Christ is the Mystery no 151
The Name of Jesus no 2
Baptized into the name
Brian
Kocourek, Pastor
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Amen, let us pray...
There is only one baptism,
and that is when the name is uttered over you, and you identify with the death of
Jesus Christ (a dying to self) and then you go under the water representing the
burial, Putting away the old man forever, and then when you come up out of the
water it symbolizes His resurrection and your being raised with Him, and then when
you receive the Holy Spirit, the very same Spirit that was in Jesus, Living His
Life for him, when that same Spirit comes upon you, and indwells you, you are
endued with power from Heaven, and you are filled with the Holy Ghost.
Romans 6:3 Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life.
You know we talk about
baptism by water and then baptism of the Holy Ghost, but Paul says there is only
one baptism, and the same Paul that said there is only one baptism said Israel was baptized
in the red sea, and they were also baptized under the Pillar of Cloud.
Notice we read in 1 Corinthians 10:2 And they were
all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
But
what does all this mean anyway?
The
fact is that when we are baptized into Christ we are baptized into His
name.
We
are not baptized into titles of father, son and holy
Ghost. We are baptized into his name, and with the same name that
He was identified with, and with the same name that He lived and expressed the
Life of His Father, in Whose name He was given birth in, and in that name He went forth
declared that Life of the father to mankind, we are baptized into that same
name and thus we are identified with the same person whose name we now bear,
with the character He possessed we now possess. With the nature He owns, we now
own. And with the power that manifested in His Life, we now manifest in ours.
And
therefore the very baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ begins the
transformation of each individual from sinner to Son of God, made in the image
of the Father. As brother Branham said, "He
became us so that we might become Him". How many times brother
Branham uttered those words.
Manifested sons of God 60-0518 P:66 And when we are born in the
Then
when we are filled with the very same Spirit, the very same Life which lived
itself and expressed itself in His Life, We then must put on His Life the very
same way he put on and expressed the Fathers Life.
We
will as Paul said, "put on Christ". And when we have put on Christ then we
must by the law of Life put on his very character, We are endued with his very nature,
and we have been endued with the very power and authority that was given to Him
by His Father, God, who also is our Father.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
Souls in prison now - 63-1110M And He never left His body see corruption,
neither did He leave His soul in hell, but raised Him up on the third day, and
He's alive forever more. And we will have a body like His
Own glorious body. That's why we're baptized into His Name
that we might come forth in his name, in His death, in His
resurrection, that we rise again testifying to the world that we
have new Life, that the old man is dead. We buried that first
nature. See, that first nature's gone, and now we are the
nature of Him. He lives in us, and we don't do our own
will; we do His will. We don't think our own thoughts.
The mind is what thinks. The mind that was in Christ Jesus is in every
believer.
Then
if we put on Christ when we are baptized with the holy
Ghost, then how can a person continue to commit wicked deeds after they have
put on Christ? Tell me how the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in you can do
those things? Tell me how can the Holy Spirit that lived itself out in Jesus
Christ and is now in you, how can His Holy Spirit living in you lie? How can
the Spirit of Christ living in you cheat? How can the Spirit of Christ living
in you steal? How can the Spirit of Christ living itself out in you commit
fornication or adultery? How can the
Spirit of Christ living itself out in you do any of the deeds of the flesh that
Apostle Paul speaks about in as the fruits of the
flesh? It can't.
Romans 7:5 For
when we were in the flesh, (when we
focused on self and were living for self) the
motions of sins, (the motions of unbelief) which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto
death.
So what the Apostle says here is that when we are not
born again, we are governed by self. And as such we are self centered. And when
totally self centered then the fruits of self, the fruits of the flesh which
was born in sin, shaped in iniquity and came forth to
the world speaking lies governs self. And in Galatians 5 the Apostle tells us
all about these works of self, (these works of our flesh), so that we will be
aware of them, and die to them.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh (the works of self) are
manifest, which are these; (so we are going to see Paul
categorize sin which is unbelief, and he shows us by category the pulls of the
flesh that will manifest in those who live for self, rather than Christ living
your life for you. The first category is sexual depravity, and as
Froid said, (not that I agree with his conclusions,)
but the sexual drive is the first of all drives in man. (The unregenerate man I
might add). And we will take the order in which the Apostle Paul takes them
which first of all he mentions).
1).
Adultery, That is when a person who is
married to another commits fornication with another person who is married to
another and not their own spouse.
2) fornication That is a sexual
relation outside of marriage.
3) uncleanness,(that
means having a filthy mind, your mind in the gutter sexually all the time)
4) lasciviousness, (that means you can not contain your desire for
sexual gratification.)
Notice that these first four fruits of the flesh or of
self are all sexual in nature because they are geared to the physical senses
and delight in the pleasures the physical senses produce.
In the next : Paul shows how
that same nature manifested as a wrong sexual drive also manifests itself in a
wrong Spiritual inclination or leaning.
Notice he now says, 20 1) Idolatry, And we know that Idolatry
is defined as the worship or the adulation of something physical, or some
physical image or person.
Romans
These men are fully aware of God's Decree. What Decree?, His righteousness. His
(Right-wise-ness). Now you can't know His right-wise-ness unless you
have been taught it. These men have rejected the Truth. They have turned away
from it. Oh, maybe not outwardly, but they say, "oh,
we believe in a God" but the God they believe comes forth from their own
thinking and they have totally rejected God's thinking and therefore God. So
they worship the creature, more than the Creator. Now remember, in our study of
Brother Branham's Message on Satan's Eden, we saw that WEBSTER said the word
worship comes from two words, "WORTH" meaning an ascribed value and
"SHIP" which is "the state or condition of". In other
words, these men have turned down the real Message, the real Decree and have
substituted their own version of what they think it should be based on their
own lusts and desires. And they value more their own opinion of what God and
His Word or Message are than what God Himself says
that it is.
Therefore,
idolatry is the worth ship, or the placing a higher value upon the creation
than on the Creator Himself.
And the Apostle Paul tells us how this idolatrous
spirit in man will manifest itself openly through sexual deviancy. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour
their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed
the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave
them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use
into that which is against nature:
In
other words, the idolatry leads to adultery, always. When Eve wanted to be as
wise as God, she thought she would get there by turning aside from what God said
to what the serpent had said, therefore holding the
serpents words a higher value than the very words of God. Thus she had to turn
aside from God's Words in favor of the serpents words.
And when she did, it led to sex with the serpent. Idolatry always leads to
adultery because adultery is the same act in the flesh as idolatry in the
spirit.
A
man holds a higher regard for another woman than his own wife. Worthship, the
state or condition of holding another in a higher value than they do their own
spouse.
Therefore,
idolatry takes place in any form or in anything that one holds a higher value for
than they do God's Word.
And
in the new age movement and in occult worship they use objects in their worship
of Satan, and they do not even know they are worshipping Satan in doing so.
Remember,
idolatry is adulation. And when you use those wigi
boards and pendulums some people use to make their decisions with, or in the
form of a wigi board, or in going to a palm reader,
or using tarrot cards, they are saying, I have more
confidence in going to these things, than I have in the Holy Ghost to lead me.
Therefore, All these things
are forms of Idolatry. And God hates
idolatry as much as he hates adultery because it is the same spirit.
I
can show you many quotes where brother Vayle said, "adultery
is a type of idolatry."
Seventh seal the 63-0324E P:71 Therefore, if any man will serve an idol
or keep an idol on him, or bless himself in his own imagination of his mind and
serve idols, God said, "Man, woman, family, or tribe, his name will be
completely blotted out from amongst the people." Now, is that right?
How true. Idolatry did the same thing in the church years ago and does today. And
now, notice. Watch how the antichrist tried to make an anti-move. How many knows
that the devil types and patterns after God's things? What is sin? Is right
thing perverted. What is a lie? Is a truth misrepresented. What is adultery? It's a right act, legal
act, done wrong. See?
Reaction to an action 59-0810 P:13 And Ahab had knuckled down to his idolater
wife and it brought all
In
the Church Age Book 4 - The Smyrnaean
Church Age P:10 Brother Branham defined
idolatry as spiritual firnication: He wrote "idolatry which is spiritual fornication,"
Church Age Book 5 - The Pergamean Church Age P:154 So when these people were bowing to the
images, lighting candles, using pagan holidays, confessing their sins to men
(all of which belongs to the devil's religion,) they were partakers with the
devil and not of the Lord. They were in idolatry whether they
admitted it or not. They can talk all they want that the altars and the
incense are only to remind them of the prayers of the Lord or whatever they
think it means; and they can say that when they pray before the image it is
just for the sake of emphasis; and that when they confess to the priest, it is
really to God they are doing it in their hearts, and when they say the priest
forgives them, it is just that he is doing it in the Name of the Lord; they can
say what they want but they are partaking in the well known Babylonian,
Satanic religion and have joined themselves to idols and committed spiritual
fornication, which means death. They are dead.
So
we have no doubt that idolatry is considered a fornicating spirit by God's
prophet. And we see that the Apostle Paul lists the sexual sins first then the
spiritual sins that have the same fornicating nature, ie:
idolatry.
Then
notice right after idolatry is
mentioned, the apostle Paul mentions next 2) witchcraft,
Now, it is interesting that the Greek Word for witchcraft is Pharmekia where we get our English Word pharmaceutical.
And so the use of pharmaceudicals to
enhance your body, or to enhance your spirit, is called witchcraft.
And
this nation has one of the highest dependencies on drugs more than any other
nation in the world. Therefore this nation is involved in Witchcraft more than
any other nation on earth.
And
notice what witchcraft produces in your soul. The next category Paul describes
as attributes of the flesh, are those attributes that are produced by idolatry and witchcraft.
First
Paul lists hatred, which is defined in
the Bible dictionary as "hostility; by
implication, a reason for opposition: enmity, hatred". Therefore
you can expect those with a sinful nature. and
unbelieving nature, who are into idolatry to show hatred and hostility for
those who would oppose their sin.
Then
next word Paul places in his list of sinful nature is variance, Now, variance is defined as a
quarrelsome nature, i.e. (by implication) wrangling:
contention, debate, strife, variance.
In other words, they are not satisfied to let
others be different, but they become meddlesome in other peoples business, and
they become contentious towards those who do not agree with their line of
thinking.
The
next word Paul uses to describe the sinful self absorbed nature is emulations,
Emulations is defined in
the Bible dictionary as an enemy, malice):emulation, envy, fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
Notice how it is full or malice or indignation
towards others. It is this envious, jealous spirit that slew most of the
prophets thinking they were doing God a service.
And
out of that malice and jealousy comes forth wrath, Paul
tells us. And wrath is a fierce indignation,
and it leads to strife, which is a very contentious disposition, always fussing and
disputing with others.
And
then The Apostle Paul adds to the list, seditions, which literally means dis-union,
i.e. (figuratively) dissension: division, sedition.
In other words a separating of self from others, and they don't do
it in a nice way, they do it in a very mean spirited attacks on those
whom they separate themselves from.
And then Paul in the same list adds, heresies, which we know are false beliefs but the word has a more striking
definition in that it suggests those who are such
want to get together with others of like mindedness to form a sect of their own.
That is how the Greek word actually defines heresies.
Then Paul lists many other attributes that manifest in
the life of those persons who are void of God's Spirit such as 21 Envyings, (envy is ill will coming out of jealousy) then murders, (and we all know that brother Branham
said there is more ways to murder a man than with just
a bullet or knife. You can speak against a persons character and you might as well have stabbed them in
the back. In fact in the English language we have that expression
being stabbed in the back when we speak of a person committing character
assassination.)
Testimony of a true witness 61-1105 P:83 And one of the very first signs of
Christianity, refused to kill a man. That's right. And you can kill
him more ways than just sticking him with a knife; speak against his character,
many ways you can do it.
Hebrews
7 part 2
57-0922 P:55 And you
people with these saw-blade tempers, that's always spouting off in the
mouth at somebody, can't put up, and things like that. Be careful. You're
guilty if you speak a word against your brother that's not right, not just.
Go around and tear down... You don't have to stick a knife in a man's
back to kill him; you can break his character and kill him, kill his influence.
Speak against your pastor here, say something bad about him, you just
might as well have shot him; told something that wasn't right about him, well,
it'll kill his influence with the people and things like that, and you're
guilty of it. What Jesus said.
Then
the Apostle Paul warns us further of other attributes that will manifest in the
life of the unbeliever such as drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which
I tell you before, as I have also told you in
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the
So we see attributes that expose the very nature of
the unregenerate person who if they d not repent will not inherit the
Then the Apostle tells us what attributes are manifest
in those who are filled with the Spirit of Christ. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, (and love is always expressed in Scripture by giving.
Love as Eternal Life is expressed in living for others.)
Then
the apostle Paul names the second attribute of being filled with the Spirit as joy,
Brother
Branham said in his sermon, All the days of our life 59-0612 P:23
I believe that Christian life is a
continual sacrifice. "He that will come
unto me, let him deny himself daily (every day,
not forty-six days, but every day), take up his
cross and follow Me," said Jesus. Not just
forty-six, but every day... Christian life is one continually Lenten. Oh, how
the Christian loves to do it. He doesn't do it with a grudge; he does it with a
feeling that he loves God; and he's glad he can do it. It's a joy to
serve the Lord Jesus. It's a joy to sacrifice. It's a joy
to worship the Lord. It's a joy to be called a fanatic
for the
And
the Apostle Paul tells us where our joy will come from. 1 Thessalonians
So
if we are truly walking in His presence, (If we are
walking in the light as He Himself is in that light) it will bring
us into fellowship with Him and those whoa re fellowshipping with Him, and it
will cleanse us from all our unbelief. Then how can you not have joy in your
hearts. How can you not then be in a state of joy while ijn
His presence.
And
when you are in a state of joy, you are not negative,
you are not taking offense to everything the devil of his anointed throw at
you. You are focused on His Presence. And if we could all come to the place
where we realize it is the devils job to distract you from this joy that comes
from God's presence, then we would not allow ourselves
to enter into that distraction.
When
Peter was focused on Christ he walked on water Himself, but when he took his
eyes off of Jesus and looked at the distractions of the waves, he sank.
Then
the Apostle Paul speaks of another attribute of those who are spirit filled. He
says peace, and this is not a peace that
the world can give, but it is a peace that surpasses all understanding. And the
word peace means quietness and rest,
in other words tranquility.
Let
me read some Scriptures to you about where our Peace comes from and why it is so
important for us to walk in Peace. First of all we find that our God is the God
of peace for he is our peace.
2 Thessalonians
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard,
and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
1 Corinthians
Therefore
if our God is the God of Peace, because He is peace, our peace, then when we
receive His Spirit we should then be graced by this wonderful attribute of Him, that expresses his God Life in us.
John
Therefore
as he said, that in me ye might have peace.
So if we are living outside of Christ we can not expect to find
this peace, this rest, this quietness.
In
fact we read in Isaiah 30:15 For
thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye
be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye
would not.
Notice, and ye would not. Why is it when God presents to
us a solution that will benefit our life, why does man always turn it down. He tells, us in quietness and confidence we will have
strength.
You
know that is one of the rules of preaching that they teach at
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
Therefore
knowing that God is the God of Peace, and he wishes for us to be at peace with
him and with each other, then we must empty ourselves of self, and allow His
Spirit free reign within us to manifest His peace.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus
our Lord,
Romans 5:1 Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ:
2 Corinthians
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord:
Colossians
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.
Romans
1 Corinthians
Romans
Romans
Romans 8:6 For
to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace.