Benefits of the Son of God
to us no. 13
We are
Given Boldness to speak the Revelation of Christ
Rev. Brian Kocourek
The thirteenth benefit or promise of God that we have because of His Son
is that we are given a boldness to speak this revelation everywhere and to
everyone.
Now, let’s take for our
text this morning two Scriptures that speak of this boldness of Speech. The
first is in Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a
great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold fast our profession.
Acts
21 But all that heard [him]
were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this
name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them
bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul
increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at
Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
You know there is something
about this Word that gives you strength and the more you speak it the stronger
you become in this Word. And we can se that is exactly what happened with the
Apostle Paul while he was in
And in the Book of
Hebrews chapter 4 we found a command that we are to hold fast our profession
and that word hold fast was translated from the Greek word Krateo
and it means to hold onto using strength
, power or might. In other words getting a death grip on it. And what is it
that we are to get the death grip onto? He said our profession which was
translated from the same word confession and that is the Greek Word Homologio,
which is a compound word utilizing two Greek root words Homo meaning the same
and Logio or logos which we understand to mean The Word.
Now, the question might
be asked, “why do we need a death grip on the Word?” Well, first of all, the
word homologeo that was translated from the word hold fast is not just “The
Word”, but the Same Word That Jesus Preached. And we will find our answer to
our question, “Why should we have a death grip on this Same Word in John 17.
Now, John 17 consists mostly of the Prayer that Jesus prayed to His Father just
before he was to leave with the Apostles for
JOHN 17:1 ¶ These words spake Jesus,
and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify
thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Notice here that Jesus
is praying to the Father, and he says, Father, Glorify Thy Son, so Thy Son may
Glorify Thee. Now, we all know from our studies that the Greek word Jesus used
was doxazo which is an action form of the Noun Doxa. Now, the doxa is the
opinion, estimation and Judgment of God. So we see here that Jesus was asking
God to doxazo or bring forth in a way of manifestation the very opinion,
estimation, and Judgment of God in Him that He in turn would manifest God’s own
Opinion, estimation, and judgment to the world.
In other words, Jesus was
asking God to give Him His Opinion, estmination, and Judgment, that He might
give it back or echo it back by bringing into manifestation. Father,
Doxazo me that I might doxazo Thee.
Then He continues in His
prayer, 2 As thou
hast given him (the Son of God) power over all flesh, that he (the Son of God) should give eternal
life to as many as thou (God, the Father) hast given him (the Son of God). So we
see here in this verse that Jesus was given power by God Himself to give
eternal life to all those that God had given to His Son to quicken to Life.
Now, notice then in the
next verse Jesus explains what this eternal life is and what it will do. 3 And this is life
eternal, that they might know thee
the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Now, this is quite a
powerful statement in light of the Doctrine of Christ. He said this is eternal
Life, to KNOW the One he was praying to which was the Father, that He is the
ONLY TRUE GOD, and to know also Jesus Christ the Son of God who came to manifest
the Father, whom the Father hath sent.
Now, remember a few
weeks ago we studied what this same author John said concerning this same
subject when he said in his epistle in 1
John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,
that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even (or
in the same way that we were) in his Son Jesus Christ. This one that is True is the Only true God, and (the
only source of ) eternal
life.
So we see here that
Jesus Christ in His prayer to His Father that the Apostles were there to hear
let them know that eternal life is manifested in knowing the Father and in
knowing the son that was sent by the Father. Therefore, if one does not know
the Father and does not know the Son and tries to say that Jesus is His own
Father, then how can they have eternal Life? I ask this question based on what
Jesus is telling us here. He says that
eternal Life is to know the Father and to Know the Son. And so what if you do
not know the Father and you do not know the Son? Then do you have eternal Life
if that is what Jesus tells us it is.
You see, everyone is so
willing to say the evidence of being born again, and you can not have become
born again until the Life of God comes into you quickening you by His Life and
to His Life which is the only form of eternal life. And they say to believe the
message of the hour is the evidence you are born again and have received
eternal life. And then they will tell
you that the message of the hour is that God sent a prophet. Now, how could
Jesus tell us the evidence is to know the Father and to know Him, and brother
Branham tells us something different? But the fact is that Brother Branham
didn’t say something different, but in fact he said, “My
ministry is to declare Him, that He is here.” And the word
“declare”, means 1. To make known formally or officially. 2.
To reveal
or make manifest; show.
So then we can see what Brother Branham said is
exactly what Jesus said. Because if his ministry was to declare Him, that He is
here and the word declare means to make known, then that means that His
ministry is to help you to know the One that is here, God Himself, and By
Knowing Him, you will know also His Son that he sent. And that is what eternal Life is.
Then to just be able to
talk about it is not eternal life, and to be able to memorize quotes or even
entire sermons is not eternal Life. Nor is it living a good life. But eternal
Life is to Know God and to Know His Son. So you see why the Doctrine of Christ
is so important to us, for without it you can not be born again to eternal
life.
Now, look, the same one John
that wrote this prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John also wrote these words in
his 2nd epistle.
II JOHN 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have
wrought (worked for), but that we receive a full reward. 9. Whosoever
transgresseth,(that means to go beyond the limits) and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.(and in our earlier studies we
found out that those who do not remain in the doctrine of Christ ca not echo
God, they can not reflect Him in any way. But, ) He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, And
that means he that remains in the doctrine of Christ he hath (he echoes) both the Father and
the Son. 10 ¶ If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine,(what
doctrine? The doctrine of Christ that has a Father and a Son) receive him not
into your house, neither bid him God speed: (Now that is a very
harsh thing for you to say John! So then why did he say it? John tells us in
the next verse…)
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Notice
here that he lets you know that any that have not this doctrine of Christ then
must have a false doctrine of Christ and thus what they do have comes not from
God, but from another source and therefore is evil.
So we see then that to
know God and to Know His Son is eternal Life, and there is no getting around
that. And this is
life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, In other words, the only tells you there
is no other God, so it is the knowing of this Only God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent, that
gives you eternal life.
Then not to know God and
His Son shows the person is lacking eternal life. Because if William Branham’s
ministry was to declare God, that He is
here and to declare means to make you know this one that is here, then
to not know this shows you do not know his message, and if you do not know his
message, then you do not have the evidence in your life of the new birth.
Because to just know that God sent a prophet is not enough. You’ve got to know
the message, and believe that message, but if you take and push that message
aside and make your own message to be that God sent a prophet, and that is all
you have to believe, then you are just fooling yourself to what the message
really is, and it shows you are not even born again. Now, let’s continue with the Prayer of Jesus.
4 I have glorified thee
on the earth: (I have shown the world your opinion, estimation,
and judgment while here on earth) I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And
now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self (and now father
impart this opinion, estimation and judgment that is yours to me) with the glory
(opinion, estimation, and judgment ) which I had with thee before the world was. 6 ¶ I have
manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine
they were, and thou gavest them me; and they
have kept thy word. (now, the word kept here is from a Greek
word that means to attend to carefully, so we see when Jesus tells us they have
kept God’s Word, it means that they have been very careful and attentive to it.
They have paid close attention to the Word of God and know that it was given to
Jesus by God Himself.) for Jesus says, 7 Now they have known that all things
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
Now, notice in verse 8 For I have given
unto them the Words which thou gavest to me; and they have received them, and
have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou
didst send me.
Now, I want you to
notice here what Jesus is saying in this prayer. He let’s us know that He gave
us the Word which God had given Him, 8 For I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest to me,
and he then tells us that not only did He give us the Word God gave Him, but we
received that Word. and they have received them,. And the word
received was translated from the Greek word Lambano which means to take to
one's self, to lay hold upon, to take possession of, to appropriate to one's
self for the purpose of using it for our
benefit as though it belongs to us. And then Jesus lets us know that in
receiving the Word God Gave to Him and He passed on to us, we come to an understanding
of God, and how and why He sent His Son. For I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest to me
and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee,
and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Now, this is important
because Jesus is witnessing back to the Father that the word He gave to His
Son, was passed on to us, and in doing so, we received that Word and knew where
it came from, and thus Know the difference between the Father and His Son. And
this is not just a mental understanding he
is talking about. But the word receive means to take it to yourself that
we might apply it to our self. In other words it speaks of a living Word that
when received becomes alive to us and in us, and we live out the very Word which
was given to us. For it was given to us for our benefit, and that is to come
alive in us that we might have eternal Life and that means we will know the
Father and we will know His Son, and how God works in all of His children,
bringing His very word alive in each and every one of us. .
ACTS 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also
of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
EPHESIANS 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do (not you and I that do,
but unto Him that is able to do) exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to
the power that worketh in us,(so it is not us doing but Christ
that worketh in you) and Paul says, 21 Unto
him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end. Amen.
Now, remember last week
we showed you that the real gift of God is to get yourself out of the way. Then
the man has nothing to do with it. Then it’s not Brother Branham was a mighty
prophet or brother Vayle is a profound
teacher, or brother Brian has done the work of an Apostle, that is all a bunch
of nonsense. We should say, that it is God this, and God that, and Go did
this, and God did that, for by one
Spirit we are baptized into one Body.
Its God that is doing what needs to be done. And Brother Branham was
quite frank when he said God needs me no more than the hole that is left when
you stick your finger in a bucket of water.
Notice what Paul said
in I CORINTHIANS 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit is the one that operates them. Although
God has given us many different types of Gifts to His church, yet there is only
One Spirit that is working them all for our good. And then he explains, 5 And there are differences of administrations, but it’s the same Lord doing them. 6 And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the
same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. In other words God gives us the manifestation of the Spirit,
His Spirit for our benefit.
8 For to one is given by the
Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same
Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the
working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to
another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11
But all these worketh by that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will.
So then what is there to
brag about or boast about, it is God that either does it or it does not get
done. Now, in getting back to Jesus prayer.. we pick
up at John 17:25
Notice how this same Spirit of God that came upon
Jesus caused Him to speak boldly concerning the Revelation of Christ/
JOHN 7:25 Then said some of them of
JOHN 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in
the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret
have I said nothing.
And look at the power of the Spirit upon Peter and
John and how it gave them boldness to proclaim the revelation of Jesus Christ
openly/
ACTS
ACTS 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake
the word of God with boldness.
And notice that the same effect came upon the
Apostle Paul, giving Him all boldness to speak the Revelation of Jesus Christ
to all.
ACTS
ACTS 13:45 But
when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against
those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and
said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to
you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us,
[saying], I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be
for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed. 49
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
ACTS 14:1 ¶ And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went
both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great
multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the
unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected
against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the
Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and
wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided:
and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
ACTS 19:6 And when Paul
had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake
with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 ¶ And he went into the synagogue, and spake
boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things
concerning the
ACTS 26:24 ¶ And
as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art
beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad,
most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the
king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am
persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not
done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be
a Christian.
ACTS 28:30 ¶ And Paul dwelt
two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the
II CORINTHIANS
II CORINTHIANS
7:4 Great [is] my boldness of speech toward you, great [is] my glorying
of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
EPHESIANS 3:11 According to the
eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with
confidence by the faith of him.
EPHESIANS 6:19 ¶ And
for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly,
to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly,
as I ought to speak.
PHILIPPIANS 1:19 For I know that
this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to
my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
[that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in
my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death. 21 ¶ For
to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.
COLOSSIANS
HEBREWS 3:6 But Christ as a
son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and
the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
HEBREWS 4:16 Let us therefore
come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help in time of need.
I THESSALONIANS
2:1 ¶ For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance
in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered
before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at
HEBREWS 10:35 Cast not away therefore
your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise.
I JOHN
I JOHN
I JOHN