The
Doctrine of Christ no 45
“The
Life of Christ no. 8”
Revelation or Church membership
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
January
22nd, 2012
Colossians 3: 4 When
Christ, who is our life appears, then shall we appear with him in glory. (That word “appear” was translated from the Greek
word “phaneroo” and it means to manifests in His true identity by coming forth
in a perfect manifestation, as to exactly what it is,) so you see when Christ
comes forth into full manifestation so do we. And that manifestation will reveal
the fullness of who we really are. And it says that both Christ Who is our Life
and we will truly manifest in Glory. And we all know that the word Glory is not
some sort of great big hupla, or some great big achievement, but the word “glory” was translated from the Greek word “doxa” and it simply speaks of God’s
opinion, His values, and His judgments, (That’s the things he
says. His Word.)
Now,
notice it tells us when Christ appears we appear. When Christ manifests in His
fullness we are going to do the same. And we are told in 1 John 3: 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and
what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ
appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All
who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Notice
our hope is not in ourselves, but it is in Him.
Revelations 2:10b "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of Life."
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that
day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1 Corinthians 13:9-12 But
when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put
away childish things. 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.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye
shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Now,
in two of Brother Branham’s sermons, especially “Christ Revealed in His own Word”
and “The Spoken
Word is the original seed”, in which we preached 411 sermons from
those two sermons of his, we saw where the complete Word seed of God would have
to be sown in this hour in order for the complete body to come up at the
end-time.
And so we see,
the same Life that was sown in the Original Seed, Christ Jesus, was to return
in this hour, not only among the people, but It shall enter into the people as
well. The Complete Seed, meaning the complete Life that was in the Seed has got
to come back into human flesh in a Bride in this hour.
So
we are speaking of the Original Seed, the original Life back in human flesh
again. And that is why we are told our New Birth is to be an incorruptible one
which shall never fade away. Now this is not true of so called Pentecost today.
Those people who claim a new birth seem to need a new filling or refilling each
and every week. And why is this? Because
they have received a new birth based upon a corruptible see, which is a
corruptible word.
Let’s
turn to 1 Peter
1:23 and read it for ourselves. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see
that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever.
You
see, if you have been truly born again, you will not fall away. So how do you
receive a true new birth? by receiving the True Revelation of Jesus Christ.
You
see, in nature once a woman conceives, she doesn't need any further
insemination to bring forth the life that is in her into complete manifestation.
All she needs is to wait the nine months while human cell are being added to
human cells. And that is the same thing with the Word of God. We don’t need to
be born again more than just one time. But what we do have need of, is for
God’s Word to be piled upon God’s Word in order for our Celestial Body to grow around
the Predestinated Word Germ Seed given by God to us.
Now I say this
because I am very concerned for some of the young people in this message who
have walked away from the Word of God for some job, or for whatever excuse they wish
to use for the moment. You can't tell me that money isn't the root of all evil.
Not when I see young people and older ones placing a higher regard for a few
green pieces of green paper, than they do for God and His Word and eternal life.
And
this money system we have is all a house of card anyway. As brother Branham
called 50 years ago, it’s a false economy built on a false currency. When this
nation and the world turned down the gold standard for fiat currency, that was
the beginning of the end of the economy right there, and it is interesting that
God types deity in Scripture. And that they turned down gold right after
turning down this Message. Remember, when Br. Branham said they elected the
wrong man when they elected Kennedy instead of Nixon? It’s because Nixon took
us off the gold standard and then brought disrespect to the office of
President. When you walk away from God and His Word for this phony two bit
green stuff, you are on your way towards eternal separation from God right
there.
I
want you to know that I have turned down more of that green stuff than some of
you will ever make in a life-time, and I will continue to do so for the Word
sake. In 1976 I walked away from professional football with the Minnesota
Vikings, and opportunity to play with the
Notice
they will depart not from faith in general but THE FAITH. That's this Message. And
the thing of it is that they know better and they do it anyway. Then if they can willfully walk out from the
truth, what condition is their soul in. James 4:17 tells us, "to him that knoweth to do right and does not do
it, to him it is sin."
That
is why the scriptures admonish us in Hebrews 3:13" to exhort one another daily, while it is called
today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
What
does it mean to exhort one another? It means to call to ones attention, to
summon, entreat. Why are we commanded to exhort one another on a daily basis?
Because sin is so deceitful, That's why. And yet how can we exhort one another
if we never see one another in church? What about those of us who take the
assembling of the saints so lightly? Does not God tell us in Hebrews 10:25-26
"do not
forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see that day approaching. For if
we disbelieve willfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."
The problem is
that if we are truly born again, we will have a Divine Revelation in our heart, and we would be so miserable in our
hearts if we knew that we were not pleasing to God. I don't care who we are, we
will never make it in on someone else's coat tails.
Christ is the mystery
63-0728 P:124 The new birth is Christ, is a revelation. God has revealed to you this great mystery,
and that's the new birth. Now, what are you going to do when you get all
that group together, where the revelation is perfectly in harmony, and God expressing it through His Word by the
same actions, the same things that He did, making the Word manifest? Oh, if
the Church only knew its position. It will one day. Then, the rapture will go
when it knows what it is. Now, notice. You say, "Brother Branham, but that
ain't..." Oh, yes, it is, too. It is the Truth.
We
all, every one of us, both young and old, must be born again or we will never
see, nor can we see, the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said in John 3:13 "except a man be born again, he cannot see the
Christ is the
Mystery of God Revealed 65-3 We're not suppose
to make converts to Christianity by a government, but by the revelation of
Christ in you as God was in Christ.
Earnestly contending for the Faith 28
Intellectual faith is not enough. That's all right, but it only brings you to
the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a
personal experience of the birth, the new birth, regeneration, making a new
creature in Christ.
Christ is the mystery
63-0728 P:120 Look,
Christ in you makes Him the center of
Life of the revelation. See? Christ's
Life in you makes Him the center of the revelation. Christ in the Bible, makes the Bible a complete revelation of Christ.
Christ in you makes you the complete revelation of the whole thing. See,
what God's trying to do? What is the new birth then? You say, "Well,
Brother Branham, what is the new
birth?" It is the revelation of Jesus Christ personally to you. Amen.
See? Not you joined a church, you shook a hand; you done something different;
you said a creed; you promised to live by a code of rules; but Christ, the
Bible... He is the Word that was revealed to you.
And no matter what anybody
says, what takes place, it's Christ. Pastor, priest, whatever it might be...
It's Christ in you. That is the revelation that the Church was built upon.
Now this is the
key, right here. If you are truly born again, Christ is the center of your life
and every thing else is a distant last. You job, your family, your friends,
your homes, your cars. Whatever there is in your life is a distant last when
Christ is preeminent on the throne of your heart.
Years
ago I preached a sermon called “the almost Christian”. We showed how
King Agrippa, after hearing Paul's testimony said to him, 'Paul, thou almost persuaded me to be a
Christian", and Paul answered him, "I would that you were altogether like as I am
except without these bonds" why? because almost is not good enough.
An almost Christian is still a lost soul. An almost Christian is still headed
for the lake of fire. And so we find that there are those who will come forth
at the great White Throne Judgment one day and they will hear those notorious
words, "Depart
from me ye that work iniquity, for I never knew you." "ye
that know better but had your own thoughts about it. I never knew you, You never
had an intimate relationship in your heart with me, so depart from me."
Now, look, I’m
not talking works here. But I’m talking about Eternal Life. We're not talking
about church and theology, we are talking about life, Eternal Life.
Christ is the Mystery of God Revealed 45-1 Not your theology; it's a
revelation of Jesus Christ... the
revelation of Jesus Christ in a new birth. He... injects His own Life,
and your life is gone, and the Life of
Christ is projecting Itself through you with the preeminence to the people that
they see the very Life,
Super Sign Brother
Branham said, 78
Now, let me tell you. Anything outside of being born gain will never reach the
Rapture. Unless there is a germ of Life inside you, you'll perish. You cannot
rise up again." And so I hope you will understand why I
constantly bring these things to you attention. Because after all we will all
have to give account of what we have done with this great Message that God has
given to us. Every one of us, both small and great, will have to give an
account for what we have done in our bodies.
Romans 14:11-12
For it is written, 'As I live Saith the Lord, every knee shall bow
and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God."
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man
shall come in the Glory of His Father with His Angels; and He shall reward
every man according to his works."
As
I just said, one day soon we will all have to give an accounting for what we
have done with this great Message that God has Given to us. And this is what I
would like to point out this morning. we are all going to have to give an
account one day for our stewardship before God.
Luke 16: 1-2, 11-13 We
are all going to have to give an account of our stewardship to God. Now what
does it mean to give an account. You are going to have to show what you did
with what He gave you.
You are going
to have to be accountable for the riches he has given to you. And if you can
not show progress in what He has given to you, then what you now have will be
taken from you. That is what He is telling us here.
2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those
things which we have struggled for, but that we receive a full reward. And so you say, what sort of things can I lose?
Revelations 3:11 well, you say, what crown is this? Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:8
this crown is a crown of righteousness (right-wise-ness). We find the same
crown spoken of by Peter in 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a
crown of glory that fadeth not away. Notice he calls it a crown of Glory which is the same thing as Paul said
because the word Glory is the doxa which is the right-wise-ness or God’s opinion,
God’s values, and God’s judgments. And we are warned that we could lose this
crown by Jesus Himself. In Luke 18:8 I tell you that he
will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Now,
listen! The foolish virgin once had oil in her lamp as well. They once had the
anointing upon the Word, because the word of God is the lamp unto our feet we
are told in Scripture.
Matthew
16:25-26 For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
You
see, it all depends on your motives. Are you looking to please your church? Or
are you looking to please your Heavenly Father. Now if you are His, It is
impossible that you will be lost, but it does not mean that you won't go empty
on the other side.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent
me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again at the last day.
Revelations 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that
no man take thy crown.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest
he fall." In fact we
even see Jesus use this word many times when he would question the unbelievers.
He would say what think ye of this or of that?
Matthew 22:42-46 Saying, What think ye
of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The
Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The
LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies
thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither
durst any man from that day forth ask him any
more questions.
He
showed them they have no thought coming. But the real answer can be found in Galatians 6:3
For if a man think
himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.4 But
let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself
alone, and not in another. Because it really doesn't matter what you
think. It only matters what God thinks.
Luke 12:42-48 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful
and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due
season? 43 Blessed is
that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a
truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But
and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall
begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The
lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not
aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to
his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes,
shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Here
we find God calling the ministry a steward, and then he also tells us that
those who knew to prepare themselves for His Coming and don't, they will get
tribulation. Now to have to go through the tribulation does not mean you will
be lost, but you will certainly have to pay for your neglect. And how will you
pay for your neglect? With your very life, that's how. God doesn't play our
little games and He certainly doesn't fool around. He says what He means and He
means what He says.
Now what does
this all come down too? It all boils down to recognition and understanding what
we are here for. Remember the title of Brother Branham's Message called, "Hearing, Recognizing and Acting upon the Word of God."
Well, that is exactly what it means. And it all comes down to the innate
ability to be able to recognize God and
His Word, which is His Message. Webster tells us that the word Recognize means:
To
recall to the mind, “re” meaning again, and “call” or cognition which is a
knowing; therefore to recognize is to be aware of, to know by some detail, as
appearance; or identity, to beware of the significance, to acknowledge the
existence of, validity, authority or genuineness of, to accept and acknowledge
as worthy of appreciation and approval. And so we see in 2 Thessalonians 1 &
2 that Paul is letting us know that it all comes down to
recognition. It’s knowing Him in the power of His resurrection.
Eph 1: 17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge
of him: 18 The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Recognition, to know Him and His Vindicating
power.
Matt
13:10-16 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why
speakest thou unto them in parables?11 He answered and said unto
them, Because it is
given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it
is not given.12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and
he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken
away even that he hath.13 Therefore speak I to
them in parables: because they seeing
see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,
which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye
shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's
heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest
at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mark 4:11-12 11 And
he said unto them, Unto
you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and
hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be
converted, and their
sins should be forgiven them.
But not every one is ordained to know.
Philippians 3: 7-18 Brethren, be followers together of me, and
mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: To know Him in the Power of His Resurrection, we must
forsake every other thing that we ever held as dear to our selves..
And so we see what Paul is telling us in 2 Timothy 2: 15
Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth. This concerns the need to rightly divide
the truth. How can you be a good steward of what God has given if you don't
even know what it is that you have. A steward is nothing more than being a
manager of someone else's property. And we are told in Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the
Lord's, and the fullness thereof;" and so therefore everything
belongs to the Lord and therefore what we do have in our possession is merely given
to us by Him for a time while we are here on earth. And so we see in 2 Timothy 2:15
what it means to rightly divide the word. And you can't rightly divide what He
said if you don't know the Author, and what He 's trying to tell us.
And so we hear
brother Branham tell us in His sermon Christ Revealed in His own word PP 81 To dislocate the
Scriptures, you might put His body together wrong, the foot where the head
should be or something. Just the same as,… In other words, you might have Jesus
teaching Moses' message. You might even have Wesley teaching Luther's age. You might have now, our age teaching
Pentecost, the Pentecostal message. (So you see right there he
is telling us it is wrong to continue on with the Pentecostal message.)You see what a mess
it would be in? Pentecost has already
showed its colors. Luther's already showed his: went off into denomination;
it died right there. The age struck; there it went Notice, just as soon as it
was organized, it died. Now, just see if that isn't right. Look back through
the pages of history. Every time it organized it died right there; there never
was no more to it. It become a worshipper of the god of this world. It went off
into organisms, and organizations, and denominations, and illusions. A bunch of
Ricky's got into there and put their own objections into it, or injected their
own thoughts, rather, into it. And what did it happen? It become a mess. Going
to head up in the god of this world where they'll throne Satan himself,
thinking that they're having a great world leader to bring them peace.
Now, brother
Branham said, "To dislocate the Scriptures,... You might have now, our age
teaching Pentecost, the Pentecostal message. You see what a mess it would be
in?” Pentecost has already showed its colors. And that is exactly
what has happened. He said, those little Ricky's have come in and messed up
everything. He said, "Every time it organized it died right there; there
never was no more to it. It become a worshipper of the god of this world. It
went off into organisms, and organizations, and denominations, and illusions
"A bunch of
Ricky's got into there and put their own objections into it, or injected their
own thoughts, rather, into it. And what did it happen? It become a mess."
Now, first of all he tells us that to
preach a Pentecostal Message today just makes a mess out of everything. Then he
tells us to interject our own thoughts will only bring us an illusion. How
fitting these words describe those who come along with their Pentecostal
illusions, saying, " You must have a vision of Jesus coming to you
personally in order to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost." Others tell
us that God gave them a vision to lead the Bride in the Rapture, and yet
married 2 and 3 times. Still others claim to be the Joshua who will lead the
Bride into the Rapture, some by playing their guitars with 6 inch picks and
others by playing the piano. And they offer the people nothing but allusions.
And what
is an illusion but a false idea or conception; belief or opinion that is not in
accord with the facts. An deception that is not real, a misleading appearance
or image. A false perception, conception, or interpretation of what one sees. A
misleading image resulting in a wrong impression. So we see again that these
thoughts of a false interpretation . And Brother Branham further called them an
illusion which means the Word is interpreted in such a way as to make it appear
to be different than it really is. Like a mirage in the desert that you think
you see but is not really there.
Isaiah 29: 7 The
Word Ariel here is a Word which means the LION of GOD. And we know that at the
end-time He is to come with a Loud Voice as when a Lion Roareth.
Revelations 10: 1-3 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed
with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head,
and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet
as pillars of fire: 2 And he had in his hand a
little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven
thunders uttered their voices.
Now
we know that God Himself likens the roar of the Lion to His Own Voice which is
a prophetic utterance as we see in the book of Amos 3: 7-8 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he
revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8 The
lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but
prophesy?
Now,
back in Isaiah
29:7 This passage refers not to the Lord Himself but she which has
taken His name, which would have to make this His Bride. And here we see the
scripture warning us about what will happen to those who are found fighting
against the elect Bride. Isaiah 29: 8 It shall even be as when an hungry man
dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as
when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and,
behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite:
so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
Notice
that these men are living in a delusion. They eat from the Bread of Life but it
is only in a dream. When they awake from their dream they will still be empty,
because they are living in a delusion. A false vision of deception. And what
has caused this? Their own opinions are held in more esteem to themselves than
the Word of God. Notice that in verses [10-12]
we are told that they will be in slumber,
and the Lord will have brought on this deep slumber and their dreams will not
produce anything for them. Now, remember we were showing how the little Ricky's
will come in with their own opinions and turn the Message into a Mess, and
bring forth an illusion tot he people. We further see evidence of this in ...
Jeremiah 23:32 Behold, I am against them that
prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to
err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded
them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Notice
that their dreams will not profit the people any. Therefore, what purpose is
there for these men to keep up with their own lies?
Isaiah 66:4-5 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their
fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did
not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that
in which I delighted not. 5 Hear
the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you,
that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he
shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Notice
that God will send them their own delusion. Now God Himself does not place
these lies in them, but He allows a lying spirit to enter into these men who
are false, and to lead them further away from the Truth by tempting them to
turn further.
Since they themselves already have turned
down the Truth, God then only allows to happen to them what they have already
shown a desire for, and that is a lying spirit to come down and lead them
further into their own deceit as we see in 2 Chronicles 18
2 Chronicles 18:18-24
Again
he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his
throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the
LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of
2 Thessalonians
2: 10-13 And with all deceivableness of un-right wise-ness
in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe the lie: 12 That they all
might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in un-righ-wise-ness.13 But
we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the
Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth:
Now
I want you to know the difference here between those who are Elect and those
who are not. And that is why God gave us a ministry as Paul and Martin Luther
pointed out who will not bring forth delusions or illusions, but will speak the
Truth in Love as we see in Ephesians 4.
Ephesians 4: 11-15And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; 12 For
the perfecting (the maturing) of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till
we all come in The Unity of The Faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow
up into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ:
1 Thessalonians 2: 3-13 That
no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are
appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with
you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to
pass, and ye know.5 For this cause, when I could no
longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have
tempted you, and our labor be in vain.6 But now when
Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and
charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to
see us, as we also to see you:7 Therefore,
brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your
faith:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.9 For
what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we
joy for your sakes before our God;10 Night and day
praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which
is lacking in your faith?11 Now God himself and our Father, and our
Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward
all men, even as we do
toward you:13 To the end he may stablish your
hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
And so we see how God will put the people
to the test to see what they really believe.
In fact John tells us the same thing in
[1 John 4:6]. Notice this word for error here is the same Greek word used for
the delusion that will affect the make believer. But notice how the true Believer
will not be deceived, he will identify with the True Ministry, not because of
the man, but the Word. And how do you recognize the Men who speak the Truth
from those who don't? You check out what they teach you with the Word itself.
1 John 4:1 Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 Corinthians 2: 12-15a Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14 But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.15 But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, …
Jeremiah 23:
16-32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make
you vain: they speak a vision of their
own heart, and not out of the mouth
of the LORD. 17 They
say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace;
and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own
heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who
hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word?
who hath marked his word, and heard it? 19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in
fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon
the head of the wicked.20 The anger of the LORD shall not
return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his
heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.21 I
have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to
them, yet they prophesied.22 But if they had stood in my
counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have
turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their
doings.23 Am I a God at hand,
saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?24 Can any
hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not
I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.25 I have
heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have
dreamed, I have dreamed.26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy
lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of
their own heart;27 Which think to cause my people
to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour,
as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.28 The
prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let
him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff
to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like
a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?30 Therefore,
behold, I am against the prophets, saith the
LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.31 Behold,
I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that
use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32 Behold, I
am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith
the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by
their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall
not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Here
we find God warning the people to not even pay any attention to these false
prophets who would speak His word falsely.
As Paul said, 1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks
they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that
what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
You
not only have to be able to recognize vindication, but those who are preaching
that vindicated message as well. And so in order to test you God will allow
others to rise up. And these others are ordained to take of those who are not
in the True fold.
John 10: 7-8 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the
gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and
robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
John 10:14-16 “I
am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just
as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the
sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must
bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock
and one shepherd.
Deuteronomy
13: 1-5 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a
sign or a wonder, 2And the sign or the wonder come to pass,
whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let
us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3Thou shalt not hearken
unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your
God proveth you, to know whether ye
love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4Ye
shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments,
and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5And
that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath
spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the
land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out
of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put
the evil away from the midst of thee.
God
allows these things to test His people, to see what reaction they will have, to
follow after signs or the Word of the Lord.