Saturday, January 4, 2025

                                                            WHO IS JESUS:

                                   Is He really God?

                                                         By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

“Jesus is known and worshipped today around the world, more than any man.  I’d like most of all to interview Jesus”. - Larry King on CNN. 1/7/00)

Usually at Christmas and Easter, News Magazines carry cover stories such as: The Search for Jesus; Who is Jesus?; Is Jesus God? Rory Leishman – who is a Jewish Christian – a columnist for the London Free Press referred to Jesus as Christ and God! 

He wrote:“God was executed by people painfully like us, in a society very similar to our own – in the over-ripeness of the most splendid and Sophisticated empire the world has ever seen”.

When St. Thomas saw the living resurrected Christ, he exclaimed: “My Lord and my God”. (John 20:28). Almighty God called Jesus, Lord and God: “And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith…But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.

“And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.” (Heb. 1:6,8,10,12)

JESUS CHRIST SAID: I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE!

And Jesus said of Himself: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25, 26)

Jan Calvin, the French Reformer – who founded the Presbyterian Church in Switzerland declared: “I gave up all for Christ, and what have I found?  I have found everything in Christ”.

Hans Denk exclaimed: “O my God, how does it happen in this poor old world that Thou art so great and yet nobody finds Thee, that Thou callest so loudly and nobody hears Thee, that Thou art so near and nobody feels Thee, that Thou givest Thyself to everybody and nobody knows Thy name?

Men flee from Thee and say they cannot find Thee; they turn their backs and say they cannot see Thee; they stop their ears and say they cannot hear Thee”.

Here is a touching account of the life and death of world-famous medical missionary David Livingstone in Africa: He wrote in his diary dated January 14, 1856: “Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.  It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honour so there’s an end of it!  I feel quite calm now, thank God”.

He faced the most savage fear, believing that this promise was absolutely true.  No man lived a lonelier life than he, and yet no man had such a sense of the companionship of his God.  He buried his wife Mary with his own hands, and in anguish wept like a child.  He says for the first time in his life he feels willing to die.  “I am left alone in the world by one whom I felt to be a part of myself”.

When he died, he died alone, discovered by two natives, on his knees beside his bed among the bogs and marshes near Chitambo’s village in Ilala. Among the last entries in his diary is written:“He will keep His word, the gracious One, full of grace and truth; no doubt of it.  He will keep His word and it will be all right.  Doubt is inadmissible, surely!” - selected 

Famous Missionary C.T. Studd testified: “If Jesus is God and died for me, there is no sacrifice too great for me to make for Him”

RUBENSTEIN CONFESSES JESUS CHRIST ON ISRAEL TV

JERUSALEM – World famed pianist Arthur Rubenstein took Prime Minister Golda Meir and a national audience aback here when he professed faith in Jesus Christ last fall over Israel television.

According to a report in the Mount Zion Reporter, the incident took place last November (1974) while Mrs. Meir was interviewing the American Jewish virtuoso on television.  She asked him to name “the greatest event in your life”.

“When I received Yeshua Hammashiach (Jesus the Messiah) into my heart”, he replied.  “Since that, my life was changed.  I have experienced joy and peace ever since”.

The report went on to state that at the comment Mrs. Meir leaned back in her chair with an expression of complete surprise. - Selected                                      

THE RESURRECTION IS CERTAIN!

Dr. Harry Ironside wrote: “A Hungarian countess, a professed unbeliever, commanded that her body be interred in a stone casket in a mausoleum that was to be built about it.  A plate was placed on the foot of the mausoleum giving her name and some particulars of her death, and then the words, ‘Not to be opened for eternity’.

'But while they were building that mausoleum and before sealing the body in that tomb, an ACORN dropped into the tomb, and today there is an oak tree rising out of the center of it.  It is broken asunder and the casket is exposed.  An acorn under the hand of Almighty God opened it."        

You cannot thwart God; you cannot hinder God’s omnipotent working.  Pilate said, ‘Make it as sure as you can’, and they did everything that human ingenuity could suggest to keep the body of Jesus in that grave in Judea.  All their effort was overthrown.  He who had yielded up Himself to death, took His life back again by commandment from God.  He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father.”

WORLD POPULATION MUSHROOMS!

According to the ‘Population Reference Bureau Inc.’, the world population will escalate by at least 50% and may possibly double between 2000 and 2030 A.D.  And it may even reach 9.5 billion by that time.

Have you ever considered such huge numbers?  With more than 6.7 billion people presently living on this planet (more than all the people who have lived since the beginning of time up until the 20th Century), it’s frightening to think about the masses that die every day without knowing Christ or even hearing His Gospel!

I remember when I first began preaching the Gospel 60 years ago, we calculated that – at that time – about 120,000 people died every 24 hours. That was a staggering sum!  Now, according to the world population clock, that figure has grown to more than 140,000 per day which breaks down to about 58 per minute and one every second!

For the past more than 60 years my heart has cried out to the Lord for lost souls and my voice has been heard pleading with lost souls over TV, radio, literature, in our crusades and through personal evangelism, to give their lives to Jesus Christ!

William Shakespeare wrote: “There is a line by us unseen that crosses every path, the hidden boundary between God’s patience and His wrath”.

John Wesley, in a vision in the night, found himself, he thought, at the gates of Hell.  He knocked and asked who were within.  “Are there any Roman Catholics here?” he asked.  “Yes”, was the answer.  “Any Church of England people?”  “Yes”, was the answer.  “Are there any Presbyterians?” And again, “Yes, a great many”.  “Are there any Wesleyans here?”  “Yes, we have some of those too”, came the answer.

WHO WILL BE IN HELL; WHO WILL BE IN HEAVEN?

Disappointed and dismayed, especially at the last reply, he turned his step upward and came to the gates of Heaven.  Here he repeated the same question.  “Any Wesleyans here?” he inquired anxiously.  The answer was “no”.  And as he named off the other denominations, to his dismay, each time the answer was, “no”.  “Then whom do you have here?” he asked in desperation.  “We know nothing here of any of those names you have mentioned”, said the angel.

They are all CHRISTIANS in here – born again people.  Of these we have a multitude which no man can number, gathered out of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues”.

Let us remember that Heaven is a spiritual country for a spiritually born people.  Heaven knows no denominational lines!   - Author unknown

The love of God reaches out today to a lost, confused, dysfunctional and fearful humanity and Jesus’ kind voice speaks over the tumult and the storm:

“Peace be unto you My son, My daughter.  Be not afraid.  I will never leave you or forsake you.  Come to Me and lay your cares upon Me.  I will carry your burdens and forgive your sins.  I will give you rest.  Fear not – Only believe.”

Blaise Pascal in his ‘pensies’ wrote: “It is good to be tired and weary from fruitlessly seeking true good, so that one can stretch out one’s arm to the Redeemer”.

Remember, that Jesus said in His Word, “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out”. (John 6:37). 

Thomas Arnold stated: “The distinction between Christianity and all other systems of religion consists largely in this, that in these others, men are found seeking after God, while Christianity is God seeking after man”.

Solbrekken World Mission  Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6. Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer; make your donation to [email protected]; May God bless you.

 

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

                                  A HAPPY, JOYOUS  & HEALTHY 2025

MY TESTIMONY &
GOD’S RECORD OF HIS SON

by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

JESUS: His name is above all other names. His reign is above all other rulers. His Lordship is above all other authorities. His words are above all other voices. His truth is above all other opinions. His love is above all other affections!

IT IS FINISHED: View Him prostrate in the Garden. On the ground your Maker lies. On the bloody tree behold Him. Hear Him cry before He dies, “It Is Finished”. (John 19: 30)

He came to earth, the promise to fufill. A rugged Cross He bare up Calvary’s Hill. And for My sins He cried, Father forgive, Born to die that I might live! He was accused of sin yet silent He remained, No-one came forth to witness for His name. He came to earth a cruel cross to bear; Born to die, His everlasting love to share. Between two thieves He bowed His head and cried, It’s Finished now, I came to die.

(1)    God’s goodness leads me to repentance!

The Bible says, “Or despiseth thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  (Romans 2:4)

Why is God so gracious, loving and kind? Why did He send His Son to die on the cruel Cross? He died in our place. He carried all our sins, fears, sicknesses and diseases so that we would allow Him to forgive us, save us and heal us!

(2)   God’s mercy endures forever!

Where would we be without God’s great mercy? The Bible asks; “Who remembereth us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth forever. And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth forever. (Psalm 136:23, 24)

(3)  God’s love is past finding out.  

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  (Romans 11:33-35)

He said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  (James 1:17)

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

We can trust Him to keep His Word. He will not fail us because He has promised to go all the way for us. He is TRUTH and cannot lie. Satan, the enemy of God and man, is the LIAR and the father of all lies, deceit and death! (John 8: 44)

(4)  God’s patience with me overwhelms me.

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved  brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15)

(5)  God’s grace is sufficient to meet all my needs. 

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  (Romans 2:4)

  “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed transgressions from us.”  (Psalm 103:12)

“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. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction.” (Psalms 103: 1-4)

 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His GRACE through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His BLOOD, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past though the forbearance of God.” (Rom. 3:23-25)

 

(6)  God’s wisdom is above all understanding and too great for human knowledge or pondering.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ; according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us acceptable in the Beloved. In Whom we have Redemption through His BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace.” (Eph. 1:3-7)

 (7)  God is my Father, Jesus is my Saviour and Advocate, the Holy Spirit is my guide and Intercessor. 

“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.” (Romans 8:26)

“But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make interession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

(8)  I am crucified with Christ!  When Christ died, I died.  When He arose, I arose and when He returns, I will come with Him.

 “I am crucified with Christ:  nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every many that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”  (1 John 3:2-3)

(9) I am Hid with Christ in God!

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

(10) God is gracious and long suffering.

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”  (Psalm 145:8)

(11)  Without faith it is impossible to please Him, but with faith in His finished work on Calvary for us, we receive His forgiveness, peace, healing and salvation and Sonship in His eternal Kingdom, word without end!  

“Likewise also the Spirit helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groaning 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. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 6: 26-35). Amen.

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.

                                                 

                           BY THE LOVE,MERCY & GRACE OF OUR LORD!

Donna and I send our love and prayers to our Heavenly Father for all who suffer heartache, sickness, disease and pain in Jesus, for everyone reading this blogg! 

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.