God provided a Lamb
You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net
1 Good evening, friends. Shall we bow our heads and speak to the King of kings [Gap in the audio] service.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee tonight for the grand privilege that we have of coming together and meeting, worshipping Thee in Spirit and truth.
We thank Thee for the Lord Jesus; for His great redeeming love to us that was so sovereignly given. And when we were sinners, away from God, alienated---without hope, without God---Christ died (the lovely for the unlovely) to redeem us back to the Father. And now, brought us so close that we're recognized as sons and daughters of God.
But it does not yet appear what we shall be in the final end. But we know that we'll have a body like His own glorious body, for we shall see Him as He is. Then, Lord, there'll be no more prayer for the sick. It'll all be over then.
So, help us tonight to worship Him [blank spot in tape] all that is within us and bless the Lord, for we ask it in the name of Jesus, God's beloved Son. Amen.
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.
2 Good evening, friends. And I'm so happy to be with you again this evening to worship our dear blessed Saviour. If Dr. Lee Vayle, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Ohio, if he will see my boy Billy Paul behind the stage, right away, if you will, Dr. Vayle.
Now we have one more night after tonight of this lovely gathering here in the great Cadle Tabernacle. And we're so happy to be here and for an open door to meet together, worship the Lord. And the Lord has been blessing us tremendously, I feel, in this great convention that has come to Indianapolis.
And I am so happy that they invited me to have a part of this convention, to speak to you, the purchase of the blood of the Lord Jesus.
I've often wondered what I would do if I had two drops of the literal blood of Christ that I could hold in my hand, in a charger. How I would walk with it, so carefully that I would not spill it. But I think, tonight, I have in His sight, greater than two drops of the literal blood. I have the purchase of His blood before me. So I'm very careful of what I say to the purchase of His blood.
3 So it was... It's our intention to try to help further the cause of Christ, and make people ... the world, as Mr. Cadle used to say it here at the Tabernacle, a better place to do ... easier to do right and harder to do wrong. Something on that order. And many of you has heard the brother say that. And we're thinking, tonight, that he is a place where there'll never be no more wrong, in glory.
The Bible said, "They rest from their labor, but their works do follow them." And that is right. The Lord bless this work.
Mr. Ford that I just had the privilege of meeting just a few moments ago---very fine Christian gentleman. So glad that Indianapolis has a place like this.
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
4 So now, tonight we're back over in the blessed old Bible. That's just about all I know about. And my ABC's... How many know what the ABC's of the Bible is? Always Believe Christ. That's the ABC's of the Bible.
So, last evening we was trying to speak on Abraham. And I got part of the way through to my text. And we had to hurry, so I thought maybe tonight I'd finish it up, and give us a chance to dismiss a little earlier.
And maybe tomorrow night, being the great press... Tomorrow night is closing of this convention. And usually on that night, there's more takes place than any other night, because it's the pressure, the anticipation.
And many times, as far as the healing, that they press hard. They know they've got to have faith right now, or not have it at all, so, they press right up. And usually our Lord does great things for us.
So we're expecting tomorrow night... And, will you pray with me that there will not be one sick or feeble person left among us? Will you hold on to God for that for me tomorrow night? And I know that He was wounded for our transgressions, and with His stripes we were healed.
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.
5 Someone not long ago was discussing it with me---a very fine scholar, and he could speak words that I know nothing about---and so, he said, "Brother Branham, I believe you're sincere, but" said, I'm sure that you're wrong when you teach divine healing, because you can't place divine healing in the atonement." He said, "Do you preach divine healing from the atonement?"
I said, "Every redemptive blessing is by the atonement."
And he said, "Well, I'll prove to you that it isn't in the atonement."
I said, "Well, I would sure like to hear it."
And he said, "Do you preach what Isaiah said about Christ, bore our infirmities, and so forth?"
I said, "Yes, sir. That's..."
He said, "If I'll prove to you that that was fulfilled, will you accept it?"
I said, "If it's proved by the Bible, I will."
And I knew, him just fresh from school, and I never went any farther than seventh grade, so I knew it was more than a match for me in wits like that. But I know who I have believed, see: The Lord Jesus.
And I know that He's a healer, 'cause He healed me. I was blind, now I see, so I know He's the healer. I've seen Him heal tens of thousands of people ... or, I seen people accept their healing. That's the way it is.
The Lord doesn't heal you now, He's already done it. Every redemptive blessing has already been finished at Calvary. You just look and live. That's the way it is.
6 It's not that anybody can heal you, or bring healing, or God bring any healing; it's your faith in His finished work.
So, he said, "It wasn't finished there at Calvary for healing." He said, "Now, in Matthew the 8th chapter (I believe it is), he said, "Mr. Branham," he said, "the Bible said that He healed the people that was brought to Him that it might fulfill which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He bore our infirmities, and so forth."
I said, "Do you apply it there, brother?"
He said, "Yes."
I said, "How could that be the atonement when it was a year and six months before the atonement was ever made? He hadn't yet been glorified. The blood had never been shed. So, if that be the case, the atonement had more power before it was actually enforced, than it did after it's in force. So how could we do that?" I said, "That was about a year and six months before He was crucified. The blood had never been shed yet, so how could that apply to the atonement?"
And so then he went to using great big words, and I said, "Kind sir, I don't have the gift of interpretation." I said, "I can't understand what you're talking about. Just plain 'King James,' I'll understand it better." So I said, "Well let's..." He kept talking. I said, "Well now, brother, look, I'm going to ask you something. Will you admit that divine healing is in the Word?" Mark 11:24 said, "Whatsoever things you desire when you pray, believe," see.
"Oh," he said, "Yes, I..." (He said the wrong thing there.) He said, "It was in the Word, because whatsoever..."
I said, "Jesus said, 'Whatsoever things. And the things that I do shall you also.' What about that?"
And he said, "Well, you're trying to run off on Mark 16."
I said, "No, sir. I'm trying to get you to Mark 11."
Matthew 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Matthew 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
7 And he said, "Yes, it's in the Word, but not in the atonement."
"Well," I said, "the Word's over the atonement."
"Oh," he said, "it can't be."
I said, "It is."
And I said, "Look. There was a king one time that made all of his laws and rules. He'd made all the laws and the penalties. He was a just man. He was a truthful man. And one time there was a slave committed a crime. At the judgment seat, the king said, 'I'm sorry sir, but I have to take your life because it's written right here in my laws that you have to die for this penalty. And I'm a man that's just. I can't go back on my word. And here is... My law says that you must die. So I have to take your life.' And the poor fellow started trembling.
"He said, 'Well, what can I do for you before I take your life?'
"He said, 'Give me a glass of water.'
"He took the glass of water; he couldn't hold it. He knowed his head was going to be cut off, and he's just shaking.
"He said, 'Now, wait a minute.' He said, "I'm not going to take your life till you drink the water."
"The slave throwed it on the ground."
I said, "What's he going to do now? Is his word above his law? He has to stay with his word if he's just."
He said, "That was a slip-up on the king."
I said, "Then God would put it in His Word, and not in the atonement? He'd have to slip-up too?" Not our God. He don't have no slip-ups. That's right. He doesn't.
8 A lady, here sometime ago, sent her boy away to school to learn to be a minister. So she'd taken real sick, and she sent to the school, and said for the boy to stand by. for the doctor said she might die. She had pneumonia in the worst stage.
So the boy made ready to come home on a moment's call. And so, he didn't hear no more. Said next day his mother was all right, so he let it go.
So when he come home on a vacation, he said to his mother, he said, "Mother," said, "what happened to you when you were so sick and you got well so quick." Said, "What doctor did you see?"
She said, "Hallelujah! Jesus."
Said, "Mother!"
She said, "Do you know there's a...? You know that little mission is around the corner?"
Said, "Yes."
Said, "Well, there was one of those ladies down there come up to see me. Said she was led to come see me. And my doctor'd give me up, said, 'Down at our church we pray for the sick and anoint them with oil, and pray for the sick.' And said, 'Would you let our pastor come pray for you?'"
She said, "Well I'd be glad. So he went and got the pastor and come up. And he read out of the Bible in Mark the 16th chapter, where if you lay hands on the sick they shall recover." And said, "The minister read that to me out of the Bible, and laid hands on me, and I got well."
"Oh," he said, "ridiculous, Mother, ridiculous." Said, "That's just the uneducated people believe that." Said, "Now, in the seminary we learned that Mark the 16th chapter from the 9th verse on is not inspired."
The woman said, "Hallelujah!"
"Why," he said, "Mother, the very audacity. Well," said, "you act like one of them down there."
She said, "Hallelujah!"
He said, "What's the matter with you?
Said, "I was just thinking: If God could heal me with uninspired Word, what could He do with that really is inspired?"
As Billy Sunday once said, "The argument is thinner than the broth made out of the shadow of a chicken that starved to death." So, it's very thin against divine healing, because ... just a little too late. God's already doing it. So "The proof of the pudding is the eating thereof."
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
9 Well, over in this blessed old Bible, the old textbook, we'll take the same subject tonight of Abraham. And tomorrow night, remember, come early. I'm going to have the boys giving out their cards and things early if we can for a great prayer line tomorrow night, the Lord willing.
Now, last night we left off where Abraham, I believe, had went up. And God had taken him out of the picture. Showing that His covenant was wholly ... there was no strings tied to it. It was God by His sovereign grace had promised unconditionally that He would save Abraham and his seed.
And we found out last night in the reading of the Word that we are Abraham's seed when we are dead in Christ. And are heirs of the same promise. Is that right? Abraham's seed. Every man that's born of the Spirit of God is Abraham's seed, and are heirs according to the promise.
Paul said, "We Jews, not Jews outwardly, but Jews inwardly."
Now, the promise was to the "seed," not "seeds" of Abraham. Abraham had several sons, but, only one through Sarah was the promise.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
10 And Abraham believed God, how he got this great name of being the father of nations; he believed God. And believed in hope against hope, he still believed in hope, knowing that God was able to perform what He had promised.
Oh, my young brother, sitting there in a wheelchair, if you could only see that promise tonight, Sonny boy. Calvary's before you. If you could just move the shadows from your mind, look there, something would anchor down in here; there would be nothing in the world ever move it. You'd be pushing that wheelchair out the building and around the Cadle Tabernacle and the place where you come.
And you that's dying with heart trouble: worse killer there is. Cancer: doctors can hardly do a thing about it. I heard on the radio the other day that it couldn't be proved that one time an operation for cancer was ever successful. ?hey call it a "fourth-dimension disease." But God's got the cure. Medicine is remedies; God is the cure. "I'm the Lord that healeth all of thy diseases."
Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
11 Now, if Abraham believed God because God said so, then we being Abraham's seed, we have the same type of faith Abraham had, 'cause God called Abraham by election. How did He call you?---by election. The only way you could be called is by election. "No man can come to Me except My Father calls him first." God does the electing, then you just follow.
And then, if He called you... "And all that comes to me, I'll give him everlasting life, and will in nowise cast him out, and raise him up at the last day.
Those who He foreknew He has called. Those who He has called He justified. Those who He justified He hath glorified. That's God's Word. I love it, because I can put my confidence in it and believe it and know that it's the truth.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
12 I just made a remark a few moments ago. In my travels around the world, I find two classes of people, two churches, as to speak. There's only one church, but this is what I mean. I find the fundamental people, who positionally know what they are in Christ Jesus, but (I say this with reverence) they don't have much faith in what they believe.
Now, then the next class is the Pentecostal. They got a lot of faith, but don't know who they are. That's it.
Now, it's just like a man's got money in the bank, and he doesn't know how to write a check. And next man can write a check, but he hasn't got no money in the bank. If you could ever get them two together, you would have it.
If I could get Pentecostal faith and fundamental doctrine, or get fundamental doctrine and Pentecostal faith, the Millennium would start right away. There would be something wonderful.
But the Pentecostal people, with respects and knowing that probably eighty percent of this crowd is Pentecostal. Lovely people, but you shout all your joy away, you shout all your faith away. If you'd take that and place it solemnly in what God said, and know that's what is making you happy, and know that what gives you redemption, which you're happy about, and you should be; if you'd use that faith yonder at Calvary, and take God, and say, "It's You, Lord, and there isn't one speck of me that doubts it," things would take place.
13 There's an intellectual faith. We are a trinity, like God is, in a soul, body and spirit.
Now, science said a few years ago that when God said that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," they said that God didn't know what He was talking about.
And when the Bible said your body's full of light, those scientists said, "Oh, isn't that crazy?" The infidel. But look. God proves that your body's full of light. The x-ray proves that. It's your own light meters in your body, not the light of the x-ray. It has no light. It's your light meters that makes the x-ray. So your body is full of light. And then, every little cell is a light cell in there.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
14 Now, also, listen. Here, about two years ago I was in Chicago, where science has proved now... Just about a year and six months ago, I guess it was, they had a piece in the paper. Mr. Boze's daughter and I were reading it, that where that the doctors has proved that inside of the heart of a human, not a animal, in a human, is a teeny little compartment, little-bitty compartment, that doesn't even have a blood cell in it. And they say it's the [unclear word] of the soul. The soul lives in the heart.
Now, intellectual faith is what... That's what's the matter with our revivals today. Here it is now, get it. Billy Graham, Jack Shuller, many great men, Oral Roberts, great evangelists on the fields has combed this nation back and forth. Altar calls has been made till enough to convert a thousand Americans ... or, Americas, rather.
But the reason: It's only the people are brought to an intellectual faith. If they would go on just a little deeper to let faith come from the intellectuals, and soak down into the soul, it would last. That's the reason about eighty percent, or ninety percent of the converts that comes in a revival is gone before six months is gone, is because they only have an intellectual conception. But when it becomes an experience of being born again of the Spirit of God, that anchors through eternity.
15 "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you're sealed" until the next revival. I just wanted to see if you was listening what I was talking about. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you're sealed" how long? [Audience says, "Until the day of your redemption."] That's right. No breaking the seal. When a building is completely... or, a boxcar, I'd say, loaded, and the seal put on it, don't you never touch that seal. You're in trouble with the government.
And when God cleanses out, by grace, all the unbelief out of the heart, where a man can look God in the face and realize that he's an offspring of God. He'll believe every word that God wrote in that Bible to be the truth. God will seal him into the kingdom of God by the Holy Ghost until the day of his redemption. God said so. I believe the Word.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
16 One great neglect among us, one great thing that we don't have much of, is the anemic condition of the church. The condition at the church is failing, and here's... Now here's one thing: We go too much upon evidences.
Now, Luther said, "The just shall live by faith." He thought he had it.
Wesley said, "When you got enough salvation to get sanctified..." Now, you good Methodists, that's pretty good. When you got enough faith to sanctify and get to shouting, Nazarenes, Pilgrim Holiness, Methodists, you said, "Glory! We got it." But you found out you didn't. That's right. You done a lot of things after you shouted you oughtn't have done. Backslid, went on back.
You Pentecostal got to speaking in tongues. You said, "Oh, brother, we got it now." But you found out you didn't.
God is love! And the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace longsuffering, goodness, gentleness, mercy. Where there is knowledge it shall vanish. Educate your preachers as much as you want to. Where there's knowledge, it'll vanish. Where there's prophecies, it'll fail. Where there's tongues, they shall cease. But when that which is perfect is come, which is love, it endureth forever.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
17 Let me stop here just a moment. We've got plenty of time tonight anyhow. I'll get to this text tomorrow night, maybe then. Let me just give you a little inside of my life. Would you like to know it just a little bit? I don't like ... just to hear, just something comes in nice.
I'm going to tell you, my brethren, don't make any different how emotional you try to be. That's good. Anything without emotion is dead. You can scientifically prove that. So, if your religion ain't got a little emotion about it, you better bury it. Get some that's got emotion.
But, look, brother. The main thing: If all of your emotions isn't sealed by divine, Holy Spirit love, it won't do you any good.
You know how I've had success? Is this, one thing I contribute: Love. That's right. Do you know love will conquer anything, no matter what it is?
18 How many's read the book back there, been reading my book? Let's see your hands. How many's ever read my book? Fine. Thank you. You've seen the picture of the Angel of the Lord back there, too.
Now, notice, all scientifically, you notice in the first part, at Portland, Oregon, that night, when I was standing on the platform, and that maniac run to the platform to kill me. You remember reading that? I was just speaking, just like I am now. And this fellow run down through a crowd of people of thousands. And they were standing in the street.
And his eyes bulged way out. And he was making his hands go up and down. He ran up to the platform. I thought maybe somebody was sick and he was coming after me. There was about a-hundred-and-fifty, two hundred ministers sitting behind me.
And I looked at him, and he run on up that way and preachers scattered like flies. And he had just hit a preacher that day. And he was out of a insane institution. Broke his jaw and his collar bone. The police was after him.
19 And at the platform, he run right straight up to me, and blowed real big like a goose. Pushed out his chest, great big arms. I weighed 128 then. He weighed about 250. About six-foot tall, or better, like six-foot-and-four-inches or something.
And he said, "You hypocrite! You snake in the grass! Standing up here posing yourself as a servant of God. I'm going to take you apart right on this platform!"
Why, you'd better know what you're talking about when it's a maniac. I just kept still. Looked at him.
He said, "Calling yourself a man of God." Rolled his arm up. Said, "I'm going to knock that little frame of yours plumb out over that audience. There won't be a piece of you together when you land."
I knowed he was well able to carry his threats out. I just looked at him. Not a preacher said a word. They were gone.
And I looked, and here come two police. I'd just led both of them to Christ. One of their mother's was healed the night before ---a good Presbyterian woman. And they ran out there to grab him. I said, "This is not a flesh and blood affair, brother. Just a moment, thank you." The little fellows backed off. Stood there a minute.
I just kept real still. And I was going to tell him, "I say, sir, what's the matter?"
And he went, [Brother Branham imitates someone spitting]. Spit right in my face. And he said, "You snake in the grass." He said, "Tonight I'm going to break every bone in your body."
And I was going to say, "I hope you don't." And as I started to say that, God, in His sovereignty, the Holy Spirit came down. And He said ... just spoke in my... They thought it was me speaking, but it wasn't. No more than it is in the visions.
He said, "Because that you've challenged the Spirit of God, tonight you'll fall over my feet." There was both prophecies. Now it had to be showed.
Said, "Fall over your feet?" Said, "You hypocrite!" Said, "I'll show you whose feet I'll fall over." Drew back his arm and run at me real hard, and started to hit at me.
I said, "Satan, come out of the man."
And when his arm was up he went "Mmmm, mmmm!" Rolled around like that and fell down across my feet and pinned me there till the police had to roll him off of my feet.
They said, "Is that man dead?"
I said, "No, sir. He worships that spirit." They pulled him out.
20 What was it? Did I hate that man? I loved him. A poor mortal in that condition. That wasn't that man speaking, that was the devil. He was possessed of the devil.
And the devil made the challenge, and the Holy Spirit challenged him back. And you know what happened? There was wheelchairs, cots, stretchers; you know how it was in the first beginning. When that happened, you could... When he was speaking, you could've heard a pin drop, as the old saying is. But when all that legion saw that their chief man had been slain, every sick person rose to their feet. Every cot was empty. Every wheelchair emptied up. And the whole group was healed at one time and walked out, see. Because the power of hatred and the power of love had met together, and love will overcome hatred every time. Love your enemy.
21 Now, you might... I hope you don't dislike me from this on, but I'm going to tell you a little something happened. You might say after this, "Brother Branham is a fanatic.", but, all right. You're going to say it anyhow, so, I might as well say something more.
So then, one day down on the Burke's farm down in Indiana, here, where I come from---Jeffersonville---there'd been a big old bull had killed a colored man. They'd sold him out there near Henryville. A big Guernsey bull, great long horns.
22 I was game warden here for years when I was a Baptist minister. I just used to patrol. I'd never taken an offering in my life. Never took an offering in my life.
So brother asked me one time if I'd take him an offering.
I said, "You'll starve next week." Cause, I remember one time I said I was going to take an offering in my church. And I told my wife... We got to a place where we couldn't make ends meet.
Did you ever get to them places? Sure you have.
And I said, "Honey, I'm going to take an offering tonight."
She said, "I'm going over to watch you."
So, I got up there and I was... Now, not because they wouldn't. They'd give me anything they had. But I was young, and why couldn't I work, same as anyone else?
So, I got up and I said, "Brethren, I..." We didn't have a collection plate. "I said, "I'm going to... Hit a little tough place, I'm going to take an offering tonight." I said, "Would some of you get my hat?" And one of the old deacons walked over to get my hat.
I looked down at a little old mother sitting there under a little checkered apron. I don't know whether you ever seen them, pocket on the inside of the apron. She reached down there and got out one of those... During time of the Depression, anyhow, you know, the little old pocketbook, it snaps over the top. Begin to fumble around in them nickels and... Oh, my! I couldn't stand it.
"Oh," I said, "I was just teasing you. I didn't mean it." That's the closest I ever come to taking an offering.
And Mr. Ryan, an old fellow, had come down from Dowagiac, Michigan, had long hair, rode a bicycle down there. And he give it to me. And I got a ten-cent can of paint and painted it and sold it for five dollars, and didn't have to take the offering after all.
23 So, that was it.
I was patrolling. And I was in the conservation. And I'd been over there to a creek. And I remember a brother was across the other side, was sick and had sent for me to come over and have prayer for him. I just thought this was a good time.
So I started walking up over the hill, there's a little brush in the field, like. And when I got about middle-ways of this field of about five hundred yards across it or more; what raised up, but that same bull that had killed that colored man.
And there he was standing about thirty or forty feet from me. And he and some cows was laying there. He raised up and snorted and looked at me. And I recognized the bull.
Well, I was supposed to have a gun, but I didn't have one. So, I looked back to the fence. It was too far to run and no tree to get into. So I thought, "This is probably the end then."
So I looked at him. And you know (now, this is not a joke.), when I looked at that bull, and he lowered his head and threw his horns in the ground, threw the dirt back over him, and he started to me.
Now, instead of hating that bull, I was glad I didn't have no gun. I loved him. Now that seems strange. Now I want you to remember this. I loved that fellow. I thought, "Poor fellow. I'm in his place. I'm on his territory. He was sleeping and I woke him up; just got him roused up."
And I said to him, not knowing, I said, "Creature of God, I am the servant of God. I'm on my way to pray for one of God's sick children. Now, you can't bother me, because I'm God's servant. Now, I'm sorry I disturbed you. In Jesus' name, go lay down."
And that bull ... not a bit more afraid of that bull than I was the man that night, or my brethren sitting here.
And that bull run right to me, till he got within about ten feet of me. And I wasn't no more afraid than I am now. And he got right close to me, and he stopped. And he looked this way and that way, so depleted.
And I just looked at him, I thought, "Poor fellow."
He turned right around and walked over and laid down. I walked right on by him.
Love will conquer anything. "Where there's tongues, they shall cease. Where there's prophecies it shall vanish." But when love comes, it conquers everything. "God so loved the world..."
There's where you're failing, friends. Don't practice so much of whether you got gifts or not, but practice that one real gift of love. Then you'd be better.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
24 Being I started this far, I might as well say something else. Many of you come down and be prayed for at the house. I was trying to mow my yard in the front. And I'd mow a couple rounds and then run ... or, caught the people to come in and be prayed for. I'd run around, take off my overalls, and put on other clothes and go in pray for them. Why, the front was growing up before I'd get the back cut.
So, I was down in the backyard. No one back there. And I took off my shirt---real hot. And I was mowing with the mower, just hard as I could; never thought. But there's a big old hornet's nest hanging in the corner. And I hit the fence. And, brother, sister, Jehovah God, knowing all things, and me in this sacred desk here: I was covered over in a moment with hornets.
Instead of hating those hornets, I thought, "Poor little fellows. I disturbed them. That's their home. God made them. And that's their home." And I said, "Little creatures of God, I'm sorry I disturbed you. But, now, I'm the servant of God, and I'm in a hurry. There's many of His sick children coming here to be prayed for. I must hurry." And I run that lawn mower back and forth. And those hornets humming all around me, with no shirt on. They'll kill you. One of them would knock you down---great big fellows.
And them hornets flew all around me. And I just went right on mowing, with just a love of them poor little things. And they circled right around, and went right straight into that nest in a straight row, right like that, in the name of the Lord Jesus.
What is it? Love conquers all things! "Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength." And faith will accompany that love.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
25 Now, notice, Abraham had to believe God in order ... love God to believe Him. You love Him, and the more you love Him, the more faith will accumulate.
And so, last night, we left Him where He appeared to Abraham, at ninety years old, as Almighty God, the breast, El Shaddai.
Now we find out after He had been El Shaddai to Abraham, Abraham an old man, still believing, holding on to the promise. Lay hold of eternal life. Lay hold of every promise of God and hold on to it.
That's what He said about being El Shaddai. The baby just lays hold of the mother's breast, and is satisfied as he nurses the strength of the mother into his own body. And he's nursing the mother's strength in his own body. If he's weak, fretty, run-down, he nurses the mother's strength.
Now, God's Word is His breast. And we just lay hold of that, and nurse our strength back from God's promise. Just keep quoting it over. "I'm the Lord that healeth thee." Oh, what a change it makes when you believe it.
Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
26 Now, we find that Abraham, then... Lot separated himself from him, and got into trouble. And a beautiful picture here (I want you to see it) of God's love. Christ going after the backslider and the sinner. Kings, enemies, come in and took Lot, wife, took the kings of Sodom, and went out.
And Abraham, as soon as he learned that his nephew Lot had been taken by the enemy, (Look at it), Abraham got all of his servants together, and went pursuing the enemy and captured the enemy, and brought Lot back.
What a picture of we, fallen race of Adam. The enemy had us. And God the Father took the host of heaven and went pursuing the devil, until He conquered him, and brought us back safely. What a picture of salvation.
I wish we had a long time. Wish this revival could go on for about two weeks, so we could just get right in this Word and go to digging in it; bringing faith.
Got a big tent coming, seating about twelve thousand. We're going to put it up and stay four or six weeks at a time, so we can just keep on.
Genesis 14:9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
Genesis 14:10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
Genesis 14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
Genesis 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Genesis 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
Genesis 14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
27 And now, notice another thing after that then, after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We have to pass over many of these great places. And then when we find them, the next thing takes place, that Abraham is sitting out in the barren land.
God does not promise us everything nice. But God's promised grace to endure. God's not promised to take us home on a flowery bed of ease. Look at the patience of Job, and the disciples, and down through the age, how men and women has suffered for the cause of Christ.
And here was Abraham, sitting upon the barren grounds, under his oak. His little tent... The flock being very poor because Lot had taken the choice grounds. And he and Sarah was sitting there. And one afternoon while Abraham looked out---yet holding on to God's promise---he looked, standing near the tree, and there stood three men over against him.
Abraham went out to them, fell down at His feet, the three men, and said, "If I have found grace in thy sight, stop by just a moment. Sit under the oak, under the tree, the shade; it's hot today." Courtesy. Said, "And I'll fetch a little water and wash your feet. And I'll have a morsel of bread cooked for you. You refresh yourself and then you may go on." That's the way to entertain strangers.
Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Genesis 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Genesis 18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
Genesis 18:5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
28 Notice, Abraham waiting for the promise. There was something in him that recognized that those were more than men. For one of them was Almighty God Himself. And the other was two angels: the other two.
And so he slipped into the tent right quick and said, "Sarah, go over to the meal barrel and get some meal, and knead it right quick ... or, sift it out. And make some unleavened cakes right quick."
And he run out into the herd and felt around till he got the fattest calf he had. Churned some milk right quick and got some butter. Killed the calf and cooked it. And got some veal chops, cornbread, some butter, the buttermilk, took it out and set it down for God and two angels to eat. Amen.
Oh, my. I feel religious right now. Think of that! God visiting mortal man. Oh, that kind of makes the little wheels go to turning. Look at it.
Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Genesis 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
Genesis 18:7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
Genesis 18:8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
29 Now, Abraham sat and watched them. Probably got him a little bush and shooed the flies away while they were eating. Did you ever do that? We used to have to do it at home. Had an old fly-bush out in the country, before we had screen doors, or could afford them.
And there he watched the angels and God while they're eat... And God has His back turned to the door. He said, "Abraham, where's Sarah?"
Said, "She's in the tent."
He said, "About this time, according to life, I'm going to ... the time of life, I'm going to visit you." Sarah nearly a hundred years old. Said, "I'm going to visit you according to the time of life."
And Sarah... Here it is, now. Watch. Sarah, in the tent, laughed, inside the tent, at God's back. The man sitting there in human flesh, eating the meat of a calf, drinking the milk and butter from the cow, eating some cornbread.
And He said, "Why did Sarah laugh?" back behind him. What would some of you skeptics call that? Mental telepathy? Reading the mind of Sarah?
Anyhow, God did it! Sarah got scared. She said, "No, I ... I never laughed."
Said, "Oh, yes, you did, too."
He knew what He was talking about. Amen. Isn't it wonderful? The Word, so real and so simple.
After eating, He said, "Would I keep a secret from Abraham ... let him know what I'm going to do?" And He revealed to him that the sins of Sodom had already reached heaven. Their cries were great. He was going down to destroy it. Think of it. And then He vanished from Abraham. The angels went on.
Genesis 18:9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
Genesis 18:10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
Genesis 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Genesis 18:16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
30 A preacher said to me sometime ago, he said, "Brother Branham, do you really say that was God?"
I said, "It ain't whether I said it or not. The Word said it." And watch. It's in capital L-O-R-D: Rulership, heavens and earth, Lord God.
Why, he said, "How could that happen?"
"Why," I said, "You limit God to your theology."
Some people just can't... We may not be able to shout down the walls of Jericho, or we might not be able to have the faith of Joshua to cross the Jordan. And we may not have the faith like Enoch did, who taken a little walk one day with God in the afternoon, a little stroll, and just got tired of the earth, and walked on home with Him.
31 God is almighty! So, what is a body made of? A little calcium, potash...
Here sometime ago down in Memphis, Tennessee... I like art. And I was watching there in a museum, where it said, the analysis of the human body of a man weighing 150 pounds was worth eighty-four cents. There's enough whitewash in the body to sprinkle a hen's nest. And, oh, you know, just a few things like that.
There was two boys standing there. The one looked around at the other, said, "Well, John, we're not worth very much, are we?"
But you'll put a five-hundred-dollar mink coat on that eighty-four cents, and walk down the street with your nose turned up, like if it rained it would drown you. And you belong to some big church. And you take care of that eighty-four cents. And what is it? Nothing but a little handful of ashes. And you'll stick anything in that soul which is worth ten-thousand worlds. You don't think about that.
"Dust thou art, dust returnest" was not spoken of the soul. Yes. Eighty-four cents, what the human body's worth.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
32 God just reached down and got a handful of atoms, and a handful of calcium and a handful of cosmic light, and just "Wheww!" blowed it together, and made three bodies. And Him and two angels stepped down in it. And they eat. That's our God.
What are you...? What's the resurrection such a mystery about, then, if the God, who could come out of all space who fills the space of the solar system and beyond? Amen. Why, it's nothing for Him to speak and anything can happen. And if He knows you by name...
Look. As I said the other night about what my wife told me, I was getting bald-headed.
And I told her I hadn't lost one of my hairs.
She said, "Where are they at?"
I said, "Where was they before I got them? They are there waiting for me to come to them." And so is this body going away. But, one day there won't be a speck of it left. But every atom is holding it together. Every bit of petroleum, all the cosmic light. God had it when He made the world, and He'll give it back in an immortal condition at the day of the resurrection when He calls from the dead. Amen.
So, what're you scared about. You should be the happiest people on earth. My. God, who controls all the elements, they're all His. He created them first before he created you. You're just a part of His creation when He made all those things. Then He just took a little bit of it and formed it, and made you. My!
Genesis 18:8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
33 Notice. God was showing in Sarah and Abraham, there, something that He was going to do for all people. You believe that?
This is just a little time out for a minute again. I want to ask you something. Dad, you remember what mother looked like when you married her? ??u remember what dad looked like when you married him, mother? Fine-looking, handsome man, and that hair combed back. How beautiful the eyes was of mother. You walked down to the altar and swallowing big, and looking at her.
I remember when I got married. I looked at my wife and my heart beating real fast. I couldn't... I was a little bashful. I couldn't ask her to marry me, so I wrote her a letter and asked her and she accepted it. And, so then, when we... I remember when I got married how pretty she was.
But you know what? You wake up one morning, say, "Mother, there's a wrinkle under them pretty eyes."
"Dad, there's some gray hairs coming in your head." Death's set in. It's going to get you.
God painted that picture and said, "There they are. Aren't they beautiful? That's my handwork. Now, death, come on. You can take the body."
34 Look now, Abraham and Sarah were old people. The Bible said they were well stricken in age. Now, what He proved through Abraham and what He did for Abraham and Sarah, He's going to do for all of Abraham's seed.
Now you have to read the Bible between the lines. Did you know that? That's where some of you smart scholars fail. That's right. He said, "I've hid it from the eyes of the wise and prudent, and reveal it to babes such as will learn."
Notice. Just be a baby. Forget all you ever knowed to know Christ.
And notice how my wife, when I'm overseas, she'll write me a letter and say, "Dear Billy, here I am tonight. I'm thinking of you." Now, that's what she's putting on the paper. But, I love her so much, I can read between the lines, see.
If you love God real well (This is all hid to the scholar), but you can read between the lines. It's a love letter. That's what I'm trying to tell you: Love Him. It's a love letter you read, God wrote to you. It's all hid from the smart people, now. You just have to get simple to read it. That's right.
Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
35 Watch this just a moment. Maybe, sometime coming back, I'd like to take this, His love letter, and may the Lord just reveal it to us, you know.
So, watch. Abraham... You know what God did for Abraham and Sarah there? It might be strange, you might not think it. But, He not only blessed them, but He turned them back to a young man and woman again. Did you know that? He did it. He sure did.
Now watch. I can just imagine Abraham, the next morning, getting up and saying, "Why, Sarah, you know what? Why," said, "your wrinkles are going out of your face."
And she'd say, "Well, Dad, look. You know what? That stoop in your shoulder's coming up." They was turning back. God can do all things!
Watch. They left there and went down to Gerar. Watch how far it is: about three hundred miles. What a trip for an old, aged man; a little grandma with a little cap on her head. Going, shaking along down the road.
And now, the strange thing was, when they got down there in the land of the Philistines, Abimelech the King, was hunting a sweetheart. And all those beautiful Philistine girls down there... When he seen Sarah, grandma, coming on a cane, he fell in love with her. Nonsense. He said, "That's the one I've been waiting for."
Abraham said, "Oh, you're fair to look upon, Sarah."---a hundred years old. See, you have to read between the lines. She was very fair. She went back to a young woman.
Genesis 12:11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
Genesis 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
36 Now look, readers, you might criticize this. Now look, if the woman was a hundred years old, right on a hundred (She'd been barren all this time), God had to create something in her because her womb was dead. Is that right. If He did that...
It's a mixed audience. I don't mean to be speaking like this. But, in order for the woman to have the baby, in that time when the baby's being born, she'd have to have a new heart. That heart couldn't beat through that---a woman a hundred years old. There was no milk veins. She couldn't raise it on a bottle. Women didn't smoke cigarettes and have to raise their babies on bottles them days. They had to raise it the real way. That's right.
So, that's the truth. You know it's the truth. It's the biggest, communistic... Why, it's the worst, it's the most dirty thing you've ever done: A woman smoke cigarettes. I've got my opinion of her. That's right.
I want to tell you something else. And I've got my opinion of a man that would let his wife smoke cigarettes. It shows who's the boss. That's that much truth. Keep that for you. I didn't say that to be applauded. I don't mean it that way. I mean it the truth. It's a disgrace to see the way men so... Why, they're sissified more than their women are. Who rules around your house, anyhow? That's right.
Sarah was a beati... Now you ought to feel ashamed, Lady. I'm watching whose face gets red. I'm up here, way up high. I can watch you. This might burn a little bit, but it'll be good for you.
Genesis 11:30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
37 Notice. Sarah, beautiful woman again. And Abimelech fell in love with her. God had changed her. She was back to a young woman again. And Abraham showed it. They brought the baby forth---God did for them. She was back about thirty years old. And what He showed in Abraham and them, He proved what He's going to do for you and I someday. Amen. To those who will take His promise, and call those things which are, as though they wasn't, if it's contrary to God's Word. Amen.
Believe God! Lay hold on it! Hold on to it! Set your course towards heaven. Look at Calvary, the author and finisher of our faith, and not some scientific book.
Notice. Look to Calvary. Watch just a minute now. Then, talk about being a young woman, sure she was, and Abraham a young man.
Now look, they brought Isaac to the world. And when Isaac was a man of forty-five, Sarah died. And then Abraham married another woman, and I believe he had either seven or nine boys besides the girls after that. Certainly he did. He turned him back to a young man again! That's God's words and I believe it. Yes, sir.
Look at Abraham when he said that way down the line, when he was way down the line, before he was 145, when he was yet eighty, he considered not his own body, then dead. Oh, He's wonderful!
Genesis 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Genesis 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
Genesis 25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
Genesis 25:2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
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:
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
38 Now, when the little boy was born---God proving after Abraham had held on for all these years---when he was about twelve years old, God said, "Now, Abraham, I'm going to show those Cadle Tabernacle folks up there one of these days that I keep my promise, and I'll show the world that you got faith in Me. I've made you a father of many nations." And this boy in him, I'm going to call the seed from Isaac. "And I say this, that I want you to take Isaac out there and kill him."
The only hope that he had was in Isaac. So, I imagine Abraham couldn't tell poor Sarah that; was going to take this fine little twelve-year, fourteen-year-old boy. His little curly hair hanging down around his shoulders and---only child. Both of them, then getting up to middle-age again. Why how could they do it? Take that poor... He couldn't tell Sarah.
So, he got all the wood together, and put it on a mule, got a couple servants.
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
39 And notice, he went three days' journey. And then he looked far off and he seen the mountain, which he was to go to to offer Isaac for a sacrifice.
Now, ordinary men can walk, anyhow, twenty-five miles a day. I've walked thirty a many day. But, ordinarily in these days when you go in your car everywhere you go. But them days they were used to walking. And, if he went three days journey, he was at least seventy-five miles back.
And then he looked and saw the mountain far off, probably another twenty-five miles. Now, he's a hundred miles back from civilization. I love this, Genesis 22. Fixing to close. Listen close. Then, when he come close to the mountain, he said to the servants... He took the wood: perfect type of Christ and God. He laid the wood on Isaac's shoulders. Took the fire in his hand. And look at this now. I love this. Oh, He's wonderful! He said, "You stay here. The lad and I are going yonder to worship. The lad and I shall return." Glory! I just had to let that come out.
Look! How did he...? The Bible said that he had received him as one from the dead; knowed that God could raise him up from the dead.
"How's he going to come back, Abraham? You're going up to kill him. How's he going to return with you?"
But he took God's Word, knowing that God had promised him that through Isaac, God was going to do something. He didn't know what. But, it wasn't his business to know what; it's, "Walk on." There it is.
"How's God going to heal me?"
I don't know, but walk on!
"How am I going to tell my mother, tonight, that I got saved?"
I can't tell you.
"How am I going to tell my associates I received the Holy Spirit, and borned again?"
I can't tell you. Walk on! Just keep going! Move on, laying aside everything, moving on towards Calvary.
Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
Hebrews 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
40 On they went up the mountainside. The little boy with the wood on his shoulder---a type. God giving His only begotten Son, in shadow, years to follow. But, God showing you there what He would do. Oh, I just love it.
And when he got up on top of the hill, he found a big rock for the altar, laid the wood, built the fire. Little Isaac said, "Father."
He said, "Here I am, my son."
He said, "Here's the wood, here's the altar, here's the fire, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Oh, down, that old patriarch's heart trembling, with a knife sticking on his side to take his own son's life, he said, "God will provide Himself a lamb for the offering. It's not my business to argue about it, or this, that, or the other. God will provide. He made the promise. If He made the promise..."
"How can I, Brother Branham, when I've been paralyzed in this hand?" "How can I, when I haven't seen for years?"
I don't know, but God made the promise. Oh, my! You get that down in your heart. Are you Abraham's seed? Let that faith come into you. Abraham's seed.
Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
41 Notice. Then he takes his little boy, binds his hands and his feet. Isaac never said a word. Obedient unto death, just like Jesus was at the cross. Laid him upon the altar, pulled out the knife. The tears, maybe, rolling down his cheeks. Laid his hand on his little head, and brushed back the curls. Pulled back the knife like this. Raised his hands to plunge the knife into his own son's throat, 'cause God had told him to do it.
Just about the time he got ready to act upon God's commandments, the Holy Spirit grabbed his hand and said, "Abraham, stay your hand. I know you love Me."
About that time, right over behind him, a ram hooked in the wilderness with his horns, bleated. Hallelujah! Oh, my. Hallelujah means "Praise our God." What was it? Abraham loosed his son, went over and got this ram, and offered him instead.
I want to ask you something, friends. He called the name of the place, Jehovah-jireh, "The Lord will provide Himself a sacrifice."
Where did that ram come from? He was a hundred miles from civilization. And, besides that, the ram couldn't have been there or the wolves and lions and things would've ate it. And another thing, it was up on top of the mountain where there's no water. Where did the ram come from. Jehovah-jireh. The Creator spoke the lamb into existence. He is there at all times. That lamb come into existence in one minute and died the next minute. For, one man taking God's Word, God provided the thing. And He's still Jehovah-jireh, tonight, that'll provide the sacrifice, and every time that a man or woman will take His Word, and step out on it and call it the truth.
I felt someone say it was a vision. It wasn't a vision, it was a ram. He laid it on the altar and killed it, and blood run out of it. It was a ram! God the Creator spoke it into existence. And He can do the same thing tonight, can speak into existence the power and the operation of the Holy Ghost to transform a sinner into a saint! His omnipotence is here, His presence. He's here. He's still Jehovah-jireh. The Lord will provide.
"How can I be saved, Brother Branham, when I've done...?"
The Lord has provided.
"How can I be healed?"
The Lord has provided a ram. Do you believe it? Let us pray.
Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
Genesis 22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
42 Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee tonight, for all these marvelous examples. As Paul, the writer of the Hebrews, said, "Seeing that we're compassed about with such a great cloud of witnesses..." O God, let, we, tonight, living down in the closing of time... Many thousands, and innumerable miracles of God since that day upon the mount where Jehovah introduced Himself as "God will provide."
Thou has provided us a Holy Spirit. Thou has provided us healing. Thou has provided us salvation. Thou has provided us joy. God, with grasping arms, may we embrace every Calvary promise tonight, as our own personal property. Grant it, Father.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
43 While we have our heads bowed, I just feel constrained to ask this question. You've been here many nights in a meeting. Are you without Christ, without God, tonight, sinner friend? Would you just do this? If you're convinced in your heart that He's provided a way for you to come out of that life, and to live a different life, are you convinced of it that He's here? If you are, will you just slip up your hand and saying, "God be merciful to me, a sinner. I now, in my seat, right here, want to accept Jesus as my Saviour." Will you raise your hand, anywhere in the building? Say... God bless you, lady. Someone else?
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling. Don't you know...? Maybe... God bless you, lady. Maybe before morning the doctor may come, say, "Well, that's a heart attack. She's gone. He's gone."
After leaving a meeting like this where God comes every night and appears... God bless you, back there, son, I see your hands. "God be merciful to me a sinner." I see you back there, son. God bless you, my brother.
You say, "Will that save me?"
Yes, sir. Your faith in God's what saves you.
I see you, mister. God bless your heart. I see your hand back there, sir. I see you there, Lady. God bless you. God bless you, lady. You, sir, God bless you. God bless you, sir. That's right. All over the building is hands going up. God bless you, lady. I see you with both stretched wide towards heaven.
"God be merciful to me and provide." God bless you, little boy. I see you, honey.
44 What did Jesus say? St. John 5:24, "He that heareth my words, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath eternal life; and shall never come into judgment but has passed from death unto life."
God bless you, sir. By doing that, if that comes from below that hand from an honest heart, I believe it does, you have eternal life.
"All that My Father has given Me will come to Me. And no man can come except My Father draws him. And he that'll come, I will in no wise turn him out. I'll give him everlasting life and raise him up at the last day."
What a easy thing it is, just to renounce your sin. Raise your hand. Now, people, don't be looking. Let God do the looking. Pray. God bless you, sir. God sees it.
What is that? "No man can come except My Father draws him?" What's that knocking at your heart? Could you turn an opportunity like that down? Right here where you see God manifested every night. How wonderful it is.
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.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 Just have faith. Don't doubt. Believe with all your heart. Someone else now. There's been many have... I see you, sir. God bless you, my brother. You were dead a few minutes ago and now you're alive.
JOHN5:24
I don't want to argue theology, but I'm saying what the Bible said. Jesus said, "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent me hath (present tense) everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life."
Do you believe it with all your heart? Be like Abraham was? He believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.
Now, after he believed God and it was imputed to him, God give him a sign of his faith. He give him circumcision which was a type of the Holy Ghost. After he has believed on God, been justified by faith; now he's to be sealed in the kingdom of God by the Holy Ghost.
How many in here has never been sealed, God has never recognized your faith. You've never been borned again, and He's never recognized, yet you've confessed it, but He's never give you the Holy Spirit, the new birth. Would you raise your hand, say, "God be merciful to me tonight." I want..."
Oh, God bless you. That's wonderful. Just dozens of hands.
Genesis 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
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.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
46 Heavenly Father, You know from the greatest to the least of each of those. All those men and women, some young ladies and boys, just at the crossroads of life, raising their hands. What a beautiful sight. We know that the angels of God are around here now; they're standing near in the tabernacle. You've wrote down all these things which we'll have, to come against us at the day of judgment, if You knocked at our heart and we refused it. But all these hands has raised up that they have received You. And they love You.
And Thou... Now, God, according to Thy Word, I commit them to Thee. And Thy Word, Lord, said that if they would do that, believe it, accept it, that they'd have everlasting life and would not come to the judgment, but has passed from death to life.
We thank Thee for them, Father. We pray that You'll gather them up around the altar. And may they have a good refreshing from the presence of God. In Christ's name we ask it. 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.
47 I don't know how you feel, but I feel like something inside, I've been scoured out. Just like something had held me---the sacred feeling of the Holy Spirit. Don't you feel that? That sacred feel... I just love that. There's something about the Gospel that's cleansing---souls being saved.
It's late. I was just thinking about calling... I don't believe I'll call a prayer line. I believe I'll just stand right here; just do what the Holy Spirit would have me do.
Will you believe with me? Listen. Your faith picked up last night. Just as I said that, something struck my heart and said, "That's it." You believe now. You have faith in God. Do you do it?
Look, everyone out there, all you people out there, I don't know you; never seen you. Instead of you coming up here, it's just a recognition that God has provided a way to declare His Word. You believe that?
Now, Jesus is alive tonight, and He's among us. The very same God that created that lamb, there, for Abraham that took His Word, He's here to create for you anything that you'd ask Him to do. That's included in His blessings. Salvation He did create for them. The baptism of the Holy Spirit. He's created healing. It's already been finished at Calvary. You have to accept it.
48 Now, let's bow our heads again just a minute. Would you give us, sister, ever who's playing there... Just be real reverent. I want you to play for us:
The great physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus
He speaks the drooping hearts to cheer
No other name like Jesus.
His name expels my guilt and shame. O praise the name of Jesus! He's here. The lovely one.
49 Now, heavenly Father, we're unworthy. We're just creatures of this earth. And we're unworthy of the things we ask for, but by grace Thou has overlooked our unworthiness And we're not confessing that we are worthy; we're confessing we're unworthy. We do not ask for judgment; we ask for mercy.
And, dear God, the mercies of God to be granted to us tonight, upon the condition that these people, where dozens of them has raised their hands to accept You as personal Saviour. God, I'm asking You to do something. In this sovereignty of Your gift, that I, Your unprofitable servant... I'm not saying that, Lord, to be humble. Thou knowest my heart. I'd be a hypocrite to say such a thing if it didn't come from my heart. Unworthy.
But will You, by Your sovereign grace tonight, just let the people have faith enough, like the woman at the well. And, to prove to this audience, that Thy servant's words I have said about Your resurrection is true, vindicate that to be truth tonight. Won't You, God, without even people close to me? Will you grant that, Lord? Through Jesus Christ's name I ask it. Amen.
50 This is a strange thing. I don't say that God our Father will do it. I'm only asking for His mercy. Will you be in prayer just a few minutes? I want to ask you something. How many sick people is there in the building? Raise up your hand, just how many sick people.
Now as a ... [break in tape]. And you have a right to doubt my word, but you don't have a right to doubt His Word. You're a sinner when you doubt His Word. Well now, I've told you that Jesus raised from the dead and does the same things now that He did then. He stood in the audience. He knowed the woman that touched His garment. And He turned to her, said ... found her, where she was; He didn't know at first. Said, "Thy faith has saved thee."
I want to ask some of you scholars: Is that same word, save just the same as it is "salvation," or "healing"? Same Greek word sozo. Is that right? He saves physically, or saves spiritually.
Now, believe in salvation. Your faith sozos---saves you. Believe it! Oh, my.
Now be real reverent. And if God will do that to any person in the audience, will you believe? Just that you might see that it's God and not me, you just be praying, and see if the Holy Spirit will.
How many here will believe with all your heart? If God with some person in there that I don't know, will say the same thing like He did the woman at the well, and tell what's your trouble or whatever it is, or something or other, you'll believe with all your heart. From right here and you won't even have to be called in the prayer line. Will you do it? May He grant it.
Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
Mark 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Luke 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
51 Now, I want you just to look to Calvary. Now, He's a High Priest of our confession. He's a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Is that right? Don't be straining; you get nervous. Just let loose. Say, "God, yes, that's right."
Now, in the sovereign grace of God, the Angel of the Lord is over the building right out there now. I am not a hypocrite. I'm not a fanatic. I'm only telling truth. Now, if He is, may He grant these things that I have asked.
If the audience is watching me, I'm looking right at that same pillar of fire that you see on the picture, right now. It's hanging over a woman, and over the woman is a dark shadow. I see her falling, frothing at the mouth. She's got her head down. She's sitting right back there. She has epileptic fits. She's sitting on the end of the row. She's praying for God to take it away from her.
Raise up your hand, lady, and accept your healing. Will you do it, back there? You believe that God will take away that epilepsy and make you well? If you'll do it, believe it, you can have your healing. God will make you well. The Lord be with you, sister.
Don't you love Him? Just be reverent. You're in church.
It keeps moving right through this aisle. It's standing over a lady which has a checkered dress on. She's got arthritis.
There sits a man there that's got high blood pressure, looking at me. He's got his tie, striped---elderly man.
Do you believe, sir, that God'll make you well? Yes sir. Do you believe that He'll make you well? Just say "Praise the Lord." That's all I want you to do. All right, sir. God bless you. Go home now. You're healed.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
52 Be reverent. Man and woman sitting together. Lady, wiping your eyes, you had high blood pressure, too. There's two of them together, so you were healed also. So, don't fear no more. God bless you, lady. The little la... That's right. You, see, that's you.
I want to say something, lady. You were praying, wasn't you? Is that right? Yes, ma'am, the little hat on you. Just raise your hand so the audience can see who you are. Right. That's the lady right there. You were praying. You're healed now.
Do you believe? Right on down the row from you, there, is a lady, praying. She's got epilepsy. That you might know who it is, her sister sits next to her, and she's a nervous woman. If that's right, you two women stand on your feet, if you're sisters, and stand on your feet, it's epilepsy.
Do you believe? Have faith in God. Somebody over here believe. What about down in here. Do you believe? Have faith.
The little lady sitting there with a white rose ... or, white flower. God can heal arthritis and make well, can't He, lady? Do you believe it? Raise up. Stomp your feet up and down. Raise your feet up and down so you see it's ... your arthritis. Move your hands around. The Lord Jesus healed you then, made you well. Amen.
Now, He's wonderful. Do you believe that? If thou canst believe.
53 The lady sitting next to you, lay your hands on her. She's got throat trouble. She wants to be healed, too. Amen. That's right, isn't it, lady? Now, you can be healed also. Amen. Have faith in God.
Now, I'm not reading your mind. Do you believe God is in the building? I want you to start praying just a minute. I'll look some other way if you think I'm reading your mind. I want someone to start praying now, and just pray real sincerely. Just believe on the Lord Jesus, and know that it's not me, it's Him.
Oh, God, that they might know that You're Christ, and raised from the dead, and that You're here.
54 I see, standing before me, two; it's a man and a woman. And the man has something wrong with his spine. And the woman has a female trouble. And they're ... the man's a minister. I've never seen him before. He isn't from here. He's from Ohio. His first name is Frank; Gray is his last name.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ makes you well now? Would you stand up, glorify God? God bless you. Have faith in God.
How many more wants to be healed? Put your hands over on one another.
Ministers of the Gospel, you take me by word tonight. Your people will be coming to you weeks after I'm gone, telling you that their troubles was healed. It's just going from one to another, from one to another. It's like that on the audience.
55 Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy sovereignty, for Thy blessings. And I pray, Heavenly Father, that You will come and minister and bless each one of these. And may the Holy Ghost come upon this people just now and heal them, each one. May Your loving arms... May they realize that Jehovah-jireh is at the line of duty tonight. The angels of God that's gone on pursuit after these demon powers, that has taken the people by force, that God has sent His angels, and they're here declaring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Satan, you've lost the battle. Come out of these people, in the name of Jesus Christ. I adjure thee by the [unclear words].