Brian Kocourek
Romans 6:16-23 ¶ 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye
yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of
doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:
for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity
unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto
holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in
those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is]
death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have
your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin [is]
death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:17 ¶But thanks be to God that , though you used to be slaves to sin, you have wholeheartedly
obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrustd. You have been set free
from sin and have become slaves to
righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural
selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity
and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to
righteousness leading to holiness. For when you were slaves to sin, you were
free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at the time
from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now
that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit
you reap leads to holiness, and results in eternal life. For the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This morning I would like to
especially focus our attention on verse 17 where Paul says, ¶ But thanks be to God that , though you
used to be slaves to sin, you have
wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrustd. In other words, Paul is saying that we
should be thankful to God for having set us free from the slavery of sin and
corruption, which sin leads to death. And we are told here that our being set
free came through a process whereby we wholeheartedly obeyed the form of
teaching, or as the Weymouth translation says, “you have yielded yourselves
wholeheartedly to the System of Truth” and the Wuest translation says, “You
obeyed out from the heart as a source, a type of teaching into which you were
handed over.”
And so we see that this
teaching that you have wholeheartedly obeyed is not only the True teaching of
God’s Word, but it is more specifically specific type of teaching, which Weymouth
calls a “sytem of Truth”. Now a system,
according to Websters is a “set of facts, principles, rules, etc. that have
been classified or arrenged into a regular, orderly form so as to show a
logical plan linking the various parts that there might be an established way
of doing things, orderliness, in ones way of proceeding.
In other words, this system
of teaching is not just a shot gun approach to the Truth, but is rather an
orderly progression set forth in a logical manner in order to accomplish
something. And that something is a completely surrendered and yielded vessel.
Paul said, ¶But thanks be to God that ,
though you used to be slaves to sin,
you have wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrustd.
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness
Now Paul uses the word Slaves for a specific reason. The Greek
word he chose to use here is the word doulos
{doo'-los} which means: metaphorically, one who gives himself up to
another's will; devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests or
more plainly said, One whose will is swallowed up in the will of another.
This is important to
understand what Paul tells us here because after all it concerns us and our
approach to God. He is telling us on the one hand that we are to be set free
from the slavery of win. This simply means that we are set free from having our
will swallowed up by the will of
another. You no longer feel compelled to follow the peer pressure, or
the ways of the world, but you have had you will set free from the bondage that
the world enslaves you by and you are free to place your will where so ever you
choose. Yet it is ironic that Paul also says in following this system of
teaching, you will engender yourself to a full and complete surrender of your
will to righteousness which is a right wise-ness and instead of this slavery
bringing forth nothing for you, it will produce in you, or yield itself in you
eternal Life. Now, I think it is important for us to know and understand these
things in lite of the fact that we are in the year of Jubille.
On May 12 this year Israel
celebrated it’s 50th year as a nation and this year has become the jubilee of
Israel in her home land. Now, I also believe this has significance to us as
Gentile believers, because this means that the scriptures have been fully
fulfilled concerning Israel in her home land.
[Mark 13:28-37] Read Now, we know that the fig tree is a type of
Israel. and when it is blossoming, it means that she is in her own home land,
and blossoming forth as a nation. In [Hosea
9:10] God said, “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as
the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time:” And in the Song
of Solomon 2:13 we see a picture of the Bride being courted by the Groom,
and He says to her, “The fig tree putteth forth her
green figs, and the vines [with] the tender grape give a [good] smell. Arise,
my love, my fair one, and come away.”
Therefore, we know that the
Gentiles days are numbered, and God will shortly turn back to the Jews. But
when He does, the Bride will be off at the Wedding supper, and getting ready
for her Millenial honeymoon.
Now, what frees her from
this slavery? It is a condition of her mind.Paul said, , “you have yielded yourselves wholeheartedly
to the System of Truth. And that is the key. Yielding yourselves whole
heartedly... Now, what does it mean to yield, what does the word yield yourself
to mean?
And what does it mean to do
so wholeheartedly..... Mark 12:28 And
one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and
perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first
commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments
[is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is]
like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none
other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well,
Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other
but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and
with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as
himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus
saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the
kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him [any question].
Therfore the main thing that
God wants is our entire heart, which is our understanding. That is why he frees
us from sin which is unbelief and turns our hearts toward His Word which is
Life, and right-wiseness.
So this morning we are
looking at the subject of being prepared for the New Millennium. And we are not
just looking at our preparation in terms of Y2K, but in terms of whether or not
we will be ready for a Rapture. [Matthew
24:32-25:13] Now learn a parable of the fig
tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that
summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when
ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be
fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my
Father only. But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into
the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left. Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill;
the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not
what hour your Lord doth come. But know
this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would
come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken
up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son
of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made
ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed [is] that
servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto
you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil
servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to
smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of
that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour
that he is not aware of, And shall cut
him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[Matthew 15:1-13]Then shall
the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and
went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were]
foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom
tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made,
Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins
arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of
your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so];
lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell,
and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and
they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto
you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh.
[I Thessalonians 5:21-23] Prove all things; hold fast that which is
good. Abstain from all appearance of
evil. And the very God of peace
sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
23 DESPERATION JEFF.IN
V-4 N-1 63-0901E The Token, Jesus Christ, the
Holy Spirit, is among us. We should reverence that. We--we--we can't humble
ourselves enough. Taking off your shoes or getting on your knees wouldn't expel
it, it would--it wouldn't satisfy; it wouldn't suffice us, but a life that
brings forth the fruit of the Spirit...
Now, what is the fruit of the Spirit? See? Love, joy, peace...
Remember this morning?
Preparation, sent the messenger with the message. Next thing He done after
He sent the messenger with the message, He sent the Pillar of Fire for a
vindication. Next thing was after that, was consolation. See? You knew that it
was right; you was at peace. We have peace with God through the Lord Jesus
Christ. See?
17 DESPERATION JEFF.IN V-4 N-1
63-0901E Then the Life that was in Christ is the Holy Ghost, not the third
person, but the same Person in the form of the Holy Spirit, coming upon you as
a Token that your life and your fare is paid. You have been accepted. Until
that Token comes, you're not permitted on the highway. You're not permitted on
the--in the--the bus line. You're not permitted to go in until you can present
this Token, and that Token is your fare. And now, It shows that the Blood has
been shed and been applied to you, the price has been applied to you, and you
have the Token that the Blood is applied to you and you're accepted. Get it
now? Oh, my. Oh.
18 DESPERATION JEFF.IN V-4 N-1
63-0901E Now, now, there's just not... No certain evidence. See? You say,
"Brother Branham (I feel it in your minds. You see?), why will I
know?" Look. What were you? And what are you? There's how you know. See? What
was you before this Token was applied? What are you after It's applied? What
was your desires before, and what is your desires after? Then you know whether
the Token's applied or not. And these other things just automatically go with
that. See? It--it isn't...
155 DESPERATION JEFF.IN
V-4 N-1 63-0901E Let us pray. In desperation
watch for the Kingdom of God; It'll come upon you. Our heavenly Father, I pray Thee in Jesus' Name, be merciful
unto us, Lord. And start in us a desperation. Oh, Lord God, have mercy upon us;
I pray, and let the people seek Thee tonight with desperate hearts. We know
You're here, Lord. You're the same yesterday, today, and forever. And now, may these people who has the
Token, that they've passed from death unto Life, they've changed from the old
worldly life to a new one... They have... The Blood has been applied and God
give them a Token sign.
48-5 TOKEN.THE JEFF.IN.
V-2 N-19 63-0901M That's what they did in Egypt.
That's what they did in Jericho. If you want to read another one? Acts 16:31.
Paul told the centurion, "Believe; I'm the messenger of the hour. Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, thou and thy house shall be saved." Is that
right? Believe for your house. Bring them all under it. Now, you've seen the God of heaven perform
a miracle, just before judgment. You believed it. "Yes, what can I
do?"
He said, "Rise and be
baptized." Paul took him out and
baptized him, said, "Now, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou and
thy house shall be saved." Believe what? Believe the Lord Jesus Christ for
you house. Apply the Token to your house. Then what do you do when you apply It
to your house? Move all the trash out. Get all the short skirts, and the
shorts, and the cards, and the cigarettes, and televisions, and whatevermore,
and kick them out the door. You're going to apply the Token, won't stand still
for it. Yes, sir. Take it all out. All the dances and the parties, and
rock-and-roll, and old vulgar newspapers, and the stuff that's of the world,
kick it out the door. Say, "We're cleaning out this place around
here."
49-5 TOKEN.THE JEFF.IN. V-2 N-19
63-0901M 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.
134 TOKEN.THE BAKF.CA V-22 N-8
64-0208 Yes. Clean out the cupboard; clean out the house. Oh, we have a
good old fashion house-cleaning. Let the Blood be applied. Then the Token will
come in. Clean it out. Sanctify it.
Then apply the Token in prayer, with confidence, when you've cleaned
yourself up. You've got away from the things of the world. You dumped all the
unbelief out. "I don't care what the people says. If the Word of God says
it and promised it, I believe it. If the Word says it, that settles it. I don't
care what anybody else says." See? Then when you got all that done, you've
applied the Blood, and you believe every word, then take your Token in prayer,
be fully convinced.
138 TOKEN.THE DALLAS.TX V-19 N-12
64-0308
Associations and ministers
have let the people do anything and get by, and just put their name on a book
and call them this, that, and the other, when it's a disgrace. And it's got so
that faith is something that's not even--don't even--very seldom ever know what
even it is. They--they got a hope, but no faith.
You've got to get back to
everything's combed out and clean. Then take your Token, that you know that
it's Jesus Christ in you, then apply it. If something don't happen, there's
something wrong; go back again, got the wrong thing in your hand. He promised
it. He was the One Who promised it. Apply It. Read Ephesians 2:12, sometime, if
you--if you wish to, and you'll find out there.