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Sermon Texts Beginning With H
Hebrews Chapter Four (57-0901E)
| Hebrews Chapter Four (57-0901E) |
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121-1 ... is to know more about our blessed Lord. And that's our--our purpose of gathering here, is for that purpose. And now... And to pray for God's sick children... And this morning we had a--a wonderful blessing from the Scriptures.
121-3 And now, tonight we want--we're beginning on the 4th chap... How many was here this morning? Let's see your hands. Oh, that's wonderful, practically all of you. And we are on--beginning on the 4th chapter of the Book of Hebrews. And, oh, what a marvelous Book. Are you enjoying It? And it's comparing Scripture by Scripture.
122-5 Then we find out the real supreme Deity of Jesus Christ. The whole Book here is just a revelation of Jesus Christ. And He come... We find that in sundry times and in divers manners, God spoke to the fathers through the prophets. In this last days through His Son Christ Jesus He's revealed Himself. And the Book from Genesis to Revelations is nothing but one constant, perpetual, revelation of the Lord Jesus.
122-7 And then when Paul met Him, He was in the same form that He was when He led Israel: a Pillar of Fire. And Paul looked Him right into the face, being unconverted, and It caused him to have eye trouble the rest of his days. He went blind, and for several days He could not see nothing at all. He had to be led to a street called Straight.
122-10 And we find that that same Lord Jesus in these days is still in that Pillar of Fire (Light) that's leading His people, His Church, performing the same thing, giving visions; come in and lay hands on the people by a vision... The Lord Jesus, Who met last Sunday morning at the house, and said, "There was a man coming, black-headed, graying. He was a Greek. His wife was middle-aged and would be weeping at the altar..."
123-12 "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus that appeared to you in the way, has sent me that I might lay my hands on you, that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost." Wonderful.
123-15 And now, we'll hurry because we have communion after a bit. And where we get done tonight, Wednesday night we begin again. Now, I believe this morning in our reading we began on the 15th verse.
124-19 Now, this morning we had the last part of the 3rd chapter of the Hebrews. And, oh, what rich kernels we find. Now, listen, I--I want to read it again so we can get a background now, and not talk on it but just kinda go over it a little.
While it is said, To day if ye... hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.
For some... them... they heard the Word,... when they had heard the Word, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Now, in that this morning, we find that He said, "Don't harden your heart now as in the days of provocation." That's when they provoked God to anger, because that He had give to them Moses His prophet, and a sign that was with Moses. How many of the class tonight knows what that sign was? Pillar of Fire, Hebrews 13.
124-21 Now, we don't know whether the congregation saw that sign or not. But Moses saw It, for Moses first met Him in a burning bush. He was a Fire. And the children of Israel obeyed Moses and left Egypt. And as soon as they come out of Egypt, God, we found, led them right into a trap, where Pharaoh's army behind them, the Red Sea on either side. And God put them to test, and they got scared. And it provoked God. He said, "Why do you cry at Me?" Said, "Just speak and go forward." I like that.
124-23 Now, notice. Then they come to the Wilderness of Sin. The wilder--the waters were bitter, Marah. Why did God lead them to bitter waters? Looks like He'd have led them to good water. But He led them to bitter waters so He could prove their faith. He likes to do it. He likes to let tribulations come on you, show--He can show you His love and His power. How can people today who doesn't believe in the miracle-working of God... When tribulations come, they just give up and go on. But we believe that God works miracles. He can't... God has...
125-25 They used to say, "Show me a miracle." They can't say that no more. Science can't say it no more. We can absolutely prove to the scientific world... And the scientific world has witnessed that a supernatural Being in a form of a Pillar of Fire is with us. Here's His picture right here, and one hangs in Washington D.C. tonight. It is the same Christ.
125-28 Now, we notice over here then, that He said...
For some, when they had heard, did provoke:...
Certainly. They got weary every time they'd get to a place where a--a showdown come, then what would they do? They would fly loose and get weary and want to turn back, and "Why did this happen to me?"Strange thing, this morning after preaching that just as hard as I could, there was many came to the altar and questioned it, "Why does this happen to me?" You see how it does? It goes over the top of the people's head. It's just the same people. Jesus said, "You have eyes but you can't see." He said that to the disciples. They said, "Lo, now Thou speakest plainly; now we believe. No man has to tell You anything, 'cause God shows it to You." He said, "Do you now believe after all this time?" See? You mustn't question anything to God. "For the footsteps of the righteous is ordered of the Lord." And every trial is put upon you to prove you. And the Bible said they're more precious to you than gold. So if God let a few light afflictions happen to you, remember, it's for the correction of you. "Every son that cometh to God must first be chastened of God and tried," child-trained. There's no exceptions, "Every son that cometh..." And these afflictions are done or brought--brought about to see what attitude you'll take. See, it's God on this proving ground. That's all earth is, is a proving ground, and where He's trying to prove you.
126-34 Now listen, as we go ahead, and I want to get the last part of it:
And to whom he sware that they should not enter into his rest,... (Now, there's where we're coming to tonight.)... into his rest, but to them that believed not?So we see that they could not enter... because of unbelief.
Now, what is sin? Unbelief. God had come to them in a Pillar of Fire, sent His prophet, and anointed him, give him signs to do before the people; and then the Pillar of Fire by the prophet, led them out. Every circumstance they come to, they begin to murmur and say every little fault they found with Moses, begin to chide and chatter against Him. And God was displeased, because He said they were sinning.They should've listened. But instead of that, they listened to reason, "How can it be? How can these things be?" If He's God, everything is possible. And He'll make all things work together for good to them that love Him.
126-37 Now, we're going into a great study here, that is, on the rest, the sabbath. Now, they were pilgrims in their journey. See, they'd been down in Egypt four hundred years and in bondage. And now they were being brought out by the miracles of God, according to His promise. And they were on the road to the promised land. And here a supernatural Light appears in amongst of them and begins to lead them.
127-39 Why, Moses, as far as physical, done a foolish thing when he tried to deliver the children by the Word of God, taking a bunch of people out in the wilderness, when he had his... Why, he was the heir to everything they had. He had every army there was in all the world whipped, and there he was, a great military general. And the next move he was to be king Pharaoh of Egypt. Why, he could just have stepped up to the throne and said, "All right, children, go on back to your home." That settles it; he was a Pharaoh.
127-42 Now, they were on their road to the land of rest. God had them a rest, a place where they wouldn't have to be taskmasters over them to drive them, to make them do things.
128-44 And yesterday, while Brother Tony--or Brother Wood and I were coming through the street, and some more--some of the men... There was a little lady there in Louisville, coming down the street, lovely looking little woman, with a--clothes on that was horrible: just a little way up on the hip, and a little ribbon tied on her hips on each side, and a little bitty round piece of cloth in front of her, and tied with a string behind, walking down the street, horribly, and every man on the street looking at her. I said, "She doesn't realize that she's guilty in the sight of God with committing adultery with every man that looked on her in that manner. And she'll answer at the day of judgment for committing adultery with those men."
128-46 So, you see, Brother Wood said to me, "What do you allow for that, Brother Branham?"
128-49 Now notice, as we go to the 4th chapter:
Let us therefore fear,... Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us to enter into his rest,...
I want you to remember that unless we find out, unless God has revealed it to us... No matter how much we go to church, that has nothing to do with it. God must come by revelation and reveal Hisself to us; that takes all the things of the world out. Now.
While it is said, To day if you...
Now, let's--let's start the--the 4th chapter.
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us to enter into his rest,...
Now remember, when they were on the road to rest, the Pillar of Fire led them. Now, we want to find out: What is this rest?
Let us... fear, lest, the promise being left us to enter into his rest,... (Watch.)... any of You should seem to come short of it.
129-53 Now, here's the promise. Here's what we got to fear: if there's not a promise left us. But there is a promise. And then, the next thing: don't come short of it.
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us to enter into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.For unto us... (the day then)... the gospel was preached, as well as unto them:...
What is the Gospel? The good news. The good news came to them in Egypt, that, "God has sent a deliverer, and is going to bring us out and take us to the promised land."
129-56 The good news to us now, "That God has sent a Deliverer, the Holy Ghost, and we're on the road to the promised land." Now, people has made it creeds and denominations, but God still remains that our Rest is the Holy Ghost. Notice.
... gospel was preached... unto them as well as unto us: but the word preached did not profit them,... the... (Remember)... the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Oh, my, brethren, let me stop here for a minute. No matter how much the Word is preached, how well you like the way It's been preached, unless you yourself are a partaker of that, It won't do you one bit of good.
... not being mixed with faith by them that heard it.
130-59 They seen the miracles of Moses; they said, "That's pretty good." And they walked over and they--they seen him perform miracles. And they seen the Pillar of Fire maybe, or heard them talk about It, "Oh, that's all right." But it wasn't mixed with personal faith. For as soon as they got to the wilderness, they every one begin to murmur. And God said because that they doubted, it was sin. Don't doubt nothing. Believe. Don't doubt; no matter how hard the case is, believe it.
130-62 The 3rd chapter and the 17th verse:
But with whom he was grieved for forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
And of all of them that come out of Egypt, only two went into the promised land. Out of the whole antediluvian world in the days gone by, there were eight souls saved out of billions. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, and but few there'll be that'll find it."Some people says then, "Brother Branham, what about all these thousands that the Bible said will appear there?" Just remember how many's died in each generation that's been Christians down through the age. They'll all resurrect; that makes up the Body. You expect there be a hundred billion in this America come out, or some other, this world today. There might not be fifty come out. But the great ransomed Church is laying in the dust a waiting. They're God's jewels that's resting in the dust, but their souls are under the altar of God. They're not in their right state. They are in a body, truly, but a theophany, and they cry out to God, "How long?" They could see one another, but they couldn't shake each others' hands, that kind of a body.
131-65 You meet your mother in glory tonight, if you should go, you couldn't shake her hand, 'cause she has not that kind of a hand. You couldn't feel it like you'd feel now. Because five senses is what's put in this body, could it control. The presence of her would be felt in a different atmosphere.
131-67 Now, see how they fell short, because they sinned and come short of the glory. God showed them the Pillar of Fire. He showed them signs and wonders. He led them out. He brought them into temptation to try and prove them.
131-71 Oh, he done everything but take his life, but he couldn't move Job. Job knowed he stood pat on the Word. That's right. And all the devils out of hell couldn't move him, for he knowed he had offered that sacrifice. He was just. And they accused him, said, "You've sinned, Job, and God's a punishing you." He knew that God hadn't--that he hadn't sinned before God. He knew that he was righteous, not because he was a good man, but because He was accepting the burnt offering in his stead.
For unto us was the gospel preached,... (2nd verse)... as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Faith wasn't in them that heard the Word.)
132-74 Just think today in the little humble ministry that the Lord has given me, there should be forty million Americans saved tonight. You know what they say? "Why, it's mental telepathy. He's a mind reader, no such stuff. Why, he don't belong to our church." See? It's not... No matter how much you lay it on the Word and prove that it's God's Word, it's God's promise, how much science would prove it that It's true, they'll still can't believe. The Bible said they couldn't.
132-76 Now what do we say?
For we which... believed too have entered into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works was finished from the foundation of the world.
For he spake in a certain place on--on the seventh day on this wise,...
Now, I do not want to hurt peoples' feelings against their religion; that's not my purpose. Out in the fields I just preach the regular great evangelical fundamental doctrines. But in the Tabernacle amongst my children here, I feel I have a right to preach what I think is doctrine and truth. See? I think that it's right.
132-78 Now, I have thousands of good Sabbatarian friends, of people who are Seventh-day Adventists. Some of the dearest friends that I got, some of them are Seventh-day Adventists. Although the great move of the--what's called the--the "Voice of Prophecy," they're firmly against me. They said that I make the statement in the pulpit, and said, "I was God. And that the... And that this Light that followed was an Angel, and I was God. And I come to the world to do great things to prove people that I was God." Now, that's what the "Voice of Prophecy" said about me over in California. And ever who told that, you know told something wasn't so.
133-80 Now, listen to this real clear, and if ever, any time, that question ever comes up to you, it'll be settled. Now, may the Lord help us. Now, closely:
For... (the 4th verse)... For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,...
Now, watch, He's talking about sabbath. How many knows that the word "s-a-b-b-a-t-h" in the Heb... It's a Hebrew word that means "r-e-s-t"? How many knows that in the English? Sure. Don't sabbath sound a funny word? It is.Don't "sanctify" sound a funny word? "Sanctify" is a Greek word, "Sanctify" means "to be made holy." Hebrew, means "make holy." Greek, means "sanctify." English, means "make clean." "Sabbath" means "a day of rest." That's what the old sabbath was: a day of rest. When you see "rest," it means "sabbath." Look it up in your original manuscript, if you happen to have a Greek Bible, and find out if the word... If you got a Scofield Bible, look at your marginal reading on "rest" and see if it don't run you back to the sabbath. "Sabbath" means "rest." All right. Now, watch.
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left to us to enter into his... (sabbath)... rest,...
134-86 Now, many people keeps days, like keeps sabbath day, Saturday. Others make a Sunday an idol, a worship day. And by the grace of God and by the God's Word, God help me tonight, I can prove to you that they're both wrong. Both the Sunday worshipper and the sabbath keeper, they are absolutely both wrong according to the Word. And after all, it's the Word that we have to go by, not by what the Adventists say, or not by what the Protestant says, or the Catholic says. It's what the Bible says.
134-87 Now, now, watch.
For he spake in a certain place on the seventh day on this wise,...
Now, we're going to put up a something like this and call this--this "God's Rest," the seventh day. Now, watch.
And God... (Listen to this Scripture now.)... God did rest the seventh day from all His work.
God had a Sabbath, and that seventh day was one thousand years long, a type of the millennium.
For he spake... of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest... from all His--His work. (The personal pronoun, all His works He rested on the seventh day, that's God.)And in this place... (under the law)... If they shall enter into my rest.
God rested physically. For He had made the heavens and earth in six days, and on the seventh day He rested from all His work. He rested one thousand years. For the Bible said that "one day on earth is a thousand years in heaven, a thousand years in heaven is one day on the earth." How many knows the Scripture says that in II Peter? All right. God rested on the seventh day and He spoke on this wise at a certain place.
134-90 Now, listen close.
For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested... from all his works.And in this place again,... (the law)... If they shall enter into my rest.
He give the Jews, on their way from the promised land... or from the--Egypt to the promised land, the seventh day sabbath. Now, listen.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and to they whom it was first preached... (The rest, God give them the law, and the sabbath was the fourth commandment.)... entered not in because of unbelief:...
Now, watch, He's talking about the law. How they entered in, wasn't mixed with faith, they didn't keep it. They kept the sabbath in a memorial that they were going to a land of sabbath to have everlasting rest from all their troubles, and all their worries, no more taskmasters, no more restless nights. They were on their way to the promised land of rest. It flowed with milk and honey. The grapes was so big that two men packed one bunch over their shoulders. Oh, what a land of blessed rest. But they failed to get it when they got there because of their unbelief. They were turned aside at only forty miles from where they left in Egypt to the promised land. And they were forty years getting there because of their unbelief. God gave them their prophet, gave him His sign, give him the Pillar of Fire, showed signs and wonders, and preached the Gospel to them. And they walked out after the fishes and loaves and fell in the wilderness, and their carcasses perished in the wilderness.
135-93 Jesus, at the fountain, He said--said, "Our fathers eat manna in the wilderness for forty years."
135-97 "Why," he said, "you mean to tell..."
136-100 Now, He said, "He limited a day," a day... When God finished His work... Then He limited another day, and on this wise, that if they shall hear, if they shall come (They keep the sabbaths, and go on through the new moons and so forth.)... There's where the Advent brethren tries to take you back.
Seeing therefore... that some must enter therein, and them to whom it was preached first entered not in because of unbelief:
Now, the 7th verse (Oh, my.), I say the Scripture is mathematically inspired. I say the Scripture is, and in every way inspired. The mathematics of the Bible are perfect.
137-103 Did you notice this United States is number thirteen in everything it does? You know it was established, the thirteen colonies? You know the flag had thirteen stars in it first? You know everything that the United States does is in the number thirteen? Did you know it appears in the Bible in Revelations 13? Certainly does. The little beast, the lamb that come up out of water, not thickness and multitudes of people, not out of the water, but out of a land where there's no one. It had two little horns: civil and ecclesiastic powers. And he was a lamb: freedom of religion. And after while they went together and he spoke like the dragon and exercised all the power that Rome did before him. That's coming to our nation. You mark it down. You watch to the Confederation of Churches and the Catholic unite together, and watch what takes place. People who follow the Pillar of Fire will certainly have a rough time, but they're ready for the translation at that time (That's right.), just ready to go, "For the Lamb overcome them," said the Bible. "And them that followed Him because they were called the chosen and the faithful, the elected of God." Keep from getting on to that prophecy now, so we can run this on.
137-105 Listen close, the 7th chapter, the... I mean the 4th chapter, the 7th verse. Seven is the number of completion. Three is the number of Life. Seven is the number of completion, and this gives the complete sabbath.
And again,... (Remember, he spoke, "God" on this wise. Then he spoke of the "law" on this wise. And then again, "He limited a day," third day, third time.)... Again he limited a day, a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time;... To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if You will hear his voice, harden not your heart. (Watch)... if Jesus had given them rest,... (a Sabbath)... would he not afterwards have spoken of another day.
The dispensations change with Jesus Christ from the law to grace, from works unto grace, from something you do to what something God did, upon your own merits or upon His merits; it changed.
137-106 When Moses come out of the wilderness with the law, he said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not kill. Keep the sabbath day holy." When Jesus come out of the wilderness... When Moses come, the Devil tempted him. As soon as the Devil tempted him, he heeded to it. Moses had a weak spot. How many knows what it was? Temper. And as soon as he seen them worshipping the golden calf, he threw down the commandments and broke them, showing that that priesthood would be broken. And God give them to him again.
138-109 Took Him up on the pinnacle the temple, said, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down." And "coated," not quoted, but coated the Scriptures, said, "It's written, 'He'd give the Angels charge concerning... lest any time You dash Your foot against a stone, He'll bear Thee up.'" And Jesus went straight to the Word and rebuked him.
139-113
But he limited a... day, saying... To day, after so long a time;...?... to harden not your heart.
For if Jesus would've given them rest,... would he not afterwards have spoke of another day.
My Adventist brother, look at that. Paul here said... And Paul said in Galatians 1:8, if you're taking down the Scriptures, Galatians 1:8, "If a angel from heaven comes and preach any other Gospel besides this that I've preached, let him be accursed." Paul said, "If Jesus would've given them a rest day..."Well, look, when He come off the mountain. He come down then; He had overcome the Devil. He was anointed, ready for His ministry. He said: "You've heard them say, them of old times, 'Thou shalt not kill,' but I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause has killed already. You've heard them say, them of old times (this day, the sabbath keepers)... You've heard them say, back, them of old times under the law, thou shalt not commit adultery,'(Had to be in the act to be guilty.) But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Different, passed right by that fourth commandment. But did He give them rest?
139-116 Let's see what He said.
David said,... after so long a time there would be a perfect rest come.
God rested from His works on the seventh day.
God blessed the sabbath day and give it to the Jews in the wilderness on this wise. They entered... in because of unbelief, 'cause the Word not mixed with faith...
And again, he limited a certain day, saying in David,... after so long a time;...
Hundreds of years after David was dead, the Son of David would rise up, which is Jesus, "And if they shall hear My Voice, harden not your heart. God's going to speak to the heart.Now, watch. The 9th verse now, to you that's reading it...
Jesus would've given them rest,... (the 8th verse)... He would've spoke of another day.
140-118 If there's to be a sabbath, if there was to be a Sunday-keeping, then He would've spoke of it. If He said, "Now, there's no more sabbath, no more keeping the seventh day, what I want you to keep is Sunday," He'd have said it. Paul said He didn't. He'd have said, "You all to worship on Sunday; that'll be the rest." Well, if He'd have wanted them to keep the sabbath, He'd have said, "Just remain keeping the seventh day. But now I want you to keep Sunday, the eighth day." No, He never said it.
140-120 Now, the 9th verse, get ready.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (A sabbath-keeping, to the people of God)For he that has entered into his... (Christ's)... rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his on the sabbath.
See it? Now, let's take some Scripture and back this up. All right, when God made the world in six days, He rested on the seventh day and never worked any more. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. He built the world, put the creation on it, and went to rest and never come back again to build any more world. He finished the works and went to rest. Now, on the... Then after that thousand years, then sin come in. And then Christ was represented; the Lamb was represented. Now, the Jews was given this as a type of the seventh-day rest.
140-122
Now He limited another day, saying in David, oh, after so long a time... ("There's coming another rest.")
Now, what is that rest? Turn with me to Matthew the 11th chapter, and the last part of the 11th chapter of St. Matthew. That's when Jesus ended his sermon on the mount, and you'll see what He said. He said, "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, has killed the brother." All these things, and He never touched that fourth commandment, that sabbath. Now, He's ending up, and the sabbath is the great promise of God. It's a Rest.
141-124 Now, now, watch here, when He got through ending up the beatitudes. Here He says, 27th verse of the 11th chapter of St. Matthew (where He was teaching the beatitudes in the 5th chapter).
All things are delivered unto my hand... unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;... (See, you can't know One without knowing the Other, 'cause He was the Father manifested in flesh.)... neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son,... (Looks like people could see that and not argue, certainly.)
God is not three people. If He's three gods, then we're heathen. Which one is God? They're all three One God. It's three offices of the same God. He was the Father in the form of the Holy Spirit in that Pillar of Fire in the wilderness. He was the Son, when He used the Sonship office. "A little while and the world seeth Me no more. I'll go away, and I'll come again and be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." See? He's the Fatherhood, the Sonship, and the Holy Ghost too. It's all the very same God working in three different offices: Fatherhood, Sonship, Holy Ghost. Never... I John 5:7 said, "There are three that bear record in heaven, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, these three are One."
141-126 Thomas said unto Him, "Lord, show us the Father; it'll satisfy him."
142-130 In Africa they baptize once for the Father, and once for the Son, and once for the Holy Ghost. And then a poor Jew comes around and say, "Which one of them is your God?" Which one is, the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost?" They're all three One. The Bible said they were One.
142-132 As we had it the other night, God in the beginning was Spirit. And then from God went out the Logos, or the Theophany which was a form of a man called the Son of God (prefigured). He came in earth in a body of flesh, even before He came in Jesus Christ. Now, swallow that one once, brother. I'll prove it to you.
142-134 No wonder, Paul, when they go to chop his head off, said, "O death, where is your sting? You can buzz and hum as much as you want to. Grave, where is your victory? But thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ." There you are. It taken God Himself to do that. He came and was manifested in flesh. He returned back in the Spirit.
143-136 That's the reason:
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary.
You think that's a big thing for God? God, Who made all the potash and calciums and everything in the world, He come down to visit Abraham; He said, "You think I'll keep it from you, seeing that you're the heir of the world? (Amen.) I'll not keep it from you."God just got a... We're made out of sixteen elements. He just got some potash, and some calcium, some petroleum and cosmic light, went... [Brother Branham blows--Ed.] "Step in that, Gabriel." A body... [Brother Branham blows--Ed.] "Step in that, Wormwood." He stepped in it. Two Angels out of heaven... God reached and got a handful of it, [Brother Branham blows--Ed.] stepped in it Hisself, come down and was hungry. Blessed... What about that, Adventist brethren, that won't eat meat? We're going to get into that after while. God Almighty, Jehovah... Find out if that same Name isn't translated the same One at the burning bush. Hallelujah. And when He stood on earth, He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM," that same One at the burning bush." That's right, Elohim. See if it isn't the same. He was the One was at the burning bush.
143-141 He was the One here in the presence of Abraham in a body of flesh that eat the calf, and drank the milk from the cow, and eat butter on hoecakes. Blessed be the holy Name of God. Walked right down there and said, "I'll not leave..." And He had His back turned. He said, "Abraham, I'm going to visit you, and you're going to bring that child. You're a hundred years old now, and Sarah's ninety." And Sarah in the tent went [Brother Branham illustrates--Ed.], laughed. He said, "What made Sarah laugh?" Behind Him, the tent between them...
144-146 In the beginning was the same. He was that great Spirit Fountain where all the trueness, all the love, all the peace, everything that was pure was in this Fountain. It begin to form a body, a theophany, the kind of body that we go to, not a glorified body, but an angelic body like: has shape, form.
144-149 Then you get the trinity: the great Spirit dwelling in the Son Jesus, Jesus dwelling into the Church. "At that day, you'll know that I'm in the Father, the Father in Me, and I in you." [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] All that God was, He poured into Jesus; all Jesus was, He poured into the Church. There you are. "I in the Father, the Father in Me, I in you, and you in Me." There's a... There's the Body.
145-151 Notice here now.
As He said, he limited another day, saying in David,...
... if Jesus would've given them rest,... would he not... have spoken of another day.
But there remaineth... a rest to the people of God.
For he that has entered into his rest,... has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Now, where we going to read? Matthew the 20, the 11th chapter, 27th verse:
All things that the Father delivered unto me... are delivered unto me of my father... (rather)...: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;... (All right.)... neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
See, it's not how much you learn and how much the--the bishop wants you to know; it's how much God wants you to know. If you can't see this revelation, don't ask the bishop, ask God. Don't ask your pastor, ask God. The Son reveals Him, "He," personal pronoun.
145-154 Listen. This will shock you. Here's the commandment. Paul said, "If He'd have left another day, He'd have spoke of it." But here's what He said.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you... (sabbath)... rest.Take my yoke upon thee, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find sabbath unto your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burdens are light.
Watch what Paul said:
... if Jesus would've given them rest, he would've... spoke of another day.But he limited a... day, saying... David,... after so long a time;... when you hear his voice, harden not your heart.
And there remaineth... (Listen now, 9th verse.) There remaineth therefore a rest... (a sabbath)... to the people of God.For he... (the man or woman)... that has entered into his rest,... ("Come unto Me all ye that labor, and heavy laden, I'll give you rest.")... has ceased from his... works, as God did from his.
146-156 You might been twenty years old; you might have been thirty years old; you might've been fifty years old, but the minute that you hear the Voice of God knocking at your heart, don't harden it. Then enter, "He that heareth My Words, believeth on Him that sent Me, has Everlasting Eternal Life, and shall never come into condemnation but's passed from death unto Life."
146-158 Here's the predicament of the last days (We got to close in a minute):
For all tables will be... is full of vomit and... there is no place clean.
Let me stop a minute. As Ernie said the other night, he was talking to somebody... Ernie Fandler, this brother here from Switzerland, he said, "I stopped and let it soak in." I want this to soak in.
... there is no place clean... For all the tables will be full of vomit...
And as a dog goes to its vomit, and a sow... to her wallow, so does the people turn back.
146-161 What's the matter with you Methodists? You used to have the Light. What happened? God took It out of your hand and give It to the Nazarene. What happened to you Nazarenes? You once had the Light. God took It out of your hands and give It to the Pentecostals. Correct. You Church of God, the rest of you holiness people, because you rejected the Light, you denominated yourself and said, "We won't believe any more than this." God moved right on out and showed you He had people who would follow Him.
147-163 The next thing happened, the Pentecostals seen the Fire, and away they went. And what did you do? Made a doctrine out of tongues and organized it: everybody had to speak in tongues 'fore they got the Holy Ghost. Then God moved right away and left you setting where you're at.
147-166 All tables are full of vomit. Look at the Lord's Supper. Why, they even... I was at a place they take old loaf bread. And the bread's supposed to be made with unleavened bread. And they pass it out to sinners, cigarette smokers, prostitutes, harlots, as long as they got their name on the book. And you Baptists even call it closed communion.
148-168 Now, listen. Now, this is going to shock you just a minute. Listen as I read the Word. Who was this? The prophet Isaiah.
... all tables are full of vomit... so... there is nothing clean.
Just dog eat dog... Come to the church: women chop, bob off their hair, wear shorts, get out and see the men coming down the street, lawn mow the yard. Little girls want to hear somebody give that bull dog, or wolf whistle, whatever it is, you know [Brother Branham whistles--Ed.]. Oh, you think you're cute, don't you?And you men walk down the street with a cigar in your mouth and a deacon on the board. You look like a dehorned Texas steer. And then you think that you're somebody. That's exactly right. No wonder all tables... Walk up and take the communion and act like you're somebody, and cheat and steal and lie through the week. What's the matter with you? All tables are full of vomit.
148-171 "Oh, I take the Lord's Supper. Sure, we do it in our church. Jesus said He would raise us up in the last days if we took the Lord's Supper."
149-175 Now, what's the sabbath?
... all tables are full of vomit and... no one clean.Who shall he teach knowledge?... (not worldly knowledge, spiritual knowledge)... Who shall he teach knowledge?... whom shall He make... understand doctrine?
"Oh, bless God, our organization don't believe this. They wouldn't put up with that." Care what your organization believes, what does God's Word say about it. "Oh, well, our pastors, you know, are educated." Oh, sure. Certainly, got so much education they left God out of it. Truly, for you can tell them the Word and they'll walk around and say, "Well, I don't believe it just that way." Oh, you sissified thing, let me tell you...
149-177 Looky here.
... who shall he make... known doctrine? them that are weaned from the breast, and... them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
The other day, a neighbor of mine come, and he said, "Billy, a certain pastor here in the city, the most lovely little person you ever seen..." Said, "Wife and I were setting with our pajamas on about midnight, and that little pastor run in, and he--he--he drank some coffee with us, and he took out over to the other neighbor's house, and he shook hands with them. They was having a little card game, and he set down and played cards with them." Said, "Oh, he's the most sociable little fellow you ever seen." Said, "Oh, we love him. We wouldn't get rid of him for nothing."I stood there a little bit; I thought, "Well..." Said, "Oh, don't you think that every church needs a man like that?" (Huh.) I couldn't answer that. He said, "In another little place," said, "they had such a lovely place. This minister and his wife, lovely people, went out and deal with the children so much till they had a--a Bible school." And said, "They just had so many, just overflowed the thing with little children." Said, "My, he can tell the--all kinds of little stories to the little children." I said, "That's nice. That's awful nice."
150-182 I went back. (I just come from Canada.) And I thought, "Here I am... My, people,... I wonder what's the matter with me? I don't do that." I went to washing on my car. I thought, "God, I'm getting to be an old man, and here I am. I've taught; I've cried; I begged, and anything I get's a big blaspheme."
... who can I make known doctrine?... (Listen.)...... tables are full of vomit...... them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (Now, watch)For precept... as that upon--upon precept, precept upon precept;... line upon line; here a little, and there a little:For with stammering lips and with other tongues will I speak to this people.To whom it is said, This is the sabbath wherein ye shall cause the weary to rest;... this is the refreshment: yet they would not hear.For the word of the Lord came unto them... (Somebody preached It.)... precept upon precept,... upon precept; line upon line... upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
151-186 What is the Rest? When did the Rest come? When people spoke with other tongues and had stammering lips. Stammering lips, they didn't speak nothing; they stammered. When did that happen? On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost come. That is the Rest: the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye that weary and heavy laden, and I'll give you Rest. I'll give you Life, Eternal Life (Zoe, God's own Life)." God will come into you and be a part of you. He'll give you a birth and make you a son and daughter.
151-187 Now, watch, that was the third rest He give. The first: God received it from His work. Second: Israel received it in the law. Third: the Church received It as a part of God.
151-189 So if you've never received the Holy Ghost yet, you have never entered into God's Rest. You don't have to say, "Oh, I couldn't; I want to smoke. I--I just couldn't do it; I'm a Christian. I really don't want to drink, but I--I--I'm a Christian. I just can't... Don't want to drink but yet I'd like to."
151-192 Just a word or two more here now, and we'll close:
For he that is entered into Christ's rest... ("Come unto Me, all ye that labor and heavy laden.")... you have ceased from your own works, as God did from his on the seventh day.
Yours might have been the thirtieth year, the fortieth year, the fifth year. Whatever it is, you have ceased from your works as God did from His eternally. You no more want the things of the world; the world's dead to you.Now, 11th verse now, closely...
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,... (not this one, not this one, but this one)... lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
What is it? The Pillar of Fire's here. The Angel of the Lord is with us. He's doing the very same things that He said He would do. And people stumble around and say, "Now... Oh, well, I guess It's all right. That's pretty good. Oh, I guess It's okay." Be careful that you don't fall in the same snare of unbelief. You take It with all your heart.
152-195 Watch.
For the word of God... (not the doctrine of the church)... the word of God is quicker... more powerful,... sharper than a two-edged sword,... (Listen.)... piercing even... the dividing asunder of the soul... the spirit,... the joints and the marrow,... (And listen.)... and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.
What was that? The Holy Spirit can come and say, "You did a certain, certain thing, and you did this and did that; you have this kind of disease and that; if you'll make this right, you'll do that." See? Discerner of the thoughts...And people say, "What is that? Why, it's mental telepathy. Why, it's a--he's a fortuneteller." See what I mean? It's a wicked, old adulterous world that don't know God.
152-197 It's quicker, thoughter, more powerful than a two-edged sword, and a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. Now, what is it that knows the intents of the heart? God. You said, "Well, the Bible said the Word of God." The Word of God is God.
In the beginning was the Word,... the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us,...
God discerns the thoughts. Abraham had his back turned and--and so did... God had His back turned to the tent, and Sarah laughed. And God turned around and said, "What made Sarah laugh?" A Discerner of the thoughts of the heart... I want that to soak a little bit.Then when that kind of a ministry raises up, that God promised in the last days, what happens? "It's mental telepathy." Did not they call the Lord Himself Beelzebub? He said, "If they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call His disciples?"
153-201 I love you. It goes to show that you're interested enough, you don't have to come to an air-conditioned building to hear the Gospel. You're hungry enough to come to a place like this. God never would let us build nothing but this. We love it this a-way, just a little old shack, but that's the way we love it. God don't dwell in glamor; God dwells in humility. We love it like this. We're happy to come, and you are too, to set in a--a place like this. No matter how hot it is, how much you sweat on your new suit, your new dress; that don't make any difference, you're listening to Eternal Life, to the Word of God that knows the thoughts of your heart. The Pillar of Fire that hung over the children of Israel, hangs here tonight. I could challenge it. There isn't a man could stand here under the power of the Holy Ghost without God just spilling him right out and telling him what he was. Right. There you are.
153-203 Justification, Martin Luther, still a form for religion... Sanctification, Martin Luther--John Wesley. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, Light. Justification is believing. Sanctification is the cleansing. Holy Ghost is the filling. It's Life. Not through the Lutheran age, they had It in a form. Not through the Wesley age, they had It in a form. But this is the age when the Holy Ghost comes Hisself.
154-206 Now, let's go quickly now to the end of the chapter, quickly as we read.
For the word of God is quicker... more powerful... than... two-edged sword,... and discerning even the... intents of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifested in his sight: but all things are... opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Brother, there's not a fly could light on a post there without Him knowing it, "All things are open." Brother, He knows every thing that you ever did, every thought you ever thought of. That's what He is. We believe Him like that. And when God comes into us and sets us in the Church, He puts gifts and things in the Church to operate His Being. If God is that infinite God, then He heals the sick; He can raise the dead; He can cleanse the lepers, make the blind to see. He can give visions. He can do all kinds of these things, working through His Church, because it's God in you. There's the Church.
154-209 How did that church become a Church? By joining it? No, sir. By shaking hands? No, sir. By water baptism? No, sir. By membership? No, sir. How do you get it? "For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body." There you are.
There is therefore now no condemnation... (No worldly condemnation; they can't accuse you of nothing.)... There's... no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There you are. That's how to judge your Christianity. That's how to know you've entered into that Rest; the world don't bother you no more. Certainly. You see it, walk away from it. You got something better to think of. There you are, "No condemnation..." That's how we get into the Body. And you're secured forever. The Bible said so.
155-211 Look over here in the Hebrews the 10th chapter, He said,
... for where there's offerings of bulls and sacrifices, a remembrance was made of sin every year.But this man,... through one sacrifice... (Blessed be His holy Name.)For by one sacrifice he has perfected forever... (Hallelujah. Not for the next revival, but forever.)
"Old things have passed away and all things have become new." We're walking in the Light, the beautiful Light. The birds sing different.Setting here, looking at this little alcoholic (about five years ago, I guess). Rosella, a walleyed bat, walking down the streets of Chicago, drunk, twisting around, walking into every kind of sin that there was, drunk and in every thing that she could be, and one night, the Holy Spirit that's quicker and more powerful than a two-edged sword, said, "Woman, you are an alcoholic." Hallelujah. If that ain't the same God that was back yonder Who knowed Sarah laughed behind Him, I don't know what He is.
155-214 Up in the audience to another little woman, she went and got and brought in there. Said, "You are a dope addict." How He discerns the thoughts of the mind.
156-216 Listen. Watch:
Neither is there any creature that is not manifested in his sight: but all things are naked and open before His eye to him... who we have to do with.Seeing then that we have a great high priest,... (Listen now: to the sick.)... that has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confessions.
"Hold fast," that don't mean just keep testifying. If you don't live the life, you don't hold it fast. You're living a hypocritical thing. You're... You'd better be on out and just say you're a sinner and forget about it. Don't profess a Christian and live something else; you're the biggest stumbling block the world's ever had. If you're a sinner, admit it and go on, get right with God. If you're a Christian, hold fast your confession; stay there.
156-218 And watch this now, I want to get this in just before we leave.
For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like... we are, yet without sin.
Listen.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy, and find grace and help in the time of need. (Blessed be the Name of God.)
Listen, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran. You're going to ask me this question: "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness." I know that's where you always go. That's true, "What more can a man do but believe God?" That's exactly right; that's all he can do. But when God recognizes that faith, He gives you the Holy Ghost."Now, what do I do, Brother Branham? Do I shout?" Not necessary. "Do I speak with tongues?" Not necessary. You can shout and speak with tongues both and still live like a--like a heathen; you still lust for women; you can still smoke and drink and everything else. I seen people speak with tongues and go right out and pull some of the dirtiest, crookedest deal I ever seen. I seen them shout and cry crocodile tears and would steal a--anything he'd get ahold of. I seen them walk out, and every girl that goes down the street, turn. Uh-huh, that's one good sign you haven't got It. That's right.
157-221 But, brother, when you've passed from death unto Life, all those things become dead, and you're a new creature in Christ Jesus. If you see something wrong, you'll pray for it: "God be merciful." And if you see troubles, instead of going and tattling and trying to make it worse, you'll try to get to the person and straighten it up and quieten it right quick. That's the Spirit of God in you.
157-223 Now, watch. The first is a Perfect Love; that's God's Love, pure, unadulterated. The next, comes in there, is phileo love; that's love that you have for your wife and your children. The next drops after that is lustful love. The next is ungodly love. And it just goes on down till it's filth, just keep on perverting, perverting.
157-226 That's what I say, every time you see a person that's... You see a little couple walking down the street, sweethearts, maybe they're eighty years old. It only speaks that in heaven there's a young couple that represent them in heaven. If this earthly tabernacle's dissolved, we have one there. 158-228 But, look, there's only one Eternal Life, and that's God. And if you're going to be tormented forever and can never die, you got Eternal Life. You can't be tormented forever. You may be tormented for a hundred million years in the Presence of God and the holy Angels, with fire and brimstone. I don't know how long His judgment is. But it's finally got to come to an end, because it had a beginning, and God alone has Eternal Life. "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me (doesn't have forever life) he has Eternal Life." That Life that begin... Not nothing along here, but all the way up there, Eternal Life. Zoe, God's own Life comes down and dwells in the man, and he's eternal with God and can't die. That's what the Word said.
158-229 Just think of it. Is there two Eternal Lifes? You couldn't answer that, could you? There's one Eternal Life, and that's the Life of God. This other kind of life, no matter what it is, it's got a end to it. And anything that had a beginning has an end. But anything that had no beginning has no end. And God said He would give us Eternal Life "without beginning." We were just made a part of Him. And actually the Life that's in us, wasn't brought here by human nature. Nature give us a spirit, but that spirit died, and we got the Spirit of God. Glory to God.
159-231 So it's nothing you could do. You're a sinner to start with. You're shaped in iniquity. You're borned in sin, come to the world speaking lies. You were born here in this world by a sexual desire of your father and mother, and you're just as hell-bound as you can be; I don't care what you do. You might never lie, steal, keep every commandment and everything else, and you'll go to hell like a martin to its box. But the only way that you ever can live again, is to accept the Holy Spirit, God's Eternal Life.
159-234 And now, you got a free choice. God broods back to you and say, "Hear My Voice? Harden not your heart like in the days of provocation." Here He comes down, preaches the Word. The Gospel preached unto them was not--didn't have faith in it, so it didn't do them no good. They heard it, but they didn't believe it.
159-236 Now, He said, "Don't you fall after that same example of unbelief." For in this last days to the Gentile church, God has appeared again: same sign, same wonder, same Pillar of Fire, vindicated, proven. Let us not harden our hearts and fall in that temptation back yonder of unbelief, for we'll rot on earth and that'll be all of it.
159-238 When you hear His Voice, harden not your heart. Then you say, "Yes, Lord, I believe." Then you enter into Life. The Holy Spirit comes into you. Your old spirit dies out that makes you lust, and hate, and malice, and enmity, and--and hatred and all them things dies away. And you become full of love, joy, peace, resting. No matter how the winds blow, it's all right.
My anchor holds within the veil.
Through every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
For on Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other grounds is sinking sand.
160-239 There you are. Eddie Perronett, as he wrote that famous song... All other grounds, all denominations, all creeds, all doctrines fade away. Christ... You say, "Well, I know the Bible." You don't have Life by knowing the Bible. "I know my catechism." You don't have Life by knowing your catechism. "Well, I'm a Christian." You don't have Life by professing Christianity.
160-243 But when you say, "Yes, my Lord, I hear Your Voice. I don't harden my heart. I don't care, Lord. It's Your Word and I believe You. Take me, Jesus, just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and there I promise I'll believe, O Lamb of God, I come." Lay your hands upon His dying head, say, "Lord, I'm a sinner, and You called to me."
161-248 Have you got that experience tonight, friend of mine that's setting here in this hot tabernacle? You didn't come to hear me. No, you come to hear the Word. Listen, my friend.
When the ones that's rejecting this Message tonight,
Going to be asked to give a reason, What then?
What then? What then?
When the great Book is opened, What then?
When the ones that's rejecting this Message tonight,
You're going to be asked to give a reason, What then?
161-252 Our heavenly Father, this is all in Your hands now. Here's the true Sabbath laying before the people. Here's the Angel of God, for the last few years has blasted around the world. Critics and everything else has tried to condemn It, but every time You prove Yourself to be God.
162-254 Oh, they may have spoke in tongues; they might have shouted. They still got the same old temper. They still got the same old malice. They still tattle and talk, and do things they shouldn't do. They don't want that, Lord. What then, when that great Book is opened that said, "Such won't enter the Kingdom. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Anything short will not go in. Are they wholly trusting tonight, in the crucified? If not, Lord, may they make that one eternal "Yes," just now.
162-256 While every head's bowed, does anybody feel that way just now? Raise your hand, "The Holy Spirit is now bringing me into a place where I won't tattle any more." God bless you. "I won't do the things that... My temper's gone. I can live in peace and joy and long-suffering. From right now I believe God's a speaking to me right now, that I can do it from this hour on by His grace." Would you raise your hands? God bless you. God bless the young lady. Someone else? "I now believe." | ||||||