DIVINE DELIVERANCE

by Rev. Max Solbrekken, D.D. 

    "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father." (Gal.1:3-4)

    "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." (2 Pet. 2:9)

In this end-time generation, Satan has arrayed every weapon he has against the Church! The Scriptures state, "...for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev. 12:12)

Satan is working day and night to do all the EVIL he can in order to satisfy his Evil lusts. He realizes that his TIME is short, so he is working overtime to tear down the Work of God on earth. The BIBLE says: “The devil as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may Devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

    Sin with a capital "S" has made inroads everywhere as corrupt men and seducers wax worse and worse, (2 Tim. 3:13) deceiving and being deceived. The world glitters with the pleasures, lusts and greed of a fallen and lost race!

    This generation has produced more pitfalls and snares than any other, with which to capture people's minds and ruin their bodies and souls!

FALSE PROPHETS SHALL ARISE!

    Apostates, False Teachers and so-called Modernists (their teaching is actually as old as the devil) have made havoc of the Church and have torn away the moral guide lines and foundation stones of truth, righteousness and purity from the minds of thousands, in this generation.

    L.S.D., S.T.P., marijuana and other more dangerous illicit drugs have gained a strong foothold in the lives of careless, rebellious and uninformed young people, while King Alcohol has enslaved millions of unsuspecting souls in his demonic grasp.

    Jesus prophesied of this generation, when He spoke of false prophets arising to deceive! (Matt. 24:24-26) No doubt He was speaking about the false cults and strange religious and psychic groups we see at work today, deceiving and brainwashing both young and old! And of the world-wide conspiracy of the devious, diabolical and dangerous New Age Movement!

     They asked Christ, "What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" He prophesied many signs which would point to His imminent return. Signs such as wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, epidemics of disease, gross immorality, perversion (look at the divorce rate as well as the homosexual, deviant sexual revolution).

     Jesus declared that there would be a state of fear, bringing death (men's hearts failing them for fear - heart attacks). He also spoke of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a valid sign of His Coming and of the End of Time! (Rev. 3:19-21)

IT IS NO WONDER THE DEVIL IS MAD!

    It is no wonder he is going all out to persuade young people to turn against their parents, get hooked on drugs or freak-out. Satan is the most devious, wicked and hate-filled personality known to mankind!

    He is a clever deceiver and liar and would like nothing better than to break up marriages, cause people to commit murder, become sexual deviants, sadistic or go violently insane! His main aim is to damn souls in Hell forever!

    Satan is working against the Church in this midnight hour with everything he has, but of course he has been defeated and his time is limited. Soon it will be "Game Over" for him! Praise the Lord!

    Satan is marching against TIME; every time the clock on the wall says another hour has gone, the devil has one hour less to enslave, destroy and bring into bondage the members of the human race.

    One day he will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit; forever banished from those who love Christ!

    SATAN WAS DEFEATED ON CALVARY'S CROSS WHEN JESUS CHRIST DIED VICTORIOUSLY, SHEDDING HIS BLOOD FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS AND THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS; AND THEN RISING AGAIN TRIUMPHANT OVER DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE!

    Since that time Satan has gone about usurping illegal power, scaring people into submission, deceiving and lying to draw them into his snare, and using his "glittering lights" tactics and "rebel and revolt" method of turning people away from God and righteousness.

    We know his tactics however, and St. Paul said it perfectly in 2 Cor. 2:11, "We are not ignorant of the devil's devices."

WE HAVE NO FEAR!

    Since we know his strategy and realize his desperation in this late hour, and because we have the power of God to overcome him, we do not fear him! Many people perish because of fear, but God's Word states, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind". (2 Tim. 1:7)

   In Isaiah 41:10, God speaks to His people on this wise, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." Hallelujah!

     The BIBLE states, "Perfect love casteth out fear". (1 John 4:18)

    Jesus Christ gave us the assurance of His nearness when He said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb 13:5) and "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20).

    Our Saviour promised, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19).

   How powerful is that? Nothing shall by ANY MEANS hurt you! That is total protection, guaranteed by Jesus Christ Himself! The Old Testament confirms this: “There shall no EVIL befall thee, neither shall any PLAGUE come nigh thy dwelling.” (Psalm 91:10). PRAISE GOD!

WE HAVE THE WEAPONS!

    The Bible, which is God's Divine, Infallible Word to mankind, has the answers to the most complex questions and problems. It reveals our rights and privileges together with our responsibilities; we learn of our God-given weapons, our abilities and the power available to us from our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, when we fully yield to Him.

    “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into CAPTIVITY every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10: 4,5).

    St. Paul stated, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    "Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

     "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith, ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

     “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:10-18)

     The Apostle Paul stated, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Tim.6:12)

YOUR ADVERSARY - THE DEVIL!

     The Bible pin-points the source of all trouble: "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet. 5:8)

    Satan is our Adversary, but St. Peter tells us to "Resist him." How is that done? It cannot be done in our own strength. It is ONLY in Jesus' Name that we are able to conquor Satan and Evil.

    Use your faith in the shed BLOOD of Jesus to resist the Devil. User your faith in the Word of God to resist the Devil. Use the POWER of the Holy Spirit within you and the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ to resist the Devil. Use your godly life, your prayers, your witnessing and your honest report to resist the Devil. Resist him in the FAITH!

     St. James admonished, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) Hallelujah! The literal Greek states that Satan will flee "in terror" from us!

    The Apostle Paul says that in the Christian life, "there are many adversaries" (1 Cor.16:9) and, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim. 3:12)

    But for those who live in sin there is, "A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (Heb. 10:27)

     A note of COURAGE and VICTORY continues in Phil. 1:27-28; "That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God."

    Again St. Paul prays, "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." (2 Th. 3:2). His admonition to Timothy to fight the good fight of faith came from a determined, disciplined and totally surrendered life to God's will.

     He wrote: "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there; save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

    "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and in the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24). PAUL WAS MARTYRED FOR HIS LORD!

     His final declaration of the "Fight of Faith" thrills my heart. It is found in 2 Tim. 4:6-8. Earlier he declared that he was not only willing to be bound for the Name of Jesus but that he was also willing to die for the Name of Jesus Christ. He received that privilege!

    "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

THERE IS DIVINE DELIVERANCE!

    Thank God, there is Divine help for every situation and circumstance; we can pray to our Heavenly Father in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, and get an answer. I thank God for that!

    There is complete deliverance from all the power of the devil; forgiveness for your sins; divine healing for your sick body; liberation from your fears and frustrations, and total freedom from evil spirits and demon powers.

    All this and more from the hand of God, in Jesus' wonderful Name. Satan CANNOT harass you if you are a child of God. He has no legal right to dominate you, my friend, because you are God's property, and you are covered with the Blood of Jesus! When the Enemy understands that you KNOW the Truth, his power over you will be destroyed!

     There is total healing for the complete man. God will heal your spirit, soul (mind) and your body!

     The BIBLE says: "But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities (healing for our spirit), the chastisement of our peace was upon Him (the healing of our mind) and with His stripes we are healed. (healing for our body) (Is. 53:5)

    My dear friend, turn to Christ now. Repent of your sins, renounce the devil, and he will flee from you!

ASSEMBLY LINE MINISTERS!

    The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel of Deliverance! It is not a weak-kneed, "women and children only" gospel - A thousand times No! The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is also for real "He-men". It is the Gospel of power, reality and action; the Gospel of Deliverance!

     For too long the pulpits of our land have been dominated by men and women who have been educated at seminaries in the art of public relations, psychology and religious politics. Many of these ministers are only servants of a religious order and system with a set of dead creeds, dogmas and rituals; with no vision or contact with God and no real deliverance for the multitudes in need!

     When such a man is approached by sin-sick souls trying to find forgiveness for their sins and peace of mind, they are not taken to the throne of mercy in prayer, but rather referred to a psychiatrist who, with his human advice (which usually excludes the Word of God), begins the drawn out and very expensive (of course now the Government pays) procedure of probing the mind and quieting the conscience.

    People are often told: "There is nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, it is quite normal to be a homosexual; there is nothing wrong with having extra marital relations"! And alcoholics are informed that they are not sinners, but have a disease!

     A hopeless alcoholic approached a minister for help. He was offered a cigarette to calm his nerves and referred to 'Alcoholics Anonymous.' Incidentally that was his final attempt in obtaining help. He felt that if a man of God could not help him there was no hope; his drunkenness earned him a jail sentence.

     His wife and family suffered, his name was disgraced by his many sinful acts and he lost all confidence in himself. The cigarette smoking preacher could have helped him, but didn't even suggest prayer.

     In prison, he began rehabilitation and was made a trustee, and therefore allowed to leave the prison on certain errands on behalf of the penal system.

While eating his lunch at a nearby cafe, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was presented to him; not by a man of the cloth but by a waitress who had experienced the Grace of God in her own life; the contact was made and the Gospel presented to this man - first in tract form and later by word of mouth.

    The prisoner was gloriously converted to Christ, later released from prison on good behaviour and returned to his wife and children. He got a good job, paid his bills and became a living testimony to other alcoholics and convicts of the saving grace of our Blessed Lord!! Praise God.

GUILT AND CONDEMNATION!

     Guilt and condemnation cannot be reasoned away or removed through shock treatment, drugs or even drunkenness. The senses can be dulled and the conscience deadened but the knowledge of sinfulness, quilt, remorse, failure and shame can only be removed through the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His atoning work on Calvary's cross.

    Only the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ has the power to wash away SIN and GUILT from the human heart, break all existing Evil Habits and Restore the individual to a healthy state of mind and full communion with God!

    When the guilt and condemnation is removed through confession of sins to God and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, a great peace floods the soul and a tranquility invades the entire being that dispels all worry, frustration, fear, unbelief and sadness.

     The Scripture says, "...and (Christ) having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself ..." (Col. 1:20) Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

     Only Christ, Who is the Prince of Peace, is able to bring peace to troubled hearts and lives. Listen to the blessed words of help and deliverance found in Phil. 4:6-7, "...but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

     Jesus' invitation goes out to everyone: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28). And in Isaiah 1:18 the Bible says, "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH!

    When the sin is gone and the Lord Jesus Christ has entered into the heart by faith, a person experiences a newness of life: "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)

     The condemnation is gone and with it guilt, remorse and discouragement. Words of life and assurance come to us from the Holy Bible: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8:1)

     The reason we have peace and "no condemnation" is because we have received God's gift of Eternal Life, which is offered to the human race and made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    Here the Scriptures deal with Justification, or being made just, righteous, forgiven, exonerated and pardoned by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood.

    "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1). “For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

     Our LORD said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou. Ye shall be made free?

     “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:32-36)

     There is nothing to compare with the peace, joy, happiness and blessing that comes to us through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! There is absolutely nothing that God is unable to do and, "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Ps. 84:11)

    The Scripture says that, “God hath Delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.” (Col. 1:13)

    When Jesus Christ came into our lives, the power of evil was broken, the chains burst asunder and the shackles that had us bound were gone forever. We were made free! Free from sin, evil habits, evil motives and evil desires.

     Instead of being afraid we were full of confidence; instead of hatred, love ruled in our hearts and instead of being tormented, our very testimony caused the devil to flee, and the peace of God flooded our souls. Not only was this the experience when we were first converted, but this is our testimony today!

     The experience of conversion and the new birth does not become stale or out of date; it is ever a refreshing experience to walk by faith and serve God with a clean and pure heart.

     We have been liberated by Almighty God and our citizenship has been changed. The power of Darkness, Sin and Evil held sway in our lives, but then, JESUS came and broke the Chains!

     We are now in the Kingdom of Christ, happy and free; sin's shackles that bound us are broken forever as we serve our Blessed Lord Jesus with joy and enthusiasm. The Scripture says, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." (John 8:32) Hallelujah!

DELIVERANCE FROM FEAR, THROUGH CHRIST!

     Fear is one of the greatest enemies of mankind. Nothing can cripple a human being like the Spirit of Fear. When it grips a victim in its ugly tentacles the results are terrifying and devastating; it breeds worry, anxiety, frustration, perplexities and torment.

     The Bible says, "Fear hath torment". (1 John 4:18); "For God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear." (2 Tim. 1:7) Here, fear is named as a spirit and since there is only one Holy Spirit and fear is opposite to faith, and, "Without faith it is impossible to please God," (Heb. 11:6) we therefore conclude that fear is an evil spirit!

     The Scriptures state that God has not given us the Spirit of Fear, but He has given us power, love and a sound mind. Since fear brings torment we know it is a product of satanic bondage. God is good and brings peace, love and joy to those who trust in Him. And the devil is the author of confusion, torment and unrest.

      Jesus said, "The thief (devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) We have complete freedom from fear as we let God's love flood our souls. Remember, "Perfect love casteth out fear". (1 John 4:18).

DELIVERANCE FROM SIN, THROUGH CHRIST!

    Satan's power over our lives ended when we accepted Christ as our personal Saviour. Unbelief had to give way to faith, insecurity vanished as confidence rushed in, sorrow retreated in the face of joy, and defeat was no opponent for victory!

     The melancholy spirit of despair disappeared when hope came shouting down the road and peace filled our troubled mind, spirit and body as torment fled. Pride was ashamed when humility entered, lust moved aside to let purity in, while greed and covetousness gave way to unselfishness. Darkness was no match for light, sickness was overcome by health and death had to give up when life made its gigantic appearance. Hallelujah to Jesus Christ our Lord and God!

     The Scripture says, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." (John 8:36) The Bible says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you" (Rom. 6:14) and, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)

     God's Word states, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24) Praise the Lord!

DELIVERANCE FROM SICKNESS, DISEASE & DEMONS!

     Jesus died and rose again to purchase our complete salvation. The Bible teaches that Jesus wants to be Saviour of our entire being, which includes spirit, soul, mind and body.

    When Jesus walked upon earth, He not only forgave the sinner but healed the sick, suffering and diseased. The Scriptures abound with instances where Jesus brought healing to the sick and suffering and where He alleviated pain and cast out evil and tormenting spirits from those oppressed by them.

    The Holy Bible records, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

    The Scriptures classify sickness as the oppression of the Devil and Healing as doing Good! Remember, that Jesus came to do His Father's will and to destroy the works of the devil. (John 4:34)

    "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

     Two thirds of His earthly ministry was spent in healing the sick and casting out devils, while one third of His time was used in teaching and preaching. Jesus called sickness a plague! "And He said unto her, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:34)

     Jesus stated that Satan had bound a woman with a spirit of infirmity and that she should be loosed from Satan's grasp on the Sabbath day, seeing she was a daughter of Abraham (a child of faith). She no doubt was afflicted with arthritis of the back and hips.

     "And behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." (Luke 13:11)

HEALED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD!

    When healing the epileptic, blind, deaf and dumb and mentally deranged, often Jesus attributed these diseases to evil spirits, which He then cast out. (Mark 9:18-27; 2: 10-11; 5:8) However, not all epilepsy, blindness, deafness or other diseases are caused by evil spirits; some are caused by brain damage, accidents or other illness.

    The Lord Jesus Christ proved without a shadow of a doubt that Divine Healing and deliverance from evil spirits is done by the finger of God, (Luke 11:20) which is the Spirit of God, (Matt. 12:28) the Blessed Holy Ghost. (Luke 4:14; Mark 3:22-30)

     Jesus proved that Satan who is totally evil and who brings sin, fear, sickness, pain and torment upon people, cannot do anything that is good, since a good tree only brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree corrupt fruit. He said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:15-20)

      Jesus said to the man sick of the palsy, "Son be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." (Matt. 9:2) When the skeptics criticized Him, He asked the question, "Whether is easier, to say thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, then saith He to the sick of the palsy, arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." (Matt. 9:5-6)

     The Scripture says that he was healed and went home glorifying God. Our Lord set the Record straight concerning Divine Healing. It is no harder for Him to forgive the sinner than to Heal the sick, and no more difficult for Him to Heal the sick than to forgive the sinner. He can and does both quite easily!

     As a matter of fact, He didn't even use the word "hard". He asked,"Which is easier?" (Not, "which is harder?") Nothing is hard for God.

YES, IT IS GOD'S WILL!

    Many ask the question, "Is it God's will to heal me?" A man once asked the Master Himself this same question. Here is the account of it, "And behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying I will; be thou clean, and immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matt. 8:2-3)

    This is the only account of anyone asking the question regarding God's will to heal.  Jesus said to the leper (an incurable case), "I will; be thou clean." Hallelujah!

    There is only one account in the New Testament where Jesus failed to heal a great number of people and that was because of the people's unbelief. He only healed those who believed and because only a few believed in Him, He only healed a few. Jesus does not push Himself on people who refuse to believe: "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Mark 6:5-6)

    "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

   "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, go and he goeth; and to another come and he cometh; and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it.

    "When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Matt.8:5-10). Here is a beautiful account of the willingness of our Lord Jesus Christ to heal the sick!

     The centurion told the Master about his sick servant. Immediately the Lord Jesus spoke up and said, "I will come and heal him!" The centurion stopped the Master by saying, "Just a moment please, I'm not worthy that You should come under my roof - all You have to do is speak the Word and my servant shall be healed."

    Then Jesus said, “Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great Faith, not in Israel.” The Bible states that Jesus marvelled at the faith of this Roman (pagan) Centurion.

     Only twice in the New Testament do we find that Jesus marvelled. This was one of the occasions - the other was when He witnessed the unbelief of the religious people in Nazareth. "And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hand upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief." (Mark 6:5-6)

UNBELIEF IS A GRIEVOUS SIN!

    Jesus said, "That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, andJacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 8:11-12)

     There is NO SIN as great as the Sin of Unbelief. Unfortunately, there are many who say that they believe the Bible, but DENY certain portions of it to fit their man-made doctrines.

    The Scripture warns: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 2: 1-5)

     Jesus' worst critics were those who refused to believe in His Healing Ministry and the casting out of devils. They even called Jesus a devil and said that He was casting out evil spirits by the power of the Beelzebub, the Prince of the Devils!

     “And He was casting out a devil that was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

    “But He knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brougth to desolation, and as a house divideth against itself falleth. If Satan also be divideth against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because ye say that I cast out devils through Beezebub. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you.” (Luke 11: 14-20)

OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER US!

    The three Hebrew children would not bow to the heathen idol and were cast into a burning fiery furnace. This punishment meant sure death since the furnace was heated seven times hotter than usual, because of the fury of the King against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

    The heat was so intense that even the guards that threw them into the furnace were scorched to death. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself came on the scene and delivered them from the fire!

     The King looking into the furnace cried in amazement, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?... Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (Daniel 3:24-25). Praise God!

    A great miracle! True, it was a great miracle but here is why God performed this great miracle. When they were given the ultimatum by the King, they answered, "...O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)

    GOOD NEWS: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Eternal Life.” (John 3: 16); “But God commendeth His LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom.5:8); “I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11); “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15: 13)

                              OUR GOD IS A GREAT DELIVERER!

     And He will Deliver us all from the powers of Evil, the destroying force of Disease, the crippling works of Fear, the demons of Poverty and the powers of accidents and calamity. By the power of the precious BLOOD of Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit we are safe! (Luke 4:18; Is. 61:1; Psalms 91: 10.)

     I thank God for Divine Deliverance. Amen.

Please Note: Although I wrote this article in 1968 (nearly 50 years ago), it is as necessary now as ever. If you would like further copies of this message, please write us requesting them. Also, please send an offering to help us reprint this and other powerful messages! M.S.