Monday, February 10, 2025

 

                  IT’S TIME TO GET STIRRED FOR GOD
                                            by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry."  (Acts 17:16)

If there ever was a time Christians need to be STIRRED, it is now.  Stirred to holy anger, righteous indignation and missionary zeal!

Stirred about the onslaught of the evil one, in his "urgent campaign" to enslave billions of lost souls across the world!

Stirred about the scary rise of the deceptive New Age Movement and their subtle infiltration of our educational systems, governmental agencies, business corporations and churches!

Stirred about the tragic break-up of many homes, the spiraling divorce rate, high incidence of alcohol and drug abuse and violence among our youth!

Stirred about the complacency and acquiescence of an increasing number of spineless politicians and clergy - who in order to please constituents and parishioners - are caving in to demands by sodomites and lesbians!

Stirred about the sins of child abuse, incest and molestation by parents, relatives and family friends!  And about the acceptance by many, of suicide as a valid way out of depression, terminal illness and other unpleasant situations!

It is time to get stirred about the awful carnage in our hospitals, the aborting of millions of unborn babies across the world, and stirred because in some cities, the authorities are jailing "the rescuers" who seek to save these precious lives.

It is ironic, when you think about laws that jail someone killing certain species of animals and birds, while protecting abortionists - medical doctors are trained to save lives - who legally kill large numbers of human unborn babies regularly!

The heart of our Heavenly Father must be stirred to the "boiling point", of unleashing upon this wicked world His unprecedented wrath and judgment, because of these infamies!

SHOULD WE NOT BE STIRRED LIKE ST. PAUL WAS?

Stirred enough to get off the "comfortable pew", in order to change the spiritual complexion of our communities, our cities, our nation, and our world ... to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God! (Acts 26:22)

Stirred enough to warn this generation of coming judgment upon a world that has rejected its Saviour and a church that has become lukewarm, complacent and uncaring!

Oh, that God would burden our hearts to fast, pray and intercede for a lost world that has "gone out of control"!

THERE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN

St. Paul saw the rampant idolatry in Athens and his heart was stirred within him, to do something about it!

Immediately, he involved himself in preaching the Gospel on Mars Hill at the Acropolis - across from the Parthenon - to the learned men of Greece!

His message was Jesus Christ and His resurrection.  He preached repentance and warned of coming judgment!

 "...God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness BY THAT MAN WHOM HE HATH ORDAINED; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He raised Him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.” (Acts 17:30-32)

We also must become stirred enough to begin reading the Bible seriously, praying fervently and witnessing aggressively for our Blessed Lord Jesus!

It's too late "in the game" to expect things to turn around quickly, if we don't "go all out" in this last and vital inning of the world's history!

Now is the time to decide for Christ.  Now is the time to dedicate ourselves totally, without reservation to the task of winning our loved ones, neighbours and friends to Him, before it is too late!

Our prayer should be: "Dear Heavenly Father, by Thy great wisdom, power and grace, please lead me in Thy perfect will, so that I may reach key people for Thy Kingdom.  Be merciful O God, and spare the people by sending a gracious revival to our Land.  Begin in me O Lord; forgive and cleanse my spirit, soul and mind.

"I give myself to Thee; to be Thy servant and a channel through which Thy great love and power will flow out to others!"

May all Christians totally repent of envy, pride, jealousy, back-biting, gossiping and lying!  And may we all pray, 'Not my will, but Thy will O God', so there will be no unforgiveness, lust, greed, bigotry or tormenting fears in the Christian community as everyone dedicates their lives totally unto the Lord!

 And may we all be filled with holy love and compassion in order to reach out to our communities with the Gospel of Christ.

O Lord, stir us to holy love, boldness and compassion.  May we put away all fear, timidity and false humility so that the Church may become militant for Christ and God's Kingdom on this earth!  Amen.

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.  With the cross of Jesus, going on before!

 Max Solbrekken World Mission  Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton AB T5V 1N6; Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Blog MSWM; Facebook; Youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donation to [email protected]; Thank you!

 

Sunday, February 9, 2025

         ALL HONOUR, GLORY & PRAISE TO JESUS CHRIST

             This is the centre section from The Cry Of His Coming Magazine in Norwegian language

Saturday, February 8, 2025

 

                       WHAT IS LIFE?
                                               by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

“As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” (Psalms 103:1, 5, 16)

DEATH IS SO FINAL!

Many years ago, I was asked to officiate at the funeral of a relative of one of our parishioners. The lady who had passed away was forty-six years of age. Only a few people were at the funeral chapel to mourn her passing but those who attended were close relatives and friends and I could tell they loved her dearly. I chose for my sermon the title of this article, ‘What is Life?’

Muriel Heppner was in her place at the organ. The strains of the hymn ‘Abide With Me’ set the tone for the service, even before I entered the sanctuary. The tears were already welling up within my eyes as I thought of death, eternity and the grief the loved ones must feel, together with the emptiness that would follow!

Death is so final! I thought back briefly to my mother - her smile, her warmth, and her absence. As I knelt to pray momentarily before stepping to the pulpit, I thanked God that my heart was still soft after seeing so much sickness and death. Officiating at so many funerals hadn't made me hard! I have often thought about how Jesus felt at the grave of Lazarus and when He wept over Jerusalem. The Bible says, “He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” (Heb. 4:15). A certain solemnity seemed to grip my voice as I read Psalms 90:1-12.

AS A WATCH IN THE NIGHT!

“LORD Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

“For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

“For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath."

Hilder Commins brought hope and encouragement as her voice filled the air with a message of song. The obituary and eulogy were very brief and to the point. And then, it was time for my message, ‘What is Life?’ I chose for my text James 4:14; "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

AT BEST, LIFE IS BRIEF!

The 90th Psalm was written by Moses to a rebellious people who were not going to make it into the Promised Land.  He states that God was giving then 70 years and possibly 80 years!  And just before God sent the flood that wiped out the antediluvian population, with the exception of Noah and his family, He set the boundaries for mankind’s longevity:

 “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.” (Gen. 6: 4)

What are seventy, eighty or even a hundred years when you have lived them? What is any amount of time when it is used up? Think of it, my friend, and no more time to live!! And that moment comes to every man. Moses warned: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is there strength, labour and sorrow. For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalms 90:10)

People have said to me, “My, how wonderful it would have been to live in the time of the prophets of old and at the time of Jesus' earthly ministry!” I reply, “Yes, but if I would have lived then I would be dead now and I am glad to be alive now!” Here is another great truth, we are placed here by the Lord to do a certain work and in His infinite wisdom He knew when we should make our appearance on this earth, to fit into His great and glorious plan for man. Praise God!

TODAY IS MINE: TOMORROW MAY NOT COME!

We have no guarantee of life for the future. We only have now! The hymn writer wrote, ‘Today is mine, tomorrow may not come; I may not see the rising of the sun but when evening falls, may my work on earth be done. Today is mine, tomorrow may never come.’

The woman whom I was burying had lived less than forty-seven years. For her, life was over on this earth. What guarantee do you have, my dear friend, that you will live fifty, sixty, or even seventy years? Some are taken at an even earlier age. Others get a few more years, still others live to be seventy, eighty or even one hundred, but even then life is short compared to eternity! Just stop for a moment and consider the possibility that even today your life could be snuffed out. What have you accomplished for God, family and fellow man in the years you have lived? Where do you stand with God, my friend? And if you are a Christian, what have you done for God with your life? Remember, ‘Only one life - it will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.’

St. James - one of the world's greatest pastors - said, “For what is your life? lt is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away.” (Verse 14)

St. James likens life to a fog that moves into an area overnight, but when the sunshine comes in the morning or when the wind arises, it is gone! Life is like a mist or a vapour that is only temporary and leaves so suddenly. You can be driving down a highway to work in the morning and there may be a heavy fog or mist. In the evening on your way home, it could be gone. Life is like a dew on the grass, or like a light frost on the window that disappears at the rising of the warm sun. You could also be driving to work some morning, healthy and strong with no thought of death or eternity, and not make it home for supper! Death could prevent you!

FROM DUST TO DUST!

The Scriptures declare, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalms 90:4) In the sight of God a thousand years is as brief as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

God compares a millennium of time to a watch in the night or to the remembrance of a day gone by. The Bible tells us that God created man from the dust of the earth, and gave him dominion over all things upon the earth. When he fell into sin, disobeying God and rebelling against the command of the Almighty, man consequently lost that dominion.

Death would never have become master over Adam and Eve if they had not sinned! Sickness, fear, sorrow and pain would not have mankind as slaves today, if our first parents had obeyed God rather than follow the devil's wishes. They thought that ‘they were doing their own thing.’ How blind people can be. The devil makes people feel so great, important and free, when in reality he has them right under his heel! What fools mortals can be. And oh, how deceived!!

When man sinned, instant judgment passed upon the human race. God said: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Gen. 3:19)  While committing the body of the deceased to the earth in Christian burial, I always use the dust (some ministers use flowers) to toss upon the casket as I say the final words, “From earth to earth, from dust to dust and from ashes to ashes.”

GOD CALLS MAN TO RETURN!

God calls mankind back to the earth: “…return ye children of men.” (Psalms 93) Return to where? The dust of the earth! It's God's call to humanity. St. Paul spells it out very clearly in Hebrews 9:27, “…it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.” Here is an appointment no one can break, postpone or miss!

First the grave, and then the judgment of God! There is no way around it. One day we will all stand before God. (Rev. 20:11-15; 1 Cor. 3:12-15)

True saints of God who are alive when Christ returns to rapture the church will, however, miss the grave! Instead of returning to the dust they will be changed in a moment, glorified and raptured to meet Christ in the air. (1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:15-17) Praise the Lord!

My constant prayer these last many years has been, “Lord, let me live until the coming of Jesus so that I may experience this great event!”

Regardless, whether we live till that moment or not, we are sure of His glorious salvation if we put our complete and total trust in Him. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, and whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (I Thess. 5: 9, 10)

REST: AFTER A WEARY DAY?

Dying really is the natural end of the ‘cycle of man’ upon the earth since the fall. It almost seems like the earth beckons - as though ‘earth calls to the human tabernacles of men.’ Often, when people become aged, they desire to die and go to be with the Lord. It is only natural that man should want to be with His Maker because when the body dies the spirit departs to be with our Lord and God. (2 Cor. 5:6 - 8; Phil. 1:23)

Could it be that the body which is made from the dust, actually desires to be laid to rest, at the end of a long life? (Long weary day) I do not know! There seems however to be that possibility! All of us like to go back to the place of our birth, drive around the block and view the homes we had to leave after so many years! There is a feeling of belonging, identification, and a relating to the country of our forefathers and the place of our childhood, be it ever so humble. And then, of course, the Scripture tells us that God actually calls man to return to the earth. (Psalms 93)

CREMATION - A HEATHEN PRACTICE!

All through the Old Testament, the prophets of God were very explicit about the burying of their bones. They did not want their bones buried just anywhere – “and they buried them with their fathers.” (2 Kings 12:21) And they also purchased burial land so that they could bury their dead properly. (Gen. 23:4-11). Joseph gave commandments concerning his bones, which they kept for several hundred years in Egypt, and finally carried to their resting place in the land of Canaan. (Josh. 24:32, 33)

God sometimes used fire as judgment upon those who disobeyed Him. For example, Sodom and Gomorrah were totally consumed by fire. (Gen. 19:24-28). Some sins of immorality were punishable by stoning, others by burning in Old Testament times. (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). Entire enemy cities were destroyed together with their heathen idols and images by burning. (Josh. 6:24)

Achan, his household and all his possessions were burned by fire because he had broken the covenant with the Lord. (Josh. 7:24 - 26) It was a pagan practice to sacrifice children to the gods of the heathen and to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire. (2 Kings 16:2 - 4; 17: 16, 17, 31). The heathen still walk on hot coals in some countries, as they “pass through the fire” under the influence of evil spirits.

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!

Atheists think that by burning the body they can do away with any thought of the resurrection. They disclaim any thought of a hereafter or eternity, but the Bible says: “The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them . . .” (Rev. 20:13)

Very definitely this Scripture proves that all the dead will come back to life either in the first or second resurrection regardless of what happens to the body at death. (Rev. 20:6)

And just because unbelievers, atheists and pagans burn the bodies of their dead, that does not prove anything but their own ignorance of God and His Word! In India where the Hindus worship three hundred million gods and the land is filled with images and idols, they burn their dead loved ones but bury their dead cows, which are considered holy, and are an object of worship. If you want to know why India is in the state it is in, read Rom. 1:20 - 32, "…who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature (created things) more than the creator …"

Tradition says that St. James preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in India, sent missionaries from India to other countries, and is buried in India. I believe very strongly that cremation is a heathen practice and the proper way to dispose of the body of the deceased is in Christian burial, allowing the body to return to the dust of the earth! (Dan. 20:2; Eccl. 3:20; 12: 7)

When we bury the body of a departed believer, we are proclaiming that we believe the Gospel of Christ! As Jesus was laid in the tomb and rose from the dead three days later, we plant the believer’s body in hope and faith of a harvest – the resurrection from death to life at the hour of Christ’s return for His Church! (1 Cor. 15: 50-57; 1 Thes. 4: 13-18)

LIFE IS LIKE THE GRASS!

In the spring, green grass appears on the ground, flowers blossom and the robins begin to sing joyously! All through the summer, the beauties and fragrance of new life is everywhere. It seems like it should never have to end, but most of us who have seen the ice and the snow and heard the howling north wind, know it can never last!

Soon the chilling winds of autumn come sweeping across the land, and the beautiful birds take their flight to southern hospitality, the flowers fade, die and wither and then finally a gust of wind comes and carries them away. The grass that has been green and lush begins to turn brown and lifeless as winter sets in. How long was it since spring? Only a few short months! The Psalmist compares life with the flowers and grass of the field. Beautiful, fragrant, lively and vibrant during the spring and summer, but its life is short, all too short!

For some it is even shorter, like verse 6 implies; green grass, standing straight and tall, billowing in the breeze - then the mower comes along and it is cut down and soon withers. This speaks of an untimely death. Ellsworth Mackey travelled with me to Viet Nam, the Philippines, India and the North West Territories. He worked as our photographer and radio technician. One day while working all alone on a tractor he experienced a tragic, fatal accident and within moments was dead. The terrible news was shocking; unbelievable as it was, it was true. Ellsworth Mackey was dead.

The young man with so many goals, plans, and aspirations; the young man who was so full of life, now lay dead and cold in a city morgue. I had loved him as one of my own and had to identify his body, make all the preparations and stand at the head of his grave and toss the dust onto his casket, as he had seen me do so many times at other funerals! The Bible says that life is like the grass of the field, cut down even while it is flourishing. So it happened to Ellsworth Mackey. Thank God, he knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

LIFE IS LIKE A SLEEP!

The Bible is very graphic and illustrative in places. The Psalmist says, “God carries mankind away (into eternity) as with a flood.” Nothing can stop a flood, and when it comes and the waters rise, everything goes down in destruction and is torn away from their moorings by the cruel and relentless tide. Again the Bible likens our lives to a “sleep.” Most people get seven to eight hours sleep each night but even though you may sleep ten to twelve hours, when you awake you feel as though only an hour had passed. It seems too brief. You fall asleep and awaken and that's how life is: very, very short even at the longest in comparison to eternity, which is forever!

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12). The admonition here is to use all our time wisely - not fool around or waste away precious time that could be given to seeking God and serving Him. The Scripture is very plain on this matter in the New Testament also where St. Paul says:

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5: 1 5 - 17). To apply our hearts unto wisdom is definitely to understand the will of God for our lives and to do it! Praise God.

THE CONCLUSION!

God’s Word spells it out in easy to understand words all through the Holy Bible - let me share two portions of Scripture with you on this matter. “…Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28; “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Prov. 3:4)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Eccl. 12:13, 14)

My invitation to you, my friend, is to hearken to the voice of the Holy Spirit, repent of your sins confessing them to God and turn to Christ with faith and you will experience the glories of the New Birth and the subsequent gift of the Holy Ghost and fire. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28).

BURY THE BODY: GO AND TELL JESUS!

When a loved one has passed away, the pain, hurt and loneliness doesn’t leave. Some grieve for a longer time than others. My advice is biblical. Put everything in God’s hands. He knows what is best for all of us!

When the disciples of John the Baptist heard the sad news that their leader had been beheaded, they did two things: “And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.” (Matt. 14: 12). Let us all in times of grief, sorrow and pain, go to God in prayer and tell it to Jesus!

‘Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that's brave. You must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave. ‘Blessed Saviour Thou wilt guide us till we reach the blissful shore. There the angels wait to join us in Thy praise forevermore.’ Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission  Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton AB T5V 1N6; Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Blog MSWM; Facebook; Youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donation to [email protected]; Thank you!

                                                        THE CALL TO

    PRAYER

By: Pastor Max Solbrekken, DD

 “And He went a little farther and He fell on His face, and prayed…And He cometh to His disciples, and findeth them asleep   and sayeth unto Peter: What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26: 39-41)

The history of the Early Church gives witness to the power of the Gospel to withstand the very worst persecution by the ‘Enemies of the Cross’ through the cleansing power of Jesus Christ’s shed blood and the abiding presence of the blessed Holy Spirit!

Their lives were constantly fraught with danger, threats, persecution and martyrdom. They were driven to PRAYER to sustain them through the dark days and to give them victory over the World, Flesh and the Devil.

 And to perform great MIRACLES, SIGNS and WONDERS in Jesus’ powerful Name to “make the heathen obedient” (Rom.15: 18-19) and to “turn the world upside down”. (Acts 17:6)

The Book of the Acts is in reality the ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit’ performed through the Name of the Resurrected Christ!   We rejoice greatly as we read the Bible accounts of the amazing miracles of salvation, healing and deliverance wrought by God’s humble servants through the ‘blood of the everlasting covenant’ (Heb.13: 20) in the name of  Jesus of Nazareth!

 Church history is replete with similar events of miracles and revivals as well as much suffering, persecution and martyrdom. TERTULLION (160 – 225 A.D.) one of the Church Fathers made this victorious statement: “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.

MARTYRDOM OF JOHN HUSS!

We fast forward to July 6, 1415 to view a despicable spectacle. The Bohemian Monk, JOHN HUSS, has been found guilty of heresy by the corrupt and evil Pope and his Cardinals. In the book ‘When The Spirit Came’ the Publisher’s Preface gives us this insight into the martyrdom of that great saint and his followers ‘The Moravian Brethren’:

 “What I taught with my lips I now seal with my blood.” And singing a hymn “in a loud and cheerful voice”, John Huss was burned at the stake for the Master he loved.

HUSS PLANTS A SEED FOR JESUS!

John Huss had been greatly influenced by Wycliffe, the English reformist. And his preaching against the evils in the Roman hierarchy could not long go unnoticed by the Pope.

HUSS was excommunicated and summoned to appear before the council of Constance. There he was charged with treason and sentenced to die as a heretic.

A paper mitre was prepared for his head with the inscription, “A ringleader of heretics.” And John Huss said, “My Lord Jesus Christ for my sake did wear a crown of thorns: why should not I then for His sake wear this light crown, be it ever so ignominious? Truly I will do it and that willingly.”

 When the mitre was placed on his head, the bishop said, “Now we commit thy soul unto the devil.”

“But I,” said John Huss, lifting up his eyes to Heaven, “do commend into Thy hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, my spirit which Thou hast redeemed.”

 When the chain was put about him at the stake, he smilingly said, “My Lord Jesus Christ was bound with a harder chain than this for my sake, and why then should I be ashamed of this rusty one?” And thus on July 6, 1415, he died, courageous and joyful to the end.

But his message was not lost. From the followers of Huss there arose a group which called themselves Unitas Fratrum, the Unity of the Brethren.

Through much persecution, a hidden seed was preserved; these held their services in secret and prayed for the revival of their church. Such prayers were heard, when on the 13th day of August, 1727, God’s Spirit fell upon the congregation of Moravians at Herrnhut...

WHEN THE SPIRIT CAME!

The HOLY SPIRIT fell on a group of spiritually hungry believers in Jesus Christ on August 13, 1727 in Herrnhut Germany!

They were a mixed congregation from various denominations who had been given sanctuary by Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, an outstanding young Nobleman whose heart had cried out to God for a Divine Visitation!

In the book, ‘When The Spirit Came’ (1928) John Greenfield  shares some of the amazing miracles of the ‘Moravian Revival’:

“Exactly what happened that Wednesday forenoon, August 13th. 1727, in the specially called Communion service at Berthelsdorf,  none of the participants could fully describe. They left the house of God that noon ‘hardly knowing whether they belonged to earth or had already gone to Heaven.”

COUNT ZINZENDORF:  A MAN GOD COULD USE!

 Count Zinzendorf gave the following account of it a number of years afterwards to a British audience: “We needed to come to Communion with a sense of the loving nearness of the Saviour. This was the great comfort which has made this day a generation ago to be a festival, because of this day twenty-seven years ago the Congregation of Herrnhut, assembled for Communion (at the Berthelsdorf church) were all dissatisfied with themselves.

“They had quit judging each other because they had become convinced, each one, of his lack of worth in the sight of God and each felt himself at this communion to be in view of the noble countenance of the Saviour.

8John Greenfield writes: “Sprung from the labors and martyr-death of the great Bohemian Reformer, JOHN HUSS, ‘the Brethren’ had passed through centuries of persecution. Many had sealed their testimony with their blood.

“Imprisonment, torture and banishment had caused them to forsake the homes of their fathers and flee for refuge to Germany where a young Christian Nobleman, Count Zinzendorf, offered them an asylum on his estates in Saxony. They named their new home Herrnhut, the Lord’s Watch.

 “And from this place after their Baptism with the Holy Spirit, they became the world’s evangelists and missionaries.”    

The Moravian Church received a powerful Baptism in the Holy Spirit in Herrnhut, Germany on August 13, 1727. The congregation of about 300 persecuted Christians from various denominations, who had been given sanctuary by Count Zinzendorf, stopped criticizing one another and began in earnest prayer and were all filled with the blessed Holy Spirit.

THE GREAT MORAVIAN REVIVAL

In his book, Moravian Evangelist Rev. John Greenfield wrote: “Of the Apostolic Church in Jerusalem a certain writer has said: ‘Before thirty years had elapsed from the death of Christ, His followers had spread from Palestine throughout Syria; throughout almost all the districts of Asia Minor; through Greece and the Islands of the Aegean sea, the coast of Africa, and even into Italy and Rome’

   “And at the close of the First Century JUSTIN MARTYR could truly testify: ‘There is not a nation either Greek or Barbarian or of any other name, even those who wander in tribes or live in tents, among whom prayers and thanksgivings are not offered to the Father and Creator of the Universe in the name of the Crucified Jesus.”

Similar testimony could be given for the Moravian brethren. During the first 30 years after their spiritual Pentecost, they carried the Gospel of Salvation through the blood of the Lamb not only to nearly every country in Europe but also to many pagan nations in America, North and South, Asia and Africa, the West Indies and Greenland.

Greenfield continues: “Fifty years before the beginning of modern Foreign Missions by WILLIAM CAREY, the Moravian Church had led the way into pagan countries both by precept and example.

“Their English Missionary magazine, ‘Periodical Accounts’ inspired Dr. Carey and in a meeting of his Baptist brethren he threw a copy of the paper on the table with these memorable and historic words: ‘See what the Moravians have done! Cannot we follow their example and in obedience to our Heavenly Master go out into the world and preach the Gospel to the heathen?”

 Here are the words of the sainted Moravian Bishop, Evelyn Hasse:

  

 Just as the Infant Church in Jerusalem in apostolic days had its Pentecost, from which its members went forth to be Christ’s witnesses ‘both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth,’ so had this church also its own experiences of the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, when in 1727 He came upon its members gathered at the table of the Lord, and baptized them all into one body, and filled them with a strong, unquenchable passion to execute the Saviour’s great Commission, and to let all mankind know of His Cross and of His salvation.”

GREENFIELD states: “Such then was the thirteenth of August seventeen hundred and twenty seven. Count Zinzendorf, the one outstanding human leader and spokesman, called it, “the day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the congregation,”- “its Pentecost.”

Again he described it as follows: “The Saviour permitted to come upon a Spirit of whom we had hitherto not had any experience or knowledge.” Hitherto WE had been the leaders and helpers. Now the Holy Spirit Himself took control of everything and everybody.”

Therefore also he prayed to Jesus: “Lord our High Priest and Saviour, pour fire and Spirit’s fervour on all our priestly bands. When we are interceding and for Thy people pleading, give incense, and hold up our hands.”

MORAVIANS ROUND-THE-CLOCK PRAYER CONTINUED FOR 100 YEARS!

 On August 27, 1727 an around-the-clock prayer chain was started that lasted for 100 years! The well-known German historian of ‘Protestant Missions’ Dr. Warneck testifies: “This small Church in twenty years called into being more Missions than the whole Evangelical church has done in two centuries.” 

A MORAVIAN HISTORIAN writes: “God says, ‘It shall come to pass – I will pour.’ This was His promise through the Prophet Joel. The first fulfillment of this prophecy was on the Day of Pentecost. There is nothing in the New Testament to indicate that this was to be the one and only fulfillment of this prophecy.

“On the contrary we read in the Book of Acts of many outpourings of the Holy Spirit, as in Samaria (8: 14-17) as in Ephesus (19: 1-7) and even in the case of the Gentiles (10: 44-46).

 “Church History also abounds in records of special outpourings of the Holy Ghost, and verily the thirteenth of August 1727 was a day of outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We saw the hand of God and His wonders, and we were all under the cloud of our fathers and baptized with their Spirit.

“The Holy Ghost came upon us and in those days great signs and wonders took place in our midst. From that time scarcely a day passed but what we beheld His almighty working amongst us.

“A great hunger for the Word of God took possession of us so that we had to have three services every day, viz., 5:00 and 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. Everyone desired above everything else that the Holy Spirit might have full control. Self-love and self-will as well as all disobedience disappeared and an overwhelming flood of grace swept us all out into the great ocean of Divine Love.

PRAYER PRECEDES REVIVAL!

 In 1928, Greenfield wrote: “Prayer always precedes Pentecost. The Book of Acts describes many outpourings of the Holy Spirit, but never apart from prayer. 

 “In our own day the great Welsh and Korean revivals were preceded by months, if not years, of importunate and united praying.

 Hence the supreme importance of the Prayer Meeting for it is “the powerhouse of the Church.” So our Fathers found it two centuries ago. Nearly one century after the ‘Outpouring at Herrnhut’, that prince of Scottish preachers, DR. THOMAS CHALMERS wrote on the Moravians:

“The efficacy of the Bible alone upon simple and unfurnished minds is a fact; and the finest examples of it are found in almost every page of the annals of Moravianism. When the Apostle Paul went about among the Greeks and Barbarians, charged with the message of salvation to all who would listen and believe, he preached nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Neither do the Moravians.”

 The first part of the year 1727 did not seem very promising. Differences of opinion and heated controversy on doctrinal questions threatened to disrupt the congregation. The majority were members of the Ancient Moravian Church of the Brethren.   “But other believers had also been attracted to Herrnhut. Lutherans, Reformed, Baptists, etc., had joined the community. Questions of predestination, holiness, the meaning and mode of baptism, etc. seemed likely to divide the believers into a number of small and belligerent sects.

“Then the more earnest and spiritual souls among them began to cry mightily unto the Lord for deliverance. His first answer was an outpouring of the spirit of grace and supplications.” (Zech. 12: 10)

I HAVE ONE PASSION:  IT IS JESUS, JESUS ONLY!

“Matthew Henry’s comment on this passage was fulfilled in their case: ‘WhenGod intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a praying.’   He also sent them a human leader and deliverer in the person of the young German nobleman, COUNT ZINZENDORF, who so kindly offered this persecuted Church a place of refuge on his own estates.

“This godly youth and pre-eminent genius had been divinely prepared for his great work of spiritual leadership. Converted in early childhood he composed and signed at four years of age the following covenant: “Dear Saviour, do Thou be mine and I will be Thine.” He had chosen as his life-motto the now famous confession: “I have one passion: It is Jesus, Jesus only.”

So effective and fruitful was this leadership that nearly two centuries later PROFESSOR BINNIE of Scotland declared: “It would not be going too far to affirm that Count Zinzendorf did more than any other man to redeem the Eighteenth Century from the reproach of barrenness, in relation to evangelical teaching and work.”

Count Zinzendorf had learned early the secret of prevailing prayer. So active had he been in establishing circles for prayer, that on leaving the College at Halle, 16 years of age, he handed the famous Professor Francke a list of seven praying societies.”

WHAT IF THE MISSIONARIES ARE ALL DEAD?

 The book, ‘When the Spirit Came’ is filled with such touching stories that ones heart almost breaks. Here is an account of their Mission Work in the West Indies in the 1700s:  “FREDRICH MARTIN, one of the first Moravian Missionaries to the Negroes on the Island of St. Thomas, was one of the Lord’s chosen vessels and a typical Moravian. He and a fellow worker were put in jail for preaching the Gospel to the Blacks. More than three months are spent in a miserable prison; but the Spirit filled missionaries gave themselves to prayer like Paul and Silas in the Philipian dungeon.

Their faithful Negro congregation, nearly 700 communicants, gather daily as near the jail as possible to join in singing and hear the sermons of their captive Ministers. A great revival follows and large numbers are converted. Suddenly Count Zinzendorf arrives on his first Missionary journey, accompanied by two couples to reinforce the over-worked and imprisoned missionaries.

“As the ship draws near the beautiful island the Count said to his fellow workers: “What if we find no one here? What if the missionaries are all dead?” To this one of the young workers quietly replied: “Then we are here,” whereupon Count Zinzendorf uttered the oft quoted exclamation, “Gens aeterna, diese Maehren!” “An eternal race,  these Moravians!”

The Count soon secured the freedom from jail of the sick and half-starved missionaries. He was amazed at the greatness of Frederich Martin’s work and wrote back to Germany: “St. Thomas is a much more wonderful miracle than our own Herrnhut.”

IT IS UNSPEAKABLY WELL!

After fourteen years of most sacrificial service Frederich Martin has reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage. More than fifty of his fellow workers have already laid down their lives.

 To his weeping wife the dying missionary says: “My dear heart, I shall probably soon go to my Saviour. Do thou always be happy in Him. With me it is unspeakably well, and if my spirit flies away to Him, please ask the Governor to permit my earthly tabernacle to rest on the plantation beside our Chapel.”

JOHN WESLEY, who founded the Methodist Church, was converted to Christ through the powerful testimony and ministry of the Moravians! May we follow their example and begin praying earnestly, fervently and effectually!

THE BLUE PRINT FOR GENUINE REVIVAL!

 “If My people which  are  called by  My Name  shall humble themselves and pray and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” (2 Chron.7: 14)

 WILLIAM BOOTH said: “Go for the lost and go for the worst!”

JOHN WESLEY prayed: “Give me 100 men who love nothing but  God and fear nothing but sin, and I care not a straw whether they be plowmen or clergymen. By these alone I will close the mouth of Hell!”

GEORGE WHITEFIELD prayed: “O’ Lord, give me souls or take mine!”

JOHN KNOX prayed: “O’ God, give me Scotland or I die!”

MARTIN LUTHER stated: “I live as though us Christ died yesterday, arose today, and is coming again tomorrow!”

JONATHON EDWARDS cried: “O’ God give me New England or I die.”

During one of his last sermons in Boston, D.L. MOODY addressed the subject of THE HOLY SPIRIT thusly: “See how He came on the Day of Pentecost!  It is not carnal to pray that He might come again and that the place may be shaken. I believe Pentecost was only a specimen day.

“I think the Church has made this WOEFUL MISTAKE that Pentecost was a miracle never to be repeated.  I have thought too that Pentecost was a miracle that is not to be repeated.  I BELIEVE NOW, if we looked on Pentecost as a specimen day and began to pray, we should have the old Pentecostal fire here in Boston.”

 My hope is that multitude of Christians will realize that God invites us to pray because He delights in answering our prayers!

Seven times in John’s Gospel Jesus invites us to pray declaring that God will answer us when we approach the ‘Throne of Mercy’ in His Name! Here is Christ’s Seven Fold Invitation to Prayer: And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14: 13)

1.  If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” (John 14: 14)

2.  “If ye abide in Me and My Word abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15: 7)

3.  Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you.” (John 15: 16)

4.  “And in that day (when the Holy Spirit has come) ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give to you.” (John16: 23)

5.  “Hitherto ye have asked nothing in My name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16: 24)

6.  “At that day (when the Holy Spirit has come) ye shall ask in My Name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you (as He had done while He was with them).

7.   For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I have come out from God.” (John 16: 26, 27)

 WILLIAM SEYMOUR – the son of former slaves – who was used mightily in the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California (1906-1909) stated:

“Before I met Parham the hunger to have more of God was in my heart that I prayed for 5 hours a day for 2 ½ years. I got to Los Angeles, and there the hunger was not less but more.

“I prayed to God, ‘What can I do?’ The Spirit said, ‘Pray more, But Lord, I am praying 5 hours a day now.” I increased my hours of prayer to seven, and prayed on for a year and a half more. I prayed to God to give me what Parham preached, the real Holy Ghost and Fire with tongues with love and power of God like the Apostles!”

    

JONATHON EDWARDS (1703–1758), who is considered America’s greatest theologian is known for his sermon, ‘Sinners in the hands of an angry God’, was a mighty man of prayer. He usually sought God in agonizing prayer for 18 hours before delivering His powerful sermons!

      

Before preaching his renowned sermon on July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut, Jonathon Edwards agonized for three days and nights in intensive intercessory prayer.

    

The results were staggering! Many who heard his message trembled and cried out for mercy, holding onto their chairs or pillars so that they wouldn’t slide into Hell. Others fell under the Holy Spirit’s power.  500 people were converted that day!

   
JONATHON EDWARDS cried out to God: “Give me New England or I die.” The revival that followed was the outcome of his agonized prayers! Undoubtedly, the godly example of his prayer-filled son-in-law David Brainerd, who persevered through much adversity in reaching the American Indians also impacted Edwards greatly!

    
EDWARD PAYSON declared: “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a Minister. Pray, then my dear Brother; pray, pray, pray.”

   
DAVID BRAINERD stated: “I cared not where or how I lived or the hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls for Christ. When I was asleep I dreamed about these things. When I was awake the first thing I thought of was this great work. All my desire was for the conversion of the heathen and all my hope was in God.”

   
GEORGE WHITEFIELD said: “Whole days and weeks have I spent on the ground in silent and vocal prayer.”

Let us all pray and seek the Almighty God in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and receive His blessings, both temporal and eternal!


JESUS COMMUNED OFTEN WITH HIS FATHER!

     
 Jesus prayed at His baptism. (Luke 3: 21) He prayed all night (Luke 6: 12), before appointing His twelve disciples (Luke 6: 12) and after hearing the victorious report of the seventy. (John 10: 21) He prayed for Peter. (Luke 22: 31) He arose early in the morning to pray. (Mark 1: 35) 

       
He prayed on the Mount of Transfiguration
(Luke 9: 29) and before raising Lazarus from the dead. (John 11: 41, 42) He prayed when the people wanted to make Him king (John 6: 15) He prayed the Father to send the Holy Spirit. (John 14: 16) 

     
Jesus prayed for little children
(Matt. 19: 13) and during His intercessory ‘High Priestly Prayer’ prior to being arrested (John 17:1-26), at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19) and in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22: 42) And Jesus prayed while hanging on the cross! (Luke 23: 46)

    
And today as our High Priest, He is interceding for us to the Father as He pleads our cause as our Advocate. (Heb.7: 25)  He taught His disciples to pray (Matt.6: 9-15) and He gave us the warning: “Watch and pray, lest ye fall into temptation.” (Matt.26: 4; Mark 14: 38)

    
Sometime ago Donna and I were watching BILLY GRAHAM on TBN.  He shared a recent experience that occurred while seriously ill. Thinking he was about to die, he suddenly realized that he would meet Almighty God. He cried out for mercy and forgiveness for anything he had done to offend the Lord! He lamented that he should have prayed more.

    
He said: “I should have studied more! I should have prayed more!” I can identify with that. The sin of prayerlessness is rampant in the Church today! “Forgive us O’ Lord. We are all guilty of prayerlessness. I want to live in Thy presence, Heavenly Father; In Jesus’ name.” Amen!

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