Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Good evening, friends. Very happy to be here tonight, again, serving the Lord. Trusting with all my heart for a great outpouring of His divine blessings tonight, on us all.
I just did get here. I was just coming in in the back, and they were waiting out there for me---one of the ushers, and my boy. Just then, I heard "Only Believe," and we just had to hurry to get in. And so we are sorry to be just a little late.
Brother Caubles was standing at the door and told me to remember tonight about praying over the handkerchiefs. And that's very fine. We like to do that, because we've had a great lot of blessings for the people. We send out many handkerchiefs each day around the world for sick and afflicted people, and have a great success in doing so. And I'm sure that it'll be a great blessing to all, even if you don't need it at the present time, to carry around your house some little symbol of that.

2 Here some time ago, I was... I have a testimony that ... now, this, I never seen this, so I wouldn't know. But I have no right to doubt it, because it was a minister, and I believe, a very good Christian man. And he had one of those handkerchiefs in his Bible, keeping it on Acts 19. And the usual ... asked him to do it. And his boy was struck down by a car.
And, now they tell me that they'd taken him to the hospital, put him under x-rays; and the bones were so broken that they had to handle him lightly, and---his arms and legs---and his back was out of place. Now, this is his story. And they went and got the handkerchiefs and laid it on the boy. And the next morning, when they went up to x-ray to see how to set the bones, there wasn't a broken bone in his body. That's right. Now, I never seen it, I only know the man. That's the testimony.

3 I know this testimony: Some time ago (It just seemed to be so remarkable to me.), there was a... It happened in, I believe it was Fayetteville, Arkansas, or near there; I was having services. And I'd ask the people with handkerchiefs, I'd pray over them and have them put them in their Bible.
And so, I was at Jonesboro at the time. And a little lady that had her handkerchief prayed over, and she put it in the Bible. So they... One day, about two or three weeks later, she was washing ... or, cleaning, a lamp chimney.
Did any of you ever clean a lamp chimney? I used to have to do it at home, 'cause I had the smallest hand. My mother's sitting there looking at me; she remembers that. We used to have a big old lamp chimney that had a moon and owl on it. Do you remember them old chimneys? I'd get my hand up in there and clean the chimney out. Did you ever run out of coal oil, lamp oil, kerosene, or what you call it? and had to put some water in the bottom of the thing to make the wick reach the kerosene? Did you ever do that to make it burn?
Say, I'm right at home tonight amongst country folks, sure enough. So we just live here in the city, we're still country folks, aren't we?

4 And this young married woman, she was washing her lamp chimney out. And her husband had gone to the city to get food and food for his cattle, and so forth. They were cotton raisers. And she cut the artery, or the vein, whatever it was in her wrist there. And the blood started spurting up.
Well, the first thing she done was first the old superstition to get some cobwebs and put on it. Well, she went and got cobwebs; 'course the blood would just throw the cobwebs off. It wouldn't do nothing. It might bring some kind of a disease to it anyhow, 'cause it's just a superstition. And she bled... One of the pillow slips got real wet with blood---saturated. Then she got a sheet. And her closest neighbor's about two miles. You'd have to walk in with boots on if you didn't drive the team.
And so, she seen that she was getting weaker and weaker. She couldn't live much longer. And the blood wouldn't stop. She was trying to hold it, and screaming and frantic.
Now, this is her story. She went and thought of that handkerchief that was in the Bible, and went to the... I don't say the handkerchief done it, now. It was her faith that did it, see. She went and she said, "God, I'm dying and there's no help that I can get anywhere. But, if You'll just help me...", and went and got this handkerchief, and laid it on her hand, and never even stained the handkerchief.

5 And that same night she walked with boots on out through a muddy field for two miles, or better, to a highway. And got out of her boots and had her shoes under her arm.
I've seen a many time, young ladies, sixteen and eighteen years old, very fair; coming to church packing their shoes under their arms (not fifty years ago---last year), and get near a church and sit down on the side of the road and dust off their feet and pull on their hosiery, put on their stockings, and come to church. Might be people in here did that a long time ago, but that still exists down in Arkansas and some of those countries.
Then she gave the testimony, come by Greyhound bus, hung her lantern on a limb where she seen how to get out to the bus. And came in and gave that testimony, walking in the building before thousands of people at Little Rock. And gave the testimony that the blood stopped immediately as soon as she put the handkerchief on.

6 I'm remembering another one just while waiting and bringing things just... One time there was a little lady, in first part of the ministry. It was a great upset that night, It just lives old memories over. A lady was standing with a little baby, very typical southern type, with his little legs around her hips, like this. And she was holding it. And the woman had a female trouble. And I prayed for her, and it just looked black around her, and I prayed again. This has been about, I guess, eight years ago. And I prayed again, and it just ... it stayed black right around her.
Well, in them days, sometimes I just stayed with a patient till I had some assurance of something. And I prayed again. And I noticed... Very seldom ever a vision taken place. I'd know what was wrong by just a vision.
And there was the lady. And a horrible thing had happened. And it told her of living untrue to her marriage vow, which just a few days before that. She started crying, dropped her head down. And the man behind her was her husband. He pulled her around and said, "What's this?"
And she started confessing.
And it turned around and told him of the same thing for him.
And they put their arms around one another, pulled the little baby between them, and forgave one another. And knelt down there and gave their hearts to Christ. And the minister baptized them in the church the next morning.

7 That night coming through, there was a lady wanted a handkerchief prayed over like you're coming tonight. It was sent to a club-footed baby, way down somewhere in the country. And so, the lady, not being at the service, not knowing instructions, not knowing how to take a hold of faith... That's a hard thing, then.
So they just... The lady put the handkerchief... The lady told her, said, "Tie it around it's ankle."
Well, the handkerchief stayed on there for nearly three months. It had gotten dirty, and she'd washed it. And she wrote and told her sister that sent it, said, "There must not be nothing to that."
Said, "Well, if your faith ain't strong enough for it, mine is." She said, "You just keep it on there."
Said, "Well, the thing's just coming to pieces."
She said, "Tie strings on it, and tie it around anyhow. Keep it right there."
For regardless of what taken place, how long, you're the one that gets in a hurry, not God.
And one morning, not many mornings after that, they went back to the crib and found the baby normal and well.

8 Now, many things like that has happened ... handkerchiefs. Now it is... It's not some... It's Scripture. If you think it's superstitious to believe the Scripture, then it would be a superstition.
But, now, many people anoint the handkerchiefs, anoint them in oil. Well, that's perfectly all right. Whatever our Lord will bless, I'm sure for it. I know you are too. But, if you'll watch the Scripture, they never anointed the handkerchiefs. They taken from the body of Paul handkerchiefs, or aprons---the body of Paul---handkerchiefs, and aprons, and little things that he wore on him.
I often wondered where they got that to be Scripture. And I believe they got it here (I'm not sure where Paul picked it up.) when the Shunammite woman went to Elisha, and he told her he said ... told Gehazi, said, "Take my staff and go lay it on the baby."
Now, if the Lord hadn't just put something on my heart a few minutes ago standing there, I'd speak on this tonight. But tonight's Friday night, and I know I keep you late; and tomorrow's a big rushing day. I'll let you out early tonight, and hold you a long time tomorrow night.

9 So then, they...
The Shunammite woman went to Elisha, and Elisha took this staff, sent it by Gehazi, and said, "Lay it upon the child."
Now, Elisha knew that whatever he touched, when he had the anointing of the Spirit on him, that it was blessed. And I think that's what Paul did, and that's what the people saw. It wasn't Paul, it was God on Paul, and just a token, or a symbol of faith, you see. And so, they'd taken from his body handkerchiefs and aprons, and diseases went from the people.
What is that? What would you imagine? The people ... some people touched the garment of Jesus and was made well. Others smacked Him in the face, and hit Him on the head with sticks, and spit in His face---never felt any virtue at all. It was their attitude of approach. It just depends on what attitude you come in. If you come believing that you're coming to get help, and you're confident that you're coming to the right person---Jesus Christ---and you're coming His provided way of approach, you're going to receive something, if you come reverently. If you come, "Well, I'll go touch and see if it helps me," that won't do you any good at all, see. It's your approach to God's divine article is what does it.
Just like the brass serpent: Why, the serpent didn't have no virtue in it; it was a piece of brass. They brought it up out of Egypt. Neither did the pole have any virtue in it---not a bit---but it was obeying what God said do. What brought the power, what brought the virtue is obedience to the Word of God, and that's the same thing tonight.

10 And now, as I pray over these handkerchiefs with all my heart, I would... If you'll excuse me for not doing it. Dr. Caubles, I'll ask you to help. Now, if you fail to get this, or if you're from any part of the country, you'll know your handkerchief. I don't know whether my secretary's here tonight or not. I suppose so, somewhere in the building. We send out scores of those things. Thousands a year goes all over the world; great testimonies returned. Now we'll be glad ... it's free of charge. Everything we have is free.
Now, if you fail to get yours... We don't have handkerchiefs, 'cause it cost us so much---maybe twenty-five cents apiece. And you send out a couple thousand a week, you know what it would cost you. So we just don't have the money, but we buy hundreds of yards of ribbon. And I pray over that ribbon---cut it in little bitty pieces---and send it to all different parts of the world. And the people pin it on their underneath garment. Instructions is given on what to do. And we'll be glad to send...
Now, it's not that we want you to write to us, friends. I know a lot of these radio programs today; they: "Just write me. I want your address. Just let us know you're listening at us."
I have nothing against that, but you know yourself it's a publicity stunt to try to get your address to keep carding you and mailing you and billing you to send them money, and so forth. Which, that's all right. I have nothing against it. If God tells you to do that, all right. But, brother, we can hardly answer half the letters we get now, see. So, it isn't to get your address; it's trying to help you. That's the only alternative we have.

11 And now, I will pray for these after I'm sure His anointing Spirit is on me, see. It would be better, because I...
God, to serve Him is like a dual personality, I guess, or something. You go out here, you like to work and build, help to build a house, go fishing, or hunting, or whatever it is; you're just on your own then. But when that Spirit of God strikes you, it's something different then. It's the anointing of God using that individual vessel. And if it's truth ... if it is the truth, then them words that come forth, uttered by a being---it's either God or the devil. You'd know that.
Now, it's what you think it is is what'll determine what you get from it, see. Now, if you believe it to be God, there's only two things could speak. It had to be supernatural, and in supernatural it only come from two resources: that's either God or the devil.
And I want somebody to ever put their finger on a scripture, or any person, that was ever healed by the devil, or any scripture that even pertained to the devil healing. The devil could put curses on you, but he can't take them off. The Lord's the only one who can heal sicknesses or diseases---is the Lord.
So, that's what they claim: Jesus, He was Beelzebub. They said He was Beelzebub because He could read and know what was wrong with those people; know what their diseases was, know what their names was, and who they was and where they come from. Not everybody, I suppose; He said just as the Father would show Him.
But they said, "Well, He's a fortuneteller." But the thing of it was, He healed the sick by that, and they couldn't understand that. So that got them all tore up. So they didn't know what to do about it. So it's the same thing tonight. But on this here, is God. Obeying His command is what God has said do.

12 I am glad tonight. I don't know whether Brother Daugherty has raised up, or give a testimony, and Sister Daugherty. Is Betty with you, Brother Daugherty? One of my first books I published called, "I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision"; to a little lady, a little girl, dying with something like St. Vitas dance, just screaming and going on. The doctors had give her up, and ministers had prayed.
I was having a meeting. There's men sitting right here tonight, pitched in fifty-cents apiece to pay my railroad fare to come over here in Louisville, catch a train to go to St. Louis to see this little girl.
And laying there in the bed. Poor Brother Daugherty, Sister Daugherty, all worn and torn. I was in there several hours, and went down to his church and prayed. And the poor little child laid there, gnawing its tongue, and eating a... Oh, horrible condition. A little blond-headed girl. Just very pathetic, like a animal, just screaming and going on. Screamed so much, and been sick so many months until it just didn't look like a human being.
And I waited, I went down to his church, I prayed, I made all kind of promises to God. Come back, and was sitting in his ... a Ford car, sitting out in front of the house. I can just almost see it now. Looking out across the hood of the car, and there come a vision, "Thus saith the Lord."
That settled it. Where are you at, Betty honey. There she is, right there. All right. There's the little girl now, a young woman fine and healthy by God's grace. Her mother and dad sits there too, and her little sister.

13 The first case that was my going to St. Louis, my call to there, went there for my first revival, begin with Betty's testimony in St. Louis, Missouri.
How many ever read that little book called "Heavenly Vision"? Amen. You remember testimony of the Daugherty family? That's the little lady sitting right there now.
How the Holy Spirit told me, said, to have Reverend ... the young Reverend here, to stand to one side, and the father to stand to the other side, have the mother to get a little piece of white cloth and wet it, and stand there and be wiping down the baby's face and hands and to its feet, just as I repeated: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name."
When it come right to the end then, the Spirit of the Lord come down, said just exactly what to do. There's Betty sitting there, testimony, living and well.
Well, He's just God, that's all. We just love Him. We're trying to think it's way off somewhere else, when it's right with us. "I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world."

14 The Lord bless you now. And I promised that I'd try to let you out just as early as possible. I'll read a scripture here, and go right straight to the service, speak a little, and then we'll have the prayer for the sick.
Now, I think, if I'm not mistaken, Brother Caubles, is it Sunday night at the...? [Brother Caubles says, "Memorial Auditorium."] Memorial Auditorium. And so, that's down on Fourth Street---some of the visitors, and so forth. You've been real lovely this week, all of you, to come to the church. Sometimes people don't want to go to church. They say, "Well, these people, that's in a church..."
But remember, you're just as much interdenominational here as you would be in the auditorium, just the same. "No creed but Christ, no law but love, no book but the Bible." That's the way we do it. And we don't have... "We have fellowship one with the other, while the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness." Isn't that wonderful?

15 Now, in the book of St. Luke, and beginning with the 10th chapter and the 46th verse, I shall read just a portion of the Scripture.
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
... Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
... Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole ... immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

16 Shall we speak to this One now, that this is written after.
Kind Heavenly Father, we address Thee in Jesus' name, thanking Thee for this scripture, and for being alive today. Many things has changed in the world. Times has changed, transportation's changed, people has changed, but Thy Word never changes. It's forever the same. And I thank Thee for it.
And may that same lovely Jesus, and the faith of this blind man who could stop the Master on His road, may it stop Him tonight. Many of the people here that are sick, and may He heal them all. Forgive us of our sins and shortcomings. And may Thy love be with us tonight. And may it be brought through Your servant, as we being units, or offsprings of God, sons of God, a part of God, with God's Spirit to minister one to another.
And may the love of God so wrap our hearts together, that there'll be no place at all for doubts. And may just perfect love and faith exist in this building tonight. And may many be healed, saved, backsliders reclaimed, and the angels of heaven rejoice when the meeting's finished. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

17 Now, our scene for the next few moments is a tragic one in one way. There's hardly anything ... way I could describe the darkness of this scene. It's a blind man; he's sitting by the walls of a great, wicked city.
And I've often thought that how that men could say that people were blind for the glory of God. I never could see that: a person shut off in darkness and blackness for the glory of God. God created man to have five senses, and then take the sense of sight away from him and say it's God's will. That's always been a hard thing for me to see. I can hardly believe it.
And just like I was talking to a fellow not long ago about ... nothing about... If there, perhaps, may be a Catholic friend sitting here, I'm not saying this for any down. Remember, the Protestant religion needs to be built up a whole lot before the Catholics can be criticized. That's right. But the Carmelite order of the Catholic Church, them ladies to go in, young ladies, and just stay behind prison walls all their life. They'd be a lot better off, to my opinion, out trying to do something for the glory of God, I think.
But now, we Protestants have things just as bad. We know to do good and do it not, and then to us, it would be evil. But, some of those things are hard things for me to see. Maybe it's because of me. I don't know.

18 But, this poor, blind man sitting outside of a big, wicked city; always was a wicked city. As far as I know, still a wicked city. In the Bible, it's represented as the roads to hell. Jerusalem sits on a hill; Jericho sits in the valley.
And the good Samaritan found the man coming from Jerusalem, down to Jericho when he fell among thieves. Think of it: He was backsliding---coming from the heavenly to the cursed. Jericho is a cursed city. Jerusalem is a blessed city. And he was on his road, backsliding, when he fell among thieves and robbers that stripped him.
And that's when you'll fall among thieves and robbers, when you start backsliding away from God. Just expect the enemy to be along the road.

19 And here we see this blind Bartimaeus sitting at the gate, maybe a cold November day, and the wind's a-blowing. His ragged coat's ... and he's sitting there. Not only that, but perhaps hungry---a man blind, and then hungry.
Many beggars was in that day, so he had a lot of competition. Very few nickels was given to him. I imagine there was so many beggars till there was no way at all the man could have any assurance. And everything that he had, he had to beg for it. And so many other beggars along; just now and then he got a coin.
And that was a hard life. There's no surgery. And if there was such a thing as surgery for his eyes, well, he didn't have the money to pay for it. And perhaps the doctors wouldn't have done it without money. I doubt them having surgery of that type, or maybe in his case. I understand, according to some theologians, that he was born blind.
So the man, anyhow, was blind, sitting there, winter time coming on: Hopeless, helpless, nothing to eat, hungry; sitting outside of the walls of a great, cruel city; and it coming wintertime, shivering in the cold. What a tragic scene. My! That could picture some darkness. And not knowing that just down the road a little piece come relief for him.

20 There might be some of you sitting here tonight in almost in that condition: Hopeless as far as medical is concerned, helpless as far as any help is concerned, and don't know that maybe standing right near you, stands your healing, just as close as it was to blind Bartimaeus.
And there he was sitting at the gate, begging. And I can imagine as he was sitting there, begging, coins... It'd been perhaps, wintertime coming on; not many travelers that day. The great stones---cobblestones---in the road. That road led from Jericho to Jerusalem was well polished with travelers as they traveled over it.
The great Joshua, the conqueror for Israel, led the Israelites up this same road to Jericho. And also on that same road went Elijah and Elisha one day to the translation of Elijah. Many great historical marks was along the side of the road, but the scream had come like it is in Louisville, Kentucky, tonight: "The days of miracles is past."
Poor fellow, without a hope, sitting outside of the gates; no church to take him in, nobody to help him. And what help could be done couldn't console him, because the man was blind and he wanted his sight. And there he's sitting here.

21 Then I can imagine, the first thing you know, somebody begin to slip by. He begged for a coin, sitting in his prison of darkness, and no coin dropped in. He hears something. Now, after a while he hears some footsteps approaching. What is it? Somebody says, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
Oh, my. "Faith cometh by hearing." Somebody had told him that there was a man who prayed for the sick and opened the eyes of the blind---healed the sick. He was God's Son.
Now, but what little chance did blind Bartimaeus have, sitting by the side of the gate. A beggar himself, and in this distress, sitting there, and all hopes gone. And yet, the only hope that he had was passing by.
Now, he had one thing he could do: that was call.

22 Now, if faith cometh by hearing, hearing of the Word, and he knew that Jesus come by, he couldn't say, "Now, wait. I'm might see Him another day. I'll try tomorrow night at the next meeting." He didn't have that opportunity. That was his first and last opportunity. The only opportunity he ever had, or ever would have, to ever receive his sight.
So, he had to do something. He raised, and screamed to the top of his voice, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!"
There, Jesus facing up that road, a road that... You and I, tonight, all of us are guilty of sending Him up that road. On His mind He knew that He was going to Calvary up that road. On that road He knowed He was going to Gethsemane. He was going to Pilate's judgment hall. He was to be beaten, mocked, and His great gifts of God was to be put at trial. Going to put a rag around His head and smack Him on the head and say, "Now, if You know all what's in the people's hearts and minds, tell me who hit you."
All those things faced Him, a-quivering, bittering, death there He had to face. He knew also, hanging in His mind there, that He was going up to have His hands placed around a pole, His clothes stripped off of Him, and lashes that would burn plumb into the bone was going around Him. And His blood would bathe His side. And a cruel, thorn crown would be placed on His head. And He'd be nailed to a cross, and hang there, bleeding, bleating, dying, as the most bloody sacrifice was ever offered in the world. And all of that confronting Him. And He's walking; I can see Him in His air of quietness as He walked straight and the disciples going along, putting the people off the road.

23 And to think what little chance with all of that hanging before Him, did this poor, unseen, unthought-of, blind beggar, hunched against the wall... When businessmen come by, half ... one-half, not even a speck of authority to the size of this would pass him by without giving him a penny. But, yet, how is he going to attract that man? With one thing: "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
And to think, with all that hanging in front of Jesus, that blind beggar's cry stopped Him still in His tracks. He stopped.
Oh, friends, His love and compassion for the sick was so great, till no matter what the task was ahead of Him, He was always willing to minister to those who were in need. It stopped Him still, a cry from an unprivileged ... from a blind beggar. An old, ragged beggar standing by the side of the wall stopped the Son of God still in His journey.
Your cry tonight will stop Him. He's passing through here tonight. Your cry will stop Him.
He said, "What...? Bring him here to Me."
And they brought... [Unclear words],

24 now. I want you to notice another dramatic thing here. Wish we had time to get into it. Something come to my mind.
Now, notice, he didn't know how he was going to find Him. The only thing he knowed, he sat in a dark world he'd never seen. But there he raised up, throwed aside his old, ragged coat. If it'd been an hour before that, if he'd have lost that coat, or if he'd had to lay it down, he'd folded it neatly, and laid it to one side because he knowed he couldn't find it any more. He was blind, hardly anybody would help him. But now faith takes a hold. Faith springs on what? "I've attracted the attention of the Son of God, and He's bid me come to Him."
Every one of you here tonight's got the same bidding. "Whosoever will, let him come."
"I've attracted His attention. He's called me. Now, I won't need the coat any more as long as I obey Him. He would've never give me the invitation if He didn't mean to give me help."
And He'd never been wounded for your transgressions if He hadn't have meant to take them away. He'd have never been striped for your healing, unless He meant to take it away from you.

25 You've got His attention now. What do you do?
Here's faith going in action. Throws aside the garment. "I won't need it anymore. I'm going to be a new creature from now on." He throwed aside his garment.
"How can you see?"
Out in his dark, black world where he couldn't see nothing, he spread forth his ragged sleeve like that, and his bony arms sticking through it. He made a way to find Jesus. No matter what condition he was in, he had His attention. He didn't know which way he was going. He knowed it come from that direction. So here he goes with his arms stretched out. His ragged sleeves hanging down, tears running from the place where the eyes should be, running to Him. Didn't know how he was going to find Him, but the Word of God said, "Come," and he was going.
There's the main thing. No matter how sick you are, how bad you are, how many trials you've had. When He said, "Whosoever will, let him come," He meant you. That's right.
"How am I going to get to it, Brother Branham? The doctor said I can't get well."
Throw it aside. Let's go. We've got His attention tonight. He's passing this way. He's been here every night this week. He's here now. He'll be anywhere where two or three are gathered in His name: "I'll be in their midst. Whatever they agree upon and ask, they shall receive it." We've got His attention now. He's moving through the building.
Now, raise your hands of faith to Him and say, "Lord, that I might receive my sight."
He said,

26 "What would you have...?"
Now, Jesus didn't say, "Now, will you sign a pledge card to go to church six months out of the year? What church will you join if I heal you?" That wasn't even in the question. The main thing was: "Get the man his desire."
That's the thing tonight. No matter whether you're Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, or whatever you are, if you ask Jesus Christ for healing tonight, He'll do it. That's all. He's promised it in His Word, and He's obligated to His Word to do it. That's right. He'll take care of the rest of it, if you'll just obey Him there. Just believe His Word.
There he was, "That I might receive my sight, Lord."
And He looked around to him and said, "Thy faith has saved thee." He never said, "Now, I know that you're going to be well." He just said, "Your faith has saved you." He knew that if that man respected the gift of God in that measure, God would be obligated to reward him of his faith. There you are. He come with a full heart. Jesus knowed what he was coming for. Jesus knowed what he was looking for. He knew the depths of his faith. And He said, "Thy faith has saved thee."
The man turned around and said, "I'm going to get it. It'll be mine." Walked around, said, "I begin to see daylight already." And away he went. He could see daylight. God had healed him.

27 I read a little story here, not long ago; maybe it's mythical, maybe it's not. I don't know. They say that Bartimaeus was born blind. Said he used to have two little turtledoves that they would turn over one another and do little enchantments that'd attract the tourists' attention that was coming by. In order ... so many beggars, if he didn't have something to attract their attention, he'd never get a coin. So they would do little tumbles over each other.
Said he had a little girl he had never seen. And the girl got sick one night, and the doctor could do nothing for her. And he went out and prayed and said, "Lord, if You will heal my little girl, tomorrow I'll offer these turtledoves as a sacrifice."
Well, the next day the little girl was better. Immediately, blind Bartimaeus goes up to the ... or, the sacrifice to the temple, and gives the sacrifice over. He didn't have no turtledoves now.

28 And then one night, they said his wife got sick, sometime later. And nowadays, a blind man is led by a dog. Them days, a blind person was led by a lamb. A dog was a cursed thing amongst the Jews. And they... So he had a lamb. And so, the lamb led him.
And so the next morning, he was going up to the sacrifice to offer his lamb because his wife got well ... or, was better the next morning. And it said ... Caiaphas, the great high priest said, "Where goest thou, blind Bartimaeus?"
He said, "Oh, priest, I am going up to offer my lamb for a sacrifice." He told him the story that his wife was sick and he promised God that he would give the sacrifice of the lamb if He would heal his wife. And God had healed his wife, so he was going to make his word good.
"Why," he said, "blind Bartimaeus, I'll give you the price of a lamb, and you buy it at the stalls."
And he said, "No, I never offered God a lamb, I offered Him this lamb. This was the lamb that I offered." That's it.
You try to say, "Well, God was good to me; I'll to this."
Now, God wants you. You're the lamb that God's after, see.
"I'll send my children to Sunday School."
That's wrong. You must take them to Sunday School, see. You must go, too. God wants you. Now, be an example.

29 Now, notice. And then the high priest said, "Blind Bartimaeus, you cannot offer this lamb. Why, blind Bartimaeus, that lamb is your eyes. Why, you can't offer that lamb, it's your eyes." And said...
He said, "Oh high priest, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. I promised Him this lamb and I must offer it."
Well, on that cold afternoon, when that noise came down the street; God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eye. He give him back his eyes.
That same Lamb is provided tonight, here in this church for your sickness, for your troubles, for your heartache, for your diseases. For whatever you have wrong, God has a provided Lamb. That's the Lamb of God that gave His life at Calvary for every one of us. For your sickness and your sins, the Lamb is provided for you tonight.
While we're on this well-beaten Ecclesiastical road, where many are passing by, saying, "The days of miracles is past.", can't you hear that little noise somewhere down in your heart: "He rose from the dead. He liveth forevermore." and "I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world."?
May He be so real to you tonight, you believers, until you can't help from believing. And may He come and do something just a little different tonight, and make it so real to you, till you go away saying, "Yes, I believe."

30 My ministry is not to minister to individuals. The thing of it is, is to come together, sit in heavenly places. Then when you see God's Spirit moving, and you're sure that it's God's Spirit moving, then you just accept God where you are. Accept Jesus, and healing will take care for its own, then. Shall we pray?
Lord, in the name of Jesus the Son of God, that Lamb provided from the foundation of the world, that was made sin from the foundation, that was wounded back there from the foundation for our healing. I pray that people here tonight in Louisville, Kentucky, in this little church tonight, will close the doors of their hearts from all unbelief and refuse to accept it. And may they, tonight, just look to Calvary and say, "Lord, I have known in Thy Word that You said 'The things that I do shall you also.' And, 'I'll be with you, even in you to the end of the world.' And, 'A little while and the world seeth Me no more (the unbeliever) but yet ye shall see Me, for I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world.'"
Come, Lord Jesus. Manifest Your love, and compassion, and Yourself to this audience of people tonight, by taking away their iniquity, and healing their diseases. In Jesus Christ's name, the Son of God, I ask it. Amen.

31 All right. I believe we was in "Q" last night. Is that right? giving prayer card "Q." Well, let's take 85 to 100, if that number hasn't already been called.
[Break in tape.]
... do what He could only know as the Father showed Him. Is that right? Now how many believers in here know that that's the truth, that Jesus did know nothing, or could do nothing, unless first the Father showed Him by vision? Let's see your hands. That's exactly. He said that. We're aware of it. Now then the Father dealt with Him. He said, "I can do nothing ... I do nothing in Myself, but what I see the Father doing, that I'll do."
Then He walked down amongst people who were sick, dying; walked by the dead, everything else, but He didn't... He raised some of them. He healed some of them. But He only did it at the command of Jehovah God, His Father. Is that right. And Jehovah God, His Father, was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. So Christ was Jehovah God. That's right. He was either God or the biggest deceiver the world's ever had.
If He was just a man, and a different person from God, then you're in sin. His blood was no more than mine or yours. He was either God, and that was Immanuel's blood, or you're still in sin.

32 Today when they try to break up God and make Him something that He isn't, I tell you, that's one of the biggest curses on the Christian church today.
They say, "Oh, He was a good man. Yes, He was a teacher. He was a philosopher. Oh, He was a prophet. What He said come to pass."
He was more than a teacher, yet He was a teacher. He was more than a prophet, yet He was a prophet. He was God. God was in Christ. He was the Immanuel Jehovah anointed, walking here on earth, living among men.
First Timothy 3:16: "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, for God was manifested in the flesh, seen of angels, preached on the world, believed on in the world, received up into glory."---God Himself.
So now, Jesus was God's manifestation of His own being on earth, unfolding Himself into a human being to take away sin and make a way for sickness to be healed.
And if there is no divine healing, there is no resurrection of the dead. It's the earnest of your resurrection. Amen.
I quit preaching quick tonight, you noticed it: The Angel of the Lord is here. That's right.
Now in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I take every spirit in here under my control for the glory of God. And may the Lord Jesus Christ, who is my full Guide, that my life is now surrendered to Him as an empty channel that He speaks through, may He have control in my life, that His Spirit may control everything that's in here. And cast out every evil spirit, heal every sick person that's in the building. Believe me as God's servant, for I speak in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

33 Now, Father, to these handkerchiefs, You know the people. You know what they mean. And I pray that You'll heal every one that these handkerchiefs represent, as I lay my hands upon them. They're not mine now at this time; they're given to You; they're Yours. May Your Holy Spirit charge every handkerchief with a blessing. Grant it, Lord. May every sick person be healed, and God glorified.
One place in the Scripture where God looked down through angry eyes through the pillar of fire, and the Red Sea got scared and moved back. And Israel went over into the land of promise. May sickness tonight that's cut these people off from health, may God look back through that pillar of fire tonight, that every one of these handkerchiefs, and when they're laid upon the sick bodies, may the enemy move back, and the people cross to the promise, of God's promise of good health. For I ask it in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

34 All right. Bring your patient.
Now, would everyone reverent just as... Just a moment. This man standing here, a deaf spirit's on him. Bow your heads so we can get that to leave.
O Lord, kind Heavenly Father, feeling this enemy now, as it shakes---would try to hold the man, but... He may be so deaf that he can't even hear your Word; I don't know, Thou does. And now, Lord, if that be the case, let Thy servant's faith mount, Lord, highly. Move down into his body, knowing this: that Thou has promised by laying on of hands, casting out spirits, and here's a spirit of deafness. The man can't hear, perhaps; but Thou, Lord, can give him his hearing.
And now with faith, believing, I come to challenge this spirit that's on him. And in the name of Jesus Christ, who I represent... Calvary, where He won the victory over you, Satan, and all your kind, and your sickness. For He triumphed! And He sent His servants that they might minister His blessings to the people. Come out of the man! In the name Jesus Christ, I charge thee to do this.
[Brother Branham speaks aside.] Do you hear me? How deaf was you? [The man speaks to Bro. Branham.] Thirty years. You may raise your head. Hear me all right? [The man says, "Praise the Lord."] Amen. Say, "I love the Lord." [The man says, "I love the Lord."] What I say low, you say real loud. Praise the Lord. ["Praise the Lord!"] I love Jesus. ["I love Jesus!"] Now, watch. I'm whispering. This microphone's alive. Glory to God. ["Glory to God!"] Now, hold this ear. Praise the Lord! ["Glory to God!"] Glory to Jesus. ["Glory to Jesus!"]
The man is well. Sir, your faith has made you whole. Now, God has blessed you; you serve Him. Yes, I see there's something else wrong with you, also. You have a rupture, don't you? [The man says, "That's right."] That's right? ["That's right."] Do you believe He's going to make that well? ["I do."] God bless you. If He can give you your hearing, He can do that, can't He? You're standing close, and I have a contact with your spirit. You're aware that something's going on, isn't it? Yes, sir. A strange feeling you have never felt this. Isn't that right? Just raise your hand high, see. You're so close now, in anointing of God, you're...
Say, don't you do some kind of work around a jail, or jail services, isn't that right? In a jail? ["About sixteen years."] Yes, sir. I see you do. Yes, sir. And isn't your name Kopp, or something like K-O-double-P. That's is right. Go home now, you're well. God has made you well. God bless you. Go and just be happy and rejoice. Believe.

35 Now, you might wonder why I challenged that spirit of deafness. The man, not able to hear the Gospel, see, then he don't know how to receive faith. Others, perhaps, just leave it to them. Sometimes cripples, or something, or something like that, you can challenge it. Now the man can hear. He'll be able to hear the rest of his life if he keeps that faith. But now, in about another thirty-six, or seventy-two hours, that man will get just as deaf as he ever was. That's right. 'Cause that thing in there which was cutting off his hearing will swell again.
What it was, it's just like what's a transparent band around my hand, and the circulation's cut off. The doctors would come and say, "Well, the nerves is dead in your hand, Reverend Branham. We'll amputate this finger. No matter how much salve, how much you put on, that'll never get well until those nerves get right."
Well, if the nerves is dead and just died that far, why didn't they die out this way?
Now, the doctor, the only thing he can work on is what he can see, or feel, or some of his senses will declare. "Well, there's nothing can do."
See, a spirit,

36 now, in that man's ears. The eardrums that was in his ear, the life that operated those eardrums was cut off---circulation.
Now, the doctor says, "Well, the nerves died."
Well, what made them die? That's what I want to know. They didn't die all over his body; just died there.
Now, you Bible believers believe God, don't you? Well, the Bible said, "When the deaf spirit come out of the man, he could hear. The deaf what? Spirit. Deaf spirit come out. When the deaf and dumb spirit come out, he could speak and hear. The same spirit like ... a deaf spirit was holding his ears, a dumb spirit holding on this nerve here on his vocals. Well then, when they left, it was loosed.
Now, if I cut the band loose from my hand, well, the first thing you know, it gets to feeling different; I can tell it. Well then, that'll be all right for a little while, then it'll get to hurting, aching. It'll get worse than it ever was.
Don't you disbelieve. Just keep holding right on.

37 I've seen people come to this platform totally blind (not here, but in my meetings), stand and read the Bible. I've never seen the spirit challenged yet but what something happened. Read the Bible. In less than a week, be back the following meeting again, trying to get their sight. They just... They got knowledge, but they haven't got faith.
Faith... The Bible said, "When the unclean spirit's gone out of a man, he walks in dry places." Is that right? "And then he returns back bringing seven other devils worse than he was." Now, if the goodman of the house isn't there to keep him away, he'll enter in by force. So the goodman of your house is faith. Hold there and don't...
I felt a little feeling moving across the audience a few minutes ago, about calling a man's name. Well, didn't Jesus tell Peter who you are? Don't be skeptic; believe! Just think... It's nothing unscriptural. If anything's a little worry in your mind, just put a note up here. You'll see it's "Thus saith the Lord" in the Bible. So, just don't do that, 'cause that hinders the work.

38 All right. Is this the lady? How do you do? All right. Jesus Christ, of course, knows everything. He knows all of us. He knows you, He knows me. And perhaps, maybe, I don't know, we may have never met in life. I don't recognize you. If we ever have met, I don't recognize you. And perhaps wouldn't now, anyhow. But, if we've ever met on the street, or met anywhere else, you can realize that something's going on now that wasn't going on then. It's because it's in the presence of His Being; not mine, your brother. In the presence of Him. That's right.
And I see a man and a woman standing in a woman's place. And there's something ... they got a baby---a little child---a little girl baby. Now, it seems that this child is school age, and there's something in the legs. There's something wrong. It's a... It's you! You was born with something wrong in the leg. It's a vein condition in the leg. Isn't that right? And haven't you got somebody on your mind that's near death with a cancer?
Lord Jesus, merciful Heavenly Father, send Thy loving Spirit to this one tonight. And grant Your blessings to her as I bless her. In Jesus Christ's name, may it be so. Amen.
God bless you, sister. Go and live now. May God be with you and bless you. Amen.
All right. Be reverent.

39 You were praying, wasn't you, sir? You're believing with all your heart? You want to get over that back trouble? You do? If I told you you were healed, would you believe me as God's prophet? Stand up and accept it, then. Your faith has saved you, brother. Go in peace. God be with you.
All right. You? Supposing that we be strangers to each other. Only God alone knows between us. That's all. But one of these days, we're going to have to meet again into His presence, and give an account for all that we've done or said here on earth, when the great book is opened in the judgment.
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." That's it, isn't it? Baptism of the Holy Ghost. You just got it. That's it.
You got high blood pressure, caused from a nervous condition. Go. You're going to receive it. Jesus Christ will grant it to you.
God, grant this in Jesus' name. Amen.
May the mercies of God rest upon those, His children, who believe Him and have faith in Him. God be merciful.

40 Do you believe that rupture's gone? You do? Well, stand up then, accept it. God bless you.
All right. We are strangers to each other, I suppose. Do you believe the things that you see comes from God? Well, you realize that you must have His help, and must have it immediately, if you live much longer. You realize it's cancer, don't you? And now, that cancer is located in the ear, isn't it? Isn't that right?
Almighty God, grant that this horrible demon will leave the woman, in the name of Jesus the Son of God. Amen.
Go believing, don't doubt. You shall be well, just have faith. Take His Word, don't...
Mother, I thought it was you, but it's the lady sitting near you, He's hanging over. There's grace of God. Got bowel trouble, haven't you, lady? Isn't that right? Mother, lay your hands over on her there, will you?
Kind Heavenly Father, be merciful to her, and heal her. And my poor dear mother sitting there, sick, tonight, too. Grant it to her. May this be done through Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Do you believe? Do you know my mother? Ever acquainted with her? You just met her, huh? You know the reason you just met her? You've come from a long distance coming here. You live in Illinois, don't you? If that's right, raise up your hand. That's the reason you don't know mother. God bless you, now. You're going back to be well.

41 Have faith, don't doubt. Just believe God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You do? All right. If you do, you can be made well.
All right. Are you believing with all your heart? 'Course, you know, longer I speak with you, more it would be known about you. You get sick once in awhile, don't you. That gallbladder what does that. Isn't that right? Causes something in the stomach, but it's... The gall duct can't come into the stomach, or at least that's what the doctor told you. Nice little fellow. You're worried about a child, or a son. He's not here. But the son suffers ... had polio. Isn't that right? I'm not reading your mind, lady. You're in the presence of God. Do you believe for you and your son? Come here.
Father, I bless this poor woman. And may Your blessings be upon her. You said, "Whatever you bind on earth, I'll bind in heaven. What you loose on earth, I'll loose in heaven." Therefore, I ask for the blessing of my sister's heart's desire in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
God bless you, lady. Go now. Receive and believe with all your heart. All right.

42 How do you do, sister? Do you believe Him now with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind? Believing God is going to do this for you? Such great faith. You believe the asthmatic condition's going to leave you, don't you? All right. You go ahead now. You're healed.
Got spinal trouble, haven't you? Do you believe God's going to make you well? You're a stranger too, here. Do you believe God will tell me where you're from? If I will, would you stand and accept your healing? You're from Michigan. Stand up, go home, and be well. God bless you. Just have faith, don't doubt. Believe with all your heart, God shall grant it.
How do you do? Do you believe with all your heart? Been getting weak lately, haven't you? Something slipped up on you here that you don't know about. Besides your eyes going bad, you've got TB also. You're acquainted with that, are you? It wouldn't look, to look at you, but you are. Do you believe He's going to make you well now? Do you know that's the first disease that God ever healed in the Bible? First promise He ever made was take away consumption. Do you believe you have it now, while you're in His presence? Do you now, like blind Bartimaeus of old, accept it now? Go, saying, "Jesus, I take Your Word. I believe I'm healed." What you're wanting me to do is lay hands on you, 'cause that's where your faith lays. Come here.
Kind Father, spare the life of a dying woman. And may Thy mercies be given to her, and may she live through Jesus Christ. Because He lives, may she live also. Amen.
God bless you, lady. Go now, be of good cheer.

43 Come, sir. I want to ask you something. You've asked for this opportunity, to God, in prayer. You said if you could ever get here to this platform, I'd offer this prayer that you could go home and eat, your stomach trouble would be over, and you'd get well. You was thinking that when you was sitting down there. Is that the truth? Now, go eat, for your faith has saved you.
Do you believe, sister, with all your heart?
Do you believe He heard your prayer, sir, with that internal trouble sitting there? Do you believe He did? He did. Raise up, now, you can go home and be made well. God bless you. Amen. God bless you. Your faith saved you, brother. Go, rejoicing, being happy.
The gentleman sitting next to you there has that bronchial all the time. Isn't that right, sir? Now, you all put your arms around one another. Put your arms... That's right.
O Lord Jesus, grant this blessing. For Jesus Christ's sake I ask it. Amen.
God be with you.

44 If you believe, you can be healed of that tumor without an operation. Do you accept your healing right now? May the Lord bless you, my sister, as I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, praying that you'll never have to have the operation. Amen. Go now. As you have believed, so will it be to you.
Oh, He is wonderful!
Excuse me. Do you believe the kidney trouble's going to leave you, you're going to get well? You do? Raise up your hand, say, "I accept Jesus Christ now as my healer." [The lady repeats.]
O God, merciful One who sent Jesus Christ, Thy Son, and raised Him up from the dead that He'd show forth the same signs that He did while He was here on earth. May our sister be healed. Amen.
God bless you. Go now, believing with all your heart.

45 How do you do? Into His presence we both enter, and only for His glory, lady. And it's Him, the one that can help you. I'm just your brother. Been having some trouble. It's a stiffness coming into your body. I see you trying to move from a bed, or something, and you get kind of stiff, and... It's arthritis. Is that right?
A little trouble, too, like a heart trouble's been fluttering around, trying to bother you, too. Isn't that right? Will you obey me as God's prophet? You asked God to fill your soul full of the Holy Ghost. Go off the platform just stomping your feet like that, and get rid of the arthritis, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Let's say, "Praise be to God." Obedience is better than sacrifice, hearkening unto the fats of rams." You must believe Him.
I seen someone get hurt. I can't place it. Oh, yes, I do. It's a lady, and she was... Today she's hurt her ankle. Yes. You sprained your ankle somehow. I seen you limp or turn sideways. You were at a steps. And that was ... had a initial or something: YWCA. Is that right? You sprained your ankle today there. Is that right? Same clothes. All right. Stand up. Jesus Christ heals your sprained ankle. You can go home and be made well.
The rest of you can be healed, too. Do you believe it? Let's bow our heads just a moment.

46 Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, come near now, and bless this people who was waiting. As Thy servant, strength is going. More must be done. And I ask Thee to be merciful to the people. And at this time, may Your Spirit come upon them.
And now, with your heads bowed, every one of you, your eyes closed, I'm going to ask you... They touched my side, and I know that I can't tell my own being. It's time for me to go. But He's here to make well every one of you, if you'll just believe with all your heart. Surely, I trust that I've found grace in your sight, that I've told you the truth after God telling me so. And God has confirmed it to be so.
Now, I would that you'd just lay your hands on someone near you. The Scripture said, "These signs shall follow them that believe. They shall lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover," and you all are believers. Then put your own faith out to work, and lay your hands over on one another. And each one of you start praying right now. Praying right out as you would in church, and asking God to heal the person next to you. And while you're asking healing for them, healing shall come to you. Now just start praying for one another. Praying that God will heal one another.
Lord Jesus, I ask You to grant this blessing tonight. Now, I send the power of God, through Jesus Christ's name, into every human body in this building for healing.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Good evening, friends. I'm so happy to be here tonight, in the name of our Lord, to serve the Lord Jesus, and enjoy this marvelous fellowship with you people. I am very sure that you have appreciated Brother Bosworth's message. He is a very fine teacher. And I was so glad to have him to teach tonight.
Now, I will just speak a few moments. And just in order to kind of feel the spirit of the people. I'm sure you all understand what I mean. And then we'll start praying for the sick.
At this time, I wish to have some Scripture read: Saint Mark, the tenth chapter, forty-sixth verse, unto fifty-two. The interpreter will read now. [The interpreter reads the Scripture.]
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

2 Shall we bow our heads for prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee, tonight, for Thy great love to us. We are unworthy, but we come because we have been bidden to come. And we pray that You'll receive us tonight. Bless Thy Word, save Thy people, heal the sick, get glory out of the service. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Now, just to speak to you a few moments about this blind man at Jericho. I wouldn't try to add to what Brother Bosworth has said. But I just want to speak to you for a few moments, and then we'll start praying for the sick.
Before I speak, I would like for everyone to understand that in healing now, that it isn't anything that I do that causes you to get well. It isn't necessary that I lay my hands on you. It isn't necessary that I pray for you. It's necessary that you believe Jesus Christ healed you when He died for you. Do you understand? Say, "Amen."

3 My ministry is not to lay hands on people. It's to let the people see that Jesus has raised from the dead. And He's here, and He loves you. Now, Brother Bosworth, many other ministers, they preach the Word. And, through the Word, you believe. And then when I was put in the world, I was given a gift. That gift brings God in view of everyone, so you can see, you understand, that something supernatural is moving with the people. Then you're not to ... for me to pray for you then, it's for you to believe that He's here. You understand now, do you? It's your faith that touches Him. And that's when you're healed.

4 It is true, that when we join our faith together in prayer, why, it's a great result. I have never in my life, ever sincerely asked God for anything, that He either give it to me or told me why He couldn't give it to me. That's the truth. And I have been in the ministry twenty-three years. He is true. He is real. And if you'll ask Him sincerely, remember, He has promised to answer if you would believe Him. And when you see Him doing something supernatural, then you believe it. And look up with your heart and say, "I believe it, Lord. That means me." And then God will answer you. And then you're healed. And everybody can be healed at once.
See, if God could... Do you believe that God could save everybody in here tonight if they were sinners, and if everybody believed at one time? Jesus, at one time, would save every one of them. Do you believe that? Well, can't He heal the same way? Amen. It's a massive healing; there's where you see the glory come.

5 In Durban, South Africa, I was praying, and something come to the platform: a man in such a crippled condition. A vision showed that the man was going to be well. And I asked the people if they would believe. They said, "Yes." A little boy, his little eyes crossed, and they come straight. When those people seen that, I offered prayer for over a hundred thousand, and it was estimated, twenty-five thousand healings at once.
They piled up crutches, and wheelchairs, and cots, till it would take trucks to haul them away. What happened? They got in one accord. They said, "If we can see something that proves to us that the God you're talking about is true and living now, we'll believe it." And when they seen it, they wasn't speaking from their mind; they were speaking from their heart. They just got up and started out; that's what did it. Why, they ... most of those people didn't even know which was right and left hand. They had never seen white people before, some of them.

6 And you people, one of the smartest nations in the world, surely you could believe. You know why? Our education hinders us lots of times. We have been taught everything. One teaches this, one this; it's contrary one to another. And the poor white people, and the people who lives in civilization, has got so mixed up, they don't know what to believe. Now, isn't that about the truth? You know it.
What we need today, and the greatest healing we need today, is the healing of the body of Jesus Christ. His body, the body of believers that's been broke up by different denominations, and they differ one from another. They don't have love one for another. What we need tonight is a uniting together. All Christians shake hands, every denomination, then God will come down and visit us. Great signs and wonders will take place. Do you believe that?

7 When I first went out into the ministry, with this type of ministry, why, I met a group of people. They were called Pentecostal, The United Pentecost. They were in America, and they said to me, "Oh, Brother Branham, you need to belong to us. We've been looking for this. Don't have nothing to do with the other group." Then when I talked to the Assembly church, they said, "You come with us, Brother Branham. Don't have nothing to do with the other side." Everyone said the same thing.
Brethren, you know what I said? "I don't want to know neither side. Let me stand between you, put my arms around both of you, and say we are brethren." That's what we need. That's what the world needs. Then the church of Jesus Christ will move forward. God hasten the day till we can see it.

8 This blind man at the gate of Jericho, who had many odds against him, because he was a beggar... And he sat by the gate. Many beggars them days, so his chances was very small of him finding a few coins, to take care of himself and family. Perhaps the first ... the man out, that had a coin to give, he gave it to the first beggar he come to.
But this poor fellow was blind; maybe some that wasn't as bad off as him. I don't know just how long he had been blind, but maybe for a long time. But anyhow, he sat in a darkened world. My, that's a sad thing. That's one of the saddest sights, nearly, you can see.

9 But let me show you a sadder sight: That man that has good eyesight, but the devil has blinded his soul, that he's a son of God. He's very bad off, very, very bad. That's the worst kind of blindness. I would rather be physically blind, than to be spiritually blind, anytime. This man was not spiritually blind, but he was physically blind.
Let's think it was in a cold October afternoon, and the poor beggar hadn't found anyone to give him a coin this day. He folded his arms, with his little ragged coat on. And he slumped down by the wall, where the evening sun would keep him warm.
Let's imagine he was studying while he was sitting there. I can imagine him say "Two hundred yards out yonder, the old polished cobblestones, many great men passed over these stones. That's the same stones that Joshua, the warrior, walked over, when he went around the walls of Jericho. That's the same stones, two hundred years ago, that Elijah and Elisha, with their arms around each other, walked down this same road.
"But, oh, today, them days are gone. My priest tells me, says, 'The days of miracles is past. That was a long time ago.'"

10 Oh, I can hear the blind man say, "If I could have only been here when Joshua come; if I could've only been here when Elijah come down the road, I would have throwed my robe, went out to that great man of God, and said, 'Great man of God, have mercy, and pray for me.' But, oh, it's too far. The priest says, 'There's no more miracles. The days of miracles is past. That's all in the past.'"

11 It's so bad; they think the same thing today. Little did he know, just around the corner, come the Prince of all prophets, come the Lord of glory. Here He comes.
There's usually a noise where He's at: screaming, "Hosanna"; others mocking Him. And when He got close, I can hear our old beggar friend: "What's all the noise about?"
I can hear them say, "Be still. Jesus of Nazareth goes by." I can see him look up like he was trying to see.
It's a lady that looks at him; she feels sorry for him. She said, "Sir, it's Jesus of Nazareth, the great prophet, that heals the sick."
"Why, I never heard of Him," he said. "That's not the fanatic they're talking about?"
"Yes."
Then he jumps to his feet. "Oh, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
And some of the men from the temple said, "Sit down. You make too much noise."

12 But he screamed again, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Oh, he was two squares away. He realized that the only chance he'd ever have, was passing by him. He must get His attention. He must get an audition with Him, or he'd be blind always.
I wish that would be the attitude of every person tonight: If you can only get the attention of Jesus. You say, "Brother Branham, how will I know when I get this audition?" When something begins to tell you in your heart, "This is the truth." That's Jesus talking to you. So just remember, when you attract His attention, He begins to talk back to you. Then raise; then thank Him like this blind man did.
Oh, I feel so bad today when people try to make God something in a history. I want to ask you something: What good is a God of history if He isn't God today? What good is this Bible if it's something yesterday, if it ain't the same today? What good is a God of Moses if He isn't the same today? Hallelujah! He is God today. He's risen from the dead. He's here to prove Himself, that He's still the same God.

13 You say I have faith to believe, but you're afraid to let it loose. What good does it do a bird to have wings, if he isn't out of the cage? That's right; his wings doesn't do him any good. He's got to get out and throw his wings. In this church tonight, there's enough faith to heal every person here, but you're afraid to get out of the cage. Get out of the cage. Don't feed your bird more food. You can feed your bird ever such orthodox food; if you don't let him out of the cage, what good is it going to do him? That's right. It ain't your food; it's, turn Him loose.
He's not a God of history, altogether. He's the same today. How can people claim Him to be something that was, and isn't now? When did our God lose His power? When was He ever any different? What's the use of talking about a Holy Ghost the apostles had, that helped and blessed people then, if He won't do the same today? I can't make sense out of it. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. [Gap in the audio.] Amen. He is, and He will evermore be Jesus Christ. Same God, we love Him.

14 The Pharisees read the same Bible that the apostles read, but they didn't have faith to put into practice what they read. Every denomination today, reads the same Bible. But what I want to see: Somebody's got faith enough, that'll step out and take the word of it. Amen! That's what we need: Somebody to practice what they believe. Faith without works is dead. Doesn't do you any good to have faith. You say, "I believe that's the Bible."
Well, if it is the Bible, it's got promises. And if you believe that's true, well, the only thing you have to do is to let your faith loose with it. Practice what you believe. Every bit's a seed.
I was walking through your city today. I see you've got many fruit trees; that's very nice. Look at that fruit tree just a moment. That little fruit tree, when it was just a little bitty thing, no bigger than that, every apple that was ever on the tree, and ever would be on the tree, was on it when it was that big. If it wasn't, where did it come from? Where did the apples come from? You plant it, and it has to drink. And it drinks water. It drinks more and more. And more it drinks, it pushes out leaves, pushes out branches, pushes out blossoms, pushes out apples.

15 And that's the way a Christian is. When you're planted in Christ, the only thing you have to do is go to drinking. It gets its vitamin out of water. And the Christian gets his vitamin from the Word. Then, you drink, drink more, and spread out, push out. Push out salvation. Push out through the Holy Spirit. Push out, till that crippled arm comes straight. Just keep drinking. Drink! Planted by the inexhaustible fountain of life. Jesus Christ is the inexhaustible fountain of life. Drink till you can't drink no more. Drink until you become drunken; that you forget all your theology, and believe God. And drink till you're well. And then just keep on drinking. Amen! God lives!

16 Jesus, walking that road, yonder is Calvary before Him, in a few days. He set His face towards Calvary. That blind man's faith stopped Him. He looked way back, said, "Thy faith has saved thee." The crowd goes on down the road. The blind man stood there, saying, "How did that happen? Why," he said, "I can see."
He kept looking. After awhile he could see his hand. When he began to see his hand, he started screaming. Down the road he went, "Dear Jesus." Screaming, giving God praise. What a wonderful testimony.
I was reading a little story on him, here sometime ago. A little book said he had been blind for years. He was a married man. He had a ... he had a little girl. And so, one night, he would... He used to go up to the gates of the city, and he had... He was a beggar. And they said he had two little turtledoves. And they would do tumbles over each other, to entertain the passers by. And doing these little things would cause him to get a coin, where otherwise he wouldn't.

17 So one night, they said his little girl got sick, and he went out and prayed. And he said, "God, if you will let my little girl live, tomorrow I'll offer you my doves." So, his little girl got better. He offered his doves. Then he had nothing to attract the attention.
Not long after that, his wife got sick. And in these days, a blind man is lead by a dog. You know what I mean: how the dog leads the blind. In them days, a lamb led the blind. And blind Bartimaeus was led by a lamb. And he said, "Lord, if You'll let my wife get well, I'll give You my lamb. That's all I have." So, the next day, why, his wife got well.
He started up to the temple, to offer up his lamb. Caiaphas, the High Priest, and he walked out and he seen blind Bartimaeus. He said, "Oh, blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou?"
He said, "I am going, O high priest, to offer my lamb that I promised God, for healing my wife."

18 And so he said, "Blind Bartimaeus, you cannot offer that lamb." He said, "Here, I'll give you some money, and you go buy a lamb to offer."
He said, "No, I promised God this lamb."
Oh, if we'd only do that: keep our promise to God. When we tell Him we believe Him, let's mean it, for soul and body. And blind Bartimaeus ... I mean, Caiaphas, the high priest, he said, "Blind Bartimaeus, you cannot offer that lamb. That lamb is your eyes."
He said, "O high priest, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes."
Not long after that, one cold day, he heard a voice, said, "Thy faith has saved thee." God had provided a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. And, friends, God's provided the same Lamb for your eyes, your stomach, for all your sickness, and all your sin. Do you believe this? Shall we pray?

19 Heavenly Father, I pray that your mercies be here tonight with us. Oh, [Gap in the audio] ... is worthy. There is none, not one. But, Lord, by Thy grace, that we look to tonight, You washed these sinner's souls and made us white. And we can stand in Your presence and ask what we will, and are promised that we shall receive. Will You send Your Holy Spirit now, and let it be upon thy servant? Do the same work tonight that You would do if You were here in a body of flesh, that the people may know that You have risen from the dead, and You're here. And may they all believe. And may there not be a feeble person left in the meeting when the service is closed. For we ask it in Jesus' name, Amen.

20 I'm sorry to be late. Usually after the first night of those anointing, it catches me. And I ... it's kind of hard to talk. While I've been talking, it's been moving all through the building. I don't know whether the brother has that picture of it in here or not. I don't think so. No, it isn't. I don't think it's in there---the picture of the Angel of the Lord. It's a...
The next time, when I come to Germany, I'll bring the picture of it. This is just a little stay this time. Just advertised along [unclear word]. I hope to have a meeting someday in Germany, sweep the whole nation, thousands be born again. May God grant it.

21 What cards was give out? [Gap in the audio] ... here for your first time? Many. We are thankful for you to be here. While they're making the prayer line ready, I would like to ask the newcomers something: Jesus of Nazareth, when He was here on earth, did He claim to be a healer? No, He said, "It's not Me; it's My Father, that dwelleth in Me; He doeth the work." That is right. And He said that He could do nothing until the Father showed Him by a vision.
In Saint John 5:19, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." How many read that? Raise your hands, up in the back. Good. Then, it's the Bible. Jesus didn't do nothing, until He seen the Father do it.
Now watch what He did. He could stand up on the platform, or wherever He was, and He would go to talking to people. He would know what their trouble was. Is that right? Say, "Amen."

22 He talked to a woman, at the well. He didn't know what was wrong with her. He started talking to her, and He carried a conversation. And when He found where her trouble was, He told her what her trouble was. And she said, "I perceive you're a prophet." She said, "I know when Messiah cometh, He'll do this, but who are You?"
Jesus said, "I am He." Look. That was the sign of the Messiah. Is that right? That's what she said ... the Messiah, you see.
When Philip went and found Nathanael, under a tree. And when he come up, why, He said, "There's an Israelite in whom is no guile."
He said, "How did you know me, Rabbi? You don't know me. How did you know me?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw thee." Miles away. What did he say?
He said, "Thou art the Christ, The Son of God." That is right, isn't it? All that believes that's truth, say, "Amen."
Then, the Bible said, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Is that true? Jesus said, before He went away, "A little while and the world will see me no more (that's the unbelievers), Yet ye shall see Me (the believers), for I will be with you, I will be in you, to the end of the world." Is that the Scripture? Amen.

23 And if He's raised from the dead, He isn't a historical God; He's a God present today, to do the same today that He did then. If He will do that tonight, will you accept Him and believe Him? God bless you. Shall we pray.
Lord, have mercy, and help now, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Now, they bring the patients. Now, just a word with my interpreter. [Gap in the audio.] ... speaking to the interpreter, to give him instruction to catch my voice, because I don't know what I say.
Everybody be real reverent now. And just be as quiet as you can. Keep close to your loved ones. Don't let your children get around. There's epilepsy here tonight, and that's what causes so much trouble. So, it's pulling hard against me. [Gap in the audio.] ... why I pray that you'll be quiet.

24 Now, I turn to this woman, and it is another case tonight, like it was in the days of the Lord Jesus. Now, I am wanting to speak to you, lady, because that I am a stranger to you. Jesus Christ, He talked to the woman just long enough to find out what was wrong with her. And then when God told Him what was wrong, the woman recognized Him to be the Lord Jesus.
It's very hard for me. I can't talk to you, only through the interpreter. So, it's hard for me to catch your spirit, but you must believe. If God will reveal to me what you've come to me for, will you accept Christ as your provider? If you will, raise your hand. Thank you.
Will the audience, who is perfect strangers, if God will reveal to me what this woman's here for...? She is a perfect stranger, many years older. We've never met before in life. She's here for some purpose. I don't know. God knows that. But if God will reveal it to me, what she wants, well, will (You'll know it'll come supernatural.) will you believe it is the Son of God in the resurrection? If you will, say, "Amen."

25 Now, while I look at the woman... Now, I wish you just to be... Don't think about what's wrong with you. Just think of Jesus. I just want to talk to you. But as I look at the woman...
Now, interpreter, this is a vision coming. I see a hospital. The woman is fixing to go to a hospital. She's supposed to go right away, tomorrow. And she is... It's about her eye. That is right. Do you now believe? Do you believe? It's the same Lord Jesus, not me, that knowed what was wrong with the woman at the well. He's just saying this to you, so that everybody will have faith. Will you have faith now?
Can I pray a blessing on our sister?
Dear Heavenly Father, bless this woman who I bless in Thy name. And in the name of Jesus Christ, may my lovely sister be made well. Amen.
God bless you, sister.

26 Are we strangers to each other? We do not know each other, but God knows both of us.
Audience, do you believe? Now you...
It's something has happened, because the Lord Jesus' presence is here now. I wish you could all feel the way I feel. He's here. And someday, at the day of judgment, you'll find out that the Angel who has been talking, isn't standing two feet from where I am now, right here now. That is true.
Just only believe now. What a difference you look now. Everything seems different. I am not a fanatic. I believe Jesus Christ and the Bible. What a lovely feeling!

27 Here's a lady; I never seen her. We're strangers to each other. God knows her; He's fed her all of her life. And all she is, God gave her. Do you believe that Jesus Christ be the Son of God, lady? Do you believe that if God will let me know what you're here for, will you believe Him to be the Son of God, and I be His servant? If you will, raise up your hand.
You have a heart trouble. That is right. And it's caused from a nervous condition. I see you coming from a hospital, where you was in a place for your nerves. That is true. Amen. Do you believe now? More I would talk to you, more I would look to you, more He would tell me. There's many others to be prayed for.

28 But I see something coming before me now. You were very sick one time. You were paralyzed at one time, and now you can walk. That's right. You believe that you are healed now? You are. Your faith has saved you, standing right here. You're well now. God bless you.
Praise be to the Lord Jesus! He is the same yesterday, today, forever. Be real reverent. Don't move. Don't move. Visions are coming over the audience. Oh, my lovely Lord, He is so good. I wish you all love Him. He's so good! Such a feeling of peace! I wish I could explain. But looks like all in the building, to me, real beautiful light.

29 Bring the patient.
Good evening, sir. God knows both of us. You're a stranger to me, but God knows you, and God knows me. And if God will let me know what you're here for, will you accept Christ as your provider for what you're asking? If you will, raise your hand.
(Everyone, reverent.) The man seems to be moving from me. You are suffering with a headache, and you got a trouble in your heart, and your stomach. You eat and it doesn't do good. It hurts and swells up and causes gas to come up. That's coming from... That's caused from a nervous condition, for something that happened back in your life, something that you had done, long ago. That is true.
You are a married man, and you have a wife. She lives today, but she isn't here. She is in another city. It's some kind of a place, like called Ham... Hamburg, or something like that. And she is older than you are, and she has got eye trouble. Those things are true. You believe Jesus will provide? May I have your hand?
Oh, Jesus, Son of God! Be merciful, Father, and grant unto our brother every desire of his heart. May this be the day of his ... end of his trouble. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

30 You believe? Every man should believe of what Jesus... You should believe Him with all your heart. He is so real, so good. Oh, how lovely!
Lady, you look on me very earnestly. You're suffering with a nervous condition, sitting there in that row right there, the first row. Aren't you? Looking right here at me. The lady next to you has something wrong with her back. You believe with all your heart? You believe Jesus heals you? Then you can have your healing. You don't need a prayer card, you see; you'll get well, anyhow. Amen. God bless you. Have faith in God.

31 Right over the lady, there is a lady ... there's someone has blood disease. You want to be healed? Will the lady there, that with her hand up. I want to ask you something. When I spoke to this lady, why, you said in your heart, "Oh, God, let him call me next." If that's true, wave your hand. I don't read your mind. God told me what you were praying about. Now, receive your healing. The blood has stopped. God bless you.
Let us say, "Praise be to God." The great resurrected Lord Jesus, so wonderful! How good He is!
The lady sitting on the end, right there, suffering with nervous trouble. Right back over behind ... the next lady, there's a light beside her. You believe Jesus make you well? Right back behind the lady on the end, there's a light standing by the lady, which is the Angel of the Lord. If you can believe, you can receive.

32 Bring the patient. Have faith in God. Don't doubt. Believe with all your heart. Don't move. I will speak tomorrow night... Evil spirits are moving through the building; you'll get them. Sit still. We're not playing church. The Holy Spirit is here.
And stop thinking that, over there, "It's reading mind." I know that is wrong. God will hold you responsible. Remember, you're in His presence. Oh, praise be to God!
You've come from somewhere else. You've come from the... You've been overseas or something, running water. You're from America, on the east coast of America. I see you in New York City, near where the great building is standing, lots of automobiles around the bottom. You are a minister. You speak English. And you are a ... you are a preacher of the Gospel. And you had a church called The Church of God. And you are a missionary; it's over here. Our first time of meeting. This is your boy. When I see him by... You have a wife.
And you are suffering with something in your back. It's back here; it's kidney trouble. You got a kidney stone in the kidney. And your wife is sick, and she has something in her leg. It's varicose veins, and they're causing trouble with her heart. Those things are true. If they are, raise hand. Go now, believe. Jesus Christ makes you well... Amen.

33 Do you believe? Have faith, don't doubt. Just believe with all your heart, and you shall receive what you've asked for.
The lady sitting right there, second one from the end, from the row that's going this way: nose trouble, throat trouble, eye trouble. That's right. Go home, believe the Lord, and get well. Hallelujah! Do you have faith? That's all you need.
Sitting right on the end of the row back here, this row that runs this way. The lady back there's got TB. Do you believe? If you can believe with all your heart, you can be well. Accept it, and be well. Amen. Only believe. Just have faith, and God will make all things right.
This lady... Is this the patient? Is this the patient? Oh, here? Come. We're strange to each other; we do not know...
The little lady sitting right back here, about in the middle of the rows, suffering with that rupture, praying for God to heal you. Stand up on your feet, and believe. You were praying, and asking God, "God, let him call me." That's right. Believe now. Your faith touches Him. Amen.

34 I challenge, in the name of the Lord Jesus, for anybody to look and believe that I'm telling you the Bible truth, see what your faith will do in the sight of God. Hallelujah! He's the same Jesus, that the woman touched His garment, and He felt the virtue go out. He lives today. His promise is true. "The same things that I do, shall you do, to the end of the world." Amen!
This lady, stranger. God knows you. I do not know you. I could talk to you; longer I would talk, more He would say. But if God will let me know what you're here for, will you believe? Amen.
Now it's coming from all over the audience. Your faith is rising. Wonderful! This should convince you that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and always. Keep that up, there won't be any sickness left.

35 If God will let me know---this strange woman---what's wrong with her... It might be financial trouble, domestic trouble. It might be sickness. It may be immorality. I don't know. God does know. But if Jesus of Nazareth will come here and do just the same as He did when He was here on earth, you ought to believe.
Look, if He was standing here, wearing this same suit that He gave me, and what if the woman was sick, and He would say to her, "Woman, do you believe?"
She'd say, "Yes." And she'd be sick. Could He heal her? No, He's already.
He'd say, "Don't you believe what I did for you?" No man can forgive men of their sins or heal them of their sickness, for that has already been completed in Calvary's sacrifice. Amen.

36 The little lady is in a dying condition. She has to find God immediately, or she'll die. A real darkness is over her. She's suffering with a cancer. Believe. Look this way. The cancer is in the female organ, lady's organ. Right. Doctor can do nothing about that now; it's all to God. That's right. He was honest with you; the man done all he knew. You believe me to be God's servant? Now, there's somehow, someway, that I know you. Now, your attitude towards that will determine your healing. I'm talking very long, because you must believe.
May I tell you something else that you're not thinking of? You're a married woman. You have a husband. He needs healing, too, on his leg, and on his side. Now, now you believe, don't you? Now, go on your road. Amen.
[Gap in the audio.] Believe!
You believe that you're in His presence, sister? If I would ask God to heal you, would you believe it?
Jesus of Nazareth, I pray that You bless this woman, and make her well, in Jesus' name. Amen.

37 Don't doubt. Go believing, and you'll be made well. God bless her heart. I look at her, think of my own dear mother, tonight, way across the sea, praying for me. Somebody's mother. Believe.
You believe me to be God's servant? Would you like to be healed? If God will let me know what's wrong with you, you believe Him? Your stomach; can't eat. You're a nervous woman; you've had it a long time, ever since you were a middle-aged woman, it come on you. You get real weak in the afternoon. Sometimes you sit down, you can't work no more. That is true. I bless you, my sister, in the name of Him who we're in presence of now, which is Jesus Christ. Oh, God, have mercy and heal this dear, loving woman, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

38 Sister, Jesus said, "These signs shall follow them that believe; if they lay their hands on the sick, they shall get well." He said that. You believe I'm a believer? You do? Well, then, there's something here that knows you, knows your life, and knows you since you were born; and speaking through my lips, telling me your life. You believe it's Jesus? Then go, eat your supper, be real happy; the stomach trouble leaves you. God bless you. Let us say, "Praise be to God."
Dost thou believe, all your heart? Your trouble is in your back; it's kidneys. Do you believe that Jesus make you well?
Oh, God, I pray in Jesus' name, that You heal this, my sister, for your glory. Amen. Go rejoicing. Hallelujah!

39 Now, do you believe? Now, look. Give me your attention, so that you won't think that it's mental telepathy or reading mind. I want to ask you something. Jesus perceived their thoughts. Is that right? Raise your hands if that's the Scripture. Jesus of Nazareth, He said... "He, perceiving their thoughts, said, 'Why reason ye among you.'" Is that right? Raise your hand. Amen.
Now, look. Here's someone standing by me. I haven't looked at her. I don't know nothing about her. I'm going to ask the lady to lay her hand on mine. I am not looking at her. Now, this'll settle the question for you. I'm speaking now to the lady. If Jesus of Nazareth will let me know, while I look this way, what's wrong with you, will you accept your healing? If you will, raise up your hand.

40 Will the rest of you in the audience, truly see that it's not reading your mind? I don't know ... I haven't looked at her. If God will reveal, and tell what's wrong with the woman, by a vision, looking this way, will it take all the skeptic out of your mind? If it will, say, "Amen." Let the lady be judge.
The lady suffers with a lady's trouble, female trouble. If that's right, wave your hand. You believe now? You go home; you're well.
Let us say, "Praise the Lord."
All right, the next lady may do the same. The lady who stands now, is suffering with a blood disease called diabetes. If that's right, raise your hand. Raise it. You believe? Go believing. Amen. Let's say, "Praise the Lord."
Heart trouble, caused by nervousness. You believe you're going to get well? Amen. I believe it, too. Amen. Go; Jesus makes you whole.
Come. Do you believe, my brother? Do you believe that if I would lay my hands on you, that your stomach trouble would go away from you? You do?
In Jesus Christ's name, I ask for his healing. Amen.
God bless you. Go believing.

41 Every one of you can be healed. It could just go on for hour. What's the use of sitting there sick, any longer? Jesus is here. You believe it? Why, what more could He do? What else could He do? Now, have I found grace in your sight, through God? If I have say, "Amen." I tell you the truth about Jesus. Jesus comes here and witness it is the truth. Has he done it? Then you do what I tell you to do now.
How many of you wants to be healed right now? Then you bow your head, and you say this same prayer that I say to you. Now you repeat it after me. Every head bowed.

42 O God, I love Thee. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I accept Him as my Saviour, and as my healer. I now believe that You raised Him up from the dead, and He is here to comfort our hearts and to give us faith. And I now accept my healing. Through His stripes, I am now healed. I believe You, God. I shall testify the same. God be merciful, and let my faith never fail. Through Jesus' name. Amen.
Now keep your head bowed. That was your prayer to God. That's your confession. You believe.

43 Now, I'm going to pray for you. And I'm going to ask God, while I'm so weak I can hardly stand here. Someone is holding me up. My strength is gone. Your faith has drawed it out. Many people here are well right now. You'll know it. Yeah, after even I'm gone, you'll be telling people that your troubles left.
Now, there's an evil one, a spirit of unbelief, will hang around; I'm coming to meet you, spirit, you devil. You cause people to disbelieve God's Word. But God has come, and He's broke your spell, and you're rebuked. You can't hold people in unbelief anymore. Jesus Christ has raised from the dead, and He's here now. I rebuke thee, Satan. Come out of here. Let the people go, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Amen. Let's say, "Praise the Lord," in this way, for that wonderful song. Isn't that the truth? When Jesus comes, all things are changed then, aren't they? Gloom is all gone---darkness. And we're just so happy that Jesus has promised that wherever two or three were gathered together in His name, that He would come. So, we know that He will be here tonight---is already here---because we have gathered in His name.
Every night, after about twelve o'clock, when I kind of get around to myself good... Someone tells me (my boy or my wife, one), " You held too long tonight, Billy. Them people are working people. You see how many is coming. It's awful cold in that tent." So, I'm going to try to get out a little early if I can. So, you pray with me, and pray for me, and I'll do the very best I can to hurry up tonight.

2 Well, I'm so thankful. We're missing one cot and one wheelchair tonight (Praise be to God; that's good.) from last night. I trust it be your night tonight, sister, and your night too, sister, tonight, that you won't have to be in the wheelchair or cot tomorrow night. And I trust that neither one of you all... You'll be sitting back in the audience back there tomorrow night, or in your own church or wherever you go.

3 Now, to these new converts that's just been converted in the meeting, don't just lay dormant. You get some good church to go to. Look around here. If you're from this valley, and the vicinities around here somewhere, look at these pastors that comes here, on the platform, and helping us in the meeting. They believe in this kind of ministry. So, you go to their church and tell them that you want to become a member there.
And if I was in this neighborhood somewhere, or around close to them, I'd be a member of their church, 'cause I appreciate them. And they set theirself right up here on the platform, at night, to let everybody know that what they believe in. And if you're out of town, from some other place, find you a good church somewhere, a good church that preaches the Gospel and believes in divine healing. Now, if you're...

4 I don't know too many churches up this way. I know some down the other way. I know of the Angelus Temple; very fine church. That's right in Los Angeles. And I know Dr. Teford, and Rolf McPherson, and Dr. Cummings, and all those very fine brothers; very fine church. The Foursquare people are very fine. If you live around the Temple, why, just remember that.
I have meetings for them all over the country; Brother Beard from over in the West. There's a very good friend of mine. And I had their conventions and so forth. Very fine people. And Rolf McPherson, I think, is just one of the finest men that I've ever met; very fine man.

5 Then there's Brother O. L. Jaggers from the World church down there, another fine man. I've had meetings for him, and we've had great fellowship there.
Now, there's a little contention between them churches, but don't let that bother you. They're... That's all right; they're brothers. They're all right; all fine men, every one of them. That's right. They have to have a little contention one time to ... well, they kind of think their competitors, to kind of keep them spiritual. If they just don't let it go no farther than that, it'll be all right.
But I just love Brother Jaggers, and I love Brother Teford, and Brother McPherson, and all them. They've all been very dear brothers to me. And I love them all. So, their little contentions, why, that's all right. That just happens in families even, you know. And so, God's family don't run any smoother, looks like, from the rest of us. So, they're all right; both of them. They're fine, all of them. They're fine fellows.

6 And I believe there's a Brother A. A. Allen holding a revival way down somewhere in Los Angeles down there. I hardly know the man. I've heard of him, but I don't know him. But He's a brother that's holding healing services. And if there's any down around in that part, why... 'Course, Brother Allen is an evangelist, like myself. He doesn't have any certain church.
And then there's a Brother Leroy Kopp down there that has a church. And I know him real well; a very fine Christian brother. And, oh, there's just plenty of good churches around through here you can go to.
So, be sure, of all them fine churches, you ought to find one somewhere. And find you a church home, and go in and tell them that you want to become a member of their body of believers.

7 And then remember, then go to the other churches and have fellowship with them, too. Don't never turn anybody down as a Christian. No matter if he's not a Pentecostal, or if he's a Baptist, or Methodist. Remember, he's your brother anyhow, see. That's right. Stay right with it.
If you don't feel that way, then you ought to come back, see. That's right. You ought to come back, because you just didn't go quite far enough, you know. If you just...

8 I was telling the other day of a Methodist brother, friend of mine. And we had a lot of fellowship together. And he used to pastor the Methodist church in New Albany. And we were both born down in Kentucky. I was born over in one holler and he was over in the other. That's about the way we have our directions down there. And so...
And I called him Brother Lum. His name was Edwards. And so, if I got a convert... He said, "Now, Brother Billy," he said, "my father and mother were Methodist, and therefore I just can't go for immersing. I want you to sprinkle me."
Now, he'd never make me a good member up there. So, I said, "I tell you what. I've got one of the finest brothers down in New Albany, see, just below me, three miles, and he's got a... He's a pastor of a real spiritual Methodist church." I said, "He's a fine man." I said, "It's kind of dry; not much water around there." But I said, "I tell you, you ought to go down to him. I'll take you down to him."
That was my convert that wanted to become a Methodist. If he had one that wanted to be a Baptist, and wanted to really get immersed, he'd say, "Well now, you'll never make me a good member, but I got a good friend up in Jeffersonville, at the tabernacle, named Billy. I tell you, Billy will drown you. He will just hold you till every bubble quits [unclear word], but he's a fine boy."
So, that's the kind of fellowship we had. I'd throw off on him and say, "It's awful dry down there at his place, 'cause he hasn't got much water down in New Albany, you know." And so he'd say it was so wet up there that I'd drown him. But we had fellowship: Methodist and Baptist. And I'd go down and preach for him; he'd come up preach for me.
Now, if Methodist and Baptist do that, surely these others can do it. That's right. So, we're all brothers in Christ Jesus. You believe that? Amen. That's wonderful.

9 Now, we're going to open His Word. And I'm going to lay this watch of mine out here so I know I won't go too long, see. Now, Honey, don't you bawl me out after this service, you see. I'm going to time myself tonight, if I possibly can.
Now... Oh, she don't bawl me out, bless her heart. I'm just saying that. She just tells me, "Now, Billy, you know them's working people and they have to hurry." And I know what it is. That's right.
So, let's be in prayer; every one very prayerfully. And remember, just a few more nights now, we'll have to leave California, your lovely city here ... or, lovely state, and go back to Louisiana. I go from here to a meetings up in Louisiana and maybe pretty soon back overseas again in a great long journey overseas. So, shall we just speak to the Author now before we read His Word.

10 Now, heavenly Father, we come to Thee humbly in the name of Thy beloved Child, the Lord Jesus, to give Thee thanks and praise for all that Thou has done for us.
This little journey of a few years of fellowshipping with Thee; how our hearts are made happy because that we have seen You save sinners and fill them with Thy Holy Spirit, make ministers of the Gospel out of them; take prostitutes from the streets, make real genuine ladies. Oh, how we thank Thee for that!
See You take those bedridden cases, when Your beloved doctors have just give them up and said, "There's nothing more can be done; they are going to die," and see You raise them right up to perfect, healthy people. We're so thankful for this, Father, and we can hardly express it with human words. But just receive the adoration of our hearts as we pour out our souls to You in thanksgiving.
And now, Father, won't You open Your Word to us tonight and come and abide with us a while? And save all that's not saved, and fill those with the Holy Spirit who is in lack of it tonight. And we pray also, Father, that You will heal every sick person that's in our midst.

11 So happy to hear the testimonies of last night of what You did. And I pray that, if it's possible, You'd give us a double portion tonight and just heal everybody that's in divine presence. For we ask it in Jesus' name, Thy Son. Amen.
Now remember, the basis of the meeting... It hardly works. And one day, as you all know from a vision, you from down around Los Angeles, that one day this ministry will... I will stop it in America, see. And then... I can't now because when people come, it just keeps working.
But, one day it's going to stop, when a little lady will be at the platform wearing a brown dress, with a baby on her arm. And she'll have dark hair, and the baby be dressed in a white blanket. And that will be the end of this type of ministry for me in America until the Lord Jesus calls for that.
But it'll be overseas, you see. In here I'll just call the people and run prayer lines and pray for them. The American people, it's so hard for them to see. They've had so much in the name of supernatural, they kind of stand back, doubt it. They can't help it.

12 The American people are so indocumated. You see, one says, "Well, Doctor Jones says that's hypnotism."
"Well, my pastor said he was a fanatic."
"Well, I tell you, my pastor said it was the devil."
"Well, my pastor don't know what to think about it," see.
And they're shepherds. And it's all right. They're ... see. But what you're doing, you're basing your conclusion on their decision. You've got your own decision to make, see. So what it is...
One thing ... one thing in the realm of supernatural like that can happen in India, and every thing's there will get up and be healed.
I've seen one man walk to the platform in Africa (Well, they led him with a chain around his neck, brought him up to the platform like that.), and that man was told what tribe he came from, by the Holy Spirit.
And a Mohammedan had just passed through, had done the same thing: told her what doctor she went to, and all about it. And them people just weeping. Every Mohammedan there nearly come to Christ right at that time. But this native was healed and made well and was told of those things.
Thirty thousand converts come to Christ and twenty-five thousand definite healings taken place in one minute's time. They even taken trucks and backed up to get the crutches, and old cots, and wheelchairs, and sticks, and clubs that they had walked with, to pack them away from the grounds.

13 And over a year from then, the Durban paper packed an article about the meetings, and said that one tribe, the Swazis up there, that they taken ... I forget how many truck loads of firearms, and watches, and things that they had stole. They absolutely sold out. They wanted no more to do with sin.
And you didn't have to tell the people that's sitting there as naked as they could be; men, women, and all. You didn't have to tell them to put on clothes; just let them find Christ. It'll put on...
Looks like their kind of losing sight of Him in America, doesn't it? That's right. But it's so heathen.

14 This sounds awful flat. A lady sitting not as far hardly as this lady in a wheelchair sitting, gave birth to a baby, just sitting right there, and just picked him up. And that was all of it, see. And they don't notice that, up in the tribes.
But those simple people, they never question. They don't question. They see something done, that settles them, every one of them. Just tell them, and they'll ever one get up and leave their... Some might maybe can't walk, and he's trying to make a step. And first thing you know, there he goes running. Here come another one this way. And he sees that one going, and away he goes. And then, first thing you know, it's just one great big conglomeration. That's all of it. That's all you have to say. It's all over then.
And then I made my altar call and thirty thousand raw heathens that had never knowed anything about Jesus Christ, accepted Him at one time and broke their idols on the ground till it looked like a dust storm around where they had been.
But the Americans, we in America, oh, we wonder: Now it isn't just exactly... He don't belong to my church. And I don't know about that now. I tell you. I'm a pretty smart person. I've got an education. You'd be better off if you didn't have it, if that's the way you're doing it. That's right.
Well, we just have to put up with those things. We're a great civilization, but I'm afraid we're at the end.

15 All right. In the book, in the 18th chapter of Saint Luke, and the 35th verse, just for a reading, and just a few moments' talk. And I'm going to watch my clock here; and as soon as it says nine o'clock, we're just going to quit and start the prayer line so we can be away by nine thirty, if possible. 35th verse now of the 18th chapter of Saint Luke.
And it came to pass, ... as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging:
May the Lord add His blessings to His Word.

16 We're all acquainted with this Scripture. And at nighttime like this, you don't try to preach, because the anointing... I've been all in the afternoon praying just for anointing to see the visions are near. And then when I come in here and I get all to preaching, then, the first thing you know, that leaves away. And then you have an awful time.
So, I just have to talk a little while, to kind of get the feel of the crowd and get them all settled down; and every spirit---not the people so much as it is the spirit---quieten down. Then you can start the prayer line, see.

17 And now, let's be thinking on this scene tonight. Back... This was just at the ending of Jesus' ministry.
Last night we were talking of the beginning, how that God had given him a vision to leave and go away. Then, because his friend was going to die, and God was going to show His power through His Son, Christ, to raise this man up.
Now, tonight we're going to approach from another angle: at the end of His ministry. And He had done many miracles around over the country, though it was then like it is today. No matter how many miracles would be done, there's still people who would not believe.
And so, our scene opens tonight on a very sad affair. It's a blind man and he's sitting, crunched over.

18 Let's imagine as we... Let's take it in a drama affair. And let's imagine that the sun is going down. It's after three o'clock in the afternoon, perhaps. And the great high walls of Jericho...
Why, this blind man is crunched down along the side of these walls. And he was a beggar, we're told. And his name was blind... His name was Bartimaeus. Many of you pronounce it "Bartimaeus." Either way would be all right. And he was... His odds... Perhaps he had a lot of difficult making a living. And we're taught by historians that he was a married man, had a family. But he had a hard time making a living, because he begged, and there was lots of beggars in them days.
There was... Lepers was beggars. Oh, that horrible plague of leprosy. No one hardly can pass by it without having a funny feeling.
I've seen them. I used to think that leprosy was contagious, that you could catch it, but you can't catch leprosy one from another. I've hugged them and kissed them, and everything else. So, you can't catch leprosy from one another. It's caused by a diet.
And I've had lepers with nothing but just pegs for arms like that, wadding their little pegs around, trying to hug me in the prayer line and things. Poor old women on the streets and... Sometime leprosy eat toes till they just stand up like a big wart, about that big; real white, But just... Oh, horrible-looking sights of leprosy. What a horrible thing it is to have! Medical science has no remedy for it yet. And it's a very horrible thing. Not a painful thing, but it's a... It's so pathetic to see some one that's got their hands dropped off and so forth, and maybe part of their face and their ears eat off with leprosy. And it's white looking. A very horrible sight.
And there was many lepers in those days and they... The people would have to come out of a morning. Maybe a man who could afford to give a man a coin, maybe, the first man he met, he give him a coin. That settled it for the day. He couldn't give every one, because beggars were on every hand: blind beggars, and lame beggars, and there were lepers, and all kinds of afflictions that just laid around begging. That was the scenes that our Lord saw while He was here on earth.

19 In the oriental ... in the orient, rather, it hasn't changed very much. I've been in the orient, and see the astrologers, the wise men, set on the street, gazing up. And just about like it was when Jesus came; still wearing their loin cloth and turbans on their heads and so forth; always inquisitive and wanting to ask questions and talk about supernatural things and so forth.
And so, this poor old blind man, sitting there, perhaps in the fall of the year, and maybe he was wondering how he was ever going to get his winter's money. It gets pretty cool down there. And he was sitting by the side of the road begging. Maybe he would eat today, and tomorrow he couldn't eat. Maybe the next day he couldn't eat, and then get enough to get it again.
I remember in Bombay ... I will never forget when we got in there. There was Bombay, India---really a needy place. You know that they just got their freedom back by bankruptcy a few ... about five or six years ago.

20 And it's four hundred and seventy million people in India, but there's many, many millions of them that are beggars. They lay on the street like cordwood, right in Bombay.
And I remember after the first night... And the people knowed where we were staying there, that Taj Mahal Hotel. The next morning...
I had some money that was American money. And I'd take up offerings for overseas, and put it in till we got enough to go over, then go preach the Gospel, and then come back and have some more American meetings; then get enough money and go over and go preach, and then come back.
And so, I had some money that people had give me to give to the people. And so I went down, I thought, Well, I'll just get it changed into Indian rupees. And so I went out into the street. And I tell you, they almost had to have the army to get me out of the street. They tramp on you and everything, run over you with beggars. When they knew I was up there... It was such a pitiful thing.

21 The next morning when Mr. Baxter and them come to get me to go to breakfast, and I went down there... After I'd been in there, I looked on the outside; and just lined with beggars everywhere.
And I got up there and had a bunch of these rupees. They're about twenty-four cents a piece, which a fellow that will go to work, a woman or a man, either one, will go to work at about four o'clock in the morning and work till ten at night with a basket on his head; packing concrete up big steps and dumping it in---concrete all over their body and everything---for a rupee a day; and happy to get it.
And they can buy some curry, and that's about it. People walking down the streets, little old starved monkeys following them. Same down... Get a hold of anything they can to eat. They're really needy.
And so I got a bunch of these rupees, and I got up there to the window throwing them out like that. And I'm telling you, it's a wonder they didn't get killed. Just them rupees... And people screaming and falling over each other, but the American people had given it to me to give to them; be sure it never went into some society or somebody to spend and so forth. But it went right straight to the individual. That's the way I like to give it: right to the person I know it gets to.

22 Well, then when I went to eat breakfast...
I'm telling you, it was just one cry, all hours of the night. It would just break a heart. I go to the window, and there mothers with their little babies and their little bitty tiny hands, and their little cheeks all sunk in, their little bellies swelled out from hunger. Poor little mother could just barely stand up. She was begging for her baby. It didn't make any difference if she died; just don't let the baby die from hunger.
Well, how you going to give to the mother then, everybody standing around, and lepers and everything? So, when I'd go in there and try to eat breakfast... I can hear them all day and night, out there hollering, "Padre."
Padre is a... I think it's a Spanish word which means, "father" or "minister." And they'd just cry that day and night. I give them all the money I had; bless their little old hearts. I felt sorry for them.

23 And to see all the beggars. I'd stand there at the window and walk back. They'd bring my breakfast in: an orange and a couple of cookies. Just as soon as they...
That old bitter tea... I drank so much tea till it was tea, tea... I believe if you'd stick me with a pin, I'd bleed tea. It just ... all the time, just tea, tea, tea, every few hours. And they'd bring it. And I wouldn't say nothing, because it was right on the hotel bill, you see. And then I'd take these oranges and cookies and go over there and throw them out to them mothers and babies. Oh, my. And I seen a...
And I said to Billy Paul, my boy, I said, "Wonder if that fellow with no arms, how in the world is he going to get it?" Even his pegging on his toes like that, on the stubs of his feet; leprosy eat his feet off. And finally we got him to one side to where we could drop a rupee to him.
You know how he got it? And them streets were paddle-passing. And, oh, my, just can hardly hold your nose to get through. He licked it with his tongue, and down the street he went on them pegs just as hard as he could. The man would maybe get him some curry made out of sheep feet and so forth, to eat.
Brother, I tell you, I'm a human being. That just nearly killed me to see them little babies. And I thought, Mercy. Oh, God, how much longer will it be?

24 And here we are ... here we are... Dash out enough out here in a alley to feed the people on, nearly. But looky here.
I know this is off of the beaten path, my subject. I want to tell you something; just drop this to you.
Last week I was to preach. But I want to just say this word. Look, we go over there and tell that man that he is our brother. All right. What do we do? We send over there, and he sees the American man get off the car, off of the boat, drive a great big fine car by.
He sits in a little old mud puddle; a few stalks of something he's raising there. His grandchildren... His great-grandfather was raised in ignorance. His father, there he is, his children come the same way. His wife will wash in that puddle and he'll tote a little bit up to drink out of the same puddle.
And if we're brothers, equally, why is it that one comes dressed fine? And, I'm ashamed to say it, but a lot of times, snoopy, and rub by him. And then try and talk Christianity to him? He wonders.

25 Now, what's happened? Communism has come down and told him it's all false. And giving him a false economy there. But giving him a hope saying, "Yeah. That's the way they do it." That's the capitalists and so forth. And the first thing you know...
The reason it's done that is because that we put our money on beer cans and caps and things like that, and the missionary had to live off of a penny march that's come up to the altar about once a month. And brother, we sowed, and we're going to reap what we sowed. You just remember that. Sure.
Oh, my! Beggars! I can see old blind Bartimaeus sitting there by the side of the gate. Let's just take him for a few moments, just as that ... as an individual. Let's just imagine we see him sitting there and could catch what he was thinking about.
I imagine he was sitting there shivering; the wind ... his ragged sleeves hanging down. He can't see. If he could be operated on for his blindness, why, he didn't have the money to do it. Perhaps they couldn't do nothing for him---the doctors---because I guess it was too far for them, and especially in them days. So, he was shivering.

26 And I'd imagine him being a believer, he would think back, You know what? I'm sitting right by this wall.
And right out, about a hundred yards from him there, was the very same highway that many years before there, the great warrior Joshua marched around the walls when the walls fell. Just not but a few hundred yards from there, to where Joshua, moving up towards the gate one day, the Captain of the host of the Lord stood with His sword up. But alas, the days is gone.
The same Jericho where this blind man sat! I can imagine Bartimaeus saying, "Oh, if I could have only been living then, when Jehovah was real to the people, when Jehovah really done miracles for us. 'But the days are gone,' the priest says. 'That was hundreds of years ago. Jehovah doesn't do these things today.'"
And then also, right on that same road, Elijah and Elisha come down with their arms around one another, on the road to the Jordan where they struck the water and the water parted hither and thither, and they walked across on dry land.

27 I can imagine blind Bartimaeus saying, "Oh, if I could've only lived in that day when the great mighty prophets run out that highway there. I would have walked up to them and said, 'Prophet of God, have mercy on me, and give me back my sight.' But alas, the priest says, 'The days of miracles is past.' So, we don't have it no more, somehow. They seem to say that Jehovah's lost all of His strength."
Brother, they try to say the same thing today. But He's still Jehovah God, in His same power, the same compassion that He was. And He always will be. They had them at that days who denied His power, and denied His miracles, denied His signs. And we got them yet today, and we'll have them to the end of the world.

28 We got those in them days who did believe and receive. And we got them today that believes and receives. And if there is a tomorrow, they'll still be believing and receiving.
Jesus said, "I'll walk along your side, till the end of the world." Amen. "I'll be with you, a companion; a fellow citizen with you. I'll walk with you. I'll guide you in the paths you should go, if you'll just let me." I love that. "I'll be with you to the end of the world. Till it's all over, I'll be with you."
Notice. Then he thought, Oh, if I could've only lived in the days when miracles were real. Here I am beyond the doctors' reach. I'm a poor beggar. I have a family at home. Maybe today I never got a coin. My children are hungry; and my wife, I know she's hungry. And I have no other way to make a living. Oh, if I could only see, I'd get me a job over in a wheat field somewhere. But I can't see.

29 Now, I imagine as he sat there, God begins to deal with his heart and prepare for something. Little did he know, just around the corner was the Fountain of Life. Hallelujah!
Just around the corner. When you get to thinking about divine healing, get to thinking about Christ... Keep Him on your mind. "If there be any praise, if there be any virtue," the Bible says, "think on these things."
Then the thought comes by, Well, maybe it couldn't be so. Maybe... Get it off your mind right quick. Think on things that's positive. Never let a negative thought pass through. Don't let it stop, anyhow, if it starts through. Keep your thoughts positive: Jesus!

30 Don't think, sitting here in a wheelchair, you, that you're hopeless, helpless. You're not. Don't let that negative thought ever pass through ... or, don't let it anchor. You can't help it from going through your mind, that's right, but don't let it stop.
Like the old farmer said, "I can't keep the birds from flying over my place." But he had a double-barrel shotgun, said, "I can sure keep them from roosting." So, you do the same thing, and you too, see. Don't let them roost. Let them pass right on through.
Now, here is a shotgun to use. Both New and Old Testament, is a double barrel. Very good, too. I tell you, it keeps them all away.
All right. Blind Bartimaeus, sitting there with all this passing through his mind, If I could've only been here when the great prophets come down the road and walked down towards Jordan. I'd stop them for a few moments for just a little talk, and ask them to pray for me. And I believe Jehovah would have give me my sight.

31 Now, all of a sudden, he heard a noise. You know, it's strange: Usually when Jesus is around there's a little noise around. You know, I kind of like that: kindly little noisy, you know.
You know, the only way they could tell Aaron was alive when he went in behind the holiest of holies, he had on the hems of his garments, he had a pomegranate and a bell. And that's the only way they could tell whether he was alive or not, he was making a little noise in there.
I'm afraid we need a pomegranate and a bell again. Yes, just a little noise.
And so, usually where Jesus was, if it wasn't somebody shouting there was somebody fussing at Him maybe---some kind of a noise going on.
So, around the corner come a noise. And first thing you know, the whole place begin to get alive with people; and the old beggar sitting down at the side of the wall. And it, seeming like, way out, probably twice the distance of this tent here, was where the road runs down by Jericho.

32 And there along on the road was perhaps where the noise was. And there was people passing by, and some of them were screaming, "Away with Him, away with Him." And the priest hollering, "You hypocrite. There's nothing to You." And somebody hollering, "Hosanna, Hosanna." Oh, a mixed multitude.
But along there came the very Captain of the host of the Lord, that had met Joshua. Amen. Isn't He the Captain of the host?
He was the Angel of the covenant; the pillar of fire that led the children of Israel. And here He was. And here again come when the people were saying, "The days of miracles is past, all hopes gone," here come the Captain of the host of the Lord, coming by, just on the time. He always arrives just right.

33 Here He is, coming by.
'Course the blind man, he didn't know. I can imagine, listening, his head around, seeing if he could hear better out of that ear. The first thing you know, somebody stepped on him and so forth, and pushed him back. I can hear him say, "What's all the noise about?" Nobody paid any attention to him; go on.
He was listening to somebody: "Away with Him. Go on back to Nazareth where you belong. We don't need you down here in this country. Get on back." All kinds of noise. Another one hollering, "He's the Lord of Hosts. Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest."
The multitudes ... one screaming, probably throwing over-ripe fruit at Him, and everything else.
But Jesus, walking out in front of the crowd... Oh, my! His face up towards the heavens. What was ahead of Him? Going straight to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world. Being who He was, the Son of God, the King of all prophets, and knowing that that laid ahead of Him, His mind, of course, was on that.
He wasn't listening to the howling crowd, "Away with this, and away with that, and Hosanna." He couldn't listen to it; His disciples having a hard time to keep a riot from getting on to Him. Some trying to touch Him to get healed, others liked to slap Him or hit Him with something to knock Him down, and the disciples going on, pushed them away.
Jesus, in that cool, quiet, steady walk, right down the road; on His road, with His face up towards His heavenly Father, walking as an obedient Son, correctly. And as He walks along, everybody's screaming.

34 I believe there was a kind lady, maybe, when blind Bartimaeus said, "Why, what's all the noise about? I was just thinking, what's all the noise about." And maybe a kind lady reached down and said, "Why, blind beggar, Jesus of Nazareth passes by."
Oh, new hopes rose up. What was it? Something... He couldn't see it, but in every sense he had of hearing...
Sight's not always... Seeing is not always believing. Sometimes hearing is believing. "Faith cometh by hearing." Not by seeing; by hearing.
Somebody told him that Jesus of Nazareth... "Oh, is that the prophet up there who is doing the sick?"
"Well, it must be," says the lady.
Some of them's hollering to him and saying, "My baby was healed by Him." Another man walking there, saying he was crippled; he was packing some sticks that he used to walk on. But the priest thought...
"Oh," he said, "stop Him for me."
"Stop Him? Why, you couldn't stop Him. Look at Him. He's going up the road there."
And then, the old blind beggar raised to his feet and cried, "Oh, Jesus! Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Oh, Jesus! Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
Now, you know in all that milling, rallying, fussing crowd, and Jesus with His face turned towards the heavens, walking straight to Calvary to be crucified with the burdens of all the world laying on His shoulder, He'd never heard that poor, little, old spindly man way back down there side of that fence ... or, side of that wall hollering, "Have mercy on me," when they was screaming everything. And as He, going on up the road...
Blind Bartimaeus trying to say, "Oh." Some of them said, "Shut up. He's way up the road there."
That didn't stop him. He raised his head, "Oh, Jesus! Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
What happened? What took place? The same thing took place that the woman that touched His garment.
He knew that was the closest he ever was to Him. He knew probably was the closest he'd ever be in life's journey here to Him. So, the only thing he could do was rise all the faith he could, to believe that Jesus would not pass him by.

35 His faith stopped Jesus of Nazareth on his road to Jerusalem. All at once, as He walked, He stopped, looked around. What was it? With Calvary in his mind, with the sins if the world on His shoulders, with howling mobs on both side, a poor illiterate beggar... The faith that that man had, stopped Him in His tracks. And He turns around, looked at Him, said, "What would you do?"
Then He said, "Lord, that I..."
"What would you that I do for you?"
He said, "That I might receive my sight."
He said, "Thy faith has healed thee."
I can see him as He turns around, on up the road. Old blind Bartimaeus standing there saying, "He told me that I was healed?" See him trying to look for his hand. Said...
Ah, I hear someone say, "Oh there ain't no difference in you. You're no different."

36 "But ... but ... but He told me. He told me I..." After a while daylight begin to break around him. First thing you know, he can see his hands. Here he comes up the road, screaming, and shouting, and praising the Lord.
His faith had healed him. His faith was so great till it stopped Jesus of Nazareth, and got a conversation with Him.
If a blind beggar, without even enough clothes hardly, to hide his skin, could stop... Maybe a man that couldn't even sign his own name. If his faith could stop Jesus of Nazareth in a multitude of people crying for His blood, with a burden on His heart, and know that death laid before Him at Calvary, how much more ought your faith to stop Him tonight and bring Him to your individual needs. Hallelujah!

37 Oh, my! I was reading a little story on him not long ago. Maybe I have just a moment or two for it. They said that he had a little girl. He'd never seen her. And he'd always prayed that he would see that little girl.
And they tell me that blind Bartimaeus had a couple little doves that done little enchantments. They'd have to do something to attract the attention of the people, passer-bys; or, so many beggars, they couldn't get anything at all. But if they could have these little doves to do little tumbles over each other that ... (Now, the story may have been fiction.) ... do little tumbles over each other. Why it would stop the people and they'd watch the little doves, then they'd think, Oh, well, give him a coin. You see? And that's the way he made his living.

38 And so, he said his wife got sick one night and he went out and prayed. And he said, "God, I haven't got nothing. I'm a poor beggar. But if You'll just let my wife get well, I'll give You these two turtledoves tomorrow for a sacrifice." So, his wife got well, and he kept his word.

39 Said, not long after that that his little girl got sick; very sick---sick to die. And said the old blind beggar wept most of the night. And said he went out and prayed, and he said, "Lord, I haven't got nothing else to give You."
But these days, we have dogs, you know, that lead the blind people. They say they had a lamb then, that they'd harness up a lamb and train it to lead the blind people.
He said, "Lord, I only got one thing left, and that's my lamb. But if You'll just... If you'll just heal my little girl, and not let her die... I've never seen her. If you'll just let my little girl live, I promise You, I'll give You my lamb tomorrow as a sacrifice." Why, he said, the Lord healed his little girl.

40 The next day on his road to take the lamb to the sacrifice up to the temple to have it sacrificed, said Caiaphas, the high priest was standing on the wall. And he said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou?"
He said, "Oh, high priest, is that your voice?" He said, "I'm going to the temple to sacrifice this lamb. God healed my little girl, and I promised Him I'd give Him this lamb."
And said the high priest, said, "Oh, blind Bartimaeus, thou cannot sacrifice that lamb. Here, I'll give you some money and you go buy a lamb from the market up there, and sacrifice that lamb."
He said, "Oh, high priest, I never promised God a lamb, I promised Him this lamb."
He said, "But, blind Bartimaeus, thou cannot give that lamb. That lamb is your eyes. That's all the eyes you got, blind Bartimaeus. You can't give that lamb; it's your eyes."
He said, "Oh, high priest, I'll keep my promise to God, and God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus."
It was a cold day. But when that noise came out of the side of the building, God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes.
My dear friend, that same Lamb is provided for you tonight. If you're sinful, and your eyes has never been opened to see the light of God, as a saved man or woman, boy or girl, that Lamb has been sacrificed for you tonight. If you're sick, and ready to die, and your doctor has done all he can do... The man has done what he can. But there's a Lamb for your sickness tonight.

41 And let us bow our heads while we speak to this Lamb.
Oh, God, we're taught in the Bible that upon the throne in the Glory land there was One sitting who had a book sealed on the back side with seven seals. And the prophet wept because there was no man worthy to take the book, to loose the seals. And there was a Lamb came up, one that had been slain from the foundation of the world. And it was worthy to take the book, and to loose the seals---that Lamb of God.
I can just imagine when blind Bartimaeus knew that He had stopped somehow or got into the presence of his provided Lamb... We see him now, not trying to fold his coat and lay it down neatly so he ... well, if he don't get his sight, well he'll be able to find it. We're taught that he cast away his garment, and he knew he'd find it. Just so he got to the Lamb.

42 Oh, come, Lamb of God. Cast blindness from people's eyes tonight, that's trusting because they have joined church or some physical something that's happened. God, let the love of God pour into their hearts. Grant it, Lord. Take away all stony conditions and let love divine pour into their heart by that Lamb tonight. And heal the sick. For we ask it in His name.
And while we have our heads bowed, I wonder if there's one here tonight that may be groping along in church darkness, not knowing just which way to turn, whether to become a Methodist or remain a Presbyterian or a Pentecostal, or... You just don't know what to do. Don't you want Him to give you your spiritual sight tonight by blessing you and kissing all the doubts away?
If you're a sinner here and want to be remembered in prayer, just raise up your hand to God while everybody is praying now. And I'll pray for you, and the rest of the congregation will too. Will you raise your hand, somebody that needs Christ tonight; know that you need Christ? Will you raise up your hand? I don't know your heart; God does. But the Lamb that came by Jericho that day...

43 God bless you, back there, my dear brother. God bless you, yes, and you, my sister. Some one else that will your raise you hand? God bless you, my sister. I see you back there. And God bless you, my brother, sitting near the post there. God bless you over to my left here. Yes, sitting near the post over there again, another man.
"Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. God, I know I may ... this may be my last night on earth. I've got to meet You. I've neglected it. I really am not sure about my soul's salvation. I want You to remember me, God, right now, that in this meeting..."
I want You to save me tonight and really fix my heart right so that when death does strike me, and I feel my pulse coming up my sleeve, and I press a dying pillow, the doctor walks away from the door and say, "There's no more can be done. He's gone, or she's gone. My loved ones leave the room weeping, death's cold vapors are floating through the room, God, I want to see You light up the valley of the shadow of death. I want You to fix it now."

44 Will you raise your hand, someone that hasn't, raise their hand? God bless you, my brother. Yes, sir---by there.
You know, twenty-three years ago, I settled that. I've been happy ever since. I told the Lord I didn't want any trouble at the river. Each day I take inventory of myself. I don't want any trouble.

45 It's going to be awful on that morning, all the screams and cries that you ever hear, rich men throwing their money in the streets, rainbows flickering the skies, lightning a-flashing, thunders a-roaring, the moon turning into blood and dripping out like dark blood falling, the sun refusing to shine, the rocks a roaring, atoms exploding everywhere, fire falling. Uh-uh. I don't want no trouble then. I want to be sure of it. I want to make sure right now, 'cause you know, this might be the last hour that I be here, or you, either one. It's all over then. The way the tree leans, that's the way it falls.
Would there be another, just before we close now, and have prayer? You know...
God knows your heart. Don't trust in theology. Don't trust in head knowledge. If you haven't had a real experience with God, and know that you've passed from death to life, that divine love of God reigns in your heart, don't take any chance on it, friend. Remember, I tell you in the name of the Lord: Nothing else will work.

46 Oh, you say, "I preached the Gospel." That doesn't matter. "I've cast out devils. I've had healing services." That doesn't matter.
Jesus said, "Many will come to me in that day, 'Lord, have not I preached in your name; prophesied? Have not in thy name cast out devils and done many mighty works?' He will say, 'Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I didn't even know you.'"
Better be sure. Just before we pray, one more time. Any hands that hasn't went up yet, would you put your hand up for prayer?
All right. Shall we... God bless you, mother, and God bless you. I see your hand. That's right.

47 Let's have prayer now. Kind heavenly Father, there was some young and old both with their hands up. Come by now, won't You, Jesus? Just speak peace way down deep in their heart. They couldn't have raised their hand unless You would have told them to. But they did it. And Thou has said in Thy Word, "He that heareth my Word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life."
We know that right now the transformation of dark shadows of death that hung in the face of these people, is now moving back, and hopes is coming. Not with the physical eye, but in the spiritual eye, that they have did that which is right and have accepted Christ now as their Savior. God, I pray that all their darkness will flee away, and the tempter's, doubter's powers will be broken. And they'll live in Christian life and light the rest of their days, and come home to You in peace at the end time.
God, grant that over in the other world some night ... some day, rather, (for, there'll be no night) that I'll meet with them if not here on earth. Sit down there in the Kingdom where Moody, Sankey, Finney, Knox, Calvin, Paul, Peter, James, John, so many of our friends here: Paul Raider, dear Brother Upshaw, many of those other old gallant soldiers that's passed beyond the veil. Just stepped beyond the veil, they understand. May I meet with all of them, and with these tonight who has accepted You.
Until then, Father, keep them sweet and happy in their experience with Thee. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

48 Friends, I'm not no little boy no more. I've seen a many test, but I've never seen nothing yet could override love. It just takes everything out of the way. Love conquers wild animals. Love conquers... It's just the most conquering force there is, because it's God.
You know why I can help you? Because you love me and you believe me. If you didn't believe me, no matter what kind of works God would do by me, you still wouldn't get any benefit.
Do you know that? That's my success with the Lord: The people love me, and I love them. And that's where the success comes from. Otherwise, if it wasn't...
Look at Jesus. He said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do the works of my Father, then believe for the work's sake," see.
Now, there's a woman, touched His garment, got healed. A blind man screamed to Him and got healed. But...

49 [Gap in the audio] ... who didn't believe that He was prophet, and a bunch of Jews who didn't believe it. And they put a rag around His face, and they hit Him on top the head, and said, "Now, you prophesier, tell us who hit You. If you know all these things, tell us who hit you and we'll believe you if you'll tell us now." He never opened His mouth.
No, the works of God is not to be made a clown. Jesus never come to clown then; He doesn't come to clown now. Satan tried to tempt Him. Said, "Do a miracle. Let me see you do it."
Haven't you heard people say that? "Let me see you do something. Let me see you."
A man not long ago, not knowing... A brother, when I was preaching over in Arkansas, said, "I'll ... for one physical evidence that one person was ever healed, divine healing, we'll pay one thousand dollars---our church." So, I just went and got about couple doctors and about four cancer cases, had been healed (the doctor said so) and took over to his house. I said, "We will just send that over to foreign missions."
When I got to the door, "Oh," he said. "Are you Reverend Branham?"
I said, "I am."
He said, "Well now, you have to go over here in Texas somewhere, and we'll take a little girl, and I want you to go in among my brethren." Said, "I haven't got the money."
I said, "No, I come to collect it. Here's the people that the doctors give up and said they had cancer, and we prayed for them, and Jesus healed them. Now, you said on the radio, that that's what you'd give. Now, let's have it."

50 I said, "Here's one of them Mayo's nurse, one of Doctor Mayo's from Mayo Clinic---one of their nurses. We want to collect the thousand dollars."
He said, "Well, now, we'll go over here, and we will take a person, a little girl, and I'll cut her hand with a knife, and then you hold it out before my brethren, and heal it, and then we'll believe it."
I said, "Brother, you're the one who needs healing, from a mental deficiency." I said, "That is really..." I said, "Anybody who would even think that, there's something wrong up here," see. I said, "It's the same old spirit that said, 'Come down off the cross and we'll believe you.'"
The same old spirit said, "Do a miracle here before me, and we'll believe you."
I said, "Brother, you're... I pray that God... I love you, and that's not hypocritically." I said, "But I love you, and I pray that someday God will have mercy on your sinful soul."
He said, "I don't sin."

51 I said, "What is sin? Sin is unbelief." That's the only sin there is, is unbelief. I said, "Certainly it's sin."
Now, let's us not be sinners, unbelievers, tonight, but let's throw our faith together and believe with all of our heart. Will you do it, while we pray for the next fifteen or twenty minutes? All right.
[Brother Branham asks someone: "You still giving A's? Oh, F's, give out prayer card F's. I thought a couple days, there was a couple hundred of them. All right. We're changing tonight to prayer card F then. How many did you give, a hundred?] A hundred F's. Let's start from... Let's start from twenty tonight. Who has F-20? See if I'm... F-20? 21? Who has F-21? Raise your hand. See if we're all right now.

52 Look at your neighbor's card. They may be deaf, dumb maybe. Watch these cards on the top, and so forth. And...
You got a prayer card, lady? Yeah. All right. You got a prayer card there? All right.
F-21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. Now, let them line up first, right here. All right.
All right. While they're coming... Now, look around. If there's anybody that can't get up, well, you just raised your hand and we will have the ushers to pack them up here, see.
All right, now that's, I think, 20 to 30. Now 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. Let them come next now. All right. That would be 20 to 35. Now, let them stand first now: F-20 to F-35. Now, we see how they line up. Maybe we can get some more and find out now.

53 Now, I want your undivided attention now for the next few moments. Now listen, dear friends, this is your meeting. Now, tonight, speaking on this, after, explain the healing services...
Now remember, I do not believe that there's any virtue in any man to heal somebody. I don't believe that there's any power that any individual has to heal somebody with. I believe that two things that cannot be done: that no one can forgive sins or heal sickness. Remember that. No one can do it, because Jesus has already did it at Calvary and you accept it as your personal faith in His finished works. Do you believe that? Say, "Amen," see.

54 Now, God has set some signs in the church. First, a preacher. That's the best sign: preaching the Word. Now, if it would be me... If you couldn't take my word for it, that would settle it; but, not our Father. Then He puts others in the church. After preachers, He puts teachers, He puts prophets, He puts gifts of healing. That don't mean that they heal now; that means faith in healing, you see.
Just like preaching, the same way. It's not ... no power to heal with. When you claim you got power to heal with, then you take it off of Calvary.
I believe if you claim that, brother, to my... If I'm wrong, you forgive me, but the way I see the Scripture, that it's already finished. How could...

55 A brother in the Christian Businessmen bought and give me this suit. It was paid for. He gave it to me about a year ago, before I went overseas. Said, "Billy, you need a suit." Mine was all worn out on the collar. And he bought and give me this suit.
Now there's no need of anybody trying to pay for it. It's already paid for. It's mine by a gift. Is that right? And that's the way salvation is, and that's the way healing is. "He was wounded for our transgressions. With his stripes, we were healed." Is that right?
Now, how many... Is all of them up? Yeah? Everybody there. All right. You want some more, or is that... Well, it doesn't matter how many stands; that isn't the idea of it. The thing of it is, friends, is to get the Holy Spirit moving among the people.
Now, look, here's a lady standing here. This is a divine gift. And here's a lady standing here in front of me. She's a total perfect stranger to me. I never seen her in my life. Are we strangers, sister, to each other? We certainly are.

56 Now, place yourself here. Now, first I can tell you by the Bible... That is God's eternal Word, and that is truth. And anything that's contrary to that is not of God, to my opinion. It has to be. This is the foundation. That's God's Word, first. All right.
Then, secondarily, He has preachers who comes down and preaches this Word, who understands it, and tells the people. Then, next, He puts prophets in the church. Prophets are seers that foresee things, and tell things that comes to pass. And it's all by God's Spirit.
And when Jesus was here on earth (to the newcomers), He never claimed to be a healer. How many knows that? Raise your hand. He said, "I am not the healer." He said, "It's not me that doeth the works. It's my Father that dwelleth in me. He doeth the works." Is that right?

57 And Jesus said, "Verily, verily..." Saint John 5:19, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son," the body, "I can do nothing..." The Son, His Spirit, "I can do nothing in Myself, but what the Father, inside of Me, shows Me. (See.) And what the Father shows me by vision, that I go do." Is that what He said?
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in himself, but what he sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise."
When He was questioned about not healing all them down at Bethesda, just healed one man laying on a pallet. Watch there. And Jesus knew this man was there, and had been there, and a long time in this condition. Is that right?
How many knows the Scripture says that? Jesus knew he'd been there and been... Sure, how did He know it? The Father showed Him.
There sat cripples, and blinds, and twisted, and halt, and maimed; Jesus walking right around them until He found that man that God had showed him. There he was. Said, "Will you be made whole, sir?"
He said, "I have no one to put me in the water." Said, "Somebody beats me down to it."
Said, "Take your bed and go into your house."
He never questioned a bit. Just picked up his bed, put it on his shoulders, started... Strength begin to come, and away he went. Jesus walked away and left the rest of them, because the Father hadn't showed Him no more, see.
The woman at the well... Here it is again, a woman tonight to begin with. Now look, she's a woman; I, a man. Now, we've never met each other in our life. Now, let's see if this is Scripture.

58 Now, Jesus went up and sat down on a well. The Father had sent Him to the well. He didn't know... That's all He knowed. Go up to the well, up, way up around Samaria.
Now, the Father God... Don't you believe that He's working in us? Didn't He say He would do it? "The very same things I do, you shall do also." He goes up there and sits down at the well. Well, that's what the Father told Him to do.

59 The Father sent me to San Fernando Valley, in California, in this tent meeting. I just come here. That's all I know. I'm just here. There stands the woman.
Well, there come a woman out to get water, so Jesus went to talking to her. He said, "Bring me a drink."
She said, "It's not customary for you Jews to ask Samaritans such; we have no dealing."
Well, they went ahead in the conversation, went on talking, until Jesus found just exactly where her trouble was. He said, "Go get your husband."
She said, "I don't have any."
Said, "That's right. You got five."
She said, "I perceive that you're a prophet." She said, "Now, we know, we Samaritans, we know that when the Messiah cometh, he will tell us all things." But she couldn't understand who He was. Said, "You must be a prophet."

60 Jesus told her that He was the Messiah. Is that right? And when He did that, she run into the city and told the men, said, "Come here, and see a man. I was standing out there, just went out to get some water, and the man told me the evil thing that I'm doing," or, whatever way she expressed it. Said, "Isn't that the very Christ? Isn't that the sign that the Christ was to be?
What did the big church in that day think about Him? What'd they say He was? "Beelzebub," the devil, the chief of all the fortunetellers, and everything else, as evil.
But what did she say He was? "The Messiah." She knew that was the sign of the Messiah.
And if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, it's still the sign of the Messiah. That's right.
So, not me. I'm just a man. You're just a man; women. She's just a woman; I a man. But the Messiah, the resurrected Jesus who said, "These things... "A little while and the world won't see me no more, (the unbelievers), but you'll see me, for I'll be with you to the end of the world. And the very things that I do, you'll do also." What? As the Father shows. Just act out in drama.

61 Now, as I explained it last night how visions like this, is secondarily; the main visions: when He shows Himself. But this is secondarily.
Now, I'm going to ask you all, if you will, to be real reverent. And I'm going to make a proposition with you. I'll look the line, first. I don't believe... All you people, none of you know me, do you? Just, acquainted with me. Raise up your hand if we're strangers, all of you down the prayer line there. Raise up your hands if we're all strangers. All right.
How many out there does not have prayer cards, and yet you want to be healed, and we're strangers to one another? Let's see your hands go up, anywhere.
All right. Just have faith. Now remember, the blind Bartimaeus could pull faith through the Lord Jesus; the woman touched His garment.

62 Now, if Jesus will come and perform right here, which right here, visibly before you, and I declare...
And if somebody would want to take my place, and come up here, you're welcome to the microphone. All right, come down the prayer line. If you don't think it's right and of God, well, come take the microphone. You're welcome.
Now, but, here, if it is, and I'm telling the truth, and I'm telling the truth about Christ, then if I speak of Him and tell the truth, He's obligated to speak back and say that I've told the truth. Then you got a right to doubt me now. But if He does what I said He will, that He's raised from the dead and doing the same, then if you do disbelieve then, then God be merciful to your sinful soul. That's all I would know.
Now, if Jesus will do the same thing by this woman here, her knowing that we never met before in life... If He'll do, and know what she's here for, like He knowed what the woman was up there about, will every one of you with one accord, and one heart, believe the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe that He's going to give you tonight, just what you come for? Will you do it? Raise your hand. I wish every one of you that really believe it, would raise your hand. He's looking at you. Amen. God bless you.

63 Now, heavenly Father, I don't know no more to do with all the knowledge that I have... I have none but which cometh from Thee. And I pray, Father, that Thou will now just move over this little audience, and may the angels of God just move in close tonight.
It's a cold night. They've suffered long, sitting here in the cold. Reward them, Lord, by healing every one. Grant it, Lord. May this be a night that every person will be healed.
And now, Father, send the Angel of the Lord and stand here by Your humble servant and anoint me. Thou knowest, Lord, I don't know these people. They're strangers to me. But Thou does know them. And I pray that You'll help me, Lord, and will give unto me the very things that the people are here for, that they might know that You've raised from the dead, and are living here tonight, and willing to help them in Your attitude towards them today. If You've raised from the dead and proved Yourself in power, then Your attitude is the same as it was in that day. Grant it, Father, and bless us and forgive us of our sins. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

64 Now, every one be just as reverent. I believe here's a handkerchief maybe to be prayed over. It goes to a lady. And here's another one. Maybe the same thing. And I pray over these, and that's just an individual letter to me.
Our heavenly Father, bless these handkerchiefs for their intended purpose. In Jesus' name, I ask it. Amen.
Now, sister, you just stay right... That's all right, you can tell her to stay right there. Distance has nothing to do with it. The only reason I get here, is because that I am... I am trying to single you out from all the massive people, in order to contact you.
Jesus even sent His disciples away when He had to contact that woman, see. You ever read the story? Wonder if you ever thought that if you could stand where that woman stood. Wouldn't that be wonderful? You always thought it would be wonderful.
If you only knew, my dear sister, you're standing at the same place. That's right. You're aware, as a believer now, that something's going on. Just since I turned around this way and started talking, a real, sweet, humble feeling has come over you. Is that right? If it is, raise your hand up to the people. That's right. 'Cause, between you and I, you probably never seen the picture of it, that light is just a milling between you and I.

65 Now soon, if God will, it'll be... Maybe you're in just the three dimensions. This is another dimension. It's moving in on me. But it's a Spirit, you see. It's in another world.
People, they're not gone; they're near us; angels and everything else. "The angels of God are encamped about those who fear him."
You remember Elijah down at Dothan, that morning, when the boy said, "Oh, the armies of the Syrians are upon us."
He said, "There's more with us than there is with them." He couldn't see nobody. He said, "God open this young man's eyes."
And when He opened his eyes, around that old prophet was angels of fire, and chariots of fire. And there was just... Then, there's more with us than there is with them.
And that's the dimension now, by being born. Maybe you never will (See), see such. But you believe it anyhow. How much greater is their reward who has never seen and yet believe. But some of us were born for that. God places that in the church, from baby birth. Prophets are not just put in by men; it's a gift born. All through the Scripture, born from childhood.

66 And now, a lady who stands before me... And if the audience can still hear me, the Angel of the Lord is settling. And I know that I'm being heard somewhere. But she's suffering with what she thinks is a broken rib. It's in her side. She's got a lump in her side, or a knot of some sort. And it was caused by a fan hitting ... something that hit her. And it's caused this to happen. Is that right?
Now, I don't know what I said. But it wasn't me saying it. That was something else saying it. But was it true, ever what it was? If it was, raise up your hand.
Now you know that something's here, beyond man. Is that right? Well, you know whether that was true or not. You're a witness to that. And if it's true... She's raised her hand to the audience that it's true. And the woman standing here with the Bible laying before us, you know she wouldn't say something wrong. And a Christian woman, too, besides that. That's true.
Then what's here? Jesus of Nazareth, risen from the dead. It's His Spirit moving.
Now, come here, sister. Whatever it was ... Jesus said these words. The last thing He said when He left earth, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Mark 16. "If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover."

67 Now, I'd have to be a believer for something to take place just like taken place, 'cause it's God proving to you that I am a believer. Is that right? And you are a believer, or I'd never been able to do it. It was your faith that did it.
Now, us so close to God, what happens then if I lay hands on the sick, what happens? They shall recover.
Now, our heavenly Father, in obedience to the commandments of our dear Lord Jesus, I lay hands upon my sister, and ask that His words be fulfilled. And whatever is wrong with this woman, may she be well, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
God bless you, sister. Go, happy and rejoicing. Now look, just forget about it. If it was sickness, something wrong with you, or if it's something somebody else wants, whatever it was, just forget it, all about it. It's all over. Just go, praising God for it, see. It'll be all right. Amen.
Oh, He's wonderful! I know you think I'm beside myself, but I'm not. No, no. I'm very conscious.

68 All right. Just have faith. All right. Let the lady come on down here. Come right ahead, sister.
Now, I suppose you and I are strangers, too, to each other. Are we? You and I together. We're years apart in age, and we are... But we got the same Lord Jesus, haven't we, sister? Now, I don't know you, never seen you. But Jesus knows all about you.
And you've read in the Bible, where, back in the Old Testament, the prophets did that. And God promised the same thing. And the greatest of all the prophets, and all the King, and Lord, and master of them, was Jesus. When He was here on earth, He just did like the same thing; only greater. Then He went away and said, "The very same things that I do, shall you, to the end of the world." So, it's just Jesus in His church, isn't it?
Now, I don't know... And I couldn't heal you, if you're sick. I don't know. But if you are sick, I couldn't heal you. Jesus would have to heal you, wouldn't He? But he will, if you'll believe it. Now, He just ... through knowing...
Now, what if He was standing here with this suit on that He had Brother Gardener to give me? Now, what if ... if He was standing here wearing this suit, now He couldn't say, "Now, come here, I'll heal you." No, He wouldn't do that. If He would, He'd have to go back on His Word. He'd say, "Child of Mine, don't you believe I did that when I died at Calvary; I purchased your healing?"
You'd say, "Yes, Lord."
Then He'd say, "According to your faith then, be it unto you." Is that right?

69 Or, what if the Father would happen to show Him, and tell him... He might tell you what was wrong with you or something another like that, couldn't He? He might be able to do that. But, that's all He could do. Now, that's the same thing He is tonight, just working through human beings.
Now, you believe with all your heart, and surely He will heal you. I believe He will. Don't you, mother? Don't you believe He'll heal you? Certainly He will.
May God help me to do something to raise your faith up. I see one thing: The woman... If the audience is still listening at me. There's a shadow around the woman. She's very, very sick. She's got trouble in her kidney. That is right. And that's a cancer in the kidney. And she also has arthritis. Because, I see her, she can hardly move at times.
The vision seems to be dimming. Those things are true though, aren't they? They're true.

70 Do you believe now? The woman is the judge. The vision seemed to be kind of dim. Just a moment. Let me speak to her again, just for the contact of your soul, sister.
Now, you look at me just a moment. Seemed like there's something He wants... I see you some way, you're trying to move, or looking, or... No, it's about your arm. On one of your arms... Under your arm you have a plate. It's the left arm. Jesus can heal that too. You believe that? It's a growth, which is a tumor, and it's right under your left arm. But Jesus Christ can make you well. Do you believe that? Then come here. Have faith now.
Shall we pray.
Our heavenly Father, I lay hands upon this woman, and I pray that as blind Bartimaeus stood there and got his sight, may she also, Lord, receive her healing, and these shadows of death be taken from her. May she go and be well. I pray this blessing for my sister in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
God bless you, sister. Go, rejoicing and happy, and thanking God, and be well.

71 All right. We are strangers to each other, I suppose, sister? But God knows us both, doesn't He? He knows us both.
Now, if there was anything... If I had some kind of a healing or something... First thing, if I said that, I'd be wrong. I'd be unscriptural. But if I did have, say if I did have, and if I was a doctor, and knowed what was wrong with you, and then wouldn't do it, I'd be a hypocrite. Yes, sir. If I could help you and wouldn't do it. But the only thing I can do is just as He would tell me. And that's for faith, your faith in Christ.
Something happened then. Now, everybody, real reverent. Somebody was praying. Oh, here it is. Praise be to God. Thank you, sister, for praying. I heard your prayer. Jesus did too. Your shingles is going to leave you now, sitting right there with your hand up like this---mother there, sitting with your hand up. Now, you... Yes, you can go on your road now rejoicing. He's heard your prayer. Thank you, sister, for your faith in God. Amen.
Isn't He wonderful, sister? Your faith does that.

72 Now, be praying. You be praying, sister. All of you just be in prayer.
Now, the lady being a stranger to me. Now, just to talk to you, as His servant...
It keeps moving in the audience. There's faith arising out there, you see. Sometimes I don't know what it is, I just have to do as He says. As the Spirit of the Lord begins to move, I just have to move as it moves with me, you see. It's all a thing...
There He is, over a woman that's real nervous, sitting right there. And her husband's leaning over to her. He's suffering with a rupture. And they're both praying to be healed. Is that right? You're husband and wife. I see you both in the same room. All right. Put your hands over on each other.
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, may they be healed. Their faith, Lord, has touched You, and caused this to happen. In Jesus' name may they be healed. Amen.
God bless you, my dear brother and sister. Your faith has did this. Your faith alone.
If thou can only believe! Oh, my! Isn't He wonderful?

73 There's another man and wife sitting right back there, and the woman is suffering with a rupture, sitting right straight in line with them. And the man has got a hearing trouble, and also got hemorrhoids. And they're sitting right over the top there, the woman and man. You are healed, both of you. Jesus Christ makes...
You hear me now, don't you, brother? Your ears come open. Praise be to God. There it is.
Our Lord Jesus in His bountiful mercy! Sitting there, having faith! What does that? The same faith that was in blind Bartimaeus. You all ought to believe.
It's hanging over the lady in the stretcher. I'm wondering about her faith. She's very sick: asthmatic condition. She has TB, arthritis. That's right, isn't it, young lady, you in the...? That's right. Mother, if you could only believe, and believe me to be God's prophet, as soon as this service is over, take that little cot and set it up and go on home, see. Have faith. Believe.

74 Now, lady, just a moment to you. I'm sorry. I just have to move the way it moves.
Don't move around, no one, see. The Angel of the Lord is a light. It's the pillar of fire, see. It's a light, an amber-like light burning, and it moves. And you moving, sometimes... It's a human soul. You're just all like, under control. If you move... And I know just where the skeptic is sitting; I know where the believers are sitting. I have to watch just exactly. When that moves, that's a conflict; it's in spirit life.

75 Now, here it is. It looks like that you could see that. I see blood dripping. It's from that person sitting right there, about three rows back, sitting there, that's got dripping blood from the lungs. It's having trouble; a blood drip. Yes, sir.
Now, have faith. Don't doubt, but believe, and Jesus Christ will make you well. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible." Now, do you believe, sister?

76 The man sitting right on this side over there's suffering with prostrate trouble. Sitting right back there, kind of looking to me. Kind of an aged man. If you can believe, my dear brother, it'll leave you and never come back again. I trust to God that you have your faith, and believe with all your heart. You shall receive what you've asked for. Wonderful.
Now, the lady... I'm sorry, sister. I just have... I see some great high mountains coming up before me---great big mountains. They got snow all over them.
Oh, you're here for somebody else, and that person lives just at a mountain. It's Denver, Colorado. And that is a man, and it's some relation to you. And it's an unsaved man. He isn't a Christian; it's dark around the man. And he's been in some kind of a hospital and had a brain operation. And they've injured the nerves. It's a balance nerve; he can't walk. You're trying to... He can't go on like that. And it's your brother-in-law. That's exactly.

77 Now, that handkerchief that you wiped the tears from your eyes with, send it to him in the name of the Lord Jesus, and may he be made well.
Just have faith. Don't doubt. Believe, and thou shall receive. "If you can believe, you will receive." The Bible said that you would.
I keep seeing a Spanish woman standing in mid air right through here somewhere. I can't tell where it is, so just be praying, ever where you are. You may even be behind me. I don't know. But please be reverent and sit quiet, just for a few moments.
Oh, what a wonderful Lord Jesus we have! How good, how precious He is! He does all things well.
Now, if I can get the attention of the little lady here, that's standing before me. Sister, don't weep, see. Bartimaeus perhaps wept. But if you have need of anything, Jesus is here to supply everything that you have need of.
Now, I'm your brother, and I'd only tell you truth, sister. And you know that I don't know you, or know nothing about you. You're aware of that. Are you, sister? But, can't you believe that I'm telling the truth about the Bible, that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever?

78 What if you was standing in His presence? He would know about you what the Father would reveal to Him. Is that right? The woman touched His garment, only He couldn't tell it until the Father had showed Him. He said, "Just as the Father shows me, that I do."
My, what a wonderful faith moving in this audience! Oh, if you... When I'm gone from here, weeks, you people will find out you're well. You're getting healed; I just can't call it. It's just everywhere, looks like.
Just looks like it just... I look around and it just all turns light, out in that way. And then, such a faith! You're being healed. You'll realize it. Maybe... You just watch and see, pastors, if your people don't come, tell you that they was healed here and wasn't even around... Nobody spoke to them or nothing. They're being healed anyhow. You just can't call it when it's just so much now.
So, maybe with our sister here... You have a... I see some trouble with your throat. You got a throat trouble. That is right. And you're very nervous, upset. And you've just had something happen to you, like a heart attack. You had a heart attack just recently, and it's left you real weak and nervous. Come here.
Dear heavenly Father, the author of life and the giver of every good gift, send Thy blessings upon this, Thy humble handmaid, Lord. And heal her, and make her completely whole. I ask in Jesus' name, the Son of God. Amen.
Now go. Don't doubt a thing, sister. You're blessed of God now. And I've asked, and I believe that I get what I ask for. Don't you believe that? Then go claim it, and you shall have what you've asked for. Amen.

79 Have faith in God. Do you believe Him?
Now, please... I suppose maybe I'm... Yes, I'm getting late, maybe. Now, just a moment. Every one real... I'm trying to work for you, for God, to you. If you'll just be still and don't move for a minute.
Let me talk to this woman here. Is this the patient, sir? The Lord bless you, lady. You speak English? That's very good.
Now, you see, this must be very reverent. You say, "Brother Branham, what does that have to do with it?" A whole lot. Jesus one time, healing a person, took him out of the crowd and took him outside the city, prayed for him. Is that right?

80 And one time when Jairus' daughter was dead, all the people were weeping and carrying on, and He put them, every one, out of the house. Is that right? Yes. The way you move, your actions. See, you're in another world.
Oh, I love you with all my heart. I wish you could just receive my Lord Jesus just now. You'd see one of the greatest things happen you ever seen in your life. But just believe.
Now, here's a woman, perhaps Spanish. I don't know. But God knows her. I don't. If God, our heavenly Father, will speak to this woman through the Holy Spirit, just use my lips, as I submit myself to Him, and let me know what this Spanish woman is here for, will all of you, with one time, say, "That will settle it for me for good. I'll right now then believe the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him." Will you do it? All right. Then we could have prayer, and everybody would be healed
You're already healed. I mean, accept it. Just as you accept it, that's when we know it.

81 All right, sister. May the Lord Jesus grant it. You Spanish, and me Irish, and years apart, and everything. We don't know one another. But Jesus knows us, doesn't He? He knows all about us.
You have a nervous condition, a stomach trouble. That's right. Trouble with your eye also. That's true. You're not from right here. You're not from this locality. No, you're from another place called El Monte, California. Something on that order. That's right. And your name is Naomi. That's right. Moore is your last name. And your house number is 502, something like Mulhill Street. That's right. Isn't that right? Now, you return well. Jesus makes you well.
Oh, God, have mercy, I pray, through Jesus' name.
Are you believing?
Sir, do you want to go eat your supper? Well, go get you a nice big hamburger and eat it. Your stomach trouble left you. Amen. Go and be made...
Come. Never an operation, the tumor is done gone. Just run on your road, rejoicing.

82 Let's say, "Praise the Lord." The Holy Spirit is here, if you could only believe it. This is it. This is what it takes to do it.
If you'll believe, heart will never bother you no more. Just keep walking and rejoicing, and thanking God with all your heart and soul. Let's say, "Praise the Lord."
If you can have faith. Funny feeling, when I said about that stomach trouble, that man, wasn't it? Now, you go do likewise. Eat your supper, in Jesus' name.

83 Do you believe out there? ["Amen."] Do you want to be healed, every one of you, right now? All right, then, you do this. Bow your head just a moment. Now, you repeat this prayer. You pray the prayer that I say.
[Congregations repeats after Brother Branham:] Dear heavenly Father, I now believe that Jesus Your Son has risen from the dead, and has forgiven my sins, and healed my sickness. I accept it right now. I believe that You're here in Spirit form, doing the same things You did when You were here in flesh. And I accept You as my healer. Help me, Lord, to never doubt no more.

84 Now, you just be real quiet, keep shut in with God. Keep your head bowed. That's your prayer.
Now, just, by faith, look to Him. By eyes of faith now, with your physical eyes closed, look to Him. Just imagine, there He stands, right there by your side. His arms are outstretched. Now, there's only one thing to keep you from receiving it. Right over you hangs a dark shadow. That's Satan, a doubter, trying to say, "Well, I'd..." Something else.
Now, I'm going to rebuke that doubt---that thing that would make you doubt. That's my prayer. Now, you just keep shut in with God while I'm praying for you, believing that God's healing power is coming right into you by your own faith right now. God's healing power is moving right into you, by faith that you're receiving it.
All the cancers are moving out. The stomach trouble is leaving. The female trouble is leaving. All diseases are leaving.
Now, heavenly Father, they have confessed. They have brought their problem to You. And I'm now bringing them unto Thee. And now, this demon of doubt that would hang over the people, that would cause them to doubt...

85 Satan, you have lost the battle. For years you've kept humanity shut up in doubt, but God in His mercy hath sent us the light. And you are a deceiver. And you're exposed, and you have no legal rights. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stripped you at Calvary, of everything that you ever had. And you're only a bluff. And we're calling your hand, through the blood of Jesus. And you can't make us doubt no more, so come out of these people, and get away from them, and clean out of this tabernacle tonight. I adjure thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, that every doubt moves away from every person, and Jesus Christ makes them completely whole. For the glory of God, I ask this in Jesus' name. And, Satan, you're rebuked. Come out of them!

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you so much my dear friends, and you may be seated just a moment, because I know you're tired, standing. I got so much to say to you.
[Bro. Joseph Mattsson-Boze says, "These flowers are also gifts from Mr. Shultz."] Brother Joseph, I guess the last one pinned a flower on me was my mother years ago, when I was in school. ["You've got one more."] Thank you. Thank you kindly friends. I just don't know how to express this warm feeling. I didn't think about a little ... a birthday welcome like this. My, it would be good to have a birthday every time I come to Chicago. That's very fine.
To our dear brother, the florist, I think that's beautiful and I... As Billy said ... over ... I believe it was in Minneapolis, not long ago... They had him up to speak one morning. They said, "How do you feel?"
Said, "I'm scared."
So, that's about the way I kind of feel---without words to say. That is very pretty, and Leo, Gene, any of you all got a camera, I'd like to have a picture of that, if any one has a camera. [Brother Mattsson-Boze says, "We will see to it that we get the official picture tomorrow. I tried tonight, but couldn't get it."]
That's good. That's very fine. That's good. They're going to have an official picture tomorrow. That's fine. God ever bless you, my dear brother. Gifts laying under this, that beautiful plaque there. And I certainly do appreciate those, friends. You didn't have to do this. I'm getting too old to celebrate a birthday. That's the reason I wanted to forget about it. I got it all mixed up.

2 One of my brethren, Brother Woods, I believe it was, said, Brother Joseph said over at the Philadelphian church, said, "Now let's see, Brother Branham is thirty, isn't he?"
Yes, and almost thirty more. And the Lord has certainly been good to me in these forty-seven years of life. I was born April the 6th, nineteen hundred and nine, in a little cabin up in the eastern Kentucky mountains. And I... It was His grace that brought me here. He's fed me and kept me ever since, and I love Him with all my heart.
I don't feel I'm an old man. I feel like that I... To be honest, I feel just... Feeling in my body, I feel a lot younger than I did twenty years ago. I feel fine, because I was always a little bitty skinny boy until about five years ago. The Lord Jesus healed me of a terrible run-down condition; underfed when I was a child, and nervous. And even in such a condition that Mayo Brothers said there wasn't hope for me.

3 And He appeared to me in a vision and told me, "It's over." So, that settled it. And I've been strong and healthy ever since. Every once in a while... I have a friend, doctor, it's a neighbor boy to me there, he has a clinic. Led him to the Lord, very fine man. And he's over to my house, and I over to his. And then he takes me down there to the clinic and runs me through. And here the last time I went through that clinic for examinations, by God's grace, I was just as sound as could be. The blood, the everything...
And that's the great gift that comes from God. And if He will just keep me healthy, and in my right mind, keep my heart right with Him, I want to serve Him as long as I live on earth. I promise Him that from this platform tonight, if He'll keep me in my right mind, and keep me healthy and strong, so that I can serve Him, and I love Him, and I promised Him, that I'll do everything I can that lays within my power for His people. And that's the way we serve God, as we serve each other. That's the only way we can serve God.

4 I can be thankful that He's kept me true to moral life, and so forth. There's only one thing that I do, that I know of that's outside of religious work, and I do love to go fishing and hunting. I just love that. And I'm glad He lets me have that, because it's out in the outdoors and clean. And how I love to go out on the creek banks, especially a little later on in the season when it's warm, and fish, and go up into the mountains and be alone up there. Maybe, not to kill the animals, but just to get up in the mountains to be alone, around horses and things.
I've done quite a bit of riding in my days, and I love horses, and riding, and fishing, and hiking, and those outdoor things. I'm trying to bring my boy up the same way. And my little boy, Joseph, and I'm trying to bring him up, if God lets me live, I want to bring him up the same way, to be a good clean outdoorsman, loving God with all of his heart.
And I do believe that my little boy, Joseph, will perhaps, take my place when God calls me from the earth. And I trust that the prophetic, or whatever it may be, the gift of God that has been so solemnly given, will rest upon either Billy or Joseph, one, when I leave, that God will continue the ministry after I'm passed beyond the scene.]

5 Many of us now is up past the youthful age, and we must pass on someday into a better life, and a better world. And it's not hard to think that. I'm so glad that I know that to be true. That's what my heart yearns, is to get to tell people the Bible truth that I know. That after this life is over, we have a life that's far beyond this. This is only a shadow, or the negative, that after the death develops the picture, when we pass from this mortal to immortality. We change this old worn out body for a body that'll never get old. That's right.
I suppose I have been to Chicago so many times, till I can't hardly think of a text in the Bible but what I've preached on. And I suppose I've said this, a little thing that my... I've had a message on my heart here not long ago, woke up one night. And oh, I felt so good; I just wanted to preach, and I had a... Not a very big audience: one person, my wife, had to wake her up. Just burning in my heart, and I preached to her till about two o'clock in the morning; she went to sleep on me.

6 I was combing what few hairs I had left on my head. She said to me, she said, "Billy," she said, "you're getting baldheaded, honey."
I said, "I know, sweetheart, but I haven't lost a one of them."
She said, "What?"
I said, "I haven't lost a one."
She said, "Where are they at?"
And I said, "I'll tell you something, sweetheart, you might not know. If you'll tell me where they was before I got them, I'll tell you where they are waiting for me to come to them." They were somewhere. Is that right? Wherever they was, they're waiting for me.
And a new body is waiting there, some day, not only for me, but all that love His appearing. That's right. Some day, the old mortal will take away, and the immortal will take its place. The sorrows and sickness and heartache will fade away to a new body, health forever, and in the presence of God. Won't that be wonderful? Then we'll all have one big happy birthday, won't we? Celebrate it forever. Until that time, may God smile His richest blessings upon you, upon all my beloved friends, upon my critics, upon all. May God's richest blessings rest on you.
[Bro. Mattsson-Boze says, "We would like Brother Eckberg to sing Down From His Glory.] That would be... ["That's Brother Branham's favorite song. And we'd like to dedicate from ... Brother Eckberg wants to dedicate that Brother Branham."] Fine. That's my favorite song.

7 The little German boys (I don't guess they're here, tonight) they sang it this morning. And it was just... Say, I'm getting really birthday presents. And to hear Brother Eckberg sing Down From His Glory, that would be marvelous. And the reason I like that, it just expresses Him the way I love Him. All right.
How many loves that song. Let's see your hand. Just remember, that's my favorite hymn. All right, Brother Eckberg.
["There's also a flower each for Brother Woods, and Brother Billy up there, if the brethren would come up and wear the flowers tonight, please."]
["It has been my privilege to be with Brother Branham in several campaigns now. I know that he likes this song, and also Then Jesus Came. Tonight, I'd like to give this as a little present from me. I have received so much blessing from Brother Branham's ministry. Oh, how I love Him, how I adore Him. My breath, my sunshine, my all in all. That's my God." The brother sings Down From His Glory.]

8 Did you get that, Leo? Oh, I feel lots better now. I could just listen to that hours after hours. We got some recording boys down here, Brother Leo Mercier and Brother Gene Goad. They take the recordings, and I was just so in hopes they was hooked up and they got it. That's good. Oh, Brother Eckberg, you don't know, when I get real lonesome, or something, I get back in the room and play them over. I'll live it all over again then. That's very fine. The Lord bless you kindly.
Now, when I said, "Brother Mercier," I seen him duck his head, he's kind of bashful sort of a boy. He and Brother Gene, here, they kind of... You've met them, they've been in pretty near all my meetings here. They kind of was going to play a FBI trick on me one time, when they first come into the meetings, down in Hammond, Indiana. They seen those things going on; they said, "There's a trick to it somewhere, so we're going to find out."

9 So, they slips down in Jeffersonville, and rented them a little place, and said, "I just wonder if that happens down around his home somewhere?" It happens a thousand to one at home, to what it does here. That's right. So, they become what I say, "My students." And we're very good friends. The Lord bless these boys.
And, now, remember, tomorrow afternoon service, I believe at two-thirty; is that right, Brother Joseph? ["Yes, and would it be possible, Brother Branham, that you could relate some of your visions? Relate this vision tomorrow afternoon?"] I will do it. ["See, there's so many friends who wanted the paper, they would like to read it, but we are sold out completely."] All right, we'll do that. That will be fine. That's good. All right.

10 Tomorrow morning, I believe we have a broadcast, isn't it, in the morning? And then Brother Oral Roberts... Nearly all you Full Gospel people know Oral Roberts. He's having a service at the... Did you announce that? ["Milwaukee."] at Milwaukee, and I think it goes on through next week. Doesn't it? ["No."] Ends on Sunday? ["Closes tomorrow."] Closes tomorrow.
And Brother... Wasn't there someone else here in the city? ["Brother Freeman."] Brother Fleeman, or Freeman... ["At the coliseum down here."] Where? ["The coliseum."] The coliseum, that service will be going on tomorrow, too. And I've never met Brother Fleeman, or Freeman, I believe it is, but I do know Brother Roberts. And they're both fine brothers. And so you listen to them, if you... I think Brother Freeman will probably go on next week. And any time that there's any of these brothers along through the cities, why, be sure to, if you can, to attend their meeting.
Something struck my heart just a few moments ago. There's a little boy standing outside, as I come in. He said, "Do you remember me, Brother Branham?"
And I said, "I believe I do, son."
He said, "In Hammond, Indiana, when I come to your service, I had two ruptures." And said, "You prayed for me, and those ruptures just dried up." And he said, "Now I play basketball.

11 So, the little fellow, he was just a little bitty lad then, and now he's a great big man. I was thinking over here at Milwau... or Waukegan, a little minister, I believe the... I think his father was a Christian minister, I forget just what... It might not have been a Christian church. But anyhow the little boy was cross-eyed and he was healed in the service. And he used to follow along. And everywhere I'd see him, he'd say "You remember me, Brother Branham?" And now that lad's way up here, a great big boy. And this little lad told me he was playing music in his church. And so that's very fine. God bless these little fellows. The crop for tomorrow, if there is a tomorrow.
Now, we could just talk so much, and we love to speak to you so well; but now, tomorrow afternoon is the preaching services, and so... And then, tomorrow night, the services close in this special camp ... this campaign. And we go to Columbia, South Carolina, to begin there. And then to Spindale, and then to Charlotte, and then into Anchorage, Alaska. So, if your people are living in around near, why, send them word and to attend the meeting.

12 Now, over in the glorious Gospel of Saint Mark, in the 9th chapter, we read these verses, the 42nd and 43rd.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith has saved thee.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
You know, it must have been a bad day. No one had give him anything. So, he was sitting out along the side of the road, and the warm sun had rose up, so he was kind of sitting, dreaming like, as it was, about things that had passed. And he picked up his ragged garment, wrapped it around him and goes over to the side of the wall, and sits down. And the warm sunshine ... he turned himself around, towards the sun, and he begin to say, "Now let's see, as I was thinking: surely, surely, there must be something to it. You know, this has been a very terrible day for me. No one has give me anything, and the crowds has been gathering into the city, and people don't give very liberally here at the gate anymore. And I can't attract any attention, because I have nothing, no more than any other beggar, to attract them by.
"Not long ago, I had some little doves, and they would do little tricks, and I offered them to the Lord for a sacrifice a few months ago, because my little girl was sick and I told the Lord if He would just let my little girl live, that I would sacrifice these two little doves. And He let her live and so I sacrificed the doves.

13 "Then I had a... My odds are so against me. Someone has to lead me home now. I don't have no lamb to take me home. I used to have a lamb, and it would take me home. And knowed the way back from the gate, up to my little cabin, or little shack, along the side of the hill, that overlooks Jordan. And my wife got sick, so I offered God this lamb, if He would heal her. And He did.
"And I'll never forget what the priest said to me when I was going into the temple. He said, 'Bartimaeus, you can't offer that lamb. That lamb is your eyes.'
"I'll never forget just how it struck me, I said, 'Well, but, God will provide another lamb for Bartimaeus's eyes.'"
And as he sat there, grouped up, and the sun had passed around a little bit, and he kind of got in the shadows, and pulled back out in the sun, and gathered up his ragged garment. Sat down in another place, and thought he would continue his dreaming, thinking.

14 You know, I like to do that myself. Everyone else does. Sit down, think of it. Some days when you get the kiddies to run off to school, right quick, and fix hubby's breakfast and kiss him goodbye, and he's gone for the day, and you get the dishes done up, and then, go in and sit down and relax, and just get to yourself and think. You sisters know what that is. And think, "O God, I remember when little Sally was born, and when Patricia was born, how I come near dying, and You helped me. You saved me. I can remember all those things."
And brethren, you know, sometime when the boss lets you off and you have a Saturday afternoon, and you get the old fishing pole and a can of worms, and get way back, out on the creek bank, somewhere, and sit down under the tree, and throw the pole in the water, and get a forked stick, and hold it up, just fold your arms, and get a straw in your mouth, and dream. That's relaxing, that's good for you. We need more of that.

15 This blind beggar was doing something on that manner, this day. And he was thinking about... Now, his mind slips back to a little boy, a little Jewish boy, and how that his mother would get up... He could see then, he could look around, he could see the blue skies, think, "Oh, wasn't that wonderful? I could look at the skies, and mama used to kiss me and pat me on the head and saying, 'Why, your eyes are as blue as the skies. They look like the stars that's up there.'
"Oh, if I could only see that sky again. If I could only see that mother again. If I could only see the great swelling Jordan again. If I could look upon... But my eyes are blind, I can't see now. And here I am an aged man, and been blind now for all these years. I remember when I fell and hurt myself, and put my eyes out. Now here I sit.
"You know, I remember when mother used to tell me about long years ago, how that some day there would be a great Messiah come on earth. And when He come, He would be God's great Messiah. And how He would restore the sight to the blind. How the lame would leap like an hart. She told me the prophet Isaiah had said those things---God's anointed prophet. It cannot fail. But oh, that seems to be so far in the future, way past my day.

16 "And then, I remember her telling me of how that God Jehovah was with His people, down in Egypt. How that they went down there because Abraham, the prophet, had said that they would be down in there for four hundred years, and how God would bring them out, and great Jehovah God stood for His people. How He beat down the enemy, and how He opened the Red Sea, and He healed them when they were sick in the wilderness.
"But, oh, my! What a great mighty Jehovah that was that my mother read the scrolls---the old family Bible---and told me about it, but alas, they tell me, 'Those days are gone. Jehovah doesn't do those things no more. The days of miracles is passed.' My priest told me that the days of miracles was passed, so I suppose we don't have those things no more. But I used to enjoy those stories."

17 I can see him sitting there now, and the first thing you know, somebody's coming. Someone clipping along the side of the highway, the old polished stones, over the road there. He slips back out there, and said, "Kind sir, I am a blind man. Would you please give me a coin today?"
"Oh, out of my way, beggar. There's so many of you around the country today, a fellow just simply can't walk, without some beggar trying to beg him. Get from before me." And pushed him along.
Well, he finds his way back, blindly, hits the wall, and gets down in the corner. Puts his little old ragged coat over him again, and sits there, and the wind kind of blows a little and he shivered, pulled around by the other side, so the sun would hit him, as the direct rays of the Syrian sun would catch him. And as he sits there, he starts back again.

18 "Yes, yeah, that's true. I haven't got a coin today, but, you know, there's something strange in my heart, today. I feel very strangely. I don't know why I'm thinking about these things, but, you know, I can just imagine hearing my mother read those stories of the Bible. You know, I'm sitting right now, just think that it hasn't been too long ago, that right down those same old polished cobble stones laying out there, not fifty yards from where I'm sitting, the great prophet Elijah, and Elisha, come arm in arm, walking towards the Jordan. Oh, if I could have only been sitting here then. What would I have done? I'd have been more of a pest than the Shunammite woman was. How I'd have fell before Elisha and them, said, 'Oh, great prophet of God, ask Jehovah, just ask Him (that's all I want you to do), and I'll have my sight.' If I could've only sat here, but everything is past, and so far in the future."

19 You know, many times, human beings think that. But if God is God, He's just as great one time as He is the other. He doesn't fail. He's just the same. He can't be great one time and not great the other. He has got to be great at all times; in order to be God, He's to be great. He has to act, as I've said many times, on every case like He acted on the first case. If He didn't, He did wrong the way He acted. If He healed the people in the Old Testament, and won't ... and healed them in the New Testament, the same as He did in the Old Testament, and won't heal them today, as He did then, then there's something wrong with God, see.
You and I can... We can... We're growing, as I said. And we're being more cultured all the time. Human race are becoming more civilized and so forth, until we get to a certain spot on this tree of knowledge, and then the thing swings back again. It's always done it. And so, they...

20 But God was perfect to begin with. And He's been perfect all along. And He'll always be perfect. He can't be no more. And then, when a crisis arose back there, and people needed healing, in their journey from Egypt to the promised land, and God made a way of healing for them then, because they had need of it. Their doctors couldn't do no good. And the snakes was biting them, and they were dying. And all their remedies that they put on, wouldn't heal them. And if God provided a healing for them then, and today of cancer, and heart trouble, and diseases that our beloved doctors don't know of how to doctor it hardly.
And I heard a statement, the other night on the radio, of some said that they had never proved that an operation for cancer had ever been successful. That's right. Not one. So, they have nothing to doctor with. Some of them say, "It's a fourth dimension disease," they call it. But it's a devil. That's exactly. God is still God.

21 And if our doctors cannot find anything to help us with, don't you think that God is obligated? The same kind of a crisis arise... Dr. Moses, back there, and none of the ... was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and none of their doctors that they had with them. You mean to tell me... Those shrewd Hebrews have always been a smart people, thrifty; and they had all their remedies and things with them, that they tried to treat a snakebite. As many serpents as there was in those days, but their snakebites ... their remedies for snake bites would not work. So then, God was obligated to act. And He'll always act in a crisis. And the way He acted then, He's got to act the same now, or He did wrong when He did that, see. He's got to act in the same way. Oh, there's nothing wrong with God, friends.

22 If I'd say this with all my heart, as a Christian minister: Tonight, if every soul that's in the United States would turn to God, with all their heart, with all their soul, and believe Him that way, I'll say that the cancer, heart trouble, and everything, in America, the problems would be settled right there. That's right. But when you got so much mixed up...
And just think what a little teeny ... one fortieth, oh, my, one percent of one hundredth would be about the people who really believe in divine healing. And then, think of the battle you've got, in the opposition. And in there, you got people who think that it's fake. You got people who think that it's some crazy something. And all these other things you've got to come back with. So you see, we're on the small side, as far as eyes is concerned, or our mental conception, but in the eyes of God, we're in the majority. Because one is a majority with God.
Notice. But when...
He thought if Elijah would have come down that road, then he'd have run out there and stopped him and said, "Elijah, great prophet, you and Elisha, will you ask God? And I believe God would give me my sight back." That's the kind of faith to have. "But, I can't do it now, because it's all passed. They tell me at the church that it's all passed."

23 Then he hears some horse coming ... or, a little donkey coming down the road, clicking his little heels as he's walking along ... with the hoofs, rather, on the street, as he's clicking along the side of the cobblestones. And all at once, he runs out into the road, hollers, "Would you please help a blind man? I have a wife and baby at home, and I have nothing to eat for them. Would you please help a blind man?"
A fellow stops and says, "Out of my way, beggar. I am on my way... I am the head of the ministerial association of this city down here. I am on my way to stop a fanatic. All this fanaticism of a prophet in this day. Oh, I tell you, it's ridiculous to what our country is coming to. Such fanatics, a soothsayer, a fake, is entering this city today, and the ministerial association has to get together with all the medical science and stop this nonsense. So, out of my way!"
And the boy pushes him out, said, "Yes, holy father, we will take you straight on into the city to your destination. I am the servant of the Lord." And clicking on down the street.

24 Poor beggar turns back, sits down by the side of the wall again. No one to help him. No one to encourage him. Then he starts dreaming again, as it was. Said, "Just think, less than a mile from here, Israel, my people, crossed this river of Jordan in the month of April, when she was swelling. And Jehovah God moved back the waters and let them cross on dry ground. And down, less than a mile from where I'm sitting, there's a pillar of stones, pile of stones piled up, as a memorial that Jehovah did this. Surely, He's still Jehovah. How could a mighty One like that cease to be?

25 "And think of it, within five hundred yards of where I'm sitting, the great Joshua was walking one day, and he come over to kind of look around the walls of Jerusalem, because ... or, the walls of Jericho: they had all closed up, by the fear of our people. And he seen a man standing with his sword drawn, and Joshua the mighty warrior, running, drew his sword to meet Him. He said, 'Are You for us? Or are You for our enemy?'
"And the man said, 'Nay, I'm the Captain of the host of the Lord.' And Joshua, the prophet, the warrior, the mighty man of valor, threw down his sword, took off his helmet, dropped his shield to the ground, and fell to the man's feet and worshipped Him. None other than the Son of God."

26 Notice, little did blind Bartimaeus know that not over two hundred yards from him, that same Captain of the host of the Lord was coming on his road. That's right.
And that's the same way it is here tonight. Many of you, maybe, helpless, hopeless, as far as the world is concerned. But that same chief Captain is right here. That's right.
After a while he hears a noise coming. He listens. What's happened? Maybe there's a fire in the city. Maybe there has been an accident or something. And he hears ... don't sound like an accident, it don't sound like a fire. Some of them hollered, "You faker. Out of our city." Others are hollering, "You are Beelzebub, you fortuneteller. Get out of our city, we don't want You here." And others are hollering, "Hosanna, hosanna, to He that cometh in the name of the Lord." Some blessing, and some cursing. And what's happening? Overripe fruits are being throwed.
And he says, "Could someone tell me what's going on?" No one seen, they was piling over each other, he raised up, said, "What's going on?" And somebody pushes him down.
"Sit down, beggar!" On they went.

27 Some of them said, "We challenge You. We dare you to perform a miracle in our sight. We want to see it done. We want to see it with our own eyes. You, who raised the dead, we got a whole cemetery full up here. Ha, ha, ha! Come up here and raise them. Sure! Come up here and raise them. Oh, You, who destroys the temple and raises it up in three days. Hey! Miracle man! Say, my Uncle John down here, he's been crippled for five years, fell off his horse and hurt himself. Come down and heal him. Ha! We'll believe You." Those who could see, there was One who kept a steady look towards Heaven, walking on. He didn't even hear it. He was too big to hear it. That's right. Big men don't notice nonsense like that. They just ignore it. They know the resource where it comes from. They just go on. Jesus had one thing to do, He had a job to do. That was do the will of the Father and that was all was in His heart and mind.

28 Any other man that's anointed of God is too big to listen to criticisms and things like that. They have one job to do: that's obey God. God will take care of the rest of it. Just watch, watch what happens to that type of crowd. What if they could rise out of hell tonight? What would they do? I imagine there would be an old-fashioned altar call, sure enough. But they can't. Their attitude towards the Son of God then, sealed their destination. And your attitude towards Him tonight, will do the same thing for you. Right. You either bring Him in or seal Him out. And watch Him as He marks ... walks on. The whole world, every sin that was ever committed from Adam to the last mortal that'll live on earth, laid on His shoulders.
Screaming and crying, everybody yelling, yelling, one thing and another. He walked on towards Calvary. He was going up to Jerusalem, right then, to be offered up. He knew it. He knew what He was here for. He had tried to tell His disciples, but they couldn't understand it. He said, "Oh, You talk in riddles, we don't know what You're talking about." No one seemed to understand Him. He was misunderstood.

29 And everyone that tries to live before God right, is misunderstood. That's right. People misunderstand you. They think there's something wrong with you. Sometimes they're considered neurotics, when they really try to live true, live loyal and true to God, because they don't drink and take a sociable party. And that's what's the matter with our country today, we got too many social parties of them things. What's the matter with the Christian church of America? We got too much of that going on in it, under the name of Christianity.
Oh, friends, this might be our last night on earth. How do we know? This might be the last hour that we'll ever have a time to make a decision. That's right. You must think of that. You don't know just what minute or hour you might be called on to answer at the judgment. And then you're not going to be judged as a sinner. You're going to be judged as a rejecter of what you've heard. Faith cometh by hearing.

30 And I can see the blind man and the people running all over him; Jesus walking on up the road. As He went out the gates, the people hollering and screaming and going on, about fifty or a hundred yards from where the blind beggar was sitting. And he kept crying, "Well, what's going on? What's happened? Are they going to crucify a criminal? What is this man they're saying ... trying to threaten Him and telling Him, if He can heal the sick, to do certain things; and if He can raise the dead, to go up to the graveyard and raise them all up. What are they hollering at that about? Who is the man anyhow?" Nobody seemed to answer.
Finally, one young lady, Rebekah, perhaps, (Zacchaeus' wife) after that morning, her husband being converted, she reaches down and she said, "Kind sir, maybe you don't know; you're a poor man. I feel sorry for you in your rags."
"But, kind lady, tell me what's going on?"
"Have you ever read in the Scripture where the Messiah would come?"
"Oh, yes! I was just thinking about that. The Son of David."
"Yes! Yes!" Rebekah said, "That's Him, the Son of David."
"Yes, I've heard that He would be on the earth some day. Oh, when He comes, what joy there'll be when He comes. A mob like this won't be howling around."
"But, sir, you're mistaken. There goes the Son of David. That's Him!"
"Oh, you mean the world is treating Him like that?"
"That's Him!"
"Is angels following Him? What kind of a company has He got?"
"He walks alone. He's a man rejected. His message has been turned down. But He's healed the sick. God has proved to be with Him, by signs and wonders with Him. He's the Son of God."
Then I can see the old beggar scream to the top of his voice, "O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." The last opportunity He'd ever have. The first time it was presented to Him. "Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!"
Somebody pushes him back, said, "Oh, shut up!" Shoves him back like that.
He said, "Have mercy, Thou Son of David! Have mercy!"

31 How could He hear Him when there's about five thousand or six thousand people maybe, screaming, "You fanatic. Come on up here in the graveyard, raise up our uncle. He died twenty years ago. Ha! Oh, You who raised Lazarus from the grave. Nonsense. How easy, we know that You took him down there, and had the disciples to fix that all up. It's a phony. There's nothing to it. Oh, come up here and raise the dead up here for us. We'll believe You then."
And that was not just the sinners; it was sinners, of course, but that was rabbis and priests who ought to have known better. That's right.
"Thou who destroys the temple, and raise it up, perform a miracle in my sight. We want to see You do something. Oh, we've seen you take that little old businessman this morning: he's cracked in the head since You talked to him. But let me tell you something. Let me see You do a miracle and we'll believe You."
Jesus walked right on. Jesus will never touch, or pay any attention to anybody like that. And if you got that kind of an attitude, just know where you're standing and what crowd you're associating with. That's right.

32 God, when they put a rag around His face and hit Him on the head, and the Roman soldier said, "Now You who can discern the thoughts, You who are a prophet, tell us who hit You. We'll believe You." He never opened His mouth, said a word. Sure! He only did as the Father showed Him. He knowed one thing that He had to do: go to Calvary. And He was on His road. Praise God! Marching to Calvary to die for them horrible, ungodly sinners You and I. On His road to Calvary.
Seemed to be not much interested, but one old blind man. And the others mocking, saying, "Say, let me see You do something. Hey! You miracle worker. Let me see you perform something!"
You know what kind of spirit was in them? What Jesus told them, said, "You're of your father the devil." Scholars, educated, smart men, priests, rabbis, holy fathers. "You are of your father the devil." He said it.

33 Why? When the devil met Him when He was first anointed the Son of God, in the wilderness and God came into Him, the devil said, "If You're the Son of God, perform a miracle here before me and let me see You do it. You're hungry, make these stones bread." He could have done it. Certainly He could. Said, "Perform a miracle, let me see You do it. I'll believe You're the Son of God."
He said, "It's written in the Bible." Father's Word says, "Man shall not live by bread alone."
Said, "Come here and I'll show you something." Took Him up on the pinnacle of the temple, said, "Oh, you're a fundamentalist, are you? You like the Scripture. Well, let me show you what Psalms says. Now, I want you to jump down off the top of this temple, and go right down to the ground. And just before you get to the ground, before all the people, then, come right back up again and sit up here. Oh, what an outstanding miracle that'll be." That's as bad as dripping oil off a hand. It's not Scriptural.
So, the first thing you know, he said... You know what he said? He said this, he said, "It's written here in the Scripture, that He shall give the angels charge over thee, 'less anytime thou dash thy foot against a stone, bear thee up." But He hadn't dashed His foot against any stone.
Finally, He said, "Get thee hence, Satan. It's worship... It's written that thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall ye serve." Yes. He did what the Father had showed Him to do.

34 Now, then He goes on up. He starts on, got, maybe, a hundred and fifty yards. Poor blind Bartimaeus, he was in terrible shape. He hollered, "Oh, have mercy! Have mercy!" He's still walking on. He couldn't hear him naturally with His ears, it was too far from him. If you'd measure the distance from the gate to the side there, you'd find out (All right.) of where they mark and said he was sitting.

35 Now, way away from the gate---and Jesus going up the road, and all that clamor going on like that---but something happened. I can see blind Bartimaeus. He said, "Oh, Jehovah, it was You awhile ago was speaking to my heart. It was You that was telling me these things and was bringing all these things to my mind. It's You that I've served all my life. It's You that I love. I've looked for this day."
"And to them that look for the Son of God shall He appear."
"I've looked for Him to come. And there He goes, the Messiah."

36 Now, he didn't say, "Now wait a minute. Let me check all this up." He believed, that's all. He said, "I believe that's the Messiah. That's Your Son going up the road, the Son of David, according to the flesh. Raised up to sit on David's throne. The Bible said that these things would happen when He was here." And he believed it.
"And the Bible said, 'The things that I do shall you, also.' And I believe it. The Bible said that these signs shall follow them that believe. And I believe it."
Certainly. God said so; that settles it.
Then as He moved on, after a while, not the beggar's voice, but the beggar's faith---the same one that touched the hem of His garment, the same type of faith that touched His garment---touched Him again. And he stopped!
Just think, that a faith of a blind beggar, begging for a farthing, a fourth of a penny. Would have been happy to have it. With old ragged coat on, robe wrapped around him, or whatever it was, rags, little old skinny arms, laying down there half starved. But the Prince of Heaven was on earth. The great I AM that had condescended down and come down, and was made flesh and dwelt among us. "What is man that thou art mindful of him?"

37 And here, beyond the great polished, robed, high-hatted scholarly priest making fun of Him. And the great people, so-called in the world then, making fun of Him and laughing at Him, and daring Him and threatening Him. And a poor little old insignificant beggar was going down in the history of time as immortal.
Bartimaeus' name will be there as long as there's a Bible there. Amen. Why? Because he was smart? No, sir. Because he was educated? No, sir. Because he was well-dressed? No, sir. Because he was scholarly? No, sir. But because he believed! Yes, sir. Never questioned. He believed. Not him that doeth, but him that believeth on Him that justifies the ungodly. Not by works are you saved, but by faith, through grace, are you saved. Not what you are, who you are, but who you believe.
If you believe He's raised from the dead, and believe His words to be true, then He's still Christ to you, as He was to that blind beggar.

38 Look at that poor colored woman, they was just telling me, walked across the platform night before last, blind, a woman leading her. She walked off the platform, and last night was in the church not being led. Jesus Christ was leading her then. Sure.
How about down in Mexico? It's hard to tell how many. The people are simple. They just believe. They haven't got D.D.D., Ph.D., LL.D. and "I'm this, that, and the other." The only thing they want to know, "If you can prove it to me that there is a God, I'll accept it." And when they see the power of Almighty God do something, the whole group accepts it at one time. They picked up loads, after loads, after loads, of canes and crutches, and clubs, that the people had walked on with nothing but just congregational prayer.
When they had an old blind man standing there on the platform, got himself up there, and walking along---they had to bring him over---and when Jesus Christ opened his eyes, hundreds times hundreds of them threw their crutches in the air, and begin leaping and jumping for joy. They didn't argue. They believed.

39 That's what we need here in the Lane Tech tonight, is faith, not theology. But to believe the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He's alive on earth tonight. Not to try to figure out how He does it, not to try to figure out how it could be. You can't figure God out. You've got to simply believe it. Don't care how scholarly you are, and how many D.D.'s you got on your name, or whatever it is. You cannot explain it. It's got to be an act of faith on your part, because God cannot be explained. Amen.
How can He do it? The mind: When they see something, when they seen Jesus discern a thought, they said, "Oh, now wait a minute. There's something wrong there." So they tried to trick Him to find out what He was doing. How He did it? What He held up His sleeve? What kind of chemical He had to do this with, that He dropped out of His sleeve, and turned the water into wine? They wondered what it was. What did He have on His hands when He did these things? Some kind of magic. They tried to comb it through. They thought His disciples was His helpers to do it. He had twelve men, what for? See how that carnal, ungodly mind works?

40 That's what people get who try to figure out the Bible. You just believe it. When God says it, just say, "That's right." What is confession? Say the same thing. If I make a confession, I say the same thing.
If the Bible said, "I'm the Lord that healeth thee," I say, "Amen. That's right. You're the Lord that healed me."
Said, "He was wounded for our transgressions, with His stripes we were healed." I say, "Amen. He was wounded for my transgressions, with His stripes I'm healed." That settles it. That's confession.
Said, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." I say the same thing. That's all. That's confessing, confessing every word. Not just part of it. If part of it's wrong, all of it's wrong. But every word is God's holy eternal Word. And there's not one precept shall ever fail. It'll work when faith is put with it to work it with.

41 Now, critics will rise, like they did then, and so forth, but it doesn't matter. God's work will move right on.
Here a few days ago, a certain minister was in Florida. And he had a woman to take the brace off of a child. And the child did not respond to the prayer of a minister. Why? When it was all found out, it was a setup of the devil, to trick the minister, of a bunch of atheistic people who're supposed to be religious, to trap the minister.
I was in Minneapolis at the time. Ask. I told them that to begin with. Said, "Don't worry. I've told you all along we're heading for trouble, but blessed is he that endures to the end."
Must I be carried home to Heaven on a flowery bed of ease, while others fought to win the prize and sail through bloody seas? No! I must fight if I must reign. Increase my courage, Lord. I do not ask for everything easy.
And as this minister... As soon as the newspapers could catch it, it swept the nation over: "A minister peeping behind bars!" How the devil wanted to criticize Jesus Christ through His ministers. How the devil wanted to make a public show of that. Then they blocked divine healing, which could not be trusted.

42 There's an old saying down in the South, where I come from: "Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander."
And at the same time, when that minister's picture was going over the world ... or, over the United States (on the Associated Press, of course, it went over the world)... While it was gone over the world that divine healing was fogy and there wasn't nothing to it, at the same time, hundreds of people were killed by doctors, and not one word was said against it. A man, during the same time, died in my meeting from a shot the doctor had give him that evening, in the spine.

43 A Mr. Moore, friend of mine, one of my campaign managers, his wife, going through menopause, a doctor, (nothing against the doctor, or his medicine, certainly not), but give her a shot in the spine, and they called the minister home, during the time that Mr. Cole was peeping through the bars. And, the doctor had to put his mouth against her mouth, and blow breath into her lungs till he got her to a pull motor, and called Eisenhower's heart doctor to find out how to counteract that shot. And now, hundreds of times...
Standing in a room the other day, waiting for a patient---not this one. But medical men coming out of the operation, not knowing that I was back in that corner behind the door, praying, said, "Well, we did it, didn't we?"
"Yeah!"
Said, "I hate it, but there ain't nothing we could do. That operation was too high." There you are! Patient died just in a few minutes, from a wrong cut.
You didn't see that in the paper. Certainly not. It was a mistake in the name of medical science. Which, I'm not condemning medical science, it's all right. But what I'm trying to say, "Why hammer on Christ, and let the rest of them alone?" If one can't be trusted, then the other can't be trusted.

44 Watch the resurrection! And weigh all that comes out of the graveyards. Say, "How many of you died trusting God? How many of you died trusting medical science?" And see how it would outweigh. Certainly.
But just as soon, they're looking for every little thing. "This is not right. This is phony. This is that." Just because it's Christ. The world belongs to the devil. And the Bible plainly says that every kingdom on the earth is ruled by the devil. Jesus Christ recognized that and said so. So we're no exception.
Just look at the wickedness. Just look what's taking place. Them trying to find fault, trying to... And they never... Let that poor old blind woman give her testimony of the glory of God. You see a little bitty place, if you paid for it, in the back of the paper, about that big. Sure, she's a colored woman to begin with, see. She'd be way back in the back of the page somewhere.
But let me tell you, sister, if you're sitting here, your name might not be on "Who's Who" but I believe it's on the Lamb's Book of life. I'd rather have it there, than all the pomp of the world. For one day, we've got to leave here. What good does that do then, unless we're recognized there?
Just as impossible it is for an automobile to run without gasoline, it's more impossible for you to ever get to Heaven without being born again. It just won't work, there's nothing to work with it.

45 So, the blind beggar screamed. No matter what they said... Some of them said, "Oh, that fogy. That faker, there's nothing to Him. Your priest will put you out of the church."
"I don't care. Jesus Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!"
"He can't hear you now, He's too far."
"But oh, Jehovah!"
Jesus stopped. Something touched Him. He looked around. He looked over there, and He seen a pair of little bony hands up in the air. Said, "Bring him, here. Bring him, here."
Said, "Son, thy faith has saved thee."
I can see him say, "What?"
"Thy faith has saved thee." Turned around, went walking on. That was enough.

46 I can see old blind Bartimaeus sitting there said, "Who was that said that? They said, "My faith has saved me. But yet I can't see. But He said, 'My faith has saved me.' And who was it said that?"
Look what said it. Who was it said, "Ask the Father anything in my name, I will do it." Who was it said, "That the things that I do shall you also." Who was it said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Who said it? Who said that in the last days they'd be heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, and despisers of those that are right; having a form of godliness.
Oh, pious with a face long enough to eat oats in a churning. I don't mean that by no joke, because it's not a joking place, but that's true. Walk along very religious. That's all it is, is religious. But as far as salvation, some of them knows no more about it than an Hottentot would know about Egyptian knight. That's right. There they are.
"Oh, you know our church doesn't teach that." But the Bible does. God said so.
He said, "Let every man's word be a lie and Mine be true." To me, that's the truth. If God said it, that settles it.
"He said I would receive my sight. Now," said, "my faith... Yes, I believed Him. I didn't have one speck..."
Somebody said, "Uh-huh! There's no difference in you."
"Get away! He said I would receive it, and I will. Oh, glory," he says. "I can begin to see my hand. Where'd He go?" Here he come down the road, rejoicing, praising God that he had received his sight.
What was it? That priest was right, you know, he said, "God will provide a lamb." ... or, when he said, "You can't offer that lamb, because it's your eyes."
And blind Bartimaeus had said, "God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes." He had. God had provided a Lamb.
And that same Lamb is provided for every person here tonight, and for every person on earth tonight.
"Receive thy sight. Thy faith has saved thee."
The word "save" there is the word "sozo": physical or spiritual. You can't separate it. As long as God is saving the soul, He's got to save the body, just exactly.
"Wounded for our transgressions, with His stripes we was healed." Same blood, same man, same day. Can't separate it.
Now, is your spiritual eyes open? If not, He's passing this way. Shall we speak to Him now as we bow our heads.
Pianist, if you will.

47 Our Heavenly Father, we commit these words to You, and may You water it day and night in every heart. Maybe, not the way they were framed and put together, but as a little boy one time, saying his ABC's on his knees: The minister asking him, "Sonny, why are your saying your ABC's on your knees for?"
He said, "Well, I don't know how to pray. My mother is gone. I heard her pray. So, I knowed the alphabet, and I just said it, and maybe God would pick out the words ... the letters, and form the words."

48 God, that's the way I present it to You tonight. I can't speak very much, but, God, I just... Maybe You can pick it out and give it to each heart just the way we meant it. May You open right at this time, many spiritual eyes, Lord, that's never seen the light of day, and the light of God's glory, and an experience of being born again. Grant it, Father.
And while we have our heads bowed, the organ playing, I wonder if there would be someone in here just now, without God, without hope of eternal life. Would you slip up your hand to God, and say, "Remember, me, God. I need Thee."
Now, would you just, while the rest of them have their heads bowed, raise your hand, see? God bless you. Someone else, just raise up your hand, say, "God it's me." God bless you, lady. God bless you, over there, lady. God bless you, little lady. Someone else? God bless you, brother. Bless you, my brother. That's fine. Right now. You've got to make a decision. You can't go out that door the same person. You're in the presence of God. You'll either go out that door a better man or woman, or a worse by rejecting. This might be the last time you'll ever reject it. It might be. I hope not. But it may be. But now while He's knocking, and giving one more... If you feel something at your heart, saying, "Yes, you ought to raise your hand and accept me. You know why."
Then that's He.

49 You've got an interview with Jesus just now, like blind Bartimaeus had. He wants to speak to you. Will you raise your hand, saying, "Lord, I feel You at my heart's door." I now raise my hand and say, "Receive me, Christ."
Up in the balconies, up there, is there anyone up there along the right side? In the center? Anywhere? Will just raise your hand say, "Me! Lord, I need You. And I want You to remember me, just now. As a sinner, I raise my hand, asking for pardon of my sin, while You're coming this way."

50 Someone else down on the bottom floor here, somewhere? Someone that hasn't raised their hand? Several has raised. God bless you, sir. God bless you, lady. God bless you, young lady. That's good. And God bless you, my brother. Someone else just raise your hand, say, "Jesus, now while we're in prayer..."
..............come home,
Ye who are weary, come home;
Won't you do it? Solemnly, everyone praying now. Decisions...
......tenderly Jesus is calling,
God bless you, lady. God bless you there, my friend.
Calling, O sinner,..........
Won't you do it? God bless you. Someone else now. I'm watching. God's watching. How much more is God's eyes watching. Won't you come home? God bless you, lady. I see your hand, with the red. Way back in the back, God bless you, I see you back there, my brother. Someone else? Just softly, quietly, while we're waiting. God bless you, lady. You're making your decision.
Remember, everyone that raises their hands because God has said so, it's "Thus saith the Lord," that quick you receive eternal life, and cannot perish.
If you believe me to be His servant, believe that. If you believe His Word! He said, "He that heareth My words and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life. And no man can come accept the Father draws him first." It's God's invitation to you to Christ.

51 Just think, each one of you now, just for seriously for a moment. That organ music, one of these days, no doubt, before long, will be playing while you're a corpse---while your friends are walking around looking into the casket, and you're going out the door. I don't say that to scare you. No, no. I'm just letting you know that that's coming. To every person in here, young or old, now is the time to make your decision. You're invited.
Would there be another, just before closing?
Ye who are weary, come home. Why worry and be tossed about? Say, "Brother Branham, I belong to church, but really, I've never been born again. I want now... I just got a letter in a church I ... really to know Christ, I don't. But right now, I feel like I ought to do it. I ought to come to Christ."
I'm not saying leave your church now. I'm saying come to Christ. Would you raise your hand, while the Christians are praying? God is watching for every hand. God bless you, lady. That's good.
Someone else? O sinner. God bless you over there, my brother, I see you with your hand up. Over to my right, I see you, too. God bless you back there. All right.

52 Come Home. Just think that one more little call. There's at least three people sealed into the kingdom just then. How important is this? You'll never know. What's one of them in the sight of God? Ten thousand worlds wouldn't pay for that soul. Just waiting a moment, I want... I know I'm taking much of your time, but this is more important than even the prayer line. Is there another just before closing?
God bless you. Good. God bless you. Someone else? Is there someone in the balcony. I don't believe we've had one hand up in the balcony. Are you all Christians up there, friend? I hope you are. If you're not, you're invited to be now.
You remember, at the judgment bar, I'll stand by your side, be judged with you. I'll be judged whether I asked you; you'll be judged whether you accepted. That may be soon. I don't know. All right.

53 Everyone in the kingdom now and everyone in. Our Heavenly Father, to Thee be praise now and forever more. I quote Your Word, Lord. As Your servant standing here between the sinner and the Saviour. As a minister of the Gospel, I love Your Word. I believe it's true, Lord, every word. I've found it to be true, every word. And now, I'm quoting this to You, Father. You said, "No man can come to Me, except My Father draws him. And He that will acknowledge Me before men, I'll acknowledge him before the Father, and the holy angels. And he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall never come into judgment, but is passed from death to life, already.
Now, Father, it is written, again, by the beloved Son of God, He said, "You ask the Father anything in My name, I will do it." It can't fail. And I'm asking God in the name of Jesus to accept each one of these children that's raised their hands to come to Jesus, tonight. Hide them in Calvary, Father. May they, from this night on, be Thine forevermore. I commend them to Thee, Lord, and commit them to Thee. In the name of Thy Son the Lord Jesus. Amen.

54 The Lord bless you each one. I feel the Holy Spirit is here tonight. And now, we're just a little late, but we're going now to pray for the sick people. The full Gospel is to pray for the sick, help the weary, and preach the Word, do all the whole Gospel.
Now, how many believes that Jesus has risen from the dead? Let's see your hands. That's fine. Wonderful! That's so good of you. I appreciate that. That's witness. Now, how many knows this? That He has risen from the dead, the Bible said, that He is the same today that He was then. How many knows that? That's wonderful. God bless you. That's good. I'm so glad to see you, by doing that... You can't do that 'less something is in you making you do it. That's right. That makes me know that this is a blessful place, here, tonight. We're sitting together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. It's a wonderful place to be. I love it. I'd rather be here than anywhere I know---among God's children.

55 Now, let us just draw the curtain now, to all critics and everything, and look at the Word. If Jesus has risen from the dead, the Bible said He ascended up to the throne of God. We all believe that. And He sent gifts back to men. And then, He sent back, and put in the church, first apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and pastors: All for the perfecting of the church, drawing it together. And now, in here ... He claimed that in His church, He would be the same always.
And He said, "A little while and the world wouldn't see Him any more, never no more." But He promised the church, that they would see Him always, even to the end of the world. Is that right? They promised ... He promised the church that He'd be with them, doing the same things that He did then, among them, unto the end of the world. How many knows that? ["Amen."]
Now the Messiah is here. We just have to yield ourselves to Him, and He'll work the works of the Father through us. Now when He was here, He didn't claim to heal people. He said, "I don't do no healing. I only... The Father that dwells in Me does the works, and I don't do anything until He shows Me. First, the Father shows Me what to do, then I go do it." How many knows He said that? Saint John 5:19. He did. "I see a vision first, then the Father does it."

56 But when talking to a woman once, and He told her where her trouble was... She was a sinner. She was living in adultery. And when she did that... Why, she said, "This is the sign of the Messiah." Is that right? Saint John the 4th chapter. Said, "Well, we know when Messiah cometh this will be? But who are You?"
He said, "I am He!" See?
And did... Now you said, "That was a sinner that said that. That was a sinner acknowledged by that sign, that He was the Messiah. But not one of the Hebrews." Oh, yes. Yes.

57 You know what Nicodemus said when he come at night? He said, "Rabbi, we know, we Jews, we know that You're a Teacher come from God, because no man could do the things that You do, except God be with him." That's right.
Philip, when he went and got Nathanael, and he came to Nathanael, and Nathanael came to Jesus, and Jesus said, "There's an honest man, no guile in him."
And he said, "When did You know me, Rabbi?"
He said, "Before Philip called you when you were under the tree, I knew you ... saw you," rather. "I saw you."
And what did this staunch Israelite say? "Thou art the Son of God." Is that right? ["Amen."]

58 Well, if He's risen from the dead, He'll do the same tonight. But when the world say? What did the unbeliever say? The great church, the big church, what did they call Him? A devil. Is that right? They said, "He does this. He's a spiritualist. He's a Beelzebub. That's what He is, because there's a lot of devil powers working almost the same thing." The same thing in that day, just the same, like the witch of Endor and so forth, just the same. They said, "That's what He is. That's the class He belongs into." But they wasn't spiritual enough to discern right from wrong, see.
And that's the way it is today, the same thing. And as He said, "They call the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more are they going to call you, now, that's going to see Me to the end of the world." Is that right? How much more are they going to call you then?

59 But here's what He said. "Woe, unto them." That's right. "It would be better that you'd never been born in the world, to even offend the least of My anointed." Is that right? Now, not to do anything, but just to offend them in any way, just to say something against it.
The Bible said, "You'd better have a millstone at your neck, and drown in the depths of the sea, than even to bring an offense." Is that right?
What did Jesus say when they told Him He was Beelzebub? He said, "Now just a moment," in this word. "I'll forgive you for that, I'm the Son of God, I'll forgive you. But when the Holy Ghost comes, and begins to do the same thing in My name, whoever speaks a word against that, will never be forgiven in this world, or the world to come." Did He say that? ["Amen."]
Why? Because they said, "It's an unclean spirit." Said, "I'm the Son of God. I'll forgive you. But when the Holy Ghost comes down, and gets into the church, and I send My church forth, and they begin to do that, if you speak one word against it, it'll never be forgiven in this world or the world to come."
So, we better be careful what we say and what we do.

60 Now, Heavenly Father, all glory be to Thee. We commit the service now to Thee. Thou art God. We are Your servant. We pray that You'll let people know tonight that You're living. Father, many times I've come through Chicago, I guess maybe too many times. But, I love the people. They love me. They love You, Father, because, that's why they love me, is because they love You. And that's why I love them, is because You love them, and love me.
And I pray, Father, that somehow tonight, that You'll appear here, and show the people---not that we have to be shown---but will just let Your lovely Presence be with us. Won't You do it, Lord? Come down now in a form, like You did to them at Emmaus. And when we go home, may the people say, "Our hearts burned within because of His Presence." We ask it in Jesus' name, that He will confirm His Word with signs following. Amen.

61 Now, prayer card... What say? ["R."] R. Brother Woods has just told me that he give out prayer cards, R. Was that one to a hundred? One to a hundred. All right.
Well, whose got R-number-1, then?
[Break in tape.] Now, prayer card... When the Spirit of God is on me, I feel strong. A couple hours later, I'm all right. It isn't when you're in, or when you're out of it, it's coming between the two, that's what it is, when you drop down.
See, like Jonah, when he was in the belly of the whale, God sent His anointing to stay alive three days and nights, and come out and give a message to a city, oh, almost the size of Saint Louis, Missouri. And they always [unclear words]. And then when the Spirit left Jonah, he wanted to die. How many knows that?
Look at Elijah, when he called fire out of Heaven, rain out of Heaven, and done the things that He did that day; and when the Spirit left him, he was forty days and nights out in the wilderness, and God found him pulled back in a cave. How many knows that's right? He was about beyond himself.
You notice what God did? Wasn't it lovely there, for His servant? He woke him up. He laid down, put him to sleep and let him rest. Then He woke him up, and an Angel was standing there with food, and fed him, and put him back to sleep. And then woke him up again, and fed him again. And he went in the strength of that food for forty days, see. He knew when that great anointing left human flesh, that he would wander. And He found him, pulled way back, and Elijah, when he come to himself, he was back in a cave.

62 Just think of that, how that is. No one can understand God, can they? Tomorrow I want to explain some of these things to you, that'll give [unclear words]. It just comes on my heart, now, to Brother Joseph asked me to say it. Tomorrow afternoon, if you wish to bring your pencils and so forth, to write it down, or something, that's perfectly all right.
Now, that... Thank you, kindly, that's very nice.

63 Now, I want to say this to ... the man's not present, but the custodian here, he was just ... he's a fine fellow. He met me out there, and said, "Hello, Brother Billy, I'm so glad to see again." Just makes you feel like coming home. Very fine. God bless this school, the Lane Tech. Yes, sir. May it stand long and send many fine students out into the world to help our people, is my prayer. No, they have been nice to let us have this. And we appreciate it. Yes, sir. May the Lord bless them.
And now, to those who are out in the audience there, how many is in the audience, anywhere tonight, that isn't in the prayer line; but yet, you're sick and you want the Lord Jesus to heal you. Will you just raise your hand, anywhere?

64 A while ago, when those sinners raised their hands, accepted Christ... And listen, sinner friend, as soon as the healing service is over, may the [unclear words] our dear brother, maybe he might ask you to come just stand around the altar and pray. I wish you would do that personally. Just come and pray, and say, "Thank you, Lord Jesus, You've accepted me." But say, "Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me." And just have a good prayer, here, see. And tell Him how You love Him. Then go out and serve Him with a heart full of love and gratitude. He'll bless you. Don't you believe that? All right.

65 Now, you just be in prayer.
Down in the pit, down in here, you, any down in there, wants God to heal you, just believe with all your heart, and God will surely grant it to you. Anywhere.
Wished I was the healer. No, I take that back. I'm glad I'm not, because it's hard tell what I would do with it. It's best for Him to have it, not me, see. But you know what He's done? He has done your healing, and handed it to you, if you could just have faith enough to go get it. It's there. When you ask anything, believe you receive it. You shall have it. So that's very fine.
Now, brother. That's all right. Now, we love the Lord Jesus. It happens to be, tonight, a man is to start the prayer line off tonight. And we're happy to have this man standing here. He comes to proclaim that he's got faith in God. And he comes not for that, and then he comes this way, knowing that he believes me, as His servant. For what if he would be standing here as a hypocrite, or any ... and penned it. You know what would happen? Perhaps, what he come saying, he'd take.
How many knows that those things happen, that's been in my meeting? Oh, I've seen them stand in the prayer line, they'd have to pack them out. I've seen them drop on the platform where they were standing. I've seen epileptics [unclear words] and run through screaming and jumping, throwing their hands and everything else. I've seen them walk right there, and drop there cold dead as could be. That's right. We're not playing church.

66 You remember that night over here in Toronto, Canada, when that minister come to the platform, and he thought it was a mental telepathy? So, he said, "What it is, if the person writes what they got on the prayer card"; now imagine, writing their sin on... All right. Said, "Then he transfers it to ... the usher picks up the prayer card, holds the prayer card, and meditates and transfers it to them." And he come in the prayer card, in there, with a whole lot of stuff on his prayer card, he had: TB, and a lot of things.
He come up there, I said, "There's nothing wrong with you."
He said, "Oh, yes, look at my prayer card."
I said, "It has nothing to do with it. You're here trying to find out something. You think it's telepathy. Now the disease that you put on that prayer card, is on your body." That's right. And when he did, I got a letter here about two years ago, from him. He said, "Oh, Brother Branham, come to me."
I said, "You see that man sitting up there in the balcony with the red tie on? A blue suit? You and him sit together, last a table, had a green cover over it. And a woman sit over in the corner. And you said that you'd come prove that it was mental telepathy." And that man said, "That's the God Almighty truth. That's right. That's right."
And the man grabbed me by the pants leg, he said, "Pray for me, Brother Branham."
I said, "That's between you and God now. It's out of my hands. He's done spoke it. That's you now." And the man is laying bedfast to this day.
How about up here in New York, when that guy stood there trying to hypnotize me, make me bark like a dog? They had been around there hypnotizing. And the Holy Spirit looked around and said, "You son of the devil," said, "cursed be you." And he's paralyzed. That's right. Find out sometime, you see.
How many remembers reading the book, that maniac that come to the platform that night? Ask the police force up there, see what happened, see. It's God, friends. Wake up, and believe.

67 Now, this man standing here, I've never met him in my life. He's a stranger. Now, remember, I'm full of mistakes, I'm a man. But, He can't make a mistake, see, He can't, He's God. I'm just His servant and I can make all kinds of mistakes, but not Him.
Now, this man standing here by my side, I've never seen him. I guess we're strangers, are we? We are strangers to each, never seen each other in life. Now, just so that you would know: no contact with the man, none whatever. Almighty God knows that. And now, if the Holy Spirit will reveal what's wrong with the man, or what he's here for, or something another. I don't know. And you think I would say that standing here? Then, will you all believe that Jesus raised... Well, what will it be?
If Jesus was back there in the New Testament, and when they seen Him do that, they said, "This is the sign of the Messiah." How many knows that? Now raise your hand. The Bible said, "That's the sign of the Messiah," when He talked to the woman and to the man, both man and woman.

68 Now, if He does the same thing, tonight, isn't that the sign of the Messiah?
Now, I don't know him. But I just want to talk to him, like our Lord talked to the woman at the well. Well, now, sir, lots of times in the old countries down there, and people who can't speak English, and so forth, I have an awful time with them. But, when someone can answer me back, well then, it's good because it's English speaking, you see, and I can talk back to them.
You know our lovely Lord Jesus, that you and I together, are to stand in His presence, some day, and give an account for everything that we've done in this life, that's right, unless it's confessed and under the blood, when we go. Then we'll go in the rapture. Praise be to God.

69 Now, the Lord Jesus whose presence is... He's omnipresent, He's everywhere. He's always everywhere. But, of course, you are a Christian, you're a Christian man. And, of course, I don't know what's wrong with you. I have no way of knowing that. But, unless God would tell me what was wrong. And if God can tell me what's wrong with you, then that ... you'll be the judge of that, you know whether that's right or not.
But if the audience can still hear my voice, the man is here for somebody else. ["Thank You, Lord."] And it's a woman, and she's not here at the building, either, 'cause there's no response to it in the building, nowhere. She isn't here, sir, the person that you're standing for. That woman, I see you toget... It's your wife. That's right. And I see her at the table, and not able to eat things. She's got a stomach trouble. And I see you taking her, time after time, in and out of the hospital, or doctor... It's a hospital in the front; back and forth to the hospital. And the doctors don't even know what's wrong with the woman.

70 Now, here's what's wrong with her. It's a gurgitation of nerves that's in her stomach that's causing this serious trouble that's she having. And if you'll go tell her, and that hand that you're holding to God, lay upon her, when you get there, and speak the name of the Lord Jesus, and tell her not to doubt, she won't have to go to the hospital no more. Almighty God, grant this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you, my brother. Now, you let me hear from you. God bless you.
Do you love the Lord Jesus? That should be convincing to anyone that it's not me. It's Him! If you can believe, all things are possible.
This is not Joyce Simms, sitting here with the white dress on, is it? A little white coat on, a young lady, that's sitting next to that man? No. No. That's the lady next to her there, that's trying to get a prayer through to God. That is right, isn't it, lady---you with the blue coat on? Uh-huh!
Well, you believe and the arthritis will leave you. You can go home and be well. Amen. Amen.
Have faith in God.
What done that? Jesus Christ. What done it? She just started to believe. And all at once, I seen something here stand before me. It was a woman that looked like she was laming and having it in her hands and shoulders, and things. And I seen her the way she was trying to hold her dishes when she was washing them. And I wondered where it was at. And I looked around and I seen a lady, and it looked like Mrs. Simm's daughter that lives in Zion. But I know if it was, I'd see some other time, because I know her. But the light stood over this other lady.
Now, it's gone from her. Her faith did it, exactly.

71 How do you do, sir? Now, sir, you and I are strangers to each other. But Jesus knows us both. And some day we're going to have to stand in His Presence and give account for all that we have done, see. If you'll believe with all your heart. Wish I could do something for you, to help you in your trouble. I'm a man, as you are; and one of God's creatures, just as you are. And if I could do anything to help you, I'd be glad to do it, see. I can't do it.
And now, if you're seeking healing for you, or somebody else, or something, that I don't know. You know I don't know that. But, one thing that I could say to you, whatever your desire is---and feeling your welcome spirit, being a Christian, believer---then if you will accept that Jesus has did for you, what you're asking Him to do, see. You will believe it? ["I will."] You will? God bless you.

72 Now, you've had trouble for quite a while. You was hurt. And it was the insides of you, ["That's right."] tore loose. And you had some sort of an intestinal trouble ["That's right."], throwing up. And I see you a larger man than what you are. You've lost lots of weight. And then you've come down from many pounds, you've dropped down. ["Every word is true. And I've never met this man before."] Not only this, but let me tell you something. I see a dark shadow follow you till about five or six years ago, and you become a Christian at that time. ["That's right. I accepted Christ in Moody church, six years ago, or about five and a half. In the twinkling of an eye. If my wife was only here, she could tell you. The drink and the tobacco habit, which I'd had for twenty years, fell away like that."]
Well, go believing and your sickness will do the same thing, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you, my brother. Amen.
Darkness, then light: death to life. Believe the Lord Jesus. Amen. Do you believe Him?

73 I can't heal your nose, sister, trouble you have in your nose, you're praying about it, sitting on the end of the seat out there, looking this way. But, Jesus can. He has. Do you believe He has? Then raise up your hand. All right. Go, and it'll leave now. God bless you.

74 How do you do? Do you believe all that you see here, the Bible, and the Bible is the Word of God, and it's alive, and it acts all the time, just the same? Do you believe that? ["Yes, I do."] You do? Well, we don't know each other, as far as I know, we don't know each other. Of course, now, we see that you got glasses on; there's something wrong with your eyes. Like if I'd say, a person sit in a wheelchair is crippled, anyone would know that, see. And they know there's something wrong with your eyes, from your glasses. That may be what you're here for, I don't know. God does. But, if the Lord Jesus, to you and to I, will act in the same way He did to the Samaritan woman, would you be willing to go and say, like---not come see me, you see. She said, "Come, see a man who told me," what was wrong with her. But you'd say, "Jesus Christ was the One that done it."
Would you Do that? You would? You say, "The Messiah surely is alive today." We'd say that wouldn't we? ["Yes, I would."] All right. May the Lord grant it, sister, your desire. Now, I shall take up my parable to go to meet Him, to see what He'll tell me.
Yes, you've got weakness, ladies trouble. And you got a growth, and the growth is in your mouth. And they don't even know what it is. That's right. Is Messiah alive tonight? ["Yes, He is."] Then come here. He said these words, "If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover."
Now, Father, this I do, to my sister, in the name of Jesus Christ, that You'll heal her body, and make her one of the testimonies in her neighborhood. Amen. God bless you, sister. Believe with all your heart, and receive. All right.
"If thou canst believe," said Jesus, "all things are possible."

75 You're a wonderful set of people. I don't believe you can find any more faith. Here's what I mean to, as what we would call (I'll explain it tomorrow), the levels of faith, you see: what human faith is, and what divine faith is. One of them is a human faith, and the other one is a divine faith; but humanly speaking, you're one of the finest audiences as I ever spoke to. That's right. If you could only break through that little crust there. It just... The divide's right there. Just a little ravel, if you could just go over it. You'll go from the tributary out into the ocean, see. You know what I mean? Just believe. Just don't try to make it so Orthodox: what all you have to do, and what all... No, just be like a little girl, or a little boy, that's reaching up to Daddy's hand to get the lollipop.
He said, "Here, son, this is yours." Just like that, believe it. It'll happen.
How do you do, lady? Are we strange to each other? And God knows us both, doesn't He? ["Yes."] And if He can... If you knowing that I don't know you, and know nothing about you, well, then Something would have to reveal to me, or I ... the only way I would know, is that right?

76 I seen a white woman standing here at this time. Sitting there suffering with the gallbladder trouble. Do you believe Jesus Christ makes you well, sister? The little red coat on, got your finger up like that. You believe? That's a horrible thing, isn't it? Causes those conditions there. Now, if you can believe, you can be made well, and God will bless you, and heal you. May He grant it, is my sincere prayer. Your faith come to Him.

77 You're all upset about something. That is right. And you've got a nervous condition, all upset and nervous. Then I see a couple, it's a man and a woman, and that's your father and mother. And you're wanting me to pray for them. Now do you believe? ["Yes."] Then go find it just the way you believe it'll be. It'll be that way if you believe it. ["Yes."] God grant it to you, my sister, through Jesus' name.
If you can believe. I would ask you---it's getting a little late---but just be reverent just one or two more people if you will, or something, see. It don't necessarily have to be, but just each one, it's ... it doesn't, it should help everyone of you. Remember, that's just God's attitude towards everyone of you. Don't you believe it?

78 Now looky here. Can't you see this? Oh, I wish you could. You can see something physically. Was you the one was prayed for just here, sitting right here, the man on the front seat? The lady right behind you, she has her head bowed. She's been praying for a long time. She made contact with God just a few moments ago. You look in her eyes, there'd be water in her eyes. Certainly. She believes that God is going to let her get well, with that heart trouble, make her well. Don't you, lady? That's right.
See what I'm saying? See, you don't need to be up here. You don't need a prayer card. Her faith touched Him just the same as the blind man. Said, "Believe; all things are possible to them that believe." If you can believe, all things are all right.

79 The lady hasn't raised her head. Her faith pulled several times. I looked at it, then I seen the light move and stand right over her. You realize I'm looking at two worlds now: at you and another one, another dimension. There it stood over her. I want her, while she has got her hand up... You was pressing hard tonight (wasn't you, sister?), trying to humble yourself to receive healing. And you was praying, "God, let this be my night." If that's true, then you wave your hand back and forth. If that's... See, there she is.
How would I? I could hear her way back in a distance, like it was in another world, a praying that same prayer, that I just told you. There she is. She's healed now, see. ["Oh, praise God!"] Her faith did it.
"If thou canst believe," the Bible said, "all things are possible."

80 My colored brother over there, got a rupture, haven't you? If you believe that Jesus Christ make you well, (sitting over there on the end of that little row), and believe that Jesus Christ has healed you, you can have it.
The lady next to you is praying for her eyes. She's got trouble with her eyes. If you believe that Jesus Christ will make you well, you can have what you ask for. Would you believe it? Would you accept it? Then God bless you. All right.
God bless you, lady.

81 Here's a lady. Are we strange to each other, sister? We're strangers to each other. Here's a woman ... looks ... young lady. I never seen her in my life. But do you know, God knows who she is and all about her? You know God knows the hour she was born? You know God knew her before she was born? That's right.
Now, if you'll just wait just a moment. Don't move around. I know it's hard. Tomorrow you have to get up early, go to church some of you. But, just let me have this one patient, while you sit real quiet, if you will. Let me talk to the lady. Now be real reverent, so that you'll know that Christ's attitude is just the same to each one of you.

82 Now, lady. I wish to just take some time to talk to you. And really, the way the gift of God was supposed to be, was not to come out like this, and weakening myself down. Soon, I'll have it fixed different, where I can get to a place to where it won't be this way. Yet, it'll be far beyond this, far beyond. For God has did this for His people.
And, I want to ask you something. Now, don't be afraid. That isn't to hurt you; that's to help you, see. You're conscious that something is near you. That's right, isn't it? Yes, that's Him. Maybe it wouldn't be good for me to talk too long to you. May I say this: that your trouble that you're here for is a gland trouble. That's right. And that's in your face. It's true, isn't it? That is right. I see somebody near your house, near your dwelling. See, they call you Irene. ["Yes."] That's right. Martin. ["Yes."] That's right. You live on a street called Evergreen, or something like that. ["Yes."] That's right, isn't it? About 1820. ["Yes, oh, yes."] Now go believing, sister. God grant this woman's request in Jesus' name. Amen.
"If thou canst believe, all things are possible."

83 What if I didn't say one word to you, sister, just say, "I'll put my hands on you and pray for you." Would you believe? ["I will."]
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You'll grant this woman's request and make her well, for Jesus' sake. Amen. God bless you, sister. Go receiving that what you've asked for.
Would you believe with all your heart? Gets pretty hard to get up sometime, but arthritis is a bad thing. It hurts, and aches, and draws, and pains, and... But did you know, Jesus is the only cure there is for arthritis, or anything else? You believe that? With all your heart you believe it? Well, then, may the Lord grant it to you, is my prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, I pray that You'll heal the woman. And let Your mercy rest deeply upon her. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen. Now do you believe? With all your heart? Of course, you don't feel it now, it's gone now. But, and it'll stay gone. Just keep praising Him, and it'll stay away from you. God bless you.

84 Anyone else out there? Receive the same thing if you just believe. Have faith in God. Don't doubt.
You have a ladies trouble, don't you, lady? Right there. Do you believe with all ... that's right. If you believe with all your heart, you can have your healing. God bless you.
It's just moving from one to another. I wish you could really believe.
How do you do, sir? Now be reverent. There's something here, maybe... No, I thought the man was deaf. But he isn't, he just can't speak English. He's a Fin, Finnish. Fin, ["Finland."] Finland. [The man and Brother Branham speak to each other in the Finnish language.] Now, the man cannot speak English. He's Finnish. But, I'll make signs to him what's wrong, if God will tell me. You, preacher! Now, it's over. [Brother Branham speaks again in Finnish.] Let us say: "Praise the Lord." Do you now believe?
That's Him. He's here. Who? Jesus, Son of God, King of kings, Lord of lords. Will you believe? Do you believe that He'll hear my prayer from right here, out to you? How many will believe that? Just hold your hand.

85 To my dear ones in the line, raise your hands too. Dear God, if we have found grace in Your sight, tonight, if we have found that which You require us to find, dear Lord Jesus, I don't know what else You could do for people. But, just to do as You are. And, Father, You've sent Your Son, He died, He made the atonement, He ascended on High, He sent gifts back to men, giving the promise that the very same things that He would do, that we'd do until He come again. And here He is today, here He is tonight, here He is in this audience. Why, He's moving around among the people, all over the audience.
And dear God, even people of any language of any nation, God, I pray that as You see these hands raised up in the air of these dear people, that Your Holy Spirit will just now come trinkling down through those fingers of everyone, and heal them and make them everyone well.
And I condemn the devil that's held them, and rebuke him, and say for him to leave the people, just now, in Jesus Christ's name. Believe with all your heart, and receive your healing.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Shall we bow our heads just a moment for prayer before we sit down.
Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee tonight for the Lord Jesus, who has redeemed us from a life of sin, and was wounded for our transgressions, and with His stripes we were healed. We're so glad tonight that He is alive forevermore among us.
We pray, Father, for all the people tonight, that You will give to them everything that they have need of, both spiritual and physical blessings. And may it be tonight when we leave, may we say like Cleopas and them at the first resurrection, "Did not our hearts burn within us, because of His presence." For we ask it in the name of Thy beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. Amen. You may be seated.

2 This afternoon it is a privilege for me to come to minister in His name. Last evening I was given some cloths and little notes, and I prayed over them and answered your notes back to the best of my ability. And now tonight, I see they got some more laying here. Tomorrow will be a pretty busy day for us: I got a double service, and them right together almost, tomorrow. So if you will, and be so kind, if you just write to Jeffersonville to me, and I'll be glad to send you a cloth that I prayed over there. I send out several thousand a week. There's no charge; there's nothing attached to it, it's just everything's free; and I'm not trying to get your address; I have no radio programs, nothing to sponsor. Just send, and it's yours absolutely free. And I prayed over each one.
Now, the letter that you get for instruction... We have a prayer band all the way around the world. Some of them has to get up at one, two, and three o'clock in the morning. And there's just thousands of people praying at once. And the Lord Jesus is doing some wonderful... [Gap in the audio.]

3 Now, in the Bible, many reads, they say, "Anoint my handkerchief." Now, I don't pack anointing oil; that's all right though (see); that's just fine. The Bible does teach to anoint with oil. And anything the Lord does, why, and blesses, I'm sure for it. But now if you'll just watch, the Scripture doesn't say that Paul anointed the handkerchiefs; they said, "They took from the body of Paul, handkerchiefs and aprons." Acts 19. And see, they had noticed that God was with the apostle, and so they just ... they knew that.
And you know where I think Paul got that in the Scripture? When the Shunammite woman, her baby that had been promised to her by Elijah the prophet, because she was so kind to him and did for him. And he told her that she was going to have a baby, and she didn't believe it. So then the baby came. And when it was got to be a young child---ten, twelve, years old---one day it was out in the field with his father, about eleven o'clock. I think it must've had a sun stroke, it's... "My head, my head," the baby cried.

4 However, the father took a young servant and had him pack the child, laid it on its mother's lap, and about noontime it died. And she took it and put it on the prophet's bed. What a wonderful place to put it. And then she said, "Saddle a mule and ride and don't stop. We must go to the prophet." She wanted to find out why that the baby had died.
So, God don't reveal all things to His servants, you know. So, Elijah didn't know why it died. But He had a staff that he had handled, and he told Gehazi, his servant, "Now, you take this staff and go lay it on the baby."
And now, I think that's where Paul must've got laying handkerchiefs on the people; that come from him. He knowed what he touched was blessed. If the people... But the woman in that case, she knew ... she didn't know about the staff; she knew God was in His servant. So, he went and laid his own body across the baby and it come to life.

5 Now, there's many... Sometimes there's thousands of these a week. And the other night, about two weeks ago, a little more, in Old Mexico, it was a most pathetic sight. Three nights service. And after a little baby had been brought back from the dead... When I went in that night... The poor people didn't have handkerchiefs. A good first class brick mason has to work eight days straight, save every penny, to get himself a pair of shoes. Gets about sixteen pesos a day, and there's about twelve and a half pesos to a dollar. That's poncho. But little Pedro that works out in the street, he has, well, perhaps eight pesos a day. He's got six children to feed. Little tortilla, he get about two per peso. So, he can't get any shoes; you just goes barefooted, to feed his children. Oh, it's pathetic.
If you'd only see, dear Christian friends, to see how happy we are to be an American. It's a saying, "It's great to be an American." That's more than just a saying; that's a truth. This is a blessed nation. We should appreciate it more than what we do. See the people well fed and clothed, and intelligent people. Go in some of those countries where they lay by the tens of thousands, and not even dressed, and starving. And many of them die from starvation right on the grounds, waiting to be prayed for. And you can just imagine what a pathetic sight it is. So, I'm trusting to God that somehow that... Well, I can't do nothing about it, only pray and minister.

6 And now, these handkerchiefs, I pray over them now, if you will bow your head just a moment with us, so that they go out.
Now, kind heavenly Father, these handkerchiefs here represent poor, sick mortals. I'm so thankful that they believe in You, Lord. And even though, after their doctor, maybe, has give them up, they still believe that there's hopes if they will ask You. Maybe Thou knowest, maybe some poor old blind daddy somewhere out here in the rural, sitting, little dark place tonight, waiting for a handkerchief to come home. A mother with her baby that's just at the point of death, couldn't bring it, waiting for the handkerchief to come home...
Dear Father, we pray that You'll watch over each of those. And we're taught in the Bible that they taken off of the body of Saint Paul, handkerchiefs and aprons; they were laid on the sick, and unclean spirits left them, and diseases. Father, we know we're not Saint Paul, but we know that You're still Jesus, and it was You that did the work.

7 And so now in the Scripture, it was taught that when Israel was cut off from the promised land by the Red Sea... One writer said that God looked down through that pillar of fire with angry eyes, and the sea got scared and opened up a way for God's people to cross over.
And Father, when these handkerchiefs are placed on the sick tonight, may Thy eyes look back through the blood of Jesus, who died for this purpose. And may the diseases, the enemy that's got the people bound, be scared and move back off of the people, and let them cross to the promise of good health and strength. For it's this purpose that we send them, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
You can get them just as soon as the services is over. Now, because of the congestion and people standing...

8 Tomorrow at eleven o'clock, the pastor here, Brother Bigsby, asked me to speak evangelistic service for him tomorrow at eleven o'clock. And that I'll do, the Lord willing.
And then at three o'clock, the closing healing service, we're to turn it to a prayer for the sick tomorrow afternoon again. And we invite you to come out. When this was asked Brother Bigsby, I was so happy to hear him say that he would gladly do this. And I appreciate that, because it makes a good fellowship. Other ministers are here, and they have their own meetings, and I always like to have a Sunday afternoon meeting, so every member can go back to their own church for Sunday night and have their service. And that's the way I intend to do it in the tent services too, that I have in the future: Try to have Sunday afternoon so that everybody go to their own church. I thank Brother Bigsby, and I think that's a real Christian gentleman to do that.

9 And I certainly appreciate these pastors who has sent their congregation in to be prayed for. And I only hope with all my heart, that something has happened that will cause churches to be better. And I pray that God will start an old-fashioned revival here that'll just sweep the nation wide, from right out of this country, beginning at this time.
Now, in the healing services, that any one must remember now, that there's not nothing that any individual can do to heal another. The only thing that can do, is for the person to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. See, your salvation was completed at Calvary. And everything that you have need of in your journey here on earth, was purchased for you at Calvary, done finished.

10 Now, God will never judge you for being a sinner. He can't judge you, because sin was paid for at Calvary. And you're not a sinner; you are a rejecter, see. He judges you for rejecting salvation when it's been offered to you. But Jesus... John, when he saw Him, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." And all sin question was settled at Calvary.
And now, to maybe some of my clergy brethren, who may not be able to see divine healing in the light of the atonement: You cannot deal with sickness ... or, sin, without dealing with sickness, because sickness is an attribute of sin. Before we had any sin we had no sickness. So, when you're dealing with sin, you're dealing with sickness indirect.
And when Jesus settled the question for sin, He settled the question for every attribute that sin caused, even to death itself: the penalty of sin. So you see, it was all paid for at Calvary.

11 Now, the only thing that any individual has to do, it's your own personal faith, not the faith of some minister, not the faith of some other individual, but your own faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus, accepting what He did for you at Calvary. Any true divine gift will always point to Calvary.
Now, first in the initial way is the Bible, the Word of God. And everything that's done in the church should be based upon the eternal Word of God, which is the Bible. There's no other foundations that can be laid than that which is already laid. And this is the book. And an Angel had told it to John ... or, brought it to John, rather, at the last book. He said, "Close up the book," and so forth. And it's sealed. And said, "Whosoever shall take away or add to this book..." Nothing can be taken from it or added to it. Therefore this book is God's blueprint for us to follow. And it must come from the book. Nothing more, or nothing less, we must take the whole Gospel, add nothing to it, and just take it the way it's written here in the book. That's the whole thing. Every Bible believer believes that. And we just want to fellowship around that.

12 Now, Jesus---that I might speak to you this way---when He was on earth, He did not claim to be a healer; He claimed He only did as the Father showed Him to do. Is that right? How many ever read that in the Bible? Know Saint John 5:19. That Jesus Christ Himself, never healed anybody, no. He said, "I do nothing till the Father shows Me first what to do." He saw a vision of what to do, and then He did what the Father told Him. He said that, and His words, of course, is true, isn't it? Saint John 5:19, when He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise."
Now, He had to tell the truth, because He was infallible; He was the Son of God. And God Himself, was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The body, the man was Jesus, the Son of God; but the Spirit in Him, was Jehovah itself, tabernacled here in human flesh, in order to take away sin.

13 Did you ever notice the great thing, why God did that? Now, God had to be made flesh, because it wouldn't be right if they... If somebody else was flesh, and if God was a man of flesh who sent a different man, to make two men, having two Gods, it wouldn't be right. See, because God Himself couldn't send somebody else and be just. If He pronounced the penalty, He had to take it Himself. In order to do it, He had to make Himself a body, which was a created Son, Jesus Christ, Himself dwelled in this for the suffering, made Himself a little lower than the Angels to suffer for sin and for sickness.
Now, may the Lord bless you greatly. Now, tomorrow... I'm not ... won't be preaching tonight. I've just been, now come from the room praying. And the Holy Spirit is right... I've seen one person healed since I stood in the meeting right here, and that's true---since I've been standing here.

14 Now, if you just be in prayer, I just want to speak a little bit from the Scriptures to get kind of a feeling for the Word. And His Word will never fail; mine will fail, because I'm just a man. But His Word can't fail, because it's God. And I want to read just a verse of His Word. And if you take no more than this verse home with you, you'll certainly profit by being at the meeting. And now, over in the 18th Chapter of Saint Luke and the 42nd verse, we read this:
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith has saved thee.
May He add His blessings to His Word. Now, I want to speak... There's several little bright-eyed children sitting here tonight. And if there is a tomorrow, they're the men of tomorrow. And just a tiny drama, if you older ones will understand. Tomorrow will be your time at the evangelistic service, but for the children also we read this scripture.

15 And it must have been rather a chilly afternoon. Nothing had been stirring through the day; the people had all been inside the city, and nothing had been stirring. And he gets up. I can see him as he moves over to the direct rays of the Syrian sun, against the wall of the city, sitting about a hundred yards from where he was. He felt his way over, being blind. And as he sat down, he continued what he was thinking. He said, "Now, I'm in the sunlight, so I'll continue my thinking."
You know, it's good to kind of get alone and think things over once in awhile. It's good for you to do it. And he continued, he was thinking what great tragedy had struck him. And how could he, being a son of Abraham, and all this tragedy happen? Just how could it be?
If he'd only knew, the Bible says, "All things work together for good to them that love God." So how he, being a son of Abraham, and could be in this condition? He remembered: No more than six weeks ago, one night, his darling wife who loved him, very devoted to him at his little home, she'd taken sick.
And the doctor had come out to examine her, and he said, "Bartimaeus, I'm sorry to tell you, but there is nothing that I know of in the line of scientific research today that can take the fever off of your wife. And if this fever keeps raging, she'll probably be dead by morning."
And as the doctor left and Bartimaeus said, "Doctor, I'll pay you if I can just beg a little money. You know, doctor, I'm a beggar."
The kind hearted gentleman said, "Well, that's all right, Bartimaeus."

16 And he moved his way out of the house, not letting his beloved wife know what had happened. He went along the side of the building and knelt down in the great Palestinian moonlight, which is beautiful. And not being able to see, not being able to get far from the house, because he had to feel his way back. He raised his hands and said, "Jehovah, I love Thee, and if Thou will just let my precious wife live, I have two little turtle doves that I attract the attention of the tourists as they pass by; they do little tumbles over each other, and that attracts attention. I get an alm from them." Because there was many beggars in the land then. And the first man coming out of a morning, they didn't have too much money, and he'd give the first beggar an alm. Well, that just about settled it for the day.
"But if You'll let my wife get well, I'll go to the temple and give You these two turtle doves as a sacrifice." Well, in God's grace, she got well. He offered the turtle doves.

17 Just a few weeks later, he had to call the doctor again for a lovely little girl, his daughter. How sweet she was. She'd come in at nighttime when her blind daddy would come home, and sit on his lap, and stroke his whiskered face, say, "Daddy, I love you."
He'd say, "Oh, darling Rachel, if I could only see you. How do you look, honey?"
And she'd say, "Well, mother says I'm pretty; I have black hair and black eyes."
"Oh, you look like your mother did."
"Ah," she said, "Now, you're trying to flatter me."
So then, when she got sick, he went out and prayed to Jehovah, and said, "Jehovah, I only have one thing left. And if You'll let my little girl get well, I promise You that I'll give You tomorrow, my lamb." And his girl got better.

18 And the next day he was on his road to see the priest and to offer the offering. And when the priest saw him, he said, "Where goest thou, blind Bartimaeus?"
And he said, "Oh, priest, I go to the sacrifice to offer my lamb."
"Oh," he said, "you cannot do this, oh, Bartimaeus." Said, "I'll give you money to buy a lamb."
He said, "But, priest, I never told God I'd give Him a lamb. I told Him I'd give Him this lamb."
See, children, how real it is. You must keep your promise to God. Even in your little young days, when you make a promise to God, keep your promise. No matter how hard it seems, you keep it anyhow. You be true to God.

19 Then, you see, in those days... These days a blind man is usually led by a trained dog. In those days they was led by a trained lamb. So, the priest said to Bartimaeus, "Bartimaeus, thou cannot offer this lamb, for that lamb is your eyes."
He said, "But oh, priest, if I keep my promise to God, God will provide a lamb for Bartimaeus' eyes." So he goes and offers the lamb.
Got a little chilly, so he pulled his ragged coat up over him, moved sideways again. And he continues, as he shifts around towards the west where the sun comes down from the Jordan crevice there, across to the wall of Jericho. I can see him as he moves his ragged coat up and shivers a little, turns around, said, "Well, I haven't got a coin all day. Perhaps, maybe, I won't have any today. And what will I tell little Rachel tonight when we can't take bread home?"

20 "But I remember when I was young," he said. "I remember when I used to look up to the skies and see how pretty it was at night, the stars, how beautiful the trees were when they were blooming, what the sunlight looked like. I'd jump up into my dear old mother's arms, who's passed on years ago. How she used to rock me and tell me the great stories, how Jehovah stood for His people: Down in Egypt, how that He brought the people out of their troubles, how He opened the Red Sea and brought them into the wilderness and fed them manna out of heaven for forty years.
"And how that one day when they were in need of healing, God in His mercy, had the prophet Moses, which was led by a pillar of fire, an Angel in a form of a pillar of fire, led the prophet Moses as he led the children. And one day they had need of healing. And they erected a brass serpent. And every one that looked at that serpent was healed. Oh," he thought, "what if I could've only been with them then? You know, I'd have someone to lead me right up to the direction of the serpent, and then I'd raised up my eyelids and ask Jehovah, and looking on the serpent, I'm sure He'd have had mercy on me. But alas, them days are gone. The priest tells me that the days of miracles is past. My church says them things can't happen no more. Jehovah was great then, but He just quit with the people."

21 What a sad story. If Jehovah's great to begin with, He's Jehovah all the time, and always great. But it seems like it's repeated again today. The people forget that God is from everlasting to everlasting. He's infinite to begin with; He's infinite at the end. And if He did something at the beginning, and a crisis arose, and the people were dying, and nothing could help them, and He made an atonement for their sickness in the wilderness; and if the same crisis is raised today with cancer, heart trouble, TB, and many things that we have no remedies to heal or to take care of; then if He doesn't act the same way today, then He did wrong when He acted then. He's got to act the same.
We learn more; we're human beings; we become more cultured. Or... I just don't like the word culture. We become wiser, maybe. And so then when... But He doesn't. He was perfect to begin with and He's perfect forever. There isn't any difference in God; He's always the same.

22 But as our blind beggar friend tonight thought on these things. "Surely, Jehovah didn't die. Surely, He hasn't got weak. You know, I remember my mother telling me of the great tragedy that happened in the wilderness, and how that leprosy even was healed. O great Jehovah. And I am Abraham's child, and got an heir to the same promise. But what's the matter with me? They tell me those days are gone. Maybe they understand more than what I do. Maybe it's just my condition today. Maybe I'm just lonesome because I didn't get nothing to eat."
So, he shivered a little bit as the sun begin... After a while he hears footsteps coming. He raises up, runs towards the road, said, "Please, kind sir, as you're passing through, I am Bartimaeus the beggar at the gate. Would you be so kind to give me a coin? I have a wife and child at home which is hungry."
"Away, beggar! Out of my way. I must be on my road."
"Well, thank you, kind sir."

23 Goes over and sits down again. He takes up his study again. And begins to think, "Now, just remember, not over five hundred yards, or maybe a mile, from where I'm sitting right now, Israel passed over this Jordan I hear roaring behind me on dry land. And down there is a pile of stones raised up, they tell me, as a memorial."
"Oh, I remember it when I was a little boy, mother taking me down there one day and showing me those stones, that they taken up out---the bearers of the ark, the ones that followed picked up stones, and laid them upon the ground; and they're there yet. Oh, if I would've only lived then. Wouldn't that've been wonderful if I could've lived in that day when those great... God took this pillar of fire and crossed over the Jordan. And the ark of the Lord, representing the Word, come behind---the Spirit and Word together. What a great thing that was. But well, those days are gone. They tell me miracles don't happen no more.
"And how I remember how she used to tell me that some glorious day, we'd be visited again. But oh, it must be way in the future. Maybe my great, great, great, grandchildren might see it. But not I, a poor blind beggar. When that great mighty Messiah shall set His feet on the earth..." Little did he know, within a hundred and fifty yards He was standing.
That's what I think tonight. Many of you try to wonder, "Someday, somewhere." But that same Messiah isn't five feet away from you tonight, right here with you.

24 After a while he hears a clattering of some hoofs. He knows he hears some bare feet on the well polished cobblestones. He runs out again, "Kind sir, would you help me? Would you help me, a blind beggar? I'm in need."
And when he does, the man leading the mule stops; the man on the mule, in the back, of his leading, said, "Out of my way, beggar; I am a servant of the Lord. I am a priest; I'm the head of the Ministerial Association down here in Jericho. There is a fanatic in the city today. And we must put a stop to this nonsense. And I've come down to hold a council, how we can run Him out of town. I'm on my way, and I have no time with beggars, so get out of my way."
"Excuse me, father."
On into the city he goes. And blind Bartimaeus goes back and takes his position and sits down.

25 "Oh, where was I studying?" he said. "Yes, Joshua, that great warrior who led the children across that river... And just think, that isn't too far from here. I wish someday I could feel my way along the bank, or somebody would take me down there till I could see those stones again ... or, feel them," rather.
Just then he thought, "You know, right down those cobblestones where I just left out there, well polished, down there, not no more than a few hundred years ago, come the great Elijah and Elisha, arm in arm together, walking to the Jordan, that had healed Naaman of his leprosy, many great things had done. Walked right down this same road that I'm sitting beside, right down the Jordan and opened up Jordan, walked across, and stepped on a chariot and went home to glory---one of my kind, a man, like I am, a son of Abraham, a prophet.
"Oh, if I'd only lived in that day, I'd have run out before Elijah and Elisha and fell down before them and said, 'Oh, great men of God, offer to Jehovah a prayer for my blind eyes; I will receive my sight.' If I could've only lived then. But oh, that day is gone. The days of miracles is past; nothing can happen like that today."

26 After a while, as he thinks on, "Just the other side of here, this gate, the great Joshua, the warrior, was walking one day." Talk about a historical country... "And he was walking one day, over against the walls, while Jericho was shut up fastly because of the fear of my people. God was with them. And now, we're slaves to the Romans, no wonder they'd forgot God." You always go in slavery when you do that, slavery to the devil.
Then he said, "Joshua looked, and there stood a man with His sword drawed. And Joshua drew his sword and went to meet Him. He said, 'Are You with us, or are You for our enemies?'"
And the man with the sword drawed said, "Nay, I'm the Captain of the Host of the Lord."
Joshua, the great warrior, jerked off his helmet, threw down his sword and shield, and worshipped Him. "Oh, if I could've only lived then." Little did he know that that same Captain of the Host of the Lord was just inside the gate. That's right. That's what was stirring his emotions.

27 That's the reason something was fixing to happen. That's the reason those things was on his mind. That's why you're here tonight. Your emotions has been stirred. You're Bible readers; you believe in these things. That's what's brought you here tonight. That's what makes the people stand outside of the windows, looking in. That's what makes the people stand in the aisle ways: emotions. Something has stirred.
What is it? There has to be something to create that emotion, just the same as it was then: The Captain of the Host of the Lord was just inside the wall having dinner with the man we was speaking of this morning, Zacchaeus.
After a while he says, "Well, I'm not doing very good here, so I guess I'll just get up." And all at once he hears a noise. Something's happening: a great racket. Usually there is a little noise around where Jesus is.

28 So, people were coming out of the city. And some were screaming one thing, and some another, about a hundred yards away from him. And as the crowds got more dense, he tried to raise up to ask for coins, and the people shoved him down. And he said, "What's happening? What's all the noise about? What makes all this to-do?"
And nobody would tell him, pushing him back, moving on. And he listens at the crowd; said, "Perhaps if I listen, maybe I can hear what's going on."
One of them walking along, being a minister, a priest, said, "Say, you prophesier, you who claim you raised Lazarus from the dead, hey, we got a whole graveyard full up here. Come up and raise them up; we'll believe you."
Them same ... them men died, but that spirit still lives. One of them says, "Say, I heard a woman touched your garment, standing out in the audience, and got healed. Say, we've got a lady down here that's got the same thing. Come, heal her and we'll believe you."
"Say, you who prophesies, tell us who it was throwed that overripe tomato and hit you on the face with it then. Tell us who did that; we'll believe you if you're a prophesier."
Just a few days later they put a rag around His face, and hit Him on the head, said ... Roman soldiers said, "Tell us who hit you; we'll believe you now." God don't clown; God works for a purpose. Jesus was do the will of the Father.

29 That's what His church is. Not clowning; if you are, you're out of God's will. You do only the things that please God for His glory. Not clowning; it's not side-shows; it's a Gospel of the power of the resurrection of Christ.
And He moved on. Let's you and I who can see, look at Him. There He is; He's moving up with His head, face... Some of them hollering, "Oh, Hosanna, the wonderful, the Galilean prophet, the great One, the One that Moses spoke of."
Other one hollers, "Nonsense." And screams and hollers, and some cursing, and some blessing, and just all kinds of mixed up screaming noise.
Blind Bartimaeus said, "Who is that, that passes by? Who passes this way? What's all the emotion about?"

30 Finally some kind-hearted woman, perhaps Zacchaeus' wife, Rebekah, stepped down and said, "Blind man, Jesus of Nazareth passes by."
He said, "Who is Jesus of Nazareth?"
"Have you read in the Bible that when Moses said, 'The Lord your God will rise up a prophet like unto Me'?"
"Yes, I was just studying about that awhile ago. My mother used to read me that."
"And all the things that He would do, how the blind would see and the lame would..."
"Yes, I remember mother reading me that years ago."
"Well, that's He that passes by."
"Oh, you mean that's the Son of David going there?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"
He couldn't hear him; there's too much going on. Just screaming and one hollering, "Do this." And one of them said, "Oh, you who can raise the temple up in three days, after it's been tore down. Let's see you do a miracle. Show us a miracle. Do something before us and we'll believe You."
And others screaming, "Oh, He's a great man."
One says, "He's a deceiver."
The other one said, "He's a great man." All the carrying on, the emotions going on.

31 What's Jesus doing? He's got his eyes set to Calvary. He's going right straight to Jerusalem to be offered up for a sacrifice. The weight of every sin that was ever committed on the earth, or ever would be committed, rested upon His precious shoulders. He was a big man. When people say bad things about you, if you can just go on forget it, that shows you're a big man. Little men tamper with it; He was too big to listen to their criticism. He had one thing to do; that's the Father's will. He had to die for those men.
So He kept going with His face set towards Calvary. You can imagine, the strain on Him, the seeing yonder, of Gethsemane, the agonies of Golgotha, the forsaking of God, the earth turning black, His shoulders rubbing, His face bleeding, His wounds. All was on Him, even to His scream, "Father, is it possible, that this cup..." And such agony till His water and blood separated and dropped from His brow. Nothing, only extreme agony would do that. All that was resting upon Him.
And all one howl and one thing and one another. But the apostles doing the best they could to keep the people away from Him. And He marched on towards Jerusalem.

32 And this blind man said, "Oh, my. My time is past. Oh, I can't let Him pass. Oh, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. Oh, He can't hear me; He's way up the road. What can I do?"
Rebekah said, "Now, look (See?), if you will pray and ask God, something will happen. Just don't be excited. Just ask God."
Blind Bartimaeus then said, "O Jehovah, You know my condition: oh, I'm blind. I've waited, You've just been revealing something to me; I've been strangely stirred. That's why I'm here, and just at my opportunity."
And Jesus could be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. He can still be touched by the feeling of our... He couldn't hear the man's voice, of course, now. But his faith (Think of it.), the faith of an insignificant beggar; bum (we'd call it today), blind man, dirty, ragged, sitting by a gateside, begging, stopped the Son of God on His march to Calvary. Yes, sir.
What would your faith do today? It'll bring Him from heaven down here to any individual.

33 Jesus stopped, turned around, said, "Bring him here. Thy faith has saved thee." Watch Him: watch faith go into action.
Said, "Well, He's calling you."
He threw away his coat. What'd he throw it away for? He knew if he could ever get a little talk with Jesus, he'd get what he asked for. He could find his coat, so he threw away his coat. His little bony arms went into action; he throws his hands up and he runs real quick to Him. And Jesus said, "Thy faith has saved thee." And He turns around and walks on.
I can see him standing there, the people passing on by him. He said, "He told me that I'd be able to see. I know He couldn't hear me. He must've knowed all my conditions. So He said my faith saved me, so, say, now I can see my hand. Oh, glory to God," he hollered. And down the road he went, praising God.
He looked down; he seen Him as He raised up over the hill. What was it? God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. That same Lamb that was provided then for blind Bartimaeus, is provided tonight for everything that you have need of right here.

34 That same Lamb that was slain a few days later there at Calvary, the grave couldn't hold Him on Easter morning. He rose up. And He showed Himself alive. He said, "Now, the works that I do shall you also. I will be with you, even in you, to the end of the world. A little while and the world won't see Me no more (The unbeliever, their hearts will be hardened.), yet ye shall see Me: for I will be with you to the end of the world. And the works that I do shall you do also; more than this shall you do, for I go to My Father."
That Lamb was provided for the whole human race: God's Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Until that time in a visible form by faith, they drawed dividends from His vicarious suffering, which was in the future. Since then we have drawed off of His dividends from His vicarious suffering which was in the past, with the Holy Ghost in our presence vindicating the truth being here.

35 When He was here on earth He claimed not to be a healer. He came by the way of a barn door. And He was led to the slaughter. Why was He born in a barn? Lambs are not born in beds. Lambs are born in stables and barns; He was a lamb.
Why did they put a rope around Him to lead Him away to Calvary? He was a Lamb, God's Lamb led to Calvary. In shadow, He was Abel's lamb that was laying on the rock, when he took his little head and pulled it back, beat his throat with a rock, because he didn't have a lance in that day, till his little soul was bathed in red blood, as it was bleating, dying. Abel's hands red with blood as he took the life of the lamb and the little fellow bleating. Of course, Abel couldn't understand what he was saying.
And when our Lamb was dying yonder on the Rock of ages---beaten, smitten, and bruised---He was speaking in a language that they didn't know what He said. You can hear the swing of the hammer yet tonight, as the nails pierced His hands. He was God's Lamb to take away your blindness, spiritual and physical. He was God's Lamb to take away your cancer condition, that your beloved doctor can do no more with. He's the Lamb of God prepared from the foundation of the world to make that heart come back into its place and beat regular again. He's God's Lamb to make the crippled walk, the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. He's God's provided Lamb.

36 I declare that He's raised from the dead and is a witness here tonight. There's thousands of other religions in the world. But there's not a one of them that can prove that it's real, but the Christian religion.
I was entertained a few ... about two years ago in Bombay, India, by seventeen different religions, and every one of them denying Christ, every one of them denying Christianity. But that night, when a blind man was brought to the platform, the Rajahs sitting around with their pillows. And the vision came and showed what the man was and told him of his condition. Before that, He'd showed several things, but never had pronounced healing. Because I only do as He says do.
And then when they said, "Well, he's reading their minds." That's what they said about Jesus. They said, "He's Beelzebub, the chief mind-reader, a devil, fortuneteller," which is of the devil. They didn't understand.
He said, "You can say that about Me; it's all right. But when the Holy Ghost is come and does the same thing that I do, you speak one word against that, it'll never be forgiven in this world or the world to come." Because the Holy Ghost is going come after Him, and be with us unto the end of the world, and do the very same things that He did, the very same work. Said, "Don't speak against that, for it'll never be forgiven in the world to come."

37 So, He is the same Christ tonight. He loves the people. And I trust that this night, that if He will rise on the scene here before you and prove that He is a living... When He was here on earth, (for the sake of the newcomers), when He started His ministry, they brought a man and he got saved, by the name of Philip. He went and found Nathanael, way around, about five miles in behind a mountain, brought him back around to Jesus. And when he found him, he was under a tree praying.
And when he come up in the crowd, Jesus looked at him, said, "There's an Israelite in whom there's no guile."
He said, "How'd You know me, Rabbi (or Reverend, Teacher)?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you."
The Pharisees said, "You see, He's Beelzebub, the fortune-teller."
But the man the miracle was done on, said, "You're the Son of God, the King of Israel." He knew Him. What a difference.
Those Pharisees are gone on long ago. Nathanael's name is immortal in the Bible tonight forever. And his life is immortal before God. I wonder what attitude you will take?

38 One day while passing through, and passing by Samaria, instead of going down to Jericho He went up around the hill of Samaria. Sent His disciples away, and a prostitute came out to get some water. He said, "Bring Me a drink."
She said, "It's not custom for you Jews to ask Samaritans such; we have no dealings with one another," like the racial now, colored and white, or whatmore.
He said, "But if you knew who you were talking to, you'd ask Me for a drink. And I'd give you water you don't come here to draw."
She said, "The well's deep, and You got nothing to draw with, so where would You get this kind of water?"
He said, "This water I give you is a different water."
The conversation went at length for a long time, till He found what the woman's trouble was. The Father showed Him. He said, "Go, get your husband."
She said, "I don't have any."
He said, "That's right, you got five. Therefore, you said right."
Listen to her words now: She said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. We know that when the Messiah cometh..." Now watch. "We know when Messiah cometh, this will be the sign of Him. We know Messiah will do this, but who are You?"
He said, "I'm He."

39 Now, if that was the sign of the Messiah then, it's the sign of the Messiah now if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's got to be. Jesus said, when He passed through the pool of Bethesda where many crippled and afflicted people was... He went till He found one man; the Father had showed Him a vision. For He knew, the Bible said so. He went to that man and raised him up, healed him, went away, and left the rest of them there---thousands of people, crippled, lame, halt, blind.
He was questioned by the Jews. If He was here in this city tonight and done the same thing, He'd be questioned. "Let Him go down here and heal so-and-so." See, that same spirit? the one that said, "Turn these stones into bread and perform a miracle, let me see it."?
See, God's works are secret. God's works are understood only by His people. They even thought the resurrection of Lazarus was phony. Did you know that? They thought it wasn't so. They even... The Jews today don't even think that Jesus raised from the dead. They hired soldiers to go say that His disciples come at nighttime, stole His body away.
See, you're trying to scientifically prove something, when you can't. It's by faith, through grace. You believe? God bless you while we pray.

40 With our heads bowed, I wonder, friends. This is many ... of our first meeting time, and it may be the last. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is near; I know He is. He said, "Wherever two or three are gathered in My name, I'll be there. Don't be afraid, I will be there. I'm with you always, even to the end of the world; I'll be there."
How many here that's without Christ and would like to receive Him as personal Saviour, would you just raise your hands to Him? God bless you, young man. God bless you, lady. God bless you, you. Someone in the balcony, would raise your hand, say, "By this I raise my hand to God. I want to believe on the Lord Jesus tonight. I've been a toss-about; I've been weary and wondering around, but I just feel strangely tonight."
Sure, something's fixing to happen just like it did to Bartimaeus. That's why you're feeling strange. Why don't you just raise up your hand and say, "Son of David, be merciful to me, a sinner. I will now accept him."
God bless you, young fellow, sitting here on the front seat. God bless you. Someone on the outside to my left? God bless you, over here, sir. Someone on the outside?

41 No matter where you're at, just to Christ, just raise your hand, say, "Christ, I now believe You. I'm going to find a place to go to church, and I want ... I'm going to be baptized; I'm going to be a Christian from now on." Would you accept Him?
Over to my right on the outside? Someone would raise your hand? We're not asking you to join church; we just want you to be a Christian. Anyone that's wandered away, still a child of God, but just wandered away, got away from church and don't go to church no more. No matter what it is, but you'd like to be remembered in a word of prayer, that God would warm your heart tonight, send you back to church again, would you just raise your hand, saying, "God be merciful to me"? Someone that's wandered away? God bless you, lady. He sees your hands.

42 Now, remember this. You say, "What difference does that make, Brother Branham?" Well, here's what Jesus said in Saint John 5:24: "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but's passed from death unto life." Why? Because you believed on the Son of God.
Can't you raise your hand to God the Father, say, "Now, I now accept Christ as my personal Saviour; I want to be remembered in prayer," with your hand up.
All right, while you remain with your heads bowed, I'd like to ask everyone this question, sincerely, think of it now. Maybe you've been a lukewarm church member, maybe there's been many things in your life, but if the Lord Jesus will appear here at this platform tonight, and do just exactly like He said in the Bible He would do, and perform the same things that He did when He was here on earth, will you promise to believe on Him and serve Him, and love Him all the rest of your life? Will you raise your hands? Every person that will believe that, sinner or a Christian, would you raise your hand? "I will believe."
Outside? God bless you. To my right? You believe on the Lord Jesus? Lord bless you. All right.

43 Our heavenly Father, some have raised their hands that they were sinners and wanted to be remembered in prayer. Lord, You said in Your own Word, "No man can come to Me, except the Father draws him first. And all that the Father has given Me will come to Me; and he that will come to Me, I will in nowise cast out." You promised to give eternal life and raise them up at the last day.
And now, by raising their hand and accepting Christ as Saviour, they now have eternal life, according to Thy Word, which is the truth. Thank You for them, Father.
Some raised their hands that they were ... kind of wandered away, straying children, unhealthy, spiritually speaking, have been mingling with the things of the world, staining their garments and they want to come back to Calvary tonight for a thorough cleansing by the blood. Cleanse their hearts Lord, and wash them with Thy blood through the Spirit, make them new creatures again, won't You, Father?

44 Nearly all held their hand, Father, that they would believe on You if You'd just come to us again tonight in this crucial hour. This little group of people's gathered together here; we're expecting You, Father. And You come by when blind Bartimaeus sat at the gate, come by this way just tonight, Lord, in a visible way. And do something just like You did after the first resurrection when Cleopas and them were looking at You. They walked with You all day and they didn't know You. And then the way You did something, just like the way You used to do it when You were here on earth. They recognized it was You after Your resurrection, and You vanished out of their sight.
Do something tonight, Lord, like You did when You were here on earth. Your Word said You would; You said, "The things that I do shall you also; and more than this; for I go to My Father." You promised it would be to the end of the earth, and that this generation, these people here tonight, would stand in the presence of You at that day, and would not have one thing that they could plead after turning You down. I pray, Father, that You will grant it tonight for Your glory, through Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Child. Amen.

45 Now, the crucial moment has come. Now, the time has come where I have either told the truth or told a falsehood. And the reason that I know that it's the truth, God's Word said it's the truth. That just settles it. I do not doubt one word He said. I may not have faith to bring to pass the promises that He made, but I would never stand in somebody else's way who could. If I couldn't walk like Enoch of old---take a walk in the afternoon and go home with God---I would be happy to know that somebody else had faith enough to do it.
So I, by the grace of God, being born in the world to see visions... And no man at any time in the Bible, or ever will in any age to come, while we're mortal... 'Course when we leave this we won't need it. But no man at any time from Adam until the present day, or will be until Jesus comes again, will ever be able to perform miracles at his own disposal. He never did; even the Son of God or no prophet; it was always by a divine vision that showed them what to do. The Bible said so.

46 And if Jesus could not do nothing in Himself, but had to wait to see what the Father would show Him to do. And the people in the audience, a woman touched His garment and went and sat down ... or, went back in the audience... And Jesus said, "I got weak, virtue left Me. Who touched Me?"
The woman, with the rest of them, denied: Nobody touched Him. Even the apostle Peter said, "Lord, everybody's touching You. Why say, 'Who touched Me?'"
He said, "I got weak."
And those eyes searched that audience until He found the woman that touched Him. For she said in her heart... Now He couldn't feel it, physically, because she just touched His garment and walked away. And virtue wouldn't have went out of Him with a physical touch; it was a spiritual touch. And He found her. And she'd had a blood issue for many years. And He told her her faith had healed her.

47 See, now He didn't see a vision for that. That was the peo... God... He was God's gift. God was in Him. And as He was yielded to God, to do the will of God, the people believing that, they spoke to God; and through His lips God spoke what the people's faith was. That's the reason He knowed the woman at the well, and everything that He did; the Father showed Him. Like the resurrection of Lazarus...
Watch, that one little woman pulled virtue from Him by her faith using God's gift. But when God told Him in a vision to leave Lazarus' home and go away for four days, he was going to die, then come back and resurrect. You say, "Did He do that?"
He said He did nothing unless the Father showed Him.
And at the grave of Lazarus He said, "Father, I thank Thee Thou has already heard, but I said it for these that stood by," see. But He never felt virtue go from Him there, because God was using His gift. God was using His Son to perform a miracle to vindicate...

48 There was three people raised in the days of Jesus. Thousands died, but three is a witness in the Jewish laws; three is a confirmation. "...mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established."
Now, but He didn't feel no virtue go from Him there, because ---greater was the miracle, but God had showed Him what to do. But this woman pulled the virtue from Him.
Now, Jesus cannot be here in a corporal body. Because when that body returns, the end time's here. "As the lightening cometh from the east, even to the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess."
He can't be here in a corporal body, but He's here in a spiritual body, in the form called the Holy Spirit.

49 And God set in the church first, what? Missionaries (or apostles); apostle and missionary, as I've told you, taught you, is the same thing, "one sent." Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, God set in the church for the perfecting of the church. That's divine gifts that God foreordained and set into the church, see. Those are for the perfecting of the church. Jesus speaks through His pastor; speaks through His teacher; speaks through His seer, His prophet; speaks through His missionary to the countries, and so forth. That's His gifts that He's put in the church.
Now, He's been with you a long time, but maybe you haven't never recognized it, as Philip and them did ... or, Cleopas. But when Jesus did something, just the way He did it when He was here with them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized that it was Him. I trust that He'll do the same thing tonight.
Now, you Christians, you understand that there's critics in here (you're not all believers), and that your life could not be hid in His presence. But what I do is just yield myself to His Spirit. Just like this microphone, it's a perfect mute until something speaks through it; it can't speak itself, and neither could I, or any other man, unless God speaks through them. May the Lord bless.

50 Now, I believe, last night they said they give out prayer cards. The reason we have to do that is legitimately line the people up. Because they don't... How many here want to be prayed for inside or out, raise your hand, wants Christ to heal you? Raise your hand; I just want everyone to see. See what I mean? Who's first in line? Several hundred... The only thing you can do is pass out some cards with numbers on them, then let them come up according to their number.
Last night we called from 1 to 50. And tonight let's start at 50 and call from 50. Who has prayer... How many you think we... Now let's get about ten. First, who has [Gap in the audio.] You just raise up one at a time now so you won't be [Gap in the audio.] Fifty, 51, has anybody got prayer card 51? Would you raise your hand? 51. 52, raise your hands right quick if you ... 52, all right, lady, over here. 53, anybody got 53, raise up your hand? 54, somebody with prayer card 54? Would you raise your hand so I can see it? Right, 54, excuse me, 55, all right, lady, 56, 56 would you raise your hand? 56, all right. 57? 58? 59? 60? 60? Would an usher look here? Is any of these people along here got prayer cards, any you along here? 60? No. All right. See their numbers.

51 Now, they can't stand, he said not too many at a time. Leo, Gene, one of you or somebody, would you go down and help Billy and them down there with the people just a moment. Sixty, let's try just a few more: 61? 62? 63? Somebody with prayer card 63? 64? 65? Now, it looks like it's getting just about... we'll have to wait just a moment to see how they line up. Everybody there? Fifty-six, 56 there? All right. All right. See if this lady here, has she ... has she got a card? You have a card? No, you don't?
You don't have to have a card now. You just... You'll see it just in a few moments; the Lord will heal you no matter where you're sitting, who you are, if you'll believe it.

52 What say? I called... Where did I call from? 60, 65? See if they're all lined up now. Maybe somebody's called, and they won't get their turn, if there's one in there. Billy, would you count them and see if they're there? All but 50. All right, all right.
Now, how many believes with all... How many doesn't have a prayer card? Let's see that? And wants God, the Lord to heal them, let's see your hands, everywhere.
Now, I want to ask you something. If you'll look to Calvary, how many say that, "Look to Calvary"? "Look to Calvary, believe the Lord Jesus died to save and heal you." Did you know in the lesson tonight, the word... Jesus said, "Thy faith has saved thee?"

53 Now, I want to ask one of these Scripture scholars here; the word save, we call it "getting converted." The same word used saved and healed, is the same Greek word "sozo"; Is that right? Sozo. "Thy faith has sozo." saved you physically or spiritual. The woman that touched His garment, He said, "Thou was healed."? No, "Thy faith has saved thee," physically. Salvation and healing was applied at the same time in the atonement.
Just like... Take it like this, so you understand. If a big serpent had his foot in my side and was scratching me, cutting me to pieces, killing me, there's not any need for me to cut his leg off. If you hit him in the head, you kill the leg and all. If you hit it in the head, you kill its head; you kill the whole body. So when you... Christ killed sin at Calvary; He killed sickness with it, and everything else. He just made one final death blow, and that covered the whole thing. You understand?

54 So, now, the next thing is: Is He alive? Now, you could explain it by the Word. Here recently... May I say this while they're getting ready.
One of the finest scholars of the land came to me recently, and he said that he was sending a Mohammedan back to his country. And was educated here to civil engineering, back to India...
And Dr. Morris Reedhead, vice president of the Sudan Missions, the biggest in the world, he said, "I said to him, Brother Branham, 'Why don't you forsake that old dead prophet Mohammed, and accept the resurrected Lord Jesus and take Him back with you?'"
He said, "Kind, sir," he said, "what could your Lord Jesus do for me..." Listen now, "What could your Lord Jesus do for me any more than what my dead prophet can do for me?" He said, "You read the Bible, and you believe it; we read the Koran, and we believe it."
He said, "Oh, but you see, sir," he said, "Mohammed is dead and in his grave; Jesus raised and is alive."
The Mohammedan said, "Did He?" Said, "You've had two thousand years to prove it; and two-thirds of the people in the world never heard His name."

55 Ain't that a disgrace? Because we've done everything else besides what Jesus told us to do. Jesus never did say build a church. Jesus never did say build a hospital. They're good. Jesus never did say build a school. No, sir, He never commissioned His disciples to do such. They're fine; I'm not condemning them. But we taken another road. He never did say for men to have a seminary, but He said, "Preach the Gospel; heal the sick; raise the dead; cast out devils: as freely as you receive, freely give."
And we've done everything else but that. We adopted schools and education, emotions, and denominations, brought up barriers: "We're Methodists; we have nothing to do with you Baptists." And, "We Presbyterians have nothing to do with either one of you." And, "We're Catholics, and we're over the whole thing." There you are, see. No wonder you can't believe.

56 And the Mohammedan said... "Oh," Dr. Reedhead said, "Oh, He's raised."
He said, "How do I know He's raised?"
He said, "Well, you see," said, "we have the joy of knowing it."
He said, "Now, just a minute, Dr. Reedhead, I respect you and your religion." He said, "But the Mohammedan religion can produce just as much psychology as Christianity can." Said, "We're just as happy and rejoice just as much waiting for Mohammed to come back as you are waiting for Jesus."
Dr. Reedhead said, "I knew that I hadn't meet some fellow that just woke up." He said, "He was a scholar."
He said, "Now, we can produce just as much psychology as you can." He said, "We have just as much happiness." He said, "Look, you teachers has had two thousand years to prove that He raised, and two thirds of the world never heard of Him." He said, "Let Mohammed raise from the grave and the whole world will know it in twenty-four hours." He had something; certainly, he did.

57 And he said, "Besides that, Mr. Reedhead, being that you mentioned it," he said, "let me see you teachers produce what Jesus Christ said that you would, and then we Mohammedans are ready to believe that He raised from the dead and you're right." Said, "You see, Mohammed never give any promises after death. He just promised us eternal life after death." But said, "Jesus promised His servants that they would do the same things that He did to prove that He raised from the dead."
Dr. Reedhead said, "Oh, I suppose you're referring to Mark 16, where it said, 'Go ye in to all the world, preach the Gospel, these signs shall follow them that believe; My name they shall cast out devils; speak with new tongues; take up serpents; drink deadly things, it won't harm them; lay hand on the sick and..."
He said, "That's one place, yes, one."
He said, "Well, of course, sir, we learned in the seminary that that word's not inspired; from the 9th verse on of Mark 16, it was just added."
He said, "What? What kind of a Bible are you reading?" Said, "All the Koran's inspired. All of our bible's inspired, and just parts of yours is inspired? How can you have faith for it then?" If that wasn't a disgrace to Christianity.

58 He said, "Brother Branham, I kicked my foot on the ground and changed the subject." And he said, "I promised, being as staunch a Baptist as I am, that someday I'd go to Chattanooga and get Don Wells, your friend," the big Baptist church, said, "I would come and visit you and ask you. I've got degrees that I could plaster the wall with." He said, "But where's Jesus in all of it."
I said, "To know you're ... have a degree of B.A. or D.D. or L.D. or whatever it is, has nothing to do with Christ. Not to have a degree, not to know the Bible, not to know your catechism, not to know the doxology, not to know the apostles creed, but to know Him in the power of His resurrection is life eternal."

59 That's when the things was performed (which I trust that He will do tonight), that ten thousand staunch Mohammedans fell at the feet of Jesus at one time at Durban, South Africa, along with twenty-thousand others, which made thirty-thousand in all, at one altar call. They just believed.
Now, it's either one thing you've got to face; there's no need of trying to find a loophole to dodge your unbelief, Jesus said, not only there, but many places in the Bible, and all through the Bible, "I will be with you to the end of the world. The things that I do shall you do also to the end of the world." Mark 11:24 said, "Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive it, and you shall have it," see.
You'd have to cut the Bible to pieces to take those promises out. Then you wouldn't have a Bible. Every word's inspired, every bit of it. And it's true.

60 All right, the Lord be blessed. Where did the boy go? Did he get all the prayer line lined up? Everybody lined up? All right.
Now, Lord Jesus, the time has arrived again; I have spoke of You with all my heart. Now, You speak back, Lord, and vindicate that the truth has been told. And praise shall be Thine. In Thy holy name, I ask it.
Stretch forth Thy holy hand to show signs and wonders, that the people may be without excuse at that day. For You live, and I ask these for Your glory. Amen.
I do not say that He will. How many of you tonight got one of the pictures? Let's see your hands. It's in Washington, D.C. now: the picture of the Angel of the Lord. The only picture, according to George J. Lacy, the head of the FBI, fingerprint and documents ---examined, Houston, Texas, sent them to Washington, D.C., hangs in the Religious Hall of Art---the only scientific proof that there is today, scientifically, that there's a supernatural Being. Mr. Lacy said, "It was not psychology; the mechanical eye of the camera couldn't take psychology. We put it under ultra ray light and everything else," and said, "the light struck the lens." Signed his name to it; there's a writing from him himself in the back of the book.

61 If I die, this is my last night on earth, the scientific world knows that there's been testimonies left it's the truth. Tens of thousands, yes, millions of people knows it tonight to be truth. That Jesus is raised from the dead and He's here tonight now, right here. That same pillar of fire that you seen, that led the children of Israel, it's on the picture. It was took in Germany a few weeks ago. Many of you Christian businessmen, you seen it. How many Christian businessmen seen it appear in your magazine here, the Christian Businessmen, yes, The Men's Voice?
The German camera took it; they took it three different times, standing right in the meeting. And just swept over Germany. Fifty-thousand come to Christ at one time, see. And I trust that He will appear visible here tonight that you'll see Him also.

62 Now, here's a lady standing here. God knows I have never seen the woman in my life. We're strangers to each other, are we lady? Frankly, every one here is strangers to me. Are you all strangers? Just raise up your hand so that you'll see, see. Every one of you strangers; I don't know you. But there's Someone here who does know you, that's Christ.
Now, this lady standing here, is a very typical picture of the woman at the well, a man and a woman together. He being a man, the woman that came... Now, there was something wrong with that woman, and Jesus talked to her a few minutes, until He caught her spirit and knowed what was her trouble, and told her her trouble. How many Bible readers say that's true? Let's see your hand. And what did the woman say to Him? She said, "This is the sign of the Messiah; we know that when Messiah cometh, He will do that." Is that right? Bible readers?

63 Now, the Bible said, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Right? And He's got to be the same in principle, the same in power, the same in every way, only in the corporal body. And He's using us. See, Jesus don't have any hands but yours and mine. See, we are the what? He is the vine; we are the branches. Is that right? The vine don't bear fruit; the branches bear fruit. Is that right? You don't take the fruit off the vine; you take it off the branch.
So, but the energy of the branch comes from the vine, see. And if it's in the tree, it'll bear the same kind of fruit the tree is. That makes Jesus the same yesterday, today, and forever: Saint John 15, see. Wherever you turn in the Bible, may be a new page for you, but you'll find out that's exactly the truth, right here in the Bible.
Now, the woman, I speak to her. If I don't know her, she raised her hand she doesn't know me. And may I say this, just before this happened; I felt something strike. If there be a critic here, inside or out, I am not responsible for what happens to you. Hear to it in Jesus' name; horrible things have happened. I wouldn't stay at the meeting any longer. I'd go and come back tomorrow afternoon at the preaching service. Don't stay, critic. If we just had time to explain it to you. Don't stay; I will not be responsible.

64 Now, to the lady, me not knowing you, you not knowing me... You're here for some cause. You might be a critic yourself. I don't know. You'll find out in a few minutes whether you are or not. You'll see what happens and how they take you off the platform, maybe not even in life in your body. But that's between God and you. But I'm just His servant.
Now, if He has risen from the dead, and become the vine, and His ministers becomes the branch, then the same life that's in the vine is in the branch. And Jesus said, "The same things that I do shall you also."
Now, if He has risen from the dead, then He's got to do the same thing that He did when He was here on earth, or He didn't raise from the dead. That's just right or wrong, see. He's either the truth or false.
Now, if the woman says she don't know me, I don't know her... And if I claim this, and Jesus raised from the dead, and if He will perform the same thing between she and I, that He did the woman at the well, one of the pictures, the same thing, will you all believe on Him with all your heart?

65 I just want to talk to you. "What are you doing, Brother Branham?" You're spirit. See, you're human; you got a spirit. I'm a human, got a spirit. And you are a Christian to begin with, because your spirit feels welcome. I wouldn't know but what you was a big critic myself; I wouldn't know. But the same Spirit that was upon our Lord Jesus, that said to the man that come with ... Nathanael come with Philip, said, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there's no guile," a just man. He knew it.
And that astonished him, "How'd You know me, Rabbi?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree I saw you." And then he believed.
Now, knowing you are a Christian... How do I know that? Because the Holy Spirit here between us, you're spirit witnesses as soon as it contacts that you are a Christian; you're a believer; you're not a critic.

66 Now, if the Lord Jesus will tell me what you're here for, will you...? See, I couldn't heal you if you're sick. I couldn't heal you, or I couldn't give you your desire. It'd be your faith in Him. But I only claim He raised from the dead, you understand? Well, may the Lord grant it, sister. Just talking to you to contact your spirit.
But now, if the audience can still hear my voice, between she and I comes that same light that you see in the picture, and she's going away from me. The woman, I see her doing her work, she is very, very nervous. She drops things, and she's suffering with a skin trouble, which is a cancer in her skin. That's "Thus saith the Lord." Is that the truth? ["That's right."] If it is, raise your hand. ["Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. By Your stripes I'm healed."]

67 Now, just to speak with you, other things would take place. Do you believe now? Now, let's just talk to the woman, just see what He would say. If we don't get many just... Now, let's talk. What was it He said was wrong? It was something another, I seen you doing something or drop something, or doing something, it was something in the house. Then I seen you... Oh yes, the woman, now she's... Yes, it's a skin; it's cancer in the skin. And she's bothered with a trouble, another trouble. And that is in her side and in her breast. ["Yes."] She's got pains, ["Yes."] and that's her left side and breast. ["Yes."] That's right. And she is worried about that; that's what's making her nervous, because she thinks it's cancer in her breast and side. ["That's right."] Which it is. That is right. That's true.
But look this way, lady. Christ... You know there's Something here besides your brother. If the audience can still hear me, there's something... It's Him; He's the One who knows you. Now, I want to tell you something. Just since I have talked to you, there's been a change come to you. You realize that you're ... beside something, beside your brother, don't you? You're healed. ["Thank You, Jesus."] Your faith has made you well. ["Thank You, Lord Jesus."] It's light around the woman; darkness has been drove back from the shadows of death; it's become the shadows of light. And now, I bless this, my sister, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And Thou hast said, "Whatever you bind on earth, I will bind in heaven." And I bind the enemy of her life, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. ["Thank You, Jesus. I love You, Lord."]
Now, sister, look. Stop worrying. ["I will."] Go on your road rejoicing, happy. And then when I come back in the tent, year from today or sometime, you come to the tent and give the testimony of what happened to you. ["Yes, I will."] God bless you; now go on your road and rejoice, and praise the Lord.

68 Do you believe? If thou canst believe, thou canst receive. Have faith. Now, just be real reverent. You believe, anything can happen. Oh, I wish I could let my audience know just what a feeling this is.
To you scientists, to you who study scientific culture, may I say it in this way: that's the fifth dimension; it's another world, see. You go down a person's life, only by the grace of God.
Now, here's another strange lady, never seen her. Only Jesus Christ knows the woman; I don't, never seen her in my life. But He knows you. And if He will reveal to me what your trouble is, will you accept it and believe it?
Now, the lady, I see her going somewhere; it's an examination. It's before doctors, and they're giving her something another as a treatment. It's a treatment for a dark shadow that hangs; it's cancer. Treating her for cancer, and through that it's made her real, real, nervous. That's "Thus saith the Holy Spirit."
Now, one thing that you are... In your spiritual life... That you might know that I be His servant, you are ... you're always trying to reach up to something that you have never been able to get a hold of. That's right. And you're needing it. And you've made a promise to God by the side of a bed, that if God would let you get well, that you would surrender your whole life and being to Him, in a prayer by the side of a bed. That's right, "Thus saith the Lord." You're not from this city; you come from another city. Pauline is your name; that is right. Pauline, you return home. Jesus Christ has made you well, surrender yourself to Him and you'll be healed in Jesus Christ's name.

69 Don't think about that. Did not Jesus say to Simon, "Your name is Simon, but you will be called Peter." He knows all about you. Have faith in God. Don't doubt; believe.
You're worried, aren't you, mother, about the child? Mother, if the Lord Jesus will tell me what you got your arm around that child for, will you accept me as His prophet and believe on all things? You're worried and crying. The child is subnormal; that is right. And you're praying for that child. Not only that, but you suffer with a back trouble; that is right. If that's right, raise up your hand. Now, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And as you have believed, so will it be unto you. Lay your hand on the child.
Lord Jesus, we pray for mercy now. The little woman contacted You through the vine. And we pray that You'll grant to her the desire of her heart. In Christ's name, I pray. Amen. Don't doubt, but just believe.

70 The elderly gentleman sitting, looking at me there on the end of the row, got a lot of worry and trouble with a child and so forth. You're suffering with a rupture too, aren't you? If that's right, raise up your hand. I tell you something: You got a habit you ought to quit; you're using tobacco, smoking. Throw it away. That's bothering... You have a cough, too. That's bad on you; you shouldn't do that. Will you throw it down and promise Christ you'll serve Him from tonight on? Then you can have what you ask for. In the name of the Lord Jesus receive it.
Dost thou believe all your heart? We're strangers to each other, but God knows us both, doesn't He? You think that He would make you well of the neuritis, sir? You do? You were praying, "Lord Jesus, let me be healed tonight. Have the man to turn to me, and I will believe." Raise your hand if... That's right. I'm not reading your mind, but I hear your prayer in prayer-land. Your faith has saved you, sir; don't doubt. Amen.

71 You're conscious something's going on, aren't you, lady? You know that it's not your brother standing here that makes you feel that way. It's your Saviour, the Lord Jesus. But this feeling that you have---real humble, sweet, meek, feeling---it's Him. I don't know you. But you're deeply in trouble. I see a streak of sorrow followed you. You're suffering with a trouble, a nervous condition, got something wrong with your throat, got something wrong with your stomach. That's right.
And I see appear by your side, it's a little girl, it's your child. She's about eight or ten years old. She's sitting in this direction, now for her---the faith line is moving that way. The child has a trouble in its throat; it's a tonsil trouble. And the child is extremely nervous. And she's been taken out of public school because of her nerves. And she's in another school, private school, because of her condition. The handkerchief that you wipe the tear from your eye with, lay it on the child; she's going to be all right. Don't you fear. You go in Christ's name. Believe all things; you shall have what you've asked for. God bless you, my sister.

72 Have faith, don't doubt. Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe." Is that right? It was just made for believers.
I see a lady standing in the midst of the air, a young woman. She's coughing at nighttime. It's an asthmatic condition. She's sitting right on the end of the seat. You also have something wrong in the nose; it's a hay fever that bothers you. That's "Thus saith the Lord." You're sitting on the end of the seat there, a black headed young woman a praying. Raise up your hand; that's it. Do you believe?
I seen that yellow sweater. The lady sitting next to you (that you might know that I be His prophet), she is wanting prayer too, for stomach trouble. That's right, isn't it, lady? You're a nervous type person. When you eat your food, it 'gurgitates in your stomach and sours, comes back, causes you trouble, burn like heartburn, dyspepsia. That's right. Wave your hand if it's true. If you believe, you can have what you ask for.
Sir, you sitting right behind her there: stomach trouble also. You looked around at him just then, with a back trouble. That's right. You're neither one from this country. You come from another place, out of town, place called Alma, Georgia. That's right, raise your hands. Have faith, go back to Alma and testify what great things God's done for you; give Him praise. It's your faith, sir.

73 Do you believe? If thou canst believe... Sister, look this way. I'm getting terribly weak, because it's the crowd. If one vision made virtue go from Him, what does this do? Your back's bothering you. That is right. Your trouble's in your back; you get sore in spells, and you can't hardly get around with it. That was caused... I see a crash or something. Automobile, you had an automobile accident and done it. That's right. Correct. Now, give your whole life over to Him; surrender yourself and receive the Holy Ghost, and go and be filled with His Spirit, and work for Him, and do for Him. You've had that desire for a long time anyhow. Now, go serve the Lord and get well. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Have faith in God. You believe? Only believe. The lovely Lord Jesus is here. He's the One who can do all kinds of miracles. Are you convinced that He's risen from the dead? He's here; that's the things that He does.

74 You want prayer for somebody else; that's right. I see a man standing by you. It's your brother. He's a alcoholic; that's right. Take that handkerchief and put it under his pillow-slip. Ask the Lord. Believe with all your heart and receive what you ask for; you can get what you ask for.
Do you believe? What do you think, lady, come in on the stretcher sitting there? I can't heal you, but if you'll believe with all heart, if you do, you can ... soon as the service is, you can get up out of the stretcher and take your things, push it on out and go home, be well. You believe? Do it.
The rest of you, do you believe too? Now, He can go on. Have faith. Right in here, I see a vision; you got trouble with your eyes, cancer. You believe with all your heart? All right, receive your healing. The Lord God bless you.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord." Now, stop thinking that, back there; I'm not reading of her mind. These will come on you.

75 Come here, lady, I don't know you. Lay your... Come here. Lay your hand on mine. If Jesus Christ will reveal to me what's wrong with you without looking in your face, you accept it? Then you eat your supper; your stomach trouble's finished. That's right, it's what you had. Now, go rejoice and you be well. God bless you.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord."
Mother, this old back trouble's been bothering you a long time. But go believing now; it's gone from you. Jesus Christ makes you well. And say, "Praise the Lord."
Let's say, "Praise the Lord."
Sinus condition, but Jesus Christ can make that well, can't He? Heal you and make you every whit whole! You believe with all your heart? Then go and receive what you've asked for, through Christ Jesus' name.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord."

76 You believe, lady? With all your heart? I see you trying to get out of a bed; you're stiff. I see you try to move from a street and set your foot down sideways like this, to get off the street. You got arthritis. I'm not reading your mind; that's telling you what you done. That's right, isn't it? You believe? Raise your feet up and down like this; your arthritis is gone. You was healed standing right here. You believe?
Nervous; your stomach's bothered you and caused you to have fluttering around the heart, especially when you lay down. It's caused a gastric condition in your stomach, peptic condition, ulcers, that's done it. You're real nervous, it's been that way for some time, especially since the menopause; you've been nervous. Not reading your mind, but that's every word true. That's right, isn't it? Now, you're healed. Go on your road rejoicing. Your faith has made you whole.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord."

77 Lady's trouble, suffered some time. You also got arthritis. That's right. It's exactly the truth. Your life couldn't be hid, lady, but is your faith right with God now? If it is, then you raise up your hand, and believe, go and be well in the name of the Lord Jesus, and He made well. God bless you.
Let's say, "Praise be to God."
You all are becoming almost blind to me. The Holy Ghost is just over the building. Now, I am not a fanatic. I am telling the truth. I want to be a man of honor and a Christian. You heard my word and had a right to doubt it. But this is not me speaking; it's Him. To doubt Him is sin. I declare to every one of you, Jesus Christ has healed every one of you when He died at Calvary. Can you accept it in the power of His resurrection? If you can, raise your hands to Him, give Him praise, rise up to your feet, praise Him.
Almighty God, in Jesus Christ's name, I pray that You will heal [unclear words].

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you. Shall we bow our heads just a moment while we're standing. Our heavenly Father, we come to Thee tonight with the humbleness of our hearts, to express to You the gratitude for Your goodness and kindness to us, we who are unworthy people, and one time alienated from God, without hope, without mercy, without Christ, and Jesus died for us to redeem us back to the fellowship and relationship with God. And now we're sons and daughters of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be finally at the end, but we know we are going to have a body just like His, for we shall see Him as He is.
We pray that You'll bless this group tonight exceedingly abundantly for all their goodness, and their mercies, and their thoughts, and love tokens. And tonight as it seems to be with other meetings allotted that we must journey on to another city, as our Lord said, "I must go to another city and preach the Gospel."
But O God, someday we're going to meet when we will never part again, in that city where there'll be no night services. It'll be day, for the Lamb is the light. And we long to see Him, who is the light of the world and the light of that great city.
And bless us tonight in our efforts. And help Your poor, tired servant, Lord, with not much voice left to speak to the purchase of Your blood. But believing that You will meet us here and would help us, and we will praise You for it; for we ask it in the name of Thy beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. Amen. You may be seated.

2 I wish to express my most sincere thanks to Dr. Lee Vayle and to the cooperating pastors of the city and around about, who has dismissed their services for this campaign. It's with gratitude and a heart of love that I pray that God will bless you exceedingly abundantly in doing this, and for your real Christian feeling towards the work of God. I do thank you for being as your coworker in the kingdom.
Then I wish to express to this audience your faithfulness of coming each night and packing in and filling up the auditorium and so forth each night, coming maybe many miles through the snow and slick roads to come. You never come just to be seen. You come for what good that the Lord will give you. And I thank you for it, my gallant brother and sister and friends of Christ.

3 Trusting that some glorious day that we won't have to travel like this to meet each other. But wanting to make an appointment with each of you, that after it's all over, how I would like to go home with each of you tonight, stay all night with you, get up in the morning and talk of the things of God, and the fellowship that we could have around the Word of God in your home. And be there, and eat with you, and fellowship, I just can't do it; because the harvest is ripe and the time is close at hand. So I must be going on. But someday I want an appointment with you, that we'll sit down in another kingdom, the kingdom of the Father, on the other side. And then we'll just have forever to be together.
And I certainly covet the prayers of each of you people. Now, it won't be long, if God willing, I will be going across to the foreign soil, Africa, India, through Asia, Japan. We're looking for the greatest religious meeting that's ever been in the history of the world when we come to Japan. There's only two thousand Full Gospel people there. And they are worshippers of Buddha and their god is defeated. They're a great nation without a god. So I want to take Jesus to them.

4 And now, may I ask you to do this for me? Way overseas, and you know, in the places and things when I'm over there... And the witch doctors and so forth are challenging the Gospel, and I have to stand there, and the winds are blowing hot, can I depend on the people of Lima and around about to be praying for me? Will you do it? Thank you. Thank you much. And someday we'll meet and God will reward you, before that even, for doing it.
I was certainly thankful to the board that let us have this beautiful little auditorium here. It's a pretty little place. And it's so marvelously arranged, and the acoustics seems to be so good. And the audience is drawed right up to you. I like that. I like the close feeling. Some of the best meetings I ever had was in cottage prayer meetings, where we was sitting right around each other, fellowshipping. And this little auditorium, for a place of its size, produces that. And I think it's a lovely little place. I was cutting a picture out that I found in the paper, to take with me.
And to the custodians and for all their kindness, may the Lord richly bless you, gentlemen and brethren.

5 Then I was just asked ... or, said to me tonight by my son, just a few minutes ago, that they had taken a love offering for me. Well, I told Dr. Vayle, "You shouldn't do that." Just to put it in on expenses. And they said, "The expenses was already met." Now, I want to thank you kindly. If there's anything I've tried to do is keep away from money. For I was born poor, and my people are poor. And that's the way I want to be: like I am now. And I never took an offering in my life, myself, never took one up in my life.
I remember one time at home I was going to take an offering. We were poor people, and I... You know when you get to a place you can't make ends meet? Did you ever get to that place? I do all the time. So I was working, and I said to the wife, "You know, honey, I'm going over and take up an offering tonight."
She said, "I'm going to watch you do it." And so she sat back in the room. And now, not as the people...

6 I pastored there seventeen years without one penny, not because they didn't want to pay me, because I was young, able to work, so I... I'd do it right now if I could just wait on my ministry and be with them. And I love to work.
And I went over to take up the offering, and I said... We didn't have any offering plate, so I said, "Folks, I'm kind of hit a little place, I just can't make the ends meet. I'm going to take a little offering. Somebody got some nickels that you'd like to help me." And I said, "Brother Wisehart (We called him Uncle Jim.), get my hat, will you?" He went and got my hat.
And I looked right down in front of me, and a little old lady (She's in glory tonight)... Remember those little aprons with the pockets on the inside. Did you ever see one? What part of Kentucky you from now, see. And so, it's just a little apron, and she picks out some of these little pocketbooks and snaps on the top, and beginning to reach down for those nickels. Oh, I just couldn't do it, see. Oh, I said, "I was just teasing you. I didn't mean it." And my wife looked at me.

7 And you know, there was an old man used to follow the meeting. Many of you might've seen him. You see him in the meeting. He had a long beard. His name was Ryan, John Ryan. How many ever knowed John Ryan? Well, my, sure. "Partings leave behind us..." And the old man... I used to get on him about wearing his beard. He was a movie star, if you all didn't know that. He was once a movie star. He rode the famous Garland in the Ringling, Barnum and Bailey Circus. And was a Catholic and was converted into the Christian religion and the apostolic faith. And he's gone to glory now, at eighty-something years old.
And he rode an old bicycle down and gave it to me from Dowagiac, Michigan. Oh, it was in bad shape. But I went down, and took ten cents, and bought me a can of paint, and painted it all up, and sold it; got enough money to pay the bill off, and I didn't have to take the offering after all. So I never take an offering.

8 I wish that this didn't have to be done, but I know that that's a portion of your living. I know that you're poor people like I am, and perhaps, maybe, that might have to feed the baby [unclear words]. And I realize that. But friends, to the best of my knowledge---I promise you---that it'll not go for foolishness, to the best of my knowledge to the kingdom of God. And may God bring it back to you, multiplied, heaped up, running down ... shaken down a hundred-fold, is my prayer.
Now, how many people is here from out of town? Let's see your hands. Say, is there anybody here from Lima? Lima people raise your hands. Oh, yes. You're here. I was just such a [unclear words]. We're happy to be in Lima, aren't we, outsiders? Amen. We think you're wonderful. We think you've got some fine ministers, and some fine makings, and just a lovely city. And we pray that God will bless you exceedingly abundantly.

9 And now, tonight I am very hoarse. Usually a minister'd just as soon preach about once a day. Did you know that preaching is harder on you than most any kind of a manual labor that you could do? I've seen that estimated and broken down, and I believe that it is compared... I think that twenty minutes of preaching under inspiration takes more from your physical body than eight hours of a sledge hammer, see. That's how hard it is. That's inspirational preaching.
So we ask tonight... We thank you, and if I've left anybody... Oh, the organist and pianist... There's just so many of you. And today I was just speaking to different ones in places.

10 And if I'm not mistaken, I believe I see a sweet, little old couple that usually calls me long distance when they're sick. And I don't believe God's failed one time. And I don't know if it is, but isn't that the Rev. and Mrs. Kidd sitting right there? Raise up your hand.
I want you all to see an old veteran and his wife, way in their seventies or eighties, still preaching the Gospel. Would you stand up just a minute? Brother and Sister Kidd. Let's say, "Praise the Lord" for God's goodness to them. That's very much appropriate. God bless them. God bless you, sister and brother. Way in the years of eighty and still preaching the Gospel. Oh, isn't that wonderful? I pray that God will bless them exceedingly abundantly.
And now, they were probably out preaching before I was born. And you see how honored I feel of having them. You know, usually when you get a little old, the general public seems to pass you by. But Brother and Sister Kidd, there's one who stood by Paul and Silas. He will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

11 I want to read tonight from the blessed Word. And then just for a short time, being hoarse... And we will pray for the sick.
And I want to thank you once more for something else: praying for me last night. The first time I ever got a prayer line through like that, in I don't know when, without visions, because I just went to that all the time. And how the testimonies has poured in today, it's been wonderful.
What you need is a great big tent sitting out here in about a four or five weeks' revival, so you can just stay right with it until it's over.

12 I want to read from the book of Saint Luke tonight, from the 18th chapter of Saint Luke, and beginning at the 42nd verse.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
And immediately he received his sight, and glorified him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
And may the Lord add His blessings to the reading of His Word. And may the Almighty Jehovah ever bless.
Usually this is the night when more is done, than any other night in the meeting, because the great strain: It's the anticipation, the waiting, the expectancy. And that's usually what brings the Holy Spirit right down. Oh, how I pray with all my heart, that there will not be a feeble one among us in an hour from now. I pray not one sinner in the building... May every sinner be saved, every backslider come back to the house of God, is my humble, sincere prayer.

13 Jesus had just been speaking to the disciples about sacrilegious: how that there was a publican went to the temple to pray, and a self-righteous man stood there. And how he in all of his good deeds that he could quote to the Lord: "How I thank Thee that I'm not like this publican or like ordinary men, how I pay my tithes and fast," and so forth. But Jesus was teaching them that all those things were all right, and they had their place, but then those things are not the real things.
They're not the religious. They're religion, but they're not salvation. If we depend upon those things to merit for our salvation, we would go in by works and wouldn't need the Lord Jesus. But we have to solemnly depend upon Him, and I'm so glad. Then everyone can come. If religion only means to build a church, to sacrifice and to be sincere, God would be unjust to condemn Cain, because he done everything religious that Abel did. Everything that Abel did religious, Cain did the same. Both boys sincere; both boys made an altar; both boys made a sacrifice; both boys knelt down; both boys prayed; both boys worshipped.
So if worship, sincerity, belonging to church, and all those things are all God requires, then He would be unjust to condemn Cain, because Cain did the very same thing that Abel did. But all of it was works of his hands. And it's not by works; it's by the grace of God we are saved. Abel never worked; He just believed on Him that justifies the ungodly. And his sacrifice was received.

14 Our scene tonight starts at the gate of Jericho. Jericho was one of the lowest cities of the world, way down in the valley of the Jordan. And it's a pathetic scene as we look at it. There is a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus. And he's sitting by the wall of Jericho.
And it was pretty hard on the beggars of those days, because there were many of them. There were lepers; there were cripples, lame, halt, blind, all types of beggars. And as a man who was a little more blessed that could spare a coin now and then, when he left his home at morning, the first beggar he met he, perhaps, give him the coin, and maybe could not afford anymore through the day. So it was the custom that beggars would stay near the gate, that when the traveler, or the businessman, coming to his business in the city would drop the coin to them, that they might have a livelihood.

15 And perhaps, this man being blind for many years, if there had've been an operation could've been performed on his eyes, he could not afford it, for he was a beggar. But very much in doubt whether physicians of that day could help him, or the physicians of the day now. Blindness is a horrible thing; an eye is a valuable thing.
And so while he was sitting there... Let's just take the little picture now and go down there with blind Bartimaeus, so we can get the real kernel of what we wish to talk on for the next fifteen, twenty minutes.

16 Blind Bartimaeus, sitting by the gate, perhaps, in the sunshine of the direct rays of the Palestinian sun shining on him, by the wall... Let's think that he was studying, meditating.
You know, the way to find God is to meditate upon God, think of God. David spoke of it. How he would bind the laws on his bedposts, and how he would meditate therein day and night.
If you notice it, as the disciples on the road to Emmaus, that while they were speaking to each other, concerning the Lord Jesus, that He stepped right out of the bush and walked with them.
If our minds would be more taken up on God and on the things pertaining to God, it would be so much easier to live the victorious life in Christ. He would be with us.

17 You notice Eliezer while he was thinking, meditating to God, the beautiful Rebekah come out to water his camels just in answer to what he was asking God.
And as blind Bartimaeus sat at the gate... He was a beggar, ragged, sitting with his little rags wrapped around him, probably a middle-aged man. We're kind of taught that he had a family, a wife, a little girl. And as he sat there in the sunshine, I can just imagine his mind drifting back to another day, a day that when things was better for him, when he was a little boy as he went over the Judean hills.
And I can think that maybe, perhaps, one of his favorite times was when his ... after a midday meal was over, as a little brown-eyed Jewish boy frolics along in the soft wind and skips through the fields. He would come in at a certain hour to his mama, a beautiful young Jewess. And as his favorite thing was, before he taken his afternoon nap, was to hear her tell stories of the Bible.

18 That seems to be so interesting to any little boy that's got good character in them: the Bible stories. It's just too bad that mothers today don't take more time to talk to their children on those things. I'm sure we wouldn't have so much juvenile delinquency if this was did.
And as his little bright eyes would look up into mama's face... And how he would enjoy the different stories that she would read from the Bible to him. (The Old Testament of course, 'cause that's all they had.)

19 And perhaps one of the leading stories that he liked so well, was the one of the great mighty prophet Elijah, how that Elijah in his day, how that he went up to Mount Carmel, and there was a Shunammite woman, a Gentile. She thought he was a great prophet, and she was a rich woman, and she could help this prophet; so she built herself a little house for him, a little room, little chamber. And she placed in there a bed, a little stool, and some water for his feet, and a pitcher to drink from, to show kindness.
And so one day when he found all this kindness, he sent Gehazi his servant, to pick her up, to bring her in to where he was. And he said, "Could I do a favor for you? You've been so kind to me to divide to me the portion of your living, and to help me to have a little place to rest. And you did this because that you had respect unto my God. Could I speak to the king for you, or to the chief captain?"
She said, "No, I dwell among my people. Everything's all right."

20 And Gehazi said to him, "She doesn't have any children." And perhaps, Elijah in his prayer saw what the Lord was going to do. And he said, "Go tell her that about this time next year, according to life, she is going to embrace a son."
And the little boy was born in the home, when her husband was old. And he was a lovely little lad. How little Bartimaeus' eyes would glisten and just sparkle when he could hear of this little boy born. And how mommy would baby him and play with him, and then one day it came to pass when he was about the age of Bartimaeus then, was out in the field with his papa, and it must have been a sunstroke. It was about near noon, eleven o'clock, and the little boy begin to cry, "My head, my head." And the father, being busy in the harvest, sent a servant, took the little lad home, and the mother laid him on her lap, and he died. Oh, what a tragedy.

21 But to this Shunammite woman there was no defeat. She had something in her heart. She took the little dead form of the boy and laid him upon the bed of Elijah. What a place to put him. Just right. Take him, and might have laid him in his own little crib upon their bed, but took him around the house to the little prophet's chamber, and opened the door, and laid him where the servant of God had laid. What a wise woman! And she called her husband, and she said, "I must go find the man of God." I like that.
Oh he said, "It's neither new moon, nor Sabbath."
But she said, "It'll be all right." Something in her heart. "Everything will be well."
So he saddled a mule, and he told the servant---she did---said, "Ride, and don't stop till I call you to." And as they neared the mount where the prophet living in his cave, he walked out beside of the cave, and he looked and he said to the servant, "Here comes that Shunammite. Go and meet her. She seems like she's in a rush. Oh, they're just whipping the little mule, and he's a going. Go meet her and say unto her, 'Is all well with thee? Is all well with thy husband? Is all well with the baby?'"

22 And his servant ran and met her. And she said, "All is well." ---the baby dead, her husband frantic---said, "All is well." Why? She knew God was in His servant, the prophet. She knew she could hear from God, and she wanted to know why that her baby had been taken. So she runs up close, and Elijah looked at her again, and he said, "Her heart is full of grief, and God has hid it from me."
You know, there's a wonderful thing. God don't tell His prophets everything. He just tells them what He wants them to know, not everything. They can do nothing in themselves. Just what God shows them, that's what they do.
Could you imagine Isaac sitting blind and blessing Jacob instead of Esau? Could you imagine Jacob holding Joseph's coat for forty years, bloody, thinking that an animal killed it, and being a prophet?
Proves God just reveals to His prophets that what He wants them to know, nothing else. Prophets are not infallible people. Prophets are not angels. They are men.

23 In Saint James the 5th chapter it said Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. He had his ups-and-downs. But he prayed earnestly that it might not rain. Then he goes to say, "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
And God had not revealed this to Elijah. And she ran up to his feet and fell down and made known everything that had happened. Now, Elijah knew that God dwelt in him, so he said to Gehazi, "Take my staff and go lay it on the child. Now, don't stop along the road for a little chat here and there. If any man salutes you, don't salute him back."
That's the trouble with the church today with this message, they're stopping, chatting along the road, little gatherings, and social parties, and card parties, and picnics, and sewing circles, and so forth. Too much of the world has entered into the [unclear words] of the blessed message. Oh, I hope you see this.

24 Notice. "If any man salute you, salute him not back, but go straight to the boy." That's what we need: Straight to the Word, none of that hanging around to this, that, or other, but right to the point. Notice. Then what happened?
But you know, I think that's where Paul got taking handkerchiefs and aprons from his body. Elijah knew that everything he touched was blessed, because God was in him. That's what the woman that touched the hem of the garment of Jesus. She knew God was in Him.
But you know, the woman's faith wasn't in the staff; it was in the prophet. So she said, "As the Lord liveth, I will not leave you. I'm just going to hang around." She had something in her heart, and she was staying with it.
That's the thing. If God has answered a faith in your heart that He's going to give you the Holy Spirit, stay right with it. If He puts something in your heart during the meeting, that He's going to heal you, stay right with it. Don't let nothing move it. Call everything that's happened contrary to that, call it wrong. Cast it aside and look to the promise.

25 She said, "I'm going to stay right with you." And the prophet got tired of perhaps having her hanging around. So he goes and gets his mantle, and throws it over him, and girds up his loins, and here he went, the woman following him. Gehazi went ahead, and went into the dead baby, laid his stick upon the baby, but nothing happened. Why? The mother didn't believe it. It would've happened if the mother would've believed it. Maybe she didn't know about the stick, but she did know about the prophet. So she...
Then what taken place? Here comes the prophet up with the mother, her eyes right on him; and look what a condition it is. The neighbors was screaming and wailing. And a heartbroken father screaming out in the street, "Oh, my boy, my boy," all tore up. The prophet just goes to his own little chamber and closes the door behind him. Looked laying there on the bed, there laid a little stiff, cold form of a baby, dead several hours. And the prophet walked back-and-forth, to-and-fro, up-and-down in the room. I just love that: just walking to-and-fro, waiting on the Lord. "He that waits upon the Lord shall renew his strength; he will mount up like an eagle; he will run and not be weary; he will walk and not faint."

26 And he walked to-and-fro, waiting on the Lord. After a bit something must have struck the prophet, when he knowed the Holy Spirit was on his body. He ran to the child, put his hands on its hands, put his nose against its nose, and the baby sneezed seven times and come to life. Outside they went. What a happy home!
And how little Bartimaeus must've loved that story. And as he sat there renewing it in his mind, and how the great conqueror Joshua and many of the other stories; but alas, he shakes himself. The sun has moved over; a shade has come over him. He goes along with his blind eyes and sits down again. Somehow he never got a coin maybe. That morning. What's he going to tell his little girl when he goes home? He perhaps maybe wanted to see if she could get a dress. His poor wife maybe hadn't had one in a long time. And he was ragged, and he couldn't even get soup for their meal.
And now, maybe that they're hungry this morning, and now what can he do? Nothing to eat, and ragged and sitting there. But there's one thing he had, was memories of a day gone by.

27 And then he remembered that not thirty feet from where he was sitting the great prophet Elijah and Elisha walked down that road together, arm in arm.
Oh, I can imagine to hear him within his heart, "Oh, if I would've only been sitting here then. I would've raised and said, 'Oh, prophet of God, you great mighty prophet, speak to Jehovah for me.' But, oh, the days of miracles is past, so my priest tells me. That was Jehovah in a day gone by. But think of it. One day right down where I'm sitting within thirty feet went those two mighty prophets, that walked right down to that Jordan and smote the Jordan and opened it up."
Surely in his heart he was saying, "That Jehovah didn't die." And of the great coming out of the children of Israel, when the oldest son was killed because there was no blood on the lintel of the door, would be another favorite story for him. And also of just a few hundred yards from where he was sitting, the great mighty Joshua delivering the people into the promised land, walked down to the Jordan, taking the ark to where that God in the front of them, and it opened up. And His people walked across on dry land.

28 "Oh," in his heart, "we are still the people of God. We are circumcised according to the precepts of the Testament, but they tell me that Jehovah doesn't do those things anymore." You know, times hasn't changed too much. And I say that with respect.
And then he thought again, not over two hundred yards from where he was sitting then, one day when the mighty Joshua, the great prince, was walking out viewing the walls of Jericho, before the great battle, he saw a man standing with a drawn sword.
He had oft heard his mother tell that story, read it to him out of the Bible. And as he stood with his sword drawn, Joshua might've thought, "Where did He come from?" He just appeared, and He was a man with His sword drawed. And Joshua drew his sword and went to meet Him. And as Joshua went to meet Him, he said, "Are You for us? Are You for the enemy?"
And the man spoke back to this Joshua and said, "No. I am the Captain of the host of the Lord," just two hundred yards from where he was sitting. Little did he know that that same Captain of the Lord's host was not two hundred yards from him right then.

29 And as He begin to come into Jerusalem ... or, to Jericho, there begin to be clatter everywhere, people running, after a while noises, people talking, different [unclear words] subjects, some one way, some another. He listened. He was blind. And as he listened. "What is this?"
And after while there come a scream of criticism, people hollering, "Here comes that fanatic. Here comes that man that speaks against our priests and our church. Let's not let him enter the city." Others come, and above all he heard the great roar of his priest which said, "Hey, you Galilean, you who can raise a dead man, we've got a whole graveyard full of them up here on the hill. Come up and raise some of them."
That was the kind of mockery He got. That's the kind He gets today. But Jesus never heard them. Perhaps, rotten cabbage, or overripe eggs thrown at Him, and making fun of Him, and said, "You who has done all these miracles, let me see You do something. Ha-ha. You're soothsayers. There's nothing to this fanatic. He doesn't join up with our schools. And there's nothing to Him to begin with."

30 And Bartimaeus begin to wonder, "Who is this such a person, wonder who this could be?" Then he hears another voice, "Hosanna, Hosanna! The prophet of Galilee comes." What was he saying? "Hosanna! The great prophet Jesus comes to the city. Make way for Him! Give to Him songs! Give to Him praise!"
And Bartimaeus said, "Who passes?" No one pays any attention to this poor old beggar, too insignificant to be looked at when they came everywhere. But after while a kind little lady stooped down. And he said, "Madam, who is passing by?"
She said, "Oh, blind man, do you... Have you not heard that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of God?"
"Oh," he says, "I heard my mama tell me that someday the Messiah would come, but surely the priests wouldn't be talking about Him like that, and saying all those things."
But she said, "It is true. This Man is the Messiah."
"Oh, you mean that the Son of David is coming through and they're treating Him that way?"
"Yes, that's Him."

31 Then all of his dreams, all of his fond hopes jumped into action; he sprang to his feet, and screamed, "Oh, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"
And the people said, "Oh, shut up; sit down: you know that there's no such a thing as any help for you, blind Bartimaeus. The days are past for those things. That fellow is just a fanatic."
Down in his heart where he'd been dreaming... "But mother read to me out of the Bible that Moses said, 'The Lord your God shall rise up a prophet likened unto me.'" How that the prophet Isaiah said the lame would leap like an hart, and how the blind would see when this Prophet came. And faith took a hold, and he cried the much more, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"

32 Now, He could not hear the literal voice of the blind man with all that there screaming, and hollering, and saying the things, and mocking, and scoffing, and praises together. He would not hear physically, because He was too far from him.
And Jesus in this certain time, He knew that just a few days hence He was going ... He was on His road down to Jerusalem. And there He must be mocked, and spit on, and made fun of, and beaten, and His back scored with a cat-o-nine-tail, or Roman lash, and there had to go to the cross. The great nails was in His mind, the thorns on His head, the spear in His heart, the agony of Gethsemane. All that was loaded on His precious heart. And I can see Him undisturbed by the criticism.

33 You know, a big man can be criticized and he pays no attention. But it's the little one that speaks the loudest. So He wasn't paying attention when they were criticizing, making fun of Him; He had one thing: that was doing the will of His Father. With His heart full, to know that He came to His own, and His own received Him not, and knowing that He was to die for their very sins. He had His face set towards Jerusalem's Calvary. All that on His heart, He never noticed the flying missiles, and the criticisms, and so forth. He was walking towards Calvary.
So He could not have heard that man's voice. If you was ever at Jericho and watched the distance to the road ... and all the crowd, but something happened. I can imagine as He passed by, and the crowd still hollering, the lady said, "Oh, sir. Cry out again."
He said, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Oh, He couldn't hear me, so I can see. O Father God, I believe with all my heart that this One who's persecuted and made fun of, is Your Son. I believe He is the Son of David."

34 And something happened. That blind beggar's faith touched the Lord Jesus. Oh, the insignificant one that they tried to make him keep still, but his faith touched the Lord Jesus, like the woman that touched His garments. He turned, looking at him, and said, "Bring him here."
And when he got there, He said, "What is it that I could do for you?"
Said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight."
He said, "Thy faith has saved thee. If your faith was strong enough in God to call the virtue to leave Me, to call back to you, your faith is sufficient for your healing."
And as He turned and goes on, blind Bartimaeus standing there, and to all the black world before him became light. He could see his hand. And down the road he went rejoicing, praising God for his sight.

35 Not long ago I was reading a little story of him. It said that his wife and his baby, little girl, just about ten years old... He'd never seen her. He had been blind for years. Let's say he might have been a Christian; I do not know. But they said that in those days, while blind Bartimaeus begged at the gate, he had two little turtledoves that done little tumbles over each other. They entertained [unclear words] the tourists so he could get coins for this, something.
If you've ever been to India or so forth, you see the beggars have to have some attraction, or they won't attract the tourists.
So these little doves would tumble over each other. And one night, it was said, that his little girl got sick. And blind Bartimaeus made his way along the wall, and he prayed for the little girl, and said, "If You will let my little girl get well, God, tomorrow I will sacrifice one of my turtledoves to You." And the little girl got well, so he did.

36 And by and by his wife got sick. So he made a promise to sacrifice the other turtledove. And then his wife gets well. And then another sick spell hit their home, and he didn't have anything to entertain the tourists by. And his begging was very poorly then. And he went outside to pray, and he said, "Lord, I only have one more thing, and that is my lamb."
Now, you've seen the blind being led by a dog. They train them for that purpose. In those days they had a lamb that led the blind. And he said, "Lord, if You will heal this case for me and let my little one live, I will sacrifice to You my lamb. It's all I've got."
And the next day the child was well. And he set on his road to sacrifice. The priest said to him, "Blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou?"
He said, "Oh, priest, I am going up to the altar to sacrifice my lamb, that I promised God I would do."
"Oh," he said, "blind Bartimaeus, you cannot give that lamb." Said, "I will give you some money, and you buy a lamb."
He said, "Oh, priest, I never promised God a lamb; I promised God this lamb." There's a lesson there. And I hope God teaches it to us.

37 And he said, "Blind Bartimaeus, thou cannot sacrifice that lamb. That lamb is your eyes."
He said, "Oh, priest of God, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes, if I keep my promise to Him." And on this cold October day while he drooped in rags God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes.
And may I say this, my beloved friends, that same Lamb is provided for your eyes tonight, and for your sickness. It's God's provided Lamb to take away your sins and your sickness. And someday you've got to stand in the presence of God, to give an account of this life that you've been permitted to live.

38 Not long ago there was a great man who crossed through the middle eastern countries, and his name was Daniel Curry. He was a famous revivalist. It's been fifty some odd years. And Daniel Curry, one night he said he had a dream. And he dreamed that he died and was taken up to heaven. And when he got to the gate of heaven, the opener of the gate came---the gatekeeper---and he said, "Who art thou that is approaching?"
He said, "I am Daniel Curry. I am the evangelist who won thousands of souls in the earth for heaven. I have come to take my place and receive my mansion."
Said, "Just a moment. I shall look on the book." And he went and looked at the book. And when he come back, he said, "I am sorry, Mr. Curry, but I do not find your name on the book."
"Oh," he said, "surely you're wrong. Go look again."
And he did the second time, and he said, "Your name is not on the book. Therefore I cannot open these gates to you. You have no name to check."
"Oh," he said, "what must I do?"
He said, "Sir, you might appeal your case to the great white throne judgment, if you care to."
"Well," he said, "I have no choice. I'll have to do that."

39 And he said it seemed like he was taken through space for a long while. And it begin to get lighter, lighter, lighter. No certain place it was coming from. And he begin to slow up, and said, then all of a sudden he came to a stop, and there was the brightest light he had ever seen in all his life. It was thousand times brighter than the midday sun. And he said he heard a voice saying, "Daniel Curry, did you ever steal anything when you were on earth? You are here at My judgment seat."
And he said, "I thought I'd been an honest man." But said, "In the presence of that light I realized that there was some things I had pulled, little shady deals. I didn't think about it when I was on earth, but in the presence of that light..." Then he said, "Yes, Lord, I have stole."
He said, "Daniel Curry, did you ever tell a lie when you were in your life?"
Said, "I thought at least I'd been an honest man." But said, "In the presence of that light, I seen a lot of things that I had told that wasn't right." He said, "Lord, I have told lies."
Then said, "The voice come the third time, and said, 'Daniel Curry, was you perfect when you were on earth in your life?'"
He said, "No, Lord, I wasn't perfect." And said, "My bones seemed like they were coming apart, and I was listening for that great once blast, saying, 'Depart from me into outer darkness.'"

40 And said, "Just as I was getting ready to hear that great eternal separation word," said, "I heard the sweetest voice I ever heard in my life." Said, "Never did I ever hear a voice like that. No mother could speak words like that." Said, "I turned, and when I did," he said, "I saw the sweetest face I ever saw in all my life." Said, "No mother's face could look like that."
And said, "He walked up to me and put His arm around me and said, 'Father, no, Daniel Curry wasn't perfect on earth in his life. But in his life he stood for Me on the earth. And now in heaven, I will stand for him. Let all of his sins be put on My back.'"
So that's what I speak for, that's what I try to persuade others for. How you'll want Him to say, "Well done." I wonder who's standing for you tonight, if your life should be called. Could you stand the judgment of the white throne? Just think of it right quick while we bow our heads just a moment.

41 And if the organist will be so kind to come to the organ and play a Bible tune if you will. With our heads bowed, every eye closed, and those who know how to pray...
This may be the moment when some precious soul finds its eternal destination. And the last knock may be knocked at the door of the heart of a person here. "My Spirit will not always strive with man." So it behooves us to pray, Christians. And now you're saying... I'm going to ask this to these sinners, the one that knows that he could not have someone to stand for him: Do you want Him to stand for you? If you do, would you just raise your hands to Him at this time, and say, "God, this is my hand as a sign. I want Jesus to stand for me in the hour of my death."
God bless you. God bless you, you. God bless you, lady. God bless you, sir. God bless you. That's right. Just keep your hands up. God bless you. You say, "Brother Branham, does that do something?" Yes. God bless you, little boy. God bless you, lady. That's right. Someone else out on the bottom floor? God bless you over there. Someone who hasn't put up their hand, would you put up your hand right away and say, "Jesus, I'm raising my hand." God bless you back there, girl. [Gap in the audio.]

42 "I know that I have nothing I could offer, but all that I have I give." Back and to my left, would you raise your hands and... "Stand for me, Jesus." Oh, my. There's hands, God bless you everywhere. In the balconies to the center, raise your hands and say, "God be merciful to me right now. I'm making my stand for You, Christ. You will stand for me at that day." Just hands everywhere. God bless you. Oh, how the Holy Spirit is moving in the building.
I'm going to ask you something, while the rest of them are praying. You who wants to hear that voice when some morning the fog begins to come into the room, and the doctor's left and said there's not a hope. You feel your pulse coming up your sleeve, and you know the time has come; you're leaving. Do you want Him to stand there and bear you across Jordan, and your loved ones [unclear words] not knowing when He will break.
If you want to be sincere, and want to prove to God that you want Him to put your name on the Lamb's book of life, and to stand for you on that day, will you quietly stand to your feet while we have prayer? Everyone that wants to make that stand tonight for Christ, would you just stand. On the bottom floor and in the balconies on every side, would you who raised up your hand, stand up just a moment now. You make your stand. That's it. God bless you. That's right. Everywhere.

43 Just stand right up and say, "I'm making my stand before these people."
Jesus said, "If you're ashamed of Me... (Now, just remain standing.) If you're ashamed of Me before men, I will be ashamed of you before My Father. But he that will confess Me before men, him will I confess before My Father." Oh, friends, we're going to need it. We're coming right to it. It may be before morning, but you've got to stand.
Let another host stand up, will you, someone who'll say, "I will take my stand tonight." God bless you, sir. Someone else stand up while we offer prayer in the presence of God. God bless you, brother. God bless you. Someone else? God bless you. God bless you, lady. God bless you. Will you take your stand, say, "God, I will stand for Christ now. And, O Christ, You promised me that You'd stand for me on that day."

44 How can you plead your case when you've sat in a meeting like this where the great powers and miracles of God was being done, and the Holy Spirit moving, the Gospel being preached? How're you going to stand on a negative confession? Don't you want Him to stand for you? When I see those gates open yonder, and I see that every sinner's got to go, and Jesus sits right in the road. I want Him to plead my case. He's my attorney. I won't have to face the Father if He's facing Him for me.
You want Him to face Him for you tonight? Would you stand? Someone else? Just before prayer. God has put your name on the book of life, as certain as you're sincere in your heart. His words cannot fail. Now, let us pray for these many who are standing.

45 O Jesus, who passed by the Jericho gate, and the blind man's faith stopped You on the road to Calvary. How wonderful You are. A little flower could not peek its little head out from under a chip in the woods without You knowing it. A little gnat could not light on a limb somewhere without You knowing it. The sparrow could not fall to the street without You knowing it.
And how much more will You look down tonight here and see all these people standing, confessing their sins, and pleading for mercy, and asking You to write their name on the book of life, and to plead their case for them. Certainly You see everyone of them. You know their names and who they are.

46 And now, the Father has given You these. Thou has said, "No man can come to Me, except My Father draws him. And all that come, I will give them everlasting life, will raise them up at the last day. No man can pluck them out of My Father's hand." They are love gifts. Jesus, here's what the Father has give You tonight. These men, women, and children that are standing, are love gifts that the Father is giving to You.
And O Christ, as Your servant on earth, I pray that You write every name on the book, and give to them the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that they may from this day, might live an upright, God-fearing life before the world, with a testimony that will ring out to their neighbors. Make them so salty, as it was, until all they contact will be saved too. Grant it, Lord.

47 I commend them to Thee now as a fruit of preaching the Word and the love gifts of the Father, who's in the Word. And You receive them now, for Thou hast said, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me has eternal life, and shall never come to the judgment; but's passed from the judgment unto life."
In so many words, Father, they can't stand at the white throne judgment; You're going to stand in their place. Never come to the judgment, but has bypassed the judgment, and has eternal life through Jesus Christ. Grant these blessings to the people. For we ask it in Christ's name. Amen.

48 The Lord bless you. And them who are standing, as they sit down, a Christian by their side, shake their hand, won't you do it? Oh, there's something about the grand old highway. I just love the old-fashioned revival type service, don't you? Sinners are born into the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit here to bring birth to the children.
Now, to you who have just come... How many's here for your first time? Let's see your hands, the first time you was ever in one of my meetings. Oh, my, just... It's a good thing we all don't meet at once. Every night two-thirds of the audience is new ones. All right. Now, we are going to pray for the sick.

49 And to you little children that was just come into the kingdom of God, do this now. Listen. Go right straight to some good church who's solid in the Gospel, be baptized, join that church, and live for Jesus till I get to shake your hand in glory some day. Do that.
I will meet you in the morning by bright
river side,
When all sorrows has drifted away;
I will be standing at the portal, when the
gates open wide,
At the close of this long, weary day.
(I will see you, by the grace of God.)
I remember when my wife was dying, and I put the last kiss on her cheek, and I told her, "I will meet you in the morning, sweetheart. Be standing by the side of the gate, screaming, 'Bill,' and I will get the children together and come to see you."
I'm on my way. Years has passed, and tears has fell; my shoulders are drooping; I was a young twenty-three or five year old man then. Now, I'm forty-seven, turning gray, drooping down, but I'm on my way.
Throwing out the lifeline from side to side, taking everything I can to the kingdom of God. I want you to rest assured that the salvation and the Christ that you have just received is not a fiction. It's not just story of Santa Claus. It's the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

50 We're going to pray for the sick children. And we do not claim that we heal people. God has already did that. Now, you was not saved just five minutes ago. You were saved nineteen hundred years ago, but you just accepted it five minutes ago. The same way here by healing...
And now, to everyone that's here, press to the kingdom. The Bible said that "Christ, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He said, "A little while and the world won't see Me no more, but you'll see Me, for I will be with you, in you, to the end of the world." Did He say it?
And then He said, "The works that I do shall you do also." Did He say it? How long? To the end of the world. Did He go around and say, "I am a healer."? No, not one time. He said, "It's not Me that doeth the works; it's My Father that dwelleth in Me; He doeth the works."

51 But He said in Saint John 5:19, when He was questioned about why didn't He heal some people, and the man packing his bed on the Sabbath, and whatever they was questioning Him about, He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself; but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." Otherwise Jesus just saw visions of what the Father told Him to do, so He went and done it just the way the Father said. That's His Word. Is that right?
Now, if He's raised from the dead, He's the same; He does the same. Now, He doesn't have any hands on earth tonight but mine and your hands. His eyes... Our eyes is His eyes. We are the branches; He is the vine. The vine doesn't bear fruit; it only purges the branch so it bears fruit. He puts into you and I to bear the fruit, while He furnishes the spirit and the power.

52 And now, we're going to call some people to the platform, and I want each and every one of you... I was going to start a line like I had last night, but it's too late. However, I believe the boys give fifty cards, didn't they? Hundred? But I preached just a little longer than I thought I would, so maybe we will take the other... What was that? X's? All right. 1 to a 100?
All right, let's bring a few people to the platform, and then in a massive way see the Lord Jesus heal every person in the building. Do you believe He will do it? If He will return here on the platform tonight, and do the very same things that He did when He was here on earth, will everyone here promise that you will believe Him and accept Him as Saviour and healer? Raise your hand, every person in the building.
How many knows now, every person in the building, that He did not do nothing until the Father showed Him first? Let's see if how much you know the Bible. That's right. Good. Then we know that when Philip came and found Nathanael, He told Nathanael who He was, what He was, and where He was before He come to meeting. Is that right?

53 What did the Pharisees, the religious people of that day, say He was? Said He was a fortuneteller, a Beelzebub.
What did Jesus say? "You speak that against Me, it'll be forgiven, but when you speak that against the Holy Ghost when He comes to do the same thing, it'll never be forgiven you in this world, or the world to come."
So there in doing that, He's prophesied that the Holy Spirit would do the same thing that He did. That's what He said, "The Holy Spirit will testify of Me. And He will bring these things to your memory, and will show you things to come." Saint John 16, I believe it is, or 15. Notice, that's the Scripture.
Now, if He has risen from the dead... Now, I want to ask you. If the Lord has risen from the dead, which we know He has, He is the... That is the only religion in all the religions of the world that can prove that their founder is alive. Buddhists can't do it. Mohammedan can't do it. No other religion can do it. But Christianity can do it.
Oh, sure, India's got hundreds of empty graves that they said were raised from the dead, but where are they at? That's the ridiculous sign to compare with the sublime. It can't be done. But we can prove, because God said we could, that Jesus raised from the dead, for He's here to do the very same things.

54 And the Mohammedan said to me down there, them missionaries, one missionary had been there seven years and won one soul, he said, "That precious jewel," just a preaching the Word, giving the tracts, and that's all this brother had ever knowed to do, belonged to a fine church in America here, that one precious jewel.
But they said, "Let us see you teachers do the same things Jesus of Nazareth done, and we will believe He raised from the dead." That's what they were waiting: to see the Bible fulfilled. And when that was done, in literal... In Durban, they estimated out of about thirty thousand, there were ten thousand of them was Mohammedans.
See how God does things? Just get it His way. He will do it right. Just let Him have it. You can just beat and beat and beat, and it'll never happen. Just come in grace and let the Holy Spirit do it; He can do it.
Now, we can't call too many to the platform at once. It's too long for them to stand. When we get this as many you can. I'm going to ask every person here to be just as reverent as you can. Be just as sincere as you can. Just sit real quiet for just about fifteen minutes, and be in prayer.
Now, how many here that does not have any prayer cards that's given to you today, and you know you're not going to be in the prayer line, upstairs, downstairs, wherever it is; but you believe that Jesus Christ will heal you; and you believe that you have a sufficient faith to touch Him? raise your hand. God bless you. Now, just stay right where you are and start praying.
Now, does the Bible say... This is after the resurrection, that "He is a High Priest of our confession."? Does He say that? Does the Bible say that He is a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmity? How you going to touch Him then? He's got to bear record of that. If you touched Him, you would know you touched Him. Is that right?

55 Now, if you're here and not going to be on the prayer line here, you just sit real still, and be sincere, and say this to God: "God, make it real to me tonight. And if that man will turn (me not knowing him), and the Holy Spirit that he claims that anoints the people, will turn... And I love You, Lord, and I will serve You. Just let him turn to me and tell me like our Lord did the woman at the well, and I will believe with all my heart." I challenge your faith in Christ's name to do that. God said, "Prove Me."
All right. What was them prayer cards? X's 1 to a 100. Well let's take... Let's start at number 1. Number 1-X, that's marked X with a number 1. Who has the card, would you stand up? Number 2? Right over here, would you stand up? Number 3? They'll be all over the building. Number 3, where's your hand so I can see you? Number 3? That's number 3. Is that the lady there?
Number 4, would you raise your hand? Check the people next to you. They may be deaf, dumb, can't speak, maybe can't raise up, or are paralyzed. Number 4? Number 5? X number 5, would you raise your hand? Who has it? X number 5, raise up your hand please, ever... I'm sorry, lady. 6? 7? 8? 9? X number 10? Who has X number 10, would you raise your hand? Number 10? 11? 12? 13? [Gap in the audio.] I see her going both downstairs and upstairs.

56 Who here is sick and does not have prayer cards, that's going to be called into the line, and would like to be prayed for, and want Jesus to heal you, would you raise your hands again so I can get a general conception? Just no way of getting it. It's everywhere. All right. Just look this way and believe now. Now, do that.
Now, Jesus was passing through a place one time, and a little woman touched his garment, and He got weak. Did the Bible say He got weak? Virtue, which is weakness ... strength, went from Him. Many people wonder why it makes you get weak. Do you know that that's... Daniel had one vision, and it troubled him at his head for many days? Who knows that in the Bible, Bible reader? Yes.
How many knows that the virtue of the Angel that was on the water at the pool of Bethesda in Saint John 5, the first one being healed, that stepped in, and had faith enough to be healed, the Angel even left the water, let's see your hands. Sure. All the virtue left the water.

57 And Jesus, the Son of God, said that He got weak, virtue had left Him. Now, we got up to some twenty or fifteen or something. Now, as the line gets just a little closer down, we will keep calling a few more, as you see the line getting down.
Now, this is hard. If I ever come again up to Ohio... I hope you would like for me to come back. And I sure would like to come. I would like to set a meeting so we could stay for about a month, so I could get a chance to pray for the people, and then have different meetings, afternoon teaching. Have lines like we did last night, and prayer lines. This here is for massive prayer, massive healing. This is to bring forth the presence of Jesus Christ.

58 Now, as I said last night, now did you notice the difference in the American people? Brought them on the platform; here was a little lady had a wreck and her hips was mashed and her back. You better be careful what you tell them. And her back was mashed; but just as soon as I prayed, I seen she was healed. I said, "Go take your braces off and come." How many seen her pack them out?
The little lady had a lump on the side of her head. I felt something move under of my hand while I was praying, and away it went. Did you see it? The lady had a growth here in front of her, out here in the front of her. While I was praying, looked back, and the thing was gone.
Little deaf mute standing there received hearing and speech. How the Lord blessed a colored man bound down with a paralytic stroke, as he moved him up, and there coming down [unclear words] in his feet, and he walked away. See, that's the way the American people wants to lay hands on you. But that's not really the way you should do it.

59 You know Jairus said, "Come, lay Your hands on my little girl, and she'll live."
The Roman said, "I'm not worthy that You come under my roof." But said, "I'm a man with authority, and I say to this soldier, 'You go do that,' he does it, because he's under me. And I say to this one, 'You go do so,' and he does it, because he has to obey me. He's under me."
What was that Roman doing? He was recognizing the supreme deity of Jesus Christ, see. He said, "You just speak the word, and my servant will live." What did Jesus say? "Now, I've never seen faith like that in Israel."
That's what I'm trying to get to you people. Christ is here. So believe it. Africa, India, one supernatural sign, they're watching for it, and they see that compared with the Bible, that settles it forever.

60 All right. Now, as we pray... Now, if you'll be real reverent... I'll tell you why. And to you brethren that were taking the pictures, don't take them now. See, this is a light. [Someone speaks to Bro. Branham.]
Real glad to hear that report. There was a lady here last evening who was a crippled, sitting in the audience (the ushers left some staying.), that was sitting in the audience, and she wanted to get into the prayer line, but could not. And she just looked up, and I prayed that she'd receive it. And was instantly healed and walked out whole.
I understand the little lady with the polio here... I walked in the room the other day passing through the building. I offered a little prayer for her, and someone tells me---now, this is just what someone told me---that she got a feeling in her foot, and begin to itch or something, and [unclear words]. That's God moving, see. Life is coming back, the curse being taken, see. Let's keep on believing, that's all. You're feeling better, aren't you? Amen. That's good. Oh, so many reports.

61 Now, to every one here, you are total strangers to me, as far as I know. Right here's two men sitting here that I know. And there's somebody... The doctor standing right down there. I know the doctor. And I know him, and Mr. Wood, and Sister Vayle here, are friends of mine that I know; and my son standing over here. My daughter-in-law and Mrs. Wood sitting back in this section here by the post. That's all that I know in the building now.
But did you know that Christ knows every one of you. Excuse me, Sister Vayle, and the doctor's wife. I see you setting there. But do you know Christ knows each one of you? Now, here is a purpose... Now, don't lose it now. This is the last night. This is the purpose. Listen to me. Christ has healed every one of you when He died at Calvary. It's your faith in His finished work. No matter what the condition you need, it's your faith in what He did.
Now, the thing you do, is just accept Him as personal healer. Now, if Jesus was here tonight, and you say, "Jesus, come here and heal me," why He could not do that. He's already done it. The Bible said He did. He was our Redeemer. Did He? It's all done. He said, "It's finished." He's already been wounded for your transgressions, and with His stripes you were already healed. The only thing He could do would be to cause Himself to be here. And how would He do it? In a miracle.

62 Now, are you the lady? Come here just a minute. Now, be real reverent. You can walk just a little closer if you will, lady. Here stands a lady, and she's, of course, wearing glasses. We know there's something wrong with her eyes, except they be reading glasses. A person past thirty-five, forty years old, actually their eyeballs get flat, and they need reading glasses for close reading. That's the regular procedure, like your hair turning gray or anything else.
But she looks healthy to me, and she's a stranger to me. I never saw her in my life. I suppose that's it. We're strangers to each other? If we are, so the people would understand, raise up your hand.
Now, here is a picture again, of a Bible picture. This is for new comers. Our Lord Jesus, in Saint John 4, was talking to a woman that come out to get some water at a well. He'd never seen her. And she come to get some water, and when she got the water and started to put it on her head to walk away, our Lord Jesus said to her, "Woman, bring Me a drink."
And she being a Samaritan, and Him a Jew (There was a law of segregation.), so she said, "It's not customary for You to ask such. We have no dealings, the Samaritans and Jews." He packed the conversation a bit till He caught her spirit.
And when He did, He said to her... He found out some trouble she had. And we believe in America (I know the eastern idea is different.), but we believe in America that she had five husbands. The Bible said she did. And Jesus said, "The husband you got now is not yours, and you're living with him." So there must have been something wrong.

63 And when the disciples found them, it was no disgrace for a man to talk to a woman in public, but they was astonished that Jesus was talking to such a person. The Bible said they was. So if the eastern idea is different from that, why, it's all right. Whatever it was, it was a woman talking.
And the woman... He said... He contacted her spirit, and He found where her trouble was. And He said, "Go, get your husband."
She said, "I don't have no husband."
Now, watch. She witnessed she didn't have a husband. But Jesus said, "You've had five, and the one you have now is not yours." The lady said the truth.
What did she say? "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet." Is that right? Now, watch what she went on to talk. Then she said, "We know that when the Messiah cometh..." How many believes Jesus was the Messiah of God? Certainly. She said, "We, the Samaritans..." She was a religious person that went to the church and knowed the laws anyhow.
She said, "We know that when the Messiah cometh, He will tell us this ... or, all things." But she couldn't make out who He was.
He said, "I'm He that talks to you, that speaketh to you."
And she run into the city and said, "Come, see a man that told me these things. Isn't this the Messiah?"

64 Now, if that was the sign of the Messiah then, and He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, it's the sign of the Messiah now. That is, to the believer. But what was that sign to the big high orthodox church men? A devil, a fortuneteller, a Beelzebub, a mental telepathy. It's the same sign to them now.
"A little while and the world sees Me no more, yet ye will see Me. I will continue. I'm not going to die and just stay dead. I'm going to raise again, and I will be with you, even in you, to the end of the world. I will be doing the same thing right on down to the end of the world."
Now, if that scripture is true (which we know it is), then Christ Spirit come down, if she is a believer, and He could be Himself again, and find out what she's standing here for. Is that right? And if He does do it... The woman could be an infidel; she could be an agnostic; she could be here for a frame up. Watch what happens.

65 How many were here where that man, they hired him to come and hypnotize me, that he went to these army camps and made people bark like a dog, and hypnotosis (ever what you call it)? Hypnosis, or I don't know whether I speak it right or not. Hypnosis, I believe it's called. Anyhow, even hypnotizing soldiers and make them bark like dogs and things.
And somebody hired him to come and hypnotize me. And when the anointing come down, I felt that odd spirit. I thought it was a devil at first. I looked around for a fortuneteller. And I watched, I seen him sitting there, and those eyes looking at me.
I thought, "Is that him?" I turned again. I begin to watch. [Unclear words]. I watched out there. I seen what the Holy Spirit said. I turned around where he was; I said, "You child of the devil, why has the devil put in your heart to come do this thing. God rebuke you." And the next day, he was paralyzed, and he is yet today, and that's been about three or four years ago. He's still sitting paralyzed [unclear words]. All I know about was yours.

66 Remember that man that night, up here across on the Canadian line. They went up there and put on his prayer card a whole lot of things that he had, TB and everything, and walked up here. I said, "There's nothing wrong with you."
Said, "Oh, yes there is. Look on my prayer card."
I said, "That has nothing to do with you. The usher's got the prayer card."
I said, "There's nothing wrong with you."
He said, "Oh, yes, there is. There's something wrong with me."
I said, "Well, maybe you had faith and was healed."
He said, "That's what it is then."
And I turned and looked, I thought, "Strange." I seen a room open up before me. And there stood a woman standing, looking down at two men. One of them had on a gray suit with a red tie. And the other man sitting across from him, had his back to me. There was a green spread hanging over the table. And I heard them say, "Aw it's nothing but a telepathy, and we will prove it, and show that he's wrong."

67 And he belonged to a certain denomination, a church that I would not call the name. And when he come back, and the vision left, I said, "Why has the devil put in your heart to do this?" Why I said, "Man, aren't you ashamed of yourself, being a preacher? And last night you sat with your wife and another man, which is sitting right there in the balcony, sitting there with that red tie on in the gray suit. And you sat in the room last night, and said that you'd go over and write so-and-so on your prayer card, thought the usher would transpose to me, mental telepathy."
I said... Now the Satan [unclear words] and grabbed me on the platform by my pants and I said, "The thing that you put on your prayer card, TB and so forth, is on you now." The man died about a year later. That was at [unclear word] Ontario. Many of you've heard that. How many's heard it? Let's see your hands. Many of you out there. Certainly. We're not playing church. It's the Holy Spirit. You be reverent.

68 This woman's a stranger. I never knew her. I never seen her in my life. God knows her; I don't. But I'm professing this: and my contentions is that Jesus Christ has raised from the dead, and is yet the same today as He was. He will keep His Word. If He's God, He's got to keep His Word. I believe the Word's infallible, I believe it.
Now, be reverent. Be in prayer. And I want to talk to the woman just a moment. And if He will perform the same thing here that He did back there in the Bible times, every one of His promises, you believe and would accept, anything that you got need of, you believe He's here to give it to you? Is that right? If God will do this, it's a sign to you that He's here to give you just what you're asking for. The only thing you lack is to believe.

69 Now, let us look to the woman. As a Christian and talking, the spirits of... Or the Holy Spirit's in a gift. One gift is preaching. That's evangelist. Another gift is prophetic, which is altogether a different gift. And to be preaching and switch to something else, it's another anointing, but the same Spirit. You understand.
Now, you and I being strangers, (We never have met each other.), and you being the first person here, I'm just trying to contact your spirit. And it's exactly, exactly, exactly what I'm trying to do. That's right. Because you're a woman, I'm a man, and we've never met before, and here we are before several hundred people.
And now, God's Word is at stake. That Bible says that Christ promised what He promised that He'd do the same, He'd live in us, and He would work through us, and do the same things that He did. That's either the truth, or it's a lie.

70 Now, don't be afraid to put God's Word to the stake. But I can see that you are a Christian, because your spirit begins to feel welcome, see. The Holy Spirit's here, and now it's a gift. It's a brother and sister now; things is changing.
You're aware that something taken place just then. If that's right, just raise your hand so the audience can see. Did you ever see the picture of that light? That's what's right around you just now.
Now, the lady, if the audience can still hear my voice, she is a believer, a real believer. And I see her: she's doing something, but she's real nervous about something, like she's dropping something or something. She's bothered with nervousness. That's her trouble. She has a nervous condition.

71 And she's all upset about something now. That is: she has been to a doctor. And that doctor was looking on her breast, and he found a place like that keeps gathering, like a growth. Now, see that that little white thing or something, he turns your back, and there's something on your back near your spine. And he says that you need an operation for it. That's "thus saith the Spirit."
That is true. Do you believe? Now, Something's here that knows you. I don't. Something knows you. He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Come and let me pray for you.
Our heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Thy Son, I bless this woman that she may receive every blessing she's asked for, and send her home happy, rejoicing, praising God. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God bless your loyal heart, lady. Go rejoicing, happy, and thanks be to God.

72 Would you come, lady? You believe? Now, has He raised from the dead? Now, you look this way, lady. The anointing is on. Amen. Oh, what a feeling.
I feel just like it was that day when, after two years, that little boy in Finland was supposed to be raised from the dead. How many of you read the story? Standing around the little dead boy laying there, hundreds standing around, and I said, "Thus saith the Lord. I saw a vision of that baby, and five minutes from now he will be on his feet, or I'm a false prophet." There he raised and leaped to his feet, praising God, living yet today. He's Christ. He can't die and remain Christ.

73 Now, the lady standing here is another stranger. We don't know each other. If that's right, raise your hand. Have faith now, don't doubt. Believe. All right. If the Holy Spirit can reveal to me what you're standing here for, the very thoughts and desire of your heart, will you accept it? You will?
You know, as a man, I couldn't heal you if you're sick. And if you are, if I could and wouldn't do it, I'd be a brute not a man, if I could help you and wouldn't do it. But I can't help you. But I'm trying to do all I can to get in the presence of Him who can help you, because you're my sister. You're a Christian believer. That's right.
Now, the Lord said to Nathanael, "Behold, an Israelite in whom is no guile."
He said, "When did You know me?"
Said, "Before Philip called you, I saw you." Way away.

74 What if I told you I see you from way away, too? You're not from this city. You're from another city called Cleveland, Ohio. That's right. Now, I see a doctor appear. And the doctor's looking somewhere in the chest or the throat. He says it's a goiter on the inside. And that's just been recently. And he set a time for operation; that's two weeks from now for an operation. That's right. Is it? It has to be. Will you believe God?
Our heavenly Father, the little lady desires life. And I pray as I lay hands on her that You'll give to her the desire of her heart. I pray this prayer in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
God bless you, lady. Go on your road happy. God bless you, sister.

75 Do you believe? All right. Be real reverent now. Someone was healed in the audience just then. I didn't catch it. Just be real reverent. I saw the Angel of the Lord, which is the Christ of God. It's a light.
How many knows that the Angel that followed the children of Israel was a pillar of light---a fire? How many knows that was Christ? How many knows that He said, "I come from God, I go back to God." Did He say it? And when Paul met Him after the resurrection, what was He? Pillar of fire again, the light. That right? It's what the Bible said. That's what He is.
Now, be real reverent and pray. All right. This the lady? How do you do, sister? I don't know you. You know that. But we're strange to each other, but God does know.

76 Now, just be reverent and don't think I'm beside myself. I am not. But I can only say what I'm seeing. And now, just believe.
Well, you have come to me, and we're years apart, and probably born miles apart and years apart. This is our first time to meet. But do you believe me to be God's servant? You believe that what I preach from the Bible is the truth? And you believe that the claims that I make...
The reason I say that, lady, you remember when Jesus saw a vision of the resurrection of Lazarus, He was on His road back to get Lazarus to raise Him. But He asked Martha, when she come out on the road, she come out to meet Him, He said to her...
And she said, "If Thou would've been here, my brother would not have died."
He said, "Thy brother shall rise again."
And she said, "I know in the last days."
He said, "I'm the Resurrection and life," see. And He said, "I'm the resurrection and life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me will never die." He said, "You believe this?"
She said, "Yes, Lord. I believe."

77 She believed that He was what He said He was, the Messiah. And He is the Messiah tonight. I'm just His servant. But the Angel who spoke to me and sent me here, said, "Get the people to believe you, and be sincere when you pray."
I said, "They won't believe me."
He said, "By this they will believe you." This was given at birth, when just a little baby boy.

78 You are suffering with an arthritis. I see you can't hardly get around at times. Then you have heart trouble. That is right. Then you have something that makes you sick; it comes from your right side. It's gallbladder trouble, because you have a [unclear words] of a gallbladder. That's the truth.
Now, I cannot heal you. Neither do I know what was said. But Something was talking to you. That wasn't me, because I don't know you.
Now, do you believe, audience? Now, more you would talk to her, more would be said. Now, not for a public show, God doesn't do things that way. But for the glory of God, that you might understand, through a divine gift, may I talk to you some more? She's an elderly lady. And I'd like to talk to her just a little more.

79 Now, the lady seems to go from me again. Yes. I see that it's some kind of a vomiting and gagging. It's the gall bladder. And I see you, you're not from this city. You're from a city that's right off a canal or something. It's Spencerville. That's where you're from. And you live on a street called Main Street. Your number is 401. Your name is E. Miller. You believe me to be His prophet, His servant? Let us pray.
O God, who raised up the Lord Jesus, I pray that You'll heal this woman, and make her well in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
God bless you, sister. Have faith in God. Do you believe?

80 Now, here is another case: a colored woman and a white man. This brings back the case again to Saint John 4. And down in the south, they have a segregation between the white and the colored. And this makes the scene just right. And then... Jesus let her know, though, that there was no difference. God makes no difference; we're all His offspring.
I do not know you, lady. And here we are, man and woman, first time ever met in life, even a different race. But God knows us both. You are a believer. And if God will reveal to me what your trouble is, will you believe it? You do? Will the audience believe? May the Lord Jesus grant this.

81 Little laddie... Now, just a moment. There's a little boy. I thought it was a little laddie... I'm tired. No, it isn't him. No, here is just with a little bow-tie on, way over in the corner. Papa, do you believe that God can make your boy well? You're sitting there praying for him, aren't you? You was in prayer.
The little boy has a rupture. That's right, isn't it, papa, mama? Is that right? Raise up your hand. See, you touched Something, didn't you? You touched the Christ. Lay your hand over on the little lad.
Heavenly Father, in Christ's name, grant their faith be sufficient now to do that which they are desiring, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Jesus said, "I can if you believe, for all things are possible to them." Oh, if you could just see what I'm looking at. It's a little lady sitting there looking at me. And she's praying. And she knows that she has contacted the Holy Spirit. She's moving her lips and praying. She is now praising God, for she's been suffering with a throat trouble. She's got a little turban like on her head; she's got a little white thing. That is right, isn't it, lady?
And I see someone else holding to her throat. It's the lady sitting next to you, with the long like hat on, has throat trouble too. I'm speaking to you, Mrs. Miller, see. Now, do you know who I'm talking to? All right. I never seen you in my life, I never knowed you. If that's right raise your hand.
Oh, how we thank the living God for His goodness, for His mercy endureth forever. Just have faith. Just believe.

82 Now, little lady, you sitting there that just wiped your eyes, from weeping. Something touched you, didn't it? You never touched me. But you touched Him. And that big band that was put around your arm and said you had high blood pressure, that is right.
What do you think of it, sitting next to her? You had one around your arm, but it said low blood pressure. One was high, and the other one was low. Is that right? Then it is right. Now, have faith in God. You touched Him, see. I challenge your faith to believe. Don't doubt. Just have faith in God.

83 Pardon me, lady. I can only go just as He sends me. All right. We're standing here as man and woman. Oh, you are for a great, great faith. You're standing for someone else, your brother. And that man is in a mental institution. And he's not here in this city, but he is in Cleveland, Ohio, in the mental institution. You're his sister, and you come that I might offer prayer for your brother. That is true. I'm not reading your mind. That is true.
O God, our kind heavenly Father, down there in that horrible place tonight, let the Holy Spirit deliver that man from his affliction and make him completely whole. Because of his loved one who's standing for him, I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Go, and may God grant it. As you have believed, so may it be so. Oh, my. Have faith.

84 The little lady, with little spots around the head, you should've accepted Christ awhile ago. The light of God is still over you. But that breast trouble you've been having, is gone from you, so you won't have to worry about it no more.
What do you think, sitting next to her, has nervous trouble? You believe that the Lord Jesus would make you well too? All right. You may have it also then.
And the lady with her hands up to her face, she's got a breast trouble. And the little lady that's wiping her eyes yet, that arthritis is gone also, sister. Amen. That's the way to believe it. Have faith. Don't doubt.

85 How do you do? Of course you know you're in the presence of something besides a man. You believe it's the Holy Spirit? Be real reverent, every one now. See, diseases go from one to another. Now, be real reverent. They won't let you stand much longer. But just be real reverent a few minutes longer, please.
Each one is a soul. Each one's a spirit. And if you move, it has an interruption, you see. Because every one of you is just placed just like in this row right where you're at, see. And just watching with all that is within me to help you, friends. Please, you cooperate with me and with the Holy Spirit. Be real reverent.

86 Let us take this lady then just a minute. Your main trouble is a nervous trouble, and it caused you to have trouble in your arms and in your limbs. That's right. And you're not from this city either. You're from Cleveland. Your name is Henrietta; Pullman is your last name. You live at an address called 8517 Cedar Avenue.
Another thing, that you might know that I be God's prophet: You got someone on your heart you're praying for. It's a man. The man is your uncle, and he's got cancer, dying, and he's unsaved. And you're praying for his soul. Amen. You believe? Then receive what you've asked for. In Christ Jesus' precious name. Have faith in God.
What do you think, sitting right back there with that back trouble, sir? Do you think God will make you well? Sitting right on the side there, you believe God will heal you? All right. You can have what you ask for then. Amen.
Want to get rid of the stomach trouble and be made well, be healed? Then go eat your supper. Be well, in Christ's name. Amen.

87 What if I told you, you were healed, sitting there, would you believe me? Would you have confidence in my word? Then go. The Lord Jesus makes you completely whole.
How do you do, young lady? You're very young lady to be anemic, but you are. So how about, let's you and I go to Calvary for a blood transfusion and be made well? You believe? Then in Christ's name, go and be healed. Thanks be to God.
Heart trouble's a killer. But Jesus Christ is a Saviour. You believe that? Then go and be healed in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let's say, "Praise be to God." Do you believe? Have faith then in God. What about you in the balconies up there? You're not left alone. Christ is just as great up there. I challenge your faith in Christ's name to look and live.

88 Here's a young girl looking straight at me, setting right up here by the banister, kind of a heavy set girl. Do you believe me to be God's prophet, sister? You were praying, wasn't you? If that's right, raise your hand so the balcony can see you. I've never seen you. But you're suffering with a back trouble. If that's right, raise up your hand. Now, do you believe me as God's servant? You believe it's Jesus Christ in the audience tonight? Let me tell you how it happened. You fell off of a slide and done it. Is that right? Raise up your hand. Now, you're healed. Christ makes you well. Believe.
That lady sitting right behind you, a little white hat on, you're in perfect contact;, you're praying. If God will reveal to me what's your trouble, will you accept and believe me as His servant and Christ be [unclear word]? In the breast. If that's right, raise your hand. See, I challenge your faith.
By the way, the man sitting right behind you has got arthritis too. That's right. If it's so, raise your hand. There you are. Have faith. I challenge you. Amen.

89 How do you do? We are strangers to each other. I don't know you, but God does know you, doesn't He? You believe me to be His servant? You're suffering with breast trouble too. That's the reason you're hooked to that lady there. That spirit is going back and forth. That's right. You believe?
What's your husband going to think about this? He's going to believe too, do you think? As a minister he should, shouldn't he? He's got back trouble, hasn't he? Uh-huh. Mrs. [Unclear name]. That's exactly right. You can go home now and be made well [unclear words]. I never seen you in my life, but that's true. Now, go on your road and rejoice. Tell your husband to be well.
Let's say, "Praise be to God." Do you love Him? Oh, how He wants to heal you all.

90 There's many out there that's suffering with heart trouble too, lady. They're just everywhere. Everybody with heart trouble, stand to your feet right now. Stand to your feet; let me say, see, you can't call them. Just remain standing, and you stand right here just a minute. Have faith in God.
Death, black shadow, cancer: Cancers, stand up to your feet. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There you are. Stand here just a minute. Have faith.
Come, lady. You believe me as God's prophet? Sugar diabetes. Every one with diabetes, stand to your feet. Just remain standing. Have faith in God.
Come, lady. You stand here with the heart trouble [unclear words] too. Believe with all your heart.
Oh, now, do you believe? Satan's going to lose this battle. The hour is here. Something's got to take place. The devil's defeated. Don't you know it? Oh, my. Let us all stand to our feet, all over, while this great anointing, the whole building standing [unclear words]. The Holy Ghost is here.
O Jesus, Son of God, in Jesus Christ's name, heal every one of them. Make [unclear words].

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Let us bow our heads just a moment. Our kind heavenly
Father, we are grateful to Thee, the Almighty God, for giving us the privilege to come together again, assembling ourselves to worship Thee in Spirit and in truth.
And, O God, we pray tonight that the Holy Spirit will take the Word and will give it to every heart just as we have need. Save the lost and bring back to the fold the wandering, and heal the sick, and we will give Thee the praise. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Be seated.
We are trusting God for great things this week and the coming week. And trying now, by the help of the Lord, to just speak to you the best that I can under difficult. I've got a bad throat.
Last week I was in Minneapolis ... or, week before last, rather, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it was around zero to ten below; and coming out of the building, real hot, well, then I would, the wind would hit me and I developed, I don't know whether it's a strained throat, or whether I have a little cold.

2 And then another thing that's kind of slowed me up: I'm getting old and decrepit, I suppose. I had a tooth to come out in front, and they had to put a wire on it, a store tooth to hold it in. And in that my tongue hits the wire, and it slows me up a bit. But you'll bear with me, I'm sure. The Lord bless you.
Oh, it's such a privilege to talk about the Lord Jesus and to worship Him, and to come together with this fine group of men. As I just learned today that there's some twenty-two churches in sponsor of this meeting. And I am certainly grateful to this ministerial group of Phoenix, Arizona, for inviting us to your lovely city.
And I am sure that in here... In coming I have come to do good and to everything that I can to help to make it a better ... or, not a better ... yes, a better, a better situation, a better flow of the Spirit. And the words ... the thing that I'm trying to say is this, a full cooperation among all the churches of the living God. That is one of the greatest things.

3 Now, this week I am trying to put my time in preaching ... or, for healing. And next week, if the Lord willing, I want to preach on a greater healing, a healing in a higher standard; that's the healing of the body of the Lord Jesus, His broken body. On the Word... And us together as brethren and how that the fellowship of the great church of the living God, the Lord willing...
'Course we will be praying for the sick just the same, but this week I'm trying to hold on the subject of physical healing. And if God willing, either tomorrow night or Sunday night, I want to bring the people to the platform and pray for them just as they come, without the discernment.

4 A few weeks ago I was in Lima, Ohio, and a Mr. Vayle, Dr. Lee Vayle, great man in the Baptist association, and he come to the platform and he said to me ... or, I beg your pardon, he came to my motel room and said, "Brother Branham, when I came to your meeting over in Vancouver, British Columbia, long ago, I noticed that you would just stop the people when they needed to be stopped, see. Those who had sinned and done things wrong under the discernment you picked it up. The rest of them you prayed." And said, "I attended the meeting, and I never seen one person come across the platform but what was helped by prayer while you were praying."
So I just turned and had a night of that. And you know, the Lord Jesus just worked so wonderfully with us. The very first woman come to the platform had braces on, on her back.

5 And now, you have to be very careful in dealing with people, especially when you're asking them to do something that you know that they... Unless you're led of the Lord to tell them, you better just keep still, let it be based on their faith. But when you see and know that it's the Lord, then you can rest assured that it's going to be all right.
That brace come off her back. She'd drop right over, see. So being by a vision, I told her to go take her braces off. The ladies took her back into a room, and she came to the platform waving those braces and glorifying God.
And down the line a little farther down, there was a lady come who had a lump sticking out on her neck, in here. And before thousands of people, I just put my hand on the lump and begin to pray for her. Now, I know that this may sound strange to people, but something felt like it slipped under my hand. And when I took my hand off of the woman's throat, before those thousands of people there, that growth had disappeared, right before the audience.
Now, anyone that's mentally right would know that God had to do that. There had to be a miracle performed. We want to have that type of line, the Lord willing: just testing our faith to God's promise in a few nights.

6 Now, tonight we want to read some out of the Word of God. In the 19th chapter of the book of Saint Luke, we read this:
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come ... he asked him,
Saying, What will thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith has saved thee.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
May the Lord bless the reading of His Word.
Now, we have before us tonight one of the great instances in the ministry of our Lord Jesus in a sign and a seal of His divine Messiahship, proving to the world that He was the Messiah. Our scene starts tonight at the gates of Jericho, as you go in at the north side of the gate, perhaps, coming down from Jerusalem. There was a beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, and he sat there begging, as it was his way of making a living.

7 And in those days there was many beggars. There was lepers. I often wondered what it must have been when Jesus was here. Of those massive sights... And I never fully could understand it until I come from India where we would find laying on the streets lepers, no hands, no ears, and just all kinds of massive forms of sickness and affliction.
And at nighttime when they would gather up the dead bodies on the street, would take them over to a great salamander of some kind and dispose of their bodies, (no John 14 there); just dumped them in and let them go.

8 Must've been something like the sights that Jesus seen. And so many beggars on the street, they had a hard time thriving. Because perhaps if a man had a coin or two that he could give, when he come into the city, the first one he met, he gave a coin; that settled it for the day. And those beggars would hang around the gates: lepers, crippled, blind, afflicted, making their living by begging.
And now, as we notice our subject tonight, this beggar was at the gate side. Let's just imagine what was going through his mind, just for a short time. I can imagine as he sat there in the sunlight, when the warm rays of the Palestinian sun baking upon him, had drug himself off into the corner and was meditating, thinking.

9 You know there's something about getting alone to yourself. Many people never pray until they come to church. Many people think that the only place to pray is the church, but the Bible said for men to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands. And then when we get by ourselves, we will usually pray different than what we would if we prayed it in church. It's the secret prayer that Jesus spoke of, saying, "Enter ye into a secret closet, and close the door, and when you have did so, pray to your Father who sees in secret; and He that seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
And when we're praying like that, there seems to be something to the prayer that takes all the hypocrisy out of it. It seems like that we get in a better connection with God, to get alone. And there's been many times in my life, as perhaps in your life, that you just have to get alone once in awhile with Jesus. I've took my car and drove down the road and just studying. After I got to the highway where it was free, or off on some country road, till I would become so filled with His mercies and goodness, till I just stopped the car and held the wheel and wept like a baby.

10 That being alone... Many times I'd climb up into the mountains, where the men thought, was with me, I was going hunting. Go up there, and sit down on a rock, and just look up to the sky until looked like that my whole innermost being become filled with something that you could just feel... Oh, everything of the world seemed to pass away. Oh, for those precious hours alone with God.
And it's there that when the greatest revelation and inspiration comes, is when we're alone with God. We'd take more time on that, I'm sure that we would live a better life, more victorious life in Christ.
And maybe Bartimaeus had pulled off over in the warm sunshine after sitting in the shadows of the morning to catch the first people coming by for a coin. But he got cold, and he goes out and sits down by the side of a wall and perhaps feeling his way along till he got to the warm sun, and then leaned back.

11 Let's see if we can break in on some of the thoughts that he perhaps had. Here he was, maybe that day that no one had given him a coin, and maybe with a family at home. And what would he do then? He had no capital to go on. And if he didn't get something, his little family would do without, and his wife, and how that they would be without maybe all day long.
And it's usually when we are right at the end of our senses that God usually steps in, right at the end of our abilities.
And as we see him sitting there in the warm sunshine, his mind goes back many, many years to when a little Jewish boy on the Palestinian hills was frolicking and running and the shock of black hair around his head. He could look up and see the stars at night and could see the pretty flowers blooming along the Jordan, and to see the beautiful blue skies in the daytime.
And one of his greatest thoughts was of a sweet, old mother that he used to have, that had passed on many years before. And how she used to take him in the afternoon out on the porch that faced over towards the Jordan, and when she would rock him and talk to him and tell him the Bible stories, as it used to be a custom of Jewish mothers to always drill in their child the Bible.

12 It's too bad that we Gentiles don't do the same. But we turn our children to a Sunday school teacher, twenty minutes on Sunday morning and let them rip the streets with the world the rest of the week. But what we need is to bring up a child in the way that it should go, and when it gets old, it'll not depart from Him.
And how his mother used to drill into him to always love and respect Jehovah. And how he loved to hear the stories of how that his people was brought out of Egypt, how a great light followed. They followed this light and brought them out of Egypt to the promised land, where they then dwelt. How that they opened up the Red Sea, God did to let the children pass through. The brazen serpent and the many stories that was told him...

13 And how one of these famous stories was ... was the Shunammite woman, when she was given a baby by promise. And when the little baby had died at about ten or eleven years old and was laid in the prophet's chamber...
Elijah was a prophet in those days. And how that this little lady, being full of God's love and respect, had made this prophet a little chamber to stay in as he come by... And when her baby died, she laid it upon his bed, and saddled a mule, and took off to the mount to find the prophet.
How that his little Jewish eyes would sparkle as his mother told him this story of how the great prophet Elijah would come there and walk up-and-down the floor until he was anointed with the Spirit of God, and then laid his body upon the little dead baby, and it sneezed seven times and restored back to life.
Oh, what a day! How he loved it! And he would think, "That's right. Oh, if I could only have lived to have seen and lived in the day that that great prophet lived. I would've been as the Shunammite woman was. I would've held on to him until I received my sight. But, oh, the priest tells me that the days of miracles is past and there's no such things as miracles anymore."

14 Then he thought, "You know, right where I'm sitting now, not a hundred yards from where I'm sitting, that great mighty prophet Elijah, with his arms around Elisha came down this road arm in arm. But the days of miracles was past." I can imagine Bartimaeus said, "If they would walk down this road now, I'd get in the middle of that road and scream to those men until they come and laid their hands upon me, and prayed a prayer of faith; and I would receive my sight."
But the heartbreaking part was that they had told him that them days were gone. Then in his mind he thought this: "Elijah may be gone; Elisha may be gone, but God isn't gone."

15 And I can see a little breeze as it blew through the leaves, and he turned himself again to get into the sun. He started a new story in his mind. Then he thought, "Just a little piece from where he was standing, the mighty Joshua crossed the Jordan with Israel in full arm, and the Jordan rolled back in the month of April when the high waters was up." Looked like God would've waited till the waters was low, but God waited till the waters was high.
And sometimes that's the way it is in our experience. God lets us get into a place to where we're hopeless. That's when he moves in to show you that He loves you.
And as God engineering the whole journey, and as He moved in and moved the waters back, and Israel passed right over on dry land... Oh, he thought, "Surely, if Jehovah God was that great in that day, that could move back the Jordan to let the people come over, surely, He hasn't deceased. But I'm told by my church that the days of miracles are passed. And there's no need of trying to think about it. It will not be no more until Messiah cometh."

16 And then as he sat there, he could think also of, not a hundred yards from where he was sitting, this great mighty Joshua, a servant of the Lord, was walking one day for a little afternoon stroll. And as he walked, he saw a man standing with his sword drawed. And Joshua drew his sword and went for him. And he stopped and said, "Are You for us, or are You for the enemy?"
And this great mighty warrior thus standing and He said, "Nay, but I am the captain of the host of the Lord."
That captain had stood within a hundred yards from where he was sitting. And little did he know, but that same captain of the host of the Lord was not a hundred yards away at this same time.
And that's the way it is tonight, friends. Many tries to preach Christ as the baby in the cradle. Some try to preach Him as the man on the cross. But that same captain of the host of the Lord has raised from the dead and is in this building tonight, in the same power and splendor.

17 And as we sat as he did in the days gone by, if our meditations is taken off of our church affiliations, if our meditation is taken off of our works, or off of the superstitions that we have in our minds, and place them upon Him and His presence, He will come and do the same thing tonight that He did for blind Bartimaeus on that day ---if we'll just do it, if we'll just keep our minds stayed on Him.
And notice, it's when we are thinking on those things... The Bible said, "If there be any praise, if there be any virtue, think on these things."
Now, I want to ask you a question. What good does it do us to come to church and sit in the meeting and ponder and may be discouraged because we didn't get a prayer card, or maybe be discouraged because of some ill thing a neighbor did, or discouraged about one little matter or the other? That keeps Christ away from you. It's when you're thinking on Him.
That's when the disciples, after the resurrection, was going down the road to Emmaus, as they were speaking about Him, that's when He appeared to them.
We got our minds on too many things of the world. If we would throw those things off our mind, and think about Him and His soon coming, there'd have been more revelations and power in the church. But we keep thinking about the things... "What am I going to do tomorrow? What will I do next week? Will I hold my job? Will this be..." All those things are in the hands of God. Think on Christ.

18 And as blind Bartimaeus sitting by this gate, and blind, poor, afflicted man, no hope, but he was thinking the right kind of thoughts. Well, I can imagine as I see him, say "Oh, if I only could know that that same great captain was standing out there at a hundred yards now, I could raise my voice, and He would hear me, and He would heal me."
And just about the time that he was thinking like that, little children begin to run by. And here come a noise along, people saying one thing and another. Some of them hollering, "Hosanna!"
The others hollering, "Say, you that raised the dead, you that raised Lazarus from the dead..."
And blind Bartimaeus' ears caught that. That was the sound of a priest. "Say, you holy-roller, you that raised Lazarus from the dead, we got a whole graveyard full of them up here. Come up and raise some of ours."
That's the same mock and scoff, that they give Him today. That old critical spirit don't die. It will sometime. But it's still alive tonight and can work through men. "Come and raise these from the dead, up here. We will believe you." How could He do anything in a mess like that? There were different opinions.
After while I can hear him say, "Who is it that's passing by?" And he couldn't get no consideration. No one seemed to want to help him.
And then we hear another one speak up and say, "This is that fanatic that's going around healing the people." That struck fire.

19 Any man that's got any God about him, as soon as he hears of God doing something, it strikes in his heart. It's bound to anchor. "What did you say?"
And a kind little lady stepped down and said, "Sir, have you not heard of Jesus of Nazareth?"
"No. Who is Jesus of Nazareth?"
"Well, that's that Galilean prophet." Said, "He does great miracles and signs."
"Could that be the Messiah?"
"Well, some people thinks He is. You can draw your opinion looking at the crowd. One saying one thing and one another."
Well, usually where Jesus is around, you get that type of a crowd. One says one thing and one another. Because everywhere that the sons of God gather, the devil sits in the midst of them. They've always done it. And you get that different crowd, one saying one thing and one another.

20 Bartimaeus... Those great Scriptures that he'd had in his mind and in his heart since he was a little boy, every one of them seemed to press right up then. Oh, when a man's in need, if you feel your need of Christ tonight, everything you've ever heard about Him will come right forward.
I stood by a man sometime ago who was dying; an accident. And I talked to him. He was slowly passing away. And I told him, I said, "If you ever prayed, you better pray now." I started to turn away. He said, "Don't leave me." Maybe two hours before then, he'd have run me away. But he had a need. Brother, when men has needs, they'll seek God. They sure will. He had a need.

21 A chaplain told me sometime ago in the army, that he was called into a tent one night. And a great officer had been machine-gunned across the ... bullets had cut him through. And he was dying. And someone had told him to go over there. And he said to the man, he said, "Sir, are you a Christian?"
He said, "I once was."
He said, "How long have you been backslidden?"
Said, "Well, I don't know."
He said, "You once knew Christ?"
He said, "Yes, sir."
Said, "Where did you leave him?"
He was struggling and the blood filling up in his lungs. And he said, "You had better think fast."
He said, "What can I do?"
He said, "Go right back to where you left Him and begin right there. There's where you'll find Him, is where you left Him."
And he laid there a moment as he was struggling and a smile come across his face. He said, "Now, I remember."
He said, "Start from right there, sir."
He said, "Now, I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." And when he said that, he lifted his hands and smiled and went out to meet God. Bring up a child in the way it should go.

22 Bartimaeus, at this time all those teachings, as Jehovah being the mighty Deliverer, sprung to him. What was it? He had need. And he rose to his feet and he screamed, "O Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
Now, from where he was sitting, to the street was probably at forty or fifty yards, and all that great crowd around, some of them throwing over-ripe fruit at Him, and some yelling this, and some yelling that. You know, Jesus physically did not hear him. Someone said, "Oh, shut up." Said, "Do you know what you're doing? You must be excited. You must be beside yourself. Keep still."
And the world has always tried to keep the real believers still. But that didn't stop Bartimaeus. He knew his child teachings, that Jehovah was a deliverer. And if this person was the Messiah, he had a right for help.
And I say the same thing tonight. If Jesus is the Son of God, has raised from the dead, the same yesterday, today, and forever, we've got a right to ask for help, for He said, "Whatsoever thing you desire, if you pray, believe you receive it; and ye shall have it." We've got a right to ask for it. That's the teachings of the Bible. We have a right to.

23 Jesus, with His head back, walking on, and the priest screaming at Him, making fun of Him, others crying, "Hosanna."... But did you notice, the whole burden of all the world rested upon Him? Calvary, dark hours in Gethsemane laid before Him. And, oh, as He went, He never noticed their scoffing.
You know, when someone says something evil about you, and you want to take it up and get angry about it, that shows that you haven't went quite deep enough yet with God. Big men don't do those things. That's what made Him God to me. He was big. He didn't have to notice their little scoffing. He had a purpose. He had a work to do, and that was to fulfill what God had sent Him to do. And He was determined to do it. He didn't care what anyone said.
And I say this with all the respect that I have. I've been offered great positions in churches if I'd forget about divine healing; and a good salary, a fine home. But God sent me to pray for His sick children. And it makes no difference what anyone says, I got a commission to do. And they can say, "Holy-roller," or whatever they wish, I got a commission to do. And you've got a commission to do. And every one that's borned of the Spirit of God has got a commission to do. Don't make any difference what the world says. And you don't notice their scoff.

24 He had something on his heart. He was going to Calvary. The decisions had to be made. And as He walked down the street and the people throwing things at Him and screaming... Now, we know that his voice among all the thousands of voices screaming, this poor, old, spindly, ragged beggar, way over to the side of the gate, Jesus could've not heard his voice.
But he had a sincere heart. He had the same thing in him that the woman that touched His garment. And as I can notice him, as they said, "Oh, He's passing by."
"O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy." I can hear him say, "God, don't let Him pass me by."
And about that time, Jesus stopped, turned and looked around, just as He did with the woman who touched His garment. His voice, perhaps, never touched Him; but His faith touched Him.
That's the kind of a touch that Jesus wants to feel from this church tonight: not our voice, but our faith. We might scream to the top of our voice; that wouldn't touch Him. It's our faith that reaches out and touches Him. That's what He's looking for tonight, friends, is somebody who has faith.

25 And Jesus stopped. He turned around, said, "Bring him here. Thy faith has made thee whole," was the voice that come back. "Thy faith has saved thee." And I can see that blind beggar as he stood there after Jesus had pronounced that to him, as he ... wondering what had happened. A little cool feeling perhaps went through his body. And he begin to look, and he seen his hands. And he knew then that the God of Elijah, that the God of Moses, that the great captain of the host of the Lord that stood just out at the gate, was on earth again. It was a sign. And he went down the street glorifying God.
I say to you tonight, friends, that same captain of the Lord's host is in this building tonight, and your faith can stop Him. Just think, no matter what the burden is, all the sins of the world rests upon Him, all the healing of the world rests upon Him. And what you say, "Well, I'm just a little housewife. I'm..." No matter who you are...
Jesus had all that on His mind. We would say tonight, "Oh, don't trouble me. I've got too much to think about. And look at all the celebrities standing around." But that one poor, little, insignificant, blind beggar had faith enough to stop Him in His journey to Calvary. And He turned around and told him, "Your faith has saved you."

26 That same Jesus will come from glory tonight to anybody that has a need. Do you believe it? Let us pray.
Our most glorious and kind heavenly Father, it is indeed with grateful hearts that we approach Thee now. Just as this revival is just beginning to start, souls coming to the altar, the sick are being healed, and the praises of God has begin to set upon the lips of the saints, the talk from neighbor to neighbor...
O God, will You come tonight to us? And may there be many sitting here tonight that will stop You, Lord, and receive their healing. Grant it, Lord.
May You show Yourself alive tonight, although our teaching today tells us, many of us, that the days of miracles are past. But we read in the Bible that Jesus the Lord said, "A little while and the world will see Me no more, yet ye shall Me, for I will be with you, even in you to the end of the world." And the things that You did then, would You do until You come again.
O Christ, we pray tonight in this dying world at the end of the age, that You will bless us tonight with Your presence and do again tonight, and prove to this congregation as You did to blind Bartimaeus and many long ago, that You're still on earth, and the world was made by You, and You hold it all in the power of Your hands. Grant it, Father. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

27 Now, on these little few broken words, it was said for this purpose, that your faith would rest solemnly upon the finished work of the Lord Jesus. And I'm trusting to God that you will receive that what you're seeking for tonight. And now, may His blessings rest with you.
We're going to call a prayer line and pray for some of the sick. Now, I am trying to get this to the people. I can certainly ... could call hundred or two people up here, passing through, laying hands upon them. That would be wonderful. That's Scripture. But being that there's so many of the brethren in the field who does that... And by the grace of God, as a little baby boy, God gave a gift; it's a gift to foresee, or foretell, or to see things that should come and has been. If you'll...

28 There's two things that I know, if this would be my last sermon tonight. There's two things that I know, and there's two things I believe. Now, there's two things over here I believe; there's two things here I know. I watched the sap in the tree, how when winter time comes, that sap goes down into the roots of the tree and stays there all through the winter. Now, that sap has no intelligence of its own to drive it down into them tree roots.
I see a flower, and a frost will strike it. Young or old, it bows its little head, a little black seed drops out of it, and have a funeral procession. The fall rains come and buries the little seed. The winter comes then and freezes, and the pulp runs out of it. It's all gone as far as the world knows. No science could ever find anything remains of the seed.
But just let the warm sun begin to shine in the springtime, and that little seed will live again; that flower will come back again. Now, it has no intelligence; it has no power of its own. There's something that brings it forth again. That's what I know. I believe that who does that is that one in the Bible that's called Jehovah God. That's what I believe.

29 Then I know and believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ met every requirement of the Jewish Messiah of the Old Testament. I believe He was the One Isaiah 9:6 was speaking of. I believe He was the One that Moses spoke of, all the prophets give witness to. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of Jehovah God, that God overshadowed Mary, created a blood cell in her, and she brought forth a Son, Christ Jesus; God came and dwelt in this body, reconciling the world to Himself. I believe that this Jesus is the Son of Jehovah God. There's two things I believe.
There's two things I know: that is how the sap goes and comes and life, perpetual life. Then I know this, that since I was a little baby boy, the first thing I can remember was a vision, Something speaking to me. I'm forty-seven. I have seen thousands of the visions by the grace of God. And I have never at one time ever seen it wrong.

30 Then I read back in the Bible, and I see Joseph, many others in the Bible, that how that Spirit lived back in the Old Testament on men. I see how it lived in the New Testament. How Joseph would see visions, and the prophets would see visions, and how he'd interpret dreams, and the Spirit life of the prophet. I see it over on Paul, Peter, many of the others of the New Testament.
And I believe that these two things that I know are the product of these two things I believe. God has sent Christ to the world. He died for sinners, and He lives today with His people, with His nature. No grass could live, no tree could live, no flower could bloom, and we would not even be here if it wasn't for God.
And I believe that these visions are associated with Him, by His own sovereign will to send gifts to the world, that the people might be without an excuse at the day of judgment. And if I'm faithful to Him in the face of critics and whatever it might be, and be as faithful as I know how to be to His Word and to the calling, I believe that someday I will see Him in peace. And I want to see standing with me, literally millions of people that I had been instrumental in winning them to Christ.

31 And, oh, my dear friends, seeing that life is so short, I often wonder where it's all gone to. I can remember about twenty-two years ago out here at Wickenburg, Arizona, on a cattle ranch, the first time I ever come to Arizona---just a boy. And here I am a middle-aged man. Seems to me like that was last year.
We were riding out that way today. Oh, it's changed so. There's something's happened.
But there's one thing that I do know: That some glorious day when He comes, He'll call me. Even if I'm in the dust of the earth, He'll call me if I'm faithful.
Now, to my ministry, and to the Lord sending me, tonight I want to be faithful and pray for the people. Now, when they come to the platform, it's not so much whether I touch you... Now, in Africa, India...

32 Brother Arganbright is on the platform tonight who was just with me down in Zurich, Switzerland, where there was on the average of ten thousand every night come to Christ. And on up the Karlsruhe, Germany, likewise.
In Africa I saw thirty thousand raw heathens accept Jesus Christ as personal Saviour at one meeting. And twenty-five thousand (estimated) healed at one prayer, when there hadn't been but about three people on the platform.
When they seen the Word and seen it made real before the people, that settled it. They believed it. They picked up seven truckloads of stretchers, old wheelchairs, and clubs, and things that they had walked on, after one prayer had been made for the people.
What was it? Was a massive; they touched Him like blind Bartimaeus did, with one accord. Now, let's do that tonight. Let's believe that tonight. Let's have faith in that tonight.

33 You're sick, if you are, I come to help you. If I was a doctor, I'd try to do everything I could to help you in the world of medical science. Or, maybe the doctors done give you up. Maybe you're beyond doctor's help. But you're not beyond hope. I'm trying to tell you there is another doctor, who is a Doctor of doctors, who made your mortal body. And He loves you. And He's made a provision for you. And He's only asked you to accept it and believe it. I want you to do it while we call the prayer line.
What was it, the cards. U---U's... We called from 50 last night, didn't we? From there? Let's call from 35 then tonight. That'll be breaking it between the two nights. U-35, who has that prayer card, would you raise your hand? Look on your prayer card.

34 We just do like that so there'll not be a scramble and, "I want number 1 prayer card. I've got to have 2 or..." See, we do that. We just mix them all up. And when the boys give them out, they take them prayer cards before you, or they're instructed to do it, to mix them all up together. You want one, just hand it to you, see. And they never know where they're at. And no one knows where the line's going to start from. We just come here and wherever I feel led, I start it from right there. But that has nothing to do with the people being healed.
All right. Is that here in the building? U-35. All right. 36, would you raise your hand if you can? Look at your prayer cards now, and see those who can't get up and so forth. 36? You have U-36? All right, over here. 37? Look closely. All right. 38? Could you raise your hand 38, please? You have it? 39? 40? Who has U-40, would you raise your hand? You have U-40, lady? What? 40. 41? All right. 42, 43? 44? 45? 46? 47? Good. 48? 48, did I miss it? I seen a little girl raise up in the balcony. 48? 49? See, everything... 49, did I get it? 50?

35 In the prayer line, saints, we must have everything just reverent, see. We are approaching God. How many understands that? Oh, I just... God is in His holy temple. Let the world be silent, see. We must come with reverence, with respect.
And I've got some things next week, if the Lord willing, we want to try to teach on them. The reason that the Spirit is not operating in the church the way it is, among these people, is because, a lot of it because of irreverence. They don't respect it. You've got to respect anything God sends, see. No matter what it is; you've got to respect it to get the good from it. Look then, anytime that you respect it...
Look at Martha, when she went out to meet the Lord Jesus at the death of her brother, she said, "Lord, if Thou would've been here, my brother would not've died." She still respected Him, though He refused to come to her. But said, "Even now, whatever You ask God, God will do it." See, there she was. She hadn't lost her faith in Him. And she respected Him.

36 Peter and John passing through the gate called Beautiful, said, "Look on us." In other words, "Give heed. Quieten yourself and look towards us." All through the Bible it was respects. Now, let's give God respects tonight. And let's everyone...
Now, we're trying to get out just as quick as we can. And before we start, I want to pray for these here in the handkerchiefs on the platform. Will you pray with me? Now, I want you to pray. Now, I'm not the only one in this meeting. I'm just one. I'm one of you. We're all together in this meeting, see. And you help me pray now as we pray for these sick people that these handkerchiefs represent.
Kind heavenly Father, in the days gone by, we are taught in the Bible that they taken from the body of Saint Paul, handkerchiefs and aprons. They were sent to the sick and the afflicted. So many he couldn't even reach to them. And unclean spirit went out of the people; diseases were healed.
Now, we realize that we're not Saint Paul, but we know that You're still Jesus, and You love Your people. And I pray that every handkerchief that's in this little box, that'll touch the sick, may they be healed in commemoration of God's holy Word. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thank you, Brother Brown.

37 Oh, now is the time. Now, keep your babies near you. There's epilepsy in here tonight, friends. That's the thing, I think it was Phoenix... No, no, I beg your pardon; it was Jonesboro, where something happened on that. So now, be just as reverent as you can. Just keep reverent, believe with all your heart. God will surely grant you your request.
Now, then if there's something that you believe, and you see something maybe that you do not believe, if you'll just sit quiet just for a few moments...
How many in here now, I want to ask you, that has not prayer cards. You do not have prayer cards, but you believe that God will heal you, I want to see your hands, everywhere. Now, do you think it would be in the kind heavenly Father to do something for one person and not do it for another? Your healing now is not based upon your salvation. It's based upon the merits of your faith. You believe that? It's on your faith.

38 Now, I want you to watch this way, and be reverent. And if there's any doubt in your mind, get it out. God will never deal with a person that's irreverent. Just remember that. He will only deal with those who, as my sermon said tonight, are meditating on His Word and His goodness. Now, you believe. And now you look this a way and just keep as quiet as possible and pray.
And say this, if you haven't a prayer card, "Lord, touch me tonight. Let me by my faith touch You like blind Bartimaeus did." And if you'll do that, and He doesn't turn and tell you just as He did Bartimaeus, then I'm a false prophet.
That's a big statement, isn't it? And remember, by the grace of God, I'm been in personal contact with better than ten million people, see. So I weigh my words. But I know who I have believed. I know what His Word says. I know that He's God and He can't fail. That's the reason I believe Him.

39 Now, this is going to be the lady, the lady that comes? All right. Now, I want you to do this for me. I want you to look this way and believe with all your heart, now, the story that I told you. Jesus has raised from the dead. And now, look, you can touch Him by the feeling of your infirmities.
Now, if you want to get well for something, for the glory of God, say, "Lord, I want to be healed and I will serve You. I will turn my life to You."
Now, here... How many in here knows that I don't know you and know what's wrong with you, raise your hand, everybody, prayer line, anything else, that knows...? See. All right. Then I don't.
But how many knows that if Jesus was standing here tonight, and you asked Him to heal you, that He would tell you that He's already done it? How many would know that? That's right. Then the only thing He can do, is to do something to try to get you to believe Him. Is that right? Now, He could tell you like He did... Well, this is a case of woman here first, we will just talk to her.

40 Now, how many would like to have lived in Bible days, let's see your hands, back when Jesus was here? Sure we would. Then if Jesus is alive, is He still here? Then it's still Bible days. Then if He is the same, He's the same in principle, power, and all, all but a corporal body.
Now, here stands a woman, and I a man. I guess we're strangers to each other, lady? We are? We do not know each other. Now, here's a woman that's a stranger to me. You all may know her. Many of you may know her. Is there anybody out there knows the woman, raise up your hand, anybody in the meeting? Yeah, I see. Yeah, that's right. All right.
Now, you know her. I don't. But then for me to know anything of her, why it's impossible. And the only way I could do it, would be because that Christ would permit it to be done. Is that right? Now, what if He was standing here before the woman, and He would... If she wants healing for herself, or whatever she wants, He would tell her that He died on Calvary to give her, her desire. His life has done been brought, shed; His blood shed and everything, and the Holy Spirit is here to give her, her desire.

41 Now, if the Lord Jesus will do right here tonight in this same platform, as He did at the well of Samaria, talk to that woman till He found where her trouble was, and told her what her trouble was, and she said that was the sign of the Messiah... How many knows that's the truth? In the Bible, Saint John the 4th chapter.
Well then, if He will return... He's the vine now; we are the branches now. And if He will return and do the same thing to this woman, will all of you believe Him with all your heart?
Looky here. I don't believe in swearing. The Bible said not to swear by heaven nor by the earth or nothing. But with this Bible in my hand, and God my Judge, as far as I know this is the first time in my life I ever seen the woman. And is perhaps maybe her first time ever seeing me, or either 'less you seen me from the audience. Is that about right? From the audience, the first time you've ever seen me. This is the first time the woman's ever seen me. All right.

42 Now, if I can talk to her and God will come back and do through His church tonight the same thing He did then, it ought to settle it forever for every one of you. Is that right? It ought to settle it forever.
Now, sister, just a word to say to you, in the order that after being preaching and tired as I am, I'm just here to try help you. And without me knowing anything of you, but surely you come here for some cause. And if God will let me know (You be the judge.), if God will let me know what you're here for, will you believe Him and will believe that He's going to give you what you come for? The audience has done said they would.
Now, I want to ask you something. Just a second ago, a different feeling come to you, that you knowed that Something is present here beside your brother. A real sweet humble feeling come to you. Why? I saw that light come right down over you. And that's what it is.

43 How many saw the picture of that? Let's see your hands. I think they got some here. They should have. It's in Washington, D.C., copyrighted. Now, that's what it is. God's... Yes. There, the lady has one right there.
The Angel of the Lord who led the children of Israel, Jesus Christ, the Angel of the covenant: that struck that lady just now. She be witness. Something come to her as she has just witnessed. Such a feeling, it even brought tears to your eyes. Now, that's Him.
And now, if you believe that, then it will work. Now, if the audience can still hear my voice... The woman seems to be leaving me, and I see her all upset about something. She's real, extremely nervous. That is the truth. Raise your hand if that's true.

44 Now, just a moment. You are... You've got something wrong physically with you, which is in your back. You've got a spine trouble that's bothering you. That's "Thus saith the Lord." That is true. Now, do you believe? There's the lady. Some power did that.
Now, really right now, I don't know what I said to the woman. You heard somebody speaking, but that wasn't me. I don't know her. Ever what said, was the truth. That's something else talking through you. You get what I mean? Now, to you ministers. Don't you believe it's Christ speaking through you when you're preaching the Word? Well, that oughtn't to be strange to you. It's Christ speaking right back through another type of gift, a prophetic gift.
Now, here the lady stands here. Whatever was told her is the truth. Now, that's the same picture that there was at the well of Samaria. How many believes that's the truth? All right.
Then that proves that He's alive. Our religion is not in vain. The Christian religion is the only one who could prove that their founder is alive; and that's Jesus. Now, to heal the woman, if that's what she needs, I couldn't do it. But do you believe that you will receive what you ask for? You'll believe it? Knowing that you believe that you receive it...

45 Now, what... Just a moment. Somebody appeared in a vision by the side of the woman. She isn't exactly satisfied yet. There's something else that she's got on her heart, for the Holy Spirit just spoke to me that that's so. Isn't it right? And I see somebody in a uniform. It's your son. You're praying for him, and he's unsaved. That's right. If that's right, raise up your hand. Now, look at that. Do you believe now with all your heart? Let us pray.
O Jesus, Thou Son of God, be merciful to this audience and myself tonight, and shed forth the Holy Spirit that'll drive every gloomy doubt out of the building. And may the power of God be preeminent tonight and have the initiative. And may it drive away every doubt and skeptic, and may He heal all that's sick and needy tonight.
Bless this dear woman, and give to her every thing that's in her heart. In Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you, sister. May He grant it.
Now, as far as that is concerned, it's a settled fact. Is that right? Jesus said, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible."

46 What are you thinking, little Spanish man, sitting out there with that asthma, sitting on the end of the seat? You believe that Jesus Christ makes you well? Well, you're healed then. Amen.
Now, the man is thirty or forty feet from me, but let me ask you something, and you listen to the man. The man was sitting there was, in his heart, saying, "I believe that that's the truth." He was witnessing that this was the truth, and believing that God would heal him. Isn't that right, sir? The little Span... Raise your hand. Is that right?
Now, did Jesus perceive their thoughts? Is that right? Did the woman touch His garment? Did blind Bartimaeus touch Him? That man touched Him. And He's alive here tonight. He's right here, now.
Oh, why can we be so dense? Oh, we have just been drug through this, and drug through that, and drug through everything until honest, the poor little people can't understand what to believe. There's been so many things taken place, just saying this, that Dr. So-and-so says this, and Dr. So-and-so says that, and this church says this, and this other one says that. The people don't even know what to believe. But, brother, the Bible is concerned and it is the truth. Amen.

47 Now, believe. Now, little lady, bless your heart. In your face you favor my mother, and she wears little glasses like that. And if I could do anything for you, God in heaven knows I would do it, sister. But I can't, because I'm just a man. But if God will tell me what you come here for, what you want to ask Him, and God will let me know what you want to ask Him, will you believe that He will give you what you're asking for? May God grant it.
You're here to ask Him to take a tumor from you. That right? If God will tell me where that tumor is, will you ... make you a little more faith? It's on your back, called a skin tumors. That's what He said. All right. Believe it now, and be healed. In Jesus' name, may it be so. Amen. God bless you, sister, and make you every whit whole.

48 You're trying to believe, brother. If you'll keep that up, He'll heal you, see. Now, just don't think that you're an impossible case. You'd have had it sitting right here the other night. And the light followed you plumb down the aisle and had you called back, but the mix-up come. Keep believing. When I see it, I'll tell you.
How do you do, sir? Do you believe on the Lord Jesus with all your heart? Do you believe that He has raised from the dead, and come back in the church in Spirit form, called the Holy Ghost? And through this Holy Spirit... Which the world can't kill it; they can grieve it, but they can't kill it. When He was in the human body, they could kill that, and they did. They got away with Him. But they can't kill the Spirit. It's immortal. And God will do His work. He's determined to do it. And now, if God will tell me what you're here to ask me about, will you believe it with all your heart?

49 That's right, sir, that bowed your head. Headaches, throat trouble, little Mexican brother. If you'll believe with all your heart, you can have what you... You believe it? The little Mexican boy sitting right there next to you, sir, is where it happened. That's ... No, you, right there. Yes, sir. All right. It's over now. You can go home and be made well. God bless you.
Now, what did that? I seen here something standing here. And the man was holding to his throat---the vision. And I seen this man wasn't Spanish. And I just followed the leading of the Spirit. I looked and there hung the light hanging right over the man. Then the vision broke. There it is.

50 Now, the Bible said in the Hebrew chapter ... or, the Hebrew letter, that He's a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Is that right? Well, what happened to that man? He never touched me. But he touched something. And the Bible said that He was a High Priest. Now, He's to make intercessions upon His confession now. Is that right? Isn't He wonderful?
Now, the man here... Now, do you believe, sir, you say? I see there's been something ... a doctor associated in this case. It was something behind your left ear, on your neck. It was a wart. And he burnt it off. It come back as a growth. Exactly right.
It hid from me. I couldn't see it, because you been that way. How would I know what happened? You believe with all your heart that God will make you well, heal your wife too, and make her well? Arthritis and a throat trouble. That's right, isn't it? All right, sir. And you believe with all your heart. Well, Mr. Earnest Wells, you can go be healed.
I never seen you in my life, knowed you or nothing, but that's true, isn't it? That's exactly. Go right ahead now. The same God that knowed who Peter was, and who his daddy was, and all about him, knows you. Go and be well in Christ's name.

51 Do you believe Him? Are you loving Him with all your heart? Are you having faith?
How do you do, lady? Of course, we're strangers to each other. I don't know you. I've never seen you in my life. We're just perfectly total strangers.
Got heart trouble, don't you, lady, and female trouble, the young lady sitting there. That's the little boy sitting next to you, is your son. You believe me to be God's prophet? You believe that God would heal him of asthma, make him well?
Now, the lady sitting next to you is your mother. There's three generations sitting there. And you have trouble with your leg, don't you, lady? All right put your hands... Sonny, you put your hands on mother and grandmother.
O kind heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, may this audience be conscious, Lord, that it's You. These people sitting here... Oh, it's the living Lord Jesus. Grant, Lord, their healing, for the glory of God. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

52 Yes, it's true, your faith is touching out in there. Right now, it's just everywhere. But getting through that crowd... That's the reason when I get in here before me, it's much better. See, getting to the place...
There's a certain lady looking at me is fixing to have a ... or, supposed to have an operation for stomach ulcer. But if you'd believe with all your heart, sister, you wouldn't have to have it. That's right. You believe with all your heart? Believe Jesus will make you well? You touched something, didn't you? It wasn't me, because I don't know you. You believe now.
Lady, you got trouble in your side. That's right. But that never hit the spot when I said that. It wasn't the main thing that you want me to pray for. But that is true. But if God will tell me what you want me to pray for, then will you believe and accept it?
It's for your husband. And he's in the hospital, and up for a prostate operation. Now, do you believe me? Then, Lord God, give to her the desire of her heart. I pray in Christ's name. Amen. God bless you, sister.

53 Such wonderful faith, if you could just get through that blackness. I wish I could explain this. I know people here in these tourist towns are victims of everything, see. But if I could only let you know that I wasn't a fanatic. And you would see that Christ is proving that to you. I'm trying to put you on the Word. Go to any church you want to, but be a Christian and believe God. What's your little differences, that doesn't matter.
If that little gloom, that little shadow that I look at of darkness in the room, if that would only leave here, some way we could get that away from here, there wouldn't be a feeble person in the building in one minute from now.
You believe? You should; you've just been healed. That was down in the audience. Some kind of a spells that had come on you. That's right. You're here for somebody else: a hospital case, something in the stomach, like pancreas. They can't even operate. Well, go take that handkerchief to Mrs. Atkins and tell her if she can believe, the Lord will make her well. Amen. God grant it.

54 Are you believing? If thou canst believe, all things are possible. Lady, if you'd believe God, you wouldn't have to be operated on, and that tumor would go away without your operation. You believe it? All right. Go and receive it in the name of the Lord Jesus.
All right. Bring the next patient. Now, somebody's thinking I'm reading the people's mind, but you're wrong. Here, lay your hand on mine, lady. That's just a point of contact. Now, look this way. You be the judge. If God will tell me, looking this way, not looking at your face, or as someone's thinking it's telepathy; if God will explain to me and tell me what you're here to be prayed for, will you accept it? If you will raise your hand off of mine. All right. Now, put it back. You could go eat your supper now; your stomach trouble will be gone. Amen.
Now, anybody that's mentally right knows that that's not telepathy. It's the Lord Jesus. Have faith in God.

55 And now, lady, if you'd believe with all your heart, the asthmatic condition would leave you and you'd be well. Do you believe it? All right. Then go and believe with all your heart. Amen. That's...
All right. Heart trouble would leave you, if you'd believe. Will you do it? Believe that God will make you well? Then in Christ's name may you be healed. Amen. Have faith.
Trouble's in your back, but God can heal kidney trouble or anything. You believe that? Then go and receive it in Jesus' name.
Oh, do you love Him? How many loves Him with all your heart? Oh, this could go for hours. But why not let's be healed. The presence of the Lord is here to heal the sick. Do you believe it? How many is convinced that Christ Jesus is here?

56 What if I told you, lady, you was well, would you believe me? Go, God bless you and go and be made well. I remember it. God bless you, sister.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord." How many believes that the Lord Jesus is here? Let's just bow our heads just a moment. Just stay right where you are till we pray.
Now, heavenly Father, we realize that these things are for signs. For one thing, the greatest sign that I could place this gift to tonight, is to show forth that You're soon coming.
These things never happen, down through the age since Jesus was here on earth and the apostles, until this age. Why is it? It's the end of time. We see rockets in the air. Day after day we see the handwriting on the wall.
And here You are tonight right here in this little wrestling arena, brought Yourself from heaven here to comb this audience to show that You're alive. O God, how our cold and indifferent hearts is. We pray that You'll soften us up tonight, that the people that's here can see that You're present.
And while Your anointing is here, and while You have Your servant anointed, I pray, God, that You'll save every sinner in the building. Grant it for Jesus' sake.

57 And while we have our heads bowed, to you here who is not right with God, I wonder if you would believe in my prayers, and would come here tonight, and stand here, and let me put my hand on you now while the anointing of the Holy Spirit is in the building, and offer prayer for you, and you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Will you come? I invite you. Would you raise your hand then, and say, "Brother Branham, pray for me."
God bless you there, sinner friend. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you up in the balconies. That's right. Up in this side... Won't you come right here just a moment? Come here. If you believe me, come here. God will take every sin stain away and make you as white as snow, while we stop this prayer line just a minute.

58 The Holy Spirit here, come here Carl... Brother, God bless you. Come here, my brother. Stand right here, my brother. Stand right here, my brother, God bless you. Come here, my dear one. Stand right here, my brother. Come right down. That's right, lady.
You that raised your hands back there, raise right up, come here. Come down out of the balcony, we will wait for you. I want you to come right here, right here. God bless you, sister. Come right down here. O God, be merciful to you, sister. Come right here, brother. That's good.
God bless you, young man. Convinced that the Lord Jesus is here. God bless you, my brother. Stand right here. God bless you, young man. You're a great gallant man. Stand right here, sonny boy. God bless you, sister, and stand right here just a moment.

59 Jesus Christ... God bless you. I certainly... God bless you, sister. Come here, Spanish sister. God be with you, sister dear. Stand right here. That's right. God bless you, my brother. Stand right here. That's good.
Come down now. Make your way on down to the altar. This is the Holy Spirit. If you believe, come here, lady. God bless you, sister. Come right up here just a little closer. I believe that God in His Holy Spirit... God bless you, sir. God be merciful.
You stand right here just a minute, yes, sir. Come right here, sister dear. God be merciful to you, sister. Come right in here, my sister. God bless you. I just know that... God bless you, sister dear. Well, God bless you. Come here, sister. God bless you, sister. All right.

60 Come right down in here, sister. Let these ladies in here now that's trying to come to get in. They want, coming for their salvation. God bless you, sister dear. God bless you, sister. God bless you, my brother. Stand right here. Come right in here, brother.
Won't you stand right here just a moment? Come right in here, my brother. I just want to shake your hand. You say, "That do any good?" Certainly it will. God bless you, brother dear. Come right in here, my Spanish brother, right in here. Come around, little boy. Right here. We're only happy to have each one of you here.
God bless you, brother. God bless you, my sister. Now, bring the little boys here. Was you coming, sonny, up here? Come here then. Let the little boy... You just stay right here. Tell the lady stay right here just a minute. We're go to prayer. God bless you. God bless you, honey boy. That's a real gallant thing.

61 Ladies, you here, the Spanish ladies, come here just a moment. We are going to have prayer. I want you to stand here a minute. Would there be another one? Let's real quietly now, sing the song:
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that [Someone speaks to
Brother Branham.] come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Real reverent now. Listen.
Just as I am............
Just think while it's playing and you're humming. While much... What a wonderful appropriated time. The Lamb of God right here at the platform, moving out over the audience, doing signs and wonders... Right in the middle of this prayer line, something stopped me, said, "Call, there's sinners must come home tonight." Here they are, see. Obedience is better than sacrifice, isn't it? Obedience is the best. And here they are.

62 Would there be others, which there probably is. Everyone of you, come right up here now, we're fixing to pray. Come up here, all ye that need Christ, all ye that are laden and heavy laden.
Look, you could be healed. That's true. God has healed you, but, brother, you'll get sick again, and you're going to die someday. But this soul that's in you is immortal. Get that right. Get that straightened out first.
God bless you, sister dear. Come right on up here close. The Lord bless you. Now, is there another? Would you come on? Is there more in here? Move right out and come right on down, will you? I'm just waiting. Others are coming. Just as I am.
Come here, young man. God bless you, sonny. Come right down. Just want to shake your hand, sister. I want to shake this little boy's hand. Stay right here, sonny boy. Come right down, sisters. That's right. Come right down here. Just as I am. Let the audience pray. O God, be merciful.

63 God bless you, sister dear. The Lord bless you, dear. The Lord bless you, sister dear. God be merciful now. I want to just touch this lady's hand. God bless you, sister. Come right down. That's right. God bless you. I will get right over here at the other end.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot.
If you're a church member and have never been born again, why don't you come down, get rid of that one dark blot. That's the blot that'll keep you out of heaven. That's the blot that stands in your way. Why don't you come down?
Now, I'm not making much of a strain, because I know the Holy Spirit is here. And anybody that's intelligent will know the same thing, to see the way He's working, see. But what is it? We get ourselves so cold, and so indifferent, and away, and all mixed up. Oh, we want that thing away so we will all together, one unit of people and we're trying to help one another, to live forever in heaven together. And the very God of heaven is right here with us now. He's here doing this.

64 Is there more would come while we sing one more time, "Just as I am, without one plea." Will you come now, just as we sing?
Just as (Christians pray.) I am,
without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
[Brother Branham begins humming.] I'm going to ask the ministers, whoever they are, the minister brothers, cooperating pastors, whoever you are, get right around here now, and stand right with us while we're going to pray for these people. Your workers here now... Very sacred time, everyone be just as reverent as you can now.
Sinner, if you happen to be sitting by one of these who's getting up, you come right along with them. These souls mean so much.
Now, just move right up around where they're at, as close as you can now, so we can put hands on them and pray for them. That's right. Everybody real reverent. Now, please be just quiet for a few minutes now.

65 You've come solemnly upon the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus, the very living God who has raised from the dead and is here tonight, beyond any shadow of doubt showing what He is, that He is alive forever more. And you're confessing your faith in Him.
Now, Jesus said these words. I'm quoting His words, "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. No one can come to Me..." Jesus said, "No man can come to Me, except My Father draws him first."
It was God that brought you out of your seat and brought you here. "No man can come to Me, except My Father draws him first, and all that comes to Me, I will give him everlasting life and raise him up at the last day." That's the Word. That's what God said. Now, He wants to do this. And He's given you life. What a privilege.

66 There's people that got up and went out, that I seen the Spirit of God dealing with, may never have another chance, see. That's right. I seen one certain person sitting to my left that left tonight. I don't know. I'm not the judge, but I believe it was the last call, see. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is on me. That's right. I'm know what I'm speaking of.
Now, we're here for the salvation of souls and for the healing of the sick. Now, I want everyone to bow your head, if you will. I want these here at the altar, as they bow their head... I got this woman to pray for. Do you believe now, sister?
O Jesus, Thou Son of the living God, be merciful to her and heal her in Jesus' name. Amen. Go and God [unclear words]. Your mother, will you believe that [unclear words] and your chest all choked up, see. Just so that you'd know that the anointing was still here (You see.), to tell you what's wrong with you.
Now, God can heal you and make you well of it. You believe? All right, it's over now. God bless you. Just go thanking God, praising Him.

67 Now, just that you might know that the Holy Spirit's still here, the anointing is here. Now, let's all bow our heads real reverent before Him, the Maker of heavens and earth.
Now, kind Lord Jesus, our merciful Saviour, it is indeed with a surrendered heart that we bow in Your presence. And these people who are standing here at the altar tonight are those who that You have brought up out of the dust of the earth. You put a spirit in them, a spirit of free moral agency, to make a choice to receive life or to refuse life.
And tonight, even though after the preaching of the Word, then to see Your presence come down, and You know all things, and You explained all things, and You showed them all things; and You showed them their condition. And then by accepting that, they walked up here to the altar reverently, bowing their heads to the dust of the earth, where You brought them from, and where if You tarry, they must return.

68 They're sorry for their sins. And I am praying sincerely as an intercessor, as one who loves them, as a minister of the Gospel, who would pray for those who are needy. I pray that You'll expel off of the book, every sin that they have committed. May it be gone, and may the great ink remover of the blood of the Lord Jesus clean every page tonight.
And may by the blood, You write their name indelibly upon the book of life, and may they be saved right now as they are confessing their sins. Thou has said in Your Word, "He that will come to Me, I will in no wise cast out." Here's little boys, little girls, the middle-aged, the old; they're all alike standing here, knowing that we all come from the earth.
And I pray, heavenly Father, that You will bless them. And as believing that their sins are forgiven, I pray that You'll give them the baptism of the Holy Spirit, oh, the seal of promise. May they now receive it.

69 And may they find a good church home here in Phoenix somewhere, or wherever they're from. May they live long, happy, peaceful lives. And in the last days when Jesus comes, and it may be tomorrow, may they be found worthy under the shed blood to go up in the rapture to meet Him. Grant it, Father, in Jesus' name.
And then, Lord, I pray for those who are here that's sick, those who are needy, every one that's sitting in Divine Presence, or standing, whatever position they may be in. May the Holy Ghost just now, speak down into their hearts and saying, "Can you now believe and accept Me as your sin bearer and as your healer?" Grant it, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name.
And now, while we have our heads bowed, every one reverent, I want you to reach over with your hand and lay it on somebody that's sitting next to you, and just start saying, "Jesus, heal them. Jesus, make them well." And when you're praying for them, God will heal you. "Jesus, make them well."

70 And these here now, who have confessed Christ publicly here before this audience, I want you to raise your hands and ask God to fill you with the Holy Ghost just now and give you the baptism. And now, as all together, let's raise our hands now to God in one great prayer.
O God, all sufficient God, the present I AM, not the I was, I AM, who's here tonight, alive, and proving Yourself, may the Holy Ghost fall in this building just now and baptize every one of these believers into the kingdom of God.
And may also every sick person be healed. Satan, you are defeated. In Jesus' name leave the building and come out of the people.
Thanks be to God for the victory in the Lord Jesus. Now, give Him praise, thank Him, and believe that you receive it and you shall have it in Christ's name.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 You be seated. I didn't get to see the man that did that singing. That was a real good job though. Thank you. My favorite song. I guess you know the author, Mr. Clibborn, Booth-Clibborn? [A man says, "I know of him."] Yes, sir. It was wonderful. How many enjoyed that song? Oh, that was just... That's next to: Only Believe. That was a good one.
And I was talking to some friends of mine just as I come up, Mr. and Mrs. Doble. I was asking about the little baby. Ten years ago when I was here, the Lord gave me a vision, seeing her holding a boy baby in her arms. And she taken sick.
And years passed, but the boy baby is here now. And so, she was back there. I met them just behind the stage. And my little boy Joseph walks around to meet her just now. And they were having a little time of fellowship.

2 And Brother Bosworth, the old gentleman, you know him, he used to... He's got a great sense of humor. He says, "Brother Branham, you know what fellowship is?"
I said, "Well, I think so."
Said, "It's two fellows in one ship, makes the fellowship." And that's about right. Baptist closed communion.
And so there has been some complaints about the speaking not vibrating or something or other back, but they said tonight it had cleared up. Is the sound all right, better back there tonight? Can you hear better back in the back? Can, raise up your hands, can hear all right. That's fine. Fine. That's good.

3 Tomorrow afternoon, there's a... Tonight, pardon me, tonight, we have made a promise... That's the reason I could come in without coming under the anointing and so forth, and talk with you a little while. We have given Friday night now...
The best of our calculation of the ministers here counting, has been about between seven and eight hundred accepted Jesus Christ as Savior since we've been in the city. And so to that, we're very happy.
What we been trying to do is to have faith to find favor with God. And then if we can put first things first, then we think God will give us favor now for the next two or three nights for great healing services. We believe that He will do it. Course we're still asking sinners to come to Christ. And so the...

4 Mr. Mercier here, one of my associates, the tape recording, him and Mr. Goad, tells me that the books are out, but they will take the orders if you want them. And they'll be sent to you. And we didn't bring but just a few of them, and we had to distribute them between Tacoma and here. So they will take the orders on through, but they...
I don't think they have any books. Is that right, Leo? Don't have no books, but you still have tapes and a few of the pictures left, is that right? Just a few of the pictures left.
Now, I do not, (as I said in the beginning of the meetings), I do not... I'm not a book salesmen. I buy those books from Mr. Lindsay. I get forty cents less. Well, time you bring them across the country and the losses and then we don't ... in Canada we never put a price on anything. We just set it out there. I know what it's supposed ... what it cost us. But if the people wants it, can't afford it by paying for it, take it anyhow. We give it to you. So therefore we...

5 And these pictures, that belongs to the Douglas Studios in Houston, Texas, and it's copyrighted (a member of the American Photographers Association). And one hangs in the religious hall in Washington, DC. And under it is written, "The only supernatural Being that was ever scientifically proven to be taken." The only supernatural Being that was ever scientifically proven.
And so they're just something, little tokens of the meeting. I don't know what they ... what they even pay for them when they get them. But ever what it is, that's what you get it for. And so, they're not us, it goes right straight back to the studios, you see.

6 So we don't... They're copyrighted. And just bring them along, and we don't sell books or do things. We're not here... We don't want your... We say, "Write to us." We don't mean to get your address so we can ask you to support something. We don't have nothing to support. The only thing you can support me by is your prayers. That's all.
I don't have any radio program, no television programs; just have a little office there with... We mail out many handkerchiefs and things across the world daily. And my expenses runs me about seventy-five to a hundred dollars a day. That's a year round at home. And so just enough till I have to stay on the field all the time.

7 Somebody here sometime ago offered me a great big offering of several thousand dollars. I refused to take it. I said, "I don't need that. Just put it in foreign missions." And the Lord will supply for me just as the days go by. That's the way I want to live: just for the day. I don't know about tomorrow. He takes care of that for me when tomorrow comes. But I just have today to live for.
Now, tonight we're going to pray for every person that has a prayer card, tonight. And then tomorrow afternoon, Mr. Rasmussen, a former pastor of this city, a man that I have learned to love with real Christian love and respects... And I know all that knows Brother Rasmussen says the same. And he's speaking here each afternoon.
And then tomorrow night... Billy says the people are not here so that they can give prayer cards to them enough when he gets here. We don't want to interrupt with the other services. So tomorrow afternoon prayer cards will be given out after two o'clock, tomorrow afternoon, here in the auditorium. And perhaps Sunday, the closing, also.

8 Now, I hope if there's someone here that doesn't understand English, why that someone sitting next to them will tell them. Tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock. I think that's when the services start, isn't it? Two o'clock tomorrow afternoon. And the prayer cards will be given here at the afternoon service. But now, when you get a card, come back so you can be prayed for, because tomorrow night they'll be called.
And then we're going to try with the grace of God now, feeling that we found favor with Him, to place these other nights in praying for the sick, everybody. We got about two or three hundred prayer cards, they tell me, out here tonight.

9 So we want to take our time and just speak to you just a short time in the Word. We're going to speak on now: divine healing, how to accept it. Mr. Rasmussen will be giving lectures on that: how to accept your healing.
And now, tonight I wish to read for just a little text, found in Saint Luke the 19th chapter, and the 42nd verse.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith has saved thee.

10 You notice that name there, the way that's written. "Thy faith has saved thee." Now, there's scholars here; I'm not. But when I find a word, I go back to my Greek, to look it up. Now, that word in the Greek is "Sozo." So the word "save" for salvation is Sozo. Same one for healing. Sozo means that they were physically saved, or spiritually saved.
Both word applies because it was by the same atonement, the same man on the same day. "He was wounded for our transgressions, with His stripes, we were healed," see.
So our scene opens tonight... And just for a short time, so we can have time to run the prayer line through. Our scene opens at the south gate of Jericho. And to the one that we're looking at, is a beggar. He had become quite middle-aged man or a little better. And let's just turn our thoughts to him for a few moments, and learn by his action what we should do tonight when we come to the line.

11 Now, it was in a day that when the Jews were all under heavy taxation from the Roman government, and times were very hard. And there were many beggars in the city and in Jerusalem and all of Judea, many afflicted people who could not make their livelihood in the fields working. They were lame, blind, lepers. Oh, such a scene.
I wonder if there'd be anybody in here ever seen leprosy. Let's see your hands if there has been. I don't even see a hand that's ever seen leprosy. Well, I've hugged lepers in my arms. And I used to think that it was contagious, but it isn't. Leprosy is caused by a insufficient diet. And it is not contagious.
I've had lepers with no hands, ears eat off, just stand and hug them. And they'd weep. Down into Africa, into India, and different places where they have so much leprosy.

12 And I was watching a man one day when we was in Bombay. The American people had given me some money to give to the poor. And I just love to do those things. And I'd change it into rupees. And I started out into the street to give it away to the beggars, the poor people, and they almost had to get the militia to get me back in again, just running over me.
And all night when they learned I had some money and was there in the Taj Motel ... or hotel (That's at the gates of India.), I could hear them hollering, "Padre! Padre!" all night. Now, it's not an Indian word. Padre really means "father" in Spanish. But Spanish is spoke quite a bit in there.

13 And they was all night... I couldn't eat. I'd go to the window. And I want to ask you Canadian people that see how grateful you are to God for your wonderful nation here.
And there they were laying in the streets. Little babies with their little bellies swelled up like that, dying, starved to death. Little mothers holding their little babies, and their face and jaws all sunk in. Men coming down the streets, nothing but a loincloth on, little old half-starved monkey following behind him. They laid on the street like cordwood.
And when they would die over the night, they would pick them up, go down to a great salamander. No John 14 ceremony; just dump them in. They don't know who they are or where they come from. They just died on the street, they're beggars, and that's all.
You don't know how to appreciate a real nation like you live in. That's right. You Canadian [Gap in the audio.] And I think in the face of that we ought to try to hold these nations by prayer, doing what we can to keep this the way it is.

14 Oh, what a pitiful sight to see lepers and beggars. And to what I was trying to get at: There was a man running around there. We would take these rupees and throw them out the window to them. And when they did they'd... There was a fellow there that didn't have any arms; leprosy had eat him off, up on his arms. And it gets kind of white like warts, and it just drops off, their arms and what more.
And I said to Billy, my boy, I said, "How could that fellow ever pick up a rupee?" So he went down to watch him at the door. He went out, went down to another part of the hotel. Got to throwing the rupees out down there for them. And as soon as they could get them, they'd take around the corner where they could get some curry.

15 Now, a rupee is twenty-four cents. And it would keep them for two or three days, on twenty-four cents. Costs about three cents to get a little plate of curry. And what it was, sheep feet boiled up with the hair still on it, and so forth and little ri... Oh, it was terrible. Go through the street with your fingers on your nose.
And then the slave markets where they took young women there. Just bring young, beautiful women up and auction them off like you would a cow or anything else. You don't know what it means to live in a nation that still has respect for God.

16 And Billy got these fellows all down that way, all the rest of them. And I motioned to that man with no hands, and I throwed a rupee out when they wasn't noticing, and it circled to the ground. You know how he got it up? Licked it up with his tongue on that dirty, filthy street. And around the corner he went, screaming at the top of his voice, to get him something to eat.
And think, you raked out your garbage can tonight, enough to feed them. That's right. We're just not grateful enough.
And in the day that we read of tonight, it was like scenes like that, that our Lord saw. And then, a beggar in these special days when taxation and so forth was so high, when a man came out to go to his work, he could perhaps just afford one coin a day. And the first beggar that he come in contact with, well, that was the lucky one. He couldn't give, maybe, two coins a day. And there were hundreds of beggars.

17 And let's imagine tonight that our character that we're speaking of, Bartimaeus, that he had been standing, and it'd been a bad morning. He hadn't been able to find anyone who could give him a coin. And it was a cold October morning, so his ragged coat he had wrapped around him, he just kind of shivered a little and felt his way back till he hit the wall. And he sat down by the side of the wall.
And in the warm sun as it begin to warm him, he begin to think, study. Do you like to do that? I do. Just get away to yourself somewhere, sit down, think it all over.

18 And while he was sitting there thinking, he hears a little clipping of the hooves coming down the street, old cobblestone street that runs by there, had been there for many, many years. And this little clipping, he knew it was someone approaching, so he raises up and he said, "Please give to me a coin this morning. I am blind."
And he almost staggers right into the little mule. And the one on the mule said, "One side, beggar. I am on my road into the city. And I am the servant of the Lord. And there is coming a fanatic to this city today. And we must get with the council of the churches and stop this stuff before it ever gets into the city. And I'm on my road now to see that this is stopped. I have no time for a beggar, so step to one side."

19 Find out he was a priest. And he said, "Oh, servant of the Lord," said the blind man, "I would not interfere with you on your commission to God. I am sorry I stopped you. But what is this fanatic that's a coming?"
"Oh, it's that man who's a divine healer up there, the Galilean prophet, He calls Himself. And He's on His road here, and I'm the head of the ministerial association, so I have to see that none of that stuff gets scattered in our city, around here. So I'm on my way. One side, beggar." And on he goes.
Then he moves back over to the warm sunshine and sits down again. And there he begins to get a new thought. A Galilean prophet is to come to this town, a healer. Well, then he begins to dream. You know, his mind goes back to many years previous to that when he was a little black-headed Jewish boy. Used to play out on the hillsides of the Jordan river.

20 And one of his greatest delights was to go in in the afternoon before his nap time, and let his mother get him up in her arms. And how he used to look at those big, soft eyes of his mother as she stroked his little black hair back out of his eyes, and begin to tell him Bible stories.
You know there's something about bringing up a child in the way that it should go. Teach it the right thing, and when it's old, it'll not depart from it.
And he used to remember the stories that his mother told him of the great mighty Jehovah. How Jehovah used to blast forth His voice in a time of trial and change the situation.

21 How that he used to love to hear especially that story of Elisha, the prophet. And how that Elisha went in and laid his body upon the body of a little dead baby. And that prophet was so anointed until the little baby come to life again. Oh, that just thrilled his heart.

22 And it thrills my heart. I can think of the story when the Shunammite woman had been kind to that man of God. She didn't do it to receive anything, but you just cannot help from receiving a reward when you're good to God's children. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you shall give one of these little ones as much as a cup of water, you will in nowise lose your reward."
So be kind to one another. If the meal barrel is empty over to that house, take them something over there. Be kind. If the widow needs some coal, buy her some. God will bless you for it.

23 And so, showing all the kindness, the Shunammite woman had built a little side room for the prophet to lay in. And the prophet said, "Go, see if she wants me to speak to the king for her."
She said, "No." She dwelt among her people and everything was all right.
But Gehazi said, "She has no children." And Elisha blessed her, prayed for her, and she received a child. When it was about twelve years old, I think the little fellow must have had a sunstroke. He was out in the field with his daddy in time of harvest, and he begin to scream, "My head, my head!"
And a young man carried him to his mama. She sat him on her lap, and along about noon, he died. And now, aside from our text for a moment, I want you to watch the gallant faith of that woman. She took the little baby and laid him on Elisha's bed. That's a good place to put him: on the bed where the prophet had laid, where a house, where a home, where prayer has been made. That's the place to go.

24 And she said to her servant, "Saddle me one of those mules, and don't you stop lest I bid you, and go straight to the prophet." Now, she knew that if she could get to the prophet, she'd find out why her baby had died.
Well, God don't always tell His prophets everything that He does. He just tells His prophets what He wants them to know.
So on the road over Elisha looked out of his cave and he said, "Here comes the Shunammite. And she's got sorrow in her heart. And God has kept it from me. I don't know what's wrong with her." So when she got close, he said, "Is all well with thee? All well with thy husband? Is all well with the baby?"
Now, listen, mother, that woman with her baby laying dead in the room, she said, "All is well!" I love that, see. Elisha was God's representative on the earth at that time. And she knew if she could get to God's servant, she might... She wasn't thinking of her baby back, she had no idea of it. But she knew she would probably find out: This man could ask God and God would talk to him and tell why they took the baby.

25 And she said, "All is well!" And then she begin to reveal to him what had happened.
Now, Elisha said, "You take this staff and run before me and lay it on the baby."
I've said the other night, I believe that's where Paul got laying on handkerchiefs. Elisha knew that what he had touched was blessed. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit. That's the reason we lay hands on the sick.

26 Now, but what happened? The woman's faith was not in the staff. It was in the prophet. So she said, "As the Lord liveth, and your soul liveth, I will not leave you." So there wasn't but one thing for the prophet to do, that was gird up his loins, get started with her.
I like that. Hang on to it. When you're satisfied you're right, stay with it.
And the prophet went on. And the boy took the stick and laid it on the child, but no life. He met them coming back. Elisha walked into the room, not knowing what to do. But he walked back and forth, up and down in the room, praying. And went and laid his body on that little dead baby, his lips against its lips, and his nose against its nose. And the baby sneezed seven times and come to life.
Oh, how little Bartimaeus loved that story. You like that story, you little blond-headed girl sitting here? All right. That's a beautiful story. And that's what God is yet today. You believe that, little boy sitting there? You do? That's good. Oh, them is nice stories. And they're the truth.
And little Bartimaeus how he loved that story. But, oh, you know what? The preacher said that those days were all passed. God didn't do that no more. But how wrong those priests were. God never changes. He's just the same all the time. Never changes. He's still almighty God. And if He can't do all things, then He's not almighty God. And if He is almighty God, He can do all things.

27 So then, little Bartimaeus happened to think then of another story that he liked real well. And not over five hundred yards from where he was sitting, one time the great Jordan, in the month of April, when the Judean hills, the snow had melted, all the fields were flooded with water. The greatest time the floods, the great angry muddy waves a rolling down from the mountains of Judea, down through the plains. And the Jordan had swelled way out, and it was many times its size.
But just at that time Israel arrived on the other side. You see, God gave them a promise on this side. They were on their road to claim that promise. And everything that stands in the way of God's promise has to give a way. No matter whether it's a worse time, or the worse kind of sickness, or how muddy black it looks, everything gives a way to God's promise. Certainly.

28 And how he loved to hear his mother tell how the lightning roared, and that big Jordan waved back, and held her peace until two million Israelites crossed over on foot. Oh, that made his little heart... He'd almost go to sleep, and he'd shake his head and say, "Mama, tell me another story."
Then he remembered too that not standing a hundred and fifty yards from where he was sitting, a great thing happened. And right, not twenty yards from where he was sitting, down that same road, over those same old cobblestones, about four hundred years previous to that, the great mighty prophet Elijah and Elisha come down that road arm in arm, going towards Jordan to make her open again.

29 Why? Would it open again? God's the same. And so he thought, "Oh, if I could have only lived in those days. If I could just be sitting here blind." Then he scratched his head, and said, "What am I thinking these things, since that priest said about that Galilean prophet. But somehow or another, I'm beginning to think different. I haven't thought those stories for years." Something was fixing to happen.
And when something in you begins to desire, and seek out for God, something's fixing to happen. God knows how to get everything set up for His drama.
Then we notice that as he begin to think, "If I would've been sitting here when Elisha..." God usually has just one major prophet at a time. And Elijah was going down to the river to put his mantle, his coat, upon Elisha. And he was become prophet because Elijah was going up.

30 And as they walked down by that gate, side by side, he said, "If I could have only lived in that day, I would've rose up from this place where I'm sitting. And I'd've rushed out into the street and said, 'Oh, prophets of God, lay your hands on me. And I believe if you'll pray for me, God will restore my sight.'"
But alas, the days of miracles was passed to him. The priest told him there was no such a thing as that happen anymore. Elijah had been gone for years, and Elisha had been dead for years. And oh, Jehovah had forgot the people. But He doesn't forget the people. He still remembers.
Then he remembered just out from that gate, that great Joshua had marched Israel right over those same cobblestones, right around the walls of Jericho. And all of Jericho was shut up. Although they had the Israelite outnumbered many times, but the fear of the Lord went before them. They held their peace.

31 One day when the great Joshua, not very far from that same wall, was strolling along one afternoon, and he looked, standing there on the side of a little bank, there stood a warrior with his sword pulled. And Joshua pulled his sword, and he run to meet him. He said, "Are you for us, or are you for our enemy?"
And the stranger waved the sword in the air, said, "Nay, but I am the Captain of the host of the Lord." The mighty Joshua threw down his sword, took off his helmet, and ran and fell at His feet. Little did blind Bartimaeus know that less than two hundred yards from there, stood that same Captain of the host of the Lord.
And if the people in this exhibition room tonight here, would only realize that that same Captain of the host of the Lord stands here tonight!

32 But he had been told that those days were gone. After awhile his dream is interrupted. Some little children run by, said, "Did you get to see Him? Did you get to see Him?" They were wondering what it was all about. Here come some ladies. And they were talking. "Oh, oh, wasn't it wonderful?"
And Bartimaeus begin to ask, "What's going on?" Just around the corner he heard a lot of noise. You know somehow or another where Jesus is, there's usually a little noise going on. In the Old Testament the only way that they could tell the high priest was alive, when he went behind the Holiest of holies, (He might have been slain by the Lord.), but he had a garment, and at the end of the garment, he had a pomegranate and a bell, a pomegranate and a bell. And when he had to walk a certain way...
And a man that wears a robe of God has a certain walk he has to walk. And as he walked, them bells played, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord. Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." And the only way the congregation could tell whether he was alive or not, they could hear a noise.

33 I sometimes wonder when I go in some of these old cold morgues called churches, icicles hanging down, spiritually speaking, the thermometer forty below zero, I just wonder if there's anything in there alive.
It was like my little brother. I caught a snapping turtle, and I cut his head off. And anyone knows a snapping turtle just keeps on snapping if his head is cut off. And it was laying up on the bank, and my little brother come along and said, "What'd you catch, Billy?"
I said, "I got a turtle."
He said, "Is that him?"
Said, "Yeah."
"Where's his head?"
I said, "Laying up there on the bank."

34 And he went up there, and he started to take a stick to turn it over, and it snapped the stick. He said, "Hey, I thought you said he was dead."
Well, I said, "I separated his head from his body. He should be dead."
He scratched his head. He said, "He's just dead and don't know it."
And that's just a whole lot of good theology in that. Oh, brother, when Christ comes, He brings life abundantly. Said, "If they hold their peace, the rocks will immediately cry out," when He was coming to Jerusalem.
And we find out a noise was around the bend. He said, "What's all the noise about?" See, he had been thinking on those things. It had to happen. Have you been thinking on those things for tonight? If you have, it's going to happen. It's just got to. You draw nigh unto God, He will draw nigh unto you.

35 And then, what took place? After awhile here come a bunch of people singing, "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed is this Galilean prophet, for He makes the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

36 Then behind that come the critics, them priests and religionists of that day, saying, "Shut up. Hold your peace. There's nothing to that guy." Listen at it. And once and awhile something smashes against the wall. It's an over ripe tomato or something, thrown at Him.
Oh, if he could've only seen, walking right down through that street, a little man, not too big, no beauty we should desire, graying in His hair, walking slowly, not paying any attention. And there was them priests saying, "Say, You holy-roller, You that said You raised Lazarus from the dead. We got a whole graveyard full of them up here. Come raise them. Let us see You do it."
You know them kind of spirits never died. They still live. And the other one does too, thank God.

37 "Hey, You done miracles up in another place. Let's see You perform a miracle here. We'll believe You. You hypocrite, we know that the days of miracles is past." Bartimaeus got all confused. He said, "What is this anyhow?" People just climbing over the top of him.
After awhile, a gentle little lady said, "Oh, beggar, I'm sorry that they've walked over you. What was you asking, sir?"
Said, "Who is it that passes by that's causing all this commotion, one one way and one another?"

38 You know, when Jesus is around, it usually produces that kind of a crowd. One for Him, one against Him. One saying it's the devil, and another one saying it's God. And it hasn't changed.
And so he said, "There's something taking place. And I don't understand what it is."
And she said, "Why, sir, have you never learned of Jesus of Nazareth?"
"No, I don't believe I ever heard of Him."
"Well, He's a great prophet out of Galilee. Oh, you should see Him. Why, a woman just touched His garment here a few weeks ago, and He turned around and told her what her trouble was. And there was a little man just on the other side of this wall, climbed up in a sycamore tree this morning to see Him. And his wife told him all about these things, and he said, 'Oh, there's no such a thing as that. Them things don't happen. If that man does that, He's a devil.'"

39 "So, Zacchaeus climbed up in a sycamore tree and pulled the limbs all around him so nobody would see him. He said, 'I will stand here because I'm a great member of the church. And I'll take this little leaf and raise up here, and He will never see me. And when He passes under this tree, I'll get a good look at Him, and I'll tell the priests all about what I think of Him.'"
"So, when Jesus come around the corner and got under the tree, He stopped. Zacchaeus said, 'Now, wonder what He's going to do.' He looked up in the tree and said, 'Zacchaeus, come down from there. I'm going home with you today for dinner.'" Not only he thought he was hid, but Christ knowed him, and knowed his conditions, and knowed what his name was. He hasn't changed. He's still the same Jesus.

40 Oh, she begin to tell him. He said, "Well, isn't that the Son of David that's been promised?" Yes, that was enough to set his soul afire. It was his first opportunity. We've had many opportunities through this last week. But that was his first opportunity to ever come in contact with Jesus.
And he raised up. Now, the street runs just about the distance of the end of this arena here, from the wall. And thousands of people swarming around Him, some hollering and screaming and others praising Him. And he screamed, "O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

41 Now, Jesus could not have heard his voice. It was too far back. If you were ever there to look and see where it happened... And another thing, with all that howling mob, He couldn't heard it. But what was it? Jesus stopped and stood still. And He turned around. It wasn't his voice that stopped Him. It was his faith that stopped Him.
An insignificant beggar trying to be pushed back. Jesus stopped and said, "What would you that I would do for you?"
He said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight."
He said, "Receive your sight, for thy faith has saved thee."
And as they go on down the street, I can see old blind Bartimaeus standing there looking for his fingers. He said, "He told me. I take His Word. I believe it." And the mob went on. After awhile he begin to see his fingers. And he begin to follow the Lord rejoicing because he had received his sight.

42 Sometime ago I read a little story. It may be fiction and it may not, about blind Bartimaeus. They say that he sat by the Jericho gates; he was a married man, had a wife and a little girl. And this little girl at the time of his healing, was perhaps, about ten years old, little curly headed girl, just chubby enough to be lovable.
And he had never seen the little child because he had been blind many years. And they say he had two little turtle doves, and they would do little enchantments, turn over each other, little tumbles, so that it would attract the attention of the tourists.

43 If he didn't have something to entertain the tourists, like it is in India and different places with a little monkey or something, the monkey gets a stick and beats the man, and it attracts attention so he can beg.
And blind Bartimaeus' little pigeons turned over each other so that it would attract attention to watch the accuracy of those little doves ... or, little doves, making a little flip, jump over on their feet again. And one night, his wife got sick. And the physician could not do anything for her. And he felt his way out along the side of the house. And he said, "O Jehovah, if You will be merciful and spare the life of my wife, I will give You my two turtle doves."

44 And his wife got well. So he goes and offers the turtle doves for an offering. Sometime later, he had a lamb. And in those days, the lamb led the man, just like (the blind man), like the dog leads the blind man today. But lambs did it then. They trained the lambs to lead the man. And blind Bartimaeus, how he got back home of a evening, was hook his lamb on his hand, and the lamb would go home and he would lead his way, lead him back to his home.
And his little girl got sick. And she had an awful fever. And the doctor came, and said, "Well, Bartimaeus, I don't think there's anything that I can do for her." She kept getting worse. So, he went out into the night again, knelt down on his knees, and he said, "God, if You'll heal my little girl, I'll give You my lamb."

45 And the little girl's fever left. And the next day he was on his road up to sacrifice his lamb. And the priest come out, and he said, "Where goest thou, blind Bartimaeus?"
He said, "Oh, priest of God, I go up to the temple to offer my lamb for a sacrifice." Said, "I promised God that I would do it."
Oh, he said, "Blind Bartimaeus, you can't offer that lamb. I'll give you some money. And you go buy a lamb at the exchange, and take a lamb and offer it. I'll give you the money."
He said, "Thank you kindly, priest of God, but I never promised God a lamb. I promised God this lamb."
Oh, my! There's a lesson in that.

46 He said, "You can't give that lamb, Bartimaeus. That lamb is your eyes."
He said, "But, oh, priest of God, if I'll keep my promise to God, God will provide a lamb for Bartimaeus' eyes." That day when he heard that Jesus of Nazareth passed by---watch faith go into action. He grabs his robe and throws it sideways for God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. God's provided Lamb.
And that same Lamb's provided tonight for you, sir, on that cot. That Lamb's provided for you, there in them wheelchairs. That's Lamb's provided for you with heart trouble. That Lamb's provided for you with cancer. He is the same Lamb yesterday, today, and forever. And He's been the One that's led you here tonight for this great service just ready to take forth now.
And if you are a sinner, and don't know Him in the forgiveness of your sins, He's a Lamb provided to take away every blot off of your sinful life.

47 Let us bow our heads just a moment now, while we think on these things. And if the pianist and organist will give us just a little note, please.
Just before prayer now, I wonder if someone in here who doesn't know this great, marvelous, meek Lamb of God, would say, "God, I want to know that Lamb for the forgiveness of my sins. My soul is spotted. I've made a profession." Or, maybe you have or have not. "But I say by this I'd like to accept Him tonight as the Lamb for my soul, while I hold up my hand." Would you do it? Someone want to be remembered in prayer?

48 God bless you here, lady. God bless you, sir, this man sitting here. Someone else would like for that Lamb to lead you to the fountain? God bless you back there, sister. Anyone else on the bottom floor yet? God bless you, my brother over there. That's the way. Believe. If ye believe, God will supply everything you have need of.
Is there another to the balconies to my right, would raise your hand, say, "God be merciful to me. Let the Lamb of God lead me to the fountains of life, of the water of life, tonight. I am thirsty for Christ. I would love to, for Him to lead me." Would you do it? You're blind if you're a sinner. You don't know where you're going, man. If you're a church member, you're still blinded. You're blind by the creed of men.

49 Is there another on to the right here, to the rear, the balconies to the rear? Quickly. Balconies to my left here would raise your hands? It's just a little thing to do, but you, by your uplifted hand, you'd say, "I ... I now want..."
God bless you up there. That's good. Someone else on the bottom floor now that hasn't raised their hand? God bless you back there, sir. God bless you. Whole group of you back there, God be with you. Over here to the right, God be with you. May He lead you tonight to Calvary where there is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins, when sinners plunge beneath the flood, lose all their guilty stain.

50 I'm just watching the moving of the Spirit as it's moving in the building, and just taking my time, just letting it really soak in. Do you really, really mean that you love Him? All right. I just seen some hands going up, and I was watching something take place.
Let us pray.

51 Heavenly Father, may the Lamb of God come quickly now. Lead each of these who raised their hands, to that fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins.
Oh, when I can see Him coming around the wall there at Jericho: His face set towards Calvary, going right on up to Jerusalem to be offered up into the hands of sinful men for a sacrifice, to be a propitiation for our sins and sickness.
And that howling mob, and yet with the sins of the world bearing upon Him, and Him being God Emmanuel. He certainly felt the load that was just before Him. Dark Gethsemane was before Him. The mock trial was before Him. He knew all this and His precious heart was beating high.

52 But to think that He wasn't too busy, neither was He too heavy burdened, but what He could stop and have mercy on a blind beggar. You're not too busy tonight, Lord, but what You'll have mercy upon these who raised their hands. Take them to the fountain of water ... of the waters of life freely, and may they drink. Thou hast said in Thy Word that He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has eternal life, and shall never perish; but is passed from death to life.
I present them to You now, Lord God, in the name of Jesus Christ, as love gifts of the message. Amen.

53 Let's just sing a little hymn now. This is worship. We had to cut just a little short, but this is a worship. Now, let's get real quiet and sing, "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins." Just worship as you sing it. Oh, I just love this song.
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins,
And sinners plunge beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stain.
Lose all their guilty stain,
Lose all their guilty stain;
And sinners plunge beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stain.

54 Now, new-born Christian, you that raised your hand just a few moments ago, I want you to promise me something. There's many pastors here in the church, and I want you to get with some of them, some pastor. Promise that to God. Now, you're a Christian now. God's Word is eternally right. "He that heareth My words, believeth on Him that sent Me, has eternal life."
And there's only one type of eternal life. And God alone has eternal life. Is that right? And He gives it to you. But what? "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has eternal life (that's without end) and shall never come to the judgment; but hath passed from death unto life."
Now, find you a good church home, quickly. Be baptized, and move into that church, you and your family, and live peacefully with God. And if I never meet you again this side of the river, I'll meet you on the other side. The Lord bless you.

55 Maybe if we have time after the prayer cards are given, and we're praying for the sick tonight, that you can come up around the altar and stand here a little while so the pastors over the city can see who you are.
I let fifty thousand converts go here not long ago. I don't know what happened. In a certain nation that I was in, someone just set up the meetings. We didn't have any cooperation. They just set up the meeting, and thousands poured into that country. And there was no church home to take them to. I don't know what happened.

56 I thought every church in the country was cooperating. But just a minister ... or, a man, just a lawyer, just set up the meeting and said, "Come on." And I just flew in there and started. We had five nights and five thousand each night or more, come to Christ. And I don't know what happened. Whether they went to church home...
I'm learning a little better than that now. Every person that's saved ought to have a church home. They ought to be in church, and there every time that church has a service, or every time you pass it, go in, open the doors and go in and pray or do something. Love the Lord.

57 It was a... Today where I live there was some people had had to leave. There happened to be a very good Norwegian friend of mine who's sitting here. He's my secretary for the Norwegian people, and has been since I was in Norway. And he's done all the translation, not one cent for it or anything.
He was sitting in the room, he and his lovely little wife. And a vision begin to move. And someone knocked at the door, and we went in. And while we were in the room, there were three sick people in there, very sick. The Holy Spirit come down and moved into the room, and told each of them all their troubles, healed them.

58 Then just a few minutes later, I run into two ladies. They're sitting right before me now. And it's been said, "Oh, well, he just reads their minds, or there's some way, he... It's a trick he has he does." So these ladies had heard this. Standing right there in the presence of Almighty God, God came right down with a vision and just told all about it, standing right there them, their troubles.
I could ask that lady to raise her hand, if you'd like for to see. Would you like to see the lady? If you would, raise your hand, if you'd like to see the lady. All right, lady. Where was you from? Dawson Creek. Never seen her or knowed of her in my life. I believe this is the other lady sitting here---a Ukrainian lady. Is that right? Isn't that lady right here? Raise up your hand so the people can see.
Why, the visions here at the platform is a miniature to what it is outside, out in the other places. Now, just... We got about five minutes. I want to tell you what happens. Being that I'm trying to have the prayer line, and get away from it as much as I can so that we can pray for the sick.

59 But however, the Holy Spirit is right here now. The Angel of the Lord is right here present now. Let me say this before I go any farther. If the Holy Spirit will come and will reveal in this audience, and heal people from right here, just use my lips as you've seen it done, as He does it through His gift, and will tell the people in this audience just like He did when He was here on earth, how many will it make ... have the courage and confidence, that's going to come through the line? So, that you'll know we're ... the Holy Spirit is here... This is not a night just when we're just going to drop through here. The anointing of the Holy Ghost is right here now.
Now, you in the audience, somebody that doesn't have a prayer card, start believing. And if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, if He... If that blind beggar...
[Gap in the audio.]

60 Listen, I want to ask you something. Healing the sick never did prove His Messiahic sign. No, sir. What was the Messiahic sign? What did they know Him by? Take the Jewish nation. What did they know Him by? When Nathanael came with Philip, and Jesus looked at him and said, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
He said, "When did You know me, Rabbi?" In other wise, "You never saw me. How did You know me?"
Said, "When Philip called you when you were under the tree, I saw you."
He said, "Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel."
How many knows that's true, in Saint John, the 1st chapter. To the Jewish nation that was a sign of Messiah.
Now, to the Gentile ... to the Samaritan nation: Ham, Shem, and Japheth's people ... Japheth's people, rather.

61 Now, when He went to the Samaritan, there was a woman came out. A man... This was a woman. And this woman came out; she was probably the distance of out along there somewhere from Him. She was at the well, and He was sitting on the little seat that sits under the grape arbor here.
And He said, "Bring Me a drink," to the woman.
She said, "It's not customary for you Jews to ask Samaritans such." Like a colored woman, or, to a white man, or something like that.
He said, "But if you knew who you were talking to, you'd ask Me for a drink."
She said, "Why, the well's deep. You have nothing to draw with."

62 They went ahead and carried a long conversation. After awhile Jesus said, "Go get your husband and come here."
She said, "I don't have any husband."
Said, "You've got five."
Now, she said, "Sir, (Now, listen) sir, I perceive that You're a prophet. But we know (we Samaritans know.) that when the Messiah cometh, He'll tell us all things." But she couldn't understand Who He was.
He said, "I am He that speaks to you."
And she dropped her water pot, and ran into the city, and said, "Come see a man who told me" what she had done. Said, "Isn't this the very Messiah?"

63 That was a sign of Messiah to both Jew and Samaritan. What do you think it would be to a Gentile if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever? This is the day when the Gentile day is. God's taking a people out.
How many people here that's sick that doesn't have a prayer card, right along here, raise up your hand. Somewhere close that doesn't have a prayer card, raise up your hands. All right. You can put your hands down. If Christ will do the same thing you...
Here's some colored people sitting here. There's just about the same scene. Here's a colored woman sitting here on the end. Now, lady, you know I don't know you. I've never seen you. Now, here is a good example of Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now, I don't know whether He will or not. The only thing that I'm ... just see you sitting there, is because that you're a colored woman, me a white man.

64 Now, that's about like it was between the Jew and the Samaritan. Now, in the South, way down in the South, there's a racial segregation, but Jesus let them know right quick, there's no difference in the color of a person's being. My, we're all from one tree and that's Adam. That's exactly right. The country we lived in, it turned our skin yellow, brown, black, whatever it was. That has nothing to do with it. We're God's creatures, every one of us. Jesus let her know that. Might've been a lovely, nice looking woman standing at the well there.
But then, just that you being a colored woman, me a man, are you desiring something from God? You're desiring something from God? All right. That's good. Do you believe me then to be His servant? If God will reveal to me what your trouble is, will you accept it then, and believe that it's all right, that you'll know it's the same Christ that talked to the woman at the well?

65 Now, here's the same picture again. I don't say God will do it, 'cause the light is not around the woman. But if He does, how many would say, "I could truly believe that it was Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Or if we are strangers to each other, lady, raise your hand up---the colored lady I'm talking to. All right. She's got a white glove on her hand. Now, if He does, all right. If He doesn't, I do not know. I'll just have to see that.
Now, there it is by the lady. I just catch her spirit as we're talking to each other. The woman's suffering with a lady's trouble, a female trouble. If that's right, raise up your hand, lady. Now, you don't have it. You're healed. You can go on your road home. Amen
.

66 There it goes right over on this man sitting right here, the end of the row. That stirred faith to you. And just as I looked at you, Something struck you. If that's right, wave your hand, sir, the colored man. If God will reveal to me, my brother, what your trouble is, will you believe God?
You got bad blood. If that's right, wave your hand. That's right. Now, you may go home and be well. Your faith makes you well.

67 See, He's the same. He doesn't fail. If you can believe, all things are possible.
Here sits an elderly man. There's that light hanging right over him. He's sitting, turning his head sideways, looking at me, right here. He's kind of partially bald on top, gray around the side. Do you believe, sir, that Jesus Christ could reveal to me what your trouble is? You do? Then you wouldn't have to take insulin. The diabetes would leave you. You believe God would do it? You believe He'd heal you? Raise up hand to Him then. All right. You can go home and be well.
What about the lady sitting right behind him there? See, it just moved right back to the lady right behind him. You're sick too aren't you, lady? You got high blood pressure. Isn't that right? It's true. I don't know you, do I? Never seen you in my life.

68 Besides that you got varicose veins. If that's right raise up your hand. You also have arthritis. I see you trying to move alongside of a street or something, walking real slow, taking your time, especially when you get up of a morning. If that's right, raise up your hand. You're a wonderful person. Mrs. Spears, do you believe that God would heal you? You believe He would? That's your name. All right. Now, go home and be well in Christ's name.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do you believe it? Let's give God praise like this then [Brother Branham begins clapping his hands.], just saying, "Blessed be the Lord."
Oh, He's so real. Friends, don't let this day pass by you. I don't think this is personal. Don't pay no attention to me, I'm a sinner saved by grace. But God has done something for the world, and they can't see it, see.

69 Did you realize the priests that burnt Joan of Arc to the stake as a witch, because the voice of God talked to her, later the Catholic church dug up their bodies and throwed them into the river, when they canonized Joan of Arc as a saint.
The testament's not enforced until the testator's dead. They never knew Jesus truly to be the Son of God till after His resurrection. Sure. They never appreciated Elijah till it was all over. These things come into our midst, friends, and it's over. Look at Saint Francis of Assisi, see. They don't know these things. John the Baptist, they knowed not who he was until it was over.

70 Christ is visiting the Gentile church. It's the evening lights that's a shining now. The prophet said, "In the evening time it'll be light." Now, this is the hour. This is the time. And if you'll just take that little, some kind of a little something that wants to make you kind of halfway believe it and halfway doubt it, brush that thing aside and come now. It's Christ. Jesus Christ the Son of God, the same yesterday, today, and forever. How many believes that?
Now, that anointing's coming down. I want to... If you start a prayer line like that, it would stop everyone that come through, see. And we want to sing a song or something before we calls the prayer line so that I can get the people up here and just pray for them because I couldn't pray for over eight or ten. They'd pack me out of here. How many understands that through the Scripture?
How many knows that poets, prophets, and spiritual people is always considered neurotic or something wrong with them? Sure they are.

71 How many ever heard of Stephen Foster? Let's see your hand. He gave America its greatest folk songs. He wrote "Old Black Joe," "Old Folks At Home," "Way Down Upon The Suwannee River," "My Old Kentucky Home." And that man was considered a neurotic. He'd get an inspiration. He'd go somewhere and write a song, then come back and get on a drunk. He had it in the head, but not the heart. Finally he called a servant and took a razor and committed suicide, coming out from under that inspiration. It's all right when you're in there, but it's when you're coming out.

72 How many ever heard of William Cowper ... Caper ... is that Cowper? He was a English poet. He wrote this famous song, "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins, when sinners plunge beneath the flood, lose all their guilty stains." How many ever heard that song?
I stood by the grave in London, England, of William Cowper. And when he wrote that song, he went up into the inspiration. He was considered neurotic. And when that inspiration left him, he was down at the river trying to find a place to commit suicide, to drown in the river. It was too foggy, or he'd have got in the river and drowned.

73 See, when you're up there it's wonderful, but it's when you're coming out. Look at Jonah the prophet. Went down with a message of God, and prophesied to the city about the size of St. Louis, Missouri, to a people which didn't know right and left hand. And his message was so forceful until they put sackcloth on their animals.
And then when the Spirit left him, he was so depleted till he sit under a little tree and got angry and wanted God to strike him dead because a little cutworm cut the gourd tree down. Is that right?
Look at Elijah the prophet. Under the inspiration stood there and called fire out of Heaven, called water out of Heaven the same day, and killed four hundred priests. And run at a threat of a woman, run out into the desert and was out there forty days and nights wandering around. The Angel woke him up when he was sleeping and fed him twice for that long journey. He was wandering in the desert, not knowing where he was. And when God found him, he had been pulled way back in a cave. How many knows that? See?

74 Oh, if we could just get the spiritual side. Friends, I love to hear people shout. I love to hear people praise the Lord. But that's not spiritual yet. I've seen people shout and dance and praise the Lord, knowed no more about spiritual things than a Hottentot knowed about a Egyptian knight. That's right.
They come up on the platform just running around and around, screaming and carrying on. That's emotion. Emotion's all right. But, brother, when you come right down to the fact of it, that's not Spirit. That's joy. But Spirit is spiritually discerned, see. It's Spirit.

75 Now, please understand that Jesus Christ, God's Son, is appearing not because He has to, but because He promised He would do it. It's to fulfill His Word to the Gentile people. And you can see just about the way they're receiving it across the world, see. The day is finishing. The sun is setting. It'll be over soon. Let us enjoy the blessings of the Lord.
Someday you who are Christians are going to a place where you'll never have to be old, never have to be sick, never have to be ... never die. How many knows that? Amen. That's right. God will raise it up.
Here the other day I was combing what few hairs I got left. My wife sitting back there, she said, "Billy, you're getting baldheaded."
Why, I said, "Honey, I haven't lost a one of them."
She said, "Tell me where they're at."
I said, "You tell me where they was before I got them, I'll tell you where they are waiting for me to come to them." That's right. Oh, yes. They wasn't one time, then they was, then not. Wherever they come from, they're in the hands of almighty God. Some day they'll...
.

76 Why, as I asked the doctor not long ago, when I was sixteen years old, every time I eat, every time you eat you renew your life. And when I was sixteen, every time I eat I got bigger and stronger. Then after about twenty-five no matter how much you eat, you get older and weaker.
You're pouring water into a glass out of a jug, and it just keeps getting fuller till it gets about half full, then no matter how much you pour it goes down all the time. Scientifically prove that to me. Because it's appointment of God. God gets you up there just how.
When you married mother, you remember how she looked: them beautiful eyes. Remember how dad ... that black wavy hair. And one morning you woke and said, "Mother, there's a wrinkle coming under those pretty eyes."
She said, "Yes, dad, and there's some gray coming in with that black, too."

77 What is it? Death set in. It keeps pushing you to the corner, one to another. It'll get you after awhile. Don't you worry. But it can't hurt you. In the resurrection, everything that ever represented death will be done away. And you and mother will be young there forever, in the very prime of life. I can prove it by God's Bible. It's a promise.
So what makes you long? What makes you long for health? What makes you long for perfection? Is because there... You in this life are the negative. If this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have one already waiting. So it's that one that's pressing this negative, groaning in the Spirit to be clothed upon with immortality. That's the reason. That's what takes place, see.

78 There's got to be a deep calling to the deep before there can be a deep to respond. And that's that body sitting yonder waiting for this to leave here to say, "Goodbye" here, "Good morning" there. And this old, frail, wrinkled up, sin carried body will drop into the dust and you'll receive a new one [unclear words]. Oh, that would make a Baptist shout. It should, to think that. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Oh, then you can look death in the face, you can look worry in the face, you can look anything, say, "There's nothing that can separate us from the love of God that's in Christ Jesus." God made the promise. "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life. He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life. I will raise him up at the last days." Why, sure. God promised it. It's a promise. It cannot fail. God swore by an oath, He would do it. Amen. That settles it.

79 If God made me what I am without having a choice, how much more can He make me different person by taking a choice. When the Holy Ghost makes love to me, I make love back to the Holy Ghost. And He who took me out of the bosom of the earth...
You come out of the earth. When this earth wasn't nothing but just a volcanic eruption, your body was laying there then. You're made out of sixteen elements of the earth. Potash, calcium, cosmic light, petroleum, so forth. And if that come out of the earth, who brought it from the earth? God did. That's true.
And because you live today, physically, something had to die. If you eat fish, the fish died. If you eat meat, the cow died. If you eat bread, the wheat died. If you eat potatoes, it died. You live by dead substance. That's correct.

80 And if you have to live physically by dead substance, you live eternally because something died, Jesus Christ, that you might be made alive and live forever. When His Spirit moves to your spirit and said, "Child of Mine, come." You say, "Yes, Lord, here I am." He gives you eternal life with a promise He'll raise you up at the last day. Amen.
Every promise in the Book is mine,
Every chapter, every verse, every line.
I'm trusting in His love divine,
Every promise in the Book is mine. Amen.
Say, "What are you doing, Brother Branham?" Just getting away from that anointing. It's you know, those visions. That's what I was talking about. Now, we're ready for the prayer line.

81 All right. Billy, where you at? What was them... What? C, D, E, and F. That's about four hundred prayer cards. Call them one at a time. All right. Where did we... What was the first number? C? All right. I believe that was the first night. Would we call from 1's or what?
[Gap in the audio.]
That I'm going to do all the praying. This whole church is going to be praying for you. How many that's not going to be called tonight, is going to be praying for them raise your hands. Let's see, see. Just look at the people's interested in you, you sick people.
[Gap in the audio.]

82 It's a finished work. Do you feel like that the presence of the Lord is here to heal the sick tonight? I do. I do. I feel that God is going to heal the sick tonight. All right. C, D, E? Prayer cards E, take the next stand. Prayer cards E. The ushers line them up according to the numbers. Prayer cards C, D, and E. All right. We will get them lined up. C, D, and E. They'll go right along the sides there...
[Gap in the audio.]
All right, everyone reverent. Now, Lord Jesus, here's a woman, deaf and dumb. Your Word said when the deaf and dumb spirit went out of the person they could speak and hear. I don't know. You haven't showed me how long she's been this way. Probably all of her life. But I pointed to this picture of the Angel of the Lord. She nodded her head that she believed it.

83 Now, Lord, with my hands on her body, and the bowed head of these reverent men standing on the platform and these hundreds in the building, we ask that this deaf spirit go from the woman, that she can both speak and hear.
Now, Father, if we've found grace in Your sight, and our love in our heart is right (forgive us if it's not), and let this woman speak that it might cause these people to have more faith who's coming through the line. If You'll just do this for us, we'll be grateful to You, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name.
Now, every head bowed, every eye closed. [Brother Branham snaps his fingers.] Hear me? Hear me? [The woman speaks.] Amen. ["Amen."] All right, you can raise your heads. She can both speak and hear [unclear words]. Watch here. [Brother Branham snaps his fingers again.] Amen. ["Amen".] You're healed. Go on your road rejoicing.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord," everybody now. That's the way. Now, now, we're just thanking our Heavenly Father, you see. We don't have to ask for those things, see. That's not right to do that. We're to pray for the sick. All right. You do? You do? She hears, yeah, she ... a whirling in her head. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord.

84 Now, now will all of you believe, everywhere now? Now, we will just start praying right for the sick. And now, you pray with me now. It's your prayer that's a doing it.
Hear this now, getting this in here? Well, good. In here? Yep, fine. She's sitting here motioning to me in her ears that she can hear this microphone now.
Oh, isn't He wonderful? The same Jesus that knowed the secrets of the heart... That was just a gift in operation. Here it is Christ in operation healing the sick, see. He does it.

85 Now, who can make the deaf to hear or the dumb to speak? Now, if she'd been in that other line, it would have told her how long she'd been that way or what had happened. Any of you all know there how long she's been that way? Anybody know? What say? All her life, this lady says, she's been deaf and dumb. And here she can both speak and hear.
Now, look, lady... She can't understand too much now. But look, she's going to have to be like a baby. You're going to have to teach her, just like a baby, get her to say... Now, see, what happened, it's just like this: her ears, like the nerve in her ears had gone dead. The doctor says, "It's a dead nerve." Her vocal the same way. What made it go dead? It's not dead all over her body. Just dead there. What is it? It's a spirit. If he can't...

86 If there's a transparent band on my hand, cutting off circulation, the doctor couldn't see it. The only thing he'd say, "Well, the nerves just died from here out." If he can't see what's a doing it. Now, all the salve in the world would never heal this. They'd have to amputate the hand here. But now, look. If life will come back into this nature ... if you can't see it, it's got to be supernatural, well, then when that band is lifted, the hand's got feelings in it. But of course nature has to take its place. There's operation again.
Well, that's what's happened to the lady. Well, she said she could feel that going through her. You should stand here and look what we are looking at. All right. That's wonderful. Now, just teach her to talk, to sing, get her to sing. She'll be all right now. God bless them.

87 [Gap in the audio.] ... congregation that has been any more reverent in holding on and waiting, as you people have. I truly believe with all my heart that there'll be people here that was... We couldn't spend but just a moment or two of time with them to pray, but such a vibration of faith that they had. I believe you'll see people here tomorrow night... Especially I seen a little boy there that was all crippled up, polio had... Oh, he was in awful shape. But somehow or another when I looked in the little lad's eyes, I just believe that God healed him. I just believe He did it.
And we're going to ask everyone of them, everyone that's on crutches, or sticks, or clubs, or braces, that's here tonight, I want you to go home believing with all your heart. Wake up in the morning, leave your old crutch and things alone. Come up here tomorrow night and hold it up here, just before the meeting starts. When the minister says ... say, "I was walking on this last night." I want the people to see that their prayers meant something for you. How many's going to be looking forward to that tomorrow night? Raise your hand.

88 You're very lovely. Thank you. And I know only Heaven will reveal... Now, remember, it wasn't my prayers altogether. It's your prayers.
There's a lady sitting there, right there, that had a mental deficiency. I really believe that that woman's going to be all right.
I seen a woman taken from a mental institution, been in there for about ten years (a colored woman) the other day. She was in the prayer line---her sister---and prayed for her. And through a vision, and the very next day that woman was dismissed from the hospital and sent home, a normal well woman. She just come to herself. Oh, it was wonderful.

89 Now, let us stand, if you will. May I ask God to bless each one of you for your reverence? That's somebody's mother, papa, somebody's little boy, that you prayed for. God bless you. Now, while we bow our heads, I'm going to ask Brother Rasmussen here if he will dismiss the audience. God's blessings be with you is my prayer.
Just a moment, won't we pray for the handkerchiefs. Father God, I pray that You'll heal each one of these that the handkerchiefs represent. I pray that they'll be made normal and well, through Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Now, tomorrow afternoon, two o'clock, prayer cards will be give out. And tomorrow night, a discernment line. Check those over, that couldn't hear or something, so if they couldn't put them in the line for tomorrow. The boy give the cards for you.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 I'm sorry that we do not have seating room for the people. But we will be real brief. We thank you for your fine cooperation. I want to take this opportunity to say to this group of ministers, I certainly appreciate your fine cooperation, my brethren. As I was saying, this is the first time that these churches ever dismissed their Sunday night's services. I certainly thank you. God's blessing rest upon you all.
And to the people here on the grounds, that does not have a church home, I recommend these men for your church home. They are men that believes the same message I'm preaching. They too are earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. If I lived here in Puerto Rico, I'd belong to one of their churches, the one I was closest to.

2 I want to take this opportunity also to thank the Christian Businessmen for inviting me here. And I trust that your chapter will grow, and you'll do the wonderful things for the kingdom of God that your chapter stands for, that is, to help the church, uniting the body of Christ as one. If there's any businessmen on this grounds who's not already a member of this chapter, I recommend them as a fine fellowship that enjoys the blessings of Jesus Christ, real Christian gentlemen. I would recommend that you would join this chapter. You don't have to belong to any certain church, they're denominational; they just want fellowship.
To all those who have been saved during this meeting, find you a good church now, be baptized, and be a member of that church.
And I want to thank Sally Olson for her fine cooperation.

3 Today I had the privilege of speaking with some of the Puerto Rican people in the prison. I want to say this: that the fine spirit that I found among you people, the prison does not shut it out. They are still the same people in prison, loving, kind. And when the Spirit of God came in, they had just as much joy as we have right here on this field. You can never put a saint anywhere but what God will come, be with him. One went into a belly of a whale; God came and was with him. Three went in a fiery furnace; God went and was with them. One went into a lion's den; God went with him. You can't hide a saint from his God.

4 Sally Olson... I found a place in my heart for her. I didn't know it so well before; but now I see her burden. Yet she's Scandinavian, but she says, "Brother Branham, these people are my people." They love her. No wonder, such a lovely person, a little orphanage.
I seen those lovely little Puerto Rican children when I come into the airport the other night, no papa, no mama, and they come to me, put their arms around me, kissed me. That taken a place. I have children too. I know what it means to be loved and to love others. God bless Sister Olson.

5 All you dear people, I have preached to greater crowds, but I never preached to nicer people. If it be the will of God, and your desire, I would like to return sometime [unclear words]. Thank you. I will do that. When I feel that welcome, I feel the Holy Spirit will send me back. Thank you. It does something to my heart.
The brethren was just telling me that they taken an offering for me. Friends, that's unsolicited. I never took an offering in my life. But I don't know how I'd get it back now. I will promise you: I will put it to the furthering of the work of Christ. May the Lord bless you and repay to you a hundredfold.
I could just talk to you all night. And when I return, we will try to get a large place where everybody can be seated, then stay for two or three weeks. Thank you. And I'm sure the Holy Spirit will be more able to work around it. While we are waiting to return, tell everyone, have prayer meetings. Prayer what changes things. That's the secret to all this, is prayer. I spend a great part of my life in that, sometimes for weeks and weeks.

6 Now, we will go right straight to the Scriptures. I just hate to start. I have a little weight on my heart tonight for you. I love you in my heart. That's a humble spirit. I wish I could speak your language. I'd like just express to you what I'm thinking. But I pray the Holy Spirit will express it for me. I mean that.
I'm thinking now that some are here, if I should return in six months, there would be some gone. Some would be missing. An audience of this size, many old people; I may be gone too before that time. But if some would be gone, there's no doubt, this is the last time that we will look upon each other, like we are tonight, until we stand in His presence and see Him who is the invisible One among us tonight.

7 Then, I want to say to the pastors: this has been such a great strain of faith. Each night I almost collapse. The Spirit just moves through the people. I'm sure after I'm gone weeks the people will be coming to their pastors and testifying of their healing. It just has to be. Now, you remember, if that isn't so, then I'd be a false prophet. But it's the truth. There's so many healed, I just can't speak it fast enough. I've very seldom ever seen that in a meeting here.
I want to also thank this fine interpreter. I know that he wouldn't interpret it that way. I've had many interpreters, but it's very seldom that you find an interpreter so filled with the Holy Spirit, that'll enter into and can interpret it just like the Holy Spirit speaking it. It goes to show, the same Holy Spirit is working between us. God bless him. And God bless this boy too.

8 These people are so humble, you have to let them interpret one for the other. God will... God dwells in humility. Now, to our text. We are going to speak on the subject of "Blind Bartimaeus." Bartimaeus.
I read a story sometime ago about blind Bartimaeus. And it was told like this, that he'd been blind for many years since he was a young man. And he was a beggar as the Scripture says. And he had a wife and a little girl. The little girl was about twelve years old. And he'd never seen her face.

9 And beggars in those days, there were many of them. And the men, the business men, and the tourist, they would come to the work of a morning. They would have to... They give them a coin, what they had to spare for that day. And if they didn't have something to attract the attention of the passer-by, well then, they wouldn't get nothing.
And we're told that blind Bartimaeus had two little turtledoves, and they would tumble over each other. And that would attract the attention of the people that passed by.

10 And then one night his wife got sick. They sent for the doctor. The doctor said, "There's nothing I can do, Bartimaeus; she's going to die." So he went out along the side of the house, feeling with his hands, and he cried, "Jehovah, what could I do without her? I promise You, if You let her live, tomorrow, I will make You an offering of my little turtledoves." And the woman got well. He offered them up.
Not later... not much later from that, his little girl got sick. And he went out to pray for her. He didn't have nothing to offer but his lamb.

11 Now, no doubt that you have seen dogs lead blind people. But in them days, a lamb led the people, the blind. And Bartimaeus had a lamb that would lead him down to the gates of Jericho where he begged. So his little girl got well. And so he went up to offer the lamb.
And as he was entering the temple, the priest said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou?"
He said, "I'm going to offer my lamb. I promised God I would do it."
The priest said, "Oh, Bartimaeus, you cannot do that. I will give you money, and you buy you a lamb for sacrifice."
He said, "No, priest. I never promised God a lamb; I promised Him this lamb."
And he said, "Bartimaeus, you cannot do that; that lamb is your eyes."
He said, "True, priest. But if Bartimaeus will keep his promise to God, God will provide a lamb for Bartimaeus' eyes." Amen.

12 It must have been a cold morning. He'd dreamed all night that he could see again. And he come to the gate late. All the business men had done gone into the city. And just a few tourists in them days, so what could he do? He wouldn't get a coin then. How would he get something to eat? He listened. He couldn't hear no one.
So he took his place by the side of the gate. He felt around until he found a big stone that had fallen down when God had shook the walls of Jericho. It had been a cold morning. He sat down in the warm sunshine. And there he was sitting. And he begin to think of what he was dreaming the night before. Oh, what a wonderful dream. He dreamed he could see. And he bowed his head, and he begin to think of years ago of when he was a little boy. We all like to go back to those times and think of childhood scenes.

13 And he begin to think of when he was a little boy running around over the hills, just a little Jewish lad of about seven or eight years old; how he loved to pick the little yellow flowers off of the banks of the Jordan. And the beautiful hill flowers of Palestine, what pretty colors they had; and how his little dark eyes used to look at those flowers; and when he would see the pretty skies, the big white clouds. But now, it had been black for many, many years.
Then he remembered how happy he would be when his Jewish mother would call him to his midday lunch. And she would, after he had eaten, take him up in her arms, go out on the porch, and go to rocking him for his midday nap. She'd stroke back his black hair, pat him on the cheek, and how his eyes would see her beautiful face. His mama, oh, how he could remember it.

14 And he remembered too that she used to tell him Bible stories. That's good for mothers to tell your children those things. "Bring up a child in the way it should go, and when it gets old, it will not depart from you." That's what the Scriptures says.
And as she would rock him and tell him of the great Jehovah, there was one story that he liked specially. That was about the days of Elijah, the prophet. He loved to think of that great mighty prophet and of the Shunammite woman. How that this woman was a good woman. Though she was a Shunammite, she knowed that that prophet was a man of God. And she liked to do kind things for him. So one day she had her husband to build him a little room, so that in his traveling, he could just stay in that little room built on the side of their house.

15 And as him and his servant came by one day and seen how nice she'd treated him, he wanted to do something good for her. So they found out that she had no children.
And his mother would brush his little hair back, of little Bartimaeus, and say, "Bartimaeus, every mother wants a little boy like you."
So the prophet thought that could be the nicest thing could happen to this nice lady, for she would keep him of the Lord. So he prayed for the woman, and she had the little boy.

16 And when he got to be about twelve years old, one day he was out in the harvest field with his papa, and he must have had a sunstroke. He said, "My head, my head." And the servant taken him to his mama. She held him on her lap, and he got sicker and sicker. And after awhile there was no breath in him. He was dead.
And look at what that mother did. She never put him on his little bed; neither did she put him on her bed. But she went around and put him on the prophet's bed. That's a good place to put him.
And then she said to her husband; they were all screaming. She said, "Saddle a mule and ride. Don't stop. I'm going up in the mountains to a cave where a prophet lives."
"Oh," her husband said, "it's no good now."
She said, "All is well." And away she went to find the man of God who could who could pronounce a blessing, could say a prophecy, and tell them the time that baby would be born. Surely, if God could give a baby, God could tell why He took a baby. Amen.

17 Then we find her coming up to the prophet. The prophet looked, and he could see her coming. Now, God doesn't always tell everything to His prophets; He just tells him what He wants them to know. God had not told Elijah that the baby was dead. Here's what he said, "Here comes the Shunammite, and she's wearied, and God has kept it from me." He said to her, "Is all well with thee, with thy husband, and with the baby?"
Listen, what she said, "All is well." Her baby was a corpse, and her husband frantically, and her heart broke. But, "All is well." Why? She is in the presence of God's representative. She knows, something had to happen. I like that. And she knelt at his feet and begin to tell him.

18 He said to Gehazi his servant, "Take my staff and go to the baby. And if anybody tries to stop you, don't stop. Go." That's the message.
That's the message for the ministers today. Don't stop for social parties and things, bunco games in the church, dances. The message is urgent. People are dead in sin and trespasses. We ain't got no time to argue theology: Are you Methodist? Baptist? Catholic? That doesn't make difference. Get the message there.
Now, I think that's where Paul got laying handkerchiefs on the people, because I believe Paul was a fundamentalist. Now you see, Elijah knowed that God was in Him and everything he touched was blessed. If he could get the woman to believe the same thing...

19 But the woman's faith wasn't in the staff; it was in the prophet. The staff might work when the prophet wasn't there. But the prophet was there then. But she said then, "As the Lord your God lives, and your soul never dies, I will not leave you." I like that. Hold onto your convictions. We've got today, before us, the representative of God in the earth, the Holy Ghost.
Now, when God gives a promise, let's hold onto the Spirit of God until it takes place. "I'm not going to turn loose. I'm going to hold to Your Word, Lord, until it comes to pass; I'll not turn loose."

20 Elijah knew the only way he'd get rid of her was go with her. So, he girded up his loins, went to the house. He met the servant coming back [unclear words] Elijah went into the room, closed the door, kept the unbelieving on the outside, walked to and fro up and down the floor until the Spirit come on him. Then he run, laid his body across the baby. The baby sneezed seven times, jumped up in his lap.

21 Oh, how he loved that little story. Oh, he thought, "If I could only have lived in that day, I'd have had that prophet to pray for my blind eyes."
Just then "Shh, shh," he heard something coming. It's the hoofs of a little mule. And he hears someone running ahead of it. He gets his ragged coat, put it on him, goes out. "Have mercy. Give me a coin. I haven't had a coin today. I've got a little girl home hungry. I got a wife home hungry. Please help me."

22 All of a sudden there come a voice, "Out of my way, blind beggar. I have no time for blind beggars today. I'm a servant of the Lord, and I'm the head of the ministerial association of Jerusalem. I understand there's a fanatic prophet from Galilee coming in and out of this city today. And the Jericho association has called me. We're going to have a council today. We're going to see that He can't get no healings down here. We come down to stop Him. Out of my way. I must be on my way." Away they went.
Blind Bartimaeus felt his way back to his rock. The sun had come around, so it was shady there. He moves back into the sun, found him another rock and sat down, continued his dream. Said, "Just think, that same prophet Elijah and Elisha came down this same road here, arm in arm, going to the Jordan; and struck his coat against the waters and crossed over. And one struck it and come back. The Jordan dried up.

23 Think of it, they passed within a hundred yards of where I'm sitting. If I'd only lived then, I'd have run out there" and said, "Oh, prophets of God, pray for me,' and they would've prayed, and my blind eyes would've been opened." But, alas, the priest says, "The days of miracles is passed. There's no more healing, no more prophets. The days are gone."
Then he remembers that his mother told him, five hundred yards from where he was sitting, the great Joshua, by the power of God, opened up the Jordan and brought his people into the land. "What's happened to that great Jehovah?"

24 Then, he remembered Joshua walking around the walls one afternoon. And he seen some man standing. He had His sword drawed. He was coming to meet Joshua. Joshua, the great mighty warrior, pulled his sword, and he screamed, "Are you for us, or are you for our enemy?" And the man said, "Nay. But I am the Captain of the host of the Lord." Joshua threw his sword on the ground, took off his hat, throwed down his shield.
Little did he know that that same Captain was a hundred yards from him coming out of the city. Oh, Hallelujah!
That same Captain of the host of the Lord is right here now, the same one.

25 And he heard a noise, and they were making screams. Some were saying one thing and some another. And he heard someone say, "Hosanna to the King."
And he heard others say, "Away with that fanatic. Get Him out of our city."
So blind Bartimaeus wondered what the commotion was. Then he heard a voice, said, "You who can raise the dead, You who said You raised a man called Lazarus, come up here; we got a grave yard full, raise some of them up." Oh, they critics has been in all age.

26 But before the crowd went a little frail looking Man, His face set towards Jerusalem. He was going there to die for the sins of the world. And all the weight of every sin was upon Him. He wasn't hearing their cries. And they were throwing overripe fruit at Him, no doubt, making fun of Him. "Let me see You heal somebody."
And blind Bartimaeus recognized the voice of that same priest who had been talking to him. So he wondered what's the matter. So he begin to scream, "What's going on?"
And someone said, "Sit down. Get out of the way." And they pushed him. The old fellow fell. And he cried out, "Somebody tell me, what's all this screaming about?"

27 After while a real kind lady stooped down. She said, "Poor man, what are you wanting?"
"I want to know, madam, what's the noise about?"
"Oh," she said, "sir, do you not understand that Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet of Galilee, is passing by?"
"No, madam. I've never heard of Him."
"Oh, sir, are you an Israelite, and do not know the Scriptures? I am a follower of Jesus of Nazareth."
"Oh, is all of His followers kind like you?" Sure they are. Show courtesy, gentle. Then he said, "What about this Prophet?" Why, he said, "You know, Moses..."
She said, "Moses said that the Lord our God would raise up a God-prophet. Do you understand that?"
"Oh," he said, "is that Him, The Son of David?
"Yes."
Said, "How will I know?"
"Oh," She said, "wait just a moment. They had a breakfast this morning down in the city, was giving Him a breakfast. And you remember that tax collector named Zacchaeus?"
"Yes, I remember him."
"He climbed up in a sycamore tree and put all the leaves around him. 'If He's a prophet... Even a prophet couldn't find me up here.' So he was sitting up in the tree, and Jesus came by, and He stopped under the tree, and He looked up, said, 'Zacchaeus, come down.'"
"Oh, that is a prophet then." It's still the prophet! "Oh," he said, "then where's He at now?"
"Oh, He's way down the road."
"But you think He can hear me?"
"You just pray, sir."
And he begin to scream, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." An insignificant person, ragged, poor, blind; but He cried, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

28 Now, Jesus could not have heard his voice; He was a hundred-or-two yards from Him, and people screaming. And He wasn't listening to them; they was fussing at Him. And He was thinking of Jerusalem. But that blind beggar's faith stopped Him, and He turned. What's going on? Said, "Bring him here." What was taking place? That insignificant beggar stopped Jesus on His way to Jerusalem. Your faith can do the same thing tonight. He turned around, and He begin to look. Said, "Bring him here." What was happening? God provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes.
That same Lamb is provided tonight for every person here and everywhere. He's passing by. Let your faith stop Him, and in your heart cry, "O, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. This is the last night of the meeting, have mercy on me." He will stop and do the same there as He did then, for He's God's provided Lamb for everything you have need of.

29 Let us bow our heads everywhere and pray silently. My precious friends, knowing this, in a few minutes we will be parting never to see each other again, some here, until we meet at His feet.
I want to ask you something from the depths of my heart. You who do not know Him as your Saviour, don't know yet that He's the Lamb that's provided for you, while you have your heads bowed, would you say this, "Brother Branham, pray for me. I believe God will hear your prayer. And for God, I'm going to raise my hand, saying, 'Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.'" Now raise your hand; keep your heads bowed, all ever the audience, that wants to be remembered. God bless you. Keep your hands up, all around everywhere. Jesus will stop for you tonight, if you want your eyes opened, your spiritual eyes, raise your hands. God bless you.

30 Now, let us pray. O Lord, as blind Fanny Crosby wrote in days gone by, "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour, hear my humble cry. While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by. Thou the stream of all my comfort, more than life to me, whom have I on earth beside Thee? Or whom in heaven but Thee?"
O Jesus, touch each heart that has their hands up, and forgive them of every unbelief that they've had. I pray that the great Holy Ghost will come down just now and move into their hearts, and fill them with power---power of faith that they can stop You for their needs as long as they journey in this earth. Receive them into Thy kingdom. It is written in Thy Word. And Lord, Your Word is true. "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me has everlasting life. [Gap in the audio.]

31 I want to speak to the woman... [Gap in the audio.] Usually in my meetings, the managers do the speaking. I come straight from a room, right into the prayer line. When I speak this way, it's under a different anointing, the same Spirit; but you see, when you're preaching, you are receiving in by the Holy Spirit. But when you're this, it's giving out, taking the life from you. If it took one vision made Jesus weak, what would it do to me, a sinner saved by grace?
A lady, if she can hear me, do you believe me to be His prophet... or His servant? If God knows your heart, which He does... And you're aware that something's going on. Between me and the woman is a light. To me, it's the same Holy Ghost that led the children of Israel through the wilderness. It's the same one that, after His resurrection, was such a light that struck Paul down on his road to Damascus. He's the same Jesus that stood by the woman at the well.

32 If He will tell me what's in your heart, what you're here for, or something that you know that I know nothing about, will you believe that It's the Son of God? Something's got to happen. The woman is suffering with a nervousness. That's right. She's got also diabetes. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD. Now, that the audience might know, wave your hand if that's true. Do you believe that the God that knows that Simon's name would know your name, can tell me who you are? Would you believe that? Then, Mary, you go home.
Now, you in the audience, now believe. Now, the anointing is on the audience. The man standing right here with that back trouble. All right, do you believe? If you believe it, you can have it. The little fellow, wave your hand. You were praying the same thing he was praying about. You were saying, "God, let him call me." You're short in stature like Zacchaeus was, but He knew you were there. You're healed now. Go on rejoicing.

33 Just behind him, The Glory of God's come down. You standing there with a tubercular, if they believe, you may be well. Jesus Christ makes you well.
I want to ask... I want to ask this audience, what did they touch? They touched the High Priest. He's the same today. Amen.
This lady... I do not know her, but God does know her. If that's right, raise your hand. If God will reveal to me the secret of your heart of what you're wanting, of something that you know that I know nothing of, will you believe on the Son of God? The lady is suffering with a nervous condition. The way it effects her is, she can't sleep that's right. restless, getting up, restless. Do you think I guessed that? Now, stop thinking that. Watch. Here.
The woman has someone else on her heart that she's praying for. If God will reveal that to me, will you believe me to be His prophet? It's your brother. Your brother... You believe He can tell me what his trouble is? Diabetes. That's right. He's not here. He lives on another island: Dominion of Republic. Be real reverent.

34 The lady sitting right down here, praying, has got asthmatic condition. If you believe... I tell you, the lady I'm talking to, she's a Catholic. She offers her prayers by beads. Stand to your feet. Do you accept Jesus? Raise your hands. Your sins are forgiven. Go on your road in peace. Hallelujah! You are healed.
Be reverent. Sitting close to her... I see it's still hanging there. It's a woman. She has arthritis. It's a... Her name Maria. Believe and you shall be healed. Amen.
The lady here, a stranger to me. That is right. I do not know you. If God will reveal to me what's your trouble...

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Remain standing just a moment while we offer a word of prayer. Let's bow our heads.
Dear God, it's with grateful hearts that we bow our heads in Thy presence tonight to give thanks to Thee for what Thou has done for us in the times gone by. And we would ask, Lord, that You would pardon us of all of our trespasses, and forgive all of our iniquity, and we would ask that You would bless us in exceedingly abundantly way tonight, insomuch that You would save every lost person that's in Divine presence, or that's listening in on the air. And we would pray also, Lord, that You would heal every one tonight of their afflictions. So happy to see You each night doing these great wonders here before for us. And we're indeed grateful to You, Lord. And we pray that You'll bless this place called the Angelus Temple, its pastors, its workers, and the school, and all that it stands for, and those who are working hard together for the kingdom of God's sake, all the churches throughout the country.
Give us of Thy presence tonight, Father, that we might lead those who are strayed out of the way back to the old path again. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
May be seated.

2 It certainly is one grand privilege to be back again this evening to speak again about the One that I love so well. And I'm sure that's the feeling of each individual here, thinking, "the One that we love so well, the Lord Jesus."
Tomorrow night now, little Ricky is to be here in testimony. Many of you that's heard his ... of the great miracle that God performed for him. His father and mother is to bring him tomorrow night.

3 And now tonight, for a Scripture reading, I wish to read over in the book of Saint Luke, nineteenth chapter and the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth verse;
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passed by.
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

4 Our scene opens tonight at the city of Jericho. It's located just at the foot of the mountains, from Jerusalem being on the mountains and Jericho is down in the valley. It sets kind of in the plains of the Jordan. And I think it's supposed to be one of the lowest cities that there is in all Palestine.
And it must've been on a cold morning, something, say, about October.
There was many beggars in the land in that day. And there was ... the doctors were not able to help them. Many of them were sick and afflicted in such ways that the doctors could not help them. And again, if they were beggars, they perhaps didn't have money enough to have the operations performed that could've been done.
And we're opening the scene now of this cold morning. We look and can see such a beggar (as we have read about just now) fumbling his way around some rocks that laid out a-piece from the city wall, where it had fallen down in the days of Joshua by the trumpet sounding and the promise that God was going to break the walls down.
And the one beggar that we're speaking about now, he was a blind man. His name was Bartimaeus. And he'd come late that morning to take his place which was at the gate, just something like it is today, that each man has his own place to beg or sell. And Bartimaeus had come late. Almost all the people had done gone into the city---the merchants and so forth. And it was going to be hard for him to get a coin for the day because, usually, the men, not being too rich a city, they just had perhaps one coin each day that they could throw to a beggar. And the first they seen perhaps was the first one who got the coin.

5 And Bartimaeus had been late getting to his place to beg. And all night long, he'd dreamed that he could see. Something had been very strange about this. He dreamed all night, tossed and rolled, that he could once more see again, for we are told that he'd been blind since he was just a young man.
And as the poet puts it, with his ragged coat on, or his little robe, and his sleeves all torn... And it must have been a pathetic sight to see this man after being too late to sit at the gate to beg for something to eat for that day. Then trying to find himself a rock somewhere to sit down on.
You know, I think blindness is one of the cruelest things that we can think of---a person who cannot see the daylight. And if we can think of the natural blindness, how great that is, how much greater is the spiritual blindness to those who have good eyes and cannot see the promises of God.
And as he was fumbling his way, finally, over in the sunlight---the sun perhaps had not rose high enough yet to give the sun out far from the wall---he finds him a rock and sits down.

6 I read a little story some time ago about blind Bartimaeus. It said that... I don't know, it perhaps was fiction. But it said that he begged at the gate of Jericho, and he was a married man, and he had a little girl of about twelve years old. And he had never been able to see this little girl. And when he... If you sit by the gate and had nothing for an enchantment to attract the attention of the people who passed by, it was much harder to get a coin.
As we see today, they'll play a instrument or do something. Recently in India, oh, they have a cobra snake that they want to blow a little whistle to charm him, or a little monkey to beat them with a stick like they're getting a whipping or something---something to attract the attention.

7 Blind Bartimaeus, they said, had two little turtledoves that turned little tumbles over each other. And that would attract the attention of the passer-by.
And also in this day we find that a blind person is led by a dog that's trained to take them across the street. I just forget what they call that. (What?) Seeing-eye. In those days, instead of having a trained dog, they had a trained sheep that led them.
And said that one night Bartimaeus' wife took real sick. And he went along the side of the house and knelt down, after the doctor had left and said that he didn't know what to do for her, and he prayed to God. And he said, "Lord, if You'll just let my dear precious wife get well, I promise You that I will take these two turtledoves and offer them to You for a sacrifice." And his wife got well.

8 Some time later, that his little daughter got sick, very seriously ill with a fever. And he went out the side of his house again and prayed, and said, "Lord, I don't have nothing left but my lamb. And if You'll just let my baby live, I promise You that I will take my lamb and give it as a sacrifice upon the altar." And as the little story goes, that his daughter got well.
On his road up to the church to offer the sacrifice, he met the priest. And he said, "Where goest thou, blind Bartimaeus?"
He said, "Priest, I go to the temple of the Lord to give my lamb for a sacrifice."
And the priest said, "Bartimaeus, thou cannot give this lamb. This lamb is your eyes. I'll give you the money to buy you a lamb. You go to the stalls and buy a lamb and offer it, because this lamb is your eyes."
Blind Bartimaeus said, "I am grateful to thee for this kindness that you're willing to show to me. But, you see, I never offered God a lamb, I offered Him this lamb."
"Well," he said, "you can't do that, because this lamb is your eyes."
He said, "O servant of the Lord, if I will only keep my promise to God, God will provide a lamb for my eyes."
And how true that is---if we will just keep our promise to God, our vows, and go to our leadings.

9 And as we see him now sitting there in the warm sunshine, what's he going to do? Winter's coming on, and perhaps with no wood in, and the things that he would need.
And he began to dream in his mind of that night of the dream that he had, that he could see again. And it brought back memories of his childhood.
You know, I just think it's good for all of us sometime, in this day that we live in in this hustle and bustle of life, if we will just get off to ourself sometime and sit down and go to thinking about God and His goodness. It's usually when we're thinking of Him that He appears. It was while those on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, as they were thinking and talking about Him, that He appeared among them.
And he begin to think of something like this: how that when he was a little boy out there on the hills of Judea, the little yellow flowers, and how he used to get out as a little child and would pick those little flowers, and how pretty they was, especially when they were just coming up in the spring; and how he would see the blue skies and would wonder how far it was up to the skies. But since that day, his sight's been shut off from such.

10 Then he remembers another great thing of his childhood, of how that his beautiful little Jewish mother used to get him up in her arms after his midday lunch, and would sit out on the front porch and rock him and ... to get him to take his nap, and tell him Bible stories of the great Jehovah God, that how that God had led their people out of the bondage of Egypt, and had brought them into this great land that they lived. And he just loved to hear those stories.
One that he liked so well, was to think that when just down at the bottom of the hill at the ford, there was where that the Jehovah God rolled back the Jordan and held it at a standstill, until the mighty Joshua and the marching army of Israel crossed over. He loved those stories of the power of God.
Then there was another one that he liked real well. In the Bible, it was told about a woman, and she was a Shunammite woman. And she had a little boy such as he was. How his mama would tell him these stories, and his little eyes would snap as they looked her in her pretty face...

11 And then on this story of the Shunammite woman, how that the prophet Elijah was such a wonderful kind man. And this Shunammite woman respected him to be a great servant of the Lord. And she was old, and did not have any children, and how the prophet had blessed her, and told her that she was going to embrace a son. And in the appointed time, the little boy came.
Oh, he loved that story, because it was about a little boy. And how this little boy loved his daddy. One day out in the field while they were gathering grain, the little fellow must've got a sunstroke. It was about midday, and he begin to cry, "My head, my head." And the father had the little boy ordered to be took to his mother. And she held him on her lap for a few hours, and all his breath went out of him, and he died.

12 And how the woman must have been so inspired, that she took the little fellow up to the prophet's bed and laid him on the bed. What a wonderful place to lay him.
And her great faith in God, she said, "Saddle a mule now, and go forward, and don't stop," she said to the servant, "till we come to the man of God." She thought if she could ever get in the presence of Elijah---he was the one who told her the baby was coming---then surely he could tell her why God took the baby. And I like the story myself.

13 And how that when Elijah saw her coming... God does not reveal everything to His prophets. He just lets His prophets know what He wants them to know. He doesn't reveal everything to His prophets.
And this great prophet Elijah, though as mighty as he was, and blessed of God, yet he said... Her heart was full of sorrow, and God had kept it from him, and hadn't told him nothing about it. And when she got close enough, he said, "Is all well with thee? And is all well with thy husband? Is all well with thy son?"
Now, listen at the woman. She said, "All is well." What faith! I would to God that we could have faith like that. There her baby was laying a corpse, and her husband wringing his hands and pulling his hair, screaming and crying outside the house, and the neighbors all crying. And here she was, a mother with a choice of her heart pulled out and took in death, but, "All is well."
She was up close to the man that represented God to her. He was God's closest representative. "All is well." Then she run up and fell down at his feet, and begin to reveal to him what had happened.

14 And Elijah told his servant, said, "Take my staff and go forward. And if anybody salutes you, don't salute back. Just go and lay the staff on the baby."
I do think that's where Saint Paul got the idea of taking handkerchiefs off of his body, because Elijah knew that anything that he touched was blessed, because the Spirit of God was on him.
But the woman's faith wasn't in the staff; it was in the prophet. And I like her determination. She said, "As the Lord lives, and your soul never dies, I will not leave you."
If we tonight could hold onto God's representative like that! If you could tell the Holy Spirit tonight, "As sure as You are the immortal Spirit of God, You give me a promise in the Bible of my healing, and I'm going to hold on till I see something happen," there would be miracles taking place. The lame would be jumping and running, and the doctors of Los Angeles would be surprised tomorrow to see their patients healed and well.

15 If we could just take ahold of God's agent. God's agent then was Elijah. God's Agent today is the Holy Spirit. Hold onto it! When you ever come in contact, and you feel the Holy Spirit on you, then hold on to it. "I will not leave You!" Stay with it like Jacob did when he wrestled with the angel. "I'm going to hold on till You bless me and give me the things that I'm desiring."
Wouldn't it be a wonderful revival break out in the Angelus Temple, and all up-and-down the coast here, if the people that's right here tonight, and those that are listening in on the air, would take that attitude towards the Holy Spirit tonight: "I'm going to stay with You until I find out the thing that I want to know!"

16 And Elijah seen he had her on his hands; there was nothing else to do but go with her.
And if you'll just stay with the Holy Spirit, stay on His hands.... He loves you well enough to come to you, and bless you, and save you, then stay on His hands! Don't you remember Jesus teaching about the unjust judge? How he said, "I fear neither God nor man. But the woman torments me day and night crying after me." How much more will God give them the Holy Spirit who cry after Him day and night.
If we got faith to believe that God can do it, and will do it, let's take ahold of it and hold on! Just don't let it go. Stay right with it. If it don't come now, it'll come ten minutes later, hour later, two weeks later, a month later---no matter when it comes, I got ahold, and I'm going to stay with it.

17 Then Elijah girded up his loins and went with the woman. And as he got to the house, he did not have very much spiritual support, because they were walking through the house, screaming and going on. And Elijah went in and put them out and closed the door behind him.
Now, he did not pray. He just walked up and down the floor, waiting for the anointing to come on him, watching sideways at that little cold form laying there of that baby, but waiting for the Holy Spirit to touch him. Back and forth, up and down the floor. And when he felt the Spirit of the living God come on him, he stretched hisself across the little baby, put his lips against its lips, his nose against its nose, its hands against his hands, and it sneezed seven times, come to life. He presented it back to his mother.
From death to life, when the Holy Spirit come; that's what it does. It brings from death to life, physically and spiritually. Takes the cancer and condemns it and casts it out when the Holy Spirit comes. Takes death working in the body and condemns it to spare your life for His glory. It takes the sinner that was alienated away from God, away from Christ, a subject of hell, and cleanses him from all unrighteousness and makes him a son of the living God, when the Holy Spirit comes down.

18 Oh, it thrilled the little lad's heart to hear them stories. Oh, then I see, he hears a noise coming. He raises from his rock. What is it? It sounds like the hoofs of a little mule. "Oh, it must be someone rich. I will rush out quickly and ask this kind person for a coin." And he hears a runner going before the little mule to lead it, as its little feet beats over the cobblestones coming down toward Jerusalem.
He runs out with his rags and he says, "Please, kind sir, will you give me a coin? I'm sitting here hungry. I'm a blind man, and I slept late this morning. I dreamed all night that I was going to receive my sight. And I just overslept. And every one's went in. Will you be so kind as to give me a coin?"
I can hear the voice come from the one astraddle the little mule, said, "Out of my way, blind man! Beggar, I do not have time to stop for thee this morning. I'm the servant of the Lord. I'm a priest from Jerusalem. And I understand that some fanatic prophet, by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, is going to be in this city today. And we don't want no healing campaigns down here. I've come to gather the association together of all the priests of Jericho, and to stop this thing before it ever starts. So, to one side, beggar!"

19 On goes the little mule with the man. Goes back and finds his rock again. He has to move over---we will say, about two or three rocks over---because the sun is creeping higher. And as he sits there, he's thinking of the story. "Oh, if I could've only lived in the days of Elijah the prophet. What a great time that would've been. If I'd have lived in that day, you know, I believe that I could have went to Elijah, and he would've prayed for me, and God would've opened my blinded eyes. But, alas, the priests all tell us the days of miracles is passed. There's no more such a thing as prophets and miracles.
"But I wonder, why could that great God who could make heavens and earth, who could open the Red Sea, who could do those miracles through His servants, why can't we do it today? But they are the learned ones. They say those days are passed and gone, long ago."

20 Then he remembers that same prophet, Elijah, and Elisha, came down that same cobblestone street ... or, road, arm in arm, going down to Jordan, five hundred yards from where he was sitting, to open up that Jordan.
Oh, I can imagine him saying, "If I could hear their footsteps coming down that road now, I'd run out there real quick and fall down by their side and say, 'O great prophets of the Lord God, I believe that you're God's servants. Just offer a little prayer for me and God will give me back my sight.'" But of course, they'd been gone for years. The days of miracles were over.
Then he begin to think of something else. That after Joshua had crossed the Jordan, by being opened by the hand of God, one day just before he was going to take Jericho... Joshua was a mighty warrior. And he was walking around, viewing over the great high towering walls, and wondering just how that he was going to get over those walls to lead his army to take the land that God promised. God promises the land, but he had to fight for every inch of it.

21 Sister, in that wheelchairs, and on this stretcher, God promised you healing; you'll have to fight every inch of it! The devil will make you fight with the sword of God every inch you... But remember, footsteps is possession. "Wheresoever your foot treads, that I give it to you." Every step you can make. You know, that gets me feeling religious. Footsteps is possession. All the land that your feet will tread upon in this promised land, it's yours!
And it's the same to every believer tonight. Anything that you can take, any divine promise of God, and claim it, and hold it, it's yours. Footprints.
And then when Joshua had not got very far yet... He'd camped, and he was out looking over the situation. All of a sudden, he looked, and there stood a great Warrior with His sword pulled. So Joshua pulled his sword and went to meet Him. So he stopped and said, "Are You on our side, or are You for our enemy?"
And the voice came back from the One who had His sword up in the air; He said, "I am the Captain of the host of the Lord."
The mighty warrior Joshua pulled off his helmet and laid it on the ground.

22 Blind Bartimaeus said, "If I could've only been sitting at this gate when that Chief Captain of the host of the Lord would've been standing there, I would've got my healing. If I'd just knowed that His presence was there."
Little did he know, that less that two hundred yards from him right then come that same Captain, the Lord Jesus, the Captain of the host of the Lord. Then, all of a sudden, there was a noise. Isn't it most unusual, that where Jesus is, there's usually a lot of noise.
And we hear them coming out the gates, screaming, some hollering, "Hosanna to Him that cometh in the name of the Lord!" Others saying, "Thou mighty prophet of Galilee!"
And the others saying, "Away with Him! He's a witch! He's Beelzebub! He does nothing but deceive the people. He's a spiritualist. He's a mind reader. Away with such a hypocrite!" And they were throwing at Him overripe vegetables, I suppose. I can hear him, as some saying one thing and the other one, and the great rush coming on...
And, do you know, where Jesus is, there's usually a mixed multitude like that. It's always that way. There's a mixed multitude: some for Him, and some against Him.

23 But He comes walking on. I can see Him as He walks quietly, a little frail-looking body, as He moved on up the side of the road, and some screaming one thing and another. And all of a sudden, there comes a sharp voice that blind Bartimaeus can hear. It's that same priest that talked to him a few hours before. Said, "Say, You divine healer who done that fake job on that man called Lazarus, if You are the divine healer and can raise the dead, we've got a whole graveyard full of them up here. Come raise up some of them."
You know, they've been dead a long time, but that spirit still lives today. "If you can heal, do this. If you can do so much, do this." God cannot work against your faith; you've got to believe it. If you believed it, you wouldn't ask such questions as that.
Same one that said on the cross, "If Thou be the Son of God, just come down and we will believe You." Same fellow that met Him in the wilderness, said, "If Thou be the Son of God... If Thou be... And You're the great miracle worker, let's see You perform a miracle here before me and I will believe it."
God doesn't clown for people. He's got a purpose of doing things. God doesn't do things just at random or to please unbelievers. He works His will to fulfill His promises.

24 And as I see him sitting there, and he started to raise up, and the crowds was pushing him over, and he falls to his knees; he said, "What is all this disturbance? Who is it passes by?"
And some of them pushing him back, "Oh, sit down."
And finally, I can see a kind hearted lady bend down over the old blind beggar, kind of lifts him back to his feet. And he says, "Kind lady, would you be so good and kind as to tell me what's all this rush and disturbance about?"
"Oh," she said, "sir, perhaps you don't understand. That is that Galilean prophet that's going by."
"What Galilean prophet, my lovely lady? What Galilean prophet? I have never heard of such a one."
"It's Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of David. Are you acquainted with the Scriptures, blind sir?"
"Yes, I am acquainted with the Scriptures. I was just sitting here in the warm sun thinking about the great Jehovah God."
"Well, this man who's passing by is Jesus of Nazareth, His Son, who heals the sick and does good kind things to people."
"Oh, you don't mean that that's the Son of David? Now He's too far down the road. I will never be able to get through that mob." He's almost a hundred yards to the road, and then maybe two hundred yards down the road. "How will I ever do it? But if He is the Son of David, the Spirit of God is in Him. And if He's the Son of David, He'll hear my cry." And he screams, "O Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

25 Why, Jesus could not have heard him, physically, because everyone was screaming one thing and another thing. But what was it? His faith touched Him. And He stopped.
Remember, He was on His road to Jerusalem to be offered for a sacrifice for the sins of the world. And the burden of all the world rested upon His shoulders. And all of that, and the screams from one side to the other, yet the faith of a blind insignificant beggar stopped Him in His tracks.
Faith of one individual little insignificant person here in this building tonight will bring Him from glory to this building here, to prove that He's still the Son of David---the same yesterday, today, and forever. No matter how poor you are, what color your skin is, whatever you are, that doesn't matter. He will stop at the faintest cry of faith.

26 "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
Jesus stopped, said, "Bring him here." What was happening? Said, "What would you that I would do?"
He said, "That I might receive my sight."
He said, "Why, your faith's already made you whole." What was it? God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes.
That same Lamb is provided tonight for every spiritual or physical blind person in this world that will have enough faith to cry out from your heart, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." He will take away the cancer, He will take away the sickness, the blindness, whatever's wrong with you. Just the faintest little cry, God has the Lamb provided, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

27 It was the man's faith that stopped Him. It was the woman's faith at the... She pressed through the crowd and touched His garment and He turned around.
It's the same Jesus who could tell Simon what his name was, and what his father's name was. It's the same Jesus could see around the mountain fifteen miles and tell Nathanael before he come to the meeting, "I saw you when you were under the tree." It's the same Jesus that seen the prostitute at the well, that looked into her face and said, "Go get your husband and come here."
When she said, "I have no husband," He said, "That's right, you've got five."
And she said, "Sir..."
Not like the priests of that day. They said He was Beelzebub, a fortuneteller, a devil spirit: "These things were done by an unclean spirit."
But this little woman said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. We know---we Samaritans know---that when the Messiah comes, this'll be the sign that follows the Messiah, for He will tell us all things. He's the God-prophet that Moses said would rise up. And You must be His servant. But we know when the Messiah cometh, He will tell us all things. But who are You?"
It was that voice could say that, "I am He."
And she ran into the city saying, "Come, see a man that's told me the things that I have done."
And that testimony of that little woman stirred the whole city, until the men believed the Lord Jesus. And then He never healed any. He sent Philip down after His resurrection to heal the sick.

28 That same Jesus can come to the Angelus Temple tonight, in the same power of His resurrection. And your faith can call Him on the scene, if you'll just let Him do it. For He is the Lamb of God, been slain since the foundation of the world, who healeth all thy diseases, and forgives all of our sins.
Let us bow our heads and speak to Him.
Lord, just how could we speak to You, Lord, in such a way and have the vocabulary that we could express our hearts to how we love You and thank You? We who have witnessed Your resurrection power, we who have found You dear to our hearts, we pray, God, that You'll come just now. One word from You will be more than we could say in a million lifetimes, for man can say most anything that he desires; but one word from Thee, O Lord, will confirm Your Word to be true.
We would then ask You, Lord, that You would save every person here. And if we find favor in Thy sight, of our faith... Not because that we are so holy, we do not confess that. But we confess that we have faith in the One that was holy, and have confessed our sins, and asked pardoning, and have had the witness of His Holy Spirit upon us. We stand justified by His works.
We ask, Lord, that You'll come into our midst now. Take our faith, all that we can gather together. Let the great Holy Spirit come in and carry on the works of the Lord Jesus, that precious body that sits at Your right hand tonight as a High Priest to make intercessions upon our confession. Save the lost and heal the sick. We ask it in Jesus' name.

29 And while we have our heads bowed, before there is one visible thing done, how many in this great audience tonight would raise up your hands to God and say, "God, I've been thinking about You all day long. Draw near to me now; I need You." Would you just raise up your hand to Him? "I need You, Lord. Draw near unto me." God bless you.
Would there be one in here who is not just right with God, saying, "Lord, I believe now; before I even see You do one thing, I want You to be merciful to me. I've done wrong, and I'm going to confess my sins right now to You. Have mercy on me." Raise your hand, will you? God bless you, you, you (oh, my) across the building, in the balcony. Dozens of hands.

30 Lord, before they have even seen one move of Yours, and this little chopped up message, somehow, the Holy Spirit has drawn near, the Captain of the host of the Lord. Now, prove Yourself, dear Lord, by performing signs and wonders just the way You did them before Your crucifixion, and these people will quickly receive You as their Saviour. We commit the service unto Thee now, Lord. I've spoken of You, now You speak, Lord, and confirm what I've said to be truth, if You so find it fit to do that tonight, Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I ask it. Amen.

31 Our sister on the piano... Now, you who raised your hands just a few moments ago, I would've called you right now. But being that... I did that for a purpose. Somehow tonight, I feel strange, that the Holy Spirit is near tonight. I see it like a expectation over the audience to receive something. Oh, what a night it could be. The Holy Spirit, I'm sure He's here. I'm positive of that. And if you'll just take a hold of Him now, and say, "O Lamb, You were the One who were slain for me also. I hold to You now for my healing, my salvation," whatever you have need of.
Now, in the church He has sent gifts. Some are apostles. Apostle and a missionary is the same word, meaning, "one sent." Why the missionary wanted to be called a missionary, I don't know why. Because a missionary and an apostle both means, "one sent." A missionaries, or prophets... Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors, that's the offices of the church. And these offices should be alive with the Holy Spirit; not set in by men, but set in by the Holy Spirit in each church. Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors---these are offices that God set in the church. Man has nothing to do with it. God puts them in the church.

32 Oh, we have, of course, some make-beliefs, and... I don't mean to say that critical, friend. Don't take me wrong. But I mean in this day, when we have a social gospel that's being preached so much, that's just a regular routine to go to church and ... that's wrong. God lives in His people.
He's alive, working among His people, resurrected, and calling out His people, and wooing them to Him. And these true offices of God witness the same thing, because they're filled with that Spirit of Him that lived on earth in human flesh in the body of Jesus, which sits at the right hand of God now to make intercessions, and His Spirit is down here moving among His people. Blessed be His holy name. Moving in His people, a lively church, filled with the Spirit, all of His gifts and wonders working perfectly in the body.

33 That ought to make any man want to come.
Right now, when we see that most anything can happen in one... Before this service closes tonight, we may all be in eternity. A hydrogen bomb could strike Los Angeles. And no doubt "Los Angeles" is wrote on one in a hangar way in the East now somewhere. You know that. They've set timed on every city in the United States, and we got every bomb timed on them. Just let one pull, that's all.
They got a bomb that'll blow a hole in the ground a hundred and seventy-five feet deep for a hundred miles square. Where would you get to hide from it? Why the concussion would go plumb into the volcanic. The concussion would break every bone in your body if you could go a thousand feet in the ground. You can't hide. We're not going that way anyhow; we're going this a-way, up like this.

34 So, blessed friend, in the Bible time, the last church, before God destroyed Sodom with fire and brimstone, He came to His church, His elected church. He sent two ministers down to preach in Sodom. But He came to His elected church in His ... in a bo... [Gap in the audio.]
Jehovah God did that, and sat with His back turned to the tent talking to Abraham. And He said, "I'm not going to keep any secrets from you, Abraham. You've waited for this promise. And about next month, I'm going to appear to you at the time of life for Sarah." And Sarah, in the tent, laughed to herself. And the Angel said, "Why did Sarah laugh?" And the Bible said He had His back to the tent. What did He do? He discerned her spirit. What was it? Just that sign was given just a few hours before Sodom was burned. That's the last sign.

35 What did He do just before He come to His own, His own received Him not? He came and told Peter who he was. He told Nathanael where he come from. He told the woman at the well. Both Jew and Samaritan, but never one time before the Gentiles, not one time. Why? He spoke that it would come.
But now is the end of the Gentile age. We're at the end. We've had signs and wonders of miracles of healing, evangelists, and powers, and so forth; but what is the last sign? God is infinite. And if He does one thing one time, He's got to do it again on the same circumstances rises; He's got to perform the same thing. This is the end of the Gentile age. Now, all this is Scripture. Now, is it truth? Will it work? May God grant it.

36 Prayer cards is give out today? Going to take K? K. All right. We can't stand too many at once. K number 1, who has it? Prayer card K number 1, would you raise your hand? (If they would turn the big light out in the balcony.) K number 1, would you raise you hand? K number 2, would you raise your hand? Right here. Come here, lady, right down here. Number 3, raise your hand. All right, over here, this lady here. Number 4, raise your hand. Number 5, raise your hand. All right, right here. Come right down this way. Number 6, you K number 6? All right. If you can't move out of the chair, just leave her sit; that's all right; she's in the prayer line. That's all right. Just let me know when 6 is called. K number 7, raise your hand. K number 8, raise your hand. 9, raise your hand. 10, raise your hand. 11, 12, 13, 14, K14? 15, 16, 17, 18; just keep marching on. 18, 19, 20.

37 Did you notice in the room last night, it seemed like if the discernment was going on, the people seemed to rally. But if they didn't rally, well then it was... When the Spirit of discernment would come, that would make them rally. Sure, it should.
I want to speak to the audience just a moment. My ministry is just a little later sign to the church than laying on of hands. Laying on of hands was a Jewish custom. When Jairus' daughter was dead, Jairus said to Jesus, "Come, lay Your hands on her." But when the Roman Gentile, his servant was sick, he said, "I'm not worthy that You even come under my roof; just speak the Word." That's it.
Now, we've had signs of laying on of hands, all down for two thousand years. But now, we're at the closing of the age. It's something different now. My ministry is this: it's through a Spirit of discernment, that it might manifest Jesus Christ's present, that Lamb that we are speaking of that's been slain.

38 Now, how many knows that there's not a man on earth can heal you? You know that. No one can heal you. If it is, then the Scripture's wrong. And Psalms 103:3 said, "I'm the Lord who heals all your diseases." So then, you see, there's no man can heal you. God does the healing.
Did you want to put the sister in the line? What was she, 6 or 7 there, wasn't she, or something? What say? Number 6. All right. If you want to sit right there, well, that's perfectly all... What say? Whatever, if you want to put her in line or leave her there. When six's times comes, I will go pray for her. All right, sir, just sit there. All right, sir. All right, sir.
All right. And the rest of you all that's in your chairs and things, and can't get up like that, just set right there, and that's perfectly all right.

39 Now, the ministry is to make known the Lord Jesus, His presence. Then if God promised this and He keeps that promise, how much more supernatural and greater is that than anybody to be healed. How many knows that? Why sure.
It could be a little case of just... If you was crippled, or lame, and maybe you sat and tried, you could get up and maybe take a few steps; but to see something so supernatural, it goes down into the life of the person, and brings things out and reveals the secrets of the heart. That proves His presence. That's right.
Then you should believe, everyone. And the whole group could be healed at one time. Do you believe that? All believes that? Raise up your hand, all you who will believe that.
Just don't put no more in the prayer line right now. I want to see how much you believe it. Come here, Billy. Just stop the prayer line and come up here a minute. Come on.

40 How many in this audience does not have a prayer card and you believe that Jesus Christ will heal you? You look this way and pray. Does the Bible say He's a High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities? And if you touched Him, He'd act the same way He did then when He was here on earth, if He's the same High Priest. Now, you look this way and believe with all your heart. Have faith.
How many you got in the line now? Twenty? That's enough right now. Bring them on.
Now, you stand there just a moment, lady. The woman, I guess I have never seen her. I guess we are strangers to each other. That's right. We'll just both raise up our hands that this is our first time meeting. The visible audience can see this. And the radio audience, we're here with a massive big crowd in the Angelus Temple tonight. And there's sick people all over the place. And you in radio-land who's listening in...

41 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, when He appeared here in the last day with the Gentile people, as He promised to do, He will have to show the sign of the Messiah, His resurrection, just like He did when He was here in a physical body. He's here now in the corporal body of His church when we're united together in prayer, and the Holy Spirit is present.
Just like Paul, when he looked down and said, "I perceive you have faith to be healed."
When he was out on a ship that night, and the little ship tossed about, and ten thousand devils had swore they'd drown Paul, and every lick of lightening come down with a glaring demon on the waves; and yet the Angel of the Lord come to Paul, and Paul run out and said, "Be of a good courage. For the Lord God, who's servant I am, sent His Angel, and He stood by me; there's none of us going to be lost." He knowed what he was speaking of. That same Jesus lives tonight.

42 Here's a woman that's a total stranger. I know nothing of her, never seen her in my life, and she's never seen me. We both got our hands up that we never met or seen each other. And here lays the Word of God at this sacred desk.
You said that if Jesus was the same, He'd act the same and do the same like the Bible said He is the same.
Here's a man and a woman, just like Saint John 4, when Jesus our Lord met the woman at the well, and He'd never seen her before. She had a trouble. And He talked to her just a minute till He caught her spirit, and told her what her trouble was. And as soon as she was told her trouble, she said, "I perceive that You are a prophet. And we're looking for the Messiah to come to do this." All that knows that's the truth in this visible audience, say "Amen."

43 Jesus said, "A little while, and the world won't see me no more. Yet, ye shall see me, for I (a personal pronoun), I will be with you to the end of the world, even in you."
Then if I told you I had the spirit of John Dillinger, the outlaw, you'd expect me to have guns and be mean. If I said I had the spirit of an artist, you'd expect me to be able to paint the picture of the artist.
The Spirit of Christ is in the church, it'll do the works of Christ. It's got to; it's the same Spirit.
Now, I'm a man, sinner saved by grace. But by a divine gift... Now, if that woman's sick, I don't know she is. I don't know, have no idea what she's standing there for. I have nothing to know. I don't know who she is, where she come from, nothing, how... She might be financially in trouble. She might be spiritually in trouble. She might be physically in trouble. I don't know. But if God would reveal to me about her, how many would believe then with all your heart? All right. Be reverent now.

44 You just stand there, lady. You be the judge. And may the Lord add His blessings. For this, right now, the word from God could prove whether I've told the truth or not. That's right. So He's able to do it. Whether He will or not, that I don't know.
But I see you've had an examination by a doctor. And it's stones, gall stones and kidney stones or something. That's right, in the stones. That's exactly right. And you should be operated on for it, he thinks. If that's true, raise up your hand. Now, do you believe?
Now, that they might cover over every guess, so that the critic might not be able to criticize. Now, you get ready, and if something else is told the woman, I don't say He will, but if it is, then you just rejoice, and take ahold of that Holy Spirit that's in the building right now, and hold on to it. And you out there in radio-land, do the same thing.

45 I don't know what I told you. But whatever it was was the truth. I remember you raising your hand. See, it's another world. It's a Spirit world you go into to see something that has happened. Yes, I see it coming back again, a rather strong looking man, giving a examination. Gall stones. That's right. And stones in the kidney, suggest an operation. You're from out of town. You're from the east. Phoenix. Phoenix, Arizona. Yes, sir. And if God will tell me what your name is, will it help you? Mrs. Rose Wagner, you can go home now and be made well. God bless you. All right. God bless you. God bless you.
You believe now with all your heart? That should settle it. It's the great Holy Spirit that's in the building, Jesus Christ's promise being made fulfilled. It should make each one of you hold on to God and say, "Yes, Lord, I know You're here. I'm going to hold on now. I'm not going to let You go. I'm going to be like the Shunammite woman to Elijah. I'm going to hold on until I get the desire of my heart."

46 Here's a little lady that they brought up here too. We're strangers to one another, I suppose. God knows us both. If God will reveal while the Holy Spirit is present the things ... something that you know I know nothing about, if I never seen you and never knowed you, well then, there's got to be something supernatural.
That woman keeps appearing that was just here on the platform just a few minutes ago. Where did she go, that was healed? A woman... Oh, is that her standing way back in the audience? Look this way; I keep seeing you stand here. Yes, it's something on your heart you're praying for. It's your brother. He's got heart trouble, over there from you. But he's not from Arizona. Being as you spoke it out here at the platform, "Arizona." He's not from Arizona; he's from Indiana---Indianapolis, Indiana. Go home, sir, Jesus Christ makes you well.
Do you see the Holy Spirit? The man not... Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hold to God's unchanging hand and His promises, and you can have what you ask for. It's God's mercy and goodness. How great Thou art, Lord. How great Thou art. After nineteen hundred years, He's still alive! And when there's no more moon, or stars, or worlds, He'll still be alive, and His subjects shall be with Him, still alive. Oh, we go into an eternity. No one can explain what eternity means. It's forever, more than forever; "forever" is a space of time. It's infinite.

47 If God will reveal to me, lady, you who are standing here, what's your trouble. I didn't mean to be rude, but there kept being this woman---another woman---standing, kind of a red hair. And you're a gray haired. See, I knowed there was a difference in you. And it was something else on her heart that wasn't completely satisfied. Then there's a man kept appearing. And I seen there was something connected by it, that...
But if the Lord will reveal to me what's your trouble, or something about ... you will believe me as His prophet ... or His servant? You're suffering with a heart trouble. That's a leakage of the heart, the doctor says. That's right. If that's right, raise up your hand. You believe now? Now, just a moment. There's something else on the woman's heart. She's concerned about someone else, because there was a girl appeared by her. That's right, isn't it? Now, just watch just a moment, and see what the Holy Spirit will say. Yes, it's a girl; it's your little granddaughter. And she's in some sort of a school. She has spells. That's right. That's true.
Here's another thing that you're needing. You've always wanted a close walk with God. You're not walking just right with Him now. And your husband also is needing a closer walk with God, right back there. That's right. All right, you just believe with all your heart, and you all walk close to God, and God will deliver your little granddaughter and make her well. Now, you believe and go home. And God be with you and bless you. Amen. God bless you.
Let us thank the Lord. Just say, "Thank You, Lord Jesus," for His goodness and mercy. Be real reverent now. Be real reverent.

48 This person who's approaching... Here's a perfect picture of John, fourth chapter, a white man and a colored woman. That was a Jew and a Samaritan. Now, lady, I suppose we're strangers to one another. The Lord has just brought us together this first time. If God will reveal to me, like He did the woman at the well, the something in your heart, the secret that you're here for, will you believe it and know...? You know whether it's the truth or not. And if He knows what has been, He surely will know what will be. That is just as true as it can be. You have many things wrong with you. You have fallen, just had a fall, and you hurt your stomach, your knees too. And here's another thing. You are a lady preacher. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD. You're healed. Go home. Jesus Christ makes you well.
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Have faith.

49 Right in line with the woman, sitting here, in this second row back here, lady---that person, second person sitting there, suffering with a head trouble---do you believe Jesus Christ will make you well back there? back here in the second row? If you'll believe it with all your heart, you can have it.
You have cancer. That's shadowed to death. You only have one hope, that's in Jesus Christ. Do you believe that if Jesus Christ, so concerned, would know what you're here for, and would reveal to me what your trouble is, do you believe that He will make you well now? If I tell you where the cancer's located, would...? It's in the bladder. That's right. Is that right? Now, you believe Him? All right, you can go home and Jesus Christ makes you well. God bless you. Amen.
Have faith in God. Don't doubt. Believe with all your heart. "If thou canst believe."

50 This the lady, the next one? All right. We're strangers to each other also. I don't know you; I have never seen you.
Sitting right back there with high blood pressure, you believe Jesus Christ will make you well? If you believe it with all your heart, have faith in God, you can have it.
Yours is complications, just many things wrong with you. That's right. It's caused by an accident. I see you standing there... Oh, trucks... A truck hit you; that's what did it. That's right, isn't it? Raise up your hand if that's true. Now, if God could bring me to that scene, when I seen that thing happen, you believe He's going to make you well? All right, you have your healing. Then go on your road and rejoice. Say, "Thank You, Lord Jesus." God bless you.
Now, this... Put your hand on mine, lady. If God will reveal to me while I'm looking across the building this way, if God will show me by a vision what's wrong with you and me looking this a-way, will you believe with all your heart that it's Jesus Christ the Son of God? You will? Then you're asthmatic condition, coughing, it's over now. Can go home and be well. God bless you. Have faith.

51 Put your hand... Come here. Do you believe that God can tell me, looking up toward the heavens like this, what's your trouble? Diabetes. Believe, go home and get well. Have faith.
Do you believe God? Coughing, asthmatic. Go home... Lady's trouble, all leaves you now. Go home and be well.
Now, if you just keep believing like that, it don't even take a discernment. Your trouble's in your back. Go home, say, "Thank You, Lord Jesus." You'll get well and be well.
You must have prayer, because it's cancer. O Lord, I cast away this evil devil called cancer from this dying woman. I place between her and death the blood of Jesus Christ. May it leave her. Go home rejoicing, saying, "Thank You, Lord Jesus."
You had it also, sir. Believe now. When it left her, it left you too. Go, believing with all your heart. Believe now.
Heart trouble. Just keep on moving along, saying, "Thank You, Lord Jesus," and believing.
Trouble's in your back. Believe with all your heart and go home and be well, in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You believe Jesus Christ will heal you and make you well if I lay hands...?
Thanks be to God. If that doesn't mean something, look at out there.

52 Lord, bless our sister, and send her home to be well in Jesus' name. Have faith now.
You're afraid you're going to be crippled all your life with that arthritis. If you'll believe with all your heart... Do you? Just go off the platform like a young lady, believing God will make you well, and He will do it, if you'll just believe.
Your heart bothers you. You believe that Jesus Christ will make you well? Come here, let me lay hands on you. Lord God, in Jesus' name I pray that You'll heal the man. Amen.
All right, come.
Right down here. The lady sitting right across this here, looking at me, has got internal troubles, got a scarf around your neck. You believe Jesus Christ will make you well, lady? sitting back here, the last row over there. If you'll believe it with all your heart, accept it in the name of the Lord Jesus and be made well. God bless you, sister. That's right. That's right.
What did she touch? What happened to her? She touched the High Priest, the One that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities.
All right, you've got sugar diabetes. Do you believe Jesus Christ will heal you? Then go home rejoicing, saying, "Thank You, Lord Jesus."
Believe God will heal you of this tumor, and you won't have to have an operation? Go, and the Lord Jesus bless you.

53 I know this woman coming here. I know who she is. Won't have to have discernment. This woman I know well. It's Mrs. Peterson. Now, she's a friend of mine, was just at the house the other day. I want to pray for her. Blessed Lord, I come in the name of Jesus to pray for this dear mother of Israel, as it would be said. I ask that You heal her. Let the blessings of God rest upon her, and condemn this trouble in her body through Jesus Christ's name. Amen. God bless you, Sister Peterson. She's a friend of mine from Minneapolis.
All right, sister down here, you going to believe now, you was in the line? That's your husband sitting there. Tell him, put your hands over on you like that now, and you can just get right up and go home tonight and be well. Now, just believe. Keep your hand on her just a minute.
Right up here in the balcony, about three rows up and two in, a lady sitting there suffering with varicose veins. Do you believe, lady, that the Lord Jesus will make you well? Yes, you looking around. You believe it with all your heart? If you can, accept it right now, and you can go home and be well in the name of Jesus Christ.

54 How many more of you in here would want to receive God's blessings just now, and believes that God will make you well? All right, brother.
Someone else slip down here, put your hands on this person here. I can show you the kingdom of God coming near to you. Do you believe that's the same Lamb of God? On this other lady here, too.
The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and the sickness of the world, He's present now to heal. Do you believe that? How much more ... what else could He do? If He was standing here with this suit on, He could do no more than what He's doing right now. He was wounded for our transgressions; with His stripes we were healed---past tense. Your healing's already completed. Do you believe it? In His presence, He who is here now, He's blessing your soul. Take a hold of Him! Lay hold!
Do not think I'm a fanatic. I'm not a fanatic. I know where I am. And I know what I'm talking about. The Holy Spirit's here and will make every one of you well, if you'll believe it!

55 O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, I cast away the demon power of fear from this audience and from the radio audience. And may those out in radio-land, rise up from their beds, rise out of their wheelchairs, get up out of the hospital room, walk around, go rejoicing, holding on, because Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God has raised from the dead and is present. Come up out of the wheelchair.
There comes a lady out of this wheelchair now, that was sitting here in a wheelchair; she's accepted her healing. They're trying to get another lady coming from the cot.
Let's stand on our feet and give God praise. Rise up every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stand to your feet now. You've had hands laid on you. Every one of you can be made well. Sing and give Him praise.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you. You be seated. Just a little moment or two late. I was just hearing a testimony of the little photographer that's taking pictures around in the campaign. He was telling me he was healed. I prayed for him in 1948, I believe it was. He was a tubercular in the hospital, and was healed by the power of Almighty God. We're so happy for that. It's a little Spanish brother around here taking pictures. I think he was at the dinner the other night.
Or, I call that supper. I'll never get used to calling that dinner. I just... No need of trying... That's right, brother. You know, if I call that dinner, I've lost a meal somewhere. Back in the south, in Kentucky, we have breakfast, dinner, and supper. If you put dinner over where supper is, then where did supper go? And we don't take the Lord's dinner anyhow; we take the Lord's supper, don't we. That's right. That's right.

2 It's been so nice; I met some of the people from the meeting here today, several of them on the street. And there is... I tell you, it's going to be hard for us to leave this place. This is so nice. The people are nice and friendly. And we certainly appreciate that.
And the gifts that the people are giving us! Someone sent us a box of prunes, and some peaches in it, dried peaches. And some walnut kernels, a sack of those. And oh, I don't know what all of gifts and so forth. We do appreciate that.
I'm wearing a watch tonight that was given to me at San Jose long ago. They didn't even have a name in the box, the person sent me the watch, a fine, nineteen jewel Elgin. I've wore it ever since. Somebody here at San Jose gave it to me the last meeting. It was just put in some way, and I got it. But it's from San Jose. That person's here tonight, I certainly thank you, brother. I didn't have no name to write back to say "thank you," but I'm sure the Holy Spirit makes it known that I appreciate it. The Lord has blessed me many times. I had that on when these last things happened, so I was so glad.

3 Now, tomorrow morning is the Businessmen's breakfast. I guess they've announced it, and where it will be, and what time. And then tomorrow night will be our last night at this campaign, so far as we know, in the building here. Then Sunday afternoon closes the service. We certainly do look forward for a great closing service Sunday.
If the Lord is willing, my voice holds up, I want to preach Sunday afternoon on the subject, "As The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest And Hovereth Over Her Young." And that is, if I can keep enough voice up. I kind of take... Preaching---just like I would do anything else---I try to put all my heart, soul, mind, body, and voice in it. Maybe sometime, it's...

4 It's no place for a joke, but---I don't believe in joking from the pulpit---but Brother Bosworth was telling me one time, and many of you knew Fred Bosworth, a saintly godly person. He said there was a colored lady one time asked her minister husband, she said, "Honey," said, "what did you holler so much for this morning when you was preaching?"
He said, "Well, I tell you what it was, honey." Said, "All I didn't have in lightning I had to make up in thunder."
So maybe that's just about the way it goes with me a lot of times. But just so the thunder's coming off the right thing, is the main thing. That's what counts.
We're fixing to read His Word now, and try to get just as many into the prayer line tonight as possible. We are here for one purpose: to help you. That's why these people come together.
I met Brother Wagner today on the street, and his lovely wife. And I was telling him about one of the outstanding things in this area here is the fellowship. I just love that. I've had places where there'd be bigger crowds and so forth, but I've never had a place that had any more fellowship. Just looks like everything's just one accord; it just... I trust, my brethren, never let that leave you. Keep that, whatever you do. Stay right in that fellowship.
I'm strictly a Kentuckian. And anyone... Any more Kentuckians here from Kentucky? Well, you know what the old slogan is: "Together we stand, and divided we will fall." And that's right. So let's stay together. We got things in common, and that's the Lord Jesus.

5 Let us bow our heads now while we speak to Him in a word of prayer. Gracious Father, the Author of life, and the Giver of all good spiritual gifts, forgive us, O Lord, of our sins and our shortcomings. And we just bow our heads towards the dust; there's just something goes through us. We know we're then in the Presence of God. For Jesus has told us, if we'd ask the Father anything using His name, He'd be there to hear and give it. And we know that we're talking directly to You. And we'd ask for mercy. Many times that we do things and say things that's not just right, so we pray that You forgive us of those things.
Now, we have assembled tonight, Lord, for no other purpose but to bring glory to Thee, and to speak the Word ... preach the Word of God which blesses Thy people and brings power, and faith, and joy, eternal life to Your children. I pray, Lord, that as I read these words, that You'll send the Holy Spirit, and take the context of the text, and with the text, and place it into the heart of every person here. And may, from that placing of the Holy Spirit of those words, may it grow and never die. And all through the ages that is to come, may it live on, Lord, because it's Your Word. Sink it into my heart in that way.
Heal the sick and the afflicted. Give peace to the distressed, for we're living in a distressful time, a perplexity of time, distress between nations. And we ask for mercy, Lord, and for Thy Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us. And we will praise Thee for it, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

6 To you who take notice to the Scriptures or mark them down, I would like to read from the book of Saint Luke, the eighteenth chapter and thirty-seventh verse. And may the Lord add His blessings to His Word.
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
We're all acquainted what this Scripture is tonight. He was a beggar asking for mercy. And we're somewhat like him tonight.
I think physical blindness is a horrible thing, but spiritual blindness is worse.

7 Must have been a cold November morning. He was late. He'd had a bad night: dreamed all night long that he could see again. He woke up late, kissed his wife good-bye, and his little girl, and went feeling his way along the street to find the gate entrance. Because he was late...
There's many beggars in the land in that day. And there was so many beggars, till the people that could help support them would just have maybe a coin a day to give to a beggar. Many of them was lepers, and blind, and twisted, and... Oh, it was a horrible sight.
And the first one the merchant met, or whoever was able to give, why, gave his coin, and that settled it for the rest of the day.

8 And Bartimaeus was late. And he'd had a ... dreamed all night long that he could see again. And his heart would been thrilled because he could think back of how things looked. He'd been blind for twenty something years.
So he was late. And his only hope was to go over to the gate and wait there. Maybe some merchant coming in late might have a coin for him. And that's the way he had to live.
And there was no one coming, so he goes over and finds him a rock where the sun is warm from after his bare feet had left the cobblestones that led into the great big arch, the gate of the city of Jericho. Some of the old rocks was still laying around from the ruins when it collapsed and fell in the days of Joshua. Morning sun was rising slowly, and the winds were blowing down across the Judean hills. And he was ragged and poor. And he was wondering what he would do for his winter's wood, and for ... to survive through the winter for his family.

9 And as he sat down on a rock, hooked his rags around him and wrapped up the best he could, and the warm sun begin to shine, he kind of went to dreaming, daydreaming, thinking, "What a dream I had last night. Oh, if it could only be true, that I could see again."
And as he sat there, he begin to think of the days when he was able to see. That had been many, many years for Bartimaeus. He remembered as a little boy, how he used to run over the Judean hills there in the early spring, and the little buttercups and flowers of the spring would come up. And he would grab those little flowers and look at them, and how pretty they were. And his eyes would look towards the skies when he'd lay down on the warm sun bathed grass, and look up towards the heavens, and the blue skies, and the white clouds floating by. Oh, what a privilege sight is to a person.

10 But alas, that was long ago. And how he used to go and run, and heard his mother sit out on the front porch and call his name, sweetly and softly, "Bartimaeus, it's nap time for my little boy." And he would rush up to his mother, as she sat on the front porch, and sang the hymns of the Psalms to him, and tell him Bible stories until he would fall asleep in her arms.
How, sitting there now, as an old man, withered, crunched in the cold, he'd think of that pretty Jewish mother, her eyes just as sparkly. How she used to brush the hair back from his little baby forehead, and say, "Oh, you have such pretty little brown eyes, my boy." And he remembered some of the Bible stories then, that she used to tell him.
I tell you, the thoughts of a good Christian mother is a treasure to a human heart that's never forgotten. God, give us more mothers that'll take their children, and instead of trying to teach them tap-dancing, and something to ruin and wreck their life, will read the stories of the Bible to them and tell them of the God of heaven and peace. God knows that we need that above all things now for motherhood.

11 And as he remembered one story in particular, that he loved so well, it was a story his mother used to read him about Elisha, the great prophet. He always liked Elisha, because he was bold, and had lots of faith. And he was an ordained of God a prophet. And his mother'd tell him the story of how there was a Shunammite woman who had a lot of confidence in this prophet, Elisha. And how that she was a rich woman, and she'd support Elisha, to help him.
One day she said to her husband, "Let us build just a little chamber on the side of our house. For I perceive that the man who passes this way is a holy man of God. And let us do something for this holy man of God. And how that her husband was agreeable, that they should build him a little resting place for his weary, tired body to lay down.
And how little Bartimaeus used to think, "That was so thoughtful of those people, to try to do something for God's servants. And not thinking for a reward, but just to do something."

12 So one day when Elisha and his friend Gehazi, the servant, passed by, there was a nice little house built ... or, a little room on the side of the house. And it had a bed, and a water jar with fresh water, and a place to ... little table to eat. And how things were just fixed so comfortable for the prophet, until it just blessed him in such a way that the power of the Lord came on him, because of the blessing that the woman had showed and the man to him. And they were Shunammites.
So he said to his servant, Gehazi, "Go in and ask this woman..." I just love to come to that. "Go, ask this woman what she desires." Oh, my. "Go, ask her." It must have been... A great anointing must have struck the prophet. And said, "Go, ask her what would she desire. Should I go speak to the king, or to the chief captain?"
And she said to Gehazi, she said, "I don't desire anything. We're wealthy people. We have our home, and we have farms and lands, and I abide with my people. So I don't desire anything. I don't want any reward, not even as much as a thank you. The only thing, I just done that in respects of God, the God that you serve. And I know that He's with you. And I'm just paying that my tribute to the God of heaven."

13 And when Gehazi came back with such a message to his master, the prophet... And Gehazi kind of put a little secret in his ear, and said, "You know, she's old, and her husband is old. And they don't have any children. And I believe it would be a blessful thing, while that anointing's on you, if you would just say to her she's going to have a baby."
So Elisha said, "Go call her."
And she stood in the door, and he said, "Thus saith the Lord, you're going to embrace a child." And after the appropriate time of such things, God gave her a sweet little boy.

14 How little Bartimaeus' eyes would look up to mommy as she told of the power of God who could give that barren woman a child. I just imagine that little Jewish mother put emphasis on that part, "How that the great Jehovah God, that gave that woman that sweet little boy to love, gave you to me, Bartimaeus." Oh, that's the way to teach them. "He gave me a sweet little boy, and it's you, Bartimaeus."
Oh, he'd put his little arms around that loving little mother and kiss her. And then she'd say, "Now, Bartimaeus, you try to go to sleep while I'm telling you the rest of the story." And she'd rock him back and forth in her arms.
And here he was now, old and wrinkled, and blind, and miserable, and an outcast to the public and societies, and seemed like no one cared for him. What a miserable place to get in. But remember, there's One who cares. I don't care what condition you're in; there's One who cares. He was watching Bartimaeus.

15 Then just... He said then, "One day this little boy was out in the field with his papa, just like you go out, Bartimaeus. And you know, he must've got a sunstroke, because it was hot, and it was around noontime, and harvest time too. And so he begin to cry, 'My head, my head.' So he had a servant to take him in to his sweet mother, and she sat him upon her lap. And she tried to do all she could to bathe his little face with cold water, but his breath got shorter and shorter, and finally ceased to breathe. And he straightened his little arms and legs out, and shut his little eyes, and died."
And she might have said something like this. "But Bartimaeus, you remember, that woman knowed God. So she took the little boy and put him on the bed that the prophet slept in." What a place to put him. "Laid him upon the prophet's bed. And all was lamenting and going on. And her husband just about wild, and all the neighbors was screaming and crying.

16 "But she said to the servant, 'Saddle me up a little mule, and you get on one too. And let's go straight to Mount Carmel where the prophet's hid off yonder in a den somewhere, praying. And don't you stop unless I tell you to.'"
That's the way. The message is urgent. Don't stop, keep going. Just keep moving. We haven't got time for socials, and picnics, and card parties, and things. The message is urgent. Let's get to God with it, quickly. The world's dying.
"And on they rode." And then she'd say, "You know, Elisha looked out of his cave, and he noticed that here come the woman on the mule, and the servant running as hard as he could. And he said, 'Here comes that Shunammite, and God has hid from me her troubles. But I see that she's in trouble.'"

17 Now, she might've said something like this: "Bartimaeus, you see, God doesn't reveal everything to His prophets. He just reveals what He wants them to know, because here was a woman: Her baby was dead, and God had kept it all a secret from Elisha. He said, 'The Lord has hid it from me.'"
So the woman come up and reverent, she bowed down before the prophet and begin to reveal to him that her baby was dead.
And he told Gehazi, "Take my staff and go to the baby. If anybody speaks to you, don't speak back. Just go straight and do what I tell you."
Now, I think there's where Paul got laying on handkerchiefs on the sick.
Now, the prophet knowed that everything that he touched was blessed. He knew that. If he could only get the woman to believe it. And said, "Take my staff and lay it on the child."

18 But the woman's faith wasn't in the staff; it was in the prophet. And she said, "I will not leave you. I'm determined to stay with you and hold on till I find out why God took my baby." She knew if she ever got to him, that God would reveal it, why He took the baby.
I like that determination too. She was determined to hold on to it. When something's wrong and you can't understand, take ahold of God and hold on to Him till something answers. Just don't be: "Well, I prayed last night, and I haven't heard yet. So I guess He doesn't answer no more." Hold on to Him. Just keep holding on. "I will not leave you." Be like Jacob, wrestle all day and night as he did with the angel. "I will not leave you."

19 And the prophet seen he couldn't get rid of her, so I guess the only thing to do is go with her. So he got his coat, and put it on, and away they went. And when they got to the place, they met Gehazi. And he said, "I put the staff upon the child, but there was no breath or nothing." So what a condition. Everybody screaming. The neighbors crying. And Elisha went in and put everybody out.
Then I can see little Bartimaeus' eyes say, "Then what happened, mama?"
"Well, the prophet..."
"Did he go to fasting and praying?"
"No, Bartimaeus, he just walked up and down in the room, back and forth, until the Spirit come on him. And when the Spirit come on the prophet, he laid himself on top of the little boy, his lips to the little boy's lips. And he sneezed seven times, and Jehovah raised that little boy up to life again."

20 Oh, Bartimaeus, about that time, a cold breeze came down, and he shivered. "Oh," he thought, "wasn't that wonderful? And just think now that that Elijah and Elisha, his successor, passed within twenty feet of where I'm sitting here, many years ago, arm in arm, going down over them same stones that I walked over this morning. They walked arm in arm right down this road, going down. And he took his coat and opened up Jordan and stepped across. Oh, what if I would've been sitting here then, blind, and miserable, and shivering in the cold, and needy? I would've run out into the street and have stopped them, and said, 'Oh, great prophets of God, pray the Lord that He will give me back my sight.' But alas, it's too late now. The priest tells us that the days of miracles is gone long ago: There's no such a thing as that any more; that was for another age; there can be no supernatural in this day. It's nothing to it. So all those things that once God did, somehow another, He must have went upstairs and went to bed or something. That He just doesn't care for His people. Even lets us run it the best that we can. So there's no more days of miracles."
Oh, that was a horrible thing. And he said, "Now, if I would've been here when they come by, I would've had one of those prophets to ask God. I'd have been satisfied. I would've got my sight."

21 Just then he hear something coming. I can see him as he rises. He listens. He hears the clicking of the little hoofs on the big cobblestones that led into the gate. And he heard the patting of a sandal in front of it, and two men talking. So it must be a rich man. His transportation was by a little mule. The poor had to walk. But this man could afford a burro.
So he was... He run out quick, and he said, "Oh, kind sir, I was late this morning getting to my begging place. And I do not have a coin, and I've got a family to feed. Would you be so kind as to give me a coin?"
Then a real rough voice spoke out, said, "I am the servant of the Lord. I'm on my way to Jericho. There is some fanaticism going to start up this morning, and I'm the head of the ministerial association down there. And we will not have any of these here so-called prophets in our fine country. So we're down... I'm on my way. I'm on the Lord's business. So out of my way, beggar. I must be on my way."

22 And the poor beggar gathered up his rags again, and he fumbled around till he found his rock. But it was... Then the sun was shining across, had reflected a shadow. The sun had rose a little higher, was turning around.
So he goes out a little farther. We can see him feeling until he found a large stone again. And he sat down and leaned back against the stone near the wall, where the sun had come around and give light on that side and warmth. It was awful cold that morning, so he pulled up his clothes around his shoulders again. And he begin to dream again. And he begin to think, "That other story that I liked so well that mother used to tell me, was just about five hundred yards from here, when Joshua, the great warrior, the servant of the Lord, the mighty one who succeeded Moses, the great general, stood on the banks just across. Oh, how I remember looking at the place when I was a little boy, sitting upon the hills here when mama was rocking me, and she'd point her beautiful hand."
"And right yonder, Joshua stood, and the Jordan rolled back. And our people come over across the sea ... or, across the waters on dry land in the month of April, when the storms had been up in the mountains of Judea, and all the bottoms are flooded with water. And the great muddy waters rolled. And God rolled them back. And they stayed there until two and a half million people crossed over." Amen.

23 Some of these days, I got to come down to my Jordan. You've got to come to your Jordan. Oh, I want Him to stay the muddy dirty waters of death, walk across on the wings of the Holy Spirit. Amen. He will send the morning star to light up the way.
"Just across the hill yonder, Bartimaeus, is where that happened. And then when Israel had passed over, the fear was upon Jericho, until the gates were all shut up. And they camped and put the ark of the Lord exactly in its place. And then they waited on the Lord."
That's a good thing to do. Move just as far as God lets you move, and then wait on the Lord. 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

24 And they fixed everything in preparation, and then waited. One day, the great mighty warrior, Joshua, the general, was walking out over against the walls one day, looking around. And he looked. Standing on a little hill, there stood a mighty looking Man with His sword out of the sheath, and up in His hands, and glistening in the sunlight. Joshua, being a warrior, jerked his own sword from the sheath and started to meet Him. He said, "Who are You! Are You for us, or are You for our enemy?"
Then the voice come back from the stranger; He said, "I am the captain of the host of the Lord. I am the Lord's captain over His host."
The mighty Joshua threw his sword to the ground and jerked off his helmet, and fell on the ground with his hands in his face, and worshipped the Lord.

25 "Oh," said blind Bartimaeus, "I only wished I could've lived in those days. What if I'd have been standing right here then? And I'm an Israelite. I'm an heir of all those blessings. All those things belong to me. And if I'd have been standing here, I'd have spoke to the Lord's captain, and He would've give me back my sight. And I would've went out and made an honest good living for my family. But alas, those days are gone. What happened to the captain of the Lord's host?"
Little did the blind beggar know that that same captain was a hundred yards from him. It's when we think on Him is when He draws near. When our hearts are stayed on Him, the thoughts of our hearts are constantly upon Him, that's when He draws nigh unto us, when we draw nigh unto Him.
He shivered a little. He thought, "Oh, if I could've only seen that captain." But coming right along the street, coming out of the gate, come that same captain, only in another form.

26 And he heard a noise. Usually where that captain is, there is a lot of noise. He heard some noise, and he wondered what it was all about. And just in a few moments, the whole place was covered, completely covered with people. And he begin to hear all kinds of voices. One saying, "Hosanna to the King of David, the Son of David."
Others screaming, "Away with that fanatic. He isn't nothing but a fake healer. He's a devil. He's possessed with Beelzebub. And there's nothing to Him. He's nothing but a false teacher. Away with Him."
And poor blind Bartimaeus begin to wonder, "What's all this about?"

27 Then he heard that priest that had spoke to him a few hours before, saying, "Say, you Galilean so-called prophet, if you raise the dead like you said you did, raised Lazarus from the grave, we've got a whole graveyard full of them up here on the hill. Let's see you come raise some of them." You know, that devil isn't dead yet either. He still lives. That's right. "Let us see you do something."
Jesus never even paid any attention to him. And if He didn't then, neither does His people today. Let him holler his head off; we don't care. We walk in the Spirit of the Lord.

28 They were hitting with overripe fruit, making fun of Him. And others screaming, crying, and shouting. And it was a mixed multitude. And wherever you find Jesus, you find that same thing. The Gospel attracts a mixed multitude: three different classes of people: a believer, an unbeliever, and a make-believer. That's usually what's in the multitudes. And there they was, all of them, just a carrying on.
And he raised up; he said, "Who is this?"
And someone said, "Shut up! I will have the priest to throw you out of the synagogue. Sit down!"
"I'd like to know," he said, "who this man is that's got all this emotion stirred up." And he could not get no one to listen to him. And he heard the snarls of the priest again. And some woman was going to have a fake washing His feet, and all so forth, making fun of Him, just like they do today, the same thing.

29 You know, God takes His man, but never His Spirit. The devil takes his, but never the spirit. The same spirit lives on among the people. That is true. God took Elijah, but the Spirit come upon Elisha. God took Elisha; it come on John the Baptist. Them Spirits does not die. And He took His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost come on the church. Amen.
Those critical spirits of those unbelieving priests still live today among the people: religious spirits, criticizing, making fun.
But as Jesus was at that day, so is He today: the same yesterday, today, and forever. He goes on about the Father's business. The church of the living God shall prevail. They'll move forward.
Jesus had the whole burdens of the world upon Him. He was headed right then for Jerusalem to be made a sin offering for the world. He, being the Son of God, the anointed Messiah, certainly He knowed what was coming a little while ahead of Him. Going on His road right then to die for the sins of those people, and them going on like that to Him. His head was set straight towards Jerusalem. He went marching on. He never listened to their scoffs and carry on. He never paid any attention to that. He moved on.

30 And all at once, there was a lady stooped down and picked up our old blind beggar friend. And he said, "Thank you, kind miss. You seem to be so kind. I would like to ask you one question, if it is, my dear child. What's all this commotion about? Who is it that passes this way?"
Oh, I can hear her say, "It is Jesus of Nazareth, the Prophet of Galilee. Have you not heard of Him?"
"No, I haven't."
Oh, then comes in his mind... It comes to his remembrance that his mother told him, that someday, the Lord our God, the Lord our God will visit His people. And He will send forth His Son, and that'll be the prophet that Moses spoke of. He will be a God-prophet when He comes. Oh, then his hopes begin to rise. Oh, then he knowed that He'd be a Son of David, to him, being a Jew. He'd be the Son of David. And he knew if He was the prophet, that he could surely touch God through Him. So he cried, and he said, "O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
And the young lady said, "Oh, sir. I am one of His disciples also."
"Oh, then that's the reason you're so kind."

31 You know, the disciples of Jesus is kind and considerate, full of love and compassion, trying to help somebody, trying to help somebody to find Jesus. And she said, "Oh, sir, hold on to my arm. I will try to take you to my Master." That's a real Christian: not try to send him back, but try to take him on.
And the blind beggar tried to hold her arm, but He was moved so far down the road until it was impossible with the crowds pushing and him blind, and her just a woman, and him helpless. So they couldn't make it.
So he begin to scream as loud as he could, "O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
Now, He could not hear him physically. He had done passed the gate. And all that multitude, some screaming one thing, and others screaming something else. And if you want to hear some real screams, get the Jews upset once, and you can hear some carrying on and some confusion. One saying one thing and one another, making fun of Him...

32 But something had happened in Bartimaeus' heart. The story that mother had told him was at the tips of his fingers. And if He's a God-prophet, then He can hear. "O Thou Son of David." He fell on his knees and said, "Have mercy on me."
Jesus, in all of His rush to Jerusalem, going to Calvary with the whole sin of the world laying upon Him, something touched Him. He wasn't in too big a hurry. But when that kind of a touch touches Him, He turned, not from hearing his voice, but the same way the woman touched Him that had the blood issue. He turned and looked, and said, "Bring him here.
Oh, tonight, with all the millions of worlds, and all the billions of people, and the coming of the Lord at hand, and everything, you can touch Him tonight with the feeling of your infirmities. He's still the same Lord Jesus. He never fails.

33 "O Thou Son of David."
And someone said, the Christian said, "Be of a good cheer, He calleth thee now. Come on. He's bid you to come to Him. Let's see what He will say."
And he walks close to Him, and He said, "What would you that I would do for you?"
He said, "That I might receive my sight."
Now, if he had faith enough to stop Him, faith, the power of faith, to go way out there and touch the border of His garment, as it was with that woman, and stop the Son of God, with all the burdens of the world upon Him, going to be crucified, amongst all that mass of screaming, and crying, and confusion; he had faith enough to be healed.
Jesus said to him, "Thy faith has saved thee." Jesus didn't have to tell him, say, "I will heal you." Jesus told him that his faith was sufficient; his faith had made him whole. Amen.

34 That's the same tonight: your faith that makes you whole. Have faith in God. Don't doubt Him. Believe that what He said is the truth. Your faith tonight can touch Him just the same as Bartimaeus' faith touched Him. "Thy faith has saved thee." The Greek word sozo means "physical saved," just the same as spiritually saved. "Thy faith has saved thee."
Then I can see Him turn. He didn't wait to see if he was going to receive his sight; He knew he would receive his sight. And the crowd went on.
And Bartimaeus stands there, looking around, looking for his hand. "He told me that my faith... And I believed that that's the Son of God. He told me my faith would save me."

35 I was reading here some time ago an article. It might have been fiction, and it could have been true. It could have come from some of the chronicles. But it said that Bartimaeus was a real poor man, but he was a staunch believer in God. And he used to sit by the gate with two little turtledoves, that would do little tumbles back and forth to attract the tourist's attention. If they didn't have something to attract the attention, they didn't get any coins.
That was made so real to me when I was recently in India. Everyone has to have something. They have a pipe that they'll play and the cobra will rise up. Or something, or a little monkey with a stick to play some tricks, or to beat him or something, to do a little something, then to beg, to earn a coin.

36 Well, Bartimaeus, they say, had two little turtledoves that done little tumbles over each other. And the people thought that was cute, so they would give him a coin.
So they said one night... He had a little girl that was about eight years old, and a wife. So his wife got sick. And Bartimaeus went outside, and after the doctor had left and said there's nothing could be done for her. He knowed she was a good woman. So he went out, felt his way along the side of his house, and looked up towards the skies, and said, "O Jehovah, if You'll just let my wife get well, I promise You, tomorrow I will sacrifice my turtledoves to You. I will give my two turtledoves to You for a sacrifice if You'll just let her get well."
And as the legend, or whatever it may be, goes on to say, that his wife was well the next morning. He goes and offers the two little turtledoves.

37 And then, a few weeks after that, that his little girl got sick, and also given up by the doctor. So he didn't have anything to offer the Lord but his lamb.
Now, I can't call the name, what they call these dogs that lead the blind: seeing-eye dog. Well, in those days, instead of using a dog, they had a lamb that led the blind. And Bartimaeus had a lamb, because he lived way around the hills of Judea. And the lamb had to lead him down to Jericho, was the only means he had of getting there. And he said to the Lord, "If You'll just let my little girl live, then tomorrow, I will sacrifice my lamb for You." And the next morning, the little girl was well.
And he went on his road up to the temple to sacrifice his lamb. And said the priest walked out and said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou this morning?"
And he said, "Priest, I'm coming to the temple to sacrifice my lamb, because my little girl was sick and the doctor said she was going to die. So I've come to sacrifice my lamb as I promised Him."
"Oh," he said, "Bartimaeus, you cannot sacrifice that lamb. I will give you some money, and you go to the stalls and buy a lamb and sacrifice to the Lord and keep your vow."
"Oh," he said, "but priest, I never promised God a lamb, I promised Him this lamb." That's what we must do. "I promised Him this lamb."
"Oh, but," he said, "Bartimaeus, you cannot offer that lamb. That lamb is your eyes."
He said, "Oh, priest, if I will keep my promise to God, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes." And on this cold November day, God had provided a Lamb for his blinded eyes.

38 I want to say tonight, as I was watching that clock yonder, that same Lamb of God is provided for you tonight, my friend. "He was wounded for your transgressions, bruised for your iniquities; the chastisement of your peace was upon Him; and with His stripes you were healed." God's got a Lamb provided tonight for all the sickness that's in here, for all the sin that's in here. It's the same Lamb that took care of Bartimaeus' eyes, is here tonight to take care of yours, my sister in that wheelchair. To you, mother with the baby on your lap; to you others here with TB, and with heart trouble, and with all kinds of afflictions and diseases, God has provided for Himself a Lamb. That Lamb is here to free you.

39 Will you believe Him? Could you touch Him as He passes by? "Thou Lamb of God, have mercy on me." Then hold on to it.
Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,
(said Fanny Crosby)
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Thou the stream of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Or Whom in heaven but Thee?"
That's it tonight. The Lamb is provided. If you have a need, look to Jehovah-jireh who provided the Lamb.
While we bow our heads just a moment for prayer, would you like to be remembered? Raise up your hands, saying, "O Lamb of God, I raise my hands to You. I have need tonight. Don't pass me, Lamb of God."

40 Heavenly Father, O Thou Son of David, Thou Jesus of Nazareth, I pray Thee to look down upon this audience and look at those hands. Don't pass them, Lord. They're deeply and sincere. Look upon our nation today, and our people, how they've been so confused and tore up. And there's some hardly knows how to believe, or what to believe. Different teachers has come in saying, "Those things were another age. Oh, the days of miracles is past," and so forth. But O God, while we're speaking about You, draw nigh unto us. Come in the form of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. Make known to us all Thy blessings, heal the sick, save the lost. We ask it in Jesus' name and for His glory. Amen.

41 Oh, isn't He wonderful? When I get speaking about Him, it just seems like the inside of my soul just gets like scoured out.
Mama used to take our little old dirty shirts when we were little children, and we'd get the collars so dirty. And I don't know whether you did or not; I used to chew on my collar. And mama used to take this old scrub brush. I haven't seen one in years, great big old scrub brush. And she'd get that old homemade soap, and we had to make it out of grease. And she'd rub it on there, and take this scrub brush, and she'd scrub it and scrub it, till it was just as white as it could be.
Oh, that's the way talking about Jesus does. It is something like God gets in there with a scrub brush, and just scrubs out all my disappointments, and all my cares, and just makes me feel so clean. Doesn't it do that to you, just cleans us out? His Holy Spirit comes down and sanctifies us, and takes all the unbelief away from us. That's my prayer tonight, that He do that for us.

42 I cut just a little short tonight on my message, because tomorrow is a breakfast, and we got to go early. And then I wanted to pray for all the sick tonight that had prayer cards. I promised to do it. And I'm afraid I will let it get by.
So now while we are... I believe we've got out A, B, C, and D prayer cards. Now, all the people that's holding prayer card A, come over here to the right. All of you that's got prayer card A, no matter what number it is, come over first. (Now, if someone will go down and help down there.) All the people holding prayer card A, get you a line right here.
How many is going to pray now for these people? We're expecting God... On this line, I'm going to put everyone in here that I can.

43 Prayer card B, how many has prayer card B? All with prayer card B, line right up behind A. Prayer card A and B, just line right up. No matter what numbers, just we want to get all the prayer cards lined up. Just come according to your number and according to the letter.
Isn't that beautiful? You know, that's what brings the Holy Spirit to me quickly, that "Only Believe." How many knows who wrote it? My friend, Paul Rader.
A, B, C, how many has prayer card C now? Now, you stand up. "Only believe," let's sing it softly.
Only...............
I can just see Him coming down off the mountain. The wind blows; I see His beard move. And here comes the disciples. Remember, they'd been given power to cast out devils, but they were stalled on a epileptic. They couldn't do it.

44 Now, prayer card A, B, C, now D. Prayer card D, you line up over here. Anybody that has a prayer card in the building, just find your place. Line up. Every prayer card in the building.
Now, look around, see if anybody's got a prayer card. May be deaf, you know. Any one of your neighbors holding a prayer card, someone sitting near, why, tell them. Take them over and put them in the line, because that's their place now. This is for the prayer cards as we promised.
Then tomorrow night, we can go right back in again to something else. We don't know what the Holy Spirit's going to do.

45 Just noticed Him, He come down. The disciples, about ten days before there, Jesus said to His disciples, "I give you power to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse the lepers, to cast out devils," Matthew 10. He sent them out; they come back rejoicing; with that power, they done miracles.
Just about ten days later, we find them all defeated on a epileptic case. No doubt they'd screamed, and cried, and shouted, and everything else to get that devil to leave, but he wouldn't do it.
So then the father of the boy, he saw Him coming; and he run to Him, and he said, "Lord, be merciful to us." He said, "I brought my boy to Your disciples, and they could not heal him."
And Jesus said, "I can, if you believe and all things are possible to them that believe. All things are possible to... If you will believe Me, I can do it."
They could do it. He gave them the power. Later, they asked, "Why couldn't we do it?" Did He say...? Now, listen close. Did He say, "I took My power back from you."? No, no. When God gives you anything, that's forever. He didn't take it...

46 I can show you where God gave the church power to heal the sick; now you show me in the Scriptures where He took it away from the church. Give me the Scripture, the verse. It isn't there. When God does anything, it's eternal, it's forever. When He gives you eternal life, that's forever. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you're sealed until the day of your redemption." That's right.
Now, notice. It's eternal life... Now, notice, the disciples... He said, "It was because of your unbelief, the reason you couldn't cast him out." Is that right? Because you didn't believe, not because you didn't have the power.

47 Now, to you Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterians: the reason you don't do these things in your church---it isn't because you don't have the power---it's because you don't believe it. That's all. Just because you don't believe it. If you'd believe it, the same thing would happen. The Pentecostals don't own this altogether. Pentecost is not a denomination. Pentecost is an experience (see); it's an experience. The Lutheran Pentecost, the Baptist Pentecost, the Catholic Pentecost; anyone who receives the Holy Ghost is Pentecost. It's a Pentecostal experience. When you receive the experience of Pentecost, the power's within you. That's right.
Now, if you've got faith in what's in you, it'll do anything you ask. Oh, my. Oh, that's it, brethren. That's it. Pentecost is in us. Just don't be afraid.
When a Christian gets saved, God gives him a checkbook. And on the checkbook is wrote out, "Anything you have need of, lay it on My account, the Son of God, Jesus Christ." Are you afraid to put your name on it and send it in? Now, don't be afraid. Just anything that He promised, just remember, it's yours.

48 [Gap in the audio.] ... that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that right? Well, if you can call to God, and He's the High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities, why don't you just send up a little message to Him now? Send up one of those checks, and saying, "Lord, let me touch Your garment. Speak to me like You did the woman at the well." Some of you women do that. Some of you men call like blind Bartimaeus. "Oh, speak, Lord. Turn around and ask me. Speak to me; call me. I will believe You."
Can you do that? Would it take all doubt out of your mind? Is there any strangers here was never here before? Raise your hand. Strangers, yes, each night there is. All right.

49 Jesus didn't heal people; He only healed as God showed Him to heal. How many knows that? Saint John 5:19. "The Son can do nothing but what He sees the Father doing." And then, when He stood before the people, why, He could tell them... The reason they knowed that He was the Son of God, and was the prophet that Moses spoke of, because He was a God-prophet.
See, the reason I say "prophet, God-prophet," that don't seem to take too well with you. Maybe I'd better explain it.
Jesus was a man. He was just a Man, a virgin born Man. That's right. He was the Son of God. His Father was Jehovah, God Almighty. That's right. And then Jehovah built Him a House, which it was His Son, to represent Himself to the world. And God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Is that right? That was God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.

50 Now, we have the Spirit by measure. He had it without measure. The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt within the Son of God. Now, Himself, He was a man. But the Spirit that was in Him was God. You're a man, these are men. I'm a man. But the Spirit in us is God. But we have it by measure.
Now, if I went out here in the ocean and picked up a spoonful of water. Now, like all the ocean, that's what was in Jesus, the fullness of God. But what's in me and you, is just little spoonfuls. But if you took that spoonful of water to the laboratory and tested it, the same chemicals that was in the spoonful would be what was in the ocean (That's right.), the same kind of chemicals. Is that right? It's the same Holy Ghost then. Amen.
And with your spoonful, and my spoonful, and their spoonful, and all of it put together, we can do things for God, if we will just let it flow together. It'll bring the Presence of God. Amen.

51 Now, pray. The woman touched His garment. You touch His garment. Now, I don't aim for this to be a line of discernment. I want the discernment line out here where there's no prayer cards. These here...
Someone said, "Brother Branham has a telepathy that reads it off the prayer card." You know better than that, don't you? Sure you do.
Now, you don't have any prayer card, do you? Now, let's see what this is. You just talk to the High Priest. Saying, "God, let me be assured tonight. You just let Brother Branham speak to me." See if He speaks to you.

52 Now, Lord, this is a great thing. I don't say this; only I'm bragging in Christ. That's all my brags, because I want these people... There's strangers in the gates tonight. And maybe this may be the last time we will get to meet each other. But when we come there at the gate that day, I want them to know, Lord, that You're just ready to come to the earth. We believe it.
We believe that You promised these things in the last days. They have a right to come and see it, because they are partakers of the same Spirit. Let them come now, Father. And I pray that You'll grant all these things that we've asked. May across this building... You know the people, know their need. Get to someone, Lord, who really needs You just now. And these in the prayer line that's standing here with prayer cards, let them cross then, having faith in God, knowing that the Holy Spirit is upon Your servant, and upon all Your servants here; that they may have faith in the God that is present, even the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Amen.

53 Now, isn't that a statement to make? Why do I say that? Because God promised it. He keeps His promises. He cannot fail. His promises is always true. Just pray.
Has anybody ever seen the picture of the Light, the Angel of the Lord, the pillar of fire? They got it. Scientists has it. Washington has it. Now, the church has got it in reality. They got it on a picture. You've got it in reality. It's here with us. It's leading us just as it led Israel, still leading the church. Jesus said, "I come from God." Do you believe that Jesus was that burning bush that Moses ... was out there? You believe that was Christ? It was the Angel of the covenant, the Logos that went out of God, Christ.
When He was on earth, He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." You know who "I AM" was. He said, "I come from God, and I go to God." Now, if this Angel that's here with us, if He's the same One that was in Christ, the Logos was in Christ; if that's in us, it'll do the same thing that it did when it was in Christ. Is that right?

54 Here. Right here. Can't you see that light? Looky here. Hanging right here, it's right over a colored woman, sitting right here. She's praying about her eyes; she's got trouble with her eye. That's right, isn't it, lady? Raise up to your feet. You were sitting there praying for that, wasn't you? You have your request. Go home. Jesus Christ makes you well. Just have faith.
Right back here, a lady sitting there, Spanish-looking, she has a red coat on. She's from Arizona. She has complications. That's right. Mrs. Fernandez... It's correct. You're nervous, have depressed feelings, nervous and tore up. Return home to your home. It's left you. Your faith has made you whole.
That you might believe me to be His servant, there's a little Mexican woman sitting by you. She's got something on her arm, like a cast. That really isn't her trouble; it's a domestic trouble what's bothering her. That is right, isn't it, lady? Raise up your hand if that's true. Now, go, and may God give you women the desire of your heart. Amen.

55 Tell me what they touched. What did they touch? They touched the High Priest. I don't know them. Never seen them in my life. They're total strangers to me.
What about you, the white woman sitting here? Got trouble with your head, and a nervous depressed feeling. That's right. You, sitting right there... If that's right, raise up to your feet; claim your healing. I don't know you, do I, lady? All right, go home and receive your healing now.
That thrilled that little lady sitting next to you so bad. I don't know you, do I, lady? No. Do you believe God can tell me now while we're in contact with the Spirit, like the woman at the well? Do you believe God can tell me what your trouble is? You can? Diabetes. It's true. That's right, isn't it? Stand upon your feet and accept your healing. I don't know you now. But that's what your trouble was. I see you got some more trouble too. That trouble's with a man; that's your husband. He's at home. He has a stroke. He's been operated on also. That's "thus saith the Lord." You believe now? Return home; be made well. Jesus Christ make you well. Do you believe? Somebody else believe.

56 This man sitting here with the gray suit on, is kind of looking, kind of wondering. What do you think about it, sir? You believe? You don't know what to do, do you? Maybe if I'd tell you: If you'd believe right now, that heart trouble would leave you. What about that? Would you believe it with all your heart? You do believe it now? Raise up your hands then, and get out of that old stoop. Come on. Raise up to your feet and accept your healing, and be made well. Jesus Christ heals you. Amen. What a feeling that is! Amen. God bless you, sir. Go home. See, it just takes a little something to happen to you.
What do you think about it? You helped him up there, lady. That was a nice thing to do, sitting next to him there. That's very nice. I appreciate that; so did God. I don't know you, do I? But God does know you, doesn't He? You're in trouble also. Isn't that right? Do you believe God can tell me what your trouble is? With all your heart? Well, you just have complications. The doctor don't even know what to say is the matter with you. You've been in and out of hospitals, and operations, and everything. Isn't that right? Now, if that's true, stand on your feet. If you believe Jesus makes you well now, raise up your hands and say, "Praise the Lord." All right, go home and be well. The hospital days are over for you. Do you believe God?

57 The lady sitting there shaking her head, right back there, just so thrilled with the praises of God, got a hernia. You believe that God will make you well? Got a little white collar or something another around like that, when you're shaking your head, just like that, like that, praising God, something come over you, didn't it? That's from that light standing right over you now there. Amen. There it is. Believe it; accept it. Go home and believe it, and you'll get well. Amen.
Do you love Him? Say, "Praise the Lord." Now, have faith in God. Now, what's a prayer card got to do with it? So when that critic tells you anything like that, you just take your head, and point it towards Calvary, and keep moving on. You touched His garment. He's here, the Son of God. Amen.
Now, that makes me so weak; you can see the perspiration on my hand. It's visions.

58 Now, to you in the prayer line here, let's just pass through. And all you people out there, now you appreciate out there so much. Now, will you help me pray, all you ministers and everybody, help me pray for these people? How many will pledge their prayer to these people? Raise up your hand, pledge their prayers. Now, brethren, remember, not only my prayer, your prayer: your prayer. "The prayer of the faith shall save the sick." All of you pray together while we pray and pass these people down the line here, asking God to bless them and heal them. Now, you pray with me.
All you people going to believe now as you pass through? All right, believe with all your heart, you shall receive what you ask for. Now, you're aware that the Holy Spirit's here. But if I stop with each one of you, I'd faint after a few.
How many knows that that's Bible? Daniel saw one vision, and it troubled him at his head for many days. Is that right? One woman touched the border of His garment, just like you did, and He said, "I perceive that (what?) virtue (strength) has gone from Me." That was the Son of God. I'm a sinner saved by grace. Why could it be more, because He said, "More than this shall you do, for I go unto My father." It's to fulfill His Word. I'm weak now, so pray with me. You all believe with me. When we come by the Holy Spirit here, know that He's going to do it.

59 Let us pray now. Now, sister, you believe God is going to heal you? Lord God, make her well, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Come, my brother. All this great ransomed church of God is praying for you. In Jesus' name, I speak this wonderful name over you. May you be healed. Amen. God bless you.
Now, sister, it's going to be right now. In the name of Jesus Christ, let her be healed.
It's got to happen. In the name of Jesus Christ, let it be. That's the way. You have it, sister. Go on your road rejoicing.
In the name of Jesus Christ, let it be, Lord, her healing.
Come, my sister. You was a little disappointed recently. It's all over now. Go on; you're healed.
In Jesus' name, let it be. Amen. Bless you, sister.
Come, my brother. Come as to Him. Lord, in the name of Jesus, let it be, the healing.
Come, my brother. God, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be that my brother be healed while this great ransomed church is praying for him.
God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be that our sister be healed. Amen.

60 Come believing, my sister dear. God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be while all this church is praying for her, may not one doubt... May she, as Bartimaeus of old, cry out, "Thou Son of David," in Jesus' name.
Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be that our sister be made whole. Amen.
Dear God, in the name of Jesus Christ, let our brother be made whole. Amen.
Dear God our Father, while we are conscious of Your presence, the Spirit of God breathed into the lips of hundreds of people now, let our sister be healed. Amen.
Here's a sister come walking on a cane now. Everybody in prayer. Now, believe. Dear God, while I lay hands upon her, representing the prayers of all this church, let her be healed in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dear God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be done now. Amen.
Dear God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be done. Amen.

61 Come, my brother. Dear God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let it be done that our brother be healed. Amen. Believe it, my brother.
How do you do? That's an awful thing, isn't it, coughing, going on? But Jesus Christ knows your condition, doesn't He? You believe He will make you well? Let it be, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Do you believe, my brother? In the name of Jesus Christ, God our Father, let it be to his healing comes now. Amen.
How do you do? God our Father, thinking of my own little Sarah at home, I pray that You'll heal the child in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, let it be this hour that our sister will be healed. Amen.
God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let our sister be healed. Amen.
Come, my brother. God our Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, let our brother be healed this night. Amen.
God our Father, as our sister comes by feeling that anointing upon her, let it be over now, Lord; she will be healed in the name of Jesus.

62 Come, brother. God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let our brother be healed. Amen. God bless you, brother.
That could cause you a lot of trouble in your back. Do you believe that God will make you well? That's what causes epilepsy and everything comes from that. Do you believe that? He will make you well. God our Father, I pray that You'll help this boy now, kind of trembling. But believe that You'll make him well in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. Just thought maybe that'd help him just a little bit. Now, I didn't mean that any way. But he just needed a little... You understand.
God, touch the little boy. I pray that You'll make him well in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Father, bless the woman in Jesus' name. Amen.
God our Father, I pray for our sister, that You'll heal her and make her well in Jesus Christ's name.
God our Father, bless this little girl and make her to be well, Father, as this anointed church in the Presence of the Holy Ghost, Christ, God, let it be so now that she will be well. Amen.

63 Brother Pete, I know you. Dear God, in the name of Jesus Christ, heal my precious brother. I pray that he will be made well from this hour on. Amen. God bless you, brother. God bless you, brother.
O Lord God, Creator of heavens and earth, Author of everlasting life, Giver of all good gifts, let my brother be healed from this hour on. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. Bless you, my brother.
Would there be he in the presence of this... See how the Holy Spirit anoints different? Just now, it seems like He's a ... like a "Whhww!" Like a hush, hush. God speaking, doing things. How many believes that every one of those people were healed? I believe with all my heart they were healed.

64 Would there be a sinner in here would like to walk up and be healed now from his sins? Would you come forward, sinner friend, while we sing one verse of:
Down at the cross where my Saviour died,
Down there for cleansing I cried;
There to my heart was the blood applied,
Glory to His name!
Will you come and stand here? You that's seeking God, that wants to be saved from your sins, I give you this opportunity. Now, just...

65 Listen, sinner friend, you who are flusterated, don't know just how you do stand, can't you see that it's the Spirit of God moving among His people? Men can't do these things. It takes God to do these things. And that's Him reflecting Himself through His church. Now, will you come stand here and let us pray for you just a few minute while we sing? And I'm going to pray then for these handkerchiefs that's laying here. All right.
Down at the cross where my Saviour died,
Down there for cleansing from sin I cried;
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His... (Won't you come?
God bless you, sir.)
Oh, glory to......
God bless you, sister. God bless you, sister. Come right on up this way. That's right. Come right up. That's fine. God...
Glory to His precious name!
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Oh, come, to this fountain so rich......
(God bless you, sister, coming there.)
Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour's feet;
Plunge in to... (Won't you come on now?
Rise right up from your seat.) complete;
That's good. They're just keep coming. Just keep coming; follow the leading of the Spirit.
............. name!
Oh, glory to His name! (Precious name.)
Glory to His precious name!
Oh, there to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to.... (God bless you. God bless you,
each of you coming.)
I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly a............
That's the way I like to see people come. Just upon conviction, knowing that they're wrong.
......today, and be made complete;
Glory to.........
That's right, brother, come right on up. That's... Come right on. Come right out of your seats. Come on now.
Glory to His name! (That's it, sister. That's the
way for Him ... to be healed and get well, now.)
....to His precious name!
Oh, there to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Glory... (That's right. Just keep coming.
Just keep coming right on up.)
Oh, glory to His name! (That precious name.)
Oh, there to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Oh, come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
Oh, cast thy poor soul (God bless you, sir.
God bless you, sister dear.) ... feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
(God bless you, son.)
Glory to His name!
Oh, glory to His.....
They just keep coming, just keep coming. Come right on to the fountain. There's room, plenty of room for us all now. This lovely Lord Jesus who's here in the power of His resurrection, take all your sins away.
............the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Glory to.......
Would there be some more come? There's plenty of room at the fountain here, won't you come?
Glory to.......

66 If you've took His name in vain, if you've done evil, despitefully used His grace, won't you come now and repent of it? He's willing to forgive you. "He that will come to Me, I will in no wise cast out." Won't you come, sinner friend? Come. I persuade you in Christ's name, come be reconciled while there's time. God bless this little boy, coming weeping, rubbing his little hands in his eyes. Bless his little heart. You know that the Bible has said, "Out of the mouth of suckling and babes, God gets sincere praise." Won't you come now while we sing once more? Come. Take you place here at the throne, won't you? There's room here for you now. Come, young and old alike, move out tonight. Let's just make this a one hundred percent, not one sinner go out of the building tonight without being saved. There's no reason for it. Here's the precious Holy Spirit, proving Himself that He's God, right among you, and wants to save you.

67 If you believe me to be His prophet ... or, His servant... If you believe me to be His servant, His mercy is reaching out tonight with great arms and calling, "Whosoever will, let him come and drink from the fountain of life freely. While we sing it again, won't you come?"
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
(God bless you, brother. God bless you,
sister. That's good.)
.........soul at the Saviour's feet;
Oh, plunge in today, and be made...
(A little Spanish sister, come right on in here.
My brother coming here, come right on in.)
.........His name!
Glory to... (Is there some more?
Would you come right now? Quickly
take your place here at the fountain.)
Glory to His precious name!
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to.........

68 God bless you. That's wonderful. Young people coming... This reckless teen-age... And yet, I'm so glad that we've got young people that's got a heart open for the Holy Spirit yet. I tell you: We've got some fine young people yet left in this world. We sure have.
Here comes another, coming down. That's right. I just love it. It just thrills my heart. This does me better than seeing God heal the sick: when He heals the soul, because I know that's eternal; that'll last forever. It's God's truth.
Remember, you that's standing here now, you're blessed because that God has spoken to you. God spoke to you. Jesus said these words, "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall never come to the judgment, but has passed from death to life."
A few minutes ago, if you'd died out there before the service was over, you'd have been lost. If you die now, just as sure as my God is true, you'll come forth on that day. God promised it. "No man can come to Me," said Jesus, "except My Father draws Him first."

69 Who was that spoke to you? The Holy Spirit, the same One that knows and discerns the thoughts of the heart, see. He discerns your heart. He never used my lips; He just spoke to your spirit, and you listened to Him. Blessed are you who'll do those things. You listened, come forward. He's here. "And all that comes to Me, I will give them eternal life, and will raise him up at the last day." That's His blessed promise.
God bless you, little lady. Just find you a place right in here, honey. That's good. Come on now. Is anyone else would like to come while we're waiting. Anyone, we'd just love to have you come up here and we pray with you. If not, let us bow our heads just for a moment of prayer now.
Each of you that's standing here, the heavenly Father has called you. It's His goodness and His mercies to you. You have eternal life now by believing on Him. Now, let's just bow our heads while we give Him a word of thanks.

70 Precious Lord, tonight, coming over to the building, I was a little weary. Satan was kind of upsetting me, telling me, "Don't speak of blind Bartimaeus. Those people wouldn't understand that." But then, way down deep in my soul, I could feel Your Spirit saying, "Move on. Just go on." And here tonight there's a ... from the results, here's... And Your coming and Your Presence has brought conviction to the hearts of these people who are standing here. And I just quoted to them Your eternal Word, which has been proven tonight that it is more powerful than all sin. It raised the sinner from their seat and sent them to the altar. It's more powerful than sin. It overcome sin, and sent them up to make a public confession. And our Lord Jesus Christ, said, "He that will confess Me before men, him will I confess before My Father and the holy angels." Here they stand as penitent souls. Father, hear the prayer of Your unprofitable servant. I commit them into Your hands as trophies of this night's service.

71 I pray, Father, that Your visitation here tonight, in bringing them up, will now sanctify their hearts from all sin, cleanse them from all unrighteousness, take sin out of their life. Even the desire of sin, may it pass from them. And may they also receive the blessed Holy Ghost this night. Tomorrow, to enter upon life anew, to start onto the streets, and the byways, in the schools, wherever they may be tomorrow, at the work, as new creatures in Christ Jesus. Life is shining, their faces lit up with the power of God, knowing that they've passed from death unto life, that they might lead others in work in this great field of Your great economy, Lord. Grant it. Bless them. I commit them into Your hands as trophies of Your Spirit's grace to us tonight, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

72 I want you do me one more favor. I want you to go right around here so we can meet you. There's people standing here with little badges on them; they're called "personal workers." We want you to go back here so you can kneel down and thank God for saving you. And then when you do that, I want you to stay there just a few moments and receive the Holy Ghost, and come back out in this building here with the rest of the congregation, shouting His praises and blessings. It's right here for you. Believe me, as God's servant; it's right here for you. As they lead you around... All right.
If there's any out there that doesn't have the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and would like for this to be the night that you receive it, will you come, go with them, and meet us right back here where we will be with you just in a few moments. Would you come right now, those seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that would move right on through, go back here...
I want each of these converts tonight to take their place. The ministers will be there in a few minutes. They invite you to their churches where you can have a home to live, to serve God the rest of your days on earth.

73 Is there any seeking the Holy Ghost tonight would like to be remembered? Raise up your hand, say, "Remember me. Brother Branham, remember me." All right. Now, let us bow our heads while they're moving back, before we ministers and all go back to be with them just in a little bit. We want to bow our heads for prayer for these handkerchiefs. Let everyone be in prayer.
Gracious Lord, on this desk, under my right arm and hand, lays a great group of handkerchiefs and little parcels and cloths that's going to the sick and the afflicted. And they are represented here by someone who has laid them up here, who has faith in Thee, who has heard tonight that Elisha sent his staff, and it laid upon the child.

74 Perhaps where the great Saint Paul, being very fundamental in his doctrine, must have found this place, and the people in his day seen the Holy Spirit moving in him, and knowed that he was the servant of the Lord. And the Bible says that they took from his body handkerchiefs and aprons, and they were sent to the sick and the afflicted, and evil spirits went out of the people, and great healings were done.
Now, Lord, we realize that we are not the Saint Paul, but You're still Jesus, the One who healed the sick. We pray that You'll honor these people, Lord, in their prayers, and in their efforts, and in their faith to do such.

75 We are taught in the Scripture that one day God's children was on the march to a promised land that God had promised them. It was as good land, a healthy land flowing with milk and honey; and the Red Sea got in their way. But God looked down through that Pillar of Fire with angry eyes, and the Red Sea got scared, and it moved back. God's promised covenant children walked on across the Red Sea to the promised land.
O Lord God, when these handkerchiefs touch the sick, let the Angel of God look through the blood of Jesus Christ with angry eyes upon the sickness that's holding these people. And when this little token of faith touches their body, may he turn them loose, and may they journey to that good and healthy place where it's written in the Scriptures, "I would above all things, that you prosper in health." Grant it, Lord. I send it ... these cloths in the name of Jesus Christ for this purpose. Amen.

76 I believe that each one of them will be healed. Do you? Do you believe that God answers their prayer? Sure, He does.
How many of you know this grand old song? It's one we sing at our tabernacle so much. "Take The Name Of Jesus With You"? Do you know it? Child of sorrow and of woe... Let's all stand to our feet and sing it now.
Take the name of Jesus with you,
(Who's the song leader here?)
Child of sorrow and of woe;
God bless you, brother...

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 May Thy great Holy Spirit, Lord, come tonight in power and perform those miracles among us: healing the sick, calling home to the shelter in a time of storm those who are weary along the road. May those who have wandered off the beaten path come back tonight and be reconciled to God. Grant it, Lord. And when we leave tonight, we pray that You'll do something among us that will be so outstanding that will make us go to our homes saying, like those coming from Emmaus, "Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us along the way?" for we ask it in His name and for His sake. Amen. You may be seated.

2 We are ... these letters, we pray over them. We appreciate your confidence in our prayers. Some of them are stamped. Some that comes to the place I'm staying, I ... they don't stamp. So we're putting them right back just as quick as we possibly can. Had a wonderful night last night, did we not? The Holy Spirit blessed us.
Now, I see down in the orchestra pit here people on the stretchers and cots. Now, just make it in your mind now that this is the last night you're going to suffer, you're going to go home tonight to be well. You're going to just... Believe that in your heart, you'll not be disappointed. Usually we receive what we expect to see---just what we expect. If I could come down in that little pit and take you people out of there and make you well, I'd do it. I'd just be so happy to do that. But I can't do it. I'm just a man, like this man here. And I wish I could, but I know that our Lord is here, and He's the one who can make you come off of the stretchers and go home and be well. I trust that He will. Not only that, but all you out through the audience.

3 Very nice, seeing this nice audience tonight, nice crowd of people. Our precious brother has already spoke the Word, and I just want to take a few minutes, now, as each night ... I do not try to preach at night---just to kind of give a little drama until I get the feeling of the audience. I'm sure you understand what I mean. And then, if the Lord willing, I want to preach Sunday afternoon on the subject "As The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest," and hovereth over her young. That is, if the Lord permits, Sunday afternoon.

4 Now tonight, just to ... till we get kind of acquainted, and...
All this is spiritual. I look at you as human beings like myself, but each one of you has a spirit. And then when the anointing of the Holy Spirit comes, it's like a breath almost, and you can feel belief, unbelief, and whatmore. Now, you say, "That's psychology, Brother Branham." Maybe it is. If it is, our Lord used it, because He took a man outside the city one time to pray for him. And then another time we know that there was a dead girl in the house, and the people were making a great lamentation over it. And He put the people out and just left the parents, and Peter, James, and John, and Himself, and He raised the girl from the dead. See, there's something about it.
Each ... when you're looking, your eye is the gate to your soul. You look at it, it almost governs the other senses. You look at it before you taste it, and you look at it before you smell it and feel it, and so forth. It's usually the eye is the gate to the soul. And when you're watching... And if you could only let that be a blessing to you. When you see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears, the Lord Jesus moving among the people, and doing things that He has been doing, it should make you have real faith.

5 Now, you won't see Him in a physical body until He comes for you at the great general resurrection. Then we'll see Him, and then we'll know as we're known, see Him as He is. That's the hour we're all longing, waiting for---that time. Until that time, His Spirit is here.
And the church is becoming more like Him all the time. From the great first reformation in Luther, church had a wide stretch. That was still the Holy Spirit, moving in the days of Luther. Then it come into the minority again when John Wesley, sanctification, the second work of grace he called it. And then along come the Pentecost, the restoration of the gifts. Still narrowed down, and it's narrowing on out now, until the church and Christ will become one. When it does, the coming of the Lord will be, and the resurrection of all those that sleep in Him shall rise. Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian---all that's got His Spirit will rise to meet Him in the air. God grant that time right away. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

6 I was ... it's on my mind, I must say it. I had a tape of that here some time ago that I went into a city. We were holding a meeting (somewhere in Ohio, I can't think of the place right now), and it was having a great meeting, so much that I went out into the country to stay in a little motel. There was a little Dunkard restaurant just across the road. The nicest, cleanest-looking little women worked in there, so Christian-like. And I'd been fasting for about three days. And the brethren went on to service. I was to preach that Sunday afternoon. I wasn't going to have a healing service, and I was kind of a little hungry, and so I thought, "I'll go over to the little restaurant." But they'd closed up and gone to church---it was Sunday.
And just the other side of the road, a filling station and a common little ordinary American restaurant-like there, a little sandwich shop.

7 (This is horrible to have to say this, but it's true.) When I walked in, there was a policeman standing---about my age, surely married---and had his arm around a woman, playing a slot machine. Gambling is illegal in Ohio, and there he was gambling. I thought, "Well, the law!"
I looked back at the back and some of those boys---beatnik-kind, with them long hair hanging on their neck, and overall jackets, and pulled-down, you know, clothes down on their hips---was standing there with their arm around about a sixteen-year-old waitress where they ought not have had it. I thought, "Oh, mercy!"
And looked to my right. There was a man---summer time---with a big overcoat on, government overcoat, big gray scarf around his neck, another man sitting by him, with an old woman, old enough to be my grandmother. And she had this manicure on her face (or ever what you call the stuff), a little black... I say that wrong every time. What is it you call that? It's something ... somehow. I tell you, it doesn't belong on Christians, that's one thing sure.

8 I'm a missionary. That's a heathen trait. That's exactly right. Pentecostal people used to not do it, but I don't know what happened. They used to not cut their hair, but I don't know what happened. Somebody let down the bars somewhere. They used to sing a little song, a old Methodist preacher used to sing: "We let down the bars, we let down the bars, we compromised with sin. We let down the bars, the sheep got out, but how did the goats get in?" The answer: you let down the bars.

9 Poor thing, blue-looking hair, sitting there, and little-bitty short clothes on that a man would have been ashamed to have on, and sitting there, and she was drunk. And I looked around. I thought, "Oh mercy!" I thought, "God, how can Your ... how can You be holy and righteous and ever look upon such as that. Looks like You'd just smite the thing off. Does my little Sarah and Rebekah have to be raised up with such as that?" And the two men excused themselves and walked away. They would be back in a few moments, they said. And I was sitting there looking at the woman, criticizing her with all that was in me, and thinking, "What a horrible thing!" But many times we shouldn't do that. We don't know what's the inside story. And it happened to be God taught me a lesson right there.

10 I just stepped back behind the door. Something said, "Move back." And I knelt down to pray. I looked and saw a vision of the world turning, like this, looked like a crimson spray around it. And I seen myself, as it was, first standing on the earth, and every time I would do something wrong, my sins would start up to God, but Jesus act as a bumper to keep me ... my sins from getting to God. And every time I would do something wrong, then looked like that my sins would go towards God. And then Jesus would catch it, and I'd see the tears running off of His cheeks, and blood down over His face, and He'd look up and say, "Father, he doesn't know what he's doing. Forgive him." And it ... like that.
And I thought, "Is that my sins doing that?" And I went up close to Him, and I looked, and there was a book laying open and my sins were awful on it. And I said, "Dear Lord Jesus, You mean that my sins was what hurt Your sides, and made tears in Your eyes, and blood in Your face?"
He said, "It is."
I said, "Please forgive me."
And He touched His side, wrote across the book, "pardoned," throwed it over behind Him.
And I said, "Oh, I'll ever be grateful to You."
And when He did, said, "I forgive you, but you want to condemn her."
And when He did that, I was looking back at the woman again.

11 I walked over where she was. I said, "How do you do?"
She was drinking quite extensively, and I said... She looked up at me and she said, "Oh, how do you do?"
And I said, "Could I sit down?"
She said, "I've got company."
And I said, "Not like that. I just want to tell you something." And I sat down and told her. And I looked at her, and she was crying. And I said, "Aren't you ashamed?"
She said, "Who are you? Are you this minister down here in the armory?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am. Brother Branham."
She said, "I'm ashamed to face you, Brother Branham." She said, "My father was a Methodist minister. I've got two daughters. One of them is a real renowned Christian. The other one's a Sunday School teacher." And she told me the story of a drunken husband, and what she started. She said, "There's no hopes for me."
I said, "If there's no hopes for you, why did God show me that vision?" And there I took her by the hand, knelt down there beside of that booth, and led her to the Lord Jesus, right there in that room. When I got up, the policeman was standing there, and that girl standing back there crying, and ... made a difference. You see, we must look at things the way they are. We don't know what's behind the story.

12 Let us turn now to St. Luke the eighteenth chapter, the thirty-eighth verse. I'd like to read this just for a little talk before we pray and have ... for the sick.
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Our scene opens at the north gate of the city of Jericho, AD 33. It must have been a cold morning. He was late. He'd been dreaming all night that he could see. And he got up late, and made his way to his little station, or post, where he begged. And all ... in that day there was many beggars. If they didn't get to the gates early when the people were coming in to their business in the city, why... They had to catch the person. Maybe they could afford one coin a day to a beggar. But they'd all gone in, seemingly, now, and there he was left alone. He couldn't hear no one on the road. He looked to hear ... I mean, listened to hear someone coming. No one was coming. So he goes over and gets him a rock and sits down, and began to think of the night, when he was dreaming. Then he remembered...
That warm Palestinian sun began to warm him up a little in his ragged coat as he sat on this rock near the wall, just out of the shadow, and he had his wrinkled face turned towards the ground,

13 and he might have been thinking something like this: his mind went back to many years on that same hillside, or near Jericho, as a little boy, when he could see; and how he used to love to run up and down the hill, and pick little buttercups in the early spring, and lay down on the hillside and watch the white clouds go by, and the blue skies reflecting. What a beautiful world it was! And now he's old, and everything is gone, and he's blind and begging for his living. How cruel it seemed like nature had been to him.
And while he was thinking on that he remembered how that his mother used to call him from across the hill here, along about two o'clock in the afternoon call him in. And after he'd had his midday lunch, he would ... she'd sit out on the sideporch that faced off towards the Jordan River. And she would get him in her arms, and she would stroke his little dark Jewish curls back, and kiss him, and say, "Bartimaeus, you are the sweetest little boy in all the world. I am so glad that you're my little boy." And how he would look and see her pretty cheeks, and the big brown eyes as they would smile to him as she would hug her little boy to her cheeks and kiss him.

14 And he used to love to hear her telling stories before she rocked him to sleep.
One of his favorite stories was about a little boy once in the Bible times. She'd tell him the story of a great mighty prophet that lived by the name of Elisha, that wore the mantle of Elijah with a double portion of his spirit, and how that this man was a great servant of God, how God honored his prayers, and honored those who honored him. And he passed through a certain city, and there was a woman in this city that was a great woman. Not a Hebrew, but she was a Shunammite. But she honored that man because he was a great man of God, and she believed in God. And how she would tell him of the courtesy ... the great woman would have him stop in and eat with she and her husband.
One day she said to her husband, "I perceive that this man that dines with us when he's coming through, going up to his cave in the mountain at Mount Carmel to pray, I perceive that he is a godly man, a holy man, a great man of God. I think that we ought to do something for him." And they would... Said, "I pray thee, on the side of our house here, let us build him just a little house to himself that... He feels embarrassed, perhaps, to come in and eat with us all the time, so let's just put him a little table out there, and a little washbasin, a little candlestick, and a bed, a chair that he can rest in; and he can refresh himself as he comes by.

15 When the great prophet came by and found this, it just blessed his soul to see that she loved God well enough to honor His servant. So he ... then the prophet said to his servant, "Gehazi, go ask her if I could speak to the chief captain, or some favor that I could do for her."
And the servant came back and said, "No, she says she dwells among her own people and she has need of nothing, thank you just the same." But Gehazi said, "Her husband is old and they have no children."
So it must have been that God gave the prophet a vision. Then when ... he said, "Call her to the door." And when she stood in the door, the aged old prophet raised up and said, "Thus saith the Lord, according to the time of life you'll bear a son." Yet the woman could not see how that could be possible, but in the times appointed she had a nice little boy. And how she loved this little boy.

16 Now, I can hear her say, "Bartimaeus, you know, little boys and girls are God's blessings to a family. It's something about it that ties a family together. You see, Bartimaeus, God gave that lonesome woman a little boy. And God gave you, Bartimaeus, to Hubby and I, your daddy. And now you're our little treasure here at home. Oh, we love you so much." And he'd put his little arms around her neck and hug her. And there he was, now wrinkled and old. She'd been gone for years.
Then she would tell the story how the little boy wanted to follow his father. Said, "Just like you, Bartimaeus---go out into the field."
And one day it must have been about noontime, high-noon in Palestine, and the sun must have stroked him, because he screamed, "My head, my head!" His father sent him home, and he sat on his mother's lap until about noontime, and he died. But how God dealt with that woman! How she took him, and went over to that little place, and laid him on the bed where the prophet had laid ---God's representative. Laid him on the bed.

17 She saddled a mule and went to Mount Carmel.
The prophet did not know what her trouble was. He sent Gehazi and said, "Go see what's wrong with the Shunammite. She's got sorrow in her heart and God has hid it from me." God don't tell His prophets everything. He just tells His servants what He wants them to know---nothing else, see. They can't make God tell them anything. God just says what He wishes to say.
And then, how that the servant taken Elisha's staff to go lay on the baby but the woman held on. She knowed that God was in that prophet and she said, "I'll not leave you." She wanted to know why that God gave them the baby and then took it away. But, you see, all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. She'd teach Bartimaeus those lessons.
Then he would stop and say, "How could it be to the good that I'm blind then? But Mother, no doubt, was right."

18 Then he went on with his dream, and after a bit he began to think again.
"Now, you know, Elisha went into that room, walked back and forth, up and down the floor, went and laid his body on that little dead baby, and the baby sneezed seven times and it came to life."
Oh, how his little eyes would brighten! Say, "Mama, is that God still living?"
"Oh, yes, dear. He lives right here in these hills of Judea. He stays right around His people. He never leaves them."
That was ringing down in his heart. All night he had dreamed of having his sight again. He thought, "Oh, how glorious it would be here if I could see the autumn leaves a-falling, if I could once more look around." Blindness is a horrible thing. The whole world is shut off to you, the visible world.

19 And there, sitting there, then he used to think of another great story. His mother, sitting on the porch, facing off to Jordan, and she'd say, "Bartimaeus, just right down there less than half a mile, just below the ford, in the month of April when all the snows had melted, and the river was way up here in the valleys, God led His people to the other side, and then opened up the way and come across Jordan on dry land." And he would think of them stories.
He would say, "Oh-h, but alas, wonder what happened to that great God? Our priest tells us that the days of miracles is past, those things can't happen no more."
That's what's the trouble today. We have too much of that saying that God was, but isn't now. The Bible said He's the same yesterday, today, and forever---just as much God today as He was then, and He always will be God. If He ever was God, He'll always be God. He cannot die, He cannot get old, He cannot change His mind. He cannot make new decisions on things He's already made decisions on. His first decision was right, and has to forever be right, or He made the wrong decision when He made it, see. He has to ever keep with His first decision. He's perfect, infinite, and cannot change. Oh, that's a consolation that we must have! Anybody seeking God must have that firm consolation that God cannot change.

20 I can say something, say I'm sorry I said it. I might have been wrong. But He can't say that, because He's perfect, He's infinite. We're finite, we can make any kind of a mistake, but He can't.
And if He ever was called on the scene to heal a person, and He healed that person according to their faith, the next time He's called He's got to heal the next one, and the next one, and every one ever comes to Him. If He's called on the scene to save a person, and He saves him upon his faith, every one that calls of faith He has to save. That's right.
And remember, when God gives you a call, blessed are you when you feel God calling, because "no man can come to me except my Father calls him first." It's God knocking at your heart's door. What if He never did knock? Think of it, what a horrible thing that would be. But God gives everyone a chance. You turn it down yourself.

21 Blind Bartimaeus was sitting there. All at once he heard the coming of a little mule's hoofs, coming down the big cobblestones, coming down from towards Jerusalem. "Oh," he thinks, "this must be a rich man coming." About the only way of travel then was by foot or by donkey, and the rich people could ride a mule. He might have said, "This must be a place I can get an alm." So he throws back his arms, running towards the street, or towards the highway, saying, "Have mercy on me. I am a blind man. I overslept this morning. I haven't a coin. My winter's wood is not in, there's no meal in the barrel. Would you please help me?"
And the servant stopped the little mule, and he hears a gruff voice saying, "Out of my way, beggar! I am the servant of the Lord. I'm a priest from Jerusalem. There's to be a fanatic so-called prophet here today to have a healing service. Out of my way! We're going to take the ministerial association down here and see that nothing like that happens in our city. We don't want none of that down here. We don't have such things as that down here. What? Out of my way, beggar! I must be on my way." And the little mule moved on.

22 Bartimaeus finds his way back. Now the sun had raised way up, and the shadow of the wall had went back a little ways, so he found him a rock near the gate, feeling around of the old stones that ... where the walls had fell. And he sat down on this stone, and he thought, "Where was I dreaming about? My boyhood, when I could see, when I was a little boy. I was thinking of a great Jehovah God that once was. Oh, surely God's servant wouldn't act like that! What was that he said to me about a prophet? Oh, I guess I didn't get it."
And on ... he sat down, and thought, "Well, you remember, years ago---my mother has told me many times---that right down that same road, over those same stones, come Elijah and Elisha, arm in arm, going to open up the Jordan."

23 Right over the same stones, not twenty yards from where he was sitting, one day two great prophets walked arm in arm to the Jordan---same road, same stones.
"Oh, if I could have lived then, I would have run out there and said, 'Great servants of the Lord God, just ask God. God will hear your prayers. My eyes will come open [like that little boy sitting here last night, born blind]. My eyes will come open, and I'll be able to see, and I can work and make a living, and so forth, if...' But, alas, those prophets are gone. They say there's no more prophets, and there's nothing else left, and Jehovah has forsaken us, and there's no more ... days of miracles is past. And He just expects us to live for heaven above; and when we die we'll go up there, but there's no help for us anymore. And I believe if I would have went out there to Elisha and Elijah, I would have not been treated by them servants of the Lord like I was by this one just passed by. I believe they would have considered my case, and at least offered a word of prayer for me as they passed by."

24 You know, as a servant of God you ought to watch what you're doing, because you're written epistles read of all men. You Christians, always be willing to lend a hand, or to do something to help somebody, make life a little more pleasant for them, if they're... You say, "Well, I don't have any gift of healing." You don't have to have. At least offer something. Offer a prayer, do something, make them feel... Do the best you can by them anyhow. Never turn a shoulder, a cold shoulder, to anyone, no matter what it is. Even if they've mistreated you, do it anyhow. If you can't do it from your heart, then you ought to come to the altar and stay until that Spirit comes in you that from your heart you can love those who doesn't love you. That's when God will answer your prayer. For as long as there's anything in your heart... "If I conceive iniquity in my heart, then God will not hear me." That's what David said, and that's true. He won't hear you.

25 Then Elijah had passed by there, and Elisha, going down; but the poor blind man had been taught that the days of miracles were past. Then he remembered, after Joshua had crossed over the Jordan, that about five hundred yards from where he was sitting, Israel camped, made their camp.
One day that great mighty warrior Joshua, who took Moses' place to lead the children into the promised land... And when he was out one day walking around, looking at the walls of Jericho ---which was his first objective, to take that city... They was all in with doors closed, and big rocks hanging on top to throw off at them when they come up, and he was wondering just how he would be able to take that city---because it was given to them---and just what would be the way that God had planned to do it. And he happened to look standing before him. There stood a mighty warrior with his sword drawed. And Joshua drew his sword, went out to meet him. He said, "Are you for us, or are you for our enemies?" And the sword glistened over his head.
He said, "Nay, I'm the captain of the host of the Lord."
The mighty Joshua throwed his sword on the ground, took off his shield and laid it down, his helmet, and fell to his feet in front of him.

26 And then blind Bartimaeus thought, "You know what? That happened just right out here. That great captain of the Lord's host was standing on the ground right out there! But the days of the miracles is past." Little did he know that less than a hundred yards from him stood that same Captain of the host of the Lord, making His way out.
It's when we think of God, when we begin to dream dreams of being well, when we dream dreams of being saved, when we get to thinking about our sins and how cruel it is before God, that's when He draws near us. That's when these disciples, broken-hearted, going on the road to Emmaus, that Jesus stepped out of the bush and began to talk to them, while they were thinking of Him.

27 You see, the trouble today, we've got so much money and stuff on our minds, God can't have a place to get in our thinking. We want to go downtown and shop for new dresses and new hats, or something another; and we got to see Susie and John, we're going to play cards tonight. We can't go to church tonight because "We Love Susie" on, or something like that, the television programs. We got everything else on our minds. The churches has got so many orders and things to keep us so busy, prayer meetings is left out. We need to draw nigh unto God so He'll draw nigh unto us, friends. That's right. But everything else has took the place of the prayer meetings. Everything else has took the place of the real spiritual worship. Oh, maybe two or three minutes in church; but I just love to lay and bathe before Him in His... Don't you love that? Oh, just lift up your hands and drink from the fountain until you just can't drink no more, just bubbling over in His sweetness and His goodness.

28 I was talking to a noted evangelist---my brother, T.L. Osborn. He said, "I was thinking, Brother Branham, of how that my whole objective is to save souls, and give all my time to save souls to Christ." Said, "Then I happened to think, 'What about my own love and devotion to Christ?'" Christ loves him too. He loves us. We put a lot of time in things; but God wants us to come apart and just sit down and worship Him, and talk with Him, talk it over. I love that. Oh, that sweetness! That's the greatest time of anybody's life, is just to sit down and meditate, take everything off your mind.
If you'd do that, there wouldn't be so much nervousness around the country---if we would just think on God. "Draw nigh unto me and I'll draw nigh unto you."

29 While our blind beggar sat there on that cold morning, shivering in the warm sun, trying to bathe his back, and he thought of that great mighty warrior that stood right outside the gate from where he was sitting, and talked to Joshua and give him all the instructions, how the walls would fall at the sounding of the trumpet, and so forth. He was thinking, "But that great God can't die. He's forever alive." Just about that time he heard a noise. That same great Chief Captain was on His road out the gate, coming through Jerusalem.
And you know, there's something about it, where Jesus is there's usually a lot of noise. I don't know why, but makes a lot of noise. You know, the high priest, when he went into the holiest of holies, he had ... he was anointed with a perfume and with anointing oil. And on his ... the hem of his garment they had a pomegranate and a bell; and every time he walked that played, "Holy, holy, holy, unto the Lord." And the only way that they knowed he was alive, when he was back in the holiest of holies, because there was a noise. I wonder if there isn't some deadness somewhere? All right. That's the only way they knowed he was alive, because he was making a noise back in there. They were listening to see if there was still life in there when he went into the holiest of holies.

30 And when Jesus came forth out of the gate, there come a great multitude rushing, and perhaps run over the poor old beggar. And he was blind, and he said, "What's going on? What's the matter?" Nobody paying any attention to him.
And he heard the ... somebody saying, "Hosanna! Hosanna to him that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!" Women was screaming, men was screaming.
Then he could hear others mocking and making fun. And then he heard the head of the association of Jerusalem, that priest, scream out, said, "Say, you fake prophet, they tell me you raised a dead man. We got a whole graveyard full of them up here. Come up and raise these. Let us see you do it."
But you see, Jesus never did mind devils. He just let them go on. He had ... He minded the Father, what... He did what the Father showed Him to do. He didn't turn any stones to bread. They put a rag around His face one time and hit Him on the head, said, "Now if you're a prophet, tell us who hit you. We'll believe you if..." Put a rag ... and He never opened His mouth and said a word.

31 Hanging on the cross, they said, "Tear your hands loose, come down off the cross if you be Christ." He could have done it. Sure, He could. He could have done it; but if He'd done it he'd've been minding the devil. That's right.
So, as Billy Sunday said one time, said every tree had fifty angels sitting in it, said, "Just tear your hand loose and point towards us, and we'll change this scene here in a few minutes."
Caiaphas said, "He saved others; himself he can't save," not knowing he was giving Him the greatest compliment He ever had. If He saved Hisself, He couldn't save others, so He gave Hisself that He could save others. I'm glad that He was able to resist the temptation of the devil. Jesus...
When you hear people say, "Let me see Him heal this one, let me see Him heal that one," just know that's the devil. That's the same voice, see.

32 "There's an old man down here on the corner. He's got ... sells pencils. I know he's a good old fellow. Come down and heal him. Let me see you divine healers do that." Just remember, that's the voice of the devil. That's right. Just remember, that's what the Scripture says. And there's a lot of them that's just a lot like that, but... Of course devils don't die. The devil takes his man, but never his spirit. God takes His man, but never His Spirit. The battle goes on, just the same.

33 And then these crowd rushed out, and they screamed at Him, and this, that. And finally he said, "What's going on? What is wrong? What is wrong here? What's all this rush about? What's all the noise?" No one was paying any attention to him.
And I believe ... let's think it was a nice little believer on the Lord Jesus, maybe a little lady, stepped down. "The poor old fellow." And you know, people that follow Jesus have sympathy for people like that, followers of Christ. Stepped down, picked the old fellow up, and said, "Sir, have they pushed you off of the rock here?"
"Yes, Miss. Uh ... uh, what's going on?"
"Oh, you don't understand?"
"No."
"Well, did you ever hear of Jesus of Nazareth?"
"I don't believe I ever did," said Bartimaeus.
"Well, Jesus of Nazareth is that great prophet that Moses said would be raised up among us of our own people. He's passing by. Oh, if you could have seen Him, I'm sure He would have restored your sight."
"Oh! Where's He at?"
"Oh, He's about a hundred yards or two down the road."
He raised up, "O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!"
Some of them said, "Oh, shut up! You make so much noise you give me a headache, the rest of them around here hollering also. Shut up!"
"Oh, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"
I don't believe He could have heard his voice. There was too much screaming and going on. But he knew that if He was that prophet of God, He could be touched. I believe maybe he slipped down and said, "O Lord God, please stop Him. Please, Lord, be merciful to me while mercy's passing by." And Jesus stopped, looked back.

34 I believe it. The woman touched His garment. He felt virtue go from Him. That's the same Jesus just a few days later. Not his screaming stopped Him, but his faith stopped Him, and the Bible said Jesus stood still! Oh, brother, when the faith of a blind beggar can stop Him still in His tracks, a man that was sitting outside the gates, excommunicated from (what we'd say) society... And he was a beggar, and poor, and ragged, and blind, and miserable, but his faith stopped the Son of God.
What was on the Son of God? He was on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified for the sins of the world. The whole weight of every sin that was ever committed in the world laid upon His precious shoulders. His head was in the air. Overripe fruit and vegetables was being throwed at Him. "Away with such a man!" Others hollering, "Hosanna! Hosanna!"; the other one hollering, "Come raise the dead. Show us something you can do." Such a confusion as that, but He kept His face towards Jerusalem. He knew He was going there to die for the people that was crying for His blood.

35 Could you imagine what that was? His own children crying for the Father's blood. That's exactly right.
And then with all that upon His shoulders, with all that facing Him, and He knowed He come to do that, yet the cry and the prayer and the faith of that one old blind beggar stopped Him still in His tracks. And He turned around, and He said, "Your faith has saved you. [Oh-h, my!] Thy faith has saved thee."
I can hear someone say, "Be of a good cheer. Be of a good cheer." He goes on down the road.
He stands, he said, "What did He say to me? What did He say now?"
"Thy faith has saved thee." Stand looking. After awhile he began to see his fingers. Something was happening! His faith was being confirmed.
Your faith can stop Him tonight. In the great rush, the coming of the Lord Jesus and all that there is, there's not a person in here too poor, or too ragged, or too insignificant, you're not too low in morals or life, but what you can stop Him right where He's at now, and He'll stand and call you.

36 Some time ago I was taking a little lesson on Bartimaeus that said that he'd been blind for many years. He had a wife and a little girl. And one night his wife got real sick, and he went out and prayed. He said, "Lord, heal my wife; and if You'll let my wife get well..."
He had to do something to make little enchantments for the public or you would never be able to stop them. Like in India (and Brother Osborn, if you're here tonight, you understand what I mean), they got a little monkey, or something another that they have to do, to... Or have a cobra snake, or some kind of a something, enchantment, to stop tourists to get the money when they pass by.

37 And it said Bartimaeus had two little turtledoves, and they done little tumbles over each other, and that would attract the attention of the passby, tourists, and the people coming in out of the city.
He said, "Lord, I love my wife. If you'll let her get well, tomorrow I'll give you them two turtledoves for a sacrifice." Well, his wife got well, and he took the turtledoves for a sacrifice.
And then later on, his little girl, that he'd never seen in his life... She'd been born since he was blind, about twelve years old. Said she had real pretty golden hair (it's a little story, of course). And said that she got sick one night. And the doctor had been there, and said, "Bartimaeus, she's got a fever. She just can't live with this kind of fever."
And after the doctor left, he felt his way outside of the house, when the wind was blowing around by the rosebush, and he looked up to where he thought God would be, and he said, "Father, I don't have nothing. I have one thing left, and that's my lamb." And today you've seen ... I forget what they call it when a dog leads a blind man, and a ... blind leads the blind, the blind dog leads the blind ... or, the dog leads the blind man. In them days they had a lamb that led the blind instead of a dog. They trained a lamb. Bartimaeus had a lamb, and it led him over to his place where he begged. And he said, "Lord, if you will just let my little girl get well, I'll take my lamb and I'll sacrifice it for You."

38 And the little girl got well.
And the next day he was on his road to take the lamb up to the church to the sacrifice block, and the priest was standing up at the ... upon the banisters of the building. He said, "Where goeth thou, blind Bartimaeus?"
He said, "I go to the temple to sacrifice this lamb unto the Lord."
"Oh," he said, "blind Bartimaeus, you cannot sacrifice that lamb. Here, I'll give you the price of a lamb and you buy it out of the stalls and sacrifice it."
He said, "I never promised God a lamb. I promised Him this lamb."
He said, "Blind Bartimaeus, but you can't do that! That lamb is your eyes."
He said, "If I'll keep my word to God, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus's eyes." This cold November day, that's what God had done, had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus's eyes.
May I say this tonight, my dear brother, sister: that same Lamb is provided for you and for me. God has provided a Lamb of our eyes of understanding, for this Lamb was provided for our healing. He was provided so that His Spirit could live among us till this day. To bring Christ in a reality to us, God's Lamb is provided.

39 "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" Let us pray.
Gracious God, full of mercy and truth, "Thou the stream of all my comfort," said blind Fanny Crosby, "more than life to me. Whom have I on earth beside Thee, or whom in Heaven but Thee." And she screamed out again, "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour, hear my humble cry. While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by." Dear Jesus, that is our humble plea tonight. Do not pass by this auditorium here in Tulsa tonight without stopping, Lord, and visiting us. We love You with all of our hearts. We praise Thee with all that is within us. And we believe that You are the same great chief captain, the captain of our salvation, and we're looking for You to come in glory someday, bringing with You the host of angels, and to receive Your precious church that's been called out of the world and washed in Your blood, bearing in their bodies Your name.

40 I pray, heavenly Father, that You will grant tonight that if there be one in here, or many---I do not know their hearts; Thou dost---if they do not know You as their precious Saviour and feel that warmth of fellowship, God, let it come to pass in this very hour that they will receive Thee, and love Thee, and You will draw nigh unto them. May they think on Thee now and be drawn nigh. Grant it, Lord. May there not be a sinner---boy, girl, man, or woman---walk out of here tonight. May there not be a backslider walk out tonight but what has come to God and had their sins forgiven. May they cry in their hearts, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!" Grant it, Lord.

41 While we have our heads bowed and our eyes closed, I wonder, in this visible audience tonight... I want you to be real honest, and everybody pray. Pray especially for those who doesn't know Christ now. Is there any here, while you're praying, would just like to lift up your hand, here on the bottom floor. Lift up your hand---not to me, but to Him---and say, "Thou Son of David, I've trespassed against Thee. I've broken Thy commandments. Be merciful to me at this hour." Would you raise your hand, so that I can just see you and pray for you? God bless you, God bless you, all down along the floor here. Over to my right, God bless you. Raise your hand, say, "Pray for me, Brother Branham." God bless you. That's good. God bless you. "I've trespassed against Thy laws, O Lord. I want You to be merciful to me."
God bless this man laying here in this cot, laying here. God grant tonight that you can go home and be well, sir.

42 Up in the balcony to my right, would you raise your hands? God bless you, lady. God bless you. That's it. Someone else? Just raise your hand. Just slip up your hand. We want every eye closed, everyone praying. Let it be just the Holy Spirit and I, if you will. The balconies to the center here, would there be any up there would raise your hand, say, "Pray"? God bless you, sir. God bless you. That's good. The balcony to my left, raise your hand. God bless you, lady. I ... God bless you, young fellow. That's a great stand for a teenager. That's the greatest thing you ever done, son. You might have done many a great thing, but that's the greatest.
"Pass me not, O gentle Saviour. I want Your mercies now. Now, and at my death I want You to receive me into Your kingdom. I don't know when that'll be. May be before the service closes tonight, may be before I get home." One of these nights somewhere, someplace, sometime, a day or night, you're going to feel the pulse coming up your sleeve. It's all then. Oh, my, don't let it happen until you know the Lord Jesus as your own dear personal Saviour. Will there be another now before we pray? Anywhere, boy, girl, man, or woman. God bless you.

43 Our Heavenly Father, be merciful now. They've raised their hands, crying, "Thou Son of David, be merciful to me!" And may they this very hour receive Jesus as their personal Saviour. May He come in great power in their life. This young man up here, Lord, that raised his hand, something dealt deeply with my heart on that boy. I pray, Father. Maybe you're calling a minister to the service. Oh, I pray that You'll bless him, and all these others that raised their hands, young and old. May they receive Jesus just now as Saviour; then go out of here to be baptized in some good church in Christian faith, receive the Holy Spirit, go out into the service of God to do whatever they can do to help bring Jesus to this dying nation and dying world. Grant it, Father. Pass by us tonight, Father, and visit, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

44 Let's sing just one verse of that before we go any farther---"Pass me not, O gentle Saviour."
... me not, O gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Saviour, Saviour, O hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Sweetly now, let's all believers raise our hands while we sing it real quietly.
Saviour... (Spirit of worship now. Message
is over and let's worship the Lord.)
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
O do not pass me by.
Let's just hum it, eyes closed, just praying.

45 Oh, don't you love Him? Tell me something greater than love. God is love. No one will ever be able to express how God is such love. He is agapao love, the greatest love of all.
Now, I was just going to preach and make an altar call tonight. And then I got here, I was all turned around. I met Billy, I said, "Did you give out any prayer cards?"
He said, "Nope. Never give out any prayer cards."
But we don't need any prayer cards for a healing service. Are you wanting ... do you think tonight... ? Do you love Him? You believe He's the same Lord Jesus? Do you believe your faith could reach up and say, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! I am needy. 'I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee!'"? O bless me now, my Saviour, I come to Thee! You believe you could touch Him, cause Him to turn around, say, "Thy faith has saved thee"? You believe you could do that out there without prayer cards? You believe you have faith enough to do it? You do? Raise up your hand, say, "I believe I have faith." Oh, that's the way I like to see you put your hand up. "I believe."

46 All right. I know none of you. The Holy Spirit knows you all. But He's here. His presence is here. And if He's here today, He would do just like He did then. If you had faith to touch Him, He'd turn around. That's always what it did. Was that right? Faith is what touched Him. The woman touched His garment. He turned around, said, "Who touched me?" He looked all around till He found the little woman, and He said, "Your blood issue's stopped, because your faith has saved you," see. Your faith did it.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that right? If blind Bartimaeus's faith could stop Him; if Philip standing there, looking at Him, could go get Nathanael, and Nathanael could be brought before Him and He told him where he was at before he left; when Andrew went and got his brother Simon Peter---or Simon, it was then---and brought him to Jesus, and Jesus looked over at him and said, "Your name is Simon. Your father was Jonas"; that's the same Jesus tonight, see.

47 Now, as far as healing or saving you, that's already done. You understand that, don't you? "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we were [past tense]...
Now, you in the cots laying here, three of them, you in the cots, whatever disease, whatever you have need for prayer, someway, no matter what it is, God knows and sees your faith. Now, He will do that ... if He will do that, how many of you in the building will say, "Lord, I love You. I believe that You're here. I appreciate You. I'm going to even renew my covenant with You"? Would you do that? Say, "I'll just ... I'll renew myself to You."

48 Now, precious friends, I'm your brother. This is the Word of God. The Bible says... If we've been preaching to any newcomers here... We've been preaching this week and seeing the Holy Spirit do that. The Holy Spirit promised through Jesus Christ that in the last days He would do that same thing before the church, just before His coming. How many has been here this week to hear it taught on. Jesus said, "... was in the days of Sodom," see. And the angel even had his back turned to the woman when he asked Abraham, "Where is your wife, Sarah?
He said, "In the tent behind you." And she laughed within herself.
He said, "Why did she laugh?" Jesus said that same thing will take place just before the coming of the Lord. It's the last sign.
We've had healings... Watch when Jesus declared Himself. The first thing He did, He was baptized by ... with the Holy Ghost when John baptized Him. We notice the next thing He started out in His ministry, He started healing the sick, and His fame went everywhere. Is that right? Then when that taken place, the next thing He began to show them the sign of the Messiah. And that's when He was rejected. That's when they crucified Him and taken Him up. Now, that's just exactly... We've come to a Holy Ghost baptism, the divine healing services, now we've come into the great signs of His appearing among us. How happy we should be, when we don't know what time the world will go into ashes.

49 Do you know it could be possible before we leave this building that this earth could be blowed up? Scientific says it's midnight right now, time for it to happen, all scientists and everything is shaking everywhere. And remember, the church goes home before that takes place. Then how close is the coming of the Lord? Be ready, be prepared, for we don't know what minute or hour He may appear. It might be at any time. We're receiving our last sign to the church of His coming.
Now I want to pray for these handkerchiefs just a moment, while we bow our heads. Precious Father, these handkerchiefs maybe goes to some poor precious mother, child, father, someone that's suffering. We are taught in the Bible that they taken from the body of St. Paul handkerchiefs or aprons, unclean spirits went out of the people, diseases were cured. Father, we know that we're not St. Paul, but we know that You're still Jesus. It wasn't Paul.

50 And it was said one time that when the Red Sea had the children of Israel cut off from the promised land, that God looked down through that pillar of fire with angry eyes, and the sea got scared and it walled up, and Israel crossed over to the promised land on dry ground.
Now, Father, when these handkerchiefs and little parcels is laid upon the sick, don't look as much as through the pillar of fire but look through the blood of Your own Son who gave the promise. And may, whenever these parcels is laid on the sick, may the devil get scared. May You look upon him, Lord, and he'll know that this is sent from a meeting where people that are filled with Your Spirit are praying sincerely; and may he depart from them, and they pass to that good and healthy place where the Scripture says, "I would above all things that you prosper in health." We send them in Jesus' name for that purpose. Amen.

51 Now be reverent. How many is sick out there? Raise up your hands. Everywhere you are, just raise your hand, everywhere in the building. Now be reverent. Now, what a time---breathless. Something's got to happen. Something's got to happen or the Bible's found wrong, and me a false pretender. Or it's going to be found true and our faith confirmed. Don't worry, Christ is here. He always ... He promised us. He cannot do nothing but keep His promise. If you'll believe with all your heart now, just have faith, don't doubt.
Do you see that? A light hanging right here over this man right here? Got trouble with his eye. That's right. You were praying. Your son sits next to you. You believe God can tell me what's wrong with your son? You believe it? It's a nervous condition. That's right, isn't it, son? You believe God can tell me who you are? Would it make you feel better? Mr. Cullum. That's correct. See that light? Now you receive what you ask for.

52 The same one? Here, right here, a man sitting looking right at me. He's suffering with arthritis. He's had a heart attack. He's a minister. He isn't from this city. He's not even from this state. He's from Kansas. Do you believe that God can heal you, sir? You'd go back to Coffeyville and feel real good about it, would you? Your name is Reverend Midland. Go back and be healed, sir. I do not know you. If that's right, wave your hands like this. I'm a stranger to you. Your faith has saved you, sir.
That was not me, my precious friends. That was the Lord Jesus Christ. He's out there among you. I'm just His mouthpiece, seeing with my eyes what He's doing. I wish you could see what I'm looking at now. See, it's His goodness. A man sitting right out here on the end, kind of a tee-shirt or sleeves, short sleeves. He's praying for somebody else though. He's praying for a man that's sitting right here. Looks like a Mexican man. You've got stomach trouble, haven't you, sir? They haven't told you how... You believe God can tell me who you are? They call you Joe. They didn't tell you how bad you were, sir, but go believing now. You can be well. Have faith in God.

53 Back in this section. If thou canst believe... Here's a woman sitting right down here, sitting second one in. She had her head down. She was praying, "O Lord God, let him call me." She ain't praying for herself. She's praying for her husband. Her husband has had a nervous collapse. He's been attending the meeting but he just couldn't come back. He's bedfast. And she's weeping over her handkerchief now, in her eyes, for her poor husband lays just at the point of death with a nervous collapse. Fear not, sister. Take that handkerchief you're crying in and lay it upon him. Don't doubt. He'll come out of it, if thou canst believe.
Here's a little woman sitting right out from her. That just struck faith with that little woman. She's praying also. Her trouble, she's got trouble with her head, and with her eyes, and she's got a stomach trouble. It's the little woman ... wait a minute. Her name is Annie. Annie, stand upon your feet. Jesus Christ makes you well.

54 Do you love the Lord Jesus? Are you ready to receive His blessings? Do you believe me to be His servant, I've told you the truth? Now I'll tell you this. Will you lay your hands on one another across there? Minister brothers, some of you faithful preachers there, come down here and lay hands along these people here. I want you especially on this woman here. You lay your hands on one another, up in the balconies, wherever you are. Now, if Jesus... That man there with that prostate trouble, forget it, sir, Jesus Christ makes you well. Go home.

55 You've been having pains in your lungs, sitting right back there next to that post. Don't have no fear, it's left you. Tubercular. You can go home and be well. Christ Jesus makes you well. There it is, it's just all over the building, everywhere, everywhere. Can't ... oh...
Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass...
Pray now! Put your hands on one another and pray! "Saviour, Saviour..." Don't be carnal. Pray, pray! Get your mind on God. Don't look at the next fellow. Get your mind on God, everywhere. "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Do not pass me by.
O Saviour, O Saviour...
Raise up your hands now to God, say, "Thank you, Lord Jesus." Heavenly Father, we now challenge the devil and rebuke him in the name of Jesus Christ. May every power of sickness [unclear word] leave the place, and may they be healed just now through Jesus' name. Give Him praise, all you people. He'll not pass you by.

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 The Lord bless you. You may be seated. Noticing many people putting up requests for prayer. Now, we appreciate that very much, because the Bible said that they taken from the body of Paul handkerchiefs and aprons, and unclean spirits went out of people and evil sickness left them, and diseases. And God is still God. He's just as much today as He was in the days of St. Paul. He just doesn't change.
Now, many people take those cloths and anoint them with oil and send them to the loved ones. Now that's just fine. Anything that God blesses, I'm right for it, aren't you? But scripturally, Paul didn't anoint them. They taken them from his body. Acts 19 said they taken from his body and the evil spirits left the people. Now, we know that St. Paul... We're not St. Paul, but He's still Jesus. So then, He's just as much Jesus tonight as He was in the days of St. Paul. So He just honored the people's faith in His servant, and He'll do the same for you. The greatest of the miracles that I have ever knowed of being performed was when the people sent in little prayer cloths ... or we sent them to them, and they were healed. Send thousands of those weekly all over the world.

2 And I remember in South Africa where we was having a great meeting at a big airfield... They let us have it for the meeting. The people (was in Capetown), there was so many we had no building to put them in. We had it out on the airfield. And I think they had around ... I forget how many sacks of just big burlap sacks full of mail and ... to be prayed over. And I went along praying over this mail, and one of the reporters said, "Brother Branham is very superstitious because he's praying over letters to send out to sick people." Now you see, the brother just didn't understand; that's a commission that's been left us as the Scriptures that we could pray over those things.

3 And just a little instance of it, because we want to tonight ... or we have given the service mainly tonight for prayer for the sick. It was some time ago. I was reading one of the testimonies returned back, a lady in Germany. She'd been crippled for some seventeen years, sitting in a wheelchair.
And when we send these out, we send little pieces of cloth when they don't send them ... because they used to be able to put a handkerchief in it, but when they go into thousands, and handkerchiefs about fifteen, twenty cents apiece, you can't do it. And so we just get hundreds of yards of ribbons and cut them in little pieces, and I pray over each one. If you happen to need one, just send to the office. We pray over them and send them out. Then they have a little form letter, and people gets up all hours of the night and makes a chain around the world, prayer for the sick. The Bible said we could confess our faults one to another and pray one for the other. And so all around the nation, around the world...

4 So this little lady got hers, and there's an instruction there that says, "If it's possible, call in your pastor. And then let him have prayer with you when you put the ribbon on you. And if you don't have your pastor handy, then call some good Christian neighbor. If you've done any sin, evil to anyone, spoken evil or done anything wrong that you know of, go make that right first before you put the ribbon on you. And then get ready. And then when they put the ribbon on, then believe that God heals. Place it," I tell them, "on the underneath garment near their heart."
And in so many hours---nine o'clock at morning, twelve o'clock at noon, and three o'clock in the afternoon---the world around, there's a prayer chain on that. People get up at two o'clock in the morning, and so forth, to make that prayer chain around the world. And then if maybe if a million and half or two million people praying at one time for each other, something's just got to happen. God is bound to hear that.
And then,

5 so on that day, this little German lady was very ... well, I wouldn't want to say (like it was sacrilegious to say it) kind of cute, but she said, "I put the little handkerchief on me." She said, "There was my neighbor lady come over to pray with me." And she said, "I had all my sins I confessed, and asked the Lord to let me walk again so I could glorify Him." Said, "When all was done, Brother Branham," said, "I put the little ribbon on my underneath garment." I said, "All right, Mr. Devil, you've held me just as long as you're going to." She got up out of the wheelchair and went walking along.
Now, just that simple. If we can just be simple! You know, the trouble with we Christians, or we human beings, we make God so far away and so complicated. It's simplicity.

6 I've been noticing each night a couple of Indians sitting right along here. They're not here, I suppose, tonight, but someone told me that they was some singers had been singing. Some Indian boys had been singing. I would liked to have heard them before they left; but, however...
I was thinking of the first time I ever preached to Indians. It was the Apaches in Arizona, up at San Carlos. And so, the Indian is a very odd fellow. I found that out from going fishing the other morning. I was asking one what he was using for bait.
He said, "Just bait." He wouldn't tell me.
I said, "Thank you, sir." He sure was a fisherman. And so I was ... it was amazing.

7 I remember my boy one time was giving out prayer cards at a big tent meeting in Phoenix, and I found coming on the prayer line people with maybe a headache and a bad tooth, and people sitting out there with cancer dying. And I said, "Billy, don't you do that. You ask the people what's wrong with them." He usually just mixes up the cards, and gives them to anybody that wants them. So then I said, "Don't do that." I said, "Because ... you ask the people. There's too many real serious sick people there to just give a fellow a card that's got a ... having a headache or a toothache, and a man sitting there dying with cancer and wanted to be prayed for." I said, "Now, you shouldn't do that." I said, "Just ask them what's wrong."

8 So, Billy goes down to the meeting that night and he (just a little fellow then) and he got his cards and mixed them up. And He said, "Now, each one of you has to tell me what's the matter with you. My daddy said that ... to not to give these prayer cards to people that just had toothaches and headaches and so forth, and people are dying with cancer."
So, the old chief, he was sitting right down in front, as usual, and he stuck his hat on, and so he walked over. He begin to notice Billy's prayer cards getting smaller and smaller as he was giving them out. He tapped him on the shoulder. He reached out his hand.
And he said, "Chief," said, "my daddy said you'd have to tell me what was wrong with you. Are you very sick?" Said, "What's wrong with you?"
He said, "Me sick."
So, he said, "Well, go sit down."

9 He went over, started giving out. The chief noticed that little bunch of cards getting smaller and smaller. He came up again and tapped him on the back.
He said, "What's wrong, Chief?"
He said, "Me sick."
He said, "Well, just a moment." And so he was saying, "Anybody that's real sick with cancer or something...", so he'd give them a prayer card.
After awhile Chief saw just two or three, he run and grabbed Billy and said, "Me sick."
Billy said, "Take your card and write on it, 'Me sick,' and go sit down." "Me sick." I got him on the prayer line that night, and I said, "Chief," I said, "do you believe God?"
He said, "'at right."
And I said, "Are you going to be a good boy after the Lord heals you?"
He said, "'at right." And everything I told him, "That right." Come to find out he only knowed about two or three words and one of them was, "That right." It was all right then.

10 We went to the reservation. There might be people here was at the San Carlos reservation that night. Thousands of them gathered out for prayer. And the Indian, he's not much to ... he's got to know what he's doing. He just don't walk into anything. When I was speaking, I was kind of anxious to find favor with them.
And if there's anybody or any nation of any people in all the world I feel sorry for, it's an Indian. That's right. They got a raw dirty deal from us. That's exactly right. If there's any stain on the American flag, it's the way they do the Indians: taking all the sheep away from him, and putting him out in the poorest country in the world, and give him ten dollars a month to live on, or something. That's not right. No, sir. After all, this is his nation. God gave him this; we took it away from him. That's exactly right.

11 And so, I always felt sorry for the poor people living out there, and I always wanted to pray with them.
So, I promised the Lord, at Phoenix, if he'd heal an alcoholic and a tubercular woman, that I'd go up to the reservation. And both of them brought back the certificates that they were healed. So, then, I went to the reservation that night. They stood me up on a little Assembly of God doorstep place, like a little porch at the little assembly. There was a lady... Some of you Assembly brothers might... Sister Marshall, that's who the lady was. She was missionary up there. And I stood there and spoke to them all, and they sat around, thousands of them out there. And it was beautiful to see them sitting on their blankets and things, waiting for the service.
And I usually make an altar call and we have a stampede, but

12 I said, "Now all that wants to be prayed for..." You couldn't speak their language, and in them days we didn't give out prayer cards anyhow. So I said, "All that wants to be prayed for, let them stand up." And there wasn't nobody stood up. I thought, "Well, that's strange." That kind of surprised me. Nobody stood up. "Well," I said, told the interpreter, I said, "did you say what I said?"
Said, "Every word."
I said, "May I say it again. All that wants me to pray for them for their healing, may they stand up." Nobody stood up.
So, Sister Marshall came from back inside with a Indian lady. Apaches are great big people, a husky, burly people. And a lady came out, and I was looking at her just a moment. And I said, "Now, the lady is sick. She has a venereal disease, but it's not because of immoral living. It's because she has to live the way she does."
And that lady looked at me as if to say, "How did you know that?"

13 And I prayed with her. In a little while, a man came out. He had glaucoma of the eyes. And then the next came out was a little girl, and she had her little head bowed down, and I said, "Well, can you look up this way, Sweetheart?"
"Nope!" Of course she couldn't even understand what I was saying.
And I said, "Well, the Lord can reveal it." And then it said she had a fever, and she went deaf in both ears; and she being deaf, she went dumb also. She could not speak or hear. And I picked the little girl up in my arms, and I said, "Lord, if You please, we do not ask for miracles. We don't ask for those things, but if it would help the people, and if You'd just do it... I want to find favor with these poor, rejected people." And when I prayed for the little girl, I sat her down. I said, "Look at me." Looked up like that. I say, "You love your mama?" like that. She went to mumbling off something, and I knowed she could hear. I said, "You see she can hear, but she'll probably talk better."
And the mother, standing with the little girl, said, "Humph, her talk heap good right now." I just couldn't understand. I couldn't understand what she was saying.
Then,

14 there was a little cross-eyed boy was next. I never in my life ever seen God turn a cross-eyed child down. I guess why, because when my baby... When I was just a boy I lost my wife and baby, you know, and the little girl suffered so hard till her eyes crossed, and I just passed out, almost, looking at her, and I never could stand to see a child cross-eyed. The Lord always answers prayer for that.
And then when this little Indian boy, his little eyes was crossed, and I took the little fellow up in my arms and prayed; I knowed God had did it. And I said, "Before I even turn the little boy around, if his eyes isn't perfectly straight, then I'm a false prophet." I turned him around. Then talk about a prayer line, we had a stampede.
And I asked the interpreter ... said, "They thought it was fake at first, but now they see it's real."

15 So, then, the next in line was an elderly lady Sister Marshall was bringing out from the inside, and the poor old thing. If there's an Indian here, please don't think I'm saying this ... casting off something about being poor. But probably the poor sister was so... She couldn't afford crutches, and she had broomsticks where they'd sawed off a little block and wrapped rags around it. And she was to be next. Arthritis. And she was so stiffened up, she'd take these sticks and put one out like this, and the other one, then make her step like that. Then she'd set them out, and make little bitty short steps. And when she got there... It's a custom sometimes with Indians to plait leather in their hair. And she looked up at me, those little dark-looking eyes, and them great deep wrinkles in her cheeks, and the tears cutting their way down through like little ditches through her cheeks.
She looked up at me like that, and I thought, "Oh, God, somebody's mother. No doubt that hand has raked back a many a little crying baby's eyes. Maybe never had very many decent meals in all of her life."

16 And you have to enter in to feel for the people if you're going to pray for them.
And so standing there looking at that, she just looked up at me and she started smiling. I never prayed or done a thing. She just got one crutch in one hand, handed the other one to me, and walked right off the platform just as good as anybody. Just that simple, see. Now, we try to make it complicated.
Is it all right to get one more little thing about...? It was about three o'clock in the morning and I was still standing in the line. And I said, "I'll pray for all of them," because I had to leave the next day. And I noticed them all coming in wet, way up around this a-way. And I said "What's the matter with ... why are they wet?"
Said, "Well, they've run out into the reservation, bringing their loved ones." And said, "They're not waiting go down about ten miles to the ford." Said, "They're walking right across the river with them, packing them on their back, any way to get them over there."

17 And then I ... coming along, pushing in from the sides, coming in the back door and going out the front. There was a man had took a board and put two sticks across it. He had an old gray-headed fellow with his legs across his knees here, and across his arms, and there was two great big husky-looking Indians packing him. And one was standing there, and his lips was real blue and he was shivering cold, wet all over. And I said, "You speak English?"
He said, "Little."
And I said, "Don't you think you'll take pneumonia being wet?" See what he'd say, you know, testing his faith.
He said, "Jesus Christ is take care of me. I brought my dad."
"What's the matter with your daddy?"
"Him sick." He was shaking, he had palsy, like that; old fellow laying there, you know.
I said, "Does he speak English?"
"Nope."
I said, "Bring him here." They passed him by; I guessed his brother behind, a younger-looking man like, passed by. I put my hands over him. I said, "Sir, may the Lord bless you." I said, "Jesus, help this poor dear man who cannot help himself. Honor the faith of his son who's brought him." Said, "All right."
Passed him on and I ... just a moment I heard something screaming, hollering. I looked around. The old Indian had the board on his own shoulders, going around, waving at everybody.
Well, many times us pale-faced people, see, we just sit, "Well, pray for me again. I'll go back through the line." Oh, my. They just believe. That's all, just childlike faith. That's the way you have to do it, see. Just believe. It's not complicated.

18 Down in Mexico City last year when General Valdena... Many of you brethren, I guess, know General Valdena is one of the outstanding generals in the Mexican army. I had the privilege of being the first Protestant ever invited to Mexico City to pray---for the sick people have a need---by the Mexican army, and that was through General Valdena. Just met him the other day at the convention (the Full Gospel Businessmen); shook hands with him ... try come back again.
We was only there two nights. I'd went to the bullring but we didn't get that, so they had a great big place out there in the field, another big arena-like, and the people... Now, talk about wanting Christ! They come there at nine o'clock in the morning, no place to sit down, and I didn't even arrive till nine at night. They just leaned against one another, like sheep standing in the field.

19 And I remember the second night, pouring down rain, those poor people standing there in that rain, just ... the Mexican people.
And the night before there'd been a great miracle done. There was an old man come across the platform. In Mexico their economics is very poorly balanced. Maybe, you say, Pancho makes (he's a brick layer), he makes eight pesos a day, and he'd have to work four days to get himself a pair of shoes. Now that's the balance of the economics in Mexico. But yet they have to pay fifty cents out of that to burn a grease candle on a million dollar altar. But then when we come...

20 This old fellow come up there and he was blind. He'd been about the age of my dad if my father would have lived. And he didn't have no shoes on, his poor old feet all scuffed up, his trouser legs ragged, an old dusty-looking shirt on, old hat and it wound up with strings. And he was getting close and next in line. And so they told him, "Next."
And Brother (one of the Assembly of God evangelists there) Espinoza (You all may know Brother Espinoza from California) he was my interpreter. He told him he was next, and he reached down in his pocket and got out a little rosary and started to say it. I went, "That's not necessary." And he come up, and I looked at him. Oh, how a fellow would feel. A poor old man, maybe never had a decent meal in his life, and he didn't have no shoes on. There I stood with a good suit and a good pair of shoes. I put my foot up beside of his to see if my shoes would fit him. I'd've give him my shoes right there. And his shoulders was way wider than mine, my coat wouldn't fit him. And then there he was in blindness.

21 And I just put my arms around the old fellow, and prayed, "O God, be merciful."
All at once I heard, "Gloria a Dios." There he was running up and down the platform; could see as good as I could, as you can, just having a wonderful time.
And the next night, with a platform as long as this room is here, a rick of old coats and scarves and shawls, that high, laying there to be prayed over. How they ever knowed who it belonged to, I don't know. And then, it raining, them getting wet, just right out in the open, a great big arena.
And Billy come told me, said, "Daddy, there is a woman down here that's got a dead baby that died this morning." Said, "You can't do nothing with her." Said, "She climbs right over the top of them ushers, walking on top of their shoulders with that baby." And said, "We've shoved her off the platform three or four times, but we can't do anything. You've got to come over and see her."

22 How many knows Jack Moore? Brother Jack Moore from Shreveport, Louisiana? I guess many of you do. Well, he was with me. I said, "Brother Jack, you go and offer prayer for the little lady," and I said, "for the baby." I said, "It's been dead since this morning." I said, "That'll kind of comfort her." I said, "I can't bring her up here, she hasn't got a prayer card." And I said, "It wouldn't be right to the people holding the prayer cards. They've got the priority of getting to the prayer line. They stood here early this morning and got those cards." And so Brother Jack started over to see the lady.
And I just looked out across the audience, and I seen a little baby in a vision just gooing, clapping his little hands, little Mexican baby. I turned around; I thought, "Maybe I better go over there." I said, "Bring her up."

23 And so, they parted the way. A beautiful little lady about, I'd say, twenty years old, she had a little blanket like this, and a little form was laying under the blanket. And she fell down on her knees, begin screaming, "Padre!" you know. I said, "Just raise up, sister." And I laid my hands on the little fellow. I couldn't speak Spanish and I laid my hands on the little baby. (God in heaven who is the author of this Bible knows it's true.) Laid hands on that little baby, and the first thing you know, a squeal let out and he started gooing, jumping and squealing.
And I said, "Now, don't say nothing about this. Don't you publish it in any paper until you go and let the doctor sign a statement that that baby died this morning." See, there was about ... from nine o'clock that morning till around nine-thirty or ten that night the baby had been dead. And they got the doctor's statement signed that he pronounced the baby dead that morning at nine o'clock. And that was ten ... nearly ten o'clock that night, between nine-thirty and ten. And the baby's living today. Just by simple faith. I had nothing to do with the healing of the baby.
Of course, the vision come; but when the vision speaks, there's nothing can ever turn that around. It's always perfect. It's always perfect.

24 And in praying for the sick... Tonight, as we pray for the sick, the Lord may come to us and give the visions; and if He does, remember the vision does not heal people. The vision is only a vindication that the Word is right.
How many knows what the word prophet means? Sure you do. A prophet means that one that foretells or forthtells, and it is a divine sign from God that this person that's speaking has the right interpretation of the divine Word, because the Word of the Lord came unto the prophets. And the prophet foretold, and done those signs which was a vindication that he had the interpretation of the Word.
EX4:8

25 See, a sign has a voice. Moses was told... God told Moses, when He said, do a sign with his hand, then do a sign with the stick. He said, "If they don't hear the voice of the first sign, they'll hear the voice of the second sign." Each sign has a voice.
And God's voice speaks to us; and if He does that, then I want each of you people to believe with all of your heart that Christ the Son of God is here to make you well. And now remember, when He's speaking, when He speaks, it's not me.

26 Now, I took two nights of real stern heavy preaching; and I wouldn't apologize for what I said, because it's the truth, friends. I'm zealous of the church, and tonight to hear this group of men... I've sat with men more in the groups, but I never sat with a nicer bunch of real believing brothers that will put his arm around me and tell me a few minutes ago, and said, "We appreciate that message last night."
I said, "It's very hard."
He said, "But it inspires us to move on too."
I got confidence in a man like that. Yes, sir. Yes. When we take... If I was just saying it to be smart, then that would be wrong. I should go to the altar and get right with God. But when it's the truth, friends, then we ought to measure up to what God says. That's right. God knows.

27 One night this week I want to tell you something that happened to me about a month ago, and you'll understand then about... Something that happened, whether it was a vision or not, I don't know. I told the brethren at the breakfast, and I want to see to the chairman and some of the committee if it's all right to speak it here on the platform some night, something that happened, like a vision, to me.
And I love people. I just love people and I want to live forever with them. I want to live in eternity with them. And I would rather kind of stir you up just a little bit now, than to hear you stand there on that day like a girl that died in our city recently.

28 There was a girl come to the Tabernacle, just a little old-fashioned girl, and so this girl made fun of her, called her old-fashioned and everything. And she asked her to go to a dance with them. The girl from the Tabernacle said, "We don't go to dances."
She said, "That narrow-minded pastor of yours, Mr. Branham," she said, "if he wasn't such a crank and a religious fanatic, you'd have more liberty."
She said, "I do not do this because of Mr. Branham's convictions. I do this on my own convictions of Jesus Christ." Hmm! God bless that girl. This lady that said that to her was a Sunday School teacher.
Mr. Perkins works for the undertaker there in the city. About six-months after this remark was made, this girl taken sick and died. They didn't know what it was. It was venereal disease. Mr. Perkins, when he was pumping the embalming fluid into the girl's body, he kept smelling something. It was leaking-like. And he opened up, and she had holes eat in her, like that, from a venereal disease. That's right. And a lot of room to make fun and say somebody is a fanatic.

29 When she died... If it's all right, I'll tell you the testimony. When the girl died, she brought all of her Sunday School class in. They was to watch her go home to heaven, of course. But she was very worldly---very, very worldly. And then when she got ready to die, she thought it was all right. So you know there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death. Why, this girl, when she got ready to die...
Her pastor smoked cigarettes in a holder, long holder. Wore one of these turned-around collars. That's perfectly all right if he wants to do that, but if he'd just preach the gospel. Jesus, I don't think Jesus would mark himself any different from any other man. He dressed like ordinary men and went among men. He was a man among men. And so He was our example when it comes to dressing or anything else. I don't think we have to dress... I think our lives tell better than our dressing does of what we are.

30 And so, then, this ... no disregards to that though.
But the man was out in the hall, and so when the girl got ready to die, and death struck her, instead of seeing angels come, she said, "My God, I'm lost."
And they called the pastor, and she said ... and he said, "Here, here, here, here." Said, "You know you're all right." Said, "You've been a member of the church."
She said, "You deceiver of men! You're the cause of it. I'm going to hell and you're the cause of it." And she called for that girl that she'd said that, up there at the Tabernacle---little Mrs. Humes. But they didn't get her there in time. The girl died in that... And the minister said she was in hysterics, and asked that the doctor come and give her a hypo; but she was gone before the doctor got there, saying all kinds of evil things against that minister.
Brother, Sister, I'd hate to stand before one of the people I'd preached before and hear somebody say that to me. If I have to make it real, so rough sometimes, I'd rather be that way and be good and clean and straight with God when the time comes.

31 Now before we open His Word, let us pray as we bow our heads.
Most gracious and holy Father, we approach Thy divine throne of justice tonight in the name of the Lord Jesus, pleading His blood upon our souls that we'd not stand in condemnation. But yet without that shed blood, we would all be condemned, and there'd be no way for us to ever approach Thee. But we have this blessed thing from Him, that if you ask the Father anything in my name, He'll do it. Then, Father, we pray tonight that You'll forgive us of our trespasses. Anything that we have done, or said, or thought that was wrong, forgive us for it.

32 If it be Thy divine will, we are to pray for Thy sick, suffering children in just a little while. We're approaching a subject in a few moments to build a platform, as it would be, for the people's faith to rest upon this foundation of the Word, God's eternal Word. Will you supply us, Lord, with context of the text that I've chosen for this afternoon? May the Holy Spirit take the Word and place it in every heart just as we have need of. You know our needs, Lord, and we pray that You will plant the seed of the gospel in our hearts until it will grow into great trees of salvation, and comfort, and health to each one.
And these handkerchiefs that's laying here, Lord God, I lay my hands upon them in the remembrance of St. Paul who done this commission, believing that he got it in the Bible where that Elijah took the staff and told Gehazi, "Go lay it on the baby." For he knew that everything he touched was blessed, and he knew that that staff was blessed because when the Holy Spirit was on him his hands was on the staff, and then to get the woman to believe it. I believe that is where St. Paul must have got the scripture.

33 Now these handkerchiefs represent, no doubt, sick children, sick fathers, mothers and loved ones, convalescent homes; blind daddy setting somewhere in a room beating a white stick against the floor and wanting to see the sunlight again, wanting to see the trees, the pretty blue water, but the enemy has covered his eyes with cataracts; a mother laying there sick, a little baby with fever, waiting for the return of these handkerchiefs. O Lord, hear me, Lord, I pray.
It is written one time that the children of Israel was on their road to the promised land, and the Red Sea got in the road; and it's said by one writer that God looked down through that pillar of fire with angry eyes, and the Red Sea got scared, rolled back, and Israel marched on to the promised land. O divine Father, may You not only look through the pillar of fire but through the blood of Jesus, and when these little tokens are sent to the bedsides of the sick and afflicted, or wherever they may be, may You look through the blood of the Lord Jesus, know He died at Calvary, and He was wounded for our transgressions, with His stripes we were healed. May the enemy get scared, move away, and may the sick people pass into that good land of health, which is written in the Scripture, "I would above all things that you prosper in health." Grant it, Lord. May every sickness leave the people, for we send them in the name of Jesus Christ for that purpose, as this great church here tonight prays together with me. Amen.

34 Now you may come and receive them just as soon as the service is over; and if you want one and don't have one here, just write me. Everything's free. We don't have nothing that we charge for. Just write me anytime at Jeffersonville, Indiana. We'll send you one. If you don't have no use of it, put it in your Bible on Acts, the nineteenth chapter; and if sickness occurs in the home and you believe, now take that little handkerchief and lay it on them. We believe that God will heal. If we had time, we'd tell many testimonies of that; but I don't have the time now.

35 Let us open our Bibles (you that are keeping the Scriptures down) to St. Luke, the eighteenth chapter, thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth verse, for just a little text. And now while you're turning, perhaps maybe tomorrow night and on (we don't know, just as the Holy Spirit will lead), we believe that maybe we'll be praying for the sick the rest of the week each night, getting a few each night, and what we can, and as long as sick people comes and wants the prayer cards, to be prayed for.
The reason we give them prayer cards is to line them up, see. You'd say, maybe, say, there's a thousand people here tonight. Maybe five hundred of them wants to be prayed for. We can't bring them all up here at once, and we know that. And on a line of discernment we can just get a very, very, very few, because it just nearly kills you. How many understands that scripturally? Sure you do, see. And so ... and then we can't bring too many, but night after night we'll try to get just what we can. All right.
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

36 It was a real cold morning. He was tired. He'd been up all night long. He must have dreamed all night that he could see, and he woke up late. And in them days there were many beggars. They sat along the street sides, and the people coming in, the merchants going to their work perhaps, had an alm to give to them. And the first beggar he met, he gave his alm, and that settled it for the day. He had nothing else he could give. So, many of them had stalls like, or places where they sat and waited for someone to pass by and give them an alm. And if they missed it, well then, they done without through the day. Many times they had little things to give, little enchantments like. I was in India recently, and each one has got a cobra snake, or a little monkey, or something another to attract the attention of tourists.

37 This must have been a cold morning, chilly, in springtime, near Easter, and he was ragged. And he come in late, and his place was to sit at the gate of Jericho. His name was Bartimaeus. And we're told that he was married and had a little girl. But being that he was up all night, did not get much sleep, he got up late and he missed his time of begging alms. Most of the outside merchants that lived outside of the city had done went in. It was getting along up in the day.
So I can picture our scene tonight as it opens at the north side of the gate leading up towards Jerusalem, the north gate of Jericho. Many of the old stones was still laying there that was shook down during the time when the people shouted, and Joshua and the priests sounded the trumpet, and the walls of Jericho fell down.

38 Let's imagine Bartimaeus now sitting on one of the rocks near where the cobblestone highway still stands as it was in ancient days. It runs down, on down along towards the Jordan.
And as he sat there, he must have been thinking, "Now, I'll probably have to do without something to eat, my family tonight, for I was too late. I couldn't get in. All the merchants has gone by, and I won't get anything today. But I couldn't help it; I was so tired and worn out this morning when I got here." And he sat down. Let's believe that he began to think about, "Oh, if I could've only ... if that dream could have been a reality, that I could again see. I've been blind now for many years," he'd say, "and if I could just see like I used to!"

39 Then his mind began to wander back to when he was a little boy. He used to play out there in the springtime, which would be just, oh, a few days later, and how on the hills of the banks of Jordan the little buttercup flowers bloom all up and down, the little blue flowers; and what a beautiful sight it is! How that he used to think when he was a little boy how he would roam up and down that hill, and frolic and play with the other little boys.
And then he remembers that along after his sweet Jewish mother would call him in for his noonday meal, after he would have his dinner, she would get out on the porch, and she would put him on her lap and stroke his little hair back out of his eyes. And she'd look at him, and he'd see how pretty she was, and how she'd say, "Bartimaeus, your little eyes is as blue as the skies above." Oh, he'd think about, "If just once more live those days over when I could see the flowers, and chase the bees around, and hear the pretty birds and see them, and see my lovely mother. But, alas! Old age struck her, and she wrinkled up and finally died, and we buried her many years ago. And here I am old and poor and poverty-stricken, sitting here begging, blind."

40 And he used to think of how he cherished the little Bible stories she would tell him before he went off to sleep, as she would finally pull him up in her bosom and rock him to sleep. And one of the stories that he used to like was a story that I was just referring to awhile ago, of the little boy that Elijah raised up from the dead. How his mother used to quote that story to him, and say, "Bartimaeus, there was a great woman. She was a Shunammite. And she lived down in Shunem. And she had faith in a servant of God called Elijah, that great mighty prophet. And he came by her house quite often and one day she said to her husband, 'We perceive that this man who comes by this way is a holy man. He's a great man because God works great signs and wonders through him. So, I pray thee, let us show favor to him by building us on the side of our house ... building for him, rather---a little house that he might stop and would rest.'"

41 Now, I could imagine her saying to Bartimaeus, "You see, Bartimaeus, we are supposed to treat all people good. We're not supposed to be evil to anyone, and especially we are to honor and respect the household of God." So, this woman, she was sure that this man that visited with her was a great, mighty prophet of the Lord. And, so, her husband consented to it; and when Elijah and Gehazi his servant came by again, there was a nice little room built out to itself by the side of the wall, a little pitcher with some water in it, and a little bed and a footstool, and a place for him to rest. He was on his road to a cave up at Mount Carmel where he went to fast and pray during certain days, like new moons and holidays, before the prophet spake in the streets.

42 "And when Elijah came in and seen all this that this kind woman had done, why, he sent Gehazi in and said, 'Go ask her what could we do for her. I'm a personal friend to the chief captain, and I also speak with the king. Could I speak in her behalf?' And when Elijah asked her this, why, she said, 'No, I abide with my people,' and, oh, she was a wealthy woman. They had need of nothing. She just done it out of the goodness of her heart."
And that's the way you're supposed to do anything when you do it for God. Do it from the goodness of your heart. When you give anything, give it from your heart. If you can't do that, then don't do it, because your gift won't be respected to God. And just do it out of the goodness of your heart.

43 "Well, and when the servant came back and said to the prophet, 'Well, she needs nothing. Everything's all right with her. But I'll tell you one thing; she's getting a little aged, and her husband is an elderly man, and they don't have any children.'"
No doubt but what the prophet saw a vision, because no prophet or anyone else ever done anything of the Lord ... for the Lord like that, except it be by a vision. Now, remember, that's right. Find anyplace in the Scripture or anywhere, it's always first God tells them. Man can't do nothing at random. He's a servant to God. Even Jesus Christ said, "I do nothing in myself, but what I see the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." St. John 5:19. And if the Son of God could do nothing without the Father showing Him first, how much less could we without God showing us first. Therefore, we boldly jump into things sometimes, not knowing what we're doing; but when God gives a vision and speaks and shows exactly what He's going to do, it's just a drama to act it out. That's all, because God's going to do it. He's already said so. So, that takes care of it.

44 Now, "So he said, 'Go call the Shunammite.' And she stood in the door. And he said, 'According to the time of life, you're going to embrace a child.'
"Now, she said, 'I'm old. But Elijah's words came to pass just exactly like he said, for in a certain amount of months she embraced a lovely little boy baby."
I can see little Bartimaeus' eyes, say, "Did she love him, Mama, like you love me?"
"Yes, just like I love you. He was a pretty little boy, she thought the prettiest there was in the world, like I think of you, like all mothers think of their babies. And one day, when this little boy was grown up to about ten or twelve years old, he was out with his father in the field, because his father was a rich man and the harvest was going on. So he was out in the field with his father. And I suppose the little boy must have had a sunstroke. He began to cry, 'My head, my head.' It was about noontime. And one of the servants brought the little boy in, and he sat on his mother's lap until about the middle of the day. And the little boy grew worse, and sicker and sicker, until after awhile the little boy died."

45 Now, I want you to watch what ... when God begins to deal with a person to do things, sometimes that they don't even realize what they are doing. She took that little boy and laid him in the prophet's bed. What a place to put him---just exactly right. Put him on the prophet's bed, where she had built this little house, and had took and put the little boy on the prophet's bed. And she said to the servant, "Saddle up a little mule and go forward. Don't you check unless I bid you."
Her husband said, "Don't go up to Mt. Carmel. It's neither new moon nor Sabbath. The prophet won't be there." But that mother's heart for her baby, she was in distress, and she knew if she ever got to that prophet that she would find out why God had took her baby. If God could tell the prophet she was going to have the baby, and she had it, surely God could tell why He took the baby away. She said, "All is well, go ahead."

46 And the servant went on to the Mt. Carmel, and Elijah was there. He stood out in the cave door, looked out, and said, "Here comes that Shunammite." And said, "She's worried, but God has hid it from me. He's never told me what her trouble's about."
You see, God don't tell his servants everything He does; He just lets them know what He wants them to know, see. It's up to God. There was this great man, but he didn't know what was her trouble.
And so he said to Gehazi, "Run out and meet her and say, 'Is all well?'"
And he said, "Is all well with thee? Is all well with thy husband? Is all well with thy son?"
Look at that woman: "All is well." I like that. Why? Her baby laying a corpse, her husband wringing his hands and screaming, walking up and down the yard, but "all is well." I like that.

47 Her purpose was to get into the presence of this prophet who had the anointing of the Lord upon him, and she knew that that prophet would know what to do, what to tell her. She knowed he'd have "thus saith the Lord" for her, and so "all is well." If God took the baby, all right, as long as it was God's plan. "God gave, God taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord," see. But she wanted to know why; was something she had done, or what was wrong. And when...
She run up to the foot of Elijah and fell down at his feet, and so Gehazi thought that was a little misbehaving for a woman to fall at his master's feet, so he jerks her up. And so then she began to reveal to him about the baby being dead.
Now, he said to Gehazi, "Take my staff and go forward and lay this upon the baby, and if anybody speaks to you, don't you speak to them. Somebody salutes you [that's 'how-do-you-do'], don't say a word. Just put your mind on taking this staff to the baby, and start going." I like that. We haven't got no time to fool around. The message is urgent, people are dying. Let's go forward.

48 And he took the staff and took off.
Now, I believe if the woman would have believed that that would have done the work, it would have done it. But her faith wasn't in the staff; it was in the prophet. So, she said, "As the Lord your God lives and never dies and your soul never dies, I'm not going to leave you. I'm going to stay right here."
Oh, I like that. Hold onto it. If you take ahold of God for something, don't you turn loose. That's right. When you take Jesus for your healer, don't you let no devil, nothing else ever back you out of it. Hold on! I'll stay with it, stay right there. "As the Lord your God lives and your soul never dies, I'll not leave you till I find out about the baby." Well, Elijah couldn't get rid of her.
So, that's the way you want to be with Jesus. You want... Just get on His hands, just stay there, cry out day and night! That's the way. Yes, sir. Don't you turn loose. Don't you back up one bit. If you believe it, stay there, there's mercy in the Lord. Stay with it.

49 So, I think that's why Mary ... or, Martha, it was, that went out to meet Jesus. She knowed ... she'd read that story of the Shunammite baby. She knew if God was in the prophet, surely God was in His Son; and she knew that she'd get her request if she went with the right approach. That's the next thing: people'll approach God in the wrong way. You've got to come the right approach.
Not long ago I had the honor of praying for a king. They taken the cuffs out of my trouser legs, told me to never back ... not to turn my back on him; after prayer and things, to back away from him. Never turn your back on a king. That's a very good thing. Don't never turn your back on the King of Kings then, see. And it's approach, a certain approach.

50 In the courts, there's a judge upon the stand. And if you know something back there, and say, "Hey, wait a minute, Judge; I want to talk to you a minute," you'll be called down. There's an approach to approach that judge, and you've got to come that approach.
And there's approach you've got to come to God. If you come to a gift of God, you've got to come in the right mental attitude. You've got to come the right approach, or you won't receive nothing when you come. That's the way this Martha did when Jesus came. She came with the right approach. This Shunammite woman, she came with the right approach, with her heart burdened, longing for God, and she held onto it.
And Elijah said, "Well, I'll just...," girt up his loins and he went after him. He met Gehazi when he got there, on his road back.
Said, "I put the staff on the baby and there was no life in him."
And of course not. The woman didn't believe it. If she would have believed it, it would have happened, but she wanted the prophet. She didn't know about the staff. Elijah had faith for that, but the woman had faith in the prophet.

51 So, when Elijah come to the room... I want you to notice: no prayer. Elijah went there. You talk about a condition! There was the people in the yard, awful wailing and carrying-on, the father all tore up, and everybody screaming, and the little baby laying on the prophet's bed, been dead since that day at noon. And Elijah went in, and he walked back and forth, the Bible said, to and fro in the room. What was he doing? Waiting for the anointing. Amen. Walking back and forth. Oh, my! Just waiting for the anointing. After awhile the anointing of the Holy Spirit come on him, he fell across the little baby, put his lips against its lips, his nose against its nose, its forehead against his forehead, and laid there. He felt it got warm. Got back and walked again. Oh, my. I like that. Walking back and forth till he felt the anointing on him again. When the anointing come on him again, he fell across the baby again, his lips against its lips, his nose against its nose. And the first thing you know, the baby sneezed seven times and come to life. Amen!

52 Oh, how little Bartimaeus loved that story! I love it, too. Oh, he thought, "You know what? That same great prophet Elijah ... and when he went up, he sent a double portion of his spirit back upon Elisha, and Elisha was a great prophet. And then, just about that time, he happened to think, "Not many years ago that Elijah and Elisha walked down this same road where I'm sitting by the side of, arm in arm, going down to Jordan to split her open and walk across." Amen. Oh, my! Oh, the wind blowed and he put his old ragged coat up a little more, you know, and kindly... The sun was getting around the other side of the wall.
He thinks, "No more than a few hundred years ago, Elijah and Elisha walked right down these same old cobblestones here, with their arm in arm, going down. And Elijah took that mantle off and struck the Jordan, and said ... and the Jordan come open. Elisha took it and come back, and struck the Jordan and come back with it."

53 Oh, I can hear Bartimaeus, now, scream out to himself and say, "Oh, if I would have only been sitting here then! If I would have been sitting here then, I'd've run out in the street and said, 'O great holy prophets of God, pray for me that the Lord God will make me to see.' And they'd've laid their hands upon me, and my dream last night of seeing again would have been true. I'd've got my eyesight. But, alas, my priest tells me at the temple that the days of miracles is past."

54 Oh, when was the days of miracles is past? When the day of miracles is past, the day of God is past, for God is miracles. Certainly. The days of miracles never will be past. Never was and never will be. But they said that the days of miracles is past.
About that time, he hears a little clicking coming down the street. He listens. "It must be a ... it's a little mule, there's somebody run in front with sandals on. It must be a rich man coming." He couldn't see, but he could hear. "It must be a rich man, because he's riding on a mule."

55 So he got up off his rock, said, "Help me. My name is Bartimaeus. I'm a blind man. I have a little girl at home, a wife. Please, would you give me an alm? I was here too late this morning."
And the servant stopped and said, "Master."
And it happened to be the fellow on there said, "Listen, out of my way, bum, beggar! I'm a priest. I'm on my road down here to meet the ministerial association. There's a fanatic prophet in the land claims to see visions, and so forth, and heal sick people, and so forth. He's a fanatic prophet from Galilee. I'm going to meet the ministerial association to see that none of that fanaticism ever starts around Jericho here. Get out of my way! I'm on my way. Hmm! I'm the servant of the Lord! [with an attitude like that] ... on the way."
Bartimaeus found his way back, and found his rock again. But, you know, the sun, as it went around the other side a little and it had kind of got shady there. So, he moved out in the sun again, found him another rock, and sat down, pulled up his garment again.

56 Thought, "Oh, wasn't that beautiful to think back when I was a little boy when mother used... Oh, yes. I remember again. She told me how the great Jehovah led the children of Israel, my people, over into this promised land, of the great stories she told how Jehovah rained bread out of heaven and fed them, how He caused a great wind to blow in quails, how He brought water out of a rock. Oh, what's happened to that great Jehovah?
"But the priest tells me that the days of miracles is past, so there's nothing I can do about it. Oh, if I could just have lived in that day. If I could have only lived in the day when Jehovah was really alive and here on earth with His people! But they tell me that's all over, so there's nothing I can do about it." And he just sat there.
He began to think, "Yes, and I remember the great warrior Joshua, how my mother used to say, 'Honey, just across there, just at the ford, right down there below the city, Joshua, the great mighty warrior who took Moses' place [a type of the Holy Spirit now]..." Moses didn't bring the children into the promised land. He was a lawgiver, but he didn't bring the children in the promised land. Joshua took them over, see. And the Holy Spirit is the One that's taking them over now. Christ made the way, and the plans, and was the giver of the law and so forth; but the Holy Spirit takes the church to the promised land---the rapture---take it up, the Holy Spirit in the rapture.

57 And how that Joshua, the great warrior, stood on the banks over there after he'd seen God moving with Moses. And he stood there. That was in the month of April, his mother told him, and all the snow-waters up in Judea in the mountains was melting, and Jordan was all the way across the plains here. But the great Joshua stood on the other side, and he seen God. And He told him to get the people together and have them to sanctify themselves to get ready, because He was going to open up the Jordan. And how that the great Joshua put God first, put the priests and the ark of the covenant first.
That's a real lesson. Wish we had time to dwell on it awhile. Put God first if you want to see something. If the doctor told you he's done all he can do for you, the man's honest. Then if he's done all he can do, put God out there now. Put God there and keep Him there. Take God for your healer and see what He does. The doctor is limited; God's unlimited. The doctor can do anything he can... He can work on two senses: what he can see and what he can feel. The only two of his senses that will declare anything. God, my, He's ... untapped resources He's got; all things. He can just speak the Word, it'll be so. Put Him first.

58 Then they went to the Jordan, the Jordan opened. And he thought, "You know the very stone that I'm sitting on now, the power of God shook off the top of the wall, broke it down. The very stone that I'm sitting on, the power of God shook it off of the wall there. By the people shouting and giving a praise to God, the walls of Jericho fell down flat, one on top of the other." [A little shouting helps once in awhile, I believe. It certainly does.] And when they sounded the trumpet, the people shouted, down went the walls. And to think that the very...
Do you say, "Well, I wish I might go over there and sit on one of those stones"? The very seat that you're sitting on is God's Word made manifest! The very earth that you walk on is God's Word made manifest. The dirt on the ground is the Word of God. Amen. Oh, my. This building is the Word of God, this desk is the Word of God. God created it. He created it with His own Word. There was nothing to make it out of. He said, "Let there be." And He believed His own Word and there was a world come into existence. Oh, my! I'm ready to hang my soul on any phase of it and say it's the truth. Yes, sir. He said, "Let there be," and there was, because He's God. He made His own Word come to pass. He still makes His own Word come to pass. He always did and He always will. He'll stand by His Word. What God promises God will do.

59 Abraham sojourned in a strange land twenty-five years, getting older all the time. Seventy-five before God ever called him. Could you imagine an old man and woman like that going down to the doctor's office and saying, "Well, Doc, we want to make arrangements at the hospital; we're going to have a baby."
He'd say, "Poor old fellow, something wrong with him."
That's the way every true believer of God is thought of. They think there's something wrong." There is something wrong: he's passed from death to life. He passed from the things of the world to believe in the things of God. The Christian looks at the unseen, not what he sees. He looks at what he does not see. You don't see with your eyes anyhow; you see with your heart. That's right. You look with the eyes; you see with your heart. Truly. You understand. Seeing is understanding. You look right up to things, say, "I don't see it." You mean you don't understand it. That's the real word of it.
Now,

60 then Abraham, he went out, and said, "Sarah, we're going to have a baby. I want you to go down, and we'll buy up a lot of Birdseye, pins, and make some little booties, and get ready." The first month passed.
"Abraham, no different." See, she was way past menopause then. Said, "No different." Second month passed. "No different, Abraham, just the same as it was."
"Hallelujah! We're going to have the baby anyhow."
"How do you know?"
"God said so, that settles it." A year passed. "Anything different, Sarah?"
"No, nothing different."
"Glory to God! It's going to have to be a greater miracle than it was if it happened last year. A year older now; I'm seventy-six and you're sixty-six. Hallelujah! Greater miracle than it would've if we'd been a year younger."
"No different yet?"
"No different."
Ten years passed, "No different yet."
"Praise God, we're going to have it anyhow."

61 And we're supposed to be sons and daughters of Abraham, like the children of Abraham; and if it don't happen in two minutes after we're prayed for, we go, "Ah-h I didn't get it." Oh, you're a poor excuse for a son or daughter of Abraham, like that. Abraham ... and instead of him getting weaker, the Bible said he got stronger all the time. Got stronger. When he was a hundred years old, he was still giving God praise; he was going to have it. And he did. They had this child because God said so. God is to be took at His Word. What God says comes to pass. No matter how long it is, what it is, God said so, and you just hold onto it, that's all. Just stay with it; it'll bring you through.

62 There was Bartimaeus sitting there, thought, "Oh, if this very rock hanging on the wall, and the power of God by the people shouting, it fell off of the wall. What a wonderful thing," he must have thought. "That was a wonderful thing. Oh, if I could have only have lived when Joshua crossed that Jordan, I'd go out there to Joshua and say, "Joshua, thou great warrior of God, I know that you're a man of God. God has called you. You're a great man. Have prayer for my blinded eyes, Joshua, and I know I will see if you'll just pray for me."
But alas, "The days of miracles has passed," said his church. "We don't have that no more. God doesn't heal anymore, He doesn't do miracles. He's just God. He expects us to be a very good clergymen, and have a good education, and know how to speak to the people and say 'Ahh-men' real pretty, and, you know, and such things as that, and intellectual."
It's got same thing today. It hasn't changed a bit. You know, the devil takes his man but never his spirit. And God takes His man but never his spirit. So they still war in human beings just the same. One will say... Oh, very religious (like Esau and Jacob, and so forth, you know), very religious, but still don't believe the supernatural. But when the supernatural comes, it changes things. God comes amongst His people Himself and shows Himself that He is God, that He is the Jehovah.

63 And then Joshua, after coming over the other side, one day he was walking around, viewing the walls, seeing how thick they was and how great they were, walking around, and he saw a man, and the man drew a sword and started at Joshua. Joshua drew his sword, and he started to meet the man. Joshua said, "Are you for us, or are you for our enemy?"
And the man that had the sword drawed, said, "Nay, I'm the captain of the host of the Lord." The great Joshua dropped his sword, threw off his helmet, and laid down his shield, bowed down at the foot of the man, the captain of the host of the Lord. Oh, my. "I'm the captain of the Lord's host."

64 Blind Bartimaeus must have said this, "Oh, think! That man stood no more than a hundred yards from where I'm sitting. If I'd only lived then, I'd've run out to the captain of the Lord's host and said, 'O, great captain of this host of the Lord, restore my sight to me that I could see to make a living for my family.' And the captain of the Lord's host would have restored my sight. But alas, they said the days of miracles is past."
Little did he know---little did he know!---that less than a hundred yards stood the same captain, coming again in the name of the Lord, on His road. That's what I think now. These people on the beds, and in the chairs, and with heart trouble, and whatever you got, and cancer---that same captain of the Lord's host is right here tonight in the form of the Holy Ghost, if you'll just open up your eyes and look (your understanding), that you might perceive that He's in our midst.

65 Notice, the first thing you know, he heard a noise coming. You know there's something strange: everywhere you find Jesus, you always find a lot of noise. I don't know why it was, and it's never changed. You still find a lot of noise where He's at. One time they tried to make them keep still. He said, "If they'd hold their peace, them rocks will immediately cry out." Something about it is noisy. And he heard a noise coming, and some of them was singing, "Hosanna! Hosanna! to Him that cometh in the name of the Lord." The others was mocking, making fun. Out of the gate they came.
Here come a young man in his thirties, walking with his head set towards Jerusalem, the burdens of the world, all the sins of the world laying on Him. That was the captain of the host of the Lord. That was the same One that was with Joshua yonder in the wilder... was with Moses in the wilderness. That was the same one with Elijah back there that raised the baby. The same captain was with Joshua; the same captain that's here tonight, the same One will be forever. Forever the same Lord God, He doesn't change. He's the same captain of the host of the Lord.

66 And here He was walking. I can hear people hollering, "Hey, you, let's see you do a miracle. Let's see you perform a miracle. We want to see it. We hear that you perform miracles." When you hear people saying that, you know what kind of a spirit they got: it's the devil. Look what Jesus... When Satan took Him in the wilderness, he said, "If thou be the Son of God, turn these stones into bread. You're hungry and you want something to eat, so just make these stones bread, if you're the Son of God. It'll make me believe you, if you'll just do that."
Jesus don't mind the devil. No servant of God minds the devil. Jesus said, "It's written, Man shall not live by bread alone."

67 When they had Him in the courtyard of the Roman court, they put a rag around His face, and took a stick and hit Him on top of the head. Said, "Now they say you're a prophet, that you can tell things what people has done, and what people will do. Now tell us who hit you, we'll believe you." He could have done it, but He'd have been minding the devil. He didn't do it. He just sat there and never opened His mouth. With a rag around His face, and hit Him and said, "You're a prophet, huh? Tell us who hit you now, we'll believe you."
That same devil lives in people today, say, "If you're ... if there is a God, a healer, if this guy has got a gift of divine healing, go down and heal this one here; let me see it, I'll believe it. Let me see it." You know churches that put out that kind of a propaganda. You just remember that's the spirit ... the same spirit.

68 Them priests said, "If thou art the Son of God, come down off the cross now, pull your hands loose and come down, and we'll believe you."
Why, he could have done that if he wanted to. You know, they paid him the greatest honor there they ever had paid to him. Caiaphas, the high priest, and them, said, "He saved others, himself he cannot save." That was an honor. If He saved others, He could not ... if He saved himself, He could not save others, so He gave Himself so He could save others, see. He had to give Himself so He could save us. He could've saved Himself.
Like Billy Sunday said, one of his writings, one of his textbooks I was reading here some time ago, said, "Angels was sitting in every tree, saying, 'Just pull your hand off the cross and point to one of us. We'll change this scene around here.'" He could have done it too. But if he would have done it, where would we have been today? But He hung there, with spit in his face, and nails in his hands, and thorns on his head, and the blood running down with tears mingled, dying as a malefactor because He loved us; died for giving us a chance for salvation, giving us a chance to pray for the sick and they'd be made well, giving us that opportunity. He did it for us.

69 And here was that Lord's captain of the host coming out. I can hear that same priest that just spoke to him awhile ago and said, "Out of the way! We don't want none of them healing services in our town, bunch of people all stirred up and everything like that on a bunch of fanaticism. Some prophet out of Galilee was born a illegitimate birth, and he never went to our seminary, don't know nothing about our schools, and never belonged to our denomination. We know nothing about him. We'll just have that thing stopped. We won't have nothing to do with that, be sure of that."
We can hear that same priest saying, "Hey, we understand that you raised a man called Lazarus. We got a whole graveyard full of them up here. Come out and raise one of them. Come on up here on the hillside; we've been burying them up there for hundreds of years. Come up here and raise one of them, we'll believe you."

70 But you know what? He never paid one bit of attention to it. He was on his road to Jerusalem to be offered up as a sacrifice, the whole burden of the world upon his precious soul. He was facing Jerusalem, going right up the mountain then to Jerusalem to be crucified for them same people that was making fun of Him. They was throwing overripe fruit ... or eggs at Him, making fun of Him, driving Him from their city but He never paid a bit of attention to it. He just went, going on.
Bartimaeus got alarmed. He said, "What's all this about? What's the matter? What's all this racket I hear?"
And someone said, "Out of the way, beggar."
Others this a-way, and that way, and finally ... I believe it must have been some precious lady. The old fellow had been pushed off of the rock, and he said ... she said, "Are you hurt, sir?"
"No, ma'am, I'm not hurt, but I can't understand what's all this noise about."
"Why," she said, "Jesus of Nazareth, the Galilean prophet, is passing this way."
"My good woman..."

71 She must have been a follower of Jesus, because the followers of Jesus is always considerate, and they're kindhearted and like to help people, like to do something to help somebody. All followers of Jesus act that way, whether old people trying to cross the street... A follower of Jesus just doesn't go on by and let them stand there to get run over. He stops and helps them across the street. And if he sees some poor old person with a big bunch of groceries, a follower of Jesus helps them pack them home. And if he sees somebody in need, they go help them. That's what followers of Jesus does. They're always kind, tender hearted, showing compassion, doing things for somebody.

72 Then this follower of Jesus said, "Why, sir, don't you understand the prophets?"
"Well," he said, "I was just sitting here kind of dreaming about the prophets, what my mother used to tell me about the prophets."
"Well, then," she said, "you must understand that there is to be a Messiah come."
"Oh, yes, yes. We know that there'll be a Messiah come, because Moses said the Lord our God will raise up a prophet liken unto him, and everyone that doesn't hear this prophet will be cut off from the people. He'll be a great prophet when He comes."
"Well," she said, "sir, this man is that prophet. Why, he looks down upon the people, he discerns their thoughts. He tells them the very thing that's in their heart. He tells them things that they have done, things that will be, and every time it's perfect."
"Oh, you mean that that man has arrived?"
"That's him going by."
"Well, why is the people hollering like that and carrying-on and making fun of him?"
"Because they know Him not, but we know Him because we are believers. We know Him. We follow him daily. We watch and see the miracles that He does, and we're persuaded that this is the Messiah.
"Why, I saw him here some time ago when He was talking to a woman at the well. He said, 'Go get your husband.' And she said, 'I have no husband.' He said, 'You've said well. You've had five, and the one you're living with now is not your husband.' 'Why,' she said to him, 'sir, I perceive that you're a prophet. Why,' she said, 'we know, we Samaritans, know when the Messiah cometh, he'll tell us these things." And this man said, 'I am he that speaks to you.' And she run into the city, saying, 'Come see a man that's told me what I've done. Isn't this the Messiah?' And the whole city of Samaria was converted."
"You don't mean... Well, if He's the Messiah, that's the Son of David."
"Yes, that's right, that's the Son of David!"
And he screamed out, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

73 His dream could come to pass now.
Maybe yours could, sister, on the cot, your dream of health again to come to pass; yours in the wheelchair, yours eat up with cancer, your dream of going back to church and renewing your vows with God, maybe your dream is just about ready to come to pass. Maybe that captain of the host of the Lord will come by afterwhile. I trust that He is.
"Thou Son of David, have mercy on me, have mercy on me!" Oh, He couldn't hear him literally. He was out on the road, and hundreds of people swarming around, one screaming one thing and one another. And he throwed his old ragged coat back to holler, "Oh, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!"
Let's just take a little thing that I believe he did (I don't know that he did). I can imagine he said in his heart, "If that is the Son of David, then I can stand right here and ask Jehovah. Jehovah will speak to him." That's right. "Jehovah can stop Him because He knows my condition, and I've been sitting here longing to see Him."

74 You know, that's the way to get God close to you, is think about Him, talk about Him. Just keep Jesus ... don't talk about the things of the world; talk about Jesus. That's the way to do it. People may think you're a little funny, but that's all right; just keep on. Let your conversation be about Him.
Here, I want to stop here a minute. My son, Billy, he's around here somewhere. Here about three or four years ago we were in a meeting, and they was playing some kind of music or something. We went in after service (at Woodville, Illinois), and we went in to get some food. They was playing some kind of a song, I don't know what it was. And he said, "Daddy, ain't that a pretty song?"
I said, "What song?" I despise them little old jukeboxes or ever what they call it. I've went into many a restaurant and say, "Lady, I'll lay two dollars down here (I've got my family) if you'll pull the plug out of that filthy thing there till I can let my family eat." She'd just pull the plug out.

75 Them old rock'n'roll and booglie-wooglie, and ever ... that kind of stuff. It's a disgrace. It makes you so nervous you can't eat. I don't mind it myself because I got a little gear I can pull myself in and keep thinking about God and I don't hear it at all. So afterwhile (he was single then, before he was married) some little lady slipped by, and he said, "Daddy, hasn't she got pretty hair?"
I said, "Who?"
He said, "Daddy, all you think about is the Bible and God."
I said, "Thank you, Honey, that's a very nice compliment. That's all I want to think about." That's right. If I can keep my mind settled on Him all the time, that's all that's necessary.

76 "There, He stood there, and I was thinking of Him, and here He is near me, now. But there's too many between me and Him. I don't know what I'll do. Oh, Jehovah God, that is Your servant, that's Your Son. You said, 'My servant in whom I'm well pleased, I'll put my Spirit upon him, he'll show judgment to the Gentiles,' and so forth. That's Your servant. O God, oh, let Jesus of Nazareth, let Him speak to me!"
About that time, He stopped. Oh, my. He stopped, turned around. He didn't hear him physically. He was too far from him. If you're ever in Jericho, look where it was ... where it taken place at. All that mob, He couldn't've heard him anyhow. But He don't have to hear you; it's your faith that stops Him.

77 Look at the little woman with the blood issue coming through the crowd. She said, "Oh, if I could only touch His garment, I'll be made well." And she pressed through until she touched the border of His garment. Now the Palestinian garment swings loose, it's a robe. It's got an underneath garment. Now, I would never feel if you could touch my pocket physically. How much more a big loose robe? He never felt her physically, for He said, "Who touched me?" And He looked around.
And Peter rebuked Him, said, "Well, everybody is touching you. Why do you say such a thing as that?"
He said, "But I perceive that virtue is gone from Me." And He looked around, and looked on the audience, and He found the little woman out in the audience. And He said she had a blood issue and her faith had saved her.

78 Now that same God down there knowed... When He was the same Jesus, going up, blind Bartimaeus couldn't get to Him. He was too far away from Him. But his faith stopped Jesus. Look! He had the sins of the world upon Him. He had the death of every creature that ever did die, or ever would die, laying on Him. He had every sin that ever had been committed, or ever would be committed, laid on Him. And He was on His road to Calvary in the midst of howling mobs of religious people making fun of Him, and daring Him to raise the dead or heal somebody; but the faith of that blind beggar stopped Him still in His tracks. I want to preach one night again on "Jesus Stood Still," see how many times it happened. And Jesus stood still there, and He turned around, said, "Bring him here. What would you that I would do?"
Oh, I can see Him, when you find out that you've got his attention. "Oh," said, "behold He calleth thee. Be of a good courage."

79 He threw off his coat. Watch him. He never laid it down real nice, you know, he'd get it when he come back, where he could find it. He knew if he ever got in contact with Jesus, he'd be able to see his coat when he come back. So that's the way it is. That's the way. If he ever come and had an audition with Jesus, it would be different then. He could see from then on. So he just throwed his coat away. Away he went!
And He said, "What would you that I could do for you?"
He said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." That was what was in his mind. He didn't talk to him how beautiful heaven was, but he had a need. "I want my sight---that I might receive my sight."
Jesus said, "Receive thy sight. Thy faith has saved thee"---the faith that stopped Him. If our faith tonight could stop Him, if our faith tonight can bring Him down here, we could receive our healing, what we have need of.

80 A little story before closing. I read a little fiction (It must have been a fiction; it was supposed to have been true, but I doubt it) about Bartimaeus. It taken the life of the prophets, and so forth, and I read an article on Bartimaeus. It said he had been blind since he was a boy. And, you know, in them days, they... Today, when a man's blind... I forget what they call those dogs that leads them, you know---some sort of a dog that leads the blind man: seeing-eye dog. In them days, instead of having a dog, they had a lamb that led. And Bartimaeus had a lamb, and he had two little turtledoves.
And said that one night... He had ... He got a little daughter, a little blond-headed daughter, and one night the little girl got sick.

81 And he went out and prayed, and he said, "Lord, if You'll let my little girl get well, I'll offer to You my turtledoves tomorrow." That was the only thing... The little turtledoves tumbled over one another, and the little enchantments that attract the attention of the tourists, and they drop him something for his ... coins in his cup. And he said, "Lord, if You'll just let me get well, I'll take my two turtledoves to the church tomorrow, and I'll sacrifice these two turtledoves for You." And the little girl's fever broke, got well.
A few weeks after that, his wife got sick and the physicians said there was nothing could be done for her, he'd done all he knowed. And he went outside the building, holding alongside the house, and he said, "O Jehovah, if You'll let my dear wife live, I promise You... I haven't got nothing else to give you, so I'll give you my lamb," that led him up there.

82 And so the next morning his wife was better, so he went on his road, leading... to take his lamb up for a sacrifice.
They said he met the high priest. He said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou this morning?"
He said, "O High Priest of God, I go to the temple to offer my lamb for the sacrifice. My wife got well when I prayed for her, and I promised Jehovah I would give Him this lamb."
And the high priest said ... reached into his bag of money, and said, "Oh, Bartimaeus, thou cannot offer that lamb." Said, "I'll give you money and you go to the buyers ... or the exchangers, and said, "You go out there and buy you a lamb to be sacrificed."
He said, "O High Priest, very much thanks to you," but said, "I never promised God a lamb; I promised him this lamb."
That's so much of the trouble today, friends. Easter we fill our altars full of lilies. The altar wasn't made for lilies. God... the altar was made for you, see. But we want to bring something else to substitute for us. We can't do that. Our substitute has done been brought. Christ.

83 He said, "I never promised him a lamb, I promised him this lamb."
And the high priest said, "Bartimaeus, thou cannot offer that lamb. That lamb is your eyes. You cannot offer that lamb."
He said, "O High Priest of God, truly that's so; but if I will keep my promise to God, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus's eyes."
It was that cold morning that the Lamb God had provided for. The Lamb of God had been provided for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. I can see Him as He said, "Receive thy sight." Standing a few minutes, looking at his hands. "Oh, He told me I would get it. He said my sight would come." The crowd was going on down the road. After awhile he seen a shadow. He said, "Oh, here it is. I begin to see my fingers move!" And away he went, glorifying God. Sure. God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes.

84 That same Lamb is provided for you, sister; for you, sister; for you, for you, for me. For whosoever will, God has a Lamb provided for us tonight, for our eyes, for our eyes that our spiritual sight would come open and recognize that it's the Lord Jesus Christ in our midst. May He grant it tonight, is my prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for these Bible stories that are so much to us. We love them because they are life to us. We see what You was; and what You was yesterday, You are today, and will be forever. Now, Holy God, the creator of heavens and earth, send again tonight the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "When the Holy Spirit is come, He will take these things of mine and show them to you. He will show you things to come. He'll testify of the truth. He'll testify of me," said Jesus. And we know that it's true.

85 And I pray, Father, that tonight that the Holy Spirit will do the works here in the audience that Jesus did when He was here on earth, that they might understand and these people's eyes would come open, every one of them. Many of them are good, loyal, Christian people, and they love You, and they love You with all their heart. Now, Father, open up their spiritual eyes that they might be able to understand that these things are exactly what You said would take place. It's exactly Your promise what You promised us. And may we see it tonight, the hand of the living God among us. Then all people's eyes will be open, and then we will all receive our healing, our salvation.

86 And when the church closes tonight, may we go home like those who came from Emmaus, after you had been dead and buried and rose again, walked with them all day, and they didn't recognize you; but when You got them shut in with You alone that evening, You did something just like You did before You were crucified. They knew that You was not dead no longer, that You had risen from the dead, for no man could do those things the way You did them. And they run rejoicing, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us along the way?"
Grant the same thing to repeat tonight. Lord, come among us. Take our bodies. Take this poor body of mine. If You can use it, do so. Father, You could not use mine without using theirs, so use the sick people's bodies. Use our souls and bodies tonight to Thy honor and glory, that others might see and be healed, for we ask it in Jesus' name, the captain of the host of the Lord. Amen.

87 If there was a possible way for me to perform a healing, if I could cause this lady here to get up off of this cot she's laying on and walk away, I'd take a quarter and push it with my nose around this city just to see it done. What if that was my sister, my mother, my wife, laying there? What if this was one of mine? What if you out there with cancer, or heart trouble, what if it was my mother, my brother, my son, my daughter? My! But, I wish I could, but I can't. If Jesus stood here with this suit on that He gave me, neither could He; He's already done it. How many believe that salvation and every redemptive blessing is already purchased? Then what would He do if He was here? He would just act like He did when He was here on earth, do something that you would see that He was the living Jesus.

88 Now, how many knows this? That Jesus said that at this end time, (we've been preaching on it this week), that the Spirit of God would come on the earth (called the Holy Ghost), and would do the same works that He did? How many knows that? Show the same sign that He showed. He showed it to the Jews, He showed it to the Samaritans; but He never showed it to the Gentiles. It wasn't their day. Neither was the Gentiles looking for a Messiah. But today we are looking for the second coming of Christ. Now, we must receive the sign of the Messiah, which is the last sign.
And remember, remember He spoke of Noah? But he didn't say then, but He said as it was in the days of Sodom. He told what the morals of the day of Noah. They were eating and drinking, marrying, giving in marriage. But "as the days of Sodom," He left that alone, see. That's revelation.

89 Watch the angels, how we'd been speaking about what they done. The ministry... Look at the Billy Graham today. Just exactly! A modern Oral Roberts, Billy Graham---those mighty evangelists sweeping the world, calling out of Babylon, out of Sodom, everything they can. Is it getting any better? Worse all the time.
Now, watch the church elect. You believe in election? You sure have to if you believe the Bible. Our names were put in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world, said the Bible, see. We was elected by God. By His foreknowledge He elected us. Now, then if we are called, you ought to be thankful to God that you was elected. That's what I'm so thankful about is God called me, chose me. I never chose Him; He chose me. You never chose Him. "No man can come to me except my Father draws him first, and all the Father's given to me will come to me." That's right. So you see, if God calls you, He'll knock at your door. That's the time for you to come.
Now, today is the Gentiles' day. This is the day, the last message. And remember, Sodom was a destruction when fire fell from heaven.

90 Have you all been reading the paper about this rally that's going on out here in California? How those men are talking about ... throwing off from one party to another, but, of course, to me, I cast one vote. That was on Jesus Christ for my Saviour. I'm going to win. That's right. All right. I voted for the Lord Jesus to be my Saviour, that's all, see. Now, I believe in voting. I believe you should do it, but this pulpit is no place to talk about that. You talk about that wherever you want to. This is the gospel here. This is something I know it's straight and clean and true, and I know it's going to happen, that's all.
Now, when He's here, when Jesus comes to us tonight, I want you to remember that every redemptive blessing that He could ever give you... "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we were healed." Everybody was saved, everybody was healed when Jesus died at Calvary, but you've got to have your own personal faith in Him to be saved or to be healed.

91 Now, if Jesus was here tonight, you'd say, "Lord Jesus, come down, lay your hands on me" and heal you.
You know what He'd say? "Child of mine, don't you believe My Word? Do you believe My Word? I was wounded for your transgressions; with my stripes you were healed." Now, His Word should be sufficient. But then, if you didn't believe my word, I'd probably just let it go. If I didn't believe yours, you'd let me go. But not God. If you don't believe His Word, then still He sent the Holy Spirit with gifts in the church. What's the first? Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors, all for the perfecting of the church, to bring the church to knowledge of Him. A teacher, a pastor, evangelist, a prophet; all these things are to make known.

92 How many Pentecostal people is here tonight? Well, you people believe in speaking with tongues. Paul said, "If there's one among you now who speaks with tongues and nobody interprets (unless it's for edification---somebody can interpret it unless it's for to edify the church), why the people that's unlearned will come in and go away and say, 'Why, you're all crazy, all mad' (which mad means "crazy") and say, 'Why, you're all mad. But if one is a prophet and will prophesy and reveal the thing, then they'll have to fall down and say, 'Truly God is with you,'" because that is God's last sign. We know that, and that's just... We're living in it today. The Lord bless you.

93 Now, I forgot... Where's Billy Paul? Is he...? Excuse me. He's so little I can't see him. How many cards did you give out? [Fifty.] Did you start from fifty, or one to fifty? All right. We can't line all of them up at once, so let's just line them up as we can. All right. Prayer card number 1, who has it? What's the letter? B? B number 1 [break in tape]
...be real or I am a false prophet and a liar, and the Bible's wrong. The God of Christianity promised that He would meet here. "Wherever you're assembled together, I'll be with you." He sent an angel and told me, "Do not fear. You're sent to pray for sick people. You'll know the very secret of their heart."

94 Now, visions started coming...
The first thing I can remember in life was a vision. It's always been. You're born with these gifts. You don't lay hands on one another for these kind of gifts. These gifts God sets in the church. Isn't that right, brethren? See, God sets them in the church. You're born with them. They're natural, just natural, like any other thing. Now, I'm trusting that He will grant His presence. If He does, may His great blessings be upon us. Be reverent, believe.
You say, "What are you stalling for, Brother Branham?" I'm waiting for Him. Exactly. If He doesn't come, I can't do nothing. But if He does anoint me, I can do it.

95 Now, you watch ever who is engineering this microphone here, because it may be that my voice... Sometimes it's a unconscious... You don't know what you're saying. It's a vision. You're seeing something that's taking place somewhere else. So now, if it happens not to be loud enough, say to some of the men. Remember, all of you, see you tomorrow night, the Lord willing. God bless you. Now may the Lord Jesus bless while we softly sing, "Only Believe," every one of you together now.
Only believe, only believe
All things are possible...
I can see him as he come down off the hill, an epileptic child there. He said, "Lord, have mercy on my child. He's variously vexed of the devil."
Jesus said, "I can, if you believe, for all things are possible, only believe."
...All things are possible...

96 I take every spirit in here under the control of the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus Christ.
Now is this the man? Is this the person to be prayed for? How do you do, sir? Now, we are meeting, I suppose, for our first time in life. That is true. All right. We are just two human beings that comes together. I don't know you, and you don't know me. And perhaps you are here for some sickness, or some loved one, or some financial---I don't know what---your domestic trouble. Whatever it is, God knows all about it.
Now, it could be so that I'd walk across here after I've told you these things that I have, and lay hands upon you and say, "I will pray for you, my brother, and you go and be well." Or maybe I might do as some of our ministering brethren: just put our hands over on you and rebuke the spirit, and so forth, like some of those brothers who has real (what we call) bulldog faith. Like Brother Oral Roberts puts his hands upon them, and has a real faith and condemns the thing, like that. That's Brother Roberts' ministry, see, and God don't deal with no two men alike. I can't take Brother Roberts' place, and he can't take mine. We both have ministries and we have to do as God tells us to do.

97 But now, if I would come up here and say, "All right, brother, I got a ministry to lay hands on you." And I'd tell you that, you'd go on; you probably get well. That's right. But now you could have a little doubt about that, see. Now, "Did he tell me the truth or not?" Now, if Jesus Christ still lives like He did in the days gone by, and I can yield myself to His Spirit, not knowing you, then if something comes in me and begins to reveal something that you have done back in your past, like He did the woman at the well, like He told Simon Peter when he come to Him, and ... oh, so many places in the Bible, see.
If he begins to tell you what you were, well, you'll know whether that's truth or not. Then you'll be witness of that, and you'll know whether that's right or not. You could witness whether it's so or not. Then if He tells you what has been, then tell you what will be, if that what has been is truth, then what He tells you will be will surely be truth. Is that right, audience? Then you don't have to guess; that's the Spirit of the Lord.

98 Now, I don't say that He will. I trust that He will. But if He will, the audience has already promised... This right here... If He'd tell this man, you'll see the same thing like He did when Simon come to Him, and said "Thou art Simon, and you're the son of Jonas," or told him who he was, or Philip, some of the others like that, as He did when they'd come to Him. Why, it would make Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever, wouldn't it? Make His presence here, the great chief captain of the host of the Lord.
Now, I have no idea what... You looks a healthy man to me. Nothing about him would look unhealthy, but there's surely... He may not be sick. It may be something else. Lord knows. Now may the Lord help me. May the Holy Spirit of God come to me and speak so the people will know it know it's some spirit, and they'll be judged by what they call it. God, You're the Judge, let it be through Jesus Christ's name for Your glory, Lord. Not for a show, but for Your glory. Amen.

99 Now, if the people can still hear my voice, the man is going away from me. He has got something wrong... He is troubled in his skull, in his head. That's where his troubles lays. That's right, isn't it, sir? If that's right, raise up your hand. Now, there's some power that knows that about that man. I don't. You say, "It might be..." Is anybody here never was in one of the meetings before? Raise up your hands. Never was in the meetings before. You might think I guessed it. All right. Let's see. Let him... I don't know what it was. The tapes there has got it. That's why we keep these tapes, everything that's said. There's never been one thing ever said but what the Lord confirmed it to be true.
Yes, here it is. The man is suffering with something about his head. It's a... He got hurt. It was something about logs, or something about a log boom or something. "Thus saith the Lord," that's right. That's right. You're not from here. You come here to this meeting. You're from California. That's right. You think God knows who you are? Could He tell me who you are? Would it help you? You believe it would make you...? You would...? All right, Mr. Robinson, you can go back home and be well. Jesus Christ makes you well.

100 Do you believe on the Lord? Now, you see, look friends that isn't me. God knows I can't tell you one thing was said to that man. It's a vision; I'm watching what's taking place, see. Now, that's the same thing... How many in here, believers, know that that's the same thing Jesus Christ did when He was here on earth and promised it would be a sign of the end time? Now what more can we say? He's here. Now you believe on Him. That ought to settle it. The whole audience ought to rise up and say, "Thank the Lord, He heals me," goes on. That's right. It's all over. He's proved it.
How do you do? Is this...? I'm not beside myself; but visions, you have to watch. You see, I look at you here, and I see you somewhere, you know what I mean: a vision. Do you believe me to be His prophet ... or His servant? You believe that? We're strangers to each other. I don't know you, but God knows you.

101 Now, this is another beautiful picture, like St. John 4, you Bible readers. A man and a woman met for the first time in life, a woman of Samaria and Jesus of Nazareth. You remember that story? What did Jesus do? He had need to go by Samaria. God sent Him up there. I had need to come to Klammath Falls. God sent me over here. A woman come out and was talking to Jesus. Jesus talked to her long enough to contact her spirit, and found what her trouble was and told her. And she said, "You must be a prophet. We know that when the Messiah---which is the Lord Jesus, Messiah---when he comes, he'll tell us these things."
Jesus said, "I'm he that talks to you."

102 Now, if you was ever in Samaria, it's a well setting in a little panoramic, just like this here. Here's the very kind of a story relived again. There she is. I do not know her, and we're strangers and meeting here for the first time. Have no idea what the woman's standing there for, but God knows what she's here for. He knows all about it. If God will reveal to me something that's your trouble, if something another wrong, or whatever you're here for, would you believe me to be His servant? Audience will do the same? The other was a man; let all the women believe.
Now the lady is aware right now that something is going on. Between me and the woman stands that light. How many've seen it on the picture? We've got... The pictures are all here. Did you all bring the pictures to the platform? You should get one. It's a copyrighted picture, hangs in the Religious Hall of Art in Washington, DC, the only supernatural being was ever scientifically photographed. That's by the government. Photographed over here at... What's this place that we're going next over here in California? Lakeport.

103 You have kind of complications, heart, different troubles that you're suffering with. You're not from here, from this city. You come from another city. It's called Lake something. Lakeview is where you're from. That's right. You're interested in someone else you're praying for too. You have some rectal trouble also. It's something on the order of a hemorrhoid, only it's more like a tumor. You have something in the nose also that's bothering you, in your nose. That's right. You've got a daughter here. That's right. Some kind of a trouble at the skin, bad feet. That's right. That is true, isn't it? Your husband couldn't come, but he's sick also. You believe I can tell you by the Holy Ghost what's his trouble? Hemorrhoids. That's right. Do you believe God can tell me who you are? Would it help you? Would you go home and believe what I've told you to be true? You would anyhow. Well, Mrs. Troxell, you can go home and be made well. Jesus Christ heals you. God bless you, sister.

104 Do you believe on the Lord Jesus? That should settle it over the audience.
How do you do, sir. You believe me to be His servant? If you believe that with all your heart, you're a mighty fine man. You're standing here for somebody else, got dropsy. That's right. Go believe now, he'll get over it. Just have faith in God, don't doubt.
That lady sitting right back there, she's the mother of some little sick children. You've touched something, young lady. You believed, didn't you? You have hemorrhoids yourself that you want prayed for. That's "thus saith the Lord." Your little children is sick. You got two sets of twins. That's right, isn't it, lady? If that's right, raise up your hand. What did she touch? Look where she's sitting. What did she do? She never touched me; she touched Him, the high priest. He turned around. Don't worry, lady. You are healed and your children will be well. Your faith saved you, if you can believe.

105 Here sits a lady with her eyes bowed like that. She's praying for herself, got arthritis. Do you believe the Lord will make you well, sister, sitting there? You was praying. You said, "Lord, let him call me." If that's right, raise up your hand, if that's what you said in your prayer. How do I know what you said in your prayer? Have faith in God, don't doubt.
How do you do, sir. We are strangers to each other. I do not know you, but God does. If the Lord will reveal to me something about you, will you believe Him with all your heart? Good. Your trouble is in your head. You're having trouble with your head. You have spells kind of, like passing out, and so forth. You're a little in doubt about your salvation, too. You're not exactly sure whether you're exactly right or not. That is right. And how this come about, you had a accident that did this. That is so. Mr. Woodland, do you believe that that's the truth? That's what it took, wasn't it? All right. Go on, it'll be all right. God bless you.

106 Have faith. Believe with all your heart. God will grant your request if you'll only believe.
Are you believe? Now look, you're aware that something has to do that. Is that right? Now, what kind of a spirit is it? You believe it to be the Spirit of God? Now, the Pharisees said to Jesus that He was a Beelzebub when He did it. He said, "I forgive you for saying that, but when the Holy Ghost comes if you speak one word against it, it'll never be forgiven." Is that right? Now ask some of these people who the miracle has been performed on. Ask them. See whether it's real. God knows that it's so real.

107 How do you do, lady? Fine looking person.
Just look. See how it puts us? Just get so weak, the whole audience is like turning around and around to me. Remember, Jesus saw one vision, one person touched Him, and He said, "I perceive that virtue has gone from me." What is virtue? It is strength.
Some of you out there now that don't have prayer cards and so forth, you pray. You out there, you look up to God and say, "God, I believe You. This man don't know me. If You'll just touch me, O Lord God, if You'll just make me well, just let him speak to me, I'll believe with all my heart. I challenge your faith to that. Don't believe me; believe Him, because I'm just a man like this microphone. It isn't the microphone you're hearing; it's my voice. It isn't me you're hearing; it's Him.

108 Sir, sitting there with your back trouble. Do you believe that Jesus Christ will heal you and make you well? Your wife sits next to you there. She's got trouble with her fingers. Do you believe God will heal her too. Do you believe, sister, also? That alarmed you, didn't it, brother? You didn't know you had that much faith. Put your hands over on your wife. She's got some kind of an infection-like that bothers her in her hands. Put your hands on one another now. Satan, I rebuke you. Come out of these people. In the name of Jesus Christ may they be healed. Amen.
Now, to you two that was just called. Neither one of you don't have a prayer card. You don't have a prayer card; you don't need one. All right. Now what did you have? You had faith. You touched the High... I don't know you. If that's right, raise up your hands, if we're strangers to one another. I've never seen you in my life. I guess you've never seen me, but that faith, kind of unbeknown to you, but you touched something, and He rewarded you for it. Now you'll be well. Don't worry, your faith has made you well. If that isn't Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever, I don't know the Bible. It is true. It is true.

109 Excuse me, lady, I just... Look, it's your turn to be prayed for. I was just watching the audience, so that the people would see that it doesn't take a prayer card to heal people, you see. It takes faith in God. That's right. It takes faith in God to heal people. If you'll just have faith and don't doubt, God will heal you.
What do you think about that, Mr. Robertson, sitting there with a rupture. You think that God could make you well? You do? All right, sir. I never seen the man in my life. I never seen him in my life, but he was sitting there thinking about that. That's right, isn't it, sir? Raise up your hand. See, Jesus knowed all about what you're praying about, all about it. Just have faith. If you'll believe with all your heart it comes from God, whatever your trouble is, it will be gone. He loved you well enough to call you. When you called to Him, He answers you back. Isn't He wonderful?

110 Suffering with tremendous headaches all the time, sitting right back here on the end. You believe that God will make you well? If you'll believe it, headache days are done.
We are strangers to one another. I do not know you. We are probably years apart and miles apart, and here we are meeting. But Jesus knows both of us. That is right. If He, by His great power, will reveal to me something about you that you know that I do not know, will it just give you a great help? It would. Try this once, one more, and see if the Holy Spirit (such a kind person, waiting all that time) ... and we'll have prayer for the rest of the people. You're really here in behalf of somebody else. You are here for a person that's got a nervous, mental, nervous condition, kind of losing their mind. That's right. And you've laid a handkerchief up here to take to that person. That is right. You're not from this city. You've come from a place called Grants Pass up the Rogue River. That's right. You have kind of a heart trouble, complications. That is true. That's right. You've got a daughter here tonight you're interested in. She's adopted daughter, actually. She's in the line. She's in the line to be prayed for back there. She has rheumatic heart, tumor throat.

111 You've come here by bus. You're to go back tomorrow. This would be your last night here. That is true. Say, you've been a minister, a woman preacher. That's "thus saith the Lord." That's the truth. Now, do you believe? Then go home and receive just exactly what you've asked for, and may the God of heaven ever bless you. Just go on in, sister. It's over. You're going to be all right. Just don't doubt, just go on believing. Now, I could not see the girl from where the woman was standing, but I seen her out here in front of me.
Now do you believe, all of you, with one accord? Do you believe on the Lord Jesus, everyone? "Whosoever will, let him come." Sir, if you'll believe God, the arthritis will leave you. Do you believe that? Then go on your road and rejoice, saying, "Thank You, Lord, for being real good to me."
And you had the same thing. Another thing of a man of your age actually have a prostate, a little black, that make you nervous. So, if you'll believe with all your heart... Do you? Then go on your road and say, "Thank You, Lord," and you'll be well. All right, sir.

112 You're a mighty young woman to have heart trouble, but do you believe that God can heal heart trouble? Go on your road and say, "Thank you, Lord Jesus, for ever making me well."
All right. Come, lady. You're shadowed. There's a dark shadow upon you, which means that you've got cancer. It's shadowed to death. You believe that God can heal you and make you well? Raise up your hands, say, "I accept it, Lord." Go on your road and be made well; believe with all your heart.
Come, lady, if you will. All right. You have back trouble. You believe that God can heal your back? Go on your road and be made well. Believe with all your heart. Do you believe out there?
All right. Come, sir. You've got a asthmatic condition. Do you believe God can heal it? Go on your road and say, "Thank You, Lord," and be made well.
Come, sir. You've got diabetes. You believe that God can heal diabetes? Go on your road and be made well. Believe with all your troubles.
Your trouble is in your back you was injured. Do you believe that God will make you well? Go on your road and be made well, having faith in God.

113 Come, sir, this way. Just a minute. I perceive this man has got a deaf spirit. Bow your heads just a minute. O Lord God, creator of heavens and earth, author of life and giver of every good gift, open the ears of this man and make him to hear, Lord. He cannot hear. His faith comes by hearing (it's a deaf spirit on him) open it up, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name. Satan, turn him loose. How long has he been this way? Long time? All right. Can you hear me now? [Unclear words.] All right. Do you hear me now? ["Yes."] You say, "Amen." ["Amen."] " I love the Lord." ["I love the Lord."] " Praise the Lord." ["Praise the Lord."] [ Unclear words.] You're healed. By the way, you was healed once before in my meeting. Amen. I see what has happened. [Unclear words.] God healed you years ago. God bless you. Isn't He wonderful? Isn't our Lord wonderful? Now, tell me one thing that He doesn't do.

114 That's the reason I called that man over there. I don't know how deaf he was. He said his eardrums was bursted by a dynamite cap, and so I didn't know whether he could hear any or not. I just knowed there was a deafness on him, and that's the reason if he can't ... if he can't hear. But then when I went to pray for him, I seen him standing there in the line and I seen the glory of God over him, and he was healed in another meeting. And so the man is all right now, perfectly normal. That's the reason we hold him like that, and hold it until it happens, till he can hear. Then faith, he can hear. Faith cometh by hearing.
Do you all believe on the Lord Jesus? How many in here believes now and is confident that the chief captain, the captain of the host of the Lord, is in the building? Do you believe it? Now, lay your hands over on one another, let's have a congregational prayer. Each one of you, do you believe that. "These signs shall follow them that believe." Now, we cannot heal, but believe. Please believe. He's passing this way.

115 Jesus, Thou Son of God, have mercy on me. Thou Son of God, have mercy on me. O Lord God, creator of heavens and earth, author of everlasting life, giver of every good gift, send Thy blessings upon this people who I bless in Your name. I'm so weak I can't stand here any longer. I pray that Your Spirit will come in great power and unction and take ahold of this audience. May the people rise to their feet screaming, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." O God, grant it! And may every person here be healed. Satan, I condemn you upon the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, in the vicarious suffering, the resurrection. Come out of this audience! Leave this people, in the name of Jesus Christ!

Blind Bartimaeus

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 You may be seated. Sure glad to be back again tonight. I was just talking to the wife recently, and I told her, I said, "You should have been down, honey." She has to take care of the children, of course, and they're in school, the little fellows. And I told her, I said, "You get to meet some of the finest people in the world right here in Texas, Louisiana, and these Southerners here." Wish I could go home with each one of you. I'm sure I would have some grits for breakfast, hominy grits. That's good, that's living. Black-eyed peas, and turnip greens, corn bread---nothing any better I know of. That's good.

2 The love of God does strange things for us, doesn't it? How it constrains our hearts, and binds us together like nothing else will do---the love of God.
Tomorrow night is our closing of this campaign, and I've got to meet many of the brethren, and seeing them, and I just... This is one campaign that I certainly hate to see close. It's just ... they've been so nice. Everybody's so nice.
And my mother was from Paris, Texas. I guess I'm just a little bit of Texas. So I certainly think you got a wonderful country. And what makes any country is the people that's in it. Fine. Louisiana, and Georgia, and Alabama, and all these southern states they talk about, southern hospitality, that's true.

3 And tonight, we are planning now... I asked Brother Moore to speak a little for me [unclear word] so I won't have to preach. And just ... last night we had a little drama, a little story. Maybe we could have another one of those little ones tonight, just before I pray for the sick.
And then tomorrow night, I trust maybe, if it'd be the will of the Lord, I'd like to speak to you again, maybe on a text, the sermon at the closing service. We sure appreciate all that you've done. You've been so ... really so nice.

4 And I'm glad that the love of God makes us reach out, way out. We can see things that we never seen before. And sometimes meetings like this has its special influence upon the people to influence them to get the vision of what God means. I think it helps people. Now tonight, before we open the Scripture, I want to say that...
I want to wait till I start to pray for the sick before I pray over these little handkerchiefs, and aprons, and so forth, or whatever they might be. And now, if you miss putting one up here, I wish you'd send and get one anyhow. They're free. We charge for nothing. Even our books, somebody else prints them; and most that we buy, forty percent off, that we might bring them, and you don't...
'Course they don't make nothing on them books, because of the loss that we have on them, and the damage. And I've always told the boys if somebody come by, and they didn't have the money to get it and want it, give it to them. Just let them have it anyhow. But those books are printed ... one of them by Julius Stadsklev (two or three of them), and by Brother Lindsay, and so forth. And we buy them with, I think, it's forty percent off. I think that's what it is. And however, the boys takes care of that.

5 We have no program of money. Money's not even in it at all. Minister called me the other day, and said, "Now, what's your financial program? How much money do we have to have?"
I said, "Nothing."
And he said, "Well, what do you do for a living?"
I said, "Well, usually at the end of the service they give a love offering," I said, "if they ... people feel like doing it. If they don't, why, that's perfectly all right, too." If they don't make the expenses, put that in on the expenses, and let's make it up. If they don't make that, then we'll send home and let my church stand for it. But we want to always carry that name of never...

6 I would not permit one of my men to ever, ever, beg or bum for money. When it gets to that place, it's time for me to come off the field then, see. If God don't liberally provide everything we have need of, it's time to leave. I think many a meeting is ruined by all that, "Who'll give a ten? Who'll give a five?" I don't like that. There's only one thing that I like to hear about, that...
Did I say something wrong? I hope I didn't say nothing wrong. I was just expressing my heart, just the way I felt. But, I believe there's only one thing I want you to give. Give your heart to Christ. That's all I require. Give your heart to Christ. That's what we're here for. And so, I'm sure that God will take care of the rest, if you'll just do that.

7 And now before we approach the Word tonight, let's pray, as we bow our heads. Who would like to be remembered in prayer? Just ... tonight saying, "Remember me, Lord. I'm needy. Remember my request, Lord."
Our heavenly Father, we come approaching thy throne of mercy. We would not come approaching justice, because we could not stand it. We could not approach your law because it has no redemption. But we approach Jesus, who is thy mercy. And we come asking for divine mercy upon us all.
Forgive us of our shortcomings, and our mistakes, and the things that we have did, or said, or even thought that was wrong.
And we do not believe that we are holy, Lord. We believe it's not a holy mountain, but a holy God on the mountain; not a holy church, but the Holy Ghost in the church; not a holy people, the Holy Spirit. So Father, we pray, now, that the Holy Spirit will deal with us kindly tonight, as we're dealing with the sick and the afflicted. Lord, they are tenderly ... and they're sick, and they're needy.

8 And we don't know how to ... what to do, Lord. I'm standing here between two opinions at this time, just how to approach a little subject here, wondering if You would bless it to the hearts of the people. May I be able to say something that would encourage faith, that'd stir up the gift that's within the people, that they might receive their healing tonight. And above all things, Lord, that sin-sick soul sitting here, wherever it is, I pray, God, that they'll see the light of day breaking through, and will come and be reconciled through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus. Grant it.
I pray for this fine bunch of Calvary-bought servants of yours here behind me, Lord. I feel very little to stand out here on the platform ahead of those men. Some of them was preaching the gospel when I was just a sinner boy. God, I pray that You'll bless them gallant hearts. May they cling together, Lord, by the love of God wrapped around them in such a way, Father, that they'll prosper in whatever they do. May they be gallant servants to bring Christ to the people in this closing hour of the world's history.
Heal all the sick and afflicted, both soul and body, Father, we pray. Bless us together, as we wait upon thy Word now, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

9 Over in the book of St. Luke's gospel, the 18th chapter and the 38th verse:
And he cried, ... Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
And in the 42nd verse,
Jesus said ... Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Our little story starts tonight ... and it was on a cool, spring morning just at the east side of the gate of Jericho, where the road comes down from Jerusalem. It had been a bad night on the poor fellow. He wasn't able to sleep at all. He'd just tossed about, would wake up, and toss about. Those horrible nights, we know what they are, most all of us. Suffers with nervousness, and seemed like it'd been a terrible night.

10 And when he got up ... and he was late getting over to his post, to where he done his daily work by begging. There was many beggars in the city, and around the country, in them days. Very poor country, and poor people under bondage of the Roman Empire. The beggars would have to get to the street pretty early. And each one had a place where he stayed. It was allotted to him. They would stand there.
And when the merchants would come down the street, they would cry out for alms. And the merchant, perhaps the first beggar he met he'd give him a piece of money. Why, that probably ended it for the day, because he couldn't afford to give too much, because maybe he couldn't afford each day giving a coin. Roman denarius, or something, might've meant a whole lot to him. So he placed in his coin, and then he went on. And maybe the next fellow got a coin from somebody else.
But they must be there early, when the merchants came into their places of business, and the markets. There's many places the beggars couldn't stand, so they would... The soldiers would allot them a place, and they had to stand there.

11 And our friend tonight, as we know him, as Bartimaeus (some of them pronounce it Barti' maeus) while we find him late at his post of duty... And his place was just out on the north side of the gate where he stood at the gate to catch the merchants as they come in. And looked like he had a pretty good place. And he had been blind since he was a little fellow. And that night ... the reason he was late that morning, we'll say to make it a drama, that he had dreamed all night that he could see again. He thought that he could once more see the skies, and the stars, and the sunlight.
But now he lived in a world to himself, all shut in in darkness, blind. I think it's ... one of the most horrible things is a blind person. And I feel sorry when I see a man or woman on the street with that white cane, pecking along. Many times have I stopped my car, and run over and see some poor old mother about to go into a post, or something, down along the street, and help her across---some young fellow or old man. Blindness---I think it's the most pitiful thing.

12 But there's a blindness that's worse than physical blindness, and that's spiritual blindness. I feel more sorry for them than I do for the physical blind. So why wouldn't our hearts reach out for them, instead of condemning them? Let's love them. Then they'll see light, if you'll just love them. The world's a-dying, not for a better economics. The church is dying, not for better buildings, a bigger denomination. But it's dying for somebody to reach out a hand of love, to show that we care one for the other. And that's the very sign that Jesus told us that, "By this all men would know that ye were my disciples," when we got love one for the other.

13 I was thinking, a blind ... (it's a little off my subject, but not off either) there was blind Fanny Crosby. She could see better than a lot of people's got two good eyes. They tried to get her, one time, to write music, or poetry, for a dance world, and for the entertainment world and she refused to do it. So they were making fun of her.
I thought what a difference it is between her, and a certain young Pentecostal boy, who's set the world afire with rock-and-roll. I've often thought that he's worse than Judas. Judas ... Esau sold his birthright. And what a horrible thing that young man will have to answer for at the day of the judgment---sent more souls to hell than all the bootleg joints there is in the country.

14 And then, when Fanny Crosby ... one day when they come to her with these big bargains... She was poor too, and they come to her, and said, "We'll give so much, if you'll just give your talent over to making songs for the entertainment world." She flatly refused it. She would not do it.
She said, "If there's anything that I have, it belongs to Christ."
And so they, the men who were talking to her, said, "Then I suppose that you're expecting to go to a world where there is everlasting life, and so forth?"
Said, "Yes."
Said, "What do you expect this Christ to be?"
Said, "He'll be a man."
And said, "Then if you're the same over there as you are here," said, "you'd never see Him." Said, "You're blind."
She said, "Oh, I'll know Him anyhow."
So they said, "How would you ever know Him, if you are still blind over there, as you never had sight in this life? And on the other side, if you had no sight there, how would you know Him then?"
She said, "I'll know Him."
And they laughed at her, and she turned and started through the house. When she had made her decision, "No, sir, nothing of the world. All my talent is given to Christ," they said... She started back across the house and raised up her hands. She said:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by his side I shall stand.
I shall know Him, I shall know Him
By the prints of the nails in his hands.

15 It's those great crucial moments that the strain is put upon us that God moves in, when we make the decision for Him. That's between life and death, that little sharp edge. Some time at the last moment when you think you're not going to be well, and somebody's making fun of you, still hold your testimony. It's that time that God moves in.

16 Bartimaeus had arrived on the scene kind of late. So it was a early spring morning, I believe, along April, 'cause it was near Easter. And his clothes was all ragged, I suppose. He got up to the gate. It was quiet, so he said, "Well, I'm a little late, because I overslept." But the sun in the Palestinian skies was just perhaps rising in the east. And him kind of on the north side throwed a [blank space] over the wall, where it was shook down by God, when Joshua came in.
Let's think he got him a rock, and sat down in the sunshine, and said, "Well, maybe there's one merchant a little late. I'll get a coin, maybe, today for my family, 'cause we're really in need."

17 And he got to thinking about ... while he was sitting there in the warm sunshine, his ragged coat wrapped around him, he begin to think about his dream, how real it was. Then his mind floated back in a daydream, like... I know we all have those experiences.
Many times I could climb so high in the mountain till I'm out of hearing distance from anything, just sit up there only with the animals and dream---oh, just dream of God and the coming of the Lord; and look out and hear Him scream in the birds, and watch Him in the eagles, and see Him in the sunrise and sunset. He's just all around you. Be alone and dream.

18 So Bartimaeus, perhaps, was sitting out there in a dream like that. And being it was spring, he said, "Oh, I dreamed last night that I had my sight. I can remember when I was a little boy. We lived just around the mountain here, a little cabin around the side there.
"I remember when I used to be... In this early spring, when the little buttercups would come up, how I used to run out as a little boy and play, and mother would let me pick her a little bouquet of flowers. And how I would look, laid out there on the soft beds of the grass, and look up and see the white clouds passing over in April, the warm sunshine bathing down upon me.
"How pretty this world must be. But I've long lost sight of it for many years of blindness, so I guess it'll never be. But, oh, how I appreciate that dream last night---to even dream that I could see."

19 Then he began to think. His mind got caught (Oh, that's when you get into the spirit of anything.), got caught back to when he was a little boy. I know all of us do that. I do---go back to the time when I was a little boy, see my father come in with... Little short fellow, a logger, and how he had strong arms! I'd see him... He didn't weigh but about 140 pounds, but a fellow told me the other day he seen him load a 950-pound log by himself on a wagon.
And I'd see him, when he'd roll his sleeves up... An old apple tree there, and a little piece of looking glass Mom tacked up on it, and a little pitcher pump. She had a meal sack there for a towel. I'd see Pop pump the water and take soap and wash his hands---that old lye soap we used to make, you know; and make the lye, and make the soap out of it---and wash. When I'd see him pull his arms up like that, to comb his shaggy black hair, I said, "You know, my Daddy'll never die. He's too strong to die." But he died at fifty-two years old.
Then I think of Hebrews 13: "Here we have no continuing city, but we're seeking one to come." We have no abiding place here. We're pilgrims, and we're strangers here. We're seeking a city to come.

20 Now, Bartimaeus thinking, when he was a little boy, I can imagine him thinking this: "Oh, I remember when along lunch time, I'd hear that sweet voice of that beautiful mother of mine around the hillside, 'Bartimaeus, your dinner, son.' And how I'd run to the house and she'd wash my little face, and brush my hair back, and kiss me on the cheeks, and I'd see her big, soft, eyes. And I'd look up in the face of that pretty mother, and she'd sit me down to lunch.
"And then, after lunch, in a little while she'd call me again, 'cause it was "nappy" time. And she'd sit out on the porch as she looked off over the Jordan, and she'd rock me in her arms. And I'd put my little baby hands on her pretty cheeks, and she'd kiss me. And she'd tell me Bible stories. And how I loved to hear them stories, of how the great Jehovah God brought our people over into this promised land.
"And she'd look over at the little buttercups that I brought her in, the little flowers from off the hillside, and she'd say, 'That's some of Jehovah's promise, too, Bartimaeus. This beautiful land is ours. And Jehovah led us up from the great sand dunes of Egypt, and put us in this land.'

21 "How she'd tell me of that great mighty Jehovah, how He thundered out for his people; stood in the breach, drowned Pharaoh's army behind him; how He rained bread out of the heaven, and brought quails in from the fields, fed our people; and how He performed signs, wonders. When they was thirsty the great prophet, Moses, smote a rock, and out come water.
"Oh, how great Jehovah was, what a great powerful God that we serve. How that great Jehovah had promised that prophet Moses... 'Someday the Lord your God will raise up a prophet like unto me, and He'll take us out from under this Roman dictatorship.'
"'And then, you remember when they crossed the Jordan (just a little bit below where their cabin was), and how that Jehovah rolled back the sea, the Jordan, in the month of April when the hills of snow was melting up in Judea, up around the mountain Hermon and so forth?
"'This icy snow water was gushing through, and muddy, twisting. The great, mighty Joshua marched down to the sea, and he spoke, and Jehovah... Moved back on powder-dry land, and walked them across it, right in the month of April. Oh, how that great God...'"

22 Then Bartimaeus looked over a little bit, kind of shivered, and said, "You know, I wish that Jehovah was still Jehovah. Somehow I believe He is, but my priest tells me that all those things are past. He isn't right."
All at once he hears something coming. "Click, click, click, click." It's a little donkey. Well, it must be a rich man, because transportation then is usually by... The poor went by foot; the rich went by cart drawn by donkey, or either rode on the back of a donkey. So he rises, runs out about twenty feet to the big cobblestone road. And run out, and said, "Alms for the blind. Alms for the blind."

23 All at once the little donkey stopped, and he heard a cruel voice saying, "Out of my way, beggar. I am the servant of the Lord. I'm on my way to Jericho this morning. I'm going to meet the ministerial association. I'm going to see that there's no healing services around here, none of that fanaticism. Any so-called Galilean prophet ain't coming around here with none of his fanaticism. Out of my way, beggar. I must be on my way. I'm on the Lord's service."
"Pardon me, holy one." Backed back.
On into Jericho he goes, to get the ministerial association to stop all campaigns of such. (Maybe that's a little rude. Maybe I oughtn't to've said that.) By the way, you know, the man dies, but the spirit doesn't. So, it's too bad, but that's the way it's supposed to be, for every generation rising in the judgment will have to stand the same thing. You see, you got to go through the same exactly thing.

24 Then as Bartimaeus made his way back, it was getting up in the day. Let's think a little piece. And the sun now coming across had shadowed the rock. So he felt around till he found him another one, sat down. He thought, "Well, I guess I won't take nothing in tonight. I guess we'll just have to do without."
And as he sat down, he thought, "Well, I was having such a wonderful dream about days gone by, and about great Jehovah." Then he picked up his thought again, and said, "Yes, I remember Mother telling me one of my favorite stories. One of my favorite stories was this: She used to tell me of the prophet Elijah. I like that one so well, because she'd say, 'Bartimaeus, you like the story about Elijah, the Tishbite, with the Shunammite woman?'
"'Yes, Mama, because it's about a little boy, and how God worked his plan by a little boy. [And he loved that, because he believed in Jehovah, too.]'

25 "'And this Shunammite woman, being a Gentile, yet God showed her favor. How the great, mighty prophet Elijah come to the city, and she perceived that he was a holy man. And he lived in a cave up in the mountain. And he had his servant with him, Gehazi, who was kind of a ... like a campaign manager that went around, and helped him get things ready when he would speak. And somehow another she liked this man. She thought he was a wonderful person.
"'So, her husband was kind of an elderly man, and she was growing old. And she said to her husband, "I pray thee, let's show favor to this man, because I perceive that he is a holy man."
"'And they built a little chamber on the side of their house, a little prophet's chamber. Put him a little bed there, and also put him a little jug of water, and a little stool to sit on, a little pan to wash his tired, weary feet and limbs when he sat down. And no doubt the servant would bring him out something to eat, when she heard him out there in the chamber.

26 "'And Elijah was so well pleased with this, till...' I hear her say, 'Bartimaeus, you know what that woman needed worst of all when he asked? He said, "What favor could I do for you? Could I speak to the king or could something I do?"
"'She said, "No, I dwell with my people. There's nothing I have need of. I just done it out of my heart because I respect the God that you serve, and I respect the life that you live."
"'And then Gehazi said, "She's old. Her husband's old, and they have no children." [Bartimaeus liked this.]
"'And the great prophet, Elijah, said, "Go tell her to stand here at the door." [He saw a vision.] He said, "Thus saith the Lord, you will embrace a son."
"'And when this little boy became about the age of twelve years old, oh, how his papa and mama loved him. [That must have been about the age of little Bartimaeus.] And how that papa and mama loved him! How that papa'd taken him out in the fields, and showed him all the way to raise grain. And one day when he was out in the field, he must've got a sunstroke, because he kept saying, "My head! My head! [That Palestinian sun's hot, the direct rays of it.] My head! My head!"

27 "'And the father was busy, so... The boy was sick. He said to the servant, "Take the child to its mother." And the boy got sicker, and sicker, until finally on his mother's lap he died.'"
And the gallancy of that famous woman, who showed favor to a servant of Christ... She knowed exactly, and was led by the Spirit what to do. Oh, I like that. Not only Bartimaeus, but I like that. She took him over to the prophet's chamber, and laid him on the prophet's bed. What a place to lay him! Just right.
And she said to her servant, "Saddle me a mule, and don't you stop until I bid you. Go forward."
And her husband said, "There's no need of going after him. This is neither new moon, or Sabbath. He's not up there."
She said, "All is well."
" 'And another thing, Bartimaeus. Do you know God don't reveal everything to his servants? He just reveals to them what He wants them to know. Just what He wants them to know. So when the woman come in sight of this great, mighty man of God...

28 He walked to his cave door, and set his staff up side of the wall, getting rather aged. And he put his hands up like this, and he looked out. He said, "Who is that I see coming?" ' "
Gehazi said, "It's the Shunammite. She looks like she's full of grief." She was crying, and going on.
So he said, "Her heart is grieved, but God's hid it from me. I don't know what's the matter with her." Said, "Go meet her."
And he went and met her. And when she come close to this great prophet, he said, "Is all well with thee? Is all well with thy husband? Is all well with thy son?"
Oh, I love that woman's expression! She said, "All is well."

29 I think that's where Martha and Mary... Martha's always kind of dilatory, seemed like. But when ... she knowed that if (referring back to this woman) if this Shunammite woman knowed that God was in that prophet that was God's representative of that day... And if God was in his prophet, how much more was He in his Son?
And she said, "Lord, if thou would have been here my brother would not have died. But even now, whatever you ask God, God'll give it to you." That's it. That's the idea.

30 And the Shunammite woman, she said, "All is well." Why? Her husband wringing his hands, and screaming; all the relatives screaming and wailing, and going on. And here she was with a broken heart, the baby laying on the prophet's bed dead, her only son---and an old woman, an old man. How she loved that little fellow!
But, "All is well," for she was standing before God's representative. And he knowed, she knowed, that God could reveal through that representative of his whatever it was. God gave, and God taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord; but she wanted to know why God took it. I like that.
And God has a representative in the world today. We call it the Holy Spirit. Stand in his presence. Oh, God! I wish people could get that. Stand in his presence, and find out what He says.

31 And she said, "All is well." I suppose the heart of the prophet become cheered up. So she came and fell down, and grabbed him around the legs. That was kind of misbehavior, the servant thought. This woman shouldn't fall around his master like that. So what did he do but jerk her up.
And so Elijah said, "Let her alone. Her heart's full of grief, and God's hid it from me."
And then she revealed what had happened. Said, "Why did God give me this son? Why did you tell me that to deceive me? Now the boy's laying dead."

32 Watch Elijah. He said ... he knowed that everything he touched was blessed when he was anointed. He said to Gehazi, "Take this staff, and you go forward. And if any man salute you, don't you salute him. Don't stop for any social affairs."
I think that's what God does with his Word. It's anointed. It's Him, and we're his messengers. We ain't got time to stop to do this, and argue this, and fuss this. The message is urgent. People are dying. Let's get there. Stop our denominational barriers, and everything else, and let's break through. Yes, sir. Get the message to a dying world. Then ... don't want to get on that. I'll start preaching.

33 Now, however, he started on. But the woman's faith wasn't in the staff. Her faith was in the prophet. And she said, "As the Lord God liveth ... your soul never dies." She knowed He was alive forevermore. "Your soul never dies ... I'll not leave you." Oh, my! That's it!
There you got it! Hold on! Take a hold of the Holy Spirit like that, and don't turn it loose. "My arm's any better today? It don't make any difference. Tomorrow, don't make any difference. Whenever it is, I'll hold till it does come right. I've got your promise. You give your promise. I know of others who was healed by it, and I'll hold right here. I'm on your hands." Amen! Something's going to happen then.

34 When you take God's promise and hold it... "Lord, You told me that if I would meet the qualifications of repentance, and so forth, that You'd give me the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I'm right here on your hands till You do it."
I like kind of Buddy Robinson's testimony there. Got out in the middle of the cornfield, said, "If You don't give me the Holy Ghost," said, "when You come back to earth, there'll be a pile of bones laying right here." I like that. Yes, sir. That's when he got something. That's the way you want to do it. Hold on to it!

35 I admire that woman. Her faith was in the prophet. She held him. She said, "I'm not going to leave you." So, well, it's just...
Now, Jesus taught that same thing. How about the unjust judge and the widow? He wouldn't revenge her, although she cried day and night. Well, he revenged her enemies just to get rid of her. Said "How much more will your heavenly Father give them the Holy Ghost who ask Him?" That's what we want.

36 If you don't believe the Holy Spirit's real, take a hold of God's promise, and just stay with it. Hold on to it. Don't leave it. If you don't believe He's a healer, whatever disease or trouble you have, right now---don't wait till the healing line---just take a hold of it right now, and say, "God, I'm on your hands."
And Satan'll say, "You're no better."
That's what he told me. I said, "Looky here, old slewfoot. If you don't ... if you want ... you like to hear me testify about the glory of God, stick around. But you ain't going to shake me away from that. If you like to hear the testimonies of God, and the praises of divine healing, stand around. I'm going to ring it out just as long as I can. Just stay right with it. Stick around and listen at it. I invite you to listen at it. Stay around."
First day, no better; next day, no better; next day, no better. I just kept staying, testifying, praising God, pressing through the dark clouds. He made a promise. Finally there it was. He'll get tired after awhile, and run away.

37 Then we find then that the prophet seen he couldn't get her off his hands, so he said, "All right. I'll gird up my loins, and here I'll go with you." Oh, my. So Gehazi met them coming back. Her faith... Now, the stick would have done the job, but it's where your faith is. So her faith wasn't in that; it was in the prophet.
So here he comes up there, and all of them bewailing, and carrying on, and screaming, and all hope's gone, and everything. I could imagine him saying, "Shh, shh, shh, shh. Keep still." What's he going to do?
I want you to notice. He went in the room where the baby was laying on the bed, shut the door behind him---just he and the baby. That's where the most successful times ... when you get alone with God, see. Get alone with God.
Jesus said, "Enter into a closet, and close the door. Pray to your Father what seeth in secret. He'll open ... He will reveal it to you openly."

38 So I can see the prophet. Now the Bible said he walked to and fro in the room, just walking. "Lord, here I am. What can I do?" Walked to and fro, he was waiting on the Spirit. After while it struck him. Goes over, and lays his body over the baby's body. Began to get warm. Got up, started walking again, walking back and forth.
He felt the anointing coming greater, so he laid his body on the baby, and it sneezed seven times. Picked it up, brought it out, presented it to its mother. Oh, how little Bartimaeus liked that story. He'd say [Gap in the audio]...

39 "See, God has to work His purpose, Bartimaeus. See? God has to do something, bring up somebody for a certain thing. He ordains things."
"Oh, Mommy, you're so pretty. I--I just love you, Mommy."
"And you know, Bartimaeus? Before you were born... You don't understand it now, honey. But before you were born, I dedicated you to God, to Jehovah. You know what? It wouldn't surprise me a bit but what your little eyes will see the Messiah."
And he thought, "Oh, Elias... If he'd ever come now, I'm blind."
"But you know, Bartimaeus, God uses little boys for His glory. He's got a purpose. And I believe He's got a purpose in life for you."
Then, as he thought that, "Oh, it couldn't be now. Look what it was. Poor mother, she prayed. She's gone on years ago. But I guess what she prayed for was lost. You know, on them cobblestones..."

40 No, no. There's never a sincere prayer ever made but what it's answered. I'm fifty-one years old, and I've been in the ministry thirty-one years. And I'll say before God's Bible; I never did sincerely ask for anything but what God gave it to me or told me the reason why He couldn't. I say that as a servant of Christ. That's right. Of the tens of thousands of times that I've asked Him for things, sincerely asked Him for anything, take, single out something and asked Him for it, He'd either tell me... He'd give it to me, or tell my why He could not. So I know it always is best, if I can't have it.
Your little baby boy would ask for your straight razor to shave with it, you'd be a poor father to give it to him. He'd hurt hisself. He knows what's good for us and what's not.

41 So then Bartimaeus would think this: "You know what? Just a little bit below here is a ford where Israel crossed over. And just think, Right down this same road where that priest come awhile ago, that great prophet Elijah with Elisha come arm-in-arm down that road, walking down to the Jordan to open her up again." [Gap in the audio]

42 Then, from the time that Israel crossed until the great prophet, Elijah, God spoke and opened the sea. He could open the waters. He thought, "Oh, if I'd only lived in that day---them two great prophets arm-in-arm, walking down to the Jordan: one of them was coming back, the other was going up. And the old one had fought Jezebel and Ahab, and sins of the world. And just across the river was ... a horse was tied over there to some bush, and a chariot of fire was going to take him up to glory. The young prophet is going to receive a double portion for his ministry to come back---walking arm-in-arm."
He said, "If I'd been sitting on this rock then, I'd have run out and ... [Gap in the audio].

43 ... 'cause you're a man who brings God real to the people. Just ask Jehovah, and I'll receive my sight. But the priest tells me that all those men ... Jehovah quit doing that years ago." They still think the same thing, but He goes on just the same. There's still Jehovah. I imagine he thought, "If I could've ever got out there and stopped... Why... Them prophets, they sure would have blessed me and I would've had a healing. But it's all over now. Days of miracles is past, so there's nothing that I can do about it, I guess, but just sit here blind."
The winds blew, and he shucked ... covered himself up into his coat, and he begin to think about another story---the great Joshua one day. Not over hundred or two yards from where he was sitting, Israel crossed that mighty river by that great prince Joshua.

44 Then he remembered another story, that while they were encamped out there---Israel, God's great pillar of fire hanging over them---one day Joshua, the great captain, walked out to view his ... get his strategy on how to take those walls out of the way, of Jericho. While he was walking around, he seen someone walking out to meet him, another warrior. Joshua pulled his sword because he was a fighter. He swung his sword up, and he said, "Are you for us, or are you for our enemy?"
Then that great fellow pulled his sword, and the lightning flew off the end of it. He said, "I'm the Captain of the host of the Lord. I'm the Lord's Captain."
The great, mighty, Joshua throwed down his shield, throwed down his sword, took off his helmet, and fell at his feet.

45 Oh, he might have said, "If I would've lived in them days, I would've liked to fell before his feet, too." But little did he know that that same Captain of the host of the Lord was not a hundred yards from him, the same captain. While he was thinking on those things...
It's usually when you think about the Lord... It's usually when you got your mind not on something else, the things of the world; or how you're going to make a lot of money; or what kind of a big organization you're going to build... That's what's the matter with the world today. We got our mind on the things of the world instead of on God.
Let's think about God. The Bible says, "If there be any praise, there be any virtue, think on these things." Our mind strolls off. First thing you know, we strayed out in there somewhere, we're thinking about something else. Let's keep Jesus on my heart, in my mind all day long, day and night. That's the way.

46 While he was thinking about that, he heard a noise. It's strange. Wherever Jesus is there's a lot of noise. I don't know why, but it usually is. And a lot of noise come from on the inside. First thing, the gate burst open, and ... hears a great noise, and people running, and some hollering, "Hosanna! Hosanna to the prophet of Galilee," the women, and some of the men.
Then he could hear some hollering, and making fun of Him. "You're nothing but a fake," over-ripe eggs and fruit throwed at Him.
He heard that same priest a while before, before they had the association to meet together. "And you say you're a prophet. We heard that you raised a dead man out of the grave. We know you, faker. They laid that man there, and your disciples did that. That's nothing but a fake. If you can raise the dead, we got a whole graveyard full of them up here. Come raise some of them, and we'll believe you."

47 Jesus don't mind the devil. He never did. That same old devil said to Him one time, "If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to be turned to bread." He could have done it.
One of them put a rag around his face one day, down there in the courts---put it around his face, his eyes---and hit Him on the head with a stick---the mockers---and said, "If you're a prophet, tell us who hit you." See that old devil?
The same old devil lives today. "Go down here and heal old man So-and-so on the corner. Go over here to So-and-so, and heal them." We don't take orders from the devil. Jesus said, "I can do nothing till the Father shows me first what to do. For He worketh and I worketh hitherto." And He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So you hear anybody say anything like that, walk away---it's the devil. We don't take orders from Satan. We just ... come from above. When He shows us what to do, then we go do it. If He wants Mr. Jones on the corner healed, He'll tell his servant, and he'll go over and heal him (that's right), just by his orders. "I do nothing till the Father shows me first what to do," St. John 5:19.

48 Now, I can hear that priest call out to Him, "You're nothing but a fake."
Jesus, the burdens and sins of the world on Him, He was going straight to Calvary, right up to Jerusalem to be offered up into the hands of sinful men, the Gentiles. They was to crucify Him. All the burdens and sin of every sin that was ever committed on the earth, or ever would be committed, rested upon Him. And they were laughing, making fun of Him; others hollering, "Hosanna to the prophet of Galilee, the Son of David."
That's the way it is today, right in Beaumont, Texas. Some of them will laugh, and make fun. Some believes the story. It's always been that way, and it always will be that way, until the consummation. It'll be that way---a mixed multitude.

49 Every revival produces twins. The two sons of Jacob ... or Isaac, is well represented. Every time there's a revival, there's a Esau born and a Jacob born. One religious man of the world gets starchy, and takes some seminary experience; and the other one wants that birthright regardless of how he has to get it. If he has to be a holy roller, or anything else, he wants the birthright, I don't care.
That's what's the matter with the people today. They're afraid of that birthright. Oh, how that they hate that. But it produces twins. The man of the world, very religious inclined, do good alms and things; but cares nothing about the birthright. Those two great factions has been fighting since the world began, and they're about ready to come to a head right now; where something that Jesus said they'd be so close alike they'd deceive the very elected if it was possible. It's true. You see what a deceiving hour that we're living in.
Stay with the Word, brother. Don't leave that Word. That's right. The Word'll speak for itself.

50 Then, I can imagine poor old Bartimaeus trying to raise up, saying, "What's it all about?"
"Sit down."
"What's the noise about? What ... who's done something?"
Nobody would help him. He was blind. I hate to see that---just push a poor old blind man around. Then, the first thing you know, there must have been a ... I'm going to think a young lady came by. And the old fellow'd been pushed back, and he was trying to get up on his knees in his old rags. She helped him up nicely, and tenderly. She said, "Sir, I perceive that you're blind."
"Yes, Madam. You're so kind to the blind."
"Yes, I have a feeling for the blind, or for anyone in need."
"Madam, would you tell me? Nobody'll tell me. What is the noise about? I have been here for many years. I've never heard such a noise. One's saying one thing, and one another."
"Oh, sir, have you never learned that Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet, is passing by?"
"Who?"
"Jesus of Nazareth,"
"Why, who's Jesus of Nazareth?"
"You are a Jew, aren't you?"
"Oh, yes."

51 "Did you ever know in the scriptures that the Lord our God was going to raise up a prophet like unto Moses? and He will be the Messiah?"
"Oh, yes. I was just thinking about that. I was just thinking about it. Oh, yes. He'll be the Son of David."
"Well, that's who's passing by."
"What's his name?"
"Jesus of Nazareth. He's the Messiah. I've seen Him give sight to the blind. Oh, you should have seen Him this morning. He certainly proved his Messiahship when He come into the south side of the city. You should've seen Him. Do you remember a little fellow in the city here by the name of Zacchaeus?"
"Oh, yes. Rebekah's husband."
"Yes."
"He's give me alms many times. He's a merchant."

52 "Uh huh. Well, he's kind of small in stature, you know. And Rebekah's been attending the meeting, and I am a disciple of this Lord Jesus. And we're taught as Christians, his disciples, to honor and be kind and true. That's ... all Christians do that, show courtesy. And that's why I want you to understand, sir. And this morning I was present, for we knew He was coming. And Rebekah had prayed so long that Zacchaeus...
"He's a good man, but he's kind of self-styled, because he leans so hard to the synagogue. And you know Rabbi Kavinski, over there. He just simply doesn't like Jesus of Nazareth. And they had a ministerial association here, and they met this morning and stopped Jesus from doing miracles in the city---drove Him out. So He just walked out.
"But you know, Rebekah had prayed so hard that Zacchaeus would become to believe the Lord Jesus as being God's Messiah, and she'd told all the things that Messiah done, and how that He'd be a revealer of the secrets of the heart, and so forth. And you know what Zacchaeus done? He was kind of short in stature, so he was down at the gate pretty early where we know it was to be. And you know, when ... he seen he was going to be too little to see Him. So I'm sure ... Rebekah and I had made a covenant with one another. We was going to pray that if the Messiah would be rec... he would recognize the Messiah.

53 "So I watched Zacchaeus. He ran way down Hallelujah Street, until it come to Glory Road. And you know them sycamore trees that stands there [in other words, there was palms]?" Said, "He climbed up in there, and he said, 'Now, I'll get me a place to sit down right here on a forked limb. I'll sit down, put one leg over this way, and one over this way. I'll get a look at Him when He turns the corner, 'cause He always follows Hallelujah Avenue, and Glory Road. He always lays right on them. So I know now I'll meet Him there.' So he sat down where two limbs met."
Now that's where a lot of people sit tonight, where your way and God's way comes together. There's got to be a decision made. You may be here tonight in that same condition.

54 "Well, he got to thinking up there. He told us awhile ago after what happened that did.
So, the Ministerial Association wouldn't let Him go to the auditorium to have the meeting so ... He was going to have. So Zacchaeus, he got up in the tree, and he said, 'Rebekah told me that this man could discern the thoughts of the heart. Now I don't believe in... Rabbi Kavinski, my pastor, told me that that thing never happened no more.' If there is a Rabbi Kavinski here you forgive me. I'm just using this for a ... see. Or, I could say the state presbyter, or something like that, or district superintendent; or you know, just anything'll do like that. You know what I'm getting to. So, anyhow, he gets up in the tree, and he [or doctor, Ph.D., LL.D., or any of them, you know] ... so he gets up in the tree.
"And said, 'You know what? I'm going to be sure that that guy don't know nothing about me.' So he got all the leaves, and pulled them all around him. He camouflaged himself. He was a little bitty guy anyhow, sitting upon this limb, you know, like that. So he left one little leaf there, like a door. He could look up and see Him when He turned Hallelujah Avenue, going up Glory Road, 'cause it was right close there on the corner. And after a while, while he's sitting there..."
She said, "You ought to have heard him testify of it, sir."

55 Jesus was going on by. And the old blind man was listening to the story, 'cause he knowed what mother told him that Messiah would be. So he's listening to this story. Jesus was going on. They was throwing stuff at Him, and making fun of Him; and telling Him to come raise the dead, and they'd see there was no hoax in it, and so forth like that.
And so, as they sat... "And he told us then that he hid under these leaves, and he left this little door open. Then when... You know what? Said, 'When He comes by, I'll just peep over and get a look at Him. Said, 'Because of everybody else looking at Him while ... for prestige sake, I'll just look at Him.' So he hid, so He wouldn't see him.
"So he raised up the lid, and after while here come Jesus along, and a woman coming out, and a great big apostle in front---Simon Peter, with eleven others, saying, 'I'm sorry. The prophet is very tired. We have to take Him on now. He's kind of ... didn't get to have the meeting down there, so we have to go back out of the city.'

56 "And said, he watched Him a few minutes. And He come right over, raised up the lid a little bit more, and looked. Said, 'You know, I kind of like the looks of that fellow.' [There's something another, you can never look at Jesus right straight, and never feel the same anymore. Somehow, it'll get a hold of you.]
"So he took his little leaf like this, and raised it up, and said, 'Huh! I sure fooled Him this time. I got up in the tree. And that's the guy that knows the secrets of the heart! Huh! Well, He might be a prophet, for all I know.' And he gets over like this.
"He stopped right under the tree. He looked up and said, 'Zacchaeus, come on down.' Not only did he know he was in the tree, He knowed his name."
"Oh!" Bartimaeus said, "That's Him! That's the Son of David. Oh, Jesus! Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." There He goes, in a crowd of thousand, maybe seven or eight thousand people, screaming one thing and another, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! Have mercy on me! I believe that You're the prophet that was to come. Oh, Thou Son of David!"

57 Now he could not touch Him. I could preach on that right easy. Oh, what faith in God'll do! Who asked to be...? A bishop? District presbyter? Doctor LLD Jones? No, sir! A beggar, ragged, blind, but had faith enough.
Look at the burden on Him, with all that facing Him. No doubt but on his clothes was the stink of rotten fruits, and things, vegetables, they'd throwed at Him. But He had kept his head. He was facing Calvary. All the whole world was laying on his shoulders, but the faith of a blind beggar stopped Him, and made Him ... stood still (Amen!), the same mighty host of the Lord that stopped the sun for Joshua. Joshua stopped the s-u-n by faith; but blind Bartimaeus stopped the S-o-n by faith. And that same faith will bring Him from glory, where He controls the solar system, and the universe---will bring Him down into this tabernacle tonight. That same child-like faith.

58 He stopped and stood still. Looked around. They brought him over. He said, "Your faith has healed you." Oh, my! There he went walking on.
And the little lady holding him by the arm, she must have said, "Did you hear what He said?"
"Oh, yes. Oh, think! He told me I'd get my sight."
The procession was moving on down the road. He was heading on up the mountain to go to be crucified. He said, "Receive thy sight. Thy faith has saved thee." Just the same as your faith saves you from hell. Same Greek word's used---"sozo." Yes. Same every time it's translated, physically saved or spiritually saved, same faith does the same thing. "Thy faith has saved thee."
Oh, his faith stopped Jesus, and had Him to stand still. So he said, "He told me... He is the Messiah. He's got all the signs of Messiah, and He told me I'd receive my sight. I'm satisfied. I will receive it. Oh, I'm satisfied. I'm satisfied." He starts saying...
Directly he seen a shadow. "Huh! Oh! I have received my sight." And down the road he went. When He says anything, just keep believing it.

59 I read a little story---maybe fiction, maybe not, I don't know---on Bartimaeus. It said he had a wife and a little girl. And said one night his wife got sick, so he went out and he said, "Jehovah, the only thing that I have to offer You... They had to have some kind of entertainment to attract the attention, the beggars did, like they do in India. If a beggar in India hasn't got something to attract the attention of the passer-by, he'll never get a coin. Seldom will, anyhow. They got little monkeys. The little monkey'll beat the guy, and he'll run like he's screaming and crying. They got a cobra, or snake, that fight a little animal. And they ... and everything to entertain, for something another to make them give a coin.
So they said that Bartimaeus had two little turtle doves that'd do tumbles over one another. He said, "Jehovah, I haven't got much. But if You'll just let my wife live... The physician's just left, and said she's going to die. I need her so bad. If You'll just let her live, tomorrow morning I'll give you my two turtle doves for a sacrifice."

60 And his wife got well. So he offered the turtle doves. Some weeks later... He said he had a little girl that he had never seen in his life, a little curly-headed girl. One night she got real violently sick, and the good physician come again. He said, "Bartimaeus, the child is almost in hysterics. I think the child is going to die."
"Oh," he said, "good physician, are you sure?"
"As far as my medical training will let me know, the child is dying now. The fever is running into a spasm, and there's nothing that can be done for it."
And he made his way out the side of the house in the moonlight, feeling along the side. He said, "Jehovah, I haven't got but one thing left."
I don't know what kind of a dog they call that today, that leads the blind. I forget. A seeing-eye dog. Well, instead of a dog leading the blind in that day, they had a lamb that would lead the blind.

61 So Bartimaeus, they said, had a lamb that led him. He said, "That's all I got to give, Jehovah, but I love my little girl so good. If You'll just let her get well and not die, tomorrow I'll go to the temple, and I'll give You that lamb for a sacrifice." The little girl got well. The next morning he was on his road taking the lamb up to the sacrifice.
And said the priest come out, and said, "Where goest thou, Bartimaeus?"
He said, "Oh, priest, servant of God, I go up to the temple to give my lamb for a sacrifice." He told him the story of his little girl being sick, and said, "I offered Jehovah... When He healed my wife, I offered the doves. Then when my little girl got well, I told Him I'd give Him the lamb."
He said, "Oh, Bartimaeus! You can't offer that lamb. Here, I'll give you money, and you buy you a lamb from the changers out there, the pens. You buy a lamb. I'll give you the money to buy it."
He said, "Oh, priest, that's awful kind of you. But I never offered Jehovah a lamb; I offered Him this lamb." There you are, brother. I'm sure you get the spiritual application there. "I never offered Him a lamb; I offered Him this lamb."
"Why," he said, "Bartimaeus, you cannot offer that lamb. That lamb is your eyes."
He said, "Oh, priest, if I'll be true to my promise to Jehovah, Jehovah will provide a lamb for Bartimaeus's eyes." That's what He'd done. He provided a Lamb. On this cool spring morning, Jehovah had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus's eyes.

62 Let me say this to my waiting congregation tonight, that same Lamb is provided for you tonight. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquity: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; with his stripes we are healed." And our faith tonight can bring that same Lamb of God right down in our midst to perform the same miracles and signs that He did before Jericho, and the rest of them. Do you believe that? Let us pray.

63 O Lamb of God that take away the sins of the world, I come to Thee now with all my heart for these sick people. They wait patiently, many of them standing, their limbs aching. But Thou art God, You will reward them.
They have laying here handkerchiefs, and little parcels of goods. I lay my body over them in the name of the Lord Jesus, asking that You'll send your power and blessings with them, healing every sick person that these represented---that little fevered baby waiting for this one, to that poor old blind daddy, sitting there tonight in that little house with that white cane beating against the door. Oh, Jehovah, go out through the midst yonder, Lord, and heal them. Thou art God.
There's many yonder in that ... in the hospital waiting: a sick person dying, all hopes is gone. Thou art still Jehovah-God. They cannot come to the meeting, but Thou can go to where they are, Father. I pray that You'll grant it so.

64 I pray that your mercies rest upon the peoples now. Grant the healing of every sick person that's here, the salvation to every soul that's lost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit to every believer, that this meeting might close in a great climax with the Lamb of God leading them into paths of righteousness to the great healing fountains of God's mercy, to the great salvation pools of his Holy Spirit. Grant it, Lord.
I commit them to Thee now, with myself, that You might show Yourself, that our faith tonight, as the blind beggar that we have just talked about, can bring the presence of the Lamb of God in our midst, to show the same signs that He did when He was here. And all the people will believe You, Father. I trust with all my heart as I commit ourselves to Thee, waiting on your Spirit to confirm the Word that's been preached with signs following. Amen.
I love Him (worship Him now),
I love Him,
Because He first loved me;
And purchased my salvation
On Calvary's tree.

65 Oh, isn't He wonderful? Let's just raise our hands now, and just hum it. Now shake hands with a pilgrim around you somewhere.
I love Him, I love Him,
Because He first loved me;
And purchased my salvation
On Calvary's tree.
Wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me,
Counselor, Prince of Peace, mighty God is He;
Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame,
Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise his name.
Oh, wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me,
Counselor, Prince of Peace, mighty God is He;
Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame,
Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise his name!
I once was lost, now I'm found, free from
condemnation;
Jesus gives liberty and a full salvation;
Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame,
Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise his name!
Oh, let's just raise our hands when we sing it.
Oh, wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me,
Counselor, Prince of Peace, mighty God is He;
Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame,
Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise his name!

66 Oh, don't it make you feel good? My! What a feeling. You know why I have you sing? I love singing. Don't you love singing? After the message, it just feels like the Word of God just scours you out. And then I love good old Pentecostal singing. I do despise an overtrained voice. That's not singing, holding your breath till you're blue in the face, and... You're just putting on then. I just like good old-fashioned singing. Oh, my! I like:
Wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me,
Counselor, Prince of Peace, mighty God is He;
Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame,
Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise his name!

67 Isn't He wonderful? You know, there's been one song I always wanted to sing, and that was, "Nothing Between my Soul and the Saviour." And I never could sing. I couldn't sing at all.
But one of these days when you all get over to your big palace in heaven (I'm going to give you a little insight of something), and all down ... way down there, when you're standing in your big palace door, walk out some morning. Way down there, and around where the river makes its turn after it comes out of the throne of glory, you know, there's a little bit of woods sitting over there and there's a little log cabin. That's mine. And then when you get down there some morning, walk out on your porch, you listen. Standing down there on that old porch...
"See, God has to work his purpose, Bartimaeus, see. God has to do something, bring up somebody for a certain thing. He ordains things."
"Oh, Mommy, you're so pretty. I just love you, Mommy."
"And you know, Bartimaeus? Before you were born---you don't understand it now, honey---but before you were born, I dedicated you to God, to Jehovah. You know what? It wouldn't surprise me a bit but what your little eyes will see the Messiah."
And he thought, "Oh, Elias? If he'd ever come now, I'm blind."
"But you know, Bartimaeus, God uses little boys for his glory. He's got a purpose. And I believe He's got a purpose in life for you."
Then, as he thought that, "Oh, it couldn't be now. Look what it was. Poor Mother, she prayed. She's gone on years ago. But I guess what she prayed for was lost. You know, on them cobblestones..."
No, no. There's never a sincere prayer ever made but what it's answered. I'm fifty-one years old, and I've been in the ministry thirty-one years. And I'll say before God's Bible, I never did sincerely ask for anything but what God gave it to me, or told me the reason why He couldn't. I say that as a servant of Christ. That's right. Out of the tens of thousands of times that I've asked Him for things, sincerely asked Him for anything, take ... single out something, and asked Him for it, He'd either tell me ... He'd give it to me, or tell my why He could not. So I know it always is best, if I can't have it. Your little baby boy'd ask for your straight razor to shave with it, you'd be a poor father to give it to him. He'd hurt himself. He knows what's good for us, and what's not.
So then Bartimaeus would think this: "You know what? Just a little bit below here is a ford where Israel crossed over. And just think, Right down this same road where that priest come awhile ago, that great prophet Elijah with Elisha come arm-in-arm down that road, walking down to the Jordan to open her up again." [Gap in the audio.]

68 "I once was lost but now I'm found; was blind but now I see." You know what I want you to say, "Praise God! Old Brother Branham made it! There he is, right down that mountain." Yes, sir! Oh!
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun;
We'll have no less days to sing his praise
Than when we first begun.
Let's sing it everybody:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once... [Gap in the audio] lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see.
Oh, how I love Jesus.
Oh, how I love Jesus.
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me.
Amen, Amen. Singing in the Spirit; I love that, don't you? Oh I want to sit over on the side of the hill where there's a little bush sets over on this side the tree of... from the fountains of life and I hear the great, all you all's great voices; the Angels blending in with you over there singing on the other side of the river. I want to set and listen for ten thousand years. Oh how I love Him. Isn't He wonderful? Certainly is.
Now, you feel real good? Now that's what I call old-fashion singing; singing in the Spirit. I'd rather have that than all these little chopped up songs you sing. I think them inspired writers, when they wrote them songs, like Eddie Perronet wrote the inauguration song when he picked up his pen. Everybody was, wouldn't buy his poetry and things, and one day the Spirit fell on him, he grabbed the pen, wrote the inauguration song:
All hail the power of Jesus name.
Let Angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Another one wrote:
When I survey the wondrous cross,
Whereon the Prince of Glory died
All my fame is but loss
Another one wrote:
Living, He loved me;
Dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever.
Someday He's coming, O glorious day.
I think of blind Fanny Crosby, said, "What does Jesus mean to you?" [Gap in the audio--Ed.]
Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Thou the Stream of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee Lord?

69 How wonderful He is! now that great, wonderful Christ, the one we sing the old hymns of the faith our forefathers... Back in the days of Spurgeon, John Wesley, and Charles Wesley... Brother Moore and I stood at the grave not long ago. I just cried. I thought, "Oh, God!" When I stood by William Cowper's grave there, when he... They thought he was a neurotic. Any man that's spiritual is considered crazy. We know that---anyone.
So he got in the Spirit and wrote that famous song,
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins,
When sinners plunge beneath the flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
You know what happened? Immediately after the Spirit left him, he tried to commit suicide, drowning in the river. Yes. The Spirit had left him, he didn't know where he was at, hardly. Them great men, misunderstood.

70 I stood there, and I thought, "When Charles Wesley was down on the river that day, or the lakeside, in his little cabin, a storm come up, and he was trying to make his way back. A little sparrow flew in his bosom, and he held it till the storm was over; went out and held it on his finger. And inspiration come:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
....................
While the nearer waters flow,
While the tempest still is high,
Hide me, oh, my Saviour, hide,
till the storms of life is past,
Safe into thy bosom climb.
Oh, my! Great men!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
With partings leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.
Footprints, that perhaps another,
While sailing over life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
In seeing, shall take heart again.
I like that.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
That life is just an empty dream!
The soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! And life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
For dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Oh, I like that.
Let us be up and doing,
With a heart for any strife,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
(Don't be drove into it.)
Be a hero in the strife!
Oh, my! Them poets and things certainly thrill my soul, when I read of those godly men that wrote them---like the "Psalm of Life" there, Longfellow; and how that...
I think that God penned them things. Them men of old, as it said in the Bible, moved by the Holy Spirit wrote those old blood songs, "I See a Crimson Stream of Blood," all those famous old songs of the church. It's a lot better than some of this little old chopped-up stuff we have today, brethren. I tell you it is. I love that old time religion, love all those good old songs of the faith.

71 All right.
While the Holy Spirit is here, we'll call the prayer line, and pray for the sick. Everybody get your faith out, and in your heart. You don't have to say it in your mouth. Remember, your thoughts are louder in heaven than your voice is on earth, see. Say this, "Oh, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." See if He'll do the same thing He did.
Zacchaeus, just pull out your fig leaf one time, and look down. See if He isn't still the same yesterday, today, and forever. See if He doesn't do the same thing. He'll pull you out, speak to you. And the good thing, He'll go home with you tonight. Have a talk with Him before you go to bed, you and your wife. Home will be changed. It won't be like it used to be then, when He goes home with you.

72 Billy, where you at? Gene, Leo, who give out the prayer cards? You? Oh, no. Billy? Where's Billy at? What? D? 1 to 100? Prayer card D's was give out today. Now it's so that we won't be able to get mixed up. Have we got enough room there? I guess we could stand a few there of our brethren. Who has D number 1? All right, lady, go right over here. Now answer your call. Number 2?

73 [Blank spot.] ... can take place beautifully. There was a man and his wife, first time they was ever in one in my meetings, they were sitting in the audience. A lady come in, and sat down by the side of them, and the little lady resented it. The lady was sitting close, 'cause she was in her way---made her move back.
After a while the little lady made her move back. She re... This woman that had to move back, she resented the woman resenting her. So she got to praying. She said, "Lord, I oughtn't to've done that. Forgive me. I didn't mean it."
And then, the lady that was in front that had resented her said, "Sister, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." And the two, the husband and wife, were sick. And oh, just a little bit after it was done, I seen the angel of the Lord standing over them. Called them by name, and healed them both, and sent them back to their home again. Lake Charles will know about it.

74 [Blank spot.]
... take the back seat, sister, brother. Prefer one another. 21, 2, 3, 4, 5? All right. 21, 22, 23, 24

75 [Blank spot.] ... Spirit come down, told him what he done through the day, and what he'd been doing, and what he wanted, and oh, my! He said, "There's no need in me saying any more." There he went. Oh!
I'll never forsake Him,
I'll never forsake... ,
(Do you really mean it?),
I'll never forsake Him,
Because He first loved me.
Down at the cross where my Saviour died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried;
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Glo... (40 to 50 now. 41, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Glory to His precious name!
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
(46, 47) ... wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within,
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name!
Singing, glory to His......
Let's bow our heads now while we finish singing.
Glory to His precious name!
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Now quietly. [Humming.] Now get in the Spirit.

76 "There to my heart was the..." (Is all the prayer cards up now? You got a prayer card, go over to the line now.) Quietly and reverently now:
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
Now cast thy poor soul at the Saviour's feet;
Plunge in today and be made complete;
Singing, glory to His name!
Glory to His name!
Glory to His precious name!
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!

77 Precious Lord, as the organ is playing that beautiful old hymn, there's many in here, Lord, can share in this fellowship; to know that there's where our sins were all gone when we plunged by faith beneath that crimson stream. The lightning a-flashing, the thunders roaring, the blood of the Son of God, Immanuel's veins were bleeding as that rain poured down across the cross, mixed with blood and water, poured over our souls, Lord, by faith. We always will sing glory to his name! We thank Thee for this, Father. Now as I have just maybe... Forgive my rude ways, Lord, of bringing your Word. But it's the best that I can do. And I pray that You'll receive it, and plant into the hearts of the people the purpose of it, Father. It's to bring faith to the people.
Now, they know what You were. Every night we've approached a different scripture somewhere, to prove that You ... them same Messiahic signs. Everywhere in the Scripture it's just full of them, Lord. Maybe they'd never read it before, read right over it.
So did the Pharisees and Sadducees of their day, the teachers, read right over it, that He was to be that. No doubt the very day that He was crucified, they might've sang in the temple that morning Psalms 22, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" O God, open spiritual eyes. Give understanding, as we commit ourselves to Thee, in Jesus' name. Amen.

78 Now, just a moment. Now you see that great line of people. There's no way for me to have... Is there anybody here that's never been in one of the meetings when discernment is [Gap in the audio]?
... and just like I do. He eats like I do. He sleeps like I do. He's a person that Jesus died for.
Now, I condemn the doctrine of the Catholic church (that's right), but not the Catholic man. Certainly not. And if I ever get to a place I can't reach my arm out just as far for a Catholic as I do for a Pentecost, then I ought to go back to Calvary again. There's something wrong with me. Jesus came to reach out for anybody. And the Oneness, Twoness, Threeness, Fiveness, whatever it might be, there's no difference. I want to reach an arm...

79 When I first come into this, as a Baptist minister, why, one group said, "Come join our group"; the other one said, "Come join our group."
I said, "Brethren, I love you both."
"You'll have to come to one. We just won't permit it."
I said, "Oh, but God will permit it, see. I'll stand right between you with a arm out to both sides, and saying, 'We are brethren!' " Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. That's right. Get love in your heart, and be true and honest; and have the right kind of a motive and the right kind of objective, and God'll take care of the rest. If your motive is right, and your objective is right... If your objective's right, and your motive's wrong, it won't work. But when you get your... If you know it's the will of God, then your motive right, and your objective right...

80 Like now. Here's a group of people. I've been talking about Him being Messiah that you can still touch. I'm not talking about it because I think so; I'm talking about it because the Bible said so.
Now, the reason you say, "Brother Branham, aren't you afraid you...?"
No, sir. Now if I wanted to say, "Look here. I could do this. See what a big guy I am?", I better shut up, and walk away from the platform right there, 'cause it'll never work. See.
What's my motive? To melt these people together, God's people. Say, "I tell you, all you people, I belong to the Baptist. You all come over, join the Baptist." "I'm a Oneness, I'm a Trinitarian, I'm a Threeness, a Twoness, or whatever you have, I don't know, all the... I belong to that one." No, sir.
I'm your brother. I belong to Christ. We belong to one another. So that makes my motive, my objective right. My motive's right. So therefore, He said, "Say to this mountain be moved, and don't doubt." And it's the will of God for me to do it, or He'd have never sent me. There you are. You get everything working right, and your motive and objective right, you can say to anything... As long as it's the will of God, it'll do it.

81 But if I want to, say, to be some big stuffed shirt to make me a great program somewhere, and put me on some telecast, universal or something, now that's wrong. I don't...
Jesus lacked one thing. You know what it was? Showmanship. He wasn't a showman. No, no. No. They said, "Why do you fool with this bunch of holy rollers down here, fishermen and so forth?"
His brother said, "Come on up to the high priest. Come on up, and show yourself, what you can do, if you're the So-and-so."
He said, "Your time's always. Mine hasn't come yet." That's right. He didn't go up even with them. He doesn't today. He isn't a showman; He's the Son of God. Amen. We believe that. Oh, isn't He wonderful? Jesus, the Son of God.

82 Now, I can't have discernment in this line, see, but we're going to pray. Before I do it, I want to be sure, if I can---the Holy Spirit will help me---to know that the power of God is here, so you can see the anointing.
Now, look. All this audience ... let's just make this a showdown. This audience out here, every one a stranger to me. There's only one person... These two little girls sitting here, that's my buddy's girls, the little Evans girls. Brother Evans, where're you at? I haven't seen you... Tell you something on Brother Evans while we're waiting. I'm waiting for something. We was fishing not long ago. How we came to get acquainted with this fine man and his wife, Brother Mercier introduced me to him.
The morning before I left the hotel... Wasn't that in Philadelphia? With Theo Jones at the Met. And Brother Mercier said, "There's a fine man by the name of Welsh Evans. He wants to meet you." Wife was with me. I got up that morning, and my little boy, Joseph...

83 You all know about little Joseph. Six years before he come I saw him in a vision. The doctor said my wife could never have another child. I said, "Oh, yeah."
So when the next child was born, it was a girl. They said, "Uh huh. You meant "Josephine."
I said, "I meant Joseph. God never tells lies."
And so about four years later, we knowed she was going to be mother again. They said, "Is this Joseph?"
I said, "I don't know."
The doctor said, "She can't have it, Brother Branham."
I said, "She'll have that one."
So when the nurse came down, I was walking the carpet off on the floor, you know. And come down, and said, "Reverend Branham?"
I said, "Yes, Ma'am?"
She said, "You have a fine boy. Seven pounds and three ounces."
And I said, "Joseph, you've been a long time getting here. Daddy's glad to see you."
And so, she said, "You called him Joseph."
I said, "That's his name."

84 And Joseph was with me there, four years old. Been two years ago. No, three years old. He's five now, and he sees visions.
And when he got up that morning, he said ... sitting on the side of the bed. He and I sleep together in one another's arms, and we're real buddies. And he said, "Daddy," he said, "David is going to get hurt on a motorcycle. He's going to skin his leg on that side."
I said, "Did you dream that?"
He said, "No, Daddy. I saw it right there."
We just marked it down in a book. And when we got home, David, the little boy next door to us, two days after we was home rode down the lane on the motorcycle, skinned his side up---just exactly what he said.
I'm going one of these days, friends, I'm going to leave the world. I pray that God will take the Spirit that He's let me have, and put a double portion upon my son, Joseph, to shine the light while I'm gone.
And so then ... I expected Billy... Billy's one of the finest boys in the world. He wasn't called in the ministry. Now, I don't want to leave without having somebody to represent ... take my place when I'm gone.

85 And I started to move, and I seen Brother Welch Evans... I oughtn't to say this, Sister Evans. Will you forgive me? He caught too many fish, and he was hiding them from the game warden. And I seen him up there in a vision, and he had them in a sack; and he hid them two or three times. And I said, "I wonder if that's that same man? They tell me he likes to fish down in Florida."
So I went over there that morning. When I walked in... Brother Mercier back there, and I, we walked in together. And I said, "That's the man. That's him."
So after he introduced me to him, I said, "Mr. Evans?", and I talked to him. I said ... after we talked a little while, got ready to leave, I said, "Brother Evans, do you love me?"
He said, "Sure."
I said, "Here not long ago you was fishing in some kind of a bayou. You had a sack full of fish you was trying to hide them from the game warden."
He said, "Oh, my, my!"
I said, "Just one thing I'm going to ask you. Take me fishing there."
He said, "All right."

86 So his brother's a sinner, and he got snake bit by a ground rattler. Anybody knows what a ground rattler is? He's really rank. And his brother was in the hospital, and walked on a hook for a long time, wasn't it, Brother Welch? On a hook.
So Brother Welch and I went back there, got eleven big fish that day. Oh, my! How fine! And I had a great big bass on, and I just couldn't hold him. And Brother Welch come up there, had his trouser legs all rolled up. He said, "Can't you hold him?"
I said, "He's too big. He must weigh fourteen, fifteen pounds." And I had him over there, and he just run over them pads, and I throwed a little bumble bee out again. Here he come. And one hit again, and it was a good one---around eight or ten pounds. But I couldn't hold him. And after awhile I got him kind of whipped down. Started bringing him in.
Brother Welch said, "I'll get him." And without thinking, he jumped in those tulles, and under those pads, to grab the fish barefooted, and a ground rattler grabbed him. There went the snake through there.

87 He jumped out of there, and was holding his foot like that. Like bone-freezing in there, and his teeth set together, and the tears running down his cheeks.
And I looked. Blood coming out in two places, about that wide apart. Oh, my! Well, I... He's a great big man. How am I going to pack him about two or three miles through them swamps? And I happened to think. And I said, "Oh, Brother Evans! Oh, my, Brother Evans!"
And something said to me, "I'm a very present help in the time of trouble." I've never seen it before. And I lay my hands over on his foot, and I said, "Now, Brother Evans, just ... just a minute."
And I said, "Heavenly Father, we're in a state of emergency. And I know that your Word said that they shall tread on the heads of scorpions and serpents, and nothing shall harm them. This man is a believer. He's your child. And I put my hand over on him. In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke that poison venom from that snake."
And I heard him quit groaning. I took my hand off. He said, "I haven't got a pain." We went on fishing all that day, and that night when they come in, they was around there talking. We had those great big black bass, about that long, hanging up.

88 About eleven o'clock his brother come out there. So, he was still limping a little on his foot, and he wasn't a believer. He was a sinner boy. A fine fellow, a very fine man. I'm expecting to lead him to Christ next time I go down---baptize him out there in one of them pools.
And so, then when... We went out there. And he runs a bait shop. And we was at a place, a little motel across the street from it at Fort Pierce. And so, his brother come out there, and I was telling his brother about it. And he seen that snake bite.
He said, "Now, brother, it's good to be religious, but not crazy." He said, "You'd better get to a doctor right now." Said, "You know how that made me lay in a hospital like that."
Brother Evans said, "I was bit this morning at eleven o'clock. This is nearly eleven o'clock tonight. And God has taken care of me by his grace this long. He'll take care of me the rest of the way out." Never had a rub, or smell of anything. It's amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

89 I know those little girls, Brother and Sister Evans. And I believe this is Brother Willie sitting here, the artist, that drawed the pictures of them ... church world. Was you ... wall ... that pillar of fire. Was you there, Willie, to see that? Was you there, Brother Evans? Sister Evans? How many's in the building was there at the church that morning, to see it? All right. For fifteen minutes it stood right there, visible before nearly four hundred people standing there looking at it. Amen. That's right.
He's the Lord Jesus, and that same angel of God is right here now. Have faith in God.

90 Now for you out there, we can bring that line through in about ten minutes if we can just get the Holy Spirit moving with us. Lord knows I'm testifying just so that you'll see to build your faith.
If I'd start telling what I've seen Him do in these ... my ministry, that I've seen Jesus Christ do before my eyes, they'd make volumes of books. Just every day, every hour... You can just ask Brother Moore, these people who go around. Anywhere, any place, it's just constantly all the time---home, out there, and wherever, the Holy Spirit just showing---bring me off place, take me over here, over here. If you just yield yourself to Him...
The brethren that knows, that's been in the meetings, and knows; or been around with me in the meetings, up home and everywhere else, are those things so, brethren? Raise up your hands if they're so. That's right. Thousands can witness that.

91 Now have faith, and if the Holy Spirit will show us... What is ... two or three is a witness. Is that right? Two or three's a witness. Have faith now. Raise up your hands again now, so I can see.
There's no prayer cards. If you got a prayer card, get in line. If you're sick, and I don't know you, or you got a request on your heart or something, hold your hands up. Solid. You got one? You? Let's you and I talk here right close to me.
Do you believe me to be his prophet? You believe me? If I can, by the Holy Spirit, reveal to you what your trouble is, will you accept it as from the Lord? Will the rest of the audience do the same thing? (God, it's for your glory.) You got trouble with your knees, and legs. That's right? Wave your hand. All right, go home and receive your healing. Jesus Christ makes you well.

92 Anybody else believes with all your heart? Wait. Here it goes. Here it is. Wait just a minute. That man sitting right there, praying for his mother in the hospital. Heart trouble. You believe she'll be healed, brother? All right, sir. God bless you. I'm a stranger to the man. I don't know him. That's right, raise up your hand. That's true, though, isn't it? You believe now? What are they touching?
Here's a little lady sitting here praying just with all of her heart, not for herself; for the salvation of her husband. If that's right, stand on your feet, lady. All right. If you just believe God. There it is back there---a hernia, heart trouble. Oh, my! It's just everywhere. You believe now? How many believes with all your heart now? Just raise up your hand.
That just goes to... I can't get into that too deep, 'cause I couldn't take the line through.

93 Is He God out there? Is He God up here? He's God in heaven. He's God on earth. He's God everywhere. (I have to just get a minute, Brother Jack, to get this way, see.) Do you believe what you've heard, and seen? Do you believe it comes from God? Do the people out there believe the same?
If God will reveal to this woman what's her trouble, or whatever it is...? I don't know. We're strangers, I suppose, to one another. You're a... (She had a prayer card, did she?) All right.
The prayer card... The boy just come and mixed these prayer cards up, and you just happened to draw one. That's right, see. You see what He can do out there. Now is that the very same sign that Jesus showed, and proved that He was the Messiah when He was here on earth? Do you believe that? You do.

94 And do you believe that Jesus is here on earth tonight, in the form of Spirit, called Holy Ghost? And He lives in his church through the blood of his sacrifice? He opened and tore down the veil with the shedding of his blood, and made a way that you and I could come into that Shekinah Glory? that He could talk here, take my lips and speak to you as two believers? and walk between us, and speak between us, and reveal to me the very things that He did there to prove that He's not dead, but alive forevermore?
You're not here for healing; you've been healed. That's right. But you're here for your husband. Do you believe that God can tell me what's his trouble. All right. He's got stomach trouble. That's right. You've got a son. That's the reason you're still standing with your hand up. You want me to tell you what's wrong with your son? He's got trouble with his shoulder. That's exactly right.
I see some other boy. It's a nephew. Yes, sir. You believe God can tell me his trouble? All right. The trouble with your nephew, he's got stomach trouble. He's nervous. And here's two things they both need, is salvation, 'cause they're both sinners. That's "Thus saith the Lord." Believe now with all your heart.

95 Father God, this darling little girl... All of you pray with me, please, now for these people. Father, I pray that You'll heal the little thing, and make her well in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen. Everybody praying, now.
Sister, if I could straighten your hand, I'd do it. I can't, but I can pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that You'll heal her. May this hand come straight. May she go like Bartimaeus, with his eyes, go off this platform believing in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you.
Our heavenly Father, I take the hand of this woman, and pray that You'll heal her in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you.

96 Now you know I know what's wrong with you. But whether I said it or not, would you believe it anyhow? If I keep on, all come ... discernment, you know what it does? Breaks me down. But your back was healed sitting in the chair. And if you'll believe with all your heart, arthritis won't bother you any more. Go believing.
Lord, I pray that You'll heal her, and make her well. In Jesus' name. Amen. Believe it. Our heavenly Father, I lay hands upon my sister, and pray that You'll heal her in Jesus' name. Amen. Keep praying. Keep praying. Your prayers, friends, you're the church of God. Pray for these people. What if it's your mother, father, your husband, wife? Our heavenly Father, I pray that You'll heal him, and make him well in Jesus' name. Amen.
While the anointing of the Holy Spirit is coming on now, you just come believing with all your heart, and God will heal you. Do you believe that? Do you believe it?

97 Listen, friends. Just ... if I get you quieted, listen. No matter where... See, you mustn't think that the Holy Spirit's gone away from here, because I don't speak to every one. They'd have done been taking me out, if it'd been that. How many realizes that our Lord, when a woman touched his garment, He felt virtue go from Him? How many knows that a prophet called Daniel seen one vision, and was troubled at his head for many days over it?
How do you think that I know those people, and all about them and things like that, if it wasn't visions? How would I ever be able to know it? Then you see what I mean? The strength... If I just... I see the people coming. You feel that vibration strike them, and then you just have to ... you just have to turn your head, and lay your hands on them and go on. While the Holy Spirit's here, it'll do the same work. The Lord will reveal. It isn't just because that one passed by, or something.

98 Here, where's the next one? Is this... Here. All right. We're strangers to one another, aren't we? I don't know you; you don't know me. Is that right? You heard me preach before. But to know you, you just probably sat out in the audience somewhere. You believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever? If I will be able then, by the grace of God, to reveal to you by the Spirit of God, the things...
You say, "What are you talking about me, Brother...?"
I'm catching your spirit, just exactly like He did the woman at the well. You'll have to take my word for that. But if He declares it to be right, then it's right. I told the truth. And then, if I claim that it's not me, that it's Him, I've told the truth. There's his Word declares it, see. It's by his permissive will that I do it, see. He permits me to do it.
Now you're suffering with nervousness, real nervous. That's right. And you've had an operation, surgery on the stomach. That's exactly right. You're not from this city; from a place called Vira, or something like that. You believe God can tell me who you are? All right, Miss Beech, you can go back home, and be well.

99 You believe? Now, just keep praying. Keep in prayer as these people pass by. Just keep praying.
Lord Jesus, heal this man, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you. Go on the road rejoicing now. Our heavenly Father, I pray that You'll heal our sister. [Gap in the audio.] ... this, I pray the prayer of faith for my brother in the name of Jesus... [Gap in the audio.]
... now, with all your heart. Don't doubt. Believe with all your heart, be all right. [Gap in the audio.] ... person, seem to have a nice spirit. You're a Christian. Do you believe with all your heart God can tell me what's the trouble? You think your husband will get all right? that eye trouble, having an allergy, and so forth? Go believe now, and he'll get all right. [Gap in the audio.] ... heal him in Jesus' name. Amen. [Gap in the audio.] God bless you, sister.
Our heavenly Father, I can remember the time when I went into a den room to pray, when an emergency was on. And what a great thing you done in their home! I pray, Father, not knowing what's wrong, and I pray that You'll bless and give the desire of her heart, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Gap in the audio.] ...

100 maybe He'll make you well? Yes. Save that operation, make you well, if you believe it. What do you think it is? Well, you thought it was a tumor. It's a growth. You thought it was a tumor. You thought it was cancer. You had many things. But what difference does it make, as long as He heals it? Is that right? You know, what you need is a little lift in faith, isn't it, to make you come up. Sarah, go on home, and be well.
Father God, in the name of the Lord Jesus, heal him. May the mercies of God be with the child. Make him well. May the mother see such a difference in him, Lord [Gap in the audio.] ... In the name of the Lord Jesus, may my sister be healed. Amen. Ask and it [Gap in the audio.] ... give him courage just to have faith, and believe. Your blessings is on him, has been since the breakfast. I pray that You'll let him see it, Lord, know that these stretched nerves be mended. In Jesus' name. Amen. Don't doubt. Just believe.
Our heavenly Father, as I lay hands upon her in the name of the Lord Jesus, may it ... her loved one leading her, may Christ do the leading from henceforth, Lord, making her well, restoring her right back again. Amen. Don't doubt. Come believing.

101 Do you believe? Everybody's believing with all your heart? Just have faith. How do you do? Mighty young, healthy-looking, but you can't always go by that. You think the Holy Spirit can tell me your trouble? You do? The audience believe the same thing? If Christ remains Christ, He can. [Gap in the audio.]
Something strange about you. That's the reason He stopped me. Oh, I appreciate you. Now to heal, I cannot heal, lady. I'm a man. But the life cannot be hid now. You're here for somebody else, dangerously sick. You call it cancer in the blood stream. The right name's leukemia. In a hospital; not here, over in Louisiana. That's right. That's good faith for a sinner to have. Will you accept Jesus as your personal Saviour now? You do? All right. Raise up your hands. May your sins be forgiven you.
Amen. You believe? How many in here is ready to receive Christ as healer? I challenge you to believe it. Can your faith stop Him? Then in the name of Jesus Christ, every one of you that wants healing, stand up on your feet. I don't care what's wrong with you. Stand up and get your healing. Raise up your hands.

102 O Lord God, creator of the heavens and earth and the author of everlasting life, giver of every good gift, I challenge the devil in a pure faith. Come out of this people, Satan. You've lost the battle. In Jesus' name, free them.
Raise up your hands now, and praise Him.
I will praise Him, I will praise Him...
Raise up your hands, and praise Him. Give Him glory, all ye people. Do you accept Him? Say, "Amen." Do you accept Him as your healer? Do you accept Him as your Saviour? Then raise up your hands, and say, "Praise God!"