425. Prayer Day Conference 1927

Once again we had the joy of seeing many dear friends gathered at the conference. These conferences have now become such a part of us that it has become vitally important to meet together. It is so edifying just to see all these faithful souls, and we need this so much in order to strengthen the fellowship. We have these main conferences in Horten three times a year. Between these, there are smaller local gatherings. This work grips people one by one. It continues as it began. The leaven does its work until the whole lump has been leavened. However, in some respects things are the same among us as in any of the other assemblies. Many of those we would love to hear remain silent, and some of those we would prefer not to say so much are far too quick to speak. Yet, praise God, we have men among us who have God’s Spirit and power and are able to teach the masses. These brother’s testimonies have a profound effect on the conferences. They are the backbone. God’s Word that comes through these brothers has power so we go home greatly enriched from one conference after the other. I would like to point out the following as a guideline for another conference—if we live and God wills. Not everyone is a servant of the Word, and not everyone ought to get up in front of a large congregation and teach. Let not many of you become teachers. When there are opportunities to testify, then everyone who is saved can testify and praise the Lord for His great works. The Word is not well received when someone who does not have grace and power from God presents himself as a teacher. That is extremely uninspiring, and the entire congregation agonizes in pain. We need servants that can be of profit in every respect. We do not only need servants of the Word; we need all kinds of servants. Every ministry must be for the edification of the church. All ministry that does not edify must be banished. Therefore everyone should exercise self-criticism. Anyone who ministers in a manner that does not lead to edification must be prepared for correction. God’s kingdom will and must progress, and “performances” from the flesh should and must be restrained. Therefore, be careful and only do things that will build up.

Overall, we can praise the friends for their wise conduct. We are very happy and sincerely thankful to God that we can meet together with all of them at these greatly appreciated conferences that we have become so familiar with. Now five years have passed since we built the meeting hall with the conferences in mind. However, it looks like the hall will become too small in the near future. The hall seats about 200 people, and I think we can say that this time it was full. If we are short of space in the future, God is mighty to extend the space for us. Everything depends on us—whether we are willing to serve God in spirit and truth. If we do that, all resistance, be it from people or from evil spirit powers, will only contribute to the growth of our spiritual life and will extend the borders of the land. To this end people also testified about being:

Crucified With Christ

If anyone wants to be a Christian and still does as he pleases, the result will be friction and division. Consequently he will have to ask God and people for forgiveness. This can go on throughout a person’s entire life with no other result than continually having to ask for forgiveness for all the evil he has done. However, when the old man is crucified with Him, things change. Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20. “On the cross with Christ” is the place for the great “alliance meeting.” All enmity is put to death there, and a public spectacle is made of principalities and powers. I am crucified. Satan and evil people can only harm us through the old man. So when it is crucified, they are all disarmed. We have victory on the cross. Family and friends according to the flesh are sacrificed on the cross, which is where Jesus Himself gave away what was most dear to Him on this earth, His own mother. On the cross with Christ victory is assured beforehand, so when we encounter the enemy, the battle has already been fought and the victory has been won. Jesus was crucified for the whole world, yet the whole world still lies under the sway of the wicked one because it is not crucified with Him. There we have no grounds for arguments or many opinions, for the only opinion we have is that the old man with all his skills and intelligence, religiosity and good intentions has been sentenced to death.

We also heard about

Rest in God

We who have believed do enter that rest. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. Joshua could not give them rest. They should have attacked their enemies in complete rest—without looking at their own weaknesses or the strength of their enemies. The same applies today. The land is the body, and it is full of enemies as long as it is not crucified. But the cross drives the enemies out, and we come to the rest of faith. We enter rest when the Word meets with faith in our heart. But God swore that they should not enter into His rest. This was because the Word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in their hearts. Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4. The aim of all Christianity is to enter God’s rest. We do this by full faith and confidence in God. “Let us therefore be diligent to enter His rest.” We can have rest as our goal and be diligent to enter it. Without the cross there is no rest, but “on the cross” we enter into a deeper and deeper rest. This rest is not sleep; it is rest in a fully conscious state.

Most of the friends left on Sunday night. Three sisters from Denmark and some other friends stayed behind. On Monday night we had a blessed little feast together with testimonies and songs.

May God preserve us in the obedience of faith until we meet again. Hearty thanks for the time together and for all the good words we were able to hear.