitedly, “What’s that I feel all over me, a presence, a tingling sensation like electricity”?  I said, “Bob, it’s the Holy Ghost”.  He jumped up and said, “I’ve got to go”, and he was gone!

The next morning, I had to leave very early for Quesnel.  At approximately 9 o’clock Bob was at our home, ringing the doorbell.  He asked Donna, “Where is Max?  I’ve got to see Max”.  She said, “He’s gone to Quesnel, but he’ll be back in a couple of days”. 

He said, “I’ve got to see him now.  I’ve been so stirred in my soul about what happened last night, I’ve got to be saved right away”.

Donna was a new convert herself, so she called Rev. Allen Kenny and directed Bob to the Sixth Avenue Pentecostal Church where he gave his heart to Christ.  What a glorious time of rejoicing we had upon my return to Prince George that week!

 “O the joy of sins forgiven;  O the bliss the blood washed know; O the peace akin to Heaven; Where the healing waters flow!”

The third case I would like to share is about a little hamlet in my territory called Topley Landing.  Nearly everyone living there were Jehovah Witnesses and I had such a burden to win them to Christ.  Every five weeks when I travelled by the hamlet, I would throw tracts out the window of my automobile, hoping the wind would carry them to some hungry soul.

After several years of sowing the Gospel in this manner, a man came to our home in Prince George.  Standing at our door - holding up the little tract he had found by the side of the road - this gentleman burst into tears declaring that he was a sinner who needed to be saved!

He was not a Jehovah Witness but a seeking soul who belonged to the Mennonite Church.  He and some members  of his family accepted Jesus Christ because of this witness, and are still serving God to this day!

Hundreds of times during my years as a commercial traveller for Swift Canadian and McCormicks Ltd, I picked up hitchhikers on the road and led them to Christ.  Years later, I had the privilege of meeting some of them again, still serving the Lord.

Personal Evangelism is still one of the most effective ways of winning souls.  The Bible states, “He that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). “They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever”. (Dan. 12:3).

The Psalmist declared, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him”. (Psalm 126:5-6)

THE NIGHT COMETH!

 Jesus said, “Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.  And he that reapeth receieveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal:  that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together”. (John 4:35-36).

Again, our Master said, “I must work the works of him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”. (John 9:4)

St. Paul asked, “How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things”! (Rom. 10:14-15)

We are doing the best we can to reach lost souls by printed messages (tracts), magazines, books, radio, TV and massive crusades.  I still try to do as much personal evangelism as possible everywhere I go.  You can do the same!  Witness to everyone you can about the love, mercy and judgment of God.

EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER; THAT GOD WILL SAVE, HEAL AND BLESS THOSE WHO CALL UPON HIS NAME!

Love your fellowmen and pray for their souls.  You can also pray and help support this end-time ministry that has a burden for lost souls!

By the grace of God, we have had the privilege of taking the glorious Gospel of Christ to millions across the world by radio, television, printed messages and huge Gospel crusades.  I thank and glorify God for this privilege!  And I thank you who have helped us through your prayers and sacrificial gifts! Amen.

Here is a testimony we received on Nov 26, 2015 from Rob Wingert:

On Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 10:13 AM, Rob Wingert <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Rev. Solbrekken,

This letter to you is long overdue.  I'm not sure if you will remember, but I'll try anyway.
Better than 20 years ago I was a young producer at ITV Edmonton suffering from terrible back pain that nobody seemed to be able to fix.  The pain consumed me night and day.

I recall having to stop over at your church one morning to discuss a bit of TV stuff. It was there that I mustered up the courage to tell you about my pain.  (Something I rarely discussed)

You took the time to sit with me and to pray to God with me and for me.  Praying that God in his mercy would lift this burden from me.  Your prayer to God was powerful and had a sincerity  that continues to move me today.

The pain continued for some time yet but I kept believing that God will fix this (when he's ready)
Time went on and the pain continued and I was now becoming very scared that my days here were becoming numbered because of all the pills I was taking just to get through a day's work so I could support my family. 

Then, one afternoon, I was at work trying to get comfortable in my chair as my back was really hurting me that afternoon. Sometimes pressing my back against a sharper surface would bring some temporary relief.  Well, out of nowhere comes this pop!

And what felt like a small water balloon bursting in my back.  It knocked the wind out of me and I was now preparing for the inevitable agony about to come my way. But when I caught my breath, the pain was gone. Gone!  And I knew right then and there, I was healed. No more pills, no more grimacing. Just joy and outright thankfulness that God finally got to me on his list. I could live again.

During my illness, I learned many lessons.  Especially the many elements of true compassion for others.  And to be appreciative of what I have and what I was given back.

Reverend Solbrekken, you took the time to pray with and pray for a lost soul like me in a heartfelt way that nobody had ever done for me before. I never forgot that.  I will never forget you.

A heartfelt thank you to you Reverend.  You helped keep the light on.
I really wanted you to know how it all worked out.

Sincerely,

Rob Wingert

 The Bible says: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for Signs and Wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts which dwelleth in Mount Zion.” (Is. 8:18)

In his Bible next to that verse, D. L. Moody wrote: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.”

Dear Friend, Let’s do everything we possibly can for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, while we still have opportunity to do so! Let us know your prayer request and we will stand with you in prayer and faith for your deliverance and healing!

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 Garside, Edmonton, AB T5P 4C1; Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; YouTube; Facebook; Blog: MSWM; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donation to [email protected]; Thank you so much and  the Lord bless you! Amen.  

                                                        

                                    Max Solbrekken praying in Gethsemane

                              MY TESTIMONY OF PRAYER                                                by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Over the years I have made a practice of writing on paper some of my prayers to God. Here is one of sigificence I prayed on December 11, 2019:

 With gratitude and godly fear for His goodness to me over the past many years, I now make my testimony and put pen to my prayer in Jesus' Name. After  serving our Lord for seventy years and in His Ministry for 60 years, my heart is filled with love and wondernent at His call on my heart and His amazing love toward me!                       

Almighty Eternal God: If it were not for the mercy of God upon a poor lost soul like me, I would not be here today!  When I think of the way He has protected me for so many years, spiritually, mentally, physically, and materially, it is because of His pure compassion, love, and grace!

His gift of mercy, wisdom, and protection is beyond  compare and understanding. If it were not for His love, where would any one of us be? His grace goes beyond the limits of human comprehension!

How could I ever thank Him enough for saving  me, filling me with the Holy Spirit and giving me eternal life!

I was nothing when He found me. And I am still nothing, without Jesus my Saviour. I don’t deserve any of His goodness, mercy, and spiritual gifts that He has bestowed upon and showered me with!

Thank You Heavenly Father, for being so merciful and kind to Me and my family! By Your grace I will continue to serve You in whatever capacity You see fit. Lead me by your Holy Spirit!

CALL TO THE HARVEST!

Thank You  for opening Your Holy Word to me in such marvellous and copious ways, which truly amazes me, for in myself I know nothing as I should know it. Your imparted wisdom astounds me and the knowledge You have opened up to me, continues to bless me.

Please grant unto me Your Spiritual Gifts in a greater measure, as You see fit. Lead me, precious Holy Spirit into a deeper walk with You for the honour and glory of my Saviour Jesus Christ.

I will continue to praise you for time and eternity, for the great compassion and care You have so graciously blessed me with over these many years of serving You! Please continue to bless my precious wife Donna and me with health and strength and guidance in all things. Please bless, protect and heal our children, grand and great grandchildren with your mercy, grace, love and spiritual gifts!

And may Your saving, healing, and guiding hand bless all our friends and others who read  these words. In Jesus’ Name. Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling. My only plea, Christ died for me. Take me as I am! Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton AB T5V 1N6; Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Youmail; Blog: MSWM; Facebook; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donation to max@maxsolbrekken. com. May God bless you in Jesus' Name!

ARTICLE

Prophetic Foreshocks - Hamas Attack Stirring Jewish Faith Revival In Messiah

 BY ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ/ISRAEL 365 NEWS DECEMBER 29, 2023

Likud Member of Knesset Galit Distel-Atbaryan addressed the plenum on Wednesday, and despite self-identifying as non-religious, her address praised the "messianic" manifestations appearing among the IDF in Gaza.

Distel-Atbaryan described a gathering of hundreds of soldiers singing "Ani Maamin" ("I believe") before going into combat in Gaza. The song's words are "I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and, though he tarry, I will wait daily for his coming". It is the twelfth of Maimonides' thirteen-point version of the principles of faith and is a declaration of a belief that the Messiah will surely come. 

"Yesterday, I saw one of the most touching films I have seen that came out of this war until now. Hundreds of soldiers in one hall, singing that they believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah. It is a little strange, because as emotional as this is, every newspaper you open, every television show you watch, every article in Haaretz, define this belief in the Messiah, this burning and eternal belief of the nation of Israel, this Messianic belief, as the greatest existential danger to our country right now. 

It doesn't matter that this is how we define our soldiers indirectly, those who do the Kohanic blessing in Gaza, those who sing in honor of the Messiah in Gaza, those who put on tefillin in Gaza. These 'Messianics' that die in Gaza, and protect us in Gaza, they are a danger because they are 'Messianic'? It doesn't matter that it is strange that for the eternal nation that one thing that kept us was our belief that the Messiah would one day come. Suddenly, this belief is considered a curse or an existential threat to the country.   

"I want to put these strange things to the side in order to make a confession. I used to have different messiahs. I used to believe in a messiah called the Green Line. I went to a stationery store and bought a green felt tip marker. I scribbled some lines on a map and that was my messiah. After that, my messiah was the Oslo Accords." 

"These messiahs were false messiah. Not only were they false, but they were dangerous. For one moment, I want to defend the Messiah of the Jewish nation, the concept of the messiah. I wonder what went wrong with us as a nation that this ascendant idea, this progression towards the eternal that brings the Jewish Messiah, why is it so ridiculous and ridiculed as being dangerous?"

Distel-Atbaryan then quoted the Book of Isaiah:

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up Sword against nation; They shall never again know war. Isaiah 2:4

"My Messiah commands me to dream of peace," she continued. "My Messiah commands me to wish for brotherhood between nations. My Messiah is eternal."

"I want to use this opportunity, to stand in the Knesset of Israel in 2023 and to say with great pride; I, Member of the Knesset, Galit Distel-Atbaryan, believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even if he delays, I will wait for him every day to arrive. And he will come, quickly. Amen."

At least one of the MKs in attendance echoed her 'amen'.

Originally published at Israel 365 News - reposted with permission. 

                              THE INCARNATION:                ACID TEST OF TRUE FAITH

                              By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"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.

“Which were born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. 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: 1- 4, 13, 14)

There is a serious MISUNDERSTANDING among many Bible scholars and preachers due to an incorrect translation of John 3: 13, which says, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God.” 

Most Bibles have us believing that this Scripture text is referring to those who receive Christ, because of the plural “which” when in fact, the original Greek uses the singular “He” which refers to Christ!

 This passage must be taken in context with the rest of the Scripture text about Jesus the Word of God; not about believers. It is about JESUS OF NAZARETH – Not about us! The Bible states:     “He (Christ) was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not.

This is the proper translation: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even unto them that believe on His name. He (Jesus) was born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  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 3: 14)

 TERTULLIAN SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT!

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (160-220 A.D.) of Carthage Africa known as Tertullian, was an early Christian author who was martyred for his faith. He stated: “The blood of the martyrs has become the seed of the church.”

In his book, ‘The Incomparable Christ’ (1902) - which I have enjoyed for decades - J. Oswald Sanders brings out a truth that has eluded far too many theologians and preachers for hundreds of years!

He states: “Samuel Zwemer commenting on John 3:14, writes: ‘Here those who believe the Word are those ‘who were begotten, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God’.

But according to the express testimony of TERTULLIAN there was an early second-century reading of this text which had the singular instead of plural. It would then read, ‘He (Christ) was begotten not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’

 “In his de Carne Christi Tertullian wrote; ‘I shall make more use of this passage after I have confronted those who have tampered with it. They maintain it was written in the plural, as if designating those who before mentioned as believing on His name.

‘But how can this be when all who believe… are by virtue of the will of the flesh and of the will of man? - as indeed as Valentinus himself. The expression is in the singular, as referring to the Lord. He was born of God … As flesh, however, He is not of bloods, nor of the will of man, because it was by the will of God that the Word was made flesh.’

“In his Confessions, ST. AUGUSTINE quotes John 3:14 in the singular in reference to Christ’s Virgin Birth, as follows: ‘Also I found there that God the Word was born not of blood, nor of the will of a husband, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God.”

St. Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Blessed Holy Spirit thus: “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” (Gal.4:4)

Commenting on this verse, J. Oswald Sanders writes: “In this chapter he uses the word “born” three times, but in speaking of Christ’s birth he uses a different word (made) from the implied when speaking of Ishmael and Isaac.” (Gal.4: 23, 29)

CULTS PREACH A DIMINISHED JESUS!

It is not surprising that Satan tried to diminish the stature of Jesus Christ early on by involving an old JW-New-Modernist tampering with the Holy Scriptures. What does surprise me is that for hundreds of years theologians have missed what is OBVIOUS, that Jesus of Nazareth was not born of human blood nor the will of either Joseph or Mary but of GOD and by HIS will alone!

Every one of us were born by the will of our fathers and mothers and carry our father’s blood in our veins. To force a Scripture text to mean something different than it was meant is totally wrong!     

Let me repeat, by using this Scripture text to prove that sinners are born again by the will of God and not of man may sound good to naïve Christians, but that is not what this Scripture says! 

This is a foundational doctrine which refers to Jesus of Nazareth alone!

THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD!

The Bible states: “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.” (John 3:16)

 Right from the very beginning, SATAN has had his loyal humanistic minions on board, to pervert the sacred Scriptures. They come in a variety of knowing and unknowing fellow travellers, but his main goal is to weaken the faith of believers and to give false cults the ammunition they desire in gaining converts, through tampering with the Scriptures!

Hundreds of false cults have arisen through that method of deception, among them the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and Christian Scientists. Their main deception is that Jesus of Nazareth was not truly God in the flesh, that He is a lesser god, an arch angel or something else.

  According to Holy Scripture, those who REJECT the Deity of Jesus Christ cannot and will not be saved, unless they repent of that grievous SIN of unbelief and blasphemy:

“Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is NOT of God: and this is that SPIRIT of ANTICHRIST, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4: 2, 3)

Presently, there are more than seven billion people alive and we have all come in the flesh, born naturally of a mother and father. Although childbirth is a miraculous phenomenon that happens every second around the world, Jesus of Nazareth was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was incarnated, God in human flesh!

IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER!

All those who reject Jesus Christ as God the Son Who came to this earth to save lost humanity by the Sacrifice of Himself and to meet the demands of Divine Justice, will not be saved. And all those who receive Him as the Christ the King, their Saviour and Lord will be saved!

When the Eternal Son of God was born of a human mother without the aid of a human father that is the miracle of INCARNATION, meaning ‘God in human flesh’.

Jesus Christ was True God and True Man while He walked this earthly sod! The Holy Bible states: “No man hath seen God at any time; the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, which is in the BOSOM of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (John 1: 18) 

The Apostle John was a young man who had absolute faith in Jesus of Nazareth. He was the closest to our Lord and is called the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 20: 2; 21:20)

 "Now there was leaning on Jesus' BOSOM one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved." (John 13: 23). John understood the fact that Jesus had come from God and is always in the "Bosom of the Father."

What that term means is, that the relationship between Jesus of Nazareth and His Heavenly Father had NOT been broken when He was incarnated to die as God's Pascal Lamb for the sins of the world! He was still in His Father and the Father was still in Him through the Blessed Holy Spirit!

    Dr. Henry Morris writes: “In that wonderful O.T. prophecy about His coming human birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5: 2) we are told that His ‘goings forth from the bosom of the Father.’ As noted in John 1: 18, He was still in the bosom of the Father” even while He was on earth manifesting the Father. These truths are beyond our full comprehension, of course, for they are all part of the great mystery of the Triune God.”

GOD THE SON FROM ETRNITY!

     Concerning Micah 5: 2, the Pulpit Commentator states: “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting…The Fathers see in it a declaration of the eternal generation of the Son: He who was born in time at Bethlehem hath an eternal existence…

    “To Christians, who believe in the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the plural would express the continual generation of the Son from the Father from everlasting and to everlasting, never beginning and never ending; as the Council of Lateran says,         "Without beginning ever and without end, the Father begetting, the Son being born (nascens), and the Holy Ghost proceeding."

The bosom is where the heart is and from which Love is generated. The BOSOM is a place of rest and peace. The name of God, El Shaddai has the meaning, "the Breasted One". He is our sustenance and nourishment. He feeds, heals and keeps His mighty hand of protection and love upon us!

The union between God the Father and His Only Begotten Son during His earthly ministry is a Mystery. Some misguided theologians believe that Jesus emptied Himself completely during His incarnation, but that would have destroyed the UNITY of the Godhead.

 That teaching is not biblical. It is spurious and utter nonsense! How could Jesus, Who was TRUE God from eternity and TRUE man by His Virgin Birth, suddenly no longer be God?

The Bible says that He created the worlds and keeps the solar system functioning perfectly by His WORD. If He abdicated the throne for three years, there would no longer be a cosmos or a liveable earth!

 “God … hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He had appointed heir of all things, by also  He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person, and  upholding all things  by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.” (Heb: 1-3)

JESUS WAS FULLY GOD & FULLY MAN!

Jesus Christ never stopped being God the Son! He was in the BOSOM of His Father from Eternity, during His INCARNATION (God in human flesh) and is now and forevermore! During His time on earth, He was Fully God and Fully Man!

 St. Paul stated: “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 of a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil.2: 6-8)

Jesus CONCEALED His divinity even to His disciples for a time, so that He could finish His work before His sacrificial death for us all. His true identity was revealed to Peter, James and John on the Mount of transfiguration, when Almighty God stated: “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.”  (Matt.17:5)

The Bible records: “And (He) was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light... and when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 

"And Jesus came and touched them, and said arise, Be not afraid....Jesus charged them, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man is risen again from the dead” (John 17: 2-9)

JESUS CONCEALED HIS DIVINITY!

JOHN CALVIN stated: “He continued to retain His divinity entire though it was concealed under the veil of flesh. There are good reasons why He enjoined His disciples to keep silence, til He be risen from the dead...And indeed, the disciples would not have believed it, if Christ had not given a more striking PROOF of His glory in the resurrection.

“But after that His divine power had been openly displayed that temporary exhibition of His glory began to be admitted so as to make it fully evident, that even during that time, that He emptied Himself.”

Jesus Christ never stopped being God the Son! He was in the BOSOM of His Father from Eternity, during His INCARNATION (God in human flesh) and is NOW and forevermore! During His time on earth, He was Fully God and Fully Man!

 This same union exists between Jesus and “the sons of God” through the New Birth. He is in us and we are in Him. (1 John 3:1, 2; Rom.8:15-17). And in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, between the Bride and the Bridegroom.

The Church is the Bride and Jesus is the Bridegroom. John the Baptist stated: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and heareth Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice: This my joy therefore is fulfilled.” (John 3:29)

JESUS is also pictured as the Good Shepherd. He said: “I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10: 14, 15)

He told the parable of the sheep lost in the wilderness, which the shepherd searched for and found: “And when he had found it, he laid it upon his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15: 4-6)

The Bible states: “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His BOSOM, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Is.40:11)Here is another Scripture that modernist theologians have used to diminish the truth of Jesus of Nazareth being fully God and fully man. And, unfortunately, many unknowing preachers have fallen for it!

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON into the world, that we might live through Him." (I John 4:9). We have life though our Lord Jesus Christ, Whom God sent "to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

The word propitiation means satisfaction, covering and expiation. This means that the sacrificial all-atoning death of Jesus Christ, satisfied the Demands of Divine Justice to appease the wrath of God against the sins of a rebellious human race from the time of Adam.

THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD!

 We find the unique phrase, "the only begotten Son", also in John 1: 14, 18; John 3:16 in the Authorized King James Version, New King James Version, Amplified and the New American Standard Bible. Unfortunately, most of the other versions have exchanged the original words to unique Son of God, only Son of God, One and only Son of God.

The Bible states: “"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.” (John 1:1-3)

These verses inform us that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the worlds and all things therein! St. John states: “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)

 Again St. John writes: “No man hath seen God at any time; the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:18)

DR. HENRY MORRIS states: “The Greek word for "only begotten" is monogenes, the very form of which clearly denotes "only generated." As monotheism connotes only one God and monosyllable means a word of only one syllable, so monogenes means only one genesis or only one generated--or, more simply, only begotten. It does not mean "one," or even "one and only." It is worth noting that, although Christ is called the Son, or Son of God, frequently in the New Testament, He is never (in the Greek original) called the "only" son of God.

 The fact is, that to call Him the only Son of God would make the Bible contradict itself, for He is not the only Son of God, and certainly not the "one and only" Son of God. Angels are several times called the sons of God (e.g., Job 38:7) since they had no fathers, being directly created by God.

Likewise, Adam was called the son of God (Luke 3:38), because he was directly created. The same applies even to fallen angels (Genesis 6:2), and even to Satan (Job 1:6), because they also were created beings. The term is also used in a spiritual sense, of course, for those who have become "new creations" in Christ Jesus by faith (II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; etc.).

In this sense, we also are "sons of God" (e.g., I John 3:2) by special creation, not physically but spiritually. But it is never applied in this sense to Christ, for He is not a created son of God (as the Jehovah's Witnesses and other cultists teach), but a begotten Son of God -- in fact, the only begotten Son of God.

He never had a beginning, for He was there in the beginning (John 1:1). In His prayer to the Father in the upper room, He spoke of "the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:5).

BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE!

Nothing could be clearer than Dr. Henry Morris’ Commentary on the unique phrase “only begotten” which can used for Christ Jesus alone!

Seven hundred years before the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, Isaiah prophesied His VIRGIN BIRTH: “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold the virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Is. 7: 14)

St. Luke chronicles the glorious Christmas Story of Archangel Gabriel’s visit to a Jewish Virgin called Miriam (Mary) to inform her of God’s great plan of Redemption that would involve her.

He said: “Fear not, Mary: For thou hast found favour with God. And, behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David:

“And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, 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 1:28-35)

To confirm His Words to Mary, God sent His Angel to Joseph, her fiancé. Naturally. he was upset and confused at the news of Mary’s pregnancy.

JESUS CHRIST SAVIOUR SON OF GOD!

The Angel of God reassured him: “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shall call Him JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins.

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matt.1:20-23)

John’s Gospel is about God the Son becoming a man through the INCARNATION (God in human flesh) which is the greatest miracle this world has ever witnessed. More than 700 years before His Virgin birth in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah made this prophetic utterance:

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign, Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Leading Hebrew scholars state that “a virgin” is better read “the virgin”. The Hebrew definite article ha indicates that a specific woman is in view. The word virgin used here is the unique Hebrew term ‘almah.’ A comparison of the six other instances where it occurs (Gen.24:43; Ex. 2:8; Ps.68: 25; Prov. 30: 19. Song 1: 5, 8) shows that it is the most precise term the prophet could have chosen to indicate that the young woman in view was indeed a virgin. The more common word betulah is used twice to refer to a married woman (Deut.22: 19 and Joel 1: 8)

Thus the Septuagint Translation of ‘almah’ as Parthenos (virgin) is correct, as is Matthew 1:23. Shall conceive is a feminine adjective connected with an active participle (“bearing”) and should be translated “is pregnant”.

Thus the scene is present to the prophet’s view and he sees the pregnant virgin about to bear a Son. That this prophecy must refer to the virgin birth of Christ is obvious since the virgin is pregnant and is still a virgin. Immanuel is a symbolic name meaning God is with us. He is the incarnate Son of God Who is further pictured as the Christ-Prince in Isaiah 9:6. –Taken from Nelson Study Bible

NO-ONE ACCEPTED LUTHER’S CHALLENGE!

MARTIN LUTHER threw out this challenge: “If a Jew or a Christian or a Mohammedan can prove to me that in any other passage of Scripture ‘almah’ means a married woman, I will give him a hundred florins, although God only knows where I may find them.”

 No-one took him up on his challenge!

Never in the history of mankind has a virgin given birth to a baby without a man’s seed through sexual intercourse or artificial insemination! Of such importance was the sign that God gave concerning the birth of His Son that the prophet emphasized: “The Lord Himself shall give you a sign.”

 The Holy Scripture says: “Behold while he (Joseph) thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now, all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying, Behold a VIRGIN shall be with child, and shall bring forth a SON, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.” (Matt.1: 20-25)

 Jesus of Nazareth was born to die. He was born crucified! Facing the humiliation of the cross, He said: “Now is My soul troubled’ and what shall I say, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” (John 12: 27)

THE CRY OF THE SYNAGOGUE!

It was known as, 'The Cry of the Synagogue. Year after year, on the Great Day of Atonement the Jewish Rabbi would stand outside the synagogue and cry out the words; ''Let one innocent come and make atonement for the guilty.'' What drove Jewish Rabbis to repeatedly cry out with such urgency for their long awaited Messiah to come? It was the ever present guilt of Sin!

Then one day, John the Baptist announced: ''Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.'' (John 1:29). The 'Waiting' was over! The Innocent One had come!

Jesus of Nazareth was sinless in His conception, sinless in His birth, sinless in His life, sinless in His death, sinless in His resurrection, sinless in His ascension, sinless on His Father's Throne, and sinless for all eternity!

St. Paul wrote: “Wherefore He is able also to SAVE them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.'' (Heb.7:25,26)

Were not their religious observance enough? They were not. Ever since the tragic fall of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, every human being is born with a sin nature. We are sinners by birth, sinners by nature and sinners by choice!

St. Paul explains: “For Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own BLOOD He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

“For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much MORE shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, PURGE your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?'' (Heb.9:11-14)

“For I know that in me (that is my flesh) dwelleth no good thing:...it is no more I that do it, but SIN that dwelleth in me....O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

''For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for SIN, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” ( Rom. 7: 18-25;8:1,2)

Through the vicarious death of Jesus Christ for us all on the CROSS and His glorious resurrection from the dead, we have been REDEEMED from the curse of the law and adopted by Jesus Christ our precious Lord and Saviour, as children of God! (Gal.3:13)

CHRIST HAS DIED! CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton AB T5V 1N6; Email:[email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Donations can be made be e-Transfer. Make your donations to [email protected] Thank you and may God bless you!