MILLIONS SIT IN HEATHEN DARKNESS by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
St. John's statement on the Person of Jesus Christ should be shouted from the roof tops. Here it is: "And many other SIGNS truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this BOOK; But these are written, that ye might believe that JESUS is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have LIFE through His NAME." (John 20: 30,31)
Millions alive today have never heard the Name of Jesus Christ. Does this statement shock you? Many years ago an Evangelical Minister became engaged in a heated conversation when he learned that I prayed for the sick to be healed! He said, "We don't need the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and divine healing today, as they did in the Early Church, since everyone today knows that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead."
Of all the ridiculous and ignorant statements given to refute Christ's command in the 'The Great Commission' that is the most foolish! Jesus stated. "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)
As the world speeds toward destruction, communism controling more than 40 % of the world's population, and criminality, turmoil and upheavals spiralling, it is imperitive that we obey the commands of our Commander of Chief and get serious about our resposibility to declare the Gospel in its fulness!
With so many new diseases suddenly emerging and Medical Science finding it difficult to cope, we need a DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S SUPERNATURAL MIRACLE WORKING POWER to bring health and healing to all we are able, in Jesus Christ's wonderful name! As our Saviour promised, there is healing, power, liberty, love and life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
An old Gospel song gives us the answer to the many difficulties of life; "Without Him I would be nothing. Without Him I would surely fail. Without Him I would be drifting, like a ship without a sail. So I've asked Jesus to be my Pilate, His Word, my compass and guide. Till I've anchored safely in Glory, for without Him, I'd drift with the tide!"
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD!
The Holy Bible states: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)
According to the Guiness World Records, "An estimated 5 -7 Billion copies of the Holy Bible have been printed since 1440 when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press!" Down through the ages great men and women of God have preached His Word with distinction, many laying down their lives as martyrs in the process!
We must experience a great old - fashioned Revival to reach this world's teeming millions of lost and perishing souls! It is now up this gereraation to do our part in the spreading of God's Holy Word. Without doubt the trumpet of the Lord will soon sound and the Day of Mercy and Grace will then be gone.
The BIBLE states: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14)
The world is tired of worn - out sermons that have no Spirit and of traditions that have no power, and ceremonies that hold no Life, and a gospel that only speaks but does not act! It is results we need instead of dead forms. It is Divine Power we must have instead of beautiful ritual and ceremony!
JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE AND WAITING FOR OUR CALL!
Our Lord Jesus Christ invites, "Come unto Me all ye that labours and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly on heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My butden in light." (Matt. 11: 28-30)
We cannot blame the drunkard and the gangster. We cannot blame the communist or the agnostic. We cannot blame the unbeliever, because we who are true believers of Jesus Christ have not brought to them the EVIDENCE of the Risen Christ. We have not displayed before the eyes of the World the mighty living truths of the Holy Bible in action!
They say,"God is dead", because we have been dead in our testimony and the demonstration of what we have preached. Some preachers today agree with the Evangelical Minister, to cover the shame of their own fruitless lives and their inability to see the power of God to produce, they hide behind the foolish and uncsripural excuse that "miracles are not for today, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in other tongues ended with the last apostle, we are now living in a different dispensation!
How will those Ministers feel, having lied to the people when they stand before the Judgment Throne of Almighy God?
THE GOSPEL IS THE HEART OF GOD!
Then also the Church is today fettered and bound because many Ministers preach the Gospel only in a half- hearted way and do not have the faith to fully believe it. St. Paul made the heathen obedient by Mighty Signs and Wonders.
He stated: "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient by Word and Deed. Through mighty Signs and Wonders, by the power of Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ." (Rom. 15: 18,19)
St. Paul was hated, beaten and finally beheaded by the Roman Government for declaring that Jesus Christ True God was King of kings and Lord of all lords. From the Jews he was scourged receiving 39 stripes on seven occassins, he was given up as dead on several occasions. He gave all he had in the declaration of the Gospel of Christ!
NOT IN WORD ONLY BUT IN POWER!
The great Apostle wrote: "For our gospel came not unto you in Word only but in POWER, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and n'd eaching was not with enticing was notw ith enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: thsat- your faith should not stand in the wisdlom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Cor. 2; 4, 5)
In our Crusades in Canada and around the world, we have experirenced again and again how the people's hearts have been touched and the resistance within them broken down when they have seen the power of God bringing DIVINE DELIVERANCE to the sick, diseased and demon possessed. Praise the Lord for He alone is worthy!
The Agnostic (University student) who sent us his testimony was planning to commit suicide before we met. He was converted while interpreting my message and witnessed a totally blind man receive his sight. After the meeting he and the former blind man spent the next many hours visiting his relatives. At 8:00 he was knocking at our door and desired to be baptized. I asked him to return at noon and I baptized him. He went on to becoms a professor at a University and we were in close contact for many years! Praise the Lord!
Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6; Mswm; [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Donations may be sent by e-Transfer. Make your donation to [email protected]. Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you. Amen. .
