WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC #8

(The Truth Hurts)

July 16, 2000

Brian Kocourek

 

This morning we will continue again from Brother Branham's Message, WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC.   Last Sunday morning we looked at paragraph number 4 where Brother Branham had just received a surprise Love offering, and we examined what a love offering is and why it is given. This morning we will continue from paragraph number 4 and read through paragraph 6 where we will hear brother Branham speak of sincerity, and why the people come to hear him.

 

WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC 65-0221E  4  I am very grateful for the great attendance this week, and for all you people that's hooked up tonight again with the--the wires of the telephone. And we're grateful to each and every one of you.   6    Billy said to me this morning; he said, "Daddy, if you would've come with me this morning, early, right after daylight, and stand out here around in these places and watch mothers feeding their babies in the car, them poor people setting in that rain, waiting for the doors to open..." You see what a hypocrite I'd be if I told you anything but the truth? I'd really be a foul person. Sometimes I have to hurt, but it's not because that I want to, it's because... It's--it's not me that's hurting; it's truth that hurts. And I--I... But I believe that's the reason you come, because I'm deadly sincere with you and do all that I can to help you. The Lord help each and every one of you.

 

Now, there are two things in particular that brother Branham mentions here as we read this paragraph. Number 1) he says, "Sometimes I have to hurt, but it's not because that I want to, it's because... It's--it's not me that's hurting; it's truth that hurts.."

 

Number 2) he says,  I believe that's the reason you come, because I'm deadly sincere with you and do all that I can to help you

 

Now, these two points it's truth that hurts, and I'm deadly sincere with you and do all that I can to help you can be found in something brother Branham says in the Message

 

If you get your feelings hurt because of the truth, then you are focusing on the wrong thing. I believe that is why the angel of the lord was so critical of brother Branham's behavior, and so scrutinizing of his ministry and his stewardship of that ministry. Because, to be truthful will hurt, and that is why we need to be deadly sincere. Because if we aren't sincere, then the hurting Truth will over power the people and they will miss the point altogether.

 

This is the thing I struggle with the most. I know I can be very cutting and abrasive at times, but I do try with all my heart to be sincere before God and before the people and I try with all that is in me to keep self out of the picture and focus upon the Word and point you to the Word. And I realize that in doing so, sometimes I get a little rough, but let me tell you in all honesty before God as my witness. I do not use this pulpit for self glory, nor do I use it for self interest. I preach what God places upon my heart, and I have been willing to go where He says go, and do what He says do.

 

Granted, I am a human being no different than any of you, but I do know the Hour, and I do know the Message of this hour, and I do see the devil going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Maybe, that is why I am a little more wired than most. Because what I see is the reality of the Living Word acting itself out, God in Flesh Living out His Word through His Royal Seed children.

 

 

 

GOD'S ONLY PROVIDED PLACE OF WORSHIP  65-1128M  40    I believe the church is begin 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. Our--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, you know, and 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, this tells me that there will be an Elect  who are called out and will lay in the Presence of God to ripen, but it also tells me that the Word will be preached pretty hard, in fact so hard it will be like hammering down a nail to clench it so that it will hold.

 

Now, how many in here have ever built a house, or anything that required a lot of hailing? How many in here have ever watched a real pro nail together 2x4 studs? How many hits does it take to clench a nail? It all depends on how hard you strike the nail. If you rat a tat-tat like a child it will take maybe ten to fifteen hits to get that nail set. But if you are a real pro, you will tap it once to set it up and then your second blow will strike it deep into the would and it will clench.

 

PALMERWORM LOCUST CATERPILLAR 59-0823  19    And if it so happens that you, your church doesn't believe, or you do not believe just the things that we speak of as our church Doctrine, we trust that it will by no means bring an offense. Because the very first step to successful Christianity, and to show that man has received the Holy Spirit, is humility, real God-given humility, that It must be given humbly. But, yet, a church without a doctrine is just like a jellyfish; it has no backbone. So, we've got to have backbone in it. And not also backbone, but teeth also, because the Church of God must eat the Bread of Life. And we...  20    In some of the statements that I might make, if I try to drive it down hard, now please do not misunderstand it. That I'm not meaning to be rude on lecturing on the Bible, but if I... Through thirty years of search, taking no creeds or nothing but just the Word, there's people here that's Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Church of God, Pilgrim Holiness, they're all setting here. And I know that each church: has its own creed, and I do not want to interrupt that, but I'm only trying to bring out the Scripture and make it with the Scripture. So then all--all will understand that it isn't to be rude. It's just to be with love, and affections, and with mercy, and with the best that I know how to explain the Scriptures.

 

Notice that He says you have got to have doctrine, and in fact he said, "any man has not a doctrine has not a ministry." But you have also got to give it in real humility, or the people will miss what you are trying to do for them. They will misread  your intentions, and so many times they do misread your intentions. 

 

FAITHFUL ABRAHAM   59-0415E  E-21    I want to make this rather strong; I'm not trying to rebuke people, but I'm--I--you--you... When you drive a nail in a board, you got to clinch it if it holds. And you got to make the thing hold, because the hour is here where you've got to be right or wrong. And we could have a break forth here in the Angelus Temple these next coming nights that would start a revival all over this country. But we can't do it on a halfway, mustered up, emotional faith; it's got to be something that's real. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln said one time, "You can fool some of the people part of the time, but not all the people all the time." And your emotions prove, and your action proves what you are and what you believe.

 

Notice he said, this is the hour that you will either be right or wrong. The scriptures tell us that there is coming a time when He that is filthy will be filthy still, and he that is righteous will be righteous still. And we know to be righteous is to be rightly wise. Then he said, your emotions and your actions prove what you are and what you believe. I could dwell on that for quite some time, but we will leave that one alone.

 

MODERN EVENTS MADE CLEAR BY PROPHECY 65-1206  12    But what I'm thinking about tonight, I know a church that's dying too; it's our Pentecostal people. We got to shake out of this; that's all. And the only way we're going to do it is prayer and lining up with the Word of God. It's the only way we're going to do it. There's only one way out; He's that Way: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Would we want our church to get in the condition as he said over there like in England? That's the reason I've been, you think, so rude, bawling you out. And I don't mean to do that, but I don't want to see the church get in that kind of a shape. You don't want to be in that shape. Yet you've just got to drive it down so hard till you nail it and make it clench. It's got to be done.

 

So we are looking at the truth and the effects of truth which so many times are hurt feelings.

 

124-2 SMYRNAEAN CHURCH AGE  -   CHPTR 4 The church, too, has departed from what she originally was. She is a hybrid. That is, the church nominal is a hybrid. People say, "I am a Baptist." It wasn't so in the beginning. "I am Methodist." It wasn't so in the beginning. Instead of the straight Word of God, instead of the Spirit-filled men in the church who were led by Spirit-given revelation, there are now creeds, and by-laws, and the educated guesses of educated men. Learning has taken the place of revelation. Reason has replaced faith. Program has replaced spontaneous praise in the Holy Ghost. It wasn't so from the beginning. The whole specie has changed. It has become a hybrid church. Now then, when the church becomes hybridized, will it produce pure Christians? It can't. The life or seed that brings Christians to birth is not in them. Like brings forth like. The Baptists bring forth more Baptists and they act like Baptists. Methodists bring forth Methodists and they act like Methodists. Not one is known by the power of God nor can they be for it's not there. They are known by their ceremonial worship of God and their creeds and dogmas.

 

 

In order to more fully appreciate this statement, the Truth hurts, Let's go to the scriptures and view for ourselves something that happened, and a truth that Jesus said, and see how it hurt the one it was directed toward, and then let's see how that person responded, and why they responded the way they did.

 

MATTHEW 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

 

JOHN 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

PSALMS 86:10 For thou [art] great, and doest wondrous things: thou [art] God alone. 11    Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

 

PSALMS 91:1    He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2    I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; 6 [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9    Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16    With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 

MATTHEW 22:15   Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. 16    And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20    And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22  When they had heard [these words], they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

 

JOHN 4:1   When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3    He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 ¶  And he must needs go through Samaria. 5    Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well: [and] it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10    Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12    Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13    Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24  God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he]. 27 ¶  And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

 

JOHN 8:31     Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;  32    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

JOHN 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  40    But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45    And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not. 46       Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God. 48    Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49  Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 ¶  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

 

JOHN 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17  [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

JOHN 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.13    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14    He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. 15    All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you 16    A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

The thing of it is, is that the Truth, although it hurts, that hurt is doing something for us. It is purging us of our unbelief. It is sanctifying us, and no real cleansing process is free of hurt.

 

JOHN 17:17    Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

 

ROMANS 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 

God is against those who would hold back or suppress the truth. Because to do that you will make the truth into a lie.

 

ROMANS 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

 

ROMANS 3:7  For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8    And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 9    What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10    As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

 

ROMANS 9:1   I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

 

I CORINTHIANS 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

 

II CORINTHIANS 4:1    Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  2    But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3    But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5    For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

 

Galatians chapter 2 Paul withstands the false brethren who would have had timothy taken out and circumcised.

 

GALATIANS 4:16  Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

 

EPHESIANS 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 

EPHESIANS 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:

 

 

II THESSALONIANS 2:10 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:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 ¶  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 

II TIMOTHY 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

Jannes and Jambres resisted the Truth by trying to do the same thing.

 

II TIMOTHY 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;   4    And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

TITUS 1:1   Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;