Easter Conference

Elias Aslaksen:

Be Filled With the Spirit

2 Peter 1:3-15: The fact that Peter thought it was right to stir them up continually by way of reminder shows that they were continually in danger of falling asleep on every front. May your care be equally true and earnest.

“But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord . . . .” Eph. 5:18-21.

Are you making melody in your heart before the Lord? Be filled with the Spirit so you can always give thanks for all things to God the Father. Are you doing this? Be filled with the Spirit so you submit one to another in the fear of the Lord. Wives, be filled with the Spirit so that you submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. If all these things are not being fulfilled in your life, then you have far too little of the Spirit, and it would be best for you to be quiet concerning the fullness of the Spirit that you have.

Andreas Nilsen:

Numbers 33:51-53, 55-56

Among the enemies in the land of Canaan that were to be driven out—every single one of them— were many charming and talented people. But Israel did not manage to drive them out of their sight because they made allowances for them and showed them human love. This resulted in unlawful relationships between them and Israel (contrary to God’s law), for which they had to bear the consequences.

This illustrates a point worth noting. Many of these enemies are intricately connected to us in the depths of our heart. This puts us in the same predicament as Israel. We look at them, fall in love with them, and cannot bring ourselves to annihilate them. They cause us trouble and eternal loss. These enemies are in the flesh, and they are not to be consoled, but crucified.

Aksel J. Smith:

The Mystery of Christ and the Church

Matthew 16:13-18. There have always been only a few people who have understood who Jesus is. Today the whole world knows Him as an atoning sacrifice, but few know Him as their High Priest, their forerunner, or as the One He is: the Rock upon which the church is being built. Peter had learned to know Him as the One He is, and Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

It was not on Peter, but on the Rock—Christ—on which the church was to be built, and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it.

Peter and the other apostles became foundation stones in this temple, and since that time holy and God-fearing people have continued to build on this foundation. This temple is to be completed in these last days, and this is the blessed work that is now taking place, in spite of opposition and warnings from all sides. If the gates of Hades were to open and the entire army of hell were to rise up against this work, they would not prevail against the church of the living God!

Blessed are we who have seen the mystery of Christ and the church: that we shall be one flesh and one spirit with Him. This mystery is great and has been hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints. Flesh and blood has not revealed it to us, but our Father in heaven.