The Masterpiece 121
The Faith of Christ and
Brian Kocourek
2. 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.
3. Since this is what we call Good Friday, and Christians across the
world come together on this day to celebrate that ultimate sacrifice that Jesus
Christ the Son of God made on our behalf, I would like to look tonight at the
events of that day and that night and see just what went on in the mind of our
Elder Brother Jesus.
4. 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
5. Many of us have seen the movie that Mel Gibson made on “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.
6. So, I do not wish to focus our attention on the suffering itself, but
on the Faith that gave him strength to endure that suffering, and the faith
that led him to the cross. For it is this Faith that took him
from
7. 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.
8. 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. “
9. For brother Branham said that the cross was not the victory, but the
battle in
10. Communion
57-0418 P:14 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 testings and trials are more precious to us than
silver and gold of this world. So we should be thankful.
11. Faith is a Mystery revealed. Brother Branham
said Faith s a Revelation, something that has been revealed. It comes by
hearing the Word of God 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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
15. 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
16. Notice, Brother Branham let us know that God had revealed it first to
Moses, but Moses was expected to move on it before it became into
materialization, for without him moving forward that portion of the Word could
not have materialize. So Faith has to do with the unseen being seen by that
sixth sense we call Faith. Yes, the sixth sense is called Faith. And that sense
can see what the eyes can not see. 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 acted upon which the action
becomes the revelation expressed and when that Happens,
the word is dressed or clothed for all to see.
17. Therefore, Faith does not come by seeing but Faith comes by hearing,
not by seeing, because after it has been heard then it may be seen once we act
upon it. And that is what the Scriptures teach us.
18. 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?
19. Romans
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.
20. So then it is not just hearing, but hearing the Word of God that
brings faith or releases the Faith of God 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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 it speaks of the essence or life. SO the article The
is very important in understanding what or who it is speaking of. So Paul is
not speaking of faith as a substance but THE SUBSTANCE.
27. 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. Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of
his person, (person, hupostasis, the very substance which is God) 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;
28. And again we see this word hupostasis
translated as confidence. Not confidence as an adverb but confidence as a
person. Hebrews 3:14 For we
are made partakers of Christ, if we
hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end;
29. Not hold our own
confidence in ourselves, but our confidence in Him and what he has done. That
is the confidence this is speaking of. Confidence in a
person, Christ.
30. 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? I do not think so.
31. Jesus said we must
be like little children to enter into the
32. Now, another thing
about this Faith we’re talking about tonight, is that there is but “One Faith”
because there is but “One Lord”. And that Faith is “The Faith of that One Lord”.
33. 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
34. So, although Faith
is an invisible thing, yet when it becomes active, that active expression is
Faith materialized.
35. 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
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. 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.
43. The Apostle Paul also speaks of this in Ephesians
44. 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.
45. 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
46. 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.
47. 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;
48. 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.
49. 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.
50. 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,
51. 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.
52. 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.
53. 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.
54. 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.
55. 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.
56. 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.
57. 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
58. 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.
59. 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.
60. 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,
61. 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
62. 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:
63. 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.
64. 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;
65. 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.
66. 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?
67. 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.
68. Romans
69. Romans 10: 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:)
70. Galatians
71. 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 every one
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.
72. 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:
73. 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;
74. 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.
75. 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.
76. So as you can see our Righteousness comes from His Faith. Romans 3: 2 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.
77. 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.
78. 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.
79. Romans