The Spirit of Christ Leads to Fellowship

The Spirit of Christ Leads to Fellowship

How is it actually possible that we always have such good fellowship when we come together, whether it is in the local church or at conferences and gatherings—nationally and internationally—as, for example, at Brunstad? It is actually quite marvelous that this is possible, given that there is such a large group of young people. Many of them are not born again, and usually this means big problems, but not among us! We have peaceful days at our conferences and gatherings, and everyone conducts himself very nicely. This can only happen with the help of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:26: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” This applies not only to meetings and conferences, but always whenever we come together. Everything we do and say shall be for edification. 1 Cor. 10:23-24.

The Holy Spirit is so strong that all other spirits are subject to Him. Wherever He rules to the extent that He does at Brunstad when so many God-fearing people come together, He works powerfully in people. The result is that people actually have no desire to do anything evil, for the Lord is near. Phil. 4:1-9.

We sense the Spirit and the power that is in the church. God has chosen people from all over the world, who have received a heavenly calling; and when they come and listen and drink of the Holy Spirit, they have the mysteries of the cross revealed to them—Christ manifested in the flesh! This has such a remarkably good effect on them that they have enough to do with thinking about their own life and judging themselves. Therefore, it is peaceful and good wherever the Holy Spirit rules. Paul writes about this in 1 Timothy 3:15: “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” The Holy Spirit works in people’s hearts so that they sense in their inner man how they should conduct themselves in God’s house.

Many people assemble for our conferences and meetings from many different countries, but they are the chosen ones because Christ is all and in all. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:26-28. When Christ is all in all, the Spirit works a desire for life and peace in a person, and this has such a good and invigorating effect on people that it makes for a good and peaceful atmosphere. Rom. 8:5-6. Fellowship among us is on the increase, therefore it is so good when we are together! As we get to see ourselves and find our own life, fellowship increases and it gets better and better. All this happens as we hear the word and discover something that we need to judge in our own life. Vs. 12-14.

When we then hate what we see, the virtues of Christ will become more manifested, and where the virtues of Christ are more manifested, the result is divine nature; and where divine nature is manifested, God is manifested. “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Pet. 1:3-4.

When Christ is our peace and the cross works in our life, then there is peace and unity and goodness. Then, by His Spirit, He creates a man of peace. Eph. 2:14-18. Such people have wisdom! Jesus’ followers manifest an exceptional wisdom, also when it concerns their relationship toward children and young people, and especially toward one another. For our desire is to abide in the cleansing so that we can love each other from the heart in all situations. 1 Pet. 1:22. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:1-3.

They all melt together in one Spirit, the old, the young, and the children. We can pay our indebtedness to each other in the Spirit of Christ of which we have drunk; that is, to love each other. Rom. 13:8.

Let us always come together with this goal in mind: repay our indebtedness to each other, give our life for each other, and love each other so that death will never gain power over us; on the contrary, that life is manifested in everything we do! 1 John 3:14-16.

God willing, we shall again gather for conferences at Brunstad throughout the summer. God be praised for that! May God give grace that we can always come in the Spirit of Christ just as Paul writes in Romans 15:29: “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing . . . .” Then we will have good times together regardless of who we are and where we are!

I wish all of you a blessed summer, in the Spirit of Christ, and as an ambassador of Christ! 2 Cor. 5:17-21.