WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC #16
September 3, 2000
Brian Kocourek
Philippians 2:13. "It is God which worketh in
you both to will and to do of his good pleasure"
Last Sunday we spoke from
paragraph 50 where brother Branham said,
Who is This Melchisedec
pp. 50 You remember how we read the Scriptures,
"Not him that willeth, or him that runneth, but God..." And that
His predestination might stand true, He could choose before anytime who... God's
sovereign in His choosing, did you know that? God's sovereign.
Who was back yonder to tell Him a better way to make the world? Who would dare
to tell Him He was running His business wrong? Even the very--the very Word
Itself, very sovereign... Even the revelation is sovereign. He
reveals to whom He will reveal. The very revelation itself is sovereign
in God. That's how people pound at things, and jump at things, and hit at
things, and not knowing what they're doing. God is sovereign in His works.
We examined the sovereignty of God and “The Nature of the Human Will”, not us that willeth, nor us that runneth, but God Who alone showeth Mercy.
In Romans 9:16 "It is
not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy".
Therefore, who are we to believe? God, or those preachers who teach otherwise.
But does not Scripture say, "Whosoever will may come"? It does, but does this signify that everybody has the will to come? What of those who will not come? "Whosoever will may come" no more implies that man has the power (in himself) to come, than "Stretch forth thine hand" implied that the man with the withered arm had ability (in himself) to comply with Jesus Command.
Notice that the carnal man can never understand God. I CORINTHIANS 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Now, the carnal man, will not even come to the Light which means he will not come to gain understanding, but rather he flees from the light.
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.
But on the other hand the evidence that we have been born again is that we do come to the Light, we do come to know God.
JOHN 17: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
We find the evidence of this Life again in JOHN 1: 4 In him was life; and the life was the light
of men. 5 ¶ And the light
shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
And this brings us to the question of the will of man. For our will has no power as we brought out last week. Our will is subject to choice and choice is subject to the power of outside influences, and our choice will weigh out preference based upon those outside influences, so what power do really have when it comes to choosing. The only power the carnal man has is the power to reject Christ; but in and of himself he has not the power to receive Christ. Why? Because Romans. 8:7 " tells us, Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. And Jesus tells us that the carnal man hates God in his heart. John 15:18 18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also..
And why is this? Because He also said they have no place for the Word in their heart.
JOHN 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye
seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Man chooses that which is according to his nature, and therefore before he will ever choose or prefer that which is divine and spiritual, a new nature must be imparted to him; in other words, he must be born again.
PROVERBS 14:12 ¶
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are]
the ways of death.
PROVERBS 16:9 ¶ A man's heart
deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
You see, we don’t even understand God’s ways, or his thoughts, therefore how could we ever on our own choose the way that would be pleasing to Him.
ISAIAH 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
That’s why
we read in 1 Corinthians 2 that we need
God’s own Spirit in us if we are to understand His Word. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which
is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God.
Philippians 2:13 " For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of God's good pleasure".
This morning I would like to examine “The Bondage Of The Human Will”.
They call it a free moral agency, and the word free suggests that the one who exercises his will is free in the exercise thereof. It suggests a freedom to choose when in actuality, it means contrary to that. As we brought out last week, if there is an outside influence or power that your decision is dependant upon then your choice is influenced by other than your mere choosing, and thus is in bondage to that influence.
Let me illustrate it this way. 1 Corinthians tells us we can not know God unless the Spirit of God is in us. Therefore, no matter how much you exercise your so called power to choose, you could never come to God because you could never know Him.
Therefore, the only reason the carnal man ever comes in the direction of God and His Word is because of an influence that has power over his decision. Then that decision or exercise of the will is in bondage to whatever influences it’s choice.
PSALMS 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.
I CORINTHIANS 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
MARK 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
The carnal man may be "free" in the sense of being unforced from without. God never forces the sinner to sin. But the sinner is not "free" to do either good or evil, because an evil heart within is ever inclining him toward sin. Let us illustrate what we have in mind.
JOHN 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
The word servant is the Greek word doulos {doo'-los} 1)
a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
1a) a slave 1b) metaphorically, one who gives himself
up to another's will; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and
advancing His cause among men; devoted to another to the disregard of one's own
interests
II PETER 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. The word bondage comes from the Greek word, douloo {doo-lo'-o} which means to become servant or bring into bondage or be under bondage. -- it means given, and if given, then not under it's own power. To make servant in bondage, to make a slave of, reduce to bondage 1a) metaphorically, give myself wholly to one's needs and service, make myself a bondman to him.
It comes from the same same root word as we read earlier, doolos, and means to give oneself over to another's will. That is what servitude is all about. The word overcome is from the Greek word hettao {hayt-tah'-o} to be inferior or made inferior, to be conquered by one, forced to yield to one..
Therefore this speaks of man as nothing more than a debtor, and if a debtor, then he has become a slave to sin, to serve sin. Then if man is a slave to the body of this death, a slave to sin, to serve sin, then we are talking about man, the carnal man is sold under sin. A slave to sin which is unbelief.
ROMANS 7:14 ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Now this word Paul uses for sold under is the same Greek word Jesus uses in telling the parable of the man who owed so much he and his family was sold.
MATTHEW 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Now, when a man is sold into slavery, there are only two ways for him to get out. #1) He must pay the price that is owed, or another pay it for Him. But if that other pays it for him, then it is up to the other to either set him free or else the servitude just changes hands.
#2) He is freed from his bondage when he dies. These are the only two ways out from this condition of bondage.
ROMANS 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Now, the only way you can possibly be free is that you never were under sin to begin with. You never did do it as brother Branham said, and that is what justification is all about. In fact the word Paul used here in Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin., is the Greek word dikaioo {dik-ah-yo'-o} and it means to justify -- freed to be righteous1) to render righteous 2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered 3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be.
The word is also used as the word justify or justification throughout the rest of Scripture. Paul spoke of it in ACTS 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
ROMANS 3:20 Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by
the law [is] the knowledge of sin. 21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
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: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
ROMANS 8:30 Moreover
whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 ¶
What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be]
against us? 32 He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely
give us all things? 33 Who shall lay
any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is]
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall]
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 36 As it is written, For thy
sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
I CORINTHIANS 6:9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 ¶ All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid.
Let all divine restraint be removed, and every man is capable of becoming, would become, a Cain, a Pharaoh, a Judas. How then is the sinner to be heaven bound? He could never be. By an act of his own will? Not so. A power outside of himself must grasp hold of him and lift him every inch of the way. The sinner is free, but free in one direction only — free to fall, free to sin. As the Word expresses it: "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness" Rom. 6:20. The sinner is free to do as he pleases, always as he pleases (except as he is restrained by God), but his pleasure is to sin. And when we say he is free to do as he pleases, it is with this in mind. He is still in bondage to his own will. For unless God intervene on the behalf of any person, that person is doomed to be enslaved by his own lustful desires. He is doomed to be controlled by all outward powers in which he has no control.
Can he see these powers, and therefore control them? Can you see gravity? Yet it is there, can you see electricity? You might see the spark made by it or the power that comes from it in some manifested way, but electricity is unseen in and of itself. You can't see it because we are dealing with the invisible. Can you see life? No, but you can see that which manifests life. And yet we are controlled by gravity, we are controlled by life, and yet what life is it that has control of us.
And therefore being controlled by these invisible substances, we then must make our choices based on these outside powers. Then if our choice is based on these outside influences, then are we really a free agent to choose whatever we wish? Does not the outcome of the choice dictate to us what we will choose? Then what is the master, the choosing, or choice or the outcome?
Look at the outcome of those who chose the wrong way to apply the invisible. ROMANS 1:19
19
¶ Because that which may be
known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.
ROMANS 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 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.
COLOSSIANS 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Then there is only one who has a sovereign will, because there is only one who controls all things both visible and invisible. Then is man always a servant? Can man ever come to the place where He is free? And the answer is yes, if the One Who created all that is visible and invisible, who control all powers both seen and unseen lives in you, then you will be free to make a correct choice.
HEBREWS 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is not seen and yet it is a substance. And by faith you are saved, by faith you inherit the promises, by faith are you born again and receive the very invisible Life of God into your mortal flesh to live itself out in your life.
HEBREWS 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
And if it took faith for God to bring into existence what was not there, and if the Life of God live in you, that is why a man could come along and speak squirrels into existence. Because the author of all visible and invisible power came into him and therefore all power visible and invisible was under his control. That is the only way we could ever be a truly free moral agent, and that is for God to live out His Life in and through us.