Sermon Texts (Adding Now)
Sermon Texts Beginning With C
Confirmation Of The Commission (62-0122)
| Confirmation Of The Commission (62-0122) |
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E-1 You may be seated. It's... I was so carried away with listening at a testimony till I forgot to tend to the crowd. So happy to be here tonight in the service of the Lord and get to meet Brother O'Donnell, and... I was watching this giving those signs to the deaf and dumb. And the brother was telling me the lady the other night that was in the wheelchair, that had the big cancer on her that (like that), she was so miraculously healed till she was out of the wheelchair, cancer's gone, and just having a great time. And I was so thankful for that.
E-2 As I was coming in a--a little girl stood there, which was little Miss O'Donnell and--and a little--two more little girls, and was talking to me at the door. And--and I said, "They tell me it's going to freeze tonight here."
E-3 Now, we deem this a great privilege to be here with you tonight in this time of fellowship just prior the convention of the Business Men. The convention will start this coming Thursday down at the Ramada. That's on east Van Buren Street. And we certainly invite you all down. There'll be some wonderful speakers in the convention. And Brother Velmer Gardner is one that I know of, and then I think they have some of the businessmen that's going to speak. And I--I believe Jim Brown was one of them, and Dr. Reed, and, 'course, Brother Rose is always there, Brother Osteen from Texas. E-4 And I pray that God will bless Brother O'Donnell here and this fine group of Christians here that's sojourning, waiting on the Lord. For truly, we are sojourners. We are pilgrims and strangers. This is not our home; but we're seeking a city whose Builder and Maker is God, and we're just sojourners. We're not... This is not our home. We're just passing through this a-way. And it gives such a great privilege... (maybe if I'll set this around this way...) It gives such a privilege (Is that better? Uh-huh.), such a great privilege to be here to put in this time of fellowship with you wonderful Christians. E-5 And when I heard that I'd been given the privilege of these different people that--churches that had--was letting me speak in them just prior the convention, I thought, "It's a wonderful time to express our appreciations for how these different organizations has cooperated in the times past in my missions around the world: the Assemblies of God, the Foursquare, the Jesus' Name, the Church of God, and the many, and the independents around the world all of them coming in as one, and to the glory of God." And God's been doing some great things among them, and we're grateful. And then to get back where we can express our thoughts, and our fellowship and... As I was quoting last night over here in the Fellowship Tabernacle where we had the service, and...
E-6 I had an old friend, Brother Bosworth. Many of you remember Brother Bosworth. And he used to tell me... He said, "Brother Branham, you know what fellowship is?" E-7 Now, I am--certainly trust that you'll pray for me, and I... This, today... I sent my son up awhile ago to see if there was anybody that wanted to be prayed for. I really didn't come to have healing services, just to, oh, to speak. Anybody knows I'm not a preacher, that ever heard me, but... I have no education, and I can't preach, but I--I usually pray for the sick. And--and coming, usually people rally to be prayed for. 'Course, there's so many sick people. But on Sunday I didn't mention nothing about it, because I'd call people from other churches to come over to these certain churches I was to be at on Sunday to be prayed for, and I thought it might hurt some of the other churches. So I just let it alone. E-8 Now, last night I announced that tonight we would pray for the sick up here; and, if God willing, we'll maybe tomorrow night, or the next night, one, pray for the sick again. So I trust that it'll be fine, that the Lord will heal everybody sick here tonight. And I tell you, my precious friends; above all things I trust that the sin-sick will be healed tonight. If the Lord just healed you of your sickness, you'll probably, if you live any time, you'll get sick again. See? But Eternal Life is what we're seeking, friends. That's right, for that's--that's the real cure. E-9 And I trust if there's someone here who is not a believer in Christ, will become a believer tonight. And if you're here and haven't been borned again, or received the Holy Spirit, been filled with the Holy Ghost, I trust that this will be the night that that'll happen. If you're a backslider I hope that the Lord Jesus will do something so real tonight to you here, and warm--warm your heart in such a way, you just return back to His fellowship again, 'cause He's waiting, with outstretched arms waiting. E-10 I preached some years ago on a little sermon one time over at the Angelus Temple, when they was having the Pentecostal Jubilee, the fifty years of jubilee. And I remember the first night that I preached on holiness, which I believe in. And I kinda (didn't aim to, but, you know... ) just cutting the people, and the way the people had got away from the original Pentecost; like when the first beginning, when the Holy Ghost fell, how them people lived the life, and what they did fifty years ago. E-11 And I said, "Oh, we've come a long ways. We've got great organizations since then, big fine buildings, and high-polished preachers." I said, "Wonder if we've still got the Pentecostal blessing we had then?" See, see? I said, "Used to be our--our sisters would come to church... It was a shame for one of them to have short hair, or manicure on, or something like that. But that... They kind of let down the bars somewhere." E-12 And so there was a friend of mine, which... He's a Pentecostal brother too, and many of you may know him. His name is William Booth-Clibborn. Oh, many of you know him. And Brother Booth is a bosom friend of mine, only we do not agree upon doctrine because he is such a--a Calvinistic thinker that he thinks beyond me. So I can only think Calvinist as long as it stays in the Bible. See? And then when it gets out of there it's past my thinking; I can't think no more.
E-13 So I seen him on the platform. So when we walked off the platform, he met me out there, and he looked at me, he said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Shame on you. Such a legalistic message. You knowed better than that." He just tore me all up, you know.
E-14 So now, there's people are standing, and I appreciate it. And now, I never come to--to preach. I'm going to pray for the sick, but to get a little background talk on the Scriptures. I think I kinda preached myself out the other morning at Brother Fuller's. I called Life Tabernacle or something? [Someone says, "Faith Tabernacle"--Ed.] Faith Tabernacle... I think I held them the other night. 'Fore I got to the church the pastor, or somebody'd sent me word, said, "Say, these people like to go to bed at night." So I very seldom preach over six or eight hours, so I--I never get above that, so...
E-15 Someone said not long ago... I was at Ft. Wayne Gospel Tabernacle, B. E. Redigar. He was a great man of God that died years ago that... The Lord really blessed that brother. He was a mighty man of faith. When I was a little boy I used to set with Paul Rader there, just a young minister. E-16 I was holding a meeting there. I forget the Pentecostal brother that's got charge of the tabernacle now. And I was having a meeting there, and there was... This song "Only Believe" was wrote by Paul Rader, and he was such a wonderful Christian and great messenger of his day. I was setting in the little study room, and they was singing for me to come to the platform by that, which they have around the world. And I was setting there, and know that right in that same study is where Paul got the inspiration to write the song. And here it come in, "Only Believe." And, oh, that just burned my heart.
E-17 And after the service was over... There was several great things our Lord Jesus had did in the meeting. I went back over there to--by the side of the place and was waiting, and there was a man came in. He said, "Mr. Branham?" E-18 Shall we bow our heads now while we speak to Him in our humble way. Now, with our heads bowed and our hearts with it, is there a special request that you'd like for us to remember you by? Raise up your hand to God. Just in your heart hold your request, saying, "Lord, I need salvation; I need healing; I--I need something." God will understand.
E-19 Our heavenly Father, as we approach Thy holy Presence tonight in the Name of the Lord Jesus, we come in His Name because He said that, "If you ask the Father anything in My Name, I'll do it." Now, we know we can't come in our own name. We cannot come in the name of our church, in the name of our pastor, or in the name of our organization, and expect to be heard. But we have the assurance that if we come in the Name of the Lord Jesus that He's promised us that we'd be heard.
E-20 I pray for every church that's represented here, for all the people. And for those who are not Christians I pray that tonight they'll become Christians. I pray for the businessmen that's here, Brother Rose, Brother Williams, and many others, for the oncoming convention down there, that this little stir of these few days across Phoenix, and Tempe, and Sunnyslopes, and through the country here, will be the cause of many Christians taking a new hold, many backsliders coming back to God, many sinners coming to Christ, many sick be healed. Grant it, Father.
E-21 Now, many of you like to read the Scriptures with the ones who are reading. I wish to read in two places tonight. One of them is found in Mark the 16th chapter, and we're going to begin at the 14th verse; and the other is found in St. John. (Or, I think that's where I wrote down. Let me see first.) Yes, St. John 14:12 is where the second Scripture... And now in St. Mark the 11th chapter and beginning with the 14th verse, and St. John 14:12... Now, we want to listen close to the reading because God's Word is what we want to hear. First, Mark 16:
And after he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with the unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick,... they shall recover.
So... after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them... confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
John 14:12, Jesus speaking:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
I--I would like to take for a text, if the Lord willing, on the "Confirmation of the Commission," as a text, and just to speak. I have a few Scriptures and notes written that might help us along. Now, "Confirmation of the Commission."
E-22 Now, I think that anything ought to be confirmed. If you'd build a house, it'd have to be built according to specification; or, they wouldn't confirm the house to be built, and you'd have to tear it down again, build it over. And I think also, if you were going down the road and--or out at your work, and someone would walk up to you and say, "I am a United States marshal. I now put you under arrest in the name of my office." Now, you have a right to say to that man... If you look at him, he has on a uniform and a badge pinning on him. That yet doesn't make him a United States marshal. Any phony could wear that. You can buy a badge over here almost in a ten-cent store, go to any rummage sale and get a uniform or anything. That doesn't make him a United States marshal. E-23 To make hisself identified he has to have his papers with the seal upon them, that to confirm his statement that he is a United States marshal; or, he's nothing until he's confirmed to be that. He has confirmed his commission, and he does it by a sealed statement, a declaration to show that this man has been sworn in, and he's been... His commission has been sealed with the seal of the United States, and then over the top of his name. And that makes him then, whether he has a badge on, or whether he has a uniform on, as long as he's packing this paper he is the marshal, and that's his commission. Just a badge and a uniform won't work. E-24 We find so many times in the army (I've heard my brothers and many of those who was overseas.), that many times the Japanese, and the Germans, and the other alien countries that was against us in the war... If they could pick up a dead soldier, and get one of their soldiers that the uniform would fit him, why, he could impersonate a--an American soldier. And he had to be properly identified or they'd never believe his uniform, or, maybe his tag he had on his neck. He had to be identified that he was an American soldier, because he could easily be a spy. Just any cheap spy can wear a uniform of the United States.
E-25 And we find that in all walks of life. We find that today, maybe on the street. We hear many a person say that they are an American. And here some time ago, coming out of the Quartermaster that used to be there at Jeffersonville, I was walking one morning, going on patrol. And there was a well-dressed fellow walking down the street, great big cigar in his mouth, a employee of the government. And he looked over at me, early in the morning, with a pair of sunglasses on. I said, "Good morning, sir."
E-26 And now (You see?), all that live in America is not American. There are spies, communists, and everything else, and the only way that they can be really known, whether they are right or not, is by their actually, what's inside of them, whether their heart's in America or just their pocketbook. See? E-27 Now, we realize that Jesus said here in Mark the 16th chapter, that all that He sent out on commission would bear the confirmation: These signs shall follow them that believe. Now, He didn't say they maybe they will follow, or they might follow. He said, "Go ye into all the world..." Now, somebody wants to chop that commission off two thousand years ago. But He said, "All the world, to every creature..." These signs shall follow in all the world and to every creature (See?), and that was the signs that was to follow to approve the identification.
E-28 The Bible said the Gospel came to us not in word only, but through the power, manifestations of the Holy Ghost. In other words, it's the Holy Ghost taking the Word of God and making It manifest. See? And otherwise the only way that the signs of Mark 16 can follow the believer is that the Holy Spirit Himself takes the Word of God and demonstrates it to the people. That's it.
E-29 Now, and if the Holy Spirit, which is God's Word, or the power of God's Word, comes in with God's Word, it'll make God's Word display Itself. "Go ye into all the world and demonstrate the Gospel to every creature. (See?) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe." What a beautiful setting that is. If we would just go deep now and listen, that was the credentials that was to hang onto every man that went forth preaching the Gospel. E-30 Now, that same Word is just as alive tonight as it was the hour it was spoke. See? All we need is... The Holy Spirit behind the Word puts it to action and demonstrates the power that It promised. Every blessing that God promised, everything that He said, can be brought to life if the Holy Spirit is behind the Word, because that's the thing that quickens the Word and gives It life. See? And now, we know that that's right. E-31 Jesus said, "These signs shall follow all that I send." Others refuse; that's all. Certainly. Any unbeliever, any critic of the Word, can come along with an identification of some denomination, some manmade organization, or something; say, "I'm Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist," whatever it might be. He could easily identify himself into a fellowship of that same denominational church because of his credentials. But his credentials only comes from a organization that's been made up by a theory and not the Word of God. But God... If he's sent from God, "These signs shall follow them that believe." See? Jesus said so. See?
E-32 See, it's either whether you take what some organization said, some manmade theory said... They'll preach the doctrine of that theory. And then, that is their credentials to the deacon board or whatever it is, that they stand in good fellowship with that organization. I have nothing against that, understand, but I'm only defending what Jesus said. See?
E-33 How can a man say there's no such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Ghost? How can a man say there's no such a thing as healing of the sick? How can a man say there's no such a thing as speaking in tongues, casting out devils? when that was the very credentials that Jesus pinned onto every believer that was--He sent out. That's the authority. E-34 Now, as I said, any phony man can pick up a uniform or a badge, but that really isn't a credential. It's the credentials that counts, not the uniform or badge. And there's many people (and it's too bad I have to say this, but it's truth; we must be honest), there's too many of the--our Pentecostal people that's wearing just the badge and uniform (See?), because that they live so different than what really a Pentecostal should be, until there--there's nothing to it. That's all. And it only brings a reproach upon the cause. That's right. It makes people suspicious. E-35 But Jesus gave the verification that it would be all right, because these signs would follow the believers. That's one thing. The Holy Spirit looked down through the stream of time and seen that man would pervert His Word and cause this, that, and the other. So He made it so clear and so positive that there's no way at all of getting around it. He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Now, we know that to be true.
E-36 A unbeliever can carry these denominational credentials, but that isn't what makes him a sent man from God. They walk around here with all kinds of books under their arms around through the country, and this Jehovah's this, and So-and-so, and all this, the other, but that doesn't make it so. No, sir. Jesus said, "You test them by the Word." That's right. The Word: "These signs shall follow..." E-37 "Our church," that has nothing to do with it. It's what God's Word says. See?...?... "Heavens and earth will pass away but My Word shall not pass away." The living Word spoke by a living God must be in a living being. And how can a man or a woman that claims that they have the baptism of the Holy Spirit deny what God said in His Word? Because it's the very Holy Spirit that wrote the Word is the very Holy Spirit that's speaking through the person. That's right. It's got to be. He cannot--He cannot do it. Yes, sir.
E-38 Now, but that... A man might come and say, "I have a fellowship card. I belong to this church or that church." That still doesn't make it right. He might have a Ph.D., LL.D., and whatevermore from some great school. That's fine, nothing against that. That still may be all right. I have nothing against that. E-39 This unbeliever that might pass through and say, "Well, I don't believe that there's such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Our schools has taught that--that them days are gone. We don't have to have that no more." And there's so many of them believe that. There's so many of them sincerely believe that: good men. It's because that they listen to the school instead of the Word of God. That's exactly right.
E-40 Here some time ago in a certain place there was a--a woman. She had a son. And he was a--had a call of God in his life; he seemed to have. And the poor old mother wanted to send him away to school to do all that she could to get him built up, which that's a good thing to do. But she sent him to the wrong kind of school. She sent him over to a place where they begin to teach contrary to the Word of God. And he went on. She washed to send him to school and so forth, and a long time passed on, and finally...
E-41 And so the neighbor sent the telegram. And--and so then the boy got ready to come. And after while another telegram come back and said, "Never mind. She's all right."
E-42 Said, "Dr. Jesus." She said, "Dr. So-and-so, my physician, came up here, and my fever was so high I was out of my head." And said, "They said I got worse, and then I was going to die." And she said, "You know where that little mission is around the corner down there at the alley? "
E-43 He said, "Mother, don't say those things." Said, "Why--why, you shock me." Said--said, "Why, you shouldn't say those things. Why," said, "those people have no education. They don't know anything about the Bible."
E-44 What was the matter? That little mission around the corner had a credential, maybe not a Ph. D. or LL. D. or... But they had the credentials of God with "these signs" following them that believe. Jesus said they'd do it. They--they had God's confirmation. They had His commission to go lay hands on the sick, and they did it just the way He said do, and then God confirmed the Word with signs following. It's a confirmation that they have been sent of God. Yes, sir. That's true. All right. E-45 Now, undoubtedly the unbeliever will have to have a little bit of God's Word to twist it around, to make it fit the creed to make it more deceitful. Now, you know, the biggest lie that was ever told has a whole lot of truth in it. That is right. You remember every... The first lie was ever told had ninety-five percent truth, when Satan told Eve in the garden of Eden all these things God had said. He admitted, "That's right." He admitted, "That's right," everything that God said. But said, "Surely you'll not die." There it is.
E-46 Someone could say they was at the Tabernacle up here at this certain, certain night.
E-47 That's all right but that one thing. So that's the way that the unbeliever, the--the unidentified person with God; he will say, "Oh, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe God is the Father of Jesus Christ. I believe all these other things." See? But when it comes down to this other part, "Oh, that's for another day," See? There's the lie of it. That's right. He's trying to twist a little of the right Word around to make it deceiving to the people. But what... E-48 I was a Baptist preacher once, love the Baptist people yet. But I found this other thing. See? Now, it's not--it's not exactly... The--the Pentecostal church, I don't say is just perfect, there's nothing in it; but it's the best we got. So let's stay right with it; that's all. They do believe. Some of them may not have faith enough (and I'm right with them), not faith enough to make all the Word come to pass. But I'll never stand in the way of somebody that's got faith enough to make them come to pass. I'll never hide behind unbelief in saying it can't be done. If the man can take the Word of God and confirm it with the power of God, I say, "Glory to God. Lord, lift me up and let me stand by faith on heaven's tableland." Yes, I certainly would stay with that. They just do a little bit to fit their creeds; but God's servant has His sign exactly.
E-49 In the Old Testament there used to be a man when they... Some of them couldn't sign their name, so they had a seal, and it was a sign. They would seal it, like that; it was finished. A seal is a finished work.
E-50 If he denies... This man is going around, saying, "Now, don't you listen to them people. You were down to a tabernacle the other night."
E-51 Now, if this person denies that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever... Now, watch it. You'll hear him say, "Oh, He's the same." Is He the same? Is He the same? "Well," they say, "He's in--the same in a certain way." E-52 It's not you that does miracles. No. They want to say, "Let me see you do this." Now, God never said for me to do it; He's already done it. The only thing for me to do is take His Word and hold on to It, and He will bring it to pass. That's right. That's exactly. It isn't you; it's the God that's in you. Like Jesus said, "It's not Me that doeth the work; it's My Father that dwelleth in Me. He doeth the works. Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." He watched first to see a vision what the Father told Him. St. John, I believe 5:19, you'll read that: 5:19, yes. If you'll read, He said, "What the Father shows Me to do, that I do also."
E-53 Now, we find out then, that if we--if we--if he denies that Jesus Christ isn't the very same... There's only one thing that He cannot be--that He can be different in. That is a physical, corporal body. See? Now, in the physical, corporal body, God raised that up from the grave on the third day, and it sets at the right hand of His majesty on high on His throne. Jesus overcome took God's throne; we that overcome shall set with Him on His throne, 'cause His throne is the throne of David where He will reign here on earth.
E-54 Now, a phrony will say, "No, that--that isn't so." Then as long as they deny this commission, it shows they can't show they--their commission is sealed. They can't show you, because they deny. If, like a--an officer... I'd say, "Well, here, I am a United States marshal. I know I'm a marshal," and here's a law that says a marshal must pack this credential sealed with the United States seal. You say, "Well, that was for some time gone by. We don't have to have it today." He's a phrony, that's all there is to it. He's not right. He isn't commissioned. He isn't sent.
E-55 If an officer said, "You don't have to have that seal..." You've got it yourself. Here it is in the book that says you must have that seal. Here's in the laws of the United States says that a marshal must pack this seal. And if he hasn't got that seal, he absolutely is not a marshal. Don't receive him, because he isn't a marshal, 'cause the law of the book says he must pack that seal.
E-56 The Bible said in the last days they'd have a form of godliness, and would deny the power thereof: from such turn away. Don't receive it at all. Right. They'll have big churches and fine denominations, and great splendor, and great beauty, and so forth like that.
E-57 Let us look at some of those who God sent, find out whether He always identified His believers. Now, look. Let's take Moses. Moses had a call in his life. That's true, but he never was sent... He thought he was sent, and look what a failure he made. But when God sent him from the burning bush... When he was out in the presence of Pharaoh's seminary, he come out with his credentials. It wouldn't work. God wouldn't recognize it.
E-58 How God makes people act ridiculous. That old man, dignified, now, come out of there with all kinds of college degrees. But... why, he wouldn't think about it, here at eighty years old. And the next morning here he goes down towards Egypt with his wife setting a-straddle of a mule with her young'un on her hip, going along, big old whiskers blowing like that, and a crooked stick in his hand.
E-59 "What are you going to do it with, Moses?"
E-60 Did you ever think where'd them snakes go to? Where'd them--what happened to them rods? They was all in one rod. See? He eat them up, Moses' snake, because what was it? A confirmation. Amen. Hallelujah. He was--had a confirmation of his commission. He carried it out. He brought the children out, and the Red Sea got in his way and give away. E-61 If a man is commissioned by the supernatural God, the supernatural power of God will be with that supernatural commission. Not what you learn in Ph.D. and LL.D. and algebra, and all those things. That confirms your fine grammar and speech at the pulpit when you say "aaaaamen" like a calf. But let me tell you something: but when you've got the confirmation of the commission of God given you by the Holy Ghost, these signs shall follow them that believe. (Excuse that expression.)
E-62 A confirmation--God confirmed 'cause He was a supernatural God, gave supernatural power, for a supernatural deliverance. I believe it. God today is not going to deliver His people by education. He never promised to do it. He is not going to deliver them by theology. He never promised to do it. He's not going to deliver them by science. He never promised to do it. He's not going to deliver them by denomination. He never promised to do it. But He will deliver them by the power, supernatural power of changing their lives and molding them into children of God. Amen. Moses had a commission; he had signs to confirm his commission. Now, Jesus the same way, said, "These signs..." E-63 Now, that same God can't change. When He sent His church out to deliver the people out of this hellish Egyptian bondage that--all these things that's got the people in today, He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Don't be afraid to lay that Word out there, because it's the truth. It's God's Word. Don't let the devil explain it away from you, because it's not right. He keeps His Word. Now, I believe that with all that's in me.
E-64 Elijah was sent down. I can see him that morning. I imagine him and Jezebel had had a few rounds. But here he was that day coming down, a little old bald-headed fellow and whiskers hanging down, coming down that morning down that road to Samaria, them eyes set right upon heaven, a smile on his face, that old stick hitting against the road. But, brother, he had "THUS SAITH THE LORD."
E-65 And while he was up on the mountain there one day... "Aw," the king said, "there's nothing to that guy. I'll send fifty men up. I don't believe he's nothing but an old fanatic. Didn't we know him around here, talking about Jezebel, my wife, wearing paint, and everything like that? talking about all this modern living--and living after the first lady's example, like a lot of us Pentecostal people do?"
E-66 Now, a lot of you Pentecostal won't wear makeup. There's nothing in the Bible about that. But then you will cut your hair, and the Bible said that a woman that cuts her hair is dishonorable. That's right. And you'll wear shorts, or these little old... what is it? Jump...? See, ever what it is looks like a man's clothes, and the Bible said that any woman will put on clothes like that is an abomination in the sight of God.
E-67 Elijah setting up on top of the mountain there, and God said, "Now, you're not going to be disturbed." Said, "I'm going to send you up there until them people repent."
E-68 On Mount Carmel, when he had the showdown between the false gods and the true God, he laid the sacrifice out, walked out there, and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that You're God in Israel, and I am Your servant, and I've done all of this at Your command (preach the Word at Your command, Lord, to all the world, to every creature; these signs shall follow them that believe...)--at Your command. Now, Lord, let it be known that You told me to do this, You commissioned me to do this; now confirm it, Lord." And about that time fire fell from heaven. It was a confirmation of it. He was with the Word. See?
E-69 Jesus, when He come on earth, and they said, "Him, being a man, makes hisself God? Oh, my. Well, we know who he was. He was born illegitimate. Why, he's only... We know His mother, Mary, and Joseph? They had that child be..." E-70 He said, "If I do not the works of My Father, then you don't--you don't believe Me; but," said, "the very works that I do confirms My commission." Amen. That sure hit them smack, didn't it? "The works that I do..." Yes, sir. "If you don't... if you can't believe that I was sent of God, then the thing for you to do is believe that the works that I do... Or let me see you do the same works." There you are. "If you don't believe Me..." Oh, my.
E-71 There's some of them believed Him. When the woman at the well saw His Messiahic sign, she said, "We know Messiah does that." And went and told the people, said, "Come, see Who I have found, a Man that told me the very secrets of my heart. Isn't that the Messiah?"
E-72 So he walked up in the presence of Philip, and Philip told him what to do... or, Philip taken him over in the Presence of Jesus, rather. And when he walked up in front of Jesus, Jesus said, "Behold an Israelite in whom there's no guile."
E-73 A woman at the well, when He found her standing there at the well, He said, "Bring Me a drink."
E-74 He said, "The waters that I give is not in that well." All... Went on, the conversation went awhile (See?), till... What He was trying to do was contact her spirit. Then He found out where her trouble was. He said, "Go, get your husband and come here." (wanted to know who He was) Said, "Go, get your husband and come here."
E-75 You know, they said to John, "Art thou Elias? Art--art thou one of the prophets? Art thou that prophet was to come?"
E-76 The man that was born blind had a very convincing testimony that He was the Messiah. Now, the poor man, he didn't--he didn't... It was on of them theologians all caught him up in a crowd up there and said, "Say, we know that you were born blind." Said, "We know that--that--that you had no eyeballs, even in the sockets." Said, "We know you were born blind." He said, "Who healed you?" E-77 I've heard people say this was a bunch of crazy people. I had people tell me when I received the Holy Ghost that I lost my mind. Well, whether that's right or not, I don't know. But there's one thing I do know: wherein I was once a sinner, I'm now saved. That's right. Wherein I was once lost, I'm now found. You can call it fanaticism, whatever you want to; but it's a confirmation to me that He's still Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. That's right.
E-78 Yes, he--he--he had the evidence. He had a very convincing speech that He was--He--He--that was the Son of God because He had made eyeballs in a man that had no eyeballs. Yes, sir. In other words the blind man could say, "I've been coming to your church all this time. I don't see nothing like that taking place around here. Then if He created eyeballs, there's no Creator but God. Where could it come from? Let's see you do it. Let's see the way you do it."
E-79 I imagine Paul out there that night when fourteen days and nights, no moon, stars, or nothing, out on that sea; the poor little fellow dragging those chains across the deck of that old waterlogged ship, and it's about ready to go down. They'd throwed off all the food and stuff, and the sailors hadn't eat for many days. And dragging these chains, talking about a Jesus that once lived, talking about a Jesus was crucified...
E-80 Said, "Look at the guy in chains, a guy going over to Caesar over there, over to Rome to be condemned. The man's got to die; and then talking something about religion. Oh, shut up." And they kept on dragging.
E-81 Here he is rocking, the ship just about ready to go down. Just think, the sun, moon, or stars hadn't shone for fifteen, or fourteen days. That's a bad shape, an old waterlogged ship, and thing about go down and everything like that. He was standing down in the hull of the boat one night, praying, no doubt, and there come a vision. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him, said, "Don't fear, Saul. Everything's all right."
E-82 When the natives on this island, the islanders, when they seen him picking up sticks... And they said, "That must be some terrible murderer with all them chains on him." Poor little Paul, about to freeze, and his garments all wet, come over here, and picked up a bunch of sticks, and started to lay them on the fire. And a snake that bit him in the hand would've killed him, my, in a moment. Paul looked at it like that and said, "God, You told me I had to go to Rome yet." Shook him off in the fire, went back and got some more sticks.
E-83 (Now, I got to hurry, friends. I'd stay here with you all night like that. But just a few more things.) Now, the prophet said, "There'll come a day that it cannot be called day or night: a dismal day, foggy, hazy." But said, "In the evening time it shall be Light." That's right. The sun rises in the east, and sets in the west: s-u-n. E-84 And when the clouds all clear away that same Son, S-o-n, that shined His power through the Holy Ghost upon the eastern people, has, in the last fifty years, broke back the clouds of denominations and everything and poured down the Holy Ghost upon the western people. That's the same Son, same Holy Ghost, same signs, same light, same power, same evidence, same everything that it was. And the Gospel's been preached with power and demonstration anywhere in the countries. That's right. That's right. All over the world signs and wonders are following the believers of...
E-85 Here, a few years ago, they said, "That bunch," said, "why, you'll never be able..." Said, "They'll never be able to put it over." Said, "They're just a little bunch down there in a--in a street somewhere with a tin pan somewhere, a-beating some little tambourine." But, brother, that message, with hungry-hearted people has sacrificed their food for their children and everything else, and has sponsored them missionaries, till she's went from east, west, north, south. Wherever nation you go into, there's Pentecostal fires burning with the power of the Holy Ghost.
E-86 And Jesus is so close to coming to the earth now, until His power is beginning to catch the people, and winding them up, getting them ready for the bride, getting ready to be caught up in the rapture, a church that'll just fit just exactly to be taken up; through its power will draw all the rest of them that's borned again out of the earth. Jesus is coming.
E-87 Look, right on scientific signs. We've got it right in Washington, D. C., that same Pillar of Fire. How many's ever seen it, them lights? Sure, everywhere (See, see?), that same Pillar of Fire that met Paul on the road down to Damascus.
E-88 Jesus, when He was on earth, He said, "I come from God and I go to God." They crucified Him. He was the Saviour that died for our sins and he buried Him. He arose and ascended on high. And a few months after that Paul was on his road back to Damascus, and he was struck down by a light. A bunch of soldiers with him, none of them saw it. None of them saw Him but just Paul. But it was so--was so prominent to him ,till it put his eyes out. He was blind for a season. And he looked up there, and that great big Pillar of fire hanging before him, and He said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" E-89 Now, that same Holy Spirit, we find It right amongst the Pentecostal people today, the evening Light, right down amongst the Pentecostal people. What? Preaching the same Gospel, giving vindication of the same Gospel. The same signs that followed there is the same signs that follow now. And if that Pillar of Fire, or Light, that we have with us did not produce the same Spirit and the same evidence that It did when it was in Jesus Christ, then it would be the wrong Pillar of Fire, the wrong spirit, be the wrong thing. E-90 But if it does produce and do just exactly what Jesus done, when He said the--"He that believeth on Me the works that I do, shall he do also (That's right.); more than this shall he do, 'cause I go to My Father." The King James has "greater," but look in the original; it says "more." You couldn't do any greater: He raised the dead, and stopped nature, and everything. But He could do more of it, because the Holy Ghost wasn't only in one Man, Christ, the Son of God; it was in the church universal." More than this shall you do, 'cause I go unto My Father." Oh, my. E-91 His same ministry being represented here in the last days... What kind of a ministry did He have? Look at Him, as I bring you down, proving to them... Let's take one Jew. "He came to His own; His own received him not." The very first men that come to Him was Andrew and Philip. I don't know what went on in that conversation in the house with Jesus that night when they followed Him. But the next day Andrew was so completely satisfied that that was the Messiah (He showed him something), till he went right straight to Peter, his brother, or--or Simon, and he said, "Don't... Come now and let's go and see if this is..." He said, "We have found the Messiah."
E-92 I can imagine Peter saying, "Now, now, Andrew, now, let me tell you something. Now, you know our old daddy was a good Pharisee, and he told us... And I remember setting on the side of the boat one day; he said to me; he said, 'Now, now, now, Simon, daddy's expected to see the Messiah. And no doubt but before the Messiah comes there's going to be all kinds of things take place, all kinds of isms rise up. But let me be sure that...' (And there was. Oh, yes. People come, led off thousands, and perished and everything.) But he said, 'but let me tell you. We have to stay with the Word, Simon.'"
E-93 Here come another staunch Jew, said, "Now, wait a minute. If the Messiah would've come, He'd have come down the corridors of heaven, and come down to our great, big, fine temple we got built here somewhere, like... Other people around here believe that He will come to some temple. And He will come down here, and He will light right down on here, and the angels will be flopping their wings, and everything. They'd say 'This is Messiah, this is Messiah, this is Messiah.' That's the way it'd be."
E-94 Walks up there, in the Presence of Jesus, and Jesus said, "Behold an Israelite in whom there's no guile."
E-95 But there stood those great big denominational brethren standing there. They said, "You know what? He does that by Beelzebub." See, they had to answer to their congregation. They had earthly credentials. He had heavenly ones (See?), 'cause Moses said, "He will be a prophet," and here He was proving He was a prophet. That's right. He was a-vindicated, His commission was a-vindicated. E-96 Before He left the earth He said this; He said, "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man." I want to make this remark and close. As it was in the days of Lot down there in Sodom, let's see what it was. He referred first to--to the days of Noah. He told what they were doing: eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage. But when He come to Sodom...
E-97 Look what He did at Sodom. At Sodom... He referred to that for this age. Now, remember, the Sodomites were Gentiles. See? Notice. And there come three Men one day to Abraham. There's always three classes of people: that's unbelievers, make-believers, and believers (We still have them today. That's right.), unbelievers, make-believers, and believers: Sodomites, Lotites, and Abrahamites. E-98 Where did the Angels come to first? To Abraham. What happened? Two of them went down in Sodom (modern Billy Grahams) out to Sodom, preached the Gospel, not many miracles, just struck them blind. Preaching the Word strikes them blind. So they didn't do many miracles, but they was calling, "Come out of it." E-99 But there was One that talked to Abraham. You know, Abraham had a funny feeling. You know, there was something about that Person that was a little bit different. And so he watched Him a little bit, you know, and he told Sarah, said, "Now, you get back in the tent." 'Course now in them days when a stranger come up, the women didn't act like they do today. They have to run right out and stick theirself out, and take the husband's place, and, "You can't sell that, John, 'less I tell you to." See? Women had more decency in that day. They stayed back in the house. You see? So they got out there, and Sarah stayed in the tent.
E-100 So he run in and said, "Sarah, knead a little flour right quick, get all the lumps out of it. Make some on the hearth, some bread." Went and got a calf and killed it, and went and said--told them to dress it now, and get it ready. And he went out there and got the old fly-bush, and begin to shoo the flies, and wash Their feet. He knowed there was a little something burning in his heart. You can just tell it, you know, some...
E-101 He said, "You know You--You passed by to see me. That's the reason You come this way. (That was right. See?) Set down under the oak a little bit and rest." So he washed Their feet, while they got the things ready. They set down and eat. And that was God, God Almighty. The Bible said it was. Look on there and see if it don't say capital L-o-r-d, Elohim. That's right.
E-102 Why, the only thing... You know, we're just made of sixteen elements: petroleum, cosmic light, calcium, potash, and a few things like that. Well, He just reached and got a handful of them, went "Whew. Step in there, Gabriel," See, the Angel. Got another handful, went, "Whew," said, "step in that, Michael." Went, "Whew," stepped in it Hisself. I'm so glad that... Come walking up, said, "We're going down." That's our God.
E-103 Said, "I've got to represent Myself before My servant down there, and I want to be a man like him." So He just walked down, and set down there, dust on His clothes, set down and eat. Set down... He kept looking towards Sodom, you know. Abraham knew there was something up, 'cause that's a wicked old place, you know. So he kept thinking about it like that. He said...
E-104 So He said, "Abraham..."
E-105 And Sarah back in the tent, she said, "Hummph." She never said it out loud. She laughed in herself, said, "Me, an old woman, have pleasure again? and my lord old like that?" Said, "It just couldn't be. That guy... what's He talking about?" E-106 God has dealt with His church all along through signs, wonders. But the last thing was to be God manifested in the flesh of His church, like He was in human flesh there; and show that same sign that Messiah had already represented Hisself amongst the people just before the fire falls at the last day: a credential to confirm that the Word that Jesus promised is the truth. Let us pray. E-107 Our heavenly Father, it's Your Word, confirmation of a commission. That's Your Word, Father. We can only speak It. I pray You confirm It, Lord. And I know that I... pray that You'll forgive me of my nervousness, and my--and my illiteracy, all about it, and take that off the people's mind, my poor, chopped-up way of trying to bring a message. And--and the Holy Spirit striking upon me, I don't know how to do but just give vent to it, Father, setting here with men and women who are pilgrims and strangers, when the whole world is shaking today.
E-108 They--they say now in a few days now, they're going to spin a man around the world in an orbit, take him around the world, trying to get a man up on the moon. All the world quivering and shaking, little nations everywhere with missiles that'll blow a hole in the ground a hundred and fifty feet deep for two hundred and fifty and three hundred miles square... Three of them at one time would sink the whole earth.
E-109 And now, Lord, You said, "Fear not, little flock: Little flock, it's your Father's good will to give you the Kingdom." You said, "As it was in the days of Noah, when that little group was just saved by water, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man. The days of Lot... In--in Noah's time they were eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, and look at it today, Father. We see that. Now, that was to the sinful world that was doing that.
E-110 The Holy Ghost has been poured out upon Your church. You've called people of every nation: Mexican, white Anglo-Saxon, colored Ethiopian, all different races, all across the world, as Your little old Holy Ghost missionaries has went hungry, starving, many of them killed, crucified, made fun of, and everything else. They've went without any big church to sponsor them. They went on the commission of God with these signs following them that believe. I've met them in the mission fields yonder, Lord. E-111 Let it happen in Tempe as a confirmation of the near-approaching of the Lord Jesus. Grant it, Lord. It'd strengthen all of us, Lord. It would strengthen these brethren; it would strengthen Your ministers everywhere. It would strengthen the laity. It would make us all happy. Grant it, Father. Now, just as far as I can go is speak Your Word. Now, Lord, it has to take You to make that confirmation. I can but... if it's a commission, I've preached the truth. I believe, heavenly Father, that You will confirm it with the signs that You promised that would be in this day. Grant it, now. E-112 I commit myself to You with this church, with the Word. Now, Father, we'll wait upon Thee, if You'll just show us that You're in our midst. "The works that I do shall you do also." That's Your promise. Father, how it would strengthen some of my brethren here, how it would strengthen the church, that something that's not just mythical, something that... You say, "Yeah, I've heard this preached all the time." But, Father, let them see that You're a God that keeps Your Word. Now, it'll take more than me, Father. It'll take this church all in one accord. It'll take real faith to do it. But I pray, Father, that You'll grant it for the glory of God, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
E-113 Now, friends, a prayer line... Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse my exciting, chopped-up manners at the pulpit. I--I pray you do it. But I've just come through studying the pre-Nicene Council. And I've took the Hislop's "Two Babylons," and Broadbent's "Pilgrim Church," the pre-Nicene Council, the Nicene Council, and the post-Nicene Council, Nicene Fathers, seeing how the Holy Spirit moved them. They didn't even have an altar in their church. They didn't have no nothing like crucifix.
E-114 Polycarp, Ignatius, Martin, Irenaeus, Columba (oh, my), Justin, how many more of real godly ones that wouldn't tolerate that other church at all, the Roman side of it. They stayed catholic. We're catholic too, apostolic catholic. Now, "catholic" means universal. But the Roman Catholic took into crucifix and dogmas, and so forth, like that; and said (not the Bible), they... "God was in His church." God is in His Word.
E-115 Now, there's sick people here tonight. I've preached to you that God confirms His commission. That's right. God watches over His Word to confirm it. The only thing He's trying to do is to find a heart that He can get into. E-116 You say, "Well, I received the Holy Ghost." Oh, there's just--just... The--the whole heavens is full of it. See? God's just trying like a... If it was all the whole heavens was a great big standpipe, and you had one little crack, He's trying to pile... That water will try to force itself out. That's the way the Holy Spirit's trying to force Itself into you, like that, like that, trying to get you to believe it. I know that's the truth. E-117 Now, I believe that... Did they give--did he give out prayer cards? I was praying. I believe he did. All right. How... Where's he at? What? Excuse me. 1 to 50. All right. We can't stand them all at once, so let's stand maybe... Why, that's all right. Just stand still, just move, maybe this little row here move back, so they can move a little. There's a glass of water, I believe, setting there...?...
E-118 All right. Let's have number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Let them stand. Number 1, who has it? Prayer card number 1? It's just a prayer card with a number on it. Number 1, 2, 3, 4, like that. Number 1 prayer card, who has it? There's surely something wrong. Speak it in Spanish. What's number 1 in Spanish? Uno, uno. Who has it? Number 1? What say? All right, right here.
E-119 Now, if you got your cards, come on, friends. Don't--don't--don't stay back, 'cause you're cheating somebody else out of it. You see? Don't be afraid to come. If you took your card, come on. If they give you a card...
E-120 I might start... How many's been in the meetings before, and know I just jump all around through it? That's all right. See? So many times people are afraid to come up, because their sins are called out here. Now, if you've done anything wrong, and you don't want it called out, you better stay out (that's all), 'cause He will certainly do it. How many knows that to be true? Certainly is true. Now, if you're--if you're condemned and under sin, why, don't you come.
E-121 Now, how many in here is sick, and come in, and didn't get a prayer card, too late, or something? Raise up your hands, all around, over the building. All right. Don't have a prayer card...
E-122 Now, the Bible says (Now the ministers will witness this), the Bible says that Jesus Christ is a High Priest right now, that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities (Is that true?), a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. He is right now. Well, then, if He is a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities, how would that High Priest act when He was touched?
E-123 So if He's a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities, and you touched Him with your faith... E-124 Now, you pray and you say, "Lord Jesus, I'm going to believe this with--with all my heart. I--I--I'm going to truly believe it with all that's in me. And I believe that You're going to--to make me whole. And I'm going to, with all my heart, try to touch the border of Your garment, trusting that You'll make me well." | ||||||