Easter Conference at Brunstad

“This year Brunstad is a work site,” we were told in an information brochure about the Easter Conference 2003. Of course, Brunstad has always been a work and building place in a spiritual sense, but now it also includes, to an impressive degree, the construction work that now embraces the entire conference area. This ongoing construction caused the number of conference participants to be somewhat reduced compared to other Easter conferences. However, there were many more around the world who followed along by watching the meetings that were transmitted by satellite. What follows is a summary of this very blessed conference.

If We Would Judge Ourselves

“. . . that they all may be one . . . .” This was Jesus’ fervent prayer to the Father. It must also be our fervent prayer. We must always have this divine unity before our eyes, in our thoughts, in our conversations, and in our gatherings.

The one who is hard and impenitent (Rom. 2:5) treasures up for himself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. But those who by patient continuance in doing good seek the glory of being one just as the Father and the Son are one, have learned to judge themselves. “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” 1 Cor. 11:31. What a glorious light that is! By judging ourselves we attain to the salvation and wisdom that makes us one. Right from the time of Adam people have judged and accused one another. Many people may have great gifts, but if they do not learn to judge themselves, the result will only be unrest, competition, and division. The gifts cannot make us one, but if the virtues of Christ are ours and abound, we will attain to the blessed unity that is in the body of Christ. 2 Pet. 1:8. And if we increase in the virtues? We will continue to judge ourselves and purify our souls in obedience to the truth.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. Feelings are set in motion when disunity arises, and people speak and act as if they do not have sin. They do not see anything for which they could judge themselves. For example, if things get a little bit difficult in a conversation and tempers flare, it should not be difficult to discover what the cause is. Why do people become so emotionally involved? Quite simply because they “have sin.” Yet the one who understands to judge himself enters into rest in his inner being and can speak in a good tone with the person who is possibly so difficult. Then he will also understand the other person better.

In verse 7 we see that walking in the light produces fellowship. However, the fact that we walk in the light and have a good conscience does not mean that we have all the light that is in God. Precisely because we do walk in the light we will discover that we also do things we hate. If we acknowledge this, and judge ourselves, we will partake of a glorious development in that which is good. Here we have infinite possibilities for growth, for the Spirit will lead us into all truth.

In the third chapter of Colossians we see what God can and will do with us who were former sinners. Among other things, we read here about the bond of perfection, which is love. The condition for partaking of this perfection, however, is that we hate our own life according to the flesh. Then the word of the cross will be a powerful redemption for us; it will set us free from the tremendous burden, which is nothing else but our self-life. I am my own burden. By judging ourselves we are liberated from this burden.

It is humbling to acknowledge that we “have sin.” If we do acknowledge it, then we are also minded to humble ourselves. The one who humbles himself partakes of wisdom and all the goodness that is necessary to solve problems and help the others so that they can come to the unity of the faith in the Son of God.

All of us should accept the comfort we receive from 1 Corinthians 1:26 flg. There we read about God’s calling to the weak and foolish and to those who are nothing. He has chosen them for a life of victory and sanctification. What grace God has shown us by doing this! And if we are faithful to our calling, Christ will become to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Then we will also receive grace to build fellowship. Then there will be an end to sin and to seeking one’s own. All those who seek their own are useless as builders in God’s kingdom.

The angel of the church in Ephesus (Rev. 2) was praised for his many good qualities, and one could think that everything was in the finest order. Nevertheless, he was asked to repent. Among all the good things for which he was praised there was no mention of heartfelt mercy, sincere goodness, or sincere fellowship. He was exhorted to return to his first love.

Every one of us is called to be a gift to the church, to be knit together by the bonds that God gives. If we are faithful to the truth in love we have the possibility of growing up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ. Eph. 4:15. Yes, let there be growth in us and by us.

Paul, who before his conversion breathed threats and murder, could exhort: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Rom. 12:10. Let us in all seriousness follow these exhortations to be kindly affectionate to one another and to give preference to one another! This will be a supportive work so that “deficiency diseases” will not arise in the church. For example, you will forestall many suspicions because the others will be convinced of your love for them. This applies in the church as well as in the home. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” May we also have a fervent desire to come closer to each other more and more. We learn all of this when we learn to judge ourselves.

God’s Thoughts

God’s thoughts for us are thoughts of peace, thoughts of a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11. He chose us before the foundations of the world were laid.

Now our thoughts are to be liberated from the “course of this world.” Eph. 2:1, flg. The course of this world and the spirit of the times shall no longer guide our thoughts. Thoughts of pride and envy entered man through the Fall. However, once we have been made alive with Christ, our thoughts are guided from heaven.

Then we begin to understand that God has an eternal plan for us: “. . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” V. 7.

Then we will concentrate our thoughts on edifying the body of Christ. This exalted life and thought life presupposes that we are a complete sacrifice. We will then know the love of Christ that passes knowledge and will be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph. 3:19. Think that God is so good that He made such a plan of salvation for us who by nature were children of wrath just like the others. Let us pray to God for the spirit of revelation so that we can lay hold of His thoughts and understand better what He has thought to do in and through such wretched creatures, which all of us are by nature.

Most people have a pessimistic outlook on many things in their lives. These are not God’s thoughts. There is a future and a hope in God’s thoughts! “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” Is. 55:6. There are times in our life when we need to take care to make use of God’s thoughts. We read further that the unrighteous shall forsake their thoughts. V. 7. Yes, there are many thoughts, such as thoughts of discouragement, thoughts of doubt, critical thoughts that we need to forsake, so that we can lay hold of God’s thoughts. Vs. 8-9. We ought to search ourselves to see if we are on the same wavelength with His thoughts in life’s circumstances. We must not let our thoughts be bound to our human reasoning and feelings. Think that God’s thoughts can become our thoughts! And in 1 Peter 4:1 we have a thought with which we can arm ourselves, that he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin! And in verse 3 we read, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles.” We have also spent enough of our past lifetime thinking selfish thoughts, thoughts that were not from God.

When we enter into the world of God’s thoughts, we will see that we are surrounded by God’s love, also when He chastens us. In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we can clearly see that His thoughts are to exalt us in His time. Therefore we shall not doubt His goodness and care when we experience the Lord’s chastisement and fire. For example, we can come into situations that are humiliating. Why do we feel it as a humiliation? Because we do not possess the degree of humility that is required in this situation. Then we must cleanse ourselves and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

Read Isaiah 14:13-14. Here we can see examples of thoughts that are not from God. “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven . . . .’” We must be careful what we say in our heart. “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter . . . .” Is. 64:8. We must be in these thoughts. The Lord wants to remove all hard lumps (pride) from this clay. We need to be in this cleansing for as long as we live. We will come out of God’s thoughts if we cease to cleanse ourselves.

God wants to mold us like clay in the potter’s hand and put us into the ministry. In the ministry we will taste the fiery furnace of affliction. There is more, even much more, of that which is great and strong in us that has to be cleansed out. We must learn not to seek our own in any way whatsoever in our ministry for the Lord. Whatever happens, it happens so that the pride in us shall be crushed. God’s judgment rests over everything that exalts itself.

Whether we are new converts or older brothers and sisters with a life in God, all of us must be like a little child in our relationship to God. Jesus took upon Himself the form of a servant. Phil. 2:7. He humbled Himself. This is also God’s way—and His thought—with us, in order to lead us to true greatness. Now we are in our time of training. May we not be allured by the spirit of Antichrist, but let us be faithful in our humiliation and go the way of humiliation that Jesus has inaugurated for us.

Do Not Receive God’s Grace in Vain

The church in Corinth had received tremendous grace; they had gifts, and were enriched in everything, in all doctrine and all knowledge. 1 Cor. 1:4-8. Nevertheless, they had not attained to a blameless life. We must test ourselves, we who in many instances have sat under a mighty preaching of faith for many years. It is evident that during all these years relatively few people have become spiritual. This is the result of a lack of obedience to the form of doctrine, a lack of longing and need for sanctification in one’s personal life. A person can be apprehended for a while by revival, but not everyone who was apprehended by revival partakes of growth and development in his life. All of us receive a “starting capital” in the form of doctrine, knowledge, and grace. However, we must come to a hidden life with Christ in God if this capital is not to be wasted. Paul even had to exhort those who had been enriched in everything that they should all speak the same thing and that there should be no division among them. V. 10.

Once we have received access by faith to the grace in which we stand, we have a great hope, a hope of partaking of the glory of God. Rom. 5:2, flg. Then we can speak with prophetic enthusiasm about what God will give us. Then we will not draw back when the tribulations come. Not at all! We can glory in tribulations, for we know that tribulations work patience and a glorious increase in sanctification as well as hope—a hope of a greater fullness of a divine life—a hope that will not put us to shame.

In 2 Corinthians 6:1 we receive the exhortation not to receive God’s grace in vain. It is extremely sad if one does not come to victory over sin with such a “starting capital.” May this “in vain” never be written over our life! We all know what the real problem is. Let us work out our salvation and be obedient to the form of doctrine that has been given to us.

We need to understand what grace actually is. For example, when we read in Hebrews 12:6 that the Lord chastises everyone He loves, then we also understand that this is grace. We need to be so humble that we bow under God’s mighty hand so that no bitter root grows up and defiles many. The example of Esau is mentioned in verses 16 and 17. This bitter root had taken up the entire space in his heart so that he found no room for repentance. We need to understand that we are saved from the course of this world and from the desires and passions of the flesh through chastisement.

In 2 Corinthians 6 we see the many situations in which Paul found himself. In all these things he commended himself as a servant of God. The grace that came over him in all these situations was not in vain. If we can commend ourselves as God’s ministers in all our situations so that we do not exude an aroma of bitterness, then souls can gain confidence in us. We will receive grace to help, and the hearts will be opened to receive the Word.

Lest Your Hearts Be Weighed Down

In 1 Thessalonians 5:15 flg., Paul gave us a number of exhortations. One of them is: In everything give thanks! Paul himself was an example in giving thanks for everything, and in his letters he often and sincerely expressed his thankfulness for each individual brother or sister. There was a thankfulness in his faith that brought him to the content in his life that he had. In this spirit of thankfulness we can melt together in unity and fervent fellowship.

We read about Jesus that He, in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread and gave thanks, and broke the bread. He was thankful, and His sufferings became a cup of blessing for Him. From this we understand that Jesus’ life cannot be revealed in us if we are not thankful. It is unworthy to eat the bread and drink the cup without thankfulness. 1 Cor. 11:23, flg. Let thankfulness be the guideline for our life. Then we will have God’s mercy over us, and life will become simple to live.

Hebrews 12:28 tells us plainly that we cannot serve God acceptably without being thankful. “. . . let us be thankful, thus serving God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” [Norw. Tr.]

In Luke 21:34, flg., we are exhorted not to be weighed down by anything, but to watch always, so that we can stand before the Son of Man when He comes. Today many people live in fear of “all these things that will come to pass.” The Lord is angry at all spirits of pride; the world is maturing for its judgment. However, His chosen ones will not be weighed down; He will find them watchful when He comes.

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift your heads, because your redemption draws near.” V. 28. We know God’s words for these times about being ready for His coming. How foolish it is to have one’s interests in things that are of no eternal value whatsoever! Let us do what the angel of the church in Philadelphia did. He kept the Lord’s word concerning patience; therefore he would be kept from the hour of trial which would come upon the whole world. Rev. 3:10.

God also permits wars to chastise the nations, but His thought is to bring everything to a blessed conclusion. We who have come to faith learn to bow under the Lord’s chastisement and “wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 1:10. There is tremendous power in the spirit of expectation. Those who wait on the Lord receive new strength; they lift their wings like eagles. Is. 40:31. The pure in heart see God. They also see God in times of war and in stormy weather; they see God in everything that happens.

Let us use the time now before the darkness of night covers the earth. God’s mercies over us are new every morning. His faithfulness is great. Lam. 3:23.

We still have grace to gather for such conferences as we have just experienced at Brunstad over Easter. May all this grace not be in vain for any of us.

Arild Tombre