Investments

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you very much. I would like to almost express my feelings. Like Brother Palmer said, I'm a good listener. I certainly enjoyed this this morning. I wouldn't have missed this for nothing, to hear these different brothers, and the ones who are giving these testimonies.
The brother just singing has been coming to our church up there, and I have knowed his mother and sister here for, oh, many years. I've never gotten to the Tabernacle in time to hear him sing, and I was just going to suggest it. And then ... comes along, and said he was going to sing it. The brother here said he was going to sing it, too, so I said you can get yours tonight. So we'll be glad to hear that.

2 It's always such a grand privilege to be around where ... the presence of the Lord. And there being, as our brother said, that there is so much flesh in our different denominations calling us away from each other, and... But there is a body, a mystical body of Christ. That's the body that we are all coming into by one Spirit, baptized into that one body. And then we become citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

3 Now, I believe that we're supposed to be out of here at twelve... What? Oh, is that all the time I got, just two hours? I'm kind of disappointed. You know, it takes me a long time to tell what I was thinking. But ... and I'm thankful for an audience that bears with me. But, I was just saying that. Just a few words for the businessmen, and all that's here.
And I want to say it's been a grand time. Last evening my heart was warm, even when I got home---as they said John Wesley said about "in his bosom," to see that our God still lives. And we don't have to guess about this. He's real. It's the simplicity of just accepting what He has said, and seeing it be made a reality.
The Word is a seed. And if that seed's put in the right ground under the right temperature, it'll grow if it's germitized. And we know this Word is germitized, 'cause it's God Himself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It's still God. It was made flesh and dwelt among us.

4 We're so thankful to hear Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox, all together, coming together in one great place. And I believe... Jacob dug a well, and the enemy run him away, and he called it "Malice." He dug another well, and they run him away, and he called it "Strife." He dug another well, and said, "There's room for us all." So I think that's about the way it is.
Luther dug one, and Wesley dug one. Now we got one there's room for us all. So let's just all stand, and drink from this one well. If you're riding a one hump camel, or a two hump camel or a three hump camel, you can still come and drink. That's all. We're on our journey.

5 I think now after our little senses of humor, and so forth... I think it's good. Even God, Himself, has a sense of humor, you know. I think we ought to just bow our heads a moment, before approaching his Word for prayer.
Our Father, great and mighty God, who our singer has just expressed all of our feelings, how great Thou art. We approach Thee in the name of thy beloved child, the Lord Jesus, our sacrifice. And as we come from this building into thy presence by faith, we look across our sacrifice to thy throne, knowing that He has promised us if we ask anything in his name it will be granted.
We are going to attempt to read thy Word and speak on it. Now let the Holy Spirit take the Word, and plant it into the heart of each one of us. Circumcise the lips that speak, and the ears that hear. And may it fall on good ground to bring forth a hundred fold. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

6 If ... many people like to take the places in the Scripture usually where ministers read. I would like to draw your attention to the gospel of St. Mark, the 10th chapter, beginning with the 17th verse, for a reading to draw from this a context.
And when he had gone forth into the way, there came unto him running, and kneeling down to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I ... that I may have eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these things I have observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
I would like to draw a text from this on the subject of "Investments." And I thought this might be appropriate for a few minutes speaking to businessmen of the city on investments, because that any businessman is always---if he's a good businessman---is interested in good investments. That seems to be what they love to do, is to make a good investment, sound investments, because it pays off, always.

7 And this morning, I want to speak to you men whether, if there be some here, on the best investment that I know of. Some time ago I was asked the question by a noted minister of the Baptist church, from which I came from. He said, "Brother Branham, I hear that you're with the Full Gospel Businessmen."
I said, "Yes, sir. That's right."
He said, "What business have you got with the Full Gospel Businessmen?"
I said, "I am a businessman."
He said, "Businessman?"
I said, "Yes, sir."
Said, "What business are you in?"
I said, "Insurance."
And he said, "What?"
And I said, "Assurance."
Said, "What kind?"
I said, "Eternal life." If any of you fellows want to talk a policy over with me after the meeting, I'll be glad to meet you, and talk it over.

8 Some time ago ... a friend that I went to school with, he's an insurance agent, and he's a nice man. I got a brother that's an insurance agent, but it just happens to be that I never carried insurance. And so I ... nothing against it, but... The boy come up one time. His name was Snyder. His brother is a Baptist minister. Wilmer said to me, he said, "Billy, I'd like to talk over some insurance with you."
And I said, "Wilmer, thank you." I said, "I'll talk about anything else, but," I said, "I already have insurance."
And he said, "Oh, I'm sorry." He said, "You have what?"
I said, "I have assurance."
And he... And my wife looked at me as if I was a liar. She stopped and she looked across at me, 'cause I don't have any insurance.
And he said, "Billy, what insurance do you carry?"
I said, "I said assurance. 'Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. I'm an heir of salvation, purchased of God, borned of his Spirit, washed in his blood.' "
He said, "That's very good, Billy. But it won't put you up here in the graveyard."
I said, "It'll take me out. I'm am not worried about getting in; I want out. So ... not bothered about getting in there; it's getting out. So that's what I want to talk about.

9 A fellow that's got money wants to put it to a good investment, of course. A man that has as much as, say, ten thousand dollars, he would like to put it to some investment. Don't keep it in your pocket, 'cause you know thieves'll steal it. And so, you don't want to do that.
So, you want ... if you're a good sound businessman, you want to put it to something that'll ... it'll draw dividends. You'll want to put it to something to usury. You know about the talents in the Bible. So you must put it to some use that'll draw dividends out of it, some good sound business.

10 And then, in doing this, you don't want to put it in something that isn't sound. No man would want to do that. A good smart businessman wouldn't think of such a thing. You men wouldn't do that, put it in something that ... one of these here "get rich overnight," and don't know where it come from. Better be careful about that. You'll lose all you got, 'cause it's a gamble. And gambling is not a good sound business. It's got a chance to it. And you don't want to take them kind of chances.
But you want to put it in something---in some good sound firm that pays great dividends; something that's stable, reliable; something that you know that has paid off, and been proven that it will pay off.
When you have something like that to make your investment, why, then you feel assured that you got something coming. You can rest assured when you put your money in that. But if the business is not too good, well, you wouldn't want to try it. Some good reliable plan, something that would pay you off well...

11 And this rich, young ruler, as we'd call it in the Bible, he passed up a great opportunity. He had the opportunity to put his richness of this world into a guaranteed plan, but failed it. He didn't do it. He was given the opportunity that he could draw interest on it, and make a great investment. But he failed to accept that opportunity---so much ... as many of us do today. And we find out that ... it's too bad, but we do it. Now, although this plan that he was offered was perfectly vindicated that it was sound...
When Jesus came to the earth, He proved that He was what He said He was: that He was God, manifested in flesh, for He brought it to a showdown, and said, "If I do not the works of my Father, then believe me not."

12 So this young man was like this great, rich Laodicean age that we live in. They seen a great opportunity to invest in something, but it's not popular. Jesus was not a popular man in his days, only amongst the poor and illiterate. The church of his day, the denomination of his day, or the sectarian religions, had nothing to do with Him.
But there must've been something about Him, that this rich young fellow seen in Jesus that he did not see in others. And he did have the common good sense to come and ask what he might do, because he had seen in Jesus that there was a quality that he didn't see in anyone else. But you see, he was very rich with the things of the world.

13 We have a lovely picture of this at the Laodicean age in Revelation 3, "Because you say you're rich, and have need of nothing; and yet knowest thou not that thou art wretched, poor, blind, miserable, naked, and don't know it?"
What a horrible thought that is. To think that a person could be blind, or would be on the street naked, that's a horrible thing. But the worst part of it is, is the man in that condition, and yet doesn't know it. If that person knew that he was in that condition, he would try to help himself. But being in that condition, and doesn't know he's in that condition... And you can't tell him any different. That's the picture that we see today, that...
Many of us people see God moving in this last day. We see the Holy Spirit come among us, and vindicating the very promises of the Bible that Christ said would take place. And yet, with our denominational differences, and our creed, and our social standing as that young man had, turn down the opportunity like he does ... or like he did.
They were afraid to make the investment. He would rather hold on to the things that he had---popularity, money, covetousness---instead of putting his investment, when the opportunity knocked at his door, to the kingdom of God.

14 I do not believe that anybody that ... who loves Christ, could sit in a meeting that takes place in a real Spirit-filled Pentecostal outpour in this day, and see the very presence of Jesus Christ strike down upon the people, and perform and do the things that He promised would be done in this day... And the only way that you can is turn away the opportunity that God give you to become part of it.
What a rashal thing this young fellow did to turn away this opportunity. And what a rashal thing the denominations are doing today. Instead of accepting, and embracing the Holy Spirit, and forgetting their differences, they separate the brotherhood, and try to draw away little groups after their own following.

15 We find out that in Revelation 3, at the Laodicean age, which we are now living in, to my interpretation of the Scripture, that when the messages come forth of the Laodicea age (as it did in each age, and each age had a messenger) that we come forth in this last day, and find out that that church was very rich. And they were so disagreeable with Him, they put Him out of the church because it's the only church age that we find, even through the...
Well, we would think the Ephesus church age, and the Sardis, and all the church ages as they were, even down into the age of Philadelphia, the Wesleyan church age, and so forth ... even into all those ages He was not put out. But in the Laodicean church age He was on the outside, but was still knocking, trying to get into his own church.

16 With his divine presence, as it was when He was on earth, God was in one person.
Now God is in his church, his life divided among his people. God's living among them, trying to unite them together in a mystical body of Christ, which is called his bride. And when He's trying to do that... And He will do it, for as the prophet said... It come forth, his forerunner for his first advent, said, "God is able of these stones to rise children."
And today, when the blessings fell upon the Pentecostals years ago, and they separated themselves, seemingly not having the faith, God is able of the Methodist, and Orthodox, and so forth, of these stones to rise children unto Abraham.
And did you ever think, my brethren, did it ever come to you in the Scripture, that the very day that the sleeping virgin come to buy oil, that was the day that He come? When you see Greek Orthodox, Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, coming in, hungering for this, "Where can we get this oil?", remember it was that hour that the bridegroom came. Let's watch our investments, where they pay off at.

17 Now. They put Him out of their denominations. They didn't want Him. The rich young ruler went away sad, although you notice that it says here in the scripture, "Jesus beholding him loved him." And He loved these people in these organizations. They're God's people. He loved them, and He's offered, and has offered for the last fifty years, the opportunity to make another investment in Him; not in a building of a church, but in the power and the resurrection of Christ, and receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
It's not popular. Certainly not. It's never been popular. Anything that God ever done on earth never was popular, from the beginning. It's very much unpopular. It's purposed to be that way. Did not Jesus call the Pharisees the whited walls? Said, "Which of your fathers has not persecuted the prophets? You whiten their tombs now, but you was the one that put them in there."
They build it upon some great thing---the Methodist upon John Wesley, a great man; the Lutheran upon Martin Luther, and so forth. And now the Pentecostals is trying to build a tomb to something ... was fifty years ago, that brought them out of this kind of a chaos. And now they're taking it right back in again, polishing the tomb of the ones that we actually put in. That's right.

18 Now this great assurance policy that I am asking each to invest in today, let us look back. And all things should be like any other business. Before we make our investment, we should find out about the company, or about the thing that we're trying to buy. And I think it would be good this morning, in these next few minutes, if we investigated some of the holders of this policy, to find out just what's taken place. That's the only way to do when you're going to make a business investment.
You'll usually go over, and say to your fellow man, "Have ... what about this Such-and-such-a company? What about this Such-and-such-a business?"
"Well, it did this for So-and-so. It did this for So-and-so. And it paid off at this. And this bonds, these coupons, government bank coupons ... and they paid off at twenty-five percent," and so forth.
It's good to invest it ... investigate it, and find out before you make your investment.

19 So, as not exactly an assurance salesman this morning, but I am talking for one, let's go back and investigate, and find some of its holders, some of the holders that it ... held the thing that I have been trying to tell you to hold to: that's God's Word---the Word of his promise regardless of denomination or creed. Men and women who took God at his word regardless of what anybody else thought about it, we want to find some of their holders and investigate them.

20 Let's start back with an old holder I can think of, long years ago. His name was Noah. He was a rich farmer. And we find out that while he had good possessions upon the earth, one day God spoke to him. And usually when God speaks, it's so contrary to the earthly thoughts of the thing, it's so different from the modern trend of the day, until the person that receives the policy... The other people that don't have the policy, or know nothing about it, has never talked it over, think the man's crazy by accepting it. It's always been that way.
God told Noah about ... promised, "I am going to destroy the world, and I want you to build an ark. Take the wood off your farm, and don't make shade trees anymore, but I want you to build an ark. It's for the saving of your life."
And ... Noah obedient to that. It did not cope with their modern scientific thoughts. You know, we're taught that we had a greater civilization then than we have now. Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the son of man," a modern civilization.

21 And we're told by Genesis that they had never had rain down from the heavens. God watered by irrigation. The world stood up straight. It did not lean back. And we had no rainfall.
And here comes a man coming forth upon a policy that he had been given of God, that judgment was coming, and the only way to escape it... ; that there was coming a phenomenon such as rain. Water was going to fall from the skies. Perhaps some of their modern scientific men could put their instruments up, and say, "We can shoot the moon by radar and there's no such a thing as water in the sky. The man is totally insane. Let him alone. He'll bring disgrace upon himself."
If that ain't a picture of the modern day believer today, that he's considered totally insane. He's emotional. He's crazy. I thank the brother at the end here for his compliment: "I was just foolish enough to believe the Word." That's all right. I want to stay foolish.
I seen a little sign one time. I'm told about a man out in California, had a big plate on the front of him here. It said, "I'm a fool for Christ." And on his back was a question mark, said, "Whose fool are you?"

22 Noah was a fool in the eyes of the world in that day, for God's sake, and for the Word's sake. But he had a policy that was going to draw dividends, going to pay off in the saving of his life.
As I've said before, it might not cope with all the scientific movements. They might try today to say this is purely emotion. As one brother testified, I believe here, he wanted no emotion. And that's good. I think there's a lot of radical stuff goes with it that moves... I was reading the life of Martin Luther, or the history. And it said it wasn't such a phenomenon that Luther could protest the Catholic church, and get by with it. But the phenomenon was, the man could hold his head above all the fanaticism that followed his revival.
That's the same it is today. It isn't so much of a phenomenon to see people come out of organizations, and things. But a man that can stay with the Word, and hold his head above all the fanaticism that tries to follow such a move---sensations, and so forth---that base faith upon which is absolutely fleshly, as our precious brother quoted to us about the Greek. See, they go out the same thing: flesh, flesh, denomination, so forth.
But somebody can hold their head above that, and stay with "thus saith the Lord." It is true.

23 We find that Noah ... that after you have received this policy that I am speaking of this morning, the assurance, the assurance of salvation, you're always tried. And there's always... The kingdom of God doesn't come by observation, and we know that you're tried. Every son that cometh to God must be child-trained.
I think that's what's the matter with a bunch of our little Elvises and Rickys today. They didn't have the right kind of child-training. Papa used to take me to the woodshed, and I got a good education---how to behave myself. He had a hickory limb with all the ten commandments on the end of it. It certainly brought discipline to me.
It's too bad we don't have fathers and mothers, more of them today, that would do the same thing, instead of hot rodding, and out all night, and their daughters twisted up in some... You know what I mean.

24 Now. But you're tried, put to the test to be proven. And Noah, after the days of his preaching when he stood in the ark of his door, and gave ... the door of his ark rather, and gave the very last call, God told him, "I am through with them. Get into the safety that's been provided."
I think that's where we stand. Get into that spot of safety zone. The traffic of sin is getting terrific, but God give us a safety zone, as I was speaking of last night---the inoculation. Stay in there. Don't go to wandering. As the brother said, you can totter out of it. Better stay put. Now don't go to wandering off on isms, and dogmas. Stay with the Word. Stay with Christ. To know Him is life. Not to know his creed, not to know his book, not to know nothing; but to know Him is life.

25 We find that Noah... Let's give a little drama of it. It's getting late, and Noah told them, "This is your last call. I have the policy here, the assurance, that it's going to rain. I don't care what your scientific rule says, but you better come in."
They laughed at him. There was some that sat close, of course, and listened. And others didn't even come to hear him at all.
So Noah went in, and the door closed behind him. Noah did not close the door; God closed the door. And so will He do it again, when the last member of the body of Christ... It'll never make it a freak body for you or I. We better come in while there's opportunity. It won't have six fingers on one hand, won't even have two fingernails on one finger. It'll be a perfect body without blemish. When that last member's been added to that body, God will close the door between judgment and mercy ... or, mercy and judgment, should I've said. Notice.

26 Then after the door closed, I can hear Noah say to his wife as though I could listen in (and along one of those, as the brothers talked about, that ... the grounded-wire way of speaking with tongues), hear him say now, "In the morning the clouds will rise, and it'll be raining. The thunders will roar, the lightnings will flash, and there'll come a great rain. I've done my best. But I am in now, and the door's shut. We know something supernatural happened, because we never shut that door. Somebody shut the door. It was God."

27 And you know, there were some of the borderline believers that stood close, and listened, halfway believed it; probably like the rich young ruler. But they said, "We better go up. We know he was a good old man. And if there would come such a thing, we'll be standing close, where we can get ... oh, we'll get right in. He'll open the door." But remember, Noah had no way of opening the door.
Don't you borderline with God. Don't you just be a good man or a good woman. You be filled with the Holy Ghost, baptized into the body by the Holy Ghost. Don't take no hearsay nothing about it. Stay there until you're dead, and your life is new in Christ; and your whole life is changed. Just don't take an emotion, a sensation, or some... Don't do that. Stay there until something actually happens that changes you completely.

28 Noah inside, and now these borderline believers slipped up, and said, "Maybe it might rain, as the old man said. Something happened, something phenomenal." So can the world see it today, that something's happened.
And the first morning, when Noah rose up and went up to look out the window, the sun came up just as bright as it ever did. I'd imagine Noah checked up. Said, "Wait a minute. Let's see if I was right." Went back to the Word, to his calling, to his promise. Everything was exactly in line. "Well, He just delayed it. It'll probably be tomorrow."
The next day, the sun rose. Well, the borderline believer, he become a critic too. Said. "See, there was nothing to it." He went on out.

29 But then finally, after God had give him his last trial, on the seventh day, that morning the sky was black, the thunders was roaring, the lightning a-flashing. Then, great big drops of rain began to fall, and a frantic world of people began to scream and hunt for that ark. But it was too late, like the sleeping virgin that knocked at the door. It was too late. Don't wait till that time. Come now! Notice.
And then, after all this, the rain got heavier. The streets began to fill up. The sewers filled up. The water began to rise. Some of them said, "We'll just build us a boat and float. We'll get us a poplar log."

30 That's what too many's doing today, try to float through on a poplar log. But we find out it sunk. They thought they could build a boat, and it would be all right. But their boats went down.
That's what you think today: that we can build an organization, or educate a bunch of people into it, it'll go anyhow, whether it's God-constructed or not. But the only thing that will pass the test is the God-constructed church by the Word, filled with the Holy Ghost. Got to be God-instructed, God-inspired. Man has nothing to do into it. It's God, and Him alone.

31 The waters began to come high on the ark. Mrs. Noah and probably her daughter-in-laws were wondering. Noah said, "Just hold still. God made the promise. Our assurance is absolutely assured to us." And he knowed that his construction had been according to his instruction.
And I wonder today if we would watch, and take a look around, and find out if our constructions are according to the instructions. For He said "If a man believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also." I wonder if our construction will compare with the instructions that we have been given.

32 But Noah checked. Everything, every corner was pitched in. He said, "Mother, it's got to work. God promised it this way."
"Why," she said, "I looked out, and I saw the Joneses," or so forth. "Their boat sunk right down. And ours is still sitting on the ground."
It just takes a little more persecution, a little more judgment of God, to bring it up. Finally the waters got deeper, and deeper. After awhile the whole family felt something move. She left the ground!
I just want to be in Him, one of these days. I am kind of getting tired of this old pest house. At fifty-three years old, one of these days I expect to feel something move. We want to leave.
The ark was going up. While others sank, the ark was going up. God in his Word had fulfilled his promise. Satan tried him. Satan tried to discourage him. He tried to discourage him through the people of that day, the religious of that day, through the science of that day.

33 I read in the paper, yesterday I believe it was, day before yesterday, where science has found a way that man don't have to die, have eternal life. Well, they think that's something new. We've had that for two thousand years. Think that they got something new! As David DuPlessis once said, "Russia bragged because they had a man in space. We've had one in space for two thousand years. We're so far ahead of them they don't even know where they're at." Sure. An intercessor, between us and God, with the assurance, "When I see the blood, I'll pass over you," when the judgments come.
Don't you want to be interested in such a policy? You should be, 'cause all others are going to fail. That's exactly right.
Finally, when the ark finally made its great last jerk and jump, as she left the bottom of the ground, the Word paid off, and the policy paid off in dividends. It saved him, and his household. I am so thankful for that. We could stay on that a long time, but we'll go a little further.

34 There was another man I'd like---a policy holder---to introduce to you this morning. No doubt but what you've heard of him. His name was Daniel. He took this life assurance policy, and he was carried away down into Babylon in his days. But Daniel, because he was a holder of the policy, he purposed in his heart not to defile his policy. He wasn't going to defile his investment.
Now I'll get to what you said. You have the policy, but don't defile it. If you've got it, quit teetering and tottering around with the world. Keep away from it.
And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile his inheritance with the king's meats.

35 Now, some of you women let your hair start growing. Some of you men, start doing something. Shame on you preachers who are ashamed to say it. God have mercy upon you. You're scared you'd be put out of your organization. How about put out of the ark? Remember, brother, it's God's Word that says that.
Don't defile your investment. If you've made the investment, then hold with it, and keep it in a safe place inside your heart, in your soul. Stay with it. Don't defile it with the things of the world.
Church, come back to God! Get away from these little old things you're running after. The Oneness kick you out, you join the Assemblies. The Assemblies kick you out, go to the Church of God. Quit defiling your inheritance. Quit defiling your investment, I should've said. Go back. Keep it clean. Work for God.

36 I might call, and let you know that Daniel, it saved his life. When they throwed him into the lion's den, the lions couldn't eat him. There was something wrong, 'cause the angel of the Lord was sent to protect him. And it saved his life. And if there's anything that's great to any mortal, it's life. What's greater than life?
Which one... Could a doctor stand here this morning, and speak of a capsule that he had invented by science to make you live a hundred years, or a thousand years, why, you'd sell everything you had to get it. Sure, you would. Life is dear. But I am trying to tell you of a policy, of an assurance, that you don't live for a hundred years, you don't live for a thousand years; you live eternally, because it's an eternal life assurance. And we want that.

37 The Hebrew children, they also had the same policy and the assurance. And they certainly wasn't going to bow down to anything contrary to God's Word. No matter how many things they tried to put before them ("You have to join this, or we'll throw you out."), they stayed true to the Word. They didn't bow before any idols. And when the judgment come, their life was saved because they was a holder of the policy that I'm talking about.

38 Simon Peter---we might speak of him a moment, because he was mentioned this morning. And he's the one of the apostles, and the one that had the keys to the kingdom---in other words the knowledge, how to unlock the doors to the kingdom, and we spoke of that last night. The key locked the door and unlocked it, and we heard of that last night, the original foundation. There's no way to come back, only go back exactly where you started from.
The brother said this morning... Speaking of Simon Peter, and what he did, look where he started from. He started from Acts. There's where the church started from, and that's where the church has got to go back to. Go back to that same prescription, that same Word of God, and follow it through. If we've left it, then go back to it. The only way to come out right is head back, and get straightened out.

39 I shoot, precision shooting, and I have many trophies. And the other day, the Lord knowing my heart, knowing I needed a little rest, He let me shoot a remarkable thing. With a common model 70 Winchester .22 rifle on the range, I shot nine bullets in the same hole.
Two of the group of men standing there put the patch behind, said, "I believe you're missing the target."
What was it? I'd messed with that gun, and tinkered with it, and everything, till every little vibration had to be right. And if it misses the target, there's something wrong somewhere.
The Winchester company said, "That gun will only shoot an inch group at twenty-five yards."
And I had nine bullets in the same hole at fifty yards, no matter what they said. It had worked before; it'll work again.

40 That's what I say today. They say, "You can't have a Pentecost like they had then. People won't believe that stuff. You can't do it. We've got to have the church. We've got to have the organization. We've got to have the education injected into it," and so forth.
If it worked back there to illiterate fishermen who could take God at his word, if it hit the target then, if it healed the sick, if it raised the dead, it'll do the same thing today. If the right vibration's put on the gun, she'll zero right in. If it don't, go back and check up your gun. So go back, and pick up the subscription, and find out where we're wrong at---the only way I know to do it.
But it'll do it, 'cause it hit before. It'll hit again. If it worked for the apostles without denomination, without creed, without being Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or whatmore... It worked for them on the Word of God. It'll work for me on the Word of God. It'll work for you by the Word of God.
But you got to find out where your loose screws is. Sometimes you got (excuse me), got plenty of them. Some of them even gets too tight. You have to loosen it up a little (right) to make the vibration. Like a musician with his guitar, training his strings, he has to know the ting of it. A Spirit-filled man could tell the ting of it, whether it's way beyond the Bible, or way behind the Bible. It has to be right in the Bible, exactly with "thus saith the Lord." Must be trained in right. Then it'll zero. Then it'll hit the spot.

41 Peter was a fisherman. He'd been shooting off the target for a long time. His father told him before he died, "Perhaps, son... I'm an old man. I look for the Messiah. We have since Eden. He won't come probably in my day, but he ... maybe yours. But don't be deceived, son. There's a lot of things comes along all the time, and says it's Messiah. But when the Messiah cometh, remember we have to stay with the Word what the Messiah will be."
Lot of them ... you know there was Jesuses raised up before Jesus Christ. There were leaders that raised up, and pulled people in the wilderness by cults and denominational bands. But it wasn't the right thing. They perished with it. Like the gainsaying of Korah, who said, "Who's holy? Moses thinks he's the only pebble on the beach. There's other holy men."
But God had his way, and God had his man, and God had his things. God's got his Word, and who's going contrary to it? Stay with it. Now. Watch.

42 Said, "Simon, my son, when the Messiah cometh, Moses, by the word, said that he'd be a prophet like him."
When Andrew had been to see Jesus, he come back and tried to tell him.
I imagine Peter shook his head, said, "I'm a fisherman. I've invested in my father's nets. I'm going to catch fish. That's my occupation. And I am a Pharisee. So I'll just let it be like this. I go to church. I am as good as any other man. That's all. That's good. I belong to the church that my father belonged to. Or tradition, I'll just keep with that."
But one day, he walked in the presence of this One. And as soon as he come in his presence, He said, "Your name is Simon, and you are the son of Jonas." Not only did He know him, and who he was, but He knowed his godly old father, who had instructed him. And it was according to the word, a prophet. Peter made an investment. He dropped his nets.
He said, "Come follow me. I'll make you fishers of men."
How different from the rich young ruler who wanted to maintain his wealth. But he dropped everything he had to follow Jesus.

43 It was Nathanael ... or, Philip who went and told Nathanael. Perhaps had a great olive orchard. He was out investigating it. And when Philip told him about what he had found, he was a little critical at first. But he just come to drop in on one of the meetings. And as soon as he seen Him... Being a scholar of the Scripture, knowed that what the Messiah was to be, and whether it was right to leave his church that he was on---these Orthodox people who were casting down Jesus, casting down the policy and saying it was no good, it could not be trusted.
He was a man making Himself God, He was a Beelzebub, He was a wild man, He had no background, He was illegitimately born; He didn't go to their schools, He wasn't educated in their seminaries, He was against their doctrine; He was tearing up their churches, and his doctrine was hindering the people---that's what He was claimed to do. Called Him Beelzebub, said He deceived the people by his doctrine. Now, that's what had been injected in Him.

44 But this godly man, Nathanael, as soon as he walked into the presence of Jesus, He said, "Behold an Israelite in whom there's no guile."
He said, "Rabbi, when did you know me?
He said, "Before Philip called you I saw you."
He made an investment. There stood his priest, and all. He wasn't ashamed. He had found something real. He had found God in action. What did he do? He said ... run and fell down at his feet, and said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel." He made an investment. His name's immortal.
There were those there who laughed at it. I don't know where they are today. That's up to God.

45 Let's see about a woman. There was a woman, probably a church member somewhere, and she was let run loose. She may have bobbed hair, and so forth, too. She was right in the trend of the day. But one day she come up to the well where there was a strange man sitting, a Jew, over against the little panorama with curtains behind it. And when she come up there...
And she had her way of making a living, and she probably had several pieces of the Roman denarii in her pocket then---her little sock that she was carrying it in. And she walked up there to get some water. She'd been out all night. Maybe about eleven o'clock she got up there. I don't know, but let's just say it was that way.
And when she got up there, she saw a man, an ordinary man. Not a priest, not some denominational sign on him, but just an ordinary man. And she looked at Him, and He said, "Bring me a drink."
She said, "Now, you being a Jew, you know that's not right. I'm a Samaritan.
He said, "But if you knew who you were talking to, you'd ask..." See, she didn't know by outward appearance. He was just a man, but He seemed to be very stern in what He said. "If you knew who you were talking to..." I like that, like the little woman in her persistency, the little Greek woman, that came to Jesus.
Said... He said, "Go get your husband, and come here."
It surprised her. She said, "Well, I don't have any husband." See, she lived in a denomination, let them marry and everything else, and remarry, and see... Said, "I have no husband."
Said, "You said the truth. You've had five, and you're living with one now. So he's not yours---your first one was rightly your husband. You're living like that."
She said, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet." What a difference from the scholarly priest that said He was Beelzebub, a fortune-teller, or a devil.
Said, "I perceive that you are a prophet. Now we know ... I've been taught (I am a Greek, or a Samaritan, rather), I've been taught that when Messiah cometh He'll do these things. This'll be his sign."
He said, "I am He that speaks to you."
Right quick she made an investment. She invested. And she run into the city and she couldn't hold it still. She had found the pearl of great price. She'd sold out everything else.
Do you know the tradition in them days? It wasn't right for a woman to go into the street---a woman of that type---and talk to the men. But stop her! Try to stop her. She'd found something. It was real.

46 Like Nathanael. It wasn't ethical of his church for him to follow that Galilean so-called prophet, that they'd pronounced to be a Beelzebub. It wasn't right for him to do it. It wasn't churchy. It wasn't ethical. He'd be churched for it. But stop him! He'd found something real.
This woman found something real. It wasn't right for her to scream this in the streets. She was a woman of ill fame. She was marked. But she had been forgiven. She'd found something real, and you couldn't stop her. Like putting a fire out on a windy day. She was burning---joy, and peace of forgiveness of sins. She didn't want Jacob's well anymore. She'd found a fountain bubbling up with eternal life in it. She left her bucket there, and said, "I am through with this thing. I want an investment in that." What a smart woman she was! Sure. She found something to make an investment in.

47 Let's take another character. Let's go to speak on the little Greek woman for a moment. See, she had a lot of opposition. See, the first thing, she might have been... She was a Greek; she wasn't a Jew. No doubt that people told her, said, "Now, wait a minute. Remember, your denomination ain't sponsoring that."
Didn't make any difference to her. She'd heard. She had need. And when you got need, and you hear that there's something to help you, nothing ain't going to stop you. If God's calling at your heart, you can't stop it. Nobody can. No, sir. You're going anyhow.
I can imagine all the sisters in the church said, "Well, you'll be a reproach amongst the people." That didn't stop her. She went on.
Another group met her, said, "Your husband's a businessman. He'll leave you if you go down to that bunch of ... that holy rollers." That didn't stop her. She went on anyhow. She was persistent.

48 It pays to be persistent when you know what... Anybody that can achieve anything will be persistent. Men through all ages has been persistent, if they ever amounted to anything. Washington, the father (called) of our nation, at Valley Forge he was persistent, regardless of how much the Delaware was froze. He prayed all night. He knowed he had to cross that river, and he crossed it. Regardless of what took place, he crossed it anyhow. He was persistent.

49 And after this woman got to Jesus, look there. Here's what real faith does. When you find a jewel, when you find this policy, I don't care how many people try to discourage you, whether they put you out of your church, whether they do whatever they want to, you still are persistent. You want the policy.
That's the way Jacob was. It didn't make any difference what he had to do to get that birthright, he wanted it. When we get in that condition, we get desperate. Then we're persistent. "Well, I tell you. I, ahhh ... Mama was Pentecostal. I'd pray through tonight, but I'm, oh, so tired." Hmmph. You need some of the toxin, what you need---something to make you persistent.

50 She rushed in. She fell down before Jesus, and she said, "Thou son of David..."
He was no son of David to her. She was a Greek, Gentile. He didn't pay any attention to her.
Then finally He turned to her, and He said, "I am not sent to your denomination. I am only sent to the lost sheep of Israel. That's all I'm sent to."
She said, "But, Lord..."
Now she got right. Not son of David, but Lord to her. "Lord..."
He said, "And another thing. You're nothing but a bunch of dogs, and it's not meet for me to take the children's bread and hand it to dogs."
Oh, wouldn't the Pentecostal blow up at that! "You think I'd let a Baptist tell me that, and get by with it? No, sir. Or a Oneness, or a Trinity, or a what...? No, sir." You'd've stuck your nose up in the air, and went away. But not her. She had to make an investment. She had need for an investment. Amen. No matter she...

51 The real genuine faith will always admit the Word of God is true, no matter what the circumstances is. She said, "It's the truth, Lord, You wasn't sent to us. It's truth, Lord, that I'm nothing but a dog. But let me give You my side of it. I'm not looking for the blessings that they got. I'm looking for crumbs."
"Now, Lord, if You'll let me polish up and get down there, and put me deacon in the church; if You let me be state presbyter, I'll kind of consider it." You hypocrite! You don't get it. You want to come for crumbs. You want to come and...
"Lord, if You'll give it to me without speaking in tongues; or if You'll give it to me without shouting; if You'll give it to me without this other stuff, let me receive it... Just gradually pour it into me, Lord, in a nice polite way."
God don't do it according to your way; He does it according to his own way, see.

52 Preaching some time ago, and a lady said to me ... or, not a lady. It was a Sunday school teacher in the First Baptist Church. Said, "Billy, I couldn't get into the church to hear you, but I was standing on the outside." Said, "I was enjoying what you were saying, but that woman raised up." And said, "She started crying. And down through the aisle she went running." She said, "All that noise just made chills go over my back."
I said, "You know what? If you think that's noise, you're living in the quietest world you ever lived in. You'll freeze to death, if you'd ever get to heaven. For if you go to heaven, there is screaming and shouting, and praising God, day and night; the angels around the throne, crying, 'Holy, holy, holy art Lord God Almighty.' If you're in hell, there's weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. You're living in a mighty quiet place." Certainly.

53 Now, but the little Greek woman was persistent. She said, "Yes, Lord. I admit that what you say is the truth. And I am not looking to ... maybe to be like the rest of them, but I..."
And remember, she'd never seen a miracle. She'd never seen any of these things. But there was faith in there that believed that that was the thing she needed for her daughter. And when Jesus... The first miracle performed there, upon this Gentile woman, He said, "Great is thy faith." See, that touched Him, to see that she was dead earnest.
The trouble with we people today, we're not dead earnest about these things. We cope our words ... we're afraid to say something that's unethical. God promised to fill your mouth. Turn yourself loose to Him. "Don't take no thought what you're going to say." But we get so ethical with it. If I say something ... according to my denomination won't believe it, they'll be kicked out. Premeditated murder. Yes. There's a penalty to that, you know.

54 There was a man called Nicodemus. He saw something in Jesus that was right. He was an old man, a great man in his organization. You know, he wanted to make an investment 'cause he wanted eternal life. And he came to Jesus by night. Seemingly the banks had been closed. But his bank's always open, day or night---open right now. He found the bank open, and Jesus gave him the prescription. He wanted eternal life. And there he made his investment in eternal life. We find all these groups, and it's getting late. Let's wind them up.

55 We find over in Luke 24:49, that Jesus said to these people who had sacrificed everything they had, and was signing up for this policy of eternal life (Luke 24:49), He tells them that He's going to give them the dividends on it. He said, "Now, in order to draw your dividends, get all your differences away from you. Quit fussing whether you're Greek Orthodox, or whether you're Baptist, Presbyterian [as the brother said this morning], black or white, yellow, brown. Go up there in the city of Jerusalem, and wait until I send it."
And he had a hundred and twenty up there, to sign up. And they signed up, and went up there to draw their interest on their investment. All of a sudden there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind. Their interest was paid off. It always pays off.
The day of Pentecost, there was about three thousand souls who wanted to get one of the policies, and Peter told them how it was wrote out. He said, "Repent, every one of you, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. And then God will give you the interest on it right then. You'll draw dividends." Amen.
Are you interested in a policy? Well, it's for whosoever will. That's right, whosoever will.

56 A little later on there was a rich young man, by the name of Paul. And he was going around making havoc of these people, and he was on his road to Damascus. He knowed there was a God, but he thought that was a bunch of holy rollers. Why? He'd never investigated the policy holders. He'd run in, and persecuted them, made laughter at them. Many of us has done the same thing when we seen it---run in, and make fun of it, and say, "A bunch of holy rollers."
But one day on his road to Damascus he was stricken down. And he looked up, and he saw that pillar of fire that led his father, Moses, and his fathers, through the wilderness.
And He said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
He said, "Who are you, Lord?"
He said, "I am Jesus."
He found out, and was sure, that God had been made flesh, and dwelt among us. He knowed by the Bible because he understood the Word, that that truly was the Messiah. And he'd seen the vindication of it. And as soon as he seen the vindication of it, he was ready then to cash in, and he was going to get him a policy. He went on down into Damascus, and Ananias come, and laid hands on him, and baptized him and he received the Holy Ghost. What a great thing it is! Yes.

57 When he saw that pillar of fire, and knew it was the Lord that had been made flesh... They knowed that that truly was Messiah; because He said, "I come from God, and went to God." He came from the pillar of fire. He said, in his teaching, "Before Moses ... before Abraham was, I AM." And the I AM was the one was in the burning bush. And here He was made flesh and dwelt among us, which is correctly Messiah. And there he returned back.
And it kind of stumped Paul. And we understand that he went to another nation, and studied the thing through for three years before he come back. And he saw He was the word made flesh. When he did that he was ready, oh, to invest his whole life and everything he had---all of his popularity, all of his education.
He said, "I forgot everything I ever knowed in order to know Christ." He was ready to forsake his great teaching from Gamaliel. He was ready to cash in his organization papers. He was ready, 'cause they'd kick him out anyhow. But he had found out something. Amen.
He'd found a firm that was reliable, because that Christ had died and rose again; and here he was again in that same pillar of fire. Hallelujah! (Don't get scared. That means, "Praise our God.") He wanted to make an investment. He was a great businessman; he had good sense. So he made the investment, and he become a bond slave of love to Christ. Oh, what an investment he made! That's what we all need to make. That's exactly right.

58 What a rashal decision (now in closing) for that young ruler. What a rashal thing he did. What an unethical thing for a businessman to do. When a man of business and had been prosperous, and was given the opportunity to receive an a-vindicated policy, a man that... He had seen in Him, hisself, the power of Almighty God working, and knowed that no man could do those things, except God was with Him. And he was given the opportunity to receive Him, and rationally he turned it down.
He'd rather have the popularity of the riches of the world. He'd rather have the glamor that he lived in. May I say this with love and reverence? That's what's the matter with our churches.

59 A Jewish rabbi... When John Rhyn was healed (you've heard the story of his healing---a beggar on the street), I was taken over to a synagogue where a rabbi come to talk to me. And he said, "Mr. Branham [John was with me]," and he said, "By what authority did you give this man his sight?"
I said, "I never gave him his sight."
He said, "Well, I've given him alms on the streets many times." He said...
I said, "He can see, yes." I said, "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave him his sight."
He said, "Far be it from God, having a son ... a spirit having a son." He said, "Far be it from a thing like that."
I said, "Rabbi, is it hard for you to believe the Scriptures?"
"Certainly not. I am a teacher of them."
"Do you believe the prophets?"
He said, "I do."
"In Isaiah 9:6, who was the prophet speaking of?"
He said, "Messiah."
I said, "What will Messiah ... what connection will Messiah be to God?"
He said, "Messiah will be God."
I said, "Now you're on the line."
He said, "You Gentiles can't cut God in three pieces, and give Him to us."
I said, "That's Catholic. That's not me. There's one God, in three offices: Fatherhood, Sonship, and Holy Spirit." Not three gods; that makes a heathen. And you couldn't poke that down a Jew. Me, neither.

60 Remember, it's the Word that makes it right. That was settled at the Nicaea council. They took the other side. The old prophets went back to their places with the truth. You'll never kill it. It's going on. That's right.
Say men scratch their heads, and wonder. Just come to God. If a man lacks wisdom, let him ask God. God reveals all things, and makes the scriptures fit together. Notice.
Now, when this rabbi, he said, "Far be it from God having a son."
And I said, "All right."
And he said, "It will be..."
I said, "Show me one place that He failed to prove ... He wasn't God."
He said, "God wouldn't be a thief."
I said, "He wasn't a thief."
He said, "He went on the Sabbath day in the cornfields, and plucked the corn."
I said, "Your own Levitical law tells you that a man can go through the fields and eat what he wants to, but he can't take any out in a sack." His own law, he knowed it; and he turned and looked at me. I said, "John can see, can't he?"
He said, "Yes." Said, "Mr. Branham, I'll admit He was a good man."
I said, "Will you, Rabbi?"
He said, "Yes, sir." He said, "More than that, I'll admit He was a prophet. And if the temple priests would've listened to Him, we'd have been better off today."
I said, "Rabbi, do you believe He was the Son of God?"
He said, "No, no, no, no."
I said, "Wait a minute. You said He was a good man, you can trust Him. If He's a prophet He won't lie. And He said He was the Son of God. Now, what about it?"
"Yes." He said, "If I preach that..." We was standing at Benton Harbor. He said, "See down there? I'd be in the street, begging my bread."
I said, "That's a Jew for you." I said, "I'd rather lay on my belly and drink branch water and eat soda crackers, and preach the truth of God, than to have my name like yours on this building in gold letters, and have fried chicken three times a day. Yes, sir! The truth!"
The tears rolled down his cheeks, said, "I'll see you later."
I said, "Let's see Him now." But he went back.
Then, when he went in the door, he turned around and looked at me, and said, "God is able of these stones to rise children to Abraham." He believed it. What? He was afraid, like this rich young ruler, to make an investment. That's right.

61 Not only rabbis, but ministers, laity, afraid to make that investment. What a rashal thing this man did, make a decision like that. The churches today, this popularity---you can't stay popular and be with Christ. If you love God, you're hated by the world. That's exactly right. Popular, yes, sir---man's praises rather than the praises of God. They need a little toxin. My!

62 But this rich young man ... now here's something for you businessmen, and I have to close. Notice now, so you'll let this sink deep in your hearts. By rejecting Jesus, it never stopped his increase of goods. He continued on. Let's follow him awhile down through the Bible. His flow of goods got greater. And because your business picks up a little bit, don't you never think that all the time that's God's blessings. The wicked prosper, you know.
This man, he got greater. And he got to a place till he was so great till all of his barns bursted, almost. He had to build new ones.
Now, he thought he had done the right thing by turning down Jesus, and not making an investment in Him. He thought he'd done the right thing, because in the worldly possessions... (I am going to say something now.) In worldly possessions he thought he had done the right thing because he had prospered. And that's what our denominations think. Because they organize themselves, and their groups become millionaires, and billionaires, they feel that they are it.

63 Didn't the Bible say, "Thou art rich and increased in goods [to this age], but don't know that you're naked, miserable, poor, wretched, blind, and don't even know it." What a miserable condition! Men and brethren, don't make an investment in something like that. It's bound to perish. Why not make an investment in something that's proved down through the Bible? And you know, with the text that I got written here, we could be here tonight, still on these texts proving through the Bible those who made that, and who turned it down.
I am showing you a real investment to make. Put your life, your time, your money, your talent, put everything you've got in Christ. God guaranteed it to us by raising Him up again. We'll rise in the last days. He promised it. What more could you look forward to? Tell me any investment you could make would pay off like that.
Tell me what you could invest in this morning, and make ten million dollars, and tomorrow be a corpse? What good would it do you? What profit a man if he gained the whole world, and lose his soul? What if you're popular, and called So-and-so; and Deacon, Presbyter, Dr., Bishop, Elder, Pope, or whatever you might be called? That's praises of men.
I'd rather be called a holy roller by the people, and be a son of God in my heart, with the new birth in the Spirit of Christ dwelling in me; and Him proving it by the vindication of his Word and making me live. "The life that I once lived I don't live no more," Paul said. Yet, he was a teacher and a scholar. But he changed his life, when he met Christ, and made his investment in Christ. He was a different man from then on.

64 Oh, increased in goods! Certainly this man did. You know what? Jesus told him, if you notice here, He said, "Go sell what you have, and give it to the poor. And come follow me. Take up your cross and follow me, and you'll have riches in heaven," see. What an investment to make! But he chose not to do it.
Now so has the Laodicean church age chose the same thing, not to do it. And remember, when he got so awful rich (as the church has today), the poor laid at his gate, and only got the crumbs that he swept off to the dogs---Lazarus, the poor in spirit.
Jesus said in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We don't want to take that place, that rutted place, that way away place of being poor in the spirit. We don't want that. We want somebody to praise us, and be big somebody.
As some brother said a while ago ... sure sealed it good, when he said, "How can you have faith, when you have respect one to another ... or desire the praises one of another?" Don't care what anybody says. You want the praises of God, the respect of God on you. He'll only respect you as you keep his Word. All right.

65 Now. And we find out that poor man in spirit laid at his gate, and scrambled for the crumbs. Oh, maybe, if it was the Salvation Army, he'd give him a dime when he passed by, or something, to keep him from looking so bad. But I imagine he invested in his own church greatly, and his organization that kept him great big somebody.
But the payoff finally come. It finally got there. Great funeral service he had.
I imagine some old bachelor come along with a wide robe on, said, "Our precious brother now is in heaven. Oh, he did so-and-so. He is a member of our congregation. He is now in heaven. Oh, how we are grateful for our precious brother." How different it was to the Word of God.
Jesus said his payoff, he was in hell. He made the wrong investment. And in hell he looked up, and saw the poor in spirit, who had made his investment in joining in the bosom of Abraham. And then he become a beggar.
Listen. He was a professed believer. "Father Abraham, send that beggar down here." It turned back again. His investment was in the wrong thing, the possession of the world and the praise of men.
But this beggar laid there hungry, and he become in the bosom of Abraham.
"Send Lazarus. He's there where he can get a drink of water any time he wants to. He's there enjoying the blessings of God. Send him down with a few drops of water upon his fingers, that he might touch my parched lips here, because these flames are tormenting me." That's the payoff. What for? Rejecting to make the right investment.
Don't do it, men. Don't do it, businessmen. I've got more confidence in you than that. If you're a businessman, sell every pearl you got, and buy the one of great price. Make your investment in Christ, in his life in you.

66 Now we realize that everything that has a beginning has an end. And there's only one thing that never had a beginning, and that was God. And when the Bible speaks there (I don't think I'm misquoting it, before a Greek scholar, and a Greek man), the word "Zoe" means "God's own life." Then if we have eternal life, the Greek word "Zoe" means that we have part of God's own life, because we become a part of Him. We are a son and daughter of his. Then we have eternal life, and that doesn't die. You have eternal life.
There's only one form of eternal life, and that's God. God is eternal. He never did begin; He never can end. And the only way we can be eternal with Him is to come part of Him. The only way I become a Branham was because I become part of a Branham. Only way I become the human race is be one of them. And the only way that I can be a son of God is become part of God. Then I have to be born of his Spirit. Amen! That's it. Sell all your denominational creeds, and invest in eternal life.

67 Businessmen, businesswomen, you see through the Scripture, many others have been running through your mind. As you know, I have a way of knowing it, of other things. Sell all your creeds, and all your denominations, and come find life. You're invited this morning. So, come. Don't turn away like he did. He was a very foolish businessman. So don't be like him.
Be like Paul. Sell all your popularity out. He said, "I never come to you with great swelling words of my education, because if I did..." Then you'd trust in his ability, in his education. "But I come to you in the power and manifestations of the Holy Ghost, that your faith might rest in Christ."
May I repeat his words ... or not repeat it, but say it this way: I didn't come representing an organization, I didn't come as a scholar. My words are chopped up. Many of you good people who got education might not even understand, it's so chopped up. But I come to you in the power of the Spirit, in the demonstration of the Holy Ghost with God vindicating his Word, that your faith will not rest in what man does, but what God has promised. Let us bow our heads.

68 Solemnly, Lord, we stand on the threshold where a decision must be made, this great time of jubilee that we are celebrating, over at the Life Tabernacle, of your invitation fifty years ago to your people. And we have thoroughly been through it to the best of our ... my way of knowing it, and depending upon the God who knows the heart of man, that He will reveal it in the proper way that it's meant in; that man might see to return back, and the only way to do it is come to the truth of the Word. I pray Thee, heavenly Father, that none of us will be so foolish as to turn down an investment like that.
May we invest our time, our talent and all that we've got, to the praises of God, knowing this, that no matter if we gained the whole world, we lose our souls, what good did it do us? What good does the praise of a man do, when atomic fire is burning the earth? What good will it be today, maybe, when our tombstones will be floated up in some sands; when the howling winds ... when this world is swept into the sun yonder, throwed out of its place, like it was before the antediluvian destruction; and throwed ... instead of being thrown from the sun, throwed into the sun? No more water, but fire this time. The sands howl across the earth before the great millennium. And our tombstones come up, "Dr. So-and-so, Brother So-and-so, Bishop So-and-so." What good will that do us, when our souls are yonder somewhere in eternity?

69 And it's got to be. The living know they have to die. And as men and women, boys and girls this morning, Lord, we all realize that we're not here to be seen or heard of men. We are here in the agony of Calvary. We are here with the Holy Spirit in our hearts weeping, as it did to our Lord over his rejection in Jerusalem. And our spirits this morning weep out for a lost world.
Give us wisdom to know how to approach them, Lord. We don't want them lost. The very Spirit within us would condemn us desiring their being lost. But may the Holy Spirit constantly cry, sweep out, until we put forth every effort with our talent, with our time, with our money, with everything that we've got, no matter how little it is, we offer it to you. Help us, Lord, to take this great message to a dying world.
I have very little, Lord, that I can offer---no ability, no personality, no nothing. But I've just got my soul, Lord, my voice. And it's all yours. And I'm sure that speaks for this whole audience. Use it, Lord. If I had money, it was yours. What time I have belongs to you; everything, my all in all. Help me, Lord, and help us all. We want to make an investment this morning in the kingdom of God.

70 Forgive our slothfulness. How slothful we have been, to find this great treasure. And how the Holy Spirit in us should have the same interest that it did when it was in Christ, always to do the Father's will, and his bidding. And He come to save the lost. Give us the desire, Lord. May there not leave in our bosom that burning, as thy great servant, John Wesley, said. May it never leave. May it swell greater and greater, until it throws us to our knees to beg and persuade. May it throw us to our knees to go to the highways, and the byways, and in the corners, and in the businesses, and everywhere---into the churches, and wherever we can get---and introduce this eternal life to men and women today. And when it's all over, may we gather in thy home.
As we sit here this morning looking across this table, I seen Brother Holser, a godly old saint ... hear of him riding on that plow; and think of myself as a little barefooted boy with a pair of rope lines over my shoulders, behind an old plow. This great saint of yours from California was at the Azusa Street, seeing those men with their shoulders stooped from hard labor in the field. I sat at this ... at breakfast with them. I'd rather be here than be with the President, sitting in this godly bunch.

71 Our eyes, as we younger people look out and see our daddies and mothers, how they fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas. Help us, Lord, to take up where they're leaving off. Grant it, Lord.
And some day when life is all over, and we sit maybe no more at a breakfast like this; but we will sit at a supper that will be served in the sky some day. Then the King, in all of his glory with his great robes on, walks forward, and we reach across the table to shake each other's hands. "So glad to see you, brother." Tears of joy run down our cheeks.
But the King will say, "The battle's over. You did your very best." Then with his hands He'll wipe all tears from our eyes, and say, "Enter into the joys of the Lord, that's been prepared for you since the foundation of the world," when our names was put on the Lamb's book of life.
Lord, help us to be grateful to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, may we serve you. Amen.

72 While we have our heads bowed just a minute, how many this morning, in the presence of his august being, this solemn moment of the examination of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, if you have never as yet really received eternal life, let the Lord and I see your hand go up, while the rest of them keep their head bowed. Would you do it?
Raise up your hand, say... God bless you. God bless you, you, around over the building. Raise your hand, say... God bless you. God bless you. "I want eternal life." God bless you, young and old. That's right. "I want to invest all that I got. I want to invest my soul. I want to invest my time, I want to invest everything I have, to inherit eternal life. I feel Christ is calling me to do that, and I am going to make it today."
God bless you. God bless you. God bless you, yes. Silently. God bless you, my brother; bless you, my sister. That's right.
"I want to make an investment this morning, God. I am not holding my hand so that the minister can see me; I'm holding my hand so You can see me. You know my heart. I want to make it. I want to sell everything that I've got. I want to sell out to all my popularity, to all my worldly possession, of ideas of things."

73 Now I am not meaning give your property away. I am not meaning that. I'm meaning, the things that you're holding on to that's keeping you away from this investment. Businessmen, I don't mean give up your business. God put you in that; stay with it. But put your remunerations to his work in some way. "I'll make my investment, Brother Branham."
Will there be another one? There's been a dozen or more. Would there ... another one? God bless you, sir. Another one before we pray? God bless you, young lady. That's a great decision. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you, my brother, over there.
Would there be ministers here? God bless you. God bless you. That's good. "I am ready, Brother Branham. I don't care. I am going to stay with God's Word, regardless. I know it's unpopular, but I'll stay with it, so help me God. I'll make my investment this morning. I'll be God's businessman. I'll put what talent I have to his glory, and to his kingdom, and quit selling it to the riches of the world."
God bless you, my Christian brother. God bless you, my minister brother. God bless you, my minister brother. That's good. "I will do it."

74 God bless you, my minister brother. "I will do it." God bless you, my sister. God bless you, my sister. "I'll sell everything. I'll stay with the Word." God bless you. God bless you, my sister back there. God bless you, my brother. God bless you, my sister. That's the way. He sees it. God bless you, my brothers, both of you there together. God bless you over here, you out there. God bless you, my brother, you, sister. That's right. You, my brother.
Remember, while you're in prayer, you defy every law of science when you raise your hands. You say, "Brother Branham, that don't do any good." It does, if you mean it. Depends on what you mean. Jesus said, "He that heareth my words and believeth on him that sent me has everlasting life"---not make believe, but really believe it, and mean it.
Science says ... according to science, the gravitation of the earth holds your hands downward. But you've got a spirit in you that made a decision, because there was another Spirit by you, the Spirit of God, said, "Raise up your hands," and you defied the law of science, and up went your hands to your Maker. If you meant it, He put your name on that investment this morning.

75 Now, heavenly Father, they are yours. They're trophies of the message, the trophies of the Word, the trophies of Jesus Christ. You said, "No man can pluck them out of my Father's hand. He gave them to Me." No man is great enough to do that. Keep them, Father. Send them forth as firebrands snatched from the fire, and make them burning lights for your kingdom. I commit them to You in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

Investments

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Good morning to everyone. Very happy to be here. I'm kind of short---you have to pull this down a little bit. This is kind of a surprise to me (being here this morning), because I was supposed to be leaving the city this morning at six o'clock, to go about 150 miles north from here with some friends. And so when they told me I was to be here this morning to speak at the breakfast, I kind of had to hurry up and change our program a little. It's always a privilege, though, to be where the people of the Lord is. "Where the carcass is, the eagles will be gathered."

2 And I'm so happy to be here and to meet all of our friends again, this fine fellowship. You can imagine how I feel, standing here with a man who has been preaching the gospel when I was a little bitty fellow, and that's taking a long time back. And ... but I'm so thankful to be assembled here with the people.
And now tonight is another great night. We're expecting God to do great things. And through this week I've had the privilege of going up and down through the Maricopa Valley here, speaking with the people in their churches. And we've had a great time. So grateful for the fellowship, and of the Holy Spirit among his people.

3 And I'm looking forward also to Sunday afternoon when I... It's my privilege to speak again Sunday afternoon, and then Monday night at the banquet.
Now I'm trusting that all that's being done or said will have a great climax Monday night. Brother Oral Roberts has been chosen to speak this banquet meeting, and we are ... we want to pray for him. Pray that God will give him such a message that will send Phoenix to its knees trembling, see, shaking the very presence of God in the front of the people. And we are hoping that to come to pass. And all along the line, everything that's done, we trust it'll leave such an impression upon Phoenix that they can never be the same; and the people who's been here and will go back into their own cities will not go back the way they come out; go back inspired and with more determination to do the work of the Lord, with a new vision from God.

4 I'm here because of a vision. And if any of you has ever taken any of the tapes... I'm not a tape salesman. Of course, we have a tape business around the world. But if you ever bought a tape from me (or not from me, but from Mr. McGuire---he's here somewhere taking tapes this morning, I suppose), get that one, "What Time Is It, Sir?" I'm standing in a place till I don't know the next move.
I have seen visions since I was a little boy. First thing I can remember, nearly, in life was a vision. And I, before people from anywhere, I ask anybody to tell me one time that one of them ever failed. It can't fail---it's God. Therefore this one has me in such a condition till I... I go to thinking about it, and it just tears me up. And I know something is going to take place, and I would be afraid...

5 It's just like what I was saying to someone the other day. We realize that we don't want to take God and make it just a gimmick, now. And we don't want to take the gifts of God and make gimmicks out of it. When you say the Lord said something, be sure the Lord told you---not an impression, see. There's too much of that now, you see, and the people don't know how to have confidence. If God says anything it must be just exactly that way. It must happen that way.
That's how we can trust the Bible. In the beginning it promised a Messiah. Those Hebrew prophets spoke of a Messiah, and what he would do. That Messiah came just exactly the way it was. The Bible on one hand says it'll happen at a certain time. It does, right on down.
Now we got confidence that there will be a rapture. Jesus will be coming. We're right here, because it's never failed anywhere else, and it can't fail now. That's our confidence.

6 Like when Jeremiah... The Lord had told him put that yoke on his neck. No matter what prophet, or what else, said that anything contrary to the seventy years down in Babylon, it would have to be that way. Yet Hananiah raised up---a prophet and a son of a prophet. And he took that yoke from Jeremiah's neck, and break it, and said, "Thus saith the Lord, in two years they'll be back."
Said, even the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen, Hananiah. The Lord perform your words. But let us remember, there's been prophets before us. And when they... Prophet's only known when his prophecy comes to pass."

7 I think that's a very good Pentecostal lesson, see. We can be impressed, be excited, and we can have the joy and blessings of the Lord. But when we speak in the name of the Lord... And if what we speak isn't exactly with that Word, you stay away from it. I don't care how good it looks. For this is the complete revelation of Jesus Christ. Stay with that Word. Don't you leave it for nothing, see.
Now see, if Hananiah would just have thought, that revelation and... I don't believe the man was a hypocrite. He was inspired. But it didn't compare with the Word. It's got to be the Word.

8 And one time it happened again, that when Jehoshaphat came down to visit Ahab. And they had a council on going up to Ramoth-gilead. And Jehoshaphat said, "Well, of course, my chariots is as yours. My people is yours." He said, "But should not we consult the Lord?"
Ahab said, "Certainly we should have done that."
So they had four hundred Hebrew prophets. Not Balaam prophets, not heathens---but Hebrew prophets. Zedekiah came up with two big horns and said, "Thus saith the Lord, by this you're going to push Syria plumb out of the country."
Fundamentally he was right, but there's more goes with it besides that. You can be ever so fundamental right. Yet the promises of God is based upon a condition. They was keeping their sacrifices just as reverent as they could, doing what the Lord told them, yet without that sincerity behind it. Offering it had become a family tradition.
That's where we're taking Pentecost---a family tradition. Got to get more sincere than that. If you expect God to answer these blessings and promises, you come back to the sincerity of that Word. What the Word says, stay with it.

9 Now, this prophet fundamentally was right. When God divided up the land that ... Joshua gave that to Israel. And here was the enemies ... be filling their bellies with the wheat that was raised up at Ramoth. And fundamentally right, but you see, it was on conditions. And them prophets, or ministers, prophesying was exactly right. Then they said...
To this man of God, Jehoshaphat, there seemed to be something a little contrary. He said, "Isn't there one more?" One more after having four hundred? Why, it seemed ridiculous. But yet, way down deep in that man's heart he knowed there was something wrong. Any man of God can see there's something wrong. Our blessings is fine, but it isn't coming up to the mark.
So he seen there was something wrong. He said, "Isn't there one more?"
Said, "Yes, there is one more. Micaiah, the son of Imlah." But said, "I hate him." Said, "He's constantly tearing us up, and rebuking us."
He said, "Let not the king say so. But let us hear him."
And so they sent for him to come. And they said, "Now, you've been kicked out of the association long enough. Now you can get over here and say something the same way they do, and it'll be all right."
He said, "As the Lord God lives, I'll say only what He puts on my heart." We need an Imlah again. We need Micaiah, rather.

10 And then that night he asked to wait on the Lord. And when he saw the vision of the Lord, then he checked that with the Word. And when he checked it with the Word, the Word and the vision was the same. Then he stood before them and told them what would happen.
And of course, you know Zedekiah smacked him in the mouth and said, "Which way did the word ... did the Lord go when He left me? The Spirit of the Lord, when He left me?"
He said, "You'll see."
Ahab said, "Put this fellow in the inner prison. Give him the bread of sorrow." And said, "Then when I return I'll deal with him."
He said, "If you return at all, the Lord hasn't spoke to me."

11 You see, it's got to be with the Word, and we must remember that. By the way, I didn't come to say that.
Let's pray. Let's bow our heads everybody. Our heavenly Father, we come this morning in the name of the Lord Jesus. And here Thou hast given to me this morning, Lord, this fine group of people that I might speak a few words to these businessmen from all over the nation. Lord, I pray that you will grant this morning that there will be something said that will not be just someone standing here to take up some time or to entertain, but the Word of the Lord might in some unknown way, even to us, be brought forth that would do something to help the people this great hour---heal the sick, the afflicted.
God, we pray that You'll stir the hearts of these businessmen. Bless the ministers, your believers of all different phases, and sections, and gifts, and offices to where you have placed them. And may we go this morning with the same attitude of those who came from Emmaus saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us?"
May the Holy Spirit come now, and talk to our hearts for the next few minutes through the Word. Grant it, Lord. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

12 Now to you who'd just like to take a few notes, I jotted down here to kind of remind me... I was determined to go somewhere today, but it's... Always the Word of the Lord or the opportunities to speak for Him comes first. We don't know what time we're going to leave this world, and we want to put in every speck of time that we know how.

13 Now I want to read this morning from St. Matthew's gospel, the 19th chapter beginning with the 16th verse, for just a little text to draw from here, if the Holy Spirit will, a context.
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life? [I mean, have eternal life. I want to stop just a moment.] What good thing could I do, that I may have eternal life?
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: ..., Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth...: what lacketh I yet?
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come ... follow me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto the disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
... again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter ... the kingdom of God.
And when his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Jesus said ... Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

14 Now I would like to draw from this little thing here a context, if it would ... if you will permit me just a few minutes. Now we can imagine the event. And being that this is the Businessmen's breakfast---Saturday morning's regular breakfast, I believe---and I had the privilege of speaking last Saturday morning, which... I appreciate this invitation from these fine brethren, who lets me come in my illiteracy, and before smart and educated people, and try to get forth this message that I feel that our hearts need. And I appreciate that, when many doors closing swiftly behind. So, I'm thankful to these men, and I certainly pray that God bless them.

15 Last Saturday morning I tried to bring a message that would be what I thought was needful. I spoke on Uzziah, how he was a great man, an example before Isaiah. But when he got lifted up, then he tried to take the place of a priest, a minister. And in doing so, God smote him with leprosy. And it was a great lesson to Isaiah to know not to trust in anything but God. Then he was in the temple, and saw the place.
And I asked my brethren, don't try to take the place of nothing but a businessman, whatever God's called you to do. Don't try to be preachers, because we have a hard enough time keeping straight anyhow, and you get it mixed up. So let's just stay what God calls us to be.
And I think to the laity, it's a good thing for us to try to remain... Don't try to impersonate somebody else, see. Be just what you are. We'd all like to be a Billy Graham, an Oral Roberts. We'd all like to be that. But remember, in the kingdom of God and his great economy, if we'll be the doormat---if that's our place ---we'll be just as much as they are, see. But you must maintain your position where Christ has placed you.
I'd like to speak this morning, now, on "Investments."

16 Now most any good businessman is interested in some good investments, and I chose this because it was businessmen which would be interested in investments. Most all people like that---investments---and especially it ought to be outstanding to a group of businessmen. And we're always trying to find somewhere to make a few investments, to make a few dollars, or... And that's all right. I have nothing to say against that. That's perfectly all right. But I speak to you of the very best investment that I know to make an investment ... very best place, rather, to make an investment.

17 Good business, or good businessmen, knows better than to gamble. Don't gamble; you're going to lose. You can't win gambling. You're a pauper one time, a rich man the next, then back a pauper again. Gambling is a disease. It's just an evil spirit, and it gets onto people sometimes in mild form. You can gamble in religion. Might not know it, but you can.
It's just like if the nation would stop to... See, you let a drunk man get out here on the street with his automobile. That man ought to have at least ten years in prison. You let a man go down the street this morning with a pistol in his hand shooting around like that, they'd throw the keys away on that guy. They'd send him to the inner jails. And then a drunk man can come down the street. He's absolutely just as much in danger of killing somebody as a man is with a pistol---and he gets five dollars for it, see. See, he ... it's almost premeditated murder.
But you see, the nation don't look at it that way. And neither does people sometimes when they're gambling, little mild forms of saying, "Oh, well. I'm as good as the rest of them." That's a gamble. Don't you do that. That's poor business.

18 Any good businessman shouldn't take his money and gamble, and some... Believers should never gamble: "Oh, well, this is all right. I'll take the chance on it." ... you do! There's a pattern laid down---a definitely thing---and it doesn't belong in any certain group of people. It's God's Word. Don't gamble on that. Now, don't take chances.
And another thing I notice among people sometimes, especially... A man'll get ahold of a little money, and then he'll try to invest it in some kind of a get-rich-overnight, some unidentified business. You'll lose the shirt off your back, and you know that, see. Don't you try that. And a good, sensible, thinking businessman won't do that. It's somebody who's green at the job will take a chance like that. It never pays off.

19 Oh, how many cases have I seen in my time where people had their life's saving, and they get some little gadget out---get rich overnight, real quick, and all like this, and they got it. Then, the first thing you know, they find themselves up on the skid row somewhere, trying to satisfy their ... or drown their thoughts of what they've done.
And that could be applied also in the realms of Christianity. Some get-rich-overnight, shake hands with the preacher, and put your name on the book, and it's all over. Don't you never believe such stuff as that. It don't work out. It's got to come one way.
These get-rich-overnight doesn't... A good businessman won't fool with it. If you've got any ... anything you want to invest in, get some identified business---something that's been proven, it keeps its promise, it pays off.

20 And here's another thing: don't keep your money in your pocket. You'll never get anything. Somebody'll steal it from you after awhile. You don't want to do that. Jesus taught the same thing. When you've got a talent, don't hide it. You've got to put it to use, growing. Now, I may be talking to Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist in these breakfasts, and whatevermore. You never know who's sitting before you, see. So, remember, if you've got some investments, something to invest in, invest it in something that's good, something that's real, something that's been proven that'll pay off---some good, reliable, identified firm that has been proven to pay off in the past, got a name behind it. You men know that.
Even if you have to take it slower coming up, your dividends are smaller, yet I'd rather know all my money I was drawing two percent and sure to get it, than drawing fifty percent and never get it---promised fifty percent. See, you want to stay with the firm, or the business, that's got a background, that's got a name behind it---something that's going to pay off and something that's right.

21 Now, this young fellow that we're speaking about, this young businessman, well, he was given the opportunity to make an investment in one of the greatest businesses that he could invest in. He was given the opportunity to follow Jesus Christ. And what a ridiculous thing that he did! What a rashal thing that... This young fellow, given this type of an opportunity to invest his soul and his money, and whatever he had, in the kingdom of God, and he turned it down flatly.
We look at him this morning as---this young businessman---as a very poor businessman. But you couldn't have told him that. Jesus couldn't tell him any better. See, the Word of God, when Jesus speaks, it's all truth. It doesn't have to be explained. God just speaks the truth, and He don't have to go around, like we do, to try to explain it. That's all there is to it. He said, "Follow me." That's all. He didn't have to tell him why, explain it all like I do, and other people do. But his words are all truth. We don't have to go around with it. Just say it. He said, "Follow me," and that settles it. He had the invitation to make an investment in Jesus Christ. And that's the person I'm speaking about this morning, the investment that I want you to make, if you haven't made it.

22 But the rich young fellow, the teenager of his day, had probably inherited a lot of money, and ... which that's all right. There's nothing against that. And I'll be thankful for any man or anybody that's been given that privilege. But when the ... what I have against the fellow is this: being a man of business... And did you notice, he asked for eternal life? That was his business proposition: "What must I do now to have eternal life?" And Jesus told him exactly what to do; but he wasn't interested, because of the thing that he had to do to have eternal life.

23 And now we look on that, we Pentecostal people that think that man was out of his mind not to do a thing. But let's take it down home for a few minutes. See, there was something went with it. He was asked about the commandments. He said, "This I've done since my youth." Probably raised in a good orthodox home where they was raised up not to steal, or lie, or cheat, or commit adultery.
Maybe the boy wasn't a cheater, the boy wasn't a liar---had been raised with good parents, somebody that had taught him there was a God, and that that God would bring him to judgment some day, and he'd have to give an account for all that he did. And that teaching of his parent maybe had stuck with him, and he knowed that there was a God. But now, it comes a time where he's got to personally meet this God. He's got to meet this person. And he was asked ... he asked what could he do to have this eternal life, and Jesus told him what to do. But he was not interested in that kind of investment, because it took away the things that he had held so dear.

24 Well, you say that man had money, and it was taken from him because ... the money, rather, Jesus was taking because that was his earthly possessions. But it don't altogether mean money. There's just a lot more things that we hold to us, just as much as a idol as that young man held to that money: popularity, denominational difference, fashions, lust of the world, idols, everything. There's so many things that men today (instead of being rich holding to things of money), they hold to different things like that just as tight as that young man, because they're not interested in the investment that Christ is offering them.
It might mean that Christ would call you out of the group that you're in; Christ might call you out from the card party that you have in your church, the bunco game, the society that you belong to. And if you hold to that, you're just as much making a rashal mistake as this young rich man did, see. You're holding to something more of a treasure than investing your life's journey in Jesus Christ.

25 Now this may not have a shouting background to it, but it's got a gospel background to it, the Word. It's the thing that... The children laugh, and dance, and rejoice, and so forth; but you got to know what you're doing this about. If you don't, that becomes idolatry to you, just becomes idol. And if we look, and notice at the conditions that we're winding into... It comes so sneaking. It's just like a man ... a tree standing on a highway, and a little vine rises up---a wild vine---and begins to wrap around that tree. The tree wants to grow straight. But that vine finally gets ahold of that tree in such a way until it's forced to move the other way. So do we get in those kind of places, where we let other things slip in to us, and wind us from that real sincerity in the Word.

26 Now Israel was very sincere in what they did at the beginning. Why, I can imagine a Jew coming down the road with his slick sacrifice, the best he's got in his herd, going down to the sacrifice. Puts his hand upon the animal, and identifies himself with the animal by placing his hand upon this animal. And then the blood is shed, and that Jew goes back home just as happy as he could be, because he knowed he had done Jehovah's bidding. That was fine for a long time. Then after a while that same thing become a family tradition.
There was the same kind of an animal. But someone would perhaps say, "You know, this is the new moon."
Perhaps, maybe, "Yes, I've got to offer a sacrifice." When ... he took down the way the first man did, but he didn't have that sincerity to it.
And when he did, Jehovah said, "The thing has become a stink in my nose."
And He raised a great man on the scene---Isaiah, the prophet---who cried out and said, "Your sacrifices, your solemn feast is a stink before me."
Be careful, Pentecost! Your sacrifices and rejoicing will become a stink in the nostrils of Jehovah if it isn't entered with deepness of sincerity. We must come deadly sincere---not just laughing, and rejoicing, and rallying around. We've got to come deeply and sincerely to the Word of the promise, there take ahold of the altar, stay there until something happens, till we thoroughly die out, till we're making an investment in the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ. Then we're on ... no matter how fundamentally... We can be fundamental, yet you've got to come under sincerity.

27 Now this young Jew was just as sincere as he could be in what he was doing. But when the time come to change his creed, then that's where the trouble come. I wonder if the same God isn't just as able today to rise a second Isaiah, rise us up somebody that can tell us that our solemn feast becomes a stink. We should be ready for the rapture at this time of the age. Look where we're at. There's something needed, and that's back to the Word. We're promised over in Malachi that we would be brought back to the Word, the original faith. And so, let's remember that.
Now, but the price that this young fellow was asked to pay was too great. He had to sell out all of his worldly possessions in order to have this eternal life. You might not have a dime, but yet you do hold things that ... it's worldly possession.

28 For instance, I've been bawling our women out so much about bobbing their hair and wearing sexy dresses and things. How can you dance in the Spirit and call yourself Pentecost, and live with such a spirit as that on you? How can you men call yourself rulers of your home and permit such? I want you to take inventory. You know it's the truth. And there you are, see.
You're asked to sacrifice. You say, "Wait a minute, Brother Branham. I'm an American citizen. I'm Pentecostal. I'm ... I belong to the Assemblies [or the other groups, or whatever it is]. I have an American right for this. And being a Christian, I have a right because I accept the sacrifice." That's what's the matter with America. That's where she's in the twist today.
Every nation wants a messiah.

29 And when God sent Israel a Messiah, they was all praying for a Messiah. In the days of the coming of the Messiah, Israel wanted a general that would come out and stomp Rome plumb out of the country. At the same time, Rome wanted a messiah that would come and make them a new great military regime that would take Egypt, and all the rest of the nations, and stomp them out. Each one wanted a messiah.
And today we find it the same thing. Europe ... well, for instance, Russia---they want a messiah that can take them to the moon before anybody else gets there. India is wanting a messiah, and they want one that will feed them without working for it. America wants a ... they wanted a intellectual genius. They've got a crooked voting machine that give them one. God always lets you have the desires of your heart. Now you've got it. What are you going to do with it?

30 When all of them was crying for a messiah, God sent them one. But one wanted a general, one wanted an educated machine, and all so forth. But God sent them a baby. He sent them a Saviour. He knowed they needed a Saviour. What if Russia got their messiah today? What would we do? See, God knows how to give it.
What if people today that's praying for a messiah, and we're praying for a great something to happen...? We are. We Pentecostals are praying for a great something to happen. I wonder what would take place if it really happened? And maybe He answers your prayer and you don't know it. And you wouldn't receive it if He answered it---it wouldn't come in the color that you prayed for. That's what they've always done. And if it come again it would come in the same color, it would come in the same package---just skip right over the top of it.

31 Therefore, God deals with an individual. He didn't deal with all Israel that day. He was dealing with this Jewish boy. See, it doesn't come in the way that we want it to come. Now, this Jew had seen something that was different. That's what attracted his heart. There was something that he'd seen that was in Jesus that other men didn't have. He knowed his priest and his rabbis didn't have the thing that this young fellow had, called Jesus, who the people believed to be a prophet. He was a different man.
They had seen his rabbi stand up, and the Pharisees argue their idea that there was angel in spirit; and the Sadducees come around and prove there is no angel in spirit, and... They had their differences, and this young fellow caught in between that,

32 where the church is caught today.
Does it take denominational groups? Does it take a group of men? Does it take a group of women? It takes one person surrendered to God, to his Word. Jesus Christ was God made flesh in order to die, that the Word ... He and the Word was the same. The Word could just flow through Him. There was no doubt at all. God's trying to get somebody, through the sanctifying power of Christ, to yield to that Word, that He and the Word can become one again. Then He can use his Word through that person.

33 But you see, this young fellow saw something in this man that was different from other men. He knowed there was difference, because one time it was asked, "This man don't speak like ordinary men. There's something about this fellow that's different. Never a man spake like this," because when He spoke, God was there to answer what He said.
As I've said many times this week, man is still man. They're praising God for what He did, looking forward to what He is do ... going to do. That's us. But you're ignoring what He's doing. Always man does that. Jesus said, "You claim to be the children of the prophets. And you're the one that put them in the grave, and you garnish your tombs." See, we're thinking what God did do on the day of Pentecost, and through the early age. And then we're saying, "God's going to come with a great something," and the first thing you know, pass right by it and we'll never know it. History always proves itself right, and it repeats itself. We pass, let it go right by, and don't notice it.
Now, this young man had seen something different. He seen that there was a difference in this Jesus. He wasn't like ordinary men. He'd seen what that man could do, that God was with Him. He saw that his life, though it was contrary to his own church teaching... But he saw that man, that God was with him.

34 Like Peter said after ... on the day of Pentecost, he said---I believe it was in Acts, the 3rd chapter---he said, "Ye men of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, a man proved of God by the miracles and signs that He did, you with wicked hands [he was indicting that generation for rejecting Him], you with wicked hands have crucified the Prince of life."
Now, we find out now, that we are coming in our age ... and any Bible teacher knows that the last age of Pentecost is Laodicea. Laodicea means woman in the Greek, a time that when women take over. Got nothing against women, long as they stay in their place. If God could have give a man anything better, he would have give it to him. But when she gets out of place, she's water in his blood. Solomon said so. He's the wisest we ever had.
But it's women in politics. Didn't twenty-five years ago the Lord gave me a vision showing that the women, through permitting to vote, would elect this Ricky we got up here now?---a modern Ahab, sitting there with Jezebel turning his neck. And you women fashion yourself after the same way, and she's a model of the world.

35 There's a lot of similarity to Israel. They come in and took a land, and drove out the occupants, and set up their own system there. And that's the same way America did---drove back the Indians and set up our system. Israel had great men among them. They had like Solomon and David and great warriors. We had great men, Washington and Lincoln. But finally there comes something to the throne that through politics has brought in there. And it wasn't Ahab. He was a pretty good guy himself. But that woman behind him...
You know the Bible speaks that same thing in the last day here? And you, loving your political ... you Democrats, loving your political stand more than you did your Bible and God, and you elected that. I'm not a Republican. I'm a Christian. I'm here for one thing. Talk about selling birthrights, we've did it! Certainly you have. And now you've got it, what are you going to do with it? You had to do it to fulfill this scripture, and the people seen that.

36 Now notice. Now the rich Laodicean church ... Jesus, reveals in Revelations 3, gives this age---this Laodicean Pentecostal age---the same opportunity that this rich man did. The same one, because Laodicea... Knocked at the door, showed that our organized life had put Christ outside, because Christ is the Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." And the Word's still God. And the Word was put outside for our organizational system.
That's why I'm here with these Businessmen. God help them, that they'll never organize. But you're not far from it. You just remember that! I love you, and you're giving me a spot, and this has been a place for my ministry. But I foresee it coming. The handwriting's on the wall. Now don't do that! You'll take the same chaos the rest of them did. The devil's been trying to kill your leader for a long time. If he can get rid of him, something will take place. It's just men. They have to have their own ideas of it.
You put a charter here not long ago in your paper. You shouldn't have done that. That identifies you as an organization. We're a group of brethren, who... No matter what the man believes, we're fellowshipping, trying to get him... Let your light shine. They'll see the light.

37 Hudson Taylor said not long ago that there was a missionary boy come, said (in India), said, "Mr. Taylor, I have just received Christ." He said, "Shall I go now and get my Bachelor of Art, and so forth, and train?"
He said, "No. Go testify."
So I think that's a good idea. See, we're try... See, if you do, you wind yourself right into something, you get off out here... You get a lot of educational programming; it takes God right out of it. When you get glamour, God don't like glamour. Hollywood's full of glamour. Hollywood shines; the gospel glows. There's a lot of difference between shining and glowing. Hollywood shines with lights and class; and the gospel glows in humility. Quite a difference, see, see. Now you must remember that, my brethren and my sisters. Don't shine---glow.

38 Now, we find this young fellow given this opportunity to do this, and he turned it away because there was too much of a price to it. And I think that's the same thing today. We don't want to admit now, we don't want to say that we don't, but our lives are proving it. That's proving it. That's exactly right. But the Laodicean put him out of the church that he was knocking on, trying to get back in. And Laodicea put him out because that they were rich, they had need of nothing. They were just as rich as they could be. And so they said, "We are rich. We have need of nothing."
And God said, "You are naked, poor, miserable, blind, don't know it." That's the trouble---when they don't know it.

39 If a man's out here on the street in that condition---naked and blind---well, most anyone that had a human heart would go to that man, say, "Sir, you're naked. You're out here ... you're exposed, and come on in."
But if a man turned around and said, "Now, you tend to your own business," see, now what are you going to do for that fellow?
And here, when a church thinks that it's so clothed in its ... it is, in its self-righteousness, until you think... And you go to bring in the Word, you say, "That's contrary to our creed." What have you sold out then? Your birthrights, when instead of being glamour, we ought to be glowing.

40 Instead of having five hundred or six hundred, ever what it is here at a breakfast... That's all right. I have nothing against it. I'm just here in the name of the Lord Jesus. Instead of that, there ought to be a glowing among us of the Holy Spirit. Maybe there's only a dozen glowing in the beauty of the Lord. The Lord Jesus would be so upon us until the glow of the Lord would be in us. But we want to shine---more members.
See, the church has always counted membership. God counts character, not membership. As I said this week, Eliezer sweated it out trying to find character. And when he found Rebekah, then he had an awful time making her stand still till he could get her dressed.
That's the same thing it is with the church. We find the character in the Pentecostal church. But to get her dressed---and you go to say something about it, then everybody rise up, "We won't have it no more. We won't have this," see. You find when you got character to work on, well, then you can't make them stand still long enough---bring them back from where they once fell from.

41 You Pentecostal church come right out of denominationalism. That's what God brought you out for, was to be his church. What did you do? You turned right back around and went right back in the thing you come out of, like a dog to its vomit and a hog to its wallow. The people did the same thing. And now there's not much difference in you. I hope you don't think I'm trying to be mean or rude. I'm only sent here... My days may be few. I'm standing in the name of the Lord Jesus to tell you what's the truth. You mark my words, if they don't come to pass. You're trying to shine. Stop it! Glow.

42 Now the rich Laodicea church has done the same thing that the rich young ruler did, because the price was too great. He just couldn't accept the Word of the Lord what for him to do. He would rather take his way with the glamour of the day because he had plenty of money, and he could go out into societies of the people and live up his time.
Well, that's about the way we've gotten. We can be an organization like the rest of them. And Pentecost is not an organization; it's an experience. We can be this, that, or the other. We're just like the rest of them. You get more members, but what have you got when you got them, see? Mustn't do that. That's wrong. What are you doing? You're doing the same rashal mistake that this young rich man did, see. Yes. They put Him out because of their love of the world.

43 Now let us investigate some of these people back there, and what they did. And let's look at where we're at today. And now, someone said not long ago, as I told you, "You being a preacher, why are you around with them businessmen?"
I told them I was a assurance salesman of eternal life. So there is. And that's what Jesus was trying... This young man had seen something in Him, now, that was different, and he knowed He had eternal life. So instead of going to his rabbi, he come to that person that he seen was exactly God's vindicated Word. God and Christ was the same, because Christ said, "It's not me that doeth the works, it's my Father."

44 And as I preached over at the Central Assemblies, or the First Assembly, the other night, how God's great nature projected Jesus. See, all the rest of the nature was fallen. He couldn't take a prophet, because he was born of sexual desire, and he was a fallen nature. But God in his love projected one without sin. And therefore this one was so perfect with the Father, just a body that was here called the Son, that the Word was Him. John explains it in the 1st chapter. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... and the Word was made flesh." See, a way.

45 Now, the Word of the Lord came to the prophets, but Jesus was different from that. He was the Word. The prophet only could say what was put in his mouth to say. But Jesus was that Word, that the entire word of God could flow through Him without... And He could create, stop the winds and the waves, and whatmore, because it was God, always in the Word.
Now God's trying to find a church that He can project his Word through. You see, God watches over his Word to vindicate it. And how can He vindicate it when we deny that it's the truth, see?

46 So, these priests with their word, though in their own way of thinking they were exactly right---Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and whatever they were. It's come to that time again, see. Each one in his own thinking, they just do what's right like it was in the day of Judges. Well, there's an ultimate somewhere, and that ultimate is God's Word, because He was the Word. Now we find that they loved these things better than they loved God. The Bible said they would.
Now we're living in that day. Now if a prophecy said a certain thing, we see it happening, then we got to know where our mistake is. We got to know where we got to bypass. Now the book of Revelation, the 3rd chapter teaches this, that we would be in this age, and here we are.

47 Now, how about some of those ... if we had time to stay on this a long time... But let's hurry to get through, because I ought to've been gone an hour ago. But look. Here, this is first, of course, the Word of God. Now let us examine some of the policyholders of this eternal life and see what it cost them, holders of the eternal Word.
Now, "Brother Branham, you said eternal Word."
Yes, sir. Eternal never did begin; eternal has no end. And a word is a thought expressed. And that was God's thinking before there was a world, or a star, a moon, or anything. That was God's thinking what He would do. And when He spoke the Word, it's eternal because He can produce nothing but something eternal. That's the only way we have eternal life, is when we get rid of this perverted life and get eternal life. And that's God---Zoe---the Word right in you. And then the Word comes right through you and manifests itself, and that's what this rich fellow seen, that this Jesus could stand there and He identified the scriptures.
Jesus said Himself, "If I do not the works of my Father, then don't believe me. Search the scriptures; for in them you think ye have eternal life: and they are they what say who I am. They're the one that testify of me." See, but they had it so creeded up, like we have today, till they couldn't see it.

48 Now watch. Noah was called by the Word of God, and he took out an investment in God---God's word of promise. He purposed no matter how bad it looked, and how much the rest of the world didn't believe it, Noah made that investment. He invested in God though it was contrary to science. We could stay there a long time. Lord willing, I want to preach on "The Countdown" Sunday afternoon, see where we're living. All right. Notice, it was contrary to their religious belief. It was contrary in the scientific research of that day that there was any rain in the skies. It never had rained. So, therefore he had to take a stand and to make an investment. And he did so in the promise of God. Satan tried him in every way that he could, yet he held on to his investment, and it paid off at the end-time by saving his life.

49 Now businessmen, what better investment could you make than that at the end-time, where we are? And even science itself now comes around and is with us, and tells us that it's right---midnight hour is fixing to strike. And what good's our big things going to do? What good's our great denominations and a million more, and so forth like this, and building like that, when eternal life is waiting out yonder? And we have the opportunity, and we are invited to receive this Christ---that God could take you and position you in his Word in such a place that when you speak the things that it's foresaw, and foretold, and so forth, could work right through you every time exactly right. Never fails, can't fail.
Oh, you say, "I've seen that tried."
Yes, I know. And you see it fail where there's impersonation. But when you see something genuine, it cannot fail, because it's God. And God sets these things for an example that others might see. How does it come? By all-night fasting? That's good. All-night prayer meeting? That's still good, but obedience to the Word is where it comes---obeying the Word, see. All right. Now, it paid off by saving his life.

50 Let's investigate another investment that a man by the name of Daniel... He knowed ... he was going to church, was going down amongst worldly people. So he knowed that the whole thing would turn that way. That's exactly what we see now. Pentecost has got out amongst the world. I was thinking of Brother Glover sitting here. I believe he's with the Foursquare people. And I was talking one day with Brother Shakarian and that noble person, Brother McPherson, Brother Rolf McPherson. We was sitting in ... and they were talking.

51 And I had went over to somebody's place that had been associated in some kind of a latter-day rain or something. And one of the teachers was upbraiding me, about why did I come to the Temple first? And then later on ... or, "Keep away from that."
I said, "Well, I just remembered that the Lutheran was the latter rain to the Catholic, and Wesley was the latter rain to the Luther, and Pentecost was the latter rain to the Wesley, Mrs. McPherson was the latter rain to the Pentecost. It's all latter rains. Children gets hungry. If they can't find something to eat they'll eat in the garbage can. But God will produce the food if they're just ready to take it."
And Mrs. McPherson, that noble lady, raised up and she said, "That is true, Brother Branham." She come from a good Pentecostal background. She said ... I said to Rolf, "As long here that our Temple has far got away from that something that Mrs. McPherson was telling them about... And they've got to making doctors and Ph.D. and LL.D., and what is it but a bunch of a million dollars' worth of sand and white elephant on their hand? What you need is a return back to the principles and the sincerity of the gospel, back to the real Pentecostal thing that produces Christ in the life of the people." That's right. See, we get away from those real things.

52 And this rich man here saw that, and he knowed that Jesus had that. And He was asked, "How can I have it?" And Jesus told him, and the price was too great. That's what the Assemblies of God, Foursquare, Oneness and all of them is doing. The thing ... the price is great. If we'd just come back to that sincerity of the Word! Believe that, so God can vindicate Himself.
You say, "Will He do it?"
Sure, he does it. Your life will shine a lot louder than your testimony you could ever give. Your life is so loud till the people don't even understand your testimony. That's where sincerity and sacredness... Five good people really filled with the Spirit will do more in Phoenix than all the members we got, if they're consecrated to God in a sincere life, because God will move his Word through there and vindicate that to be truth. And the first thing you know, things are happening so you just ... you can't hold it down.

53 Stephen's was all He needed to the Sanhedrin courts. In the council that morning was one man who could stand there, with that truth in his heart where he knowed. And it said he shined like an angel. See, he knowed what he was talking about. The Word was behind him, and he told them, said, "Our fathers down in Mesopotamia," and so forth, and explained it to them. He said, "You stiff-necked, uncircumcised of heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Ghost like our fathers did. Your fathers did, so do you," see.
That man knowed what he was talking about. He put the Scripture out there, then it cost him his life. But he was sincere, because he knowed what he was believing, and God vindicated it. And when they was stoning the little fellow to death, he raised up and he said, "I see Jesus standing at the right hand of God," when the clods was beating his little brains out. Yet God ... I don't believe he felt a lick of it. God had him huddled into his arms and He rocked him in the cradle of peace, until he went to be with God. He knowed, he knowed, and God was vindicating there. Even in his death he saw Jesus standing at the right hand.

54 Daniel, knowing that the world was going to come into the church ... and it did. But watch. He took out one of these eternal life policies with God, and he purposed in his heart that he would not mar his investment. Amen! That church of that... Businessmen, if you people could only take that attitude, if you could only work to that end, that achievement---that you'll not defile this investment that you've made in Christ with the things of the world, and the glamour...
Why, anything can shine and glow. And what reaches for it? A monkey. That's right. Monkey's always reaching after something that's shiny. That's right. Notice. We are... The devil will make monkeys out of you if he can. He's trying to make you think that you've come from one anyhow, so, with their educational systems and things of this day. But it's not so. That's right.

55 Daniel purposed in his heart that he wouldn't defile himself with the world. He was going to keep the tradition that God had laid down, the commandments of God. Why can't you women and men do the same thing? But Marilyn Monroe, or somebody, bobbed off their hair. And then some preacher's wife did the same thing, and you think you got a right to do it. That don't excuse you from the Word of God. And you preachers let your wife lead you around. What a shame! What a ... word being a man... A servant of Christ can't control his own house; how's he going to control the house of God?
"Well," you say, "Brother Branham, that's just some minor things."
All right, let's get the minor things straightened out; then we'll go to something bigger, see. Then we'll talk about the Holy Ghost, and the things of how to receive divine gifts.

56 Like someone has made this rude thing, but it was told me, said, "You're always hollering at them men about this, and letting their wives do that, and wearing shorts, and out in the streets, and these dressing real sexy, sex appeal." It's very seldom ever talked from the pulpit. They just think that's a regular routine. We need a man of God, somebody to rise up there and condemn that thing.
They say, "Well, you ought to teach them women how to receive spiritual gifts. Teach them something great." Some great man told me that, laid his hands on me, said, "I'm going to pray for you." He said, "Don't you ... get away from that." Said, "The thing ... God sent you to pray for the sick."
I said, "If God sent a man, He sent him with the full gospel if He sent him at all."
He said, "Well, you're going to hurt your ministry."
I said, "Any ministry that the Word will hurt ought to be hurt." Right. Certainly.
He said, "Well, the people are going to turn you down."

57 I said, "I don't have radio programs, and television programs to support. I'm free in Christ. I just preach what He tells me. I don't need offerings. I don't need nothing but more of the grace of God to stand and tell the truth, and not compromise on the Word of God to pull any side lines, or shady things, just to help somebody ... to take and make them a more twofold child of hell than they was to start with. Tell them the truth. Then when I stand there at the end of my road, I can say no man's blood's upon me. That's my desire. I've not shunned to declare unto you the full counsel of God. Now, how can you teach people algebra when they won't even learn their ABC's?"
Said, "People claim you a prophet, a seer."
And I said, "I don't claim that."
Said, "But the people claim it. You ought to teach them some deep things."
I said, "How can you teach them deep things when they won't even learn their ABC's---Always Believe Christ---ABC." But they won't do it. So how you going to teach them the square root, measure, and so forth, the real mathematics of God? How do you see visions? How does these things happen? My!

58 You want to pull on a little certain thing, a little denominational group that seems to be a petty thing to you, and some little bright shiny something that you grab for. And if I happened to reach out for the Word, or something or other like that, "My state presbyter will put me out," or, "My bishop will throw me out." Why, if you come to God you're going to be throwed out anyhow. So what's the difference? I'd rather be... If you're throwed out, you're throwed in. So, that's it, see.

59 There's three things. God always deals in threes. We know that. He's perfected in threes. Remember, in the days of Noah they went in the ark. And in the days of Sodom (Jesus was speaking of these two), days of Sodom they went out. They went in in Noah's time; went out in Sodom's time. And they go up in this time---go in, go out, go up, see. That's what we need now. We need a going-up affair. We need a going-up from these things, and worldly things, that's got us so bound down.
Daniel wasn't going to defile himself. And watch, he was going to keep that Word in a place so it could flow through, the Word. What'd it do? It sent down an angel. It protected his life. He didn't mar himself.

60 The Hebrew children was determined. They said, "All of the rest of them are bowing when the flutes sound. And when the bishops say stomp, and they holler 'Froggie' they jump." But he said, "We're not going to do it. You might do it. You're able to burn us up. You're able to kick us out. You're able to do this, or that, or the other. But we're not bowing down to your image anyhow." They wasn't going to defile their investment. It was going to be the Word, and the Word they was going to stand on. And when the time come to make a decision they was going to stand by the Word. Saved their lives---it had a fourth man down there. If there's anything that we need this morning, it's that fourth man among us. That's right. That's right.

61 Now, now, Peter, one time... He was a ... he was nothing but a fisherman. He had a business, a fisherman. But you know what? He saw something in Jesus Christ that his father... You know, his father (Jonas) was a great man. He was a fisherman. And I'll just give a little drama here just before we close, in the next few minutes. We ... it's ten minutes after eleven. We'll try to be through by eleven-thirty, if you can stand it a little longer. So we'll go ahead.

62 And I know Jonas might have said to his son (just in a little drama) when he'd take him and Andrew on their lap, and his gray hair shining down, after days of fishing where they'd have to trust every day for their daily bread. And I can see him sitting there saying, "My son, listen, Simon. There'll be a time...
"I always wanted to see the Messiah, and we've always believed that, because we're promised one. But listen, Simon, my son, there will be a lot of bogus things rise up [and there was] before the real Messiah comes." But said, "You'll know this Messiah, Simon, because He'll be exactly with the Scripture. And all the rest of them will be against Him, see. But this Messiah will prove it because we are Jews. We are taught to believe those prophets, because the Lord God told us, 'If there would be one spiritual among you, or a prophet, I, the Lord, will speak to him in visions. And what he says will come to pass, and you'll know that that man's a prophet.'
"And Moses told us that our Messiah would be a prophet. And you watch Him. Now, we haven't had one for hundreds and hundreds of years, but be knowing that."
After the old gentleman passed away, one day Andrew staggered off down to hear a man speaking, that was prophesying of a coming Messiah. And after a while this Messiah come on the scene.

63 And now, John, who was looking for Him, saw the God's sign coming down: Jehovah, the ... God, speaking with a voice and in the shape of a dove lighting upon Him, and the voice saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I'm pleased to dwell in." (In whom I'm pleased to dwell is the same way---just turn the verb before the adverb, see.) Now, "...in whom I'm pleased to dwell [or, pleased to be dwelling in]. He's satisfied Me. He's did just what I know that He should do, and what I said that He would do."
Now, and when Peter standing, or, I mean Andrew standing there, he saw that. So he saw Jesus the next day.
He said, "Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?"
He said, "Come see."
So, then he went and told his brother. After staying with him all night, the next morning he was fully persuaded that that was Messiah. And the next morning he went to get his brother, and he brought him. Said, "Come on. We found the Messiah."

64 I can imagine Simon saying, "Now, wait just a minute. I'm a commercial fisherman here. I'm a Pharisee up here. I belong to the same church my daddy did, and I've had all this Messiah stuff, all..."
"But wait a minute, Simon. Do you remember the teaching of our Word? You remember what...? I know you've seen all this stuff. But didn't Dad foretell us that all this stuff with glamour would come up, but that wouldn't be it? But we would know He'd be a scriptural man: He'd stay with the Word because He will be the Word," see. So they just couldn't understand that.
So Simon walks up and said, "Well, I guess I'll go see."

65 And as soon as he come into the presence of Jesus... Now, he'd left off a day's fishing of his daily bread. He was a businessman, you see. And so, he come to this meeting.
And in this he walks up, and when Jesus laid his eyes upon him, He said, "Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile," see. Look. No, I'm sorry---I quoted the wrong man. Here's what He said: He said, "Your name is Simon, and you are the son of Jonas." Then Peter took out a policy, see. He made an investment right there. Not only did he know who He was, he knowed that godly old father that had told him what would happen... And he seen the Word vindicated. That rich young ruler might have been standing to see that same thing, but Peter was ready to sell out his business and his membership and make an investment. It done something to him.

66 How about Nathanael? Had this grove out there, like you have here in Phoenix. And one day he was out there. And he was a Bible student. And when Philip saw this done, went over and told him and said, "Hey, we've found the Messiah who Moses spoke of."
He said, "Na-a-a-w."
"Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
He said, "Now could there be any good thing come out of such a place as that? I've looked... Who did you say he was?"
"Jesus of Nazareth."
"I looked over every one of our presbyters and none of them has said nothing about him. We don't have any school seminary he come from. No"

67 Did you know all the way down through the Bible the prophets that rose up, we don't know where they come from? No background to them---they just moved on the scene, and moved off just the same way. They had no experiences back somewhere. They come to bring the people that had got out loose, and bring them edges back and tie it into the Bible again, see. Where did Moses come from? Humble parent. We just know his parent; know nothing of his background. Look at Elijah. We don't even know who his papa and mama was---just come on the scene. Look at Obadiah. Look at all the rest of them. Look at Amos we spoke of the other night. No one knowed where he come from. He was a herdsman, and that's all we know. He just come on the scene. Yet when he finished his work... Like the great Elijah, God gave him a chariot ride right into heaven, see.
We don't know where they come from. They have no schools or backgrounds. God just raises them up to slam that Word back. And they don't have any denominational ties to tie, and say, "You have to do this, or put them out."

68 Look at even John the Baptist---that great noted prophet---even in the lineage of a priest, but he never went to his daddy's schools. He had to introduce the Messiah. He couldn't... Why, each one of them was saying, "Now, you know Dr. Jones, here. He's a fine man. You know you recognize him as Messiah." He couldn't be persuaded with a bunch of men like that.
He went into the wilderness because his job was important. And he stayed out there until he heard from God, and he knowed what He would be. And when he saw Him coming, he said, "There's the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." The rest of them never seen nothing, but he saw it.

69 Nathanael, he was kind of surprised. But when he walked up, he told him about what He had said to Peter. Said, "Now, you know that we're students of the Scripture. We know that Messiah will be a prophet."
So when he come on the scene, why, he walked up to Him, and He said ... walked up in the congregation and Jesus looked upon him and said, "Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
He said, "Rabbi, when did you know me?"
He said, "Before Philip called you. When you were under the tree, in a prayer meeting out there, I saw you." What eyes!
And right there he made an investment. What did he do? Right before his rabbi, priest, and everything, he admitted his hypocrisy. He fell on his feet ... off his feet to his knees, and said, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God. You are the King of Israel"; when many of those high-classed men stood around there, and all their forms and things, and said, "This man's Beelzebub," and Jesus told them they was blaspheming, calling the Spirit of God an evil thing. See? Certainly. Oh, my!

70 The little woman at the well, what about her? She certainly had an investment when she come out there in all of her immorals. The church had got her in such a place till she didn't know where she was, and so she just went to prostitution. But her simple, humble heart... This may be a great word, and I want you to take it right. She was predestinated to eternal life. "All the Father has given me will come." She had to come for water and she got it---but not from Jacob's well, see. "No man can come except the Father calls him first, and all he has give me will come. I'll raise him up again at the last days."
"Those who he foreknew, he called: those who he called, he justified; those who he justified he sanctified, or, already he's glorified."

71 Watch. When that Word-sign, Word-scriptural vindication fell upon those rabbis and priests they said, "This man's a devil." But when it fell upon that little prostitute, what happened? Quickly it flashed to life. Them rabbis said, "This man has a telepathy. This man is a fortune-teller. That's the way he can tell those people. He's a fortune-teller." But as soon as that struck that little prostitute in that condition...
If it can warn that prostitute in that condition, what ought it to do to the Pentecostal church who claims to have the Holy Ghost? See what I mean? I hope it don't go over your head. What ought it to do to us?
But as soon as it flashed on them ...

72 soon as it flashed on the little woman, she never said, "You are a Beelzebub." Look at her. She said, "Sir, I perceive you're a prophet. Now we're know ... we know we're looking for one to come. We haven't had a prophet for hundreds of years. But we know that the Messiah's going to be a prophet. We know that he'll tell us these things when he comes."
Jesus said, "I'm he."
Now she knowed a man that could tell her that, would certainly be honest, because he had the Word. The Word was with him, for the Word come to the prophet. He had the true interpretation of it, for He was the Word. And as soon as it struck her, she was interested in a policy right away. She wanted an investment right quick. She wanted some of that water that she didn't have to come to the well to draw. And as soon as she seen it, it set her heart afire.

73 Down into the city she went, said, "Come see a man who's told me the things I've done. Isn't this the very Messiah? Isn't this what Messiah's supposed to be?" And the Bible said that the people of the city believed Jesus because what He had done to that woman. Her testimony caused that city to turn. Now He never done any miracles. He knowed Philip was coming down to do that, so... Like John never had any miracles, because Jesus was going to follow him. Now we find out that that ... they invested in this policy right away.

74 Let me take just another one or two, if you'll pardon me a minute, few? Nicodemus one day admitted the truth. You know, he come by night to make an investment, and he found the bank was open. It's always open. He thought, "Well, the bank's doing business all through the day for this ... investments, but I believe I'll go by the night." But he found it open, ready. And he said, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a man sent from God. No man could do these things like you're doing, except God be with him. That's totally impossible." See, he admitted there to the whole denominational world that they knowed it was so. But for prejudice and pride, and social popularity of the day---just like that rich young kid did---for prestige and social understandings, and they didn't want to give up the world...
Just exactly like this nation don't want a godly man up there to correct us. That's the reason we're worm-eaten with communism. They won't take a godly man. They'll elect somebody that can let them live any way they want to. It's easy for us Americans and us Christians to say that, but when we come down and...

75 Now let's talk, and bring it back home once---you church members wants the same thing. You want some preacher, you women, that will not condemn you for the way you dress and live ---somebody that will pat you people on the back, and tell you that you can do this, that, and the other, and you can act like the world and live like the world and still maintain your confession of Christ. You're wanting those things. You voted ... you'll vote a godly man out of your community to get a man like that in there. It's a desire. It's the spirit of the nation. It's the spirit of the last days. Want to confess and hold your confession---"I'm this, I'm Pentecost, I'm Methodist, Baptist"---and still hold to that and live any way you want to.

76 Jezebel had the country in the same way, but God sent them a pastor. Elijah was her pastor. Oh, she wouldn't admit it, but he was anyhow. Certainly. God was able of these stones to rise children to Abraham. God don't have to come through your group, or no other group. He's God. He does what He wants to. And He will... One thing He cannot do: that's deny his own Word.
So Nicodemus came, and he wanted to make an investment and he found just what he was asking for. He was sincere---he found it. (We got to hurry.)

77 Luke 24:49, there'd been a group of people had made an investment. And Jesus told them in Luke 24:49, that 120, "You go up there to the day of Pentecost up there, and wait until you're endued with power from on high. I'm going to send you some interest on this investment you made." He had found them. How did He take just that group?
How did He take that little group? One day when He had a ministry of healing the sick and showing his Messiahship, why, everybody---"Oh, wonderful, Rabbi. Oh, come over to our church. Hold a meeting here, Rabbi. We want you over here. We want you over here." And a great group began to follow him.

78 But one day God changed that ministry in Him, from miracles to the teaching of the Word. Surely you can read between the lines. You're not that blind. If it is, you can lay a pencil between your eyes and put your eyes out. Notice. Notice---a pencil that would write the Word of God. Notice, as soon as God changed his ministry from his miracles---his miracles went on, but not like that ---He began to tell them the straight Scripture truth and where they was standing. The crowd walked away from Him, said, "This is a hard saying." What happened?
The seventy that was following Him, he'd ordained, they walked away too. Said, "Who can understand a thing like this. That's all against everything we was ever taught." What happened?
And He turned to the twelve, and said, "Do you want to go, too?"
That's when Peter said that wonderful word: "Lord, where would we go? Tell me something better."

79 O God, have mercy! Where can you find any creed that's better than the Word of God? Where can you find any love that's deeper than the love of Jesus Christ? Where can you find any satisfaction deeper than the satisfaction Jesus Christ gives? What makes you do the things you do, is because you're ... it shows an emptiness. A woman that wears her eyes blue, and cuts off her hair, and wears manicure; and a man that will stand and permit his wife and children to act like that---it goes to show there's an emptiness somewhere that ought to be filled with power, that ought to be Christ in there. But it testifies of itself.
A man that would proselyte---bring believers from one group to another---it shows there's an emptiness there. He's working for an organization instead of the kingdom of God. I don't care where they go to, as long as they're born of the Spirit of God they'll live a Christian life. Emptiness---the works testify of it.

80 Notice, they went up there for remuneration, and God paid off on that investment they'd made. And He give them more. Now if this Pentecostal group wants more, you live right and do right. God's got plenty to pay off with, and the bank's open day and night.
But you'll have to ... not say, "Well, I guess I'll go up there once," and they went up there and said, "Well, I suppose... You know what? We've been up here for two days. Why, I think if He was going to do anything..."
"I've been here to the altar twenty minutes. If He was going to give me the Holy Ghost, He'd give it to me now."
That's our ideas. That's what we got. The sincerity... Oh, we like to be like the children---when we're piped to dance, and so forth. I wonder about it.

81 Then eight days, nine days, what if Matthew would have raised up and said to Simon, "You know what? Jesus told us to wait up here. We're fundamentally right. We've waited. Now I believe we've already received it. See, I believe we've received it. Let's start ... you get a group named after you; and you get a group named after you; and I'll tell you, we'll go out and preach the gospel now." No, no. That didn't work with the Scripture.

82 Isaiah said, "Precept will be upon precept, and line upon line, here will be a little, and there a little. Hold fast to that what's good. With stammering lips and other tongues will I speak to this people, and this is the rest. This is the refreshment."
They knowed Joel had promised in the last days, "I'll pour out [Joel 2:28], I'll pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh. There will be such an unction that I'll show signs in the heavens above, and in the earth below, pillars of fire and vapor of smoke." Oh, my! See? They waited until the Scripture identification came, see. They'd sold out. They'd had their investment. They wanted that kind of remuneration.
Today, instead of the church doing that, we sell out to membership. Start off, bring them in---anything. Get more than the Methodists has got, or the Baptists has got. Get more than the Oneness has, and the Oneness more than the trinity or the twoness, or how many "ess's" you got. I don't know, see. All that. What is it? It's a bunch of worldyism. It's a bunch of nonsense! Come back to God and his vindicated Word! Amen!

83 The rich young Paul one time---just as full of theology as he could be, like the rich young ruler---he was on his road down to Damascus, and he seen that there was a light flew before him, a pillar of fire that put his eyes out. And He spoke to him. And He said, "Saul, it's hard for you to kick against the pricks." And when he ... it was vindicated to him that that was... Jesus was the same God of the Old Testament, see. He saw it there. He had been making Him somebody else, some Beelzebub. But when he saw this pillar of fire, he knowed that was the same pillar of fire that he'd been taught that led Israel. And there it was!
He said, "Who are you, Lord?" He recognized Him as Lord because the pillar of fire was there.
He said, "I'm Jesus."
He made an investment too. He wanted that. The thing that he had played with so long, there it was right before him. He made an investment when He was properly vindicated that that was Jesus, and he was God. He made it known: "Lord, what would you have me do?"

84 Oh, what a rashal decision this rich young ruler made. We people today think he done a horrible thing. He's like the people of Laodicea today. He wants popularity, praises of men, instead of the service policy (this is it) that God offers to men to live by.
Jesus Christ was the expressed image of God. He was the ... what God through his power projected---a body which was called Son because He was a man---and He come from God. And He was so committed to God till He didn't think it robbery that Him and God being the same person. And they were, because God was the Word, and He was the Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. And there's where God could take his Word without anything ... any interruption. He was constantly doing that what the Father wanted done. And there the Word could work through Him there, till Him and Father was one. That's what...
And then He took that perfect life and all of our sins, and placed it upon that perfect life and He died that we renegades could be ... could die to ourselves and be born of above, and his Word could work through us the works of God.

85 Oh, what a crucial thing, mistake, that the church has made---just exactly like this rich young fellow did. He increased in his goods. Oh, yes, he made good, like the Laodicea, but he made a bad mistake. Oh, my! And he got so great and rich! Let's follow this fellow just for a few minutes now, and honestly, I will quit. Look, notice. He... Notice. [Brethren encourage him to continue.] Thank you, thank you, brother.

86 He increased in goods. Now, many people think because... That's where I hear some of the Christian businessmen one time, always testifying in these meetings how the Lord prospered you. Sometimes that's the ... absolutely the very facts of evidence that you failed. That's right. How different this Pentecostal group is today from what it was in that day. When they got the Holy Ghost they got rid of all they had, to start the ministry; and today we try to say we got millions, and all that, you see. That's right. It sure is the truth. And we call ourselves Pentecostal.

87 I said that one time. At one of the meetings I heard some of the men testifying, Brother Demos and them present. I said, "You men, I'm among you because I love you, and I think you've got something. But I'm in here to help you, to do everything I can. I hope you understand me." And I said, "Tonight all you've done was tell about how many Cadillacs you've got, and how much you was willing to..." I said, "Them men's got more Cadillacs than you ever could have. Tell them about how to get rid of something they've got of this worldly stuff, and get something in their heart that God's ... to vindicate, see."

88 There was a fine little Pentecostal brother. (He may be sitting here now. I've nothing against him.) He raised up. And many of the businessmen sitting here knows this is exactly the truth. And I said ... he said, "But, Brother Branham, that's where the great mistake was made."
I said, "What mistake did God make?"
He said, "Why, those people that sold their goods and divided it amongst the poor, like Jesus told this rich man to do---divide it amongst the poor---they made a mistake. For as soon as the persecution rose they had no home to go to."
I said, "My brother, you claim to be Pentecost, and think the Holy Ghost can make a mistake? God's Word ever remains the same."
He said, "Well, they didn't have any place to go."
"That's exactly what God had them to do it for. Then they went from place to place scattering the gospel. They didn't have any place else to go," see. Not knowing. But today we take it so different.

89 Let's watch this rich young fellow who made this rashal mistake as a businessman. I want to ask you, brethren. Wasn't that a horrible mistake for a businessman? The audience---wasn't that a horrible mistake for a businessman? What greater business could he have accomplished anything in, than have eternal life? How many Cadillacs would you get at the end of your road? What would Demos Shakarian have done the other day when his heart started jumping, and he was going out?
I ask you, think of it! What's your church membership, what's your popularity going to do? What's going to happen to you when you have all these things, then have to meet God? There's no pockets in shrouds. You meet God with your soul. And the way that soul is, it produced what kind of a life you are. And if that life in you denies this Word, then get rid of it, and get a life that will stay with that Word and make God live in you. Right.

90 There's something wrong, something that won't make the women tally right up. I don't care how many times they speak with tongues. I don't care how many times they do this. That don't mean a thing. Your fruit speaks louder than your voice. Certainly it does. The Holy Spirit is humility, humble.
You say, "I don't have to do that." I know you don't. A sheep don't have to be sheared, either. But it gives its wool freely. If you're a sheep... Now, a goat will kick up all kind of a fuss about it. So now you see where you're standing? When God's shears begins to shear you... I don't say that ... I'm not saying that for a joke. This is not a place for jokes. This is a pulpit! This is the place where judgment goes out.

91 Now, a sheep will just lay and let you shear---forfeit his rights. You're American. You can cut your hair. You can do anything you want to in America. You can get drunk, lay on the streets, and you can be a prostitute. You can live with a man, or a man live with a woman, become a common-law wife. You can have four or five, six, seven, eight, many as you want to. Don't make ... some of them have fifteen, twenty. Where's your pattern at? You don't have to do that.
You say, "Well, if I'm American haven't I got the rights?"
Yes, sir. That's exactly right. But you forfeit your rights if you're a sheep, God's lambs. That's right. You forfeit the rights that you have. Now think of this, now, as we close.
Yeah, increased in goods. Yes, sir. Now, we follow him just a little bit, and then we're going to close.

92 We find the next place, this rich young man had so much until he must have had something like a fleet of Cadillacs. You know, they say in California now, unless you have at least three or four Cadillacs, and own a great big place, you're not spiritual. Might be spiritual of the world! Poor people ... and I know missionaries preaching the gospel without even shoes on their feet.
I come by the other day and I noticed where it said this great big future home of So-and-so; went over here---this future home of So-and-so. And I said, "God, what about me?" And He said, "Look up!" Right.

93 When the income tax put me under a burden the other day, for checks that people had signed in a meeting to pay off the meeting... The income tax went back fifteen years, and made me pay to them forty thousand dollars. And I had to get mammoth collateral and things (and they're sitting right in this building now) to sign a ticket, that I could pay it off at four thousand dollars a year, or be brought in before the courts. I said, "I don't owe it. Here's my sheets of my income tax."
Said, "Yeah, but when them people sign that check ... you identified yourself when you signed it. It was yours, and then you turned it over to pay the price of the meeting," see.
Is that justice? No, sir. No justice. I thought very bad about it. When ... I looked over in the Bible and seen that every man that ever held a spiritual office in the Bible was connected with the government. The government got him because it's the seat of the devil. Take back ... Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, all the prophets, even to Jesus Christ, died under capital punishment by the government. They can't catch them in morals and anything else, so the devil in his main seat throws it on with the government. That's exactly right.
Yeah,

94 this rich man had increased in goods. My, I wish somebody could... Forty thousand dollars---what that meant to somebody ... paid it off like that. I got ten years to do it in, at four thousand a year. I draw a hundred dollars a week. I could have had it. That's exactly right. I'm not patting myself on the shoulder. I'm telling you something, what I'm ... just an example or something, that you might understand. I could have had it. If I took the money people had give me, I'd be more than a millionaire. I could have had ... straight of buildings. You wouldn't have to rent this. I'd say, "Come on in, and take it over," see.
But my! I've tried to think that ... make Jesus Christ my pattern. He could have created fish. He could have created money. He could make wine from water. He could feed thousands on two fishes and a loaf or two of bread. But yet, He didn't have a place to lay his head. He was our example. Not something to shine, but something that glows---the gospel.

95 There we find this rich man till he had so many things, till his barns all bursted out, and everything. He said. "Now you see? If I'd have followed that fanatic, you see where I'd have been, see? But now I live in glamour, all the women around me, and I've got all this that I want, and I got all the so-and-so. I'm good standing with all the priests and rabbis. They all pat me on the back, and say, 'Brother Jones, we're so glad to see...' [I hope there's not a Brother Jones here this morning.]"
But pat him on the back, say, "Brother, we're so glad to have you. Oh, all you people just a minute, now. I want to show you. There sits Dr. Levi Levinski Jones [whatever it is], sitting over here. He's one of the supporters. He builds us a church. He does this, that, or the other." Hmmm. Sure.
Now that's his state there. He's shining like Hollywood. Probably the chorus girls and things around him was marvelous. And he had all that he wanted of this world's pleasures. That is true.

96 And there was a poor in spirit laying out there begging for a few crumbs. Matthew 5 said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." We find Lazarus out there with nothing. What do you think about him? He swept off a few crumbs now and then to feed him. I wonder. Yeah.
But his payoff finally come. Yeah, he got his payoff. You will, too, and so will I, and every mortal. (I'm closing.) His payoff come. What did he get? A great funeral service. I can imagine some bachelor with his collar turned around, Holy Father...

97 What's the matter with you Pentecostal people, calling these here fellows "Father"? I see it in your magazine. What's the matter with that editor, anyhow? Thought you were Pentecostal. Get up here and say "Holy Father So-and-so," saying... The Bible said call no man "Father" like that. You got one Father---Jesus Christ. What's the matter?
See, what I'm telling you? The weeds done got you. You'd better cut the thing away right now. You'd better listen to what I'm telling you. You might not want to do it because I'm an ignoramus. But I'm not as ignorant maybe as you think I am, see. I may be. Maybe God has to take something ignorant. By his grace I see it coming. I see the handwriting on the wall. Straighten up, or you're going out. That's a big word for somebody to say. I'm not saying that in myself; I'm inspired to say this, or I wouldn't be saying it---much as I love men and women, much as I love them.

98 Let me tell you something. Over in I John 4:17 we find out that rebuke, and hard, is only love projecting itself for the judgment. That's right. It's only because of love. If you seen your little child out in the street and going to get killed, would you say, "All right, Junior, Ricky honey, you sit right there. You're having a good time."? You'd be a poor subject of a mother, or a poor daddy. You'd get him in there, and if he did it again you'd turn him over your arms and give him what he ought to have. Sure. You'd give him such a raking that he'd be afraid to go out anymore.

99 That's the way God does his. You don't say it to be mean; you say it for love. People's got all things mixed up thinking love is just some little puppy dog something. Love is straight. God is love. God rebukes and chastens because of love. I hope that soaks just as deep as I intend it to do, see---that it's love that corrects, it's love that's corrective. And genuine love will stand correction. But puppy dog pat-on-the-back, and Dr. So-and-so, Bishop So-and-so ---sometimes it makes the Holy Spirit cry within your heart. That's right.

100 Great denominational service, all the deacons come around, and all the great presbyters, and they had a great service. And oh, the Businessmen Association of the city come and said, "Our precious brother, who built this, and our precious brother who built that, he's way yonder in the arms of glory, just having a wonderful time."
And the Bible said, "He lifted up his eyes in hell." And he seen the man of a poor spirit, poor in spirit, out yonder with his inheritance from his investment. He made the wrong investment, this man did. That's right. Yes, sir. He seen the holder of the policy that accepts eternal life. And yonder he was, in heaven. And knowed he only give him crumbs to help him---not the things that he should have done, had've surrendered his life upon the opportunity that Christ give him. Great speakers come, and said, "Our precious brother, he's so-and-so." Man can say one thing, but God says something else, see. We find out that his life wouldn't tally, wouldn't come up with what the Word of God required.
Now, I want you to think about your own, as I think about mine, see. His great speakers, great men stood up at his funeral. How different it was from Abraham's funeral.

101 Abraham had forsook all the riches---even his foot upon a throne to be Pharaoh of Egypt. And he forsook it, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the churches and fantastics of Egypt. What did he do? When Abraham died, what happened? (I mean Moses instead of Abraham. Pardon me.) Moses, when he died, he... You know what kind of pallbearers he had? Angels. Why? A man couldn't pack him where he was going. He had to have angels to pack him where he was going. Why? He had forsaken the glamour of the world, and took the reproach of Christ.

102 Are you this morning, my brethren, are you in that estate? Is that your modern condition now, your present estate? Or does it find you in a position to accept that?
You sisters, does your present state...? Will you turn this way and say, "Oh, Brother Branham? I like him, but he's a little out of his head."?
I may be. But if I'm out of my head, I want to be, so I can be in his head. "Let the mind that was in Christ be in you," and I only tell the truth. Sure. Now, remember, follow Christ.

103 We find out that Moses, he had pallbearers that had to take him up. Man couldn't do it. But this rich man had probably the celebrity of the city for pallbearers. But in hell he lifted up his eyes. But why? His investment in the... Now, he was a church member. You say, "He wasn't." He was. The Bible said he was. He called Abraham "Father," see---"Father Abraham," see, seeing Lazarus.
But he was a professed church member, but he did not want any investment in Jesus Christ. So you see where he lifted up his eyes? In hell. Then he seen this beggar far off in the bosoms of Abraham. Then he became the beggar.

104 You're going to beg some time. Do you know that? You're going to beg some time. So if you're not right with God, get begging right now to get all the starch out of you, all the world out of you. Beg for mercy! If you don't, you'll find your estate the same where this rich young fellow did, when the opportunity was presented to him, like you've had it presented to you, by the vindicated Word of God made personal. Amen!
I feel now like a Pentecostal should feel. The Word, the truth, what will you do with it? What are you going to do? Skip it off, and go out there and do something else? Go out and eat your dinner? It should cause a prayer meeting. It should cause a fast. It should cause... How can you do it, when there's nothing there to do it with? No desire, no sincerity. Let someone come and deny it with the Word. God vindicates his Word. He promised He'd do it; He's always did it. So you see, he become a beggar after all. Sometimes we got to beg. Don't make your mistake like he did. Make your investment this morning in Jesus Christ.

105 I'm going to take one more rich man, just one, about one minute. I just come through the Nicaea council, pre-Nicaea, post-Nicaea council, and the Nicaea fathers, all the ... see where the church, seeing just where it made its mistake. I come upon the writings of St. Martin ('course Frenchman), and I see that he was born in a rich home. His father was a great military man. And in France in that day it was a order that the son should do as the father did. I think that's still a good thing in the Christian way. If that is your Father, you take after Him.
Now, we find out that Martin was to be a soldier. And he was called in his life, of God, and he was humble. You know, every soldier had a man that should polish his boots, and take care of him, and keep him groomed, because he was an example of the nation before the people. And they said, instead of Martin's servant, the ... probably the colored boy that was to shine his boots, he shined the colored boy's boots. And yet not even yet a Christian. He was a heathen.
But that predestinated seed laid there,

106 just like it did in the little woman when she saw the miracle, that Jesus could tell her where her trouble was. Flashed like that, it went to life. The sun shined on it. And you can't keep the life down when the sun shines on a seed. A seed can lay there with no life in it, and it will just lay there. But if it's got life in it, it will come when the sun strikes it.
And Martin, yet that call in his life, and he wanted to do something for God and he didn't know what to do. And he said one day he stood by a gate, and as the people entered the city, a real cold winter (like we're having in the east now. I just heard from home. It was twenty below zero there in Indiana. That's almost a record. I guess it is a record.),

107 real cold, and poor people laying out without food and freezing to death...
And Martin, St. Martin, come walking through the gate, and there he seen an old beggar laying there. And the poor old fellow was ragged, he was freezing. And Martin stopped back. And there come men by with great estates. And said, "Please, sir. I'm dying---won't you give me something? I'm freezing. I can't make it through this night. Please don't let me die." And they just walked by, because he was nothing but a beggar.
Martin stood and looked at it. He'd give everything he had away. He'd ... he took ... he had one coat. It was a shawl, like it went over his shoulders, that soldiers had in those days. And he had one big, long, like a blanket over his shoulders. And he stood. He knowed he'd freeze, too, that night if he didn't have it.
So he took his sword and cut it half in two, went over and wrapped the old beggar in it; took the other half and wrapped around him. When he went down the street, by doing a trick like that, they laughed at him, said, "What a funny looking soldier!"

108 No doubt today, standing on the Word, standing for truth, the denominational world will say you look like a funny looking thing. "What creed did you come from? Where is your credentials?" Right, when you're trying to do that which is right, trying to do what is right with the Word of God.
That night while Martin was asleep he was wakened up in his sleep. He looked. Standing in the room there stood Jesus, and He was wrapped in that piece of garment that he'd wrapped the old man in. See, he made an investment. He got his call there, and he was the messenger of that age. He brought the church back to the Pentecostal principles---a great man.

109 Not long ago, looking on The Martyrology, the card ... I asked for the card of St. Martin. This Catholic friend said, "Why, he wasn't canonized." He might not be by the Roman church, but he was in the book of God. He brought the church back to the principles of the gospel, back to the original baptism of the Holy Spirit, back to the real life of God. Why? He did that what was right. He made an investment from his riches---from his riches of the treasures of the earth, and the riches of what he could have been---and he sold out, and become a real investor in Jesus Christ. May we take that same thing this morning.

110 Thank you for your attention. Sorry to have kept you this long, but I don't know, this might be my last one. But when it does come, when my ... finally does come... I've got to meet it some day. When you play that tape, you'll understand. I don't know what's going to happen. But from my heart, as a lover of Pentecost... Why am I here with you? Some of you denominational brothers say, "He's against our organization." I'm not. I'm against the system that's dragging you into the world. If I thought the Methodist was right, I'd be with them. If I thought the Baptist was right... I come out from them to be with you.
My people are Catholic.

111 If I thought that was right I'd be with them. I left them to come to you, because I think you're the closest thing right there is. I believe that. If it wasn't, I'd be putting my efforts somewhere else. You know I've never asked you for a penny. I never even ... wouldn't take what you give me. It's not money. I want you to remember...
Like Samuel said, when they wanted a king over them, he said, "That's like the world. Don't do that. You people have one God, one King. Stay with Him." Then they wanted it anyhow. They wanted to look like the rest of the world. What a picture of the Pentecostal church!
Samuel stood there that morning and he said, "Looky. Have I ever taken anything from you, your money?"
"No, you haven't done that."
"Have I ever told you anything in the name of the Lord but what come to pass?"
And Israel in one voice said, "It's the truth. You've never spoke in the name of the Lord but what it come to pass."
Then he said, "Hear me. God is your king."
"But we want a king anyhow."
And that you'll do. Let's pray. I think I've just went as far as I know how to go.

112 Heavenly Father, we're ... the spirit in the people make them look for something. It's just like Caiaphas said, "Isn't it right that one man should die than the whole world perish?" The whole nation perish, rather. And the Bible said he prophesied, being the high priest. The Spirit had a right to strike him. But how far off he was to crucify the very God that he claimed that he served.
How they chanted in the temple, "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?", and the very God that they was speaking of was chanting it on the cross in the fulfillment.
Lord, there's no way that I know to open these peoples' eyes, and I can't ask them to forgive me for cutting. How can I do it, and stay true to You? And I'm not saying this that they hear me. If I would I'd go to this altar and repent as a hypocrite. But now for years, Lord...

113 Let them see that because that they have got the touches of the Spirit here, even above their brethren, and that's what makes them look for something. But, Lord, You can't build your church upon such as that, when they're respecting honor one from another. God will not share his glory with nobody. Let them turn loose of the things of the world.
God bless this Businessmen's group. You've made them an oasis for my ministry. I believe you raised it up that way. Even in all the hard cuts, yet You've kept any of them from thinking evil of me. They call me right back again. I know it's your way of getting to the people, Lord, and I pray that You'll honor what I said.
And if my time is up, Lord, let me depart in peace. Let me go holding no man's blood on my hands, or no church, or no denominational creed, or nothing, but with the blood of Jesus Christ. Grant it, Lord.

114 My denominational brethren out there, Lord, many of them... There's fine ... some of the finest brothers I've ever met, and all of them, everywhere. And why do they do it, Lord, when You'll turn right back around and vindicate that Word to be the truth, and show that the very sign that was supposed to happen in the last days of the resurrection, Christ, is here? And it's not some man, that it's the Holy Spirit Himself.
God, I rebuke the devil. I rebuke the powers of fashion, and the powers of the world that's blinding the eyes of your church, Lord. I pray that he'll be taken away from them, that they will turn full-hearted to You and serve You all the days of their life.

115 Forgive us, O Lord. I stand like Isaiah that morning, who had saw the vision. He said, "I'm a man of unclean lips, and among unclean people with unclean lips." Lord, let the angel come again, and let him bring the fire from the altar and touch the lips of every one of us, Lord, that we speak only what's truth and what's Word, and what is right; that we might call this sinful day of Americanism and worldlyism mixed into the church back to a repentance. God, we prayed for that for years. And when it's sent to us, it comes in a humble way. Like I said, they asked for a warrior and they got a baby. But it's what You sent them, and they wouldn't receive it. God, let not the people make a mistake again, to see that it's not some new creed, some new denomination; but back to the Word, back to God, the vindicated Word. Grant it, Father.

116 Bless our brother Shakarian, feeling his spirit come in from behind me, know that he's weak, know that Satan is right after his life now. God, I claim his life until You're through with this last day here. Help us. Let us pray this prayer of faith, his lovely little wife.
I pray for these businessmen, for these executives, and these ministers. O God, please, I pray in Jesus' name. Help me, God. Help me. I don't know what else to say. My heart burns, my soul is yearning. Let them come, Lord, sweetly. Not to something that I said, but let them come back to the Word, Lord, and see, and stay there till they see it's happening. Grant it.
And, Father, I spread forth the seed. I know that when it falls in that predestinated ground, it will light up and shine---glowing for the glory of God. Help us, Father. We commit this to You now, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

117 While we have our heads bowed, would there be some here this morning would say, "Brother Branham, truly in my heart I believe that's right. And I want to return. I want an investment this morning, not no more in..."
I'd stay in my church---don't leave your church. No, sir. You stay right in your church, wherever you're at, and love your pastor, and love all the members, and everything else. Love that. But, oh, stay in there not to shine with some worldly thing, not to set something different, but glow with the glory of God in humility ---to be willing to take the reproach if they call you old-fashioned, and you're...

118 In a great church the other day, one of the highest denominations of Pentecost, a man (a minister), got up---and a lady had long hair, and twisted on the back---said, "Your balloon ought to be deflated." Said, "You're different from the rest of them." That poor, backslidden condition! Hmmm. What a time!
Oh, will you accept it? Raise your hands, say, "I will. I will believe God. I want to make an investment this morning. I want to surrender my life. I want an investment. I've been ... the opportunity's presented me. Brother Branham, I know that God's bound to speak through you, or you wouldn't do these things. I know this comes from God. I want to make an investment, and I'm going to stand to my feet right now and say, 'I am one for the investment. I'm dedicating my life anew right now to Jesus Christ.'"

119 Stand up on your feet everywhere, say, "I invest my..."
Heavenly Father (let's lift our hands to Him now), heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we make this consecration. I don't know what it will mean. Some of them really mean it, I guess, Lord. Some of them are just standing. Some are standing because others are standing. Some are standing because You're speaking to them. Some has heard the Word of God. God, I can't vindicate it. But I pray that You will, Lord. Now then, send the Holy Ghost in a great consecration service to God.

120 Now just raise your hands and your hearts. Don't worry about dinner. What difference does that make? You've got a ... don't care about that. It's right now midnight. Science says it's three minutes till midnight, but this might be your midnight hour. It's exactly on the dot twelve o'clock. I didn't know that. And this might be the twelve o'clock midnight stroke for some of you. You'll either accept it, or... Not accept me, not accept what I said, but accept the full gospel, the full power, the full Bible, everything that God says. Accept it, or it'll be too late. Now just raise your hands and pray like... I'm going to let you pray. I prayed through; you pray now. It's up to you. God bless you.

Investments

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Let's just remain standing just a moment, while we speak, now, to Him as we bow our heads. Our heavenly Father, we are indeed grateful for this time again that we can stand to present the gospel to this city, Chicago; as it's upon the hearts of these people here, these Christians, to see their people saved. And Father, we know that no man can come unless You've drawed him first. Jesus said so.
And we believe that every foreordained seed that lays in this city now, there's no way to keep them from receiving the light of the gospel. You will grant it, Lord. You'll watch over it to be sure it gets there. You present the message, and I believe that You're able, and will bring those to the light of the gospel who You've ordained to see it.
So, Father, as we let our light shine and put forth our efforts, and all that we know how, to bring this great gospel of the evening time, the tides truly of sin is flowing in---unbelief on every hand---oh, so many horrible things facing the faiths of us. But we have the assurance of... When the enemy comes like a flood the Word of God will raise up a standard against it, Father, and you promised it. So we thank Thee.
And now today, help us as we settle down now on ... thanking you for the jubilee of the morning, these wonderful songs and testimonies, whatever has been done. And now, may we look to thy Word, Lord, to draw from this strength for the day. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

2 You may be seated.
Thank you very kindly for the fine invitation of coming to be here with you. And I want to thank the little lady here for her song. How wonderful it was. I believe it was the first time I've ever heard her sing. And then, of course, our Brother Mel Johnson there, I requested he'd sing that song when ... "Remember Me." And we've got it down home, and I want to get it anew. Billy Paul, I think, just lives on those songs. They put them in the ... while they're in the office, and playing it constantly for people who are coming and going from across the world. And you can come around the office, and you can hear Mel Johnson singing quite often around there on the tape.
Then, when I get feeling kind of wore out, and tired, I'll go down and sit somewhere in a room, and just speak ... bring one of the speakers up, and I'll listen to it again.

3 So we're very grateful for these fine singers.
I'm thinking of the time when we cross over this river of Jordan, I want to hear that golden voice of Mel Johnson blending in with Einar Ekberg and many of those great singers who has crossed the river. So we're looking for that time.
I want to thank my good friend here, Dr. Lee Vayle, a former Baptist minister---very fine scholar, wonderful man---who stood, before me, this week, and has brought up the ministry in his way of doing it. Give me a great help here in the meeting,

4 when we're having those services, prayer for the sick. We call it healing service many times, just before the people, but, of course, we realize that we can't heal people. We just simply pray for people.
Someone said some time ago, said, "Brother Branham, did you heal So-and-so?"
I said, "I never healed anyone in my life. But I have had some direct answers to prayer, because Jesus promised it, and I believe it."

5 I remember the night that the picture of this great being, the Holy Spirit... From Exodus 13:22 (I believe), or 21, where "The pillar of fire shall go before thee to lead thee in the way," and how that pillar of fire that had been with Moses---it went before them.
And then, when it was made manifest here in a person called Jesus, which was the Son of God... And then He said He come from God, and returned to God. Then after his return back after the ascension, how great it was to...
St. Paul (before he was St. Paul) was stricken down. Now, him being a Jew, he would by no means call that "Lord." "Lord, what would you have me do?", see. But he knew that that was that same pillar of fire that had followed His people, or led His people. That's the reason he called it, "Lord, what would you have me do?" and, "Who are You?"
And He said, "I'm Jesus."

6 And now, in this last hours to see it return back to us...
And that night, when it was first officially taken in Houston, Texas, a brother (Baptist minister) was discussing with Dr. Bosworth---as many of you probably here was there---about divine healing, and said that I was a divine healer. Dr. Best said that.
And I said, "If preaching the gospel of salvation, and believing that Jesus heals the sick because that the Word said so, if that would make me a divine healer, it would make a man who believes in salvation a divine savior, because it's the same Word," you see.
He's Jehovah-jireh and Jehovah-rapha.

7 All of His compound redemptive names was represented in Jesus Christ. And there's where they were brought out, and magnified what God was, where the great attributes of God before He even was God, before there was... God's an object of worship. Before He ever become that, He was still God. He's eternal, and these attributes was in Him. And they just display themselves as being a Father, and a Son, and a Saviour, and a healer. That's just God's attributes displaying themselves.
So we're grateful that we have the privilege of enjoying this fine time of fellowship, and the assurance of our salvation through the attributes of God, who is the Saviour. May His name be praised.

8 Now, I want to thank Brother Vayle, a able man to explain these things. I'm not a theologian, as anyone knows. I'm ... just haven't the education. I heard this little brother here from the Moody Bible stand up, and I thought, "My, I wish I had the boy's education." And I trust that God given him this vision, will use him, as I'm getting old as I go down along the road---that these young fellows will come up to take this gospel in a more powerful way than it is now.
As the generations goes, and the enemy comes in, God keeps raising the standards higher and higher and higher, until finally we'll meet with Christ. That's who we look forward to seeing anyhow.

9 Now remember this week, and the finishing of the services. And everybody's invited---and even all the denominations. And I might say this, while I got the opportunity. Don't never get in your mind that I'm against those people. I love those people. It's the system of denomination that breaks up fellowship. That's the...
I'm going into South Africa now, after I've been invited since I was there the last time, because we got some chapters of the Full Gospel Businessmen. And I don't belong to any organization, nothing but this Full Gospel Businessmen, and to... Yet it isn't an organization. And when it becomes, then, of course, I'll have to leave it 'cause it's an organization. An organism is all right; but not an organization.
So we...

10 The groups in Africa ... like on the east side, it's an English speaking people, and Pentecostal Assemblies of God; on the west side it's Afrikaans, which is a Boer, and from the Boer, the Dutch. And they have what they call the A.F.of M., the African Apostolic Missions of Africa. And there's two sections of those---two divisions.
They baptize a triune baptism by... One of them baptizes, I think, three times face forward: once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Ghost---making Him three Gods, instead of one. And the other one baptizes three times backward: in the name of the Father, and one in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost, baptizing three different times---once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Ghost.
One of them says, "We're baptized to His death, and when He died He pitched forward." And the other one said, "Whoever buried a man on his face? You bury him backwards." So there ... such as that.
And each one of them writes me a letter, and signs here: "Brother Branham, Africa's calling for you. Come at once. But will you please teach this doctrine?"
Well, I can't go when it's such as that. See, I have never...

11 I was ordained a Missionary Baptist minister, and I have great respects for my Baptist brethren, and I love them. But in order ... with a gift that's sent not to the Baptists, not to the Presbyterian, but to the church, I have to stand between them independent---not independent from them, but a brother with them. I believe like the third well that Jacob dug: there's room for us all. And I believe that there's room at the fountain for every one of us, for whosoever will.

12 Now I do have, of course ... I wouldn't want to call it opponents, but I have people who does not accept the message. Why, my, I can't think hard of them. Jesus had the same thing in His day. Everybody else has. In each time of a message of God, the world has never received it. But that doesn't make one speck of bitterness towards that person, or them people, or that organization. It's still just the same. I'm so thankful for that. That's one of the evidences that I know that I've passed from death unto life. No matter what the brethren do, I still love them, you see. In my heart I love them, you see, 'cause it's a love that God has put in my heart for my brethren. And now, the Lord bless.

13 And now before we approach the Word I'm going to ask a dear friend of mine, a young minister sitting out here, that... He had a kind of a complex. And he and his little wife used to come to my house all the time, and he'd sit around, and... He wouldn't talk, and he just asked one question: "Brother Branham, what do you think? The Lord's called me to the ministry?"
And I saw the potentials of this young man from a fine Bible institution. But just ... he lacked... Like Moses with all of his training, he... What Moses lacked, the burning bush had. That's what Brother Ruddell lacked, is what the burning bush had. And one day it caught fire. And the brother has a church there, just outside the city limits (I believe) of Jeffersonville---a real on-going work for the Lord, one of our sister churches from the Tabernacle. And I would like if Brother Don Ruddell (I see him sitting back here) would stand to his feet, and offer prayer for the Holy Spirit to use the Word this morning in the way that He would see to use it. Brother Don, if you will, while we bow our heads. [Brother Don Ruddell prays from audience.] Amen.

14 Let us turn now for the Scripture reading, as I change what I was going to say this morning (had in mind saying) after I heard about this "Businessmen's Voice." You know, I've had a little idea about this myself. And let's turn to St. Mark the 10th chapter, and begin with the 17th verse, I believe is the way I had this written down here.
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came ... running and kneeling down to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
... Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way and sell whatsoever thou has, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasures in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at this saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
May the Lord add His blessings to the reading of the Word.

15 I have had a little ... kind of little a saying that I ... around the Full Gospel Businessmen. Some of them, as we ministers know, they would say to me, "Say, you're a preacher. What are you doing around them businessmen?"
I said, "I am a businessman.
They said, "What kind of business are you in?"
I said, "Eternal life assurance." See, not insurance now---assurance. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchased of God, born of His Spirit washed in His blood." And I would like to ... being that this is businessmen, and businessmen like to talk on business terms... And I want to say to the businessmen, and business women also that's sitting here, I want to take this text first, and call it "Investments."

16 Now, most any business person is interested in good sound investments. If you're a businessman, that's ... you are interested in that. And a businessman is always looking for some good sound investment. You know, it's a good thing that we are. And I'm going to speak to you this morning on the best investment that I know of, and I want you to listen close on investments.

17 Now it's not a good policy at all for a businessman to take chances. After all, taking a chance is gambling, and gambling is wrong. We don't want to gamble on nothing, because it's not right. Some of these here "get rich overnight," you know, some broker or something, that's not even established very well, but he can present something to you that sounds so good, you'd say "Oh, my!", and you just fly into it. And when you do, the first thing you know you find yourself broke. But if a man is a good sensible businessman, he must first try to find a business that's been established---an old, reliable firm.
And then, it's not a good thing for a businessman to keep his money in his pocket. If you keep your money in your pocket it won't earn you anything. But you've got to get it to working somewhere---put it out. And then watch what you do with it.

18 Now, I think that's kind of business terms, that we would... I think it's a good logical thing that we think of it in that way, of what I'm going to say.
Now we find that if you... We got so many in the world today---there's short cuts, and get rich overnight, and they spring up here and there. I just had a friend that was taken for all of his life savings on such a thing as that. Someone told him, "You invest your money here. This is just it. This is it." And the man looked at the painted picture which was before him, and invested his life savings in that, and lost everything he had overnight, just in a few days. And the firm closed up, and there they went.
Now a man is the most foolish to do a trick like that. A good, sound thinker won't do business on them kind of terms, see.

19 First, you ought to investigate the firm that you're going to deal with. And if the firm is no good, no matter how good a proposition they offer you, you wouldn't do it, if you're a good businessman. You wouldn't take such a chance as that---of your life's earnings, to invest in such.
And now, speaking that parallel-like, there's a lot of these religious things that's come up in the last day that's "do it overnight." Tonight you're a barroom singer, and tomorrow you're preaching the gospel. I don't go for such stuff as that. No. I think a person's got to be proved first.

20 I think there's where many of us Pentecostal denominations let down a little bit there, because we take a woman... Tonight she's a striptease on the platform somewhere, and the next night she's out here singing somewhere, and going out, and got a Bible under her arm---the Lord called her to preach. I don't doubt that. That's all right, but I think that woman ought to be proved first. That's right.
Let it prove ... let the seed grow a little while, and see what kind of a life that's behind it. 'Cause even the people that she's going to be associated with will not believe her testimony, nor his testimony---whatever it might be---if they see her one night, or him, one night in the bar, and the next night out there with the gospel. They'd say, "What kind of hoax is this, anyhow?"
But when that woman lives such a life in the city for awhile, and around the people, until they see there's a change in that woman, then her testimony will stand out. Until that time she'd be better just to live the life, until it's established.

21 Now, we don't want this "Get rich overnight." It... And we don't want to keep it, because, if you keep your money, I say thieves will break in and steal it. And if you've got something in your heart for God, and you won't express it, and so forth, and just keep putting it off ("Well, later on, later on.") and that little desire that you once had to serve God will be taken from you. The devil will come in and steal that away, and then you won't have any desire to serve Him.
So, if you have the least desire... There must be something that even brought you to this breakfast this morning. There's something. "Faith cometh by hearing, hearing of the word." And there must be some desire, or you wouldn't even be here. Now, don't let that desire trinkle off into some little joining, or shake hands, or be sprinkled, or something out there. Let's find the real firm that's established, something that's really all right, some good reliable firm that pays off in great dividends. That's the way you want to make your investments, is something that's worthwhile.

22 And I'm thinking ... the reason I thought of this this morning, I believe, for this group, was this rich young ruler. This young fellow, as we know him, is called the rich ruler. He was a young fellow---no doubt a fine character. He'd come up in a good home, perhaps in a very religious home, from the way he approached the Lord Jesus.
You know, Jesus said to him, "Keep the commandments."
And he said, "This I have done. I have observed this since my youth. I have did this."
You see, he had a good background. That means a whole lot, because ordinarily he probably wouldn't have never approached Jesus. But there must have been something about Jesus that attracted his attention, different from what that he had been used to in his synagogue; because, you see, Jesus was different.

23 And, as this young fellow here just testified from the Moody Bible Institute down here... Great place, there's no doubt at all; but you see, one day he found something that seemed it was different---and he was presented with the opportunity.
And this young man was presented with an opportunity for an investment. Being a businessman, as he was, a ruler, of course he had great possessions. And Jesus knowed there was much potential to this young man, because the Bible said, "beholding him he loved him." He must have been a kind sort of a fellow, with a nice character. His approach was dignified.

24 He never run up and said, like some little Ricky of this day would say, "Say, you. Come here, Preach."
That wasn't his approach. He come up and he said, "Good Master," see. "Master [or teacher], what must I do to have everlasting life?"
Now you see, he had found in Jesus... Though he had kept the commandments, though he had been loyal to his synagogue, and to the cause; but yet, he found something in Jesus that produced life.

25 Now, the law has no life in it at all. The life ... the law, pardon me, the law is only a policeman that points you to your sins. But it has no grace to pardon your sin. It only points you, and tells you that you are a sinner. And that has been twisted so that it's been brought over into Christianity---just a form, just to say that we should ... and make a declaration of creeds, or laws, bylaws of Christianity. And we have been very able, with intellectual beings, to present this to the world.
But, you see, we don't find them taking it like they should, because it hasn't got life in it, see. We must find something that... Every man is looking a-past the curtain from that somewhere beyond that he come from, and knows he's got to return some day. Now everybody wants to see that, wants to know what is beyond that.

26 A very beautiful picture... Jesus said, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man... [Did you notice He never said, "When he's cast out of a man...", but, when he goes out by his own will?] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man and he returns back to this man, and finds that the house that he lived in has been swept and garnished, then he goes and gets seven other devils [demons, unclean spirits] and enters into this man. And the last estate of this man is seven times worse than it was at the first."
Did you notice, the devil went out by his own will, and he returned by his own will? Now, if this house had already been occupied when he returned, he would not been able to get in. But you see, he just found it swept and garnished.

27 It's a very beautiful picture of a moralist, as we would think today of a man that tries to think he's going to heaven just because that he quit gambling; or maybe he quit running with a woman that wasn't his wife; or stopped his drinking on New Year's Day, and turned over a new leaf and joined church, see. You see, he doesn't ... he really isn't converted. He's just a moralist. And the devil using moralists just to go out and make a foolish representation, when really the real power of the living Christ isn't there, see.
They ...

28 the world is wanting to see Christ. Jesus said, "I am the vine; ye are the branches." And the branch bears record of the vine, because it draws its energy and life from the vine. When the first vine, first branch that came from this vine, they wrote a book of Acts behind that branch. We see the way the Holy Spirit acted in that first church, that church of Pentecost. And then when we... We believe that if this original vine ever puts forth another branch, they'll write another book of Acts behind it, because it's the same life that's in the vine.
And if the first branch put forth a bunch of grapes, and then we find a bunch out here that's got watermelons growing on it, or pumpkins, or cucumbers, we know that it isn't the life that's in the vine. Therefore, I think even where we call ourselves Pentecostals has failed to represent it, the real thing that Christ has set forth for us to represent---the Holy Spirit and the life of the Spirit, see.
We represent sometimes sensations, and we represent joy. And that's good; but there's more to it than that. There's a fruit that goes with it that the hungry man is looking for, this fruit of the Spirit.
And this is the quality that was in Jesus,

29 because Jesus wasn't just an ordinary man. Jesus was God. He was nothing short of God. Not just a prophet, yet He was a prophet. He was the God-prophet. He was the house in which all of God dwelt. In Him was the fullness of the Godhead bodily, God coming down to become man to die.
God could not die as a spirit because He could not die. He's eternal, and He could not die. But God could make Himself in such a way that He could feel pain, and He could feel and suffer. God could not suffer as the eternal spirit; but when He become man He could suffer, and feel the pain and the temptations that man went through---like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and everyone since. He had to become that in order to fulfill His own law, to take upon Himself His own law. He could not've been the second person, He could not've been the third person, He could've been nothing else but the person, see. He had to be.

30 If I had the jurisdiction of this congregation this morning in the same measure that He has in the earth, and I would say, "If anyone looks at the post he must die," and this young Catholic woman sitting here would look at the post...
"Well," I would say, "after all, she's just a newcomer among us. Let her die the death"; but yet I feel sorry for the lady. I'd say then, "Let this man here die in her place." No, that wouldn't be right.
"Well," I'd say, "my son, Billy Paul ... I'll let Billy Paul die in her place."
That's still not just, because the suffering is upon somebody else, and leaving me secluded from it. But the only way I can be just, as God is just, would be take her place. I've got to take her place. Therefore God had to be manifested in the flesh in order to suffer death---the only way He could die. And through that He brought redemption.
And this young man saw in Jesus something more than the commandments had.

31 Now I realize this, gentlemen (maybe not in the faith that we are trying to represent): we are poor representatives of what we are trying to say. I am myself. With a bowed head and heart, the message that has been given me for the church in this day, I'm a poor representative of it. And my life, though I try to do what's right, I have my ups and downs. But I don't ask you to look at what I am. Look at what I'm saying, who I'm talking about: is the Lord Jesus. In Him is salvation.

32 And this young fellow saw that, that this man surely had God in Him. He could look down into the hearts of the people and see what was wrong, and could tell them of it, could raise up the dead after they had died. Now, he knowed that the law did nothing like that. He knowed that his own church did no such miracles as that. Yet he was conscious that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was alive. He could not die. But he saw all that God was in this man called Jesus, and his heart hungered. And he knew that...
Yet he had been a member of a church, a fine church member. Maybe his father was one of the great ... the trustee, or one of the great executives, or something on the board. And the boy had been raised to that law, and he'd kept it reverently and respected it; yet down in there there was something that longed to find something more.

33 I trust that that's in the heart of every man and woman here this morning---to find something that's real.
You remember, you can't come back and make the second trial; you've got to get it now. The way the tree leans, that's the way it falls. There's no scripture for a hereafter repentance. That's your time now.
No matter how it becomes popular today, and a purgatory somewhere---there's no such. There's no such thing in the Bible. It was wrote in one of the ... "Book of the Maccabees," or something another. But that wasn't added to it.
And look, in that one book is purgatory mentioned. Yet in the rest of the Bible it's not mentioned nowhere. And after all, Jesus speaking of this same young man when he died... He said there's a gulf fixed that no man has ever crossed, and never will after death, see. And that settles it when Jesus said so.

34 Now we find out in this, that this hunger for this ... to become a partner ... or not a partner, but a source of life that existed in Christ. This young fellow was wanting to be part of it, just what Jesus was there to give---the new birth, see. That's what we got today: the opportunity to receive the new birth, that we become part of God, see, sons and daughters of God. You understand?

35 Notice. Just like a sin. The church has long forgot its place (the denomination), by blindly walking away from this by blind leading of the blind. Look, if I had one drop of black ink in my pen here, and I had this cup full of bleach, or tub sitting here full of bleach, that the women use... Now, it used to be that bleach...
Well, when I got something on my shirt when I was just a little boy, Mama used to get some coal oil, or some turpentine, or something, and put on it, and try to take the color of the stain out. She only spread it, but it wasn't all in one spot. But now they have manufactured something called bleach. My! That bleach will take that stain right now.

36 Well, there was a law of God that ... under the blood of a lamb, that didn't take away sin; it just scattered it. And when man sinned, he crossed a great chasm. When he sinned away ... he separated himself away from God, leaving himself no way back. But God, in tender mercy, accepted a substitute for him. And this substitute lasted for thousands of years. But it wouldn't take away sin; it only covered up sin.
But when... Not manufactured, but God in His creative power created a blood cell---without sexual desire---in the womb of the virgin, that don't only cover sin; it omits sin. It takes it so far away till it's never in the mind of God again. It don't make a bridge across the chasm, but it moves the chasm, that...
Drop this little drop of ink into that bottle of bleach, or whatever it might be. You'll never find that color again.

37 Where did the color come from? Now, we find out that in making color... (I do not know. I'm not a chemist. But I'm just saying, if there would be a chemist sitting here you'd think I'm mentally upset, or didn't know what I was talking about if I use these terms.) But just to let you know what I mean, let's say now, the color...
Now, at first we'd say it come ... it's some kind of an acid. Well, then, where did the acid come from? Let's take it on back and say, well, it was a certain type of acid went with another kind of acid to make a color, which... There's only one original color, and that's white. We all know that. Others are perversions from it. No color but white---that's the only real color there is. Now.
Now, we find out that ... this chemistry, we'll run it back just a moment, and we find out that... Maybe it says it comes in now to atoms. Well, we'd say atom B-1 times atom B-C times four makes black. If it had been atom B-8, it would have come out pink. And then, molecule times molecule times so-and-so comes out black. Now there shows there was an intelligence behind it that brought it out black.
And then, if you take it beyond that, and beyond that, as long as it is a creation it has to come from a creator. There cannot be a creation without a creator. Now we find out then, when this come in... And any color is a perversion.

38 And anything outside of a pure unadulterated son of God is a perversion. And what is sin? Is righteousness perverted. What is an adultery? Is the act that God ordained just to replenish the earth has been perverted. What is a lie? It's the truth misrepresented. So you see, the whole thing now is a perversion.
And the original color is white. We got to get this back to white, yet it's black. It's perverted somewhere. But when it's dropped into this ... this ink is dropped into the bleach, it sends it all the way back, and it's white---just like the bleach is. You'll never find it again! It's finished forever!

39 Now, all your sensations, as we Pentecostal people like to jump and shout... I do. I believe that's right. We like to speak with tongues. I believe that's a gift of God. The devil can impersonate anything that you can produce in that line. But notice, then it shows that something's wrong. The life of Christ isn't flowing through the church the way it should, the body, the bride. It's not going through there like it should. Now we find it clogged up somewhere.
Notice. When this ... your sins are confessed, and your sins are dropped into the bleach of the blood of the Son of God, it remits sin---so much that it is put in the sea of God's forgetfulness, and can never even be remembered in His sight anymore. Then what that ... does that make a man? A son of God. God never remembers you to be a sinner. You are a son, you are a daughter. There's no more remembrance of sin at all. God puts it in the sea of forgetfulness---the bleach.
The sea of forgetfulness is Christ's blood that was shed for you. And therefore, then you and God are Father and son by Jesus Christ's grace. Not by anything you done, but by His grace you are sons and daughters of God, and a partaker of His blessings, and of His power, and of His life. His life is in you, for you are a son of God.
Oh, if the church could... We would only ... to represent that!

40 No wonder Jesus said, "If ye abide in me and my word in you, then ask what you will," see. "The works that I do [John 14:12] ... He that believeth [confessed and believeth] on me [see], the works that I do shall he do also," because God is in the believer just like He was in Christ. Not in the fullness He was in Christ, but He's in you just like He was, because you are a son of God through Jesus Christ.

41 Oh, how this young man in his church life could see that this was something in the Lord Jesus. And He was presented with this problem: to come to Jesus, yet it was against his church. But he had the audacity, he had just something about him that wanted to find out---a hunger. And he came to the Lord Jesus. And this young fellow... I think of him being presented then with the opportunity for this investment; but he wasn't interested in such an investment. It was all right if he could go on living with his friends, and go on living in the things that he was doing, and affiliate in it; and yet not willing to surrender.

42 Now there's where we find the great trouble today is, the church knows the Scripture. Here, this institution that this young fellow here just come from, and these ... this Baptist brother sitting here---they know that Word. They are students of the Word. And yet, if they say, "Well, we believe it. We accept it," it's just like a bottle of medicine, a cure, see. Not morally cure---it reproduces the life of Christ, see. If you take the gospel, then you become part of the gospel. And if you become a part of it, like Peter, James, and John and them did on Pentecost, your life is another living book of Acts. There's no way out of it.
Jesus said in Mark 16, "These signs shall follow them that believe." But the people will learn, and they go through seminaries and schools to learn it, but don't want none of it themselves. Yet they think that they got it. They think that they got it, but the actions speaks louder than all the words. Your life proves it, whatever you are.

43 And this fellow was not interested in such, although this great investment was not just some overnight something. It was just not something that Jesus asked him to come jump right into. Jesus had thoroughly been identified the Son of God.
How could a man walk to a grave where a dead man laid and say, "Lazarus, come forth," that wasn't God? How could a man stand on a ship, when ten thousand devils of the sea swore they'd drown Him---Him and His disciples---that night; and just put His foot upon the brail of the boat, and look up and say, "Peace. Be still," and the winds and the waves obey Him?

44 How could a man look down into a human heart and say, "You done such and such, and such and such." It had to be God. It was thoroughly a-vindicated.
And he wasn't asked just to invest in something that ... just a mythical thought, or some cult. It was thoroughly identified what his investment was to be in. If he could've said, "Now, I don't know about this."... But you see, he called Him "Good Master," and he knew there was something; but yet, he wasn't ready to take the medicine because Jesus asked him something to do.
And that's what does ... the hindrance among men today is... They believe there is God. There's no man with good intelligence but what knows there is God. Because if he doesn't recognize God, the Bible plainly says he's not mentally right. He's a fool, see. The Bible said, "The fool has said in his heart there is no God." Now, but if he believes there is God, but yet he's not willing to separate himself in the very same way that Jesus was asking this young man---this young businessman---to make his investments...

45 He saw something in Jesus that other men never had. He saw there was something that Jesus had that those priests didn't have. He saw something that the rabbis, the teachers, none of them had it. But he recognized it in Jesus, and recognized it to be God.
When he thought, "Well, if I can come in, and not have to do all this... I'll go find out." But he found out that there's only one way to come. That's where the world's got to learn today. And Christ is that way---not a church, not an affiliation, not a denomination, as good as they may be. And I have nothing against them in that manner. But yet, you've got to realize that it's Christ, the new birth.

46 Men, you businessmen of this city, I'm not condemning your churches as you sit here. We appreciate you being here. But I'm trying to sell you an assurance this morning. I'm not trying to sell it to you. I'm a representative of this firm, and I want to tell you that the policy is free, and it has... It's well identified on earth today: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, by His same works, His same signs, the same gospel, the same Word of God. He's perfectly identified as it was then.
Now, you're here this morning for some reason. Why? Why are you here, anyhow? There's a little tinkle in there that tells you. I'm not saying to leave your church. You go to your church a better person than you was when you left it, and you'll be a light that's set upon a hill---a candle that's lit, not covered with a basket. You'll have eternal life.

47 Now we find out, it puts a man right back in a place where the people are today. The Bible said over here (I have a scripture written down here I'd like to refer to), Jesus said in the 3rd chapter of Revelation that the Laodicea church is the last church age, and we all are believing that we are living in the end-time. And this is the last church age.
Now compare this church age with that rich young ruler. Compare them. Now, didn't Jesus say the Laodicea church was rich, increased in goods, had need for nothing? Isn't that the condition of the church today? And yet Christ has unfolded Himself through three church ages---through Luther, through Wesley, and through the Pentecostal age; has unfolded Himself in His Word of justification, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the restoration to the gifts; and now His own personal identity among them trying... And you rich young ruler businessmen of Chicago, this morning...

48 See, Laodicea... We find all the other church ages Jesus was still in the church; but on the Laodicea age He was on the outside, knocking, trying to get in. And this is the age that when the manifestation of Christ comes so perfect, in the image of Christ in His church, until the churches (as the brother said awhile ago) is closing the door. And yet He stands with love, knocking. "If any man hunger or thirst..." Do you understand?
You expect a closed door. It's the Laodicea age. The Bible said it would be that way.

49 And now, if your denomination has closed the door to such a message and such a messenger... Not me. I'm your brother, fellow-servant with you. But the messenger is the Holy Spirit, expressing Himself through a human being, the church that Christ sanctified for this very purpose.
And now you are presented with the opportunity to make an investment in this eternal life. Your business may be legitimate and great. But there's no business any greater than the saving of your own life, see. You have the opportunity.

50 Now, your church may put Him out but ... as a whole. But Jesus never come just for a church, just any certain group. He come for individuals. "Ye shall receive the Holy Ghost," the individual. That's what He come for.
Now we find out that the Laodicea church age now is presented with the same opportunity for investment, in the same person that the rich young ruler turned down flatly. And so is the Laodicea church age turning it down flatly---put him out. They love...

51 What did this young ruler ... what was it he said? He went away sad, because that he had great possession. It was a great opportunity, yet he was so wealthy that he felt that it would mar his wealth.
I wonder if a man's popularity at the Kiwanis, or at the lodge, or maybe his popularity in the church, even as a pastor, would be so great in that denomination that you'd walk away from the same opportunity, and turn it down coldly because it would mar your inheritance with the church?
Wonder if the stewardship with the church, your organization, is great enough to you this morning that you would turn away from it---some of you men who belong to churches, and sitting here this morning as businessmen? Think of it. The rich young ruler was presented that, and turned it down, and Christ turns and said the church age will do the same thing in the last days.
Now, it's in Chicago now that you are faced to make a decision. The time is running out. You must do it at once. Make your decision for Christ, to be born of His Spirit.

52 Now. Now we find out that this rich man did this because that he loved the world. He loved his fellowship with his organization more than he loved the fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Many of them this morning say, "Well, I would be considered one of you Pentecostals. I'd be considered a holy roller if I did such a thing." Now, where is your treasure anyhow? Is it in your church? is it in your business? or is it in heaven? "For wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also." So why not make an investment this morning of life? Your business will go to ashes some day.

53 I don't know that brother that prophesied (the brothers, rather), about the tidal wave. That may be so. But I'm telling one thing---I know this: The Bible says that this earth will burn; and Chicago has never had a fire to what it's going to have one day. And God, the just God, cannot let Chicago escape the wrath of God.
As a friend once put it (Jack Moore), said, "If God let this generation get by from spurning the gospel, and for doing the things that they are doing, and living in the type of sin that they're living in, immorals and so forth, why, He'd be obligated to raise up Sodom and Gomorrah, and apologize for burning them up."

54 So they spurned, they shunned it; and they have looked Christ in the face. The moving of Christ has never been no great big world-wide thing. It's humility. Why, He was in the world... In the days of His ministry perhaps one-third of the Jews of Palestine never knowed nothing about Him till He was gone. And they never know it till it's too late.
But let's think this morning that this is a special day, that we are presented, as business people, to make an investment in Jesus Christ; to give up, be ready, and just forsake everything that there is that's dear to this world, that we might find the treasures of heaven, as Jesus told him, and, "Come follow me."
Take up your cross; not take up your popularity, where everybody's saying, "Certainly, Doctor. Come right in. It's such a great thing to have you here. Oh, the deacon, you find..."
See, it's a cross, and they might call you crazy, heresy. And as Paul, you could testify "In the way that's called heresy, that's the way I worship the God of our fathers," see. We've had other men before us who had to make these decisions.

55 And, remember St. Paul and the rich young ruler versus one another. Paul was a man with great opportunity before him also, and was presented with it---but he accepted it.
Now, you can look at their outcome and place yourself. What's your outcome going to be? You can base it upon the Word, the inchangeable---unchangeable, rather---Word of God, the promise of God. God cannot do one thing, and then turn around and do something else about it, and say that He done wrong in the first place. God cannot change. He's God, and God is the Word.

56 Now this Word was well identified to be the Son of God. He saw something in Jesus that other men didn't have. But the price was too great. And it's too great today with the Laodicea church.
But remember, they went out of the synagogue because that ... put Him out of the synagogue because they had no room for Him in the synagogue. They are putting Christ out of the organization today---the real, living manifestation, thoroughly identified, vindicated Word of God that no man can stand against---proving that Christ has raised from the dead, and His life is living in His people, doing the same thing that He done. It's got to be called "devil, fortune-telling," and everything else; but remember, the Word is the same. One word against it is unforgivable. Never in this world or the world to come will it ever be forgiven.

57 This is the last church age. It could not be in any other ages; it had to be in this age. Every timepiece, if we just had the time, could voluntarily put in here and prove this. The Word of God is now being fulfilled, and the last word that the called-out church...
And Abraham is in the type and Sodom. Now remember, He expressed so definitely about Sodom, see. Now, He said, "As it was in Sodom in the days of Lot..." Look at the modern Billy Graham, the angels (messengers) down in Sodom, calling a people out, to see if they can find forty just people. And God would even compromise for ten, and yet they can't find them.
This great evangelist, Billy Graham, and Jack Schuller of you Methodist people, and, oh, Oral Roberts of you Pentecostals, how that ... out there in Babylon these organizations that's cooperating;

58 but remember, Abraham did not represent any of those. He was not a city; he was looking for a kingdom. And He had a group with Him. And there was one of the three that stayed behind, and showed him a sign of who He was---with His back turned to the tent, knowed what Sarah said in the tent---a discernment of Spirit. Jesus plainly saying...
Now remember that there was not one more sign done until Sodom was burned. The last thing that the church is going to see is Christ manifested in His power and fullness in His church, just before the fire falls. Remember, Lot was the one the fire fell from the skies; not ... back in the days of Noah the water came. But Christ expressed what type of ministry would be in the days of Lot. And now we see the Holy Spirit moving among His church in the same manner. We find it in the Laodicea condition, just as it was then.

59 Now, let us find out here why this man wouldn't invest in this policy, the holder of it: because that there was too much on the other side that he didn't want to give up. And that's what's the matter with the church today.
There's not a man with his common sense---the pope, potentate, or anything else---can stand and deny that Jesus Christ didn't say, "These signs shall follow them that believe. [How far?] ... all the world, to every creature." They cannot say that Jesus didn't say, "A little while and the world [cosmos, world order] will see me no more." (The order, the church order, order in the world, of the world...) They think

60 ... and God's kingdom is never of the world, no matter how many intellectual men you can stand up.
I'm not condemning those people, but I'm trying to show you a trick that Satan's done. They cannot, I don't care how big... You Pentecostals, you Oneness, wants all the Threeness to unite with you, and you Threeness wants all the Oneness and Church of God, and so forth, unite with your thirty-some-odd organizations and become one---you Methodists, and Baptists, and so forth, the same way.

61 This ecumenical council that's just meeting over there this week to discuss the problems, they're all wanting to unite in one, and they'll do it. The Bible says they will do it---make an image unto the beast. You see where the very background comes from? A beast is a power, and it'll be a power; but it will be the wrong power.
Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world. If it was, His kingdom, His delegates, would fight. But said, "My kingdom is of above." The kingdom of God is not an organization that can make a great thing. It's the power of God, the Holy Spirit in the human life.

62 (Quickly now. I don't want to keep you here a long time, and I've done kept you too long now. But just ... could I have a few more minutes? We'll hurry. I think you know what I'm speaking of.)
Let's just investigate some of the policy holders of this eternal life---that's took this investment in eternal life, the holders of this Word of God policy. Remember, this is God in letter form. "My words are spirit," Jesus said. "They are life." Did He say it? He also said this: in St. John, the first chapter, the Bible tells us, "In the beginning was the Word ... and the Word was God ... And the Word was made flesh [as I just got through telling you] and dwelt among us."

63 He's still the same yesterday ... the Word that was, the Word that is, and the Word that is to come. He is all things in the Bible. And if you read the Bible and don't see Jesus, then you better ride back and read that scripture again, because this is the testimony of Jesus Christ---Old Testament in type, New Testament fulfilled.
Then Jesus is He that was (the history), He that was back in the beginning (the prophecy). He was the prophecy, He was the history, He was the Psalms, He was the Lord Jesus, and He is the things to come that's in the Bible. So He is ... the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Bible. Now ... and the Bible is called the Word of God.
And God's got to judge the world by some standard. If He puts you here and go to judge you, then there's got to be some standard. You say, "By Jesus Christ." Every man's got his conception of that.

64 This little lady here, the Catholic... My background was Catholic, too, you understand. I'm an Irishman. Notice. Now, the Catholic church says that they are the church. Now look, there's many different types of Catholic church. Which one of the Catholic churches is it? If it's the Roman, then the Greek Orthodox is lost. Then if it's the Greek Orthodox, the Romans are lost.
If it's the Lutheran, then the Methodists is lost. If it's the Methodists, the Baptists is lost. If it's the Pentecostal, then the rest of them's lost. But if it is the Presbyterian, then the Pentecostals are lost. See, it's too confusing. You can't understand it. Which is right?
There's none of them right.

65 Jesus said, "I am the way [and He is the Word], the truth, and the life." No man can come, only by that---not through your church, through your creed, through your prayer. You've got to come by Jesus. He is God. He is the Word. He is the way, He is the truth, He is the life.
And if a candle's sitting here not lit, and you light the candle it throws a light. What will it reflect? The same light it reflected when it was lit the first place. And when the gospel is manifested He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do you see it?

66 Now, let's just investigate some of the holders, now, and find out what taken place in their great intellectual day---just for the next ten or fifteen minutes, and we'll close.
Noah made an investment in a promise of God, the Word of God. Now, remember, it was the Word of God that Noah made his investment in it. And yet as soon as a man makes an investment, remember Satan's going to come there to take that policy from you, if he can. It is written that "Man shall not live by bread alone [that's the physical life], but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Not just part of it, or a little piece here and there, but by every word man shall live---by the bread of life. And what is the Word of God? Is life, spirit, life. And when it's manifested... "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he also. More than this shall he do 'cause I go to the Father."

67 Now we find out, now, Noah was tested when he made his investment. So will you, my brother. If there's no testing time, then you haven't made your investment yet, because your enemy's standing there with the hammer back on his gun, with the bowstring drawed. And he's ready to shoot every poison dart that he can send: every cult, and every little idea, and every intellectual giant like Goliath. He'll send them around there, that looks taller than the brethren that you are associating with---your little ignorant and unlearned brethren. He'll send such spiritual, intellectual giants, and big schools that can explain the whole thing away from you.
But if you have made your investment, and got your policy stamped and sealed by the Holy Spirit, there's nothing going to rub it out.

68 No man has the right to preach the gospel until secretly, back on the backside of the desert, he stood on the ground with him and God alone. There's no intellectual being in the world could explain it away from you. That's right. You were there. You know it happened. No matter how much they can explain it, but wait---something happened. You know it did. You saw it with your eyes, you talked to it; it talked back, and it sealed you into its being, and you become a part of it.
You'll walk away from the intellectual giant. And we got plenty of them in the world today, and some dangerous ones too, that's well theologically trained. They, theologically speaking, are trained to use that and they know what they are doing. But don't fear, David, if the Lord God is with you.

69 Notice, Satan tried Noah on his investment, and he tried him to make him doubt it. The scientists rose up to tell him, "There's no rain in the skies," and there was scoffers in the days of Noah. Now, if there was scoffers in that day at the end-come---at the end-time, rather---on the investments that men took in their heart to believe God's Word, there is scoffers today against the Word, because it don't look sensible.
But you see, you are not supposed to use your own sense. You say, "I thought ... I think ... I..." You ain't got no thought, or think, coming. The Bible said, "Let the mind that was in Christ be in you," and He always did that which pleased the Father because He was the Word, see. So, we have no thought coming. We must just believe what He says. I don't...
Say, "Well, I can't explain it." No. If you could, then you could explain God. You don't know God by intellectual conception; you know God by faith---is the only way you know how to believe God. Just ... you can't explain it. No one can. It's not for you to. No. Nobody can explain God. God's without finding out by explanation. You've got to believe Him. It wouldn't be a faith no more. Now, you've got to believe it. Now, notice.

70 And then, Noah's great investment one day paid off. When he stood the persecution, when he stood the scoffers, when he stood against all the things and the policies of the world of that day, and all the religious things that seemed to be against him, it paid off by saving his life. He believed it. His investment paid off.
Now businessmen, let me say another thing. Daniel made an investment one day. He was taken down into a world that wasn't like the world that he was used to. He was taken among people that didn't believe the same thing he believed. But he made an investment, and look what he done. He purposed in his heart that he wouldn't mar, he wouldn't defile, that investment, see. The investment that he had made in God, he purposed in his heart though it took his life he would not defile it by disbelieving it.

71 Don't disbelieve it when you make your investment. Stay there on it. If you're not ready to believe it, then don't make your investment. But when you're ready to let the mind that was in Christ be in you...
You say, "Well, this is that, and that..."
Now, watch it. If it isn't in the Word, then leave it alone. The Word is the basic facts and truth, no personal interpretation. It's written just the way... If God's going to judge the church by the Bible, then the Bible... God has watched over it to keep it, and it's written just the way it should be written---no private interpretation. The Methodists interpret in one way, the Baptists another, and so forth; and then bring it down to the showdown, neither one of them's right. It's man's mind where they run off.

72 Every time God raised up a great founder like Luther, and Wesley, and John Smith, and Calvin, Knox, Finney, Moody, and so forth like that, then after their death then they organized; and got a bunch of good college graduates around there that put their own interpretation to it, and made an organization. And there's where they died, right there. And never a place in history where any church that ever organized ever lived from then on.
Where'd they ever have a great revivals in the church like that, the church died when they organized it. From the Roman Catholic church, the first Roman Catholic church... Before it become a Roman church it was a catholic church at Pentecost. Some nearly three hundred years later at Nicaea, Rome, it changed from the apostolic catholic church to the Roman Catholic church, that injected man's ideas---a little Roman pagan superstitions---into the Scripture. And since then she's never done nothing but laid there dead, with members.
Out come the reformer---come Luther. And Luther came out as a man of God on justification. The Word taught it by grace of God; where the Catholic church said there's no salvation outside the church, God was in His church. The Bible...

73 I had an interview with a priest not long ago. He said, "Mr. Branham, you're trying to talk about a Bible. This is the church." Said, "God's in His church."
I said, "Show me where." The Bible said that God is in the Word. He is the Word. And if the Word in you, it produces God again. And He said the Word's a seed, and the seed produces what its kind is. And it will produce a godly life---a full consecrated life to Jesus Christ.

74 Now notice, Daniel after his investment that he made in God, then it paid off by saving his life from a den of lions. The Hebrew children made an investment one day that... When the proclamation come forth that they was all going to have to join this group, and worship some other way besides the way that God had told them was the right way, they made an investment in God. "Though they throw us in the furnace, we're not going to do it. We're going to stay with this Word." It saved their lives, converted a nation, see, because they were willing to keep their investment. Yes, sir.

75 Peter, a fisherman, he was a businessman. He had a great business. He sold fish. And that was a great thing in those days, living there by the lake, like---a place something like Chicago here by the lake. And he was a commercial fisherman. But ... and he was kind of a hard man because he was a Pharisee, and his father was an old Pharisee.
But one day... (I was reading a story, though it might not be authentic, and perhaps it's not---but I think it would stand the test just now.) [ Blank spot.]
"...but you know, son, he hasn't come yet, and he might come in your day. Now, just remember, as your father I want to say this: that there'll be many cults rise up, there will be many false prophets go forth [as Jesus said about this day]. But by their fruit [and the fruit is the fruit of the Spirit, see] you know them." He said, "There'll be many of this [which there was].
"But," he said, "now I want you to know, there might be great smart teachers rise up [which there was one that claimed to be the Christ, and led four hundred out, and they perished in the wilderness because it was contrary to the Word]."

76 He said, "But I want you to remember that this Messiah, He'll have an identification tag on Him, and He will be a prophet. Now we are Hebrews, and the Lord God has told us that we...
"He sent us the prophets because the Word of the Lord comes only to the prophet. That's right. And He said, 'If there be one among you spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord, will speak to him, and what he says, if it comes to pass, then hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass, don't hear him. Don't fear that man. But fear him if it comes to pass, what he says.'
"And Moses said, 'The Lord your God shall raise up a prophet like me, and him shall you hear.'
"Now this Messiah will be a prophet---remember, not an educator, not a priest, not a clergyman, but He'll be a prophet."

77 And when Simon sat on that chunk of wood, perhaps, that day when Andrew taken him down to the seashore, where Jesus... After they had toiled all night and seen nothing in their nets, sat down there. And He borrowed the boat from this ... Peter. And then He said, after He got through using the boat... Peter might have listened to his talk and maybe halfway put his fingers in his ears, sitting on this chunk out there, when Jesus floating around out in his boat on account of the press.
Then we find out that out there in the boat Jesus must have beckoned to Simon to bring the boat in. And when he went out there, and said, "Now, I know you've toiled all night and taken nothing. But there's fish on this side now. Cast your net in, and there's a draught of fish waiting."
Well, it's still just a word. But when he throwed the net in, and he begin to pull, and there was the fish, that also meant there was the Messiah that his father had told him about---a prophet. And he said, "Depart from me, Lord. I'm a sinful man."
He said, "Fear not, Simon. Now you've seen the truth. From henceforth you'll be a fisher of men."
Peter was ready to leave his fish nets, his business. He made a complete investment in Jesus Christ because he saw that that was the promised Messiah, for there was the Word that He spoke made manifest. And that was the Messiah. He knowed that's what ... that the Word said that. His old Pharisee father had told him that the Messiah will be the incarnate Word, and He'll be a prophet making this promise of the Messiah to come to pass. And there it was. So Peter made his investment after he had seen the identification, the vindication of the Word.

78 Nathanael made an investment, as I spoke of last night. And so did the woman at the well. Nicodemus, a great theologian---let's say something like someone that spoke this morning---a great scholar. And they ... he came to make an investment. Now I want you to notice the expression of this great man, Nicodemus, found in St. John the 3rd chapter. He was just not an overnight man. He was a theologian. Watch what he said. No doubt the Sanhedrin Council, the institution, had discussed this man's ministry. Though He was called a prophet of Galilee, yet there had been a thorough investigation made of His ministry. Now notice the confession (if it don't go over the top of your head).
Watch what Nicodemus said to Jesus: "Rabbi, we [the Pharisees], we know... [We can't confess it. We can't make it known because we will lose our position, we'll lose our investment in our bread and our butter. We'll lose our position amongst the people. We will be an outcast, like the Galileans or the fishermen. We'll be considered a very bad intellectual person, maybe a nervous, upset, hysterical, not subject to make a good decision. Therefore the church can use us no more, if we make this decision.] But we know that you are a teacher comes from God, for no man can do those things that you do except God be with Him."

79 You see, Nicodemus... A lot of us go on about Nicodemus. They say, "He come by night." He come to make his investment, and he found the bank was open twenty-four hours a day. Though it be at night, the bank was open. It's open this morning here in Chicago. It's open all the time, if you're ready to make an investment. He found the doors open, a welcome heart to receive him---took him up on the housetop. And as they sat there in the moonlight...
And then, Nicodemus was going to make his investment, and he made his confession first. "We know thou art a teacher comes from God, 'cause no man could do the things that you do except God be with him. We know that."
Now, he said "We." That meant the council, the organization of the council. They had a united council, like we're trying to get in our churches---a federation of churches, see, world council.
And he said, "We understand that." But none of the rest of them wanted to mar... Like the rich man, they wanted to keep their worldly riches.

80 My business friend this morning, men or women, could you afford...? Count the price. Would it so mar you to accept the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Would it so mar your business? Would you rather have your business marred here on earth, or your position in church changed; or would you rather have eternal life? It depends on what policy you want to hold. Remember, Nicodemus was a great man, and he had a lot to go against; but he accepted this policy.

81 We find in Luke 24:49 that these policy holders (and I'm closing in a moment), these policy holders in Luke 24:49 all that had made an investment... You know, if you hold a policy it pays off in dividends. Many times you can draw dividends on your policy. Well, they had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and had accepted Him as personal Saviour, but they understand that there was dividends ready to be paid off on the policy, for Jesus told them in Luke 24:49, "Behold, I send the promised dividends, the promise of my Father upon you..."

82 Joel 2:28 and many other scriptures that had promised it, I believe Isaiah 28:19 where it said, "Precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, here a little and there a little; hold fast to that what is good, for with stammering lips and other tongues will I speak to this people."
Joel said in Joel 2:28, "And it shall come to pass in the last days [saith God] I'll pour out my spirit upon all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and upon my handmaids and maid servants will I pour out of my spirit. And your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and it shall come to pass that whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." And these people understood by the scripture, and by accepting Jesus Christ as their life policy, that there was dividends.

83 Now businessmen, you may belong to some organization. But there's dividends. You may have accepted Christ, you might have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as Christian baptism. You might have done all these things. But yet, there's dividends on this investment.
And in Luke 24:49, as we just said, they went up to draw the dividends. And while they were all assembled together and began to wait upon the Lord... They waited not just for two days, or three days. And maybe somebody got up, maybe say, Matthew. He was a tax collector for the government. He might have been a very intellectual man. He might have stood up and said, "Wait a minute. Why do we wait any longer? He told us to come up here. Here we are. We done been up here eight days now. I think we should take up our ministry and go on."
But that wasn't what the Word said. "With stammering lips and with other tongues will I speak to this people. I'll pour out my spirit and I'll show signs and wonders." They waited for the vindication of the evidence that their policy was good.

84 Talking to a fine Baptist brother not long ago (I won't call his name 'cause he's a well known man---a fine man out of a great church), he come to me and he said, "Billy, why'd you ever get mixed up in such a stuff as that?"
I said, "What stuff?" I said, "I got mixed up in Christ," I said, "my life."
He said, "Now, you're formerly a Baptist. You know..." Said, "Look. The Bible said Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness."
I said, "That's true."
Said, "What more could God ... or, could Abraham do but believe God?"
I said, "Well, do you?"
He said, "Yes, I believe God."
And I said, "Do you think then [knowing Baptist doctrine]," I said, "do you believe that you received the Holy Ghost?"
He said, "Certainly. When I believed it I received it, because that's the reason I believed it."
I said, "How contrary to St. Paul in Acts 19,

85 when he found those Baptists up there that was John's converts to Christ. He said, 'Have you received the Holy Ghost [drawed your dividends] since you believed [not when you believed, but after you have believed]?'
"They said, 'We know not whether there be any.'
"He said, 'How was you baptized?'
"So they said, 'We've been baptized to John. That ought to settle it.'
"He said, 'No, not now. John only baptized unto repentance, not for remission of sins. The sacrifice hadn't been offered.'
"And when they heard this, they were baptized over in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they prophesied and spoke in tongues, and drawed the dividends like it was at the first place."

86 He said, "Why, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him." Said, "How much more can a man do?"
I said, "Truly he believed God; but God vindicated it by giving the seal of circumcision. And now when you say you're a believer, God has never recognized your faith until He's sealed it with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and He's recognized it as a predestinated seed."
That was a good word for a Baptist, you see, and it's true. Certainly it's true. "No man can come to me except my Father draws him. And all the Father has given me will come." It's our duty to preach the Word. It goes out. Some falls by the wayside, but some hits that seed yonder and brings life all at once. They see it right now.
So you find out they went and drawed dividends.

87 Yes.
The rich young Paul seen this vindication by the same Spirit, and He changed him when he was on the road to Damascus. Why? He'd seen that pillar of fire, and he knowed that was the same Jesus, and he cried out because it was God. And Jesus is God. And when Paul could see, being a theologian... Paul had great intentions. He was a theologian. He was taught under Gamaliel, the great man. He had ambitions of being a priest someday, or maybe a high priest. He was a great, intellectual, scholarly man---a great man indeed.
But when ... and these cults of jumping and running around, and carrying on as they was, he thought they was a bunch of heretics. But when he was on his road down to Damascus, as I said... And now, he was rich too. He was a fine man, a young man. And on the road down all potentials that he'd been educated laid before him, the opportunities.
What's the difference between the rich businessman and this rich businessman? One accepted it, and one turned it down. Notice.

88 And then all of a sudden he was stricken down by a light, a pillar of fire standing there. And he recognized it, and he said, "Lord, who are you?"
And He said, "I am Jesus."
And when he got the revelation that God and Christ wasn't two different people---they were the same-self person---then he was ready to make an investment. I wonder if we could see that same thing today.
When Paul seen then (being a Jew) that "the very God that led me through ... led my people through the wilderness, there He is, and calling His name Jesus, from I AM..." He was I AM. And I AM is everlasting, it's eternal---not I was, I will be; but I AM, present tense, all ages, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Then Paul cried out, "Lord, I want to make an investment. What will you have me to do? What will you make me do, Lord? What must I do? [Oh, my!] What can I do?"

89 And he went down to Arabia for three and a half years, and took the Scriptures to find out if that wasn't the same God. And he came back and all he'd been trained for, all of his denominations, had passed away from him, all of his potentials of his education.
And he said over in Corinthians there, "I never come to you with intellectual words because you'd base your thoughts upon me of being an intellectual, a great man. But I've come to you in the power and manifestations, demonstrations, of the Holy Spirit." If that isn't the same thing Jesus said in Mark 16. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel" means to demonstrate the power, 'cause just preaching the Word alone won't bring it. You've got to accept it, and then it demonstrates "these signs shall follow them," because it is the Word, see.

90 Now, we find that Paul ... then it paid off for him with great eternal life. What a rashal decision now.
I'm closing, God help me. You're such a fine audience. I know I've wore out your patience. Forgive me. But just try and... I'm not sufficient to stand here to talk about a thing like this. It's more... I cannot ... I can't bring myself into the spot, and I ... put myself to be a teacher. I couldn't do that, because I haven't got the intellectual knowledge.
But I have a revelation that's exactly with the Word, and the Word lives back and produces what it's saying it's doing, see. Neither did the apostles---only Paul, and he said he had to forget those things that he knowed, see, to make his investment.
Maybe you might have to forget that "I am So-and-so. I belong to this... My mother belonged to..." You might have to forget that if you want to make an investment. So wouldn't it be rashal? You wouldn't want to do like this young businessman. What a rashal thing that fellow did, when he turned away from such an investment.

91 Now I'm not asking you to invest your money. That's up to you what you do with that---some missionary society or whatever it is, to send missionaries. I don't know about that. God will take care of that. I'm talking to you about the policy of life. "Come. Follow me. Take up your cross. Let everybody call you what they will, but you come follow me." Now, he wasn't quite willing to do this. He made a very rashal thing. Just exactly like the people of the Laodicean age today in the policy. They're not willing; they don't want to.

92 That's like the rich young man. What if I could follow him just a few minutes? Let's do, just for a minute. Watch. A few ... just a little bit later on we find this rich young fellow. Let's watch his end, and then we'll close.
Look at him. We follow him, and he was a businessman. And did his business prosper! So businessman, remember prosperity don't always mean that you're a Christian. The devil... You know, David, I believe one time said, "I seen the wicked spread forth like a green bay tree." But God said, "Did you ever behold him at the end?" That's the difference. Look at the end of the road.

93 Ern Baxter---one of my colleagues, a very fine cultured man (many of you know Ern), a very fine, able minister of Canada---he was telling me a little story one day. He said, "Brother Branham, we ride bicycles." And said, "When I was a kid we could ... I could go downtown and get a sack of groceries for my mother, and never even touch the handle bars on the bicycle. And this company come up there, named Schwinn, was going to give a bicycle for any kid that could ride a foot-wide board, standing two foot high in the air, for thirty yards." And said, "Every one of us knew that we could do it."
And said, "There was one little sissy boy there. We never would even fellowship with him because he didn't look like he knowed too much." He said, "So, we thought we were just a little better class than he was. And he qualified, or wanted to enter the race too."
And said, "You know what? Every one of us fell off of that board but him." And he said, "He rode it right out to the end and got off, bowed, picked up his Schwinn bicycle, and started to ride away." And said, "We boys met him down at the corner, and we said, 'John, we want to know. How did you do it?'
"He said, 'Well now, boys, I'll tell you what happened.' Said, 'I watched what you all done, and I went another way.' Said, 'You see, when you got on and they gave you the push, you were better... All of you are better riders than I am. You know that,' said, 'because I can't ride without holding the handlebars.

94 [And neither can I go without holding the cross, you see. This Word has got to be my life. That's what yours is. I can't speak without this handlebar to guide, this Holy Spirit that moves me, and directs me.]'
"He said, 'I can't ... I'm not the rider you fellows are. But,' said, 'I see where you made your mistake. You were looking down like this, and trying to balance it,' and, said, 'that made you nervous, and you fell off.' He said, 'When I got on there, and they pushed me, I just kept watching the end of the road, and held steady.'"
Now, businessmen, don't look here. Your business may fail tomorrow, it might fail some other day; but watch the end of the road. There's where your policy's going to pay off.

95 This young fellow increased in goods but we find out his ... finally payoff day come. His goods so increased till he found that he had to build new barns. Oh, his business kept increasing. He stayed a member of the church.
You say, "Yes?"
Yes, brother. That's right. He stayed a member of the church. And one night he got so big till...
There was a man that was poor in spirit. You know we don't have to be so poor in money; we've got to get poor in spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the [not the organization] the kingdom."
And the poor in spirit laid at his gate, and he give him a few crumbs. In other words, when they passed by he might have give something in a collection box, or something. Or he might have said, "You know, they're nice people. I have nothing against them. I even go to their breakfasts once in a while." You'll furnish a few crumbs---that might be so.
"Oh, my wife belongs down there. But I [me, see], I admire my position with my business colleagues," see. And he swept the crumbs off.

96 And Lazarus, the poor in spirit, laid there with not even enough medicine to take care of himself, and the dogs licked his sores.
But one night they both died. And when they did, the Bible said that the poor in spirit was carried by angel pallbearers to the bosoms of Abraham. The one had invested ... made his investment in eternal life. He didn't live for what he had here. For his popularity, he had none. He was a beggar at the gate. He had nothing. He had no money, he had nothing. He had no friends, but yet he was a believer. He'd made his investment. And he died on the street with the dogs licking his sores. And the Bible said that angels packed him into the bosoms of Abraham.

97 And the same night the rich old ruler, now he'd had a great prosperous life, and he died. Now he paid off in dividends, too. Some intellectual preacher come along, perhaps with his collar turned around, and maybe in all of his priestly garb, and he said... And they half-mast the flag, and the flowers couldn't be held in this ballroom here, and oh, what a great to-do they had, and all the business... Maybe the president of the bank association, and all of them come, and was pallbearers for him.
And maybe the intellectual minister stood up and said, "Our precious brother. How many times has he wrote checks for the widows? and how many times has he paid in our great organization, and sponsored our program?" And maybe the businessman might have got up, made a talk. He got his reward. That's right. His investment paid off like that. But, from the world he was a great man. But because that he rejected the investment that Jesus gave him, the Bible said "In hell he lifted up his eyes," and he saw the man who had made the investment otherwise safely in the bosoms of Abraham, comforted, walking around fine.
And he cried (now watch)... You say "Was he a Chris...?" Yeah.
"Father Abraham [a Jew, right], I pray thee, send Lazarus [the poor in spirit that made the investment]. I turned it down, but send Lazarus with just a little water. These flames are tormenting me."
He said, "Son, you had the opportunity."
He did. Jesus presented it, "Sell what you got, and come, follow me. Make your investment in this. Take up your cross..." But it was too great. He said, "Now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, there's a great gulf fixed between you and he that no man has ever crossed, or ever will."

98 That knocks purgatory, and all these doctrines to pieces. That was Jesus Christ that said that. Don't wait too long, mister, my precious, wayward brother, fallen from Christ.
Don't wait too long to make this investment. He might've intended some day to do it. But as the old southern saying is, "Hell itself is paved with good intentions," see. The intentions doesn't do it. Read the prescription on the bottle, but then take the medicine if you want the results. Make your investment, sign your name in His blood over your heart, see. Notice.
Look at him. In hell he lifted up his eyes. He had been paid off.

99 And then, notice, he said, "Then Father Abraham, if you cannot do this, don't let my colleagues [where all my inheritance went, back in the earth---my investment that I made]... Tell them 'don't make the same mistake that I made.'"
Could that be you this morning, my Jewish friend, or Gentile friend? Don't be rashal like that fellow was.
He said, "Send him back and let this message be brought to them." Oh, he wanted to become a minister then. He wanted to accept it. It was too late, can't do it now. His time ... he had the opportunity, but he didn't make his investment.
And He said, "They have the prophets, they have what the Word said, and the laws."
He said, "Yes. But if one raised from the dead, and could be proven that he's raised from the dead, then they'll believe it."
He said, "They wouldn't believe, though one be raised from the dead."

100 And 2,000 years has passed since that scene. In 1963, One is among us this morning proving that Christ has raised from the dead, and the life that was in Him is in His church doing the same things to fulfill His Word. Won't you, my brother, sister, make this investment this morning, surrender your lives to Christ as we bow our heads?
Solemnly, let not these words be in vain. You must be born again. You must. Now, I'm not talking about you might scream, shout, speak with tongues. I mean being born again, really with that deep confession of sin, that you've never been able... Yet, you've always held to your organization, though you know they were contrary to the Word. But yet, for selfish ideas, and for pride, and for popularity you've stayed in the big church. You want nothing to do with the mission on the corner. See, there your treasures are, your heart is also.

101 Oh, businessmen, this morning I am offering to you, as an agent of Jesus Christ, an eternal life, a policy of eternal life, that Christ, my Lord, and my supreme boss... For I am dead to the things of the world to live only to Him, using not our own mind but just letting His mind... We're prisoners, as Paul, as Moses... No matter what anyone else says, you're a prisoner to that Word. The Holy Spirit leads. He forbids to go places, He forbids to come here, He sends you to places you would not go, and keeps you away from places that you would go. Do you want a policy? Do you want to make an investment?
Now, there's no place here for---as the Methodist people, and most Pentecostals call---altar calls, but that's an altar right where you're sitting. The Bible said "As many as believed were baptized." And if you want to make a confession, and know that you've been wrong, and you'd like to have one of these policies, and would desire (And I hope you don't think now that ... I hope it don't sound sacrilegious when I say "policies." I'm only making this statement according to my text), and you want to have eternal life, and you want to invest your life in Jesus Christ, if you will, now think hard.

102 Now according to science, gravitation holds your hands down but there's a life in you that can defy gravitation, and you can raise your hand. And if that life in you tells you this morning that, like that rich young ruler, "Though I've been a good man or woman, but I don't have that policy. I'm sure of that. And I want it, though."
And to the Creator who's present, who speaks and knows that heart, and you know He could speak your name right now, but He's doing it to you ... and then "Because that You're giving me this opportunity this morning, Lord, I'm raising my hands to You. Have mercy, Lord. I will not walk away from this ballroom this morning an empty, dry, Pharisee. I accept your program. I accept your life in mine. I forsake my life. I become a prisoner to your Word. Pray for me, Brother Branham. I raise up my hands to show to God---not to you, Brother Branham, but to God, who's present---I want this investment."

103 Would you raise your hands now, while every head's bowed and every eye closed.
God bless you people. No matter if you are, see, ministers---that's right---be honest. See, ministers are not excluded. Frankly they are the shepherds. They should be the one take the lead. All right. Would there be another before I pray? Yes, God bless you. God bless you up there in the balcony. Bless you. Yes, He sees your hands everywhere.
Now, sincerely, as you put your hands down, you've made your decision. Now, as I pray, and ask this great God who is manifested in flesh, and now re-given to us in the form of the Holy Spirit, may He come to your heart and settle the question forever, and write "Forgiven" across your life's book, and put your name on the book of life, and give you eternal life, and the assurance of the resurrection; because Christ will be resurrected in you, the one you've been seeing moving through the meetings this week, bringing forth, and proving "raise the dead, heal the sick, knows the secrets of the heart," foretells everything perfectly that comes to pass, year after year and never one failure... It's the Word and the...
Jesus said, "Heavens and earth will pass away, but my word can never fail." That's the reason it don't fail. It's the promised word for this age.

104 Heavenly Father, the evening time is on. We know in the Bible that You were the tree of life that come from the garden of Eden. And we know the seraphims took a sword of fire, flame, and guarded that tree, 'cause if a man ever touched that tree and ate from it, he'd live forever. You guarded the tree then.
But the same fire from the sword, the Word of God, is herding people back to that tree, that tree of life that come on earth so beautifully---born in a manger over a stable, where the cattle and the sheep had bedded and laid---little Jehovah crying in the form of a baby. Oh, it ought to be the thing that would thrill the heart of every man and woman.
And then, Jehovah dying on the cross, suffering the sins of the world---He didn't have to do it, but He did do it. His grace constrained Him, His love. God so loved, and His love constrained Him because this had ... this human race had to display His attributes of being a Saviour. They had to be lost. There was nothing lost. He made things perfect. But Satan was brought in and perverted what He had made perfect. On the basis of free moral agency they was put, and then He had to redeem it, and He did.

105 Oh, eternal God, come in mercy and speak to every heart here. And may today, as these hands went up, and maybe some who at that time when I asked didn't have the real feeling, but now has, may they sign with the blood of their own life, God, to ... from this day henceforth that they are making their investment of their entire life to Jesus Christ and to His Word.
And that great tree, that great tree of life, when He come on earth they chopped it down by a Roman spear, and hung it on a Roman tree, a cruel, cursed tree. But in there He redeemed a bride tree. The bride tree, one just like Him---that Eve-tree from the garden of Eden, the tree that had fallen---Eve in the beginning. And Adam walked out with her. Now Adam comes, this second Adam, knowing that He had His eyes open to come, to receive His Eve.

106 And now as the prophet said, the prophet David, said, "He'll be like a tree that's planted by the rivers of water." Grant, Lord, that the waters of life will water this bride tree in the last days, where all the denominational branches have been pruned by the husbandman. And now the Spirit of God is living anew in the top of the tree, which come from the heart of the tree, the Word. Grant it, Lord. And may they bring forth much fruit.
And may their state be, if it be like Lazarus, if they have to take it that way on earth, knowing that our treasures are in heaven, not of the earth...
Bless these businessmen, Lord, these businesswomen, and all that's concerned, and we commit them to You now, for the furthering of this message. And You promised, Lord, that You, I... , that You would grant it. And I as your servant commit them to you. And You said, "No man can come except my Father draws him," and they raised their hands, Lord.
Now I give them to You as love gifts from the message this morning of thy Word. Keep them, Lord, until that day. You said, "No man can pluck them from my hand. And I'll raise him up at the last day." May they receive that germ of life, that only a germitized seed can come up. And the only words... Every man's word is a failure. It dies. It isn't germitized. But You said, "My word [which is the Bible] shall never fail." It's life. Grant that the life that was in Christ will grow by the Word this morning that they have received.
I, as your servant, commit my prayer to You to be answered in this, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

107 The Lord Jesus Christ bless you. I'm so sorry to keep you here at this late hour. Forgive me. But to each one that raised their hands, will you promise me that you will go to some good Christian church that's filled with the Spirit of God, and be baptized in Christian baptism if you never have. Take your position, my brother, for Jesus Christ. Until we meet tonight, God bless you, and the service turned back then to Brother Carlson.

Investments

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you, very much. I certainly deem this one of the highlights of my life, to be here in this great city of New York, to speak to this chapter, or these chapters, rather, having this time to sit on the platform with my ministering brethren, and to speak to the businessmen and women of this city, about our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no doubt but many of you know Him, from your action this morning, and rejoicing and praising Him for His goodness and mercy.
I feel pretty small here, standing here with these renown speakers and have to stand here and speak to this audience, because I'm not much of a speaker, always said I was a spare tire. You know, you use a spare tire when you got a flat; but we haven't got any flat, but they just let the spare tire roll along a few minutes, I suppose.

2 I was remarking about, in my soul, a few moments ago, and mind, about the ... about bearing the fruit of the Spirit, as one of the brothers give that quotation, "bearing fruit." You know, we can't manufacture fruit. We have to bear fruit. See, a sheep doesn't manufacture wool; but because he has wool, and bears wool, he is a sheep. That's the reason he bears wool. That's the only way we can ever be Christians, is not because that we have the name, or try to work up to something, to manufacture it. Being a sheep, you just bear wool. Being a Christian, you just bear the fruits of it.
Then sitting this morning, I know our time is limited in these meetings.

3 Another reason we're in New York at this time, I was sorry that I did not get to attend that convention. A very dear friend of mine misunderstood me, when he said, "Would you speak at the convention in New York?" Mr. Williams. I live in Tucson, Arizona; he lives in Phoenix, Arizona, just about 120 miles apart. And I said, "Yes, I'll be there in November, I'll be glad to do that," to meet with Brother Nelson, Brother Sweet, and my friends here. And come to find out, it was October. And October I was to be in Alaska, so I was quite a ways from New York at that time.

4 But finding this privilege of coming here with Brother Vick of the Rock Church, and the ministers, and we're down here in the Marc Auditorium, where we've been having a grand time this week, seeing the kingdom of God among us. We're so happy for that. And then coming to this time this morning, where perhaps men, businessmen and women from all walks of life, sit here; Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterian, Catholic, and whatmore.
It reminds me of years ago, when I used to work on a cattle ranch up in Colorado. I was ... we'd take the cattle off. The Hereford Association grazes the valley, and it's called the Troublesome River Hereford Association. Our little ranch was up at the head of the river. And we had the East and West Fork, and we grazed the East Fork. And in the spring of the year, when we take the cattle off the pasture then, and put them on to the Arapajo Forest, where the Association grazes.
Now, it's a Hereford Association. There is many people on, in the Association there, that raises Hereford cattle. And if your ranch can produce two tons of hay, you are permitted, by the brand, to put a cow on the pasture for the summer, so that your hay can grow up where they irrigate, and feed them out through the winter.

5 Now when we have the spring round-up, and driving the cattle up on the pasture, there is a drift fence. Drift fence is where the cattle don't drift back on private property, it's on government property. And the ranger always stands at this drift fence, and he watches the cattle as they go by. Well, there is many brands that goes through that gap, or little fence.
And there is, well, Mr. Grimes is one of the big ranchers, he had what they call the Diamond Bar. He had several thousand head of cattle. And the Turkey Track, and the Lazy K, and many up and down there that they went through.

6 I stood a many time, or sat, rather, in the saddle, with my leg up over the horn of the saddle, and watched that ranger as he looked at those cattle going by and the amazing thing, he never did notice the brands on the cattle. He didn't. They all have to be Herefords or they can't get in there. And the only thing he was interested in, whether it was a Hereford or not; not what kind of brand they were wearing. There is a blood tag in the ear, that showed that they were Herefords.
And I just thought, that's the way it'll be at the great round-up or the great entering in of the kingdom of God. He will not notice the brand, whether we're Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian. But He'll watch for the blood tag. That's, we must all have the blood tag, "For when I see the blood, I'll pass over you." Man has tried to educate people into Jesus Christ; we've tried to lecture them in. But God has one way, that's under the blood, we have things in common.

7 Some time ago, a family was separating. And the attorney told them they had better go down and divide up their estate before the divorce was granted, because there wouldn't be nothing left if the attorneys got ahold of it. So he happened to be a personal friend to them. And they went into one room, the living room, the husband and wife, and they divided up, and fussed over what was in there. And the next room, they fussed again. Finally they went up in the attic, an old garret, they found a trunk up there, and they were dividing the spoils that were in there; one reaching and grabbing, "And that's mine! And this is mine!"

8 And finally they raised up a piece of goods, and they both grabbed at something. And when they grabbed, they caught each other's hands. And beneath these hands was a pair of little baby shoes, which had been the results of their union, that God had called the little thing home. No one could claim it, 'cause it belonged to both of them. They had found something they had in common. And there, looking each other in the face, it wasn't long till they were in each other's arms. The divorce wasn't granted, they could annul it, because they found something they had in common.
I think that's what we should find. There is one thing. We might not all agree to be Methodist, or Baptist, or Pentecostals, or so, but there is one thing we have in common; Jesus Christ, we have Him in common.

9 Someone asked me, some time ago, said, "Why are you hanging around with these Full Gospel businessmen? You're supposed to be a preacher."
I said, "Well, I am a businessman."
Said, "A businessman?"
I said, "Yes, sir, I'm a businessman."
Said, "What kind of a business are you in?"
I said, "Eternal life assurance."
I never said insurance. I said "assurance." If any of you is interested in the policy, I'd sure like to talk it over with you, immediately after the meeting.

10 Reminds me of when I was in school, as a boy, we had a chum there, was a very fine friend. He's an insurance salesman. And somehow, nothing against insurance, now, but I just don't have any this earthly insurance. So sometime ago, this young fellow ... His brother is a Baptist minister, also, and he writes articles in the Upper ... for the Upper Room. And he came up to my house, and he said, "Well, Billy, I'm sure glad to get to see you again."
I said, "Sit down, Wilmer."

11 We got to talking. And I knew what he was coming for. I got a brother that sells insurance, but I just never did take any, somehow. So he said, after we talked awhile, he said, "I understand, Billy, that you haven't got any insurance," he said "and I thought maybe I could talk to you about a policy. And ..."
"Oh," I said, "thank you, Wilmer, but I've got a paid-up policy."
And he said, "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, "what kind of a policy do you have, Billy?"
And I said, "Eternal life."
And believe it or not, the boy said "I don't believe I'm acquainted with the company." Says, "Where is its headquarters?"
I said, "Glory."
"Oh," he said.
I said, "It's
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
I'm an heir of salvation, purchased by God,
Born of His Spirit, and washed in His blood."
"Oh," he said, "that's very nice, Billy, but that won't put you up here in the graveyard."
"But," I said, "it'll get me out." I'm not worried about getting in. I'm not worried about getting in. It's getting out.
So I'm so glad to have this assurance that I will come out. Because, He who made the policy, that we could all come out, I have received that assurance in my heart, that I've passed from death unto life. And I know, someday, that He'll bring me out.

12 Now just before we approach the Word, I'd like for us to bow our heads and speak to the author, just a moment, if you will.
And while we have our heads bowed and your eyes closed, and I trust our hearts are bowed, too, in His presence. I wonder, right, now, if there is anyone in here that really doesn't hold such an assurance of the resurrection, hid away in the safety box of your heart, this morning, and you would like to be remembered in prayer? Would you just, without anyone looking, just raise up your hands, and say, "Include me, brother." Thank you, thank you. The Lord bless you. Dozens of hands while we pray.

13 Most gracious God, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who raised Him up on the third day after His crucifixion, for our justification, has presented Him to us in the form of the Holy Ghost that now comes blessing our hearts and ministering to us the things that we have need of in this life's journey.
Realizing and seeing these hands go up, Lord, there is a great need among us, this morning. And I pray, God, that You will not let one of those people go out of here without having this assurance, that their sins are under the blood and they have been born again, and sealed into the kingdom of God, by the Holy Ghost. Grant it, Father.

14 Bless us as we listen to Thy Word. We know Thy Word is truth, and there is no other truth outside of that. And we pray, Father, that Thy Word will become a reality to us, today. For it is written, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The same yesterday, today, and forever!"
And He has told us that the works that He did, we would do also, because His life is in us. And we pray, Father, that this will be a clear understanding with all of us, this morning. And if we should profess this morning that Shakespeare lived in us, we know we would do his works, composing poems. If the works, or the life, rather, of Beethoven lived in us, we be a would Beethoven, we would compose songs. But when we confess that the life of Jesus Christ is in us, eternal life, then the life itself will testify what we are. And as the brother has spoke of the "bearing of the fruit," we know Christ's life in us will bear evidence that He is there. So we pray that You will grant that experience to each of us, this morning, as we wait.
Opening Thy Word, we cannot open it. We can turn the page back and read, but only the Holy Spirit can take the Word and divide it to our hearts as we have need of. And we'll humbly praise Thee, for we ask it in Jesus, name, Thy beloved Son. Amen.

15 I would like for you to, if you have your Bibles; and many times, people like to attend the service, and then listen to what the minister reads. Because, after all, the Word of God is truth. There is no other truth can take its place. It's all truth. The Word is God, it's God in letter form.
God is going to judge the world someday by Jesus Christ. We know that.
He cannot judge it by a church. If it would, the Roman Catholic said, "He'd judge it by our church," then what about the Greek Catholic? The Methodist say, "... judge it by our church," then what about the Baptist? So you see there is too much difference.
There's got to be some standard. And if Jesus Christ is the Word, then He'll judge it by the Word. So whatever God has said in His Word, that's what we live by. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

16 Let us turn to St. Mark, the 10th chapter, read just a portion of the Scripture.
And while you're turning, I would like to invite you to the auditorium. But I seen a saddening sight last evening, even when I got off the cab, or got out of the cab, rather, to go to the pulpit. There were literally hundreds walking down the street, many of them crying, because they were turned away from the auditorium. There was no room. We're sorry we couldn't find any place larger. But we hope, some day, that we can all come to see ... if we don't, we'll see you just across the border, just on the other side.

17 Now 17th or the 10th chapter, beginning with the 17th verse just for a little text, to make a ... to draw from it a conclusion of a context, that we trust that God will give us.
And when he had ... was gone forth into the way, there came one running and kneeling down to him, ... asking him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
... Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and thy mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasures in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at this saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

18 I want you to notice this young man, that he was not an atheist. He was supposed to be a believer, he was a church member. And I would like to speak this morning, for the next few minutes, I don't know just how long this is lotted, but I would like to speak to you on a few scriptures I have written down here upon the subject of: "Investments."

19 I would believe that any businessman ought to be interested in some good investment. And we are talking, I presume, to businessmen of this great, famous city, New York. And any man that can make an investment that would help him, he should be interested in it. Now we have all kinds of investments, but the investment I'm asking about this morning ... You might have made many good ones, but this is the best one you could make. As I have just quoted, I am an agent for eternal life.

20 It's not a good business to gamble, take chances. Our brother here was just speaking a few moments ago, on, he was going to the places and gambling. That's taking a chance. A good sound-thinking businessman won't do that. He shouldn't do it, anyhow. It's a gamble. You could go broke, at once, with such a thing as that.
And then a good sound businessman, or a good sound thinking businessman, would never invest in some "get rich over night," some unestablished firm, to make an investment. He would never do that, a good sound-thinking businessman, as I believe you are, and women.

21 This "get rich over night." I had a friend once that had his life savings in a bank, drawing a small interest, and someone come by with a shortcut. You know, we hear today of so many, shortcuts the thing. The world is full of it; advertisements, and television, radio, newspapers. And if the American people fall for such as that!
Here not long ago, I was listening at an advertisement of a woman, or talking on the radio. I was in my car, going somewhere, and they said, "Use these fine dishwashing powders," of some sort, "you don't even have to wash the dishes. You just put them in there, and pour a little bit in and shake it up-and-down; and it's no washing, no rinsing, no drying, no nothing." And it was one of the greatest things that science had ever given us.
And right back over, about the next commercial, was, "Don't use these new detergents. Look at mother's hands, how pretty they are. They burn your hands up. Be ... have pretty hands like mother, and don't use the new detergent."
And I happened to live in Jeffersonville, at that time, where Colgate Palmolive Peet big factory is, and the same company made both products, see. See? It's a gimmick. And there is so much of it in the world today!
And I say this with reverence and respects, and I hope it doesn't sound sacrilegious, but that same thing has got into the church move. God has no shortcuts. You just pay the price. You come and take the way that God provided for us.

22 A "get rich over night," you invest in it, and, the first thing you know, this fellow lost everything he had. It's unsound business to do anything like that. It doesn't show good intelligence or good business thinking, in some unidentified business.
And then it's not a good business to keep what you got in your pocket, because you better put it to work. You remember the Lord talking about the talents?
I won't have time to break this all down, but I hope you understand what I'm speaking, giving a parallel here, to make the point that I wish to make to you.

23 Now we find out that, if you keep your money in your pocket, thieves can take it. And we don't want to do that, because that's not a good policy, to keep your money in your pocket. You can lose it, and you could, somebody could take it from you.
And don't put it in some foolish investment. But invest it in some good reliable firm that has proven and been thoroughly identified that it'll pay off. Now that's what you people think, you businessmen and women. If it doesn't pay off, then you're afraid of it. But if it's been proven that it does pay off, and it's reliable, then you make your investment there. You can put all you've got into it, because it's been proven, thoroughly proven, that it pays off.

24 And this young ruler, or young businessman, I'm going to call him. This young businessman of the city had an opportunity to make an investment in one of the greatest identified things in the world. He had an opportunity to take out a policy, as we'd call it, of eternal life. But he wasn't interested in such a policy, because the price of it seemed to take away from the things that he wanted to do. There is a point.

25 Now, the young man knew that there was something that he was lacking. Though we ... (he's) thoroughly ... understand that he must have had a good father, a good mother, and a church experience, that he belonged to the church, because Jesus asked him, "Keep the commandments. Honor the father and mother. Do not kill, commit adultery," and all these morals that the church teaches. But yet Jesus told him, "One thing yet thou lackest."
He wasn't, did not ask Jesus, "What can I do that I might join your church? What that I might do, that I might become a member?" But he said, "What can I do to have eternal life?" Yet, being a member of a religious body, yet the young man was sensible enough to know that he lacked eternal life.

26 And there is only one form of eternal life. We strive for that. And he was given that opportunity to receive it, when he asked, because it's written, "Ask and you shall receive."
And it was presented to him, but yet foolish enough to turn down because the price was too great. And as a Christian, and traveling the world, I find that same desire in so many people's hearts today. As my wife used to say, "You want to eat your cake, and keep it, too." You can't do that.
You can't hold to the love of the world, and to God, at the same time. "For you cannot love God, and mammon [which means, the world], and if you love the world, or the things of the world, the love of the Father isn't in you."

27 But so many people like to say, "I belong to so." But that's not the question. That's not the policy that I'm talking about, this morning.
It's eternal life, everlasting life. And anything that's eternal, never did begin, therefore it cannot end. Eternal never begins. And then the only way that you can be eternal, is to receive eternal life. And there is only one thing eternal, and that's God. Not by joining a church, or creeds, or turning a new page on New Year's, or whatever it is; but it's receiving God, the person of God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, into your life. And you become part of God, and just as eternal as He is, because you're a part of Him. Everything has a beginning has an end. The world began, it ends; heaven begins, it ends. Jesus said, "Heavens and earth will pass away, but my Word shall never," because He is the Word. He is the Word, and that is eternal.

28 And that Word in you produces the life of Christ. If I could take the life out of a peach tree and put it in a pear, it wouldn't bear peaches no more, it would have pears on it because the life in the tree would produce what it is. The life that's in you shows what you are. Your life testifies so loud, in you, until your testimony is not heard. They know what you are by the life you live and the things that you do. If the life of Christ is in you, then, therefore, the works and life of Christ you live, because that's his life living through you. You're just in a vessel to carry on the work of God.

29 What a rashal thing this young man did when he wasn't interested in such an investment. He had great wealth, we're told. But the wealth of the world has to perish. What about the young man's condition today, wonder where he is at? He turned down the opportunity he had. Yet, he was a Christian believer, or a believer, we would say, to be more fundamentally. He was a believer, he was walking in all the light that the law had, and probably a loyal member of some great congregation, but yet knew that he lacked eternal life.

30 Now, he had seen something in Jesus that he never saw in other men. He had saw his priest, he'd seen his people, he had seen good men, but there was something special about Jesus Christ. They seen, even the scribes and the soldiers that was sent, and from the temple, to arrest Him, they said, "Never a man spake like this." He not only spoke as a priest or a layman, but He had ... God backed up what He said. He was...
He never wrote no books. We don't have anything that Jesus ever written, in his life. Only thing we know, He wrote one time on the sand, when a little lady in ill fame was brought to Him, then He erased that back out. Why didn't He write? He was the Word. He was the living proof that there is a living God, His very life within Him.
He said, "If I do not the works of my Father, then believe me not. Though you cannot believe me ['cause Him being a man], yet believe the works. Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are that that testifies of me. They tell you who I am." That was a foreign language to many of those clergymen of that day.
It's too bad, it seems to be repeating again. But, it's, the world remains the same. Spirits doesn't change, they leave from one group to another, one man to another; evil spirits, and good Spirit from God. The Holy Spirit remains just the same as it was when it fell afresh at the day of Pentecost, when God, in that great pillar of fire, separated Himself among His people.

31 But in this Jesus, he saw something that no other man had, he saw God living in a human being.
And then, as intelligent thinkers, this morning, if that same life that was in Christ is in you, how can it keep from living the same thing, and being the same thing? It must do it. So we might get emotionally worked up, we might get so indocumated with some creed or something, that we would think that that was it. But when we read what He was, then that's what He is today. What God was in Christ, your brother redeemer, that's what He is in you as a redeemed child.

32 Jesus saw this young man, and He loved him. Now there is one thing that we seem to lack a lot of, today, because the people that doesn't love us, it seems like we don't want to love them. Since I've been amongst the Full Gospel people, that's one thing that I find, until I met this businessmen's group, that the organizations of the Pentecostal beliefs seem to isolate themselves. That isn't expressing the life of Jesus Christ. He loved all, and He loved this young businessman. Though he turned Him down, yet He loved him.
And the young man found something in Jesus that he didn't find nowhere else, and was invited to receive this that He had, but the price was too great. And though he had seen that the investment that he was asked to invest in, it cost him all of his worldly possessions, for Jesus told him, "Go sell what you have."

33 Now, men and women, don't misunderstand me. I don't mean we don't have to have money. But when you make that your God, when that's what you're depending on, it's got to perish. And today, too many times, that businessmen and women are trying to see how much they can get ahold of, where we ought to be seeing how much we can let loose of. What a difference it is today, in the Christian realms, and in the denominational churches, and so forth, of all of them. How much difference it seems to be, today, than the early Pentecostal church. Today they seem to try to brag on, "I got a fleet of Cadillacs, and I'm spiritual because I own so much of the goods of the world." And we see that too much exalted, even amongst our brethren. The Pentecost of the early days sold what they had and distributed to the poor, and among them.

34 A young fellow not long ago, in Jamaica, where we was at the race track, I was with the Full Gospel Businessmen. I made a remark something like that, one night, to a gathering of the businessmen that had gathered from all over the islands, down all over the islands. And this young singer come to me, and he said, "Brother Branham, your statement wasn't too great, tonight, upon what you said about the Pentecostals selling what they had."
I was preaching on critics of Pentecost, and saying that that's where they had a right to criticize that one thing. I said, "You businessmen are always telling how to get rich. Those men know how to get rich. They're already rich. The thing you want to sell them is Jesus Christ, something that they don't have."

35 You can't take the gospel over into the world. We got to get the world over here. Hollywood reaches after shiny things, a monkey does the same thing. Hollywood shines, but the gospel glows. There is quite a difference between shining and glowing. We're trying to put on big things, and be something big. That's no way to get the outsider. Live the life, and let Christ live in you, that makes him hunger and thirst to be like you. You become salty, he'll get thirsty. The only way you can be salty is let the life of Christ be in you, for He is that. Salt only saves as it contacts.

36 Now we find, this young man knew that this man was more than just an ordinary man. He knew he must be God, because the life of God was reflecting through Him; and He was thoroughly vindicated by the Word, that He was God.
Now I want to speak just a moment to my minister brethren, also. We're a congregation here of both ministers and businessmen. I'm just a little afraid that our great system of our churches today has come to that same place, for the Bible claims that we will come, in the last days, to the Laodicea church age, which is, "rich, increased in goods, has need of nothing. Knowest thou not that thou art miserable, poor, wretched, blind, and don't know it." There is the sad part ... don't know it! Blinded!

37 Why wouldn't those Pharisees the scholars of the seminaries know Jesus Christ, when He was thoroughly identified by the Bible, when He proved that He was the prophet that Moses said would be raised up? And they hadn't had prophets for hundreds of years. And here He stood amongst them, with the very Word of God, but the Bible said that they were blind Pharisees. And the Bible tells us, that they must be blind. What a pitiful thing!
And the same Bible that said that they would be blinded, said, "The Laodicean church age would be blinded, miserable, wretched, poor, naked, and blind, and don't know it."
If we could find a man on the street, or a person that was in that condition, it would be a pitiful thing; if you could go to him now, and talk to he or she. And if you looked at the dressing of some of our modern women, you'll find out they're just about that way in the natural. But if you go to them and tell them that they're wrong, and if they would listen, understand that they are naked, they would try to help themselves. But, naked, and don't know it.

38 Now in this day, God has sent back the Holy Spirit, which, if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then He is still the same Messiah. And the life of Christ is in His church, vindicating His Word. That's how God was in the earth, in the form of Jesus Christ, being the Word, to make the Word live. And the Holy Spirit's today in flesh, making the Word of God live to every promise and every wonder. And everything that He promised, it's there.
And the churches has been given the opportunity to receive this policy of eternal life, but they made the rashal mistake that the rich young ruler made. They have went off to the councils, uniting together, all coming under a form of ecclesiastical head which is predicted by the Bible. We see that in our organizational systems. And they're in Rome, and so forth, now. Now we have no axes to grind, no punches to pull, just tell the truth. That's the way it's written. God always vindicates his truth. And the church in that kind of a condition, is offered to take the policy.

39 And upon the same basis, that many of you businessmen here this morning, belonging to those churches. I don't say, "Leave it." No, sir. You go there and be a light, but take light with you. Notice.
The same basis that that rich young ruler turned down the opportunity, the same basis is that the church turns down the opportunity today for eternal life. Because the church itself, it would mar their inheritance of their fathers, the great traditions that the fathers stood for. And then if the Holy Spirit fell in some great ecclesiastical system, why, I'm afraid that the officials wouldn't put up with it. It would be excommunicated from that organization, see. And they can't hardly afford to do it, he would no more be doctor, holy father, whatever it was, he would be just a common man among us.
There is no big people in Christianity. That's the world does that. We are all the same size, sons and daughters of God, and not no "holier than thou art." We are children of God, by the grace of God.

40 We read in the Bible, that God told John, on the Isle of Patmos that, "the deeds of the Nicolaitanes," He hated. Nico, conquer, laity, to conquer the laity and put all the holiness in some certain man. Holiness is to all. The Holy Spirit fell upon the whole group. There is no holy man, anyhow, it's a holy God. We don't say "holy church, holy people." It's holy God. We're not holy, but He is holy. Not a holy minister; it's the Holy Spirit, He ministers through the minister. It's not holy men; we're none of us holy. But they seemingly, too many times, are turning down the same opportunity.

41 In Revelation 3, we read this, that the Laodicea church we're pictured one of the most saddest pictures of all the Bible, Revelation 3, at the Laodicea church. All the rest of the churches, through the Lutheran age, and the seven church ages, each one, it said about Jesus being in the church, "He that's in the church." But in the Laodicea, He was on the outside, knocking, trying to get back in. What a pitiful thing to think, that, the Son of God, knocking on His own church, trying to get back in.
But the riches of this world has blinded their eyes. Not only rich in money, but rich in popularity, rich in the things of the world, the cares of life, until you've rubbed shoulders, and intellectual men has come in and taken away that grain, that pearl of great price. But God predestinated a people to be there; somebody is going to be there. But they turn it down. Not all of them will; some of them will receive it. Now they put Him out of their love, their love of his Word. They picked up a creed and adopt the creed, anything you take instead of something.

42 For instance, you were married to a lovely woman. She loved you and you loved her, you said. After awhile, you take another woman, or you take another man, you have to turn your first love down.
And that's the only way we can adopt a creed, is when we turn our first love down, the Word. You cannot believe an error, until first you step over the truth. But we got to a place till we shake hands, and put them on the church. They still smoke, drink, have parties.

43 I was speaking last night, coming down on the elevator. There was a lady on the elevator, talking about she was going to a church party, said, "It's in the basement of the church. We're going to play bunco, and they had turkeys they was going to give away, and this was to help pay the pastor and the missions." See, you're adopting something. That isn't God's program. If it ever gets to a place that I cannot preach the gospel, until it's to indulge in things like that, I'd close the Bible and go home. It's too bad. But we have it (why?) because it's turned down the policy of eternal life. That's what does this, lost their love.

44 I went into a little place in the hotel lobby, night before last, and I was going to have a sandwich, and I said to the lady, "Bring me a sandwich and a glass of buttermilk."
And I'm not sure if I say this right, or not. But the little lady looked like she had cankered, with all that blue under her eyes and things; and about enough clothes on, you could put in an aspirin box. She said, "You want bourbon on rocks?"
I said, "I beg your pardon?"
She said, "Bourbon on what?
I said, "I said 'buttermilk.' "
She said, "Well, what do you want to drink?"
I said, "Buttermilk."
She said, "Well, we have some fine mixed drinks here."
I said, "Lady, I'm a minister of the gospel."
She said, "Our ... I'm Catholic." And she said, "Our priests come in and drink."
I said, "I'm not a Catholic priest. I'm a minister of the gospel.
She said, "Wouldn't you have a mixed drink?"
I said, "Don't mix nothing with it, just bring me plain buttermilk." And she didn't know. But there you are, see, there you are.

45 Religion, just the same as the world. "Religion" means "a covering." If you can be covered by the world, you'll act like the world.
But if you're covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, you're linked with Him, you don't care for those things no more. You see nothing but the blood. And God only recognizes the blood. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Amen. We are grateful to God for these things.
Now we're talking about this policy of eternal life.

46 And many times, being among those Pentecostal people, they can just preach so fast, and I am so slow. I'm a rebel, to begin with, a Southerner; I just have to take my time. Like out here on the street, they almost run over me, and I get back in the corner, and wait till all the crowd gets by. And then looks like it don't end here, so I'm kind of slow, they have to bear with me a little bit.

47 Let's think of some of the holders of this policy. Let's investigate, rather, this morning some people who has taken out this policy, before, so we can see if the policy is reliable, or not. I'm talking about the Word of God, which is Christ in flesh. Someone who has held this policy, we will begin back and quickly go through a few holders.

48 There was a man, one time, who was offered this policy. He was a farmer. And the Lord God met him with His Word, and said, "There is going to be a flood that's going to destroy the whole world. You're going to act very funny now if you want to receive this policy, but it'll save your life. I want you to build an ark." It was Noah. And although the rest of the religious world, in that day, thought the old man was crazy, and it certainly didn't meet the scientific order of the day.
Because, Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah [a world like that], so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man," when the policy has so many names wrote on it; and He is up there, redeeming, this morning, all those who will have their name on that book. Now, after awhile, the last name is going on, and that will finish it. Come in now, my brethren. Don't wait. After awhile, it might be too late. Come now while you have the opportunity, while you ... while it's offered to you.

49 We find that Noah made this investment, was very popular farmer, and probably knowed many people, and had great things. But he sold out, maybe his farm, to get the material to build on the ark. People laughed at him; Satan caused that. He might have been called a "holy roller."
As one stated this morning, he become a holy roller on the floor, when he found and signed his name in the blood of the Lord Jesus, that he wanted to hold this policy.
And he, Noah, did the same thing. And he got rid of what he had, and he built an ark. Laughed at, tried by Satan, but we find out that his policy paid off in saving his life; not only his life, but his house.
And I believe that that's true. Not only you; maybe the wife, a businesswoman, the man, a businessman.
You say, "What's that got to do with my family?"

50 It was asked one time, Paul and Silas. The Philippian jailer, he said, "What can I do to have eternal life?"
He said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou and thy house!" Why? If he truly, not make-believe, but believe! Jesus said, "These signs [in Mark 16], shall follow [not maybe], shall follow those that believe." And if you've got faith enough for your own salvation, you can also claim your family, by faith. If you've got that kind of faith, your faith can help your family, "thou and thy house."

51 And Noah's family, seeing that the father, a good man, was pounding away, his sons and his daughter-in-laws, and so forth, come pounding away with him, bearing the reproach of the Word. You always have to do that. The kingdom of God doesn't come without trials. Men press into it, into the kingdom of God; without observation. Now, but it paid off, in saving his life. We could stay hours on Noah.

52 But let's go to another one, by the name of Daniel. Being a prophet, the opportunity become God's prophet. And the Word of God comes only to a prophet. No other way. It always comes to a prophet.
Shh, just a moment. [Tongues and interpretation comes forth from the congregation.] Amen. Thank the Lord. We understand. Maybe to those who would not understand, a businessman, I wouldn't say nothing critical about that. See, it must be an important thing, that the Holy Spirit would break in upon the message, to do such a thing, give a warning.
Now we believe in unknown tongues, as a gift. I used to think that it was wrong. When I was just first come among the people, I thought that maybe those people, speaking in tongues, maybe was just putting that on. But I wouldn't say nothing, because, remember, we can blaspheme the Holy Spirit, that's, talk about wrong thing. So I find out, when I went to Africa and traveled the world over, there isn't a sound without a significance of it. Every little cluck and move has a meaning of some sort.
Then we just keep still till the Holy Spirit speaks its word back. And that's the reason, perhaps, he broke in on the message, to say, as I understood it, I hope I did, that, "Hear the words of the Lord, and to obey the words of the Lord." Now, just remember, that wasn't me. That was men, gifted men, with speaking with other languages. And the men, themselves, would not do that, I don't think. When a message was going on, they wouldn't speak it, if it wasn't something that the Holy Spirit was urgently getting to maybe one soul here. I don't know. See, I don't know nothing about that, that's up to God, see. But we always want to respect and give reverence to anything that God would do.

53 Now back to the thought of the policyholders, of the very policy that these men are also filled with, to do these works now, to bring in the midst of a message, something to inject in there and say, "This is the Holy Spirit [other words], speaking to you."
Daniel, was the one that we was talking to ... He was a policyholder. He was a man filled with God's Spirit. Because the Word was in Daniel, Daniel was a prophet.
And the Bible said, in Hebrews the 1st chapter, "In di... times of old, God, in divers manners, many places, spoke to the fathers by the prophets." Now the "prophet" is a compound word, which means "a revealer of the Scripture" and "a foreteller of things that is to come," to show that God doesn't change His message. Every age, God has always used, not an organization, nor a group or a system, but a man.
And the unchangeable God, He made one way in the garden of Eden, that man should be saved, that's by the blood. We can have educational systems and denominational systems, but God turns it down. It still remains blood. That's the only way.

54 God uses an individual. Two men will never see the thing alike, so God can only get one person in His hand; then through there, like Moses and through Daniel, and through the different prophets. And listen.
You say, "Well now, what about the Holy Spirit?" The Holy Spirit doesn't change it.
Look, the Word of the Lord comes to the prophet. John was the prophet of the hour. He was standing in the water, declaring that the Messiah was already among them, somewhere. He would know it by a sign. And when the Messiah, being the Word, He came into the water, to the prophet, the Word coming to the prophet!
Jesus said, in these days, He said, "He [which is a personal pronoun], He the Holy Ghost, when He has come upon you, come to you, He will show you these things I've taught you, and will show you things to come." Remains the same thing, the Holy Spirit is the prophet among us today. The Holy Spirit is the prophet.

55 Daniel was a prophet. The words of God, the Bible, was invested to Daniel, to manifest to the people that God still lived. And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile his investment.
Oh, if the church could only do that, if the church could only purpose in your heart that you won't defile your investment with any tie up with things that brings you into a system that will take you away from Him!
Daniel purposed in his heart. And what did it do? It saved his life from the lions.

56 The Hebrew children made an investment in God, that they would not break His commandments, no matter if they made an image of their holy brother, Daniel. Which, I believe the image was of Daniel, 'cause he was Belteshazzar's god, and we find out that he made an image to this holy man. No matter how holy the man was, they wasn't to bow down to any form of image, no matter what the image is. The Gentile world was issued in by worshipping a holy image, it's going out in the same way, and you see the system doing it today. So the Hebrew children would not bow to any image, and you find out that their investment paid off by saving their life.

57 Now just a few moments, we find another fellow by the name ... he's a commercial businessman, a businessman that had a commercial job. He was a fisherman. He was called Simon. And his brother was Andrew. His father was called Jonas. No, I beg your pardon. Yes, it was. I believe that is right.
And so we find out that this fisherman's brother had been attending a Baptist revival, John the baptizer. And he had, this baptizer, he said, "I haven't got it, but it's coming."
It would be a good thing if our organization, and me being a Baptist for awhile, would do the same thing. Yeah, it's coming. If you ... It'll have to come from above. It's a promise.
And one day this Baptist, or baptizer, announced, "There it is, right among you."
It so elated Andrew until he went and got his brother, the fisherman.
He was so busy in his business, till, one morning he might have attended a breakfast. I don't know what he attended, it was down by the shore. And when he did, he walked up into the presence of the speaker, and the speaker said, "Your name is Simon, and you are the father or Jonas is your father."

58 Right quick, that member of the Sanhedrin, that member of a great ecclesiastical body, that had read his Bible and knowed that the very man, Moses, that they had been following, had told them that, "When Messiah come, he would be a prophet." He listened to what the Word had to say, regardless of what the ecclesiastical system was he belonged to.
Could not we, today, listen to the same man, Jesus Christ, Who told us what would happen here in the last days? And as he come to this man, and He told him who he was; not only he, but his godly old father that was gone; quickly he invested in this policy, eternal life, and become the bishop at Rome, at the church. Nathanael, after ...

59 There's a man there named Philip had seen that, and so elated him! He knew that was the Messiah, because He was a prophet. They had had all kinds of prophets, but it wasn't the right kind of prophet. When they seen this prophet come, fully identified by the Word!
That's the way the church as a prophet today, ought to be fully identified by the Word of God, which is the prophet. And if we organize ourselves and get groups, and separate from one another, "seemingly not having the faith," how are we going to take the Word? See, we can't do it. Come back to the Word, this is eternal life, "My words are life."

60 Now notice what happened. We find Philip becoming so enthused, till he run around the mountain. If you'll measure it, or ever over there, it's about fifteen miles. Probably come back the next day, bringing a man, Nathanael; who he had found his friend, that they had had Bible study together. And he was under an olive tree, praying, because he owned a grove. And, quickly, he never had any time now to fool, he was also a holder of the policy and was wanting to show others. When you get this policy, there is something about it, you become a salesman right quick. And he never waited or talked about how his grove was getting along. He said, "Come, see who we found, Jesus the son of Joseph, Jesus of Nazareth!"
Quickly this staunch Hebrew from the great Sanhedrin courts, from the synagogue, said, "Now, could there be anything good come out of Nazareth?"

61 See how God just humbles men, humiliates them? When they got theirself built up to something, God raises up some little something don't even know his ABC's, and just humiliates the thing. That's the way God does it. Because, God is still God, He takes nothing to make something out of it. What if He'd have come to Caiaphas and the high priests, and the clergy that was trained to take the ministry of that day when the Messiah come? They'd have had something to brag about.

62 And may I say it, not being rude; I hope I'm not understood that way. Could it not have happened again? So what we think, "We Methodists has got it," "We baptists has got it," and God might raise up a man that never come from any sort of a school, or some bunch of people that He could anoint with His Spirit, that don't even know their ABC's. The Bible said that "Peter was an ignorant and unlearned man." But what he had, they taken notice to it, because it was God living through him. "Such as I have, give I thee," see, to the lame man.

63 We find then in this great time, that this man said, "Well, now wait a minute, could there be any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
Now he gave the man a real good answer, he said, "Come, see."
Don't sit home and criticize, come find out for yourself. Don't tell or say what somebody else has said. Come, take out see for yourself.
On his road around the mountain, they might have talked about the time that they went to buy some fish. He said, "You remember the old fisherman that could not sign his name to the receipt, the old fisherman?"
"Yes, I remember him. Simon."

64 "Well, when he walked right up into the presence of this [Gap in the audio.] ... holder of eternal life, why, he said to him, as he looked around there, and he said, 'Your name is Simon, and you're the son of Jonas.' " And he said, "You know that we're taught by our leader that left us word, that in this last days, for us, 'there will come a prophet,' the Lord would rise among us."
"Oh," he said, "I can hardly believe that. I'll have to go see."
And as soon as he walked up into the audience; not a critic. Now I hope that's the same way you come, this morning; not a critic, just come to see if it's right, or not. Walked into the audience, just stood there. And as soon as he did, watch this source of eternal life, and the only source; He turned and looked upon him, and He said, "Behold, there is an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
He said, "Rabbi [so many words of this], when did you ever know me? I never seen you, and you've never seen me. How do you know anything about me?"
"Why," He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you." The day before, and fifteen miles around the mountains.
What? He invested in a policy right away. He fell at His feet; this staunch man, a member of the church. What a difference between that and the rich young businessman! "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You're the King of Israel!" Quickly he took out a policy.

65 How about the little woman at the well? Them were Jews; let's go to the Samaritans.
And now we're at the Gentiles. The Jews and Samaritans was looking for a Messiah; not the Gentiles. We worshiped idols. Romans and Greeks, and whatever we are, we worshiped idols. But the Jews were looking for a Messiah, and so were the Samaritans, and we find out that the Messiah only reveals Hisself to those who are looking for Him. If you're here this morning, looking for Him, He will reveal Hisself. If you don't, He won't. "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
So the Samaritans was looking. And He was going to Jericho, but He had need to go by Samaria. And while sitting at the gate of a city, Sychar, we find out that His disciples went to buy vittles. And He was left alone.

66 And a little lady, a little woman, a woman of ill fame, she didn't have any money. She wasn't like the rich young ruler. So she come, only one thing that we know that she had, she had an old waterpot, and she set it down and was fixing to let the windle down into the well, to get the water.
And she looked over to her side, in a little panoramic, and there sat a man, a Jew, looked to be, I guess ... The Bible said, "You're not a man over fifty." I suppose He looked fifty, but He was only thirty-something. And it wasn't customary for Jews and Samaritans to have any fellowship, because there was a segregation.
So He said, "Bring me a drink," contacting her spirit.
She said, "Well, it's not customary for you Jews to ask a woman of Samaria such."
But, said, "If you knew who you were talking to!" And then He caught her spirit, and He said, "Go get your husband and come here."
She said, "I have none."
He said, "You've said well, for you've had five, and the one you're living with now is not your husband."
That stopped her. What was it? She said, "Sir!"

67 Remember the Pharisees, a few days before that? Seeing Jesus show that Messiahic sign, that He was the prophet that was supposed to come, and they said, "He is a spiritualist. He is Beelzebub, the prince of the devils, some kind of a fortune-teller." They had to answer to their congregation, the works had been done. They had to hold their own face before the congregation. The works had been done, they couldn't deny it. They said, "It's an evil spirit."
Jesus said, "I forgive you," the Lamb had not been slain. "But when the Holy Ghost is come to do the same thing, a word against it will never be forgiven," see, so here we find them in this condition.

68 And this little woman had nothing. She probably kept away from church, she had seen so much in it. Because, down in her heart was laid a seed, eternal life; "All that the Father has given me will come to me." And as soon as that light flashed upon her, she didn't call it a devil. Look at the difference between that woman and the clergy. She said, "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet! We know that when Messiah cometh, that's the things He is to do. We are looking for a Messiah. We haven't had a prophet for hundreds of years. But our leader, Moses, told us that there would raise up a prophet in the last days, and He would be Messiah," which means the "anointed" one, anointed.

69 He was the Word. God is the Word, and was in Christ. And the Bible said that, "The Word of God, the Word, is quicker, more powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword," Hebrews 4, "piercing to asunder, the marrow of the bone, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents that's in the heart." That's the reason He could look upon them and perceive what they were thinking about, because He was the Word. He was life. He is still the Word, and He is still life. And He knew! He does the same thing. Now we find ...

70 [Prophecy is given from the audience.] Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord, for His message on this.
Oh, that life policy! Life! Life, the greatest thing there is is life. And there is only one form of eternal life, and that's God.
Now look at the little woman, as the prophecy just went forth, that she had a waterpot in her hand. But she also had one in her heart. She said, "I perceive that You are a prophet, and we know when Messiah cometh, He is going to do these things. That's what He'll do. That'll be His a-vindicated sign. He'll be the Word, perceiving. And You read my very heart to me. Who are You?"
And Jesus said, "I am He."
Then this waterpot set still, but this one was filled up, and she took out a policy of eternal life. He said, "The waters that I give is life eternal, bubbling up, and springing up in the heart."

71 And then she could not keep still, she wanted her fellowman also have the policy, and down through the city she went. Honestly, she had no rights to do that, she was a woman of ill fame. You men and missionaries here know that in the East that's still the ... They wouldn't listen to her. But, they, how they going to keep from it? She was full of eternal life. They had to listen to her. Like a house on fire, on a dry windy day, you couldn't stop it. Away she went! And not only that, if she had not been filled up, the men wouldn't have listened to her. But she had something positive that she knew about. And we find out, they said ... "Come, see a man who has told me the things I've done. Isn't that the very Messiah?"
And they brought Him into the city. He never done it anymore, but the people believed the woman's testimony. And they were ... all believed on the Lord Jesus.

72 Quickly now, 'cause I'm sorry to hold you like this. But if you'll just give me ... just bear a few more moments, I got something here I want to say. Notice.

73 Nicodemus was a great man, and he was a religious man. He was a master, a ruler among his people, a renowned man.
Something like Simeon, the priest, at the birth of the Lord Jesus. Promised, by the Holy Ghost, to not see death until he saw the Lord's salvation; how he was led by the Spirit, into the room, to bless the child.
How Anna, the prophetess, blind, over in the corner, never parted, day and night; but the same moment, nobody told them, led by the Holy Spirit, that blind woman winding her way through the people, and stood by the side of Him, and blessed God for Him. If a woman that is physically blind, she was in a bad shape; but there is people in New York, this morning, that's blinder than that woman, and can see out of both eyes. But she was led by the Spirit, the spirit of life led her to the fountain of life.

74 Because you thirst for that, there's got to be a fountain somewhere. David said, "The deep, when it calls to the deep, there's got to be a deep to respond to that call." In other words, before there was a fin on a fish's back, there had to be a water first for him to swim in, or he'd've never had that fin. Before there was a tree to grow on the earth, there had to be an earth first for it go grow in, or there'd never been a tree. And you see what I'm trying to say, if there has to be ... Because you're hungering, this morning, because that people are thirsting, it shows there is a fountain of life open somewhere, see, for you to respond to that. There has to be a deep first, to respond to the deep that's calling, see, or that call wouldn't be there.

75 That's the reason people go join church and just put their name on the book, instead of being borned again, taking out the policy of life. Then they go right out and try to hush that holy cause by smoking, drinking, and gambling, and running out, immorally. See there? How dare you to try to hush that holy call of God, that God put in there to thirst after Him! You have no right.
I have the thing for you, this morning, it's life. That's what you want. It's life.
And that's perverted life. That's death. That's the pleas... The Bible said, "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she is alive," see. So you can't live in worldly pleasure and have eternal life.

76 The policy is right, friends. So, Nicodemus, he came to make an investment. He came by night, but he found the bank is always open. So it might be late, but it's still open. It's open, He, always, the bank is open to do business. And so he found eternal life, by coming to Jesus.
Let's investigate just another person, or two. Let's take Luke 24:49. The disciples had believed on the Lord Jesus. And now it was time of the promise, was drawing nigh. And so Jesus told His disciples, policyholders, that they were going to draw a dividend on this, but they must wait at the city of Jerusalem until He went to headquarters and sent it back to them, till the check returned. He was going up, He had signed it in His own blood, and He was ascending up to send back their dividends, but to wait for their dividends.

77 Now, didn't say, "Wait five minutes, and be discouraged." If you've got faith in who is talking to you, God talking to you, He said, "Stay until [how long? a week, ten days, five days, whatever it was) until you receive this remuneration, until the dividends. For, behold, I'll send the promise of my Father upon you. But wait at the city of Jerusalem until you receive it, until you're endued with the dividends from on high, for your policy of believing on me."
Oh, you Baptists, you Methodists, you Presbyterians! I don't want to get excited, but this is enough to make somebody excited. Why don't you wait there? You're a policyholder, but there is dividends on this.

78 Paul said, in Acts 19, to those Baptist people. I'm Baptist, myself, I'm a Pentecostal Baptist. So they said, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" Now, we are taught we receive the Holy Ghost when we believe, but he said, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?"
They said, "We know not there be any Holy Ghost."
He said, "Then to what was you baptized?" They said "we already been baptized."
He said, "That won't hold up anymore." And when they heard this ... "They was to believe on Jesus that was to come." And when they heard this they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spoke in tongues and magnified God.

79 Paul said also, over in another chapter, he said, "If an angel from heaven preaches any other gospel than this that you heard me preach, let him be accursed, whether he's a bishop, cardinal, whatever it might be." Yes! "If an angel from heaven," let alone a cardinal, or a bishop, or a preacher, "that preach any other than this policy of eternal life through Jesus Christ, let him be accursed."
You said, "Brother Branham, you're getting beside ..."
I know right where I am, see. I'm not lost. I know right where I am. I may be excited, but as I said here the other night ...
Someone said, "You are going crazy."
I said, "Well, just let me alone, I feel better this way than I did the other way, so I have life."
Because, it's life! It's foolishness to the world, but to me it's grand. I'm saved, where I wasn't saved. I now have the resurrection of Christ in me. And there is many other here, brethren, who know that truth; you have it in you, the resurrection! Yes.

80 They went up, these policyholders, to draw dividends. Oh, my! Ministering brethren, let's do that this morning, let's draw dividends now. "The promise," Peter said on the day of Pentecost, "the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to them that's far off, the Gentiles," listen closely, brethren, "even as many as the Lord our God shall call." And He is sure to call every one who has their name on the Lamb's book of life. The dividends, it's for all, yes, "For you, and your children, to them that's far off." And the interest on the policy was paid off, on the day of Pentecost.

81 Now, the rich young Paul met the same one, for He remained the same after His death. He is still the same.
Saul of Tarsus, a well-scholared man, scholarly man; pardon me. And he was a fine man. He had been taught by Gamaliel, the great Hebrew teacher. His parents were rich. Paul was kind of a rich man. He could speak in many languages. He had an education. His ambition was to be a lawyer, one of the lawyers, or a priest, or something in the ... or a lawyer, rather, in his church. Smart, he knew the Word. He was rich, and he had his ambitions.

82 When he heard that bunch of carrying-on, noise and screaming, and speaking with tongues, and, why, he thought, "That's ridiculous, to the society of Jerusalem. That ought to be stopped." So he got letters from the high priest. He went around making havoc of the church. So he went into the cardinal or the bishop, or whatever you want to call him, the high priest, and got a letter from him, placed it within his possession and went down to Damascus.

83 But, you see, the church seems to have all the authority, with the keys to the kingdom, and everything, and they had chosen Matthias to take Judas' place. But look what a foolish choice man can make. There is not a thing he ever done. He might have been a good man. No doubt he was a good man. No doubt he was a humble servant of Christ. But, you see, that don't always spell God's choosing.
God chose a little critic of the church, a little Jew, the hook-nose, and enough temper to fight a buzz saw, and he would. There he was, on his road down. He is going down and arrest them holy-rollers. He'll put them in chains. He'll bind them. He's got authorities from his bishop. He's going to do it.

84 And about eleven o'clock one day, he was stricken down, with a paper in his hand. And he looked up, and he saw a pillar of fire. You know, he had to recognize that. Paul knowed better than to worship idols or evil spirits. But being a Jew, he'd know that that pillar of fire was the same pillar of fire that led His people out of Egypt, and here it was.
When Jesus was on earth, He said, "I came from God, I go to God," After His death, burial, and resurrection, and ascension; here He was, back to God again, the pillar of fire.
And He said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? You got a paper in your hand. You're a great man. You come from a certain organization, the most staunch organization and honored organization in the country. You got a paper in your hand, but you're doing wrong. Why're you persecuting me?"

85 Watch this Jew say, "Lord!" He knowed who it was. There you are, the same pillar of fire that led Moses and talked! He had never had the opportunity of ever seeing Jesus, so he said, "Lord, who are you that I'm persecuting?"
And He said, "I am Jesus."
And there on his back, you know, he tore up the paper, he said, "What can I do?"
He said, "I got a prophet down there, and his name is Ananias. Now you go down the street called 'Straight,' he'll tell you what to do."
So the Lord spoke to Ananias. And come up, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus that appeared to you in the way and wanted you to take out this policy, I come to deliver it to you, by laying my hands upon you." He was a changed man. Watch the difference. What ... see.

86 After Paul had seen the clear vindication, that this wasn't no other person but the same person. God and Christ was the same person. It wasn't some foolishness, because He saw that the Word was the pillar of fire, had been made flesh, to redeem; and here it was back, the pillar of fire again, that God and Christ was the same person. And here He is, and back as the Holy Spirit, now called, because He had been upon a man. He saw it clearly identified, and it had been a-vindicated. "Lord, what will you have me to do? What must I do?" Now, remember, that was a religious man, and a businessman. "What will you have me to do?"
What a difference there was between the young businessman, rich, and this other young fellow, Saul. One, the price was too great.
"Well," you say, "Paul didn't have nothing to give up."

87 He had his church, his brethren. He was a fugitive from the church, after that. He had to run. And finally his own church took his life; they killed him. And we find out, persecuted from city to city, and was stoned, almost dead once, and so forth; his own brethren. And he said, "I would become a curse for them." He didn't despise them. When he received the Holy Spirit, he loves them. He wanted to save them. Don't isolate yourself; go to them kind. Paul would be made a curse himself; because it was the Spirit of Christ that was in him, that was cursed and hang on a tree for his own.
And we find out what a difference between this young man, the rich ruler, the businessman, and Paul.

88 Paul had to give up his education, all of his theology that he had learned, through years and years of research and teaching. He had to forget it all. He told the Corinthians, "I never come to you with smart, high words of wisdom, that your faith might be in the wisdom of man. But I come to you through the power and the demonstration of the Holy Ghost."
That's the thing we need today, friend. That's the policy I'm talking about. Not some join church, or put your hand on; nothing against it, that's all right. But this is another hour, that's all I'm trying to sell you. To join some church ... I'm trying to tell you that there is a policy and a fountain that's open for sin and uncleanliness. What is sin? Unbelief! Unbelief in what? The Word! "He that believeth not is condemned already." Right.

89 Notice what a rashal decision. He is like many people of today, of popular opinion, this young man was. He went away. Instead of taking it seriously, he lost his policy. Now we're closing.
Did, he, then bad luck turn on him? No. Good luck turned to him. We find him, the next place, he had so much money till he had to rebuild his barns. And he even said, "Soul, take thy rest."
Now we find out, in there he wasn't no bad fellow. When they had a bazaar or a church party, or something, the poor in spirit laid at the gate, that was a policyholder that he had turned down; he swept them a few crumbs, and give them some missionary offering, or something. He wasn't no bad fellow. See, he swept off the crumbs to them that were persecuted. He said, "Oh, I attended one of their meetings, I guess it's all right. There is really nothing I can say against them people." Sweep off a few crumbs, but that didn't work. Finally his payoff came.

90 And remember, friend, the payoff is coming to me and to you. It's coming to all of us. I want you to think real seriously now, in closing.
His payoff came, certainly. He had a great funeral service, no doubt some well-trained clergyman come and spoke. No matter, I guess, he had the Christian Businessmen for pallbearers. He had the celebrity of the country out, and maybe a government official that they half-mast the flag for him. All the dignitaries was there. And the pastor, no doubt, or the man, priest, whatever preached his funeral, preached such a sermon that would touch the people with how great this man was, "Even to the poor in the street, he gave. Oh, our brother is in heaven, today."
But Jesus said, "He lifted up his eyes in hell, and saw the policyholder of eternal life, far off in the bosoms of Abraham, that had took the way with the Lord's despised few."

91 As Jesus said, "Blessed are ye when men shall persecute you [in the 5th chapter of Matthew], say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name's sake. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom. Blessed are the meek, they shall inherit the earth." And here the policyholder of eternal life.
Yet he remained a member of the church, see. Now notice. You say, "Did he?" Yes. "How can you prove that, preacher?"
Here it is. He said, "Father Abraham! Father Abraham, I pray thee to send that policy holder down here, with just a little water. These flames are tormenting."

92 Watch Abraham. "Son," a professed Christian, professed believer, as we would call it, see, "you had your opportunity. You was offered the opportunity of the policy of eternal life, which would give you the assurance of coming here, but you turned it away. You wouldn't take it. And now this man, poor, yet he accepted it. Now he is comforted, and now you are the beggar."
Oh, don't let this happen to you, friends. Don't, don't. Don't make that same mis... [Gap in the audio.] ... way the assurance can come is by Christ. The assurance that you are saved, that you're a policy holder. Now, if you haven't got that, why not take it?

93 You might think, well, as this young fellow said this morning, "I walked into the places and they all ... I was a great businessman, and bowed, and things like that." Don't look at that.
A young player just recently took a trip to Russia. He was a singer. And he certainly made a great hit with the Russians. And so all the people were clapping and going on like that, when the young man had played his music. And they were so elated, they stomped their feet and clapped, but the young man never paid any attention to all the applauding. And so they wondered why. So again they thought, "Maybe he doesn't understand,' so they all clapped their hands again real loud, and applauded him. He had done a wonderful work. But they noticed, he again, he didn't notice their applauding. And they noticed he kept his eyes up in the balcony all the time; come to find out, the master that had trained him. He wasn't caring what the people said; he was looking what the master had to say about it.
And I think, today, friends, instead of sticking our chest out and say, "We belong to church." Let's take a look up and see what the master says about it.

94 Let's bow our heads just a moment [Prophecy is given from the audience.]
With our heads bowed now, our hearts bowed, just give place, just a moment or two. I wonder, this morning, with all sincerity now, without any disturbance, think just a moment. Have you got this great blessing? Do you hold this policy of life, the witness of the Holy Spirit that your life has turned in to Christ, and Christ is in you?
As I said in the message; if Beethoven was in you, you would do the works of Beethoven, you would live the life of Beethoven. You couldn't do nothing else. You could do nothing else but compose songs. And you'd be the great writer, Beethoven, 'cause he is in you. That's who you would be. You would be a reincarnate Beethoven.
And if Christ is in you, the life of Christ you will be, the lover of the Word. Nothing can stand and take the place of the Word, 'cause He is the Word. He can't deny His own Word and remain God.

95 And you have not received Christ in your heart. You've belonged to church. Now, certainly, I have nothing against church, and against the great institutions and organizations, and the systems, but I'm trying to say that isn't the answer. It's been proven it isn't the answer. Christ is the answer, the person Christ. And if you have not received Him into your life, this morning, and you would like for us to remember you in prayer, I wonder if you would just humbly. We have no place for an altar call. But, you know, if you ... I believe if you would just stand up, you know, and say, "Pray for me," just as you stand up, and I'll offer prayer. If you believe that God will hear my pray, and you are sincere in that, I believe that He will hear it.

96 And you in the halls, and crowded around the doors, and things, no matter where you're at, in the balconies, on the steps, if you'll just say, "I want Christ to remember me now, that I want His life in mine. I'm sure by my action, I'm sure by the way I think and the things I do, that I want to be like that, but I haven't yet come to that place. I really want this policy, Brother Branham. Truly, I want it. And you ask Him if I can have it. I'm ready to receive it."
Would you just stand to your feet, and so I can pray with you? Just ... God bless you. God bless you. That's right. That's right, just remain standing just a moment. Just remain, stand up. You say, "I'm interested, Brother Branham. I've got a soul, and I've got to leave. I may leave yet today, and what is it going to do me any good if I am not filled with that life?" 'Cause, remember, any other life has to perish; it had a beginning.

97 You say, "Well, I've been a member of a certain church, for years." That's very good. I appreciate that. But that's not what I'm talking about right now.
Are you a holder of eternal life? Would you just stand, up in the balconies, around the front, and the right and left? God bless you. Stand up.
You that's already standing in the halls, if you'd just raise up your hands' so some identification, something that you can do, to throw yourself into a motion, "I've accepted it, myself, that morning." God bless you. All right.
And around on the stairs and wherever you are, just raise your hand and say, "Remember me, Brother Branham. I truly want eternal life."

98 Now think real close. This might be the time that it'll all be settled. I'll be sincere, friends, this is life to me. And I know that it's right. It's right.
Would there be some more? Just seems like there was more than that held their hands awhile ago. Now if you're not sure, would you just do that much, just stand up on your feet, and say, "Remember me in your prayer, Brother Branham, as you're praying." All right. How many more? Stand right up on your feet, no matter who you are, just stand up and say, "Pray for me, brother." God bless you. I see you, through the balconies and around. Now you sure that's all? God bless you. Another group raised up. Would there be some more now? Just raise to your feet. Say ...

99 Now I know we're late, and the Holy Spirit interrupted us a few times. Well, that's wonderful, we like for the Holy Spirit to do that, see, as long as He is bringing His Word. That shows it's not only my word, but it's His, too. All right.
Now let's raise up, see, everybody that hasn't been filled with the Holy Spirit, that you know there is no evidence in your life that you are filled with the Holy Spirit, and you want this.

100 Now you might be a fine, loyal member of a church. And that, oh, how I appreciate that, certainly. You just continue right on in your church. That's right. Because, the sleeping virgins is coming up now, you see that. And remember, Jesus said, when the sleeping virgin ... the one that tried to live a good life within theirself, they was a virgin, but they didn't have any oil. Oil symbolizes the Spirit. That's why we anoint in oil. The oil symbolizes the Spirit. They were good people, fine people, members of fine Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, all kinds of churches, but they had no oil.
And they come in the last watch, the seventh church age, to buy oil. And while they were in process of buying oil, what happened? The bridegroom came. Now, that was just read in the Scripture, awhile ago, by this notable minister here. And don't you see, was there ever a time down through the age, you Pentecostals? Down through the age, it's never been a time that the Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian has cried out for the Holy Spirit like they're doing now, see. And when they do, what is that? He come right then! That was the hour of His coming. And right while they, all these brethren and churches are hungering, it's ... This virgin rises, you know, in the last day, in the judgment, the white throne; but not the bride.

101 Now if you have no oil in your lamp, while the doors of mercy, I trust, is still open, won't you rise, and say, "Remember me, Brother Branham." In doing that, it'll symbolize to God, "My oil is not in my lamp, Brother Branham, I believe in Christ. Certainly, I do. I've been a member for a long time. But really to say my life is filled with that lovely Holy Spirit, and everything is different, and I'm a new creature, I'm not that way, Brother Branham. You pray for me." God bless you now. There is many, many standing, in the balconies and everywhere.

102 Now I want you ministering brethren here, my precious brethren, to pray with me now as we pray, each one of you.
How did you stand up while you stood? See, you are a life. Something is in you. If there was no life, you could not stand up. And according to science, see, gravitation would hold you down. But a spirit within you made a decision, by the witness of another Spirit, a life that says "you need me," and you stood up. You defied the laws of nature, by standing up, as a witness. Jesus said, "He that will witness me, in otherwise, before men, him will I witness before my Father and the holy angels." Now you're needing the Holy Ghost.

103 Now if some of you people are standing near these people that's standing, that you have the baptism of the Holy Spirit, would you ... I can't reach them all, we haven't the time. On the balconies, in everywhere, would you just raise over and put your hands on them, see, in a memorial.
You know, they, when Philip went down to preach to the Samaritans, they had not received the Holy Ghost as yet, see. Only, Philip had baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ, but the Holy Ghost had not come upon them. And Peter and Philip went down, or ... Peter and John went down and preached, and laid hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came on them.

104 Now you believers that's received the Holy Ghost, look who is standing up, all around you, then lay your hands over on them as a commemoration that you are a believer, touch their hand or something while we pray. Don't doubt. Believe now. It's not an emotion, it's the sweetness of the Holy Ghost that comes down and fills every life. Now they're in your hands. You've made a contact with them. Just like when you put your hands.
The Jew put his hand upon the sacrifice, to connect himself with the sacrifice. One day you laid your hands upon Jesus and connected yourself with the sacrifice. The life of the sacrifice has come back on you. Which, I may be speaking tonight at the church, "The Token," and it's upon you now.
And you've connected yourself with this man or woman who wants to believe. Just stand right up now and lay your hands on those who wish to receive it. That's right. God bless you. What a wonderful time! Now don't doubt. Don't be in no hurry. Just remember, pray for this person.
And you pray, too, say, "Lord Jesus, my poor heart's a hungering. I want You in my heart. I want you in my life. Fill me, Lord. I'm here, ready."

105 Our heavenly Father, as many are on their feet, they signify by this that they want life. And life comes only through obedience to Christ. He is life. He has the condition that we must meet. And by meeting this condition ... As we think of Abraham, he believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. And after it was imputed unto him for righteousness, God give him the seal of circumcision, as a confirmation that He had received his faith. Many of these people profess to have faith, but they haven't been sealed yet by the Holy Ghost. And now they're standing, Lord, as a commemoration that they do believe. Now seal them, Lord, with the Holy Ghost. May it fall upon them and seal every heart here just now. May the Holy Ghost fall in this ballroom, just at this time.
And, Satan, you get out of their life, turn them loose.
And may the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ come upon these people just now, and may they be filled with the power and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen.