Spoken
Word no. 55
Adoption
of Sons: Attitude of Sons
Brian Kocourek
Galatians 4:1 Now I say,
that the heir, as long as he is a child, differs
nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is
under tutors and governors until the
time appointed of the father.
(You
see, no man knows the day or hour except the Father.) 3 Even
so we, when we were children,
were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fullness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem
them that were under the law, that we
might receive the adoption of sons.(so you see the whole plan of redemption lays in adoption, The placing
of sons.) 6 And
because ye are sons, (now, listen because this is the key, because ye are sons,) God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but
a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Now, this morning I
want to get our thoughts off of what is taking place in the world. I just came
back from an international ministers meetings held in Panama city, and it
seemed to me that the bride is being caught up into looking at what the rest of
the world is focusing on right now, and not realizing that what is taking place
out there is not a concern of the elect.
While the plagues were
striking everyone in Egypt, and we know brother Branham said, that Egypt was a
type of the world, those same plagues did not affect the children of Israel who
were warned that they were coming and they prepared themselves, and those
plagues were commanded to not come to the children of Israel who were in
Goshen, and who had the token applied in their house.
Now, the brethren came
to these meetings, came from as far away as
It seemed to me based
on the focus of many that were attending these meetings, the believers around
the world are quite concerned about the meltdown of the world’s economic
situation, and they wanted to use the meetings to get some input as to what the
ministers should be focusing our attention and the attention of the people on.
The problem is that although they wanted to know what the elect should be
focusing on, they really did grasp the real problem.
I do not care if the
worlds economies are running great or falling apart, our focus is not of this
world, and the elect of every age was not a focus on the world or the cares of
this life. But our focus should be on getting ready for the next phase of the
rapture which is the Voice of the resurrection.
Therefore when each man
spoke the others wanted to argue with him, and the two 12 hour days there was a
lot of wasted time. Friday afternoon, I was to speak so I asked my Father if He
would take charge of the meetings so I could help to point the brothers to our
way out. When I spoke there was complete silence from the brethren, as they
listened intently to what I had to say concerning the Spirit of Adoption,
pointing them to what the Apostle Paul and William Branham had to say about it.
After I finished, one brother spoke up and said, that allowing me to speak
earlier than had been scheduled was great strategy because it put the meetings
back into focus. Others appreciated it very much, but I simply can not take any
credit for it because this is what I believe our focus should be based on what
William Branham taught us. To get ourselves out of the way, and to just let go
and let God.
So this morning I wish
to speak some more on this subject which is burning deeply in my soul, because
that is what our earthly existence has been all about, preparing for our exodus
and the inheritance that our Father, God Himself has laid up for us since
before the foundations of the world. So what do I care
if the banks go, or the nations crumble. None of that plays any part in my
eternal inheritance which I have in Christ Jesus my Lord.
Now, we read this
morning the word of the Apostle Paul concerning sons and the inheritance of
sons, called the adoption.
And he tells us that
although we are sons, yet for a period of time we are not treated any
differently than anyone else, but as sons we are tutored and trained to know
our standing in the family and our position as sons. And then when the proper
time comes we will receive our adoption or placing as sons. Now, the world does not have this promise,
but we have it. The world is worrying about their earthly holdings, but do not
realize that the meek shall inherit the earth. In the Old Testament if a slave
is given the inheritance of a son, he may enjoy it for 50 years, but when the
jubilee sounds it shall revert back to the sons. So who cares who holds the
wealth of the world right now. I know that when the
Jubilee trumpet sounds, the saints shall inherit the earth. So let’s get our focus on what is needed for
a son to be adopted, for that is all we should be concerned with in this hour
of chaos and the world falling apart.
Now, there are 260+
places in the scripture that speaks of the inheritance. Not only in the Old Testament
but in the New testament as well. We already read from
Galatians 4 and we see more in Galatians chapter 3 as well, but let’s go to
Romans 8 now to see what else the apostle Paul says concerning this
subject.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of
sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in
that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned
sin in the flesh: 4 That
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the
flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. Now if any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
In other words if you
do not have the life of your father you are not a son. 10 And if Christ be
in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is
life because of righteousness. 11 But
if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth
in you. 12 Therefore,
brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Here’s the key. If we
are sons of God then God wants to see in us that which would please him for a
son to act. So our character is very important concerning the time of adoption.
For when the Elect knows who she is, and are ready to be placed as sons, then
we will go to our eternal inheritance, and not until. ) 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Notice: not your
spirit bearing witness with God’s Spirit, but His Spirit bearing witness that
indeed you are His son or daughter. So it is what he sees in
you, not what you see in Him.) 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
(now this word glorified together is a Greek word “sundoxa” which means united in the same doxa
which is the same opinion, assessment and judgment.)
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory (Doxa) which shall be revealed in us. (not to us but in us, the revelation in us, living and
abiding in our mortal beings.) 19 For the earnest
expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (in other words, all
creation is waiting for you to manifest what you were ordained to be before the
foundations of the world. So if you are sons, then act like sons, be sons, take
your position in the body.) 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity,
not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the
same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself
also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole
creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan
within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope:
for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But
if we hope for that we see not, then do we with
patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. 27 And he
that searcheth the hearts knoweth
what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will of
God. 28 And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (there you go, it’s all
about our being adopted but we can not become adopted until we are like the
first born son who also was taken up and adopted. But we are predestined for
this, so just let go and let God. God has a plan, so step into his plan and let
your own plans go. Brother Branham said, Jesus
greatest victory was in Gethsemane, not
So if we were in the
mind of God before the foundations of the world, then we have already been
ordained to receive the mind of Christ.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who
shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is
God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that
died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at
the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 36 As
it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
From his message Position in Christ 60-0522M
P:88 83 For ye haven't
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption. Now, after you're adopted, all right, after you're adopted, you're
placed; then you understand, after the ceremony's said
and you've been put into the Body correctly. You're a son, sure, a daughter;
when you're born again you're... that's your birth. But now you're positionally
placed. We've not received the spirit of fear...; but we have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Which
means, "my God." All right.) The Spirit itself bears
witness with our spirit, that we're children of
God: How does it do it? You say, "Glory to God. Hallelujah. It don't
bother me; I'm a child of God," and go out and do the things you do? The
Spirit of God will do the works of God. Jesus said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." See, see? Now, let's read, then
well have to stop, 'cause our time's getting away. All right, in the 9th :. Having
made known to us the mystery of his will... (to adopt
us),... according to his good pleasure
which he has purposed in himself: He purposed this Himself before the foundation of the world. How
many understands it? See? That in the dispensation... (Oh, my, here we come
again. See? Oh, let's just pass it. See?)... dispensation of the fullness of time...
89 You believe in dispensations? Bible said so, "In the dispensation of the fullness of time..." What is the fullness of time?
There's been a dispensation of the Mosaic law. There
was a dispensation of John the Baptist. There was a dispensation of Christ.
There's a dispensation of church organization. There's dispensation of the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Now's
the dispensation of adoption, what the world's waiting, groaning. "And when the fullness of time comes, when the dispensation of the
fullness of time..."
What is that fullness of time? When the dead rises, when
sickness ceases, when all the earth ceases to groan. "The fullness of the dispensation of time..." Watch this. When in the dispensation of the fullness of
times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,... Aren't you glad? How is He going to do it?
Gather together all things in Who?
[Congregation says, "Christ"--Ed.] How do you get in Christ? By one Spirit we're all baptized into one
Body. And that Body is Who's Body? ["Christ's"--Ed.] Already judged, He
took our judgment. Then what are we? "When I see the Blood, I'll pass over
you." Every time He looks at the Body, there It
is setting there, bloody. I'm in there by how? The Holy
Ghost. He passes over. Oh, my. And when the fullness of the dispensation
of time, that he might gather
together... all things in Christ, both which are in heaven...
Total deliverance 59-0712 pp. 55-56 Jesus was completely, totally man. He
could cry like a man, He could eat like a man; He could become like a man. He
was completely, totally man in His physical being. And in His Spirit, He was
completely, totally God, so He made His
flesh submissive to the Spirit that was IN Him. You see, He was
tempted in all manners like we are. He was man, not an Angel. He was a man. He
had desires and temptations just like we do. The
Bible said He did. He was a man, not an
Angel above temptation. Hebrews 1
said that He was... Hebrews 1:4 said He was made lower than the Angels. He was man, completely man, that God
took a complete man to bring total deliverance; and He filled Him with His Spirit; the Holy Ghost was in Him without
measure. And He was tempted like we were. And He was completely God. He proved it when He raised the dead,
when He stopped nature, the roaring seas and the mighty winds. When He spoke to
the trees, and so forth, they obeyed Him. He
was God inside. And He could've been man, for He was Man, but He totally and completely delivered Himself as a Man
into the hands of God for the service of God. And He is our example. 56 We
are men and women. We're also Christians. If
He's our example, let us completely deliver ourselves into the hands of the
Holy Ghost, that we might be subjects of the
Hear
ye Him 56-1215 P:39 Notice. Now, when this child become at a
certain age, if it'd a been a correct child, had been zealous of the father's
works, had been stable, always abounding in the works of the Lord, not tossed
about with every wind and care, not one day a Presbyterian, the next day a
Methodist, and the next day a Nazarene, the next day a Pilgrim Holiness, tossed
about like a leaf on a troubled sea. If
it was stable, its mind, no matter where it was at, set on Christ, his affections, working with one single heart,
zealous of getting souls saved and not the church's fusses...Then in the Old
Testament there come a day that this father brought his son out into the public
as a witness, put a robe on him, and set him up upon a great place where all
the city could see him. And they had the law of adoption. This father to his
own son, who had been born in his own family, and now was of age, and was a
child worthy to take his place, he adopted, or placed his own son into position. Any Bible reader knows that: the
placing of a son. Then after that ceremony, that son had a right, his name was
just as good on the--the check as his father's was. There's where the church should be today. "The things that I do shall you also; more
than this shall you do, for I go to My Father."
Hear ye Him 56-0611 P:27-28 Now,
this child was obedient, then there come a certain day when this child become
matured. That's the day the Pentecostal
church ought to be now. You Presbyterians ought to been that way a long
time ago, Baptist and Methodists, but what's the matter? Then there's a certain
day come, that when that father draw all the people around the regions that had
come into the city, or some great place. And he took and set this son on a high place, and he put him on a beautiful
robe. And they had a ceremony, and that father adopted that same son that had
been born, he adopted it into his family. Or in other words, he placed him, positionally what he was in
the family, and then he become an heir of everything the father had. In other
words, his name on a checkbook was just
as good as his daddy's. And that's
where the church should be today; it should be to a place... And I say this
to myself and to you: oh, what a pity it is when I walk around and see the sin,
and the afflictions, and the sickness of the people and so forth. We ought to
be to a place in faith in God, so separated that what we ask the Father in the
Name of His Son, He'd grant it to us. That's right. 28 He
took him into a place, and there he adopted him into his family, or as a
special time when he set him apart. The church ought to be that way tonight,
an Angel come to you, set you apart and tell
you your position, where you're at.
Not a bunch of men to lay hands on you, that's earthly. I mean God; God sets you apart in a place where you belong. God does
it; your Tutor does it. He's present when it takes place. Now, notice, God
was doing here just exactly like He asked man to do. His Son had been obedient, he had minded the father. He hadn't be gadding about in places and say, "You see who I am?
My campaign's the biggest there is in the country. Yes,
sir." He'd been obedient. He'd been obedient to the father. He
hadn't been gadding around the things of the world, associating with them; he'd
been obedient. And God took witnesses of the earth, Peter, James, and John,
brought down Elijah and a Moses from heaven, and stood them there, and adopted
His own Son. He was glorified in the presence of these witnesses. And God came
down and overshadowed Him. And the Bible said "His garments glistened like the sun." You see the robe, the glorification
of Him? He put Him on a robe before the witness of heaven, 'fore the witnesses
of earth.
Hear
ye Him 58-0301E P:48 Now, the son that was his son... In other
words, he adopted him, by this may, he placed his son positionally. How did he
do it? Then that son's name on the check was just as good as the father's,
because he was in position. The father had vindicated, had placed that son in
position. And I hope you're getting this. And then that son was an heir of what
the father had. And we are, what God has, we're joint heirs with Christ, if we
are sons of God, positionally placed in the Kingdom, holding our places. Now, God
has many places He could place you. Some are apostles, some prophets, teachers,
evangelists, pastors, so forth. God positionally places this son.
And from his sermon, Where
I think Pentecost failed 55-1111 P:56 Yeah, born again is a wonderful thing, but
that's not all of it, brother. Remember,
there was an adoption of that child. All of the Old Testament has to be
carried out in the New; we know its types and shadows. You couldn't see some
man, a figure with a hand hanging up like this, and then it wouldn't appear when
the negative was made positive. It's got to be everything. Notice, as they went
on then, this son... If the tutor kept bringing word that this son was a royal
boy... He was mindful of his father's business. He was a gallant man. He knew how
to handle business of his father. Oh, his father's heart swelled out 'cause he
loved him. 57 And then when he become of age, at a certain age, he
set a great day. And he called witnesses out into the street, and he took this
boy and put a special robe on him, a beautiful robe, and set him out in the
street, and had a ceremony of adoption. And the father, the very father of this
boy, adopted the boy into his own family (Now, you know that by the Scripture,
the placing of the son.), and adopted him into his own family. And therefore,
from that day on that boy had a legal right to write his daddy's checks, or
whatever the father had, he was heir to it. He was adopted. He was just equal,
had the authority over all of his father's goods. He was no longer a tutor, but
he was... or cared by a tutor, he was absolutely in possession. And that's
where the church has gone now. When you got back there and was
born again, you think that settles it. You went off at ease. Now, you're
finding yourself with cramps, not enough manna, backsliding from one meeting to
another. What it is, is God has watched the conduct of His Church. 58 Look. God did the same thing to His own Son. He taken three for a witness. The Bible said, "Three is
a witness." And He took Peter, James, and John (love, hope, and charity)
and taken them up on a high exceeding mountain, great high mountain. And there
Jesus was transfigured before them, and His garments shined like the sun. And a
voice spoke and said, "This is My beloved Son;
hear ye Him." God adopting His Own
Son, shined Him out in a glorified, transfigured condition, and proved before
witnesses, "This is My beloved Son, hear ye
Him." No wonder Jesus could say "All the power in heavens and earth
is given unto My hands." 59 Now, the
reason the church is not progressing, brother, you skipped about from place to
place, here and there, and daddling in the world, and
around this way, and fussing about your organizations and your denominations,
whether you're this, that, or the others. Whether you're oneness, twoness, threeness, or fiveness; or whether you been baptized face forward, backwards;
oh, and all kinds of things, and fussing, and drawing barriers, and things, and
that's the reason the church is not going on. It's true.If
you'd ever break down your walls, let this one be this, and that one be that.
Whatever you are that doesn't matter. But when you can put your hands in your
brother's hands and call him your brother... And we're working for one cause,
that's the
God's
power to transform 65-0911 P:104 Don't stumble at that word,
"predestination." I know you do. But, listen, It's
not my word. It's one of God's Words. You want to read it, read Ephesians 1:5,
which, "He has predestinated us to
the adoptions of sons through Jesus Christ." See? Just let me just
break it just a minute, in just a minute to break this out of your mind. Look.
Just as you were in your father at the beginning, a germ seed... Did you know
that, every one of you? You were in your great-great-great-grandfather also,
did you know that? Read the Book of Hebrews, where that we find that Levi paid
tithes when he was in the loins of Abraham, four generations behind him. When
Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, it was accounted to his
great-great-grandson down below him, and he was then in the loins of Abraham.
There you are. See?
Now, let’s look at Ephesians 1:1 Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at
Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of
his will, 6 To
the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein
he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having
made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the
dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are
on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of
him who worketh all things after the counsel of his
own will: 12 That
we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I
heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks
for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
him: 18 The eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ,
when he raised him from the dead, and set him at
his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far aboveall principality, and power, and might, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is
to come: 22 And
hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things
to the church, 23 Which
is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Brother Branham
said in, THE FUTURE HOME 64-0802 49-1 You are part of
the earth, your body. Your soul is part of God, a
attribute of God, displayed here on earth in a body. The body's to be
redeemed. Now the soul's redeemed, because it was in sin. So God come down
by process of justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Ghost, and
redeemed your soul. And you, being part of the earth, it's redeemed by it.
You're in the process now, it's growing on.
And therefore if
you are a part of God then you are able to receive the very mind of God.
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
37-4
CHRIST IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 The
new birth is Christ, is a revelation. God has revealed to you this great
mystery, and that's the new birth. Now, what are you going to do when you
get all that group together, where the revelation is perfectly in harmony, and
God expressing it through His Word by the same actions, the same things that He
did, making the Word manifest? Oh, if the Church only knew its position. It will one day. Then, the rapture will go
when it knows what it is.
Let’s bow our heads and our hearts in prayer