The Doctrine of Christ no 19
“I come to do Thy will o God”
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
October 1st, 2011
Hebrews 10:1 For
the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the
things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For
then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers
once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices
there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For
it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he
saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings
and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the
book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice
and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not,
neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then
said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O
God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And
every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But
this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by
one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after
that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant
that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws
into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And
their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of
these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a
new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is
to say, his flesh; 21 And
having an high priest over the house of God; 22 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;) 24 And
let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully
after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.28 He that despised Moses' law died
without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of
how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath
trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace?
This morning I would like to
speak about how Jesus was totally dependent
upon, and obedient to the
will of God His Father and any time that a person is dependent upon
another shows that person who is dependent is not sovereign. Because one who is
sovereign is not dependent upon anyone outside of self. One who is sovereign is
totally independent of all peoples, places and things.
When Jesus taught his
disciples how to pray, he showed them the importance of not only acknowledging God’s will but
yielding to it as well. Luke 11:2 1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying
in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord,
teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And
he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Notice Jesus showing us that in our prayer we should
begin by acknowledging the supremacy of God our father, and then the very next
thing he brings us to is to acknowledge also God’s sovereign will. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, not only as it is in
heaven, but even so as it shall be upon the earth. And once you have acknowledged the supremacy of God’s
will, then you can ask your petition from God. Because then your petition is
governed by the principle of sovereignty, as in God’s sovereignty, not yours,
you have none. 3 Give us day by day
our daily bread. 4 And
forgive us our sins; as we also
forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
Again we see in the book of Matthew 6:1 this same scene unfolding again. Take
heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have
no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest
thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say
unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know
what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be
in secret: and thy Father which seeth in
secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets,
that they may be seen of men. Verily
I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But
thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for
your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give
us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if
ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Then in the book of Luke 22:39 we see Jesus put his
instructions into action with his own prayer to God. And
he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his
disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at
the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's
cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup
from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And
there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And
being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great
drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And
when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them
sleeping for sorrow,
Again in the book of Matthew 26:41 we see this same scene take place again. Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my
Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And
he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And
he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same
words.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50 For
whosoever shall do the will of my Father
which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is
just; because I seek not mine own will,
but the will of the Father which
hath sent me.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me,
that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will
of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him,
may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them,
When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and
that I do nothing of myself; but as
my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And
he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always
those things that please him.
The NIV says, Who is blind like my servant, and deaf like
the Messenger I send? Who is blind like the one that iscommitted to me, blind like the servant of the Lord?
You have seen many things but have paid no attention, your ears are open, but
you hear nothing. You Pleased the Lord for the sake or righteousness, to make
His law great and glorious.
Total deliverance
59-0712 pp. 55-56 55 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
Jesus was so committed to
his Father, that he did nothing, but what God showed him to do., he spoke
nothing but what God commanded him to speak, he taught no doctrine but what
doctrine God gave him to teach and he did not do his own will, but the will of
Him that sent him.
John 5: 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he
seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise.
John 5:30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I
hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but
the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 14: 10 the words that I speak unto you I speak not
of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14: 24 the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 14: 31 But that the world may know that I love the
Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
John 12: 49 I have not spoken of myself; but the Father
which sent me, he
gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent
me. 17If any man will do his will, he shall know
of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his
own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and
no unrighteousness is in him.
John 4: 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his
work.
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he
saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is
written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Now, this was taken from
the book of Psalms
40:6 Sacrifice and
offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and
sin offering hast thou not required. 7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of
the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9I have
preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my
lips, O LORD, thou knowest.10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy
lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11Withhold not thou
thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth
continually preserve me.
Now, let’s get back
to Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering
and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst
pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may
establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest
standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which
can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for
sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected
for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness
to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will
make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in
their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no
more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for
sin. 19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for
us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the
house of God; 22Let 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. 23Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Now, how can you possibly
forsake the assembling of the saints when you see the Life of God openly
manifesting in flesh today. The problem is that the people have lost focus on
what God is doing right now. Brother Branham said they miss God by always
looking back and always looking forward but failing to recognize what God is
doing now. And when it doesn’t come to their little group then it doesn’t com
eat all according to their perception, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not
happening right now.
You see, what I believe to
be taking place in this hour is that God is coming more and more into His
church, and sons are becoming more and more in the image of their elder
brother, which means they are coming more and more into the image of the Source
of Life which is their Father. Now, if Jesus, our elder brother in a vast
family of brethren came forth in the exact image of His Father, which is Hebrews
1:3, then if we are to
be conformed to the image of the eldest son in a vast family of brethren, then
we are to become the very image of our Father also.
Isaiah 42: 19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my
messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the
LORD'S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears,
but he heareth not. 21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he
will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
Speak to this rock
53-0512 P:40 Now,
He said,
Results of Decision
55-1008 P:91 And we find Him going through the Pool of
Who do you say this is? 64-1227 P:61 God had called Moses. He didn't want to go. Those prophets had such things to do till
they, It was a hard thing to do. They
didn't want to be going out and be scorned at. They wanted to have fellowship, and go in with the rest of them, and go
along with brothers. But you see, just like... I believe... I forget what
prophet it was, said, "If... I don't want to do this (in other words), but
my whole heart will catch afire. God has
spoken and I must deliver it." Whether
they liked it; whether they crucified him; whether they stoned him; whatever
they did, God has spoke in his heart, and he must say it, not to be different,
but be obedient. "Obedience is better than sacrifice; hearkening, unto the fats of
rams." See, It was in his heart. He must do it. It was
his life. He couldn't hold it. There was something, a pulsation, that pushed them. They couldn't bless it or curse it.
God had so much complete control of them till He was their voice, their action.
Hallelujah. Give me a Church that's so
completely anointed with God till their every action and move is THUS SAITH THE
LORD, right in that Shekinah Glory, I'll show you a Messiah (anointed one
of God) standing upon the earth.
You know these words
brother Branham are remarkable, but he is not saying this would be a desire, he
is telling us what that church would be like. And yet in the Spoken Word if the
Original Seed, he said the bride would come to the place that she had this “thus
saith the Lord” or she
would keep still. Now, that is harmony with God. That is the true oneness with
God.
Spoken
word original seed 62-0318E P:175 Notice, what harmony. Jesus never
did anything until seen of the Father or the Father showed Him first: (Harmony between God and Christ. See? John 5:19) So will the Bride, and He shows Her His Word of Life (He shows
Her), and she receives It.
She never doubts it. Nothing can harm Her, not even death; for if the Seed be
planted, the water will raise it up again. Amen. (Now, I got a great big
"Hallelujah.") Here is the
secret: the Word is in the Bride
and the mind of Christ to know what He wants done with the Word, and She
does it in His Name. She has THUS SAITH THE LORD. Then it is germitized; so
the Holy Spirit waters it until it is grown and serves its purpose. They do only His will. (Amen.
I'll believe that.) No one can persuade them different. They have THUS SAITH THE LORD, or they keep still. Then they will do the works of God. For
it is Himself in them, continuing
His Word to fulfill as He did complete in His day. All things when He was
here--He did not complete all when He was here, for it was not time yet.
Now, I ask you, what did he
just say? Did he not say the bride will do God’s Will? Did he not say that She
does it in His Name? Did he not say, They do only His will. Did he not say, They have THUS SAITH THE LORD, or they keep still. Then they will do the works of God.
For it is Himself in them, Now,
seems to me that this is not one person he is talking about here. It is a bride
that is so surrendered to the Spirit of God in them, that they have laid their
own will on the altar of God and have come to the place of complete obedience
and submission to God that He can use them as He used his own Son, and as he
used his end-time prophet William Branham. Men who were so surrendered to God
that his will was the preeminent will in their life. Emptied out vessels
yielded to God to do his bidding.
This is not latter rain, this is what
brother Branham said would come into the Bride. A yielded vessel, yielded to
God. Now, I know it looks like we may never see this in the bride, because
there is so much intellectualization of the Message that the people are stone
cold to the will of God anymore. But it matters not if there are only a handful
that will so yield themselves to God, just make sure you are among that
handful.
There was only a handful of people that
were yielded to the Holy Spirit when Jesus came on the scene. There was Anna,
Simeon, Elisabeth, Mary, Joseph, and the
few believers that were so yielded to the Holy Spirit that their hearts were in
tune to the Coming Son of God. And my prayer is that we will see a bride who
will be so yielded to God that when He leaves this earth to go meet His Son,
that we will go with him.
We find in
Isaiah 42:19 that the
Scriptures teach us that the Son of God was blind to everything except God's
Word. And he was deaf to everything but God. And we just read where the Bride
is to be the same way.
KJV Isaiah 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as
my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the
LORD'S servant?
Rothetham Translation Who is blind if not My servant? Or deaf
like my messenger that I send? Who is blind like an intimate friend is blind,
or blind like the servant of Yahweh?
JERUSALEM BIBLE Who so blind as My servant? So deaf as the
Messenger that I send?
In other words, it should read Who in all the world
is as blind as my Servant? Who is designed to be my Messenger of Truth. Who is
so blind as My dedicated one, the "servant of the Lord"?
So we see here that Jesus
Christ was absolutely blind concerning anything that was contrary to God's
Word, God's Will and God's purpose.
Patriarch Abraham the
64-0207 P:2 What a promise because of obedience. Obedience
is what God wants. It was once said, "Obedience is better than sacrifice." To obey the Lord is better than any sacrifice that you could do. We're
facing now a grand text tonight: "The Patriarch Abraham," which was
called the father of the faith, because that God made him the promise to
inherit the earth, and his seed... And it's through Abraham, we, being dead in
Christ, become Abraham's seed, and are heirs with him according to the promise.
Souls in prison now 63-1110M P:94 May no woman's blood be upon me at that day,
or no man's. I've told you the Truth. I've hated to do it, not hating because I
don't want to do what God tells me to, but I
love you. I don't want to hurt you, so what am I going to do? But pure Divine love will drive you to do it.
Jesus even prayed to dodge the cross.
"Is it possible
that the cup should pass," said, "nevertheless, not My will, Thine."
Communion 57-0418
P:14 Now, if
God did not spare His Own Son from the cruel testing, then He will not spare
you or I from the cruel testing. And Jesus was here confronting the greatest test that He had ever had. Gethsemane laid
just before Him, where that once and final all-sufficient test must come, when
the burdens of the entire world laid upon His blessed shoulder. There was no
one in all heavens or earth could ever stood it but Him. And to know that all
of the sins, of past sins, and present sins, and future sins, rested upon this
decision. And it was one of the most
greatest victories that Christ ever won or proved His great Messiahship, as
when He said to God, "Not My will; Thine be done." That was the greatest victory He had ever won. All the demons of
torment was around to tempt Him and try Him. And when we get right with God,
when our hearts become pure and the Holy Spirit has taken Its place in our
heart, it's the most glorious thing to have testing. The Bible tells us that
our testings and trials are more precious to us than silver and gold of this
world. So we should be thankful.
SPOKEN WORD ORIGINAL SEED 62-0318M P:23
The Word of God continually goes on. I'm told that if we could pick up an
instrument that could catch it, that a man's voice, my voice that I speak
today, ten thousand years from now could
still be picked up in the air. It's
like dropping a pebble in the middle of a pond. And the teeny little waves
after they fail to be seen by the eye, continue on till it hits the bank. And the air-wave of our voices continually
travels around and around the world; therefore, then our voice, what we say
will be our judgment. Our testimony will rise right against us. Our own voices will echo in our own ears at
the judgment bar of God when His great instrument catches every voice that's
been spoke--every word that's been muttered.
You know people today think
they will bypass the judgment because they believe that “I
believe the Message, therefore I will not go through the judgment”. Listen friends, You will be judged
for your backbiting and character assassinations that you do on the telephone
or from lip to ear. It matters not if a human records what you are saying, it
is being recorded and you will be guilty, unless you ask forgiveness for your
transgression. And don’t think that asking God to forgive you is enough. When the woman had committed adultery, and came for prayer, brother Branham refused
to pray for him, she said I asked God to forgive me, and he said, but you
didn’t sin against God you sinned against your spouse.
And so we are guilty if we
get on the phone to talk about others, and not go to that person and ask
forgiveness. The Bible way says, “If you see one taken in fault, you are to go
to him and him alone”
and then if he will not hear you, then you are to take two, and then after twice trying to get the
brother to come right, then you can tell it to the church. But what if you tell it to the church first?
Without first going the way God ordained for you? That becomes a transgression
in itself against that person, and against the church for gossiping. Too many
preachers use the pulpit to gossip and then try to justify themselves with
Scripture taken out of context, saying they are watching out for the peoples
souls? How about watching out for your own soul. William Branham prophet of God
said, “One word off and is Satan’s kingdom.” Therefore, “one word off” either get’s you tribulation or your
name taken from the book of Life.
But what do they do? They
tell it to the church first and then explain it later in detail to those church
members who have itching ears who want to know the details on the latest
gossip. But will these brethren approach the brother they are trying to destroy
first, before talking to them? Are you kidding? And why not? Because they are
afraid to lest they find out what they heard about that brother is not exactly
what was actually said. You see if you Love one another you will always give
that person the benefit of the doubt. The Bible says, we are to “believe
all things,” and Paul
said “we are all things in Christ”.
QA God
being misunderstood COD 61-0723E P:30 You see, we misjudge these
things so many times. Let's always try
to think the very best of anybody who's trying to do what's right. Let's
express our very best to them. Oh, they're trying. We don't know their heart, unless you have a discernment. And if
they're wrong, then if you got... The Bible said, "If
a brother be overtaken in a fault, let them which are spiritual go to that
brother in a spirit of meekness, considering your own self lest you be tempted,
and see if you can't reconcile that person (See?)
back to God." Don't say that they haven't
got the right spirit, 'cause...
Why are
we not a denomination? 58-0927 P:128 If a man's in the wrong, go to him and be reconciled. If you can't be reconciled, take somebody
with you. No wonder God can't discipline His church, 'cause you're not
doing it right. Instead of getting on the phone and talking about this one,
what taken place, and little cults and so forth, around like that. Instead of
doing that, why don't you do what the
Bible says? If some brother's been overtaken in a fault,
go to him and see if you can't get reconciled with him.
"Well, now he did me..." I
don't care what he did, go to him anyhow. It didn't say for him to come to you. You go to him if he's wrong. You say, "Well,
he was in the wrong, he ought to come to me." That's not what the Bible said. The Bible said for you go to him. If
he's wrong, you go to him. And then if he won't listen to you, then take
somebody with you as a witness. And then if he won't see that witness, then,
say, now I'll take your pastor. Then you tell him, say, "I'm going to tell it to the church, and in
thirty days from now, if you brethren haven't made that up... This brother
here's willing to be reconciled. You won't do it. And if you won't make that up
within thirty days, then what's going to happen, you're no more one of us."
Galatians
6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted.
Now Paul said “Love is not easily angered”, that
means Love has a
long fuse. And Paul adds to this, and “love keeps no record of wrong”; That
is one of the greatest attributes about the Love of Christ is that “love holds no grudges”.
It does not keep a record of wrongs Love has a capacity to forget.
1 Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I
give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have
not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is
not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does
not delight in evil but rejoices in
truth. 7 It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never
fails.
Way to
have fellowship 55-1009 P:18 I'd rather have a church... Listen, just a
moment. I would rather have a church
that knows nothing about any spiritual gift, and just be so in love with each
other and with Christ, I'd rather have that than every spiritual gift operating
in the church. Now, that might sound hard in a Pentecostal group, but I
would rather have it. Where there is gifts, they'll fail. Where there is gifts,
they'll bring confusion. Where there is gifts, they can be questioned. But where there is love, it is perfect.
That's right. And if you had perfect
love you'd have perfect gifts. That's right.
So what Life are you
echoing today? What words are you echoing today? Because what you echo today
will be played back at the white throne judgment. Then if all our words are the
Words of our Father, God, then won't it be a wonderful experience at the White
throne judgment? Won't it be wonderful for our Father God, and all the saints,
and all the angels to hear our Father's words being repeated back at that time
as our Life is reviewed before all to see? Then what will your echo be? Will it
be His own words being spoken from your mouth? Or will it be worldly echoes?
Worldly songs of lust and sin? Will we all hear songs of praises at that day?
Or will we hear country song lyrics when your life is played back for everyone
to hear?
1 John 5:12
that says, He that echoes the
Son echoes life; and he that echoes not the Son of God echoes not life.
In other words our life in
Christ becomes an echo of the Father's Words for everyone to hear. For the Son
of God echoes forth the Words of the Father and when we echo His Words we are
echoing the Words of Life.
And did you know that the
Son of God was so single focused that He shut out everything that was not from
the Father?
Remember when we spoke on
the parable that Jesus told. Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the
eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. I and remember when we studied this
parable we found that he is not speaking if we have but one eye like a Cyclops,
but rather when he says : if therefore thine eye be single he is speaking of
our being single focused. And if we are single focused as Jesus was single
focused, then we will be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, (that means if your focus becomes
deviated from the Truth) thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If
therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
To see
Jesus 54-0718E P:52 Now, you know me, that I only have a
grammar school education. I know nothing of psychology. I know nothing about
medics. I know nothing about the anatomy. Only thing I know, I love the Lord
Jesus Christ with all my heart. That's all I know. I'm uneducated, illiterate,
and I have no abilities of my own, not even, a normal personality. That's
right. But I know one thing, and I'm thankful for that: I know how to submit myself that Jesus Christ can work through me.
I'd rather have that than all your education that there is in the world. I'd rather know how to submit myself to the
Spirit of God, and say, "Lord, here I am." I'd rather have that
secret in my heart, than have the secret of every hydrogen and atomic bomb in
the world, or could be made. For it's more powerful than all the atomic
bombs that could be thought of. So under His everlasting wings, I take my
refuge tonight, and in the Name of Jesus Christ, I minister to the sick. The
Lord bless you.
Questions
and answers COD 54-0103M P:67 Now, look, if there's... If this church...
If I'd say, this morning in this little group of people and I... God say,
"Now look, William Branham, I'm going to make you answer for that group of
people, what you tell them. Now, do you want them all to shout?" "Sure,
I want them to shout." "Do you want them all to speak with
tongues?" "I want every one of them to." "Do you want them
all to dance in the Spirit?" "I want every one of them to." "All
right, well, that's very good, but what would you rather have them to do?"
Uh-huh." I'd rather have a church
that had such a burden on their heart for prayer that they just stayed at this
altar and would be here day and night, and everything else; and in their house,
was constantly in prayer, and humble, and trying to get people to come to God,
and making calls at the hospital, and visiting the sick, and trying to get
people to come to church and do right. I'd rather have that than all the other
put together; although the other is right, it belongs in the church."
I was
not disobedient to the heavenly vision 49-0718 P:12 I'd
rather be poor and live in a shack and have favor with God, and the feeling
that I had the satisfaction I love Him, than all the wealth the world owns.
Abraham
and his seed after him 61-0423 P:23 Now, there's many people that
actually think that they're right. But if they'd just stop and watch your life,
you'd see the Spirit of God isn't in there. If it doesn't cope with this Bible,
then there's something wrong with the experience that you have. So you must
come back and line up with the Word to see if the Life of God is in you. If you love the world better than you love
prayer meeting, if you'd rather watch a television program than to pray,
there's something wrong with you. If you'd rather take a Sunday afternoon ride
instead of going to church, there's something wrong with you somewhere. "Because
where your heart is, there your treasures are also,"
said the Lord Jesus. Your heart is built into it. You're a part of it. You become a part of Christ, because you're
built into the structure of Christ, because you're the Bride of Christ, if
you love Him.
What is
that in thine hand 55-0611 P:43 I'd rather have a old experience... I rather my boy would get with a man that
didn't know his A-B-C's, and take him out him on a hillside by an old stump
somewhere, and pray him through to an old fashion Holy Ghost experience,
than to send him to all the schools there is in the country, that would take
the power of God and the blessings of God out of his life. Amen. Right. Yes,
sir.
God
perfecting His church 54-1204 P:37 No wonder we see this great
civilization that we live in a crumbling and falling. It's because they have
blasphemed and walked over the
principles of the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. And they set up great
big, cold formal churches. Walk into
them, the spiritual thermometer goes seventy below zero. Somebody say, "Amen," they stretch their neck
around like it was a gander somewhere dying, and look around. And they don't know no more about God than a
rabbit knows about snowshoes. And they get out there and claim to be
something with a D.D.D. double L., Ph.D. on the back of their name. Why
brother, that don't mean you're any closer to God. I'd rather have an old plow boy couldn't say his ABC's, teaching my
children the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, than all the D.D.'s in the
world that knows nothing about God. Nothing to your theology...
Law
having a shadow 54-1203 P:78 If there's anything I never want to meet
God, I'd rather meet Him a sinner, than
a hypocrite, for I'd be lost either way.
Will I
find faith when I return 51-0508 P:43 And if there's anybody that I didn't like, why, I would try to make it
right with them. And I'd try to be as sincere and act like a Christian as
much as I can, be at my home or anywhere. Everywhere I go I've always tried to
do what was right, and try to live what I speak about and talk about. And I'd rather any man would live me a sermon
than preach me one. For we're written epistles, read of all men. I'd rather live right, and have my name up
clear, where my Master could say, "He's a Christian," and the
people say, "He's a Christian. I don't know one thing I ever seen him do
wrong." And or something on that order...
Works
that I do bear witness of me 51-0413 P:29 I said, "Brother, I know
the Author better than I know His Book." Amen. I'd rather have the Author
anyhow anytime. His Book's fine. That's right. But I'd rather know the Author. Wouldn't you? And you know Him by the love..."Though I speak with tongues as
men and Angels, and have not charity, it profits me nothing."
That's right. Now, I'm not against speaking in tongues; I'm not against any of
God's gifts, or any of His blessings, or the Holy Spirit. I'm just saying,
we're leaving off that one thing that's more important than all: That's the
love of God (Amen.) that makes us one in Christ Jesus.
Presuming
62-0117 P:89 If I wanted a man to teach my children, to
leave them under his tutorship, and things like that, and my brother, my
mother, and someone that I'm expecting to meet over on the other land, I'd rather have a man that didn't know his
abc's when it comes to the intellectual standpoint. I'd rather he'd know Christ
(That's right.) as Saviour. Yes, sir. Whether he could preach, or stand up
and slobber and everything else, wouldn't make me no difference. If he wore
overalls in the pulpit, what difference does that make? Trouble of it is, we got too dressy, and fashion, and...
Pentecostals. We just...It's just all of us. We're just going to be consumed if
we don't do something about this. We need prayer meetings. We need back to the
power of God. Yes, sir.
Presuming
62-0117 P:83 I'd rather separate myself from a group of
people that calls themselves Christians that'll call me old fashion (if I was a
woman) 'cause I had to wear--wear long hair and decent looking clothes. I'd rather separate myself and be a fanatic,
than to associate with such people that would laugh and make fun of such things
as that. Why, it's an abomination in the sight of God. That's right.
Getting
in the spirit 61-0428 P:47 I don't care if the man's wrong. If he's
wrong and sincere in his heart and you're right in your belief and you're wrong
in acting the way you're acting. I'd rather be in his place than be in yours.
That's right. I'd rather be wrong in my doctrine and right in my heart. God
will respect it more. So if a man is wrong, what of it? Help him. He needs
help. Love him. If you can't love your enemy the same as you love those who
love you, you're no better off than the publicans. That's right. That's what
the Church has failed to get. I hope you get it tonight. I hope you see what
I'm talking about.
Be not
afraid it is I 61-0123 P:38 I had another call said, from a group that
said, "If you let another group set on the platform with you, we'll have
nothing to do with it." That's worse off then ever. What's the matter?
Gone off without Him. The love of God in our heart constrains us to reach to
every denomination in every place. When
it gets to a spot that you can't have a tender love for every human being,
something's happened to you. God so loved you when you was a sinner, an
alien, away from God, a enemy of the commonwealth of God, He so loved you that
He gave His life for you, sure. If you
get a spirit in you, you're better than someone else, then you're worse than
anybody else that I know of. I don't
care if you're ever so correct in your theology; your motives and objectives is
wrong. I'd rather be wrong in my theology, than be wrong in my heart.
That's right. Spirit of God dwells in your heart. In the garden of Eden man
took his--go--his... He compromised. Now, in the garden of Eden there was a
choice made by the man. The devil took
his head; God took his heart. Then he sends him off to a seminary, freezes him up with some good theology and
dehydrates him in there, and he comes back out, his head all puffed up, too
big to wear an ordinary hat. Then he
comes out with bitterness in his heart against the fellow citizen of the
Kingdom, that ain't God. That's right.
Queen of
Sheba 61-0119E P:21 "I'd rather be down there begging and
drinking branch water, than eating chicken three times a day, and my name in
gold on this temple here, and know I was in error. I'd rather he
truthful." "
Uncertain
sound 60-1218 P:58 I'd
rather be a pastor of a little old rackled-up
building like this, where the power of God meets with the people, where the
Church comes together with those things like that, than to have the biggest
cathedral there is in all the world to preach in, with a lukewarm bunch of
cold, professed, so-called Christians, that have to watch what every word you say. And you can't preach by inspiration; you have to have it so-so, and watch
every judge and every doctor and everything in there, so you don't say
something to hurt their feelings, because they're big payers on the church.
I'll take the way with the Lord's despised few. See? You can't evaluate it.
There's no way of doing it.
What
hearest thou Elijah 59-0609 P:27 If God called you to preach, preach if you
stand alone. Preach anyhow. God spoke to you. Stand out there and preach. It's
your God given right. I'd rather listen
to a man like that, than have all--one that had all the D.D.'s and Ph.D.'s
behind him. That's what's ruined the church today. It's went after class, and
cults, and societies. Them things are all right, but it don't belong in a house
of God. God wants God sent men, anointed from heaven that's heard the story of
God and been filled with His Spirit, that stands upon the convictions of his
heart.
Jehovah
Jireh 58-0127 P:30 I'd rather have someone preaching in my
church, that didn't even know his ABC's or knowed split peas from coffee. If he
knowed Christ in the power of His resurrection, I'd rather have him, than all
the students and scholars that these incubators could hatch out in their
theological machines.
Thirsting
for life 57-0613 P:56 I wished I had the love of God in my heart
in such a way, that's what I want, to present the Gospel to the people in such
a way they'd just fall and receive Christ. I'd
rather have that, than all the gifts of healing and everything else there is in
the Bible. Give me love and take the
rest of it. Let me love Him. That's what I want to do, is love Him. I'm
thankful for the little portion.