Earnestly Contending For The Faith That Was Once Delivered To The Saints
53-0614A, Earnestly Contending For The Faith That Was Once Delivered To The Saints, Roberts Park Amphitheater, Connersville, IN, 65 min




I'm just a little bit late: always that way. I was late for my wedding. If I can just be late for my funeral, all right. See? That... My wife will get me for that. She's here this afternoon so... But I was late for my wedding; kept her waiting. Well, just one place I don't want to be late, that's when I get to the door up there. I want--want to be just in time then. Maybe I'll work real hard, I can make that one, by grace, anyhow. [Mark 9:23]

Puts me in mind of one time when my brother and I, we were... Mama had fixed us some popcorn to take to school in a gallon bucket. And so it was around Christmas time. We used to pop the corn. That was a rare thing when I was a boy. And so we used to pop and put around a--a tree, you know, on a little old cedar bush. I remember she had some left over and she put it in a little bucket for brother and I to eat. My brother's gone on, so... I was... Thought, you know, it would be nice just before dinner, if I had one good handful out of that bucket. So I held up my hand and asked the teacher to be excused. And as I went out through the cloak room, I raised up that bucket and just nice big handful. I thought that didn't look too good, so I reached and got me another handful. I went outside and stood behind school house and eat all this popcorn. Come back in.
After while, dinner time, we went across the hill and down a little woods to eat, brother and I, we set on a log. Put the little bucket between us. We'd have a little jar of something in there, we'd... couple of spoons. So when it come... We had to eat the popcorn first. You know how kids are. So when I opened up that lid, it was just about half of that popcorn's gone. My brother said, "Say," said, "something happened there, didn't it?"
I said, "Sure did." I knew what had happened. So looks like something's happened over here too, doesn't it? All right.


Now, I would like to read some of the Gospel, the glorious Gospel of our Lord. I like to tell about it what I know. Don't know too much, but what I do know, I like to share it with others. And you know, that's the way the Gospel is: we have to share it with others. Any good thing, we should share with somebody. When you go to have a great big dinner, and you like to have your neighbor to come in, and say, "Share it with me." And you kindly share things, mutually, all along.



I said, "I don't know yet." I just have to wait till I get to the pulpit, and then whatever He tells me, then I start from right there. Sometimes I go from Genesis to Revelations hunting something. But just like a dog on a trail... How many ever seen a Beagle Hound trail? Let's see your... Oh, just look at the brethren I have here. Then, you take a dog and you're trying to get him on the trail and he--he just can't find it. He's just going along. After awhile he stops. He's ears comes up, and his eyes bulge out; he's got the scent, and away he goes. That's the way they have to do. Isn't that right? Just wait till we hit place, and then let the Holy Spirit take it. That's--that's the way. Oh, He's wonderful.

Now, Father, I realize that someday, that every person here, we've all got to stand in Your Presence, give an account of our lives, and give an account for what we did with what was told us in this world. Now, Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit will make the Word of God so plain this afternoon, that when we go there at that day, that we'll ha--when we answer according to Your Word, that our conscience will be clear that we have did just what You said do.
Now, may the Holy Spirit take the things of God and deliver them right into every heart, right where they ought to be, and may, when the service is over, may we say like them coming home from Emmaus, "Did not our hearts burn within us because of His Presence," for we ask it in His Name, Thy Son. Amen. [Luke 24:32]

His brothers first didn't believe on Him, but after a while they did. And Jude is a prophet. For his little short letter here, which was recognized by the Church to be inspired... He was a prophet. And he was foretelling here and correcting the Church.
And it was written to all the churches throughout the age, and I believe specifically to this Church of this age.

Now, we want to look right straight into His Word and read some of this here and see what He would say about it, see how He'd speak to our heart. And I want every person now, to be just... Let yourself forget about the washing tomorrow and the things we got to do. We're here for one purpose: worship God. We're here to learn something. And I'm here to learn something. And I'm looking to the Holy Spirit to teach me something this afternoon, teach me how to be a better man, teach me how to be a better minister, and through me, teach you, how to be a better Christian. All of us together, be a better Church, that's what we're here for. And the Word of God is for instruction and reproof, that a man might stand before God blameless. If we follow the blueprint well, we'll stand blameless.

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the father, and preserved in... Christ, and called:
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved... I give all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unaware, who was before of old ordained to this condemnation,... (Let that soak just a minute; I'm going back to read it again.)... who was before of old ordained to this condemnation,... (You believe it? That's what He said.)... ungodly men, turning the grace of... God into lasciviousness... denying the only Lord God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, after saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed not.
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but were left in their... habitation... reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around about them in like manner, give themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for... examples, of suffering and vengeance of eternal fire. [Jude 1:1-7]
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved... I give all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unaware, who was before of old ordained to this condemnation,... (Let that soak just a minute; I'm going back to read it again.)... who was before of old ordained to this condemnation,... (You believe it? That's what He said.)... ungodly men, turning the grace of... God into lasciviousness... denying the only Lord God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, after saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed not.
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but were left in their... habitation... reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around about them in like manner, give themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for... examples, of suffering and vengeance of eternal fire. [Jude 1:1-7]
Now, if I'd call it a text, it would be this, found in the 3rd verse and the last phrase: "Earnestly Contending For The Faith That Was Once Delivered To The Saints."
Now, I want you to notice in Jude's address to this letter, who he's addressing. He's addressing Christians. He's not speaking now to--to unbelievers; he's talking directly to Christians. Now notice, "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified (not to the world), to them that are sanctified in God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ and called." See?

"The--the faith that was once delivered to the saints," not just a faith... Some people says, "Well, that's against my faith." I... There's only one faith: one faith, one Lord, one God, one baptism, one faith, one doctrine.
And now, people say, "Well, I have 'a' faith and I go to my own church." Well, that's not what Jude's speaking to here. He's talking to the people that's to contend for 'the' faith that was once delivered to the saints. [Jude 1:1-3]

Now, if we'll go back to where they were first called saints and find out what kind of a faith they had, then we'll know more or less what they contend--what to contend for.
Now, when the Church be called--was called saints, was after they were sanctified. The word "sanctify" or "saint" come "sanctify," meaning "clean, pure, holy, unadulterated" and so forth. Now, if... That was the beginning of the Church when it was inaugurated at the day of Pentecost. [Jude 1:1-3]

Now, you know Jude wouldn't be talking about back in the Old Testament under the Levitical laws. See? 'Cause they were... this... He's a Christian. He was talking about when the first Church was set in order, was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost.
And now, we'll notice what kind of a faith that they had. They had a faith in a resurrected living Christ, someone who'd rose from the dead and was living among them, just the same as He was before He ever died. Now, that... See, they wasn't contending for some historical affair, but they were contending for a--a living Christ, a resurrected One Who was in their midst. [Jude 1:1-3]

Now, "Yet a little while," He said, "and the world seeth Me no more, yet ye shall see Me (the Church, the believer), for I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." Now, that was what the apostles believed. And they believed that what He was in the flesh, He was also, and more, in the Spirit. And that's what they taught. That's what they believed. And that's what they practiced, and that's what God confirmed.
But during this time, this thirty-three years of lapse, there become many false brethren who'd raised up, and had brought in heresies, and brought people off to theology, and--and different things like that. [John 14:19], [Matthew 28:20]

He said, here was his credentials, "How..." said, "I have so many marks on my body that was put there. I've been in perils upon the sea. I've been in perils among false brethren." All these different things he showed as marks, his credentials before God, that he'd suffered for the cause that Christ died for. [Galatians 6:17]

Now, they believed in signs and wonders following the believer. Now, they begin to fall away. The... Now, Jude said that men of old was foreordained to do this. Now, God's sovereign. Of course, He--He knows, "He is not willing that any should perish but all might come to repentance." But in order to be God, He has to know, and He does know before the thing ever come to pass, who would be saved and who would not be saved. That's right. [Jude 1:1-3], [II Peter 3:9]

See, you're a Christian because God has ordained that you must be a Christian. Now, you can turn it aside. Some... God will set somebody in your place. But your place is setting there. If God calls you, go take it and stay with it. [Jude 1:1-5]

A very fine scholar I was having dinner with, here some time ago, E. Stanley Jones, said, "Brother Branham," said, "I see most of your meeting is made up of Pentecostal people."
Said, "Yes, sir."
He said, "Why so?"
I said, "They're the ones that believe."
And he said, "Well," he said, "Brother Branham, I think that Pentecost was a scaffold." Said, "That God was going to put up a building and He put... made Pentecost the scaffold."
"Well," I said, "that's right. I'll agree with you."
And he said, "Well, see, after the scaffold work's done, we don't need the scaffold any more."
I said, "But the scaffold work isn't done. When the building's completed, God will take it up. So we're still working on the building." Amen. [Jude 1:1-3]

Now, we've had plenty of passing out tracts and theology around the world. But the Gospel is not the Bible altogether. The--the Bible... Paul said, "The Gospel came to us not in Word only, but through power and demonstrations of the Holy Ghost."
Then when Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," then He meant go into all the world and demonstrate the power of God to every creature. [Mark 16:15]

So it's not just a ritualistic affair, but it's absolutely a real, living reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, living among men. And that's the faith that I'm trying my best to contend for today; that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His power is unlimited. [Mark 16:15], [Jude 1:1-3], [II Corinthians 3:6]

Now, we think of how marvelous, how God has did these things for us and to see in this day how it's been predicted by the prophets through the Scriptures...

Now, but here's one thing, that I have found the people with a living faith, with... They have absolutely caught a hold of something, God out there that gives them a new birth, that puts God into the person, that makes him believe in the supernatural.
Now, if you're not borned again, you do not believe in the supernatural. And if you do not believe in the supernatural, you haven't been borned again. Because when you're borned again, you become a son of God. And He will... Being a son of God, you're a nature of God.
And then you take on the things, and you want to see the moving of God, and see God move, because you're His son, and you're made in His image, and you're borned of His Spirit. You're a part of Him. And then you've got faith for anything. Amen. [Acts 2:37-39]

Now, I want... Let's go back to the beginning, way back. Go back in the garden of Eden, even we could go before that. But let's take the first two boys that was borned on this earth.
Cain, first, really, he was supposed to have the birthright, but lost it just as Esau was, just as the first church of the mother church, as you want to call it. All the way through, lost the birthright... [Genesis 4:1-12]

Now, if you want to find out what day we're living in, if you want to find out what kind of a crop's going to come up out here, go back and find out what kind of seed you got planted. And now, Genesis is the seed or the beginning. And how that back there in the beginning, we see the spirits move up. [Genesis 4:1-15]

Nimrod was a son of Ham, which come on back from a son of Cain. Watch them seeds as they come up. Watch what they bear. Watch how... actions they take, and now, we're plumb in above the skies with it. There's... The crop has growed up. Oh, I hope God soaks that way down deep now, so we can get a foundation. And I see something moving up now.
Way down here in the seed, watch what it's going to go to up here. Find out where your seed's at. Now... and what it is... [Genesis 10:6-10], [Genesis 11:1-9]

Then many times you notice, looky here, as Cain killed Abel at the altar, so did Judas kill Jesus at the altar, which Cain and Abel were a type of Judas and Jesus. All down through there's a pro and con.
Look in the ark. There was a dove and there was a crow, both of them setting on the same ark, same roost. And one of them was willing to go up... Both of them could fly. Both of them were fowls. And one, if you notice, it was a diet. [Genesis 4:1-15]

How beautiful type of the Church... A man said, "Well, I'm a Christian, but I can do anything I want to." Brother, it shows something another... Man is known by his works; your fruits bear record of what you are.
And this old crow could go from body to body, and eat dead carcass, and feel satisfied, but the dove found no rest for the soles of her feet. She returned back home again. [Genesis 6:8-12]

Look at the horses. The gree--gray and grizzled, the horses. All down through, all down to Jesus and Judas. About time Jesus come on the scene, Judas come on the scene, and they were brothers in the same church: One the pastor and the other one the treasurer. [Acts 1:16-17]
And look, some people only see three crosses at Golgotha. There were four. There was a thief on one side, thief on the other side, Jesus in the middle. And, "Cursed is he that hangeth on a tree." Jesus was made accursed for us hanging on a tree. And Judas hung hisself on a sycamore tree, just as much cross as the rest of them was on. [Acts 2:37-38], [Galatians 3:13]

There's a thief on one side, said, "Lord, remember me when You come into the Kingdom."
The other one said, "If," that question mark, whether God meant it or not, "If Thou be the Son of God, save us." There's the Gospel preacher, preaching across to the unbeliever. Hallelujah. There you are. [John 17:12], [II Thessalonians 2:3], [Luke 23:32-43]

"Why, if He is a Divine healer, let Him heal this one, let Him this one. If He be, let Him be this." If, it's always... That's with a question mark in it.
But a real true believer believes every Word that God said is the truth, and take it the same way. There you are. [Matthew 27:52], [Luke 23:37, 39]

They got atomic weapons, hydrogen weapons, all kinds of things, because it's the spirit of the day. The people are in the spirit of the end time. The Church is moving together under the power and the impact of the Holy Spirit. And the world's running out yonder, and making fun, scoffing, laughing, and they living like the devil every day. It's in the spirit of the thing. [Jude 1:4-7], [II Peter 3:3-7]

Now notice, back there in the beginning, when Cain and Abel came out of the garden, driven out, because that there was sin. Death had separated them from God. And God put a Cherubim, Angel with a flaming sword around the Tree to protect that Tree of Life. [II Peter 3:3-7], [Genesis 3:22-24]

So, when they'd taken the tree of death, that separated them from God, and He put an Angel around that Tree to keep them from taking It. Because the very time that they'd taken of that Tree, they would live forever, even knowing good from evil. Is that right? All right.
Then notice. That tree was the woman, and when they... when Adam partaken of this, it separated him... The woman still brings the--the life in the world; it has to die again. But the Tree of Life that was standing in there, was Jesus Christ. When He come down there at the Jewish feast that day, and they said, "Our fathers eat manna in the wilderness."...
And He said, "And they're every one dead. But I am the Bread of Life that come from heaven. If a man eat thereof, he shall never die." He was that Tree that was in the garden of Eden. [Genesis 3:22-24], [John 6:31-49]

But it mustn't be an impersonation; it must be a genuine Holy Ghost, regenerated birth, that makes a new creature out of him. It can't be just a make belief, or some theology. It must absolutely be a supernatural birth.
Just as there was pains and groaning in the first birth of natural, there'll have to be the same thing in the second, making a man a new creature in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah.
Oh, don't get excited. I don't... I haven't hurt no one yet. [Job 14:1-4], [John 6:39-44], [Acts 2:37-38]

Now, watch. Cain was just as religious, just as much of a gentleman, in every respect that Abel was. Now, not by good works we are saved, but by His mercy. [Hebrews 11:4], [Genesis 4:1-7]

Look. Here it is. I hope you get it. Just as sure as man is borned of a woman, he has to die. It's just that sure, if he's borned of Christ, he's got to live. He's got to live. He can't help it. He's got Eternal Life. Christ said he had. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Genesis 3:22-24]

There I notice, look at this. Then when Cain come up, and he built an altar unto the Lord; both of them did. Now, if a altar is all that God requires, or a church membership, Cain was just as just as Abel was. Cain built an altar, just with as good of intention as what Abel did.
Well, you say, "Brother Branham, as long my intentions is good..." No, sir. That won't do it.
"Well, I joined church with all good intentions." That still doesn't do it. Cain did too. [Genesis 3:22-24], [Genesis 4:1-7]

Notice. Cain was religious and a believer. He come up and built an altar to the Lord, with just as much faith, as what Abel did. "But there is a way that seemeth right unto a man..." Now, you'll understand, after while, why I'm a holy-roller.
Now watch. He came up and built an altar unto the Lord with the sincerity of his heart. And he went out and got the best fruits he had and laid them on the altar, probably decorated the altar all up with beautiful flowers. I could prove that in a little bit, wouldn't take me but a minute. But beauty is one of the most deceitful things there is. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Hebrews 11:4]

Cain, there he was. He goes up there and builds this altar. He goes out, probably, and gets the great big calla lilies off of that ground that had just recently been cursed, placed them all over the altar.
Puts you in a mind of a good--of one of these modern churches today. On Easter, everybody comes to church. They buy a little Easter flower and lay them on the altar, all along. God don't want the Easter flower on the altar; He wants you on the altar. The altar was made for man, not for flowers. [Genesis 4:1-7]

But all we got today is what we've got in the furnace, the iron. Pentecost is getting as bad. Now, that's the truth.
Now, I notice. Here is what God did. Cain comes up. He offers in his offering. Now, if God only requires a church membership, Cain had it. If God requires sincerity, Cain had it. And then if God requires a sacrifice, Cain did it. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Acts 2:1-5]

Then notice. Then after he'd made his altar, made his sacrifice, joined church, the sincerity of his heart... "That's a pretty good fellow," we'd call him today. He'd make a dandy fundamentalist. All right.
Here he comes, then he kneels down. Reason I rapped that, because that's what I was. See? Now, notice... And I am yet fundamental, but there is some more goes with it. Like the old colored man eating the watermelon, said, "That was good, but there's some more of it." That's right. [Genesis 4:1-7]

But notice. Oh, he made things beautiful. He built a great big fine place, I guess, and fixed it all up, ignorant enough to believe that it was apples that took him out of the garden of Eden. I said... I say this, not for no smutty remark, but if eating apples caused the women to realize they were naked, it's time to pass the apples again. That's exactly right. Yes, sir. It wasn't no more apples than nothing else. [Genesis 4:1-7]

Here comes Abel, knowing that it wasn't apples or fruits. God didn't dwell in beauty or a sincerity. He dwells in election and calling. So he wraps this vine around the lamb's neck and here he comes, moving up to the altar. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Hebrews 11:4]

And there was Cain up there, just a glorifying God in his beauty. "Look what I've done, Lord. Looky here. You know my heart. You know I'm sincere. I'm giving You all the praise. I'm doing this. I'm doing that," all what he's doing.
And little old Abel took that lamb, threw it back like that, got a rock in his hand, begin to chop its little throat. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Hebrews 11:4]

What did it speak of? Of some nineteen hundred years later. The Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the earth, was led with a rope around His neck, up Golgotha's hill yonder. Hallelujah. They laid Him down; they beat His body into stripes for the healing. They nailed nails in His hands, and He stuck there between the heavens and earth, on the Rock of ages, crying out with an unknown tongue, speaking, "Eli, Eli." That lamb was speaking in an unknown tongue to who? To the sacrificer. [Hebrews 11:4], [Genesis 4:1-7]

Billy Sunday said every tree had an angel setting in it, saying, "Pull Your hand loose. Point Your finger; we'll change the scene."
The Jews said, "He saved others; He can't save Himself. If He's that great Saviour, let Him save Himself, then we believe Him." Why, it was the greatest compliment they ever paid Him. Why, He couldn't save others, and save Hisself, so He gave Hisself to save others. Hallelujah. [Matthew 27:42], [Mark 15:31], [Luke 23:35]

Well, there was Cain, just as sincere, just as religious as he was, just as much altar as he had. Look at that old spirit come right on down through the age. Look at it come down to the children of Israel.
If you'll notice for a few moments, look at Israel when they come out of the wilderness, in the wilderness, rather, and was getting ready to cross. Moab wouldn't let them cross the country. Now, Moab was believers, the Moabites. You know who it was? That generation come from Lot's daughter's child, where they lived with their father. And one of them, the oldest one went over, and the land of Moab come from him. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Deuteronomy 23:3-6]

Now, here come the prophet Balaam, coming down to curse Israel for Balak. What a type of today, the hireling prophet trying to curse what God's blessed. You couldn't do it if you had to.
Here he comes, and... Why, he was--why, he was so money crazy, till he couldn't see the Holy Spirit standing in the road with a drawed sword. The mule knowed more about it than he did. That's right. If people just had some good mule sense today, I believe they could see it. That's right. [Deuteronomy 23:3-6], [Numbers 22:1-35]

Now, Balaam, or Balak, rather, the king of Moab, he wasn't a infidel. He was a believer. Sure he was. And Balaam wasn't a infidel. Balaam, the prophet, he was a believer. But a two... Here's two sets of believers, them same spirit, like Cain and Abel, they'd come right down again. [Genesis 4:1-7]
Now notice, here was a man, the king of Moab said, "Come down and curse this people," believers cursing the believers. Now, Balak come down, got up on the hill, and Balaam showed him the most--uttermost parts. [Numbers 22:1-35]

If I could go out here and ask in the graveyard, say... I know some woman here, not long ago, a Christian Science woman let her baby die because she wouldn't have a doctor. I different with her on that, but anyhow, that's her faith. And if she... or--or what she believed about it...

The same time that went across the country, telling everybody that Divine healing was a fanaticism, not to pay any attention to it, and so forth like that, it was nothing but--and it--it wasn't worthy, the same time, tens of thousands of people died under medical treatment. Now, if we lost one by Divine healing because of unbelief, and then Divine healing shouldn't be looked upon, then they shouldn't look upon medical science, hospitals, or anything else. Why, it's six of one and a half of a dozen of the other. If one failed, then that--that they have to count it all wrong? No, sir. I'd say they're both ought to be together, working for the glory of God and the coming of the Lord Jesus. That's right.

"Yes." He seen it. Now watch. Balaam built seven altars. Now, he wasn't a communist. He was a believer. Now, he's up here on the hill. And here's Israel down in the valley. And he builds seven altars. [Numbers 23:1-6]

And here this prophet, under inspiration, comes down and builds seven altars, offered the forecomings, proving that they believed in the--the first coming of Christ, offered the bullocks, just as fundamental as they was down there in the camp in Israel. You get it? [Numbers 23:1-6]

Here, up here on the hill, just as fundamental as they was, "We are offering the ram believing God will send His Son."
Notice. Then all the princes of Moab stood around the smoldering sacrifices, worshipping God, just as fundamental as it could be, Scripturally, just as good as the other group had.
And there's where it is today, friends. People can be just as fundamental in your doctrine. I know men that would, and thousands of them... Probably there's many of them setting, listening at me right here today and I hope this cuts you till you can't stand it. [Numbers 23:1-6]

So did Balaam. So did Israel. But what Balak seen--failed to see there, down here in this camp, they had signs and wonders a following them. That's what they failed to say today. They're just as fundamental as we are. They believe it just the same way we do. But they deny that there is a resurrection power working among the people.
Well, did the Holy Ghost speak that it would be that way? Paul said, "In the last days they'd be heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but would deny the power thereof." Hallelujah. [II Timothy 3:1-9]

But they have the form--form of godliness, fundamentally right, but denying the power thereof. The power of what? The power of healing, the power of shouting, the power of speaking in tongues, the power of interpretating, the power of the Church moving just like It did in the beginning. And brother, sister, we are contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Hallelujah. You believe it? [II Timothy 3:1-9]

Looky there. Why, Balak said, "Why, they're not even organized." Organized, that's what the people say today. "Well, I belong to the Methodist. I belong to the Baptist." And the Pentecost, just as bad, same thing. "I belong to the organization." [Jude 1:3]

I'll--I'll just call any historian's attention right now. There never has been a church in all the ages that every... failed... when they failed to see the power of God, and get the miracles, and things out of their church, God lays her on the shelf, and she never does revive again.
He laid Luther there, Methodists there, Baptists there, Presbyterian there, and the Pentecost is on it's road there, right now. But out of that conglomeration of the whole thing, God will raise up another undergrowth there, like He did when He said, "I will restore, saith the Lord." [Joel 2:25]

And when he went behind that curtain, across his garment, he had a pomegranate and a bell, a pomegranate and a bell, so that they'd hit together. And when he walked, it played, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." That's the anointed church of God moving into the holiest of holies. [Exodus 28:31-35], [Exodus 39:22-26]

A bell ringing, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." The outsiders pass by, and say... Scoffers say, "Look at them." That's all right. Look at them then. Hallelujah. How wonderful. "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." played the bells against the pomegranates.
Notice that Balaam back there, can't leave that guy yet. Look at him standing there. He's just as fundamental in his doctrine as they was down there, the same doctrine. But they did not have the signs and wonders. And this group had the signs and wonders be... all they had... They had a--a Divine healing program on. These guys didn't know nothing about it. If that ain't typical today, I don't know it. [Exodus 28:31-35], [Exodus 39:22-26], [Numbers 26:1-6], [Hebrews 11:4]

That rod that Moses had in his hand. That wasn't Moses' rod. That was God's judgment rod. And the rod hit the rock, and there was a cleft in the rock. And when Israel wanted something to eat one day, they went by, and they found honey in the rock. I've found it there too, haven't you? [Exodus 17:5-7]

So he goes down there to put a curse on the people. And he said, "How can I curse what God's blessed?" When he throwed out his curse, he found out there was a brass serpent there and a smitten rock to meet it. He failed to see that atonement going before the Church. [Exodus 17:5-7], [Numbers 22:15-21], [II Peter 2:15-17], [Jude 1:10-13], [Numbers 23:1-12]

There I notice then, when he got down there he said, "Now, you go back, but you do... But you say just exactly what I say," God told Balaam. Here went the prophet back, told to go back.
When he went down there, instead of blessing Israel, or--or cursing Israel, he blessed Israel. He turned around and blessed them. [Genesis 4:1-7], [Acts 2:37-38], [Numbers 23:1-12]

God said, "I've seen him from the hilltops." Hallelujah. His Church, His group, why, they wasn't a nation. They wasn't a organized like the rest of the people. They had organism but no--no nation. He said, "The people will dwell among themselves. They'll not be a nation."
And that's the way of the Church of God today, the called out group of people. It doesn't mean because you're Methodist you're... or it doesn't mean because you're a Pentecost. It means out of every group, God's calling people, giving them the Holy Ghost, and that's the Church, the called out. Certainly it is. He calls them out. They're not an organization; they're a organism. Their hearts are beating together. They're one in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. [Numbers 23:1-24]

Look, the highest order in the Bible for the church, the local church is the elder. And the elder can't move until the bishop says. Has... God has to come through the bishop, down through the, oh, about fifteen different men before He can get to the elder. [Numbers 23:1-24]

Now, God sends a message, He'd send it to His elders. But if He has to go out and see what the bishop says and what the district presbyter says... And everybody in the church is a pulling to get a feather in your hat. "Maybe I can be the district man next year if I pull a few tricks here and a few there." Brother, I don't care about the district man, I want to be a Christian next year. Hallelujah. Contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints... [Jude 1:3], [Romans 8:14]

And that same old spirit of Cain moving right down through, religious...
And now, notice, the Holy Spirit spoke that in the last days perilous times would come, men would be lovers of their own selves. "I'm Dr. So-and-so." Lovers of their... proud, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, trucebreakers, incontinent, and despisers of those that are good, having a form of godliness," fundamentally, but would deny the power thereof; from such turn away. For this is the sort that go from house to house and lead silly women. [II Timothy 3:1-9]

Earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints... What they did back there... They didn't have all these different things, and all this here societies, and this societies, and that organization, and this organization. They were one in Christ Jesus. The Holy Ghost poured out His power upon them, and they went forth doing miracles and signs. [Jude 1:3]

The last commission to the Church was the same thing. The last words that fell from His sacred lips as He was going up, "Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in My Name they shall cast out devils." [Mark 16:15-18]

But that's not the sign of a believer. Even to preach the Gospel is not the sign of a believer. Jesus said, "These signs follow the believer. In My Name they cast out devils; they speak with new tongues; they take up serpents; and they drink deadly things will not harm them. If they lay their heads on--hands on the sick, they shall recover."
And today you do it, they'll laugh at you. They got a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Brother, I don't want to be Balaam, but I say like Balaam. When he come back and he seen what God had done to that bunch of holy-rollers, he said, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Amen. I say the same thing. [Mark 16:15-18], [II Timothy 3:1-12]

I know you think I'm excited; maybe I am. But I'm having an awful good time. You ought to get excited too. Amen.
Little old woman down in New Albany, had been crippled, seventeen years drawed up. I never knowed her in my life. The Holy Spirit told me where she was at. She was an Armenian. Her name is Mrs. O'Hannia, Mrs. Darrell O'Hannia. She was crippled up. And I walked in there. I seen her. She looked like a spider, drawed up in a bed. [Numbers 23:10]

I went down to the house. The girl come to the door. And I said, "How do you do?"
And she said, "How do you do?" And I said... She looked at me real funny.
Mr. Merle, you, that read it in my book, had been healed up there at the Saint Edward's Hospital. And it come out in the paper. Said, "Are you that man that went down and healed that man?"
I said, "No, ma'am." I said, "Isn't there a lady here that's crippled up?"
Said, "My mother."

She said, "It's an Armenian Bible."
I said, "Do you believe?"
She said, "Ever since I seen the paper about that man being healed, I said, 'There's hopes for me.'"
I said, "God has heard your prayer, and He sent me that I might pray for you."

When she come out of there, they said, "She's excited. That's all. She just got excited and let the muscles down in her legs."
About five years later, I was standing in the butcher shop, I seen her, through the glass, come in. She walked with her husband. She touched me on that arm. And I acted like I didn't see her. I looked over this a way. She touched me back here and I looked this other way. And she said, "I fooled you, didn't I?"
And I said, "No."
She said, "Brother Branham," said, "you remember a long time ago, and they told me I was excited."
I said, "Yes, ma'am."
She said, "I'm still excited, 'cause I'm still walking." Amen.

Remember, it was Isaac that wanted a wife. When the father, Abraham sent the servant out, a very beautiful type of God the Father sending out for His Bride, to get His Bride. His Servant, the Holy Spirit, Eliezer... And it was in the cool of the evening when the beautiful Rebekah come out to water the camel. You know the story. [Genesis 24:1-29]

And the very animal that she was watering, was the very animal that packed her to see her bride. Is that right? And what is watering? The very power that we're watering now with praises, and thanksgiving, and glory, and power, and might, is the very Holy Spirit that'll pack us up to see Jesus someday. [Genesis 24:1-29]

I tell you, when we see Him, it'll be love at the first sight. Off we'll go, and away we'll go into His arms. Certainly. How beautiful. The Bride, the evening light's coming, the faith that was once delivered to the saints, beginning to restore back to the Church... The fig tree is putting forth it's buds. She begin to move out. The evening light... [Genesis 24:10-67], [Jude 1:3]

Brother, let me tell you; you can call me holy-roller if you want to; you can say what you want to; but I see back yonder in Genesis where that great orthodox spirit started back there, just as religious, just as pious as it could be. And I see where that thing in the last days has come down, all down through the Bible, where the Holy Spirit watched it. Watch for it in the last days. It'd be very fundamentally right now, having a form of godliness but will deny that power thereof. He said, "From such turn away. Get away from it." I'm glad today. I number myself with the holy-rollers. That's the reason that I believe today in the old fashion baptizing of the Holy Ghost with powers, and signs, and wonders. Hallelujah. It's the faith that was once delivered to the saints. [II Timothy 3:1-12], [Acts 2:37-39]

Look at the other side: so close it would deceive the very elect, just as fundamentally right, just as perfect, fine churches, keeps the--the doctrine of the Bible, so-called. They'll do it. They'll go out there and they say, "Yes, sir. We believe in the birth of Jesus Christ. We believe that He was a virgin born Son of God. We accept Him. We have faith in Him." That's good. [Matthew 24:24]

When you truly believe God, God's under obligation to pour the Holy Ghost on you. And then if He does pour the Holy Ghost on you... You say, "Well, I've got the Holy Ghost too." Well, if you do, you're bound to believe in the supernatural signs and wonders, because you're added to it. That's the faith. [Ephesians 2:8], [Acts 2:37-39]

It showed... Here was this man up here, Balaam, was just as fundamental, and just as right in his doctrine as Moses was. But Moses had healing and signs and--and a big Pillar of Fire hanging over him. Hallelujah. I hope you get that. All right. A Pillar of Fire hanging over him: signs, wonders, miracles, and everything going on, Divine healing, glories of God. Is that right? And the other side didn't have it, though they were just as fundamental as the others. Is that right? That's what it is today: having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof, from such turn away. That's what the Bible said. You believe it to be right? I believe it with all my heart. [Numbers 21:4-9], [II Timothy 3:1-12]
Now, look. Then he said, "Let me die the death of the righteous..." [Brother Branham stops as a model airplane noise interferes--Ed.] Hey. See how the devil will do? Now, if you want to see the devil, look out there; he got in them men out there, and see them do such things as that. Now, if someone said, "Do you mean that was the devil?" What other thing would interfere God's Spirit but the devil? Certainly, a bunch of preachers turned them out there to do that (exactly), try to stop the meeting, but you can't stop God. God will move right on just the same. There's no more nothing, simply nothing can stop God, the power of God. Certainly. Certainly.
Them same people, they don't repent, they'll lay in hell forever. In fact... You say, "You're judging." No, I'm not. "By their fruits you shall know them. That's right. That's exactly right. So, for... Watch today. We're contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. See? Now, have you got the message? Do you understand what I mean? That we believe. That's why. [Numbers 23:1-14], [Exodus 13:21-22], [Matthew 7:15-20], [Jude 1:1-7]

Someday over yonder in another land, you'll watch for this little old holy-roller preacher and you'll find out that I'm right. You'll find out that we're earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Do you believe it? Let's bow our heads then as we talk to Him.
Heavenly Father, it's today that we are coming before You in Your Presence, realizing this, that all powers in heavens and earth, is given into Your hands. We know that Thou art here and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. And Lord God, we know that You have said in Your Scripture, "It would be far better that a millstone would be hanged at your neck and to drown in the depths of the sea than to offend the anointed of God." [Acts 2:37-39], [Jude 1:1-7], [Matthew 18:6], [Mark 9:42], [Luke 17:2]


And with your heads bowed, if you will, just a moment. I wonder just now, how many people in here would say this: "Brother Branham, I truly--truly realize that we're living in the last days. I see the people in the Spirit of the last days. I see where they're having a form of godliness and ungodly people, think that their right, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I want to receive the Holy Ghost, Brother Branham. I've never been borned again, though I belong to a fundamental church, or so forth, but as far as being borned again, I haven't received it. And I now want to accept Christ right now, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." Would you raise your hand? God bless you. Right in the midst of all of this devil's confusion and everything else, hundreds of hands are going up to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Young men, young women, some of them, setting wiping their eyes with tears, right in the midst of confusion. Yet, there's nothing confused. And when God's power is moving into the hearts of the people... All right. [II Timothy 3:1-9], [I Timothy 4:1], [Acts 2:37-39]




All right. Now, remember, we've had some, maybe several hundreds of them this week, coming across the places here and going into the prayer tent. Many of them's filled with the Holy Ghost, saved from sin and so forth. And today, here's that, oh, maybe a hundred people, right on. Sixty, seventy maybe unsaved, at least that, standing around at different places. If... I can't tell what's in the back; there's a bunch of people standing, but they're way back, some on the hillsides. But right now, Jesus Christ is here to fill every believer with the Holy Spirit, save every lost soul, reclaim every backslider. Do you believe that? [Acts 2:37-39]

O Lord, I thank Thee for Thy goodness and mercy. Thank Thee for the Holy Spirit. I pray, God, that Your mercy will be upon each one. Have mercy, Lord, upon these who are so in need. They're standing. They're like of old. They're willing to step out in the midst of the people and claim Jesus Christ as their Saviour and--and beli'll--believe that He will baptize them with the Holy Spirit in confirmation of their faith. Many of them, Lord, has been living around in these churches who didn't go into the Gospel deep enough, they've been taught, and they wondered why these things didn't happen if they happened back in the Old Testament, happened back in the New Testament, why don't they happen today if we're serving the same God?
And now, today, Lord, they realize that they have been misled in these things. And they've stood here by the many around the different places in the church and on the outside, and they're believing that You're now going to fill them with the Holy Spirit. I pray, God, with all my heart, with all my soul and mind, that You'll fill every one of them with Holy Ghost. May the--everyone's sins be forgiven and may the Holy Spirit have supreme right of way in their hearts this day. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name. [Acts 2:37-39]

You're all sufficient... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] with the riches of Thy blessings may rest upon this people and may they go from here this day filled with the Holy Ghost. May they live from hereafter, Lord, filled with Your Spirit. May they never forget this that they're contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. We pray, God, that the Holy Ghost will have the right of way in every heart, right now. And may He fall like a rushing mighty wind, sweep over the building. Send Him now, Lord. I pray that You'll get victory, pour out... You... We... Said, "We're a high priests, offering spiritual sacrifices; the fruits of our lips a giving praise to God." And may every believer now as a sacrifice of the high priest, enter into the praises of God, shouting, glorifying God and praise Him. I ask this in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen. And the people praise God with all their hearts and give glory to God. [Jude 1:3], [Acts 2:37-39]