The “Old” Days

Some people thought brother Aslaksen was legalistic. He wasn’t, but he was easily misunderstood. Johan O. Smith gave him his full support, saying: “Aslaksen is a God-fearing man. Those who cannot bear him should rather leave.” Aslaksen was radically zealous in everything he did. He was mocked and despised, but he stood unshakable and with all his guns blazing as long as he lived. He was extremely humble, pleas­ant and easy to be together with; he was very friendly and helpful. He was also an exceptionally unique person. He was lowly in his own eyes, and yet he was a spiritual giant.

“There are so many new things in the church,” some people say. They are thinking about outward things. We hold firm to that which was from the beginning. The only “new” thing in the church is that it is becoming ever brighter toward the perfect day. Times change, of course, and there has been an incredible development in technology. The brotherhood is far more mature today than it was a few decades ago; we are heading toward perfection. And the fact that we have become many does not diminish the need to hold firmly to that which was from the beginning.

If you get offended when you are exhorted, you have drifted away from what you heard in the beginning. If you be­come bitter and discouraged, you have departed from the life in God. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38. This life is to be lived out through us.

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, be­cause when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13. We must not drift away from the Word that can be so effective in us when we believe! Pursue faith so that you are anointed in your ministry. The Word must work in us and become a part of us so that our life can be a testimony to the truth of the gospel. We will not be done with the enemy until he is dead.

“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. Every en­emy in our flesh must be destroyed. Many people live in a time gone by—they thrive on old experiences and in the form through which revival came to them. People who speak about “the old days” like this grieve the Holy Spirit. Their under­standing has become stiff, and they are not alive to what God is doing.

“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: ‘Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them, who led them by the right hand of Moses, with His glorious arm, dividing the water be-fore them to make for Himself an everlasting name.” Is. 63:10-12.

Milk cartons come in various shapes and sizes, but the shape of the carton is insignificant—the important thing is the milk! Revivals also come in different forms, but the content of the revival is what we need. We have to be flexible and in de­velopment as long as we live. No one must stiffen into a con­servative form that can never renew his inner man. If they do, they will have drifted away from the Word and will no longer hear the Spirit’s voice within. Then they grieve the Holy Spirit in the midst of their “godliness” and conservatism.

Let there be a holy seriousness in your preaching. Give yourself to the ministry of prayer, so the preaching of the Word has greater power. Don’t be lighthearted—resist the enemy until bloodshed. Those who make use of their liberty to press in to God get fellowship with Him in their spirit. They get great power and blessing in their lives.

We are called to be a rapture-church. Since the process of preparation takes such a long time, and God’s longsuffering remains over us, there will naturally come a separation from those who do not want what we want. They will go out from us because of the power that is in the church. They are not able to get the honor and power they want, and thus they don’t have any power or authority among us. The outer court is our mission field, but we cannot build the church on the principles of the weak. Otherwise the church will not thrive, nor will it be easy to direct. Satan gains power through those who are weak. They are the easiest ones for him to speak to, and if they gain power in the church, then the church will be di­rected by Satan instead of God. The weak must see the strong as their example, rather than being dissatisfied with them. In the same way, the strong must bear with the weak. Being “nice” can often be mistaken for Christianity. Nowhere is it written that God is “nice.” On the contrary, He is good, strict and firm. Every servant of the Lord should be the same.