Benefits of the Son of God to us no. 13
We are Given Boldness to speak the Revelation of Christ
Rev.
Brian Kocourek
11) The thirteenth benefit or promise of God that we have because of His Son
is that we are given a boldness to speak this revelation everywhere and to
everyone.
Now, let’s take for our
text this morning two Scriptures that speak of this boldness of Speech. The
first is in Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a
great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold fast our profession.
Acts
21 But all that heard [him]
were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this
name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them
bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul
increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at
Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
You know there is something about this Word that
gives you strength and the more you speak it the stronger you become in this
Word. And we can see that is exactly what happened with the Apostle Paul while
he was in
And in the Book of Hebrews chapter 4 we found a
command that we are to hold fast our profession and that
word hold
fast was translated from the Greek word Krateo and it means to
hold onto using strength , power or
might. In other words getting a death grip on it. And what is it that we are to
get the death grip onto? He said our profession which was translated from the
same word confession and that is the Greek Word Homologio, which is a compound
word utilizing two Greek root words Homo meaning the same and Logio or logos
which we understand to mean The Word.
Now, the question might be asked, “why do we need a
death grip on the Word?” Well, first of all, the word homologeo that was translated
from the word hold fast is not just “The Word”, but the Same Word That Jesus
Preached. And we will find our answer to our question, “Why should we have a
death grip on this Same Word in John 17. Now, John 17 consists mostly of the
Prayer that Jesus prayed to His Father just before he was to leave with the
Apostles for
JOHN 17:1 ¶ These words spake Jesus,
and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify
thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Notice here that Jesus is praying to the Father,
and he says, Father, Glorify Thy Son, so Thy Son may Glorify Thee. Now, we all
know from our studies that the Greek word Jesus used was doxazo which is an
action form of the Noun Doxa. Now, the doxa is the opinion, estimation and
Judgment of God. So we see here that Jesus was asking God to doxazo or bring
forth in a way of manifestation the very opinion, estimation, and Judgment of
God in Him that He in turn would manifest God’s own Opinion, estimation, and
judgment to the world.
Then He continues in His prayer, 2 As thou hast given
him (the Son of God) power over all flesh, that he (the Son of God) should give eternal
life to as many as thou (God, the Father) hast given him (the Son of God). So we
see here in this verse that Jesus was given power by God Himself to give
eternal life to all those that God had given to His Son to quicken to Life.
Now, notice then in the next verse Jesus explains
what this eternal life is and what it will do. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Now, this is quite a powerful statement in light of
the Doctrine of Christ. He said this is eternal Life, to KNOW the One he was
praying to which was the Father, that He is the ONLY TRUE GOD, and to know also
Jesus Christ the Son of God who came to manifest the Father, whom the Father
hath sent.
Now, remember a few weeks ago we studied what this
same author John said concerning this same subject when he said in his epistle
in 1 John 5:20 And we know that
the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even (or
in the same way that we were) in his Son Jesus Christ. This one that is True is the Only true God, and eternal life.
So we see here that Jesus Christ in His prayer to
His Father that the Apostles were there to hear let them know that eternal life
is manifested in knowing the Father and in knowing the son that was sent by the
Father. Therefore, if one does not know the Father and does not know the Son
and tries to say that Jesus is His own Father, then how can they have eternal
Life? I ask this question based on what Jesus is telling us here. He says that eternal Life is to know the
Father and to Know the Son. And so what if you do not know the Father and you
do not know the Son? Then do you have eternal Life if that is what Jesus tells
us it is.
You see, everyone is so willing to say the evidence
of being born again, and you can not have become born again until the Life of
God comes into you quickening you by His Life and to His Life which is the only
form of eternal life. And they say to believe the message of the hour is the
evidence you are born again and have received eternal life. And then they will tell you that the message
of the hour is that God sent a prophet. Now, how could Jesus tell us the
evidence is to know the Father and to know Him, and brother Branham tells us
something different? But the fact is that Brother Branham didn’t say something
different, but in fact he said, “My ministry is to
declare Him, that He is here.” And the word “declare”, means 1. To make known
formally or officially. 2. To reveal or make manifest;
show.
So
then we can see what Brother Branham said is exactly what Jesus said. Because
if his ministry was to declare Him, that He is here and the word declare means
to make known, then that means that His ministry is to help you to know the One
that is here, God Himself, and By Knowing Him, you will know also His Son that
he sent. And that is what eternal Life
is.
Then to just be able to talk about it is not
eternal life, and to be able to memorize quotes or even entire sermons is not
eternal Life. Nor is it living a good life. But eternal Life is to Know God and
to Know His Son. So you see why the Doctrine of Christ is so important to us,
for without it you can not be born again to eternal life.
Now, look, the same one John that wrote this prayer
of Jesus in the Gospel of John also wrote these words in his 2nd
epistle.
II JOHN 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have
wrought (worked for), but that we receive a full reward. 9. Whosoever
transgresseth,(that means to go beyond the limits) and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.(and in our earlier studies we
found out that those who do not remain in the doctrine of Christ ca not echo
God, they can not reflect Him in any way. But, ) He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, And
that means he that remains in the doctrine of Christ he hath (he echoes) both the Father and
the Son. 10 ¶ If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine,(what
doctrine? The doctrine of Christ that has a Father and a Son) receive him not
into your house, neither bid him God speed: (Now that is a very
harsh thing for you to say John! So then why did he say it? John tells us in
the next verse…)
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Notice
here that he lets you know that any that have not this doctrine of Christ then
must have a false doctrine of Christ and thus what they do have comes not from
God, but from another source and therefore is evil.
So we see then that to know God and to Know His Son
is eternal Life, and there is no getting around that. And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, In
other words, the only tells you there is no other God, so it is the knowing of
this Only God and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent, that gives you eternal life.
Then not to know God and His Son shows the person
is lacking eternal life. Because if William Branham’s ministry was to declare
God, that He is here and to declare means
to make you know this one that is here, then to not know this shows you do not
know his message, and if you do not know his message, then you do not have the
evidence in your life of the new birth. Because to just know that God sent a
prophet is not enough. You’ve got to know the message, and believe that
message, but if you take and push that message aside and make your own message
to be that God sent a prophet, and that is all you have to believe, then you
are just fooling yourself to what the message really is, and it shows you are
not even born again. Now, let’s continue
with the Prayer of Jesus.
4 I have glorified thee on
the earth: (I have shown the world your opinion, estimation,
and judgment while here on earth) I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And
now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self (and now father
impart this opinion, estimation and judgment that is yours to me) with the glory
(opinion, estimation, and judgment ) which I had with thee before the world was. 6 ¶ I have
manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine
they were, and thou gavest them me; and they
have kept thy word. (now, the word kept here is from a Greek
word that means to attend to carefully, so we see when Jesus tells us they have
kept God’s Word, it means that they have been very careful and attentive to it.
They have paid close attention to the Word of God and know that it was given to
Jesus by God Himself.) for Jesus says, 7 Now they have known that all things
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
Now, notice in verse 8 For I have given unto them the Words which
thou gavest to me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I
came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Now, I want you to notice here what Jesus is saying
in this prayer. He let’s us know that He gave us the Word which God had given
Him, 8 For I have
given unto them the Words which thou gavest to me, and he then tells
us that not only did He give us the Word God gave Him, but we received that
Word. and they
have received them,. And the word received was translated from the
Greek word Lambano which means to take to one's self, to lay hold upon, to take
possession of, to appropriate to one's self for the purpose of using it for our benefit as though it belongs
to us. And then Jesus lets us know that in receiving the Word God Gave to Him
and He passed on to us, we come to an understanding of God, and how and why He
sent His Son. For
I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest to me and they have received
them and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed
that thou didst send me.
Now, this is important because Jesus is witnessing
back to the Father that the word He gave to His Son, was passed on to us, and
in doing so, we received that Word and knew where it came from, and thus Know
the difference between the Father and His Son. And this is not just a mental
understanding he is talking about. But
the word receive means to take it to yourself that we might apply it to our
self. In other words it speaks of a living Word that when received becomes
alive to us and in us, and we live out the very Word which was given to us. For
it was given to us for our benefit, and that is to come alive in us that we
might have eternal Life and that means we will know the Father and we will know
His Son, and how God works in all of His children, bringing His very word alive
in each and every one of us. .
ACTS 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also
of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
EPHESIANS 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do (not you and I that do,
but unto Him that is able to do) exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to
the power that worketh in us,(so it is not us doing but Christ
that worketh in you) and Paul says, 21 Unto
him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end. Amen.
Now, remember last week we showed you that the real
gift of God is to get yourself out of the way. Then the man has nothing to do
with it. Then it’s not Brother Branham was a mighty prophet or brother Vayle is a profound teacher, or brother
Brian has done the work of an Apostle, that is all a bunch of nonsense. We
should say, that it is God this, and God that, and Go did this, and God did that, for by one Spirit we are
baptized into one Body. Its God that is
doing what needs to be done. And Brother Branham was quite frank when he said
God needs me no more than the hole that is left when you stick your finger in a
bucket of water.
Notice what Paul said in I CORINTHIANS 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit is the one that operates them. Although
God has given us many different types of Gifts to His church, yet there is only
One Spirit that is working them all for our good. And then he explains, 5 And there are differences of administrations, but it’s the same Lord doing them. 6 And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the
same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. In other words God gives us the manifestation of the Spirit,
His Spirit for our benefit.
8 For to one is given by the
Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same
Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the
working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to
another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11
But all these worketh by that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will.
So then what is there to brag about or boast about,
it is God that either does it or it does not get done. Now, in getting back to
Jesus prayer.. we pick up at John 17:9
Notice how this same Spirit of God that came upon
Jesus caused Him to speak boldly concerning the Revelation of Christ/
JOHN 7:25 Then said some of them of
JOHN 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in
the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret
have I said nothing.
And look at the power of the Spirit upon Peter and
John and how it gave them boldness to proclaim the revelation of Jesus Christ
openly/
ACTS
ACTS 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness.
And notice that the same effect came upon the
Apostle Paul, giving Him all boldness to speak the Revelation of Jesus Christ
to all.
ACTS
ACTS 13:45 But
when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against
those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and
said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to
you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us,
[saying], I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be
for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they
were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
eternal life believed. 49 And the word
of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
ACTS 14:1 ¶ And it came to pass in Iconium, that they
went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great
multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the
unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected
against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the
Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and
wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided:
and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
ACTS 19:6 And when Paul
had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake
with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 ¶ And he went into the synagogue, and spake
boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things
concerning the
ACTS 26:24 ¶ And
as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art
beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad,
most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the
king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am
persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not
done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be
a Christian.
ACTS 28:30 ¶ And Paul dwelt
two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the
II CORINTHIANS
II CORINTHIANS
7:4 Great [is] my boldness of speech toward you, great [is] my glorying
of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
EPHESIANS 3:11 According to the
eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with
confidence by the faith of him.
EPHESIANS 6:19 ¶ And
for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly,
to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly,
as I ought to speak.
PHILIPPIANS 1:19 For I know that
this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to
my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
[that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in
my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death. 21 ¶ For
to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.
COLOSSIANS
HEBREWS 3:6 But Christ as a
son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and
the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
HEBREWS 4:16 Let us therefore
come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help in time of need.
I THESSALONIANS
2:1 ¶ For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance
in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered
before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at
HEBREWS 10:35 Cast not away
therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye
have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise.
I JOHN
I JOHN
I JOHN