Easter Conference

Easter Conference

Every year, millions of Christians around the world gather together to celebrate Easter. We come together to remember Jesus, our Savior. But how many of us really understand the significance of the Easter message?

Kåre J. Smith opened the conference by reminding us that our soul and our spirit originated in heaven—and that both need nourishment. We receive our best form of nourishment through the word of faith, in other words, from the word of God that comes from heaven. At the meetings, we really were able to experience a “richly prepared table.” The word of God was proclaimed clearly and powerfully, so that all those who sense that they have a heavenly calling could be nourished in their spirits. The gospel of Jesus Christ, who was manifested in the flesh, was clearly portrayed.

It’s actually quite strange that such a great and important gospel could be so hidden for so many people. But in any case, it shouldn’t be hidden among us.

Here is an excerpt from the meetings at the conference.

Coming to Rest

Kåre J. Smith reminded us of what happened when the people of Israel stood at the edge of the Promised Land. The plan was for Joshua to lead them to safety and rest—a place where the enemy was no longer a threat and where the people could live in peace. But the people of Israel did not trust in God’s power. Instead, they regarded their own weakness and they felt that it was useless to engage in battle. Num. 13:25-33. In Chapter 14, we read about Joshua and Caleb, who had a completely different mindset. They had an unshakable faith in victory and in this faith they found the strength to rest in their confidence in God.

What can we learn from this? We must learn that if we are to get victory over sin, we have to go to God with complete confidence. There is no room for doubt or unbelief. We must believe that it is truly possible to overcome—and that God will give us the grace to do so.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews uses the people of Israel as an example, exhorting us to find rest in God. “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.” And further, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Heb. 4:8,11. As long as we doubt whether victory is possible, we will have no power to fight. Then we are left to remain there wavering in our weakness. True rest only comes when we are ready to surrender completely to God.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” 1 Pet. 4:1. We have to be willing to suffer in the flesh, that is, we have to say “No” to sin. This battle begins in our thoughts. If we are as determined in our minds as Jesus was, and we see the seriousness of every little temptation, we too will have victory over sin, just like our Lord and Master. Then we can come to rest, which is what God intends for us.

It is impossible to fully believe in God and at the same time expect to understand everything He does in our lives. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1. Our senses and reasoning are not always reliable, because they were also affected by the Fall. It is worth considering the fact that Jesus did not act according to His own will, but only according to what He saw His Father do. John 5:19.

God’s word must be allowed to have an effect within us, so that there is a division between soul and spirit. Heb. 4:12. The word pierces deeply, all the way to our joints and marrow. It reveals our self-will and human strength, which is often contrary to God’s will. Then we can start to live in the power of God, and no longer in our own strength.

We can also learn a lot from Abraham. Although the promise of God seemed more and more impossible with each passing year, his faith only grew stronger. He did not doubt God’s promises. Rom. 4:19-21.

All unrest comes from our human reason. This was also the case among the people of Israel. When God blessed them, they rejoiced. But it didn’t take long before they started to complain. They didn’t trust in God or His plan for them to enter into the Promised Land, even though the way was clear and determined beforehand. As a result, they never quite managed to enter into it, and neither did they come to rest. Heb. 4:1-3.

If we live in faith, we will experience rest. All our worries, doubts and fears can be committed to Jesus by casting ourselves into His arms. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. Resting in God means resting from all striving, all worrying and all the things that are seen and are earthly. Many people wear themselves out because they try to take care of everything themselves. God’s rest is experienced when you place everything into His hands. David was able to experience this rest despite the difficult situations he found himself in. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Read Psalm 23.

Instead of striving and struggling in the “wilderness” for years, as the people of Israel did, we can come to rest in God now. There, at the throne of grace, we can ask for help and find grace—precisely when we need it. Heb. 4:16. When we stand before God’s face, then we can hear what He wants to say to us. We gain access to the sanctuary where we can hear God speaking. Every disciple should feel at home in the sanctuary. Being attentive to the voice of the Spirit comes naturally to a disciple. That’s how we get the help we need for ourselves—and the words we need to help others. By listening to the voice of the Spirit, we will find our way to the good works that God has prepared for us. Eph. 2:10.

Has Jesus Become Your Forerunner?

Paul begins his letter to the Romans in this way: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Rom. 1:1-4.

For many Christians, salvation in Jesus Christ consists of the fact that He died on the cross for our sins and arose from the dead. We hear much about this, especially at Easter. And it is absolutely true that the resurrection of Jesus is a great and mighty miracle. We will praise God for all eternity that Jesus came to earth, suffered for our sake, and arose from the dead.

But there is much more to rejoice over! Before the crucifixion, Jesus lived for thirty years as a man—in simple circumstances. He was a carpenter, and we don’t know much more about His life as a young man and adult. But the life He lived is also of great significance. Have we understood this?

Jesus was born of the seed of David. That means He was tempted, just as we are. Heb. 2:17-18. He was tempted, and overcame every time. This is the gospel—God’s good news to us human beings. There is nothing greater. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.” Ch. 1:1-3. God does not just speak through what Jesus said. The life He lived as a human being should also speak to us. Our salvation is contained in this life, because Jesus became our forerunner—He left behind footsteps that we can follow.

Paul understood this battle against sin: “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Rom. 7:17-18. Jesus also had to face this battle when He sought God’s will: “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42.

The battle Jesus waged was a real battle. He prayed to God in the situations of life; as a brother, son and carpenter, and particular Bible verses give us an insight into His prayer life: “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Heb. 5:7-8. Jesus learned to be obedient, and when He had finished the race, He became “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” V. 9. Now we, too, can follow the Master in the “days of our flesh.” We can deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Mark 8:34.

The god of the world—the devil—has tried to hide this important part of Jesus’ life, so that people will not see Jesus as a forerunner. 2 Cor. 4:3-4. But this truth should not be hidden from us. Jesus went on the way of the cross and longed to be followed on this way. He wanted to have brothers and sisters. Heb. 2:11. Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. 1 Tim. 2:5.

He partook of flesh and blood, just like us, in order to overcome the devil and set us free from the bondage of sin: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same.” Heb. 2:14-15. It’s not angels that Jesus was meant to give aid to, but to human beings. V. 16. And therefore, we who believe can fight in the same way that Jesus fought, and pray as Jesus prayed.

He learned obedience, and we are following Him on this way. He defeated sin in the flesh, and we are following Him. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” 1 Pet. 2:21. Peter describes how Jesus took things when He was reviled and had to suffer. V. 22-23. Instead of giving in to sin, Jesus overcame the desires of the flesh, and for this reason He can help us in our battle.

May Jesus become our forerunner! Then the greatest and most precious promises—to partake of God’s own nature—will be ours. 2 Pet. 1:3-4.

“It Is Finished!”

“Jesus, my Savior, Thy greatness I see—true Son of Man in a flesh like as we. Weak and despisèd, esteemed not of men, yet Thou art King of all kings, Lord of heav’n.” This song by Ingrid Bekkevold (WotL 245) was sung at the beginning of the meeting on Easter morning. The song is characterized by reverence and thankfulness for the great work that Jesus did, and for the salvation He brought us. But can we honestly say that we see Jesus’ greatness when we are in the midst of life’s trials?

Peter had experienced the crucifixion of Jesus and everything that happened during the Passover. He had also followed Jesus during the last years of His life, and seen how Jesus dealt with the circumstances He found Himself in. Peter had been apprehended by Christ, and writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Pet. 1:3.

Peter knew where he came from, and he understood that he had been begotten again to a living hope. Jesus’ resurrection became a visible proof of the work that took place in Jesus while He lived as a human being on earth.

When Jesus died on the cross, He cried out: “It Is Finished!” John 19:30. Jesus had never sinned against His heavenly Father. He was never unfaithful, and therefore death was not able to hold Him. He rose from the dead, and it is written that He has begotten us again to an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away—reserved for all those who have the understanding to follow the same way that Jesus walked. 1 Pet. 1:4-5.

The mystery of Christ manifest in the flesh is the key to a victorious life. The work that took place in Jesus while He lived on earth is our example. The devil tries to hide this key from us. That’s why it’s imperative that we truly see and understand the greatness of Jesus—even when we face trials in our own lives.

We are kept by faith, and each day is “prepared” by God so that we can be molded into the image of His Son. Rom. 8:29. It’s one thing to understand this with your head—it’s another thing to be faithful and allow yourself to be saved in trials of life, when it really counts.

The prophets occasionally got a glimpse of who Jesus was, and they prophesied to the people. One of these prophecies went like this: “Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zech. 9:9. This is how the King of kings rode into Jerusalem. It was humility that characterized Him, but nonetheless, His greatness was manifested to us.

It is written that Jesus is “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.” Heb. 1:3. He voluntarily chose to walk on the way of humiliation. We have been called to share in the same life—to be His body on earth.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” Eph. 4:1-2. Here we have ample opportunity for sanctification.

Imagine being able to say “It is finished!” when you reach the end of your life! Jesus’ life and death can be an immeasurable help and blessing to us—both for ourselves and for those around us.

Blessing People

Kåre J. Smith concluded the conference by reminding us that we have been called to bless people—especially our loved ones and our children. If we aren’t alert, it can be easy to become strong in ourselves. The world lies under the sway of the wicked one. “He who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:18-19.

When we listen to the voice of the Spirit, we will always find something to cleanse in our own lives, because the Spirit lusts against the flesh, and against our own will. Gal. 5:16-17. All imperfections in our lives are due to the fact that we do not keep and guard ourselves from evil and that we do not listen to the Spirit.

God made a promise to Abraham: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen. 12:3. Through Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, the promise of God’s blessing stands firm and also applies to us. We have become the seed of Abraham and have become partakers in the same promises. Gal. 3:14-16. If we listen to the voice of the Spirit in our hearts, we will see the deeds of the body and have the opportunity to put them to death by the Spirit. Rom. 8:13. But if we don’t hear the Spirit’s voice in our hearts, we will never come to a life in God.

Peter writes: “For ‘He who would love life and see good days . . .’” 1 Pet 3:9-15. He explains how we can be a blessing to others—no matter how they treat us. If we are faced with something that is bad, we have the perfect opportunity to do something good in return. In this way, we can help with continuing to build on the blessing that God gave to Abraham.

The only way that others can truly harm us is to get us to return evil with evil. Then we have been overcome by evil. But if we overcome evil with good, we win a glorious victory. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” And what is best for us is to be conformed to the image of His Son. Rom. 8:28-29.

Joseph, who lived in the old covenant, understood this: “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” Gen. 50:20. God is faithful. When He blesses, no one can prevent it.

Even Balaam, who was deceived by greed, had to recognize this: “How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?” Num. 23:8. He ended up blessing Israel three times. But in spite of this, he taught King Balak how to make the people of Israel fall—by luring them into sin. In doing so, they themselves opened up the door to a curse. Ch. 25:9. God intervened and both Balaam and Balak lost their lives. Ch. 31:8.

And how is it with us, when we experience being backbitten, for example? If God speaks well of us, those who speak evil will be put to shame, and it will be to their own detriment. “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Rom. 12:19. And we know the exhortation: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” V. 21.

The flesh with its lusts and desires is to be crucified. Gal. 5:24. When we bless people and don’t allow them to provoke us to sin, we belong to Christ—and we have the same relationship with God as Abraham did. Then we can truly bless people and nothing can make us sin. May our feet stand on resurrection ground!