Spoken Word no 80

The Seed Watered, Grows

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

 

Let’s remain standing as we open our Bibles this evening to the Book of Genesis chapter 24 for our text.  

 

Genesis 24:1  And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.  2  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 5  And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? 6  And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. 7  The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. 8  And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. 9  And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. 10  And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that  women go out to draw water.  12  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 13  Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 15  And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16  And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.  17  And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. 18  And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19  And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 20  And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21  And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

 

Now, it is interesting that as soon as she began to water the camels she begin to receive the gifts. Notice the gifts were for the ears and the hands. Look, nothing in this Bible is without signification.

 

In referring to this Biblical story, brother Branham tells us what those jewels signified. In His sermon, Time of decision 59-0611 P:30 She made her decisions quick. Watch her real quick in the meeting. Quickly, if they're ordained to Eternal Life, they'll know it. There's something in the message that stirs them. That's what stirred Rebekah. The message stirred her, Angel was leading her. Oh, can't you see her picture? The Angel of the Lord leading her. Then she was stirred. And immediately when she watered the camel, the gift went on her. He begin to take out the earrings, which means faith cometh by hearing, put the bracelets on, the works of your hands. He got her ready. As soon as she begins to water, give the waters of Life, testify, tell others, get the message out. Tell them what has happened to you.

 

Now, our study tonight is from paragraphs 67 – 69 of brother Branham’s sermon, Spoken Word is the original Seed and this is number 80 in our series.

 

Now, in paragraph number 67 Brother Branham said, “A seed must have water to grow. Now, you put a seed in the ground and if there's no moisture in the ground, it's dust, and it won't grow in the dust: can't. It's got to have a certain percent of moisture or it won't grow. Is that right? The letter killeth; the Spirit giveth it Life. See? Now, it must have moisture to grow. His Word is a Seed. Now, to prove that, let's turn to Luke the 8th chapter, the 11th verse and see if this is true or not, if the Bible says His Word is a Seed. Luke the 8th chapter and the 11th verse, and we'll see what God said about it: Now, He goes ahead and begins to tell. There's much things to say about it. Let's start at the 4th and just read. ‘And when much people were gathered together, and there come unto him out of every city, he spake by... parables: A sower went out to sow his seed to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon... rock; and... soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.’

           68   Moisture: Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans without the water... And when he's first converted, he looks right straight to Christ; he believes. And the first thing you know, that denomination binds him up into a place, and the moisture of the Spirit's gone from him; he becomes denominational, and he's dead. Not only Baptists but Pentecost. Don't believe that, I know many of you don't, but you just wait a little bit. We'll see whether the Bible states it or not.

  69   All right, of lack of moisture, last word in the 6th verse, of the 8th chapter... The lack of moisture...And some fell among thorns; and... sprang up with it, and choked it. See, what was that? He goes ahead and tells that some as soon as they get to be... I'm not going to pull one punch today on nothing. Just what I think the Christian Business Men, and the rest of them of these Pentecostal organizations, and these people that's building all these big millions of dollars of things, the riches of the world has choked out the glory and Spirit of God. Dying because it's choked. The world, care of the world, has choked them out.”

 

Now, notice that Brother Branham is telling us that in the parable the reason that they withered is that they lacked moisture. And then he let’s us know that moisture represents the Spirit of God.

 

We find in the book of Deuteronomy the same thing. Deuteronomy 32: 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:” And of Course Jesus taught us that His Words were spirit and truth. So the Word of God is the Spirit in which he nourishes His Predestinated Seeds.

 

We find David speak of this in the Psalms.

 

If you will turn with me to Psalms 1:1 we read, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

 

Notice if the leaf is watered it will not wither away and dry up.

 

God identifying Himself 64-0320 P:3 All of our things in Arizona, our trees is full of stickers. Everything has a sticker. It's because it's dry. Now, if that same bush grew over here, it'd be a nice lovely leaf. See, it's without water. That's the reason it becomes a sticker. And when the church becomes without the Water of Life, it gets dry and sticky too: sticking and punching at everything. But where the waters of life flows, it opens up the leaf and makes it tender, mellow, and sweet, holy, and acceptable unto God. So may the Lord God water us tonight, that we won't be stickers, but we'll be fine leaves that the wayward people might set down under the tree of our shade, and find rest to their souls.

 

Israel at Kadesh Barnea 53-0328 P:73 You know, I travel around over the world a lot. And one of the most stickerest, nastiest places to try to lay down, is in the desert. Everything there has got a sticker on it. You know why? Every kind of a little old weed's a cactus. You can't lay down nowhere; it's sticking you. The reason of it is, they ain't got no water. Water makes it soft. Where there's lots of waters, you don't have any thorns and thistles, where there's lots of water. And I tell you, brother; you take an old church that's dry in his bone, and no Holy Ghost in it, and no salvation, no Divine healing, no power of God, no shouting, no joy, and it's always, "This, oh, she done this, and he done this, and he done this," sticker, sticker, sticker... What you need is a good old fashion outpouring, gusher, of the Holy Ghost (Hallelujah.), soften up a little bit. Amen. That means "so be it." Branham Tabernacle needs a good dose of that too. That's right. Oh, is that right? Amen. Oh, I'm having a good time up here. My clothes fit me just exactly right, Brother Higginbotham. Yes, sir. My collar's not too big; my shirt fits, just feels good. Even my wife's not here, so I--I can just have a glorious time. Oh, don't you tell her, no. All right, but I'm having a good time. You say, "You're happy? "Sure, I'm happy. How can I keep from being happy, and know what I know? Amen. Christ saved me, filled me with the Holy Ghost, give me a ticket to heaven. I'm just having a big time, going on, saying, "Come on, all of you." Yes, sir.

 

That is exactly Hebrews chapter 6., so let’s turn in our Bibles to Hebrews chapter 6.

 

Hebrews 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

Seven church ages 54-0512 P:49 I get into the desert sometime, out there in Arizona. And I notice that every little old bush on that desert is harmful; it'll stick you. Every time you get against it, it'll stick you. Because it doesn't have enough water to take care of it, stickers come out for a defense. You come back up here, or up in Oregon, or somewhere where it rains all the time, and every one of them same kind of bushes hasn't got a sticker on them. See, the water keeps them soft. And that's what's the matter with the church. When you get all dried up and shackled up, and everything, you get so cold, and formal, and indifferent, you don't get any spiritual blessing; then your heart gets all filled up and full of indignation and wrath; and everybody, "Oh, I'll get even with him. I'll get even with her. I'll quit the church." Just a bunch of stickers living in a desert. [Blank spot on tape--Ed.]Spirits... What you need is some good old fashion Holy-Spirit Water rained down upon you, soften up that old hard heart. Amen.

 

Ever present water 61-0723M P:45 Now, we find out that, along this road, after they got like this, they come to a place of Horeb. And H-o-r-e-b, Horeb, then we find out... Let's break that name down. That's where the--the name "Horeb" means, a "dry place" or a "desert."And when we get out of fellowship with one another in the church, and out of fellowship with the Holy Spirit, it brings us to a dry place, a desert, nothing alive, everything got stickers on it. See, a--a desert, a little piece of cactus with that sticker on it. Did you know what that is? That's a precious little tender leaf that hasn't had no water; it's just wound itself up so tight till it's a sticker. And when you see somebody like that, maybe it's a precious soul that could been watered right, would've been a tender little leaf or something. But instead of that, it's wound itself up till it's a sticker, just punching at everything, you know, finding fault. Only thing it needs is just water. That's all. It just--it just needs a--a revival, or a breaking up, a refreshing from the Lord. It'll--it'll unfold its little self, if you'll just put it to the water.

 

Speak to the rock 60-0723 P:26 Carnality had cut off their spiritual supply. Carnality had cut off all their joy, all... They begin murmuring and fussing; they took them off in the desert. If anything I hate is a desert. It's hot; there's nobody hardly can live there, and everything you get against in the desert's got stickers on it. Every kind of little old vine's got stickers on it. You know why? It's because there's no water there. Now, if that same little plant grew up in my country, or up in a country that's got rain on it, that little plant would not be a sticker. That little sticker would unfold, and it would be a nice tender leaf when it comes into a watered place. That's what's the matter with the churches, the reason they fuss, and quarrel, and stew, and so called Christians, because they've been bypassed from the land of blessing, from the fountain that never runs dry, from the Rock in the weary land. And they have become dry and carnal. They want to stick and say, "The days of miracles is past. That's a bunch of holy-rollers. No such a thing as that." Oh, just let them come to the water one time. It is to unfold and get tender and sweet, and kind and humble. Something takes place when you put him in water. I don't know why, but it happens that way. Oh, carnality had cut them off.

 

Planting the vine and where to plant it 59-0920 P:25 Oh, go with me to Arizona. Let me take you to the desert, which I roamed so many years. Everything in the desert has a sticker on it. Any little plant you come to, don't get near it; it'll stick you. It's always got its stickers right out ready to stick anything that comes near it. What's the matter? What made it a sticker? Is because it had no water. That's what dried it up. That sticker is a leaf rolled up. For the lack of water, it becomes a sticker. Thus it is with the church today. That when the church gets away from the fountain of Life, when it gets away from the joys of salvation, when it gets away from the Lord God, then that person becomes a sticker, always finding fault, sticking. "I'm a Presbyterian, I'm a Methodist, I'm a So-and-so. Don't talk to me about that stuff." A sticker, it has no fruits. You take that same plant, cactus, and put it into a land for a few generations where there's plenty of water, and that sticker will unfold, and will come a soft leaf bearing fruit.

 

He was to pass this way 57-0727 P:6 Now, it's so good to be in Tacoma. Tacoma's always had a place in my heart somehow; I don't know. But it's always been a real warm spot for Tacoma. And this northwest country here, beautiful, your trees and you're... lots of water. Down on the desert in Phoenix not long ago, I was out on the desert, and everything there that you touch has a sticker on it. And I... You touch anything, it's just--it's just lazy; it won't move. And it's got a sticker on it. Well, that same type of plant could be brought up here, and it will become a leaf, 'cause it gets water. And that's what I think about our churches. Many of them we think are cold, formal, indifferent; but they're just run out of spiritual water. All they need is a little water to soften them up, and they'll come out into a lovely leaf for a the shade. And we just... God's got plenty of it. And you don't have to drink sparingly; He's the inexhaustible fountain of Life.

 

Painted face Jezebel 56-1005 P:39 You take any kind of a plant and put it on the desert where there's no water, it gets stickers on it. And you take that same plant and put it where there's a lot of water, it gets soft. And why is it? It's because it's dry. And that's what's the matter with the churches today. They're fussing, "Glory to God, I'm a Baptist. Hallelujah." "I'm a Presbyterian, I'll tell you, we have the best selection of pastors. Yes, sir, we don't have to take your old Pentecostal theology." "I tell you; I belong to the Assemblies; that's who I am. We're as great as the rest of them." "I belong to the United...""I belong to this, that, or other." Oh, I see your stickers. Your water supply is gone. That's what's the matter. That's just what's the matter. The water's been cut off. You don't have the things like you used to have years ago. The miracles and things are not in the church. The feeling, the--the fellowship's not in the church like it used to be. What's the matter? The glory spring that led to your hallelujah garden was cut off. What did it? Sin. Sin getting in the church and getting in you is what did it, because the weakness of the pulpit to keep the lines unstopped. That's right. Amen. That's the truth. It might seem awful crude, but it's the truth. And if you don't stop and call an old fashion prayer meeting, and get back to God, what will you be in ten years from now? Somebody better raise up and go to preaching this thing and getting this thing out of the church. It's a cancer, and it's eating to the bone. Get it out. God, send evangelists who will stand on the Word and preach the Word when you see that thing going on. And then let it go like that?

 

Making the valley full of ditches 56-0728 P:40 But now notice, that's the reason out in the desert everything you come in contact in the desert's got stickers on it. I don't care if it's a little old leaf, or whatever it is, don't fool with it, 'cause it's got a sticker on it. You know what does that? It's because it ain't got no water. Where there's no water, it gets stickers. Where there's water, that same plant will soften up and make leaves. And that's what's the matter with the church, the reason there's so much fussing. "I'm a Oneness." "I'm Assembly." "I'm this." "I'm this other." "Oh, I belong to the Church of God. We got the group. Them's a buzzard roost over there, "This is that, and the other." "Oh, we don't believe in that. We believe in dancing this a way. We believe in fixing to do this. Liberation your women... Oh...?... I do this." Oh, my. What's the matter? Your water supply is cut off. That's right. It's the truth. So we found out they was without water. And when you're without water, you're without life. So then they said, "What can we do about it? We'll start a prayer meeting." You ought to have prayed before you left. That's what you...?... before you...?... you ought to pray over it...?...

 

Jude 1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: (Now, why would they speak evil of things they know not? Because they are all stickered up and without water or spirit as we will see in a moment,) but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, (what was the way of Cain? They did not have a revelation, they had religion, but no revelation. And when they were told how to do right, they rejected God’s way, the Doctrine of Christ. And notice,)  they also ran greedily (in other words, they ran after money…and they are focused on money, money, money and not the Pillar of Fire in the midst of the people, just like Balaam was.) they also ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (What was the gainsaying of Korah? Popularity. Korak said, Why is Moses in charge? We are just as religious as he is? We are just as spiritual as he is?)

12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, (Clouds, witnesses without the Doctrine of Christ) carried about of winds (carried about of all sorts of false doctrines); trees (Remember Psalm 1, we asre likened unto tress, but these are trees) whose fruit withereth, (remember the spirit filled man in Psalms 1 his fruit never withers, because he is planted by the River of Life, the Life Stream of God, His Word, but these are all dried up and so is there fruit, there doctrine is of another age and all dried out, and in fact they are) without fruit,(many without the teaching of the hour, so they have no true Doctrine, and that makes them) twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; (Notice not pure water, it has no foam. These are polluted waves spewing their pollution as they roar about,) wandering stars,(always wondering about this and about that) to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.  (No light just darkness forever.)

 

But Rebekah, the true God ordained Bride of the promised Son, watered the very power that would pack her home to be with her Groom to His Tent.

 

Uncertain sound 60-1218 P:164 Like Rebekah who watered the camel, the very camel that she watered, she rode on it to meet her Groom. The very God that we preach about, the very Word which is God, the very God that's in the Word, will rise us up someday by the baptism of Holy Ghost. And our critics will be killed by the same power that raises you to glory. See? Oh, my. Rise up and ride on it.

 

Time of decision 59-0418 P:45 And so she watered the camel, the animal, the power that was to take her home to her new home. And another thing. Did you notice, when she went over now, being blood relation, just by faith she believed it, only thing she had was a servant's message. That's all that maybe you've got, my message. I want to be a true servant to the Word. The blessings are for you; they're yours. I know it's not popular. But I don't care about popularity; I want to be honest to my Master as Eliezer was. I want a clean cut decision out of you, like Eliezer. Come out and tell me whether you believe it or not. See? I want a clean cut decision. A true servant requires that. If you do, then act like it. See? Go on, put it into action. Come, go along.

 

Why are we not a denomination? 58-0927 P:29 Did you notice Rebekah, when Eliezer found her, it was in the evening time, and she watered the camel. 'Cause Eliezer said, "If the damsel that comes and waters this camel, and gives me, a drink, that will be the one that You have chosen, Lord, to be the bride of Your servant, Isaac." And while he was yet in prayer, Rebekah come and drawed water and give him a drink, and watered the camel. Notice, the camel was a beast. And that same beast that she was watering was the one who packed her to her Groom, Isaac.

 

Earnestly contending for the faith 53-0614A P:78 And the beautiful Rebekah come out. And he said, "Now, ever who waters this camel" he said, "Lord, let that be the one You've chosen." And Rebekah went and watered the camel, and give them a drink, and then watered the animal. Look, the very animal that she was watering... The animal represents a beast, of course, a beast of burden, which means "power" in the Bible. And the very animal that she was watering, was the very animal that packed her to see her Groom. Is that right? And what is watering? The very power that we're watering now with praises, and thanksgiving, and glory, and power, and might, is the very Holy Spirit that'll pack us up to see Jesus someday.

 

Questions and answers COD 64-0823E P:60 292. In I Corinthians 14:29 we find out that any gift in the church has got to be judged first. See? You have to watch, 'cause evil spirits slip in. Because remember, the rain falls on the just and the unjust. The same rain that was sent to ripen the wheat also ripens the weed: the same water. How many knows that? Now, that ought to clear the serpent's seed to you then, how that this son come. I'm trying to pick it out here to get it before my time runs out, but I can't find it: so, how that son was about the serpent's seed. See? God has a law. Now, on this, in this law of the spirit of Life you have to watch, because Satan slips in. And Paul, when something was revealed to somebody, it had to have at least two or three judges before it could be told before the church.

 

I have seen it time and time again. Yo9u can’t sit under true teaching and not ripen into what you were ordained to be. We find people come into the Presence and Godhead, and within a short time watch out, either they show themselves to be the spotless virgin Bride of Christ or they show themselves to be evil and treacherous. You can’t hide yourself from the Light, and it is the light which makes manifest according to Ephesians 5:13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.  

 

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

 

We have found time after time in our studies that it takes light and water to bring forth life. The very first time God spoke he brought forth Light, then the second time he spoke He brought forth water, and then the third time he spoke he brought forth Life.   Genesis 1 3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.  6  And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.  7  And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8  And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.  9  And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10  And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 

 

Choosing of a bride 65-0429E P:70 Now, just a moment now; that's it. He chooses a Bride to reflect His character, to which the modern churches of today certainly misses His program here a million miles, 'cause they deny this to be the truth. So how could it be? Now, He's looking for the day for that Bride to be formed (Hebrews 13:8) just exactly like He was. It's got to be His same flesh, same bones, same Spirit, same everything, just exactly built up, and them two then become one. Until the church becomes that, they're not one. The character of Him, the Word for this age, must be molded... She must be molded like He is.