Christ is the Mystery no. 61
Life in Christ
Brian Kocourek
This evening we will press ahead in our study of Brother Branham's
sermon, "Christ is the Mystery of God Revealed". We
will begin by reading from paragraph 151 Even when they seen Peter
foretell those things that come to pass, they said, "Just let his
shadow pass over me." Amen. That's the Church. That's the
ones that believe it. Yes, sir. It was revealed by... Why did Paul say?
"Because I got a Ph., LL.D., so forth they believe me"? No,
he said, "I forgot all those things. The wisdom of man" said,
"had to die. And I know Him in the power of His
resurrection. That's what I come to you as, with the demonstration of God's
power." What was it? Making Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
Now, brother
Branham is quoting Paul from his letter to the Corinthians. So with that in
mind let's see what he said.
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, I came
not with excellency of
speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
In
other words Paul said, I
didn’t try to impress you with polished up speeches and the latest philosophy.
I deliberately kept it plain and simple...
2 For I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified. I'm
not into Gossip, knowing whose who and who done what.
All I want to know is that when I see you I see in you Christ Jesus and a
crucified life. That's it.
And then Paul
adds, 3 And I
was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. I didn't know how to approach you in
this, and wasn't sure if you would even receive what the Lord sent me to tell
you.
And so 4 my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power: And that is the only way I can describe to you, how
you could take my faulty preaching and make it come alive in your lives. It had
to be God, because I don't even have an ability to even preach it without
hurting feelings here and there.
But 5 That
your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. God made you aware of His
Message, by opening first your ears and mind to hear it, and then your heart to
receive it. Therefore, it was not mere words, but it was God's doing. It
certainly is God working in you to will and then to do according to that Will.
Nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message
came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power had to do it, which made it
clear to me that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some
fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect or spiritually mature: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of
the princes of this world, that kind of wisdom comes to nothing:
7 But
the wisdom I am talking about is the wisdom of God and He placed it in a
mystery, the hidden wisdom which God himself
ordained before the world was even fashioned that it might be for our glory:
That or glory,
our values, and our opinion, might be His.
8 Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But
as it is written, Eyes have not seen, nor have ear heard, neither has it
entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that
love him.
That means it
has been kept a secret, a hidden secret, that God alone knows, and that God has
kept hidden from all except from but those whom he has chosen and ordained to
know and understand.
10 And
God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: And since the word reveal means to
make known through manifestation, then God has made known to us by unveiling to
is This deep hidden secret of His own Life.
for The Spirit, God's own Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of
God. 11 For
what man knows the things of a man, The things that work within the confines of a man's mind, and
heart except the spirit of
the man is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth
no man, but The Spirit of God knows.
As brother
Branham said, how can a knot in a tree understand the
freedom to move about that a man has, it is impossible. And so is it impossible
for mere mortal beings to even understand the things of God. So God had to do
something to make it possible for us to be able to understand. He gave us
something. He gave us His own Spirit.
And this spirit that we have received, is not the spirit of
the world, the natural human spirit, but this Spirit we have received is of
God, in fact it is His own Spirit; And he gave it to us that we might know the
things that are freely given to us from God. 13 Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which
the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
As brother Don
said, we were once where they are, and so we understand why they are there, but
we are no longer where they are and therefore not having been here they do not
understand what we have. Now, that is
what Paul is saying here. Men understand what men go through and what goes on
in their minds. But no man can understand what goes on in God's world, in His
mind, unless they have the same Spirit that lives and abides in God, living and
abiding in them.
And so the
Apostle Paul goes on and says, 14 But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither
can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.
Now, that
explains everything. Br. Don, that is what you said in
your own words, but it's right there as plain as God's Word can be read.
Paul then
says, 15 But he
that is spiritual judges all things, and that means to examine, scrutinize and then discern all
things. But then Paul adds,
yet he himself (the man that is filled with God's
Spirit) is judged (examined, scrutinized nor
discerned) of
no man.
And why can
not they discern you, if you are Spirit filled? Because
unless you have the same Spirit you don't even have a clue as to what is going
on in the mind of a Spirit filled man.
16 For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
Paul is asking
the question here. Who can even know the mind of God, and then he answers, only those, like us who have the mind of
Christ, because we
have the same God-Life living and abiding in us.
Now, for those who are not born again could never understand the mind
of Christ in order to think like Christ, or live like Christ, or speak like
Christ, or act like Christ or do the works of Christ. So they will say no one
can, except one man only, and that man is William Branham. Only he can do the
works of Jesus Christ.
And they say that because that is all they know. They have not done the
works of Christ and so they think no one else can either. In fact that is such a strange concept to
them because they do not think like Christ. After all, Jesus Christ himself
said, I can of my own self do nothing, but it's not me. The things my Father doeth and shows me, those things I do.
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of
himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what
things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise.
And so they say, "see? Jesus said of Himself that he
himself can do nothing, so we do nothing." But that is not what
Jesus said here. He said, "of mine
own self I will do nothing. Not that I can do nothing, I will not do until I
see the Father do, so I wait on him to show me what to do that I
might do. But you brothers do not believe that you can do so you do not wait,
you just do nothing and are content in doing nothing.
Therefore I am actively seeking my father to know what to do,
And I am not just sitting idle like a knot in a tree,
but I am constantly in prayer to know what my Father wants done. You have all
seen me steal away from you to go into the hills to pray, or out into the
woods, or into a secret place to pray like Elijah went to his cave and Moses
went up into the mountain to pray, until he knew the mind of God the Father so
that when he did do, it was according to what God wanted done.
I seek instruction from my Father and then I do as I am
instructed to do. You do nothing and you anticipate nothing, because you are
void of the same spirit as me, and if you have not the spirit of God then you
can not in any way, shape or form understand what God has ordained His sons to
do.
Now,
verse 20 For the Father loves the
Son, and shews him in visions all things that he
Himself is doing and wants done: and he will show him even greater works than
these, that you all may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises up
the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he (the Father) wills.
And that leads us to what brother Branham says in paragraph 152
"The same works that Jesus did, Paul did the same.
Now, look brothers, I didn't say this, Brother Branham vindicated
prophet of God said it, and if we are spiritual enough to receive it, he is
talking of John 14:12 here. And if William Branham
himself is telling us that the very same works that Jesus did Paul
did, then that "he that believeth"
includes Paul as well, right?
Well, if you agree with what he is saying here, then that ought to tell
you that "he" is not singular as
though it speaks of only one man, and that you are wrong to make it singular.
And then brother Branham says, And they
seen God,
Now, how did they see God? Because they saw God working in Paul to will
first then to do...God in Paul doing what God wanted done, the same as they saw
God in Jesus doing what God wanted. The Father working, then Paul working, just
like Jesus said the father worketh,
and the son worketh hitherto: John 5:17
Listen again to this thought here as God's vindicated prophet lays it
out for us in. Paragraph 152 "The same works
that Jesus did, Paul did the same. And they seen God, the great
Father, that had demonstrated in the burning bush, had demonstrated It to Paul,
and here it was being demonstrated; and He's the same in every age. God's threefold manner: yesterday, today, and forever. What?
Redeemer in His Church; pre-eminences in the coming Kingdom.
Amen. You see it? Just as perfect as it can be.
And brothers and sisters, you will never see this
unless God opens your eyes and your heart to receive it for yourself. You
wonder why we do not see the works of God abundantly in His church today since
brother Branham has gone off the scene? Because we
have no one willing to pay the price and die to self like he did. we have no one who is willing to go to their knees for hours
upon end to die out, so God can show them what he wants done. and so you can not see God with the natural senses, but God
can be seen by the sixth sense if you will allow it.
I would like to ask a question which you do not have to answer because
I know it would be too embarrassing to answer it, but I am going to ask this
question anyways. Now, we know Elijah had his cave to go to seek the Word of
the Lord, the will of God, the mind of God for certain situations.
1 Kings 19:
9 And
he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the
LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What
doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been
very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have
forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and
slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I
only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he
said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD
passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces
the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in
the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a
fire; but the LORD was
not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it
was so, when Elijah heard it,
that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering
in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice
unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the
LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant,
thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they
seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy
way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest,
anoint Hazael to be
king over Syria: 16 And Jehu
the son of Nimshi shalt
thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha
the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah
shalt thou anoint to be
prophet in thy room. 17 And it
shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael
shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth
from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet
I have left me seven thousand in
19 So
he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat,
who was plowing with
twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the
twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And
he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my
father and my mother, and then I will follow
thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from
him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the
instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he
arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Notice, God chose Elisha, just a farmer, to be His man after Elisha.
Not a priest. not a teacher, not an elder, but a
simple man whom God chose to place His spirit upon. A man who was not afraid to
act like Elijah and pray like Elijah, and do the same things Elijah did.
2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take
up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah
said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to
From brother Branham's sermon, Witnesses 53-0405E P:76 brother Branham said, And when
he was being taken up, after while a chariot of Fire come down, picked up
Elijah, and he stepped on it. And as he went up, he pulled off his robe like
this, and threw it back, and it dropped on the ground, when the horses of...
and chariot of Fire packed him away. Oh, I want you to get this now. What
a beautiful type. Elisha the young prophet then, the one that was his
witness of all the power that he had did. All the things that Elijah done,
Elisha was his witness. Then he picked up the same mantle, throwed it on his own shoulders, started walking down
towards Jordan; a perfect, beautiful type.
Walked down to the Jordan, pulled off the mantle, held it in his hands, and
struck the water, said, "Where is
the God of Elijah?" And the water divided,
from one side to the other: a type of the Church following Jesus, seeing His
power, seeing His miracles
Now, back to
verse 15 And
when the sons of the prophets which were to view
at
and again from brother Branham's sermon, The Wedding supper 56-1006 P:31
brother Branham said, "In a type, the robe
that Elisha, which was the old prophet, a type of Christ, Elisha that
followed Him, succeeded Him, was the type of the Church. For the Elijah
done four, I believe out... (It might've been eight, four or eight. I don't
know for sure now.) outstanding miracles. And
Elisha, the Church, asked for a double portion of his spirit: a double portion.
And he said, "Keep your eyes towards heaven
then, and if you see me when I go up, you'll have it." And as Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind, a cloud of fire, and
was received out of the sight of Elisha, Elijah threw back his robe; and
Elisha put it on, walked down to the Jordan and struck, said, "Where
is the God of Elijah?" and done twice as many miracles as Elijah did. Jesus
told the Church, "These
things that I do shall you also, and more than this," a double portion of this. And they went up to the day
of Pentecost, scared, powerless, helpless, and waited after the ascension of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and He threw back, sent down from heaven the very same
power, the very same robe that He wore come back and fell on the Church. The
Holy Ghost, the robe...
O, hallelujah, brothers and sisters, I hope you see
what God has for his church, His sons and daughters isn't just to sit around
and play church, and say praise god I never miss a service, I am sure serving
the lord. That's all good, but that is not it. The church has become nothing
more than a bunch of cheer leaders, or spectators, and sit back and don't even
long for the power of a resurrected Life.
The Bible says, "and you hath he quickened"
brothers and sisters. are
you quickened? Are you really alive? Do
you have the boldness of a farmer named Elisha to ask for that double portion
that fell on the day of Pentecost? are you afraid to
ask abundantly that your joy may be full? Have you been preached into giving
away what God has given you? Did not Jesus all "all power has been given
unto me" And if so, then why when he left it for you do you not use
it. I will tell you why, because
brother Branham said in paragraph 153...
153 Oh, notice. The Holy Ghost is the only
Revealer of the Divine revelation of Christ. There's no school can do it; no
scholar can do it, no man, how well educated, how godly or anything
else; there's no man can do it. I could sting hard here. How many's Christians, born again (raise up your hands), filled
with the Holy Ghost? All right. Here we go then. All right. Notice, and He will only do it to the
predestinated. That's exactly. "All the Father has given Me will come, and no man can come except the Father give him
to Me first."
154
Look at them priests saying, "This man's Beelzebub. He's a fortuneteller.
He's a devil." And that little old woman walking around
there living with six husbands... She was living with five and had the
sixth one then, and Jesus said, "Go, get your husband and come
here." She said, "I have no
husband." Said, "Yes, you've got six. You've had five, and
the one that you're living with now is not your husband."
She said, "Sir..." What? That Light struck that Seed. When it
struck them priest, they said, "This man is a fortuneteller."
See? No Life there, hybrid. They come up
as far as organizations, but died from there on.
155
But this woman was not a hybrid; she said, "Sir,
I perceive..." I can see her big pretty eyes
shine up like that, tears running down her cheeks, said, "Sir,
I perceive that You're a prophet. I'm looking for a
Messiah, and when that Messiah comes, He'll do this very same thing.
He'll tell us these things." He said, "I
am He." "Oh, Lord..." She left her pot, "Here
He is. Come see a Man Who's told me the things..."
What was it? That Light struck that Seed. That Life was there. It come forth.
156
Same thing today. What do you mean brother Branham same thing
today...
Brother, sisters, if you've truly believe you have seen the Messianic
sign in this hour you could hardly shit your mouth. You'd be so excite like
this little woman, that even though her life wasn't at that point much to look
at, yet she in her zeal was able to turn the entire town on their heads and get
them to come here the Voice of God.
The Lord has come down in this hour, and most people in this Message
are afraid to tell others what God has done. why? because you've been preached into a corner and taught how to be embarrassed about
the power of God. Just like the theologians, who have used their own intellect
to snub out the flame of God in the hearts of the people.
And that is what brother Branham says next. 156
continued. He says, "But the theologians say,
"Now, wait just a minute. I'll find out if So-and-so... if Pastor Moody
said or... What's Pastor Moody got to do with this, this day? Pastor
Moody lived in his day, but not now. Certainly not. Luther
lived in his day, but not in the day of Wesley. Wesley lived in his day,
not in the day of Pentecost. Pentecost lived in their day, but they're a
long ways from this, in this hour. We're in the last hour. Sure. Their
organizations and scrupled up proves that it's not there. The Word has
never been correctly vindicated just only in It's
strength. Seeds, denominations... And they make denominations and then put them
old jimsonweed seeds in with that genuine wheat: died right out, crop went to
jimsonweed. (That's right.), green briars and nettles (Uh huh. See?), went on
back to that; it died right out. Then they broke the field up and started
over again, planted some real seeds and some of them come up and it choked it
out.
O, brothers and sisters, can't you see what brother Branham is driving
at here? "Awake thou
that sleepest, and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall give thee light."
Let's read paragraph 157 "But
then, God said in this last days He'd bring out a people washed in His Blood.
And they were predestinated to be there; they've got to be there.
God said so. And It would reveal... And the very sign
I was, Malachi 4, and what he would do,
restore back again, bring back in the last days these great things that He
promised. He'd bring the revelation. What is he to do? Malachi
4 was to bring back the faith of the fathers to the children.
See? That's right, to bring that same thing, the same Pillar of Fire in on
the scene, the same signs, the same wonders, the same Jesus, making Him the
same, preaching Him the same, vindicating Him the same yesterday, today, and
forever. "I will restore" saith the
Lord, "all the years that the Methodist worm, and
the caterpillar worm, and the Baptist, and the Catholic, and all them worms
eating that faith down to become a denominational
stump where there's no seed left in there. "But
I will restore again," saith the Lord, "all
the years..." What?"all the signs and wonders that they have
forsaken. I'll take it right back to that original Tree again, and I will
restore It," saith the Lord. That prophet
was a vindicated prophet. His words has to come to
pass. Amen.
Brothers and sisters we are living in the days when
our Elijah has been taken up and that same mantle of the Holy Ghost is here
waiting for you to pick it up and use it.
where is the God of Elijah!!!
Where is the God of William Branham!!! if
He is here then let him speak!!!
Let us bow
our heads in prayer...