WHY JESUS IS SO UNIQUE!

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 When Jesus enters a life, He changes that life for the betterment of society! Jesus gives direction, purpose and meaning to life because He is LIFE! He does for that person what he cannot do for himself, because man has been less than fulfilled, ever since the major theft of true knowledge, understanding and equilibrium. Jesus restores man back to his rightful place on this planet with life, and that more abundant! (John 10: 10).

Satan, the adversary of God and man - a killer and murderer - executed that theft from our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden!  He is charged with grand larceny and with rebellion and idolatry! Before I continue with this incredible, yet true story, let me share the following expose of the 'Evil One', whom we call Satan (Heb. adversary) and the devil (gr. liar, false accuser).

SATAN IS: A lying spirit, a defeated foe, a fallen angel, an eternally lost entity, a master deceiver, a subtle counterfeiter and forger, a gigantic masquerade, a deceptive angel of light, the god of filth, a terrible joke and bad, bad news!       

SATAN IS: A murdering personality, a destroyer and killer, a thief, the father of lies, a habitual liar, a constant loser, a tormentor of the first degree, a bully extra-ordinaire, the very plague itself, sickness and disease multiplied, evil personified and the enemy of God and man!                                     

SATAN IS: A quick change artist, the doomed despot, the unsatisfied sadist, the architect of perversion, the defrocked archangel, the disobedient rebel, the world's greatest gangster and saboteur, terrorist of terrorists and father of all jihadists, suicide bombers and child killers!  

Note: I wrote this section, by inspiration about 40 years ago! M.S.           

 About 2000 years ago, however, history was made on the grandest scale ever conducted on Earth, when God the Son came to this planet in the form of a virgin-born child in Bethlehem. Incarnated, God in human flesh!

For what purpose and to what end did He come? To seek and to save that which was lost and to liberate sinful, sick, and dying humanity from the slavery of Satan’s intrigue and invention! To redeem fallen man from the curse of the law! (Gal. 3: 13) And to build His Church and empower it to take back what Satan had stolen from the human family!

What can Jesus be likened to? To frightened sailors aboard an ocean-going sail ship, that had been drifting helplessly for days, toward an island whose inhabitants were hungry cannibals, He is a merciful wind that suddenly came out of nowhere, in answer to the fervent prayers of the missionary, Hudson Taylor! 

To Russell Brass, Edmonton, AB (formerly of Norquay, SK), who had drunk nearly a gallon of wine daily for forty years and could not stop his drinking, Jesus Christ is the 'DOCTOR WHO COULD', when others could not help!

Rev. Allan O' Soup of Norquay, SK. writes about his conversion: "My uncle Russell Brass was a changed man after he attended Faith Cathedral (now People's Church) in 1990! He accompanied Mary, his common-law-wife, to hear Pastor Max Solbrekken preach the Gospel. When the call was given for sinners to repent and receive Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and Lord, Russell experienced the awesome power of the Holy Spirit and answered the call, weeping and repenting! God met him at the altar of prayer, and he was genuinely converted!

 RUSSELL STOPPED DRINKING IMMEDIATELY!

"Russell was born again and stopped drinking immediately! For the next eight years, before his death, he never took another drink of wine or anything alcoholic! Shortly after his conversion, Russell asked me to solemnize their marriage! They had lived together for 35 years and decided to make things right in the sight of God and their fellowman. It was my delight to perform the ceremony at Faith Cathedral - uniting Mary and my Uncle Russell in Holy Matrimony!"

To multitudes of sick, suffering, and diseased people across the world who have received miracles of healing and deliverance from demon spirits in our crusades and those of other 'Men and Women of God', Jesus Christ is the Great Physician!

In the book, 'The Great Physician', Dr. Lillian Yeomans, M.D. tells her story of becoming hopelessly addicted to drugs, because of performing many surgeries without rest! After her miracle through prayer, Dr. Yeomans wrote: "I was a perfect wreck mentally and physically." One of her nurses stated: "She was like a skeleton with a devil inside," to which Dr. Yeomans added: "I think her description, if not very flattering, was accurate."

After her miracle healing through faith in Jesus Christ, she spent more than forty years bringing the Gospel of Christ and His healing power to multitudes of sinful and sick people across America!

 Dr. Yeomans wrote: "At the time I was giving a Bible reading, I was aware of a silver-haired lady, a stranger, who was gazing intently at me from the very edge of the group. She made no move to approach until the others had dispersed. Then she came up to me and, looking right into my eyes, said, "Can you tell me where I can see Dr. Lillian B. Yeomans?"

I said, "Look at me." Her eyes seemed to try to pierce my very soul as she further inquired, "Are you that dope woman that I saw one day, years ago, clinging to any support within your reach to keep you from falling, and in spite of it you did fall on the floor from very weakness?"

"Yes; I am that woman," I replied. And when I had convinced her of my identity, she related to me the story of meeting me in the most deplorable condition while I was still "hurt with fetters" and "laid in iron", before the King sent and loosed me on that glorious and never to be forgotten day, the 12th of January 1898."

HERE IS NO-ONE LIKE JESUS!

To millions of hopeless, superstitious, and fearful slaves of sin, false religion, despotic tyrants and enslaving addictions, Jesus gives hope, peace and the sheer joy of liberty, safety, and the sense of family!

What can Jesus be likened to? He is like water to someone dying of thirst, food to the starving refugee and pure familial love to the child of neglect, abuse, and violence! He is peace to the troubled mind, pardon to the tormented conscience and new health to the diseased body!  Jon Calvin - the great reformer - stated: "I gave my life to Jesus and what did I get in return?  I got everything in return."

Jesus said: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth." (Matt. 28: 20). The Bible states: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13: 8). The unchangeable and permanent character of His Word, places Jesus in a category by Himself! Without fear of contradiction, I declare that He alone is the world’s ONLY Saviour! (Heb.1:1-13; 2:14,15).

That means that Jesus Christ is Omnipotent (almighty), Omniscient (all wise), Omnipresent (everywhere present), Eternal (without beginning or ending) and Immutable (His Word and character are permanent)! There is no-one like Jesus in Heaven or earth!

The Bible says: “For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposed long ago in His Sovereign will that all human history should be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth should find its perfection and fulfillment in Him.” (Eph. 1: 10 - Phillips)

And He calls to you, my sinner friend! Will you answer, "Yes, Lord"? I pray that you will! Here is His offer to you: "Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11: 28). Amen.

PLEASE NOTE: If you desire our prayers on your behalf, my friend, please write to us today. We will answer your letter, and we will pray for you! God loves you and so do we!     

  Max Solbrekken World Mission, Box 44220 RPO Garside Edmonton, AB.   T5V 1N6    Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus. ca; Blog: Max Solbrekken World Mission

                         MAN'S INDOMITABLE SPIRIT 

 By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 The 1984 Nobel Literature prize was awarded by the Swedish Academy, to 83-year-old dissident poet Jaroslav Seifert of Czechoslovakia.

He had been chosen "for his poetry which, endorsed with freshness, sensuality and rich inventiveness, provides a liberating image of the indomitable spirit of man", said the academy spokesman. Seifert was an individualist who broke with the communist party in 1928 and took strong objections to Russia's overthrow of Alexander Dubcek in 1956.

The Communist government criticized Seifert, who was regarded as the greatest living poet in Czechoslovakia "for social ambition” but did not imprison him due to his great popularity. Hats off to Jaroslav Seifert and the ‘indomitable spirit of man’! The word indomitable means being incapable of being subdued and unconquerable!

MAN WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD!

The Holy Bible states: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God, created He him, male and female created He them.” (Gen.1: 27). God made man in His own image and until Adam disobeyed his Creator, he was the most perfect, intelligent, and spiritual person who ever lived.

When he fell for Satan’s Evil Lies and disobeyed Almighty God, he lost much of his personality and intelligence! Immediately, he became a slave to Satan’s kingdom of fear, lust, pride, and death!

Praise be to God in Whose image man is created and by whose very life we continue to exist, even in tough times. When you consider the historical record of humankind's flexibility, resourcefulness, and ingenuity to adapt and survive, then it's easy to believe that we were created by divine design for a special purpose!

Consider Adam and Eve and God's directive to them, "Be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth".  What a charge Adam received, and today there are more than seven billion people on this planet!  Not bad for one man and one woman!

JEWISH RACE A MIRACLE!

Consider Abraham and Sarah and God's command to him to leave the idol worshippers of the Chaldees and go to the land of Palestine, where He would bless and give them a homeland. God also promised Abraham a son and great posterity, even though Sarah was barren.

A miracle happened and at the age of 100 Abraham became the father of a baby boy, born to a 90-year-old woman, who had never been able to bear. The survival of the Hebrew race is not only a miracle of God, but also a demonstration of the ‘indomitable spirit of man’.

When you consider the great achievements of explorers who have blazed trails across the unknown, men of medicine who have pioneered heart, kidney and lung transplants and the phenomena of communication satellites, travel, and space conquest, it simply staggers the imagination!

The ‘indomitable spirit of man’ has rid the world of smallpox, nearly conquered polymodalities and is working on a cure for cancer, genital herpes, and AIDS! The ‘indomitable spirit of man’ has helped conquer the frozen tundra, inhabit inhospitable jungles, and harness the wind, water, and fire, as well as the atom itself!

The driving force of man's spirit has irrigated deserts, reclaimed land from the sea, scaled the highest mountain peaks, defied hostile elements, overcome insurmountable obstacles, and reached for the stars!

Man has survived and will continue to survive because built into each of us is a sophisticated defense mechanism, together with a natural desire to stay alive. And an intense yearning to know our Maker!

 THERE ARE PITFALLS!

There are pitfalls; however, hatred, lust and greed consume mankind through violence and war as well as self-destruction by alcoholism, drugs, venereal disease, and suicide! The ‘indomitable spirit of man’ has also been harnessed in favour of unrighteous and selfish causes which have resulted in much waste, hurt and bloodshed; through conquest, induced famines and sloth.

 Since we are created in God's image however, and He has placed His Word in our hearts (conscience) it is no wonder our spirits are indomitable! Man's incredible recovery after the devastation of Noah's deluge, the scattering of the race at Babel and the liberation of Israeli slaves from Egyptian bondage under Moses, is astounding.  In later years, Christians battled to end slavery in England and America. The rebirth of the nation of Israel after 2000 years, and freedom from the tyranny of religious leaders in the Middle Ages gives great hope to those still in captivity in the world today.

President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan a year ago, however, has given new life to terrorists everywhere, signaled a U.S. weakness to China and given Russia the opportunity to invade Ukraine and cause death and destruction to that Nation! That Satan has overtaken the U.S. Democrat Party is open for all to see and understand! He knows how to utilize the Ignorance and Pride of the Biden, Pelosi, and Schumer Cabal to destroy America! What is needed is a complete housecleaning. What is needed is a Revival of Righteousness!

A GENUINE HUNGER AFTER GOD!

The danger however is that mankind’s spiritual hunger will be absorbed in the pursuit of the devious, dangerous, and destructive teachings of men and the doctrine of devils, rather than the clear-cut gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! How far can man go in his pursuits, and what will be his end? 

The danger, I perceive, is a parallel to the building of the tower of Babel in 3500 B.C. ‘Man's indomitable spirit’ can become proud, self-sufficient, and deceived in seeking to bypass his Maker in his clamour for prestige, position, and power! That would be the Final Folly!

 JESUS HIMSELF IS THE ANSWER!

Here is the solution to the dilemmas of life, death, and the judgment: ‘But God who is rich in Mercy, for His great LOVE wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in SINS, hath quickened us together in Christ; And hath raised us up together, and made us sit, together in Heavenly places in Christ. That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

“For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God: Not Works lest any should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2: 4-10)

He states: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom we have access by Faith into the Grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God… For when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.

But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His BLOOD, we shall be SAVED through Him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be Saved by His LIFE.” (Rom. 5: 1,2, 8-12)

JESUS WAITS FOR US ALL TODAY!

JESUS said, “Come unto Me all ye who and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest in your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30).

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. But SEEK ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:19,20,33). Amen.

He calls upon us all: “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: 20)

 Max Solbrekken World Mission, Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6; [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Blog: Max Solbrekken World Mission.

TIME TO TAKE STOCK
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and vir­tue: WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowl­edge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience god­liness; And to godliness brotherly kind­ness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you to abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgot­ten that he was purged from his old sins Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dil­igence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:4-11)

TAKING INVENTORY!

Usually around the end of the year businesses begin taking inventory; taking stock of what has been sold and what has not! To see whether the business or enterprise has made money or not. Often, businessmen find out what they have been dreading all year, that their businesses didn’t do so well!

We can remember back to times of tremendously high interest rates, infla­tion and excessive taxation. Some countries fared better than others and some businesses better than the rest.  Whether their fiscal year comes to an end on the thirty first day of October or December, every businessman knows that after 12 months of operation, he must take stock!

HAVE OUR LIVES BEEN PROFITABLE?  

The ulti­mate question the bookkeeper and the auditor answers is, Did we go in the black, red, or did we just break even?  Every farmer must evaluate - on a yearly basis - how his operation paid off.  The financial statement tells the story in the business world.  Mr. Kaye, the Auditor General of Canada, recently brought his report of the operations of our Govern­ment during this past year to Parliament Hill.  The government officials were rebuked, the opposition members went on the offensive, and to say the least, his report was shocking!

HOW ABOUT THE CHURCH? 

How did we do NUMERICALLY, FINANCIALLY and SPIRITUALLY?  What kind of individual growth, as well as corporate growth, did we have?  How many did we reach for Jesus last year? Now, is a good time to answer the question that the hymn writer asked, "How many are the lost that I have lifted, how many are the chained I've helped to free, I wonder have I done my best for Jesus, when He has done so much for me"?

My personal feeling is that the last day of the year is a good time to take inventory.  To take stock of our accomplishments for God's kingdom and for our fellowmen this past year.  However, I also think that we ought to take time on a weekly basis to evalu­ate our efforts and the results we are having throughout the year!

If a farmer is constantly losing money or making little or no profit, then certain­ly he will do something to change the situation; perhaps change to a different grain, begin using different fertilizer, improve his methods of breeding or change variety.  

Can we - in the Church - do less for God's Kingdom that a farmer would do for himself! If our methods or "modus operandi"? is not giving us the desired result, let us seek the Lord for direction and our brethren for advice.  Certainly, we want to be and desire to be productive!

MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE!

St. Paul speaks of the power of God and the promises of the Lord to usward who believe, in his epistles to the Ephesian Christians. “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the Heavenly places.” (Eph. 1:19-20)

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”        (Eph. 3: 20,21)

St. Peter in my text, speaks of the same thing.  God's power has given us life!  He writes of precious promises and the Di­vine nature that we receive when we be­lieve those promises.  When we are con­verted, we escape the corrup­tion that is in the world through Lust.

The Real Pollution is the pollution or corruption of the mind and spirit, which Satan has unleashed upon the earth, by the vehicle of Lust. (Uncontrolled pas­sions)

 Christianity is serious business and liv­ing the Christian life is a 24-hour a day job!  There must not be any intentional slip ups - "Neither give place to the devil.." (Eph. 4:27) “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Cor. 2:11) "...If ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:10)

We must also GIVE ALL DILIGENCE - touch all the bases, follow the rules and obey the instructions, if we are to succeed in the Christian Life!

ADD TO YOUR FAITH, VIRTUE!

The Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through FAITH..." (Eph. 2:8). "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6). Faith is three things!

No. 1 - Faith is Coming to God - presenting your problem, need or petition before Him.  You would not come to Him if you did not believe He is greater, wiser, and more powerful than you and can help you.

No. 2 - Faith Is Believing That God Is Whom He Claims to Be - The Eternal, Omni­potent, Omniscient and Omnipresent God.  That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that the Bible is Divine, Authoritative and True.

No. 3 - Faith Is Expecting An Answer When You Pray!  The Gospel of Jesus Christ purges our old sins, and the blood of Jesus frees us from condemnation and fear!

Virtue comes only by consistent Christian living, through Bible reading and prayer.  And constant dedication of our lives to Christ, with submission to His will.  The scripture speaks of "mortifying the deeds of the flesh." (Rom. 8: 13). We must ask ourselves, "Do we have virtue?"  Before we can have any virtue, we need faith which cometh by reading God's Word. (Rom. 10:17)

ADD TO KNOWLEDGE, TEMPERANCE!

It is so important for us to be balanced in our Christian lives.  A balance in doc­trine, belief, conversation, and lifestyle!  St. Paul said, "Let your modera­tion be known unto all men..." (Phil. 4:5) Because..."The Lord is at hand."

Far out, fanatical, extremes in lifestyle, wearing apparel and practices is not scriptural.  We must be temperate and moderate in all things!  There is no doubt that God is very balanced and sensible, and that any good common sense we have, has been given to us of the Lord!

ADD TO TEMPERANCE, PATIENCE!

 

How hard it is to be patient!  But, how wonderful and how rewarding... St. Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians concerning patience...  "Cast not away therefore your confidence, (FAITH) 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." (Heb. 10:35-36)

ADD TO PATIENCE, GODLINESS!

 We are supposed to be Christ-like, Jesus-people, who exemplify the Lord and emulate the Saviour! We should become more and more like Him, the longer we live and study His word, seek His face and witness for Him to our fellowmen. The Bible says we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:17; 1 John 3:1)

We are sons of God now, and the only Bible that some people will read. St. Peter declared, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." (2 Cor. 3:2) I love the old song, "To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, all I ask is to be like Him, so meek and lowly, so humble and Holy, All I ask is to be like Him".

It is high time that we make Him our Example as well as our Saviour and Lord!  We need to be godly in our living, actions and in our conversation.  WE ARE SEATED WITH GOD (AS BELIEVERS) IN HEA­VENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS (EPH. 2:6) AND OUR CONVERSATION IS IN HEAVEN! (Phil.3:20) The Bible says, "Be ye Holy, for I am Holy, saith the Lord." (Lev. 11:44)

 ADD TO GODLINESS, BROTHERLY KINDNESS!

 A little girl was saying her prayers one night.  Her mother overheard her daughter utter these words, "O Lord, there are so many bad people in this world.  Please make all the bad people good and Lord please make all the good people NICE!"

What a prayer, "Make all the good people nice!"  Some good peo­ple - who are saved - are not kind and chari­table and anything but Nice!  "HELP US O LORD TO HAVE BROTHERLY KINDNESS!" To treat all Christians the same way we treat our own brothers and sisters, sharing the joys and sorrows of others in the household of faith.

Jesus made a tre­mendous statement when He said, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' (Matt. 7:12) We call that verse “THE GOLDEN RULE.”  How good it is to dwell in unity and peace with one another and to love each other with godly "agape" charity or love!  St. Paul wrote, "Bear ye one another’s bur­dens and so fulfill the laws of Christ." (Gal. 6:2) St. Paul also said, "Let brotherly love continue." (Heb. 13:1) I say Amen to that!

ADD TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS, CHARITY!

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35) "...he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (Rom. 13:8) The law of the world is the law of the jungle: "Dog eat dog and every man for himself!"

Jesus came into this world with another law - "...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you...Give, and it shall be given unto you...Lend, hoping for nothing again!" (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:38; Luke 6:35)

IF YE DO THESE THINGS YE SHALL NEVER FALL!

What comfort these words of admonition give us - If ye do these things ye shall not fall!  "Whereby are giv­en unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be par­takers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

“And beside this, giv­ing all diligence, add to your faith vir­tue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

St. Peter declares emphatically that if we keep God's Word, we will be fruitful in our Christian Life.  He also warns of the consequences of living a ship-shod, carnal life with no moral guidelines and ethics while still calling ourselves ‘Children.’

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgot­ten that he was purged from his old sins." (2 Peter 1:8-9).

St. Paul agrees with Peter’s warning: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor.13:5)

BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS!

The Bible warns:  "Let no man deceive you with vain words: FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS COMETH THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:6-8)

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. “But fornication, and all unclean­ness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints." (Eph. 5:2-3) “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make mani­fest is light.  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light, 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. 5:11-17)

HE HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED!

St. Peter makes the analogy of a back­slidden Christian to a sow that has been washed clean and ends up in the muck again and a dog that goes back to its own vomit. "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:20-22)

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHEEP AND A PIG IS THAT IF A SHEEP FALLS IN THE MUD IT WILL SEEK NOT TO REPEAT THE ERROR.  A SHEEP DOESN'T ENJOY FILTH WHILE A SOW WILL GO RIGHT BACK INTO THE SLOP AND MIRE AGAIN.

If we fall into sin, the thing to do is to repent and confess our sins to God and carry-on serving God to the best of our ability by His grace and power. DO NOT STAY IN THE PIG PEN!  ANYTIME IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK!

A final word from the apostle Peter, "But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his own sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:9-10). It’s time to take inventory, to take stock of our achievements for Christ and His Kingdom, now!

 NO. 1 - How many souls have we won to Christ this past year?  This past week?  Have we talked to someone about their soul's salvation today?  Do we give out gospel tracts (NEW LIFE BOOKLETS) on a regular basis? (We will supply all you need on a free will offering basis!)

 NO. 2 - How is our prayer life?  Do we communicate with our Heavenly Father on a regular basis?  Do we pray in Jesus pre­cious name, evoking His intermediacy and intercession?  Do we ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us?  Do we seek God's face regularly?

NO. 3 - How about praise, worship and intercession?  Do we pray in tongues regu­larly (in the Spirit)? (1 Cor. 14:2) Do we intercede with groanings which cannot be uttered? (Rom. 8:26) Does the Spirit help our inability to pray by introducing a new dimension (that of the Spirit-fill­ed believer) in our lives? (Rom. 8:27) Do we magnify God? (Acts 10:46)

NO. 4 - Are we reading the Bible regu­larly or does dust gather on its cover?  Do we listen to gospel music instead of worldly music?  A great blessing to me is "The Bible on Cassette."  I can listen to 20-30 chapters (or more) per day instead of just reading only 2 or 3.

NO. 5 - Are we a regular tithe payer?  Or, do we slough off by saying, "We're not under the law but under grace!"? TITHING WAS INSTITUTED BEFORE THE LAW, CONFIRMED UNDER THE LAW AND DEFINITELY IS IN EFFECT TODAY.

 The tithe is the least we should give to God.  The rule of thumb in the New Testament is to DO MORE THAN WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US, (Matt. 5:39-42) AND AS GOD HAS PROSPERED US! (1 Cor. 16:2) THAT COULD MEAN 20% or 30% depending on the blessing of God in our lives!

 G. Letour­noux made an agreement with God and went into the road building business in part­nership with OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.  In the beginning he gave 10% to God.  Before he died Brother Letournoux was so wealthy that he lived on only 5% of the profits and gave 95% to the Kingdom of God.

Have you made an agreement with God?  Have you taken Him as your partner?  Do you regu­larly and consistently give God His share?  If you don't, will you please start today? The time of writing this article was 1982 while I was in Africa on a crusade.  Presently (2022), we are doing everything we can to reach as many people as possible.  Please pray for us!

NO. 6 - Are we fasting to the Lord on a regular basis?  YEARS AGO, WE SET ASIDE WEDNESDAY AS OUR REGULAR FAST DAY. (Drink at least 8 glas­ses of water or juices on any given regular day you decide to fast.)  Some people fast a meal a day and spend that time in prayer.  Jesus said, "Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bride­groom is with them?...when the bridegroom shall be taken away, IN THOSE DAYS SHALL THEY FAST!" (Mark 2:19-20)

John Wesley stated - when he saw worldliness creeping into the church - that If believers were not fasting on a regular basis they were as backslidden as if they were not praying regularly!  That's quite a statement from a mighty man of God! (The Methodists fasted Wednesdays and Fridays, the morning and noon meals in imitation of the Early Church.

NO. 7 - Are we letting our light shine for Jesus by living a kind, considerate and loving as well as compassionate, con­sistent Christian life?  Or are we mean, snarly, sarcastic, and proud?  Let us all humble ourselves regularly and ask our­selves, "Am I kind and sweet or am I a poor representative to this world for the Kingdom of God?"

Let us emulate Jesus to effectively share His Love and grace to a searching, lost and dying world!  Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16) Amen.

P.S. I wrote this message during a Crusade in Africa. It was published in December 1982. M.S.   

 Max Solbrekken World Mission, Box 44220 Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6 Email:                       [email protected] ; comehometojesus.ca: YouTube, Facebook

                               EVOLUTIONISTS WERE WRONG

                                          By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

After 25,000 years of evolving by trial and error, man now has the unprecedented power to begin consciously and willfully directing the course of his own future evolution. He can with scientific tools available, to some extent take over the reins of his own destiny and make himself what he wants to be through artificial selection rather than leave it to natural selection and chance. - Arthur J. Snider

When Snider wrote these words for the Daily News, science had become "a little tin god." The US was riding the wave of prosperity and popularity, and the world was eating out of her hand. President J.F. Kennedy had established Camelot, with all its fun and games, founded the Peace Corps and was launching the man-on-the-moon project. And the United Nations was a friend, instead of an enemy!

But all that changed in 25 years: the US suffered a humiliating defeat in Vietnam - which nearly tore the nation apart - their trade imbalance, together with the national deficit is now threatening to bring the nation down, monetarily. And Watergate exposed that nation's conscience before the world, the first US President was forced to resign in disgrace!

The UN had ganged up on America, and many believed it to be a trojan horse, giving enemies of democracy a platform to denounce the US while gathering sensitive information, clandestinely! A god of science has created several monsters, which could destroy not only man, but all life on this planet!

The atomic bomb which stopped the carnage of World War II, is still the greatest threat to annihilation, through her ever-increasing offspring. The hydrogen, cobalt and neutron bombs, together with the monstrous new multiple-warhead-delivery systems are still intact and ready for deployment. Even after the demise of the USSR, the signing of SALT and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, the world  remains an armed camp. We still have the greatest build-up of deadly war materials ever amassed in the history of the world, both conventional and nuclear - Russian as well as American! Don’t let anyone fool you, there is still enough nuclear weapons available to destroy this planet many times over!

MODERN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS UNRELIABLE!

Not only is the world an armed camp; but modern scientific achievements are proving unreliable and dangerous, in many cases...like space exploration and nuclear power! After years of unfettered success -only a decade ago - the US suffered gigantic setbacks in their entire space program, with the Challenger Tragedy’, and the USSR experienced the frightening situation in the ‘Chernobyl Disaster’.

THE REAL DANGER NOW IS THE ACQUIRING OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS BY FANATICAL MUSLIM REGIMES IN THE MIDDLE EAST FROM FRIENDLY MUSLIM NUCLEAR REPUBLICS, LIKE KHAZAKSTAN.

Iran has already purchased 3 world class state-of- the-art nuclear powered submarines from Russia. It is also well documented that smugglers are busy purveying smaller amounts of atomic and nuclear materials out of the former Soviet Union. Several have been caught but it's estimated that those who have gotten through are a much larger number.

What a terrible scenario. Nuclear devices in the hands of fanatical terrorists! No wonder former US President Ronald Reagan stated about 5 years ago: "We are now living in the most dangerous time in the world's history."

Added to all this, in his quest for progress, mankind has brutally assaulted and raped this planet. We have polluted the earth, air, water, and space! We have become slaves to inventions, technologies, and so-called breakthroughs, with the 20th century mentality of push, grab and run!

SNIDER WAS DECEIVED BY THE ILLUSIVE PROMISES OF AN EXALTED SCIENCE BECAUSE OF THE BASIC FALLACY OF THE THEORY OF GODLESS EVOLUTION!

Nothing added to nothing, multiplied by nothing, subtracted from nothing and divided by nothing, produced everything; sums up the evolutionary theory!

RECAPITULATION THEORY; BASIS FOR KILLING FETUSES!

Just like abortionists were deceived by the ‘Recapitulation Theory’ - a belief that was shattered by the ability to photograph the fetus, proving the unborn baby was not evolving from fish to human - Snider and many of his colleagues have been rudely awakened by the new realities.

Because of the deception of both the evolutionistic pseudo - scientists and the on-going march of cold-blooded exterminators of human fetuses, I felt it necessary to insert - at the end of this column - an article by the eminent scientist Dr. Henry M. Morris, director of the Institute for Creation Research.

Two world wars, the holocaust, the tyranny of Communism and the failure of the League of Nations and the United Nations to bring lasting peace, has proven atheist evolutionary scientists wrong! Education, material prosperity and technological advancement does not rid the human spirit of hatred, greed, pride and prejudice; only a spiritual revival will do that!

SNIDER HAD GRADUATED FROM EVOLUTION'S PRIMITIVE GOD OF CHANCE TO SCIENCE'S NEW GOD OF TECHNOLOGY, BUT THEY HAVE BOTH FAILED!

Because the same liar who deceived Charles Darwin and the recapitulation abortionists, also deceived our first parents in the Garden of Eden when he said, "Reject God, believe me and you shall be gods." In my opinion, the evolutionary theory is Satan's greatest masterpiece!

THE RECAPITULATION THEORY AND ABORTION!

by Henry M. Morris

One of the most bizarre of the supposed evidences for organic evolution was popularized in the 19th century by the atheistic biologist Ernst Haeckel, who also headed Germany's infamous Monist League and soon became one of Germany's major ideologists for racism, nationalism, and imperialism's Daniel Gasman: The Scientific Origins of National Socialism: Social Darwinism in Ernst Haeckel and the German Monist League, published by American Elsevier, 1971, p. xvii).

This was the so-called biogenetic law, or the recapitulation theory, best known in terms of the textbook slogan; ONTOGENY RECAPITULATES PHYLOGENY, meaning the embryonic development of each growing embryo in the womb repeats the evolutionary development of its species. The HUMAN EMBRYO, for example, was said to begin life as a PROTOZOAN, then to go through a FISH STAGE (with gill slits) and a MONKEY STAGE (with a tail) before finally becoming a HUMAN BEING.

This absurd theory has long since been repudiated by competent biologists, even though it still crops up in some textbooks and Anti creationist polemics. Any lingering hope that it might be true should have been demolished by MODERN FETOSCOPY, which makes it possible to observe directly the unborn child through a tiny telescope inserted through the uterine wall."  (Parents, October, 1979, p.50)

Dr. Sabine Schwabenthan goes on to say, "We now know, for instance, that man in his prenatal stages does not go through the complete evolution of life - from a primitive single cell - to a fishlike water creature to man. Today it is known that every step in the fetal development process is specifically human."

FOR A FALSE NOTION, HOWEVER, THE RECAPITULATION THEORY HAS HAD PROFOUND AND TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF PALEONTOLOGY, GEOLOGISTS FREQUENTLY USED IT AS A FRAMEWORK FOR PLACING THEIR FOSSILS (DESPITE THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF ANY TRANSITIONAL FORMS) IN AN APPARENT EVOLUTIONARY SEQUENCE, AND THE RESULTING FOSSIL RECORD, HAS BEEN USED EVER SINCE AS THE MAIN PROOF OF EVOLUTION.

Also, as Harvard's Stephen Jay Gould has pointed out: "Recapitulation provided a convenient focus for the pervasive racism of white scientists: they looked to the activities of their own children for comparison with normal, adult behaviour in lower races; (Natural History, April, 1980, p. 144).

According to Gould, the term mongoloid; was first applied to the victims of Downs Syndrome becauseit was then commonly believed that the Mongoloid race had not yet evolved to the status of the Caucasian race. Similarly, Henry Fairfield Osborn, the leading American paleontologist of the first half of the 20th century, argued: 

THE NEGROID STOCK IS EVEN MORE ANCIENT THAN THE CAUCASIAN AND MONGOLIAN...THE STANDARD OF INTELLIGENCE OF THE AVERAGE ADULT NEGRO IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE 11-YEAR-OLD YOUTH OF THE SPECIES HOMO SAPIENS. (Natural History, January/February, 1926; reprinted in Natural History, April, 1980, p. 129)

But all these tragic results of this false theory are dwarfed by the painful murders of millions of unborn children through abortion. The only possible rationalization for these atrocities is the standard argument that the unborn fetus is not yet really a human being at all, a widespread belief that is based on the evolutionary philosophy in general and the recapitulation theory in particular (see, The Averted Gaze: Liberalism and Fetal Pain, by Joseph Sobran in The Human Life Review, Spring, 1984, for a cogent exposition of this background). 

After all, it is not considered murder to kill mere animals. Ideas do have consequences, and false ideas can have tragic and lethal consequences. The slogan ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny; is not only a curious but discredited slogan of the past. It is also the root of a tree bearing deadly fruit in the present.

                      SPIRITUAL SICKNESS

by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Spiritual sickness is threatening the Church! Some highly contagious and deadly diseases are threatening to destroy the Church in this midnight hour! An unholy epidemic of huge proportions is sweeping the world and seeking to eradicate the very life of God out of our midst!  

Without doubt, Satan is on a fevered rampage to still the voice of the Holy Spirit by deliberately infiltrating Christian Seminaries and Bible Colleges with those who do not believe God’s Holy word and are on a Crusade to instill their Secular Humanism, Skepticism and Higher Criticism into the responsive minds of our young people!

Satan is seeking to enslave, deceive, cripple, and destroy God’s servants through pride, discouragement, stress, sickness, scandal, or lack of finances! He is using all possible means to reach his goal in this holy battle against Almighty God. Every temptation, controversy, trial, dispute, calamity, plague, and disease known to man is being employed by this master deceiver and strategist. He is, however, doomed to complete failure!

By attacking the words of Jesus Christ, they are doing what no one else has dared to do.  Even though scientists, archeologists, mathematicians, historians, and theologians have proven the Old and New Testaments reliable and totally trustworthy in numerous ways, these pseudo theologians, through mere speculation are declaring themselves experts in a field which they know very little about.  

These deceivers are unreliable, and agenda driven, focused on spreading falsehoods concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Holy Word of God! They are not willing to use established scientific methods to establish the truth but rest their case simply on pure speculation!

Together with an unholy mosaic of “rogue preachers, unregenerate theologians and an occult-friendly cacophony of radical feminists, abortionists and homosexual rights groups”, these ‘enemies of Christ’ are seeking to overthrow Christianity by tampering with the veracity of the Holy Bible! 

Independently, arrogantly, and openly - with great fanfare - these impostors (Jesus Seminar) regularly tamper with the sacred texts of the Old and New Testament Scriptures! Without any jurisdiction they are brazenly saying: “God’s Word, which has come to us by the Holy Spirit, through anointed men of God and prophets, is invalid and untrustworthy”.

PREJUDICED BLASPHEMERS ARE BOASTERS!

In essence these prejudiced blasphemers are boasting: “We know more than God, Jesus Christ, Moses, the Apostles, Early Church Fathers, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Billy Graham”. These foolish men are saying: “We know more than the hundreds, yea thousands of great Bible translators, theologians, missionaries, pastors and evangelists - who have preached Christ’s Gospel with power across the world for the past two thousand years!”

These proud RAMBOS need a genuine meeting with God! I am vitally concerned for “men of the cloth” who get sucked into Satan’s pride-trap!  The Evil One knows, only too well, that pride and rebellion caused his downfall!  WHY IS THIS?  Pride causes people to believe ignorant and stupid things, because they have accepted a false opinion of themselves!

Satan has convinced them that they are super-intelligent and know everything.  They have been deceived into believing that they are smarter than everyone else! And they think they know more than God or the Bible!  St. Paul warns: “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”. (Gal. 6:3)

 A person doesn’t need to be handsome, beautiful, intelligent, well-connected, or rich to be proud.  I have met some of the ugliest, most ignorant, uneducated, and poorest people who have been filled with pride! Refusing to believe God’s Word and rejecting Jesus Christ - the fountainhead of all wisdom and knowledge - is the most sickening thing I have encountered in people in more than five decades of Christian Ministry!

 The Bible says: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son”. (1 John 5:10). Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour has called Almighty God, “A LIAR”. 

 The very act of rejecting Christ calls God’s truthfulness into question! St. John emphasizes: “And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life”. (1 John 5:11-12)

 THE GREAT DIVIDE

The Bible states that Satan is seeking to enslave, deceive, cripple, and destroy God’s servants through pride, discouragement, stress, sickness, scandal, or lack of finances!  He is using all possible means to reach his goal in this unholy battle against Almighty God. Every temptation, controversy, trial, dispute, calamity, plague, and disease known to man is being employed by this master deceiver and strategist. He, however, is doomed to failure forever!

There is only one way to be saved, and that is through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for us!  St. John declares: “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding; That we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, and, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is True God, and Eternal Life.” (1 John 5:19-20)

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me”. (John 14:6) That’s very clear - No ifs, buts or maybes!  He stated, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”. (John 10:9-11)

The December 1936 magazine ‘The Witness’ carried a powerful article called ‘The Virgin Birth of our Saviour’. In his article T. Ernest Wilson wrote: “Many years ago Dr. Dale, of Birmingham, made the statement: ‘The storms of criticism now are bursting about the venerable head of Moses, but Moses is not the objective; the time will soon come when the tempest will break about that ONE HOLY HEAD.’ And that time has come; apostate Christendom takes every opportunity of attacking the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In his article ‘The Incomparable Christ’ (1936) Dr. W.G. Moorhead states: “Jesus Christ is the only One who is justly entitled to be called the Catholic or Universal Man. Nothing local, transient, individualizing, national or sectarian dwarfs the proportions of His wondrous character.”

DR. MOORHEAD quotes Liddon: “He rises above the parentage, the blood, the narrow horizon which bounded, as it seemed. His life; for He is the archetypal man in whose presence distinction of race, intervals of ages, types of civilization and degrees of mental culture are as nothing.”

 He warned: “Ancient Judaism has one supreme voice for the chosen people, and its voice is prophetic. If any man deny the inspiration of the Old Testament, sooner or later, he will deny the New Testament.”

There are several very stern warnings in the Holy Bible concerning those who would seek to pervert those who believe Jesus Christ or who change God’s Word: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones who believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matt.18: 6)

GOD WARNS TRIFLERS!

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things written in this book.” (Rev.22: 18,19)

"Ye shall not ADD unto the word which I command you, neither shall you DIMINISH ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" (Deut. 4:2). "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: you shall not ADD thereto, nor DIMINISH from it" (Deut. 12:32).  "Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. ADD YOU NOT unto His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar." (Prov.30: 5-6).

“The BIBLE: In the whole world it is the Book. All other books are mere leaves, fragments.” – Sir Walter Scott. “Yes, it alone is the universal BOOK. It is the VOICE: All other are merely books for the hour. The BIBLE is the BOOK of all time. It stands alone; unapproachable in grandeur; as high above every other book as Heaven is above the earth, as the Son of God above the sons of men.” - Professor Dysen Hague, M.A. June 1, 1961.

“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of the heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of fire, as thou hast heard and lived?” (Deut.4: 32, 33)

My message to apostate preachers who are compromising with the world and corrupting God’s Word, for their own personal advantage, prestige or popularity:

“Do not masquerade as a Christian Minister if you do not believe or practice God’s Word! Do not corrupt the Bible and lead others to a Devil’s Hell and a lost eternity, simply to line your pockets with filthy lucre! Stop lying and tell the truth! Either get right with God or get out of the Ministry! Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission, Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V 1N6 [email protected]; blog: Max Solbrekken World Mission; comehometojesus.ca