Desperation no 35
The Faith
of Jesus in Desperation
July 3, 2016
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
This morning we’ll continue in our study of
brother Branham’s sermon called the Desperation, and we will read from paragraph 86.
86
Our dear Lord Jesus Himself, in the world's greatest battleground, Gethsemane, He cried out in despair. Should He take
the sins of the world or should He just remain on earth with His beloved
disciples, what He wanted to do. But watch His humility as He humbled Himself,
"Not My will but Thine be done," humbled Himself to the Word, the promised
Word of the God of heaven. Notice, then He went a little further; and if He went a little farther, how much more
ought we to go a little farther. See? And notice, the Scripture says here
in Luke that He prayed earnestly.
Brother, sister, if Jesus had to pray
earnestly, how much more have we got to pray earnestly. If Christ, the God
of heaven made flesh, had to pray earnestly, then how much more are we, sinners
saved by grace, pray earnestly? If the
decision threw the Son of God into despair, what will it do to you and I? Desperately we must cry. God in these
last days has manifested Himself so to us by His great signs and power... Should make us desperate. That's right.
And His willing to heal us and save us ought to throw us all into desperation
to get to that healing stone. That's right.
Now, he is talking about that ultimate sacrifice
that Jesus Christ the Son of God made 2000 years ago and how that blood is
still efficacious for us in this hour.
We all know from reading our Bibles and the many
commentaries we have read over the years about the suffering of Jesus that
night 2000 years ago, from the garden of Gethsemane to the Cross. And many have seen the
"Passion of Christ" and if we were not aware of how much Jesus really suffered
in the process of dying for our sins, we were most assuredly made aware after
viewing that film of his desperation brought on through his
suffering.
So, we won't focus our attention on the
suffering itself, but on the desperation which activated his faith that gave
him strength to endure the suffering, and the faith that led him from
Gethsemane to the cross. For it is this Faith that took him
from Gethsemane to the Cross that I would like to focus our attention
on this morning. For it is by this
faith that we now live and move and have our being.
Paul said in Galatians 2: 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So you see it is by His Faith that we live. For our
Faith is nothing. You say what do you mean preacher, our Faith is nothing. The
Word of God told us in, Zechariah 4: 6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,
saith the LORD of hosts. “
For brother Branham said that the cross was not
the victory, but the battle in Gethsemane is where Jesus received the victory.
For had it not been for the Faith He received from the Father, there could very
well have not been a Calvary experience. For after wrestling with his own
mind, and his own will that night, he obediently declared, "Father
it is my will that you take this cup from me, but nevertheless, not my will,
but Thy will be done.” And that is the
Victory right there. When Jesus gave over his own will to the will of the Father.
From his sermon, Communion 57-0418 P:14 brother
Branham said, "Now, if God did not spare
His Own Son from the cruel testing, then He will not spare you or I from the
cruel testing. And Jesus was here confronting the greatest test that He had ever had. Gethsemane laid just before
Him, where that once and final all-sufficient test must come, when the burdens
of the entire world laid upon His blessed shoulder. There was no one in all heavens or earth
could ever stood it but Him. And to know that all of the sins, of past sins, and present
sins, and future sins, rested upon this decision. And it was one of the most greatest victories
that Christ ever won or proved His great Messiahship, as when He said to God, "Not My will; Thine be done." That was the greatest victory He
had ever won. All the demons of torment was around to tempt Him and try Him. And when we get
right with God, when our hearts become pure and the Holy Spirit has taken Its place in our heart, it's the most glorious thing
to have testing. The Bible tells us that our testing's and trials are more precious to us than silver
and gold of this world. So we should be thankful."
Faith is a Mystery revealed. And brother Branham
taught us in the Rapture message, that "Faith is a Revelation, it
is something that is revealed". And Paul taught us that "Faith comes by hearing the
Word of God," and as brother
Branham said, desperation is like the catalyst that jump starts our Faith, or
brings our faith quickly into manifestation.
Therefore Faith is God’s Word revealed to us. And if it is God’s Word revealed to us
then it is no longer a mysterious thing, but rather it is something that has
been revealed and opened up to us.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which
are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Now, if it is revealed to us then it becomes
ours. For as long as it
remains hidden or secret it belongs unto God, but once God reveals it to us,
then it becomes ours. So once it becomes yours, then God wants to know what you
are going to do with it.
Conference 60-1125 P:43 Now, Moses cried to the Lord and the Lord said,
"Rise up and go forward." And when
Moses went right straight and stepped his foot into the water, when that taken place, the
Red Sea opened back, and Israel crossed over to a great victory. They had a
conference. That's the way we always have to do, is have conferences. Now, I want
to speak of another one right quick. There was a conference. There's many of them we could speak of, but let's just
not pass this one by. There was a Gethsemane conference one time. When
it had to be brought after a victorious life had defeated sickness, defeated
everything in the world, He came to
Gethsemane, and Father
had to check up to see if He really wanted to go through it or not.
And it was in Gethsemane that
Jesus became desperate. Desperation finally set in at
Gethsemane for Jesus. I wonder tonight what it will take for us to have our
Gethsemane?
Rising of the sun 65-0418M P:88 Now, notice this Quickening Power, "Zoe," bringing the Word, the mind that was in
Christ was in you then. I'm trying to show you, that you, when God raised Jesus from the
dead, He raised up you also, and also quickened to Life with Him (You are now
quickened to Life.), although then you were but an attribute in His thoughts,
but God had saw all in Him at the finish. See? When God looked down upon the
body... (The Spirit left Him in the Garden of Gethsemane; He had to die
a man.) Remember friends, He
didn't have to do that. That was God. God
anointed that flesh, which was human flesh, and He didn't have... If He'd
went up there as God, He'd have never died that kind of death; can't kill God. But... He didn't have to do it, but remember, He went there with you in Him. See? God had never separated the Bride from the Groom yet. So when
God looked down upon the Body of Christ, He saw both male and female. It was all redeemed in that one Body. See?
They are one, the same, same Word. the same Word spoke of the Groom speaks of the Bride.
Notice, Brother Branham let us know that God had
revealed it first to Moses, but Moses was expected to move on it before it
could come into materialization, for without him moving forward that portion of
the Word could not have materialized. So Faith has to do with the unseen being
seen by that sixth sense we call Faith. And that sense can see what your eyes
cannot see, because through Faith we see what God sees. And God revealed it to
Jesus what he must do, but until Jesus acted upon it, it
was not yet a reality. So Faith has to do with the unseen Word being
revealed, and then desperation takes
over and we act upon the Word, and it then becomes the revealed Word because
the action shows the revelation is received, and when acted upon the action
expresses the revelation, and when that happens, the Word is clothed upon for all to see. And the brother Branham
said "God interprets his Word
by bringing it to pass."
Therefore, Faith does not come by seeing but
rather Faith comes by hearing. Because after it has been heard then it may be
seen once we act upon it. And then our action on that Word becomes the
interpretation of God's revelation. And that is what the Scriptures teach us.
Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit
by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,
doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith,
Lord, who hath believed our report? 17. So then Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So then it is not just hearing, but hearing the
Word of God that brings faith or releases the Faith of God back to us.
2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore
have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
So when God believed in Himself, His plan, He
spoke and then His Faith became manifested into materiality or reality.
Now, if Faith is something that was hidden, but has
been revealed, then Faith is like setting out on a journey not knowing where
you are going, but knowing who you are going with.
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.
And if you walk in the light as He is in that
Light, then you are walking with Him, and it should not make any difference
where you are going. That is what Faith is all about. Walking with Him, and
trusting Him. In fact the very evidence that you are
believing what He has revealed to
you is your walking in that revelation. Especially when no one else knows that
you are obeying the hidden voice of God to you. Not hidden to you, but revealed
to you what is hidden to them.
And we know that there is only One Lord and Thus
One Faith. That’s Ephesians 4:5 therefore Faith is the Substance of Someone, not
something.
We see in Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith
is the
substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. So we see that Faith is both a substance and an evidence. Now, the
substance is not the evidence, but the
Substance is the Person,
God Himself who has revealed to you His
plan for you, and the
evidence is your stepping forward into that plan, that which God has
revealed to you by His Personal Presence.
Notice that Paul said Faith is not a substance but is The Substance. And that word the is the article the which changes it from a thing to a person, God
Himself. In Scripture when it speaks of "The Spirit"
it is speaking of the
person of God Himself,
but when it speaks of spirit only, then without the article "the' it is speaking of the essence or the life itself.
So the article "The" is very important in understanding what or who
it is speaking of. therefore Paul is not speaking of faith as a substance
but THE SUBSTANCE.
And this word substance was translated from the
Greek word hupostasis which was also translated
in Hebrews 1:3 as the very person of God Himself. " Who being the brightness of His (God's) glory, and the express image of His (God's) person, (notice this word person
was translated from the same Greek word hupostasis, which Paul also called it the very substance which is God
Himself.) and upholding all things
by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on
the right hand of the Majesty on high;
And again we see this word hupostasis translated as the word "confidence" as well. Not confidence as an adverb but confidence as
"the person". Hebrews 3:14 For we
are made partakers
of Christ, if we hold the beginning
of our confidence stedfast unto the end; And who is the beginning of our confidence? Our
confidence is in God Himself.
Not holding to our own confidence in our own
selves, but our confidence is in Him and what he has done. That is the
confidence this is speaking of. Confidence in a person, Christ.
Now as I said before, Faith then is having a confidence in The person, not a thing. Abraham by faith started walking because God told
him to walk. We walk in the light from day to day and from week to week not
knowing exactly where we are going but knowing with Whom we are going. And that is what Abraham did, and
that is what Enoch did. He walked with God. And does it really matter where He
is leading you if you fully trust Him?
Jesus said we must be like little children to
enter into the Kingdom of God. And little Children have complete trust in their Parents as
long as their parents are with them.
Now, another thing about this Faith we’re
talking about tonight, is there is but “One Faith” because there is but “One
Lord”. And that Faith is “The
Faith of that One Lord”.
Look, in the beginning there was only God, and
in Him were many thoughts of how He wanted for things to be. Now, the thing of
it is, is that God had to have Faith in Himself to bring to pass His entire plan.
And so that Faith that He expressed in bringing to pass His thoughts is the
same Faith Jesus had to have in order to step forth into the role of The
Sacrificial Lamb. And Jesus expressed Faith in the Father’s plan when he left
Gethsemane determined to fulfill God’s
will.
So, although Faith is an invisible thing, yet
when it becomes active, that active expression is Faith materialized.
Therefore, Faith is like electricity in a way.
The same electricity that operates this microphone is the same electricity that
operates these lights so we can see, and is the same electricity that operates
the furnace to give us heat, and the air conditioner to cool us down. Brother
Branham demonstrated this to a sister in New Albany, I believe it might have been Edith Wright who was very sick. He
went to pray for her but her faith was very small. So he told her that he would
make the on off string that was hanging from the light in the room to move in a
circular fashion and then he made it move in the opposite direction. Now, that
was not a trick. What he told her is the faith he used to make that string
swing in that circle is the same faith that is needed for her to be healed.
Now, the electricity is not different from one power
line to the next in this room, but the operation or manifestation of that
electricity may be different from one to the other.
Therefore, the same Faith that is needed to heal
the sick is the same faith that is need to forgive sins. And the same Faith is needed to move mountains,
or to create squirrels. It is not a different Faith, because there is only One
Faith, so the difference is not in the Faith, but in the vessel that operates
that Faith.
In other words, like with the electricity, it is
the same electricity that operates all the fixtures we spoke of, and yet each
fixture or vessel has it’s own way of manifesting
that power.
And the same way with God. The same dynamics
work in each vessel and work according to the gift that lays within that vessel. Therefore, the same Faith
that we have for healing is the same faith we have for our finances, and
safety, etc.
Paul makes this clear when he writes to the Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
The Apostle Paul makes this even more clear in 1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities
of operations, but it is the same God
which worketh all in all.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Now, this word operations was translated from the Greek word energeia
meaning (energy): -- operation, (effectual) and working.
The Apostle Paul also speaks of this in Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to
us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the
gift of the grace of God given
unto me by
the effectual working of his power.
So we see that the operation of God’s power
works or operates through gifts, and with a different gift there are different
operations or manifestations of the same energies of God.
And with each gift there is a different measure
of how this energy of God works, just as there is a different amperage of
electricity being pulled through or channeled through
each fixture that is
utilizing the same electricity running through the same
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to
every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought
to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
So we see this faith working in us in whatever measure
we’ve been given, works to the total benefit of the body of Christ. Like each
fixture here makes life a little better for us to come and worship in this
building. The microphone makes it possible to pick up the sound and transfer it
to the computer which then uses the same electricity to record the sermon, and
the lights use the same electricity to give us light and a little heat, and the
furnace uses the same electricity to give us more heat or to cool us down so we
can stay more comfortable so we can devote our human energies to hearing the
Word of God.
Now, as I said the same Faith that operates each
gift is the same faith that heals, that saves, that creates body parts, and
that can create squirrels. It’s not a different faith we need for the change of
our bodies, but an allowing that One Faith, the Faith of God, the Faith of
Christ to have preeminence in our bodies.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to
all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is
of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
I know that we talk about not having enough
faith to receive our healing much less receive a change of the body, but it is
not the amount of faith we have, nor is it another Faith because there is but
One Faith, and Jesus victory in Gethsemane was not getting Faith, but stepping
aside and allowing the Faith of God to operate in His body.
And that is what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself.
You see, it is not you subduing your body, but
the subduing of your body is God’s doing by His Faith. And if you have a God
who does not have enough Faith to change your body then you do not have the God
of Abraham because God changed HIS body back to youth again in order to bring
forth Isaac.
Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Notice Paul says, my striving is to allow his
Energies to work in me.
Then what we lack is not Faith, for we have
enough faith to move Mountains if we have the Faith of Christ, His Faith. But what
we are lacking is a vessel that is so focused on Christ that we will let Him do
whatsoever He wishes to do with our vessel.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are
risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
You see, it is God who operates His Faith in Us.
So just let go and let God, or just get out of the way and let God take over
your vessel.
You see it is not our faith, but His Faith for there
is but one faith, and that Faith is God’s Faith that Jesus received and that
God was waiting on Him to acknowledge in the Garden of Gethsemane. And through his great struggle he
finally let go and Let God, and said, “Not My will be done, but Thy Will be Done.”
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Now, think of what Paul said here. Our
justification does not come via what we do, but by Faith. Then it is not our
faith but His faith that justifies us. Then justification is a work of Grace,
something that is totally out of your hands, and is a gift from God. For that
is what Faith is. It is something revealed.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the
promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law,
but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Philippians 3: 9 And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there
is no difference:
Now, the problem we have with Faith is not that
we do not have it, nor access to it, but that we do not recognize what it is
that we do have. Basically Faith is the Revelation of God’s Word and His Will.
And it is in black and white if we would just read our Bibles. And the second
thing that limits our faith is that we do not believe what God has said about
us. We are told that by the Faith of Jesus we have been given access to God.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Look what Paul said in Ephesians 3: 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith
of him. So what more can be said
than we have access to God through Jesus Faith in God.
And this access is not something you have
control over. It is a done deal. Romans 3: 3 For what if some did not
believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Even our righteousness comes through His Faith. Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the
world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. And we know that we are heirs not because of what
we do but what we were in Him before the foundations of the world.
Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which
followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (thatis, to bring Christ down from above:)
Galatians 3: 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be
given to them that believe.
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone
that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth
those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word
of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our
God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have
committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
So as you can see our Righteousness comes from
His Faith.
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there
is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say,
at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him
which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
2 Corinthians 5: 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 1: 17 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Let us pray...