2001 Summer Conference at Brunstad

2001 Summer Conference at Brunstad

In one of our songs we sing, “Light will shine into your nature; then your own life you’ll find.” (NS #192) This is also how we experienced the summer conference at Brunstad to an overwhelming degree. Now it is also vital to take to heart what we sing in the chorus of the same song: “Hasten! The Spirit calls you; walk in the light He gives you. Soon will the night o’ertake you; see, it is very near.”

The way to life

Johan O. Smith wrote in connection with editing “Skjulte Skatter” (Hidden Treasures) that the effect of the paper would be like that of a snowplow. People do not see a way; it is as if it were snowed under. Even though the usual religious preaching encompasses Jesus’ death for us, it hides Jesus as the way.

“Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life.” Read Matt. 7:13-15. The strait gate is forsaking everything in order to follow Jesus. Whatever a person does not forsake will hinder him from doing God’s will. If we have entered through the strait gate we have received Jesus as Lord of our life. Then we will have heaven as our “constant habitation,” and the earth will be our field of activity where we manifest Jesus’ life. In Luke 14:25 we read of the condition for being a disciple of Jesus: forsake everything and follow Him. Then we have nothing else to consider; then nothing will hinder us from doing the Lord’s will. Then we have begun to walk on the narrow way that leads to life; on this way we gain victory over sin and have our fruit to sanctification. Rom. 6:22.

What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15. Most people look up to the great things. One of the most difficult things to be saved from is the desire to be great, important, and honoured for it. In the midst of one’s ministry, this religious “greatness” can raise its head, as well as that abominable “worship of angels.”

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matt. 16:24. This way of the cross is the royal highway itself into God’s kingdom. For example, Jesus says, “Judge not!” When it concerns this point, there are many people who neither deny themselves nor take up their cross. They judge, criticize, and accuse, and consequently do not enter into any kind of spiritual growth. According to Rom. 2:1-3 such people come under tremendous judgment. Also, when we read Matt. 6:14-15, we see what a serious matter it is not to forgive others their transgressions.

On the narrow way to life we are being saved from these sins as well as from all other sins. Life becomes glorious and blessed, and we are not fooled by the things that are great in the eyes of men. Trials will come, also in a mature age in this area; so this is a very serious exhortation, also to those who have advanced on the narrow way.

On the basis of Eph. 4:11-12 we can see that all those who truly serve in the church do not serve themselves, but serve in order to help the others forward. They receive their education in humiliation, in “the lower parts of the earth” (vs. 8-10); there they learn to despise all carnal greatness. There they learn not to go beyond their measure of faith. It is only personal ambition that causes a person to go beyond his measure of faith.

Paul thanked God that he considered him faithful, putting him into the ministry. 1 Tim. 1:12. God tests this faithfulness, also in maturity. There will be trials to test us whether we love God for His own sake or for all the things He can give us. By his faithfulness Paul became an example to the believers. In 1 Tim. 3:7-10 we read about servants in the church who have a good testimony and who keep the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. About them we read, “. . . but let these also first be proved; then let them serve in the church, being found blameless.” Also these! Also these who have already followed Jesus for some time on the way of humiliation and have gained confidence in the church. Even these shall be tested. Even when a person has reached a mature age he can become puffed up and fall under the judgment of the devil. In Luke 4 we read of the temptations Jesus had to endure just before He began His apostolic ministry. Then He was already far advanced on the way to the finished work. Nevertheless, He was still in flesh and blood and could be tempted. There in the desert the devil himself came and tempted Him in those areas where he knew that people are weak—power and honour. However, Jesus was firm, absolutely firm until the very end. He faithfully finished His course. This is also how His followers have done it; they served and gave their lives until the very last.

In Rev. 4:10-11 we read of the 24 elders who cast down their crowns before the throne and worshiped Him who had given them the opportunity of winning their crowns. Let us never, never exalt ourselves. By exalting ourselves we lose our connection with Him who is the Head. Let our hearts’ attitude be as we sing in one of our songs: “We desire no glory, we desire to be nothing; God be all in all!”

Deeds done in God

“The sons of men are nothing but lies.” Ps. 62:9. (Norw.) This is how all of us are by nature. Therefore we need to acknowledge the truth, which is Jesus Christ. What shall we do with grace if we do not love the truth?

In John 3:19 we read about people who loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Such people do not come to the light. V. 20. They have no desire to be chastened by the truth; therefore they continue with their backbiting, slander, thoughts about great things, etc. However, those who do the truth come to the truth. V. 21. Their deeds are done in God. These deeds are done without murmuring or doubting, and leave blessed steps behind.

God works in us both to will and to do according to His pleasure. He works deeds filled with care. The Holy Spirit works in us to bless. And if we desire to do the good from our heart, i.e., to bless, then we will find the evil present with us, and we can be tempted to an increasingly deeper degree.

In 1 Cor. 12 Paul writes about the body of Christ. In this body the Spirit works unto edification in various ways. In verse 19 we read, “And if they were all one member, where would the body be?” How is it with our relationship to our brothers and sisters in our local fellowship? God works in us to go on the way of humiliation among our brothers and sisters. If we want to exalt ourselves and are busy with “great, greater, greatest,” where is the body then? Each of us has received something according to our measure. Therefore it is vital that our eyes are opened so that we can see the body of Christ, not the least in our local fellowship.

When Paul exhorts the Corinthians to take up a collection for the believers in Judea he uses the expression “as he may prosper.” We need to understand what this means. In other words, we prosper so that we can give away! The usual train of thought is: I have prospered so that I can buy a house, an automobile, etc. But here we read about prospering in order to give!

We are always in need of exhortation. Exhortations can be compared to curb stones along the way. Perhaps they all appear alike where they are, one after the other. However, we need them to keep us in the middle of the road. In like manner we always need exhortations about following Him who humbled Himself and was obedient until death. All of us are far too high up in relation to Him, and we all need to humble ourselves. We read about this humiliation in Ph. 2, and in this connection Paul writes about working out our salvation with fear and trembling. This is how serious it is, and this is the kind of godly fear we are called to. For example, it takes much acknowledgment and humility to be able to live in 1 Thess. 5:16 every day: “Rejoice always!” If one considers one’s brother or sister more or less as “competition” one cannot always rejoice. The same thing applies to the exhortation, “Pray without ceasing.” V. 17. One cannot be in this spirit of prayer and at the same time accuse or reproach one’s neighbour. By obeying the exhortation in v. 18, “In everything give thanks,” all complaining and dissatisfaction will fall away. When we have it as our goal to be transformed into the image of the Son, we will truly be thankful for everything.

Bearing fruit for God

Many people are “under the law”; consequently they partake neither of growth nor of development in God. Only those who are Christ’s and have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires can experience growth in God. This mystery of the faith that “since One died for all, we are all dead” first begins to work in our mind. Then a new life and a new development can begin, and what occurred first in Jesus’ body occurs now in those who believe. This is how we experience that we always have something to surrender into the death of Christ.

If we do not enter into this life of sanctification we cannot bear fruit for God either. Rom. 7:4. Neither can we then edify the church.

All those who are “under the law” are in the flesh. Then the sinful lusts work in such a way that one bears fruit that leads to death. Many—also among us—need to be born again. Perhaps one has a large flock of children, but has not experienced a personal new birth. One is angry, hot-tempered, offended, and takes sides. However, when we begin to serve in the newness of the Spirit (Rom. 7:6) we can bear fruit for God.

Compared to the Gentiles the Jews had a great advantage because they had the Law. The Law acted as a brake on sin. Therefore it is a great blessing to be “kept under guard by the law.” Gal. 3:23. Nevertheless, it is a great liberation to come to faith. Then we are no longer under the law—the tutor. V. 25. We come to this liberty as a result of believing in Rom. 6:6 (for example). “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” This is what Paul led the church to believe. The law could not lay hold of sin before it came out of the body. But the Spirit is quick and reminds and exhorts already at the moment of temptation so that we can overcome, and surrender into the death of Christ what we are being tempted to. We can bear this death with us wherever we are in this world. 2 Cor. 4:10. What a marvellous redemption from all that egotism that entered the world through the fall! Now it can be brought into the death of Christ!

Therefore, on the basis of Rom. 6:6 we can consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (v. 11), and experience what Paul testifies to in Gal. 2:20: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Then we are led by the Spirit against our own flesh, and in this fight it is always vital to be on the side of the Spirit. Rom. 8:13. Then we bear fruit for God and partake of sanctification. Or as it is written in 2 Thess. 2:13, “. . . salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” Those who are under the law do not experience this. They are rich and full, and do not receive light over the sin that dwells in their flesh. Thinking that you are free from the law without having died to what you were enslaved by, is false liberty.

“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Ps. 12:6. We also need this furnace in our life if we are to be vessels by which we can glorify God. Let us not be occupied with the circumstances when we come into this furnace (i.e. reproach), but keep in mind the work to the glory of God that shall be the result of the cleansing in the furnace.

“Do not remember the former things . . . Behold, I will do a new thing.” Is. 3:18-19. Once we have brought matters into order and cleaned up our life we shall (rightly understood) not remember the former things. We must not let the past ruin our future. It is the future that matters. God shall do a new thing. We shall also not remember the former things when it concerns our brothers and sisters, because “from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.” 2 Cor. 5:16. We must have faith for ourselves and for the others. In Eph. 4:22-23 we see a clear difference between the past on the one hand and the present and the future on the other hand: “That you put off concerning your former conduct the old man . . . and that you put on the new man . . . .”

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. 1 Tim. 6:10. We should be very interested in being saved from something that is a root of all kinds of evil. Let us rejoice when the root is being attacked. Abraham will be one of the guests at the marriage of the Lamb. He was willing to sacrifice his only son. Should we, then, seeing that we have the calling to be the bride of the Lamb, have problems with offering time and money?

The great difference between faithfulness and unfaithfulness

In Rom. 12:19 we read that vengeance belongs to God and that He will repay. This is a truth that many people do not consider. Therefore they live their life as if good and evil, noble and ignoble, are almost the same thing. However, God is an avenger of all unrighteousness, and He rewards and appreciates the godfearing. If we are to be along in the flock that, together with the Prince of Peace, shall restore all things, then we must learn to differentiate between what is noble and ignoble, between faithfulness and unfaithfulness. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chron. 16:10. Loyal to Him! Then there is no guile in the heart! No “cloak for evil,” but faithfulness in the depth of the heart. Read (for example) Deut. 33:8-10 about the almost incomprehensible faithfulness of a “holy man.” In the spiritual sense this means that nothing and nobody shall hinder us from doing God’s will. It is a terrible attitude to have when a person thinks that there is almost no difference between faithfulness and unfaithfulness, thinking that, in any case, God is gracious. God cannot give grace and grant progress to such indolent, indifferent, and insolent people. In Ps. 90:11 we read a word in this connection that is worthwhile noting: “Who knows the power of Your anger and Your wrath, as the fear of You requires?” The godfearing take this matter seriously and are faithful, not the least when it concerns the use of the tongue.

Israel went astray on the way to the Promised Land. One can also go astray on the way to the Promised Land of the new covenant. In 1 Cor. 10 we read that they all had abundant spiritual food; nevertheless, they had gone astray in their hearts. They had experienced God’s care in so many ways and their hearts should have been crushed by such care. Nevertheless, they hardened themselves over and over again. Those who murmured and were unfaithful came to the borders of Canaan alright, but they did not enter the land! Therefore we need the exhortation in Heb. 3:12-13 about not having an evil heart of unbelief. One can fall away from the living God in the midst of the assembly; one can even harden one’s heart because of the deceitfulness of sin. Therefore we read: exhort one another daily, as long as it is called “Today.”

Think soberly

In Rom. 12:3 we are exhorted not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. This is an extremely necessary exhortation for us as natural human beings into whom almost the opposite has been grafted from when we were children. It is our great ego that is a hindrance to God’s grace in our life.

Arrogance causes blindness in a person. For example, one can demand obedience from those who are under our authority, but at the same time refuse to take advice from those who are in authority over us.

God’s grace is measured out according to the thoughts of our heart. If abundant grace is to come over our children and us we must be extremely lowly in our own eyes and not go beyond our measure of faith. It is necessary to think about this: What has God actually been able to accomplish in my life? And to what extent have I actually been of help to the others? Having high thoughts about ourselves is unrighteousness, because if something good has been accomplished in us or through us it is only by God’s grace. Many people judge and criticize the others without knowing how to judge themselves. Secret sins, as for example jealousy and envy, make it impossible for God to bless us and grant us progress. An understanding of this ought to effect a radical conversion, resulting in a complete stop to all judging, criticism, and backbiting.

In 1 Pet. 3:17-18 we are exhorted not to fall out of our own steadfastness. It is possible always to live with an open heaven over us. However, pride, haughtiness, and conceit can land us on the outside in darkness, and in perdition. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” V. 18. How can we grow in grace? By a deeper acknowledgment. We grow in grace when we—in God’s light—can acknowledge a little bit more of our self-life. Then the result will be an increasingly better, richer, and more pleasant aroma from our life.

It speaks volumes when we read in Luke 1 about Mary and the deep knowledge she had of God. She had a good understanding of the reason why she had received such grace. She praises God who “has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.” V. 48. God had noticed that she was lowly in her own eyes. For example, if one does not have complete victory in one’s life, what, then, does it mean to think and speak soberly? Then one ought not to bother with what other people do or don’t do, but rather think thoroughly over the poor wretch one is and cry out to God for help in one’s need. Mary praised God because “. . . His mercy is on those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” V. 50. What we think about ourselves is important for the next generation, perhaps even to a greater degree than many people are willing to admit. Mary continues to sing, “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and the rich He has sent away empty.” Vs. 52-53. But He has filled the hungry with good things. Yes, it is rewarding to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Then we will also receive nourishment at our meetings. But if one is rich and satisfied one ought to consider the matter thoroughly and repent of one’s arrogance. Imagine having great thoughts about oneself! Remember that we have to do with the Almighty God!

He, who has an ear, “let him hear!

There is a difference between the various ones who have an ear to hear. In the natural one can, by way of example, play in a children’s percussion group and think that it is quite something. However, by a deeper acknowledgment of our own imperfections we will be certain to discover that everything can become more perfect. This also applies to the spiritual realm. All in all, we need to be more inclined to come to a deeper acknowledgment.

It is amazing how difficult it is for certain brothers to receive something from a sister. The truth is that we have many sisters in our midst who are more advanced than many a brother and who have quite a bit to give to the church if only we are humble and can listen when such sisters say something, or exhort us.

“. . . by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Pet. 2:24. The way to perfection is the way to healing. Sin is our real illness. The flesh is guilty of all the misery that is in the world, and Jesus put this flesh to death. We are healed by dying to our sins and living for righteousness. Then we are healed from conceit, self-assurance, and human stubbornness, etc. Imagine to be set free from all that bound us and caused our “radius” to be so restricted. Many gifts remain bound because of unbelief and sin. When we are set free we can live for righteousness and serve according to the desires of our heart. Then we will also receive a deeper understanding and respect for the others’ ministry, and learn to appreciate the words they speak, and their hospitality. Yes, then we will realize that we need each other.

In 2 Thess. 3:8 Paul testifies that he worked day and night “that we might not be a burden to any of you.” Yes, it is a work! A work must also occur in our inner man. We can be a burden for the others in many different ways. For example, by making demands, by our opinions, and human inclinations. A labourer in the Lord’s vineyard is first and foremost an example worth following. In verse 11 we read about those who are busybodies. If we do not work out our salvation with fear and trembling we will drift away from what we have heard and become a busybody. In verse 13 we read, “But as for you, brethren . . . .” But as for you, brethren! Think to be along in this. “Do not grow weary in doing good.” Yes, let us work and have perfection as our goal in everything we do.

In 2 Cor. 4:11 we read about always being delivered to death for Jesus’ sake. For His sake! To please Him! Then we do not deny ourselves because we think that we must do it, or so that we will not lose any honour, etc. We meet many different situations and circumstances in daily life. May we always hear this: For Jesus’ sake! Then nothing will be heavy or difficult. Then we will come to a blessed life of abundance in Him, to a life of being more than a conqueror.