Perseverant

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Let's just remain standing just a moment for prayer as... Before we go to prayer, is there any requests you'd like to make known by just raise up your hand? I'm sure He'll understand what's beneath your hand. May God grant it. Let us bow our hearts now before Him.
Our heavenly Father, we approach Thee again tonight in the name of the Lord Jesus, to give thanks and praise for all that we have seen and heard through the day, and for our health and strength, for being alive and on earth, and assembled here tonight in worship to Thee.
And now may the great Holy Ghost come among us tonight, Lord, and just work miracles and wonders. And we pray that You'll do for us like You did those at Emmaus that night, that when we leave here tonight may we go home saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us along the way?" Grant it, Father. Bless the reading of the Word and the text and the context. And we commit ourselves to Thee, Lord, with thy Word. Use us as You see fit. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. The Lord bless you.

2 We deem this a most grand privilege tonight, to be assembled here with you again in prayer. We've had a wonderful day. And I get just a little hoarse. I preach all the time, and so I'm ... kind of stay stirred up a little bit in the throat. But we had a grand meeting this morning at the fellowship, the Businessmen's Fellowship meeting at Clifton's Cafeteria. Had such a grand time. We always have it up there at Clifton's. It holds many memories for me. And I'm...
If that lady's here that paid for my breakfast this morning, sister, I want to thank you. I didn't even know the woman. She come in and went around ahead of me. And she set some rhubarb over there, so she knew I was a country boy, so she give me some rhubarb. And then when I went out, the waitress said ... the cashier said, "That lady just paid for your dinner ... or your breakfast." I didn't know who she was. And if she's here, I sure want to thank her.

3 Yes, we have a great time there at Clifton's of a morning, and the Lord has did some great things. Brother Victor Deuc (I know I'm not pronouncing that right), LeDeux... That's where that prophecy came forth from Danny Henry (I got it in my Bible here), which was a great thing. When Danny Henry, I ... just come up to lay his arms around me to pray with me and (after the service) and he spoke in French. And the interpreter of the U.N. happened to be in the building, and interpreted. And it was just exactly the thing that I was seeking from God. And so ... many things.

4 And I remember one thing. This is kind of good for you sisters, you know. I was standing waiting for Brother Arganbright, my precious brother in the Full Gospel Businessmen's chapter there, and he was coming in. And I'd never seen any of this here new stuff that the women wear on their face. And I seen a woman come up there that had green eyes, and red all around and over her face. And I thought, "That poor woman!" I looked back, and I thought... I'm a missionary, and I've seen pellagra and I've seen leprosy, but I didn't know what was wrong with her. And I kept standing, looking, and I thought, "You know, I believe I'll go over and tell the poor woman..." I was going to go over and say, "Sister, excuse me. I pray for the sick. If there's anything I can do to help you, let me know."

5 And here come another woman up, the same way. I said, "It must be ... maybe they got some kind of a show on, you know, or something another they're putting on." Clowns, you know, how they paint, you know, and look like that. And ordinarily I wouldn't think a human being would want to disfigure themselves like that, a pretty woman would want to look like that.
And then they had that ... great big waterhead haircuts, you know, and kind of a ... it was the awfullest looking... A pretty girl standing there, and mess her... Well, what it is, it's that first lady idea, you know. And you know, Jezebel was the first lady of Palestine one time, too. So be careful what you pattern yourself after, see. Don't try and... Try to look like God said. Let your hair grow out. That's what God said do.

6 Today after our meetings in Phoenix there was a little lady came up, and said, "Brother Branham, since the meetings," said, "I let my hair grow."
I said, "You're not far from the kingdom now."
She said, "My sister had a wheelbarrow full of these shorts, and things. She was going to throw them in the garbage can, and the next sister come along and got them." And said she ... said was finished with those things.
So I said, "That's all right. I believe the church will come back on its feet someday. If it keeps going like that, it'll get all right."

7 I met a man not long ago that said, "Why don't you leave off of those women?"
I said, "Well, I don't know."
He said, "People regard you as a prophet."
I said, "I'm not."
He said, "But they regard you as that. Why don't you teach them deep things, how to receive deep spiritual gifts?"
I said, "How can I teach them algebra when they won't even know their ABC's?" You know what ABC stands for, don't you? Always Believe Christ. That's right. That's the first ABC's. Let them learn how to do that, and then we'll teach something a little different, you know. And so, when we get that, why, we're coming pretty close to the kingdom.

8 Now, it's been a great day. I had a great time here last night.
Say, you know... Did you try some of that toxin? It's all right, isn't it? You know, Peter told them how to be inoculated. And you know they acted funny, but they sure was inoculated, that was one thing.
We used to... When we'd brand calves, you know, we'd take the branding iron, and slap it on them like that, and my! you talk about bellowing, and hollering! But he knowed where he belonged after that, that was one thing about it. That's the way the Holy Spirit is. It might make you holler a little bit, but you know where you're at after that. That's right. You're a thoroughbred from then on.

9 Anything I don't like is a cross breeding. I preached on that some time ago, and always said one of the awfullest things is a mule. That fellow don't know what papa and mama is. He don't know where he come from; he sure ain't going nowhere, 'cause he... See, his mama a horse, and his papa a donkey, and he's a... That proves science ... when they think that men kept getting greater ... and inter-breeding, and so forth, from animal life coming up...
Why, first time you cross the seed, it stops it right there. It can't go no further. You can hybrid corn, but you can't plant that hybrid corn back again. It won't grow. So you see, they just done found the thing condemned their own theory. So you cannot do that.

10 So... But a mule---he's dumb. You know, you can just talk to him, and he'll wait all of his life to just kick you before he dies. And he ... you can tell him... You can't teach him nothing; he's hard headed. You can try to be gentle to him, and he'll stick his ears out, you know, and holler, "Hawnk, days of miracles is past. Hawnk, there's no such a thing as that," you know---just braying!
But a good thoroughbred, pedigreed horse you can just teach him anything. He knows who his pappy is, who his mammy is, who his great-grandfather and great-grandmother. He knows the history all the way back. And so is it with a good pedigreed Christian that's borned of the Holy Ghost. He don't have to say, "I was Methodist, Baptist; and I had to change to Presbyterian, Lutheran." He was born by the Holy Ghost into the family of God, and the pedigree runs plumb to Pentecost with it. Hallelujah! Amen. I like that inoculation.

11 I was amazed at Sister Shakarian. Are you here, Sister Shakarian? Sister Demos Shakarian. This morning she was telling in the meeting... At Phoenix we was having the banquet, the dinner ... banquet, or whatever you call it... I get that all mixed up all the time. I used to have breakfast, and dinner, and supper. And now they got that dinner set up here for supper; and if I call that dinner, then what happens to my supper? I just can't ... I can't get the thing straightened out somehow, see. And it's just breakfast, dinner, and supper at our house. So, and that's all right. You know, you don't take the Lord's dinner. You take his supper. Isn't that right? So we're right on that, brother, whoever said "Amen" to that.

12 But we were having that banquet that night, and happened to be... You have no control of what the Holy Spirit is going to do, see. You don't control Him; He controls you, see. When anybody goes in and says, "Now, you, so-and-so," you don't know what He's going to do. You just have to wait. Then I remember, the Holy Spirit came down. And on that discernment, it's just like dropping into a gear. And the people don't realize it, but they are the one that's doing that. It's not me. It's their own faith.
I might try to give just a short moment or two of explanation of it, or try to explain it. You can't explain God, because you've just got to believe God. If you can explain Him, then you can no more accept it by faith, see; because you know all about it if you can explain it, but we accept God by faith.

13 But you see, in Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Now he was God. We are a portion of that Spirit. It was give to us by measure; Him without measure. But if I took a spoonful of water, or a cupful of water, out of the ocean out here, it would be the same chemicals in that water ... would be in the entire ocean.
So that's the way the Holy Spirit is. When it's in us, it's not as great, but it's in a ... it's just the same Spirit, does the same things.

14 Then you notice one time when our Lord... He said He did nothing till the Father showed Him first. And He had a friend named Lazarus, and He ... living with this friend. And the friend was going to get sick so the Father must have called Him away, and give Him a vision to leave.
He waited so many days. They sent for Him, He never went. He just kept on going. Then after the appropriate time was that the Father had showed Him would take for Lazarus to die, He said, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I'm glad I wasn't there. But I go wake him."
And so, when He come to Martha and them ... we know the story. And then, when He raised up this dead man, He never said nothing about being weak. That was God using his gift.

15 But then, a little woman pressed through a crowd and touched the border of his garment, and He turned around---not knowing who it was---He said, "Who touched me?" And Peter rebuked Him, said, "Lord [in other words, he might have said this], why, that sounds very unusual for you to say that, when everybody's touching you."
He said, "But I perceive that I have gotten weak." And He looked all around till He found the woman, and He told her that her blood issue ... that her faith had saved her. Her faith---not his prayer, his faith; but her faith. That was her touching God through Him. That weakened Him. That was the woman using God's gift.
But when God used his own gift, He never said nothing about it, see, being weak.
Well, that's the same thing it is in meetings. It's people does that. If you don't believe it, it'll never work. It's your faith that does it. And therefore, that's what causes the things to happen in the audiences the way it does.

16 And that night while we was at the banquet, the Holy Spirit began to move across the audience and talk to different people, and tell them. And I noticed behind me there was a elderly woman standing this way. Just like looking into a television screen watching it happen---then just tell what you're looking at. Just the same thing, if you're looking at something, just like you was asleep and dreamed it; only you're not asleep, you're just looking at it. It's another dimension. And you go way back down what has been, and way out to what will be. That's God doing that.

17 Then, I noticed behind me, and it looked like it was coming from over in the corner, like where the lady was sitting there. And I looked back that way, and it was Sister Shakarian. And I thought, "That isn't her." And I looked back, and here was the lady standing there. And I seen a cataract moving over her eye. And I looked back again, and it wasn't ... I knew it was too old for Sister Shakarian. It had no favorance at all. I thought, "If I speak to her, then the vision will come, if she's praying for someone."
And what it was: this famous heart specialist from the West Coast here, which is Brother Shakarian's doctor, they had him there in the meeting. He's a Seventh Day Adventist by religion, by denomination. And Mrs. Shakarian was praying hard that something would take place, that the doctor would be able to be convinced that it was God. And he was her mother's doctor, that had found this cataract covering over her eye.

18 And there sat the doctor sitting along there, and Mrs. Shakarian over here at the ... where she was behind me; and there was no one else behind Mrs. Shakarian. And she was sitting there praying, "Lord, let something happen, now while the discernment is going on, that'll convince this doctor, that he might receive the Holy Ghost. He's such a great man." And so he ... it said, "Mrs. Shakarian, you are praying for your mother, and a cataract is coming over her eye and she's going blind. But," said, "I see a white mist moving from your mother now, going away. Thus saith the Lord, the cataract will leave."
And she called her mother, and told her the next day. Within a few days, every speck of the cataract was gone. Her mother was normal and well. And the doctor that examined the woman, and found the cataract over her eye, examined again, and the cataract was gone. So it was...

19 So it goes to show that our God is still God. He's just... And aren't we happy tonight to know that we have a heavenly Father who can move cataracts, move diseases? He's just God, that's all. So we're going to speak to Him in a few moments before we read his Word, being that we've been talking the way we have.
And then speak tonight. And now, tomorrow afternoon is the service, so all of our brethren and everybody can go back to their church. Now, in the morning... There's several churches here represented, this ... my sponsorship of this meeting. Now these men believes in this type of ministry, or they wouldn't be sponsoring me and sitting here by me. And every visitor here that doesn't have their own church here, somewhere that they're attending, why don't you find one of these brethren here (I guess they told where they were from), and attend their services in the morning? I'm sure they'll do you good.

20 And it's my sincere desire that somewhere between here and tomorrow afternoon, there'll break out an old-fashioned revival among these churches here that will just be glorious and ... for this last day. We're trying to sow the seed, that when the Holy Spirit does fall, it'll fall on the right thing---it'll bring forth the right kind of a crop, as we're looking for these last days.

21 Then tomorrow afternoon is our closing services here. And then we begin up at (I think it's called Santa Maria, isn't it?) Santa Maria. And then we go from there to Grass Valley, and then... And then, so on and on, and on up.
So then, if the Lord willing, I'm to be in... Brother Williams, are you here? He was ... he... About Brother Williams, yeah, Brother Williams is trying... Said he had all Phoenix praying for me, that instead of going over in Tanganyika, and Kenya, and Uganda, and down through South Africa this coming January, February, March, and April, he was going to pray that we'd be over in Phoenix. And Brother Carl, I'll just go the way He leads me. You know that. The Lord bless you. Thank you very much for that sincerity.
And I hope now, tomorrow afternoon that everyone comes out, and we have a great rally tomorrow evening. I'll try to preach a little, if my voice is able, and we're expecting a great time tomorrow.

22 Now, I would like to read some of the precious Word here. And I want you to turn, if you're keeping tab (as we'd call it in the South) of the text that we're reading. I would like ... I've got some notes wrote down here, some scriptures. I'd like to teach just a little bit tonight on a subject found in St. Matthew, the 15th chapter. And let's begin with the 21st verse. St. Matthew, 15th chapter, and beginning with verse 21:
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, and saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat ... the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto her even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
If it would be called a text, I would like to take one word for a text, and that is the word "perseverance." Perseverance, Webster says is to be persistent, persistent in making a goal, to do something. To be perseverant is to persist. And before you can be persistent you have to have an idea what you're being persistent about.

23 And men through all ages that's ever tried to achieve something has been persistent. Men, in order to be persistent (I might quote again), is to know what you are after. And if you do not know, you're not certain of your standing. But when you thoroughly understand what it is, what you're after, and are satisfied you're going to do it, then you can be persistent---get really persistent, holding on.
I like the approach. I like people that's persistent when they are... Realize, no matter if the man is wrong, but yet he believes that he's right. But now, when he gets to a place he's proven wrong, then to try to be per ... he cannot be persistent then, because he's done proven wrong. But when he is right, and then'll hold on to it...

24 I'm thinking of, tonight, of the great first president of this great nation that we so appreciate tonight, this great United States of America: George Washington, great man of faith, a man of prayer, a persistent man, very perseverant. And he knew what he was after. One night he prayed almost all night long, when it seemed like the odds was against him. And he prayed till they said his body was almost wet all over from kneeling in the snow---until he got an answer from God.
And the next morning, with half of his army with not even shoes on their feet... Them was American soldiers with no shoes on, their feet wrapped in rags. The Delaware froze over in ice gorges. He was persistent that he could cross the Delaware, for he had heard from God. No matter what the opposition was, he had heard from God. Though three musket bullets went through his coat, nothing touched him. Why? He was persistent because he knew he was right, and his achievement that he was expecting was for the right thing.
No matter what condition those men was in, how cold their feet was, he could be persistent because he knowed he was trying to achieve something to help somebody else. And he had prayed till he'd heard from God. And he crossed the Delaware in the time of the ice floe.

25 I might call your attention for a few minutes to another man that could be persistent. And anybody can when you know what you're talking about. When a person doesn't know what they're talking about, then they don't know which way to go. That's the reason I think that if Christianity and your eternal destination depends on your faith in God, you'd better know whether you're right or not.

26 Noah, a great character---I'd like to speak of him for a few moments. He came from the lineage of Seth. If you notice, the lineage of Ham's children were all great masterpieces. They were scientists, great men, scholars, inventors, and great men that come through Cain. But through the other side came... Seth's children were sheepherders, peasants, but real religious, that served the Lord and believed on Him.
And one day while Noah, perhaps a farmer out in the field... The world had got wicked like it is today, till every intention of a man's heart was evil, and it even grieved God that he ever made a man. And God spoke to this humble farmer, and told him that He was going to destroy the world with water. Now, it had never rained.

27 Now, what a message that was for a scientific age! And when... They claim now, that our science today will not compare with them of that day. They built pyramids. We couldn't do that today. We have no power to lift those rocks up there. And they had ... they could embalm a body that looks natural up to this day. We don't have that embalming secret that they did then, to make mummies. Coloring, and many things that they had then that we don't have now, and what a scientific age!
Could you imagine a man going up there, taking his family and building an ark, and saying that it's going to rain waters down out of the heaven, when there had never been a drop of water fall from the skies? Could you imagine the laughs, and scoffs, that came to that man in that day? How that the scientists would ... Science would come and say, "Looky here. We got an instrument we can shoot plumb to the moon and stars. And there's not any water up there. Where is it coming from? How's it going to be there? Show me where it's at." The Word of God didn't stand up to their scientific quota. Neither does it today; but we believe it anyhow.

28 And Noah was persistent, very perseverant. I can imagine them taking the doctors, and bringing him before psychiatrists to find out what's the matter with the old man's mind. But it wasn't his mind; it was in his heart. And he had the Word of the Lord, and he knew that it was God.
And I can hear Noah say, "If there is no water up there, and God said it was going to rain water from up there, God's able to put water up there." And his story held for 120 years, while he built away on the ark, very persistent. In the time of scoffers no one listened to him, but laughed and made fun of him wherever he went. But still, he held right on because he knowed it was the word of the Lord. He was positive of it.

29 I can imagine, when his street meetings come off, how that they laughed. Oh, they were religious then, remember---very religious. So was Cain, and he built an altar as much as Abel did. If religion is all God requires, he was cruel to condemn Cain, 'cause Cain done every religious act that Abel did. But he come in the wrong way. "There is a way that seemeth right, but the end thereof is death."
But now, you've got to be sure that you're right. So we just can't gamble on this. There's no need of doing it. Christ has left the pattern so plain till we... He said even a fool shouldn't err. You know whether it's right or not. And then, when you're positive you're right, Scripturally right, then you can stand there because ... and be very persistent with it.

30 Now, Noah, and his preaching---how that it must have been someone said, "That old man up there is still hammering away on a boat." And they believed that any old boat would do, if it did come a rain, whether it was God-constructed or not. That's the way they think today. Any old church'll do, any old religious idea. Go join this; you don't like it, and they don't last there, go over to the next one, next one---any of them will do.
But God's got a constructed church that's built on the rock, Christ Jesus. And "all other grounds is sinking sand," said Eddie Pruitt [Perronet]. That's right. "Upon this rock I'll build my church."
The Catholic church said it was upon Peter. He backslid after that. The Protestant said it was upon Jesus. I differ with you.
He said, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in heaven has revealed this to you." Then it was upon the rock of spiritual revelation of the Word. That's right. The same thing Abel had, how it was revealed to him. Instead of offering fruit like Cain did, he offered blood, for it was revealed to him. The whole church of God is built upon the spiritual revelation of Christ---who He is, what He is, and all about Him.

31 And now we find out that Noah stayed right with his subject. And I can imagine God one day got enough of their laughing and scoffing at Noah. You know, God can just go ... stand so much, and then his patience runs out. So He got enough of it, and He was going to do something about it.
And He said to Noah, "Go up there. And you see the animals going in the ark? You go right in after all the animals are in, and the door'll close behind you."
And that morning the animals started coming in two-by-two. And I can imagine all the scoffers standing around saying, "Now, go on up there and live with your stinking animals. Get in there and shut the door with all the stink, and so forth, with those animals."
That's the way they try to say it again today. But the man who knows what the ark is, no matter how much ridiculing is done about it, how much it's condemned or all about it, the man knows that he's led by God. That's right. Noah marched into the ark, and God's great mighty hand closed the door behind him.

32 Now I can imagine that, them seeing that, there was some people might've kind of been a borderline believer, said, "You know what? That old man could have been right." Just the kind that hangs around the meeting, you know, and comes to every meeting. And said, "The old man..." But never willing to come in, never willing to accept it.
Then, like Hebrews 6 said, and like in the borderline believers of the Old Testament---just always watching, and looking around, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth---here come these people, and stood around. "Well, if it starts falling waters out of there, we'll go up and knock on the door. And that is a good-hearted old man. He'll open the door and let us in. So, we'll stick around, and find out if the rain comes."

33 I can imagine Noah climbing through the first floor, went up to the second floor, and went up to the third floor (come up through the Lutheran age, back to the Wesley age) and went to where the door was open in the top, where the light was---into the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the upper room, up high where the light come down. And of course, there was more light on the second floor than there would've been on the first floor. And that's the way it's come, always.
Now we find out up there... I imagine Noah had gathered his family around, and said, "Now, when day breaks in the morning there'll be darkness all over the skies, and there'll be great rain falling, and the people will know then that I have prophesied the truth." But you know, after you have followed every instruction... Here's where I want you to look. After you've followed every instruction, then if something happens that it doesn't come out right, many give up. That shows they did not believe what they professed they was saying.

34 God tries his children. Now listen to the message. Noah, on the seventeenth day of February, according to the Word of God, entered that ark. And the next morning all of them was around expecting to see the rain start falling, but the sun come up just exactly like it always did. "Just a couple more hours, and it'll start. The rain'll start."
The day passed, and I'd imagine Noah's heart begin to flutter. I could say something right here, but I'd better not. But you notice, he couldn't get out if he wanted to. He was sealed inside. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed until the day of your redemption." God sealed the door behind him. And Noah sat there, and the night went past.

35 And the days, the onlookers'd come up and said, "Well, sure. Those scientists was right. That old man didn't know what he was talking about. It's not raining. And there the old fellow is in there locked up in that big old boat."
Oh, what a great thing to be locked up with Christ! That's a real lesson. And the door was sealed behind him. He couldn't open it. Only the hand of God could open it.
Now, and the second day passed, and the third day, fourth, fifth, sixth, till a complete week passed. Noah sat and sweated it out.

36 Then, what lesson do we get from that? If God ... What if Mrs. Shakarian would have said...? When the Holy Spirit spoke, "Thus saith the Lord, there's a white mist going from her. The cataract will leave," and it never left for about two or three weeks. But she kept sitting there saying, "It's got to be so. It has to be so." God lets you sweat it out sometimes. But you must be persistent, perseverant, no matter how you feel, what you think, or nothing about it. Just hold on. If you really believe it, you will hold on. Stay right with your convictions. God promised it, and you feel it anchored in your heart, stay there.

37 Then, on the last day of the week, Noah woke up that morning, I suppose, clouds was all hanging around. They looked out through the upper window. Now, it wasn't on the side of the ark. God don't want him to look down this way; wanted him to look up that way. So it was in top of the ark. And as he begin to look, the clouds was hanging over, lightning was a-roaring, and the people begin to run up towards the ark. The streets begin to fill with great big drops of water. The sewers all filled up. Why, they thought they could pump it out, if some overflow come. But you see... They got some boats out. But if it wasn't God-constructed, it sank. Nothing floated but the ark.

38 And you know the ark was made out of shittim wood. And if you ever know what that was, it's lighter than balsam. It's nothing... It's just like a sponge, so light you could pick up a great big beam of it and hold it in one hand. And wouldn't it seem strange that God would construct his ark out of such a thing as that? [blank spot] ... and pour it into this to fill up the pores. And then it become harder than steel.
And that's the way we have to do, is empty out every creed, every thing that's in us, and every nonsense, and every ungodly unbelief; that the Holy Spirit might fill us, and seal every pore of our believing, every pore of our minds---until you won't notice whether it's your neighbor, or who it is sitting around you. You're sealed into the kingdom of God. Then you can stand the buffet of the waves as you go through a persecution.

39 Then the waters begin to climb up the hill, and the people begin to scream and knock on the door. But Noah couldn't even hear them. He was sitting way up in top of the building. And they perished. Every thing that breathed breath of air on the earth perished with... And the very thing that killed the unbelieving world saved Noah.
That's the same as it is today. The stumbling block, the Holy Spirit, that's making the world where they don't want it, the things that they are turning down is the very thing that'll take the church up. The Holy Spirit will take the church in the rapture.
Noah was persistent because he knew God had spoke to him. No matter how long it took, or how many years, or whatever it was, he held on because he knew it was the program of God.

40 Moses, the runaway prophet, with all the intellectual conception that anyone could have, he was so smart till he could teach the Egyptians. And he tried to put over the program of God with his intellectual conception, and it did not work. And it won't work today. That's right. We are going at it in the wrong way, church in whole. We're trying to organize some kind of a program.
You hear the revival is cooling off. It's down to just a smolder. What's the matter? It's because we got our man-made programs into it. All they're concerned about today is, seems like, is joining church, bringing in new members, building some big buildings, supporting some radio program, or something like that.

41 We've lost that interest, really, of souls---that soul-travail that the Christian ought to have. We seem to lose it. I'm not talking about the real Christians. I'm talking about so many that profess to be Christians. Now, all you hear today is some big something, and people going into expenses of millions of dollars for great things. And then preaching that the Lord is coming in this generation? Why, the sinner on the street knows you don't believe it, or, your actions speak louder than your words when you do that. Certainly.
We ought to be from house to house, from place to place, preaching, and crying, and begging, and persuading, trying to get every soul in the kingdom of God we can---sending missionaries east, west, north, and south, and everything we can do, to get the people saved.

42 Now we find today, it's so much on decisions. You hear that all the time---making a decision. I want... Decisions are confessions, confessions are stones. What good does it do to pile up a bunch of stones, if you haven't got a stonecutter there who can shape them in by the sharp two-edged sword of God into sons and daughters of God? Let them run around here with all kinds of women dressed like a skinned-down wiener, and call themselves Christians; and men letting them do it, and then calling themselves servants of Christ? And the church in the lukewarm formal condition that it's in, a form of godliness but denying the power thereof, and calling decisions?
We need stones cut into sons and daughters of God. What good does it do to roll up the stones if you're not going to have them cut? They've got to be cut and fit into the program of God, by gifts and callings, and placed into the church as they should be, must be.

43 Noah ... Moses and his intellectual conception failed just like the church in whole has today. The people go right on living. They come in, make a confession, put their name on. It's a letter, it's a letter. Bring your letter from here to there. It's not a letter; it's a birth! Get born again, and then you belong up there.

44 Notice. But Noah, as persistent as he was... He had heard God. And one day this runaway prophet, back on the backside of the desert, he really come on them sacred sands, to where every minister ought to come. No matter how many doctor's degrees he's got, a professor of college, or whatever he may be, he has no business behind the pulpit until first he's taught on them sacred sands between him and God alone; that he's got an experience with God that no scientist in the world can ever hammer away from him.
They can take that Word and cut it any way they want to. The devil uses the Word. He proved it. He uses the Word to cut his own program out. But when a man has once been back there on them sacred sands, where nothing but you and God alone can stand, all the scientists in the world couldn't take it away from you, because you were there, and you met God, and you know what happened. No man...
Jesus wouldn't let them preach until they went up to Jerusalem and was to receive the Holy Ghost before they went preaching any more. That's the experience.

45 When Moses got that experience of that burning bush... Persistent? Why, one little error, and he run out of Egypt. And notice, out of the will of God he went down there and killed one man, and it was held against him. And then, God went down with him and killed the whole nation, and it was a glory. That was the difference.
Now. Moses... Sometimes when you meet God it makes you act funny. You really do. Now, Moses was once... When he went out to deliver the children he was a young warrior, and strong. But we find out when he got to be about eighty years old, his whiskers hanging way down, and perhaps his bald head blistered nearly in the sun... And when he... The next morning after he'd met God in this burning bush, we find him with Zipporah sitting straddle of a mule, with her young'un on her hip---leading this donkey with a crooked stick in his hand, the whiskers blowing, his eyes set, just laughing and praising God.
Somebody said, "Where are you going, Moses?"
"I'm going down to Egypt to take over."

46 What was it? A one-man invasion. But what? He was persistent because he had met God, and he knowed God said, "Surely I'll be with you." And he did it. He took it over. Why? He could be persistent because God said, "I'll be with you." Didn't make any difference what the obstacle.
When he got there, the first thing he met was somebody to try to impersonate the work that he was doing for God---the same thing. That's what you always...
As I said the other night here, or some other meeting, you always meet three classes: that's believers, make-believers, and unbelievers. And so, you find them everywhere. So here come these magicians up to try to impersonate with their supersensory perception, and they throwed down these serpents to try to ... or sticks, to make them serpents.
Moses had done all he could do. That's what God commissioned him to do, so he just stood still. Hallelujah! When you've done all you can do, then it's up to God to do the rest. Then Moses' serpent come around, and eat up theirs. Now you that believe in supersensory perception, what happened to them sticks? Amen! That's it. He was persistent.

47 Little old David one day, the littlest and the most insignificant one standing there... Saul, the general, head and shoulders above all of his army---great big fellow---he challenged Goliath, or met his challenge, rather. Well, now, David, a little ruddy fellow, little, stoop-shouldered, with a little sheepskin vest on here, had a slingshot. But he was persistent that he could fight that giant. What made the spunk in that little fellow? He had something in him.

48 I was going down in ... I believe it was Georgia, somewhere down there. Was having (Rufus Moseley and them---many of you knew him.) ... And I was having a meeting down there in a football stadium. And I seen a little sign that always encouraged me. It said, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but it's the size of the fight in the dog." So that's the way it is. You don't have to have a PhD, LL double LD, QST, or whatever it is. Only thing you have to have is a good old Christian spunk, with an understanding that God sent you.

49 Like I was saying this morning of Hudson Taylor, when a man told him---a young Chinese boy---said, "Mr. Taylor, I have just received Christ. It's burning in my heart. Now I'll have to have four years to get my B.A., and my doctor's degree, and so forth."
Mr. Taylor said, "Don't wait till the candle's half-burnt before you try to show your light." Said, "Go do it now."
I thought, "Amen!" That's right. Don't wait around this, that, or the other. Great big schools of theology, they're all right. They was in days gone by. But brother, what we need today is not a school of theology; we need some lit candles.

50 Listen, if you don't know no more about it, go tell them how it got lit, and let them light off of that, and somebody light off of that. We'll have another return of Pentecost. That's right! Just as soon as it's lit, if that's all you know about it, go tell somebody else how it got lit. Sometimes these cemetery (or seminaries) takes all the light out of you. That's right.
Now. You're persistent. Just tell them how it got lit. Say, "I was standing there, and all at once the Holy Ghost fell on me. If you'll do the same thing, it'll happen to you." Tell that much. If that's all you know just tell that. That's enough.

51 David, he knew that God had helped him with that slingshot to kill a lion and a bear. And he seen the condition. And the Lord was speaking into his heart that he'd give him the victory over that giant. So, he was persistent.
His brother said, "I know you're naughty. Go back over there, and herd them sheep."
But God had a commission, and David was persistent until he slew Goliath.

52 Samson, with nothing but the jawbone of a mule... And did you ever study how big those armors was on those Philistines? That helmet went over their head down over their ears, where they could knock the glance of a two-handed sword off. It was about an inch or an-inch-and-a-half thick of brass, down over their heads.
And you know what an old rotten jawbone of a mule would be. The first lick on top of a skull of one of them helmets would burst that old jawbone all to pieces. But David could feel back, and feel them seven locks. That's all he had to feel. And the Holy Ghost come upon him, and he beat a thousand of those Philistines down with that jawbone. He was persistent because he knowed that them seven locks stood for a covenant, and God was with him. He could be persistent. Yes, sir.

53 John the Baptist, we don't have much record of him. We know his father was a priest, and they were old, both of them. Elisabeth and Zacharias were well stricken in age. Must have been kind of hard on the family, because they knowed they wasn't going to live to see their son come into his ministry. But they knowed the promise was from God. They died, we are told.
And instead of John going like his father did---back to the same college and the same school, getting a Ph.D., and so forth, and learning---he had a job to do. Not kiss babies and marry the young and bury the dead. He had to hold a two-handed sword and be up the battle front, and he couldn't afford to take any seminary experience. He couldn't wait for all that, learn all how to shuffle out all the creeds. If that's what he'd have learned, that's all he could give to the people.

54 But he went out there in the wilderness and stayed, because he was to introduce the Messiah. So he stayed there till God told him what that Messiah would be. And if John wanted ... did that, how much more ought we to study, and see what the Holy Spirit's supposed to do in this day when He comes? How's He going to act? What's it going to be? Today, when we're scrupled up with all kinds of dogmas, and doctrines, and injections, and embalming fluid, and everything else... And then we do that and then don't study. You just take it presuming. Presume is to venture without actual authority. Don't presume upon God. Take his Word for it, and go on. God's got the program laid out here. He foretold us by his prophets what would take place in this day.

55 John stayed out there until God told him how...
Now, of course, when he went out and said, "I am the forerunner... I'm he which was spoke of by the prophet, Isaiah. I'm the voice of one crying in the wilderness."
And now, no doubt but what some district presbyter, or some Caiaphas, or bishop, or somebody come by, and say, "You know, Bishop Jones over here, I've just always thought he'd be Messiah. So you know, I'm just sure..."
That's the same mistake that the church made with its new keys. Jesus gave Peter the keys, and the church had the keys. But what did they do the first time they used it? They chose Matthias to take the place of Judas, and it didn't work. There was never nothing said about him, but God chose a little high-tempered, crooked-nosed, ill-tempered Jew, and He said, "I'll make him over again and show what things he'll suffer for me."

56 It's God has to do things; not man! So we find out that John could not afford to go down to get some seminary theological injection. So the thing he did was wait there, and God told him, "When you go out there, now, you'll have this, that, or the other. But don't you pay no attention to it. That Messiah will have the sign of a Messiah, and you'll see it. It'll be a Spirit will descend from heaven like a dove, and it'll go upon him. And that's the Messiah."
And John was so persistent that He was going to come in his generation he never built no big schools. He never had no great seminaries, and invited people into them. What did he do? He was so sure that he said, "There's one standing among you now..." Amen. "You don't know him, but he's the one that'll baptize with the Holy Ghost. I know he's here."

57 Hallelujah! How we can say the same thing tonight! By the signs of the Holy Ghost, we know that same Holy Ghost that fell on the day of Pentecost is here. Same thing---the same thing that God said it would do in these last days.
(Excuse me for not staying back here. But if you felt like I did, you'd walk, too. So...)
They ... John was sure, and he knowed what that sign of Messiah would be. So he absolutely was persistent that he'd know Him. One day He come walking down among them. He said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." He said, "He that told me in the wilderness to baptize with water, said, 'Upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remaining, he's the one that'll baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.'"

58 Now. Long ways to get to my subject, but this little woman that we read about, she was a Greek, but she'd heard of Jesus. And faith cometh by what? Hearing, hearing the word of God. Now, she was a Greek---of another nation. Now. But you know, though she wasn't in the belief of that (she was of a different race of people), yet, you know, faith finds a source that others don't see. Faith finds a source that others doesn't see, and her faith had found that source. Now, she knew that, by hearing, if she'd have got there what was going to happen.
The word of God according to Hebrews, the 4th chapter and the 12th verse, is sharper than a two-edged sword. We know that. And faith is what holds that sword. There's nothing else can hold the sword of the Bible but faith in God. That wields it. Now, you might be weak with your arm of faith. Maybe you can just cut out justification. Maybe you can just cut out enough to join the church. But a good strong arm of faith can cut through to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It can cut through to divine healing. It can cut through to gifts, miracles, signs, wonders. It can cut every promise of God out of the skies, and claim it, because it's wielding the Word of God.

59 She had many hindrances, if you'd happen to go to thinking about it, but her faith didn't have any. That's it. If your faith don't have any hindrances, it's different. She had; but her faith had no hindrances. Faith doesn't know no hindrance. Faith only knows one thing: its goal. That's all.
Someone might have said to her, "Now, wait a minute. You are a Greek. You have no business..."
"You're a Methodist. You oughtn't to go over to them Pentecostals."
"You're Baptist. You shouldn't go there, see." But that didn't hinder her. She was persistent. She was very perseverant.
And there might have been another group come up to her and said, "Now, wait a minute here, darling. You know what? The days of miracles is past." But that didn't stop her. Why? Faith had took a hold, and she was still persistent. She was going anyhow.

60 And then there's another group. Some of the women of her church might have come around, and said, "Dear, do you know what? If you go over there... Your husband is a deacon over here. He'll leave you. That's all. There'll be a divorce in your family."
But faith had caught a hold of something---the Word of God---and she went anyhow. She was perseverant. She wasn't going to take "No" for an answer. Faith had caught a hold of something. I wish it would do that tonight, every person here---faith take a hold. It knows nothing but truth. That's all.
Now. Well, there might have been another group that come up and said, "You'll be laughed at. You'll be called holy roller. If you ever go over there you'll be branded one of them." But you know what? She was still persistent. She was going, regardless of what she was called. Faith had took a hold.

61 Now, there ... here might have come up a bunch of preachers to her of her own faith, and said, "You know [or the faith that her people belonged to]..." And would've said, "You know what? If you go, you'll be put out of your church." But still she was persistent. She was going to get there anyhow, regardless of what anybody said. She wanted to get there.
Finally she arrived. Like Noah, she arrived. But when she arrived at Jesus, she thought all was finished then. And many times people think because that God blesses you, gives you a fine meeting, or gives you a big stir of faith right quick... The Lord speaks to you, and call you out of the meeting you think, "Oh, that's just it." But, remember, there's some disappointments there, too. God tries every child that comes to him, every son.

62 So, when she got to Jesus, she thought all'd be over you know, when she got to Jesus. But quickly He turned, with a great disappointment, and said, "I'm not sent to your race."
Now, after she'd had to pass through every one of these barricades, and she'd hurdled them every one by her faith, and she'd got to this Jesus of Nazareth... And as soon as she got there, and went to crying after Him, He ignored her, walked away. And then finally He turned around with a rebuke, and said, "I'm not sent to your race. I'm just sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
What a rebuke! If that had been some of our Pentecostal people, they'd have said, "Well, if that's the way He feels about it..."
And then, besides that, she said ... she recognized... And He said ... another thing, He said her race was a bunch of dogs. Oh, my! The very audacity! Wouldn't that have shook a Pentecostal!
"Bless God, I'll go to the Assemblies now, or over to the Church of God, or the Foursquare. If you don't ... I'll leave the whole bunch, and go to the Baptist. If they won't have me, I'll go to the Presbyterian. I'll finally wind up a Catholic, I suppose," see. Oh, sure. "They won't call me such a thing as that, say I'm a dog. No."

63 Yes, called her a dog, said, "I'm not sent to your race of people. I'm only sent to the Jews. I'm not sent to you. And besides, your people is just a bunch of dogs." Hmmm. But still she held on. Oh, my. I like that! Now I feel religious. Amen.
I like that. No matter what the obstacle was, she still held to that faith. That's when you got a hold of it, brother. Amen. All ... everything in the world couldn't shake you away from it then. That's right.
She held on. No matter what anyone else said, she held it. Even Jesus, Himself, said, "I'm not sent to your race, and you're a bunch of dogs. And I won't take the children's bread and throw it to you dogs." Oh, my! But she still held on. I like that.

64 She wasn't a hotbed plant, some kind of a hybrid like the modern crop is today. What'd I say then? Notice. That's right. A hotbed plant has to be babied. You have to spray him all the time, pat him on the shoulder. But an old sturdy plant that come on out there with the power of nature, you don't have to spray him. And no bug's going to bother him either. Amen.
This hybrid stuff, have to pat them on the shoulder. If the Methodist don't want them, the Baptist will take them. If this one don't want them, the other one will take them. That's the reason they have no faith. She wasn't one of them hybrids (no, sir), a hotbed plant. She knowed what she was after, and she had a hold of something was going to deliver it for her. Amen. Amen! I like that. Yes, sir. She wasn't the modern crop that we have today. She stayed with it.

65 Notice. She also admitted that what Jesus said was the truth. Whew! My! "I am a dog." Amen. Faith. Listen, Jesus was the Word. And if you've got genuine faith, a faith will always admit the Word is right. Faith will never argue against the Word. Amen. It'll stay with the Word. The way the Word said do it, that's the way faith will recognize it. I'm just going to let that soak a minute. Yes. Faith admits the truth.
She said, "It's truth." She admitted He was right. Faith will always do it. See, she had a hold of something higher than the whole Jewish generation did then. She had something that she'd got a hold of that was ... wouldn't turn loose. There was something impulsing in her that she knew she was going to get her request. No matter if she was to be called dog, if she was to be called anything, kicked out, rode over, whatever it was, she had a hold of something that she knowed was going to deliver her request.

66 God have mercy on this sinful generation of people! Take a hold! If that be God's Word, every Word of it is the truth. Live by it, die by it. And a Holy Spirit faith will punctuate every promise with an "Amen." That's right.
She held on to it. She said, "It's the truth, Lord. I'm not worthy. I'm a Greek I'm not of your people. And I'm a dog. And I'm not coming ... beg you to baby me, and have to lay hands on me."
Like Naaman or some of them: "Surely he would have come out, and laid his hands on me, stroked away the leprosy."
The prophet said, "Go dip in the Jordan." Oh, my!

67 See, that's the reason people miss it. They want to get it the way they want it. God gives it the way He wants to give it. We want ... got one set way. We must go that way. That's all. But God does it his way.
She said, "It's truth, Lord. I am not worthy, and I am a dog. You just called me one. But the dogs eat the scraps that falls from the master's table." She was willing to take scraps. How much different with us Pentecostal people.
You know what's the matter with us Pentecostal people? We've seen so much, till it's become common to us. We've been so blessed. That's what's the matter with us Americans.

68 I go to India, and see them little babies laying there, and their little bellies swelled up from hunger, and a mother laying on the street dying---in the places like that, and see the hunger and starvation. Come here, and see enough raked off in garbage cans to feed them; see these women go out, and pay eight dollars for afternoon-lunch, something like that; and nibble over it a few minutes and talk---some society of some sort---and dump it out in the garbage can. That would feed some hungry Korean children. And then we call ourself a Christian nation. We're fed well.

69 The Pentecostal people go around, and they go back, and they go through it; and see Oral Roberts' type of meeting---what God does with Oral; come back, and sees this other one, and this other one, and this other one---all God working. Then, first thing you know, they just sit back, and just take it common.

70 Like an old salt one time, coming from the sea, and he met a poet, an English poet. And he said to the poet... The poet had wrote many poems about the sea.
And the old salt said, "Where goest thou, my good man?"
He said, "Oh, I'm going to the sea. I have never seen it, yet I have wrote of it from what I've learned of books." He said, "But I've never actually seen the sea. I long to smell the salty, briny waves. I'd like to see the blue sky reflecting in its blue waters. I long to hear the scream of the seagull."
The old salt, standing there with a big pipe in his mouth, spit, and said, "Well, I've lived on it for fifty years, and I don't see nothing so thrilling about it."

71 Why? He'd seen it so much until he was ... it become common to him. And that's the way the people... They see in this last days---when the Bible speaks exactly what the Holy Spirit, and what Christ will do at the appearing, just before the coming---and they see the thing taking place, and say, "Oh, pretty good. I guess that's all right." Oh, my! It ought to shake our hearts! It ought to make us persistent to try to get the message to the people before it's too late.

72 "Lord, I'm wanting only crumbs." Remember, she had never seen a miracle. She was a Greek. But she'd heard that there was a miracle, that Jesus performed miracles. And she knowed if He could perform miracles for one person, God was the creator of all things, and all people, and He could do it for her.
She never seen a miracle, but yet she was believing for one. And we see them day after day and night after night. She'd never seen it.
She was like Rahab the harlot when the spies come over. She never said, "Now, wait a minute. Let me go see Joshua. Let me see how he wears his clothes. Let me see how he combs his hair. Let me see him do some miracles." She never asked for that. No. That's the reason she was justified, because she accepted it by faith.
She said, "I have heard. [Amen!] I want that God to be my God." She heard. And when she heard, it was God's moving. And she knowed it was God because she'd seen the sign of a God that could conquer all the kings' powers in the world. She was ready to receive it. Yes. Oh, my.

73 Watch what that did to Jesus. He said, "For this saying..." For this saying. See, she had the right approach to God's gift. You've got to approach it right. When you're sitting out there, when you're in church, when you're at the altar, wherever you are, you've got to approach God in the right manner. Favor ... faith always admits the truth.
Martha, let's speak of her just a few minutes. Martha---we always think she was so dilatory, about getting her house cleaned when she was going to entertain Jesus. Mary, a little lazy side, just sat around and listened. Jesus, of course, said she listened to the better things. But Martha showed her color what she was, what was in her heart. She knowed that Jesus was the Son of God.

74 No doubt she'd read many Bible stories. She'd read about the Shunammite woman, and how the woman was past the age of bearing. And she had made a little chamber for the prophet, because she said to her husband, "I perceive that that's a holy man that passes by our way. Let us, I pray thee, make a little chamber on the side of our house, that he might be able to rest. And if we're not home, he can just go on in. He can have the key to the door." And she was showing kindness.
And Elisha gave her a blessing, and told her she would have a son. When that son took sick at about twelve years old... He must have had a sunstroke. He cried, "My head, my head." His father had taken him in, or had him took in; sat on his mother's lap until noon, and he died.

75 Now look at the faith of that woman. She took him and laid him on the prophet's bed. Mm-hmm. What a place to put him, see. She laid him on that bed, and she said, "Saddle a mule now, and don't you stop until I tell you to stop." And so she took off to the mountain, where she went to this cave where Elisha was.
God don't tell his prophets everything---just what He wants them to know. And Elisha looked up, and said to Gehazi, said, "Here comes that Shunammite. And I ... she's full of sorrow. I don't know what it is. God's kept it from me."
He said, "Is all well with thee? Is all well with thy husband? Is all well with the child?"
Look at that Shunammite woman. "All is well." Amen.

76 What? She was in the presence of a man, the agent of God, the man who could perform a miracle that'd take a woman of her age past bearing, and an old man like her husband, and bless them in the name of the Lord God; and see a vision, and tell her she'd embrace a child. And she did it. She knowed then that was a man of God.
So she said, "Let me go to him." And when she got to him she said, "All is well." Amen! All is well. And then she began to reveal.

77 And then Elisha, he told to Gehazi, said, "Take this staff," because Elisha knowed that everything that he touched was blest. Now whether the woman would believe that or not, I don't know. I think that's where Paul, being fundamental, got the idea of laying handkerchiefs and aprons he took from his body on the people.
And then Elisha said, "Take this staff. Gird up thy loins. If anybody speaks to you, don't speak back, and go lay this upon the dead baby."
But the woman's faith wasn't in the stick; it was in the prophet. The stick never told her so; the prophet told her so. And she was persistent. She said, "As the Lord lives, and your soul never dies, I'll not leave you."
Oh, I like that! Bless God, if the people would take a hold of the Holy Ghost, God's agent in the earth tonight, and hold on to it like that! "I'm not going to turn it loose." Might have to wrestle like Jacob all night, but you'll get your request. Hold on to it. Be persistent. And she held on, until she got her request.

78 Maybe Martha had read that story. And she knowed if God was in that prophet, that Jesus was the man of the hour then. And surely God was in his Son if He was in his prophet. So she goes out to meet Him. And when she met Him... She could've upbraided Him, now, because she sent for Him to come. Lazarus had been dead four days, and was stinking. And she run out to meet Him. She heard He was coming. So she was persistent. She left the funeral procession, and run out to meet Jesus. Though He'd done turned her down, she went to meet Him. She was persistent.
And she run up to Him, and she said, "Lord, if thou would have been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, whatever you ask God, God will give it to you." I like that, see. "Though he's dead, though he stinks, yet whatever you ask God, God will give it to you."

79 Now, that's the way to get something done. Now that's the way you congregation ought to be about your pastor, see. That's when God will answer. That's right. You've got to approach God's gifts in the right way, with reverence. And ministry is minister gifts. They're gifts in the body---five spiritual gifts that's predestinated, and foreordained of God to the church. I know there's nine local gifts in the body, but these are God's office gifts---the office---apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, evangelists. And we must respect them, if we expect something from God.

80 She ran right up to Him, and she said, "Lord, if thou would have been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, whatever you ask God, God will give it to you."
I like that. Although the doctor said this... "But even now, Lord..." The doctor says you got cancer. "But even now, Lord..." The doctor says you can't get well. "But even now, Lord..." That's it. "Even now, whatever you ask God..." And He's sitting on the right hand of the Majesty, a high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities, ever living to make intercession. Oh, my! Oh, bloody clothes laying before the altar of God, high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities.
Your faith can touch Him. And He can take a office in the church, and speak right back through them lips, and tell you exactly that He'll do---the same work He did when He was here on earth. He promised to do it, and He's doing it. Amen! Why can't we be persistent? Certainly---with such as that, far more than she had.

81 Notice. Now, Martha, she said, "Even now whatever you ask God, God will give it to you." Look at that. Though He'd turned her down, said, "Only thing I want you to do is just ask prayer. Whatever you ask God, God will give it to you."
Listen to this. Boy, the cogs begin to come together then. Faith begin to meet with God. It's just like putting the negative and positive together---you're going to get light pretty soon. Now you notice what happened.
Now, He said, "Thy brother shall rise again."
She said, "Yes, Lord. He'll rise again in the last days, the general resurrection. He was a good boy. He'll come forth."
Then Jesus straightened up. See, things just begin to happen now. She was sweating it out, like Noah, and like this woman we're speaking about, this Greek---sweating it out.

82 He said, "I am the resurrection and life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
She said, "Yea, Lord. [Oh, my!] I believe that you are the Son of God that was to come into the earth. I believe that You are what you profess to be, the Son of God. Something's got to happen. I believe that you are the Son of God that was to come into the world."

83 A woman met me some years ago, and was discussing that with me. She said to me, said, "Brother Branham, there's only one fault I find with your preaching."
And I said, "Thank you. Just one fault, that's very good."
And she said, "That is this: you brag too much about Jesus."
I said, "Oh, my! If that's it, I'm so glad that I do." I said, "I can't brag enough."
She said, "But you see, Mr. Branham, here's one thing..." Her church doesn't believe He's divine; just believes He was a prophet. If He's just a prophet, we're all lost. If He's anything short of God, we're all lost. That's right. Certainly He was God.
And she said, "You make Him divine, and He wasn't divine."
I said, "He was divine."
She said, "You claim you believe the Bible."
I said, "I do."
And she said, "If I'll prove by the Bible He wasn't divine, will you accept it?"
I said, "If the Bible said He wasn't divine, I will; but you can't prove it."
She said, "I'll do it."
"I said, "All right."

84 She said, "In St. John, the 11th chapter, the Bible said that when Jesus went to the grave of Lazarus He wept. And if He was divine, He could not weep."
I said, "Lady, your argument is thinner than the broth made out of the shadow of a chicken that's starved to death." I said, "You haven't got any argument at all. Yes," I said, "He was divine." I said, "He was both God and man." Right. I said, "He was a man when He was weeping. But when He stood by the side of that tomb where a dead man had been dead four days, and said, 'Lazarus, stand on your feet!' and a man that had been dead four days come back, that was more than a man." Sure was.
He was a man when He come off the hill that night, hungry, looking on a tree to find something to eat. He was a man when He was hungry. But when He could take five biscuits, and two fish, and fed five thousand, that was more than a man. That was God, the creator. Amen.

85 He was a man when He laid on the back of that ship that night. Virtue'd gone out of Him, his lips cracked from preaching, his voice hoarse ... coarse. He was laying on that ship asleep until ten thousand devils of the sea swore they'd drown Him that night, when they had Him laying there on a pillow in the back of the boat, and the waves a-flashing back and forth couldn't even wake Him up. He was a man when He was asleep. He was a man when He was tired.
But when they wakened Him, and He stood out there and put his foot upon the brail of the boat, and looked up and said, "Peace. Be still," and the winds and the waves obeyed Him, that was a ... that was more than a man. That was God in that man. He was divine. He was more than a prophet. He was a God-prophet---God in a man, Jehovah made flesh, to take the sting out of death.

86 Notice. He was a man when He cried for mercy on the cross. That's right. But on Easter morning, when He broke the seals of death, hell, and the grave, and rose again, said, "I'm he that was dead, and alive forevermore," that was more than a man.
Everybody that's ever amounted to a hill of beans in this earth has been people who believed that, even to the poets. One said,
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever:
Some day He's coming---oh, glorious day!

87 Eddie Pruitt [Perronet], who wrote ... being persecuted, wrote the inauguration song of his coming. He said,
All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.

88 God was made manifest in the flesh. Certainly. Blind Fanny Crosby, what can you say about Him? She said,
Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
For Thou the stream of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Or whom in heaven but Thee?
Amen. He was more than a man. He was God. Yes, sir. Martha was persistent until she got what she asked for.

89 Here a few ... about a year ago, one day I'd come in from the meetings, tired. I went down to speak at the little Tabernacle. A woman, may be sitting here tonight---if she is, I want her to raise up. She was from here in California somewhere. They'd brought her in and she had a tumor that was out like this. The tumor weighed fifty or sixty pounds. She was a terrible looking sight. Men had to pack her in.
Usually at the Tabernacle ... I'm real tired I don't pray for the sick. I just come in, speak to the church, and went back. If I'm not mistaken, some of the brethren are sitting here tonight---all the way from Jeffersonville that come down here---that helped pack the woman around. They said... I went out through the back door. She was persistent. They told her, they said, "Brother Branham don't pray for the sick when he comes in like this. He's too tired. We don't call him. Wait a few days."
She said, "I can't."

90 And so, she got some of the deacons, or trustees, to pack her out the little back door. After I got through speaking, and went out, she caught me by the leg. She held on. Laid hands on her. And a few months from then she... Here she is. Is that you, sister? There she is, standing right now. The tumor dissolved when I prayed for her. God healed the woman, when a bunch of men had to pack her out. What was it? Persistent. Perseverant. She believed, and she held on to it. That's what it takes. It takes something to be perseverant, something to hold on to.

91 It was Micaiah down there when Jehoshaphat and Ahab... What would a man of God want to make an alliance with a hypocrite like that... ? He got in wrong company, just like a lot of people do. Get out amongst unbelievers, social gospel, such stuff as that, and you get yourself messed up. Jehoshaphat said, "We should go up to Ramoth-gilead. Why, sure. Naturally."
All ... they went up and got four hundred well-fed trained prophets. They come up there and they said, "Go up. The Lord's with you."
Hezekiah went and got him some great big horns. He said, "By this you'll push them out. [Because why?] Joshua divided the land and Ramoth-gilead belongs to us." It sounded fine. See, it sounded all logical, fundamental. Said, "You'll just push them plumb back out of the land."

92 You know, but there's something in a church, a man's heart, that's a man of God. Jehoshaphat said...
Look at there. There was four hundred of them, and all with one accord, giving one voice. He said, "Now I know that..."
"That's got to be right," Ahab said. "Now we're Jews..."---Jezebel on the throne with him, see. Said, "Now look at there, four hundred Jewish prophets saying, 'Go up, thus saith the Lord.' "
But that didn't ring a bell. Jehoshaphat said, "Haven't you got one more?"
"One more? What do I need with one more, when we got the whole seminary here, the bishop and all. What do we need with any more?"
"Well," he said, "isn't there one more?"
Said "Yes, there is one more. But I hate him."
"Oh," Jehoshaphat said, "let not the king say that. Go get him."
"He's Micaiah, the son of Imlah," said, "but I hate him. He's always prophesying wrong against me, always telling me something."

93 Oh, yes. He's trimming the corners down, getting the warts off, see. Everybody wants to be babied and petted. That's the reason it makes hotbed plants, has to be sprayed with goody-goody this, and goody-goody that. Christianity is rugged! The gospel's to be handled bare-handed, not with ecclesiastical gloves on. Right. Soft white gloves---that belongs to the women, not the preachers. Listen, brother. The Word's got to be handled just the way it's there. Not with some seminary dogma in it, but just the way it's written here.

94 So they sent the deacon board over, and told him, said, "Now, look, Micaiah. We'll take you back into the association if you'll just say the same thing the bishop and all of them says."
He was talking to the wrong man there. Micaiah knowed what it was to trust God. He said, "As the Lord God lives, I'll only say what he puts in my mouth." Oh, brother! Seminary or no seminary, cooperation or no cooperation, said, "I'll just say what God puts in my mouth."
He took that night, and went back the next day. He said, "Go on up, but I seen Israel scattered like sheep, having no shepherd."
And so this great big bishop smacked him in the mouth, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of God go when it went out of me?"
He said, "I saw God sit in heaven. The council was held. And I saw an evil spirit come up---a lying spirit---said, 'I'll go down and get in the mouth of them prophets, and make them prophesy a lie.'"
You say, "Well, now, brother, how could a man tell whether he was wrong?"
Why? Micaiah's vision was according to the Word. The Word of God had already been spoken by the prophet, and the Word of the Lord always comes to the prophet. And if the prophet Elijah had cursed Ahab, and told him that the dogs would lick his blood, how could he bless what God had cursed? So his vision was according to the Word.

95 A man wrote me a letter the other day. Said he was in the deliverance ministry. Said, "How can you tell whether it's God speaking to you, or the devil?"
I said, "Examine it by the Word. If it's not with the Word, then it's wrong, I don't care how good it looks."
In the Old Testament they had a way to find out when a prophet was telling the truth, or a dreamer was dreaming right. They took him down to the temple, and put him before the Urim Thummim. And if that Urim Thummim acted, and those conglomeration of lights like a rainbow flashing off of that, God was recognizing that prophet to be truth, or the prophecy, or the dreamer. But if it did not, no matter how real it seemed it was wrong. It always answered---God give them supernatural.

96 I tell you that priesthood ended, and that Urim Thummim lifted; but we got a new one today, and that's this Bible. If a preacher, or anybody else, preaches any dogma or anything outside of that Bible, to me it's wrong. I don't care how real it looks, it's got to be wrong. It's got to line up with that Bible. Don't mix nothing with it. Just leave it the way it is. That's the way God has it, and that's the way we must accept it and believe it. Yes.

97 The blind man---sure, he couldn't argue theology with them. But he was persistent. He knew that once he was blind, and then he could see. Sure. He knowed that one thing, and he was very persistent. They said his father and mother... They said, "Anybody that confesses this prophet of Galilee, we'll put them out of the church."
And so this fellow had got a hold of something. Something had happened to him, and he was persistent. He could tell them. Now, he couldn't... He said, "It's a strange thing to me now, that here's something that only God could do. And it hasn't happened in none of our churches down through the ages that I know of---a man born blind receives his sight. And you're supposed to be the leaders of the people of this day, and yet you don't know from whence he come? That's a strange thing."
Brother, he had some real good arguing points there, I would think. Yes, sir. And people say today, "What is all this about?" And don't know (theologians, and so forth) that the Bible predicts this very thing to happen. Oh, brother, how persistent we ought to be.

98 Philip, when he stood there and heard Jesus speak to Simon, and call him Simon (said, "Your name is Simon. You're the son of Jonas," and never seen him before), he was very persistent. He got a hold of Nathanael. And when Nathanael come, He said, "Behold an Israelite in whom there's no guile."
He said, "When did you know me, Rabbi?"
Said, "Before Philip called you, when you was under the tree, I saw you."
He got real persistent. He said, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel."

99 The little woman at the well, she'd been looking for a Messiah to come. She'd heard all the theologians and back and forth, and she thought she might as well walk the street and be a prostitute, if that's the best they had. And she...
One day she come down to the well to get some water. There sat an ordinary man, looking about fifty years old, I suppose. And she looked at him. And He asked her to bring Him a drink. And she went into the customs, and said, "There's segregation," and so forth.

100 But when He said, "Go get your husband, and come here," she said, "I have none." He said, "You've said truth. You've had five, and the one you have now is not your husband."
She said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. We know when the Messiah cometh these things will be what He'll do."
He said, "I'm he that speaks to you."
Now, she wasn't according to law supposed to tell a man in the market places anything, because she was an ill-famed woman. But, brother, she was persistent, and she persuaded them in her perseverance until she said, "Come see a man... Don't sit there, don't sit here, come see a man who's told me the things I've done. Isn't this the very Messiah that was promised? Said 'the Lord God shall raise up a prophet like unto me.' This is him." She was persistent until she got the men out there, and they believed on Him.

101 Reminds me of a little story we had down in Mexico, where the Christian Businessmen's "Voice" had an article of it here not long ago. We went down there and the... General Valdina was the one who had me down there. And so they got in a little trouble about the Mexican government bringing in a Protestant, and so ... by this military force. And so the bishop went over and said, "Sir," said, "you know this man is not a Catholic?"
He said, "No, but," said, "I guess he's a reputable person. Thousands come to hear him preach, they say."
He said, "Oh, it's just the ignorant and unlearned that goes out to hear a person like that."
Said, "You've had them down here for five hundred years. Why are they ignorant and unlearned?"

102 I guess that was a good shut-up. So they let us have a place out there, and thousands gathered in. And I was to be there about three nights.
One night on the platform, I looked, and here come a poor old Mexican brother, blind as he could be, his feet bare and callused all over, his old hat in his hand sewed with cords, his trouser legs tore off up there. I looked at him, dusty all over. He was coming along there holding his hat in his hand. He was mumbling off something to the man that was bringing him. When he got close to me, he reached down in his pocket and got out a little crucifix, and begin to say a "Hail, Mary." I had him to put it up.

103 And so, he come up there, and I looked at him. I thought, "Here he is. Poor old fellow, probably never had a decent meal in his life. There he is now, looking ... not even shoes on. Here I stand with a good pair of shoes. Here I stand with a suit." I believe this is the same suit Brother Carl Williams and his wife give me, and I was standing there. And I thought, "Here I've got a suit on." I thought... I put my shoulders... I thought, "If it would fit him, I'll sure give it to him."
I put my feet beside of his---it wouldn't fit him at all. I thought, "What could I do?" And I thought, "There he is staggering in blindness, poor old fellow." You've got to feel for the people, or you won't do no good to pray for them. That's all. And I thought if my daddy would've lived he'd have been about that age.

104 I put my arms around him, and started to hug him like that, and I said, "Lord Jesus, there's nothing can help him but You. He hasn't got a penny of money, and probably never had a good meal, or a decent suit of clothes on in his life. And here he stands. And nature has been so cruel to him till here, he's blind. Look what fate has done for him. Oh, Lord God, have mercy on him."
I heard him holler "Gloria a Dios!" I looked around, and the old man could see as good as I could. There he went off the platform rejoicing, hollering.
The next night there was a whole pile of old shawls and coats, piled up that high across the platform ... raining. Now them people didn't come and argue because I stayed until nine o'clock; I didn't get there till nine o'clock. And they come there at eight or nine o'clock in the morning, and leaned against one another---just leaned against one another---no place to sit down. Just stood in this big ring, and leaned against one another.

105 So when I got on the platform and got started speaking about faith, looking over this big pile of old shawls... How they ever knowed who they belonged to, and hats, and coats, and so forth! I looked all down through there. And Billy come to me, and said, "Daddy, we've got a hundred or more ushers standing down there. And there's a woman got a dead baby standing there," and said, "we ain't got enough ushers to hold that woman out of the line."
"Well," I said, "what size is she?"
And he said, "Well, she's just a little bitty thing." And said, "But she's been standing here all day with that dead baby."
And Brother Jack Moore (many of you know him), he was standing behind me. I said, "Brother Jack..." Brother Espinoza (many of you Spanish-speaking people know Brother Espinoza), and he said ... he was interpreting for me. And I said, "Brother Moore, go over there. She don't know me. Go over there and pray for her."

106 And she'd go through them little old ushers there, she'd run under their feet, climb over the top of their backs, holding a dead baby in her arms. A little Catholic woman, and she was trying to get up there.
What? Faith cometh by hearing. She'd heard that blind man received his sight. She knowed if that was God, it was God for the living; God could raise the dead. It was ... the same God that could give sight could heal her baby, no matter what condition it was. That's it. She knew He was God, and she was trying to get up there. And so, Brother Moore started over to pray for the baby, and I turned around and began to say, "And as I was saying..."
Brother Espinoza interpreted, "Faith is the substance..."
And I looked and here in front of me was a little Mexican baby, little dark face, and little gums a-shining---little bitty fellow, just smiling, sitting right here in front of me. I thought, "That must be that baby."
I looked around, and Brother Moore was trying to get down through the ushers, and I said, "Just a minute, Brother Moore. Call her back, ushers."

107 The reason she couldn't come up, she didn't have a prayer card. Brother ... I called him Mañana, which means "tomorrow." He was so slow and he'd just get down there, and stand around, and give the prayer cards out. And Billy went down to watch him, see that he didn't sell any of them, so, to see he got by. And so (he couldn't speak Spanish), so he give out all the prayer cards, and he didn't have anymore. And she was going to get through anyhow. She was persistent. She wanted that thing done.

108 And so, Brother Moore started back that way, and I said, "Wait a minute, Brother Moore."
He said, "What's the matter?"
I said, "I don't know. Don't interpret, Brother Espinoza." I said, "I seen a little Mexican baby standing, looking right at me, right out over the audience right here." I said, "Let her come over here." And so they never interpreted that.
And the little mother come walking up there---a beautiful little woman, about, oh, I'd say about twenty-five years old---just as wet as she could be, and her pretty hair hanging down in her face, and her eyes scorched with tears, and how ... there was streaks down her face. And she run up there, and she fell down on the floor, and begin to holler, "Padre." I think it means, "Father." Padre? And "Padre," like that. And I said, "Stand up, stand up."

109 And Brother Espinoza come over there, and I said, "When did the baby die?"
She said, "Nine this morning." And that was about ten-thirty that night. And just as wet as ... the little blanket laying over like that, she had the little form---holding it out like this.
And I said, "Just hold still just a minute." And so she stood, and I said, "Heavenly Father, I seen in vision a little Mexican baby. I do not know if it's this baby or not. But to calm the heart of this mother... And that could have been a vision from You. That's the reason I'm here."
I laid my hands upon the baby, and it went, "Whaa! Whaa!" and begin to kick its little feet like that. There it was alive, come to life! The persistence of the woman!

110 Brother Espinoza may be sitting present tonight. There's many ... Is that right? Is Brother Espinoza in here? He's ... all of you know him, and you can... You know the story. What was it? That little woman---persistent! Oh, she knowed if God could open the eyes of that blind man, He could also heal her baby, bring it back to life.
And so I said to Brother Espinoza, "Don't you say nothing about that. Don't you do that now, 'cause the only thing I seen was just the baby there. I don't know what it means. You send a runner with the woman, and go to the doctor, and get a statement that that baby died, and he pronounced it dead."
Brother Espinoza sent a runner with her, and went the next day to the doctor, and the doctor said, "I pronounced the baby dead yesterday morning. It died with pneumonia [or something like that] at nine o'clock." The baby was dead, and now it's alive. Why? That's faith. I told you she was a Catholic; I was a Protestant. Faith caught a hold of something. Hallelujah! You've got to be persistent, perseverant.

111 [Gap in the audio]
You've got to know that God is still God, and God always was God. God will always be God. "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever." Take a hold of it by faith and be perseverant. Don't turn it loose; God promised it. It's up to God to make it right. God made the promise; God will do it.
Let us bow our heads just a moment. I won't finish this up till some other time because it's--it's... I happened to notice it's getting a little late. Persistent, perseverant... [Gap in the audio.]

112 Tomorrow afternoon I'll put the whole afternoon praying for the people with them prayer cards. I just feel like that the Holy Ghost is here, and you got enough faith to move it. Do you believe that? Raise up your hands if you believe it. All right. It takes that to bring down the Spirit.
I do not see one person that I know in this audience---just the woman testified just now over there, that raised up that was healed with the large tumor.
And if I'm not mistaken... I wanted to ask this last night. Isn't this Sister Upshaw sitting here? God bless you, Sister Upshaw. Her husband (you all remember Brother Willie Upshaw) [ unclear words] the place that night, an invalid for sixty-something years in a wheelchair. God healed him, and he was healed until he went to be with Jesus years later. Outside of that, that's all that I know.

113 But you have a need of God. Now let's just stop, just take a minute to study for a minute. Now, how many of you there know that Jesus, when he was here on earth, when He came He was the Messiah of God, the anointed one. You believe that? How did the people know He was the anointed one? Because He did the sign of the Messiah. Now, they hadn't had a prophet for four hundred years, and Israel always believes their prophets.
The Bible says, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord will make myself known unto him, and speak to him in visions, and so forth. And if what he says comes to pass then you hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass then don't fear that prophet because I haven't spoke to him." Well, that's just only sense, see, that it would be.

114 Now, the Messiah, according to the Bible, was to be a prophet, a God prophet. Moses said, "The Lord your God shall raise up a prophet [in Deuteronomy] liken unto me." And when He come, how did they recognize Him to be a prophet? Because He foretold things that was exactly right. He knew the thoughts that was in their heart. He told them who they were, what they was, what their needs was, what they'd done. Is that right? And they knowed that was the sign of the Messiah.
Philip said, "Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel," when He told him about him. The miracle was performed on him. Now. In St. John the 14th chapter, and 12th verse, Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he also.

115 Now, if I told you tonight... Let me show you about the weakness of the church condition. We claim to be Christians. If I said the spirit of John Dillinger was in me, I'd have guns and I'd be an outlaw, 'cause that'd be the nature. If I said the spirit... If you put the life of a pumpkin vine in a grape vine, it'll bear pumpkins. Sure. It's the life that's in it produces. Put the life out of an apple tree into a pear tree, it'll bear apples, 'cause the life of the apple tree's in it.
Put the life of Christ in an individual, it'll bear the fruits of Christ, and the life of Christ. That's the reason He said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Now look. Did he ever organize a school, a seminary? "The works that I do..." He said, "If you don't believe me, believe the works that I do. They testify of me."

116 What works testified of Him?
Look at that little woman up there. She said, "I know when Messiah cometh He'll do these things. But who art thou?"
He said, "I am he."
She went and said, "Isn't this the very Messiah? Isn't that what the Messiah's supposed to do? Come see a man who told me the things that I've done," see. Well, if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He is the same. Now the only thing is the corporal body. "Yet a little while, and the world [cosmos, the order of the world] will see me no more. Yet ye shall see me [the church, the believer], for I [and "I" is a personal pronoun], I'll be with you, even in you to the end of the world, consummation. I'll be with you, even in you to the end of the world." Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Then if the Spirit of Christ is in us, He'll do the works of Christ. That's where my faith stands.

117 Now, you know that I'm not a preacher. I have no education. I can't preach. I don't claim to be. But my preaching is by a gift, confirmation of what preachers preach about. In my ignorance I guess God's just let me raise up like that---but, knowed my heart, that I love people, and love God. I want to do something.
And if I don't love you, then I don't love God. The only way I can serve God is serving you. We serve one another. "In so much as you've done to the least of these little ones, you've done it to me."

118 What business do I have out here tonight? Why ain't I home? Why ain't I up the hills with my fishing pole somewhere? Down here for a deceiver, and going to meet God out yonder in judgment? Not me. I'll go fishing and go hunting first, and meet God in peace. Standing here with a deceiver...
It ain't popularity. You know I shun that. I don't have no big programs, and beg people for money, and all this kind of stuff. I never took an offering in my life. I keep my meeting where I can go to wherever God sends me, no matter if it's Timbuktu, or wherever it is. If He wants me to preach to 500,000, like in Bombay, He sends me over there. Somebody else sponsors it. If I want to go down here where there's just four or five people, I don't have to have any money. I want to be where God can use me. And every one of us that way wants to be where God can use us, see.

119 Now, He's God. And if He isn't the same God today that He always was, then He never was God. And the Bible says that He is a high priest. Is that right? And He can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities---a high priest living, ever-living, to make intercession for us, and can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities.
Now Mrs. Shakarian's testimony, hundreds of others, can testify the same thing. Now you know that I'm not Messiah. I'm your brother, the least among all of you. I was a Baptist preacher coming among you people, because the Baptists wouldn't receive it. And they told me I was off of my mind. But I know if God sent it, there's somebody somewhere to receive it. So that's why I'm here.

120 Now. It's just a gift. If God will just put me in that position, I'm just his mouthpiece. Now, these men are scholars. They've got training. They know how to put it together. I just have to splatter it out there any way, just by inspiration. But they know how to set it together, and make sense out of it. But I just have to reach up, and get it, and throw it; and reach, get it, and throw it. It's the only way I have of doing it.
But in this, a gift, if God will grant it, that He takes and moves, and speaks through here, just the same high priest. The woman that touched his garment... And if He's the same high priest, the same yesterday, today, and forever, He'll act the same if He's the same high priest. Do you believe that? Now have faith in God. Don't doubt, but just believe.

121 Now, I want to know along here, you people that's sick, anywhere in the building wherever you may be, and knows that I don't know one thing about you, just raise up your hand. Now it's just solid. Now you pray. You do this...
Now this was promised. If I had time to take you back to where Jesus said, "Like it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man..." Did you notice what kind of church that angel...? Sat by back, when he had his back turned to the audience like ... or back to the tent and said, "Why did Sarah laugh?" in the tent.
Now Jesus predicts right there that that thing will happen again. It ... God vindicated Himself that way to the Jews, to the Samaritans; but not to the Gentiles, 'cause the Gentiles wasn't looking for no messiah. Today we're looking for a Messiah, and the way He did it back there... God is God. He can never make a decision and then change, and say, "I'll do something else." And if He lets the church go in just on theology, without showing Himself visible among them like that, then He's doing something for them back there He didn't do for us. But He promised to do it. That's what I believe, and that's what He proves.

122 Now have faith in God. Be persistent. Say, "Lord Jesus, that little old bald-headed preacher standing there don't know nothing about me. But You do. Lord Jesus, without being nervous, all pressured-up, I come humbly. I confess every sin that I've ever done. I love You, Lord. Let me touch You, will You, Lord? I need You. Then You use his lips. If he's told me the truth, and I believe he has, use his lips and speak back, heavenly Father, and let me know. Speak to me like You did the woman that had the blood issue. I'll believe You."
Will you do that? Will it make you persistent then, that you'd hold right on? All right.

123 Let's pray.
Now, heavenly Father, the meeting is yours. I cannot make myself... I only ask, Lord ... I don't even ask You to do it. But if it be in your divine will, in your order, let it come to pass. No matter what I would say, one word from You will mean more than all of us could say, Lord, in a lifetime---just one word from You.
Now, I've tried through these thirty-one years of preaching to hold your name, to speak of You. And now, Father, Thou has never let me down at any time, and I don't believe You will tonight. So I pray that You will give us something, Lord, that the people might go home---the strangers with us---and say, "Truly, Jesus Christ is not dead. He's alive, because I seen Him working through human beings tonight, doing the same works. So it must be the same life." And then they'll hunger for You, Lord, and come and confess You as their Saviour. Grant it, I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

124 ... pulling back here. Just going ... pray for me. Just pray for me, see, Brother Jack here, Art Palmer. Sets right in quick. I like that. Oh, you don't know how I feel. By the way, have you bought your picture of it yet? How many ever seen the picture of that angel of the Lord? They've got it back there. You can get it. It was taken over here, and it's in Washington, D.C., in the religious hall of arts---only supernatural being ever photographed, a pillar of fire.
Years ago, when I was a little boy, when I was baptizing down on the river that day, just my first message in the Missionary Baptist Church... I was baptizing five hundred. And that afternoon, on June, 1933 ... on June, about the 15th, here come that pillar of fire roaring out of the skies, like the pretty, sunshiny afternoon, and go right down there. The voice that shook the whole country round there said, "As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, your message will forerun the second coming."
And that started the revival immediately after that. And there it's went across the nation, around the world, Pentecost reviving. And that's what has taken place, the second coming of Christ.

125 And now... The newspapers packed it way up in Canada. It was on articles, and so forth, that went on the Associated Press. I kept telling people. Then finally the eye of the camera begin to catch it. And now they've got it back there.
Now, how many knows that that pillar of fire was Jesus Christ, the angel of the covenant? Sure. Sure. Now look. When He was here on earth He said, "I come from God, and I go to God." Is that right? "I come from God, I go to God." After his death, burial, and resurrection, Paul (Saul then) was on his road down to Damascus, to arrest some people that were making too much noise, shouting and going on.

126 So he was on his road down, and that pillar of fire come down before him. The people didn't see it. He saw it; them with him didn't see it. But a pillar of fire that struck him down blind, and he fell to the ground. And He said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
He said, "Who are you, Lord?"
He said, "I'm Jesus." He come from God, and He returned back to God. And when that pillar of fire, the Spirit, was in a man's body called Jesus Christ ... performed those miracles. And He's the same yesterday, today, forever. And here it is.
The scientific world proves... Like George J. Lacy, the head of the FBI that examined the print, as you know it. There's his write-up right with it like that. He said, "I've been your critic, Mr. Branham. But," said, "the mechanical eye of this camera won't take psychology." He said, "The light struck the lens."

127 Now. Then if that Spirit don't bear the same record that Jesus Christ bears, then it isn't the same Spirit. But if it does, it's Him among us. Do you believe it with all your heart? Pray. Somebody in this district over here, just pray. Believe with all your heart.
The Holy Spirit's here. Now I take every spirit in here under my control in the name of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God. Sit still now. These diseases will go from one to the other. You know that. Just pray. Yes. Look here. Do you see that light over that man standing back there? a little glowing light right up over a man standing...? He's got back trouble. He's up for an operation on his back. Arthur, rise up, and receive your healing in the name of the Lord Jesus. Hallelujah!
Now I want to ask you something. I'm only a minister. What did he touch? He never touched me. He's twenty yards from me. If we are strangers to one another, sir, shake your hand back and forth, the man that was just touched then by God. If we don't know one another, shake your hand. What? But God did know him.

128 Right down the row from him there is a little thin Mexican woman. She's praying for her husband who's got a nervous condition. Believe, sister. He'll be well. You believe it? God bless you. We're strangers to one another. Just don't doubt. Have faith. You see what He is?
In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established. Here, looky there. Look at that woman. There's a heavy-set woman sitting there. She's got an ulcer, bleeding ulcer, on her leg. It's on her left leg. And she was sitting there praying, "Lord Jesus, let it be me." Is that right? Raise your hand up toward God. I don't know the woman. She's a stranger. If that's right, raise your hand.
If we're strangers to one another, how could I know what she's praying about? The same God that can hear prayer can answer prayer. It's God! Amen!

129 What about this woman sitting there with the cream dress on? Do you believe me to be God's prophet? We're strangers to one another, are we? If God will tell me what your desire is, will you believe it? You're seeking the baptism of the Holy Ghost. If that's right, raise up your hand. Receive that Holy Ghost in Jesus Christ's name. You believe with all your heart. Just have faith. Don't doubt. Believe the Word of God. Are you ready to believe?
Here, here it is. This man sitting here in this wheelchair. Sir, I'd give it to you; I just can't do it. But the light was over you just a few moments ago. Continue to pray.

130 Lady, sitting here, right here in front of me. She's just had an operation, a complete hysterectomy, female glands. It hasn't done well. It's bad. You believe that God can heal you? You believe me to be his prophet? or his servant? You do? You believe that God knows who you are if He'll let me call your name? Mrs. Cole, you believe with all your heart. You live at 700 block on East Maple Street, Glendale. Go home and believe, and Jesus Christ makes you well.
By the way, that's your mother sitting right behind you, and she's suffering. That thrilled her so much to see her daughter healed. You have a lump in your abdomen here, and you're praying to God that... You believe with all your heart? Then you shall be made well. Have faith.

131 Here it is over this man [unclear word]. He's got faith enough to [unclear word]. You'll die if you sit there. That's all. You got fluid in your heart [unclear word]. God bless you. Amen! Let's say "Praise the Lord!"
I will praise Him, I will praise Him,
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.
Stand up on your feet.
I will praise Him, I will praise Him,
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

132 There He comes back through. Do you believe He can save you? Come up to the altar now. Let's pray, you that want the Holy Ghost, come up.
I will praise Him, I will praise Him,
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

133 Come on, sinner friend. Come on, you without the Holy Ghost. This is the hour [unclear word]. That man there with TB, get up, God makes you well.
I will praise Him, I will praise Him,
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

Perseverant

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Let's just remain standing a moment, before we sit down. Let's have prayer first. And I wonder tonight at the second night of the meeting, how many requests there is ... would like to make it known by an uplifted hand? "God, hear my request." Let us bow our heads now.

2 Our heavenly Father, we are approaching Thee again tonight, never to be tired of listening to your children's call, always willing to answer, only asking one thing: that we will believe that we receive what we ask for. We pray, Lord, that You'll move every shadow of doubt tonight, by thy great Holy Spirit in thy Word. We pray that You'll answer every request. And we know that we have our request because we believe Him who promised it.
And now, heavenly Father, we pray that You will save sinners, heal the sick, strengthen the church, get glory unto Thyself. Help me, tonight, Lord, that I might be a vessel that'll be used of God. Help everyone here, that they will be likewise. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated.

3 See the people placing handkerchiefs now upon the platform here, upon the pulpit rather, for ... to be prayed over. We believe in that. That's one of our great ministries, is praying over the handkerchiefs, and so forth, for the sick and the afflicted. We believe that it's the Scripture. We believe that that's the commandment. An example: Paul prayed over handkerchiefs and aprons, sent them to the sick, and they were healed.

4 I remember one time in South Africa I had a... Noticed it in ... I believe the picture's in the book, where we had great big what we call burlap sacks here in America, just full of mail of the day, of just handkerchiefs alone---several thousands of them. And I was praying over them, and the reporter said, "Brother Branham is very superstitious. He prays over handkerchiefs." It just shows how the people that doesn't know the Scripture, what a carnal conception they can have of the work of God, you see, when they don't know it.

5 I was in Rome. I was down in ... looking at where a Greek artist had painted the conception of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and such a conception! My! Eve looked like some kind of a prehistoric animal. And Adam! I never seen such a thing in my life. It just goes to show that ... what the carnal mind can draw up, when it's not converted to the glory of God. I believe Eve was the prettiest woman that ever lived on the earth (that's right), because she was freshly made by the hands of God without any sin to touch; Adam, the most perfect man that could have lived outside of Christ (because He was the second Adam, the most perfect man).
But the carnal mind can draw up a thought that he was a head so big, and one shoulder up, and the other one down; and Eve one leg little, and the other one great big; and oh, hair hanging down, her mouth sitting sideways. Well, my! I couldn't think the Holy Spirit ever producing something like that. But it shows the carnal mind when it gets into it.

6 That's the way our minds will run in the same way, if we let it get off the Word of God, with them carnal conceptions. My daughter here tonight, she said today (she was trying to pull one on me), she said, "I have 'The Ethics of Darwin,' here, I'd like for you to read, Daddy."
I said, "Thank you. I did years ago. One time's enough of that." But this old Bible, we never get enough of it, just soaking it in, to the glory of God.

7 I'm sorry that the whole church this morning couldn't have been to our breakfast. What a wonderful fellowship we had! The blessed Holy Spirit visited us and gave us a message that, oh, such a dandy time of fellowship around the things of God.
And I know I kept you a little late last night, and I'm maybe getting a little tired. This is my ninth straight meeting, and I have a little rest coming after two more meetings. But I'm going to try to let you out a little early tonight, 'cause I know you're working men, you have to go back to your work, and I don't want to keep you.
But I'm glad to see even a pick-up in the crowd tonight. It shows the interest. And friends, that's outstanding today, because we all know---we just have to know this---the revival is over. We know that. The fires are burning low, and the interest of the people is drying up.

8 See, we had a revival. It lasted for years. History shows that a man, an evangelist, usually his best part is his first three years, and after that he lives on the reputation of what he preached in them three years. And then, a revival doesn't last very long. But this has been going for some fifteen years, 'cause it's the last revival, I believe, and we're right at the end time. I believe the next will be pulling the church, the elect, from the groups and taking them together, and away it'll go. And so, we're looking for that to happen.
But we can see the revival fires burning down low, the interest of the people. Everybody's tired, going to sleep. Interest is gone. And to see this much interest amongst the people it thrills me, and know that there is still fire burning around here in Oregon. God ever bless you. Let's fan it tonight, just as hard as we can, with the Word. And the Word, when you fan it, will produce the Holy Spirit---the rushing mighty wind that will start the fire burning again. May God grant it.
And now to conserve the time ... you're so nice to talk to. I could talk to you for hours, but I just got to watch and conserve this time. In a few moments, after I get through speaking, I'll pray for these ... over these handkerchiefs. And you're always welcome to bring them up. We're happy to do it.

9 Now we want you to turn tonight on some notes that I have here, in a way of a little... What I want to do, trying to do---it's no secret---is to try to build a faith in the people to where we can have a great climax, and something really take place that will stir the whole country.
Now we did that by the grace of God at Grass Valley, where there wasn't one feeble person left in the midst of the whole congregation, in that big auditorium---wasn't one. I never prayed for the sick. I just kept building faith, just kept on with the Word, in the simplicity of the Word, in the simple way I have of putting it. But the people just hung right on, and stayed right on. And then the great time come. And just everything in the building lifted up.
And it was that way again at Spokane the other night, when the whole front was laying full of wheelchairs, and stretcher cases, and things like that. And completely down that row went the Holy Spirit, delivering every one just as it come to it, right along like that. They laid there in those wheelchairs, and sweated it out, and everything, listening, holding on to that faith---just grasping it, and searching, and finding out. And then, after a while, all at once the Holy Spirit dropped right down, come right down the row like that, and every one of them got right up, and walked away, see. See.

10 The trouble of it, with we people, we're in too much of a hurry. It's just got to be done right now---can't come back no more, see. And when you get that in your mind, see, you're going to lose right there. You're on losing grounds right there. You have nothing to stand on. You must be patient. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, mount up with wings like an eagle." I like that. Just be patient. Wait.
God's in no hurry. He let the Hebrew children walk right into the fiery furnace before He ever turned a finger. That's right. Let Daniel go right into the lion's den; let Jesus go plumb into the grave, and his soul descend into hell---then raised Him right up through the bottomless pits, right on out through the grave, and cut every avenue of the devil off, and went straight into glory with it. Sure. He's in no hurry. He's God, see. We just get in a hurry, is the only thing, you see. We miss it.
So, don't be in a hurry. Wait, watch, listen. Take the Scripture, examine it, see if it's right. And if it's right, hold on to it. If it's not, tell me, so I can get it right.
So, we see that every work must be the Holy Spirit's work. It must be his work. It's his. And it must come out of the Bible. We mustn't draw anything from some conception, or reasoning. We must draw it from the Bible.

11 If the Lord willing, I want to speak one night, before I leave, on "When the East and the West Meets." I've been trying all up and down the coast to get that in. I hope I get it before I leave here. "When the East and the West Meets." And then, if the Lord willing, I'd like to speak one time upon "The Fortified Word of God." And ... the Lord willing.

12 I was looking over there in one of my briefcase today, and I think of little texts, of so forth, of tapes that's been made---around five hundred sermons or messages the Lord has given me out of his Word to place. And then tonight... To come to a platform it takes prayer and study. I think any man ought to hide himself away, and come out of his study in the freshness of God, to meet the congregation.

13 I've often wondered what I would do if I had two drops of the literal blood of Jesus Christ in a charger, a glass. How I'd walk real careful with it, to be sure that I did not spill it! But you know, tonight in his sight, I have a greater in my hand---the purchase of his blood. He shed his blood for you. So how must I handle this? See, it's a great responsibility, knowing that I'll have to answer at the day of judgment for every word. And so therefore, let's approach it real reverently.

14 Turn in to your Bible now, so we can read some of his Word. My words will fail because they're man's word. His words will never fail. So just read in the Word. Let's turn to Matthew, the 15th chapter, and begin with the 21st verse, if you will.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre of Sidon.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
... she said Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat ... the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
I want to take ... draw a text from that, if I should call it that, for about thirty minutes to speak. I want to take one word that I'd like to use, to build the context around it, and that's the word of "Perseverant." Now, perseverant is to ... means to be persistent. Webster says that it's to be persistent---persistent in making a goal, persistent in what you're doing.

15 Men of all ages that has faith in what they are trying to achieve has been persistent. You have to be persistent. You cannot just sit back, and say, "Well, I'll see what Joe does about it." You can't do that. And before you can be persistent, you have to have faith in what you are trying to achieve. And if you haven't got the faith, then you will not be persistent.
Now, men through all ages has tried that; but ... and has been persistent. But what you've got ... to be persistent, first, is to have faith; and then you've got to know from what source you are drawing your faith from.
Now, many men has been persistent in the wrong thing, and they've always come out wrong. Nimrod wanted to build a tower. He was persistent, but he never got to finish it. Nebuchadnezzar wanted an immortal city, but he didn't ever achieve it. But you see, the first thing you've got to do to be persistent is to get set straight and right.

16 Some time ago a precious friend of mine, a doctor, he came up to my house. A very fine man. If you'd like to write to him about this, his name is Dr. Sam Adair, corner of Wall and Maple Street, or Wall and Market Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana. He has a clinic. A very good friend of mine---we were school boys together. One of the finest doctors we got in the East.
And the house was full of people being prayed for, people coming in, and how they come in from everywhere, to be prayed for. And my wife come back, and she said, "Billy, Dr. Adair is here."
I said, "Put him in the den room. We got people in these other rooms. Put him in the den room. I'll be with him as soon as I can."
And there was a man there from the Walnut Street Baptist Church, in Louisville, with cancer in the spleen. They had taken this operation. It was no good, and the man was dying. And he was saved, and healed with the cancer. I was dealing with him at the time, to see what the Lord would speak to me about him.

17 So then, when we went in to see little Dr. Sam, he was sitting in there with his hands folded---just a very fine man. He was, well, the doctor that brought Billy Paul, my son, and so forth. We were very good friends. He eat at my house, and so forth. We were just bosom friends.
And he said, "Bill, I want to ask you something." Now, we know one another well enough till I don't have to call him "Doctor." I just call him "Sam," and he calls me "Bill." And so he said, "Bill, I want to ask you something." Said, "What do you think about this city? Don't you think it needs a clinic?"
And I said, "Sure, any city needs a clinic, good doctors."
He said, "Well, I believe this city needs it."
I said, "I do, too, Sam."
And he said, "Well, do you think I'm worthy to have this clinic?"
And I said, "Are you figuring on it?"
And he said, "Yes."
I said, "I don't know any other doctor that I would rather say that I thought was worthy of having it." Now, he's a rough, hard bark little fellow, but... I always called him a turtle---he's soft on the inside, but hard on the out. It's just a shell he pulls himself back in. God knows the heart of a man. Everybody would've said Saul of Tarsus was a hard man, too, but God knowed his heart. The church chose Matthias, but we found out that God took Saul---the little hook-nose, high-tempered Jew that was nothing, to make something out of him.

18 Now, and so this man said, "Well, I want this clinic." And said, "You know, Bill, that I want to serve the Lord," he said, "but I'm just too mean."
I said, "Oh, I don't know about that."
He said, "But I try in my work to do what I can for the Lord." He said, "There's some of those colored people come up." Said, "They need operations, and they haven't got no money." Said, "You know I operate." And that's true. Anybody that hasn't got the money, he goes ahead, does the work, anyhow. He's a famous surgeon.
And I said, "Well, I believe that."
He said, "I want to ask you something." Said, "Could you ask the Lord for me?"
And I said, "Yeah, sure."
He said, "I got a little... Where do you think that clinic ought to be built?"
I said, "I don't know." I said, "If you back up another place, that's a flood country, and they built a flood wall." I said, "I'd get this side of the flood wall."
He said, "Yes."
I said, "Well, there's a lot ... a big place up here on a certain corner."
He said, "Well," he said, "the undertaker's done got that place. They're building a undertaker establishment."
And I said, "Well," I said, "then what about down there where the old Pfau Oil Company was?"
He said, "That's taken up. They are going to put an ice cream place in there." He said, "I've got an ideal place, Bill, but," said, "somebody bought it ahead of me." Said, "Some elderly lady in Kentucky." Said, "It's where the old departmental school was down here."
And said, "I know an old man that's kind of sweet on her." And said, "You know what? I believe if I could give him about three hundred bucks, and you would..." Said, "She bought it for six thousand dollars." Said, "I'll give him about three hundred dollars to get her to sell it to me, and I'll give her ten for it."
And I said, "Now, Sam, looky here. You ain't bribing God on nothing." I said, "If you're going to talk to God, we got to lay it out right here smooth. There's no bribing about it at all." I said, "We just can't do that with God."
He said, "Well, I didn't mean it that way, Bill. But that's a dandy lot."

19 I said, "Why don't you do this? Let's just commit it to God and see what God will say about it."
He said, "All right."
I said "Well, get out of the chair, and turn around." So he did. And we got down there, and prayed a while. We waited on the Lord about fifteen, twenty minutes. After a while the vision come.
I said, "Doctor, stand up." I said, "You have found grace with God. You're going to build your place, your clinic. It will be a long building, it will be made out of red brick, low top. And it will almost take in a city block." And he looked at me real strange. And I said, "It will not be at the departmental school. Forget that. It's going to be built on the corner of Wall and Market Street, where that big old house sits back on that hill."
He said, "Just a minute, Bill." He said, "I remember you telling me about Bill Hall." I haven't got time to go into that about... He laid him out to be dead with cancer, done eat his liver up; and all the specialists standing around. And I was going squirrel hunting that morning. Looked, and saw a vision of Mr. Hall. And I went and called him. I said, "Mr. Hall will live."
He said, "The old doctor will have to see that."
He's living tonight, preaching at the Milltown Baptist Church. So...

20 And he said, "I know about Will Hall, and all these things." But said, "Bill, I just come out of court with that place." Said, "In Philadelphia ... the owner lives there, and there's something about it that it can't be touched for twenty-five years."
I said, "Doctor, did you ever hear me tell you anything in the name of the Lord that wasn't so?"
He said, "But, Bill, that ... I don't want to doubt you."
I said, "You're not doubting me. You're doubting Him." I said, "The Lord has give you that place. Now He wouldn't do it, if He hadn't already done it, see---and you doing like that. But," I said, "He's already give you a place. The clinic's going to be there." He scratched his head, walked out, never said nothing.

21 Next morning, my wife sitting there as a witness, he called me up. He said, "Bill!"
And I said "What?"
He said, "I'm freezing to death." And it was about this time of year. It was really hot in Indiana.
I said, "What's the matter, Doctor?"
He said, "You know, they had a meeting last night in Philadelphia, and I've already bought the lot." He said, "It belongs to me, and the clinic's going up." There it stands today. He said, "If anybody, any time, ever doubts anything, tell them to call me," see, "and that's anywhere," you see. And how that is.
But, see, the little fellow was persistent. He wanted to build a clinic. It was in his heart. And he come ... even just a lukewarm church member, but come seeking God. Now that's the way to get the answer. Seek God.

22 A doctor was sitting with me one day, and he said, "Oh, I believe there's such a thing as divine healing," but said, "it's just in the mind."
I said, "No, no."
He said, "I believe if a man would believe he could go touch a post, he'd get well."
I said, "Sir, who could ever have faith in touching a post? You've got to have faith. It's not just loose-ended. It's got to be based upon some fundamental something."
When a man takes his wife, he's got to base his faith in that woman; and she's got to base her faith in that man---some reason to make the goal of life. If he doesn't, then there's something wrong, and it won't work. You've got to have faith. And what's better to have faith in than the Word of God?

23 Like the old Southern colored brother said. He said, "I'd rather be standing on the Word of God than standing in heaven."
Said, "Why so, Mose?"
He said, "Why, heavens and earth will pass away, but the Word won't." So he wanted to really be there, sure. So that's exactly right. The Bible said in Revelation 21, "Heavens and earth will pass away, but my word shall not pass away." He said in Revelation 21, he saw a new heavens and new earth, for the first heavens and earth was passed away. Jesus said both heavens and earth will pass away, but his Word shall not.

24 Now, we got to have basic faith on what we're doing. That's exactly how those visions can be achieved, is because it's based upon a promise of Christ. And if that angel of the Lord, that pillar of fire, that... You've got his picture here, I guess. They have had it up here, have they? If that did not stay exactly with this Word, I wouldn't believe it. I don't care how real it seemed, it's got to come according to this Word.
And that angel of the Lord was the one ... that pillar of fire that followed Israel, or Israel followed it, rather, through the wilderness. Then it was made flesh and dwelt among us. You believe that, don't you? Sure. God was in Christ.
He said, "I come from God, and I go to God." Is that right? After his death, burial, and resurrection, and his ascension, Saul of Tarsus was on his road down to Damascus. And all at once that big pillar of fire, of light, before him smote him in the eyes, and he fell to the ground. And he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?"
He said, "I'm Jesus." He had returned to God.
He came into the prison as a light, let Peter out of the prison, took him out.

25 And now, if that be the angel of the Lord leading these people, it will produce the same thing that it did when it was manifested in the true Son of God. It will do the same thing in the adopted sons of God. For Jesus said, "The works that I do shall you do also." If his life is in us, it will produce the same. And if it does things contrary to the Scripture, then it can't be the same angel.
But if it produces the same life that it was when it was here on earth, manifested in flesh, and promised to be manifested again the same way, then it's the same Spirit---same God, by the same Word. See what I mean? Now, then you can base your faith that that is the truth. And of the tens of thousands of visions around the world, I'll ask anyone at any time to show me where it ever failed. It doesn't fail. And it can't fail.

26 This what you see here is an amateur vision. It's just small things. You do that yourself. It's you. Look at Christ. He was the fullness of God. God dwelt in Christ without measure. He had the Spirit without measure; we have it by measure. But if I got a spoonful of water out of the lake out here... The ocean, that's what was in Christ. If I got a spoonful of water, just be a spoonful of water out of it. But the same chemicals that's in the entire ocean is in that spoonful. It's not as much of it, but the same chemicals.
And if we have the Spirit of God in us, it's the same works and the same Spirit, and the same manifestations. Then you base your faith upon that. And when you see what it is, then you can be perseverant. You know where you're standing.

27 If I was starving to death, and someone give me a loaf, ... twenty-five cents would buy a loaf of bread, and someone gives me the purchase price of bread, which is twenty-five cents, I can shout just as loud with that quarter in my hand as I can with a loaf of bread in my hand, because I've got the evidence that I'm going to live. I've got the twenty-five cents, the purchase price, in my hand.
And when a man, or a woman, sees it anchored in them, they've got faith. They can rejoice. I don't care what your hand says, or how sick you are, you still believe it. You're persistent. You're perseverant. There's nothing going to stop you. You've got it! I don't care... Ten thousand doctors could stand, say you're dying. You can just laugh at them, walk over the top of it. Yes. If you ... and it will happen. But see, most people just has hope, and wish, and so forth. It becomes weak, oh, very, very weak, when you go to speaking of the terms of faith.

28 Many people ... we've been taught lay hands on the sick, and that's all right. But, you see, what I'm trying to build here is, you won't have to say, "Brother Branham laid his hands on me." "I was in the presence of Jesus Christ. I touched Him. Brother Branham had nothing to do with it. Nobody else had nothing to do with it. God did it."
And I tell you this, brother: if it's ever done, God will have to do it. That's right. I want you to believe it, have faith in it. And then be persistent. Hold on to it.

29 And great men who has prayed... George Washington, at Valley Forge, he was very perseverant. He prayed all night when the British was across the other side. And the next morning, no matter... There stood our American soldiers. Half of them didn't have shoes on their feet---American soldiers with no shoes on.
Washington prayed till he was wet plumb to his waist, until he got an answer from heaven. And the gorging river the next morning... Valley Forge didn't bother him. He went on across. He was perseverant, whether his soldiers had shoes or not, whether the opposition was great or not. Three musket bullets went right through his coat and never touched him. Why? He had prayed through till he got a hold of God. No musket, no army, no river, no difficult---whatever it is, he's going on.

30 Like Joshua and Caleb, when they... All the rest of the tribe said, "Oh, we can't take it! We can't take it! Oh, we look like grasshoppers. They're giants."
But Joshua was perseverant, for he knowed God said, "I've give it to you." See, they were looking at what they could see. Joshua was looking at what God said. That's what... Depends on what you're looking at. The Christian looks at the unseen. The unseen. The whole armor of Christianity is unseen. Everlasting things is unseen. The seen things are material, and the earth is the mother of all of it.
But the unseen, the whole armor of God, is an unseen affair: love, joy, peace, faith, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, gentleness, so forth, God, the Holy Ghost, Spirit. All that is unseen. That's the lasting things, the eternal things. That's our whole armor.

31 Everything the Christian can depend on is the unseen, the promise of God. And we look at something that we don't see with our eyes. By the way, if you see it with your eyes, you don't see it. See it means to understand it. You look at anything right straight, and say, "I don't see it," you mean you don't understand it. When you understand... Something that's got an understanding that God has made his promise, and something has struck you that you believe it, that's understanding that God's promise is to you. Then something's going to happen. Then, I don't care, nobody in the world can talk you out of it. You're on your road then. Nothing's going to stop you.

32 Washington, when he prayed through, he was ready. When men hear from God and know that it's Scriptural, then they can be perseverant. Noah, just a farmer, a man... You notice, the lineage of Cain's children was smart, great scientists, great achievements in science. We follow that. But the children of Seth were humble, peasants, farmers, sheep-raisers, and so forth. God always dwells in humility.

33 The trouble of it is today that we American people, we are always looking for something big and bright (and God don't do that), something noisy. God can draw more water with the sun in five minutes than we can pump out of a noisy pump in forty days. Sure. But we are looking for something big, and noisy; God is looking for something that is small and quiet.
The rushing wind, the thunder, the smoke, the earthquake---none of those things ever attracted the prophet Elijah, when he was in the cave. But when he heard that still, small voice, God was in there. Then he come walking forth. None of the rest of it could attract him. It's something there that's got to anchor. Something's got to take place.

34 Noah, he was very persistent after he heard the voice of God to build the ark. Could you imagine what a day that was? Could you imagine the opposition he met, when they had a greater civilization then than we got now? They built pyramids. We couldn't build them. They built the Sphinx. Take sixteen flat cars to let the leg lay on it. We couldn't build it. We haven't got the power harness to do it yet. But they had it. They could ... they could embalm a body, make a mummy that would look natural to this day. We couldn't do that. They had a coloring that we didn't have. Many achievements they had.

35 Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of man." Notice in there now. They were smart. But Noah had talked to God. No matter how much his message didn't meet with their scientific thoughts, he still went on because he had heard God. He built the ark just the same. Let's look at it a moment, while we're on the subject.
I can see the time come. The people laugh at him, standing around every day and watch him fitting the timbers in, he and his family. They said, "Say, Noah, I want to ask you something. [Great scientists.] You know, we can shoot the moon with our radar. I want to ask you something. Show me where there is rain up there in the skies. Show me where there is water up there. There's none up there.
"Noah, you said it's going to come down. Now, where is it at to come down? We can scientifically prove there is none of it, with our instruments here to do it with. Stop, man. You're an insane man. You're going mad. Quit building on that nonsense ark. Come on down and join up with us, the rest of us. Let's eat, drink, and be merry."
But Noah had heard God. And he said, "I don't care if your instruments shows there's nothing there. If God said it will be there, He's able to put it there." He was persistent. He put the gunwales in the boat, and fixed the sides, and got ready. When he got it all built, he stood in the door of the ark, and preached salvation only by the entering of the door. They laughed at him.

36 One day he began to notice, here come the male and female lion, the male and female horse. All of them began to come into the ark. God said, "Get ready, Noah. I've had enough of their carrying on, of their unbelief. I'm going to send the judgment that I promised."
Well, brother, sister, I say this. I hope you don't think I'm a fanatic, but I believe that that very same repeating is at hand. God's got enough of this scientific, moon-shooting, missile-dropping age that we're in. Why, it's another tower of Babel. Don't you know that God will destroy this earth? He said He would.
That's the reason I'm out here tonight. That's the reason we're trying to press forward to get every soul that we can, because the long-suffering of God in the days of Noah is the same as it is now---not willing that any should perish, but...
And God sent every kind of a gift that He can before the people. And still they stay without the kingdom. It's because much of it comes from the pulpit. We know that. A denial of days of miracles, denial of the Holy Ghost, and so forth, that brings that.

37 Now we notice what taken place. One day when Noah went in, and his family, I can hear them say, "There's your old stinking animals. Go on in and live with them now." Oh, their great classical age, you know, that they lived in! And so, then the door shut behind.
There was some borderline believers that used to attend the meetings of Noah. Well, just like there is now. People sit around all the time in the church, but they never make a move to come forward. They enjoy hearing the pastor preach, and something another, but they never make a move forward. So then the first thing... They never want to put their hands into it so they'd be identified with it.
Brother ... oh, brother! Oh, I'm so glad to be identified with it! I want my credentials known that I'm one of them. The greatest honor I ever had---to be identified with the people that's called crazy for the gospel's sake. Right!

38 Now. When Noah's time came for the flood, then some of them borderline believers said, "Now, he was a nice old man. Now, there might be something happen, so I tell you what. We'll go up and stand around the ark, and if it really starts falling rain down from up there, like he said, or water, you know what? We'll knock on the door. And he's a gentle old man, he'll let us in." Yeah; but it wasn't Noah that shut the door. It was God that shut the door. So they...

39 Now, you see, after you have become a Christian, many people think, "Well, after I become a Christian, that settles it. All I have to do is just say, 'Well, glory to God. Everything's mine.'"
No, sir! You're mistaken. You fight every inch of ground that you take. God told Israel down in Egypt, "I've give you that promised land." But he told Joshua when he went in, "Everywhere the soles of your feet treads, that I give you." It was already give to them, but they had to fight every inch of it. Other words, footprints meant possession. Just keep walking. Now, they had to fight it, but God had give it to them.

40 And then ... and Noah, when he went in and sat down in the ark, he went in in the month of May, on the 17th day of May, when Noah went into the ark according to the Bible. Now. And I hear him say...
He got down here on the lower floor on justification, and there was all the creeping things. He got up on the second floor on sanctification, and it was all the birds. But he went on to the top where the light was shining down, to the baptism of the Spirit, in the ark. So he got up there, and he told all of his family, said, "Now, you sit around. Now in the morning, the sun ain't coming up. Black clouds, smoke-like, will be tearing through the skies, and water will be falling."
But the next morning, the sun come up just as hot as it ever did. I'd imagine there was some disappointment about Noah, but he was already shut in. The second day passed. Nothing happened. And he was there seven days---seven days testing him.

41 Every son, every child that comes to God has got to be tested. God will move down in a meeting, and show great signs and wonders, and you'll wonder. Then He'll test you on it, to see if you really mean it or not. Amen. Test you, to see if you really believe it or not.
Then He let Noah sit there and sweat it out, for seven days. But on that seventh morning, the sky was roaring black. Great big drops of rain began to fall. The sewers began to fill up. The street raised water in it, way up high plumb on the ark, floated. People knocked, but on and on it went, and the wicked drowned.
Noah was persistent because he heard the voice of God, and held on. And 120 years he preached the message. Never growed weak. He growed strong. He believed God. He was persistent.

42 Moses, the runaway prophet, he had all the education that could be stuffed into him because he was the son of Pharaoh's daughter. And he had all the theology. He was so smart, he could teach the Egyptians wisdom. And with all he had, with the understanding that he was borned a spiritual life, or to be a prophet...
Prophets are not made; prophets are born. Prophets ... there's a gift of prophecy in the church; but prophets are born. They have the Word of the Lord.
Jesus Christ was the Son of God all the way before the foundation of the world. You believe that? The Lamb. And Isaiah saw John the Baptist 712 years before he was born, a voice of one crying in the wilderness. Moses was born a proper child. Jeremiah, God said, "Before you was even conceived in your mother's womb, I knew you, and called you and sanctified you, and ordained you a prophet to the nations." Before he was ever born from his mother's womb, he had the Word of the Lord from childhood up. That's ... he was a prophet.

43 And here was Moses. Knowed he was a prophet of the Lord, but he hadn't had that experience yet---something to make him persistent. He run away because he found out his military act didn't work. And then he went out into the wilderness. Was there till he was an old man, eighty years old---whiskers hanging down low, and perhaps his bald head done turned brown from the sun shining down, from herding Jethro's sheep.
And was out there one morning, and he heard ... looked up on the hill, and there was a bush on fire. He turned aside to see this bush. And when he was there he heard a voice say, "Take off your shoes."
Now what if Moses said, "I'll just take off my hat"? That don't work. That's the reason the Bible... I believe that every word of it's got to be fulfilled. "Take off your shoes," and he took off his shoes.
He said, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I've heard the groans of my people. I remember my promise to Abraham. [Amen. How glad I am He's remembering it again today, that He would pour out his Spirit.] I remember my promise, and I'm going to send you down to deliver them."
And he made all kinds of excuses, but He said, "Surely I'll be with you." You know sometimes ... then, when there's something like that happens, you get very persistent.

44 And Moses was very persistent. He didn't wait till he formed an army. You know, sometimes when you get persistent, and hear the voice of God, it makes you do things ridiculous to the carnal mind. You act strange, funny. You're an odd person. Look how ridiculous Moses acted. The next day we find him with his wife sitting straddled a mule, with Gershom on her hip, and an old man with whiskers hanging down like this, and a beard a-blowing; and a little eighty-year-old man with a crooked stick in his hand, going down the road. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"
"Where you going, Moses?"
"Going down to Egypt, to take over." One-man invasion! Why? He'd heard God.
Say, "Moses, wait a minute. The sun got too hot. There's something wrong with you. Your mental condition is not right, Moses. Go back."
Try to stop him! You couldn't do it. God had told him he was going to take it over, and he did it. Might act funny, but he knowed what he was doing. He had the mind of God. He knowed the will of God. He knowed what he was doing, and away he went. And any man that can get in that condition, know exactly what God's called him to do, something's going to happen. Yes, sir.
I don't care who it is, how sick you are, or what all about it, you've got to believe it. And then you become perseverant. There's nothing going to stop you. That's right.

45 Little David standing there on the ground that day, he looked over there, and there was that big old Goliath standing over there---fourteen-inch fingers, weaver's needle spear in his hand. And there was Saul, head and shoulders above the whole army.
Old Goliath... You know, that's the way the enemy does, when he gets you in a place that ... wants to kind of rub it on a little bit. He said, "Let's not have no bloodshed." Said, "Let one of your men come out and fight me, and if he kills me my nation will serve you. And if I kill him, then your nation will serve me." See how they want to do it? 'cause he thought he had it.

46 But he said it one time in the face of a man who knowed God. Not just a military trained man---he knowed nothing about it. But he knowed God. Little old David, the Bible said he was ruddy. Little bitty old fellow out there, stoop-shouldered, little sack on his side here, and a little scrip bag with some sheep food in it---come up there to visit his brothers.
And he said, "You mean to tell me that you'll let that uncircumcised Philistine stand there and defy the armies of God [saying the days of miracles is past]?" Oh, my! what a man that was! The least man of the whole bunch, just a kid.
What? He knowed... He said, "One day a lion come in and got my father's sheep, and took it out. I went after him with my slingshot, and I brought him back. A bear come in, and I slew the bear." He said, "And the same God [Hallelujah!] that delivered me from the lion and from the bear will deliver that uncircumcised Philistine into my hands." Stop him if you could!

47 Oh, Saul... They just brought him up before Saul, the general. And Saul said, "Now, son, I admire your courage. But, you know, you haven't much education on fighting. You don't know how to do it. Maybe we'll just put you on... Try on my vest." And he put that great big thing on---poor little David was bowlegged with it on. He come to find out that his ecclesiastical vest didn't fit a man of God.
So he said, "Throw the thing off---I don't know nothing about it. I don't know nothing about this here ... all this here how to say 'Amen' just right, and your word and grammar just right." Said, "Let me go the way that I've trusted God. Let me go with what I trust in." Amen! Amen!
And you know what happened? Sure. He was persistent; not one quiver in his blood. Walked out there and picked up five rocks, J-e-s-u-s. Wrapped the slingshot in five fingers, f-a-i-t-h, faith in J-e-s-u-s. And here he comes, trusting God to do the rest.

48 That's all you have to do. Have faith in Jesus, his death, burial, resurrection, his omnipresence, his being now, his promise, his gifts, his manifestation. That's all you need to do. Have faith, and meet any kind of an obstacle. If it's called cancer, paralysis, whatever it is, meet him on the ground.
A God that can raise up your sinful soul from a life of sin can set you free from any sickness or disease you've got. You've got to have that faith. Be persistent. Hold on to it. Don't turn it loose, you see.
But you can't bluff it. It won't take a bluff. You might be all right to bluff around here. But you get on over yonder and meet the witch doctors and them! Them devils, don't you try to bluff them. You've got to have what you're talking about on the mission fields. Correctly.
Now here, you're in a intellectual group here in America. They take intellectual things. That's the reason the ministry didn't go too good here. Just intellectual---intellectual. Well, I wasn't sent to that group anyhow. I was sent to the group like Abraham was---one that was called out. Yes.

49 There, Samson. Now a lot of people thought that Samson had ... I've seen his picture painted with ... looked like he had shoulders the size of a barn door. Why, no. A man that size? There would be no mystery how a man like that could pick up a lion and tear him in two. But he was a little, curly-headed shrimp, little bitty old guy---seven little locks hanging down his back like mama's boy, little sissy. Now, to see a guy like that slay a lion, ah, ah, there's something... No wonder the Philistines wondered where that hidden power come from.
Why? How could he be so sure? He was a Nazarite. He had a vow from God. Do you know that every child of Abraham is a Nazarite? with a vow from God, swore by Himself.

50 Little Samson, little curly-headed fellow, seven little locks hanging down his back---a lion come roaring out. Samson was a little bitty man standing there. But you notice, the Spirit of the Lord came on him. That made the difference. Look at him standing out on the field that day, where a thousand Philistines surrounded him. He looked around. He couldn't have nothing to fight with. And he looked down and picked up the jawbone of a mule.
Well, anybody knows an old bleached-out jawbone of a mule... And them Philistines helmets was better than an inch thick, with brass; and the vesture of what they call "mail," which was lapped-over metal, down like that; and with spears, and great shields---a thousand of them. But the Spirit of the Lord come on that little shrimp. He reached back there, and felt them seven locks. He knowed he was still a Nazarite. Hallelujah! He took what was in his hand, and he beat them skulls right in with that old jawbone.
Anybody knows you hit one of them skulls with that old jawbone, it would fly in a million pieces. But God was there to hold it together. And he beat down and killed a thousand Philistines. He was persistent. Why? He wasn't afraid. He could feel that Nazarite vow with him. Hallelujah!
When a man or a woman can feel the presence of Jesus Christ, and know that you're born again of the Holy Ghost, let nothing stand in your way. Persistent. When God speaks down and says, "It's you. I give you faith tonight. Your healing is sure. It's my Word," then you can be persistent. Sure.

51 John the Baptist was so persistent that he was going to see the Messiah... Now John was born... We don't have much of him. We know his father, Zacharias, was a priest out of the lineage of the priests. But John never followed the footsteps of his daddy. His message was too great. He couldn't afford to go in the ecclesiastical way of that day. He could never. John knew.
The old parents, being old when John was born, they knowed it must be something, this boy ... heartache for them. They knew their boy. They'd never be able to see him, because old age would take them before his time come, but they knew he'd be a prophet. The Lord had spoke of it, and they knew it. How it must have hurt the old couple.

52 We are told, according to history, about nine, ten years old, the boy ... the father and mother died, and he was left alone. Instead of going down to the seminary to do the way his father did... His job was so important, God couldn't get him mixed up. Some of them guys would've said, "Now, John, you're to introduce the Messiah, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir. That is right."
"Well, do you know, Dr. So-and-so, Holy Bishop So-and-so here, don't you think he's just the right man for that?"
"Oh, I think..."
"Oh, no, Rabbi, you're wrong. Holy Bishop So-and-so is just so..."
Now could you ever get such a nonsense, mixed-up... John wouldn't get mixed up in such stuff as that.
You know where he went? He went to the wilderness, alone with God. God told him out there ... met him in the wilderness, and said, "John, upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remaining on, He is the one that will baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire."
John was so sure he was going to introduce Him, stood on the banks and he said, "There's one standing among you now that you don't even know." Amen! He knowed He was coming then. They'd looked for him for four thousand years. But he said, "There's one standing among you right now that you don't know. He's the one."

53 You can't say "this one, that one." See, he had to get his training right. He had to know that Messiahic sign. He had to know what that Messiah would be. God would show from heaven what that Messiah was. John said, "I didn't know Him. But He that told me in the wilderness, 'Go baptize with water,' said, 'On who the Spirit descends and remains on...'"
And John said, "I bear record [Amen!] that that is the Son of God, 'cause I seen the dove coming down."
Nobody else saw it. Nobody else was looking for it. But John was looking for it, and John saw it. I don't care how many fails in their healing; you believe that it's you. You take a hold of it. I don't care what Jones done, or the rest of them. You hold on to it, and be persistent when God reveals it to you, that his Son has made you free from sin and sickness. You hold on to it. Be persistent. Yes. John knew.

54 (Say, I better quit. I'll never get to my text.) You know what? This woman was a Greek, that I was speaking of, and she was of another nation. And ... but she heard of Jesus. How does faith come? By hearing, hearing the Word. You say, "How...?" Well, she heard of Him. He is the Word. So He was the Word, and she heard.
Now, she had a lot of opposition. But listen to this now. Faith finds a source that others don't see. Faith finds a source that others can't see it. Faith is ridiculous to everybody but God, and the fellow that's got it. It's ridiculous to everybody besides God and the person that's got the faith. Now, it's a surety to them. It's a sure to God, and it's a sure to the person that's got it. But the rest of them thinks you're crazy. Always have. But it's sure to them.

55 His word is a sword. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. Now, the sword of faith ... the sword of the Word must be handled by the hand of faith. Nothing else can wield that sword but faith in the Word.
Now some people can take the Word, and cut away enough to join the church. That's about far as they get. Others can cut in, cut out every promise of God, cut down the promise of the Holy Ghost, cut out in divine healing. It depends on how strong that hand of faith is holding that sword.
Every promise is yours. It's sharp enough to cut everything that there is around you away, and make you a son and daughter of God, free from all. It depends on what kind of a hand that's holding that sword. It must be a hand of faith.

56 This poor woman might have had many hindrances, but her faith didn't have any. No. You may have a lot of hindrances. Maybe your doctor says it can't happen. But if you've got faith, it don't make any difference what anybody else says, your faith don't have no hindrance. Your faith sees it. It's the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Abraham called the things which were not as though they were, because God said so.
Could you imagine Abraham, that old man? Now, he's seventy-five years old before God ever calls him. Sarah's sixty-five. That's about twenty years past menopause. God said she's going to have a baby, and He's going to ... "through him I'll bless the world. With him, all nations ... call you the father of nations."
Could you imagine an old man seventy-five years old, and a old woman sixty-five, going down now to the doctor and saying, "Doctor, we'd like to make arrangements for a hospital room. Going to have a baby."
The doctor would say, "Sir, how old are you?"
"Oh, just seventy-five."
"How old is she?"
"Sixty-five."
"Oh, sure, sir. I'll tell you. You slip out." He'd call the psychiatrist, and go down, say, "Examine the old man's mind. There's something wrong. Don't let that man on the street. He's dangerous."
Why? Everybody that ever takes God's Word is considered that way. God takes the foolishness of preaching to manifest Himself by---his Word, believing his Word.

57 I see the first twenty-eight days passed. Now, Abraham had lived with this woman since she was a little girl. It was his half-sister. She married him about eighteen years old. And so, he went over, and said, "Sarah, how are you, honey? Any different?"
"Not a bit."
"Glory to God, we're going to have the baby anyhow. Get the booties ready, all the Birdseye, and the pins, and everything. Get ready. We're going to have it."
"How do you know you're going to have it?"
"God said so."
The second month passed. "How you feeling, Sarah?"
"No different."
"Glory to God! It's another month greater miracle. Hallelujah!"
A year passed. "How you feeling, dear?"
"No different."
"Glory! It's a year greater."
And twenty-five years passed. "How you feeling, Sarah [old and feeble]? How you feeling?"
"No different, dear."
"Glory to God! It's twenty-five years more a miracle!"
And we say we're Abraham's seed. Uh-huh. We got the Holy Ghost. "Well, I was prayed for last night, but I sure didn't get healed." You're a poor excuse for Abraham's seed. Abraham called those things which were not, as though they were. Amen! Hallelujah! For he believed that what God has promised, God was big enough to keep his Word. There we are. Abraham's seed, let me not get on that.

58 Now, this woman had a lot of opposition. She was a Greek. Now, she belonged to another denomination, and they'd say, "Now, wait a minute. You're a Greek. Don't you go down, 'cause our pastor's not sponsoring. [Excuse me. All right.] Anyhow, you know you belong to this. Don't you go down there now, because..."
But that didn't stop her. She had faith. Faith had caught a hold. Why? She had a daughter that needed healing, and she knowed there was a healing power. She heard about Him healing others. Faith cometh by hearing, and here she was. She moved on anyhow. That didn't hinder her.

59 Maybe she met another group, and they say, "Now, look dear. Now, Melinda [Melissa, something another, whatever they might've called her. Hope there's no one here by that name. But, anyhow, it's all right. It'd be a compliment.]," say, "listen, Melinda. You know what? The days of miracles is past. There is no such a thing. Don't you go down there. You're only going to bring disgrace."
She was perseverant. Faith had done anchored in there, no matter whether the pastor was cooperating, whether her denomination believed in it or not, whether her people believed in it, whether anybody believed besides her. Faith is an individual thing. Yes, sir. It's her. Whether the days of miracles was past for the rest of them or not, it wasn't for her.

60 There was a fellow told me not long ago, said, "I don't care how many people you'd heal, or so forth like that." Said, "I don't believe in healing."
I said, "Certainly. It wasn't for unbelievers. It's just sent for believers. That's all it's for---just believers." Oh, your unbelief gets you nowhere; just hinders you. That's all. It don't stop God. God goes right on doing it just the same.
They say, "You can't get the Holy Ghost. It was only given for the twelve apostles." That don't stop God. He goes right ahead doing it, people getting it. They might not be able to explain it, but they got it just the same.
I can't tell you how a black cow can eat green grass, and give white milk; but she does it. Just exactly right. So I can't explain it. I don't know how it's done, but it happens anyhow. I don't try to explain it. If you can explain God, then it's no more faith. Everything that you get from God comes by faith. Amen. You can't explain it. You can't explain God. You believe God. Amen.

61 Now, "Days of miracles is past." She was persistent. Another fine sister met her on the corner perhaps, and said, "Where're you going this morning?"
"I'm going to meet Jesus of Nazareth."
"Oh, He isn't of our denomination."
"Don't make any difference. I've got a daughter has need, and she's going to be healed. I'm going to get her."
"You know what? I tell you, I know your husband is a businessman here in the city. He'll leave you. As sure as you go, you're going to have a divorce case."
She was still persistent. She was going, anyhow. She was very perseverant.
Some of them said, "You know, Melinda, when you come to church the next time, you're going to be the laughing stock of the church, because you're going down there just to make a sap out of yourself, mix yourself up with that bunch of holy rollers. There you are, see---you're going to be classed as one of them. Everybody in church will laugh at you when you go next Sunday."
She was still persistent. Nothing going to stop her. She was going on anyhow. What? Faith had anchored. She was perseverant. Nothing was going to stop her. She was going to go on anyhow. Yes.
And then, here come one of the elders of the church, and said, "You know what? If you go down to that meeting, I'm telling you what's going to happen. You're going to be churched. That's all there is to it. They will put you out of the church. As soon as you associate with that bunch of people down there with that fanaticism, you're sure going to be put out of the church.
She was still perseverant. She was going. Nothing was going to stop her. She was going to get there.

62 Away she went. Finally she arrived. Now she thought it was all over. That's it. So when she comes to Jesus, she said ... she heard the rest of them calling Him, "Son of David." She said, "Thou Son of David..." Now, she was a Gentile---no "Son of David" to her, him, that. Said now, "Thou son of David, have mercy upon my daughter." And she met a disappointment after she got to Jesus. Oh, how strange. But she did. She had a disappointment.
Jesus let her know that, "I'm not sent to your race. I'm only sent to the Jews." Oh, my! Wouldn't that have knocked some of the wind out of us Pentecostals! Not her. She had a hold of something. Said, "I'm not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. I'm not sent to you. Your race, your kind of people, I'm not sent at all."

63 After she had passed through all these barriers to get to Him, and then when she got to Him, hearing Him say that "I'm not sent to you, your race," will that stop faith? No, sir.
And then He said, "By the way, you're not nothing but a bunch of dogs." Oh, my! Would that have knocked us Pentecostals! Oh, my! We'd have blowed up like a frog eating shot. We'd have ... why we would've ... it would have been terrible.
But she wasn't a hotbed plant. She didn't have to be sprayed like a hotbed plant. She wasn't a hybrid, like some of the crop of today. She had a hold of faith. Hallelujah! The trouble of it is today, we got too much hybrid stuff. Exactly.

64 I read a piece in "Reader's Digest" not long ago, where people ... our women eating this hybrid beef, hybrid corn, and all that stuff, corn flakes, that they are growing narrower in the hips. And twenty years from now, if something isn't done, science says that the woman cannot have her baby. It's a-killing. Anything that's hybrid is wrong.
I come down ... I seen a great big sign on ... said, "Funk's [or something like that] Hybrid Corn, the best." Great big, fine ears; but it's no good. It's not worth nothing. You try to plant it over, and see what will happen.
Now that takes science and proves their own argument's wrong about the origin of man. You take anything and cross breed it, hybrid it, and it can't breed itself back again. You take a mare horse, and breed it to a jack, and it will bring forth a mule. But that mule cannot breed back, and get another mule. It kills it right there. That's right.

65 And anything I think is ignorant is a mule, a hybrid---great big old long ears, sit there. You know you can't tell them nothing. Got too much mule religion today. That's what's the matter with the world. They sit there with that long sanctimonious face, you know, and say... I say ... preach divine healing, and the power of God, and they say, "Haw, haw. Days of miracles is past. I don't believe that old stuff. Don't you... Haw, haw." Just old, ignorant, mule religion. That's all. Don't know where you come from. You can't never teach him nothing. No matter. He'll wait all of his life to kick you 'fore he dies. You know that.
I've handled horses, worked on a ranch. I know what I'm talking about. The thing's just an old ignoramus. He don't know where he come from. He don't know who his pappy is, who his mammy is, or nothing else.
That's the way with some of these hybrid religions today. They don't know who their papa is. You say, "Are you a Christian?"
"I'm Methodist." "I'm Baptist." "I'm Presbyterian. I'm..." You don't even know where you come from.

66 But, oh, how I love a good thoroughbred horse. Brother, he can tell you ... they can look on his pedigree, and you can see who his papa was, his grandpapa, and his grandmama, all the way back because he's a thoroughbred.
I like to see a real thoroughbred Christian that's born of the Word of God. He knows where he come from, he knows who his father is, he knows who his mother is. It's not some social denomination. It's the power of God, the Son of God. He died to Himself, and he's born again, a new birth. He's a new creature in Christ Jesus. He's gentle. You can tell Him something. He'll punctuate every word of God with an "Amen."
"Do you believe this?"
"Amen!"
"Days of miracles is here."
"Amen!
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
"Amen!"
I know where he come from. Yes, sir. He's a son of God. Yes, indeed. But that mule, that hybrid, squeezed off here and took his papers from one church over to another, and over to another one. Why don't you put it up there one time, on the Lamb's book of life, where it won't come off? Amen! You know I feel pretty religious right now, myself. Talk about ... I feel like I could shout. Yes, sir. Oh, sure. She didn't have to spray her over. Hybrid.

67 Oh, you say, "We got the best churches." That's what's getting wrong with our Pentecostals---getting right the same thing. Oh, we think about some great big, fine building, some intellectual minister can stand up, and go out and endorse mixed bathing, and everything else, and all this other kind of nonsense. Let the women bob their hair, wear shorts, and everything else, and call it liberation of women. Nonsense! That's right. It's a sin, and a disgrace.
What we need today is a good old-fashioned St. Paul's revival, and the Bible Holy Ghost, and the power of God back into the church again, to bring it out. Yes, we do. That's exactly right.

68 [Tongues and interpretation come forth from the audience.] Blessed be the name of the Lord. How we thank God. Praise God. Yes, sir. Amen to that. We believe God sends it. Notice, and we accept it correctly. God wants real borned-again Christians. He wants men and women who are real sold-out to God, and not...
You know, Hollywood shines, and people are patterning too much ... we are too close to Hollywood. The gospel don't shine; it glows. Hollywood shines with glamour, and the church is shining with glamour; but the Holy Spirit glows with humility.

69 Here not long ago I was supposed to speak in Chicago, and a certain minister, because of the differences... I didn't belong to his organization. They'd made a bid, and the people wanted me to come speak for them. I couldn't have done it anyhow, but he said, "Oh, no." Said, "He's a regular crank." Said, "All he does is bawl out people," and so forth like that.
And he got some great big doctor of divinity to come. He come up with enough papers and intellectual sermon that would've done anything. He got up there, chest swelled out, great big turned-around collar, and begin to speak, you know, with his words so fluent, like that. And oh, my! And he found out it didn't go with children of God. They just sat there and looked.
And after a while he found out it didn't go. So he closed up all of his notes, and went down off the platform with his shoulders all humbled down like this.
There was an old saint sitting over in the corner, punched the other one, said, "If he would've went up the way he come down, he'd come down the way he went up." That's just about the way it is today, brother. We ought to come down. We got to come down to the Holy Ghost again, down to the Bible, back to the real Word of God.

70 This poor little woman, she had all kinds of things to hinder her. When she got to Jesus, He called her a dog, and said, "It's not meet to take the children's food, and cast it to the dogs."
And watch! If that'd been one of us Pentecostals, "Well, I'll never go back and hear that holy roller again. Yes, sir. People was right."
But what with her? Not her. She had a hold of faith. She had something she was going to achieve---the healing of her daughter. No matter what He said. Look, the truth ... and humility will always admit the truth is right.
She said, "It's truth, Lord. I am not of your people. I'm not a Jew, and I am nothing but a dog. That's exactly right, Lord. And it's not meet for You to take the children's bread, and give it to us dogs. But Lord, the dogs eat the crumbs under the children's table." She was only after crumbs! When ... we're not invited to crumbs; we're invited to the table. But she was after crumbs.
Remember, she was a Gentile. She had never seen a miracle. But something had anchored in her that she believed in one. She didn't have to see nothing done. He didn't have to prove to her He was Messiah.

71 She was like Rahab, the harlot. When the spies come and found Rahab, the harlot, they ... she didn't say, "Bring me up Joshua. Let me see how he wears his clothes, how straight he stands. Is he handsome? Does he comb his hair? How does he...?" She didn't..., "Let me see him do it."
She said, "I have heard. That's enough for me. I've heard." She was persistent. She said, "I know we're going to be destroyed. What can I do? Show me favor. Let me save my father's house." Oh, her name's infallible. She's one of the great-grandmothers of our Lord Jesus Christ---certainly, because she believed.

72 Now, this woman said, "Lord, I know I'm no good. I know our nation is a bunch of heathens. But I know that we're nothing but a bunch of dogs, but I'm just searching for some crumbs, Lord. My daughter's sick over there, and I know you can do it."
And then she fell down and worshipped Him. Oh, my! That just kills me. She fell down, said, "Truly, Lord, I'm nothing but a dog." Look what the poor little thing had fought through to get there.
And then when she got there, and He called her a dog, and everything else, that didn't stop her faith. And sometimes we can be prayed for, and say, "Huh. There must not be nothing to it. Don't feel any different." Abraham's seed, persistent, Christians, ought to bow our head in shame. That's right. Yes.
But she, no matter what ... even when she was in the presence of Jesus Christ and was rejected by Him, she still held on. Jesus said, "For this saying, the devil's left your daughter."
See, she knowed how to approach the gift of God. She didn't come, say, "Well, I'll go see what He does. And if He can do these things, maybe it's mental telepathy; maybe it's psychology; maybe it's some hoax; maybe it's a make-up." She'd have never got her healing that she asked for. But she come in the right way, and she received what she asked for. Faith always admits the Word is right. She was persistent.

73 Just a few more words now, before we close, a remark I want to make here. Martha: when she came to Jesus, she was persistent. Remember, Jesus had left her home, left Lazarus, and when he got sick... And them people had left their church. They had done everything, and come out and entertained Him. They had seen Him do miracles; but when it come time for their family, He was gone.
And they sent messengers to Him, and He ignored the messenger, and went on further. And they sent another messenger, and He ignored that one. Sure. Went on.
Why? He just said, "I do nothing till the Father shows me." The Father had told Him. Then when Lazarus died, He said, "I'm glad for your sake I wasn't there, but I go wake him." Remember, at the grave He said, "I say this for their sake." He knowed what was going to happen, 'cause the Father had showed Him.

74 But notice, He tried Martha. Here she come running out, and ... "Lord, if You would've been here, my brother would not have died." Now, seemed like that she would have upbraided Him, and say, "Why didn't You come? Look what we've done for You. We've fed You. We've entertained You. We left our church, we left all of our friends to follow You, and everything. We come out of everything we was in to follow You. And then when our brother was sick, you..."
Looked like she had a right to do that. But sometimes you say we got a right, but you forfeit your rights. A lamb won't have nothing but wool. That's all he can bear. But he has to forfeit that.

75 I was telling some women here not long ago (shame them, dressing the way they do, with these little ... look like a skinned wiener with them dresses on like that) how they're going to have to answer at the day of judgment for committing adultery. You might be as pure as a lily to your husband, or to your boyfriend. But you remember, Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already." And when that sinner answers for committing adultery, who did it? You. My Pentecostal sisters, get back, come back to the old-fashioned.
That lady said, "Why, they don't even make no other dresses but that." But they still make sewing machines, and sell goods. There's no excuse. That's right. It's exactly right. That's right. I believe that. So there's no excuses. We just might as well fold it up, and get back to the real gospel, and back to the Word of God again, and get right. That's right.
(Martha had a right.) She said, "Well, it's my American privilege if I want to do that.
I said, "Yes. But you said you was a Christian."
She said, "I am."
I said, "Then you're a lamb, and a lamb forfeits its rights."
As an American Christian, American citizen, I've got a right to drink, smoke, do whatever I want to, buy liquor. But I forfeit that. I'm not of... I live in this nation, but I'm a pilgrim. My home's above. Every other Christian that's born of above lives from above.

76 My wife, sitting out there, said to me... We went to a supermarket. It's a strange thing at home. We found one woman had a dress on. All the rest of them... And they sing in choirs, and everything. She said, "Billy, what is that?"
I said, "Honey, it's the American spirit."
She said, "Aren't we Americans?"
I said, "No. We live here. This is our natural place. But we are from above. Our people act like up there. The spirit from up there come down on them. And if I go into another country, they say, "That's a Yankee. He's from America." If you go to Germany, you got a German spirit; Switzerland, Switzerland spirit. Wherever you are, you got a spirit of that nation.
There's a spirit amongst people. Oh, mercy! Get to the right thing. It's false! If you can have a bogus, why not get a right one? Why would we forfeit the real thing for a bogus one, when the whole skies are full of genuine Pentecostal blessings? Why would we take a substitute for anything? Amen. Believe with all your heart. Don't you doubt a bit, but you believe that God's Word is right. Yes, sir.

77 Now. Martha walked up to Him, said, "Lord, if You would've been here my brother would not have died." Oh, my! That's persistent, breaking through every barrier. "If You'd have been here, my brother would not have died."
He said, "I am the resur... Your brother shall rise again."
She said, "Yea, Lord. He was a good boy. He'll come in the general resurrection."
He said, "I am the resurrection and life. He that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
She said, "Yea, Lord. I believe that you are the Son of God that was to come into the world."
No matter how much He had disappointed in other acts, the time had come where she caught faith. You know where I believe she got it? When she read the Bible, and seen where that Shunammite woman...

78 That day, God's representative... God's never without a representative in the earth. Always, every age. And his representative then was a prophet, Elisha. And she was old, this Shunammite woman. Had no children. And Elisha prayed for her, and blessed her, and prophesied, and told her she'd have a child. And she had it. By about ten or twelve years old, the child must have had a sunstroke. He cried, "My head, my head!", about the middle of the day. Father had a servant bring him in, sit him on the mother's lap. And the baby died. What an appropriate place to take the baby, and lay him on the prophet's bed, where the prophet had been laying.
And then she said, "Saddle a mule. Go straight, and don't you speak to anybody, but go on."

79 And when the prophet come... God don't always tell his prophets everything; just what He wants them to know. And said, "Here comes that Shunammite." He said to Gehazi, said, "She's got sorrow in her heart, but God's kept it from me. He said, "Is all well with thee? Is all well with thy husband? Is all well with the child?"
Look at that. I like that. She said, "All is well."---her baby dead.
But she was before the servant of God. She knew if God could tell that servant she'd have the baby, he could tell why He took the baby. So she stood there. Then she fell down before him, begin to reveal.

80 Now, that's where I think Paul got laying handkerchiefs, you see. He said, told Gehazi, "Take my staff, gird up your loins. And if anybody speaks to you, don't you speak back. Just go on, lay this staff on the baby." See, he knowed whatever he had touched was blessed, if he could just get the woman to believe it.
But the woman's faith wasn't in the staff; it was in the prophet. She held him. She said, "As the Lord God lives and your soul never dies, I'll not leave you." And Gehazi ... I mean, Elisha went with her. And he went there, and laid his body upon that dead baby, walked back and forth in the room, put his face upon the baby, and the baby sneezed seven times, and come to life. And why? Because that Shunammite woman, "Don't stop. Don't have any social affairs. Get to the Word."
And she knew ... Martha knew if Elisha ... if God was in Elisha to bring forth, to anchor that faith, how much more was He in Christ, the Son of God? So that's the reason she was very persistent in the face of Jesus. So was the Shunammite woman in the face of Elisha.

81 There's a woman just down the coast here I was telling about. She come up home, and I was ... come in. And the woman's from out here somewhere. She ... some of the people that's here knows the woman---the trustee, one of them, sitting here now, that helped pack her out. She had a fifty-pound tumor, out like this. And I'd walked into the church. I couldn't pray for the sick that night. I'd just come in. I was going to go out.
And so, that woman was so persistent, she had come so far, she had the deacons and trustees to pack her around to a little door where I went out. And when I went out there, she held her hand across and caught me by the leg. And she said, "Brother Branham, I believe that if you will ask God, God will heal me."
And I just stopped, and laid my hand upon her. And I said, "Sister, may the God of heaven honor your faith."
She was this big. They had to pack her. And so, they sat her down there at the little back door, at the back of the church. And about three months after that, she come through there shouting, and screaming, just as flat as I am.
And about a week or two ago down here at the Cow Palace at Los Angeles, the South Gate, I was saying something or another about it there one night. And she jumped up from there, and said, "Here I am yet." Just perfectly normal.
Why? She was persistent. She had traveled, she had spent her living, she had come over every kind of a thing, in a little old trailer, trying to get there. They had to pack her food to her. And how her husband had to do! But she was persistent. She was going to stay with it. Sure. Her faith had a hold of the Word, and she was going to stay with it.

82 Micaiah, when there was four hundred well-dressed prophets standing there saying to Ahab and them, "Go up. The Lord's with you," Micaiah said, "Go on up, if you want to. But the Lord told me, and I seen Israel scattered like sheep on a hill." Why? When four hundred prophets prophesying contrary to what he was, how could he be so sure? Because his vision compared with the Word of God. That's the reason he knowed it. Oh, how I wish I had about an hour now to preach right there.
If your vision don't compare with the Word, forget about your vision. When you know your vision is lined in the Word... The great prophet had told Ahab... He cursed him, and told him that the dogs would lick his blood on account of righteous Naboth, the things he'd done. And how could God...?
No matter how much these prophets prophesied, and said... Why, they had a reason, now. They said, "Look here. Ramoth-Gilead, Joshua gave that to us. That belongs to us. That corn that's being raised over there, it ought to be feeding the Israelites---not our enemy. Sure, that's right." See, intellectually they thought it was right.
That's where you come intellectually trying to place something, and sometimes faith is very contrary to that. The doctor say, "Looky here. You can't live, man. This cancer's wrapped around you." But let faith anchor there one time, and watch what happens.

83 Micaiah stood there in the midst of them. I can hear them meeting. You know, they'd put him out of the ministerial association. So they said, "Micaiah, if you'll prophesy the same thing the rest of the board does, you know, they might take you back."
He said, "Me? I'll say only what God puts in my mouth to say."
Oh, brother! What we need is some more Micaiahs, sons of Imlah, you know. And here he stood there with that great, powerful... He said, "Go on up..." And he prophesied contrary, because he was... With four hundred men standing, one of them smacked him in the mouth, even.
Said, "Take this fellow back, and put him in the inner courts in the jail, and put him in stocks. And when I return back I'll deal with him."
He said, "If you come back at all, God didn't speak to me." Why? He was persistent. He knowed where he was standing.

84 The blind man that had been born blind, his eyes were healed. He couldn't argue theology with them. They said, "We know this man is a devil. He don't agree with our organization."
He said, "It's a strange thing to me. You're the leaders of the land, and here a man opened my eyes---had never been done in all the world that we ever knowed of---and then you, the religious leaders, you know not whence he come. That's a strange thing."
He had pretty good theology to argue with, don't you think so? He sure did. One thing he knowed. He said, "Whether He's a sinner or not, I don't know. But wherein I was once blind, I can now see." Amen. That's one thing he knowed for sure. He was persistent with it.

85 So was Nathanael persistent to recognize Him to be the Christ, when he saw that mysterious thing take place, when He said, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree."
He said, "Thou art the Son of God, the King of Israel."
That little woman was persistent at the well, when He told her she had five husbands. When He did that in front of the Jewish educational group, they said, "He's Beelzebub."
But this little woman said, "I perceive that You're a prophet. We know when Messiah cometh, He'll tell us these things."
He said, "I'm He."
Now stop her. Into the city ... she said, "Come see a man who told me what I've done. Isn't this the very Messiah?"
How could you stop Simon Peter from preaching the gospel, even if he couldn't write his own name, when Jesus said, "Your name is Simon, and you're the son of Jonas"? He knowed that was Messiah. There's no way of stopping him.

86 Here not long ago down in Mexico (I'm closing), we was having a meeting there, and I had a great thing. It's a great Catholic country, and all of you, pretty near---you ministers---know General Valdina. He was the one taking me in.
The government ... the bishop of the Catholic church went up and told the president, said, "Well, you're bringing a non-Catholic in here."
He said, "Well," said, "General Valdina says he's a reputable person."
Said, "Well, there isn't nothing like that in here." Said, "We can't do that."
He said, "They tell me that thousands of people come out to his meetings," the president said.
He said, "Well, nothing goes out there but just the ignorant and unlearned."
He said, "You've had them five hundred years. Why are they ignorant and unlearned?"
Guess that would crop off the feathers, see.

87 When we come down there, we had just three nights to stay. The second night there, I'll never forget it. An old Mexican come across the platform, poor old fellow. You all know Brother Espinoza, nearly all of you. I think he belongs to the Assemblies of God. He was my interpreter, standing by my side. "Businessmen's Voice" had to pack this article. You can't print nothing in print unless it can be proven, you see. So then here ... unless you're sticking your neck out for something that's in trouble.
So this poor old Mexican come across. He was blind. He couldn't see where he was going, you know. And he got close to me. He was barefooted, his old feet rough, his trouser legs tore off, up like that; an old ragged coat on, no shirt, an old hat in his hands sewed up with cord, dust all over.
I looked, and his white cataract eyes... And he was going across there, and he reached down in his pocket, and got a little ... beads, and started with a "Hail, Mary," you know. And so I told him, "Put them up."
And Brother Espinoza stopped him. He put them in his pocket, and he mumbling off something in Spanish I couldn't understand---don't know Spanish.

88 So he began to mumble something, and I thought, "Poor old fellow." And here I was in a good pair of shoes on, good suit. That old man maybe lived and never had nothing but a bunch of amoeba lettuce to make tortillas out of. And anyhow, get about...
Their economics are so poorly balanced, it's terrible. Maybe Pancho gets about... He's a brick mason, get about fifteen pesos a day; but have to work about ten days to buy himself a pair of shoes. What about little Pedro, with ten kids, and making about three pesos a day? What's he going to do to feed them? Martina can have one tonight, and Pancho can have one. But somebody'd have to do without one, because they've got to save enough to buy a grease candle to burn on a million-dollar gold altar.
It's not right! I told them it wasn't right. I said, "It's not right! You have to pay nothing. Christ died to free you." A million-dollar gold altar, with a candle on it; and starving people to death, with some priest to bless it. What's a candle got to do with it? Christ died. His blood saves us from sin and trespasses. It's a free gift of God. You don't do one thing to merit it. It's the grace of God.

89 He come across there. I took him in my arms, and I thought, "See if my shoes would fit him. I'll just slip them off." There was a big banister there. Give him my coat. But his shoulders were much bigger, and his feet much larger.
I thought, "Poor old fellow. Probably never eat a decent meal in his life." And I thought, "And there, nature... Look what's happened to him. He's blind, poor old fellow. If my daddy would have lived, he'd have been about that age."
You have to feel for people. If you can't, you can never help anybody. That's ... you've got to feel for them. You've got to take it upon yourself. And I just put my arms around him, and I said, "Heavenly Father, be merciful to this poor old man." I said ... I looked out there, and I seen him standing, looking at me, out in front of me out there, with his eyesight. I knew if he ever opened his eyes, it was over.
I just waited a few minutes, and he hollered, "Gloria a Dios!" Glory to God! you know. There he could see as good as I could, walked around on the platform.

90 Next night, there was a... Platform was just about as long as this, just piled that high of old shawls and things. And you talk about having to come and sit a half hour, or a hour or two in church! They come at eight o'clock that morning---not sit down---stand leaning against one another, leaning like sheep in that hot sun. And I wouldn't be there till nine or nine-thirty that night. They stayed all day long, nothing, just standing there, waiting to come.
That night, pouring down rain, they were so many (Oh, my!), that big ring out there, and I couldn't get in. They brought me around the other side, and put a rope around me, and let me down on the platform off the top of that ring---pouring down rain. Any of you know Brother Jack Moore? I guess many of you do. And he was with me, and Brother Espinoza, down there in Mexico City.

91 And I got out, started to preach. And I was preaching "Faith the Substance of Things Hoped For, the Evidence of Things not Seen," and Brother Espinoza giving the interpretation. And as I was preaching, Billy come, my son, and caught me by the coat. Said, "Daddy, you're just going to have to do something."
I said, "What's the matter?"
He said, "A little woman standing over there..." Said, "I've got 150 ushers or more, standing out there." And said, "Mañana..."
I called him ... Mañana means tomorrow. That's the slowest man I ever seen in my life. He was supposed to pick me up at seven o'clock, and he'd get me about nine. So then, I always called him Mañana. And he'd give out the prayer cards, and he'd done give out all the prayer cards.

92 And a little Mexican woman who had brought her baby over---Catholic, now---to be prayed for the night before... And I talked about the Bible, how Jesus was ... she had watched that discernment go out there, and pick out those people out in that audience, and see them rise up off them cots---simple, just believing it---and seen them rise up like that.
She had a little sick baby there with pneumonia, trying to keep it quiet. She didn't get a prayer card or nothing, and it died the next morning about nine o'clock in the doctor's office. And here she took that baby. Instead of taking it to the mortuary, she brought it over there, and stood in that rain all day long with that dead baby. And Mañana never give her a card. She didn't have a card, and she wasn't going to be in the prayer line, but she was determined to get there anyhow.
And they had 150, 200 ushers that couldn't stop that little woman. She would run between their legs, jump over their shoulders, get up on top of their shoulders, and start jumping from one another, with a dead baby in her arms---a little bitty woman.

93 And Billy come to me, and said, "Daddy, you're just going to have to go over there and do something about it, because we can't do nothing with her. She's disturbing that whole section, the place over there."
I said, "Brother Jack Moore..." I said, "Brother Jack, go down and pray for her. She don't know me, and she won't know but what it's me. She can't speak English. And just go tell her, and go pray for the baby."
He said, "All right, Brother Branham."
He started off, and I said, "Brother Espinoza..." Brother Espinoza may be here. Are you here, Brother Espinoza? How many knows Brother Espinoza? The Mexican... Sure, I knowed you did. So, he was standing there, and I said, "Brother Espinoza, go ahead, say ... was I saying." I said, "As I was saying now, as the Lord Jesus, by faith he operates his gi..."
I looked, standing here in front of me, and there was a little Mexican baby with no teeth---just laughing, looking at me. I thought, "That must be that baby." I said, "Don't say it, Brother Espinoza. Wait a minute." Brother Jack was going off the platform about then. I said, "Just a minute, Brother Jack." I walked over. I said, "Billy, open up the line, and bring her up."

94 They was holding her down because it wasn't right. The other people had prayer cards, and they'd come there and got the cards. So they have to treat everybody right. Or you let one come without a card, then you got a riot, sure enough, in something like that. So she had to wait.
So I said, "Open up and bring her."
And he said, "Daddy, she hasn't got a prayer card."
I said, "Bring her on."
Said, "What's the matter?"
I said, "I just seen something."
So they brought her up. And here she come up there and she knelt down on the floor, and she said, "Padre."
I said, "No, no, no. Get up." A beautiful little woman, looked to be about in her twenties, and a little Mexican thing in her little hair, hanging down over her shoulders like that, and her great big eyes, and the tears running down her cheeks.
She said, "Padre...," saying something, and I said...
Brother Espinoza said, "I bring to you, father, my baby. He's dead."
And I said, "Since when did he die?"
Said, "Nine o'clock this morning, at the doctor's office."
"What was wrong?"
"Pneumonia."
So Brother Espinoza ... I put my hand on top of that wet blanket, just soaking wet, and it pouring down rain. And I put my hand on that little wet blanket.
I said, "Heavenly Father, I don't know the persistence of this little woman. But a few moments ago when I looked out on the audience, I seen a little baby looking at me grinning out there." She had the blanket laying over, holding it like this. I said, "If that was the baby, because of this little woman being so persistent that You're going to heal the baby..."
And about that time it went "Wah!" and began to kick its legs like that. It was alive!

95 I said, "Brother Espinoza, don't put that... Put a runner after that woman, and go down to the doctor's office and let him sign a statement."
And he found the doctor, and the doctor signed the statement. "I pronounced the baby ... respiration all gone this morning at nine o'clock."
The baby was cold and stiff, and been dead since nine o'clock that morning, and come to life because a little woman was persistent. She had seen something happen, and she wasn't going to take "No" for it. That goes to show that the same God that was inspiring this little Greek woman could inspire a Spanish woman. And He can inspire the same thing tonight, if you'll believe it. Do you believe it? Oh, be perseverant!

96 Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. You suffered under Pontius Pilate. You were crucified, died, buried, rose again the third day, and alive forevermore.
You promised "A little while and the world [cosmos, world order] will see me no more. Yet ye shall see me, for I [personal pronoun] will be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.
"I believe You, Lord. I am persistent tonight. Faith has caught a hold somehow. I believe that You'll heal me. I believe that You'll save me. I believe that You'll give to me the desire of my heart, and I'm holding on to You."

97 Let us bow our heads just a moment now. In your own way, silently pray just for a moment now, praying "Lord Jesus, be merciful to me."
Now, Lord, this church, this group of people, is waiting patiently. I have spoke extensively. They're praying, Lord. I have told them that You're not dead, that You've raised from the dead. I've give them every promise. I told them last night the promise that You've made, how that the ending up of Abraham's time, ending up of the Jews, the Samaritans...
And now, at the end of the Gentile's age, here You come to do the same thing. The Pentecostal age started about forty, fifty years ago, right here on the West Coast. How they spoke with tongues, and interpreted, the power of God among them! How they seen the sick healed, everything take place!
But now the last sign has struck among them. You're coming, Lord. Not much longer. That's why I'm standing here tonight, Lord. I believe You. O God! Make these people persistent. May the seed that's been sown anchor down into the hearts of the people. May they see it. May they believe it. May they have faith and believe You with all their heart.
ACTS2:41,47

98 Now, Father God, the old trend is to lay hands upon the sick. We know that's the way they do it. The old trend was come to the altar, kneel down and pray. But in the Bible it said, "As many as believed was added to the church," was baptized. We believe in all these things. We still think it served a good purpose, and it's good. We believe it.
But how much greater, when Jairus said, "Come lay your hand on my daughter, and she'll live." But the Roman, the Gentile, said, "I'm not worthy that You come under my roof. Just speak the word, and my servant will live."
You said, "I've never seen faith like that in Israel." God, may we never let it down. May we be able ... may what I'm trying to do, God, to let the people see that You are their Saviour. You're the one who does the healing. You're the one who furnishes the faith. God, I pray that they will not doubt. And then, when ... if they will not doubt, then faith will come automatically right into their hearts, and they'll understand.

99 Let us see You, Lord. One day after the resurrection, Cleopas and his friend was on the road down to Emmaus. And they talked with Him all day long, and they didn't know Him. But late that evening, He went in the room with them, and they closed the doors. And then He did something just the way He did it before his crucifixion, and they knew that no one else did it that way, and they knew it was Him. So, they hurried back and told the people, after He had vanished out of their sight, that truly the Lord is risen.
Father God, we've laid aside our task of the day. We're here tonight. The room is closed in. Come, Lord. Do something among us tonight, just like You did before your crucifixion, that we might light-heartedly, like they were, go back along the road saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked to us along the way?" Grant it, Lord.
One word from You will confirm everything that I've said. And if I've said the truth... And I know, Lord, You'll only confirm truth. You'll have nothing to do with lies and errors. You'll only confirm the truth. Now, Father, I pray that You will confirm what's been said to be truth.
I commit myself to You with your Word, with your congregation of people, and their faith that they have accumulated. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray that You'll move on the scene, now, and prove to be with us after two thousand years. There's no death to Him. He's alive, forevermore. Grant it, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.

100 I'd like to ask the congregation... Now, just fixing to close, just a moment. And I'll ask you, if you will, be just as reverent as you can for about three minutes. We're just a little too late to call a prayer line, but I'd just like to ask this question before we close. Is there somebody here that's convinced that He's the Son of God, and you're not a Christian? I can only ask you.
I know it's proper to give great long altar calls, and so forth. But we shouldn't do that---and sympathetic stories. But if you don't come upon the basis of the Word of God, it doesn't make any difference. See, you're not there anyhow. You've got to come knowing that you're a sinner, and Jesus died in your stead. You've got to come and confess your sins. Are you here...? And I won't call you up here. I'm just going to ask you, while you're here, and you're convinced that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and you are a sinner in need of Him, would you just raise your hands and say, "Brother Branham, I believe in your prayer. Pray for me. I am a sinner, and I want you to pray for me." That's all I'll ask you to do.

101 We don't give no gold stars out, and this, and make so many of this. I don't believe in that. If the Holy Spirit can't make you know that you're are a sinner, then there's no need of me trying, see. So then, if you believe that you're a sinner, and need Christ, say, "Pray for me, Brother Branham." Raise up your hand. I'll do it.
All of you Christians? How many Christians are here, then? Raise up your hands. All that's filled with the Spirit, and Christians? Praise God. That's good, fine. All right.
Is there sick people here then? Raise up your hand that's sick. I'm here as God's servant to serve you. Raise up your hand. You say, "I have need of God, and I have something wrong with me." Pray.

102 You without prayer cards now. I just want the ones without prayer cards, 'cause the prayer cards ... probably tomorrow night, or whatever. When we do, we'll pray for everyone that's got prayer cards. You without prayer cards, I want to say something to you.
Last night, I told you, and tonight I tell you again, we know what He did when He was here on earth. If He was back here again on earth tonight in a physical body He would do the same thing He did then because He is the same. Is that right? Now, what would be any more than to see the Holy Spirit move in this audience like this, and perform the very works, and prove to you that Jesus Christ, your Saviour, is right here among you? How it ought to thrill your souls. How you ought to say... Oh, mercy! There's nothing...
I seen that done one time in South Africa. One time on the platform, and thirty thousand blanket natives broke their idols on the ground, and come to Jesus Christ. Ten thousand Mohammedans. You know, they work for years to change one of them. That's the old Medo-Persia. It don't change, see. That's right. Bombay, India, I don't know, I just don't know how many. You couldn't number them---just oceans of black hands up. One time.

103 Now, we Pentecostal people who claim to kiss the rim of the golden blessings of the cup of God, how can we stand still, and see the Holy Spirit moving around us? Christ Himself with his Word, proving that He's here? And then just sit still, and say, "Well, I wish that something'd take place." He can do no more.
And remember, I'm telling you, in the name of the Lord... If you believe me to be his servant, in the name of the Lord, you'll see no greater sign than you're seeing now. You'll never see it. Now, you mark it down in your Bible. If you do, then you call me up. You're seeing your last thing. Just remember, the church is going. It's going into Laodicea---just where she's at now.

104 Now you pray. You believe. Now, just be real reverent. No matter where you are, just pray. Be real quiet. See, each one of you is a spirit. And when that Holy Spirit comes to the anointing, every spirit that moves, see, you can feel it. It's just tense. That's the reason Jesus led a man outside of the city to heal him. Too many there, see, too much... He took ... at Jairus' house and put them all out before He rose his daughter, raised her up, see. Just too much unbelief. They was laughing at Him and everything, see. You can't do it where unbelief is. It just won't work.
But I'm asking God tonight to prove that I've told you the truth. Let Him speak. Men can speak... But I've told you the truth. You be persistent, and say, "Tonight is my time. That little old preacher don't know me, knows nothing about me. But, God, You're a high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities, and I'm touching You by faith. I believe I have it. Let me touch You, Lord. Then You speak back through Brother Branham and tell me, like You did when You spoke through Christ, the Son of God, and told Him the woman with the blood issue, and blind Bartimaeus, and all the rest that He did like that. By a vision tell me." You pray. Just be in prayer.

105 There's a lady sitting right back here to my left, right through here, on the end of the row. She's suffering with trouble with her ears. You believe that God will heal you and make you well, lady? You, that's looking at me. You believe He'll heal your ears, and make you well? You do? All right. Have you a prayer card? You don't have a prayer card. You don't need one. See, that's that unknown faith that you have. You wasn't ... didn't even expect it hardly, but faith is a hidden thing. Now you just believe with all your heart. But if you don't believe, and won't accept it, your ears will get worse. Now just remember. If you'll believe it, you've touched something.
What about down through here, down through this part of the aisle? Somebody that's got faith, that wants to believe? Just touch his garment. Not me---won't do a thing---I'm just a sinner. Here's a man. Yes, right then, when he bowed his head, right here, praying, "Let it be me, Lord."
Stomach trouble. That's your trouble. I'm a stranger to you. Is that right? That's your trouble, though, isn't it? Got a peptic condition, sour in the stomach, and everything, always upset. You've had it for a long time. Let me tell you something else. You're not from here. This is not your home. You're from Portland. You believe with all your heart, now, you can go back, be made well. You accept it, and believe it will be made well? God bless you. Go on your road, believe.

106 There's a lady sitting right back here, looking at me right here. There's that ... can't you see that light over that woman? Look here. Look real close, right here, see. She's suffering with an arthritis. If you'll believe with all your heart, you can be healed of the arthritis. Mrs. Trapp, if you'll believe with all your heart... She's going to miss it. I never seen the woman in my life. I seen it was fixing to leave you, lady. That's the reason I had to call your name. Don't get strange at that. Jesus of Nazareth told Simon Peter who he was, and who his father was, see. He's the same Jesus.
Now, if I'm a stranger to you, lady, raise up your hand---the lady that was just called. Sure. Never seen her in my life. She's just a woman sitting there. You believe it. Do you believe? That proves the presence of Jesus Christ. Amen.

107 Here sits a woman sitting right here looking at me. There's a dark shadow over her. She'll die, if something don't help her. She's got cancer. You believe that God will heal you, and make you well? If you do, you can be healed. But you got to believe it. Have faith. Don't doubt it.
I see that cancer dance, that sign, from over that ... went over on a man. He's sitting looking at me. You believe with all your heart, sir, that God will heal that cancer on your hand, and make you well? I'm a stranger to you, but God knows you. By the way, you should believe it. You're a missionary, wanting to go back to Formosa again to preach the gospel. You believe God can tell me who you are? You know I'm a stranger to you. You believe God can tell me who you are? Mr. Graves, believe with all your heart, and you can go back, and be healed, made well.

108 Do you believe Him? Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. You believe? How many believe it with all your heart, raise up your hand. Now, in his presence, why don't you lay your hands on one another and let me pray for you here? See. And it concerns me. It will help me to go on. There it is, across the building. Go talk to these people. You know where they've been, six or seven of them, or whatever it was here. Just ask them. Some of you in the audience, in the balcony back there, believe.
I challenge any of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, believe it. Be persistent. Hold on to it. I challenge you to lay your hands on one another as believers, and pray for one another, and believe that you'll get well, and you'll do it.

109 I challenge any person that's been a sinner and hasn't believed, to stand on your feet now and ask for mercy, and you shall obtain mercy, if you mean it from your heart, if you held back a while ago---which, there's a dozen of you sitting in here that ought to've raised up as sinners. Now tell me I don't know; I do know. Now I know you're sitting there unbelieving. I could call your names. You know that.
How many's been in meetings, and seen that done before? Sure you have. But what it does, it hurts the congregation they come from. Jesus said, "Let the weeds and wheat grow together." He's the one that will bind it up, see. But you're sitting here. How could you hide yourself? You had better stand and accept Christ. Let me tell you, you'll never be any closer in his presence till you see Him face to face.
For let me say to you, here's my Bible here before me, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has raised from the dead. He's here tonight, in the form of the Holy Ghost. He's the one that permits this work to be done. Remember. Believe Him.

110 Put your hands on one another now, and let's pray one for the other. I'm going to pray for these handkerchiefs first. And while I'm praying, you be praying for the person you've got your hands on. They'll be praying for you.
Heavenly Father, I bring these handkerchiefs to You. They are representing sick people. We're taught that one day Israel was on its line of duty, going to the promised land, and the Red Sea got right in the way. Israel, in the line of duty, following the commandments of God, and the Red Sea got right in its way, to cut them off from the promise. One writer said that God looked down through that pillar of fire, and the sea got scared. And it rolled back itself and made a dry path for Israel to cross over in the promised land. You're still the same God tonight.
Sickness and disease has cut people off from walking right in the line of duty. And You said, "Above all things, I would that You prosper in health." And may the God who gave the promise not only look through the pillar of fire, but through the blood of his own Son, Jesus Christ. And may them diseases get scared, and move back off of the people. For we ask it in the name of Jesus Christ.
Now, Satan, you who've bound the people and hindered them all these years, kept them bound in sickness, we come as representatives of Christ. And we adjure thee by Him, who gave us the authority to do so, leave the people. Come out of them in the name of Jesus Christ.
May the power that raised Christ from the grave break every doubt above the people's hearts, that they might receive their healing just now, in the name of Jesus Christ.

111 All that believe it, stand up on your feet in the name of Jesus Christ, and accept your healing, regardless of what's wrong with you. Amen! I will praise Him, give Him praise everyone.
I will praise Him, I will praise Him,
Oh, praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For his blood has washed away each stain.

112 Now to get the coldness off, and the shackles broke from around us, the spooks drove away... What's the matter, people? Can't you realize that we're entering in after the message into a spirit of worship? Let's just raise our hands to God, and worship Him, and say:
"Praise the Lord. Praise be to God. Thanks be to the Father, who gives us the Son of God, resurrected from the dead, alive forevermore; Alpha, Omega, the beginning and the end; the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, the morning star; He that was, which is, and shall come; the root and offspring of David.
How we praise You, almighty God, for your omniscient presence, for your visitation to us tonight; for the power of your resurrection; for the assurance of salvation; for your great manifestation of your word in this last days that You promised that You would do it. In the face of criticism and formality, and everything, You still remain God---the same God yesterday, today, and forever. How we thank You for it, Father. Amen, amen.

113 Oh, don't you feel good? Say, "Praise the Lord." Oh, that don't sound like Pentecost to me. "Praise the Lord!" That sounds better. Amen! Glory to God! I love Jesus! Praise God! Amen!
I will praise Him, (Let's raise our hands
now. Sing it.)
I will (make it ring out) praise Him,
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For his blood can wash away each stain.
Do you love Him? Say, "Amen." Do you love your neighbor? Say, "Amen." Now let's shake hands with one ... somebody around you, in front of you. Just stand still. Just shake hands with somebody around you, saying, "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." Don't you feel good? Amen. Now, let's sing it again.
I will praise Him (raise your hands),
I will praise Him (real big now),
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory all ye people,
For his blood has washed away each stain.

114 Let's bow our heads now just a moment. Do you believe in an old-fashioned revival? Do you believe in the power of God? Do you believe in old time religion? Oh, it don't whitewash, but washes white, and makes clean as snow. Do you believe it with all your heart? Let's pray hard, now, that God will start one of them revivals. Let's put our shoulders, friends... We've got to keep pressing, pressing. Let's be persistent. We must see this happen. It must happen. We must do it.
Now, while you have your heads bowed, I'm going to present the pastor, now, the chairman of the meeting, here at the platform, and let him take the service to whatever...

Perseverant

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you, Brother Borders. You may be seated.
Sorry to be late, but I was ... little sick baby ... I was trying to minister to it when I come up, and the parent was there, very much tore up about it. And so I was praying for the little baby, and some handkerchiefs that I was ... had been brought to me to be prayed over. You believe in that ministry, praying for...? Yes, we sure do.

2 Now, we are indeed ... deem this a grand privilege to be with you fine people here on this island this week, from all ... from Port Alberni, and here at Victoria. And I was so grateful last night. My heart ached within me (that we only had three days to be here, one more day) when I seen what happened last evening, to see the entire group confess their wrongs, and come up to make restitution.
Now that means that there is a great possibility of a great sweeping revival across this island here, that God could ... would grant it. I believe that He will if we'll just believe Him, and have faith that He will do it.

3 Now, I thank Brother Byskal---Eddie, as I know him---a real precious boy. I really fell in love with this young lad when I met him up at Dawson Creek. My first time was Grand Prairie, but he was at Dawson Creek at the time, and I met him there. And he was telling me about he was missionarying to the Indians.
And I said, "Eddie, I'm coming up to Canada again one of these days, and I'll drop in and see your friends."
He said, "Just fine." So, he told me, said, "Some of brethren," said, "might drop by Victoria, split the dates from up at there." And he said, "But, they're going to have a meeting down there, a convention."
I was sorry of that. But I want to say, I apologize for coming in that time, Brother Borders and myself, and all of us. If some of the brethren would happen to be present, we didn't want to move in, or hinder your convention, but just to pray for the sick people as we pass through. And I want to say, you've got some fine people. We've loved it.

4 This is the ending of eleven straight services for me without any rest, and my voice is just about gone. It's so much gone, until... Here is the context that I was going to speak on this afternoon, "Paradox." And coming up out there, something said, "You just haven't got the voice to do it." So, I chose something else then.
This has been since May that I've been in meetings. I was in Green Bay [Wisconsin], Michigan, and from there to Chicago, Illinois; up to Southern Pines, North Carolina; down to Columbia, South Carolina; over to the Cow Palace at Los Angeles. And from there up to Santa Maria; from there to Grass Valley; from Grass Valley to Spokane; from Spokane back down to Salem; from Salem over here, and here, you see. I'm getting tired.
Now, just the preaching doesn't bother me. I'm getting a little hoarse, because, I think, just so much speaking. But it's the visions that bother me. One of those is more than ten hours you'd preach at the top of your voice; just one. It will do that much to you.
Being first time with you, and your great faith to respond around that, I certainly am grateful to you. God ever bless you.

5 I don't know. There was some expense tied to the meeting, I believe. And I told Eddie, just when I come over here, I said, "Now, Brother Eddie, don't even mention offering." I said, "Our church at home will take care of it, because we're strangers ... and to take care of it." Now, I understood that he did take an offering, or something or other, and wanted to... And I said, "If you did, just apply it to the expenses. We won't leave any debts. We never have did it yet.
We never believe in begging people for money. We ... I've been in the ministry going on thirty-two years, and never took an offering in my life. That's right. When ... and today, I'm paid from my church one hundred dollars a week. And you know how we have to live by that.
But think, our Lord didn't have a place to lay his head. That's right, see. So, He had one garment when He was here. Somebody give it to Him. And so, I don't think that it's becoming Christians to try to compare with the world ... to be, you know, "swanky" as we call it down in the States, and put on a lot, and have the very best. Why, I believe we could always take the least as the best way. He did. He was the God of glory, came down without a place to lay his head. And I think that's the way we want to live.

6 And many people know with this type of ministry... My, if you was a renegade, you could be a... Why, you'd be a multi-millionaire. And I'd be afraid to write you a check this afternoon from my personal account for over two hundred dollars, or three. It would sure bounce, I'm telling you that. But the thing of it is, we are not out here for money; we're out here to try to help the kingdom.
I'm not out here to condemn any church, any organization, anything. Lot of times you hear me rap at it. But it's not the organization that I'm rapping at; it's that sin in there. That's what I'm rapping at.

7 If I seen you going down a river in a little boat, and that boat was leaking, and there was a big falls below you, rapids, and I knew that boat wouldn't make that falls, them rapids; and me screaming at you, and rebuking you, and trying to get you out of there; it isn't because I don't like you. It's because I do like you. I love you, see. Faith and love is corrective, you see. It corrects.
If you had your little baby sitting out here on the street---and you know the traffic swinging by there---would you say, "Junior, dear, I think you should come in."? That's just about the way some ministers try to correct their congregation. Why, if you was a real mother or dad, you'd go out there and get him in out of there. And if he went out again, you'd have you a stick the next time in your hand when you went after him. That don't show you don't like the child. It shows you love the child, you know.
And I'm not hollering at you. I know the boat ain't going to make the riffle down there, and I'm trying to get you. That's what I'm after. And that's the way I think about organized religion. Not that I've got anything against the individuals; it's the system, the system that's keeping brotherhood apart. They say, "I'm Presbyterian, and we don't have nothing to do..."

8 I've been in the hospital, in a ward, and started to pray. I said, "Would you people bow your heads?"
"We are Methodists."
I said one time to a woman, "Are you a Christian?"
She said, "I give you to understand I burn a candle every night,"---like that's got anything to do with Christianity.
And one said, "What?" One woman said, "A Christian?" Said, "I'm an American." That's not a very good testimony for Christianity, I'll say that. And so, that has nothing to do with it.
Jesus said, "Except a man be borned again, he cannot even see [that is, understand] the kingdom of God." And I'm very zealous of the people. I'm zealous of the church, when I see twisting, organizations twisting the people apart and separating them, making them different; and then that same group become cooling off towards the Word of God and things. That is nothing I got against them. I'm trying to take the Word and shake it back together again.

9 I was ordained one time in the Missionary Baptist Church. Then, when I was called into the ministry here to... I just ... because the Missionary Baptist, it's not a organization, it's just a fellowship. You just belong to it. It's like a interdenomination. You can preach anything you want to. As long as you live a clean life, you can be a Missionary Baptist. Immorals is the only thing that puts you out. As long... And then, their baptism, they believe that the water baptizes you into the fellowship, and the Spirit baptizes you into the body. And so, therefore, no matter how you've been baptized, you got to be rebaptized to be a Baptist, 'cause it's into the fellowship, see.
And now... And then I found when I mentioned this about the angel of the Lord to my brethren, why they thought I'd lost my mind. But, I said, "If God has sent me to do such, there's somebody to receive it."

10 And then when I come among the Pentecostal people, it was like putting a glove over a cold hand, see. It fit just right. Then, when I come to find out they were broke up in organizations, fussing among one another, I wouldn't join any of them, but I stood right in the breach, and saying, "We're brothers. We're brothers. We mustn't fuss at one another." Why, as long as we are fussing at one another, the devil's sitting back laughing. He's got us. Let's put our shoulders and efforts together, like "Onward Christian Soldiers,"---all the organizations standing together for one thing, the Word of God. That's it. Under the blood of his Son, Christ Jesus, let that banner wave.

11 I know last night, and different times, I've tried to keep the messages just as simple as I possibly could, and get them to see. And if they'll just believe that little simple message, God will lead them on.
And I get some... People think I get excited when I go to preach, but I'm not excited. I know right where I'm standing, but I just get to feeling good. And so, some fellow says, "You're crazy." Well, if I am, just let me alone. I feel better that way than I do the other way, so... Just reminds me of... Some of them say, "Well, we are the old church. We was the first. We..."

12 Yeah, have a little story one time about my children. I'm a father, and I love my children. Billy, my son ... his mother died when he was just a little fellow. And I've been papa and mama both to him. I'd pack him around, and him crying for a mother; no mother to give him. And that was for several years till he got old enough to go to school. And I was out in the meetings, I couldn't take care of him. So, I remarried again. And we've had three children.
I've got two little girls and a little boy. Rebekah, a few years ago, she's the oldest. She's kind of skinny, long legged. And Sarah come along---she was a little short. And Becky's a blond; and Sarah's a brunette. Becky has big blue eyes, and blond hair; and Sarah, more like her mother, kind of dark headed, and dark-eyed. And so ... they're both daddy's girls, though.
So then, they wait for me yet when I come in. And I'd been out in meetings, and I was so tired. But they were waiting. Every plane went over, they'd say, "Daddy's coming now." But, it got too late. After awhile, they ... sand man got in their eyes, you know. So mother put them bed. She waited, and the plane was delayed. I got in about one o'clock in the morning. After coming out of meetings like this, I get so tired I can't sleep.

13 And so, I was telling Billy, coming over...
He said, "Daddy, you look so tired."
I said, "But, Billy, I must put every effort."
He said, "Why don't you go over there, and just don't speak to the people. And just say, 'I'll pray for the sick,' and run the prayer line as you promised them, and don't speak."
I said, "Billy..."
He said, "There's not many people there, daddy, a little bitty meeting."
I said, "I would put the same effort there if there was 100,000," you see. I said, "Because I'm duty bound by the love of God that constrains me to his church," you see.

14 And I've often thought what I would do with two drops of the literal blood of Jesus Christ in a glass, how I'd hold it. I certainly wouldn't want to spill it. I'd hold it to my chest, and up to my heart, and say, "Lord God, I appreciate this blood." But in his sight, I have a greater this afternoon. I've got the purchase of his blood before me. He loved you better than He loved his own life.
Then how should I treat you? Honest, sincerely. And sin I must call out, no matter how bad it hurts you or I. I must do everything that I can to be honest and upright, and a servant to Christ.

15 Back with my story. The little girls, they had... I couldn't sleep. So, I just got up, and went out in the living room, and sat down in a chair. And about daylight, I heard down in the children's room, the bed turned a little bit, and Becky woke up. She looked out, and she seen it was daylight. Off went the cover, and down through the hall she come real quick. She seen me sitting there. And little Sarah woke up when Becky got up. And Sarah was a little bitty fellow then, about four years old, and Becky was about eight, nine. So, Sarah...
Our children wear hand-me-downs. You know, when the oldest gets something, then it goes on down through the family. So, Sarah was wearing Becky's pajamas, and it's them rabbit-footed pajamas, big ... and that little bitty foot of Sarah's in Becky's big-footed pajamas. And so, she couldn't keep up with her. And them big rabbit feet flopping, you know.
And Becky beat Sarah to me. And so, she jumped up on my lap, threw both arms around my neck, and began hollering, "Daddy!" 'Course, that makes your heart swell out. And she turned around, and Sarah was just getting around---them little black eyes a-coming, you know, just as hard as she could. And she seen Becky had beat her, and the poor little fellow, she seemed so disappointed. So, she looked around.

16 Becky looked around, she said, "Sarah, my sister, I want you to know something." She said, "I was here first." That's what the big church tries to tell us. "I was here first. And I've got all of Daddy, and there's none left for you."
Oh, my. Poor little Sarah, it hurt her so bad, you know. Her little lips got to quivering, her big black eyes colored up a little. She started to turn around. And I motioned my finger to her, like that, and stuck out my leg. So, here she come.
Her eyes brightened up, and she come and straddled my leg. But she was kind of topsy-turvy, as we call it down there. She hadn't been here very long, like the young church, you know. She was kind of unbalanced. So, I ... to keep her from falling, I put my arm around her, and hugged her up close to me.
She laid there a little bit, and she turned her little head, looked up to her sister. She said, "Rebekah, my sister." Said, "It may be true that you got all of Daddy. But I want you to know one thing. Daddy's got all of me."
So, that's the way I feel about it. I may not have the education, the qualification as a minister should have. But one thing you know. I may be a little topsy-turvy, but I want Him to have all of me. As long as He's holding, that's good enough for me.

17 And now, thank you for your fine support. It's getting late. Now, I know you have your services tonight. God bless you. And now, if ever I can be a favor to you, write me. I'm not trying to get your address. No. Many times, that's a publicity stunt that... I don't even ... I've got one secretary, and one little desk sitting at the end of a trailer. And that's how we're trying to answer letters. But, it's the idea, if we can help you, don't... Prayer cloth, I'll be glad to send you one, or anything I can. No charges. There's no charges to nothing.
And many times, we know, it's said, "Write me." And then, the first thing you know, you keep building, building. You know how it is like that, because men has to have that support of the people to put telecasts on, and radio message. I don't have any of those things. I don't need money. I...

18 How could a man like our most gracious brother Oral Roberts ever come to a meeting like this, when he has to have around ten to fifteen thousand dollars every day? How could he do it? He couldn't. That's all. He couldn't do it.
So, therefore, I thank the Lord. He never ... He's smart. And He's all wisdom. I ain't got gumption enough to do that. So, I just stay ... just like to stay Brother Bill, and go on wherever He leads me. If it's a little bitty place where there's nothing, why, I go there if...
He led me to Africa, I went there for two or 300,000 people. Went over to India, 500,000. But somehow, somebody just comes by and pays it off, and away we go. So, I just live by faith, that's all. And so, I can go anywhere He calls me. No matter where it is, I can go, see, 'cause I have... If I had to worry about getting up fifteen, twenty-five thousand dollars a day (whew!) my, I'd be more bald-headed than I am now.

19 Speaking of bald-headed, a little joke on my wife. Here not long ago, I was combing them two or three hairs, you know. And she said, "Billy, you're almost completely bald-headed."
I said, "But I haven't lost a one."
She said, "Pray tell me where they are."
I said, "All right, sweetheart, I will, when you tell me where they was before I got them. Wherever they was then, they're waiting for me to come to them, for the Bible said the hairs of our head were numbered, He'd raise everything up. There's nothing lost."

20 I believe in a God that will raise us up in the last days. Yes, sir. Oh, how I would like to talk to you on that for a while this afternoon, just set your faith on that resurrection, and see that great picture laying in there, and how beautiful it is: how the old changes back to young; and how that God made a promise, and confirmed it through Sarah and Abraham, to turn them both back to a young man and woman; and show what He's going to do to all their seed after them. And so... Oh, it's beautiful.
And one of these days, God willing, and if you don't mind, and we'll ... and you'll let me come back, I'd like to come back on the island, and set up a tent somewhere, and stay four or five weeks or something, so we can just have plenty of time. So... Thank you. Thank you very much. That makes me feel so welcome. And I would do anything to...

21 See, many people doesn't understand divine healing just right, and I could be right here. But running through like this, the first thing you know, the unbelievers get around the believers, and try to explain it off. And ... you know. And the first thing you know, sickness strikes a person. They don't know just ... after they've been prayed for, and they think, "Oh, well, I've lost my healing." Sometimes that's the very sign you got it, see. And you don't know how to take a hold of it. And if we could just sit down... When the sickness reoccurs or something, you could come back. We could sit down before the Lord in a special place, where each individual ... we could see just what happens.
These visions that happens here, you're doing that yourself. That's just little temporary visions, like you're touching Him. But the real visions are when God shows what will be, and what has been, and what's coming on, and so forth like that.
Now, the Lord ever bless you, and make you healthy, and happy. And pray for me now. Let us bow our heads while we ask God's blessings. I'm intending this afternoon to pray for all the sick people in a line that'll pass through. Have you requests that you'd like to make known by raising up your hand? Thank you, and God bless you.

22 Our heavenly Father, we are so grateful to You for the fellowship and time that we have had together in this lovely gathering with the church of the living God. Those out of different denominations and walks of life have assembled together to worship You again this afternoon. We're grateful for this, for the faith that was once delivered to the saints might be restored again in the last days, as it's been prophesied so.
We pray your blessings upon each and every request. God, bless this people, and may sickness just completely depart away from them. May the pastors hear their congregation testifying weeks from now that the stomach troubles, and pains, and sickness that they had, has passed on, they don't have them no more. How thankful we'll be to that, Lord. And You've always done it. And I know You're no respect of place or person. You'll do it again.
Bless us now. And as we approach thy Word, may the Holy Spirit reveal to us the things that's written therein, and give faith for the oncoming meeting, Lord, the prayer line that's fixing to be formed in the next few moments. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

23 Now, if you will turn with me to just a little short message. And I would like to preach to you this afternoon, but my throat's real hoarse. And I would ... grateful be able to talk after all these meetings, and all kinds of drafts, and everything through the buildings.
Now, I want you to turn to St. Matthew's gospel, the 15th chapter, and 21st to the 28th verse. I want to read quite a portion of it here, and I want you to follow me, if you will. The 21st verse:
And Jesus went thence, and departed to the coast of Tyre of Sidon.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, ... Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she cries after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
... she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat ... the crumbs which fall from the masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

24 I would like to take a text from this, use one word. And that word is "Perseverant." And the word "perseverant" means to be persistent. Webster says that it is persistent in making a goal. Trying to do something, and being persistent about it, you become perseverant. Men of all ages who has faith in what they are trying to achieve has been perseverant. You must have faith in what you are doing.

25 I've noticed---and it's been very outstanding through thirty years, thirty-one years, rather, behind the pulpit; and about sixteen years now in constantly around the world in prayer lines, and watching people. People always ... will never... Seldom find one that will confess that they have no faith; they've always got all the faith.
But, see, faith is different than what you think it is; or not what you, I mean the average person, would think. Mostly, it's hope instead of faith. You have a mental conception of faith, what it means, and mentally you have faith.
But you go deeper than that, see. You go deeper. Faith is positive. It is the substance. It's not a myth, not a intellectual imagination. But it is a substance. And substance is something that you can hold on to, see. It's "the substance of things hoped for, and it's the evidence of things not seen," in Hebrews, the 1st ... 11th chapter, 1st verse. Now, that faith is not...

26 Now, you've got five senses in your body. God gave you those five senses to contact your earthly home. That's see, taste, feel, smell, hear. But that has nothing to do with God. There isn't any of them that will declare God. Not a one of them. No, because they are only given to you to contact your earthly home, see. See, taste, feel, smell, hear. See, that has nothing to do with God at all. And people rely really upon them. But you mustn't do that.
Faith is something different. Faith is the sixth sense which you contact God. You can only contact God by the sixth sense, which is faith. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and a rewarder of those that diligently seek after Him," see.

27 Now, it's a very odd affair. Now, for instance, here. Now, I'm going to talk loud. Now, here sits a music instrument. How do you know that it's a music instrument? Because I have one sense that will contact it. That is my sight. I see the instrument. I do not hear it, smell it, feel it, taste it. But there is only one sense that contacts it.
Now, you've heard the old expression, "I'm from Missouri. You have to show me," see. It's called the "show-me" state. Now, let me show you how ridiculous that remark is. Now, it's absolutely impossible for me to use the sense of sight to know that instrument still remains there. Someone could have come and took it from behind me. It's impossible. I do not see it. It's in the back of me. But it's there.
Now, seeing is not believing, see. Seeing is not believing, because I have another sense which is feeling. And feeling is believing here. And it's just as real as seeing, because it's the instrument. I feel the neck on it, I feel the strings on it, I feel the keys that's wound up the strings, see. And therefore, seeing is not believing. I believe just as much it's there as if I was looking at it. You see what I mean?
Now, same thing with any other sense. Now, when people says that seeing is believing, it's ridiculous to their own statement, see. It's a disgrace to their intelligence. To think that seeing is believing, that discards all the other senses.

28 Now, for instance, say that this was a bottle of perfume. Just say it was perfume. All right. Now, I see it, and I am feeling it, of course, with my hands. But, what if I could not see it, and I could not feel it. And yet, someone would pick it up, and I had no sight nor no feeling of it, and it come close to me. I could tell you it was there, because my sense of smell becomes active, see, when my other senses won't declare it. Now, you get what I mean?
Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things you do not see, taste, feel, smell, or hear, see. It's actually a sense, that you know it. There's no getting away from it. You're positive. Then something's going to happen when you have that.

29 As I've often remarked, what if I was standing out here on one of these mountain tops starving to death, and no one would give me any money, and a loaf of bread would save my life. And you come along, and felt sorry for me, and you gave me a loaf of bread. Or maybe, say you give me twenty-five cents. Say that's the purchasing price of the loaf of bread. You gave me twenty-five cents. Well, I can be just as happy with the twenty-five cents in my hand as I could with a loaf of bread in my hand. Why? I've got the purchase power of the loaf of bread. The only thing I have do, is walk over there at the store, and get me a loaf of bread. But now, right now, I've got the purchase power of the loaf of bread. It buys a loaf of bread. That's faith.
Faith never looks and says, "I don't feel any better. I don't see any better. I don't hear any better," see. It rejoices, because you've already got the purchasing power of your healing, see. You're just as happy. Just as ... know just as well as anything that you've already got it, because you've got the purchasing price of it, which is faith, see. Faith never turns loose.

30 Well, I'll get back to my text. All right. But I just thought I'd drop that along so you can see it's deeper than what people just shallowly say, "Oh, I believe it." You intellectually believe it. But if you really believe it, everything in this Bible is yours, see. It's yours. Faith purchased it, see. Here it is, the goods just laying here: God, Himself, in letter form. And faith in that Word purchases the thing for you. It brings it to pass, makes it to live.

31 Now. I was in a ... I spoke at a Kiwanis Club, some time ago. And there was a doctor told me that ... Said, "Oh, I believe, Billy." I was talking about a certain patient he'd give up, and the Lord healed. He said, "Oh, I believe it. In faith ... a faith..."
And I said, "Wait a minute. What kind of faith you talking about?"
He said, "Just a faith." Said, "I believe if that man would walk out here, and put his hand on the tree, and believe he was going to get well, he'd get well just the same, as what someone'd pray for him."
I said, "Now who ... tell me, doctor, you're an intelligent-looking man. How could a man ever have faith by putting his hand on a tree would make him well? You've got to have faith in something. And the Bible said, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the Word of God. That bases it. Your faith has got a foundation, because God promised it."

32 Like Abraham. Why, when he was... His wife was sixty-five years old, and he was seventy-five. Why, they had lived together... She ... they married when she was sixteen, seventeen years old. He was ten years older than she. It was his half-sister. And after they lived as husband and wife all these years... Let's see, sixty-five, she was ten, fifteen years past menopause.
Now, here was Abraham, seventy-five, an old man. And God appeared to him, and said, "You're going to have the baby." Why, my. That was just as good to Abraham as having the baby. He already had it, as far as that was concerned. Could...
Well, now. Sometimes faith will make you act funny to the world. Now, could you imagine an old couple like that going down, making a room at the hospital? They'd say, "You better lock that old fellow up. There's something wrong with him. He needs to see a psychiatrist," or something.

33 But Abraham had faith in what God was saying. Now, the first days passed, the regular twenty-eight day time. I can see him go to Sarah and say, "How do you feel, darling?"
"There's no difference at all."
"Well, glory to God, we're going to have it anyhow," see. "Get all the booties ready, and the pins, and Birdeye. Get everything ready, because we're going to have the baby."
"How do you know?"
"God said so. That settles it."
Ten years passed. "How're you feeling, darling?"
"No different."
"Glory to God. It's a ten-year-more of a miracle than it would've been if it happened back there. It's going to be anyhow."
Twenty-five years passed. Now he's a hundred, and she's ninety.
"How're you feeling, darling?"
"No different."
"Glory to God! We're going to have it anyhow. God said so, that settles it. God said so."

34 Now, see, the Bible said, "Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong, giving praise to God." Now if we are in Christ, we are Abraham's seed, and are heirs with him according to the promise. Is that right? Then how could a true Abraham seed see the promise of God here, and then complain about having a tummy ache, or your hand ain't straightened out right yet when God made the promise? Amen. If you wait fifty years, what difference does it make?
Abraham was able to achieve the title of father of nations and have the child, because he believed and was perseverant with his faith. Why, he could be perseverant. God had promised it. And God is ... he was persuaded fully that God was able to perform that what He had said. Oh, my!
How can the seed of Abraham, the royal seed of Abraham, the church of the living God, look upon a promise, and then don't believe it? God's eternal Word, "I am the vine, ye are the branches," see. "If ye abide in me, and my word in you, ask what you will, and it'll be done for you," see. Oh, what promises He gives us! We could quote them, but, you can only be perseverant when you got ahold of the Word.

35 Now, somebody comes along, and said, "Glory to God. Feel this. Hallelujah! I got it in my hands." Now, I wouldn't be very perseverant about that, see, because there's no one can heal you. No medicine, no doctor, no nothing ever did heal anybody but God.
I want you to show me the doctor that claims that he's a healer. I want you to prescribe for me a medicine that will do anything towards healing. Mayo's is the best we got. I've been interviewed there twice. They said, "We do not claim to be healers, Mr. Branham. We only claim to assist nature. God is the healer."
They can cut a place, but it takes creation to build tissue to heal it back. Now, you say, do you condemn doctors? Certainly not. If you break your arm, the doctor has studied how to set that arm; but he can't heal it. God has to heal it. He has to produce the calcium and all that goes into the bone, and knit that together and heal it. He only sets it.
If you broke your arm, and went to the doctor, and said, "Heal it, doctor. I want to finish washing my dishes," he'll say, "You need mental healing." That would be about right, see. But, you got to... The doctor sets it, but God's the healer.

36 You can't make God's Word lie. He said, "I'm the Lord thy God who heals all your diseases." And they've never had a medicine that would heal. No doctor claims it heals. It only kills germs while God heals. It only cleans the sore out, or something like that.
Or take your hand. A doctor works on two senses, what he can feel with his hands, or see with his eyes. He can feel a growth. He'd say, "Yeah, you got a growth there. I'll cut it out." Now, he cuts a hole in there, and cuts it off. Now, he didn't heal it. He cut out a growth. Who heals? He sews up. But, if God don't heal it, it'll always be that way, see. It'll always be that way. He can pull a tooth out, but who's going to heal the place it come out of? He can set an arm, but who's going to heal it? God's the healer.
So, you see, if you get the Word of God in you, with faith to believe that Word, something's going to take place, and you'll never turn it loose. Right.

37 I think of the father of our nation, which is called George Washington. I always had a lot of respect for Mr. Washington because he was a Christian. And before Valley Forge, when he prayed all night long in the snow until he was wet above his waist... and his soldiers, two-thirds of them didn't even have on shoes. They had their feet wrapped with anything they could wrap them with, and it zero weather, and the river froze over.
That night he prayed until he was wet plumb up around his waist. He caught the vision from God. And the next day, he was very persistent. He crossed the river regardless of... The ice gorges didn't stop him. And three musket bullets was shot through his coat, and he walked on to victory. Why? He was persistent. He prayed until he caught a hold of God, and knowed what God had said. That's it. He can be persistent for the achievement.
And the first thing, your achievement is only by your motive and your objective. Your motive has got to be right, and your objective has got to be right. If your objective is right, and your motive is wrong, then it won't happen. You've got to have the right objective, and you've got to have the right motive. And then take it upon the leading of the Holy Spirit in your heart, and stay with it. God will bring it to pass.

38 Noah, a great man of God, was very persistent in his days. He lived in a smarter age than we live in, more of a scientific age than we live in, because in them days, they built a pyramid. We cannot build it.
I've been in Egypt at the pyramids. The Sphinx, we couldn't reproduce it if we had to. Some of them... And that pyramid is so geographically set in the center of the earth, till there is never a shadow around it, no matter where the sun is, see. And another thing, there is boulders in there way up in the air, that we have no machinery, no gasoline powers that could ever lift those boulders up there, see.
But they built it. They could achieve it. They had a way of doing it ... maybe atomic power, or hydrogen power, or something. But gasoline power, and electrical power, you couldn't make machine big enough to lift it up there. So, how did they get it up there? And it's so perfect masonry, till you can't run a razor blade around the places where they're sitting together---hundreds and hundreds of tons. How did they do it? How did they build them?
They could make a mummy. Take a body, and embalm it that still has features looking right today, after around almost four thousand years ago, still looks natural. A coloring that we can't duplicate at all. They were smart, intelligent. Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the coming of the Son of man."

39 Did you know intelligence and smartness is a mark of sin and destruction? Follow the lineage of Ham's children. Look at Cain's children. They all become down to the antediluvian time. They were smart, bright, intelligent people, and they were scientists. They ... builders of iron, and so forth. But Seth's children were humble peasants that produced a Enoch, and a Noah. But these others were scientific men, educated, smart, shrewd.
Didn't Jesus say the children of the night is smarter than the children of the day? He likened his people unto lambs. Anybody ever herd sheep? A lamb, when he's lost, is totally lost. He can't find his way at all. He's got to have a leader. And that's the way we are. We're not supposed to know very much, just enough to live for God. And God is our leader that directs us. But we won't let Him do it. We back off like a goat and carry on, see. But we... It ... thems are marks.

40 And the days of Noah, when Noah come out and said, "It's going to rain," he preached 120 years that water was going to fall from the skies. There had never been any water up there. No, sir. Never been water in the skies. Could you imagine those scientists of that days? That didn't meet their scientific specification. Neither does the Holy Ghost today meet the scientific specification. Neither does the miracles and signs of God meet their scientific ... what they think should be right ... specifications, I was going to say. That don't make any difference. God spoke it, and it's so anyhow. And the faith that can lay ahold of it, holds onto it.

41 Notice, Noah. I'd see a great scientist come out and said, "You know, there's an old man up there on the hill building some kind of a thing, great big old barn of a thing up there on top of the hill. Said it's going to rain, float it away. Going to bring water down out of the skies."
You go up there, say, "Noah, let me show you that you've got a mental illusion. There's something wrong with you. I can take my instrument here, and shoot to the moon. I can take my radar [things that they had in them days, 'cause Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of man."] and there's no water up there. Forget it, old fellow. Go on back to your farming. Forget it. There's no water up there. You're pounding away in vain."
But Noah said, "God said it was going to."
"Well, where is God going to get [now listen] anything up there, when there's nothing up there to get it with?"
He said, "If God said there would be rain, He's able to put rain up there, because God said so."
It didn't stop him a bit. He was perseverant. He built right on on the thing, because ... putting the thing together, because he was perseverant, because he knowed that God said so. And heavens and earth will pass away, but his Word can't. He is going to make his achievement to save those who wanted to be saved. Sure.

42 Moses. Why, he was a scientist. The Egyptian race of people was the smartest people in all the world in them days. But Moses could even teach the Egyptians wisdom. And he tried his military strategy to deliver the children of Israel. It wouldn't work. He ran. When his scientific military strategy wouldn't work, Moses run from the presence of the people that God had sent him to deliver.
One time on the backside of the desert a bush was burning, and Moses stopped to see what it was. And a voice came out of there, and said, "Take off your shoes, Moses, for the ground where thou standest is holy ground." And Moses went in before the Lord, and the Lord quoted the scripture. "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I remember my promise to Abraham. And the time is nigh, and I hear the groans of them down there in Egypt, and have come down. I'm sending you down there to deliver them."

43 God always works through agent---man. Man is God's agent always. Not creeds, not denominations, but man, see. God never worked through machinery, or never worked through denominations. They die as soon as they organize. That settles it forever. Tell me... I want a historian to rise up and tell me where a church ever organized that didn't go to the dust. Always. That's exactly right. Every one of them, He lays them on the shelf. Every one of them are products of the Catholic church, the first organization.

44 The late pope, the pope just now---this John XXII, I think they call him---he put a proclamation out. I guess your Canadian papers packed it. Said, "All the churches, come back to where the church began at, at Rome."
I want any man, any historian, to show me where the church began at Rome. The denomination began at Rome; but the church began in Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, is where the church... If you want to go back to the beginning, I'm ready to go back with the pope to the beginning (that's exactly right), if you want to go back where the church began.
But now, the organization Roman Catholic Church is the first organized church in the world, and she's the mother of all of it. And Revelations 17 said she was a whore, and her daughters were prostitutes, harlots, and they're all to be destroyed. That's exactly right. That's the Word of the Lord. You argue with Him, see, not me, 'cause I'm just quoting what He said. Notice, that is true. And then we hug around those things, and, why, it's terrible.

45 Moses, when he had that vision from God, and the Lord appeared to him, and He quoted back his word of promise, Moses was right on his road down. Now, sometimes when you believe God, it makes you act awful silly to the people. Could you imagine, an old man now: here's Moses, now eighty years old, and he's hiding back there on the desert from the duty that God had sent him to do. But when he got on those sacred sands one time, where scientists could not explain it away from him...
No man ought to preach the gospel until first he's met God on the sacred sands where no man can take it away from him. The devil can't tread on those sacred grounds. You were there when it happened, and you know what you're talking about, ... care how many scientific this, and how much that.

46 What if Moses would have said, "I believe I'll go over and pick some of the leaves off the tree, and go down to the laboratory, and have them examined, see why they don't burn"? God would've never talked to him. But he just sat down, and talked to it.
That's the way to do. Sit right down and talk to God. He'll answer you back. Oh, sometimes when you do that it makes you act strange to the rest of the world.
The next day, here's an old man now eighty years old, whiskers hanging way down like this and his bald head shining, his wife sitting straddle of a mule with a young 'un on her hip, like that, and a stick in his hand. Here he's going down, hollering, "Glory! Hallelujah! Going down to Egypt to take over."
"Where're you going, Moses?"
"Going down to take over Egypt," a one-man invasion.
That's silly. But what was it? Moses...
"Say, Brother Moses, where're you going?"
"Going down to Egypt, going down to take over," just like one-man invasion going to take Russia over, see. The great ... had the whole world whipped.
But, "I'm going down to take over," with a stick in his hand.
"What're you going to do it with, Moses?"
"God said, 'Hold this stick, and go on.' So, here I go."
One-man invasion, ridiculous to the carnal mind. But he did it. Why? God said so.

47 I can see some of the priests stopping, the Midianites, and saying, "Now wait a minute, Brother Moses. You've been a great, successful sheepherder here. You mustn't act ridiculous like that."
But, you see, he said, "I met God. And God told me to go do it." And he did it. Where his scientific searches and everything had failed, God's Word can't fail. So Moses was perseverant. He killed one Egyptian, and ran because the threat of the people. And he went down there behind that, and killed a whole nation, with a crooked stick in his hand.
See, God does things so silly to the carnal mind that don't know nothing about God, but think they do, see. Why, God laughs at their ignorance. But He takes the humble in heart that will listen, and pay attention to what He's saying. It was ridiculous, but God did it. Moses was perseverant.

48 Stop him? He throwed his rod down, as we had last night. It turned into a serpent. And then these other guys throwed their rods down and turned into a serpent. He was perseverant. He stood there and said, "My God sent me. He's able to make that thing right." His serpent swallowed the other one up. He said, "There you are." Amen.
Yes, sir. He was perseverant because he had heard God. He had faith in what God said was the truth, because it was the scripture. God had promised that by the scripture.
When you see God promise anything, and then turn back around and confirm what He's promised, then you can be perseverant. What could happen? If men could ever take ahold, and open up their numb feelings away from God, and come up in the Holy Spirit and catch ahold of Him, and see there that it's God... He promised it.

49 Some of them doesn't have even common audacity. That's right. People, they ... some of them will just ... they just don't believe that. There's no way for you to tell them, because they were predestinated to that condemnation. The Bible said so in Jude. Said, "Men of old, predestinated to this condemnation, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness." Exactly. Wouldn't it be a horrible thing to know that you were reading and hearing the Bible preached to you, and then didn't believe it? What a horrible thing to... That's the horriblest thing I know of, is people that won't believe God's Word.

50 Now, David. David was a little sling boy back there. He had a slingshot in his hand, and he was herding his father's sheep. A lion come in, and got one, and run out. And he trusted God, and killed the lion with a slingshot. A bear come in and got one. He killed the bear.
And one day, he was over by the army of the Lord, taking his brothers up some raisins and so forth to eat, some pies, perhaps, his mother made. And while he was there, across was the Philistines. And there they had a Goliath---great big giant of a man, fourteen-inch fingers---standing out there. Said, "I'll proposition with you."
That's the way the devil does when he thinks he's got the edge on you.
He said, "I'll proposition with you fellows. Let's not have bloodshed. Now, let somebody come out and fight me. If they kill me, then all my country will serve you. And then, if I kill them, then your country will serve us."
Oh, sure. Satan was glad to make a bargain like that. So, he knowed nobody would.

51 And there, Saul, well-trained spearman, a warrior from his youth, standing there head and shoulders above his army, way back in the back a-scared to meet him. But one day, he made the ... he made it when the right guy was standing by---a little old stoop-shouldered (the Bible said ruddy looking) boy standing there, David.
And he turned around to them. He said, "Do you mean to tell me that you, the army of the living God, will stand there and let that uncircumcised Philistine defy the armies of the living God?" Said, "I'll go fight him. If you haven't got the courage, I'll go."
God's always got a man somewhere that's got courage, that'll stand up and tell the truth, and go after it.
He said, "I'll go fight him."
"Why," they said, "you're nothing but a youth, and he's a... Look, why, you're hardly as big as his arm."
He said, "That doesn't make any difference."

52 So, he come up to Saul, and Saul come up. He said, "Now, David," he said, "I admire your courage, son. But you don't have any dueling experience. So maybe you had better wear my jacket." Put his armor on, and it weighed little David down.
It put me in mind... Come to find out that his ecclesiastical jacket didn't fit a man of God. That's the way it is today. Learn your PhD, and your LLD, and how to duel, the creeds, and things. He'd have never fought him.
"No," he said. "Take the thing off of me." Said, "I've never proved it yet. Let me go with what I know God has blessed." Amen.
God's obligated to his Word. Right. Let me go with God's Word. God promised to bless his Word, and it'll not return to Him void. No matter how many tries to kick you out, stay right there on that Word. God promised you He'd take care of the situation.

53 David said, "I'll go fight him." Oh, my. He was perseverant.
His brothers said, "I know you're naughty. Go on back to your pappy, and to them sheep over there on the hill."
But David wouldn't do it, because God had done anchored.
He said, "Why," he said, "that man will throw his spear through you," and what all he'll do, and all like this.
He said, "But I was herding my father's sheep, and God helped me to take a kid out of a lion's mouth, and a bear," and so forth. And he said, "The God that would take ... give me deliverance from that lion's paw, and that bear's paw, how much more would He give me victory over that uncircumcised Philistine, who's defying ... saying, 'The days of miracles is past'---that big denominational creed that tries to place God's miracles way back in here, and divine healing over in the millennium when you'll be immortal. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If there ever was God, He's still God.
There he was. And you know what happened in the story. Yes.

54 John the Baptist, when he came forth... Now, we don't have much record of John. He was a priest's son, but he never followed the denomination with his daddy. He didn't do that. He had an important job. He was going to be the one called in history to announce the Messiah. He stayed in the wilderness until he was sure, until God met him. He didn't go down and fool with their creeds, and so forth they had, learning to be priests and all that. He went out in the wilderness, and lived off of locusts, and wild honey. And he never asked anything from anybody. But he stayed there.
And God spoke to him one day, and said, "Now, you'll know this Messiah. Now, when He comes, ever who you see the Spirit descending upon, and remaining in, that's the one that I've called. He'll be the one that'll baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire."

55 Now, if John would have went down, and got his seminary experience, and everything, come in with a big D.D., you know, some of the Doctors of Divinity would say, "John, we understand, according to your birth back there, that you were conceived in your mother when she was an old woman, and so forth. And now, you know not but what you're to be the one to introduce the Messiah. You said you was to be the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Don't you think that Dr. Jones here is just the guy? Oh, look at him, how he can just...," see. He might have been persuaded. But John kept away from all that nonsense. He stayed out in the wilderness until he heard from God.
Oh, if people would just get away from all this nonsense---days of miracles is past, no such a thing as divine healing---and get alone somewhere, and stay with God until you hear that voice say, "I'm the Lord thy God that heals all thy diseases ... the same yesterday, today, and forever." That's where you find God.
Now, he was so sure, so persistent, till he said this. He knowed that the Messiah would appear in his generation. He said, "There's one standing among you right now that you don't know." He knowed He was on earth right then, because he was going to introduce Him. Oh, he was persistent. Certainly.

56 Little Samson was persistent when he come out there, and there... Somebody has Samson... I seen a picture one time of Samson over in a Greek museum, and the creation. It was ridiculous. Show what the carnal mind can think when it's not converted to Christ---Eve standing there, the most hideous looking beast I ever saw. Why, you think that God create something like that? No, sir. And Adam, he looked like some prehistoric giant. I never seen such a thing. You know, God made him perfect. God made Eve, was the prettiest woman ever lived. She was God's early specimen of womanhood. Certainly it was.
And there they had Samson with shoulders the size of barn doors. Now, it would be no mystery to me to see a man with shoulders like that, arms about that big around, reach down and get a lion, tear him to pieces. Certainly not. See him pick up the gates of a city and walk away with it, why, three times bigger than the gates. He ought to be able to walk away with it. Sure, according to that. But Samson, if you want to know, was just a little, bitty shrimp, little mama's boy with seven little curls hanging down his back. But he was a Nazarite unto the Lord. Amen.

57 Now, when the lion run out and roared on Samson, he was helpless. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, a channel that God could work in. He wasn't an intellectual giant. He just walked out there under the power of God, and tore him to pieces. Now, that's a mystery how he could do that, a little fellow like that.
And one day he was out on the field and a thousand Philistines surrounded him. Now, them helmets are about an inch and a half thick of brass, that hangs down over their heads. Them great big coats of what they call mail was lapped over metal, sometimes a half inch or more thick, lapped over one another all the way down. That's the way they were dressed---great big guards out here in front of the legs, and so forth. Great... Oh, it'd take a giant of a man to pack them. And there was a thousand of them standing there. And they surrounded Samson.
Only thing he had to do was reach back and feel that covenant with God. Amen. That's it. And he looked for something. And there was a jawbone of a mule laying [blank spot] Philistines. He was perseverant. Why? He knowed that God had blessed him. He knowed the Spirit of God was upon him. What he had in his hand, he used it.
Oh, if the seed of Abraham today, the children of God could take what little faith you've got, and be perseverant with it, God will use it. Yes. Oh, it... (I get to talking, I get away from my text).

58 This Greek woman, she heard. Faith cometh by what? Hearing, hearing the word of God. Now, she was a Greek, remember. But, you know, faith finds a source that nothing else don't see. Faith finds its source that the human eye don't see; but it finds it anyhow.
His Word is a sharp two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), and it's faith that holds that sword. Now, look. There's everything out here to keep you away from every blessing of God. Now, somebody could pick up the faith of the little ... of the sword with a little weak hand, and cut off another little bit to make a confession.
Today we hear so much about decisions. We make so many decisions. Decisions are stones, like Peter. Decisions. But what good does a bunch of stones being piled up together, if you haven't got a stonemason there with a sharp two-edged sword to cut them into sons and daughters of God?

59 That's the reason Billy Graham said in Louisville... He went out there and bawled those preachers out, when I was sitting right there in his breakfast. He said, "You lazy preachers! I come into the city," and said, "I have a revival, and get thirty thousand converts. I come back in six months, I can't find thirty." Said, "What's the matter?" Said, "Paul went into a city, and had one convert, and come back six months later, and had fifty over that one." Said, "He had great-great-great-great grandchildren, as it was, back." He said, "It's you lazy preachers."
Oh, I wanted to say something to the great evangelist, but I was just a dumbbell. So, I just sat still.
Then I want to ask something. What lazy preacher failed to take Paul's convert? If it's lazy preachers with their feet up on the desk, and don't go visit the people that they made their decision cards, is because... Paul took that decision and stayed there with it, until he cut it into the form of Jesus Christ by the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And it was so on fire it made itself then to be... Not decisions, just go say, "I make a decision," go right on with the rest of the world...

60 Now, Billy said that out of thirty thousand, he couldn't find thirty sometimes. It's because that only thing you do is roll up stones. You just might as well leave them on the field if you're not going to cut them, fix them into the building of God, make sons and daughters out of them in the... The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword, and it cuts. And what does circumcision mean? Cut off the surplus flesh, the world. The Word circumcises it, cuts it out.
Faith holds that sword. Some can cut up enough to join a church. Some can go on into deeper things. And some can cut all the way through to divine healing. Depends on the strong arm of faith that's wielding that sword. That's right. Depends on...

61 She had many hindrances, this woman did. Oh, my. I could call over a dozen or two I got wrote down here that would hinder her. But her faith didn't have no hindrance.
You might have hindrance. Your pastor might say, "You attend a meeting like that, I'll turn you out of church." All right. There's your hindrance.
Your husband might say, "I'll leave you." Your wife might say, "I'll never... I'll divorce you."
You might have a lot of hindrance. But if you've got faith, it don't have any hindrance. It knows nothing but the Word of God, and stays with it. That's right. The Word of God.
They might have said to her, "You are a Greek. That man don't belong to your organization. You're a Greek." "Well, our bunch is not sponsoring them," whatever it was.
Another bunch might have met her, and said, "Why, the days of miracles is past. There's no such a thing. That bunch of holy rollers down there don't know what they're talking about, them Jews. We're Greek. We're smart. We're educated. We know things. But ... we're intelligent people, but look at that bunch of people down there. All they talk about is some supernatural God doing some this a-way, going through a Red Sea, or something like that," see. "But you're a Greek. You're smarter than that."
But faith had a hold, and she was persistent. She walked right on a-past it. She believed it.

62 Then she met a bunch of women, perhaps. And they said, "You know what, deary? Martha Luella [I hope there's not one here by that name. I called a strange name], you know, Martha Luella, what's going to happen? Your husband will leave you because he's a businessman in the city, if you attend down there where that's at."
What difference does that make? Husband or no husband, she was persistent, she was perseverant. She knowed she had need of Christ, and she was going to see Him, because she had heard that He was a healer. She was going to see it. Sure.
Might another one ... next one said, "All right. If you go down there, you'll be laughed at. The whole town will call you some bad name. They'll call you holy roller, or Pentecostal, or something. If you go down amongst them, you're sure going to be branded."
She was perseverant. She walked right on, brother. Nothing going to stop that woman. Yes, sir.
Then the other one. Here come ... the priest was the last. Said, "If you go, we're going to put you out of church and excommunicate you."
That didn't stop her a bit. Faith cometh by hearing. She had a need. She walked right on down. She was perseverant. She was going to see Jesus.

63 Now, a lot of people thinks as soon as they see Jesus, it's all over. "Glory to God. I got the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Now I'll just lay down and take it easy."
You're no subject of the Holy Ghost yet. Listen, when you got the Holy Ghost, right then's when you hit your trouble. That's when trouble starts. Exactly. Then's when you got to fight. That's what it's give to you for. It's a sword. That's right. Then's when your fight starts.

64 Now, she come till finally she arrived to where Jesus was. Now, she'd fought through every one of these barriers, perseverant. My, here she come, cutting her way through "days of miracles past, laugh at you, your husband leave you, put out of the church, what more, called holy roller," or what more. She's just perseverant. She comes on.
Now, she meets up with Jesus. Said, "Now I got it. Now I'm in his presence."
And notice, as soon as she met up with Him, she met another disappointment. Yeah. He said, "I'm not sent to your race.
Oh, the very God that she was respecting, what she give up her church and everything she had...

65 She had a daughter was very bad, had epilepsy. And she was trying to get to Jesus, 'cause she knowed He'd healed others. So, why couldn't He heal her daughter? So, she ... after she had left everything she had and got up to Him, then the disappointment, let down again. "I'm not sent to your race. I'm sent only to the children of Israel."
But, you know what? That don't stop her faith. No, sir. She pressed right on again. She addressed Him as "Son of David." He wasn't no "Son of David" to her. But when she said "Lord," that was different. She come in the right way then. "Lord, have mercy on me."
He said... Another thing, He said, "You're nothing but a bunch of dogs. I'm not sent to you." Look what that poor little woman had done, the things she had went through, everything she had to press to get to Him. And then, when she got to Him, He said, "I'm not sent to your race, and you're nothing but a bunch of dogs." Hmmm ... my, my.
Still she was perseverant. Sure. Why? She had faith. Oh, after He...

66 That wouldn't work on a bunch of Canadians, would it? or a bunch of Americans. You call them a dog, or something another, why, you're a something another. "You're a bunch of Anglicans, there is nothing to you"---something like that. Ahhhrrr! My sakes, you'd a-blowed up like a frog eating shot. And you'd... Why, my! You would not to... (Excuse that experience ... expression. I shouldn't have said that. Forgive me.) But you'd've thought awful bad about that.
If Jesus would have said, "I'm not sent to you Anglicans. I'm not sent to you Pentecostals. You're a bunch ... you're Assembly of God, you Church of God, you ... whatever you are. I wasn't sent to you. You're nothing but a bunch of dogs." Oh, my!
I'd've seen that disappointed look, then, "Well, I won't have nothing to do with Him at all. Wasn't right to begin with. I'll just go back over to my own church."
But not her. She had faith. She wasn't a hotbed plant, a hybrid like some of them today that call themselves believers---can't sit still a minute to the gospel. That's what we got today, a bunch of hotbed plants. You have to baby them all the time, keep them sprayed, the bugs off of them. That's right. Baby them like a kitten. Rubbing his fur one way, he'll purr; but rub it back once, and it shows what's in him. That's right. That's certainly is true.
She wasn't a hot ... a hybrid. Anything that's hybrid is disgraceful. A hybrid ain't got...

67 Why, I see ... read a piece in the "Reader's Digest" just recently, where if they keep on hybreeding corn, and stuff like that, women won't even be able to have babies twenty years from today. It's just tearing the human race to pieces, causing cancer, and everything else. It's a hybrid. It's no good. They say, "Oh, take Funk's," or whatever it is, a hybrid corn. It's a pretty thing. A great big fine grain, but there's nothing to it. Plant it back, and it won't even do nothing. Can't reproduce itself, nothing hybrid.
You take a mule. A mule is a hybrid. What is he? His father was a jack. His mother was a mare. And that ... he's the ignorantest thing there is. He'll wait all of his life to get to kick you before he dies. You can't tell him nothing. You can't teach him nothing. Just sit with them big long ears, "Haw, haw." Go to talking about days of miracles is past. "Haw, haw, haw." They ain't got nothing to pass, see.

68 But, oh, a good thoroughbred horse! Yes, sir. There's too much mule religion today. A bunch that don't even know where they come to. What... "Are you a Christian?"
"I'm Methodist; I'm Presbyterian; I'm Pentecostal. I'm this that, or the other." Hybrid. Can't breed itself back. Any denomination is a hybrid. It can't breed itself back. It's dead when it does it.
But a good thoroughbred, pedigreed horse can tell you who his papa was, who his mama was, who his grandpapa, grandmama, all the way back. And a real good pedigreed, borned-again Christian of the Holy Ghost can go plumb back to the day of Pentecost. Hallelujah! You can say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever," that pedigree'll holler, "Amen. Hallelujah!"

69 Hybrid. Hybrid religion. Oh, it looks prettier, sure. Great big fine churches, and millions of dollars into it, and everything like that. And a preacher can stand up and speak so ... just about fifteen minutes on the very thing that you want him to talk about---the flowers, or something else, or some politics, and then go back. And you can belong to church and play cards, wear shorts, do anything you want to, live on like the world. You think that's all right. That's your hybrid. But when it comes down to life, it isn't there.
For a borned-again Christian, a borned-again man will never shun one Word of God. A borned-again Christian will toe up to what that Word says.

70 She wasn't a hybrid. She wasn't a hotbed plant, have to be babied. And if the preacher preaches over ten minutes... Some of them will go to church, and sit down in a meeting. If you say one thing they don't believe with the... "Hmmm, I'll get out of here right now."
That's not even common decency. That's right. That shows what you was made out of. That shows the breed of people. If I went into a Roman Catholic Church, or to ... anywhere I went, I'd have the decency to sit and listen till the thing was over. That's right. But the hybrids today, see, they profess to know God. Jesus said, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For they are the sort that goes from house to house, and lead silly women, led away with divers lusts," all kinds of women.

71 A woman told me down in America here not long ago. I was getting on to the church about the way they were doing. She ... little old dresses so immoral-looking like that, and she said, "Well, now, listen here, Mr. Branham." She said, "I'm an American, and that's my God-given privilege."
I said, "It might be your American-given privilege, but it ain't your God-given privilege."
She said, "Well, you can't buy no other clothes but them."
I said, "Let me tell you something, sister. They still sell sewing machines and goods. So don't you never get out of that," see.
It's just because the lust is in the heart of the people. If they're borned again, they won't want to do that thing. If we had preachers in the pulpit would take them gloves off of the ecclesiastic, and throw that Word out there, and tell them the truth, and cut the chips, and let them fall where they want to... The thing of it is, we... That is right.

72 That's the reason we don't see signs and wonders. And when they appear, it astonishes the churches. They don't know what to do, and back away like they did in them days. Said, "It's Beelzebub, the devil," see. They just don't know.
I better stop and go on here. Well, anyhow, don't want to hurt you, but I want to shave just a little, so you'll know where you're standing. When you meet me at the judgment bar, you'll answer for it. Just remember, you'll answer 'cause I'm telling you the Word, exactly the Word of God.

73 Now, she admitted that He wasn't sent to her race. She admitted that she wasn't nothing but a dog.
Oh, would we do that? Oh, no. Certainly not. You say, "I do as I want to." Go ahead. Just go right ahead, to the church. If you want to, that's all right. But remember, you're going to meet it again some day. The world has become contaminated with perversion, the whole thing. The Bible said so. Education, civilization moved in.

74 When you Indians had this country yourself, there was no trouble among you. No. You lived a good long life, and everything went along all right. Little tribal fusses you settled by getting out there and fighting it out among you. But when the white man come in, he brought women, whiskey, drinking, sin. And admired civilization always brings that. What you got? A perversion---murders, thefts, steal, homosexuals, all kinds of stuff in this last day, exactly what the Bible said would happen. But here we got it, see.
No wonder a person can't be persistent. They don't know where they stand. How could a hybrid be persistent when he don't even know who his father and mother is, see? You couldn't do it.

75 Now, let me tell you something, lady. Just listen to this, sister in here. You go ahead and do the way you wish to. But you dress in them vulgar clothes, and get out here on the street, you put your daughters out there like that, and some man looks at her in the wrong way... You may be as pure as a lily. You might be as honorable to your husband as you can be, or to your boyfriend. But at the day of judgment you're going to answer for committing adultery, for Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Who's guilty? You presented yourself. You're guilty.
And then that hybrid preacher stand in the pulpit, and ashamed to tell them that. It's a meal ticket. They've got to do it to hold their denominational rights, and their big churches, and things.
What we need today is real men of God, who stands out on that Word and tells the truth about it. That's right. Remember, there'll only be a few saved anyhow. Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, wherein eight souls were saved, so will it be at the coming of the Son of man."

76 Now, watch. She admitted... The real true faith always admits the Word is right. Now watch ... always admitting the Word is right. "Truth, Lord. I'm nothing but a dog. Truth, Lord. You never sent ... you wasn't sent to my race. That's the truth."
She didn't want to see what this was, or that was. She just admitted that the Word was right. And the spirit of faith always admits the Word is right. Notice. "True, Lord. I'm not after the children's bread. But let me just take the crumbs that falls from the master's table, just the crumbs."
That got Him. That was it. He said, "For this saying thy ... go thy way. Thy daughter is made whole." Faith admits the truth. The same now, faith always goes with the Word. She was perseverant, and she got what she asked for regardless of circumstances.

77 Martha in the presence of Jesus, she was perseverant. She stood there, and she believed. And no matter ... even though her brother was dead for four days, and now stinketh, she said, "Lord, he's dead. He stinketh. But even now, whatever you ask God, God will give it to you." She was perseverant.
That's where we don't get anything. We're not perseverant. We've not got the faith. We don't hold on.
The Shunammite woman was perseverant before Elijah. She said, "True, that's right." Said, "You blessed me and the baby come. The baby's dead." But said, "Now, I'll not leave you. As sure as your soul never dies, and the Lord your God lives, I'm not going to leave you." Till she got the answer for her child, she was perseverant. Faith holds the Word.

78 Micaiah, standing there before four hundred prophets, all fed, and fixed-up and wearing their uniforms, and dressed. And Micaiah... There come Jehoshaphat. He was a believer, a man of God. Come down with Ahab. He ought to knowed to do better than that. But when he did, he said, "Does not Ramoth-gilead belong to us?" Now, watch the reason. Ramoth-gilead...
Joshua in setting up the land gave that to Israel. The Philistines come over and took it from them. And now, Ahab said, "Doesn't Ramoth-gilead belong to me?", that lukewarm borderline believer. Said, "Don't it belong to us?" And he said, "That's ours."
And Jehoshaphat, in the wrong company, sitting in the wrong crowd where there's no faith, no believing in the Word of God, he said, "Why, it looks like..." But said, "Oughtn't we to consult the Lord?"
"Oh," Ahab said, "sure. I got four hundred prophets down here. Brought them every one up well dressed, and fine prophets." Hebrew prophets. I don't mean some idol prophets. They professed to be real religious of the God that they serve. Prophets.

79 Just looky here. I'm going to take my time right here a minute. Real prophets---Hebrew prophets---they come up there, and they all prophesied. And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will go with you. That land absolutely belongs to us. And that corn that's raised on there ought to be feeding our children. Instead, it's feeding our enemy. Go up and push them off the land."
Now, doesn't that sound reasonable? God promised that was their land. And so... But then, Micaiah said...
Well, first, they said, "Isn't there one more we could consult? Isn't there just one more prophet?"
He said, "There is one, Micaiah, the son of Imlah. But I hate him." Sure. Any man that would tell him the truth, and bawl him out for his sins, he hated. Said, "I hate him."
He said, "Don't let the king say so."

80 And then the ministerial association went over and met him, and said, "Micaiah, all those ministers... You've been kicked out of the organization now. All those ministers will take you right back in again, if you'll say the same thing they say."
He said, "As the Lord God lives, I'll say only what God puts in my mouth." There you are. There's a man of God. He come on over there, and he said, "Give me tonight." He spoke to the Lord; the Lord told him. And then he compared his vision with the Word.
Always compare your thoughts and your visions with the Word. If it's with the Word, God said it. If it isn't with the Word, you better be careful.

81 So, he compared it with the Word. God told ... said he saw a vision. He saw the host of heaven sitting together. And they were all saying, "How could we get Ahab out there to kill him to fulfill the Word of God?", 'cause the prophet Elijah had said the dogs would lick his blood and eat Jezebel, and she'd be spread over the field.
And why, sure. They said, "How can we do it?"
And a lying spirit come up from beneath, and said, "I'll go down and get in those prophets, 'cause they don't know the Word anyhow. So, I'll go down there, and get in them prophets, and cause them to prophesy a lie and get him over there."

82 Then Micaiah turned over to ... seen that's just exactly with the Word of God. So, he went, and stood before him, and he told him that. And so, you know, Micaiah... That great big bishop come up, and smacked him in the face and said, "Which way did the Word of God ... the Spirit of God go when it went out of me?"
He said, "You'll see when you're hid behind the walls back there."
So, he said, "Take him, and put him in the jail," said Ahab. And said, "When I come back, I'll tend to this fellow."
Said, "If you return at all, God hasn't spoke to me."
Why? Standing there where he could have been shot to death... But he was perseverant. He had the Word of God. He knowed what it meant. Yes, sir, he knowed what it meant.
Philip was perseverant when he heard Jesus tell him where he was before He called him. Peter was perseverant when He told him what his name was. Oh, my! The woman at the well was perseverant.

83 Here not long ago, I was down in Mexico holding a meeting, and there was a little Mexican woman that had been... I guess four or five thousand outstanding things had been done the night before. An old blind Mexican come across the platform. I was only there, just the same as this meeting here, three nights. And we had that big bull ring, and there was thousands times thousands swarmed out there. Some of you Assembly of God, I tell you who was interpreting for me---one of your men, Brother Espinoza, there in California, Mexican interpreter. And we were standing there.
They had to come around... There was so many in there, put a rope around my arms to let me down on the backside of the big bull ring. And when we was standing out there on the platform... Raining, been raining all day. Those poor Mexicans, not a place to sit down. They just leaned against one another. And we can't sit five minutes. We're doomed. That's all. Sure. They couldn't... They'd stayed there all day, leaning against one another.

84 That night, when the prayer line started and I started to pray, there was an old Mexican man come across, and was ragged, and was blind. And I looked at him. And my shoes, I'd have give them to him but they wouldn't fit him. And poor old fellow probably never had a good meal in his life. And I put my arm around him, and prayed for him, because you've got to feel for the people. If you don't, you might as well let them alone. So, I prayed for him. His eyesight came to him. Oh, my!

85 The next day, a little woman was at the doctor's office. Her baby took pneumonia out there in that rain. And ... a little lady, she went to the doctor with it, very bad pneumonia. And it died that morning at nine o'clock in the doctor's office. And that night at ten-thirty, she was standing in that rain, standing out there trying to get that baby in to be prayed for, after dying that morning.
Now this is wrote with doctors' signed statements. The Christian Businessmen's journal packed it. The Voice of the Christian Businessmen just packed the article just recently. You probably have read it. And so ... but to make a document... To make a statement like that, you better have it documented right, because they can make you ... get in trouble over it. So, these things are true.
And there that night, Billy come up to me, and said, "Daddy, that fellow give out them prayer cards, give them all out. And they got a little woman standing there." Said, "I got three hundred ushers over here, and they can't even hold her." Said, "She runs between their legs, and everywhere." She was persistent. She was Catholic, too, to begin with. And there she was.

86 And so, after a while, I said, "Well, Brother Jack Moore..." I said... (Many of you know Brother Jack Moore.) I said, "You go down and pray for the woman. She don't know me. My, she never seen me, so many people jammed in like that."
And I said, "As I was speaking, faith..." And I looked, and standing in front of me was a little baby with no teeth here, a little Mexican baby looking at me, smiling; a vision. I said, "Wait a minute. Tell the ushers to step back and tell the lady to come here." Here's my Bible. I've got to meet God some day. That's right.
And so, they brought the little baby up on the platform. She began to holler, "Padre, Padre [means father, you know]." I told her ... Brother Espinoza to tell her to stand up. She had a blanket laying over the baby, water dripping, her hair down. A real nice, clean-looking, little woman. And she run up hollering like that, and her baby...

87 And I just went and put my hands on the baby. I said, "Heavenly Father, if that vision was You telling me to pray for the baby, I don't know. But I'm just laying my hands on it to pray in the name of Jesus Christ." And when I said that, the little baby went, "Wah, wah," began to kicking like that, and jumping. And there that little baby was.
And I said, "Brother Espinoza, you put somebody with that woman now. And don't you put that down---put that in the testimonies---until a doctor signs the statement." So the next day... They'd sent a runner, and went with the doctor, and the doctor looked at the baby, said, "I examined that baby, and pronounced it dead. It died with pneumonia this morning. The respiration stopped, everything, in my office at nine o'clock." Signed his name across it like that.
And there it was, the baby was living because a little mother was perseverant. Catholic church or no Catholic church, or whatever it was trying to keep her away, she'd seen that blind man get his sight the night before, and she was perseverant. Why? She knowed if God could open the eyes of the blind, God could take ... the same God that opens the eyes of the blind can give life back, because He is the restorer of life. Certainly. She believed. She was perseverant.

88 God have mercy. Can't we be perseverant this afternoon to get to Jesus Christ when we see Him come right into the midst of us like this, and do things that's never been done since the days of the apostles? Why can't we be perseverant and press our way in? Sure. If our faith ever catches a hold, and we're really convinced that it is God, we'll be perseverant.

89 Thank you. It's time for me to leave, and I want to pray for all the sick people. I cannot bring one by one to the platform and pray for them under vision. About four or five visions, and they'd pack me out. You know that. How many understands that? The Bible teaches that.
Jesus, the first... That little woman touched his garment (that type of vision), and He said, "I perceive that virtue has gone. I got weak." So, you know, we couldn't stand that.
But, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? And He taught us "These signs shall follow them that believe; if they lay hands on the sick, they shall recover." "The works that I do shall they do also," and so forth. You believe that with all that's in you, and God will reward you for the things that you're asking to be done. Do you believe that?

90 Now, before we line up a prayer line in the building, I want your reverence just a moment. Believe. Sometimes you have to cut like everything with the Word. But when I meet you at the day of the judgment, there'll be nobody's blood upon me, see. I want you to know that I tell you the truth right out of the Word. And if God don't confirm that truth, then it isn't the truth, it isn't God. If God confirms that truth, then it's truth, and you listen to it.
Before I walk down there to lay hands on the sick, I want some of you here to believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is Son of God just as much as He ever was. And it's his Spirit, and I'm telling you this, and this is his Word. Do you believe it? Thank you for your faith.

91 Now, so I can be sure the anointing of the Lord is upon me, before you move from your seats I want you to say, "Lord, God [in your heart, like this]: I know that man standing there doesn't know me. I know he's proved to me in these two nights he's been preaching, that You promised these things in the last days, and the unbeliever's walking away from it. But I'm a believer, Lord. I believe it. Let me touch the border of your garment. You speak back through that preacher up there, and do the same work You did when You was here on earth through your church, and I'll know that I belong into that church, because by one Spirit I'm baptized into that body." Yes, indeed. You say that, and believe it.
Now, everybody reverent for a moment, and sit quiet just for a moment. God bless you. If I don't get to see you ... if the Spirit would happen to strike me, and I don't get to tell you good-bye before I leave... I won't say good-bye, I'll say the German word, "auf Wiedersehen." That means we'll meet again. We'll meet again somewhere; if not here, across the river. We'll see you on that side. When I stand there at the day of the judgment, and this day flashes upon the screen of God's bar there, you'll see I've told you the truth. I've been honest with you. I haven't held anything back. I've just placed it the way the Word says it, and there it is.

92 Now, Almighty God, come on the scene, and let these people know that your servant is not here for no other purpose, but because You sent. Now, Father, I've spoke of You. You speak of me, that I've told the truth. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask this.
Now, have faith in God. Don't doubt. All right now, look up this a-way, and believe. Believe, please. In your heart, be saying, "Lord, God." Just pray. See if God can tell me what you're praying about. See if it's the Holy Spirit or not.

93 This little fellow out here on the end, sitting out here on the end of the front row here, kept his head down, and kept praying. He's praying. He's trying to ask God to get rid of that asthma. If you believe ... is that right? Raise up your hand if that's right. Well, it just left you. Amen. If that ain't the same yesterday, today, and forever, what is Jesus Christ? Is that right?
Look at this man sitting out here, looking at me. He's praying for a sister-in-law that's real, real sick. That's right. If you believe with all your heart, you can have what you ask for. Amen. God bless you. That's right. You see He's here. Don't you know that?
Look at this lady sitting here, kind of elderly lady sitting there. She's praying, 'cause she's got something wrong with her neck. Pains and things keeps running through her neck, bothering her. That's right, lady, isn't it? If that's right raise up your hand. All right, receive your healing. Go, and be made well.

94 Do you see He's here? Do you believe it? Now, can't you be perseverant to stand there and say, "If the presence of Jesus Christ is here, and knows the very secret of the heart; and the Bible said that the Word of God is ... powerful than a two-edged sword, and a discerner of the thoughts of the heart... How could that be the Word of God? "If ye abide in me, and my Word in you [I was baptized into his body. His Word abides in here], then ask what you will, and it shall be done for you." Amen. Why can't we be perseverant? believe with all of our heart?
How many of you people in here has got prayer cards over in this line here, wants to be prayed for? Raise up your hand. All right. How many hasn't got prayer cards and wants to be prayed for?

95 By the way, how many ministers are here today that's godly men, that believes in divine healing? I don't ask you what denomination you belong to now. You can belong to any denomination you want to. But you believe in divine healing, and you're interested in God healing the people, trying to make life a little better for them, to ease up the pains as they journey on, and you believe in divine healing. Raise up your hand. Ministers. All right.
I'm going to ask you to come here and stand, and form a line with me, that when I'm gone that the people will see it isn't me. You have just as much right to pray for the sick as I do. Any minister of God that's ordained of God has a right. Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned. These signs shall follow them that believe; if they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." What? Preachers preach the gospel to every creature.
I want the ministers to come here and let's make a double line right here. I'm going to stand right between you, right down here. We're going to pass the sick and afflicted right through here now.

96 And the people that's coming, when you come, don't come to one of us. You come as you're obeying, like you was going into the baptismal pool. Come down. And when these ministers lay hands upon you along with myself, believe that you're going to get healed and be made well.
Now, we only want ministers, ministers of the gospel. Just ministers. All right. I want them to form a double line right here, making an alley-like between them, a little road down between them, the ministers of the gospel. Thank you, my brethren, for your fine cooperation. You're the cream of the crop. I appreciate you as my brothers and sisters in Christ. Now, remember, you're interested in these people getting healed. And you've come to show your faith in God, that you believe, and believe that divine healing is right.

97 And every person here that belongs to these congregations ought to be proud of their minister, ought to be thankful for a servant that will stand here, and represent Christ in the midst of conflict, and still believe it, because they know that the very God that they love and serve, He's the one who knows the heart. And whenever you get sick hereafter, or something another, your pastor has a right to pray for you.
Do you love God? All right. Now, I want Brother Roy Borders to come up here to the microphone. And I'm going to come down there among the people. He will direct the congregation, how that they must come through the line. You people will start over on this side coming right through with ministers praying for you, laying hands on you. Then this row here, he'll tell you how to come out, and come around. Come one way so we won't get mixed up. And every person that desires to be prayed for may be prayed for.

98 Let us bow our heads now. Among minister brothers, you pray with all your heart. Just a minute. Our heavenly Father, grant this now. The great moment has arrived. I've done my very best, Lord, to try to show people that in the Bible the people that were persistent was the one that got the blessings of God, because they believed they had the promise. They believed the promise and they obeyed the promise. And nothing kept them from it.
Now, most gracious Father, these people have sat still this afternoon. These that are in here, they've listened because they have a reason. They've come to find your mercy. You've appeared before us in a great phenomena, and showing that You're still Jesus, and that You're here.
And the church is receiving its last warning. Father God, I know that's went over, and over, and over to people. They've heard it. But one time, they're going to hear it the last time. How do we know it won't be today? There's people sitting here today, maybe people been in here today, that will be dead before in the morning. How them ... voice will ring out in their ears through the ceaseless eternity yonder, how they walk away from the truth of God.

99 Oh, I pray, Father, that these precious believers that's here now, will be healed, every one of them. I pray that these men of God, your servants that...
You've got five offices in the church. You said You have ordained in the church first apostles, then prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists. God, You set them in the church. Maybe they cannot prophesy, and say things. Maybe they do not have discernment. But, they are men who are teachers and pastors. Me, preaching hard, they stand right here to say it's the truth. They recognize it. They believe it. God, honor those men. Honor them, bless their congregations. May an old-fashioned revival break out in every one of them, Lord. Grant it. And get those predestinated seed that's laying around here on the island before it's ever too late. We know You'll grant it.
Now, as we step down, honor their prayers as they pray. When they lay their hands upon them, Lord, ministerial hands that's set aside for the kingdom of God, may You hear and answer prayer. May every sick person that passes down this line, go out of this line praising God like Abraham. "It's going to happen anyhow, because God said so." The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and God shall raise them up. If they lay hands on the sick, they shall recover. God said so. And it's going to be ... somebody will be made well. In Jesus Christ's name, we ask it. Amen.

100 I want the organist, if she will, play with all your heart, all that you can, and make it... Now, congregation singing "Only Believe," all things are possible, only believe. Brother Borders will do the directing now of the prayer line. God bless you. [Blank spot.]
All things are possible, only believe.

101 I was checking hands coming through. People, did you notice me getting your hand, and holding it up like this? Remember, you Canadians, the first time I ever saw you? And I could only know by laying my hands upon the person's hands? How many remembers it? Remember, this gift was first manifested to be in Canada, in Regina, with Brother Ern Baxter that night, when I prophesied and told you that He told me that someday, if I would be reverent this way, that I would know the very secret of their heart. How many remembers me saying that years ago? The Bible said, "If there be one among you spiritual or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then hear him." Hear me. Jesus Christ loves you all.
And I checked those hands coming through, and a great percent of them was already vibration stopped by the time they got to me here. When them ministers had laid hands on them, they had already been healed before they'd even got to me.

102 Brother Byskal, God bless you. I just recognize you now, being Brother Eddie's daddy. God bless you. May everlasting grace of God ever abide with you until we see again. And then we would say,
Till we meet! Till we meet!
Let's raise our hands now. Pray for me. I need your prayers. I love you with undying love. When I speak to you the way I do, it's in love, because I love you.
Till we meet! ............
Bless you, brethren, for your fine unity.
................... meet
God be with you till we meet again!
Let us bow our heads now. I'm going to ask Brother Eddie if he won't come here, and whatever is on his heart to say. I'll be leaving pretty soon now for overseas. Can I depend on you praying for me? Do that. With godly love, I'll never forget Victoria, remember this island. God bless you till I see you again. Brother Eddie.

Perseverant

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 Thank you. Can we bow our heads now for prayer? Our heavenly Father, we are grateful for this, another most gracious opportunity to present to Chicago the gospel of Jesus Christ, to these elected ones who are waiting for the coming of the righteous Christ. We pray, heavenly Father, that when we leave tonight, that our hearts may be like those who coming from Emmaus said, "Did not our hearts burn within us, when he talked to us along the way?"
We're expecting You to come soon, Lord, to receive us into your great kingdom beyond here, where there is no more sorrow or death; where there'll be no more long prayer meetings, and no more praying through with people. And it'll all be over then, and we'll enter into the joys of the Lord, that we, by the grace of God, we feel that we're partakers of through Jesus Christ. Grant these things, Father.
And if there be any seed that's been in the hearts of the people, and never has come to light yet, may something be done tonight that'll quicken that life, Lord, to a realization of the message of this end-time in which we're living. Bless the ministers here in Chicago. Bless the businessmen, Father, and tomorrow morning's breakfast. O God, give me something to say that'll stir those men, their hearts. Grant it, Father. Help us then tomorrow night, over at the Lane Tech, and Sunday, the double service back here. Grant it, Lord. May souls be saved, people healed, the kingdom of God exalted, Lord. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Be seated.

2 I was glad when ... I was speaking with Brother Vayle here, just a few moments ago. I come in just a little late myself. And I know it's hot, but just imagine, you sitting there, and then moving around up here, see. And ... but we're always happy, no matter what condition it's in, to be here.
Just think of the days of our Lord, down there in Palestine when those ... sun rays hot---and His throat raw, Him standing there, and real weak---and preach on and heal the sick. He's just the same today as He was then---He still feels the same way. His grace is sufficient for all that we have need of.

3 Now, this is the night that ... I try to put these three nights for praying for the sick, and speaking on the sick, prayer for the sick. Now the other times, I'll speak different, on salvation, because I've got a double service each day, see, and I can't ... I can't have it... If I preach hard, I got to eat. And if I eat, I can't have these kind of services, see. And I got to ... and I can't have two services in a day, and make one of them a healing service. It's just ... you're full of food, and your blood's gone to your stomach to digest the food, and then your brain just don't work right in that way. So I'd ... perhaps, maybe then... Thought tonight, we'd give it over for prayer for the sick again tonight. I told Billy ... I think he said that he... Did he give out prayer cards? Does anybody know? Okay then. We'll get to them just as quick as we can.
And now, let's just be reverent, and listen close. And then in the prayer line, let's come with all the respects that we know how, to believe God's here to heal us.

4 Now, we're very grateful for the visions. That's ... my ministry is centered around that until about this time---waiting any minute for something else to come, which is coming.
Now I have ... what kind of weakened me a little, was this. Last week, we come home from Arizona, and we're going right back Monday to Arizona, and then home. I've had people that's been waiting down in that line for three or four years for them personal interviews---from Texas, from Arkansas, and all around over the country---waiting for those personal interviews. There's where you find the real thing. You just got one person and you sitting together. Then the Holy Spirit just keeps moving and revealing.

5 A little strange thing happened the other day. I had around fifteen, I guess ... or twenty in one day. And sitting in my study, early that morning before going there, the great Holy Spirit came in and told me every person that was coming, every question they would ask, every dream, and every interpretation. I wrote it out on paper, and laid each one of them down. Then I would go into the room, and these people (we had never met before), they would come in. And talk to them, and show each question they had asked, and all about it, and routine, and the dream that they had; then reach over and get a piece of paper, and hand it over to them, where it was already told before they ever got there, what would take place.
Now, only God can do that. You know I couldn't do that. Anyone knows that a human being cannot do that. We have no way of doing it. That's another paradox, as we spoke of last night. And then, to see the accuracy of the Holy Spirit---when it tells a certain thing will happen, it's just exactly like that.

6 Now, if any of you hearing about that vision of going up here in the north woods to a place I never knowed, and about that seven-foot silver-tipped grizzly, and that forty-two inch caribou, and where it would be laying---it's laying on my den room floor---just exactly where it was said, the place it was said, how it would happen, and exactly word by word...
How many ever heard the tape "Sirs, What Time Is It?", just before I went out west? The reason the angel of the Lord sent me out there... He told me, said, "Now, coming from the heavens will be seven angels in a constellation. There'll be three on a side, and one in the top. It'll be like a triangle, or something like a pyramid." And I said the one on the right had his wings turned back, and I swept right into the constellation by him, and he was to tell me what to do.

7 And I went west, just as he told me---was up there on the very same day. "And when they started coming from heaven," I said, "there'll be a sound like a great blast, something like a breaker of an airplane, a sound breaker going forth. But," I said, "it'll be so much louder than that. And I'll be just northeast of Tucson, about fifty or a hundred miles, something like that. And Tucson will be sitting this way, and I'll be picking some kind of cockleburs (or goatheads they call them there) off of my trouser leg." And I said, "A blast will go off."
And we were up there at that day, and I was over to myself. There's a man (I think Brother Sothmann is here tonight) that was with me, he and Brother Norman. Are you here, Brother Fred? I thought I heard you say "Amen" the other night. I thought he was here. Maybe I was mistaken. I ... oh, I'm sorry. Oh, yeah. Sorry, Brother Fred, yes. We were up there.

8 And on the day just before it happened, the Holy Spirit came right into the little camp where we were camped at, and said ... began to reveal about our children, what they must do, and how ... what condition ... things that were taking place among them, and telling us what to do, and so forth. I just had to get up and walk away.
And the next morning I found out where the javelina were, and I was trying to tell these two brethren how to get to them. And I went across the mountain, down over a little ... what we'd call a little hog-back, like. And I had Brother Sothmann there to go over to another place, where I'd seen those javelina the day before. I'd already got mine, and so I was trying to get these brethren in position for it, because I... These brethren, many a time I guide for them.

9 And I told Brother Norman to come the other way, and put Brother Fred in the middle, and then I'd go this way. And if I hit the mountain, and they run this way, I would just fire up in the air to run them back that way again, so he could pick out the one he wanted.
And we got out there, and there was no javelina. And I glassed Brother Fred about a mile away, and I could see him. He went back up the mountain when there was no javelina. I went down the mountain, through a great chasm, come up, sat down.

10 It was about eight o'clock at morning. I'd folded my legs, and was, off of my overalls, was picking some of them goatheads.
I said, "You know, looky here, isn't that strange?" I said, "This is exactly ... and I'm perfectly in the position, northeast of Tucson, Flagstaff," see. And I (be east of Flagstaff, northeast of Tucson) and I said, "Here's these goatheads that I said I'd be picking off of my..." I said, "That's strange," and I just throwed it down like that. And I looked up on the side, across a great chasm. There was a whole herd up there. They were almost in shooting distance. So I wouldn't shoot them myself, cause I didn't want them. I said, "If I can just get to Brother Fred and them now, and get them over there." And I run over a little ravine, and along a ledge.
And as I was running along there, all of a sudden it sounded like the whole country come apart, with such a blast. And it scared me till I thought... I was wearing a black hat, big black hat, and that just looks like a javelina anyhow. I thought somebody had shot me. And it just scared me, till I jumped up in the air. Just then I thought, "What is this all about?"

11 I seen the rocks tumbling off the side of the hill, rolling down.
And I looked up. There was that white circle above me there, circling around. Here come seven angels, come moving down out of the air, picked me up, and said, "Go back to your home, to the east, right away, and bring those seven seals where there's seven mysteries; for the complete Word is revealed now in these seven mysteries."
If you've never heard ... if you ever believed I ever said anything in a sermon inspired, you take them tapes of the seven seals. (I'm not a tape salesman. I ... Mr. Sothmann here sells tapes, him and Mr. McGuire. But I don't sell tapes. They tape them.) And if you ever heard anything that's really ... that I can say it's "thus saith the Lord," get those.

12 And, you know, not... In that time I didn't know it, but cameras from all over the country was taking the picture of that, as the white cloud settled down. Went on the Associated Press. I think your Chicago paper packed it, all around. Life Magazine packed it. How many seen it in there, that mystery? That was it, right there, just exactly what He said---standing right under it when it come down and formed.
They said it was way beyond ... and hunted the country. There was no airplanes, or nothing in there. And it was too high---twenty-six miles high, where there is no vapor or nothing. They couldn't make vapor anyhow. And thirty miles across it, and here it come, settling down. And watch, on the right-hand side of that constellation, if it isn't... Read the tapes, or listen to the tape "Sirs, What Time Is It?" about three or four months before it happened. There it is.
Even science has to recognize it to be true. They're studying it. They say it's a mystery they can't understand. The scientists down there in Tucson are trying to understand it, what it is. I thought, first, I'd go talk to them. I thought, no, it'd be just like that picture of the angel of the Lord, on the picture. They wouldn't believe it. There's no need to tell them. So ... but you see, in the face of all of it, they have to know that it's truth anyhow---that it's the truth.

13 Brother, sister, I don't know when ... I'll make my last trip to Chicago one day. This may be it. But I'm telling you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, the gospel is true. This is the last days. We're living in the shadows of His coming. Whatever you do, press into the kingdom of God. If there's one little touch strikes your heart, you come quickly while you have the opportunity to come, 'cause the hour's approaching when it'll be too late. And then you'll never want to come no more. There won't be any more call in your heart. And no matter how much you did try, you'd never get in.
When the last member is added to that body for the rapture, there'll never be another one saved. The doors are closed, as it was in the days of Noah. And there will be no more salvation left, though people will think there will be. That's where the trouble's going to come, see.

14 One time Jesus came ... John's disciples came over to Jesus. And they said, "We're sent from John. Do we look for another, or what about it?"
He said, "Just stay and watch what happens and then wait..." They went back across the mountain. Jesus watched them.
He said, "What did you go out to see when you went to see John? A man in soft raiment?" He said, "They're in king's palaces. Did you go see a reed shaken with any wind?" Not John. And He said, "Well, what did you go to see? A prophet?" Said, "I say, and more than a prophet. If you can receive it, this is he who was spoken of, 'I send my messenger before my face.'"---Malachi 3.
Then, speaking of John one time, the disciples said... When He was talking about where He was going---up to Jerusalem, and be offered up---they said, "Well, why is it we're taught in the Scriptures, by the scribes, that Elias must first come and restore all things?"
He said, "Elias has already come, and you didn't know it."

15 Now, look. To those scribes (Can you hear me? Say "Amen."), those scribes, even those apostles, that their very last sign was looking for Elias. Let me repeat it. The very elected---the scribes, and the apostles called of the Lord---were looking for the Messiah to come, but Elias to come and forerun His coming. And he come, and did it in such humility, and ... till they even didn't recognize him.
And may I say this, as my own thought. One of these days... You're looking for a lot to happen that's happening, and you don't know it. You're going to say, "Before the rapture of the church..."
Now, I'm not here preaching doctrine. There's ministers on the platform here that would disagree, probably, with this. Most all ministers believe that the church goes through the tribulation period for purification. I can't see it. The blood of Jesus Christ is our purification, see. I believe that the church, the denominational church and the sleeping virgin does go through the tribulation, but not the bride. There's a difference between the church and the bride. The bride goes in the rapture.
That's where you Church of God of Anderson, and all, got mixed up there, see, is in that.

16 Not saying ... telling you what you did or didn't... I'm not to say that. But this is where ... the way I see it.
The first thing you know, you're going to say, "Why, I thought there was supposed to be a rapture before the tribulation." The tribulation's going to strike, and what... Wouldn't it be awful if you heard Him say, "It's already been, and you didn't know it."? "There'll be one in the field, I'll take one and leave one," just somebody come up missing. There'll just be a very, very few in that rapture that'll be changed. The sleeping bride, the bride that's been taken through the age, she'll come forth first. And then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them---just one here, and one there, and one over here.

17 At least, every day, across the world, there's as many as five hundred people missing. And what if there's a thousand? They'd say, "Oh, well, this woman, she just run off with somebody. This preacher, he took some other man's wife, and gone." He's gone to glory, in the rapture, and they won't know it.
Did not He say he would come as a thief in the night? You say, "Well, if He comes, I'll see Him." No, no. Just those that's going to see Him's going to see Him at that time, see. Just like that light. Like John stood there, and saw that ... that Spirit of God like a light, dove coming down and going upon Him, and a voice saying, "This is my beloved Son." Nobody heard it, or saw it, but John, see.

18 And when that rapture takes place, it'll be a change. And the first thing you know, that change, then we're caught into them and gone away. And the sleeping virgin, it moves right on just the same, and thinking everything's going fine---and they're already gone. It's already happened, and you knew it not.
I don't say it'll be like that, remember. I'm not saying the Lord tells me it'll be that way. But I believe it's so close at hand, it's possible. I don't want to take any chance---I want to be ready. I want everything ready. I don't want to ... every weight laid aside, whether ... how it comes. Probably, the way we got it all drawed out, it'll be different (it always is) than what we have it planned. His first coming was that way, and His second coming will probably be the same thing.
Let's pray now. Let's be sincere.

19 Chicago, you know I'm a Southerner. I'm used to hospitality in the South. You got a big city here, a big, great big city with five million people in it. But I don't know of any big city in the world that's really, from the people over, is as friendly and nice as people in Chicago. That's right. These Chicago people are nice people. Even you get out here on the street, and... We was talking to even winos, and everything else. They respect you, and nice. I really appreciate that.
And let me tell you, with a vision the other morning... I know that some of the bride is waiting here in Chicago for the coming of the Lord. I know there's going to be a bunch out of this city taken, according to a vision, which has never failed. And I know there's ... God's got people in here that's going in that rapture. I believe that, in that day. I think I've said enough, and got far enough, till I have to quit saying now.

20 Lord Jesus, help us now as we go to the Word. May the people clearly understand, Lord. Human beings, we are, together. We know that we get tired, and worn and... But I pray that You'll grant one more time, tonight, to shake this little church, Lord, with your power, with the Word. May there not be a feeble person among us. Lord, we thank Thee, because that we believe that when we ask these things, we receive them. I pray that You'll just do a great thing among us tonight, Father. In Jesus' name, I commit myself, with this text that I'm going to read, and I pray that You'll unfold it to us in a great way, that the people might clearly understand. Amen.

21 I wish for you, if you want to, and would care at this time... And, it's almost... I'm going to try to make it exactly at the time tonight, if I can, of getting out a little earlier than I did last night, anyhow.
But turn with me to the St. Luke's gospel, or, I beg your pardon, let's change that. I got Luke wrote down here, but I'm turned over here also to Matthew. Matthew, the 15th chapter beginning with the 21st verse. St. Mark gives a record of it too.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
... behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coast, and cried unto him, ... Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and sought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It's not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat ... the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

22 We have here under consideration quite a lengthy scripture reading, and I don't want to spend too much time on it, which you could stay all night, as it was, anyone knows---because all the scripture is given by inspiration. I believe that.
But I want to take one word, to make a text out of it. I'm going to call the word "Perseverant." The word "perseverant" means to be persistent, and persistent in making a goal, or doing something. And every man that, in all ages, that's ever made anything out of themselves, or done anything, would be persistent in the thing they were trying to achieve. And before you can be persistent, you have to have faith in what you are trying to achieve. And if you haven't got faith in what you're trying to do, you'll never be able to do it.

23 Now, that little word "faith" means so much. And yet, we strike it so lightly. I hear so many people say, and come in (it's amazing), say, "Oh, I've got faith." And not disregarding their effort, but you know, sometimes those that claim they have so much faith, I find has less than those that says nothing about it.
They ... they're built up to an emotion, and not a real faith. There's quite a bit difference bet ... a hope, an emotion with hope, than being quiet, and using faith, see. Faith is something ... it's a substance. It's not something that you just jump at, and haphazardly hit at, and hope so. It's something that you know you have it. The thing that you're asking for, there's no human way of ever explaining how you're going to get it, but yet, you know it's there. You have it. It is a substance.

24 If I could get that so that you'd understand clearly, it would mean so much to the meeting tonight. If ... in this night of this healing service, are ... we are trusting. I say that, healing, because I believe that God's going to do it. I believe that God is going to do what He promised to do. And if I didn't do that, I'd be afraid to stand here in this audience of people, and make these statements that I do make; because if I had the least bit of fear about it, I better never enter that door.
You've got to absolutely believe it. And you have the assurance, and there's nothing can move it. You ... no matter what happens, you still believe it. Even though it seems like it's failed, you still believe it. No matter what happens, you still believe it.

25 Like the little lady sitting here looking at me here the other night. Mrs. Way had been taking care of her.
Her husband was raised the other day from the dead, dying in a heart attack. And I walked off the platform, and ... because, when I seen him, his eyes go back, and die, I didn't know what to do. I went down there to check his heart, and feel him, and see he was gone. Then I had to be to him.
Then, the other night, I was asked the question, "Why didn't you go down to that lady? She turned around." Mrs. Way tried to get her out, and she dropped in the floor, and her face turned white, and just was almost gone. "And why did you not go down there?"
Because that I had no reason to go there. See,

26 faith isn't something that somebody else is trying to get you to do. It's something God commissions you to do, see. I seen the lady was only ... she was very sick, but intoxicated by drug (trying to get well, doctor had give her). And I seen her sitting, laughing, and rejoicing. And what's the use of me going down there after it's already over, see?
And someone say, "But, Mr. Way would ... he would've laid there." But we had to go do this. But when the woman was back outside... Yet, the vision come; and she's sitting here tonight, fine, laughing last night. There, see?
You've got to know. And you cannot know, until you have faith. And faith produces that know-so. Faith is that know. Faith is that thing that says it.

27 Now. Now when we see this perseverance... Any man that's trying to achieve anything, has been perseverant. For instance, George Washington is called the father of this nation. One night he prayed all night in the snow. And when the real, genuine, first-blooded Americans that had taken their stand upon this ground, and the great economy that they had in common was at stake... And there was about seventy percent, or more, of those American soldiers standing out there, didn't even have shoes on their feet. Their feet was froze, and wrapped in rags. But yet, they had a leader that they believed in. And that leader believed in the leader, God. And he prayed until his clothes was wet up to his waist, kneeling in the snow.
And there was the frozen Delaware between him and where the British was taking their picnic at the other side. But the frozen Delaware didn't stand in his way. Neither did his opposition---of his frozen soldiers, and their feet frozen, and the ice in the river. He was perseverant. He had faith that God was going to give him the victory, and he... The Delaware couldn't stay in his way. And he achieved the purpose, although three musket bullets went right through his coat. But it never touched him. He was perseverant. He had heard from God. And he had faith that what God had told him was the truth, and nothing could stop him.

28 If every sick person in here tonight could just have faith in God like George Washington did, your Delaware that stands before you, tonight, would have to melt away. Some way you'd cross it. No matter what your opposition is, you'd still cross it. You'd be persistent---so persistent, till that cancer, tumor, whatever it is, would never be able to stand there, because you'd cross over to the promise that God had give you. Men can only be persistent after they have heard from God. Faith is only based on the Word of God, because faith comes by hearing the word of God.

29 Noah, in the opposition that he preached in, in the days of his time in preparing the ark after he heard God tell him that He was going to destroy the world with water, that sin had heaped up so high that He couldn't stand it no more... He was going to wash the world off with water, and there was not a bit of water in the skies. But yet, Noah was perseverant in the time of critics. No matter how much people told him, "It can't happen," Noah knowed it was going to happen, because...
And being perseverant, he never just said, "Well, I've laid the foundation of the ark, I guess I... That'll be enough then, if the science has already proved I'm on the wrong grounds."

30 That's the way many people does about coming to Christ. They lay the foundation of believing on the Lord Jesus, and accepting Him as personal Saviour, and maybe going on to Christian baptism. But when it comes to following on through to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, somebody explains it away for them. That's the reason that seed fell by the wayside, or it fell on stony grounds.
But the man, woman who has faith that God ... that "Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever," that His Word is just as real now, and every promise just as true as it ever was, there is no minister, nobody---nobody---can explain it away from them. They're perseverant. They climb on until they achieve what they purpose to do. There is no way to explain it away from them. They believe it.

31 Moses, he did the same thing. He had forgotten the vision, and the feeling of the people. But when he met God in that burning bush, and he seen that that was God's Word... See, Moses had just come up under good teaching (his mother), and had been taught the way of God. But when he got up there, and met this person that his mother had taught him about... You see what I mean?
Many people take the Bible, and understand it intellectually perfect. But that's not it. That's not what we're talking about. No matter how well you can explain it, you've got to meet the author of it, personally. Then's what brings faith. For the author lives in you after you're born of Him.

32 Moses met the author. "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and of Jacob. And I remember my promises, and I've come to send you. [Amen.] I'm sending you to deliver them." And notice, when he performed his first sign, and it seemed like it failed, because he had a lot of impersonators... The Egyptians could do the same thing that he did. But, you see, Moses... After he had met God in the burning bush and knowed that He was God, it didn't make any difference how many more impersonated it and what kind of a character they was that did it, Moses knew that his was genuine, that it come from God. He just stood still in the face of Pharaoh, and then his snake eat up the rest of them.

33 That's the way people do today. They maybe... If they're not sure, if they're worked up on some emotion, and they see somebody else get off on the deep end of something, and go on, then they think, "Well, maybe mine..." But that man who really meets God and knows that... He knows what happened---it's God. Certainly. No one could explain it away from him.

34 David, a little ruddy fellow, he wasn't big enough to carry firearms (or a sword rather, in that day, his shield); he was too little. He happened to be what we'd call the runt. And his father didn't have nothing for him to do---his brothers were big, strong, strapping men---so he thought he could get David a job, maybe, herding some sheep.
And the little fellow stayed out there, and he met God. And he had a ... he was detailed to take care of those sheep. And David was a prophet, and the word of the Lord came to him in songs. And Jesus said, "Have not you heard in the Psalms...?" how things was predicted of Him, you know. And David was a prophetic songwriter.
And while he was out there, looking up, and hearing the wind pass through the mountains and down through the cedars, he wrote of the shady green pastures and still waters, and so forth, inspirationally. As he wrote it at night watching the stars and the moon, and how nature worked, God visited him. And he knowed there was God.

35 And one day a bear came in, and got one of his sheep. And the sheep meant a lot to him, because he had learned to love that sheep, and he loved them. And so, when the bear came in and got one, David's heart began to burn when he heard that little sheep cry. And God had sent him to watch those sheep. And so, when the bear caught the little lamb, and it started crying, David all at once remembered that the God that made the mountains was his God. So he puts a rock in his little slingshot and went after this big grizzly. And he struck the grizzly, and down he went. Then, when he come back he was happy, because he'd won the victory.

36 And then, a bigger trial come in. A lion, which is far more fierce than the bear with ... he's more game. (And if I had time, I'd like to break those animals down, and show you the great parable in there.) And the lion come in, and grabbed one, and run off. So, if God could give him victory over the bear, He sure could give him victory over the lion.
Oh, if God, who can give me victory over myself (amen) can surely give me victory over the disease that's trying to take me from Him. The God that can save me and make me something that I'm not... When I'm not a Christian, He can make a Christian out of me, by believing His Word.

37 Then, we find that he got the bear. And finally, the great showdown come when there come a great big grizzly bear, bigger than any of them. He was a man, of a giant. And David knew that with God he was more than a match for him. No matter how big the opposition was, with God he's more than a match.
Yet, the littlest man, the most unequipped man... Not a fighter---a kid; and not a armor---just his bare body; not a shield over him---but a piece of sheepskin wrapped around him; and he didn't have a spear or a sword---he had a little slingshot (you know, two little pieces of string, with a leather on the end of it). And he wanted to fight that man, because he was trying to come after God's sheep. And if God could deliver the sheep, how much more His army, His people?

38 Chicago, that's the reason we're here. You're more than a sheep. You're God's people. And we don't have an intellectual, or a great denomination behind us, but we know that sickness has caught you, and you're gripped in the cares of the world. And we come in the name of the Lord Jesus. Though the doctor turns you down... We don't care what he done, we've come to take you back to health, in the name of Jesus Christ, with the little slingshot of His Word---two little strings, the New and Old Testament, holding Jesus between them. And we come to take you back to where you belong, if you'll just let us.

39 Notice, little Samson also, as I spoke of last night, he was very persevering himself. As long as he could feel those seven locks hanging down his back, the Philistines meant nothing to him. No matter if he had nothing but a jawbone of a mule in his hand, or whatever he had, the Philistines or the gates of Gaza, they meant nothing to him as long as he could feel those seven locks. That was the covenant.

40 And as long as the Christian can feel that covenant, all things are possible to him that believeth. When you can feel that covenant faith in you---that you are God's child, and an heir of every one of His promised blessings---don't care what comes up, you're more than a match for it. As long as you can feel, and know that you do believe it (Do you follow me?), as long as you can... As Samson felt that, he was all right.
And as long as in your heart (that you're just not worked up, you're just not emotional, but in your heart), you know that you're going to get it, you know that you have confessed your sins, you know that you have passed from death to life, you know that you're a child of God and heir of these things, then there's nothing going to keep you from having it. Then you're perseverant.

41 John the Baptist was so perseverant that he even made this statement. Four thousand years they had looked for a messiah, but John knew that he was going to introduce Him. He knowed that he had a... Jesus said, "He was more than a prophet." He was a prophet, but he was more than a prophet, because he was the messenger of the covenant. And he was so sure of it, that he was going to see that light, that dove, was going to see the Spirit... He was so positive of it, till he said, "There's some standing ... one standing among you now that you don't know. I'm not worthy to loose his shoes. But he'll be the one that will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire."
God had...

42 He was a prophet, and more than a prophet, and he knew his charge. He knew that God had commissioned him. And there was no fear in his heart, though four thousand years, in the midst of a bunch of howling mob of critics making fun of him, and saying he was a wild man trying to drown people. That didn't stop him a bit. Somebody might have said, "John, aren't you afraid that it won't happen?" How could it fail when God said so? God told him, "Upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remaining upon, he's the one that's going to baptize with the Holy Ghost."

43 John knew it.
He wasn't afraid of failure. That was his charge, that was his commission, so he could be very perseverant, very persistent. No matter, nothing's going to bother him. There wasn't enough devils out of torment could take him. Hallelujah! He was commissioned to do something.
And heavens and earth will pass away, but that Word'll never fail. He said, "I'll see Him." Now faith had anchored. He'd heard, like Moses, in the wilderness, where prophets are molded. He'd heard God tell him, "You're the voice of one crying in the wilderness. I can point to the scripture, and show you your commission. You're the one that Isaiah said, 712 years ago, there'd be a voice of one crying in the wilderness."
They said, "Are you the Messiah?"
He said, "No, but I'm the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" And he knowed that he was going to do it, because God said so. Faith---and he was persistent.

44 The rabbis, and so forth, come out and said, "You mean there'll come a time that the daily sacrifice will be taken away? A man will take the place?" and so forth.
He said, "There's coming one that will take the place, and he'll take away the daily sacrifice. He will be the Lamb." And as he turned to look, he said, "Behold, there he is. There's the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world," right in the midst of his sermon, because God promised him.

45 No matter what they say: "Why, they'll throw you in jail." "The ministerial association'll kick you out." "You'll not have any fellowship." "There's no cooperation." Didn't make John any difference. He was perseverant. He had a message; somebody must hear it. And out of his entire group, I don't think he got but about twelve, but he got something. When he got the power of God on him, then the Lord began to move on him.
Now, the Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we can see the commission of the Lord, then you can be perseverant.

46 My, this little Greek woman, she had heard of Him. She'd never seen Him, but she'd just heard of Him. She'd heard of His fame.
Why, we hear the same thing. We hear of His fame, we read of His fame, we see His fame---and faith cometh by hearing. Somehow or another, faith finds the source that others don't see. When you are predestinated to a certain thing, you can look right at it because your faith is declaring it, and others know nothing about it. Faith finds that source that you can't see. 'Course others are looking at it from observations, and so forth, and they're coming in there presuming. And the word "presume" is to venture without authority.
Now, Moses never went down into Egypt presuming that God was with him; he went down into Egypt knowing God was with him. You don't accept your healing thinking God will do it; you accept your healing because God's already done it. He promised it. And your faith says it's so, and nothing else can wipe it out.

47 Now, His Word is a sword, the Bible said. In Hebrews 4:12 it said, "The word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. It discerns the thoughts that's in the heart." That's what the Word does. Now the only thing that can handle this sword is a hand. And the only thing that can handle God's Word is faith. If the Word is a sword, then faith holds it, grips it.
And when people are dueling... Like, if they ... two men meet, and with these knives they're dueling. That's you, and the devil trying to get you to doubt. Now your sword that you got may be ever so good. It's a million times better than his. I'm going to tell you, his is not even a sword---it's a stick. But yours is a sword. But if the hand that holds that sword is weak, the stick can overcome it.
But no matter how little this hand is, if it holds the Word of God with faith, there's nothing going to do it. It can cut anything down. See, he's holding it in his right hand, and you in your right hand. And when your swords lock, when you lock with the devil (Is it so, or not so?)...
Now, he's pressing to you, say, "It's wrong, it's wrong! You mustn't believe it."

48 But if you believe it...
See, these swords come right straight down to the handles. Now, if I can push his back with my handle, the blade like that, where am I at? I'm directed right straight to his heart, 'cause I'm on the right side, at his left. And then, when I'm pressing with faith, with the Word, "Satan, Jesus Christ commissioned me to do this," and we lock; and raise up that hand of faith and say, "An angel of God met me yonder, and said it's so"; the first thing you know ... goes right straight in and he's conquered. "I come to challenge you, and 'Thus saith the Lord.'"
That's the believer, when he has faith to handle the Word. Now, if you're just a little denominational weakling, you'd better keep away from it. You'll go 'round, talk about it, say it can't happen because you don't know nothing about it. But that man who's handled it, and seen it conquer that enemy, he knows what it'll do.

49 This poor little woman, she'd never seen Him, but she'd heard of Him. She had many hindrances, but her faith didn't have any hindrances. Faith don't have any hindrance at all.
You might have a lot of hindrances. You might have the doctor's word, the scientific man who's examined you. It might be that he ... that man told you you're going to die. That's all he knows. He's told you all he's studied. His scientific work shows that you must die. Your whole system's made in that kind of a way, that death has struck it, and there's nothing can keep it from going on. You're going now, that's as much as he knows. No science has no medicine for it. But you've found something. You pick up the sword, see.
Now, of course you got a hindrance. You got something that's going to duel against you---that devil, that disease, that affliction. But when you strike the tip of swords with that devil yonder, and say, "It's 'Thus saith the Lord,' He revealed it to me how I am healed," oh, my! Your faith don't have any hindrances.

50 You know, let's take some of her hindrances, and look at them, just a few minutes before we call our prayer line. They might have said to her, the first place, "You're a Greek; he's a Jew." Well, in otherwise, it might have said, "You know, your denomination is not sponsoring this meeting, your church is not." But, you know, that didn't hinder her. Faith had already struck. She'd heard of somebody else being healed, and she had a need. And something told her it could be done.

51 Now, see, the works of God are foreordained of God. You believe that? Jesus met a blind man one time. Said, "Who sinned, him or his mother [or so forth] or his daddy?"
Said, "Neither one: but that the works of God might be made manifest." See, this is the works of God. And when you feel something pressing to you, hold on to it. That's God speaking to you.
Well, she was still perseverant, even though they said that "You don't belong to his people, and your church is not cooperating in the meeting." She was perseverant anyhow. She's going anyhow.

52 She might have went down the road, and met another group of Greeks. And they'd tell her, "Wait a minute. The days of miracles is past. That's just a lot of hocus-pocus. That's just a bunch of men, some so-called prophet down there, doing all these kind of things. You know, that's just nonsense. Why, there's nothing like that today." But still, she was perseverant. She still believed it was going to happen. Now, that's when you've got it. That's when something happens.
She might have went on down to the next corner. She met her husband, and her husband said, "If you go down and associate yourself in that group, I'm going to leave you."
"Well, he can leave me if he wants to." But she's still persistent. She's perseverant. She's got a need, and faith's already anchored. She knows it's going to happen.

53 On down at the next corner, she met a bunch of people, and said, "You know what? You'll be the laugh of the town if you go down there to ask mercy for your daughter. And you'll find out it's no more than some others that's asked, and didn't get it."
Don't make any difference what the others did, and whether the others was laughed at, she was still persistent. She knew what was going to happen. She believed it. She'd heard of Him. And she knowed if she could ever get there, what was going to happen.
Now, we might've went down to the corner, met the pastor, and he said, "You'll be put out of your church if you go."
Look at the hindrances that poor little thing had. And remember, she's a Greek, now, not a Pentecostal. And here she goes down. And they said, "You'll be put out of your church," and still she was persistent. She was perseverant. Didn't make any difference whether she lost her husband, she lost her friends, she was the laughing stock of the town, and whatever was taking place, or even was put out of her church, or whatmore. Faith had caught hold. She was perseverant. I like that.

54 Now, a lot of people think that's all they have to have. Just long as they get to Jesus, and come where He's in the meeting, well, that's all that's necessary.
It used to be that the churches... When I first started on the field they would sit, and wait, and almost cry until the Lord come on the scene. And then, oh, my!
Down here in Illinois, a little place called... Oh, I forget where it's at now---one of my meetings down here years ago, where the Chicago Tribune here packed an article that there was twenty-seven ambulances set around the little hotel. One night, walking to the platform, laying about a thirty minutes' foundation, and asking the people, and challenging them to believe it... And with one prayer from the platform, after the Lord had revealed Himself that He was, there wasn't a person in a wheelchair or cot, deaf, dumb or blind nowhere. Every one of them was healed in a moment.

55 Durban, South Africa, we seen 25,000 blanket natives healed at one time, when seven van loads of crutches, and sticks, and boards that they had packed them on come down the street---those people walking behind, and singing "Only Believe."
Faith. Get away from your thoughts. Think His thoughts, see. Think what He thinks. You say, "Brother Branham, I think..." You ain't got no thought coming. Let the mind that was in Christ be in you, then you'll recognize the Word.
Notice,

56 when those people sat and waited, when the Lord moved in, and done something... Oh, my! They just got up, and walked away. But, you know, it seems like today, they've seen so much of it. And now, the Lord comes ... well, shows Himself among us, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord. He sure can do it. Brother Branham, I'm going over to Oral Roberts next week, and have him pray for me, and So-and-so. If this don't work tonight, I'll have..." That's just about the attitude.
See, the people are not perseverant. If the Holy Spirit ... if Jesus Christ proves that He's here among us, then press till you get to Him. Like the little woman with the blood issue, all of the different things that taken place, and all the adversaries in her way, she just pressed right on through till she touched Him.
If this church, tonight, would do the same thing, would press through every scale of unbelief, would lock swords with the devil and his unbelief, and press through to know that you're a child of God and a heir of these things, and Jesus Christ standing present to show you that He's with you to keep His Word... Be perseverant. Don't you let nothing stand in your way.
I'm just wondering. If faith really anchors, could anything stand in your way? You don't get it. If you really got it, that would settle it. That's all.

57 See, this woman here, our little Greek friend tonight, that we have here before us as a text, when she arrived at Jesus (like, Jesus would arrive here with us tonight. We arrive, and He comes here, and proves here He is among us.), well, she thought that settled it. That don't settle it. No, sir. That's when you just begin to fight. That's when you just start your real battle. When she arrived at Jesus...
Then Jesus said He was not sent to her race. Oh, my! And another thing, He turned around and called her race of people nothing but a bunch of dogs. "I'm sent only to the lost sheep of the children of Israel." That didn't stop her. She was still perseverant. He said, "Besides, it's not meet for me to take the children's bread and give it to you dogs." Still she was perseverant. Oh, oh, I like that! Still she held on. Amen! I like that. Hold on to it. She was perseverant.
She was not a hotbed plant, had to be babied. No, sir. She was not a hybrid article, like big part of the crop today. You didn't have to beg her, say, "Now, sister, I tell you, I would encourage you to go on because..."
No, sir. There wasn't nobody there to encourage her. But even Jesus, Himself, tried to discourage her. Whew! Glory! Now I feel like a holy roller sure enough. Even Christ, Himself, stood in there trying to discourage her; but she held on. Amen. Perseverant. She had arrived at something. She knew it.

58 What if He'd call you a dog, and your race a bunch of dogs? You bunch of Chicagoans, and you bunch of Methodists, you Presbyterians: "I wasn't even sent to you. You're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites anyhow." Whew! My, you'd stick your nose up, and turn out that door, see. Why? You've never had faith to begin with. You're hybrid, a hotbed plant that has to be sprayed all the time.
Not her. No, something happened! Faith had anchored. She's not going to be defeated. Amen! There you are. No matter what the rest done, what the rest said, she's not going to be defeated. No, sir. Even Jesus, Himself, couldn't discourage her. Amen.

59 Said, "I'm not sent to your race. Go on. Beat it on down the street. I'm not sent to you people, and you're nothing but a bunch of dogs anyhow. It's not right for me to take the children's bread, and give it to you bunch of dogs [alley dogs, street rats, and so forth]. It's not meet for me to do that."
Watch. She admitted He was right. Amen! Oh, my! Faith will always admit the Word right. Whether your pastor says so or not, whether anybody else says so or not, your faith says it's right. Glory! Your faith says it's right.
So what she was called, even by Jesus Christ, the one she come to and He rebuked her... And look at His disciples, the men was with Him in His campaign, said, "Oh, beat it. Get out of here. You're annoying us. Don't bother our Master."
That didn't stop her. No, sir. Nothing's going to stop her, 'cause she's got faith. It's going to happen anyhow. She admitted He was right. "I'm nothing but a dog. I don't deserve anything. But Lord, let me bring something to your memory. I'm not after the bread; I just want a few crumbs."

60 The trouble of it tonight, we don't have people humble themselves to get some crumbs. "I didn't get in the line."
That don't make any difference. "I just come to see if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. I'm after some crumbs." Oh, how different she was from now.
Remember, she had never seen a miracle. She was a Greek. She had never seen a miracle. Yet she was persistent, because something inside of her told her she was going to see one.
She was like Rahab the harlot. Rahab the harlot ... she didn't say, "Now bring Joshua up, you spies, and let me see how he wears his clothes, and what kind of a manners he's got. And let me see whether he's handsome, or not, or how he combs his hair, if he's a well-groomed man and everything." Remember, that was kind of her line of work. You know she was hunting handsome men. She was a street harlot.
And so she said, "I have heard that the Lord God is with you, and I'm asking for mercy. [Oh, my! There you are. Faith cometh by hearing.] I heard that you took Agag, and what you did down there. And I heard what God did for you at the Red Sea, and I believe it. And I know that you're his servant. I just ask mercy." Amen. She was granted mercy.

61 This woman, she was granted mercy. She said, "True, Lord: but the dogs eat the crumbs that's under the masters' table." For this saying ... that did it. Finally, being persistent, perseverant, letting nothing stand in her way, even in the face of Jesus trying to rebuke her, she said... But she stood and admitted that He was right, the Word was right and everything. "But yet, Lord, the dogs eat the crumbs. And it's just a crumb from You is all I ask. Just one little ... one little speck is all I want, Lord. Just your touch, that's all I want. Just your touch, that's all."
Oh, if we could just have that tonight. "Lord, I'm sitting here, I'm sick. But if I ... if something would just tell me that I can get well, that's all I want to know. Then that settles it. I'm going home, and believe it," see. "Nothing's going to stand in my way any longer. Just your crumbs, Lord, is all I want.

62 Jesus said, "Old woman ..." or, "Oh, woman, great is your faith. Go your way. For what you've been persistent about, what you have believed, you're going to find it that way." She'd finally overcome. She had the right approach to God's gift. She was a Gentile. Faith always admits the Word's right, humbly, and reverently; not get out and blow up about something. Same way now.
Quickly now, before we call the prayer line.

63 Martha, in the presence of the Lord Jesus, when everybody had made fun of her... Said, "Look, this guy that heals the sick, when you had need of him... Yeah, you took your living, you fed him, you had him a room. When he come to the city, he stayed with you. He was a good friend of Lazarus. But when really sickness come in, he got away from you," see.
But when she heard He had come, she was perseverant. She started down the street. Some of them said, "Now, I guess you're going out to see him." She just closed her ears, and eyes. She just kept pressing on. She was perseverant. When Jesus spoke to her, she said, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, whatever you ask God, God'll give it to you." She was perseverant.
Notice, like the Shunammite woman, in the presence of Elisha, God's representative on the earth. Martha knew, if God was in Elisha, surely He was in Jesus.

64 The Shunammite woman, when she went up there, and he said... Elisha come out of his cave, and looked out there and said, "Here comes that Shunammite, and her heart is troubled. God's kept it from me. I don't know what she wants." Said, "Is all well with thee? with thy husband? with the child?"
She said, "All's well."
Watch her when she told her servant, "Saddle this mule, and go straight forward, and don't stop [persevering]. Just keep going."
Some of them say, "Hey, stop a minute. I want to talk to you."
That ain't... "Nothing doing. I've got to get over there, that's all there is to it. I got to get over there. I've got to find out about this."
And then, when the... He said, "I'll tell you, I'll send you an anointed cloth. I'll send you this stick, and you go have it laid upon the child."
"That's very good, prophet of God. I think that's very fine. But, as your soul lives, I'll not leave you." I'm going to stay right here till I find out. Perseverant. Sure, she was perseverant.
Elisha thought, "Well, to get rid of her I might as well gird up my loins." Here he went. Perseverant. Their faith had hold of the Word.

65 How little Micaiah, that little uneducated woodsman back there, could stand before those four hundred prophets, and speak there contrary to them! Why? He was perseverant. They said, "Why, look. That great big head bishop stood up there with these horns, and said, 'The Lord God spoke to me.'" Oh, my!
The head of the association said, "The Lord God spoke to me, and witnessed by four hundred of these men here, that thus saith the Lord..." And the man was sincere.
Now ... but Micaiah stood. He said, "But I saw Israel scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."
So he walked up, and took his hands, and smacked his mouth as hard as he could, said, "Which way went the Spirit of God when it went out of me? if you know all about this thing."
Said, "You'll understand one day."
Ahab said, "Well, now, that's what the association said." Notice now, He'd never get in a man under such circumstances as that.
But he knowed his vision was right. He had faith, because his faith said exactly what the Word said. So he was perseverant.

66 Now look up to the national authority. There stood Ahab, said, "Put him in the inner prison, and feed him bread and water of sorrow. And when I return in peace," he said, "I'll take care of this fellow."
Look at him, perseverant yet. "Oh, great Ahab, maybe I was wrong. Oh, bishop, maybe I was wrong." But no, no, not him. He had anchored. He saw a vision, and his vision was with the Word. He said, "If you come back at all, I'm a false prophet." Amen. He was perseverant. Certainly he was.

67 The blind man, that I spoke of awhile ago, he could not argue theology with them. He knowed nothing about it. They could say, "Why, So-and-so said so-and-so, and so-and-so."
He said, "I don't know about your theology, but this one thing I know. Where I was blind, I can now see."
His father and mother never had that kind of faith. They said, "Oh, they'll put us out of the synagogue. So, you ask him; he's of age."
Brother, there wasn't nothing wrong with him! He said, "It's a strange..." Said, "I'm no theologian. I cannot argue your scriptures that you're talking about. But you said that you knowed God heals. But this man, you know not whence He come from. Now, it's a strange thing, that a man can come here and can open my blinded eyes, and you, the leaders of religion, and don't know from whence He come."
Brother, he was a theologian in my book. He had an argument the rest of them couldn't settle. That's all. "How that you say you don't have no record of his coming ... you don't have no record on your book of his schooling, where his education come from, or nothing. You don't know from whence he come; and yet, ... the man that give me my sight." Pretty good argument, wasn't it? Yes, sir!

68 Philip, when he stood there, and seen Jesus of Nazareth tell Simon what his name was, and his father's name, he was very persistent. He had a self-starched friend that he wanted to tell about... And he went, and found Nathanael. When Nathanael, standing there before the members of his church, and the high priests, and the Sanhedrins, and all of them standing around when Jesus looked at him and said, "Behold an Israelite, in whom there's no guile,"...
"Oh, I better shut up now, be careful. There stands the bishop. There stands the general overseer. There stands the pastor. There stands all of my relation. I'd better keep still, just act like I don't know nothing about it," see.
No, no.

69 Something had happened. Philip had showed him a scene. He said, "Rabbi!"
They was standing there, saying, "This man is Beelzebub. Don't listen to that. He's a fortuneteller, he's a devil, don't listen to him."
But Philip quickly, or Nathanael, recognized Him as a rabbi, a teacher. Said, "Rabbi, when did you ever see me?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree."
"Now what am I going to do? Here's the Scripture says that that's the sign of the Messiah." He run to Him, and fell down. And he said, "Rabbi, you're the Son of God. You're the King of Israel. I don't care what the rest of them has got to say about it. You are the Son of God, the King of Israel."

70 The little woman at the well, when she was told of what was wrong with her... Now, you know, if you happen to know the East... Is there missionaries here ever been in the East? Well, you understand that a women like that has got no authority at all to speak to men anywhere. That's right. It's still that way. She does not, cannot speak to men, by no means---especially on religious arguments and discussions. But, oh, man! Could you keep her quiet? It was like a dry house on fire in a high wind. You couldn't stop her.
She said, "Come, see a man. He told me the things I've done: isn't this the very Messiah?"
Now, I'm closing now. I've just got to quit.

71 About four or five years ago, I saw a vision that sent me down in Mexico. You take the Businessmen's Voice, that... See, before you can print anything, you have to be able to back that up. Now you can say it; but don't you print it, unless you can back it up, because it's printed matter.
I was ... had ... I'd come down on ropes in the back of the arena, the pen where we was at; was having about ten thousand a night conversions to Christ.
And then, as I looked, Billy come up to me, and he said, "Daddy, you see all that going on over yonder on the other side, about 150 yards?" Said, "That's one little woman." He said, "She's not as big as a bar of soap, hardly---little bitty thing." Said, "She's got a dead baby under her arm," and said...

72 I call the man "Mañana" (tomorrow---he was so slow) that come and got me. He was supposed to get me at seven o'clock, and he got me at nine, me walking up and down the floors. And he'd done give out all the prayer cards, and they didn't have no more. I'd only give him about fifteen or twenty a night, because that's all I could get to, because... If you give them a card, they don't understand like you---you can't talk to them. So they was ... I give them about ten, or fifteen, whatever. That's all I'd give out. Well, they didn't have any more prayer cards.
And said, "She didn't get in with that baby, and didn't get no prayer card." And said, "Why, we got about hundred and fifty, two hundred ushers, or maybe more, standing down there, and they can't hold that little woman. She runs under their legs, up over top of their back, and everything else. She's got this dead baby. She seen that blind man, the night before, receive his sight. So she said she wanted to get in."

73 I said, "Billy, I can't help it." I was talking. I said, "Brother Jack Moore," I said, "go over there. She don't know who I am." They could never see me, way back out like that. And I said, "Go over there, and go down, pray for the baby. And she'll think it's just me, and that's all."
He said, "All right, Brother Branham."
He started over that way, and I turned around. I said, "Now, as I was saying, faith is the..." And I looked out there in front of me, and there was a little Mexican baby, sitting right out in the middle of the air there, just laughing, no teeth, little nursing-baby like. I looked again.
Brother Espinoza (many of you know Brother Espinoza) said, "What's the matter?"
I said, "I see a vision." I said, "Wait a minute, Brother Moore." (All of you know Jack Moore, I'm sure, a businessman.) I said, "Wait a minute, Brother Moore, just a minute. Billy, go bring the woman here."
Said, "Daddy, she ain't got a prayer card."
I said, "It don't make any difference. Bring her here."

74 And she ... they let her through. Here come ... real pretty little woman, and her... The rain, it was raining, been raining all afternoon---them people standing there, and their pretty hair hanging down their sides, and their face was all wet. And she was crying, and with tears running down her cheeks.
And she come running up there---soaking wet, and a little blue-looking blanket wrapped around a little form. And she was holding it out, like this. And she fell down on her knees, and began to cry out something, "Padre, Padre!"
I took her ... I said, "Stand up." Brother Espinoza told her. And she had the little baby like that, holding it out just like I'd hold that handkerchief, only it was laying across her arms like this.
And I said, "Heavenly Father, I don't know whether this is the baby or not. I just saw a little baby. And thinking maybe this was it, being this happened the way it has, I lay my hands upon it, and ask for life to return in the name of the Lord Jesus." And the little baby let out a kick, and began to scream as hard as it could.

75 I said, "Brother Espinoza, don't you say anything about that now. Don't give that to the Businessmen, or any of them, until you get a signed statement from her doctor." And the doctor signed a statement, that the baby died with pneumonia in his office, that morning at nine o'clock. And this was pretty near eleven o'clock at night, been dead all that time.
Why? She was persistent. She believed that if God could give a blind man his sight ... if God could give a blind man his sight, God could give life to the baby, because the same God that gives sight to the blind, give life to the baby. Why? She was perseverant. Three hundred ushers, nothing could stop her. She was determined, because something anchored.

76 She'd never seen any of these things that you all see. The only thing, somebody told her that day that a blind man that lived down the street from where she was had received his sight---had been blind for about ten years, with glaucoma in his eyes. And that day he was walking down the street, crying, waving his hands. And she saw him.
When her baby died she picked up the baby from the doctor's office, and took out; stood in that rain all day long waiting for the opportunity. And when she didn't get a prayer card she still was persistent. She didn't know nothing. She was a Roman Catholic. The only thing she knowed, that she had to get to some man.
Now, you know better than that. It's not the man you get to; it's the Christ that you get to. It's the Lord Jesus Christ that you get to. All her faith was in her priest, because he was a god to her. But tonight, no man is your God but Jesus Christ, and He's here, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hallelujah! Let's be persistent, as we bow our heads.

77 Lord Jesus, I'm praying that You help us now. Just a word or two from You, Lord, ought to just do something for these people. I pray Thee, Lord, as You promised in the last days, that You would do these things---the works that You did when You were here on earth, that would be repeated again, and give the illustrations of it through the Scriptures, like, for instance, Sodom and different places.
And we see over in the book of the Revelation, in the Laodicean age, and... Oh, how that You made the promise, and said You were the same yesterday, today, and forever. And we see it by pictures, when the mechanical eye of the camera will catch mysteries in this last days that man cannot explain.
God, may men and women tonight who are suffering and sick here, may they be persistent, and get to the Lord Jesus in this hour, go home rejoicing, healed. We ask it, in His name, for His glory. Amen.

78 Now, I still am late. Think of this. This may be the last meeting we have together. I may never see you again. You may never see me again until we cross the river. And we all may cross before morning. Remember, this nation is weighed in the balance. We'll get to that when I go to preaching, see. Notice, we don't know when it'll be.
So, Paul preached all night one night, this same gospel. The Lord honored His word when a little fellow fell dead, like Brother Way did the other morning. (He's sitting right here before me now.) Paul laid his body over this boy, and his life come back to him. It's the same thing I did to Brother Way. Shows it's the same God, by the same Word, by the same Spirit, does the same thing. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Then, if He's here... Now look, there's no man can heal you, 'cause you're already healed. Something has to happen in you to tell you that it's for you---and then be persistent.

79 Let's see, what was them cards we give out? Was A's? A's. Oh, you just finished giving out the rest of the A's. All right. Where did we start? Ones, wasn't it? We started, had 15. I believe it was 1 to 15, 1 to 15. Let's start somewhere else along. Let's start from 75, 80, 90. Let's go to 90, 75 to 90. Pick out a little group in there, and start from there, and then get as we go on from there. Just start from there. See if we can get as many as we can prayed for.
Let prayer cards 75 to 90 stand first. That'll give us 15 to start with. We'll see what the Holy Spirit leads. Bring them over here to the right if you will, 15 to 90.

80 Or wait, beg your pardon. What did I say? 75 to 90. There'll be 16. Yeah, 75 to 90, that'd be 16 people. All right, you help me, Brother Vayle. Now if ... if they can't get up, why, you see that they get help down there. All right, Brother Vayle, if you will.
Now I want... How many in here that hasn't got prayer cards, and you know that Jesus Christ can heal you? Raise up your hand. Say, "I want to accept it. I believe it." Ah, we won't have to wait for His Spirit. I done seen Him touch somebody right there in the audience. Amen.
Four cards are missing between 75 and 90. All right, how many out there...? How many way back in the back believe, way back towards the back, way up in the balconies around? Just say, "I believe." Raise up your hand, say, "I believe." All right, that's it. That's good.
Now, if Jesus Christ...

81 While I'm thinking here, I'm waiting to see whether it's really going to take effect on this person or not. Somebody was touched just then. I seen it happen. I've never seen the person in my life, but I looked right at them. I seen it happen. I seen the person get touched by the Holy Spirit. I could have that person stand right up now, and prove that it's the truth (amen) before the line ever starts. She's still praying. She put her handkerchief up to her mouth, sitting right back there. She's got spinal trouble. That's right. Sitting right ... yeah. That's her husband raised his hand.
Listen, I'm stranger to you all, is that right? Do you believe me to be His prophet? Your spinal trouble's going to leave you. And listen, by the way, the man's got his hand up---being as the Holy Spirit struck you... When I talked to your wife, the Holy Spirit struck you. And you got something wrong with you---the growth on the arm. Believe, and it'll leave you. Glory to God! Ask those people if I ever seen them in my life as I know of. They're strangers. But what faith! moving the power of the Holy Ghost. Do you believe? Amen.

82 Do you speak Spanish? Turn around and tell that little girl... She can't speak (Spanish) ... can't speak English, back there. She's got something wrong with her chest. Turn around and tell her, "Jesus Christ heals you, sister." She couldn't even speak English. I seen her talking Spanish.
Now it's got another lady sitting in front of her real excited. And she can't speak English---she's Spanish. And she's got something wrong with her stomach. Sitting in front, you believe with all your heart? Your stomach trouble leaves you, and you can go home and be well. God is the healer. See it strike her? They had to tell her in Spanish before she realized. She can't understand English.
Looky there, people that can't even speak English, but just what they see, they can presume and feel the Spirit, even when they can't even hear. Shame on you! Glory to God! I never seen that done yet. Amen! Ask them people. Why, I can't even speak their language. But you see, it proves you don't have to be in this prayer line. Is that right?
Do you believe?

83 What'd you say "Amen" for, sitting right there? Do you believe that sinus trouble's going to leave you? You do? Stand upon your feet. It leaves you. See, she can hear me, what I'm saying; these couldn't. Now tell me it ain't God. Amen, and amen!
Why can't you be persistent, if those people who can't understand one word of English presses into it? They was of another nation. But God did that, I believe, because I preached that a few minutes ago---a Greek, another nation. She was persistent. Watch them, see what happens.

84 Is this the lady? How do you do? We're strangers to one another. You believe Jesus Christ is present to heal you? I could not. I have no power to heal. I have authority when I receive it from God, to pronounce something that God has done, see. And like Samson, as long as he could feel those locks hanging around, was all right. When I see Him moving among us like this, I know He's here. Don't you?
I see you vomiting, and having vomiting spells. You're worried about your overweight. Then, you've got a growth on your body under your ribs. That's right. Had quite a time getting up here, didn't you? Why did I say getting up here? Because you come from the southwest from here. You come from Missouri. Go back, Jesus Christ makes you well. Have faith.

85 Another woman, colored woman. Don't know her, never seen her. But she's just someone coming here, another race, coming one to another, white and colored race. We're all of one blood. Do you believe the Son of God raised from the dead? and He commissioned His church to do the same thing that He did? Do you believe that? That church cannot die. "Upon this rock I'll build my church; the gates of hell cannot prevail." What was it? Spiritual revelation. If God can reveal to me by His Spirit, you're standing here ... what's wrong with you, just the same as He told that woman at the well, that makes Him the same, because you're ... we're both human beings. Is that right?
Now you're very nervous about something---you're worried. Your mind's all tore up. You've been told something that's got you alarmed. That was that you got a tumor, and the tumor is in your head. That is right. And you're up for an operation, but they're a little scared about it, because you've got a weakness in your heart ... that they're afraid to take the operation because of the weakness of your heart. Jesus Christ strengthens your heart. Do you believe Him? He can heal your tumor. Do you believe Him? Then be persistent. Go on, believe with all your heart.

86 How do you do? Another man---I don't know him. I seen him awhile ago when I come on the platform. I believe he was sitting up here. First time I ever seen you in my life, as far as I know of. All right. Now you're here for some reason. If I, and this Spirit that's upon me (that pillar of fire and light, and so forth, that's been took), if that's of Jesus Christ it'll bear record of the Word. If it doesn't, then it's not of Christ. But you're convinced that it is. You are. And you're suffering with a nervous condition, hemorrhoids that's bothering you. And you're trying to get to see me on something special. It's a spiritual condition. You're a minister, and it's about your church.
Now, I heard that come from you. Quit, you thinking that. "You said it was a minister because they was sitting on this platform."
You know I don't know you, don't you? Do you believe me to be His prophet? Then Rev. Donaldson, you can go back to your home, and believe, and you get well, and everything be all right for you. God bless you.
"If thou canst believe, all things are possible."

87 Do you believe? Do you believe me to be His servant? You know that I cannot do these things? But do you believe that He is doing it, it's Him that's doing it? Do you believe it? That's right. If you'll just... Now, just for this one time, please, be persistent. Let nothing stand in your way. Press right in.
Don't you see, it's Him? Don't you know that's Him? See, He wouldn't identify Himself with some great theologian. That He wasn't. He wouldn't introduce Himself as a church politician. He wasn't. He was God made flesh. God is the Word. And the Word is a discerner of the thoughts of the heart, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Can't you see it's Him? How could a poor, ignorant person like me, with a grammar school education...? No matter if I had ever so much education, you still couldn't do that. It's a paradox. What is it? It's the power of God. Can't you see it, friends? Can't you break that crust away from you?

88 Here's a woman. Look here. I never seen that woman. Here's the Bible laying before me. I never seen that woman in my life, as far as I know of. But her life ... she couldn't hide it. Right. Amen. Not because she's saying "Hallelujah!" Hypocrites can say that. But the woman's a Christian. She's a believer. And if I will tell you, by God's grace, feeling the seven locks of Samson, what your trouble is, you believe me? Will the audience believe? Will every one of you? She'll know whether it's right or not.
First thing, you're suffering with a high blood pressure. You also have diabetes. You have a nervous condition. And you have something wrong with the head. It's an examination. You've got a tumor. It's exactly ... in the head. And you know it's death unless God touches you, or something. Is that right? May the God of heaven, who's standing present now... Come here, let me lay my hands on her. I condemn this devil in the name of Jesus Christ. May it leave you. Amen. God bless you. Go on your road rejoicing.

89 Do you believe? Say, "You was looking her right in the face." You don't have to look her in the face. Look here, I ain't looking this woman in the face. Now you say "She's heavy." That's right. It's thyroid. That's right. But that's not it. That's not what she wants prayer for. She's got a female trouble, a discharge that she wants prayed for. Is that right, lady? It's left you now. Go on your road rejoicing, saying, "Thank You, Lord Jesus." Just believe.
Anemia. You believe that God can heal you? Say, "Thank You, dear Jesus." Go right on your road saying, "Praise God," and believe it.
...look good and strong. You believe God can heal the stomach trouble, and make you well? Go eat... Jesus Christ. Be healed.
If Christ doesn't touch you, you must die, and you know that. That's right. But God can take every devil of cancer, and He can kill the thing and make you well. Do you believe it? Go believe it. In the name of Jesus Christ, may you go and be made well.

90 You don't walk like it just at this time, but you have arthritis. You also have a touch of heart trouble, a little smothering around the heart. Jesus Christ makes you well, if you believe it. Do you? Rejoice then, and say "Thank You, Lord." ... you be made well.
You believe God can heal your back, and make you well? All right, go right on saying, "Thank You, Lord Jesus." That's right.
You believe God can take that ... give you a blood transfusion, and take that sugar out, and make you a real new person? You believe it? Bless you. Go on your road rejoicing, saying, "Thank you, Lord."
Do you believe God can take that tumor and make you well? Go right on rejoicing.
... God can heal your arthritis, straighten your back up, make you well? You believe it? Go on your road rejoicing.
Do you believe me to be His prophet? I don't know you. God does know you. You're sick yourself, but your big interest is in somebody else. Two sick people, real sick---cancer, dying. Believe with all your heart. Take them ... lay it on them. Believe, and don't doubt, and they'll get well. Have faith.

91 All right, sir. I believe you're one of the ministers that sat on the platform here. As far as knowing you, I don't. Jesus Christ knows your heart. He knows what's in man. Do you believe that? If God will tell me what your trouble is, then are you ready? You are. You ministers know this man, I believe? All right, you know him. All right. The thing of it is, that you're really ... the trouble is you're suffering from a nervous breakdown. You're having some kind of a mental scruples in your mind. It's oppression from Satan. This has been going on for some time. It's caused your body to get weak. Your heart's weak. You're in a very bad shape. By this, your whole family is just about into a breakdown. Sir, you've been waiting for a word, haven't you? Do you accept my word? Then in the name of Jesus Christ, I send you home to be well. That devil's been lying to you.
Are you believing? Do you believe?

92 Now put your hands over on one another. Now I want you to pray with me. Lord Jesus, your great divine presence... There's no one could doubt. Everyone knows that You're here. They know that it's You now. Let them be persistent. Let these, Lord, who these miracles ... a whole line full of them, sixteen here in the line, and a group out there in the audience. Above anything that any man on earth could do himself, no earthly man here could do these things except God be there. We know it. How perfect. How exact. I pray Thee, Father, to let the people see this, and let them be perseverant now. They have their hands on one another. And in their hearts is beating high the royal blood of Jesus Christ, by faith flowing from one to another.
And now, Lord, hear the prayer of your servant. As your servant, I condemn every sickness, every disease that's in the divine presence of the resurrected Christ. May the devil lose his hold. May each soldier now, with his sword locked against Satan's doubt, with a persistent faith, rise, pressing that sword, until it strikes the innermost part of that devil, and drives him completely away. In the name of Jesus Christ, if you'll believe it and be persistent, you're all healed, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Perseverant

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 ... usually announce it so you can be sure to remember where it's at. We want to read from Matthew, the 15th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 21st verse.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth Lord: yet the dogs eat ... the crumbs which fall from the masters' table.
[Then said] Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

2 Let us bow our heads now, for prayer. I wonder tonight, with our heads and hearts bowed, if there would be someone here would like to be remembered in prayer, would you just let it be known as you lift your hands to God? Say, "I have a need, Lord. I pray You'll help me." Lord bless you.

3 Our heavenly Father, as we are now approaching thy majesty in the name of the Lord Jesus, for He told us, "If you ask the Father anything in my name, it'll be granted," we come with all the faith that we have, believing that You'll answer us according to our needs tonight, as they are many. Thou seest the hands of thy children throughout the building here, as they raise their hands; and You alone knows what was beneath the heart. I pray that You'll answer them, Father, tonight. And may every desire that they have be granted to them this day.
We pray for those who are unsaved and know Thee not as their Saviour. We pray that they'll accept You tonight, and find that all-sufficiency that they must have in the hour of death.

4 Many here, maybe, who has ... already has accepted You and has not yet been filled with thy Spirit. We pray that this night that Thou wilt pour into them the abundance of the Holy Spirit, that they might be servants to You in these closing hours of the world's history.
Heal all the sick and the afflicted, Lord. Thou knowest their need. And we pray that your presence will come among us tonight in such a way that we'll recognize You as our risen Lord.
And when the service is closed and we go to our homes, may we be able to speak among each other, saying like those who came from Emmaus that day, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us, as He talked to us along the way?" For they were made to know You by a certain sign that You did before your crucifixion. And after You had risen, you were the same Jesus, doing the same things. May we still witness the same tonight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Be seated.

5 I taken my full time last evening on the subject of "We Would See Jesus." And after having to introduce the caliber of the meetings and how to accept it, as usually Brother Borders will to the strangers each night henceforth, I went my full time to nine-thirty, and I don't like to keep people waiting. Just a few words to get acquainted, and then the Lord's words means... One time Him speaking means more than anyone could say in a lifetime---just one word from Him.
I wish to take, as it was, tonight, a text from this Scripture reading, that God has give us here, as a context. May He give it to us. I want to take one word: "Perseverant." The word, according to Webster, on some notes I got written out here, it means to be persistent, to be perseverant. And that is, into making a goal---to be persistent. And that's perseverant.

6 Men of all ages that have faith in what they are trying to achieve has been perseverant. No man can be perseverant unless first he knows what he's trying to achieve. And you first must know what you're trying to achieve, and then have faith that you're going to get what you are trying for. And that makes you persistent, something that you know is real.
Faith is based that way. Faith is not based upon a myth, and upon something that, well, that just say, "Go do this, or do that," on the words of some man. But faith takes its eternal resting place upon the Word of the Lord---upon God's Word, which is the Bible.

7 Now we believe the Bible to be God's infallible Word. We believe that it is the entire revelation of Jesus Christ: revealing Himself in the Old Testament by the prophets; God making Himself known through his Son, Christ Jesus. And in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
He was crucified for our sins; died, buried, rose the third day, ascended into heaven; and is back here again in the (name) of the, in the form of the Holy Spirit, God. Dwelling one time, God above us; in Christ, God with us; now, God in us. It's God working his way back into man to (worship), be worshipped through man, God's agency.
God does nothing outside of a man being his agent, his helper.

8 And now, men who has had faith in God, has been very persistent in what they are trying to do. And we take men of all walks of life. For instance, George Washington here at Valley Forge, after praying all night in the snow up to his hips, was wet way up around his waistline. And the river was full of ice. But he caught a vision from God. He caught faith that God was going to give him the victory. And the river (had) couldn't have too much ice in it, though over two-thirds of his army didn't even have shoes on their feet. Their feet was wrapped in rags, standing in that cold. But yet, he felt in his heart that God had give him the victory. He had prayed through.
And the next thing we know, three musket bullets went through his coat without touching him. The river couldn't stop him; neither could a musket bullet stop him. He was persistent because he had prayed through, and he had faith in what he was doing, and the one that was leading him. That was God.
Nothing's going to stop a man when he is perseverant, when he knows what he is doing, and got faith in what he is trying to achieve.

9 One of the oldest stories in the Bible, one of them, was Noah. Noah was just not a ... some different man. He was an ordinary man, perhaps a farmer. And the world was wicked, as it is today---full of science, and great men. They had sprung from the sons of Cain. The sons of Seth were humble shepherds, farmers. But the sons of Cain were wise men: builders, and inventors, and scientists, real smart, real religious. And they had their own form of godliness, but was denying, as it is today, the power of God.
And Noah, being a just man before God, one day God met him in the fields and talked to him; and told him to build an ark because He was going to destroy the world with water.

10 Now, that was absolutely contrary to all scientific measurements of that day. See, it had never rained. There was no moisture in the air. And God had watered the earth through irrigation, up through the earth with springs. And there was no water for such---no water in the skies.
Scientists in that day were probably more able... They achieved more then than they are able to explain today. They built the pyramids in Egypt, the Sphinx. They could never build that again. Those stones that high in the air---we haven't got nothing to put it up there with, or no power to lift it. But somehow they were able to accomplish it in the days of Enoch and Noah, before the flood. And perhaps they shot the moon, and might have had astronauts, and so forth. We don't know.

11 But Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah [a great, smart civilization], as it was then so will it be at the coming of the Son of man."
And now, perhaps they in their scientific research... They found something there, that they could make a color that would last until today, a dye of some sort that would not give away. And they could embalm a body, make a mummy that would look quite natural. Yet today, after four thousand years, they still look natural. We couldn't do that if we had to; we have nothing to do it with. We've lost the art. Many great arts that they had...

12 No doubt they had instruments that would prove there was no water in the air. And this man coming around contrary to science, and says that there is going to come water out of the heavens... Now, the science could take an instrument and shoot up into the air, and say, "Looky here, Noah. Read this instrument. It gives on this barometer, here, whether there is any water up there or not. And there is none. Now, you say it's up there; and yet the scientific research shows that it's not there."
That didn't stop Noah. He was persistent. He knowed that God had said, "It's going to rain," and God was able to put rain up there, if He said so. He would make it whether there was any there, or not. So he was persistent, after he knowed the word of the Lord.

13 And when a man knows the Word and will of God, you become persistent. You become perseverant. No matter what science says, "Well, they can't do this, they cannot do that," you know it anyhow. You've got ahold of something; and that something's got ahold of you. You're rotating together. There's something about it, that you cannot explain it. No matter how scientific ... it seems to be untrue, yet there's something in it that tells you that it's God. There's nothing going to stop it.
So, we find that Noah pounded right ahead on the ark, no matter how much scientific proof it wasn't so, and there was no rain. He believed it anyhow, because he had heard the word of the Lord. And there's where faith is solemnly based upon thus saith the Lord.

14 Moses: another great, smart man that had been raised up, born in the world for a certain achievement of God. And he tried to meet this goal by his scientific acts. We are taught, told by history, that he was a great military leader. And his only way of doing anything was killing off. He was so smart that he could teach the smart Egyptians wisdom. In all of his wisdom and all that he knew, yet he failed---miserably failed---to achieve what God had in mind for him to do.
And in finding his failure by slaying the Egyptian and hiding him in the sand, and hearing the rebuke from his brother, or the question, "Will you slay us as you did the Egyptian?"---upon this Moses ran into the wilderness, a runaway prophet.

15 After forty years in the wilderness that God had, uneducating him from the things of the world unto the mind of God, taking all of his doctor's degree and everything away from him, till He could work into his heart...
When He had the material about ready, one day while he was herding sheep on the backside of the desert, an old familiar path, he found a tree on fire. Moses, being a scientist, he never approached it in the way of a scientist. If you'll notice, if he'd been a scientist he'd've, said, "Now, I'm going to take some of the leaves from that tree, and take them down to the laboratory and find out what they were sprayed with, the reason they burn and don't burn up." If he would have done that, then he wasn't ready yet.

16 But what he did, he approached it and took off his shoes, knelt upon his knees and began to talk to it, because he knowed it was supernatural. From there came the word of the Lord, saying, "I've heard the groans of my people, and I remember my word. I'm sending you down to deliver them." Now, sometimes in the path of duty, God calls his men to do things that's absolutely ridiculous to the natural mind. He causes them to do something that's altogether ... becomes a laughing stock.
For instance, what if Moses had failed as a young man, forty years old, a military man, and the throne, his foot upon it, all the armies of Egypt under his control---and had failed doing that? And here he goes down to Egypt the next morning, after meeting this angel in the bush, with nothing in his hand but an old crooked stick from off the desert, with his wife sitting on a mule and Gershom on her hip---the white beard hanging way down on his waistline. Perhaps he's eighty years old, his bald head shining to the sun, and a stick in his hand, his eyes set towards the skies, a smile across his lips.
Somebody might have said, "Moses, where are you going?"
He said, "I'm going down to Egypt to take over."

17 When he couldn't do it with an army, how's he going to do it with a crooked stick? "Old man, you've lost your mind. You're out of your head."
It was a one-man invasion. But the thing of it was, he did it, because that it was the word of the Lord. And Moses was determined. No matter what his odds was, God was with him. And He's worth more than all the odds.
... men and women could only think that tonight, that the Word of the Lord is truth. There's nothing else. All eternity hinges on the Word. "Not one word," Jesus said, "will fail." Heavens and earth will; but it won't.

18 Moses went down. And he was very persistent when he threw down his rod and it turned into a serpent. And then he found impersonators. That still lingers along the path of God---someone to try to impersonate something. And the impersonators come up to make a show out of it---threw down their rods.
Moses knowed who he had talked to. He knowed who he had believed, and he was persuaded that He was able to keep that which he'd committed to Him against the hour. Moses stood still. Then the serpent of Moses eat up the serpent of the magicians. And we are taught that that same thing will repeat again. Maybe not in the same manner, but it will repeat again in the last days. For as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so will they resist the truth. Moses was persistent, for he had an achievement with "thus saith the Lord" behind it. "I'll be with you."

19 David, standing before Saul one day... And he heard Goliath come out over on the hill, a great giant that had fourteen-inch fingers, and a great spear in his hand the size of a weaver's needle ---probably twenty or thirty feet---big spear on the end of it, or a tip of brass. Just imagine what that man's head would have been. It'd've been the size of a tub with a big two-inch-thick helmet over the top of it, with brass all covered up. And he was making a challenge against the armies of God, and he said it in the presence of David.
And David was a little ruddy man, a little fellow probably stooped-shouldered. The Bible said he was ruddy, little fellow---never had no training in the ... in dueling with spears and things. But he had been keeping sheep out on the backside of the desert. And a lion come in and got one of his lambs. And he went after him, and slew him with a slingshot. We find a bear tried the same thing, and David overcome him.

20 And then David said, "Will you stand and let that uncircumcised Philistine defy the armies of the living God?" He shamed his brothers, while they said he was naughty and come out to see the battle. Yet there was something in David, that he knew that he was more than a conqueror.
So he said, "If you're afraid to fight him, I'll go fight him."
Saul ... this coming to the general Saul... And he put his armor upon him, and it wouldn't fit him. He found out that his ecclesiastical vest didn't fit a man of God. And the thing didn't... He didn't know what to do. He said, "I've never proved this. I know nothing about these bachelors of art, and so forth. Take the thing off of me, and let me go in the way that God give me deliverance. Let me go with a slingshot."

21 "Why," they said, "he's a warrior from his youth; and you're nothing but a youth."
He said, "I'm more than a match for him. Let me go."
And no matter how big the giant looked, and how unreal it seemed to be, David was persistent that that uncircumcised Philistine wasn't going to defy the armies of the living God that he represented. Oh, if we had more Davids in this army, we had more men who would stand and be persistent ... perseverant in the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

22 Samson, another man very perseverant---he was born a Nazarite birth. A "Nazarite" means separated to the Word. What a nice thing it'd be tonight if all Christians would be Nazarites to the Lord, separated not to creeds, but to the Word. Christ is that Word---separated to the Word.

23 He had seven locks of hair that hung down his back, which was a sign that he was separated.
And then one day, he was met out on the plains, without anything in his hand to fight with, by a thousand Philistines. Those Philistines were men like a brass wall---great, heavy helmets over their heads; great armors up in front of them, as shields, bucklers, and so forth, on, to dodge any bullet---probably the helmet being an inch thick upon their heads.
Samson had nothing. But he still could feel that the promise that God made him was still hanging on his head. He could still feel the anointing, in other words. He knowed that God was with him, for he felt them locks hanging down around his shoulders. He grabbed what was in his ... could find. And it was a jawbone of a mule. And he stood with that in his hand, and was persistent that it wouldn't be the jawbone, or his own arm; but it would be the power of the Lord.
And the power of the Lord came upon him. And he beat with that jawbone a thousand Philistines.

24 How did he do it? That old brittle, desert-soaked jawbone---you'd hit it against a rock, it would fly to pieces. And upon the helmets that was on those Philistines, which hung down and big leaves stuck up on the sides, and went over the shoulders, inch thick in brass. He stood with this jawbone and beat down a thousand. It said the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He was persistent.
One day a lion run out after him, and he had nothing in his hand. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. His locks still hung on his shoulders. He rent the lion, with his hands. He was very persistent, because he knowed that God's promise was with him. He was able to achieve anything, for God's promise was with him to deliver.

25 John was so sure. John the Baptist, when he was born... He knowed he was to be the one, after he got old enough to understand (about nine years old). His father was a priest. Usually they follow the line of the father. But he didn't go down to the schools and seminaries, for he knew his job was too important. He was to announce the Messiah. We know that the angel had said so.

26 He knew that he was represented in the Scripture, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord."
He knew, also, that Malachi, four hundred years before, had said, "Behold, I send my messenger before my face," after being into the wilderness where he got his schooling from God---not from some theological seminary as his father was come from. But he had an important job. He had to announce the Messiah. And he had to know what kind of a sign would be following the Messiah.
Then he noticed... One day he was standing preaching to the people. He said, "There's one standing among you now, who you know not, whose shoes I'm not worthy to unlatch. He'll baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire." He was so positive of his position. He was so positive of his ministry, till he said, "He's standing here somewhere now, among you."
He wasn't afraid to say it in the face of Pharisees, and Sadducees, and soldiers, and whatevermore it was. Some of them had looked for Him for thousands of years; but he said, "He's standing among you." Nobody could take it away from him. He was persistent. He was perseverant in the face of all. Yes.

27 This little Greek woman, no doubt, had heard of Him, heard of Jesus, the great revival: a young prophet coming up in Galilee from Nazareth, and was showing great signs and wonders. She had heard of Him, and faith comes by hearing. This Syrothiopian woman, being a Greek...
Faith finds sources that others don't see. When she heard, she believed. She might have heard of a neighbor's girl being healed of epilepsy, which the child had. And she might've heard of this epilepsy being healed. So her daughter had need of healing, and she had heard Jesus could do it. For He was God's Word made flesh. St. John 1, "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."
He was there to reveal the promises of God for his day.

28 He's here, tonight, to vindicate and to reveal every promise that God made for this age. He's here to do it. He was in the days of the prophets. He was in Moses, He was in David, He was in Elijah. He was in the rest of them, to reveal God's promise of that age.
God allotted his Word to each age, and He sends a prophet. And the Word goes to the prophet, and straightens it out. And that's exactly what He's done through all ages. And He's God, and changes not. Jesus Christ is that prophet, tonight, that stands among us. He is the one here in the form of the Holy Ghost, who knows everything and can reveal anything that He desires to do.

29 She believed this. No matter how much people didn't believe it, faith finds a source that other people don't know anything about. When a man's got faith in God, he's got ahold of something that he can't explain it. It's something that he's got ahold of. He cannot push it, or shove it, or pull it. It takes him. That's the way faith is, when a man's really got faith in God. It finds that source that others don't see.

30 His Word is a sword. The Bible said so. Want reference to that? It's Hebrews 4:12, as I got the text wrote down. The Bible said, "The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword." This sword's got to be held by a hand of faith. A hand of theology won't do it. It's got to take a hand of faith, trained in spiritual things, that knows God.
Again I might say this, how do you believe that Jesus looked upon the audience and perceived their thoughts? Because He was the Word. Let's quote the rest of the Word here, "... sharper than a two-edged sword ... a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." He was the Word. That's the reason He could discern the thoughts that were in their heart.

31 Last night, as we took as it was in the days of Sodom, showed that man standing there eating the flesh of a calf, drinking the milk from the cow, eating butter and bread---standing there eating, with clothes on (like you and I) with his back turned to the tent---and perceived what Sarah was thinking about in the tent. No wonder Abraham called Him Elohim: the all-sufficient one, the self-existing one, Elohim.

32 Jesus said "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be at the returning of the Son of man." It'll be the same thing in the days... Did you notice in Sodom there, it said... In Luke 17:15 it said that when the days of Sodom, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man, when the Son of man is being revealed. In the days that the Son of man is revealed, like He was at Sodom, the same thing will be taking place.
We find out the fire's ready. The nations are ready. The evangelists is gone to their places, and every gift is set in order. No wonder we should be persistent! No wonder we should be perseverant! We've got a goal to achieve for God. Let's call out the bride of Jesus Christ, from all denominations, from all people---a separated people for God.

33 This Greek had heard these words. She believed it. She had many hindrances; but her faith didn't have any. Faith knows no hindrance. Her faith had no hindrance. She had; but her faith didn't have. You may have hindrances. But if you've got faith it knows no defeat. It's positive! Let's look at some of her hindrances just for a moment.
Some of them might have said, "Remember, you are of a different race. You are a Greek, Syrothiopian by nation. He's a Jew."
In other words, today you'd say, "Your denomination's not having this revival." It makes no difference---your denomination, whether it is or not. That woman didn't care whose denomination it was. She was a human being, had been created by God, and she had a need. And she had faith that she was going to get it, whether her denomination was cooperating or not. It made her no difference. She started off.

34 She might have had another critic that might've met her down the line, and said, "Why, the days of miracles is past. We don't have miracles no more. [That could have been a Jew, after she got in her ... over in this country where Jesus was, across into Galilee.] Days of miracles is past. There is no such a thing." Still she was persistent. She was perseverant. The denominational barrier didn't stop her. Neither did any of them who believed the days of miracles is past. She knew different.
First thing, she had something inside of her that told her that she'd get what she asked for. Oh, people tonight, if you only can hold that in your heart---that God is here to give you the desire of your heart. If you'll meet his conditions, nothing can stand.

35 There might have been a bunch of women come to her, and said, "Look, Sister Lydia [or ever what her name might have been], do you understand that your husband will leave you if you do this?" No doubt but what she loved her husband. But she couldn't curse or bless that which was in her. Something was telling her, her daughter was dying with epilepsy. And she had to get to Jesus. And when she got there, something was going to take place, husband or no husband.
Some of them might have said, "What are you going to do with this afflicted child if it fails?" But she knowed it wasn't going to fail. Something was in her that told her it can't fail. If He ever was God, He still remains God. It can't fail. Therefore, she still was perseverant.

36 Then some of them might've said, "The circle that you belong to in the society will laugh at you." Laugh or no laugh, it made her no difference. Something was inside of her. She was ... still was perseverant.
Some of them might have said, "You'll be put out of your church." Put out or not put out, she was on her road, something pulling her to Jesus. There was nothing going to stand in her way ---no hindrances. She was perseverant. Nothing stood in her way.
Finally, she arrived where He was.

37 Many people think just because you get where He's at, it's all over. That's wrong. He can come here in this building tonight, and show Himself alive after two thousand years by the things that He promised to do in this day. He did last night. He does every night. He does everywhere. He proves that He is still alive. You can be in his presence, but that isn't it. No, sir.
Sometimes you meet difficult when you come into his presence. She did, when she arrived. Then said Jesus He was not sent to her race. The very one that she come believing in, turned her down. This is a lesson. The very one that she went through all these gates of sorrow, and disappointment, and everything to get there... But something pulsating inside of her, telling her to go...
When she got there to Him, He turned her down flat. And besides that, He said her race was nothing but a bunch of dogs. "It's not meet for Me to take the children's bread, and feed it to you dogs."

38 What if He'd have called the Pentecostals dogs? My, I don't know what would have happened. What if He'd have said Methodist dogs, Baptist dogs? My opinion, he'd've went back, and told the pastor he was right after all---there was nothing to this fellow.
But if you've got ahold, and something's got ahold of you, it's going to be different.
"I'm not sent to you race of dogs. It's not meet for Me to take the children's bread and give it to you. I'm not sent to you. Your revival's not ... your company's not even sponsoring this, and I'm not sent to you. And it isn't meet for Me to take my time upon you, when you're nothing but dogs. And why should I waste my time on you?" What a disappointment that would have been to a woman that didn't have faith, that wasn't determined.
Oh, if the church could only see that.

39 But still she held on. She wasn't a hothouse plant that had to be babied, one of these kinds you have to spray all over, you know, and keep the bugs off of it. A good healthy plant you don't have to spray it. A good healthy plant, a bug can't get to it---it's full of health. And a good borned-again faith in God, a real genuine Holy Ghost faith, nothing's going to turn it down. It can't do it. It's persistent. It's going to the goal that God has promised to it. Nothing going to turn it down. It's going anyhow. Yes.
She wasn't a hybrid.

40 Today everything we got's hybrid. You talk about hybrid corn. I see it out on the signs out here. It is no good. It's killing people. Look at "Reader's Digest": said if women keep on eating it, what's going to happen. They won't have their babies no more, in twenty years from now. They won't be able to give birth to the children. Just breaking it down to cancer taking ahold. Oh, everything---the whole thing's worm-eaten.
That's certainly not scientific on evolution now. Jesus said, God said in the beginning, "Let every seed bring forth of its kind." You take hybrid corn and hybreed it, and plant it. Plant that same seed next year, and you got nothing. You got a better looking grain; but you haven't got nothing. They've hybred everything in the world.

41 You take a mule or, take a jack and hybreed it to a mare, you get a mule. But that mule cannot breed back itself. He's the ignorantest thing on earth. I've drove them all my life. He'll wait till his last dying minute to kick you. He don't know nothing. You can't teach him nothing. You talk to him, he just...
Like a lot of so-called Christians with their ears sticking out. "Haw! Haw!" They don't even... Bray, and don't know what they're braying about. "The days of miracles is past. There is no such a thing as healing." But you take a nice... He don't know where he come from. He don't know who papa or mama is.

42 But a genuine thoroughbred horse knows who his papa was, who his mama was, who his grandpa, great-grandpa, great-great-great-great... All the way back, he knows where he come from. So does a genuine borned-again Christian know where he come from. His origin wasn't with John Wesley, Luther, or somebody else. It began on the day of Pentecost when God, Himself, came among his people. And He is the Word made manifest. You can tell him the Word, and he'll say, "Amen."
The other ones say, "I don't know about that." See that donkey hybrid? He don't know where he's going; he don't know where he come from; he's in an awful shape.

43 That woman wasn't that type. She was no hybrid plant. She'd got ahold of something. You didn't have to baby her, and spray her, say "Now, darling, please. Now let me beg you. You should come down." No sir! Nobody... Everything tried to hinder her.
A real Christian fights for his position. He has to stand alone, him and God. And he fights every inch of ground. You don't have to baby him around. That's what's the matter with the Pentecostal church today. We got Pentecostal babies, that's just been sprinkled, and sprayed with this, and that, and the other, till it's run out to a bunch of hybrids.
What we need today is a house-cleaning, from the pulpit all the way to the janitor, and a starting over again. Get some genuine faith borned in the people. Yeah.

44 No, she wasn't a hybrid, as a so-called crop of believers is today. What did she do? She admitted He was right. The Word... And faith always admits the Word is right. Amen! If your faith don't punctuate every word of God's Word with "Amen," there's something wrong with your experience.
The Bible said "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. If it don't say "Amen" to that, then there's something wrong. Jesus said, "The works that I do shall you do also." If it don't say "Amen" to that, then there's something wrong. If it don't punctuate every word of God's promise with an "Amen," there's something wrong.

45 She admitted that He was right. She admitted she wasn't nothing but a dog. But she was after crumbs. Wouldn't be us! Oh, no! We have to be sat up on a seat. And, "If they don't minister to me the first night, I'll not go back the next night." Now, see. Oh, what a difference she was. Put back, and shoved back, shoved out, put outside, whatever it was---she was determined. She was persistent, perseverant.
Something on the inside had told her that she was going to get it, regardless of how long she had to wait. What she had to go through, she'd get it anyhow. She was after the crumbs. She didn't want a full-course dinner. She said, "The dogs eat the crumbs under the masters' table." That's the way to do it.
Don't take the high seat; take the back seat. Don't do... Just be the little person. The way up is down, always. He that humbles himself shall be exalted; he that exalts himself shall be abased. The way up is down, always.

46 Remember, she'd never seen a miracle. She was a Gentile, but she had faith. She was something like the harlot Rahab. She said to the spies... She didn't say, "Wait till I see how Joshua combs his hair. How does your generals all look? Or what kind of swords do they use? What instruments have they got, what kind of a warfare?"
She said, "I have heard that God's with you. That's good enough for me. I want mercy." She believed. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing of the Word of God.

47 Watch.
For this saying ... for this saying, Jesus said ... because she's persistent and coming... Now, at first she called him Son of David. Now she had, as a Gentile, had no claims on Him as the Son of David. But when she said, "Lord", He was her Lord; but not Son of David to it.
She had the right approach to God's gift. And that's the only way to ever receive anything, is come the right approach. She was the first Gentile that a miracle was ever performed on. Faith admits the Word is right. It's humble and reverent. And the same is today. Be willing to take any part, anywhere, just so I get there.

48 Did you ever notice Martha, in the presence of Jesus, was perseverant? Martha, when she came out... Though she had a brother that loved Him, though she had opened up her house, and left the church, and so forth; and Lazarus and He was friends. And Lazarus was dead in the grave, and had been in there for four days, already deteriorating---the nose had dropped in, the flesh off his bones. He was dead.

49 I was talking to a woman that belongs to another faith, that don't believe that He was no more than just a prophet, or a good man. I'll admit He was a prophet; but He was more than a prophet. He was the God of the prophets. He was ... all the prophets was, was in Him plus God. And all of it together made Him.
We was going down one night, she said, "If I prove to you, Mr. Branham..." Said, "I've just got one fault with your message."
And I said, "I hope the Lord only has one fault. Fine with me."
Said, "You brag too much about Jesus." Said, "You make Him God.
I said, "He was God. If He wasn't God, He was the greatest deceiver the world ever had."
She said, "You make Him divine." I said, "He was divine."
"Oh," said, "He was a good man."
I said, "He was more than a good man. He was God. He was divine."
Said, "I'll prove to you by your own Bible He wasn't divine."
I said, "How can you do it?"
She said, "In St. John, the 11th chapter: when Jesus went to the grave to raise Lazarus up, the Bible said 'He wept.'"
I said, "Is that your scripture?"
She said, "Yes."
I said, "You failed."
Said, "How could He weep and be divine?"
I said, "He was both man and God. That was a man that was weeping, certainly. I'll admit that was a man weeping. But when He stood by the side of the grave, straightened his little frail body up, and said, 'Lazarus, come forth,' and a man been dead four days stood on his feet and lived again, that was more than a man." That's right.

50 Corruption knew its master; the soul knew its creator; and he was four days journey somewhere. I don't know. Neither do you. But anyhow when He spoke, he come forth. Amen. That was more than a man.
He was a man when He come down off the mountain that night. After he come, been hungry... He come down looking upon the trees to find something to eat, looking on a tree. When he cursed the tree that had no fruit, He was a man when He was hungry. But when He'd taken five biscuits and two fish, and fed five thousand (taking up seven baskets full of fragments left), that was more than a man.

51 I said, "He was a man when He laid out there on the water that night in the back of a ship, virtue gone out of Him---all day long preaching and healing the sick---virtue leaving from Him from the people, discerning the thoughts in their heart. And ten thousand devils of the sea swore they'd drown Him that night."
That little old ship like a bottle-stopper out there, flopping up and down, the devil said, "I got Him now." And it looked like it was all over.
But when He was once aroused, come up and put his foot on the brail of the boat, and looked up and said, "Peace. Be still," and the winds and the waves obeyed Him---that was more than a man. That was God.
He was a man when He cried for mercy at the cross, true. When He cried for a drink, and they give Him vinegar, that was a man. When He died bleeding, crying, crucified, nailed to a cross, He was a man. But on Easter morning when He broke the seals of the tomb and rose again, and said, "I am He that was dead, and alive forevermore," that was more than a man. It was God in a man, his Son.

52 No wonder Martha, with this understanding, she was perseverant in the presence of Jesus. Said, "If you'd have been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, whatever you ask God, God'll give it to You."
Oh, if we'd only get those words in our hearts tonight. "I know I'm sitting in a wheel chair. I know I got cancer, got heart trouble, [whatever it is.] I know the doctor says my last hours is close at hand. But even now, Lord, whatever you ask God, He'll do it." And He's sitting at the right hand of his majesty, to make intercession upon our confession. Just be as persistent as Martha was.
It seemed like He had turned her down. Sent for Him, and He didn't go. Sent again, and He didn't go. Finally after he's buried four days, here He is. But she was still persistent. She had ahold of something. She had seen his works, and she knew that was God. She knew it was. She was persistent. She got what she asked for.

53 The Shunammite woman, in the presence of Elisha, was persistent. Oh, the baby was dead and laying upon his bed. And Elisha tried to take an anointed stick, and send by Gehazi to lay upon the child. But her faith wasn't in the stick; it was in the prophet.
She knowed that God was in that prophet, for she'd seen the words he said come to pass. He was a vindicated prophet. And she knew that what he said come from God. And she said, "As thy soul lives, I'll not leave you till I find out why." And she stayed with him. She was persistent until she got what she asked for.

54 It reminds me. Here not long ago, a little woman coming from California (when I still lived in Jeffersonville), it's been about three or four years ago... She had a tumor. And the tumor alone weighed fifty pounds. They had to pack her into the building, sit her back... She was, told us, to be there that night. She thought I was going to pray for the sick. But I just come to speak to the audience, maybe about what we got in here tonight.
After getting through speaking, some of them had told her, "He doesn't pray for the sick tonight." But she wanted to be prayed for. She had said in her heart and believed... She had been in a meeting before. And said, "I believe that if Brother Branham would pray for me, I'd be healed."
And that night two or three of the deacons passed her around and went out beside the house, the building, come around the back, laid her at the door. And I started walking out with Billy Paul through the back. She grabbed me by the trouser leg, like that. She said, "Brother Branham," she said, "I've always believed that if you'd ask God, God would heal me."
I put my hand over on her. I said, "Then, sister, according to your faith, be it unto you."

55 A few months after that, I met her over in a meeting there. There she was standing with a perfect waistline; the fifty-pound tumor was gone. She said, "I'll take any woman in here in the dressing room, and let her see if there's a mark on me anywhere. Here's my picture of what I was." What was it? Whether you was praying for the sick or not, she was persistent. She had come from California to be healed, and she wasn't going back any other way but being healed. She was persistent.

56 I remember being called by the bedside of a boy dying here a few years ago, with black diphtheria. And they wouldn't let me go in there because I had children. The doctor said, "You can't go in there. You're a married man."
I knew he was Catholic. I said, "If the boy was Catholic, would you let the priest go in?"
Said, "Yeah, but he's not married."
I said, "He visits children, and so forth."
He said, "It's not the question, Mr. Branham."
I said, "You'd let a priest go in and give him the last rites. This is the last rites. The boy's dying. Let me get to him."

57 Well, finally I persuaded him, and he dressed me up like a Ku Klux Klan, or something---all kinds of things over. The old mother and father was standing there. I'd left a meeting. And the old mother and father said, "If you'll come pray, my child will live."
The boy was about seventeen, eighteen years old---had a cardiogram, a machine there of some sorts. He had been unconscious for two or three days. And there ... he knew nothing. The mother and father received me as I come in. I knelt down and prayed a simple little prayer of faith.
I said, "Sir, do you believe God?
He said, "With all my heart. Only thing I want you to do is ask God. God will give it."
I said, "Thank you, brother, for your confidence. May I never betray it." I laid hands upon the little fellow, and prayed, "Lord Jesus, let this father and mother's faith join with mine, and come before your throne tonight. Let this boy live, and not die, because we believe in Jesus' name."

58 Got up.
And the father reached over and grabbed the mother across the little iron lung, a thing he was breathing in there, and said, "Mother, isn't this wonderful? Isn't this wonderful? Oh, it's so wonderful!"
And that little nurse standing there, she was amazed. That little cap like to fell off her head! She looked around and she said, "Sir, I don't understand. How can you act like that, you and your wife, and your son dying?"
He said, "Honey, my son's not dying."
"Well," said, "Doctor said that he was dying." Said that (ever what the machine was)... Said, "When a heart ever goes that low with this fever, it never has been known in history to ever come back."

59 I'll never forget that old patriarch's faith. He belonged to, I believe, the A. B. Simpson movement. He walked up and put his hands upon the shoulders (he was about sixty years old), put his hands upon the shoulders of this little girl, looked her in the face. He said, "Honey, you're looking at that machine. That's all you know to look at. But I'm looking at a promise that God said He would do it! It depends on what you're looking at."
They were hugging one another, and rejoicing there, brother! And he's married, and a missionary in Africa now, with two children. Why? Because a father and mother could hold on in the darkest hour, persistent. Yes, sir! Persistent. Have faith in God.

60 Little Micaiah, in the presence of all them four hundred trained prophets, were persistent, when he had a vision from God. Though they... He was contrary. They met him and told him, "Now, we'll put you back in the association, if you'll just say the same thing (you) they say."
He said, "As the Lord lives, I'll only say what He tells me to say." And his vision was examined with the Word of God, and he pronounced his prophecy, no matter what.
They said, "We'll throw him into the inner cell, and give him (sorrow) bread of sorrow, and waters of sorrow." And when they come back, he said he'd deal with him, Ahab did.
He said, "If you come back at all, God hasn't spoke to me." He was persistent. He knew where he was standing.

61 The blind man that had been healed by Jesus could not argue their theology. They said, "Who opened your eyes?"
He said, "A man called Jesus of Nazareth."
They said, "This man's a sinner. We know not whence He come from."
Now, he gave them a good answer. He said, "You are the religious leaders of this day. And this man has give me my sight, and yet you don't know where He come from."
He had pretty good theology of his own. He could not argue with them but he knowed one thing: he could see, and he wasn't ashamed. His father and mother was ashamed to say something about it. But not him. He'd seen it. He'd felt it. He had the results of it. Something had told him, and he was persistent.

62 Philip, as soon as he seen (in last night's lesson) what that, when ... come up in the presence of Jesus Christ... When he saw (Simon) Andrew's brother, Peter, come up in the presence (which was Simon then), come in the presence of Jesus... Simon had been taught as a child that the Messiah would be a prophet. When he walked into his presence, and He told him, "Your name is Simon, and you are the son of Jonas," he was persistent. He was ready then to become the head of the church.

63 When Philip saw it, he knowed another good Bible reader that knowed the truth. He was persistent. He went around the mountain, and got him. And when Nathanael come---a man of renown, a real Hebrew, indeed. A man, staunch Hebrew---real fine man, fine integrity---he was a great man. But in the presence of his priest, in the presence of every one of them, when Jesus looked upon him and said, "Behold an Israelite, in whom there is no guile," he said, "Rabbi, how did You know me? I've never seen you before. How did you know who I was?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree I saw you."
He fell at his feet and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Thou art the king of Israel."
Why? He was persistent regardless what anybody else thought. He had met the thing he had read about. What he'd expect to find in Jesus, he had found.

64 A little prostitute woman come out to the well one day to get water. There sat Jesus, an ordinary man dressed in ordinary clothes, eating ordinary food, talking ordinary language, just common street language like anyone else talked. And she spoke to Him. He spoke to her. He found where her fault was, and he said, "Go get your husband, and come here."
She said, "I have no husband."
Said, "You've said well. You've had five, and the one you're living with now is not yours." Quickly that predestinated seed in her heart struck life.

65 When it struck the Pharisees it just turned the whole thing black. They said, "This man's Beelzebub. He's a fortuneteller."
But she knew the Word was sharper, more powerful than a two-edged sword; and a discerner of the thoughts of the heart. She said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. We haven't had one for four hundred years. I perceive that You are a prophet. But we know that when the Messiah cometh, He'll tell us these things.
He said, "I am He that speaks to you." Surely the one that done the miracle would not tell a lie. He was a prophet. He said, "I am that Messiah. I'm the one that speaks to you. I am He. Now, try to stop her.
If anyone was ever in the East, you know the man on the street would never hear a prostitute. She had no voice at all. But try to stop her---like a house on fire on a windy day. You couldn't do it. Right into the street she went, screaming, "Come see a man who told me the things I've done. Isn't this the very Messiah? There He sits, out there at the well now. That's the very Messiah. We've looked for that man to come, and there He sits. He told me these things."
The Bible said that the people believed because of the woman's testimony.

66 In closing I might say (I see some Spanish people sitting here), might say, last time I was in Old Mexico, not long ago, at the arena down there---some kind of a place... We couldn't get in the bull ring, or the big ring. But we got a place there where several thousand people had gathered. Brother Espinoza (I think an Assembly of God brother), you all know him, from California? He was my interpreter.
The night before that, there had been an old blind man come across the platform that couldn't see at all. I looked at him. I had good shoes on, and good clothes. Poor old man, ragged trousers all tore off, his old hat sewed up with what looked like binder twine, and he was blind; white beard hanging down, his old, big old feet, and maybe he hadn't had shoes on in years. Dusty all over, totally blind. I looked at him. I thought my dad would be about that age if he'd lived.

67 I slipped over to him. I said, "How do you do?" Brother Espinoza interpreted. I set my foot up side of his, to find out... There was a little curtain across the platform about four or five times as wide as this. I thought if my shoes fit him, I'd give him my shoes. Oh, his feet was much larger than mine.
I put my shoulders up against him, like I was going to put my arms around him. His shoulders was wider than mine. I seen then that I couldn't give him my coat.
I thought, "God, what can I do? Poor old fellow, probably hasn't had a decent meal in his life."
There he was, eating old rejected tortillas down there somewhere. But yet, had to spend what little money he had to get a grease candle, to burn it on a million dollar gold altar for his sins, living such superstition in darkness as that. I thought, "What a time." Why can fate be so evil? I put my arm around him, and cried, "O God, have mercy upon him."
I heard "Gloria a Dios." And about that time I looked around. He could see as good as I could, going across the platform!

68 And the next night, when we come in, there was a rack of old clothes, and shawls, and hats up three or four feet high, like this, all the way across. How they ever knew who it belonged to! Do you think they cared? They come to church that morning at eight or nine o'clock---no seats to sit down in---right out there, and it pouring down rain, and just leaning against one another. The women with their hair all hanging down, holding their children, and things. Pouring down rain, and come at nine o'clock. And I wouldn't be there till eight-thirty or nine that night. They'd be sure they was going to be there. Stood right there, waiting till I come in.

69 They let me down on a rope ladder, on the back of the arena where I come in, like this. Walked out to the platform. Billy Paul and a man that I called "Mañana," which means "tomorrow"... He was always so slow to come get me. And so I'd say, "Just come tomorrow. You done ruined tonight." So he brought me over there, and he let me down. And I come in on the platform. Brother Jack Moore (Many of you know him, just across here at Shreveport.), he was with me, and Brother Espinoza, and several of the brethren.
Then when we're standing there on the platform, Billy come. I heard the great row, way out over there---thousands times thousands---seating in there.

70 Billy said, "Daddy, you'll have to do something. A little Spanish woman over here," said, "she's got a dead baby in her arms. Said, "That baby died this morning, they say early. And Mañana give out them prayer cards." And said, "And he ain't got a prayer card, and I ain't got one." Said, "And she's determined to bring that baby in the prayer line." Said, "We've got about four hundred there, ready to be prayed for."
I said, "Well," I said, "just make her stay back, 'cause if she gets ahead that'll start every one of them doing that." And I said, "We can't do that. Tell her just get in line, maybe tomorrow. We're going to be here yet tomorrow. Give her a prayer card."

71 He said, "You come over and try it." He said, "I got three hundred ushers there, that can't even hold her." And said, "She won't weigh ninety pounds." And said, "You can't hold her." Said, "She runs between their legs, jumps over their shoulders, or anything, with this dead baby."
I said, "Brother Jack," I said, "she don't know me. She wouldn't know me from you. Go on down and pray for the baby, and that'll settle it, like that." I said, "Is the baby dead?
Said, "Yes." I said...
I was speaking on faith being the substance of things hoped for. And I was speaking, and Brother Espinoza started speaking on, as I was speaking. Brother Jack started down to pray for the baby. And as I started to look, I looked right here in front of me. And there was a little Mexican baby, no teeth---it was so little. It was smiling, looking at me. A vision. I said, "Wait a minute, Brother Jack. Bring the baby here." And so they opened up the way.

72 Here come the little woman with prayer beads in her hand, falling on the floor, hollering "Padre," and I raised her up.
I said, "Don't." She had a little blue and white striped blanket, a little stiff baby about that long, laying in her arms. I said, "Ask her when it died."
Said it died in the doctor's office that morning about nine o'clock. And this was about nine-thirty or ten o'clock that night, and just soaking wet. She'd been standing there, her hair all down. Pretty little woman. And she ... probably her first baby. She looked to be twenty-five years old, or something.

73 And I said, "Brother Espinoza, don't interpret this prayer, because I just seen a vision of the little dead, or, little baby out there laughing at me." I said, "It might be the baby." And I put my hands upon the little blanket, and I said, "Dear heavenly Father, I don't know what the vision meant. But I seen the little baby. If that baby ... You're ready to call it back to life, I call for its life, in the name of Jesus Christ."
It let out a yell, and kicked that blanket, and begin screaming like that. And I...

74 The Businessmen's "Voice" packed it not long ago.
I said, "Brother Espinoza, don't say nothing about that now. You send a runner after that baby and that woman, and get her to the doctor, and get a signed affidavit before you publish that now," I said, "because it must be true. We don't know." So he sent a runner, and the doctor signed an affidavit that the baby died with double pneumonia that morning at nine o'clock in his office. It had no respiration. Its heart was gone. It was dead, and stiff.
And there that little woman was. Why? Because she was persistent. Nothing was going to stop her. She was persistent. She was perseverant, though her priest would have put her out the church. Certainly he would. No matter what happened. She happened to be looking at the fence a few nights before, and she'd seen that old blind man receive his sight. If God could give sight to the blind, he could raise the dead. And she had a need. She was persistent. Like this Syrothiopian woman, she got her desire because she was persistent.

75 Brother and sister, we're in the presence of Jesus Christ. He said, "Wherever two or three are assembled in my name, there I am in the midst of them. Whatever they agree upon as touching one thing and ask, they shall receive." Let us be persistent now, in the presence of God, as we bow our heads.

76 Our gracious heavenly Father, we've been speaking for about thirty-something-minutes now, or more, for thy kingdom. God made the promise. God is obligated to his promise. Let us, Lord, remember, and be like that little woman, persistent. If Jesus is here in our midst, then let us hold onto Him until we have achieved that what we've come for.
If there are those here tonight who are not saved, may they hold on until the saving grace of God has received them. If they're here without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, may they be like that little woman---let not time or anything else stand in the way. They'll hold, and be perseverant, until the Holy Spirit fills their life with the grace of God.

77 If they're sick, may they not let loose. May they hold like Jacob. How perseverant he was. He held on, and said, "I'll not let you go until you bless me." That blessing meant life to him. And so does it mean to us, tonight. And healing means life to us, Lord. We pray that your presence will come, that we'll be able to get ahold of You, and You get ahold of us, like You did with Jacob, that wrestling prince; that You'll change our name, from a church book here on earth to the Lamb's book of life in heaven. Perseverant, holding on until God confirms his promise in us. We ask it in his name.

78 Lord, we know a word from You will mean more than a million that anyone else could speak. Come, Lord, and vindicate this, that I've told the truth. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are the Word. You was the Word that was in Noah. You're the Word that was in Moses. You was the Word that was in Elijah. You was the Word that was in David. You are the Word made flesh, and is among us tonight.
You're here to vindicate every promise that You made for this hour. As it was in the days of Sodom, all these promises that You made, You're here to confirm it. Grant it tonight, Father. We'll watch to see You here. And then may the church reach up by faith and take ahold and say, "I'm perseverant, Lord. I'll stay here like the unjust judge that the widow had ahold of. And if that unjust judge, to get rid of the woman, gave her her desire, how much more will the heavenly Father give those that He's expecting to hold to Him tonight? Grant it, in Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. The Lord be blessed.

79 I want to see... Did you give out cards? Two hundred? What's the ones you give out today? H? Where'd we start from? 1, last night, didn't we? Let's start from somewhere else tonight.
The prayer card tonight is H. Everyone that has prayer cards, hold on to them, see. We're going to pray for every one. Just hold on. Hold on to that prayer card. You give a man a prayer card, he's 60% healed right then, see. He knows he's going to get in line, so just ... to do is hold it. That's the reason we give them out.

80 Let's start from ... let's see ... from ... let's make it from 80 tonight. Start from 80, 90, 100. Who has prayer card H? H like heaven. H 80. Raise up your hand. See, if I'm... Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we'll start from somewhere else then. I didn't see it. Oh, back ... all right, come here, sir. H80, H81. Who has 81? Raise up your hand. 81? over here. Come, lady. 82, who has 82? Would you raise up your hand? Right there? 82? All right, 82. Who has prayer card H82? There's 80, 81. We want H82. How would you say it in Spanish? It might be somebody in Spanish. All right. 82, 83, H83, who has prayer card H83? Look on your prayer card. Look at your neighbor's prayer card. Maybe they're deaf, and can't hear. H83, 83?

81 Don't get them cards, if you're not going to use them, see. Get them and use them, see. Don't pass them to someone else; keep them yourself. You'll be turned down in the prayer line, see. So take your card, come listen to the instructions before the meeting. Take your prayer card, and then stay in your seat.
H83. Where's it at? 84? The lady here. 85, 86, that's right, respond quick. 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100. Count them, Brother Grant, if you will, and see if they all get in the prayer line.
Now, I'm going to ask everybody in here now---we'll be done in about ten, fifteen minutes---I'm going to ask everybody in here to remain in your seat that wasn't called. Be real reverent, quiet. Be persistent now.

82 Let's give you another little story. One time there was a woman... Jesus said... His fame had spread all over in Gadara and a little woman came down (or not from Gadara. It was another country.), and she heard of Him. She had a blood issue. She come to the meeting where Jesus was at, at the sea shore. But she couldn't get to Him. And so she said within her heart (now listen), within her heart, that, "If I can touch his garment, I'll be made well." Remember the story? Now, she slipped through and touched his garment.
Now, what happened? Jesus turned and said, "Who touched Me?" Why, Peter rebuked Him. Just think of that, now, while they're seeing if they're all there.
Peter rebuked Him and said, "Lord [something like this], why, people'll wonder if You're in your right mind. Why, everybody..."
"Hello, Rabbi. Hello, prophet. This is the young prophet-evangelist. This is the Galilean prophet. Hello there."

83 "Away with such a man," said the priest, and all. "Get away from Him, everybody."
But he held on, just the same, she did. She said, "If I can only touch his garment." She did.
Then Peter said, "Why, you make people think You're out of your mind."
"But," He said, "I perceive that I've gotten weak." How many knows that? Virtue, which means strength, had gone from Him.
And He looked around over the audience, until He found the woman. And when He found the little lady, what did He say to her? He said, "Thy faith has saved thee," told her of her blood issue, that she'd been saved. Is that right?

84 Now, how many believe that He's the same yesterday, today, and forever? Raise up your hand. How many knows that this is the truth: that Hebrews 3 says that right now He is a high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. How many knows that? Well, if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, only He's not in physical form... When he returns like that, time is over. He'll take the church with Him.
But He's here in the form of the Holy Ghost to come into me, and into you, and perform his same works. He said in John 14:12, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." Is that right?

85 And if the Word is in us and we're telling the truth, and it is the Word that he promised for today, then isn't the Word of God sharper than a two-edged sword, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart? Does the Bible say that? Was not... All the prophets could discern the thoughts in the people's mind. Is that right?
Why? It was the Word that was in them. God's Word for that day, see. That's how they were vindicated; that was their credentials. None of them belonged to an organization---not one. Never did. Their credentials was their ministry.

86 God said, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then hear him; for I'm with him. But if it don't come to pass, well, don't hear him." It must not be just once; it must continually, all the time, from prophets.
There's a gift of prophecy that's in the church, which is to be examined by the examiners before it can be told to the church, of course. Let it be before two or three judges, and then it's told. But a prophet is born a prophet, predestinated, foreordained.
Jeremiah... God said, "Before you was even formed in your mother's womb, I ordained you a prophet over the nation." John the Baptist, 712 years before he was born, he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness. "Prepare the way of the Lord," see. Sure.

87 Notice. Now, when Jesus was here on earth, He made the sacrifice for healing and for salvation. Do we believe that? Jesus could not come tonight and save you. He's already done it. The sin question was settled. He's the Lamb of God that take, took away the sins of the world. He was wounded for our transgressions. With his stripes we were healed. It's a past tense. No matter how much you'd scream out, and how much you'd scream out---that wouldn't do a bit of good until you accept it.
And He's the High Priest sitting at the right hand of the majesty on high, to make intercessions on our profession. You've got to accept it, and profess it, see. It's correct. Same way by healing.

88 But what if He was standing here tonight, wearing this suit that He gave me? What would He do in the prayer line? How would you know it was Jesus, see?
Now, as far as somebody'd come, say, "Jesus, will You heal me?" He'd say, "I've already done it."
Now, if He had nail scars in the hand---anybody could have that, see. Any scar could be... But what is it?
How do you know the ... what do you know what kind of vine it is? It's what kind of life it's got in it. And every vine, if the first... The first branch that come out of that vine---Jesus Christ---they wrote a book of Acts behind it. Is that right? If it ever puts forth another one, they'll write another book of Acts. For if it bore grapes, the first one, the next time it can't have lemons. But a lemon vine can live in that---it's a citrus fruit. But it's living of its own. It'll always bring forth lemons. It's a grafted vine into it.
But if the vine itself puts forth a branch, it'll bear fruit like the first one did, for it'll be... The life that was in Jesus Christ will be in that vine. That's right.

89 Jesus said, "He that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he also." Now, if He was here, He would be known by his life and by the things that He promised for this age.
How many was here last night? Let's see your hands. Practically all of you, I suppose. All right. Now, there's people ... every one in that line, as far as I know, is a total stranger to me. If that's right, raise up your hand, each one. Are you a stranger? How many out there is strangers to me? All right. The only thing I ask you to do is have faith, and believe that I've told you the truth.

90 Now, look. Christ promised these things for the last days. Now, I know you've had great warriors here in the city. Perhaps Oral Roberts, and oh, like the late Jack Coe, and those great men of faith---they lived their time. But remember, the last sign that the Gentile world seen before the promised son arrived in Abraham's time, which is the father of all (and Jesus promised the same thing), the last sign that was showed to the church-elected... Now, remember. There was (one) two went down and preached into Sodom. They never showed this sign. Neither is it today.
But to the called-out church, the sign was showed. And so did Jesus prophesy it'd be the same thing, see: God manifested in flesh, see, discerning the thoughts that's in the heart. Now, He promised that. Both heavens and earth will fail; but that won't. Now, if He will manifest that, to show that He's here present, how many of you will believe Him for your healing, and whatever you have need of?

91 Our Lord Jesus, now it's to You, Father. Whatever your will is, let it be done. I am your servant. These are all your servants, or many of them that's in here. Let those who are not your servants, by your presence---knowing that maybe before morning they'll have to look upon your face... Now You can smile upon them with grace; but then You'll be their judge.
Let it come to pass, Lord, that Jesus will come among us tonight, and perform and do like He did before his crucifixion, will be assured to us in the face of all heathen religions, that our Saviour is not dead, but is risen from the dead. And after two thousand years is just as alive tonight as He was then.
And may we, like those from Emmaus say, "Did not our hearts burn within us, as He talked to us along the road?" Let thy presence be known. May we see You tonight, in the power of your resurrection. Then may the people believe then, Lord, because of your great august presence. We ask in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

92 Now, I take every spirit... Each one of you are a spirit. Remember, you've never seen me. You see this old worn out hull here, that declares this voice. Now, this voice either is coming from God, or it's not. Same as yours. This voice is just packed around this hull, which I'll swap it some day for a new one that won't get old. But friend, each one's a spirit. So when you move, see... When you have control there, see, it interrupts. Just sit real still. Be in prayer.
I want you to... If God does something, we should be thankful to Him. Certainly. Praise Him. Then be reverent, and watch. Just sit real still, and believe with all your heart.

93 Now, you out there who has no prayer card---no matter where you are, you just believe, and say this, "Lord Jesus, what he told us, it's in the Bible. We ... I know that you promised that. And I know it has to be You. It can't be that man. He's a man like I am," or, "like my husband, or like my son, or brother," or whatmore, see.
But a gift is not something ... a knife that you take, and go do things with. A gift... Some of these days I'm going to get me a big tent, and come to a city, and just stay for about a month at a time, see, and teach you. A gift is getting yourself out of the way, so God can come in, see, what He shows, what He does.
A gift is not, "I got power to do this; I've got power..." Your power of the gift is to get yourself out of the way. And the gift that God has give you operates through that, then, see, after you're out of the way, see.

94 Now, I can't make Him tell me nothing. He has to do it.
Now, to save time ... I'm real late, but ... come here, lady. I want you to stand right here. I was speaking a few moments ago about a woman at the well. Was you here last evening? You wasn't here? Have you ever been in one of the meetings before? Never been before. This is your first time. We're strangers. She wasn't even here last night; never had instructions on it---nothing---but just stand here. Now we're standing...
You remember the story of the woman at the well? There's a little panoramic, something like this. The man and the woman met for the first time in life. Now, this woman was ... she was in shame, she had married too many times. And she was living with a man she wasn't married to, and it was a very bad thing. And Jesus spoke to her.

95 Now, you remember, He said (in St. John 5:19), " Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in himself; but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." Therefore, Jesus never performed one thing without first seeing it in a vision, or He told something wrong there. The Son does nothing till He sees the Father do it first. Not hears Him; sees Him do it. And then, the Father...
He had need to go by Samaria. He was going to Jericho; but He went up to Samaria, the city of Sychar. And He met this woman. And He begin to talk to her until He found where her trouble was. Then He told her her trouble. And quickly ... her in that condition, she recognized that that was the sign of the Messiah. Well, if that was Him yesterday, it'd be the same one today---if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that true, audience? See.

96 Now, we are meeting for our first time. I'm not He; and you're not she. But He still is God. That's right, sister. Now, if you can have faith in what I'm saying in the Word... I'll never say nothing but what's in this Word. He might do things outside of that Word, but just as long as He does that, I know I was right.
And now, you don't know me; I don't know you. So therefore, if you was sick and I laid hands upon you and hollered... Like that great warrior, Brother Roberts, or some of those---Brother Allen or some of those men---lay hands upon you, and say "Hallelujah! The Lord heals you!" That's good. So, you believe that, and it'll work, see.
But now, what if He stands here and tells something that you have done, or some reason that you are sick, something that has happened down through life, or something you ought not have done that ... you'd know that that had to be right. That would clear your mind. That's right. Would it yours, out there?

97 Now what am I talking to the woman about, see? I never was kept on that message tonight. I got to perseverance, see. It was changing me into preaching. Now, have to come back to discernment, relaxing myself, getting William Branham over on the side.
How many ever seen that picture that was taken here in Houston? It's here. It's out front here, now. That's hanging right beside, between me and the woman right now. It's just milling right around. If the woman wanted to witness to it, she knows that in the last few seconds there has been something, like a real sweet feeling. If that's right, raise up your hand, see. I'm looking right at it. See, it's like living in another dimension. I'm watching it through the woman.

98 Now, the lady---one thing, she's extremely nervous. And that's what she wanted me to pray for. And that's just natural cause right now. Because of this time of life that you're living in, getting to this age, and so forth, that makes you nervous. Another thing, you've got something in your side. It's like little pockets of air, like, gathers in your side. Now, is that right? Raise up your hand.

99 Now. See, now. There that is again! Somebody's saying, "He's..." I'm going to call who that is, one of these days, see. Don't do... You can't hide yourself, now, remember, see. The Word is here itself. Not me, friend. I'm just your brother. But the Word is here.
Here. She's a good person. Let's see if I guessed that. I don't know now what I said. It'll have to come through that tape, before I know it.
Now, just a moment. Yes, she gets nervous. But that's because of the time, or age and things. She's... And then, another thing: you've had an operation, and that was a female affair, some time ago. That's right. That's made you nervouser than ever. That's right, isn't it? Isn't it? That's right. And that made you nervous, because this time of life made you more nervous. Now, you think I'm guessing?
Here's another thing. There's a girl with you---a little girl. And she's here, and she's suffering with mumps. Is that right? Sitting right there. And there's a woman, another woman---a friend of yours. And she's got a mental oppression, like nervousness, mental. Is that right? Now when you go back, lay that handkerchief upon them. The mumps will leave; and she'll get over it. And you'll be well. Go believe it, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

100 Do you believe? That was Jesus yesterday. That's Jesus today. You have to know that's somebody, you see. Somebody has... Now there, look. That was behind me, see. Then, it's not ... I couldn't do that. You know it's got to be some power, don't you? You believe it's the Lord Jesus according to his promise? The Lord bless you.

101 How do you do, lady. I'm a stranger to you also. I don't know you. I've never seen you in my life. We're strangers. This is our first time meeting, as far as I know. But now, if the Lord Jesus should tell me something about yourself that, something like that lady there---whatever it was---would you believe that it was the Lord Jesus instead of? ... It wouldn't be me, you know.
And now, you could, like the Pharisees, say "It's Beelzebub, an evil spirit." And because they said the Spirit of God that was doing that work in Him was an evil spirit, it was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven, when this comes in this day. That's the reason this nation stands in judgment today. It's nothing left for it but judgment. It's full of Jack Rubys and so forth. So, it can't be nothing else happen to it but judgment.

102 Now, you're ill. You've been to a doctor. He really would advise an operation. That operation is on the colon. That is true, isn't it? Here's another thing. You're desperately in need of a spiritual... You haven't been feeling right. You kind of washed away a little, and you want to come back. Well, you're back now. Now, go believing with all your heart, and you'll get well. In Jesus Christ's name your sins are forgiven you.
Now, I didn't say "Your sins are forgiven." He said that. It wasn't me; it was Him.

103 Do you believe? Now it ought to make the rest of you just know it's Him here. Isn't that right? If you just believe. Just have faith; don't doubt. Be reverent, and believe God. Now. See, you're in his presence.
Now, if one of those discernments made the Son of God say virtue went out, what do you think it would do to me---a sinner saved by his grace? It would be... You know what it would be.

104 Just a moment. It isn't the woman. Huh. Say you, that was just healed there, lady, going back to your seat---look to me just a moment. There's a man sitting right in front of you there, that has sinus trouble. Sitting right there, him. You believe God will make you well? You do? All right. Tell me what he touched. I don't know the man---never seen him in my life. If that's right, wave your hand if we're strangers to one another.
Now, look. That you might know something else, his wife sitting by him there, you believe God can tell me what's wrong with her? Will you believe me to be his prophet, or his servant? Will you do it? She's got hay fever. If that's right, raise up your hand, lady. That's right. Now if you'll only believe---you touched something. Believe now, and it will leave you. Do you believe God? Don't doubt; have faith in God.

105 Here's a man. I've never seen this man. He's quite a bit younger than I, and I've never seen him before. If we are strangers, sir, to each other, raise up your hand. I've never seen him.
Now let's take a picture in the Bible. Let's take when Jesus met Simon Peter. I'd imagine him being a man something about that age, his hair thinning, when Jesus met him. Now watch. He talked to Him. Now, if I don't know the man, never seen him, both of them with their hands up, we're total strangers to each other...
Now, the others was women; let's see about this man.

106 Now you look at me, just a moment, as your brother. And now, if the Lord would say something that you have done, or something that you ought to have done, or ought not have done, or whatever it is, you'll know whether it's the truth or not. You'd know. And then, if He can tell you what's wrong with you, or something that's on your mind, what your sickness is, or something like that---tell you something that you'd know whether it's the truth or not---then if He can tell you what has been, and you know whether it's true or not, if he tells you what's going to be, then you know it's got to be true.
Now, would that make everyone in here? ... Just take my time with this man, and talk with him. This is the first.

107 Now, you look this a-way just a moment as we talk. May the Lord help me now.
And do you believe what the Bible says is true? Do you believe that this is the hour that Jesus is to come; that the church has come from justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Spirit---just like the pyramid---like that coming? And now the top stone is going to have to be so perfect, till when the headstone comes it has to blend right with it. The ministry has started out like this, and just come to the minority all the time---and getting smaller groups, and smaller groups---until finally the stone meets with the building. He's the headstone; takes the whole building with Him, which is the church. All them will raise up plumb back from the first watch, on to the seventh. And all go in the rapture.
Each one had their day allotted to them. They had their reformers, and founders, and so forth, all down through. And this last day it's come into an eagle again, which is back in the prophetic age to bring this together. Do you believe that? The Word and the stone are becoming one.
You have a very fine feeling to you, sir.

108 Now, what's your trouble? You've had an accident. In that accident you were gassed with carbon monoxide gas. That is true. It poisoned you. It poisoned you in your liver, and you had trouble with that. And you had trouble with your stomach. You had trouble with your heart. And it's made you so nervous until you've built yourself in a complex. You're forced---must go back to work. But you're afraid to go back to work. You're afraid of that carbon monoxide gas. But it's going to be all right.
Now, remember. If Jesus Christ will tell me who you are, would... Now, them things was true, wasn't they? If He'll tell me who you are, will you accept it, and know, and go on back and be of a good cheer? Will you do it? Your name is Mr. Wagner. Go on back on your road.

109 Do you believe now? With all your heart you believe? If thou canst believe, all things ... all things are possible to them that believe.
Now, do you believe that God will heal that female trouble for you? Well, just go on across the platform. God bless you.
Now, lady, when you get up of a morning you're stiff. You can't hardly move around very much. Arthritis. But do you believe that God heals arthritis? All right. Go on your road, saying "Thank You, Lord." [Lady speaks of nerves.] That's what caused your arthritis. It was your nerves. If thou canst believe, all things are possible. But first, you've got to believe it.

110 What do you think, sir? Do you believe with all your heart? You believe God heals heart trouble, and makes you well? All right, go on your road and say, "Thank You, Lord Jesus."
Now, lady, you're shadowed. That means cancer. You believe God will heal cancer? All right. Accept it and go on your road, saying, "Thank You, dear God," and believe with all your heart.
God can heal stomach trouble, or anything else. Do you believe that? All right. Go on your road and rejoice, saying, "Thank You, Lord." You believe God will heal your female trouble, that dripping? All right. Go on your road saying, "Praise the Lord," and believe with all your heart. Do you believe God heals sinus, and asthma, and all this stuff, and makes you well? Go on your road rejoicing, saying, "Thank You, dear God."

111 What if I didn't say nothing, just laid hands on you. Would you believe it? In the name of the Lord Jesus, be healed. Believe with all your heart. Come, lady. Do you believe with all your heart? I mean your condition---heart trouble. Do you that believe God will make you well? If you do, then go on your road saying, "Thank You, Lord Jesus," and be made well.
All right, sir. Come, lady. You believe God heals diabetes, and makes people well from diabetes? Then go on your road saying, "Thank you, Lord." Believe with all your heart. God heals nervousness, and stomach trouble, too. Do you believe He makes you well? Go on your road rejoicing. Eat your supper and be of a good courage.
Come. A nervous stomach too. Do you believe God will make you well? Then go on your road, eat, be made well. Believe with all your heart.

112 You have a little heart flutter. But also you've got arthritis. You believe God will make you well? Go on your road, rejoice, and say, "Thank You, Lord." A nervous stomach causes peptic ulcers, and things. Do you believe that God will make you well, and heal you? Go on your road and say, "Thank you, Lord," and be made well.
You've got many things. A lady's trouble. One of your great things is a heart trouble---too much around your heart. Do you believe God will make you well? Go on your road rejoicing, saying, "Thank You, Lord." You believe God heals arthritis? Just keep on going, and your arthritis will be done. You believe with all your heart? Sure He does.

113 Now, some of you out in the audience. Now be reverent. Be reverent. Just sit still. You believe with all your heart now? Look this way. Believe with all your heart. Some of you people out there that's not going to be in the prayer line...
This little boy sitting out here, little chubby fellow sitting right there, don't you see that light over him? The little fellow is suffering with a kidney trouble. Do you believe that God will heal the kidney trouble, Sonny? You believe it? All right, stand up on your feet, and say, "I believe it," and accept it. All right. God bless you. Go on your...
Do you believe with all your heart? If thou canst believe, all things are possible.

114 What about you that just sat down there, come up with the little boy and sat down. Do you believe? Eye trouble ... God will heal your eye trouble and make you well? You do? All right, you can have your healing too. You just sat down at the right time. Amen. Go right ahead. That's fine; that's good. All right. Amen!
All right. The lady next to you, there. She's got trouble with her head. Do you believe that God will heal your head trouble, lady? All right. Your little girl, there, suffers with a mental trouble. That's right, isn't it? Lay your hand over on her and believe, and she'll get well, too. Do you believe that?
This next lady sitting there, she's praying, right next to her. She's praying there because of a broke-up home. Is that right, lady? Raise up your hand. Believe, and your home will be restored again. Have faith.

115 The lady sitting next to her has got a cyst. Do you believe that God will heal that cyst, lady? Raise up your hand, and accept it. The lady sitting next to her has got throat trouble. You believe that God will heal your throat, lady? Raise up your hand.
What's the matter with you people? Don't you see that's Jesus Christ? Let us stand up on our feet. Raise up on your feet, and accept Jesus as your healer. O Lamb of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, heal every person here for your glory.

Perseverant

You can find this sermon at ChurchAges.net

1 ... our love with Him, I'm sure. But there is a great cooling off amongst the people. The revival's over; the fires is going out. See, it's time for something to happen. You know, in the old Roman temple, the Temple of Vesta, when the fires went out, everybody went home. So there was no business done there. I think that's... I'm just about enough Quaker to believe that it should be that way.
Now, I think tonight... I omitted it every night ... but I like to respect this Word of God because I think it is God's Word and it's Him. It's Him in letter form. The letter itself... You have to have the Spirit there to quicken the letter.
So now for respects to this Word, let us stand while we read it. St. Mark, the 7th chapter and beginning with the 24th verse and reading down the 30th verse inclusive, you that have your Bible and kind of like to take a text. Just a little formal planting maybe of a few seed again, tonight, to build that faith until the time comes.
And when I feel that the Spirit is giving that climax, right then every one of you will be called to the platform. Don't ... don't worry; it'll be right then. But until that Spirit gets to that place to where you feel that the people's got it...

2 What's the use of coming up here if you're just walking up here?
You walk through Tommy Hick's line and Tommy Osborn and Oral Roberts', and back and forth through the line. It only weakens your faith, that's all.
When you come here with a full assurance that you're not walking before your brother or anyone else, you're coming here because the Spirit of God in you has bid you come, something's going to happen. There is nothing to keep you from it. Until then you're just on a walk right around. Next minister comes in town, right around; next minister comes, right around. That's no good.
There's nothing in a preacher, no more than there is in your husband or your brother or whoever it might be. We're just representatives of his, telling you the Word. Some of them have different gifts, which... The Bible speaks of these gifts. This is all done to vindicate his presence.

3 Now if it'd been me, or you to me, if you can't take one another's word, why that'd settle it. But God, full of mercy, He sent gifts and confirmations to prove. And just so the... He's so long-suffering, so gentle and kind, that He wants no one lost or no one hurt. He wants to be sure that every one of you get in. All right.

4 Now have you got the Bibles turned to the 7th chapter of St. Mark and the 24th verse?
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into the house, and would not ... would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
And the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children be filled ... first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto dogs.
And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat ... the children's crumbs.
And he said unto her, For this saying go your way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
And when she came ... was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter lay upon the bed.

5 Now let us pray, with our heads bowed, and our hearts. I wonder, while we pray, how many here'd like to be remembered in prayer for some special something? Would you raise your hand. Maybe, "Lord, let it be me tonight," see; or, "I have a loved one. Let it be them tonight."

6 Our heavenly Father, Thou knowest the needs before we even ask. Jesus taught us that. "Your father knows what you have need of before you ask"; but yet we are to ask.
When He looked upon the harvest... He was the Lord of the harvest, and He said, "The harvest is ripe; the laborers are few. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He may send laborers into his harvest," making Himself with man so bound together that He works only through the agency of man. He chose man to work for Him. He could have chose the sun to preach the gospel. He could have chose the winds or the trees, the stars, but He chose man; veils Himself inside, hides Himself from the unbeliever, reveals Himself to who He will.
Lord God, we're here tonight for no other purpose but to see You reveal yourself to us by forgiving the sins that we have committed, and helping us; and encouraging saints along the way, saving sinners, calling backsliders back to the fellowship of the heavenly Father and to the church of believers, the first born.
Grant it, Lord. You know what's behind each one of those hands that went up. You know what was beneath it, under the heart. You know their desire. I offer my prayer in their behalf that You'll grant each one of them their desires. My hands is up too, Lord. Grant our request.

7 Bless the reading of thy Word. And now as we take a text, we pray that You'll unfold to us the context, that we might know Him better. And when we leave here tonight, may we say like those who, coming from Emmaus after He has risen from the dead... And they had walked with Him all day, talked with Him, and yet they didn't know who He was.
There's many in this city, Lord, tonight, no doubt has talked to You, and walked with You, and yet never recognized your presence. But that night when You ... when they bid You come in and abide with them (Cleopas and his friend), and when You got the doors shut, and You sat down, You did something just the way You did it before your crucifixion. No other man did it that way. You did it your own way, and by that they knew You were the resurrected Christ. Quickly You vanished out of their sights. And with a light heart full of joy, they joined themselves quickly with the rest of the apostles and said, "Indeed, He has risen from the dead."
And when we leave this building tonight, may we see You come on the scene, and do the same things you did before your crucifixion, as You promised you would repeat again in the last days. And grant, Lord, that when we leave, we'll go with ... like they, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked to us along the way?" For we ask it in his name and for his glory. Amen.
Be seated.

8 I wish to take just one word for a text tonight, and the word I want to take is called "Perseverant." You might say, "Brother Branham, that's a ... that's a very small word for three or four hundred people sitting here tonight," or whatever there is. (I'm a poor judge of a audience.) And you say, "That's a very small word." Well, it isn't the size; it's really what I'm going to say about it.
Now "perseverant"... According to Webster, it's to be ... it's a word that you're to be persistent to... Means to be persistent in trying to make a goal, try to put something over, try to do something. You are perseverant when you are persistent.

9 Now all Christians must be persistent. They must be perseverant. And the only way that you're able to ... to do this, is to first to have faith in what you're trying to do. And if you have no faith, you're just jumping at it, then you can't ... cannot be perseverant. But when you really know it's the truth, then there's nothing going to stop you. You are really perseverant then.
And men of all ages that's ever been able to do anything, and had faith in what they were trying to do, were perseverant.

10 For instance, like the ... what we call the father of our nation, George Washington. He was perseverant. When he ... trying to achieve that victory over the British and cross the icy Delaware, he was perseverant. There was nothing ... His soldiers ... half of them didn't even have shoes on their feet. Their feet was wrapped in rags. The wind was blowing. But he had prayed all night, and he had the victory in his heart. And there was no British army or nothing else was going to stop him; neither could the icy river. He had prayed through, and there was no hindrance going to stop him. He was perseverant. And he achieved the task that he was trying to do, because he had the answer from God.

11 When a man gets his answer from God, there's nothing going to stop him.
Most people today... As I will repeat myself from last night, saying, "They have hope instead of faith." You find people coming on the platform, they're just built up in hopes. But faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence. It's not a myth, it's not imagination. It's something you've got. You've already got it, and you're just as happy with it---that faith that you have---as you would be if you had the substance in your hand.

12 For instance like this: if I'm starving to death, and a loaf of bread cost us a quarter, which will buy the loaf of bread... Now when I have the quarter in my hand, I'm just as happy as if it was the loaf of bread, because it's the purchase price of the bread. And when I know in my heart that I have accepted it, and I believe that God has give it to me, I'm just as happy with that faith as if I was ... if I was healed, because I'm going to be healed anyhow. I've got the substance right now. Nobody can take it away from me. I know it's right, and I can be perseverant with that.

13 When God tells something that's going to happen, like the visions or something... I've seen tens of thousands of them, and many of you are witness, and not one of them has ever failed. And when God says anything, I don't... If He would say tonight, "Go to the National Cemetery, for I'm going to raise up George Washington in the morning," I'd invite the whole world come watch it. It's going to happen.
God's Word can't fail. He's never failed, and He can't fail. There's one thing God can't do: and that's fail. He cannot fail, and God is his Word.

14 Now, Noah was living in a scientific age, when they was ... perhaps could shoot the moon with radar. Jesus said it was a day like this. "As it was in the days of Noah so will it be in the coming of the Son of man."
Now we know, down in Egypt we see these pyramids. We could not reproduce them today. We have no power to do it. They had a hold of atomic power, or some kind of power that built the pyramids. We couldn't put those boulders up there by no means. Neither could we reproduce that sphinx. There's no way of doing it. We don't have the material to make a mummy, embalm a body that looks even natural for thousands of years. We've lost that art. A dye that won't fade out, many things they had then that we are completely blind of. And they built that pyramid so ... sitting so center in the earth, no matter where the sun is there's never a shadow around it. Never a shadow at the pyramid. Oh, the architectury, the instruments they had---it's far beyond now.

15 And Noah lived in that intellectual scientific age. Noah did. And he was a prophet. And the Lord told him that it was going to rain. And after Noah hearing the voice of God (being a prophet to the voice of the Lord, word of the Lord comes to his prophet), and he knew it was going to rain no matter what anyone else said, whether it ever rained. And it never had rained before. God irrigated the ground with ... the vegetation with irrigation from the springs, and so forth, in the earth.
There'd never been a cloud in the sky; but yet Noah knew there was coming water from above. How's He going to do it? He doesn't know. But he was so perseverant, he went and built an ark according to the specification that God said for him to build it, because he had heard the voice of God, and was standing in the presence of God when the voice of God was made manifest to him. That ought to set this borned-again church afire! Perseverant!

16 I don't care how many critics laugh about it, how many says it can't be so, and then go out there and scientifically prove it; shoot the radar to the moon, and show there is no such a thing as water in the skies.
But Noah knew that if God ... standing in his presence and his ... the God that had spoke to him... And He was clearly identified, that it was God's word. And standing in the presence of God he was---he was persistent. He would build the ark anyhow. Nobody wanted to help him; he'd build it himself. He was persistent because he was ... knowed that it was the word of God. And he built it.

17 I can think of how Moses, a great scholar... He was so smart that he could teach the wisdom to the Egyptians. He could teach the teachers. He knowed all of the theology of the ... that the Egyptians knowed, and of his Hebrew family. And he was a smart, witty man, a great... We are taught he was a military man, but had totally failed, because one thing: he slew this Egyptian. And his education ceased when they accused him then, "Would you slay us as you did the Egyptian?"---thinking his brethren would understand it. And he miserably failed.

18 And that brings me to a thought of this: That's the reason, tonight, that our systems has failed. That's the reason that we will never be able to educate people to God. We'll never be able to denominate them to God. We've tried all these systems and they all fail like ... fell like the tower of Babel. And they always will do that.
God (the unchanging God) made his decision at the garden of Eden how He would save man. And when God ever makes a decision it has to ever remain that way. He cannot change. He cannot get smarter. He's the source of all intelligence.
No matter what our science says, if it's against the intelligence or the Word of God, it's contrary; it's not right. I don't care how scientifically it can be proved, it's still wrong.

19 God decided He would save a man by the shed blood of an innocent one. They've tried to build cities; they've tried to unite them. They've tried to build towers, educate them into it, and they get further away all the time. You'll never be able to save man till he comes back to the blood. That's the only place that God will ever meet a man.
Not by his intellectuals, not by how smart he is---how many men has made him a priest, or a bishop, or a state overseer, or whatever he might be, minister or deacon. That isn't the grounds that God meets a man on. He meets him on the grounds when he's under the shed blood. That's the only place Israel ever was able to meet God to worship, was under the shed blood. That's God's provided way. No other way will work. And under the shed blood God meets man and stands in the presence of man.

20 Moses---this runaway intellectual, runaway prophet, out on the backside of the desert... And married this beautiful Ethiopian woman and was living... Had a child, little Gershom. And one day while walking around on the desert (the backside of the desert), an old man of eighty years old... Looked like was plumb out of use as a minister. But he found a bush that was burning with fire, and it did not consume. And he went aside to see what had happened and come into the presence of God. And heard the presence of God, heard the voice of God while he was in his presence---when this pillar of fire was laying in this bush talking to him. Where he was afraid to even go near Egypt, knowing that Pharaoh would take his life; there's nothing going to stop him now.
And sometimes when a man gets in the presence of God and hears the voice of God, he does things so radical to the ordinary thinking of people it sounds ridiculous.

21 The next day now... A man that was afraid to take an army to attack Egypt (all the slaves there was in Egypt---he's afraid to attack Pharaoh like that), here he is the next day: eighty years old, beard hanging all the way to his waist line, his bald head shining, a crooked stick in his hand, his wife sitting on a mule with a young'un on her hip, going down with his eyes set up, glorifying God. "Where you going, Moses?"
"Going down to Egypt to take over," a one-man invasion. Why? He'd been in the presence of God. He seen what God could do with a stick. He didn't know what He could do with an army; he knowed what He could do with a stick.
I don't know what He could do about a denomination. I know what He can do with one man that will surrender himself completely to Him. That's all He needs: one person. That's you. Then he's perseverant. Nothing is going to stop him.

22 Moses had come in the presence of God, heard his voice in a miracle sign. He knowed He was a consuming fire. And here He is in the pillar of fire back in the bush. All of his education, all of his theology left him, and he knowed one thing: there was a God, and he had his orders. A crooked stick was good enough. He had been in the presence of God. Don't make any difference how many trained men Egypt had or any of these things. Didn't mean a thing to Moses. He had been in the presence of God, and he was perseverant. He's going down to take over---against shields and trained men by the tens of thousands, with a crooked stick in his hand.
Stop him, if you can! There's nothing can stop him, and he did it. He went down and took over, because he was perseverant, when he absolutely knowed that he would ... been in the presence of God, and had heard the voice of God out of the presence of God. Amen! Not only the voice was, but it was a scriptural voice. There's all kinds of voices. Check it with the Word.
The voice said, "I'm the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I made a promise that I would deliver those people. The time is at hand. I've heard their groaning, seen their taskmasters burdening them, and I remember my promise. And I've come down to deliver them, and I'm sending you to do it." That's good enough. He seen his glory, and away he went.

23 David was very perseverant when he had come over to the armies of Israel, which was standing in a bluff at that time. And across the little creek and over on the other side was the Philistine. There was Goliath, the great challenger, about twice the size, height of an ordinary man: fourteen-inch fingers, and a great spear several feet long that could stand there and just pick men on it like that, and throw them off---punch them out and pick up on the spear, and throw them off as they come up the hill.
And when the enemy knows that he's got the upper hand on you, he likes to brag. So he said, "Let's not have so much bloodshed." Said, "Saul, let some of your men come over here and fight me, and if I kill him, well, then you serve us. But if he kills me, we'll serve you."
See, when the enemy's got that upper hand...

24 And every soldier was just so shaky that he could hardly hold his armor up. And Saul, the most able of all of them, head and shoulders above his army, he wouldn't dare touch him, and yet supposed to be the anointed of the Lord.
But there come from the wilderness a little stoop-shouldered, ruddy-looking fellow, that had a slingshot in his hand. And that giant made his brag before the wrong man. And David said, "Do you mean to tell me that you'll let that uncircumcised Philistine stand there and defy the armies of the living God? Do you mean to tell me that you'll do such a thing as that?"
Now, his brothers said, "Now, you're naughty. You get back out there at the sheep, where you belong."
And the news come to Saul. Saul said, "Bring the lad here, and let me look at him."

25 And when he come up: little stooped, ruddy-looking fellow standing there, probably hair hanging down his eyes. And he said, "Why you can't fight that man." Said, "You're nothing but a little fellow, little ruddy man, and in your youth. And he's been a warrior since his youth." He said, "You can't fight him. I admire your courage, but the ... it's too great." What happened? He said, "Let me see if you can use my armor."
So he put his armor on him, give him his shield. Well, poor little David couldn't stand up. He said he didn't know nothing about it. He found out that Saul's ecclesiastical vest didn't fit a man of God.
So he said, "I'll send him away and get him a schooling of PhD, LLD, and so forth, and see what he can do about it."
He said, "I don't know nothing about these things. Take them off of me. I don't know nothing about this. But here's one thing I do know: I was herding my father's sheep, and a lion come in and got one of them; and I went after him because my father had give me charge to watch those sheep." Amen! And any good shepherd is a watcher of the sheep. And he said, "I don't have nothing but this slingshot in my hand, but I knocked him down. And when he rose up against me, I slew him. And a bear come in and got one, and I run after him and took it out of his mouth. And when he rose up, I killed him."
And said, "How much more will God of Israel, God of heaven, deliver that uncircumcised Philistine into my hands!"

26 That little fellow was perseverant because he knowed what he was talking about. He knowed who he had believed, and was fully persuaded He was able to keep that which he committed to Him against the day.
Now he had just a slingshot; that's all he had. He said, "I'll go fight the Philistine," because... The reason he was so perseverant: he knowed if God, under the care of the sheep, had helped him deliver the sheep back to his father, how much more a man.
Now think of that, all ministers. And we feel that way about you sheep, tonight. The devil has come and smote you with a disease. That's right. He's took you out from the good health.
I don't have no PhD. I don't have no LLD. I don't even have a grammar school education. But I know what I do have. I'm coming after you tonight, to bring you back to the shady green pastures and the still waters. That's what we're here on the platform for tonight, is to come get you---snatch you out of the hand of the lion out there, bring you back. Be patient. Listen close and watch. Try to find... What we're trying to do is try to help you.
Now. David was very persistent, because that he knew who he had believed, and he knowed he was able to commit ... what he committed to Him, He was able to keep it.

27 We find out that Samson... Another great judge in Israel, and that... Some people picture Samson as having shoulders about like a barn door. Now it would be nothing strange about that, to see a man who could pick up the gates of Gaza and walk out with it, or take a lion and pull him apart. But you know, Samson was just a little bitty (in a street expression), a little shrimp---little bitty old curly-headed, sissified mama's-boy, seven curls. It was a strange thing when ... They thought that a man, a great big ten-foot man, could pick up a lion, sure, and kill him. But the strange thing was, this little fellow seemed to be helpless until the Spirit of the Lord come on him. It wasn't Samson; it was the Spirit of the Lord.

28 That's the reason that it wasn't the apostles. Jesus chose them all---practically every one of them without even enough education to sign their name. He didn't choose priests. He didn't choose theologians. He chose fishermen and herdsmen, the ignorant and unlearned, so that he could take that in his hand; and take nothing and make something out of it. That's his nature. So He doesn't take trained schools and trained scholars. He takes something that realizes it's nothing. He gets into it and makes something out of it.

29 We find that this Samson was a Nazarite; he had seven little curls that hung down his back. And when the Spirit of the Lord come upon him, he feared nothing. Why? He was persistent as long as he could feel that Nazarite vow with him. As long as he could reach back here and feel those locks, he knew that he was in the will of God, and nothing could bind him. The city couldn't bind him. A lion couldn't kill him.
He took the jaw-bone of a mule, and it dry, and beat down a thousand Philistines with it. Do you know those helmets (those brass helmets) was over an inch thick? You know what would happen when an old desert dry bone would hit against that? Why, it would burst into a million pieces. But he stood there single-handed with this jaw-bone of a mule, and beating over the head, and killed a thousand Philistines. Why? He was persistent! Every time he hit, he felt that Nazarite vow move back upon him.

30 How much ought the church tonight---that claims that you're borned of the Spirit of God, stand in the meeting and see the vindication of the resurrected Jesus Christ, and claim to be filled with the Holy Ghost... And could sit still and let Satan push you around like he does? It's a strange thing. As long as you can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost, know that it's his Word and his promise for this day, you should be persistent to press in until it's over. Perseverant! Stay with it. God promised it. It's not you; it's God.

31 How about the little virgin Mary? (Now to you women) Now she was just an ordinary girl that lived in a real mean city, way worse than Topeka. And she lived there, but she lived a straight clean life. And she was engaged to a man by the name of Joseph. And one day she was on the road to the well to get some water, and a great light appeared before her. And an angel stood there (which was Gabriel), and told her that she was going to bear a child, knowing no man. And at the same time it told about Elizabeth, her cousin, that was old in age (Zacharias' wife), and she had conceived in her old age.
And now Mary... You could imagine what a laugh it would be to the people, to think that this young girl going with this boy steady, and here she shows up to be mother. But it didn't make any difference to her. She had been in the presence of God. She had heard the voice of God. She didn't care the scorn of the people, or the laugh of the people, or what they said about it. She was persistent. Up through the hilly country she went.

32 And women then wasn't like they are now: get out here with shorts on a couple days before deliverance, out on the streets before men. That's a disgrace to humanity. That's right. She hid herself.
And little Mary come up before she was to be a mother, and went up in the hills of Judea to see Elisabeth. And while Elisabeth had hid herself, no doubt one morning looking through the curtains, she saw this young lady come running and she recognized it to be her cousin, Mary. And as women then... They loved to see one another, and they meant so much to each other. She run out, perhaps, and throwed her arms around her and hugged her, and was greeting her. And she said, "I understand that you're to be mother."
"Yes."
She said, "You know, I'm to be mother, too."
"Oh! You and Joseph are already married?"
"No, we're not married."
And she seen she was showing to be mother. She said, "You mean, dear, that you and Joseph are not married yet, and you're to be mother?"
"Yes."
"How will this be?"

33 "The Holy Ghost will overshadow ... is to ... has overshadowed me. The voice of God said so." And said, "I know that you're to be mother too."
She said, "Yes, but it's already six months with me, and I'm worried because the baby has not moved yet."
Now anyone knows that that's altogether out of ordinary. Two to three months and life is felt. But this had been six months with no sign of life. Now that baby was dead, six months with no life. She said she was worried about it.
She said, "But the Holy Ghost has come upon me." Mary said to Elisabeth, "The Holy Ghost has come upon me and has overshadowed me, and said I'd have a son; and he'd be the Son of God and I'd call his name Jesus." And just as soon as that human name of God, "Jesus," was spoke by mortal lip out of a human being, a dead baby come to life in the womb of a woman, and received the Holy Ghost.
And, if that will do that to a baby dead in a mother's womb, what ought it to do to a borned-again church! The first time the name of Jesus Christ was ever spoke by mortal lip, a baby dead in its mother's womb came to life and received the Holy Ghost. "Whence cometh the mother of my Lord?" said Elisabeth. "For as soon as your salutation came to my ears, my baby leaped in the womb for joy."
And today we claim to have that Holy Ghost, and cowardly with it, afraid to move out. We got to get persistent. If we got the real genuine Holy Spirit we will be persistent.

34 Now, going a long ways ... get away ... I get away from my text and here it is almost time to start the prayer line now, and I haven't even got to my text. This is too short.
This woman that we're talking of, this Syrophenician woman, she was a Greek, and she had heard about Jesus. Now "faith cometh by hearing"---hearing the Word of God. And she had heard. And somehow faith finds the source that others don't see.
A doctor might say, "I... Child, I've done all I can do for you." He's at the end of his road. That's all a man can do. He sees the thing is advanced and there's nothing he can do about it. But you see, faith finds a source that he don't know nothing about.
Science won't prove it, because faith...

35 The whole armor of God is supernatural. What is the armor of God? Love. What is love? Scientifically prove me there is such a thing as love. Where's it at? You... How many of you loves? Raise up your hand---love your wife, love your brother, love your friends. Well, I want somebody---some science---to prove to me what part of you is love. Where do you buy it at? What drug store? I want a bunch of it. Love. Joy. You got joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, patience. What is it? It's all supernatural. God is supernatural.
You don't scientifically prove God; you believe God. You believe it. If you don't believe it... Then a man that says everything is not scientifically ... is unorthodox is not right, then that man can never be a Christian. He has to believe. By faith we believe God. Not by education, not by theology, but by faith you are saved.

36 Notice. Faith finds a source that others don't see. His Word is a sword. Hebrews 4:12 said that the Word of God is "sharper than a two-edged sword," even discerns the thoughts that's intents that's in the heart. That's the Word of God. And the only thing that can hold that sword is the hand of faith. Nothing else can do it. Nothing else.
You have to see something. In otherwise, scientific... You, scientifically, educationally, you cannot hold that sword. You can't do it by education. It's too twisted, too complicated. You make it---make... It'll try to deny itself, and everything. You cannot do it. Jesus said it's hid from you. So forget about it. You cannot know it. It's hid. And when God hides anything, it's really hid.
That's the reason that you're so hid, if you're a Christian. For you are dead, and your life is hid in God through Jesus Christ, and sealed by the Holy Ghost. How's the devil going to find you? Can't do it; you're hid. God hides you. Amen! What a hiding place: in the bosom of Jesus Christ.

37 Now. Faith holds it; it yields it. Now you may not be strong enough (that arm of faith) to cut a hole all the way through it, and walk through like some can. But just keep punching. It'll come---just hold to it.
She had many hindrances (this little Greek woman), but her faith didn't have any. Faith don't have any hindrance at all. There's nothing can hinder faith. Don't care what anybody else says. Nothing hinders faith.
Let's see some of the "mights" that could have happened to her. She might...

38 Somebody... They might have said to her, "You are a Greek. Your denomination isn't sponsoring his meeting." But she was persistent anyhow. She was going anyhow because she'd heard. And "faith cometh by hearing." Not by cooperation, but by hearing.
Notice. They might have said this, that, "You're a Greek. You're not in their class of people. You... They're different skin from you. They're a different race." Still that didn't bother her. That didn't bother her.

39 And some of them might have come and said, "Now that's nonsense. The days of miracles is past. There's no such a thing as that healing that you hear about. He's just another fanatic that's raised up."
Sure, they have all kinds of bogus dollars; but there's a real one somewhere it's made off of. That's right.
Now, said, "The days of miracles is past. There is no such a thing. That's just a bunch of fanatics down there---just a little handful of them. We've had it all along." But still, something had struck that woman. She was still persistent. The days of miracles might have been past for that one that was talking to her, but not to her. It might be apast for some of your associates, but not for you if you've got faith.

40 There might have been another group, maybe some women, stood on the corner saying, "Martha [I hope there's no Marthas here], Martha, you know what? Your husband will leave you as sure as you go down to that meeting. Now I know your daughter's got epilepsy, but I tell you, it's going... If your husband ever catches you going down there... He belongs to the great clubs and societies of the city. If you go down there, he'll leave you." That didn't mean nothing to her. She was going anyhow. Faith had done took ahold. Faith knows no hindrance.
Well, then there might have been another group down on the corner that said, "You know what? You'll be the laughing stock of the church because you're going down there just for nothing. And the people's going to know you're going, and as soon as you're identified with them, then you'll be the laughing stock of the people. Everybody will laugh at you." That didn't mean one thing to her. Not at all. She was persistent.

41 Some group might have said, "They'll put you out of your church; they'll give you your membership card." Still she was persistent. That didn't hinder her a bit. Why? She had already got ahold of faith.
I wish I had time to stop here for four hours and just tell you the ... of the experiences on that similar thing: that women and men and children who were dying, and by doctors' statements they're living tonight by the grace of God, because something got a hold of them. Faith! That's the idea. All right.
She broke through all these gates, all the critics, all the laugh-ats, all the "Your husband will put you away; your fellowship card's gone from the church; you have to find something else; you'll be a castaway; you'll be called a holy roller." That didn't mean a thing to her, because she had already seen God. She heard, and "faith cometh by hearing." And she knew that others had been healed. Why couldn't her daughter be healed? There you are. She comes through.

42 Finally she arrives at the feet of Jesus. And notice. What a shock! Many people think just because that they can get there, that's all there is to it. But you've just started now. When she got to Jesus, what a disappointment to her---or it would have been, maybe, to us in this day. Jesus said he wasn't even sent to her race.
If that had been some of you Pentecostals of today, why, you would have stuck your nose up in the air and walked away and said, "That's what it is! If they don't like me at the Assemblies, I'll join the Oneness. If they don't like me there, I'll go over to the Church of God. I don't have to put up with no such a stuff as that."
Oh, that's the reason the miracles has gone from the church. That's the reason the faith has gone from the church, see.

43 Even Jesus, the very God (listen to it!), the very God that she was going to worship, and change her thoughts, and come to---to believe on Him---when she arrived at Him she got a cold shoulder.
Remember me speaking last night about the hybrid flowers and things? Christianity today is a reproduction. It's not the original. If you had the original baptism like they had it back there, that Pentecostal church would be ... there'd nothing could stop it! It'd be like a house on fire and a dry weather and a hot wind blowing. There'd be nothing could stop it. It's on fire!
What's today? No, it's a different group today. My opinion, it's a reproduction.
Notice. He give her a cold shoulder. Today we have to pat them, "I'll promise you if you'll just come over, I'll put your card on my book over here [your letter], and I'll see what I can do. We'll get with the deacon board and see if we can't get you on the deacon board or something." That's the way you have to do them today. See what a bunch we got?

44 But even when she got there, He said, "I'm not even sent to your race; and besides that, they're nothing but a bunch of dogs." Oh my! What would we have done? What would you have done? Ask yourself that, and be honest.
Somebody said... Why, if you don't even get prayed for the first night, you claim you ain't coming back no more. And you got faith? Sure. (Now remember this tape goes all over the world. I'm not just pointing my finger here; I'm pointing everywhere.) Yeah. You ... you won't come back. No, you can't even sit and listen to the meeting through. "Yeah, I got faith." Yeah.

45 But she was called a dog. That's the lowest can be gotten, or was to them in that day, an unclean animal. Of course today it's an idol. But they... A woman will take a little old dog and give it a mother's care, and practice birth control, because she wants to get out to dances and parties and carry on like that. She hasn't got time for a child. You know, she'll route the dog off in a little cage somewhere, and take it with her. That's exactly right. Practice birth control, and then go to church and sing in the choir; wear shorts, slacks, everything else, and call herself a Christian; bob off her hair, and still say she's in fellowship with God, when the Bible says she's not. That's exactly right. I don't care.
Listen. You say, "That little thing? What are you saying that about?"

46 In the beginning one word caused all sickness and death. The same God at the last of the book said, "Whosoever shall take one word out of it, or add one word to it..." So, no matter what you do, how saintly you claim to be, how much you jump up and down and cry, speak in tongues, roll over the floor (or whatever you want to do) or give to the poor, whatever you are---that isn't it. You've broke that word; and that one word you broke, you can't go back in. Exactly right. Not one word.
You take a creed instead of the Word because it suits you better. That's the reason people can join church and go to this, that, or the other, and sit around there. It's nothing but a lodge. It isn't a church. You're borned into the church. You join a lodge; but you're borned in a church---the church, not a church. The church. There's only one church, and you... I've been in the Branham family for fifty-five years, and they never did ask me to join the family; I was born there. That's right.
Yeah. Turned down, called a dog; but still she held on.

47 See, she had faith. She was disappointed with all of her friends, disappointed with her people. All kinds of things trying to hinder her, but everything's still that way. That shows Satan trying to push back genuine faith, but he can't do it. Don't care what anybody says, it's still there. She's persistent. She keeps moving on.
She got to Jesus, and Jesus said, "I'm not sent to your race. [I'm not sent to your church. You're not cooperating.] You're nothing but a bunch of dogs anyhow." Still she moved on. Says, "Me, I come to heal these (mine), not to come to heal you. Not meet for me to take the children's bread and hand it out to you bunch of dogs."

48 She said, "That's the truth, Lord." Amen. Faith will always admit the Word is true. Amen. Now if you want to hold on to a creed, go ahead. But the faith (real genuine faith) admits the Word is the truth. She said, "Truth, Lord; but the dogs can eat the crumbs that's under the children's table." That got it. That got it.
She was not a hothouse plant. She was not a hybrid bunch so-called believers, that we have a crop of today. She had genuine faith. She admitted he was right. But she wasn't after even all the bread that the children could eat; she was just searching for crumbs.
We either get the best or we don't have any at all. We'll walk away from it, then say we got faith. "They don't treat me right, I'll walk out." That's no faith. That's not faith.
Faith is there. What I'm trying to say to you friends: we're going to have a prayer line here one of these nights. And I want to see not one stretcher, one wheelchair, one crutch, or nothing, but what's laying here on the floor; and them walking on out, see. Unless you come with the right kind of approach you're not going to get anything. That's right. You're just walking right through, and somebody slapping a hand on you, and going on out. That's no good. You've got to know what you're coming... "He that cometh to God must believe..."

49 Watch. Remember, she had never seen a miracle. She was a Greek. She knowed... She was a Gentile. She had never seen a miracle; yet she had faith that there was such a thing. And year after year and day after day we see miracles, and just can't hold on an hour or two.
She was like Rahab the harlot. Rahab didn't want... That Gentile woman: she didn't want to see how Joshua wore his clothes, or see Joshua. She said, "I have heard and I believe." That's all. She heard and she'd believed. Jesus said for this saying, she had the right approach to the gift of God. Remember, she was the first Gentile that a miracle was ever performed on, because of her faith. Faith admits the Word is right, humbles itself same as it does today.

50 Martha, in the presence of God... Martha, the sister of Lazarus, she was humble in the presence of Jesus, and she was perseverant when she got there. He said... She said, "Lord, if you'd have been here my brother would not died. But even now whatever You ask God, God will give it to you."
He said, "I am the resurrection, and life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"
Remember, she had a right to upbraid Him. She had sent for Him twice when he was sick; let him die. But you see, she had faith. She knowed that if that Shunammite woman (in her age), when her baby died, that she believed God was in that prophet, Elisha. And she held right on to Elisha. She said, "As the Lord God liveth, and your soul liveth, and never die, I'm not going to leave you." She was perseverant.
And Elisha didn't know what to do. He just went in the room, and walked back and forth until the Spirit of God, the presence of God, come. He laid himself upon the baby. It sneezed seven times and come to life, because somebody was perseverant. Somebody had a hold of faith, to get to the man of God.

51 And she knew if God was in Elisha how much more was He in his own Son. She knew "faith come by hearing." And in presence of Jesus she was perseverant. Jesus, look like, tried to turn her back, and say he'll rise, and all this, and so forth. But she was perseverant.
She pushed through every critic saying, "Now where's that divine healing program you was talking about? Where's that all at? Your brother's dead and buried out there now. And the pastor's slipped out of town till he died; and then come back." But that didn't stand in her way. She pushed right through every critic till she got to Him. She got what she asked for.

52 Now here some time ago... I just remember at the Tabernacle (I see some of the brethren sitting here from the Tabernacle tonight), there was a lady ... I come into the church. We have about every night about what we got in here in our meeting. And so then we was ... I wasn't praying for the sick that night. There'd been a woman come from California, had a tumor. The tumor itself weighed fifty pounds. And so they'd had her in the back. And so, they told her we wasn't praying for the sick that night, that was just coming down to speak because just come from a meeting. And when I went out the back door, two of the deacons had drawed her around the house in a chair, and set her at the door, and right on the ground. And when I come out... She caught me by the trouser leg when I went out.
She said, "Brother Branham, only thing I ask you, lay your hands on me." She said, "My tumor will go." And she was just about like this. About six weeks from then she was in a meeting and took the sisters to go in and examine her. Without any operation, there wasn't a speck of the tumor nowhere. No matter if it wasn't a night to pray for the sick, she was perseverant. She got what she asked for. Faith had found its place, had a hold.

53 Micaiah (and I'm closing in a moment)... Micaiah, in the presence of four hundred well-trained priests, prophets of Hebrews, with all... He said, "Come down, Micaiah. You've been put out of the ministerial association down here. But if you'll speak the same thing that they do now, and say for Ahab to go on up with ... Ahab and Jehoshaphat to go on up, and we realize ... that they'll put you back up in the fellowship."
He said, "As the Lord lives, I'll only say what He says to me." God give us some more Micaiahs. So he waited. That night the vision came. He examined his vision with the Word, because the Word of God had said that Ahab, that dogs would lick his blood like it did Naboth. So we find out that his vision was exactly with the Word, so he was perseverant when he walked out the next morning. Said, "Go on up, but I seen Israel like sheep scattered on a hill having no shepherd."

54 And this high priest or ... over the prophets, walked over, smacked him in the mouth and said, "Where did the Spirit of God go when it went out from me?" Still Micaiah didn't care what they said. He stood there. He said... "Put this fellow in the courts," said Ahab, "and put him in the inner courts, and feed him the bread and water of sorrow. I'll deal with him when he ... when I come back." In other words, behead him or something.
He said, "If you return at all the Lord hasn't spoke to me." Oh! He knowed where he was standing. Didn't make any difference what the rest of them thought, he knowed he'd been in the presence of God! He'd heard the voice of God. It was exactly with the Word of God.
So ought we tonight, to see this hour that we're living in, and see the promise of this day, that the Word of God promised it! No matter what anybody else says, the Word said so, and Jesus comes to make Himself known.
Perseverant.

55 The blind man that Jesus hid, or healed, could not... He could not explain or argue their theology. But one thing he knowed; he was perseverant. His father and mother couldn't say ... said, "Why, we're afraid they'll put us out of the synagogue." And they said, "Ask him; he's of age."
He said, "Who healed you?"
He said, "One Jesus of Nazareth."
He said, "Give God praise." Said, "We know this man's a sinner."
He said, "Now whether he's a sinner or not, I don't know; I can't say that." But said, "One thing I do know. Wherein I was once blind, I now see."
They said, "We don't know whence come this man."
He said, "There's a strange thing. You're supposed to be the leaders of this day, knowing all the spiritual things. And here a man comes and opened my eyes when I was born blind---and yet you don't know where He come from?" Oh, he was perseverant. Nothing going to bother him. He'd been talking to God.

56 Nathanael didn't care to call Him "Lord, King of Israel," before his pastor and all the rest of them, when He told him where he was at the day before. Nathan didn't care.
The woman at the well didn't care how many people told her it wasn't legal for her to say anything because she was a prostitute. She'd met a man that she'd looked for since she was a little girl, knowing that Jesus was to come on the scene (a prophet). And she'd found that prophet who she seen tell her the things she had done.
Stop her? As I say again, "Like a house on fire in a high wind." You couldn't do it. Her heart was flaming with joy and peace. She'd been forgiven of her sins. She had seen the Messiah. She had seen his presence. She had seen his Word. "We know when the Messiah cometh, He'll tell us these things. But who are you? You must be his prophet."
He said, "I am he." If the man could do a thing like that, wouldn't lie. She knew that was the Messiah; so the good news had to be spread.

57 How ought we to be on the same fire tonight! Persistent to let everybody know that the Holy Ghost is real today; that it falls upon us and does the same thing that He did, and the promises of this hour. We're not persistent. I wonder if it's really struck us, see.
Notice the woman at the well. One thing... I've got to close. I've got about a half-a-page of notes there. But I want to close in saying this: This brings a story to me. Then we're going to pray for the sick, going to be just a little bit late, but maybe ten, fifteen minutes. But bear with me just a little bit longer.

58 I was in Mexico City about three years ago... How many knows Brother Espinoza, you Spanish people here? Well, I guess many of you do. He was my interpreter. We was down there in Mexico City---as far as I know, the only Protestant ever come in there sponsored by the government. But General Valdini (you remember him)... He's one of the Christian Businessmen; had received ... been saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. And he'd got through the government; and he got me in.
And so, we got another big ring out there that seated several thousand people. Didn't seat nothing; had to stand up. And you think about having to stand here for two or three hours in this room. Them people stood in that hot blazing desert sun, there, from nine o'clock at morning till nine that night, day after day. And one night, pouring down rain, they stood there. And them young Mexican women, the hair hanging down their face, and it raining so hard I couldn't see halfway across the audience. It didn't make any difference to them. They was holding on to that Word of life.

59 Remember one night there, come in... I was only there three nights (platform about long as this or maybe a little longer). There had been an old blind man come across the platform, and they'd brought him up.
The fellow that come and got me---I called him "Mañana" (that means "tomorrow"), he was so slow. He never would get there, and he... Well, he'd look around and get over there anytime---and me praying---and I just called him "Mañana."
So they'd take me up the back of this big wall on a ladder, and then let me down on the platform. Brother Jack Moore... How many knows him? Sure, I guess you do, and Brother John Sharrit, many of them here. They were there on the platform. That night coming across the platform

60 Mañana give out the tickets (the prayer cards), but Billy walked right along by his side to see that everything went right. He could talk to them, and he give them prayer cards. But Billy went to find out whether it was really right or not; whether he'd sell any of them or what he would do, or give respect to person, let everybody that wanted a prayer card have one.
So, then that night when the prayer cards was called, there was an old man come across the platform---barefooted, and his trouser legs all tore off, old hat in his hand wrapped up with cord. And when he got close to me he was blind. And I looked at the old fellow. And I was standing there, as good a clothes as I got on tonight. Somebody'd give me a nice new suit, had on good shoes---and that poor old fellow there in old ragged shirt and dust all over him.
There he was totally blind: his eyes pretty near as white with cataract as my shirt, and he... And I thought what a cruel thing Satan had done. The poor old fellow probably never had a decent meal in his life.

61 The economics are so poorly balanced down there, and they... Just think now, say, Pedro (Peter) he's a brick mason, he gets thirty pesos a day; but he had to work four days to get himself a pair of shoes. See.
And then what about little Pancho, or Chico? The little one works out, you know, only makes about four pesos a day with four or five kids to feed. He'd get down and get some old niba, bean tortillas for his... And tonight Martina can have one and little Chico can have one; but somebody has to do without one. They have to save so much to buy a grease candle to be burnt on a gold altar for their sins. That's what burns me up. So there you were.

62 Now. This old fellow stood there. And he was saying something in Spanish, and he had a lot of little beads wrapped around his fingers, and I told him take them off, and ... through Brother Espinoza. And I thought... So I thought, put my shoulders up, I can just lay my coat down, tell him ... his shoulders much wider than mine. I put my feet outside his; thought I could step right out of my shoes; nobody would see it, and give him my shoes. But his feet was much larger. And I thought, "Well, I... What could I do?" I thought, "Oh, God..."
If you don't feel for people, it's no need trying to serve them. You've got to feel it. That's the reason He felt our infirmities.

63 I just put my arm around him like this, and I said, "Heavenly Father, if my daddy would have lived, he'd have been about this old. It's somebody's daddy."
And I was just standing there like that, and I heard, "Gloria a Dios!" That's "Glory to God," you know. Looked around there, and that old man could see as good as I could, just walking up and down the platform, just going. Well, and of course they had to get the ushers (about three or four hundred ushers standing there), to keep them down. Then they had to take me back up the rope.
Next night, come in there, there was just piles that high, a rick, all up and down there, of old shawls and hats and things they laid up there to be prayed over. How they ever knowed what belonged to who, I don't know. All piled up there, laying there. And it was raining and I was late. And I got in there, and I'd just started preaching "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Brother Espinoza was down there interpreting.

64 And Billy come over and tapped me on the shoulder. Said, "Daddy, you're going to have to do something." Said, "Mañana's done give out all the prayer cards." And said, "There's a little woman standing over there (a little lady)," said, "she's got a dead baby, and it died this morning." You've seen the article in the "Full Gospel Businessmen." And remember that has to be bonafide before it's printed. Doctors has to sign this statement that it's true when you put it in print.
And said [Gap in the audio.], " It died this morning." She'd been standing in that rain with it all day and she didn't know Espinoza was, or I mean Mañana was giving out them prayer cards. And said, "He hasn't got a prayer card." Said, "I've got forty or fifty ushers can't hold her off that platform." Said, "She'll go right under them, upset them, climb over their backs, or anything. She's trying to get up here."

65 And I said, "Well, I tell you." I said, "Come here, Brother Moore." You know, all of ... many of you ... raise your hands. You know Brother Jack Moore. I said, "Brother Moore, she don't know who I am. She don't know. There's been many ministers standing here speaking---lot of the Baptists and everything, that's sponsoring the meeting." And I said, "Now you---you go over there and pray for the baby. She won't know the difference."
And he said, "All right, Brother Branham." He started walking off the platform, about as far as the wall over there, and I turned around. The people didn't know, because they didn't understand English.
And I said, "Now as I was saying, faith is the sub..." And looked here in front of me, and I seen a little Mexican dark-faced baby with no teeth, just sitting there grinning at me, right here in front of me.

66 I said, "Wait a minute, Brother Moore." I said, "Tell the little lady to come here."
And Billy said, "Daddy, she ain't got a prayer card."
I said, "I just saw a vision, Billy." And so they went down there and got the little lady. Here she come running up there and fell on her knees; began to holler "Padre," which means "Father," you know.
And I asked her to stand up (Brother Espinoza) and hold the baby. She had a little blue and white striped blanket over it, just soaking wet, and the water dripping off, and her hair hanging down ---lovely looking little woman, probably her first baby. She was in her ... twenty-two, twenty-five years old, holding the little thing like that: little stiff form about that long under this blanket.
I thought...

67 They all thought I was just praying to get rid of it, you know, get her off of their hands there. I put my hands over on the little baby and I said, "Heavenly Father, I don't know that this is the baby, but I saw a vision there a few moments ago of a little Mexican, looked like a little dark-faced baby, smiling." And I said... They don't interpret the prayer, you know. And I said, "I saw it smiling." I just laid my hands upon it this way, "In the name of Jesus Christ," to pray. And the little baby let out a kick and started crying, and started ... and so it started screaming.
And I said, "Brother Espinoza, don't you put that down now. You send a runner with that baby and that woman, and take it to the doctor." And that night they called the doctor out. The doctor signed a statement that the baby died with pneumonia that morning in his hospital, or in his office, at nine o'clock; and here it was around ten o'clock that night. Been dead since that morning, and come to life; and is living today for the glory of God. Because why? She was just as persistent as this little Syrophenician woman was here we're talking about tonight. It goes to show that God is still the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The thing of it was... What was it? She had heard about that old blind man.

68 She was Catholic by faith. All of them are Catholic. So it was... When you're born in Mexico, you're just automatically a Catholic. So then, them people there had seen this old blind man on the streets speaking of his testimony. She had... They'd heard about it.
This woman had never seen a miracle, but she knowed if God could give a blind man his sight, He could raise her baby back to life, because it was the same Jesus Christ. She'd sometimes make Pentecostals feel little---that's right---with such faith; because she was persistent, that it had to be God that could restore sight. And if it was, "God could keep his Word and restore sight; He could raise the dead." And He done it because she was persistent. Be there one more night and she might... That was the night for her.
Won't we tonight, friends, won't we be perseverant? Can't we press through the mystic dark shingles here and accept Jesus Christ as our healer? Can't you do it? Let us pray.

69 Lord Jesus, O God, I don't know what more to say. I pray, God, shall I call just a little prayer line, Father? And maybe You'll show the people that ... do something just like You did before your death and burial, that (this day and time, maybe there'd be strangers here) that we might see that You're still the same yesterday, today, and forever, keeping your Word. And maybe there'll be someone with faith enough to break through that barrier yonder---that sound barrier, that sin barrier, that unbelieving barrier yonder---break through that to where all things are possible. Grant it, Lord.
We're told that when that plane passes that sound barrier, it's unlimited in speed and power. God, if we could just break through that power of unbelief, miracles and things and promises of God are unlimited. "For all things are possible to him that believeth." Grant it, Father. We ask it in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

70 If I'm just a little bit late, is it all right to go ahead and just call a little prayer line? I know the people get restless, but let's just call a little prayer line.
Let's see. Monday night we had A's, is that right, when you gave out prayer cards? No, I mean Wednesday night. I think about Monday ... Wednesday night was... The first night was A's, and last night would be B's, and tonight would be C's. We called from 1 to 25 in A's. I think that was right, wasn't it? 1 to 25 in A? Was that right? 1 to 25 in A? 1 to 15 in A.
Well, let's call in B's, yesterday's prayer cards, then. Let's call B-75 to 100, prayer card B. We'll catch your C and all them. B-25. No, B-75, I believe. I said, "B-75 to 100." All right. Let them stand up on this side now. B-75 to 100 stand up over on this side. Come right over on this side and line up here. Some of you brethren go down... Billy, Roy, some of you go down there and see the people get in the prayer line.
All right,

71 I want your undivided attention just a moment. Now be real reverent. Now look, some people go and they say, "A preacher wears the wrong kind of tie; he's got on the wrong suit. His manners isn't right. He doesn't stand straight enough." Well, see, you still don't have no faith, see.
If a man come in that door back there and told you that they had a ... that he had a money order, or a bank draft for you for a million dollars, you wouldn't care whether he was educated or uneducated. You wouldn't care whether he had on overalls, or whether he had on a tuxedo. You wouldn't care whether he was black, yellow, brown, white. It's not the messenger; it's the message you want to listen to. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. How many's aware of that?
Now if you'll just---just if the---

72 if the engineer there (I think Mr. Ruby or ... I think was his name, I met the other night), if he just would... He's given us the lights and so forth here. If you'd just bear a few minutes for the sake of the gospel...
Now everyone be real reverent. But be real perseverant. Push right in beyond the veil.
Now when Jesus Christ heals the sick... Now I don't say they'll be healed; I can't tell you that. Remember, I have no power to heal. I don't have power. You don't have any power; none of us does. We have authority. How many understands that?

73 Look here. Let me ask you something. Out on the street... You're on this busy highway. It comes in from the superhighway, right on the main turnpike. I see the speed limit is eighty miles an hour. There's cars come down there anywhere from two hundred horsepower up to three or four hundred horsepower and...
Number 76 please come. They need number 76. B-76. Might be somebody deaf, look around. Oh, sorry. All right. B-7... Is that right, my brother? B-76. All right.

74 Now notice. For instance, here comes a little policeman out there on the highway. He's so little till his cap holds his ears down; and he won't weigh over about a hundred pounds. Now how much power has he got to stop one of them cars? And there, some of them, just as ... three or four abreast, just as hard as they can pour down that highway at three hundred horsepower in each one. He couldn't even stop one horsepower. And here these cars are. But let that big badge shine, and let him raise up that hand. He might not have power; but he's got authority. Listen at the brakes squeak and run sideways and everybody stop. Why? Because he's got authority.
I don't have any power, you don't have any power; but we got the authority. Amen. The badge of faith hanging on the Word. "I believe it. It's the truth." That's what stops. Then you can be persistent.
A little policeman stand out there, and blow that little whistle and hold his hand up, I'll tell you, everything is going to stop. It's his authority. It's his authority to believe.

75 Now, you believe, each one of you. Now you, standing in there, now don't be discouraged. Just sit there and press through. Say, "Lord, this man knows nothing about me. I'm sure of that. If he can speak to ... tell me, I'll believe with all my heart."
Now what would we know now? Who is the healer? Jesus Christ. Is that right? Well, then if He's here present, well, the only thing we have to do is just ask Him. He's the high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Is that right? All right. Then He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Today He's the high priest.
How did He act when a woman touched his garment two thousand years ago? He turned around and told her what her trouble was, and said her faith had healed her. Is that right? Well, He's the same today. He'd have to act the same, 'cause He is the same.
Now is your prayer line ready?

76 Now here's a woman coming up here. As far as I know I've never seen her. She's a total stranger to me as far as I know. We're strangers to one another. [Woman speaks to Brother Branham.] She said she's been in my meetings in '47 and in '53. [Woman says, " '51 through '53."] ' 51 through '53. But to know you, I don't, see. Just like if I met you a week or two weeks from now, I probably wouldn't never know you. There's a lot of people been in the meetings, tens of thousands since then, see. I wouldn't know. But as far as... What I mean: do I... Do you know me? You know me because you've been in the meetings. But me to know you, or know what your trouble is, or what you've done between now and then or before then, or what you're intending to do, of course I wouldn't. No.

77 But now, so that we won't bear long with each person to try to... The other night I stopped before... I didn't see... I didn't think there was any more left; and I left two or three standing in the line. I shouldn't have done that. I just didn't do it. I don't know why. I just... Everybody ... looked like it was a climax of time. You don't want to baby people; you want them to be rugged enough to reach up there and take ahold of what you're saying, see. And then they're healed. If you don't, why, they're not healed.

78 Now, this lady here, our first time meeting... Now, if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever ... Now, if He was standing here with this suit that He gave me through some good person, give me the suit... Now, if He were standing here with this suit on, could He heal you? No. No.
He's already done it, you see. "He was wounded for our transgressions." He couldn't heal you. How many knows that to be the truth? It's already done. Any sinner here, He couldn't save you; He's already done it. You have to accept it. Now, if He was standing here with this suit on that He gave me, He could ... the only thing that He could do was say...
If you'd say, "I'm sick," "I'm needy," or "I have a loved one that's sick," or whatever; "I'm financially in trouble," "I have domestic trouble," or whatever it is, He couldn't ... He couldn't give it to you. He would just tell you He'd already purchased it. How many understands that? That's true, see, because it's already done. See, He can't do...

79 If you've been redeemed from any thing... The pawn broker cannot hold you any longer, if you're redeemed. If you got the receipt that it's redeemed, that settles it. He can't hold it no more. We've got the receipt, see. Now, if you got the faith to cash it in, see...
But now, if He was standing here, and me basing all my campaign upon He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, He would know what your trouble was. And that would surely ... me not knowing it, it would certainly identify it'd have to be Him. It'd have to be some power, some power. It depends on what you think the power would be, because you know that I don't know you, humanly speaking; and it'd have to be some power.
If you believe that to be Him... If you didn't believe it to be Him, of course you shouldn't be standing here. But if you do believe it to be Him, then if He could tell you what you've done, or what you're here for, or something, that would increase your faith, wouldn't it?

80 Would it increase yours out there? When here's my hand, as far as I know I've never seen the woman in my life, only just some in the audience; or maybe she was in the prayer line, or something like that years and years ago. I ... any recollection of her, no. But may the Lord help me now.
As a gift... See, like these ministers here. You already know, if you've heard me preach, I'm not a preacher. I have no education; I couldn't call myself a preacher. But there's men here that's more able to do that than I am. But my gift comes from God because I love Him, and this... I believe gifts and calling are without repentance. They're predestinated of God to each generation. And my part in this was to that Word, for it to live again: become the Word to discern and know. That's prophetic, which is promised according to Malachi 4 to be in this day. Makes us perfectly in the last day.

81 Now, if the Lord Jesus tells me where your trouble is, will you believe me to be his prophet or his servant? May He grant it. You are suffering with a skin condition; there's something wrong with your skin. That's right. Now, if that's right, raise up your hand. See, so...
Now, I keep feeling that coming from out there, somebody saying, "He guessed that." Now wait just a minute. I did not guess that, lady. Some ... see they... You can't hide a thought now, see. He's here now. Now I take every spirit in here under my control in the name of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God. I didn't guess that.
That's a nerve condition. You have a nerve condition that you're ... that's bothering you. You're praying for a loved one. That's a woman that is your daughter-in-law, and she's suffering with epilepsy [Woman says, "Yes."] Now I didn't guess that. Just believe it. You believe it with all your heart; and as you have believed, so will it be to you. "I believe. I will believe." If you'll believe it, it will be. See, I can't deliver it on my faith. It's got to be delivered on her faith, see. Understand?

82 How do you do. I've just lost my mother, about two years ago. And when I see you coming up like that, it brings memories. Wouldn't I be an awful person, standing here representing Jesus Christ, and be a deceiver? That would be horrible for me to do a thing like that. But I am not a deceiver; I am his servant. And if God will let me, by his grace, know something about you, well, you'll believe that it comes from God? Now if the people will understand...
Look here. See, that one discernment was more than if I'd preached till midnight. Jesus said, "I perceive that virtue has gone." If that was that for the Son of God, how much more for me, a sinner, see. Daniel saw one vision; was troubled at his head for many days. How many knows that? See, you don't realize the grace that God grants us.

83 Now, the lady suffers with a stomach condition. It's in your stomach. I see you backing from the table, and it's caused from a nervous condition that causes the stomach to be that, which makes the food not be able to digest. It's a peptic ulcer (really what it is) in the stomach. And you believe that God will heal that for you? You accept it as being healed? You believe that God will take it away from you? God bless you. Go, and may the Lord God grant it to you.
Real reverent. How do you do. We are strangers to each other, I suppose. I really ... first time meeting is it? You've been in the meetings but, me knowing you, I do not.

84 You was asking for yourself. If you'll believe, that arthritis will leave you. Yes. (She was sitting there bowing her head, praying.) It will leave if you'll believe it.
Your husband... Do you believe that God can reveal to me what his trouble is? You believe that God can tell me? You're so happy to know that she was going to be well of that. You have a prostate trouble that bothers you. Raise up your hand. I've never seen him in my life.
Tell me what they touched. Now just ask that question. What did they touch? They never touched me; they're thirty feet from me. But they touched that high priest.
If I am a stranger to you people, wave your hand like this, you two people sitting here. If I... Just wave your hand like this, if I'm a stranger to you, see. You were just sitting there and the lady was praying, see. And He's standing here, turns just like He did in the Bible---not me turning; Him turning me.

85 Look, I don't know those things. It's just like this microphone: it's a perfect mute without something speaking through it. But you hear me through this microphone. Is that right? But the microphone can't speak itself. It has no voice. I don't know those people. Can't you realize it's in the presence of God that's using that, to show you He is present? Press right through.
Now, we being strangers to each other, you're younger than I. We was probably born years apart, and miles apart. And here we meet for the first time. Now, when it went there, I can only go. It's a light. I watch it, you see. The Holy Spirit is a light, we know that. But if the Lord Jesus will help me to know what your trouble is, will you believe me to be his servant, and know that it's not me, that it's Him? I am just his servant, like that microphone.
Now this desk here is a part of the furniture of the house, but it wasn't made to speak. It holds my Bible. The microphone won't hold my Bible; it carries my voice. Well, there's different gifts in the church. Some is his voice, some is a vision, some is other things they do. But I am just by vision as his servant.

86 Now if God will let me know what your trouble, what you're here for, you will believe me, and believe that it is the word of God? You're suffering with an infection. The infection's in the skin. See that? She knows whether it's the truth or not. See, now more you talk to her, more would be said. She's a very fine person. By the way, look here just a minute. (Then the rest of them, if you have to, bring them a little faster.)
Let's just talk a few minutes, being that you're such a nice person. Now, you know that something's happened to you. Now, between you and I there's a light. Did you ever see the picture of it? It's standing right between me and you. I'm looking at you through that light, see. And you believe God can tell me who you are? He told Simon who he was. How many believes that?
Here we are with our hands up; we're total strangers. They call you Florence, and your last name is McAllister. You believe God can tell me where you come from? You're not from here. You're from a place called Lawrence, Kansas. That's right. Now return back. Jesus Christ makes you well.

87 Have faith in God, see. See what...
Now please be reverent. Don't move. God heals diabetes. You believe that? You believe He'd heal you? Just go ahead and say, "Thank you, Lord," and believe it with all your heart and you'll be healed.
Do you believe God can heal that female trouble that you have? Then just go on saying, "Thank you, Lord, I believe it with all my heart."
All right, let the lady come. You have a lady's trouble and you also have diabetes. Do you believe that God will make you well? Just keep walking, saying, "Thank you, Lord." Believe it with all your heart, now.
Come. A nervous condition causes a stomach trouble. Do you believe you can eat your supper now? Go saying, "Thank you, Lord," eat your supper. Believe with all your heart.
God heals heart trouble. Do you believe He'll heal your heart trouble? All right. Go believing it, and He'll do it, you see. You believe it.

88 What if I didn't say anything to you? Just to show faith that I believe you have, just lay hands on you, you believe you'd get well? Come by. You're already healed when you left up there.
Of course anyone sees this woman's limping. That's been all of her life. But another thing you have, is a stomach trouble's bothering you that you want... Just keep walking. Say, "Thank you, Lord." Believe with all your heart and go.
Do you believe? Do you believe God will heal that arthritis, and let you get well? You go home. Go believing it with all your heart.

89 How many out there believes? All of you? Here sits a man, sitting right here looking at me here. Don't you see that light hanging over this man right here? Really, what he's troubled about is about an overweight problem. That's right. Raise your hand if that's... You believe God will heal you?
Your wife's sitting behind you there. You believe God can tell me what her trouble is? You believe? Would you, lady? You believe me to be his prophet, his servant? (That blinds people when you say prophet). You believe me to be his servant? You believe God can tell me what your trouble is? High blood pressure. Believe with all your heart now, and it'll leave you, because you believe.

90 This colored boy sitting out here on the end of the seat, watching intensely. What do you think about this, sir? Do you believe it to be of God, you sitting there? You was looking at me so earnestly. I don't know you. You're a stranger to me, but you're suffering from a trouble. Do you believe God can tell me what it is? You do? It's an allergy. That's right. Do you believe that God will heal you? One great thing about you is this: one of your greatest troubles is that you're backslid. You really want to come back to God. That's true, raise up your hand. Then come here. Your sins are forgiven you, my brother.
You say, "How do you know that?" The same One that told me what was wrong with him... How many in here wants your sins forgiven? Will you rise to your feet? You want your sins forgiven? I just want to see if you're honest enough to do it. Thank you. Wonder if you'd walk right down here and stand here with this man that's just been forgiven. Say, "I want my sins forgiven. I'm honest about it."
You can't...

91 Come on. There's more than that here. Now, if discernment discerns sickness and diseases, it discerns sin. You know that. How would I know this man was a sinner? That's it. Come right out, and come right down, we... Will you do it just for a moment? Come here and stand just a moment. Say, "I want to be forgiven, brother. I want God to forgive me of my wrong. I'm ... realize that I'm in his presence. I don't care what my neighbors think; I'm coming anyhow. I'm perseverant. I want to be saved tonight. I believe God. I want to come right now and have all my sins washed away.
How many ministers are in here that believes that these people has a right to be saved by the grace of God? I want every minister that believes it to come stand right here with them, now, while we pray---every minister that's interested in lost souls. I didn't think I was going to do this, but I know better than to disobey his voice. He told me to do this. That might be their last time, I don't know.

92 How many knows that this is what He did when He was here on earth? Then it's bound to be Him again. It's impossible for a man (any human being) to do a thing like that. We are in his presence. And here we see Him tonight doing... "If I be lifted up I'll draw all men unto Me." We see Him here doing the same thing He did when He was here on earth. Can't we be perseverant now? Press right in. What caused us to come here? What caused all this anyhow? It's God. Don't you believe that?
I want each one of you minister brothers to walk forward and put your hands upon one of those confessing people there. Now, my dear brother, sister, you who are confessing at the altar, what made you come? You didn't come by your own power. You come because that something convinced you that you were wrong. You want to be forgiven.
When you seen that poor colored boy (that Ethiopian boy) stand there, gone away from God... And the Holy Spirit revealed that he was a sinner. That same Holy Spirit just never called you right from my lips, but it called you. And here you are tonight, standing the same way that boy was. Confess your sins now before God. Believe Him with all your heart, and He'll forgive every sin that you have committed, and take you back tonight on the grounds of your confession and fellowship. He'll do it if you'll just believe Him.
Now let's bow our heads, everywhere in the audience, and everybody real reverent. Now let us pray. Each one of you confess your sins. He's here. The Holy Spirit is here. That's what's calling. Now just believe it with all your heart. Confess that you're wrong. Ask that He'll forgive you. And each one of you brothers, pray with these people.

93 Heavenly Father, we come now in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking You for your great grace and power toward usward, Lord, that we, the unworthy ones, way down here in the closing of time... We ask that your mercy be extended, Lord, on down, on until the last soul be brought in, tonight, because of your appearing before us. It made people press beyond every circumstance to get up here, to believe that this is the hour that their sins will be forgiven them, and that they will be free from this night on. Grant it, heavenly Father. May every sin pass from them. You said, "He that will come to me, I will in no wise cast out. Though your sins be like scarlet, yet they shall be white like wool. Red like crimson, they shall be white like snow."
We plunge beneath the flood of the blood of Jesus Christ. By faith we take this people, confessing, into that presence of God, into the blood of the Son of God, and ask forgiveness for them. We ask this petition in Jesus' name. Remit every sin and take them into your care, Father. As they confess, bring them back, upon the basis of your promise. You said You would do it, and I know You will. They are yours, Father. We give them to Thee in the name of Jesus Christ.

94 Each one of you that's standing around the altar now, just truly confess you're wrong. And in the presence of God, you believe me to be his prophet, and believe that I've told you the truth upon this, and you believe that your sins are gone and you now... By faith, you break through that veil into the presence of God, and say, "Lord, I believe You right now and accept You." Raise your hands and say, "I do it." Each one around the altar, raise your hands and say, "I do it. I now believe it." God bless you. Amen. That's the way to do it. That's it. Just by faith break through that veil.
Now. While you're right on the same grounds that you're standing on, that you're forgiven, now brothers, lay your hands back on them again for the baptism of the Holy Ghost---right where you're standing. Lay your hands right on them now, and pray that they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, standing right here.
Lord Jesus, send your power upon them like a rushing mighty wind. Send another repeat of Pentecost, and fill the people (not the room), the people with the fire of Holy Spirit, and forgiveness, and demonstrations of power, through Jesus' name.