Preparation #33 (Knowing Of Whom you are taught)
Sunday,
August1 15, 1999
Brian
Kocourek
KJV II TIMOTHY 3:13 But evil
men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou
hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned [them] 16 For 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,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
PHILIPPIANS 4:9 Those
things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me,
do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Let's bow our heads in prayer…..
This morning I would like to speak on the subject
of: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING TAUGHT BY
THE RIGHT TEACHER. As you can see by these two scriptures, it is very important
to know WHO is teaching us, because our eternal destination will be determined
by what Word we receive.
As you know, we live in a time when deception is one
of the keynote attributes of this age.
In 2nd John we read,
II JOHN 1:7 ¶ For many
deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look
to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we
receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth,
and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he
hath both the Father and the Son.
10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not
this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God
speed: 11 For he that biddeth
him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
NIV
2 John 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching
of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the
Father and the Son.
WUEST 2 John 9 Everyone who goes
beyond the limits of True doctrine, and does not remain in the aforementioned
teaching with reference to Christ, does not possess God. The One who remains in
the aforementioned teaching, this one possesses both the Father and Son.
Therefore, we are in danger of losing everything we
have hope in concerning salvation and laying up treasure for the other side, if
we receive the wrong teaching. Therefore it is all important to know who it is
that is teaching us.
In 2 Corinthians Paul tells us that men will come
along and they will teach another Jesus, one of a different Nature, and this
will bring a different Spirit, one that is not the True Holy Spirit, but one
that is of a different nature, and thus many will be deceived thinking they
have received the Holy Spirit when they have received the Spirit of Satan.
II
CORINTHIANS 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly
jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ. 3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if
he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have
not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or
another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].
Notice, {Paul not only calls her a virgin which is one
which has been kept free from intercourse with man, One who has been kept clean, but he more
specifically calls her a chaste virgin, one who has been set aside, sanctified,
no mingling has taken place at all. VINES tells us the root word here means to
be free from any admixture altogether.
Not even the slightest mixing. She's clean, pure, holy.
Yet Paul tells us that instead of this the people
began receiving others who were not right in their teaching who began to pollute
the Truth and he was upset with them because when these guys came along, they
put up with it so easily enough. Notice verse …4 For if someone comes to you
and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a
different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one
you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 5 But I do not think I am in
the least inferior to those "super-apostles." 6 I
may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly
clear to you in every way.
We find in the book of Galatians, Paul comes against
these false apostles, very hard…Here he let's us know the true nature of what
they teach and it's end product. Because after all, Doctrine is a seed. It is a True seed that
will produce eternal Life if it is Correct, and if not correct it will produce
death, spiritually and physically.
GALATIANS 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him
that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ( Now this word another is the Greek Word heteos, which means of a different nature) 7
Which is not another ( Here Paul is more
specific, by saying, it is not an Allos, a different
one altogether, but it is the same one given a twist which gives it a different
nature, it is a perverted Gospel) ; but there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (
Now, this word pervert here is a Greek word Metastrepho,
which means to turn one's course or to change one's mind) So we see it has turns and twists in it that
lead to another direction
8 But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If
any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him
be accursed.
Now, brother Branham, Like Paul and like any true,
called, ordained ministry by God have a certain way in which they approach
anything. They don't just jump into things, but they sit back and watch to see
where it is going. To see where it will lead.
Because after all our eternal destination hangs o the direction to where
we are led by the teaching.
TESTIMONY 63-1128M 014
I'm not a preacher. Anybody knows
that. I'm not a preacher. But it's made up in a spiritual form of watching
things and seeing things move, and forewarning people of things that's coming
to pass. And it's just that's my makeup. I can't help that, no more than you
can help your makeup. But God has put us each one in the Body to do certain
things. And I watch every little move, every objective, every motive, 'cause
everything is governed by spirit. This church was put here for a purpose.
There's a spirit behind this church. Certainly. Spirit behind your home, behind
every building, behind everything there is a spirit, motive, and objective.
This church comes here to greatly exalt some human system or something, then
its motives is not right; but if it's put here to try to achieve something for
the Kingdom of God, then the motive and objective both is right, if the motives
is directed that way.
KJV II TIMOTHY 3:13 But evil
men (Men of
a wrong nature and who are full of labor) and seducers
(This means one who is an imposter, and who uses
flatteries to enchant with purpose to deceive) shall wax worse and
worse, (advance from a mode of thinking which is
bad in nature, to a mode of thinking
which becomes destructive in nature, like the process of rotting and decay) deceiving,
(leading into error) and being deceived (being led into error). 14 But
continue thou (do not depart from) in the things which thou hast learned ( in the things which you have come to know and understand) and
hast been assured of (and has been fully persuaded of), knowing of whom
thou hast learned [them] (discerning, observing,
perceiving the person who or teacher who
increased your knowledge); 16 For All scripture [is] given by inspiration
of God (is God breathed), and [is]
profitable for doctrine (useful for teaching) ,
for reproof (for convincing), for
correction (of error), for instruction
in righteousness (right-wise-ness, or right-doing): 17
That the man of God may be perfect (which
means complete), thoroughly furnished
(completely equipped) unto (for) all good works.
Weymouth 3:13 But bad men and impostors will go on from
bad to worse, misleading and being misled.
3:14 But you must cling to the things which you have learnt and
have been taught to believe, knowing who your teachers were, 3:16 Every
Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for convincing, for
correction of error, and for instruction in right doing; 3:17 so that
the man of God may himself be complete and may be perfectly equipped for every
good work.
Now, Why are we telling you it is so important to know
of whom you are taught. Because if the wrong person teaches you, you will
receive a wrong teaching, and if you receive a wrong teaching, you will receive
a wrong spirit. And if you receive a
wrong spirit, you receive a wrong life. And if you receive a wrong life, it is
not eternal life, then it is temporal which means it will have an end, and
therefore it is a spirit of death…
Paul said, that our salvation comes from hearing the
right word from the minister.
ROMANS 10:13-17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. 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.
Martin Luther in his comments on these verses said, "Even though they say they
hear, they boast in vain, unless they hear true preachers; for to hear false
prophets means as much as not to hear. They hear and they do not hear. They
have ears, but do not hear, nor do they preach The True Word of God. There are four statements which follow one
another is such as way that one leads to the other, but so that the last forms the
foundation on which the others rest. Thus, 1. It is impossible that those
preach who are not sent. 2. It is impossible that those hear who are without a
preacher. 3. It is impossible that they believe who do not hear. 4. It is
impossible that they call upon Him who do not believe. To these must be added a
fifth, it is impossible that they who do not call upon the name of the lord
shall be saved. So, then, the entire source and origin of salvation rests on
this, that God sends out someone, (a true minister of the Word). If He does not
send out any, then they who preach preach falsely, and their preaching is no preaching
at all. In fact, it would be better for them not to preach. Then also, they who
hear, hear error, and it would be better for them not to hear. Then also they
who believe, would believe false doctrine, and it would be better for them not
to call. For such preachers, do not preach; such hearers do not hear; such
believers do not believe; such callers do not call; they will be damned because
they would be saved by falsehood. As we read in Proverbs
Now, we know what Paul said in Romans 10, and we know
what he said in 2 Corinthians 11, and again in the book of Galatians, that if
they receive a wrong word, then they will receive a wrong spirit. How then can we think that anyone who sits
under a wrong ministry and has a wrong conception of the message has the right
spirit, which is the Holy Spirit? A
wrong conception is a wrong quickening to life. Conception means to quicken to
life. We know Peter said, in 1 Peter
The to receive a wrong word will and must produce a
wrong spirit or a wrong life. How can it be any other way. Did you know that brother Branham said we
must have a right teaching in order to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
To receive the Seal of God? And if you don't receive the seal of God there is
only one seal left and that is the seal of satan,
which is the mark of the beast.
148-2 Smyraean
Church Age - Ch 4 So you
can see right now that very few will ever believe all
the way to receiving the Spirit of God.
Israel at Kadesh Barnea 53-0328 045 The Holy Ghost is a Gift of God (That's
right.) that circumcises the heart, cuts away the surplus flesh, and makes you
a new creature in Christ Jesus. Amen. All right. There you are. It's nothing
you had to do in yourself; it's a gift of God. And
when you believe correctly, God gives It to you. It's by faith. You...
Now, faith isn't what It is.
I Will Restore
54-0620A 029 Now, what is the circumcision today? Is the
Holy Spirit. God circumcises our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Where was done by
the flesh with hands in the days gone by, but it's done by the Holy Spirit now.
When we believe correctly on the Lord Jesus
Christ, God gives the Holy Ghost to us to confirm it,
that our faith has been reckoned before Him, and imputed to us for
righteousness. Without the Holy Spirit, He's never recognized it yet.
ELIJAH 55-0301 E-51 You
have to believe It yourself. And in believing so, if
you correctly believe, God will grant you your request.
Doctor Moses
55-0114 E-31 031 God is under
obligation to His Word. Peter said on the Day of Pentecost, "Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." That's
the Scripture, just as clear as I know how to read it. If you repented and are
baptized, then God's under obligation, if your faith is right towards God to
give you the Holy Ghost the minute that you obey His Word. Believe that. God
will vindicate it to you. If your heart's really right before God, and you're taught right, and believing it, and walk
up there with the assurance, something's going to happen, 'cause God's more
willing to give you the Holy Ghost than you are willing to accept It.
Demonology 2 Religious 53-0609 "How little you preachers know."
I said, "Instead of baptizing your body, you need your brains
baptized." That's right. You don't stop to think of things. You don't try
to consider it."
Church and its Condition 56-0805
21 -we can't
have a better understanding unless it. And if
we're going to have a understanding of God, it must come out of God's Word,
for the Word is what God gave us to feed our hungry souls. And the Holy Spirit
was sent to take the Word of God and to feed us by the Word. You see it? See,
we... The Holy Spirit is sent from God to take the Word of God and to give It
to us as we have need. Now, I'm so glad that God made a provision like that
(Aren't you?), that He would feed us.
Blasphemous Names 62-1104M 053 And the biggest part of our faith is mental faith. By hearing
the Word it brings us to a mental recognition of God. But if this coming from
above, oh, brother, if it ever strikes this, there is a godly, spiritual faith.
Then what does that faith do? That faith recognizes only the Word. No matter
what anything else says, it only recognizes the Word, because "In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(And the Word's still God.) And the Word was made flesh and dwelled among
us." And when the word Itself is pouring into our
faith, our mental faith becomes a spiritual revelation. "And upon
this foundation I'll build My Church," (See?), not upon a mental
conception of church joining, a mental conception of that, but upon the
revelation. When them streams of grace has poured into that mental faith that
you've got, then upon this, a spiritual revelation, "I'll build My Church
and the gates of hell can't prevail against it." See? That shows they
would be against it, but it'll never prevail. Oh, what a glorious thing.
Blasphemous Names 056 Number one, coming to you, your mental faith, right here,
comes the Holy Spirit, coming down into your mental faith making it a spiritual
faith. Then the spiritual faith only recognizes the Word. Now, and
number two--three: Then you'll have spiritual, you'll be--have the Holy Spirit,
and will seal all these things into you, as that Holy Spirit covers this. From
your faith up to the Holy Spirit seals you in with Christ; then you become one.
Amen. You become one. See, you and Christ live together. "At that day
you'll know that I'm in the Father, the Father in Me, I in you, and you in
Me." See? Then that's a sealed unit of the Lord God. Now, and then they
are vindicated and placed. When that time takes place, they become vindicated
sons and daughters of God.
Hebrews Chapter 3 57-0901M And one of them said,
"We have down here, Elisha. He poured water on
the hands of Elijah." See his associate? In other words, "Here's Elisha who's had associations with Elijah, the Word of the
Lord is with him." You get it? He'd been taught
right. And he said, "He's here. Let's go
down and consult him because his teacher was Elijah, and he's got the teaching
of Elijah in him." See what a difference it makes? Sure, we want to be
taught.
Now, let's see what wrong teaching will produce…
JAMES 1:13
¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am
tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted,
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth
forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word
of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of
his creatures.
Unpardonable Sin 54-1024 Think of it: no fear.
That's the greatest plague there is in the Christian Church today, is "afraid."
And the reason they're afraid is because they're
not taught right, and settled right, on the Gospel.
Does God Change His Mind
172 087 But what
happened? Balaam. He succeeded in weakening