Christ is the Mystery no 168

Independent of all others

Brian Kocourek, pastor

 

This morning we will examine paragraph 287-288 of Branham Branham's sermon Christ is the Mystery of God Revealed, and you will notice that brother Branham speaks of the bride as being independent.

 

287 She, the Bride, is independent from all others. She's a independent woman, a great speckled bird that's different from all others. You remember the Bible on that: the great speckled bird, but she had His Name. She had His Life, for the...How did they speckle the bird? They were both white, and then they pulled the head off of one bird and drained the blood out upon the other bird. And the other bird was speckled with the red blood, and it flopped its wings like this, and the blood cried, "Holy, holy, holy" as it bathed the ground. So Christ, the dead Mate, put His Blood (His Blood from His Life) into us, sprink--carrying His Blood crying, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." It's an odd looking bird. Sure it is. But She, the Bride, is identified by Him, and She's independent from all others, "Keep thee only unto her as long as you both live." Keep thee only to Him, the Word: no adultery, not one sign of denomination, not one sign of creed, no adultery at all, the Word and Him alone. "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other grounds is sinking sands," said Eddie Perronett.


  288   That's in Christ, the Word. He was the Word; He is the Word. And the Church becomes Word by Him making Her a part of Him, and that's the Word again. Personally identified by Him, His property alone, His property alone: She is redeemed by Him, through Him, for Him and for Him alone. That's right.

 

Notice brother Branham said, no. 1 We are redeemed by Him,  and no. 2 we are redeemed  through Him, and no. 3 we are redeemed for Him,  for Him alone

 

I think I would like to take an entire message on those three points, but this morning I would like to focus our th9oughts on just one point and that is that we must be independent in our walk if we are to follow the Pillar of Fire.

 

Hear ye Him 58-0328 P:67 He never did work completely through an organization. He works through men, individuals. And every man that ever raised up was independent from organizations. Look through the Scriptures; search the history, and find if that's right or not. Every time the organization church was against the moving of the Spirit, every time. Search the Scriptures; search the history; find out. Through Moody, Sankey, Finney, Knox, Calvin, any of them you wish to, men of God who is raised up, has been that way. You have to stand alone. The prophets in the Bible when they was raised up contrary to their belief, but God went right ahead with His message anyhow.

 

If you have ever studied the scriptures, you will see that every man of God that was ever used by God had to stand alone. They were never accepted by the majority, or by the religious establishments of their day. They stood against those organizations, and they stood alone with God.

Abraham had to walk alone, and he is the father of our faith. Moses had to walk alone, and even sometimes those who followed him took up stones to throw at him. You think God saved those people? I don't. Only Those who were faithful to Moses did God allow to enter into the promised land, and all the rest died in that wilderness.

 

Then look at Elijah, and Elisha how they had to stand all alone. And what About Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and Micaiah and Ezekiel, they all had to stand alone with God. It was them against the world or so it seemed.  daniel stood alone, and so did Shadrack, Meshak and Abednego who had to stand alone in the fiery furnace. But they were not alone, for God was with each of them. For did not he promise in Hebrews 13:5  "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

 

And we find things no different with the apostle Paul who said in,  2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12  And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13  The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  And in fact not only did Demas forsake Paul, but the apostle Paul said all men had forsaken him as we see in the next verse.

 

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 19  Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20  Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21  Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

 

And people yet even today for whatever motives they have, seem to do the same thing when the going gets tough. But they should take heed for brother Branham said in his sermon, Identification 63-0123 P:91 Paul, when the popular world-loving Demas, forsaken him for his Christian so-called brethren of the popular opinion? When Paul stood on the Word, Demas left him, loving this present world, left him because that he was true to the Word. It was too straight for him. Who would you go with? Demas? Or would you go with Paul? Check the Word. What side would you take in your present state at that time? Yet them was professed Christians. Paul said, "All men has forsaken me." Poor little guy...I always was alarmed at Dr. Ern Baxter. He said, "You know, when I get up to heaven the first thing I'm going to do?" And I said, "What is it, Brother Ern?" He said, "I'm going to walk right up to Demas and slap him in the face as hard as I can." I said, "Now, Ern." He said, "I'm going to say, 'Why did you leave Paul down there like that?'" I said, "You really think he'll be there, Ern?" I said, "Be careful of your desire to slap him in the face." I said, "I wouldn't want to be where he was at, maybe (See?) have to do that."

 

And what about Noah. The Bible says, Hebrews 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

 

So Noah had to stand al alone with just his family when the entire world came against him and his message. But God was with him, because he alone is the Faithful one.

 

And what of Abraham. Hebrews 11:8 tells us, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21  By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22  By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of
Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.  23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.  32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon,(one man against a thousand) and of Barak, and of Samson, (one man against ten thousand) and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,(that means all alone with nothing) afflicted, tormented; 38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 

And look at our Lord Jesus who was forsaken by all, and even the leader of his flock Peter denied him three times when he needed him most because he was going thorugh his greatest floggings and tortures.

 

Leadership follow me 65-1031A P:55 And sometime Satan might come along and cause them to be discouraged, but, remember, You went through the same thing, discouragement, forsaken by men of this earth and people. And sometimes very dearest of friends, even to relationships we're forsaken. But there is One that we have chosen; He'll never leave us or forsake us. Lead us, Lord, to Life Eternal. I pray that You'll grant that we can come together many more times on earth, and speak of Thee and talk of Thee. And then in that great day, when the world is finished and all the time has faded into eternity, may we meet in that great Kingdom as unbroken families to live together hereafter forever. Grant it, Lord. Until then, may we work, labor with all of our might, while the sun is still shining. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

 

Matthew 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

 

And even God himself has been forsaken on many accounts throughout the ages as we see in. Jeremiah 16:11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

 

Does God change His mind 65-0418E P:40 Moab here is a type of such, because they were an organized nation in their own land, like in their denomination. And they had their own religions. And their religion was the same religion that Israel had. They were Moabites and believed in Jehovah God, but they was an organized group of people. And now, as they represent the natural church, Israel represents the spiritual church in its journey. Now, Israel was not an organized nation. As long as they followed God, they were independent. They come up, sojourners, no place to go; wherever the Pillar of Fire went, they went with It. They were not a organized nation. They had a organism among them, because circumcision gave them that under the commandment by God, but never an organized nation at this time. When they finally become an organized nation, that's where they fell and rejected their Messiah.

 

Rising of the sun 65-0418M P:79 Did you ever see how independent an old eagle walks? He don't hop like a vulture (See?) to every dead and all the carrion laying on the ground. No, sir. He walks proud. "Shut your mouth." "Oh, here's a good dinner over here." "Not for me. My desires is changed; my appetite is different, for man shall not live on the world of carrion alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." A genuine quickened eagle lives by that. Amen.

 

Identified masterpiece of God 64-1205 P:66 Now, God, the Word, in the beginning He was independent from everything else, all other people. Now, I don't mean to say this to be different. God is a segregationalist. You know that? You talk about integration; God's a segregationalist. He certainly does. He separates His people from the world. He separated Israel, His nation. He's trying to separate His church from the world, but the church wants to go on with the world. But His people is still segregated, segregated to Him. Who's He? The Word.

 

Look away to Jesus 63-1229E P:98 Luther looked away from the Catholic denomination. What did he see? A Pillar of Fire. He saw an independent church. Wesley looked away from the Anglican denomination. He saw the same thing. The Pentecost looked away from all the denominations. What did it become? A great mighty people. What did each one of them do? When the founders, Luther, and Wesley and them, and when they looked away and saw what they did and started out, their children coming behind them, looked back to where they come from--out of the denomination--and took that group of people right back into the same mess that they come out of. What are you looking at? The founders looked right, but the people following them looked back to what the founders come out of, and done exactly what the founders was against, the anointed ones of God.

 

Conferences 63-0608 P:91 Oh, brother. I wish I had just a little more time. The time's coming when you're either going to put your organization into the World Council of Churches, you'll... If you do that you take the image of the beast, 'cause you got a power just like it was in Rome. And if you don't do it, you'll be an individual, independent church. And when you do, the image of the beast is going to close your doors, and you're going to be forbidden.

 

Uncertain sound 60-1218 P:110 Now, He can provide Himself a Church; He don't have to have me. He don't have to have you. No, He don't. He doesn't have to have that. He can provide. Somebody else can take your place. Be careful some don't take your crown. He don't have to have us, but we have to have Him. If you ever lived, you've got to have Him. Because He's the only One, as Peter said when He said, "Will you all go?" So when He got to tell them the Truth. He was a great Man when He was healing all their sick. Oh, when He had signs and wonders following Him, He was a great Man. But when He begin to tell them the Truth, then what happened? Then He become a fanatic; they walked away from Him. He turned around to the disciples. Remember, He was very independent, 'cause He was God. He turned around, said, "You want to go too?" Peter said, "Lord, who would we go to? Where would we go? For You're the One that has the Words of Eternal Life, and we're sure of this." See, there's no uncertainty about That. "We're sure that You're the One that has it. We are not tossed about with every wind of doctrine. We know that You've got the Words of Eternal Life, 'cause no man can do the things You do unless God be in him (That's right.) be with him." Nicodemus said the same remark.