Unveiling of God no 48
The Character of Christ part 3
Ephesians Parallels Joshua no2
Five-fold ministry - The
pattern for all ages
September 9, 2018
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
The
last time we spoke, we saw how brother Branham tied the book of Joshua
with the Book of Ephesians, and said, that Ephesians parallels Joshua. We showed
you how that Joshua who was a minister of Moses, as what we would call today a
five-fold minister and it was through that ministry that the elect of that hour
entered into the promise land following the same pillar of fire that Moses
followed.
In his sermon God who is
rich in mercy 65-0119 P:12 "Now, if many of you like to just mark down Scriptures
that a minister reads... And I would like for you to tonight, if you would,
to turn to Ephesians. And I was speaking last Sunday on the Ephesians, how
that the Book of Joshua
was the Ephesians of the Old Testament, and how it was a Book of
redemption. And redemption has two different parts:
"come out of" and "entering
into." First, you have to come
out. Some people wants to bring the world in with them; but you got
to come out of the world to enter into Christ. You have to come out
of unbelief to enter into faith. There cannot be one thing in your way.
To really have genuine
faith, you must absolutely leave everything that's contrary to the Word of God
behind to enter into faith. And that was the Book of the Ephesians of the Old
Testament: Joshua. Where, Moses
represented the law, could not save no one, but grace could, and here "Joshua" is the same
word like Jesus, "Jehovah-Saviour."And now then, we find out that we have come to
another Ephesians, another Ephesus now. Where that in our
intellectual denominations and so forth, and all of our educational programs
has come to its Jordan, then we must have an--an Ephesians again.
We must have an exodus to "come out" and to "go into," for
the rapture.
Therefore
this morning I would like to look at this a little deeper than what we did the
last sermon I preached before br. Webster came from Malawi.
Therefore,
we see that if Joshua
parallels Ephesians,
then let's look at the Book of Ephesians and in Ephesians 1 where Paul speaks to us about
receiving the Holy
Spirit and getting ready for the adoption
of sons and the inheritance of the saints.
Then
we see in Chapter 2 that Paul speaks of our being in quickened by Christ,
and the contrast in our life from what we were to what He has called us to be
as sons.
Then
in chapter 3
Paul tells us of his own experience how God took him and changed him by the revelation and he
became a minister of the Gospel that we might come to the same doxa of God
that God had shown him.
Then
as we move into chapter 4 we hear that Apostle Paul tell us that God has set in the
church five gifts to fully equip the church and bring it to full maturity
where we might grow up into the very
image of Christ himself filled with the fullness of His Character.
Therefore
we see in chapter 4:11 And He (God) gave some to be apostles; and some to be prophets; and some to be evangelists; and some, to be pastors and some to be teachers;
Notice that the Apostle Paul used the word "some"
in referring to the five-fold ministry and we know that the word "some"
means more than one. But there is a heresy that is sweeping this Message
whereby some groups are now calling those who are identified with Paul's
Ephesians 4 description as "Apostle, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and teachers",
and these groups are persecuting the true Five-Fold and calling them Dathan and
Korah for standing true to their God given calling who continue to preach the
Word and do signs and wonders that God said we will do.
Now, you may say, who is doing that? Just open your
ears my brothers and sisters. One Group says if you believe in John 14:12
you are a Dathan and Korah coming against the prophet. And others say if you
claim that the perfection of the saints will come through any other ministry
than William Branham, you are a Dathan or Korah. Well, believe it or not but
that is the same doctrine they are teaching and they are making William Branham
himself into what he is not.
The problem as I see it is that many do not study the Message
and take it back to the Scriptures. They say they are quoting brother Branham when
they say you do not have to understand it, you just have to believe it. But remember
we are commanded to say ALL that is on the tapes, and Br. Branham said in his sermon
Seed shall not be heir
65-0429B P:25 "Now, if you'll take Saint John 5:24, listen to this, "He
that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Everlasting Life."Now,
how would that be so much different from many of our theologies? Now, I could
walk out here and say to a drunkard, "Do
you believe?""Sure."A
man with another man's wife, "Do
you believe?""Sure.""Did
you set in the meeting last night to hear the Word?""Sure.""You believe It?""Sure."
He's just saying that. But the original
interpretation of this Word, "he that
understandeth My Word, and will believe on Him that sent Me...He that
understands,"
that is to who It's made known to.
Jesus said, "No
man can come to Me except My Father has drawed him. And all that My Father hath
given Me, they will come. My sheep,
My doves, hear My Voice. A stranger they will not follow." And what is the
Voice of God? Is the Word of God. What's any man's voice but his word? It's the Word of God;
they'll hear the Word of God.
Now, let's say all that is on the tapes. You cannot believe
it if you do not understand what it is you are believing. You can say, "Brother
Branham I believe everything you say" and that is fine but brother Branham
himself said, that just means you can read.
Now these things being taught are actually heresy and many
are falling into that heresy in this hour by placing all the works of the Holy Ghost
through a five-fold ministry into one man, even to the place where some would
say that no man is called to do the works of Christ except that one man, and no
one is called to preach the word except for that one man.
And both those two groups are persecuting the True
five-fold ministry who have been anointed by the same Holy Spirit of God that
called them to preach and evangelize and take the Doctrine to the world, and those
groups who hold that no one is called to do except William Branham so are calling
those who do preach "Dathan and
Korah" and are vilifying God's true five-fold ministry for doing what God
called them to do.
But brother Branham said contrary to what they teach. When asked if he is
the only one who should preach he said in Questions and answers. 1106-Q-349 349. Now. Brother Branham, is it true that no one should
preach but you? We have seen you ordain men. We don’t believe you would
do that if there were not, if they were not to preach. Mercy. Brother, sister, ever
who told you that nobody’s to preach but me, I’d sure be a poor subject
to God with all that. No.
Every man or that feels a call of God upon his life, get into the
ministry and start preaching; we need them. Men of God are
anointed all over the world to preach the Gospel. See? I’m just one
little pebble on the beach among many big stones. See? So I… There’s just many
that’s more eligible, more worthy, more of anything to preach than me; I’m just
one little, humble person laying out here. I’m one grain of wheat in a whole
garner. See? So that just a… You know what I mean. Any man that’s called
of God needs to preach the Gospel.
64-0830M
– “Questions And Answers 3 1088-Q-332 332…….”Do you teach that the Bride
must not attend any other church unless you are preaching or else, otherwise,
the Tabernacle?” No. I don’t teach that. I
don’t believe that; I do not believe it. We’ve got ministers
setting here that’s scattered all around through the country, and I believe
they are part of that Bride. I believe that a man or woman can go to church
anywhere they want to go that teaches the Word. And I believe, if they don’t
teach the whole Word, and you can’t go to church any other place where they
teach the whole Word, go where they teach half the Word until you can get to
where they teach the whole Word. Go to church whatever you do. Do that.
Church
Age Book Chapter 3 - The Ephesian Church
Age P:21 His manner of ministering set the pattern
that all future messengers were to aspire to, and actually sets the pattern for
every true minister of God, though he would not attain to such heights in the
prophetic realm as did Paul. Paul's ministry had a threefold quality and was as
follows:
Church
Age Book Chapter 4 - The Smyrnaean
Church Age P:140 In every age we
have exactly the same pattern. That is why the light comes through some
God-given messenger in a certain area, and then from that messenger there
spreads the light through the ministry of others who have been faithfully
taught. But of course all those who go out don't always learn how necessary it
is to speak ONLY what the messenger has spoken. (Remember, Paul warned the
people to say only what he said, I Corinthians 14:37, "If any man think
himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that
I write unto you are the COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. What? came the Word of God
out from you? or came it unto you only?") They add here, or take away
there, and soon the message is no longer pure, and the revival dies down. How careful
we must be to hear ONE voice, for the Spirit has but one voice which is the
voice of God. Paul warned them to say what he said, even as Peter did likewise.
He warned them that EVEN HE (PAUL) could not change one word of what he had
given by revelation. Oh, how important it is to hear the voice of God by way of
His messengers, and then say what has been given them to say to the churches.
E-153
TAKE ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD 62-0701 John 14:12, Jesus said, "He that believeth in me, the
works that I do shall he do also."
What is it? It's God in the church
in these five predestinated
offices, backing up every Word
that He said with the Holy
Spirit, Himself, in there which is the Word
made manifest. Proving His resurrection, proving that He lives.
Now, why would the Apostle Paul tell us that God has
set in the church five gifts to perfect the saints if that perfection is to
come through just one man. Why Would God set in the church these five offices?
Notice in verse
12 He
says, "For
the perfecting of the saints,
and for the work of the ministry, (Now,
this perfecting is not what these men are looking for. This perfecting is not
what the blood does. That perfection is a cleansing and clearing. And that is
accomplished only through the blood of Jesus Christ.
64-0830M - Questions And Answers #3 About the Scripture of Ephesians 4:11 through 13, do we all (Let’s see.)—do we get
all the perfecting of saints through the tapes, or should we be here,
where the gifts of the Spirit are operating and the different offices of
the church, to help perfect us? Our hearts have believed all the Word of the
Lord. 219 No! They want to come here to the
church for the perfecting. See? That we get fellowship one with another here at
the church, but the perfecting comes between us and God. The Blood of
Christ is what perfects us in the Holy Spirit.
But
this perfecting here is from a Greek word that means to finish off or equip.
And then they are also to do the work of the ministry. So whose ministry are
they doing the work of? The ministry of the body of Christ. The Works of
Christ, and what is it being done for? "for the edifying"
(that means the building up) "of the body of Christ": (and this is to go on until he says,) 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
Now,
here is where I see the problem exists with those who criticize the true
five-fold ministry. They do not understand what this unity of The Faith is. But
we know that since there is only one Faith and that One Faith is the Faith or
revelation of the One Lord, then the purpose of the five-fold gift to the
church from God is to bring us to unity in the revelation of Jesus Christ. And
that can only come if the people have not only the revelation of Jesus Christ,
that there is One God and He had a son, but as Paul says also and of The knowledge
of the Son of God,
But
many who claim to follow Br. Branham's ministry and have placed everything in
that one vessel, do not know there Bible and do not even know if there is a son
of God. They believe in a God who is the son, but they do not believe there is
a son whose Father is God.
And
so he says God will send this five-fold gift to the church to establish in the
church not only the revelation of Jesus Christ but also bring the knowledge of
the son of God as well.
And
through this combination of the revelation of Jesus Christ, and the knowledge
of the son of God it is to bring all sons into the same relationship with the
Father as the eldest son had with the father.
And
as the Apostle Paul said, that is to bring the church to the place "unto a perfect man",(which is a
teleios man, and the word signifies a fully
grown and mature son ready for adoption. The word "teleios"
means "ull mental
and moral growth, completeness". And this word is only used in
scripture when it refers to those sons who have fully matured into manhood and
are adoption ready.
Now,
that is what the Five-fold ministry is all about. And the Bible tells us that God set it in the
church to bring on this maturity through the preaching of the word,
and doing the
works of Christ.
Stature of a perfect man
62-1014M P:157 for God has set in the church apostles, prophets,
teachers, pastors, and evangelists, all for the perfecting and bringing
all these virtues into it, to that perfection of the coming of the Son of God.
Now some teach that they don't need a
five-fold ministry because William Branham was all five. But brother Branham
said he was not an evangelist, because even though God told him to do the work
of an evangelist he was not an evangelist.
Taking sides with Jesus COD
62-0601 P:38 I believe that the Lord has used me in little
special things to help maybe lay a foundation for a prophet that will come. But
a prophet doesn't operate the way I operate, now, you know that. A prophet
isn't an evangelist, and an evangelist isn't a prophet. A pastor
isn't a evangelist, and a evangelist isn't a pastor. But God has set in the church, first apostles,
then prophets, then teachers, then pastors and so forth. God set them in the
church and God gave them an office. But the morning when I laid that
cornerstone, because... Now, if you're spiritual you get it.
Because of the cry of the people... If you could break that out or take the
book and read it, it said, "Do the work of an evangelist." Didn't
call me to be an evangelist, but said, "Do the work of an evangelist, for the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine, but for--heap themselves together teachers, having
itching ears and shall turn from truth to fables." See?
Quoted that Scripture and told me where to find It, said It three times. And I
got the Bible and turned to where He told me, and there It was.
Therefore if brother Branham said he was
not
an evangelist then how come some say he was? Just because he did the
work of an evangelist does not make him an evangelist. Now, he may have been
very successful doing the work of an Evangelist but he said we was not an
Evangelist.
I took meetings in Congo DRC in a Soccer
Stadium, and preached an evangelist style sermon and had much success as 130
plus people came to the altar two nights in a row. Dropping to their knees and
weeping before God. The second night as many or more coming to receive the Holy
ghost by the laying on of Hands.
That was the work of an evangelist but I
am not an Evangelist. But that gift is in here by the Holy Ghost. But He called
me since a child to do the work of an apostle, and yet I stand here as your
pastor. See? And I deliver the word as a teacher. Those gifts are there and in
some there is more than one gift, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the
teacher, it is the same Holy Spirit who is the Evangelist and who is the
Apostle and prophet and Pastor.
The apostle Paul was also a pastor at
Ephesus, and so was the Apostle John also a pastor. So gifts and callings are
without repentance, and are gifts of the spirit that some may have more than
one gift.
Expectations and what love is
54-0228A P:24 Now, we know that people that don't believe in
Divine gifts, and yet they're preachers, how did they get their inspiration
then to preach from? If there's not a gift of preaching, then
according to that, every person's a preacher. But the Bible said, "God has set some in the Church (God has)
apostles, prophets,
teachers, evangelists," and so forth, all in the Church. God has set them in there.
And they're inspired for a certain work. And then some
people may possess more than one gift. But there'd at least be one
gift or more in a person. And then all these things together, working
together, for the up-building of the Body of Christ, getting Her ready to go.
It's not the man, the only part the man
has is to yield himself to the Holy Spirit "for sons of God are led by the Spirit of God".
From that time 62-0713 P:102 How many knows
there's a difference between the appearing of Christ and the coming of Christ?
It's two different words. Now's the appearing, the coming will soon be. He's
appearing in the midst of us, doing the works that He once did, in His church.
Now, you're a part of that church, and by grace you believe. I am a member of
that church. Now, I'm not a preacher. You know I'm not. I have
not the education to do it. Sometimes I feel reluctant standing here by men of
God, who's called to that office. There are apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists. Not all
are apostles, not all are prophets, not all are teachers, not all evangelists.
I'm standing here...But my ministry is a different ministry from a pastor
or teacher. I'm not. And if I say things wrong, brethren, forgive me. I
don't mean it. But this
is my ministry (See?) to declare Him, that He's here.
Way to have fellowship
55-1009 P:62 But my ministry is this: it just declares that
God is here. It don't matter whether I pray for you or not in this
particular meeting now, it's your faith. It ain't touching me; it's touching
Him. See? You touch Him; it'll happen.
So brother
Branham tells us he is not a pastor or teacher, but he tells us that his
ministry is different, it is to declare the presence of God to this generation.
His ministry was to introduce us to the presence, the Parousia of Christ. That
is was what his ministry was all about.
But some will
tell you brother Branham was all five offices rolled up into one. I disagree
with that. He was a Messenger Prophet with "Thus Saith the Lord" and
even though he did the work of an evangelist in his own words he told us he was
not an Evangelist. He also told us he was not a pastor or teacher. So who are
we going to believe? Those who would make William Branham the all in all of
God? Next thing you will see they will make him "the Lilly of the Valley,
and the bright and morning star, the Alpha and Omega, and the Messiah to the
age." And what they are doing is confusing the working of the Holy Spirit
in this hour with a man who was just a yielded vessel trying his best to die to
self that Christ might magnify Himself through his yielded body.
So be careful,
that you enter not into the willful worshiping of angels, as Peter warned us would
come.
Speak To This Mountain 57-1215 031
Now, as we go to the meeting, if you will just be reverent a little bit. I'm
not much of a preacher. I can't class myself. I say...?... is a preacher,
'cause I don't have the education these ministers does, and so forth. My gift
is seeing visions. The Bible said
there's five offices in the Church that is ordained of God and put in the
Church--office holders. First is apostles, prophet, teachers,
evangelists, pastors. They're God's foreordination. By
predestination, by foreknowledge He saw it, placed it in the Church for every
age.
Now, we can
show you where God ordained them and placed them in every age, you show me
where he took them out of this last age? And if you teach contrary to what Paul
told you will be cursed, that is "thus saith the Lord", because God is the Word.
E-3 God's Provided Way Of Healing
54-0719.1A God has set in the church apostles, teachers,
and prophets.
Is that right? God has set in the church for
the perfecting... So not
the bishop has them, or the elder has, or someone else, but God has. And
they are, ... Those offices
has put
in the church.
E-84 Hear Ye Him 58-0301.2E Now, friends, there's five offices in the
church: prophets or evangelists, pastors,
teachers, and apostles or missionaries,
either one you want to call it, both the same word. God set this in the church for the perfecting of the
church.
E-40 Prophet Like Unto Moses 59-112 aren't called by the church, or so forth, they are chosen by God. Apostles; second, prophets; third,
(I may not have these lined just right,) third I think is teachers
and evangelists and pastors. Five
spiritual offices in the
church to set the church in order. Apostles, prophets, teachers,
evangelists, pastors.
Those are called offices by God. Then in
the local congregation, there's
nine spiritual gifts that work
among the people. Now, in these
offices and places, in the offices you hear from
the apostle, his ministry. You hear from
the prophet, his ministry, from the evangelists, from the teacher, from the
pastor. Each has a separate ministry. And their ministries is of
God, God has set them in the church for
this purpose. Then God comes
down in the form of the Holy Spirit amongst His
congregation, speaks with tongues, another one interprets and
tells a certain person a thing to do, and it happens that way. Maybe that
would be some time when there was a
need. Then there's gifts of wisdom,
knowledge, interpretations, all kinds of gifts that goes
into the church. But the first way and all of it has to come first by the
Word, the Word.
E-12 Jesus Christ The Same 61-0205.2E Then
besides that, He's got five ministerial offices. First
is apostles
or missionaries. The word apostle means "one sent."
A missionary means "one sent." Secondarily, prophets,
evangelists, pastors, and so forth. Those are God-given gifts that's set
into the Church. They're predestinated of God, and set to
the Church. You can't make yourself a minister. God's got
to call you to be a minister.
E-102 Perseverant 62-0729 I pray
that these men of God, Your servants that... You've got five offices in the Church. You
said You have ordained in the Church, first: apostles, then prophets,
teachers, pastors, and evangelists. God, You set them
in the Church. Maybe they cannot prophesy, and say things. Maybe they do not have discernment. But, they are man who are teachers
and pastors.
54 Questions and Answers 64-0823.2E There is five offices elected of God. "For God has set in the
Church apostles, prophets,
teachers, pastors, evangelists." God did that. Man has deacons and so
forth, and everything else, but you
see, but God
set in the Church for the
perfecting of the
Church--can't
divide it.
E-7 Balm in Gilead 59-0707 Now, there's five offices that
God put in the Church; there's nine spiritual gifts that accompany that
offices and all the members of the Body. The first is apostles,
which is missionaries. The word "apostle"
means "one
that's sent."
The word "missionary" means "one that's sent,"
the same word. Apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors,
evangelists, these offices God sets in the Church.
They're all in operation, or should be. We cannot bypass one and
say there's teachers without saying evangelists. We cannot say there's
evangelists without saying there is apostles. We cannot say there's apostles
without admitting there's prophets. All of them are for
the perfecting of the Body of Christ.
The Lord gives me visions.
Those things begin when I was a little baby.
I do not believe that man can be called of man
and be a successful minister. I believe gifts and callings are without
repentance, that God by His foreknowledge
foreordained His ministers into the Gospel, and the gifts into the Church.
The Apostle
Paul warned us in Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and
worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Now, that
wording is a bit confusing because it looks like the worshipping of angels is
your reward because it was not translated very well. But the Amplified version makes it very clear what it is
telling us.
Colossians 2:18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you
for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and
worship of angels, taking
his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
The Voice translation puts it this way: 18 Don’t be cheated out of
the prize by others who are peddling the
worship of heavenly beings and false humility.
People like this run about telling whoever
will listen what they claim to have seen; but in reality they testify only to an inflated mind, saturated in
conceit—not in the Spirit.
NIV Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the
worship of angels disqualify you. Such
a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by
their unspiritual mind.
I have been in
this message for 44 years and I have been taught by the best teacher this
generation has seen, who sat at the feet of God's Messenger prophet and who
worked with him, and who that prophet said there is no man that understands me
or my message like Lee Vayle. And he mentored me for 33 years I will tell you
that I have witnessed this worshipping of the angels (Messenger) and this (false)
humility that the apostle Paul warned us would come. And it has come by many
who have claimed to be close to the Messenger and who tell us in such great but
false humility that what they have seen with their own eyes, you had better
hear it from them. And that is what Paul warned us about in Colossians 2:18. worshippers of angels,
worshippers of Messengers who try to put you in or out based on their own
pathetic doctrines. Be very careful brothers and sisters who you are listening
too, because you can get a spirit on you and you won't even know when it comes
on you but it will take you away from the truth of the Word of God.
Now, brother
Branham said in Stature of a perfect man 62-1014M
P:117 Let's
turn to Ephesians 4 and find out over here what in the Book of Ephesians it says about
this thing too, about how we should, how we should do. Ephesians the 4th chapter
and begin with the 12th verse: Ephesians 4 and begin with the 12th
verse. All right, let's begin up here at
the 11th verse. And he gave some
apostles; and some, prophets;... (Remember
last night: don't try to take the other man's office. See?)... and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and some teachers;
For the perfecting of... (God... Does it
read like that? The perfecting of what? Saints. Who are the
saints? The sanctified ones, the ones who started from down here.)... perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry:... (The
ministry of Jesus Christ)... for
the edifying of the body of Christ: (For the edifying,
building it up, edifying...)Until--till we
all come into the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, into
the perfect man,... (Unto the assurance,
oh, my.)... unto the measure of the statue of
the fulness of Christ:
Jesus arose 56-0405 P:35 And God ascended on
high, led captive captive, give gifts unto men. And He has set in the Church first, apostles; second, prophets; after
that teachers, evangelist, and pastors. Is that right? God set them in the
Church for the perfecting of the Church, that the people might know
that He is not dead, that He lives on and will forever. And He's in His Church
today doing His High Priest work, working through His people as they
yield themselves to Him for the same purpose. And I believe the same
Jesus Christ that rose on the first glad Easter morning is alive yet today with
His people. Shall we pray.
56-0617 – “Revelation Book Of
Symbols” 57……Your pastor, when he stands
here on the platform, ministering the Word of God, he is God’s angel to the
church, messenger to the church. Therefore,
a pastor should never leave that Word, but stay straight with the Word, because
He’s feeding the shepherd’s place, ’cause the–the word “pastor” means
“shepherd.” Look it up and find out if that ain’t right. A pastor is a
shepherd, and the Holy Ghost has made him overseer over a certain flock to feed
them. What with? The Word of God. Amen……..
Faith in action 55-1003 P:83 He sent His
Word. You believe that to be the truth, don't you? In His Word, He said He'd set in the church apostles, prophets,
teachers, evangelists. You believe that, don't you? The apostle has
his part to do; the prophet has his part to do.
Untill we all come into the
unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, into the perfect man,... teleios (Unto the
assurance, oh, my.)... unto the measure of the statue of the
fulness of Christ:
So
the word teleios was
used when referring to a son who is ready for adoption.) unto the measure of the stature (which is the character) of the fulness of Christ: (So
this five-fold gift that God has placed by predestination in the church is to
help the church to grow up and mature into the full character of Christ.)
14 That
we henceforth be no more children,(nepios
infants, little 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: So the body must
grow up to fit with the head, which is Christ.
Trial a 64-0405 P:11 Now, I'm going
to read today from the Scripture, from Mark the 16th chapter, just for a few
moments to draw from this a context; I'm going to begin at the 14th verse. And after he
upbraided them, unto the eleven... appeared unto the eleven as set at meat, and
upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed
not them which had seen him after he was risen.... he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Now, remember,
"all the world, this Gospel, to every creature." Some
says it ceased with the apostles. He said here that His last commission
to the church was all the world, to every creature. And these signs
shall follow them that believe. Where? All the world, to every creature.
Notice, there's where He give it to the church. Show me
where He took it away. "all the world..."He that
believeth... shall be saved... he that believeth not shall be damned. And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents... if they drink
any deadly thing, it shall not harm them; they shall lay their hands on the
sick, and they shall recover. So... after the Lord had spoken unto them, he
was received up into heaven, and set at the right hand of God. And they went
forth, preaching every where, the Lord working with them... confirming the word
with signs following. Amen. Now, I believe that Scripture to be the
truth.
Super sign 62-0708 P:58 What did Jesus say?
"Go ye
into all the world and preach
the Gospel to every creature." How far? All the world. How many? Every creature, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; he that believeth not shall be damned, and (a
conjunction) these signs shall follow them that believe," in all the world,
and every creation, every creature. I can show you where God put gifts
and power in the church. I want somebody to put your finger on a Scripture and
show me where He took it out, where He took it back from the church. It's a super sign to the
believer, that we've passed from death unto Life, because we
feel the Holy Ghost, and see It working on our lives, and
changing us from what we were to what we are now. Amen. He arose from the dead.
Thanks be to God.
(Jesus Christ The Same 56-0426 “Now, His corporal body sets at the right hand of God. You believe that,
don’t you? But the Holy Spirit is here working through His sanctified vessels. And God has set in the church what? First apostles, then prophets,
then teachers, then evangelists, then pastors (Is
that right?), for the perfecting of the
church. God has did it. It’s not
the preacher that preaches; it’s God preaching through him. It’s not the
prophet that sees the vision; it’s God speaking through him.”
QA
On The Seals 63-0324M “Would the Bride of Christ
have a ministry before the rapture? Sure. That’s what’s going on right now.
See? The Bride of Christ... Certainly. It is the Message of the hour
(See?), the Bride of Christ. Sure, She’s consist of apostles,
prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors. Is
that right? That’s the Bride of Christ. Sure, She’s got a ministry,
great ministry; it’s the ministry of the hour; it’ll be so humble.”
Notice that he said the five-fold ministry is to
bring the body of Christ to maturity by bringing them to a unity
concerning the
revelation of Jesus Christ, where we not only understand fully
the relationship between Father and son, but Father and sons as well. And he
adds that this is made possible by having The knowledge of the son of God. ...Till
we all come in the unity of The Faith, (The
Faith, not a faith, but the faith and that is the Faith of the One Lord, and
then he adds) and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, (and so this revelation will
take us ) unto a perfect (fully matured and
adoption ready)
man, (and then Paul adds) unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: (Now
this word stature speaks of our coming to the fullness of the character of
Christ)
Notice brother Branham says in his sermon Easter Seal - 65-0410 And now, if that same Spirit
that was upon Him to be the Redeemer in that age, that we have accepted... Now,
the promise of in this last days what would take place, if you become part of that Word, you are redeemed with Him,
because the
same Spirit that dwelt in Christ is dwelling in you, quickening your life to
this age. And it will also in the end time quicken your mortal
bodies, resurrect them, bring them up again. That takes the gloom away when
we look at it in that, and that's the truth. Romans here, Paul has proved it to us. See?
"If the Spirit that raised up Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, it will also quicken your mortal bodies." This is the same Spirit that raised
Him up that quickened the true believer to Eternal Life. The Spirit that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwells into the believer, quickens the believer
to Eternal Life.
Again from his sermon Rising
of the Sun - 65-0418 1M 50-6And now (see?), now you are already resurrected. When
God raised Him up, He raised you; the Son is just now on you. And now
you're growing into a blossom Life like He was, to be resurrected
completely in that last day. Your potentials you have now. Why do you
know? Your soul
changed, didn't it? Your body come in obedience to It, didn't it? Into obedience to what? A Church? The Word, which is
the Life. Then you are now resurrected from the dead. You
potentially have the Earnest, the waiting. Now, when you get the Dynamics, you
have been quickened from mortal to immortality. It makes the whole body come
subject to the Word. It'll make you act different, look different, live
different; It'll just make you different. Then notice, it's just like a little seed laying in the ground. Now,
potentially, you are resurrected. You're resurrected when you receive the Holy
Spirit in you; you're resurrected right then. Your body's potentially
resurrected.
Let us pray...