Johan O Smith A Prophet, Shepherd, and Spiritual Leader

Johan O Smith A Prophet, Shepherd, and Spiritual Leader

Seventy years ago, during the night of May 1, Johan Oscar Smith went home to the Lord. What God was able to achieve through his life and ministry will be revealed in the resurrection of the saints, but today we can see that life-force manifested in those generations that have been faithful to the light that J.O. Smith received and to which he himself was faithful.

The church (and in the true meaning of the words also, “Smith’s friends”) has never had such a dy­namic development—both in the spiritual as well as in the natural realm.

Br. Smith wrote about this in a short article in which he marked the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the paper Skjulte Skatter in De­cember 1936. There he writes as follows: “These have been twenty-five groundbreaking years. God has been with us and has given us victory. Therefore we praise His high and holy name, His power, and His revelations. God Himself has said, “‘”No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heri­tage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,”’ says the Lord.’” Isa. 54:17.

“This has been fulfilled in every respect. God is faithful to His Word and to His promises.

“We have young brothers among us who I believe are worthy heirs of the work that God, by His grace and election, has entrusted to us.

“On the 25th birthday of Skjulte Skatter I want to greet these brothers, our honor and our crown, with the following verses:

Be not dismayed, young hosts—fear not!
Give body, soul—yes, all you’ve got!
God and the Lamb will give to you
The victor’s crown when life is through.

Balm from God’s Kingdom comforts you
Each time you hear the Shepherd, true.
So whet your sword, and battle on!
The Morning Star for you will dawn.”

J.O.S.

Even in these days we experience that it is a spiritual battle to finish the Shepherd’s work with the flock in a spiritual as well as in an earthly sense. When the Shepherd’s voice is heard, it is not sweet feelings that are awakened in the flock. Not at all! Then each faithful soul draws his sword for battle again. The power that is in God’s Word, and the righ­teousness His servants receive from their Lord and Master, was the same in Isaiah’s days, in Jesus’ time, and in the days of the apostles, and in the days of Johan O. Smith, just as it is also in our days!

“So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” 1 Sam. 3:19-21.

God Himself sees to it that His word, given by the prophets who have been put in the church, will not fall to the ground, for it is the Lord who gives this confidence in the prophets into the hearts of those who have ears and who hear what the Spirit says to the church. As long as we have a speaker’s platform at Brunstad where the word of the Lord is revealed, the work that proceeds from Brunstad will undoubtedly succeed, to God’s glory and praise! It is rewarding to be wholeheartedly along in this work of God in these last days!

May we be preserved in humility in this work which God is blessing so richly. In spite of opposition, battles, and struggles, we can preserve His grace over us in humility and in the fear of God, in our life and in in our ministry, until Jesus’ return, or until He fetches us home to His eternal habitations!