Psalms 18:29-36 29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
1 Corinthians 15:58 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- Steadfast: (GK1476) settled, steady, firm, to be firmly or solidly in place, constant (by implication) immovable
- Unmoveable: (GK277) not to be moved from its place; metaphorically, firmly persistent, firm, unshaken and steady, not easily shaken.
- Sure-footed: the ability, especially when hiking or mountain climbing, to negotiate difficult or rough terrain safely. Such situations place demands on a person’s coordination and reserves of strength as well as requiring sufficient appreciation of the terrain. A person who is sure-footed is thus unlikely to slip or stumble, and will have a good head for heights when required.
Proverbs 4:26 (AMP) 26Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (AMP) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. 25Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. 26Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. 27But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
Early Spiritual Experiences
52-0713A · Hammond, Indiana
30 … Isaiah said, “There’d be a highway, and a way (‘And’ is a conjunction.), and a way.” It won’t be called the highway of holiness. It’ll be called the way of holiness. Right in the middle of the road, on this side there’s this…
31 Some people when they get born again they set right in the middle of the road, eyes on Christ. Finally they get over here, so much knowledge and wisdom, till, oh, they know it all. You don’t know nothing. And if you don’t do that, you run off the other side to a bunch of wild fire and fanaticism. That’s right. But right in the middle of the way goes a true, sound, unadulterated Gospel and power of God. That’s right. Right down through there where you can take it to kings and monarchs, where anybody can stand and search, and they can see that it’s the power of Almighty God, not a fanaticism, or not a formality. It’s the power of God…
God Has A Provided Way
54-0404E · Louisville, Kentucky
162 Friends, I’ve always tried to keep a balance of the road. You get way off on formalism, just as formal and ritualistic as they can be, people grab for that lot. Then if you don’t watch, you’ll get plumb off over on the other side, and be just as fanatic as you can be. But there’s a middle of the road, where the true, sound, sane Gospel is preached, and God moves in there, vindicating the Truth. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, but few they’ll be that find it.” All right.
The Unpardonable Sin
54-1024 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
41 The churches, when they organize their churches, the things they do, they block off the blessings of God, by their theology, that God cannot break through to bless His people. They get their church so formal, so stiff and so starchy, till the Holy Spirit can’t come into the church. And then when the devil seen he had that made, and some was going to break through anyhow, then he let them open other channels that wasn’t the Gospel, and run them off into fanaticism. That’s right. See? They either get to be a bunch of fanatics, or a bunch of starches. But in the middle of the road, there’s the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
42 As I spoke this morning, and backing this up now for this great question I’m fixing to ask in a few moments, is this, that man take one another’s spirit. Be careful that you don’t get some man’s spirit instead of the Spirit of the Lord. Go into a church, watch the way the pastor acts, and you’ll see the way the people act. See? If the pastor is real starchy and stiff, the people will be the same way. If you go in where it’s wild and fanaticism, the people will be the same way.
43 So, brethren, we’re ought to be thankful here, in the tabernacle tonight, for a pastor that’s sane, sensible, and preaches the Gospel simple, full, free, and in Its power. Yes, sir.
44 If anything I want to represent right, in this world, if I don’t represent humanity right, I want to represent Jesus Christ in His Life.
45 I want to be a Bible Christian. What the Bible says, that’s what I want to believe. No matter who disagrees, or who doesn’t, I don’t fall out with them, but I want to believe the Bible. This is the Word of God. I believe that That is truly the plan of salvation. The Word of God is the only Rock that’ll ever stand and wave the ages, is the Word of God. Jesus said, “Heavens and earth will pass away, but My Word shall never pass away.” So I believe This is the Truth. Has God…[Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit four times—Ed.]
The Lamb And The Dove
57-0325 · Oakland, California
64 And now look what the church has done. It’s either got off on a bunch of fanaticism, and either went real starchy and stiff and take none of it. But, brother, there’s a middle of the road where the real true Gospel is preached and the—the real true Bible signs and wonders following; a sweet Holy Spirit leads that church. That’s the kind of church to go to, an intelligent church, preaching the Word, standing on the Word, with a real full Gospel sermon, real Spirit of God; everything in the Spirit, everything is decent, everybody in order, everything in love; that’s the kind of a church we want. How many wants to belong to that church? Raise your hands. Why, sure, we all do. Well, God wants us to. What made the difference? We just started getting a little arrogant and different in our churches; Dove flew away.
We Would See Jesus
57-0516 · Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
21 When a man is converted, his eyes are set towards Calvary. If he’s just a little bit nervous, if you don’t watch him, he will go over on the fanatic side. If he’s just a little scholarly, he will go over on the starchy side. But right in the middle of the road is the sane, sensible, borned again, Spirit led, endowed Church of the living God, going straight down the road to Christ. That’s the real coming from both the sides. One went one way, and one went the other, shows fanaticism or either scholarly and too stiff to bow. They know more about the Word than they know about the Author. To know the Word’s not Life, but to know Him is Life: to know Him. You don’t have to be a scholar; you have to be a submitted person. And when you submit yourself to Christ, Christ is obligated to fill that vacancy that you’ve poured out on the altar to Him. He’s obligated to His Word to do it, and He will not fail you.
The Unfailing Realities Of The Living God
60-0626 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
243 Now to you Nazarene brethren, I’d like to say this. You say, “The blessed old highway.”
244 But it wasn’t the highway, if you’ll notice. Said, “There is a highway, and,” and is a conjunction, “and a way.” And “the way” is in the highway. Not all is on the highway, going, but all that’s in “the way,” that’s a-going. See? “There is a highway, and…” Read Isaiah 35, “There is a highway, and a way.” See? The highway has got a center, is in the middle of the road. And in the middle of the road is where. And then when the rain comes, it washes all the trash off on the side.
The Patmos Vision
60-1204E · Jeffersonville, Indiana
95 Now, the…So, you see, we took that other side of the road. You know I’ve always tried to be this, and our Lord has always revealed it to me; there’s one extreme, and another extreme, but right in the middle of the road lays the Truth. Did you notice Isaiah, where He said that there shall be a highway? Isaiah 35. And you remember how our precious Nazarene brethren used to sing that song, you know, “The Highway of Holiness. Highway of Holiness.” Now, if you’ll read your Bible right, it doesn’t say “the highway of holiness.” It said, “There shall be a highway and a way, and it shall be called,” not the highway of holiness, but “the way of holiness.” And is a conjunction that finishes your sentence. See? “It shall be a highway and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness,” not a highway of holiness.
96 See, a road is built, a way…A good road is built, the highest part is in the center, because it lets all the trash wash off to both sides. That’s it. When a man really comes to Christ, he’s got his eyes centered on Christ. If he’s a little bit emotional, he’ll be a fanatic. If he’s a little bit cold, he’ll get on this other side and be just a cucumber, over on that side; see, his intellectual. But the main thing is right in the middle of the road, with enough Spirit in you, keep you warm and moving. Amen! And knowing enough to keep yourself under obedience to the Spirit, to move just as the Spirit moves; not till or not after, just as the Spirit moves.
97 The Catholic church said, “The revelation was Peter.”
The Protestant church said, “It was Christ.”
But the Bible teaches, “It was the Revelation that He gave (God gave him) of Christ.”
“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Blessed art thou Simon, son of Jonas, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, no man, seminary, or a monastery, anything, taught It to you. But My Father which is in heaven has revealed this to you. You’re Peter, upon this rock I’ll build My Church, and the gates of hell can’t prevail against It.”
The Water Baptism
61-0120 · Beaumont, Texas
175 Now, not long ago, and maybe the same man may listen to this tape someday, that I, that—that this taken place. It was Brother Scism of the Oneness. Now, you—you…many of you people listen to this, would say, “Brother Branham is a Oneness.” I am not. I think you’re both wrong, both Oneness and Trinity. Not to be different, but it’s always the middle of the road.
176 Like Isaiah said, Isaiah 35 said, “There shall be a highway.” And you Nazarene brothers, and so forth, you say, “The grand old highway of holiness.” I beg your pardon; It doesn’t say, “The highway of holiness.”
177 Said, “There shall be a highway and…” (and is a conjunction) “…and a way, and it shall be called, ‘The way of holiness.’” Not the highway of holiness. The way is in the middle of the road. Each side is where the off-fall is flying. That’s where you Oneness brethren went to on one side, Trinitarian went on the other side, but the true Message lays in the center of the road.
Expectation
61-0207 · Long Beach, California
44 Now, there’s no two Holy Ghosts; there only one Holy Ghost (That’s right.), only one Holy Ghost. And that same Holy Ghost that led Simeon to believe that he would not die until he seen the Lord’s Christ, that same Holy Spirit’s telling me, “Something going to happen.” Amen. I just believe it. And It’s telling you the same thing. Let’s be expecting it. Let’s get ready for it, make ready. Like taking a trip, get everything packed up**. No, this—this kind of a trip, you unpack everything. Got too much packed up now. The trouble of it, we have to unload. So this trip you unload. You have to get right in the middle of the road.**
45 One of the dear brothers, Brother…I was going to say Deweece, I believe…no, not…that’s Oral Roberts. Oh, he’s the state superintendent of the Assemblies of God at Indiana. I forget what his name is now. Anyhow…Brother Weed, Roy Weed, I guess you all know him. Brother Weed…one day, my cousin, Brother Vibbert, has one of the biggest Pentecostal Assembly of God churches in the east in Evansville, Indiana. He has whole city block, it’s just took into church meeting. So they had a, I believe it was called the Five Hundred Room. Across the street there’s a garage, so Brother Vibbert just bought it out and his brother running competition in Indianapolis, who can have how many thousand in Sunday school. So he had a man school over there that he just taught in on Sunday morning, five hundred in the class.
So I was supposed to speak that morning at the men’s class. I was setting behind Brother Roy, and Brother Roy said, “You know, I heard a man say,” and that was me, “that the—the middle of road is the place.” Said, “The middle of the road…” I believe that.
God said in Isaiah 35, “There shall be a highway.” Many of you dear Nazarenes used to sing, “A highway of holiness.” No, “There shall be a highway and (‘And’ is a conjunction; it ties your sentence together.)—and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness,” not the highway of holiness, the way. Correct road’s built so the water washes trash to one side or the other. So you’d either be real cold and starchy or a fanatic on the…But the way’s right in the middle of the road, right towards Calvary, right up the road.
46 So Brother Weed stood up and said, “A man…That isn’t good driving ethics.” He said, “If a man drove in the middle of the road, he’d get killed.” Said, “That’s not good driving ethics.” He didn’t know I was setting behind him. I touched him on the shoulder; I said, “That’s it, brother; you’re just so earthbound, you’re…” I said, “This road you don’t come back. It’s just one-way traffic going that way.” And so…He is—he’s a sweet brother, just as fine as could ever be thought. Oh, my, they don’t—don’t make them better than Roy Weed. But it was just so cute, you know, he said, “Now, you drive in the middle of the road you get hit.” ‘
I said, “Brother Weed, we won’t get hit; we’re going one straight way. Just right way. We’re not coming back at all.” A one-way ticket, I’m glad I’ve got it then, aren’t you? a one-way ticket. What the Holy Ghost reveals through His Word, I believe that is truth; we stay right with it.
Is This The Sign Of The End, Sir?
62-1230E · Jeffersonville, Indiana
301 Notice, “The Book written,” when this angel finishes all these loose-end ministeries that through the battle they fought, Luther fought, and Wesley fought, and the Pentecostals fought. “But there’s coming one,” says the Bible, “that in the days of his sounding, all these mysteries…” The oneness run off on Jesus Name; the trinity went off on Father, Son, Holy Ghost, just like they did at the Nicaea Council, same thing; they both was wrong. But, now, in the middle of the road, in the Scriptures, lays out the Truth. You see where we’re at? The Angel of the Lord!
God Hiding Himself In Simplicity, Then Revealing Himself In The Same
63-0317M · Jeffersonville, Indiana
228 There is one side that’s highly intellectual, cold and indifferent, they deny everything there. And the others get on the other side, on the other side with a radical bunch of an emotion, and deny the Word.
229 But the real true Church stays right in the middle of the road. Now, if you notice, it’s—it’s—it’s got the Bible knowledge of what God said, and it’s—it’s spiritual enough to be warm in its heart, and it’s just the road. Isaiah said it would be that way. He said, “There shall be a highway…”