Unveiling of God no 109

The True Vine is Obedient to God in all things

August 11, 2019

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

In the Unveiling of God brother Branham in paragraph 11 reads from Philippians 2 speaking of the Mind that was in Christ being in us, and He emphasizes the obedience of Christ to the Word of God.

Unveiling of God 64-0614M P:11 Philippians 2:If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercy, "Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves. Look not every man to his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion of a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

Before we read any further I want you to notice that the Apostle Paul lists four things here, and he says if you are going to have any of these four things, ie: 1. any consolation in Christ 2. any comfort of love 3. any fellowship of the Spirit 4. any bowels of mercy.

Now, since the Apostle Paul prefixes the word any to each of these four conditions of our soul, and since he is going to tell us how to enter into these four conditions, we need to therefore know what this word any means that he uses four times, for each of the soul conditions we wish to enter into. And we find that this word any was translated from the Greek word which simply speaks of "whosoever" and "whatsoever".

In other words, if we are to have 1. any consolation in Christ 2. any comfort of love 3. any fellowship of the Spirit 4. any bowels of mercy, then it speaks of not only ourselves, but whosoever or whatsoever we have bowels of mercy for, because our bowels of mercy is not for ourselves. It concerns the whosoever or whatsoever. Then he adds, "whosoever and whatsoever we have fellowship of the Spirit with. Now, this again is not for ourselves, because you don't have fellowship in the Spirit with yourself. "Fellowship is two fellows in a ship" said William Branham quoting FF Bosworth. Then he adds. Whosoever or whatsoever we comfort of love, and finally he says, whosoever or whatsoever we have consolation in Christ with.

So our mercy, love, comfort and consolation all have to do with the whosoever or whatsoever, meaning with others and not concerning self. And in the next words he tell us how we can have this state of mind.. He says if you are going to enter into any of the following conditions with whosoever or whatsoever, here is how you should do it.

"Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be 1. likeminded, having 2. the same love, being of 3.one accord, (and how can we be likeminded, same love and one accord? He gives us the answer,) of one mind. (then if we are of one mind, here is how we should act) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; (now, vain glory is made from two words, kenos and doxa, and means empty glory which is self glory. Self centeredness. So how do you die to self centeredness? He continues,) but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves. In other words, if you esteem others better than yourself you do not have any self centered thoughts, but your thoughts are for others. And to nail this thought down the apostle Paul says, "Look not every man to his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Is not that what brother Branham said eternal life is all about? "Living for others"?

Then the apostle Paul lets us know this is the mind of Christ when he adds, "Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus: (and then the Apostle Paul describes what this this mind of Christ is...) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion of a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

So we are looking at obedience to God, and that is the one thing we must consider with every "whosoever" or "whatsoever" we wish to enter into the state of these four creative atmospheres. ie: 1. any consolation in Christ 2. any comfort of love 3. any fellowship of the Spirit 4. any bowels of mercy,...

Any, whosoever or whatsoever we enter into these states with. We first must consider whosoever they are and whatsoever the situation is. Therefore, we must ask our Father, if this person, this whosoever one you have called us to share mercy with, or comfort of love with, or fellowship with or consolation in Christ with?

We must keep in mind our obedience to our Father, if we are to have consolation in Christ with whosoever or whatsoever.

We must keep in mind our obedience to our Father, if we are to have comfort of Love, with whosoever or whatsoever.

We must keep in mind our obedience to our Father, if we are to have any fellowship of the Spirit with whosoever or whatsoever.

And We must keep in mind our obedience to our Father, if we are to project bowels of mercy with whosoever or whatsoever.

Therefore the primary attribute of Sons of God, or the True Vine is there Obedience to the Father in all things, and he says of the first born son, "He was obedient even to the death on the cross."

Therefore we are going to look at Obedience to God as our Father as the number one attribute that God as our Father looks for in His sons. And that is what manifests us as a son or a daughter of God.

Who do you say this is? 64-1227 P:61 God had called Moses. He didn't want to go. Those prophets had such things to do till they... It was a hard thing to do. They didn't want to be going out and be scorned at. They wanted to have fellowship, and go in with the rest of them, and go along with brothers. But you see, just like... I believe... I forget what prophet it was, said, "If... I don't want to do this (in other words), but my whole heart will catch afire. God has spoken and I must deliver it." Whether they liked it; whether they crucified him; whether they stoned him; whatever they did, God has spoke in his heart, and he must say it, not to be different, but be obedient. "Obedience is better than sacrifice; hearkening, unto the fats of rams." See, It was in his heart. He must do it. It was his life. He couldn't hold it. There was something, a pulsation, that pushed them. They couldn't bless it or curse it. God had so much complete control of them till He was their voice, their action. Hallelujah. Give me a Church that's so completely anointed with God till their every action and move is THUS SAITH THE LORD, right in that Shekinah Glory, I'll show you a Messiah (anointed one of God) standing upon the earth.

So God has called us to obedience to His Word. And if our hearts are right with God, then if we have to stand alone we will do so to please him. As brother Branham said, we all want to be loved, and accepted but when God speaks to our hearts we had better listen to him and be obedient to Him rather than be accepted by man.

This is what I've struggled with my entire ministry. I admit that I'm a blunt speaking individual, with little tact when it comes to speaking the truth of God's Word. That may be my flaw but I would rather be that way than to be seen as a compromiser of God's Word.

I say what God puts on my heart to say and sometimes I say things that end up hurting people's feelings, but I don't mean for it to hurt your feelings, but I would rather be true to what God places in my heart than be popular with men or women. Even if it means my own wife and children get angry with me. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

And after all God said His ways are not our ways as we see in Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

So God has called us to obedience, and he said, "Obedience is better than sacrifice", and therefore, sons of God will have one attribute that will outshine all other attributes, and that is obedience to God and His Word.

Notice what the apostle Peter told us in 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

And notice that he says even our election and sanctification of the Spirit all leads to one thing and that is unto obedience.

Even Jesus the first born son of God was chastened and suffered in order to learn obedience.

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And that is how he became perfect through suffering. 9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

And that is the way God works His perfection which is the maturing process He works in us as we see in 1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. and a person that is mature is established, strengthened and settled.

In fact what God did to Jesus to bring him to full obedience is also what He will do to you if you are a son of God.

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

That is what William Branham taught us as well as he said in his sermon Jehovah Jireh part 3 62-0707 P:50 Great testing... Now Abraham, after all these wonderful things, he was tested. After he received the blessing Abraham was tested. Now, there's where people fail. Now, listen real close now; don't miss it. The Bible said, that every son that cometh to God must be chastened, chastised, whipped. And if we cannot stand the chastisement, we become bastard children, and not the children of God. It proves that our faith wasn't what we said it was; we haven't got what we professed to have. Now, we're getting down in some real good Calvinism now, so we have to watch that. Now, notice, every son that cometh to God must be chastened, chastised, the Word whip him and cut him to pieces, knock every creed out from under him (See?), tried, and see if he is the son of God. Now Abraham, after he received the blessing, was then afterwards tested.

And again in his sermon Jesus at the door 58-0529 P:11 And notice what our Lord said. "All that lives godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Every son that cometh to God must first be tried, chastened, child-trained. No exceptions, every son that cometh to God must be tried. And if we cannot stand the chastisement, then the Scripture says we become illegitimate children and not the children of God. And isn't it a grand feeling to know that God's grace has carried some of you here through twenty and thirty years of trials and persecutions. God did that for you: shows that you're a real child of God. And He has taken you into His fellowship. Someday in the face of all that has criticized you, you'll be glorified and made a body is like unto His own glorious body at His coming. We wait for that blessed hope.

And once more in his sermon Hebrews Chapter 4 57-0901E P:12 Now, we notice over here then, that He said...For some, when they had heard, did provoke:...Certainly. They got weary every time they'd get to a place where a showdown come, then what would they do? They would fly loose and get weary and want to turn back, and "Why did this happen to me?"Strange thing, this morning after preaching that just as hard as I could, there was many came to the altar and questioned it, "Why does this happen to me?" You see how it goes? It goes over the top of the people's head. It's just the same people. Jesus said, "You have eyes but you can't see." He said that to the disciples. They said, "Lo, now Thou speakest plainly; now we believe. No man has to tell You anything, 'cause God shows it to You."He said, "Do you now believe after all this time?" See? You mustn't question anything to God. "For the footsteps of the righteous is ordered of the Lord." And every trial is put upon you to prove you. And the Bible said they're more precious to you than gold. So if God let a few light afflictions happen to you, remember, it's for the correction of you. "Every son that cometh to God must first be chastened of God and tried," child-trained. There's no exceptions, "Every son that cometh..." And these afflictions are done or brought about to see what attitude you'll take. See, it's God on this proving ground. That's all earth is, is a proving ground, and where He's trying to prove you.

Look, I don't like to see people I love fall away. We have had some people who left this church that I love just one day up and leave, and it hurts to see them make a mistake that could be fatal spiritually.

This trip out West last week was also a trial as I was disturbed me to see some nieces and nephews I love and who were raised to believe this Message have fallen away from Grace, and even some have been sucked up into that "disbelieve the sign" propaganda.

Don't the people know that those people are anointed with a rebellious spirit? Don't even go to their website or you can pick up that rebellious spirit on you. It is a rebellious spirit, and it is very easy to pick up that spirit if you are not on guard, and prayed up.

When you begin to nitpick others know one thing for sure, Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and he will give you something to nitpick about. and once you begin that journey you become hardened to the Love of God and it is so easy to take on a spirit of hate and not even know you have it.

From his sermon God of this evil age 65-0801M P:91 brother Branham said, "Children of disobedience means ... "Disobedience" means "rebellion." I looked that up in the dictionary to be sure. Rebellion, rebelling against what? The revealed Word of God. Like Cain rebelled against Abel's revealed revelation, vindicated of God that it was righteous...

And Cain rebelled against it and slew his brother. The Pharisees with their own denominational knowledge of what the Word of God was, selected handpicked men, rebelled against the vindicated Word of God made manifest for the day, Jesus Christ, and killed Him. That right? That's what the children of disobedience is, a rebellion against the Word of God. Now, see where they are? "Oh, days of miracles is past. Jesus Christ is not the same... There's no such thing as the baptism of the Holy Ghost. All that stuff is nonsense." See? Rebellion, they don't have to say two things, just have to say one. That's all; that's rebellion right there. They can't say, "You don't have eyes; you don't have ears." You've got to take the whole Body, the whole Word. See? The Holy Spirit call "come out of Her", "Be not partakers of her denominational dogma," as he laughs and scorns at the Word of God of this day. For God is not mocked. Just remember; she'll get it. Don't be worried. She'll get it. The Bible in Ephesians 4:30, if you want to put that down, Ephesians 4:30 said, "God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." They can't mock, and make fun, and say these things, and get by with it. Like bread upon the water, it'll return.

And how many people do you know that have left the Word in one form or another? They say they still love Jesus, but he said "if you love me you will obey me."

That is why we are commanded to come out from among them and to not have fellowship with the children of darkness, these children of disobedience, these children with a rebellious spirit on them. Because Jesus warned us "a little leaven will leaven the whole lump".

Jesus said, proof of your loving his is that you will keep his word. John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

Again we hear Jesus in John 14:15 say, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

And then Paul also told us what to do in 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, (that's your own thoughts, your own reasoning, your own computations) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Notice, Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

And Christ is the Word, never forget that.

Then the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. So the fulfilling of your obedience is what brings revenge upon all disobedience. In other words, your obedience puts the disobedience of others in its place.

That is why the Apostle Paul could say to the Roman believers in his letter to the Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

And that is why he could tell us that to whom we obey we are their servant. Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto right-wise-ness?

And brother Branham tells us that we also have to be careful because those rebellious people can cause us to sin against God as well as it did even with Moses, God's anointed and as it caused Elisha to do contrary to the Spirit of Christ in Him.

Greater witness than John 53-1107 P:48 Do you realize that a gift of that type could send your soul to hell. How many believes Moses was a prophet? How many believes he disobeyed God? Certainly. God said, "Go down there and speak to the rock." Don't smite it no more; it's already been smitten once. That was Christ. Is that right?

Is that not what Paul taught us, that "that rock was Christ"? And Christ was to be smitten once for our sins. By one offering, and yet Moses broke the pattern by smiting it when could be only smitten once. So God said speak to the rock, and he smote it in anger because the people were just fussing about everything.

"And Moses was a prophet and had power before God. And he went right down there and done contrary what God told him not to do. He smote the rock; it didn't bring forth its water, and he smote it again, said, "You rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock," and he did what was against God's will, because God had allotted to him to be a prophet, and he had power to bring the water out of the rock whether it was God's will or not. Is that right? He did it, didn't he? You know it wasn't God's will. God told him not to, but he did it anyhow. But then, God dealt with Moses. Is that right? He wouldn't let him go over in the promised land. How about Elisha, that young man that went bald-headed when he was a young man, and little children begin teasing him saying, "Old bald-head, old bald-head." Why, my. But it made that prophet angry. And he turned around and put a curse on those children. And two she bears killed forty-two little innocent children. Is that right? You know that's not the nature of the Holy Spirit, kill those poor little children, but it was an angered prophet. Be careful.

Listen, brothers and sisters, God said "whatsoever you sow you shall surely reap". And fortunately for Moses even though he was not allowed to enter into the promised land with the children of Israel, later on God brought him to meet Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

But you will reap in this life even if you are a child of God, especially if you are a child of God. Brother Branham told us that if you rebel and go away from God, he will chastise you and if you still do not come, he will just take you home. In other words the brother that was a mechanic in his story left church and God. So after refusing to come back when the brothers came to see him, God just took him home and the car he was working on fell off the jack-stand and killed him.

And we hear this very thing in the book of 1 Kings 13:1  And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2  And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; (So this was a man of God who had Thus Saith the Lord, a prophet of God) Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. 4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. 5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. (now, listen, this man of God told what was going to happen because God showed him a vision and it came to pass exactly what God said would take place. And when he asked God to restore the sinful Kings hand as it was before God did it. So this man not only was a prophet of God but He had access to God through prayer, and God answered his prayers. ) 7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. 10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

So far so good, right. He went home another way because God told him to do so, right? But God also told him not to stop and eat either.

And you know sometimes I think if we were left to ourselves we would be more apt to obey God's word, but it seems that when we listen to others is when you get in trouble with God.

11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. 15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. 18  He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

So we have a real prophet here but who is also a lying prophet. The Bible says so. Because God did not tell him to say that to the other prophet.

19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. 25 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. 27  And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him. 28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. 29 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. 30  And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! 31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: 32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. 33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

Notice that the man obeyed the word of the Lord in every way, but when this real prophet spoke to him a lie, he rebelled against what God had told him to do and he suffered the consequences for it.

Now, brother Branham said the prophet that deceived the first prophet was also a real prophet. Yet we knowed he lied to the first prophet, and yet after the first prophet did what he was told not to do by the Lord, the anointing fell on the older prophet and He spoke in the name of the Lord and it came to pass.

Just goes to show that you must even take what the prophet tell you back to the word of the Lord to make sure it lines up with what else the Word of the Lord says.

How faith acts 52-0816 P:46 Read 13:13. A young prophet went down and prophesied against all...?... done some miracles and the Lord said, "Don't you eat nor drink, and come back another way from the way you went in." And a real prophet of God, went and deceived that prophet. Is that right? You might as well truthful. He said, "The Angel of the Lord met me and told me to tell you to come to my house. He met me after He met you." And the prophet, believing that prophet, turned and went back. What happened to him? A lion killed him. Is that right? And the old prophet...?... over it. Sure, because he listened to a man instead of God. No matter who says anything, believe God first. And God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. He's the same Healer, yesterday, today, and forever.

And the Apostle Paul said the same thing. he said in Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

So I do not care what any minister tells you, whether he be a true Prophet or a true Teacher, for if he says anything contrary to what the Word of God has already said, just let it go in one ear and out the other or suffer the consequences because you have been warned and you will certainly reap what you have sown.

And the Apostle Paul also said in Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience (rebellion) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

And so our obedience is to the revelation of Christ, which Paul tells us in Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith (revelation):

We see also the same thing in Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith (revelation) among all nations, for his name:

And also in the book of Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

In this testimony brother Branham tells how he listened to his mother in law and it resulted in the death of his wife and child. Disobedience has consequences my brothers and sisters.

South Africa testimony 54-0902 P:51 I walked home. God will turn His back on me, couldn't answer prayer. And I walked the floor. Wife, two children, about a hundred dollars in the bank. There they was, right in the prime of my ministry, disobeyed God; there you was: ten hours and be dead. Walking up and down the floor... You don't know what a... Way of a transgressor's hard. I don't care what anybody tell you: When God tells you do something, you go do it, right quick. You pay no attention to what anybody tells you, whether he's a saint, or prophet, or whoever he is, you listen to what God says.

And then we find on another occasion brother Branham was told by a vision to go to India first and then to Africa, but he listened to the ministers and those in charge of the itinerary and disobeyed the vision and as a result suffered with an amoeba.

Demonology 2 Religious 53-0609 P:4 And I've got a vision wrote out here. I want you people to get the benefit of it. It happened in December. I was in the room one morning when the Angel of the Lord came in. You see, when I was over there I disobeyed God and I picked up amoeba. Any man know what amoeba. is? A parasite that nearly kills you. And because I done something God told me not to do. How many's heard the story of it? I guess some of you is here. I know the folks around the Tabernacle heard the story of what happened. God told me to go a place, and to stay away from this place, and then go back over to another place. And I let the preachers talk me out of it. Now, preachers are wonderful, and they're my brothers, but you mind what God tells you. That's right. See, you got one mission.

And from his sermon Queen of Sheba 58-0107 P:59 Now, here's a beautiful scene tonight of the Bible. I wonder what you Gentiles are going to say. Are you going to be as reverent and as respectable as the woman, or the Samaritans was when the woman came into the city, and told what the Lord Jesus had did for her. And she said, "By that..." She even told those people, "Isn't that the very Messiah?" Sure. See? Scriptures are spiritually understood. How many knows that? You don't read the Scriptures are right out to understand them. God said He hid it from the eyes of the wise and prudent. Look, even that vision, I wrote the vision out myself, and read it over a thousand times or more. I didn't see that I was supposed to go to India first. I thought I was supposed to go to Africa first. But then when this hour comes, here it is written right out in my own hand. See? I just couldn't see it. It was blinded to me till I went ahead and disobeyed God, that He might correct me and show that His Words are eternal and can't fail. See? I just couldn't read it that way. Many said, "Oh, the Bible don't say these things." The Bible does say it. It becomes a reality. And God confirms His Word.

And I can say the same thing. I know God spoke to me and said, "Lay off Joseph, I will deal with him." And I did lay off him here in this pulpit, but when I was in Africa and the questions came out from the ministers who were having troubles and people leaving their churches over things br. Joseph had said, and therefore they wanted to know about certain statements that he made, well, when pressed into the line of fire, I just gave them the best answers I could from the Bible, and I didn't realize it was a trap, to test for my reaction, and I fell into it, and came home with hives all over my neck and back and right arm. I disobeyed God not knowing it until after I did it, just like brother Branham. Blinded to the test, and I failed the test because of the pressure from the brethren wanting to know what to do about certain things the brother said. And you know me, when I get wound up I say things that are pretty strong to make an emphasis, and I even told them that. But regardless, it taught me a lesson, and the lesson is still with me after two weeks, and I'm still recovering very slowly but he keeps teaching me a lesson, and that is to just sit back and watch. Sit back and watch. I have the same test with my family, and I need to learn to just sit back and watch, sit back and watch. Because when I get that anointing, I should know by now that God is showing me something, but He also wants me to be very careful in how I react to what He is showing me.

Now, this next quote is from Questions and answers COD 64-0830E P:28 And it deals with listening to the Holy Spirit and not listening to men, or be pushed into something by your wife or other believers.

This quote really is for all those who don't believe that John 14:12. is for all believers. It is in the form of a question and answer. So let's read it. "Can we all do miracles?" Yes. When you're directed by the Holy Ghost to do miracles, go do it, because it's Holy Spirit directed. Now, if that woman wouldn't have carried out what God told her, perhaps there'd have been a rebuke in the Spirit to her (You see?), and she'd have disobeyed God. Always, if you are Christian and something is persuading you to do something, go do it. Go do it; don't doubt it; go do it."

And finally we see a quote about Saul who was anointed by God's prophet and he also prophesied in the Spirit but one day he listened to a different spirit, and he did what God did not want him to do, and he disobeyed God, and so God had to cut him off from his anointed position.

From Demonology 2 Religious 53-0609 P:53 brother Branham said, So now, notice. In here Saul was considered one of the prophets or among the prophets, because he prophesied. And now, he had backslid, because he disobeyed God, and his kingdom was rent out of his hands and placed into the hands of David, who God had anointed by Samuel, with the cruse of oil.

Now, to wrap this up, let me just read a few scriptures that speak of this attribute of obedience in the true Vine before we show you the rebellious and disobedient nature of the false vine.

1 Peter 1:14 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Deuteronomy 11:26-27 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27  A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: 26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. 27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. 28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. 29 Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. 30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.

Now, before we close let's take a short study of the rebellious nature on the children of disobedience. The false Vine is Disobedient to the Word of God, and they are the rebellious children. 

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Deuteronomy 11:26-27 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;27  A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28  And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 5:1-4 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Now why would the Apostle Paul warn us not to jest or foolish talk? Because just like Lot, where the Bible said his sons in law saw him as one who mocked, and that means he was to them just a make-believer. He really didn't stand with conviction, he just talked like it but his actions showed others wise. And because Lot was wishy-washy his son in laws did not respect what he said, and they died because of it.

Genesis 19:11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.12  And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:13  For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

If you look up the Hebrew word there it means "to make sport, to laugh, to make light of or joke about it."

And I've seen an entire family of six children that have turned away from the Message because that is all they saw in their daddy. He was always mocking and jesting about and making fun of things that should have been reverently held onto. And as a result, like Lots sons in law, none of his children are believers today.

Ephesians 5:5-13 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light."

Colossians 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. (the children who are rebellious.)

2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Let us pray...