450. Prayer Day Conference 1931

In the first meeting we remembered our dear deceased sister, nurse Kristi Haug, who had sent a greeting to the friends from her sickbed. She was from a God-fearing family in Hemsedal and had spread light both in her home village and in Hallingdal. She left an impression on people wherever she went, and people were saved and received light. Her eccentric personality was known by friends from far and wide, and much can be said about her godliness and fearlessness. In her room she had this motto on the wall:

Saved to serve

And she truly served. She did not spare herself. May God bless her life’s work and her memory.

An effect of the meetings in Oslo is that the light is spread to many parts of the country. So when it is time for a conference, people come from many places, people we have never seen before, especially young people. Children of the friends are also growing up and becoming young people. They come and bring others along with them, and so it continues to grow.

God’s light always shines out of darkness. The light of the natural man must be quenched, even if the light he believes he has is a religious light. For when the light you believe you have is darkness, how great then is that darkness. A person who has not really been in darkness does not have God’s light. It is not pleasant to enter darkness. It is very difficult for the natural man to forsake everything he thinks he knows. It causes anguish, wailing, and distress. Everything seems pitch black. Everything and everyone seems to go against you. Then light flickers in the darkness. It is a ray of God’s light, a spark of the hope of life. For the upright, light arises in the darkness. No dishonest or insincere person will ever get to see this light. Walking in this light imparts God’s nature to us. This is the light that shines in a dark place, until the morning star rises in our hearts.

God’s Word and the multitude of commandments of the Spirit bring us to our end. They cause darkness; they put out the natural light, the light by which you can even obtain a doctor’s degree in theology. However, the same Word ignites God’s marvelous light in our hearts and makes us kings and priests for God.

By God’s infinite grace our ministry for the Lord, whether we are at conferences, in the meetings, or speaking one on one, is to lead people into darkness and then into God’s marvelous light. No one who is not willing to let go of everything he has, who does not want to enter God’s darkness and God’s light, can enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will seek to enter God’s kingdom but will not be able. They want to bring along their parents and siblings, their position in life, their money, their honor, and everything else, and so they cannot enter. A camel is more likely to go through the eye of a needle.

There were many blessed testimonies during the conference. After the day’s meetings, the Skogsrud quartet played, and the young people sang.

After this brother Aslaksen had Bible studies long past midnight. He gave written assignments that went something like this:

From the beginning we have worked with people individually. Now the flock has become so large that the thorough work formerly done with each individual can no longer continue. But on the other hand, they now receive instruction in many different ways when we gather for meetings and conferences. Everyone benefits from the experiences of the older friends. Everything moves ahead, steadily and smoothly.

God prepares a table for us in the presence of our adversaries. Plenty of preachers have thought that they, through their natural light, would be able to extinguish God’s light that shines out of the darkness. However, to this day their war against God’s light and God’s knowledge has been revealed to the friends as utter folly. Saul still wanders around in darkness trying to kill David, and Cain still frowns on Abel’s sacrifice. But their light shall go out in utter darkness, and Esau shall be thoroughly exposed. The death of Christ led to darkness. Let us come to this darkness with all our light. The light of the scribes, the light of the Pharisees, the light of the High Priests, and the light of the rulers goes out in this darkness. For in their darkened light they crucified the Lord of Glory. They do the same today. Therefore they are more comfortable with Herod and Pilate than with Jesus’ disciples, believing they do God a service by crucifying them so that Barabbas can be set free.

May God have mercy on His people in these days. Brother Aslaksen holds information meetings about the knowledge of God. They are held in “Idrettens hus” in Oslo two days a week, usually every Sunday and Monday. Visit these meetings; you will be able to get rid of your misconceptions. Test and search out for yourself what is right. Perhaps you who persecute God’s church in darkened zeal like Paul of Tarsus could be enlightened by the light that says, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”