Johan Oscar Smith

We must endure the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ if the power of God is to remain with us; since we are to be conformed to Christ in His death. We know that Christ died in weakness; yet it is precisely in this weakness that the power of God can be manifested. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

When we are watchful in ensuring that sin in the flesh does not reign, then we are crucified with Him. We have received power to do this through the Holy Spirit, so no one needs to struggle with this. Sin in the flesh (also called the body of sin in Rom. 6:6) will be destroyed in this way. When sin in the flesh does not receive any nourishment, it dies. By doing this, the life that we have in God grows stronger and takes its place. In this process of sanctification, it can truly be said that “we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

Believers generally place far too little emphasis on sanctification. As a result, their joy falls far short of what it should be. And where joy is lacking, so too is the power that brings victory, because the joy of the Lord is our strength. Therefore, when we work on our sanctification with fear and trembling and at the same time seek to win souls, we accomplish a double work—we fight a double battle. Since the battle is double, we become double victors. That’s what Jesus was. When He left this world, He had triumphed over Satan and the powers of darkness, and He left behind His disciples—His battle prize. They continued the battle in their Master’s steps. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

The word is received by hearing, and if it is to be of any profit, it must be melted together with faith in those who hear it. The word destroys preconceived notions and indifference. It sheds light on delusions and penetrates the darkness within us and things that we are not yet conscious of. The word brings life and creates a fruitful field, where previously there was only emptiness, thorns and thistles. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

When God is with us in all things, then life is blessed. He gives us clarity of mind and focuses our thoughts on things that are difficult to comprehend, so we can grasp them with our understanding, whether they are spiritual or natural things. His name be honored, now and in eternity—by us and through us. Johan Oscar Smith, 1919 app.hiddentreasures.org

God’s Spirit brings unspeakable joy to our hearts. This joy is to be our strength to overcome difficulties. But people often make the dreadful mistake of rejoicing in joy for its own sake. It was in the Lord, the source of joy, that we were always to rejoice, not in joy it­self. True joy does not spring from itself, but from the Lord. The Spirit points to the Lord, taking what belongs to Christ and shar­ing it with us. If we do not allow the Spirit to share the knowledge and wisdom of Christ with us, sooner or later the Spirit will be quenched, for He does not speak of Himself. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org/en/books/ephes…

The gospel by which we are saved consists of the Word of truth. In the beginning the Word was with God, but it became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word is still with God; the ungodly have no part in it. And so, by the preaching of God’s Word, the Spirit of truth brings into our hearts the Word that is with God. If we obey this Word, it becomes flesh in us as well, and His Word abides in us. The seal of the Spirit accompanies the Word, for the Word and the Spirit cannot be separated. When the Word of faith produces obedience, its creative power influences our entire life and puts it in proper order according to God’s plans. The Word remains alone until it is united with faith in our hearts. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

Every branch in “Me,” in Jesus Christ, in the body of Christ that does not bear fruit, He takes away. Who takes away the branch? The Vinedresser, the Father of Jesus Christ. From this we can see that the Father watches over the body of Christ, His members here on earth. It is not enough just to live a peaceful, quiet life. We must bear fruit. If not, we will be cut off. What does it mean to bear fruit? You must have the works of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

We have sin, but sin must not have dominion over us. We must rule over it. For this we need the cross. Sin cannot get past the cross. This is how we can overcome, by knowing that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. You must believe this: “I am crucified with Christ.” Then the new life which is created according to God in truth and righteousness gets time and peace to thrive and grow with the increase that is from God. With the cross I can keep sin out of my inner life. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

God’s power is always found in the depths, in contrast to the forces that oppose it. Since they strive for outward glory, these forces that resist God will always remain on the surface, while the quiet, invincible force of God’s power is left standing with what is true after these superficial opposing forces have finished causing their commotion. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

The obedience of faith is the right foundation for becoming truly free. No one can continue to live in true freedom without living in obedience to the faith. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

There is nothing that we need to guard so closely as our heart and thoughts. If we become intoxicated in our thoughts, it is not long before we slide into false liberty. The Scriptures become distorted so that hope and liberation are given to the flesh that was meant to die. Therefore Paul writes, “Stand, therefore, having girded your waist with truth.” Eph. 6:14. By this he means the loins of the mind. If in our mind we begin to be indifferent to the truth, this shows that our heart has been corrupted. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

All bitter springs have to be stopped. All idolatry must be destroyed. You must crucify the flesh with its lusts and desires. If you do not do this—very exactly—then you are deceiving yourself. A double-minded or half-hearted person can never grow up to Him who is the Head, Christ. Such a person has deceived himself. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

If I only hear the Word, but do not do it, it does not take root in me, and it will not bring me salvation. But when I hear the Word and obey it, the Word becomes one with me, with my mind, and it re-forms me and transforms me into something new according to the image of God. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes himself in a mirror, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. The Word of God is like a mirror, when it is spoken in Spirit and truth. We are able to see Christ Himself as our perfect example, and we see ourselves with all our lacks and failings. Then we can put things right in our lives by doing as the Word says and practicing the truth. Then we will be formed by the Word into the image of the Son, for He is the Word Itself. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

By faith we keep sin in death where it belongs. We reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Rom. 6:11-12. We have lusts in our mortal body, but we must not obey them. In other words, we are dead to our lusts. We have received power to do this by taking this stand of faith: dead with Christ, crucified with Christ. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

No one can walk in the light without having their flesh crucified. Therefore it is written: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Gal. 5:24. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

Standing at the foot of the cross is no help; it was not down at the foot of the cross that Jesus overcame. We have to get up on the cross. That is where Jesus overcame principalities and powers and all the hosts of hell. That is where we overcome too. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

We can only become truly free when we become the servant of all, because in order to carry out this ministry, we must overcome every sinful expression and tendency. That is why Jesus so wisely says, “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” The Son of Man Himself came to serve, not to be served. Johan Oscar Smith app.hiddentreasures.org

There are commandments in the midst of freedom. There is a cross in the midst of the gospel. There is a longing in the midst of rest, and even in the blessing we have already received, we sense an urgent yearning. Always forward, forward, forward. Johan Oscar Smith, 1911 app.hiddentreasures.org