Proverbs 31:10-12 10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:25-31 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband* also*, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Exodus 2:1-4 1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. 4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
Why Cry? Speak!
63-0714M · Jeffersonville, Indiana
61 God had called him from his birth, put qualities in him, of great faith, and then come down with His Presence and anointed that great something in him, and sent him down with His Word, and he was properly a vindicated of his claims. No matter how many quacks had raised up, how many these other things had happened, God was speaking at…Moses was identified. Moses, what Moses said, God honored. I want you to never forget that Word. What Moses said, God honored, because God’s Word was in Moses. “I’ll be with your mouth; it’ll speak the right things.” Now, what God says—what God says, He speaks it through Moses, and it confirmed and a vindicated his claims.
62 Also, he was told by his mother, of his mysterious birth, and how that the time of hand come close to the hour that there was to be a deliverance. Amram and—and Jochebed, the sons and daughter of Levi, begin to pray to God to send a deliverer. And it take…when you see the time of the promise drawing nigh, it sets people to praying and to hungering. And no doubt that—that Jochebed had told him many times, his mother; as she was his tutor, also, as we know the story. And had told him how that she had prayed. “And, Moses, when you were born, son, you were a proper child. You were different. There was something taken place at your birth.”
63 I gave a drama on it for the children, not long ago, and said, “While Amram was in the room praying, he saw an Angel pull His sword and point it towards the North, and said, ‘You’ll have a child, and he’ll take the children North to the promised land.’” Giving a drama for the little fellows so they’d understand it; that their intellect hasn’t come up to the place that you adults, and can grasp the things as the Holy Spirit reveals it to you.
64 Now, though his mother had told him these things, and he knowed this, yet he needed another touch. The—the teaching was fine, but he needed a personal contact.
65 That’s what the world needs today. That’s what the church needs today. That’s what everyone needs, that’s sons and daughters of God. In order to be that, you need a personal contact, see, Something. No matter, you know the Word is true, you know It’s right; but then when it contacts, and then you see the thing done, then you know you’re on the right road. See? And, watch, it’ll always be Scriptural. It’ll stand right with the Scripture, ‘cause this did.
A True Sign That’s Overlooked
61-1112 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
67 And so, when Amram and Jochebed saw that it was time for the Word to be fulfilled, they went to prayer, to God. And it’s usually those who pray is the one who’s got the burden, the one who gets something. It’s those who pray, that’s ordained of God to do so.
Judges 5:7 7The rulers ceased in Isra’el, they ceased, until you arose, D’vorah, arose a mother in Isra’el.
If God Be With Us, Then Where Is All The Miracles?
61-1231E
33 And this place here, we had just left the…A few years before this, had been the prophetess, Deborah; and Barak. And how that she had prophesied and told them what to do, and it was just exactly right; Barak, the great warrior; and how that they made a song, of the triumph over the enemy…
The Reaction To An Action
59-0810 · Chautauqua, Ohio
35 And it was just a little bit, just a little bit, but it was all she needed. God, let this sink deep in the people’s heart. You may be down to your last handful. I’ve heard people say, “I don’t have very much faith, Brother Branham.” But what you’ve got, if it’s real faith, mix it with God’s Word. Look what it’ll do. You say, “Well, Brother Branham, I’ve been to every doctor, been to the clinic. Oh, I’ve joined church for my sins, and I’ve done this.” I can’t help what all you’ve done, what little faith you…You got enough faith to be out here tonight, then mix it with the Word; get ready.
36 She stirred it up together. That’s the only thing between her and death. That may be the only thing left for you tonight, between you and death, is what little spirit that you can muster up in your heart to believe it. Mix it with God’s Eternal Word. When she did, I can see her pull the little ragged curtain back and look in. The little boy’s holding his little stomach. “Mother, mother, are you ready to cook the little cake?”
She’d say, “Yes, dear. Just wait a few minutes. Mother’s mixing it up.”
“Mother, break it in two, and you take half of it.”
“Oh, honey, we’ll take care of that.” She had the…What was it now? The Word and the Spirit mixed together.
37 And she went out into the yard to get…Did you notice, the Scripture says, “Two sticks.” What is the two sticks? The cross.
Always, good hunters or woodsmen know that you…The way to keep a fire burning, is light it in the middle, two logs, lay it across and light it.
All through the night, you can keep pushing the ends in as it burns. And right in the center of the cross is where the Sacrifice of God hung.
She went into the yard and she picked up the two sticks. And she looked up, the hot blistering winds, not a leaf on the tree, no grass in the yard. Where the old tree once stood, there’s just two sticks left. She picked them up to go in to make it.
38 What is it? When self-sacrifice…When you have mixed the Word with the Spirit, or the Spirit with the Word, and then ready to sacrifice yourself at the cross, and you’re ready to say, “Whether I live or die, Lord, I’ve done everything I know how to do, and I’m coming at the peak of mercy…Sacrifice my own believing…I’ll not think of it any more; I’ll not reason any more. I’m casting out reasonings. I’ll just believe it, Lord, because it’s Your Meal and Oil, Your Spirit, Your Word, Your Truth. I’m throwing myself as a sacrifice on the cross.” That’s what it was speaking of. She picked up the two sticks to go in for the sacrifice. When all this is completed… “God’s a very present Help in the time of trouble. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like an eagle; they’ll run and not be weary; they’ll walk and not faint.” Teach me, Lord, teach me, Lord, how to wait.
39 They that wait, don’t be weary. If you’ve got the Word and the Spirit, and sacrifice your own belief, and laid it on the cross, something’s got to happen. She started walking back. And about that time, she heard a voice. And as she turned to look, there was a kind looking old bald-headed gentleman standing at the gate with a long flowing whiskers. He said, “Would you fetch me just a little drink of water?” Maybe on her lips, she was ready to say, “I just have a little bit.” Water was scarce. All the springs was dry. What was it? God works on both ends of the line. God had showed Elijah a vision, “Go down into the city for I have commanded, not the ravens this time to feed you, but I’m commanded a widow woman to sustain you,” and took him to the poorest of the poors. “I’ve commanded a widow woman to sustain you.” And she didn’t even have enough meal in the barrel for her and her son to live that day. But, “I’ve commanded. I’ve ordained it.” Blessed be the Name of the Lord. When God ordains anything, it’s got to happen. It’ll be there; God will meet it. “I’ve commanded a widow there to take care of you, sustain you.”
40 He gave him a vision. I can see him walking down the street. The Lord must have told him this, “There’d be an old woman—looking old; she’s young. Her shoulders are stooped; she’s a…Her shoulders are ragged; her arms are out of her sleeves. She’d be out in the yard with two sticks in her hand. And Elijah, you know what that means, what will be in about eight hundred years from now.” And as he walked, he seen the woman. He leaned over the little fence and said, “Fetch me a little drink of water.” And she turned to say something, and she thought, “That’s a kind old man. He speaks a little different from the ordinary men.” There’s something about God’s children that they know one another, something that’s always been. They know one another. “My sheep know My voice,” said Jesus. And then she looked, and she heard. She looked at him; she said, “There must be something godly about that old man.” Said, “Fetch me a little drink of water.” She nodded her head; she would do it, and she started to go away. What? Then she heard the voice again. “And bring in your hand a little cake for me to eat, a morsel of bread.” And she said, “I have just enough for me and my little starving boy. And I’m out here getting these two sticks. I’ve just mixed it together, dressed it. And now, I’ve got these two sticks to make a fire to make the cake. And he and I will eat it and die.”
41 Then she heard…She started to turn again, and she heard a voice saying, “But bring me one first.” What do we learn here? Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. “How will I meet it?” I can’t tell you, but you put God first. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these other things will be added.” “But bring me one first.” Look, she didn’t have to go down and get her last penny; she had to go down and get her last piece of bread. She didn’t have to go for this, or that, or maybe change doctors or so forth, some little insignificant thing; but she had to go to the only thing that stood between her and death, and her child. “Bring me a little cake first in your hand.” I can see her nod her head, obedient. That’s what God requires. You get the Word and the Spirit mixed together, self-sacrifice, obedience. When God’s prophet says a certain thing, do it! Hold on to it! She bowed her head, “Yes sir.” She starts on. Then she heard the sweetest thing she’d ever heard, that all sufficient word that all of us listen for. For there come across that gate a blast from that prophet’s voice; said, “For THUS SAITH THE LORD…” Amen. That’s what we look to hear. “THUS SAITH THE LORD, the barrel will not go empty, or the cruse will fail until the day that God sends rain on the earth.” There it was. Amen.
Mark 7:24-30 24**And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. 25For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: 26The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. 27But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. 28And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. 29And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. 30And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Respects
61-1015E · Jeffersonville, Indiana
169 …Not only turned her down on her request, but called her a “dog.” That’s right. And a dog is one of the lowest names the Bible has, you know.
Perseverance
63-1116E · New York, New York
154 He just ignored her. Looked at her, walked on. Oh, my! She was a little more than our modern Pentecost; my, they’d have turned up their nose and walked back, said, “I don’t have to do that.” But not that woman. She had faith. She stayed right there.
155 Now she went after Him again, “Lord, can’t I just have?” And she wasn’t thinking about what she had come through. She wasn’t thinking about what she would have to go through. The only thing she knowed, she believed if she could get Him to say so! That’s all she needed to know, if He would say so! She knowed it was working on others, why wouldn’t it work on hers?
Questions And Answers On The Holy Ghost
59-1219 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
19 …She said, “That’s true, Lord; but the dogs under the table eats the children’s crumbs.“He said, “For this saying, the devil’s left your daughter.” Say good things then. Say something good about somebody. Talk about Jesus. Say something loyal, something real. That’s the way to get rid of devils. …He never prayed for the girl. He never said one thing about her being healed; He just said, “For this saying, for this saying…”
20 Hattie Wright, the other day, she didn’t ask for nothing. She was just setting there, but she said the right thing, which pleased the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit spoke back and said, “Hattie, ask anything that you will, whatever you got and you want. Find out whether this is real or not. Ask anything (the healing of her little crippled sister setting there all drawed up; ten thousand dollars to keep her from digging on them hills over there; the youth restored to her well run-down body); whatever you want to ask, you ask it right now. If It don’t come and give it to you right now, then I’m a false prophet.” That’s—that’s that’s something, isn’t it?
1 Samuel 1:1-28 1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name* was* Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2And he had two wives; the name of the one* was* Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.** 6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? 9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant* thee* thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. 19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. 21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 2:1-3 1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine hornis exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is thereany rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
1 Samuel 2:18-21 18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. 21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Desperations
63-0901E · Jeffersonville, Indiana
98 Hannah, a barren woman in the Bible, she wanted a son, and she got to fasting for him. And she fasted and prayed until even the priest at the temple thought she was drunk. She was in such desperation! With the rest of the women watching what kind of a bonnet the other one had wore; and you know how it goes; and the other one seeing what kind of clothes they had on, and talking about the things going on on the farm. But not Hannah; she stepped right through the whole crowd and went to the altar. She had been fasting. She wanted her reproach taken away.
What a difference it is today. It’s almost a reproach to have a child. Then it was—it was a reproach not to have one.
And she got on her knees. And she never noticed the dignity of the temple. She never noticed the dignified priest as he walked out. She was in such distress till her tears was rolling down her cheeks, and she was crying, in desperation, “O Lord God, give me a son. Give me a son!”
99 And, notice, she wasn’t selfish. When God heard her, and answered her prayer and gave her a son, she gave him back to God. And because that she was willing not to be selfish after God had answered her prayer, He gave her a prophet. Oh, that was a extra blessing. Oh, He’s just full of them, those little extra things that He gives. Not only a son, but a prophet. And there had been no open vision for many, many years, in Israel. Samuel, the first prophet, for many, many years, because a mother got desperate; that she could have no children, and she was past the age of bearing, probably sixty, seventy years old. And she prayed with desperation, she must have this child! What was it? God had spoke to her, no doubt.
100 You can’t be desperate till God speaks to you. Oh, Church, rise and shake yourself! Pinch your conscience, wake yourself up, in this hour! We must be desperate, or perish! There is coming forth something from the Lord! I know it as THUS SAITH THE LORD. There is coming forth something, and we better get desperate. It’s between Life and death. It’ll pass through us and we won’t see it.
101 Because that she wasn’t selfish, she was given a prophet.
Luke 1:26-38 (KJVS) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Lean Not Unto Thy Own Understanding
65-0120 · Phoenix, Arizona
178 The virgin Mary, when the Angel Gabriel met her and told her that she was going to have a baby, without knowing a man. Whew! Never been. She never leaned upon her own understanding, that a woman could not have a baby without having a—a husband. She didn’t lean upon that. But she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to Your Word.” She didn’t say, “How am I going to do it? And when will I do it? And how is this all going to take place?”
179 The Angel said, “The Holy Ghost shall overshadow thee; and that Holy Thing will be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
180 She said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” She didn’t take her reasonings, that it couldn’t be done. She just said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” That’s right. Notice.
2 Samuel 21:1-6 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
2 Samuel 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul,
2 Samuel 21:10-14 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done . And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa: And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.