Returning to Your First Love

Matthew 24:10-12 ¹⁰And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Cold: (GK5594) To breathe, to cool, to be cooled, to become COLD and/or DRY

Revelation 2:1-6 ¹Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ²I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. ⁴Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. ⁵Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. ⁶But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:4 (AMP) ⁴But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

First: (GK4413) contracted superlative of 4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance): before, beginning, best, chiefest, first (of all), former.
Love: (GK0026) Love, affection or benevolence—the quality of warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard, love

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 6 · The Thyatirean Church Age

I want to give a warning right here. It says concerning the last days that because of abounding iniquity the love of many will wax cold. In the Laodicean, or last age, self love, and love for material things will take the place of the true love of God. We need to guard against the power of sin in these last days. So many are getting so hard because they haven’t realized the effect of this last day spirit. It is time to draw nigh to God and let him fill our lives with His love, or we will feel the coldness of the last day church, and reject the truth of God which alone is able to help us.

The Oneness Of Unity

58-0128 · Waterloo, Iowa

69 Now, a pastor, any cult, some little literature you’d read, might say to you, “The days of miracles is passed.” That’s a good place for the devil to slip one of them spirits in there and make you a worse person you was when you was a sinner. Cause, the religious sinner is the worst of all. That’s the worst. Jesus said so. It’s the worst spirit.

2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Three spirits that we must contend with in this season of “PROVING”:

Seducing (lying) spirits
Religious spirits (delusions)
Familiar spirits

Being Led Of The Holy Spirit

56-0219 · Minneapolis, Minnesota

91 …You believe, lady? If the Lord Jesus will let me know what you’re here for, will you accept Him as getting what you’re after? You will? You have many things. One thing, you have a colon trouble. You have a gallbladder trouble. And you’re nervous. That’s right. And then one great thing that’s a bothering you is demon oppression. You always feel depressed like the devil’s got you or something like that. You’re having a spiritual battle, aren’t you? Is that true? And especially you get that in afternoon, after the dinner or something like that in the afternoon. It’s worse than it is in the fore morning. That’s right, ‘cause it makes you all upset. See?

92 What it is, it’s nervousness. See? It caused it. Look like there’s a enemy fighting at you. Do you believe that God sent me to cast it away from you? You do? Come here. Better bow your head.

Our heavenly Father, Satan here trying to come against Your Holy Spirit, why, the evil one, come out of her in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God, I adjure thee to leave her. You’re exposed, Satan. You go from this woman. You’re trying to make her commit suicide. And you leave her in Jesus Christ’s Name.

Now, looky here. It’s over now. Yeah. You know that. Is that right? Raise your hand if every worry is gone. Is that right? You feel fine, don’t you? You’re going to be all right; so just go rejoicing and praising the Lord. The Lord bless you. Let’s say, “Thanks be to God.” [Congregation says, “Thanks be to God.”—Ed.] Oh, my, how people ought to worship Him. Just give Him praise and glory. He loves to be worshipped. Now, be real reverent.

Time-Tested Faith

58-0530 · New York, New York

72 …Another thing, you’ve been interested in a person you’re praying for or something. It’s a young man. And that young man is bothered with spiritual trouble. He’s all nervous and just scared. He’s just mentally shook up. It’s demon oppression. When you go to him, tell him not to worry, ‘cause he’s going to get over it. And you are over yours now. Your faith has made you well. God bless you.

You believe Him to be Christ? Now, you know that there has to be some kind of a supernatural Being here. Now, if you believe it’s Christ, now be real reverent.

Demonology

53-1120 · Evansville, Indiana

2 I’ve often heard people say, “Brother Branham, why don’t you take the initiative side. Go right out there and just take the side and rebuke the enemy.” I was afraid to. Because I—I suppose, maybe, I’d, I maybe had seen something that I should not have seen.

And I do realize, friends, with all sincerity, that this is not just a—a drama, a stage show. We’re in church and—and it’s the—it’s the power of Almighty God. And it’s demon spirits are on people, it’s if I tell Christians that… Now, I don’t mean if…

You say, “I got the Holy Ghost, Brother Branham. I ain’t got no demon.”

Well now, I don’t say, “demon possession,” it’s, “demon oppression,” you see. Satan in the flesh, not Satan in the spirit. Satan in the spirit gives unclean habits and so forth, and unbelief. You might live just as pure and holy and clean, and yet, be a sinner. It’s your faith that saves you. See. Many people, they’re just as pure and clean, and yet, a lot cleaner, sometimes, than people who, professed Christians live. But yet, would deny the Holy Ghost, would deny every operation of the power of God; they’re unbelievers, no matter, they’re very religious. And the antichrist spirit is a very religious spirit, just to the mark, just as religious as it can be, the antichrist. Jesus even said, “It would deceive the very Elect, if possible, in the last day.” That’s true.

Now, so then it behooves you to know where you’re—where you’re doing, where you’re standing, and what you’re talking to.

The Evening Messenger

63-0116 · Mesa, Arizona

164 Today, in my motel, there laid a mother out there with not enough clothes on to wad a musket shotgun, and her husband laying out there the same way, and that cold wind. They think their body’s so pretty they have to show it. Don’t you realize that’s the devil? That’s right. Stripping their clothes, only the insane does that. Legion did it because he was crazy. Notice! And we have that, but that’s called “style,” that’s called “modern.” We call it “The devil!” I got the Bible to prove that it’s the devil. It’s devil possession, demon possession (not oppression). Possession, he’s got you! That’s right. Tell them about it? They’ll blow up. They want nothing to do with It! No, sir. They got their own ideas, because at their morgue they go to they never rebuke it. Sex appeal is practiced in schools and in churches, and pastors are afraid to rebuke it, very seldom anything.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 ¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to [seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;] ²Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 3:13 ¹³But [evil men and seducers] shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

2 Timothy 2:15-18 ¹⁵Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. ¹⁷And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; ¹⁸Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Father, The Hour Has Come

56-1002A · Chicago, Illinois

114 Now, he thought he had the Spirit of God. But it was a lying spirit, because it was contrary to the Word. Now, if people says, “Signs and wonders don’t follow,” it’s a lying spirit; it’s contrary to the Word.

115 If, “The Bible says,” people tells you, “the Holy Ghost ain’t in this day the same as It was in the other days,” it’s a lying spirit that’s in false prophets. They’re telling you a lie. If the spirit gets…just says, “All liberation of women, and do all these other things, and go out, act like the world.” It’s a lying spirit. It’s not lined up with the Word, stay in the Word. Right. Stay right there.

The Second Seal

63-0319 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

105 He said, “The Spirit speaks expressingly, that in the latter times that they’d depart from the faith, and would give heed to seducing…” You know what seduce is. A seducing spirit in the church, that is clergy. “Seducing, clergy spirit, workings of devils; hypocrisies in the church.”

106 “Heady, highminded,” wisdom, you see, smart, intelligent; “having a form of godliness.” (Just go, say, “Well, we are Christians; we should go to church.”) “Having a form of godliness, but denying the revelations, the Power and the working of the Spirit; from such turn away.” See? Now notice, he said, “For this is the sort that will go from house to house, and will lead silly women…” That don’t mean Holy Ghost women. “Silly women that’s led away with divers lusts.”

God’s Way That’s Been Made For Us

52-0900 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

24 Now I want you to notice, he found himself trying to make his way. We had, this morning, how Cain tried to make his way. He brought down some apples and pears and peaches and pumpkins, ever what it was, laid it upon the altar and said, “Now there, Lord, I built an altar. I built a church. I’m a good church member.” See? “I go to church every day. I come here, built the altar. I put the sacrifice upon it. Now I’m going to kneel down and pray. And now, Lord, I want You to receive me.” But God refused him.

25 And that same old religious spirit lives right down amongst the church today, the very same thing, just as religious as it can be, and knows no more about God than the Hottentot would know about Egyptian night. You know that’s the truth. Religious spirits! Don’t think that Stalin is the antichrist. The Bible said, “The two spirits would be so close together, deceive the very Elect if possible.”

The Invasion Of The United States

54-0509 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

241 Don’t you see how religious the devil is? The devil is not no anti-, great big thing like communism, all against Christianity. That’s not. That’s of, oh, well, of the devil, sure, but it’s not the antichrist. The antichrist is very religious, very religious. It was a religious spirit that crucified Jesus. It’s always been a religious world, a religious people, that crucifies. It’s the religious people that was against the true Christ. It was the religious prophets that was against Micaiah. It’s the religious people of the day that’s against the Message of God.

How The Angel Came To Me, And His Commission

55-0117 · Chicago, Illinois

224 Next day it come out, said, “It shows what they’re made out of,” the Houston Chronicle. Says, “Shows what they’re made out of, they’re afraid to take up for what they’re preaching.”

225 Old Brother Bosworth come up to me, being way in his seventies then, lovely old brother, put his arm around me, said, “Brother Branham,” he said, “you mean you’re not going to take that up?”

226 I said, “No, Brother Bosworth. No, sir. I’m not going to take it up.” I said, “It don’t do no good.” I said, “Just causes fussing when we leave the platform.” I said, “I’m holding a meeting now, and I don’t want to get things all tore up like that.” I said, “Just let him go ahead.” I said, “That’s all, he’s just rattling.” I said, “We’ve had them before, and it doesn’t do any good to talk to them.” I said, “They’ll go right away, holding theirself.” I said, “If they once receive the knowledge of the Truth and then they won’t receive It, the Bible said they’ve crossed the separating line and they’ll never be forgiven in this world or the world to come. They call It ’the devil’ and they can’t help it. They’re possessed with a religious spirit which is the devil.”

227 How many knows that’s true, that a devil spirit is religious? Yes, sir, just as fundamental as they can be. And so, then, that didn’t go very good when I said “fundamental,” but that’s true. “Having a form of godliness and denying the Power thereof.” That’s right. Signs and wonders is what vindicates God, always. And He said it would be in the last days the same thing. And notice!

The Seal Of The Antichrist

55-0311 · Los Angeles, California

24 And when a man ever crosses that line and borned again of the Spirit of God, he becomes a son of God. And then he believes what God says to be the truth. And he says, “All the Word’s inspired.”

Borderline, halfway, watch that religious spirit. You say, “Brother Branham, do you mean to tell me that the antichrist spirit, will be a religious spirit?”

Jesus said, “It’d be so close, like the real thing, till it would deceive the very elect, if possible.” Matthew 24.

That throws a little different light to it, doesn’t it? It’s a religious spirit, a spirit that can shout, a spirit that can dance in the spirit, a spirit that can cast out devils, a spirit that can do all kinds of miracles, and still not be borned of the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “In that day (Listen at this.) many will come to Me and say, ‘Lord, have I not cast out devils in Your Name? In Your Name haven’t I done many mighty works?’ And I will confess unto them: depart from Me, you workers of iniquity, I didn’t even know you.”

Enticing Spirits

55-0724 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

146 … O God, cleanse Your House, Lord. Hallelujah! Send the Holy Ghost with such old-time conviction that will clean a man’s appetites and clean his soul, and clean him up and make him a Heaven-bound creature. Give him…Renew his youth and his vows like the eagle, that he might mount up and surpass the things of this world, and soar into Heavens yonder where he can see the troubles coming in the distance. Grant it, Lord.

The God Of This Evil Age

65-0801M · Jeffersonville, Indiana

151 Then listen, man, you bunch of Rickys! If you were born to be a man, then act like a man. These bangs hanging down in your face, and curled up like some sex appeal, why, you perverted generation of snakes! What’s the matter with you, anyhow?

My God will judge this nation someday with fire. He’ll sink it beneath the ocean. The hour of His judgment is at hand. The whole world will go.

152 Religious perversion! Human perversion; men don’t even know what sex they belong to, neither does women. Stand up with a pair of man’s overalls on, or a pair of little old shorts, clothes that’s…her every move and form of her body, and call herself a Christian. She’s not even a lady, let alone a Christian. She’s a street prostitute used by Satan, inspired by Satan, to send the sons of God to hell, to fulfill the Word that Jesus Christ said would take place. I didn’t mean to say that, but He said it, anyhow. See where this [religious spirit] comes from? The mixed tree.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ¹¹And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: ¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

*Delusion: (GK4106) wandering fr. the path of truth- error, delusion, deceit, deception to which one is subject- a wandering, a straying about, whereby one, led astray from the right way, roams hither and thither.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 AMP ¹¹Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false, ¹²In order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely on] the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 ³ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. ⁵Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Discerning The Body Of The Lord

59-0812 · Chautauqua, Ohio

98 … Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Sodom.”

99 The police, and the homicides and all that, is just on the go, all the time, breaking up boys, living together as husband and wife; women living the same way**. Perverted their minds, their filthy minds, because they don’t have spiritual discernment. All is a lust and a filth. And they can’t satisfy themselves even with one other.** They don’t even marry. They just take up and go out, until they’re perverted. Jesus said that would be in the last days, and here it is.

1 John 4:1-3 ¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world.** ² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

What manifestation of familiar spirits in operation looks like:

Disruption
Hindrance
Manipulation
Confusion
Intimidation
Coercion
Making haste (pressuring)
Direct conflict with God given authority
Rebellion
Selfish ambition

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ²¹Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ²²Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (AMP) ²¹But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast. ²²Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.

Pardon

63-1028 · Tucson, Arizona

113 I noticing, the other night, in that great famous meeting of one of our great renowned brothers in California. And I noticed that meeting, as those people come down, young teen-age children. I admired the brother for his great stand; anybody would. If you position, see what place he’s taken in the last days, you will too. And as I noticed those people coming down to the altar, to make a decision, girls chewing chewing gum, boys punching one another, people laughing, that isn’t the way to come godly sorrowful. You must come under conviction. God, send us an old-fashion, pentecostal, Holy Ghost revival that’ll bring sin to the root and bring conviction to men and women.

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 9 · The Laodicean Church Age

May God help us all to heed to that voice of Conviction in our lives.

This evil-spirited church, full of iniquity, will be revealed as the mustard seed that grew into a tree wherein lodged the fouls of the air. At her head will be the antichrist, the mystery of iniquity. All this is true. And if this is true, then it must also be true that the Bride Church will mature, and her ripeness shall be an identification with her Lord by means of the Word, and her Head Who will come to her is the Mystery of Godliness, Which indeed is Christ.

Philippians 4:8 ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 9 · The Laodicean Church Age

The city was rich, endowed by the wealthy. It was full of culture. Science abounded. How like today. The churches are rich. The worship is beautiful and formal, but cold and dead. Culture and education have taken the place of the Spirit-given Word, and faith has been superseded by science, so that man is a victim of materialism.

In every attribute ancient Laodicea is found reborn in the twentieth-century Laodicean Age. In the mercy of God, may those who have an ear to hear come out of her that they be not partakers of her sins and the consequent judgment.

Power Of Transformation

65-1031M · Prescott, Arizona

324 And from out of this chaos of this modern scientific Eden that we’re living in, of culture and—and science and education, all this modern stuff, we’ll rise! “This robe of flesh we’ll drop, and rise and seize the everlasting prize,” someday. We’ll go through the air, and this will all be over. For the Word of God that’s brought us from the modern thinking of our mind, transforming our mind into the renewing of our hearts towards God, and our spirits; that same Spirit that spoke that, has transformed us this far, and It also will take us into His Presence, into His Glory, with a glorified body.

Matthew 24:12-13 ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ¹³But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 24:12 AMP ¹²And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,

Turn On The Light

64-0125 Phoenix, Arizona

65 … The grain should mature with the light.

66 But the thing is, today, the church grain don’t want to mature. It wants to stay like it was back in Moody’s time, Sankey, Finney, Knox, Calvin. They were all right, they were the light of the hour.

67 But this is another hour. This is another day. This is the advancement of the Gospel; It’s coming to its maturity. So we can’t live in what Luther said, Wesley said, or some of the rest of them. We’re living in the Light that’s predicted for this day. We’re in the seventh church age, not the third or fourth church age. The grain should be able to receive It. If it doesn’t, it falls off and It means nothing to it. The grain is matured with the Light if it goes ahead with the Light.

68 So should the church bring forth the bread of each age, that Jesus commanded, that, “Man shall live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

69 The Bread that we need is in the Bible. It is the complete revelation of God’s plan. It’s the complete revelation of Jesus Christ. We add nothing to It, or take anything from It; whosoever does, his name will be taken out of the Book of Life. We don’t need any creeds to add to This. It’s written just the way It’s supposed to be. We don’t add nothing to It, take nothing from It, preach It just the way It is, and God is, will manifest it. Every promise that He promised, He will manifest it just the same. We’re not supposed to take from It or add to It. Just leave It the way It is.

The Seed Is Not Heir With The Shuck

65-0218 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

85 That’s the way with people who profess Christ. Many of them look like Christians, try to act like Christians; but you’ve got to have Christ on the inside of you, which is the Word made manifest, or it’ll never mature into a real Bible-believing Christian. It’ll always be a denominational something. It cannot live, because there’s no Life in it, to live.

An egg cannot hatch, it rots right in the nest, if it hasn’t been with the—with the male bird.

86 Just like members of a church. You can baby them and call them, make them deacons and everything else, but they’ll…you have a nest full of rotten eggs unless they’ve mated with the Mate. That’s right.

Revelation 2:4 ⁴Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chpater 10 · A Resume of the Ages

Also in that age, the true church had lost its first love. That love was typified as the love of bride and groom at their marriage and early years of wedded life. There was a cooling of that complete love and abandonment to God.

God’s Provided Way

53-0613 · Connersville, Indiana

32 … Tonight He’s got the Holy Spirit here, which is God’s provided way, proving it. That’s right. Separating from sin, taking away all the iniquities, and healing the sick and the afflicted, God’s a doing it: God’s provided way.

Notice, the way of escape. Now, let’s go a little farther. One day they got without water. They got to murmuring, grumbling. The church murmuring and grumbling, complaining against Moses, complaining against God, and God cut off the water supply.

The Flashing Red Light Of The Sign Of His Coming

63-0623E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

165 O God …Give me grace to never complain.

Christ Is The Mystery Of God Revealed

63-0728 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

84 … Don’t stay home. If God is in your heart, you can’t hardly wait for them doors to open out yonder, to get in here to fellowship with your brothers. If you don’t—don’t feel that way, then I tell you, it’s time you got to praying.

An Ensign

62-0119 · Phoenix, Arizona

178 I was reading, other day, in history, Broadbent’s Pilgrim Church, Nicene Fathers, that where, in the early church, they never even had any ornaments, never even had an altar… They just had a plain little old building where they set on slab of rocks. They raised up their hands after some godly man gave a message. And they raised up their hands and praised God. They loved that after-effects of the Holy Spirit bathing through them. That was the early church in the times of Irenaeus and Martin, so forth, right after the death of the Lord Jesus, when the church going on, before it went into Catholicism. Oh, that’s what we love.

Redeemer, Redemption

55-1119 · San Fernando, California

46 … And when Christ baptizes you with the Holy Spirit, stay put right in Christ. That first love is in your heart. Never let it get cold. Just keep loving Him. Move on.

2 Timothy 1:6-8 ⁶Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.** ⁷For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.** ⁸Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Hebrews 10:25 ²⁵Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25 (AMP) ²⁵Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Identification

64-0216 · Tulare, California

3 If you don’t have a church, you must; see, you’ll die, spiritually, you’ll just dwindle away…

The God Who Is Rich In Mercy

65-0119 · Phoenix, Arizona

86 To be an eagle of God, you’ve got to follow the Word, day by day. You’ve got to continue, feed upon the Word.

Proverbs 26:20 ²⁰Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Your prayer life changes.
Your church attendance becomes sporadic.
You give less consistently.
You become defensive about your lifestyle.
You begin to lose your joy.
You begin to doubt God.
You stop paying attention to the Holy Spirit’s convictions.

Hear Ye Him

57-0807 · Alberta, Canada

26 And that’s what’s the matter with the church today, the reason that we don’t have great mighty manifestations. This great church of the living God in these last days should be far down the road with every Divine gift set in order, a great, beautiful church. But we have broke up into denominations, and isms, and little fusses, and everything, till God can do no more with us, until we come together and get our hearts right with God. That’s why our blessings are about run out. That’s why in the churches it’s getting cold and cooling off, is because we’ve been indifferent towards God, His Spirit, and His Word. It’s true. We never welcome the Holy Spirit no more.

The Laodicean Church Age

60-1211E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

119 Now, God said, “I’d rather you’d be hot, real red-hot, or freezing, be one or the other. Don’t get lukewarm, ‘cause you make Me sick.”

120 That’s what this church age does for God, makes Him sick! See? …Either be red-hot or…Don’t be lukewarm! Warm or hot; ‘cause you make Me vomit."

The Laodicean Church Age

60-1211E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

128 All right, He wants you red-hot or—or freezing, one or the other. Don’t be lukewarm! Just don’t pretend something that you haven’t got, either be on fire for God or go on back into the—in the—in the organization. Don’t—don’t be lukewarm!

Why Little Bethlehem?

58-1228 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

114 “I remember one time, little old lion come up, one morning, and got one of my sheep. And the Spirit of God came upon me, and I went out and grabbed him and cut him to pieces. I remember that deliverance. Oh, I can remember that evening, just before the sun went down, a bear come in and got one, and I killed him. Them great deliverance!

115 “I remember when I sang His praises, in my childhood days, when I herded my sheep. O God, take me back to that place. Take me back to my first love. Take me back, and give me back my shepherd’s staff. Give me back my herd of sheep. Let me alone, back there, to worship You.”

116 That, sometimes we think that. But we’re in the heat of the battle. Something has got to be done. We were boys, once. We’re grown-up men now. The fight is on. I remember when the sawdust boiled up, on the floor, and the people screamed and shouted. And you couldn’t get around the place, nowhere here, for people. But it’s not that way today. The battle is on. Oh! It’s not William Branham, the little boy preacher, anymore. You got to produce something. Yes, sir. There’s got to be something different. The time is on. The battle is on. The heat is on. The time to be delivered, the people, every one is found written in the Book. Now the time has come.

Handwriting On The Wall

58-0618 · Greenville, South Carolina

***59 Would you stand to your feet just a minute? O God, be merciful. Run people, hurry, hurry, hurry; get to Christ as quick as you can. Get away from these modern walls of this formalism. Get into the middle of God’s grace, quickly. All you Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Pilgrim Holiness, Catholic, all of you, get away from these modern church walls. You feel like you’re secure because it’s a great church, nothing against it. But brother, unless you are found in His grace, covered with His goodness and His power, what good will it do you? …

The Masterpiece

64-0705 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

197 The Seed fell in the ground at Nicaea. That was the original Seed. And She’s come through the process of these denominations, which only comes in existence once. But the Bride returns back again in the last days. “I will restore.” See, the Masterpiece is brought up. That’s the reason She was in view, reviewed, the second time. She was reviewed the first time, then she was reviewed the second time. And She was perfectly, the second time, like She was the first time. O God, have mercy! Hurry, hurry, hurry, Life, get in the Grain, right quick! Uh-huh.

198 All others never appeared no more. They went out, never to come back again.

But the Bride came back, ‘cause She was Alpha and Omega. God, the great Sculptor, has made Him a Masterpiece, for It is a piece of His first Masterpiece. Like He made in the garden of Eden, and took a piece from, and made another piece and that was marred and fell, now He’s been all this time building it up again. And He brought forth this Masterpiece, and was smitten, in order…That part that was smitten, was in order to bring back again that Masterpiece, again.

199 So, the Masterpiece and the Son of God, the Masterpiece and the Bride, and It’s a piece of Him, which must be the fulfilling of the Word. The Word has been fulfilled, and we’re ready for the Coming of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:11 ¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Exodus 34:5-7 ⁵And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. ⁶And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ⁷Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Romans 3:23 ²³For all have sinned **and come short of the glory of God;

Leviticus 16:21 ²¹And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Leviticus 16:21 ²¹And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities (H5771) of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, (H 6588) even all their sins; (H2403) and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man that is in readiness into the wilderness:

Sin: H2403 an offense [as in a single event ] — Sin is anything that comes short of the glory of God.

Hebrew Meaning of Sin:

Slipping away from where you should be.
Erring from the path on which God’s put you.
You are not achieving a standard that God has set.
Missing the mark or the path.
any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command.**

The biblical concept of sin consists not only of actions but also of neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts, purposes, words, and desires, whatever is contrary to God’s commands or law.

Trangression: GK6586* a primitive root (identical with 6585 through the idea of expansion) (GK6585 is to stride from, to walk away willfully) ; to break away (from just authority), i.e. trespass, apostatize, quarrel:—offend, rebel and revolt. Transgression is a willful act of disobedience. It is a transgression done specifically to spite God.
Iniquity: Perverseness; “to bend, twist, distort"-bowed down, twisted, to be bent or crooked, to be wrung out of course. a masculine noun meaning iniquity, evil, guilt, and punishment. Therefore, iniquities are a bending, twisting, or distorting of the law of God’s Word to different degrees worthy of punishment. Injustice; unrighteousness; a deviation from rectitude (morally correct thinking or behavior) also want of rectitude in principle; wickedness; or any act of injustice.

This perversion can literally change the DNA/RNA structure of the cells in our “flesh” body and greatly shift our mental “beliefs” or “attitudes,” resulting in genetic changes that are passed on from generation to generation.

This is the way things like high blood pressure, alcoholism, sexual perversions, jealousy, anger, fear, and various other addictions and tendencies toward the perverse are passed down from generation to generation.

Racism, Greed, and Idolatry can also run in families.

Matthew 24:12 ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Iniquity: GK458 from 459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or wickedness even lawlessness: transgression of the law, unrighteousness. The state or condition of being disposed (INCLINED) to what is lawless, lawlessness, having a tendency or predisposition toward a particular behavior or sin.

Other definitions of INIQUITY include:

“It signifies not merely that which is wrong, but the tendency to do wrong Iniquities are second-nature sins, which drive us to repeatedly, continually commit sin.

[A perversion of the truth, which leads to error].

A perversion of intents and desires which affects our will. Sin and Transgression are verbs and things we do: Iniquity is the bent condition of what we are.

Iniquity revolves more about the underlying attitudes: self-absorption, idolatry, Racism, Gluttony, Covetousness, Unrighteousness, wickedness, and lawlessness.

Psalm 51:10 ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

To summarize: Sin against the knowledge of God, when it is repeated, becomes transgression, which, if it continues habitually, eventually becomes iniquity which changes and perverts the flesh and therefore has the potential of affecting the next generation.

Psalm 32:5 ⁵I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

God Commissioning Moses

53-0508 · Jonesboro, Arkansas

22 I heard a fellow say the other day that sickness the Lord did sickness, put sickness on you; that might be so if you’re sinning. You done something wrong, make it right with God. That’s right. That’s true. But sickness is of the devil. And sickness is an attribute of sin. Because of sin we had sickness. Not because maybe, you sinned**, but it’s something that come down through the generations. He visited even to the third and fourth generation**. But the Blood of Jesus Christ taken away sin, and It taken away sickness. If you Davids are ready to claim your place… Yes, sir. And he said, “You mean to tell me that you will let that Philistine stand out there and defy the armies of the living God?”

Hear Ye Him

56-1215 · Parkersburg, West Virginia

13 And now, if you’re dealing with sin… Now, maybe you never sinned, but there might be a sin that your father did, your grandfather did. He said He’d visit the iniquity of the parents upon the third and fourth generation. And each generation gets weaker and wiser as the Bible said. But it’s all started from sin. Before sin ever came into the world there were no sickness in the world. And sickness came through the fall, and the fall was sin, and sin is unbelief.

“He that believeth not is condemned already.” Before you even get started you’re condemned. You’re born in sin, shaped in iniquity, come to the world speaking lies. No matter how much you was dedicated on the altar, how many times you were sprinkled, baptized, poured, whatever it is, you’re still a sinner, that’s all, until you repent and God recognizes and seals that promise with the Holy Spirit. That’s right. Then you’re borned again. Then you’re son and daughter of God. It’s a regeneration, a new creation. Then your attributes, your—your thoughts are not like they were, your life is not like it was. You become a complete surrendered vessel to God, and He speaks and uses you, and you’re not your own no more. But you’re bought with a price. That’s the price of the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of it.

The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

58-0928M · Jeffersonville, Indiana

98 As we were speaking, to pick up the little subject again, just for—for a minute, how the illegitimate child could not enter the kingdom for fourteen generations, four hundred years, and how that the iniquity of the parents was visit to the children, to the third and fourth generation.

99 Also, the righteousness of the parents was visited. What you do, if there is a coming tomorrow and you have a great-grandson, your action today will determine what he’ll be then. For we read in the Bible where that Melchizedek, when He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and Abraham the patriarch give Him a tenth, a tithings of all he had. And then he said that of tithings, that, “Just only Levi could accept tithe. But,” he said, “Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes when he was yet in the loins of Abraham.

100 Oh, can you catch that? [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit five times—Ed. ] Abraham was Levi’s…great-grandson. And here, Levi, at least eight or ten hundred years later, maybe several hundred. I wouldn’t know just what, many. Would have to figure it up, through the generation. But, Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob; Jacob begot Levi. And here, Levi, Jacob would be his father; Isaac his grandfather; and Abraham his great-grandfather. And when Levi was in the loins of Abraham, the Bible said, “He paid tithes to Melchizedek.”

Hebrews, Chapter Seven #1

57-0915E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

161 Your—your attitude towards Christ will make a great impression on what your children will be. Your life that you live before your family will make an impression on what your children will be. Cause, the Bible said, that, “He would visit the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and fourth generations.”

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (AMP) ¹BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, ²Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized),

2 Timothy 3:13 ¹³But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

A “familiar spirit” is a demon. It is defined as “a spirit or demon that serves or prompts an individual.” (Merriam Webster’s 7th New Collegiate Dictionary)

These demons serve or prompt people to do evil and to go against the commands of God.

Leviticus 26:40-42 ⁴⁰ [If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers,] with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; ⁴¹ And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: ⁴² Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

A.W. Tozer said in his book, Born After Midnight:

“The scriptural way to see things is to set the Lord always before us, put Christ in the center of our vision, and if Satan is lurking around, he will appear on the margin only and be seen as but a shadow on the edge of the brightness. It is always wrong to reverse this — to set Satan in the focus of our vision and push God out to the margin. Nothing but tragedy can come of such inversion … The best way to keep the enemy out is to keep Christ in … It is not the praying sheep Satan fears, but the presence of the shepherd.”

What manifestations of familiar spirits in operation look like:

Disruption: an inappropriate disturbance or eruption that interrupts normal and common plans and programs.

— Interruptive behavior: sometimes described as going from 0 to 100 - To increase explosively in intensity. To shift from a calm state to an agitated state in a very short amount of time.

These spirits sometimes manifest to draw attention away from something of GREATER IMPORTANCE.

Acts 16:16-20 ¹⁶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: ¹⁷ The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. ¹⁸ And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. ¹⁹ And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, ²⁰ And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.

Early Spiritual Experience

52-0713A · Hammond, Indiana

27 …Notice. There they was all muddled up in their doctrine. And devils out here, fortunetellers was the only ones…Them was the o-…not the only ones, but ones that was recognizing Him to be what He was, and recognizing the apostles to be what they were, men of God. Fortunetellers and devils…

So Paul turned around and rebuked that spirit of divination from the woman; she couldn’t tell no more fortunes. He didn’t need the devil to testify who he was. He knowed who he was. He was God’s saint. He didn’t need the devils help. But the devil was telling the truth about him anyhow. Jesus told that devil, said, “Hold your peace, but come out of him.” Yes, sir. He didn’t need the devils help, but the devil was screaming…

Hindrance: a resistance that causes delay, a barrier, or obstruction to slow progress — An unusual (out-of-the-ordinary for most people) tendency in a person’s life to seemingly attract hindrances and conflict
Hindering spirits: (which includes familiar spirits work to steal, kill and destroy by thwarting your progress toward a goal or destination. They seek to prevent you from moving forward by keeping you locked in your familiar past. They delay, impede, hamper, and hold you back in various facets of life, most importantly in your Spiritual Growth!

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 ¹⁷ But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. ¹⁸ Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

Perseverance

62-0218 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

326 Let’s pray now for these cloths here. Our Heavenly Father, they taken from the body of Saint Paul, handkerchiefs, or aprons, and It said that “Unclean spirits went from them.” We realize that we’re not Saint Paul, but we know that You’re still the same Jesus, for You’re just as much alive today as You was in the days of Saint Paul. I pray for these requests, Lord, that these handkerchiefs represents. Little cloths and handkerchiefs, and little boots for babies. God, I pray that You’ll grant it.

327 We’re taught that Israel was on its march to the promised land, a great Pillar of Fire went before them, a prophet represented them, represented God, for them on earth. And they…this prophet led them out to the Dead Sea, and it shut off the road. There was something in the way while they were walking in the line of duty. God looked down out of the Heavens through that Pillar of Fire, and the sea got scared, and it rolled back and opened up the road right through the sea, for Israel to go on on the path of duty, and they went to the promised land.

328 God, when these handkerchiefs are laid upon the sick and the afflicted…Satan has crossed their line, he’s hindering them from the path of duty. Let the Power that raised up our Lord, Who’s present now, come upon these handkerchiefs. And, whenever they touch the sick, may the devil get scared, while He looks down through the Blood of Jesus Christ, and may every one of them be healed and continue on in the path of duty. Grant it, Lord. We thank You. Your Presence is here. Oh, this glorious anointing of Your Spirit that shakes we mortal beings, Lord. How we thank You for Your goodness! Bless these now, in Jesus’ Name.

We Would See Jesus

62-0712 · Spokane, Washington

20 What if there was a stalk of corn growing and a chunk was laying on it? It’d grow crooked. Pick up, move every obstacle that’s hindering that, and the— -and the sun that it’s sticking up towards, it’ll finally grow that stalk of corn right out straight again. Cast out an evil spirit, then the people say, “Well, wasn’t nothing happened to me.” You— -you grow right back straight. If you believe that, and know that something happened to you, there’s nothing to keep you from straightening right back again. You just hold on to it…

21 And as sure as the S-o-n, Who controls all Eternal Life, if it strikes that germitized, predestinated seed, something happens. It takes a hold, and there it holds there, twists its way through every obstacle there is. Finally it sticks its head up and said, “Praise God, I knew it was so.” That’s it. That’s faith. Believe it. Don’t just make-believe; be a believer, genuine…

These spirits will anoint people as frustrators of purpose to stand in your way and block your progress:

Ezra 4:4-5 (AMP) ⁴ Then [the Samaritans] the people of the land [continually] weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled and terrified them in building ⁵ And hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose and plans all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius [II] king of Persia.

Manipulation: to control or play upon by artful, unfair or insidious means, especially to one’s own advantage, to gain power or influence over someone. Someone influenced by a manipulative spirit will turn everything you are doing (and worked hard to do) **upside down for his or her own personal benefit. **

Spirits of Manipulation like to use tools to their advantage:

Disrespect: When the Manipulator senses any sort of disagreement or eroding influence, he or she will also accuse the target, hoping to gain control and influence with the one who made the original complaint.
Gossip: The person under the spirit of manipulation will often help to spread rumors about the target, hoping to find someone who will agree with them, therefore gaining influence over those already struggling with authority.
Guilt: These spirits will often anoint people to attack you for not doing enough while blaming you for their own slackness. Guilt is often the tool of choice to force another person to forsake their own vision to take up someone else’s.

Proverbs 26:24-25 ²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; ²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Proverbs 26:24-25 (CJB) ²⁴ He who hates may hide it with his speech; but inside, he harbors deceit. ²⁵ He may speak pleasantly, but don’t trust him; for seven abominations are in his heart.

Who Do You Say This Is?

64-1227 · Phoenix, Arizona

172 …What happened? Methodists…all down through the ages…Zwingli, Finley, Finney, all of the rest of them, when they had a revival, what did they do with it? Throwed it right into a denominational feast, and crawled in with the rest of them, put a brand on you like the rest of them. Then you got a bunch of man controlling you. The Holy Spirit can’t move no farther. That’s exactly. You start to preach something the Bible teaches, like it, and the denomination don’t believe that; put you right out. Try it once and see if it’s right or not. You’ll see that it’s the Truth. See, at denominational feast every time they’re called to it, that Balaam feast, trouble sets in. Oh, Luther, Wesley, Pentecost, and all of them are victims of it.

The Unity Of One God In The One Church

58-1221E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

99 But, the working of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God in you! God sets on the throne of your heart, in His control room, controlling your emotions, and controlling your powers, controlling your conceptions, and making you one with Him, in fellowship and in love. And God fills you with love. He fills you with power. He fills you with the Spirit. He fills you with His Own Divine nature, and He changes your carnal nature into His nature. Then, in this, you become a new creation in Christ.

Confusion: to bring disorientation, bewilderment, turbulence and turmoil, bringing upheaval and chaos- leaving others unsure and unable to process or proceed**
Intimidation: to frighten or threaten someone in order to persuade**
Coercion: to persuade by using force or threats- to apply pressure by bullying or belittling someone, verbally tearing down their own esteem**
Impulsive: making decisions and acting without thinking or forethought, often making unnecessary and dangerous haste, inappropriately blurting out your thoughts, or not taking time to carefully consider an answer- so lying becomes first nature- even when it is far from necessary, binging on eating, gambling, or shopping etc.**
Consistent conflict with God-given authority: an inability to cope with other’s influence over you, a problem taking advice, a fear of being a “follower,” almost always stemming from past painful experiences**
Rebellion: opposition and defiance toward rules and or overseers, carry a sense of mistreatment and that life is unfair- this often comes from comparing their life with someone else’s, and this manifests with stubbornness and resistance to change**
Selfish ambition: focusing on one’s own self-personal wants and desires while trying to get ahead of others, manipulating others while focusing on what we can gain and profit, stepping on others to get ahead.**

Confusion: To bring disorientation, bewilderment, turbulence and turmoil, bringing upheaval and chaos- leaving others unsure and unable to process or proceed**

Deuteronomy 28:19-20 ¹⁹ Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. ²⁰ The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

Deuteronomy 28:19-20 (AMP) ¹⁹ Cursed shall you be when you come in and cursed shall you be when you go out. ²⁰ The Lord shall send you curses, confusion, and rebuke in every enterprise to which you set your hand, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your doings by which you have forsaken me [Moses and God as one].

1 Corinthians 14:33 ³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

In the original Greek language (GK181) the 1 Corinthians 14:33 word confusion means instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion. An unsettled state of affairs.

So, we can affirm the verse to mean:

God is not the author of … instability.
God is not the author of … disorder.
God is not the author of … disturbance.

The word here for PEACE (GK1515) means harmony, order, undisturbed, prosperity, and wellness, a state of concord and well-being.

The Angel Of The Lord

53-0604 · Connersville, Indiana

10 Hebrews 11:2 said God testifies of His gifts. A man can say most anything, and I will admit that there’s been much said in the Name of the Lord that is not of the Lord. But God would never testify or a vindicate a lie. God will always vindicate truth and never a lie. God is not an author of lies and confusion. He’s the Author of peace, and truth, and holiness, and righteousness, peace. God always testifies of the truth.

And if someone comes by and says Jesus is—has rose from the dead and has sent back the Holy Spirit, and you never heard it, and then He speaks the Gospel; you accept Christ as personal Saviour; and the Holy Spirit comes upon you and proves that It’s the same Holy Spirit that fell on the day of Pentecost, you have no right to doubt that man; he’s told you the truth. That’s right, ‘cause God has vindicated it with His Word.

Adoption #2

60-0518 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

199 The Bible said the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophet. God is no author of confusion. When I’m standing here, or a minister here under the anointing of God, no matter how much you want to speak with tongues, you hold your peace till God’s finished here. Then if you speak with tongues, it can’t be just some repeating of Scripture, ‘cause God said don’t use vain repetition. But it’s a message directly to somebody. Ask me one time, put your finger on one time that the Holy Spirit ever, under the discernment, told somebody, repeated a Scripture over and over. It told them something that was wrong with them and something that they had done, and something that they must do or something had to happen, or something like that. Is that right?

200 So is speaking in tongues and interpretation! If there’s one in the church that speaks with tongues, and another interpret it, let it say this: Let Brother Neville raise up and speak with tongues, and this brother here give the interpretation, say, “Tell this man here that yesterday he went out here and done something he oughtn’t to have done. Now the doctor told him today he had cancer. Go make that thing right, come back here and get right with God.” The man say, “Truly, that’s the truth.” Then God’s with you.

The Voice Of God In This Last Days

63-0120M · Phoenix, Arizona

26 And, today, one reason that the church is in the condition that it’s in, is because there is so many voices, so many other voices to attract the church from the Voice of God, till it’s very doubtful that many would hear the Voice of God though It spoke right in their midst. They perhaps wouldn’t even understand It, because It would be a foreign thing to them. They have got themselves so much centered on the voices of the day!

27 And if we notice, in our Scripture reading, that the Voice of God was foreign to them.

28 And it’s become that way again today, that the Voice of God…There is so many other voices. And then if God promised He would give us That, and if other voices are contrary to the Voice of God, then it must be the voice of our enemy, to confuse us, that we would not understand the Voice of God when It spoke.

Intimidation and Coercion

— Intimidation: Intimidation is the act of making someone else timid or fearful by real or implied threats; to frighten or threaten someone in order to persuade

Coercion: To persuade by using force or threats- to apply pressure by bullying or belittling someone, verbally tearing down their own esteem**

Bullies use intimidation to force their victims to do what they want them to do. The word timid is in the middle of intimidation and aptly describes the state of nervousness caused by a particular person. However, intimidation is not always the result of a person’s actions. Situations also have the power to create intimidation.

Some people are especially predisposed to be easily intimidated and are quickly paralyzed by fear while constantly blaming the other person of bullying them. Either of these manifestations can be a sign of a demonic presence.

2 Timothy 1:7 ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

John 12:42 ⁴² Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Intimidation will cause us to focus on the “source of intimidation” instead of Jesus who gives us victory over the intimidation!

Israel’s attention was on the “giant” instead of the “giant killer.”

The more they focused on the giants, the bigger the giants got. Their focus was an insult to God. He could part the “Red Sea” but could not defeat the giant. We must take our eyes off of that which is intimidating us and place our eyes on God.

Psalm 56 1-11 (AMP) ¹ BE MERCIFUL and gracious to me, O God, for man would trample me or devour me; all the day long the adversary oppresses me. ² They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up or trample me all day long, for they are many who fight against me, O Most High! ³ What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. ⁴ By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me? ⁵ All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt. ⁶ They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, even as they have [expectantly] waited for my life. ⁷ They think to escape with iniquity, and shall they? In Your indignation bring down the peoples, O God. ⁸ You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle—are they not in Your book? ⁹ Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. ¹⁰ In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, ¹¹ In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Israel And The Church #4

53-0328 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

25 The greatest thing that I find against the church tonight, is fear, everybody is scared to death about something. What are you scared about? If a man’s borned again, he should be happy, carefree…

1 John 4:18 (AMP) ¹⁸ There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].

The Greatest Battle Ever Fought

62-0311 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

110 There’s your battleground. Your battleground is back here at the beginning, back here in the soul, back in your mind that opens. The—the mind is the gate to the soul, the gate to the spirit, rather. Your mind opens up and accepts the spirit, or it rejects the spirit. You can have little consciences, and little feelings, and little sensations, all these things. That has nothing to do with it. That’s just little sensations and things. [But when it comes to reality, your mind opens it up. Your mind either accepts it or rejects it.] That’s it, friends. God, let none of them miss it.

111 [See, it’s your mind that opens up the door; or closes the door, and listens to your conscience, listens to your memory, listens to your affections**. **] But when your mind closes itself to these things, and let God, the Spirit of His Word, come in, It blows the rest of the stuff out. Every doubt is gone. Every fear is gone. Every sensation of doubt is gone. Every feeling is gone. There’s nothing standing there but the Word of God, and Satan cannot battle against That. No, sir. He cannot battle against It. Now, we know that’s true.

Impulsive: making decisions and acting without thinking or forethought, often making unnecessary and dangerous haste, inappropriately blurting out your thoughts, or not taking time to carefully consider an answer- so lying becomes first nature- even when it is far from necessary, binging on eating, gambling, or shopping etc.**

One of the marks of maturity is the recognition that just because an idea seems right and feels exciting in the moment we first conceive it, this is not necessarily a green light to immediately pursue that particular course of action. Mature people learn over time that their first impressions are not always right; their strongest instincts cannot always be trusted

Isaiah 28:16 ¹⁶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:16 (AMP) ¹⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].*

Proverbs 19:2 ² Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Proverbs 19:2 (AMP) ² Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.

Proverbs 28:22 ²² He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Psalm 27:14 ¹⁴ Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Isaiah 40:31 (AMP) ³¹ But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

57-0127E · Lima, Ohio

25 … Then what taken place? Here comes the prophet up with the mother, her eyes right on him, and look what a condition it is. The neighbors was screaming and a wailing. And a heart broken, father screaming out in the street, “Oh, my boy, my boy,” all tore up. The prophet just goes to his own little chamber and closes the door behind him. Looked laying there on the bed, there laid the little stiff, cold form of the baby, dead several hours. And the prophet walked back-and-forth, to-and-fro, up-and-down in the room. I just love that. Just walking to-and-fro, waiting on the Lord. “He that waits upon the Lord shall renew his strength; he will mount up like an eagle; he will run and not be weary; he will walk and not faint.”

26 And he walked to-and-fro, waiting on the Lord. After a bit something must have struck the prophet, when he knowed the Holy Spirit was on his body, he ran to the child, put his hands on its hands, put his nose against its nose. And the baby sneezed seven times and come to life; outside they went. What a happy home…

Identification

64-0216 · Tulare, California

201 Now sometimes faith is unknown to you; you got it, and you don’t know it. If you try to push yourself into something, you miss it, you go over the top of it. It’s so humble and simple, see. “And He is the High Priest that can be touched by our infirmities.” Then, if you touched Him, He would act like He did before. Is that right? [Congregation says, “Amen."—Ed.] Now watch.

Marriage And Divorce

65-0221M · Jeffersonville, Indiana

284 This is an awful strong thing, I didn’t know how to bring it out. What will I do, when I got men and women sitting in my congregation, some of them has been married twice or three times? Good men and good women, all mixed up! What done it? False teaching, exactly, not waiting on the Lord.

285 “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” Not what man joined together; what “God” joined together! When you’ve got a direct revelation from God, that’s your wife, and the same thing, that’s yours, the rest of your life. See? But what man joins together, anybody can put apart. But what God joins together, no man better dare to touch it. “Whatsoever God joins together,” He said, “let no man put asunder.” Not what some half-drunk magistrate or something else put together, or some backslidden preacher with a bunch of creeds in a book, that would let them do anything in the world, and the Word of God laying right there. See? I’m talking about what God joined together.

Waiting on the Lord

The Message Of Grace

61-0827 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

44 We just got through the Seven Church Ages, and learning that we’re in the last and Laodicean Church Age, when the church would be indifferent, get cold, denominate, and be organized; organizations would take it over, eat it up. But a promise that there would be a little remnant left. There would be a Church that would be scattered abroad everywhere, but God would gather It together and rapture It into Glory; a little sanctified group somewhere, waiting on the Lord.

Authority Issues: Consistent conflict with God-given authority, an inability to cope with other’s influence over you, a problem taking advice, a fear of being a “follower " - almost always stemming from past painful experiences, always expressing a lack of trust in leadership and often dropping subtle hints that reflect negatively on a Pastor or leader.**

Hebrews 13:7-8 ⁷ Remember** them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Remember: to remember, keep in mind, think of, also—w. focus on the dramatic aspect of remembrance—to mention., to exercise memory, to recollect, also to rehearse

Hebrews 13:7-8 (AMP) ⁷Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). ⁸ Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).

Hebrews 13:17-18 ¹⁷ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18^{Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.}

Hebrews 13:17-18 (AMP) ¹⁷ Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either]. ¹⁸ Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things.

Obey: (GK3982) To let your heart be convinced, To put trust in, to rely on, to have confidence in, to place hope in, TAKING ADVICE, to yield belief in, to listen to, to aspire to the favor of**

Submit: (GK5226) withdraw, give way to’, to yield to someone’s authority, yield, give way, submit, to be submissive, to surrender*

Watch: (GK69) To lose sleep, to be AWAKE, to WATCH and to be WATCHFUL, To be vigilant in awareness of threatening peril, to be alert.

1 Timothy 5:17-22 ¹⁷ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. ¹⁸ For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. ¹⁹ Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. ²¹ I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. ²² Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

1 Timothy 5:17-20 (AMP) ⁷ Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire. ¹⁹ Listen to no accusation [presented before a judge] against an elder unless it is confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁰ As for those who are guilty and persist in sin, rebuke and admonish them in the presence of all, so that the rest may be warned and stand in wholesome awe and fear.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 ¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. ¹² And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ¹³ And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. ¹⁵ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 (AMP) ¹¹ Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. ¹² Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. ¹³ And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper]. ¹⁵ See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.

Questions And Answers (Law Having A Shadow)

54-0516 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

14 We believe in church government. And the government is ordered of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The pastor is always the head of the church, the pastor is always. That’s God’s elder. In organizations, you have to come through the bishop. Now, the Bible…there’s no higher order in the Bible than the elder of the church. Just tell me where it’s at. There’s no higher order in the Bible for the church than the elder, which is the pastor. He’s the highest order of the Bible.

Hebrews, Chapter Seven #2

57-0922E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

282 But the full and complete authority of the church is the pastor. Read that in the Bible, see if that’s not Bible order. That’s exactly right. There is no one above the elder. I have nothing to do with what Brother Neville does here. That’s up to you and Brother Neville.

Christ Is The Mystery Of God Revealed

63-0728 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

81 And stay with your pastor. See, he’s the shepherd, and you give him respects. He’ll lead you through, and, ‘cause he’s ordained of God to do so.

God Doesn ’t Call Man To Judgment Without First Warning Him

63-0724 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

104 But, you see, in the church there is the pastor, and that pastor is a special person. He’s built to where he can—he can put up with the fusses of the people. He—he—he’s a burden-bearer, he’s the ox of the team. He—he’s a man that can sit down when the…somebody’s got something against somebody else, and sit down with them two families (and take neither side) and reason it out and bring it right back into sweetness. See? He—he’s a pastor, he knows how to take care of things.

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 ¹⁴ I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. ¹⁵ For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶ Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 AMP ¹⁴ I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel). ¹⁶ So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.

1 Peter 5:5-6 ⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

1 Peter 5:5-6 (AMP) ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)— [giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)— [and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.

Rebellion: Opposition and defiance toward rules and or overseers, carry a sense of mistreatment and that life is unfair- this often comes from comparing their life with someone else’s, and this manifests with stubbornness and resistance to change—chronic divisiveness.

1 Samuel 15:23 ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Titus 3:9-10 ⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. ¹⁰ A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Titus 3:9-10 (AMP) ⁹ But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. ¹⁰ [As for] a man who is factious [a heretical sectarian and cause of divisions], after admonishing him a first and second time, reject [him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him].

Selfish Ambition: Focusing on one’s own self-personal wants and desires while trying to get ahead of others, manipulating others while focusing on what we can gain and profit, stepping on others to get ahead.**

2 Timothy 1:7 ⁷For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV+SLS) ⁷For God hath not given us the spirit of FEAR (timidity, cowardice, dread); but of POWER (dunamis), and of LOVE (agape), and of a SOUND MIND (discipline, self-control).

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Timidity: The state or quality of lacking self-assurance, courage, or bravery. Timidity is often a paralyzing fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions and changes.

Deuteronomy 20:8 ⁸And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart.

Galatians 5:22-23 ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Meekness: meekness, gentleness, mildness, by implication humility

Hebrews, Chapter Six #2

57-0908E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

495 There’s not one thing left in the Bible, as “evidence of the Holy Ghost,” only the fruits of the Spirit. Find out any place that Jesus said so. Yes, sir. The evidence of the Holy Ghost is the fruit of your Spirit. Jesus said so, “By their fruit you shall know them.” “And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, peace, gentleness, meekness. And the fruit of the enemy is enmity, hatred, malice, strife, and so forth; that’s the fruit of the enemy.” So, you can judge by the way you’re living, where you’re standing with God. If your whole heart is in love with Him, and you love Him and are gentle, and live with Him daily, you know you’ve passed from death unto Life. If it isn’t, and you’re otherwise, you’re just impersonating a Christian. That’s right. Which, all carnal impersonations will certainly be exposed. We know that.

Colossians 3:12-13 ¹²Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Ephesians 4:1-2 ¹I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ²With all LOWLINESS and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Lowliness: humility, humbleness of mind, lowliness of mind, the having a humble opinion of one’s self; a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of mind

Adoption #2

60-0518 · 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.

Intimidation: Intimidation is the act of making someone else timid > or fearful by real or implied threats; to frighten or threaten > someone in order to persuade. Intimidation occurs when you feel a > person or a situation you are dealing with is stronger, bigger, and > more powerful than you. > > Intimidation always evokes a sense of inferiority. Other > characteristics include: filling with fear, coercing or inhibiting by > threats, browbeating, bulldozing, or frightening into submission, and > leveling any spirit of opposition by creating a paralyzing and > immobilizing fear or panic.

Coercion: to persuade by using force or threats—is applying > pressure by bullying or belittling someone or verbally tearing down > their own esteem.** It is generally understood as compelling someone > to act contrary to their will through threats, force, or manipulation.

1 Peter 5:8 ⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8 ⁸Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (J.B. Rotherham’s Emphasized version) ⁸Be sober! be watchful! Your slanderous adversary, as a roaring lion, is walking about - seeking to devour:

Sober: discreet, self-controlled, to watch and be calm and collected in spirit; to be temperate, circumspect. To govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance, modesty, and mortification. Cares will intoxicate the soul; therefore, be sober.
Vigilant: Watch, to keep awake, metaphorically, give strict attention to, be cautious, active, watchful; to take heed lest through remission and carelessness some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one.
About: To prowl around without discipline,** to rove**, to go here and there,** to surround, encompass, or coming from all angles.
Devour: to drink, to swallow, gulp down, to engulf, submerge, drown, overwhelm, to waste, to destroy completely, to annihilate

Galatians 5:15-16 (AMP) ¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another. ¹⁶But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

Presuming

62-0408 · Cleveland, Tennessee

22 Joshua, Caleb, stilled the people. They said, “We can’t take it, we just can’t do it. That’s all.” See, they were looking at the Amalekites. Joshua and Caleb was looking at the promise. That’s the difference. Depends on what you’re looking at. Joshua said, “We’re more than able to do it. We’re more than able. Why,” said, “they’re only bread for us. Why, they look great. They are great. But we’ll have great bread.” Said, “God gave us the promise, and the fear of us is upon every one of them. Yet they different with us; yet they’re scared of us.” Sure. Said, “The fear—fear of the Lord’s upon every one of them. They’re scared to death of us.” Said, “Let’s go take it. God give it to us, so it’s ours. Let’s move on and take it.”

1 Samuel 17:10-11 ¹⁰And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. ¹¹When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

Three Kinds Of Believers

63-1124E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

80 And Goliath, many times larger than he was; great big fellow, fourteen-inch fingers on him. Now, the fingers would be that long, see, fourteen-inch fingers, a warrior. And probably the coat of mail that he had on him, probably weighed three hundred pounds, or more, see, that he had on him. A helmet, and a great…probably the metal a inch-and-a-half thick. A great big giant like that, walking with a—with a weaver’s needle which is claimed to be around twenty feet. He had a twenty-foot spear in his hand. Now how could anyone…A man like that could just stand and pick up a dozen man, and throw them like that, as they come up. What an opposition!

1 Samuel 17:26 ²⁶And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

What Is That In Your Hand?

55-1120 · San Fernando, California

63 Picked up these five stones, places one in there…Why, this great big boasting infidel walked out there and cursed him in the name of his idol, cursed David. “Why,” said, “I’ll take you on the end of my spear,” which it was like a weaver’s needle, longer than one of them middle tent poles. And he said, “I’ll take you on the end of this spear…” Little old boy weighed about one hundred and ten pounds, kind of scrawny, draw—drawed in, little old fellow, maybe didn’t get too much to eat back on the backside of the desert, but he stayed with God. It’s the main thing. “Picked him up on…” Said, “I’ll pick you up on the end of this, and I’ll hold you up and let the birds eat your flesh this day.” Watch what David said. David said, “You come to me as a Philistine with an armor, and with a spear, and in the names of your god,” but said, “I come to you in the Name of the Lord God of Israel. This day I’ll cut your head off, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds.”

Preparation

53-1111 · Owensboro, Kentucky

82 … Why, old Goliath was covered all over with steel, all up-and-down like that, just one little spot. And here he comes across to meet him. A little bitty fellow about like this, and Goliath about like that standing there with his spear ready to pick him up and hang him up on a tree somewhere…Here come little David just a bouncing in the Spirit, “Ha, ha, ha.” Oh, what a holy-roller. Victory already…Hallelujah. Why, he placed the Name of The Lord God of Israel before him. All devils in hell couldn’t wade across that. Little David just a dancing in the spirit…Oh glory. Hallelujah.

Preparation

53-1111 · Owensboro, Kentucky

84 And here he went up there just a dancing in the Spirit as hard as he could. Why? By faith he saw the victory. Amen. He saw the victory.

He took his little old sling in there, one of these stones, and he give a dance and here he comes, coming around. Oh, I see Goliath saying, “Ho, ho, ho, ho.”

What was it? He had five stones: F-a-i-t-h in five fingers wrapped, this string around J-e-s-u-s. Here he comes. Oh, brother. Look out, Goliath. You got to fall.

And when he set that loose, the Holy Ghost got a hold of that little old stone and picked up a speed about a thousand miles per second, struck that giant between the face and he fell forward. Hallelujah. Oh, my…

Hebrews 2:15 (AMP) ¹⁵And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.

Selfish Ambition: focusing on one’s own self-personal wants and desires while trying to get ahead of others, manipulating others while focusing on what we can gain and profit, stepping on others to get ahead. Selfishness is not just about how we act. It can also be what we don’t do, like leaving the mess for someone else to clean up. It also comes across in our words when we speak our mind without considering the effect our words might have on others or when we talk too much.**
Selfishness is an attitude issue. For example, you may let others > have their way, but inside you become resentful and bitter. When you > don’t get what we want, or when others get the credit, you whine or > pout.**

Isaiah 14:12-14 ¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Achan yielded to selfishness and concern only for “me and mine” with no concern for others with similar needs and opportunities. Achan was self-promoting and possessive without regard for directions given by the leadership. He was a loner with little accountability. He paid dearly for his selfishness.

James 3:14-16 (AMP) ¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.** ¹⁵This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).** ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

1 Corinthians 10:24 (AMP) ²⁴Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].

Philippians 2:3-4 (AMP) ³Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. ⁴Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.

Proverbs 18:1-2 (AMP) ¹HE WHO willfully separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment. ²A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.

Selfish ambition: focusing on one’s own self-personal wants and desires while trying to get ahead of others, manipulating others while focusing on what we can gain and profit, stepping on others to get ahead. Selfishness is not just about how we act. It can also be what we don’t do, like leaving the mess for someone else to clean up. It also comes across in our words when we speak our mind without considering the effect our words might have on others or when we talk too much.
Selfishness is an attitude issue. For example, you may let others have their way, but inside you become resentful and bitter. When you don’t get what we want, or when others get the credit, you whine or pout.

Proverbs 14:30 ³⁰A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Sound: (H4832) a healing, cure, health: CALMNESS and GENTLENESS; brings healing(1), composure(1), healing(8), incurable*(1), remedy(3), soothing(1), tranquil(1).
Envy: (7068) from an unused word; ardor, zeal, anger, rivalry or jealousy

Proverbs 14:30 (AMP) ³⁰A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (NAS2020) ³⁰A** tranquil heart is life to the body, But jealousy is** rottenness to the bones.

Although many people consider “envy” and “jealousy” synonymous, they actually have distinct meanings.

Envy:

Envy is the longing or painful feeling to have what someone else has, whether it be attributes or possessions.
Envy is the distress or resentment we feel when others have what we have not.
Envy feels like: “Ugh, I want that.”

James 3:14-16 ¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. ¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 3:14-16 AMP ¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. ¹⁵This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). ¹⁶For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

Jealousy:

If you’re jealous, you feel “threatened, protective, or fearful of losing one’s position or situation to someone else.”
To feel jealous means “to feel threatened, insecure, or protective of something you already have (especially in a romantic sense).”
Jealousy feels like: Back off, this is mine.
Jealousy is also very closely tied to a feeling of being ’less than

Jealousy is the sense of dread or suspicion we feel when what we have might be taken away. There is such a thing as godly jealousy but the Bible never speaks of envy in a good light.

2 Corinthians 11:2 ²For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 (AMP) ²For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Unlike envy, jealousy is more of a three-person emotion. It’s stoked when you feel the threat of losing someone or something you have to another person.

Jealousy can feel like a cocktail of anxiety and betrayal, spiked with a dash of sadness and anger, she adds. Whether the threat is real or perceived, when you think someone you love might replace you with someone else, you’ll feel jealousy.

The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride

64-0802 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

88 You can’t repent for what Adam done. You never done it; Adam did. You just get forgiveness for what you done. The old nature is still there.

89 Let me take this board just a minute. [Brother Branham draws illustrations on the blackboard—Ed.] Now, here is a human heart. Now, I’m not…I’m a long ways from being an artist. Here is a human heart; and here is a human heart. Now, this one over here has a snake in it, that’s sin, here he has his life. This one over here has a dove in it, which is the Holy Spirit, here he has a Life. Well, this one here, he has malice, hatred, envy; that’s what’s causing it, is this fellow here. Well, this one over here has love, and joy, and longsuffering; and That’s what does it, down here.

90 Now, when you are asked, or you are forgiven of your sins, you’ve only done this, taken that away. But the thing that made you do it is still there. That’s the old root of evil; it’s still there. Notice, then you repent and are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, that He forgave you of your sins. Notice.

91 Then, secondly, comes sanctification, which sets our mind in order for holiness, to think right. Taken away…sanctification is a compound Greek word, which means “cleaned, and set aside for service.”

92 Then, the next, comes the baptism of the Fire and Holy Ghost, that God might dwell in us. And the Fire of God cleanses our hearts from sin, and puts the Holy Ghost inside. Then we bring forth the same Life that This did, because That’s in us.

The Lamb And The Dove

57-0325 · Oakland, California

10 … A person that would impersonate something is the most miserable person that I would know of. Isn’t it much better just to be yourself? As Congressman Upshaw used to say, “Don’t try to be nothing that you hain’t.” Well, that’s pretty good. Don’t try to be nothing that you are not. Just be yourself. And then, if you want to be a Christian, just ask Christ. He will take your old nature out, put a new nature in; then you don’t have to impersonate anything; it’s just your normal life that you’re living.

And as long as you got malice, envy, strife, all these things of the world, then you know Christ isn’t in there. The Bible said, “If you love the world, or the things of the world, the love of God’s not even in you.” See, ‘cause the Life of God isn’t in you**. The Life is in there, it just produces itself; it just lives its way out.**

The Uncertain Sound

60-1218 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

42 And yet, the man, somewhere down in him, somewhere in him, if he could only let that little…As I illustrated it, like a button. When a man is saved, that much of him is God. That’s the little Light that comes in, to make him quit doing what’s wrong. Now, if you can take all the malice and envy, and strife and unbelief, out, that little button-like of the Light and Power of God will keep growing, growing, growing, growing, crowding out unbelief. And you don’t do it by exhortations of—of bodily exercise. You do it by a sanctified, consecrated Life that the Holy Spirit moves through you. I caught some of It in a place, where, not long ago.

Christ Is The Mystery Of God Revealed

63-0728 Jeffersonville, Indiana

86 If the brother, you think he’s a little wrong, or the sister, say, “Lord, don’t let me never have the root of bitterness spring up, ‘cause it’ll—it’ll affect him, and it’ll take the Christ right out of my life.” That poison acids of malice, and jealousy, and hatred, that will just take the Holy Spirit right away from you. It will run Him from the tabernacle here. It’ll kill the Spirit of God, or drive It away from here, hurt your pastor. It’ll do everything. See? Don’t you do that.

87 You just wax that much closer together. Draw up the…Take the buckle, as the brother testified, a minister here the other night, about having a buckle, seeing it in a vision. Just, that buckles on the whole armor of God. Just pull her on, tighten up, move right up close to one another. Love one another, anyhow. Talk nice about one another, say nice things about one another, and then God will bless you.

Does God Ever Change His Mind About His Word?

65-0418E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

90 Notice, and it’s always caused the natural to hate the spiritual. It caused Cain to hate Abel. It caused Korah to hate Moses. It caused Judas to hate Jesus. And on and on it goes. It causes the natural to hate the spiritual, just as Cain at the beginning hated Abel, the one that God received the sacrifice from, and tries to destroy them.

Even they try to destroy the influence. They try to destroy everything, because it’s nothing but jealousy. It started in Cain and proved that it was jealousy, and it’s still the same thing today when the natural (the carnal) and the spiritual meet together. It proves it’s Satan, no other way, because jealousy comes from Satan. And then causes an impersonation of the Truth, somebody to try to impersonate something that isn’t, they are not ordained to do. How much of that have we seen in this last days! Oh, my, how much of it!

Jehovah-Jireh #2

64-0403 · Louisville, Mississippi

50 And we know that every seed, or promise of God, will bring forth of its kind, what it promised, if it strikes the li-…right ground, the ground that’s prepared, ready; all the—the rocks has been thrown out, and the roots, and the bitterness, and selfishness, and indifference, and jealousy, has all been grubbed out; that root of bitterness that springs up, that sometimes so spoils the thing that God is trying to do. We pray, God, that that won’t be among us, but that the good Word will find good ground in these.

New Hope Revival Ministries

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 6 · The Thyatirean Church Age

The Oneness Of Unity

58-0128 · Waterloo, Iowa

Being Led Of The Holy Spirit

56-0219 · Minneapolis, Minnesota

Time-Tested Faith

58-0530 · New York, New York

Demonology

53-1120 · Evansville, Indiana

The Evening Messenger

63-0116 · Mesa, Arizona

Father, The Hour Has Come

56-1002A · Chicago, Illinois

The Second Seal

63-0319 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

God’s Way That’s Been Made For Us

52-0900 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

The Invasion Of The United States

54-0509 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

How The Angel Came To Me, And His Commission

55-0117 · Chicago, Illinois

The Seal Of The Antichrist

55-0311 · Los Angeles, California

Enticing Spirits

55-0724 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

The God Of This Evil Age

65-0801M · Jeffersonville, Indiana

Discerning The Body Of The Lord

59-0812 · Chautauqua, Ohio

Pardon

63-1028 · Tucson, Arizona

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 9 · The Laodicean Church Age

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 9 · The Laodicean Church Age

Power Of Transformation

65-1031M · Prescott, Arizona

Turn On The Light

64-0125 Phoenix, Arizona

The Seed Is Not Heir With The Shuck

65-0218 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chpater 10 · A Resume of the Ages

God’s Provided Way

53-0613 · Connersville, Indiana

The Flashing Red Light Of The Sign Of His Coming

63-0623E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

Christ Is The Mystery Of God Revealed

63-0728 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

An Ensign

62-0119 · Phoenix, Arizona

Redeemer, Redemption

55-1119 · San Fernando, California

Identification

64-0216 · Tulare, California

The God Who Is Rich In Mercy

65-0119 · Phoenix, Arizona

Hear Ye Him

57-0807 · Alberta, Canada

The Laodicean Church Age

60-1211E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

The Laodicean Church Age

60-1211E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

Why Little Bethlehem?

58-1228 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

Handwriting On The Wall

58-0618 · Greenville, South Carolina

The Masterpiece

64-0705 · Jeffersonville, Indiana

God Commissioning Moses

53-0508 · Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hear Ye Him

56-1215 · Parkersburg, West Virginia

The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

58-0928M · Jeffersonville, Indiana

Hebrews, Chapter Seven #1

57-0915E · Jeffersonville, Indiana

Early Spiritual Experience