FAITH OF JESUS:                              With Signs Following

by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"What then, shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether to sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:15,16)

For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15,16)

CHRIST CRUCIFIED, RISEN & COMING

Our agenda is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many as possible, as quickly as possible and in every way possible.  We believe that Christ is not only the Hope of the world, but His Gospel is the remedy for the many problems, fears, addictions and diseases that are plaguing mankind!  And we know that we have a limited time to get the job done, because surely our LORD will soon return!

It is therefore essential that we utilize every possible means available to make Christ's name known, loved and trusted, while we have the opportunity.  By means of the internet we can reach behind the communist walls, iron curtains, Islamic torture regimes and capitalist nations!

Some of my television and radio messages, book and tracts are are Youtube.  By the grace of God I wrote 300 columns for the Edmonton Sunday Sun from 1984-1990.  The are on an E-Book on 'comehometojesus'.  They are also on a computer disc, which you may receive for a small donation by writing to us.  They are also on a computer disk, which you may receive for a small donation by writing to us!

In the April 2002 issue of the "Cry of His Coming" magazine, page 16, now on the internet, is the wonderful testimony of Healing and Deliverance in the life of Svein Erik Aasmul of Lyngdal, Norway:

"When I was about 15 or 16 years of age, I got hooked on heroin and for 10 long years, I was in and out of institutions and prisons because of my addiction to drugs.  Nothing helped and my addition grew worse and I would use any drug I could get my hands on - heroin, amphetamine as well as alcohol.

MAX SOLBEKKEN CRUSADE!

One day in March 1998 I heard about a Max Solbrekken Crusade in Bergen, Norway, and somehow in my stupor of drugs and alcohol I got to this meeting.  A group of Canadian Indians called the 'Resurrection Band' led by Len Laboucan, were singing and playing their instruments.

Pastor Max preached about Jesus Christ and His power to save, heal and deliver.  He told in graphic detail how Jesus had suffered for our sins.  I went forward to receive Jesus as my Saviour, and to be healed of my terrible addictions!  After the meeting I went outside to take a fix, but the needle didn't work.  Then, I realized that I was free from all drug addiction.

Later, I checked myself into the Evangelistic Rehab Centre.  After a year there, I loved to Tonsberg and began to work, something I had hadly ever done in my life.  There I met a lovely young lady named Gunhild and we got married.  We are now living in Lyndal and are awaiting the arrival of a baby this summer.

I have been drug and alcohol free since march 1998 (4 1/2 years) and all the glory and honour goes to Jesus!  And I have a good job as a welder.  It's good to have a new foundation in life, one that you can trust in all situations.  All honour and glory to Jesus!

GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH

The Bible says: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of devil; for God was with Him.  And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

:Him God raised up the third day and showed Him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.  And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead."

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10: 38-43)

St. Peter declared: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers:  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot:

"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory: that your faith and hope & might be in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)

St. Paul unveiled for us, that in the council of Heaven, before the world was created, the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) made the "Blood of the Everlasting Covenant" for the Redemption of Mankind!

He declared: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Him be glory for ever and ever." (Hebrew 13: 20, 21)

In His great wisdom to redeem Adam's fallen race, Almighty God entered human history through incarnation of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.  His death for the sins of the entire world, past, present and future!

FOR THIS PURPOSE!

St. John declared: “He that committeth sin is of devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.†(1 John 3:8)\The very purpose of His Incarnation was to save us all from spiritual death and deliver us from the Wicked One. Our Saviour said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more abundantly.†(John 10:10)

Jesus Christ, God the Son was manifested to destroy Satan and his works of sin, fear, disease, death, poverty, and demon possession.

St. Paul declared: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through DEATH He might DESTROY him that had the power over death, that is the Devil.  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

JESUS not only preached repentance and healed the sick and cast out devils, but He commanded His disciples, apostles, and followers to do the same.  He is His Great Commission: "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but He that believeth not shall be damned.

And these Signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents (like Paul in Malta); and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18)

"And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which sayeth He ye have heard of Me.  For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

"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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following." (Mark 16:19-20)

GOD SHOWED UP IN POWER

Did JESUS keep His word?  The answer is a resounding 'YES'!  He kept His Word to them, and He still fulfills His Word today.  He cannot make a mistake.  He cannot fail.  He cannot lie.  "Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)  He said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6);

The Bible says: "And when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all of one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven of a Rushing Mighty Wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of FIRE, and it sat upon each of them."

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are al lthese Galileans in our own tongues, wherein we were born?...we do hear them speak the wonderful work of God...?

Three thousand souls believed and were  born again after hearing St. Peter's great Pentecostal Message, on Jesus of Nazareth's scrificial death and glorious resurrection from the dead 3 days later, according to the Holy Scriptures!

Then peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Then they that gladly received His words were baptized and the same day they were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-44)

WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING

"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,  being the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered in the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms:

"And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

"And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God: And all the people saw walking and leaping, and praising God."

"And they  knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

GOD HATH GLORIFIED HIS SON

"And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people.  Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

"The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our father, hath glorified His Son Jesus: whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go."

"But ye denied the Holy One and the Just and desired a murdered to be granted unto you.  And killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses, And His Name through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given Him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:1-16)

WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE?

The Church which Jesus Christ established when He poured out the Holy Spirit was functioning as it was designed to do!  The birth of the Church of the Day of Pentecost had set a great revival in motion!  It was functioning in perfect harmony with the promise Jesus Christ.

He said: "REPENT ye therefore, and be ye converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

"Unto the first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:19-21,26)

JUSTIFIED BY JESUS' BLOOD!

The Bible states: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, which we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be reconciled by His life." (Romans 5:8-10)

We are forgiven, pardoned, cleansed, liberated, delivered, and born again through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  He graciously bestows upon us total freedom and liberty in the Holy Spirit, and through His stripes were are divinely healed from all sickness and diseases!

"He (Abraham) staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.  And therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness."

"Now it was not written for his sake along, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:20-25)

DO WE BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST WAS GOD WHO WAS INCARNATED?

Herein lies the key!  Do we totally believe that Jesus Christ was fully God was was incarnated (God in human flesh) and became fully man so that He could suffer,  bleed and die to redeem us by meeting the righteous demands of divine justice to satisfy the wrath of God against the sins of Adam and the human race?

If we by God's grace and through divine faith reach that threshold of fellowship with the Father through His Son, the Holy Spirit will lead un into a place  where the impossible becomes possible.  I believe that is when the faith of Jesus supplants our imperfect faith!

I DIDN'T HAVE THE FAITH

During our crusades in Eastern Europe in the early 1990's, a Ukrainian team and I were ministering in several towns and villages.  The Norwegian Pentecostals had donated a large tour bus to a group of young preached in Truskevets which we used on several occasions while ministering across Ukraine.  The authorities were very helpful as we were able to set up our PA equipment and conduct services in desirable locations.

Man people happily made decisions to follow Jesus Christ and there were some notable answers to prayer among the sick and suffering. On one occasion we experienced an amazing miracle.  The town had a population of 2,000 and a large crowd attended, seated on the grass or on chairs they brought with them.  During my message, a young lady jumped to her feet and rushed forward with her 3 year old son in her arms, followed by her husband and about 16 other people.  She blurted out, "My son has just died."

I asked my interpreter if he knew those people, and he replied, "Yes, they are the only Protestants here and their church has 22 members and is called 'The Believers'.

The parents had attended several of our crusades, begging us to have a service in their town because their little son was incurably sick.  He was born with a congenital heart disease and they have been told by the doctors to stop rushing him into the hospital, because he is beyond hope!  They would say, "He will die tomorrow.  Don't bother us!"

I asked the mother if everyone there knew them, and she replied that they did.  Then I asked the large congregation if they knew that couple, and they shouted back that they knew them.  I asked, "Do you believe the boy is dead and did they believe that God would bring him back to life?"

They said that little boy should have died before and that they believed God would raise him up.  They stated that the parents told them that their son would be healed and that is why they came to the meeting!

I asked everyone to stand to their feet, lift their hands toward God and pray after me.  We prayed a lengthy prayer asking God for forgiveness and inviting Christ to come into their hearts.  We prayed the Lord's Prayer.  After that, we made the Confession of Faith and the Prayer of thanksgiving!

Then I prayed for mercy and grace and for faith to believe that God would grant a miracle.  I was overwhelmed by the great challenge as I had never been in such a situation before.  THEY HAD COME TO SEE GOD HEAL THE BOY and now it was too late!  Up to this point, I DID NOT have the faith to command the little boy to come back to life.

In desperation, I began to praise God for His faithfulness while confessing my weakness and lack of power. Suddenly something happened to me and I felt God's power moving in me.  I reached over and touched the little boy, commanding the spirit of death to leave and his spirit to come back into him. I ASKED GOD FOR A MIRACLE of healing in his body, in Jesus' mighty name.

At that moment, his left leg moved out and so did his right arm.  I asked for a cup of water and in the name of Jesus Christ I threw it into his face.  His eyes opened and almost immediately he was on the floor walking about.

The whole crowd came alive and were excitedly rejoicing and worshipping God. Jesus had performed a mighty miracle and proved to them that He is Alive!  TO GOD BE ALL THE HONOR, POWER AND GLORY! Amen.

                                      ----------- to be continued -----------------

FAITH OF JESUS:
With Signs Following
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"What then, shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether to sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:15,16)

For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15,16)

CHRIST CRUCIFIED, RISEN & COMING

Our agenda is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many as possible, as quickly as possible and in every way possible.  We believe that Christ is not only the Hope of the world, but His Gospel is the remedy for the many problems, fears, addictions and diseases that are plaguing mankind!  And we know that we have a limited time to get the job done, because surely our LORD will soon return!

It is therefore essential that we utilize every possible means available to make Christ's name known, loved and trusted, while we have the opportunity.  By means of the internet we can reach behind the communist walls, iron curtains, Islamic torture regimes and capitalist nations!

Some of my television and radio messages, book and tracts are are Youtube.  By the grace of God I wrote 300 columns for the Edmonton Sunday Sun from 1984-1990.  The are on an E-Book on 'comehometojesus'.  They are also on a computer disc, which you may receive for a small donation by writing to us.  They are also on a computer disk, which you may receive for a small donation by writing to us!

In the April 2002 issue of the "Cry of His Coming" magazine, page 16, now on the internet, is the wonderful testimony of Healing and Deliverance in the life of Svein Erik Aasmul of Lyngdal, Norway:

"When I was about 15 or 16 years of age, I got hooked on heroin and for 10 long years, I was in and out of institutions and prisons because of my addiction to drugs.  Nothing helped and my addition grew worse and I would use any drug I could get my hands on - heroin, amphetamine as well as alcohol.

MAX SOLBEKKEN CRUSADE!

One day in March 1998 I heard about a Max Solbrekken Crusade in Bergen, Norway, and somehow in my stupor of drugs and alcohol I got to this meeting.  A group of Canadian Indians called the 'Resurrection Band' led by Len Laboucan, were singing and playing their instruments.

Pastor Max preached about Jesus Christ and His power to save, heal and deliver.  He told in graphic detail how Jesus had suffered for our sins.  I went forward to receive Jesus as my Saviour, and to be healed of my terrible addictions!  After the meeting I went outside to take a fix, but the needle didn't work.  Then, I realized that I was free from all drug addiction.

Later, I checked myself into the Evangelistic Rehab Centre.  After a year there, I loved to Tonsberg and began to work, something I had hadly ever done in my life.  There I met a lovely young lady named Gunhild and we got married.  We are now living in Lyndal and are awaiting the arrival of a baby this summer.

I have been drug and alcohol free since march 1998 (4 1/2 years) and all the glory and honour goes to Jesus!  And I have a good job as a welder.  It's good to have a new foundation in life, one that you can trust in all situations.  All honour and glory to Jesus!

GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH

The Bible says: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of devil; for God was with Him.  And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

:Him God raised up the third day and showed Him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.  And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead."

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10: 38-43)

St. Peter declared: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers:  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot:

"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory: that your faith and hope & might be in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)

St. Paul unveiled for us, that in the council of Heaven, before the world was created, the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) made the "Blood of the Everlasting Covenant" for the Redemption of Mankind!

He declared: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Him be glory for ever and ever." (Hebrew 13: 20, 21)

In His great wisdom to redeem Adam's fallen race, Almighty God entered human history through incarnation of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.  His death for the sins of the entire world, past, present and future!

FOR THIS PURPOSE!

St. John declared: “He that committeth sin is of devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.†(1 John 3:8)\The very purpose of His Incarnation was to save us all from spiritual death and deliver us from the Wicked One. Our Saviour said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more abundantly.†(John 10:10)

Jesus Christ, God the Son was manifested to destroy Satan and his works of sin, fear, disease, death, poverty, and demon possession.

St. Paul declared: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through DEATH He might DESTROY him that had the power over death, that is the Devil.  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

JESUS not only preached repentance and healed the sick and cast out devils, but He commanded His disciples, apostles, and followers to do the same.  He is His Great Commission: "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but He that believeth not shall be damned.

And these Signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents (like Paul in Malta); and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18)

"And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which sayeth He ye have heard of Me.  For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

"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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following." (Mark 16:19-20)

GOD SHOWED UP IN POWER

Did JESUS keep His word?  The answer is a resounding 'YES'!  He kept His Word to them, and He still fulfills His Word today.  He cannot make a mistake.  He cannot fail.  He cannot lie.  "Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)  He said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6);

The Bible says: "And when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all of one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven of a Rushing Mighty Wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of FIRE, and it sat upon each of them."

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are al lthese Galileans in our own tongues, wherein we were born?...we do hear them speak the wonderful work of God...?

Three thousand souls believed and were  born again after hearing St. Peter's great Pentecostal Message, on Jesus of Nazareth's scrificial death and glorious resurrection from the dead 3 days later, according to the Holy Scriptures!

Then peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Then they that gladly received His words were baptized and the same day they were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-44)

WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING

"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,  being the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered in the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms:

"And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

"And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God: And all the people saw walking and leaping, and praising God."

"And they  knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

GOD HATH GLORIFIED HIS SON

"And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people.  Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

"The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our father, hath glorified His Son Jesus: whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go."

"But ye denied the Holy One and the Just and desired a murdered to be granted unto you.  And killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses, And His Name through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given Him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:1-16)

WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE?

The Church which Jesus Christ established when He poured out the Holy Spirit was functioning as it was designed to do!  The birth of the Church of the Day of Pentecost had set a great revival in motion!  It was functioning in perfect harmony with the promise Jesus Christ.

He said: "REPENT ye therefore, and be ye converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

"Unto the first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:19-21,26)

JUSTIFIED BY JESUS' BLOOD!

The Bible states: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, which we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be reconciled by His life." (Romans 5:8-10)

We are forgiven, pardoned, cleansed, liberated, delivered, and born again through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  He graciously bestows upon us total freedom and liberty in the Holy Spirit, and through His stripes were are divinely healed from all sickness and diseases!

"He (Abraham) staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.  And therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness."

"Now it was not written for his sake along, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:20-25)

DO WE BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST WAS GOD WHO WAS INCARNATED?

Herein lies the key!  Do we totally believe that Jesus Christ was fully God was was incarnated (God in human flesh) and became fully man so that He could suffer,  bleed and die to redeem us by meeting the righteous demands of divine justice to satisfy the wrath of God against the sins of Adam and the human race?

If we by God's grace and through divine faith reach that threshold of fellowship with the Father through His Son, the Holy Spirit will lead un into a place  where the impossible becomes possible.  I believe that is when the faith of Jesus supplants our imperfect faith!

I DIDN'T HAVE THE FAITH

During our crusades in Eastern Europe in the early 1990's, a Ukrainian team and I were ministering in several towns and villages.  The Norwegian Pentecostals had donated a large tour bus to a group of young preached in Truskevets which we used on several occasions while ministering across Ukraine.  The authorities were very helpful as we were able to set up our PA equipment and conduct services in desirable locations.

Man people happily made decisions to follow Jesus Christ and there were some notable answers to prayer among the sick and suffering. On one occasion we experienced an amazing miracle.  The town had a population of 2,000 and a large crowd attended, seated on the grass or on chairs they brought with them.  During my message, a young lady jumped to her feet and rushed forward with her 3 year old son in her arms, followed by her husband and about 16 other people.  She blurted out, "My son has just died."

I asked my interpreter if he knew those people, and he replied, "Yes, they are the only Protestants here and their church has 22 members and is called 'The Believers'.

The parents had attended several of our crusades, begging us to have a service in their town because their little son was incurably sick.  He was born with a congenital heart disease and they have been told by the doctors to stop rushing him into the hospital, because he is beyond hope!  They would say, "He will die tomorrow.  Don't bother us!"

I asked the mother if everyone there knew them, and she replied that they did.  Then I asked the large congregation if they knew that couple, and they shouted back that they knew them.  I asked, "Do you believe the boy is dead and did they believe that God would bring him back to life?"

They said that little boy should have died before and that they believed God would raise him up.  They stated that the parents told them that their son would be healed and that is why they came to the meeting!

I asked everyone to stand to their feet, lift their hands toward God and pray after me.  We prayed a lengthy prayer asking God for forgiveness and inviting Christ to come into their hearts.  We prayed the Lord's Prayer.  After that, we made the Confession of Faith and the Prayer of thanksgiving!

Then I prayed for mercy and grace and for faith to believe that God would grant a miracle.  I was overwhelmed by the great challenge as I had never been in such a situation before.  THEY HAD COME TO SEE GOD HEAL THE BOY and now it was too late!  Up to this point, I DID NOT have the faith to command the little boy to come back to life.

In desperation, I began to praise God for His faithfulness while confessing my weakness and lack of power. Suddenly something happened to me and I felt God's power moving in me.  I reached over and touched the little boy, commanding the spirit of death to leave and his spirit to come back into him. I ASKED GOD FOR A MIRACLE of healing in his body, in Jesus' mighty name.

At that moment, his left leg moved out and so did his right arm.  I asked for a cup of water and in the name of Jesus Christ I threw it into his face.  His eyes opened and almost immediately he was on the floor walking about.

The whole crowd came alive and were excitedly rejoicing and worshipping God. Jesus had performed a mighty miracle and proved to them that He is Alive!  TO GOD BE ALL THE HONOR, POWER AND GLORY! Amen.

                                      ----------- to be continued -----------------