Romans 141
Brian Kocourek
I thought perhaps this morning
we would be ending this study which we began 6 years ago on November 27, 1997,
but something else popped up that I was reading that is just too important to
just pass it by, without going into it. Therefore, I will put that off until
Wednesday night.
This morning we will be
examining the second half of verse 19 which we have already studied and will
not make much comment upon it, except for tying it into verse 20 which has some
significance.
Romans
16:19b-20 ¶ but yet I would
have you wise unto all which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And (remember that the word “and”
is a conjunction that links two thoughts together and ties them as one. So we
see that the Apostle Paul is tying the thought of the people being wise in that
which is good and simple or pure concerning that which is good, “and” he says,
tying that with this next thought here,) and the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (amen
means “so be it”, so be what? Be wise in that which is good and simple or pure
and unmixed in that which is evil and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will
be with you.
Notice Paul is speaking of here
of doing something, or understanding something and then the Grace and Peace of
God will apply to your situation. I know that people will say if you must do
something or know something for it to apply then it really isn’t grace. But just
wait a minute on that thought. Remember,
a pardon is not a pardon unless it is accepted as a pardon. And the Grace and
Peace of Almighty God can not be accepted, nor can it be effective if we are
not aware of it, and what it will do for us.
Look, God has come down in this
hour, but unless you know it and are aware of it, it will not do you any
good. So what did He do? The Great
invisible One became visible, and before thousands of people that Pillar of
Fire descended down on the Ohio river and hovered over the prophet William
Branham and then a Voice spoke out from that Great Light, just as the same
Light descended down on the road to Damascus somewhere and hovered over the
Apostle Paul and a voice spoke out from that same light as well and declared Himself
to be the same one in this hour.
Be wise unto all which is good
and simple or pure concerning evil and then the God of Peace will bruise Satan
under you’re feet, and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be with you. You
see, he is the Token which has come down in this hour, but you have got to know
He is here in order for it to do you any good. And not only are you to know He
is here, but you are to apply that knowledge. We are to apply the token, not
just talk about it. And the word apply means to make use of it. To use it. To
put it to use. )
THE
TOKEN 63-0901M 19-8 You
might've cast out devils; you might've healed the sick by your prayer of faith.
You might've done all these things, but if that Token's not there, you're under
the wrath of God. You might be a believer. You might stand
in the pulpit and preach the Gospel. "Many will come to Me in that day
and say 'Lord, Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name? preached
in Your Name. Have not I cast out devils in Your Name?' (That's both Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostals.)" Jesus said,
"Depart from Me, you that work iniquity; I never
even knew you. But when I see the Token, I'll pass over you." It's God's
requirement of the hour. The evening
time message is to apply the Token. 20-1Satan's threw all kinds of counterfeits of shaking hands
and evidences and everything like that. Forget it. The hour has arrived that The Token Itself, not some counterfeit,
make-believe substitution, anything; the hour is here when The Token Himself
is identifying Himself right among us and proving that He's the same
Jesus yesterday, today, and forever, and He's right with the Word. It's got to be
applied. A man that says
that he's got the Token, deny this Word, then what about it? See, you can't do
it. The Token's got to be there. When I... "The Blood shall be a Token
unto you." Now, the Holy Spirit, the Life that was in the Blood is
a Token unto you. (Get to it in a moment. See?) The Holy Ghost is the Token. The case is closed. Yes, sir.
Now, the word apply means 3.
To put into action: You apply the brakes,
you apply paint to the wall. To do that you must take it out of the can and
roll it or brush it onto the wall. In other words you use it. And in order to
use it you must get it out of the can. And in order to use the Word it must not
lay dormant between these pages here, but you must take from here into your
heart and begin to use it for every promise that God has given it to you for.
4. Webster says, the word apply also means To devote (oneself or one's efforts) to
something: Therefore if you are going to apply the token, and remember that
is your only hope. And if you are going to apply it, then you must be devoted
to it, and your efforts must show that you are devoted to it. And remember, we
showed you that the actions of your body, your body language
and all shows your attitude toward Christ. And He said, It’s got to be applied.
Too many people have taken the
path of least resistance and they just talk it, but won’t walk it. You’ve got
to walk the talk. Brother Branham said, I would rather you live me a sermon and
preach me one. Let our life do the talking for you. Paul said the people were
written epistles known and read of all men. Not just a bunch of philosophers
who could talk it and say the right words, but e sad they were living the Word.
They were the Living Word, and that is what it means to apply the Token. Christ
Himself is here. If you knew that He is in your presence how are you going to
act? What are you going to think? What words will come out from your mouth
while standing in His Presence. He is the Supreme Judge, and you are standing
before the Great Judge of all the earth. How will that affect your life? How
should it affect your life?
David said in PSALMS 16:8 ¶ I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand,
I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Now in getting back to what
Brother Branham said in the Token, he said, the hour
is here when the Token Himself is identifying Himself right among us and
proving that He's the same Jesus yesterday, today, and forever, and He's right
with the Word. It's got to be
applied. So how do you apply the presence of the Lord? You
live a life that reflects in that life that you are aware of His Presence day
and night. You live as though He is watching your every movement, and you talk
as though He is right beside you listening to your every words,
and you think as though he the Word which is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart is by your side discerning your every thought you are
thinking. In other words, you live knowing He is at your side, and therefore
you will not be moved and you will rest in an earnest expectation that He is
not here in vain, but is here with a specific plan and you are part of that
great plan.
THE
TOKEN 63-1128E 170
Some people said, "Well, I belong to
church. Mother went up there, and I was dedicated there as a baby." You must display the Token. Yes, sir. Move out all the worldly trash, all
the things of the world, 'cause you can't love the things of the world. all your unbelief in God's Word... Remember, He promised
these things in the last days. Anything in your life that--that's against That, move it out, and get ready, and bring the Token in.
Then apply the Token, in prayer with consecration, and be convinced and
concerned about it.
He said it has to be displayed
and the word display means To present or hold up to
view. To express, as by gestures or
bodily posture: Let this attitude that was in Christ be also in you. And
remember, your body posture is the display of your attitude. Therefore, that is
what he is talking about when he says we must apply it or display the token.
If The Token
is the presence of Christ Himself Among us, then our life must become a written
testimonial of that belief, a written Epistle.
The Apostle Paul told us in 2
Corinthians 3 that when Moses met the Pillar of fire he was changed forever,
and when he came into the midst of the people they could see the effects of the
pillar of Fire on the face or presence of Moses.
II
CORINTHIANS 3:1 ¶ Do we begin again to commend ourselves?(huh? Are we to pat ourselves
on the back?) or
need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of
commendation from you?(Do we need letters of recommendation from
you?, I don’t think so, for he goes on to say…) 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts,
known and read of all men: (he says, why would I need any letters
from you telling people what I teach when you yourselves are the letters
written in flesh that tells people what I teach.) 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to
be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, (notice he says,) written not with
ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in
fleshy tables of the heart. Paul is telling them that He has been
given a ministry that allows Him to utilize the Holy Spirit to engrave into the
hearts and minds of the people what the Holy Spirit has sent Him to teach them.
In other words he is letting them know that this is not the efforts of a man,
but it is God using a man to bring forth in the flesh of the people a
reflection of Christ.
II
CORINTHIANS 3:4 And such trust have
we through Christ to God-ward: You see, he is letting them know it is God doing it and
not he himself, although he is the one God is doing it through. 5 Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of
God; 6 ¶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the
new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Then the Apostle begins to
teach them how God did the same thing through Moses at the first Exodus.
II
CORINTHIANS 3:7 But if the ministration
of death, written and engraven in stones, was
glorious, so that the children of
EXODUS
34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came
down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he
came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that
the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all
the children of
We sing the words that Moses
gave to the people when he came down from the mount, but have you ever stopped
to really think about to understand what those words are really saying?
NUMBERS
6:24 The LORD bless
thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious
unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
2 Corinthians 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in
this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth
is glorious. 12 ¶
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of
speech: 13 And not as Moses,which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14
But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away
in the reading of the old testament; which vail is
done away in Christ.
And remember that when Christ
died on the cross fulfilling all the Word of God had said about Him, there was
a great earth quake and the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom
showing Who it was that was behind the veil, “Christ is the Mystery of God revealed”, showing “The Unveiling of God”, or “The Mighty God unveiled before us”.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (and
Brother Branham taught us that veil upon their hearts was tradition and
creeds). UNVEILING
OF GOD 64-0614M 127 Notice, death to
stay away from It now. You must go into It through this veil or you won't. How God could have mercy
on them... But remember what it was, that God is manifesting what was behind
that veil. Watch what was behind the veil: the Word. What did it veil? The Word. What was it? It's in the ark. It was the Word that
that veil hid. See? And Jesus was that Word, and He is that Word, and the veil
of His flesh hid It.And today the veil of tradition hides the Word
again,
2
Corinthians
Now, let’s read on… II CORINTHIANS 4:1 ¶ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we
have received mercy, we faint not; 2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in
craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of
the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel
be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and
not of us.
THE
TOKEN 35-3 Notice, they were not just yet come
together to talk about the message. They come together to apply the blood, to
apply the token. That's what you must do. Pastor Neville, and to this congregation, trustees,
deacons, to you brethren, it's time that we laid aside all the foolishness of
the world, time we laid aside everything else. We've seen enough now, that
we're positive, sure, and the Token must be applied. Without it, you're going
to perish; you must perish. That is the only thing. Oh, don't come together, say, "I believe it." Get beneath
it. Get into it. How to do it? By one Spirit we're baptized into the Body of
Jesus Christ. Everybody believe with all your heart.
See? He was not responsible for any out from beneath it.
THE
TOKEN 63-0901M 48-3 Flee for
safety; then apply. See? Believe for... Here's what you want to believe for.
See? You want your own safety. You believe for your safety, and then apply the
Token for the whole family. See? You say, "How can I do that?" Claim it. If it
worked on you, then you and the Word becomes one. Amen. Amen. See, it... See,
it works for both of you. You and the Word are one. Then apply it to your
children. Apply it to your loved ones like Rahab did.
She applied the token to her father; she applied it to her mother; she applied
it to her brothers and sisters, and got them all in. You apply it. Say,
"Lord, I'm going after my son. I'm going after my daughter. I claim her;
Satan, you turn her loose. I'm coming after her. I apply my Token." The
Holy Spirit... "Oh, Holy Spirit that lives within me, catch
my daughter there. I'm going to her now with Your
anointing upon me. He will do it. Amen.
48-5 That's what they did in
49-1 Like Jacob did. He said--told his wife and
all of them, said, "Wash your clothes and everything. Put away them gods." Amen. You know what Joshua said 'fore
crossing over? He said, "Wash your clothes, come not at your wives, and so
forth, and get ready. For within three days we'll cross
49-5 Apply it, create that atmosphere around
you, that they'll just drop right into it. See? Oh, you are--you are--if you've
got the Token, you create a spirit around you of power, that when you walk,
people know that you're a Christian. They love for you to say something to
them. They believe your word; what you say, they hold on to it. See? That is
it. Apply the Token; then walk with it. Claim your household. You must do it now.
This is evening time. Now, you've been listening a long time; now this is
evening time. It's applying time now. The wrath will strike one of these days;
it might be too late then. See, see? Apply the Token with confidence.
49-6
If you wanted to read that, read something here, my Scripture I got
wrote down for this is read Ephesians 2:12, and if--if you want to put that
down. Notice in Ephesians 2:12, when you read it, it says this that we don't
serve dead works, but we serve a living God, with living works. Amen. Oh, my.
With living works, living signs... You believe in living signs? Also put down
Hebrews 9:11-14, if you want to put that down. Living signs, living works,
apply that. Not dead creeds. "I'll take my boy over to the church, and see
he joins the church." Some fine Christian boy here, a good friend, old
buddy, a real fellow, he--he come down here, was baptized. His mother said,
"I wished you'd went to a bigger church, if you
wanted to be baptized." See, see? He just didn't want old dead creeds and
things. See?
50-3 We don't serve dead creeds and dead gods.
We serve a living God, Whose Blood was shed back there, and the Token's been
applied to us that we live also. Amen. Yes, sir. Don't serve some dead creed.
They even deny such things as the Token. They say the days of
miracles is passed. There's no such thing as the baptism of the Holy
Ghost. Why join something like that? See? Don't do that. Apply the Token, then
serve the living God, for living works, living signs: signs that heal the sick,
raise the dead, foretell things, speak in tongues, interpret every time
perfectly right, prophesies and says this and such a thing will happen, show
signs in the heaven above and on earth, signs and wonders. Amen. Speaking
exactly what the Bible said would take place... Serve the Living God. Apply the
Token.