God’s power is revealed through simplicity, because simplicity is blind in its assurance of faith; it lives in God’s thoughts without thinking of itself. It knows that everything outside of God’s thoughts is folly; therefore everything outside of true simplicity is also folly. Simplicity possesses a conquering spirit, a drawing power, openness. Simplicity is not reserved and cautious, because it is certain. It never says anything without full clarity in a matter; it never defends the truth, but it is always willing to explain it. Simplicity exists in the depths of God. That is its abode. It never speaks with amazement about deep thoughts, because to simplicity deep thoughts are natural and straightforward; simplicity lives in them. When deep things are one’s natural element, they are no longer deep. Only those who live more on the surface are always amazed over deep thoughts. Simplicity is characterized by an unshakable rest; it lives in God’s presence and has received from His rest. The motions of true simplicity are not very noticeable, yet their effects are tremendous because they touch the foundations, the center of gravity. Simplicity speaks only when necessary; when it is not necessary, it knows that silence speaks better than words. True simplicity is not always the cause of pleasant feelings in others; but those feelings are always profitable. Its openness is its strength; whatever is open is perfect; whatever is shut up hides folly. Because simplicity is pure, it is open, since openness does not need a cover. Simplicity and purity cannot be separated. Simplicity is manifest both before God and before man. Its inner being is always open before God; because it always stands before Him, it has the effect of being open to people. This openness is God’s purity compressed into the soul of man. An impure person covers himself; he does not like to see his works come into the light for just anyone. The works of simplicity can bear the light because they are done in God. The impure person receives honor for his works in order to cover himself. The one who seeks honor and the one who receives honor covers his impurity with deception. O holy simplicity, you who put death between yourself and all impurity! Your tents are the tents of prosperity and the habitations of peace. Blessed is the one who has found you. Simplicity’s speech is simple and straightforward to men of understanding because to them the purest speech is easiest to understand. But for those who lack understanding, it is dark because their eyes are impure; its radiant purity blinds their eyes even more, and they are amazed over it. It is a riddle to them; its light judges their impurity and causes them either to become furious or to bow down in the dust before the Lord’s feet. From where does holy simplicity receive its name? It receives it from the very source of that great fundamental truth, Jesus Christ. There the thousands of life’s small thoughts are gathered into one great thought, because that one great, fundamental truth has the solution to the thousands of small thoughts. Multiplicity melts into unity, into simplicity. Therefore it is so exalted, so simple and straightforward. This is where its power is hidden. Where is the way to it? The way is the way of sacrifice in the steps of the Lamb.Aksel Smith

“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.” Very few people are really alone with God when they pray, but Jesus was alone with God. When He wanted to pray, He sent the multi­tudes away. This clearly shows us the way to an inner fellowship and communion with the Father. We must send the multitudes away, let them go out of our mind and thoughts; we need to have rest from them so we can be alone with God. There are very few people in an assembly who have sent the multi­tudes away, out of their hearts and minds. Even while they are praying they are thinking of other people. They think of the others because they are thinking of themselves. They think of what the others might think of their prayer, whether their prayer is sufficiently spiritual so it can garner the others’ approval, and whether it will carry the oth­ers along in their prayer. To pray simply is just not possible. How many people there are who nurture an inner satisfaction when their prayer has been a “suc­cess.” Afterwards they entertain a patronizing air toward those whose prayers were less “successful.” How many unspiritual prayers are wrapped up in feelings by giving full rein to one’s entire soul-life so that it might sound sincere—but how empty the heart is afterwards. They deceive the others but save their Christian honor. Christian honor and worthi­ness oppress God’s people like a nightmare. Oh, how many selfish prayers God has to witness. Pray­ing in order to please the assembly or other people is not prayer but an abomination to God. It is only a per­formance to gain the honor of man. People even take the multitudes into their prayer closet where of all places they should be alone. Jesus says when you pray you shall not be like the hypocrites, to be seen by men. Matt. 6:5. Send the multitudes away—not just the multitudes but also each single thing that comes between you and your God. Worship God in spirit and in truth. Enter into the se­cret chamber of your heart; lock the door, i.e., shut out the multitudes and everything that is distracting; lock the door and be alone with your Father who is in the secret place. You can send the multitudes away and enter into the secret chamber of your heart even while you are in the street, surrounded by the masses. The one who seeks honor be­cause he prays well, testifies well, sings well, or does anything else well deceives himself. Do not let this glorious life-fellowship with God be defiled by egotistical self-worship and honor seeking. You who live in these things must confess your sin and let the blood cleanse you from what you have done. Be crucified with Christ and die to all self-worship. You will be set free through death. Stand firm in faith against Satan on this foundation, and you will overcome. Satan’s designs are attractive for the flesh, but they are poison for our spirit. Only after you have sent the multitudes out of your heart can you truly have them in your heart.Aksel Smith