LOOK # 8
Defining the Role
Brian Kocourek
PP. 57A ( read.)
Now here's the key, "We must COPE our lives and
FOCUS it in to The Word of God. Try to
get the right FOCUS before we snap it."
Now you will notice that these two words
Br. Branham uses here have to deal with our Lives. To COPE and to FOCUS our Lives.
COPE: (Websters)
1. To fight or contend with, to
deal with problems.
To meet, as in a contest;
to encounter
To cut so as
to fit a pattern. ( coping saw.)
FOCUS: (Websters)
1. To adjust in order to produce a clear image.
To fix or settle on ONE THING;
Concentrate.
Now if our first two points we want to
speak on today, have todeal with our
lives, then surely the third point will also.
In order to find this third point, let's
continue with PP. 57B.( Read ). " We must DO our lives, and then see Him and see
Him only." Can anyone tell me here what
that third point is?
You know, for being such a little word, the
word "DO" actually has one of the largest definitions in the entire Websters New World Dictionary. Almost one half of an entire page. Big
things come in little packages. This is very dynamic little word here.
DO: (Websters) 1) To perform an
action.
2) To carry out; fulfill.
3) To bring to completion;
finish
Today I would like to look at
these three points that brother Branham is speaking of here
in light of our lives and what the scripture speaks about these. To COPE, To FOCUS and To
DO: as pertaining to The Gospel, our lives, and the relationship
between these two and how these three
points made here by brother Branham are essential
elements in order for the Word
of God to receive the preeminence and be fulfilled in each of us as God predestined it to be
before the foundation of the world.
Remember a few weeks ago when we spoke on the
roles in a local assembly,
and especially the role of a Shepherd. We
said that there were two major point that were involved in dealing
with roles.
1) First the role must be
defined. There must be a pattern for the role.
2) The role must be accepted
by the one who is to fulfill that role.
Now, you
know that these two points are very important if the role is
to be performed as it should. Let me
give you an illustration via Scripture.
MATTHEW 3:13-15... Why? The lamb had to
be washed before it could be sacrificed.
I) COPE: (Websters)
1: To fight or contend with. To deal with problems.
To meet
as in a contest, to encounter.
To
cut so as to fit a pattern, (Coping saw).
What does he mean "We must COPE our lives and FOCUS it to the Word? We must contend
with our lives. We must deal with the problems that we have. We are in a
contest, as Paul often spoke and we must fight a good fight.
I TIM
Notice verse 12: "LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE.
Lets look at a man who though blessed of God to
be able to see the Message for His
hour, yet he constantly lived in fear of
what his outcome would be. He had pulled quite a deal against His
brother to gain the birthright that his brother did not even care about and he lived in constant
fear of his day of recognizing.
GEN: 32: 1-30 (read) Paul said,
Fight the Good fight and take a-hold of Eternal life.
MATTHEW
(VIOLENT=BIASTES=BEE-AS-TACE)
a forcer, energetic
God doesn't want a bunch of sissy-fied Children, He wants His kids to
be rugged individuals. Perseverant.
STORY: Small man come to town to preach & met town bully. Cleaning,
encounter, bully said no revival till you
whip me
first. I cor
I COR
strength, and speed and endurance. You can't
just be a couch
potato and expect to win. You've got to train and condition yourself.
ATHLETE: Drills, why?: Speed, strength, endurance, strategy.
Training table: strength,
muscle, high carbohydrate high protein, low sugar & milk.
I COR
ROMAN 7:15-25 the body of this
death.
I TIM 4:1-8 (notice vs. 5 sounds
like someone under fire.) 7 I have finished.
Now in order to run a race or fight
the good fight there must be an understanding of what has to be done. You must
not only know what your strength is, but your weakness as well. You must know the
strength and the weakness of your opponent. You must know what it will you to become what you want to become and you must be
willing to pay the price. You've got to know what it is you are focused into.
LUKE 14:25-33
II) FOCUS: (Websters):
1: To adjust in order to produce a
clear image.
2: To fix or settle on ONE THING
FOCUS has to do with your GOAL and
your strategy to obtain that goal. Even God has a plan to bring about His great
goal that He has in Election.
I PETER 1:3-5 (WUEST) 5: YOU WHO ARE
CONSTANTLY BEING KEPT GUARDED BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH REVELATION FOR A
SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN A LAST SEASON WHICH IS EPOCHAL AND STRATEGIC
IN IT'S SIGNIFICANCE.
You see, God uses strategy. He's the
author of the Great battle plan. How could He be the Chief Captain of our
salvation without having a battle plan. Notice Verses
7-9. (read).
I PETER
1:7-9. The trial will produce a positive result. It is
ordained
of God to do so. And you are ordained
to
receive the goal of your Revelation as it says
in
verse 9.
EXAMPLE: Elisha
FOCUSSED upon Elijah every waking moment to receive
the mantle.
Our Elijah is the Lord Jesus Christ. Elisha is
a type of the
Elect. The mantle is a type of the Spirit and
Power of Christ upon
His Elect.
Another mantle.
Boaz layed over Ruth until the
morning.
I JOHN
I JOHN 3:1-2 (
Notice, we receive our change when he Appears, then
we shall
be like Him.) We've got to see HIM as HE is.
Our FOCUS must be upon Him. Notice
in the wilderness. The Serpent
of Brass that was put upon the pole
representing Christ on the
Cross. The children of
II COR
Now To COPE which means to CONTEND with , and to FOCUS which we
know means to make the necessary
adjustments in order to bring
into a clearer IMAGE, can not be
complete with out the third point
brother Branham brought out. That is to DO!
III) "DO" (Websters): 1) To perform an action
2) To carry out; fulfill
3) To bring to completion;
finish
ACTS 1:1 Jesus began to both
"DO" and to teach.
I JOHN 3:2-3 notice verse 3
GAL 6:1-2 (How many times have we
seen men in combat or in a team sport make dynamic individual efforts
because of a need by the group. Individual sacrifice is essential for any team
to win. Individual desires have always taken a back-seat to the team effort.
EXAMPLES: (MINNESOTA TWINS) less talent.1980
OLYMPIC HOCKEY TEAM. (Why?) Because
the Coach Knew.
PHIL 2:1-17
PHIL 4:9
I PETER 4:10-13
HEBREWS 10: