Wednesday, November 23, 2022

               MANKIND’S ONLY HOPE

                        By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

JESUS said: “In My Father’s House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye will be also.” (John 14:2,3)

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13: 35-37)

 “And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy Coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt. 24:3)

Jesus gave us many SIGNS like wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecutions, false prophets, deceptions, iniquity, and gross sinfulness! Then He dropped a bombshell: “And the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a Witness unto all nations; and then shall the End Come.” (Matt. 24:14)

The Last Great Sign to usher in the Return of Jesus Christ will be a powerful demonstration of God’s Holy Spirit in Gospel Revivals in all parts of the earth, in which mega millions of heathens will turn from their paganism to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour!

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL believed that the return of Jesus Christ was the only hope for our troubled world! The brilliant British writer Kenneth De Coursey stated that Winston Churchill said: "The return of Christ is man's only hope!" He saw no other solution for our sin-sick, hate-filled, and war-torn world, then that found in Christ's return.

LORD WILLIAM GLADSTONE, Great Britain's greatest Prime Minister/ Statesman said: "More and more, I find my thoughts turning to the great statement, When the Son of Man Cometh..." (Luke 18:8)

EPHRAEM THE SYRIAN wrote in A.D. 373: "For all the saints and elect of God are gathered prior to the Tribulation that is to come and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."

JESUS CHRIST promised: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for youI WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 1-3

ST. PAUL declared: "Behold I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Cor.15: 51,52)

"I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Jesus Christ, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, He wrote to Titus: "Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar (purchased) people zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13-14)

He wrote to Timothy: "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at His APPEARING and His Kingdom; Preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." (2 Tim.4: 1,2,8)

ST. PETER stated: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the Appearing of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1: 7)

ST. JAMES stated: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the COMING OF THE LORD. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts: for the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5: 7,8)

The Bible states: "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come and will not tarry." (Heb.10: 35-37) 

TWO REASONS WHY!

There are at least two reasons why our Lord Jesus Christ, has not yet returned in the parousia (Gr. return), harpazo (Gr. caught up), epiphaneia (Gr. appearing,  disclosure), apokalupsis (Gr. revelation, uncovering)!

 St. Peter gives us the answer: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days Scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (In Noah’s Flood)

"But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3: 3-9)

Here are the two reasons that the Apostle Peter used: First, God does not reckon time as we do and Second, He wants all men to be saved and is giving us more time win precious souls! 

One Day with the Lord is like a thousand years with us! When Jesus said, I am Coming Soon, that was reality. He has been gone for less than two days, according to His reckoning! He will return when "the fulness of time" has arrived and not a second before! He is not slack concerning His promise, but is long suffering, waiting for more sinners to repent!

I believe there is possibly a Third Reason why our Lord has not yet returned and that has to do with the inheritance our Heavenly Father promised to give the Messiah, as recorded in Psalm 2.

"Yet have I set My King upon My Holy Hill of Zion. I will declare the Decree: The Lord said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." Psalm 2: 6-8)

When God first laid this Scripture on my heart and I saw the relevance of the situation world-wide, my heart almost broke. How could God send His Son to rapture the Church, if His promised inheritance was not fully complete? I have given 60 years doing what I could to bring the heathen to Christ to help make that possible!

In May 1966, I was sitting on the platform of the Gandhi Freedom Park in Guntur, AP India. Suddenly, I heard a voice saying to me, "Son, you are helping to fulfill My Word." I turned to see who was speaking to me. There was no-one. I was shocked and asked, "Lord, is this You? How could that possibly be. How could I, a young preacher from Canada help fulfill Your Holy Word?" 

NOT HEARD HIS NAME BEFORE!

He said, "Ask your interpreter, how many in this crowd have never heard the Name of Jesus before." I turned to Sadhu Vandenam, my interpreter, posing the question. He said, "About 95% in this huge crowd of many thousands have never heard the name of Jesus before." WOW - That was a wake-up call for me on how interested God is in the work of Missions!

Then God prompted me to turn to Isaiah and I read: "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is NO God beside Me: I girded thee, thou hast not known Me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is NONE beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is NONE else." (Isa.45: 5,6)

God wants everyone from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same to hear the Gospel and be saved, therefore I was helping to fulfill that Scripture and many others! It was sobering to say the least! I shudder at our responsibility!!!

There is NO God but Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is Salvation in none other than Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. He was incarnated (God in human flesh) to meet the demands of divine justice, by shedding His pure and sinless blood on Calvary's Cross to atone for our sins - past, present, and future - thereby reconciling the world to God by Himself! Hallelujah to the Lamb of God Who rose from the dead and lives forevermore! 

The doctrine of the 'harpazo' was given to St. Paul. Even St. Peter did not understand the Rapture. He was still preaching the Old Testament 'Day of the Lord' Judgment. He warned scoffers to get right with God because Judgment Day was coming!

Then he used St. Paul to back up his teaching about living holy lives, and he stated that Paul has great expertise on that subject: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye might be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 

"And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation: even as our beloved Brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned to wrest (twist) to their own destruction.

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye being led away with the error of the wicked seeing you know these things, beware lest ye
also, being led away with the error of the Wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." (2 Peter 3: 14-17)

                           WHAT ST. PAUL WAS GIVEN!

"But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you, by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the air and so shall we forever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thes. 4: 13-18) 

JESUS stated: “Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:11, 20)

My dear friend, if you are longing for truth, tired of dead religion, fearful, lonely, lost, sinful or sick, why don't you call upon His Holy Name today? Jesus Christ wants to save and bless you. Then, contact us please and tell us what God has done for you! Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission, Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6  Email:[email protected]; Blog: Max Solbrekken World Mission; comehometojesus.ca YouTube & My Facebook, Praise God!

Saturday, November 19, 2022

                                                          

                                                                                   

WILT THOU BE MADE
WHOLE?
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.  

 “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE?  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming another steppeth down before me. 

“Jesus saith unto him, Rise take up thy bed, and walk.  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked..." (John 5:1-9)

Jesus Christ asked this question of a man who was sick and diseased; a man who had laid for thirty years, in a place where healings occurred supernaturally by God’s power! You may say that was a rather foolish question to ask one who was waiting for a miracle at the pool of Bethesda.  You may think so, but I don't!  After reading this message I am sure you will agree with me that it was a very good question to ask. I want to ask you that are sick and suffering, the same question, "Do you want to be healed?  Do you really want to get well?”

MY MOTHER ANNE WAS HEALED!

In the early 1920s, my mother received a miracle from God at the Bethesda Healing Home on the shores of the North Sea, near Oslo Norway! After seven days of preparation and prayer, at an appointed hour, the sick and infirm folks were taken into the waters, while releasing their faith to God for a miracle.  

There was no power in the water, but releasing their faith brought into operation the mighty power of God. Going into the water was their point of contact with God, at which moment they believed and received their miracle.  

As those seeking healing stood outside the bath house, the nurse handed my mother the key to unlock the door. As she stood there, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, and she was instantly healed. She took the train and walked 26 kilometers to her home!  My mother passed away at 77 years of age and had never been sickly or suffered from her previous illness for those 44 years.

While preaching in the Norway Crusades in May-July 1968, I spent some time in Etnedal, Valdres where my mother and father grew up and lived until their departure to Canada in 1927.  Many of my relatives remembered my mother's healing. They told about the tremendous stir that my mother's healing made in the community, and how she sang Gospel songs and played her guitar in the School in Valdres. 

I had the privilege of preaching the Gospel to the precious people who gathered outside the same schoolhouse to hear the Word of God. The Lutheran Lay Reader was there and opened the service in prayer. He knew my mother and said, "We all knew Anne well and are overjoyed to see the fruit of her godly life in her son, Max Solbrekken". 

I will never forget that meeting and the ones we conducted in the large new Lutheran Prayer House where 300 people (mostly my relatives) crowded in and around the Church to hear me preach the Gospel.  More than one-half of those present stood to their feet to receive Christ as their personal Saviour in the final service.  Hallelujah! 

Let us go back to the account of, "The Healing of the Impotent Man" and learn a few lessons about Jesus and His great ministry. Jesus goes where the need is! Our story opens with Jesus going to Jerusalem for a special religious gathering and feast. The very next verse tells us that Jesus was at His Father's business of bringing healing and deliverance to an impotent man. 

In my study of the Scriptures for many years, I have observed that Jesus Christ always went where the need was the greatest.  Yes, my friend, you will always find Jesus amid human suffering, pain, trouble, and sorrow because He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb. 4:15), and He is acquainted with sorrow and grief. (Isa. 53:3-5)

 STENCH OF THE SHEEP MARKET!

No rich or influential person would live near a sheep market because of the smell and stench of that place.  Only the poor and underprivileged would resort to such a place. (Have you ever driven by a packing house, feeder lot or turkey ranch on a hot, sultry day?)  The Bible says, "In there lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.”

The discouraged, defeated, sick, suffering and dying had gathered to receive a touch from the Master.  Wherever people are being helped supernaturally by the Spirit and power of God, there will be no shortage of people coming to receive help.  Into this arena of human suffering walked the Son of God to bring deliverance, health, and healing to one who had no hope!

That was where Jesus went on that memorable day!  The smell from the sheep market did not deter Him in His quest of blessing those in need; the religious people of His day were no doubt too preoccupied with the Religious Feast and the other traditions and ceremonials to think of walking down among the unwanted, unfortunate, and undesirable of Jerusalem, but Jesus found His way to the bedside of an incurable man. 

AN ANGEL TROUBLED THE WATERS!

The reason the multitude of sick and impotent folks were gathered at the pool of Bethesda was because an angel would come down at a certain season and trouble the waters and when the people would see the angel or at least see the waters being troubled they all hurried to get into the pool because the first one in after the troubling of the waters was healed of whatsoever disease he had. 

We learn several lessons here.  God was so desirous to bring healing to the sick and since He couldn't get the Priests to do His will in the matter, (Micah 3:5-8) He sent an angel to bring healing to the sick.  I wonder what some Gospel Ministers will do when they stand before God and try to give an excuse to why they haven't bound up the broken and healed the sick in His Name. (Ezek. 34:3-4) 

It is the same with many of the great truths found in the Holy Scriptures.  Some Ministers who stand behind the pulpits of our Churches and who call themselves Ministers of God are not preaching the entire Gospel or taking a clear-cut stand against sin and apostacy; rather they are compromising with the world so that they can gain prominence and acceptance from those who are the elite in the community.  Approximately thirty years ago, a news report was released over a large Radio Network in the U.S.A. regarding mysterious happenings on a certain State Highway.

TWENTY-NINE PEOPLE GAVE SAME REPORT!

The news reporter made the statement that twenty-nine different people had called in to the State patrol within a period of a few hours declaring that they had seen a young, clean-cut, good-looking young man standing by the highway.  

Every one of them had stopped and given him a ride and in each case the stranger said, "I have come to tell you that Jesus is coming soon," and he was gone.  Twenty-nine different motorists had given the same testimony.  There have been other recent, equally astounding accounts of angels appearing and telling people that Jesus is soon to return.

I believe that so very few of God's Ministers are preaching about the soon return of Christ and He is so desirous to get the message out that He is employing angels to do this task from time to time as the end approaches.

THE VERY STONES WOULD CRY OUT!

Sometimes I am criticized because we enjoy the liberty of the Spirit in our services and the people shout praises unto God and worship Him with a loud noise.  When I am confronted with these accusations, I always let my accuser read Luke 19:37-40 to show them how wrong they are. 

"And when He was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 

“And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."  This Scripture passage shows us the truth about the matter of emotionalism, worship, and praise in the House of God.   There were a multitude (thousands) of disciples and followers of Jesus shouting and praising God with a loud voice for the mighty works that they had seen. 

Can you imagine thousands of people praising God with loud voices at one time.  That's what they did and the Pharisees, from among the multitude got nervous (and so did the devil) and said, "Master, stop thy disciples, they are making too much noise." 

But Jesus told them that it was quite alright.  As a matter of fact, He enjoyed it.  Then He said, "If I tell these people to be quiet the stones would immediately cry out." Hallelujah!  If you won't praise God, He'll find someone who will. God was so desirous of healing the sick that He had to use an angel to bring deliverance.

WHEN THE WATERS WERE TROUBLED!

"...Whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." (Vs. 4) The time to make a move for the pool was when the waters were troubled.  Not before and not after, but exactly at the time the angel was troubling the waters.  

There is another great lesson to learn here as well.  Even though God can heal the sick any hour of the day and any day of the week, there are certain times when His power is present to heal in a spectacular and astounding way.  

"And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them." (Luke 5:17) 

I am fully convinced that there are times that God's power is present in a meeting in a strong way to convict sinners or baptize with the Holy Ghost or to heal, at various times.  We must move in the Spirit and so know the mind of God in these matters to receive all that He has for us.

WHATEVER DISEASE HE HAD!

"...Whosoever then first stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."  It didn't matter how serious the sickness, how nigh unto death the person was or how long they had been sick.  They were healed if they met God's conditions.  Whatsoever disease covers all diseases; there were none too big for God to look after. 

JESUS stated, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27): "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23): "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do..." (John 14:13) 

There is nothing too hard for God. He cannot fail, and He will fulfill His Word! Remember no disease, sickness, problem, or difficulty is too hard for our wonderful Lord!  He is able to forgive, cleanse, deliver, and liberate any and all who come to Him in prayer, believing. 

The Bible says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases..." (Ps. 103:1-3)

JESUS KNOWS EVERYTHING!

"And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.  And when Jesus saw him lie and knew that he had been now a long time in that case..." (Vs. 5-6) Jesus knows everything about you, my dear friend.  He knows your troubles, difficulties, and successes. 

Nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of God, and His ears are open to your cry.  The Scripture tells us that even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God seeing it, (Matt. 10:29) and the very hairs of your head are numbered. 

God looks after the lily of the field, (Matt. 6:28-30) and I am sure He will look after you and me.  Jesus walked up to the bedside of a hopelessly sick man; a man who was incurable and had given up hope; a man who was filled with bitterness and resentment and who had waited in vain for thirty-eight years to receive his miracle.  To this man Jesus asked a very pointed question. "Wilt thou be made whole?"

WILT THOU BE WHOLE?

Jesus looked down upon the sick man and asked him a question that pierced deep within his soul.  Wilt thou be made whole?  What Jesus was saying was, "Do you really want to get well" or "Are you really expecting to get healed?"  

Jesus knew the man didn't expect to get well; he had given up and was filled with resentment and bitterness.  It may surprise you to know that many people who are in hospitals do not expect to get well; many people who go through the prayer lines or ask the Pastor or Evangelist to pray for them do not expect to be healed; they just go to the hospital or into the prayer line for prayer because they feel it is the thing to do. They just go through the motions, but they are not believing; they do not have active faith.

 SOME PEOPLE LIKE ALOT OF ATTENTION!

 There was an article in a National Magazine some time ago that told of people who are not sick but just love to go to the hospital; they will do anything to get the attention of nurses and doctors.  Some even go so far, the report stated, as to allow themselves to be operated on when no operation is necessary, just to be in the hospital. 

They love to be waited on and the attention they receive is most gratifying to them.  The article continued by saying that even in some instances the patient was able to desire hospitalization so much that the symptoms of certain diseases were manifested.  These people want to be sick to receive attention and therefore couldn't desire healing even if they were sick.

On one occasion I was praying for the sick in a Revival Crusade; many were receiving miracles from the Lord and the great power of God was evidenced by all.  A blind man stood before me for prayer; I asked him if he expected a miracle and he said he did; then I told him that I believed God would do it for him that night.  Suddenly he backed up a bit and asked the question, "If I receive my sight will I lose my blind pension?"

I replied, "Yes" and added that he would gain much more than just a pension; he could get a job and support his family; then he backed off saying, "I don't think I want prayer tonight - perhaps some other time," and someone led him away.  He was afraid that if I prayed and God healed him that he would lose his pension and have to work for a living.  What a shame!  

Some religious people who deny that the miraculous power of God today, would not dare come to our services for prayer because if they did get healed it would spoil their theology and they would have to deny their man-made doctrines. 

These are few and far between, but there are fanatics who hate the Gospel and the power of God so much that they would sooner die than give in to Christ and the Full Gospel.

MY SON IS A PENTECOSTAL PREACHER!

I once had an experience that taught several people a good lesson - I was conducting a Revival Crusade in a certain city in the United States and God was blessing in a wonderful way. 

A certain woman who had an inward goiter came for prayer one night; as I prayed for her in Jesus Name, I felt a real surge of God's power and my faith touched the Lord; I knew something was happening.  I looked at her and said, "I believe God is healing you and making you whole!"  

She disregarded what I had said and made the following statement, "Oral Roberts has prayed for me three times and my son is a Pentecostal Minister and I'm not healed!"  I encouraged her to believe.  The next night she was in the prayer line again and there was a repetition of the first night; the third night she came again and after I had prayed fervently for her to be healed, she said the same words, "Oral Roberts has prayed for me three times and I have a son who is a Pentecostal Minister and I know that I'm not healed." 

I turned to her and said, "Lady I have just finished praying for your healing with faith in Christ and you tell me that you know you are not healed.  I believe that if you will accept what I tell you and go home believing you will find that your goiter will leave.  Furthermore, it wouldn't matter to me if Oral Roberts had prayed for you one hundred times and you had ten sons in the ministry, the thing that matters is: do you believe God's Word?"  

She looked at me as though she was offended and walked off in a huff.  The next night she returned to the meeting "shouting happy"' she had been perfectly healed and her goiter was gone.  She testified that after I had rebuked her she had gone home, thought it over, repented of her sins and started to believe; suddenly she realized that her goiter which she had so lovingly pampered for many years was gone.  Hallelujah!

Great joy filled my heart one night when I prayed for a man with a stiff arm in Vancouver, who had received prayer in Dr. Charles S. Price's crusade 35 years before. God hadn't seen fit to heal him but healed him in our meetings in 1964.  Just because someone has prayed for you and you haven't been healed doesn't mean you shouldn't go for prayer again.  Keep praying, keep believing and keep expecting and you will receive an answer to your prayer!  

You will receive an answer from God if you don't give up.  Faith holds on until the answer comes.  When Jesus asked the man, "Wilt thou be made whole," He was asking, "Do you really want to get better?"

HE TRIED TO DECEIVE THE PREACHER!

 

In 1965 while conducting a Revival Crusade in Winnipeg, a very interesting incident took place.  One night as I was praying for the sick a young man stood before me, he had a crooked arm which was permanently bent at the elbow, he could move it around in its "right angle" position, but he could not straighten it in the least. 

The young man was approximately 22 years of age and the accident had occurred when he was but a little child; proper attention had not been given to him so therefore this arm grew in that position.  As he told me all this, the Lord began to speak to my heart about him.  I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "You must realize that when I pray for you God's mighty power will come upon your body; are you ready to meet God's power?  He answered in the affirmative.

I then felt impressed to ask him the same question the second time.  He again said that he was, adding that he was a Christian.  The mighty Spirit of God stirred my soul as I realized that he was not telling me the truth. 

The third time I questioned him saying, "Are you ready to meet God's power?"  He then began to cry and said, "No, I am not ready, I did not come here because I expected God to heal me.  I only came so that I could receive your prayers and then go out to tell people that there is nothing to Divine Healing and that your prayers did not help me; our Minister has said that you are a fake and that God no longer heals the sick."  

He was weeping and asking me to forgive him. I said, "Ask God to forgive you for this terrible thing you have done."  After he cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness, I laid my hands upon him and began to pray.  Before I was through praying. I heard hundreds of people shouting and praising God; I opened my eyes and saw a wonderful sight.  George Goertzen was completely healed.  His arm was normal, and tears of joy streamed down his face.  

He ran out to show his wife and she came under the tent (she had remained in the car during the service) and stood in amazement as she beheld the miracle.  This young man came into the prayer line for the wrong reason, but God had mercy on his soul and as he repented the Lord healed him. Praise God.

George Goertzen became a powerful preacher and spent some time ministering at the Cleansing Wave Gospel Church, Sprague, MB. Praise Jesus!

THE DISEASED MAN HAD GIVEN UP!

This man was going through the motions, but he didn't really believe.  He had given up and Jesus knew it!  That's why Jesus asked him the question, "Wilt thou be made whole?"  He answered by giving excuses; you can just feel the note of resignation, failure, and bitterness in his answer. 

He said, "Lord, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."  He was bitter and filled with resentment.  He had been there for 38 years - without help; others had a friend or a relative to put them into the pool, but not him.  

He was alone in this world.  His relatives and friends had long ago deserted him and he was alone in this cruel world.  Bitterness will destroy an individual; it will eat out your heart and life.  Don't ever let it get a grip on you or you'll be doomed to failure.  Regardless of what life has given you, regardless of the disappointments and heartaches.  Keep believing and you will receive an answer and a solution to your problems!

JESUS DIDN'T GIVE HIM ANY PITY!

If you are sick, you do not need pity, but rather compassion.  Pity has brought no healing miracle or no end to suffering, but Compassion brings an answer!  Compassion realizes the need and brings with it a solution to the problem. Pity leaves you where you are in your sad plight, but Compassion sets the wheels in motion into the direction of deliverance for you!

Jesus could have agreed with him and said, "You poor man, I feel sorry for you; yes you have grounds for being bitter."  No, a thousand times NO!  Jesus looked upon the impotent man and issued a Command of Faith.  He said, "Rise, and take up thy bed, and walk!"

A great lesson that we learn here is that when you're dealing with Jesus you don't need any human help if you will put your faith in Him and obey His Word.  The second lesson we learn is that while we grumble, complain and murmur about our plight in life, Jesus isn't very far from anyone of us and stands ready to help us if we only acknowledge Him.

MAN IS A TRIUNE BEING!

Man was created in the image and likeness of God.  Man is triune as God is triune.  God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost and man is Spirit, Soul (Mind) and Body.  Jesus spoke to the impotent man's Spirit first and said, "Rise." 

Usually before you can receive a physical miracle something must happen to your spirit.  You must receive a miracle within you. Your attitudes about God, His power and yourself, must change.  Multitudes today are sick physically because they are sick Spiritually!  They have no faith in anyone.  Their hopes are gone, and their spirit is filled with resentment and bitterness. 

This man was in this condition and so therefore Jesus spoke to his spirit and said, "Rise."  Something within the man rose up; his spirit was healed, and hope and faith swept into his being.  Secondly Jesus spoke to the impotent man's Soul or mind and said, "Take up thy bed."  We believe with our hearts (spirits) but Faith without works is dead! (James 2:29) 

The knowledge that creates faith (Rom. 10:17) is deep within your spirit but it must be in your mind as well or you will do nothing about what you believe.  Your mind sends to your body orders to do certain things and your body obeys those orders.

However, the Spirit of man is the core or seat of his intelligence and understanding.  It is difficult for some people to believe with their heads what their heart or spirit knows is possible. 

Jesus spoke to the man's spirit or innermost being and a great transformation took place there.  Then He spoke to his mind (soul) and the man realized that what Jesus said was physically possible by God's supernatural power. 

 Lastly, Jesus spoke to the impotent man's body and said, "Walk" whereupon the man obeyed and was gloriously healed.  Many people need their Spirits (which govern their attitudes) healed - others need a mental healing - a spiritual brainwashing. 

The Word of God that creates faith, heals the mind, and renews it (John 5:5-9) the Scripture says, "And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked." (vs. 9). I ask you the same question that Jesus asked, "Wilt thou be made whole?"  Don't hide behind excuses but let Jesus heal your spirit and mind and I'll guarantee your physical diseases and sicknesses will have to flee away.  Hallelujah.  Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside T5V 1N6. Email: [email protected].   comehometojesus.ca;  My Facebook;   Blog: powerful messages and testimonies; cds and dvds on YouTube. Agree with us for a miracle from Jesus Christ, the Great Physician! M.S.     

Friday, November 18, 2022

 

"THE OCCULT: PATHWAY TO HELL"
Louise McCarthy speaks from experience as 
a former teacher of seances, tarot cards,  
dreams and other occultic practices
At age 14 Louise became addicted to alcohol
(from her parents liquor cabinet). She was also
an epileptic on multiple tranquilizers. By age 21 her
life was "off the charts". She attended a Max Solbrekken
Tent Crusade on June 18, 1976, as a total unbeliever. She
left the Revival Meeting that evening totally healed in body,
soul and spirit. She is ministering in Saskatoon until June 20.
'Come Home to Jesus Revival' 
MIRACLE HEALING:
Epileptic Seizures Destroyed My Life until Jesus Healed Me!
     By Louise McCarthy, Parksville, B.C. (2002)
          At two weeks old I had an epileptic seizure that almost ended my life! I had an epileptic seizure and died when I was 2 weeks old on May 23, 1955.  After I turned blue and cold, my mother, who was a registered nurse, managed to revive me and rushed me to the hospital.
           I was in and out of the Vancouver Sick Children's Hospital for the next several years under the caring expertise of Dr. Auciand.
           They found among other things, that I had an intense allergy to milk which would set off epilepsy seizures.  When I was 3 years old, I spent most of the summer in the hospital.
             I remember feeling abandoned and terrified of the many injection needles that seemed necessary to keep me calm.  After this time in the hospital, my parents were extremely careful to keep all anxiety and anticipation out of my life.
                        DON’T GET LOUISE EXCITED!
     Everyone had to make sure I was kept calm, or I would have epileptic seizures. Over and over, I heard the words: "Don't get Louise excited."  When it was unavoidable, they would up my dosage of tranquilizing drugs in order to avoid a seizure.  When I was cranky or hostile, I often became violent and my mother would say, "Did you remember to take your pills today?"
            I remember a Saturday when I was 10 years old.  My mother made all of us four children have a bath in the morning.  Then we all had our hair done.  Next, we put on our fancy dresses and crinolines.
            I realized that something special was happening.  No one had told me that we were going to a wedding in the afternoon.  My little sister, who was five had known about the wedding for two weeks, but had been instructed not to tell me, so that I wouldn't get excited.
      SNEAKING ALCOHOL FROM PARENT’S CABINET!
        As I entered my teenage years, the levels of dosages were "all over the map".  I started drinking (on the sly) from my parent's liquor cabinet when I was 14 years old.  This would mess up the effect of the tranquilizers even more.  I learned that if I skipped my noon time pills, I would have excessive energy for the evening, but I wouldn't be able to sleep until I was emotionally and physically drained.  I usually cried myself to sleep and was often violent.
       When I was like this, mom would make sure I took my pills by standing and watching me.  At stressful times I would lose weight which again would play havoc with the drug levels.
        With the games I was playing with tranquilizers and alcohol, I don't know how I survived my teenage years.  By God's grace, I think.
            REBELLIOUS I ELOPED AT 19 YEARS OLD!
     The doctors DID NOT want me to go through the stress of marriage and pregnancy until I was stabilized - hopefully in my later 20's.  But being quite rebellious, I eloped at 19 years old.
         We bought a house when I was 20 years old, by a lot of scrimping and saving, and I had a baby just before my 21st birthday.  My husband was as violent and unpredictable as I was - twas a stormy, unhappy marriage.
     My baby was born with ADHD & fetal alcohol My baby was colicky, underweight, ADHD (although that was not diagnosed until many years later) as FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome - again not diagnosed until much later).
       Danny never slept more than 2 hours.  I was in a bad physical state and looking for a divorce, when my girlfriend invited me to a Max Solbrekken Crusade.
        I came up to Kelowna, B.C. (from New Westminister) on a bus with my 4 1/2-month-old son, thinking that I would go to this meeting to satisfy my girlfriend (from high school days).  I thought I would stay the weekend and then go to a lawyer on Monday to get a divorce.
               I WENT TO THE MAX SOLBREKKEN TENT
        Then we went to the crusade tent, everyone was so full of joy.  A man was running around and around the tent praising the Lord with his hands lifted up.  Lillian told me that he had come at the beginning of the week with a very serious heart disease, unable to lift his hands up enough to comb his hair.  I didn't believe her, but I thought this could be interesting to see the trick the evangelists use to make people believe in this stuff.
         I knew God could heal. I just didn't believe He would heal me.  I thought, as a deist, that God created the world, but then just left us to figure out the rest.  He'd be too busy to bother with someone's aches and pains.
      After singing some songs, Pastor Max Solbrekken asked if anyone wanted prayer for healing.   A lady suffering from back pain went forward. He asked her to sit down and put her feet out straight. In the meantime, Lillian had taken my baby and pushed me right to the front, so that I could see.
        I crouched down to look for the trick, so I was about 18 inches away from the lady's feet and from Pastor Solbrekken.  Pastor Solbrekken had hold of her heels and he was showing us that one leg was shorter than the other causing the pain, so I watched Pastor Max to see how he would pull on one leg and I watched to see if the man behind the chair would twist the lady's shoulders giving the impression of lengthening the one leg.
      But as I watched, the man stepped back and raised his hands and started glorifying God, while Max Solbrekken's fingers, under the lady's heels just dropped slowly from her heels as he said, "Thank you Jesus.  Thank you, Jesus!  Thank you, Lord."
      As he said this, I watched her leg MOVE OUT.  The 'brick wall' of all my unbelief came tumbling down and I was confronted with a God who actually cared. I stood up shaking!
         IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SEEKING HEALING?
     When Pastor Solbrekken asked who else wanted Jesus to heal them, to give them a miracle, I put up my hand, still shaking uncontrollably.  He said, "Oh, the Holy Ghost is all over this little lady", as he turned to me and asked what I wanted to be healed from.
            I couldn't answer although I was shaking like a leaf, my insides were frozen, the pit of my stomach was a 'tight knot' and my throat was like dry ice.  I started to cry and finally screamed 'EPILEPSY!"
      Pastor Solbrekken put his hands on my shoulder and led me up to the platform.  He announced on the microphone what God was about to do.  That God was going to heal and deliver me from Epilepsy.  He came towards me with his hand upraised.
       As he brought his hand down toward my head, an electric shock went between us and threw us apart a couple of feet.  Then he said: "In the name of Jesus...." and his hand came down on my head.
      A FEELING LIKE WARM OIL went through my entire body! I yelled "JESUS" (that was my salvation prayer), as I fell back into a chair.  Immediately Pastor Solbrekken's hand went on my head and I felt as if it were a bead of warm oil (about the size of a baseball) enter the top of my head and I could feel it moving all around, then stopping, then moving. 
           This warm oil went throughout my entire body.  I could feel it moving up and down each finger and eventually each leg and toe.  This whole process took about 25 minutes as I sat in the chair while the service went on.
JESUS APPEARED TO ME. HE KEPT
TELLING ME HOW MUCH HE LOVED ME!
        When I went back to the congregation, everyone was worshipping, so I took my baby to hold and joined in the worship with all of my heart - I was so happy - I was so grateful. 
      As the gratitude and thankfulness welled up inside of me, I fell over backwards.  Fortunately, Lillian chose that very second to look over at me and took my baby as I went down under the power of the Spirit.  It was then that I saw the Lord and heard the voice of a waterfall saying, "I love you, Louise.  Never forget that I love you.  I love you more than you can imagine..."  He went on saying this for about 45 minutes.
        When I got up, I started to worship and as I did, I started singing in a language that flowed and flowed, but that I had never heard before.  I was so filled with joy for Jesus, healing me, forgiving me, delivering me and filling me with His Spirit. 
           I asked question after question of my hosts that night and kept them up till 3 a.m.  I slept in peace for the first time in my life and when I woke up, I found that my baby had slept from 11:30 until 8:30 for the first time in his little life.
I WAS HEALED OF EPILEPSY AND
I AM STILL HEALED 26 YEARS LATER
          Pastor Max told me to keep taking my pills until I was checked by the EEG (I used to have this test every 6 months) to check my brain waves. Well, I threw the pills in the toilet in Kelowna. 
           I KNEW I WAS HEALED and would never need another pill. That was June 26th, 1976.  That night I was set free from unbelief, epilepsy, hatred, including self-hate, hopelessness, alcohol, etc.
          I went to my scheduled EEG on September 20th, 1976. When I went into Dr. Auciand's office after the test, he said: "Well, this is wonderful! We've finally got this under control! Your alpha waves were completely NORMAL!" 
      He was so pleased. Bursting his bubble of medical accomplishment, I said: "Well, Praise the Lord! I haven't had a pill in three months! I'm healed!"
          He said, "WHAT?!" My reply was "Jesus healed me in June and I haven't had any medication since then." He called me crazy and assured me that I would be back in his office with more trouble very soon. That was 26 ½ years ago!
JESUS IS THE BEST THING
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME
        Soon after I started attending a Holy Ghost filled church where I was loved, nurtured, discipled, taught, trained and shown how to love and serve God, by loving and serving people.
         All three of my children were snatched from death through the power of God at one time or another in their lives.  Danny was in hospital at 2 1/2 years old, the doctors made a bed for me because they said he wouldn't live through the night.  Now he's 26 years old and has married an on-fire for Jesus beautiful young lady.
            I am now married to a man who likes to serve and pray as much as I do. I have assisted in planting a few churches over the years, ministering in the prophetic and intercession and all the practical hands-on work that is needed.
           I think my gifting is my willingness to do anything that will help Jesus be made manifest, from babysitting to washing the washrooms, taking graffiti off walls, turning overheads, leading worship, Bible studies, preaching, giving money to the Lord's work! I just love the Lord.
The revival that started in my heart on June 18, 1976, never wore off. Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me!  Hallelujah.