Accepting God's Provided Way at the end time
You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net
1 Well, it's certainly nice to be back in the house of the Lord tonight, and especially this one, because I had the privilege of dedicating this house of the Lord some time ago when our precious Brother Sharrit built this place. And we dedicated it to the Lord for his service. And it's good to be in the house of God at any time, isn't it? It's a real nice place to be. And down here in this frigid zone where it's... I come down here to get away from the cold weather, and I got right into it. I said last night, "I hope I didn't bring you-all all this trouble." Well, you know they say summer takes its winter's rest out here. And maybe the winter come to look in on it, see how it was getting along. But it's good to be here any time.
2 I've always had a feeling for Phoenix, since a little boy. I love Phoenix. And Phoenix was my first place to ever preach to people that wasn't the white race of people---that was the Indians. I went up to the reservation. I guess there may be people here tonight remembers when I made God a promise on a platform: if He would heal an alcoholic and a woman with TB, I'd go to the reservations to minister to the Indians. And they reminded me of it, and both of them were healed. And I went up to the Apache Reservation, and there the Lord gave us great victory.
I can't think of that lady's name that was healed with cancer up there. It was an outstanding case. I believe she was a missionary up there, the Assemblies of God, the best I remember that. We went with her (Mitchell), and ... that's right. Is there anybody here was along in that meeting up there at the reservation then, that night?
I thought (yeah, that's right),
3 I thought I was going to be up against it. I couldn't make them understand what I was meaning. I'll never forget that night. There was a... Long after I'd preached a while and told them about Christ... I was standing on the steps of the mission hall. And they had the place full, and then they were all on the outside. So I was talking to them. And one outstanding thing that night was the old Indian brother they had brought in on a board, and ... long some time towards morning. And they were wet where they'd walked across the river---forded it down there, somewhere---and brought him in.
I asked the young fellow, I said, "Aren't you afraid you'll take pneumonia?"
He said, "Jesus Christ take care of me. I bring my daddy."
"Good." I said, "Do you believe he'll be healed?"
"Yes." He was shaking with palsy. The two young boys were packing him. I prayed for the old man.
After awhile I heard something screaming. Looked down. The old man had the board on his own back, going around waving at everybody! Just simple faith to believe, it's all it takes.
4 I remember that night, a sweet old Indian woman, she had long braids of hair hanging down. And she was on crutches, and they were very home-constructed---like broom sticks with a piece of board over the top of them like a 2x4, and then wrap rags around. And really, the next one to come was... She was in line coming from the inside of the building. But there was a little young Indian boy, very strong-looking little fellow. He was... Beat all the rest of them in to get in the line.
And the poor old thing was trying to get her sticks out. And she'd seen two or three healings before she'd got in the line. And I thought when she looked at me---them great big, deep wrinkles, tears cutting down through those ditches in her cheeks---I thought, "Somebody's mother." I never said one word to her, never prayed for her or anything. She just looked up at me. And as she did, she just handed me the crutches and walked on away. Just that simple.
5 My son is trying to gear me up here. Can you hear that better? I read a story today about a pig being taken to the sanctuary. And I guess you noticed... [Microphone being arranged.] Now, that feels better anyhow. That's the way life goes. It's got a lot of knots in them anyhow, hasn't it?
Now, the people are standing and we're don't ... we don't want to take any more time than we possibly can help. And you're such nice people, I would just like to talk a long time to you. And we're here now in visit with the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship. And the original convention is being held over at the Ramada beginning the last part of... Let's see. What is the date? 24th. 24th to the 28th at the Ramada Inn. And there's going to be some marvelous speakers over there---Brother Oral Roberts, and many others. And we always have a good time. And when the people come together like that we have a great time at this Ramada Inn.
6 It might be that Brother Oral and I might hold a healing service over there. You can't tell. That would just be fine. So, we never have had one together. I don't know what he'd think about having one, he and I together, but I'm willing. If he can stand it, why, we'll try. And then, pray for the sick people.
And, we haven't been holding healing services, if you've noticed. We haven't been giving out prayer cards or nothing, because of the congestion of the small churches. You know, when the people... You can't hardly get the people in and out. And then when you do, it causes a conglomeration of mixing around, and the fire marshal wouldn't appreciate that. So, we just kind of omitted the healing services so far, in the meetings, and just been trying to bring a simple little gospel message to... And your presence, and cooperation with me, and your prayer for me encourages me to be here. And I hope the little messages encourages you to continue on being ... living for Christ.
7 And I notice, many times the people come from one church to the other. And that gets us all acquainted, and we just get real chummy with one another. And I like that. We might as well sit together here in heavenly places, because we're going to that kind of a place---where we'll be together in heavenly places, in heaven.
There was a little line of criticism I got the other day in the mail. I might pass it on while we kind of adjust our feeling. Any minister knows you have to say something another, kind of adjust yourself to the audience, and the audience to you.
There was ...
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
8 the Businessmen packed the article in their---the Businessmen's Voice---of a little... I think we're just going to call it a vision, and it was a little different usually, from visions I have. I had been taken from where I was at, up---it didn't look to me much further than the roof of that building. And there I was in another place where I seen all those who had passed on. Many of you read the article, of course. And in there, after He had told me them ... who they were, and they all were young again, and they were real...
I always was afraid to die. Not afraid that I would be lost, but I didn't want to be a spirit. I only ... I wanted to be a human man, because I always understood as a man, shake people's hands. And I'd think, "What if I'd get there, and I'd meet Brother Rose. And he'd be a little white cloud, or something. And I'd know it was Brother Rose by some other sense. But I couldn't shake his hand, and I couldn't talk to him, or..." I'd wonder, "Wouldn't that be awful?" But I thought, "Then when I returned back, 'course, I'll have a resurrection." That scripture had never occurred to me before, that if this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have one already waiting.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
9 So that morning, I'd gotten up and I was thinking, "Boy, you're fifty years old. If you're going to do anything for the Lord, you'd better hurry up. You're going to be too old after awhile." And all at once, I was caught up into this place, and could look back and see myself down here. Never had that experience. Many times I've had visions of seeing myself standing somewhere, and then... Oh, if you don't understand it, you'd think you'd lost your mind. You're here, watching yourself there. And then you leave here, and you're in yourself there. It's maybe way back, years ahead, and so forth. It's hard to explain. You can't explain it. You can't explain God. You've got to believe Him, see. If you can explain it, then it's no more faith. You just have to believe it.
10 And after He had told me, seeing all these people, and they were ... they had bodies. There couldn't be sin. The men and women ... those women were hugging me, and they were women. But there were no possibility of ever being sin again, because, see, the glands of our bodies will be changed there. We have ... we're different sex now, because that's for reproducing the world, and our marriage to bring children. But then there'll be no more need of that. There'll be no more children born. We won't have sex glands in the new world, see, not at all. But yet the woman will be woman, and the stature; and so will man be man. But there will be no more male and female among them in that way. And them glands won't be in, so there'll be no way at all for Satan to ever play another trick on them.
So, in that I noticed...
11 These women run up and throw their arms around me and say, "Our precious brother! I am so happy that you are here." Now, it was amazing---all of them young, all the most prettiest women, long hair, dresses long, you know, like robes, white silk-like robes. And how pretty they looked!
Then here come brethren, just in the ... most handsome men I ever seen---looked like all of them about twenty years old---and their eyes sparkly, they just every ounce of man. And I wondered. And they were picking me up and hugging me and saying, "Our precious brother!"
12 I wondered how... I looked back down and could see myself down here yet, laying down. Now I thought, "That's strange." And then I asked... There was a real lovely lady come up, threw her arms around me, and said, "Oh, Brother Branham, we're so happy you're here, our precious brother!"
I looked at her as she went away, and that voice that was talking to me said, "Don't you recognize her?"
I said, "I do not."
Said, "She was past ninety when you led her to Christ."
There she was, the most beautiful thing I'd looked at in the way of a woman. And I said, "No wonder she said 'Precious brother,'" see. Now she can never change no more. She's that way for eternity.
I said, "I want to see Jesus."
Said, "He's higher than this. Some day He will come, and you'll be judged by the gospel that you preached because you was the leader."
I said, "Well, will Paul have to be judged by his crowd?"
Said, "Yes."
I said, "I preached the same gospel he did. Just exactly the way he said it, that's the way I said it."
And them millions of voices screamed out, "We're resting on that."
13 Then a strange thing happened. I used to have a little saddle horse, and I called him Prince. And how I loved that little old horse. I used to ride him every morning before school, and run my traps. And I seen this little old horse come up to me, and lay its head across my shoulder, and nicker. And I patted him. I said, "Prince, I knew you'd be here." And I felt something lick my hand. It was my old coon dog. He put me in school, furnished my clothes, hunting. I said, "Prince, or Fritz, I knowed you'd be here, too." And then I felt something happen. I was going back.
14 That was wrote in the Christian Businessmen's Voice. And a minister wrote me the other day. He said, "I appreciated that vision, Brother Branham. It sounded all very good till you mentioned horses. Heaven is made for human beings. There's no such a thing as horses in heaven."
"Well," I said---I answered him back---I said, "Brother, I never said I was in heaven. I was asking where Jesus was, and He was still beyond." I said, "But if it might help you a little, in the book of Revelation it says, when Jesus left the heavens of heavens He was riding a white horse, and all the host of heaven was following Him on white horses, see. So, that was coming from heaven of heavens."
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
15 And what made me feel so good, when I started to go back He said, "All that you ever loved, and all that ever loved you, God has given to you." Some bright day on the other side it'll be different. I just can't... You just can't afford, people, to miss that place. Don't do it. Whatever you do, make... Don't be afraid. There's no need of being scared. There's nothing to be afraid of.
Oh, when I thought to come back, it made me sad. "Will I have to go back again? Will I have to go back to what I was afraid of being?", see. Then when we come to the resurrected body, then we will eat and drink. They didn't eat and drink. They had no need of eating and drinking. They wasn't going nowhere, and they wasn't tired. It was just ... there's no word that I could use. It was perfect---that wouldn't make it. It's beyond what I call perfect. They had ... they'd just arrived---that was it---at that place, and it was wonderful!
16 So, oh! Listen, friends. I think I'm in my right mind, and I know it sounds strange. But I've never been able, and never tried to explain to people these things. Many things that's... It's beyond explaining. And you'd only confuse the people's mind. But if I could, and felt to do so, it would be alarming.
But notice this. I say this: Don't be afraid. Death is just a scarecrow trying to keep you away from something. My! It's so glorious. It's beyond anything that you could think of. No wonder the Bible said, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered the hearts of men what God has for them in store that love Him." Oh, just to look past the curtain of time! Then I've tried harder than ever before in life to try to win people to Christ since then. You can't afford to miss it! Don't do it! Be sure that you're right with God, and other things will be all right.
Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
17 Now, I just got a few notes wrote down here I thought I would speak a little bit tonight from. And I think tomorrow night we're way up in, about twenty miles from here or more. Mesa, I believe it is. Mesa. Is that?... Mesa. And then, the next night at Tempe. Tempe. And I've got the schedule in my pocket here out of the paper Brother Williams gave me, but I've been pretty busy. I just haven't looked it over yet. Billy just comes and gets me. He says, "We're going so-and-so, and so-and-so, and here we go. And then I get over here, and he tries to choke me. [Laughter]
18 Now is everybody feeling real religious? Say "Amen" if you are. Real good. That's fine. Now let us just bow our heads, now, as we have just our little senses of humor, and of expressing. We're children, and we rally and talk as children, and we... Even God has a sense of humor, you know. So let us bow our heads now, and speak to Him before we read his Word. While we have our heads bowed, is there those in here who does have a request for prayer? Let it be known by your lifted hand. God bless you. Let us bow our heads now.
19 Our heavenly Father, we are coming into thy presence now as we bow our heads and our hearts in humility. We are approaching by faith beyond the moon and stars to the throne of God in the name of the Lord Jesus, because we are sure that if we come in his name that You're going to hear us. We will be accepted in your presence through his name. What a privilege that it is to know that we are accepted in the presence of God, through the name of Jesus Christ.
And He told us, Father, that whatever we asked in his name, that You, in your abundance of mercy and grace, would pardon our sins and would give to us our desire. Father, we're so happy for that. There's not another thing that we could think of that would be a higher privilege, than to have this privilege. It would be a privilege for we American citizens to approach our president. And all we'd have to do to go through to get to approach the president for just a moment of time: to take up a moment of his busy schedule we'd have to go through offices, and every way to get to come, and have to state our reasons, and would have to be examined before we'd have that privilege.
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 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
20 But to think of it: the God-creator of heavens and earth is waiting for us to approach, we unworthy sinners. He's waiting for us to approach in the name of the Lord Jesus, with the assurance that we will be granted what we ask for. If we can only believe that we will, then we'd watch our requests very close and know that we would not speak foolishly, or ask foolishly. And if we would, we pray You pardon us, Lord.
And we're asking tonight for mercy upon each one of these hands that was up. May their request be granted to them, Lord. May they feel assurance in their heart right now, that while we're in your presence that... When we open our eyes and raise up our heads from the dust from which You molded us, may we feel that anchored assurance that we have been granted that what we asked for.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
Job 10:9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
Job 34:15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
21 We would ask for those, Lord, perhaps in the building tonight that has never come into your presence by the way of prayer, to ask pardoning for sin. May this be the night that something will be said, or something done, or some acting of the Holy Spirit that would cause their hearts to quiver and ask that pardoning grace.
Heal the sick. Lord, we pray that You'll grant to them, tonight, the assurance that the prayer of faith is now being prayed, and it shall save the sick. For we could say, and add this, that that's "thus saith the Lord," for it is written in the Word of the Lord.
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
22 Now, Father, we pray that You will bless these little comments that's been provided here today for your Word. Pull from this reading a context to every heart. And if I should fail in any way, Lord, and miss the unction of the Holy Spirit, may He in divine grace go with the Word and place it in the heart where it was supposed to be. And may we, tonight, see the hand of the Almighty stretch across this building, and do things that would be the exceeding abundant above all that we could do or think.
When we leave tonight and go to our different homes, may we be able to say like those that came from Emmaus, "Did not our hearts burn within us, as He talked to us along the way?", for we ask it in his name. Amen.
Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
23 Now, many people kind of write down ... and the text that a minister uses. And if you wish to now, I'd like to read two places in the Holy Script. That is in Genesis, the 22nd chapter we will go first and read; and then in St. John 12:32 we'll read for the second part of the scripture. Now in John ... in Genesis 22, we begin with the 7th verse of the 22nd chapter.
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 the burnt offering?
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for the burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
And now in St. John 12:32, we read these words from our Lord's lips:
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
And now for a text that I would like to speak from on this, is "Accepting God's Provided Way for the End-time." Let me quote that again because on the tapes (I believe they're taping these messages), and on the tapes that we have (some five hundred texts that I guess I've preached from), they've got something similar to that; but not exactly this: "Accepting God's Provided Way at the End-time."
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.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
24 You know, there is many ways that people take; but really there is only two ways that a man can go. That's the right way, and the wrong way. And all of us here tonight, we are on one of those roads---the right one or the wrong one. There's no middle ground. Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon," meaning the world. We're either right or wrong. And now, if we'll just get away from our own way is the only way we can get in God's way. And God has made a provided way for every thing. He's provided the way. And where we get in trouble is not following that way, and injecting into it our own ways. And that makes a perversion. And anything that's perverted is not dependable. So, God has a way. And let's just look at some of his ways.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Let's take something in nature, because nature was my first Bible. I know God's a creator, and He created nature. And He lives in his creation in nature. Let's take for instance the tree. I just pulled up under one a few moments ago out there, or Billy did, and the limbs on it. And I noticed the leaves falling. Now, we have never been able, and we never will be able to find a better way for a tree to hide its life through the winter, than God's provided way for it to hide its life.
26 Now, what if we tried to manufacture some other way than the regular provided way for the tree?
What if every August, or September, in the land---especially where I come from, the North---if we would have to go out to the apple orchard, and get some kind of a instrument, and place it into the tree along about August after the apples are ripened, and pull the life out of the tree; and take it into a good warm place and keep it through the winter, the life (sap life) out of the tree; and place it in a good warm container and keep it till spring; and then inject it back into the tree? You know that would never work. It would never be so. And to try to do it would only kill the tree. But God has a way to take care of that life through the winter. God made a way. Knowing that winter would come on the tree, He made a way for it. I had the privilege of leading a seventy-five-year-old infidel to Christ by that, not long ago.
27 Mr. Wood, a neighbor of mine... And he was a Jehovah Witness by faith, and he had a boy that was crippled---had a leg drawn up under him. And his wife, I believe, belonged to the Anderson movement of the Church of God. And they come to Louisville, Kentucky, where they lived out in a little place called Crestwood, about thirty miles from Louisville. And at the meeting, there at the auditorium, they seen a girl that was ... had this here disease that she was turning to chalk, or stone. And she ... had already paralyzed her way above her hips, that she hadn't moved for, oh, several months. And it come from her feet. She was prayed for one night, and the next day she was running up and down steps just as hard as she could go.
28 And Mr. Wood brought his son. 'Course he never got in the meeting. And immediately after that I was taken overseas, went over for our Lord. And on the return I was having a meeting up in Ohio; and he brought the boy, named David. And he was sitting way back, oh, almost a half a city block.
And the Holy Spirit came in, and said, "There is a man here tonight. And he and his wife sits way back in the back [never saw him in life]." And said, "The man's name is Wood. He is a contractor. He has a crippled boy that had polio that drawed one limb up under him. But, 'thus saith the Lord,' the boy is healed."
Him not being used to such, the boy sat there for a while. And after a bit, his mother said, "David, why don't you try to stand up?" And when he stood up, the leg was as normal as the other.
29 The man sold his business and moved over, next door neighbor. And, oh, he's such a lovely brother. The other morning when he knowed I was coming out here for extended time (about daylight, when I left home), there he was standing out on the street, crying like that, hitchhiking like he was going to go with me. And he hugged me, and went on down the lane. Such a wonderful brother. He's been a real chum to me.
30 We were down in the state of Kentucky, squirrel hunting about three years ago. And it got real dry. And now, if any of you eastern people know what a gray squirrel is, Houdini, the escape artist, is an amateur to him when he's scared. So, I love to hunt them, so we hunt them with a .22 rifle. And we'd hunted... I was on my vacation about two weeks, and we'd been camping out. And it was very dry and you could just walk through the woods and break a leaf, and that little fellow, oh, my (whew!), you just can't see him. He's gone!
31 So, Brother Wood said, "Brother Branham, I know a place down here that's got deep hollers." How many knows what a holler is? Well, what part of Kentucky are you from? That's what they call it down in Kentucky. Down here, I believe you call it a canyon, or something, where the water goes down the branch. And you get in those deep places and it's still damp, and you can walk and not make noise.
He said, "But the old fellow is an infidel. Oh! He hates preachers." And I'd only been in the country once before, and that was in a meeting.
And I said, "All right. You know him?"
He said, "He knows my dad real well."
I said, "Let's go ask him, because we're not doing any good here."
32 And we went over in his little truck, and up through the woods, and down over the hills, and (oh, my!) finally we arrived at a little place. And there were two old men sitting under an apple tree. It was about the 20th of August.
And so he got out of the truck, went over, and he said, "My name is Wood." Said, "I am Banks Wood." He said, "I wonder if it would be all right if we hunted on your place."
He said, "Are you Jim Wood's boy?"
Now, his daddy is a reader in the Jehovah Witness, or he was. And the whole family come to Christ, every one by visions, every one telling them just what would happen. And it did just that way. Oh, how I wish I could stop and tell you just that family story---how they come in---every one of the children into the kingdom of God, now baptized with the Holy Ghost.
33 And so, when Banks accepted it his ... all of his people excommunicated him. That was all. He was out. But one by one, each one of them passing by to say "Hello" to him, the Holy Spirit would catch them and tell them things, and then they'd come in. And they'd go tell some other, and then he'd come and tell him something, and then he'd come. That's the way the whole family come into Christ.
And so, when we got out of the ...
34 he got out of the truck, and he said to the man... He said, "Are you Jim Wood's son?".
He said, "Yes."
Said, "Jim Wood is an honest man. Yes, sir! Help yourself, hunt where you want to."
He said, "Thank you." He said, "I brought my pastor along with me."
He said, "Wood, you don't mean you've got low-down enough to have to carry a preacher with you wherever you go?"
35 I thought it was about time for me to get out. So I got out of the truck, I walked around... Oh, my! You brethren hunt. My hunting partners, I know you're in here. And how bloody and dirty, and whiskers about that long you know---hadn't had a bath for two weeks. So I got out of the truck and sidled over. He looked me up and down two or three times. I guess he thought, "Some preacher!"
I said, "How do you do?
And he said, "How do you do?"
And so Mr. Wood started to introduce me as ... who I ... his pastor. And he said...
Before he got a chance to do it, the old man said, "Well," he said, "I tell you right now." He said, "I'm supposed to be an infidel. I haven't got much use for you guys call yourselves preachers."
I said, "Yes, sir. All right. That's to opinion."
And he said, "Well, you know, I'm an infidel."
I said, "Don't believe that would be worth bragging about. Do you think so?"
He said, "Well, I reckon not."
So, I said ... I thought in my heart, "Lord, if You ever helped me, You do now."
So, the other old man sitting there, he never said nothing. Old slouch hats---I don't know if you know what it is---all sewed up with twine cord, you know. And so they sat there a little bit.
So he said, "You know what I got against you fellows? You're barking up the wrong tree." How many knows what that means, barking up the wrong tree? That's a lying dog, you know, that barks up the wrong tree. The game's done gone from there. There ain't nothing up there.
So he said, "You fellows are barking up a tree." There's nothing up there, in other words. You're talking about God, and there is no such a thing as God.
"Well," I said, "Of course we believe that."
He said, "Well, you might; but I don't."
And I said, "Well, that's all right."
36 And he said, "You see that old chimney up there on the hill?"
I said, "Yes, sir."
Said, "I was born up there." And said, "My dad built this place down here. We moved down when I was about sixteen years old. After the death of my father, I took the place. I've raised my family. I've been here seventy-six [or seventy-eight or something like that] years." He said, "I've looked constantly every day through the skies, I've looked all over the woods, I've looked all over the ground, and I haven't never seen anything that looks like a God."
I said, "Well, that's too bad."
And he said, "That's the reason I think that you fellows are barking up the wrong tree."
I said, "Yes, sir." And then something happened. I looked up to the tree. I looked down, and there was apples laying on the tree. I said, "You mind if I have one of them apples?"
He said, "Help yourself. The yellow jackets are eating them up." You know what yellow jackets is, I'm sure.
So I got down, and got ahold of one of the apples, and rubbed it on my trouser leg, you know. And I took a bite. And I said, "That's a dandy apple."
He said, "Yes, that's a good one."
I said, "How old is that tree?"
He said, "I planted it there. Let's see, it's forty-seven, forty-eight years old, something like that." Said, "I planted it a little bitty sprout." Said, "I picked it up from somewhere, way somewhere else, and brought it over here."
I said, "Yes, sir." And I said, "Does it bear each year?"
"Every year she bears fine apples." Said, "We can a lot of apples out of there."
And I said, "Well, that's wonderful. I'm glad to hear that." And I said, "You know, here it is only the 15th of August." And I said, "It's ninety in the shade nearly all the time." And I said, "It's strange that all them leaves are falling off of that tree, and we haven't had no frost."
And he said, "Oh, that's the sap that's gone back to the root."
"Oh," I said, "is that what it is?"
He said, "Yes."
I said, "And it goes back to the root? What for?"
He said, "Well, if it stayed up there, the winter would kill it."
I said, "Kill what?"
He said, "The tree. The germ of life is in that sap, goes down, and hides down in the roots."
I said, "Oh." I said, "Now, will that ... what about..."
He said, "Well," he said, "That's nothing unusual."
And I said, "No, no. That's just an act of nature."
37 He said, "You know, I want to tell you something." He said, "Before you go any further, I want to say this. That I did hear of a preacher, one time, that I'd like to hear once. If he ever comes to this country again, I want to hear him."
I said, "Oh? That's nice."
He said, "He was over here at Acton, about two years ago, in a campaign out on the Methodist fair grounds out there, at the Methodist campgrounds."
And Banks, to Banks (that's Brother Wood) I said...
And he said, "I forget what the man's name was now." He said, "You know, he'd never been in this country before." Said, "Old lady [somebody] lived up here, about a mile up on the hill." Said, "She was dying with cancer. And they took her to Louisville [120 miles], and the doctors cut her open. And her whole stomach was wrapped, intestines and all, with cancer. And they could do nothing for her." And said, "Then they brought ... sewed her up, and brought her back. And my wife and I been going up every day. And they couldn't raise her up no more---we just had to pull the draw sheet and change her bed."
And said, "We'd been going up there for several weeks. Yes. Been just looking, any night, for her to die, or any time." And said, "Her sister lives back over on another creek." You know, that's the way you name, down there. It's not a "road"; it's a "creek,"---over on another creek.
38 I heard somebody laugh. This is just full of Kentuckians in here. Well, I was born on what they call Little Rennix down there. My grandpa lived on Big Rennix, that empties into Bumshell. Bumshell Creek comes right down to Little Rennix, runs out down by Casey's Fork, and runs right on into the Cumberland River. Now, that's just across Green Briar Ridge. That's where my mother was born, up on Green Briar Ridge.
39 And he said, "This woman lived over on another place." And said, "That's about twenty miles from here. And she come that night, and was sitting way back at the back of that campground." And said, "This preacher... When he was up on there, he prays for the sick." And said, "He was telling the people about who they were, and all about it."
Said, "This woman got in late, and she didn't get one of them cards that they were giving out." And said, "This preacher turned around to her, and told her... Said, 'You know, you, lady sitting back there, you are So-and-so. And tonight when you left home, you put a little handkerchief in your pocketbook, with a blue figure in the corner of it.' Said, 'And you've got a sister named So-and-so.' And said, 'She's dying with cancer of the stomach. [I just saw it in a vision.] Now take that handkerchief, and go lay it on her, and 'thus saith the Lord,' she'll be made well'."
He said, "And the lady... That night, we heard the awfullest noise up on the hill. I thought they had the Salvation Army up there," he said, "about midnight. And we thought the old lady died."
And he said, "You know what? Me and my wife went up the next day to see if we could offer comfort, early in the morning. And there she sat at the table with the coffee pot, just pouring coffee, and her and her husband was eating half-moon fried apple pies for breakfast."
40 How many knows what the half-moon apple pies are? You know, I'm at home now. That was just... I love them, and I like sorghum molasses on them. And I've looked all over this place for sorghum molasses. And if I get back here again, I'm just going to bring me a bucket, because I just can't hardly get along without it. And you know, I use a lot of them because I'm kind of a Baptist, you know. I don't believe in sprinkling them cakes; I just baptize them all over, real good, and I... So, I pour the molasses on them heavy.
So then he said, "She was eating it."
I said, I thought, "This is it." I said, "Now, you don't mean that."
"Well," he said, "go right up there and see for yourself." Said, "That's been two years ago." And said, "She don't only do her own work, she does the neighbor's work." Now see, he was preaching to me then.
You know, my mama used to say, "Give the cow enough rope; it'll hang itself." So that's about right. He got his own foot in his own mouth, that time, when he said, "Go up there and look."
I said, "Now look, sir. You mean the doctors cut that woman open, and found her with cancer?"
"That's right."
And I said, "And sewed her up? And then you mean to tell me that man over there, fifteen miles from here, saw that woman and told exactly what would happen when they laid the handkerchief on her? And that woman got over that cancer?"
Said, "Go right up there. I'll tell you how to get there."
I said, "No, no. I'm taking your word." I said, "I'm taking your word." I said, "Yes, sir. Yeah."
41 I was eating this apple you know all the time, chewing it. I said, "That's a fine apple." I said, "I want to ask you a question. What made that sap leave the tree and go down into the roots?"
"Why," he said, "it had to, to preserve its life for the winter."
I said, "Then next spring it comes back, bringing you another bunch of apples?"
"Right."
And I said, "Now, I want to ask you something. What intelligence runs that sap ... say, 'Here, it's fall. Go back down in the roots and hide. If you don't, the winter will kill you. Go back down into the roots, and stay there till spring. And then when it warms up and it gets just right, now, come back up and bring up some more apples for this fellow. Now you know that's botany life. It has no intelligence of its own. Then tell me, what intelligence sends that life down into the root of that tree? It has no intelligence of its own."
He said, "That's just nature."
I said, "Then take a bucket of water, and set it on that post out there, and see if nature will run it down in the fall of the year, and bring it back in the spring. No, sir! What is it?"
42 Now, aside for a minute. It's God's provided way. It only operates the way God provides for it. A little voice says, "Get down to the roots," and down it goes. Now, it does that without any intelligence. What ought we to do, by the same God speaking to us? But we've got a right to refuse, or to accept. And mostly we refuse. The tree can't refuse. It only knows one routine: that's obey its master.
"Well," he said, "I never had thought of that before."
And I said, "I tell you what. You think on it a long time, while we go hunting. And when I come back, you tell me what it is---what tells that tree sap to go down into the roots, and stay for the winter, and come back again next spring. When you find out what intelligence that controls that tree life, and says 'Go down in the root, and come back'; I'll tell you it's the same intelligence that told me to go put that handkerchief on the woman, and she'd be made well."
He said, "Tell you?"
And I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "What was that man's name? Do you remember?"
He said, "I can't think of it."
I said, "It wasn't Branham?"
He said, "That's it!"
I said, "I'm Brother Branham."
There on that spot he raised up, took ahold of my hands. He said, "For once in my life, I see what you mean." I led him to Christ.
43 Last year I was down there. He's passed on, went on. The mercies of God! There sat his wife, under a tree peeling apples off the same tree. I walked up and I said, "May I go hunting?"
She said, "We don't allow any hunting."
I said, "I'm sorry." I said, "I thought I had permission."
She said, "Who'd you get permission from?"
I said, "Your husband."
And she said, "My husband is dead." I said, "Just recently died, didn't he?"
She said, "Yes. He never give people permission."
I said, "Out under this apple tree... Last year, I was down here, and we were talking about this tree."
She said, "Are you Brother Branham?"
I said, "Yes."
She dropped the apple pan. She said, "Brother Branham, he died in the victory of Jesus Christ, his last testimony."
44 What is it? Just seeing---not trying to go through all the mathematics of how it happens---but just a simple little thing, watching God provide a way, and something keeping in the way. See, the same intelligence that would say to a dumb tree, "Go down and hide for your life," that same intelligence was the one who showed a vision of the woman. And he caught it. And he could not deny either one. There stood the tree; and there was the woman. Amen! God's provided way.
45 Neither have they ever found a better way for a chicken to get out of an eggshell, than to peck his way out. They haven't got any better way. Science has never been able to produce anything else. If you crack the shell to take him out, it would kill him. He'll die. He must follow God's provided way in order to live. Amen! That works on human beings, too.
He's equipped. Did you ever notice little chicken when he gets out of the shell? He's got an extra little beak upon his shell, a little white scratcher. And the little fellow in there, just as life begins to come, he begins to nod his little head. What does that do? That little scratcher scratches the shell, and makes it thin. As he gets a little more life, he begins to hammer with that little thing. And after he's already out of the shell, he don't need it anymore. So it just drops off.
46 And the thing that it does, it's protection for the end of his bill. If it wasn't so, he would have a deformed bill, and couldn't pick up his grain. Oh, my! God's provided way of survival. God fixes him up, just the way to get out of there. There's no better way. Anything else would kill him. He must come God's provided way. Now if you try to manufacture some way or figure out some way, you'll kill it.
That's what's the matter with the Christian church today. It's tried to accept some manufactured way, instead of beating its way through to the kingdom of God. It's tried some other way, and it won't work. You kill your patient. You kill your baby, God's baby, by trying to manufacture some way.
"Oh, there's no need of this here boo-hoo, and crying. There's no need of all this." Oh, yes, there is. "There's no need of this dying."
47 Unless there's death, there cannot be birth. Birth only comes by the substance of death. "Unless a corn of wheat falls in the ground and dies, it abides alone." It must rot, and get into corruption. And then from that corruption springs forth life. No other way it will work. It must first corrupt, and be corrupted. And that's the way we must be---die to ourselves, and be born anew of the Holy Spirit.
No, they haven't found any better way for a chicken to get out of a shell, than to peck his way through. That's God's provided way for him, and he's equipped to do it. God wouldn't provide a way without providing an instrument for it. So he provided the way, and provided the instrument for the chicken to free himself. Amen!
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
48 Now, neither have they ever found any better idea for ducks and geese to come south from the north, than to swarm and then fly their way down. No other way. You see, before they fly down south, or fly from the south back north, they swarm first. Before they leave their grounds or homes to a new home, they swarm. Bees does the same thing. They swarm. That's the nature. What is it? They have a revival. They all swarm and get together. You never heard such a noise in your life.
And before we can ever leave this habitation to a new one, we've got to swarm in a revival. Oh, you get around a bunch of ducks and geese, you never heard so much jabbering in all your life. What are they having? A revival. They're fixing to take to the air. Amen! That's what we need today, is a swarming revival. No other way. Not membership---God doesn't count majorities. He counts sincerity in his provided way.
49 Now. They have never found anything else to take its place. There could not be a better way. Now, for instance what if science would say, "Poor little duckies. We just don't want them to swarm any more. And we're going to throw a net over them, before they get ready to swarm. And we're going to herd them right into a coop, and we're going to carry them down south." That's like running them into some organization, or something, you know---cooping him up somewhere. That's on his way to a slaughter. He knows he's going to a slaughterhouse, when he gets in the coop. But when he's going God's provided way, he's far away from that.
So, maybe I oughtn't to have said that. I didn't mean it in the way of being a slander against an organization. But you know what I mean. Maybe that's...
Aw, that ain't way to do it. You can't run into an organization and coop yourself up, and say "I'm Methodist," or "Baptist," or somewhere. That isn't it. No, no. You got to swarm. That's right. You've got to come to a place where you can peck yourself through.
Geese---they get together, and they get into this coop. And when they do that, they know they're on their road to the slaughterhouse.
50 But now, what if you could put them all ... herd them and put them into a cage, and pack them down south, turn them loose. And then, before they get ready to swarm, then throw a net over them. "We don't believe in days of miracles," see. "You little ducks, you can't fly no more. That used to be for ducks of another age." As long as God makes a duck, He makes them all the same. And if God makes a way for a duck to go, that's the way all the ducks go.
And you know what it would do? It would finally kill that duck. He'd be so soft; his wings wouldn't grow out right. He couldn't fly no more. Just like his barnyard cousin---all belly and no duck. See, he ain't got no wings to pick himself up with. That's right, see. He would become a softy like his barnyard cousin, his denominational brother that don't go nowhere, see. That's right. That's right! That's all he would be---an old softy. He wouldn't know nothing about flying free. Amen!
51 That's what's the matter today. We try to coop them up, and tell them the days of miracles is past. He couldn't trust himself, his feet off the ground. It would kill him. He wouldn't live very long. But you know that little duck would say, if he could talk back, "No, thank you."
"Oh, it's easy. You haven't got a thing to do. You can just act the way you want to."
He'd say, "Thank you. I do act the way I want to, because there is something in me moving." Amen!
I must act the way I want to. And every man that's born of the Spirit of God, there's something moving in him. He's got to fly into the heavenlies---some emotion, something another that makes it real.
The little fellow would finally become like a chicken---a domesticated bird. He just couldn't get his feet off the ground anymore. So if the chicken would always continue to fly in the air, why, he could go all right. He could go east, west, north, and south, and see things.
52 And another thing. You see, he just wouldn't make it. Because on the road down from Canada, he picks up different kinds of materials, food that he wouldn't get if you had him in a cage and just feeding him corn all the time. Can you read between the lines? You put him over there, so he just knows the Apostles' Creed (so-called), and how to go to Sunday School, and that's just about all there is to it---pay the preacher, and live the way he wants to.
53 But, oh, when you're in flight (Amen!), when you're in flight you pick up more than your denominational creed. You pick up the vitamins, the spiritual vitamins that builds the body that's solid ---full of muscles with wing feathers that can lift you up off your feet; and show you things that is to come, the Holy Spirit. "When he, the Holy Ghost is come, he will show these things to you, reveal these things to you that I've told you; and will show you things that is to come."
Yes. No, you couldn't coop him up and take him. It wouldn't work. No. If you coop him, he's headed for the slaughter.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
54 Neither could man ever choose a better route than what he can. You might go and say, "Now, Mr. Duck, I'll tell you something. You're going the wrong route. You must go over here, reroute yourself. Go down the coast over here. It goes ... it's better than going the way you go." It just won't work. No. No. They think they know a better route than God's provided route for them; but they know.
Or, could you choose a better leader for them than the God-provided leader God has given them? And man will never be able to choose a bishop, or an organization, or anything else that'll take the place of the leadership of the Holy Ghost to the church. There's not another thing could do it. It's God provided way. God provided a way for them: a leader, an inspired leader.
And that leader is inspired. Why, I've watched them a many time, when I'd take an early hunting trip---going for sheep or something, when you have to go early---up in the mountains. Haven't had any frost. Maybe up there a little snow will cap the mountain. That cold wind will sweep down across the mountain. There's a natural born leader among them. He'll run right out on that lake like that, and honk four or five times, and there the swarm comes. Yes, sir. They all know him. They know him by the way he honks. Oh, my!
55 You know what I was speaking about last night---the gospel trumpet, if it gives an uncertain sound. His sound don't give an un... he doesn't give an uncertain sound. They are real ducks. They know the sound of a duck. What if you just put an old guinea out there, or a turkey? His honk wouldn't sound right. They know the sound of a leader.
And the church ought to know it. "... having a form of godliness and denying the power thereof: from such... [Don't let them lead.] Heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, and despisers of those [ducks] that does fly," see. See what I mean?
They know that gospel sound. "My sheep know my voice. A stranger they will not follow." God always proves it right.
John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
56 Notice. Now they cannot get... You cannot choose for them. What if you went out there and you said, "Oh, wait a minute, little ducks. You're certainly wrong. Here is a fine big drake. My, he looks kingly among you. And you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to pour a little water up on top of his head, and I'm going to inaugurate him. I'm going to make him King Duck. And I'm going to put a crown upon him, and dress him a little different, so you will all know him. Always follow this fellow here, because he's cultured." Turn him loose on the pond. He could honk as much as he wanted to; every duck would turn his back on him, because he gives an uncertain sound. Yeah.
But let that little duck that's been chosen of God to be the leader, let him honk---and watch them all swarm to a revival. "Where the carcass is, the eagles will be gathered." He knows all about it, see. So He has a provided way. And the ducks know the provided way. Too bad that man doesn't. All right. But, that's the way it happens.
Now. All right.
Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
57 If he is the inspired leader-duck, he'll bring them to God's provided place for them. And if we'd only listen to what the leader says, the Holy Spirit, He'll bring us right back to the Word again. That's God's provided way. Along the road we don't need creeds, and denominations, wild weeds. There's certain duck-grass, and stuff that we have to eat (the ducks do), going down. And there is food that the (really the flowers of God) heavenly-bound creatures eat along the road. And that is, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God," see. That duck, leader-duck, will lead them to God's provided place---just as straight to Louisiana---where one of these others wouldn't know where he was going. He'd get up there and circle around.
Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
58 I was reading in "Life" magazine about three or four years ago, where there was an old gander started with a bunch up there. And he claimed he was a leader. And the first thing you know, they wound up over in England; and have never got back yet. That's right. So they have to watch what kind of a duck, or gander, they are following. So they say over there in England... Them's Canadian honkers, too. And they get over there in England, and all around, swarm; but they don't know which way back. Oh, my!
It's too bad the church played a whole lot of that, too---followed off in a place, and they don't know how to get back. Say, "Well, I understand that grandma said [times grandma said that her grandma said], that they used to have healing services in the church; but the days of miracles is past." Let somebody lead you off on the wrong track. Better follow God's inspired way.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
59 Notice. This little duck ... no one has ever been able to route them any different. They know that little leader will lead them just exactly to God's provided place. And how does he do it? By his God-provided instruments. He's got his antennas out all the time---like we ought to have, catching the Spirit, our spiritual antennas.
Now, we find out that he'll go up in the air, way up in the air. He's got his antennas out. He knows the kind of food that these little ducks has to live on to make this flight. So when he picks up something way down on the ground, you'll see him soar off, and down he comes. The whole group will come right down, just have a gastronomical jubilee. And "Honk," up in the air they'll go again, straight on towards the south. That's right. God's leader---God's leader for the ducks. That is right.
60 And I want to say something else. You know, they have never been able to scientifically get a ... find a better way for a baby to get what he wants, besides crying for it. You know, they can't educate him to grunt. And they can't educate him to talk that quick. But you know how he gets it? He just takes God's provided way for it. He cries for it: yells, and kicks, and screams till he gets it. That's right. That's the only way, is cry for it. They can't find a better provided way than God's provided way. That's right. Just let it go.
And those natural things...
61 I stopped, here not long ago, in Germany, and was speaking to a large group of people. And I said, "What's the matter with you Germans? You know, I was coming down the street, and a dog barked. And he barked in English." And I said, "A mother was trying to pacify her baby out there at the car a while ago, and he was crying. And he was crying in English." I said, "What do we get all scrupled up about? See, they're going God's provided way. And we come from a tower of Babel, you see, got all scrupled up." That's right.
62 Notice. God's provided way is the best way. They don't know a better way for the baby to get what he wants than to cry for it. As Dr. Bosworth used to say, "The baby that cries the loudest gets the best service," and that's about the way it is.
And that goes for God's children. I can parallel that for you. A man get up there and say (chewing his chewing gum), " Well, you know, Father, I'm here tonight. If you want to give me the Holy Ghost, all right, I'm here. But if You want to heal me, I'm sitting here. But if You don't, why, all right. It's your will, Lord. [He's done wrote the will out, here in the Bible.] This is your will. All right. [This is his will, right here.] And if You want me to have it, I'll have it. But nevertheless, if You don't, why, it's all right." You'll never get nowhere.
63 But let that one get there, and cry out! Like Buddy Robinson. He stopped in the middle of a corn field, he tied up his mule, he said, "Lord, if You don't give me the Holy Ghost, when You come back you'll find a pile of bones laying right here. I'm going to stay here until I get it." That's business! God always recommends to his people, his believing children, to always go in his provided way. That's God's idea, to recommend to his children his provided way. Cry for what you have need of. He wants you to cry out!
64 When Peter started out walking on the water, he thought he was getting along all right. "See how big I'm doing?" He started sinking. He didn't say, "Well, I guess it failed," and on down at the bottom---a few bubbles come up and that was all of it, see. No, no. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" Amen! And that eternal hand reached down and picked him up again. Why? He cried out!
That's what's the matter with the church. We don't lay there long enough, we don't cry out long enough, we don't hold onto it. If a little baby wants something he'll kick, and scream, turn red in the face. We're afraid we'll take the (what is it called?) the mascara out of our face, or whatever it is, that paint. You get what you want from God you'll take it off anyhow. So you don't have to worry about it. You'll mess your hair up; but that don't make any difference. No. No, sir.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
65 Now God don't expect us to come to Him with some intellectual speech. I remember I tried that when I tried to get saved. I'd go to write Him a letter and put it in the woods---because I knowed He'd come through the woods, and tell Him I was ashamed of myself, and I didn't want to do it. And I got down there to pray, and I said, "Now, let's see. I seen a picture one time, that they held their hands like this." I said, "Mr. Jesus, I wish You would come here a minute. I want to talk to You just a minute. I'm listening." Nobody. I said, "I did it wrong." All right.
"Mr. Jesus ..." (Maybe I'm supposed to do it like this.) I said, "Mr. Jesus, would You come help me? I'm a sinner. I want to talk to You a minute." Nobody come.
I folded my arms. I said, "Mr. Jesus would You come here? I want ... I hear people say 'God talked to me.' " I said, "Mr. Jesus, would You come here? I want to speak to You."
66 'Course, then the devil come on the scene. That's the way he does. He might tell you your knees are hurting. "No need of asking," see. "You wait; get it tomorrow night." He's always around when you're not ready. And then he said to me... But always, what he says, take advantage of what he says. Take advantage of it. He said to me, "You know what? You're already nineteen years, twenty years old." Said, "You're already twenty years old. You've waited too long."
I said, "O God! I've waited too long. Lord, even You don't hear me, I'm going to tell You anyhow. I've always wanted to do this!" Oh, brother! That brought Him on the scene, see.
What was it? Cry out! Just simple, cry out! "Lord Jesus, You promised it, Lord!" He come on the scene. That's the way to bring Him on the scene. You're just a baby. Cry! Cry out for it.
Don't try to say, well, "Most [something or another]," and some great wrote-out prayer you practiced on for an hour or two. That don't do any good. Like they say, "Did you say a prayer?" No. It's a sin to say one. You pray one. Don't say one; pray one.
"Say a prayer for me."
I said, "Don't do that for me. You can pray for me; but don't say no prayer." No, sir. Pray for me, when you pray. All right.
67 Cry for your needs. That's God's provided way. Didn't Jesus explain it when He said the unjust judge, to the woman that cried day and night? How much more will the heavenly Father give them the Spirit who cry out for it day and night? Seek; keep seeking. Knock; keep knocking. Just keep on until He opens. Stay out with it. Cry until the promised Word is vindicated. Then you've got it. You don't have to worry no more. You see the Bible promised it, then stay right there and cry until you get it.
If a little baby sees a cookie and he wants it, he'll just cry, and cry, and cry, and kick, kick and scream, and holler and turn red in the face. His mommy give him a cookie, and it's all over, see. He got what he saw, what he wanted. If he wants to lick off of your ice cream cone, he'll just keep raising a fuss until he gets it, see.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
68 Well, that's the way we're supposed to do. If I see a promise in the Bible that's God's Word, then I just stay there and cry out until God gives it to me. He'll do that to get you off his hands, see. That would be in the natural. But He's wanting you to do it. He likes for you to ask. "Ask abundantly that your joys might be full." Yeah. Cry until his Word is vindicated. Now friend, let's watch just a minute now. Cry until the Word is vindicated.
The trouble of it is, we get a cookie and think that's all there is. There's a whole table full! We get so we can speak in tongues, we say "Oh, brother, that's it!" Oh, no. That ain't it. That's just some of it. That's right. "Oh, I got happy enough to shout." That's some more of it; but there's a whole lot more of it. Just keep on crying out until... That's God's provided way for his people. God's provided way always is to take his Word and hold onto it until it's vindicated to you. Now, do you follow me? God ---a provided way. Hold on to the promise until it's made manifest to you.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
69 And remember, I'm on record for this: that any promise of God in the Bible, if... It's on conditions, now. Just because you believe it's there, that don't make it so it'll happen. Them Pharisees and Sadducees was just as religious with those sacraments as they could be. But God said, "They stink in my nose." See, there was no sincerity. There was nothing to it that should be. You've got to come upon basical promise, and then upon your mental attitude towards it.
Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
70 Look at those four hundred priests, that day, or prophets, Ahab had out there. They said, "Ramoth-gilead belongs to us. Joshua by the Holy Spirit divided this, and the Syrians has got it."
And one prophet said, "Now, looky here. That's fundamentally right." Now, he was a real Baptist, and he said, "That's exactly right. That's the fundamental promise. That land belongs to us."
So he made him two big horns and said, "Go up there, and take these horns and push Syria plumb off. That belongs to Israel." That's right. Fundamentally, it was right.
1 Kings 22:3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?
1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
71 But what did little Micaiah say? He said, "I saw Israel scattered like sheep having no shepherd," see.
Ahab, that hypocrite down there, letting Jezebel run him around doing everything... The real word of God coming through the prophet had cursed that thing. And how could God bless what the prophet had cursed in the name of the Lord? Can't be. No matter how much religious nation we are, how much background we got, the thing is corrupted. Corrupted! It's gone.
No matter how great our organizational life is in church, we believe in it. It's fine, all right. But the thing is corrupted. God's done laid them up on the shelf, and there they lay. And there's never a piece of history that any one ever rose again. So it's wrong. It's finished, wrote off. It's no good.
1 Kings 22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
72 His Word is always what He wants to see vindicated, and it'll only be vindicated upon certain conditions---that's when you meet those conditions. You seen people that can take the Word of God and just make it live for them. And others come right back with the same Word and can't do nothing with it. It's on conditions. That's right.
73 Look here. I'll show you an example of that in the Bible. Israel was on the road up to the promised land. Here come Moab, which was the same religion exactly. That was Lot's daughter's child. And notice, when Balaam come down, it was God talking to him. He put seven altars just like Israel had, seven altars. He put seven clean sacrifices (bullocks) on the altar. That's just exactly what Israel had. And another thing, he put seven rams---speaking of the coming Messiah. That's exactly what Israel had. Fundamental they were both right---fundamentally. But it was on conditions. Amen. He failed to see the real promise of God.
That's the same thing it was in the coming of Christ. That's the same thing it's come back to today. It's on condition. Right.
Numbers 23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
74 Job: God doing what? Making a provided way. Job, a prophet, needed a comforter. (Now listen close, now. My time's got away.) Job needed a comforter. And man tried to provide that thing for him, and they could not do it. They always got Job off the line. But Job come right back. He needed a comforter. God provided a comforter for him, when he give him a vision of Jesus Christ. And he cried, "I know my redeemer liveth! ["My redeemer." There's only one.] And at the last days He'll stand upon the earth."
Now remember, the vision... You said, "My redeemer."
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
75 He showed him Christ. Christ is the Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." And when Job, being a prophet (now listen!), Job being a prophet, the Word of the Lord comes to the what? Prophet, absolutely. That's where the Word comes to. That's how you know whether they're prophets or not. They stay in the Word. The Word is revealed to the prophet, and Job was a prophet. He couldn't see the end. But when he saw the Word (being a prophet), he said, "I know my redeemer liveth," after the church had failed, after everything else had failed. Even his loving wife had failed him.
One morning she said, "Why don't you just go on and curse God, and die the death, Job?"
Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
76 He said, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman. The Lord gave; the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" And the thunders began to roar, and the lightnings flash, the Spirit come upon the prophet, and he saw the Word. Then he said, "I know my redeemer liveth. At the last days He'll stand on the earth. Though the skin worms destroys this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Amen! "I shall see for myself. Mine eyes shall behold, and not another. We brought nothing into this world, and it's certain we take nothing out. The Lord gave, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" What a comforter! He asked for a church member. God give him a vision. He asked for the bishop to come give him comfort, the presbyter. God gave the prophet a vision. That's what he needed.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
77 Israel needed a way out of Egypt. They needed some way, some military strength, or something to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians. God provided a prophet with the vindicated original Word---Moses. Is that right? They wanted a army to rise up, and to take them out, and beat the Egyptians down. But God sent them the Word, the prophet with the vindicated word that God had spoke before to Abraham, saying, "Thy seed shall sojourn in a strange land. But I'll visit them with a mighty hand"---the word that God had spoke.
They was crying for a deliverer, and God sent them a prophet with the Word. God had a provided way to tell the difference between the believer and the unbeliever. And God...
Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Genesis 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
78 Now, some of them said, "Well, now, if the plague falls we'll just go in the hospital. If the plague happens to fall, you know what we'll do? We'll go get Dr. Jones. He'll know how to take care of it." It didn't work. Yet, they were smart.
"Well, if the plague falls, we'll just go down beneath the ground in a cave, and shut the door down." That won't do one bit of good. "We'll stay in the house, and put a mask over our face, and put some disinfect on it." Didn't do a bit of good.
God made a provided way. Yes. And it was what? The blood. God provided, as simple as it seems, to take the blood of a lamb and sprinkle the door. Yet, God said that was his way, and He honored it. "All out from under the blood dies, the first born."
Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
79 When Noah needed a provided way, the saving of his household, God had him to construct an ark. They might have built mock boats. That's what people think today. But you see this was a special boat. They probably had boats then, the same as they got now. But this was a special boat. It was a (listen to me now), it was a God-constructed boat.
Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
80 And a church today is the same way. It's got to be a Bible-constructed church.
My experience is not to be the best member in the church, but an experience that's constructed by the Word of God. "These signs shall follow them that believe." God-constructed experience ---it's the only thing that's going to take me up. And it's the only thing that's going to take you up. Anything that's going to lift above that...
I don't care how many come and say, "Look, I'm a good Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or a Pentecostal." That won't mean one thing to God. It's got to be God-instructed. And that's the Holy Spirit by the Word. And the Holy Spirit will never instruct anything but the Word, because it is the Holy Spirit. Men moved (of old) wrote the Bible by the Holy Ghost, God's provided way.
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;
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
81 Now, Israel needed a provision, and God give it to them; and separated the believer from the unbeliever. The same thing is today: the believer and unbeliever separated.
Moses (I've got to skip a lot of notes now), but Moses a faithful servant of God... Now, listen old timers---some of you, like me, that's getting way up in their years---listen! Moses had served God faithfully. He'd put up with all their chatting, and all the Dathans that raised up and said, "Say, there's other men that's prophets besides you. You're not the only pebble on the beach." And he knew he had God's message for them.
Impersonators raised up. Moses just said, "God, what can I do?"
And He said, "Separate yourself. I'll just swallow the thing up. Take your rods, and go in there and see which one buds. See? I'll show you who's priest, who's prophet."
Numbers 12:2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
Numbers 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Numbers 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Numbers 17:5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
82 And Moses had served the office faithful.
Then, when he got old, 120 years, he'd walked faithfully with God. All these forty years in the wilderness, stood all kinds of persecutions of nations, and people, constantly. And then, he come to a place to die. He needed a place to die. God provided him a place, on the rock. O God! Let me die there, too, upon the rock. The rock was Christ, you know. God provided a place for Moses to die. That's where I want to die. Let me die in Christ.
And then when he was dead, his body laying up there, he needed pallbearers. So God provided pallbearers---angels. Why? They was the only ones could take him where he was going to. God provided the pallbearers. That's right. I am depending upon the Holy Spirit, upon the Word, the promise; not take you out for a nice big burial.
They did the rich man that way, when he lifted up his eyes in hell. Not about a fancy burial---it don't make any difference. I want to take God's provided way. Them that are in Christ will God bring with Him when He comes. That's the provision. God made his faithful prophet a place to die.
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
83 Enoch, after walking five hundred years with God, and God told him, "Enoch, you're not going to have to die. You want to come up home? Are you homesick, Enoch?"
He said, "Yeah, Lord. I'm homesick."
Said, "Have you walked in the pesthouse down there long enough?"
He said, "Yes."
He said, "All right, just start walking."
Enoch needed a ladder; God give him a highway. That was God's way for him---provided him a highway, upward. He just went right up like that. He didn't have to strain at all. Just run right up, and the Holy Spirit behind him lifted him right up. He went right up the highway of holiness, right into the kingdom of God.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
84 Elijah, after he had condemned bobbed hair and painted faces for all of his life: that Jezebel, the first woman, her and the renowned president of that time, who put a poor example before the people and got them all carried off. And actually, he thought he was the only one preaching that. And he just carried the thing every way.
And he'd done so much he was getting tired, and he wanted to go home. And he knowed God was from above. He needed a rope to climb up, to come up to heaven. But God sent him a chariot with two horses hitched to it. That's God's provided way to take him. He might have been looking for a rope; but God sent a chariot. That was his way. Joshua... And, at the end of the road, that was Elijah's end. That was Noah. That was all the time the end.
2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
85 Now Joshua, when he come to the end of the trail through the wilderness (watch), he needed a bridge to cross over Jordan into the promised land. God... He needed a bridge; but God's provided way was a power. Not a bridge; He sent a power. And He held the river back, and he walked across on dry land. That was God's provided way. Not a bridge. He had a better engineer. So He just sent him power, pushed the water back until he walked over on dry land.
Joshua 3:17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
86 Daniel, for the cause of God, was throwed into a lion's den. He needed a fence; but God sent him an angel. What a difference. That was God's provided way. He needed a fence; but God give him an angel. What a better fence it was! He always gives you better than you ask for, always. He needed a fence; God sent him an angel.
The Hebrew children: they needed some water to put out that fire. But God sent them the fourth man. That's all they needed. He untied their hands, and talked with them, and they walked out without the smell of fire on them. They needed water; He sent the fourth man.
Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
87 The wise men up at Babylon, up in India: they knowed that something was fixing to happen. They knowed the King was born, and they needed a compass. God sent them a star to lead them to the King. See, they went God's provided way. I can just imagine some of them saying, "Say, Balthazar, you know you're a great man. Did you bring your compass?"
He said, "No."
"Well, how are you going to get there?"
"I'm going God's provided way." That's the way.
"How are you going to get there?"
"God's provided way."
"What is it?"
"That star, that's it. That's God's provided way for us." They needed a compass; and God give them a star.
Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
88 The world needed a Saviour one day, and God provided his Son. When He come, He was not recognized. He was not wanted. They said they wanted a Saviour. But when God sent it in his way... They asked for a king; God give them a baby. They wanted a mighty man to stomp out Rome. God give them a little crying baby in a barn, see. But it was God's provided way. But they didn't want it the way God wanted to send it; they wanted it the way they wanted it, see. So, therefore, they went into chaos because they didn't accept his way.
There was some that did.
89 This was... The birthplace of the church was at Pentecost, after Jesus had commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, these signs shall follow them that believe. He had told them what to do; told them to go up to the city of Jerusalem and wait. They needed a charter. They needed a charter. They wanted to draw up a creed. God give them the Holy Ghost. They needed a denomination; but God give them a Spirit. What a difference, how God does do it.
The Holy Ghost was God's provided way to lead the church. Not a bishop; the Holy Ghost. That's what ... that was their charter. And from that day to this, it's been every true born-again child's charter---the Holy Ghost.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
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;
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
90 Now, after two thousand years, friends... (We're closing.) Now, after two thousand years man is determined to have his way. He made himself a charter. He made himself a man-made ethics. And what did he do? There has become by it a great falling away from the truth. They've got off until people don't know what to do. Creeds, denominations, all kinds of isms, sensations---and everyone says the Bible says "This." They'll take this part of it, but won't take that part of it. They don't follow the charter. Therefore, they lose the course.
And after all these years, when we've got nine hundred and something different organizations of Christianity, and each one condemning the other one, saying "This is right, and they're wrong," and "This is right, and that's wrong," and so forth... And the poor people are so confused they don't know what is right, and wrong.
91 What do we need? We need to get back on the course, get back to the charter. What do we need? We need a genuine, true, scriptural sign of the truth. A vindicated gospel truth is what the church needs for this end-time way. God promised to give them a sign for this last day.
92 Do you remember when Jesus was speaking and said, "The queen of the south shall rise up in the last day, will rise up and condemn this generation."? She come from the utmost parts of the world to hear the wisdom of Solomon. He had a spirit of discernment. How she come so far to see that spirit of discernment, and He said, "A greater than Solomon is here."
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Luke 11:31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
93 He said also, as in the ... like the prophet Jonah... "Jonah, As he was in the belly of the whale for three days and nights, so must the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and nights."
And He said, "A wicked and adulterous generation will seek after a sign." If this ain't that sign, or, that generation, I don't know where it's at---a weak, wicked, church-going, adulterous generation. They would seek after a sign, and He said they would get it. For as "Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days, so would the Son of man be in the heart of the earth." But there would be a resurrection, like Jonah come out of the belly of the whale.
Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
94 Malachi, the 4th chapter, promised us that in the last days that there would come forth the message that would turn the hearts of the children back to the faith of the fathers, the original faith of the fathers. They promised it. Jesus promised it. Faith of the end-time believers will see the original Messiahic sign. Notice. If He is raised from the dead (and creeds have put Him out all these years, and denied that truth), then the thing that we've got to look for in the last days is a turning back to the original faith, back to the faith of the early Pentecostal fathers.
Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
95 And they seen his resurrection.
And today we are seeing his resurrection, the sign of his resurrection. Jonah, three days and nights, was in the belly of the whale. And on the third day he arose from the whale. Jesus raised from the dead after being three days in its belly. Two thousand years He's been absent from the church. But He promised through Joel, "What the palmerworm left, the caterpillar eaten. But I will restore," saith the Lord. "All that the palmerworm, and the caterpillar, and the locust, and so forth eat up, I will restore it in the last days."
The prophet said, "It shall be light in the evening time." The same sun shines in the east shines in the west. It's been a day, a dark day. They've joined, and put creeds and things. But in the evening time it shall be light---the same sun, the same results, the same signs, the same wonders, the evening time.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
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.
96 How did He prove Himself to be Messiah? Now, the question is after two thousand years of hammering against it, is He still Messiah? Well, what He was then... Hebrews 13:8 said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever." What He was then, He has to be the same today. How did He prove Himself to be the Messiah? According to the Word of God. For God had said through Moses, "The Lord your God shall raise up a prophet liken unto me."
That's the reason the woman at the well... When He told her her sins, "Why," she said, "Sir, I perceive you're a prophet. We know when Messiah cometh he'll tell us these things."
He said, "I'm he that speaks to you."
She run quickly, and told the people in the city, "Come see a man who told me what I done. Isn't this the very Messiah?" And the people believed it, because they were looking for that Messiahic sign, four hundred years without a prophet.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
John 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
97 Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Lot, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man," when God revealed Himself in a body of flesh, eat the meat of a calf, drank the milk from the cow, and sat there before them. God, Jehovah, is manifested in the flesh with his back turned to the tent, and told what Sarah was talking about 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.
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.
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
98 It shall be light in the evening time.
God's vindicated Word is the sign of the day that we're living in. It shall be light. And He promised through Malachi 4, through many places of the Bible, that the end-time people would see the same manifestation that they saw, because He can't change that sign. He's 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.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
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?
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?
99 Now, we've heard Him speaking in tongues on Calvary. We've seen Him doing all the things that He did do. We seen the apostolic church back there at the beginning, how that apostolic church ... the moves that they made. We see it turning right back into the church again here in the last days. What is it? It's God vindicating, just like He did to Moses, like He did through the ages.
He has provided a way that we might not be deceived, that we would know. Jesus said in John 14:12, "He that believeth on me the signs that I do, the works that I do, shall he do also." That'll be it. Now, if He died and He's dead, then the works cease. But if He lives again, then his works continue on as it was, for He's the same yesterday, today and forever. Do you believe that?
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.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
100 Listen. Let me say this: Jesus proved He was the Messiah by the Bible signs of the Messiah. He proved it. He was. Now may God let me prove, now, that He still is the same. Do you believe it? He proved it. He was. He proved He was. May I, by the grace of God, prove He is. He proved He was; now, let's prove that He is. That's exactly what He promised. That's what He said. That's the way He told it. And "these signs shall follow them that believe."
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;
101 What is it? God's provided way, the resurrection way---the thing that brings a man from his stupidity into the light of the gospel, brings him from an intellectual brain like some great regime of a machine, and humbles his heart before God.
"Why," you say, "that man's so smart, Brother Branham. He had four degrees, he's got a Bachelor of Art, he's got all this..."
I don't care what he's got. He'll have to forget everything he learned in order to know Christ. That's right. He'll have to humble himself and get away from anything the world did to Him.
102 And you learn Christ by humility, believing Him. And it's the evening time.
What did I say over here at the beginning? What was it I spoke of here? Accepting God's provided way at the end-time. Each one of these men, each time through the Bible, through nature, we see... Now, God don't take a tree today and make it something another, and then tomorrow make it something else. No. He makes it today. Today the sap goes down. Tomorrow it comes back another way. And the next time He has them pull the sap out. No. He stays right on course. And each one of these men we talked about through the Bible, God stayed right on his course with them, exactly by his Word---not a one of them, but what was exactly on his Word, all through the Bible exactly on his Word.
103 Then when you say, "Well, I'm exactly on his Word," then He vindicates that to be the truth. Now, He's still on course tonight, if we'll just believe it. Will you do it? Let's bow our heads.
Now, just as reverent as you can be for a moment. God provided a way that He might bring the believers to a rapturing faith: God's way, his provided way to bring believers to rapturing faith.
104 Before I make the altar call, I'd like to say this: I feel led to do this, is there sick people in the house? Raise up your hand. I'm going to ask you to please be just as quiet, sit still, just a minute longer. We'll be out in five more minutes, if you'll just be real reverent.
Now see, when you're disturbing, you're disturbing somebody. And I've got the whole thing under the control of the Holy Spirit. I must have it, in order to do this. God made the promise. It wasn't me. It was Him that made the promise.
105 Now. As far as I know there's some people here that I know; there's some I do not know. I can actually see about, I suppose, about four people that I know. And one of them is Brother Williams, here, and Brother Rose. I know them. And Mother Sharrit is sitting over at the door. Of course, I know her. Here's Sister Williams sitting here. I know her.
And this lady sitting right here, about two rows in front of me here, she works at a dry goods store, and is a friend to the family. I don't know her name, but I believe she's a member of Brother Outlaw's church up there. I think that's right.
And then I see Brother Dauch, Sister Dauch from Ohio, sitting here. I heard Brother Sothmann way back there somewhere say "Amen" a while ago. I watched. That's about all that I see and know in here.
106 How many of you that's sick, and knows that I do not know you, raise up your hands---that knows that I know nothing about you, raise up your hand. All right. You just have faith now, and believe.
Now, if I have told you the truth, God is obligated to vindicate that word to be the truth. Is that right? That's right. Now, that will be the provided way then, according to what I've said tonight. That's God's provided way to tell you this is the truth,
107 because anybody knows that it's totally impossible. It'd be a miracle that science cannot explain. You can't explain a miracle. It's beyond explaining.
And if God should speak in here tonight to one person that would know that I was a stranger to them, and tell them what they'd done or what they ought not have done, or what they will do, or what they ought to do, or something---just like Jesus did when he was here on earth: He made Himself known to the public that that was a Messiahic sign. How many knows that, say, "Amen." And the church believed it. That's the only way the people, when He did that...
The woman touched the hem of his garment, He turned around and said, "Who touched me?" Physically He didn't feel her, but it was her faith that did it. Now, you can have that kind of faith if you will just pray and say, "Lord Jesus, take away every doubt from me. Take away my doubts, and let me believe this. I'm desperately in need. And I'm coming tonight, for the Bible says that Jesus Christ is a high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities."
Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
Luke 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
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.
108 Did you know this sign, this miracle, has not been done in history since the death of the last apostle? That's right. I've just come through all the history books that I know of, Hislop's "Babylons." I've come through the Foxe "Book of the Martyrs." I've come through the pre-Nicene fathers, the Nicaea Council, and post-Nicaea. I've come through all those books. Not one place have I seen it in the history of Martin Luther, John Wesley, the first revival, the Welsh revival. They've been crying, shouting, praising God, finally dropped into speaking in tongues. And then this was supposed to be the last sign. That was the last thing that Sodom saw before she burned.
And remember, He didn't reveal it to Sodom. He revealed it to Abraham, the chosen and elected. And the gift is not going to the worldly churches out here, if you notice. It's going to the elected church. That's the ones that's being benefited by it. They're the ones that will receive it.
109 If it would be done out there, they'd say the same thing they did when He performed it: "He is Beelzebub, a fortune-teller." And anybody knows about a fortune-teller, knows that that's a crazy thing to even say. They don't know the first principle of telepathy or fortune-telling. That's a work of the devil, trying to copy the work of God.
God shows a prophet; the devil has a medium. The two are pretty close together. Jesus said it would almost fool the elected, if possible. It's true. We got lots of impersonation. He said, "As Jambres and Jannes withstood Moses, so will these men of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the truth." But their folly will be found out.
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Luke 11:15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2 Timothy 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
110 Now, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I take this audience under my control for the Holy Spirit, by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.
I ask you, as believers, don't you move. Sit still. And you believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I'm here to make known his works and his ways. I've been very reluctant on these things, the fifteen, sixteen years I've been on the field. But there's an hour coming now when something is fixing to take place. The message will go to another nation, another people.
But while we are in the presence of his holy being... The church in America, I believe, is just about called out. She's finished. She's washed. She's ready, the real church. Hypocrisy still remains on. But the true church was a true church to begin with---the born-again, the predestinated to the call of God.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
111 If you believe with all your heart, I ask you to pray and say, "Lord Jesus [in your heart], let me touch your garment. And how will I know that you're still the same high priest? Speak to me through the lips of Brother Branham. And if he's told me the truth, which I believe he has..."
Be sure to mention that in your prayer, because He told me, "If you get the people to believe you..." That's the only ... He couldn't do many mighty works, because they didn't believe Him. Don't believe me as Him; but believe that He sent me. And I'm here to manifest Him. He proved that He was. May God help me to prove that He is---raised from the dead, the Messiah, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
112 Now, just be in prayer. I'm watching and waiting. Just pray. And if the Lord will grant it, and will prove to you that this is the end-time sign, will you walk in the light? Will you believe Him? Have faith in Him? He's no respecter of person. Just have faith all along, everywhere.
Now, while you have your heads bowed, I'm thanking the Lord. Here is that light that you see in the picture. He's right here in this room now. And I see it right by the side of a woman who's sitting to my right. She's praying for a son that's in trouble. Just don't doubt. Have faith.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
113 To my left, there is a woman and she's scared. She's afraid that she's got cancer. She's very much shook up about it. I hope she don't miss it. The woman has tried for a long time to press her way in. She's afraid. She isn't from here. She comes from another city, and the city is a smaller city than this, though it lays south from here. It's by the side of a mountain. It's Tucson. The lady's name is Mrs. Bach. Do you believe? Will you accept your healing? All right. Don't be scared of it no more. Your faith makes you whole.
A lady by the name of Mrs. Hershey. Don't forget, God can prove that son innocent, if you'll believe with all your heart. Don't doubt; have faith. Believe.
A lady sitting over here on the side to my right, she's suffering with a heart trouble. Her name is Mrs. Cloud. If you'll believe with all your heart, and accept your healing, the almighty God will make you well. Will you believe it? All right. You believe with all your heart.
A lady way back here to my right, in the right hand row, dark dress on. Mrs. Yates, believe with all your heart, and your back trouble will go from you.
114 Oh, my! Do you love Him? Do you believe Him? Is He the same yesterday, today, and forever? Now, if He proves that and you see that is right, and those people will bear record I've never seen them in my life...
But look. Now if you will take my word for what I'm saying, if you will believe with all your heart, and lay your hands on one another, you'll be healed---if you'll just believe it with all your heart. It's a sign of the end-time. Now, put your hands over on one another, you that's going to pray for each other. If you're a sinner, confess your sins. If you're a backslider, confess that you're wrong. If you're sick, confess that you want to be healed, and say, "I believe you, God."
Now, the Bible never said just the prayers of William Branham will do this, but He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." Do you believe that?
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;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
115 Now. How many times ... how long have I been with you, Phoenix? This is about seventeen years I've been coming here. Have you ever seen it proved wrong one time? Has it always been just exactly the way the Holy Spirit spoke it, through the thousands times thousands, and to the multitudes of times; how many times around the world of all nations, and kindreds, tongues, and people? It's Jesus Christ; not your brother. And I'm quoting his Word to you. "These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay their hands on the sick they shall recover." Now, lay your hands on somebody, and pray for them. Don't pray for yourself, now, because they're praying for you. You pray for them. And now, let's bow our heads in the august presence of Jesus Christ, who proves Himself to be among us. Now He's your God, the same as He's my God.
Now you pray the way you do in your church. Pray for that person that's got their hands on you. You pray back for them, and believe on God.
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;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
116 Confess your sins, say, "I'm wrong, Lord. I've been a doubter. I'll be no more. I'm believing right now that You're going to heal me."
Heal this person, Lord. Heal this woman, heal this man, heal this woman, heal the baby, heal the young girl, the young boy. O Lord God, creator of heavens and earth! How can we sit here, Lord! This ought to bring a rapturing faith, a power of God that would sweep this whole audience, Lord, into higher heights of the glory of God.
117 Let the devil, that's had these people bound, turn them loose.
Upon the promise of God that I believe in, upon the Bible that I teach, upon the God who proves that it is the Bible, that proves that He is the God of the Bible...
After two thousand years He still lives among us tonight, resurrected from the dead, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Upon the basis of his shed blood, and his living, being present after two thousand years, I challenge the devil with all of his impotent spirit of sickness and diseases, turn these people loose in the name of Jesus Christ. Come out of them, that they might go free. Turn loose that sinner, turn loose that backslider, turn loose of that sick man or woman. I claim their healing, their salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Leave them, thou foul, evil, unclean spirit of unbelief and doubt. Depart from this church, from this bunch of people, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
118 I believe. I believe that the prayer of faith has been prayed. I want you to do something now, right where you're at. Drive down a post in your mind: "Right here on this seat, this night, when I stood and heard the Word, saw God vindicate his Word, prove that it's right, the prayer of faith has been prayed for me. If the devil will ever try to tell me again I'm sick, or anything wrong, I'm going to bring him right back to this post. Right now the prayer of faith has been prayed for me, and I'm saved from my sickness. I'm saved from my sins. I'm a child of God and I'll not cater to the devil's lies anymore. I am God's free servant." Amen! Will you do it? Say, "Amen." Raise your hand and say, "I believe it." Amen, amen!
119 To me that settles it. The work is done. It's all over. God said so, and that proves it. How can He do anything else but vindicate his Word? If He'll vindicate it to me, He can vindicate it for you. Do you believe that? All right, let's stand on our feet and praise Him, then. Give Him all praise and glory. Amen. All right. Glory to God!
Thank you, Lord Jesus. We love You. We praise You. We accept these things. We believe that You'll do it for us now. Thou art our Saviour. Thou art our healer, and we love You for it. Blessed be the name of the Lord forevermore. Receive these people, Lord, and let them be thy servants from now on, through Jesus' name. God bless you.