Fellowship
You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net
1 Good evening, friends. So happy to be here tonight to serve the Lord Jesus. We're trusting that God will pour out His blessings upon us tonight.
It made my heart feel real jumping when I heard that "Only Believe" in German. A friend of mine wrote that song. His name is Paul Rader. Years ago he went to be with the Lord. And when he was dying, he was in Los Angeles, California, and they had him in the hospital. And when he started to die, they had the curtains pulled down, and were singing real mournful songs.
He had quite a sense of humor. He said, "Say, who's dying here, me or you?" Said, "Raise up them curtains, and sing me some real, good, snappy gospel songs."
And they began to sing "Down At The Cross Where The Saviour Died." He said, "That sounds better." He said, "Where is my brother, Luke?"
And they said, "In the next room."
He said, "Bring him here."
And he took a hold of Luke's hands, and he said, "Brother, we've come a long ways together. We've been missionaries throughout the world. But, think of it, brother, in five minutes from now I'll be standing in the presence of Jesus Christ, clothed in His righteousness." He squeezed his brother's hands and went to meet God.
That's the way I want to go, clothed in His righteousness. Not our own (It won't work.), but in His. God has already accepted Him. So, if He's already accepted Him, and He has accepted me, then I won't have to stand in my own. I stand in His, already accepted. Amen.
I like that. It gives life.
2 Now, we have decided of these instructional services before we have prayer lines, so that the people can thoroughly be instructed; that when the healing does start, then the people will understand the approach to God.
We're living in a day when there's much make-belief. And right and wrong is trying to join themselves together ... or, people is trying to join right and wrong together, rather. It can never be done. One is of the devil, and the other one is of God. The devil is wrong. And God is right. And it'll always be that way. The devil will lose, and God will always win. If you are wrong, you're on the wrong side. You're sure to lose. If you're on the right side, you're on God's side, and you're sure to win. You can't lose.
3 Now, God's plan is laid out in His Bible. And this is what we must go by. It must come from His Word, because my words will fail. I'm a man. But, God's Word can't fail, because it's God.
Now, the ministry that I am to introduce to you will be very stunning at first. But, let's see, first. That's what I want to get to you first. That is a message from God, from His Word, to His children. It hasn't been in practice (hasn't been practiced) since the days of the apostles. In the early days of the church they had these things in the church, and they kept fading out. And then they kept getting dimmer and dimmer. And after a while, it went out. Miracles and signs left the church.
But the prophet said that there would be a day that it would neither be dark nor light. But he said, "In the evening time, it shall be light."
Zechariah 14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
Zechariah 14:7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
4 When the early church come in, in the Orient, the east, it was in Jerusalem, the east. The sun rises in the east, and it goes westward. Civilization has traveled the same way: from the east going west. All through these two thousand years, it's called the church age; it neither has been dark or light.
We've had enough light to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He saves the sinner. But we haven't had the light on the miracles and signs like they had in the east at the beginning. But, we're at the end time. The sun is setting on civilization. The prophet promised that the sun would shine again in the evening. The same sun that shined at the beginning, at Jerusalem, shall shine again at the end time. The things that was once in the church at the beginning will be restored again at the end time. We're living at that time.
If it was puzzling to the people in that day, how much more will it be in this day?
But, my friends, God's gospel must be preached. He will send it regardless of what people say. You could not stop it. It's like fighting a fire in a high wind. God will shine forth His light. He's doing it just before the coming of the Lord Jesus. It's not man. Man is out of it. It's God. God does it because He promised it.
Zechariah 14:7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
5 The reason today that Christianity is in about the fifth place among the religions, when it comes to numbers, is because we have failed to do what Jesus commanded us to do.
The last words that Jesus Christ gave to His church was to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Instead of that we have went and taught the Bible. Well, the gospel doesn't mean the Word only. Paul said, "The gospel came not in word only, but in power, and manifestation of the Holy Ghost."
The Word is a seed, but the seed won't grow unless it's placed in the right kind of ground. No matter how much seed you got, if you're afraid to sow it, the seed'll do you no good.
But listen to this. Every word of God is a seed. Jesus said so. And every promise of God will come to pass if you will receive it and don't doubt it; can place it in your heart, and believe it came from God, and water it with faith, it'll spring forth of its kind.
Don't never forget this statement. I make this from my heart. The right mental attitude towards any promise of God will bring it to pass. Do you believe that? If you'll take the right attitude, that it's God's Word, and God is behind His Word, and the Word is God, it'll bring to pass what it says.
If you plant wheat, you get wheat. If you plant corn, you get corn. If you want to be saved, accept His plan of salvation. If you want to be healed, accept His plan of healing. There they are.
He, Christ, was wounded for our transgressions, with His stripes we were healed. That's all you have to know.
The next thing you have to do is to believe it. It'll take care of itself. Hallelujah! It will.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 Now, I want to read some Scripture tonight, and explain to you the best I can, of the ministry. Mr. Bosworth was explaining this afternoon. And tomorrow afternoon, if the Lord willing, I want to speak also.
Now, tomorrow night, the Lord willing, we're going to start the prayer line. We think it would be ... you'll have sufficient training then.
Now, all that we say is being taken down on tape recordings. And I want you to watch, and you tell others, now, that I said that I am not a healer. God is the healer.
I am not against doctors, against hospitals, medical cures, because they all come from God. God has sent them to us. He sent us the horse, then He sent us automobiles, now He sends us an airplane. It would've taken me a long time to get over here on a horse. I accept what God sent. He sent an airplane. I come in twenty-four hours. I'm thankful God sent an airplane.
7 All good things come from God. What would we do if we had no doctors, had no health and hygiene, and had no hospitals? Wouldn't it be awful?
But remember, there isn't one dose of medicine that can heal you. There's no doctor'll tell you so. I have been interviewed by some of the greatest doctors in the world. I've been to Mayo's Clinics for interview. And many of the fine doctors come to my home to be prayed for.
So, they say with a big sign: "We do not claim to be healers. There is only one healer, that is God. We only claim to assist nature."
So, if the greatest clinic in the world says that, well, that ought to settle it.
We'll get into teaching later in the week. But I want to show you how simple healing is. Perhaps, if I cut my hand with a knife (Now, listen close.), there isn't a medicine in the world that can heal a knife cut. Now, just be reverent, and just use your thinking. There is not a knife ... not a medicine that can heal a knife cut. If a medicine was here would heal a knife cut, it would heal a knife cut in my coat. It would heal a knife cut on this desk. If it would heal a knife cut, it'd heal a knife cut anywhere. Water that would be wet in here, would be wet outside. A medicine that would heal a cut in my hand, would heal a cut in my coat.
8 Now you're going to say to me, "Brother Branham, you're becoming a fanatic, because medicine was not made to heal your coat. Neither was it made to heal the desk. But it was made to heal your body."
Then I'll ask you one thing then. If I cut my hand, and I fall down dead... I know that Germany has some of the smartest doctors in the world. Many fine doctors from America come here to be educated. You're very smart people. But you could take me to your best clinic, and your best doctors could visit me every day, embalm my body, that would make me look natural for fifty years. And every day, they could give me penicillin, sulfa drugs, sew up my hand. In fifty years from now, that cut would be just exactly like it was when it was cut here at the pulpit.
Why, you say, "Sure, Brother Branham, the life is gone out of you."
That's right. Now, if medicine is the healer, it doesn't need the life. But if life is the healer, then that is God. You tell me what life is, and I'll tell you who God is. God is life. Medicine doesn't build tissue, It's life, and that's God.
9 A doctor... If I broke my arm, I'd go to the doctor. If he's a healer, I'd say, "Heal my arm, doctor."
Why, he'd look at me as if I was crazy. He'd say, "Mr. Branham, I'll set your arm."
Now, if he's a healer, then I'd have to come out with a well arm. But, he's not the healer. He just sets the bone to keep it in place while God heals it. Is that right?
If I have appendicitis ... [Brother Branham thanks someone in the audience for helping the interpreter with the word "appendicitis."] If I have appendicitis, the doctor could cut the place out ... cut the appendix out, but he can't heal it. He cuts a big hole in me and leaves it there for God to heal. Is that right?
So, medicine doesn't heal. But we're thankful for all these aids: Automobiles, airplanes, soap to wash your hands with, glasses to wear when you get old, false teeth when yours come out. All these things, we're thankful, because they come from God. We appreciate them.
10 I want to ask you something now. Now, God is the only healer. Now, listen to this. We are... We've got the best doctors we ever had. They've got the best medicine that doctors ever practiced with. We've got the best hospitals the world ever knowed of, the greatest clinics, the smartest doctors, and more sickness than the world ever knew.
Why? We've got more sin and unbelief than the world ever knew. The people are getting away from God. They're getting ... They go to church. The worst devil there is (the worst demon) is a religious demon.
That's what killed Jesus. That was a religious party that wanted to say He was a devil, that killed Him. That is right. So, we want to watch that. Going to church and being religious has nothing to do with being borned again of the Holy Spirit and become a Christian. That's a different thing.
Over in I John, and the first chapter, and I believe it's the seventh verse, we read these scriptures. All right. [Brother Branham says to the interpreter, "Now, you can read it, if you will please. The seventh verse."]
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
11 The Lord bless His Word.
Now, there's many people can open the book like that, but it takes God to open it and reveal it. You'll never understand it by education. You'll never find it in a seminary. You'll never find it through science. You'll never find it in knowledge.
In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of knowledge, and a tree of life. As long as man eat from the tree of life, he had everlasting life. But the first bite he took off the tree of knowledge, he lost his soul. And every time that man takes a bite off of the tree of knowledge, he destroys himself.
God destroys nothing. Man destroys himself by knowledge. God is not known by knowledge. He's known by faith. You must believe Him, not explain Him, for you can't. With child-like faith, you believe Him.
Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
12 Now, God, knowing by faith when man took his first bite, he destroyed his fellowship with God. That's what we're going to speak on this afternoon: "Fellowship."
The next bite he took, he invented gunpowder; killed his brother. The next thing, by knowledge, he gets an automobile: kills more people than all the wars. He just keeps biting off the tree of knowledge, and leaving the tree of life alone. He's bit himself an atomic bomb now. I wonder what he's going to do with that. Better come on back to God, to the tree of life. For this time, space of life is short. But you've got to spend eternity somewhere.
There's no one in the world could appreciate the fellowship of God like one who's had an experience with Him. We all like fellowship. The creature of man, he was made for fellowship. You don't know how I would like to take every man in here, go eat with you, sit down and talk with you; talk about heaven, about Jesus. I would love to do that. Time won't permit it. But, I'll make an appointment with you. When we step out of time into eternity, I want a thousand years with each one of you. And when I get through, I'll have no less time than when I did when I began.
But, now it's night. It's the day of man. Daylight comes: the day of the Lord. Now we must labor. I can't be the servant of man, and the servant of God at the same time. I must serve God, so I can win man to his Creator, God. So that we can keep that appointment.
13 Fellowship: wonderful thing.
Now, why does man like fellowship? Why is it man likes to meet with man? Women meet with women? We all like to meet together. The ladies meet together and sew and talk. The men go to the table and they have things in common they like to talk about. That come from somewhere.
What makes you love your children? Because you're a father. That's the strain, human strain. That's the reason it proves that we have a Heavenly Father that loves we, His children.
All the things is now, made of things that was. The Bible said there is nothing new in the world.
Now, in the beginning when God made a man, He didn't make him to be sick. He didn't make him to have cancer. He never made him to die. He made him for fellowship. In the evening, when it was quiet, God came down and had fellowship with Adam and Eve. They loved God. God loved them. He didn't want them to be sick, get old, and die. He wanted them to be young and lovely forever. But sin brought us here, not God, against God's will. We ourselves plunged ourselves into that.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
14 Now, Jesus came to restore to the human race everything that he had lost in Eden. And we're on our road. Now we have the earnest of that deliverance. Now we have the Holy Spirit, which is the life of God in a portion (small part). When we are in His presence at the end of life then we will have the full Spirit. This is called the earnest of our salvation.
Now, we also believe that we will have an immortal body someday. When Jesus comes, these vile bodies will be changed. And we'll have a body like His own glorious body.
How many believes that? Thank you. I'm happy to see you believe that. I look for that day myself.
Notice. If we have that, and that was included in redemption, we've got to have divine healing for the earnest of our complete deliverance. If there is no divine healing, there is no resurrection of the dead. How about that, teacher? If there is no divine healing, there is no resurrection. Divine healing is the earnest of the resurrection. If the Holy Spirit is here, that is the earnest of our eternal life. Do you believe that?
Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
15 The reason that God included divine healing... How could you take it out of the gospel when He was wounded for our transgressions, with His stripes we were healed? The same blood from the same man on the same day: One for salvation, one for healing. To deny one is to deny the other. They've just turned it around today.
In the days of Jesus here on earth in a physical body, they said, "We know He can heal, but He makes Himself God by forgiving sins."
Now today, they say, "He's all right, He can forgive sins, but He can't heal."
But, praise be to God, He can do both. I am a witness. And I'm sure there's many others here of the millions around the world too.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Luke 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
16 Now, the only way you'll ever appreciate that and to understand it, is to come back into fellowship with God. How can the carnal mind ever understand the things of God? They are foolishness, the Bible said, to him. He can't understand it. He can't reason it out. But the borned-again spirit doesn't reason it. They just believe it, and act on it, like Abraham did.
Abraham, the father of the faithful, God told him, when he was sixty-five years old (I mean, that was his wife, was sixty-five) and he was seventy-five, that they were going to have a baby. Could you imagine that? Could you imagine a man in Germany going down to a fine doctor, to make room at the hospital, him seventy-five, and his wife sixty-five? Been living with her since she was seventeen, no children yet.
But God said, "You're going to have one." And Abraham believed God. No matter what science said, Abraham believed God.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
17 Two years, no different. Five years, no different. Ten years, no different. But, Abraham kept saying, "Praise God. We're going to have it anyhow. God said so."
That's a good reason to believe it: God said so.
I can imagine he went and got the little napkins, he got the pins, getting everything ready. For God said, no matter how impossible, God said so. That settles it.
Twenty years passed, no baby yet, but Abraham still believed God. And he got stronger. He kept giving God praise.
Now, what would you do if you was prayed for tonight, and tomorrow you wasn't well? You'd say, "There's nothing to it." That shows you need to be borned again.
Abraham's children (which we are), only Abraham's children has the blessing. We, being dead in Christ, take on Abraham's seed, and are heirs according to the promise. That gives every believer that's been born again the same faith that Abraham had to call what God said to be the truth. And to call what you see with your eyes, if it's contrary to God's promise, to be a lie. Amen.
We don't go by sight, [interpreter hesitates], ( by sight. We don't walk by sight). We don't walk by sight, or, we don't go by feelings. We go by God's Word. No matter what the outside looks like, we believe it.
Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
18 And when Abraham was a hundred years old twenty-five years later, Sarah was ninety, God gave them the baby. Hallelujah.
Why? Because he believed God, and called the things that was contrary to the Word... He refused to look at it. He refused to know his own body was dead. He did not even consider the deadness of Sarah's womb. The Bible said, "He staggered now at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong, giving praise to God. Knowing without a shadow of doubt that God would ... could keep what He had promised.
I believe the same. Do you? Amen. Then you can have what you ask.
Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
19 I met a man here the other day. He said, "Brother Branham, I don't believe that. I don't care what happened."
I said, "Certainly not. It wasn't made for unbelievers. It was only for those who believe." Unbelievers can receive nothing. The believer can have what he asked for. Jesus said so.
Now, if you can come back in fellowship; get all the carnal out of your mind; all the things that reasons against the Word, and say, "God, You're able to keep what You promised. I believe it, and it's mine, through Jesus Christ's death at the cross. And I now accept it."
That settles it. Just go right on thanking Him for it, and God'll bring it to pass.
20 How many Christians are in here? Would you raise up your hands? Thank you. Wonderful.
Now, how did you accept Christ? You say, "I was saved ten years ago." Or, maybe, "I was saved a year ago."
No. You were saved nineteen hundred years ago when Jesus died. Then you have to accept it now. And when you accept it, it isn't necessary for you to feel anything. When you went out of the church, the unbelieving crowd said, "There's no difference in you. Your eyes are still the same color. You're still wearing that same suit. You look no different." And there's nothing you can show him that there's any difference.
But here it is! You believe there was a difference. Why? God promised difference. It had gone to work on the inside. It'll show on the outside pretty soon. But, you raise up, accept Him as your personal Saviour. Then you go out. No matter what the unbeliever says. You say, "I'm a Christian." You talk like a Christian. You act like a Christian. You associate with Christians. And you believe you're a Christian. And you make all the actions of a Christian.
What does it do for you? It makes you a Christian. Why? He was wounded for your transgressions.
21 How do you accept Christ for healing? The very same way. You meet His conditions. Put His Word in your heart. Walk out of the building, saying, "I'm healed."
"I don't see no difference." They say, "Well, you don't look any different than you did."
No matter what they say, it's what you believe. Just as sure as He was wounded for your transgressions, with His stripes you were healed. It's the same atonement, same day, same man. And He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Do you believe it? That's the way to receive it.
Now, God wrote it in His Word. That should be sufficient. If it was my word, or your word, and people wouldn't take it, I'd just say, "Let them go." But not God. God's not willing that any should perish.
Then He sends teachers, apostles, prophets, and different gifts into the church. What to do? To scatter the church? No. But to draw the church together for the perfecting of the body of Jesus Christ. He's coming soon. And if He had a body in the beginning back there with all the signs and wonders in it, the body He comes for will have to be the same kind of body, or it would be a freak body.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
22 Now, in the Old Testament, in making a covenant... Here's how they made a covenant. That's a great thing.
Now, in America when we make a covenant, we promise one another something, and then we shake one another's hand. That seals the covenant.
In Japan when they make a covenant, they make it between each other. And then they get a little box of salt, and they throw salt on one another. That's a covenant.
In the Bible days, back in the days when God made His covenant with Abraham, showed what He was going to do in the end time, here's what they did. They took an animal. Well, the first thing they did, they took a piece of paper ... or, they took a script of some sort, a skin, and they wrote out the covenant. Then they... Next thing they did, they kill an animal. They cut the animal in two. And then they stood between this dead animal. And they took a cov... pledge, one with another. If they didn't keep this covenant, let their bodies be like the dead body of the animal. Then they tore the covenant apart, gave one to one, and one to another.
23 Now, when the day of the promise was fulfilled, he must bring the same piece that pulled off of here. It must dovetail together, to make it the same.
When God made a covenant with the church, He took Jesus to Calvary. And there, nailed to a cross, He tore Him apart. He tore His soul and body apart, and lifted up His body, sat on His right hand in heaven and sent the Holy Ghost back to the church.
And when we come to meet that body, we've got to have the same Spirit that was upon Christ. It has got to be on us, or it won't dovetail with the body. Hallelujah!
The same Holy Spirit was in you, was in Christ. He said, "A little while and the world won't see Me no more. (That's the unbeliever.) Yet you shall see Me, for I (I is a personal pronoun) I will be with you, even to the end of the world.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
24 If I told you the spirit of a painter was in me, you'd expect me to paint a picture like a painter. If I told you the spirit of a criminal was in me (Yes, some bad man.), you'd expect me to have big guns. I'd be dangerous to be around. So, the spirit of a criminal would be in me.
If the church says that the Spirit of Christ is in them, then Christ will do the works in His church that He did when He was here on earth. For He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
He said, "A little while and the unbelievers will see Me no more. Yet ye shall see me."
Now, there's going to be unbelievers to the end of the world. And there's going to be ye. Ye to the end of the world, ye the believers. Aren't you glad you're a ye?
God has promised. I believe Jesus Christ the Son of God was born of the virgin Mary. I believe that Almighty God overshadowed the virgin Mary and created a blood cell that formed the Son of God. Do you believe that? That's the only way that you can be saved.
Today when people say, "Oh, He was just a prophet. He was a good man." That's wrong. He was divine. He was God manifested in flesh.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
25 Recently a Christian Science woman, she said, "Reverend Branham, you put too much emphasis on Christ. You make Him divine. He wasn't divine," she said. "He was a good man. He was a teacher and a prophet, but He wasn't divine."
I said, "He was either God, or the greatest deceiver the world ever had." I said, "Do you...?"
She said, "If I prove to you by the Bible (You said you was a fundamentalist.) that He was only a man, will you accept it?"
I said, "If the Bible said He was just a man, and wasn't divine, I would believe it. But the Bible doesn't say such."
She said, "I can prove it."
I said, "Go ahead."
And she said, "You know in St. John 11," said, "when Jesus was going to the grave of Lazarus? Why, the Bible said He wept. Why," she said, "that proves that He was only a man," said, "because He could cry."
That's the way with the carnal mind. They don't see the supernatural.
I said, "Lady, your argument's too thin. When He went down to the grave, He wept like a man. He wept like a man. But when He called a man that had been dead four days and laying in a grave, and a man had been dead four days, stood on his feet and lived again, that was more than a man. That was God."
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
26 When He come down off the mountain, He was hungry like a man. He was looking over a tree for something to eat. That was a man that was hungry. But when He'd taken five loaves and two little fishes, and fed five thousand, that was more than a man. That was God.
He was a man when He was laying in that ship that night, so tired. The big waves didn't wake Him up. I believe ten thousand devils of the sea swore to drown Him. That little old boat was tossed around like a stopper, like a piece of cork on the water.
The devil said, "I got Him now."
He was a man laying there asleep. But, when He woke up, put His foot upon the brail of the boat, looked up towards heaven, and said, "Peace, peace be still," and the winds and the waves obeyed Him, that was more than a man. That was God. Amen.
When He died at Calvary, He screamed for help. That was a man. But when He rose up Easter morning, that proves He was God. Amen.
And He's alive tonight. The same Lord Jesus. Praise be to His holy name.
You say, "Brother Branham, you're excited."
You get born again; you'll feel the same way. Oh, it's wonderful, everlasting life. How I thank Him, to see Him moving, great signs and wonders. All the cold, indifferent religions of Buddha and all those other religions failed in His presence. He is the one who raised from the dead, and lives the same and does the same. He gave His blood that you might have fellowship with Him, and live in His presence.
Matthew 14:19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Matthew 14:21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 6:41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Mark 6:44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 8:23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
Luke 8:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
27 Now, listen as I close. When man lost his fellowship in the Garden of Eden by sin, what did God do about it? Look what man done about it. Instead of coming out and being honest, and saying, "Father, I've sinned." he went back in the bushes, and formed himself a religious organization, and made himself a covering. Religion means "a covering." He made himself a man-made religion. Made him an apron out of leaves, fig leaves. The Bible said so.
But, when he come to face God, he realized that his man-made religion wouldn't work, and neither will anybody else's. You've got to come on God's basis.
What did God do? He went out and killed some animals, and shed blood, and brought back some skins to make aprons that they could stand in His presence.
Now, listen close. The only way that God can bring you back to fellowship with Him, something had to die in your place. And Jesus Christ did that to redeem you from the curse.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
28 Now, listen close. Blood was God's welcome mat at the door (welcome, at the door). Now, notice, just before we close. God introduced blood for the welcome back to fellowship. We have tried to adopt (take the place), education. We've tried denominations, organizations, and everything, but it will never take the place of blood.
Now, the only way that God in the Old Testament would receive the children of Israel was under the blood of a dead lamb.
Now, the worshipper brought his lamb to the altar. And then, he brought a turtledove if he was sick. The shedding of blood.
Now, they had to lay their hand upon the head of a lamb. The priest cut its throat, and the little lamb started kicking and dying. It was bleating, and was crying. And his hands was all bathed over with blood. His little white wool was all bathed with blood. And the sinner knew that that should be him, but the lamb was taking his place. God accepted it.
Now, that lasted for so long.
29 But when the sinner went out, if he'd went out ... come in, confessed his sins of stealing, he went out to steal some more. If he had lived immoral, he went out to do it again.
Why? The life that was in that blood cell, see, the life comes from the male, see. The baby, your blood is from your father, not your mother. You have no blood of your mother. It all comes from the father.
That's the reason that the blood of Jesus had to come from God the Father, not sexually. For God is a Spirit, who created a holy blood. And the germ of life is in that blood cell.
Now, when the animal died, and the life went out of the blood cell, it could not come back to the human being, for it had no soul. So, the sinner went out with the same desire to sin (and sin means "undisbelief"), he went back out with the same desire that he come in with.
30 But, when Jesus died, and we lay our hands upon Him by faith and see His suffering under Calvary, bleeding and dying, and in our hearts that we know we're sinners and should have took His place, but He took our place.
And when we accept that blood, God brings us through the washing of the blood. Then the Spirit, the life that was in the blood cell of Jesus Christ, which is the Holy Ghost, turns back to the human being after coming through the blood into the presence of God. And we're baptized with the Holy Spirit itself. And the faith that God has, which made all things without anything, that's in the believer.
No wonder people can't believe. They've never been born again. They're still carnal.
31 What did God make the world out of? The dirt that you're sitting over tonight, where did it come from? It is the Word of God made manifest. If it isn't, where did He get it? [Translator hesitates.] Where did He find it? Where did He get the stuff to make it?
Why? He spoke His Word. And He believed His own Word, and it formed the earth.
Do you believe it? Amen. Then isn't it easy with that Spirit that's in God, that's in you, you believe God can do anything, and will keep His Word. Hallelujah! 'Cause you're born again, the life that was in Christ is in you. But, if you just belong to church, and never born again, you'll trust in reason and you'll never know God.
When His Spirit, through His blood, comes into your heart, then you're a new creature. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he will in nowise enter into heaven."
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
32 Look at Adam and Eve with the bloody sheepskins around them. There stood a beautiful woman, the prettiest woman ever in the world. No sin had marred her; she was perfect. Beautiful blue eyes, her blond hair hanging down her back. The most beautiful woman in the world.
I seen a picture in Rome here not long ago, where a man had painted a picture of Adam and Eve. The most hideous looking beasts I had ever seen (hideous looking, bad looking people). Eve with one big ear, one little ear, and one leg so big and the other one so big. And Adam, like a beast, with hairs out of his nose like that. That goes to show what the unconverted heart will think about God. They were perfect, beautiful, wonderful.
And there they stood. And after sinning, there they stood in the presence of God wrapped up in bloody sheepskins. God said, "Depart out of My presence."
And I can see them going. I can see Eve, see her lay her little head over on Adam's shoulder, saying, "Adam, it's my fault. I was the one who sinned."
But Adam so loved his wife that he wasn't... He wasn't deceived, but he loved her so well, that he walked out with her. A perfect type of Jesus Christ who knowed no sin, but came to the world and taken the sin of His wife, the church, and walked to death with her. Hallelujah!
Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
33 Listen at them; there they go. There's all the great Jehovah looking at them. There goes His son. There goes His daughter.
I hear something going like this [Brother Branham makes a tapping sound.] What is it? It's a bloody sheepskin, bleeding against Adam's leg. He said, "Wait a minute. I ... I will put enmity between the woman's seed and the serpent's seed." What was He promising? Promising a Redeemer.
Now, look this way just a minute. Let's move our camera. Four thousand years later we're standing in Jerusalem. It's a terrible day. The sun looks funny. There's a funny feeling over everybody. What's the matter? Let's go to the window. Let's pull the curtains back. I hear something coming.
What is it? An old rugged cross beating up and down the cobblestone rocks. I see a little weakly-looking guy coming. He's got a cross on His shoulders. He's got a crown of thorns on His head. He's pulling along. The old cross is dragging out the bloody footprints. He's going towards Calvary.
Look on His back. Let's look a minute. Look by faith. I see some little red spots on His coat, all over His robe. That was from His stripes, where you're healed.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
34 I see Him going up the hill yonder. Look. Those little spots are becoming bigger. After awhile, they all run into one big spot.
I hear something else. Listen. [Brother Branham makes a tapping sound.] What is it? The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second Adam, going to Calvary to make a way that I can be saved, you can be saved; that I might be healed, and you can be healed.
I see as He goes, as He staggers along, tears are running down His cheeks. He came to His own, His own received Him not. His own church was crucifying Him. And they're doing the same thing today. They done it ignorantly and so are they doing it today.
He staggered along. And after awhile I could see, as it was, a bee of death, zinging around Him. After awhile, it must take Him. You know a bee, an insect that has stingers. But when a bee ever stings you, he can't sting no more. He pulls his stinger out.
That's what God was made flesh among us for. Going up to Calvary, death stung Him. But, He pulled the stinger out of death, so we can stand like Paul the days of our life, to say, "Oh, death, where is your sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen.
Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
35 Your Saviour, that saved me, and me, even me, a miserable wretch.
Ten years ago, laying on a bed, and the doctor said, "You've got three more minutes to live." I was blind in both eyes; and today, I've got perfect sight, and I'm heavy and strong and healthy. It's the amazing grace of my Lord Jesus Christ, and I love Him with all my heart.
Some glorious day, I expect to see Him, and stand in His presence, redeemed by His grace. And every mortal in here, I'll stand in your presence with Him. This same old gospel that saved me and healed me, it'll take me there. I'll have the same testimony tonight, I'll have it there again. By grace He saved me and healed me.
Do you love Him? Say, "Amen." Shall we pray?
36 O dear God, I love Thee. Thou art my Saviour. And I want everyone to love You. We have come to this lovely people to fellowship with them around Thy Word and Thy blessings. And I am trying to say to them that after I am gone, if someone tries to take it from their hearts, may they be able by the Word of God to stand.
O great God, send this week a great sweeping revival. May it cause all churches to break down their differences. May they come with tears. And, O Lord, set forth the hand of Thy holy Son, to heal, and to show signs and wonders that He has risen from the dead and lives today.
Forgive us of our sins and fill us with the Holy Ghost. And may this place become anointed with the Holy Ghost that every person that comes under the tent, or around the tent, may get under conviction and come to Christ.
And may an old-fashioned revival sweep through Germany, oh, that'll make such a great change, and will make this lovely people who's tore up, and broke up; may they be united with God, that someday we may all meet together in glory. For we ask it in Jesus' name.
37 And while we have our heads bowed, I wonder if there's a sinner here tonight that doesn't know the Lord Jesus. Before you see any miracles performed, do you believe that God's Word is the truth? And you realize you've mistreated Jesus, and you want to become a Christian, and start serving the Lord right now. And you would like to accept Him. And you would like for me to pray for you that you'd be a faithful Christian.
If He hears my prayer to open the eyes of the blind, to make the cripples to walk, and to heal the sick through prayer, don't you believe He'll hear for your soul in doing so?
Now, will you do this for me? While you bow your head, and be in prayer, would you just raise up your hand to God, and say, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I want to accept Jesus now."
Oh, my. Dozens of hands everywhere. Oh, God bless you. Shall we continue to pray?
38 O dear Heavenly Father, You see Your children, they hear Your Word. They're tired of life, not living for You. Will You please accept them now into Thy kingdom. May they take up their membership in some lovely church of Yours, and live as Christians throughout the rest of their life.
Father, they didn't raise their hands to me. They raised it to You. And I'm sure that You received them. For Thou has said in Thy Word, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall never come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
O God, I thank Thee, that in glory right now, names are being written down in the Lamb's book of life. Keep them, O Father, into Thy grace. And I pray, this week, that You'll heal every sick person. And even right now, Lord, may there not be a feeble one among us. But, may the kind Holy Spirit send a shower of blessing upon the people, right now and heal every one, and save every one.
And may the revival begin right away, that people will be coming from all over Germany. And may the fountain open for sin and uncleanliness, and for the healing of the body. O God, grant this in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
39 The Lord bless you. At two-thirty tomorrow afternoon, we'll speak once more on salvation, and on the plan of divine healing. Tomorrow night, there'll be a prayer line. We'll start the healing...
How many thinks you understand it now, the plan of salvation, and for healing? Would you raise your hand and say, "I believe I understand."?
Now, listen to this. If Jesus Christ the Son of God, if He doesn't come into this audience and do the same things that He did when He was here on earth, then I have been a false witness. That's a great statement. But I know who I have believed. He has declared it in other nations, and He'll do it in this nation. Do you believe it? Are you expecting it? Are you praying for it? Then you shall see it. Amen.
Shall we bow our heads again while the brother prays again? God bless you.