Easter Conference

Easter Conference

We have once again experienced a blessed conference at Brunstad. Approximately 7,000 friends from many different countries were gathered for the Easter Conference. As Brother Kåre J. Smith expressed it, the conferences are a powerful help for our spiritual life with a view to gaining riches in God. Our ears are turned to the Lord in a special way. Gaining greater and greater riches in God must necessarily be our deepest yearning and longing, and our most sincere prayer. The following are a few excerpts from this very important conference.

God’s Kingdom

God’s kingdom consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 14:17. This kingdom can exist within us in the dispensation of the new covenant. Righteousness, peace, and joy! This kingdom possesses an invincible power, and those who have this kingdom within themselves are also invincible. Jesus had eternal life within Himself: Righteousness, peace, and joy; goodness, mercy, love. He proclaimed this kingdom.

The disciples could also proclaim this kingdom with power from the day of Pentecost—that life which they had touched and handled. This life is an overcoming life, a triumphant life.

This overcoming life is almost never proclaimed on earth in these days. On the contrary, there are many who, just like Satan, transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. 2 Cor. 11:13-15. It is easy to be deceived by them because they make themselves out to be ministers of righteousness. They are earthly and materialistic and are far from the Spirit that rules in the kingdom of God. Jesus overcame all these deceptive powers, and at the end of His sojourn on earth He could say that the prince of this world “has nothing in Me”! This is how much power He had in His spirit. This is also the power that His followers have in their spirit. Then we can boldly say: Come, Lord Jesus! Come soon!

We also read about the deception of unrighteousness in 2 Thessalonians 2:10. Let us be on guard against all such deception and against those who make themselves out to be servants of righteousness, but who are ungodly in their spirit.

In Matthew 7:21-23 we read about the many who had done much good in the name of the Lord. But they had not lived their life in the name of the Lord. They had practiced unrighteousness, and Jesus had to say to them: “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” We must cleanse ourselves from all lawlessness in our life: first and foremost, all lawlessness in our financial and earthly affairs, as well as all lawlessness in the use of our tongue, all lawlessness in judging the others, and all lawlessness in our thought life.

In 2 Timothy 2:19 we read about the solid foundation of God: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Christ depart from iniquity.” It is snot fitting for a person who does not want to depart from iniquity to name the name of the Lord. Such a person should rather get wholeheartedly converted. The Lord says to those who have practiced lawlessness: I never knew you! The Lord knows those who are His, it says about those who build on the foundation of righteousness. The good Shepherd knows His sheep, and the sheep know Him. The reason for having only a little knowledge of Christ is an unfaithful life.

In Matthew 11:12 we read about taking the kingdom of heaven by force. Then one is properly apprehended of the kingdom of God! Earthly-minded people force their way to the front when there is a sale in a store. On the other hand, how many people display the same interest in God’s kingdom and force their way forward and into it? Paul uses expressions such as: “I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

By reading 2 Peter 1:5-11 we receive a glimpse of how God’s kingdom develops in a faithful soul. It develops in all the virtues of Christ. When words such as these become living in our hearts, then we can overcome in all of life’s situations. However, if we walk in the vanity of our mind, we will suffer defeat after defeat. The one who seeks God’s kingdom first and His righteousness has nothing to lose, but stands to gain everything, both in this world and then in all eternity. This is clearly written in Matthew 6:33.

In 2 Chronicles 7:1 we read that fire from heaven consumed Solomon’s sacrifice, and “the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” If we are to partake of God’s kingdom, if the glory of the Lord is to fill the temple of our heart, then we must be a complete sacrifice on the Lord’s altar. In Daniel 12:11 we read that when the “daily sacrifice” is taken away then the “abomination of desolation is set up.” This should be a powerful exhortation to us in these last days, so that we keep this daily sacrifice in our life, so that the abominable and destructive powers do not gain access—neither in our life, in our home, or in the church. Among other things, we need to be on guard when it concerns our thought life. The thoughts that rise up from our flesh are not righteous thoughts; they do not belong to God’s kingdom and should be put to death, as we read in Romans 8:13. We will experience that we will come to our borders in this fight of faith. Nevertheless, we need to wage war in the full assurance of faith precisely at these borders—because that is where we are tempted.

To King Nebuchadnezzar it was said, “The kingdom has departed from you!” Dan. 4:31. That was because of his pride. He exalted himself. This teaches us that we can only partake of God’s kingdom on the way of humility and self-abasement.

The righteousness of God’s kingdom is the righteousness from God by faith. Phil. 3:9. If we (in spirit and in truth) believe in God the Father, the Almighty, who created heaven and earth, then we will understand that every demand of the flesh is an exceedingly great injustice. The righteousness of God’s kingdom is a righteousness that makes no demands. Then everyone who comes into contact with us will get a taste of the kingdom of heaven and not of human opinions and our self-will. Think to live such an exalted life in our surroundings that we can put other people’s thoughts into contact with the kingdom of God! In New Songs #197 verse 4 we sing, “By the mighty light He’s given, from me darkness now is driven.” Because by this power all spiritual “low pressure systems” and all spirits of unbelief and accusation will vanish.

Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6. Every person on earth has a hunger and thirst for righteousness when it concerns being treated justly. In this verse Jesus speaks about a totally different hunger and thirst. He speaks about a hunger for a personal righteousness.

In Romans, Chapter 3, we receive a thorough x-ray picture of ourselves as we are by nature in the beginning. There is not one who is righteous. V. 10. All of them are unprofitable, (v. 12)—unprofitable for everything that is right and good. We come to this acknowledgment when we humble ourselves. Then the Holy Spirit, the teacher of righteousness, will awaken our desire for a personal righteousness and guide us on the paths of justice. Then we learn to surrender all our demands into death, all our demands on the others. And when our heart is loyal to Him, we will experience the truth of 2 Chronicles 16:9: “To show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Such people are comforted and satisfied. Only the few hunger and thirst in this way in truth and in spirit.

Self-righteousness and self-satisfaction are quite widespread among people, which is why it is impossible for them to live an overcoming life.

It is very significant what we read in Proverbs 16:26: “The person who labors, labors for himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on.” This also applies when it concerns a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Hunger is an overwhelmingly strong force. In Psalms 42:1-2 we read about thirsting for God as the deer pants for the water brooks. This “panting” in the depths of our soul drives us forward. In Isaiah 53:11 we read that if we are truly satisfied by righteousness, then we will also be able to bear the others’ iniquities. Jesus says that those who have this strong hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed. Jesus Himself was blessed through and through!

It is edifying to read in Proverbs about the righteous, about their life, their conduct, and how it goes with them. Here are some examples of how it goes with the righteous.

Prov. 10:6-7: Blessings are on their heads. Their memory is blessed. V. 11: The mouth of the righteous is awell of life. V. 20: The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver, whereas the heart of the wicked is worth nothing. V. 21: The lips of the righteous feed many. This is really an opportunity to test ourselves. How many people have been fed by our words? Are our words a well of life for those who hear us? What is the state of our righteousness? In verse 24 we read that God will fulfill the desire of the righteous. Yes, God pursues the righteous with only goodness and mercy.

The righteous man cares for his livestock, but the heart of the ungodly is hard. Ch. 12:10. The light of the righteous shines merrily, but the lamp of the ungodly dies out. Ch. 13:9. And in James 5:16 we read: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Jesus says, “Woe to you who are full.” Luke 6:25. They are the ones who do not sorrow over their own unrighteousness. Perhaps they are only sorry on the day when their unrighteousness is revealed to the others and their honor is touched. Such people usually suffer because of the others’ unrighteousness and usually get excited over the injustice on the other side of the world. Yet they do not hunger for righteousness in their own lives. Perhaps they are hearers of the Word, but they are not doers of it. When they hear the Word, they prefer to receive it as knowledge about how the others should conduct themselves. Perhaps they even use the Word to upbraid the others. They are full, and Jesus calls out a “Woe!” over them.

The Lord is a righteous God. Blessed is everyone who thirsts for Him, just as the deer pants for the water brook. Such people are wells of life for their fellow men.

Those who are so self-assured are sure to have made many mistakes in their own life. Yet they are so self-assured that they dare to judge all kinds of things. The righteous person doesn’t dare to judge his neighbor.

There is a development on the way of righteousness. The path of the righteous shines brighter and brighter until noonday. Therefore we need to pay heed to the prophetic word that shines in a dark place in our flesh, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. 2 Pet. 1:19.

Peter had a glorious experience on the Mount of Transfiguration. Yet he writes that we have the prophetic word made more sure. And when this light shines on the veil—the flesh—it is vital to be obedient, because then we get to see something from which we should cleanse ourselves. “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” 1 Cor. 13:9-10. It is both good and necessary to realize that we know in part. We become aware of things one part after another. And when the light shines on one part, it is important to be obedient. We can lose the light we have received through disobedience.

A Serious Appeal to the Youth

At one of the blessed revival meetings, Brother Kåre J. Smith directed an urgent appeal to the youth, an appeal which all of us, both young and old, should take to heart. “We also have the prophetic word made more sure . . . .” 2 Pet. 1:19. The apostles’ message was not the result of human ideas that keep changing. The prophetic word is firm and unshakable. On the day of Pentecost the disciples became the possessors of the powerful Spirit that is in the Word, and as a result they became firm and unshakable. They spoke and lived in this powerful Spirit.

In Revelation 19:10 we read about those who have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of the word of prophecy. This is a glorious flock, which the Lord is also gathering in our days. In the beginning we are dry and empty, and the words of the Bible seem to be dry letters. However, when we are born again, and we receive the firm spirit of the word of prophecy in us, then that same firmness and unshakable attitude of heart enters our hearts. In the Bible we read about God’s prophets in the old covenant. The firmness they displayed, and their unshakable attitude of heart! In Revelation 3:12 we read about the overcoming flock who become unshakable pillars in God’s temple. This is not a question of gifts; it is a question of overcoming—overcoming sin! When the Word and the Spirit of the Word enter our hearts, we can be along in sowing the good seed, the Word, into the others’ hearts. Then all our fellow men become a field on which we can sow. Then such young brothers and sisters become a strength in their home churches.

We need to keep ourselves pure from all the impure “frog spirits” that make their appeal to young people, but not only to young people. We need power in our spirit to overcome all these evil impressions and influences. Just think of the flood of impurities that have become accessible to young minds by simply pressing a key on their computers! Do not give your life to such impure spirit powers! Many people have defiled themselves and have ended up in trouble because they did not keep the spirit of the word of prophecy in their hearts. Flee for your life! Flee youthful lusts! And when the time comes to have a marriage partner, then it should be in purity, sanctification, and honor. Do not let yourself be polluted by the spirit of the world! You will have a rich, pure, and glorious youth time when you receive the spirit of the word of prophecy into your heart.

The Faith of Jesus Christ

In Hebrews 12:2-3 we are urged to consider Him who is the author and finisher of our faith. Yes, we should praise, thank, and honor Him because He was faithful until He was perfected.

When we think of Abraham, who was also a hero of faith, and read Genesis 22 about his obedience and willingness to sacrifice Isaac, we understand that he through faithfulness had received exercised ears to discern between God’s voice and the voice of human reasoning. He obeyed God’s voice, and the result was that a tremendous blessing came over him, and in his seed all the nations of the earth were blessed.

Unbelief and human reasoning destroy many a person’s life. God gave the promise at the very beginning that the head of the serpent would be crushed. In Romans 8:3 we see how this transpired: “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.” Thus God could inaugurate a new covenant by which the liberating laws of the Spirit of life could be written in hearts and minds. Heb. 10:16. The law of the Spirit of life liberates us totally from the law of sin and death. And in John 8:36 Jesus says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Then we will receive that inner power we need for victory and sanctification.

“Therefore do not be unwise [fools], but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. 5:17. We are fools if we choose to listen to the voice of human reasoning instead of believing fully and unwaveringly in the Lord and His promises. Then we do not understand what the Lord’s will is.

When Jesus calmed the storm on the sea of Gennesareth, He had to say to the disciples, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” When the Lord writes His laws in our hearts and minds, it is of the utmost importance to have faith. He knows the way of salvation; He knows what is required. He has our salvation in mind through all the various situations that come our way. He shows us His tremendous goodness by letting these situations come our way. And if we do God’s will in the situations, He lives in us— precisely because we do His will. Through Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount we are given to understand that the way He opened for us leads to perfection itself. Matt. 5:48. First and foremost it concerns being perfect according to one’s conscience—being perfect as a disciple. Then we go from light to light toward perfection. Faith in this is Jesus’ precious faith. And this is the faith He is thinking about when He wonders whether He will find faith on the earth at His return. Luke 18:8.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . .” Heb. 10:22. For example, in the full assurance of faith when it concerns God’s perfect guidance.

“Alas, my master. What shall we do?” This is what Elisha’s servant asked him when he saw the enemy’s horses and chariots. Then Elisha prayed to God that He might open the servant’s eyes, and then he could also say, “Those who are with us are more than those that are with them.” 2 Kings, Chapter 6. What shall we do? We shall believe! Believe in God’s perfect guidance in our life instead of putting our trust in all our ideas that seem so reasonable. Then we will be overcomers. For “this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4.

We receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith. Gal. 3:2. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10:17. This hearing of faith was so abundant and powerful at the conference. Let us see to it that we are always subjected to this hearing, or preaching of faith by nourishing ourselves with the word of faith and good doctrine. If we make room for “reasonable” thoughts and listen to them in our daily situations, then everything that was built up by the many edifying gatherings or conferences will be torn down again.

Divine Upbringing

In Hebrews 12:6 we read about the Lord’s chastening: “For whom the Lord loves He chastens.” God wants to speak to us through the chastening. He opens our ears through sufferings and chastening. By means of this divine upbringing He teaches us to pay heed to the Word. Then we will truly experience that all things, even chastisement, serve us for our good, even for our best. It is God’s fatherly love that is behind all of it.

The Lord’s chastening will set us free from haughtiness and falling. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16:18. But, “He who heeds the word wisely will find good . . . .” V. 20. Folly, pride, and noise go together.

When the Lord gave His commandments in the hearing of the people, they trembled and stood afar off. Read Exodus 20. God wanted to help them, but the people were afraid and believed He wanted to punish them. The Lord is angry at sin, but He loves the sinner. Therefore He sent His Son as atonement for all the sins of the world.

Moses understood God and could hear His voice. This was also his heart’s desire for all the people of Israel: “Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets.” Num. 11:29. Moses also understood that for him to hear God’s voice, he had to be in quietness and come away from all the hustle and bustle that was in the camp. Therefore he pitched a tent outside the camp and called it the tabernacle of meeting. Ex. 33:7. Let us learn from this! If we are to hear God’s voice, we have to get away from all the noise. We receive revelations from the Lord in the rest of faith and in quietness. Most people are far too close to the camp and its hustle and bustle. This is why Aaron did not have the same hearing ear that Moses had. Joshua did not depart from the tent either. He also understood the necessity of quietness. In this quietness he also witnessed Moses’ wisdom and his decisions in difficult matters. He was not interested in the honor that he could have inside the camp. Therefore he could also be appointed as leader of the people at a later date.

In Job 33:14-17 we read about God’s warnings to mankind to “eradicate pride in man.” (Norw. Tr.) This is God’s love for mankind. Think how good we will have it once all this terrible pride in us is crushed! God wants to speak to us in quietness. He chastens and raises His children. He causes His servants to be a blessing on earth in the school of suffering. Chastisement has a cleansing effect on our spirit. We get to see our pride, and chastisement brings forth the “peaceable fruit of righteousness.” Heb. 12:11. “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” V. 12.