Expectations
51-0507, Expectations, Calvary Temple, Los Angeles, CA, 41 min




Brother was just giving the testimonies of everything happening. And--and Brother Hall just wanted to bring the x-rays to show me that he was healed and so many talking about great things. And today he was reading letters that, oh, my, it just stirred my heart. The mail's so heavy, it'll take me a week to get through it. So I'm happy to hear those wonderful testimonies.

How many's been healed in the meeting, let's see your--been healed by Divine healing? Let's see your hands in the meeting. Oh my, just look. Some of them crippled, been people blind, and deaf, dumb, and in chairs, crippled up, paralyzed. How our Lord has worked with us in great, marvelous ways, and how happy and thankful we are for that tonight.

No one knows this man of course. This is Congressman Upshaw. He--He... Was talking to him back there and I have--was just thinking... I could... Tonight seem like that God put it upon my heart tonight to come and maybe just before going to Africa... I would like to have my farewell meeting, maybe at my hometown in Jeffersonville.

I don't know whether they--they--whether I could get that at that time or not. It seats several thousand people, and I would be happy to do it. If it is, I'll have it announced in papers and things. And if you're vacation is that time; I wished I could say I'd pay your way up there, but I'll take up a offering and do the best I can. If I take up an offering... I never took one in my life. So I might be easier to almost have hitch-hike if you take my offering.

I told my wife... We got in one of those places where we couldn't make ends meet, you know. And I said, "I'm going to take an offering tonight. "
She said, "I'm going to set right down in front and watch you." And so, we was just had a tough time. We almost had to do it.
I thought, "Well, I just can't make that. I just got to do it." I never did take an offering in my church, so I... Not because they wouldn't give it to me, 'cause they would, but I just... I was big enough to work, so... I'd... Right now...

When a man gets to a place, he just has to scream, and cry, and carry on, and think so much of money, he forgets God; he's gone. That's all there is to it. That's right.

I married a little old fat girl up there I love with all my heart. I've never seen a woman to take her place. So I know as long as I stay a Christian, I'll feel that same way. That's exact.

So it should be that way. God knows what's best. That--that's true. And you have to watch that. Satan sure throws it out there, awful flowerly. But if we just stay under the Blood, and you pray that I will. Now remember, I'm... I could fall, but if you keep praying for me and God keeps loving me, I'll make it. And I believe if He prayed for me and I try my best, God will continue to love me then. So I'm... I pray for each one that way.


Many times a Christian has his hands laying on a sinner. He said, "A Christian man laid his hands on me and I got well." See? After all, it's the Lord Jesus that does the healing. See? It isn't who's doing the praying; it's Who's doing the healing and who's doing the believing. That's the main thing. It's your faith that heals you (See?), not mine, yours. And so there...
I like to have a night and let all my ministering brethren. come up and stand up and let the people come and pray for them. And when the anointing of the Holy Spirit's down, then let the people come through the line, and the ministers lay hands on them and--and... Oh, my. It gets the ministry before the public. [Psalms 103:1-3], [Isaiah 53:5]

The Bible said, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that you might be healed. If there's any sick among you let them call the elders." Now, we call them in our groups, we call them the deacons. See? The... "Let them call the elders of the church, let them anoint them in oil." It's not call the "elder" but "the elders," plural, two or three. Where two or three are gathered together and agree and pray (See?), that's the way to do it. And after all, we're here to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, His mercy and His goodness to us. And we're thankful for Him. [James 5:13-18]

So that will be the next meeting after Oregon, going up to--to Grant's Pass with our Brother Hall, where a people up there has went out and built a big tabernacle and we went up there in one meeting and almost, I think, almost paid for the thing, didn't we Brother Hall? Paid a whole lot on it in one meeting. See? And so then with the... We're going back again this time. I wish you all had them big tabernacles everywhere, just everywhere. You got one here in Los Angeles, and--and they should have them everywhere over the country, that when we can't get those auditoriums, there'd be big tabernacles open (You see?), like that.

And so this time it's in a tent. And we were out there today looking the place over, and it's a very nice place. And we--we hope we have a good meeting in there. Tell your neighbors down in that part of the country to come. Now, the Lord bless you each one.

And we got crossed up a little bit there, not he and I, but through some way a misunderstanding or of management getting the meetings together. They didn't understand either. But it might have been God's will for us to do this (You see?), that we--that we can see that we're brethren, and at the Angelus Temple and the other places where the meetings are going on.

I'm happy that Brother Kopp here throws his doors open for all of us to come in here at this--this temple. And the board of deacons and whoever, what the control is, management... I want to say another thing for our ushers and so forth that you got here. They're wonderful men. So happy for them.

Now, in the Book of St. Luke the 2nd chapter... I'm going to watch the clock and do my best. I talk too much. Mother said I talked before I walked. You know what the old saying is, "Your tongue's your ruin." That's right. Maybe that's right, but I'm talking for the Lord now.

Tomorrow night after the main line is--one of the lines are over, I'm going to have a ministerial night. I want all the cooperating pastors to get their place here and to set up here on the platform with me, while... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] ... group the people up, and--and let all the pastors be out here and along with them praying for them after the service and--that you all might see great signs and wonders to be done. Then Wednesday night is closing night.
Now, in... We read this way in the Word of God.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For my eyes have seen thy salvation,
[Luke 2:25-30]And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For my eyes have seen thy salvation,


Grant it, Lord, tonight that the doors of heaven will be pulled back and the Holy Spirit will take over full control. May our souls be flooded with such a rush that we'll forget all about being crippled or being sick, and just rise to the feet, glorifying God, taking Him at His promise, claiming His redemptive blessings. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.

There's been times where the church has got real low, but God has never been without a witness since the world began. He's always had somebody that He could put His finger on and say, "That's My servant. And I can send him anywhere I want him to go and he'll go." Aren't we happy for that? God's ministry... [Luke 2:25-30]


Besides all of his scholarships and all of his popularity, he had a humble heart before God, a receptive heart that God could deal with. And he had a testimony by that that he was going to see the Lord's Christ before he died. Think of it. [Luke 2:25-30]

Why, they'd say, "Simeon, why do you think that?"
"Because the Holy Ghost revealed it to me. And I'm not going to see death until I see the Lord's Christ. And I believe what He says is the truth." Amen. Oh, my. That'll get us feeling religious right away, won't it? [Luke 2:25-30]

Well, I'm a Pentecostal Baptist now, you know. So I got the Holy Ghost. So I--I--I... When the Holy Ghost comes in, He does the carrying on. I just help Him. Amen. I just act out the way He's feeling in me: rejoicing.

But he believed God. And he believed what the Holy Ghost said, it was the truth. And he expected to see Jesus be--or Christ before he saw death, because the Holy Ghost revealed it to him. [Luke 2:25-30]

If I told you I was coming to Downey, California, over here to this place in California on the... I... That's where it's at, Costa Mesa. If I told you that I was coming to Costa Mesa... If I could spell it, I'd write it down, but seventh grade education couldn't get that out.
Anyhow, if I told you I'm coming on June the 4th to begin there, you kinda believe that I'll be there, don't you? If I say I--I'll meet you there, well, if all possible, I'll do it. Because a man of his word will be honest and keep his promise, let alone a Christian.
Now, there may be something happen that I can't, but as far as I know, the Lord willing, I'll be there. Now, you'd believe that. And the people believe it, so they're are fixing to erect a big tent down there and fix it up. Now, that's because that we promised to be there. I promised I would come back here. And when I got here, found out other meetings was going on. Oh, my. I thought, "I'd better get back," but I promised that I was coming. So I--I had to stay here. I promised it. And so God has rewarded us for keeping our promise.

Now, I might break my promise, 'cause I'm a man. And your friend might break his promise or her promise, but God won't break His promise. He can't, because He's God. Can you imagine how pure and unadulterated His promises are, how infinite?
Why, if I'd go to a spring and my grandfather drank out of that spring and it was clear, and--and testing the water, it was a hundred percent pure... My father drink out of it; it was hundred percent pure. And all down through life, I'd dranken out of it at a hundred percent pure, why, I'd have enough faith to go back and believe if I take a drink of water, it would be all right. Wouldn't you?
Through the generations, down through several generations, it's been proven one hundred percent pure. Why? Because the stream that's a gushing it up, where it's coming from, its foundations down here, its bed, is throwing up pure water. Now, if it'll test one hundred percent pure, how much more will the promise of God test one hundred percent right. Because the basis of it, God's Word comes from God, which is infinite and pure and holy, and He can't lie, for He's God. There you are.
Now, when God promises anything, say, "That's right." Amen. [Luke 2:25-30]

Then he thought, "Oh, if he could only tell me." And there the Holy Spirit fell down, told him his condition and all about it, and said he was healed. Up he got. He believed it. No matter what the ifs, how long he'd been crippled or what it was all about, God had done made the promise, and it was him to believe it. Amen.
God's promised, "Where two or three are gathered in My Name I'll be in their midst." He's here. And whatever they agree upon and ask, they shall receive it. Whatsoever things you desire when you pray, believe you receive them, you shall have them. They'll be given to you. Now, isn't that wonderful? That's the promise, God's promise. We believe it. I believe it's so. [Matthew 18:19-20], [Mark 11:24]


Jonah, there's the man that had a lot of symptoms. People think that... When I look... They was prayed for, and say, "Well, my hand isn't any better." That don't mean you're not healed. When you're prayed for, you're healed. And frankly, you're healed before you're prayed for. For Jesus died at Calvary to heal you and paid the price. [Daniel 6:1-28], [Jonah 2:1-10]

And listen. The devil put us in the pawn shop, back there from Adam's sin. But Jesus came down and paid the pawn bill, wrote it on the Word. I got a right for it. Amen. "Satan, get back." I got a right for it.

I said, "I got a right to." Amen. My...
He said, "Well, you inherited it from your father."
I said, "But my heavenly Father redeemed me." Amen. I'm out of the pawn shop now. Amen. So just move over Satan.
He said, "I'll just pull symptoms all around you."
And I said, "Stand around, listen at me testify. I'd like for you to hear me."
He said, "I'll make you sick."
I said, "I'll testify that much harder. I'll make that much more testimony. If you want to hear me praise God, stick around a little while, you'll hear me."
I just kept praising God and made it so hot for him he had to flee. Just heard him [Brother Branham makes a noise hitting his hands together--Ed.] scoot off his old slewfoot right down the street as hard as he could. Had to. Why? The Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Ghost, was burning him up. Amen. He had to. God's Word's right. We've got a right for them redemptive blessings. Let's expect them. Believe them. God's going to bring them to pass, don't you believe it?

And we got a right to anything God promised. Just claim it, receive it; believe it; go on. You got any symptoms, forget about them. The symptoms don't mean nothing. That's right. Just believe it.

There was an old man... I'll tell this one then. There was a fellow named John Rhyn, and the fellow was blind. And he was at the meeting here and at Fort Wayne. And he come in the meeting. They was several thousand people had gathered in that night, and about two nights after the piano had played "The Great Physician now is near the sympathizing Jesus," when the Angel of God in a whirl of a halo whirled down in the room where I was at, and I thought the custodian turned the light on me. And here... When I had the little boy in my arms, I dropped him, and, why, the girl, Nazarene girl, playing the piano, she jumped up and started running and screaming. She seen that little boy walking off the platform normal. Why, she jumped up. And she was playing "The Great Physician," and it just kept playing on,
The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
No other Name but Jesus.
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
No other Name but Jesus.
There He was playing.

I said, "Yes, sir."
And he said, "Well, heal me," said.
I said, "I can't."
Said, "Well, why can't you?"
I said, "Jesus already done it." And I said, "I couldn't do what He's already done."
He said, "Well, can..." He said, "Will you pray for me?"
I said, "Yes, sir." And I prayed. I said, "Do you believe me?"
He said, "Yes, sir."
I said, "Go on. You'll get your sight."
He said, "Well, just a minute." He held me by the coat. He said, "Just a moment." Now, he said, "Will I receive my sight?"
I said, "Yes, sir. You're going to receive your sight, going to be all right."

I said, "That's right."
He said, "You said I was healed."
I said, "You are."
He said, "Well, you told me I was healed, and I can't see."
I said, "That don't have nothing to do with you seeing." I said, "I told you... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] The man, by the way, was Catholic by faith. And I said, "Look, sir. You told me that you believed me."
He said, "Well, these other people are talking about out here, they're healed and well."
I said, "You are too, sir. Get... Give the Angel of the Lord a chance to..."
And he said, "What must I do?"
I said--I said, "Do you believe what I told you?"
He said, "Yes, sir."
I said, "Well, I want you act like it?" See? I said, "Go on off here testifying, saying, 'Praise the Lord. He healed me.'"
He said, "All right." They led him off, and he hollered, "Praise the Lord for healing me."

And I was speaking, you know, when he'd say, "Just a minute, Brother Branham." He'd holler, "Praise the Lord for healing me."
The ushers went over there, and I shook my head; let him alone. See? He was having a good time at it.

And the people laughed at him, made fun of him. They thought, "The old man's gone crazy (You see?), went crazy over religion." See? So they had thought he was ready for the institution.
So he went on like that for several days, guess up to two or three weeks. And one day a little newsboy was sold papers near him, led him over to a barbershop to get a shave. And the barber, a little smart aleck, was always trying--had more sense than he had gumption to know how to take care of. So he was whetting his razor, and he had Mr. Rhyn shaved about halfway down on his face. He said, "Say, dad, I heard when--that you went up to see that Divine healer not long ago."
He said, "Yep, I went up to see him."
Said, "I heard you got healed."
He said, "Yep, praise the Lord. He healed me." And his eyes come open in the chair. He looked around; he said, "I am healed now." And he jumped out of that chair with the towel around his neck, and out the door he went, the barber behind him with a razor, down the street. Now, he couldn't see perfect. He could see objects and everything, screaming to the top of his voice. And that man, John Rhyn's in Dowagiac, Michigan, as far as I know tonight, preaching Divine healing by faith. That's right. What was it? He expected God to heal him.


So there was an old infidel standing on the side of the street. He looked over at her and said, "What you so happy about, sis?"
Said, "The Lord saved me." Oh, said, "I'm happy." Said, "Are you saved?"
He said, "Oh, no. There is no such a thing as that."
Said, "That's all you know about it."
Said, "Well..." Said, "Do you believe that Book you got in your hand?"
Said, "Yes, sir. I believe every bit of it," a little old girl all fired up with the Holy Spirit, you know.
Said, "I guess you believe that story about the whale and Jonah."
She said, "Oh, yes, sir." Said, "I believe it. Sure it's the truth."
Said, "How're you going to prove it besides any other way... besides faith?"
She said, "Why, when I get to heaven, I'm going to ask Brother Jonah."
He said, "Perhaps Brother Jonah won't be there?"
She said, "Then you ask him." That's right. "You ask him." You know where he'd be then. All right.
I believe it's the truth. Amen. Yes, sir. If the Bible said Jonah swallowed the whale, I'd believe it because it's the Word of God. Amen. All right.

The whale probably after he got a bellyful of backslidden preacher went down to the bottom of the sea, throwed his wings out like that, or his fins, and he was going to rest awhile. Here this Jonah was down there, seaweeds wrapped around his neck. Oh, talk about symptoms, he had a right to have them. If he looked this a-way, it was whale's belly. If he looked that way, it was whale's belly. Everywhere he looked was whale's belly. My, you're not even in that bad of shape tonight, no matter where you're at tonight. Look around everywhere, whale's belly, he had plenty of symptoms, didn't he? More than you got... But you know what he said, "They are lying vanities."
He said, "Lord, once more will I look to Your holy temple. Now, I ain't going to look at the symptoms. I ain't going to look at how deep I am in the sea. I'm not going to look to my backsliding. I'm not going to look at these seaweeds around my neck. I'm not going to look at the whale's belly, but I'm going to look beyond that to Your holy temple." Amen. There you are. [Jonah 2:1-10]

I can see him turn over on his knees and say, "Lord, I'm sorry I backslid. I'll take the right road if you just let me out here."
And you know what? Why, he had faith. When Solomon dedicated that temple of the Lord, he prayed that if God's children be in trouble anywhere, would look toward that temple and pray, then let God hear from heaven. And Jonah believed if he could look towards that temple, he had God's promise that he was expecting the whale to get him out. God made that old whale so sick till he puked him up on the shore. That's... Well, I... Excuse me; I didn't mean to say that. Vomited him up on the shore. [Congregation laughs--Ed.] I didn't aim to say that folks. Honest I didn't. Anyhow I'm just a country boy, but I'm just as sick when I'm puking as you are when you're vomiting, so...
All right. He put him out upon the shore. Is that right? Aw, it made him sick. If you go into a church that don't believe in Divine healing, claim your rights in Christ, you'll have the same experience. That's right. Fellowship not with darkness. [Jonah 2:1-10], [I Kings 8:26-52], [II Chronicles 6:16-42]

That old whale went right on toward Nineveh just as hard as he could go. God set an oxygen tank down in there and kept him alive. All right. He got it somewhere; I don't know where God put the tank there, but he had the oxygen there that kept him alive. All right. [Jonah 2:1-10]

My, they said that fellow's crazy, you know, making such a prediction like that, like the Holy Ghost talked to him, and said it ain't going to rain until he calls for it. You ever hear of such a thing? God told him so. He believed God. He went right up there by the brook Cherith and set down. Every morning here come some ravens, packed him along some food. He set down, and handed it down to him, he eat...?... God, knelt down and got him a drink of water and went on. Dinnertime come along, here come the ravens back, give him some more. Say, "Where'd them ravens get it?" I don't know. They got some sandwiches somewhere. They had meat and bread. I don't know where they got it, but they brought it. Elijah accepted it and eat it and lived. [I Kings 17:1-7]

I said, "No, sir." I said, "It's the Holy Spirit."
Said, "Where's it come from?"
I said, "I don't know. He brings it. I accept it. I live by it. I don't know where it comes from. God commanded it to come. I believe it." Hallelujah.
Yes. He said it was so. I believe it. Oh, do I feel religious right now. Um. [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]