Ändert Gott je Seinen Sinn über Sein Wort?
Datum:
65-0418E
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BBV
Jeffersonville, Indiana USA
Lasst uns unsere Köpfe beugen.
Teurer Herr Jesus, wir haben uns wieder in Deinem Namen versammelt und sind in großer Erwartung auf die Ausgießung der lebendigmachenden Kraft Gottes. Dadurch erkennen wir unsere Stellung, unseren Stand und unsere Verantwortung als herausgerufenes Volk, das von der Welt abgesondert und Gott geweiht ist. Herr, gewähre heute Abend, dass uns in allem, was wir tun und sagen, die Segnungen Gottes lenken und leiten, damit Dein Name geehrt und verherrlicht wird. Amen.
E-2 Ich bin froh, heute Abend wieder in der Gemeinde und bei euch teuren Menschen zu sein. Ich weiß, dass es warm ist, aber ich habe vorhin meine Frau angerufen: dort ist es über 30 Grad Celsius, also wesentlich wärmer als hier. An das warme Wetter habe ich mich jetzt schon gewöhnt. Doch ich bin so froh, zu dieser herrlichen Osterzeit hier in der Kapelle zu sein.
Eigentlich kann ich nicht sagen, dass ich mich für die sehr lange Botschaft von heute Morgen entschuldigen möchte. Ich wollte eure Geduld nicht erschöpfen, indem ich heute Abend wieder darauf zurückkomme. Ich wollte euch durch diese Botschaft begreiflich machen, dass ihr ein Teil dieser Auferstehung seid. Sorgt euch nicht mehr, sondern frohlockt darüber. Es gibt nirgends etwas, das euch davon trennen könnte. Nichts! Ihr seid auf ewig sicher im Reiche Gottes. Wenn
Gott euch Sein Siegel aufgedrückt hat, gilt es solange, bis ihr an eurem Bestimmungsort ankommt.
E-3 Wenn die Regierung ein Siegel auf eine Fracht drückt, oder wenn ein Bahnwaggon versiegelt wird, darf niemand etwas daran tun, bis er das Ziel erreicht hat. Wenn Gott Sein Siegel auf einen Menschen drückt - das Siegel ist der Heilige Geist - wenn Er einen Menschen so versiegelt, dann wird er Sein ewiges Ziel erreichen. Er kann dann niemals mehr zurückgehen, denn denkt daran, in Eph. 4:30 steht: „Und betrübt nicht den Heiligen Geist Gottes, mit dem ihr auf den Tag der Erlösung - für immer - versiegelt seid.” Ihr seid für immer versiegelt. Durch den Heiligen Geist seid ihr auf ewig in das Reich Gottes hineinversiegelt. Denkt daran!
E-4 Dann Sie....
Der Teufel wird euch Schläge versetzen; er wird euch alles mögliche sagen, euch verklagen und zu erreichen versuchen, dass ihr meint, es nicht zu sein. Hört nicht auf ihn.
Ihr wißt, dass ihr aus dem Tod ins Leben hinübergegangen seid. Ihr wißt, dass ihr die Dinge, die ihr einst geliebt habt, nicht mehr liebt. Ihr wißt, dass ihr jedes Wort Gottes glaubt. Ihr habt gesehen, dass Gott wirklich unter uns wirkt und dadurch unfehlbar beweist, dass Er der große ICH BIN ist. Ihr habt beobachtet, dass alles, was in Seinem Namen gesagt wurde, geschah. Nie ist etwas in Seinem Namen geweissagt worden, das sich nicht genauso erfüllt hat, wie es vorausgesagt wurde. Sogar die Wissenschaft, Zeitungen und Verfasser mußten es anerkennen. Kameras machten Aufnahmen davon. Ganz gleich, ob sie wollen oder nicht, Gott veranlaßt, dass sie es trotzdem tun und es veröffentlichen.
E-5 Wir sind nur eine kleine Gruppe, doch denkt daran, es ist keine große Gruppe, für die Er wiederkommt. „Fürchte dich nicht, du kleine Herde! Denn es ist eures Vaters Wohlgefallen, euch das Reich zu geben.”
Ich möchte euch etwas Erschütterndes mitteilen, bevor wir die Ordination eines Predigers vornehmen. Dies ist schockierend, doch ihr sollt es wissen. Ich weiß nicht, ob die Zahl genau zutrifft; aber ich möchte, dass ihr darüber nachdenkt.
Ich weiß nicht, ob jemand hier ist, der jemals beobachtet hat, wie Vieh gekreuzt wird. Ich halte nichts davon, doch ich habe schon dabei zugesehen. Ich sah, wie man gerade soviel männliche Samenflüssigkeit nahm, damit sie auf eine kleine Glasplatte, die etwa so lang ist wie ein Zahnstocher, gestrichen werden konnte. Dann wurde sie auf die Platte gelegt, und man drehte an diesen Gläsern, die es - ich weiß nicht, wievielmal - vergrößern. Mit dem natürlichen Auge oder einer gewöhnlichen Brille könntet ihr nichts erkennen, wenn es aber 100- oder 150-fach vergrößert wird, könnt ihr in diesem einen Tropfen Samenflüssigkeit fünfzig bis hundert Keime sehen, die sich hin und her bewegen. Im weiblichen Tier begegnen sich das Ei und die Spermien. Die ersten beiden, die zusammenkommen, verbinden sich.
E-6 Nur das eine aus dieser Million bleibt am Leben. Habt ihr je darüber nachgedacht? Es sind alles dieselben Keime und das eine Ei. Sie alle sind gleich, doch nur eines bringt Leben hervor. Es kommt nicht darauf an, welcher vorne ist, denn manchmal liegt das Ei weit hinten und der eine Keim befindet sich vielleicht in der Mitte unter all den Spermien, die sich alle vorwärts bewegen. Es muss eine Intelligenz dahinterstehen, die entscheidet, ob es ein Junge oder ein Mädchen, ob es rot- oder schwarzhaarig oder was immer es wird. Es ist die Auserwählung Gottes. Es kann nichts anderes als Auserwählung sein!
Sogar in der natürlichen Geburt - ob es ein Junge oder ein Mädchen wird - ist Auserwählung. Sobald dieser kleine Keim vom Ei aufgenommen wird und der kleine Schwanz verschwindet, beginnt die Entstehung des Kindes, seiner Wirbelsäule usw. So ist es bei Menschen und Tieren. Aus all diesen Millionen von Keimen bleibt nur einer am Leben. Sie alle sind gleich, aber Gott bestimmt durch Erwählung, welcher leben soll. Die anderen sterben. Einer aus einer Million!
E-7 Als die Israeliten Ägypten verließen, glaubten sie alle an die Botschaft eines Propheten. Sie sahen, dass durch Moses die Zeichen Gottes geschahen. Jeder von ihnen sah sie. Sie alle kamen aus Ägypten heraus, gingen durch das Rote Meer und wurden auf Moses getauft. Jeder sah, dass die Kraft Gottes auf ihn fiel, dass er im Geiste sang und dass Miriam auf dem Tamburin spielte und am Ufer auf und ab lief. Jeder von ihnen aß täglich frisches Manna, das vom Himmel herabgefallen war. Alle tranken aus dem geistlichen Felsen, der geschlagen wurde. Es waren zwei Millionen Menschen, die Ägypten verließen. Wie viele davon gingen in das verheißene Land ein? Zwei - das bedeutet einer aus einer Million. Was war mit all den anderen? Jesus sagte, dass sie alle umkamen. „Eure Väter haben vierzig Jahre lang in der Wüste Manna gegessen, aber Ich sage euch: sie sind alle gestorben.”
E-8 Heute gibt es etwa fünfhundert Millionen Christen auf der Welt, einschließlich der Katholiken, Protestanten und aller anderen. Wenn Jesus heute Abend käme und die Entrückung stattfände, dann würden gemäß dem, was ich gerade sagte, fünfhundert auf der ganzen Welt fehlen - wenn die Entrückung stattfindet. So viele Vermißte, deren Verschwinden nicht aufgeklärt werden kann, gibt es insgesamt in allen Ländern wohl täglich. Es könnte also zu jeder Zeit stattfinden, nicht wahr?
O Christen, laßt uns die Waffenrüstung Gottes anlegen, laßt uns alles tun und Ihm dienen, so gut wir es nur können, Ihn lieben und auf diese herrliche Zeit warten.
E-9 Es werden nicht Millionen und Volksmengen sein, die aus dieser Generation herauskommen und dort eingehen werden. Das kann nicht sein. Denkt daran, an jedem Tag endet eine Generation - an jedem Tag. „Wie es war in den Tagen Noahs, als acht Seelen durch das Wasser hindurch Rettung fanden, so wird es sein, wenn der Menschensohn kommt.” Doch an jedem Tag endet für irgend jemanden eine Zeitspanne von vierzig Jahren. Täglich wird auch eine gewisse Anzahl in das Reich Gottes hineinversiegelt. Eines Tages wird der letzte Tag gekommen sein. Wir wollen jetzt, während wir noch bei gesundem Verstand sind und uns in der Gemeinde und unter Menschen befinden, wo der Heilige Geist sich so mit uns identifiziert hat, gewiß sein, dass alles mit uns in Ordnung ist und in Ordnung bleibt.
Hört nicht auf; ruht weder Tag noch Nacht, bis die lebendigmachende Kraft euch von den Dingen der Welt weggenommen und in das Reich Gottes hineingebracht hat. Und ihr, die ihr wirklich in das Reich Gottes hineingebracht und durch den Geist Gottes lebendig gemacht worden seid, wie glücklich solltet ihr sein und Gott Tag und Nacht auf euren Knien mit Freudentränen für das, was Er getan hat, danken.
E-10 Heute Abend verläuft der Gottesdienst ein wenig anders. Wir haben einen feinen Bruder hier: Bruder Capps. Er ist von der Nazarener-Gemeinde zu uns gekommen. Ich meine, das stimmt, Bruder Capps. Er hat den Wunsch, heute Abend von uns durch Handauflegung ordiniert zu werden.
Wir haben keine Papiere, die wir jemandem geben könnten. Wir sind zwar anerkannt und könnten Bescheinigungen ausstellen, doch wir glauben, dass die Bescheinigung eines wahrhaft ordinierten Predigers im Himmel ist. Er hat das Recht, die Bibel zu predigen, solange Gott sein Leben mit der Bibel identifiziert. Wir glauben, dass dies seine Auszeichnung ist.
Bruder Capps wurde offiziell in der Nazarener-Gemeinde ordiniert. Heute Abend jedoch möchte er, dass die Ältesten ihm die Hände auflegen und ihn dadurch ordinieren, diese Botschaft zu tragen. Welch eine tapfere Sache!
E-11 habe die wunderbaren Berichte über Bruder Capps gehört, seit ich in Tucson bin. Er leistet unserem geliebten Bruder Neville Beistand. Diese beiden Männer halten das Licht so tapfer aufrecht, wie es nur geht. Bruder Neville haben wir die Hände bereits aufgelegt, Bruder Capps aber noch nicht. Ich möchte, dass alle Prediger, die hier sind: Bruder Jackson, Bruder Ruddel usw. und die Ältesten dieser Gemeinde für einige Minuten nach vorne kommen und Bruder Capps die Hände auflegen.
Wir sehen in der Bibel, dass man es damals so handhabte; man legte ihnen die Hände auf und sandte sie aus. Das taten sie mit Timotheus, von dem es hieß, dass er denselben Glauben hatte, wie zuvor schon seine Großmutter Lois. Weiter wird von der Gabe berichtet, die ihm durch die Handauflegung der Ältesten zuteil geworden war.
E-12 Die Brüder der Spätregenbewegung haben das durcheinandergebracht. Sie meinten, dass ihm durch diese Handlung eine Gabe gegeben wurde. Nein, die Gabe war bereits in ihm. Sie legten ihm die Hände lediglich als Bestätigung dafür auf, dass sie glaubten, dass Gott bereits eine Gabe in ihn hineingelegt hatte. Das bestätigten sie durch ihre Handauflegung.
Diese Männer in der Gemeinde besitzen die lebendigmachende Kraft, wie ich glaube, in ihrer Seele. Kommt jetzt bitte Brüder; Bruder Ruddel und ihr anderen aus dieser Gemeinde und auch ihr Ältesten der Schwestergemeinden, kommt, damit wir Bruder Capps die Hände auflegen, so dass er durch unsere Bestätigung vor dieser Zuhörerschaft ordiniert und ausgesandt wird, das Evangelium des Herrn Jesus zu predigen, wo immer Gott ihn hinrufen mag. Durch die Wiedergeburt ist er bereits einer von uns. Er gehört zu uns, weil er die Botschaft glaubt. Er gehört zu uns, weil er für die Wahrheit des Wortes eintritt. Wir möchten, dass Bruder Capps nun offiziell vor euch ordiniert wird, indem wir ihm die Hände auflegen und dadurch bestätigen, dass er zu uns gehört.
Wie viele von euch kennen Bruder Capps? Hebt eure Hand. Gut. Ihr könnt die Hände wieder herunternehmen. Wie viele glauben, dass er ein Knecht Gottes ist? Erhebt eure Hand. Wir lieben ihn als unseren Bruder.
E-13 Dies ist nicht genau das, was wir eine richtige Ordinierung nennen. Doch jetzt möchte ich, dass diese Versammlung mir behilflich ist, das Lied zu singen, denn ich kann es nicht.
Eines Tages ging ein Prophet zum Altar im Tempel, und während er sich im Tempel befand, geschah etwas. Er war ein guter Mensch, doch er hatte sich von dem König Ussia abhängig gemacht, der ebenfalls ein guter Mann war. Eines Tages aber, als er sich im Tempel befand, sah er etwas in einer Vision, das er nie zuvor gesehen hatte. Er sah Engel mit Flügeln, die im Gebäude umherflogen und beständig riefen: „Heilig, heilig, heilig ist der Herr, der allmächtige Gott.”
E-14 Als das geschah, bebten die Säulen des Tempels, und er rief aus: „Wehe mir, denn ich bin ein Mann mit unreinen Lippen.” In der Gegenwart Gottes erkannte er, dass er, obwohl er ein Prophet war, versagt hatte. Er sagte: „Ich bin ein Mann mit unreinen Lippen und wohne inmitten eines Volkes mit unreinen Lippen.”
Da flog einer der Engel mit einer glühenden Kohle auf ihn zu, berührte damit seine Lippen, und dann wurde ihm gesagt: „Weissage, Menschensohn.”
Würdest du uns bitte den Ton für dieses Lied angeben, Schwester. Wie viele kennen dieses Lied?
Als die Glut des Knechtes Mund berührte,
ward er rein und alles Böse wich!
Gottes Geist fragt: „Wer will sein Mein Bote?”
Und Jesaja sprach: „Herr, sende mich!”
Rede, Herr, sprich zu mir!
Sprich, und ich will schnell gehorchen Dir!
Rede, Herr, sprich zu mir!
Sende mich, ich folge, hier bin ich!
Siehst du nicht in Angst Millionen sterben?
Hörst du, wie sie klagen bitterlich?
Eile, Bruder, eile sie zu retten!
Sprich auch du: „O Meister, sende mich!”
Rede, Herr, sprich zu mir!
Sprich, und ich will schnell gehorchen Dir!
Rede, Herr, sprich zu mir!
Sende mich, ich folge, hier bin ich!
Jetzt mögen die Ältesten kommen und ihre Hände auf Bruder Capps legen. Wir alle beugen unsere Häupter.
E-15 Teurer Gott, die Säulen des Tempels sind wieder erbebt. Der lebendigmachende Geist des Lebens ist in unserem Bruder wirksam; er fühlt, dass ihm von oben her gesagt wird, dass er gehen muss. Ich bete für ihn, o Gott, und als Deine Ältesten, Herr, legen wir unsere Hände auf ihn. Wir reichen ihm die Hand der Gemeinschaft, legen ihm die Hände auf und übertragen ihm die Segnungen Gottes. Salbe Du seine Lippen, sein Denken, sein ganzes Wesen. Möge er diese Botschaft des Evangeliums in jeden Winkel und überallhin tragen, wohin Du ihn rufst. Gewähre es, Herr. Wir übergeben Dir unseren Bruder als Deinen Knecht, im Namen Jesus Christus. Amen.
Predige das Wort, mein junger Bruder; es sei zur Zeit oder zur Unzeit; überführe, weise zurecht mit aller Langmut und Belehrung. Gott segne dich.
E-16 Bruder Ben ist auch zu uns gekommen. Ich meine, er predigt schon seit längerer Zeit. Dennoch ist er hier noch nicht offiziell durch Handauflegung ordiniert worden. Ich dachte, das wäre schon geschehen, deshalb habe ich ihn nicht gerufen.
Auch die Frau von Bruder Ben ist anwesend. Sie ist eine teure Person. Sie war eine Frauenpredigerin. Als sie und unser Bruder geheiratet hatten, brachte er sie hierher zur Kapelle. Sie war zwar schon vorher eine feine Dame mit einem netten Wesen, als sie jedoch das Wort hörte und einsah, dass es falsch ist, wenn eine Frau das tut, da hörte sie damit auf; und es schien auf ihren Mann zu fallen. Das ist korrekt; das ist apostolisch. So sollte es sein.
Soweit ich verstanden habe, nimmt Bruder Ben die Tonbänder und geht zusammen mit seiner Frau in abgelegene Orte, in das Gebirge und die Einöde, wo sie die Tonbänder abspielen lassen und Erläuterungen dazu geben. Oft werden sie weggejagt und hinausgeworfen. Wir sind darauf gefaßt, denn alle, die gottselig in Christus Jesus leben wollen, müssen Verfolgung leiden.
E-17 Wie viele kennen Bruder Ben? Wie viele glauben, dass er ein Knecht Gottes und des Segens würdig ist, den wir von Gott für ihn erbitten werden? Seht, er ist kein Fremder, er ist seit Jahren unter uns. Ich kenne ihn als einen demütigen Mann. Er ist wie ich - er macht viele Fehler. Das tun wir alle, doch was ich an Bruder Ben sehr schätze, ist, dass er bereit ist, auf seinen Knien zu kriechen, um es in Ordnung zu bringen. Als er die Predigt „Heirat und Scheidung” hörte, waren er und seine Frau bereit, sich zu trennen, weil er sie liebt, und sie ihn liebt. Doch sie möchten mit dem Worte Gottes übereinstimmen. Was immer das Wort sagte, das wollten sie tun. Ich bete, dass Gott Ben und seine Frau in seinem Dienst segnet. Wir wollen dem Bruder jetzt die Hände auflegen.
E-18 Teurer Gott, wir legen unsere Hände auf unseren Bruder Ben als Zeichen, dass wir ihn lieben. Wir glauben, Herr, dass er willig ist, ein Werk für Dich zu tun, mit diesen Tonbändern auszuziehen, um sie den Menschen im Gebirge und in den abgelegenen Orten vorzuspielen. Viele von uns würden wahrscheinlich niemals dorthin gehen, dennoch muss die Botschaft in alle Welt gelangen. Wir beten, dass Du unseren Bruder segnest und ihm Deinen Geist gibst. Möge Er auf ihm ruhen, ihn leiten und ihn und seine Frau zu den Orten führen, wo eine aufrichtige Seele ist. Die Türen können sich nicht schließen, bis nicht das letzte Schaf hereingebracht wurde. DU bist nicht mit neunundneunzig zufrieden. Jeder, dessen Name im Buch geschrieben steht, muss hineingebracht werden. Hilf ihnen, Herr, während wir ihm die Hände auflegen und damit unsere Zugehörigkeit zu ihm als unserem Bruder kundtun. Unsere Hilfe, unser Gebet für ihn wird ihn begleiten. Wir beten, dass Du ihn segnest, Herr, wo immer er hingeht. Im Namen Jesus. Amen.
Sei gesegnet, Bruder Ben. Wir können dir als Prediger-Brüder die Hand der Gemeinschaft geben. Der Herr segne dich.
E-19 John Martin… Earl. Wie viele kennen Earl Martin? Wie viele glauben, dass er ein Knecht Christi ist? Ich glaube, er war ursprünglich bei einer Pfingstgemeinde; von dort kam er zu uns. Ich meine, dass er jetzt Pastor eines unabhängigen Werkes ist.
Ich kenne Earl als wirklichen Knecht Christi. Eine Begebenheit von den vielen, die ich mit Earl erlebt habe, werde ich nicht vergessen. Ich erinnere mich, dass er eines Abends angerufen wurde, als ich in Dallas, Texas, war. Es war in Beaumont, Texas; das stimmt, Schwester. Sein Kind war sterbenskrank, und sie dachten, es wäre bereits tot. Es atmete nicht mehr. Earl kam in mein Zimmer, seine Schultern waren gebeugt, er neigte sich zu mir herab, denn ich lag im Bett und hatte mich nur aufgesetzt, legte seine Arme um mich und sagte: „Bruder, ich glaube, dass du der Prophet Gottes bist. Das habe ich immer geglaubt. Wenn du nur das Wort aussprichst, wird mein Baby, obwohl es tot ist, wieder lebendig werden.” Und sein Kind kam wirklich zum Leben zurück und lebt heute noch.
E-20 Glaubt ihr, dass er es wert ist, dass diese Gläubigen ihm die Hand der Gemeinschaft geben? Laßt uns beten, Brüder, während wir ihm die Hände auflegen.
Gnädiger himmlischer Vater, auch auf unseren Bruder Martin legen wir die Hände. Wir senden ihn an die abgelegensten Stellen, wohin Du ihn zu gehen bestimmt hast, ob zu vielen oder wenigen, ob an Straßen, Hecken oder Zäune, wohin auch immer, Herr: mögen Deine Segnungen mit ihm sein. Wir legen unsere Hände auf ihn und befehlen ihn Dir an und geben ihm unseren Segen mit auf den Weg. Möge der Geist, der auf uns ist, Herr, ihn begleiten und ihn zu den verlorenen Seelen an den Straßen und Hecken führen und leiten. Wir senden ihn im Namen Jesu Christi. Amen. Gott segne dich, Bruder Martin. Gehe jetzt; der Herr sei mit dir.
E-21 Dein Name ist Richard. Wie viele kennen Richard Blair? Wie viele glauben, dass er ein Knecht Gottes ist? Er kommt aus der Vereinigten Pfingstgemeinde. Ich weiß noch, dass Bruder Blair einen großen Ruf empfing. Ich erinnere mich auch an die Zeit, wo Bruder Blair mir nicht glauben wollte, weil ein Geist an ihm wirkte, der ihm einredete, ich sei verkehrt. Während er jedoch in der Versammlung saß, wandte sich der Heilige Geist ihm zu und offenbarte es. Er war einem Zusammenbruch nahe. Er war dadurch in diese Verfassung gekommen. Ich erinnere mich, dass seine liebliche Frau mich eines Tages anrief und sagte: „Bruder Branham, ich glaube, dass Richard sterben wird.” Soweit ich mich erinnere, hatte sie einen Schal bei sich. Sie ging hin, legte ihn ihrem Mann auf, wie ich es ihr sagte, und ich betete für ihn. Hier ist er.
Ein kleines Baby hatte einen Unfall oder ... Ihr Junge hatte einen Unfall, und es bestand nicht viel Hoffnung für ihn, denn er hatte eine schwere Gehirnerschütterung. Durch das Gebet über Telefon wurde das Kind gesund. Glaubt ihr, dass Bruder Blair eine wahrer Zeuge Christi ist? Betet für ihn; mögen eure Segenswünsche ihn begleiten. Legt ihm die Hände auf, Brüder.
E-22 Teurer Gott, um unserem lieben und edlen Bruder, Deinem Knecht, der aus seiner Gruppe kam, um in dem Licht zu wandeln, unsere Anerkennung zu zeigen, beten wir, indem wir unsere Hände auf ihn legen und ihn mit unseren Segenswünschen und unserer Zustimmung aussenden, dass Du ihn segnest, wo immer Du ihn hinrufst und zu welcher Arbeit es auch sein mag. Dein Geist sei mit Bruder Blair. Führe und leite ihn zu den Verlorenen und Sterbenden dieser Welt, dass er mithilft, verlorene Schafe zu finden und sie zur Herde zurückzubringen. Wo es auch sein mag, was immer Du mit ihm vorhast, Herr, wir bitten einfach, dass Dein Geist ihn auf seinem Lebensweg führt und leitet. Wir sind seine Brüder, und indem wir ihm die Hand der Gemeinschaft reichen, bitten wir Dich, mit ihm zu gehen, im Namen Jesus Christus. Amen.
Die rechte Hand der Gemeinschaft. Gott segne dich, Bruder Blair. Wir sind hundertprozentig mit dir, werden für dich beten und alles tun, was wir können, um dir zu helfen. Gott segne dich.
E-23 [Bruder Branham spricht mit Bruder Anthon. - Verf.] Kennt jemand Bruder Merlin Anthon? Mir ist er nicht bekannt. [Der Bruder spricht mit Bruder Branham. - Verf.] O ja. Entschuldige, Bruder. Du kommst von der Heilsarmee. Das stimmt. Ich erinnere mich an dich. Ich kenne ihn doch. Vom Aussehen her kam er mir gar nicht bekannt vor. Wie viele wissen, dass er ein Mann Gottes ist? Wie viele glauben, dass Gott durch ihn wirkt? Erhebt eure Hände. Werdet ihr für ihn beten?
Bruder, wir wissen, dass du aus einer hervorragenden Gruppe, nämlich aus der Heilsarmee, kommst. Es sind großartige Menschen. Die Heilsarmee leistet eine wunderbare Arbeit auf den Straßen. Wir können nichts gegen die Nazarener, die Pfingstgemeinden, die Heilsarmee oder gegen irgendeine von ihnen sagen. Sie sind unsere Brüder. Doch seht, wir glauben, dass wir Träger einer gewaltigen Botschaft für diese Stunde, in der wir leben, sind. Du möchtest mit uns daran teilhaben? Laßt uns die Häupter neigen, während wir unserem Bruder die Hände auflegen.
E-24 Teurer himmlischer Vater, Du bist es, der den Ruf ergehen läßt. DU bist es, der das Wort lebendig macht, damit sie glauben können. Wir legen unserem geliebten Bruder die Hände auf als Bestätigung, dass wir glauben, dass Du mit ihm bist und ihm helfen wirst. Unsere Segenswünsche sollen ihn begleiten, denn wir glauben, dass wir vom Tode ins Leben hinübergegangen sind und jetzt die lebendigmachende Kraft in unseren Herzen tragen. Durch die Gnade Gottes legen wir unserem Bruder die Hände auf und senden ihn mit unseren Segenswünschen aus. DU wollest ihn zu den entlegensten Winkeln der Erde führen und leiten, Herr, wohin Du bestimmt hast, dass er gehen soll. Möge Dein Geist mit ihm gehen und ihm Gesundheit, Kraft und Erfolg in seinem Dienst verleihen, denn wir senden ihn aus im Namen Jesus Christus. Amen.
Gott segne dich, Bruder. Hier ist die Hand der Gemeinschaft. Brüder, reicht auch ihr diesen Brüdern die Hand. Der Herr segne euch alle.
E-25 [Ein Bruder spricht zu Bruder Branham. - Verf.] Wie ist dein Name? Bruder Correll. Dies ist Bruder Correll aus Cincinnati. Wenn jemand Bruder Correll kennt, soll er die Hand heben. Da er ja aus Cincinnati kommt, ist es wohl nicht der Fall. Er sagt, dass er bei einer Gruppe war, die Frauen als Prediger ordinierte. Das konnte er nicht vertreten und mußte sich deshalb von ihnen trennen. Genau deswegen habe ich die Baptisten-Gemeinde verlassen. Wie viele haben je von Dr. Roy E. Davis gehört? Sicher habt ihr das. Er wollte Frauen als Prediger ordinieren, und ich sagte: „Niemals! Als Ältester kann ich das nicht mit meinem Gewissen vereinbaren. Es ist gegen das Wort Gottes.”
Bruder Correl, ich kenne dich nicht, doch aufgrund deines Zeugnisses und der Wahrheit, für die du eintrittst, werden wir dich segnen. Wir haben nichts gegen diese Frauen; sie sind Schwestern; wir heben sie, doch wir glauben, dass sie ihren Platz haben, an dem sie verbleiben müssen. Wir glauben, dass sie die Liebste und die Gehilfin eines Mannes ist, und wir meinen, außer dem Heil ist sie das größte Geschenk, das Gott einem Mann geben konnte. Auf dem Podium aber hat sie gemäß dem Worte Gottes nichts zu suchen. Auf dieser Grundlage und aufgrund deines Glaubens an Gott legen wir unsere Hände auf dich und nehmen dich in unsere Gemeinschaft auf. Wir wollen ihm jetzt die Hände auflegen.
E-26 Unser teurer himmlischer Vater, ich kann nachempfinden, wie diesem jungen Mann zumute ist, nachdem man ihn um der echten Wahrheit willen hinausgeworfen hat. Doch der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein, sondern von jedem Worte Gottes. Jetzt legen wir ihm die Hände auf und erbitten Segen für ihn. Möge Dein Geist ihn führen, leiten und ihm auf seinem ganzen Lebensweg Weisungen geben, wo immer Du ihn hinsendest. Wir möchten ihm wissen lassen, dass wir für ihn beten, ihm behilflich sein und ihn unterstützen werden, solange er für die Wahrheit einsteht. Gewähre es, Herr. Wir senden ihn aus im Namen Jesus Christus. Amen. Gott segne dich, Bruder Correll.
Jetzt sind mehreren die Hände aufgelegt worden. Reicht ihnen allen die Hand zur Gemeinschaft.
E-27 Bruder Ruddel ist hier in der Gemeinde auch noch nicht offiziell ordiniert worden. Wie viele kennen Bruder Ruddel? Wie viele wissen, dass er ein Mann Gottes ist?
Teurer himmlischer Vater, wir als Deine Ältesten legen unsere Hände auf diesen Bruder, der durch tiefe und trübe Gewässer gehen mußte. Er hat erlebt, wie seine Versammlung zerfiel. Er mußte alles durchmachen, was es nur gibt. Wir legen ihm die Hände auf und geben ihm unsere Segenswünsche mit. Salbe ihn, Herr. Sende ihn in jeden Winkel der Erde. Sende ihn im Namen Jesu Christi. Amen.
Bruder Ruddel, du hast schon immer meine Hand der Gemeinschaft gehabt. Ich kenne Bruder Ruddel. Er ist für mich wie mein eigener Sohn. Sein Vater, seine Mutter und ich kennen uns seit langem. Ich weiß, dass Bruder Ruddel ein Knecht Gottes ist. Ich habe mit ihm zusammen gedient. Gott segne dich, Bruder Ruddel.
E-28 Wer bist du, Bruder? Wie heißt du? Kennst du ihn, Bruder Martin? Es ist Bruder McCommas. Vermutlich kennt ihn niemand von uns. Doch, Bruder Tyler kennt diesen Mann. Auch er kommt, damit ihm die Hände aufgelegt werden und er ein Träger des Evangeliums wird. Bruder McCommas, woher kommst du? Aus Rockford, Illinois. Oh, wirklich? Von Tucson aus habe ich am Telefon für deine Frau gebetet, und sie wurde geheilt. Ich erinnere mich an den Anruf. Preis sei dem Herrn! [Bruder Martin spricht mit Bruder Branham. - Verf.] Deine Schwester. Sie ist jetzt hier. Vor kurzem betete ich am Abend von Tucson aus über das Telefon für sie. Sie war gelähmt. Vor ein paar Tagen war sie noch gelähmt, und jetzt ist sie hier. Kein Wunder, dass er die Botschaft tragen möchte. Laßt uns dem Bruder die Hände auflegen.
E-29 Teurer Gott, wir als Älteste legen unsere Hände auf Deinen Knecht und reichen ihm die Hand der Gemeinschaft. Wir beten, dass die Segnungen Gottes ihn begleiten mögen. Führe und leite ihn. Im Namen Jesus Christus. Amen. Die Hand der Gemeinschaft, mein Bruder. Gott sei mit dir.
E-30 Ja, Bruder? Gut. Ich glaube, dies ist Bruder Darius. Von wo bist du, Bruder? Aus Black Rock, Arkansas. Dieser Bruder kennt ihn. Ich glaube, es gab noch jemanden, der es sagte. Bruder Brewer. Ich meine, als ich heute Morgen Bruder und Schwester Vayle traf, sagten sie mir, dass sie ihn kennen und wissen, dass er ein Mann Gottes ist - ein Knecht Gottes. Wunderbar.
Nun, mein teurer Bruder, du sollst ein Träger der Botschaft sein, und wir möchten, dass du weißt, dass wir hinter dir stehen und alles tun werden, was wir können. Wir werden für dich beten, dass auch du diese Botschaft an die entferntesten Orte trägst, wohin Gott dich zu gehen bestimmt hat. Laßt uns Bruder Darius die Hände auflegen.
Teurer Gott, wir legen unsere Hände auf unseren Bruder, geben ihm die Hand zur Gemeinschaft und senden ihn aus im Namen Jesus Christus. Gott segne dich, Bruder.
E-31 Ich glaube, dies ist Bruder Anthony. Viele von euch kennen ihn. Er ist schon lange hier bei uns. Ich selber weiß, dass er ein Knecht Christi ist. Ich glaube, er ist ein geweihter junger Mann, obwohl ihm offiziell noch nicht die Hände aufgelegt worden sind. Er wußte nicht, dass dies vorgenommen werden sollte, Freunde. Doch gerade jetzt trifft es auf ihn genauso zu wie auf die anderen. Deshalb werden wir Bruder Anthony die Hände auflegen und ihm die Hand der Gemeinschaft reichen. Die Ordinierung muss Gott vornehmen. Dies geschieht nur, um ihn wissen zu lassen, dass wir Vertrauen zu diesem Bruder haben, dass wir ihn lieben und dass er einer von uns in der Botschaft ist. Wir möchten, dass Gottes Segen auf ihm ruht, und das erbitten wir für ihn. Laßt uns beten, während wir unsere Hände auf den Bruder legen.
E-32 Teurer Gott, dieser demütige Italiener, der Dir dient, Herr, kommt heute Abend, damit ihm die Hände aufgelegt und ihm von dieser Gemeinde die Hand der Gemeinschaft gereicht wird. Er steht für Dich ein und dient Dir, Herr, alle Tage seines Lebens. Mögest Du ihn führen und leiten. Mögen Deine Segnungen mit ihm sein, wenn wir ihn aussenden, im Namen Jesus Christus. Amen. Gott segne dich.
E-33 Wir sind an die Telefonübertragung angeschlossen. Sie kostet fünfzig Cent pro Minute. Ich weiß nicht, ob noch jemand hier ist, für den wir beten sollen. Kommt hierher, sagt euren Namen durch das Mikrophon, das hier ist, Brüder. [Die folgenden Männer nennen ihre Namen: Pat Tyler, Claude Bogges, Dale Hargissy, James Humes, Earl Horner. - Verf.] Sind das alle? Kommt hierher, Brüder. Ihr Männer, glaubt ihr, dass diese Botschaft die Wahrheit ist und von Gott kommt? Glaubt ihr das von ganzem Herzen? Ihr habt das Verlangen und wünscht, dass wir euch die Hände auflegen sollen. Wir möchten, dass ihr wißt, dass wir zu euch stehen und alles tun werden, was wir vermögen, um euch zu helfen. Jetzt möchte ich, dass ihr Brüder hierher kommt, damit ich euch die Hände auflegen kann. Kommt hierher. Laßt uns alle die Häupter beugen, während wir ihnen die Hände auflegen.
Lieber Gott, hier ist eine Gruppe von Männern. Ich lege meine Hände auf jeden von ihnen im Namen von Jesus Christus, dem Sohn Gottes. Und mögen Sie, die Sie berufen haben, Minister zu sein, mögen sie [unklare Worte]. Wir geben ihnen die rechte Hand der Gemeinschaft und beten deine Segnungen, um bei ihnen zu sein, Herr [unklare Worte]. Mögen sie arbeiten und dir in der Eigenschaft dienen, zu der du sie berufen hast. Mögen sie galante, echte Diener von dir sein. Gewähre es, Herr. Wir fragen es in Jesu Christi Namen. Amen.
E-34 Gott segne euch alle, Brüder. Gott segne dich; Gott segne dich, Bruder; Gott segne dich; Gott segne dich, Bruder Humes. Der Herr sei mit dir, jeder Einzelne. Es soll die Krawatte sein, die unsere Herzen in der christlichen Liebe bindet; die Gemeinschaft von verwandten Köpfen ist dem oben ähnlich.
Ist Er nicht wunderbar? Denkt nur, wie viele Prediger heute Abend hier sind, denen die Hände aufgelegt wurden!
Ich wußte nicht, dass wir an die Telefonübertragung angeschlossen sind. Mögen die Leute mir deswegen vergeben.
Ich habe es nicht gewußt. Ich wußte wirklich nicht, dass sie diese kleine Botschaft heute Abend übertragen werden.
E-35 Jetzt werden wir das Wort lesen, beten und uns dann sofort in diese Botschaft vertiefen, von der ich spüre, dass der Heilige Geist möchte, dass ich sie heute Abend bringe.
Und nun, während wir uns wieder in den ... für den Text drehen (ich werde es gleich ankündigen), wenden wir uns an 4. Moses, das zweiundzwanzigste Kapitel, Vers 31 - 4. Moses 22:31, für einen Text.
Während ihr es aufschlagt, um es zu lesen oder zu notieren, möchte ich euch alle bitten, meiner zu gedenken, bis ich euch wiedersehe. Ich hoffe, dass es irgendwann in diesem Sommer sein wird, so der Herr will. Wenn etwas dazwischenkommt, so dass ich nicht nach Übersee gehen kann, komme ich hierher zurück. Doch aufgrund dessen, wie sich alles ergeben hat, glauben wir, dass der Heilige Geist uns jetzt auf einen Weg schickt, den Er selbst dazu gewählt hat. Das ist die Art, wie wir es tun möchten. Der Herr segne euch.
E-36 Vater, wir sind im Begriff, Dein Wort zu lesen. Segne es und salbe es, damit wir es verstehen. Wir bitten es im Namen Jesu Christi. Amen.
Das Buch der 4. Moses, das zweiundzwanzigste Kapitel und der einunddreißigste Vers:
Da öffnete der HERR dem Bileam die Augen, daß er den Engel des HERRN sah im Wege stehen und ein bloßes Schwert in seiner Hand, und er neigte und bückte sich mit seinem Angesicht.
Nachdem wir gelesen haben, möchte ich einen Text daraus aufbauen und das Thema nehmen: Ändert Gott je Seinen Sinn über Sein Wort?
Das ist ein besonderes Thema und zugleich eine gewaltige Wahrheit, die wir begreifen müssen. Kann Gott etwas sagen und anschließend erklären: „Es tut Mir leid, dass Ich es sagte.”? Kann Gott Sein Wort zurücknehmen, nachdem Er es ausgesprochen hat?
E-37 Der Grund, weshalb ich diese Darlegung wählte, besteht darin, weil es eine der Stellen in der Bibel ist, durch die manch ein Leser zu beweisen versucht, dass Gott Seine Meinung ändert, und dass daraus klarer hervorginge, dass Er Seine Gedanken ändert, als aus irgendeiner anderen Stelle in der Bibel, weil Er dem Bileam zunächst etwas sagte und später etwas ganz anderes. Viele Menschen haben versucht, Bileam einfach als einen Wahrsager hinzustellen. Doch Bileam war kein Wahrsager; er war ein Prophet des Herrn.
Zunächst einmal wollen wir einen Gesamtumriß der Botschaft geben. Israel befand sich auf der Reise von Ägypten nach Palästina. Der Herr war mit ihnen. Jeder Feind, der sich Israel entgegenstellte, wurde aus dem Wege geräumt, denn Gott hatte gesagt, dass Er Hornissen vor ihnen her senden und die Feinde vor ihnen vertreiben würde, solange sie im Gehorsam zu Seinem Gebot wandelten. Die Aufgabe war nie zu schwer. Die Amalekiter, die Riesen jener Tage, konnten den Israeliten nichts anhaben, obwohl es Menschen von kleiner Gestalt waren. Doch sie wandelten in dem SO SPRICHT DER HERR. Ganz gleich, wie groß der Widerstand war, Gott sorgte immer dafür, dass die Worte Seiner Verheißung für Israel nicht fehlschlugen.
E-38 Israel im Alten Testament ist ein Schattenbild auf die Braut des Neuen Testaments. Sie ist aus der Welt herausgekommen und befindet sich auf dem Weg nach dem Kanaan, wohin wir gehen: in das Tausendjährige Reich.
Wir erkennen, dass Moab hier ein Schattenbild auf die Gemeinde ist. Sie hatten gerade einige Könige geschlagen, die Feinde ausgerottet, alles getötet und das Land in Besitz genommen. Dann zogen sie in das Land Moab. Moab war keinesfalls eine heidnische Nation. Moab war eine Nation, die demselben Gott diente, dem auch Israel diente. Das Land Moab stammte von einem Sohn Lots ab, den er mit seiner Tochter hatte. Er war der Gründer dieser Nation, hatte sie organisiert, angesehene Männer eingesetzt und eine große Nation daraus gemacht. Sie hatten sich vermehrt, und es ging ihnen gut.
Israel stammt von dem Samen Abrahams, nicht von Lot. Israel kam von Isaak und Jakob. Es hatte seinen Anfang in den zwölf Söhnen Jakobs, der später Israel genannt wurde, weil er mit dem Herrn gerungen hatte.
Und Moab hier ....
E-39 Jetzt in diesem.... Denen, die durch die Übertragung mithören, möchte ich zunächst folgendes sagen: Ich will nicht kritisch sein, und ich hoffe, dass ich es auch nicht bin, doch ich muss der Botschaft, die mir anvertraut wurde, treu sein, sonst bin ich ein Heuchler. Ich kann nicht mehr sagen als das, wozu ich gesandt wurde, damit ich es sage. Ich meine, dass der große Feind der christlichen Gesellschaft von heute die organisierten Kirchen sind. Ich glaube von ganzem Herzen, dass sie sich schlußendlich in das Malzeichen des Tieres formieren. Ich meine, das kann ich mit der Hilfe Gottes durch die Bibel beweisen, und ich habe es bereits getan. Das Malzeichen des Tieres wird durch den Zusammenschluß der Kirchen in Kraft treten. Gott hat noch niemals eine organisierte Kirche anerkannt. Niemals tat Er es. Jedesmal, wenn Menschen eine Organisation gründeten, verließ der Geist Gottes sie und kehrte nie wieder zurück. Fragt einen Historiker oder lest es selbst nach. Niemals tat Er es. Sobald sie sich organisierten, schob Gott sie beiseite. Das geschah, und dort blieben sie. Ihre Mitgliedszahlen nahmen zwar zu, doch nie wieder gab es ein Erwachen des Geistes; nie wieder!
E-40 Moab ist ein Sinnbild darauf, denn sie waren eine organisierte Nation in ihrem eigenen Land, wie sie es in ihren Denominationen sind. Sie hatten ihre eigene Religion. Ihre Religion war dieselbe wie die Israels. Sie waren Moabiter und glaubten an Jehova Gott, aber sie waren eine organisierte Gruppe von Menschen.
So, wie sie die natürliche Gemeinde repräsentieren, stellt Israel die geistliche Gemeinde auf ihrer Reise dar. Israel war keine organisierte Nation. Solange sie Gott folgten, waren sie frei. Sie zogen umher, waren nicht seßhaft, hatten keinen Wohnsitz; wo immer die Feuersäule sich hinbegab, dahin folgten sie ihr. Sie waren keine organisierte Nation. Durch die Beschneidung wurden sie zwar zu einem Organismus, über den Gott die Herrschaft hatte, doch zu der Zeit waren sie keine organisierte Nation. Als sie schließlich doch zu einer organisierten Nation wurden, fielen sie und lehnten ihren Messias ab.
E-41 Wir können sehen, dass es immer, wenn sich die natürlichen und geistlichen Geister von Gemeinden und Organisationen begegnen, einen Zusammenstoß gibt. Es war noch nie anders. Immer gibt es einen Zusammenstoß. Das kommt daher, weil Eifersucht dabei im Spiel ist. Diese Eifersucht verursacht natürliche Vergleiche und Nachahmungen. Wir stellen fest, dass es heute noch genauso ist wie damals: Wenn Gott durch einen einzelnen etwas tut, dann versuchen alle, das zu kopieren, was Gott durch diese eine Person getan hat. Seht, es kommt zu einem Wetteifern, das fleischlich ist. Wenn die andere Seite die geistlichen Resultate nicht erzielen kann, dann versucht sie es durch eine Art politische Macht, oder man bringt einen Ersatz, um damit die Gesinnung der Leute aufzubringen und dann Jünger in seine Gefolgschaft zu ziehen.
Genau das ereignete sich direkt am Anfang zwischen Kain und Abel, diesen beiden Jungen, die hier auf Erden lebten. Als Abel, im Gegensatz zu Kain, Gott ein wohlgefälliges Opfer darbrachte und Gott ihn noch bestätigte, indem Er sich herabneigte und sein Opfer annahm, stieg Eifersucht in Kain auf. Er war eifersüchtig auf seinen Bruder und erschlug ihn.
E-42 Es begann am Anfang, als das Natürliche und das Geistliche zusammentraf. Dennoch beteten Kain und Abel denselben Gott an! Beide bauten dieselbe Art von Altar, und beide beteten den gleichen Gott in der gleichen Gemeinde an, auch ihre Altäre waren gleich. Kain jedoch brachte aufgrund seiner menschlichen Vernunft die Frucht des Landes dar, legte sie als Opfer auf den Altar und meinte, dass sie als Versöhnung Gott gegenüber Genüge tun würde. Vielleicht brachte er dazu Äpfel, weil er - wie die Menschen heute - der Meinung war, dass Äpfel, von denen Adam und Eva nahmen, die Ursache der Sünde waren. Ich glaube, jetzt ist man schon bei einem Granatapfel oder etwas Ähnlichem angelangt. Vor nicht langer Zeit sagte jemand, dass es sogar noch etwas anderes gewesen sein soll.
Abel jedoch hatte das rechte Opfer. Er wußte, dass es durch Blut geschehen war. Deshalb brachte er ein Lamm dar, und Gott nahm es an. Abel tat es durch Glauben, durch Offenbarung - einen anderen Weg gibt es nicht. Damals war die Bibel noch nicht geschrieben worden. Ihr seht also, dass der Ursprung der Gerechtigkeit die geoffenbarte Wahrheit Gottes ist, und darauf ist die gesamte Gemeinde des lebendigen Gottes gegründet.
E-43 Als Jesus eines Tages vom Berg herabkam, fragte Er Seine Jünger: „Für wen halten die Leute den Menschensohn?”
„Die einen sagen, Du seist Moses, die anderen, Du bist Elia oder Jeremia, oder einer der Propheten!”
ER fragte weiter: „Ihr aber - für wen haltet ihr Mich?”
Da wurde der Apostel Petrus von Gott inspiriert, durch den Geist lebendig gemacht und machte jenen gewaltigen Ausspruch: „DU bist Christus, der Sohn des lebendigen Gottes.”
Beachtet die Erklärung: „Selig bist du, Simon, Sohn des Jonas, denn nicht Fleisch und Blut haben dir dies geoffenbart, sondern Mein Vater im Himmel. Du bist Petrus; auf diesem Felsen...” Auf was für einem Felsen? Die Katholiken sagen: „Auf Petrus, dem Felsen.” Die Protestanten sagen: „Auf Christus, dem Felsen.” Ich sage das nicht, um mich zu unterscheiden, doch es ging um die Offenbarung, wer Er war, die Petrus empfing. Jesus sagte: „Niemand kann zu Mir kommen, wenn nicht der Vater, der Mich gesandt hat, ihn zieht. Alle, die der Vater Mir gegeben hat, werden zu Mir kommen.”
„DU bist Christus, der Sohn des lebendigen Gottes.”
„Selig bist du, Simon, Sohn des Jonas, denn nicht Fleisch und Blut haben dir das geoffenbart, sondern Mein Vater im Himmel. Auf diesem Felsen will Ich Meine Gemeinde erbauen, und die Pforten der Hölle werden sie nicht überwältigen.” Es war das geistlich geoffenbarte Wort Gottes.
E-44 Beachtet, durch Glauben brachte Abel Gott ein wohlgefälliges Opfer dar. Der verstandesmäßige Gläubige dachte, dass es das Werk seiner eigenen Hände wäre - seine Früchte und das schöne Opfer, das er darbrachte -, was Gott anerkennen würde, und da gab es den Zusammenstoß.
Wir wissen, dass es auch bei Abraham und Lot einen Zusammenstoß gab. Wir stellen fest, dass Moses mit Korah und Dathan einen Zusammenstoß hatte. Moses war ein verordneter Prophet mit dem Wort des Herrn. Er hatte die Bestätigung, dass er erwählt worden war, in jener Zeit ihr Führer zu sein. Abraham wurden all diese Dinge verheißen, und Moses führte genau das aus, was Gott vorhergesagt hatte. Korah, der menschlich gesonnen war, wollte eine Organisation unter ihnen gründen. Er brachte eine Gruppe von Männern zusammen. Auf diese Weise verhandelt Gott mit den Menschen aber nicht. Hier an dieser Stelle der Schrift wird uns als Schattenbild auf die heutige Pilgerreise gezeigt, dass Organisationen nicht etwas sind, was Gott verordnet hat. Sobald Korah das getan hatte, sagte er zu Moses: „Du beanspruchst für dich zu viel.”, in anderen Worten: „Die ganze Versammlung ist doch heilig. Willst du etwa sagen, dass du der einzige heilige Mann hier bist? Dazu hast du kein Recht. Du versuchst, etwas Großes aus dir zu machen. Wir alle sind heilig. Wir alle sind Kinder Gottes.”
Moses aber wandte sich ab und ging davon. Er sagte: „Herr, was soll ich tun?”
Gott sprach: „Sondert euch ab von ihnen. Ich habe genug!” ER tat die Erde auf, und sie wurden verschlungen.
E-45 Seht, dort gab es einen Zusammenstoß. Wenn die menschlich und die geistlich Gesonnenen aufeinandertreffen, erfolgt immer ein Zusammenstoß. Als Judas und Jesus sich gegenüberstanden, gab es einen Zusammenstoß. Der eine war der Sohn Gottes, der andere der Sohn Satans. So wie bei Kain und Abel gab es auch bei ihnen einen Zusammenstoß, als sie zusammentrafen. Einer von ihnen war der Kassierer der Gemeinde, der andere war der Hirte. Heute gehen wir auf das gleiche zu, und zwar zwischen der menschlichen Denomination und der geistlichen Braut Christi. Die geistliche Braut Christi unterscheidet sich so sehr von den menschlichen Organisationen, dass man sie überhaupt nicht miteinander vergleichen kann.
E-46 Beachtet: Der Natürliche versucht immer, den Geistlichen nachzuahmen. Doch wie bei Jakob und Esau wird es nicht gelingen. Es kann nicht gelingen. Wenn es darauf ankommt, gute Werke zu tun, so glaube ich, dass Esau in den Augen der Leute tatsächlich ein besserer Mensch war als Jakob. Er sorgte für seinen Vater, den Propheten, der blind war, und tat noch viele andere Dinge. Doch Esau bedachte nicht, dass dies nur menschliche Werke waren. Er meinte, dass er dadurch hineinkommen würde, wenn er etwas Gutes an jemandem tut. Das war zwar in Ordnung, doch Jakob verlangte mit seiner ganzen Seele danach, das Erstgeburtsrecht zu bekommen, und das hat Gott in ihm als geistlich anerkannt.
E-47 Beachtet, das war immer die Ursache dafür, dass die Natürlichen die Geistlichen haßten. Es veranlaßte Kain, Abel zu hassen. Es veranlaßte Korah, Moses zu hassen. Es war der Anlaß dafür, dass Judas Jesus haßte. Man könnte damit fortfahren. Es verursacht, dass die Natürlichen die Geistlichen hassen - wie Kain am Anfang Abel haßte, denjenigen, dessen Opfer Gott angenommen hatte - und dass sie versuchen, sie zu zerstören. Sie versuchen, ihren Einfluß und alles andere zu zerstören. Es ist nichts als Eifersucht, die mit Kain begann. Es ist erwiesen, dass es Eifersucht war. Auch heute ist es noch dasselbe, wenn das Natürliche, das Menschliche mit dem Geistlichen zusammentrifft. Das ist der Beweis, dass es Satan ist und nichts anderes, denn Eifersucht kommt vom Satan und verursacht eine Nachahmung der Wahrheit; das heißt, jemand versucht etwas nachzuahmen, zu dem er nicht bestimmt worden ist. Wieviel haben wir davon in diesen letzten Tagen gesehen! Oh, wieviel!
Wir sehen, dass Gott Seine Gedanken über Sein ursprüngliches Wort in Ewigkeit nicht ändert, sondern dass Er denjenigen, den Er ruft, auch dazu bestimmt hat. Niemand anders kann diesen Platz einnehmen. Niemand konnte den Platz Moses einnehmen. Ganz gleich, wie viele Korahs und wie viele Dathans sich erhoben, Moses war es, den Gott gerufen hatte.
E-48 Aber… Wenn die Menschen nicht in Seinem vollkommenen Willen wandeln wollen, dann hat Er einen zugelassenen Willen, in dem Er sie wandeln läßt. Beachtet, Er gestattet es zwar, wird es aber gemäß Seinem vollkommenen Willen zu Seiner Ehre hinausführen.
Genau wie am Anfang, es war nicht der vollkommene Wille Gottes, dass Kinder durch eine geschlechtliche Beziehung auf diese Erde geboren werden. Nein. Gott schuf den Menschen aus dem Staub der Erde, blies ihm den Lebensodem ein, und er wurde zu einer lebendigen Seele. Dann nahm Er aus dem Mann eine Gehilfin heraus und machte ihm so ein Weib. Das war Gottes erster und ursprünglicher Wille. Als aber die Sünde hineinkam und das verursachte, was geschehen ist, gestattete Er, dass der Mann eine Frau gesetzlich heiratet und Kinder mit ihr hat. „Seid fruchtbar und füllet die Erde an, wenn ihr es so tun wollt.” Doch seht, es war nie Sein vollkommener Wille.
E-49 Deshalb müssen all diese Dinge, die einen Anfang hatten, auch ein Ende haben. Die Sünde muss völlig vernichtet werden. Jede Sünde muss hinweggetan werden. Deshalb werden wir bei der Auferstehung im großen Tausendjährigen Reich nicht noch einmal durch unseren Vater und unsere Mutter geboren werden müssen, sondern Gott wird, wie Er es am Anfang tat, die Menschen aus dem Staube der Erde rufen und seine Gehilfin mit ihm. Das stimmt. So tat Er es am Anfang.
Gott ändert also niemals Seinen Sinn über etwas, doch Er gestattet, dass ihr weitermacht. Es war ein langer Umweg, um zu dem zu gelangen, was ich eigentlich darüber sagen will. Doch ich möchte, dass ihr es versteht. Gott kann gestatten, dass ihr etwas tut, und euch dabei sogar segnen, und dennoch ist es nicht Sein vollkommener Wille.
E-50 Gott ließ zu, dass Israel ein Gesetz annahm, wie es in 2. Moses 19 steht. Obwohl die Gnade ihnen bereits einen Propheten, die Feuersäule, das Opferlamm und die Befreiungskraft gegeben hatte, riefen sie nach einem Gesetz. Es war zwar nicht der Wille Gottes, aber es wurde eingefügt, weil die Menschen es wollten. Und genau durch das Gesetz, das sie verlangten, wurden sie verflucht. Das beste ist, wenn der Wille Gottes geschieht. ER hat uns das gelehrt: „Dein Wille geschehe, Dein Reich komme.” Dein Wille geschehe!
Wir müssen uns Seinem Willen und Seinem Wort fügen. Stellt es nicht in Frage; glaubt es! Versucht nicht, einen Weg zu finden, um daran vorbeizukommen, sondern nehmt es einfach so, wie es ist. Viele wollen daran vorbeigehen und einen anderen Weg einschlagen. Wenn ihr das tut, stellt ihr zwar fest, dass ihr vorwärtsgeht und dass Gott euch segnet, doch ihr handelt in Seinem zugelassenen und nicht in Seinem perfekt, göttlichen Willen.
Wie ich bereits sagte, gestattet Er es, doch es wird niemals Sein perfekter Wille sein. Dennoch wird Er es so geschehen lassen, dass es sich zu Seiner Ehre und zu Seinem vollkommenen Willen auswirkt. Eines dieser Dinge ist die Geburt von Kindern durch geschlechtliche Beziehung.
E-51 Beachtet, Moab war von Anfang an eine unehelich geborene Nation. Sie begann unehelich; durch einen Vater, der gläubig war, und durch eine Tochter, die gläubig war. Wenn ihr die Bedeutung dieses Sinnbildes erkennt und ein geistliches Verständnis anwendet, könnt ihr die Denomination so klar, wie es nur sein kann, dort stehen sehen. Gewiß. Seht, die ganze Sache ist vollkommen verkehrt. Seht, wenn es so beginnt, dann rollt es wie ein Schneeball, der immer weiter rollt. Wenn ihr mit einem Irrtum beginnt und mit diesem einen Irrtum weitergeht, kommt einer nach dem anderen dazu; einer folgt auf den anderen. Genauso begann die Kirche.
So entstand zu Nizäa - Rom die römisch-katholische Kirche. Ihr eigentlicher Anfang war zu Pfingsten, doch als man organisierte und die Angesehenen in die Gemeinde hineinbrachte, feststehende Gebete, den Rosenkranz, das Gebet für die Toten und all die anderen Dinge einführte, kam ein Irrtum zum anderen, und es setzte sich immer weiter fort. Seht, wohin es gekommen ist. Es gibt nicht eine Spur von dem, was zu Pfingsten war, mehr darin. Ein Irrtum hat den anderen nach sich gezogen, und der andere den nächsten. Es gibt nur eines, was man tun kann; das ist, sich der ganzen Sache zu entledigen und zum Anfang zurückzugehen.
Martin Luther begann mit der Rechtfertigung. Dieses sollte die weiterentwickelte lutherische Gemeinde sein. Als sie sich organisiert hatten, konnten sie die Heiligung, die Wesley predigte, nicht annehmen, weil sie organisiert waren und er nicht dafür eintrat. So verließ sie der Geist.
E-52 Die Gruppe Lots - besser gesagt, das Kind der Tochter Lots, Moab, war unehelich geboren worden. Merkt euch; so, wie die natürliche Gemeinde, Moab, die natürlichen Denominationen versinnbildlicht, ist Israel ein Schattenbild auf die geistliche Gemeinde. Israel, die wahre Gemeinde, war die Braut jener Zeit, die aus Ägypten herausgerufen und als Wahrheit bestätigt worden war.
Beachtet, was geschieht, wenn diese beiden zusammentreffen. Beide brachten dasselbe Opfer dar, beide bauten sieben Altäre, beide opferten reine Tiere - Stiere. Sie opferten sogar Widder, als Zeugnis dafür, dass der Messias kommen sollte. Fundamental gesehen waren sie beide genau gleich: Israel hier im Tal, Moab im Gebirge. Moab hatte sieben Altäre, und Israel hatte sieben Altäre. Moab opferte sieben Stiere, und Israel opferte sieben Stiere. Moab brachte sieben Widder, die auf das Kommen des Messias hinwiesen, dar, und Israel ebenfalls. Worin bestand nun der Unterschied zwischen ihnen? Fundamental gesehen waren beide richtig. Doch ihr seht, Moab hatte nicht die Bestätigung Gottes unter sich. Sie waren nur eine Nation, eine angesehene Gruppe, doch Israel hatte einen Propheten bei sich. Sie hatten den geschlagenen Felsen bei sich. Die Feuersäule war bei ihnen. Die eherne Schlange war zur Heilung aufgerichtet worden. Die Segnungen Gottes begleiteten sie. Sie waren die herausgerufenen Kinder Gottes!
E-53 Wir sehen, dass dies ein vollkommenes Sinnbild auf die Kirchen von heute ist. Israel hatte keinen festen Wohnsitz, sondern zog von Ort zu Ort. Wohin sich die Feuersäule begab, dahin gingen auch sie. Mit Moab war es nicht so: Sie waren in ihrer eigenen Denomination ansässig geworden, in ihrem eigenen Land. Sie zogen nicht umher, sondern blieben dort. Sie hatten ihre Würdenträger. Sie erließen ihre Bestimmungen, wie sie handeln sollten; sie hatten ihre Krieger, ihre Kämpfer; sie hatten ihren König, von dem sie ihre Befehle empfingen, usw.
Doch Moab sah, dass Israel etwas hatte, was sie nicht besaßen. Sie sahen eine mächtige Kraft inmitten Israels, und das war ein Prophet. Der Prophet war Moses. Sie wußten, dass man seine Arme hochhielt und stützte, wenn der Kampf ungünstig für sie verlief, und dass sich die Schlacht dann zu ihren Gunsten wandte. So etwas besaßen sie nicht. Also versuchten sie, das durch Politik auszugleichen - durch einen politischen Schachzug. Sie sandten in ein anderes Land und mieteten einen Propheten, damit er käme, so dass auch sie einen Propheten, eine Kraft in ihrer Mitte hatten, wie auch Israel.
Seht ihr die menschliche Nachahmung? Könnt ihr die natürliche Gemeinde von heute sehen? Sie hat genau das gleiche getan.
E-54 Beachtet: Nun hatten sie beide einen Propheten. Der einzige Unterschied bestand darin, dass Moses der Prophet Gottes und dass sein König Gott war. Von Ihm erhielt er seine Befehle, das Wort des Herrn. Auch Bileam hatte einen König, und dieser König war Balak, der König der Moabiter. Von ihm bekam er seine Befehle und seine Segnungen. Balak ließ Bileam sagen: „Komm her und verfluche mir dieses Volk, denn sie breiten sich über die ganze Erde aus. Sie ziehen herauf und fressen alles kahl, wie die Rinder das Gras abfressen.” Er bat: „Komm doch, denn ich weiß, dass du sowohl zu fluchen wie auch zu segnen verstehst. Was immer du tust, das gilt.”
Wir wollen beachten, dass dieser Mann ein von Gott eingesetzter Prophet war, doch er verkaufte sein Erstgeburtsrecht aus politischen Gründen, so wie es die Gemeinde heute tat. Die Lutheraner, die Wesleyaner, die Pfingstler - die ganze Gruppe hat es um Vorteile in ihrer Denomination willen preisgegeben. Moses war Gott und Bileam war Balak unterstellt. Dennoch waren beide Propheten von Gott gerufen und geistliche Männer. Doch beachtet den Unterschied. Jeder hatte ein Haupt: das von Moses war Gott; das von Bileam war Balak.
E-55 Seht, wie das Geistliche hier angewandt wird, um zu beweisen, dass das Natürliche verkehrt ist. Moses, der von Gott gesandt war und das tat, was ihm aufgetragen wurde, begegnet einem anderen Propheten Gottes und wird von ihm herausgefordert. Könnt ihr euch das vorstellen? Moses, der von Gott gerufen und eingesetzt worden war und im Dienste Gottes stand, zog hinüber in diese kalte, formelle Gruppe und wurde von einem anderen Propheten Gottes herausgefordert, den Gott ebenfalls gesegnet und eingesetzt hatte. Wie könntet ihr es unterscheiden? Beide waren Propheten, und Gott sprach zu diesen beiden Propheten.
Manche sagen: „Gott sagte: 'Tue dies.', Gott sagte: 'Tue das.'” Das bestreite ich nicht, doch der eine Prophet war nicht in Übereinstimmung mit dem Worte Gottes. Auch wenn er ein Prophet war, war er nicht in Übereinstimmung damit. So viele Menschen werden in dieser Weise betrogen.
Es heißt: „Oh, dieser Bruder kann das tun.” und „Der Bruder kann jenes tun.” und leugnen das Wort?
E-56 „Wenn ich mit Menschen- und mit Engelzungen redete und hätte Gaben, so dass ich Berge versetzen könnte, und wenn ich all mein Habe den Armen gäbe, so wäre ich nichts.” „Viele werden an jenem Tage kommen und zu Mir sagen: 'Herr, Herr, haben wir nicht in Deinem Namen geweissagt? Haben wir nicht in Deinem Namen Teufel ausgetrieben und mächtige Taten vollführt?' Und Ich werde ihnen sagen: 'Hinweg von Mir, ihr Täter der Gesetzlosigkeit.' ICH habe euch nie gekannt.” Sie kamen zwar mit dem Bekenntnis, dass sie das getan hatten, aber Jesus bezeichnet sie als Übeltäter. Was ist Gesetzlosigkeit? Es bedeutet, dass ihr wißt, was ihr tun solltet und dass es richtig ist, es zu tun; und dennoch tut ihr es nicht. Seht ihr, wie es in den letzten Tagen sein wird? Betrachtet das Gesamtbild.
Das ist heute Abend meine Absicht. Ich habe gesagt, dass ich um 21:00 Uhr schließen werde, doch es wird wohl ein wenig später werden. Es ist meine Absicht, euch heute Abend aus dem Worte Gottes den ganzen Zusammenhang zu zeigen, dass Gott Sein Wort halten muss, weil Er Gott ist und es Ihm entspricht.
E-57 Wir haben festgestellt, dass beide geistliche Männer, beide Propheten und beide berufen waren. Moses führte seinen Dienst gewissenhaft aus; jeden Tag sah er die Feuersäule neu vor sich; der Geist Gottes ruhte auf ihm; er befand sich in Ausübung seiner Pflicht. Dann kam ein anderer Knecht Gottes, der von Gott gerufen, von Gott bestimmt, ein Prophet war und an den das Wort Gottes erging. Darin liegt die Gefahr. Niemand konnte leugnen, dass der Geist Gottes zu ihm sprach und dass er ein Prophet war. Doch ihr wißt: Als er die echte Antwort von Gott bekam, handelte er nicht danach. Er beachtete sie nicht. Er ging hin, um Moses herauszufordern.
E-58 Bileam verlangte von ganzem Herzen, den Willen Gottes zu erfahren. Als diese angesehenen Männer zu ihm kamen und sagten: „Bileam, der König Balak hat uns gesandt und läßt dir sagen: 'Komme unverzüglich und verfluche dieses Volk Israel, denn sie verbreiten sich auf der ganzen Erde, und jetzt haben sie sich mir gegenüber festgesetzt. Sie haben alle anderen Königreiche ringsum besiegt. Ich möchte deshalb, dass du herüberkommst und dieses Volk verfluchst, denn ich weiß: wem du fluchst, der ist verflucht!'” Seht, er war ein Mann Gottes. „Was du segnest, ist gesegnet.” Er war ein Knecht Gottes.
Weil Bileam ein Prophet war, dachte er: „Für mich gibt es nur eins zu tun, das ist, den Willen Gottes zu erforschen.” Das ist die Pflicht eines Propheten, wenn er ein berufener Prophet ist.
E-59 Was also muss ein Prophet als erstes tun?
Den Willen Gottes - das Wort Gottes erforschen. Er muss es tun, denn weil er ein Prophet ist, kommt das Wort Gottes zu ihm. Man sagt: „Du bist doch kein Theologe.” Die Bibel sagt nirgends, dass Gottes Wort zu einem Theologen kommt. Sie sind es doch, die es durcheinanderbringen. Das Wort ergeht an den Propheten Gottes.
Hier war ein Mann, der ein Prophet Gottes war. Als er gedungen werden sollte, um herüberzukommen und das andere Volk Gottes zu verfluchen, beachtet, da forschte er nach dem Willen Gottes. Er wollte Seinen vollkommenen Willen wissen, und Gott tat ihm Seinen vollkommenen Willen in dieser Angelegenheit kund. Sein vollkommener Wille wurde ihm mitgeteilt. Was war Sein Wille? „Gehe nicht!” Das war das erste Wort Gottes. „Gehe nicht mit ihnen! Versuche nicht, Mein Volk anzugreifen, das auf Meinen vollkommenen Wegen wandelt!”
Wie ist es heute? Sie wollen streiten, debattieren und alles mögliche tun, wenn sie sehen, dass der Geist Gottes unter uns wirksam ist, und sie versuchen, wie sie es schon seit Jahren tun, es zu ersticken. Doch je mehr sie es unterdrücken wollen, desto größer wird es. Ihr könnt nicht verfluchen, was Gott gesegnet hat! Ihr könnt es einfach nicht!
E-60 Seht, es war das Volk Gottes. Dieser Prophet kam dorthin, hatte sich dem König verdungen und bewegte sich unter den Angesehenen. Dennoch erging das Wort Gottes an ihn. Er suchte den Willen Gottes zu erfahren und Gott tat ihm Seinen Willen kund und sprach: „Verfluche dieses Volk nicht. ICH habe es gesegnet.”
Es gibt keinen Theologen unter dem Himmel, der leugnen kann, dass diese Botschaft, die wir predigen, genau das Wort Gottes für diese Zeit ist. Gott hat sie in allem, was gesagt und getan wurde, bestätigt. ER hat bewiesen, dass sie wahr ist. Es gibt keinen Theologen, keinen Bibelleser, keinen Propheten - wenn es ein richtiger Prophet ist - der in das Wort hineinschauen und etwas anderes erkennen könnte. Wenn er nicht dasselbe sieht, dann ist es ein Zeichen dafür, dass etwas nicht stimmt.
Ihr sagt: „Oh, ich könnte es genau umgekehrt nehmen.” Das hätten auch Bileam und Balak gekonnt. Doch Gott hat Moses beglaubigt. Was war denn der Beweis? Das Wort Gottes. Er vernahm die klare und eindeutige Entscheidung Gottes: „Gehe nicht! Versuche nicht zu verfluchen, was Ich gesegnet habe. Sie sind Mein Volk.” Doch wißt ihr, was? Bileam hat dieses Volk von Anfang an nicht gemocht. Oh, wie viele Bileams gibt es heute auf der Welt! Er mochte diese Gruppe von Anfang an nicht.
E-61 Er hatte den eindeutigen Beschluß Gottes gehört: „Gehe nicht!” Doch ihr seht, anstatt danach zu handeln - es war ja dasselbe wie bei Kain und Korah: er war eifersüchtig - suchte er nach einem Grund, dass er trotzdem gehen konnte.
Seht, er sandte sie zurück zu ihrem Denominationshauptquartier und ließ sagen: „Nein, ich gehe nicht; ich glaube nicht, dass ich mit ihnen etwas zu tun haben möchte. Ich will mit diesen Leuten nicht debattieren, denn Gott hat mich wissen lassen, dass sie Sein Volk sind. Ich glaube nicht, dass ich hingehen werde.” Wenn er nur dabei geblieben wäre! Doch tief in seinem Herzen mochte er sie nicht. Sie gehörten nicht zu seiner Gruppe, und alles, was nicht zu seiner Gruppe gehörte, war von vornherein nicht richtig. Er sah auf sie herab und sprach: „Es sind einige furchtbare Dinge, die dieses Volk getan hat. Sicher wird ein heiliger Gott solch ein Volk wie das verfluchen. Sie sind ungebildet. Sie sind nicht so geschult wie wir. Wir sind gescheitere Menschen. Oh, sie stellen den Anspruch, Gott zu dienen, doch seht sie euch an! Was sind sie? Eine Gruppe Sklaven, Lehmgräber, die von den Ägyptern vertrieben worden sind. Nun, Gott wird sich doch nicht mit solch einer schmutzigen Gruppe wie dieser befassen.”
E-62 Den geschlagenen Felsen, die eherne Schlange und die Feuersäule sah er nicht. Er versuchte sie von einem moralischen Standpunkt aus zu beurteilen. Er erkannte die höhere Berufung Gottes nicht. Aus Gnaden, durch Erwählung und aufgrund des Wortes Gottes befanden sie sich dort. Als er sie verfluchen wollte, sagte Gott: „Tue das nicht; sie gehören mir! Laß sie in Ruhe! Taste sie nicht an!”
Daraufhin kehrten die Männer um und gingen wieder zurück. Beachtet, was ihr Denominationshauptquartier tat, als sie zurückkamen. Es sandte eine einflußreichere Gruppe. Diesmal waren es nicht nur einfache Laien; es mögen Doktoren der Theologie gewesen sein, die diesmal kamen; vielleicht Bischöfe, vielleicht Bezirksvorsteher. Er sandte eine fähigere, eine einflußreichere Gruppe, jemand, der eine höhere Bildung besaß, ihm den Plan besser darlegen und ihn vernünftig erklären konnte.
E-63 Seht, das tat Kain: er tat es durch Vernunft. Das tat Korah. Er kam mit Vernunft. ER will nicht, dass wir es begründen. Wir legen die Verstandesüberlegung beiseite und glauben Gott. Ganz gleich, was irgendjemand anders sagt; wir glauben Gott. Wir streiten nicht über das, was Gott sagt. Ihr könnt es nicht begründen, sondern müßt es im Glauben annehmen. Wenn ihr etwas erkannt habt, dann braucht ihr doch nicht mehr darüber zu streiten. Ich weiß nicht, wie Er die Verheißung einlösen wird, doch Er hat zugesagt, dass Er es tun wird. Ich glaube es. Ich nehme es auf dieser Grundlage an, denn ich glaube, dass es das Wort Gottes ist.
Ihr sagt: „Damit kommst du nicht an.” Ich weiß nicht, wie ich damit ankommen werde, doch Er sprach: „Sage es.”
Ich erinnere mich, dass mein Baptistenprediger mir sagte: „Billy, du wirst zu den Pfosten der Kapelle sprechen. Meinst du wirklich, dass sich irgendjemand so etwas anhört?”
Ich antwortete: „Gott hat es so gesagt.”
„Wie willst du mit deinen sieben Schuljahren für Könige beten und in der ganzen Welt predigen?”
E-64 Ich sagte: „Ich weiß nicht, wie ich das tun werde, doch Er hat es so gesagt, und das genügt mir. ER hat es so gesagt. Ich weiß nicht, wie es geschehen wird.”
Er wandte wieder ein: „Meinst du, dass die Menschen dieser großen, gebildeten Welt, vor die du mit dem Thema von göttlicher Heilung usw. treten willst, das glauben werden?”
Ich erwiderte: „Es ist nicht meine Sache, mich damit zu befassen, ob sie es glauben werden oder nicht. Meine Pflicht ist, es zu predigen. Das hat Er mir gesagt. ER hat mir zugesagt, dass Er mit mir sein wird, und Er sagte mir, was dadurch geschehen würde.” Genau das, was Er vorausgesagt hat, ist geschehen: Zuerst sollte ich die kranke Person bei der Hand nehmen, wobei mir die Krankheit gezeigt werden sollte. Dann sollte es geschehen, dass mir sogar die Geheimnisse der Herzen kundgetan würden. Ich habe euch davon erzählt. Es ist genauso geschehen. Wie geschieht es? Ich weiß es immer noch nicht. Es ist auch nicht meine Sache, das zu ergründen. Es geschieht einfach.
E-65 Wer kann erklären, wie das geschehen sollte, was Gott zu Elia sagte: „Gehe dorthin, und Ich werde dich dort mit Nahrung versorgen. ICH habe den Raben geboten, dir Speise zu bringen.” Wie könnte ein Rabe an Brot oder an gebratenen Fisch gelangen und es dem Propheten bringen? Das geht über alles hinaus, was ich zu erklären vermag. Ich glaube auch nicht, dass ihr es könnt. Niemand kann es. Trotzdem ließ Er es geschehen. Mehr ist nicht nötig. ER tat es, und deshalb ist es die Wahrheit. Wie Er es tat, weiß ich nicht. Das ist nicht meine Sache. ER tat es aber. Ich weiß nicht, wie Er die Erde erschuf; doch Er tat es. Ich kann nicht erklären, wie Er Seinen Sohn sandte; doch Er tat es. Ich weiß nicht, wie Er von den Toten auferstand; doch Er tat es. Wie hat Er mich gerettet? Ich kann es nicht erklären; doch Er tat es. Das stimmt. Wie hat Er euch gerettet? Ich kann es nicht erklären; doch Er tat es. Wie hat Er mich geheilt? Ich weiß es nicht; doch Er tat es. ER hat verheißen, dass Er es tun würde, und Er hält Sein Wort.
Das hätte Bileam wissen müssen, und er wußte es auch.
E-66 Beachtet, es kam eine bessere, einflußreichere Gruppe. Was war besser? Sie brachten wertvollere Geschenke. Und nicht nur das: sie konnten ihm auch mehr Geld, eine bessere Stellung bieten.“Du wirst nicht nur ein gewöhnlicher Prediger in unserer Organisation sein, sondern wir werden dich zum Bezirksvorsteher machen. Wir werden alles für dich tun, wenn du nur diese Gruppe vertreibst und dem allem ein Ende machst.” Sie boten ihm einen hohen Posten an. Sie sagten: „Segne nicht mehr. Du weißt, wir können dich befördern.”
Seht, woher er sein Wort bekam: von dem Haupt der Nation.
E-67 Woher empfing Moses seine Worte? Von dem König des Himmels. Eines davon war dieses Wort der Verheißung Gottes: „ICH werde euch in das verheißene Land bringen. Niemand soll vor euch standhalten. ICH werde Hornissen vor euch her senden und sie nach links und rechts vertreiben. Ihr werdet das Land einnehmen. ICH habe es euch schon gegeben. Geht vorwärts, nehmt es in Besitz; es gehört euch.” Seht, auf Ihn hörte Moses. Doch jener Mann hörte solange zu, bis etwas, nämlich Eifersucht, in sein Herz kam, und so begab er sich zu seinem religiösen Haupt.
Beachtet, es ging um eine bessere Stellung. Er sagte: „Weißt du, dass ich dich befördern kann? Ich werde dir eine bessere Stelle verschaffen. Ich werde noch mehr für dich tun: Dein Gehalt wird erhöht; du wirst einen höheren Lohn bekommen.” All das, was ihm angeboten wurde, hat ihn verblendet.
Wie viele Bileams gibt es heute in der Welt, die sich durch das Versprechen, eine bessere Stellung, eine bessere Gemeinde zu erhalten, blenden lassen! Einem Mann werden zum Beispiel die Augen für das Wort und das Wirken Gottes geöffnet, und dieser gute Mann bekommt Einfluß, beginnt Gott zu dienen und hat eine gute Gemeinde. Nach einer Weile wird ihm die Taufe des Heiligen Geistes vorgelegt, und er wird auf die Taufe auf den Namen Jesus hingewiesen, die schriftgemäß und überhaupt die einzige biblische Taufe ist. Wenn ihm das vorgelegt wird, weiß die Denomination, dass sie ihn verliert, wenn er damit beginnt, deshalb bieten sie ihm eine bessere Stellung und die Versetzung zu einer anderen Gemeinde an. Seht, das ist wieder genau das alte Bileamstum, wie es am Anfang war.
E-68 Ein Mensch, der die Bibel liest, kann nicht anders, als erkennen, dass es die Wahrheit ist. Darin wird von keinem berichtet, der unter Anwendung der drei Titel: „Im Namen des Vaters, des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes” getauft worden wäre. Es ist eine katholische Satzung, aber keine biblische Lehre. In der Bibel und in den ersten drei Jahrhunderten nach der Zeit der Apostel wurde niemand anders als auf den Namen Jesus Christus getauft. Die katholische Kirche fing damit an, und alle anderen haben es übernommen. Jeder Prediger, der in seinem Studierzimmer sitzt und sich damit befaßt, weiß, dass es die Wahrheit ist. Aber um der Popularität, um seines Postens und um des hohen Ansehens bei den Menschen willen, schließt er Kompromisse.
Ihr sagt: „Nun, Gott hat ihn doch gesegnet.”
Gewiß. Manche von ihnen haben Gaben der Heilung, manche haben große Feldzüge, und wenn ihnen das vor Augen gestellt wird, dann bekommen sie die gleiche Antwort aus dem Worte Gottes, die du und jeder andere Mensch auch bekommt: Gott ändert sich nicht. Seht ihr, was ich meine?
E-69 Bileam dachte an einen höheren Posten. Seht, als die Gruppe kam, die noch mehr Ansehen hatte, da wandte Bileam den verkehrten Text an. Als diese bessere Gruppe kam, hätte er sagen sollen: „Verschwindet! Ich habe euch das Wort Gottes gesagt. Geht! Dies ist SO SPRICHT DER HERR.” Doch seht, es ging ihm um die Geschenke und um mehr Ansehen bei den Menschen.
Oh, wie gern tun sie das. „Wir werden dich in die ganze Welt senden. Wir werden dir ein extra Flugzeug zur Verfügung stellen. Wir werden überall deine Versammlungen finanzieren, wenn du nur...” O nein! Wir wissen, was das Wort sagt. Wir wissen, was Gott gesagt hat. Wir werden mit der Hilfe Gottes daran festhalten. Ganz gleich, was ihr versprecht, wieviel mehr ihr zahlen könnt und wieviel von diesem oder jenem ihr bieten könnt - wir wollen das SO SPRICHT DER HERR, das, was Er zuerst gesagt hat. Was die Gemeinde sagt, ist nebensächlich. Wir wollen das, was Gott am Anfang sagte. Wer immer etwas hinzufügt oder etwas davon wegnimmt, dessen Name wird aus dem Buch des Lebens genommen - wenn nur ein Wort weggenommen oder ein Wort hinzugefügt wird. Wir wollen das, was Er sagte, nicht das, was die Kirche oder Gemeinde, was Dr. Jones oder jemand anders sagte. Wir wollen, was das SO SPRICHT DER HERR, was das Wort sagt.
E-70 Dennoch stellten wir fest, dass Bileam ein Knecht Gottes war. Viele dieser Männer beginnen, sind von Gott eingesetzt und sprechen in vielen Dingen gemäß dem Worte Gottes. Doch wenn es um die volle Wahrheit geht, wollen sie es nicht tun.
Beachtet hier: Als Prophet Gottes hätte er sich gar nicht mit solch einer Gruppe einlassen, er hätte nicht mit ihnen gehen dürfen. Doch beachtet, es geschah um der Popularität willen. Wegen seines Gewissens sagte er: „Bleibt die Nacht über hier, und ich werde es noch einmal versuchen.”
Seht: „Ich werde noch einmal versuchen!” Weshalb wollt ihr es überhaupt noch einmal versuchen? Gott hatte ihm doch bereits gesagt, was er antworten sollte. Gott sprach: „Sage ihnen, dass du nicht gehst.” Das ist Sein Originalwort. „Ich gehe nicht.” „Gehe nicht und verfluche nicht, was Ich gesegnet habe.” Doch seht, wie es auf ihn zurückkam. Das wird es jedesmal. Wenn Gott etwas sagt, dann meint Er es so. ER ändert Seinen Sinn darüber nicht. ER bleibt bei Seinem Wort. Ganz gleich, was jemand anders sagt, Er bleibt bei diesem Wort.
E-71 Bileam hätte es besser wissen müssen. Er hätte sich von einer solchen Gesellschaft entfernen sollen, aber er schaute auf die schönen Geschenke und auf das Versprechen, das der König ihm gab: „Du weißt ja, was ich zu tun vermag. Ich bin der Bischof. Ich kann tun, was mir beliebt. Ich werde dich befördern, wenn du kommst und das für mich tust.”
Gott hatte ihm doch gesagt: „Tue es nicht!”, dennoch sagte Bileam: „Bleibt die Nacht über hier. Ich werde es noch einmal versuchen.” Er hatte das Wort. Man braucht nicht mehr darüber zu argumentieren; Gott hat es so gesagt. Wenn ihr euch mit einer solchen Gruppe einlaßt, wird sie jedesmal solange reden, bis sie euch vom Willen Gottes abbringt.
E-72 Es gab einmal eine Gruppe, die zu einem Propheten kam; sein Name war Hiob. Ihn konnten sie nicht von der Sache abbringen. Er sah die Vision; er wußte, was richtig ist. Bileam sah die Vision, und dennoch hielt er sich nicht daran.
Ganz gleich aber, wie sehr diese Gemeindegruppe sagte: „O Hiob, du solltest dies tun; du müßtest das tun.”, und was seine Frau sagte, er sprach: „Du sprichst wie ein törichtes Weib. Ich weiß, was der Herr gesagt hat. Ich weiß, was Er gefordert hat, und das habe ich getan.” Seht, er blieb bei dem, was Gott ihm gesagt hatte.
Beachte, Balaam benutzt diesen falschen Text für sein Gewissen. Er sprach: „Ich werde noch einmal nachhören. Ich versuche es noch einmal.” Seht, so kommt ihr schon in das Zweitrangige hinein. Wie viele Bileams haben wir heute Abend, die den Text aus Matthäus 28:19 nur als Vorwand gebrauchen, um ihr Gewissen zu beruhigen! Wie viele wollen Maleachi 3, von Vers 19, nehmen, um ihr Gewissen zu beruhigen! Wie viele nehmen Lukas 17:30 nur um ihres Gewissens willen! Wie viele gebrauchen zwar diese Dinge, sagen aber: „Nun, ich sage euch, darin sind sie ganz durcheinander.”!
E-73 Bileam versuchte hier zu sagen: „Vielleicht hat Gott es ein wenig verwechselt. Ich werde es noch einmal versuchen, um zu sehen, was Er sagt.” Doch Er kennt euer Herz. Beachtet, Bileam gebrauchte diese Ausrede nur dazu, um sein Gewissen zu beruhigen, denn in Wirklichkeit wollte er das Geld. Er wollte das Ansehen und diese Stellung. Er wollte den Posten, damit man zu ihm als Dr. Soundso aufschauen würde. Also sagte er: „Ich werde es noch einmal versuchen.”
O die Bileams, die es heute Abend auf der Welt gibt! Man verspricht ihnen eine gute Stellung, Popularität usw. Oh! Dadurch betäuben sie ihr Gewissen, denn ihre Denominationen sagen ihnen: „Wenn du das tust, kannst du gehen. Ich weiß, dass du ein guter Mann bist, und wir lieben dich.” Der Betreffende ist tatsächlich ein guter Mensch. „Wir lieben dich, doch du kannst das nicht predigen. Unsere Lehre ist anders, und deshalb kannst du das nicht tun. Dr. Soundso hat gesagt, dass es so ist, und wenn du bei uns bleiben willst, mußt du es so glauben. Ich weiß, du hattest es schwer, doch wenn du bei uns bleibst, werde ich sehen, ob ich dich nicht befördern kann oder dich vielleicht sogar in eine andere Gemeinde versetzen.” O du Bileam! Wenn du den Willen Gottes erkannt hast, dann tue ihn! Gott wird Seine Absicht nicht ändern. Nein!
E-74 Er suchte etwas, wodurch er die Wahrheit, Seinen Auftrag, umgehen konnte, und sagte: „Ich werde es noch einmal versuchen.” Beachtet, wie viele Bileams es gibt.
Denkt daran, als in der nächsten Nacht die Würdenträger bei ihm waren und er wieder zum Herrn kam, war sein Gewissen bereits betäubt und abgestumpft, und Gott ließ ihn gehen. Gott hatte Seinen Entschluß nicht geändert, aber Er ließ ihn in Seinem zugelassenen Willen gehen. „So gehe also hin.” Später jedoch stellte er fest, dass es nicht glückte.
Gott wußte, was im Herzen Bileams war. ER wußte, dass er, obwohl er ein Prophet war, diese heiligen Roller haßte. Er war bereit, sie zu verfluchen, obwohl Gott ihm doch geboten hatte, es nicht zu tun. Doch als er noch einmal kam und es immer noch tun wollte, ließ Gott ihn gehen und sprach: „Gehe hin.” Denkt daran, Er hatte Seinen Entschluß nicht geändert.
E-75 Beachtet, es war sein Verlangen, sie zu verfluchen. Er stufte diese Menschen als Fanatiker ein und wollte sie verfluchen. Er wollte eine hohe Position. Mit ihnen wollte er nichts zu tun haben. Er dachte, wenn er dem König diesen kleinen Gefallen tut, wird er befördert. Gott hat Seinen Sinn über Sein Wort nicht geändert, aber Er wird euch das Verlangen eures Herzens geben. Das hat Er verheißen. Wußtet ihr das? ER hat verheißen, euch das zu geben, was euer Herz begehrt. Laßt euer Begehren gemäß dem Worte Gottes sein. Möge euer Verlangen in Seinem Willen sein; nicht euer eigener, sondern Sein Wille. Wenn ihr Ihn um etwas bittet, und Er gibt es euch nicht, so sagt: „Dank sei Dir, Herr, Du weißt, was gut ist.”
E-76 Betrachtet den König Hiskia. Gott sandte den Propheten zu ihm, der sagte: „Bestelle dein Haus, denn du wirst sterben.” Hiskia kehrte sein Gesicht zur Wand hin, weinte bitterlich und sprach: „Herr, denke doch daran, wie ich mit ungeteiltem Herzen vor Dir gewandelt bin. Ich möchte, dass Du mir noch fünfzehn Jahre zu meinem Leben hinzufügst.”
„In Ordnung.” Gott sprach zu dem Propheten und sagte: „Gehe zurück und sage ihm, dass Ich ihn erhört habe.” Was aber tat er dann? Er brachte Schmach über die ganze Nation. Er entfachte den Zorn Gottes, bis Er ihn schließlich sterben ließ. So war es. Ihr wißt das. Er ist von Gott abgefallen. Es wäre viel besser für den König, für die Nation, für alle gewesen, wenn er mit der ersten Entscheidung Gottes einverstanden gewesen wäre. Es war schwer für den Propheten, zurückgehen und das Wort des Herrn überbringen zu müssen, nachdem er es ihm bereits gesagt hatte. Gott aber sagte: „Gehe hin.” Doch seht, es brachte Schmach.
Was tat Bileam? Nachdem er den Willen Gottes erkannt hatte, bestand er darauf, trotzdem hinzugehen. Und was ist dadurch geschehen? Beachtet, Er hat Seine Gesinnung nicht geändert; Er wußte, was in seinem Herzen ist.
E-77 Ihr wißt, Thomas konnte zuerst nicht glauben. Er sagte: „Ich glaube das einfach nicht, es sei denn, ich kann meine Hand in Seine Seite und in die Nägelmale Seiner Hände legen. Dann werde ich glauben.”
ER sprach: „Thomas, komm her. Lege deine Hand hier hinein.”
Da rief Thomas aus: „Mein Herr und mein Gott!”
ER sprach: „Weil du gesehen hast, glaubst du. Doch selig sind die, welche nicht gesehen haben und doch glauben.” Die Menschen meinen manchmal, sie haben den Heiligen Geist nicht empfangen, es sei denn, sie reden in Zungen. Ich glaube an Zungenreden. Ganz gewiß. ER ist ein guter Gott. ER wird euch das Verlangen eures Herzens geben. Doch ganz gleich, wieviel ihr in Zungen redet; wenn ihr dieses Wort leugnet, seid ihr trotzdem verkehrt. Ihr geht nicht ein, weil ihr in Zungen redet; ihr geht ein, wenn ihr jedes Wort haltet. Darin besteht der Beweis des Heiligen Geistes: wenn ihr das Wort Gottes glaubt. Seht ihr?
E-78 Ich glaube an das Zungenreden. Ich glaube, dass ihr so belebt werden könnt, wie ich heute Morgen sagte, dass ihr in neuen Zungen sprecht. Ich habe es selbst erlebt und weiß, dass es die Wahrheit ist. Ich weiß, es ist wahr. Doch das ist nicht das Zeichen, dass ihr ein auserwähltes Kind Gottes seid. Nein, bestimmt nicht. ER sprach: „Viele werden an jenem Tage kommen und zu Mir sagen: 'Herr, haben wir nicht geweissagt und all diese großen Dinge in Deinem Namen getan?'” ER aber wird sagen: „Hinweg von Mir, ihr Übeltäter, Ich habe euch niemals erkannt.”
Ihr redet in Zungen und lehnt es ab, auf den Namen Jesus Christus getauft zu werden? Dann stimmt irgendwo etwas nicht. Ganz gewiß. Das alles sind Verordnungen Gottes. Etwas kann da nicht stimmen. Durchforscht euer eigenes Gewissen und seht nach, was die Bibel sagt. Zeigt mir doch eine Stelle, wo sie von irgend jemandem berichtet, der „im Namen des Vaters, des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes” getauft wurde! Es gibt keine. Doch um euer Gewissen zu beruhigen, sagt ihr: „Gott hat zwar gesagt, wie die Frauen handeln sollen, dass sie keine Shorts tragen dürfen usw., doch weißt du, der Pastor hat gesagt...” So wählen sie den bequemen Weg.
E-79 Sie wissen, was Gott hierin darüber sagte. Sicher. Gott hat es verboten, und trotzdem wollen sie es tun. Sie versuchen, eine Entschuldigung zu finden. „Ach, ich meine, es ist viel bequemer so. Der Wind weht nicht darunter.” Gott aber sagte, dass Mann und Frau unterschiedlich gekleidet sein sollen. Wenn eine Frau Männerkleidung trägt, so ist das ein Greuel in Seinen Augen. Es ist nicht recht. Ihr solltet es nicht tun.
Es ist also verkehrt. Doch seht, sie versuchen, eine Entschuldigung zu finden, und meinen: „Der Herr hat mir gesagt, dass ich das tun soll.” Ich sage nicht, dass Er es nicht getan hat, doch sehe, es ist nicht Sein vollkommener Wille. Es kann nur Sein zugelassener Wille sein. Erkennt ihr, wohin das führt? Es wird die ganze Gruppe verunreinigen. Das ganze Lager wurde verunreinigt.
E-80 Beachtet, Gott hat Seinen Sinn, Sein Wort, nie geändert. Doch Er ist ein guter Gott, und Er wird euch das Begehren eures Herzens geben, auch wenn es gegen Seinen Willen ist. Glaubt ihr das? Seht, Gott sprach zu Moses, diesem gesalbten Propheten: „Gehe hin und sprich zu dem Felsen.” Er war ja bereits geschlagen.
Moses ging im Zorn dorthin, nahm den Stab und sprach: „Ihr Widerspenstigen! Können wir wohl Wasser für euch aus diesem Felsen hervorfließen lassen?” Und er schlug den Felsen. Das Wasser kam aber nicht, so schlug er ihn noch einmal. Dann strömte es heraus. Es war gegen den Willen Gottes. Dadurch wurde der gesamte Plan der Bibel gebrochen, so, als hätte Christus zweimal geschlagen werden müssen. Christus wurde doch nur einmal geschlagen. Es brach den gesamten Plan. ER gab ihm Seinen zugelassenen Willen. Danach sagte er: „Hier ist das Wasser für euch. Ich habe es euch beschafft, ihr Rebellen.”
E-81 Gott sprach: „Komm her, Moses. Komm her. Steige auf den Berg. Du warst ein treuer Knecht. Schau hinüber. Siehst du das verheißene Land?” (Denkt an die Frau mit den hohen Absätzen.)
„O Herr...”
„Doch du wirst nicht hinübergehen! Dort an dem Felsen hast Du Meinen zugelassenen Willen getan. Du hast dich selbst verherrlicht und nicht Mich. Du hast dich selbst als heilig hingestellt und nicht Mir als dem Heiligen die Ehre gegeben. Mein Originalwort, das, was Ich dir geboten habe, hast du nicht gehalten.” Dennoch floß das Wasser hervor. Ihr könnt den Kranken die Hände auflegen, und sie werden gesund. Ihr könnt weissagen und in Zungen reden, doch das Wesentliche ist, Sein Originalwort zu halten. Gott ändert Seinen Sinn nicht, Freunde. Ihr müßt Seinen Befehl, Seinen Willen, ausführen.
„Oh, das war doch für die Jünger.”
E-82 ER ändert sich nicht. Wenn Er immer noch einen Jünger hat, gilt der gleiche Missionsbefehl: „Gehet hin in alle Welt und predigt das Evangelium. Diese Zeichen werden denen folgen, die da glauben.” Es ist nie geändert worden. ER kann sich nicht ändern!
Nun, ihr könnt sagen: „Ich sage dir: es ist nicht für diese Zeit.” O du Bileam! Begreife doch, dass Gott sich nicht ändert. ER ist derselbe, gestern, heute und in Ewigkeit.
Seht euch die Bileams von heute an: „Oh, ich weiß, dass in der Bibel auf den Namen Jesus getauft wurde, doch seht, wie es all die anderen tun.” Ich gebe nichts darum, was die Menschen tun. Es ist kein anderer Name unter dem Himmel den Menschen gegeben, durch den ihr gerettet werden könnt. Es gibt keine Vergebung der Sünden als allein durch den Namen Jesus Christus. Ganz gleich, wie gut ihr seid, was ihr tut, das hat überhaupt nichts damit zu tun. Es geht um Gottes Originalwort. Daran müßt ihr festhalten. Nun gut.
Gehorsam Seinem Wort gegenüber ist besser als Opfer. Ihr erinnert euch, was dem Saul gesagt wurde, als er zurückkehrte.
E-83 Bileam hatte eine Gabe des Glaubens, und er hätte sie in dem vollkommenen, ursprünglichen Wort Gottes gebrauchen können. Viele Männer mit Heilungsgaben könnten heute auf dem Missionsfeld dasselbe tun. Viele Männer, die ausziehen, Menschen, die in Zungen reden, andere, die weissagen - alle Gaben könnten für das Reich Gottes verwendet werden. Doch sie tun es nicht, und trotzdem segnet Gott sie. ER läßt sie in dem zugelassenen Willen handeln. Für Popularität, Wohlergehen und persönlichen Gewinn haben sie wie Esau ihr Erstgeburtsrecht verkauft und sich einer Organisation ausgeliefert, wie Bileam es tat. So viele tun heute dasselbe. Wir wissen, dass es stimmt. Sie verkaufen ihr Erstgeburtsrecht. Frauen, die bezeugen, den Heiligen Geist zu haben, tragen Shorts, und die Männer gestatten, dass sie das Podium betreten. Frauen mit kurzgeschnittenem Haar, bemaltem Gesicht und langem Gewand stehen auf dem Podium. Das ist der größte Stolperstein, den die Gemeinde je hatte.
E-84 Wenn ihr anhand der politischen Mächte erfahren wollt, wie spät es in der Welt ist, dann schaut euch die Juden an. Gebt acht, was die Juden tun. Sie sind eine Nation. Wenn ihr erkennen wollt, wo die Nationen sich befinden, beobachtet die Juden. Wenn ihr wissen wollt, wo die Gemeinde steht, gebt auf die Frauen acht. Beachtet die Moral der Frauen, denn sie sind ein Sinnbild auf die Gemeinde. Wenn ihr Verderbnis unter den Frauen seht, so findet ihr Verderbnis in der Gemeinde. Als sie zu einer bemalten Isebel wurden, geschah dasselbe mit der Gemeinde. Das ist die Wahrheit, und ihr wißt es. Wenn ihr wissen wollt, wie es um die Gemeinde steht, beachtet die Moral eurer Frauen, denn die Gemeinde wird als Frau dargestellt. Wenn ihr den Stand der Nationen wissen wollt, so betrachten die Juden.
E-85 Beachten. Gott sprach zu Bileam: „Gehe nicht!” Er hatte die wahre und klare Entscheidung des Wortes gehört. Doch nachdem Er in seinem Herzen gesehen hatte, was er tun wollte, tat Er ihm Seinen zugelassenen Willen kund, indem Er sagte: „Gehe hin.”
Das gleiche kann mit euch geschehen, wenn ihr nicht in der Wahrheit wandeln wollt. Ihr könnt ausziehen und einen großen Dienst haben. Gewiß könnt ihr das. Doch ihr befindet euch in Seinem zugelassenen Willen. Ihr setzt euch über Sein Wort hinweg. ER wird euch Erfolg geben, wie Er es bei Bileam tat. Er hatte Erfolg, doch das Volk konnte er nicht verfluchen. Es gelang ihm nicht, denn jedesmal, wenn er ansetzte, um zu fluchen, segnete er. Seht, er konnte es nicht tun. Doch er hatte mit seinem Unternehmen Erfolg, als er diese Menschen durch Balak veranlaßte, Ehebruch zu begehen. Er brachte sie in das Lager Israels hinein und verheiratete sie miteinander. Er sagte: „Wir sind alle eins. Ihr betet den gleichen Gott an. Ihr habt hier einen Propheten, wir haben dort einen Propheten. Wir bringen dasselbe Opfer dar, dienen demselben Jehova, wie es unsere Väter taten. Warum kommt ihr nicht und habt Gemeinschaft mit uns?” Die Bibel sagt: „Schließt euch nicht den Ungläubigen an. Zieht nicht mit ihnen an einem Joch.” Wenn sie nicht glauben, haltet euch fern von ihnen. „Kommt heraus und sondert euch ab”, spricht der Herr, „und Ich werde euch annehmen. Rührt ihre unreinen Dinge nicht an.” Das stimmt. Ihr Schmutz ist gegen das Wort Gottes. Haltet euch fern davon. Höret nicht darauf.
E-86 Wir stellen fest, dass Bileam dorthin zog und anfing, diese Menschen zu belehren. Er war im Irrtum. Durch sein Handeln verließ er den geraden Weg und riet Balak, die Kinder Israel zum Ehebruch zu verleiten. Daraufhin kam eine Plage über die israelische Nation, über das Volk, und Tausende von ihnen starben an einem Tag. Während sie alle so vor dem Altar Gottes beteten, kam ein israelischer Mann mit einer Midianiterin, einer Denominationsfrau, und ging ins Zelt. Der Sohn eines Priesters ging ihnen nach, nahm einen Speer und tötete sie beide. Das wandte den Zorn Gottes ab. Ihr wißt, die Schrift sagt es. Stimmt das?
E-87 Doch was geschah? Bileam hatte Erfolg, indem er Israel schwächte. Was tat er? Er schwächte ihr Lager. Gott ließ ihn gehen, ihr Lager schwächen und es insgesamt verunreinigen. Wenn eine Lehre beginnt, die nicht biblische Wahrheit ist, verunreinigt siedas ganze Lager. Wenn jemand sich mit einer anderen Ansicht erhebt wie Korah, der sagte: „Dies, das und jenes. Ich habe eine andere Meinung.”, wird das ganze Lager verunreinigt. Das ist mit dem ganzen Lager der Gemeinde von heute geschehen. Das stimmt!
Durch die Lehre, die er brachte, hat er das ganze Lager für die Kraftprobe des Wortes geschwächt. Sie gelangten nach Kades Barnea, aber das Lager war bereits geschwächt. Denkt daran, sie hatten Engelspeise gegessen. In jeder Nacht verwirklichte sich das Wort Gottes, und sie aßen die Speise. Sie tranken aus dem Felsen. Sie sahen all die Wunder. Sie achteten auf das, was Moses sagte, und sahen, dass sein Wort, seine Weissagungen in Erfüllung gingen. Dann aber hörten sie auf diesen falschen Lehrer, der hineingekommen war, Verkehrtes lehrte, wodurch er das Lager schwächte, und noch Nutzen daraus zog. Er hätte Gebäude für eine Million Dollar bauen können, er hätte große Denominationen hinter sich haben können, er hätte Tausende und Abertausende dazu bringen können, er hätte große und mächtige Werke vollbringen können; er war ein Prophet. Das mag alles sein, doch solange es nicht mit dem Wort Gottes übereinstimmt, haltet euch fern davon. Gott ändert Seinen Sinn nicht. Haltet an Seinem Wort fest, denn am Ende wird das Wort kund werden - Wort für Wort. „Wer ein Wort wegnimmt oder eines hinzufügt...” Seht ihr? Es muss das Wort bleiben.
E-88 Höret jetzt genau zu. Der „Worttest” kam, als sie sich hinüber begaben und den großen Gegner sahen. Es war der größte Gegner, den sie je hatten. Die Amalekiter waren zehnmal größer als sie, deshalb sprachen sie: „Wir kommen uns gegen sie wie Heuschrecken vor. Ihre Städte sind von Mauern umgeben, auf denen zwei Wagen nebeneinander fahren können. Sie haben lange Speere. Es sind Riesen. Wir kommen uns ihnen gegenüber wie Heuschrecken vor. Wir können es nicht tun.” Doch zwei Männer standen auf dem Wort. Kaleb und Josua sagten: „Einen Augenblick bitte. Du Zwei-Millionen-Volk, sei einen Moment still. Wir sind mehr als imstande, das Land einzunehmen. Wir werden sie alle besiegen.” Worauf haben sie sich gestützt? Darauf, dass Gott gesagt hatte: „ICH habe euch das Land gegeben. Es gehört euch.” Dort standen sie nun. Doch das Volk hatte sich mit anderen Dingen, allen Arten von Glaubensbekenntnissen und geistlichen Ritualen vermählt. Sie waren einfach schwach, wußten nicht, wohin sie sich wenden und was sie tun sollten. So war es. Dort kam der „Worttest”.
E-89 ER wird gestatten, dass ihr in Seinem zugelassenen Willen geht, denn Er weiß, was in eurem Herzen ist. ER weiß es. Ihr sagt: „Nun, Bruder Branham, ich tue dies und das und empfinde nichts Schlechtes dabei. Gott segnet mich jeden Tag. Ich singe im Geist, und ich tanze im Geist.” ER wird es gestatten, dass ihr weitermacht. Das stimmt. Doch was werdet ihr dereinst tun?
„Ich trage Shorts, ich tue dies; es macht mir nichts aus. Ich weiß, dass ich an Jesus Christus glaube, nicht an das, was ich trage.” Doch die Bibel sagt, dass es etwas damit zu tun hat. Was tut ihr dadurch? Ihr werdet wie Bileam zu einem Stolperstein vor all den anderen Frauen. Was bewirkt es an den jungen Mädchen? Ihr werdet eine Gruppe von Rickettas bekommen, eine Gruppe bemalter Isebels.
E-90 Dennoch wird Gott euch Wohlergehen geben. „ER segnet mich doch.” Das bezweifle ich nicht. ER segnete auch Bileam. Gewiß tut Er es. Trotzdem wandelt ihr nur in Seinem zugelassenen und nicht in Seinem vollkommenen Willen. Gott hat Seinen Sinn doch nicht geändert, weil Er euch segnet! ER hat Israel vierzig Jahre lang gesegnet. Was taten sie? Sie heirateten, gründeten ihre Familien, küßten die Kinder, bezahlten ihren Zehnten, lebten dort draußen in der Wüste, und Gott segnete sie, speiste sie fortwährend mit Manna, und doch sind alle umgekommen, weil sie sich nicht an Seinen ursprünglichen Willen und an Sein ursprüngliches Wort hielten, sondern Seinen zugelassenen Weg gingen. „Macht nur weiter!”
Doch bedenkt, als sie Kades verließen, kamen sie nicht mehr voran, sondern gingen in der Wüste nur noch im Kreis herum. Obwohl sie von dort aus in zwei Tagen im verheißenen Land hätten sein können, wanderten sie vierzig Jahre und starben alle; bis auf Josua und Kaleb. Sie waren es, die an dem Originalwort festhielten.
E-91 O Gott, hilf uns! Gott ändert Seinen Willen nicht. ER ändert Seine Meinung nicht, und dennoch wird Er euch segnen. Gewiß segnete Er Bileam. Doch was tat er dort? Er verunreinigte das ganze Lager. Seht, ihr müßt bei dem bleiben, was Er sagte. ER hat Seinen Originalplan nie geändert.
Schaut euch die Bileams von heute auf dem Missionsfeld an. Bitte, tut es. Seht euch um: Sie haben Erfolg, reden in Zungen - sicher - und gebrauchen die Gaben Gottes, um Profit zu machen. Gewiß. Doch ihre verdorbene Lehre verunreinigt die ganze Gemeinde Gottes. Das stimmt.
Jemand fragte mich: „Wozu tust du das? Weshalb tust du das?”
Ich fragte: „Glaubst du nicht, dass das die Wahrheit ist?”
„O doch”, sagte er, „aber weißt du was? Das ist doch nicht deine Sache. Du sollst doch für die Kranken beten. Sie glauben, dass du ein Prophet bist. Warum lehrst du nicht diese Frauen und diese Männer, wie sie das eine und das andere tun können?” Wie kann man ihnen Algebra lehren, wenn sie ihr ABC nicht gelernt haben? Wie kann man ihnen solche Dinge lehren, wenn sie die Grundbegriffe nicht erfaßt haben? Man muss zurückgehen und ganz von vorne beginnen, bzw. dort, wo ihr nicht mehr mitgekommen seid, und jedes Wort Gottes nehmen.
E-92 Schaut es euch heute auf dem Missionsfeld an. So wie Bileam die Dirnen in die Gemeinde Gottes hineinverheiratete, so versuchen diese falschen Lehrer von heute, euch etwas zu sagen. Sie werden jede einzelne dieser Organisationen und die Menschen darin an die alte Hure von Offenbarung 17 verheiraten. Es ist die Lehre Bileams, wenn sie heute umhergehen und sagen: „Wir sind doch alle gleich; wir sind doch alle Christen.” Die Priester, der Papst und alle schließen Kompromisse und tun es.
Die Prediger - ich weiß sogar von einem Pfingstprediger - haben damit begonnen, eine runde Hostie zu geben, die damals der Himmelskönigin Astarte geopfert wurde. Man sagt dabei: „Schließt eure Augen und nehmt sie so, wenn es euer Gewissen belastet.” Die Augen schließen? Eine runde Hostie? Was hat das zu bedeuten? Wir nehmen doch einen gebrochenen Leib, Jesus Christus, den Gemarterten, und nicht eine runde Hostie, welche die Himmelskönigin Astarte repräsentiert, deren Platz Maria eingenommen hat. Die römische Hostie ist immer noch rund und versinnbildlicht die Himmelskönigin, aber nicht Gott. Wir aber nehmen Brot, das gebrochen wird. Gewiß!
E-93 Jetzt geschieht es, dass diese Bileams-Lehrer mit ihrer falschen Lehre die Gemeinde in dieses Durcheinander der großen Hure von Offenbarung 17 hinein verheiraten. Gebt acht, wenn es am Ende zur Kraftprobe kommt. Seht, welch eine Schwäche alle befallen hat. Über 900 verschiedene Organisationen gibt es, und die eine zieht in diese, die andere in jene Richtung. Es herrscht keine Einheit unter ihnen, doch sie versuchen, die Einheit herzustellen, jedoch nicht durch das Wort Gottes und den Originalplan Gottes, sondern indem man sie alle durch Politik in eine Organisation bringt. Gott ändert Seinen Sinn nicht; Er bleibt bei Seinem Wort. ER sagte: „Himmel und Erde werden vergehen, Meine Worte aber nicht.” Das stimmt. ER bleibt bei Seinem Originalwort.
Obwohl sie immer noch dagegen streiten, wie sie es je taten, gibt es nur eines, denn Er wird es nicht ändern: einfach zu glauben, denn beides, Himmel und Erde, wird vergehen, Sein Wort aber wird nie versagen. Seht ihr?
E-94 Seht ihr, wo ihr hineinverheiratet werdet? Seht ihr die Politik und die Dinge; wie man versucht, die Gemeinde durch Politik in der Kirche zu vereinigen? Wir werden doch nicht durch Politik mit Christus vereinigt - wir werden durch die Taufe des Heiligen Geistes mit Christus vereinigt. Ihr könnt die Taufe des Heiligen Geistes daran feststellen, dass der Heilige Geist in euch jedes Wort Gottes als Wahrheit anerkennt. Das stimmt! „Denn wer immer ein Wort hinwegnimmt oder ein Wort hinzufügt, dessen Teil wird aus dem Buch des Lebens genommen.” Dennoch hatte er Erfolg.
Ihr sagt: „Glaubst du nicht, dass man es an ihrem Erfolg sehen kann?” Ihr könnt doch nicht aufgrund von Erfolg beurteilen, ob die Sache von Gott ist! Die Welt hat Erfolg. Bileam hatte Erfolg, doch Bruder, beurteile aufgrund Seines Wortes, was von Gott ist. ER hält Sein Wort und beweist, dass es die Wahrheit ist. Denkt also daran, Freunde, solange ihr lebt, und vergeßt das niemals: Gott ändert Seinen Sinn nicht. Trotzdem segnet Er. ER wird euch in Seinem zugelassenen Willen gehen lassen, aber Sein Vorhaben ändert Er nicht. ER ändert Seinen Plan nicht. ER ändert doch nicht euretwegen Sein Wort - ihr müßt euch ändern lassen. Ihr könnt das Wort Gottes nicht eurer Erfahrung anpassen; eure Erfahrung muss mit dem Worte Gottes übereinstimmen. So müßt ihr die Sache ordnen.
Ihr sagt: „Nun, ich bin ein guter Mensch. Gott tut dies und jenes.”
„Doch, hältst du Sein Wort?”
„Oh, laß mich dir sagen, das muss man nicht so eng sehen.” Nun, in Ordnung. Doch irgendwo ist etwas verkehrt. Natürlich wird Gott euch Gelingen schenken. ER wird euch etwas werden lassen.
E-95 Die Denominationen hatten Erfolg - oder wer hat das etwa nicht? Sie verbreiteten ihre Zelte, die großen, feinen Kirchen und Gemeinden, im ganzen Land. Reichtum und Geld floß herein. Von überall kamen Mitglieder hinzu. Sagt nicht die Bibel, dass in ihr der Reichtum der Welt gefunden wurde? Sogar die Seelen von Menschen und alles mögliche wurde in dieser großen Hure gefunden, welche die Mutter der ganzen Sache, der korrupten Politik und der Organisationen ist.
E-96 Doch die Gruppe Gottes ist Seine Braut, und ihr Mittelpunkt ist das Wort.
Möge der teure himmlische Vater euch für immer darin gegründet erhalten. Entfernt euch nie von diesem Wort. Ihr mögt gesegnet sein; Gott mag die Kranken durch euch heilen; Er mag euer Kind, euren Mann, eure Frau, eure Mutter oder sonst jemanden heilen; ihr mögt in Seinem Geiste springen und tanzen - doch denkt daran: der Regen fällt in gleicher Weise auf die Gerechten und die Ungerechten. Der Same aber, der dort liegt, ist entweder vorherbestimmt oder nicht vorherbestimmt. Wenn er vorherbestimmt ist, wenn es Weizen ist, muss er Weizen hervorbringen. Ist es das Wort Gottes, dann muss das Wort Gottes hervorkommen. Wenn es das nicht ist, dann ist es das eben nicht. Habt ihr das jetzt verstanden?
E-97 Der Herr segne euch.
Ich hatte euch zugesagt, dass ich um 21:00 Uhr aufhöre, und jetzt ist es 21:40 Uhr. Viele von euch müssen noch weit fahren. Ich liebe euch. Der Grund, weshalb ich euch solange hier festhalte, ist doch nicht, weil ich euch Böses tun will, sondern weil ich euch liebe. Ich enthalte euch nichts vor von dem, was ich weiß. Ich sage euch die Wahrheit.
Wenn ich irgendwo außerhalb Versammlungen habe, hört ihr mich nicht über diese Botschaften predigen. Ich habe euch ja versprochen, dazu in diese Kapelle zu kommen. Von hier aus predige ich meine Botschaften. Ich habe noch drei oder vier weitere, die der Herr mir gegeben hat und für die ich die Schriftstellen habe. Ich würde es nicht wagen, sie irgendwo anders zu predigen als hier. Von hier aus begann das Wort Gottes auszugehen, und solange Gott es nicht ändert, bleibe und bringe ich es hier. Das stimmt. In den Versammlungen, die ich irgendwo anders halte, bete ich für die Kranken und tue alles nur Erdenkliche. Nebenbei sage ich auch andeutungsweise manche Dinge, damit die Schafe es hören. Sie erkennen, wovon gesprochen wird. Alles andere ist sozusagen nur „der Köder am Haken”. Durch die Zeichen versuche ich zu zeigen, dass Gott alles weiß; dass Er das, was in den Herzen der Menschen ist, unterscheidet und diese Dinge tut. Es ist eine evangelistische Gabe, um die Menschen aufzurütteln. Doch dann gelangt ein Tonband in ihr Haus, auf dem das alles ist. Wenn es ein Schaf ist, nimmt er es an. Ist es ein Ziegenbock, dann wird er das Tonband hinauswerfen. So ist es. Und dich auch, Ben, nicht wahr? Das stimmt genau. Ben hat einige Erfahrung darin.
Das stimmt.
E-98 Seid ihr nicht froh, Sein Eigentum zu sein? Seid ihr nicht froh darüber? Vor langer Zeit pflegten wir ein Pfingstlied zu singen.
[Bruder Branham singt einige Lieder.]
Ich bin so froh, dass der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Ich bin so froh, dass der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Wenn es nicht für Jesus gewesen wäre, wo wäre ich?
Ich bin so froh, dass der Herr mich herausgebracht hat.
Oh, ich bin glücklich gewesen, seit der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Ich bin glücklich gewesen, seit der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Wenn es nicht für Jesus gewesen wäre, wo wäre ich?
Ich bin so froh, seit der Herr mich herausgebracht hat.
Ich habe geschrien, seit der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Ich habe geschrien, seit der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Wenn es nicht für Jesus gewesen wäre, oh, wo wäre ich?
Ich bin so froh, dass der Herr mich herausgebracht hat.
Ruhm! Bist du nicht froh?
Freust du dich nicht ... (Lass es uns singen!)
Bist du nicht froh, dass der Herr dich herausgebracht hat?
Bist du nicht froh, dass der Herr dich herausgebracht hat?
Wenn es nicht für Jesus gewesen wäre, oh, wo wäre ich?
Ich bin so froh, dass der Herr mich herausgebracht hat.
Nun, ich habe gesungen, seit der Herr es gebracht hat ich raus;
Ich habe gesungen, seit der Herr mich herausgebracht hat;
Wenn es nicht für Jesus gewesen wäre, oh, wo wäre ich?
Ich bin so froh, dass der Herr mich herausgebracht hat.
Freust du dich nicht darüber? Dann: „Wir werden im Licht gehen.” Kennst du dieses Lied?
Wir gehen im Licht, es ist ein schönes Licht;
Kommt, wo die Tautropfen der Barmherzigkeit hell sind;
Rund um uns bei Tag und bei Nacht
Oh, Jesus, das Licht der Welt.
Magst du das nicht? Lass es uns nochmal singen.
Wir gehen im Licht, es ist ein schönes Licht;
Kommt, wo die Tautropfen der Barmherzigkeit hell sind;
Rund um uns bei Tag und bei Nacht
Oh, Jesus, das Licht der Welt. (Es ist Sunup!)
Alle die Heiligen der Liebe verkünden,
Jesus, das Licht der Welt;
Wahrheit und Gnade in seinem Namen,
Jesus, das Licht der Welt.
Lasst uns jetzt unsere Hände heben, wenn wir es singen.
Oh, wir werden in diesem Licht gehen, es ist so ein Licht;
Es kommt, wo die Tautropfen der Barmherzigkeit hell sind;
Rund um uns bei Tag und bei Nacht
Jesus, das Licht der Welt.
Schütteln Sie sich gegenseitig die Hand.
Oh, da kommt der Tau der Gnade sind hell.
(Bist du nicht froh, dass du es bist?)
Kinder des Lichts? Die Sonne geht auf!
Rund um uns bei Tag und bei Nacht
(Kleine Kinder, liebt einander.)
... das Licht der Welt.
Wir gehen im Licht, es ist so schön
(Manifestation seines Wortes);
Kommt, wo die Tautropfen der Barmherzigkeit hell sind;
Nur um uns herum bei Tag und bei Nacht,
Es ist Jesus, das Licht des Wortes.
Du glaubst es?
Wir marschieren nach Zion,
Das schöne, schöne Zion;
Wir marschieren aufwärts nach Zion,
Diese wunderschöne Stadt Gottes.
Oh, wir marschieren nach Zion,
Schönes, schönes Zion;
Wir marschieren aufwärts nach Zion,
Diese wunderschöne Stadt Gottes.
Lasst jene sich weigern zu singen
Wer hat unseren Gott nie gekannt?
Aber Kinder des himmlischen Königs,
Aber Kinder des himmlischen Königs,
Kann ihre Freuden im Ausland sprechen,
Kann ihre Freuden im Ausland sprechen,
Denn wir marschieren (Ruhm!) Nach Zion,
Das schöne, schöne Zion;
Wir marschieren aufwärts nach Zion,
Diese wunderschöne Stadt Gottes.
Oh, wir marschieren nach Zion,
Oh, schönes, schönes Zion;
Wir marschieren aufwärts nach Zion,
Diese wunderschöne Stadt Gottes.
E-99 Nehmt euer Taschentuch heraus, schwingt es vor dem Herrn und singt. Man nahm ja auch die Taschentücher vom Leibe des Paulus.
Wir pilgern nach Zion,
herrliches, liebliches Zion,
ja, heimwärts geht es nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
Wir pilgern nach Zion,
herrliches, liebliches Zion,
ja, heimwärts geht es nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
E-100 Amen. Gibt euch das nicht ein gutes Gefühl? Ich kann mir die alten Heiligen vorstellen, bevor sie damals die römische Arena betraten, wie sie singend auf die Anhöhe gingen, ich meine, auf diese Vorrichtung, und dann den Löwen vorgeworfen wurden:
Wir pilgern nach Zion,
herrliches, liebliches Zion,
ja, heimwärts geht es nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
Die Felder von Zion ergeben sich
Tausend heilige Süßigkeiten,
Bevor wir den himmlischen Thron erreichen,
Bevor wir die himmlischen Felder erreichen,
Oder spazieren Sie durch die goldenen Straßen
Oder spazieren Sie durch die goldenen Straßen.
Wir marschieren nach Zion,
Schönes, schönes Zion;
Wir marschieren aufwärts nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
Wir pilgern nach Zion,
herrliches, liebliches Zion,
ja, heimwärts geht es nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
E-101 Sprecht mir nach: [Die Versammlung wiederholt jede Redewendung nach Bruder Branham. - Verf.]: Herr, mein Gott, ich habe mich Dir erneut geweiht. Reinige mich von aller Ungerechtigkeit, reinige mich von jedem Zweifel an Deinem Wort. Laß mich von jetzt an eine neue Kreatur in Jesus Christus sein. Laß mich Dein Wort in meinem Herzen tragen. Möge es meines Fußes Leuchte und ein Licht auf meinem Wege sein. Von jetzt an werde ich Dir folgen. Im Namen Jesus. Amen.
Wir pilgern nach Zion,
herrliches, liebliches Zion,
ja, heimwärts geht es nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
E-102 Gibt euch das nicht wirklich ein gutes Gefühl? Wir haben uns neu geweiht und wissen, dass wir in unseren Herzen lebendig gemacht und dem Tode entrissen worden sind. Bewirkt es nicht, dass ihr gut empfindet? Ich liebe euch mit unsterblicher Liebe. Höret: Liebet einander. Denn wie könnt ihr euren Bruder, den ihr seht, verachten und sagen, dass ihr Gott liebt, den ihr nicht gesehen habt! So liebet einander. Wenn ihr einander dient, dient ihr Gott. Stimmt das? „Was ihr an einem der Geringsten von denen getan habt, welche die lebendigmachende Kraft in sich tragen, das habt ihr Mir getan.”
„Wann haben wir Dich in Not gesehen? Wann haben wir Dich im Gefängnis besucht? Wann haben wir all diese Dinge getan?”
„Was ihr an ihnen getan habt, das habt ihr Mir getan!” Ist das nicht herrlich? Ich liebe Ihn, ihr nicht auch?
E-103 Es gibt noch ein Lied, das wir singen müssen, wenn ihr noch Zeit dazu habt. Wir nehmen sie uns einfach. O wie süß klingt Jesu Name, o wie heilt Er allen Schmerz. Vergeßt das nicht, Freunde. Laßt uns gemeinsam mit vereinten Herzen singen, es Ihm darbringen, mit altem, was in uns ist.
Nimm den Namen Jesus mit dir,
Kin von Sorge und von Schmerz.
Er wird Freud' und Trost dir gaben
Nimm Ihn mit, wohin du gehst!
Teurer Nam', O wie süß!
Hoffnung hier und Freud' im Himmel
Teurer Nam', O wie süß!
Hoffnung hier und Freud' im Himmel.
E-104 Gedenkt meiner, betet für mich, damit ich, wenn die heißen Winde der Verfolgung wehen, wenn mich Teufel von allen Seiten herausfordern, weiß, dass ihr Tag und Nacht für mich betet. Ich werde für euch beten. Haltet zu eurem guten Pastor, Bruder Neville, und zu Bruder Capps, der ihm zur Seite steht. Hört auf sie. Sie lehren euch das Wort des Lebens. Das glaube ich. Wenn ich das nicht glaubte, würde ich nicht zulassen, dass sie hier stehen. Gewiß nicht. Ich glaube, dass sie die Botschaft glauben und nach ihrem besten Wissen dafür eintreten. Ich habe Vertrauen zu diesen beiden Männern. Haltet zu ihnen. Sollten diese anderen Brüder, die vorhin hier standen, ihre Versammlungen in eurer Nähe haben, dann steht zu ihnen. Ihr habt ja gehört, weshalb sie heute Abend hierher gekommen sind.
Nimm den Namen Jesus immer
Als en Shcid vor jedem Feind.
(Hör dir das an!);
Wenn Versuchungen dir hahen
Flüstre diesen heil' - gen Nam'!
Teurer Nam', O wie süß!
Hoffnung ...
(Lieber Gott, heile diese Leute Ich bete, himmlischer Vater. In Jesus Namen. Gewähre es, Herr.)
Wir pilgern nach Zion,
herrliches, liebliches Zion,
ja, heimwärts geht es nach Zion,
der herrlichen, lieblichen Stadt.
…O wie süß!
Hoffnung hier und Freud' im Himmel.
Bis wir uns treffen, bis wir uns treffen,
Bis wir uns zu Jesu Füßen treffen;
Bis wir uns treffen, bis wir uns treffen,
Gott sei mit dir, bis wir uns wiedersehen.
Laßt uns die Häupter neigen. [Bruder Branham summt „Bis wir uns treffen.” - Verf.]. O Gott, sei mit uns und hilf uns, Herr.
Bis wir uns zu Jesu Füßen treffen.
Bis wir uns treffen, bis wir uns treffen,
Gott sei mit dir, bis wir uns wiedersehen.
E-105 Das ist mein aufrichtiges Gebet, bis wir uns wiedersehen. Gott segne euch. Jetzt werde ich unseren geliebten Bruder Neville darum bitten, diese feine Zuhörerschaft zu entlassen. Gott liebt euch; jeden einzelnen. Ich bin so dankbar, Menschen wie euch zu haben. Was würde meine Botschaft ausrichten, wenn ich niemanden hätte, der sie glaubte? Es sind Menschen hier, die dafür sterben würden. Möge Gott jedem einzelnen von euch helfen. Meine Gebete werden euch begleiten; ich wünsche euch allen einen reichen Segen. Vergeßt nicht, dass ihr an der Auferstehung Anteil habt. Die lebendigmachende Kraft ist jetzt in euch. Es ist alles getan. Ihr seid ein Gotteskind. Wir wollen nun unsere Häupter beugen, und Bruder Neville wird zum Schluß beten. Gott segne euch.
E-1 Let us bow our heads. Dear Lord Jesus, we are assembled again in Your Name, with great expectation for the outpouring of the quickening Power of God to bring us into recognition of our position and place, and our responsibilities, as being a called people, separated from the world, dedicated to God. Grant, Lord, tonight, that the blessings of God will guide us and direct us in the things we do or say, that it might bring honor and glory to Your Name. Amen.
E-2 I am happy to be back in the church tonight and to be with you dear people. And I know it's warm, but I just called my wife, I think it's ninety something there, ninety-five or ninety-six or something, and it's quite a bit warmer than it is here. So I'm getting used to the warm weather now. So, but I'm so glad to be here at the tabernacle at this wonderful Easter time.
E-3 And I can't say that I'll apologize for that long, long Message this morning, but I... It was, I didn't want--want to wear out your patience and then come at it again tonight. But I--I wanted to--to get that Message to you, that you are a part of this resurrection. See? And don't worry about It, no more, see. Just rejoice over It! There is nothing, nowhere, can separate you from It; nothing; Eternally secured in the Kingdom of God. When God has stamped His Seal upon you, you're to the end of the destination. [Romans 8:35-39]
E-4 When the government puts a seal upon a package, the railroad puts a seal on a door, that car cannot be tampered with until it reached its destination.
When God puts His Seal upon a man. And the Seal is the Holy Spirit. When He seals a man like that, he is gone to his Eternal destination. Never no more can he ever, ever go back, anymore. Cause remember, Ephesians 4:30 says, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed for all times." See, you are sealed forever. You are sealed, Eternally, into the Kingdom of God, by the Holy Spirit. Now think of that! [Ephesians 4:30]
E-5 Then, you, the devil will punch at you, and he'll say everything to you, and accuse you, and--and try to make you think that you're not. But don't you listen to him.
E-6 Now, you know you've passed from death unto Life. You know the things that you once loved, you don't love no more. You know that you have believed every Word of God. You've seen God working right among us, without... Infallible proofs that He is the great "I AM." You've notice that ever what has been said in His Name, never has one thing been prophesied in His Name but what happened just exactly the way it did. Even to science, newspaper, picture, cameras, writers, everything else, has to recognize it. See, regardless of whether they want to or not, God makes them do it, anyhow, see, to make it known. [John 5:24]
E-7 Now, being a little group. Remember, it's not a big group that He comes for. "Fear not, little flock; it's your Father's good will..." See? [Luke 12:32]
E-8 I want to leave a word with you, shocking, just before we have a ordination of a minister. And this is very shocking, but just that you might know. Now, I ain't saying that this is exact to number, but I'd like to leave this with you.
E-9 I don't know whether any peoples in here has ever seen hybreeding of cattle. Which, I don't believe in it, but I've watched it done. And I have seen them take the sperm of the male, just enough to be touched on a little metal, like a little toothpick, and lay it upon a piece of marble. And turn those glasses which magnify it, I don't know how many times, until that sperm... Where you could see nothing with the natural eye, any ordinary glass. But when it's magnified, hundred or hundred and fifty times, you can see in that one little drop, of sperm, maybe fifty to a hundred little germs a bouncing around. Also, in the female comes as many eggs, in--in the sperm. Now, when they are--are brought together, now, the first two that meets and connects...
E-10 There is only one out of that million is going to live. Did you ever think of that? They are the same germ, and the same egg, both of them just alike, but there is only one going to live. And that's not determined which one beats there first. Because, sometime the egg, way back in the back, and the germ might be up in the middle of the sperm, and they'll crawl over one another. It takes an Intelligence to know whether it's going to be boy or girl, red-headed, black-headed, or whatmore. It's the election of God. It can be nothing else. Election! [Romans 8:30]
E-11 Even in the natural birth, is election, whether it's going to be boy or girl, or whatever it's going to be. And when that little germ wiggles into this little egg, and the little tails drop off, it starts the baby's spine of whatever it's after; animal, baby, or whatever it is. And the rest of those million germs... A million eggs, a million germs, and only one lives. All the same, but God chooses by election what's going to live, and the rest of them perish. One out of a million! [Romans 8:30]
E-12 When Israel left Egypt, they all believed in one prophet's message. They seen the signs of God, by Moses. Every one of them saw them. And they each one come out of Egypt, and walked through the Red Sea, and was baptized unto Moses. Each one saw the power of God strike him, when he sang in the Spirit; and when Miriam beat the tambourine, run up-and-down the coast. Each one of them, every night, eat fresh, heavenly manna out of the skies. Each of those drank from that spiritual Rock that was smitten. And there was two million people left Egypt. How many made the promised land? Two. One out of a million! Where they all at? Jesus said they perished. "Your fathers eat manna in the wilderness, for the space of thirty years, and I say unto you that they are all dead." [John 6:49], [Romans 8:30]
E-13 Now there is about five hundred million Christians in the world tonight, counting Catholic, Protestant, and all. If Jesus should come in that Rapture, according to what I've just said, there would be five hundred missing in the world tonight, in the Rapture. And they probably is that every day, counting all the lands, that's never accounted for. So it could be at any time, see. [Matthew 22:1-20]
E-14 Oh, Christians, let us buckle on the armor of God. Let us do all that we know how, to serve Him, love Him, and wait for that great time. [Ephesians 6:10-18]
E-15 Now, there is not going to be a great millions and multitudes come out of a generation and march in. There--there can't be.
Now, remember, each day ends a generation, each day. "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the coming of the Son of man, wherein eight souls was saved by water." But each day ends a forty-year period for somebody, for some. See? And each day, so many is sealed away in the Kingdom. One day, the last day will arrive. [Luke 17:24-27]
Let us be sure now, while we are in our right mind. And in the church, and amongst the people, where the Holy Spirit so has identified Hisself with us, let's be sure that everything is all right, and stays all right, before Him. [I Peter 3:20]
E-16 Don't you stop. Don't rest, day and night, until that quickening Power has brought you from the things of the world, into the Kingdom of God. And you that truly are brought into the Kingdom of God and quickened by the Spirit of God, how happy! With tears of joy we should be on our knees, day and night, thanking God for what He's done. [Ephesians 2:1-3], [Colossians 2:13], [I Peter 3:18]
E-17 Tonight we have a little change in the service. We have a fine brother here, Brother Capps. He come to us from the Nazarene church. And I think that is right, Brother Capps? He is wishing tonight to be ordained by us, by laying on hands.
E-18 We do not have papers to give out to anyone, yet we're recognized as... We could have papers, but we believe that a true, ordained minister, his papers is in Heaven. See? And he--he has the rights to preach the Bible as long as God identifies his life with the Bible. We believe that's his credentials.
E-19 And, now, Brother Capps has been ordained officially in the--the Nazarene church, but tonight he wants the elders, and so forth, to lay hands upon him for ordination, to carry this Message. What a gallant thing!
E-20 I have--I have heard the reports ever since I been in Tucson, and such wonderful reports, of Brother Capps here in his assistance to our gracious Brother Neville, who is holding the candle of Light just as gallantly as these two man can hold. We have laid hands on Brother Neville, but not upon Brother Capps. And I want those who are ministers, Brother Jackson and them, if they're here, and Brother Ruddell and the elders of the church here, if they'll come up here just for a few minutes now, and laying hands on Brother Capps. And the...
E-21 Now we find, in the Bible, that that's the way they did it, they lay hands upon them and set them apart then. And that's the way they did Timothy. Said, "By this gift that was in thee, from the grandmother Lois..." They had noticed it, that there was a gift in the man, had come to him by the presbyters, by laying on of hands. [II Timothy 1:5-6]
E-22 Now, latter-day brethren, latter-day-rain brethren, got, though, that mixed up. They thought they gave him a gift, by doing that. No, the gift was already in him, and they just laid their hands upon him as a sanction that they believed that God had already put the gift in him. And they sanctioned it, by laying on of hands.
E-23 And these men here in this church, that I believe that's possessed in their soul with His quickening Power; if you brothers will come up just now, Brother Ruddell and all the rest of you that's here in the church, and the elders and sister churches around, to lay hands upon Brother Capps, that he might be ordained by our sanction, before this audience, and sent out to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, wherever God may call him. He becomes...
He is already one of us, by Birth. He is one of us because he has believed the Message. He is one of us because that--that he stands for the Truth of the Word. And we want Brother Capps to be officially ordained, before you, by laying on of hands, that he is one of us.
Okay, Brother Ruddell, Brother Capps, Brother Neville. Brother Junior Jackson, any of them other ministers here, I don't know just how many there is. I don't... I guess they got their own services tonight. So come right up here, Brother Capps.
Now where is Brother Hunter and them from New York, I... Brother Anthony? I guess they have gone back. [Brother Neville says, "There is Brother Anthony back there."--Ed.]
Any of you others that's here, that's with us, why, we would be glad for you to come up here and stand with us now, as a recognition that we believe Brother Capps to be.
How many of you here know Brother Capps, raise your hand. All right, put your hand down. How many believe he's a servant of God, raise your hands. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We love him, as our brother.
E-24 Now this is not exactly a correct way of what we would call ordination, but I want this audience... I couldn't sing this song, but I want you to help me try it. That...
E-25 One day a prophet went down to the altar, in the temple. And while he was there at the temple... He had been a good man, but he had just been laying upon the arms of Uzziah the king, and he was a--he was a good man. But yet, one day, at the temple, he saw something, when he fell into a vision, that he had never saw before. He saw Angels, with wings, flying back and forth, through the building, crying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"
Come on, brother. Yeah. See?
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"
Ben? [Isaiah 6:3]
E-26 And when he did, the posts of the temple moved out. And he said, "Woe is me! for I'm a man of unclean lips." In the Presence of God he recognized, that even though being a prophet, he had been wrong. He said, "I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among people with unclean lips." [Isaiah 6:4-5]
E-27 And one of the Angels flew, and took a coal of Fire and touched his lips, and said, "Prophesy, son of man!"
Would you give us a chord on that, sister, if you will. How many knows this song? Let's, one verse. All right.
When the coal of Fire had touched the prophet,
Making him as pure as pure can be,
When the voice of God said, "Who will go for us?"
Then he answered, "Here am I, send me."
[Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I'll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I will answer, "Lord, send me."
Millions now in sin and shame are dying;
Listen to their sad and bitter cry;
Hasten, brother, hasten to their rescue;
Quickly answer, "Master, here am I."
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I'll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I will answer, "Lord, send me."
Let the elders walk around now and lay hands upon Brother Capps. Let's all bow our heads. [Isaiah 6:6]
E-28 Dear God, the temple posts has moved again, and as seeing the Spirit of the quickening Life working in our brother. I pray, God, as he feels this from Above, that says that he must go. We lay hands upon him, as Your elders, Lord, and give to him the right hand of fellowship; and lay our hands upon him, and pass the blessings of God upon him, that You'll anoint his lips, his thinking, his entire being. And may he take this Message of the Gospel to every crack and corner that You'll call him to. Grant it, Lord. We give You our brother, as a servant of Yours, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
E-29 "Preach the Word," my young brother. "Be in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, with all long-suffering and Doctrine." God bless you, brother. [II Timothy 4:2]
E-30 [Brother Ben Bryant says, "Brother Branham, would you lay hands on me? Would they lay hands on me? I'd like to be ordained."--Ed.] Have you... I didn't know you hadn't.
Brother Ben, here, has come to us. I think he's been preaching for some time. Yet, he hasn't been officially (I thought he had; that's the reason I called him up) ordained, or hands laid on him here.
E-31 Now, Brother Ben's wife is here somewhere, and she is a dear person. She was a woman preacher. And when she and our brother were married, and he brought her to the tabernacle, when she seen and heard the Word, yet a fine little lady with a fine personality, but when she seen that it was wrong for the women to do that, she laid aside; and it seemed to fall upon her husband. That's correctly. That's apostolic. That's the way it should be.
E-32 Brother Ben takes the tapes, as I understand, with his wife. They go into the re-... out-of-way places, way back into the mountains, into the jungles, and they play these tapes and comment on the tapes. Many times they are run out, cast out, throwed out. We expect that. "For all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions." [II Timothy 3:12]
E-33 How many here knows Brother Ben? How many believes him to be God's servant, [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] worthy of this blessing that we'll ask of God for him? See, he is not a stranger. He has been with us for years and years. I know him as a man of humility. He is like me; he makes many mistakes. We all do that. What I like about Brother Ben, he is willing to crawl on his knees to make it right.
And when he heard, the other day, on Marriage And Divorce, he and his wife was ready to separate, because that he loves her, and she loves him, but they want to cope with the Word of God. Whatever the Word said, that's what they wanted. I pray that God will bless Ben and his wife, to His service.
Let's lay our hands upon our brother.
E-34 Dear God, we lay our hands upon our Brother Ben, by a sign that we love him. And we believe, Lord, that he is willing to do a work for You, to be sent out with these tapes, to play them among some mountain people in the way away places where probably many of us would never get, but yet the Message must go to all the world. We pray that You will bless our brother, and give to him Your Spirit, and may It come upon him. And guide him, and direct him and his wife to those places where maybe that one soul is way out there, and the doors cannot close until that one sheep is brought in. Thou art not satisfied with ninety and nine. The... Every name that's on the Book must be brought in. Help them, Lord, as we lay hands upon him, as associating him with us as our brother. And our help and prayer for him, will go with him. And we pray that You'll bless him, Lord, wherever he goes. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Bless you, Brother Ben! The right hand of fellowship we give you, as minister brothers. God bless you, brother.
E-35 [Brother Earl Martin says, "Brother Branham, would you lay hands on me, ordain me to work as a pastor?"--Ed.] John Martin... ["Earl."] Earl.
How many knows Earl Martin? How many believes him to be a servant of Christ? He comes to us from a... I believe the, originally, from a Pentecostal group, and now I think he pastors and does a independent work.
E-36 I've knowed Earl to be a real servant of Christ. I'll never forget one act, many has been, but one act with Earl. I remember one night they called him when I was in Dallas, Texas; or I--I believe, no, it was... [A sister says, "Beaumont."--Ed.] Beaumont, Texas, is right, sister. And they--they... His baby was laying, dying, and they thought it was already dead. It wasn't breathing no more. And Earl made his way around to my room, as a daddy, bending shoulders, stooped down before me, as I was in bed. Rolled out; he put his arms around me and said, "Brother, I believe you are God's prophet. I've always believed that. And if you'll just say the word, though my baby is dead, yet shall it live." And his baby come back to life, is living.
E-37 Do you believe he is worthy of the right hand of fellowship of these believers? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.]
Let us pray, brothers, as we lay hands on him.
E-38 Gracious Heavenly Father, we lay hands, again, on our Brother Martin. We send him, Lord, to the utmost parts that Thou has ordained that he should go; wherever it is, many or few, by-ways, highways, hedges, if it be. Wherever it is, Lord, may Your blessings be with him. We lay our hands upon him as we bid him Your speed and give him our blessings, that the Spirit that's upon us, Lord, may go with him, and will guide him and direct him to the lost souls out in the hedges and highways. We send him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless you, Brother Martin. Go now, and the Lord be with you.
E-39 For the same purpose? [Brother Richard Blair speaks to Brother Branham--Ed.] Richard is your name? ["Right. Richard Blair."] How many know Richard Blair? How many believe him to be a servant of God? He comes from the--the group of the United Pentecostal church.
And brother, Brother Blair, I remember a great calling, of his. I remember the time where Brother Blair would not, didn't want to believe me, because that there was a spirit working with him, telling him that I was false. And while he was setting right in the meeting, the Holy Spirit turned around and called it out. [Brother Blair says, "That's right."--Ed.] And he was just about ready for a--a breakdown, and that's what got him in that shape.
And I remember his lovely wife calling me one day. She said, "Brother Branham, I believe Richard is going to die." And she had, I believe, a scarf. She went and laid it on him, as I asked her, and prayed. Here he is. [Brother Blair says, "Amen."--Ed.]
E-40 A little baby had been in an accident, or... [Brother Blair says, "My boy."--Ed.] His boy, in an accident, that they didn't give much hope for it, with a concussion of the brain. And with prayer, even by the phone, the baby was made well. ["Amen."]
Do you believe Brother Blair is a true witness of Christ? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] You pray that your blessings go with him.
Brethren, lay your hands on him.
E-41 Dear God, to identify our gracious and noble brother, Your servant, that has even come from his own group, to walk in Light. Father, we pray that You'll bless our Brother Blair, as we send him with our blessings and our sanction, by our hands upon him, to wherever You may call him, Lord, to whatever work it may be. May Your Spirit go with Brother Blair. Guide him and direct him to the lost and dying of this world, that he may help find that lost sheep, that he might bring it back to the fold. Wherever it might be, whatever You have for him, Lord, we just ask that Your Spirit guide him and direct him throughout his life's journey. We are his brethren. In giving him the right hand of fellowship, we ask You to go with him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The right hand of fellowship! God bless you, Brother Blair. We are with you, one hundred percent, pray for you and will do anything we can to help you along. God bless you.
E-42 [Brother Merlin Anthon says, "It's the same for me, Brother Branham, for ordination."--Ed.] What say? ["Ordination."] Who are you? ["Merlin Anthon."] Merlin Anthon. ["I'm in the church."] Where? ["Here in the church."] In the church. Anybody know Brother Merlin Anthon? He is new, to me. ["With the Salvation Army. Remember me?"] Oh, yes. Pardon me, brother.
From the Salvation Army, that's right, I remember him. Sure, I know him now. I just... His face didn't look familiar to me just then, at this time. How many knows him to be a man of God? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] How many believes that--that God is working with him, raise your hand. ["Amen."] Will you pray for him? ["Amen."]
E-43 Now, brother, we know that you coming from a great group of people, Salvation Army, they're a great people. But, and, but the Salvation Army does do a great work out on the street. We can say nothing against the Nazarene, the Pentecostal church, or the Salvation Army, or any of them; they are our brethren. But, you see, we believe that we are carriers of a great Message for this very hour that we're living in. You want to do that with us? [Brother Anthon says, "Amen."--Ed.]
Let us bow our heads while we lay our hands on our brother.
E-44 Dear Heavenly Father, You are the One that does the calling. You are the One that quickens the Word, so that they can believe. And we lay our hands upon our precious brother, as a sanction that we believe that You are with him and will help him. We send our blessings with him, that we who believe that we've passed from death unto Life and now hold quickening Power in our hearts, by the grace of God. We lay hands upon our brother and send him with our blessings, that You will lead him and guide him and direct him to every crevice of the earth, Lord, that You have ordained for him to go. May Your Spirit go with him and give him health, strength, and success in his ministry, for we send him in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
E-45 God bless you, brother. That's the right hand of fellowship, you know, brothers shake hands with him, brethren like that. So that's you're... All right, the Lord bless you all.
E-46 [Brother Carrell says, "I--I never was done, officially. Want you to lay your hands on me, as those, in the Name of Jesus."--Ed.] You, whatever you wish. And yours... ["Time to be, and for same as them."] Now what's your name? ["Brother Carrell, from Cincinnati."] Brother Carrell.
[Brother Carrell says, "I was an ordained minister, but I couldn't agree with the brother who was ordaining women as ministers, and I had to break off from it."--Ed.]
This is Brother Carrell from Cincinnati. Anybody know Brother Carrell, raise your... Being from Cincinnati, I doubt it, that anybody know. He says that he was with a group, and the group wanted to ordain women ministers. He couldn't stand it, and he had to break away from them.
That's exactly how I broke away from the Missionary Baptists. Doctor Roy E. Davis, how many ever heard him? Sure, you did, see. He wanted to ordain some women preachers, and I said, "No, sir. As an elder," I said, "I cannot do that, consciously. It's against the Word of God."
E-47 I don't know you, Brother Carrell. But upon the basis of your testimony, and that Truth that you stand for... We have nothing against those women. They are sisters. We love them. But we believe that they got their place, and that they must stay. See? And we believe that they are a darling to a man, a helpmate. And by no means... We think they're the greatest gift, outside of salvation, that God ever give a man. But she's got no place in the pulpit, according to the Word of God. Upon that basis, and your faith in God, we lay hands on you, as fellowship, to come go with us.
Let us lay our hands on him.
E-48 Our dear Heavenly Father! This young man, I can just about know how he feels. He's been pushed out because of the real Truths. That, "Man shall live not by bread alone, but by every Word." So we lay hands on him, placing our blessings upon him. May Your Spirit lead him, guide him, and direct him throughout life's journey to wherever You may send him, Lord. Let him know that we are praying for him, and will be a help to him, and support him as long as he will stand for the Truth. Grant it, Lord. We send him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless you, Brother Carrell.
You just get them hands laid on, the different ones. All of you give kind of the right hands of fellowship for that. [Matthew 4:4]
E-49 Brother Ruddell, here, has never officially been ordained here at the church. Can... How many knows Brother Ruddell? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We all know him. How many knows he's a man of God? ["Amen."]
Dear Heavenly Father, be as Your elders lay hands upon this brother who has moved through deep, muddy waters. He has seen his congregation falling off. He's seen everything take place, but yet believe. Though the...?... We lay our hands upon him, and pass our blessings to him...?... Anoint him, Lord, mightily, with the Word, Lord, and send him to every crevice of the earth!...?... may be upon him and help him. And send him, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
E-50 Brother Ruddell, you've always got a right hand of fellowship. I know Brother Ruddell. Seems like--like my own boy. His daddy and I, mother, have knowed one another so long. And I know Brother Ruddell to be a servant of God. I've served with him. God bless you, Brother Ruddell.
E-51 What's his name? Who are you, brother? [Someone says, "Brother-in-law to Brother Martin."--Ed.] Brother Martin, you know him, Brother Martin?
What's your name? [The brother says, "Rev. McComas."--Ed.] Brother McComas. I guess there's no one here knows him, but he is a... Yes, this man here knows him, Brother Tyler. And he comes to be... have hands laid upon him, that he'll be a carrier of the Gospel. Brother McComas, where you from, Brother McComas? ["Rockford, Illinois."] Rockford, Illinois. ["You called my home, last week, or last Monday night, and prayed for my wife."] Oh, is that right? From Tucson. ["Tucson, Arizona."] Oh, I remember the call now. ["She got up the next morning."] Praise the Lord!
[Brother Martin says something to Brother Branham--Ed.] What say? ["My youngest sister."] Your sister. ["She is here now. Was paralyzed."] So, she is here now, was prayed for, the other night, from Tucson, by telephone. ["Paralyzed."] Par-... ["She was paralyzed, and she is here now."] She was paralyzed, a few nights ago, and she is here now. Brother Martin knows it, friend. No wonder he wants to take the Message!
Let us lay hands upon, brethren.
E-52 Dear God, I lay hands, with these others, upon Your servant, and give to him the right hand of fellowship, praying that the blessings of God will...?... [Brother Branham's statements cannot be heard clearly--Ed.]...?... that You've ordained him to be. Your blessing be on him, and guide him and direct him, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
The right hand of fellowship, my brother, and those be with you. God be with you.
E-53 [Someone says, "Brother Branham?"--Ed.] Yes, brother? ["I have one more that wants this also."] All right, sir. I believe this is... ["Brother Darris."] Brother Darris. I don't... ["I know Brother Earl and Brother Brewer."] This man is Brother Darris. Where you from, brother? ["Black Rock, Arkansas."] Black Rock, Arkansas. Brother... ["I know him, brother."]... known him. Someone else, I believe, here, said... Brother Brewer. I believe I met them, this morning. And--and Sister Vayle, I guess, Brother Vayle, and them who know him, and know him to be a man of God, a servant of God. Wonderful!
E-54 Well, now, my dear brother, to be a carrier of the Message, we want you to know that we'll stand behind you, do everything that we can. We'll be praying for you, that you also will carry this Message to the utmost parts of wherever God has ordained you to go.
Let us lay our hands on our Brother Darris.
Dear God, now we lay our hands upon our brother, giving him the right hand of fellowship, and send him in the Name of Jesus Christ, that You'll anoint him. And...?... give him the right hand of fellowship!...?... And Your Spirit go with him, and guide him and direct him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless you, brother.
E-55 I--I believe, Brother Anthony. Many of you know Brother Anthony. He has been here with us a long time. I know him to be a servant of Christ, myself. I believe he's a dedicated young man. He's never officially had hands laid on him. He didn't know this was coming, friends. See? But right now is good as any. So we're going to lay hands on Brother Anthony and just give him the right hand of fellowship. God has to do the ordaining. This is just to let him know, and you know, that we believe this brother and we love him, and he's one of us, in the Message. And we want him to have God's blessings, and that's what we ask on him. Let's pray, as we lay our hands on, brother.
E-56 Dear God, this humble little, Italian servant of Yours, Lord, comes tonight, that to--to have hands laid upon him, and the right hand of fellowship, officially, extend unto him, from the church. Lord, Your great Power send this young boy to the far end of the earth, in the crevice that you've called him to. And may he go and deliver them people from sin and sickness, and to serve You, Lord, all the days of his life. May You lead him, guide him. May our blessings be with him, as we send him, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
God bless you.
E-57 [Someone speaks to Brother Branham--Ed.] Huh? Oh, I don't know. We're on a telephone hookup; fifty cents a minute. Was there somebody else here was want...
Step up here and call your names, who you are, brethren, just in the microphone right up here. Just tell them. [Each brother says his own name, "Pat Tyler," "Claude Boggess," "Dale Potter," "...?... Henasey," "James Humes," "Earl Horner."--Ed.] Is that them? [Someone says, "Yes."] My brethren.
These men, do you believe this Message to be the Truth from God's Word? [The brethren say, "Amen."--Ed.] Do you believe that with all your heart? ["Amen."] All right. And you are desirous, and think if we lay hands upon you... We want you to know that we are with you, and we'll do anything that we can do to help you.
And now I want you brethren, so that I can lay hands on them too, to step right up here now. And let's all bow our heads, as we lay hands on them.
Dear God, here is a group of man. I lay my hands upon each of them, in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And may You, Who has called them to be ministers, that may they a preach It, Lord, all the days of their life. And...?... preach the Gospel to every creature. We give to them the right hand of fellowship, and pray Your blessings to be with them, Lord, as we bless them, send our blessings. May it go to every crevice of the earth that you've called them to go to. May they work and serve You in the capacity that You called them to. May they be gallant and real servants of God. Grant it, Lord. And we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name.
E-58 God bless you, each, brothers. God bless you. God bless you, brother. God bless you. God bless you, Brother Humes. The Lord be with you, each one.
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred mind
Is like to that Above.
E-59 Isn't He wonderful? Just think now, how many ministers is here tonight to have hands laid upon them!
E-60 I didn't know that we were on this telephone hookup. If the people out there will forgive me for that; I didn't know it. See? I just didn't know they was going to hook this little Message up tonight. But we're...
E-61 Now we'll read the Word and pray, and get straight into this Message that I feel that the Holy Spirit would have me to bring to you tonight.
E-62 And now while we are turning back in the... for the text, I'll announce it in a moment. Let's turn to Numbers, the 22nd chapter, verse 31. Numbers 22:31, for a text. While you're turning, if you like to read, read it or mark it. [Numbers 22:31]
E-63 I want you all remember me now, until I get to see you again, I hope, sometime this summer, the Lord willing. And if anything happens, I don't get to go overseas, I'll be back. But we are now believing that, how all this has worked around, that the Holy Spirit is going to send us now on a way that He has chosen for Himself to send us. And that's the way we want to do it. The Lord bless!
E-64 Father, we're about to read Your Word. Will You bless It and anoint It to our understanding, we ask in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
E-65 The Book of Numbers, the 22nd chapter and the 31st verse.
And the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. [Numbers 22:31]
E-66 Now, in the reading of this, to build a context around it, I want to take the subject: Does God Ever Change His Mind About His Word?
E-67 That's quite a text, and it's a great Truth that we ought to understand. Can God say anything and then say, "I'm sorry I said it"? Can God take His Word back, after He said It?
E-68 Now, in this statement here, the reason I chose this statement, was because it's one of the statements of the Bible that a reader, trying to see, or try to say that God does change His mind; this would be more like that He changed His mind than any place in the Bible, I know of, because He told Balaam one thing and then told him another. And now, many people has tried to make Balaam just a, oh, a soothsayer or something. But Balaam was not a soothsayer. He was a prophet of the Lord. [Numbers 22:5, 9-12]
E-69 Now, we'll kind of get the outline of the Message, first. Israel was in their journey from Pales-... going to Palestine, coming from Egypt. And the Lord was with them, and they were... Every enemy that had raised up before Israel was moved out of the way, for God said He would send hornets before them and would drive out the enemy, as long as they walked in obedience to His command. The job was never too big. The Amalekites, the giants of the day, meant nothing to Israel. Though they were small man in statue, but they were walking in THUS SAITH THE LORD. So no matter what the opposition was, God always seen that His Words of promise never failed Israel. [Exodus 23:20-33]
E-70 And Israel of the Old Testament is a type of the Bride of the New Testament, coming up out of the--the world, marching on the road to Canaan, or the Canaan that we go to, the Millennium.
E-71 Now, now, we notice Moab here is a type of the church. And Moab... They had just slew some kings and had routed the enemy, killed off everything, possessed the land, and moved up by Moab. Now, Moab was by no means a heathen nation. Moab was a nation that served the same God that Israel served. And the land of Moab was originally started with Lot's son, by his own daughter. And he, being the founder of this nation, and had organized his celebrities and so forth, and made a great nation out of it, and they had multiplied and went on.
E-72 And, now, Israel was of the seed of Abraham, not of Lot. Israel come out of Isaac, Jacob. And Israel sprung out of those twelve tribes from Jacob, which was later called "Israel," because he wrestled with the Lord. And Moab here...
E-73 Now, in this, and you people out in the--on the telephones, I want to first say that I--I do not wish to be critical, and I hope I'm not. But, the Message that's been given to me, I must be faithful to that Message, or I'll be a hypocrite. See? I--I can't say no more than what I am sent to say.
And I--I am thinking that the great enemy of the Christian society today is the organized churches. I do believe with all my heart that it'll finally form into the mark of the beast, which I can, think I can prove that by the Bible with God's help. I have already done it. That, it will form into the mark of the beast, in the federation of the churches. Because, God never did, at any time, ever recognize a ordained church, organized church, never. He never did do it.
And every time that man made an organization, the Spirit of God left it and never did return again. Ask any historian, or you may be a reader yourself. Never! When they organized, God laid it on the shelf, and that's where it went; it stayed, from then on. They growed in members, but never a wakening of the Spirit; never, no more. [Revelation 17:1-18]
E-74 Moab, here, is a type of such, because they were a--a organized nation; in their own land, like in their denomination. And there had their own religions, and their religion was the same religion that Israel had. They were Moabites and believed in Jehovah God, but they was an organized group of people.
E-75 And, now, as they represent the natural church, Israel represents the spiritual church in its journey. Now, Israel was not an organized nation. As long as they followed God, they were independent. They come up, sojourners, no place to go. Wherever the Pillar of Fire went, they went with It. They were not a organized nation. They had a organism among them, because circumcision gave them that under the commandment by God, but never an organized nation at this time. When they finally become an organized nation, that's where they fell and rejected their Messiah. [Nehemiah 9:7-15], [Exodus 13:11-22], [Numbers 14:14]
E-76 And now we find, always, that when these natural and spiritual, spirits of churches and organizations, meet, there is always a clash. It's never failed to be so. It always clashes. Because, we find that in there is a jealousy. And, in this jealousy, it causes carnal comparisons, impersonations. And we find it in today, as it was then. When God does something for an individual, everybody tries to copy just like God did for that person. See, it causes a competition, and it makes carnality. And then if they cannot, the other side, get the spiritual results, then they take it by a political power, or they substitute something, to upset the people's minds, to draw disciples after themselves. [Genesis 4:3-8], [Numbers 16:3], [Hebrews 11:4], [II Thessalonians 2:1-4], [Hebrews 11:4], [Jude 1:11], [I John 3:12]
E-77 That's exactly what took place at the very beginning; as Cain and Abel, both boys here on earth. And when Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, and God vindicated Abel, by coming down and receiving his sacrifice; it caused jealousy with Cain, because he was jealous of his brother, and slew his brother. [Genesis 4:3-8]
E-78 It started at the beginning, that when the natural and the spiritual, yet Cain and Abel worshiped the same God. They both built the same kind of altars. And they both worshiped the same God, at the same church, same altar. But Cain, by carnal reasoning, brought in the fruits of the land and laid them upon the altar as a sacrifice, thinking that surely that this would answer to God for an atonement. So he must have brought in, as people think today, "apples that Adam and Eve took, that caused the sin." And, whatever, I think now they got it down to a "pomegranate" or something now. Some of them said, not long ago, it was something else. [Genesis 4:3-8]
E-79 And, but Abel had the right sacrifice. He knowed that it was blood that did it, so he brought a lamb. And when God received his, now, Abel, by faith, by revelation, no other way. There was no Bible written. So, you see, the beginning of righteousness is God's revealed Truth, and the entire Church of the living God is built upon that. [Genesis 4:3-8], [Hebrews 11:4]
E-80 Jesus, one day, coming off the mount, said to His disciples, "Who does man say I the Son of man am?"
"One said You're 'Moses' and the other one say You're 'Elias' and You're 'Jeremias, or one of the prophets.'"
He said, "But who do you say that I am?" [Matthew 16:13-15]
E-81 That's when the apostle Peter, inspired of God, quickened by the Spirit, made that tremendous statement, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." [Matthew 16:16]
E-82 Notice the statement. "Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jonas, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. My Heavenly Father has revealed this to you. Thou art Simon. Upon this rock..."
What rock? Now, the Catholic says, "Upon Peter, the rock, little stone." And the Protestant says, "Upon Christ, the Rock."
Not to be different; but it was upon the revelation that Peter had, Who He was. "No man can come to Me," said Jesus, "except My Father draws him. And all the Father has given Me will come to Me."
"Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." [Matthew 16:17]
E-83 "Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jonas; flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in Heaven. Upon this rock I'll build My Church, and the gates of hell can't prevail against it." Spiritual revealed Word of God! [Matthew 16:17-18]
E-84 Notice, Abel, by faith in God, offered a more excellent sacrifice. And the carnal believer thought that it was the works of his own hands, that, and his fruits and his beautiful offering that he brought, that God would recognize, and it made a clash.
We find that Abraham and Lot had to clash. [Hebrews 11:4], [Genesis 13:1-15]
E-85 We find that Moses and--and Dathan, Korah, had the same clash.
Moses, being a ordained prophet with the Word of the Lord, vindicated that he was chosen to be their leader of the hour, and that Abraham had promised all these things, and here Moses did exactly what God said it would be, take place.
And Korah, being carnal, wanted to raise up an organization among them. He wanted to make a group of man. And God doesn't deal with people like that. It shows right there, in that Scripture, a type of the journey today, that organization is not what God ordains. For, as soon as Korah done it, he said to Moses, "You take too much upon yourself." In other words, "The whole congregation is holy! Why, you say you're the only holy man. You have no right to do any such as that. You try to make yourself somebody big. We're all holy. We're all God's children." [Numbers 16:3]
E-86 And Moses just turned his head and walked away. He said, "Lord, what will I do?"
E-87 God said, "Separate yourself from him. I've had enough of it." And He swallowed him up in the earth. [Numbers 16:21]
E-88 See, there was a clash. When the carnal and the spiritual meets, there is always a clash. When Judas and Jesus met, there was a clash; One, the Son of God; the other one, the son of Satan. Just like Cain and Abel, there was a clash when they met. One of them was the treasurer of the church, and the other One a pastor. And as now, we come in this day, to the same thing again. The carnal denomination to the spiritual Bride of Christ. The spiritual Bride of Christ is so much different from the carnal organizations, till there's no comparison in them at all. [Genesis 4:3-8], [John 12:1-6]
E-89 Now notice, the natural always tries to type the spiritual. But, as in Jacob and Esau, it will not work. It would not. Now, when it come to doing good works, I--I believe that Esau actually was a better man than Jacob, in the sight of man. He tried to take care of his daddy; he was blind, a prophet. And all these things that he tried to do, but yet Esau didn't think about that being just carnal work. He thought he could get in by what he done, do something good for somebody, which was all right. But Jacob, his whole soul was to get that birthright, and that's what God recognized in him spiritual. [Romans 9:10-18]
E-90 Notice, and it's always caused the natural to hate the spiritual. It caused Cain to hate Abel. It caused Korah to hate Moses. It caused Judas to hate Jesus. And on and on it goes. It causes the natural to hate the spiritual, just as Cain at the beginning hated Abel, the one that God received the sacrifice from, and tries to destroy them. [Genesis 4:3-8], [Numbers 16:1-50]
Even they try to destroy the influence. They try to destroy everything, because it's nothing but jealousy. It started in Cain and proved that it was jealousy, and it's still the same thing today when the natural (the carnal) and the spiritual meet together. It proves it's Satan, no other way, because jealousy comes from Satan. And then causes an impersonation of the Truth, somebody to try to impersonate something that isn't, they are not ordained to do. How much of that have we seen in these last days! Oh, my, how much of it! [Hebrews 11:4]
E-91 So we see God does for-... not forever change His mind about His original Word. But, who He calls, that's who He ordains. No one else can take that place. No one could take Moses' place. No matter how many Korah's raised up, and how many Dathan's; it was Moses, God had called, regardless. [Numbers 16:1-37], [Numbers 26:9-10], [Psalms 106:15-16]
E-92 But, and if the people won't walk in His perfect will, He does have a permissive will He'll let you walk in. Notice, He permits it, all right, but He will make it work out for His glory, in His perfect will. Now if you'd like...
E-93 Just like, in the beginning, it was not God's perfect will for children to be born on the earth through sex. No, sir. God created man out of the dust of the earth, breathed the breath of life into him, and he become a living soul. He took from that man a helpmate, and made a wife to him. That was God's first and original will. But when sin come in and did the thing that it did, then He permitted man to marry a wife, legally, and have children by her. "Multiply and replenish the earth, then, if that's the way you're going to do it." But, you see, it never was His perfect will. [Genesis 1:26-28]
E-94 Therefore, all these things that had a beginning has to have an end. All sin has to come to annihilation. All sin has to be done away with. Therefore, in the great Millennium when the resurrection comes, we will not have to be reborn again by our fathers and mothers, but God like He did in the beginning will call man from the dust of the earth, and his helpmate with him. That's right. That's the way He did it at the beginning. [Genesis 1:26-28]
E-95 So therefore, God never changes His mind about anything, but He will permit you to go on. Now, this is a long ways around to get to what I want to say here about this. But, and, but, it's, you'll... I want you to understand it. See? God will permit you to do something, and even bless you in doing it, but still it isn't His perfect will. [Genesis 3:15-22]
E-96 God permitted Israel to take a law, in Exodus the 19th chapter. When grace had already give them a prophet, Pillar of Fire, a sacrifice lamb, a delivering power, but they cried out for a Law. It wasn't God's will, but it was injected because man wanted it. And he was cursed by the very law that he wanted. [Exodus 20:1-22]
E-97 It's best to have God's will. That's what He taught us. "Thy will be done. Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done." We must submit ourselves to His will and His Word. Don't question It. Believe It. Don't try to find a way around It. Just take It the way It is.
So many wants to go around, get some other way. And when you do, you find yourself going on, you find God blessing you, but you're working in His permissive will and not in His perfect, Divine will. [Matthew 6:10]
E-98 He permits it, as I said, but He will not--He will not let it be His perfect will; but He'll make it work to honor and bless His perfect will. And childbearing, by sex, is one of that. [Genesis 3:15-22]
E-99 Now notice, Moab, to begin with, was a illegitimate nation. It started out, illegitimate, yet by a--a father believer and a daughter believer.
Just exactly, if you will type that and use a spiritual mind, you can see that denomination standing there just as plain as anything. Sure. See, the whole thing is altogether wrong. And, look, when it's brought, started like that, it can never... It keeps, like a ball of snow, it just keeps rolling more and more and more. You get one error, and start on that one error, and you just keep rolling one thing after another, and one thing like another, all after another. [Genesis 19:29-38]
E-100 And that's the way the church started. That's the way it started at Nicaea, Rome, when the Roman Catholic church... At the very beginning, where it come from, was Pentecost. But when they organized and brought in the celebrity, into the church, they started to making, having prayers, and running beads, and--and praying for the dead, and all these other things. And then it just started rolling, from one error to another, one error to another, until look where it's gone to. There is not one representation of pentecost in it, at all. See? It's one error picking up another, picking up another. There is only one thing to do, that's, clean off the record and go back to the beginning. [Genesis 19:15-22]
E-101 When, Martin Luther started off with justification. This ought to be the further advanced, Lutheran church. See? If... Luther, when he organized, he could not take Wesley's sanctification, because he was organized; and the men wouldn't stand for it, so the Spirit moved out of it.
E-102 Now, Lot's group here; or, Moab was Lot's daughter's child, illegitimate to start with. Now notice, as the natural church, Moab, represents the natural denomination.
Israel represents the spiritual Church. Israel, there was a church true, was the bride of that day, called out of Egypt, and vindicated to be the truth. [Genesis 19:15-22]
E-103 Notice when they, them two come together. Both of them offered the same sacrifice, both built, saw seven altars, both offered up clean sacrifice, ox. And they even offered up rams, testifying that there was a coming Messiah. Fundamentally, they were both exactly the same. Israel, down here in the valley; Moab, up on the hill. And Moab with seven altars; Israel with seven altars. Moab with seven ox; Israel with seven ox. Moab with seven rams, speaking of the coming Messiah; Israel with seven rams. [Numbers 23:1-10]
What was the difference in them? Fundamentally, both right. But, you see, Moab did not have the vindication of God with them; they were only a nation, a group of celebrities. But Israel had a prophet with them. They had a smitten Rock with them. They had a Pillar of Fire. They had a brass serpent, for healing. They had the blessings of God moving right along with them, and they was the called-out children of God.
E-104 Now we find that so perfectly typed here in them churches of today. As, Moab was not so. Israel was a sojourner, from place to place; wherever that Pillar of Fire moved, they moved with It. Moab, not so; they were settled down in their own denomination, down in their own nation. They didn't move, they stayed right there. They had their celebrities. They ordained things as they should do, and they had their warriors, they had their fighters, they had their king they had, that they got their orders from, and so on.
E-105 But Moab seen Israel with something that they didn't have. They seen a mighty power amongst Israel, and it was a prophet. And that prophet was Moses. And they knowed that when the battle went wrong, they just raised up his hands and held them up there, and the battle changed. So they didn't have such as that, so they try to match it with politics, with a political pull. They sent over to another country and hired a prophet to come over, so they could have a prophet, and would have power amongst them just like Israel had amongst them. [Numbers 22:4-15]
E-106 Do you see the carnal comparison? Can you see the carnal church today? It's done the very same thing.
E-107 Notice, now, they're both going to have prophets. The only different was, Moses, the prophet of God, his King was God. That's where he got his orders, the Word of the Lord. And Balaam, he also, he had a king, and that king was Balak, the king of Moab, and that's where he got his orders and his blessings. So Moab said to Balak, "Come down," or Balaam, said, "come down and curse me this people, for they cover the whole face of the earth. They just come and lick up everything like an ox licks up the grass." Said, "Come down now. And I understand that you can curse, you can bless, whatever you do is recognized." [Numbers 22:4-6]
E-108 Now, we want to notice that this man was a prophet ordained of God, but he sold his birthrights for political reasons. Just as the church did today, like Luther, Wesley, Pentecost, and the whole group of them, sold it out for pulls in their organization. Moses, under God; Balaam, under Balak. Yet, both prophets were called-man of God, and both spiritual. Notice the difference. Each had a head; Moses' was God; Balaam's was Balak. [Numbers 22:4-6]
E-109 Notice here how the spiritual is applied, to prove that the natural is wrong. Moses, sent of God, in line of duty, is met and challenged by another prophet of God. Can you imagine that! Moses, called of God, ordained of God, standing in the duty of God; moved up into this cold, formal group, and was challenged by another prophet of God, what God had blessed and ordained. How would you tell the difference? They both had prophets. God spoke to both prophets. [Numbers 24:1-10]
E-110 And some of them say, "God said, 'Do this.' God said, 'Do that.'" Now, I don't question that, but it's out of the line of God's Word. The prophet, no matter if he is a prophet, he's out of the line. So many people get deceived like that. "Oh, this brother can do this, and this brother can do that," and deny the Word?
E-111 "Though I speak with tongue of men and angels, though that I have gifts, that I can move mountains, though I give all my goods to feed the poor, I am yet nothing." [I Corinthians 13:1-4]
"Many will come to Me in that day, and say, 'Lord, Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name? Have not, in Your Name, I've cast out devils and done mighty works?' And I will say unto them, 'Depart from, you... Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I never even knew you.'" Yet, they come with a confession that they have did it, but Jesus said, "They were workers of iniquity." What is iniquity? Is something that you know you should do, that's right to do, and yet you don't do it. See what it's going to be in the last days? , [Matthew 7:22-23]
E-112 Hear the whole line! That was my purpose tonight. I said I'd be out at nine o'clock, but I'm going to be a little bit after, maybe. Look, that was my whole purpose, to show you this line, by the Word of God, see, that--that God has to keep His Word in order to stay God.
E-113 Now, we notice that both of these were spiritual men, both were prophets, both were called. And Moses, right in the line of duty, with a fresh Pillar of Fire before him every day, the Spirit of God upon him, in the line of duty. Here comes another servant of God, called of God, ordained of God, a prophet to whom the Word of God comes to. Here is the danger line. There is nobody could dispute that man being of God--of God, because the Bible said the Spirit of God spoke to him, and he was a prophet. But, you see, when he got the real answer from God, he wouldn't keep It. He didn't notice It, then he went to challenge Moses. [Numbers 24:1-10]
E-114 Now, Balaam sought the will of God, with all of his heart. Now, when these great man come over and said, "Balaam! Balak the king has sent, that you come to him immediately and curse this people Israel, because they're scattered all over the face of the earth, and now they're camping against me. And they've licked up every kingdom around, below them. And now we want you to come over and curse this people. Because, I understand that if you curse anyone, he is cursed." Now, you see, he was a man of God. "What you bless, is blessed." He was a servant of God. [Numbers 24:1-15]
E-115 And Balaam now thought, being a prophet, "There is only one thing for me to do, and that's seek out what is the will of God." [Numbers 22:1-8]
E-116 That's the duty of a prophet, if he's called to be a prophet. First, what must a prophet do? Is seek out the will, the Word of God. He must do it. Because, being a prophet, the Word of God comes to him. The... They say, "Well, you're not a theologian." Never does the Bible say the Word of God come to a theologian. They're the one who messes It up. The Word comes to the prophet of God. [Numbers 22:1-8], [Amos 3:7]
E-117 And here was a man who was a prophet of God. And when he was hired, to be hired, to come over and curse another people of God, notice, he went to seek the will of God. And he wanted to know His perfect will, and God gave him His perfect will in the matter. His perfect will was presented to him. What was His will? "Don't you go!" That's God's first Word. "Don't go with them. Don't you try to attack My people, walking in My perfect ways." [Numbers 22:12]
E-118 How that is today, want to fuss, debate, and everything else, when they see the Spirit of God working among you. And they're trying to, they've tried it for years, to smother It down. But more they try to smother It, the greater It grows. You can't curse what God has blessed. You just can't. You just can't do it. [Numbers 22:8-12]
E-119 So, you see, that was God's people. Now, that prophet, though he was up there and hired by the king, worked among the celebrities, and so forth. And the Word of God came to him. He sought the will of God, and the will of God spoke back to him, and said, "Don't curse this people. I blessed them." [Numbers 22:12]
E-120 Now there isn't a theologian under the skies that can deny this Message that we're preaching, but what It's exactly the Word of God right in time. God has a vindicate it, in everything that's been said or done. He's proved It to be right. Now, there's no theologian, no Bible reader, no prophet, can look in that Word, if he is a prophet, he'll see the same thing. But if he doesn't see the same thing, that show's there is something wrong. Because...
E-121 You say, "Well, oh, I could take it vice versa." So could Balak, Balaam. See? But God identified Moses.
And then what was the proof? The Word of God. And he heard the plain, clean-cut decision of God, "Don't you go. Don't try to--to curse what I've blessed. Them is My people."
But you know what? Balaam didn't like them people, to begin with. Oh, what a... How many Balaam's is there in the world today! He didn't like that group, to start with. [Numbers 22:1-15]
E-122 Now, after he got God's clean-cut decision, "Don't you go." But, you see, instead of doing it, it was the same thing like Cain, like Korah, he was jealous, and he--he wanted to, a reason to go, anyhow. [Numbers 22:8-12]
E-123 Notice, his denominational headquarters, after he sent back, said, "Nope, don't believe I'll go down. Don't believe I'll have anything to do with them. I won't debate with them people, 'cause God's done told me they are His people, and I don't believe I'll go." If he'd have stayed with that!
But, down in his heart, he didn't like them. See? They wasn't of his group. And anything that didn't belong in his group, "wasn't right, to begin with." See? And he looked down at them, said, "There has been some awful things them people did. Surely a holy God will curse such a people as that. They're, they're illiterate. They're not educated like us. We're a smarter people. Oh, they claim to serve God, but, look at them, what are they? A bunch of, why, a bunch of slaves, mud-daubers, that the Egyptians run out down there. Why, God would never have anything to do with a dirty bunch like that!" [Numbers 22:8-20]
E-124 He failed to see that smitten Rock and that brass serpent, that Pillar of Fire. He tried to judge them from a moral standpoint. He failed to see the higher call of God. By grace, by election, they were in that line, and with God's Word. And when he wanted to curse them, God said, "Don't you do it. They're Mine. Leave them alone. Don't you touch them." [Numbers 22:8-15], [Numbers 21:1-9]
E-125 Now, so the man turned around, went back. Now watch his denominational headquarters, though, when he gets back. They sent a more influential group. This time they might have been some, instead of just regular layman, they might have been doctors of divinity come this time. They might have been bishops, or maybe state presbyters, for all... He sent a--a--a better group, and a--a little more influential group, somebody that had a little better education and could lay out the plan to him better, could make it reasonable. [Numbers 22:15]
E-126 See, that's what Cain did; he reasoned. That's what Korah did; he reasoned. It's not him that reasons.
"We cast down reasonings." We believe God, no matter what anything else says. We believe God. We don't reason what God says. You can't reason with It. You have to accept It by faith. And anything that you know, you don't have to reason any more. I don't know how He does it; I just believe He does it. I don't know how He is going to keep that promise; but He said He would do it. I believe it. I accept it on the basis that I believe that it's the Word of God.
You say, "Well, you can't get by with that." I don't know how I'll get by with it, but He said, "Say it."
I remember my Baptist pastor told me, said, "Why, Billy, you will preach to the posts in the church. Why, you think anybody will hear a thing like that?"
I said, "God has said so."
"How are you going to, with a seventh-grade education, pray for kings, and preach around the world?" [II Corinthians 10:5]
E-127 I said, "I don't know how I'm going to do it, but, He said so, and that's just good enough for me." See? "He said so. I don't know how it's going to be done."
He said, "Do you think the people in this great, educated world that you're going to stand up against, on this subject of Divine healing and so forth, do you think they'll believe that?"
E-128 I said, "It ain't for me to know whether they believe It or not." I said, "My duty is to preach It. That's what He told me. He said He would be with me, and He's told me what it would do."
And it's done just exactly what He said it would do. "First, take a hold of their hands; then it'll come to pass that you'll even know the secret of their heart." And I told you about it, and it happened that way. How does it do it? I still don't know how it does it. It's none of my business how it's done; it's just done.
E-129 Who could explain when God told Elijah, "Go up there and set on the mount, and I'll feed you. I've ordained the--the crows to feed you"? How could a crow get a slice of bread and a piece--a piece of fish, baked, and bring it to a prophet? That's beyond anything I could explain. I don't think you can either, or nobody can. But He did it. That's all was necessary. He did it, and that's the truth of it.
How He did it, I don't know; it's none of my business. But He did it. How He made the earth, I don't know; but He did it. How He sent His Son, I don't know; but He did it. How He rose from the dead, I don't know; but He did it. How did He save me? I don't know; but He did it. That's right. How did He save you? I can't tell you; but He did it. How did He heal me? I don't know; but He did it. He promised He would do it, and He keeps His Word.
Now, Balaam should have knowed that, and he did know better. [I Kings 17:4]
E-130 Notice, this better, influential group, come, and what better? They had better gifts. And not only that, they could give him more money, and they could, offered him a better position. "Now, besides just a regular minister in the organization, we'll make you district superintendent. See? That, we'll--we'll do something for you if you'll just run that bunch of people out of there, see, and stop that." Oh, they offered him a great position. Said, "The more you bless..." Said, "You know, I'm able to promote you." Look where he's getting his words from, the head of the nation. [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-131 Where was Moses getting his Words from? The King of Heaven. One was the Word of God's promise, "I'll take you to the promised land, and no man will stand before you. I'll send hornets before you and drive them out, from right to left. And you're going to take the land. I've prom-... I've already give it to you. Go on, take it, possess it; it's yours." And now, see, that's Who Moses was listening to. And this man was listening until it come to something in his own heart he was jealous of, and so then he went to his ecclesiastical head. See? [Exodus 23:20-28], [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-132 Notice, a better position. He said, "You know I'm able to promote you? I will promote you to a better place. I'll do more for you. I'll raise your wages. I'll give you a better salary." And when he offered him all of this, it blinded him. [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-133 How many Balaams are there in the world today, that, by a better position, a better church, a promise of something! When a man gets his eyes opened to the Word and the workings of God... And that good man, who has got influence, will start out as a servant of God, and he holds a good congregation. After a while, the Holy Ghost baptism is presented to him; the baptism in Jesus' Name is presented to him, which is a Scripture and the only Scriptural way to baptize. And when it is presented to him, and the denomination knows they're going to lose him when he starts that, they offer him a better position and a change in church. See, old Balaamism, again, just exactly like it was at the beginning. [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-134 Now, that man who reads that Bible, he can't read It unless he sees that that's the Truth. There is nobody ever baptized using the titles of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." It's a Catholic creed and not a Bible Doctrine. No person in the Bible was ever baptized, or three hundred years after the death of the last apostle, but what was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. The Catholic church started that, and the rest of them come to it. And any minister setting in his study and will look at that, knows that's the Truth. But, for popularity, to hold his position, better thought of among the people, he compromises. [Acts 2:38]
"Well," you say, "God blessed him." [Numbers 22:15-18]
E-135 Certainly. Some of them have got gifts of healing, some of them have great campaigns. And that rubbed right in their face, and they get the same answer from the Word of God that you or any other man would get. God doesn't change. See what I mean?
E-136 Balaam, for a better position, he thought. Now look, when that better group come back, the right... Balaam, here, took a phony text. See? He said... The--the better group come back, he--he ought to have said, "Get out of my presence! I've told you the Word of God. Get going! This is THUS SAITH THE LORD." But, you see, the gifts, and to be a more popular man! [Numbers 22:15-18], [Numbers 24:1-25]
E-137 Oh, how they like to do it! "We'll send you all over the world. We'll give you a special plane. We'll sponsor your meetings everywhere if you'll just..." Oh, no. Uh-huh. See?
We know what the Word says. We know what God said. We're going to stay with that, by God's help. See? No matter what kind of a promise, and how much more you can pay, and how many this, that, or the other you can--you can produce; we want the THUS SAITH THE LORD, and what He said Here first.
"Well, the church said, 'That's secondarily.'"
We want what the God said at the beginning. "And anything added to It or taken away from It, even your name will be taken off the Book of Life; to add one word to It, or take one Word away from It." We want what He said; not what the church said, what Doctor Jones said, what somebody else said. We want what THUS SAITH THE LORD said, what the Word said. [Revelation 22:18-19], [Numbers 22:15-18]
E-138 But now we find Balaam, a servant of God. And many of those man start out, and are ordained of God, and does speak God's Word in many things; but when it comes to the full Truth, they won't do it. [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-139 Notice here, as a prophet of God, he should not been caught in such a group as that, to begin with. He shouldn't have went with them. But, watch, for popularity sake, see, for his conscience's sake, he said, "Well, stay all night, and I'll try again." See, "I'll try again"? What do you want to try again for? [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-140 God already told him what to say. God said, "Tell them you're not going." That's His original Word. "I'm not going. 'And don't you go. Don't you curse what I blessed.'" Now watch how it backfired on him, after a while. See? And it will, every time. When God says anything, He means it. He don't change His mind about it. He stays right with His Word. No matter what anyone else says, He stays right with that Word. [Numbers 22:2-20]
E-141 Now, Balaam should have knowed better. He should have dismissed himself from such company, but all them nice gifts and a--a--the promise that this king said, "You know I can do it. I'm the bishop. I can do just whatever I want to, and I'll promote you if you'll come do it for me."
And God done told him, "Don't do it." [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-142 But yet Balaam said, "You, you stay all night, and I'll--I'll try again."
See, he had the Word. You don't have to argue anymore about It. God has done said so. With a group like that, they always talk you out of the will of God, if you'll let them. [Numbers 22:15-26]
E-143 There was one group to come to a prophet, one time, named Job. They couldn't talk him out. He saw the vision. He knowed what was right.
Balaam saw the vision, and still didn't stay with It.
E-144 No matter how much his church groups said, "Oh, Job, you ought to do this, you ought to do that." Even his wife, he said, "You talk like a foolish person." See? "I know what the Lord said. I know what He required, and that's what I've done." See, he stayed with what God told him. [Job 2:8-10]
E-145 Notice, Balaam using this phony text for his conscience. See? He said, "Well, I'll--I'll find out. I'll try again." Now, there is where you come, secondarily. How many Balaam's have we got tonight, that likes to use that phony text of Matthew 28:19 just for their conscience's sake? How many wants to use Malachi 4 for their conscience's sake? How many wants to use Luke 17:30 just for conscience's sake? How many wants to use these things, yet, "Well, I tell you, I--I believe they're all mixed up on That"? [Matthew 28:19], [Malachi 4:5-6], [Luke 17:30], [Numbers 22:12-25], [Numbers 24:1-15]
E-146 And then here was Balaam trying to say, "Perhaps maybe God got mixed up. I'll try again, see, see what He said." Now, He knows your heart. Notice, Balaam used this phony text for his own conscience's sake, because, actually, he wanted that money. He wanted that dignitary. He wanted that. He wanted that job. He wanted that position, to be looked up to, as Doctor So-and-so. So he--he--he said, "I'll try again." [Numbers 22:12-25]
E-147 Oh, at the Balaam's in the world tonight, promised positions, popularity! My, oh, my! They numb their conscience by them. Because of their denominations, they say, "If you do that, out you go. I know you're a good man, and we love you," and he is a good man, "we love you. But you can't preach that. Our--our doctrine says you can't do that. Doctor So-and-so said this is the way it is. Now you've got to believe it this way, if you stay with us. Now, if you want to, I know you had a hard time, well, I'll see if I can't get you promoted, maybe change churches." Oh, you Balaam! When you know the will of God, you do it! God ain't going to change His mind. No. [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-148 Something that he could pass by, the Truth, for his commission. He said, "Well, I'll--I'll try again." Notice the Balaam's there is. [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-149 So now remember, when he come the second night, with this great celebrity, already had his conscience dull and numb, God let him go. Now, God never changed His mind, but He give him His permissive will. "Go ahead then." But he found out it'll not work. [Numbers 22:2-20]
E-150 God knew what was in Balaam's heart. Though he was a prophet, He knowed he hated them holy-rollers, and he--and he just... he--he was going to want to curse them, anyhow. And God done told him not to do it, but yet he come, wanted to do it, again, so God let him go ahead. God said, "Go ahead." Now, remember, He never changed His mind. [Numbers 22:1-25]
E-151 Notice, it was his desire to curse them. The people that he classed as fanatics, he wanted to curse them. He wanted a position. He didn't want to fool with them, so he thought if he could do this little act for the king, then he would be promoted. God never changed His mind or His Word. [Numbers 22:1-28]
But He will give you the desire of his heart, of your heart. He promised that. You know that? He promised to give you the desire of your heart. And let your desire be the Word of God. Let your desire be His will, never your own will. His will! If He... You ask Him for something, He don't give it to you, say, "Thank You, Lord. You know what's good." [Romans 12:2], [Hebrews 13:5], [James 4:3], [Psalms 145:16]
E-152 Look at even King Hezekiah, when He sent that prophet up there to him, God did, and said, "Put your house in order. You're going to die."
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly, and said, "Lord God, I--I ask You to consider me. I've walked before You with a perfect heart. I want You to let me live fifteen years longer." [II Kings 20:1-21]
E-153 "All right." God spoke to the prophet, said, "Go back and tell him I heard him."
And what did he do? He brought disgrace upon the whole nation. He kindled the anger of God till He would have killed him. That's right. You know that. Backslid on God. It would have been far better on, off, nation, king, and all, if he'd have went on and took God's first thing to him.
But it looked hard on the prophet, when the prophet had to go back and speak the Word of God to him, after he done told him. But God said, "Go ahead." But, you see, it brought a disgrace. [II Kings 20:1-21]
E-154 What did Balaam do? After knowing the will of God, and yet he was persistent, he was going to do it, anyhow. And what did it do? Notice. He never changed His mind. He knowed what was in his heart. [II Kings 20:1-21], [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-155 You know, Thomas, one time he just couldn't believe it. No, he--he said, "Naw, I can't believe that. If I could take my hand and stick it in His side, put it in the nails of His hand, well, then, then I'll--I'll believe it then."
He said, "Come here, Thomas. See? Now put your hands in here."
Now, oh, Thomas said now, "It's my Lord and my God." [John 20:26-28]
E-156 Said, "Yes, you've seen, and now you believe it. How much greater is their reward, has never seen and yet believe!"
People sometimes won't receive the Holy Ghost unless they speak with tongues. I believe in speaking in tongues, certainly. He's a good God; He'll give you the desire of your heart. But no matter how much you speak in tongues, and deny this Word, you're wrong anyhow. See? See, you don't go in by speaking in tongues. You go in by keeping every Word. That's the evidence of the Holy Ghost, when you believe the Word of God. See? [John 20:27-29]
E-157 I believe in speaking in tongues. I believe you can be quickened, like I said this morning, till you'll speak with a new tongue. I have, myself, and I know it's the Truth. I know it's true. But that's not the sign, you, that you're God's selected child. See? No, indeedy. He never said... [I Corinthians 13:1-5]
"Many will come to Me and say, 'Lord, haven't I prophesied and done all these great things in Your Name?' He'll say, 'Depart from Me, you that work iniquity, I never knew you.'" [Matthew 7:22-23]
E-158 You speak with tongues and then refuse to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ? Something wrong somewhere. Yes, indeed; any of those things, any of those orders God give. There is something wrong. Just search your own conscience, and see what--see what the Bible said. Show me some place where somebody was baptized in the name of the "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." See? It's not there. But, you see, sometimes for your conscience's sake, you say, "Well..." [Acts 2:38]
You say, "God speaks to the women about how they must do, not wear shorts and things, but, you know, the pastor said..." So they take the easy way. [I Corinthians 13:1-5]
E-159 They know what God said about it Here. See? Sure, God said so.
So they--they--they want to do it, anyhow, see. They try to find an excuse. "Well, I think it's much better. It's--it's not... The wind don't blow..." Yeah. [Numbers 22:1-26]
But God said for a man to dress different from a woman. "If a woman put on a garment pertained to a man, it was abomination in His sight." So it's not right, yes, and you shouldn't do it. No. See? So, therefore, it's wrong. [Deuteronomy 22:5]
E-160 But, you see, they try to find an excuse, that, "The Lord told me to do this." I don't say He didn't, but, look, it ain't His perfect will. It's got to be His permissive will. You see what it'll do? It'll pollute the whole bunch. It polluted all the camp. [Numbers 22:1-26]
E-161 Notice here, God never changed His mind, His Word. But He is a good God, and He'll give you the desire of your heart, though it be against His will. You believe that? [Numbers 22:2-26], [Psalms 145:16], [Romans 12:2], [Hebrews 13:5], [James 4:3]
Look, God told Moses, "You go down there," this anointed prophet. Said, "Go down there and speak to that rock." It's already been smitten. [Numbers 20:7-13], [Deuteronomy 32:48-52]
E-162 Moses went down there in his anger, picked up the rod, and said, "You rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?" and smote the rock. The water didn't come. He smote it again; it come. It was against God's will. It broke every plan in the Bible; Christ had to be smitten second time. See? Christ was smitten once. It broke the whole plan. But He give him His permissive will. Then, after, he said, "See, we got the water for you. Yeah, I brought it for you, you bunch of rebels!" [Numbers 20:7-13], [Deuteronomy 32:48-52]
E-163 God said, "Come here, Moses. Come here. Come up here on top... You're been a faithful servant." (Like the woman with the high heels, "You climbed," see.) "Look over yonder. See the promised land?" [Deuteronomy 32:49-50]
"O Lord!"
"But you're not going over. You took My permissive will, down here at the Rock. You have glorified yourself, see, and not Me. You sanctified yourself. You didn't sanctify Me. You didn't keep My original Word, what I told you to do." Yet, the waters did come. [Deuteronomy 32:48-52]
You can lay hands on the sick and they recover. You can prophesy, or speak with tongues. But, the thing is, keep His original Word! God don't change His mind, friend. You've got to keep His commission, His will.
"Oh, well, that was for the disciples." [Numbers 20:12], [Numbers 22:1-26]
E-164 He doesn't change. If He's still got a disciple, that's the same commission. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel. These signs shall follow them that believe." It's never change. He can't change.
Now, you can say, "Well, I tell you, it ain't for this day." Oh, you Balaamite! You see? See, God don't change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. [Mark 16:15-17], [Hebrews 13:8], [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-165 Just look at the Balaamites today. "Oh, I know, in the Bible they baptized in Jesus' Name, but, look, all the people..." [Numbers 22:2-26]
I don't care what the people has done. "There is not another Name under Heaven given among men whereby you can be saved." "No remission of sin, only through the Name of Jesus Christ." What, how good you are, what you do, that don't have one thing to do with it. It's God's original Word; you got to stay with That. Whew! All right. [Acts 4:12]
E-166 "Obedience to His Word is better than sacrifice." You remember that time when Saul came back. [I Samuel 15:15-25]
E-167 Balaam had a gift of faith and could have used it to the perfect, original Word of God.
Many men on the field today, with gifts of healing, could do the same thing. Many men out here, people speaking in tongues, people prophesying, a gift, could use it for the Kingdom of God, but they don't do it. They take... And God blesses them, anyhow, gets the permissive will. But for popularity, and pleasures, personal gains, sold their birthrights, as Esau did, see, sold out to a organization. Sold out, like Balaam did. See?
So many are doing today the same thing. We know that's right. They sell out their birthright. Huh! Women professing the Holy Ghost, wearing shorts; man permitting them in the pulpits, bobbed-haired women in the pulpits; paint on their face, with religious gowns on. The biggest stumbling block the church has ever had. [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-168 If you want to know, in political powers, what time it is in the kingdom age, see where the Jews are. Watch how the Jews are, because they are a nation. If you want to know where the nations are standing, watch the Jews.
If you want to know where the church is standing, watch the women. Watch the morals among the women, 'cause she's a representation of the church. When you see the pollution amongst the women, you find the pollution in the church. What she become, a painted-up Jezebel, just exactly what the church has become. See? Now, that's the truth, and you know that. See? If you want to know where the church is, watch the morals among your women. Cause, she is, the church is a woman.
If you want to know the national status, watch the Jews. [II Kings 9:30]
E-169 Notice, as God said to Balaam, after he had heard the true-cut decision, Word, "Don't go." Yes, then He told him, after He seen in his--in his heart, what it was to do; He give him His permissive will, so He said, "Go." [Numbers 22:12-20]
E-170 And you can do the same thing. If you don't want to walk in the Truth, you can go and have--have a great ministry. Certainly, you can. But you're taking His permissive will. You're walking over His Word. He'll prosper you, certainly. The...
Just like He did Balaam. He was a success, but he couldn't curse that people. He couldn't do it. Cause, every time he started to curse, he blessed. See, he couldn't do it. But when he come to being prosperous in his achievement, he taught those people, through Balak, to commit adultery. He brought in the camp of Israel and married them off, said, "Why, we are all one. Why, you've worshipped the same God. We got a prophet up here; and you got a prophet down there. And we have the same sacrifice, the same Jehovah as our fathers. Now, why not you all just come and associate with us?"
The Bible said, "Don't join yourself up amongst unbelievers. Don't yoke up with them, at all. If they don't believe It, stay away from them." See? "Come out, be separate," saith the Lord, "and I'll receive you." See? "Touch not their unclean things." That's right. Their filth against the Word, and things like that, stay away from it. Don't listen to it. [II Corinthians 6:14-17], [Numbers 22:12-20]
E-171 And here we find out that Balaam went down there and he begin to teach the people, and he had an error. And he--he run in the way of Balaam, how that he did, and taught Balak, and the children of Israel committed adultery. And a plague struck the nation of Israel, the people, and thousands of them died in one day.
And while they were all there, before the altar of God, praying, here come an Israelite man with a Midianite woman, a denominational woman, and went into the tent. And the priest's son walked over there, and took a javelin and killed them both. And that stayed God's wrath. You know that's the Scripture. It that right? See? [Numbers 22:12-21], [Numbers 25:1-14]
E-172 But what happened? Balaam, he succeeded in weakening Israel. What did he do? He weakened their camp. God let him go and weaken their camp, and it polluted the whole camp.
And when some doctrine starts, that's not the Bible Truth, it pollutes the whole camp. Somebody raise up with a different idea, like Korah, and say, "Well, this, that, and the other, and I got a different idea," it pollutes the whole camp. And that's what's done the whole church camp today. That's right. [Revelation 2:14], [Jude 1:11-12]
E-173 Teaching as he did, weakening the whole camp for Kadesh-barnea, the Word showdown. When they got to Kadesh-barnea, then, the weakening of the camp. They come back. They had went right after...
Remember, they had eat angels' food. They had the Word of God, every night, made manifest. And they eat the food. They drink from the rock. They did all, seen the miracles. They watched Moses, and seen his word, seen his prophesies, everything.
And then finally when they listened to this false teacher, come in among them and teach wrong, he weakened the camp, and prospered by it.
He might have built a million-dollar buildings. He might have had great denominations. He might have added thousands times thousands, and done great works, and mighty works, and was a prophet. That's alright, but, as long as it's not with the Word of God, you better stay away from it.
God don't change His mind. Stay right with His Word, 'cause that's what's going to come out in the end, the Word, Word by Word. "Whosoever shall take one Word away from It, or add one word to It!" It's got to stay, that Word. [Revelation 2:14]
E-174 Now listen closely now. When the Word test came, when they went over and seen the opposition so great, the greatest opposition they ever seen, the Amalekites was--was ten times their size. They said, "We look like grasshoppers. Their fences, or their cities are so walled till they can run a chariot race around it, two chariots, as hard as they can go, around the walls, see, of their cities. Why, their spears are way out, they're long. And they're giants. Why, we look like grasshoppers. We can't do it."
And two men stood on that Word, Caleb and Joshua, said, "Wait a minute! You two million people shut up just a minute. We are more than able to do it. See, we are more than a match for them."
What was they basing on? God said, "I've given you the land. It's yours." And there they stood. But the people had gotten married off, amongst other things, and all kinds of creeds and rituals among them, and they just weaky, wishy-washy, didn't know which a way to turn and what to do. That's right. There come the Word test. [Numbers 13:31-32], [Numbers 22:2-20], [Numbers 25:1-14]
E-175 Yet, He grants you permission for to make, permit your will, a permissive will, knowing that... What's in your heart, He knows it.
You say, "Well, Brother Branham, I do so-and-so. It don't bother me. God blesses me every day. I sing in the Spirit. I dance in the Spirit. I..." He'll permit it. Go ahead. That's right. But what are you going to do? [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-176 "I wear shorts, and I do this. It don't bother me. I know my faith is in Christ, not in what I wear."
But, the Bible said there is something to it. See? What'll you do? You'll make a stumbling block, like Balaam did, before every one of the other women. What'll you do to your young girls? You'll have a bunch of Rickettas, that's exactly right, a bunch of little painted-up Jezebels. See? [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-177 But God will prosper you. "Why, He blesses me." I don't doubt that. He blessed Balaam, too. See? Certainly He will. You'll walk in His permissive will, not His perfect will. God doesn't change His mind, 'cause He blesses you.
He blessed Israel right out there for forty years. What did they do? Married wives, raised families, kissed the children, paid their tithes, lived right out there. And the God blessed them in the wilderness, fed them with the manna, on and on. And every one of them perished, 'cause they never kept His original, permissive... His original will, His Word. They took His permissive way. [Numbers 22:2-26], [John 6:49], [Numbers 14:24-39], [Numbers 32:10-15], [Deuteronomy 8:2-5], [Joshua 5:6-7]
E-178 Go ahead, but, you remember, when they left Kadesh, they never journeyed any farther. They just went around and around, in the wilderness. Where, they could have been out, in two days after that, they could been in the promised land. They journeyed forty years, and every one of them died but Joshua and Caleb, the ones that stayed on the original Word. [Deuteronomy 8:2-5], [Numbers 14:24-39]
E-179 O God, help us. God don't change His will. He don't change His mind, but He'll bless you.
Sure, He blessed Balaam. And what did he do down there? He polluted the whole camp. See, you have to stay on what He said. He never changed His original plan. [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-180 Now look at the Balaam's today, in the field, would you. Just look around. Prospering, speaking in tongues, sure, using God's gift to gain, everything, sure. But it defiles the whole church of God with their corrupt teaching. That's right.
One said to me, he said, "What you doing this for? What you doing that for?"
I said, "Don't you believe that That's the Truth?" [Numbers 22:2-26], [I Corinthians 13:1-4]
E-181 "Oh, yes. But," he said, "you know what? That's not your business. You're to pray for the sick. They believe you to be a prophet. Why, you could teach them women how to, and them man, how to do this, that, the other."
"How can you teach them algebra when they won't even learn their ABC's? Huh? Huh? How can you teach them them things when they won't even take their primer?" See? You've got to come back and start where you began, or where you left off, and take every Word of God. [Luke 4:4], [Proverbs 30:5]
E-182 Just look at it in the field today. As Balaam married into God's church, a harlot, married the harlot into God's church, so is these false teachers today trying to tell you. They're going to marry every one of these organizations and these people into the old harlot of Revelation 17. Their Balaam doctrine going around today, and say, "We're just the same. We're all Christians." And priests and popes, and whatevermore, all compromising and doing this. [Numbers 25:1-15], [Numbers 22:2-26], [Revelation 17:1-18]
E-183 The preacher said... Even I know a Pentecostal preacher, all of them, started now giving a round kosher. Which means, Ashtoreth, the "moon-god," a kosher wafer. Say, "Shut your eyes and take it, if it hurts your conscience." Shut your eyes? A round wafer, what does it mean? We are taking a broken body, Jesus Christ, broken; not a round moon-god, Ashtoreth, who Mary took the place of. And the Roman kosher is still round, for the moon-god, goddess, not god. We have a broken kosher, certainly. Oh!
E-184 So now the great harlot of Revelations 17, these Balaam teachers with their false doctrine, is marrying the church into that kind of a mess. Watch when it comes to the showdown at the end time, look the weakness of it now. Nine hundred and something different organizations, one pulling one way, and one the other. There is no unity among them. And they're trying to bring unity; not backed by the Word of God, God's original plan. They are taking it in by a politics and an organization.
God don't change His mind. He stays right with His Word. He said, "Heavens and earth will pass away, but My Word won't." That's right. He stays with His original Word. Oh, my! [Matthew 24:35], [Revelation 17:1-8]
E-185 Though they still reason against It, just like they did, and just... There is only one thing to do. He won't change It. Just believe. Because, both heavens and earth will pass away; His Word will never fail. See? [Matthew 24:35]
E-186 You see where you're getting married into? See the politics and things, how they're trying to join the church together by a politics in the church? We are not joined to Christ by politics.
We are joined, the Church, to Christ, by the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And the way you know the baptism of the Holy Ghost, is 'cause that Spirit in you identifies every Word of God to be the Truth. That's right. "For whosoever shall take one Word out of It, or add one word to It, his part will be taken from the Book of Life." [Revelation 22:19], [Acts 2:38]
E-187 Yet, "He prospers," you say. You can't believe That by prosperity. You can't judge God by prosperity. The world prospers. Balaam prospered by it.
But, brother, you judge God by His Word. He keeps His Word and identifies It the Truth. So, remember, friend, as long as you live, don't you never forget this: God doesn't change His mind. Yet, He will bless. He will let you go His permissive will, but He won't change His mind. He won't change His plan. He won't change His Word, for you. No, sir.
You've got to change. You can't have God's Word to match your experience; you've got to have your experience to match God's Word. See? That's the way you've got...
You say, "Well, I'm a good man. God does this, that, or the other." But do you keep His Word? "Oh, well, I tell you, that ain't just... Naw." All right, there is something wrong somewhere. God's going... Yes, He'll prosper you. Sure, He'll make you... [Numbers 22:2-26], [Matthew 24:35], [Proverbs 30:5-6], [John 6:49], [Numbers 14:24-39]
E-188 The denominations is prospering to who wouldn't have it! They spread their tents, the great, fine churches, and everything, throughout the land. They're rich, and money pouring in, and members from everywhere. Didn't the Bible say, "There was found in her even riches of the world, and even souls of man," and everything, that was found in this old harlot, which is the mother of the whole thing, politics and organization? [Numbers 22:2-26], [Revelation 17:1-6]
E-189 But God's little group is His Bride, centered on that Word. May the dear Heavenly Father ever keep you stabilized right there. Don't you never move from that Word.
You may bless, you may... God may heal your sick. He may heal your sick baby. He may heal your husband, your wife. He may heal your mother, somebody else. You may jump at His Spirit, and dance up-and-down.
Remember, the rain falls on the just and the unjust, just the same. But when that seed is laying there, it's either ordained or it's not ordained. And if it's ordained, it can... If it's a wheat, it has to bring forth wheat. If it's a Word of God, it has to produce the Word of God. If it isn't, well, then it isn't. See? You get that now? [Matthew 24:35]
E-190 The Lord bless you. Here I told you I was going to quit at nine o'clock, and here it is, twenty minutes till ten. Many of you people, a long ways to go. I love you. And the reason I hold you like this, is not because I want to be cruel to you, but I love you. And what I know, I don't keep nothing back; I tell you the Truth.
E-191 Out in the meetings where I go, you never hear me preach these Messages. No, I promised you, to come to this tabernacle. Right here is where I preach my Messages from. I've got three or four more here, that the Lord has given me, I've got the Scriptures on it, that I would be daresn't to preach it anywhere else but right here. Here is where the Word of God started going from. And, till God changes it, I'm staying right here and bringing it out right here. That's right.
Out yonder in the meetings, I pray for the sick, and everything like that; and, on the side, say things in a roundabout way, that the sheep hear It. They know what it's talking about. Otherwise, it's just the bait on the hook, you see. I show the signs of--of trying to show that God knows, in discernment, and knows the hearts of the people, and does these things. That's an evangelistic gift, just to stir the people.
The first thing you know, a tape drops into their house. That's got it, then. If he's a sheep, he comes right with It. If he's a goat, he kicks the tape out. Uh-huh. [Brother Ben Bryant says, "And you, too."--Ed.] You see, that's... "And you, too," is right, Ben. That, that's exactly right. Ben has had some experience. All right. Well, that's right.
E-192 Aren't you glad that you're His? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Aren't you glad? ["Amen."] We used to sing a little pentecostal song, a long time, like:
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out;
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Oh, I been happy since the Lord brought me out;
I been happy since the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be?
I'm so glad since the Lord brought me out.
I been shouting since the Lord brought me out;
I been shouting since the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, oh, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Glory! Aren't you glad? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "Aren't you glad..." Let's sing it.
Aren't you glad that the Lord brought you out?
Aren't you glad that the Lord brought you out?
If it had not been for Jesus, oh, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Well, I been singing since the Lord brought me out;
I been singing since the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, oh, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Aren't you glad of it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Then, we'll walk in the Light. You know that song?
We'll walk in the Light, It's a beautiful Light,
Comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Oh, Jesus, the Light of the world.
Don't you like that? Let's sing it again.
We'll walk in the Light, It's a beautiful Light,
Comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Oh, Jesus, the Light of the world.
It's sunup!
All ye saints of Light proclaim,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Truth and mercy in His Name,
Jesus, the Light of...
Now let's raise our hands when we sing it.
Oh, we'll walk in this Light, It's such a beautiful Light,
It comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Shake one another's hand.
Oh, It comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright.
Aren't you glad you're children of the Light? The Son is up.
... all around us by day and by night,
"Ye little children, love one another."
... the Light of the world.
Oh, we'll just walk in the Light, It's such a beauti-... (manifestation of His Word)
Comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright,
Just shine all around us by day and by night,
It's Jesus, the Light of the world.
You all believe it?
We're marching to Zion,
The beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the Heavenly King,
And but children of the Heavenly King,
And may speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.
For we're marching... (Glory!)
The beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
E-193 Get your handkerchief out. Take out your handkerchiefs, just a minute. Let's give the Lord a wave offering. It ain't a sheaf, but they took from the body of Paul handkerchiefs and things, see.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
E-194 Amen! Oh, don't it make you feel good? I can just imagine those old saints back there, before going into the Roman circus there, start walking up that hill, you know, up that little ramp, going up into the lions' den, saying:
Oh, we are marching to Zion,
This beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
The fields of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the Heavenly Throne,
Before we reach the Heavenly Throne,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.
We're marching to Zion,
It's beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
E-195 Repeat after me. Lord God, [Congregation says, "Lord God,"--Ed.] I pledge myself anew to You. ["I pledge myself anew to You."] Cleanse me from all unrighteousness. ["Cleanse me from all unrighteousness."] Cleanse me from all doubt in Thy Word. ["Cleanse me from all doubt in Thy Word."] Let me, from this Easter, ["Let me, from this Easter,"] be a new creature ["be a new creature"] in Christ Jesus. ["in Christ Jesus."] Let me bear, in my heart, ["Let me bear, in my heart,"] Your Word. ["Your Word."] May It be a Lamp to my feet ["May it be a Lamp to my feet"] that will Light my path. ["that will Light my path."] From henceforth, ["From henceforth"'] I will follow You. ["I will follow You."] In Jesus' Name. ["In Jesus' Name."] Amen. ["Amen."]
We're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful city of God.
E-196 Don't that make you feel good? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We have pledged ourself anew, knowing that in our hearts we have been quickened from the dead, made alive. Don't it make you feel good? ["Amen."] My, oh, my! I love you, with undying love.
Listen. "Love one another. For you cannot dislike your brother, who you see, and say you love God, Who you haven't seen." See? So just love one another.
Then, you serve one another, you serve God. Is that right? "As you do unto the least of these that's got quickening Power in them, you've done it unto Me."
"When did we see You in need? When did we visit You in prison? When did we do these things?"
"What you done to them, you did it to Me."
E-197 Isn't that wonderful? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] I love Him, don't you? ["Amen."]
E-198 Oh, there is one more song we have to sing, if you just got a minute more time. Oh, well, we'll just take them. All right. All right, sir. Oh! Take The Name Of Jesus With You. Don't forget that, friends. Let's all sing it now. Each one, together now, just with one big heart, take it to Him. Let's, with all we got in us.
Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it everywhere you go.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven;
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.
E-199 Remember now, pray for me when the hot persecution winds are blowing, when devils on every side is challenging, I'll remember you're praying for me night or day, and I'll be praying for you.
Stand by your good pastor, Brother Neville, and the associate, Brother Capps. Listen to them. They'll teach you the Word of Life. I believe that. If I didn't believe it, I certainly wouldn't have them here. I certainly would not. I believe that they believe the Message, and they stay with it to the best of their knowledge, and I've got faith in both man. Stay with them. These other brothers, around where they got their meeting, that stood here tonight, if you're around their neighborhood, stand by them. You heard what they come here for, tonight.
Take the Name of Jesus with you,
As a shield from every snare; (listen at this)
When temptations round you gather,
Just breathe that holy Name in prayer.
Precious Name, precious Name, O how sweet!O how sweet!
Hope of...
Dear God, heal these people. I pray Thee, Father, in Jesus' Name. Grant it, Lord, I pray.
... O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.
Till we meet! till we meet!
Till we meet at Jesus' feet;
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again.
Let's bow our heads now.
[Brother Branham begins humming God Be With You--Ed.]O God, be with us. Help us, Lord.
... we meet at Jesus' feet! (till we meet!)
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again.
E-200 That's truly my prayer. Till we meet again, God bless you! And now I'm going to ask our precious Brother Neville if he'll dismiss this fine congregation.
God love you, each one. I'm so thankful to have people like you all. What would my Message be if I had nobody that believed It? And there is people here, you would die for It, for this Message we got. May God help you, each one. My prayers are with you. My blessings go with each one of you. May you not forget that you're a part in that resurrection. The quickening Power is now in you. It's all settled. You're God's child.
Let's bow our heads, until Brother Neville dismisses. And God bless you.
E-2 I am happy to be back in the church tonight and to be with you dear people. And I know it's warm, but I just called my wife, I think it's ninety something there, ninety-five or ninety-six or something, and it's quite a bit warmer than it is here. So I'm getting used to the warm weather now. So, but I'm so glad to be here at the tabernacle at this wonderful Easter time.
E-3 And I can't say that I'll apologize for that long, long Message this morning, but I... It was, I didn't want--want to wear out your patience and then come at it again tonight. But I--I wanted to--to get that Message to you, that you are a part of this resurrection. See? And don't worry about It, no more, see. Just rejoice over It! There is nothing, nowhere, can separate you from It; nothing; Eternally secured in the Kingdom of God. When God has stamped His Seal upon you, you're to the end of the destination. [Romans 8:35-39]
E-4 When the government puts a seal upon a package, the railroad puts a seal on a door, that car cannot be tampered with until it reached its destination.
When God puts His Seal upon a man. And the Seal is the Holy Spirit. When He seals a man like that, he is gone to his Eternal destination. Never no more can he ever, ever go back, anymore. Cause remember, Ephesians 4:30 says, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed for all times." See, you are sealed forever. You are sealed, Eternally, into the Kingdom of God, by the Holy Spirit. Now think of that! [Ephesians 4:30]
E-5 Then, you, the devil will punch at you, and he'll say everything to you, and accuse you, and--and try to make you think that you're not. But don't you listen to him.
E-6 Now, you know you've passed from death unto Life. You know the things that you once loved, you don't love no more. You know that you have believed every Word of God. You've seen God working right among us, without... Infallible proofs that He is the great "I AM." You've notice that ever what has been said in His Name, never has one thing been prophesied in His Name but what happened just exactly the way it did. Even to science, newspaper, picture, cameras, writers, everything else, has to recognize it. See, regardless of whether they want to or not, God makes them do it, anyhow, see, to make it known. [John 5:24]
E-7 Now, being a little group. Remember, it's not a big group that He comes for. "Fear not, little flock; it's your Father's good will..." See? [Luke 12:32]
E-8 I want to leave a word with you, shocking, just before we have a ordination of a minister. And this is very shocking, but just that you might know. Now, I ain't saying that this is exact to number, but I'd like to leave this with you.
E-9 I don't know whether any peoples in here has ever seen hybreeding of cattle. Which, I don't believe in it, but I've watched it done. And I have seen them take the sperm of the male, just enough to be touched on a little metal, like a little toothpick, and lay it upon a piece of marble. And turn those glasses which magnify it, I don't know how many times, until that sperm... Where you could see nothing with the natural eye, any ordinary glass. But when it's magnified, hundred or hundred and fifty times, you can see in that one little drop, of sperm, maybe fifty to a hundred little germs a bouncing around. Also, in the female comes as many eggs, in--in the sperm. Now, when they are--are brought together, now, the first two that meets and connects...
E-10 There is only one out of that million is going to live. Did you ever think of that? They are the same germ, and the same egg, both of them just alike, but there is only one going to live. And that's not determined which one beats there first. Because, sometime the egg, way back in the back, and the germ might be up in the middle of the sperm, and they'll crawl over one another. It takes an Intelligence to know whether it's going to be boy or girl, red-headed, black-headed, or whatmore. It's the election of God. It can be nothing else. Election! [Romans 8:30]
E-11 Even in the natural birth, is election, whether it's going to be boy or girl, or whatever it's going to be. And when that little germ wiggles into this little egg, and the little tails drop off, it starts the baby's spine of whatever it's after; animal, baby, or whatever it is. And the rest of those million germs... A million eggs, a million germs, and only one lives. All the same, but God chooses by election what's going to live, and the rest of them perish. One out of a million! [Romans 8:30]
E-12 When Israel left Egypt, they all believed in one prophet's message. They seen the signs of God, by Moses. Every one of them saw them. And they each one come out of Egypt, and walked through the Red Sea, and was baptized unto Moses. Each one saw the power of God strike him, when he sang in the Spirit; and when Miriam beat the tambourine, run up-and-down the coast. Each one of them, every night, eat fresh, heavenly manna out of the skies. Each of those drank from that spiritual Rock that was smitten. And there was two million people left Egypt. How many made the promised land? Two. One out of a million! Where they all at? Jesus said they perished. "Your fathers eat manna in the wilderness, for the space of thirty years, and I say unto you that they are all dead." [John 6:49], [Romans 8:30]
E-13 Now there is about five hundred million Christians in the world tonight, counting Catholic, Protestant, and all. If Jesus should come in that Rapture, according to what I've just said, there would be five hundred missing in the world tonight, in the Rapture. And they probably is that every day, counting all the lands, that's never accounted for. So it could be at any time, see. [Matthew 22:1-20]
E-14 Oh, Christians, let us buckle on the armor of God. Let us do all that we know how, to serve Him, love Him, and wait for that great time. [Ephesians 6:10-18]
E-15 Now, there is not going to be a great millions and multitudes come out of a generation and march in. There--there can't be.
Now, remember, each day ends a generation, each day. "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the coming of the Son of man, wherein eight souls was saved by water." But each day ends a forty-year period for somebody, for some. See? And each day, so many is sealed away in the Kingdom. One day, the last day will arrive. [Luke 17:24-27]
Let us be sure now, while we are in our right mind. And in the church, and amongst the people, where the Holy Spirit so has identified Hisself with us, let's be sure that everything is all right, and stays all right, before Him. [I Peter 3:20]
E-16 Don't you stop. Don't rest, day and night, until that quickening Power has brought you from the things of the world, into the Kingdom of God. And you that truly are brought into the Kingdom of God and quickened by the Spirit of God, how happy! With tears of joy we should be on our knees, day and night, thanking God for what He's done. [Ephesians 2:1-3], [Colossians 2:13], [I Peter 3:18]
E-17 Tonight we have a little change in the service. We have a fine brother here, Brother Capps. He come to us from the Nazarene church. And I think that is right, Brother Capps? He is wishing tonight to be ordained by us, by laying on hands.
E-18 We do not have papers to give out to anyone, yet we're recognized as... We could have papers, but we believe that a true, ordained minister, his papers is in Heaven. See? And he--he has the rights to preach the Bible as long as God identifies his life with the Bible. We believe that's his credentials.
E-19 And, now, Brother Capps has been ordained officially in the--the Nazarene church, but tonight he wants the elders, and so forth, to lay hands upon him for ordination, to carry this Message. What a gallant thing!
E-20 I have--I have heard the reports ever since I been in Tucson, and such wonderful reports, of Brother Capps here in his assistance to our gracious Brother Neville, who is holding the candle of Light just as gallantly as these two man can hold. We have laid hands on Brother Neville, but not upon Brother Capps. And I want those who are ministers, Brother Jackson and them, if they're here, and Brother Ruddell and the elders of the church here, if they'll come up here just for a few minutes now, and laying hands on Brother Capps. And the...
E-21 Now we find, in the Bible, that that's the way they did it, they lay hands upon them and set them apart then. And that's the way they did Timothy. Said, "By this gift that was in thee, from the grandmother Lois..." They had noticed it, that there was a gift in the man, had come to him by the presbyters, by laying on of hands. [II Timothy 1:5-6]
E-22 Now, latter-day brethren, latter-day-rain brethren, got, though, that mixed up. They thought they gave him a gift, by doing that. No, the gift was already in him, and they just laid their hands upon him as a sanction that they believed that God had already put the gift in him. And they sanctioned it, by laying on of hands.
E-23 And these men here in this church, that I believe that's possessed in their soul with His quickening Power; if you brothers will come up just now, Brother Ruddell and all the rest of you that's here in the church, and the elders and sister churches around, to lay hands upon Brother Capps, that he might be ordained by our sanction, before this audience, and sent out to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, wherever God may call him. He becomes...
He is already one of us, by Birth. He is one of us because he has believed the Message. He is one of us because that--that he stands for the Truth of the Word. And we want Brother Capps to be officially ordained, before you, by laying on of hands, that he is one of us.
Okay, Brother Ruddell, Brother Capps, Brother Neville. Brother Junior Jackson, any of them other ministers here, I don't know just how many there is. I don't... I guess they got their own services tonight. So come right up here, Brother Capps.
Now where is Brother Hunter and them from New York, I... Brother Anthony? I guess they have gone back. [Brother Neville says, "There is Brother Anthony back there."--Ed.]
Any of you others that's here, that's with us, why, we would be glad for you to come up here and stand with us now, as a recognition that we believe Brother Capps to be.
How many of you here know Brother Capps, raise your hand. All right, put your hand down. How many believe he's a servant of God, raise your hands. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We love him, as our brother.
E-24 Now this is not exactly a correct way of what we would call ordination, but I want this audience... I couldn't sing this song, but I want you to help me try it. That...
E-25 One day a prophet went down to the altar, in the temple. And while he was there at the temple... He had been a good man, but he had just been laying upon the arms of Uzziah the king, and he was a--he was a good man. But yet, one day, at the temple, he saw something, when he fell into a vision, that he had never saw before. He saw Angels, with wings, flying back and forth, through the building, crying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"
Come on, brother. Yeah. See?
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"
Ben? [Isaiah 6:3]
E-26 And when he did, the posts of the temple moved out. And he said, "Woe is me! for I'm a man of unclean lips." In the Presence of God he recognized, that even though being a prophet, he had been wrong. He said, "I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among people with unclean lips." [Isaiah 6:4-5]
E-27 And one of the Angels flew, and took a coal of Fire and touched his lips, and said, "Prophesy, son of man!"
Would you give us a chord on that, sister, if you will. How many knows this song? Let's, one verse. All right.
When the coal of Fire had touched the prophet,
Making him as pure as pure can be,
When the voice of God said, "Who will go for us?"
Then he answered, "Here am I, send me."
[Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I'll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I will answer, "Lord, send me."
Millions now in sin and shame are dying;
Listen to their sad and bitter cry;
Hasten, brother, hasten to their rescue;
Quickly answer, "Master, here am I."
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I'll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I will answer, "Lord, send me."
Let the elders walk around now and lay hands upon Brother Capps. Let's all bow our heads. [Isaiah 6:6]
E-28 Dear God, the temple posts has moved again, and as seeing the Spirit of the quickening Life working in our brother. I pray, God, as he feels this from Above, that says that he must go. We lay hands upon him, as Your elders, Lord, and give to him the right hand of fellowship; and lay our hands upon him, and pass the blessings of God upon him, that You'll anoint his lips, his thinking, his entire being. And may he take this Message of the Gospel to every crack and corner that You'll call him to. Grant it, Lord. We give You our brother, as a servant of Yours, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
E-29 "Preach the Word," my young brother. "Be in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, with all long-suffering and Doctrine." God bless you, brother. [II Timothy 4:2]
E-30 [Brother Ben Bryant says, "Brother Branham, would you lay hands on me? Would they lay hands on me? I'd like to be ordained."--Ed.] Have you... I didn't know you hadn't.
Brother Ben, here, has come to us. I think he's been preaching for some time. Yet, he hasn't been officially (I thought he had; that's the reason I called him up) ordained, or hands laid on him here.
E-31 Now, Brother Ben's wife is here somewhere, and she is a dear person. She was a woman preacher. And when she and our brother were married, and he brought her to the tabernacle, when she seen and heard the Word, yet a fine little lady with a fine personality, but when she seen that it was wrong for the women to do that, she laid aside; and it seemed to fall upon her husband. That's correctly. That's apostolic. That's the way it should be.
E-32 Brother Ben takes the tapes, as I understand, with his wife. They go into the re-... out-of-way places, way back into the mountains, into the jungles, and they play these tapes and comment on the tapes. Many times they are run out, cast out, throwed out. We expect that. "For all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions." [II Timothy 3:12]
E-33 How many here knows Brother Ben? How many believes him to be God's servant, [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] worthy of this blessing that we'll ask of God for him? See, he is not a stranger. He has been with us for years and years. I know him as a man of humility. He is like me; he makes many mistakes. We all do that. What I like about Brother Ben, he is willing to crawl on his knees to make it right.
And when he heard, the other day, on Marriage And Divorce, he and his wife was ready to separate, because that he loves her, and she loves him, but they want to cope with the Word of God. Whatever the Word said, that's what they wanted. I pray that God will bless Ben and his wife, to His service.
Let's lay our hands upon our brother.
E-34 Dear God, we lay our hands upon our Brother Ben, by a sign that we love him. And we believe, Lord, that he is willing to do a work for You, to be sent out with these tapes, to play them among some mountain people in the way away places where probably many of us would never get, but yet the Message must go to all the world. We pray that You will bless our brother, and give to him Your Spirit, and may It come upon him. And guide him, and direct him and his wife to those places where maybe that one soul is way out there, and the doors cannot close until that one sheep is brought in. Thou art not satisfied with ninety and nine. The... Every name that's on the Book must be brought in. Help them, Lord, as we lay hands upon him, as associating him with us as our brother. And our help and prayer for him, will go with him. And we pray that You'll bless him, Lord, wherever he goes. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Bless you, Brother Ben! The right hand of fellowship we give you, as minister brothers. God bless you, brother.
E-35 [Brother Earl Martin says, "Brother Branham, would you lay hands on me, ordain me to work as a pastor?"--Ed.] John Martin... ["Earl."] Earl.
How many knows Earl Martin? How many believes him to be a servant of Christ? He comes to us from a... I believe the, originally, from a Pentecostal group, and now I think he pastors and does a independent work.
E-36 I've knowed Earl to be a real servant of Christ. I'll never forget one act, many has been, but one act with Earl. I remember one night they called him when I was in Dallas, Texas; or I--I believe, no, it was... [A sister says, "Beaumont."--Ed.] Beaumont, Texas, is right, sister. And they--they... His baby was laying, dying, and they thought it was already dead. It wasn't breathing no more. And Earl made his way around to my room, as a daddy, bending shoulders, stooped down before me, as I was in bed. Rolled out; he put his arms around me and said, "Brother, I believe you are God's prophet. I've always believed that. And if you'll just say the word, though my baby is dead, yet shall it live." And his baby come back to life, is living.
E-37 Do you believe he is worthy of the right hand of fellowship of these believers? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.]
Let us pray, brothers, as we lay hands on him.
E-38 Gracious Heavenly Father, we lay hands, again, on our Brother Martin. We send him, Lord, to the utmost parts that Thou has ordained that he should go; wherever it is, many or few, by-ways, highways, hedges, if it be. Wherever it is, Lord, may Your blessings be with him. We lay our hands upon him as we bid him Your speed and give him our blessings, that the Spirit that's upon us, Lord, may go with him, and will guide him and direct him to the lost souls out in the hedges and highways. We send him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless you, Brother Martin. Go now, and the Lord be with you.
E-39 For the same purpose? [Brother Richard Blair speaks to Brother Branham--Ed.] Richard is your name? ["Right. Richard Blair."] How many know Richard Blair? How many believe him to be a servant of God? He comes from the--the group of the United Pentecostal church.
And brother, Brother Blair, I remember a great calling, of his. I remember the time where Brother Blair would not, didn't want to believe me, because that there was a spirit working with him, telling him that I was false. And while he was setting right in the meeting, the Holy Spirit turned around and called it out. [Brother Blair says, "That's right."--Ed.] And he was just about ready for a--a breakdown, and that's what got him in that shape.
And I remember his lovely wife calling me one day. She said, "Brother Branham, I believe Richard is going to die." And she had, I believe, a scarf. She went and laid it on him, as I asked her, and prayed. Here he is. [Brother Blair says, "Amen."--Ed.]
E-40 A little baby had been in an accident, or... [Brother Blair says, "My boy."--Ed.] His boy, in an accident, that they didn't give much hope for it, with a concussion of the brain. And with prayer, even by the phone, the baby was made well. ["Amen."]
Do you believe Brother Blair is a true witness of Christ? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] You pray that your blessings go with him.
Brethren, lay your hands on him.
E-41 Dear God, to identify our gracious and noble brother, Your servant, that has even come from his own group, to walk in Light. Father, we pray that You'll bless our Brother Blair, as we send him with our blessings and our sanction, by our hands upon him, to wherever You may call him, Lord, to whatever work it may be. May Your Spirit go with Brother Blair. Guide him and direct him to the lost and dying of this world, that he may help find that lost sheep, that he might bring it back to the fold. Wherever it might be, whatever You have for him, Lord, we just ask that Your Spirit guide him and direct him throughout his life's journey. We are his brethren. In giving him the right hand of fellowship, we ask You to go with him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The right hand of fellowship! God bless you, Brother Blair. We are with you, one hundred percent, pray for you and will do anything we can to help you along. God bless you.
E-42 [Brother Merlin Anthon says, "It's the same for me, Brother Branham, for ordination."--Ed.] What say? ["Ordination."] Who are you? ["Merlin Anthon."] Merlin Anthon. ["I'm in the church."] Where? ["Here in the church."] In the church. Anybody know Brother Merlin Anthon? He is new, to me. ["With the Salvation Army. Remember me?"] Oh, yes. Pardon me, brother.
From the Salvation Army, that's right, I remember him. Sure, I know him now. I just... His face didn't look familiar to me just then, at this time. How many knows him to be a man of God? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] How many believes that--that God is working with him, raise your hand. ["Amen."] Will you pray for him? ["Amen."]
E-43 Now, brother, we know that you coming from a great group of people, Salvation Army, they're a great people. But, and, but the Salvation Army does do a great work out on the street. We can say nothing against the Nazarene, the Pentecostal church, or the Salvation Army, or any of them; they are our brethren. But, you see, we believe that we are carriers of a great Message for this very hour that we're living in. You want to do that with us? [Brother Anthon says, "Amen."--Ed.]
Let us bow our heads while we lay our hands on our brother.
E-44 Dear Heavenly Father, You are the One that does the calling. You are the One that quickens the Word, so that they can believe. And we lay our hands upon our precious brother, as a sanction that we believe that You are with him and will help him. We send our blessings with him, that we who believe that we've passed from death unto Life and now hold quickening Power in our hearts, by the grace of God. We lay hands upon our brother and send him with our blessings, that You will lead him and guide him and direct him to every crevice of the earth, Lord, that You have ordained for him to go. May Your Spirit go with him and give him health, strength, and success in his ministry, for we send him in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
E-45 God bless you, brother. That's the right hand of fellowship, you know, brothers shake hands with him, brethren like that. So that's you're... All right, the Lord bless you all.
E-46 [Brother Carrell says, "I--I never was done, officially. Want you to lay your hands on me, as those, in the Name of Jesus."--Ed.] You, whatever you wish. And yours... ["Time to be, and for same as them."] Now what's your name? ["Brother Carrell, from Cincinnati."] Brother Carrell.
[Brother Carrell says, "I was an ordained minister, but I couldn't agree with the brother who was ordaining women as ministers, and I had to break off from it."--Ed.]
This is Brother Carrell from Cincinnati. Anybody know Brother Carrell, raise your... Being from Cincinnati, I doubt it, that anybody know. He says that he was with a group, and the group wanted to ordain women ministers. He couldn't stand it, and he had to break away from them.
That's exactly how I broke away from the Missionary Baptists. Doctor Roy E. Davis, how many ever heard him? Sure, you did, see. He wanted to ordain some women preachers, and I said, "No, sir. As an elder," I said, "I cannot do that, consciously. It's against the Word of God."
E-47 I don't know you, Brother Carrell. But upon the basis of your testimony, and that Truth that you stand for... We have nothing against those women. They are sisters. We love them. But we believe that they got their place, and that they must stay. See? And we believe that they are a darling to a man, a helpmate. And by no means... We think they're the greatest gift, outside of salvation, that God ever give a man. But she's got no place in the pulpit, according to the Word of God. Upon that basis, and your faith in God, we lay hands on you, as fellowship, to come go with us.
Let us lay our hands on him.
E-48 Our dear Heavenly Father! This young man, I can just about know how he feels. He's been pushed out because of the real Truths. That, "Man shall live not by bread alone, but by every Word." So we lay hands on him, placing our blessings upon him. May Your Spirit lead him, guide him, and direct him throughout life's journey to wherever You may send him, Lord. Let him know that we are praying for him, and will be a help to him, and support him as long as he will stand for the Truth. Grant it, Lord. We send him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless you, Brother Carrell.
You just get them hands laid on, the different ones. All of you give kind of the right hands of fellowship for that. [Matthew 4:4]
E-49 Brother Ruddell, here, has never officially been ordained here at the church. Can... How many knows Brother Ruddell? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We all know him. How many knows he's a man of God? ["Amen."]
Dear Heavenly Father, be as Your elders lay hands upon this brother who has moved through deep, muddy waters. He has seen his congregation falling off. He's seen everything take place, but yet believe. Though the...?... We lay our hands upon him, and pass our blessings to him...?... Anoint him, Lord, mightily, with the Word, Lord, and send him to every crevice of the earth!...?... may be upon him and help him. And send him, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
E-50 Brother Ruddell, you've always got a right hand of fellowship. I know Brother Ruddell. Seems like--like my own boy. His daddy and I, mother, have knowed one another so long. And I know Brother Ruddell to be a servant of God. I've served with him. God bless you, Brother Ruddell.
E-51 What's his name? Who are you, brother? [Someone says, "Brother-in-law to Brother Martin."--Ed.] Brother Martin, you know him, Brother Martin?
What's your name? [The brother says, "Rev. McComas."--Ed.] Brother McComas. I guess there's no one here knows him, but he is a... Yes, this man here knows him, Brother Tyler. And he comes to be... have hands laid upon him, that he'll be a carrier of the Gospel. Brother McComas, where you from, Brother McComas? ["Rockford, Illinois."] Rockford, Illinois. ["You called my home, last week, or last Monday night, and prayed for my wife."] Oh, is that right? From Tucson. ["Tucson, Arizona."] Oh, I remember the call now. ["She got up the next morning."] Praise the Lord!
[Brother Martin says something to Brother Branham--Ed.] What say? ["My youngest sister."] Your sister. ["She is here now. Was paralyzed."] So, she is here now, was prayed for, the other night, from Tucson, by telephone. ["Paralyzed."] Par-... ["She was paralyzed, and she is here now."] She was paralyzed, a few nights ago, and she is here now. Brother Martin knows it, friend. No wonder he wants to take the Message!
Let us lay hands upon, brethren.
E-52 Dear God, I lay hands, with these others, upon Your servant, and give to him the right hand of fellowship, praying that the blessings of God will...?... [Brother Branham's statements cannot be heard clearly--Ed.]...?... that You've ordained him to be. Your blessing be on him, and guide him and direct him, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
The right hand of fellowship, my brother, and those be with you. God be with you.
E-53 [Someone says, "Brother Branham?"--Ed.] Yes, brother? ["I have one more that wants this also."] All right, sir. I believe this is... ["Brother Darris."] Brother Darris. I don't... ["I know Brother Earl and Brother Brewer."] This man is Brother Darris. Where you from, brother? ["Black Rock, Arkansas."] Black Rock, Arkansas. Brother... ["I know him, brother."]... known him. Someone else, I believe, here, said... Brother Brewer. I believe I met them, this morning. And--and Sister Vayle, I guess, Brother Vayle, and them who know him, and know him to be a man of God, a servant of God. Wonderful!
E-54 Well, now, my dear brother, to be a carrier of the Message, we want you to know that we'll stand behind you, do everything that we can. We'll be praying for you, that you also will carry this Message to the utmost parts of wherever God has ordained you to go.
Let us lay our hands on our Brother Darris.
Dear God, now we lay our hands upon our brother, giving him the right hand of fellowship, and send him in the Name of Jesus Christ, that You'll anoint him. And...?... give him the right hand of fellowship!...?... And Your Spirit go with him, and guide him and direct him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless you, brother.
E-55 I--I believe, Brother Anthony. Many of you know Brother Anthony. He has been here with us a long time. I know him to be a servant of Christ, myself. I believe he's a dedicated young man. He's never officially had hands laid on him. He didn't know this was coming, friends. See? But right now is good as any. So we're going to lay hands on Brother Anthony and just give him the right hand of fellowship. God has to do the ordaining. This is just to let him know, and you know, that we believe this brother and we love him, and he's one of us, in the Message. And we want him to have God's blessings, and that's what we ask on him. Let's pray, as we lay our hands on, brother.
E-56 Dear God, this humble little, Italian servant of Yours, Lord, comes tonight, that to--to have hands laid upon him, and the right hand of fellowship, officially, extend unto him, from the church. Lord, Your great Power send this young boy to the far end of the earth, in the crevice that you've called him to. And may he go and deliver them people from sin and sickness, and to serve You, Lord, all the days of his life. May You lead him, guide him. May our blessings be with him, as we send him, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
God bless you.
E-57 [Someone speaks to Brother Branham--Ed.] Huh? Oh, I don't know. We're on a telephone hookup; fifty cents a minute. Was there somebody else here was want...
Step up here and call your names, who you are, brethren, just in the microphone right up here. Just tell them. [Each brother says his own name, "Pat Tyler," "Claude Boggess," "Dale Potter," "...?... Henasey," "James Humes," "Earl Horner."--Ed.] Is that them? [Someone says, "Yes."] My brethren.
These men, do you believe this Message to be the Truth from God's Word? [The brethren say, "Amen."--Ed.] Do you believe that with all your heart? ["Amen."] All right. And you are desirous, and think if we lay hands upon you... We want you to know that we are with you, and we'll do anything that we can do to help you.
And now I want you brethren, so that I can lay hands on them too, to step right up here now. And let's all bow our heads, as we lay hands on them.
Dear God, here is a group of man. I lay my hands upon each of them, in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And may You, Who has called them to be ministers, that may they a preach It, Lord, all the days of their life. And...?... preach the Gospel to every creature. We give to them the right hand of fellowship, and pray Your blessings to be with them, Lord, as we bless them, send our blessings. May it go to every crevice of the earth that you've called them to go to. May they work and serve You in the capacity that You called them to. May they be gallant and real servants of God. Grant it, Lord. And we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name.
E-58 God bless you, each, brothers. God bless you. God bless you, brother. God bless you. God bless you, Brother Humes. The Lord be with you, each one.
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred mind
Is like to that Above.
E-59 Isn't He wonderful? Just think now, how many ministers is here tonight to have hands laid upon them!
E-60 I didn't know that we were on this telephone hookup. If the people out there will forgive me for that; I didn't know it. See? I just didn't know they was going to hook this little Message up tonight. But we're...
E-61 Now we'll read the Word and pray, and get straight into this Message that I feel that the Holy Spirit would have me to bring to you tonight.
E-62 And now while we are turning back in the... for the text, I'll announce it in a moment. Let's turn to Numbers, the 22nd chapter, verse 31. Numbers 22:31, for a text. While you're turning, if you like to read, read it or mark it. [Numbers 22:31]
E-63 I want you all remember me now, until I get to see you again, I hope, sometime this summer, the Lord willing. And if anything happens, I don't get to go overseas, I'll be back. But we are now believing that, how all this has worked around, that the Holy Spirit is going to send us now on a way that He has chosen for Himself to send us. And that's the way we want to do it. The Lord bless!
E-64 Father, we're about to read Your Word. Will You bless It and anoint It to our understanding, we ask in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
E-65 The Book of Numbers, the 22nd chapter and the 31st verse.
And the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. [Numbers 22:31]
E-66 Now, in the reading of this, to build a context around it, I want to take the subject: Does God Ever Change His Mind About His Word?
E-67 That's quite a text, and it's a great Truth that we ought to understand. Can God say anything and then say, "I'm sorry I said it"? Can God take His Word back, after He said It?
E-68 Now, in this statement here, the reason I chose this statement, was because it's one of the statements of the Bible that a reader, trying to see, or try to say that God does change His mind; this would be more like that He changed His mind than any place in the Bible, I know of, because He told Balaam one thing and then told him another. And now, many people has tried to make Balaam just a, oh, a soothsayer or something. But Balaam was not a soothsayer. He was a prophet of the Lord. [Numbers 22:5, 9-12]
E-69 Now, we'll kind of get the outline of the Message, first. Israel was in their journey from Pales-... going to Palestine, coming from Egypt. And the Lord was with them, and they were... Every enemy that had raised up before Israel was moved out of the way, for God said He would send hornets before them and would drive out the enemy, as long as they walked in obedience to His command. The job was never too big. The Amalekites, the giants of the day, meant nothing to Israel. Though they were small man in statue, but they were walking in THUS SAITH THE LORD. So no matter what the opposition was, God always seen that His Words of promise never failed Israel. [Exodus 23:20-33]
E-70 And Israel of the Old Testament is a type of the Bride of the New Testament, coming up out of the--the world, marching on the road to Canaan, or the Canaan that we go to, the Millennium.
E-71 Now, now, we notice Moab here is a type of the church. And Moab... They had just slew some kings and had routed the enemy, killed off everything, possessed the land, and moved up by Moab. Now, Moab was by no means a heathen nation. Moab was a nation that served the same God that Israel served. And the land of Moab was originally started with Lot's son, by his own daughter. And he, being the founder of this nation, and had organized his celebrities and so forth, and made a great nation out of it, and they had multiplied and went on.
E-72 And, now, Israel was of the seed of Abraham, not of Lot. Israel come out of Isaac, Jacob. And Israel sprung out of those twelve tribes from Jacob, which was later called "Israel," because he wrestled with the Lord. And Moab here...
E-73 Now, in this, and you people out in the--on the telephones, I want to first say that I--I do not wish to be critical, and I hope I'm not. But, the Message that's been given to me, I must be faithful to that Message, or I'll be a hypocrite. See? I--I can't say no more than what I am sent to say.
And I--I am thinking that the great enemy of the Christian society today is the organized churches. I do believe with all my heart that it'll finally form into the mark of the beast, which I can, think I can prove that by the Bible with God's help. I have already done it. That, it will form into the mark of the beast, in the federation of the churches. Because, God never did, at any time, ever recognize a ordained church, organized church, never. He never did do it.
And every time that man made an organization, the Spirit of God left it and never did return again. Ask any historian, or you may be a reader yourself. Never! When they organized, God laid it on the shelf, and that's where it went; it stayed, from then on. They growed in members, but never a wakening of the Spirit; never, no more. [Revelation 17:1-18]
E-74 Moab, here, is a type of such, because they were a--a organized nation; in their own land, like in their denomination. And there had their own religions, and their religion was the same religion that Israel had. They were Moabites and believed in Jehovah God, but they was an organized group of people.
E-75 And, now, as they represent the natural church, Israel represents the spiritual church in its journey. Now, Israel was not an organized nation. As long as they followed God, they were independent. They come up, sojourners, no place to go. Wherever the Pillar of Fire went, they went with It. They were not a organized nation. They had a organism among them, because circumcision gave them that under the commandment by God, but never an organized nation at this time. When they finally become an organized nation, that's where they fell and rejected their Messiah. [Nehemiah 9:7-15], [Exodus 13:11-22], [Numbers 14:14]
E-76 And now we find, always, that when these natural and spiritual, spirits of churches and organizations, meet, there is always a clash. It's never failed to be so. It always clashes. Because, we find that in there is a jealousy. And, in this jealousy, it causes carnal comparisons, impersonations. And we find it in today, as it was then. When God does something for an individual, everybody tries to copy just like God did for that person. See, it causes a competition, and it makes carnality. And then if they cannot, the other side, get the spiritual results, then they take it by a political power, or they substitute something, to upset the people's minds, to draw disciples after themselves. [Genesis 4:3-8], [Numbers 16:3], [Hebrews 11:4], [II Thessalonians 2:1-4], [Hebrews 11:4], [Jude 1:11], [I John 3:12]
E-77 That's exactly what took place at the very beginning; as Cain and Abel, both boys here on earth. And when Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, and God vindicated Abel, by coming down and receiving his sacrifice; it caused jealousy with Cain, because he was jealous of his brother, and slew his brother. [Genesis 4:3-8]
E-78 It started at the beginning, that when the natural and the spiritual, yet Cain and Abel worshiped the same God. They both built the same kind of altars. And they both worshiped the same God, at the same church, same altar. But Cain, by carnal reasoning, brought in the fruits of the land and laid them upon the altar as a sacrifice, thinking that surely that this would answer to God for an atonement. So he must have brought in, as people think today, "apples that Adam and Eve took, that caused the sin." And, whatever, I think now they got it down to a "pomegranate" or something now. Some of them said, not long ago, it was something else. [Genesis 4:3-8]
E-79 And, but Abel had the right sacrifice. He knowed that it was blood that did it, so he brought a lamb. And when God received his, now, Abel, by faith, by revelation, no other way. There was no Bible written. So, you see, the beginning of righteousness is God's revealed Truth, and the entire Church of the living God is built upon that. [Genesis 4:3-8], [Hebrews 11:4]
E-80 Jesus, one day, coming off the mount, said to His disciples, "Who does man say I the Son of man am?"
"One said You're 'Moses' and the other one say You're 'Elias' and You're 'Jeremias, or one of the prophets.'"
He said, "But who do you say that I am?" [Matthew 16:13-15]
E-81 That's when the apostle Peter, inspired of God, quickened by the Spirit, made that tremendous statement, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." [Matthew 16:16]
E-82 Notice the statement. "Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jonas, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. My Heavenly Father has revealed this to you. Thou art Simon. Upon this rock..."
What rock? Now, the Catholic says, "Upon Peter, the rock, little stone." And the Protestant says, "Upon Christ, the Rock."
Not to be different; but it was upon the revelation that Peter had, Who He was. "No man can come to Me," said Jesus, "except My Father draws him. And all the Father has given Me will come to Me."
"Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." [Matthew 16:17]
E-83 "Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jonas; flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in Heaven. Upon this rock I'll build My Church, and the gates of hell can't prevail against it." Spiritual revealed Word of God! [Matthew 16:17-18]
E-84 Notice, Abel, by faith in God, offered a more excellent sacrifice. And the carnal believer thought that it was the works of his own hands, that, and his fruits and his beautiful offering that he brought, that God would recognize, and it made a clash.
We find that Abraham and Lot had to clash. [Hebrews 11:4], [Genesis 13:1-15]
E-85 We find that Moses and--and Dathan, Korah, had the same clash.
Moses, being a ordained prophet with the Word of the Lord, vindicated that he was chosen to be their leader of the hour, and that Abraham had promised all these things, and here Moses did exactly what God said it would be, take place.
And Korah, being carnal, wanted to raise up an organization among them. He wanted to make a group of man. And God doesn't deal with people like that. It shows right there, in that Scripture, a type of the journey today, that organization is not what God ordains. For, as soon as Korah done it, he said to Moses, "You take too much upon yourself." In other words, "The whole congregation is holy! Why, you say you're the only holy man. You have no right to do any such as that. You try to make yourself somebody big. We're all holy. We're all God's children." [Numbers 16:3]
E-86 And Moses just turned his head and walked away. He said, "Lord, what will I do?"
E-87 God said, "Separate yourself from him. I've had enough of it." And He swallowed him up in the earth. [Numbers 16:21]
E-88 See, there was a clash. When the carnal and the spiritual meets, there is always a clash. When Judas and Jesus met, there was a clash; One, the Son of God; the other one, the son of Satan. Just like Cain and Abel, there was a clash when they met. One of them was the treasurer of the church, and the other One a pastor. And as now, we come in this day, to the same thing again. The carnal denomination to the spiritual Bride of Christ. The spiritual Bride of Christ is so much different from the carnal organizations, till there's no comparison in them at all. [Genesis 4:3-8], [John 12:1-6]
E-89 Now notice, the natural always tries to type the spiritual. But, as in Jacob and Esau, it will not work. It would not. Now, when it come to doing good works, I--I believe that Esau actually was a better man than Jacob, in the sight of man. He tried to take care of his daddy; he was blind, a prophet. And all these things that he tried to do, but yet Esau didn't think about that being just carnal work. He thought he could get in by what he done, do something good for somebody, which was all right. But Jacob, his whole soul was to get that birthright, and that's what God recognized in him spiritual. [Romans 9:10-18]
E-90 Notice, and it's always caused the natural to hate the spiritual. It caused Cain to hate Abel. It caused Korah to hate Moses. It caused Judas to hate Jesus. And on and on it goes. It causes the natural to hate the spiritual, just as Cain at the beginning hated Abel, the one that God received the sacrifice from, and tries to destroy them. [Genesis 4:3-8], [Numbers 16:1-50]
Even they try to destroy the influence. They try to destroy everything, because it's nothing but jealousy. It started in Cain and proved that it was jealousy, and it's still the same thing today when the natural (the carnal) and the spiritual meet together. It proves it's Satan, no other way, because jealousy comes from Satan. And then causes an impersonation of the Truth, somebody to try to impersonate something that isn't, they are not ordained to do. How much of that have we seen in these last days! Oh, my, how much of it! [Hebrews 11:4]
E-91 So we see God does for-... not forever change His mind about His original Word. But, who He calls, that's who He ordains. No one else can take that place. No one could take Moses' place. No matter how many Korah's raised up, and how many Dathan's; it was Moses, God had called, regardless. [Numbers 16:1-37], [Numbers 26:9-10], [Psalms 106:15-16]
E-92 But, and if the people won't walk in His perfect will, He does have a permissive will He'll let you walk in. Notice, He permits it, all right, but He will make it work out for His glory, in His perfect will. Now if you'd like...
E-93 Just like, in the beginning, it was not God's perfect will for children to be born on the earth through sex. No, sir. God created man out of the dust of the earth, breathed the breath of life into him, and he become a living soul. He took from that man a helpmate, and made a wife to him. That was God's first and original will. But when sin come in and did the thing that it did, then He permitted man to marry a wife, legally, and have children by her. "Multiply and replenish the earth, then, if that's the way you're going to do it." But, you see, it never was His perfect will. [Genesis 1:26-28]
E-94 Therefore, all these things that had a beginning has to have an end. All sin has to come to annihilation. All sin has to be done away with. Therefore, in the great Millennium when the resurrection comes, we will not have to be reborn again by our fathers and mothers, but God like He did in the beginning will call man from the dust of the earth, and his helpmate with him. That's right. That's the way He did it at the beginning. [Genesis 1:26-28]
E-95 So therefore, God never changes His mind about anything, but He will permit you to go on. Now, this is a long ways around to get to what I want to say here about this. But, and, but, it's, you'll... I want you to understand it. See? God will permit you to do something, and even bless you in doing it, but still it isn't His perfect will. [Genesis 3:15-22]
E-96 God permitted Israel to take a law, in Exodus the 19th chapter. When grace had already give them a prophet, Pillar of Fire, a sacrifice lamb, a delivering power, but they cried out for a Law. It wasn't God's will, but it was injected because man wanted it. And he was cursed by the very law that he wanted. [Exodus 20:1-22]
E-97 It's best to have God's will. That's what He taught us. "Thy will be done. Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done." We must submit ourselves to His will and His Word. Don't question It. Believe It. Don't try to find a way around It. Just take It the way It is.
So many wants to go around, get some other way. And when you do, you find yourself going on, you find God blessing you, but you're working in His permissive will and not in His perfect, Divine will. [Matthew 6:10]
E-98 He permits it, as I said, but He will not--He will not let it be His perfect will; but He'll make it work to honor and bless His perfect will. And childbearing, by sex, is one of that. [Genesis 3:15-22]
E-99 Now notice, Moab, to begin with, was a illegitimate nation. It started out, illegitimate, yet by a--a father believer and a daughter believer.
Just exactly, if you will type that and use a spiritual mind, you can see that denomination standing there just as plain as anything. Sure. See, the whole thing is altogether wrong. And, look, when it's brought, started like that, it can never... It keeps, like a ball of snow, it just keeps rolling more and more and more. You get one error, and start on that one error, and you just keep rolling one thing after another, and one thing like another, all after another. [Genesis 19:29-38]
E-100 And that's the way the church started. That's the way it started at Nicaea, Rome, when the Roman Catholic church... At the very beginning, where it come from, was Pentecost. But when they organized and brought in the celebrity, into the church, they started to making, having prayers, and running beads, and--and praying for the dead, and all these other things. And then it just started rolling, from one error to another, one error to another, until look where it's gone to. There is not one representation of pentecost in it, at all. See? It's one error picking up another, picking up another. There is only one thing to do, that's, clean off the record and go back to the beginning. [Genesis 19:15-22]
E-101 When, Martin Luther started off with justification. This ought to be the further advanced, Lutheran church. See? If... Luther, when he organized, he could not take Wesley's sanctification, because he was organized; and the men wouldn't stand for it, so the Spirit moved out of it.
E-102 Now, Lot's group here; or, Moab was Lot's daughter's child, illegitimate to start with. Now notice, as the natural church, Moab, represents the natural denomination.
Israel represents the spiritual Church. Israel, there was a church true, was the bride of that day, called out of Egypt, and vindicated to be the truth. [Genesis 19:15-22]
E-103 Notice when they, them two come together. Both of them offered the same sacrifice, both built, saw seven altars, both offered up clean sacrifice, ox. And they even offered up rams, testifying that there was a coming Messiah. Fundamentally, they were both exactly the same. Israel, down here in the valley; Moab, up on the hill. And Moab with seven altars; Israel with seven altars. Moab with seven ox; Israel with seven ox. Moab with seven rams, speaking of the coming Messiah; Israel with seven rams. [Numbers 23:1-10]
What was the difference in them? Fundamentally, both right. But, you see, Moab did not have the vindication of God with them; they were only a nation, a group of celebrities. But Israel had a prophet with them. They had a smitten Rock with them. They had a Pillar of Fire. They had a brass serpent, for healing. They had the blessings of God moving right along with them, and they was the called-out children of God.
E-104 Now we find that so perfectly typed here in them churches of today. As, Moab was not so. Israel was a sojourner, from place to place; wherever that Pillar of Fire moved, they moved with It. Moab, not so; they were settled down in their own denomination, down in their own nation. They didn't move, they stayed right there. They had their celebrities. They ordained things as they should do, and they had their warriors, they had their fighters, they had their king they had, that they got their orders from, and so on.
E-105 But Moab seen Israel with something that they didn't have. They seen a mighty power amongst Israel, and it was a prophet. And that prophet was Moses. And they knowed that when the battle went wrong, they just raised up his hands and held them up there, and the battle changed. So they didn't have such as that, so they try to match it with politics, with a political pull. They sent over to another country and hired a prophet to come over, so they could have a prophet, and would have power amongst them just like Israel had amongst them. [Numbers 22:4-15]
E-106 Do you see the carnal comparison? Can you see the carnal church today? It's done the very same thing.
E-107 Notice, now, they're both going to have prophets. The only different was, Moses, the prophet of God, his King was God. That's where he got his orders, the Word of the Lord. And Balaam, he also, he had a king, and that king was Balak, the king of Moab, and that's where he got his orders and his blessings. So Moab said to Balak, "Come down," or Balaam, said, "come down and curse me this people, for they cover the whole face of the earth. They just come and lick up everything like an ox licks up the grass." Said, "Come down now. And I understand that you can curse, you can bless, whatever you do is recognized." [Numbers 22:4-6]
E-108 Now, we want to notice that this man was a prophet ordained of God, but he sold his birthrights for political reasons. Just as the church did today, like Luther, Wesley, Pentecost, and the whole group of them, sold it out for pulls in their organization. Moses, under God; Balaam, under Balak. Yet, both prophets were called-man of God, and both spiritual. Notice the difference. Each had a head; Moses' was God; Balaam's was Balak. [Numbers 22:4-6]
E-109 Notice here how the spiritual is applied, to prove that the natural is wrong. Moses, sent of God, in line of duty, is met and challenged by another prophet of God. Can you imagine that! Moses, called of God, ordained of God, standing in the duty of God; moved up into this cold, formal group, and was challenged by another prophet of God, what God had blessed and ordained. How would you tell the difference? They both had prophets. God spoke to both prophets. [Numbers 24:1-10]
E-110 And some of them say, "God said, 'Do this.' God said, 'Do that.'" Now, I don't question that, but it's out of the line of God's Word. The prophet, no matter if he is a prophet, he's out of the line. So many people get deceived like that. "Oh, this brother can do this, and this brother can do that," and deny the Word?
E-111 "Though I speak with tongue of men and angels, though that I have gifts, that I can move mountains, though I give all my goods to feed the poor, I am yet nothing." [I Corinthians 13:1-4]
"Many will come to Me in that day, and say, 'Lord, Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name? Have not, in Your Name, I've cast out devils and done mighty works?' And I will say unto them, 'Depart from, you... Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I never even knew you.'" Yet, they come with a confession that they have did it, but Jesus said, "They were workers of iniquity." What is iniquity? Is something that you know you should do, that's right to do, and yet you don't do it. See what it's going to be in the last days? , [Matthew 7:22-23]
E-112 Hear the whole line! That was my purpose tonight. I said I'd be out at nine o'clock, but I'm going to be a little bit after, maybe. Look, that was my whole purpose, to show you this line, by the Word of God, see, that--that God has to keep His Word in order to stay God.
E-113 Now, we notice that both of these were spiritual men, both were prophets, both were called. And Moses, right in the line of duty, with a fresh Pillar of Fire before him every day, the Spirit of God upon him, in the line of duty. Here comes another servant of God, called of God, ordained of God, a prophet to whom the Word of God comes to. Here is the danger line. There is nobody could dispute that man being of God--of God, because the Bible said the Spirit of God spoke to him, and he was a prophet. But, you see, when he got the real answer from God, he wouldn't keep It. He didn't notice It, then he went to challenge Moses. [Numbers 24:1-10]
E-114 Now, Balaam sought the will of God, with all of his heart. Now, when these great man come over and said, "Balaam! Balak the king has sent, that you come to him immediately and curse this people Israel, because they're scattered all over the face of the earth, and now they're camping against me. And they've licked up every kingdom around, below them. And now we want you to come over and curse this people. Because, I understand that if you curse anyone, he is cursed." Now, you see, he was a man of God. "What you bless, is blessed." He was a servant of God. [Numbers 24:1-15]
E-115 And Balaam now thought, being a prophet, "There is only one thing for me to do, and that's seek out what is the will of God." [Numbers 22:1-8]
E-116 That's the duty of a prophet, if he's called to be a prophet. First, what must a prophet do? Is seek out the will, the Word of God. He must do it. Because, being a prophet, the Word of God comes to him. The... They say, "Well, you're not a theologian." Never does the Bible say the Word of God come to a theologian. They're the one who messes It up. The Word comes to the prophet of God. [Numbers 22:1-8], [Amos 3:7]
E-117 And here was a man who was a prophet of God. And when he was hired, to be hired, to come over and curse another people of God, notice, he went to seek the will of God. And he wanted to know His perfect will, and God gave him His perfect will in the matter. His perfect will was presented to him. What was His will? "Don't you go!" That's God's first Word. "Don't go with them. Don't you try to attack My people, walking in My perfect ways." [Numbers 22:12]
E-118 How that is today, want to fuss, debate, and everything else, when they see the Spirit of God working among you. And they're trying to, they've tried it for years, to smother It down. But more they try to smother It, the greater It grows. You can't curse what God has blessed. You just can't. You just can't do it. [Numbers 22:8-12]
E-119 So, you see, that was God's people. Now, that prophet, though he was up there and hired by the king, worked among the celebrities, and so forth. And the Word of God came to him. He sought the will of God, and the will of God spoke back to him, and said, "Don't curse this people. I blessed them." [Numbers 22:12]
E-120 Now there isn't a theologian under the skies that can deny this Message that we're preaching, but what It's exactly the Word of God right in time. God has a vindicate it, in everything that's been said or done. He's proved It to be right. Now, there's no theologian, no Bible reader, no prophet, can look in that Word, if he is a prophet, he'll see the same thing. But if he doesn't see the same thing, that show's there is something wrong. Because...
E-121 You say, "Well, oh, I could take it vice versa." So could Balak, Balaam. See? But God identified Moses.
And then what was the proof? The Word of God. And he heard the plain, clean-cut decision of God, "Don't you go. Don't try to--to curse what I've blessed. Them is My people."
But you know what? Balaam didn't like them people, to begin with. Oh, what a... How many Balaam's is there in the world today! He didn't like that group, to start with. [Numbers 22:1-15]
E-122 Now, after he got God's clean-cut decision, "Don't you go." But, you see, instead of doing it, it was the same thing like Cain, like Korah, he was jealous, and he--he wanted to, a reason to go, anyhow. [Numbers 22:8-12]
E-123 Notice, his denominational headquarters, after he sent back, said, "Nope, don't believe I'll go down. Don't believe I'll have anything to do with them. I won't debate with them people, 'cause God's done told me they are His people, and I don't believe I'll go." If he'd have stayed with that!
But, down in his heart, he didn't like them. See? They wasn't of his group. And anything that didn't belong in his group, "wasn't right, to begin with." See? And he looked down at them, said, "There has been some awful things them people did. Surely a holy God will curse such a people as that. They're, they're illiterate. They're not educated like us. We're a smarter people. Oh, they claim to serve God, but, look at them, what are they? A bunch of, why, a bunch of slaves, mud-daubers, that the Egyptians run out down there. Why, God would never have anything to do with a dirty bunch like that!" [Numbers 22:8-20]
E-124 He failed to see that smitten Rock and that brass serpent, that Pillar of Fire. He tried to judge them from a moral standpoint. He failed to see the higher call of God. By grace, by election, they were in that line, and with God's Word. And when he wanted to curse them, God said, "Don't you do it. They're Mine. Leave them alone. Don't you touch them." [Numbers 22:8-15], [Numbers 21:1-9]
E-125 Now, so the man turned around, went back. Now watch his denominational headquarters, though, when he gets back. They sent a more influential group. This time they might have been some, instead of just regular layman, they might have been doctors of divinity come this time. They might have been bishops, or maybe state presbyters, for all... He sent a--a--a better group, and a--a little more influential group, somebody that had a little better education and could lay out the plan to him better, could make it reasonable. [Numbers 22:15]
E-126 See, that's what Cain did; he reasoned. That's what Korah did; he reasoned. It's not him that reasons.
"We cast down reasonings." We believe God, no matter what anything else says. We believe God. We don't reason what God says. You can't reason with It. You have to accept It by faith. And anything that you know, you don't have to reason any more. I don't know how He does it; I just believe He does it. I don't know how He is going to keep that promise; but He said He would do it. I believe it. I accept it on the basis that I believe that it's the Word of God.
You say, "Well, you can't get by with that." I don't know how I'll get by with it, but He said, "Say it."
I remember my Baptist pastor told me, said, "Why, Billy, you will preach to the posts in the church. Why, you think anybody will hear a thing like that?"
I said, "God has said so."
"How are you going to, with a seventh-grade education, pray for kings, and preach around the world?" [II Corinthians 10:5]
E-127 I said, "I don't know how I'm going to do it, but, He said so, and that's just good enough for me." See? "He said so. I don't know how it's going to be done."
He said, "Do you think the people in this great, educated world that you're going to stand up against, on this subject of Divine healing and so forth, do you think they'll believe that?"
E-128 I said, "It ain't for me to know whether they believe It or not." I said, "My duty is to preach It. That's what He told me. He said He would be with me, and He's told me what it would do."
And it's done just exactly what He said it would do. "First, take a hold of their hands; then it'll come to pass that you'll even know the secret of their heart." And I told you about it, and it happened that way. How does it do it? I still don't know how it does it. It's none of my business how it's done; it's just done.
E-129 Who could explain when God told Elijah, "Go up there and set on the mount, and I'll feed you. I've ordained the--the crows to feed you"? How could a crow get a slice of bread and a piece--a piece of fish, baked, and bring it to a prophet? That's beyond anything I could explain. I don't think you can either, or nobody can. But He did it. That's all was necessary. He did it, and that's the truth of it.
How He did it, I don't know; it's none of my business. But He did it. How He made the earth, I don't know; but He did it. How He sent His Son, I don't know; but He did it. How He rose from the dead, I don't know; but He did it. How did He save me? I don't know; but He did it. That's right. How did He save you? I can't tell you; but He did it. How did He heal me? I don't know; but He did it. He promised He would do it, and He keeps His Word.
Now, Balaam should have knowed that, and he did know better. [I Kings 17:4]
E-130 Notice, this better, influential group, come, and what better? They had better gifts. And not only that, they could give him more money, and they could, offered him a better position. "Now, besides just a regular minister in the organization, we'll make you district superintendent. See? That, we'll--we'll do something for you if you'll just run that bunch of people out of there, see, and stop that." Oh, they offered him a great position. Said, "The more you bless..." Said, "You know, I'm able to promote you." Look where he's getting his words from, the head of the nation. [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-131 Where was Moses getting his Words from? The King of Heaven. One was the Word of God's promise, "I'll take you to the promised land, and no man will stand before you. I'll send hornets before you and drive them out, from right to left. And you're going to take the land. I've prom-... I've already give it to you. Go on, take it, possess it; it's yours." And now, see, that's Who Moses was listening to. And this man was listening until it come to something in his own heart he was jealous of, and so then he went to his ecclesiastical head. See? [Exodus 23:20-28], [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-132 Notice, a better position. He said, "You know I'm able to promote you? I will promote you to a better place. I'll do more for you. I'll raise your wages. I'll give you a better salary." And when he offered him all of this, it blinded him. [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-133 How many Balaams are there in the world today, that, by a better position, a better church, a promise of something! When a man gets his eyes opened to the Word and the workings of God... And that good man, who has got influence, will start out as a servant of God, and he holds a good congregation. After a while, the Holy Ghost baptism is presented to him; the baptism in Jesus' Name is presented to him, which is a Scripture and the only Scriptural way to baptize. And when it is presented to him, and the denomination knows they're going to lose him when he starts that, they offer him a better position and a change in church. See, old Balaamism, again, just exactly like it was at the beginning. [Numbers 22:15-17]
E-134 Now, that man who reads that Bible, he can't read It unless he sees that that's the Truth. There is nobody ever baptized using the titles of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." It's a Catholic creed and not a Bible Doctrine. No person in the Bible was ever baptized, or three hundred years after the death of the last apostle, but what was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. The Catholic church started that, and the rest of them come to it. And any minister setting in his study and will look at that, knows that's the Truth. But, for popularity, to hold his position, better thought of among the people, he compromises. [Acts 2:38]
"Well," you say, "God blessed him." [Numbers 22:15-18]
E-135 Certainly. Some of them have got gifts of healing, some of them have great campaigns. And that rubbed right in their face, and they get the same answer from the Word of God that you or any other man would get. God doesn't change. See what I mean?
E-136 Balaam, for a better position, he thought. Now look, when that better group come back, the right... Balaam, here, took a phony text. See? He said... The--the better group come back, he--he ought to have said, "Get out of my presence! I've told you the Word of God. Get going! This is THUS SAITH THE LORD." But, you see, the gifts, and to be a more popular man! [Numbers 22:15-18], [Numbers 24:1-25]
E-137 Oh, how they like to do it! "We'll send you all over the world. We'll give you a special plane. We'll sponsor your meetings everywhere if you'll just..." Oh, no. Uh-huh. See?
We know what the Word says. We know what God said. We're going to stay with that, by God's help. See? No matter what kind of a promise, and how much more you can pay, and how many this, that, or the other you can--you can produce; we want the THUS SAITH THE LORD, and what He said Here first.
"Well, the church said, 'That's secondarily.'"
We want what the God said at the beginning. "And anything added to It or taken away from It, even your name will be taken off the Book of Life; to add one word to It, or take one Word away from It." We want what He said; not what the church said, what Doctor Jones said, what somebody else said. We want what THUS SAITH THE LORD said, what the Word said. [Revelation 22:18-19], [Numbers 22:15-18]
E-138 But now we find Balaam, a servant of God. And many of those man start out, and are ordained of God, and does speak God's Word in many things; but when it comes to the full Truth, they won't do it. [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-139 Notice here, as a prophet of God, he should not been caught in such a group as that, to begin with. He shouldn't have went with them. But, watch, for popularity sake, see, for his conscience's sake, he said, "Well, stay all night, and I'll try again." See, "I'll try again"? What do you want to try again for? [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-140 God already told him what to say. God said, "Tell them you're not going." That's His original Word. "I'm not going. 'And don't you go. Don't you curse what I blessed.'" Now watch how it backfired on him, after a while. See? And it will, every time. When God says anything, He means it. He don't change His mind about it. He stays right with His Word. No matter what anyone else says, He stays right with that Word. [Numbers 22:2-20]
E-141 Now, Balaam should have knowed better. He should have dismissed himself from such company, but all them nice gifts and a--a--the promise that this king said, "You know I can do it. I'm the bishop. I can do just whatever I want to, and I'll promote you if you'll come do it for me."
And God done told him, "Don't do it." [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-142 But yet Balaam said, "You, you stay all night, and I'll--I'll try again."
See, he had the Word. You don't have to argue anymore about It. God has done said so. With a group like that, they always talk you out of the will of God, if you'll let them. [Numbers 22:15-26]
E-143 There was one group to come to a prophet, one time, named Job. They couldn't talk him out. He saw the vision. He knowed what was right.
Balaam saw the vision, and still didn't stay with It.
E-144 No matter how much his church groups said, "Oh, Job, you ought to do this, you ought to do that." Even his wife, he said, "You talk like a foolish person." See? "I know what the Lord said. I know what He required, and that's what I've done." See, he stayed with what God told him. [Job 2:8-10]
E-145 Notice, Balaam using this phony text for his conscience. See? He said, "Well, I'll--I'll find out. I'll try again." Now, there is where you come, secondarily. How many Balaam's have we got tonight, that likes to use that phony text of Matthew 28:19 just for their conscience's sake? How many wants to use Malachi 4 for their conscience's sake? How many wants to use Luke 17:30 just for conscience's sake? How many wants to use these things, yet, "Well, I tell you, I--I believe they're all mixed up on That"? [Matthew 28:19], [Malachi 4:5-6], [Luke 17:30], [Numbers 22:12-25], [Numbers 24:1-15]
E-146 And then here was Balaam trying to say, "Perhaps maybe God got mixed up. I'll try again, see, see what He said." Now, He knows your heart. Notice, Balaam used this phony text for his own conscience's sake, because, actually, he wanted that money. He wanted that dignitary. He wanted that. He wanted that job. He wanted that position, to be looked up to, as Doctor So-and-so. So he--he--he said, "I'll try again." [Numbers 22:12-25]
E-147 Oh, at the Balaam's in the world tonight, promised positions, popularity! My, oh, my! They numb their conscience by them. Because of their denominations, they say, "If you do that, out you go. I know you're a good man, and we love you," and he is a good man, "we love you. But you can't preach that. Our--our doctrine says you can't do that. Doctor So-and-so said this is the way it is. Now you've got to believe it this way, if you stay with us. Now, if you want to, I know you had a hard time, well, I'll see if I can't get you promoted, maybe change churches." Oh, you Balaam! When you know the will of God, you do it! God ain't going to change His mind. No. [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-148 Something that he could pass by, the Truth, for his commission. He said, "Well, I'll--I'll try again." Notice the Balaam's there is. [Numbers 22:1-28]
E-149 So now remember, when he come the second night, with this great celebrity, already had his conscience dull and numb, God let him go. Now, God never changed His mind, but He give him His permissive will. "Go ahead then." But he found out it'll not work. [Numbers 22:2-20]
E-150 God knew what was in Balaam's heart. Though he was a prophet, He knowed he hated them holy-rollers, and he--and he just... he--he was going to want to curse them, anyhow. And God done told him not to do it, but yet he come, wanted to do it, again, so God let him go ahead. God said, "Go ahead." Now, remember, He never changed His mind. [Numbers 22:1-25]
E-151 Notice, it was his desire to curse them. The people that he classed as fanatics, he wanted to curse them. He wanted a position. He didn't want to fool with them, so he thought if he could do this little act for the king, then he would be promoted. God never changed His mind or His Word. [Numbers 22:1-28]
But He will give you the desire of his heart, of your heart. He promised that. You know that? He promised to give you the desire of your heart. And let your desire be the Word of God. Let your desire be His will, never your own will. His will! If He... You ask Him for something, He don't give it to you, say, "Thank You, Lord. You know what's good." [Romans 12:2], [Hebrews 13:5], [James 4:3], [Psalms 145:16]
E-152 Look at even King Hezekiah, when He sent that prophet up there to him, God did, and said, "Put your house in order. You're going to die."
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly, and said, "Lord God, I--I ask You to consider me. I've walked before You with a perfect heart. I want You to let me live fifteen years longer." [II Kings 20:1-21]
E-153 "All right." God spoke to the prophet, said, "Go back and tell him I heard him."
And what did he do? He brought disgrace upon the whole nation. He kindled the anger of God till He would have killed him. That's right. You know that. Backslid on God. It would have been far better on, off, nation, king, and all, if he'd have went on and took God's first thing to him.
But it looked hard on the prophet, when the prophet had to go back and speak the Word of God to him, after he done told him. But God said, "Go ahead." But, you see, it brought a disgrace. [II Kings 20:1-21]
E-154 What did Balaam do? After knowing the will of God, and yet he was persistent, he was going to do it, anyhow. And what did it do? Notice. He never changed His mind. He knowed what was in his heart. [II Kings 20:1-21], [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-155 You know, Thomas, one time he just couldn't believe it. No, he--he said, "Naw, I can't believe that. If I could take my hand and stick it in His side, put it in the nails of His hand, well, then, then I'll--I'll believe it then."
He said, "Come here, Thomas. See? Now put your hands in here."
Now, oh, Thomas said now, "It's my Lord and my God." [John 20:26-28]
E-156 Said, "Yes, you've seen, and now you believe it. How much greater is their reward, has never seen and yet believe!"
People sometimes won't receive the Holy Ghost unless they speak with tongues. I believe in speaking in tongues, certainly. He's a good God; He'll give you the desire of your heart. But no matter how much you speak in tongues, and deny this Word, you're wrong anyhow. See? See, you don't go in by speaking in tongues. You go in by keeping every Word. That's the evidence of the Holy Ghost, when you believe the Word of God. See? [John 20:27-29]
E-157 I believe in speaking in tongues. I believe you can be quickened, like I said this morning, till you'll speak with a new tongue. I have, myself, and I know it's the Truth. I know it's true. But that's not the sign, you, that you're God's selected child. See? No, indeedy. He never said... [I Corinthians 13:1-5]
"Many will come to Me and say, 'Lord, haven't I prophesied and done all these great things in Your Name?' He'll say, 'Depart from Me, you that work iniquity, I never knew you.'" [Matthew 7:22-23]
E-158 You speak with tongues and then refuse to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ? Something wrong somewhere. Yes, indeed; any of those things, any of those orders God give. There is something wrong. Just search your own conscience, and see what--see what the Bible said. Show me some place where somebody was baptized in the name of the "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." See? It's not there. But, you see, sometimes for your conscience's sake, you say, "Well..." [Acts 2:38]
You say, "God speaks to the women about how they must do, not wear shorts and things, but, you know, the pastor said..." So they take the easy way. [I Corinthians 13:1-5]
E-159 They know what God said about it Here. See? Sure, God said so.
So they--they--they want to do it, anyhow, see. They try to find an excuse. "Well, I think it's much better. It's--it's not... The wind don't blow..." Yeah. [Numbers 22:1-26]
But God said for a man to dress different from a woman. "If a woman put on a garment pertained to a man, it was abomination in His sight." So it's not right, yes, and you shouldn't do it. No. See? So, therefore, it's wrong. [Deuteronomy 22:5]
E-160 But, you see, they try to find an excuse, that, "The Lord told me to do this." I don't say He didn't, but, look, it ain't His perfect will. It's got to be His permissive will. You see what it'll do? It'll pollute the whole bunch. It polluted all the camp. [Numbers 22:1-26]
E-161 Notice here, God never changed His mind, His Word. But He is a good God, and He'll give you the desire of your heart, though it be against His will. You believe that? [Numbers 22:2-26], [Psalms 145:16], [Romans 12:2], [Hebrews 13:5], [James 4:3]
Look, God told Moses, "You go down there," this anointed prophet. Said, "Go down there and speak to that rock." It's already been smitten. [Numbers 20:7-13], [Deuteronomy 32:48-52]
E-162 Moses went down there in his anger, picked up the rod, and said, "You rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?" and smote the rock. The water didn't come. He smote it again; it come. It was against God's will. It broke every plan in the Bible; Christ had to be smitten second time. See? Christ was smitten once. It broke the whole plan. But He give him His permissive will. Then, after, he said, "See, we got the water for you. Yeah, I brought it for you, you bunch of rebels!" [Numbers 20:7-13], [Deuteronomy 32:48-52]
E-163 God said, "Come here, Moses. Come here. Come up here on top... You're been a faithful servant." (Like the woman with the high heels, "You climbed," see.) "Look over yonder. See the promised land?" [Deuteronomy 32:49-50]
"O Lord!"
"But you're not going over. You took My permissive will, down here at the Rock. You have glorified yourself, see, and not Me. You sanctified yourself. You didn't sanctify Me. You didn't keep My original Word, what I told you to do." Yet, the waters did come. [Deuteronomy 32:48-52]
You can lay hands on the sick and they recover. You can prophesy, or speak with tongues. But, the thing is, keep His original Word! God don't change His mind, friend. You've got to keep His commission, His will.
"Oh, well, that was for the disciples." [Numbers 20:12], [Numbers 22:1-26]
E-164 He doesn't change. If He's still got a disciple, that's the same commission. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel. These signs shall follow them that believe." It's never change. He can't change.
Now, you can say, "Well, I tell you, it ain't for this day." Oh, you Balaamite! You see? See, God don't change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. [Mark 16:15-17], [Hebrews 13:8], [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-165 Just look at the Balaamites today. "Oh, I know, in the Bible they baptized in Jesus' Name, but, look, all the people..." [Numbers 22:2-26]
I don't care what the people has done. "There is not another Name under Heaven given among men whereby you can be saved." "No remission of sin, only through the Name of Jesus Christ." What, how good you are, what you do, that don't have one thing to do with it. It's God's original Word; you got to stay with That. Whew! All right. [Acts 4:12]
E-166 "Obedience to His Word is better than sacrifice." You remember that time when Saul came back. [I Samuel 15:15-25]
E-167 Balaam had a gift of faith and could have used it to the perfect, original Word of God.
Many men on the field today, with gifts of healing, could do the same thing. Many men out here, people speaking in tongues, people prophesying, a gift, could use it for the Kingdom of God, but they don't do it. They take... And God blesses them, anyhow, gets the permissive will. But for popularity, and pleasures, personal gains, sold their birthrights, as Esau did, see, sold out to a organization. Sold out, like Balaam did. See?
So many are doing today the same thing. We know that's right. They sell out their birthright. Huh! Women professing the Holy Ghost, wearing shorts; man permitting them in the pulpits, bobbed-haired women in the pulpits; paint on their face, with religious gowns on. The biggest stumbling block the church has ever had. [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-168 If you want to know, in political powers, what time it is in the kingdom age, see where the Jews are. Watch how the Jews are, because they are a nation. If you want to know where the nations are standing, watch the Jews.
If you want to know where the church is standing, watch the women. Watch the morals among the women, 'cause she's a representation of the church. When you see the pollution amongst the women, you find the pollution in the church. What she become, a painted-up Jezebel, just exactly what the church has become. See? Now, that's the truth, and you know that. See? If you want to know where the church is, watch the morals among your women. Cause, she is, the church is a woman.
If you want to know the national status, watch the Jews. [II Kings 9:30]
E-169 Notice, as God said to Balaam, after he had heard the true-cut decision, Word, "Don't go." Yes, then He told him, after He seen in his--in his heart, what it was to do; He give him His permissive will, so He said, "Go." [Numbers 22:12-20]
E-170 And you can do the same thing. If you don't want to walk in the Truth, you can go and have--have a great ministry. Certainly, you can. But you're taking His permissive will. You're walking over His Word. He'll prosper you, certainly. The...
Just like He did Balaam. He was a success, but he couldn't curse that people. He couldn't do it. Cause, every time he started to curse, he blessed. See, he couldn't do it. But when he come to being prosperous in his achievement, he taught those people, through Balak, to commit adultery. He brought in the camp of Israel and married them off, said, "Why, we are all one. Why, you've worshipped the same God. We got a prophet up here; and you got a prophet down there. And we have the same sacrifice, the same Jehovah as our fathers. Now, why not you all just come and associate with us?"
The Bible said, "Don't join yourself up amongst unbelievers. Don't yoke up with them, at all. If they don't believe It, stay away from them." See? "Come out, be separate," saith the Lord, "and I'll receive you." See? "Touch not their unclean things." That's right. Their filth against the Word, and things like that, stay away from it. Don't listen to it. [II Corinthians 6:14-17], [Numbers 22:12-20]
E-171 And here we find out that Balaam went down there and he begin to teach the people, and he had an error. And he--he run in the way of Balaam, how that he did, and taught Balak, and the children of Israel committed adultery. And a plague struck the nation of Israel, the people, and thousands of them died in one day.
And while they were all there, before the altar of God, praying, here come an Israelite man with a Midianite woman, a denominational woman, and went into the tent. And the priest's son walked over there, and took a javelin and killed them both. And that stayed God's wrath. You know that's the Scripture. It that right? See? [Numbers 22:12-21], [Numbers 25:1-14]
E-172 But what happened? Balaam, he succeeded in weakening Israel. What did he do? He weakened their camp. God let him go and weaken their camp, and it polluted the whole camp.
And when some doctrine starts, that's not the Bible Truth, it pollutes the whole camp. Somebody raise up with a different idea, like Korah, and say, "Well, this, that, and the other, and I got a different idea," it pollutes the whole camp. And that's what's done the whole church camp today. That's right. [Revelation 2:14], [Jude 1:11-12]
E-173 Teaching as he did, weakening the whole camp for Kadesh-barnea, the Word showdown. When they got to Kadesh-barnea, then, the weakening of the camp. They come back. They had went right after...
Remember, they had eat angels' food. They had the Word of God, every night, made manifest. And they eat the food. They drink from the rock. They did all, seen the miracles. They watched Moses, and seen his word, seen his prophesies, everything.
And then finally when they listened to this false teacher, come in among them and teach wrong, he weakened the camp, and prospered by it.
He might have built a million-dollar buildings. He might have had great denominations. He might have added thousands times thousands, and done great works, and mighty works, and was a prophet. That's alright, but, as long as it's not with the Word of God, you better stay away from it.
God don't change His mind. Stay right with His Word, 'cause that's what's going to come out in the end, the Word, Word by Word. "Whosoever shall take one Word away from It, or add one word to It!" It's got to stay, that Word. [Revelation 2:14]
E-174 Now listen closely now. When the Word test came, when they went over and seen the opposition so great, the greatest opposition they ever seen, the Amalekites was--was ten times their size. They said, "We look like grasshoppers. Their fences, or their cities are so walled till they can run a chariot race around it, two chariots, as hard as they can go, around the walls, see, of their cities. Why, their spears are way out, they're long. And they're giants. Why, we look like grasshoppers. We can't do it."
And two men stood on that Word, Caleb and Joshua, said, "Wait a minute! You two million people shut up just a minute. We are more than able to do it. See, we are more than a match for them."
What was they basing on? God said, "I've given you the land. It's yours." And there they stood. But the people had gotten married off, amongst other things, and all kinds of creeds and rituals among them, and they just weaky, wishy-washy, didn't know which a way to turn and what to do. That's right. There come the Word test. [Numbers 13:31-32], [Numbers 22:2-20], [Numbers 25:1-14]
E-175 Yet, He grants you permission for to make, permit your will, a permissive will, knowing that... What's in your heart, He knows it.
You say, "Well, Brother Branham, I do so-and-so. It don't bother me. God blesses me every day. I sing in the Spirit. I dance in the Spirit. I..." He'll permit it. Go ahead. That's right. But what are you going to do? [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-176 "I wear shorts, and I do this. It don't bother me. I know my faith is in Christ, not in what I wear."
But, the Bible said there is something to it. See? What'll you do? You'll make a stumbling block, like Balaam did, before every one of the other women. What'll you do to your young girls? You'll have a bunch of Rickettas, that's exactly right, a bunch of little painted-up Jezebels. See? [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-177 But God will prosper you. "Why, He blesses me." I don't doubt that. He blessed Balaam, too. See? Certainly He will. You'll walk in His permissive will, not His perfect will. God doesn't change His mind, 'cause He blesses you.
He blessed Israel right out there for forty years. What did they do? Married wives, raised families, kissed the children, paid their tithes, lived right out there. And the God blessed them in the wilderness, fed them with the manna, on and on. And every one of them perished, 'cause they never kept His original, permissive... His original will, His Word. They took His permissive way. [Numbers 22:2-26], [John 6:49], [Numbers 14:24-39], [Numbers 32:10-15], [Deuteronomy 8:2-5], [Joshua 5:6-7]
E-178 Go ahead, but, you remember, when they left Kadesh, they never journeyed any farther. They just went around and around, in the wilderness. Where, they could have been out, in two days after that, they could been in the promised land. They journeyed forty years, and every one of them died but Joshua and Caleb, the ones that stayed on the original Word. [Deuteronomy 8:2-5], [Numbers 14:24-39]
E-179 O God, help us. God don't change His will. He don't change His mind, but He'll bless you.
Sure, He blessed Balaam. And what did he do down there? He polluted the whole camp. See, you have to stay on what He said. He never changed His original plan. [Numbers 22:2-26]
E-180 Now look at the Balaam's today, in the field, would you. Just look around. Prospering, speaking in tongues, sure, using God's gift to gain, everything, sure. But it defiles the whole church of God with their corrupt teaching. That's right.
One said to me, he said, "What you doing this for? What you doing that for?"
I said, "Don't you believe that That's the Truth?" [Numbers 22:2-26], [I Corinthians 13:1-4]
E-181 "Oh, yes. But," he said, "you know what? That's not your business. You're to pray for the sick. They believe you to be a prophet. Why, you could teach them women how to, and them man, how to do this, that, the other."
"How can you teach them algebra when they won't even learn their ABC's? Huh? Huh? How can you teach them them things when they won't even take their primer?" See? You've got to come back and start where you began, or where you left off, and take every Word of God. [Luke 4:4], [Proverbs 30:5]
E-182 Just look at it in the field today. As Balaam married into God's church, a harlot, married the harlot into God's church, so is these false teachers today trying to tell you. They're going to marry every one of these organizations and these people into the old harlot of Revelation 17. Their Balaam doctrine going around today, and say, "We're just the same. We're all Christians." And priests and popes, and whatevermore, all compromising and doing this. [Numbers 25:1-15], [Numbers 22:2-26], [Revelation 17:1-18]
E-183 The preacher said... Even I know a Pentecostal preacher, all of them, started now giving a round kosher. Which means, Ashtoreth, the "moon-god," a kosher wafer. Say, "Shut your eyes and take it, if it hurts your conscience." Shut your eyes? A round wafer, what does it mean? We are taking a broken body, Jesus Christ, broken; not a round moon-god, Ashtoreth, who Mary took the place of. And the Roman kosher is still round, for the moon-god, goddess, not god. We have a broken kosher, certainly. Oh!
E-184 So now the great harlot of Revelations 17, these Balaam teachers with their false doctrine, is marrying the church into that kind of a mess. Watch when it comes to the showdown at the end time, look the weakness of it now. Nine hundred and something different organizations, one pulling one way, and one the other. There is no unity among them. And they're trying to bring unity; not backed by the Word of God, God's original plan. They are taking it in by a politics and an organization.
God don't change His mind. He stays right with His Word. He said, "Heavens and earth will pass away, but My Word won't." That's right. He stays with His original Word. Oh, my! [Matthew 24:35], [Revelation 17:1-8]
E-185 Though they still reason against It, just like they did, and just... There is only one thing to do. He won't change It. Just believe. Because, both heavens and earth will pass away; His Word will never fail. See? [Matthew 24:35]
E-186 You see where you're getting married into? See the politics and things, how they're trying to join the church together by a politics in the church? We are not joined to Christ by politics.
We are joined, the Church, to Christ, by the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And the way you know the baptism of the Holy Ghost, is 'cause that Spirit in you identifies every Word of God to be the Truth. That's right. "For whosoever shall take one Word out of It, or add one word to It, his part will be taken from the Book of Life." [Revelation 22:19], [Acts 2:38]
E-187 Yet, "He prospers," you say. You can't believe That by prosperity. You can't judge God by prosperity. The world prospers. Balaam prospered by it.
But, brother, you judge God by His Word. He keeps His Word and identifies It the Truth. So, remember, friend, as long as you live, don't you never forget this: God doesn't change His mind. Yet, He will bless. He will let you go His permissive will, but He won't change His mind. He won't change His plan. He won't change His Word, for you. No, sir.
You've got to change. You can't have God's Word to match your experience; you've got to have your experience to match God's Word. See? That's the way you've got...
You say, "Well, I'm a good man. God does this, that, or the other." But do you keep His Word? "Oh, well, I tell you, that ain't just... Naw." All right, there is something wrong somewhere. God's going... Yes, He'll prosper you. Sure, He'll make you... [Numbers 22:2-26], [Matthew 24:35], [Proverbs 30:5-6], [John 6:49], [Numbers 14:24-39]
E-188 The denominations is prospering to who wouldn't have it! They spread their tents, the great, fine churches, and everything, throughout the land. They're rich, and money pouring in, and members from everywhere. Didn't the Bible say, "There was found in her even riches of the world, and even souls of man," and everything, that was found in this old harlot, which is the mother of the whole thing, politics and organization? [Numbers 22:2-26], [Revelation 17:1-6]
E-189 But God's little group is His Bride, centered on that Word. May the dear Heavenly Father ever keep you stabilized right there. Don't you never move from that Word.
You may bless, you may... God may heal your sick. He may heal your sick baby. He may heal your husband, your wife. He may heal your mother, somebody else. You may jump at His Spirit, and dance up-and-down.
Remember, the rain falls on the just and the unjust, just the same. But when that seed is laying there, it's either ordained or it's not ordained. And if it's ordained, it can... If it's a wheat, it has to bring forth wheat. If it's a Word of God, it has to produce the Word of God. If it isn't, well, then it isn't. See? You get that now? [Matthew 24:35]
E-190 The Lord bless you. Here I told you I was going to quit at nine o'clock, and here it is, twenty minutes till ten. Many of you people, a long ways to go. I love you. And the reason I hold you like this, is not because I want to be cruel to you, but I love you. And what I know, I don't keep nothing back; I tell you the Truth.
E-191 Out in the meetings where I go, you never hear me preach these Messages. No, I promised you, to come to this tabernacle. Right here is where I preach my Messages from. I've got three or four more here, that the Lord has given me, I've got the Scriptures on it, that I would be daresn't to preach it anywhere else but right here. Here is where the Word of God started going from. And, till God changes it, I'm staying right here and bringing it out right here. That's right.
Out yonder in the meetings, I pray for the sick, and everything like that; and, on the side, say things in a roundabout way, that the sheep hear It. They know what it's talking about. Otherwise, it's just the bait on the hook, you see. I show the signs of--of trying to show that God knows, in discernment, and knows the hearts of the people, and does these things. That's an evangelistic gift, just to stir the people.
The first thing you know, a tape drops into their house. That's got it, then. If he's a sheep, he comes right with It. If he's a goat, he kicks the tape out. Uh-huh. [Brother Ben Bryant says, "And you, too."--Ed.] You see, that's... "And you, too," is right, Ben. That, that's exactly right. Ben has had some experience. All right. Well, that's right.
E-192 Aren't you glad that you're His? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Aren't you glad? ["Amen."] We used to sing a little pentecostal song, a long time, like:
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out;
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Oh, I been happy since the Lord brought me out;
I been happy since the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be?
I'm so glad since the Lord brought me out.
I been shouting since the Lord brought me out;
I been shouting since the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, oh, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Glory! Aren't you glad? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "Aren't you glad..." Let's sing it.
Aren't you glad that the Lord brought you out?
Aren't you glad that the Lord brought you out?
If it had not been for Jesus, oh, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Well, I been singing since the Lord brought me out;
I been singing since the Lord brought me out;
If it had not been for Jesus, oh, where would I be?
I'm so glad that the Lord brought me out.
Aren't you glad of it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Then, we'll walk in the Light. You know that song?
We'll walk in the Light, It's a beautiful Light,
Comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Oh, Jesus, the Light of the world.
Don't you like that? Let's sing it again.
We'll walk in the Light, It's a beautiful Light,
Comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Oh, Jesus, the Light of the world.
It's sunup!
All ye saints of Light proclaim,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Truth and mercy in His Name,
Jesus, the Light of...
Now let's raise our hands when we sing it.
Oh, we'll walk in this Light, It's such a beautiful Light,
It comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Shake one another's hand.
Oh, It comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright.
Aren't you glad you're children of the Light? The Son is up.
... all around us by day and by night,
"Ye little children, love one another."
... the Light of the world.
Oh, we'll just walk in the Light, It's such a beauti-... (manifestation of His Word)
Comes where the dewdrops of mercy are bright,
Just shine all around us by day and by night,
It's Jesus, the Light of the world.
You all believe it?
We're marching to Zion,
The beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the Heavenly King,
And but children of the Heavenly King,
And may speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.
For we're marching... (Glory!)
The beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
E-193 Get your handkerchief out. Take out your handkerchiefs, just a minute. Let's give the Lord a wave offering. It ain't a sheaf, but they took from the body of Paul handkerchiefs and things, see.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
Oh, we're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
E-194 Amen! Oh, don't it make you feel good? I can just imagine those old saints back there, before going into the Roman circus there, start walking up that hill, you know, up that little ramp, going up into the lions' den, saying:
Oh, we are marching to Zion,
This beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
The fields of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the Heavenly Throne,
Before we reach the Heavenly Throne,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.
We're marching to Zion,
It's beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful City of God.
E-195 Repeat after me. Lord God, [Congregation says, "Lord God,"--Ed.] I pledge myself anew to You. ["I pledge myself anew to You."] Cleanse me from all unrighteousness. ["Cleanse me from all unrighteousness."] Cleanse me from all doubt in Thy Word. ["Cleanse me from all doubt in Thy Word."] Let me, from this Easter, ["Let me, from this Easter,"] be a new creature ["be a new creature"] in Christ Jesus. ["in Christ Jesus."] Let me bear, in my heart, ["Let me bear, in my heart,"] Your Word. ["Your Word."] May It be a Lamp to my feet ["May it be a Lamp to my feet"] that will Light my path. ["that will Light my path."] From henceforth, ["From henceforth"'] I will follow You. ["I will follow You."] In Jesus' Name. ["In Jesus' Name."] Amen. ["Amen."]
We're marching to Zion,
Oh, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
That beautiful city of God.
E-196 Don't that make you feel good? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We have pledged ourself anew, knowing that in our hearts we have been quickened from the dead, made alive. Don't it make you feel good? ["Amen."] My, oh, my! I love you, with undying love.
Listen. "Love one another. For you cannot dislike your brother, who you see, and say you love God, Who you haven't seen." See? So just love one another.
Then, you serve one another, you serve God. Is that right? "As you do unto the least of these that's got quickening Power in them, you've done it unto Me."
"When did we see You in need? When did we visit You in prison? When did we do these things?"
"What you done to them, you did it to Me."
E-197 Isn't that wonderful? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] I love Him, don't you? ["Amen."]
E-198 Oh, there is one more song we have to sing, if you just got a minute more time. Oh, well, we'll just take them. All right. All right, sir. Oh! Take The Name Of Jesus With You. Don't forget that, friends. Let's all sing it now. Each one, together now, just with one big heart, take it to Him. Let's, with all we got in us.
Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it everywhere you go.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven;
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.
E-199 Remember now, pray for me when the hot persecution winds are blowing, when devils on every side is challenging, I'll remember you're praying for me night or day, and I'll be praying for you.
Stand by your good pastor, Brother Neville, and the associate, Brother Capps. Listen to them. They'll teach you the Word of Life. I believe that. If I didn't believe it, I certainly wouldn't have them here. I certainly would not. I believe that they believe the Message, and they stay with it to the best of their knowledge, and I've got faith in both man. Stay with them. These other brothers, around where they got their meeting, that stood here tonight, if you're around their neighborhood, stand by them. You heard what they come here for, tonight.
Take the Name of Jesus with you,
As a shield from every snare; (listen at this)
When temptations round you gather,
Just breathe that holy Name in prayer.
Precious Name, precious Name, O how sweet!O how sweet!
Hope of...
Dear God, heal these people. I pray Thee, Father, in Jesus' Name. Grant it, Lord, I pray.
... O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.
Till we meet! till we meet!
Till we meet at Jesus' feet;
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again.
Let's bow our heads now.
[Brother Branham begins humming God Be With You--Ed.]O God, be with us. Help us, Lord.
... we meet at Jesus' feet! (till we meet!)
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again.
E-200 That's truly my prayer. Till we meet again, God bless you! And now I'm going to ask our precious Brother Neville if he'll dismiss this fine congregation.
God love you, each one. I'm so thankful to have people like you all. What would my Message be if I had nobody that believed It? And there is people here, you would die for It, for this Message we got. May God help you, each one. My prayers are with you. My blessings go with each one of you. May you not forget that you're a part in that resurrection. The quickening Power is now in you. It's all settled. You're God's child.
Let's bow our heads, until Brother Neville dismisses. And God bless you.
