Romans 109

Vengeance belongs to God Alone

March 30, 2003

Brian Kocourek

This evening I would like to continue our study in the Book of Romans and more specifically chapter 12. It has been five months now and we are finally getting to the last verse in chapter 12. Tonight I would like for us to open verse 19 of Romans 12 and we shall read for our text.

ROMANS 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Now, the word vengeance here comes from the Greek word ekdikeo {ek-dik-eh'-o} -- and simply means to avenge, or revenge, and avenge means to a-vindicate one's right, or to do justice, to protect and defend one person from another. 2) to avenge a thing (i.e. to punish a person for a thing)

Now, we know that no man can vindicate Himself. In fact Jesus said that the witness of two or three is needed to vindicate.

JOHN 5:31 ¶ If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than [that] of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (Notice that Jesus is telling them that God vindicates His Message or His Words by the Power behind those words). 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

LUKE 18:1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (and what is Faith? Its Revelation) 9 ¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Notice that one man went up trying to vindicate Himself, while the other was completely dependant upon God for his justification

II THESSALONIANS 1:6 Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (notice the punishment here is to be separated from the Presence of the Lord and the Glory or his power which is the DOXA or Gods opinion, assessment of Himself. Now you might say why is that such a punishment? Because if you do not have the correct understanding of GO, by His own Opinion and assessment then how could you ever expect to be like Him or come into His image?) And notice what the next verse tells us…10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, That means his own Doxa, his assessment and opinion of Himself will become endoxa’d or IN Doxa’d in the saints. That means she will have his mind, and his word. and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day.

Now, in Romans 12:1& 2 and 1 John 3:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 3: 18 we are told that we receive our body change by the renewing of the mind first. And that is what 2 Thessalonians 1 is all about here. He gives us His DOXA of Himself and we are changed into the same image.

HEBREWS 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, In other words you are stuck, and there is no way for your mind to ever be renewed again. Because that is what repentance is all about. It is a changing of the mind. Therefore all that is left is judgment. 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS 63-1124M 208 But what if you walk out there with the Blood on your hands of rejecting, and know that hell lays before you, eternal destruction. Crying for the rocks and the mountains, but prayed for the prayers were too late. In Hebrews 10... ... if we sin wilfully... (Sin is unbelief.)... If we unbelieve wilfully after... we have received the truth, the knowledge of the truth... (You don't have to receive It, just know about It. You don't have to have It, you just... No, no. See? Didn't say after we receive the Truth.)... if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge that it is the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a fearful looking... for the fiery indignation... shall devour the adversary. Because God said... Vengeance... is Mine, and I will recompense, saith the Lord...

So we see that this Scripture speaks of those people who turn down the Message of Grace that is brought to us by the Great Appearing of Christ in this hour. Notice he said it is not those who had received it, but those who simply knew about it and turned it down.

UNCERTAIN SOUND 62-0714 E-71 I know you think I'm crazy, but some of these days at the judgment bar when I stand there by your side, you're going to find different. Now's the time. Don't wait till there. It'll be too late. Judge it with the Word, see if it's the right. Then you'll know. Intellectual--they don't want somebody to really stand up and pull the Scripture out and show it. They want somebody that's trained to bypass It. They don't want to know that. Oh, they just can't stand that. Those who have been trained to bypass the Word, that’s what an intellectual is. Its not those who can use big words to layout the doctrine, that’s what they call an intellectual, but Br. Branham said its those who have been trained to bypass the Word. And then he continues… Fish and loaves is fine. But Jesus done the same thing. What a wonderful prophet. The little prophet of Galilee was healing the sick, and He was a great man. But one day He set down and begin to pour the truth to them. The whole group walked up and left Him. Even the seventy went, and He turned to the twelve and said, "Do you want to go too?" That's when Peter made those notable words, and said, "Lord, where would we go?" Certainly. Then He begin from that very hour... Long as He was healing the sick, it was fine. But when He went to interfering with their individual life, then that said something different. From right there His ministry begin to diminish, right on to the cross. And every true servant of God will follow the same example. Certainly, the people want to be patted and played with. But when it comes to truth, they don't want it. Now, remember, these are tapes going around the world. All right.

That is an understatement if I ever heard one, but just as true as ever a word was spoken. People today don’t want the Word of God. They say they do but their lives bear witness that they don’t. They only want the part of the Word that is uplifting, but they don’t want the correction of the Word. People don’t leave because of uplifting words, they leave because the Word is a two-edged Sword that cuts coming and going. Those that leave do so because they want to sin willfully, they disbelieve willfully, and their lives show unbelief through their actions and conduct. And the Word condemns it.

HEAR RECOGNIZE ACT ON WORD 60-0221 125 But see how close they can come to It, you know, "And count the Blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified with; a thing that sanctified him and took him out of the world, and try to put him over in here, and then he looks upon It and has the knowledge of It; to turn away from It, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin," said the Bible, "but a fearful looking for the judgment and the fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversary. 'For vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord. He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses. (And the word despised here means to reject by doing away with, or to make it void by frustrating it.) How much more punishment, and sorer punishment, though worthy, a minister, who has trod the Blood of Jesus Christ under his feet, after receiving the knowledge of the truth, and counted It an unholy thing." Whew. And the unholy thing is just something that has become common to you.

SCRIPTURAL SIGNS OF THE TIME 64-0410 E-65 That's what's the matter with us, people. We've seen so much of God. This church that has been called out of the denominational groups in the last days has seen so much of it, until it's become so common you just overlook it. Don't never let Christ become common to you, friend. Don't never do that. You just believe with all your heart and all that's in you.

Now, Moses one day made the mistake of trying to avenge on his own, and God just let him do it. And what did it cost? It cost him 40 years on the backside of the desert. Moses thought he could just take matters into his own hands and he found out the contrary, that it can’t be done. And don’t you ever try to seek vengeance on your own. Let God do it and it will be done right.

ACTS 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. Isn’t that exactly the condition America finds herself in today? We try to help those people who are oppressed and they don’t went our help. Oh, some of them do, but the majority of them don’t. Spirits don’t die, they just go from one vessel to another. 26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27 But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

Now, we know that there is to come a time of vengeance of our God according to ISAIAH 61:1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

And we know that Jesus read this Scripture and sat down, but he left off the last part that said and a day of vengeance of our God.

LUKE 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Two thousand years separated by a simply comma. He read this scripture and then said, this day this scripture has been fulfilled, but notice he did not read the last part that spoke of the day of vengeance of our God. That is for this day. And that is for God to do.

HEBREWS 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Therefore, while we have the time if those who have backslidden mean anything to you, then you should in fear go to them and compel them to get their lives back in order, before it is too late.

JUDE 1:3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 ¶ Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water,(without rain,. without doctrine, and yet they are ) carried about of winds (they deny the true doctrine but then are carri4ed about with every sort of false doctrine); trees whose fruit withereth (And what did brother Branham tell us the fruit is? It is the teaching of the season. And teaching is doctrine, so these have doctrine that withereth. That means they have useless and worthless doctrine and in fact he goes on to say), without fruit,(in other words, they have no doctrine at all.) twice dead, (in order to be dead twice, they must be born again, but as Peter said in 1 Peter 1:23 born again of a corruptible seed.) plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars,(Brother Branham said they are wandering stars, always wondering about this and that.) to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 ¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

EXPLAINING HEALING AND JAIRUS 54-0216 E- Many times that we judge people by their actions, and sometimes we don't judge the heart. You know, I've often thought, back here is the spirit of a man, the next is his soul, the next is his mind, and then his flesh. All right. Satan does not tempt down in here, he tempts out here in the flesh. For instance, you go down the street tomorrow, you're walking along singing Christian songs, and somebody says, "You know, she or he, is just a hypocrite (talking about you.); there's nothing..." Now, the first thing, your flesh picks that up in the ear, and it suggest to the mind, "Get even with him." Time it gets back here, he says, this back here says, "'Vengeance is Mine,' saith the Lord. 'I will repay.'" See? That's it. So Satan tempts out here. You see? He doesn't get down here, because is immortal. See? It's the flesh that he tempts. Young man going down the street, young Christian boy, a young lady coming immorally dressed. The eye picks it up; the flesh suggest to the mind evil. Then time it gets to the mind, goes to the soul, the nature's good... The soul of man is the nature of the spirit, of course. And so, when the soul gets there, but the Spirit says, "Whoever looketh upon a woman to lust after has committed adultery in his heart already." The young man turns his head and walks away. See? That's down here is where it's got to be, not out here. It's got to be down in your heart, where it's got to come from, where God lives.