Christ Revealed in His Own Word #109

God Interprets His Own Word #2

Sunday, June 8, 1997

Brian Kocourek, Pastor Grace Fellowship

Wednesday night we read from Paragraph 137 where we found Brother Branham speaking of This Bible being the Word of God and how It needs no one to give it their own private interpretation. He said, [137] It needs no interpreter, for the Bible said that God does His own interpreting of the Bible. "It's of no private interpretation," said Peter. All right.

If you noticed, he referred back to what Peter said, when he declared in [2 Peter 1:20-21] “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: But Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Here we see Peter bringing out two very important things, #1) The prophecy of Scripture came not by man, nor the will of man nor the mind of man, but came forth as a result of the Holy Spirit moving and declaring Himself through men. The second thing that Peter tells us in this statement is that the Prophecy of the Scripture is not to be interpreted by man. If we go back one verse of Scripture we found him saying, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Now, by this we see Peter telling us that we have a more sure word than just guessing at what the Scriptures mean, and being that we have such assurance, this assurance is like a light in the dark, that we must take heed to until a brighter light appears, which is the dawn or day star, and until the day star does come forth, we are dependent upon the light in a dark place for direction. But when the day star does arise in our hearts (which when we see the word hearts used in the scriptures, it always refers to our understanding). And so, until we come to the place where we shall witness the day star taking over our understanding , until that time we shall be dependent upon the light in a dark place.

Now, in using the metaphor or illustration of a light in a dark place, we see that Peter is telling us that certain things will guide us along the way, as surely as a night light will do so, and that certain thing is the Word of God. In fact in the Book of Psalms, we find that the night Light is this Word of God. As we read in [Psalm 119:105] “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” But what Peter is also telling us, is that although the Scriptures in not only a light in the night season, but the Word which has been manifested is even more sure even as the day light is so much more certain than a light in the night for being able to see.

And therefore, he tells us the story of how he is so sure of what He is telling us pertaining to Jesus Christ as the Son of God. we find that just before He speaks of having a more sure word, he tells us the story of the Mt. Transfiguration where Jesus was disclosed in all His Glory. Here we see Peter telling us, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming ( Parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

So we find Peter telling us here that the reason we have a more sure word and that it is of no private interpretation, is because God manifested that Word and has interpreted His Own Word by bringing it to pass. Anyone can read the Bible and make a guess as to what it means. But when you read it and then see it manifested before your very eyes, there remains no more doubt about it. [1 John 1:1-7]

We also find the manifestation of the Word that Peter is referring to in [Matt 17:1-9] (read). So what we see here is that Peter is telling us that since He was an eye witness to the Glory and majesty of Christ as it was manifested, the fact that he was privileged to witness this manifestation of the word, makes that prophecy of the scripture not only more real, but it shows or verifies, or vindicates the interpretation of it to be so. Therefore, what Peter is trying to get across to us here, is that God interprets His Word by bringing it to pass, and that the interpretation of the Word gives us a word which has been made more sure, because it has been manifested to be so.

We have the Word in a form, a written form; but how can we be sure as to what it means, when there are over two thousand different denominations who claim to have the right interpretation, and none of them can agree on what is to take place in this hour. Therefore, although we have a light in the dark season, yet the certainty of what is taking place is not as sure as when the day star arises. But once the Word manifests itself, there can no longer be any doubts as to what that Word or Prophecy means, unless we are blinded to that manifestation as the religious people were in Jesus day.

Therefore, if I give you a promise of something, and then I give you what I promised, then there should be no doubt in reviewing my promise, what I had in mind, when I made the promise to you. Then, if God promised way back in the Book of [Malachi 4] that He would send forth His Spirit with healing in His Wings, as we see in [verse 2], But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His Wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Then when He came in this hour with a healing campaign that went to all the world, we should be able to see the result and know then with assurance, that this healing campaign was the interpretation of that Scripture. And in fact since this scripture speaks beyond just the healing campaign of the Spirit of the Lord in the last days, but it speaks of the Spirit of Elijah coming as well. And just after it speaks of the healing campaign, it also speaks of the condition of His people in that day as well. It says, after this healing campaign, we shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. So we see that there is to be a maturity take place, a growing up, so to speak.

Now, the wording here in [Malachi 4:2] is given as a metaphor or parable, and we know according to Matt 13 & Mark 4 that the Word is given in parables so that it might open the eyes of some and blind others. And so we see that after the times of the healing campaign, we shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. Now, a calf is placed in the stall to do one thing, and one thing only, and that is to eat, with the purpose in mind that it might grow and mature rapidly. And we see that preceding this growing period, is a time of healing. So we see in the way of using a parable or metaphor, the Lord has shown to us that a healing campaign will precede the time of the growing up and coming to full maturity. Then, once the calf is fully grown it is freed from the stall, and goes forth leaping for joy.

Now, what then does this tell us pertaining to what Peter said, and what Brother Branham is telling us. The fact is that we can not predict with certainty what the scripture really is telling us until it becomes manifested before us. Then if we are spiritual, and if we have the Spirit of God in us we shall be able then to discern what has taken place in the hour that we live and then we shall be able to identify it in the scriptures. In other words, until the Lord did come with Healing campaigns as the world has never seen before in all of it’s history, then we could only speculate as to what Malachi 4 would mean. But once we actually saw this healing ministry of the Lord going forth, then we should then have realized that a feeding was to follow, which would of course mean that a teaching ministry was to follow. This of course makes complete sense as we can look back and see the Message or shout, as we know it to be, and we can see how that the Bride is laying in the presence of the Son to ripen, which is to mature. So we see then the time we are now in is a time of eating and growing.

And yet, the one who was used to bring this message is gone off the scene, but the Message still lives on. Just as the calves continue to eat long after the food has been delivered, and the one ho delivers the food walks away, we see it was not necessary for the Messenger to remain with us throughout our eating frenzy. After all, if this were to be the case then we would have to alter Ephesians chapter 4.

[Ephesians 4: 8] what gifts? Let’s read on [9-11] notice he gave tot he church a five fold ministry. These then are gifts tot he church which are here then for a specific purpose. And then what is that purpose? [4:12] for the perfecting which is the maturing , or the complete furnishing, or equipping of the saints. [4:13-14] That we hence forth be not children. Then if we hence forth be not children, then the purpose of this ministry is to finish off, or to bring to completion the growth process in the saints. And how is this accomplished? By speaking the Truth in Love. [4:15-16].

Now, does this mean that the five fold ministry have a right to interpret the Word of God? Absolutely not. God does his own interpreting of His Own Word, by bringing it to pass. Then how can Christ Be Revealed in His Own Word except that Word is manifested. And that is what this sermon is all about. Not the Written Word, but the manifested Word. Because after all, if the Word was in written form only then it would not be interpreted by God as of yet. And if it was not manifested, then it has not come to pass, and if it has not come to pass, then it can not be revealed. Therefore, we do not worry about things yet to come, but we focus on things present. That’s why Peter said we need to be established in the Present Truth.

Brothers, and sisters, this thing, I want you to know for sure, This thing I want you to know for certain, God never holds you accountable for a Word or a promise which has not yet been manifested. But when He does manifest that promise, then you will be held accountable with what you do with that promise. Look, I don’t know much about the Millennium, or the New Jerusalem, but it does not concern me now.

Those are promises of God which are as yet to be unfolded, and since they have not yet been manifested, they have not yet been interpreted by God. So why should I attempt to interpret that which God hasn’t yet done. And what about those who do? They are trying to out God, God, or at least they are getting ahead of the game and when they do so, they are placing themselves in danger of being very, very wrong. And that is the best way of loosing what you have already worked for.

[2 John 8-9] Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, (or labored for) but that ye receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, (which means, to go past, or to go beyond the limits) and abideth not, ( or waits not) in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth (or waits) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

So we see that we must learn to wait upon God for the interpretation of His Own Word. And that is where the prophet of God comes in. In [Hebrews 1:1] we read, God, who in sundry times and divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by (through, or in) the prophets.

Now, what does this mean that God spoke by, through or in the Prophets? Well, the Word of God is written by men who were moved by the Holy Ghost, right? Then that would explain God speaking by the prophets. And how would the Word of God be spoken through the Prophets? Brother Branham explained this in paragraph 125, when he said, “David couldn't even think now. His mind had gone from him, as it were. And he was hanging on the cross, like you see the statue here, hanging on the cross crying, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? All my bones, they stare at Me. They pierced My hands and My feet. They thrust My side." See? "Why art Thou so far from Me? All the bulls of Bashan compass by; they wag their heads, saying, 'He trusted in God that he would deliver him; now, let's see if He will deliver him,'"--speaking the same words. So you see, when God was made manifest on earth here, He said the same words David did. You get it? So you see, It's not the word of man, it's the Word of God. That was God in David. That wasn't David; he didn't know what he was saying; he was just so in the Spirit. That's the way Moses was. He was so in the Spirit, passed out of the dimension that he was living in, and stood there face to face and that burning bush, talking to God Himself. Said, "Take off your shoes. The ground you're standing on is holy ground." I'd imagine when Moses left there, he thought, "What happened? What taken place? What was it?" Said, "Go down in Egypt; I'll go with you." He said, "It's so real to me, I must go." He got his wife and his children, and his child, rather, and his stick in his hand, and took off down to Egypt to deliver the people. See? God speaking Himself through the prophet.”

Or yet still how is it that God could speak to the Fathers in the Prophets? We find our answer in [Num 12:1-10] So we see that, in many instances with certain prophets, God actually spoke by, in and through the Prophets, and therefore, that prophet was the Word for the age which they lived. Let’s face it, in the Book of Genesis, we see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and then in Exodus we hear of Moses, and it seems that in most of the Books we read from this Bible, the scene is one in Which God Himself comes down to speak to man, but He uses a man to deliver His Message.

Then that story that we hear or read is of the ordeal that the particular Prophet has in getting God’s Message across to the people. Then what is the Bible? But the Revelation of Jesus Christ through God’s anointed servants. Then how does God manifest that portion of His Word in that specific age? He uses a man, a prophet and that man then becomes that Word in a manifested form or manner.

Then what is the Message to any age? It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ as it comes forth in a manifested way to the people, but under the moving or guiding hand of the God’s Holy Presence. In fact Brother Branham said in his audio letter to Brother Vayle, “Would it be, you think, advisable in here, to say that God then, in order to--to proclaim this, has to send a prophet in order to inject this, make this real again, show the people the hour we're living in? Because if they only see it in the hour past, then there's no hope for the church. The church must see it in the present tense. So God sends His prophet to manifest, present tense of it.”

And that is the key to our understanding the Message of God for the hour. We see God manifest His Word through His Prophet and then it brings the Word into a present tense understanding to us, making it real and live out again amongst the people. And notice how he said, ? “Because if they only see it in the hour past, then there's no hope for the church. The church must see it in the present tense. So God sends His prophet to manifest, present tense of it.”

Also, from Anointed Ones at the End-time Brother Branham said, “"For it is impossible for those which were once enlightened and didn't move on with the Word as it come to pass..." They're dead, gone.) So we can see, then, the importance of the Word of God being manifested in the age that we live and our reaction to that Living Word. Notice then the next words, brother Branham speaks here in paragraph [137], when he says, “And all the Scripture is Divinely given, Divinely set in order; and the whole thing is a revelation of Jesus Christ, the New and Old Testament, where they foretold of Him coming, what He would do when He got here, and what He would do in this age to come.

And yet when He came the people missed Him, yet He came just exactly as He said He would come, but the people missed Him because He didn’t come the way they expected Him to come. [1 Cor 2:7-8] Now, had they known Him they would not have done to Him the things which they did. Yet if we continue to read on in this Book, we find that it takes the Spirit of God to anoint us to that Word in order for us to understand it. [1 Cor 2:9-16] That is why we hear John tells us in [1 John 2: 20-21 & 27] . Now this does not mean that God bypasses the ministry, because after all, if He has placed this Five-Fold Gift in the Church fort the maturing of the saints, then this anointing which John is speaking of must tie in somehow with these gifts to the church as we also hear John say in [John 13:19-20 & 1 John 4: 6, John 6: 28-29]

Now in this Paragraph we heard brother Branham say, “And all the Scripture is Divinely given, Divinely set in order; so we see that we are dealing with a gift of God to the people, and one which has been , Divinely set in order. Now, this as well ought to help us to see that God just doesn’t do these things haphazardly, but He has Divine order to the way in which He sets these things forth. In fact we read in [1 Peter 1:5] that God has a season which is epochal and strategic in it’s significance. (read) Wuest “A salvation that is ready to be revealed in a last season which is epochal and strategic in it’ significance.”

So we see that there is to be a last season apokolupsis or uncovering which is strategically planned out so that it will bring about a certain pre-planned result in God’s Elect. We see also read in verse 11 the timing and strategy was even searched for, when it speaks of the prophets who searched for the manner and manner of season which the Revelation of Jesus Christ would come. Therefore, this ought to clue us in on the workings of God. He has a way in which He does things, and when we are aware of His way, we then are open to receive whatsoever He has for us by way of His manifested Word of Promise, and that Word’s fulfillment. So that makes Him the same yesterday, today, and forever. See? Like in Hebrews there when Paul wrote it, He's God, Jesus Christ yesterday of the Old Testament. He's Jesus Christ today, manifested in the flesh, and He's Jesus Christ forever in the Spirit to come (See, see?), same yesterday, today, and forever. And He ever lives to make His Word live what It said It would do for that age. He is alive. He was alive in the Old Testament, manifested.

Anointed Ones "I AM sent me." I AM, not I was, or will be, I AM, present tense, the Word now. Not the Word that was, the Word that will come, the Word that's now. See? You get it? "I AM..." I AM is the Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God."