Thank you very much for your good letter. It was also a joy to see your articles in Missionæren. It is always good to fight together for the truth. At first I had not intended to answer “S.F.,” but when “Kristoffer” brought something in the same vein, I felt it was necessary to write a little more about it. I had already submitted my last article when I read your latest article in Missionæren. When I wrote this last article, I had to really restrain myself in order to reply in such a courteous manner. I was afraid it wouldn’t get published if I poured out my heart about all the “hogwash.” When you see clearly, you can speak clearly. When you look into the fog, your speech becomes foggy. A person with faulty vision will also waver in their judgment, but clear vision produces clear judgment. It takes something to be approved when the light is shining.

Trygve and Magna Berg both speak in tongues and interpret; they are 12 and 10 years old, respectively.

With regard to your letter, I must say that you replied with understanding and restraint to what I wrote. However, even though you know nothing against yourself, as you put it, Paul did not know anything against himself either. Yet he was not justified by this. Nor was he sufficient of himself to think of anything as being from himself, but his sufficiency was of God (2 Cor. 3:5). It is this sufficiency—the sufficiency of God—that we will be speaking about from now on. Paul called himself an apostle of the Lord because that was the truth. It is vital that we attend to the work God has given us to do, because nobody else will be able to. What I wrote wasn’t written haphazardly, but in Spirit and truth. And no one will be able to negate this truth either. Therefore, you would do well to attend to the work to which God has appointed you, which I am convinced you have done up until now with great zeal and joy. At times I have thought about handing over the task that God has given me to someone else. I would gladly sit on the sidelines, watching it all, and even be thought of as incompetent—as long as the others could lead things competently and prove to be competent themselves—but it wouldn’t last long. “And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have set others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.” Ezek. 44:8. So there’s no relief from our duty; neither can we expect any recognition for our ministry in Christ. The Corinthians sought proof that Christ was speaking in Paul. The prophets of old were considered to be false, and the false prophets were considered to be genuine. To minister in the Spirit in such a way that we promote the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5) isn’t a task that will win us many compliments. Nevertheless, each one who has received a ministry in Christ must be conscious of their ministry and behave as they ought at all times. There are many difficulties in a church, and often one may have to suffer for a time and then retaliate at an opportune time. Therefore, a person needs to have broad shoulders. Here in Horten we have had all sorts of things to deal with for a while now; but there is too much to tell in a letter. I can briefly explain: there is a brother who has been undergoing a crushing by the Spirit for some time now, and he was determined to have others with him in the same boat. When nobody would listen to him, he became adamant and tried to force the issue, because he felt we were being obstinate. It got so bad that several meetings were disrupted, and I had absolutely no idea what to do about it. Br. Kristoffersen also clashed with this brother at the last meeting, and all the younger ones were really frightened. Today I had it out with him for two hours. After that, he acknowledged his errors in the light of these verses: “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” Mark 9:49-50.

He prayed that he might become a whole sacrifice. It is written that the sacrifice must be seasoned with salt. It also says that we must have this salt in ourselves, and keep peace with one another. He hadn’t done this; he hadn’t kept the salt in himself, which resulted in widespread turmoil. He acknowledged that he had erred in this; hopefully things will go well again. We must be vigilant so we don’t allow the devil any room to operate in the church.

It was a great comfort for me to read your last article, “Money for God’s Cause.” Not because you agreed with me (for I am well accustomed to contradiction from every direction), but because God’s cause also got a push in the right direction through this. If we go on the offensive with the truth, without any compromise, with no respect of persons, and with no regard for the flesh in any area, we will soon be invincible. Reading between the lines of your article, I could see fruit in this direction. I was glad to see that. I don’t want to boast beyond measure, yet I dare say that since receiving God’s Spirit, I have always endeavored to be pleasing to God and have always had a loathing for pleasing people. This has brought me such rich rewards that my heart leaps for joy over the fact that none of these carnal people have had the satisfaction of overpowering me. These words of Scripture have always been fulfilled: “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,” that they destroy all their enemies. Isa. 54:17. Doesn’t this gladden our hearts? It does, indeed! If we fail to conquer them, they will gouge out our eyes and spit in our faces. They can do this to our bodies, if God allows it, but they must never overcome our spirit. Therefore, strike them down with no respect of persons, for the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit. Even if such things “could very easily be misunderstood,” as the editor of Missionæren said, I’m happy to be understood in this case.

Your brother, safely resting in the love and power of Christ,

Greetings with Ps. 149. Greet everyone at home and greet Helga.