A Righteous Life

“The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” Prov. 13:9. This brightly burning light causes even our enemies to desire peace with us. A righteous man’s life has powerful, invisible effects. We walk in the com­mandments so we can become more like Jesus, and we have a need in the depths of our heart to draw closer—even to the very heart of the truth. When we are with Him, we learn what righteousness is. Prov. 12:1. Through chastisement we get light and understanding. When we walk in this light, we come to wisdom and to life itself. Those who hate reproof are stu­pid, because reproof opens our ears to the Word of righteous­ness. Then we receive light to walk in so our service becomes more effective.

“The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above [a good man stays far away from him (Norw.)].” Prov. 14:14. If good men stay away from someone, it is because there is apostasy in that person’s heart. The light no longer shines brightly, love for the world has come in and there is laxness in his spirit.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Rev. 3:15-17. His works were no longer righteous because he was seeking something for himself in the midst of his ministry. Jesus was going to vomit the angel of the church out of His mouth. Love for the world prevents a person’s spirit from being alive.

Through your works, the friends recognize whether you are righteous or not. If you embrace some people and keep others at a distance, you are unrighteous, and you will lose confidence in the church. Nevertheless, some people can eas­ily worship you as an angel. Do not spare refined, sophisti­cated flesh. It is better to burp at the table to stop it in its tracks than to allow people to bind you with their admiration. Johan O. Smith was totally free from angel worship. Elias Aslaksen said about him, “I have never met any man who was so completely free from caring about other people’s admira­tion and honor.”

“He wants to be esteemed even though his rear end is showing,” as the saying goes. You must become free from this in your spirit. We are so prone to want to be with people who are important, etc. A man of the Spirit has no need of that. In fellowship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, we have no desire for worldly admiration or religious greatness. Don’t allow yourself to be impressed by famous people or elo­quent words when they brag about their knowledge or intelli­gence. They stumble in all their sophistication. I am so thank­ful that Johan O. Smith took up a head-on battle with those things. That battle was absolutely vital to preserve disciple­ship. We must see to it that we have the same straightforward attitude and that we have fellowship in the Spirit with our fa­thers in Christ.

When we serve, we must remember that we are serving the elect—we must help them to attain those things that are their right. Let us never despise or mock anyone. People who mock will be delivered to Satan so they can learn not to mock. Per­haps that chastisement will bring them to the forgiveness of sins. Warn people who begin to attack God-fearing people. Have respect and reverence for God-fearing people, even if they are extremely lowly and don’t have any visible ministry. If you don’t have enough spiritual discernment to recognize godliness in lowly people, you don’t have enough spiritual sense to know what God is doing. They are vital for the body to function correctly. Highly esteem those who are lowly, but don’t take the side of a poor person just because he is poor. Take the side of the one who is right!

Many people need anointing from the Holy Spirit to be strengthened in their race and in their ministry, and we are all in great need of exhortation. It is completely possible to live in the end times without being contaminated by spirit powers. Let us stand together in this battle! Job 34:4. Let us seek the good together. We will stand tightly knit together and speak as one mouth against everything that wants to oppress or de­stroy. If we manage to leave this body with only goodness and blessing in our spirit, we haven’t done so badly. Every person we come into contact with must feel that they are loved, ap­preciated and esteemed.

Jesus was raised up for our justification, and the com­mandments give us a perfect picture of who the Son is. If we want to be like the Son, we must keep Jesus’ commandments. Because of the fall, sin (egotism) has permeated every single person. Only by living completely for heavenly things can a person come totally free from unrighteousness. Without this, our development stops.

“This is love, that we walk according to His command­ments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” 2 John 6. “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10. You cannot separate love from practicing righteousness. If we drift away from this, we will lose our power in the church.

“And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Pet. 1:19-21. The prophetic Word must be revealed by the Holy Spirit. The message must be delivered in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Otherwise, we become dry and empty. The workings of the Holy Spirit must be revealed to our hearts so that the Spirit begins to move us. Then things burst forth like new wine that has been tightly contained. All flattery must be cursed; do not seek your own advantage.

The way to happiness and joy is to keep your tongue from evil and begin to bless your fellow man. No matter how good others are to you, there will never be an end to the evil tenden­cies in your flesh if you don’t take up a conscious battle against them. Bless, and you will flourish. Prov. 11:20.