Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Good afternoon, Christian friends. The warmest of Christian greetings in the name of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. We're happy to be here this afternoon in the representative way of His Gospel, believing that just what that song said, "All things are possible to them that believe." "If thou canst believe," said Jesus, "all things are possible."
I'm just a little bit late: always that way. I was late for my wedding. If I can just be late for my funeral, all right. See? That... My wife will get me for that. She's here this afternoon so... But I was late for my wedding; kept her waiting. Well, just one place I don't want to be late, that's when I get to the door up there. I want--want to be just in time then. Maybe I'll work real hard, I can make that one, by grace, anyhow.

2 Well, we're... As we say again, happy to be here. And we had a wonderful time through this services, these last two weeks. I guess I about preached you to death in these last two weeks, but we had a marvelous time. Some of... To see the streams of people coming down the aisles, going across into the little... Say, something happened over there, hasn't it?
Puts me in mind of one time when my brother and I, we were... Mama had fixed us some popcorn to take to school in a gallon bucket. And so it was around Christmas time. We used to pop the corn. That was a rare thing when I was a boy. And so we used to pop and put around a--a tree, you know, on a little old cedar bush. I remember she had some left over and she put it in a little bucket for brother and I to eat. My brother's gone on, so... I was... Thought, you know, it would be nice just before dinner, if I had one good handful out of that bucket. So I held up my hand and asked the teacher to be excused. And as I went out through the cloak room, I raised up that bucket and just nice big handful. I thought that didn't look too good, so I reached and got me another handful. I went outside and stood behind school house and eat all this popcorn. Come back in.
After while, dinner time, we went across the hill and down a little woods to eat, brother and I, we set on a log. Put the little bucket between us. We'd have a little jar of something in there, we'd... couple of spoons. So when it come... We had to eat the popcorn first. You know how kids are. So when I opened up that lid, it was just about half of that popcorn's gone. My brother said, "Say," said, "something happened there, didn't it?"
I said, "Sure did." I knew what had happened. So looks like something's happened over here too, doesn't it? All right.

3 Well, now, I was coming up with some of the folks, awhile ago, and I was saying, "My, what will I speak on this afternoon?" for this Gospel service. Just a little rally in the afternoon instead of spend it out on a beach somewhere, let's come preach the Gospel and enjoy, bathe our self in His beauty and His power. And now... And then tonight, is the closing service. We expect a great healing service tonight. The Lord willing we trust that there will not be a feeble person among us when the services is over tonight. Now, come believing that, expecting that. If you believe it, be inspect--and expect it, God will grant it. Isn't that right? Usually get just what you expecting.

4 And now, I... As a preacher, you know, I always... I said I was a spare tire. That's when you got a puncture, you know, or a blowout or something; you put the spare on. Sometimes it's not too good, but--but... Now, we haven't got a puncture or a blowout, but we're using "spare" anyhow.
Now, I would like to read some of the Gospel, the glorious Gospel of our Lord. I like to tell about it what I know. Don't know too much, but what I do know, I like to share it with others. And you know, that's the way the Gospel is: we have to share it with others. Any good thing, we should share with somebody. When you go to have a great big dinner, and you like to have your neighbor to come in, and say, "Share it with me." And you kindly share things, mutually, all along.

5 It's kind of a--a day of that now. And then another tie--time that we're living now, is a--is a day of impersonation (See?), or matching, I'd call it. Paint your steps red, and watch what your neighbor will do. He just has to paint his red. See? You swap that Chevrolet for a Ford, Ford business will get good. That's right. That's just the way... Everybody wants to match the other one. That's right. They want... Always said, I didn't care whether my trousers matched my coat, or my tie matched my coat. I want my experience to match God's Bible. So that's kind of matching we ought to do: match up with the standard of God and then... things will be right.

6 Now, before we... We can lay down the l--lids of His Bible. We can open up the Bible lids, but we cannot open up the Bible: there's only One can do that; that's Christ. The Bible is in the hand of God, on a Throne, like that. And--and there was no man in the heavens, or no man in the earth, or no man beneath the earth, was worthy to--to take the Bible, to open It, or to loose the seven seals that was sealed on the back side of It. And John begin to weep and--and one of the elders said, "Weep not, for the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world was worthy and able to come and take the book out of the right hand of Him that set upon the throne. And to open it and to loose the seals thereof." And that's the Lamb of God that was slain before the foundation of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. May He come this afternoon and open our understanding. May He take the things that's written in this Book and give them out to the people just as they have need of it.

7 My son, he--he met me there, a few moments ago and drove me around in another car, and he said, "What are you going to preach on, this afternoon, daddy?"
I said, "I don't know yet." I just have to wait till I get to the pulpit, and then whatever He tells me, then I start from right there. Sometimes I go from Genesis to Revelations hunting something. But just like a dog on a trail... How many ever seen a Beagle Hound trail? Let's see your... Oh, just look at the brethren I have here. Then, you take a dog and you're trying to get him on the trail and he--he just can't find it. He's just going along. After awhile he stops. He's ears comes up, and his eyes bulge out; he's got the scent, and away he goes. That's the way they have to do. Isn't that right? Just wait till we hit place, and then let the Holy Spirit take it. That's--that's the way. Oh, He's wonderful.

8 And now, let's bow our heads just a few moments now, while we speak to this great Master of Life. Almighty and all sufficient God, the Author of Everlasting life, the Giver of every good gift, we're looking to Thee today, for the exceedingly, abundantly, Thy Presence may be with us and pour out of Your Spirit upon Your Word. Anoint it, and may it go into them hearts where it's supposed to go, where You intend it to go. And whatever it is You wish for me to say, just speak, Lord, and I will do as You say.
Now, Father, I realize that someday, that every person here, we've all got to stand in Your Presence, give an account of our lives, and give an account for what we did with what was told us in this world. Now, Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit will make the Word of God so plain this afternoon, that when we go there at that day, that we'll ha--when we answer according to Your Word, that our conscience will be clear that we have did just what You said do.
Now, may the Holy Spirit take the things of God and deliver them right into every heart, right where they ought to be, and may, when the service is over, may we say like them coming home from Emmaus, "Did not our hearts burn within us because of His Presence," for we ask it in His Name, Thy Son. Amen.

9 [Gap in the audio] ... shortest books in the Bible, the Book of Jude. It was written A.D. 66, thirty-three years after Pentecost, believed to be thought of as Jude the... he calls hisself the servant, yet he was the brother (foster) of Jesus Christ.
His brothers first didn't believe on Him, but after a while they did. And Jude is a prophet. For his little short letter here, which was recognized by the Church to be inspired... He was a prophet. And he was foretelling here and correcting the Church.
And it was written to all the churches throughout the age, and I believe specifically to this Church of this age.

10 Now, the church is always the called out, the borned-again peoples. Whether they're Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, whatever they are, it's the called out of God.
Now, we want to look right straight into His Word and read some of this here and see what He would say about it. See how He would speak to our heart. And I want every person now, to be just ... let yourself forget about the washing tomorrow, and the things we got to do. We're here for one purpose: worship God. We're here to learn something. And I'm here to learn something. And I'm looking to the Holy Spirit to teach me something this afternoon, teach me how to be a better man, teach me how to be a better minister. And through me, teach you how to be a better Christian.
All of us together, it would be a better church. That's what we're here for. And the Word of God is for instruction and reproof, that a man might stand before God blameless. If we follow the blueprint well, we'll stand blameless.

11 Now, book is Jude. I want to read a few verses of it.
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the father, and preserved in ... Christ, and called:
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved ... I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and to exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who was before of old ordained to this condemnation, (Let that soak just a minute; I'm going back to read it again.) who was before of old ordained to this condemnation, (You believe it? That's what He said.) ungodly men, turning the grace of ... God into lasciviousness ... denying the only Lord God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, after having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed not.
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but were left in their ... habitation ... reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Now, if I'd call it a text, it would be this (Found in the 3rd verse in the last phrase): Earnestly Contending For The Faith That Was Once Delivered To The Saints.
Now, I want you to notice in Jude's address to this letter, who he is addressing. He's addressing Christians. He's not speaking now to unbelievers; he's talking directly to Christians. Now notice: "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified," (not to the world) " to them that are sanctified in God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ and called."

12 Now, he is addressing to the church, telling them: "Just to those that are sanctified in God, preserved in Christ and called." Now, he said, "Now, you're the people that I'm talking to, that you will earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints." Now, not 'a' faith that was delivered, but 'the' faith that was delivered. Did you notice there?
"The faith that was once delivered to the saints." Not just 'a' faith. Some people says, "Well, that's against my faith." There's only one faith. One faith, one Lord, one God, one baptism, one faith, one doctrine. And now people say, "Well, I have 'a' faith and I go to my own church." Well, that's not what Jude's speaking to here. He's talking to the people that's to contend for 'the' faith that was once delivered to the saints.

13 Now, the only way that we're going to ever know what's... If we can only find out what 'the' faith is, then we can earnestly contend for that faith. Is that right? What 'the' faith... Now, "the faith that was once delivered to the saints."
Now, if we'll go back to where they were first called saints and find out what kind of a faith they had, then we'll know more or less what to contend for.
Now, when the church was called saints, was after they were sanctified. The word "sanctify" or "saint" come "sanctify," meaning "clean, pure, holy, unadulterated" and so forth. Now, if... That was the beginning of the Church when it was inaugurated at the day of Pentecost.

14 Now, let's look what they had back there, what that church contended for, what they had lost. Now, just thirty-three years after the beginning of the church...
Now, you know Jude wouldn't be talking about back in the Old Testament under the Levitical laws, see. Because he's a Christian. He was talking about when the first church was set in order, was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost.
And now, we'll notice what kind of a faith that they had. They had a faith in a resurrected living Christ, someone who had rose from the dead and was living among them, just the same as He was before He ever died. Now, see, they wasn't contending for some historical affair, but they were contending for a living Christ, a resurrected One who was in their midst.

15 Now, when He rose from the dead, He done the same things after He rose from the dead, through the apostles, that He did before He died, even greater and more of it.
Now, "Yet a little while," He said, "and the world seeth Me no more, yet ye shall see Me," the church, the believer, "for I will be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." Now, that was what the apostles believed. And they believed that what He was in the flesh, He was also, and more, in the Spirit. And that's what they taught; that's what they believed; and that's what they practiced; and that's what God confirmed.
But during this time, this thirty-three years of lapse, there become many false brethren who had raised up, and had brought in heresies, and brought people off to theology and different things like that.

16 And as Paul ... I think of him laying there when they come and told him.
This little Jew with his little hook nose, laying down there in prison, the chains around him and around his ankles and so forth. And said, "Well, some is preaching Christ for gain and some is turning others ... disciples aside." There it begin to organize and got great organizations and so forth.
He said (Here was his credentials.) " How," said, "I have so many marks on my body that was put there. I've been in perils upon the sea. I've been in perils among false brethren." All these different things, he showed as marks, his credentials before God, that he had suffered for the cause that Christ died for.

17 God help us to have that type of a credential today. And let's contend for the faith, the true faith that was once delivered to the saints. The saints believed in the death, burial, resurrection. They believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The early church believed it. Do you believe it? Then let's contend for it.
Now, they believed in signs and wonders following the believers. Now, they begin to fall away. Now, Jude said that man of old was foreordained to do this. Now, God is sovereign. Of course, He knows: "He is not willing that any should perish but all might come to repentance." But in order to be God, He has to know, and He does know before the thing ever come to pass, who would be saved and who would not be saved. That's right.

18 So there is some people that will not, and God knew it in the beginning they would not. And He even raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart for that very cause, that He might show His power. And Esau and Jacob, to show the election of God might stand sure, before either child, when they were born ... before they were born, God said, "I love Jacob and hate Esau." That's right.
See, you're a Christian because God has ordained that you must be a Christian. Now, you can turn it aside. God will set somebody in your place. But your place is setting there. If God calls you, go take it, and stay with it.

19 Now, how marvelous. Earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, all back in the age. Now, the very faith that they had at the beginning, is supposed to be today yet.
A very fine scholar I was having dinner with, here some time ago (E. Stanley Jones), said, "Brother Branham," said, "I see most of your meeting is made up of pentecostal people."
Said, "Yes, sir."
He said, "Why so?"
I said, "They're the ones that believe."
And he said, "Well," he said, "Brother Branham, I think that Pentecost was a scaffold." Said that God was going to put up a building and He made Pentecost a scaffold.
"Well," I said, "that's right. I will agree with you."
And he said, "Well, see, after the scaffold work is done, we don't need the scaffold anymore."
I said, "But the scaffold work isn't done. When the building is completed, God will take it up. So we're still working on the building." Amen.

20 Yes, sir. We still need every step ladder, every stepping stone. We need everything. Just exactly. The building is still in making, and when it's completed---this Gospel is preached to every kindred, tongue, and nation---then Jesus will return. That's right.
Now, we've had plenty of passing out tracts and theology, around the world. But the Gospel is not the Bible altogether. The Bible ... Paul said, "The Gospel came to us not in word only, but through power and demonstrations of the Holy Ghost." Then when Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," then He meant, "Go into all the world and demonstrate the power of God to every creature."

21 And in order to preach the Gospel, before you can make it a Gospel preached, then you've got to have the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit to prove the Gospel. "The letter killeth (the Word) the letter killeth, the Spirit maketh alive."
So it's not just a ritualistic affair but it's absolutely a real, living reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ living among men. And that's the faith that I'm trying my best to contend for today: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and His power is unlimited.

22 If you can limit God, you can limit Christ. And if you limit the church today and it's possibilities, you're limiting God. "But all things whatsoever you desire, when you pray, believe you receive it, and you shall have it." He said that, I believe it, and I know it's the truth. Now, we think of how marvelous how God has did these things for us, and to see in this day how it's been predicted by the prophets through the Scriptures.

23 And someone asked me (It was the same man), why did I associate myself with pentecostal people? Now, here's the reason. Now, I know there's many things that I think they ought to be straightened out on, in some doctrine. That's my own opinion, they might think I ought to be too, see.
Now, but here's one thing: that I have found the people with a living faith, where they have absolutely caught a hold of something: God out there that gives them a new birth, that puts God into the person, that makes him believe in the supernatural.
Now, if you're not born again, you do not believe in the supernatural. And if you do not believe in the supernatural, you haven't been born again. Because when you're born again, you become a son of God; and being a son of God, you're a nature of God.
And then you take on the things, and you want to see the moving of God, and see God move; because you're His son, and you're made in His image, and you're born of His Spirit. You're a part of Him. And then you've got faith for anything. Amen.

24 Notice how from the beginning, Satan has been so close.
Now, a lot of people say today, "Oh, Brother Branham, don't you think that communism is awful?" Yes, it's awful. But that's not the antichrist. No, sir. Jesus said, "The antichrist would be so close like the real, it would deceive the very elect if possible." It's religious people. That's where it comes in.
Now, let's go back to the beginning, way back. Go back in the Garden of Eden, even we could go before that. But let's take the first two boys that was born on this earth.
Cain, first. Really, he was supposed to have the birthright but lost it, just as Esau was, just as the first church of the mother church, as you want to call it. All the way through, lost the birthright.

25 Now, Cain and Abel, when they were put out of the Garden of Eden because that death had come to their parents and them, both of these boys was very religious boys.
Now, if you want to find out what day we're living in, if you want to find out what kind of a crop is going to come up out here, go back and find out what kind of seed you got planted. And now, Genesis is the seed, or the beginning. And how that back there in the beginning, we see the spirits move up.

26 For instance, all down through the Scripture... We think of Babylon. When Babylon first appeared, look at it down through the Bible. Babylon appeared back there... You know, Nimrod built Babylon. First, Babylon was called "The Gates of Heaven." Then it was called "Confusion." And there's where idolatry first started.
Nimrod was a son of Ham, which come on back from a son of Cain. Watch them seeds as they come up. Watch what they bear. Watch how ... actions they take. And now, we're plumb in above the skies with it. The crop has growed up. Oh, I hope God soaks that way down deep now, so we can get a foundation. I see something moving up now.
Way down here in the seed... Watch what it's going to go to up here. Find out where your seed's at, and what it is.

27 Now, Cain and Abel was both very religious men, and one of them was the type of Christ, and the other was the antichrist. Cain was just as religious as Abel was. Amen. Notice him.
Then many times, you notice, looky here, as Cain killed Abel at the altar, so did Judas kill Jesus at the altar, which Cain and Abel were a type of Judas and Jesus. All down through there's a pro and con.
Look in the ark. There was a dove and there was a crow. Both of them sitting on the same ark, same roost. And one of them was willing to go up... Both of them could fly. Both of them were fowls. And one, if you notice, it was a diet.

28 When they turned the crow loose, he could fly from dead carcass to dead carcass and eat and be satisfied. But the dove could find no rest for the soles of her feet. A dove hasn't got any gall, so it couldn't digest such.
How beautiful type of the church! A man says, "Well, I'm a Christian, but I can do anything I want to." Brother, it shows something another... Man is known by his works; your fruits bear record of what you are.
And this old crow could go from body to body, and eat dead carcass and feel satisfied, but the dove found no rest for the soles of her feet. She returned back home again.

29 And every man that's born of God, and you might backslide or fall out, but if you're born of God, you're coming back to the ark, sure as anything in the world. The church of the living God will have to move to the ark. You haven't got any gall. God has done took it all out when He cleansed you up and made you a new creature in Christ Jesus.
Look at the horses. The gray and grizzled, the horses. All down through, all down to Jesus and Judas. About time Jesus come on the scene, Judas come on the scene, and they were brothers in the same church; One the pastor and the other one the treasurer.
And look. Some people only see three crosses at Golgotha. There were four. There was a thief on one side, thief on the other side, Jesus in the middle. And, "Cursed is he that hangeth on a tree." Jesus was made accursed for us hanging on a tree. And Judas hung himself on a sycamore tree. Just as much cross as the rest of them was on.

30 Now here, look. Here was the Son of God, come down from the ivory palaces of God, made flesh and dwelt among us. Here is Judas, the son of perdition, come from hell, returning back to hell. Here is God in flesh, come from Heaven, returning back to Heaven.
There's a thief on one side, said, "Lord, remember me when You come into the kingdom." The other one said, "If," that question mark, whether God meant it or not. "If Thou be the Son of God, save us." There's a Gospel preacher, preaching across to the unbeliever. Hallelujah! There you are.

31 There was Jesus returning back, taking with Him the borned-again, repented church. And the devil going back, taking that bunch. "If You be a divine healer, do this." "If you be this..." "If this be right..." If, if, if. Always, Satan putting a question mark across the Word of God. "If Thou be..."
"Well, if He is a divine healer, let Him heal this one, let Him this one." "If He be, let Him be this." If, it's always... That's with a question mark in it. But a real true believer believes every word that God said is the truth. And takes it the same way. There you are.

32 Notice. Let's get back to Cain again. Get some of the faith in the beginning. Watch those spirits, how they begin to move. It's the spirit of anything that does the work of it anyhow. The people have to be in this kind of a spirit to bring the latter days. The people is in the spirit of the latter day. The nations are in the spirit of the end time.
They got atomic weapons, hydrogen weapons, all kinds of things, because it's the spirit of the day. The people are in the spirit of the end time. The church is moving together under the power and the impact of the Holy Spirit. And the world is running out yonder, making fun, scoffing, laughing, living like the devil every day. It's in the spirit of the thing.

33 God's getting ready to take His and the devil is getting ready to take his. Hallelujah! There's no if, to God's Word, before the church. They say, "It's 'Thus saith the Lord,' we believe it." Let the world say what they want to. They always scoffed and laughed. They come from back in the beginning. Look how fundamental sometimes we can be without knowing truth.
Now notice, back there in the beginning. When Cain and Abel came out of the Garden, driven out, because that there was sin. Death had separated them from God. And God put a Cherubim---Angel with a flaming sword---around the Tree to protect that Tree of Life.

34 Now, here's the tree of death. I have my idea of what it was, you can have yours. But anyhow, that whenever they taken this tree, they were going to die. But if they ever taken this Tree, they were going to live.
So, when they'd taken the tree of death, that separated them from God, and He put an Angel around that Tree to keep them from taking it. Because the very time that they'd taken of that Tree, they would live forever, even knowing good from evil. Is that right? All right.
Then notice. That tree was the woman, and when Adam partaken of this, it separated him... The woman still brings the life in the world; it has to die again. But the Tree of Life that was standing in there was Jesus Christ. When He come down there at the Jewish feast that day, and they said, "Our fathers eat manna in the wilderness."
He said, "And they're every one dead. But I am the Bread of Life that come from Heaven. If a man eat thereof, he shall never die." He was that Tree that was in the garden of Eden.

35 And just as sure as we're born of a woman, we're full of sorrow, and few days, and die. But every man that's born by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has everlasting life and will be raised up again in the last day.
But it mustn't be an impersonation, it must be a genuine Holy Ghost, regenerated birth, that makes a new creature out of him. It can't be just a make-belief, or some theology. It must absolutely be a supernatural birth.
Just as there was pains and groaning in the first birth of natural, there will have to be the same thing in the second, making a man a new creature in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
Oh, don't get excited. I haven't hurt no one yet.

36 Look. But here, when I see Cain, Abel, they wanted and seen ... mortal they were ... how mortal. They've got to get a way. They've got to find favor before God. And they go out and get some different ones ... get their fruits of the field, and so forth to go and make a sacrifice, to try to appease the wrath of God, the judgments of God that's been passed upon them. Cain toiled hard, no doubt; raised a nice crop of fruit.
Now, watch. Cain was just as religious, just as much of a gentleman in every respect that Abel was. Now, not by good works we are saved, but by His mercy.

37 Then they both come up to worship before God. I believe it was east of the gate. And I believe they come right up before His presence, there where that flaming sword was running around the east side of the gate, like that, guarding the Tree of Life.
Look. Here it is. I hope you get it. Just as sure as man is born of a woman, he has to die. It's just that sure, if he is born of Christ, he has got to live. He has got to live. He can't help it. He's got eternal life. Christ said he had.

38 Now, in that day, God guarded the Tree to keep them from getting it. And now, that sword has turned right back the other way now, running them right into the tree, so that they will receive the life---driving people, herding them up to the Tree of Life. How marvelous.
Then I notice, look at this. Then when Cain come up, and he built an altar unto the Lord; both of them did. Now, if an altar is all that God requires, or a church membership, Cain was just as just as Abel was. Cain built an altar, just with as good intention as what Abel did.
Well you say, "Brother Branham, as long my intentions is good..." No, sir. That won't do it.
"Well, I joined church with all good intentions." That still doesn't do it. Cain did too.

39 And now remember, Cain wasn't an infidel. Cain was a believer. This is going to shake the gizzard out of you (I hope it does), some of you fundamentalists, and puts a heart in you. That's right. A heart of belief.
Notice. Cain was religious and a believer. He come up and built an altar to the Lord, with just as much faith, as what Abel did. "But there is a way that seemeth right unto a man..." Now, you'll understand, after a while, why I'm a holy-roller.
Now watch. He came up and built an altar unto the Lord with the sincerity of his heart. And he went out and got the best fruits he had, and laid them on the altar---probably decorated the altar all up with beautiful flowers. I could prove that in a little bit. Wouldn't take me but a minute. But beauty is one of the most deceitful things there is.

40 Satan got the same idea, and wanted a more beautiful kingdom than Michael, when he went over and set up his kingdom in the north. That's the nature of him. Here's his own boy down here with his same nature.
Cain. There he was. He goes up there and builds this altar. He goes out, and probably gets the great big calla lilies off of that ground that had just recently been cursed, placed them all over the altar.
Puts me in mind of a good ... of one of these modern churches today. On Easter, everybody comes to church. They buy a Easter flower, and lay them on the altar, all along. God don't want the Easter flower on the altar; He wants you on the altar. The altar was made for man, not for flowers.

41 But what's the matter today, you've took the altar out of the church, and put it down the basement. And the only fire you got left, is in the basement. Hallelujah! What we need is an old upper room experience, where God pours out His Holy Ghost power and fire like He did in the beginning. But all we got today is what we've got in the furnace---the irons. Pentecost is getting as bad. That's the truth.
Now, notice. Here is what God did. Cain comes up. He offered his offering. Now, if God only requires a church membership, Cain had it. If God requires sincerity, Cain had it. And then if God requires a sacrifice, Cain did it.

42 And then, after he got his sacrifice, his altar, his church, everything ready ... beautiful. Probably a lot more beautiful than Abel's was. But God doesn't dwell in beauty made by hands. The beauty of holiness is where God dwells in, where the power of the Holy Spirit... Yes.
Then notice. Then after he made his altar, made his sacrifice, joined church, the sincerity of his heart... That's a pretty good fellow, we'd call him today. He'd make a dandy fundamentalist. All right.
Here he comes, then he kneels down. Reason I rapped that, because that's what I was, see. Notice... And I am yet, fundamental, but there is some more goes with it. Like the old colored man eating the watermelon. Said, "That was good but there's some more of it." That's right.

43 Notice. He knelt down. And he worshipped God. He had a church, a membership. He had an altar, had a sacrifice. And he worshipped God. If God only requires you to go to church, and to be a believer, put your name on the book, pay into the church every year, and worship God, Cain is just as just as Abel was and God should be condemned for condemning Cain. That's right.
But notice. Oh, he made things beautiful. He built a great big fine place, I guess, and fixed it all up. Ignorant enough to believe that it was apples that took him out of the Garden of Eden. I say this, not for no smutty remark, but if eating apples caused the women to realize they were naked, it's time to pass the apples again. That's exactly right. Yes, sir. It wasn't no more apples than nothing else.

44 Notice. But here come Abel. Hallelujah! Not working, but by grace, election, calling. Here he comes along with a little lamb he picked up out of the flock. He had a grapevine around his neck, come dragging it along. You say, "How do you know it?" Well, they didn't have any hemp, so I guess it must have been a grapevine. "Did they lead him up there?" Yes, sir. Because that was a type of Christ, and they led Him away to Calvary.
Here comes Abel, knowing that it wasn't apples or fruits. God didn't dwell in beauty, or sincerity. He dwells in election and calling. So, he wraps this vine around the lamb's neck and here he comes, moving up to the altar.

45 I suppose his altar was a big rock. He takes this little fellow, throws him back on this rock like this, takes a rock, (because I guess they didn't have any lances or knives in them days), pulled his little head back.
And there was Cain up there, just glorifying God in his beauty. "Look what I've done, Lord. Looky here. You know my heart. You know I'm sincere. I'm giving You all the praise. I'm doing this. I'm doing that." All what he's doing.
And little old Abel took that lamb, threw it back like that, got a rock in his hand, begin to chop its little throat.

46 If a man ever heard a lamb die, the bleeding, bleating... I see Abel's hands become bloody. I see the white wool hanging around that little lamb, bloody. God looked down, He said, "That's it. You got it."
What did it speak of? Of some nineteen hundred years later: The Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the earth, was led with a rope around His neck, up Golgotha's hill yonder. Hallelujah! They laid Him down, they beat His body into stripes for the healing. They nailed nails in His hands, and He stuck there between the heavens and earth, on the Rock of ages, crying out with an unknown tongue.
Speaking, "Eli, Eli." That Lamb was speaking in an unknown tongue to who? To the sacrificer.

47 It was setting there before Abel. And Abel didn't know what that lamb was doing. It was bleating out, bleating out. And the people that was killing this Lamb---the Jews that hung Him to the cross, the unbelievers---didn't know what He was saying. He was speaking out to the Father, "Eli, Eli." That was Abel's Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. His bloody locks hanging around Him.
Billy Sunday said every tree had an angel sitting in it, saying, "Pull Your hand loose. Point Your finger; we'll change the scene." The Jews said, "He saved others, He can't save Himself. If He is that great Saviour, let Him save Himself, then we believe Him."
Why, it was the greatest compliment they ever paid Him. Why, He couldn't save others, and save Himself, so He gave Himself to save others. Hallelujah!

48 There's God's provided sacrifice. There's the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Hanging, bleeding, bleating. Dying, like Abel's lamb.
Well, there was Cain, just as sincere. Just as religious as he was. Just as much altar as he had. Look at that old spirit come right on down through the age. Look at it come down to the children of Israel.
If you'll notice for a few moments, look at Israel when they come out of the wilderness ... into the wilderness, rather, and was getting ready to cross. Moab wouldn't let them cross the country. Now, Moab was believers, the Moabites. You know who it was? That generation come from Lot's daughter's child, where they lived with their father. And one of the oldest one went over, and the land of Moab come from him.

49 Now, here come Israel up. Talk about bad things. Look what Israel had. Every ungodly thing could be thought of, was right among them. Here they come journeying.
Now, here come the prophet Balaam, coming down to curse Israel for Balak. What a type of today. The hollering prophet trying to curse what God has blessed. You couldn't do it if you had to.
Here he comes. Why, he was so money crazy, till he couldn't see the Holy Spirit standing in the road with a drawed sword. The mule knowed more about it than he did. That's right. If people just had some good mule sense today, I believe they could see it. That's right.

50 Here was the mule, seeing the Angel of the Lord, and shunned off to one side. He knowed he was out of the will of God. Then notice what taken place then. Then he gets down there and he looks out.
Now, Balaam ... or, Balak, rather, the King of Moab, he wasn't a infidel. He was a believer. Sure he was. And Balaam wasn't an infidel. Balaam the prophet, he was a believer. But here's two sets of believers. Them same spirits, like Cain and Abel, they'd come right down again.
Now notice. Here was a man, the king of Moab, said, "Come down and curse this people." Believers cursing the believers. Now, Balak come down, got up on the hill, and Balaam showed him the uttermost parts.

51 That's the way the devil does. He wants to show the very worst side of it, somebody who failed. They say, "Look at this one here. He went to a religious fanatic because he went too far." You don't point your finger to them tens of thousands, the same time, didn't go far enough. That's right. That's right.
If I could go out here and ask in the graveyard, say... I know some woman here, not long ago, a Christian Science woman let her baby die because she wouldn't have a doctor. I differ with her on that, but anyhow, that's her faith, or what she believes about it.

52 Now, if I could go to the graveyard down here and say, "Every person that died trusting God for your healing, stand up." Then, "Every one of you that died under medical science, stand up." Which side would be the most? So, sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, see.
The same time that went across the country, telling everybody that divine healing was a fanaticism, not to pay any attention to it, and so forth like that, it was nothing but ... it wasn't worthy. The same time, tens of thousands of people died under medical treatment. Now, if we lost one by divine healing because of unbelief and then divine healing shouldn't be looked upon, then they shouldn't look upon medical science, hospitals, or anything else, for it's six of one and a half-a-dozen of the other.
If one failed then do you have to count it all wrong? No, sir. I'd say they both ought to be together, working for the glory of God and the coming of the Lord Jesus. That's right.

53 Now, we notice this then. How beautiful. Then Moab come down. And he said, "Now, go out there Balak ... Balaam; I want you to curse that people. See the back part of them over that hill there?"
"Yes." He seen it. Now watch. Balaam built seven altars. Now, he wasn't a communist; he was a believer. Now, he's up here on the hill. And here's Israel down in the valley. And he builds seven altars.

54 And on each altar, he offered a bullock, clean sacrifice; one required by God. And on each altar he offered a ram, male sheep, which spoke of the coming of Jesus. Fundamental? Just as fundamental as it could be. Look. Seven: God's perfected number, number of worship. "Six days shall thou labor, seven days..." All down through the ages, seven church ages and so forth. Seven is God's worshipping number.
And here this prophet, under inspiration, comes down and builds seven altars, offered the forecomings, proving that they believed in the first coming of Christ, offered the bullocks. Just as fundamental as they was down there in the camp in Israel. Do you get it?

55 Here's Israel offering the same offerings that Balak's offering up here on the hill. One is offering a ram, saying, "We believe that God will send His Son someday in the world." Here, up here on the hill, just as fundamental as they was: "We are offering a ram, believing God will send His Son."
Notice. Then all the princes of Moab stood around the smoldering sacrifices, worshipping God, just as fundamental as it could be, Scripturally just as good as the other group had.
And there is where it is today, friends. People can be just as fundamental in your doctrine. I know men that would ... and thousands of them probably. There is many of them sitting, listening at me right here today, and I hope this cuts you till you can't stand it.

56 Look. You can be just as fundamental..i wouldnt... People preach the virgin birth, the death, burial, resurrection, second coming. That's true. I couldn't fuss with you about that. You believe it, and it's the truth, and I do too.
So did Balak. So did Israel. But what Balak failed to see there, down here in this camp they had signs and wonders following them. That's what they failed to say today. They're just as fundamental as we are. They believe it just the same way we do. But they deny that there is a resurrection power working among the people.
Well, did the Holy Ghost speak that it would be that way? Paul said, "In the last days they would be heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but would deny the power thereof." Hallelujah!

57 There it is back in the beginning. There was a Middle Age. It was that same group of fundamental believers that put Jesus Christ on the cross and killed Him, because He had signs and wonders, and they didn't believe it; that same spirit lives among the churches today. A religious people. Not a bunch of infidels. Fundamental. Place it right out there and they're exactly right.
But they have the form ... form of godliness. Fundamentally right, but denying the power thereof. The power of what? The power of healing, the power of shouting, the power of speaking in tongues, the power of interpreting, the power of the church moving just like it did in the beginning. And, brother, sister, we are contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Hallelujah!
Do you believe it?

58 Contending for the faith. Sure, I'm a fundamentalist. I believe what the Bible said. Like the Baptist, the Methodist, and Presbyterian, Church of Christ and all them believes. But, brother, you're leaving out the real thing. You've got the thing laid out there in letter; that's right. But you haven't got the Spirit with it to quicken the letter.
There's where it's at. So, church, that's why I take my stand today with the holy-roller, because it's the truth. Looky there. Why, Balak said, "Why, they're not even organized." Organized. That's what the people say today. "Well, I belong to the Methodist." "I belong to the Baptist." And the Pentecost, just as bad. Same thing. "I belong to the organization."

59 Let me tell you something right now. God never did fool with an organization. He never did, and never will. No, sir.
Call any historian's attention right now. There never has been a church in all the ages that ever ... when they failed to see the power of God, and get the miracles, and things out of the church, God lays her on the shelf, and she never does revive again.
He laid Luther there, Methodists there, Baptists there, Presbyterian there, and Pentecost is on it's road there, right now. But out of that conglomeration of the whole thing, God will raise up another undergrowth there, like He did when He said, "I will restore, saith the Lord."

60 I know you think we're an awful noisy bunch. Well, brother, I can prove to you if there ain't noisy, then there ain't no God there. Listen. In the Old Testament, when Aaron, anointed with the Rose of Sharon, and when he had the anointing oil that run down his beard to the hems of his skirt. He'd taken the sacrifice and he went in to the Holiest of holies.
And when he went behind that curtain, across his garment he had a pomegranate and a bell---a pomegranate and a bell, so that they'd hit together. And when he walked, it played, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." That's the anointed church of God moving into the Holiest of holies.

61 And looky here, brother, the reason they did that, that was the only way they could tell that he was alive. They listened to hear if there was any noise. If there was no noise, he was dead. And that's what's today, a church that's borned-again, going into the Holiest of holies, anointed with God's pomegranate and bell. Hallelujah! Yes, sir. You know they're alive.
A bell ringing, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." The outsiders pass by, scoffers, say, "Look at them." That's all right. Look at them then. Hallelujah! How wonderful. "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord!" played the bells against the pomegranates.
Notice that Balaam back there; can't leave that guy yet. Look at him standing there. He was just as fundamental in his doctrine as they was down there, the same doctrine. But they did not have the signs and wonders. And this group had the signs and wonders; they had a divine healing program on. These guys didn't know nothing about it. If that ain't typical today, I don't know it.

62 They had a smitten rock. When they wanted water, they just went and drank. That's the way of the church today. When you get all kind of down in the spirit, you go to a good old-fashioned Holy Ghost meeting, the Rock's struck and away goes the water. Everybody begins to bump up-and-down, jump up-and-down, and bubble over. Sure.
The smitten Rock's right amongst the people. That's right. The brass serpent is right amongst the people yet. Surely. God's requirement for divine judgment. The divine judgment of God was upon Christ.
That rod that Moses had in his hand: That wasn't Moses' rod; that was God's judgment rod. And the rod hit the rock and there was a cleft in the rock. And when Israel wanted something to eat one day, they went by, and found honey in the rock. I've found it there too, haven't you?

63 When they got thirsty, they found water in the rock. Amen. He supplied everything they had need of, and He does yet today. There stood the fundamental group making fun of them. God spoke to him down there. And it's surely how today, like the hireling prophet of the day. They say, "Surely that bunch of people... A bunch of religious quacks, screaming, hollering, and carrying on. Well, surely, a holy, moral God would curse such a people." That's what Balaam thought.
So, he goes down there to put a curse on the people. And he said, "How can I curse what God's blessed?" When he throwed out his curse, he found out there was a brass serpent there and a smitten rock to meet it. He failed to see that atonement going before the church.

64 And you say, "Well, now, brother, we believe in the atonement too. We believe." Sure, I know you believe. Cain believed too. But God confirmed Abel's belief when He accepted his sacrifice. And when you believe, that's fair enough. But if you believe and a true believer, God will give you the baptism of the Holy Ghost right then when you believe. Hallelujah!
I feel religious right now. Notice, how glorious.
There I notice then, when he got down there he said... "Now, you go back, but you say just exactly what I say," God told Balaam. Here went the prophet back, going to go back.
When he went down there, instead of blessing Israel ... or, cursing Israel, he blessed Israel. He turned around and blessed them.

65 Why, he said he couldn't understand that, I guess. But notice, he blessed them because God had blessed them. And look what he said. "I have not beheld iniquity in Jacob." And he was looking from the side of the rock.
God said, "I've seen him from the hilltops." Hallelujah! His church. His group. Why, they wasn't a nation. They wasn't organized like the rest of the people. They had organism, but no nation. He said, "The people will dwell among themselves. They will not be a nation."
And that's the way of the church of God today, the called out group of people. It doesn't mean because you're Methodist, or it doesn't mean because you're a Pentecost. It means out of every group, God's calling people, giving them the Holy Ghost; and that's the church, the called-out. Certainly it is. He calls them out. They're not an organization; they're an organism. Their hearts are beating together. They're one in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

66 Oh, he said, "Well, look at them, they're not even a nation. They're little old mission-trotters. Just a typical bunch of holy-rollers." That's right. Well, look at them. Well, here stood the princes, the bishop, the archbishop, all the great elders. How in the world God can move with this church today, I can't tell you.
Look, the highest order in the Bible, for the church, the local church, is the elder. And the elder can't move until the bishop says. God has to come through the bishop, down through, oh, about fifteen different men before He can get to the elder.

67 But let me tell you, the church of God is led by the Spirit of God. They move as the Spirit moves them. God didn't promise just to move with bishops. Elders is what's the head of the church. Every church.
Now, God sends a message, He'd send it to His elders. But if He has to go out and see what the bishop says and what the district presbyter says ... And everybody in the church is pulling to get a feather in your hat. "Maybe I can be the district man next year if I pull a few tricks here, a few there." Brother, I don't care about the district man, I want to be a Christian next year (Hallelujah!), contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

68 Look. When that spirit come on down... It come into the days of Jesus. Here was Jesus. He was fundamental as they were. And they were just as fundamental as He was. But He had signs and wonders---believers---following Him. And they refused Him and rejected Him.
And that same old spirit of Cain moving right down through. Religious.
And now, notice, the Holy Spirit spoke that in the last days perilous times would come, men would be lovers of their own selves. "I'm Dr. So-and-so." "Lovers of their ... proud, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, trucebreakers, incontinent, and despisers of those that are good. Having a form of godliness," fundamentally, "but would deny the power thereof: from such turn away. For this is the sort that go from house to house and lead silly women."

69 "Well, we have a stitch-and-sew party." Stitch-and-sew. Yeah, you stitch-and-sew, and sew-and-stitch, and stitch-and-sew and talk about Miss So-and-so and everything else. Why, it's a shame. What you need is an old-fashioned upper room, with a prayer meeting, where you pray down the power of God, and the Holy Ghost begins to move. That's what you need.
Earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. What they did back there... They didn't have all these different things, and all this here societies, and this society, and that organization, and this organization. They were one in Christ Jesus. The Holy Ghost poured out His power upon them, and they went forth doing miracles and signs.

70 Jesus, the last words He said, when He left the earth: "These signs shall follow them that believe." That's right. His first commission to His church. What was it? Matthew 10. "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead. Freely as you receive, freely give." Or, "As God shows you, do what He said do."
The last commission to the church was the same thing. And the last words that fell from His sacred lips as He was going up: "Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: in My name they shall cast out devils."

71 We say, "Oh, here's the sign of the believer: he goes to church, he's a good man, he pays his debts." That's fine. I have nothing to say about that. "He educates his children." That's dandy. I have nothing to say about that.
But that's not the sign of a believer. Even to preach the Gospel is not the sign of a believer. Jesus said, "These signs follow the believer; In My name they cast out devils, they speak with new tongues; they take up serpents; and they drink deadly things, will not harm them; if they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover."
And today you do it, and they'll laugh at you. They got a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Brother, I don't want to be Balaam, but I say like Balaam. When he come back and he seen what God had done to that bunch of holy-rollers, he said, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Amen. I say the same thing.

72 Call me holy-roller if you want to, but let me die the death of the righteous. Let my last end be as God's blessings as He blessed Jacob. Hallelujah!
I know you think I'm excited; maybe I am. But I'm having an awful good time. You ought to get excited too. Amen.
Little old woman down in New Albany had been crippled seventeen years, drawed up. I never knowed her in my life. The Holy Spirit told me where she was at. She was an Armenian. Her name is Mrs. O'Hannian. Mrs. Darrell O'Hannian. She was crippled up. And I walked in there. I seen her. She looked like a spider, drawed up in a bed.

73 Her young daughter, seventeen years old, Dorothy. They lived up there at 1900 Oak Street in New Albany. This has been years ago. And there I went by; I said, "Now, that's the house He showed me."
I went down to the house. The girl come to the door. And I said, "How do you do?"
And she said, "How do you do?" And I said... She looked at me real funny.
Mr. Merle (you read it in my book) had been healed up there at the Saint Edward's Hospital. And it come out in the paper. Said, "Are you that man that went down and healed that man?"
I said, "No, ma'am." I said, "Isn't there a lady here that's crippled up?"
Said, "My mother."

74 Said, "Step in?" She was kind of backward. She was a young lady, about seventeen I guess. She had on her brother's shoes. She kind of stepped back to one side. And there laid this old woman. I said, "That's her. That's the one." I said, "Sister, what's that you're reading?"
She said, "It's an Armenian Bible."
I said, "Do you believe?"
She said, "Ever since I seen the paper about that man being healed, I said, 'There's hopes for me.'"
I said, "God has heard your prayer, and He sent me that I might pray with you."

75 And the woman jumped out of the bed, running around over the house, perfectly normal and well. Write to her, or go see her. Many of the people in the neighborhood heard the screaming; they thought there was a funeral service. It was. An old person died and one was born-again. All right.
When she come out of there, they said, "She's excited. That's all. She just got excited and let the muscles down in her legs."
About five years later, I was standing in the butcher shop; I seen her, through the glass, come in. She walked over with her husband. She touched me on that arm, and I acted like I didn't see her. I looked over this way. She touched me back here and I looked this other way. And she said, "I fooled you, didn't I?"
And I said, "No."
She said, "Brother Branham," said, "you remember a long time ago, and they told me I was excited?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am."
She said, "I'm still excited, because I'm still walking." Amen.

76 Then you better get excited. Brother, excitement don't heal the sick. The power of God is what heals the sick. Times: It's the evening lights are falling.
Remember, it was Isaac that wanted a wife. When the father Abraham sent the servant out: A very beautiful type of God the Father sending out for His bride ... to get His bride. His Servant, the Holy Spirit, Eliezer. And it was in the cool of the evening when the beautiful Rebekah come out to water the camel. You know the story.

77 And the beautiful Rebekah come out. And he said, "Now, ever who waters this camel," he said, "Lord, let that be the one You've chosen." And Rebekah went and watered the camel. And give him a drink. And then watered the animals. Look, the very animal that she was watering... The animal represents a beast, of course, a beast of burden, which means power in the Bible.
And the very animal that she was watering was the very animal that packed her to see her bride. Is that right? And what is watering? The very power that we're watering now with praises, and thanksgiving, and glory, and power, and might, is the very Holy Spirit that will pack us up to see Jesus someday.

78 Look. It was in the cool of the evening when Isaac walked out. Some people say, "What if you see Him and He is a real dark Jew. If He is this..." I don't care what He looks like, He is my Saviour. And when the bride sees Him, it will be love at the first sight. When Rebekah seen Isaac, she jumped off the camel, and run to meet him. It was love at the first sight.
I tell you, when we see Him, it will be love at the first sight. Off we'll go, and away we'll go into His arms. Certainly. How beautiful. The bride, the evening light's coming.
The faith that was once delivered to the saints, beginning to restore back to the church. The fig tree is putting forth its buds. She begin to move out. The evening light.

79 The very same Gospel that was preached on the day of Pentecost, the very signs that followed for thirty-some-odd years after that, down in the church, has returned back to the church again, falling right down to the end.
Brother, let me tell you, you can call me holy-roller if you want to, you can say what you want to, but I see back yonder in Genesis where that great orthodox spirit started back there. Just as religious, just as pious as it could be. And I see where that thing in the last day has come down, all down through the Bible, where the...
[Gap in the audio] ... " Having a form of godliness but will deny that power thereof." He said, "From such turn away." Get away from it. I'm glad today. I number myself with the holy-rollers. That's the reason that I believe today in the old-fashioned baptizing of the Holy Ghost with powers, and signs, and wonders. Hallelujah! It's the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

80 Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be as theirs. Look at that little remnant of people down through the age. Look at it wind its way through the pages of the Bible---that little church. Always rejected.
Look at the other side. So close it would deceive the very elect. Just as fundamentally right. Just as perfect. Fine churches. Keeps the doctrine of the Bible, so-called. They'll do it. They'll go out there and they say, "Yes, sir. We believe in the birth of Jesus Christ. We believe that He was a virgin-born Son of God. We accept Him. We have faith in Him." That's good.

81 Why, brother, it's by faith you're saved. Is that right? But listen. In accepting of your faith, God confirms your faith by the baptism of the Holy Ghost. If you say you believe and you don't get the baptism of the Holy Ghost, then you do not ... your faith isn't accepted in the sight of God. You've got a mental faith instead of a heart faith. That's right.
When you truly believe God, God's under obligation to pour the Holy Ghost on you. And then if He does pour the Holy Ghost on you... You say, "Well, I've got the Holy Ghost, too." Well, if you do, you're bound to believe in the supernatural signs and wonders, because you're added to it. It's the faith.

82 Then you say, "Oh, no. I don't believe in Divine healing. I don't believe in all that racket and carrying on; believe all that shouting, praising God, and cry--tears a running down your cheeks and things. I don't believe in all that, and I know there's no such thing as that." Shows you haven't got it. That's exactly right.
It showed... Here was this man up here, Balaam, was just as fundamental, and just as right in his doctrine as Moses was. But Moses had healing and signs and--and a big Pillar of Fire hanging over him. Hallelujah. I hope you get that. All right. A Pillar of Fire hanging over him: signs, wonders, miracles, and everything going on, Divine healing, glories of God. Is that right? And the other side didn't have it, though they were just as fundamental as the others. Is that right? That's what it is today: having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof, from such turn away. That's what the Bible said. You believe it to be right? I believe it with all my heart.
Now, look. Then he said, "Let me die the death of the righteous..." [Brother Branham stops as a model airplane noise interferes] Hey. See how the devil will do? Now, if you want to see the devil, look out there; he got in them men out there, and see them do such things as that. Now, if someone said, "Do you mean that was the devil?" What other thing would interfere God's Spirit but the devil? Certainly, a bunch of preachers turned them out there to do that (exactly), try to stop the meeting, but you can't stop God. God will move right on just the same. There's no more nothing, simply nothing can stop God, the power of God. Certainly. Certainly.
Them same people, they don't repent, they'll lay in hell forever. In fact... You say, "You're judging." No, I'm not. "By their fruits you shall know them. That's right. That's exactly right. So, for... Watch today. We're contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. See? Now, have you got the message? Do you understand what I mean? That we believe. That's why.

83 And listen. Some of you fundamentalists here that don't know nothing about God, no more than what you know of the Scripture... If that's all the experience you got, I hope that you come to Jesus Christ, and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, before it's too late.
Some day over yonder in another land, you will watch for this little old holy-roller preacher; and you will find out that I'm right. You will find out that we're earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Do you believe it? Let's bow our heads then as we talk to Him.
Heavenly Father, it's today that we are coming before You, in Your presence. Realizing this, that all powers in heavens and earth is given into Your hands. We know that Thou art here and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Thee. And, Lord God, we know that You have said in Your Scripture, "It would be far better that a millstone would be hanged at your neck and to drown in the depths of the sea than to offend the anointed of God."

84 And now, Lord, Thou knowest all things. And I pray Thee, if there be someone here who doesn't know You in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, may they this very day find that faith that was once delivered to the saints. May they take their way with the Lord's despised few.
Realizing as Paul said, "Pressing on to the high calling which is in Christ, you leave those things behind and press towards the mark of the high calling." Grant today, Lord, that these things will take place for Thy Glory.

85 Now Father, I commit this all to You, ask You in... The greatest thing I've ever known in my life, is to commit something to You. Now, I commit it to You, Lord, that You'll bring Your people together, and will take the enemy from this--the midst of the people. And may the power of God have the right of way in every heart, for I ask it in Christ's Name.
And with your heads bowed, if you will, just a moment. I wonder just now, how many people in here would say this: "Brother Branham, I truly--truly realize that we're living in the last days. I see the people in the Spirit of the last days. I see where they're having a form of godliness and ungodly people, think that their right, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I want to receive the Holy Ghost, Brother Branham. I've never been borned again, though I belong to a fundamental church, or so forth, but as far as being borned again, I haven't received it. And I now want to accept Christ right now, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." Would you raise your hand? God bless you. Right in the midst of all of this devil's confusion and everything else, hundreds of hands are going up to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Young men, young women, some of them, setting wiping their eyes with tears, right in the midst of confusion. Yet, there's nothing confused. And when God's power is moving into the hearts of the people... All right.

86 Do you realize this is the same kind of a spirit out here on this thing here that was upon them arenas that day to try to confuse the, down in Polycarp, and down in the days of all the martyrs? Do you know that's the same kind of a spirit that turned that fox loose that day where John Wesley was preaching Divine healing? You remember that? Where there's a big shrine built to him now, in London, England. The same Gospel that's being preached right now, is the same thing as being was preached then. The same devil lives today; the same God lives today. Those people today, that did that back there, if they could come forth to this building today they'd quickly accept Christ, if they could come out of the tortures of hell where they were at. Do you believe that?

87 Now, if you believe that God is here and you want to be remembered and be baptized with the Holy Spirit and take your way with God's despised few as it's been down through the age, always, and you say, "I want to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, Brother Branham, I want to stand up now to accept my salvation. I want... I've been belonging to a church and I--or something another... I've-maybe belonged to some..." I don't mean for you to come out of your church, I mean for you to come out of your conditions. Go back with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, you may get the preacher converted, you may get the whole church converted.

88 Now, if you haven't received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, would you stand up to your feet just now? God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you, standing everywhere. Just remain standing, everywhere. Say, "Brother Branham, I will need salvation; I need His precious Spirit upon me. I want to take my stand today for Jesus Christ and what's right. I believe that I'm in His Presence." Stand, would you. There's many, many standing. Would someone else stand, say, "I want to take my way today." "Brother Branham..." God bless you, sir. God bless you all around, everywhere. Way over to my left, on the outside, standing on the hillsides, anyone say, "I'd like to take Christ," would you raise your hand? Just say, "I want to take Christ." Over to my right: God bless you, young lady, I see standing in the back. Over to my right, on a hillside, anyone there that would like to accept Christ? Anybody back to my left, here, out on the hillside, say, "I want to accept Christ as my Saviour. I don't..." God bless you, sir, I see you standing back there, crowd of people on the hill. Somebody over in there, some others, say, "I want to accept Christ right now, Brother Branham. I want to be remembered in prayer at this time."

89 They took down our prayer tent but we can't invite you to the prayer tent; we don't have it, but we can stand right here and God give us the baptism of the Holy Spirit right where you're standing. Would you stand to your feet and say, "I want--I want to be remembered right now, Brother Branham. I want to be one that contends for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. I want to take my stand today, as a Christian, against the things that's wrong and stand for that what's right.
All right. Now, remember, we've had some, maybe several hundreds of them this week, coming across the places here and going into the prayer tent. Many of them's filled with the Holy Ghost, saved from sin and so forth. And today, here's that, oh, maybe a hundred people, right on. Sixty, seventy maybe unsaved, at least that, standing around at different places. If... I can't tell what's in the back; there's a bunch of people standing, but they're way back, some on the hillsides. But right now, Jesus Christ is here to fill every believer with the Holy Spirit, save every lost soul, reclaim every backslider. Do you believe that?

90 While we bow our heads now. Each one of you standing now, let every believer here bow his head. Let's pray.
O Lord, I thank Thee for Thy goodness and mercy. Thank Thee for the Holy Spirit. I pray, God, that Your mercy will be upon each one. Have mercy, Lord, upon these who are so in need. They're standing. They're like of old. They're willing to step out in the midst of the people and claim Jesus Christ as their Saviour and--and beli'll--believe that He will baptize them with the Holy Spirit in confirmation of their faith. Many of them, Lord, has been living around in these churches who didn't go into the Gospel deep enough, they've been taught, and they wondered why these things didn't happen if they happened back in the Old Testament, happened back in the New Testament, why don't they happen today if we're serving the same God?
And now, today, Lord, they realize that they have been misled in these things. And they've stood here by the many around the different places in the church and on the outside, and they're believing that You're now going to fill them with the Holy Spirit. I pray, God, with all my heart, with all my soul and mind, that You'll fill every one of them with Holy Ghost. May the--everyone's sins be forgiven and may the Holy Spirit have supreme right of way in their hearts this day. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name.

91 Now, while we're here, remain standing. I want the rest of you stand by their sides now. You stand right up, every person, every believer. How marvelous what our heavenly Father can do to this audience at this time. All things are possible, only believe. Only have faith in God. I believe God will grant it to you, don't you? You out on the hills, and different ones that God seen you when you raised your hands, how many of you now accepts Christ as the... [Gap in the audio]
You're all sufficient... [Gap in the audio] with the riches of Thy blessings may rest upon this people and may they go from here this day filled with the Holy Ghost. May they live from hereafter, Lord, filled with Your Spirit. May they never forget this that they're contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. We pray, God, that the Holy Ghost will have the right of way in every heart, right now. And may He fall like a rushing mighty wind, sweep over the building. Send Him now, Lord. I pray that You'll get victory, pour out... You... We... Said, "We're a high priests, offering spiritual sacrifices; the fruits of our lips a giving praise to God." And may every believer now as a sacrifice of the high priest, enter into the praises of God, shouting, glorifying God and praise Him. I ask this in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen. And the people praise God with all their hearts and give glory to God.

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 I went to my room. I went to praying for you, that God would let you all live a long life, full of victory; and someday I could meet every one of you and shake your hand. And I know He will. Then I was real tired. I have been very tired for several days. See, I just go from one meeting to another.
I was with the Methodist people in America. Was a great meeting. And I just left there one day, come all night over here, started right in here. So there's about six hours difference in time. So, I'm all turned around. My nights are days; my days are nights.

2 I took off my wet clothes a while ago, and I thought I'd lie down just a moment. And I thought I'd wake up just in a little bit, so I went to sleep. And when Brother Guggenbuhl and those come after me, they woke me up. So, I had to hurry to get here. So, I am trusting to God that He will anoint me for the service tonight. And you pray for me, too, that God will help me. Thank you.
Now, I want to read some Scripture. In the book of Jude and the third verse, it reads like this.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and to exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.

3 Now, I want to quote that real close: "That you should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints." Now, that book is written in mystery. No one can understand it by mental understanding. You'll never understand it by education. You only can understand it as God will reveal it.
God said in His Word, "I have hid it from the eyes of the wise and prudent. And I will reveal it unto babes, such as will learn." So, no matter how we try to think it is, it's all written in mysteries by the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit reveals it as you open your heart. So, let us bow our heads and talk to Him. And let Him reveal it, while we speak to the Author of this book. Shall we pray.

4 Our Heavenly Father, here we are tonight, way over here in this lovely land of Germany among these humble, lovely people. They love You. They proved it this afternoon, when they stood to their feet and wanted You to come into their hearts. Now, Father, that they may know that You are real and You're the only true living God, and Jesus Christ is Your Son, will You reveal to us tonight, by Your great Spirit, the revelation of Your Bible. For we ask it Jesus' name. Amen.
Now the subject: Earnestly Contending For The Faith That Was Once Delivered Unto The Saints.

5 Now, I just want to speak a few moments, for there's many to be prayed for. And I want each one of you to have faith in God, for God has already provided a healing for you. Each one of you that is sick tonight is already healed in the eyes of God. For Jesus, when He died at the cross, He provided a blood from His back for your healing. Then, in the sight of God, you are already healed. Every sinner, you are already saved; for God, at Calvary, by Jesus Christ, wounded Him for your transgressions, hundreds of years ago. Now, the only thing that you have to do to become a Christian, is to accept---to accept what God---what God has already provided for you, for salvation and also for healing.

6 Now, first place, the Word of God is the only plan and the only truth about God. The Word is God. You understand? "In the beginning..." I'm quoting Scripture. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." So, the Word is God."
Now, then if God has said something, it's up to God to take care of His own Word. Now, if I didn't believe that, I certainly wouldn't want to be telling you all. I would rather go to Heaven and stand in the presence of God to be judged an infidel, than to go to Heaven and be judged a hypocrite. I would rather take my chance, as against Him, than to be a pretender.

7 What good would it do me to come over here and tell you something that wasn't so? It's dangerous flying the ocean. It's hard for me to leave my children crying. I've got a little ten-weeks-old baby. And when mother was holding him up, and he tried to hold his little hands for me, looked like. My little girl holding onto my leg, saying, "Daddy, don't go." It's not easy. But there's little girls in Germany, wants to be prayed for. I must go tell them and pray for them.
Now, I didn't come for money. I didn't come for popularity. I didn't come to build new churches. Neither did I come to tear down the ones that is built. I come for one purpose: the love in my heart of Jesus Christ, for you people. And I mean that.

8 Because, if I would die an impersonator, a hypocrite, I would be lost. No matter what I done, I'd be lost. I want to go to heaven. I've got a father up there. And I've got loved ones up there. And Jesus is there. And I want to see them. So I come, with all my heart, to try to tell you what the Lord Jesus has done for you. You accept it.
Now, to our text: "Earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints."
Now, every one of us wants to believe that our church does that. The Methodists, they say they're contending for it. The Baptists, they say they contend for it. The Catholic, they say they contend for it. The Lutheran, they say they contend for it. The Pentecostal, they say they contend for it. The Nazarene, they say they contend for it. But they differ so much one from another. Now, there's only... I believe that they do. And I love them all. I have nothing against any.
But, we want to find out, really, what is the faith. Well, if the Nazarenes different from the Pentecost, and the Pentecost different from the Methodists, the Lutheran different from the Catholic, how're we going to know? There's only one way: what the Bible says. That must be the truth.

9 Now, it was to "contend for the faith ('the' not 'a') the (one) faith." There is only really one faith, one Lord, one God, one baptism, one faith.
Now, so we have to go back to find out what this faith is. Now, I ask you, as my dear beloved brother and sister, that you will take this under consideration. Because, it must come from the Bible. Now it may be a little different from what you've been taught.
When Jesus came, the church was looking for Him to come. But He come so much different, until they failed to recognize Him. Could it be so again today, that the same thing has happened? Let's see.
Now, if it is the faith that was delivered to the saints, it'll have to come from the New Testament, because they were only called "saints" in the New Testament. So, let's go back.

10 Now, how many in here has ever read the New Testament? Would you raise your hand? Wonderful! Now, you can follow me and see if I misquote the Scripture. It is so hard through an interpreter. I would just quote it.
Now, in the beginning, the first one of the New Testament, was John the Baptist. John stood between law and grace. He never come under the Christian dispensation, neither was he under the law. He was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. "A voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make a way, a path for the Lord!'" That is right, isn't it? Amen.
Then, the first one to introduce the faith for the Christian church was none other than Jesus Himself. He was the introduction of the faith that was to be handed to the Christian church. Do you believe that?

11 Now, we will have to see what He was. We'll have to see what kind of a church He organized, and see what kind of doctrine He preached, and what kind of a works He did, and what He left for the people to do. And then see if the disciples, if they done the same thing He did, and the way they did; then we'll know, by the Bible, what was the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Would that be true? Amen.
Now, when Jesus came... We all know about His birth, born in a manger. And He went out the way of capital punishment, [Bro. Branham explains to the interpreter: "out of the world, through capital punishment, executed," through a stable door, to a rugged cross.
His life was completely misunderstood. The first time that the angels introduced Him and the wise men followed the star when He was first born, He was persecuted until the day He died, by the church. That's true. We know He was misunderstood, but He was God's Son.

12 Now, His work began after His baptism at the age of thirty. Immediately after God the Father came down in the form of the Holy Ghost, looked like a dove, and it went into Him, His works began; not before. And neither can it begin in you until Jesus comes in the form of the Holy Ghost to live in you.
Now, watch. Immediately He started praying for the sick. And the people began to get healed. The lawyers and the doctors, they come out and they criticized Him. But let's see what kind of a faith He introduced to them.
We'll start in the book of Luke. We find out, that in the book of Luke, why the first thing we find Him doing: standing, praying for the sick. He had a man by the name of Philip, got converted. He got saved, and he went to find his friend. That was a good sign he got saved: He wanted to tell somebody else.

13 Every man that finds Christ, it's so much to him, he wants to tell his friends and everybody. So, he went around into another part of the country, and he finds a man, who was his friend. His name was Nathanael. And he found Nathanael under a tree, praying. So, he said, "Come, see who I have found: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
And Nathanael was very much religious. And he said, "Could there be any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
And Nathanael ... or, Philip gave him the best answer I know. He said, "Come and see." That's so good. That's good yet. "Come and see. Look for yourself."

14 And Nathanael went with him. Then when he come to where Jesus was, I can imagine seeing him come up to where the prayer line was, where Jesus is praying for the sick. Jesus stopped, looked around. And he said, "Behold an Israelite in whom is no guile."
Why, it astonished him---that is, Nathanael. He said, "How did he know me?" He said, "Rabbi, how do you know me? I've never seen you before. And you have never seen me. How did you know I was a righteous man?" You see, he could have been a sinner.

15 Now, the word, "Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile": If I'd say that to you in German tonight, I'd say, "A righteous man in whom is the truth. He's not a liar. A righteous man!"
Well, he said, "How did you know I was?"
Listen to Jesus. He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under that tree, I saw you." Amen.
What did Philip say ... what did Nathanael say? He said, "Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the king of Israel."
And He said, "Because I told you that, you believe Me? Then you shall see greater things."
Now, what did the Pharisees say? They say He has a devil. He is Beelzebub. He is the prince of all the devils. In other words, He was... They believed Him to be a spiritualist, a work of devils, mind reader, or a fortuneteller. He was the king of all of them. That's what the Pharisees said.
I wonder what they'll say in Germany, if He would come tonight and do the same thing. What attitude would they take? I hope they take Nathanael's attitude. Don't you? Amen.

16 That what was Jesus introduced. One day he had to go down to Samaria. And that is down the valley from Jerusalem, but he had to go up around the way... I mean, to Jericho, I meant. And he had to go up to Samaria. I wonder why. And he sat down on the well. The well, (If I had time I would explain to you what those wells are.), just outside the city where all the people come and get their water. And he sent His disciples away to buy food. And he sat down under the vine back against the well. It was near noon. And out came a woman, and she lets down her water pot, to get some water. And Jesus said to her, "Bring Me a drink."
And she turned, and she said, "It's not customary for you Jews to have any fellowship with we Samaritans." See, there was a racial condition, like there is in the world today.

17 And Jesus said, "If you knew who you were talking to, why, you'd ask Me for a drink. And I'd give you water that you don't come here to draw."
Why, she said, "The well is deep. And You have nothing to draw with."
What do you think Jesus was doing? I believe you'll be able to answer that after tonight. Jesus was contacting her spirit. And as soon as He found where her trouble was, He said, "Go, get your husband." That's what He said. Is that right?
And she said, "I have no husband. Why are you asking me about a husband? I don't even have a husband."
He said, "That's right. You've got five. And the one you have now is not your husband."
She said, "Sir, I perceive that you're a prophet."

18 Notice. She said, "We know, we Samaritans, we know that when Messiah cometh, He will tell us these things. But who are You?" Do you see friends? Not Beelzebub. That was the very sign of the Messiah. Do you understand?
The woman said, "When Messiah cometh, (which is Jesus), he will do these things. He'll be able to know what we're thinking of. He'll be able to tell us our sins, and tell us whether we're wrong or right, by this supernatural power. But who are you? Are you a prophet?"
Jesus said, "I am He." Amen. "I am the Messiah. I am He that speaketh to thee."
That was Jesus yesterday. That's Jesus today. That's Jesus tomorrow. That's Jesus forever. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Is that right? Then if He's raised from the dead, he could do the same things He did yesterday. He will do today. He will do tomorrow. And will forever. Amen.

19 Now, the woman run into the city and she said, "Come, see a man that told me everything I ever did." Now, she was excited. She was thrilled because she had met Him. Now, He never told her everything she did. He just told her that one thing. But she knew if God could reveal that to Him, God could reveal everything to Him. Amen. That was Jesus yesterday. That's Jesus today.
And one day he was coming out of Jericho, and a blind man was sitting against the wall, many yards from where He passed by. Thousands of people were following Him. A lot of them are hollering to Him, "Hypocrite, Beelzebub, impostor; away with such a fellow!" And others were saying, "Hosanna to the King." Some of them were blessing Him, and some were cursing Him. Oh, such a noise!

20 Jesus, knowing He was going to Calvary, to die for the sins of the world. He walked, unmoved, following the Father, doing nothing but what God told Him. He was looking towards Calvary. In a few days He must die for the sins of the world.
How would He have ever heard that blind man? But the blind man cried, "O Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." And the faith of that blind beggar stopped Jesus in His tracks. He stopped. Said, "Bring him here." See what faith will do?

21 One day, going through a crowd... A little woman had spent all of her money for the doctors, and none of them could do her no good. She had a blood issue. It was her age, perhaps menopause. And she had spent all her money. The doctors couldn't help her. She had heard about Jesus. She said, "I'm not worthy to go to Him, but if I can ever touch his clothes! I believe God is in Him. If I can touch His clothes, I'll get well."
Now, she had no Scripture about that, but her faith went beyond that. But you've got Scripture tonight to believe what I'm trying to tell you; thousand times more than that woman had. But she pressed through the crowd, she crawled up behind Him, she touched His garment, and went back and stood in the crowd.
Everybody around Jesus! Jesus stopped. He said, "Who touched Me?"
Everybody said, "Not me." The Bible said, "All denied." But He said, "Somebody touched Me."
Peter said, "Well, everybody is touching You, Lord."
"Yes, He said, but somebody has touched Me. I am getting weak. Virtue is going out."
And He looked around over the crowd. And everybody saying, "Not me."

22 But He found that little woman. Oh, He said, "Thy faith has saved thee." For she felt in her heart, with faith in Him, that if she could touch Him, she'd be healed.
That was Jesus yesterday. That's Jesus today. That's Jesus forever. He never said, "I healed you." He said, "Your faith has healed you." If a little woman's faith will pull Jesus around in the crowd, and pick her out and tell that her faith had made her whole from that blood issue, that's the same Jesus tonight. Amen.
Jesus didn't claim to be a big person. He didn't dress any different from other men. He didn't dress like a rabbi. He walked among men. He looked like ordinary men. He walked with men. He dressed like men. And He lived among men, so much that they didn't even know Him. He didn't dress like a priest. He dressed like an ordinary man.
And He didn't say, "I'm a healer." He said, "I can do nothing. It's not Me that doeth the work. It's the Father that dwelleth in Me. The Holy Spirit is in Me, He doeth the works." That was Jesus yesterday. That's Jesus today. That's Jesus forever. Amen.
Never be a boaster: "I belong to so-and-so." No.

23 "Not Me. The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." And if Jesus, the Son of God, never taken credit, [Bro. Branham explains: "credit, never taken glory"] for healing sick, how could you expect a man to take glory for it?
Any true spirit will speak of God, and say Jesus is the Son of God, who died for the person.
Now, look at Jesus again. I see Him. He goes to the pool of Bethesda. Many, great multitudes of people, thousands laid there. Look what kind of people was laying there. The Bible says, "Lame, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water."
For an angel come down every month or two, and ever who stepped in the water first, God healed, if they had faith, of whatever disease they had. Do you believe God sent an angel? If you do say, "Amen." An angel came down.

24 Now, a lot of aristocrats said, "They're crazy. That's no angel." But God was healing anyhow.
God has always had a place of healing since He's been God and man has been man. That's right. There's always been a preparation for healing, since Genesis.
When He raised the brass serpent, they started worshipping that. He tore that down.
Then He sent an angel on a pool of water. And the history says it was terrible. For, when the angel went to moving on the water, the waters were troubled.

25 Now, you German people here in this lovely land where there's lakes and things, rivers, the famous Rhine, you know what troubled waters is. You boatmen, when the... Troubled waters is when the current is going one way and the wind is moving in another way. Dangerous waters.
So, when this angel came down and begin to trouble the water, the first one in that had faith, all the virtue of the angel went onto the man, and he was healed. And he went out rejoicing. And the angel went back for maybe a month or two, but they waited patiently. And when the water would get troubled, they could fight one another, with knives, to get in.

26 Jesus come walking through that crowd, full of virtue. The woman had just touched His garment and had been healed. Here he comes walking through that crowd. He walked by the blind. He went by the lame. He went by the halt. Never touched any of them.
And He went over to a man laying on a little quilt, that had some kind of a disease. He could walk. He wasn't going to die with it. He'd had it twenty-eight years. It was retarded. And He walked over to that man, and He said, "Will thou be made whole?" Never said nothing to the blind, lame, and halt. Went over to this man that wasn't helpless; maybe prostate trouble or TB, something. It wasn't going to bother him too much. He said, "Will thou be made whole?"
"Why," he said, "sir, I have no one to put me in the water. While I'm coming, somebody beats me there."
Jesus said, "Take up your bed and go into your home," and then walked away and left all the rest of them.

27 What do you think, in Jerusalem, they thought about that? Here He was, Son of God, full of virtue, making sick well, and walked by a scene like that, and healed a man that was almost well anyhow. And walked away and left the rest of them laying there. "And they say He was full of compassion." Oh, my. That stirred up the church. They found the man packing his bed on the Sabbath. Then they called Jesus to question.
If He would come to this city tonight... That same attitude would be taken in any city in the world tonight. They would say this: "If He is a healer, let me see Him heal this one." See, the devil takes his man, but the devil returns in another man, see, the critics. They don't understand. They'd say, "Heal this one, and we'll believe you." That's the same spirit. Said, "Come off the cross [Bro. Branham explains: "Come down from the cross"] and I'll believe you."

28 Now, notice. After Jesus was called in question... Now listen close, and read it. Here is the keynote: Jesus said... I've been quoting from Saint John 5, and now the 19th verse. Jesus answered the question, Saint John 5:19. Listen what Jesus said: "Verily, verily,"---that means "absolutely, absolutely"---I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing: that doeth, the Son likewise." Amen. Do you see? It isn't in man. It wasn't in the Son of man. It's in God. No flesh glories in His presence. Jesus said, "I can do nothing until the Father shows Me a vision, and when I see a vision, then I do it." How many understand, say, "Amen." Now, let me say it again. Jesus said, "I can do nothing in Myself."
Now, listen close; it's just making somebody comfortable. Listen to this. This is life. This might mean your healing.

29 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself. I only do what the Father shows Me to do. I see a vision, and then I go do what He shows Me." How many understands that? Hold up your hand. Thank you.
That was Jesus yesterday. That's Jesus today. That's Jesus forever. He can only do as God will show. He saw visions. Look at Him. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus ever perform a miracle or do anything unless first God showed Him by a vision. That's His own Word. Amen.
"I only do what the father shows me." Saint John 5:19. Now, He said, "These things that I do shall you also." How many's read that in the Bible? Say "Amen."

30 "These things that I do shall you also. And more than this shall you do, for I go to the Father. Yet a little while, and the unbeliever, the world, will see me no more. But ye shall see me. (Who? The believers, the church.) Ye shall see me. For I will be with you. I will be in you to the end of the world." "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
If He has risen from the dead, He is not a dead Christ. Sometimes churches act like He's dead. But praise God! He is not dead! He is living, forevermore. And He's here. And He will live His same life, and do the same things that He promised. If He doesn't, He isn't God, and His Word is not right. For He said, "Ye shall see me, for I will be with you to the end of the world." Amen. He will be in us.
Now, let's see if the apostles taken that doctrine.

31 Just a moment. I think Nicodemus really expressed the thought of the Pharisees. When he slipped around through the dark, to come to find Jesus. And he said, "Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher." Now listen. "We." Who? The church, the Pharisees. They couldn't accept Him, for they'd be excommunicated. "But we know that You're a teacher come from God. For, no man can do the things that You do without God being with him." Is that right?
Philip expressed it ... I mean, Peter expressed it at Pentecost, at Acts 2. Paul said, "Ye men of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you. (Not by his education. Not by his great theology. How?) By signs and wonders which God did with Him, among you all, which you're all witnesses." Is that right? That's what he said.

32 Now, that's the faith that was delivered to the saints. We're supposed to contend for that. What happened? The apostles had it. Look at Peter on the housetop. He saw a vision that told him to go over to the Gentiles and preach the Gospel. The house of Cornelius.
Look way down when Paul, great Pharisee, that fell off of his horse, and was blinded. And he went down and laid in the street called Straight in the city of Damascus. Way down in Damascus, a pastor of a little mission hid back, because the church was going to get after them.
Paul came down, the great Pharisee with a letter to arrest them people practicing divine healing, speaking about the resurrection of the dead. "Away with such a people!" And God struck him blind, and he fell on his face.

33 And down in this little mission, an uneducated person, a little fellow named Ananias, he saw a vision. And he came, walking through the town; down by the main pump, or the cistern, or the well. And he saw the vision where he was supposed to go. And he went in. He said, "Paul, on your road down, you were struck down. The Lord Jesus appeared to you." Why, sure, that was right. How did he know it? He was contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. He laid his hands upon him. God opened his eyes. It was a vision.
Paul never said, "Come lay your hands on me." God told Ananias, "Go lay your hands on Paul." See, it's God, by vision.
Paul, out in the sea, fourteen days and nights, no sun or moon. All hopes was gone they'd ever be saved. Two hundred and eighty men on ship. The ship was waterlogged, about to sink. All was crying. They wasn't eating.

34 Paul went down in the bulkhead and begin to pray one night. Here he comes running up the steps. Said, "Brethren, be of a good cheer: for the angel of God whose servant I am, stood by me last night and said, 'Don't fear, Paul; you must come before Caesar: and lo, God has give all that sail with you, to you.'" But he said, "I saw in the vision, that the ship's going to be wrecked on a certain island." He said, "Wherefore, brethren, be of a good cheer. For I believe God, and it shall be just as he showed me."
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do you believe it? He has raised from the dead. He is here tonight. Now, what does He do? He works through individuals as He has called. God has set---not the church has set---but God has set in the church: first, apostles; second, prophets; teachers; evangelists. All kinds of gifts God has placed in the church, for the perfecting, or drawing together.

35 I want to ask you something. The early church operated under every one of the gifts. Do you believe that? Now look. This is to you Pentecostal people; you believe in speaking in tongues. That's right. It's the Bible. I shall not take it out. God put it in there, and it's God's Word.
Paul said, "If you all speak with tongues, and one comes in, uneducated, he'll say you're all mad." The unbeliever doesn't understand. "But," he says, "if one is a prophet, and will reveal the things, then they'll fall down and say God is with you."

36 Paul was setting in the church, thirty-three years after the death of Jesus, for the church to continually to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
At the end of the Bible, they begin to get other teachers. Said, "Well, it's not so. Maybe it could be wrong." They had never been with Jesus. So Jude raised up. He said, "I want you to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints."

37 Now, before I call the prayer line, I want to say this to you. Do you believe that Jesus raised from the dead literally, physically bodied? Do you believe it? Thank you.
I believe that He is alive tonight. I believe this is God's infallible Word. And God will keep His Word. Do you believe that? Then if Jesus has raised from the dead and will come here tonight and do the same things that He did here on earth, do what the Father shows Him, will you believe Him, love Him, and worship Him, and live true to Him? If you will, raise your hands. Thank you.

38 That's a great statement. But, friend, as a man, a Christian, I believe Him. His Word is not stumbling to me. What He said is the truth. I believe it. And I believe that each one of you in your churches... I have nothing against your churches. I never come here to make differences in your churches. I come with God's love, that you go to your church and be a better Christian. And get other sinners to believe and come to church, any church that believes God. See what I mean? Now, that's a great statement.
Now, let us pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven, we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus that You will come to us tonight. Father, it is today in Germany like it was in Palestine after Your resurrection. There was two disciples. They were walking along the road on a Easter morning---sad. They thought You were dead. They were on their road to Emmaus. And out from one side of the road stepped the resurrected Jesus. They didn't know Him. Father, I'm sure that You've got children here tonight, that You've walked with, and You've helped, and they didn't recognize it was You.

39 When the disciples got to the end, they asked You to come in. Once, when You got inside, the doors closed behind You. God, do that to everyone tonight. Come into every heart. Close the unbelief behind. Then when You sit down at the table, You done something different from other men. You did something like other men don't do. They knew it was You. They were happy. They returned, rejoicing.
Oh, Jesus, for Your gospel's sake, do something a little different tonight. Do it the way You done when You were here on earth, that this people would know that we're not false witnesses of the resurrection. For Thou art here. And we will return to our homes rejoicing, for we know then that Jesus has risen from the dead. And Christianity is the only true religion. And Jesus is the Author, and God is His Father. Grant it, Lord.

40 And may Your unworthy servant be able to submit myself to You. That You could take this poor wretched body and declare Your name among the people. Here I am, Father. I submit myself unto Thee. Let the great Holy Ghost come and declare the resurrection. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Now, we cannot stand too many people at a time. Now, just a little bit ago, before the service started, Doctor Guggenbuhl and the boys passed out some prayer cards. Who has prayer cards? Raise up your hand. All right.
Now, look on your card. And see what number there is. What is it? [Someone says "A"] Prayer cards A. How many now? Fifty. Doctor Guggenbuhl said they gave out prayer cards A 1 to 50. Who has prayer card number 1? Raise up your hand if you can. The man, would you come here? Who has number 2? Raise up your hand. Over here. Number 3, hold up hand. Lady over here. Number 4, hold up your hand. Number 4? Number 5, hold up your hand. Over here.

41 Now just... We'll wait a minute. We don't want you to be disturbed. Everybody be sure to keep reverent. Be real reverent. Now, it's not a game. [Gap in the audio.]
Our heavenly Father, these people is Your children. And they have laying here, great box of handkerchiefs. They're going out here in Germany, and many other places, to the poor, sick, and needy. Look out there, Father. That poor old blind daddy the handkerchief here represents, sitting there in that little room tonight waiting for the handkerchief. Look at that sick mother in a hospital. Look at that little baby, very near death. O God, be merciful.

42 And we're taught in the Bible that You promised the children of Israel a land of blessing. And on the road over to get them, the Red Sea got in their way. God was moving in a pillar of fire. And He looked down on the Red Sea, through the pillar of fire, with angered eyes, for it was cutting off the people from the blessings that He had promised. And the sea got scared and moved back. And Israel went on to the promised land.
O God, You promised us health. And I pray that when I send these handkerchiefs, and they're laid upon the sick bodies, may God look back through the blood of Jesus from Calvary, and may the demons of sickness get scared and move away, and may they get good health and strength. O God, I bless these handkerchiefs for this purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ, God's son. Amen.

43 The Lord bless. Now, we'll get to the rest of the prayer cards just in a few... We just can't have too many standing. How many here that does not have a prayer card, you will not be called to the prayer line, and you're sick, and you want Jesus to heal you? Would you raise your hand? Thank you.
I ask you one thing: You believe with all your heart, that Jesus Christ raised from the dead, and God is here. He's the same Jesus that you can touch the hem of His garment. He'll heal you right out there. Just believe.
Now, Brother Arganbright, would you stand here? The reason that I get those around me who I know. I know their diseases. I know what's wrong with them. And when the anointing of the Holy Ghost comes, every spirit becomes subject and I can know who they are.

44 Now, I do not know none of you. I can't even speak your language. I never seen you in my life. But God knows you all. He knows what's wrong with you. He knows what you've done in life. And if He will come and do the same things that He did when He was in Jesus, you believe him. The Lord bless you.
Now, in the name of Jesus Christ, everyone be quiet. Be reverent. No matter what goes on up here, don't get panicky. Stay quiet. Stay reverent. The sicknesses are demons. I'll prove that this week, by the Bible. They don't like to leave. The only one can make them, is your faith and Jesus Christ. Now, be reverent.

45 And now, you bring your prayer line. Now, I want you to be real reverent. It's very hard. It comes from God, and it has to be divine.
Here stands a man. I never saw him in my life. We were born many thousands of miles apart. This is our first time meeting.
Now, I'm going to ask my interpreter, be alert, be ready. Audience, be ready. Just look this way and believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Now, I say to you all, God be with you.
Now, this man standing here is just like the woman at the well. I don't know him. The only thing I could do would be talk to him a minute. And if God could reveal to me what's his trouble, just like He did through Jesus to the woman at the well. If Jesus will do that, will you believe Him? Will you accept Him as your healer? Now watch to this man. Stand up.

46 Look this way. I am a stranger to you, sir. I have never seen you, but God knows you, and He knows me. If we are strangers and know not each other, raise up your hand. If we are strangers, if you do not know me, raise up your hand if you don't know me. What was it? [Interpreter says, "He doesn't know you."] Yes, well, tell him to raise his hand so the audience can see. So, the people will know I had no contact with you.
Of course, I can see, and so can they, that you have a bad eye. Anyone can see that. But Jesus knows other things. And if Jesus will reveal something about him, then you've all promised to believe the Lord Jesus. Now, let us look to God.

47 The man is in a dying condition. He is suffering. He has been to doctor. And the doctor examined the stomach. And it is a cancer. And the cancer is on the duodenal of the stomach, where the food empties out. Either faith, or the man dies. That is true. You believe Jesus is here?
You believe that Jesus can heal you? I want to ask you something. There is something moving on you now, a feeling that you know that you're in the presence of Something, not your brother. You know that you're in the presence of Jesus. For, He's standing here. He knows you. Come, let me pray.
Shall we bow our heads. Dear heavenly Father, have mercy upon this man and heal him. Let him live, Lord. This demon, called cancer, has come upon him and I now ask that it goes away. In the name of Jesus Christ, I curse this cancer, and may it go from him. Amen.
Go, be of good courage. Testify at the end of the week.

48 Here is a lady. I never seen her. But God knows her. And God can make her well, or give her whatever she's here for. I never seen the woman. I know nothing of her. God knows her, and can heal her.
The lady sitting there with arthritis, do you believe Jesus'll make you well? If you'll stand up... Yes, the lady with the brown dress on. Yes. Raise up to your feet. Your faith has made you whole.
Let's say, "Praise the Lord!"

49 Now, look this way quickly right a way. Watch. Lady, I don't know you. But God knows you. Do you believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God? If God will tell me what you're here for, that you believe that He'll heal you? [Lady says, "Ya."] With all your heart? ["Ya."] Now, I can't heal you. God can heal you. But I don't know you, but God does. And if He will explain and let me know what you're coming to Him for, do you believe Him? ["Ya."]
The lady has a dark spirit with her. Her trouble is in her side, the right side. It's a lump. It's a cancer, and it's in your right side. That's right. Raise your hand ... raise your hand if that's true.
And here's more than that: All your life you've had a feeling that you wanted to serve Jesus. You have never accepted Him yet. But you want Him for your Saviour. That is true. Will you now accept Jesus as your Saviour? If you will, wave your hand to Him. Hallelujah!

50 Almighty God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I condemn this demon, that he goes from my sister. And may he go and never bother her no more. This I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
You are a Christian now. And God be with you. Now go; the lump will leave. Amen.
If God knows what you have had, what you have been, you know whether that's true or not. What I said is the truth. Is that right? [Sister says, "Ya, Ya, Ya."] Then he knows what will be. Go and don't doubt. You'll get well. You feel happy now. You are a Christian. God bless you. Let us say, "Amen." Be praise to God. Don't doubt. Have faith.

51 Oh, what a time! Believe now, and you shall have what you've asked for. I am watching the light. It's still over the lady. Do you wish to get over that skin disease, lady, that you have? You believe that Jesus'll make you well? Sitting here on the front row? You believe, lady sitting right here? While you were sitting there, while you were looking this way, you said, "I wish I was up there. I would be healed." That is true. If that's true, raise your hand. Amen.
I am not reading your mind. I had my back turned to you. But your faith touched Jesus and now you're healed. Your faith has made you whole. You don't need prayer card. You need faith in Jesus. Amen. He is risen from the dead. He does as he sees. Have faith. Don't doubt.

52 The lady is stranger to me. I do not know her. You have faith, and you believe with all your heart. I see a hospital, a place where the men dressed with white, and they are ministering to you. You come from hospital. And you have been nervous, real scared, upset. And something has been talking to you, telling you that you were going to lose your mind; you were so nervous. And you drop things and pick them up. That is true. Right. Do you believe Jesus Christ? [The lady says, "Ya."] Then go home and get well. In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, cursed be this disease.
Oh, Satan, you're exposed. Come out of the woman, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen. Go rejoicing. Amen. God bless you. All right.

53 Will they bring the next patient? Lady, I do not know you. The parents of the children? [Parent says, "Ya."] Do you believe me to be God's prophet? ["Ya."] You do? You are strangers to me. I do not know you. I've never seen you. The woman is a Christian. The man is trying ... is trying to accept Christ as his Saviour, wanting to be a Christian. That is true. Her spirit feels welcome. He is coming to the Light.
You don't come from here. You come from another city. Long road from below, coming up. You're from a city, a beautiful city. And it sets where lots of water is. It looks like Switzerland. You bring your child. The child has epilepsy spells that shakes. If that is true, raise up your hand. Amen. Do you believe Jesus Christ will bless your child and these spells will leave it? Then you'll serve God all your life.
Almighty God, I bless this child in the name of Jesus Christ and may the evil spirit leave and may the baby get well. In Jesus' name. Amen.

54 Now, let us hear what happens to the baby. Watch it start getting better, then you come tell us about it. Amen.
All right, bring the next. How do you do? We are strangers to each other. I do not know you. God knows you. Be reverent.
That lady, sitting right there with a ladies' trouble, right over from that post, the Light is hanging over you; lady with the ladies' trouble, yes, raise up to your feet and accept your healing. Do you believe? That's it. Your faith has made you whole. God healed you, lady.
Let us say, "Amen." Praise the Lord. His great mighty Being, He is here now. All devils is defeated through the blood of Jesus Christ. God is still God. Amen.

55 That man sitting out yonder, right beyond the post, that has to get up at night so many times... Do you believe Jesus Christ heals you? You're well. Christ heals you. You don't have a prayer card. Praise the Lord. You see what I mean? Your faith makes you well. Amen.
Believe. Oh, my. What a difference. Have faith.
The lady's a stranger. I do not know you. I have never seen you. We are strangers. But I notice around you, you have phobia ... something about wintertime. When wintertime comes, you resent it; you're scared when wintertime comes. It makes you all upset. And it makes you constipated, and you can't eat right. That is true. I curse that devil, in the name of Jesus Christ. Go home, it won't bother you no more. It has left you. Amen. God bless you.

56 Let's just say, "Praise the Lord." Do you believe? Don't be disturbed. Demons will scream, and everything. But we're in the presence of Christ. No wonder evil spirits cry out; they know their time has come.
I am stranger. Do you believe me to be His prophet? With all your heart? Would you like to go home and eat your supper and be well? You've had stomach trouble. Go eat your supper. Your faith has healed you. Jesus Christ makes you well. Amen. Praise the Lord. Oh, my. The Lord Jesus raised from the dead. He's here.
Do you believe, my sister? [Sister says, "Ya."] With all your heart? ["Ya."] You believe Jesus, the Son of God? ["Ya."] You believe me to be His prophet? If God will tell me what you want, will you accept it? If you will, raise your hand. You have, between you and I; it's blood. You have diabetes in the blood. Now, that's right. Wave your hand if that's right. All right. Then believe God. Come here.

57 I curse this disease. O, Satan, you have hid from the doctor, but you can't hide from God. Come out of the woman. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Go believing and you shall be well. You got to only believe.
You are nervous, upset. Causes you to have stomach trouble. You can't eat. Your food sours. And when you lay down at night, you have flutters sometimes around the heart. You think it's heart trouble. It's not. It's nerves. It's a peptic ulcer in the lower part of the stomach, that burns and hurts. That is true. Do you believe God? Do you believe Jesus to be the Son of God? Do you believe I to be His prophet? Do you believe that's Jesus revealing to me?
Then Jesus said this: "These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." Then in the name of Jesus Christ, I cast away this demon of power, and set my sister free, to be well in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you.

58 Let's say, "Praise be to God." Amen.
Do you want to get over that foot trouble you're having? You believe Jesus will heal you of your foot trouble? If you believe, you can have it. Can you accept it? If you can, give Him praise. Amen.
What if I told you that the Lord healed you while you were sitting in the seat, would you believe me? Then, go home. Your faith has healed you, in Jesus' name.

59 What if I told you that your heart trouble can be made well in Jesus' name? You believe it? Then go. As you...
Just a minute. Demons screamed. Something called for help. Demon power. It come from the audience. When this woman was healed, that demon spirit screaming to one another for help. It's a spiritual world. We're not talking about the outside.
It's this lady laying in this chair, with a red dress on. Have you a prayer card? No? Do you believe me to be His prophet? You were laying there looking to me, believing, saying, "Wonder if I could be well?" If God will reveal to me what your trouble is, will you accept Jesus as your healer? Will you do it? It was heart trouble.
The same thing was the matter with this woman. Take up your bed. Go into your home. Don't doubt nothing, and you'll get well, too. Hallelujah! Don't doubt. Now, when the service is out, when we can get through the crowd, take up your bed. Go into your home. Hallelujah! Jesus heals. Do you believe?

60 What about you, sir? Right here, clapping your hands. Do you believe? You think God will heal you of that back trouble? You believe He'll make you well? You do? Do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus Christ make you well? Do you believe? All of you believe Jesus heal you? Stand up on your feet, quickly. Raise up to your feet.
Let us pray.
Our Heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus, I condemn every devil spirit. I cast out all the evil. In the name of Jesus Christ, may the devil leave.

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you very much, brother. Good evening, friends. We're happy to be here this evening to minister to you, in The Name of The Lord Jesus. We deem it a great privilege to be here. Just thinking that how good that the Lord Jesus is to us, the things that He has done for us. We undeserving people are--are not worthy of the blessings that we receive from Him.
And tonight, as we've got a little more room than we had last evening and if... I'm glad to see that everyone can be seated that wants, desires a--a seat.
[Brother Branham coughs] Pardon me, I haven't got a bad cold but I'm just on the go all the time, keeping me constantly everywhere. And I just get so tired sometime my voice just gives away on me. And if it's just one meeting it would be different, but I'm just one meeting after the other meeting. And then this country and across the seas and everywhere, outdoors and indoors and... Just anywhere that the Lord provides for me to go, I go. I can't go to all the places. My secretary... just some of the places is... four hundred major cities of America calling right now, some of them with signed petitions. With four hundred major cities and so we couldn't get to them all. But we just have to do just kind of the way the Lord leads. So we're happy to be here to minister tonight.

2 Tonight, has been given for prayer for the sick. And just before we do it, I would like to explain some things to you. Of why, as we pray for the sick and--and our set up, the way we pray for the sick. And then we would know the instructions and how to follow them.
It's just like anything else, you've got to play the game fair or right or you--you can't win. Just like the game of life we play, you have to be fair to your neighbors, treat people right, and live like a man ought to, like a neighbor ought to, if you ever expect to get anywhere. That's to consider each other. And the thing of it is, when we're praying for the sick, we've got to come the provided and appropriated way; we've got to know how to approach it.

3 You know, by the grace of God, I prayed for several kings: King George of England, Gustav, and many different high monarchs and potentates. Each one was to be received a different way. One place we taken the cuffs out of my trousers. Of course, you all know, never turn your back to a king, back away from him. There are different ways that you have to approach different dignitaries, and so forth. Now for your court down here, if you were having a--a session of court, and you'd raise up and say, "Hey, judge, wait a minute, there old fellow. I want to talk to you a little bit." They would set you down right now, see? Because that's not the way you approach the judge. And you've got to have a more of the--the way to approach.
And just for a night or two meeting, it would certainly be unjust to the, to the people, and discrediting the cause of Divine Healing, to try to express feelings that two or three nights that would take weeks to do.

4 The first thing we want to settle the folks is this: that anybody who believes the Bible, knows that Divine Healing comes from God. And He--He...His attitude has to be the same, to the people.
There is some scripture here that's open--all about it. Because tonight, I thought it would be more appropriate praying for the sick tonight, that I would explain how to--to get healed.
Now, the first thing, if you would want to know how to get healed... if someone would say, "Well, there's somebody in town, that's got a gift of healing." Now, that doesn't mean that that person by this gift of healing, can heal you. But only means if you have faith in healing and from knowing it by the Word of God, because healing has already been appropriated.

5 Now, if preaching Divine Healing, makes the man who preaches it, a Divine Healer; then the man who preaches salvation, it makes him a Divine Saviour. But no one would want to be called Divine Saviour. But preaching salvation, you preach it by the atonement of what the finished work of Christ has already appropriated for the people, that's the same way you preach Divine Healing. And you cannot deal with sin in any manner without dealing with sickness. You have to deal with it because it's an attribute of sin.
Sickness come from sin. Disobedience brought sickness. Maybe not your disobedience, but it's inherited and--and through the weakness of the races, as the Bibles said, that they would get weaker but wiser.

6 Now, I believe we all believe in that. All churches: Methodists, Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholics, all believe in Divine Healing. Many times it is so hard for them to see, the restoration of the gifts... the... they accept the... restoration of--of the preachers, of evangelists and pastors the same burden as apostles or missionaries, prophets and... You can't accept part of Christ without accept--accepting all of Christ and if you would accept one thing would be good for us, you have to accept all things be good for us. And you cannot deal with anything that sin brought; but when you deal with sin, you deal with everything it brought. So, we know Divine healing is of God.
Now, it's all limited to your faith, so is salvation limited to your faith. He was wounded for our transgressions; with His stripes we were healed. There's nothing... I hope I don't cross up somebody's theology in this, but if I do it's crossing up the Bible if it's any other way. No man on the face of the earth has power to heal. It's not given to man, to doctor's or no one else. God's... heal. There's never one dose of medicine ever healed a person. And no--no doctor ever claimed to be a healer.

7 I was interviewed at Mayo's Clinic, they said, "We don't profess to be healers. We profess to assist nature; God's the Healer." Certainly, that's right. What if you broke your arm cranking your car and then you'd say, "Hey, Doc, heal my arm right quick. I want to finish cranking my car"
He'd say, "There's something's really wrong with you." Well, that's right. He might set your arm, that's his duty. That's what he studies, that's what we have doctors for, they study the make up, the anatomy. There's only two senses they can work by; what they can see and what they can feel, and none of them claim to be healers. No. Doctors don't claim that. They claim to assist nature. They can cut out a growth, sew the place up, but they can't heal the place that's cut out. They can pull a tooth when it's bad but they can't heal the spot that it come out. They can't build tissue. They can set an arm, but they can't produce calcium and what it takes to heal the arm, takes God to do that, see, knit the arm together: nature, God. So, then healing only comes from God alone.

8 Now, in the services, there's many of the people who pray for the sick on the field today. As was a special Presbyterian; they've got a woman that goes about having healing campaigns, and she uses... lays hands on them and prays for them. In the full gospel ranks, with Pentecostal and so forth: Nazarenes, Pilgrim Holiness, many of those, they lay hands on the sick. Laying hands on the sick is a tradition, a Jewish tradition.
In the Bible there was a man by the name of Jairus, and when he had, his little daughter was dying, he said to Jesus, "Come lay Your hands on my daughter and she'll live."
But the Roman and he had a servant dying, he said, "I'm not worthy that You would even come under my roof. Just speak the Word, and my servant will live."

9 See the difference? The Jew had been taught laying on of hands, the Roman had been taught authority. The Roman said, "I have... I'm a centurion, I have men under me, I say to this one do this and he doeth it." He recognized the supreme authority that Jesus had over sickness and diseases. See? So he said, anything that was under Jesus, Who had the authority to do this... just speak the Word and my son will live, or my servant.
And, but the--the Jew said, "No, You come lay hands on my child, see?" And now, many people lay hands on the sick, which is perfectly all right. I have nothing against it of laying hand on the sick. My ministry isn't that; laying hands on the sick.
I try not to get the people trying for touch me, or me touch them, but their faith to touch God. That's what brings the results, after all.

10 As Brother Oral Roberts says... Pentecostal brother, he says, "Make a point of contact." Well, that's--that's fine. That's all right, see. God blesses him and works wonders and we are thankful for it.
But, the way we do it... Last night I asked how many wanted to be prayed for. Sometime if it's just a dozen or two, why we can just bring them out and pray for them, get back and... But when the there's three or four hundred, we have to give out prayer cards to the people. They'd be lined up and numbered so we can... not shoving one another, pushing one another, and arguing who's first, and who's second, we give them prayer cards. We give out every day a prayer... person whether you come to a meeting the first night or the second night or the third night, there's given every day new prayer--prayer cards.

11 And in there, where ever we feel to start from, I start from... many of them like that, these prayer cards were given right at the meeting. They're inexchangeable. Anyone who exchanges their prayer card, they'll be put out of the prayer line, they lose their place. Because we want each individual to bring their own prayer card, you can't take them out and give them to someone else and bring them in. See, the person's got to come and hear the instructions themselves, when you have to leave services and so forth, and receive their own prayer card. Everyone can have one, but no one can exchange a prayer card.
And if you want one for someone else, bring the person in, say, "This person wants a prayer card." And ever who's giving them out will give them a prayer card, it will be all right. But they can't be exchanged.
Now, then each day, with new cards give out whether it's one person missing... the prayer cards... all doesn't get it. Some new person come in they can receive it. They have [Gap in the audio]...

12 Father, tonight, we come to Thee just as solemnly as we know how to come because we have been given the time by the Lord Jesus. And we come in His Name, because He said, "If you'll ask the Father anything, in My Name, I'll do it." And we're assured that we'll have a--a call and He'll hear it; if we come in His Name.
And we pray Thee, Heavenly Father, tonight that You'll look down with mercy. Not judgment, Lord, but Your mercy... Look upon this little group of people, gathered out here, at this lovely little sitting, assembly. I look just back here and suffering, leaning back in chairs, can hardly breathe, men and women, serving the sick and suffering. Maybe many of them have been to Your fine servants here, the doctors, who You set in this city, and the cities around about to minister to them. And they have come to the end of their knowledge of what to do. The doctors have tried, there is nothing else can be done.

13 Father, we pray, while we speak to You; for the doctors. Give them great things, Lord to help Your poor suffering children, everywhere. Bless the hospitals, every doctor's office. God, we pray that the Angels of God stand near... giving wisdom to know what to do, every operation. Then Father, when it comes to the place where he's at his wit's end, just being a man, as we are here; then we have a right to come to You, great Creator of our bodies; we're Your workmanship.
And we are coming, Lord, for these who are hopeless of the doctors, and we are asking for Divine mercy for them, tonight, Father. That You'll stretch forth the hand of Your holy Child, the Lord Jesus, and heal the sick tonight.
Help us in speaking the Word. Bless every church that's represented here and all these very fine churches You have around the country here. You know how pretty they are and we're so happy to see the house of God looking that way.
I pray that You'll bless every pastor. Grant, Lord, that because of this revival, may it start a revival in every church here, which be an old fashioned revival sweep the little city and across the country. Help us now tonight; circumcise the lips that speak, and the hearts that hear, for we ask it in the Name of Thy beloved Child, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

14 In the blessed old Bible; which the foundations of all Christiandom was laid; we are going to read from the book of Jude, for a few verses. Give to me your undivided attention for a few moments. What I have is some serious questions and you answer.
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, called.
See where he's directing it, first as a servant.
Mercy be unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved, I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and to exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
May I just read those last oh, about third verse.
...That we should earnestly contend for the faith, that was once delivered unto the saints
May the Lord add His blessings to His Word.

15 What a solemn Scripture we got here under consideration. No doubt setting in here is clergymen from different phases of faith. Usually an evangelistic stir causes many to come. And I am speaking to my brethren and at first, I want to say to you that, "I represent this church." If you're a Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Pilgrim Holiness, whatever you may be, I represent this church. For we preach Christ, and Him crucified, that's what we believe.
Today, I been there; an evangelistic missionary, I seen great strange things. I was entertained a few weeks ago, in Bombay, India, by seventeen different religions and every one of them against Christianity. When you get on the battleground, it doesn't matter what... you're Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian, or what you are. It's getting poor mortals away from idols to the living God.

16 But my brethren, perhaps tonight, you're coming here who doesn't understand. I wouldn't say you wouldn't believe. No minister that's ever come in contact with Christ would be daresn't to say that he wouldn't believe that Jesus Christ was the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The Scripture in Hebrews 8 declare Him to be that: 13:8. "Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today and forever."
But my brethren, the one thing that you can rest assure of: if you're just only taught, through your culture and educated American, you got a lot to learn yet, when you come to the battleground.
Our theology and all of our book writings, and education, will never hold a straw with them. They can produce just as much psychology as we can. You've got to have the goods of what the Bible says or they won't believe you. And it should be that way.

17 You come against Mohammedanism, Buddhism; you see all the different kinds of religions. They have bibles: Koran and so forth that they read from. They're just as happy and rejoice in their religion, as we are now, but their religion never promised nothing but life after death. But our religion promised the same things that Christ did, we'd do till He come again. And when they read This they expect It to be manifested. That's where we fail.
We have done everything but what Christ told us to do. We've built churches, seminaries; that never was ordained in the Bible to do so. Preach the Gospel, was what Christ said do. The Gospel wouldn't come in Word only but through power and the manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Right afterwards, He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe."
I want to ask you something. In the solemn Writings here tonight, we are constrained or commanded by the apostle or by the writer to "Earnestly contend for the faith."

18 Can you hear me on the right side, over there? Don't hear good? I just thought that... Can you hear over here pretty good, on the left side? Is this better over here now, can you hear this better? I was too close. I'm sorry.
We are commanded by the Bible to contend. The only place in the Bible I ever found that we were to contend. We're not supposed to have contentions, but this one place we are commanded to "Contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints."
Now, if I say to our Methodist brethren, "Do you contend for that?"
They'd say, "Yes, sir."
My Baptist brethren? "Yes, sir."
My Pentecostal brethren, "Yes, sir."
Nazarene, Pilgrim Holiness... whatever, "Yes, sir."
I believe you're right. I truly believe that you do, in all the measure that you've been taught to.
But now in doing so, there's got to be... Because there is so many, too much differences among us, there's got to be somebody right and somebody wrong. So, to make this thoroughly understood, there's only One who has the supreme authority and that's God, to answer this question. Do you believe that? So, we ought to know that we know what the faith is that we are supposed to contend for and rightly so. Now, there's none of our faith: our Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal and all--all denominations was organized this side, the days of the early saints.

19 None of our organizations originated in the New Testament... The Catholic was the first, three hundred sixty something years after the death of the last apostle, the Catholic Church was born. After fifteen hundred years of dark ages Martin Luther came out, first reformation; fifteen hundred years this side of the death of Christ; after that came Calvin, Zwingli, then John Wesley, Calvin, Knox, so forth, Alexander Campbell. And on down to these last days, comes in Nazarene, Pilgrim Holiness, and Pentecostal, and so forth on down; just continually following the same pattern of organization, everyone.
But now, in the conglomeration of nine hundred and sixty some odd different denominational churches, we... them that they are contending for this faith. We all know that there is a question though, is to go back to the Bible and find out what type of faith they had and then compare it with what we are taught: and find out whether that would be the faith that we are to contend for, yes or no. That ought to settle it, don't you think so, everywhere?

20 If we could only find out what kind of a faith they had. If we could find out they were Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, whatever it was, then we could contend for that. So the only just way to do it is to go back and find out what it was. That gets every man; and asks every man a chance and gives God a chance, and gives me a chance tonight to defend what I am standing for, by the Scriptures. For I truly believe that any doctrine that is not based upon this Bible is a heretic. It's not right. It must come from this Bible, not from one Scripture but from every Scripture completely through the Bible, or it's not right. God doesn't make mistakes. He's infinite and He cannot make mistakes. He's infallible, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent; He cannot make mistakes. And He does not write one thing, one time and something to contradict it over here. There's no such a place in the Scripture.

21 Now let's go back to the beginning and find out what kind of a faith the saints had. And then compare it with that, with what we're taught then we have some general conception. Then if we can find out what the faith was and that faith becomes a living article right here, not in 1956, but this night, here in Spindale, then it becomes the same faith that was back there, living, acting, everywhere like it was then, we'll really contend for it then, because the Scripture says.
The first time we were called saints, of course, when the New Testament terms. We'd have to go back to the first of the New Testament. John the Baptist stood between the law and the grace. He was a prophet, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, Who was the--the bridge between the law dispensation and the grace dispensation.
He was the greatest among the prophets because Jesus said he was, and he never done no miracles. Only, the reason he was the greatest, he was given the privilege to introduce the One that the other prophets had spoke of was coming, that's what made him the greatest. He introduced to the world the Son of the living God. And the way that he introduced Him was by a sign, did you ever think of that?

22 John said, "I didn't know Him, but He in the wilderness told me to go baptize, said, 'Upon Whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remaining, He's the One that will baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.'"
John knew... no one else seemed to see it, but John saw the Holy Ghost like a dove coming down upon Him, a Voice saying, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I..." God bear record.
Many people that see, sometime like this Angel here on the picture, been seen by millions of people. Some of them say, "Well, all of them ought..." Oh no, it's just given sometimes to certain people. The wise men, you believe they saw a star? None of the observatories, they even kept time by the stars, nobody else saw nothing about it, but the wise men; it was just given for them.

23 When Paul was stricken down a light blinded him, the same light, the same Pillar of Fire that led the children of Israel, said, "It's I, Jesus, Who stand before."
But the men with him, they heard nothing, and they were right with him, soldiers with him, guards from the temple, going down. They never heard. It's just given to some people, to see and to hear things.
Not all are prophets, not all are apostles, not all are this or that, but it's given. Those things are born in us by election. Gifts and callings are without repentance, how many Scripture readers know that, let's see? Gifts and callings, not what you want to be, it's what God makes you, see. You are because God has chosen you to be, not because you chose to be, God chose you. And if you're trying to make yourself something that God hasn't chose you to do, you're only a mimic, and it'll never be a success. You've got to be what God chose you to be.

24 Now, in the beginning, we find out that John preached and said, "There's just coming One after me, and as soon as He comes," he said, "He must increase, I must decrease. I must get out of the picture, and He must take over."
Immediately after He was baptized, He went into the wilderness and was there for forty days, fasting. Came out, and now the first sign of His ministry was healing the sick. First thing... His fame began to spread abroad. And if Jesus was the One Who introduced the faith, and He started His ministry with healing the sick, and commanded His apostles... The first commission was ever give to the apostles was 'heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils, as freely as you received, freely give.' That was the first commission to the church when He sent them out.
The last commission He ever give to the church, the last words that ever fell from His lips, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel. He that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In My Name they shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents or drink deadly things it will not harm them. If they lay their hands on the sick they shall recover." The last commission given was heal the sick; the first commission given was heal the sick. Now, that was by the One Who introduced the Christian faith, none other than the Christ, Himself.

25 Now, let's follow Him and see what He did. Now here's where it stumps you just a little bit. Now, listen close. Did He claim to be a healer? Be careful. Did He claim to be a healer? No, sir.
He claimed not to be a healer. He said, "It's not Me that doeth the works, it's My Father, that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." So, if a man today would say he was a healer, he's taking more authority than the Son of God ever had. So he can't be a healer. If Jesus; and God did not make the flesh of His own Son glorious, no flesh can glory in His sight. Neither will He divide His praises and glory with anything.
Praise is to... and God alone. Jesus said, "It's not me that doeth the works, it's My Father that dwelleth in Me." Well then, if the Father dwelt in Him, being the virgin born Son of God, none other than God Himself made manifest; now Christ was God. He wasn't just a--a prophet, or a good man, or something like that. He was none other than Jehovah God, Himself, manifested in the flesh. The Bible said, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself." That's Scriptural. Anything less than that, He was a deceiver. He was either God, or the greatest deceiver the world's ever had.

26 And in this day, when people try to allow Him to be no more than a prophet, I tell you, it spurs a person; especially anyone's got the message and the world on his shoulders, to try to preach the Gospel to, and try to allow Him to a prophet.
He was Emmanuel, the Bible said; God with us. God, Jehovah, dwelt in His Son, without measure. We are sons by adoption, Jesus had the Spirit without measure, we get it by measure. Now, Jesus was like... the Spirit of God that was in Jesus was like the ocean... up to Him. You and I have the... just like a spoonful out of it, but the same chemicals that's in the spoonful is in the whole ocean, is in the spoonful, only just it's not as much of it.
So, you and I being the sons and daughters of God, we derive the same... and the same things that Jesus did, we should do them also 'cause He said so.
Now, watch Him when He was here. Let's follow Him. And you that like to follow the Scripture turn with me now to Saint John the first chapter. We find His ministry just in the... He come down and prayed for the sick and many things had happened. And there was a fellow by the name of Stephen, or not Stephen, by the name of Philip, pardon me. He got saved. And as, and as soon as he got saved he went and found somebody else, his friend.
That's a good sign he got saved, when you go to hunt somebody else. Christianity's not a selfish thing, it's a thing that they want everybody to come join in, Christianity. Like a pool of water, where everybody will come in.

27 He went and found his friend. If you was ever in the Holy Land, mark the place where Jesus was standing there ministering to the sick, and where Philip left him and went and, around several miles, back around the bend in the road; behind the mountain. And he found a fellow over there who was just as orthodox and as gun--barrel straight as he could be. A real Israelite, belonged to the good church, and he found him under a tree praying, and Philip being all excited, he said to Nathanael, his friend, "Come see Who we found."
Listen now; we're talking about the faith, "Come see Who we found, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph."
And Nathanael raising up, said this, "Could there be any good thing come out of Nazareth?" A wicked city.
And he gave him the best answer that any man could give him? "Come see." That's the best way to find out, "Come see for yourself." Said, "Come see."
They walked on with each other and went around the bend. That evening... come in, and there stood Jesus praying for the sick. He walked up in the audience about like you're sitting, and when he did, He looked at him, and He said, "Behold, an Israelite, in whom there's no guile." Jesus said to Nathanael, the first time He ever saw him in His life. What? Listen now, "Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
If I'd say it today, I'd say, "There is a Christian, a honest man."
And he looked at Him, and said, "Rabbi, (or teacher) when did You know me? How did You know anything about me?" Now He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you." Is that right?

28 What did the church say? They... all the priests, the scholars, they said, "This Man is the chief fortune teller, He's Beelzebub, the chief of the devils."
All fortune telling is of the devil, we know it. He said, "He's the chief fortune teller." Not spiritual enough to understand what He was, he said, "He's the chief fortune teller, the Beelzebub."
What did Jesus say? He said, "All manner of blasphemy will be forgiven. You speak against the Son of man will be forgiven you, but when the Holy Ghost is come and does the same thing; to speak a word against That will never be forgiven in this world, or the world to come." So you better be careful now, for... Now His Blood hadn't been offered yet see. But "I'll forgive you for that, for saying that, but when the Holy Ghost is come, you will never be forgiven." How many knows that Scripture, say, "Amen". Amen means "So be it."
Now when the Holy Ghost is come, you say, "Well, it isn't the Holy Ghost," when He's doing the same work, it'll never be forgiven.
But what did Nathanael say? He was standing beside Him. How did this little Carpenter standing here, just a common Man, dressed like ordinary man. He didn't, wasn't dressed any different, any clergy clothes, He didn't wear them. He didn't talk unknown language to the people, He spoke plain, everyday common language, 'cause the common people heard Him gladly. He wasn't real educated, that--that's the reason they can't translate the Bible. They're trying to bring it up into another category, when He spoke down here.
The worse place I ever needed an interpreter was in England. Those cockney speaking there yonder, they spoke; I didn't know what they was talking about, speaking English...

29 Well, I didn't know what he was saying, I said, "Sir." I was trying to ask him which way to the Abbey, he couldn't tell me. He was trying to, but I needed an interpreter, worse problem anywhere.
Well, that's what they call correct English. Try to... to my old sassafras, southern... cornbread, black--eyed peas, and hit, hain't, tot--tote, fetch, carry. What would they know about it over there?
Well, that's the way they try to translate the Bible, some high... Hebrew and Greek, when it was spoke in everyday language on the streets. He hid it from the eyes of the wise and prudent, and revealed it to babes such as will learn.
That's the reason we're all mixed up. This Greek word means this and this means that, only one way to know, go to the Author, Christ.

30 Then, when they... This Man, standing there... he was, He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you." Now, how's He going to see around, behind this mountain, several miles, about fifteen miles, how's He going to see around, behind this mountain, through this mountain, where that man was going to be, when He was standing right here, here at the platform, speaking to the people all the time?
Said, "Before Philip, called you, I saw you."
You know what he said; the man the miracle was performed on? He said, "Rabbi, (teacher) Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel." He recognized by that that He was the Messiah. To the Hebrews, the Jews, the elect, the honest people recognized Him to be the Son of God, because He did that.
Now, let's follow Him a little farther. A little farther on we find out in His ministry, things kept happening, He was standing right in the people. And the Bible said, "He perceived their thought--thoughts," is that right? Now, you tell me the difference between perceiving a thought or reading your mind. You write out the difference and lay it up here on the platform; no difference.

31 But the devil, the only thing that he can do is mimic what God created. That's the only thing he was anyhow, is perverted. He's a mimic.
And as sure as there is a mimic dollar or I--I say a bogus dollar; the bogus dollar only speaks of a real, genuine dollar. If the bogus dollar, if it's the--the original, than it's genuine, but if real is bogus, it shows that it's the real. If there's an old fortune teller somewhere, or soothsayer or something another, that only speaks there's a genuine Holy Spirit, too. If it isn't, that's the genuine.
So, you pastors here, who try to get the Divine cut out of the Bible in America, you see where you're lying the minute you do? You get it? There you are. You're only trying to make the wrong, the bogus, the right, giving the devil credit. There is a real, living God.
Notice, for time's sake, let's speed up, just a little.

32 Let's watch him, now this real, straight Hebrew, a man with no guile, a real orthodox. He recognized Him to be the Son of God, because He could do that. The church people of that day believed that miracles was past, they said, "That's a fortune teller, the devil, Beelzebub."
And Jesus said, "Now, because you said that, I'll forgive you. But when the Holy Ghost comes, He will never forgive you."
We see Him one day going up to see a sick girl, and there was a little woman who had a blood issue for several years. And she said that, "I believe that He was just what He claims to be, and if I can only touch His garment, I believe that I'll be made well." And the woman pressed through the crowd of all the unbelievers, until she got to where Jesus was, and she touched His garment.
He never felt it, physically. The Palestinian garment is loose, more than our clothes are, you never touch... Somebody touch your coat, you'd never know it, like that. She touched His garment, and that satisfied her, so she went out of the crowd and stood out in the crowd.
Jesus turned and said, "Who touched Me?" Everybody denied it.
She denied it. "I never done it," nobody done it.
He said, "But somebody touched Me, because I perceive that I have gotten weak. Virtue's gone from Me." One touch did it.
Now, watch Him. He looks over His audience, until He found the woman. His eyes looked on her and said, "Your faith has healed you. I never done it, your faith did it."
She was pulling from God through Him, her desire. So, it's by faith that healed this lady. When she seen she couldn't be hid, she come and fell down and confessed it all, what she done it for.
"Thy faith has saved thee." Saved, we call 'saved', salvation, but the same word, saved or healed is the same Greek, is "Sozo" the same word, every time... saved physically or spiritually, either one. "Thy faith has 'Sozo', saved thee."

33 Now, notice, you say that was Jesus, yesterday. If that was Jesus yesterday, that could understand the thoughts of the hearts of the people, and God was still Him, that'll take the place, it's got to be Jesus today, or He isn't risen from the dead. He isn't the same, your faith's in vain. He's a dead Man.
If a woman touched His garment, and He felt virtue go out of Him, and He doesn't the same today, then He's not the same.
Now, you say, "Preacher, He was..." that's all right.
The Bible said, "He a high priest, that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities." How many knows that's true? That's right. He's got to be the same. You can still touch Him with your faith.
What do you touch Him with, is the faith. That's the way she touched him. He said, "Who touched Me?"
Peter said, "Lord, who touched You? Why," said, "the whole crowd's touching You." See, a lot of them are touching like that today... that don't do no good.
Oh, get the great big degree, B.A., and D.D., and L.D., and double L.D., and sometimes they know no more about God than a rabbit would know about snowshoes, if you'll pardon that expression.
And, look... comes along and Peter said, "Why the whole crowd's a touching Thee. And why sayest Thou, 'who touched Me?'"
He said, "I got weak. Somebody touched Me with the right kind of a touch." That's what done it.

34 Now, if that was the faith that was introduced to the Christian, by Christ Himself, that's the faith we're to contend for. Amen.
Now, notice, just a little farther. We'll go just a little farther.
You say, "Did He heal everybody?" No, sir. When the disciples was given power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, cast out devils, they were given it. Did they heal everybody they come contact with? No. Did they heal everybody they prayed for? No, miserably failed, after they was given power. There's where it laid; the church has the power, but not the faith to operate it.
Jesus give the disciples power to heal the sick, and cast out devils, and he can raise the dead, and--and do all kinds of miracles. Ten days later, He found them miserably failed on epilepsy. When He come down off the mountain, a father had his child there, they were probably screaming, hollering, and jumping up and down, anointing with oil, shake him around. They saw Jesus coming, the father ran up and said, "I brought my child to Your disciples, and they couldn't do nothing about it."
Jesus said, "How long will I suffer you. Bring him here."
But when He healed the boy, the disciples said, "Well, why couldn't we do it? You give us power to do it, why couldn't we do it?"
He said, "Because of your unbelief."
That's still the same thing today. Christ don't change; people changes, your faith changes. But now Christ is the same.

35 Now watch just a little farther, if you will. One day, He was going down to a pool called Bethesda, and the Bible said, great multitudes of impotent folk laid there. Watch what kind of people: lame, blind, withered; waiting for the moving of the water. We're in Saint John 5 now.
Great multitudes, many times as what's here tonight, maybe ten times what's here. They were all lame, halt, withered, blind waiting for the moving of the water. And just a few days after that woman touched His garment, here He come right down through that same pool, walking by the blind, walking by the lame, walking by... Was He full of compassion? Yes, well why didn't He have compassion? You mean to tell me the merciful Christ, the anointed Emmanuel walked among lame, halt, withered, and blind and never healed them? The Bible said He did...

36 Now watch, hold that in your mind. Sometimes you don't know what compassion means, friend. The people are so... bound, they don't understand heavenly things. We don't. See, compassion is to do the will of God, not--not sympathy. There's a lot of difference between sympathy and compassion. Now watch Him.
Just like love. Love comes in two categories. We know it: one. The two Greek words, one of them is--is Agapao, and the other one is Phileo. The Phileo love is earthly; like friendship. Agapao love is of above. Just listen to this. Phileo love is what you have for your wife, your children: that's Phileo. Now, if someone insulted your wife, that kind of a love would make you kill him, the man that insulted your wife. That's Phileo. But Agapao love would make you pray for his lost soul. That's the difference.
That's the way with human compassion, and Godly compassion. Compassion in the realms of Spirit, means to do the will of Him that sent you. Jesus passed through this crowd of all these little, blind children, withered, halt, lame, (Saint John 5) and passing through there and never healed a one of them. And went over to a man laying on a pallet; you southerners know what a pallet is. I spent the biggest part of my life on one, that and a straw tick. But, laying on a pallet.

37 Now watch. The Lord knew he was there. I got to watch... and He searches through this crowd, till He found... Here's a man withered, He looks at him, that's not him. Here's a man blind, that's not him.
Someone hollered, "Oh, someone help me in the pool when the Angel comes." The Angel would come on the water and trouble the water. God's always had a way of healing for the people, never left without healing. So he... The first one stepping in, with faith, all the virtue of that Angel went down to that person. They have to wait for a month or two before He come back again, another season.
And every time someone would scream and holler, "The--the water's troubled, the Angel's here." Everybody would grab, and jump, and push together and everything, trying to get in there, the first one to touch their faith with the Angel. And you know historians that we're told by historians that they stabbed one another even, trying to make their way to the pool. And Jesus among those people with faith in Him, they wouldn't have laying there, if they didn't have faith in Him; and He passed through and never touched a one of them and went over to a man laying on a pallet, who'd had some kind of a retarded disease, maybe prostate trouble or--or TB, he had it thirty--eight years. It was retarded, it wasn't going to hurt him, or kill him. And Jesus went to where he was and said, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
Why didn't He say it to the cripple, the blind, the withered; who will die? Get it?

38 Now, we're going to hit this to climax in a minute. Why did He go to this man and not them? That would be far bigger miracle, why didn't He go to them? He said, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
He said, "I have no one to put me in the water."
He said, "Take up your bed and go into your house." And He walked right out of that pool, He didn't... the poor, lame, halt, blind, withered laying there. What if He'd done that in Spindale tonight? He'd have the same kind of criticism he had back there. They criticized Him. They found the man with his bed on his shoulder. Now in Saint John 5, the nineteenth verse, when Jesus was questioned, here it is, listen. When Jesus was questioned, what did He say? "Verily, verily," that's absolutely, absolutely, "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 ever read that in the Bible, let's see your hands? Everybody that ever read the...
Then He couldn't do nothing in Himself, He absolutely told us there that the Father showed Him a vision first and what to do, and He went and done just what the Father showed Him. That's the reason He passed by all these other people and... 'cause the Bible said, He knew that this man was there and had been in that shape a long time. Is that right? It's exactly. See, you read over it.
Many times in the schools and seminaries, you read over the principle truths of the Bible. You get one set doctrine, and then you hang right with that. That's the reason the Jews didn't recognize Jesus. They had their own set way He was going to come. We got our own set way, and He will, He will probably fool every one of us when He comes. He will come in a way that you're not even thinking of, and it'll be purely Scriptural.

39 Now, one more statement, before we close; let's stop back one page. I missed one I wanted to get to you. That's the fourth chapter of Saint John, you who are turning to it.
Jesus was going down to Jericho. How many was ever in the Holy Lands, probably, maybe not any. But Jerusalem sets on a hill, Jericho sets in the valley. Jerusalem's one of the highest cities, Jericho's one of the lowest cities. And to go through from Jerusalem to Jericho, there's a direct road right up there on the mountain. But now watch, He had need to go by Samaria; did you ever read that? And Samaria's up on the hill this a--way. Why? Why go up that way, to be going down this way? Now watch the Scriptures.
Why did He do it? The Father had told Him to go up. He goes up and arrives there about noon. He sets down by a well. If you was ever in the Orient, this Bible becomes a new Book to you, all the oriental customs. See, we're a western people, this is an eastern Book, and oh, how different.
We'll get into this week, between here and Charlotte and somewhere... When I come back with a tent, next year the Lord willing, we'll have plenty of time...

40 Now, in the orient, if you ever see their customs, then that Book just lightens up to you. We western people, we set up and what we call work, but what it is there is different all together. But now He said...
A well is usually a place with some vines growed around it, there was like a arch in there. Jesus goes over and sits down and sends His disciples into the city to get some food. And while they were gone, a woman of Samaria, come out to get water. Now we know her as a prostitute, ill--famed, you're not trained to that... A--a woman that was a bad character, and she came out to get water.
Now, it's about noon time, maybe because she couldn't come out there when the other women was there. There was a difference in it then, they're all together now. But a woman with a bad character, she couldn't even associate with other women. She can't yet, in the Orient. They separated them, and she had to come some other time. Now, after all the virgins came and got their water packed in, she could go out, because she had a bad name. And it might have been because she was up all night, and just got up. However she went out there to let down the pot for some water, and when she did, Jesus, a ordinary Jew... sitting on the well, against the wall. He said, "Bring Me a drink."
Now, listen closely now. She said, "It's not customary for you Jews to ask Samaritans such. We don't have any dealings with one another." Just like between the colored and the white today, so forth, the racial problem that's up now, segregation. Said, "We have no such customs, for you Jews to ask a Samaritan such a thing."
He said, "But woman, 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 is deep, and You ain't got nothing to draw with, how You going to get any water?"
He said, "The Water I give is Water in your soul, springing up to Everlasting Life."
She said, "Well, our fathers worship in this mountain, You say Jerusalem." The conversation went on at length, now you have to take my word for this now, here, this part. He was contacting her spirit. The Father had sent Him there, but He didn't know yet what was going to take place. And when He finally contacted the woman's spirit, He went right straight to her trouble.
He said, "Go get your husband."
She said, "I don't have any husband."
He said, "That's right, you got five."
Now, listen close. She said, "Sir, I perceive that You're a prophet. Now, we know" (Who? Samaritans. Watch the Jews now, in Nathanael.) She said, "We know that when the Messiah cometh," (You believe Jesus was the Messiah? Sure He was, Son of God.) She said, "We know, we got a sign we're looking for. When the Messiah cometh, He will do these things. He will tell us all things. But Who are You?"

41 Now, if that was the sign of the Messiah, Jesus, then; and if Jesus is not dead and is living today, raised from the dead; then it's got to be the sign of the Messiah today, if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that right?
She said, "We know when Messiah cometh He will tell us these things, but Who are You?"
He said, "I am He That speaks to you."
And she went into the city and said, "Come see a Man Who has told me the things that I did. Isn't This the Messiah?"
That was the sign of the Messiah to the Samaritans... the Scripture. That was the sign of... Messiah to the Jews. Is that right? Now, they were too stiff and orthodox, to accept it.
But Nathanael said, "I know Who You are. You're the Son of God, the King of Israel."
But the Jews said, "Nah, He isn't. He's Beelzebub." But that was still the sign. The Samaritans read the same Bible in the Old Testament. We'll get into this week and prove, that's what He was supposed to do.
She said, "We know that's... We know that the Messiah will do this, but You must be the prophet."
He said, "I am the Messiah."

42 Now, just a moment, do you believe He raised from the dead? Are your works than a dead... or our risen Lord? our risen Lord.
Now watch, in His going away, in Saint John the--the fourteenth chapter, the twelfth verse, He said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do, shall he also. More (He used the word greater there, to you who are taking notes... Greater: couldn't be any; greater in quantity not in quality.) More than this shall you do, for I go to My Father." Is that right?
Jesus said, "A little while, and the world will see Me no more." Is that right? "Yet ye shall see Me, for I will be with you to the end of the world. The things, the works that I do shall you do also." Is that true?
Now, that's what He introduced to His church. I think, He knew... for the--the church, when He said in Acts 2, "Ye men of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by signs and wonders, which God did by Him in the midst of you all, as you are witnesses." Is that right?
I think Nicodemus expressed it for the Orthodox Church, "Rabbi, we know" (Who? we the church. He had to come by night 'cause he'd be excommunicated, see.) " We know that You're a Teacher, come from God, for no man can do the things that You do, except God be with him."
And when the faith was given to the church, Peter was on the housetop and God was going to send him to... Cornelius' house, and Peter saw a vision of the Gentiles coming in, is that right?

43 And then, when Paul was on His road down to Damascus to arrest those who were making too much noise, and to put them in jail; there was a man down there, by the name of Ananias who saw a vision of Paul, what street he was on, what position he was on...in. And the Lord told him to go lay hands on him and he would receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost, and he was a prophet. So he said, "Now, Lord, I've heard of this man."
Said, "Behold, he prayeth."
And Ananias come down by the city square; saw what the vision told him. He went down to this little street called 'Straight.' Walked in and laid his hands on Paul, and said, "Brother Paul, the Lord Jesus appeared to you in the way, didn't He? And He sent me to lay hands on you, that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
If that isn't the faith that was once delivered to the saints, I don't know it. That's right. Peter was in prison and the light shined in on him, the Pillar of Fire was the light, come into the prison and delivered him from the prison.
Paul was stranded fourteen days and nights on the ship, without any moon, stars or any... All hopes was gone they'd ever be saved. He went down in the bulkhead of the ship and prayed, come back up, the shackles on him, still preaching the Gospel. Shaking the chains on his arms and say, "Be of a good courage, for the Angel of God, Whose servant I am, stood by me last night, saying, 'don't fear Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar, and lo, God give all those that saileth with you, to you.' And I saw in the vision the little ship is to be wrecked on a certain island. So, therefore brethren, I believe God that it'll be just exactly the way He said it would be."

44 That was the faith that was once delivered to the saints, and unless that same kind of operation and works are in today, we are failing to obey what God sent us to do.
Yes. [Gap in the audio]... " lovers of God, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, and despisers of those that are good."
You say, "Brother Branham, them's communists." Them's church members. What did He say? "Heady, high--minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, despisers of those that are good, having a form of godliness, but denying the Supernatural power thereof; from such turn away."
The Scripture for that, the Holy Ghost spoke it for this day, so no wonder communism has a--a hold, is because the church has let down on the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, to represent.

45 Dr. Morse Reedhead, famous... who was the president of the great Sudan Missions, the biggest in the world, come to my house and said, "Brother Branham, I have enough degrees to line your wall." He said, "I know that you was a Baptist, but you've been dealing with those Pentecostals." Said, "I've seen them kick over chairs and tear up the furniture." He said, "Is there anything to it?"
I said, "There's a lot of fanaticism, but there's a real genuine Holy Ghost, also. When you hear a pretender, you know that there's somebody he's pretending to be like."
And he said, "Brother Branham, I was totally defeated no more than a few weeks ago, and I purposed myself to see you here today... a friend and some other man." Said, "I wanted to ask you a question." He said, "Now, I started studying when I was seven years old." And he's about forty--five now. He said, "I got B.A.s and D.D.'s and L.D.s and everything. I don't even..." But said, "Where's Jesus in all of it?" Said, "Have the teachers been wrong?"
I said, "I wouldn't say that, Dr. Reedhead, certainly not." I said, "They were right, but to know... Having a degree is not to know Christ. You've got to know Him, the Person."
He said, "I was defeated... Brother Branham, that's why I'm here," said, "One Mohammed was educated here, at school." Said, "When he went back, I said, 'Why don't you--you reject your old, dead, prophet, Mohammed.'" [Gap in the audio] And to see that white horse like that stand there and wait for him to raise from the dead. He said, "Why don't you reject your old, dead prophet, and receive a resurrected Lord Jesus to go back home with?"
He said, "Kind sir," the Indian said to the Christian, the Mohammedan to the Christian, the great doctor of... He said, "Kind sir, what could your Lord Jesus do any more for me than what my dead prophet can do?" Now study just a minute.
He said, "Oh well, you see," he said, "your prophet's dead and in the grave." He said, "Our Lord Jesus raised from the dead."
He said, "Did He? Prove it to me that He raised from the dead." He said, "He's just as dead as Mohammed."
He said, "Oh no," said, "He raised from the dead."
He said, "Sir, you've had two thousand years to prove it. Two thirds of the world never heard of it," said "what's the matter?" How about that? Now, you seminary teachers, you duck your head.
Said, "Prove it, that He's raised from the dead."
He said, "Well now, wait a minute," he said, "you see, sir," he said, "well we... other... just a minute."
He said, "Your Jesus," he said, "raised from the dead two thousand years ago, two thirds of the world knows nothing about it, let Mohammed raise from the dead, in twenty--four hours the whole world will know it." Correct, right.
He said, "Now look..." Dr Reedhead said, "Brother Branham, I said to him, 'Oh, but we have joy, we have the Holy Spirit. We have joy and peace and we know what we're talking about tonight.'"
"Just a moment, Mr. Reedhead," said, "Mohammedanism can produce just as much psychology as Christianity can."

46 He knowed he never met an overnight boy. He met somebody who knowed what he was talking about. He said, "We Mohammedans have just as much joy and rejoicing..." And they do, I've seen them take lances right here at the chin and run right through their nose and bring it back and never even bleed--bleed a drop, run in just emotional workup.
Call, "Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah," take splinters run them right through their fingers, and pull them out, never even bleed, never even feel it. Sure, one of them got a sword, pushed it right straight through him, and brought it right back out, never... a drop. The doctor grabbed it and took and pushed it back through and said, "Pour water through this man and pour it out the other end," standing right before me. Sure, they can produce just as much psychology as Christianity can.

47 He said, "But let me tell you something, Mr. Reedhead." He said, "Mohammed only promised us life after death." Said, "Your Jesus, in your Bible, promised the same things that He did you'd do also." Said, "Let me see you teachers produce that, and we Mohammedans will believe that He raised from the dead. But," said, "until you do that, He's a dead man like Mohammed."
He said, "Brother Branham, I couldn't speak." Said, "I had no where else to turn." He said... He had nothing else to say, he was standing with a man just as smart as he was. He said, "I couldn't... I couldn't say nothing."
He said, "First thing I said to him..." He said, "Oh well," said, "I tell you... I tell you sir," said, "You've read the New Testament."
Said, "Yes sir, studied it thoroughly, even from a child."
He said, "You're referring to Mark 16, aren't you? Where He said, 'Go in all the world and these signs shall follow them that believe."
He said, "Yes sir, that's one of them."
He said, "Well, you see, sir," he said, "the--the--the illiterate type of people accept that," he said, "but in the seminaries, we learn that Mark 16 from the ninth verse on is not inspired."
The Mohammedan said, "What? It's not inspired?"
Said, "Not, from the..." Said, "Well, the Vatican just put that in," said, "from the...from the ninth verse on. That that what Jesus said, 'go into all the world, preach the Gospel and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned,' and that's all. The Vatican just added, 'these signs shall follow them that believe.'"
"Well," said, "what kind of a Book are you reading? Part of It is inspired and the rest of It's not." Said, "All the Koran is inspired." There you are. Why don't you face the facts; ministers... Jesus said.

48 If I haven't got faith to make it come to pass I'll never stand in somebody else's way, that does have faith to bring it to pass, that's one thing sure.
It's the truth, and that's the reason the Christian church is in the defeated state it is tonight. Certainly is, because it failed to do was to represent a resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. If He's raised from the dead, there's only one difference between Him when He's was, He's here in a Spirit body in the stead of being in a corporal body like we are tonight.
"Yet a little while and the world won't see Me no more, yet ye shall see Me, for I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world. And the things that I do shall you do also, more than this shall you do for I go to the Father." Is that right?
In other words, God was only working through one individual; that was Christ. Now He's in the form of the Holy Ghost, the work's universal, the world over. "More than this shall you do, for I go unto My Father." He's raised from the dead.

49 Dr. Reedhead said to me, "Brother Branham, I heard of your meetings, I read your book, 'A Prophet Visits Africa.'" He said, "Is it the truth?"
I said, "Dr. Reedhead... It is the... truth, Jesus raised from the dead."
He said, "Is there something besides..." said, "Brother Branham what more can I do?" Said, "I'm a Baptist too, like you are."
He said, "God told Abraham, He justified him by faith," said, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. What more can a man do but believe?"
I said, "That's the truth, Dr. Reedhead, that's all a man can do. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness," I said, "but God turned around and give him the seal of circumcision to confirm his faith. And when a man believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, God gives him the baptism of the Holy Ghost to seal that He has recognized his righteous faith and give him the seal of the Holy Ghost. For the Bible said in Ephesians 4:30, 'Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of your redemption.'"
Now, if we could bring the Holy Ghost back in, then you'll see where miracles will happen. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ every time, see. Man can testify and their life..., but the Holy Ghost will agree with the Word, because the Holy Ghost wrote the Word. Amen.

50 Now, I kept you a long time. I didn't mean to do this. But tonight, I want to ask you something. I could stand here and preach an hour upon this; that would be the word of a man. One Word of Jesus Christ will mean more than all the men in the world could say. Now, let--let's ask Him if He will appear.
If Jesus will appear here on the scene tonight, before you right here, Jesus Christ the resurrected Son of God; if He will appear here, and everything that He was back there, besides a corporal body, will you believe that He raised from the dead and is living among His people today? If you will, raise your hand. Thank you. Thank you.
I was surprised to see many hand didn't go up. What would it take to make you believe? You say, "Produce the works" and can't believe the Spirit, when that's the only two witnesses God has. What would you believe? You must been born to disbelieve, you've nothing to believe with.
Now, to you who believe, to you who are waiting, to you who are wondering; remember, if Christ is risen from the dead, then He's got to do the same things that He did when He was here on earth, or the Bible is wrong and Christ is dead. But if He has risen from the dead and doing the same things through His church that He did when He was here on earth and told them that the church would see it, till He come again, to the end of the world, then what joy ought we to have tonight; knowing that Jesus has raised from the dead. Shall we pray?

51 Our Heavenly Father, we're living in a cruel world, where indifference, selfishness, greediness, prejudice; fear... Great bombs laying yonder in the hangars tonight, three of them would annihilate the world in twenty--four hours; wouldn't even be an insect left. You said, "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the coming of the Son of man," when the world was annihilated; except for Noah, riding over the judgment in the ark. So glad that You have a way of escape today, for those who would hear it.
Now, great statements have been made, Lord, here before seven or eight hundred people. I pray that You will manifest Yourself, Lord, knowing we're just flesh, just a man, sinner saved by grace. I commit this service and myself to You that You'll come now, Lord, and vindicate that I've told the truth. I've talked of You, Lord. Now, You come speak, that it's been the truth. Will You, Father? May we find grace with You this night, in Christ's Name. Amen.

52 Now, I'm going to ask you for something, if you'll... I don't see a clock somewhere, but usually... It's an anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Angel of the Lord.
Now, don't get up and move around, see. Now, if you're a critic, don't stay any longer, for I'll not be responsible for critics. Remember, diseases go from one to another. We're not playing, church. Maybe this week I'll get to you and show you statements, sealed, where great people in cities are sitting paralyzed, some in insane institutions, everything else. We're not playing church, now. The same Holy Spirit was back there, is the same Holy Spirit's here... can go from one to another. Sit real reverent, if you can't sit for the next fifteen, twenty minutes, time to leave now, see.
And while we sing a song, and call the prayer line. Come back tomorrow night, and I'll speak to you more on the Gospel. Maybe you'll be able to stay there and listen. It's strange you haven't been taught these things, but my dear brother, not one thing that I've said tonight, but what come right out of this Bible with a Divine promise. That the same things would take place and tomorrow night, we'll go right on in and show you that... how it's continues on through the Bible; lid to lid.

53 Now, did you give out prayer cards? B, 1 to 100? 1 to 50.
All right, prayer card B's been given out. Who has prayer... It's a little, bitty card, you haven't got one laying here, just a small card, and it's got my picture on one side, and on the back it's got a--a letter B, and a number on it. And who has B number 1, would you raise up your hand, somebody? All right, would you come right there lady? Usher or somebody, Billy go there, Gene or some of you, help her. B number 2, would you raise up your hand? Right here.
Number 3, could you... number 3, look at your neighbor's card. Maybe somebody's deaf, somebody can't hear or speak, somebody can't raised up. If they are, why then that's... we'll help them. B number 3, would you raise your hand, please? Check some of those cards, the people can't move or something, will you, please? Is that 3 there? Are you 3?
Four, B number 4, would you raise your hand? All right lady, right here. Number 5, would you raise your hand, if you can? Number 5. Number 6, now don't raise your hand or something we'll get... motion somebody by you, helping you up. Number 6, all right.
Number 7, B number 7, is there? Number 8, would you raise your hand? Number 8, would you raise... 8, have you got it, sir? Come over here, please, 8. Number 9, would you raise your hand? B number 9, would you raise up your hand, please? Number 9, did I miss it? Who has number 9? B number 9, already in line? Let me see your hand, quick, please, before you go to the line, so I...
Number 10, who has B number 10, would you raise up your hand? B number 10, come, right here, all right sir, over here. Number 11, B number 11, would you raise your hand, please? Somebody help me to watch. Is that... is that the... number... [Gap in the audio]... lining the prayer line.

54 Now, Heavenly Father, we pray Your blessings upon these people. And now for Your glory, I submit myself unto Thee, knowing Lord, that all these people being strangers to me, I not knowing them, but Thou does know them. I pray that You'll help them be calm and grant unto Thy servant, Thy Spirit and anoint me just now for Your glory, in Christ's Name I ask this. Amen.

55 All right, you may raise your heads. Now, the reason you're to watch this, is because I don't know just how loud or how low. Now... the mike because, you'd be... if the Lord does appear, and many visions take place, I just get weak. I get depleted, that's what the boys are standing, watching. They know just when it's enough.
Now, remember friends, to you people here who wouldn't understand spiritual things, it's going into another dimension, into another world. And when the Spirit begins to anoint down...
Now, you see that Angel on the picture there? It's hanging in Washington, DC, where the FBI has examined it, as the only Supernatural Being ever proved to be taken. Just find out, George J. Lacy, the head of the FBI then, just find out his name and address and so forth.
Now, that same Angel isn't five feet from where I'm standing right now. Now, it's true. Now, it's not me, it's Him. There was a Pillar of Fire, Who led the children of Israel, how many Bible students knows that? A Pillar of Fire, is that right? Who was that Pillar of Fire? Christ, the Angel of the Covenant, Which was Christ. He was with Moses in the wilderness, sure. He said, "Before Abraham was I AM." He was the I AM.
Now, if He's still the same, He's still here, in the Light like the Pillar of Fire. Paul saw Him when he was on his road to Damascus, is that right? He saw Him. He said, "I come from God, I go back to God. The world won't see Me, but you'll see Me."

56 Now, I want to talk to the woman just to contact her spirit. Now, if the Lord Jesus will do the same miracle here, between this woman and I; or any of you sitting out there, no matter who you are, if you'll look this a--way and believe that I've told you the Gospel truth; I'll assure you that the Holy Spirit will speak right back to you. Now is that a direct challenge, and I'm sure you Christians appreciate, as your brother in Christ, where I'm standing, and why I'm explaining what It is at this moment. I either told the truth or told a lie and God's got to be the One to vindicate it. Would you like to come take the place? Put yourself up here now. You have to know... before witch doctors and everything, the other nations.
Now, just to speak to the lady a moment, just like our--our Lord Jesus spoke to the woman. He was God, I'm just His servant. But then if He does do the same thing, will every one of you here that's sick and needy, would you believe He's raised from the dead and you will accept it, everybody? See?
Now, I do that because, see, it's putting His words in effect. I can't heal her, and I--I have nothing to do with it. It's all her own faith will do the healing, if she's sick. It's your faith. But now, as a gift, see... No one could save you if you're lost, Jesus already did that. No one can heal you if you're sick, Jesus already did that, it's your personal faith in the finished work that does the work.
But now, the woman standing before me, just now, she's aware that something is going on. If the woman can still... She knows that right between her and I stands the Angel of the Lord. Woman if your... the feeling that you have is... you've never had it before, if that's right, raise your hand, see. Sure, He will stand... here He stands right between you and her.
I see the woman on her road coming here, she's not from here. You come from the west and north. You come from the state of Ohio, here. You got a throat condition, cancer at that. Black, you're shadowed to death. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD. You believe now? Now, lady there's something here that knows you. Come here just a moment, I'll pray.
Now, Heavenly Father, I pray that in the Name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus, that You'll bless this woman and heal her, and may the shadow of death be taken from her, and may she live for God's glory. In the Name of Your holy Son, Jesus, I ask it. Amen.
God bless you, sister. Go happy and rejoicing, and praising God. Write your testimony, for the glory of God.

57 Would you come, lady?
Everyone believe, have faith; just a moment, everyone real reverent, now.
Now, lady, you're standing here. I have no idea of what you want, why you're here. But God does know... But there's something strange about you. There's a Light around you. You have...you have just been healed. You're praying for somebody else. You've been healed in a Divine healing service, and you were... and that wasn't here. That was in my meeting in Colombia, down yonder, because I see the same platform, down at that church, that's right. And you're here for something else, and that is a man, it's your... not your hus... it's a brother, and he's got cancer, and you're here for him. And the handkerchief you're packing in your hand, go lay it on him, in the Name of the Lord, and he will recover... Amen.
Have faith, don't doubt, believe in God, so shall it be. Now, do you believe?
You raised up your hand, you've got arthritis, haven't you?... you down, I seen you trying to get out of bed, moving sideways. You got arthritis, and are praying that God will heal you. Stand on your feet, sir. Jesus Christ healed you of your arthritis. It's gone from you. Amen. You don't have it now. Your faith made you well. God bless you.

58 Look here, sir. You were sitting there, praying, "God let him speak to me." That's right. You were praying for me to turn and say something. Is that right? Yes, sir. It's your faith. Touch Him. Never touch me... touch Him. Now you were... aren't you... that's the reason your arthritis is over. The Lord Jesus made you well.
Now, do you believe, all of you? Has He raised from the dead? Have faith in God.
Second person sitting in down there, you got a blood disease, haven't you? You believe that Jesus Christ will make you well? You do? The little lady kind of... looking, you've got a handkerchief up to your mouth like this. You've got a blood condition, there. The examination shows that it's a blood trouble. If that's right, raise your hand, like... [Gap in the audio] Grant it, that's it, Now the next thing is... Don't you see that Light hanging over the woman? She's examined, the blood flows, and she's in a... condition. But sister, it's clear, go home your faith has made you well. God bless you.
What did that? She touched Christ, just like the woman with the blood issue, touched Christ. See, it's your faith. Dost thou believe? If you can believe all things are possible. Now, have faith in God, don't doubt; believe.
How do you do, lady? Is this the patient, boy? I'm not beside myself, but are visions that pull me from place to place.

59 Now, you realize lady, me being your brother, as you are a Christian believer, and me being your brother. I'm only here to try to help you. I don't know one thing about you. You're co... you know that don't you? I don't know you; don't know nothing about you, no way for me to know anything about you. But God knows about you, doesn't He?
If I by the Holy Spirit, could be able to tell you what you're here for, or something about you, that you know that I don't know, then you'll have to know it comes from some Supernatural power. Now, what you determine It to be, will determine what you get. Your approach to It, but your suffering is in here. I see you're upset; you're walking back and forth. You're worried about... And I see you're holding your side, it's a heart trouble. You have a heart trouble, don't you? That's the truth, lady. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD. See what I mean?
Now watch, the more you talk to her now, the Spirit on her, more will tell her. That's how... for you. One vision, made the Son of God, made virtue go from Him, made Him weak, what would a vision do to a sinner, saved by grace, like me? One vision made Daniel troubled at his head for many days.
Now there's something moving between us. It seems serious, a black shadow, I can't find it no more. You believe me as God's prophet, or as God's servant? You really believe, with all your heart? There's something else to be unloaded, you're not finished yet. There's something you've started, deep desire in your heart, and that's the reason you're so anxious, and trying to draw from the Spirit of God, isn't that right? Because it's about somebody else; and that person has heart trouble also. And it's your husband, and he's in the hospital, that is true. He is in serious condition, with a heart trouble. I see him weak, that's... Let's believe the Lord.
Heavenly Father, I pray for Divine wisdom for this case. May it be granted tonight through Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.
Don't doubt, go believing all things; for all things are possible to them that believe.

60 Howdy do, lady. I'm a stranger to you, I don't know you. Never... You believe? Have faith in God. Have faith in God. So can you be healed. Now, being a stranger to you, lady; never seen you in my life, never knew you, there'd have to be something Supernatural let me know about you; if there's anything wrong. That's right. Now what you determine it to be, would determine what blessing you would get from it. If you judged it, misjudged it; then there'd be no blessing for you.
There was one time a woman touched His garment, she felt virtue, but a Roman soldier put a rag around His head, His face, and hit Him on the head, and said, "He that can see visions and prophesy, tell me who hit You."
He never said nothing. He only saw visions as God give visions. And the only way I can see vision is if somebody... It's your own faith in God that pulls the visions, not me, I have noth... I just submit myself.

61 I could hear someone coughing, but I saw a vision, and looked, it was a woman coughing, and it's a different woman. The lady there, she has coughing, it's... cough at night, spit up... like off your... off your throat, that's right. Raise your hand if that's true, there, the little lady in the blue there. Lift up your hand, put--put up your hands here, the little lady here, that's right. Now do you believe? All right, if you believe, it's over. Amen. Accept it, and have faith in God. See how wonderful He is?
What do you think sister? Have trouble with your head, don't you; head trouble? Isn't He wonderful? It's all gone from you now. Amen.
What did that? Her faith, her faith touched Him.

62 Come here, lady; dark shadow following you. Your life has been one, up and down. You've always desired things, but you never did receive it, specially for Christ... You desire a walk with Him. You've made Him promises recently; if He'd see you through this trouble that you're in, that you'd make a closer walk to Him, that's true. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD. You suffer with a tumor, growth, that's right, isn't it? And that tumor's hid from me, but it isn't hid from God. If I tell you where that tumor is, will you believe me? It's on your leg. It's on your right leg. If that's right, raise up your hand. Now, go believing, and receive it.
Let's say, "Thanks be to God... our Lord Jesus Christ."
Have faith in God. If thou canst believe, all things are possible, have faith.

63 You believe, lady? You believe me to be His servant, His prophet or servant? I watch that name, critics doesn't understand. But I'm a stranger to you, I've never saw you, and you never saw me. But you're aware that there's Something between us. You're in the presence of Something besides your brother, a man. If you realize that, raise up your hand. No one can stand this close to Him without recognizing It. It's not a man, you know that. You don't feel that way around men; God alone. Because It's not me, He's just here. I'm a man, you're a woman. If there's something wrong with you, I don't know. I don't know, you know, I don't. He's here as a Mediator, between you and God, now me being gifted by His grace, you could pull from Him what He wants me to say to you.
I see now you're--you're real--real worried. You're upset about something, that's right. You're scared of something. I see you've had an examination of some sort, it's for the blood. Raise your hand if that's true. It's a...it's an infection in the blood, and leukemia is what you're scared of. That's right, it's true, I'm not reading your mind, I'm telling you what is true.
You're not from here either. You're from a city west of here, and it's got a--a big lake in it, a funny--looking square in the...in the middle of the city, and it's up in the mountains. It's...it's...come to it, it's Ashville, that's where you're from. That's right. Your name's Elizabeth, isn't it? Happs. You believe now? That's right Miss Happs? That did it. [Gap in the audio] Is that right?...
Our Heavenly Father, I bless this dying woman in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and turn darkness to day, because You give us this authority, that she might believe on You, the Lord Jesus. And knowing that... [Gap in the audio] Lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover. And this I do in obedience to You commandments, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.

64 Now look this way, just a moment. If He knows who you are, where you come from, and all about your life, He surely knows the future, doesn't He. Now look, you're hungering and thirsting for God, walk with God. And you also are in need of a deep, deep walk with God. Now when you go, go get... surrender yourself to Him and do everything you can to glorify Him. The dark shadow that followed you to the platform has gone from you. Your faith has done it, now go, rejoicing. And don't be scared of leukemia any more.
Let's say, "Thanks be to God," everybody can believe. If thou canst believe, all things are possible.
I told you that trouble, in your back, left you while you was sitting in the chair, would you believe me? Would you believe it? Then it happened.
Let's say, "Thanks be to God."

65 Come. Lady, you got a disease that kills more people than anything else: heart trouble. But Jesus Christ can heal the heart. You believe that?
Father, I intercede for this dear dying woman, in the Name of Jesus Christ, that You will heal her and make her well, for Your glory. Amen.
God bless you, sister. Go happy, rejoicing now, and praising God.
Would you come, sir? Well, insulin's a good thing, but Christ was... for diabetes. You believe that He will heal you of diabetes, and make you well? Do you believe it?
Oh, God, our Father, I condemn this devil, that's killing my brother. And ask that You will heal him in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.
All right, go believing now. Don't doubt, have faith in God. Now you believe? Was Jesus raised from the dead?

66 Come here, lady, just a moment, stand there. You believe me to be His servant? God bless your heart, woman... Look at this aged mother, anyone watch the expression of the people when they come in the presence of Him. Look at that... that woman, that Christian, standing there, suffering with arthritis, weeping in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Not because of me, I'm His Voice.
Mother, you believe He will let you get well? Do you believe it with all your heart? Do you? All right, then turn and go to your home rejoicing, God... God grant it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son.
Have faith in God, don't doubt. If thou canst believe, what did He say? [Congregation responds, "All things are possible."]
Oh, what a glorious time, living in the presence of the resurrected Jesus Christ. You believe He's raised from the dead? [Congregation praises the Lord] Then if He is Who He has promised; these things... He would do these things; then He promised if you would ask the Father anything in His Name, He would do it. Amen.
Every promise is true. This is God's Word, and every promise is true. To him that believeth, all things are possible. Don't doubt. No, I'm not reading minds, quit thinking that. Now, somebody pray. See if I'm reading minds, you pray. Just believe God.

67 You're feeling better aren't you, since you're healed of nervousness. Isn't He wonderful?
All right, you two ladies on the end, standing there, both of you suffer with the same trouble, back there, the two ladies standing right back there. Both of you have tumor on the breast. If that's right, raise your hand. And both of you are wanting spiritual help. That's right, isn't it? Put your hands around each other.
Dear Heavenly Father, Satan is exposed. May he leave them both and come out in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Go back to your seats now... Let's say, "Praise the Lord."
Do you believe, sir? Do you believe me to be His prophet, His servant? I'm a stranger, I've never seen you. No, we are strangers to each other. Something strange about you though, I don't know you, never seen you. But you're here for me to pray for you for heart trouble, that's right. If you... Have you give up smoking? Quit smoking and--and--and serve the Lord, do everything you can to please Him, will you do that? Promise to do it, raise your hand, promise to do it? All right, then go, and as the Lord Jesus touch you as you go, in Jesus Christ's Name. On your road rejoicing, sir, be happy and believe.
Dost thou believe?

68 Must be about time for me to leave; they always touch me by the side, and I know I don't have any conception of time. And, what you believe, you see this person here, Oh you was just prayed for wasn't you? Have faith and believe.
What about you crippled and afflicted people out here? Where's your faith? I'm not your healer, I'm your brother. I challenge your faith. I challenge it, 'cause Jesus Christ lives.
You, sitting in the chair over there, with your hand up; you believe it? If God will tell me what you're suffering with, what you have, will you believe Him? You have growths in the intestines; you have trouble with your bladder, don't you? That's right, isn't it? Won't you raise up out of your chair, and go home and be well in the Name of Jesus...
You believe? If God will tell me what's wrong with you, will you accept your healing?... high blood pressure... You believe me now, don't you? If you believe with all your heart, then Jesus Christ heals you, rise up, take your bed and go home. Be well, stand up on your feet, that way, sir...
Let's say, "Praise the Lord." How many believes on the Lord?... don't you? There you are, be healed. Take your bed and go home now... the rest of you will be healed, if you'll believe. Will you believe? Let's raise our hands to God.
Heavenly Father, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we charge the Devil to be a liar. God's truth, ever truth, and now we ask that every person in here be made completely whole, through Jesus Christ's Name.