Thank you for the time we had together. It was good to be with you, and it is even better to discuss the conclusions we came to when we were together.

When God was at the point of completing His work of perfecting Jesus, He put everything on the line. Jesus said: “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” However, it was not possible. God forsook Him, and He allowed Jesus to drink the cup alone. Until that point, grace had hidden the whole cup, but now it was to be emptied so that everything that was in God’s heart could come upon the Son. Here it was all or nothing. The Father risked everything, but at that very point the Son said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” This Spirit was that completely purified Spirit which is totally one with the Father.

When God has given us someone to work with, we, too, must put everything on the line as mentioned above. In order to bring someone all the way to the place God has led us, we must be willing to risk everything—friendship, confidence, etc. We must go so far that they have to cry out in desperation, “But Aksel, why have you forsaken me?” This is what it means to destroy idolatry on the high places.

Regarding Sr. Palme and Sr. Dahl, I had the sense that the last 25% (let’s call it that) needed to be done away with, and it’s precisely this final part that will cost you everything. All or nothing—this is what it means to remove idolatry from both the valleys and the high places.

As for you, all this speaking from the pulpit will destroy you, and you will lose those delicate, inner threads, because you can’t stand there as though you weren’t standing there. And since you can’t do that, the bonds which connect you to the Spirit will be broken, and you will be damaged by the honor that comes from standing before people.

All of this causes conflict and inner unrest, and you will search in vain for those delicate, inner threads.

You are not to serve before people, but before God. You are not to be honored by people, but by God. Let the reproach of people, rather than their honor, adorn your head. Only your service for God can fill your heart with that deep peace which only those who abide in Him can partake of.

Don’t neglect the things that God wants you to look after. Our deepest fellowship with God—as His co-workers—is held together by such delicate strings that we must carry out our work in quietness and in the hidden places; otherwise, the whole thing will fall apart.

It was painful when I sensed that these inner strings were not properly tuned. The situation with Sr. Palme requires them to be properly tuned so that the mutual help that God gives in the church can also benefit her. When a person causes these strings to be loosened, they have committed an inner transgression and have sought their own honor, and no one has the right to do that. The result is that they have become incompetent in their ministry, and the friends who formerly had been nourished by their competence now suffer because of their incompetence.

Greet Br. Anthony warmly. May God bless you all and enable everyone to really benefit from your time together.

I hope that you come next Sunday, if God gives you the opportunity. Warm greetings and thank you for everything.

Your brother,

I have written to Father about the matter we spoke about.