The Doctrine of Christ no 18

The Doctrine of Christ no 18

“Your Actions manifest your Character”

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

October 1^st,2011

Hebrews 10: 22 - 23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Prayer

Brother Branham said from pp 233 of God’s Only Provided place of Worship for the past few weeks and I just can't seem to get beyond this thought where brother Branham said, " My action and the vindication of God's Word in my life shows whether I'm a child of God or not." And the word to show means "to reveal, manifest or make evident ones character in a given situation." So, I guess then if we want to really have an assurance of our position in Christ, we need to look at how we react to His Word. If we can't get enough of His Word, no matter how hard it may seem at times, then we have assurance that we are His because Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for right - wise - ness, for they shall be filled." So then our hungering and thirsting is evidence that we shall be filled. Then, if we are hungering and thirsting, we have assurance that God will fill us, and it is not for us to fill ourselves with His Spirit because in Romans 15: 13 Paul said, "Now the God of hope Fill you..." and in Ephesians 1: 23 He said, "it is God that filleth all in all."

So with this in mind I would like to again examine the thoughts behind this statement, " My action and the vindication of God's Word in my life shows whether I'm a child of God or not." It is not so much my actions that vindicate me, or that would be works. But he is very specific when he says, My actions + the vindication of God's Word in my life...That's what declares just who I am. Not my actions alone. That is contrary to the Gospel of Grace. That is why I said, what I said Sunday about tithes and offerings the way I said it. Just because you might do that doesn't means the rest is in order, but if you don't do it, then that in itself shows you are not in the conduit of God's Word.

That reminds me of a little illustration we talked about in school when I was a boy. The teacher was trying to help us to understand associations of sets and subsets. And he said, all boys are male, but not all males are boys, Do you see? Some males are men because they grew up. Paul said, when I was a child I spoke as a child, but when I became a man a I put away childish things. All men were once boy, but not all boys grow up to be men. Some die before they reach manhood. Or let's look at it this way. All fathers were once children themselves, but not all children become fathers. Some children are girls and some men never have any children.

Now, I'm not trying to confuse you but I am trying to help you see that "One Word off is Satan's kingdom." And I am also trying to help you see what we've been striving for. We looked at the seed for a season, right? And we saw that the manifestation of the seed in the season is the evidence that the seed is indeed for the season, right? And we also saw that the evidence that the seed manifests God-life is evidence that the seed contained God-Life. Just like water melon seed will manifest water melon. God Seed will manifest God-Life. And it must be in it's appointed season.

OK, that was the one half of it. But every principle of God has two sides to it. Twins. And so Sunday we looked at the other side of the principle. A seed that does not manifest shows no evidence of Seed Life. And that doesn't matter if it's wheat or water melon or even God - Seed. If it receives the same rain which is the Doctrine of God, and if it receives the same Light which is the illumination of the Word, and if it still does not manifest God - Life which is to do the Will of the Father, then this non activity is an evidence of a lifeless hull, or a dried out shuck. Now, that may be hard, but that is Gospel Truth. And I am not up here to pamper and to scratch itching ears. The Gospel hurts sometimes, but if it don't hurt it won't do you any good.

Now, before you reach any conclusions, let me say this. If a seed is planted and it does not manifest, then we need to examine whether it is getting any water which is the Word and if it is getting any Light which is Revelation. And if one of these factors is missing it will not produce a manifestation of it's seed life. So we have three things so far that are needed for seed life to manifest. 1) A seed that has life 2) Light to quicken that seed and 3) water to help it to grow. And now, there is only one other thing that can prevent and hinder a seed from manifesting its seed life. And let's turn to the Word of God for our answer.

Mark 4: 13 - 20 Notice verse 19, the cares of this life chokes the Word and it brings no fruit. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Luke 8: 14 - 15. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

It is impossible to bear God Seed Fruit if you are so earth bound with the pleasures of this world, because John told us in 1 John 2: 15 - 17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world will pass away, and the lusts thereof: but He that DOETH the will of the God abideth for ever."

Now we know that to everything there is a season, but we are running out of seasons. This is the last season, this is the end - time! Don't put off for tomorrow to get right with God because there may be no tomorrow. Now, I think I've said enough about non seed or non manifestation of life in seed. Tonight I want to flip it back again and look at the thought of what exactly this manifestation of seed life is and what it should do for you who have this manifestation in the season.

Psalm 1: 1-6 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. 2 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.5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Now again we see the contrast between seed and non seed. But let's look at the seed Who's leaves do not wither and who's fruit comes forth in the proper season. It tells us that God watches over them with an active participation. Remember, "He who began the good work in you shall also perform it." So God will make sure that you are producing timely fruit. And As I said earlier in this series, that God will bring us trials and testing to make sure we use our faith. So don't worry too much about what fruit you bear, because God will also give you the tests you need in order to perfect that faith. He gave you the faith, he also gives you the means to use it and bring it to a maturity and completion.

Now we began this message tonight by reading from the book of Hebrews. Let's go back again and read.

Let us draw near with a TRUE heart in full assurance. That is what we all want. Full assurance. That is why brother Branham is telling us here that The vindicated Word will produce something in our lives that will take over and that will be an evidence to us that we are indeed God Seed. He said, " My action and the vindication of God's Word in my life shows whether I'm a child of God or not." Not my actions alone, no, that is works. But my action AND ...and is a conjunction that links the two thoughts together. My actions is one thought and the Vindicated Word in My life is the other thought.

So what he is saying here is The vindicated Word in my life will produce an action in my life and those two together will show I have God - Life in Me. Because let's face it. A seed that never comes forth no matter how much you give it light and water, if it still does not manifest any life then it is only a husk or a shuck. But when the seed manifests Life, do to the Vindicated Word shining upon it, then that Seed by manifesting Life shows it has Life. And as I read to you before, 1 John 2: 17 "And the world will pass away, and the lusts thereof: but He that DOETH the will of the God abideth for ever." That means he will live for ever. God Life that can not perish. And as we quoted brother Branham on Sunday, where he read from Revelations Chapter 22: "Blessed are they that do all His commandments, that they might have a right to enter into Life, the Tree of Life."

So we are looking at what brother Branham calls an evidence of God Life in us. A combination of the Vindicated Word of God in our Life and what it produces in the season. The fruit. Now also remember, not just any fruit will do. But the fruit for the season of which he told us in the Anointed Ones at the end-time, "the fruit is the teaching for the season."

This evening I want to talk about the assurance that the Word of God brings, and knowing we are part of the Word of God for the hour that we live.

In Hebrews 10: 22 he tells us that we have a true heart in Full Assurance of faith. And since faith is a revelation we then have a true heart in full assurance because of this revelation. Now how much more assurance could you have than at the Revelation of Jesus Christ you see yourselves responding to it and preparing yourselves by it.

1 John 3: 1 - 2, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. but notice verse 3 is our response. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

In Hebrews 10: 22 the word assurance is a Greek word "Plero - phoreo" and it used in the scriptures as to "fully believe", to be "fully persuaded", to "show full proof" and to be "fully known". The word actually means "to fill one with any thought or conviction or inclination and hence to make one certain. To persuade, convince and be assured."

Luke1: 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Most Surely Believed

Romans 4:18-22 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Fully Persuaded

2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. Make Full Proof

2 Timothy 4:16-17 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Fully Known

Colossians 2: 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; Full Assurance of understanding

1 Thessalonians 1: 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. Full assurance that ye may know

Hebrews 6: 10 - 12 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor 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. Full Assurance of Hope ( earnestly expecting)

So we see by all of these scriptural proofs that our assurance comes as a result of receiving a certain understanding or a knowledge which as brother Branham put it, when we have this knowledge and we see ourselves responding to this Revelation of Christ in our Midst, we come to the place where we just know. Everything just adds up to God- Seed and therefore, God-Life in us.

Let’s pray…