God’s Only Provided Place of
Worship # 75
Brian Kocourek,
Misinformed
240 "The place I choose to put My Name
in." Oh, my! I
Corinthians 12.
I
Corinthians 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren,
I would not have you ignorant. Now this word ignorant means to be Misinformed.
In other words, these people have a propensity to be informed incorrectly, so
there's something about spiritual gifts he wants us to know and he wants us to
be sure that we do not misunderstand what he is saying about them.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried
away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. In other words, because you were raised up as gentiles
without a true understanding, I don't want you to revert back to your old way
of thinking concerning these things that I am about to tell you. And since you have had a propensity to be
carried away after dumb idols, you may have a pull to do the same with these
spiritual gifts. But remember, you came out from that type of thinking, so do
not ever revert back to that way of thinking again.
3 Wherefore I give you
to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus
accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy
Ghost. Now, remember, he began by saying not to go to
overboard about these gifts and be led astray by every wind as you were led to
serve gods that were not gods back when you were gentiles. So too, I believe
here Paul wants us to be careful how we view gifts. Because he is warning us
here that although someone would show or manifest one of these gifts that he
will mention, he is warning us up front that the gift is no evidence that you
are even borned again. He says, no man that is truly borned again could ever
say that Jesus is
accursed. Now this word Accursed here is anathema which means
to be devoted to God with no hope of being redeemed. So something that
worships God knowing full well it will not do you any good. What a terrible
thing it would be, to be in this condition. Worshipping God
apart from a new Life. Then Paul says, No man can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Ghost. Now, brother
Branham told us the True interpretation of this statement. He said, "you might
say that He is, but just because you say it doesn't make it so, your Life must
be a witness to it." It must be
manifested in your Life, then your Life is the
Vindication that The Holy Ghost is Lord of your Life. So we see Paul set forth a warning before
he tells the people about the gifts of the Spirit, because people can get
caught up into a false security by having the gifts and not yet being born
again. Now we all know this is true about tongues, but let's see what other
gifts Paul is speaking of here that could give you this false security.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the
same Spirit. Ok, here he tells us
that there are many different kinds of gifts but they all come from the same
giver.
5 And there are differences of
administrations, but the same Lord. Now this word administration here comes from
the root to minister. Ad minister . So we see it has to do with the way that these
gifts can be utilized. The way that they can be handed out or
dispensed.
6 And there are diversities of operations,
but it is the same God which worketh all in all. He says, differences in the
operations of these gifts as well. The
word operations here means the effects that are
produced. So he is telling us that these gifts will have different effects that
are produced from them. But they are still effected by the same God. In other words, the word
hardens one and soften the other, and so too the gifts that Paul is
going to tell us about will have different effects on different people. Just look what effect tongues have on a
Pentecostal baby. It gets them all excited and they really think they have
arrived, and some will actually disbelieve the word because of what someone
spoke in tongues. They'll believe that above the very Word of God. This is why
Paul begins by warning the Corinthians here to begin with. He says, don't ever
forget what you came out from and do not ever think to go back to that
nonsense. When a seasoned Christian hears tongues & interpretation, he'll
take it back to the Word.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal. Paul is saying here, that the real purpose
behind the gifts of the Spirit is to bring the people together and uplift and
edify the body of Christ. Paul is saying, though each person may have some
different form of God's Spirit manifesting through them, the gift is not given
for that person alone, but for the betterment of the common good. Now, let's
see just what these gifts are because, remember, 1) They are for the common
good of all 2) But people can be
lulled into a false security by the gifts 3) These gifts will have a
different effect upon each person who is ministered to by them of them.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word
of knowledge by the same Spirit; Wisdom = This
is the same word here as used in Ephesians
Colossians 2: 1 - 3 & 1: 9
(read) 1 Corinthians 2: 7 (read) Sophia = skill and truth in imparting Christian
Truth, 9 The Wisdom of God). Knowledge
= gnosis, a deeper and more enlarged
knowledge. Root word is Ginosko.
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
faith = That thing by which we are saved by. Hebrews
11: 1, Hebrews 10: 38,
Romans 5: 1 - 2
And what about healing? Verse
28 & 30 do all have this gift?
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning
of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will.
All these worketh or show forth the Spirit. In other
words all these gifts have one purpose and that is to effectually show forth
the Spirit.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so
also [is] Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized
into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit. Don't ever forget. We
have all been made to drink of that One Spirit. So although God may choose to
place a gift in a certain person, that gift is to cause us to drink of the
Fountain which is Christ. I believer the main focus then of these gifts in the church
is to try to get His body to hunger and thirst for more of Him. We are not to
worship or elevate the ones with these gifts, but the purpose then of these
gifts is to create within us a thirst which will cause us to want to drink from
the fountain.
14 For the body is not one member, but
many. Therefore, though one has a
gift that is looked upon as being great, yet that person is not great, but is
only just one of the members in the body. The real great One is Christ Himself.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body?
Like brother Branham said, "Just because you say
it doesn't make it so."
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where
[were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were]
the smelling? Now, I believe this principle here is very important.
Too often we overlook the less attractive parts of the body in favor of those
who are what we consider to be the gifted ones. Sometimes we think, boy is that person ignorant. But I like what Will Rogers
said, he said, "We are all ignorant. It just depends upon the
subject. So when we begin to get lifted
up and think we are better than the next guy just because we might have a
better understanding than they, we had better get braced for a fall, because
it's sure to come. "pride cometh before a fall."
18 But now hath God set the members every
one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. Now,
I want you to notice this. God places each member into the body just as it
pleases Him. So if you do not have some great gift of Wisdom or knowledge, do
not fret. God made you the way you are for a purpose. But I believe, He that hungers and thirsts
for righteousness, will be filled. And that is what I
would worry about the most, whether I had a hunger and thirst for God. Because if I do, I also have a promise that I will be filled.
19 And if they were all one member, where
[were] the body? If we were all the same, who would need me? If we were
all the same who would need brother Vayle's teaching ministry? But this is why
God has made us all different, so we can minister to each other the things God
has given us that are different than what the other has. If I have plenty of something that you also
have the same as I, then what good will I do you and what good will you do for
me. But if I have something you don't have and you have something I don't have,
then we can get together and help each other. 20 But now [are they] many
members, yet but one body. 21
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the
head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those
members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: Brother Branham said, If
there were not a people, Moses would not of had a message. So
every one is needed. If God gives a Pastor an ability to express His
Word and manifest His Life, what good would it do if there were no congregation
to hear it, recognize it, and act upon it. Then the
gifts that He has given to the church would cease to be of any good to any one,
and they might as well cease to be used.
23 And those [members] of the body, which
we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely [parts] have more
abundant comeliness. More
abundant assessment or greater value.
24 For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body
together, having given more abundant
honor to that [part] which lacked: 25 That there should
be no schism in the body; but [that] the
members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with
it. Doxazo filled with the opinion, assessment
and Judgment of God. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all
workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all
interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and
yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. And
what is a that?
Well, to find out we must go into
chapter 13 which is the chapter on Love. And in it we find out that though we
have all the gifts in the world, from God, they don't mean a thing if we do not
have Love. And God is Love. Therefore, if we do not have the expression of the
Revealed Word in us then the gifts
really don't mean a thing. What good is your gift if it isn't an expression of
the Revelation of Christ. How does our body change
come? By renewing the mind, right? By expressing the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Then without
the Revealed Word expressing itself through us, what have we got but a mental
conception and religion.
241 Notice Ephesians 4:30:
... grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed until the... (next revival?)... until the day of
your redemption. ... grieve not the holy Spirit of
God, whereby you are sealed until the day of your redemption. 242 ... whereby
you're sealed until the day of your redemption. 247 Notice! Now this might pinch just a little bit, but
look (don't fall out with me) just remember.
248 When
250 You're sealed in there, you're beneath the Blood. You don't go out no more. And then what
are you? God's son in God's family,
sealed in by the Holy Spirit. The Devil couldn't get you if he had to; for
you are dead, your old husband part is dead; and you are buried, and your life is hid in God through Christ,
and sealed by the Holy Ghost. How's he going to get you? How you going to get out? You're
there! Glory! Now I will leave that alone; just enough so you'll know what
I'm talking about.
251 Then a new creation, not to a denomination
but to the Word. You're a creation of the Word. Because the foundation stone was laid in you before the foundation of the world, predestinated to be sons and daughters of God.
28-1 TOKEN.THE JEFF.IN.
V-2 N-19 63-0901M Oh. Oh, it should make us be--should make our
hearts... Oh, apply it, church. Don't--don't fail. Will you not? Don't--don't--don't let the sun set.
Don't--don't--don't--don't--don't rest day or night. Don't take no chance; it won't work, children. It won't work. You must
have the Token. You say, "I
believe, yes. I go... Yeah, I believe the message." That's all right,
but... That--that's good. But you must have the Token. Do you hear, Branham
Tabernacle? You must have the Token displayed. Without it, all your believing's in vain. See? You'll live a good life; you
listen to what the Word says; you go to church; you try to live right; that's
fine, but that's not it. "When I
see the Blood," that's the Token, and the Token here is not... 'cause what
did... He had to see the actual chemistry, because the life had gone, he--had
gone from it. It was an animal. But here it's His Own
Life that was in the Blood, and the chemistry was only a signal, or sign of
sanctification. But the Life Itself is the Token. For without the circumcision, without the
Token, you're not even in the covenant. The whole thing works together. If you say you're circumcised to the Word, and It only, then you'll believe the Word. If you
believe the Word, then the Token's got to come. For He said, "Repent, and
be baptized everyone of you in the Name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost." There you are. Oh, my. Notice, then the preparation for His
promised land people... Notice, what he did. First, He had a people that He had
made a land for them. He had prepared a land for them. And now, He sent down
there a preparation for it, for the promised land
people. It was only for those who were predestinated to that promised
land. Right.
And how He done it, He sent a prophet with a message, identified it by a
Pillar of Fire, and gave a token that they could rest assure that It was right. That's right. It was for consolation.