The Masterpiece 101
Preview of the Bride
December 17th, 2006
Brian Kocourek
Let’s open our bibles this morning to 2 Timothy 3 and
1 Thessalonians 4 for a reading of our text.
2 Timothy 3:16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness: 17 That
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1 Thessalonians
4:13 13 But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say
unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.
Now, last week we spoke on 1 Timothy 3:16 where Paul told us
that the Word of God is for doctrine which is teaching, that brings us reproof,
correction and instruction in right-wise-ness. And we saw how important it is
for us to be examining ourselves to check the condition of our heart to see where
we are at, and to see whether we be in The Faith.
David said, Psalm 139:23 Search
me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And
see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me
in the way everlasting
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13: 5 Examine
yourselves, (test yourselves,
scrutinize your own life) whether ye be in the
faith; (Not whether you have faith, but whether you are in THE
FAITH. Examine yourself whether you are in THE FAITH) prove your own selves. (Test your
own selves, discern your own heart) Know ye not your own selves? Look, if you don’t
know your own self, then who will know your heart. Your wife or your husband
may think they do, but they don’t. No one can truly know your heart except you
and God. And he said Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates? So if you are not sure that Christ is in
you, The Hope of Glory, then you had better begin to pray and seek God for that
blessed assurance, before it is too late. Because when the Resurrection begins,
it will be too late then to make any changes in your heart and soul, because “he that is filthy
will be filthy still,” and too many people just come to church and
don’t have assurance in their soul that they are right with God.
We saw how brother
Branham pointed to motives and objectives to see what kind of spirit in our
life is motivating us. Oneness of unity 58-0128
P:27 Watch their works. Watch their fruits. Then
you can see what spirit is on you.
John said in 1 John 4:1 try the spirits to
see whether they be of God.
Jehovah
Jireh 61-0226 P:11 "And if we just watch our ministry
like that, and just do what God tells you to do no matter if it seems wrong or
right. If God's leading you, you just keep going on. See? It'll... The first thing to think of, "Is it
the will of God?" and then your motive and objective. If your
objective is right and your motive's right then say to this mountain, "Be
moved," and it'll move. That's right. If it's the will of God, and your
objective is right, and your motive's right it'll have to do it.
We saw in this paragraph from The Masterpiece how
important it is to not only take the correction that God sends our way, but to
also have the right attitude when he chastens us. We found that it is not the
big things we do that will keep us out of the kingdom, but rather the very
little things we have not done.
Finally we saw that our attitude towards everything that happens to us,
is but a reflection of our Faith in God’s word where he said, “all things all work
together for the good of them that love God and are thee called according to
his purpose”.
We saw how that every thought we have within us is but a seed and when
that seed is watered it will produce a manifested life.
In Romans 5:3-5 Paul
tells us that we should glory in our tribulations, or testings.
Now this speaks of those things that seem to bring forth pressure upon us. We
always think of these trials as coming from an outward source, and we are ready
to blame others for them, but we are told by Paul that we should glory in these
things, because he went on to say, "knowing
that tribulation worketh within you patience; and patience worketh within you experience (which
is character), and character brings forth an earnest expectation, and having an
earnest expectation makes us to be not ashamed, because we know that the Love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts or understanding by the Holy Ghost which
God has given to us by the receiving of His Word. Therefore we see
how God uses circumstances to bring forth His Character and Grace in us.
1
Peter 4:12 Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.14 If ye be reproached for
the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit
of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but
on your part he is glorified.15 But let none of you suffer as a
murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.16 Yet
if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.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? 18 And if
the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them
that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Therefore we must understand that since our character
development is dependent upon outside circumstances that move us and shape our
thinking, they also produce in us a dependency to think on God, and to think
what His thoughts would be for this situation. Thus we can see the dependence upon these
outside circumstance to bring us into fulfillment toward the ultimate goal of
receiving the very mind of God. Therefore, our reactions that we show
toward these circumstances is an outward indication as to where we stand in our
development toward the end-product of our being. How we handle each
circumstance will depend upon what stage we are in, in our progression toward
our ultimate character. Then what appears to be a test at one stage in
our progression, will not appear to be so at a further stage in our character
development.
Circumstances are just like taking a test in school.
What would appear to be a very difficult thing for us in the first year of
schooling, would not even appear to be a test at all after twelve years of
schooling. The further on in our progressive state that we move into toward the
image of the eldest Son that we are being conformed to, the further developed
will be our response mechanism that we harbor in our mind set or the garden of Mind.
Therefore every circumstance that we face in life is a growth from our
own mind or thoughts. Circumstances grow out of thought.
We are only buffeted by circumstances so long as we perceive these to be an
outside influence upon our lives. But when we view them as God working in us
His Word and His Will, then we do not see them as us verses them, but as a
working into us God’s perfect will and his very nature.
But when we come to the place where we realize that circumstances that come forth
in our lives are a direct result of our own mental state, we will begin to
appreciate their use and purpose in our growth toward the finished product that
God has destined for each one of us.
Anyone who has for any length of time, been a
practicing Christian, and who has practiced self control and knows how to
sanctify his vessel, will have noticed that the alteration in their
circumstances have been in a direct ratio to the alteration in their mental
state. When a man purposely and
earnestly makes an effort to remedy their personal character defects, and makes
a swift and marked progress, toward bettering themselves in those areas of
weakness, they pass swiftly through a succession of unpredictable changes. Therefore, the soul attracts
that which it secretly desires, and also that which it fears the
most. It not only reaches the heights of it’s desired aspirations, but
it also falls to the level of it’s un-chastened desires, and circumstances are
the means by which the soul receives what it longs for.
Therefore, every thought seed that is sown, or
that we allow to fall into the fertile soil of our minds, to take root there,
will produce it’s own, after it’s own likeness or nature. Sooner or later each thought seed we have sown in our hearts will have to take
blossom and become manifested in our lives as an action or deed. And each
action or deed will bear it’s own fruit in terms of opportunity or
circumstances. As the Scripture tells us, good thoughts will bear
good fruit and bad thoughts will bear bad fruit. That is why we must
come to the place where we begin to monitor and control what we think and
believe.
God's
only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:46 That every little jot, everything,
you must be faithful in. It's always the little vine, the little foxes spoils the vine. Sometimes you leave... It's not the big things you do; it's the
little things you leave undone. Remember, a chain is only its strongest
at its weakest link. "Blessed are they that do all the commandments of God, that they might have a right to enter in." Do all God
said, if it said for women to have long hair, you say...amen! A man told me not
long ago, said, "I don't preach a clothes-line religion." I said,
"Then you're not preaching the
Gospel." That's right. God laid it out there; He said what to do. And
you either do it... That's your natural, reasonable
thing. What little thing... what... the little insignificant. Jesus said,
"Blessed are they that would take all the little things, do the little
thing." And a woman to let her hair grow, that's just why, it's just
something she can do, and she won't even do that. She won't even do that. "Oh,
teach us the great things." How can you teach the great things, when you
won't do the simple, common things? Because, you see, your motive and your
objective is wrong.
Romans
Chapter 12 Verse 1 I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 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. 4 For as we have many members in
one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So
we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every
one members one of another. 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; 7 Or ministry, let us
wait on our ministering: or he that
teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with
cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is
evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business;
fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing
in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing
to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless
them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice
with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high
things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense
to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved,
avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I
will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine
enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou
shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
So we see that it is the little things that get you
out of step with God and His Word. Now, with this in mind, I want to look at
the very next thing brother Branham is going to say here because it has to do
with a vision he had of the Preview of the Bride, and at the very end, there
was a few of the little bride that got out of step, and you will notice that
Brother Branham yelled out, “Stay in Line”. At least that is how he said it
when he told the same vision in the message called, “Choosing of a Bride”.
So it is the staying in line that was crucial to the
Preview. Now, here he will tell us that it was their looking around that caused
them to get out of step, and that is the danger we have today even in this
message that when men begin to look to other than Christ, they will get out of
line with the military command that God Himself came down with in this hour.
1
Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore
then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by
the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to
please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye
know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For
this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That
every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the
Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned
you and testified. 7 For
God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He
therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto
us his holy Spirit. 9 But
as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves
are taught of God to love one another. 10 And
indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we
beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And
that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your
own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward
them that are without, and that ye may have lack
of nothing. 13 But I would
not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that
ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.
THE MASTERPIECE 64-0705 186 I
got seven minutes to tell you something that happened day before yesterday to
get out on time. July the third, I was over here setting in the--the center
over here (shopping center, right out from us here). I been in Pigalle in
187 I
fell into a trance. And when I did, there was somebody with me. I didn't see
the person. It was just a voice. And I looked. And as I looked this way, he
said, "The Bride will come in view for preview." And I looked coming
to me, and I seen the most prettiest bunch of clean dressed women I ever seen
in my life. But each one of them, looked like, was dressed different. They all
had long hair, and they were... longer sleeves and skirts and so forth, young
women... They looked kind of, I'd say about, maybe, twenty. Now,
I have the Bible open here before me. See? I can only say what I seen. If you
say, "What are you looking at?" I'm looking at a clock. "What
are you looking for?" I'm looking for people, looking at people. "What
are you looking at?" I'm looking at the Bible. That's what, I'm telling
the truth; that's what I see. And I can only say what I seen. I don't know what
it, all about it, I just have to tell you.
189
But when this Bride... She was looking right at... (The one was talking
to me, and I, standing together.) Her eyes... She was the cleanest, sweetest looking people I ever seen in my life.
Look like it could been a dozen or more, just... I don't know how many was
abreast, but there was just a group of them. And She passed by, sweetly with a
air, and her eyes up, watching as She passed by. Oh, She was beautiful. I
looked at her. And as She passed by, he said, "Now, we shall
review..." Said, "That's the Bride. Now, we will review the
churches." And they come. I noticed them coming up. And when they come up,
each one, look like, got worse. I never seen such a filthy bunch in my life.
And when he said, "Next..." I heard a noise. And it said,
"Next," said, "here comes the American group."
1 Peter 4:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Now this word run Paul
used here was translated from the Greek word Suntrecho (to rush together (hastily assemble) or headlong
(figuratively):--run (together, with).
Hebrews
12: 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, Now to run with patience is to set a pace that will not exhaust you. It
means you are fully under control and are not letting the race control you.
Philippians
2: 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day
of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
1
Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air: In other words those that run uncertainly are not sure about the race
so they run like a pack of animals going just as fast as they can go, without
any thought concerning how they are conducting their race. Just head lowered
and running here and there and like dogs in heat chasing, chasing, chasing. But
God has called us to walk in the Light as He is in the Light. Not, running out
of control, but walking like ladies in
the light of His glorious presence. But
Paul says,
Galatians
5: 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey
the truth?
Yes, who has hindered you. Someone has hindered you
from walking like ladies. Listen, the natural types the spiritual. So too we
see it in the churches today. Brother Branham said you watch the women and they
type the church. So ladies who has cut in on you that you should not walk in
this race. Who has placed thoughts in your mind that you must run without
control the race that is set before you. You are looking for your Bridegroom,
and he is coming for a Bride who is walking in the Light. Not running without
control. He is coming for a lady, not a dog in heat chasing, chasing, chasing
after a mate.
Abraham waited 75 years for his promise. How long have
we been willing to wait. For they that wait upon the lord receive the
promise. Sarah pushed Abraham into
trying to manifest the promise and it has caused the world nothing but
heartache with those wild men tearing up everything they can get their hands
on.
Romans 5: 1 Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only
so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience; 4 And patience,
experience; and experience, hope:
Romans 8: 25 But
if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Luke 21: 19 In
your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 8: 15 But
that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having
heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
190
Now, I am an American, but this just made me sick. I am not eloquent
enough to, in a mixed audience, to say what was taking place; I, You'll have to
read between the lines. But when the women were coming, the leader of them was
a witch. She had a great long nose and a great big mouth. And all of them was
dressed with some kind of lower clothes down here, but the top just had a strap
that just, a little, about half inch strap that moved up and went around them
like this. And each woman had something on the order... Many of you, years ago
used to... Remember, when we used to cut that paper, you know, newspaper, and
make an old fly-bush? How many remembers it? You know. Why, I think you used it
in carnivals, you know. Hanging down like that, fringed paper, lace paper. They
had something holding below them, like this, holding below them. All of this
part was exposed. And each one had hair cut up real short, and frizzy-looking
things all over it like that, real short cut hair, and full of makeup:
absolutely nothing but looked like street prostitutes. And they were walking
with this paper. And the vulgarity... Now, the paper was what was hold in front
of them; but when they passed the review stand, in the back of them... And to
see the way they were going on in their foremost and their back part, and how
they were acting, I thought, "Is that the church?"
192
And there she went. And they were singing this here twist-and-roll
songs, you know, ever what you call, going down, singing like, going behind...
I said, "Is that the church?" And I was standing there. And in my
heart I was crying. And this witch... To my notion it's nothing else in the
world, but she's that World Council of Churches leading them right straight
down the road where she was going. They went off to the left and disappeared in
chaos, still beating this music and making real funny sounds, and shaking their
bodies one side and then the other side, and then like that, carrying on like
that, walking.
193
And I just started to bow my head, and he said, "Wait, the Bride
must come again." And I looked, and here they come again. And they passed
by, sweet-looking little ladies. They was all looking right at me as they
passed by. And I noticed each one was dressed different. And one in the back
had kind a long hair hanging down and had it rolled around like this, might
been German or something like that. And I watched them. And then, as they
started leaving, two or three of them in the back...?... get out of step. And I
was going to holler at them, and they was trying to get back in step again. And
I seen them just, the vision just fade out and change from me.
194
Now, here is the interpretation thereof: The reason... Now, remember. I
had just got through writing... I hadn't finished; I hadn't wrote these notes
yet. But in preaching this morning, I caught what it was right in my sermon.
Did you notice, the church only came in view... Now, that's the truth, friends.
The heavenly Father, Who writes the Word, knows that I tell the truth. See? I
know, I just say the truth. And not knowing it till just a few minutes ago, looked
like or just recently, See? Did you notice the Bride come in view twice? The
first Seed and the second Seed, both of them exactly the same one. And the
reason they were dressed in different parts, she'll come from all nations;
it'll make up the Bride. Each one had long hair and no makeup, and real pretty
girls. And they were watching me. That represented the Bride coming out of all
nations. See? She... Each one represented a nation, as they marched perfectly
in line with the Word. See?
195
And then, I have to watch Her. She'll get out of step with that Word if
I don't watch, when she's passing by, if she gets by. Maybe it'll be my time
when I'm over (See?), when I'm finished, or whatever it is. Watch. They was getting back, trying their
best. They was getting back; they was getting in line, 'cause they was looking
out somewhere else, watching about that church that just went out of, into
chaos. But two... The front ones never. The back ones--just two or three of
them, was kinda stepped out a little bit to the right-hand side, and looked
like was trying to get back in line as they went by. They was just passing me,
oh, far as here to the wall, passing me. I was standing there. And then I just
seen them all just move out and leave. But you notice, the church only came
into view once, each nation, the church. But the Bride come in twice. See? See
what it was? Now, not knowing it, but look at it with my message this morning,
not knowing that. See?
197
The Seed fell in the ground at
198
All others never appeared no more. They went out never to come back
again. But the Bride came back, 'cause She was Alpha and Omega. God, the Great
Sculptor, has made Him a Masterpiece, for It is a piece of His first
Masterpiece. Like He made in the garden of Eden and took a piece from and made
another piece, and that was marred and fell; now He's been all this time
building it up again. And He brought forth this Masterpiece, and was smitten in
order--that part that was smitten was in order to bring back again that
Masterpiece again.
So the Masterpiece and the
Son of God--the Masterpiece and the Bride... And It's a piece of Him, which
must be the fulfilling of the Word. The Word has been fulfilled, and we're
ready for the coming of the Lord.
200
Oh, Church of the living God, bow your hearts and your--yourselves
before God. These things are true. I know that it--it sounds like that as such
a great a thing as that would be, would be so spread out over the nations; it
never was. He doesn't change His way. Just be thankful, Church, be thankful
that you are where you are today if you're in Christ. Because, you see...
Now... And when that... Remember, all that Life will be gathered right into the
Grain for the resurrection, but the stalk must be burned, the rest of it. The
husk and all must be destroyed, and it will be. Don't trust in your--them
denominations. You stay in the Word, the Life, God and His Masterpiece.
Then what is it in the
millennium? Christ and His Bride, back in the garden of the millennium. Amen.
Galatians
5:7 Ye
did run well; who did hinder you (who
did cut in on you) that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This
persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
1 Corinthians 9: 24 Know
ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So
run, that ye may obtain.