JESUS’ NAME GREATEST!

                                                By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

When Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Gospel, He gave them the authority to use His name to heal the sick, cast out devils and raise the dead! He commanded them to spread the Gospel everywhere and promised to be with them by sending His Holy Spirit to empower them!

The great weapons that were given them for protection against danger and the forces of evil were four-fold: His Word, His Shed Blood, The Holy Spirit and His Name!

The Bible says: “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; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:17, 18)

St. Mark records: “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. Amen.” (Mark 16: 19,20)

GOD’S WORD AND POWER!     

You may ask, “What’s so special about the Name of Jesus Christ? And why do miracles happen when we use His Name in faith? Where does the power come from? How can we make contact with the resurrected Saviour and Healer?

The Bible says: “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: For He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21); “Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. And in His Name shall the Gentiles trust.” (Matt. 1:21; 12: 17, 21)

Jesus Christ is God the Son from eternity who came into this world as God’s paschal lamb and was incarnated so that He could shed His precious blood for the salvation of mankind! When you call on His name, you can be forgiven, because His Name means ‘The salvation of God’!

 JESUS WARNED, YE DO ERR!

 Others may say, “We know His Name was powerful in the time of the Early Church and the Apostles of our Lord, but isn’t all that done away with?” Jesus warned: “Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the Power of God?

“And as touching the dead, that they rise; have ye not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living: ye therefore do Greatly ERR.” (Mark 12; 24-27; Matt. 22: 29).

The Root Cause of all False Doctrine is Ignorance of the Holy Scriptures and No Knowledge of the Power of God! Knowledge of God’s Word is paramount. There is no substitute for the Holy Scriptures.

Ignorance of the Holy Bible opens the door for demons of deception to enter. When Satan tempted Eve, he lied about God’s Word. He asked a leading question trying to create doubt in Eve’s heart. Satan is a LIAR extra ordinaire, evil, wicked, and cruel!

Eve was the weaker vessel so the devil targeted her and she became his emissary, giving Adam the fruit, to join her in her disobedience and apostasy. She had discounted God’s Word for a treacherous and death dealing lie!

Every false cult and every spurious doctrine can be traced back to this fact:  They do not know God’s WORD, nor His POWER! Either they have not read God’s Word, or they have chosen to reject it at their own peril.

The warning issued by Jesus Christ of not knowing the Holy Scriptures nor the Power of God, is true today!

Herein lies the great danger of rejecting the Word of God in favour of human philosophy. It was questioning the veracity of God’s Word that caused the Great Fall in the Garden of Eden! Ever since Adam and Eve rebelled against Almighty God in disobeying His law, Satan has been using the same approach to enslave millions of souls. They have traded the Gospel of Jesus Christ for their own powerless, man-made humanist teachings!

FAMILIARITY: A SERIOUS MISTAKE!     

Adam and Eve knew the power of God but had become familiar with the grandeur of Eden and God’s creative work! Allowing oneself to take God’s great power for granted is a sign of backsliding. A good example is the disastrous fall of Samson, God’s great champion.

Repeatedly, he took the grace of God for granted until he disclosed the secret of God’s power which had been sacred to him and his parents. God does not take kindly to those who abuse His gifts and treat His special relationship as something less than holy and precious.

The Bible states: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said…thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come  on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13: 2,3, 5)

“And when Delilah saw that he told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath showed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up with money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees, and she called for a man to shave off the seven locks of his head: and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 

"And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes…” (Judges 16:16-21)

   A MAJOR SIN IN THE CHURCH!

Another sin is to relegate God’s power to a former time or the distant past! That is the work of the Devil and the kingdom of darkness. You can trace every sin in the church and in God’s people to that of forsaking God’s Word and down playing the power of God!

Liberal theology today is the outcome of deliberately departing from the faith which was once delivered to the faith! What has been the fruit of this colossal departure from the faith? Loss of the Holiness, Awesomeness and Majesty of God! It has brought God and His Word down to the level of ignorant and proud, faithless clergy and men of God!

Jesus called this sin, ‘a great Error’!

 Reading the Holy Scriptures brings us back to reality: We do not have all the answers because we were created by Him who is greater than we are and a lot smarter! Someone said, “I can’t believe in God because I can’t understand Him.” John Wesley wisely answered, “Can a worm understand a man?”

French Philosopher Rousseau said: “Behold the works of our philosophers, with all their pompous diction, how mean and contemptible they are in comparison with the Scriptures. Is it possible that a book at once so simple and so great is the work of man? "                   

SATAN DEFEATED BY GOD’S WORD!

Napoleon Bonaparte stated: “The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.”

Emmanuel Kant wrote: “The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity.

Abraham Lincoln stated: “I believe the Bible is the best gift ever given to man. All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this book.”

Jesus Defeated Satan with the Word of God and Destroyed him by His shed Blood! “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 show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col. 2: 14, 15)

The Holy Bible states: “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Mal. 3:6); “So shall My Word be that goeth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is. 55:11)

In His Wilderness Temptation our Lord Jesus defeated Satan with the Word of God: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God.”  (Matt. 4:4); “It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matt. 4:7);

 “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him Only shalt thou serve.” (Matt. 4: 10). St. Paul emphatically declared: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13: 8).

The awesome power of JESUS’ name was and still is the most respected and loved by believers and feared by the devil! For more than 50 years, I have had the privilege of carrying His marvellous Gospel to great numbers across the world.

 POLICE INSPECTOR HEALED!

During our Historic 1966 Guntur A.P. India Crusade we witnessed many miracles that Christ’s name produced. One day, we were visited by six Circle Inspectors of the Police Dept. They handed me an official letter stating: ‘Rev. Max Solbrekken: We the Circle Inspectors of the Police Department ask you to come with us to the Guntur Hospital to heal our Superintendent Inspector who has had  a stroke.’

Thomas Tutyko and I followed them. Police vehicles ringed the hospital. Uniformed police stationed at strategic points saluted. We were ushered into his room, where his wife and sister-in -law were seated.

The superintendent Inspector was about 45 years of age, the right side of his face had fallen and his right arm was pulled up into a fist against his chest. He had a red dot and ashes on his forehead. The six circle inspectors stood at attention. I sat on a chair in front of his bed.

Addressing the Superintendent, I asked: “You sent for me, Sir?”  He could barely talk, but managed to say, “I want you heal me the name of Lord Jesus.” I said, “First, I must tell you why the Name of Jesus is so powerful.” He nodded that he understood.

For the next 15 minutes I introduced him to Jesus Christ; His Godhood, His virgin birth, His miracles, His scourging, His sacrificial death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead and His Victory over Satan, death and the grave! I stated that Jesus did all that for us and that He wants to be our Saviour and Lord.

It was hard for him to speak, but I led him through a prayer of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Then, I said, “I will now pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will heal you.”  He nodded, that he was ready!

My prayer was strong and filled with the Holy Spirit’s presence and faith in the promises of Jesus! I asked God to show us His awesome power by HEALING the Inspector’s brain in the name of the Crucified and Resurrected Jesus! When I said, “Amen”, his face had normalized.

I said, “God has healed you!” He said, “Yes!” In the name of Jesus, I took his paralyzed hand and it opened up.  It was normal. I said, “Sir, You are healed.” He smiled and said, “Yes.” I asked, “What are you going to do?”  He said, “I’m going to get up and walk.”

He threw the blanket back and I helped him to his feet. Holding his hand, we marched down the corridor. Then he shook his hand free and he marched perfectly  back and forth.

Standing at attention before me, the Superintendent Inspector asked: “Whom shall I thank for this, Sir?” I answered, “Lift up your arms in the Royal Salute, and say, Thank You Lord Jesus!” As he did, the Circle Inspectors and other Policemen stood at attention and with arms lifted to heaven, saying repeatedly, “Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank You Lord Jesus!”

Then the Superintendent Inspector said, “Come with me,” and he walked into another room where a Hindu priest was perched up in bed with pillows, struggling to breathe due to a serious heart attack. He asked the priest, “Do you want this man heal you name of Lord Jesus?”

The Hindu priest nodded that he wanted me to pray. I shared with him several Scriptures about Jesus Christ. I asked Jesus Christ for a miracle. Immediately, he could breathe normally. The Superintendent Inspector told the priest, “Royal Salute to Lord Jesus.” As he did, others responded, saying: “Thank you Lord Jesus!”

What was the outcome? Policemen who had sick loved ones were given time off to bring them to me for prayer. Word spread and I prayed for many that afternoon.  The Revival grew stronger each day!

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Like King David, we also love to the sing praises to God in the Holy Spirit. Here is a powerful Scripture: “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make life) in your mortal (weak, sick) body by His Spirit that dwelleth (lives) in you." (Rom. 8:11)

Some theologians say this speaks of the dead being raised at Christ’s return. This may be a type, but the Holy Spirit does NOT dwell in a corpse!

St. Paul states: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

“And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom.8:26).

The Greek text here indicates that the Holy Spirit ‘takes a hold of against the infirmity and prays through us in the Holy Spirit with groanings (other tongues) that cannot be uttered’, for our needs!

We sing that beautiful Scripture as praise and worship and the Lord works through His word and heals and liberates those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth! We have witnessed miracle of Healing from Jesus Christ in this way!

 If that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, dwell in you, dwell in you. If that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, dwell in you, He shall quicken your mortal body by His Spirit that dwells in you. He shall quicken your mortal body by that Spirit that dwells in you!

HIS NAME & FAITH IN HIS NAME!

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, 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 murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised tom the dead; whereof ye 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 3:13-16)

“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost answered…Be it known unto you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4:7, 10) 

JESUS said: “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 and if the drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

 “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Hm, and given Him a Name that is above every name: 

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth , and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 6-11) Amen.

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

                                                 A Lesson in Humility

 PRIDE COMETH BEFORE THE FALL

by:  Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Ed Murrow, famous American commentator said, "Keep your perspective! Remember that just because your voice reached halfway around the world, you are no wiser than when it reached only to the end of the living room." 

 The technology that sends a broadcaster’s voice thousands of miles across the globe is not that person’s invention. Certainly, your ability to communicate got you in the position to release your talent but it took a lot of other people's technical ability, and other people's capital to assemble the equipment that would transmit your voice.

No one is self-sufficient and "no man is an island". We all have something to contribute!

A HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION.

Pride has a subtle way of seeking to enter a person, especially after an initial success. It is noticeable in many first and second year university students. In their third and fourth years they calm down and realize how much there is yet to learn.

And many young people at age 21, are suddenly amazed at how much Mom and Dad have learned during the past 5 or 6 years. The real truth is found in an old German proverb, "We get old too soon and smart too late".

The Bible says, "Pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction". (Prov. 16:18. How true that is! Pride causes overconfidence which triggers the downfall.

During the Beatles' heyday, John Lennon stated that they were more popular than Jesus Christ. And according to Abery Goldman's book 'The Lives of John Lennon', the freaky John Lennon, while "tripping out on acid" together with his close friend Pete Shotton said, "I think I'm Jesus Christ".

The next afternoon, "the inner circle of the Beatles' organization - Paul, George, Ringo and other Apple executives - met with John and Pete in Lennon's office. All arrived in a mood of keen expectation wondering what could have inspired the normally passive Lennon to sound the alarm. John rose from behind his desk and addressed his colleagues.

"I've got something very important to tell you all", he began. "I am Jesus Christ come back again. This is my thing." He demanded that "Apple prepare a press release immediately announcing His return."

SATAN IS REALLY BUSY THESE DAYS. HE HAS HIS ‘DONKEYS’ CARRYING HIS FILTH AND GARBAGE TO THE YOUTH OF OUR GENERATION.

Marilyn Manson the weird, satanist pervert made waves across North America with his Shock Rock concerts. This self-proclaimed Satan worshipper often ripped up the Bible, denounced God and Christianity and appears on stage as an awkward mix between a scantily dressed drag queen and a living corpse.

But here’s the irony of the whole farce - He’s as proud as a strutting peacock! Please note: You don’t need to be beautiful, talented, intelligent or rich to be proud! I’ve met some of the ugliest, ignorant, clueless and poorest of people who were proud.

PRIDE,  I REPEAT,  IS THE SIN OF SATAN!

And the worst manifestation of pride is a person’s refusal to humble himself and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Commenting on his philosophy of life, Marilyn Manson, who chose his name from Marilyn Monroe - Hollywood sex symbol who committed suicide - and Charles Manson - the brutal, insane serial killer - said, “Man is God”.

The Bible says, “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God”. (Ps. 14:1) In the literal Hebrew, King David was inferring that only a fool, imbecile or insane person would say that there is no God.

And only a bigger fool would say that weak, puny, temporary (here today gone tomorrow) and dying humanity is God - omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present and eternal! What a grand fool Marilyn Manson was! He takes top honor for fools.

And here’s another nut case! According to Newsweek (July 21, 1997) Noel Gallager commenting on the influence of his band, ‘Oasis’ said, “We’re more popular than Jesus Christ now...Some of the pop stars I like are more important than God...I  hope we mean more to people than putting money in a church basket and saying 10 Hail Marys on a Sunday”.

WHAT FOLLY AND FOOL HEADED PRIDE!

Soon after Lennon’s blasphemous statement, the Beatles disbanded and sometime later Lennon was dead, at the hands of a former admirer. And a study of his life shows a streak of madness, including many days he and Yoko Ono stayed in bed in a "love-in for world peace" and appeared with Allan Rock, Canada's former Justice Minister - at a university in Toronto, clad only in his pajamas.

And get a load of this garbage - he and other members of the Beatles sat at the feet of the weird occultic Maharishi who is the proponent of Yogi - leap frogging (flying) for world peace and other deceptive Eastern Hindu occultic practices! WHAT LIES, DECEPTION AND PRIDE!

It would be wise for us all to listen to the words of Ed Murrow, which is in fact a call to humility. St. Paul stated, "Let no one think of himself more highly than he ought". (Romans 12:3)

A STUDY OF HISTORY REVEALS THAT PRIDE DOES PRECEDE A RUINOUS FALL

A good example is Adolph Hitler, who constantly raved about conquering Great Britain, envisioning a 1000 year Nazi dynasty. Where did he end up? Dead by his own hand in a bunker in a ruined Germany. 

His name will forever be synonymous with sadistic, demonic brutality, and insane lust for power!

What of Napoleon Bonaparte, the proud Emperor of France who crushed every foe under his feet?  When he entered Milan, Italy, Napoleon summoned the archbishop of the church and demanded, "Prove to me that there is a God and the Bible is the Word of God".

NO GOD, NO JEW!

The archbishop never uttered a word but simply pointed to Napoleon’s leading soldier, General Mesina, a Jew. Proud as he was, the Emperor recognized the truth of what the archbishop had revealed, shouted a command, turned his horse around and together with his troops gallopped away, without firing a shot!

If there is no God there would no be Jew, for Abraham was 100 years of age and Sarah 90 (who was barren) when Isaac was born!  Where did Napoleon end up? In exile and disgrace on the island of St. Helena! Before he was poisoned, however, he confessed his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, to his trusted friend General Bertrand.

Voltaire, the atheist, almost destroyed France with his twisted philosophies.  He was going to rid that nation of every Bible and dethrone God. He boasted that within 100 years there wouldn't be one Bible left in France, except in some dusty old museum.

BEFORE HIS DEATH, VOLTAIRE BECAME DEMENTED AND THE NURSE ATTENDING HIM DECLARED THAT FOR ALL THE MONEY IN FRANCE SHE WOULD NEVER AGAIN NURSE ANOTHER DYING INFIDEL.

When the doctor, nurse or friends entered his room he would shrink back in his bed and shriek, "the Nazarene, the Nazarene"! Just before his death Voltaire screamed, "Thou hast conquered, Thou Nazarene".

Ironically, the very house in which Voltaire lived was purchased 100 years later, and turned into a Bible Publishing House.

Soviet communists had long scoffed at God, the Bible and the West, but it was the USA and Canada's shipment of subsidized wheat that kept the Soviet Union from starving during the Cold War.

Thirteen minutes after Israel became a nation at 4:00 PM, May 14, 1948, the American President recognized Israel as a free, sovereign and independent state.

Joseph Stalin refused to do so saying, "Israel is only a nation on paper". Since the fall of the Soviet Union, about 800,000 Jews have left the bankrupt countries of Eastern Europe to live in Israel! For several decades the USSR had persecuted Jewish citizens and refused them permission to leave.

It is therefore ironic, that when  Russia Bear meets its doom, it will be at the hands of the little nation of Israel. The prophecy is recorded in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and will surely come to pass!

PRIDE: THE SIN OF SATAN

Pride has properly been called 'The Sin of Satan', because it was this sin that brought him down. In a future column to the Edmonton Sun I will share an in-depth study on this evil, destructive and arrogant tendency which the human race has inherited from the Master Deceiver himself.

Here is an outline of that important message:

 Pride is the basis of all rebellion against God.
 Pride is the root cause of secular humanism and false religion.
 Pride is the underlying reason for occultism, spiritualism and the New Age Movement.
 Pride caused Satan's downfall and is perpetuated by his lying spirits.
 Pride is the basic reason for the creation of an infidel science and the evolutionary theory.

The Archangel Lucifer, because of his great wisdom and beauty, rebelled against God and was expelled from heaven. He is now "the prince of the power of the air" and the world's leading terrorist!

He said, "I will ascend into Heaven; I will exalt My throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the clouds; I will be like the Most High". (literal Heb. "I will be the Most High")

PRIDE WAS HIS DOWNFALL!

What will be his end? God spells it out in Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14 and Revelation 20:10. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)

It is imperative that we guard against the spirit of pride! May we all remain humble and flexible in the hands of God, as we serve Him with joy and gladness.

The Premier Sin of Sodom - for which God judged that city with fire and brimstone - was PRIDE! The other four sins were fullness of bread, abundance of idleness, lack of compassion for the poor and needy and the abominable, perverse sexual practice of homosexuality! (Ez. 16:49)

After God judged Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon declared: "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase". (Dan. 4:37)

The Bible warns: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever". (1 John 2:15-17)

Let us remember the lesson we have learned from studying the lives of Adolph Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Voltaire, the Russian communists, John Lennon and Lucifer himself.

Vladimir Lenin boasted in 1917: "Religion is the opiate of the people. There is no God, but woe unto us communists if there is one."

 Joseph Stalin declared: "Give me 50 years and there won't be one Christian left in Russia".
 Nikita Kruschev said, "I will close the Churches with one blow".
 Leonid Brezhnev stated, "By 1980 the Church will be dead in Russia".
 Chinese communist leaders said in 1976, Decadent religion and capitalism is thriving in Russia".

While in the USA in 1989, Mikhael Gorbachev, "Only Jesus Christ had all the solutions to life's problems. I don't possess that skill". When a Reporter pressed him on his statement about  Jesus Christ, he answered, "Yes! Jesus Christ!"

Boris Yeltsin said, "Communism is dead in Russia! We have lied to you for 70 years. I promise you - NO MORE LIES"! What a joy to hear the Russian president speak to the US Congress and the American people by television in 1991. I was preaching in Russia at that very time and heard is voice broadcast.

During my Cusades in Russia shortly there after I had the privilege of leading the sister of Michael Gorbajev to Christ in outr crusade in Chernigov. After I had delivered my Gospel message through an interperter many answered the invitation to be saved,, among them was Galina the sister of the Russian Leader.

My routine was to give a Bible to those receiving Christ. After a mass prayer of salvation for the forgiveness of sins and accceptance of Jesus Christ as Sviour and Lord, I sat on a chair and signed every Bible. One of the personal workers whsipered in my ear that a woman wanted to speak with me personally before I signed her Bible,

That lady was the sister of Michael Gorbachev. She asked if I had heard of Michael Gorbachev. I said, "The whole  world knows about him." She answered, "He is my brother but we have different mothers. His name is Michael Sergai Gorbachev while mine is Galina Sergiovana Gorbachev." We kept our coverstion private because the Ukrainians had little love for Russians! She left the Meeting rejoicing in Jesus!

Jesus Christ said: "...I will build My Church and the gates of hall not prevail against it". (Matt. 16:18)

JESUS IS OUR GREAT EXAMPLE!

A study of the Bible clearly shows us the beautiful spirit exemplified by our Lord! In order to secure our salvation, God the Son humbled Himself and was incarnated (God in human flesh), born of a virgin woman in Bethlehem, and lived among men as the "Carpenter's son".

He was blasphemed, castigated, spat upon, scourged, condemned as a common criminal and crucified in shame on a Roman cross, for our sins!

TALK ABOUT HUMILITY!

Jesus - the Son of God - the Creator of the universe was put to death by the very men He was giving life for! He died on the hill He had created, between two common criminals!

St. Paul writes, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:5-11)

WHAT MUST WE DO TO RID OURSELVES OF PRIDE?

St. James admonishes: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up". (James 4:10)

Again the Bible says: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:" (1 Peter 5:4-6). Amen.

 Max Solbrekken World Mision Box 44220 RPO Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6. Email:[email protected]; comehometoJesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Blog: MSWM; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donations to max@ maxsolbrekken.com. Thank you so much. May richly bless you. Amen.

                                     WORTHY IS THE LAMB

                                                 By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D. D.

 “And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on a throne a Book written on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice;Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the seals thereof?

“And no man in Heaven, nor in earth was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not. Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven seals thereof.

 “And I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

 “And when He had taken the Book, the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song saying,

“Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth.

 “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels around the Throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Rev. 5: 1-14)

JEUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD!

For thousands of years Jewish people looked for their promised Messiah. On the Day of Atonement rabbis would stand outside the synagogue saying, “Let one Innocent come and atone for the guilty.” Many years passed and no-one came because there are no innocent people. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom.3:23); “…There is none righteous, no not one.” (Rom.3:10).

God had promised that He would send a Deliverer to free His people from Satanic bondage: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee thou hast not known Me: That they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none else. Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for there is none else.” (Is.45: 5,6,22)

Then, one day John the Baptist pointed to Jesus of Nazareth, saying, “Behold the LAMB of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) The perfect, holy and Innocent ONE had come to REDEEM the world through His perfect atonement upon a Roman Cross on Golgotha!

St. Paul wrote about Him: “But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchanging priesthood. Wherefore He is ABLE also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, Who is Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate from sinners, and made Higher than the heavens;

“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for their own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did ONCE, when He offered up Himself.” (Heb.7: 24-27)

THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS!

“Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask ye a Sign from the Lord thy God; ask it even in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And He said, Hear ye now, O House of David; is it a small thing to weary men, but will it weary my God also!

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a SIGN: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his Name Immanuel.” (Is. 7:10-14). Then, one day, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus of Nazareth and said, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1: 29)

The Word of God states: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made  in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11)

When Moses led the Jews from Egypt through the wilderness, they rebelled and God sent fiery serpents. Moses cried to the Lord.“And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Nu. 21: 8-10)

   MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT!

When they looked at the serpent, it spoke of victory over the serpent’s bite. It goes back to Satan in the Garden of Eden who had tempted Eve. After Adam and Eve’s disastrous fall, God spoke to Satan who was hiding in the serpent, saying:

 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed: It shall bruise (crush) thy head and thou shalt bruise His (Christ) heel. (Gen. 3:15). Almighty God stated that when the SEED of the woman (Christ) would come, the devil would bruise His heel. He would die on the cross but RISE again. Christ rose from the dead and crushed Satan’s head!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of God be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3: 14,15,36)

The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16,17)

FINISHED, FULFILLED, PAID!

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30). Jesus spoke in Greek, uttering the word tetelesta, in His victory cry. The word tetelestai has three meanings: to finish something or make an end to something; to fulfill something; to pay that which is owed!

Jesus had finished His work of Redemption and brought to an end Satan’s domination over mankind. He had fulfilled all the Old Testament scriptures about the Messiah. He had paid for all our sins and diseases!

About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, prophet Isaiah declared: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was laid upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53: 3-6)

JESUS CHRIST PASSOVER LAMB!

John the Baptist stated that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. This is He of whom I said, after Me cometh a man which is preferred before Me: for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

“And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

“And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he sayeth, Behold the Son of God.” (John 1:29-36)

REDEMPTION TROUGH HIS BLOOD!

St. Paul declares: “God hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His Son; in whom we have Redemption through His BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins. And having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the Body of His flesh through Death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.” (Col.1:13-14, 20-22).

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took them out of the way, nailing them to His CROSS. And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:14: 15)

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet 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)

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God, day and night. And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev.12: 9-11)

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev. 20:10).Hallelujah!

“And I saw a great White Throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” (Rev.20: 11-15).

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!

The sovereignty of God demanded punishment for SIN and the CROSS provided the Final Solution! For a time, God overlooked or winked at sin by allowing the sacrifice of innocent lambs, goats and bullocks (occasionally a red heifer) to suffice. When the fullness 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, expiation’.

Jesus, the Righteous One humbled Himself and laid down His life, thereby meeting the righteous demand of Divine Justice to atone for sins of Adam and the entire fallen race.

The fifth chapter of Revelation is unique and difficult to understand but it totally glorifies Jesus Christ. His sacrificial death on Golgotha for the redemption of mankind and His glorious resurrection from the dead liberated the human race from Satan’s kingdom of Darkness!

It focuses on Christ’s victory as King of kings, Lord of lords, Saviour and Redeemer of the world. His sacrificial death on the Golgotha’s Cross has purchased our freedom from sin, fear, condemnation, sickness and disease. Through His precious Blood we have received His peace, joy and eternal Life!

GOSPEL OF CHRIST WORKS!   

The Gospel of Jesus Christ works. God anoints His Word through the Holy Spirit. He answers prayer and performs miracles of healings and deliverance for those whobelieve. The Bible states: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)

“Afterward He appeared unto the eleven and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen Him after He was risen.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; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; thy shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

“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.” (Mar 16: 14-20). The Key to miracles is found in this text: “The Lord working with them.”

If the Lord is not involved in the prayer, there will not be any miracle! He confirms the Word preached. He gives us the faith necessary! He is the Miracle Worker! It is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone!

                                           FOR GOD’S GLORY ALONE!

Here is a personal letter we received four years ago:

Max, my life was impacted greatly, and I thank you for coming to Dawson City in the 1980’s to minister to Dawson City Pentecostal Church. I remember you had some individuals with you and we had services in the School Auditorium. You prayed for many people over two days, including me.

We had about six Bible School students with us. One was healed of Asthma and another was healed emotionally. Jim’s niece walked home from being in a wheelchair and one First Nation individual was set free. It meant alot that you came up there to Dawson City. God bless you, Max. We also came to see you in Edmonton.

Jim & Elaine Caruso, Langley, B.C.         

               GOD HEALED OUR DAUGHTER’S KIDNEYS!

“God healed our daughter’s kidneys” says Nina and Lasse Steen of Bergen, Norway. In December 1983 God visited our home and healed our 5 year old daughter Cecilie. Ever since birth she had trouble with her kidneys and would wet her clothes many times every day. There was nothing she could do about and nothing the doctors could do, until last December when God sent his servant Max Solbrekken from Canada to hold a large crusade at the Eldorado Centre here in Bergen. Hundreds of people were saved, healed, and blessed during those wonderful days.

Pastor Solbrekken stayed, by the divine will of God, in our Mission Hotel. Daily he came and worshipped with us, and faith arose in our hearts to ask him for our little Cecilie. We were having coffee together one day when little Cecilie came in with her friend from outside where she had been playing. As usual, she was soaking wet.

After Nina washed and changed her clothes, Pastor Solbrekken put her on his knee and prayeda gripping prayer to the Lord for her healing. She was instantly healed and a staggering miracle occurred. There hasn’t been as much as a drop since that day. To God be the glory, great things He hath done.

  JESUS HEALEDMY CRUSHED HIP BONE!

By Vigdis Simonsen of Narvik, Norway

I had been a backslidden Christian for 16 years. In spite of this, I decided to attend the meetings of Max Solbrekken in Narvik. When Max made the altar call the first night I attended, there was a terrible battle going on within me. It was as if I heard a voice saying, “This is not for you…You are not among the chosen ones.”But, there was another voice telling me that this was my opportunity, however, I remained quiet in my seat.

When I returned to my home, it was as if a voice was telling me that this chance would be one of my last ones. It became very serious to me and it also scared me. So, I went back to the Meeting the next night and this time I answered the call to receive Jesus Christ as my Saviour! But, something else happened. To explain that, I must go back a little in time to give you the whole story.

Before Christmas, I fell and broke my hip and had to have surgery. I had to stay home for 16 weeks. When I went back to the hospital for a check up, the doctor was not at all pleased with the fracture. I was told to use two crutches until the 4^th of April. But, when I went for another check up, the doctor was still not pleased with the result because the fracture had not healed like it was supposed to. So, I had to continue using two crutches until the 16^th of May. When I saw the doctor again he was still not satisfied, but I was allowed to drop one crutch on my own recognizance. He said that I must be extremely careful, and only step very cautiously on my foot; and I was only allowed to this indoors.

When I came to the Meeting the second night (July 3), I could neither bow my left knee – where my hip had been fractured – nor could I walk straight. I was dragging my left leg behind me, and there was much pain. It was almost impossible for me to walk up the steps of the stairs. When Max Solbrekken had finished praying for everybody that had come forward, someone asked him to come down to where I was sitting.

He laid his hand on my hip and prayed for me. warm went through my hip and my back and my leg and all the pain disappeared immediately. Afterwards I walked back and forth on the floor, and I even ran up and down the stairs to the platform with no pain and no difficulties whatsoever. I can’t explain what happened, but I was instantly and completely healed, and I can only thank God for what He did for me. He is wonderful!

Note: These testimonies taken from the Cry of His Coming July, 1984.

Max Solbrekken World Mision Box 44220 RPO Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6. Email:[email protected]; comehometoJesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Blog: MSWM; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donations to max@ maxsolbrekken.com. Thank you so much. May richly bless you. Amen.