A Historic Conference

A Historic Conference

“This is a historic day for the church. The conference center as we see it today is the result of a tremendous work by many fervent hearts all over the world that have been beating in unison with Jesus Christ’s spirit of sacrifice and have had the right vision for this glorious work of love.” Kåre J. Smith wrote these words in a brochure that was handed out on the opening day of this summer’s Brunstad conference, and he expressed his great thankfulness for all the children, youth, and adults who have been actively engaged in this great and extensive work. Neh. 4:19. You will find a comprehensive and illustrated account of the many events that took place at Brunstad this past summer in the information and family periodical Mandelblomsten.

A record number of participants were gathered at Brunstad—over 11,600 friends from more than 40 countries. The following is a summary of the meetings.

Chastening and songs of praise

At the opening meeting of the conference brother Kåre J. Smith read from Isaiah 26:12: “Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.” Whatever we have received grace to do is a result of the living faith that characterizes the church, the faith that God’s Word shall be done and lived in the details of our lives. The church is a work of faith, and here we experience what we read in verses 15-16: “You have increased the nation, O Lord, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land. Lord, in trouble they have visited You, they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.” Yes, every true disciple of Jesus Christ experiences God’s chastening under which he must humble himself in life’s circumstances. The Father chastens us so that we may live. If we are obedient and attentive, the result becomes “the fruits from lips that praise His name.” Yes, when God speaks to us in this way, we partake of wisdom.

Many of us have also experienced God’s chastening during the time of this great and extensive work in connection with Brunstad. However, when we hold on to faith in all kinds of weather, we will experience that nothing has as good an effect on our spirit as the Lord’s chastening, the divine training. Wherever the rivers came, there was life and healing. Ezek. 47. This also applies to the heavenly, spiritual rivers. Wisdom comes to us. In James 3:17 it speaks of wisdom as being first pure. It is also reasonable. For instance, it is so necessary for parents to be reasonable with their children. Training is needed, but when we are reasonable our children will experience our goodness, and we will win their hearts.

Just imagine that we can partake of this Spirit in our lives, which lets “rivers of living waters” flow out from us to our fellow men. John 7:37. That is altogether different than the school of thought that prevails in our days that likes to be considered futuristic and modern, but which creates conditions like those in Sodom and Gomorrah. These are forces that destroy the earth and God’s order of creation—especially when it concerns sexual immorality and adultery. On the other hand, how blessed it is when husband and wife love each other from the heart, when they experience victory in their lives. Yes, more than victory, which means that love is not only preserved, it increases and grows in life’s trials. When we humble ourselves, we can abide in love, and love will increase.

Living epistles

A musical entitled I am a Sailor was presented during the opening meeting at the summer conference. Based on a song by Johan O. Smith (#297 in New Songs), it was a musical “voyage” through Johan O. Smith’s life, and described the battle he waged to get the church established and the life to which he attained. Here are a few quotes from brother Johan O. Smith’s letters:

“Many people are enemies of the cross of Christ. They are not enemies of the forgiveness of sins, nor of the baptism of the Spirit, nor the gifts of the Spirit, nor of Christ bearing His cross; but they are enemies of taking up the cross themselves and following Him.” (Horten, September 19, 1934—#270).

“In the face of opposition the whole work goes forward, always forward. May each individual member make the same kind of progress in inner godliness.” (Horten, April 1, 1931—#212).

“What shall we do? Through our life and our teaching, we must impress the obedience of faith upon the coming generation and upon all who will listen to us. This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. We need to leave an indelible impression behind us in this perverse generation, and we should leave behind living letters for the coming generation. I don’t mean letters written with pen and ink; I mean brothers and sisters in whose hearts the Holy Spirit has been able to write and accomplish His will. If God is able to accomplish this in and through us, then our life will not have been in vain.” (August 1914— #127).

It was very touching when at one of the meetings his son Helge A. Smith reminisced about his father with the utmost respect and reverence, describing him as a great man of God. He spoke about the circumstances surrounding his father’s death and the last words that came out of his mouth: “Thanks and praise!” He also spoke of his mother who put her husband’s Bible on his chest with these words, “That which was dearest to you in life (God’s Word) shall also go with you in death.” Brother Kåre J. Smith in turn expressed his great respect for his father (Helge A. Smith) and described him as a righteous and good man.

Having sin—committing sin

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin.” Ch. 2:1.

These Bible verses show us clearly the difference between “having sin” and “committing sin.” Having sin is the same as what Paul expresses in Romans 7:18: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” Many people lack light and understanding on this point and think that they already have sinned when they are tempted. However, it is possible to keep a pure heart in the midst of being tempted. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8. Jesus renounced being like the Father for our sake. God sent His Son, on account of sin, and condemned sin in the flesh. He made a victorious life possible for us even though we “have sin,” for we do not have to “commit sin.” “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Heb. 2:18. Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death (v. 14) by never giving in to temptation.

It is indescribably glorious to overcome in temptation: to be tempted, but to hate sin and thus not do what we are tempted to do. This is the way to true rest. And this is a salvation that the spirit of Antichrist has always tried to explain away. We are therefore exhorted to test the spirits, whether they are of God. The spirit that has an aroma of victory is from God. And because the spirit of Antichrist has explained away “Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (2 John 7), millions of Christians have been deceived. They do not believe that the life of Jesus can and shall be revealed in our mortal flesh.

Jesus consecrated this way for us, and now we can receive the Spirit that led Him forward on this way until He said on Calvary, “It is finished!” This glorious word is written in 1 Peter 4:1: “Ceased from sin.” Entering into rest through fellowship in His sufferings—that is the way for us! Then we will partake of “the righteousness, which is from God by faith.” Phil. 3:9. Paul was perfect according to the law of the old covenant. Everything he did was for his own honor. Nevertheless, there is a great difference between “my righteousness” and “God’s righteousness.” There is a difference between suffering in my own strength and in “the power of His resurrection.” V. 10. If we suffer in the power of His resurrection, we will enter into rest so that we will no longer be tempted in areas where we previously experienced temptations.

Jesus descended “into the lower parts of the earth.” Eph. 4:8-9. It was on this way of humiliation that He encountered all that was to be given into death. We will also find that which is to be given into death on the way of humiliation. We fall into the temptations that we need so that we can see our self-life and surrender it into death. Therefore we are exhorted in James 1:2 to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, or temptations.

In the Bible we have a radiant example in Joseph. When he was tempted he had this attitude: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Therefore God preserved him throughout all the different times in his life. The same applies to all those who, like Joseph, are the “apple of God’s eye.” From Joseph we also learn to say, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” Gen. 50:19. God alone will administer all revenge. Our business is to return evil with good. Then we will experience what Joseph experienced: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” V. 20. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . .” Rom. 8:28. Paul writes, “We know.” This “we know” belongs to the knowledge in Christ, which Paul desired to possess above everything else. How faith-strengthening it is to read in verse 29 that we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” God blesses us with many things, also in the earthly realm, but the greatest of all blessings is to be conformed to the image of His Son! Yes, the message of the church is best expressed by the word “Transformation!” “If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” V. 17. If we are willing to suffer when we are tempted, it is possible to get out of all kinds of difficulties. When we behold the glory of the Lord, then we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ . . . .” Phil. 2:1. The consolation in Christ is that we can be finished with sin. Think of the overwhelming consolation we receive through the gospel! Sin can be conquered forever! Think of all the suffering that arises when a person sows in the flesh. Our faithfulness or unfaithfulness doesn’t just affect us; it also affects our children and grandchildren, even the coming generations. For example, think of all the disastrous effects of fornication and impurity. God is the same today as before. He repays the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generation, but He blesses a thousand generations. Let us keep this in mind when we have to make choices in life’s situations: It doesn’t just affect us, but also our children, and the coming generations.

“To the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Col. 2:2-3. The knowledge of Christ is full of wisdom so that hearts can be knit together. If our knowledge scatters, then it is not the knowledge of Christ.

Humbling yourself under God’s mighty hand

“For by grace you have been saved . . . not of works . . . .” Eph. 2:8-10. We read further that this is a gift from God. However, after we have been saved, God wants to do a work in us; He wants to mold us to do good works. These works are prepared for us beforehand, that we should walk in them. V. 10. We cannot do the work God calls us to do unless He is allowed to mold us. Therefore we must be faithful in life’s circumstances, and be humble.

In 1 Peter 5:5 we read about submission: The younger are to submit under the older ones, and if the younger ones don’t understand this, the older ones ought to be a good example, so that the younger ones can see their own pride. It is also important to be submissive at work. One often has a supervisor, and we must learn to accept him or her as they are; we must learn to adjust—learn obedience—and not start to backbite the person to whom we should submit at work.

It says in verse 6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” God’s hand will mold us to be a vessel of honor; we have begun an apprenticeship. The Lord pulls “thousands of strings” for the sake of our education. He has a plan with everyone’s life, and whom the Lord loves He chastens. Everything we meet in life, everything that we don’t understand, that is where we meet God’s mighty hand. We meet everything that shall work for our best, so that we can obtain the greatest thing of all: to be conformed to the image of the Son. Rom. 8:28-29. If we don’t humble ourselves in life’s many circumstances, the vessel will break and things will go badly. How wise it is to be submissive in the circumstances that God has ordained for each one of us.

“For we do not know what we should pray for . . . .” V. 26. We do not know what we need for our education. We must therefore live by faith, believing that the Lord has a plan for our lives with all that comes our way. Jesus went the way of humiliation throughout His entire life, and he experienced that the Father’s will was the way to blessedness. The mind of the Spirit is life and peace. There is an end to all the “whys” in our life when we experience life and peace. The only thing that remains is a deep thankfulness to God for His perfect leading.

When we understand that God’s thoughts toward us (thoughts of life and peace) are perfect, then we will understand that we are always surrounded by His love. “That we should be holy and without blame before Him . . . to the praise of the glory of His grace . . . .” Eph. 1:4-6. At His coming He will be glorified in His saints and admired among all those who believe.” 2 Thess. 1:10. Then the work will be finished. The centurion we read about in Luke 7:1-10, who had such a strong faith, was used to these commands: Go! Come! Do this! When it concerns the spiritual life, we must listen to the inner voice that says: Go! Come! Do this! The Spirit’s voice within is so important. Johan O. Smith writes (Horten, December 10, 1909—#96): “The Spirit takes what Christ has in mind and causes us to think about the same thing.”

We read these exhortations in Matthew 5:44: love, bless, do good, pray! We must have a pure heart so that we can see God and see the works that He has prepared for us. If we do not keep our hearts pure, we will become paralyzed and will come out of our present training!

Jesus, who gave these exhortations, was not someone who sat in the grandstand and gave orders. Not at all! He walked in these works.

The prophetic Word is like a light that shines in a dark place. 2 Pet. 1:19. We must remember that this dark place is not outside of us; we find it within ourselves. For instance, the light shines on our constricted heart, the hardness in our nature. And in that light we can better understand why God had to send what He did on our way.

For instance, think of all the opportunities we get to lay down our lives for the ones we love. Shouldn’t we have it that way in connection with everything we do for Brunstad? Don’t we have unimagined potentials for growth by laying down our lives and our all for the ones we love?

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” John 17:4. We must also enter into the work that God has planned for us. If we are too high up in our own estimation, we will not find the works that have been prepared for us.

Blessed in what he does

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” Jas. 1:25. We become blessed in what we do when we have a love for it. We who truly love God’s laws, and who look into those laws, we look into the perfect law of liberty and become blessed in what we do. Then we are not under the law. Far from it! Then we love what we are doing, and we become (for instance) a happy mother of children. We put a distance between ourselves and legalism, from being duty-bound and living according to a set of given rules. People who live according to rules are not blessed. They are rather like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror, then goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. Vs. 22, 24. We must let the Spirit speak to us. The Spirit makes everything so living and glorious.

The above is a little glimpse from a memorable summer conference at Brunstad. Let us take to heart what brother Kåre J. Smith wrote in the booklet that was handed out on the opening day:

“Let us continue the work on the way our fathers have staked out, in the same spirit, in thankfulness, humility and reverence before God, so that our lives can also bear fruit, fruit that will last! ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.’ Faithfulness in the hidden life with Christ in God is the foundation for all spiritual growth.”

In closing, it may be of interest to mention the countries from which the conference participants came: Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Kenya, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa, Turkey, the Netherlands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA, and Zimbabwe.

May God bless all the dear friends in the times ahead, that every one can become a living epistle of the obedience to the faith.