Christ is the Mystery no 130

Christian Life no 11

Same Spirit Same actions

Brian Kocourek

 

This evening We will look at paragraph 208 of Christ is the Mystery of God Revealed where brother Branham says, "208 (441) Now, notice, God making Himself known. Not... We're not suppose to make converts to Christianity by a government, but by the revelation of Christ in you as God was in Christ. (1) As God was in Christ, Christ is in you. (2) What God did in Christ, Christ does in you. (3) What signs did God in Christ, Christ does in you. Oh, isn't that beautiful? Oh, my. I like that. Jesus said at that day (that's this day), at that day (when this revelation's made known) "you will know that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me, I in you, and you in Me." (When the revelation's made manifest,) "at that day, you shall know that I and the Father are One. I'm in the Father, and the Father's in Me". Then when the revelation comes forth, then it's "I in you and you in Me." There you are. See the manifold threefold... What for? To bring it back. We've got to be...

 

Now in reading this paragraph that brother Branham spoke to us, there are three things I would like to review tonight. We're not suppose to make converts to Christianity by a government, but by the revelation of Christ in you as God was in Christ.

 

Notice he said as God was in Christ, Christ is in you. As... So what does he mean, As God was in Christ, Christ is in you.

 

Well, for starters we need to know what this simple word "as" means. Because we are talking about a revelation here, and the revelation is that Christ is in you "AS" God was in Christ.

 

So for starters let's look at this word "AS", because that is the basis of this revelation. AS God was in Christ, So Christ is in you. "AS".

 

Now, according to Webster's New World Dictionary, the word "as" means "in the same way or manner". So we are looking at relationship and proximity here. God in Christ, Christ in you. God in Christ equals God's Presence in Jesus. Christ in you equals His Presence in you.

 

The Apostle Paul used this word "as" in describing the relationship a Christian Husband is to have with his wife. He said, 

 

Ephesians 5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, "as" unto the Lord. (Notice in this verse he is saying, wives, submit yourself to your own husband in "the same way or manner" you would submit yourself unto Christ.) Then in verse 23 he says, 23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: Now, here the word "as" was given an adjective before it to clarify "the way or manner" of this relationship Paul is speaking about.

 

So when Paul writes, For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church: Paul is saying For the husband is the head of the wife, "in the same way or manner" that Christ is the head of the church: but if you read carefully, the word "even" was inserted before the word "as" giving us the value associated with the way or manner she is to reverence her husband.

 

This word "even" speaks of value, and it means in an equal value, and it is used here to clarify the word "as". Therefore, when we read what Paul said,  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, the word "even" added to the word "as" not only speaks of the same "way or manner" that Christ is the head of the Church, but the word "even" used before the word "as" tells us that not only is the husband the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, but he is head of the wife in the same value associated with Christ as being head of the Church. So in essence Paul is saying, For the husband is the head of the wife, in the same way or manner equal with that of Christ being head of the church.

 

And then he adds,  and he is the savior of the body. 24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

 

Notice then if she is "to reverence her husband in "equally the same way or manner" she would reverence Jesus Christ as Head of the body, then Paul instructs "the husband to Love her in "equally the same way and manner" as Christ loved the Church and that is to the point of dying for it.

 

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord the church: 30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

 

Now,  notice Paul says, that this relationship he is speaking of here between the husband and the wife he is actually making reference to our relationship with Christ as our Husband and the head of the body of which we are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. 

 

Notice Paul says in verse 30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. and then in verse 32 he adds, 32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

so we are looking at this statement which brother Branham makes and we see the first point I wish to review this evening is his statement: (1) As God was in Christ, Christ is in you.

 

And we see that brother Branham is looking at the same way or manner in which God was in Christ, Christ is in us.

 

Now, Paul says the same thing in Romans 8:9-11 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

Notice he tells us that to have the same Spirit in you that was n Christ will make your body do the same things it made his body do.

 

Let me read this for you from the new translation called "The Message" so you will understand what I am talking about here.

 

Romans 8:9-11 But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells, even though you still experience all the limitations of sin, you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s own body was with God Living in Him!

 

Notice the wording here and you will see that what Paul is saying here is the same thing that William Branham said in His sermon, as we will read on in just a moment. But first notice Paul's words, "if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus."

 

Notice that he is saying literally the same thing that William Branham laid out for us in the paragraph, (1) As God was in Christ, Christ is in you. Then it stands to reason that the very next thing he would say is (2) What God did in Christ, Christ does in you.

 

Again, we hear William Branham tells us if we have the same Spirit living in us that lived in Jesus it will act the same way it acted in him. And that is what Paul says,  "if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus."

 

Brother Branham said in his sermon, Time tested faith 58-0530 P:56 So then, when a certain situation rises, and God's called on the scene to act, the way God acts that time, He has to act every time; when the same circumstances rises again, He has to act the same way He did the first time, or He acted wrong the way He acted the first time. In other words, if there was a sinner calling for mercy, and God saved that sinner, the next sinner calls, God's got to act the same way. If a man is dying, and the doctors can't help him, and he calls on God and calls Him to the scene, and God heals that person, He's got to act the same way again (See?), for if He didn't, He did wrong when He acted the first time.

 

Therefore if the Spirit of God which lived in Jesus quickened his body so, that the Spirit in Him caused his body to obey His confession and raised Him up from the dead, then that same Spirit living in you will have to act the same way and will have to make your body respond the same way Jesus body responded to the word of God or it isn't the same Spirit living in you that lived in him.

 

Making the valley full of ditches 56-0728 P:41 How can you expect anybody to believe you when you're running around and acting the way you do, and then come in and call yourselves Christians? No wonder they don't call for you come pray for them and so forth.

 

Have not I sent thee 62-0124 P:124 Then if His mind be in us, He will act the same way, because He is the High Priest. And He's the Word of God;

 

Hebrews Chapter 6 and 7 57-0915M P:29 Now, notice. If God acted any one time on a certain circumstance, and if that same circumstance arise again, He's got to act the second time like He did the first time or He's unjust. See? No matter how bad you are in sin, how stooped you may become, He's got to act to you like He did that fallen woman or He acted wrong then. God's behavior is His Person, and what He is in His behavior declares His Person. And that's the way you are: in your behavior of life tells what you are. As we had and went through, a lesson or two ago, the Methodist people wanted to declare, "When you shout, you got It." The Pentecostal says, "When you spoke with tongues, you've got It." The Shaker said, "When you shake, you got It," the Pennsylvania Shakers. And we find out that they're all wrong. Your life declares it. Your person declares what you are. A man is known by his works. And whatever your life is...You've heard the old story, "Your life speaks so loud, I can't hear your words." So whatever you are, you are. The life that you live shows what kind of a spirit is in you.

 

Influence 63-1130B P:13 And then we never know just what we're doing, or what influence and what we're doing is having upon others. The Bible said, "We are written epistles, read of all men." That is, your life reads so loud to the public, until your testimony, if it's contrary to your life, is without any effect. It's what you are inside of you that people read: not so much what you say, but what you are.

 

Time tested memorials of God 57-0818 P:20 You see, a man's character is made known by his works. Whatever you are, your works prove what you are. No matter how much you testify, whatever you say, pro or con, that has nothing to do with it; your works tell what you are, tells what you are inside. Every job that you do manifests what you are. And you business men, if you just do a patched up job, see what I mean, just a halfway job, don't do that. If you can't do it right, don't do it at all. That's right. When you come to Christ, if you can't absolutely sell out lock, stock, and barrel, and come to Christ, don't come at all. But when you really want to be a Christian, stand out, make it real. That's what God wants you to be. And that'll prove... Your works will prove what your character is. Your character is known by the works that you do.

 

Love 57-0519E P:23 It's the atmosphere that counts. That's right.  So it's the atmosphere. And you make up that atmosphere with what you are inside of you.

 

Lamb and the dove 57-0325 P:9 And that's how a Christian is known, by the fruit that he bares; not the way he dresses, how intellectually he is, how well educated he is, what church he goes to. He's known by the life that he lives. That's what proves that's inside of him. And when we find out that... Many times we try to make the Christian church look good on the outside; we try to make ourself neatly appeared on the outside. That's all right. Sometimes if we try to shout and act like the next Christian, why, I don't know whether I'd say that was right or not. I don't believe it is. I believe you're trying to impersonate there. You must be just what you are on the inside. It's just a natural thing. If you try to make yourself act like something, then it becomes hypocrisy. You're... Jesus said, "How can you call Me Lord and do not the things that He asks you to do? How can you call Me Lord?" for "lordship" is "ownership." So if we call Him Lord, we must do the things that He told us to do.

 

Hebrews Chapter 6 and 7 57-0915M P:32 Now, don't think wrong, that I do not believe in these emotions. Certainly. But what we're on now, trying to drill to this people of this day, is not emotions. The Devil has took those things and went wild with the people, letting them base their eternal destination upon an emotion. Shouting, speaking with tongue, going to church every Sunday, acting like a Christian, that won't have one bearing at that day. "Except a man is borned again..." And your life reflects what you are on the inside (See?), not your emotions. You could have blood in your hands; you could speak with tongues; you could heal the sick; you could move mountains with your faith, and you are nothing yet: I Corinthians 13. See? It's got to be something's happened by a birth which comes from God, and God brings a new birth into you and gives you a part of Himself. Then those things are. You are a new creation. "I give unto them Eternal..."

 

It is I 61-0517 P:19 It's not what you wear; it's what you are inside, what makes you, not how smart you are but how much you are on the inside.

 

I stand at the door and knock 57-1208 P:56 And here He is today. And if a spirit of the devil is in you, you'll do the works of the devil. If John Dillinger's spirit was in you, you'd pack guns and kill people. If the spirit of anything was in you, it'll make it act like the person. If the Spirit of Christ is in you, it'll act like Christ. It'll do the works of Christ. "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he also." There you are.

 

Jehovah Jireh 61-0209 P:69  And if you're a Christian, your spirit is from up there; so it makes you live holy, want to be holy, want to act like Christ, act like God. Your whole desire is on heaven and not of the world.

 

God's provided way 59-0415A P:41 What is this robe? When you wear the robe of Christ, you should have the Spirit of Christ in you. And the Spirit of Christ will act like Christ. It will do the works of Christ. It will be gentle, long-suffering, goodness, mercy, meekness, patience, with the Holy Spirit. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, that's the Spirit of God that comes when you're robed with His righteousness.

 

Speak to this mountain 57-1215 P:30 What would the spirit of John Dillinger bear? Guns, murders. What would the spirit of an artist bear? The touch of the brush. What would the spirit of Sankey bear? The melodious voice, that sang before Abraham Lincoln and didn't even know the notes in a book. What would be the spirit of anything? Would produce the fruits of that spirit, would produce what it was. And the Spirit of Christ will act like Christ, will do the things that's Christ.

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:81 That's what the Holy Ghost is, is to make you a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Then if you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God, how does It make you act? Like God does in His Kingdom. Now, what does God do in His Kingdom? It's holiness, righteousness, purity of thought, purity of mind, power, and love, going to the lost, healing the sick, performing miracles, doing great things. Then to the world you look crazy; they say, "Them guys are off at their head." See? But you are a citizen of the Kingdom.

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:45 Now. "The works that I do..." God is in His church to continue His works. That's why He sent the Holy Ghost. Now, He knowed that. He knowed it wouldn't be, it couldn't be done that way, so was it by otherwise... So He had to send... The Father sent the Son, put all that's in the Son in you. And the same works that He did, the same very works now that Jesus did, you'll do also, the church. Wouldn't you like to do the works of God? Jesus said, "If you want to do the works of God, believe on Me." How you believe on Him? You can't do it till you got the Holy Ghost, 'cause no man can say He is the Son of God. You're saying what somebody else said," The Bible said that He's the Son of God; I believe the Bible." All right. "The Bible says He's the Son of God; I believe the Bible. The pastor says He's the Son of God; I believe the pastor. Mama says He's the Son of God; I believe Mama. My friend says He's the Son of God; I believe my friend." But the only way that I can say He's the Son of God, is when the Holy Ghost comes in and bears record of Itself. Then I know He's the Son of God. No man can call Jesus "Christ," only by the Holy Ghost. There. No man speaking by the Spirit of God called Jesus accursed or say He was something that day and something else today. That's makes Him weak and faultry. No, sir. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Any true spirit will bear record of that. All right.

 

And how do you bear record? by agreeing with it? No, that's just to agree. But to bear record means to manifest the same.

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:40 Now, "The works that I do shall you do also," not another work, but God wants to bring the Holy Ghost in you to continue the same work that He was doing in Christ.

 

 

 

Queen of Sheba 60-0710 P:51 Well, if the Holy Spirit done that in the book of Acts, It'll do the same thing today, because the book of Acts is not the acts of the apostles; it's the acts of the Holy Spirit in the apostles. And It's the same Holy Spirit in the Church today. It would act the same way and give the same results. Why accept a substitute when the skies are full of the real Pentecostal power? We don't have to have a substitute; we can have the real.

 

Door inside door 60-0711 P:37 That was not the apostles acting that way; it was Christ in them acting. The Acts of the Holy Spirit in the apostles... The apostles were men like you are and I am. But the Holy Spirit made them act different, because He had become full Ruler in their life. They had no more prestige and pride.

 

At Kadesh Barnea 56-0527 P:16 And many times over in the Bible we see, and many times referred to, the Acts Of The Apostles, it's called. I always like to refer to it as the Acts Of The Holy Spirit in the Apostles. Because the apostles were just men, but it was the Holy Spirit in the apostles, bringing forth His move.

 

Second seal the 63-0319 P:54 I don't want to call this man's name. He is a great man. But I was at his meeting here a few years ago, and he knew I was there, 'cause I'd shook his hand. And he said, "You know, we have such today that they call Pentecostals." And he said, "They rely upon the Book of Acts." And he said, "You see, the Acts was only scaffold work for the church." Would you imagine a man that's studied the Bible, a gallant old man, and had studied the Bible the way that fellow has, and then would make a remark like that? It sound It even doesn't sound like the Holy Spirit is around, it's got not to be nowhere; because anybody with common understanding would know that the Acts of the Apostles was not acts of the apostles; it was the acts of the Holy Spirit in the apostles.

 

What is the Holy Ghost 59-1216 P:32 The Spirit of God in His church, what for? What did He do it for? This is a little on tomorrow night's subject, but what did He do it for? Why did He... What did the Holy Spirit... What did He come for? What did He come in you for? What did He come in me for? Was to continue the works of God. "I always do that which is pleasing to My Father. I come not to do My own will, but the Father that sent Me; and the Father that sent Me is with Me. And as My Father has sent Me, so send I you." Oh, my. The Father sent Him, went in Him. The Father that sent Jesus came in Him, worked through Him. The Jesus that sends you goes with you and is in you. And if that Spirit living in Jesus Christ made Him do and act the way He did, you'll have some general idea how It'll do when It's in you; 'cause that Life cannot change. It'll go from body to body, but It cannot change Its nature, for It is God.

 

QA on the Holy Ghost COD 59-1219 P:48 "The only way you know a tree," Jesus said, "is by the fruit that it bears," the works of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit. Then when you see a person that's filled with power, that's filled with the Holy Ghost, then you see a life that's changed. You see these signs following them that believe: "In My Name they shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues. If a snake would bite them, it wouldn't hurt them. If they'd have had a deadly thing, drinking, it wouldn't kill them. They'd lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." My. These kind of signs follows them that believe. But how do you get into it? Them gifts are in the body. How do you get in the body? Not by speaking your way in; but by baptized into one body (I Corinthians 12:13). One Spirit we're all baptized into that body and subject to all the gifts. The Lord bless you. Now, if someone should hear this tape or someone here would disagree, remember, do it friendly, brother, 'cause I love you.

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:48 So Jesus knowed that there'd be a great intellectual move just like there was in His days, intellect--washing of pots and pans, and wearing of clothes, and turned-around collars, and everything as they did, all these different things that they would do. He knowed they'd do that. So He said, "Now, just wait a minute. I'm going to not leave you comfortless; I'm coming again to be with you. Therefore," He said, "the works that I do, you'll do also." The purpose of sending the Holy Ghost was for God to continue through a bunch of people, to continually manifest God to the world (That's exactly.), not by a creed, not by a denomination, but by the power of His resurrection, by making His Word real, by taking His promise and standing on the side of the minority and believing God; and watch the black skies move back and the power of God move in and take over. Amen. That's what He wants. That's what the Holy Ghost was sent for. That's what purpose He sent It for. We know what It is now. And that's why He sent It.

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:42Now, notice, Here's another thing I'd like to say right here. "As" Jesus said, "as the Father has sent Me... As (Now, watch.)--as the Father has sent Me, so send I you." As the Father... How did the Father send Him? The Father that sent Him come down from heaven and dwelt in Him. He went forth; He said, "I always do that which pleases My Father." See? He went about doing the things that the Father was showing Him to do. "I do nothing except My Father shows Me first." The God that sent Him, was on the inside of Him. "And as the Father sent Me (the same way the Father sent Me), so I send you." What is it? God in you. Carrying on what? The same works, the same... Jesus said, "He that believeth (He that has Me on the inside of him, the Holy Spirit)--he that believeth (that's already witnessed My resurrection), and know that I'm in him... He that's in Me; if ye abide in Me, My words abide in you..."

 

"Then ask what you will". Jesus

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:16 And in the cool of the evening He'd come down and commune with them. And there He lost that fellowship, because sin would not let Him do it. And then He was made flesh and dwelt among us in order that He could come back again to man, and live in man, and restore man to a state of communion with Him again, and give him back his God given right. That's what He did. That's the purpose of the Holy Ghost: It's the Father again, God the Father dwelling in you, working out His plans to finish His plan of redemption, working through you, making you a co-worker with Him, giving you a place, giving you a part for your fallen lost brother and sister, giving you His Spirit and His love to go hunt the lost as He did in the garden of Eden. "Adam, Adam, where art thou?" That's what the Holy Spirit does to a man or a woman. When It strikes into their heart and takes Its abode, there's a thirst and a hungering for lost souls. That's what's the matter with the meetings today; there's not enough Spirit touch in it to go for the souls of the lost and the dying. It's more to make a name, or a church, or a building, or a denomination, instead of a soul winning program. How pitiful.

 

What Holy Ghost was given for 59-1217 P:11You know, in the same chapter of John 14 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and it will satisfy us."Jesus said, "I've been so long with you, Philip, and you don't know Me. When you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. And why sayest thou unto Me, 'Show us the Father'?" God was made flesh. Now, here it is. The Father was God over you. We're saying... We've been since Adam, God the Father was over Moses and the children of Israel in a Pillar of Fire, then God with us in Christ, walked with us, talked with us, eat with us, slept with us. God over us, God with us, and now, it's God in us. All God was, come into Christ; all Christ was, come into the church. What is it? God working in you. Anywhere in the world, if He'd want to call on you, you're right there: working in you to do His good will. How we ought to thank God for that. God the Holy Spirit is sent for the purpose of God living in His church, moving through each age, working out His Divine will.

 

And that brings us to our final point tonight,

(3) What signs did God in Christ, Christ does in you. Oh, isn't that beautiful?

 

Questions and answers COD 59-0628E P:69 There's a lot of them, I know. I've heard people speak with tongues. I can't judge; I wasn't sent to judge. I've heard a whole lot of it, sounded like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. But I know there's a real Holy Ghost that speaks with tongues. And I know that's right. Yes, sir. But they seen the people come in and say, "Glory to God, I got It." Well then, that's the same thing... Now, don't call that Pentecostal because they jumped up-and-down, and spoke in tongues, and you seen them out there with somebody else's wife or somebody else's husband. You say, "Is that the Holy Ghost?" You Nazarenes shouted all over the floor and done the same thing. You said you had It when you shouted. See? There's no way at all that you can prove it but by your life you live. "By their fruits you shall know them." That's the way it is. The godly life and Christ working with you confirming the Word, signs and wonders a-following with a godly life, that's the real thing. Now, you can have a lot of signs and not the life. You can impersonate the life without the signs, but when you see them both together, then that's it. That's the one.

 

New ministry 59-1115 P:85 What kind of a Church did He set up? When He left, He said... When he was here on earth, He told Peter, "On the revelation of the Word of God," He said, "upon this rock, I will build My Church, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against It." Isn't that right? All right. When He was... 'Fore He left, in Mark 16, He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Did He say it? "In My Name they shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, drink deadly things." He also said, "The works that I do, shall you do also." Is that right? That's the signs that's to follow His Church. It's not a denomination. It's a set up organization, ordained of God, Holy Ghost filled, heaven born Church that comes out of all denominations, a real believing bunch of people.

 

From the beginning it wasn't so 59-1125 P:36 John 15th chapter, Jesus said, "I am the Vine; ye are the branches." Now, the first branch that come out of that vine, they wrote a book of Acts after it. They had power to heal the sick; they spoke with tongues; they interpreted it; they had visions, prophets, power; they done the signs that Jesus did. And if that first branch come out of that vine was that kind of a branch, the next branch it bears will be the same; and every branch it bears will be the same branch. Amen. And if we say we are the church of God, then we'll bear the record of the first branch. He's the Vine. If you're growing grapes and you're first branch produces grapes, your second branch will produce grapes; your third branch will produce grapes. Every branch that that tree bears will produce grapes. And if the church of the living God that Jesus Christ set up...We Methodists want to think it was our church. We Baptists think it was ours. We Catholic think it was ours. We Pentecostal think it was ours. Let it be what it may be. But if we are in that branch, we'll have the same fruits they had. You can't get pumpkins off of a grape vine. Hallelujah. The Vine of Jesus Christ will produce the Life of Jesus Christ, for He is the Life that's in the Vine, and we are the branches.

 

Let us pray...