A Good New Year in the Spirit of Faith!

“And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4. With these words Br. Kåre J. Smith opened the conference on the New Year’s weekend. And this became the faith-strengthening and blessed guideline throughout the entire conference. The following report contains excerpts from these meetings.

A living faith in God will necessarily produce certain works in our life that correspond precisely to the truth in which we believe. Most people lack this living faith in their hearts. More often than not, you are likely to meet a lifeless faith of knowledge and dry theories. It is obvious that knowledge comes first, the knowledge of the work of transformation that God can do in us. But if this knowledge is not combined with a living faith, there will be no change in our life. James tells us in Chapter 2:26 that faith without works is dead. A person whose faith does not result in works is more like a corpse that cannot do anything; it is totally useless. Faith without works is dead. V. 20.

In Titus 1:16 we read about some people who with their mouth profess to know God but deny Him in their works. Yes, we should really ask ourselves if this living faith dwells in our heart and accomplishes great things in our life. Faith produces something completely new. Each Word we receive faith for will also at the same time result in works—active manifestations of life; a holy fire will be ignited in our heart, and we will be filled with joy.

The author of the epistle to the Hebrews reminded his readers of their former holy enthusiasm that their living faith had worked in them after they had become enlightened. Heb. 10:32-34. They joyfully accepted the plundering of their goods, “knowing that you have a better and enduring possession.” This is a plain and practical example of what it means to believe in God—but we must have a living faith. Without this faith we will sink into that which is earthly and corruptible. But with a living faith in our heart we are able to fulfill the Word of God that says, “In everything give thanks.” 1 Thess. 5:18.

Jesus says in John 6:35, “He who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Then we will be fully and completely satisfied and will not thirst, whether it be after honor, power, money, or doing our own will. We are pleased with the way God has put us together with other people—whoever they are—and we make no demands on them, for we have quenched our thirst at the fountain of life.

“And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Cor. 3:17. Liberty for what? Among other things, to serve each other without demanding anything of each other. This is the liberty we gain because of the cross having an effect on everything that comes from our flesh. Then verse 18 will also be fulfilled: transformation from glory to glory by beholding with unveiled face the glory of the Lord—His goodness, wisdom, purity, mercy, etc. We read, “But we all . . . are being transformed.” Yes, when we behold the glory of the Lord! Obstinate people, too, are transformed when they begin to behold the glory of the Lord instead of making demands. The one who truly loves his brother never stumbles. 1 John 2:10. Because such people walk in the light, they do not stumble but have sincere and good fellowship with each other.

Being obedient from the heart to the form of doctrine to which we were delivered! Rom. 6:17. Then we have a living faith in our heart. It was this “obedience to the faith” that was the apostle Paul’s great message and ministry. Rom. 1:5. Without this obedience we can only be “so-called believers.” The children of Israel would not believe. This disobedience led to a forty-year sojourn in the wilderness. We also have new land to conquer in the new covenant, but it is only conquered by obedience to the faith.

“But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Deut. 30:14. Very near! In the daily circumstances! Then we will have life, and life in abundance.

The Word Became Flesh

The Word of Life that was manifested in Jesus could be seen and touched by His disciples. 1 John 1, flg. Here it is not a question of a new doctrine, but of a new life. All those who live this new life have fellowship with each other. John wanted to declare this life so that the believers could have fellowship with the apostles, with the Father, and with the Son. Only by forsaking everything, by hating sin and our self-life in every possible shape and form, will we partake of this fellowship.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . .” John 1:14. We could also say that the Word received arms and legs, legs on which it could walk—a body. And they could see His glory: His goodness, kindness, meekness—all the virtues of Christ. After the day of Pentecost we, too, could begin to follow Him. Now the Word of Life can become flesh in us as well. Now God’s glory can also be revealed and manifested through our life.

Jesus’ food was to do His Father’s will and to finish His work. John 4:34. Let that also be our “food.” Then the Word will become flesh in us as well. “And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem . . . .” Acts 6:7. When the Word spreads, it receives many bodies in which it is to be revealed, many “legs to walk on.” This Word needs to be near us, for by it we can live through the trials and tribulations in which we stand and reveal the glory of the Lord in all these situations. If we possess this Word, we have received a treasure that surpasses—it cannot even be compared to—all the most precious treasures in this world. This Word is to be preached in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance. 1 Thess. 1:5. We must also receive it in the same way: “Not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” Ch. 2:13. Most people receive the Word as if it were the word of men, which is why it is not effective in their lives.

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 8:31. Yes, let us abide in the implanted Word. It is able to save our soul. Jas. 1:21. When God’s Word is permitted to cast light into our life, we will see a vast field of work within us and will no longer busy ourselves with the mistakes and shortcomings of others.

The Full Assurance of Things Hoped For

This is how faith is defined in Hebrews 11. In the same chapter we read about men and women who did things that man could not normally do. It was precisely their hope that made it possible for them to have such great faith. All of them had a living hope of something that was better, and they desired it. About Enoch we read that he pleased God. Noah walked with God. He was not like the others in his generation. He had a hope in his heart. Abraham was not content with the glory and splendor of Ur; he had a longing, a hope that caused him to wait for a city whose builder and maker is God. And it was a living hope and faith that caused Sarah to receive strength to conceive seed. She judged Him faithful who had promised. The promises that we have received refer to becoming partakers of divine nature.

Faith is not feelings. We have faith when we quite simply build our life on God’s Word and His promises. However, the “fetal” life in us will die and the promises will not be fulfilled in us if we accept “deliverance” from that which is earthly and visible.

We are saved in this hope. Rom. 8:24-25. Then we eagerly wait with patience for what we do not see. We put our trust in God’s promise, which, in the new covenant, is to be conformed to the image of His Son. V. 29. When we believe this, then we long for it; we live in sanctification, and will, in time, taste this abundant life that has been promised to us in Christ Jesus. But we need faith and patience. In 2 Thessalonians 3:2 we read that not all have faith. Not everyone has the attitude of heart and mind to believe what we believe. And this faith must be preserved in a good conscience. 1 Tim. 1:19. In 2 Corinthians 1:20 we read about the “Yes” and “Amen” of the promises. If we live our life in Jesus Christ, the promises will receive their “Amen” by Him in our life, to the glory of God through us. This will succeed fully—there’s no doubt about it! “For you have need of endurance [patience], so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise . . . .” Heb. 10:36. When we have done God’s will according to the light we have, we will also realize that there was something of our human nature that clung to what we said and did. Then we have an opportunity to cleanse ourselves in obedience to the truth; we experience the sufferings of Christ to a deeper degree, and thus come to a deeper life in God. This is the way through the flesh into the sanctuary. No one who has an impure heart and who has not cleansed himself from an evil conscience can enter the sanctuary. Our hope is to become like Him. “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3.

He who does the truth comes to the light. John 3:20-21. A person who keeps something in darkness does not want his works examined and punished by the light. We have received one Spirit to drink of, which is the Spirit of Truth. He speaks to us about our own sin. Nevertheless, he who lives in the light still needs to be cleansed in Jesus’ blood. But if a person seeks his own, he is not in the light and ends up outside the body of Christ. Many people have remained outside this body and outside grace because they have entertained high thoughts about themselves. If you cannot support your brother and sister and esteem their ministry, then you and your exalted thoughts about yourself will remain outside this precious fellowship in the body of Christ.

Be Silent, All Flesh, Before the Lord

Zechariah 2:13 In the old covenant they could advance quite far in their devotion to God. But it is only through the work that Jesus Christ did that all flesh could be silenced, in the deepest and truest sense of the word.

Just think about getting our tongue to be silent so that all that is meaningless and vain disappears, and that we used our tongue for edification instead! We must come to a living faith in being truly crucified with Christ.

“Truly my soul silently waits for God . . . .” Ps. 62:1. “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul . . . O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.” Ps. 131:2-3. We need to humble ourselves deeply in order to wait on the Lord in truth. Wait on the Lord! Seek comfort from the Lord in life’s situations instead of expecting deliverance and consolation from your fellow men. Hope only in God!

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God . . . casting all your care upon Him . . . .” 1 Pet. 5:6-7. Our restlessness in life’s situations has only one source: our own sin. We must experience the chastening in our life and acknowledge the truth about our own folly. God chastens us for our own profit. He chastens so that we might become partakers of life. It is His desire to exalt us in His time, but we must first learn to exalt Him. We do that when we humble ourselves.

We shall not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us, as though some strange thing happened to us. 1 Pet. 4:12. If we are humble and live in self-acknowledgment, we will definitely not find it strange when we fall into various trials. Gold will “bubble” in the crucible for as long as there are impurities in the flowing mass. Once these impurities have been removed, the liquid gold will become absolutely still.

“If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?” Amos 3:6. Nothing of what God does is evil. Believing this results in perfect rest and faith in God’s perfect guidance. He has also said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb. 13:5. In this rest we do not make any demands on our neighbor. We have to fight before we enter into rest, but we can rest in God even in the battle.

Brother Kåre J. Smith, who spoke about these things at the last meeting of the New Year’s weekend (as well as most of what has been quoted in this report), recommended warmly that we read Brother Elias Aslaksen’s brochure Rest in God. He described this brochure as extremely pertinent. God’s Word is so rich that it covers all of life’s situations, and by faith in the Word we enter into rest. Instead of seeking—or wishing—to avoid life’s situations, we should pray for wisdom in each situation we are in.

“This is the day which the Lord has made . . . . Save now, I pray, O Lord . . . .” Ps. 118:24-25. This Word became the guiding Word at the feast meeting on New Year’s Eve. And we should begin the New Year with this prayerful sigh: Save now, O Lord! Let us put all our days into the Lord’s hand. Everything is as it should be in the Lord’s hand. We have no reason to be anxious. Every day there are works for us to walk in that have been prepared for us. We will only find these works through humility.

“Today, if you will hear His voice . . . .” Heb. 3:7. Today! Today it is important to have that which is invisible, that which is eternal, in mind. Then all our afflictions will be but for a moment and light and they will work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:17-18.

Arild Tombre