The Doctrine of Christ no 27
“What does your attitude
reflect?”
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
November 5th, 2011
Let us remain standing for the reading of the Word of
God.
Romans
8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps
in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but
the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings
which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind
of the Spirit is, because He
makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And
we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those
who are the called according to His
purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also
called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these
He also glorified.
Let us pray: Dear
Gracious and loving Father, we come to Thee tonight not only as our God but
also as our Loving Father who reigns supreme over all the heavens and earth.
And we know Father that you are the sovereign King, the only immortal King, and
we know that whatsoever you have declared by Your Eternal Word, it shall surely
come to pass exactly as you declared it to be. Help us Father to simply yield
our selves to your Word, and may our Voice be in one accord as we say the words
Mary said when your Divine presence overshadowed her and brought forth into
conception your firstborn son. As she said, “be it done unto me according to
Your Word”, may we echo those same words. And as Jesus Christ Your eldest son
in this cast family of brothers said, “Not my will but Thy will be done,” Even
so we speak the same words oh God. Help us this evening as we come to this
communion service to simply let go and let God. May we yield to Your Word that
said all things will work out for our good and also you promise to us that we
are to be conformed to the Image of your eldest son in this vast family of
brothers. For we ask it in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.
This evening I would like to continue on our thoughts
about what it means to be a Christian and we know by what we have already read
tonight from the Word of God that we are to be conformed to the image of
Christ, and we know that the early church were called Christians because they
were Christ –Like.
Therefore in this great hour that we are living, an
hour where it seems people everywhere are under so much stress that they seem
to be loosing control of their emotional calm just about every which way you
turn. And as a result we see revolutions in almost every country around the
world, because the people can not take the amount of daily stress that seems to
be increasing every single day. But this is also the hour that we shall see the
Second Coming of Christ, and we know our deliverance is soon to come for us. Yet
in this late hour we find there are still so many promises of God that have not
yet been fulfilled for God’s Elect Seed. And we are waiting patiently for them.
One of these promises what we read for our text
tonight, that we are ordained to be conformed to the image of the first born
son. Now, that is a pretty great promise considering that Jesus, the first born
and uniquely born son of God, came forth in the image of God His Father,
Himself. So that would indicate to us then the image we are to conformed to is
that image of God that was displayed in his First born son.
Now, with such a great promise, it behooves us to get
ourselves out of the way, so that God can bring to pass this victory in the
love Divine.
Now, this image we are
to be conformed to is not a physical image. What I mean by that is that is not
the image the scripture speaks of. Jesus said in John
4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.
Therefore the Image we are to be conformed to has to
do with our spirit reflecting His Spirit.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:5 Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
And he Apostle Peter spoke of the same thin in 1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for
us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise
with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from
sin;
And again the Apostle Paul said in 1
Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak
the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Again he said in Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your
own conceits.
Romans
15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another
according to Christ Jesus:
2
Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be
of good comfort, be of one mind,
live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Now, we have read many
Scriptures where God is wanting for us to be of one mind, and not just any mind will do. He wants us to
have the same mind that was in Christ. And that can not come any other way that
taking God’s Word into your heart.
The Greek word for the
English word mind that we just read about is “phroneo”,
pronounced “fron-eh'-o”, and means “not only
to think, not just unreasoned opinion, but rather the way you think, to be
minded in a certain way, or be mindful, specifically concerning moral interest
and reflecting upon it, Thus it
really refers to our attitude. And we find that our attitude is a very
important part of our worship and belief system, and it is of utmost importance
in how others see us, or in what light they see us.
From brother Branham
sermons, LORD I
BELIEVE 53-0901 E-19 he said, “No one ever come to Christ in the right
attitude, but what went away with what they asked for.”
Therefore, not only
does this hold true with God, but it also holds true with our family and wit
our friends as well. It is our attitude that determines our reward.
From his sermon, The resurrection 53-1205
E-26 Brother Branham said, “You say, "Will God stand and judge me at
the day of judgment?" No, your attitude towards Him now, you're judging yourself. God has
already pronounced, "The day you eat
thereof that day you die." That just
settles it. He has to stay by that; He don't have to pronounce any more judgment.
Your attitude towards it is the recompense.
What you think of His way of escape, if you refuse to walk in His way, then
you're already judging yourself as you judge Him.
Now this word
recompense means to award compensation. So what you receive from God is directly related to how you act towards
His Word. You believe it and accept it, you receive the blessings of it. You
hear it, and reject it by not paying attention to it, and you will receive His
wrath and judgment. You see, he has already told us what to do and not do in
His Word. In Deuteronomy 28 he also tells us that our attitude towards His Word
is what determines whether you receive blessings or cursing.
Therefore the attitude
we have towards God’s Word is critical to what we receive from God. Therefore,
it is most important that we have a right attitude. And what better attitude
could we have than the attitude of Christ Himself. Thus in the Book of Philippians,
we find Paul saying, 2:5 Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus, and from the New International
Version it reads, “Let this attitude that was in Christ be in You.”
Therefore what we are
looking at tonight is our own attitudes, and what of course what our attitude is
reflecting to God and to others.
The apostle Paul said
in Philippians
2:1 ¶ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, (and this word consolation
means to allay and sorrow or grief. That means if there is anything that can
reduce our sorrow and grief) if there be any
comfort of love, if there be any
fellowship of the Spirit, if there
be any sympathy and mercies, 2 Fullfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things,
(don’t be self serving, don’t be self centric) but every
man focus your thoughts on the needs of others.
And when you have
reached the condition where you are not out for yourself, when you are no
longer self seeking, when you have learned to humble your own self instead of
God having to humble you, and when your focus is on the needs of others, rather
than on your own needs, then you are in a condition where God can begin to mold
His image into you, and bring you into conformity with the image of His own
son. Why? Because, now you are ready to receive the mind that was in Christ.
From his sermon, Demonology 1 Physical
53-0608A P:23 brother Branham said, “I realize as I treat the people I'm treating God. Just my attitude towards you is my attitude towards Christ. And your attitude towards me is the same thing
(That's right.), towards Christ.”
Now, we took for our
text tonight several Scriptures that speak of having the same mind one with
another. Now, this does not speak of everyone becoming a bunch of mindless
robots having no mind of your own, but rather speaks of having the
same attitude towards one another as Christ had for us. Therefore when
we read this word “Phroneo” in the scripture it speaks of “the attitude we are expressing”.
In Romans 8
and Philippians
3, we find it speaks of our not having the attitude of the world,
but rather of the Spirit.
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. (Notice how your walking either after the flesh or
after the Spirit is directly tied into your mind and attitude.) 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 (right-wise-ness) 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 mind 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.
PHILIPPIANS 3:19 Whose
end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their
shame, who mind earthly things.
And we are told if we
have and the wrong attitude, God through His Holy Spirit will bring your
attitude around to the right way of thinking.
PHILIPPIANS 3:15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be
thus minded: (with the same attitude)
and if
in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
GALATIANS 5:10 I
have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his
judgment, whosoever he be.
PHILIPPIANS 1:27 ¶ Only let your conversation be
as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else
be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind (with the same attitude) striving together for the faith of the gospel;
PHILIPPIANS 4:2 I
beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind (with the same attitude) in the
Lord.
COLOSSIANS 3:1¶ If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God. 2 Set your affection (Set
your attitude) on things above, not on things on the earth.
Matthew 13:54 And
when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his
brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And
his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they
were offended (displeased) in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his
own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works
there because of their unbelief.
Notice that in His own
country among His own people he could not work many mighty miracles, because of
their unbelief. They would not accept Him to be anything other than what they
saw him as a boy, the son of Joseph and Mary. They could not accept that He had
come from God. They were too close to him, He had become too common to them.
Brother Branham said in his sermon, Proving
His word 65-0426 P:12 “before we pray for the sick, we've got to
get the people in that attitude. It's
the attitude that always brings the results. It's the attitude that you
take towards God. Here's a woman touched His garment; she was healed with a
blood issue. A soldier spit in His face, and put a crown of thorns on His head,
and felt no virtue. It's your approach.
The attitude is what it takes. And
that's what it is tonight, dear friend; it
takes the attitude. We are, and
believe that we are in the Presence of Jesus Christ, but it's your attitude
that brings the results. The mechanics is here and so is the dynamics. If
you can just get started, God will do the rest.”
And from his
And in closing from his sermon, Awakening
Jesus 63-0117 P:34 brother Branham said, “See,
the mental attitude you take towards it will bring... Now, the mind won't do
it, but if you give that attitude towards something's got life in it, then that life comes down and does it. Not your mental attitude that only brings
you in the Presence of Him. That's what you do. Your mind... The five
senses is all right as long as they don't deny God.
But you see, what people fail to recognize is that God’s word is a seed,
and it must produce what the life in that seed is ordained to produce. And your
attitude is the field in which that seed is placed. And if your attitude is
correct it will have a wonderful atmosphere that will bring that seed to life.
But if the atmosphere is stony and hard that seed will never come to life. I
hope you se what I am trying to get you to see. If you are open to God’s Word
then God’s Word will produce in you what it was ordained to produce in your
field; Son of God in the image of the first born son. But, it’s your attitude
that will bring the results, because the seed has already been sowed and now it
is the atmosphere of the soil that will determine whether it produces life in
you or not.
Let’s bow our heads in prayer.