New Year’s Conference at Brunstad

New Year’s Conference at Brunstad

At the beginning of the New Year’s Conference, which was held at Grenland this year, brother Kåre J. Smith emphasized the necessity of coming together so we can be powerfully influenced to live worthy of our heavenly calling. A true disciple of Jesus Christ can be expected to be faithful without end. The conference was brief, but it offered rich, spiritual fare. The following is an excerpt.

The Way of Humiliation

We have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13. This is that Spirit who leads us to see sin our own flesh. If we are willing to be led by Him, we will experience that judgment over our self-life will “run down like water.” Amos 5:24. It cost Jesus vehement cries and tears to overcome His “David-flesh,” and He was heard because of His godly fear. People can be along in the church for years, yet hardly have this godly fear before their eyes. Oh, how vital it is to understand this full salvation in Jesus Christ so that we can grow up in all things into Him!

In Philippians 2:8 we can see the way Jesus went: namely, the way of humiliation. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” This is something other than becoming great by one’s ministry, and thus hindering others from growing up in the work of ministry. When we help others come into their inheritance, we are truly attaining to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In verse 13 we read, “For it is God who works in you.” Yes, He works so that we humble ourselves! Therefore we are exhorted to do all thins without murmuring and disputing. V. 14. Such people find their comfort in Christ, and they can also abide in love. Only if we humble ourselves can we abide in love in the hour of trial. He who criticizes his brother has not found this blessed way of humiliation.

We are obligated to walk just as Christ walked. 1 John 2:6. Therefore Paul reckoned that he was indebted to all. We can also “pay down” our debt by humbling ourselves. Once we have really seen the pit of corruption in ourselves, we will also understand the necessity of humbling ourselves so that we can abide in love. See 1 John 4:9-11. Then we love much, as Jesus said about the woman in the Pharisee’s house.

He who goes beyond his measure of faith, beyond his limits, exalts himself. Such a person goes in the opposite direction of the way Jesus went, He who descended to the lower parts of the earth. The humble live within their boundaries and never strive; you will never find any indication of envy in their lives. It is terrible when someone exalts himself and imagines that he is a teacher of godfearing brothers and sisters even though his own significance is negligible. It should be natural for us to ask ourselves first: What has Christ been able to do in me, and what has He done for the others by my ministry? Making demands on others is a terrible manifestation of self-exaltation.

In 1 Timothy 2:5 we read about “the Man Christ Jesus.” He had to be watchful so that His “man” would not lead Him astray. He prayed to God with vehement cries and tears. Paul preached Christ crucified. The “man” Christ Jesus had to be crucified, and the cross revealed the power of God. 1 Cor. 1:23-24. All spirit powers are conquered on the cross, and there we live in the humiliation of Christ. All accusations die on the cross. Jesus died and was resurrected, and He became our Mediator. Jesus’ disciples go the same way. They don’t dig up old accusations and sour criticisms. They can bear the humiliation. They are faithful in humiliation. Their roots go deeper and deeper into humiliation, and God can do a mighty work in their inner man.

In 1 Peter 2:1 flg., we read about growing in salvation. Humbling ourselves makes for good possibilities for growth. Laying aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking is necessary if we are to grow in salvation. Growth stops as soon as there is some evil speaking or guile. The Lord powerfully supports the one whose heart is wholly with Him (2 Chron. 16:8 flg.), as we also sing in a song: “God opens His windows at once as soon as the conditions are fulfilled with joy.” Then we have cleansed our hearts from everything that stops growth; for example, we have cleansed our hearts from all overflow of wickedness. David says in Psalm 17:3, “You have tested my heart . . . and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” The Lord must not find any guile in our hearts when He searches them. The fact that nothing good dwells in our flesh is a different matter. The Lord will give us light over the things that dwell there so that we can surrender them into the death of Christ. In Romans 8:28, flg., we read about being conformed into the image of the Son of God, and we can see that all the things God sends our way, including the things we do not understand, are given to us so that we can be conformed into the image of Christ. This can only occur on the way of humiliation. We must be conscious of this. If we are under God’s treatment and someone wants to accuse us (v. 33), such accusations will weigh absolutely nothing in the scales.

Many people are critical and dissatisfied, but the one who walks on the way of humiliation never utters corrupt communication, but rather “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Eph. 4:29.

Jesus renounced the glory He had from eternity, for our sake. In Philippians 2:7 we read that He did that Himself. He showed us the way of humility. Let us walk on this way, so that our ego will not be evident by what we say and do.

In 1 Corinthians 12:15, flg., we read about the members’ dependence on each other. For example, if you are indifferent in the matter of coming to the meetings and think that it is really not that necessary for you to hear your brothers, then you are very conceited.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men . . . .” Col. 3:23. Many people depend on the testimony and comfort they receive from other people. However, the more we descend on the way of humility, the more fellowship we will have with the Lord, seeing that from the Lord we will receive the reward of the inheritance. V. 24. Then we will not have any desire for the honor of men and we will pay heed to ourselves and the doctrine. And if we think that someone is doing something that is not wise, then we must work even more on our own salvation, and we will discover quite a few reasons for humbling ourselves. Such people become thankful for the others. The word about following Christ in His humiliation must become our daily bread. It is not natural for us to humble ourselves, but we are called to walk on this royal highway.

Not Drifting Away

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” Heb. 2:1. The image that comes to mind is that of a boat that has come off course and has missed the landfall, because of powerful currents. Let us be on guard so that we do not drift away from that great salvation we are reminded of in verse 3.

We read much of this great salvation in the epistle to the Hebrews. In chapter 7 verse 25 we read that Jesus can save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. He came to give us perfect victory over sin. And we enter the new covenant with the same words that Jesus used when He came into the world: “A body You have prepared for Me . . . Behold, I have come . . . to do Your will, O God!” God will fully equip us to do every good work so that we can do His will, because He works those things in us that please Him. When the Lord works in us, it is so that we can humble ourselves— humble ourselves under His mighty hand. This is the course! And now it is vital that we do not drift off course! Everything here on earth becomes a lesson for us. In “the ages to come” He will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:7. Yes, we are called to be His bride, a help that is comparable to Christ, to the glory of His praise for all eternity. Now we must not go off course and drift away from this great salvation.

In Philippians 2 we read that Jesus took upon Himself the form of a servant, and that He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He did this as a servant. He suffered death as a servant in order to lead us to God. He was made alive in the spirit. 1 Pet. 3:18. God can put His wisdom in a spirit that has been made alive. May we understand to go this way, which is to humble ourselves as servants of the Lord. Let us not go off course!

If there is anything that should give us a reason to be sorrowful, it is that something has been said that does not serve to glorify Christ, to glorify God. The intention is that we should be able to prove what God’s will is: the good, acceptable, and perfect. Rom. 12:1-2. We cannot do this unless we are in a humble spirit. We cannot abide in love—in God— without humbling ourselves. 1 John 4:16. The one who becomes bitter toward his brother drifts away from salvation. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” 1 John 2:10. The one who is offended is no longer in the light. Jesus could pray for His enemies. There was never any cause for stumbling in Him; that is to say, there is no cause for stumbling in love. We read further: “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness . . . .”

V. 11. It is obvious that once a person comes into this darkness, he is off course, and he will end up in the “breakers” of Satan. How can someone be offended if he lives to serve, help, and lead people to God?

“For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” Heb. 13:9. We cannot be profitable to the others if we have not profited from our own “food.” But if this food has in fact profited us, then we can be of help to those who have still not come to this life. Be a sacrifice. Serve God in humility! Do not go on byways, and do not drift into worldliness, the love of money, and false liberty!

A person can easily imagine that he is quite conversant in the word about humility. But perhaps such a person is constantly drifting away, constantly ending up on byways. “Yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.” 2 Cor. 12:5. This was Paul’s testimony. Nothing “of myself.” How pitiable it is if something of myself always manifests itself. This was not the case with Paul. He boasted in his infirmities. God can reveal Himself in such poverty. Paul writes further, “. . . that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Such people—as Paul also testifies—take pleasure in infirmities.

A person will drift away if the many opportunities of daily life are not used for salvation. Perhaps you have a good conscience, but that does not mean that everything you think about is divine. Therefore we read in Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live . . . .” Hear when God speaks about humbling yourself! Perhaps you are amazed at other people’s reactions to what you have done with good intentions. Instead of being amazed, let us humble ourselves.

Let Them First Be Proved— Then Let Them Serve

If someone goes to the meetings faithfully, he is, nevertheless, not faithful unless he is faithful in humbling himself. It says about the servants in the church that they should first be proved, “then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.” 1 Tim. 3:10. Here we can see what true faithfulness is. It is a faithfulness in humbling oneself in the hour of trial. Then God will put us into the ministry. There are many kinds of ministries in the body of Christ. In chapter 1 verse 12 we see that God counted Paul faithful, putting him into the ministry. We can see how important it is to be faithful in humiliation.

Perhaps we are being praised. That is also a test of our faithfulness. People can give a good report or a bad report about us, and both reports are a test. This is where we need to be faithful so that we can pass the test, whether we are being praised or chastised, in good days or in bad. Because of his faithfulness Paul was entrusted with a tremendous stewardship over the mysteries of God. 1 Cor. 4:1, flg. And stewards are required to be faithful. It is particularly important for them to be found faithful in not seeking honor or power. We are tested so that God can mold us to be blessed servants in His church.

In Luke 16:10-11 Jesus speaks about being faithful in what is least as well as in much. Earthly things are “what is least.” For example, we can be tested with regards to the unrighteous mammon. We will not be entrusted with the true riches if we are not faithful in this area. God can only put His wisdom into faithful hearts.

Many people use up a lot of energy in seeking to be something they are not, and possibly never will be. Let us rather go the way of humility! That is the way of blessing. The more God blesses us, the more reason we find to humble ourselves. Even the apostle Paul needed some extra help, a thorn in the flesh, so that he would not exalt himself.

Take Heed

One area in which we particularly need to take heed is what Jesus mentions in Matthew 6:1, flg. “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” A disciple needs to have this fear of God “right down to his fingertips.” There are many fine people who come to the end of their lives without having any credit in their heavenly bank. Think to have done so much good and not getting credit for it because you have stood before the face of man!

For example, if there is a feast for someone and many people thank God for that person, can you not be along in praising God for him together with those who are so thankful? It can happen that older brothers feel slighted because they are not asked for advice. Such people are under the law! They have their “feelers” out for honor and safety from people, instead of living before God’s face. Paul’s testimony was, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” This is where we need to build an altar on which we offer up ourselves—for God’s honor and glorification. We can see this inner longing in the apostle Paul: “But that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body.” Phil. 1:20.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Col. 3:23-24. Yes, this is how we can accumulate riches in God, then in our old age we will not hunger for honor and recognition from people. Concerning the ministry in the church we read in 1 Peter 4:10-11 “that in all things God may be glorified.” When we serve in the church, we stand before God’s face. Everything we say and do has to be true. It has to be true that the only thing we want is to be conformed to the image of the Son, so that God can be glorified in all things. Then we will be knit together. We have full liberty to serve each other. We inherit each other, and we will be together for all eternity.

It is impossible to help people if we seek their honor. On the contrary! It is an obstacle in our ministry. Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, “For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” He also writes, “For our citizenship is in heaven.” Phil. 3:20. If our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, what would we want with people’s honor and favor? May our thoughts be in heaven. Then we are free to serve. Then we can also use the sword, the word of the Lord, rightly and cut down everything that comes from the flesh, whether it is in ourselves or in the others. It must be sufficient for us that our name is written in the Book of Life with God. Then we will not fight for our name and our honor here on earth, but we will enter the kingdom of heaven with great riches.

It should be evident from the above summary of the New Year’s Conference that God’s Word was presented richly as pure, spiritual nourishment for our spirit. And if we take it to heart, we will, as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2, “grow thereby” unto salvation. May this become reality in everyone’s life!