Christ Revealed in His Own Word #107

Overcoming

Sunday, June 1, 1997

Brian Kocourek, Pastor Grace Fellowship

Last night we began to look at paragraph 130 and I would like to begin again this morning by doing the same because brother Branham makes some pretty hard statements in here that need to be looked into. I think we have a tendency in the 1990’s to look for the easy way out too often. I don’t see the “live or die” commitments that we used to live by. Everything now, seems geared around the almighty dollar and we have let down the bars and as a result the sheep have gotten out and the goats have come in. So, this morning we need to examine these statements from Brother Branham that are hard and cutting and we need to reflect upon them in our own situations to see how we are measuring up.

[130] Notice, we cannot; we must not, listen to any other man's word. We don't care how smart, how educated. The Bible in Proverbs says we must cast down reasonings. See? Now, here in this second realm... First realm is your senses of see, taste, feel, smell, and hear; that's in your outer body. On the inner body, which is the spirit, is reasonings, and thought, and so forth. We must cast all that down. Can't reason, say, "Now, wait, if God is a good God..." And we're told so much today that He is. "If He is a good God, then if I be sincere, though I can't see that in that Bible being right, though I be sincere, I'll be saved." You'll be lost. "If I go to church and just do the things that I believe it's right and try to hold up for what I think is right, well I..." You're still lost. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death. See? You won't be saved; you'll be lost. See, see? It must be that inside control man.

So we our dealing with a quality of absoluteness in salvation that we seldom hear about any longer. Our minds have drifted so far off to sleep that the church no longer emphasizes the Sovereign power of God and the finality of His Judgment. The churches have become so lukewarm that God has only one solution and that is to spue them out of His Mouth. [Rev 3: 15-21] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest that thou art rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Therefore, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment , that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. For as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

Overcoming, what is it and why are we challenged to do it. That is a good question. This word overcome is used in the scriptures 25 times alone in the New Testament and means to prevail and to be victorious; it speaks of the Christian who is able to hold fast to their faith through testings, persecutions, and against the power of their foes, even to the point of death.

We are promised that those who are born again will be able to overcome the world and the things of the world. [1 John 5:4] and that our overcoming is due to the fact that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, not God the Son. [1 John 5:5] Now, since the Scripture tells us that we are able to overcome by a Revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then there must be power in this revelation for us.

26-4 REVELATION.OF.JESUS.CHRIST -- CHURCH.AGE.BOOK.CPT.1

I admit that it takes a real revelation from the Holy Ghost to see the truth about the Godhead these days when we are in the midst of the perverting of so much Scripture. But the prevailing, overcoming church is built on revelation so we can expect God to reveal His truth to us.

In fact we are also promised that the Power of this Revelation is that there is a life that is much greater than our own life that comes forth from this Revelation. Jesus Himself said, “My words are Spirit and they are Life”. Therefore, when we receive the Life that is in the Word, we receive the power that comes forth from that Life to overcome.

[Galatians 2:20] & [1 John 4:4 & 1 John 5:4] Now, we know that the new birth was not reserved for the last church age alone, but that in each church age, there we those who were ordained to Eternal Life, and therefore when the Word crossed their path, they believed what they heard. [Acts 13:48]

360-3 LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE -- CHURCH.AGE.BOOK.CPT.9

A quick look at those Scriptures which involve the Lord Jesus overcoming will bring out the truth of this proposition. In Matthew 4, wherein Jesus is tempted of the devil, He overcame the personal temptations of Satan by the Word, and by the Word only. In each of the three major trials that corresponded exactly to the temptation of the Garden of Eden, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, Jesus overcame by the Word. Eve fell to the personal temptation of Satan by failing to use the Word. Adam fell in direct disobedience to the Word. But Jesus overcame by the Word. And right now, let me say that this is the only way to be an overcomer, also it is the only way that you can know if you are overcoming, because that Word CAN'T fail.

Therefore we also find that in each church age, the promise of overcoming is given to the church and with the overcoming a reward is offered to those who do so in each of the church ages.

In the Ephesian church age, [Rev 2:7] we find the reward for overcoming is that we are granted permission to eat from the Tree of Life.

97-2 EPHESIAN.CHURCH.AGE -- THE REWARD PROMISED

Revelation 2:7, "... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree Of Life, Which is in the midst of the paradise of God." This is the future reward to all overcomers of all ages. When the last call to battle has been sounded, when our armor has been laid down, then we will rest in the paradise of God and our portion shall be the Tree of Life, forever.

107-5 EPHESIAN.CHURCH.AGE -- CONCLUSION

"... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree Of Life, Which is in the midst of the paradise of God." What a thrilling thought is this. That Tree Of Life in the Garden of Eden Which could not be approached unto because of the fall of Adam is now given to the overcomer. The flaming sword of the guarding cherubim has been sheathed. But it was not sheathed ere its blade was bloody with the blood of the Lamb. Let us meditate upon this truth awhile as we consider why the Tree was denied to Adam and his descendants but now allowed again.

In the Second Church age, the Smyrnaian church age as we find it in [Rev 2:11] we are promised that we shall not be hurt of the second death.

133-3-5 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE -- THE REWARD FOR OVERCOMING

Revelation 2:11, "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Now, once again the Spirit is talking to all the ages. This message is to comfort us today even as it has comforted our brethren of all the other ages. And He says to us that the second death will not hurt us. But with the righteous it shall not be so. They don't have to fear. They have been redeemed by God. They are in His bosom. They are the overcomers. And who is he that overcometh? He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ.

In the third church age, the Pergamos church age, according to [Rev 2:17] we are granted permission to eat from the hidden Manna and are also given a white stone with our new name on it.

208-4 PERGAMEAN.CHURCH.AGE -- THE REWARDS

Revelation 2:17. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Each message to each age holds out an incentive to the believer, encouraging him to be an overcomer and thereby be rewarded of the Lord. In this age the Spirit is promising the hidden manna and a new name written in a white stone.

In the fourth church age, the Thyatirean church age in [Rev 2:26] we will be given power over the nations, to rule and we shall also be given the Morning Star which is Christ, who is the Bright and Morning Star.

240-1 THYATIREAN.CHURCH.AGE -- THE REWARDS

Revelation 2:26-29. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." "He that overcometh and keepeth My works to the end." It is very evident from the remarks of the Spirit on works that the Lord is trying to get His own to see His opinion of righteous works. Four times He mentions works. And now He says, that he who keeps doing His works faithfully until the end will be given power over nations, and will be a strong, capable, unbending ruler who can cope so powerfully with any situation, that even the most desperate enemy will be broken if need be. His demonstration of rule by power will be like unto the very Son's. This is very amazing. But let us look at this promise in the light of the age. Powerful Rome with state backing, employing kings and armies and legislators, breaks and grinds all before it. She has killed millions and hungers to kill millions more who will not bow to her. She intolerantly sets up kings or brings them low whenever she can. Yea, her interference has actually caused nations to fall because she has determined to destroy the elect of God. Her works are the works of the devil, for she murders and lies as did he. But there is coming a day wherein the Lord is going to say, "Bring these Mine enemies before Me and slay them." Then shall the righteous be with their Lord when His righteous indignation will fall upon the blasphemers. The righteous coming with Him in glory, shall destroy those who destroyed the earth and made havoc of the saints of God. This was the age of turning the cheek, of terrible distress; but a day is coming when truth shall prevail and who shall stand in its fire and be safe? Only the redeemed of the Lord.

Again we see in the fifth church age, the Sardisian church age in [Rev 3:5] we shall be given new raiment and a promise that our names will never be blotted out of the Book of Life and Jesus will confess us to His Father and before His angels.

264-3 SARDISEAN.CHURCH.AGE -- THE PROMISE TO THE OVERCOMER

Revelation 3:5, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment: and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His holy angels." "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment." This is actually a repetition of verse 4, wherein is made reference to the few who have not defiled their garments. We used to have a saying years ago that no doubt was taken from this verse. It was, "Keep your skirts clean." It meant: don't get involved in questionable things; others will be involved and you might be tempted to be involved, or someone might even try to involve you; but stay clear of it all by steering a course away from it. Now God is going to reward those who follow this advice. They are going to be clothed in white even as He is clothed in white. Peter, James and John saw Him on Mt. Transfiguration and His clothes were as white as light. That is how the saints are going to be clothed. Their garments will be shining, exceedingly white. "And he that overcometh, I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life." Once again we come to a most difficult portion of the Word. This verse superficially regarded will be used by both the Armenians and the Calvinists to suit their purposes. The Armenians will declare that this verse assuredly annuls John 6:37-44, "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him That sent Me. And this is the Father's will Which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, Whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me except the Father Which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." Arminianism makes the will of the Father, not a sovereign purpose, but merely a complacent desire as He stands back to see what all men do with His good and gracious gifts, and even life eternal.

275-1 SARDISEAN.CHURCH.AGE -- CHURCH.AGE.BOOK.CPT.7

Revelation 20:11-15, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away: and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works, And the sea gave up the dead which were in it: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." There will be both the righteous and the un-righteous in this judgment. It says so. THESE RIGHTEOUS WILL NOT BE THE BRIDE FOR THE BRIDE SITS WITH HIM IN JUDGMENT. I Corinthians 6:2-3, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." See, the bride is with Him in the throne. As she is to judge the world she has to be sitting in the judgment with Him. That is exactly what Daniel saw. Daniel 7:9-10, "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." See, it is the same scene, for the thousand thousands who are ministering to Him are the bride, for who ministers to the husband but the wife?

In the sixth church age which was the Philadelphian church age, in [Rev 3: 12] the overcomer shall be made a pillar if the church of our Lord, and are given the promise that we will never have to go out, and Jesus Himself will write upon us the name of God and the name of the New Jerusalem shall also be given to us, and He will write upon us His Own New Name.

287-1 PHILADELPHIAN.CHURCH.AGE -- CHURCH.AGE.BOOK.CPT.8

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new Name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:11-12, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: I will write upon him My new Name. We don't need to comment on the thought that He is coming quickly. We know that He is because we are in the end of the last days, aren't we? But He goes on to say, "Hold fast what you have, that no man take your crown." Ponder that word, "overcometh". John asks the question, "Who is he that overcometh?" and the answer comes right back, "He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ." He doesn't say that the overcomer is one that believes in `A' Jesus and in `A' Christ, but believes that Jesus IS THE CHRIST--ONE person--not two. He is the one who is baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And in the church of the Laodiceans, the seventh and last church age we are promised in [Rev 3:21] that we shall sit with Him in His Throne even as He has overcome and has set down in His Father’s throne.

360-1 LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE -- THE OVERCOMERS THRONE

Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." In verses 15 to 18 which we have just studied lies the true picture of the ripened false vine, false spirit, false church people. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear: and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." No words ever spelled out a more bitter denunciation, and no proud and arrogant religious people ever deserved it more. Yet in verse 21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne," we find the true vine, true Spirit, true Church people exalted to the very throne of God with the highest compliment ever paid to a humble, steadfast Spiritual group. Death had entered. How do we know? Do we not hear the voice of the Spirit raised in that first age for all who will hear, as He is calling. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life in the paradise of God." The church had already imbibed too deeply of the tree of death (or the denominational false vine) whose end is the lake of fire. But there are no cherubim with flaming swords to guard the Tree of Life now. God does not now depart from the midst of the church as He departed from Eden. Oh, no, He will ever be in the midst of His church until the final age. And until that time He calls to all to come.

And finally in [Rev 21:7] the promise to the overcomer is that he shall inherit all things. And that God shall be our God and we shall be His son. In the book of Isaiah we find that there will come a condition among the people that is so bad that they will not be able to tell that which is good and that which is evil, and thus they will call evil good and good evil. [Isaiah 5:20-21]Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! And surely this is an abomination unto God for what good are the Words of His Law if they were not meant to be kept. [Proverbs 17:15] He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord.

And man has come to the place today that they think just because they are good and go to church that they are saved. Your goodness has nothing to do with salvation. The Bible tells us that they will have a form of Godliness, but they will deny the Power of the Word. [2 Tim 3:5] Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. So we see the command of God that we should not even be near these kind of people, but rather we are to withdraw ourselves from such.

[132] "Well, I spoke in tongues, Brother Branham. Well, don't you believe in speaking in tongues, Brother Branham?" Absolutely. "Well, I shouted, don't you believe that?" Yes, sir. "I live a good Christian life, don't you believe in that?" Yes, sir. But still that don't mean you're saved. You're a good person, clean, moral, holy, good person; so was those priests, religious to the core, so religious till one misconstrued, they'd be stoned to death. The death penalty of fooling with the Word of God was death.

[133] That's what's the matter with our country today. The reason we got so many loose-leaf things in the earth today, the penalties are not strong enough. If a man was caught running out with another man's wife, they should both be taken out in public and castrated right in public and turned loose. That's right. If a man's caught doing anything wrong down the road, speeding, he oughtn't to be given less than ten years; he's premeditated murder. See? You put penalties like that on, you'll slow them down. But when some crooked politician can get to this one over here, and pass it off, and say, "Well, he was drinking a little, he was--didn't mean to do that..." And would kill a man, wife, and a whole bunch of innocent children, and let the Ricky get by with it, that's politics. That's the world; that's the devil.

[134] God said if a man was caught in adultery or a woman, take them out there and stone them to death. That settled it. See? If you was even caught picking up a weight of a stick on the Sabbath day, "Take him and stone him." They lived by that. And now, see, we don't have them kind of laws today, but the Christian, the church what I'm talking to this morning, that law of God is in your heart. See? You have no desire to do it. It's inside here. You want to keep God's law so perfect. No matter what it is, you want to be just what... If God needs a doormat at the door, He wants you to be that doormat, you're so happy to be that. No matter what it would be, you want to be the doormat. See? Whatever God wants you to do, that's what you want to do, 'cause it's God. Now, that's where you really find your real, genuine, true love for God.