Faith no 23

The Ripening of our Faith

Sunday evening August 6, 2017

Brian Kocourek, pastor

This evening I would like to show the 2 groups of people who actually hear the Message. One hears it and has Faith, that is to say they actually have the Message revealed to them whereas the other group hears the same Message but because it is not mixed with Faith, because it is not really revealed to them, they miss it altogether and it has no effect upon them.

From his sermon, 40 God's Only Provided Place of Worship 65-1128.1M brother Branham says, "I believe the church is beginning 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."

Now before we go further, I want you to stop and notice how brother Branham is associating the laying in the Presence of the Son to with the ripening or maturing of our Faith.

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 in the heart, 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.      

Now, last something happens when we come to the place of laying in the presence of the Son to Ripen. After all, you've got to know where that place is and then go to it. Then to lay there shows that you have entered into a rest which can only come from maturity and complete trust. He says, once we do  begin to understand the Message and once we then lay in the presence of the Son,  and once we "get it" or "understand it," then something else happens. He says we become separated, (notice his wording here.) 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. So then what we are seeing here is our separation comes from the fact that we have come into His Presence.

Now remember in Genesis chapter 1 every time God spoke Separation took place. The Light from darkness, the waters above from the waters below, etc. Then He speaks again and this separation becomes in actuality a gathering together of like seed with like seed getting it in a position where life can regenerate itself. Again, in John chapter 3 where evil separates itself from the light but those who love Truth and have their source in God come to the light.

Therefore this evening, I wish to bring focus on this thought of these two groups of people and where the same Word leads them.

Now, last night we  examined a couple points brother Branham was making in this paragraph which was 

Point. # 1) separation as it has to do with the ripening or maturing of our faith.

Point # 2) How this maturing of our Faith brings us to the place of Rapturing Faith. 

2 Thessalonians 1:7-2:3 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 (out from or away 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. 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: 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. 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Ok, so the falling away is from His presence, and the gathering together is to His presence. So if they have fallen away they certainly cannot lay in His Presence to ripen or mature. Therefore, we are looking at two groups of people. Those  who are being gathered unto Him and those who are being separated from Him.

As we read further I want you to recognize what the difference is between these two groups. You'll find it is faith.  Now in verse 3 we see a falling away that must come first. This falling away comes via attrition. It is actually a divorcement but comes through attrition. Now notice in every exodus there are two groups. Both come out but what makes them different is that one group goes on in while the other either stops or goes back where they came out from. 

Remember what Brother Branham said in the Message ...

129 Anointed One at the End Time 65-0725.1M  Now, just a minute. I want to look up something here. I think I wrote this down right. I'm not sure, but I want to say it, and look it up before I say it. Now, just one minute. Reprobates concerning the Truth, concerning the faith, the faith. There's only one faith, that's right. Concerning the faith, reprobates.

2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Reprobates concerning the faith --not reprobates in--in--in living, they're fine, cultured man.

E-63 God keeps His Word 57-0120.2E The Bible said, "They'd be lovers of their ownself. Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, incontinent, and despisers of those that are good. Having a form of godliness," just like they did, "but denying the power thereof," the Word. If they speak not according to that, there's no life to them. That's right. "Having a form of godliness, but denying, from such turn away, for this is the sort that goes from house to house with their books and campaigns and so forth, and lead silly women laden with sin, led away with divers lust. Ever learning, and never able to come to the truth." What kind are they? Jannes and Jambres have all kinds of fantastics and everything. "As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so will these resist the truth: man of reprobate mind concerning the Word." Trying to take the Word of God and pervert it into something else, into a fantastic or a religious organization, or build them up a great name, or make themselves some great name. From such, turn away! Stay with the Word!

Vines: Reprobate: unable to pass the test because these are men whose moral sense is perverted and whose minds are beclouded with their own speculations.

Beclouded means, their minds are clouded over or muddled with their own thoughts on why things are and what it ought to be.. In other words, they have not let their own thinking go. Brother Branham told us we have no thought coming. And many in this message have not yet learned that. That's why false doctrines creeping in.

2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

163-1 The First Seal 63-0318   "God has promised it, when the Word is refused, then they are turned to their desires. Let's read Thessalonians again. Let's... I want you to watch here just a minute. Say, "Well, we read it awhile ago." II Thessalonians 2:9-11. It said that they would, turning down, rejecting the Truth, they would be given over to a reprobate mind and would believe a lie and would be damned by it. That's what the Holy Spirit said.  

2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

79 Just Once More Lord 63-1201.2E   Samson knew one thing, and I wonder if the church realizes today. He knew that his backslidden condition couldn't meet the challenge of the hour. And I know, today, that the backslidden condition of the church can't meet the challenge of this hour. And it's going to be worse. The Bible said, "As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so will they; men of reprobate mind, concerning the Faith." They can almost impersonate It exactly.

E-110 Identified Christ of All Ages 64-0401   Heavenly Father, you said it shall be light in the evening time. We see, Lord, all signs, nations are breaking, Israel's in her homeland, earthquakes in divers places, man's hearts failing, perverted minds reprobate concerning the truth. As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, you said men of reprobated minds given over to a delusion to believe a lie and be damned by it... But You promised in that day that You'd make yourself known, the Son of man would be revealed, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever, by his same characteristic that identified Him in every age.

131 Anointed Ones at the End Time 65-0725.1M Reprobate! Jannes and Jambres, as they withstood... Now, also listen. II Timothy 3:8: "As Jannes withstood Moses, also in the last days these same reprobates would come (now see what it says here?) having a form of godliness, anointed ones.

257 Anointed Ones at the end time 65-0725.1M  Now notice! That was Jesus speaking. Here come Paul right behind Him and said, "Now, in the last days there will come religious people (see?) having a form of godliness, and lead silly women, led away with all kinds of worldly lust (and they wonder, say, "Why do you pick on them women?" Oh, for goodness... They just don't even see it!)--lead silly women, laden with divers lust (away from things like--that's of the Bible. See?)... And as Jannes and Jambres (Matthew 24:24, false christs, false anointed, doing signs and wonders to deceive the Elected)--now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so will these reprobates..." Reprobate mind concerning the faith, not a faith, The Faith. One faith, one Lord, one Baptism. You can't have one faith without believing in one Lord.

Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Now, remember we spoke of three things during the church ages, Justification, sanctification and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost under the Church ages.

Well in Matthew 13:33 Jesus warns us that in the Kingdom of God it will have leavened doctrine concerning these three things. Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

So we see at the end of the ages that the whole meal barrel is full of leaven or false doctrine, until there is not table that is clean. So God comes down and ends the church ages, and begins the bride age.

It all began in the first church age. Galatians 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

Luke 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should  feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And so Peter warns us that at the end time men will come in with pretentious words bringing in what he calls damnable heresies.

Modern events made clear by prophecy 65-1206 P:27 We're living in the Bride age, the calling, bringing back to God through a channel that He promised to bring it back in. He promised to do it. But as it's been in every age, people let men put their own interpretation to It by theology, and will not believe God's Divine vindication of It. That's God's interpretation; not what I say, what somebody else says. But what God has promised and what God does, proves that it's God doing His own interpreting of His Word.

Rising of the sun 65-0418M P:41 As Christ was the first One to raise from all the prophets and so forth (although typed in many places, He was the Firstfruits of those that slept), in the Bride coming of Christ, coming out of the church, there'll have to be a Sheaf waved again in the last days. Oh, my. Waving of the sheaf, what was the sheaf? The first one that come to mature, the first one that proved it was a wheat that proved it was a sheaf. Hallelujah. I'm sure you see what I'm talking about. It was waved over the people, and the first time there will come forth for the Bride age, for a resurrection out of dark denominationalism, will be a Message that the full maturity of the Word has turned back again in Its full power and being waved over the people by the same signs and wonders that He did back there.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, (bring in to where? The Message of the hour) even denying (saying no to) the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3  And through covetousness (they've got their motives for doing this, they sell their DVD's) shall they with feigned words (made up words) make merchandise of you: (so these who come in have one objective and that is to make merchandise of the saints) whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Notice he said, "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."

1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in Hypocracy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.   Now what does that tell you.

These men know better but  because they have a conscience that has been seared by a hot iron. It's scarred for life. It's no longer soft and pliable, but it's scarred. They are Stiff, stubborn and determined to do what they want to do.  They know better but are hypocrites. 

A hypocrite is according to Webster, a stage actor. A pretender, A person  who pretends to be what he is not. Just play acting.  The bible calls them .. hypocritical liars: Men who take up another man's statement as if it were their own. Impersonate, Simulate, feign, pretend.

Now it says that their minds or their hearts have been seared. They know better but they have to have it their way. They do not live by faith, The Faith!

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.

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?

Galatians 3:5 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?

Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

These men deny the one that bought them. Look, He's here and they say He isn't. Or they deny the way in which He is. Now the body isn't the one that bought them. That is only the price that was paid. But the One that bought them is God Himself who paid the price of your Life with another life, that of His own Son. The first born.

Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].   

So we see here 2 groups. And what sets them apart as different is the effect the Word of God has upon them. The same Word mind you. On one group it has an effect while on the other Group it has no effect at all.  Wer'e talking about the same Word!  Remember the 5 wise and 5 foolish both heard the same Midnight cry, "Behold" and yet it had a different effect on each group.

Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be]: for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith..  

Now this word "froward" means a perverted people.    These were a perverted people. A people who cannot receive the Truth for what it is but receive a twisted Truth.

2 Thesalonians 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all [men] have not faith.

Now, what I want to show you this evening is that these 2 groups of people are both ordained to hear the same Message at the end-time. But One Group has faith to not only hear, but to recognize and act upon it, while the other Group has not received the same Message by Revelation. It is not revealed to them and thus they do not recognize it and act upon it. And they thus lose what hope they have and through attrition and they just wear away. They are reprobate concerning the faith. They are they who depart from the faith.

Now this attrition we speak of is a wearing away or weakening to the point of exhaustion, a wearing or grinding down by affliction. And these either walk away altogether.

56 Israel at Kadesh Barnea 53-0328  Then God, after fixing Moses, getting him ready, sent out the--the signs, then the last sign (we taken last night) was death. And we found out, that's spiritual death in the church, the last plague now, church drying up, blowing away. That's right. We're living in a horrible time. How that the church, the old-timers that used to really have the victory, is losing out, dying time, letting the Blood get off the front of the door. "When I see the Blood I will pass over you."

10-1 Discerning the Body of the Lord 59-0812  We can't discern by what people think, what intellectuals tell us, what psychologists tell us; we've got to go by what God says! "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." "Not discerning the Lord's Body, many are weakly and sick. Many are asleep"--dead, spiritually dead. The last plague that hit Egypt was death. The last plague that has hit the church is spiritual death. What we need today is a spiritual awakening--a spiritual awakening to discernment.

E-22 Speak to this Rock 60-0612 How easy they had forgotten, that when the plagues was in Egypt, that they were protected. When there was flies all over everything, there wasn't a fly around them. When lice filled all the beds, all the clothing, and everything, there wasn't one bit of it on them. Frogs was in the cupboards and everything else, all over the rest of the unbelievers, but they had been protected, God showing His mercy. Notice, and when that final and great night came, God said, "This is My final blow at Egypt. But before I can strike this blow, I've got to bring My children to protection."  And there was a sacrificial lamb killed, and the blood was put on the post and the lintels of the door, and the congregation went under the blood. Remember, that was the last plague that struck Egypt. And the last plague that's striking the church today is the same as that was: a spiritual death. Because as God led them literally, He leads us spiritually. And the last blow at the--the enemy is death is striking, and all from under the blood, is disfellowshiped by the Holy Spirit.

E-59 Only Believe 61-0427 You remember the last plague hit Egypt? What was the last plague hit Egypt which was the type of the church going out? Was death. What's the last plague has hit the Pentecostal church? Spiritual death. It's going right on back like the rest of the world, spiritual death. But, the circumcised with the blood on the door, took the homeward march. That's exactly with a Pillar of Fire going before them to lead them away.

313-4 The Fourth Seal 63-0321  Like He give Egypt, He give Egypt place to repent. What was that last plague?--was death. That's the last plague that's hit the Pentecostal church. It's spiritual death; she's dead! That's in the Name of the Lord. She's spiritually dead! He gave her place to repent, and she rejected it; now she's dead. She will never rise again!

 157 The Unveiling of God 64-0614.1M They spiritually die now. This is the spiritual veil. See? That was a natural veil. This is spiritual veil. See? They keep walking right on in behind there, you can tell them. "Oh, I know! I know that, but I..." Go ahead, it's all right, it only speaks... You remember, the last plague in Egypt was death, before the exodus. The last plague on earth is spiritual death, before the exodus. Then they'll be cremated and turned back to the dust, and the righteous will walk out upon their ashes. But the last thing is spiritual death, rejecting the Word.

So we see the paths of these 2 groups take 2 different directions. The One who possesses faith moves on in the Word being led by the Pillar of Fire while the other rejects the Presence and goes backward into Pentecost all over again and thus into death, spiritual death.

Now the difference in these 2 groups is that one has the gene seed of God by predestination while the other is only trying to copy, to pattern themselves after what they are not. But they are hypocrites because although they say what he said, they reject the understanding of what he said. And thus point people away from the One who is here and point people to themselves. Self idolation. Just l;ike their father satan.

In Matthew Jesus told them, "Fill ye up the measure of your fathers." And in John 8: 38 He said, "I do what I see my Father do and you do what you have seen your father do." Then in verse 41 he said, "you do the deeds of your father who was a murderer from the beginning." Then he said, "ye are of your father and the lusts of your father you will do."

So it is apparent that these men are not gene seed of God. Then you say, why do they want to imitate Jesus. And I will answer, because that is what their father did.

Ezekiel 28:12-15 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.  13  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Notice, he was the same in every detail except one. He was not born of God. He was created. But the other group are actually seed gene kin to God, because we are His offspring.

Testimony on the Sea 62-0720  When Eliezer was sent from Abraham to find a bride for his son, Isaac (a type of the Father, and the Son, and the servant, and so forth), Eliezer sweated it out until he found character. And when he found character, he had it. And that's what the Holy Spirit's trying to find today, is character. You can't have character until you got faith. And faith produces character.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

27 God has a provided way 54-0404  And now we're moving right on into another great age, coming for the rapture of the Church. And in this, we're living in the time of the restoration of the gifts. It stumbled many of the big fine churches; it sent Nazarene backwards; it made fanatics out of a lot of Pentecost. But, just the same, God is moving right on, bringing in the rapturing faith for His Church. That's right. So, tonight, I represent that Faith, "The Faith that was once delivered to the saints," in the way of a Divine gift.

Let us pray...