Spoken Word no 43
Q & A 45
Discourse on CAB baptism of the Holy Spirit
Brian
Kocourek, Pastor
Brother Kocourek
Response: Wednesday evening I spoke on part one of a three fold
discourse from an email I had received last Sunday afternoon from a foreign Pastor
from
Wednesday
evening we spoke on part one which dealt primarily on the authenticity of the
Church Age Book as Brother Branham’s book which Brother Vayle was commissioned
to help put it into Print, but of which brother Branham authored, and edited
the entire book. Therefore, for the rest of this discourse where he uses the
terminology “Quote Lee Vayle, Church Age Book” and then proceeds to give the
page number, we shall drop the term “Quote Lee Vayle” since this is blatant
error in that the book was and has always been brother Branham’s book. Therefore
the quotes shall read as “Wm Branham, Church Age Book”. Therefore wherever the
name Dr. Lee Vayle is used in his discourse, already having proven that the
book was written by William Branham, and this pastor is making issue with the
Church Age Book itself, then it would be foolish to write the name of someone
else who did not author the book, and is not responsible for the contents of
the book. That would be fighting the same argument in over and over again with
every line he writes. Therefore this brothers issue is with the Message and not
Lee Vayle, because it matters not whether he is ascribing this book to lee
Vayle or Tom, Dick or Harry. His arguments are with the book, and what it says
in conflict with what he thinks to be right. Therefore, I shall rewrite the
name William Branham where Dr. lee Vayle has been listed in this entire
discourse from here out.
Now,
Wednesday night we also covered Marriage and Divorce where this Foreign Pastor
had a misunderstanding concerning a man returning to a wife that had left him for
another man. This Foreign Pastor could not understand that the woman leaving
her husband for another man is actually her divorcing her husband. Because
there is not an official piece of paper involved, he does not seem to consider
it a divorce, just an act of infidelity. However, the act is what constitutes
the separation, and being cut off, not a piece of paper. Brother Branham said,
likewise when you promise that woman, that is as good as being married, and
that is why still today there is so much looseness in the courtship process. This
Foreign Pastor’s problem seems to be in trying to balance forgiveness for an
incident of infidelity and a woman who actually leaves her husband for another
man.
This
evening we shall deal with item number two on his questions list where he is
misunderstanding the wording in the Church Age Book in reference to the
evidence of being spirit filled and he thinks there is a difference between
being spirit filled and receiving the New Birth.
Where
I think this Foreign Pastor might be having his problem is that he is looking
at the following quotes from Wm. Branham in the Church Age Book and he is
thinking that they are saying that a person can be filled with the spirit of
God before receiving the Word for the Age.
So
let’s read the statements first and then we shall see where the problem lays. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST-an ear to hear -THE NEW BIRTH 7 Wm. Branham author, “CHURCH AGE BOOK” - page 139-148 Error no. 2:
Wm. Branham Church
Age Book (C.A.B.): 141-1 And to every age we hear the same
truth. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the
churches." But only a Spirit-filled
man can “hear” the revelation
for that age. None other can. No sir.
They cannot because that is exactly what Paul said in I Corinthians 2:6-16. (
Brother Kocourek
Response: Now, to the unlearned this may look to appear hear that
Wm. Branham is saying that only a Spirit filled person can actually listen with
their ears and believe, but that is not what this statement from the Church Age
Book is saying at all. And in order to know what Wm. Branham is saying here we
must ask ourselves what does Wm. Branham mean when he uses the word to “hear”,
because that is the nuts and bolts of our brothers argument here. He sees this
statement of Wm. Branham here, and he doesn’t know how to reconcile it with
other statements Wm. Branham uses concerning Ephesians 1 and other Scriptures,
where we hear first then receive the baptism of the spirit. And in this
sentence it would appear to this brother and I am sure many others that there
is some contradiction. So we must ask ourselves, how does brother Branham define
this word here that would bring this statement into continuity with some other
statements that Wm. Branham preaches that would seem to those who might be
unfamiliar with brother Branham’s ministry to be not in sync.
But only a Spirit-filled man can “hear” the revelation for that age. None other can. Now, before
we give our answer and show you what brother Branham means by the word, “hear”
let’s read the next quotation of Wm. Branham from his book, the Church Seven
Ages.
Again
we see another quotation of
Now,
here we begin to see brother Branham become more definitive when he let’s you
know that carnal men will hear a certain way and a spirit filled person will
hear it the way it is meant to be heard. Showing here that the spirit filled
man will understand while the carnal believer will not understand.
Again
we will look at the next sentence that is giving our brother some trouble.
I
want you to notice that here it appears that the person has to have the spirit
first or he can not receive something that comes his way. But that is not what
this says at all. It is saying the same thing as when brother Branham uses the
word “unless they are spirit filled they can not hear. For the word receive
means 1. To take or
acquire (something given, offered, or transmitted); get. 2. To hear or see therefore,
he is saying the same thing again in this sentence.
The
next sentence our brother is having a problem with is the following.
Again
I think it is the wording here, as our brother looks to this as a person is
filled prior to the word coming to them, and thinks this to be some gross
error. But to set the record straight
here, we know the Scripture teaches us that the Word of the Lord comes to the
prophet. Now do you think that prophet is void of Spirit when this Word comes
to him? Or do you believe that he is Spirit filled when the Word of the Lord
comes to him? So too, when the Word becomes clear to us, is because we have the
same spirit in us as the Giver of the word.
Again
this next sentence our brother Foreign Pastor points to is the same as the
others before it.
Foreign
Pastor statement:
A -- HE THAT HATH AN EAR TO HEAR- EVIDENCE OF H.G. BAPTISM
Foreign pastor
states: Wm.
Branham, on the subject of the Holy Ghost in every age, employed two important
scriptures to prove that a believer must have the indwelling Spirit, the
article of Pentecost, before he can hear the Spirit by divine revelation and
receive the message and messenger for the age.
“I positively state” that a man does not have to be spirit filled to “hear” the Spirit and truth
for the age. With due respect, I challenge this error on the basis of the Word
and message of Brother Branham. Apostle Paul declared that a man is sealed or
Spirit filled, baptized with the Holy Ghost, and receives the article of
Pentecost, after he hears the Word
of truth, the gospel message of the age. End
of Foreign Pastor statement:
Pastor Kocourek
Response: Now, first of all I think if our Foreign Pastor does not
understand what the word “hear” means from brother Branham, and so he thinks it
simply means “to audibly hear the sound of”. But if he understood what the word
“hear” means and as defined by brother Branham himself, he would not be
challenging these statements of brother Branham. I can give you many pages of
quotes from Wm Branham where he tells us that to “hear” means to “understand”.
And furthermore, our brother is referring to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as
the article of Pentecost instead of referring it to what it is, and that is the
infilling of the very Spirit Life of God. There is a difference between being
baptized or anointed with power for service and then being baptized or given
new birth in your soul. Not every one who is baptized with the Holy Spirit is
born again by that experience. Most in fact are only baptized or anointed with
the Spirit and that anointing goes only flesh deep in many cases, and some it
moves them in their Spirit but unless they have the germ of life in them to
begin with by election, they call bath themselves in the Spirit of God and they
still will never come to a true genuine new birth.
Jesus
told us in the parables that the same rain that falls on the just also falls on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45
Leadership 65-1207 P:57 You're either for God or against God, and the outward
expressions shows exactly what's on the inside. See? The cocklebur, many of you
think, "I got the baptism of the
Holy Ghost; I'm going to heaven." That don't mean one thing that
you're going to heaven. No, sir. You can
have the baptism of the Holy Ghost every hour in your life and still be lost
and go to hell. The Bible says so. See? It's exactly right.
John 3:3 Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot “see”
the
From his sermon Key to
the door 62-1007 P: 68 Brother Branham said, 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.
And again from the sermon Identified
masterpiece of God 64-1205 P:67 Brother Branham said, 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.
And again from the sermon Discerning body of Lord 59-0812 P:16 he said, “Jesus said once, "That except a man be born again, he cannot
see the
And from his sermon called Calling of Abraham 55-1116 P:29 Brother Branham said, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except the man be born again he
cannot see the
And the Apostle Paul told us the only way you will
understand the thoughts of God is to have the Spirit of God in you. And that is
the new birth.
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 (therefore if you do not have His
Spirit in you how are you going to have those things revealed to you) for The Spirit
(not a spirit, but THE Spirit, God’s 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
knoweth. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
spirit which is of God; (and if it is of God then it had its
source in God, then it is a part of God’s own spirit or life that he is talking
about. And we have that in order) 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. (In other words it takes the
Spirit of God in you to discern them.) 15 But 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.
And this same Apostle said, “let the mind that was in Christ be in you.”
So it is possible to have the mind of God but as we have seen you can not
have it without having His Spirit or His Life in you. And Jesus said that this
Spirit is the Word of God. He said, the Words which I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. John 6:63
Now, let’s look again at this thought on the new
birth quickening into you the word of God and releasing the very nature of God
by His Spirit into your mortal vessel.
EPHESIANS 2:1 ¶ And you
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;.
Here Paul tells us we were spiritually dead, and had
to be quickened which means to be made alive. And we see in 1 Peter 3:18 that
this quickening is performed by the Spirit of God, and in fact God had to
quicken His own Son back from death unto life. For Christ also hath once suffered for
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit:
Now, this word quicken was translated from the Greek
word zoopoieo which literally means to give life to or to cause to make alive.
So you see it is the Spirit of God coming into you that brings makes you alive
to His Word.
1 Corinthians 15: 45 And
so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was
made a quickening spirit. Therefore it is the Spirit of God that He placed
within His Son that was released back on the church that makes Him a quickening
spirit, for Paul also tells us in Romans 8: 11 But if the
Spirit of Him (now, we must know who this him is here.
And we know there are 18 Scriptures that tell us that God raised Jesus from the
dead, so as Paul says,) if the Spirit of Him (that’s
God the Father) that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the
dead (again that’s God the Father) shall also quicken
your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
From brother Branham’s sermon Mary's belief 61-0121 P:30 "Except a man be born again he
cannot even see the
And again from his
sermon, IT
SHALL BE EVEN AS IT WAS TOLD ME 50-0818 23 brother Branham said, Anyhow, "to see" doesn't mean "to look
at." The word "see" means
"to understand." Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water
and Spirit, he cannot see the
Notice what Jesus tells
us here. They hear but are not capable of understanding. Then what are they
hearing? Not what is being said! But what they want to hear. Notice in the
following quote that Brother Branham tells us the same thing. To hear means to
understand, and to see means to understand, but just because you look with your
eyes does not mean that you understand what you are looking at, and just
because you hear with your ears does not mean that you understand what you are
hearing.
Brother Branham said in QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS COD 59-1223 60 Now, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you,
except a man be born again he cannot see the
And again in Questions and answers COD
64-0823E P:106 317.brother
Branham said, 1040-Q-318
318. What is the evidence that a person is really filled with the Holy
Ghost? John
14:26: He will... "When the Holy Ghost is come (See?), He will show you things
to come." See? He'll be a... He'll perfect
it; man made won't do it; and He is the Word. When He the Holy Ghost is come, He will identify Himself in you with the Scripture. And that is the true sign that the Holy Spirit
is in you, because It is the Word.
HEAR RECOGNIZE ACT ON WORD 60-0221 30
First, faith
cometh by hearing, hearing of the Word of God. Then the believer hears It,
recognizes It, and acts on It. The carnal man will hear It, the sound of It,
but never... "Hear" means
to "understand It". Look
at, is looking at something; but to see it, is to "understand it". "Except
a man be born again, he cannot see or understand the Kingdom of God."
Brother Branham said in his sermon, Christ is
the mystery 63-0728 P:120 Look,
Christ in you makes Him the center of
Life of the revelation. See? Christ's
Life in you makes Him the center of the revelation. Christ in the Bible,
makes the Bible a complete revelation of Christ. Christ in you makes you the complete revelation of the whole thing.
See, what God's trying to do? What is the new birth then? You say, "Well,
Brother Branham, what is the new
birth?" It is the
revelation of Jesus Christ personally to you. Amen. See? Not you joined
a church, you shook a hand; you done something different; you said a creed; you
promised to live by a code of rules; but Christ, the Bible... He is the Word that was revealed to you.
And no matter what anybody says, what takes place, it's Christ. Pastor, priest,
whatever it might be... It's Christ in you. That is the revelation that the
Church was built upon. End of Pastor Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:A
sinner is not filled with the Holy Ghost as a prerequisite to hear the Spirit
of truth. There are many who came from religions and organisations who were not
Spirit-filled and heard the truth by the
Spirit and received it by revelation. End
of Foreign Pastor statement:
Pastor Kocourek
Response: I do not disagree with our Foreign Pastor, but our brother
seems to have a problem being able to read. The quotes that William Branham spoke
in the church age book do not say that the person is filled with the spirit
prior to hearing the Word of God. It says that his “Hearing or understanding” is evidence that he is Spirit
filled, and is also evidence that he understands what is being taught.
I have always believed
what brother Branham taught concerning our faith which begins in the mind first
as a mental faith. And that is the faith that this brother is referring to
which is prior to the baptism of the spirit. But brother Branham also taught us
that when the Spirit of God moves upon that Word that we receive in our mind
first, then He anoints it and once it is anointed, it drops into our soul and
becomes a spiritual revelation to us. And that spiritual revelation is the new
birth, and it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
From his sermon, Blasphemous names
62-1104M P:53 brother Branham said, And the biggest part of
our faith is mental faith. By hearing the Word it brings us to a mental
recognition of God. But if this coming from above, oh, brother, if it ever
strikes this, there is a Godly, spiritual faith. Then what does that faith do? That faith recognizes only the Word. No
matter what anything else says, it only
recognizes the Word, because “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. (And the Word’s still God.)
And the Word was made
flesh and dwelled among us.” And when
the word Itself is pouring into our faith, our mental faith becomes a spiritual
revelation. “And upon this foundation I’ll build My Church,” (See?), not
upon a mental conception of church joining, a mental conception of that, but
upon the revelation. When them streams
of grace has poured into that mental faith that you’ve got, then upon this, a
spiritual revelation, “I’ll build My Church and the gates of hell can’t
prevail against it.” See? That shows they would be against it, but it’ll never
prevail. Oh, what a glorious thing.
Again in the same sermon Blasphemous names
62-1104M P:56 He continues, … Number one, coming to
you, your mental faith, right here, comes
the Holy Spirit, coming down into your mental faith making it a spiritual
faith. Then the spiritual faith only recognizes the Word. Now, and number
two: Then you'll have the Holy Spirit,
and will seal all these things into you, as that Holy Spirit covers this. From
your faith up to the Holy Spirit seals you in with Christ; then you become one. Amen. (Get this thing out of my way. It's hard
on your arms.) You become one. See, you and Christ live together. "At that
day you'll know that I'm in the Father, the Father in Me, I in you, and you in
Me." See? Then that's a sealed unit of the Lord God. Now, and then they
are vindicated and placed. When that time takes place, they become vindicated
sons and daughters of God.
Earnestly contending for
the faith 53-0614A P:82 Why brother, it's by
faith you're saved. Is that right? But listen. In accepting of your faith, God confirms your faith by the baptism of
the Holy Ghost. If you say you believe, and you don't get the baptism of
the Holy Ghost, then you do not, it, your faith isn't accepted in the sight of
God. You've got a mental faith and in
the stead of a heart faith. That's right. When you truly believe God, God's under obligation to pour the Holy
Ghost on you. And then if He does pour the Holy Ghost on you... You say,
"Well, I've got the Holy Ghost too." Well, if you do, you're bound to
believe in the supernatural signs and wonders, because you're added to it.
That's the faith.
Witnesses 54-0303 P:21 You believe God and say you believe God, and haven't
received the Holy Spirit, there's
something wrong with your faith. 'Cause God's under obligation to give every believer that repents and is
baptized, is under obligation to give you the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
And He's more willing to give it to you, than you are to receive it. That's
right. So there's something wrong somewhere. You just got a mental faith and instead of a heart faith. For God's
under obligation to keep His Word. He said, "Repent, every one of you, and
be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and your
children, to them that's far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call." That's true. And God's got to keep that promise. Yes, sir. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
Quote Ephesians 1:13
<In whom ye
also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…>
John 5:24
<Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, hath (past tense) everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.>
The
apostles and disciples of Jesus heard, recognized
and accepted the message and Messenger of their age and passed from death unto
life, and they later went up to Pentecost. The prophet confirmed the same as
follows: End of Foreign Pastor
statement:
Brother Kocourek
Response: Again I have no problem with these statements as I do not
see any conflict between what brother Branham said in the Church Age Book with
what Paul says in Ephesians.
Now,
these next quotes of brother Branham that our brother gives do seem to conflict
with the others I will also give. I say they seem to conflict but the Word of
God does not fight Word. So we will have to look at all of them from the same
source to find our solution. End
Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
Quote W.M.B.: 37 ...you have the new birth by believing
on the Lord Jesus Christ. See? By having faith and accepting Him as your
Saviour, that's birth ...because you've passed from death unto Life. Now, if
you want to back that up, take
Quote W.M.B.: 269-Q-60 ...
"He that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath (past tense) Eternal Life, has Everlasting Life"; that's the new birth. You're converted; it means
you're turned around. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit puts you into the body of Christ, subject to the gifts
for service. …Now, watch. Eternal
Life... Jesus said, "He that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that
sent Me, hath Eternal Life, and shall not come into the judgment, but's passed
from death unto Life." You're a new creature right then.(Q&A Hebrews
Part 2 COD 57-1002).
ETERNAL
LIFE THEN BAPTISM
Quote W.M.B.: 111 You say, "What about the
Holy Ghost, Brother Branham?" The Holy Ghost baptizes you into the Body,
for service, but you believe unto Eternal Life. "He that heareth My Words
and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Eternal Life." Then you're baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body for manifestations of the gifts, and so forth, but
you believe to Eternal Life. (You Must Be Born Again 61-123).
John
10:27 < My sheep
hear (understand) my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me.>
The apostles and disciples heard
the voice of the Lord/the Word, message and messenger of the age and followed
Him and they later went up to Pentecost.
Matthew 16:13-17
<…he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? …And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the
living God. And Jesus answered and said
unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.>
Peter the
apostle heard and recognized the son of man, Christ the
Messenger of the age and yet did not have the Pentecostal article until a later
date.
B -- I CORINTHIANS 2: 6-16 MISINTERPRETED
Wm. Branham used 1
Corinthians 2:6-16: “We
have received the spirit of God…that we may know the things of God…which the
Holy Ghost teacheth…The natural man cannot receive the things of the
spirit…because they are spiritually discerned”.
Wm Branham
assumed that the above phrases of scripture is speaking of the
Pentecostal experience.
The emphasis of apostle Paul is not the Pentecostal experience,
“the indwelling spirit”, but he is emphasizing a work of grace that takes place
before the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Wm.
Branham’s error is his emphasis on the baptism of the Holy
Ghost and not the work of Grace by the Spirit. This assumption is contrary to the Word of God
and the message of the hour. It is unscriptural and erroneous. It is misleading
and detrimental to message believers and has brought about much confusion and
heresies amongst them.
1 Corinthians 2: 6-16 is
not speaking of being Spirit-filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost like the
church received, on the day of Pentecost before they discerned spiritual
things. It refers to a work of Grace by
the Holy Spirit through God’s election and predestination of the believer.
“No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him
up at the last day”. (John
6:44) “All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. (John 6:37). End
of Foreign Pastor statement:
End Brother Kocourek
Response: Now, that we have read the quotes our brother uses for his evidence that
Brother Branham was wrong in the Church Age Book, let’s look at what else Wm.
Branham taught concerning the baptism and the new birth. Because I have found
while teaching nearly 2,000 Message Pastors and Ministers around the world that
many will wrestle with the quotes of William Branham to their own destruction
just as they did with the apostle Paul’s Word as Peter himself tells us in 2 Peter 3:14 2.
Peter
3:14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look
for such things, be diligent that ye may
be found of him in peace, without
spot, and blameless. 15 And
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As
also in all his epistles, speaking in them of
these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they
that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
So you see
it is not common that men with wrestle with the Scriptures, but the admonition
by Peter is that we be found in peace. O, what a blessed thing Peace is. And
that is what the devil will try to beat out of you every time. But fear not little
children, it is the Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
So Peace, Shalom. When men shall revile you and say all manner of evil against
you for my sake, blessed are you Jesus said, and great is your reward in
heaven.
Now, let’s
look at some other things brother Branham said about the true new birth and the
baptism of the Holy Spirit to place a balance with our brothers other quotes
that we have thus far shared.
From his
sermon Token the 63-1128E P:74 brother Branham said, …When God has give you
the
true baptism of the Holy Spirit, then the Life
of Jesus Christ is within you. Now, that's true; every theologian will have to
admit that to be the truth; it's the new birth. You're borned anew, of
the Holy Ghost…
Br Branham clearly states here when
God gives you the True
baptism of the Holy Spirit, then (When? at the time
of the true Baptism of the Holy Spirit) the very Life of Jesus Christ is within you, and
he calls it “the
new birth”. These are the same words that he uses in the Church
Age Book, so these are not inconsistent with his own teaching. So let’s say all that the prphet says, my
brother. Let’s not pick and choose what best fits your own theology.
Again Br. Branham says in his
sermon, Hear recognize act on word 60-0221 P:61 …Now, anyone knows that the Seal of God is the
birthright, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 4:30, says, "Grieve not the
Holy Spirit of God, whereby you're sealed till the day of your redemption." When they were born again, they were filled with the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the new birth,
we know that. You're begotten of the
Spirit; I'll admit that. But until you're born...
Again
these words are not inconsistent with what Brother Branham taught us His Church
Age Book. He says, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the New Birth. The Holy Spirit is the new birth.
Now if we
call it a new birth it is because a new life has been quickened into us. So
what life do you think comes into you and is quickened or made alive in you if
it isn’t the Holy Spirit or God-Life itself. What is the New Birth if it is not
the Baptism of the Spirit of God in the believer?
Again from
his sermon Spiritual inspiration 56-0128 P:75 brother Branham says,…If you don't understand
what I mean by being born again, I mean someone without the baptism of the Holy
Ghost.(he’s talking now to someone without the
Baptism of the Holy Ghost because of course those who have it know what it is,
so he is telling those who don’t have it what it is…) That's the new birth. Would you raise your hand
and say, "I now believe; I want to receive the Holy Ghost…
So you see brother Branham says here that the New Birth is receiving
the Holy Ghost. This again is very consistent with his teaching in His Church
Age Book.
Finally
we hear brother Branham say in his sermon, Token the 63-1128E P:74 …When God has give you
the
true baptism of the Holy Spirit, then the Life
of Jesus Christ is within you. Now, that's true; every theologian will have to
admit that to be the truth; it's the new birth. You're
borned anew, of the Holy Ghost…
Now, with this behind
us let’s move on with more discourse. End
Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
SAINTS SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED WITHOUT THE PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE
Many saints of both the O.T. and N.T. spiritually discerned, heard the truth and
recognized the messenger and his message, identified and confessed Christ of the
age without the experience of Pentecost. Examples: Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, John the Baptist,
Andrew, Phillip, woman of Samaria, Peter, the apostles and Paul: They all did
not yet receive the Pentecostal blessing, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given
out. (John 7:38-39). All happened by
a work of grace through the Spirit. End
of Foreign Pastor statement:
Brother Kocourek
Response: Before we address the examples that our brother uses
below, I would first like to say that I think our brother is confusing being
filled with the spirit with what took place on the day of Pentecost where the
people were anointed for service by the infilling of the spirit.
To
say that there was no baptism of the Spirit until the day of Pentecost is to
deny that Jesus Himself had received the baptism of the Spirit himself. Now, I
know that the Spirit that came into Jesus had not yet been given out as it says
in St. John 7:39, but what spirit then was it that filled John the Baptist in
His mothers womb.
What Spirit was Jesus Christ
baptized with himself as we see in several places of Scripture.
In the Message, ELISHA THE PROPHET 56-1002.2E 21, brother Branham said,
"And Jesus, the baptism He had was
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which was in Him, that come on Him at the river
So
we see that while Jesus was on earth after his baptism there was not a release
of that spirit that was bottled up in him until after it left him at
Foreign
Pastor statement:Matthew
16:13-16—“Thou art the Christ the son of the Living God”. End of Notice it
was revelation that came to him. Thou art the Christ, The SON of the Living God. That is not baptism of the spirit but
God giving a gift of revelation to Peter.
Luke 1:41
Brother
Kocourek Response: Notice here
that our brother did not write out this verse, so I shall and what is revealing
is that Elisabeth was “FILLED with what? With the Holy Ghost. Now, I know how
that is possible, but I woud like for my brother to explain that with his
theology. 41 And it came to pass, that, when
Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and
Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Again
let’s look at his example and again we shall read what he feared to write lest
it might not fit with his theology. End
Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
Luke 2:25-32—Simeon – “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation”. End of Foreign Pastor
statement:
Brother
Kocourek Response: Now, that
is not all that happened here my brother. 25 And, behold, there was a man in
Now,
I ask you brother, what do you see here with this brother Simeon which was any
different than what was shown in Scripture of those who had received the Holy
Ghost on the day of Pentecost. Don’t you see, that all of God’s kids, old
testament and new testament are going to have God-Life in them if they are in
fact God’s Kids. God Life is God Life whether before or after the day of
Pentecost.
And
again let’s read all that the scripture says about Anna as well. Notice our
brother Foreign Pastor’s words he describes what took place in End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
Luke 2:36-38 – Anna Prophesied of Christ. – “She gave
thanks unto the Lord”. End of Foreign Pastor statement:
Brother Kocourek
Response: But is that all it says here my brother? No sire,
Well,
let’s see what Brother Branham has to say about this woman Anna.
Expectations 50-0405 P:52
Oh, brother, sister, the very God that led
Simeon is here tonight. That's right. He can lead those same... Hours after
hours could I testify. But look. At that same time, there was an old blind
prophetess by the name of Anna. Look at her. When Simeon picked up the baby
Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, right to Him... Don't you believed It's the same Holy Spirit tonight? And look,
winding through the crowd came an old blind woman, Anna, making her way through
the crowd. No one told her. But she came right straight to where He was, lifted
up her hands and blessed God. The Holy
Spirit was guiding her through the people.
Birth pains 65-0124 P:52 And so then here's Simeon setting there taking this
persecution. He was the remnant. He heard John. And the little remnant of that
day... And here he was setting there listening to this scroll and knowing--I
mean knowing that John was coming 'cause he was part of the remnant; the Word
was revealed to him. And all at once, when that Baby come into the temple, then
it was duty of the Holy Ghost to reveal that It was there. So he moved by the Spirit, come out of the
little study room, right down through the hall, hit that line of women, coming
right down along that line of women until he got down to where this little Baby
was, they was all staying away from, picked up the baby in his arms, said,
"Lord, let Your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen Your
Salvation." And that time, another one of the little elected in that day was Anna, a prophetess. She was
setting over there, blind, in a corner, raised up blind. Here she come, led by the Spirit, among all the women and the
people crowding in and out of the temple, till she come right straight to where
the Christ Child was. If the Holy Ghost
could lead a blind woman to Him, what about a Pentecostal group that's supposed
to have your eyesight. I won't go any farther; you know from there on.
Birth pains 65-0124 P:48 And Anna in the temple, blind, a prophetess that
served the Lord by prayers, and then one day when she was in the Spirit... And Simeon had prophesied and said (an old
man), he said, "The Holy Ghost told
me that I will not see death until I see the Lord's Christ." "Well
now, some of the priests, you know, said, "Poor old fellow, he's just a
little off, you know. Why, he's got one foot in the grave now, and the other
one's slipping. Why, just let him alone. He's been an honorable old man, but
he's kinda..." But you see, what did he have? It was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost. That's the same thing that is revealed to you people this afternoon.
The Holy Ghost brought you here for some reason. To some... The Holy Spirit...
Reproach for the word
62-1223 P:75 There's old blind Anna
setting in the temple praying. The Lord
revealed to her "Simeon is right." Amen! She couldn't see
daylight from dark, but she could see farther than many people today that has
got good eyes. She saw in the Spirit
the coming Messiah was at hand, the
Spirit moving in her heart. See what a little bitty church there was?
Zacharias, Elisabeth, Mary, John, Anna and Simeon, six out of the millions.
Like in the days of Noah; six of them. God dealt with everyone of them. They
was all in harmony. They all got together. Amen.
Led by the spirit 59-0407
P:20 Her name was Anna. She
was a prophetess. She didn't leave the temple; she stayed there day and night,
fasting, praising God, waiting for the coming of the Messiah. And the Holy
Spirit must have said, "Stand on your feet, Anna." She didn't have
any eyes; she was blind. Here she come, weaving her way through the people, led by the Holy Spirit. What was... What Holy Spirit was that? The same One
that led you here tonight, still
moving over the sons and daughters of God. Led by the Spirit as she moved along. She come close to the baby
and raised up her hands and blessed God. If the Holy Ghost could take an old
blind woman in the corner and lead her to the Christ, how much more should He
lead us tonight? Led, moved, God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to
perform.
Simeon and Anna 59-0211
P:23 And Simeon stopped. The Holy Spirit must've said,
"Stop, Simeon. I'm going to show you a sign." And he turns his head.
He runs, grabs the Baby, holds It in his arms, said, "Lord, now let Your
servant depart in peace, according to Your Word, for my eyes see Your
Salvation." …
Then way over in a corner
was an old blind prophetess. Her name
was Anna. She couldn't see, eighty-four years old. She fasted and prayed
all the time. She too was Spirit filled.
Just then the Holy Ghost said, "Stand up, Anna." Here she comes,
blind, walking through the audience, led
by the Spirit, led by the Spirit. Didn't
matter where she was going, couldn't see where she was going. But she was led by the Spirit. And the same
Holy Ghost that's leading us tonight. Don't make any difference where
you're going, as long as you're led by the Spirit. Here she comes. She comes to
the--Mary. She sees His face. She raised up her hands. The Holy Ghost come on her and she begin to prophesy. That same God is here tonight. Led by the
Spirit, sons and daughters of God, do you want Him to lead you to that same
One tonight?
Deep calleth to deep
54-0624 P:11 Then I think way over in
the corner was an old woman. We're taught that she was blind; her name was
Anna. She was a prophetess, waiting for the coming of the Lord. God's under
obligation to show her the Christ. And the
Holy Spirit moved upon Ann. And I can see that old blind prophetess that
morning coming along through that building, blind, led by the Holy Spirit,
moving along the--all along those people. Come down along that line of women
and stop right in front of the fountain, for she was led by the Holy Spirit.
So
you see William Branham himself said she was filled with the same Spirit and he
said it is the same Spirit that is here tonight.
Next our brother takes
us to John the Baptist, in Foreign Pastor
statement: John 1:29-34
– John Baptist – “Behold the lamb of God”
End of Foreign Pastor statement: And again that is not
all that we see here. John bore record that this one that came down and
indwelled Jesus, is the same one that said to him that Jesus was the SON of
God, and this same John if you remember was filled with the Holy Ghost even
before being birthed. Luke 1: 15 For he shall be
great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;
and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
And
on and on and on again we could go so let’s move ahead. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
John 1:40:42 – Andrew & Simon Peter. – “We have found
the Messiah-Christ”
John
1:43:51 – Phillip & Nathaniel – “Thou art the son of God, thou art
the king of
John
4:19-25 – Woman of
John
6:67-69 – “We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the son of
the living God.”
Acts 9:3-5
-- “Who art thou Lord” Acts
9:17-18 – “Be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
C -- THE NEW
BIRTH AND THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST ARE ONE AND THE SAME
Wm.Branham’s Teaching in the Church Ages Versus Wm. Branham’s teaching on tape. End of
Foreign Pastor statement:
Wm. Branham; Church
Ages Book: 144-2
Now before we leave this subject I want to make myself very clear on what the
Baptism with the Holy Ghost is according to the Word. It is not according to
me, and it is not according to you. It has to be according to "Thus saith the Lord," or we are
falsely led. Amen. ... I want to tell you exactly what I mean. I mean for the sinner
to come forward and be born again, which is to be baptized into the body of
Christ by the Holy Ghost which is exactly what took place at Pentecost when the
church was launched. In other words, to
be born of the Spirit is to be truly baptized with the Holy Ghost. It is
one and the same. (
Foreign
Pastor statement:Answer:
Wm. Branham was very clear in expressing that the new birth
and the baptism of the Holy Ghost are one and the same and it’s exactly what
they received on the day of Pentecost. It was spoken as “Thus saith the Lord” in imitation of the prophet Brother Branham.
It is dangerous enough to preach contrary to the Word and the
message, but when a man speaks in the name of the Lord: “Thus saith the Lord”, and
places the prophet’s name under it, it
is spiritual death to sincere people and himself. End of Foreign Pastor statement:
End Brother Kocourek
Response: And I would like to add for my brother’s sake, to reject
“thus saith the Lord” is to reject what God has said. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
In this case people are so deceived by this error that they will
lay down their lives for what they assume that the prophet taught, not knowing
that it was “Thus saith Wm. Branham.”
Nowhere on tape did the prophet use that statement of “Thus saith
the Lord” in reference to that error that the new birth and the baptism of the
Holy Ghost are the same. He denied and condemned that doctrine as wrong.
He could not speak in the name of the Lord and then deny his
teaching. It will make him a confused prophet. Wm. Branham’s erroneous teaching on this subject is in total
disregard, direct opposition and conflict to that of the prophet, Wm. Branham. It contradicts the Word from Genesis
to Revelation.
This is erroneous, unscriptural, off the message and diabolically
deceptive. It serves to keep people lukewarm in
Most of the message world rest their faith upon this error of wm.
Branham in the Church Age Book, insomuch that if wm. Branham would acknowledge
this error by saying, “I was mistaken”, he would bring deliverance to
multitudes of souls. If he is convicted enough to acknowledge that he is wrong
and the prophet is right, he would win more souls than he did in his life time.
Would you and Wm. Branham deny examples as follows?
JESUS AND THE APOSTLES-BORN AGAIN-THEN
HOLY GHOST BAPTISM
Jesus was
first born of the Word of God, and thirty years later received
the baptism of the holy Ghost at the Banks of Jordan.
John 1:13
<…Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God.>
The
apostles were born again (
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE NEW BIRTH End of Foreign Pastor statement:
Brother Kocourek Response: and then he
uses the following quote to clinch his nail. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Brother
Kocourek Response: Countdown 62-0909M P:24 The new birth, you have the new birth by
being--believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. See? By having faith and accepting
Him as your Saviour, that's birth (See?), because you've passed from death unto
Life. Now, if you want to back that up, take
Now, apparently our brother
does not understand the difference between the new birth which is the infilling
of the spirit and the Baptism of the spirit which is for service and for power
to anoint one to their calling.
Jesus when he was born, the
Spirit he had was God-Life or holy Spirit Life, and yet he had to be baptized
with the Holy ghost to receive power for service.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of
In the Message, ELISHA THE PROPHET 56-1002.2E 21, brother Branham
said, "And Jesus, the baptism He
had was the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which was in Him, that come on Him
at the river
Revelation chapter 4 pt 3
throne mercy 61-0108 P:162 They were gathered in
that upper room, All praying in His Name, Baptized with the Holy Ghost, And
power for service came; What He did for them that day He'll do for you the
same, I'm so glad that I can say I'm one of them.
Now, look, we have already established that Jesus said
he that believeth on me hath which is (past tense) Eternal life. So they were already quickened by the
Word, but just awaited that baptism of power that brother Branham spoke about.
But the real
problem I see here is that Pastor just does not understand what Eternal life
is. I wish he did, but this whole discourse he has been fighting the prophets
words unknowingly with the prophets words knowingly.
Brother
Branham said in Things that are to be 65-1205 P:23 Now, the only way that you can be a son or daughter of
God... Because you have to be the--have to have Eternal Life... And there's only one form of Eternal Life, and
that's God's Life. Only one form of Eternal Life, that was God. There to be a son of God, you had to be in
Him always. The gene of your life,
spiritual life tonight, was in God the Father before there was even a molecule.
See? And you are nothing but the
manifestation of the gene of Life that was in God as a son of God. Now, you're expressed, after His Word has come
in you to light up this age. You are the, expressing God's Life in you,
because you are a son or a daughter of God. Therefore... You get what I mean?
See? You are now made... You're setting in this church tonight, because your
duty is to express God to this nation, and this people, and this neighborhood
where you associate. Wherever you are, God knew that you would be here, because
you have to be one of His genes or His attributes. You had to be. If
you've got Eternal Life, then it always was Eternal Life. And God
before there was a foundation of the world knew that you would be here. And
when the Word--or the water, the washing of the water of the Word fell upon
you, it was expressed in a being.
Now, you have fellowship with your
Father, God, just as you have with you earthly father. See? You are
citizens of the King, not citizens, but you
are children, sons and daughters of the living God if it be that the
Eternal Life dwells in you.
Christ is identified the
same 64-0415 P:29 Now, therefore, if we have Eternal Life, we have
part of God in us. And God in us... If He isn't, then... That's the only
way you could have Eternal Life. It
isn't something that was manufactured and then given to you by some creed, or
you lived into it, you grew into a better man or a better woman. It's God Himself in you. Just like
you're a part of your father here on earth, you're part of your heavenly
Father. And what you are, you're the
attribute of His thoughts of you before the foundation of the world. You're
expressed. He had to breed it in and everything
to get what you are, to make you what you are. . End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:Peter
the apostle was born again by a confession of the son of man,
Jesus Christ, given the Keys to the
End Brother Kocourek
Response: I John 5:1 <Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that
is begotten of him.>
I
hate to have to differ with my precious brother again but his example that he
is using here of Peter doing something to be born again, isn’t Scriptural. Pastor
you are saying here that there was something Peter did to be born again? And
for your information Peter was not born again by his confession. He was not
born again until he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told him at
the last supper, “Peter, when you are converted strengthen
thy brethren.” Luke 22: 32 That means his conversion was yet to
take place.
Why it had to be
shepherds 64-1221 P:115 ""You've got to be born again." And
when you're born again, it just isn't because you believe. They say,
"You're borned when you believe." But the Bible said, "The Devil
believes also." Now, notice, it's not that; it's an experience. You say,
"Well, I've lived a good life." So did the apostles, but they wasn't borned again until they
received the Holy Spirit. They
wasn't even converted until they had received the Holy Spirit. You remember
the night before the betrayal--or on the betrayal, just before the betrayal
took place? Jesus said to Simon Peter, "When thou art converted, then
strengthen thy brethren." And Peter had followed Him for three years and a
half, and had cast out devils, and healed the sick, had preached the Gospel,
and still (according to the Word) was not even converted.
Questions and answers COD
64-0830E P:60 403. If the natural birth
requires water, blood, and spirit, does not the spiritual birth require all
three stages of grace before the person is truly
born again? Absolutely, I just explained that this morning--the same, on
the same thing. You've got to have all stages. You're begotten of the Spirit,
just like a baby's begotten into the womb of a mother, but not born until they receive the Holy Ghost. T
God's wrapped gift
60-1225 P:54 He's still a sinner until he's converted. And when he's converted, he's borned again of
the Spirit of God and changed over; and he's accepted Christ, and the Holy
Ghost has come in and made him a new creature, a new creation.
Now,
Foreign Pastor You said, Peter the apostle was born again by a confession. But my Bible says That Jesus said
to Peter, when
you are converted strengthen your brethren…
Brother Branham said in Hear His voice 58-1005M P:102 Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
It's a birth, not a confession....
Thirsting for life
57-0630 P:6 You might have a confession, your name on the book, and living a righteous life,
and you're still a sinner. You got to be
borned again, not with a mental mind, but by something that's happened in your heart. See? It's got to be,
friends. Don't never let the devil blindfold you to that. It doesn't come by
intellectual conception; it comes by
birth. And your life copes right with that. You must have it.
JOHN 1:12 But as many as received him, (The Greek word for received here is
Lambano and it means to have experienced, or to have taken to one’s self. And
it is these that truly experienced Him, they are the one’s He says,) to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: So these are believers,
predestined from the beginning to believe and receive Him. And He is the Word.
They Believe His word, and they believe in His Name. And to them He gives power
to become sons… Now the word power used here, is not the Greek word dunamis,
which speaks of great miraculous power, but rather the Greek word “exousia”,
which means the power of choice, or the power to make a right decision.
And the word to become was translated from the Greek
word Ginomai and it means to generate, or to come forth into manifestation.
Therefore, to them that experience Him and openly receive Him, to them are
given an ability to make a right decision and to become what they were meant to
be in the beginning. Paul said in, Galatians 4: 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
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 him the ability to know and to understand. And this ability
to make a right decision concerning the doctrine of Christ is not for everyone.
For Jesus told Nicodemus, these ones… 13 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
Foreign
Pastor statement:
The prophet of God confirmed the same by many
outstanding statements which are in opposition to the teachings of Wm Branham
in the Church Age Book. His teachings were based on the scriptures above but Wm.
Branham’s error was strictly based upon Pentecostalism and Baptist doctrine. No
wonder why he had to force-fit such erroneous doctrine into the message.
The prophet emphatically stated that he did not believe nor teach
that doctrine, that it is wrong and that he can prove that the new birth and
baptism of the holy Ghost are two, separate, different experiences. I believe
him. Dr. Vayle teaching is contrary to the truth as preached by Brother Branham
can be clearly seen from the following quotations.
YOU’RE BORN OF THE SPIRIT AND THEN
BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Quote W.M.B.:
35 ...I teach
and believe, and believe can sufficiently prove by the Scripture, that you're
borned of the Spirit and then baptized into the Body by the Holy Spirit. (You
Must Be Born Again 61-123).
I DON’T BELIEVE THAT BEING BORN
AGAIN IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
Quote W.M.B.:
117 ... I
don't believe in being born again is the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is not
the baptism of the Holy Ghost; it's being reborn again. We're reborn by the
Blood. Blood cell comes from the...life cell comes from the Blood. You're baptized by the Holy Ghost into the body,
but you're born by the Blood.
(Influence Of Another 62-1013). End of Foreign Pastor statement:
Brother Kocourek
Response: By the Life in the blood which life is Spirit. Now, I will admit here that I was
having trouble with what brother Branham is saying here, because it seemed a
bit confusing, because when you look at the entire quote he is speaking against
what the Jesus only believe, and they believe in being baptized unto
regeneration, and then brother Branham talks about the blood cell but then He
carries it over to the life that is in the blood, and life has got to be Spirit
which is Life. So I believe what he is saying here is the baptism for power is
not the new birth and I think we all agree on that. But I found another quote
from after the seals were preached that reads a lot clearer than this one.
Sign of this time 63-1113
P:54 Notice like this. When a
baby is born, there is three things that constitutes its birth. The first thing
in normal birth... You adults listen close now; the young children will never
catch it. But, let's see, the first thing in a normal birth is water, then blood, then life. See? Now,
that's the same thing that constitutes
the new birth; water, Blood, Spirit. The elements that came from His body
is what makes His Body. See? It come from His body, is the material that takes to
make His Bride. Because Adam had his bride taken from his body. Christ has His
Bride taken from the body. And when Christ died, there was three elements that
came from His body: water, Blood, Spirit;
justification through believing, water; sanctification through the Blood; the
baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now, this last great step must come into the
perfection, that the Holy Spirit has to live in that Church so perfectly, it'll
make the Head and the Body unite together. See, see? That's the Body. He is the
Head in the Body. Now, we find that He promised in these last days, that that
would be done. We find it.
Now, that ought to settle it
right there. Not birth by blood only but by water blood and spirit. I can spill
my blood and that isn’t a birth. But neither can I have birth without blood.
But if I have not spirit then what life have I got? None at all. Just blood and
water. Seems to me when water turned into blood in the plagues of
Foreign Pastor statement: THE NEW BIRTH IS NOT THE BAPTISM
OF THE HOLY GHOST
Quote W.M.B.: 114 ... And born again does not necessarily mean now that you got the Holy Ghost.
Now, many teach that. "I don't know anybody that teaches it like
this," ... But new birth is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The
Scripture doesn't support it, I don't think (See?), to my way of seeing it.
(Key To The Door 62-1007).
End of Foreign Pastor statement:
And
of course this is a very true statement, because you can be born again of a
corruptible seed, and that means by man’s doctrine and not the Doctrine of
Christ as Peter states in 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Foreign
Pastor statement:Quote:
129 Remember, I believe that Martin Luther had
the Holy Spirit. Absolutely. Maybe not in the portion It is today, 'cause It
wasn't given out... I never thought there was a person believed that like me
till this morning, I heard Charles Fuller as I was going down. He believes too,
that the new birth is not the baptism
of the Holy Ghost. The new birth is being born. The Holy Ghost is the baptism.
See? Uh-huh. All right. (Why Against Organized Religion 62-1111E). End of Foreign Pastor statement:
Brother Kocourek
Response: From his sermon Token the 63-1128E P:74 brother Branham said, …When God has give you
the
true baptism of the Holy Spirit, then the Life
of Jesus Christ is within you. Now, that's true; every theologian will have to
admit that to be the truth; it's the new birth. You're borned anew, of
the Holy Ghost…
Br Branham clearly states here when
God gives you the True
baptism of the Holy Spirit, then (When? at the time
of the true Baptism of the Holy Spirit) the very Life of Jesus Christ is within you, and
he calls it “the
new birth”. These are the same words that he uses in the Church
Age Book, so these are not inconsistent with his own teaching. So let’s say all that the prophet says, my
brother. Let’s not pick and choose what best fits your own theology.
Again Br. Branham says in his
sermon, Hear recognize act on word 60-0221 P:61 …Now, anyone knows that the Seal of God is the birthright,
the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 4:30, says,
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby
you're sealed till the day of your redemption." When they were
born again, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the new birth, we know that. You're begotten of the Spirit; I'll admit that. But until
you're born...
Now,
I don’t believe we have a prophet of God that is so confused that he is arguing
with himself. So let me read the rest of his discourse and then we will settle
this with a few more quotes from brother Branham. So let me read the rest of
this brothers statements, and put this one to rest. End Brother Kocourek Response:
End of Foreign Pastor statement: THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST IS
A DIFFERENT ACT FROM THE NEW BIRTH
Quote
W.M.B.: 269-Q-60 ...At the time we receive the new birth,
this takes place... Is this the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or is there a later
baptism, or is it a filling? Now, there is quite a question... No, when you
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you then have the new birth. When you believe
on the Lord, you receive a new thought, a new life, but it isn't the baptism of the Holy Ghost. See? You've got the new
birth when you believe; you've got Eternal Life. It's a gift of God that's give
to you through sovereign grace by accepting the gift that God is giving to you.
See? "He that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath
Eternal Life, has Everlasting Life"; that's the new birth. You're converted; it means you're turned around.
But the
baptism of the Holy Spirit puts you into the body of Christ, subject to the
gifts for service. It doesn't make you any more of a Christian; it just puts you into the body of gifts.
See? "Now, by one Spirit (I Corinthians 12) we're all baptized into one body. Now," says Paul, "there are different gifts, and in
this body is nine spiritual gifts." And in this body... You have to be baptized into the body
to possess one of these gifts. They
come with the body.
But
now, as far as having Eternal Life and being a Christian, you are a Christian
the moment you believe. Now, that's not make-believe; that's truly believe on
the Lord Jesus and accept Him as your personal Saviour, you're born again right
there, and have Eternal Life. God comes into you.
…See?
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is a
different act from the new birth. One
is a birth; one is a baptism. One brings you Eternal Life; the other one
gives you power. It gives power into Eternal Life (See?) to operate. Now, you
got it? Okay, all right. (Q&A Hebrews Part 2 COD 57-1002).
ETERNAL LIFE, THEN BAPTISM
Quote W.M.B.:
111 You say,
"What about the Holy Ghost, Brother Branham?" The Holy Ghost baptizes
you into the Body, for service, but you believe unto Eternal Life. "He
that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Eternal
Life." Then you're baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body for
manifestations of the gifts, and so forth, but you believe to Eternal Life.
(You Must Be Born Again 61-123).
PYRAMID TEACHING- BORN AGAIN
SEPARATED FROM BAPTISM
The prophet’s teaching on the pyramid should dissolve every doubt
on the subject of the new birth in relation to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. A
picture is worth a thousand words. He taught his revelation and depicted it in
the form of the pyramid, placing the born
again faith at the bottom of the pyramid, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost
at the top of the pyramid. The virtues
divide’s both experiences. If a man is ignorant after knowing the truth of
that message, then he is willingly ignorant.
BORN AGAIN BY FAITH
Quote:
18-2 Notice: you must be borned again. And when
you're born again, you can't be born
again without having faith... Faith is the foundation of all of it.
(Stature Of A Perfect Man 62-1014M)
Quote:
22-1 First you must be borned
again. And then when you're borned again, you have faith; you believe the
Word... borned again, it produces faith... Then after you get faith, this right
here: f-a-i-t-h faith, then you're just in position of growing. (Stature Of A
Perfect Man 62-1014M)
THEN THE
HOLY GHOST COMES UPON YOU IN THE TRUE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
Quote: 48-1 Then Peter here says first
(seven things) faith, virtue (See, coming up), knowledge, temperance, patience,
godliness, brotherly love, and brotherly kindness and then the love of God, the
Holy Ghost. Christ in the Person of the Holy Ghost comes upon you in the true
baptism of the Holy Ghost, and you got all these virtues sealed in you, then
God lives in a tabernacle called the building, the living Tabernacle of the
living God's dwelling place. (Stature Of A Perfect Man 62-1014M).
Quote: 48-2 When a man possesses these kind of things,
then the Holy Ghost comes upon him. (Stature Of A Perfect Man 62-1014M)
MUST BE
BORN AGAIN THEN FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST
Quote:
E-71 You must be borned again, and when you're
borned again, then you must be filled
with the Holy Ghost. (Door In A Door 63-0223).
BORN AGAIN; THEN A CANDIDATE TO BE
BAPTIZED WITH HOLY GHOST
Quote:
E-70 You come because you have
been warned of God; you've accepted it. And you when you come here, and bow
your heads, and surrender to God, and repent of your sins, you are born again. You're a candidate then to
be baptized into the Church by the Holy Ghost, into the Body of Christ. There's
only one baptism; that's Holy Ghost baptism. "By one Spirit we are all
baptized into one body."
You become a
believer, are born again when you believe. "He heareth My words, believeth
on Him that sent Me, hath Everlasting Life," right now. But God baptizes
you into the Body and puts you into the service by the Holy Ghost. This is what
you do for God; that's what God does for you. There's the difference. You
repent and accept what God has done; then God gives you the next, which is the baptism of the Holy
Ghost. These people are born again. They
believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as personal Saviour... Now,
they want the baptism of the Holy Ghost to be co-workers with us together, out
here in this great field. (Then Jesus Came 57-0302).
Quote:
E-38 Now, Father receive them into Thy Kingdom,
believing that each one raised their hand is now borned again. And I pray God for them that You will give them the baptism of the Holy
Spirit, and on this new heart and new
spirit that they have just received, place that teeny little Holy Spirit in
there to setting that body in order. Give to them the great gift and let them
see the signs of the time. Grant it, Lord. (What Think Ye Of Christ 57-0303E).
Brother Kocourek
Response: Now, that we have read his quotes, let’s read a few more
from Brother Branham Position in Christ
60-0522M P:40 And then God gave His children new birth by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
They came right near It when they cleansed theirself up through Nazarene,
Pilgrim Holiness. Then come into the
experience of Pentecost, of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the restoration of
the gifts. They went forth speaking with tongues and interpret tongues, and
given gifts of healings and miracles; and signs and wonders begin to accompany
them. Now, they're children; they're
God's children. They're positionally in Christ; they become children by
birth. And the new birth and the
conversion Itself is the Holy Ghost. You're
not even converted till you get the Holy Ghost. That's what the Scripture
said. Jesus told Peter. Ask anyone; read your Scripture. He was justified by
believing on the Lord Jesus, become a follower, an apostle. Jesus gave him the
keys to the Kingdom. And John 17:17, He sanctified and give them power, sent
them out, cast out devils and things, sanctified them. "Sanctify them,
Father, through Thy Truth. Thy Word is the Truth. I sanctify Myself because of
them."
Now, is this a confused prophet speaking about two
different baptisms of the Holy Ghost or is he speaking on one hand the true
baptism which is the New birth and then a baptism for power and service? You
see being baptized in the Holy Ghost is not a one time experience. If it was
then why would this prophet of god say you could be baptized with the Holy
Ghost every hour of your life and still go to hell. When Jesus said the rain
that falls on the just falls also on the unjust, he is not speaking of a one
time rainfall that falls on both. Rain occurs quite regularly. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
Pastor Kocourek, I trust that in your response you would be
guided by your published policy and stay with the Word and message of the
prophet as you promised.
I will appreciate that you answer me in a scriptural manner and
an orderly fashion. Wm. Branham’s writings and presentation are very unique. I
expect that you would imitate this pattern, since you are deputed to act on his
behalf: answering questions, visiting all the continents of the world and
addressing large groups of ministers. May I admonish you as a brother and
fellow minister to carefully and prayerfully consider these objections and
respond only according to your established policy, the Word and the message.
You would be honoured by your multitude of ministers if you chose to let them
read this seven church age discourse in the future. End of Foreign Pastor statement:
End Brother Kocourek
Response: Now, my brother, I will not place it up sometime in the
future, but now, since I am very confident that we have exposed your errors to
the world as you tried in vain to expose the Church Age Book as a tool of
Brother Vayle’ when in fact it was authored by William Branham, and edited by
William Branham. Therefore, I have already posted this on the website for the
brethren in 183 countries to see so they will not be as confused on these
issues, and so that they will not be caught up into the lie that says the “Church
Age Book” was brother Vayle’s, therefore we don’t have to reconcile it to the
other things Wm. Branham taught. But We have already proven by his own words
that William Branham is the author of the Church Age Book, and it’s chief
editor as well. You’re argument that says because Lee Vayle typed the pages
that he is the author, and that is the same lie that says that the Books in the
Bible were written only by Scribes and men, and therefore it is not the Word of
God and God is not the author of the Bible. And your assertion is that because
it was written by mere men, therefore it can not be God’s Word. But mind you my
brother, you are in danger of fighting God with your attitude concerning the
Church Age Book.
You
would do well, if you would check your facts first before you publish your mean
spirited lies against a man who has laboured under the burden of doing the work
of a scribe commissioned by William
Branham Himself, and subjected himself to every word written under the scrutiny
of the prophet himself in direct communication with the Prophet. You yourself
never knew the prophet nor anyone who personally sat at his feet. End Brother Kocourek Response:
Foreign
Pastor statement:
If you keep your promise of your establish policy, you cannot
deny such exposition of errors as set forth in this discourse.
Please do not quote to me a bunch of quotations about the
prophet’s commendation of Dr. Vayle. I am familiar with such and appreciate
them. I was reminded of it in your first reply letter to me on the subject of
the seventh seal/seven thunders, which will make up the continuation of this
discourse.
Such quotations would not defend my refutations of errors
injected into the C.A.B. by Dr. Vayle.
II TIMOTHY
2:15 <Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.>
Luke 14:11
<For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.> Amen.
Please be advised that the third part of this seven church age
discourse will be completed in due course of time. I would appreciate a reply
as soon as possible. I know that you are a busy servant of God with an
international ministry, but I think that this is most important to message
believers internationally. End of
Foreign Pastor statement:
Brother Kocourek
Response: I agree that it is important to stop the mouths of them
that would profess lies about the authenticity of the Church Age Book, and I
hope this discourse will do just that…
Finally
I would like to say that all the quotes our precious brother gave us to qualify
his arguments came from pre-Seals sermons. Now, I am not one that says you
don’t have to believe anything before the seals. That is ludicrous to even
think such. However, that does not do away with the fact that if brother
Branham taught a certain thing a certain way after the seals which was
different than before the seals, then we should take note and teach the same as
he taught. Therefore, I do believe that we must qualify pre-Seals quote with
Post Seals quotes where there seems to be conflict. If brother Branham taught
something and changed his teaching then we had best change ours as well.
As
an example, brother Branham in early years taught that the evidence of the new
birth was love. And in fact he and Br. Vayle spoke for 4 hours about that,
because Br. Vayle thought it was something else. Brother Branham showed lee
where he was wrong, and then the Holy Ghost showed brother Branham where he was
also wrong.
Broken cisterns 64-0726E
P:37 Today I was talking with my good friend Dr.
Lee Vayle, who's present now. And he's a, quite a theologian. And so we usually
have some, have some pretty good discussions on the Scripture. Very smart, and
he asked me one time what I thought about the initial evidence of the Holy
Ghost, was it speaking in tongues? (It's been many years ago.) I said,
"No, can't see that." He said, "Neither do I," said,
"though I've been taught that." He said, "What would you think
would be a evidence?" I said, "The most perfect evidence I can think
of is love." And so we got to talking on that. And then I thought,
"That sounded pretty good." So
I just held that: If a man's got love. But one day the Lord in a vision
straightened me out, and He said that the evidence of the Spirit was those who
could receive the Word, neither love nor speaking in tongues, but it's receiving the Word.
So with this in mind, I hope
Foreign Pastor, that you and I can still love one another although we have gone
nose to nose in our discourse. And if it is possible for even the prophet of
God to teach wrong concerning this subject and hold to it for a period until
the Lord straightened him out, then why call people names just because they
might not say it like you think it should be said. And thus said, I am asking
you to take all the derogatory remarks you have made about Br. Vayle and others
from your website and do as the Scriptures teaches us to do.
Finally an admonition to all
who might read this discourse.
Shalom 64-0119 P:103 If I can't disagree with a man sharply, and still love
him... Because if I disagree with him, just to be disagreeing, I'm a hypocrite;
I ain't fit to stand up here. But if I disagreed with him because of fellowship
and love and understanding, no matter what he does, he's still my precious
brother. I stand with him. Yes, indeedy. That's exactly right. If that isn't in my heart, then God take me
out of this pulpit; I'm not fit to be here. That's right.
Questions and answers COD
64-0823M P:42 But on regeneration, now
there's where I differ with the oneness brethren. And you oneness brethren who
hear this tape of questions, if it would fall into your office, or your house,
or among you people that's oneness people, don't misunderstand me, now, that
just, 'cause we disagree. Me and my wife disagree; sure we do. I tell her I love her, and she says I don't
believe, but I do. So then we certainly disagree, but I'm telling you that
we sure get along all right. Now, notice. Maybe I don't show enough signs to
her that'd do it... I'm out preaching, then come in home and get my fishing rod
and go fishing. See? But down in my
heart I love her;
Where I think Pentecost
failed 55-1111 P:60 If it ever gets to a
place that I couldn't put my arm around any brother that's working for the
Kingdom of God, and recognize him as my brother, I feel I'm backslid. Amen.
Sure. I'd be a scared to stand on the
platform and face evil spirits, to know that I had envy in my heart against any
brother, no matter who he is, that's
trying to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ or live a Christian life. If we
disagree a million miles upon theology, if
he loves the Lord Jesus, he's my brother, and it's my sister. And we've
drawn those lines. "And if you
can't love your brother who you have seen, how can you love God Who you can't, have
never seen?" And brother, when love goes out, God goes with it, for
God is love. And you can never get anywhere without Divine love. And as you
love one another, you love God. End Brother
Kocourek Response:
Amen!