Saturday, November 10, 2012

A TIME TO REMEMBER!
                   By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

The guns of World War l fell silent on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of eleventh month in 1918. 

Ever since 1919 we have paused for one minute of silent prayer and remembrance of those brave men and women who have fallen in battle in the service of our Country and peace. 

Today in Canada and the USA we continue that tradition and we remember those who have fallen and we pray for our military who are in harm's way. May God bless them and protect them!

In the Holy Bible we are also told to be on the watch and remember our responsibility to be on the lookout for the enemy of our souls. Jesus warns us to, "watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation." (Matt.26:41)    We must "resist the devil and he will flee from us." (James  4:7)

Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, has conclusively defeated him through His vicarious death on the Cross for us and His glorious resurrection from the dead!

The Church Must Remember and Never Forget What Happened on Calvary and the Empty Tomb on the Third Day. We must never forget the Sacrifice Jesus made for the Whole World nearly 2,000 years ago!

Under the mighty anointing of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul gave us a real Remembrance Day Message in the Holy Communion (1 Corinthians 11: 23-33). Twice the Sacred Word quotes the exact words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: "This Do in Remembrance of Me."

Our Saviour wants us to often remember His death, in fact, until He returns for His own: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup til He come."

There is a solemn warning here!  Some of the believers in Corinth "did not discern the Lord's body."
What does that mean? They did not understand that
when Jesus body was lacerated by the Roman cat-of-nine-tails whipping of our Lord, Jesus was paying for our divine Health!

Here is the Old Testament prophecy which was fulfilled in the Life of Christ Jesus our Lord: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed." (Isa. 53: 4, 5)

May we always remember His Death and Resurrection was for us all! A hymn writer penned these wonderful words: 

He came to earth the Promise to fulfill
A rugged cross He bore up Calvary's Hill
And for my sins He cried, 'Father forgive'
Born to die that I might live

Born to die - 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.

He was accused of sin - Yet silent He remained

No one came forth to witness for His name
Between two thieves He bowed His head and cried
Tis finished now. I came to die.

Jesus Christ appeared unto St. John on the Island of Patmos and delivered to the Church at Ephesus this solemn message: 

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. REMEMBER, therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: Or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, EXCEPT THOU REPENT." (Rev.2: 4,5)

Shall We Pray:

Almighty God, my Heavenly Father I approach Thy throne in the Name of Thy Crucified and Resurrected Son Jesus Christ. Be merciful unto us ALL, those who are in the Church and those who are not, those of us who have wandered away from Thy presence and those of us who are lukewarm toward Thee. Forgive us all and save us all through the shed BLOOD of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.