Thursday, September 19, 2024

JESUS STILL ASKS 

Do you want  to be Healed?

by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 "After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

“In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 

“And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming another steppeth down before me.   “Jesus saith unto him, Rise take up thy bed, and walk!  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked…" (John 5:1-9)

Jesus Christ asked that question of a man who was sick and diseased; A man who had laid for thirty years in a place where healings happened supernaturally by God’s great power!

You may say that was a rather foolish question to ask one who was waiting for a miracle at the pool of Bethesda.  You may think so, but I don't!  After reading this sermon I am sure you will agree with me that it was a very good question to ask. I want to ask you that are sick and suffering, the same question, "Do you want to be healed?  Do you really want to get well?”

ONE GIRL WAS HEALED 

My mother Anne Hestekind was taken to a ‘Divine Healing Home’, near Oslo, Norway in 1921 to receive the prayers of Evangelists Storm and Monson, who were having great results in praying for the sick.  These men of God were from Evangelical and Salvation Army backgrounds, who had established the Bethesda Healing House, where the sick could come for instruction in the Bible and be healed. 

After a week of preparation and prayers, they would follow the same procedure as recorded in John Chapter 5, and take the ‘March of Faith’ into the waters, while releasing their faith to God for a miracle. 

There was no power in the water, but the releasing of their faith brought into operation the mighty power of God. Going into the water was their point of contact with God, at which moment they believed and received their miracle. 

After seven days of seeking God, praying, reading the Scriptures and hearing anointed sermons they were ready to act upon the promises of God and be healed.  My mother had been incurably ill for approximately six years and very weak and sickly and was apprehensive about going down into the cold water of the North Sea.

The Nurse gave my mother the key to unlock the Bathouse that led directly into the water. While she stood there, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and heard a voice saying: ‘You will not die, you will be healed!” Mother felt God’s power all over her, and she was instantly healed. She ran into the water and out again, praising God!

Her brother had brought her by horse and wagon to the Railroad crossing and by train to Bethesda. After the miracle, she took the train back by herself and walked the 27 kilometers to her home!

Three young ladies made the journey to see these men of God; the other two returned home to die while my mother went home to live, perfectly healed.  My mother passed away in November 1968 at approximately at age 76, and had never been sickly or suffered from her previous illness once for those 56 years.

MY MOTHER WAS INSTSANTLY HEALED

When I was preaching in Norway in great Crusades in May-July 1968, I had the privilege of spending some time in Etnedal, Valdres where my Mother and Dad grew up and lived until their departure to Canada in 1927.

Many of my relatives and Mom and Dad's old friends remembered my mother's glorious healing and commented on it.  She was one of the first to receive a supernatural  mircale there! They told me of the tremendous stir that my mother's healing had made in the community and how she sang the Gospel songs and played her guitar and violin for the children in the school house. 

I had the privilege of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Norwegian to the precious people who gathered outside the same school house to hear the Word of God. The crowd was far too large for the old School House, so we held it outside. 

The Lutheran Lay Reader was present and opened the service in prayer. He knew my mother and said: "We all knew Anne Hestekind well and are so overjoyed to see the fruit of her godly life in the life of her son, Max Solbrekken". 

I will never forget that meeting and the other ones we conducted in the large new Lutheran Prayer House, where 300 people (mostly my relatives) crowded into the Church to hear me preach the Gospel.  Over one-half of those present stood to their feet to receive Christ as their personal Saviour in the final service.  By the grace of God I led my three Aunts and my Uncle Frituf to Jesus!

The question that you will no doubt ask at this point is this - Your mother was gloriously healed but what about others who may not have been blessed. I will seek to answer many important questions pertaining to Divine Healing in this article.  First, let us go back to the account of ‘The Healing of the Impotent Man’ and learn a few lessons about Jesus and His great ministry while on earth.

 JESUS GOES WHERE THE NEED IS

Our story opens with Jesus going to Jerusalem for a special religious gathering and feast. The very next verse tells us that Jesus was at His Father's business of bringing healing and deliverance to an impotent man. 

Jesus Christ went where the need was the greatest.  Yes, my friend, you will always find Jesus in the midst of human suffering and pain, trouble and sorrow because He is touched the feeling of our infirmities (Heb. 4:15) and He is acquainted with sorrow and grief. (Isa. 53:3-5)

No rich or influential person would live near a sheep market because of the smell and stench of that place.  Only the poor and underprivileged would resort to such a place. Have you ever driven by a packing house, feeder lot or turkey ranch on a hot, sultry day?  This was exactly where the sick and the suffering came to receive healing from God. 

The Bible says, "In there lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water." 

The discouraged, defeated, sick, suffering and dying had gathered to receive a touch from the Master. Wherever people are being helped supernaturally by the Spirit and power of God there will be no shortage of people coming to receive help. Into this arena of human suffering walked the Son of God to bring deliverance, health and healing to one who had no hope! 

The smell from the sheep market did not deter Him in His quest for blessing those in need; the religious people of His day were no doubt too preoccupied with the Religious Feast and the other traditions and ceremonials to think of walking down among the unwanted, unfortunate and undesirable of Jerusalem, but Jesus found His way to the bedside of an incurable man. 

Yes, my friend, Jesus is never too big, proud or too busy to visit the little fellow in his trouble, sin, fear, hatred, pain or disease!

THE ANGEL CAME DOWN AND TROUBLED THE WATERS

The reason the multitude of sick and impotent folks were gathered at the pool of Bethesda was because an angel would come down at a certain season and troubled the waters and when the people would see the angel or at least see the waters being troubled they all hurried to get into the pool because the first one in after the troubling of the waters was healed of whatsoever disease he had.  We learn several lessons here.  

First, that God was so desirous to bring healing to the sick and since He couldn't get the Preachers and Priests to do His will in the matter, (Micah 3:5-8) He had to send angels to bring healing to the sick!  

I wonder what alot of Ministers of the Gospel are going to do when they stand before God and try to give an answer as to why they haven't bound up the broken and healed the sick in His Name. (Ezek. 34:3-4)  It is the same with many of the great truths found in the Holy Scriptures.  

Many men who stand behind the pulpits of our Churches and who call themselves Ministers of God are not preaching the entire Gospel and taking a clear cut stand against sin and apostacy; rather they are compromising with the world so that they can gain prominence and acceptance from those who are the elite in the community.  Approximately fifteen years ago a news report was released over a large Radio Network in the U.S.A. regarding a number of mysterious happenings on a certain State Highway.

TWENTY NINE PEOPLE GAVE THE SAME REPORT

The news reporter made the statement that twenty nine different people had called in to the State patrol within a period of a few hours declaring that they had seen a young, clean cut, good looking man standing by the highway.  

Every one of them had stopped and given him a ride and in each case the stranger had said, "I have come to tell you that Jesus is coming soon," and he was gone.  Twenty nine different motorists had given the same testimony.  There have been other recent, equally astounding accounts of angels appearing and telling people that Jesus is soon to return.

I believe that so very few of God's Ministers are preaching about the soon return of Christ and He is so anxious to get the message out that He is employing angels to do this task from time to time as the end approaches.

 THE VERY STONES WOULD CRY OUT

Sometimes I am criticized because we enjoy the liberty of the Spirit in our services and the people shout praises unto God and worship Him with a loud noise.  When I am confronted with these accusations, I always let my accuser read Luke 19:37-40 to show them how wrong they are. 

"And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a LOUD voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.  

"And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."  This Scripture passage shows us the truth about the matter of emotionalism, worship and praise in the House of God.  There were a multitude (thousands) of disciples and followers of Jesus shouting and praising God with a loud voice for the mighty works that they had seen.  

Can you imagine thousands of people praising God with loud voices at one time.  That's what they did and the Pharisees, from among the multitude got nervous (and so did the devil) and said, "Master, stop thy disciples, they are making too much noise."  But Jesus told them that it was quite alright.  As a matter of fact He liked it. 

Then He said, "If I tell these people to be quiet the stones would immediately cry out"  Hallelujah.  If you won't praise God, He will find someone who will. God was so desirous of healing the sick that He had to use an angel to bring deliverance.

 WHEN THE WATERS WERE TROUBLED

"...Whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." (Vs. 4)  The time to make a move for the pool was when the waters were troubled.  Not before and not after but exactly at the time the angel was troubling the waters.  There is another great lesson to learn here as well.  

Even though God can heal the sick any hour of the day and any day of the week, there are certain times when His power is present to heal in a spectacular and astounding way.  "And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them." (Luke 5:17)  

I am fully convinced that there are times that God's power is present in a meeting in a strong way to convict sinners or baptize with the Holy Ghost or to heal, at various times.  We must move in the Spirit and so know the mind of God in these matters in order to receive all that He has for us.

 WHATEVER DISEASE HE HAD

"...Whosoever then first stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."  It didn't matter how serious the sickness, how nigh unto death the person was or how long they had been sick.  They were healed if they met God's conditions.  Whatsoever disease covers all diseases; there were none too big for God to look after.  

The Bible says, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27)  Again the Bible says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23)  The Word of God says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do..." (John 14:13)  

There is nothing too hard for God. He cannot fail and He will fulfill His Word.  Remember no disease, sickness, problem or difficulty is too hard for our wonderful Lord!  He is able to forgive, cleanse, deliver and liberate any and all who come to Him in prayer, believing.  

The Bible says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases..." (Ps. 103:1-3)

 JESUS KNOWS EVERYTHING

"And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.  And when Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case..." (Vs. 5-6)  Jesus knows everything about you, my dear friend.  He knows your troubles, difficulties and successes.  Nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of God and His ears are open to your cry.  

The Scripture tells us that even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God seeing it, (Matt. 10:29) and the very hairs of your head are numbered.  God looks after the lily of the field, (Matt. 6:28-30) and I am sure He will look after you and me.  Hallelujah.  

Jesus walked up to the bedside of a hopelessly sick man; a man who was incurable and had given up hope; a man who was filled with bitterness and resentment and who had waited in vain for thirty eight years to receive his miracle.  To this man Jesus asked a very pointed question. "Wilt thou be made whole?"

 WILT THOU BE WHOLE?

 Jesus looked down upon the sick man and asked him a question that pierced deep within his soul.  Wilt thou be made whole?  What Jesus was saying was, "Do you really want to get well" or "Are you really expecting to get healed?"  Jesus knew the man didn't expect to get well; he had given up and was filled with resentment and bitterness. 

It may surprise you to know that many people who are in hospitals do not expect to get well; many people who go through the prayer lines or ask the Pastor or Evangelist to pray for them do not expect to be healed; they just go to the hospital or into the prayer line for prayer because they feel it is the thing to do; they just go through the motions but they are not believing; they do not have active faith.

 SOME PEOPLE LIKE ALOT OF ATTENTION

There was an article in a National Magazine some time ago that told of people who are not sick but just love to go to the hospital; they will do anything to get the attention of nurses and doctors.  Some even go so far, the report stated, as to allow themselves to be operated on when no operation is necessary, just to be in the hospital.  They love to be waited on and the attention they receive is most gratifying to them.  

The article continued by saying that even in some instances the patient was able to desire hospitalization so much that the symptoms of certain diseases were manifested.  These people want to be sick to receive attention and therefore couldn't desire healing even if they were sick.

On one occasion I was praying for the sick in a Revival Crusade; many were receiving miracles from the Lord and the great power of God was evidenced by all.  A blind man stood before me for prayer; I asked him if he expected a miracle and he said he did; then I told him that I believed God would do it for him that night.  

Suddenly he backed up a bit and asked the question, "If I receive my sight will I lose my blind pension?"  I replied, "Yes" and added that he would gain much more than just a pension; he could get a job and support his family; then he backed off saying, "I don't think I want prayer tonight - perhaps some other time," and someone was leading him away. 

He was afraid that if I prayed and God healed him that he would lose his pension and have to work for a living.  What a shame!  Some religious people who deny "The miraculous power of God today" would not dare come to our services for prayer because if they would get healed it would spoil their theology and they would have to deny their man-made doctrines.

Sometime ago a certain elder for a so called Church of Christ (that denies the miracle power of Christ in divine healing) challenged me to come to his church and pray for the sick there and see what would happen.  I said, "All right, I'll come to your church; give me one hour without any comment or interference from your preacher and after having preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ for one hour I'll guarantee you that God will find someone there who will open their heart to His Word and by faith will reach out for a touch from "The Master."

  When he heard that, he politely refused to say any more, and he felt I should forget about the whole thing.  He was afraid that people would hear too much and receive from God, thus shattering their hollow teachings.  Some antagonistic religious bigots have even made the statements that they would sooner have their leg amputated or die of cancer than have Max Solbrekken pray for them.  These are few and far between, but they are fanatics who hate the Gospel and the power of God so much that they would sooner die than give in to Christ and the Full Gospel.

 MY SON IS A PENTECOSTAL PREACHER

I once had an experience that taught several people a good lesson - I was conducting a Revival Crusade in a certain city in the Northwest States and God was blessing in a wonderful way.  A certain woman who had an inward goitre came for prayer one night; as I prayed for her in Jesus Name, I felt a real surge of God's power and my faith touched the Lord; I knew something was happening.  I looked at her and said, "I believe God is healing you and making you whole!"  

She disregarded what I had said and made the following statement, "Oral Roberts has prayed for me three times and my son is a Pentecostal Minister and I'm not healed!"  I encouraged her to believe.  

The next night she was in the prayer line again and there was a repitition of the first night; the third night she came again and after I had prayed fervently for her to be healed she came out with the same words, "Oral Roberts has prayed for me three times and I have a son who is a Pentecostal Minister and I know that I'm not healed." 

I turned to her and said, "Woman, I have just finished praying for your healing with faith in Christ and you tell me that you know you are not healed.  I believe that if you will accept what I tell you and go home believing you will find that your goitre will leave.  Furthermore, it wouldn't matter to me if Oral Roberts had prayed for you one hundred times and you had ten sons in the ministry, the thing that matters is: do you believe God's Word?"  She looked at me as though she was offended and walked off in a huff. 

The next night she returned to the meeting "shouting happy".  She had been perfectly healed and her goitre was gone.  She testified that after I had rebuked her she had gone home, thought it over, repented of her sins and started to believe; suddenly she realized that her goitre which she had so lovingly pampered for many years was gone.  Hallelujah!

 Great joy filled my heart one night when I prayed for a man with a stiff arm in Vancouver, who had received prayer in Dr. Charles S. Price's crusade 35 years before. God hadn't seen fit to heal him but healed him in our meetings in 1964.  Just because someone has prayed for you and you haven't been healed doesn't mean you shouldn't go for prayer again.  

Keep praying, keep believing and keep expecting and you will receive an answer to your prayer!  You will receive an answer from God if you don't give up.  Faith holds on until the answer comes.  When Jesus asked the man, "Wilt thou be made whole," He was asking, "Do you really want to get better?"

I JUST WANTED YOU TO PRAY FOR ME SO I COULD SAY, "IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!"

In 1965 while conducting a Revival Crusade in Winnipeg, a very interesting incident took place.  One night as I was praying for the sick a young man stood before me, he had a crooked arm which was permanently bent at the elbow, he could move it around in its "right angle" position but he could not straighten it in the least. 

The young man was approximately 22 years of age and the accident had occurred when he was but a little child; proper attention had not been given to him so therefore this arm grew in that position.  As he told me all this, the Lord began to speak to my heart about him.  I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "You must realize that when I pray for you God's mighty power will come upon your body; are you ready to meet God's power?  

He answered in the affirmative.  I then felt impressed to ask him the same question the second time.  He again said that he was, adding that he was a Christian.  The mighty Spirit of God stirred my soul as I realized that he was not telling me the truth.  

The third time I questioned him saying, "Are you ready to meet God's power?"  He then began to cry and said, "No, I am not ready, I did not come here because I expected God to heal me.  I only came so that I could receive your prayers and then go out to tell people that there is nothing to Divine Healing and that your prayers did not help me; our Minister has said that you are a fake and that God no longer heals the sick."  He was weeping and asking me to forgive him. I said, "Ask God to forgive you for this terrible thing you have done."  

After he cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness, I laid my hands upon him and began to pray.  Before I was through praying I heard hundreds of people shouting and praising God; I opened my eyes and saw a wonderful sight.  George Goertzen was completely healed.  His arm was normal and tears of joy streamed down his face.  

He ran out to show his wife and she came under the tent (she had remained in the car during the service) and stood in amazement as she beheld the miracle.  This young man came into the prayer line for the wrong reason but God had mercy on his soul and as he repented the Lord healed him. Praise God. Pastor George Goertzen becane a strong preacher and Bible Teacher and shared His powerful testimony publicy and on televionptrograms!

 EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES

This man was going through the motions but he didn't really believe.  He had given up and Jesus knew it!  That's why Jesus asked him the question, "Wilt thou be made whole?"  He answered by giving excuses; you can just feel the note of resignation, failure and bitterness in his answer.  He said, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."  He was bitter and filled with resentment.  

He had been there for 38 years - without help; others had a friend or a relative to put them into the pool but not him.  He was alone in this world.  His relatives and friends had long ago deserted him and he was alone in this cruel world.  Bitterness will destroy an individual; it will eat out your heart and life. 

Don't ever let it get a grip on you or you'll be doomed to failure.  Regardless of what life has given you, regardless of the disappointments and heartaches.  Keep believing and you will receive an answer and a solution to your problems!

 JESUS DIDN'T GIVE HIM ANY PITY

If you are sick you do not need pity shown to you but rather compassion.  Pity has brought no healing miracle or no end to suffering, but Compassion brings an answer!  Compassion realizes the need and brings with it a solution to the problem; Pity leaves you where you are in your sad plight but Compassion sets the wheels in motion into the direction of deliverance for you!

Jesus could have agreed with him and said, "You poor man, I feel sorry for you; yes you have grounds for being bitter."  No, a thousand times NO!  Jesus looked upon the impotent man and issued a Command of Faith.  He said, "Rise, and take up thy bed, and walk!"

A great lesson that we learn here is that when you're dealing with Jesus you don't need any human help if you will put your faith in Him and obey His Word.  The second lesson we learn is that while we grumble, complain and murmur about our plight in life, Jesus isn't very far from anyone of us and stands ready to help us if we only acknowledge Him.

 MAN IS A TRIUNE BEING

Man was created in the image and likeness of God.  Man is triune as God is triune.  God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost and man is Spirit, Soul (Mind) and Body.  Jesus spoke to the impotent man's Spirit first and said, "Rise."  Usually before you can receive a physical miracle something must happen to your spirit.  You must receive a miracle within you. Your attitudes about God, His power and yourself must change.  

Multitudes today are sick physically because they are sick spiritually!  They have no faith in anyone.  Their hopes are gone and their spirit is filled with resentment and bitterness.  This man was in this condition and so therefore Jesus spoke to his spirit and said, "Rise."  Something within the man rose up; his spirit was healed and hope and faith swept into his being.  

Secondly Jesus spoke to the impotent man's Soul or mind and said, "Take up thy bed."  We believe with our hearts (spirits) but Faith without works is dead! (James 2:29)  The knowledge that creates faith (Rom. 10:17) is deep within your spirit but it must be in your mind as well or you will do nothing about what you believe.  Your mind sends to your body orders to do certain things and your body obeys those orders.  However the Spirit of man is the core or seat of his intelligence and understanding.  It is difficult for some people to believe with their heads what their heart or spirit knows is possible.  Jesus spoke to the man's spirit or innermost being and a great transformation took place there.  

Then He spoke to his mind (soul) and the man realized that what Jesus said was physically possible by God's supernatural power.  Lastly, Jesus spoke to the impotent man's body and said, "Walk" whereupon the man obeyed and was gloriously healed.  Many people need their Spirits (which govern their attitudes) healed - others need a mental healing - a spiritual brainwashing.  The Word of God that creates faith, heals the mind and renews it (John 5:5-9) the Scripture says, "And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked." (vs. 9)  

I ask you the same question that Jesus asked, "Wilt thou be made whole?"  Don't hide behind excuses but let Jesus heal your spirit and mind and I'll guarantee your physical diseases and sicknesses will have to flee away.  Hallelujah.  Amen

MARFA CABRERA GIVES REPORT OF MIRACLES!  (Reported in the ‘Cry of His Coming’ Magazine, Oct. 1980)

 Mrs. ‘Zero Kilometer’ Has Brought Over 3,000 People To Our Cordoba Meetings during The Last Two Years! “She calls herself “Zero Kilometer”, just like a brand new car with NO MILEAGE! 

For 21 years, this lady had suffered with arthritis, and for the last 14 years, she sat in a wheelchair or used crutches! To make a living during those many years, she sold various articles on the street corners (kiosks). Everyone knew she was crippled!

She was instantly healed in the Max Solbrekken Crusade in May 1978, and has given her testimony to thousands on the street corners and by radio, T.V. and Newspapers during the last two years, since her miracle.

She has been interviewed by all the Media. Through her testimony, 3,000 persons have been influenced to attend Omar Cabrera’s Crusades”!

THE MIRACLE THAT STIRRED ARGENTINA!

 Julio Diaz was born without ureters – had plastic tubes from his kidneys sticking out his sides, connecting with bags in which urine was collected – Now he urinates normally!  Says Marfa Cabrera, Santa Fe, Argentina.

(Reported in the Cry of His Coming” Magazine, October, 1981)

  Julio Diaz, born in 1976 – Santa Fe City; Carlos Diaz – (Father); Haydee

Gonzalez de Diaz (Mother). He was born with kidney problems. A few days later, his abdomen became extremely inflamed. Doctors performed all sorts of clinical procedures to determine what caused the inflammation. The final tests pointed to a urinary problem.

By that time, arthritis began to manifest in his right arm. The therapy prescribed was to exclude wheat from his food, because doctors thought that was the cause of his inflammation. There was no improvement. A subsequent x-ray of Julio’s abdomen revealed, that there was no connection between the kidneys and the bladder. (He had been born without ureters!)

Instead of his urine being eliminated, it was spreading throughout Julio’s body. Since this little baby was born without a normal urinary process, to urinate caused a burning sensation and much pain!

 Dr. Bernardo Gonzales (Santa Fe City) told his parents that Julio was very ill and there was a high risk of him dying in the very near future. He needed immediate surgery. There was no guarantee, however, that he would live. The most probable outcome was that he would die!

Julio’s first operation was on Sep. 12, 1977, in which a tube was connected to his left kidney so that the urine was collected in a plastic bag, taped to his chest. Fifteen days later, surgeons performed a second operation on his right side. (His right kidney was not able to function normally).

Julio spent three years in the hospital. He was constantly under medical treatment. Nurses took special care of the tubes to avoid infection. He was not able to walk. In 1979, he had his third operation. A tube was inserted in his penis, but a few days later, it was removed. It was a very painful procedure for the baby to have it.

The fourth surgery was performed on both kidneys. Two tubes were inserted. Survival expectation – 1 or 2 years!  Both tubes were supposed to be there the rest of his life and had to be changed every month by the doctor. In June 1981, the surgeons stated that Julio was well enough for a fifth surgery. A new connection from the kidney to the bladder was undertaken. Operation unsuccessful! There seemed to be no hope for little Julio!!

 On Monday evening September 21, 1981, in the Max Solbrekken Crusade in the Santa Fe Stadium, Julio was healed miraculously by Jesus Christ as God’s servants prayed the mass prayer! Pastor Max Solbrekken asked every one with small children who were sick, to lift them up to Jesus during a time of prayer. As the prayer was made to the Lord for healing, Mrs. Diaz held up little Julio to the Lord and believed that he would be healed, as the Word of God declared and as the preacher had preached!

She put Julio to bed that night, believing that God had touched him. In the morning, Julio awakened his parents. The tubes had been pushed out during the night, the plastic bags had been taken off his body and he was urinating all over the floor, shouting, “Look what I can do, look what I can do!”

 The tubes had been disconnected in a miraculous way and Julio was urinating normally by himself for the first time in his life! The Diaz family all got out of bed to watch Julio urinate - in every room of the house - as they all danced, shouted and cried for joy!

Mrs. Diaz called her doctor in Santa Fe, and said: “Julio’s tubes are out!” He said: “Why did you call me? You know what to do. You must take Julio to Raphaila. We don’t have the proper equipment here.” Feeling hilariously jubilant, she said: “No, Dr. I’m not taking Julio to Raphaila.” He said: “Are you loco, Mrs. Diaz? If the tubes are not put back in, the urine will spread throughout his body and he will be very sick!”

Then, Mrs. Diaz said: ‘Doctor, the reason that I’m not taking Julio to Raphaila is that he is healed. I took him to the Canadian Evangelist’s Crusade at the Stadium last night and this morning the tubes are out and Julio is urinating normally.” The doctor got excited and said: “Bring him down here at once, so I can x-ray his abdomen.”

The ex-rays proved that God had created new ureters. The miracle was so great that the Roman Catholic Radio Network, as well as the official R.C. Magazine interviewed Max Solbrekken, my husband Omar and Mr. And Mrs. Diaz and carried the testimony across the nation. To God be the glory forever!”

MY SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD: HE SUPPLIES ALL MY NEEDS!

 I wish to take this opportunity to publicly thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His marvelous grace, His overwhelming power and His unspeakable love toward us all. All the honour, glory and praise belongs to Him, Who to know is life eternal!

 St. Paul stated: “But my God shall supply all our needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4: 19) “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” (2 Cor.9: 8)

 God’s grace is magnanimous. His mercy is oceanic. His power is omnipotent. His wisdom is omniscient. His love is apodictic (evident beyond contradictions). His long suffering is enduring, and His dominion is universal!

Upon the authority of God’s Word, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, through the eternal Spirit of God and in the incomparable Name of Jesus Christ, all my needs are met. In short, my sufficiency is of God! And my dear friend, this can be your testimony too! Trust God and see what He will do for you! Amen.

A person sitting on a couch

Description automatically generated 

Reporters from R.C. Radio and Magazine interview the Diaz’s and myself. Marfa interprets.

 To God be the glory - great things He has done, for which I am eternally grateful. All praise, honour and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who through His prevenient grace, bought us and then sought us by the Blessed Holy Spirit until we answered ‘YES’ to His call of mercy.  

Max Solbrekken Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6; Blog: MSWM; Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer; Send your donation to [email protected]; Thank you very much!