Spoken
Word #19
“Faith motivated by Love”
Brian Kocourek
April 27th, 2008
14 There's
been many times that I have scolded churches, denominations, the dressing of
women, the acting of men. I think I have thoroughly supported that by
Scripture. And never one time, God knowing my heart, have I ever had a bad feeling towards anyone. No matter
if they disagreed with me as far as the east from the west, I still loved them. And as long as I have the Spirit of God in me I'll always
love His church, His people. No matter what they do, or how they treat me, that won't have
anything to do with it. I still love them.
Romans 12:9 Let
love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which
is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor
preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving
the Lord;
I really like the way the NIV translates
this scripture. NIV
Romans 12:9-11 Love must be Sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is
good. Be devoted to one another in
brotherly Love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking is
zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Notice verse 10, Be devoted
to one another in brotherly Love. Honor one another above yourselves. Wow!!!
What a message, what power over self for those who can enter into this kind of
love. No more feeling sorry for self, no more anguish over things not working
out the way you would have them to work out. Why? because you don’t have time
to think about self, because all your time is engaged in those you are devoted
too. No more self pity, and no more feeling sorrow for yourself. No, because
Perfect Love, like Eternal Life, is living for others.
Now, a real mother knows what I am
talking about. Young women that have never had children won’t understand what I
am talking about. But a real mother lives for her husband and children like the
virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, and she has no regrets. No, none at all for she
loves her husband and children.
But
the modern woman is all regrets because her life is all about self. And that is
why I think for a man and woman to have children there is no greater teacher
about self sacrificial love in this life. You give because you love, and you
love to give of yourself.
But
in this world they are marrying later and later in life, and I really think
that is a mistake. I used to think they should wait because they are not ready,
but the more they wait the longer they go without experiencing what Real Love
is all about, and what an experience to be missing out on. Because self
sacrificial love is what develops our character. And I am not saying that you
can not enter into this kind of love without having children, but the only
other way I know is to do so in the missionary field.
That
doesn’t mean that you have to go overseas to experience this sort of giving, it
means though that you must have that desire to help others even thought there
is no one to help you when you need it most. And that helps to shape our
character.
Notice
he said, Be kindly affectioned one to another, and Honor One Another,
and this is true Love.
This word kindly
affectioned was translated from a Greek word Philo-storgos
which means (cherishing one's kindred, especially
parents or children); fond of natural relatives, i.e. fraternal towards fellow
Christian:--kindly affectioned.
So
we see the example that I gave you is right in line with the scriptures. You
need to be devoted to one another even as a mother is devoted to her children.
Now, in
examining verse 9 we found the Apostle Paul tell us, NIV Romans 12:9 that our Love must be Sincere. Now, the word sincere
does not mean that we should put on the dog, and become sweet and engaging, or
beguiling, but the word sincere means genuine, and straightforward. Therefore,
He is telling us that our Love must be
genuine, and straightforward. Then Paul goes on to say, Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Yes,
cling to what is good. And that will make you want to be devoted
to one another in brotherly Love. And Honor one another above yourselves.
Now, let's stop
for a few minutes this morning and examine this sincere love. He says, Love
must be Sincere. Not, should be, but must
be. Love must be Sincere. And then he
tells us what sincere Love is. He says it HATES evil, and clings to or holds
onto like glue to those things which are good.
Now, everybody wants to talk about a love
that is tolerant. Everyone is into tolerance these days until you speak of a tolerance
for Truth, and then they want nothing to do with it. You know it is politically
correct these days to be tolerant of everything except True Christianity. That
seems to be the only thing that is politically ok to bash, and that is because
true Christianity is True Love, because it is based on God's Love, for God is
Love. And for them to speak of loving as being tolerant is so far from the
Truth. Because how can you love what God hates? If God is Love then our Love
should be a reflection of God. And if our Love is a reflection of God who is
Love, then perfect Love is a Perfect God. And If we do not even understand Who
God is, then how could we ever understand Love. For God is the
Word, and He is the Perfect Word.
Another thing Paul told us about Love we
find in I Corinthians
13:8 Love
never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether
there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away.
Hebrews chapter 5 & 6 657-0908M
188-130 But when that which is perfect is come, that
which is in part will be done away with." See, that's perfect. What is
perfect? Love. What is love? God.
Now, brother
Branham taught us that, that what is perfect is the Word. Questions and Answers 64-0823E 1005-I Corinthians 13 says this: "When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part
shall be done away with." So all these
little things of jumping up-and-down like a kid, trying to talk in tongues, and
all these other things, when that which is
perfect... And we do have today, by God's help,
the perfect interpretation of the Word
with Divine vindication. Then that which is in part is done away with.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child; but when I become a man, I put away childish things." Amen.
And the world wants nothing to do with this
Love we are talking about this morning, because they want nothing to do with
God, and He is Love, and He is the Word.
Jesus tells us
the real reason why the world so hates you in John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one
another. First of all we see Jesus tell us that we are to love one another, not we should love one another,
but He says these things I command you, so
we are dealing with a command, and not just a nice thought.. But notice,
immediately he lets us know the world will hate us anyhow. And He let's us know
that the reason it will hate us is that it hated him first. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it
hated] you. 19 If ye were of the world,
the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
He tells us the world hates you because
you are the chosen of the Lord.
I
John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate
you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the
brethren. In other words he is telling us that to hate is the
easy way out. It seems that the world so hates what is good and since there is
so little that is good, the world is having a hay-day in hating. You can't but
read the papers, and listen to the radio and here some add for a movie but what
deals with someone hating somebody. The world is filled with hate and violence,
and it is a strange and peculiar thing for brethren to be loving one another
with Godly Love. John continues to say,
John
continues…He that
loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from
him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Because
any hypocrite can love with words only, but actions speak louder than words any
day of the week.
Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when
men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and
shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's
sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and
leap for joy: for, behold, your reward
is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the
prophets.
Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to
the false prophets. 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good
to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer
also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat
also. 30 Give to every man that asketh
of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you,
do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if
ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to
them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the
same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye?
for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But
love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;
and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the
Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father
also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye
shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and
ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your
bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to
you again.
But now, let's
look at this Love, in fact this perfect Love, for brother Branham said, that
you will never enter into THAT place without perfect Love.
Rejected King 60-0515M 23-6 Oh, my precious friend, my
beloved, my darlings of the Gospel, my begotten children unto God, listen to
me, your pastor. You... I wish there was some way I could explain it to you.
There's no words. I couldn't find it. It's not found anywhere. But just beyond
this last breath is the most glorious thing that you ever... There is no way to
explain it. There's no way; I just can't do it. But whatever you do, friends,
lay aside everything else till you get perfect love. Get to a spot that you can
love everybody, every enemy, everything else. That one visit there to me has
made me a different man. I can never, never, never be the same Brother Branham
that I was.
Adoption
60-0522E 104 THUS SAITH THE LORD, it'll
take perfect love to put you in that place, for that's all there was there. No matter how many, how much
religious demonstrations, how many good deeds you done, or whatever you done,
that won't count nothing on that day. It'll
take perfect love. So whatever you do, you
lay aside everything else, until you are just so filled with the love of God,
till you can love those who hate you. I'm just, as I said this morning, I
was made... My whole makeup is grace. A lot of people say, "Now, you
scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. Yeah, you do something for me, and
I'll do something for you." That's not grace. Grace is, if your back is
itching, I'll scratch it anyhow, whether you scratch mine or not; you slap me
on the face, and say, "my back needs itching, needs scratching," I'll
scratch it. See? That's it; do something. I don't believe in works; I believe
that works is love. Works is the
manifestation that grace has taken place. I don't live true to my wife
because I believe she'd divorce me if I didn't; I live true to her because I
love her.
Rejected King
60-0515M And I heard a voice then that
spoke to me that was in the room, said, "This is what you preached was the
Holy Ghost. This is perfect love. And nothing can enter here without it."
I am more determined than ever in my life that it takes perfect love to enter
there. There was no jealousy. There was no tiredness. There was no death.
Sickness could never in there. Mortality could never make you old, and they
could not cry. It was just one joy, "Oh, my precious brother."
You know I will admit that I never really
understood what brother Branham meant by getting this perfect Love because I
never really understood what Love is? Therefore this has always bothered me
since I heard brother Branham speak of it. I really never understood it,
because like everything else I had already had my mind made up as to what Love
is.
But what is
perfect Love. We know that he taught us the that which is perfect is the perfect interpretation of the
Word with Divine Vindication. And we know that the Apostle John
taught us that God
is Love. So we must never think of Love in terms of our human way of
expression, but we must think of it in terms of God's definition. We read in
the Gospel of John that men are capable of loving, but notice what they love.
John 3:19 And
this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the
light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
I John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is
in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,
and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his
brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he
goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Now, in order to better understand this
we must know what this love is because even God hated Esau but Loved Jacob.
Therefore what is the Apostle John trying to tell us here. Well, we find our
answer in a couple more chapters in 1 John.
I John 4:17
Herein is our
love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as
he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made
perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I
love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And
this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also.
Now, what John is telling us here is that
if we truly have perfect Love then we cannot fear because perfect Love casts
out all fear. It is fear that causes men to war with one another, and it is
uncertainty and fear of the uncertainty that causes people to do things in a
self defense kind of thinking. And that is what causes strife and ill treatment
toward one another is fear. But perfect love casts all that away.
Personal Experience with God
54-0724 43 Oh, we say, "We have faith. We have
love." But if we had love, we'd
have faith, for that is... "Perfect love casteth out all fear."
And when fear is gone, faith is perfect.
Q & A 54-0103E 140- God is love,
perfect love; but you don't know what love is. That's why today people don't
know what faith is. God is love. He has to be in love; He's sovereign to His
Word. And He has to keep His Word. He has to love you. And if He loves you,
He's got to protect you.
The
Apostle Paul said our Faith worketh by
Love. Therefore we must first have love in order to bring forth
our faith.
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither
circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Why?
Because Faith is a revelation, and Hope is an earnest expectation and Love is
the outward expression of that Revelation. Paul said there remaineth, Faith,
Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is Love. And therefore if Faith
worketh by love, then the revelation is put to into action by Love. So we see
that Faith, without Love, remains dormant, and passive. And we see that Faith worketh by love, which means it is motivated by Love. Therefore, love is greater than faith because
it can move our faith from a passive faith into an active faith. Paul tells us in Ephesians One that after we
have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, our Faith will begin to manifest
in an outward expression of love for the brethren, and at this time, we will be
ready to receive the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the Knowledge of God
which is His very mind.
I Thessalonians 1:2 ¶
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Now,
remember the word OF is an acronym which means belonging to or more
specifically, Out From. Therefore we should read this
verse as Remembering
without ceasing your work out from your faith, and labor out from your love,
and patience out from your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God
and our Father. And to be more exact, we should read it as thus, Remembering without
ceasing your work produced and characterized by the faith which is yours, and
your labor which is shaped and characterized by the Love you embrace, and
evidently manifested through the patience you possess due to the hope you have
in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the presence of God our Father.
Paul continues …1 Thessalonians 1: 4 Wuest "Remembering
unceasingly your works produced and
characterized by the Faith which is yours, and your toil which is motivated and characterized by your divine and self
sacrificial Love, and your patient endurance under trials which finds it's
source in your hope which rests in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of
God, even the father."
Love
shapes & molds the very nature of the expression that comes forth from your
being as an evident token that you have been made alive. And your love
expresses itself in self sacrificial acts of charity towards others, with no
regard to self.
And
this brings upon you a peace which is characterized by the patience you show
forth, which is an evident token of your earnest expectation in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is
meet, because that your faith groweth
exceedingly, and the charity of
every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves
glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 ¶ Which is a manifest token of
the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of
God, for which ye also suffer: 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; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed
) in that day. 11 ¶ Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would
count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his
goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our
God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And our Faith works by Love. In other
words, Love is the motivating force that brings our faith into expression. It
is love that takes hold of your faith and moves it from a dormant passive Faith
into a vibrant active faith.
Faith
is not about self, and neither is Eternal Life living for self, but eternal
Life is living for others. Its not the works that avail anything, but the works
which have been produced because of Love.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Then Love grounds you, it makes you stable,
and not flighty.
Fellowship 56-0212 5 Now, we have great
things that we can do in the realm of faith. Faith works great things for us,
and if you brethren here getting your... And you can't have faith till you have love. That's just all there is
to it. You just... Perfect love casts out all fear, and As long as you
got fear you can't have faith. So
you got to have love first. It drives all fear out, and then faith comes
in, takes the place of fear. So when you have that you're coming right along.
Notice then that Love is the motivator of
Faith. EPHESIANS
6:23 Peace
be to the brethren, and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesian Church
age 60-1205 72 "Ephesus" means, the very name "Ephesus"
means "let go, relax, backslidden," called by God, "The
backslidden church." God acknowledged first their works, their labor, and
their patience. God rebuked their leaving their first love, for backsliding,
and for no longer bearing Light.
So
you see, no matter how much knowledge you have, if you do not have Love you do
not have Faith which is Revelation. And knowledge will cease, but only perfect
love will allow you to enter that other dimension where the Elect will go.
EXPLAINING
HEALING AND JAIRUS 54-0216 48 Electricity will
light up, if you'll work according to the law of electricity. Is that right? If
you had an artesian well on this side of the hill putting out thousands of
gallons of water per minute, and over on that side of the hill, another hill,
you've got a crop burning up needing that water. Now, no matter how much you
screamed to water, "Go up on the hill and water that crop," it'll
never do it. But if you work according to the way of gravitation and run that
water over on the hill, it'll water the crop. Is that right? But you've got to
work according to the law of gravitation. Well now, if God is here all in this
building, right now. Do you believe that? We're all conscious. We're, wished I,
you can't get it all in one night. You see? You're conscious that God is here.
Now, the only thing that we can do is work according to the law of God for our
healing. Is that right? What is the law of God? His love. "Perfect love
cast out all fear." Love and faith
is the same thing. See? Love, perfect
love casts out all fear which gives faith. You see?
Even the
Apostle Paul spoke of Love and Fait as being the same in I Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are
of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation. Notice it is not just the breastplate
of faith which is always quoted, but the breastplate of
faith and love.
Way to have
fellowship 55-1009 18 Listen, just a moment. I would rather have a church that
knows nothing about any spiritual gift, and just be so in love with each other and with Christ, I'd rather have
that than every spiritual gift operating in the church. Now, that might sound
hard in a Pentecostal group, but I would rather have it. Where there is gifts,
they'll fail. Where there is gifts, they'll bring confusion. Where there is
gifts, they can be questioned. But where there is love, it is perfect. That's
right. And if you had perfect love you'd
have perfect gifts. That's right. So work
first with love. That brings fellowship, and fellowship brings gifts.
Love 58-0313 20 Now, perfect love
casts out fear, and that's the reason people won't take God at His Word for
healing. They don't love Him well enough,
because you're scared He won't keep His Word. That's the reason that people fear
somebody else will say something against them if they receive the Holy Spirit.
They're afraid somebody will laugh and make fun. But when love comes in...
Perfect Faith
63-0825E 132 And when we were sinners, alienated,
without God, in the world, in that muck of mud as I talked about this morning,
God come to us. God sought you; you never sought God. "No man can come to
Me except the Father draws him first." And God came down in that muck,
what you were, and sought you out and brought you out. That ought to create a
perfect love. Look what you was, and look what you are. What did that? Somebody
that loved you. Can't you have faith in what He's promised you then? Real genuine love will create a confidence
in His Word. He caught me when I was nothing. I'm still nothing, but I'm in
His hand. See? He caught me. And He loved me when I was unlovable. He loved you
when you was unlovable, but He changed you.
Perfect Faith 63-0825E Faith and love is relations,
because you can't have faith unless
you've got love, because your faith is in a God Who is the very essence of
love. Faith and love works together.
Now,
in reading from the Wuest translation, we get a better appreciation for this
scripture. 1
Thessalonians 1: 4 Wuest "Remembering unceasingly your works produced and characterized
by the Faith which is yours, and your toil which is motivated and characterized
by your divine and self sacrificial Love, and your patient endurance under
trials which finds it's source in your hope which rests in our Lord Jesus
Christ in the presence of God, even the father."
That
is why Paul could say there remains Faith, Hope and Love these three, but the
greatest of these is Love. Faith is the revelation, it is the
access, it is the foundation, it is the starting point, but when Faith truly
takes a hold upon a man, it begins to move that man into an action. And Hope is
the catalyst that begins the faith toward action.
Faith
in itself is a passive thing, but if it is a true genuine faith, then it will
begin to move the person who possesses that Faith toward the goal of that
Faith. And hope is that thing that causes man to move forward with faith. Faith
is the power, but Hope is the steam that is released by that power, and Love is
the outward action that comes forth by that Divine Revelation.