Christ Revealed in His Own Word #69

False Ministry brings False Message

Wednesday, January 15, 1997

Brian Kocourek, Pastor Grace Fellowship

Sunday morning we read from the Message Christ Revealed in His Own Word, PP’s. [77 through 83]. Here we saw that Brother Branham was taking our thoughts back to the beginning as he said,

[77] See, down through the age we started off from the foundation, from the first church age when the Seed went in the ground, the complete Seed. Then it come out through the feet, Luther, come back out then through Wesley, then into Pentecostals, the tongues and the lips. See? Now, it's in the eyes, prophetic, of Malachi 4 and so forth. And now, there's nothing else left for it to come, but Him Himself to step into that, 'cause that's the last thing there is. The next is the intelligence, and we have no intelligence of our own; it's His. See? We have no sight of our own. How can a man foresee those things? He can't do it; It's God Himself. See, it's becoming to a place... And He's governed the body all the way through. Then the complete Body of Christ is revealed in the form of a Bride that was taken out of His side, like Adam did at the beginning--like Adam's was, rather, at the beginning.

Now, as brother Branham takes our thoughts back to the beginning, I want you to notice, what he said about the beginning. See, down through the age we started off from the foundation, from the first church age when the Seed went in the ground, the complete Seed. Notice that he is speaking about the Complete Seed went into the Ground back in the beginning. And then for the next minute or so he speaks about the process of that Seed coming forth. He let’s us know that when it first appeared, above the ground so to speak in Luther, it was not yet complete, so he types that out with the shoot, then up through Wesley which he types as the plant in a form that is sprouting leaves, then up through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or Pentecostal age when the word of God began to be recognized in the body, and yet as he lists each of these stages he does not recognize any of them as being a representation of the complete Seed that went down, until we come to the end when the Complete Seed that went into the Ground has to come up in a harvest time in full representation of the Seed that went into the ground back in the beginning. And so we must recognize then that Paul was attributed to the first Age, and this was the Age when the Complete Seed, Christ was placed into the ground. Then the Message of Grace that came to the people , Paul’s Message, which took the entire Old Testament, and from it wrote the New Testament, and in there he expounded the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul took the Old Testament which consisted of the Promises and brought forth the Interpretation pointing to the manifestation which was Jesus Christ. And now, in this day we are to come into once again the complete Revelation of Jesus Christ by receiving the manifestation of His very person among us, back in human flesh again. And this time it is to come into His Elect people, called a Bride. But do not ever forget, that what happens in the hand happens in the body. And so what is attributed to one member of the body is attributed to the whole. Then we can see clearly, what Paul means when he speaks to us concerning the infilling of the very Glory or mind of God in the Elect at the end-time.

[2 Thes 2: 7-12] There are two words here that I would like to bring to our attention:

Þ #1) He speaks of when He ( Jesus Christ) shall come to be glorified in the saints. This Word Glorified is the Greek word, Endoxazo which comes from the root word Doxa which is the Opinion, Assessment and judgment of God Himself, coming into the Saints. But notice that Paul tells us, not when this comes, but when He comes to be Endoxa’d In the Saints. And we know that when He comes to be in the saints is when His Word comes to be in the Saints, because “as a man thinketh in His heart, so is He, and out from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” And so a man is what he thinks and so is God the same. He is the Word. And He has come down with a Shout, or Message about Himself.

Þ #2) The second Word I want us to see is the word Paul uses here in speaking of His own experience and the Revelation that resulted from that experience coming back once more into the Church. He uses the words “Our Testimony among you was believed in that day.” Now this Word testimony is not just exactly like we use the word testimony, because when we speak of testimony, we speak of someone giving a public confession of their belief. But Paul is speaking of Vindication. of His Experience and therefore His Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Þ Paul is letting us know that beyond just bearing witness to the same Message, we shall also receive the affirmation of the Truth of His Message, because the same power that brought it, shall vindicate it’s authenticity when the judgments shall begin to be exercised upon those who have rejected It. So then Paul is telling us that when God comes in Power and Great Glory, it will be at the time of the Judgment of the world for having rejected the Message of Grace.

In PP. [78] Brother Branham said, .. When every Scripture in the Bible has the same application, you got to set It in It's place. And to misplace It, you might make Him God in one age, and the next age you'd make Him a history: To misplace It. So you mustn't misplace the Scripture. He's God all the time. If you made Him today a God of history, what was back yonder, and He isn't the same today, what are you going to do with Hebrews 13:8? See? He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now, so see what this would do, and what it has done....

And so we see, the Great God of all Glory coming back in this day to Vouch safe His Own Presence and to vindicate that Paul’s Gospel is true and to bring forth judgment on the unbelieving world. That is why we see in [2 Thes 1] both a believing and an unbelieving, a receiving of God’s Glory and Presence by one group of people, ( a people called saints because they have been sanctified and set apart for service: i.e. [2 Thes 2: 13] sanctified by the Word, ) and on the other hand we see a putting out from This Great Presence and Glory another group of people. [2 Thes 1: 7-10] And so we see the importance of recognizing our day and it’s Message. And the day of His Visitation among men. And so we also see by this statement that Paul makes that the manifested difference between these 2 Groups of people at the end-time is that One will recognize God’s Presence and Glory ( His Opinion, assessment, and judgment) while the other group will not recognize His Presence or Glory, and thus this difference in knowledge or perception will separate these 2 groups of people. One group will be drawn into His Presence, while the other will turn away from It. And it all comes down to recognition.

Remember the Title of Brother Branham’s Message called, “Hearing, Recognizing and Acting upon the Word of God.” Well, that is exactly what it means. And it all comes down to the innate ability to be able to recognize God and His Word, or Revelation of Himself which is His Message. Webster tells us that the word Recognize : To recall tot he mind, re meaning again, and cognition which is a knowing; therefore to recognize is to be aware of, to know by some detail, as appearance; or identity, to beware of the significance, to acknowledge the existence, validity, authority or genuineness, to accept and acknowledge as worthy of appreciation and approval, devotion. And so we see in [2 Thes 1 & 2] that Paul is letting us know that it all comes down to recognition. Knowing Him in the power of His resurrection.

Þ [Eph 1: 17-18] Recognition, to know Him and His Vindicating power.

Þ [Matt 13:10-16] &[Mark 4:11-12] But not every one is ordained to know.

Þ [Phil 3: 7-18] To know Him in the Power of His Resurrection, we must forsake every other thing that we ever held as dear to our selves..

[2 Tim 2: 15 - 22] And so we see what it means to rightly divide the word. And you can’t rightly divide what He said if you don’t know the Author, and what He ‘s trying to tell us. And so we hear brother Branham tell us in PP 81.... [81] To dislocate the Scriptures, you might put His body together wrong, the foot where the head should be or something. Just the same as a... In other words, you might have Jesus teaching Moses' message. You might have--or even Wesley teaching Luther's age. You might have now, our age teaching Pentecost, the Pentecostal message. You see what a mess it would be in? Pentecost has already showed its colors. Luther's already showed his: went off into denomination; it died right there. The age struck; there it went Notice, just as soon as it was organized, it died. Now, just see if that isn't right. Look back through the pages of history. Every time it organized it died right there; there never was no more to it. It become a worshipper of the god of this world. It went off into organisms, and organizations, and denominations, and illusions. A bunch of Ricky’s got into there and put their own objections into it, or injected their own thoughts, rather, into it. And what did it happen? It become a mess. Going to head up in the god of this world where they'll throne Satan himself, thinking that they're having a great world leader to bring them peace.

Now, brother Branham said, “To dislocate the Scriptures,... You might have now, our age teaching Pentecost, the Pentecostal message. You see what a mess it would be in? Pentecost has already showed its colors. And that is exactly what has happened. He said, those little Ricky’s have come in and messed up everything. He said, “Every time it organized it died right there; there never was no more to it. It become a worshipper of the god of this world. It went off into organisms, and organizations, and denominations, and illusions “A bunch of Ricky’s got into there and put their own objections into it, or injected their own thoughts, rather, into it. And what did it happen? It become a mess.”

Now, first of all he tells us that to preach a Pentecostal Message today just makes a mess out of everything. Then he tells us that by interjecting our own thoughts into it will only bring us an illusion. He further calls those people who want to bring back a Pentecostal Message, those little Ricky’s who are interjecting their own thoughts into it, thus making it just an illusion. Now how fitting these words describe those pseudo-ministers who come along with their Pentecostal illusions, saying, “ You must have a vision of Jesus coming to you personally in order to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” Others are saying that God gave them a vision to lead the Bride in the Rapture, and yet married 2 and 3 times. Still others claim to be the Joshua who will lead the Bride into the Rapture, some by playing their guitars with 6 inch picks and others by playing the piano. These things have been put up with for way too long, and they have made the Message one BIG MESS as brother Branham said. And what they offer the people are nothing but allusions as brother Branham said.

And what is an illusion? Webster tells us that an illusion is: a false idea or conception; belief or opinion that is not in accord with the facts. An deception that is not real, a misleading appearance or image. A false perception, conception, or interpretation of what one sees. A misleading image resulting in a wrong impression. So we see again that these thoughts of a false interpretation . And Brother Branham further called them an illusion which means the Word is interpreted in such a way as to make it appear to be different than it really is. Like a mirage in the desert that you think you see but is not really there.

[Isaiah 29: 7] The Word Ariel here is a Word which means the LION of GOD. And we know that at the end-time He is to come with a Loud Voice as when a Lion Roareth. [Rev 10: 1-3] Now we know that God Himself likens the roar of the Lion to His Own Voice which is a prophetic utterance as we see in the book of [Amos 3: 7-8]. Now, back in [Isaiah 29:7] This passage refers not to the Lord Himself but she which has taken His name, which would have to make this His Bride. And here we see the scripture warning us about what will happen to those who are found fighting against the elect Bride. [Isaiah 29: 8] (read) Notice that these men are living in a delusion. They eat from the Bread of Life but it is only in a dream. When they awake from their dream they will still be empty, because they are living in a delusion. A false vision of deception. And what has caused this? Their own opinions are held in more esteem to themselves than the Word of God. Notice that in verses [10-12] we are told that they will be in slumber, and the Lord will have brought on this deep slumber and their dreams will not produce anything for them.

[Romans 10: 13-15], 1) It is impossible that those preach who are not sent. 2) It is impossible that those hear who are without a preacher. 3) It is impossible that they believe who do not hear. 4) It is impossible that they call upon Him who they do not believe. To this add a last one, namely: 5) It is impossible that they who do not call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. So then, the entire source and origin of salvation rests on this, That God sends out someone, ( A true minister of the Word). If He does not send out any, then they who are preaching are preaching falsely, and their preaching is no preaching at all. In fact they would be better off had they never preached at all. Then they who hear, hear error, and it would be better for them to not have heard . Then they who believe, would believe false doctrine, and it would be better for them to not believe. Then also they who call upon Him would be calling falsely (upon a false Lord), and it would be better for them not to call. For such preachers do not preach; such hearers do not hear; such believers do not believe, and such callers do not call; and they will be damned because they would be saved by falsehood. So we read in Proverbs 1: 28 “Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer, they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” ...

Then only they can preach with certainty who proclaim the Gospel without error. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace ( 10: 15). By this quotation the Apostle shows that only those can preach who are sent by God. Those cannot preach the Divine Word and be messengers of God whom He has not sent and to whom He has not entrusted His Word. So with these same words the Apostle points out the nature of Spiritual Peace and it’s gifts. These blessings are heard only in the Divine Word and are apprehended only by Faith. They can not be presented in visible form...Now the words “ Beautiful” stands for purity, (and according to Strong’s, it means belonging to the right hour or season ( timely) by implementation to be flourishing.)

Luther went on to say, look at the motive behind what you’re being told. he said, “for they that preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad tidings of good things do not proclaim the Gospel for their own advantage or on account of vain Glory, as this happens here and there today. They preach solely from obedience to God and for the sake of the salvation of their hearers.”

Now, remember we were showing how the little Ricky’s will come in with their own opinions and turn the Message into a Mess, and bring forth an illusion tot he people. We further see evidence of this in ...

[Jer 23:32] Notice that their dreams will not profit the people any. Therefore, what purpose is there for these men to keep up with their own lies? [Isaiah 66:4-5] Notice that God will send them their own delusion. Now God Himself does not place these lies in them, but He allows a lying spirit to enter into these men who are false, and to lead them further away from the Truth by tempting them to turn further. And since they themselves already have turned down the Truth, God then only allows to happen to them what they have already shown a desire for, and that is for a the lying spirit to come down and lead them further into their own deceit as we see in [2 Chronicles 18:18-24]

[2 Thes 2: 10-13] Now I want you to know the difference here between those who are Elect and those who are not. And that is why God gave us a ministry as Paul and Martin Luther pointed out who will not bring forth delusions or illusions, but will speak the Truth in Love as we see in [Eph 4: 11-15]

[1 Thes 2: 3-13] And so we see how God will put the people to the test to see what they really believe.

In fact John tells us the same thing in [1 John 4:6]. Notice this word for error here is the same Greek word used for the delusion that will affect the make believer. But notice how the true Believer will not be deceived, he will identify with the True Ministry, not because of the man, but the Word. And how do you recognize the Men who speak the Truth from those who don’t? You check out what they teach you with the Word itself. [1 John 4:1] and

[1 Cor 2: 12-15a]

[Jer 23: 16-32] Here we find God warning the people to not even pay any attention to these false prophets who would speak His word falsely.

As Paul said, [1 Cor 14:37] You not only have to be able to recognize vindication, but those who are preaching that vindicated message as well. And so in order to test you God will allow others to rise up. And these others are ordained to take of those who are not in the True fold. [John 10: 7-8, 14-16]

[Deut 13: 1-5] God allows these things to test His people, to see what reaction they will have, to follow after signs or the Word of the Lord.