By Aksel Smith 1) We are not indebted to the flesh. Rom. 8:12. Since we do not owe the flesh anything, it must to be a true joy for us as Jesus’ followers not to give it the least nourishment, in ourselves or in others. The desire of the flesh is death. Why then nurture death in ourselves or in others? 2) Let no one deceive you with empty words. Eph. 5:6. The person who does not constantly preserve the mind’s unshakable firmness before God’s face is deceived. Empty words are a great master at deception. They are filled with folly. The person who speaks empty words reveals his folly, and the person who listens to them is unfaithful to God. By being constantly on the alert, you can arrive at the place that through God’ power, you are not deceived. 3) The person who defends his folly can do so only by covering it with new folly. 4) A rich and satisfied soul will speak about everything but God. You get the sense that you are standing outside the door of the person’s heart like Jesus did with the church of Laodicea. If you take something from the storehouse of your heart and give it to him, it is not received, and you depart, downhearted, with the feeling that your holiest possession, your purest life of Jesus Christ in you, has been trampled down. You did not find any nourishment in this brother. Jesus says that such people are poor and wretched and naked and blind, but they do not know it. Jesus is standing outside their hearts, and you who are poor in spirit also remain standing outside. Jesus enters only as the One who is poor, yet making many rich. Jesus says that he, who receives you, receives Him, and He goes in to those who are poor in spirit. They will be exalted and made to sit among princes, but the rich will be cast down into the dust. Therefore He says that he who overcomes will sit together with Him on His throne. Who, then, is the one who overcomes, except the one who goes in and out in his poverty and finds pasture? It is necessary that these things are practiced for life’s increase. Go only to the hungry! Jesus went to such people. If you have Jesus’ Spirit, then you will walk in His steps. Those who are poor in spirit are often the lowliest in the assembly. You could ask, “Can anything come of such a soul? Can anything good come from Nazareth, that old hovel in Galilee? A twig out of dry ground? Maybe there are greater opportunities in another place, more talents, greater riches, some people with more influence? Wouldn’t it be of greater significance to win them?” The Scriptures say that God makes the lowly into a thousand. “He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” Prov. 22:9. “He who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.” V. 16. Vanity strives for great things, but God blesses that which is lowly. It is more profitable to sit alone with those who are alone but who hunger for the Bread of Life than to be together with a hundred who are rich in spirit. For God is present in the first instance, but in the latter He stands outside.

“I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.” Rev. 3:12. In other words, it is possible to overcome. Overcoming means that we hold unshakably fast to what is right, good and true in every single circumstance. But because we are living in an evil world and we are tempted by the evil, this victory will come at a significant cost for those who want to obtain the victor’s prize. It is possible, but only through great watchfulness, prayer and humility. The overcomer becomes a pillar in God’s temple; that means he becomes a pillar for the believers, who are the temple of God. He shall no more go out. Certainly not, for it is through faithfulness we become pillars, and when we continue in faithfulness we remain pillars. A pillar cannot just leave. If anyone tries to entice you away from your firm stand, say “No.” If your own flesh draws and entices you, say “No” again. This is how you live a victorious life. When we meet something new and unknown, it is especially critical for us to watch and pray, because with new circumstances come new temptations. Those who overcome will sit with Jesus on His throne. Verse 21. Victory makes us kings, and that is quite logical. When we look at the masses, it appears that almost everyone bears the marks of sin. You can see that they haven’t overcome sin. Sin in its more refined forms is rampant. It lives and reigns in kings’ palaces and in beggars’ hovels. It sneaks in among judges and among high-ranking authorities. Anyone who desires to be vigilant against sin and against the slippery course of unrighteousness will encounter hatred, precisely because he takes up the battle against sin when it exerts its pressure. That is why Jesus, the King of righteousness, promised a great reward to those who overcome. Sin also sneaks into Christian assemblies through partiality, dishonesty and hypocrisy. Old sinful habits remain, so people are far from living a victorious life, a life whose reward is a throne. But such a life is possible for those who, because they have received light over their own inability, wait for God to guide them with His eye, and to reveal His thoughts to them. Jesus triumphed over principalities and powers on the cross. This is also the place where we can triumph. We can reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. The world lies under the power of sin because it does not want to hear about the cross. Take up that cross, follow Jesus’ footsteps and the victory will come. With victory comes exhilarating joy, a joy that is fitting for the saints. Victory means that our body carries out God’s works. These are pure, holy deeds that God has worked in us by His Holy Spirit, deeds that are the adornment of those who overcome. Rev. 19:8. But not only that: It is written in Revelation 21:7 that those who overcome will inherit all things. It pays to say “No” to sin and “Yes” to the voice of the Spirit. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Such constant victory will lead to what the apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely.” For this is the will of God, your sanctification. Most believers place far too little emphasis on sanctification. This is why Christians do not experience nearly the joy they should. If joy is lacking, then the power that should have led to victory is also lacking, because the joy of the Lord is our strength. So when we work on our sanctification with fear and trembling and at the same time seek to win souls, we accomplish a double work—we fight a double battle. Since the battle is a double one, we become double victors. That’s what Jesus was. When He left this world, He had triumphed over Satan and the powers of darkness, and He left behind His disciples—His battle prize. They continued the battle in their Master’s steps. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Rev. 22:12.Johan O. Smith