Christ is the Mystery no. 55

Resurrection Life part 2

January 16, 2013

Brian Kocourek

Sunday morning we spoke from brother Branham's sermon Christ is the Mystery of God revealed and paragraph 312 in your books and we broke down that one paragraph into 5 points I feel are critical to where we are at right now in this phase of the Shout.

Let me read again what brother Branham said from paragraph 312 "Paul, this great intellectual man, (1) never tried to express his great theological terms upon the people. (2) He humbly accepted the Word of the Lord, and (3) he lived the Word so that it expressed It. (4) He lived so godly until they seen Jesus Christ in him so much, till they wanted his handkerchief to take it and lay it upon the sick. (5) There's the Life of Christ. Not what some... "Oh, you see, Elijah done that a long time ago, laid his stick, but oh, that was the days of Elijah." Now, the world thought that. The intellectual priest and things, and churches of that day thought that, but to them believers, they knew different. They seen the revelation of Christ that was in Elijah: same thing was in Paul, expressed the same kind of Life, 'cause he was a prophet. See? He foretold things that happened exactly the way it was, and they knew that was God's identification of a prophet. And they knew that he was God's prophet. You couldn't shake them from it at all.

Now, if you notice we found five statements within this one paragraph that I feel are worth looking into because of the impact this has one our walk in this hour.

Let me rephrase this by saying, I am entitling this message tonight Resurrection Life part 2 because we see in these five points there is something about the Life, the resurrection Life of Christ that brother Branham is pointing to here that was first in Christ, then in Paul as he states here.

Now, I believe that Br. Vayles ministry was strictly to get us to the doctrine and the principles he taught concerning the Message, the ministry of William Branham, vindicated, The presence of God and Godhead. In other words, the doctrine backed up by vindication. In that brother Vayle was faithful to his call. For without the doctrine you certainly will never understand the Resurrection Life we are looking at here tonight.

Now, before God took him off the scene, his words to me he said, "the thing to do, is like brother Branham said, point people to the things that will help them, and not get involved so much with doctrine or performance, but get involved with the life.

And I found that in teaching the doctrine from the aspect of the Life, in that we focus on the relationship between Father and Son, it points us to what is important, and that is this: without that Life it matters not what you know, for satan himself knows a whole lot more than you and I ever will. But to have a father/son relationship with God as the first born son did, is what God wants in the first place.

The scripture never said Enoch talked doctrine with God and we was no more, it said he walked with God and God took him right up because he had this testimony that he pleased God in that walk.

Now, brother Branham said in his sermon, God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:20 I believe the church is begin to hear the message, and beginning to understand. But, friends, listen, we've got to lay in the Presence of the Son; we've got to be ripened. Our faith isn't ripe. Intellectually we're hearing the message that God has give us, and seeing the signs that He showed us, and proving it by the Bible as that; but, oh, how the church needs to lay in His Presence till it tenders up, you know, and gets sweet in the Spirit so that it can bathe down. Sometimes in speaking the message, you get harsh, have to break it in like that, because you've got to clinch a nail to make it hold. But when the church once gets it, the Elected is called out and separated then in the Presence of God, I know it'll be something like the people was there when it takes its rapture.

And what people was he talking about? Those people he met on the other side when he was caught up, Can't you see that there is a certain condition we are to be in to receive our change of the body? It's not intellectual, it's a change of the heart. And this is the hour for it. Look, let's just use some common sense. What man is looking for a woman who is bitter all the time? What man would want to live with a bitter woman?

From his sermon, Meanest man in Santa Maria 62-0630E Brother Branham told us that is why the King chose Esther out of all the beautiful women that were brought to him to choose for a wife.

Meanest man in Santa Maria 62-0630E That's what Esther had when she come before the king. That's the reason she overrun the other girls, because she come adorning herself with a sweet spirit before him.

It was her character that attracted him to her, not her physical looks, but she was adorned in her spirit as Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3.

1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be adorned in the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Now, why would he talk in terms of an ornament? Because we use ornaments to attract the attention to something, like on a tree at Christmas, people hang ornaments to attract the attention of the eye to the tree. And in this case Peter tells them it is not the ornaments of jewelry but the sweet spirit that attracts us to Christ. And then he confirms what brother Branham said concerning Esther in verse 5. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, with being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do the well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Then peter turns to the men and shows them how to be adorned as well. he says, 7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

So if you want your prayers hindered, when mama fusses, just fuss back with her, and as quick as a snap you've cut yourself off from God hearing your prayers as well. Instead of fussing, why don't you both go to your knees when the fussing begins and start praying before you have said something that you will regret? Then Peter says, ...

8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, (in other words when they need pity, give them pity, take her in your arms and hold her, and love her and assure her. And he says) be courteous:(now the word courteous means to show grace and be polite in doing so, and we see the opposite of that in verse 9)

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

You know this word guile means not being duplicitous, or underhanded. In other words, sometimes we find people saying "pray for my husband and then under the guise of prayer request, they spill the beans and gossip and pour forth venom or acid.

In other words, peter is saying, "don't be underhanded, don't deal with a double tongue, be genuine and loving, and gentle with your words".

11  Let him eschew evil, (in fact, let him run as far away as he can get from evil, avoiding it altogether.) and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (that means persue it). 12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,(That means God watches over the righteous. And Peter got this from Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. This word knoweth comes from a Hebrew word which means, the lord watches over the way of the righteous, and where it says the way of the ungodly shall perish. That word perish comes from a Hebrew word which means to be left to oneself.

And let's face it, when you have created an atmosphere around you of love and joy and peace, and grace, who wouldn't want to be with you. But if all you can do is to talk against people, and you don't ever say nice things about others, who in the world would want to be with you, and you will be left to yourself not only by people, but by God.

Peter continues, "and his ears are open unto their prayers:" Whose prayers? The rightly wise who create that wonderful welcoming atmosphere by the way they live and talk to one another. "but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. That word is kakos which means injurious, hurtful, which shows an attitude of getting even or trying to injure another, and for whatever reason it matters not, and why would you feel that way towards others when we are commanded to love them that despitefully use you, and to love them that speak evil of you.

Then peter really tells it like it is, when he says, 13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

So they are only harming themselves when they spew vile and gossip. And most gossips wonder why people avoid them after a while. It is because who wants to be on the gossip vine?

14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (In other words temper your answer to those who ask, don't be short with them, but give them the time and patience even if they just don't seem to get it. I have never been so disgusted with brethren as I was when I sat and watched a brother blast others online, and he smiled and felt good about it. That is not the way of the cross. That is not self crucifixion, that's just immaturity or else it's just a sign of a hardened heart.)

But peter says in verse, 16  "Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

So we are looking this evening at that resurrection Life that we are supposed to be coming into in order to be caught up together with those brethren who have already been stripped of this body of this death through their physical death. And we are to die to ourselves in order to receive that same sweet spirit that brother Branham said he saw in those people on the other side.

Let me read the quote again from God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:20 which by the way was preached only a few weeks before brother Branham went home to be with the Lord. Again he said, "I believe the church is begin to hear the message, and beginning to understand. So by this time they had already begun to hear, but they were still in the process of beginning to understand what they heard. But, friends, listen, we've got to lay in the Presence of the Son; we've got to be ripened. Our faith isn't ripe.

In other words, our faith has not yet matured, it has not yet developed to where it is supposed to be. And of course if the fruit or faith is not yet ripe it is not yet ready for harvest. So he is talking about the condition that will help us to come to this maturity, and that is to lay in the presence of the Son of God, just as the fruit must hang on the vine and gather in sunlight to make the fruit better and ready for harvest, so we must lay in the presence of the Light of the Son of God to do the same thing.

So you see you could not come to this without the Doctrine being taught as a relationship, so that your understanding might develop in that light. Br. Russ was instructing me on how to get the best yield for corn and he said you must plant it so that it tassels on the longest day of the year, because then it will get it's maximum sunlight, because it is the sunlight that causes the photosynthesis and that builds the fruit on the ear. so the more Light the better the fruit. Halleljuah!!!

And brother Branham said, "Intellectually we're hearing the message that God has give us, and seeing the signs that He showed us, and proving it by the Bible as that; but, (Now, he wouldn't say but if those three things was the all of it, but they aren't. So he says, you've heard it, you are beginning to even understand it, and you are now able to take it back to the Scriptures, BUT that's not enough... Notice he says those things are alright, but there is something that you still need, and that is )) BUT oh, how the church needs to lay in His Presence till it tenders up, you know, and gets sweet in the Spirit so that it can bathe down. Sometimes in speaking the message, you get harsh, have to break it in like that, because you've got to clinch a nail to make it hold. But when the church once gets it, the Elected is called out and separated then in the Presence of God, I know it'll be something like the people was there when it takes its rapture.

The doctrine separates you and then the resurrection life separates you again, until you are ready for the body change.

From his sermon, Power of transformation 65-1031M P:133 brother Branham said, "Abraham and Sarah's body was transformed to meet the condition of the promised Word. See, they were old. (and I might add, they were also dried up.) Abraham had received the promise and Sarah, when he was seventy-five, she was sixty-five, past menopause; (See, that means she was dried up.) lived with her since she was a girl, was a half-sister. And to keep that promise, both of their bodies was transformed from an old man and woman to a young man and woman to meet the promise of the day. Glory to God. That makes me feel so good. See? I don't care what I was; I don't care how I come here; we can be transformed to meet the promise of this day, when we can dwell together in unity and sweetness of the Holy Spirit, and live as brothers and sisters

The Apostle Paul tells us how that we will get this transforming power in our beodies as well in Romans 8:5 For they that are for self do mind the things of self; but they that are living after the nature of the original seed, the Spirit of God, they will mind the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded or self centered is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind, the mind that is self focused is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are living for self cannot please God. 9 But ye are not self centered, 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-Life be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him which is God, if His Spirit, His God-Life that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken or make alive your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, not to self, to live after self, 13  For if ye live for self, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, do kill off the pulls of self, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit (God's Spirit) itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And how does God's Spirit bear witness with our Spirit? By working in you to will and to do, that's how. 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

From his sermon called Church Dedication 59-0708M 59 Brother Branham said, "This tabernacle now belongs to God Almighty. You belong to God Almighty. Always keep yourself clean; keep your church clean. Keep it upright, so that any who travels by, might love to come in and fellowship with you, have such a sweet Spirit till you can reach out a hand to anyone and offer them help. No matter how far they are down in the gutter, that's what this stands for, a shrine of the grace of God

And from his sermon, Images of Christ 59-0525 a sweet Spirit? I'd rather have it than anything I know in the world. I... You can take all the rest of the world and its fancies, all your intellectuals, all your doctors, rabbis, bishops, holy fathers; give me Jesus. That's right. Just let me have Him that old fashion way. I feel Him way down in my heart. And watching my life and sees my desires is to serve Him, humble, meek, and lowly. That's what we need, friends, That's Jesus. That's the Jesus of the Bible, not a Jesus of the intellect, but a Jesus of the soul.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Now, what is good fruit in the natural? It is sweet fruit, for bitter fruit is a sign it has gone bad, and bitterness in the spirit shows there is something wrong with your walk as well.

That is why we also find James tell us concerning sweet water and bitter water that any single fountain can not bring forth both types of water.

James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

brother Branham said in his sermon the Smyrnaean church age 60-1206 P:53 Then what did the Oneness do? Instead of accepting it and going ahead, they got starchy. "Bless God forever. We got the Light, and you haven't. We're the..." What'd they do? They organized it. You can't organize God. God's even without form, the Bible said. No, nothing formal about God...Now, and the Assemblies tried to organize Him and make theirs the real church. And then the Oneness come along, tried to organize theirs, and they had more Light. So what'd they do? They blowed it out by their own selfish bitter way they went about it. Instead of giving it out with salt and sweetness, they tried to disfellowship the other one, have nothing to do with him. And that's what done it. It'd sweep on. Then the first thing you know, up come another one, they got this, and now they broke up. One said, "He's coming on a white horse." The other one said, "He's coming in a white cloud. Bless God, I'll start me an organization over here." See what the way they do? It spread myrrh. What did it do? It shut off brotherhood.

So you can see that laying in the presence of the sun is not just coming to an intellectual conception of correct doctrine, but means far more than that, it means to have the right spirit along with the doctrine for how can you truly lay in the Spirit of the one who said, Father forgive them, and have any attitude contrary to that.

In his sermon, Elisha the prophet 56-1002E P:22 brother Branham talks about how Elisha was able to change the bitter water into sweet water, and remember, the spirit of Elisha is a type of the Bride of Jesus Christ. So then when this young prophet goes back, he begin to perform miracles. And the Church, when it picked up the Robe of the Lord Jesus, it started performing miracles. And as long as there will be a true Church in the earth, they'll always be performing miracles. Sure. It's still wrapped in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And His Spirit dwells in the Church and performs the miracles just like It did. As I said last night, Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, so send I you." And the Father that sent Him went with Him and was in Him. And the Jesus that sends you, goes with you, and is in you till the end of the world. Amen. Oh, how beautiful. And know it's not just some little calendar you picked up, or some story off of a news rack out here, it's God's eternal Word, the Bible. That's true. God Himself could be no truer than His Word is. Now notice, then Elijah, Elisha, rather, as he returned back he made bitter water sweet with a little cruse of salt. Oh, miracles was just flying everywhere.

And if it took the Spirit that was on Elisha to change the bitter water to sweet, then brothers and sisters, if Elisha is a type of the bride who followed Elijah, then what must we do to change the atmosphere in this message for it has become as bitter one against another as I have ever seen it?

Come let us reason together 55-1004 P:46 And we may not have faith enough to take God's Word like Joshua did, and march around a wall, and shout till it fell down. I might not have that kind of faith, but if you've got it, I sure don't want to stand in your way. That's right. I might not have faith like Elisha, who took his coat off and hit the waters and walked back across the sea, after he had received in type the Holy Ghost, a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah. I might not have the faith to do that, or throw a cruse of salt in some water, and turn it into good water, from being bitter. I might not have that kind of faith. You might not have that kind of faith. But if somebody else has got it, don't stand in their way. Let them go on. That's right.

Now, we have been taught that "by their fruits you shall know them", and that if you look at what brother Branham taught,, he emphasized the fruits of your life throughout his entire ministry, even when he went into the deeper things of the doctrine.

And it all comes down to setting the atmosphere around each and everyone of us as individuals in the family of God.

From his sermon Brother Branham Way to have fellowship 55-1009 P:18 He said, "I'd rather have a church... Listen, just a moment. I would rather have a church that knows nothing about any spiritual gift, and just be so in love with each other and with Christ, I'd rather have that than every spiritual gift operating in the church.

Brother Branham continues saying, "Where there is gifts, they'll fail. Where there is gifts, they'll bring confusion. Where there is gifts, they can be questioned. But where there is love, it is perfect. That's right. And if you had perfect love you'd have perfect gifts. That's right. So work first with love. That brings fellowship, and fellowship brings gifts.

Works that I do bear witness of Me 51-0413 022 I'd rather have the love of God sealed in my heart than all the gifts there is in the Bible. That's right.

In closing brother Branham said in his sermon, Divine Love 57-030517 And you know that there's some kind of people that's real good people, only you just can't hardly stand to be around them. That's right. Why is it? They create that atmosphere. And there's some kind of people that you just love to be around. They create that atmosphere that they live in. Now, it's a supernatural thing. Now, when the Presence of the Lord comes down, it creates an atmosphere for faith. I thought, "Now, Lord God, You help me."18 Now, you've got to create an atmosphere, and your faith will do it. They were all in the upper room with one accord, when suddenly there came from heaven as a sound of a rushing mighty wind; the atmosphere was right. It takes a atmosphere to do anything. You know, the regular procedure to hatch chickens is to put them under the hen. But get the egg in the right atmosphere, it'll hatch anyhow. Listen, brother, if a man loves God, and the right kind of an atmosphere he could get into, it'll produce a new born babe just as certain as I am here. It's the atmosphere that counts. Let this little handful of people setting here tonight, get in the perfect atmosphere, watch what takes place. There will not be a feeble among a--one in our midst. The cripples will walk; the blind will see; the deaf will hear; the dumb will speak without prayer or anything. It's the atmosphere. That's how twenty-five thousand was healed at one prayer in Africa. When they seen the Lord do something, it created a atmosphere, and they stepped into it. That's the pool when the waters in running right.

Let us bow our hearts in prayer