Christ is the Mystery no. 85

Status and State

May 4, 2013

Brian Kocourek

This evening I would like to address the thought of state and status or status and standing. Your status which comes by election and fore ordination, which is what God saw you before the foundations of the world.

Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Now, this evening, we will look at something brother Vayle taught us years ago called the status and state and I will get to the definition in a few minutes. But I want you to see that Paul speaks of our status which is what we are in God's family, we are sons. But our standing is where we are at now, and that is what Paul addresses in the following scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

But first let's got to Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11  For there is no respect of persons with God.

Notice that verse 8 speaks of those who are contentious. The translation of the Greek word “ek” doesn’t speak of what we would use the word contentious for. It speaks more in line with some one who is striving or contending for themselves. In other words, it speaks of those who are out electioneering. They are trying to make a name for themselves. They’re trying to be the big shot at the expense of others.

Before we go on I could point out the fact that this contentious attribute was from a given source. Satan was the first one who contended or strove for greatness. He contended with Michael to make a better kingdom for himself.

7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory (Doxa. God’s opinion, God’s Values) and honor and immortality, they will receive eternal life as their reward: 8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, their reward will be indignation and wrath, 9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11  For there is no respect of persons with God.

Now, before we go further this evening, Paul said that every man will receive the reward for what he does in his flesh. It all comes down to our motive. Some men spend their entire lives electioneering for position and they are never satisfied with that position that God has given them. That is the mark of their father Lucifer who did the same thing in the beginning, when he was called on by God to lead in the worship alongside of Michael. But he wasn’t satisfied with leading the angels in worship. And so he began to direct the worship to himself.

Now, as I mentioned we will be addressing the topic of status vs state or standing.

Websters dictionary tells us the word “state” means "the condition or mode of being, as with regard to circumstances. 2. A condition of being in a stage or form, as of structure, growth, or development: in other words, it speaks of where you are currently.

Now, contrast this to what is called your status: which is defined as One’s position as regards to law. Your Position relative to that of others;

So you see your status is what God has declared concerning you through His Word or His Law. Where as your standing is actual current condition which can be based upon your present circumstances which you are facing. And as we have taught the last three services, you can tell where you are at by what trials you are going through. Peter told us our trials are based on our need.

Therefore, concerning status and state, one speaks of election while the other speaks of the current progress in your path or predestination toward that rightful position. In other words, where are you at right now.

Now, your status is what God said about you, it’s your position, in Christ. What you are ordained to which you can not affect or effect in any manner.

Romans 8:28 “all things work together for the good…” This is state, all things working together for your good. Then he says, “To those who are the called,” this speaks of your status.

Your status is not in your control. It is what God ordained you to be, but your state is what you control, it is where you are “standing” now.

That speaks of where you are right now in this predestined path towards achieving the image of your status that was in God’s mind before the world was framed.

To them that love God to them that are thee called according to his purpose. His purpose speaks of status. But when we are looking at our state we are must look to all our circumstances, what we have sown and what we are now reaping concerning the trials of our faith, those things which affect your movement towards the status God called you to.

Remember when Saul went to the witch of Endor, He wanted to see Samuel. And when the witch conjured up his spirit he was still a prophet. Brother Branham said a prophet is always a prophet.

A prophet is born a prophet, and his status is that of a prophet of God. But his growing into that role is what we call his state or standing. But he was born a prophet and will always be a prophet just like Samuel was a prophet on the other side.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Now Look, God ordained each of us to a certain role or position in the family. We see here that Jeremiah was ordained a prophet even before he came from his mother womb.

Sirs we would see Jesus 64-0318 P:24 Any Bible scholar knows that. That's the way He identified Himself, was in His prophets. They were just ordinary men. 'Course they were born for that purpose. As we know, there's local gifts, of nine gifts in the church. But there is offices of the church, and that God, that's predestinated, or foreordained.God has set in the church apostles, and prophets, and teachers, pastors, and evangelists, and so forth. That's God's gifts set into the church. Then there's nine spiritual gifts that operate in the local body of believers. And they must be checked by two or three judges before they're to be given to the church, 'cause sometimes they could be wrong. But notice. These prophets, as they were born... Like in, I believe in Jeremiah here, God said, "Before you was even conceived in your mother's womb, I ordained you a prophet over the nations." You see? Moses was born a prophet. And John the Baptist, seven hundred and twelve years before he was born, he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Isaiah the prophet, speaking of him. See, it's not... These gifts are born gifts, God placing them in the church.

So if God's prophets and Five fold offices are predestined by God, then how is it some of these ministers out there think just because someone lays hands on them now they are a 5-fold minister. There's no Scripture for that? There's Scripture for acknowledging a man's gift, but no such place where you were not and then you become just because someone likes you and thinks nice thoughts about you. Hogwash.

That’s like the guy who was grilling a steak on a Friday evening in neighborhood that was predominantly Catholic. And when the catholic men in that village smelled that nice smelling steak, they got pretty irritated because they're not allowed to eat meat on Friday. So they grabbed their baseball bats and rakes and shovels and they walked over to that man’s back yard, went up onto his deck, and said, "listen here buddy, this is a catholic neighborhood and you can’t eat steak on Friday here". But the man protested, “but I’m not a catholic” so they grabbed him, took his water dripper he used to douse his hot coals to make them produce smoke, and they dropped a few drops of water on his head, and said, “thou were a protestant, but now thou art a Catholic.” And then they left him with these words. "Now, that you are a catholic, if you eat meat on Friday we can kill you as a heretic.” Seems a lot of people would like to kill us heretics, right Jim? And so the next week he was out on Friday again and put his steak on the grill and the men smelled it again, and went running over to his house with their baseball bats and shovels and rakes and as they come running up to his deck to kill him, he took his water dropper, and sprinkled the steak and said “thou were a steak but now thou are a fish”. So they couldn't kill him. Hmmm, next time I want a nice Bison burger and some vegans come around, I will just transform it into a Cucumber sandwich, course then they will want me to share it with them.

So just because you get someone to lay hands on you to make you what you are not, doesn’t mean that God accepts what you're doing. If God did not ordain you to be 5-fold before you came into this world, you never will be one in His eyes.

Now, Moses knew from his childhood what he was called for. So was William Branham at a very young age. I knew since a very young Child my calling as a missionary, because as a young Catholic boy God gave me dreams of myself coming home from Africa and tossing my fedora onto a hat tree and kissing my girls and embracing my wife. Yeah, as a child I knew just what I was called to be, and brother Vayle has told me that he always knew he was to be a Teacher, and he will be a teacher on the other side as well.

But here is the thing, although we may all have a different role to play we have one thing in common, we are all sons of the same Father and we all have one eldest brother in this vast family of brothers. That's our status.

Romans 8:29 for For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Your status in Christ brothers and sisters can not change. It cannot change. No matter how much your state changes your status remains the same. No matter how much the devil rides you and taunts you, he can not change who you are.

John said, "beloved, now are we sons of God, even though it might not look like it, but we know when he shall appear we shall be like Him. Why? Because we are ordained to it, that's why. Not what you did, it's what He ordained you too.

So we are looking at the blending of our position in Christ with the blending of our actions concerning our current circumstances we are going through. In other words, our focus should be on what God said about us. And that should be what motivates us in our actions each and every day, and with each and every trial we go through we should always keep in mind our status in Christ. Paul said in Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What we are looking at brothers, sisters is a blending of your position in Christ with the blending of your actions in your life.

Now, remember the last few sermons, we brought out various thoughts which depicted the way in which God uses certain circumstances in our life to show us the present condition or the state in which we are currently standing. And since our thoughts are words, and words are seeds, and the law of reproduction tells us that every seed must bring forth of it’s own kind, which is it’s own nature, then the life that is in each seed that we sow, will have to make itself known. Then when each seed thought, gives way to a life expression, in the form of an action or deed, which we can an experience, it will then cause other things to happen as a response. And as the law of physics states, “there must be a reaction for every action.” Therefore we can see what Peter had in mind when he said we shouldn’t be so shocked or surprised when your actions cause other circumstances to happen that you have no control over.

Now, if you are wise you will know that you really can control the circumstances around you by not causing them to happen in the first place. Because every action that you take, there is a reaction to be returned. Therefore it behooves us to be careful how we do things.

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

I Corininthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Galatians 5: 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. So if you bite and devour one another, what can you expect? If you sow in that realm you will also reap in that realm.

In fact Jesus told Peter to put away the sword, because he said, “He that lives by the sword shall also perish by the sword.” In other words, you want to use words to kill, expect words to kill you.

1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. So I hope that you can see how that your life, and the way that you live unit can have an effect upon other people. Brother Branham said, the attitude you take toward others could determine their eternal destination.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, (that’s over excess, indulging your self) and drunkenness, and cares of this life, (that’s the anxieties of this life) and so that day come upon you unawares.

So we are looking and our Status vs our state or standing.

The things that you do, the things that you say are reflections of your current standing. They are reflectors of your predestined path and where you are along that path. Are you well along the path to the place that your Life is so Hid in Christ that people think you are Christ? Then you're getting close to being predestined to be conformed to the image of the first born son. Or are you some where up towards the beginning of the journey, and still struggling with basic tenets of a Christian walk.

Now, you had better be aware that everything you sow will eventually bring forth a reaping. Then when we sow hateful speech, or un called for criticisms, we should not be surprised when the criticism comes back our way. Therefore we should be able to see by now, how that the outer world of circumstances actually shapes themselves to our inner world of our thinking. And both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors which make for our ultimate good or work together for our good. That is what Jesus said, when he said “all things work together for your good.” And that is why we learn by both suffering, and by receiving blessings. Each of these outward stimuli help to further our growth towards that image of Christ we so long to be in our soul.

Therefore we should see that our actions are only an expression of our thoughts. Circumstances then just do not happen. They grow out of the conditions of your heart. Just as our spiritual lives are progressive, where we must pile Word upon Word, to bring forth the glorified body, so to do our circumstances and our suffering, help shape our character, to help it grow and develop. Every situation we face in life is like the pieces of a large puzzle, that once fitted together gives purpose and meaning to each of the other pieces.

The circumstances and conditions we face each day are only reflectors that help us to know how far we are along the path from the new birth to our predestined image that God saw before the foundations of the world.

Therefore you may not always receive what you pray for, but know one thing for sure; you will always receive what you have sown for.

Therefore our desires and prayers are only gratifying when they are in harmony with what we are actually sowing in the recesses of our mind. In other words when you are praying and your prayer is actually a reflection of what you are sowing then you have harmony. And you will reap what you pray for. Why?, because you are sowing for it.

When we fight circumstances we are only revolting against the effects of what we have been sowing. We see circumstances which are without out and we may not like what we see but they are there only because we keep nourishing them in our minds. And we keep feeding them and thus we keep preserving them in the Garden of our minds.

Don’t ever forget the little illustration br. Branham gave us concerning the Indian Chief when he said, “since I receive the Holy Ghost, there are two dogs warring within me, black dog and white dog,” and brother Branham asked him who was winning, and he said, “the one I feed the most.”

We are told in Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory (Doxa) of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Notice, and then…after he has appeared, the reward shall come. And every man shall be rewarded according to the deeds he has done in his flesh.

Now, the question is who hands out the rewards? Look at this picture up here on the wall.. That white wig signifies the Supreme Judge. So we see the Judge shall hand out the rewards. Then what are these rewards?

They are Eternal life for those who believe, and the judgments for those who do not. And where do the judgments begin? Peter told us, 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Now, if it comes first at the house of God then it comes in response to what we have doing with the Word of God. Let’s turn to 2 Thessalonians 1 to see this scene where He comes and brings rest and Glory to those who believe and condemnation and separation from His presence to those who do not believe.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Notice judgment to one while he comes to be glorified in the others. That word is endoxazo means to manifestly express the values and opinions of God in our vessels.

11  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said in John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

We also read of this in Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Notice by putting away the Word of Life they are judging themselves unworthy of eternal life. Therefore we see to receive the Word of God brings forth rewards of eternal life and to reject it, or turn away from it, brings rewards of tribulation along with the plagues and eternal separation and damnation.

We find in Revelations 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Now, if he brings the rewards with Him, then it will take His presence to bring them into manifestation because Paul said in Ephesians 5:13 everything that is manifested is manifested by the Light. It takes light to bring seeds into manifestation. Therefore, it takes the presence of God who dwells in the Light, to bring into manifestation our status, the life of the predestined seed into full manifestation showing its status of who it is and what life is in it.

Therefore, our standing must one day come to the place of crystallization where one day our state will reflect our status. But mind you, for some it will be a rough and rocky road, because they are not sowing for their status, they are not sowing for their position in the family, so their predestinated path will be rough and rocky.

Something might have to take you out of here to get you there, whereas others will receive a change in the moment and twinkling of an eye.

So we are looking at your state. We are looking at your sowing and reaping.

Br. Branham said, “Did you know that the actions that you do, the things that you think on, and the words that you say, are only a reflection of what that other body is doing?”

Questions and answers COD 54-0103M P:32 Your very life proves what you are. As I said in the beginning, what you are somewhere else is what you reflect here. What you are, what your celestial or terrestrial body is up yonder, what your celestial body is somewhere else is what you're reflecting back here. In the spirit land, what you are, is what you are here. If you're still vulgar minded and so forth in the spirit land, you're vulgar minded here. If you still got malice, envy, and strife, you're in the spirit land with that, it reflects back here. But if your whole innermost being has become cleansed and purged, it shows that you've got a body out yonder waiting, that's been cleansed and purged, and it's reacting back in the flesh. Don't you see? See, there it is. "If this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have one already waiting.” See?

Explaining healing and Jairus 54-0216 P:37 “What you are here is a reflection of what you are somewhere else. "Those who He called, He justifies." Is that right? "Those who He justified, He has glorified." Already in the Presence of the Father, we have a glorified body. Whew! Wasn't that deep? All right. We'll find out whether it's right or not. "If this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have one already waiting.” Is that right? That's right. So right now, and what we are there, is a reflection. Here, what we are here, is a reflection of what we are somewhere else. So if your deeds are evil, you know where it comes from. You know where your other body's a waiting.”

Questions and answers COD 54-0103E P:18 You cannot be here a spiritual being, sinner or saint, without having an influence from the underworld or from the above world. If you're influenced from here, you're from above. Your celestial body is waiting up here. But if you're wicked, and hypocritical, and indifferent, your celestial body is down here, regardless of how much you think it's up there; because the fruit that you bear before people proves where you're from. So you are here what you are somewhere else. Your life that you live here is just reflecting what your inheritance is when you leave here. Do you understand?

Hebrews Chapter 6 and 7 57-0915M P:32 And your life reflects what you are on the inside (See?), not your emotions.

We would see Jesus 57-0226 P:21 Then if His Spirit is with us, He will act just exactly like He act when He was here on earth. It'll make you act the same way, because it's not your spirit any more; it's His Spirit in you, Christ's Spirit in you." The things that I do... He that believeth on Me (Saint John 14:12.), the works that I do, shall ye do also." See? We'll do the same works, think the same thoughts, live the same type of life. If the Spirit of God is in you, it makes you live like Christ, Christ-like. Then you become a written epistle, read of all men, Christ in you, reflecting His Light out of you, as God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and reflecting God from His own body. No man has seen God at any time, but the only begotten of the Father has declared Him. God was in Christ. And what Christ's attitude was, was God's attitude, 'cause the two work together, the Spirit and flesh united together.

So you see, unless you’re Royal Seed you’d never have God-Life in you. And it matter snot what you say about it. It’s not your bearing witness with God and His Word, but Paul said in Romans 8:10 And if Christ 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 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. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, 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 itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.

Paul tells us in Romans 4 that only Faith gives you access to this Status, to know your position in the family. Faith doesn’t give you this position or this “Status”, because that is solely given by the foreknowledge and election of God, but by faith you have an entrance to see what God ordained you to be, and you use faith to bring about a conformance to what God saw you as before the foundations of the world. Now, if you do not have your standing reflecting your status, God doesn’t toss you aside and say you are no longer a son, but you know one thing, if you sow to the flesh you will of the flesh reap, and your life will be constantly up and down, up and down as Paul says in Romans 8.

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace (This unmerited favor) wherein we now stand, (see that is our standing, our state where we are now standing he says, but he also says, faith will bring us to the place where we can rejoice) and rejoice in hope (and hope is an earnest expectation, something we are earnestly expecting to happen, and that is Paul says,) of the glory (the doxa) of God.

So Faith helps us to look at our standing, our current state where we are at in comparison to what God has promised us by His Word. In other others, the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:18, when we look into the mirror of God’s Word we are changed from image to image, and from glory to glory. In other words, when we look into the mirror of God’s word we are looking at ourselves, but we do not see our current standing, we do not see our current state, we see what God see, and that is our predestined image conformed to the image of the first born son. And it tells us that we are changed from our opinion to God’s opinion, and from our values to God’s values.

2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when the heart shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

2 Cornithians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that (notice this word “that” gives direction and purpose to our election,) that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith his him., by the faith of Him.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

This brother, sister is what I am talking about right here. Knowing this, your position, your status, ought to bring peace to you in your current state. And this peace to your current state causes you to quit sowing conflict. It brings you to rest, relaxation under the seventh seal. See? So he says, being justified by faith, having the revelation by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace (This unmerited favor) wherein we now stand,There’s your standing in Christ, that’s your status. and rejoice in hope (the earnest expectation in receiving) of the glory (the doxa) of God. 3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4  And patience works experience which is character; and experience, brings forth hope earnest expecation: 5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In other words brothers and sisters as we focus on our status in Christ it brings in line our standing. It gives you the understanding that when you have a trial, that what is actually happening is that all things are working together for your good to bring you closer to your status, your end goal. In other words, when we enter the trial knowing that God is working in us something, then we are not focused on the trial but what God is using the trial to work into us.

Am I learning submission to God, am I learning to trust our Father completely. Jesus Himself learned obedience by the things that he suffered. By the trials given to him. Obedience to what? To the Word.

Hear ye Him 58-0209A P:37 if the new life that you think you've received doesn't pattern with God's Word, you've got the wrong life in you. The life of Christ will produce the works of Christ, will produce the faith of Christ, will make you act as Christ, make you love Him. He will be first in your life. Your objectives, your motives, and everything will be all-together different. It'll be for the glory of God.

Investments 63-1116B P:94 I wonder this morning, with all sincerity now, without any disturbance, think just a moment. Have you got this great blessing? Do you hold this policy of Life, the witness of the Holy Spirit that your life has turned in to Christ, and Christ is in you? As I said in the message; if Beethoven was in you, you'd do the works of Beethoven, you'd live the life of Beethoven. You couldn't do nothing else. You could do nothing else but compose songs. And you'd be the great writer, Beethoven, 'cause he's in you. That's who you would be. You would be a reincarnate Beethoven. And if Christ is in you, the Life of Christ you will be, the lover of the Word. Nothing can stand and take the place of the Word, 'cause He is the Word. He can't deny His Own Word and remain God.

How can I overcome 63-0825M P:27 And then, now you take a Christian that's supposed to be a Christian, let the Life of God go from him and the experience the joy of serving Christ, and living in the church where such is going on, he rots twice as quick (See? Right.), living right under it. So if we are trying to follow the Message of the hour, or at least this part of the Message, we should live constantly in the Life of Christ. See? 'Cause if it don't, you lay around, and know that these things that you're supposed to do and don't do it, the Bible said, "He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it's sin." And he becomes dotie, rotten when you're separated from the Life of God. So strive with all that's in you to stay in the Life of Christ, that you'd be fruit-bearing.

In closing I would like to read something brother said in his sermon, The Spoken word is the original Seed beginning at paragraph 118. we will pick up where he is reading from Ephesians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (All right.) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us... (Now, he's talking to the church now. This is not the outside; this is church)... with all spiritual... (spiritual)... blessings in heavenly places... (like this morning, those who love it is just eating it up. See?)... heavenly places in Christ:

Let us pray