Sermon Texts (Adding Now)
Sermon Texts Beginning With I
It Becometh Us To Fulfill All Righteousness (61-1001M)
| It Becometh Us To Fulfill All Righteousness (61-1001M) |
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1 ... always a privilege to come to the house of the Lord. I have never in my life, ever seen one time that I regretted to come to His house. It's a... But I suppose this morning is about the hardest time I ever come. Yes, that's right. So things happen in life; we know that, that we have to face. And we must remember that, that it comes to all. 3 And she's old, and we've been expecting this for some time, because she's a mother of many, and she has broken her life down. In the days of my mother, they didn't have the things that they have now to take care of mothers when they had their baby. Perhaps maybe mama would have one of the children that morning, and get up and do her washing that afternoon. And so now they lay in the hospital several days with all kinds of medications, which is... We are grateful for such things that can help these--these mothers and all.
4 She is very, very near death now. And I... [Brother Branham weeps--Ed.] It's just a--just a little hard this morning, but yet I'd--I'd promised to be here. And I'm...
9 About a month ago, like I did to Mrs. Broy; I always like to check up on the people, to knowing that they are near the end, that to see just how they stand. We must be sure of this. We don't want just to say, "Well, perhaps it's all right." We want to be positive that it's right.
11 And when she was being put in the ambulance to take out to the hospital to give glucose... 'Cause she couldn't eat nothing, they had to give her glucose through her veins. And I said to her, when we was putting her in the ambulance; I said, "Now, mama, everything is all right." 14 Did you ever notice a little baby when it's born, its little muscles twitching and jerking? But when it comes to the earth, it receives a spirit, and then it becomes a living soul. And as soon as the soul goes back from that little body, there's another one waiting for it. See? Because, first, God makes the soul and spirit; it just goes to the bodies. And--and when we leave here, we only change dwelling places and go to another one. "For if this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have one already waiting." So that's our consolation.
15 Now, let us pray. Our glorious, heavenly Father, what could we do in these hours of tremendous need if it wasn't for You? But our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and righteousness. And we are so glad to know that there is a land beyond the river, that when You are finished with us on this earth, that we only change our dwelling places to that glorious land, yonder, where there's no sickness or heartache, death or separation. We will always be with Thee and with our loved ones. So we thank Thee for this glorious hope that's in our bosom today.
17 And may other mothers, fathers, and those who will be in the days to come, if the world shall stand may they prepare and know too, that they must come down someday to this hour that mother has arrived at. I pray, God, that they'll make their preparation today. For there is not one more thing in the world that matters. No money can buy, no popularity can sustain; nothing can help but God and God alone. And we hold to His unchanging hand, knowing that He has said, "The footsteps of the righteous is ordered of the Lord." So this little suffering that we have now in present life, will mean so little, as the poet has expressed it, "The toils of the road will seem nothing, when we get to the end of the way."
19 Now, I notice that here we have a group of handkerchiefs. And I am--will get to them just in a little while. 21 I am not too strong, why, I'd say, in my nerves. I have a--a very bad nerve system. And I realize that it takes that type of a system to make the ministry that the Lord has given me. You cannot have everything glorious on the earth. Physically, I'm very thankful for a strong body. But my nerve system, because that you play right on the line between natural and supernatural, and it--it tears you to pieces. And I have never tried to sit down and explain that to my congregations, because they would not understand. Because, I don't understand myself. But even to doctors, examined me and putting that pressure test of nerves, said they never seen anything like it (See?), how it'll move from one place, plumb up all the way to another. I don't understand their scientific research, and--or what they have done, their ways of doing things. But I know that there's something happened to me one day when Christ got ahold of me; I was changed.
22 And I would just like to say this; it might strengthen me. It seems like it would be a very odd thing to speak of this morning. But just before entering my message to kind of quieten myself, I would like to say that when I give out about being here, I didn't know that mother was going to be sick.
24 It was last spring when I was up in Alaska, or up near Alaska in British Columbia, to--for services, that the Lord gave us such a glorious time. And I--I've always loved outdoors.
27 And while I was up there, I met some mighty fine guides. That's the fellows in Canada and places; before you can go into the wilderness, the game commission signs you to a guide. And that guide has to be with you.
29 There's some Indians back in there, that did not want to move out, and they were very arrogant, and put up a sign, "if you come in here, there'll be blood shed." But yet, we rode on past it, and went back, because I wanted to talk to those Indians. After all, the land was theirs before it was ours, you know. And had a good time with them last Spring, telling them about the Lord Jesus.
31 And so, however, the rivers come down and cut us off and we couldn't get back into the country where we were going to hunt grizzly bear. This Mr. Southwick, Southwick it is, was the guide, And he... And I was with a little minister, Eddie Byskal. And so his boy... Mr. Southwick had a--a young brother of about, between twenty-five and thirty years old, was seriously plagued with epilepsy.
33 Then in Canada usually men who... You men who go out on trips, know in handling horses... And I love horses and animals. They usually tie a halter to tail, and let them walk in the string, the pack string. But there you can't do it, because the shale; you'd lose one horse, you might lose the whole string. So we just have to let them go, and wrangle them into the path.
36 So he went, sent and got his brother, brought him up there. And that morning he had to go out on trail with some conservation man. And his brother usually have two or three of those fits a day, and had them since he was a little boy. And his wife was scared to death of him, when he had those fits, because he got violent: a very strong, young fellow.
38 Many times I know it's been a little hard. People who wouldn't understand, say, "Brother Branham, why would you take a hunting trip?" See, they just don't understand. There's no need of trying to explain it. See? You catch people there would never be caught.
40 Now, that's the famous bear. There's four in the grizzly family. One is the silver-tip, which is the famous. Next is called, the native name, kadish, which is a black with a round ear; the second. Third is the regular grizzly, which is between black and brown, a huge bear. And the next is the Kodiak, which is only found on Kodiak Island and--and western Alaska; he's great, mammoth, biggest of all bears, but he's a grizzly. But the silver-tip is black, and the white is on--the silver is on the end of the tip of the hair. He's the famous one, very high-strung, ill-tempered bear.
42 And so then Mr. Arganbright called me and wanted me to go to Alaska. Well, instead of going to Alaska, I felt led to go back up here to this trip, up here with Bud, because I'd promised him.
44 Well, we went on, on the trip. And the first day, when we got high in above the timberlines, where there's no timber up in the glaciers with our horses. And the second day, we hunted some, and we found plenty of sheep with three-quarter curls, and so forth, but it just wasn't right.
46 And on the second day we went out. And about six miles back, over behind the glaciers, we spotted some big rams. And said, "Well, we'd go back, and the next morning at daylight we'd be on our road."
50 And Brother Eddie, wanting to feed the Indians where he's a missionary... There's a fine man, come out of a lovely home, and a wife just out of a swell home. And their arms is eat up in here, and sore, with fleas, where they lived with the Indians and things, out there trying to bring Christ to the Indians. Takes grace to do that; live out there on peanut butter and molasses, and sleep in those huts where bedbugs, fleas and everything, just eat them up like that, yet, to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
53 I went over to Bud, and he was setting over there rejoicing in it too, about two hours. And we got up, and I seen Eddie's movie camera laying right up there. On the top of those mountains, there's nothing but caribou moss, just moss, it's on above where timber won't grow.
55 And I was just looking around with the glasses. Somehow, about two miles from me, there laid my animal. I seen him. I said, "That's him. That's the one." I said, "Looky here, see this shale we have to go around the side." And I said, "The only thing is the green checkered..." And I looked, and Eddie had on a green checkered shirt.
57 The guide said, "Brother Branham, I don't know how you ever get around to that."
61 And so when we got it skinned out; and the skin and the horns, and all would be about a hundred and twenty-five pounds; but just not the body skin, just the cape skin. So then he said, "Now, Brother Branham," said, "I want to ask you something." Said, "I could hardly skin him here," he and I both, one on each side. He said, "You say these horns are forty-two inches?"
63 Said, "You know where he's at?"
69 Then after we got the grizzly, come back down, then he said, "And you say them horns..." Said, "If them horns are forty-two inches, Brother Branham, I'm going to faint."
72 And when I got down there, there stood Eddie with his green checkered shirt on. I seen that little hand go around those horns, and when he went over and got the tape measure, laid it down on here, and held, that little boy put his hands. I said, "Look, Eddie, them little hands on the horn." And when he pulled the tape measure up like this, he looked at me and turned real white in the mouth; he said, "Brother Branham, look here, just snug, forty-two inches, exactly."
75 That same God Who loved them, and by His grace, and done those things for them, is the same God that we serve here in this Tabernacle this morning, doing the same things. And there is in our bosom a longing for that City, somewhere where they have gone to. And by His Word and by the signs of His power, with the same Spirit and the same prophecies, the same thing that He did back there to them, He's doing for us today. And you see it with infallible proof, that it is God and God's truth. 77 Our heavenly Father, we are grateful. Why You wanted me to have those things, I guess, Lord, You was just encouraging me, knowing that there was a shock coming. I don't know; Thou does know. And I know I'm no more a boy. I'm not the little boy that used to hang onto mama's apron. And I'm a middle-aged man now. But oh, how I love You, Lord, how I believe You. Give us grace now. Help us to teach Thy Word, that others might see and learn and know of Thee. We ask in Jesus' Name. Amen. 78 For a text this morning... I think that's all I had to... Well, services tonight, communion, feet-washing, so forth, that's all. I've invited you to stay and be with us. But for our text this morning, let us turn over in the Bible to St. Matthew the 3rd chapter to read a portion of the Scriptures. I want to begin at the 10th verse of the 3rd chapter of St. Matthew.
79 And I know there's many standing, and we hate for that; but if some of you will change off with them, once in a while. I... Excuse me, for me taking my time, but I... You understand. Now, the Scripture reading...
... now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore every tree which bringeth forth not good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I'm not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand... he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Then cometh Jesus of Galilee to Jordan... to be baptized of him.
But John forbid him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou unto me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. And he suffered him.
I would like to take the text from that word there in the 15th verse.
Suffer it to be so now: for thus it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness.
81 Often times I have wondered why that--that Jesus of Nazareth... And many times it's been asked me. Why would a Man like Jesus have to be baptized? Why would this Person be baptized as an act of repentance and of confession, when He was the holy, spotless, unadulterated Son of the living God? Why would this Person have to be baptized like a man coming... Baptism is after confession. He had no confessions to make, because He was God. And He, why would He have to be baptized like He had unto repentance, because He needed no repentance, for He was the infallible God? "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." Why would He have to be baptized?
82 And did you notice the phrase before that said:
... thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.
In other words, "It must be fulfilled. All the Word that God has spoken, It must be fulfilled." God cannot say anything without having it fulfilled. When He has spoken It, it is a finished work. It's already finished when God speaks It. God never speaks until He's ready for it to be; and, when He speaks, it's just as well as already happened.Now, if that wouldn't give us a basis to put our faith on this morning. When God speaks a Word, it's already finished. And what about His promises that He's given to us? Everything that He has said, it's already a finished work. So therefore, when we receive His Word into our heart, it's--it's already done, it's completed.
85 And why would He then (it doesn't answer the question) be baptized? Many has said, "Why, He was baptized because He was our example." That is true to a certain state, certain place. That is true, but it isn't all the truth.
87 I want to read some Scripture for you, just a moment, over in the Book of Exodus. And I think it's the 29th verse I have wrote--29th chapter, rather. And I want to begin here at the 4th verse of the 29th chapter.
And Aaron and his sons thou shall bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall wash them with water.
And thou shalt take--thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron, and the coat, and the robe... and the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and to gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:
And thou shall put the mitre upon his head, and upon the holy... upon the... crown upon the mitre.
And thou shall take the anointing oil, and pour it upon the head, and anoint him.
88 See, Aaron, the high priest, before he could ever be anointed, he had to be washed with water. Therefore, when Jesus, before He could be anointed our High Priest, He was washed with water.
90 And before He was anointed, He had to fulfill all righteousness. See, He had to be washed with water before the Anointing come upon Him.
92 And Christ was God's testimony, because God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. Now, He said, "Suffer this to be so, John."
94 In other word, "John, you know Who I am. I am the High Priest. That's true, John, and I have need to be baptized of thee. But we've got to fulfill all righteousness. And I have need to be baptized of thee now to fulfill the Word of God, because all the Word's got to be fulfilled. And we are the lights of the day, and it's up to us to fulfill all this. And I know that your righteousness and your desire is to fulfill the Word. It'd becoming to us. We are the lights."
96 And now, Jesus did recognize in John, that John was a true prophet. The Word had spoke of John, and He knew that he was absolutely the prophet of the hour. And John knew that Jesus was the Messiah of the hour. And they both clearly had an understanding.
99 Let's go back just for a little bit, and take up some characters that knew their position in their day, and was willing to stand criticism or anything else, that the Word of God might be fulfilled.
102 Now, Noah knew, because he had not got his ministry from some school of education, but he had talked face to face with God. And he knew that there was coming a flood. He knew that the rains would pour out of the skies, like rivers opening up, although it was firmly against scientific matters in that day. The scientists, no doubt, criticized Noah, and said, "We can scientifically prove to you that there's no water up there."
105 And may I stop here to say this because of the sick people. If your case is so bad that maybe the doctor says that there is not a hope; what difference does that make, as long as God says to you, "I'm going to let you live"?
107 And then even some of them has said to me, "Why don't you join some good denomination and use your influence to further that denomination?" And then said, "Now, this here Pentecostal group that you're fooling with, they're just a bunch of religious quacks. And they--they... There's no such a thing as that. They're just mentally worked up. They, they... They don't have what they're talking about. We can prove that they don't have it."
110 So no matter what the scientific proofs are, that we are just emotional, that we're just mentally upset, that there is really nothing to this great religion of ours, that--that it's not just what it should be, and so forth like that, that we are just a bunch of outcasts, don't believe it. Don't believe it.
114 So no matter how much they say, "There's no such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There's no such a thing as Divine healing." It behooveth us; it is becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness, that we stand in this hour of trial and pound away at the Ark of the Lord.
116 I was talking to a lovely couple last evening. And there's a young man who has just been baptized, and believes that there's only one God, and in a Business Men's meeting they won't let him testify, because he don't believe there's three Gods.
119 But Noah, it bothered him not; he went right ahead because he knowed God's program. He knowed what God was going to do, Brother Kidd. He knew God's layout because he had talked to God, and it was according to the Word of God, and he went right on doing it anyhow. Whether science could prove it or anything else, or how much criticism was put upon Noah, he stayed right with God's Word and pounded right away. Why? It was becoming to him, because Noah was a prophet. And it was becoming to him that he kept the Word of God. He stayed with it.
121 [Brother Branham pauses and silently reads a note--Ed.] All right. They sent word for me to pray for mom right away. "Pray for her now. Doctor just left." All right.
124 Now, Noah, no matter what the criticism was upon father Noah, he knew where he was standing, and so he stayed right with the Word. And he built the ark for the saving of his household, because it was becoming to him to do so. It was becoming to Noah, to--to do so.
126 In the days of Enoch, just before the flood, when Enoch looked out there and saw Noah building away on that ark. Enoch was a prophet. Enoch knew that he was a type. And he knew, that before the floods came, that he had to give an example, so one afternoon it was becoming to him to take a walk. It was becoming that he'd take this walk with God. And somehow that day he changed his path. Instead of going around the side of the hill, he took the King's Highway, and he just kept on walking. "And they found him not, because he was not," but he'd walked on up the King's Highway.
128 I can see Enoch as he knowed it was becoming to him, for he was a prophet, and he knew what was going to happen. So I can see him kiss his wife good-bye, and say, "Darling, I'll see you later." Take up his children and kiss them good-bye, and go down to his married son and his married daughter, and kiss them good-bye.
131 Yeah, it was becoming to Noah; it was becoming to Enoch, that they fulfill all righteousness.
134 It was becoming to Daniel, because he was a prophet, that he stayed with the Word.
136 And Daniel knew, that if he stayed with the Word, what it cost him. It's going to cost him his popularity. It was going to cost him his fellowship with the rest of the brethren. It was going to cost him a lot of things. But they made an issue, that, they was going to pray to a certain god, then after that they could go back and pray to any god. 138 So we find that, Daniel, it was becoming to him, as a prophet to stay with the Word, regardless. So there was a decree went out, and said, "That whosoever will worship any other god, besides the god that they had selected..." In other words, "If you don't cooperate with us, we'll just throw you into the lions' den." Well, it was becoming to Daniel; it was becoming to him that he fulfilled all righteousness, that he worshipped no other god, or entangled himself with the world; only to God only. So he just throwed back the shutters and threw up the sash, and opened up the curtains, and looked out towards the east, and prayed three times a day, just like he always did. Why? Not slip off somewhere and hide to do it, but he opened up the windows, let anybody see, that wants to. He wasn't ashamed of his religion.
139 Because it's becoming to a Christian not to be ashamed of your religion. As Paul of old said, "In the way that's called heresy (crazy), that's the way I worship the God of our fathers." See? "I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," he said, "for it's the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes it." That's right. Not ashamed of the Gospel, it's the thing that holds in the hours when the ship is a-rocking and every star's out of sight, and the moon and stars, and storms a-blowing. It still holds, for it's the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
140 The Hebrew children, it was behooving to them, becoming them, after they had took their stand for God. It was becoming to them. They didn't care about the fiery furnace. Under hard trials, what did they care? They had took a stand.
143 When you come this morning believing that God is going to heal you, and you take your stand, it's becoming to you that you never testify anything contrary to it, or don't come. That's right. If you don't feel like that God would heal you, then stay away, you're only making a mock out of it.
145 When you say, "I believe Jesus Christ as my Healer. I believe, this morning, that He's going to heal my sick body. Something told me to come to the church. I'm here amongst the believers. I'm taking my stand this morning. I believe it. I'm going up to be prayed for. When I'm prayed for, there on that stand I'll remain. No matter how dark it gets, or where it's at, I'll still stand on that stand." You took your stand because it's becoming to you.
148 It was behooving to Elijah, becoming to Elijah the prophet, that he made his stand to fulfill the Word of God, because he knowed the Word of God. And he knowed that this archbishop, Jezebel, and all their denominational differences blended in with the trend of the world. It was becoming to Elijah as a prophet, that he stood, and he stood alone. Said to God, "They're all gone but me, and I stand alone." That's as far as he knew. God said He had some more that's taking the same stand; maybe not in the place that--that Elijah was, because he was the target to the nation. They didn't get criticism like he did, because they was all firing right at him, because he was the prophet. But it was becoming to him in the midst of trial, in the midst of criticism, in the midst of indifference, it was becoming to Elijah, as a prophet to take the stand of God and stand there. 150 Elijah knew he was a prophet. He saw visions. God had vindicated him to be a prophet. So no matter if his brethren... They were tens of thousands; just look at the Israelites, millions of them, people who claimed to believe in Jehovah, and they'd organized themselves. They'd went modern, like they are today. They went modern. They compromised on His Word. Hallelujah. But it was becoming to him, Elijah, that he fulfilled all righteousness. So he stood there alone, crying out against the evils. If it took his life, what of it? It was becoming to him to fulfill all righteousness. There's evil in the land. There was indifference in the land. There was Scriptural wrongs in the land. And it was becoming to Elijah to fulfill all righteousness to stand for Jehovah; and Jehovah stood for Elijah. Amen. Becoming to him... 151 Abraham, it was becoming to Abraham to separate himself from unbelief. Becoming to any believer to separate yourself from unbelief. Abraham, it was becoming to him to walk in a land of his own, him and God alone, 'cause he was a prophet. The world didn't understand why Abraham made such a choice. Why did he leave his home? Why did he leave his church? Why did he leave his people? Why did he do such a rashal thing to sojourn in a strange land where there's no water or food? Why did he go into those bleak deserts where men had not went yet? But it was becoming to him, for he was a prophet, to separate himself from all unbelief and to walk alone with God. God said, "Separate yourself, and I'll bless you." 152 When you separate yourself from all unbelief, God will bless you. And it's becoming to every one of us, regardless of the price, to separate ourselves from the unbelieving world. "Come out from among them and be ye separate," saith God, "I will receive you." It's becoming to us as men and women of God to take our stand in this dark hour that we're living. 153 Abraham, regardless of what the rest of them thought, he separated himself. Why? He had saw God. He saw a vision. The vision was true; the vision come to pass. He knew God was with him; Abraham, to make such a rashal statement as he did, a man of a hundred years old, and a wife ninety, and she was barren and he was sterile, and they were going to have a baby at this age. Why, the medical science of that day would've called him some kind of erratic. They'd have called him crazy. But it was becoming. Hallelujah.
154 Sometimes it's becoming to become erratic, if it's according to the Word. 157 Oh, Branham Tabernacle, what kind of word will we give at the day of judgment when we've seen His mighty hand? We've seen His power. We've watched His glory. We've seen what He said; It never fails. We've seen His Person, the great Pillar of Fire, a Light hanging in the room here. We've seen It yonder; science has taken the pictures of It, and everything. And hear the message go forth, right straight on the line, "Separate yourself from them. Don't associate with anything of unbelief." It's becoming to us, that we fulfill all righteousness.
158 Abraham professed he was a pilgrim and a stranger. He had nothing to do; he knowed nobody on earth. He walked with God, because it was becoming to him, for he had seen. It was becoming to Abraham when all those kings met out there, you know, to make him a great big guy; all the kings, after Abraham had got this great victory, when the kings met him out there, all the denominational brothers, and said, "You know, Abraham, we'll--we'll make an agreement with you. We're going to do so-and-so." 161 What difference does it make whether we got a nickel or a dime, whether we got something to eat or whether we haven't, whether we're living or dying? God promised the meek shall inherit the earth. It behooveth us; it's becoming to us, that we live like it, act like it, was fulfill all righteousness. God wants men and women who'll stand and fulfill all righteousness. Of course, Righteousness is His Word.
162 As I said at the beginning of the sermon, that's the reason Jesus was baptized. No matter how it was... If He claimed to be the Son of God, then be baptized for remission of sins? He had none. But He had to be washed, because He was the High Priest. He had to fulfill all righteousness. Said, "Suffer it, John. I know that you know it. I know that I know it. And we know one another. But we'll suffer that to be so, but thus it's becoming to us." Amen. Hallelujah. 164 It was becoming to Abraham, when he walked up there, and God told him, "Now, take this little boy. Now, you're a hundred and (about) twenty years old. And you got a little boy here, a little curly-head. He's a sweet little thing. But I want you to take him up there on the mountain and offer him up for a sacrifice; by him I'm going to make many nations out of you." How could it be? Looked like God got all twisted up. "I'm going to take, through Isaac, and bless the whole world, every nation, with him; but I want you to take him up there and kill him. Through Isaac's seed..." Hallelujah. "Through Isaac's seed I'll bless every nation under the heavens, but I want you to take him up there and kill him."
165 Oh, that stern, sturdy, old father, with the wood and a sack across his back, leading a donkey (My.), little Isaac walking in front of him, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief." It was becoming to him.
167 It was becoming to the disciples at Pentecost to go to that upper room. Why? Why was it becoming? Because they had met a Man, a Carpenter, known to the world, a Galilean Stranger with a bad name: illegitimate. But they had seen that Man raise the dead. They'd seen that Man open blinded eyes. They had heard that Man preach the unadulterated God's Word. And they knowed that He was Messiah. They'd seen all the signs around Him. They'd heard God speak back from the heavens. They'd seen that Pillar of Fire hanging over Him. They knowed that He was the Messiah. And when He told them, "It's expedient for Me that I go away; but I want you to go up there to the city of Jerusalem and stay up there. Just wait there."
170 It was becoming to them that they went in the upper room, because they had seen His power. They'd knowed that He died, dead, died so dead that even the moon and stars witnessed He was dead; they hid their face and wouldn't shine. The earth knowed He was dead, until it rocked with a nervous prostration. The rocks belched out of the ground, that'd been in there since the antediluvian destruction. They knowed that was Messiah. They knowed that His Word was, that He was to send back the Holy Ghost. They knowed that was a promise. They knowed that they had to wait up there for It. They had seen Him. They knowed He was dead; they knowed He was risen. They had seen Him; therefore, they knowed what they were talking about.
172 It was behooving to the disciples; it was becoming them that they should keep His Word to wait up at Jerusalem. So they went up to wait at Pentecost, until they received the Holy Ghost. For then they knowed their ministry could not go on until they had received the Holy Ghost to bear record of Him. They knowed they were helpless. But they had to have His Presence, so they went to wait for It.
174 It was behooving to Saint Peter, the old fisherman, didn't have enough education to sign his own name. But one day when he was going through the Beautiful gate that Solomon had built, there laid a man who was lame. His knees was weak, ankles; he couldn't walk. He'd been that way. He had no strength. A man about forty years old, he had no strength. But when Peter heard the cup rattle, and he looked down and seen a crippled man laying there, and Something pounded in his heart... He had been at Pentecost; he had the Holy Ghost. He had the promise of Jesus, so it was behooving, it was becoming to him, that he said, "Silver and gold have I none." He gave his testimony, "I have no silver and gold. But such as I have, I'll give it to you if you can receive it."
176 It was behooving him to do it; it was becoming to him. He should've done it, because he was anointed disciple. He'd been with Jesus. The whole world knew, the day before in the Sanhedrin Court, when they had him gathered up, him and John, both of them ignorant and unlearned; they knew they'd been with Jesus, 'cause they heard the way they were talking and the boldness they had. They knew that something had happened to them. And Peter knew that. So it was becoming Peter; it was becoming to him because that he had God's promise for that day.
179 It was becoming to Saint Paul, after being a critic. And on his road down to Damascus one day, there that Pillar of Fire that had led Israel from Egypt into the promised land, that had been made flesh and dwelled among them and returned back to God, spoke to him. And he wondered, "How could this be Jehovah? How could it be? And there He is in the same Pillar of Fire, hanging yonder." "Lord, Who are You that I persecute?"
182 Now, it's becoming us, becoming to us in this day. We know. We've just been through the church ages. We know that we've received the Holy Ghost; we know that beyond a shadow of doubt. We know we have the Gospel Light.
184 The prophet said, "It'll be Light in the evening time, these Gospel Lights would turn back again." Like the same sun rises in the east and sets in the west, It shall return again in the last days. Here we are in the last days.
189 Now, we're at the last hour. We're in the Laodicean church age. Every messenger's give his age, give his message in his age. And we're here at the end of the age, and we see that God has a-vindicated it with signs and wonders. And nobody can say it isn't so.
192 The church is weak, the churches of today. We're broke up in organizational strife, separation of brotherhood; Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterian, Oneness, Threeness, Fiveness, all kinds of stuff. We're broke up. That's the way it's supposed to be. It's got to be that way.
Nations are breaking, Israel awakening,
The signs that the sages foretold;
The Gentile days numbered, with horrors encumbered;
"Return, O dispersed, to your own."
194 We're in the last days. And it's behooving to us; it's becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness.
199 And there was One Who came to Abraham and the elect church. He give them a sign. And we know that's true. We know it's a fact. He set with His back turned to the tent, told who Sarah was, what was on her heart, what was her trouble. He give the message, exactly. Abraham knew that was God. For immediately after He said so, he called Him Elohim, a Messenger, formed in human flesh to bring a message to a Sodom and Gomorrah.
201 "Brother Branham, you're--you're--you're out of the cater with the rest, the denominations."
Nations are breaking, Israel is awakening,Signs that the Bible has foretold;Gentile days numbered, with horrors encumbered;"Return, O dispersed, to your own."A day of redemption is near,Man's hearts are failing for fear;Be filled with the Spirit, your lamps trimmed and clear,Look up, your redemption is near!False prophets are lying, God's Truth they're denying,
That Jesus the Christ is our God, (How true that is: oh, hundreds.)But we'll walk where the apostles have trod.
For the day of redemption is near,
Man's hearts are failing for fear;
Be filled with the Spirit, have your lamps trimmed and clear,
Look up, your redemption is near!
205 While you have your heads bowed, is it becoming to you this morning, that you give your life to Christ? Has He spoke to you? If so, just raise your hand to Him, and say, "I now accept Christ. It's becoming to me that I surrender my all, my will, this morning to Him. I now raise my hand and say, 'Lord Jesus, be merciful.' I need Thee, oh, how I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee." God bless you. "Oh, blessed Saviour, I come to Thee."
I need thee, oh, I need Thee; (What if you were laying where mother's laying now?)Every hour I need Thee!Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,I come to Thee!I need Thee, oh, O Lord, we need You;Every hour I need Thee!
Oh, bless me now, (Lord, I need You now more than I have in a long time.)I come to Thee!
[Brother Branham begins humming, "I Need Thee Every Hour"--Ed.]
207 Heavenly Father, down through the valleys we walk, knowing that You've promised, "I'll not leave thee, neither will I forsake you. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; all other things will be added unto you."
So I come to Thee!
If there be any here, Lord, who's not right in their souls, if they were coming down that trail that my mother is right at this moment, O Lord, may they have that testimony too. It's behooving to us today, Lord.We're at the end road, the Laodicean church age; a message; the rejecting of the message; the vindication of the message; and the Presence of Christ proving He's the same, yesterday in the days of Lot, as in the days of His flesh, and in the days of today: yesterday, today, and forever. Let them receive You now as their blessed Saviour. Grant it, Lord. I ask in Jesus' Name.
210
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee!
Most precious Lord,
Temptations lose their power,
Truly, Lord, when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee!
Every hour...
If Thou hast taken her from us, rest her precious soul in heaven. Grant it. Grant it, Lord.
... my Saviour, I come to Thee!
212 Father God, hear us. It's becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness here. We know what the Word says. We're not in darkness. We know what the Word has promised. Help us, O Lord, that we fulfill all righteousness. Fulfill Your Word. May each believer here have faith now, as we come to the sick. All of us love to live, Lord; but the first would be Eternal Life, for that world that is to come. Hear us, Father, while the congregation's praying, especially the sick and the afflicted.
213 I wonder today, if there's any strangers with us, that's never been in the Tabernacle before, and you're sick, and you're looking to God for help? With your heads bowed, all of you. Would you raise your hand, you people that's strangers to me, that doesn't know me or I don't know you, and you've come to Christ now for help? Just raise up your hand. See? God bless you, and you, and you. There are several.
215 See a lady... With your heads bowed. She remains holding her hand. She's suffering with a heart trouble. She's a Mrs. Nance. She's from Madisonville, Kentucky. That's right. Isn't it, lady? You can raise up your head...?... You had your hand up, just kept it up. That's true, wasn't it? If it is, raise your hand. See where we're living at, friends? I don't know that lady. I've never seen her. But what is it? It's a sign of the Gospel. That you might...
217 What could do that? Jesus of Nazareth. That you might know that I be God's prophet, and telling you the truth, for thus it behooveth us. A woman touched His garment, and He turned and told her her blood issue, and said it had stop.
219 A lady setting next to you there... I mean Mrs. Bennett. You're all from the same place. She has kidney trouble instead of heart trouble. You believe with all your heart, you can be made well too. Do you do it, lady? Raise up your hand, say, "I'll accept it," then you can go home, get well. If thou canst believe. You're all down in Kentucky, a city called Madisonville.
221 Throat trouble, sir. Do you believe that God can heal throat trouble and make you well? Be healed. Just have faith in God.
225 Well, put your hands on one another. I want to ask you a question. Did Jesus promise these things would be in the last days? Say, "Amen. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "As it was in the days of Lot, the works that I do shall you also." Did He also say this, "These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover"? Are you ready to take your stand, a believer? For thus it is becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness.
227 I believe the same Holy Ghost, that by the Holy Ghost is here this morning, proving Himself the Messenger of the last day, the great Holy Spirit Himself, impersonating Himself, coming into human flesh, doing His work.
230 Now, heavenly Father, we bring to You this audience, after this message. Lord God, surely the people can see now that it's becoming to us. It's becoming to a prophet to stand on the Word. It's becoming to a member of church; it's becoming to them that they stand. It's becoming to the sick people to believe the Word of Jesus Christ, when He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." 232 The Holy Ghost here proving that He's among us, now, let the power of God, let the witness of the Holy Ghost move into the hearts of these people just now, giving them an assurance like Daniel had, like Noah had, like Enoch had, like John had, like Peter had, like Paul had, like Jesus had, like Abraham had, like all of them had, Lord, That it's becoming to us in this day, where Divine healing power is poured out, signs and wonders are being done, great awakening has become among the people, the Holy Spirit has dropped among the people. They have shouted, spoke in tongues, prophesied, great gifts, and signs and wonders. The Angel of the Message, the Angel of the age has appeared to us in the form of the Holy Ghost, and He's bringing us a Message. We see It being fulfilled. We see Him taking our bodies and transforming us from mortal human beings into agents of God to speak forth great mysterious signs and wonders. When we see these things, then it is becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness.
233 When we know that Abraham looked back to Lot, that when Daniel could look to Abraham, that when John could look to Daniel (O God.), that when Peter and John could look to Jesus. And when we can look to them, and today we see the same results among us, then it's becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness. 235 Where these poor, sick are; suffering mortals of God... Come out of them, you devil. I charge thee by Jesus Christ the living God, that you depart from these people, and bother them no more, for they stand like the Hebrew children in the hour of trial to take their stand, and be healed from this hour on. Through Jesus Christ's Name, I charge the sickness and devils of this congregation, that's come to sicken these people to depart from them.
236 With our heads bowed, our hearts to God, I'm going to sing a song. I'm going to try it, with your help and God's help. "My Faith Looks Up To Thee," I don't want you to doubt one bit; I want you to believe now. It is becoming to us. How many Christians are in here? Raise your hands, and say, "Amen." [Congregation says, "Amen.".--Ed.] How many believers? Say, "Amen." [Amen.] How many have laid your hands on others? Say, "Amen." [Amen.] Then it is becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness.
My faith looks up to Thee,Thou Lamb of Calvary,Saviour Divine;Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my sin away, ("Sin" is "unbelief")O let me from this dayBe wholly Thine!While life's dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, (God, be my Guide now.)Be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow's tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
237 With our heads bowed... That darling old mother of mine has passed on since I've been preaching, may my voice echo down through the big canyons of heaven.
239 I said, "Mama, into the hands of the living God, I commend your righteous soul." |
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