Romans 104
Bless and Curse not
Brian Kocourek
ROMANS
I think one of the biggest problems we face as Christians today, even among all the churches who are following the Message of the hour, is that everyone is so afraid of being one Word off, that they have become almost paranoid or suspicious of everyone else who might not say it the same way they do, and thus instead of using the thinking man’s filter of the Word, they seem to be using a filter that has been dampened by fear and phobia.
THINKING MAN'S FILTER 65-0822E 197
How do you like a thinking man's Filter? When you go on the street to
rub arms with the world tomorrow, brother, sister, have you got the thinking man's
Filter? When that man calls you a holy-roller, do you use a thinking man's
Filter? When that somebody says
something evil against you, do you have a thinking man's Filter? See? Do good for evil. Pray for those that despitefully use you and
those who persecute you; then you're breathing through the thinking man's
Filter. For if you love those just who love you, as we shook one another's
hand that's dearly beloved in the Lord, that's good; but can you also love the
unlovable; that's the thinking man's Filter; that's the Spirit of Christ in
you, loving those who don't love you, then you have the reward of God. But now,
if you do it as a duty, you still haven't got the thinking man... You're only
up in the second cycle. But if from your heart you really love him, then you're
breathing through the thinking man's Filter, and It
satisfies a holy man's taste, that you know from your heart you forgive
everybody everything, no matter what taken place. Isn't He wonderful?
We are living in a world today that is on the verge of hysteria, and as a result we are headed to war. Why? And because people fear what might happen, they have entered into a neurotic condition, and are fearful of paranoid of almost everything they hear, including the Doctrine that William Branham cam to teach. If they would only open themselves to the True teaching of the Hour, they would no longer fear, buy have genuine peace in their souls, knowing that all things are working together for the good of them that love God and who are The elect according to His Purpose. But, because they would believe the reports of man rather than the report of God’s promise, they thus open themselves to the fear that is being preached from every newspaper television and radio. The nations are preaching fear, and destruction, and brother Branham said in the sermon Preparation, God can not bring destruction until the people are in the Spirit of destruction.
If
you will remember, about half a dozen years ago I preached a series on the
end-time neurosis
And
as a result the tension are building to the place that people are fearing the
worst, and nation is rising against
nation, and peoples against peoples, until the whole world is affected by it. And this morning I
would like to look then at these few words the Apostle Paul is telling us when
he says we are to Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Now, there are very few words that he said here, and so before we begin to look at the blessing and cursing side of this issue, let’s first look at to whom this blessing is to be aimed. Notice he did not say bless them that bless you, for any hypocrite can do that. Not, that we shouldn’t bless them that bless us, but that is not what this scripture is about. He said, bless them that persecute you, and so it is those that would persecute you that our blessing is to be directed towards.
Now the word persecute was translated here from a Greek word Paul used, DIOKO meaning to follow after, to follow after with intent to harass, to press upon but without the idea of hostility. In other words, these are non violent people with an attitude, and they seem to keep after you in a sort of harassing way, but instead of fending them off, we are commanded to bless them, and not curse them.
The
Greek word for bless is eulogeo and it comes from a compound word made up of
two words, EU meaning well done,
to prosper, and LOGOS which
we know is the Word. And together the
word eulogeo means to -to gove them a portion of the Word thaqt would caiuse them to
prosper, - praise them, invoke blessings
upon them, to ask God's blessing on a thing, pray God to bless this person or
situation to one's use, To ask God, to
cause them to prosper, to make them happy, to bestow blessings on them; etc. In
other words, if we truly believe that “ALL things shall
work together for our Good,” then we should ask God to bless
those who would despitefully use us, for in doing so they are actually allowing
for us to store up treasure in heaven.
Now
the other word Paul said is one he said we should not do, and and that is to curse these people. This word can be found
in the Greek as the word, kataraomai {kat-ar-ah'-om-ahee} and simply it means
to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon. In other words to pronounce some evil upon someone.
Now
if God has promised us that all things shall work together for our good, then
why would we
want to curse those by whom God is working out all things for our good?
In
the Gospel of MATTHEW
HEBREWS CHAPTER 6 57-0908E 223-352
So, you see, the same rain that makes the wheat grow, makes a cocklebur
grow. And therefore, I got the picture. There's your carnal confessor that's
right in the church, but his fruit... He might shout, and jump, dance, speak
with tongues, but his fruits, he's a cocklebur. And there's the other one
that's got the same Spirit. The Holy Spirit can drop right in a bunch of people
and a hypocrite can shout by the Holy Spirit just the same as a cocklebur can
live by the rain that's sent. That's what Paul's speaking of here. But it's impossible for a cocklebur to
become a wheat or a wheat a cocklebur. You get it? (In
other words he is telling us that these people have their destiny sealed, and
if so then we should feel sorry for them because they are so miserable and have
no hope of Eternal Life or even experiencing it outside of what they receive
from you. In spite of all our sins, God still blesses us, and when He does, the
people rejoice and go forth thanking God for the rain that fell their way. But
that doesn’t change the fact of what you are? Can the Leopard change his spots?
There is no way he can do it. Then all the hollering and screaming for him to
do it will never do it, right? Then what’s all the fussing about? Why are
people so upset with each other over what this church believes and what that
church believes? Look, if we are to come
into the image of our Father then we had better come to the place where we can
genuinely bless them that persecute you. ) For it is impossible for those who've been once enlightened
and have partaken of the gift of the Holy Ghost and tasted the good Word of
God, and the power of the world to come, to fall away to renew themselves
again. (Listen what he said.) For the rain comes oft upon the earth to water it
and to dress it here, and prepare it, but which is thorns and thistles is nigh
unto rejecting. Now, therefore, leaving the principalities and doctrines of
Christ, let us go to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
and dead works towards God, and faith... (and so
forth)... ... and doctrines of baptisms, layings on
of hands... (and things)...
Matthew 5: 46 For
if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what
do ye more [than others]? do
not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
God wants to transform you and I more than we want that transformation. And how does He transform us? Paul told us in Romans 12:1 that our transformation comes by the renewing of the mind. Therefore, God places things in our life that will have a mind altering effect upon us, and in so doing we become more like him, step by step and from glory to glory.
Now, we could all probably tell something from our life experience that would show how God changes you by the renewing of your mind. Let me tell you what has been happening to me. Throughout the years, especially because of the ministry I have had my share of being despitefully used. And I can say, that I have not always faired so well when my applecart was tipped over.
I used to get upset and in fact angry, when I found out someone was speaking against me behind my back. And I have to admit, I have done the same to people myself. But Paul said, “when I was a child I spoke like a child, but when I become a man I must put away childish thinking.” Now the thing of it is, we should never try to get even. You know we Americans have this famous expression that goes something like this, “MAD? I never get mad, I just get even!” And that is the way of the American people, and perhaps all people throughout the entire world. But God is changing all that for me. I want you to know that something is happening to me, that I believe we must all come to experience in our walk with Christ. I don’t get so upset anymore when I hear someone is speaking against me or plotting and planning to do something that might not be in my best interest. For some reason, its not as though I don’t care, but I have come to the place like David said, when the man spit on him. One of his captains wanted to kill the man for doing it, and David told him to leave the man alone, He said, the Lord told him to do it. And I really believe that the footsteps of the righteous are ordered of the Lord. If you are walking in the way God has ordained for you to walk, then you will come to the place that you no longer let things like that upset your soul.
Mine
began some time ago, and came to a real showdown for me just this past year. I
had been working with a certain brother in
Now,
here is where I want to go with this. With less than one week from my arrival,
this man received a call from another minister who told him I was on my way. When
he got that call and realized I would be arriving in a few days he suddenly
dropped dead. News of what happened swept through that country and the fear of
the Lord caused great anticipation for those meetings. Now, the story does not end there. I want you
to know that I met with the man’s family and God has placed a burden on my
heart to help them, and I have been faithful to do so, with not one evil
thought toward that man for what he was attempting to do to me. All I can look
at now is this poor family without a father, and I feel so bad for them that I
want to help them in any way that I can. And so we have been helping them. Yes,
I say we because money that you people pay to me as tithing, I have used to
help this pastors family to be able to send there children to school so that
once they are educated they may take care of their mother.
Jesus
said, bless those
who would despitefully use you, bless I say and curse not. And how
do we bless?
LUKE
24 But woe unto you
that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for
ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye
shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 27 ¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love
your enemies, do good to them which hate
you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek
offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also. 30 Give to every
man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again. 31 And as ye would
that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For
if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for
sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do
good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do
even the same. 34 And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what
thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to
receive as much again. 35 But love ye
your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward
shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind
unto the unthankful and [to] the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your
Father also is merciful. 37 ¶ Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:
condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give,
and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
THEIR EYES WERE OPENED
57-0421E 88 Let me tell you; just don't join church
now. That won't work. You've got to be borned again,
not an emotional workup, not some little something you said, "Well, I
shouted. I spoke with tongues. I done this, that, or the
other." When really down in your heart, Something comes to change
you, and you become a new creature in Christ Jesus, you receive the Person, Christ
Jesus, when old things die out, and new things are born again; you make things
right, that you did wrong; you love your enemies; you pray for those who
despitefully use you. That's when you're
a Christian. The tree's known by the fruit it bears.
LUKE 6:39 And
he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the
blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The
disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his
master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in
thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that
is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to
thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine
eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is
in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the
beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy
brother's eye. 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth
corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every
tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do
not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they
grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth
forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the
abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And
why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which I say?
MATTHEW 25:14 ¶ 31 ¶ When the Son of man
shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit
upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations:
and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth
[his] sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand,
but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was
thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38 When saw we thee a
stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed
[thee]? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And
the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it]
unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me,
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For
I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was
thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:
naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger,
or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall
he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to
one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. 46 And these shall go away
into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
JAMES 3:9 ¶ Therewith bless we God, even
the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of
God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send
forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my
brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13 ¶ Who [is] a wise man
and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of
wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in
your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
[and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
FELLOWSHIP.BY REDEMPTION 55-0403 193
"Now, how we going to get in fellowship, Brother Branham? What
brings us into fellowship?" The shedding of the Blood.
It was in
197
When the sealing Angel crossed through the country, He was commanded to
put a mark upon those who sighed and cried for the abominations done in the
city. I say this with reverence now and with respects. Don't get mad at me,
angry, rather. But what if the sealing Angel crossed this nation today? Where
would He find men so deeply consecrated to God, for the sins of this crumbling
nation, till they cried day and night for the sins? Where would He mark, the
church that fast, and pray, and long, "Lord Jesus." Where would He
find that person? We've went off after education. We've went off after great
flowery sermons. We've went off after
199
The Pentecostal people has went after initial evidence, speaking in
tongues, and shouting, and--and something. Them's all right, but you've left the real thing out.
For it's proved that you can't love God, and hate at the same time. Bitter and
sweet water won't come from the same fountain. You can't have speaking in
tongues and Divine healing in the church, and still
envy and strife and malice and hatred. You can't do it. It won't mix. God will
pull it out just as sure as the world. Got to come back.
That's what happened to the church. You say, "Are you against speaking in
tongues? And..." No, sir. I'm for it. It's God's
Word. But I see where the church has went off on a
bunch of fandango stuff and has never come back, never has had recognized, yet,
the... 'Cause they do these things, and malice and hatred and
strife, mixing the same... And oil and water won't mix. See what I mean?
Let's come back.
202 Let this little
unit this morning, here at the Branham Tabernacle, purpose in their heart,
"We're coming back. We're going back to the foundation. God, create in me
a right kind of a spirit. Create in me a love, a peace that passes all
understanding. And, O mighty God, from there, build me then. When I see
anything going wrong, let me go back to the foundation and start again."
Tear off the boards and come on back down again. It has to be built right,
'cause, it'll only... 'Cause, no matter how high you build it, it'll be a
heavier fall when you do fall. Amen. Oh, people.
FELLOWSHIP BY REDEMPTION
55-0403 193 Now, listen
close. Here's how you get into this fellowship. "How do you get it,
Brother Branham? How do you ever get into this fellowship?" Through the shedding of the Blood, not from some experience.
No, sir. Not from some mental emotion. No, sir. Not from some bodily exercise. No,
sir. Them things are all right, as good as they
may be, but yet that's not the foundation truth. Leave that set over here to
one side, till you get back here right, back here, till you get to the altar,
and all old things pass away. A peace that passes all understanding comes in,
till you can hate no more, you can envy no more, until something that makes you
love the worst enemy you ever had, not imagination, something that'll keep you
from talking about the neighbor that persecutes you, something that'll make
those... love those who despitefully use you. It'll make you pray for those who are indifferent and ugly towards you.
That's the foundation.