Easter Conference at Brunstad

Once again we had a blessed conference at Brunstad where the Word was spoken clearly and in all simplicity. Because our heavenly calling is so infinitely blessed and great the seriousness of it is also correspondingly great. “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48. Therefore there was also a high degree of seriousness over the preaching, and we would do well to take the exhortations to heart and truly be encouraged to love and good works, because, according to Heb. 10:24 this is the intention with all our conferences and meetings.

The cornerstone and the other stones

The cornerstone, which is Christ, was rejected by the builders of those days. Matt. 21:42. They did not see the glory in Him who is the Lord of glory. They did not comprehend the tremendous work of liberation that transpired in His body. The cornerstone was despised, and all the other stones in God’s building will be despised. This is also the case in these days.

Simeon said of Jesus, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against.” Luke 2:34. If a person is conceited he will stumble over the cornerstone. Those who are lowly in their own eyes see the cornerstone as very great and glorious; they also esteem the other stones in the building.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24. The gate is closed to all human reasoning and human opinions. If you harbor any injustice in your heart it will be revealed through your spirit. He who wants to melt together to be one with the godfearing will have to come out of this impure spirit. We also read about the cornerstone, Jesus Christ, in Eph. 2:20-22: about being joined together and growing into a holy temple of the Lord: “being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” Who are the ones with whom we are being built “together” that we read about here? They are all those widely diverse brothers and sisters we read about in Col. 3:11; they are the ones for whom Jesus Christ is everything. They become one body (v. 15); they are even joined together to be perfectly one just as the Father and the Son are one. They are humble and are not busybodies in other people’s matters. In this melting process many “reasonable” ideas have to be sacrificed in the same spirit in which Jesus offered Himself. Even the most godfearing person has to purify his soul in obedience to the truth. It is the cornerstone that points in the right direction. Therefore it is vital to test your hidden thoughts and counsels of your heart in relation to the Word. Then the Holy Spirit will lead you so that you will find the same sacrifices that Jesus had to bring. When we read the exhortations in 1 Pet. 2:1 flg., we see what is necessary to be a living stone in the Lord’s temple. We need to repent wholeheartedly so that we do not drag any malice, guile, hypocrisy, jealousy, or slander along. If we do not take these things seriously we will end up as “spiritual dwarfs,” even though we may have been in the church for many years. Such people will not experience spiritual growth. It is terrible how crippled some people can be in their thought life (for example, because of evil suspicions). However, the person who cleanses himself from these things will experience that the Lord is good.

The wisdom that is from above is first and foremost pure. Jas. 3:17. Since we know this, we also realize that quite often there is something from which we need to cleanse ourselves before we (for example) express an opinion about one thing or another.

The cornerstone, Christ, was rejected by men. 1 Pet. 2:4. Nevertheless, He was precious before God. This is also the case with every living stone in God’s house. The reproach of Christ comes over us abundantly, but under this cover of reproach we have fellowship in the light with all the saints.

In verse 8, on the other hand, we read about those who “stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.” What a tragic fate! However, those who are obedient and believe are thankful for the place they have received in the body of Christ. They grow and develop quietly and peacefully, and are filled with all the fullness of God.

In Col. 2:18 we read about some who are vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind. Love, on the other hand, is not puffed up. Love edifies! In love we become one body and are made aware of the fact that we are members of one another. Rom. 12:5. We must be alive to the fact that we are members of one another! Then we can also bless and be thankful for one another. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” Heb. 13:14. What problems do we have then? None! Then life is interesting.

Inheriting a blessing

In Heb. 6:17 Jesus’ followers are called “heirs of promise.” And Peter writes in 1 Pet. 3:9 that we shall inherit a blessing. Those who are heirs always have a strong consolation. Heb. 6:18. They have an anchor for their soul. V. 19. They are at rest in their soul in the various situations of life. Yes, the soul is quieted and enters into rest. Then one is in a position to bless when the soul is tempted to roar and perhaps cannot see a way out of the situation. The soul enters into rest, and one is able to bless already now to make use of our inheritance that awaits us. Let us, in the situations of life, bind our thoughts to the glory of our inheritance. The soul is preserved in rest, and our thoughts have something with which to work. And while we do the good, we discover that evil is present with us, and we are saved to an ever increasing degree.

It is good to be blessed, but it is even greater to bless and be able to comfort with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God. 2 Cor. 1:4. Then the blessing will return to us. And “as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” V. 5.

What a great comfort there is in our brother’s exhortations! For example, we are in a situation where we receive the exhortation: “Whoever believes will not act hastily.” By receiving this exhortation we are kept from acting hastily; we are kept from possibly doing something that is not according to the laws of wisdom. In the Norwegian Bible, Psalm 101 has this foreword: “David testifies that he has humbly given up all exalted and ambitious plans and has devoted himself wholly to doing the Lord’s will.” We too ought to take this to heart and enter into rest in the Lord’s perfect will and guidance. The spirit in which the cornerstone, Christ, offered Himself, is the spirit of sacrifice in which we must be if we are to attain perfection.

Intercessor or accuser?

When Jesus arose from the dead He was first and foremost our intercessor. Satan, on the other hand, is the accuser. In this context, each one of us should ask himself this question: What am I? “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezek. 22:30. Destructive spirit powers want to enter the church. They will seek to enter first where the wall is low. Therefore we need those who will make a wall and stand in the gap with a prayer wall against Satan’s attacks.

We read about men and women in the Old—as well as in the New—Testament who were particularly effective in their prayers. There was power in their prayers. What was humanly speaking impossible happened because of their prayers. For example, in Col. 4:12 we read about Epaphras who labored fervently in his prayers for the church. How many people are there today who have an understanding of what it means to labor fervently in their prayers? Each one of us can ask himself: “For whom do I labor fervently in my prayers?” Because of a wrong understanding we can leave all kinds of things up to God, and perhaps we do not even pray for our own children. Because of spiritual laziness we “give them into God’s hands” instead of laboring fervently for them in our prayers. God has given us certain laws for prayer. Prayers that are prayed in our need touch God’s heart. We should therefore pray for our fellow man, for our children and parents, for our country and people. Many of us are in the church because people have prayed for us. A lack of fervency in prayer is spiritual laziness.

Your heart becomes warm and tender when you pray. Accusing spirits will not gain entrance in your heart when you are engaged in the ministry of prayer. Your heart becomes cold when you stop praying, and bitterness and accusations gain easy access. “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” Rom. 16:20. Satan is the accuser. The fact that he is crushed under our feet means that the accuser is crushed. In Rev. 12:10 we read that “. . . the accuser of our brethren . . . has been cast down.” The spirit of accusation is so insolent that it is not ashamed even to accuse that which is most pure and holy. Judas said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred pennies and given to the poor?” He thought he understood the matter better than the Master Himself. It is amazing that people who have not done anything of significance in God’s kingdom—and quite often they are spiritually speaking the most wretched people—suddenly exalt themselves and rise above those who have labored and battled in prayer.

Jesus suffered gross unrighteousness. He could have had “reason” to accuse. Yet He died for our sins and became our Advocate. Be watchful, so that the spirit of accusation does not destroy your eternity. We are also exhorted to pray for our enemies. You could possibly pray them free from the net of evil in which they are caught. Perhaps even envy hinders a person from praying for his friends.

It is significant that it is written that the accuser was cast down. The spirit of accusation must consciously be cast out. Then we can have an active share in the apostolic ministry, praying for the others, and we will experience that God gives others life because of our prayers.

One condition for having the grace of forgiveness over our life is that we have forgiven others. Even though we faithfully attend the meetings of the church we do not have forgiveness for ourselves if we have not truly forgiven the others. Having forgiven from the heart means that the matter no longer occupies our thoughts. The ministry of prayer and the ministry of the word are closely connected. Acts 6:4. It does not help to have good words on your heart if they are not received into the hearts of the listeners. Through prayer, hearts can be opened and become receptive. In John 12:27 flg. we have a description of Jesus’ battle and victory. Jesus said, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?” All of us have a soul that can roar. What shall we say then? What shall we do then? Let us do what Jesus did. He chose not to avoid the trial; His only goal was to glorify the name of the Father. All spirits of accusation are put to death by means of such faithfulness. The accuser was cast out of heaven. Then we can have our mind in the heavenly places—in that which is pure and undefiled.

After Jesus had fed the five thousand we read that He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. Matt. 14:12 flg. There He was alone in prayer. We can well imagine that Satan came with temptations after Jesus had performed this miracle. But Jesus was busy being by Himself, alone in prayer. He fought in His prayers, and He overcame. We also gain some insight into His prayer life in Heb. 5:7. He was heard because of His godly fear. May this also be our experience to an ever-increasing degree.

Fulfill your ministry

Paul writes this exhortation to Timothy: “. . . do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Tim. 4:5. Every one of us has something to fulfill. How sad it is when we think of some people who found the sacrifice too great and thus did not receive grace to fulfill what they were in fact called to fulfill.

In the Bible we read about Demas, among others, who loved the present world. He did not fulfill the ministry that he had been given. We need to have faith and zeal in order to fulfill the ministry that God has entrusted to us. Even in our days there are those who are a warning example of what it means to fail and not fulfill the ministry that has been given to them.

“The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.” Prov. 10:7. The person who has a heavenly calling and is faithful to it receives a name that lives on for generations to come. Such people do not get tired of doing the good even though they meet with malice and reproach. They will reap in due season.

We also read in Ps. 9:5 about those whose name is blotted out forever and ever. The person who chooses to live an ungodly life actually writes his name in the sand, because it will not remain there for long.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Eph. 6:10. Faith and zeal for God is real strength. David was a man according to God’s heart. By reading the account of David’s victory over Goliath, we gain some insight into his determination and zeal for God. We must also have this determination and zeal in our battle against sin. How good it is for a young person (for example) to speak prophetic words—just like David did—about the victory that God will give him.

Now we have a blessed task to fulfill in our local churches, or at Brunstad, for example. Let us be among those who fulfill the ministry that we have received!

The first, fervent love

Jesus stood at the door of the church in Laodicea, filled with fervent love, and exhorted: “Therefore be zealous and repent!” The angel of the church had become lukewarm. He was neither cold nor hot. He was in danger of being spewed out of the Lord’s mouth.

It is easy to become rich and satisfied once you have attained to a certain state in which you have grace over yourself and your family. Then it is easy to be satisfied with yourself and with how things are. Poverty of spirit—the need and cry in one’s heart for more of God—has disappeared. Then that first, fervent love is no longer present.

We cannot fully overcome sin without abiding in that first, fervent love for Christ. Rev. 2:4. All kinds of “bacteria” thrive at a lukewarm temperature. Instead of having a need for more personal salvation and for the salvation of others, one becomes self-satisfied.

There is a long way to go until perfection. Why then are you so self-satisfied? God’s love is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As a result there is full opportunity for everyone to receive this fervent love into his heart. Then we will also receive the power in our life that overcomes everything.

Without love we are nothing. 1 Cor. 13:2. Then we are without power, and restless thoughts and human reasoning reign in our life. For example, we are in unrest about something; we pick up the telephone and start gossiping. Such things can be eradicated from our life through God’s power and His divine love.

Love is not puffed up. This is important, for example, when a person is given a ministry. Some people get so puffed up when they have a ministry that it becomes difficult for others to have any dealings with them. Love does not behave rudely, or inappropriately. How is it on this point? Are you doing something inappropriate in the hidden? Something you would be ashamed of if someone saw you?

Love rejoices in the truth. Most people do not rejoice because they do not have victory over sin. There are many people who know what it is to gloat over someone’s misfortune, but they do not know the joy of being saved and living for the benefit of their fellow man.

All the earthly things with which God has blessed us can be for our eternal loss if we do not use all of it in the service of love. Everything that is earthly will pass away. Only the riches that we have received in our spirit will stay with us for all eternity.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9. Here we see quite clearly what kind of love Jesus speaks about. It is the love with which the Father loved the Son and with which the Son loved us! It is the love that was willing to die for sinners! It is this love that shall abide within us. There is a development in this love for as long as we live. Let us test ourselves to see if this love dwells within us. We have an evil tendency to think better of ourselves than what we are in reality, and what our fellow men notice about us. We must preserve a longing in our inner man—a longing to come closer and closer to the fullness of the truth. Then we will expect to meet God in the ways of His judgments, and we will never tire of doing the good.

The angel of the church in Philadelphia was exhorted with these words: “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Rev. 3:11. We can also lose our crown. We can lose it by falling asleep and thinking only about ourselves and what is ours.

The angel of the church in Sardis was also exhorted to repent. We can rest assured that there were many who nodded in agreement with the preaching of this elder brother. He had a name that he was alive, but he was dead. The angel of the church in Ephesus was reminded of his first works, the works that he had done from his heart out of a fervent first love. Perhaps not everything was done so perfectly then, but God was pleased with it because it was done in that first, fervent love. In Lam. 5:15-17 we read about a sick heart and dim eyes. Sin is the cause of it all. It is the consequence of not being keenly interested in the others’ eternal well-being. One has left one’s first love for all the saints.

Oh, may none of us ever hear these words when it concerns our first love: Once upon a time it was like that, but it is no more! No, let us run the course in this first, fervent love so that we will also finish it.

Times of refreshing

“Repent therefore, and be converted [receive a new mind].” Acts 3:19. Times of refreshing will come after such a radical conversion. There is no variation or shadow of turning with God. Jas. 1:17. We too will receive this firm and unshakable mind if we are faithful in our life. A person’s mind is very changeable. It changes from love to hate, antipathy to sympathy, gentleness to anger. People suffer because of all this change and instability that has entered because of the Fall. However, through the gospel we can come out of all this dejection and despondency, and we can face the future with confidence.

When the God of patience and comfort grants us to be like-minded toward one another, according to the example of Christ Jesus (Rom. 15:5-6), the result will be times of refreshing in our local churches “. . . so that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Disunity as a result of seeking one’s own—whether it be at home or in the church—creates uneasiness and problems. “Times of refreshing” means that it is easy to live. We become happy and can boldly proclaim the good tidings without giving our own honor a single thought.

In Rom. 8:7 we read that the carnal mind is enmity against God. It cannot be obedient to God’s law. One of God’s laws (for example) is that we in honor give preference to one another. However, if we desire carnal things (e.g. the honor of man) it is absolutely impossible for us to be obedient to this law of God. One can seek honor in so many different ways. For example, one can refrain from speaking the truth in order to avoid some unpleasantness. Or one can speak the truth, hoping to gain the honor of man. “Let us not become conceited.” Gal. 5:26. This is God’s law. Yet we cannot fulfill this law if we are in the flesh. We can only be obedient to God’s law if we desire the things of the Spirit. Then we will fill our mind with thoughts of care, being a shepherd, and speaking well of the others, etc.

Yes, let us prepare ourselves for the Lord’s return. Both the wise and the foolish virgins were in the church. However, only the wise belong to the body of Christ. It is still the time of grace. Let us make use of it for salvation.

Arild Tombre