Romans 129
The
Evidence of the New Birth, Understanding the Manifested Word
Brian Kocourek
ROMANS
Dear Father we have assembled ourselves here this morning to hear from you and to know you in the power of your resurrection, remembering your prophet whom you yourself have vindicated in this hour, that he had said, that “if they only see it in the hour past, then there's no hope for the church. The church must see it in the present tense. And we know that you sent your prophet that you might manifest yourself in the present tense, and we have seen, and believe, Oh Lord, and we ask that you would give us perfect understanding of You Father, knowing that it is You who came down with a Shout which we have come to know as Your Message, and we are a thankful people, knowing that you have not left us without a witness. Grant Father that we might continue on the path that You are Leading us, as we walk together in the Light, that same Light in which you are leading us from glory to glory, and from imager to image. For we ask it in the name of Your Only Begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Notice that Paul is
speaking of his Ministry and He said, I have fully
preached the gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, so have I
strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build
upon another man's foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall
see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
Now, we know that Paul’s ministry was the pattern of every true ordained of God ministry.
From the 7 Church
age book we read, 4-1
74-2 His manner of ministering set the pattern
that all future messengers were to aspire to, and actually sets the pattern for
every true minister of God, though he would not attain to such heights in the
prophetic realm as did Paul. Paul's ministry had a threefold quality and was as
follows:
74-3 First
of all, Paul was absolutely true
to the Word. He never deviated from
it no matter what the cost. Galatians 1:8-9, "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. 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." Galatians 2:11,14, "But when Peter was come to
74-4I
Corinthians 14:36-37, "What? came the Word of God out from you? or
came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual,
let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments
of the Lord."
75-1 Notice that Paul was unorganized, but
Spirit-led, as when God moved upon Moses to lead
Galatians 1:1, "Paul, an apostle, (not
of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised Him
from the dead:)" Galatians 2:3-5, "But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was
compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares
brought in, who came in privily to spy out our
liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the
Gospel might continue with you."
75-2 Secondly,
his ministry was in the power of the
Spirit, thereby demonstrating the spoken and written Word. I Corinthians 2:1-5, "And I, brethren, when
I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or
of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to
know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with
you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my
preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not
stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Acts 14:8-10, "And there sat a certain man at Lystra,
impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had
walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and
perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand
upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked."
Acts
20:9-12, "And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was
long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and
was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said,
Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up
again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till
break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were
not a little comforted." Acts
28:7-9 "In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island,
whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged
us three days courteously. And it came to
pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever
and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands
on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases
in the island, came, and were healed." II Corinthians
12:12, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in
signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds."
76-1Thirdly,
he had the evident fruit of his
God-given ministry. II Corinthians 12:11,
"I am become a fool in glorying; ye have
compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I
behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be
nothing." I Corinthians 9:2, "If I be not an
apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine
apostle-ship are ye in the Lord." 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." Paul had been the means of bringing in multitudes of the
Gentile sheep; he fed them, and cared for them, until they brought forth
righteous fruit and were prepared to meet the Lord as
a part of the Gentile bride.
76-2 At the time of
the giving of the Revelation, according to tradition, Paul had already died a
martyr, but John was carrying on in his
stead exactly as Paul had done in the days of his ministry.
156-1 SMYRNAEAN CHURCH AGE Now think it not
strange that this is the case, for Paul set this pattern under the hand of God.
Paul alone had the full revelation for his day as evidenced by his
confrontation of the other apostles who admitted that Paul was the
Prophet-Messenger to the Gentiles for that day. And also note by actual
illustration in the Word, that when Paul desired to go to Asia, God forbade
him, for the sheep (His children) were in Macedonia and they (the Macedonians)
would hear what the Spirit had to say through Paul, while the people in Asia
would not.
156-2 In
every age we have exactly the same pattern. That is why the light comes through some God-given messenger in a
certain area, and then from that messenger there spreads the light through the
ministry of others who have been faithfully taught. But of course all those
who go out don't always learn how necessary it is to speak ONLY what the
messenger has spoken. (Remember, Paul warned the people to say only what he
said, I
Corinthians
Now, this brings us to our thoughts today, and that is this: Romans 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: Notice the pattern, Paul did not take his ministry to where others had laid the groundwork, but He took his ministry to where the circle was not named. He took his ministry to where the people did not know and where they had not heard, and were not in the CAMP that the other Apostles had already established. And every true ministry of God must do the same. That does not mean that they must go to the heathen, but they do not have a ministry that someone has done all the groundwork for them, and they inherit the church. No, they must establish their own ministry by God taking them to places others have not been, and establishing it on their own accord as they are led by the Holy Ghost and not because someone else sends them. The Apostles did not send Paul, God sent Him, and that is the pattern.
Paul left the Camp
of the Apostles in
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not
heard shall understand.
I really like that because I believe that as many that are ordained to eternal Life will believe. That is one thing they will all do. And I believe that, that is the evidence of being born again.
ACTS 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
People are always looking for an “evidence”, for something they can point to in order to be sure that they are “ok” with God. People want an “evidence”, and there is only one true evidence that you have been born again, and that is you have received an ability to understand the Word of God. Now, I am not talking about some great intellect, but I am talking about the Bible evidence that you have been born again, and that is an ability to see and understand the word. It no longer is a mystery to you.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by
night one time, because He knew somehow that this man Jesus was different from
all the rest. And he said to Jesus, “We
know that you are a man sent from God, for no man can do the things that you do
unless God is with Him.” And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the
Now, there are two
important things Jesus said here to Nicodemus. 1st He said, unless a
man is “born again”, and the 2nd, he cannot “see” the
The first thing is
that we must understand what it means to be born again, and the second is what Jesus
means by the phrase “to see the
Jesus explained to Nicodemus that to be born again is not like the first birth which is of the flesh, but it is of the Spirit.
JOHN 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How
can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the
Now that does not
give you license to be flighty as many of our Pentecostal brothers and sisters
think, but what He is saying is that Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.
And we do not always know where God is leading, but we are obedient and we just
follow the leading of the Lord. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Look, Nicodemus was a
bright man but had no clue as to the workings of God. 10 Jesus
answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye
receive not our witness. Notice that Jeus sis
telling Him that those that are born again do testify of the things they are
certain about and that we do know, and we do understand, and that we can see
with spiritual eyes that the others no nothing of. 12 If I
have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I
tell you [of] heavenly things?
Discerning body of Lord 59-0812 P:16 Jesus said once, "That
except a man be born again, he cannot see the
Now, I believe the evidence of being born again is the Word comes alive to you and you receive an ability to understand the Word and to see it unfolding in your day.
JOHN
Therefore if a man is left up to his
own choosing, he will go in the ways of death. But God has given him, or has
granted, given him a grant, the ability to know and to understand. And this
ability to make a right decision concerning the acceptance of Christ is not for
everyone. For Jesus tells Nicodemus, these … 13 Which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So He is talking about the new birth and the importance of that new
birth is that God gives him an ability to know and to understand the
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. 13 Which things also
we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing
spiritual things with spiritual. 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. 15But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no
man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that
he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Why against organized religion 62-1111E P:63 But if he's born the same way
that I'm born, then he'll know the things that I know. Amen. Oh, my. Yes, sir.
You can't tell a knot on the tree how we move about and be active, it would
have to receive our kind of life to understand it. Same with
the Spirit. The same thing is with the Spirit, or you can't understand It. There's no need of trying to figure It
all out; just come to Him first. For, "Except a man be born again, he
can't even see the Kingdom," He said, that's understand it. You've got to
be born again in order to know It.
Contending for the faith 55-0220E P:66 Jesus said, "Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom." You can't understand it. It's a mystic, mythical thing until you're
born again. There the very Life of
God comes in you. Everlasting, Eternal Life, Zoe,
God's own Life comes in you, and then you're a part of God. You're a Son of God
or a daughter of God. And then you see
as God sees. You believe as God
believes. Then you'll be a new creature in Christ Jesus....
In I
PETER
And yet does not John 1:1 tell us, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was
God? And did not Jesus tell us in John 6:63, My words are spirit
an they are life?” Therefore,
God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.
And God being a Spirit, and He is the Word, then that Word must come into the
believer and it is that Word which quickens the Soul of the Believer to the
word of God, and thus to God Himself, for He is the Word. And Being that God is
the Word, and He is Spirit, then when the word comes alive in the believer it
is actually the Life of God in the Believer coming alive.
And when you are quickened to the Word, that Word comes alive to you and you see it and know it, and understand it and what it is all about. In ISAIAH 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19 And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
And we find Jesus speaking of this in
the following Scriptures: MATTHEW
In the message Key to the door 62-1007 P: 68 Brother Branham is speaking of
John 16:7 and says, Now, when He went away, He said, "It's expedient for Me that I go away. For, if I go not away, the
Holy Ghost will not come." See? Then when He comes, He will reprove the
world of sin, and teach righteousness, and show you things to come; that's visions. "He'll
take the things that I've taught to you, and reveal them to you." The very
Words that He's come... No man can
understand the Word outside the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And when a man says he's got the baptism of the
Holy Ghost, and disputes the Word being right, there's something wrong.
EPHESIANS 1:15 ¶ Wherefore I also, after I heard of your
faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give
thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what
the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what [is] the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the
working of his mighty power,
Calling of Abraham 55-1116 P:29 That's the way. When God says so. See? A Christian does not calculate, or
does not look at things he sees. You don't see with your eyes anyhow. You
don't. Certainly you don't see with your eyes. You look with your eyes. You see with your heart. "See"
doesn't mean "look." "See"
means "understand." Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except the man
be born again he cannot see the
MARK 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were
about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 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.
Identified masterpiece of God 64-1205 P:67 How can a man have the baptism
of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit
wrote the Word, and a man have the baptism of the Holy Spirit and deny the
Word? How can the Holy Spirit in you
deny Its own Word that was set forth for you? I can't understand it. It's
got to agree with the Word, and if your
spirit in you won't punctuate every one of God's promises with
"Amen." there's something wrong.
LUKE 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know
the mysteries of the
Book of Exodus 1 55-1005 P:8 Jesus said, "Except a man
be borned again, he cannot understand the Kingdom of
heaven." There's no way of understanding it until you are borned again, and then God reveals Himself to you, and then
you know that you've passed from death unto Life, because no man can call Jesus
the Christ, only by the Holy Spirit. See? The only way that you'll ever know
that Jesus is the Christ, is when the Holy Spirit personally witnesses to you
that He is the resurrected Lord Jesus. No matter what He would do, what kind of
signs, what kind of miracles, you'll never know it until your personal
experience with God. You say, "Well, I believe it because the Bible said
so." Well, that's good. The Bible, it's true. It knows it. "Well, the
preacher said so." Perhaps, he knows it. "Mother said so." She
knows it. But what do you know about it? You'll never know it until it's
revealed to you individually by the Holy Spirit. And then, by accepting it, you
become a new creature in Christ Jesus, borned a
second time.
I CORINTHIANS 12:3 Wherefore
I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that
Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Expectation 55-1001 P:24 Now, God is not known by
intellectual faith. God is known by the experience of new birth, only alone.
Jesus said, "Except a man be born again of the
Spirit of God, he cannot even see the
Stand still 57-0518 P:61 But let me tell you something,
brother. Except a man be borned
again, you can't understand; there's no
way for you understand these spiritual things until you're borned again.
MARK
When divine love is projected 57-0126E P:20 Then do you understand that
the reason that people said, "This was not inspired, and that is not
inspired, and this is for another day," it's because that they have never
become in contact. Oh, no matter how many degrees they can show, that has
nothing to do with it. But they have
never become in contact with God to be borned again.
Oh, they may have jumped; and they may have did this;
they may be a Ph.D. They may have spoke in tongues;
they may have danced in the Spirit; but Jesus said, "By their fruit, you
shall know them." For where the
Spirit of God is, there is love; there's understanding; there's something that
you like to be around. And oh, what a pity in this hour
that we live, that the church of the living God hasn't met this yet. For
if God dwells richly in our hearts, denomination barriers would never separate
us; color lines or nothing else would ever separate us; for there is nothing
present, nothing future, no matter whether starvation or what it is, can
separate us from the love of God that's in Christ Jesus.
142 SHALOM 64-0119 People
with a carnal mind will never know It. Seminaries don't teach It. It's a
revelation. Certainly. Fruit of the spirit drops off
there, doesn't it? Them priests had ten times the
fruit of the Spirit. How would you know what's right? The manifestation of the spoken Word of God being made manifest, Light of the hour. Certainly. There
is what the evidence of the Holy Spirit is, believing the Word of God when It's
manifested. He was the Word, manifested. And some of them denied It,
laughed at It, made fun of Him and called Him a--a fortuneteller, some evil
spirit; there is evidence, speaking in tongues, there
is evidence of the fruits. The only
evidence there is, is when man believe the written Word. When It's vindicated, walk in the Light of It. Jesus was the
Light of the hour because He was the promised Word of the hour, and tried to
tell them so, but they were too--too much in darkness to understand It. So is
it, today, now.
37-4 CHRIST IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 The new birth is Christ, is a revelation.
God has revealed to you this great mystery, and that's the new birth. Now,
what are you going to do when you get all that group together, where the
revelation is perfectly in harmony, and God expressing it through His Word by
the same actions, the same things that He did, making the Word manifest? Oh, if
the Church only knew its position. It will one day. Then, the rapture will go
when it knows what it is.
Questions and answers COD
64-0823E P:25 The same thing repeats. That's the evidence of the Holy Ghost, when
God reveals to you and you see it, THUS SAITH THE LORD and accept it. Not what
you are, what you was, or nothing about it, it's what God has done for you now.
There's the evidence. Jesus said... He give us the
evidence of the Holy Ghost, John 14. He said, "I have many things to tell you. I haven't got time to do it,
but when the Holy Ghost comes, He will tell you, bring to your memory the
things that I told you about, and will also show you things that is to come." Don't you see? There's
the evidence.