THE HOLY BIBLE IS 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.
