Christ is the Mystery no 124
The Christian Life no 5
Attributes of the Early Church
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
God in simplicity 63-0317M P:35 We are the continuation of the doctrine of
the apostles. We are the continuation of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and all
the things that the early church stood for, and the Catholic church has none of
them. See it?
Uniting time and sign 63-0818 P:64 We see nations uniting; we see the world
uniting; we see Communism uniting; we see the churches uniting; and we see God
uniting Hisself with His Bride, until He and the Church is the same thing,
like the pyramid yonder...?... Uniting themselves together; God uniting, why? Never
before since the early church age was the Pillar of Fire ever among the people.
Never before, since the early church age, did they ever see the things that
we're seeing today. And this was only made possible when God sent the Seven
Seals and give us a sign by It, and sent seven Angels down out of heaven; and
come to bring back that scattered Word from them denominations, and tie it back
into the Word of God again to bring down His Holy Spirit.
1. The Early Church was Humble, and they knew they didn't
have it all figured out, and they were open minded -
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be
abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Influence 63-0112 P:27 Now. So it... This king got along fine until he found out
that all the nations was fearing him. He'd become largely populated; his
kingdom got built up; and he got lifted up in his heart with pride. You see,
we're just... "I'm just a big man now," and that's the way out. The
way up is down. How do you know which is up or down? 'Cause if the world's
standing in space, how do you know which is up or down? So always, he that
humbles himself, God will exalt; he that exalts himself, God will bring to
abase. He'll bring him down.Always keep humble, and be little in your own
sight. No matter what God does for you, just see how much more humbler you can
be all the time. The more God blesses you, just keep getting more humble all
the time. He can continue to bless. But when you get to a place that you think,
"I've got it," you haven't got it, you're on your road out. That's
right. See? You lose your influence. You lose the--your strength of your
testimony. When you women begin to want to be like the rest of the women,
there's something wrong. When you men, you ministers, try to become like a, pattern
after somebody else, when you businessmen try to do business on the scale that
somebody else would do it on, because they're prosperous... Prosperity don't
always represent success in Christ, sometimes very much to the contrary. See?
Acts 20:19 Serving
the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which
befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
John
Christianity :s idolatry 61-1217 P:9 In studying in the early history of the
church, Broadbent's, and Hazeltine's, and many of their comments on it, Nicene
Fathers... And yesterday I just wound up with the complete life of
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto
the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
From
his sermon, FALLING APART OF THE WORLD 62-1216 68
brother Branham said, And remember, your politics
and churchy-anity stinks before God too. God loves the sweet-smelling savor of
humility. The church don't want that, a false humility, but God wants real
humility.
Again
from brother Branham sermon called, SIR WE WOULD
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he
saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
2. They loved the Word of God above all
- and "They searched
the Scriptures daily".
They didn't set back and wait until Sunday came along to hear the Word of God,
they searched the Scriptures daily to hear from God, and to know what to do,
then they did it. It was filled with the Works of God because the people
weren't satisfied with an intellectual Gospel, they wanted the Gospel because
it was Life to them. They lived and breathed the Word.
To whatever the
holy Spirit would reveal to them. The Bibles says they were "having a ready mind to listen" Acts 17:11 These were
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so..
The identifiable characteristic of organization is they will not permit their
members to check anything out that has not been approved from their group of
preachers that they have recognized as "in the faith".
Acts
Acts
So
we come to number 3. And we see that "They Lived the Word that
they loved".
2 Corinthians 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ
ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God;
not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled;
and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
The
early Church were called Christians because they were Christ Like.
QA Image of the beast 54-0515 P:32 There's only one way to be a Christian. The
word "Christian" means "Christ-like." And you can't do it;
you can't work it in yourself; there's no way at all you can do it. You have to
forget yourself, die out to yourself, and let Christ come in and live the Life
of Christ in you.
Jesus Christ the same 56-0426 P:34 And
if a man professes to be a Christian has got to live that same Christ-like
life... If the Spirit of Christ is in you it'll certainly do the--the same
works that Christ did.
We would see Jesus 61-0409 P:29 Peter had the keys, that was that notable
sermon that he preached, and every church, I don't care if it's Catholic,
Protestant, wherever, if you're going to be Christian, you have to go back, and
the first church that God ever ordained was at the day of Pentecost. It
was a Pentecostal believing church with a Pentecostal experience. Now, take the
Nicaean council, or the early church fathers, or any history that you want to,
it'll refer you right back, the first church was a Pentecostal church,
filled with the Holy Ghost, signs, and wonders, and miracles accompanying it.
And if God is an infinite God and set His church in order like that on the day
of Pentecost, every time He sets the church in order, will be the same
thing. Has to be, 'cause He's infinite and cannot change. Our doctrines and
theology has taken us off to one side till we're wondering in a wilderness.
God's Bible remains the same, and God's Spirit remains the same. This is the
last days, back to where the prophet said it'll be light in the evening time.
Who is this 59-1122 P:28 Now, the Holy Spirit has come into the church to give signs,
discernment. Why do we know It's right? Because It's the same Spirit with
the same action, with the same signs, with the same wonders, with the same
power, with the same of all that was in the early church is in this church:
discernment of spirit, prophecy, tongues, interpretation, Divine healing, powers.
Why, it'll take a born again church to believe that.
Questions and answers
From his sermon Smyrnaean
church age 60-1206 P:8 said, “Another
thing that I'd like to read you, it's found in the book: "How Did It
Happen?" by R. C. Hazeltine, the history of the early churches. And here
on page 180, "The spiritual Gifts
In Irenaeus' Time, A.D. 177 to 202." Now, the reason I'm quoting this,
it's going on tape (You see?), and
it'll be taken off on books." It
was in Irenaeus' time that most of the apostolic
From the
beginning it wasn't so 59-1125 P:3 Jesus said at the beginning, "The works that I do, shall you do also." That's the way it was at the
beginning. What kind of a works did He do at the beginning? The same works that He's
doing now. What kind of a church did He have at the beginning? A
church that was filled with the Spirit, that healed
the sick, and prophesied, and great
signs and wonders. And it wasn't ashamed of the religion.
They shouted and danced under the Spirit like drunk men, and had cloven tongues
like fire set upon them. And they done signs and wonders,
and exploits followed them. That's the kind it was at the
beginning. That's the kind it'll be in the middle. That'll be the kind it'll be
at the last. You say, "My
church don't teach that." Well, it
wasn't so from the beginning. You say, "I'm a Methodist." It
wasn't so from the beginning. "I'm a Baptist." It wasn't so from the
beginning." I'm a Lutheran." It wasn't so from the beginning. They
were baptized saints of God with the Holy Ghost. That's what the
beginning was: signs and
wonders. You say "My church don't believe in it." It wasn't so from
the beginning. "My church don't believe in seeing visions." It
wasn't so from the beginning.
3. The Christians in the early Church
were not biased when it comes to the Word of God, but they held fast to
it, because they had the attitude that either
it is in the Bible or it is not - But the organizational person like
the synagogues in the first church Age, were instructed by Jewish teachers not
to listen to Paul. But the Christians sought out the truth, and were impartial
enough to listen to what Paul's explanation of the Scripture was, and they were
honest with the scripture when they heard it. True believers do not judge
others immediately even if the influence of their leaders commands you to do so?
True Christians are objective and not
motivated by an organizational spirit? The do not set up camps, and then judge
others based on what their camp teaches. They are open to all the Word and it
matters not where it comes from.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for
he is faithful that promised;)
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.
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.
Titus 1:9 Holding
fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Timothy
1 Thessalonians
Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man
take thy crown.
4. True believers when they hear the
truth, are quick to repent. "times of this ignorance.. now commanded men everywhere to
repent" The organizational
spirit keeps the people ignorant of all truth except the truth they have
selected to build their camp upon. Jesus said those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
(right-wise-ness) shall be filled. People who just blindly follow Nicolaitian
instructions are ignorant of what really is taking place.
2 Peter 3:9 The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent.
2 Timothy
2 Corinthians
For godly sorrow worketh
repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world
worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7 : 9
Now I rejoice, not that
ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry
after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held
their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of
repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our
father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men
should repent.
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I
will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
5. The
Early Church Loved God and the brethren - "he who loves God hears us" Paul said "bear
with me a little with my folly..if others bring you another doctrine ye do well
to bear with him" A true
believer is careful not to judging others by hearsay which is second hand or
third hand information he hears from others. We are told those who will be
rejected are they who love and believe a lie.
1 John 4:7 Beloved,
let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born
of God, and knoweth God.
John
2 John 1:5 And
now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee,
but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
1 John
1 John
1 John
1 John
Romans 13:8 Owe
no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law.
John 15:12 This
is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John
1 Thessalonians
Galatians
1 Peter
John 13:35 By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:
for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one
another in love;
Hebrews
Romans
1 Peter 3:8 Finally,
be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be
pitiful, be courteous:
6. The sixth
attribute of the early church Christian is that they were very conscious of
their works or deeds before God and men. That means they were very
conscious to do as Christ did.
Church Age Book 5 - The
Matthew 12:33-35 "Either
make the tree good and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt and his
fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can
ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth
good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil
things."
Now if a man is born of the Word (Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which
liveth and abideth forever. I Peter 1:23) he
will produce the Word. The fruit or works of his life will be a product
of the kind of seed or life that is in him. His works, therefore will be
Scriptural. Oh, what an indictment this truth is going to be against the
Pergamean Age. There stands that Matchless One, and in His hand the sharp sword
with the two edges, the Word of God. And that Word will judge us in the last
day. In fact the Word is judging even now, for it is the discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. It cuts asunder the carnal from the
spiritual. It makes us living epistles read and known of all men to the glory
of God.
1 John
1 Peter
51-0413 The Works I do Bear Witness
of Me E-16
And now, I want to speak just a moment, or just bring your attention to
a few words here that Jesus said, "The works that I do bear witness of
Me." The things that I do, what I say, is what bears record of me. And
that's what bears record of every person. Do you know, I'd rather you'd live
me a sermon than preach me one? It'll be a better evidence that
you're a Christian. Isn't that right? A live a sermon. And what
we are is what we live, what we do. Our actions shows what we are. And
if we say we have faith, and then afraid to step out and claim our faith and
put it to work, then our faith doesn't do us much good, does it? The Bible said
that faith without works is dead, just as the body without the spirit is dead.
So is faith without works.
2 Thessalonians
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
Therefore the
early church were themselves able to prove themselves from the bible if a man
was preaching Truth or not. And they didn't run from those who were wrong, they
actually contended with them who they thought were in error instead of avoiding
them, and talking about them. Yes they talked to them instead of talking about
them. That is what the early church manifested in their lives.
1Peter
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the
common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.
1Thessalonians
Church Age Book 3 -
The Ephesian Church Age P:14 Just to seal this point on the True and false vines mingling and
demonstrating the two spirits that are at work, let us look into I John 4:1-4, and Jude 3,4,12. "Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of
God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of
God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and EVEN
Jude 3,4,12.
"Beloved, when I
gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for
the faith which was once delivered unto the SAINTS. For there are CERTAIN MEN (not Saints) crept in unawares (these have not come into the fold by
means of the DOOR and are therefore robbers), who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, UNGODLY men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. These are spots in
your feasts of charity, when they feast WITH you, feeding themselves without
fear..." It cannot
be denied in the face of these Scriptures that the
Church Age Book 3 -
The