The Supernatural
January 29, 1956 · Owensboro, Kentucky
23 And that’s the reason sometimes a Divine life that’s been called and set aside has become a fanatic, or crazy, or—or a mystic, or something to the eyes of the general public is because you’re considered a—a—a—a, I’d say a neurotic, or a insane person, is because that you have changed your dwelling place and got into a different atmosphere. And your one motive, your one thought is to stay in that atmosphere. Any person that ever come into that atmosphere one time will never be satisfied nowhere else. And that’s why I believe that we should have our churches under control by the Holy Ghost, that men and women in their work and wherever they should be, should continually desire, and they will, if they’ve ever once come into that atmosphere.
The Seventieth Week of Daniel
August 6, 1961 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
39 …The Bride is that mystic Body. By the Holy Spirit we’re baptized into that mystic Body.
Hebrews 12:1-17 1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset* us*, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Wherefore Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14Follow peace with all* men*, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble* you*, and thereby many be defiled; 16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.**
Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP) THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Turn on the Light
January 25, 1964 · Pheonix, Arizona
164 It’s the Word! It’s the Word turned on, the Light turns on the mechanics and they become Dynamics. They are Dynamics, when the Dynamics, when the Dynamic comes to the mechanic. It starts the thing rolling. That’s right. Take the Word. If there is one little thing missed up, on It, it won’t start. Lay aside every weight, every ism, every creed, that the Dynamics, the Holy Spirit, might flow through the Word and vindicate the Word that’s promised of this day; then the great Church of God will rise to her feet like a jet propelled plane, take off to the skies to meet her Master. That’s exactly right. Until we do that, it won’t work. That’s what about. Yes, sir. Who will do it? Who will keep it in this day that we’re thinking about? Remember, remember, brother.
Enticing Spirits
July 24, 1955 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
162 Now let’s lay aside every weight. You got a temper? You got something about you, makes you talk when you ought not to talk? O God! Lay it there now. Lay it there, watch the Fire of the altar come down and take it away. Watch the love of God lick it up. Watch all that old selfishness, the way you been talking to your wife, the way you been talking to your husband, the way you been talking to your neighbor, the way you’ve talked about the people in the church, lay it on the altar this morning, and the Fire of God will come down and take it right away, and Divine love will burn in its place.
163 You got sickness? Lay it on the altar, say, “Lord, here it is. Create in me a clean spirit. Create in me a healing power.” See what God will do. God will do it this morning.
Isaiah 53:10-11 10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong* his* days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Hebrews 12:2 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Luke 22:41-44 41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44And being in an agony **he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Philipians 2:5-6 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the FORMof God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Form: (G3444) morphe; the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision; external appearance
Philippians 2:5-8 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he HUMBLED himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.**
The Mighty God Unveiled Before Us
June 29, 1964 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
35 And—and Dr. Scofield here, we find that, his word, changing from “form.” We find the word en morphe, in Greek, which means “the unseen was made visible.” Something that cannot…We know it’s there. It can be…cannot be seen, but yet we know that it’s there. And when He changed His form, of the en morphe, which mean that He changed from supernatural to natural.
36 And He just changed His mask, in otherwise, it’s like a drama. He was acting. And in the Greek, when they would change their mask, maybe one play -…one player might have acted in several different parts.
The Mighty God Unveiled Before Us
June 29, 1964 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
38 Now, if you will take the Old Testament prophesies concerning what the Messiah was to be, you can compare it with the life of Jesus, and you’ve got it exactly who Jesus was. **He was not just an ordinary man. He was God, en morphe. He was changed from—from the supernatural into the natural form of a Man. Yet, He was God, manifested in the flesh, veiled by a human, fleshly veil.
The Mighty God Unveiled Before Us
June 29, 1964 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
205 God in His en morphe again, unveiled Himself and make Hisself known to His people. The great King Who laid aside His Glory. “Yet a little while and the world won’t see Me no more. I’ll be veiled to them. But ye shall see Me, for I’ll be with you, even in you, all the way to the consummation, changing from Luther to Wesley, to on and on, from Glory unto Glory. I’m still the same God that lived, and going back to the original Glory.” Hallelujah!
Philipians 2:7 7But made himself of no REPUTATION, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Reputation: (2758) make void, make of none effect, to empty, make empty; said of Christ,
The Unveiling of God
June 14, 1964 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
77 Now, when It said here that He emptied Himself, or poured out, now, we would think like this, that He “vomit up,” the English word of emptied, or poured out from Him, see, something went out of Him that was different from Him. But the word kenos, in the Greek, does not mean that He “vomit up,” or some…His arm went off, or His eye went out, another person.
78 That is, He changed Himself, He “poured Himself into,” (Amen!), into another mask, into another form. Not another person went out of Him, called the Holy Spirit, but It was He Himself. You get it? [Congregation says, “Amen."—Ed.] He Himself poured Himself into the people. “Christ in you!” How beautiful, how wonderful, to think, God pouring Himself into the human being, into the believer. “Pour out!” It was a part of His drama, to do so.
God, all the fullness, all the Godhead bodily was in this Person, Jesus Christ. He was God, and God alone. Not a third person or a second person, or a first person; but the Person, God veiled in human flesh.
The Unveiling of God
June 14, 1964 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
238 Notice, all the Glory that is in God is in the Word. All the blessings that’s in God is in the Word. It’s hid, to the unbeliever, by traditions. See what I mean? But It’s all in Christ. All that God was, He emptied Himself, kenos,” and came into Christ; and we, into Christ, are behind the veil.
239 “Well, I’m into Christ,” you say. And then believe there is three Gods? Baptize in the name of “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”? Believe in all these traditions and things that you believe in, of the elders? No, you’re still behind the veil. See? Come into the veil. He, Christ, is the Word.
Nehemiah 8:10 10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
The Restoration of the Bride Tree
April 22, 1962
207 Now, that’s another fruit he eat off of: joy of salvation. “Shhh! You people make too much noise. Oh, my! My!”
Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them EVER shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Ever: (H5769) antiquity, perpetual, old, ancient time, long time (of past) (of future), always, continuous existence, indefinite/unending future, eternity
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalm 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalm 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Psalm 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee **with JOYFUL lips:
Joyful: (H7445) ringing cry, shout (for joy)
Psalm 95:1-2 1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with Psalms.
Psalm 98:4-8 4Let us**Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a Psalm. 6**With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.
Psalm 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
Isaiah 12:3 Therefore **with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Habakuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
John 15:10-11 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also **joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Exceeding: (G5248) much more abound, to abound beyond measure, to overflow, to enjoy abundantly
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God** for his UNSPEAKABLE gift.
Unspeakable: (G412) inexpressible, indescribable, unutterable, to describe and commemorate which words fail.
Adoption #2
May 18, 1960 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
133 God, by His election grace, called you. God, by His election grace, sanctified you. God, by His election grace and His power, baptized you and put you into this land of Rest. **They which have entered into this Rest has ceased from their going astray. They ceased from their works like God did from His. They have joy unspeakable, and full of glory! The Tree of Life is blooming in them. **They have longsuffering, gentle, goodness, patience made faith, faith, meekness, gentleness, and so forth. The Tree of Life is blooming in them because their hope is anchored in Christ Jesus, the witness of the Holy Ghost bearing record with signs and wonders following the believers. “These signs shall follow them that believe.” As they go along, they heal the sick, they cast out devils, they speak with tongues, they see visions. They…And they walk with God, they talk with God. No devil can move them, they’re stedfast, looking for…?…Forgetting those things in the past, they press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. There they are. There they are. That’s that Church.
Thirst
September 19, 1965 · Tucson, Arizona
236 Wait till that satisfaction comes, the satisfaction Portion of the fullness of the Holy Spirit comes in, **then these joy bells of shouting, and speaking in tongues, and dancing in the Spirit, will come. **You won’t have to do it by the music. You will do it when you’re going down the road, in your car. You will do it when you’re sweeping the floor. You will do it when you’re driving nails in the wall, with your carpenter work. **Wherever you are, that Joy unspeakable and full of glory! **
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the** Lord;
Psalms: This word usually indicates songs set to instrumental accompaniment, as does also the participle translated making melody.
Melody: an agreeable succession of sounds; a succession so regulated and modulated as to please the ear.
It differs from harmony, inasmuch as melody is an agreeable succession of sounds by a single voice; harmony consists in the accordance of different sounds.
The word which he uses means to touch, twitch, pluck as the hair, the beard; and then to twitch a string to twang it—as the string of a bow, and then the string of an instrument of music.
It is most frequently used in the sense of touching or playing a lyre, or a harp; and then it denotes to make music in general, to sing, perhaps usually with the idea of being accompanied with a lyre or Harp.
The Psalms, and hymns, and songs were to be sung so that the heart should be engaged, and not so as to be mere music, or a mere external performance. On the phrase “in the heart”.**
Pliny writes how the Christians in his time met in the early morning to sing hymns to one Christ.
Ephesians 5:20 20sup> Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Christ Knocking at the Door
March 30, 1958 · Middletown, Ohio
51 …Don’t you just love to worship? The messages sometime are so cutting with the Word. But then, you know, after we’ve all been corrected and stand guiltless in the presence of the Father, resting upon the grace of the Lord Jesus, I just love to raise my hands and worship Him. Don’t you like to do that? How many believes in that, raise up your hands? Oh, my, just worship Him in song.
The Patmos Vision
December 4, 1960 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
268 Do you love Him? You know, after the message is cutting and everything, I like to hear the people get into the hymns and go to worshipping and singing in the Spirit. There’s nothing more prettier than good ol’ singing. That’s right. I love good old-fashioned pentecostal singing; not them overtrained voices that holds till they’re squeaking and turn blue in the face, and don’t know what they’re singing. I like somebody that maybe couldn’t carry a tune in a basket but yet he’s got a Pentecostal Blessing, now he’s singing about it. Oh, how—how glorious those melodious songs of the cross! Oh, my!
Planing the Vine and Where to Plant It
September 20, 1959 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
59 **People don’t believe in shouting. The thing of it is, they haven’t got spiritual joy. **And the joys of the waters of Life can flow through. That’s a whole lot is the matter with the Branham Tabernacle, because that unbelief, the cares of the world had bound the people until it cannot produce spiritual growth.
60 That’s what’s the matter with our nation. That’s the matter with our churches. They have no joy. And the joy of the Lord has departed. As was written one time in the Scripture, the Hebrew word of Ichabod, which means, “The Presence of the Lord hath departed.” That’s over our churches, because that we left off of the original foundation, and placed ourselves into creeds and denomination, and permitted the things of the world to dry up our experience with God.
Jehovah of Miracles
November 26, 1959 · San Jose, California
49 One to what? What? D. [Tongues and interpretation given—Ed.] Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength, isn’t it? That’s our strength; that’s how we live, is by the joy of the Lord that’s in our midst.
Why?
January 25, 1961 · Beaumont, Texas
41 …But because that we do it, that’s the reason we’re cursed. That’s the reason God’s put this thing upon the church, this cold and dampness. We’re going to other places for pleasure, instead of coming to the house of the Lord for pleasure. The house of the Lord is the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is the joy of His people. He wants you to come to church, and worship Him, and be happy, and satisfied, giving praise, and honor, and glory, and wisdom, and might, and power to God. He wants you to do that.
The Patmos Vision
An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages · Chapter 2
Have you ever noticed how the world gets into the spirit of things that are in the world? They go to their ball games, their sporting events, and their dances. They enter into the spirit of it. They don’t sit there like wall flowers, old dried up sticks. They enter right into the feel of things and become a part of things. But, oh, how they hate the Christians for getting into the Spirit of God’s Word. They call us fanatics and holy-rollers. There is nothing they won’t do to show their hatred and disapproval. But ignore that. You can expect it, knowing where it is coming from. Just go on and get in the Spirit of worship.
**Our spirit is clean. It is fresh. It is real. It is sober and serious but nonetheless, full of the joy of the Lord. The Christian ought to be just as exuberant and full of his pleasure in the Lord as the world is when it savors and delights in its pleasures. Both Christians and the world are human; both have emotions. The difference is the Christians’ hearts and emotions are purely on the Lord of Glory and His love, while the world satisfies the flesh.
Exuberant: joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic, extreme or excessive in degree
Possessing All Things
May 6, 1962 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
100 “Brother Branham, I wish I had joy.” You can have it. You’re just letting Satan rob you from the privileges that Christ died for. I’m an heir to it. It’s all mine. Everything He died for, belongs to me, belongs to you. We’re His children, we’re heirs of it, everything that He died for.
Why It Had to be Shepherd
December 21, 1964 · Tucson, Arizona
183 I’ve seen jumping spells, and joy spells, but there was nobody hurt. The mountains rung out, and they…the sun went down, and everything took place, but there was nobody hurt. And I’ve seen meetings where the power of God was revealed to the people that they “were free from the world and the things of the world,” and the joy of the Lord filled the congregation. They stood and screamed, and cried, and shouted to the top of their voice, for the glory of God. I never did see anything disorderly, they was always right in order; because they had recognized that, their name that had been written on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The great Prophet-Shepherd had brought them the Message, and they were delivered, the Prophet-Shepherd. No matter what the other ecclesiastical realms said about It, they knew what had happened. Just as them shepherds did back there, they knowed what took place.
Colossians 1:11 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto **all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
James 1:2 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Temptations: an experiment, trial, proving, the trial of
1 Peter 1:8 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory:
Unspeakable: (G412) inexpressible, indescribable, unutterable, to describe and commemorate which words fail.
Unspeakable: The beautiful Greek word (which means “unable to find expression in words”) (literally “unutterable”) is found only here in the whole Bible and conveys the idea that this joy is beyond human expression or description, “joy too great for words”;
1 Peter 4:13 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 John 1:4 4**And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Jude 1:24 24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
The Smyrnaen Church Age
An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages · Chapter 4
The cloudy skies and storms of life are no signs of God’s disapproval. Neither are bright skies and still waters signs of His love and approval. His approval of any of us is only IN THE BELOVED. His love is elective which He had for us before the foundation of the world. Does He love us? Ah yes. But how shall we know? We shall know because He SAID SO, and manifested that He did love us for He brought us to Himself and gave us of His Spirit, placing us as sons. And how shall I prove my love to Him? By believing what He said, and by conducting myself with joy amidst the trials that He in His wisdom allows to come to pass.
Psalms 48:2 2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Lamentations 2:15 15All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
The Ephesian Church Age
An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages · Chapter 3
The heavenly bride, the Lamb’s wife, is “the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth.” She embraces in herself all the true excellence that is found among men.
“Seven golden candlesticks.” In Exodus 25:31, it says, “And thou shalt make a candlestick of PURE gold: of BEATEN work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.” The true church of Jesus Christ, the bride, is likened to PURE gold. Her righteousness is HIS righteousness. Her attributes are HIS own glorious attributes. Her identity is found in Him. What He is, she is to reflect. What He has, she is to manifest. There is no fault in her. She is all glorious within and without. From beginning to ending she is the work of her Lord, and all His works are perfect. In fact in her is summed up and manifested the eternal wisdom and purpose of God. How can one fathom it? How can one understand it? Though we cannot do that, we can accept it by faith, for God hath spoken it.
Revelation 21:2 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The Ephesian Church Age
An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages · Chapter 3
Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” To understand this you must realize that the Spirit is not speaking to the original saints of Ephesus alone. This message is to the entire age which lasted about 120 years. Its message, then, is to all the generations in that span. Now history keeps repeating itself.** In the generations of Israel we see revival in one generation, only to see the fires fading in the next.** In the third generation, embers may be glowing slightly, but in the fourth there may be no vestige whatsoever of that original flame. Then God lights the fire again, and the same process is repeated. It is simply the manifestation of the truth that God has no grandchildren. Salvation is not passed on by natural birth any more than is there any truth to apostolic succession. It isn’t in the Word. You start out with truly born-again believers, and when the next generation comes along they are no longer just plain Christians, but they have taken a denominational name and are now Baptists, Methodists, etcetera. That is exactly what they are, too. They are not Christians. You have to be born of the will of God, not the will of man, to be saved. But these folks are all coming together now by the will of man. I don’t say that some of them aren’t right with God. Not for a minute do I say that, but the original fire has died down. They are not the same any more.
The fervent desire to please God, the passion to know His Word, the cry for reaching out in the Spirit, all begins to fade and instead of that church being on fire with the fire of God it has cooled off and become a bit formal. That is what was happening back there to the Ephesians. They were getting a bit formal. The abandonment to God was dying out and the people weren’t too careful about what God thought of them as they began to be careful about what the world thought of them. That second generation coming on was just like Israel. They demanded a king to be like the other nations. When they did that, they rejected God. But they did it anyway. That is the history of the church. When it thinks more of conforming to the world instead of conforming to God, it isn’t long until you see them stop doing things they used to do, and start doing things they wouldn’t do initially. They change their manner of dress, their attitudes and their behaviour. They get lax. That is what “Ephesus” means: relaxed—drifting.
That cycle of revival and death has never failed. All you have to do is recall this last move of God in the Spirit when men and women dressed like Christians, went to church, prayed all night, took to street corners and weren’t ashamed of the manifestations of the Spirit. They left their old dead churches and worshipped in homes or old store buildings. They had reality. But it wasn’t too long a time until they began to get enough money to build fine new churches. They put in a choir instead of singing unto God for themselves. They put gowns on the choir. They organized a movement and ran it by man. They soon began to read books that weren’t fit to read. They let down the bars and goats came in and took over. The cry of joy was gone. The freedom of the Spirit was gone. Oh, they kept on with a form; but the fire had died down and the blackness of ashes is about all that is left.