Christ Revealed in His Own Word # 5

Cleansed From all Faults

Wednesday Evening April 3, 1996

[ Brian Kocourek, Pastor Grace Fellowship]

 

This evening I would like to try and move a little further ahead in this Message of brother Branham’s. Now up to this point we have spent most of our study in focusing on brother Branham’s opening prayer and how He brings up into His thinking [ 1 Peter 5: 4]  which speaks of when the Great Shepherd will Appearing we will receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away. We examined this Crown in light of other scriptures in which it is called a Crown of Righteousness by Paul in [ 2 Timothy 4] which we are to receive at the Appearing because we love the Appearing, and we found out that James spoke of this in    [ James 1; 12] as well where he addressed it as a Crown of Life. All three Apostles taught that this crowning of the Elect was to accompany the Appearing of the Lord, and we focused our thoughts on what this Crown represents to us. A giving up of our own thinking and receiving in place of our own thoughts, a change of the Mind, receiving the Mind of Christ in us.

 

We covered this thought in quite detail showing that this crown is a crown of protection that will keep us from the error and deception that is to come upon this last age. We also showed that you will either receive this crown or the mark in the forehead called the mark of the beast. And with this in mind, tonight I would like to focus our thoughts on the second scriptural point that is brought out in brother Branham's opening prayer, and that is a cleansing that comes by the Presence of the Lord. Let’s read his opening prayer again.  "Let us bow our heads. Lord Jesus, the Shepherd of the great flock", he went on to pray, "we are so in debt to Thee, Lord, that we could never pay Thee for the love that Thou has shed abroad in our hearts. We feel so unworthy as we bow our heads and stand in Thy Presence. We ask You to cleanse us from all faults and all sin.  Now to find these words in scripture we turn to the book of Romans.

 

[Romans 5:1-8]  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience which is character; and character works into us  hope which is an earnest expectation: And this earnest expectation maketh us not ashamed;( why? )  because (1) the love of God is(2)  shed abroad in our hearts  ( How? )  (3) by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Now, let's read this opening Prayer of Brother Branham's again as we hear him say, "Lord Jesus, the Shepherd of the great flock, we are so in debt to Thee, Lord, that we could never pay Thee for the love that Thou has shed abroad in our hearts. We feel so unworthy as we bow our heads and stand in Thy Presence. We ask You to cleanse us from all faults and all sin"  Now notice how he speaks of a Love that is shed abroad in our hearts and then this love leads us to stand in His Presence while we are being cleansed. We first find Paul speak of this Love in  [Romans 5] And so we are looking at Justification by Faith which we know is revelation.  A revelation justifies us as though we never did do sin in the first place. It also frees us from the guilt associated with sin and wrong doing. It leaves us clean and pure in the sight of God our Father. Now let's read this from an amplified version to see the effect Revelation has upon our lives.

 

[Romans 5:1-8]  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience which is character; and character works into us  hope which is an earnest expectation: And this earnest expectation maketh us not ashamed;( why? )  because (1) the love of God is(2)  shed abroad in our hearts 

 

( How?)  (3) by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Now, the first thing that comes to my mind is that Brother Branham is quoting Scripture  because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us we therefore are cleansed through this Love by His Presence.

 

Now this is [ 1 John 3: 1 - 3] Notice the sequence of events.  1st the love  2nd His Presence or Appearing and thirdly the cleansing  which comes as a result of this Appearing.

 

"Lord Jesus, the Shepherd of the great flock, we are so in debt to Thee, Lord, that we could never pay Thee for the love that Thou has shed abroad in our hearts. We feel so unworthy as we bow our heads and stand in Thy Presence. We ask You to cleanse us from all faults and all sin"  Now, notice how His Message immediately goes back to Alpha to begin with. His Thoughts are reflected in His prayer and His Prayer is a giving back to God His own Word which we find in [Romans 5] And so, in essence before brother Branham even opens His Bible to begin His Lesson, we are already brought into the Presence of God by the Word of God. And so we are looking at Justification by Faith which we know is revelation. A revelation justifies us as though we never did do sin in the first place.  It also frees us from the guilt associated with sin and wrong doing. It leaves us clean and pure in the sight of God our Father. Now let's read this from an amplified version to see the effect Revelation has upon our lives.

 

 [ Romans 5: 1 - 5] Therefore Since we are justified - acquitted and declared righteous, and have been given a right standing with God through Revelation, let us therefore grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and enjoy, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Brother. And through Him we have our access and entrance introduced by Revelation into This Grace, this state of God's favor - in which we firmly and safely stand. Then let us rejoice and exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produces patience and unswerving endurance. And endurance which is fortitude develops maturity of character - that is, an approved Faith or revelation and tried integrity. And character of this sort produces the habit of joyful and confident hope or earnest expectation of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit  Who has been given to us. 

 

Now in viewing brother Branham's opening prayer in light of this scripture we see that Paul spoke of a Faith which we know is a Revelation that will not only set us free from guilt and shame, but actually exonerates us and crowns us with a crown of the Word of Life. Bringing to us an understanding of Him, and filling us with the Word of God. God' thoughts in us living and abiding in our very being.

 

Now I think this prayer will be significant as we study this Message of Christ Revealed in His Own Word because we are studying Christ and the effect of what He has done for us as we study the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Remember, Brother Branham told us that His Ministry is to declare Christ, #1, and that He is Here! #2.    

 

So we see that in declaring Christ, which is to reveal Him, we then are looking at a total and complete Justification. Because it is by Faith which is Revelation of Christ that we are totally and completely set free from guilt and association with sin and unbelief.

 

Now Paul said in [ 1 Cor 13:9-12]  When that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child I spoke as a child but when I became a man I put away childish thinking.  And then Paul tells us in verse 12 that at the time of Perfect Love coming down among us we which see through a dark smoked up glass now, shall at that time see face to face and then we shall know Him even as we are known by Him.  And of course this brings relaxation and peace with it knowing we are totally and completely justified as though we never did do sin in this body.

 

That is why it is called a crown of rejoicing that comes from His Very Presence. Now as long as we do not have this Love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts or understanding, we shall never have peace and freedom from guilt. We find that we then have fear of reprisal which is due to the fact that we know what we have done in this body of death, and thus we fear our judgment. But What Paul and Brother Branham are teaching us here is that when we once receive this Revelation of Jesus Christ we shall be totally overwhelmed and caught up into the Grace of God and we shall have no fear any longer, knowing that we have been totally declared righteous in the sight of God.

 

The NIV states [ 1 John 4: 16-18] this way...And so we know and come to rely on the love God has for us, for God is love and whosoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are to be made like Him, ( and I might add, how does this come about? Through the renewing of the mind). There is no fear in love, But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect, complete and mature in love.

 

 So then what Brother Branham is doing in this opening prayer is to bring us into a realm of God as He truly is, A god of Love and Peace and also a God who is Judge. But to Know Him in the power of His Resurrection and His Word, will set us free from the effects of the sin which has been done in the body of this death and shall set us free from guilt and shame.

 

Now in [1 Peter 1: 13] we read , Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled; set your hope fully on the Grace which is to be given you at the time when Jesus Christ is to be Revealed. And why is that? Because we also read in [ 2 Peter 1: 2] That Grace and peace are multiplied or brought into abundance through the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. He even goes on to tell us in verse 4 that through this knowledge of Him we are given everything we will have need of in this Life including Godliness and the Divine Nature which is God's own Nature. That is why we hear Paul declare in          [ Acts 17:28] For in Him we live and move and have our being: for we are His offspring.

 

Now it is interesting in this hour of complete insanity when the world has gone stark raving mad, that God has come to crown His Elect with His very mind. And remember, Malachi tells us that unless He comes and does this, the earth will be smitten with a curse. So He must come, and when He does those that receive Him will be above the curse and He will crown us with protection as we shall crown Him with bringing preeminence back to the Head. [ Isaiah 28: 5]  we come like He came  [ Psalm 8:5]

 

 [Hosea 4: 6 - 10]  My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you as My priests. Because you have ignored the Law of your God, I also will ignore you children. ( that means the Token will do them no good!) The more the priests increased, the more they sinned ( disbelieved) against me; They have exchanged My Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins ( disbelief) of My people and relish in their wickedness.    ( and what is this wickedness? It is wrong understanding based on outdated word or word for another day as we see in [1 John 3: 10-12] Notice Cain's offering was one representing first fruits which is resurrection, without the shedding of blood first. And with out shedding of blood there's no remission of sins.) And it will be: Like people, like priest . ( that's)  [ 2 Tim 4: 3-4 & Jer 5: 30-31]  I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution ( selling out themselves) but they shall not increase, because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves prostitution, to old wine and new, which takes away the understanding of My people.

 

[ Isaiah 30: 9-11] They don't want to know that they are standing before the Judge. They just want pleasant things told to them like how Great they are and all that female Holy Ghost and Fullness of God in the Bride stuff.

 

[ Isaiah 29: 6-24] Read and explain God promised us that He will send a testing of The new understanding, and because they are not predestined to pass the test, they come up short and are easily offended by the Word.  Some people come so far but when the Word speaks of things that hit them in the pocket book or  speaks of things that we should do or a manner of living that makes them loose their popularity with the guys or girls, then they lose what desire they did have and before they know it, they  fall away from the Truth. Brother Branham said God will not place His Word in Just anybody. He will not place His Spirit in just anybody. So we find in [ Hebrews 12: 6-7] Paul teaching us, that "Every Son that cometh to God must first be tried and tested. And if you can't take the testing then you are not a True Son but a bastard born, meaning you are illegitimate to the Word."    

 

[Matthew 13:18-23 ]  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

 

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and the Word becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth fruit with patience, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

So you can see how important understanding is to the believer. And that is why Eve fell. Notice Eve had understanding. She knew better than to partake with the Serpent, because she told the serpent we must not eat of the Forbidden tree. It is cursed. And yet the Serpent pulled one over on her and got her to eat anyway. Now, he didn't tell her that her understanding was wrong entirely, but he told her that she just didn't quite have the full understanding of the picture. And so he explained it away from her.  And so she stepped out from behind the protection of the Word and she fell for His interpretation or understanding of the Word of God.  And that is exactly what we are warned of will happen in [ 2 Peter 2: 1 - 3 ] ( Read) . These men will come into the Message and give a wrong understanding of the Word of God and the people will be caught up into what these men say as evil interpreters of the Word of Truth.

 

*   [ 2 Thess 2: 10 - 13] (read) then show Wuest: every kind of wicked deception geared to the gullibility of those who are perishing, this gullibility being caused by the fact that they did not accept the love for the Truth to the end that they might be saved, and for this cause God will send them a deluding influence resulting in their believing the Lie, in order that they all might be judged who did not believe the truth but took delight in wickedness.