Brian Kocourek
The last Sunday we met, I spoke to you on the subject of Peace through Tribulations. And I believe the reason the Word which we focus upon seems to come to pass so very often is that it is a Living Word. I am in the midst of a trial that I would like your prayers for, and Don is in the midst of a trial in which his family would request your prayers as well. Derek just came through one of his several trials, and Mike and Halina still have the sale of their home as one of several trials they must endure. We each have to be tried and tested to see how we shall react. This is all part of our passing the test.
As you might remember, we
last read from Romans 5:1 ¶
Therefore being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Now, the scripture
tells us that we are justified by faith which is a revelation, and this brings
us Peace with God, but it does not tell us that our peace will be in this
world. It says, our peace is with God. And that is our main concern. Although
we would like to have peace in this world, we certainly have not been promised
this.
In [Matthew 10:34] Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to
send you peace on earth, I am not come to send peace, but a sword.”
Paul continues, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; And
patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
He said, we glory also in
tribulations... Now this is a hard saying, but we have such a rest and
confidence in God that we know that “All
things will work together for the good of those who love God and those who are
the Elect according to His purpose. [Romans 8:26-30](read) Now, this searching of the heart is part of
what brings forth our trials as we shall see a little later in this message. He
said, “those who love God”, and
how do we know that we love Him? Jesus tells us the answer in [John 14:23]
Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my Words: and My Father will Love him,
and we will come and abode with Him.” Now, what does it mean to make our abode with him? The word abode
means to dwell with in such a way that it creates an atmosphere of Their Presence with you.
Now, why is it that only the
Christian, the Elect of God can rejoice even while under the toughest of
trials? Because we know that God is not far from us, and whatever form of trial
we may be going through, we know that He has allowed it to work something in us
that otherwise would not be there. And that is the key... When you are going
through any trial, whatever the trial, don’t forget that God knew about it
before it even happened to you. And not only did He know about it, but He
allowed it to bring forth something in you that is lacking yet in your
character.
94 I KNOW 60-0417S There was too much of you in
you, till God had to squeeze it out
through trials. And while that
squeezing was coming on, it's hard. But after while the skies clear back and
you see the purpose of God. Then you cry, "I know my Redeemer liveth,
and at the last days He'll stand on the earth. Though the skin worms destroys
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." These little trials and things are just for a moment, and they fade
and pass away. But they're only done for your good; let us remember that,
that God would get glory.
Remember, Jesus forewarned
us, in [John 6:33] where He
said, “In me ye may have peace. In the world ye will have tribulation.” Therefore
Paul can say in [Romans 5:3], “We
Glory in tribulations also” Our
tribulation which comes from divine Love and has a purpose in it, and that purpose
is to work that only which is good for us, even though for a time it may appear
to be otherwise.
But we see in this in [1
Peter 1: 3-7] (read) The tribulation which comes from divine Love will work
only that which is good for us. and what is that? [Romans 5:4] “Knowing that Tribulation worketh patience.”
Through tribulation our faith is put to the test and purified to the
highest degree. Whatever tribulation finds in us, it develops more fully. And therefore the purpose of the trial or
tribulation is to expose where we are
carnal, weak, blind, wicked, haughty, and so forth. Because without this understanding of how Christ works in us His
will, tribulation will only make us more carnal, more weak, more blind, more
wicked and more haughty. On the other hand, if we are spiritual, then our
tribulations will make us strong, wise, pious, gentle and humble and we will
become more spiritual, more powerful, more wise, more pious, more gentle and
more humble, as we see in [Psalm 4:1]
“Thou
hast enlarged me when I was in distress.”
So we see here that distress will enlarge what ever condition we are
in, whether in a carnal condition or in a spiritual one. And that is the
purpose of the trials and tribulations. And in fact when the squeeze comes fully upon us, it will only bring forth in
us those attributes which God has already placed in us by the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit. And then what will happen? Those attributes will become
enlarged. Those attributes will show forth in our lives, and as we read of the
Blessings in Deuteronomy, just as those Blessings will come upon us and
overtake us, so will the divine attributes of God show forth in our bodies. “For
all the creation groans for the manifestation of the Sons of God.”
Therefore, we should never
blame the other guy when we are put to the test, but we should thank our God
for the privilege of being His and that He is so wanting to show Himself in our
very being, that he has brought to us the honor of allowing Satan to buffet us.
Then instead of being angry with our opponent, we should petty them, that they
are an instrument in the hands of Satan, yet unknowingly, in the permissive
will of God. The Christian who
outwardly worships the Cross of Christ and marvels at the suffering of God’s
only begotten Son, and yet flees from, and detests tribulation and affliction,
are simply ignorant and childish in their thinking and indeed are hypocritical
in their mind, because the Scriptures tell us that the Cross of Christ is not
just some wooden object on which Jesus was stretched out, but as we read in [Matt 10:38], Jesus said, “He
that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
6-1 LOOK AWAY TO JESUS 63-1229E So now, I am going to say something to you
now, that I haven't said all along. And that is, the thing that we have looked
forward to for so long, or at least many years, four or five years or maybe
longer, the third pull has now been vindicated, and I'm sure you all know what
it is. Now, remember, there'll never be
any impersonation of that, 'cause it can't be. It cannot be. Now, it's in
existence, and I have--I am warned of this, that soon, right at this time now,
it's just happened, so it could identify its presence among you. See? But it
will not be used in a great way, until this council begins to tighten up. And
when it does, when that does... The Pentecostals and so forth can almost
impersonate anything could be done, but when that time comes, when the squeeze comes down, then you'll
see what you have seen temporarily, be manifested in the fullness of its power.
See? Now, I must continue in evangelism, just as I was commissioned first; I
must continue on. Therefore, you've had the Word, and you know what to look
for, how to stand. I must continue on in evangelism. And friends of mine, keep
still and just keep moving on, for the hour is approaching swiftly (See?), that
when something is going to be done.
Now, you might see some little odd things happen from me, nothing
sinful, I don't mean that, but I mean something odd to what the regular trend,
because what I have reached to now in the ministry, I'm dropping back here,
watching that spot and waiting for the time to use it. But it's going to be
used. And everyone knows that for as certain as the first was identified, so
has the second been identified; and if you'll think real closely, you who are
spiritual (as the Bible said, "Here's to him who has wisdom.") the
third is properly identified. See? We know where it is. So the third pull is
here. It is so sacred that I mustn't
not say much about it, as He told me in the beginning. Said, "This, say
nothing of it." You remember that years ago? It speaks for Itself. See?
But to... I've tried to explain the others, and I made a mistake. This will be
the thing that, to my opinion (I don't say the Lord tells me this.)--this will
be the thing that will start the rapturing faith for the going away. See, see?
Now, and that... I must lay quiet for just a little while. Now, remember (and who's listening to this
tape) you might see such a change in my ministry right away, dropping back...
Not going up, dropping back... We're right at the age now, and it be--can't go
any further. We have to wait here just a minute until this happens over here to
catch up, then the time comes. But it's thoroughly identified. There's coming a
time upon--in this nation, to where this nation is going to exercise all the
power that the beast had before (which was pagan Rome, when it become papal
Rome. See?) that this nation will do that. Revelations 13 plainly explains it.
The lamb came up out of the earth. The other beast came up out of water,
thickness and multitudes of people. This lamb came up where there was no
people. A lamb represents
religion--the Lamb of God. And remember, it spoke like a lamb; it was a lamb,
and then after while it received power and spoke like a dragon, and exercised
all the power the--the dragon--power the dragon had before him; and the dragon
is Rome always. So don't you see, Roman denomination, a marked Protestant
denomination, an image unto the beast, making a power that'll force all
Protestants like a union. You'll have to be into this council of churches, or
you won't be able to have fellowship or to--to... Well, it's practically that way now. You can't go to a church and
preach, 'less you have a fellowship card or some identification. And now, on
persons like ourselves, we're going to be cut out of all that altogether.
That's exactly, because they won't be able to do it. It's tightening; and then
when that time comes, and the press comes to a place to where you're pressed
out, then watch (what I am fixing to tell you in a few minutes) watch the third
pull then. It'll be absolutely to the total lost, but it--it will be for the
Bride and the church. Now, we're closer
than it seems to be. I don't know when, but it's real, real, close. I may be
building a platform for somebody else to step on. I may be taken before that
time. I don't know. And that time may be this coming week that the Holy Spirit
will come with--and bring Christ Jesus. He may come this next week. He may come
yet tonight. I don't know when He will come. He doesn't tell us that. But I do
believe that we are so close, that I would never die with old age. Yet at
fifty-four years old, I'd never die with old age until He's here. See? Unless I
am shot, killed, or something, or other, some way killed; just old age wouldn't
kill me, until He's come. And I believe that... And I want to say this; I have
never said it before, but according to Scripture, according to what He said thirty
years ago, thirty-three years ago on the river down there (in 1933, rather),
what He said, everything has happened just exactly. I may not do it, but this
message will introduce Jesus Christ to the world. "For as John the Baptist
was sent to forerun the first coming, so is the message to forerun the second
coming." And John said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the
sin of the world." See? So it--it paralleled it in every way, and I know
it will. The message will go on.
In other words, he is no Christian
who refuses to bear this cross; for Paul said, “we glory in tribulation.”
And in Acts 14:22 we read, “ We
must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” And the
word, Must does not mean that tribulation comes by chance, or that it
is a matter of choice for us, or that we may take it or leave it. As we had
mentioned a few weeks ago, God is our Savior and Healer and helper in times of
trouble, and those who would bypass tribulation are saying in effect, I don’t
want to have to make myself totally dependent upon God, and thus by doing so,
we are literally robbing God of His titles, and His honor. In essence making
Him a god of no substance to us. And to
those people who think this way, our Lord could never be their savior, nor
could He be their healer, nor could He be their helper in times of need,
because they will not admit that they are under condemnation. To them God is never mighty, He is never
wise, nor is He gracious, because they do not desire to honor Him as creatures
that are weak, foolish and subject to punishment.
Paul said, we rejoice in our
trials, because they will work a divine patience in us, and that patience will
work divine experience, and this experience will work hope. Experience must
here be understood to be the object of tribulation, or the good which
tribulation is to effect. God accepts no one as righteous whom He has not first
put to the test or tried. But He tries us
through the fire of affliction, as we read in Psalm 11:5 “The Lord Trieth the Righteous.” God tries us in this way in order that we
may really know whether we love Him for His own sake. David said in Psalm 139:23, 24 “Search me , Oh
God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” If God would not try us by tribulation, it
would be impossible for us then to be saved.
Rom 5:5 . Hope maketh not ashamed. Tribulation
takes from man everything in which He trusts and leaves him naked and
destitute. It also prevents him from seeking help and salvation in his own
temporal and spiritual works.
195 END TIME EVANGELISM 62-0603 Peter had a sword. He pulled that sword was
going to cut the high priest's ears off, and things like that; he did it. But
when it come to real Christian courage, he didn't have it. He backed up and
denied Him. Is that right? He could cut the high priest's ear off with his
sword, sure, he knowed how to handle it. But
when it come to the squeeze and time to stand on the Word of God, he didn't
have the courage, and even denied he knowed Jesus. That's
where it is today. We got courage to build buildings and put millions of
dollars in them. We got courage to put pipe organs, and plush seats, and
everything, and go out and proselyte from place to place, and make the
Methodists come Baptists, and so forth, back and forth like that. But when it
comes to Christian courage to accept the Word and the message of God, and stand
there on it, we are few. So what good's your stones without a stone mason
again? That right?
Finally, it causes him to
despair of every creature, to look away from himself, and apart from himself
and everything else, to seek help alone from God, the Creator, as we see in Psalm 3:3
“But thou oh, Lord art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine
head.” That is what hope means,
and through the experience of tribulation such hope is confirmed in us. On the
other hand, the wicked who trust in their own virtues, and do not endure
tribulations with patience, do not allow themselves to be tried by it.
They never discover that we
must put our trust alone in God. Therefore, when the last trial or affliction
will come, and all their virtues and merits will disappear, then, when they
sink into a hopeless eternity they will cry out to the mountains: “Fall
on us (Lk 23:30) Their assumed hope is actually no hope at all, but
only a perverse, arrogant trust in their own works and righteousness.
167 EVERLASTING LIFE 54-1231 And God could ever get a man and women today in this tabernacle,
anywhere else, that'll pay no attention to what's going on around them, but
submit themselves to the Lord, as an individual unit, God will lead the same
man today, that He led then. He proves that He's with us. What we need today is
a humble, submitted life. Submit yourself. Don't
squeeze yourself back. Don't do nothing but leads straight with the Holy
Spirit. What the Spirit says do, do quickly. Don't say, "Well, I'll wait
and find out what this is and that is." What the Holy Spirit says do, go
do it. What if I hadn't have went to
Finland when the Holy Spirit called me over there? What if I hadn't went to the
hospital yesterday, where that little baby was laying there dying; hadn't have
went? It's, "Obedience is better than sacrifice." Do what the Holy
Spirit says do. What we need tonight, is to let loose of a lot of our little
old squeezy ideas, and let the Holy Spirit... You are taught here. You know
what's right and wrong. But what you
need tonight is a great big bundle full of the love of God poured out in your
heart, all differences washed away. Bury it with the old year as it passes out.
Let it go. Let's start a new life, a new beginning. You can't... If you're
already born in the Kingdom of God, you've already got the Holy Spirit in you,
the only thing you have to do is cut loose from these things of the world
that's holding you down. Said, "Let us lay aside every weight and the sin
doth so easily beset us, that we might run with patience, the life, the race
that's set before us," Hebrews the 12th chapter. Lay aside the weights.
E-22 INFALLIBLE PROOF OF RESURRECTION
57-0114 We're taught in the Bible that Jesus was a Lamb, slain from the
foundation of the world. We understand that He wasn't slain, really, until four
thousand years later. But when God spoke the Word, it was a finished work when
God spoke It. He was slain back here at the foundation of the world when God
foresaw, and knew what He would do, and He spoke the word. And it was finished
right there And to give you a little
courage... Which I find amongst the American Christians, that the great lack
is--is a fear. The American Christian
seems to be afraid that God won't keep His Word, and afraid if you just don't squeeze
and hold or something... It's nothing that you can do in the beginning; it's
what God has done.
E-37 CHURCH DEDICATION
59-0708M And the great beautiful life that our Lord lived was instrumental
in God's hand. But it could never be a
perfume until He was crushed, and mashed, and spit on, and squeeze the very
life out of Him at Calvary. That made the anointing for us. He was the Lily of the Valley. What do you
get out of lilies? Opium. What does opium do? It soothes pain. It puts you to
sleep in a dream land. What does the Holy Spirit do? The opium of the Holy
Spirit eases every pain, takes away every tear, mends every heartache. The Lily
of the Valley...
55 THINGS THAT ARE TO BE 65-1205 Now, in this world that we live in, it's
education... I want to prove to you, education, science, civilization, and all
these things that we seemingly so enjoy today is of Satan and will perish. You
say, "Brother Branham, civilization?" Yes, sir. This civilization
come by Satan. Genesis 4 proves it. Cain's son (See?) started this
civilization, building cities, and organs, and so forth. And civilization came
by knowledge. Knowledge is what the devil sold Eve in the garden of Eden that
caused her to transgress God's commandment. So there will be a civilization in
the world that we're going to, but it won't be this kind of a civilization. For
in this civilization we have sickness, sorrow, lust, death; everything in this
civilization's wrong. But in that civilization there will be none of these
things. We won't need science. Science is a perversion of the original anyhow.
See? You split a molecule to--split a atoms and do so-and-so to blow you up.
You take gun powder, and bang this, and kill something. You take the car and
take gasoline out of the earth and the materials out of the earth to loosen up
the fibers so it can blow up, and go down the road at ninety miles an hour and
kill somebody. See? Oh, so nervous,
squeeze, and hurry up, we got to push and taken... Oh, see, it's all of the devil. The Kingdom of God will not have
automobiles, airplanes, or any scientific achievement. No. It won't have any
education at all. It'll be an education so supreme to this, that this won't
even be thought of. See? Education, civilization, and all this comes from
Satan.