Thank you for the letter. I recently received a long letter from John Wintersborg. He says he is planning to go on a missionary trip, and the first stop is Sweden. What do you think about that? A woman spoke to him in a prophecy that he should change his clothes, and he took that as a sign that he should travel. He is single, and everyone needs a gardener, so he will be able to work with his hands if things don’t work out. Irrespective of how zealous John is, it’s not certain that he is capable of working with others. But I don’t think he will be content unless he tries.

I have tried to write something about Romans 7, verse by verse, but I realize that it is difficult to explain it in a way that people can understand, because it is hidden in the Spirit.

Here is my explanation of verse 2: The Man who the woman is bound to is the Lord (see Ex. 6:2-3).

This Man had to die before the woman could be released from the law of her husband; and if the woman dies with Him, then verse 4 applies: “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another––to Him who was raised from the dead . . . .”

This Man had a body prepared for Him, and He became the personification of the law for all the people of Israel––those who had the law. That is why He said to the Canaanite woman that He had not been sent to anyone except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. To be married to this Man is to be married to an aroma of death leading to death, because the Spirit, which is the law written on hearts of flesh, testifies about death, since all self-life in all its various manifestations is under judgment.

Truly, much can be written about this, but if we are to write anything of value, we have to write as unto God and not unto people. Perhaps this is similar to how it was with the Scriptures, of which it’s written, “These are they which testify of Me.”

Time is passing, and Easter is rapidly approaching. I’ve been studying the artillery on board the warships to familiarize myself with it.

It would be good if Madame Guyon’s biography doesn’t just remain in Kristiansand, because I believe many other people would benefit from reading it. It helps a person see things from a new perspective and understand that they are not the only ones who have swallowed all the wisdom in the world. Moreover, it’s written that “he who wins souls is wise,” which is a good yardstick.

So, you haven’t decided yet what you are going to do for Easter. Just let God lead in the matter. I am quite certain that we would benefit from being together here, because Br. Ellefsen is now quite different from how he was before. John needs guidance and support. There will be plenty to do around here––through the power of Christ––to help people find the right path. Sadly, there is a palpable lack of people who are doing this work of ministry. What are we to do then? It is a ministry that people don’t have much regard for; they only look to those who speak from the pulpit. The consequences of this are unavoidable, because the churches do not become rooted and grounded in the truth. Instead, they superficially let themselves off the hook, and they take the easy way out.

It’s now late in the evening, and everyone is asleep.

Brotherly greetings.

Your brother,