Summer Conferences at Brunstad

Summer Conferences at Brunstad

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . . .” Heb. 3:7-8. Everyone who has the ear of a disciple clearly heard the Lord’s voice at the two blessed summer con­ferences held at Brunstad this year. Now it is of the utmost importance to receive with meekness the Word that has been planted in us and avail ourselves of every opportunity to lay hold of eternal life. The following is a summary of the main message we heard at the meetings.

The Requirement of the Law Fulfilled in Us

We are very thankful for the large flock of children and young people that are growing up among us. All of them need to hear God’s Word plain­ly and clearly. No one should meet these children and young people as a legalistic tutor who would like to deal with them with “cold hands.” They are a blessed field of labor for God’s good Word, the glad tidings. The following applies to them as it does to all of us: If we are to find the way to happiness, joy, and peace, we must learn to know God and let God’s Spirit lead us to the depths that are in Him. 1 Cor. 2:10, ff. Strong human spirits can usually, in a mas­terly way, describe what dwells in man, but only the Spirit can search the depths in God and lead us into a rich life with Him. The spirit of the world can give people that the apostle James describes as earthly, sensual, and demonic. If you live your life in fellowship with such a spirit, life will turn out to be a vain delusion. However, the person who learns to be obedient to God’s laws and commandments enters into a blessed life with Christ in God.

Paul writes in Romans 7:14 that the law is spiritual, and in verse 12 he designates the law as holy, and the commandments as holy, just, and good. Jesus came to fulfill the law, which is holy and good. His desire is that we are not separated from that which is holy and good. In the old covenant they had to keep the law in their own strength, but they could not keep it fully because the law also says: You shall not covet! The law was powerless against this hidden desire. The gospel, on the other hand, is that we can be completely set free from sin, also in our hidden life—set free from our secret desires. “For we who have believed do enter that rest . . . .” Heb. 4:3. After Paul writes about the great work that transpired in Jesus, in whom sin was condemned in the flesh (Rom. 8:3), he writes further: “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk ac­cording to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” V. 4. Then we can truly sing as it says in #29 of The Ways of the Lord, “’Twas just like a dream when the prisoner was freed. My sorrows have vanished from sight.”

If we sincerely love Jesus’ com­mandments, we will experience the liberating power of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of putting covetousness to death, and we will experience full liberty and perfect rest. This is what the apostle Peter is writing about when he exhorts us to arm ourselves with the same mind to suffer in the flesh in order to cease from sin. 1 Pet. 4:1. Paul was so apprehended of the knowledge of Christ Jesus and the life in Him, that he counted everything else as loss and dung in order to gain Christ and be “found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” Phil. 3:9. His righteousness! The righteousness which is from God by faith! Then all thoughts of our personal reputation, merit, and worthiness are completely excluded!

If we are downhearted, depressed, self-pitying, and dissatisfied in our sufferings and tribulations, we are not partaking of the sufferings of Christ. Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness. A true follower of Jesus Christ greets the sufferings of Christ and the death of Christ with a warm heart, seeing it is the way to the life of Christ, to greater liberty, and to being a greater blessing to others. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 we read of the “far more exceeding” glory we can obtain “while we do not look at the things which are seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” All difficulties arise when we have the visible things in mind. On the other hand, if we have the invisible, eternal things in mind, we will receive the Spirit of revelation, and then we will not see anything earthly as great.

Firm, Unshakable, and Con­stant Fellowship with God

In James 1:17 we read that there is no shadow of turning with God. Fellowship with Him and being con­formed into His image puts an end to all uncertainty and a wavering mind. After his great fall, David prays, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Ps. 52:10. This psalm tells us that our life needs to be thoroughly cleansed if we are to have fellowship with Him who is without variation or shadow of turning. We must put matters in order with our neighbor if we have sinned against him. If we have sinned against our neighbor, we cannot “pray away” a transgression with pious prayers without having put that matter in order. We need to be upright, just as David prays in verse 6: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts . . . .”

A steadfast spirit! We have an example of this in Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 4:10 when he says, “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” He says, “Always.” He had made this firm resolve! He was constantly entering more deeply into a life with God, deeper into the true nature of love. He had constant, uninterrupted fellowship with God. “I will betroth you to me forever” was God’s word to Israel. Hos. 2:19. From God’s side this is firm and unshakable, and He also desires this firmness and steadfastness in us.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” 2 Thess. 3:16. Just think that it says “always,” and, “in every way,” in all situations. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 we read about “com­pletely” and “blameless,” and that “He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.” Our calling is sure from His side; the only question is whether we desire what He desires. The person who does not desire what He desires has no part in His church on earth, Christ’s body.

We also see an example of this firmness and this firmly anchored mind in Jesus Christ when Paul, who was in prison, could exhort: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Phil. 4:4. This is possible because Christ ever lives to make intercession for us. Heb. 7:25. In Psalm 6:8 we read a prophetic word concerning Jesus: “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” If we have the invisible, eternal things in mind we will not be moved either. But then we need to have the attitude that we read about in the same psalm in verse 2: “You are my Lord, I have nothing that is good apart from You.” A person can say this in a “pious prayer,” but the evidence for it comes in the next verse where we read, “I keep to the saints who are in the land, and to the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

“Do not let your heart be zealous against sinners, but always be zeal­ous in the fear of the Lord.” Prov. 23:17. This is an exhortation which all of us must take seriously to heart. Being zealous against sinners can provoke much evil, also in church life. In God’s Word we read about a zeal that urges on and encourages the others. There is hope and heal­ing in that zeal. But the cold zeal of the tutor creates much that is bad, and much suffering. If you are bitter and give in to the desire to complain about others and criticize them you cannot speak what is right about God or about your fellow men.

The Torch of Faith from Generation to Generation

“And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” This flaming torch of faith is what keeps the corruption of the world out of the church. It must be kept burning and be passed on from generation to generation, just as we read in 2 Timothy 1:5 about Timothy and his mother and grandmother. If this flame is quenched, the spirit of the world will enter in. How sad it is when children notice that the spirit of the world has gained control in their father’s and mother’s lives. Faith is concerned with that which is eternal and imperishable, and if the father’s or mother’s interests are in temporal and perishable things, what do they have to give to their children?

Our calling is to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The church is to be like a city that is easily visible on a mountain. Matt. 5:13-16. Let us be aware of our responsibility! Among so many other things, how we dress is always of vital impor­tance. Dressing appropriately and modestly is an important part of our testimony. Unfortunately, many believing women are not firmly es­tablished in the heavenly things but are rather guided by the latest fash­ion in clothing. Many young ones are not born again, but when they experience that their mothers, who should be guiding them, are guided by the spirit of the world rather than by the laws of the fear of God, their mothers are neither light nor salt in this world. Not only that, they also become the object of ridicule by the world—not for their godliness, but for their worldliness. A holy serious­ness and zeal in the heart is required if sin and the spirit of fornication is to be kept far from the home and the church.

In Deuteronomy 27 we find the account of the six tribes of Israel who were to pronounce blessings from Mount Gerizim and the six tribes who were to pronounce curses from Mount Ebal. This is a strong and meaningful example. We can be profoundly grieved in our hearts over all the idolatry and worldliness around us, but where is the zeal that can also pronounce a curse over all the disobedience and ungodliness? When hatred against sin is not suf­ficiently strong, nothing will come of this “ministry of the curse,” resulting in sin and worldliness seeping in. A new and blessed life will only arise where hatred against sin has had an effect. Then the blessings will flow into both the individual’s life and into church life, and will result in joy, peace, development, and growth in all that is good.

May the salt not lose its strength. May the church be the city on the mountain in which those who long for a life with God can seek refuge without being disappointed.

Walk Before the Lord’s Face

God said to Abram, “Walk before Me and be blameless.” Gen. 17:1. Then Abram fell on his face. He clearly understood that God’s bless­ing over his life, his calling, and his election were pure grace, and that he had not deserved any of it. Any­one who has the same attitude that Abram had does not strive to assert himself; he does not desire to make a name for himself. His sole wish is to help his fellow men and serve them. We can only truly help others if we have a life with Christ in God and walk before the Lord’s face. We can, in a manner of speaking, receive great grace over our life in our min­istry, but the question is whether it is grace that has been granted to us ex­clusively for our ministry or whether it has become our life. Jesus speaks about the many who spoke propheti­cally in His name, but He still did not know them. They had worked unrighteousness—they had not lived their life in Jesus’ name. They had not walked before His face.

When Paul describes his minis­try in 2 Corinthians 6 we see that it exclusively concerns his life in God. It concerns purity, longsuffering, goodness—all the virtues of Christ. He doesn’t speak about gifts and specific ministries, but rather about life, about a life in God, a life before the Lord’s face.

The prophetic word in Isaiah 50 speaks about Jesus having the tongue of a disciple that could refresh the weary with His words, and hear­ing as a disciple hears. To hear as a disciple you have to be where the Master is, or walk before His face. All of us are called to this, young and old, brothers and sisters, regardless of the ministry we have. The only require­ment for it is to have the care of a servant, a servant’s desire to help.

“For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6. Living our life before the Lord’s face is the real evi­dence of our faith. Then we seek only His honor, not the people’s honor. That puts an end to all eyeservice. Then our ministry will be “as to the Lord, and not to men.” Eph. 6:7.

Love of the Truth

We have to give account to the Creator who can create something new, something glorious in the most wretched, poorest, and weakest of us, as truly as we live and put our life into the Creator’s hands. Jesus came full of grace and truth. Many people want to have His grace, but not everyone loves His truth. Grace is help and strength to carry out the truth in the smallest details of our life. Love rejoices in the truth.

The apostle John had a strong love of the truth. We see that in his letters. By way of example, read his 2nd and 3rd letters. In his third letter he sends heartfelt greetings to another truth-loving brother, Gaius by name: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” We notice that in the midst of his spirituality he did not disregard the health and well-being of body and soul! He speaks of his joy concerning everyone who walks in the truth and tells us that love is to walk according to the Lord’s commandments. We cannot separate truth from love just as we cannot separate grace from truth. In 1 John 3:1-3 John writes about God’s love for us and our hope of seeing Him as He is: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” He purifies himself from all lying, from all egotism. We see in the x-ray picture that Romans 3 gives us of man how much lying and egotism he needs to cleanse himself from. The truth sets us free from all this. Love of the truth also means that we hon­estly hate all sin and unrighteous­ness. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10 we read about those who could not be saved “because they did not receive the love of the truth.” How glorious it is to experience the cleansing in Jesus’ blood when we (for example) attend a meeting and judge ourselves in an increasing light, and hate what we see of things that ought to be cleansed from our life.

In John’s 3rd letter we read about Diotrephes who did not love the truth but rather loved himself; we also read about Demetrius who had a good testimony from the truth itself. May such Demetriuses also be raised up today who fight against all false Christianity in life and word which the many Diotrepheses of our days represent. Our calling is to be set free from every manifestation of lying and to be conformed into His image, who is the truth itself. Those who are in this development have great power in their preaching.

Romans 6:6

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” This must be our position of faith, our firm and unshakable posi­tion of faith: Our old man together with all of his manifestations was crucified with Christ. Without a powerful “cross, death, and grave” over the old man nothing will ever come of a divine life. Set free from sin, becoming servants of God, and having our fruit to sanctification, and the end, everlasting life. Rom. 6:22. Then we have become servants of God. We must be conscious of this one thing: We are God’s servants. We must not be the servants of sin in any way whatsoever, but servants of God. God’s servants! Nothing more, and nothing less! Not living a crucified life is the only reason for not experiencing progress in one’s Christian life!

The intention is for us to be nour­ished by revelations of the Spirit of God and to receive food to give to others so that they are strengthened and edified. Often there is a lack of being totally separate. Therefore relatives and friends influence a person who falters between two opinions.

Let us hold fast to our position of faith as stated in Romans 6:6. Then we will also experience that the body of sin will gradually be destroyed.

Access to the Father in One Spirit

If nothing significant happens in us by God’s grace, nothing signifi­cant can happen through us, and if we do not lead a God-fearing life we cannot be of help to others.

In Ephesians 2:14-19 we read of the work that transpired in Jesus, and that we, Jews and Gentiles, can now become one new man. What a consolation this is for everyone who is suffering under his sinful nature, longing for a new life. We can become one new man in Christ Jesus, a new man created according to God. This new man has access to the Father in one Spirit. We do not have access to the Father as Jew or Gentile, but as a new man who is born of God—in one Spirit, which is the Spirit of truth. The work that transpired in Jesus is a mystery of godliness. We can comprehend this if we are God-fearing. When we feel that our flesh, our sinful nature, is a burden to us, light begins to dawn concerning the mystery of godliness: Christ manifested in the flesh.

“That the righteous requirement might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but ac­cording to the Spirit.” Rom. 8:4. Only if we walk according to the Spirit is this new man manifested in our life and we are conformed to the image of the Son. Then the Spirit will lead us to the same sacrifices in our flesh to which the Father led the Son. The disciples are led on the same way on which the Master went (Heb. 10:19-20), through the flesh, the same flesh, the same life; the same death to sin in order to partake of the same life; a new man in truth.

In 1 Peter 3:18 we see how Jesus suffered and why He died: “That He might bring us to God.” This was His great goal. This is what impelled him. Oh, let us pray for the Spirit of revelation so we can comprehend the greatness of this work and comprehend the love that drove Him forward on the way which He consecrated. This is the way into the Holiest Place, the new and living way which He conse­crated through the veil, that is, His flesh. Heb. 10:19-20. He consecrated this way by offering up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death; save Him from any of this flesh having any influence on Him whatsoever. Because of His faithfulness we have gained access to the Father in one Spirit, which is the Spirit of truth. God cannot lead us to the hidden sacrifices in our body if we do not love the truth.

This is the way into the Most Holy Place. We must love the truth when the Spirit speaks to us about ourselves and convicts us of every­thing about our person, our conduct, etc., that has to be put to death so that Jesus’ image can be increasingly manifested in our mortal flesh. God wants to do this masterwork in us regardless of our background or our inherited characteristics. We can be built up together to be one new man in Christ.

In John 17, in His high priestly prayer, Jesus prays that we may be made perfectly one. Perfectly one! We are not made one unless a death occurs within us, unless we grow up in all things unto Him who is the head of the body—Christ. This growth in all the virtues of Christ is unknown to the religious world. Concerning this growth, we must un­derstand that we need to live so God-fearing that our only thought is to be united with Christ in His death and be conformed to Him. There is no room for thoughts of greatness and human ways of doing things. Every­one must take care of the little things, first and foremost in his family and in his immediate surroundings. All those who live like this will come to a perfect unity in the body of Christ. There is no envy in this body. All live in humble self-acknowledgment and grow according to the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Eph. 4:16.

Bend Me, Mold Me

This is what we sing in one of the songs by Johan O. Smith (Songs of the Way #242). In Jeremiah 18 we read about the clay in the potter’s hand. Jeremiah was told to “go down to the potter’s house.” We also need the ex­hortation in our days to go down, to humble ourselves, if we want to fol­low in Jesus’ steps. There are many forms of “humility,” but it is not true humility if there is a hidden desire to become as visible as possible. This does not lead to a person receiving grace. First of all it is vital to be the clay in the potter’s, that is, God’s hand. But we must be humble in order to be molded, crushed, so that all that stiffness and hardness can be removed. There is much stiffness, hardness, stubbornness, obstinacy, conceit, self-righteousness, and pride in our human nature. All of this must be removed if we are to be molded as vessels to God’s glory.

Israel displayed a certain zeal for God, but their zeal did not help them because they were self-righteous, striving to establish their own righ­teousness. Rom. 10:3. We cannot produce anything but dead works as long as our “I” is not crucified with Christ. We need to have the fire of zeal, but we also need humility so that all self-righteous stiffness and hardness is destroyed. Then we will have a bowed spirit, and it will be easy and pleasant to be with us. We have God’s mercy over our life based on the dust of our entire ego, when all thoughts of greatness have been pulverized.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6. The person, who does not seek God’s honor but lives to gain the honor of man, is not really conscious of the fact that God is. God is not in such people’s hearts. God can do miracles in our life only if we die to everything of ourselves and all that is ours; then He can perform a work of transfor­mation. God will not let our “ego” triumph. That would be akin to let­ting Satan into heaven. We must be cleansed from our egotism! After we have come to a life of victory over sin, we are left with our entire body of sin which is full of Satan’s poison. Then it is vital, as we read in 1 John 3:3, to purify ourselves just as the Lord is pure. Then we let go all thoughts of greatness and human glory!

Our Responsibility to the Next Generation

In Hebrews 11:11 we read, “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive . . . .” By faith and faithfulness we, too, can lay the foundation for a new generation, a generation that God blesses.

We read some serious words in Exodus 20:5-6: we are told that the fa­thers’ iniquities will be visited on the children, even to the third and fourth generation, but that the Lord’s mercy will be over those who love Him and keep His commandments until the thousandth generation. How many people think about this and take this matter seriously? Most people reckon neither with God’s blessing nor with His curse, not thinking of the long-term consequences of their life. We need to understand that our descendants reap the consequences of our life and our choices; it doesn’t concern just us.

The great thing is that everyone can lay the foundation for a com­pletely new and blessed generation through godly fear, regardless of what the previous generations were like. The condition is that you love God and keep His commandments. We have a responsibility to our de­scendants that they, too, can enter into the blessing that shall last for a thousand generations.

In Leviticus 21 we read that none of Aaron’s family who had a defect on their body could perform any ministry in the sanctuary, but they could eat their part of the sacrifices. With reference to the new covenant we should take this exhortation se­riously. For example, we can easily acquire a defect if there is someone in the brotherhood who is difficult for us to bear. We must be pure and God-fearing so that we can receive nourishment for ourselves and be able to nourish others.

The promises are for us and our children. Children, who grow up in homes where they daily see and experience by the example of their parents how they should live, have a blessed inheritance. Such children see and experience something which the vast majority of children do not see and experience. A powerful blessing will follow them from gen­eration to generation. The person who sins is shortsighted, even blind. The fear of God causes us to look into the future as Abraham did, who looked forward to “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:10.

In the Shadow of the Almighty

We live in turbulent times, and many people are anxious and rest­less. However, we must learn from the example of the saints who during changing times and circumstances have lived in the secret place of the Most High and have lived under the shadow of the Almighty, who have put their trust in Him. Ps. 91:1-2. Paul writes in Philippians 4 that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was, even when he had plenty. He could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. In all these circumstances he experienced God’s power and God’s peace. Therefore he could give the following exhortation: “Rejoice in the Lord always!” When he wrote this he was in prison. And he con­tinues: “Be anxious for nothing . . . .” And: “the Lord is at hand.” All of us should live in such a way that we sense the Lord’s nearness and live with this inner awareness of His presence. If we live with His plea­sure over our life we can be safe and have peace. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” V. 7. You will quickly become dissatisfied and restless, and insecure if you seek earthly things.

We see in 2 Corinthians 6 how Paul lived during changing times and circumstances, in labors, in toil, in honor and dishonor, etc. Yet in all these things he acquitted himself as a servant of the Lord. Nothing could disturb his power and his peace. We can say that he lived according to a daily “training program” by keep­ing his flesh on the cross. Therefore he could also give such powerful personal testimonies. For example: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13. He exhorts us as brethren to “join in fol­lowing my example.” Ch. 3:17.

The exhortation in Psalm 95:1 is to “Come, let us sing to the Lord!” Yes, in our tribulations, let us sing the Spirit of faith into our hearts and into the others’ hearts, for instance, into our children’s hearts. Read in David’s Psalm 23 where we learn that only goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life. And in Psalm 31:15: “My times are in Your hand . . . .” There it is always safe and restful.

Grace upon Grace

The apostle John, who is com­monly called the apostle of love, writes much about truth and about a love of the truth. In our days love is usually understood to be the equiva­lent of tolerance, a tolerance that also tolerates sin and unrighteousness. But listen to what the apostle of love says: “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen him nor known him.” 1 John 3:6. These are clear words. This is not reminiscent of the usual religious understanding.

Concerning Jesus, John writes that He came full of grace and truth. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. We came to the acknowledgment of sin through the law, but we can come to a life of victory over sin through grace and truth. “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.” 1 John 1:14-17. The fact that a sinner can come to the life of Christ and not sin anymore—that is grace for grace. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Rom. 6:14. Just think of the glory we can experience in verse 22: set free from sin, having become servants of God, fruit to sanctification, everlasting life! We experience all this if we love the truth and hate everything that is sin and has to do with sin. Preaching grace without a love for the truth is nothing but deception.

Following Jesus in His Humiliation

In Ephesians 4:9 we read that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth. In His lowliness He gained the victory over the entire satanic nature. Satan’s poison is the desire to ascend, to be visible, and to be important. All the saints through­out all the ages have followed in Jesus’ steps; they have humbled themselves, and their sole desire was to live to God’s pleasure. Such people are faithful in the very work that God has given them, regardless of how hidden and unnoticed by people they are.

We have been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. Ch. 2:20. The chief cornerstone and the foundation are in the lowest part of a building. The work of salvation occurs in the lowly places, in fellowship with the cornerstone and the foundation. All those who are a part of this building seek to submit themselves to the others and serve each other. They compete in honoring one another, as we are exhorted to do in the Scrip­tures. They surrender into death that shameful and human desire to be someone, to exalt oneself, and to be the most prominent person. May God give grace to all of us, even the whole church, to be preserved in humility and in the lowly places.