The Doctrine of Christ no 35
“Am I being critical or just
discerning?”
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
December 3rd, 2011
Hebrews
4: 12 For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither
is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we
have to do.
Prayer
Hebrews
4 tells us that the Word
of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart
and I would like to focus our thinking on these thoughts as we read from Christ Revealed in
His Own Word. 66 Now, notice. And there is not any error in the Scriptures.
Jesus, the Word of God, perceives the thought that's in the heart. The Word of
God is stronger, sharper, Hebrews 4:12: "The Word of God is
sharper, more powerful than a two-edged sword, even a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the mind." See? Goes way down into the mind, and pulls out, and
discerns. What is "discern"?
"Make known, reveal out."
And that's what the Word of God does. Today we say, "The Catholic church
is the Word of God, the Baptists, the Methodists, the Pentecostal, the
tabernacle." That's wrong. The Word is the revelation, God revealed by the
Word.
We find in looking at the Word of God that we are told
that God’s Word is a discerner,
And this word discerner comes from a Greek
word, Kritikos
which sounds like our English equivalent critical. The word Kritikos
means “relating
to judging, fit for judging and skilled in judging.” This word
as applied in this scripture tells us that “the Word
of God is quick in discriminating and passing judgment on the thoughts and feelings.”
Now, just because a person may be critical in their
nature doesn’t mean the same thing as what we are looking at here. Because with
this word “Kriticos”, or critical not only means a judging,
but it also means “fit for and skilled at judging.” Now,
I’ve met people over the years who’ve been very critical in their nature of
just about everyone and everything. But that form of criticism is far from
Discernment.
What those people show is they are aware of details
that differ from their own thinking and how they feel every detail should be.
In other words, they have their own absolute and they are it. But with
this word kritikos speaks of a discerning that is
fit to judge and a discerning that is
skilled at judging. And the reason for this is because the
absolute is the One which God Himself set forth as our standard. And that is
His own Word.
Therefore we are not looking at something that is a
great mysterious thing, here. But we are simply looking at God’s Own Words,
(which are His Thoughts expressed) and this Word is our standard. Then anything
that would run contrary to this Absolute, we are commanded to assess and
properly assigned it’s origin. And to make things even simpler, God has told us
that anything that is contrary to His thoughts and His Words has it’s source
from the devil himself.
In 1 John 4:1 we are commanded to test the spirits. 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
This word “try”
that’s used here is a word which means to “prove or discern, to
examine and scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not. And then after examination, if it passes the test, then
we are to receive it as genuine and we are to approve it and deem it as worthy. And so we find that this trying of
the spirits is a complete process that we must go through in
order to come to this conclusion. We find this process is not just to make a
determination as to authenticity and genuineness of the spirit, but we are to
come to this decision with a purpose in mind, and that purpose is to separate
out whatever is not of God from those things which are from God., Then we are
to not only accept what is from God, but going beyond mere acceptance, we are
also to deem it worthy which means to judge it as valuable to us for our use.
Now what are these spirits that we are to discern and
judge? The word is Pneuma and that is the word
which is used of the three fold man. We speak of His Body, Soul and Spirit, and
when we speak of his spirit we are speaking of His pneuma.
The spirit is the influence by which we are governed in our soul. Brother
Branham taught us that in our spirit we have five inner senses.
|
1) Memory
= the
ability to retain or revive in the mind past thoughts, images. ideas |
|
2) Imagination
= the power to form a
mental image of what is not actually present. |
|
3) Reasoning
= The ability
to draw conclusions or inference from assumed facts. |
|
4) Conscience
= The moral sense. Knowledge from within. Inner
thoughts and feelings. |
|
5) Affection
= The
emotional state or disposition. The prevailing aspect of our nature. |
We have found that these five inner senses make up our
spirit and control and influence our being. And it is this influence that we
are told to try, to put to the test, and
examine and scrutinize with the purpose of
finding out from what source it originates. Basically to see whether it
is from God or from the devil and then to deal with it accordingly. If it is of
the devil, then we are to flee from that influence. But, if it is from God then
we are to receive it and accept it and make use of it as we would something
that is of value to us.
Notice that this scripture begins by telling us, no,
commanding us not to believe everything we are told, but we are first told to
examine from where this influence is coming from, then we are to either receive
it as from God, or we are to reject it
as from the devil. In other words, if
the person does not have their source in God we are not to believe anything
they may tell us.
You might say, “Yes, but I thought we are to believe
all things, and hope for all things like the scripture tells us in
Corinthians.” Because then we will have love.
Well, let’s just see what the scripture does tell us, for after all,
don’t take my word for it, you must have Bible, God’s Word for what we accept
and put into practice.
1
John 4: 4-6 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater
is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They
are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth
God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit
of truth, and the spirit of error.
Notice that the world will hear them but not those who
are of God. And the world will not hear God’s seed either. But I want you to
pay close attention to verse 6. John is telling us that those who are of God
will hear those who are from God. And in discerning who is from God
and who is not from God you will know also the difference between truth and
error.
1
John 4: 1 - 2 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Now does this mean that everyone who uses the words Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is born of
God? If it did then it would be speaking of every denominational person who
claims to be a Christian. But this is not what this scripture is telling us at
all. If you read carefully what this verse tells us, it says, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:” And this is what we want to know, right? What is
the Spirit of God and what is not? Then he tells us how to tell the difference.
He says, “He that confesseth”
.... and that word confesseth was translated from the
Greek word, Homologeo which comes from two
Greek Words, the first being the Greek word Homo
which simply means the same, and the second word Logos which means “The Word”
or the expressed thoughts. And so this scripture tells us that “he that
says the same things as what the Father has said about Jesus Christ coming into
flesh, It is He that has the Spirit of God. In other words, the echo must be
the same words with the same inflection of spirit.
Now, there are those in this message who try to place
the Fullness of the Godhead in the Bride and by doing so they are not saying
what God has said, and what His Son has said, now what the Apostle Paul has
said. Nor God has revealed to us through the Shout which is the Revelation of
Jesus Christ which is what we are to confess or say the same thing that He said
about Himself. And this is how you identify who is of God and who is not. “By
what they are saying”. As Brother Branham said, “You give them the Word test.”
In the First Church Age the people gave the false
apostles the word test and found them to be liars. And so in getting back to what John told us
let’s again turn back to 1 John 4: and
let’s read verse 3.
And every spirit
that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye
have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Now, notice what he is telling us here. If a man
teaches the coming into flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ in any other way than
what we are taught by God Himself, then that man proves himself to be anti
Christ. Therefore those spirits who would make themselves to be the Living Word
of the Living God, telling the people that the fullness of the Godhead is in the Bride as though it is
in them, are antichrist unless they are backed up and vindicated by God
Himself. And in this case these men have
no more vindication than Jannes and Jambres had. And that spirit who would
pervert the Godhead to make it two
spirits, one a feminish spirit and the other a masculine spirit, is also an
anti Christ spirit as well.
But as you full well know that these things were
spoken of to come in this hour.
1
Tim 4: 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Notice they speak these things knowing full well they
are teaching wrong, but notice also their consciences are seared. You can’t
tell them they’re wrong. They’ll do what they want and that’s all there is to
it.
1
John 4: 4-6 Ye are of God, little children,
and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is
in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the
world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth
God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit
of truth, and the spirit of error.
Notice that the world will hear them but not those who
are of God. And the world will not hear God’s seed either. But I want you to
pay close attention to verse 6. John is telling us that those who
are of God will hear those who are from God. And in discerning who is
from God and who is not from God you will know also the difference between
truth and error.
Now we know that at this end time Appearing of our
Lord Jesus Christ, we are to see Him and in seeing Him as He really is we will
take on the same nature as He. This we find in many scriptures including, Colossians 3:4, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3: 2-3, 1 Corinthians
13: 12 etc.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall
appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. We will phaneroo with him in the same doxa, the same
values, opinions and judgments.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.
1 John 3: 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. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 Corinthians 13: 12 For now we see
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then
shall I know even as also I am known.
Now what attribute is there that will be the
predominant attribute of Christ in this hour?
In what manner did He show Himself when the Fullness of the Revelation
was made known to us? What manifestation did God use to show us this attribute?
What did the Prophet do that manifested this attribute? The first sign was in
the hand and then what? The very thoughts would be
exposed. Which is Hebrews 4, the Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart. Right?
So what was the last attribute of Himself that He made
known in this hour? In order to know this we must look at what happened in
other times in the Bible that were types of this hour. And so we ask the
question, what did Jesus tells us Himself would happen at the end-time.
Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the
Son of man is revealed.
Brother Branham referred to this scripture more than
others because of it’s significance tot he setting. The setting in the days of
From pp. 202 [Identified Christ of all ages], 64-0617 brother Branham said, "The Presence of Jesus Christ, which ought to
illuminate the church, to know that in this last days where creeds and denominations
and isms and everything has got the Word all smothered out, and Jesus the Word on the outside of the
church, [Rev 3: 20, James 5:
7-9, John 12: 48, 2 Thes 1: 7-10 , Matt 16:27,] and to see Him come right back
among the people and identify Himself as He promised, "in the last
days when the Son of man is being revealed." He was revealed in the
baptism; He was revealed in Divine healing; here He is in His last attribute. Remember, that was the
last thing that Abraham saw before the fire fell and Judged the Gentile world, and before the promised son came
on the scene, Isaac. This is the last thing that the Christian church will see,
in the sign of miracle, until the appearing of Jesus Christ. If God has give me
favor before you, believe me in the Name of the Lord, there is nothing else left
in the Bible to be done but take on the mark of the beast; and you have the
Seal of God. And What did Abraham call him? He said, Shall not the Judge of the
earth do right?
So we see that the Judge has once again come down in
the Form of The Word to judge amongst the Living and the dead. For if He must
bring forth a resurrection, then He must have already chosen who will come
forth and He is here to execute this Judgment. This is why in his Message [Perfect Faith] he could
say we are "standing before the White Throne, now."
Again we notice brother Branham's gift of discernment.
And what is discernment but a judging. And Who Judges but a Judge. And this is
why brother Branham made such a point in
showing the people the Picture in [Life Magazine] of the Cloud of angels which
made up God's White Wig, which he called the "Supreme Judge". Unless the
people can see that the Judge is here, they won't understand the last attribute
that God is manifesting to them before we are caught up to meet Jesus His Son in
the air. This we shall study this more in the chapter on the Glory [Doxa] of
Christ.
Rev
3: 14-21 14 And
unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know
thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou
mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne.
James
5: 7-9 Be patient therefore, brethren,
unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious
fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early
and latter rain. 8 Be
ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest
ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
John
12: 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one
that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the
last day.
Matthew
3: 12 Whose
fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge
his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff
with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 7: 15-23
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye
shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can
a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every
tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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. 22 Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast
out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Matthew
13: 24-30 Another parable put he forth
unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a
man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men
slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But
when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares
also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir,
didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He
said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou
then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up
also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of
harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind
them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew
13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude
away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare
unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He
answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed
is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the
kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that
sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers
are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so
shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man
shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all
things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew
13:47-49 Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and
gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down,
and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come
forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Matthew
25: 1-11 Then
shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their
lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And
five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were
foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But
the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While
the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And
at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to
meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and
trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto
the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered,
saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us
and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they
that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.11 Afterward came also the other virgins,
saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
2:
Thessalonians 1: 7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us,
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ: 9 Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall
come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Let us pray