THE HOLY BIBLE GOD'S WORD
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
On Thursday, February 3, at the National Prayer Breakfast in
Washington, DC., President Ronald Reagan proclaimed 1983 The Year of The
Bible. Following is an excerpt of his address to the National Religious
Broadcasters that same week.
…I believe that when Americans reach out for values of faith,
family, and caring for the needy, they’re saying, ‘We want the Word of God. We want to face the future with the Bible. …We’re blessed to have its words of
strength, comfort and truth. I’ve often wondered, within the covers of that
single Book, are all the answers to all the problems that we face today… if
we’d only look there. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the
Word of our God shall stand forever.”
…I’ve always believed that this blessed land was set apart in
a special way, that some divine plan placed this great continent here between
two oceans to be found by people from every corner of the earth – people who
had a special love for freedom…I hope Americans will read and study the
Bible in 1983. It’s my firm belief that the enduring values presented
in its pages have a great meaning for each of us and for our nation. The Bible
can touch our hearts, order our minds, refresh our souls.” - President Ronald Reagan.
The Amazing Healing Power of God’s Word
That God is the Healer is no secret. That His Word has
amazing saving, healing and creative power to save, heal and deliver is well
known. But, that His power to save, heal and deliver is readily available at
absolutely NO COST, is not widely known!
Most people believe that there are strings attached, a price
to pay, good works to do, a guru to follow and that God honours only a few.
Divine Healing is a gift from God to those who are fearful, sick and diseased.
And He offers it freely through the Death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus
Christ through which He has defeated sin, fear, sickness, disease and Satan
himself!
St. John states emphatically, “…For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested, that he might Destroy the works of the Devil. (1
John 3:8). St. Paul declared: “For as much then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part of the same, that through Death,
He might Destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil:
And Deliver them who through the fear of death, were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2: 14,15)
WHAT ARE THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL?
The first question we must address is, “What are the
works of the Devil?” The answer is found in the Ministry of Jesus of
Nazareth! What did He do in His earthly Ministry? He came to seek and to save
those who were lost. He preached the Gospel of God’s mercy, grace and love. He
healed the sick and suffering. He cast out devils. He warned of coming
judgment.
“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power:
buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the
faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances, that was against
us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross. And having spoiled principalities and
powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing in it.” (Col. 3:12,14,15)
Jesus healed the
sick and cast out devils from those who were bound. He liberated those that came
to Him in their deep need and He met those needs! He fed the hungry and raised
the dead and had compassion on the fearful, sick and broken! Wherever Jesus
travelled and ministered, He met the needs of those that trusted in Him! His
Ministry liberated people whom Satan had bound!
The Bible states, “For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil, for God was with Him.”
(1 John 3:8). 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)
The Ministry of our Saviour Jesus Christ
brought forgiveness, peace, joy, health and blessing! The works of the devil
are Sin, Fear, Condemnation, Sickness, Disease and Death!
The Bible states, “For the preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness, but to us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1
Cor. 1:18). The Sovereignty of God demanded punishment for sin and the CROSS
provided the Final Solution! For a time God winked at or overlooked SIN in His
great mercy and kindness by allowing the Sacrifice of innocent animals, lambs,
goats and bullocks (occasionally a red heifer) to suffice.
When the fulness of time had come, Almighty God our Heavenly
Father gave Himself in His SON, to be the propitiation for our sins. The word
propitiation means the covering, satisfaction and expiation. Jesus, the perfect
righteous ONE had to shed His Holy Blood to cover and remove our sins by His
vicarious death on the cross, to satisfy the Righteous demands of Divine
Justice!
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
The Word of God states: “Concerning His Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, which was made of seed of David according to the flesh; And to
be declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of
Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom. 1:3,4)
“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both
to the wise, and to the unwise. So as much as in me is, I am READY to preach
the Gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the
Gospel of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of
God revealed; from faith to faith: as it is written the JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Rom. 1: 14-17)
“But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed if we believe
on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord for our offences and was raised again for
our Justification.” (Rom. 4: 24,25). “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared
to be the Son of God with Power, by the Resurrection from the dead.”
(Rom.2:3,4)
CHRIST’S GREAT SACRIFICE
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; And
unto them who look for Him shall He appear the Second Time without Sin unto
salvation.” (Heb.9:28).
“Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will O God. He taketh
away the first, that He may establish the second – By the which will we are
sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ, ONCE for all. But THIS Man, after He had offered ONE
SACRIFICE for sins
forever, SAT DOWN on the Right Hand of God; from
henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.
“For by ONE OFFERING He hath perfected forever
them that are sanctified.” (Heb.10:7)
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal 2:20); “But that no
man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, “The just
shall live by faith.”
“Christ hath Redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every man that hangeth on the
tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put of Christ. (Gal. 3:11,13,26,27). “For in Him we live,
and move, and have our being, as certain also of your poets have said, for we
are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought
not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by
art and man’s device.
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in
the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that MAN whom He hath
given assurance uno all men, in that He raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:
28-31)
GOD’S RECORD OF HIS SON
My Testimony
revolves around the reliability of the Holy Scriptures. Jesus said, “I am the
Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh to the Father but by Me.’ (John 14:6).
He stated emphatically, “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in
Me: or else believe Me for the very work’s sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall ye do also; also greater works
than these shall ye do; because I go unto the Father.
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He will abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him: For He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” (John 14: 10-18)
The great Love between God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, during His wilderness Temptation, and in the Garden of Gethsemane, prove His consecration and truthfulness! His Words and Miracles set Him apart as being Divine, as do the fulfilment of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah!
SPECIAL MIRACLES FROM OUR SAVIOUR
Many years ago, Pastor Don Osborne shared with me an amazing miracle he had experienced. He had been diagnosed with a serious heart disease and was given only a 50 % chance of surviving the scheduled surgery. As they were wheeling his gurney toward the operation theater he fell asleep and had a vision. He saw a large highway with seven lanes going in one direction.
Every vehicle had the word understanding on
their licence plates. Then a lone vehicle sped past them all in the outside
lane. It’s licence plate bore the word PEACE. He knew at once that he would
survive the operation. God had spoken and it was in His hands! The Prophet had
spoken those words many years earlier in Holy Scripture: “And the Peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:7)
May our dear Jesus touch your heart, your life
and that of your family. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Max Solbrekken
World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6. Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca;
Facebook; Youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer; Make your donation to [email protected]; May God
bless you.
