The Doctrine of Christ no 39

“The Life of Christ no. 2 ‘ Seed Life’ ”

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

December 25th, 2011

 

This morning I would like to do something a little different seeing this is Christmas morning. I would like to take a Christmas message, and tie it into our study on the Doctrine of Christ, and look at the significance of that day 2000 years ago when the First born son of God came into this world.

 

We see the story told to us in the first chapter of the Book of Luke. And as we read this story, I want you to notice how many people were filled with the Holy Ghost even before the day of Pentecost some thirty three years later. And I want you to notice the actions of these believers, concerning how they acted when filled with the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 1:1  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. 5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8  And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9  According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  18  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20  And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22  And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23  And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24  And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25  Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

   26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.  29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

 

Now, right here I wish to stop to compare what Zacharias said with what Mary said, and yet one of them was told that his question was in unbelief while the other was said with belief in her heart.

 

He said, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And she said, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

 

Now, both of them said almost identical statements and both of them had legitimate questions, but one was told his question was out of unbelief and the other was confirmed in belief.

 

What made the difference in this judgment? I believe it was in the way they expressed their questions. I have told you before, that an echo means to say the same thing in the same way. Not just to same the same thing, but to say it with the same inflexion, and same manner and tone.

 

You could say “Jesus Christ is the Son of God!” and the way you say it with an exclamation point behind it shows you really mean it in your heart, or you could say the same words with a question mark at the end, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God?” and it shows you don’t believe it at all.

 

And so I believe the tone and demeanor showed skepticism on the part of Zacharias even though he was a genuine believer, yet his attitude was not right, and we see the same thing today.

Brother Branham said we could have our doctrine right but if our heart is not right with it, then we would be better off with wrong doctrine and a right heart. Let me read you the quote so you won’t go away misquoting me on this.

 

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.

 

That’s right and don’t think that is just some obscure out of the norm quote from Brother Branham, he said I’d rather be in his shoes than yours. And that quote goes right along with another from his sermon, Way to have fellowship 55-1009 P:18  where he said, “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 work first with love. That brings fellowship, and fellowship brings gifts. Now, the reason... Why is it that people perhaps like different things, like fellowship? Is because, first, man was made to fellowship. Now, just think of tonight... As much as I long to go hunting and fishing in the outdoors, yet, my heart is more hungry to get on top of that mountain and talk to God than anything I know of. See, I want to be alone; I want to know there's nobody a hundred miles from me. And I love people, but the only way I can minister to people is to first get the message from God.

 

Now, listen friends, this is Christmas, and the Christmas Message is John 3:16 right? “for God so loved the world he gave His only begotten son.”

 

In his sermon, God's Gifts always find Place 63-1222 P:79 brother Branham said “I want to wish each one of you a very merry Christmas: May the great Christmas Present, the first one and the only and the original and the only one there is, Jesus Christ, be afresh in your heart tonight. May the Holy Spirit come to you and bring you ministering gifts and things from God, a gift that you might live a better life. That's what I want. I would rather have the Life of Christ in me to live sweet and victorious than I would all the gifts of healing, the gifts of prophecies, all them other gifts; just give me Jesus. Let me live the Life. The Life is what I want to live. I want to live so others will know. That's my desire at Christmas, and I pray that's your desire. And I pray that God will give us His desire.

 

So we are looking at the life of the Holy Ghost church thi9s morning, because we know that the Holy Ghost is the same yesterday, today and forever. God changes not, and if His Life lives out in one vessel a certain way , it must live itself out in other vessels the same way. For God-Life is God-Life. And as Brother Vayle always taught me, “get your eyes off the vessel and focus on the God who is using that vessel.” And so that is what we are here to do this morning, to look at the different vessels in Whom the Holy Spirit of God indwelt.

 

Now, in getting back to our Christmas Message, let’s pick up at verse 35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37  For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44  For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45  And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.  46  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57  Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59  And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60  And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61  And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62  And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63  And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64  And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65  And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.  66  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,  78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,  79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

 

Luke Chapter 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21  And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33  And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.  39  And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43  And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44  But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45  And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48  And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50  And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51  And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 

Then in Chapter 3 we hear the rest of the story. The young cousins have grown up, John and Jesus, and the Life of the Holy Ghost that was in each at birth comes into it’s full manifestation in there adult years. Now, it is interesting that each did not come into his full manifestation until he was 30 years old. So I guess there is still some home for the young men in this message who haven’t reached that age yet. That goes for you young guys in here as well.

 

So we are looking at the Life of the Holy Ghost in action in various people when we read this record of the birth of Christ. And never forget the law of life which is the law of reproduction which we read in Genesis 1:11 tells us that “every seed must bring forth after it’s kind. Because after all Jesus said “by their fruits you shall know them”. Let’s read it.  Matthew 7:15 Jesus said,  15 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.

And from brother Branham’s sermon, Christ is the mystery 63-0728 P:146 If I put a life of a pumpkin into the life of a pear tree, it would bear pumpkins. "By their fruits you shall know them." It's exactly right. And if first you put a tree (a grape vine), and it put out a bunch of grapes (the first shoot it put out brought grapes), the next one brought out lemons, the next one brought out pears, the next one brought out apples, there's some kind of a grafted affair in there that's bearing its own life. Every denomination will bear a life of itself. But if that original vine ever puts out another shoot, it'll bear grapes like it did the first time. And if the Life of Jesus Christ ever puts out another body of believers, it'll bear the fruit that the first one did; they'll write a Book of Acts behind it, 'cause it'll be the same Life. See, what I mean? You just can't get away from it. It's the Life of Christ in you, been injected in you by the Holy Spirit Itself, living Its Life through you. Blind leaders of the blind...

 

Now, we read a little bit this morning about that first body of believers, which brother Branham called the little bitty Church of God at the time of the birth o Christ.

 

Reproach for the word 62-1223 P:75 There's old blind Anna setting in the temple praying. The Lord revealed to her "Simeon is right." Amen! She couldn't see daylight from dark, but she could see farther than many people today that has got good eyes. She saw in the Spirit the coming Messiah was at hand, the Spirit moving in her heart. See what a little bitty church there was? Zacharias, Elisabeth, Mary, John, Anna and Simeon, six out of the millions. Like in the days of Noah; six of them. God dealt with everyone of them. They was all in harmony. They all got together. Amen.

 

Now, why is it that we do not have that same harmony today? I am just asking the question. These people all filled with the same Holy Ghost all acted the same when they heard the good news of the birth of the first born son. And we know that we are to be conformed to the image of the first born son, so I ask the question when? Are you expecting it to happen on the other side? Are you waiting for God to give you a body change before you start acting like the first born son? If you are that is why you are not being conformed to His image? You don’t have faith for it because it is not revealed to you for faith is a revelation. And if you are not expecting it, you won’t be looking for it either.

 

Now, I have been criticized by some for what I preach, and that is fine, I don’t hide what I preach, but I will not back down either for expecting the Life of the Holy Ghost to do in me what was done in others who also received the Holy Ghost. I not only am looking for it, but I expect it to take place in my mortal body before I receive a body change.

 

Why? Because every seed must bring forth after the nature of the original seed. That is why in the Spoken word is the original seed, brother Branham said, “Son of God seed will produce son of God”. And that is why Br. Billy Paul said to me that His daddy told him that his message on the spoken Word is the original Seed, is His Message all combined into that one sermon. He said if there was one sermon that contained all the Message it was that one.” Something on that order. I don’t remember the exact words but I believe that is the essence of what br. Billy Paul told me his daddy said.

 

Now, if the Pillar of fire is to lead us into the Millennium, then I believe we can walk in that Light as he is in that Light and our walking in it, not talking it, but our walking in that Light as he is in that Light brings us into fellowship with our Father and with each other.

 

And if that is so, then listen to what brother Branham said in his sermon, “It is I be not afraid 62-0726 P:89” Now, if that Light doesn't do the same works that It did when It was in the Son of God, then It isn't the same one. It isn't. But if It does do the same works... Just like I said, if you could take all the life out of a apple tree, every bit of the life, and transfer the life of a pear tree in an apple tree, it would bring forth pears (See?), because the life's in it. That's what it bears. The fruit is in the life, of course. And that's the same thing here. If you put the Life of Christ, and take the life of a sinner out, he has to die first. And then when the Life of Christ comes into him, then he will produce the Life of Christ because that's what's living in him. See? If... "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also," 'cause His Life is in him.

 

Notice brother Branham said, if that light you are following is not producing the same works that it did when it was IN Jesus then it is not the same Light that was in Him. Now, either we believe that God changes not or we believe that God does change. You can’t have it both ways. And to say I believe Alpha must repeat in Omega and to teach that God only did mighty works with Moses and Joshua who lead the people after Moses, but  God will not do them today after our Moses has left the scene, shows me that you do not understand the alpha and Omega principle.   

 

Notice what brother Branham said here, he said, “if that Light doesn't do the same works that It did when It was in the Son of God, then It isn't the same one.”

 

Notice it was IN Jesus but then when it appeared to Paul, and Peter, and John,  it did the same works with Paul and with Peter and with John as it did when it was in Christ Jesus. That same light led Peter out of Prison, and healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, healed the lame, changed nature, raised the dead, all these works of Christ in the early church, in the alpha church and The Holy Ghost is still confirming His church with signs and wonders today, nearly fifty years after William Branham has left the scene.

 

Brother Branham said in his sermon, Jesus Christ the same 61-0519 P:25 Now, Jesus said, "Wherever two or three are gathered in My Name, there I will be in the midst." Now, then that has to bring Him in our presence now. Then if He is here, the invisible Christ, then why can we not see Him like those Greeks wanted to see Him? For He is the same in every way except the corporal body. He's the same Christ. Well, how would we know that He was here? How would we understand that He was here? Now, He made these kind of promises. "A little while, and the world seeth Me no more. Yet ye shall see Me, for I will be with you, even in you to the end of the world." Now, He promised to be in His Church, working with them, "And the works that I do shall you do also; more than this shall you do, for I go unto My Father." That's Saint John, 14th chapter, I think the 8th verse. That we can do more than He could...The King James puts greater, but the original translation is more, because there's nothing any greater. He healed the sick, raised the dead, stopped nature. But where He was in one Man, God was then, now He is in His Church universal. So He can do more through the Church, than He could just in one Person.

 

Now, this quote does not do away with the fact that God did more in the ministry of William Branham than He did in the ministry of His first born son. But it also does not do away with the fact the God is working in His church universal. We have to be open minded or the Spirit of God will move on and leave us behind.

 

Meanest man I know 62-0127 P:68 So she run around in front of Him and she looked. Then she was close. That's what you want to get, just a little closer look at Him. Maybe you're looking at Him too far away. You're looking at Him way back yonder two thousand years ago. What about Him this morning? He's the same yesterday, today, and forever: same power, same signs. "The works that I do shall you also." Brother Demas awhile ago quoted it in King James, "Greater than this shall you do." But the right translation, and anyone knows, is "More than this shall you do," not greater. No one could do any greater, but more of the same great works. He raised the dead and stopped nature. Nothing else could be done any greater, but more. Why? He's in His church universal, the great holy Apostolic Pentecostal catholic church, around the world: Jesus in every member. He was only in one Man, God was then. Now, God's in His whole church. Right this hour people's being healed. Right this very minute people's receiving the Holy Ghost. If He was just standing here alone in a man form as He was then, He could only be talking to this audience. But now He talks the world over in the Holy Ghost.

 

And from his sermon, Queen of Sheba 60-0110 P:46 Oh, my. I believe the honest in heart wants to see something real. Words are fine, but will that Word work? If God made a promise of healing, will it work? If He made these promises, will it work? If He said, "The things that I do shall you do also, and more than this 'cause I go to My Father," would it work? I know the King James says "greater," but nothing could be, if you'd watch the original, it said "more." He stopped nature, raised the dead. You could no greater, but you could more of it. He was in one person then, His Son, God was, Jesus. And now He's in the church universal around the world. "More than shall you do because I go to My Father."

 

Listen, brothers and sisters, I am expecting to see more and more of the works of the Christ around the world. Not because I want to be different from others. I’m not trying to press into this. I’ve already seen it. He said the works of Christ were healing, and I’ve seen plenty of it, I’ve seen eyes that were blind able to see, I’ve seen ears that were deaf now able to hear, I’ve seen the lame and paralyzed able to walk home from the hospital bed, I’ve seen Xray’s of Cance rand the same patient with new Xray’s where there was no more cancer. I’ve seen God grown back body parts that had been sawed off by the surgeons knife, and there is plenty more, when you consider diseased people made whole and we could go on and on with what God has allowed me to see over the years on the field. And that’s only the healing aspect of the works of Christ. But he also said the works of Christ was in that He stopped nature, we saw in it William Branham’s ministry as well, and I’ve seen it in mine. Over in Uganda and eastern Congo there are at least 35 witnesses that will testify to the works of Christ in stopping nature.

 

Therefore, I am speaking first hand. I know what I am talking about. If you have the spirit of Christ in you, you will live the life Christ lived, you will do the works Christ did, and the fruits of His Spirit will be in you. I am now waiting to see the dead raised. You say that is quite a boast. Brothers, and sisters, I am not boasting in man, I am boasting in Christ and the power of His resurrection. I have seen the healing, I have seen nature stopped at command, and now I wait on God to raise the dead, somewhere, some place, to show that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And I believe it because he said I will not leave you nor forsake you, and it will happen. You watch and see. If it doesn’t I would be satisfied to know that he has allowed me to see Him heal the sick and stop nature, but I will be more pleased to see all three manifestations of His Life by also seeing the dead raised back to life.

 

He did it at least 7 times in William Branham’s ministry, once in Paul’s ministry, Twice in Martin of Tours ministry, several times in the ministry of Columba, and did you know there are over 400 recorded raising of the dead in the history of the Church? There was a young child died suddenly that brother Branham talks about where the brothers got together quickly and prayed that child back to life. Now, you might be a skeptic and say it didn’t happen but a vindicated prophet of God said it did.

 

Now, I know some are thinking, “where are you going with this preacher? What is your motive.

 

Well, let me tell you what my motive is. I see the church of the living God dying on the vine. Yes, attached to the vine but dying because they have been choked off from the life of the vine by the cares of this life. I see a people loosing their faith, loosing their vision, loosing hope, and I tell you, God has not changed. Yet the people hardly have faith to heal a cold or flu, much less Faith to move a mountain. But the mountains will move, when your motive and objective is right with God.

 

Paradox 64-0206B P:56 If the world's a turning, then you say, "He stopped the world." Well, if He stopped the world, then the science says, that gravitation, in turning, holds it up there, then the world would've dropped itself. But it went right on moving, at the hand of God. A paradox. Why? Oh, you say, "That was a long time ago." That is today, the same God. Jesus said in Matthew, not Matthew, it's St. Mark 11:22, "If you say to this mountain, 'Be moved,' and don't doubt in your heart, but believe that what you've said will come to pass, you can have what you've said." That's defy nature, but you have to have a motive and objective to that, that's connected with it. Find out in the Word if it's supposed to be done, and then God's calling you to do it, and it'll do it. When you know that it's spoken in the Word to do it, and then God's called you to do it, then it'll happen; if your motive and objective is right to God. That's why visions take place, why things are going the way... You have to know, and know God promised it this hour." As it was in the days of Lot." He promised in the last days, then He calls to do that. It's no problem. God said so. That settles it. Sure, it's, it's a paradox. You can't explain it. No man can explain how certain things will be predicted and never one time fail to happen. It's a paradox. But God said do it. It's the day. That's the day we're living in." The sun stood still."

 

Blind Bartimaeus 61-0124 P:80 Like now. Here's a group of people. I've been talking about Him being Messiah that you can still touch. I'm not talking about it because I think so; I'm talking about it 'cause the Bible said so. Now, the reason...You say, "Brother Branham, aren't you afraid He'll...?""No, sir. Now, if I wanted to say, "Look here. I could do this. See what a big guy I am?" I'd better shut up, and walk away from the platform right there, 'cause it'll never work. See? What's my motive? To melt these people together, as God's people. Say, "I tell you, all you people, I belong to the Baptist. You all come over, join the Baptist." "I'm a Oneness." "I'm a Trinitarian." "I'm a Threeness," or "Twoness," or whatever you have, I don't know. All the... "I belong to that one." No, sir. I'm your brother. I belong to Christ. We belong to one another. So that makes my motive, my objective right. My motive's right. So therefore, He said, "Say to this mountain, 'Be moved,' and don't doubt..." And it's the will of God for me to do it, or He'd have never sent me. There you are. You get everything working right, and your motive and objective right, you can say to anything... As long as it's the will of God, it'll do it.

 

Why do you think that storm stopped all around us in Uganda? He told me to take charge of the meeting, but he didn’t tell me how to do it. But I had been preaching on Jesus being the eldest brother in a vast family of brothers, and so when I took that first step not even having a clue as to what I was going to do to take charge of that meeting where that storm was so fierce and the winds so strong and the hail so large that you couldn’t even hear yourself think hardly, yet in obedience I took that first step towards the pulpit and faster than the speed of thought before I had even finished that first step, “whoosh” I saw the whole scene of the eldest brother Jesus in the boat sleeping, then sit up and command the storm to stop. And as my momentum carried me into that second step,  “whoosh” and I saw William Branham an older brother who was conformed to the image of the first born son speak to the storm in Colorado to stop, and I saw him run around the tree praising God.  and so when I arrive a few steps later at the pulpit, I knew that what God did for his eldest son, and another son in the family, William Branham, he would do for me, because I didn’t ask him to do it, I went over to sit down because I couldn’t even hear myself preach. BU He was the one who told me to take charge of the meeting, and he is the one who showed me the first born son stopping a storm, and another older brother stopping a storm, and knowing He is God and He changes not, I went to that pulpit expecting the storm to stop.

 

But let me tell you some thing. Don’t think for one minute the devil wasn’t there also those last few steps. O, brother, with each of those last few steps he said, what are you going to do when you command the storm to stop and it doesn’t happen? You are going to look really look like a fool to these ministers here. But I thought at least I’ll be a fool for Christ. But I also knew the same inner voice that spoke me to get under Br. Vayle’s ministry way back in 1976 was the same inner Voice that had spoken to me many times before, and because my motive was right and my objective was to teach the relationship that God had with His son, and the obedient nature of God’s first born son is the pattern for all sons, and that this what he told me to do was always right in line with the Word of God. Therefore, I stepped confidently to that pulpit and so the rest is history.   Therefore there is no one that can tell me the works of Christ were only for one man, because I know better, I have seen the works of Christ with my own eyes.

 

Why? 59-0813 P:7 Jesus said in Saint Mark 11:24, "If you say to this mountain, Be moved; and don't doubt in your heart, but believe that what you have said will come to pass, you can have what you said." Not what I said, what you said. See, if you don't doubt in your heart but believe that what you have said will come to pass, you can have what you have said. But now, before you can have that... And the way I always try to think of that, there has to be the right kind of a motive and the right objective. And if your motive is right, your objective is right, and your faith is right, because that you feel that it's the will of God, nothing can keep it from happening. Just think of that.

 

Jesus Christ the same 58-0323 P:38 So you see, God's not very far away. He's right here. It's our own selves in the way; it's our unbelief. It's our superstitions. It's those things that blinds the eyes. It isn't God. A man walk out and say, "I'll show you I can move the mountain. 'Mountain be moved.'" It doesn't happen. Certainly not. Your motive's not right, and your objective's not right. So we've got to come to this one place. Is our motive and our objective being right with God? Then it isn't you that speak anymore.

 

Warning then judgment 63-0724 P:28 When you plead anything to God, you got to be a reason for it. It's just like this Scripture that I so often refer to, "If you say to this mountain, 'Be moved,' and don't doubt, but believe that what you've said will come to pass, you can have what you said." Now, that's altogether controlled on motive and objective (See?) or it won't happen. See? You just can't go out here... That's where many of us makes a many mistakes, is going out and say, "Now, I'll show you I got faith to do this." Now, you're wrong to begin with. God don't give you gifts just to play with it. As I was saying awhile ago, He don't show you visions just to play with. That's nothing to play with; that's sacred. Just use it as the Lord will let you. Be a prisoner to Him. No matter how much you want to tell that guy he's wrong, and what this, that, or the other, you hold still till God says so. Then when God says so, then you can come with THUS SAITH THE LORD. Until that, just forget about him.

 

Time tested faith 58-0530 P:14 In our Scripture tonight, the previous chapters, Jesus had said to a tree, "No fruit grow on thee, or, no man eateth from thee." Then He said, after this verse, "If you say to this mountain be moved..." Not "If I say,"; "If you say to this mountain be moved..."Now, we know that man could not move a mountain just by speaking to it. The only thing could do that would be Deity. So then, if the mountain is before us, and our objective is right, and our motive is right, then it isn't us speaking any more; it's Deity speaking. Then it has to move. I truly believe that the church is on the brink of one of the greatest outpourings that it's ever had in this age. I believe it. I can't say the Lord has told me, but it's just something inside me, just catching a hold of something, that I haven't seen all my life till just now. And how glorious it is to know, just before the coming of the Lord, that these things are happening.

 

Godhead explained 61-0425B P:33 And you must test your motive and objective first. First, find the will of God, and then find your objective, and then test your motive and see if your motive is right. Then as Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "If you say to this mountain, 'Be moved,' and don't doubt in your heart..." But as long as you got doubt in a heart whether it's the will of God, or your motive or objective is wrong, how is it going to move? But when you know that your motive is right, and it's the will of God, and your objective is right, it's got to move. That's all, or God told something wrong.

 

Jesus Christ the same 61-0205E P:16 See, you've got to know positionally, first, Christ, where you stand. You are heir to this. It's your personal property; it belongs to you. It's God's gift to you. Nobody can take it away from you; it's yours. "What you ask the Father in My Name, that I'll do.” Who can deny anything there? "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be moved,' don't doubt in your heart but believe that what you've said shall come to pass, you can have whatever you said." What promises, not limited just to healing, but to whatsoever. Now, you've got to find your objective, and your motive, and then the will of God. And if it is the will of God, and your motive's right, and your objective is right, then the mountain will fall. But outside of that, you could scream till you got hoarse and died, and never would move. See? Your... First thing, it's got to be the will of God; the next thing, it's your objective in going and do it; and then the motive you have. You want to be some big person...

 

You want to be some great person, it will never happen. Christ Jesus was not a show off, he was not a showman, he was so humble until he did only what the Father showed him first what to do, and he simply went and did it.

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Believest thou this 60-0402 P:7 Jesus said, "If you say to this mountain, be moved, and don't doubt in your heart, but believe that what you said will come to pass, you can have what you said. Isn't that lovely? Who'd that come from? The Son of God, Whose Words... Heavens and earth will pass away,-but His Word's won't. Now, the only way that you can do that, you've got to have the right objective and the right motive. Now, if I went out here and said, "I'll show you I can move this mountain, 'Be moved, mountain.'" It would never move. Certainly not. No matter what I had. It's got to be... First you've got to find the will of God. That's the reason, usually in the prayer lines, I get the very hardest, is because it's something that's went through lines and so forth, and that's where you get it back. But see, if you've got unconfessed sin... Did you ever notice on a case, before I ask the evil spirit to leave, I watch that case real sure to be certain that there's nothing in that life that would hinder anything (See?), because remember, on these gifts, you could get in trouble with them.

     P:9 But if you'll just speak the word, say, "Lord, I believe it," don't doubt, mean it in your heart...Now, say for instance, I was in the valley, and I'm preaching to a millions of people, but just across the mountain there is a group of people of one hundred, and they're dying without knowing Christ. Well, I've got a million here to preach to, but yet, something in my heart's telling me, "Get across to those people. Get to them. They're perishing." I don't want to go myself, but yet there's something in me. See, that's God then, moving. See what the objective is, see what the motive is of going, not for self... Now, if I say, "Well..." If my objective is right to get over there, but then I get up there and here's a big mountain. I say, "You know, if I get over that mountain and save all those hundred people, someday they'll have a statue there: Brother Branham, the great missionary. Now, my motive's not right. The mountain won't fall. No, sir.

  P:10 But when my motive and objective is right, and God in my heart is leading me, and I can't get over the mountain, around the mountain, under the mountain, I'd say, "Mountain, move." Maybe it... When I say that, and no more than I say it with that kind of a right spirit, led of the Holy Spirit, in the will of God, there might not be but one little spoonful of that mountain drop down, but it's on its road. The next day there may be a two pounds fall. The next day a quarter of a ton. And maybe in a month, five ton drops in. What of it? May not even see it yet, but she's moving, on its road. I'll stay right there and watch the thing be done, because God said so and that just settles it. Can you think that about your mother there tonight? All right, if you'll think it, she'll get well. All right. That's if you just believe it: just speak the word and stay with it. See? Just believe it; hang onto it. It's Eternal Life.

 

Escape hither come quickly 58-0202 P:54 Now, if your life tallies up to the life of Jesus Christ, that is, He said in His Word there: "If you say to this mountain, Be moved, and don't doubt, but believe that it's coming to pass; you can have what you say," what you say. The only way you could move that mountain would have to be Deity speaking. When you're a son of God you receive God, which is Zoe, God's own life, and you, become a part of God. Then if your objective is right, and your motive is right...

 

Jesus Christ the same 58-0214 P:47 You have to know it by the Spirit. Flesh cannot do those things. What is it? The vine, the branches, the same life that was in the vine comes through His branches. He feeds the branch through His vine. That's how He declares Himself to be the same yesterday, and forever, for He said, "I'm the Vine." The Holy Spirit now, Christ in Spirit form in you, energizing you with His Spirit to believe God, and He's everything that He does, He manifests Himself just like He did in the Bible times. "The works that I do, shall you also. A little while, and the world won't see Me no more (How many knows He said that? That's the unbeliever.), yet ye shall Me (the believer), for I ('I,' personal pronoun), I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. "The works that I do, shall you do also." Now, the word there in King James says, "Greater works than this will you do." But if you'll run that back to the Greek Lexicon, you'll find out that it doesn't mean, "greater," it means "more." You couldn't do greater. He stopped nature; He--He healed the sick; He raised the dead; He done things. Well, there could be no more done. But you could do more of it, because He would be in His church as the branch--as the vine in His branches, or whole world around...?... the same thing.

 

Adoption or placing 60-0522E P:23 Now, notice, then the coming of the Lord Jesus is so close at hand, until the Spirit from way down in here, just barely justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and now right into the time of the coming of the Headstone... The church has got to be so perfectly like Christ, until Christ and the church can unite together, the same Spirit. And if the Spirit of Christ is in you, It makes you live the life of Christ, act the life of Christ, do the works of Christ. "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." Jesus said that. See? Now, we're going to have... We got a ministry coming that's just exactly like the life of Christ. What does that ministry identify? The coming of the Lord. Look at it in the world today, and watch what Khrushchev's saying, all these other great things, and great worldwide conflicts right at hand at anytime, could go to powder at any second. That's right. And if that, we know that that's close. Any sensible person can read in the newspaper or listen to a radio, will know that that is close. Well, remember, Christ comes for His church before that happens. So how close is the coming of the Lord Jesus? Maybe before this meeting ends tonight. We are at the end time. Certainly true.

 

Life 58-0512 P:8 Now, the Christian church should have real character then. And if the Life of Christ is in the church of Christ, then it's got to have the character of Christ. It'll produce the Life of Christ. It's just a no more than just what we call in the south, common sense. If the Life of the Spirit of Christ is in the church, it has to produce that Life, because the life that's in you, makes your character. And what kind of characters ought we to be, who have solemnly promised that we would serve the Lord Jesus as long as we live, and we have been baptized to His death, burial, and resurrection, and have put our names upon the church rolls, take out place in Sunday school, and then go out, and live something different. Oh, it's more... It's more of a detriment to the cause of Christ, than all the bootleg joints we have in America. God grant the day, that when men will live just what they are. And you can always tell them by their nature, their make-up.

 

Investments 63-1116B P:28 And that Word in you produces the Life of Christ. If I could take the life out of a peach tree and put it in a pear, it wouldn't bear peaches no more; it would have pears on it because the life in the tree would produce what it is. The life that's in you shows what you are. Your life testifies so loud in you, until your testimony's not heard. They know what you are by the life you live and the things that you do. If the Life of Christ is in you then, therefore, the works and Life of Christ you live; because that's His Life living through you. You're just in a vessel to carry on the work of God.

 

Sir we would see Jesus 62-0724 P:21 If you could take the sap, the life out of a apple tree and put it in a grapevine, that grapevine would bear apples (See?), because the life that was--bears apples, the germ is in the life, and it would bear apples on a grapevine. Depends on what kind of a life is on the inside of it. See? That's right. Now, if you could take a peach tree and a pear tree, and take the life out of the peach tree, just take out all the life, and put it over into the pear tree, every bit of the life (no more pear tree life in it, but peach tree life), it would bear peach leaves. It'd have, it'd have peach leaves, and bear peaches, because it's got peach tree life in it. And no matter how bad the sinner is, how wicked, how bad they are, how much of an unbeliever, if you can just take all that old unbelieving life out of him (See?), put the Life of Christ in Him, he will be a different person. That's right. He sure will. He will sure be a different person.

 

We would see Jesus 62-0704 P:71 What? "Sirs, we would see Jesus." What kind of a Person would you look for. The same kind of Person that was. Now, you don't go down a street here and look for a man with some kind of a robe on, and nail sears across his head, or whatever it is. Any hypocrite can do that. That's right. Anybody can impersonate that. But it'd be the Life that was in Christ will be in His Church. That's it, the Life. If you took the life out of a pumpkin vine, and put it over in a grapevine, it would bear pumpkins, if it could live like that. Sure, the life in it...And that's where the Life is now. The Life of Christ in the Church, produces Christ over again. That's how they see Christ. The... In John 14:12 He said, "He that believeth in Me, not make-believeth; but he that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also. More than this shall he do, for I go to My Father." Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Perseverant 62-0623 P:115 Now, if I told you tonight... Let me show you about the weakness of the church condition. We claim to be Christians. If I said the spirit of John Dillinger was in me, I'd have guns and I'd be an outlaw, 'cause that's being a nature. If I said the spirit... If you put the life of a pumpkin vine in a grape vine, it'll bear pumpkins. Sure. It's the life that's in it produces it. Put the life out of an apple tree into a pear tree, it'll bear apples, 'cause the life of the apple tree's in it. Put the life of Christ in an individual, it'll bear the fruits of Christ, and the life of Christ. That's the reason He said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." Now, look. Did He ever organize a school, a seminary? "Works that I do..." He said, "If you don't believe Me, believe the works that I do. They testify of Me."

 

Queen of Sheba 61-0119E P:80 As I said this morning, if the first branch of the vine brought forth a Pentecostal church, every real branch out of that vine will bring forth another Pentecostal church. But we got a lot of grafted branches, and they bring forth after their kind. We got Methodist branch grafted into it, Baptist branch, Pentecostal branch, every other kind of branch. It bears its own fruit. You can take a orange tree and put a grapefruit in it. It'll live off the life of that tree, but it'll bear grapefruit. Put a lemon in there, it'll bear lemon, not an orange, yet it's living off of orange life. See, any citrus fruit...Any church professing to be Christian thrives off of the glory and praises of Christ. But it can't bear the fruit. It won't bear the Life of Christ until Christ puts forth that branch Himself. Then it'll write another Book of Acts behind it (that's right), because it is the acts of the Holy Spirit in the church. See? That's the way it is tonight, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.