Thursday, February 14, 2013

God so Loved the World & Gave His Son. Jesus Died, Was Buried & Arose From the Grave. Sinners Believe, Repent, Receive Christ, Are Forgiven & Born Again. Begin Witnessing For Jesus Christ.! - Pastor Max Solbrekken

Christ Has Died! Christ is Risen! 
Christ Will Come Again!
Pastor Max Solbrekken with Dr. David Perreia in  Lisbon
Portugal Gospel Crusade, 2008
Preaching the Gospel in Timoshvara, Romania, 1990.  Jesus 
said: "Go ye into all the world and preach My Gospel. He
 that believeth and is baptized shall be saved... and these signs
shall follow them who believe. In Myname shall they cast out
 devils...they shall lay their  hands on the sick and they shall
hey shall recover!" Mk 16:15-18
Kampala Police Band leads march to the Crusade Grounds
Max Solbrekken Uganda Unity Gospel Crusade, 2011
Pastor Max Solbrekken & Pastor Peterson Sozi pouring
out the Gospel of Christ with great passion & fire, 2011
Night after night they came seeking Jesus the Christ
who would forgive their sins and give them peace, 2011
Altar calls in each service brought  large numbers of young 
people to Jesus Christ, even though we had unseasonable
rains after the long drought. They ran through the mud in 
the field to meet with the Saviour Jesus Christ, 2011
Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Trinidad, 1968

Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Mozambique, 1988
Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Brazil, 2005
Pastor Max & Peterson Sozi at Minister's Conference
Unity Gospel Crusade Kampala, Uganda, 2011
Pastor Max & Pastor Peterson Sozi at Unity Gospel 
Crusade Kampala, Uganda, 2011
FROM THE THRONE OF GLORY
TO THE CROSS OF SHAME
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most remarkable, indescribable and phenomenal gift that Almighty God has given to the world. It is incomparable and most amazingly unique in the annals of mankind! It is the One and only such gift proffered in human history and will never again happen throughout time or eternity!

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? It is the gift of God, the unspeakable gift of His Son, Who was incarnated (God in human flesh) to be sacrificed as God’s Lamb to meet the demands of Divine Justice in payment for our sins and purchasing our FREEDOM from the Penalty of the Law. (Ezek.18:4; 2 Cor.9:15)

The extent to which our Heavenly Father reached out to fallen man is unfathomable to the highest degree. He gave His Son to be so degraded in His humiliation that, “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men”. (Isaiah 52: 13,14)

When Jesus was lifted up on the Cross He became a curse as our sins were piled upon Him, and through His death and resurrection He abolished death and purchased eternal life for all who receive Him.
CHRIST HAS ABOLISHED DEATH!
St. Paul writes: “God, Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ Who hath abolished death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Tim.1:9, 10)

The Holy Scripture says: “Christ hath REDEEMED us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, CURSED is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal.3:13)

Could anyone find words in any language to fully articulate the magnitude of God’s richness, graciousness and beneficence in sending His Son to this sin-cursed world in search of lost and sinful men?

The answer is, “Not in a million years would that be possible! There will never be enough time for us to thank and praise our precious SAVIOUR for the immenseness of His mercy, love and grace given us through the shedding of His holy and precious BLOOD!"

The Word of God teaches about the wideness of God’s mercy and the depth of His love: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the family in Heaven and earth is named; that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man:

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the BREADTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT; And to KNOW the LOVE of CHRIST which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fullness of God.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3: 3-20)

There is no sin, fear, lust, greed, hate, guilt, sorrow, perversion or addiction that Jesus will not forgive, and liberate us from when we call upon His name in sincerity and faith!

The love of God reaches the darkest recesses of the heart, mind and conscience and liberates the toughest, meanest and most jaded among us! His blood purges away all condemnation and depression and tormenting demons and gives us Peace, Joy and Love. Amen!
                   THE GOSPEL IS JESUS HIMSELF
He alone is the Good News! Without Him there is No Good News. Without Him there are No Glad Tidings! Our Lord said: “Without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5);

Then answered Jesus, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for whatsoever things He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth, and He will show Him greater works than these that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickens them, even so the Son quickens whomsoever He will.

For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son, honours not the Father which hath sent Him.” (John 5: 19-23)

Jesus answered, My doctrine is not Mine but His who sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or if I speak of Myself.” (John 7: 16-17)

And yet if I judge, My judgment is TRUE; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. I am one that bears witness of Myself and the Father that sent Me bears witness of Me.” (John 8: 16, 17)
JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD!
Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command have I received of My Father.

I and My Father are ONE....Many GOOD WORKS which I have showed you from MY FATHER; for which of those works do ye stone Me? Say ye of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemeth; because I said, I am the Son of God? 

"If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But, if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the WORKS: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10; 30-38)

St. John wrote: “He that cometh from ABOVE is above ... For He whom God hath sent speaks the words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. For the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into His hand. 

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3: 31, 34-36)
                 THE CROSS IS OUR FIXED POINT!
What happened on the CROSS on Golgatha is the greatest event in the world's history. The Cross is our fixed point. It is the centre of our faith. It is the Hope of Humanity. It was there that Man was reconciled to God through His perfect and holy Son. Jesus took the hand of God in one hand and the hand of man in His other and brought us together at the Cross

Hanging on the CROSS, our Saviour cried out: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Speaking in Greek, Jesus used the word tetelestai’ taken from the verb teleo’ which has three essential meanings: 1) to finish something, 2) to fulfill something, 3) to be paid in full.

Jesus of Nazareth, True God from Eternity and True Man born of a Virgin, had finished the work of REDEMPTION having shed His precious blood on the ‘Cross of Shame’ as God’s Pascal Lamb.

He had fulfilled all 332 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Coming Messiah and He had paid for all our sins, sicknesses and diseases! 

When He cried out ‘tetelestai’, the fountain of blood had been opened for sin and uncleanness and Jesus Christ had conquered Satan, once and for all time and eternity. (Zech.13:1; Heb.2:14,15) Praise the Lord!

Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (heb. kholee) and carried our pains (heb. makob): 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 upon Him; and with His stripes we were healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53: 4-6)

FROM THE THRONE OF GLORY
TO THE CROSS OF SHAME!

  Don Francisco brings out this great truth in the song,

 The Center of The Ages’. Here are some of the lyrics:


He didn't come to terrify

To judge or condescend

To call us all His servants


But to lift us as His friends


To save us all from
Satan's power


To reign at His right hand


In the little town of Bethlehem


When God became a Man



Today the God of Majesty


Was given to the earth


A gift of such magnificence


We could never plumb it's worth

And the rudeness of the setting

Just ignites the Jewel's fire

A pearl beyond the greatest price

The Joy of Man's desire



He didn't come to terrify


To judge or condescend


To call us all His servants


But to lift us as His friends


To save us all from certain death


To reign at His right hand


When once for all eternity

God became a Man




IT STARTED IN THE GARDEN!


Although the plan of Salvation - through the shed blood of Christ - was in the heart of God before the foundations of the world were laid,  it was in the Garden of Eden that the traitor Lucifer made his diabolical move of HIGH TREASON against the Almighty, plunging humanity into sin and degradation!

And it was in the Garden of Eden that God  announced the coming of the DELIVERER who would crush Lucifer's head and free the sons and daughter's of Adam and Eve!  Here is the Holy Record of that awesome event that has dramatically shaped the course of History.

God said, “And I will put enmity between thee (serpent) and the woman and between thy (Satan) seed and her (Virgin) seed. It (Christ) shall bruise (destroy) thy head and thou (Satan) shall bruise His heel.” Jesus was bruised on the cross, but healed when raised back to life. (Gen.3: 15)

For several thousand years the Jewish people had waited for their Deliverer of which Moses and the prophets had spoken and to Whom Almighty God alluded, when He announced the coming of the Messiah and His ultimate victory over Satan.

After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus conversed with two of His disciples who were walking to Emmaus. Here is a portion of what He said to them: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ ti have suffered these things and enter His glory?

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24: 25-27)

St. Paul lays out the great truth of the 'MYSTERY OF THE AGES' in his Epistles: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God (He is God the Son) 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 of  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)


"Even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is CHRIST IN YOU, the Hope of Glory." (Col.1: 26-27)

                   WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? 
When we have our theology RIGHT concerning Jesus Christ we become one with Him and are grafted into Him the TRUE VINE and become the children of God through the New Birth. And secondly, we are able to lead others to the saving knowledge of God! (John 15: 1-8)

Those who have their theology WRONG concerning Jesus Christ are LOST and secondly they lead others to Hell, since they are blind leaders of the blind, as Jesus Christ warned! (Matt.15: 14). 
Here is what our Lord Jesus Christ said of Himself after His Resurrection from the dead: 

"O fools and slow of heart to BELIEVE all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His gory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in ALL THE SCRIPTURES the things concerning HIMSELF." (Luke 24: 26-27)


St. John, the Beloved gives this WARNING to those who trifle with and twist the Word of God to enhance their own perverted agenda:


"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS OF GOD. And every spirit that confesseth NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD; And this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4: 1-4)   

                      WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 
There are ca. seven billion people on this Planet, all born of flesh and blood. We have all 'come in the flesh'. That is normal, but when God was INCARNATED in human flesh, that was the Miracle. 

The blood that flowed through His veins, however, was not contaminated with SIN as ours is because God was His Father!

That is the Amazing Love of our Saviour. He entered into our time and space for the express purpose of our Redemption! He Who was God the Son, wrapped Himself in human flesh in order to be sacrificed for the sins of the world! 

All who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was more than a man, more than a prophet, and reject Him as God the Son from eternity who was made Man (incarnated) in order to redeem a sinful world to Himself, CANNOT and will not be saved and will be doomed to Hell forever.


St. Paul WARNED: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (suspended). Maranatha." (1 Cor. 16:22) 


According to this Scripture there will be both a blessing and a curse upon humankind as Christ come to judge the world in His Kingdom. Those who are SAVED will be blessed and those who are not SAVED will be rejected. 'Anathema' was used as a Church censure or final excommunication!


The Indians on Canada's West Coast sing an altar song with these words:  "There'll  be sorrow and there'll will be pain. There'll  be rejoicing and there will be weeping when My Lord shall come again." 


Maranatha is 'Aramaic' as an imperative: 'marana-tha' meaning "Our Lord Come", or as an indicative: 'maran-atha', meaning "Our Lord is come"  


Theologians wonder why St. Paul inserted, without translation, an Aramaic formula in a Greek letter to Corinth where Aramaic was not current. 


It is believed that the word 'Maranatha' was a fixed and widely circulated formula. It was undoubtedly a KEY EXPRESSION in the liturgy of the Primitive Church in Palestine and that from there it passed into Greek Christendom without translation in fashion similar to  'Amen' and 'Hallelujah'


In His High Priestly prayer to His Father our Lord Jesus stated: "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. Ad Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.

"And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." (John 17: 1-3). He said: "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.: (John 14:6) 

Dear Friend; Put your trust in Jesus Christ whose love for you is so enormous that He took your place on the cross and rose from  the dead. He is even now waiting to enter your heart and make you His very own for time and eternity! Amen.
               

Note: This is the first installment of the book by Max Solbrekken, 'From the Throne of Glory to the Cross of Shame'