Thy Faith Has Saved Thee
54-0411, Thy Faith Has Saved Thee, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA, 40 min
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L-1 Thank you, Brother Moore. Good evening, friends. It's a pleasure to be back here tonight in the closing of this service in Shreveport, representing Jesus Christ to the audience again. Not a pleasure at all to be closing the meeting, but a pleasure that I've had with you all while being here. How kind you've been to me; supporting me with your faith and all that you've done for me. I appreciate it.
I thank Brother Moore and his staff from the Life Tabernacle, and all the other ministers, cooperating ministers, and all the laity, and the people who's come. We thank you, every one. We want to thank the people who is the overseers of this auditorium, the custodians. I've met two of them, I think, out--coming in: lovely, fine men. I'm glad they are. They have a lot to do around here and different services and so forth. I pray that God will be with them.
I thank Brother Moore and his staff from the Life Tabernacle, and all the other ministers, cooperating ministers, and all the laity, and the people who's come. We thank you, every one. We want to thank the people who is the overseers of this auditorium, the custodians. I've met two of them, I think, out--coming in: lovely, fine men. I'm glad they are. They have a lot to do around here and different services and so forth. I pray that God will be with them.
L-2 And now, awhile ago, setting back in the dressing room... I've been back there for quite a little while; I was in prayer. Come over a little early tonight, and while setting back there, hearing this lovely singing, I thought, "My, that's just like heaven to me," to hear those pretty songs. And I sent out a request for my--one of my favorites, "Then Jesus Came." "Down From His Glory," "Jesus Came," and "Only Believe" is my favorite songs.
And I certainly am thankful that our Lord Jesus has did what He has for us, and trust that tonight will be the climax, that when great marvelous miracles and signs and wonders will be done tonight, in His Name.
And I certainly am thankful that our Lord Jesus has did what He has for us, and trust that tonight will be the climax, that when great marvelous miracles and signs and wonders will be done tonight, in His Name.
L-3 Now, after leaving here tonight, I've got about eight hundred miles to drive, so that getting home sometime tomorrow, tomorrow night, and the very next day leaving for down in Kentucky. And then returning from there, going to Denver, up into Canada. Pretty full schedule, very hard, but I think, while I've got a voice and God has let me find favor with many of His people, let me give my life as He did for the up-building and for the ongoing of His blessed kingdom of which He died for.
I'm going to ask you all. Perhaps before I can get back again to the tabernacle or here, I'll probably go overseas. The Lord has set the time. I've set it. He wouldn't let me go at that time. And He spoke to me of September, so that's the time. So going over in September into India, Africa, Palestine, Germany, many other countries, perhaps, 'fore getting back: England, France. So be in prayer for me, will you? And I'm going over to try to do all that I can to bring this glorious Gospel.
I'm going to ask you all. Perhaps before I can get back again to the tabernacle or here, I'll probably go overseas. The Lord has set the time. I've set it. He wouldn't let me go at that time. And He spoke to me of September, so that's the time. So going over in September into India, Africa, Palestine, Germany, many other countries, perhaps, 'fore getting back: England, France. So be in prayer for me, will you? And I'm going over to try to do all that I can to bring this glorious Gospel.
L-4 I'm just wondering, friends, tonight, if we can call... The Jews seek signs, Greeks, wisdom. The Jew's still a Jew; he still seeks signs.
Mr. Pethrus, the head of the Filadelfian Church of Stockholm, Sweden, of which Brother Moore, and Brother Brown, and I, has just returned, recently, the last few years, from over there... They said they sent a half a million Bibles down to those Jews which been a returning back to Palestine. They, reading the New Testament, they'd never heard of Jesus ever been on earth. Been down there since, I guess, the carrying away of Babylon, or the Roman captivity. And they--they read the Bible, and they said, "If this is the Messiah, if Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, let Him see us--let us see Him do the sign of the prophet: we'll accept it." Oh, my. I hope that's so. I hope God will be with me. And I could stand out many thousands of them and ask them that question and God will be there. He'll show the Jew. [I Corinthians 1:21-25]
Mr. Pethrus, the head of the Filadelfian Church of Stockholm, Sweden, of which Brother Moore, and Brother Brown, and I, has just returned, recently, the last few years, from over there... They said they sent a half a million Bibles down to those Jews which been a returning back to Palestine. They, reading the New Testament, they'd never heard of Jesus ever been on earth. Been down there since, I guess, the carrying away of Babylon, or the Roman captivity. And they--they read the Bible, and they said, "If this is the Messiah, if Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, let Him see us--let us see Him do the sign of the prophet: we'll accept it." Oh, my. I hope that's so. I hope God will be with me. And I could stand out many thousands of them and ask them that question and God will be there. He'll show the Jew. [I Corinthians 1:21-25]
L-5 And perhaps, what if this would take place? I don't say it will. In there, if I'd ask them if Jesus, reading the Scripture and see that He didn't claim to be a healer, He only claimed to see visions; what the Father told Him to do, He went and done it. We all, Bible readers, know that. Jesus said, "I can do nothing of Myself," Saint John 5:19, "but what I see the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise. The Father worketh; I worketh hitherto." Well then, if that's what He was on earth, many people come to Him, if He hadn't seen no visions, He thought they had faith enough, He said, "Thy faith save thee; according to your faith be it unto you." But when He had had a vision, He just said what God told Him to say. "Go, it's over," and so forth. [John 5:19], [Luke 7:50], [Luke 18:42], [Matthew 9:29]
L-6 Now, if they see and I say, "Now, if Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah, as I represent Him to be, and He's risen from the dead, claiming the things that He did while here on earth, He'd given it over to His church... Now, if Jesus will do that, will you accept Him as personal Saviour?" say that to them like I did in Africa. And on that same thing in Africa, I saw thirty thousand raw heathens come to Jesus Christ in one altar call: thirty thousand breaking their idols on the ground, throwing away all their charms, wiping the mud from their face and their superstition, their paints and things that they use for war, heathen paints, and coming to Jesus Christ, thirty thousand at one time...
Let me say this in love and respect. Not because it was--I was there, friend, my, no, but because Jesus Christ was there. That was more converts than's been brought in Africa for the past hundred and fifty years, as far as I know. Done in five minutes time, on what the world calls fanaticism, and what Jesus Christ commissioned us to do. You see what I mean? I'm trying my best to get the Lord Jesus to every person that I can before the end comes.
Let me say this in love and respect. Not because it was--I was there, friend, my, no, but because Jesus Christ was there. That was more converts than's been brought in Africa for the past hundred and fifty years, as far as I know. Done in five minutes time, on what the world calls fanaticism, and what Jesus Christ commissioned us to do. You see what I mean? I'm trying my best to get the Lord Jesus to every person that I can before the end comes.
L-7 Now, if those Jews would, one hundred percent, receive Jesus Christ then, and tell them right on the spot where you're standing, right here in Palestine, right here in Jerusalem, the Holy Ghost fell the first time on the Jews. Now, while you're standing in your same tracks, receive ye the Holy Ghost. And what if the Holy Ghost would fall on thirty or forty or fifty thousand Jews at one time? You know what would happen? The Gentile age would be finished. That's right.
Let the Jews, once, get straightened out, and watch what takes place. We set home and think about it, and so forth. The Jews get out and does the job about it. The Jews has been the greatest missionaries that God has ever had. They've certainly... Paul packed the Gospel to all the known world his day. Many sick and afflicted was in Jerusalem but He had to go to Asia and somewhere else. He had to scatter the Gospel.
And you know the Gentile dispensation is to soon finish. All believers know that. Might be this is the time. God have mercy, Christians. God have mercy, sinner. If you're not a Christian tonight, don't pass through the threshold of these doors until you are a Christian. Accept the Lord Jesus Christ now, as your personal Saviour.
Let the Jews, once, get straightened out, and watch what takes place. We set home and think about it, and so forth. The Jews get out and does the job about it. The Jews has been the greatest missionaries that God has ever had. They've certainly... Paul packed the Gospel to all the known world his day. Many sick and afflicted was in Jerusalem but He had to go to Asia and somewhere else. He had to scatter the Gospel.
And you know the Gentile dispensation is to soon finish. All believers know that. Might be this is the time. God have mercy, Christians. God have mercy, sinner. If you're not a Christian tonight, don't pass through the threshold of these doors until you are a Christian. Accept the Lord Jesus Christ now, as your personal Saviour.
L-8 God be with you. I hope I have tried. And I thank each one of you again; I've tried to say how much I appreciate it. I can't do it. May the Holy Spirit tell every one of you what I think in my heart.
I suppose, they told me, I believe, they taken up a little love offering for me. Didn't have to do that. But I'm a poor man. I don't have anything of this world's goods. That's the truth. Only thing that I have, tonight, is a little home built up there. Brother Moore drawed out for me and wanted to build it hisself. I let the people build it from an offering. I didn't keep it myself. After I looked at it, I thought, "That's not right." There isn't any Branhams got any homes; we're all vagabonds, travelers. I said, "It's not right for me to have this: sick people give this. What if something happened to me? I'll turn it over to the church down here, and let it be used for a parsonage, and I don't own it myself. The Tabernacle at Eighth and Penn Street owns the church. They could put me out in the morning if they desire to.
I suppose, they told me, I believe, they taken up a little love offering for me. Didn't have to do that. But I'm a poor man. I don't have anything of this world's goods. That's the truth. Only thing that I have, tonight, is a little home built up there. Brother Moore drawed out for me and wanted to build it hisself. I let the people build it from an offering. I didn't keep it myself. After I looked at it, I thought, "That's not right." There isn't any Branhams got any homes; we're all vagabonds, travelers. I said, "It's not right for me to have this: sick people give this. What if something happened to me? I'll turn it over to the church down here, and let it be used for a parsonage, and I don't own it myself. The Tabernacle at Eighth and Penn Street owns the church. They could put me out in the morning if they desire to.
L-9 But, someone give me a car. Brother Moore started off; some people took up some offerings down through here. I got a car and I've been swapping it in every year; and an old truck. That's my possessions.
Maybe a couple a hundred dollars in the bank... Takes about a hundred dollars a day to run my business. You could imagine, we're overdrawn half the time. If you don't believe it, just write to the company (the bank) and you'll see. That's right. What little I have in the love offering at the end of the meeting, when we're through with all expense, that settles it. At the end of the meeting, you take up a love offering. If it's enough, I go home and ask my secretary how much does the office need, how far are we back drawn? We fill up--up, pay off everything we can. If there's any bit left over at all, to carry me and the boy in the next meeting, I put it into foreign missions. Someday I'm going to have to answer for every penny of money that's been given me. And if I put it to God's work, I want to be a good steward of His affair. I try that; God knows that's the truth. That's right.
Maybe a couple a hundred dollars in the bank... Takes about a hundred dollars a day to run my business. You could imagine, we're overdrawn half the time. If you don't believe it, just write to the company (the bank) and you'll see. That's right. What little I have in the love offering at the end of the meeting, when we're through with all expense, that settles it. At the end of the meeting, you take up a love offering. If it's enough, I go home and ask my secretary how much does the office need, how far are we back drawn? We fill up--up, pay off everything we can. If there's any bit left over at all, to carry me and the boy in the next meeting, I put it into foreign missions. Someday I'm going to have to answer for every penny of money that's been given me. And if I put it to God's work, I want to be a good steward of His affair. I try that; God knows that's the truth. That's right.
L-10 I went to a little dinner the other day. My boy put a white coat on me. I felt so out of place with that coat on, I couldn't even speak at that dinner. I said, "Billy, that don't look right."
He said, "Wear it, daddy. It's my coat, wear it." Well, I didn't want to hurt him. Brother, sister, I say this humbly and for not to be a pulling or trying to get sympathy. The clothes that I have is clothes people give me. The suit I got on, Brother Moore was with me, and I got it four years ago in Sweden. Pair of shoes, my wife bought it for me. I got another suit over there was give to me in Florida. Another one I got in Finland; two I got in Germany, or not Germany, but Africa. That's where the clothes comes from. It's what people give me. Some of them's hand me down. That's true. I got a suit from California about five years ago and been wearing it ever since. And it--it's about six, seven years old when I got it. But what is it? It's good enough. He didn't even have but one garment and borrowed somebody's grave to be laid in.
I could've been pretty well off if I'd took all the money people had offered me, but I want to be just as poor as those who come to be prayed for. We're fellow citizens of the kingdom of God. I'm not saying that just to be saying. I'm saying it because I want you to know, friends, that the kingdom of God does not consist of riches in this earth, fine clothes. It's a submitted heart to God, is where God works.
He said, "Wear it, daddy. It's my coat, wear it." Well, I didn't want to hurt him. Brother, sister, I say this humbly and for not to be a pulling or trying to get sympathy. The clothes that I have is clothes people give me. The suit I got on, Brother Moore was with me, and I got it four years ago in Sweden. Pair of shoes, my wife bought it for me. I got another suit over there was give to me in Florida. Another one I got in Finland; two I got in Germany, or not Germany, but Africa. That's where the clothes comes from. It's what people give me. Some of them's hand me down. That's true. I got a suit from California about five years ago and been wearing it ever since. And it--it's about six, seven years old when I got it. But what is it? It's good enough. He didn't even have but one garment and borrowed somebody's grave to be laid in.
I could've been pretty well off if I'd took all the money people had offered me, but I want to be just as poor as those who come to be prayed for. We're fellow citizens of the kingdom of God. I'm not saying that just to be saying. I'm saying it because I want you to know, friends, that the kingdom of God does not consist of riches in this earth, fine clothes. It's a submitted heart to God, is where God works.
L-11 Some time ago, in California, a fine Armenian friend said, "Brother Branham, do you ride in that old Chevrolet truck?"
I said, "Yes, sir."
He said, "We just give Abaick a new blue Cadillac." Said, "I've got one setting out there and a custom built Packard that's only got about three hundred miles on it. Take your choice."
I said, "That's nice. But wouldn't it look nice for me coming down through Arkansas, somewhere, riding in a Cadillac car and a poor little woman out there pulling a big sack behind her of cotton; eating bacon and corn pone for breakfast, making about two dollars a day? Say, 'Oh, there goes Brother Branham.'" Not me. Don't want that. No, sir. "Naked came I into this world, naked I shall return," but what's on the inside of me, I expect it take me beyond the stars and the moons, to where the One that I love, lives, waits for me. And I'm doing all that I can to serve Him until He calls me. Shall we pray.
I said, "Yes, sir."
He said, "We just give Abaick a new blue Cadillac." Said, "I've got one setting out there and a custom built Packard that's only got about three hundred miles on it. Take your choice."
I said, "That's nice. But wouldn't it look nice for me coming down through Arkansas, somewhere, riding in a Cadillac car and a poor little woman out there pulling a big sack behind her of cotton; eating bacon and corn pone for breakfast, making about two dollars a day? Say, 'Oh, there goes Brother Branham.'" Not me. Don't want that. No, sir. "Naked came I into this world, naked I shall return," but what's on the inside of me, I expect it take me beyond the stars and the moons, to where the One that I love, lives, waits for me. And I'm doing all that I can to serve Him until He calls me. Shall we pray.
L-12 Heavenly Father, looking down upon these words here, that's been inspired by the writer, I pray that You'll open the Word tonight, and may It go so deep in the heart. My heart's stirred, looking here and seeing this poor man leaning against his wife and her setting there crying. Little babies stretched out on a cot here. O God, if there's just anything I could do, will You help me. Any way that I could represent You in any manner, help me, dear God.
Many setting here, perhaps, with cancer and heart trouble, may not live till morning if You don't give them some faith or they get some faith to receive their healing. O God, I pray tonight that something will happen, unusual. May You manifest Yourself tonight like You did to those at Emmaus. Do something a little different so that everybody here will recognize that it's You, Father. Grant it. We thank You for the Words that You've give us this week. For everything that You've done for us, we thank You. And now, open the Word, Lord, to our hearts. And may we say, when we leave, like those from Emmaus, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He spake to us." For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Many setting here, perhaps, with cancer and heart trouble, may not live till morning if You don't give them some faith or they get some faith to receive their healing. O God, I pray tonight that something will happen, unusual. May You manifest Yourself tonight like You did to those at Emmaus. Do something a little different so that everybody here will recognize that it's You, Father. Grant it. We thank You for the Words that You've give us this week. For everything that You've done for us, we thank You. And now, open the Word, Lord, to our hearts. And may we say, when we leave, like those from Emmaus, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He spake to us." For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
L-13 In Saint Mark the 10th chapter, beginning with the 46th verse, we read this:
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with disciples... a great multitude of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, set by the highway side begging.
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he begin to cry out, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And Jesus stood still, (Oh, I love that. His faith stopped Jesus in His track.)
And ...Jesus... commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of a good comfort, arise; he calleth thee.
And he, cast away his garment, and rose, and came to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What will thou that I... do unto thee? And the blind man said unto him, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith has made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. [Mark 10:46-52]
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he begin to cry out, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And Jesus stood still, (Oh, I love that. His faith stopped Jesus in His track.)
And ...Jesus... commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of a good comfort, arise; he calleth thee.
And he, cast away his garment, and rose, and came to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What will thou that I... do unto thee? And the blind man said unto him, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith has made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-14 Just for the next few moments, I want to say these words about the little text, just for a short time. We're going to try and we'll see how many people that I can pray for in this line. If these men will just hold me up to pray for them.
Our scene tonight is a very sad, tragic look as we see a Jericho. Jericho was always a cursed city since the Jews possessed Palestine. Joshua said, "Cursed is the man that'll build this city." Jericho always represented backslidden. Jerusalem sets above Jericho, the heavenly, and as it left Jericho, going down, you were going away from God... The cursed city.... The blessed city: the cursed city.
In the time of our scene tonight, was Blind Bartimaeus, an old blind beggar, perhaps ragged, begging for his pennies as he set by the side of this fence or wall, by the highway, where it passed by the highway. Perhaps, this cold November day, because he shivered there, his--it's cold...
And as he set there by the side of the highway, he had a lot of competitors. Many blind people was in the land at that day. Hardly a stranger passing by would give him a coin now and then. But you can imagine how hard it was on beggars when blind, leprosy, and leper stricken, deaf, dumb. All kinds of beggars just filled the road. And what would one poor old beggar have up to side of all that group of people? As he set there in the cold wind, no doubt, cut away in this dark world that he lived in... On the inside was a group of people who professed to be very religious, yet very indifferent, very wicked, very sinful. [Mark 10:46-52]
Our scene tonight is a very sad, tragic look as we see a Jericho. Jericho was always a cursed city since the Jews possessed Palestine. Joshua said, "Cursed is the man that'll build this city." Jericho always represented backslidden. Jerusalem sets above Jericho, the heavenly, and as it left Jericho, going down, you were going away from God... The cursed city.... The blessed city: the cursed city.
In the time of our scene tonight, was Blind Bartimaeus, an old blind beggar, perhaps ragged, begging for his pennies as he set by the side of this fence or wall, by the highway, where it passed by the highway. Perhaps, this cold November day, because he shivered there, his--it's cold...
And as he set there by the side of the highway, he had a lot of competitors. Many blind people was in the land at that day. Hardly a stranger passing by would give him a coin now and then. But you can imagine how hard it was on beggars when blind, leprosy, and leper stricken, deaf, dumb. All kinds of beggars just filled the road. And what would one poor old beggar have up to side of all that group of people? As he set there in the cold wind, no doubt, cut away in this dark world that he lived in... On the inside was a group of people who professed to be very religious, yet very indifferent, very wicked, very sinful. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-15 There's so many beggars and things, perhaps, he never even thought of blind Bartimaeus. And here he was setting out there, shut off in the dark world. Along the side of him, run the Jericho road, running up to Jerusalem, the cobblestones in the road was perhaps, well polished from many travelers going back and forth over the road. Over this same road, the great warrior Joshua led the children of Israel, many years before.
Over this same road walked Elijah and Elisha as they went to Jordan. No doubt that this old blind beggar, setting there, saying--in his dark world, saying, "If I'd have only lived in the day when Elijah and Elisha passed by, I would've cried out, and they'd have prayed for me. And God would've give me my sight. But now, all the peoples in the city and around say the days of miracles is past."
But perhaps, down in his heart, he believed that God still lived. How little did he know, just down the road come his deliverance. I wonder if that ain't our case tonight. I hope it is. Many of you setting here is sick and afflicted, needy, some of you dying with sickness. [Mark 10:46-52]
Over this same road walked Elijah and Elisha as they went to Jordan. No doubt that this old blind beggar, setting there, saying--in his dark world, saying, "If I'd have only lived in the day when Elijah and Elisha passed by, I would've cried out, and they'd have prayed for me. And God would've give me my sight. But now, all the peoples in the city and around say the days of miracles is past."
But perhaps, down in his heart, he believed that God still lived. How little did he know, just down the road come his deliverance. I wonder if that ain't our case tonight. I hope it is. Many of you setting here is sick and afflicted, needy, some of you dying with sickness. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-16 There same thing: great cities, great scientists, but in your case, there can be no help come. Perhaps blind Bartimaeus, if he would've had money, there'd have been no way they could've helped him, an operation. He'd... I been told that the man was born that way. That I don't know. That...The Scripture doesn't back that up. But anyhow, he was blind. And if he could have an operation, he wasn't able, because he was a beggar; so he might as well not be any help for him, if it come through medical science and they didn't have any way to operate or no money to be operated on. There he sets in this horrible condition, but down in his heart he was a believer. You know, I always think if a man will really believe, God will shove something by him. Don't you believe that? If there's a hunger in your heart for God, there's got to be something to respond to that hunger. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-17 And here he is setting there in his darkness. Now, no one coming by, after a while, he listens. He hears somebody whispering. They say, "He's coming this a way." Let's dramatize it a moment.
"He's coming this a way." After while, I hear a bunch hollering, "Good evening, father." The priests are coming by. I hear some priest saying, "And the very idea, that Beelzebub coming into the city to interrupt our churches. He doesn't do nothing but speak evil. Why, we know the days of miracles is past. He only casts out devils through Beelzebub. He's a fortuneteller. That's how he knows who touched him, and so forth. Why, he's nothing but Beelzebub. And he's anointed with the devil, and he only has got the devil to help him." [Mark 10:46-52]
"He's coming this a way." After while, I hear a bunch hollering, "Good evening, father." The priests are coming by. I hear some priest saying, "And the very idea, that Beelzebub coming into the city to interrupt our churches. He doesn't do nothing but speak evil. Why, we know the days of miracles is past. He only casts out devils through Beelzebub. He's a fortuneteller. That's how he knows who touched him, and so forth. Why, he's nothing but Beelzebub. And he's anointed with the devil, and he only has got the devil to help him." [Mark 10:46-52]
L-18 Down in old blind Bartimaeus' heart, something begin to turn over: "I wonder if He's really coming this a way?"
After while he heard a bunch of screams and shouts, "Hosanna," somebody who believed Him.
I hear the priest say, "Listen at that bunch of radics. Listen. Look what follows him. Look who comes to His meetings: them poor cast-outs." The Bible said the common people heard Him gladly. "Look what kind of a crowd He associates with. That shows there isn't nothing to Him."
Too bad, didn't realize Who He was. I wonder today, if that isn't a great thing today too, Christian friends. They just don't realize Who He is, don't realize that He's the same today as He was then. [Mark 10:46-52]
After while he heard a bunch of screams and shouts, "Hosanna," somebody who believed Him.
I hear the priest say, "Listen at that bunch of radics. Listen. Look what follows him. Look who comes to His meetings: them poor cast-outs." The Bible said the common people heard Him gladly. "Look what kind of a crowd He associates with. That shows there isn't nothing to Him."
Too bad, didn't realize Who He was. I wonder today, if that isn't a great thing today too, Christian friends. They just don't realize Who He is, don't realize that He's the same today as He was then. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-19 I can hear them blaspheming. After while blind Bartimaeus kept saying, "Who--who's passing? Who's passing?"
Some said, "Jesus of Nazareth passes by." Oh, my. A new hope come into his heart. Something's happening. There's his first and last chance. He'll never pass that way again. That's his only hope. And how do we know that tonight, there isn't men and women setting here, that's your only hope. He may never pass this way again.
Then he grabbed his rags. He said, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Perhaps, the roar of the people and the screams, Jesus never heard his voice. But he thought, "Oh, He's going to pass me." "Oh, Thou Son of David, have mercy."
Jesus, in a deep study, His face was placed towards Jerusalem. Being the Son of God, He knowed that He must go to Jerusalem and there be crucified the next few days. You know what, friends, you and I are part of the fault that He was on that road that day. Did you know that? Our sins and sickness put Him on that road that day, going to Calvary. And there He, walking slowly, lived in another world that man didn't understand Him. When He spoke, people said, "Oh, you speak in parables. Who can understand what you say. You never answer anything correctly to us. We can't understand. Tell us clearly." And He'd give them something in a twisting word, and walk by, go on. They didn't understand Him. He wasn't of the world, and they were of the world. [Mark 10:46-52]
Some said, "Jesus of Nazareth passes by." Oh, my. A new hope come into his heart. Something's happening. There's his first and last chance. He'll never pass that way again. That's his only hope. And how do we know that tonight, there isn't men and women setting here, that's your only hope. He may never pass this way again.
Then he grabbed his rags. He said, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Perhaps, the roar of the people and the screams, Jesus never heard his voice. But he thought, "Oh, He's going to pass me." "Oh, Thou Son of David, have mercy."
Jesus, in a deep study, His face was placed towards Jerusalem. Being the Son of God, He knowed that He must go to Jerusalem and there be crucified the next few days. You know what, friends, you and I are part of the fault that He was on that road that day. Did you know that? Our sins and sickness put Him on that road that day, going to Calvary. And there He, walking slowly, lived in another world that man didn't understand Him. When He spoke, people said, "Oh, you speak in parables. Who can understand what you say. You never answer anything correctly to us. We can't understand. Tell us clearly." And He'd give them something in a twisting word, and walk by, go on. They didn't understand Him. He wasn't of the world, and they were of the world. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-20 And now, with the howling mobs from every side, some in...?... singing (His friends), "Hosanna, Hosanna. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Praise God forever." The sick people had been healed, perhaps, following Him, praising Him.
And the priests criticize Him, "All right, let us see you do a sign. You done it somewhere else, come over here. We got somebody's crippled. Let me see you make them whole. We don't believe you. We believe you're the devil, the Beelzebub. Don't come around our churches. We don't want that kind of stuff in our city. Bypass us."
All that screaming going on, Jesus never noticed it. He walked steadily on towards Jerusalem, knowing that that was His own children crying for His Blood, and He couldn't turn them down. How can a father turn his own children down? And here He walks on to Jerusalem. [John 14:13-14], [John 16:23-27]
And the priests criticize Him, "All right, let us see you do a sign. You done it somewhere else, come over here. We got somebody's crippled. Let me see you make them whole. We don't believe you. We believe you're the devil, the Beelzebub. Don't come around our churches. We don't want that kind of stuff in our city. Bypass us."
All that screaming going on, Jesus never noticed it. He walked steadily on towards Jerusalem, knowing that that was His own children crying for His Blood, and He couldn't turn them down. How can a father turn his own children down? And here He walks on to Jerusalem. [John 14:13-14], [John 16:23-27]
L-21 But this poor old blind beggar, standing way back, people tried to stop him from crying: I believe good people with good intentions. But said, "Set down. Don't make so much noise. Why, the days of miracles is past. You know our priests tell us that. And do you want to be considered with a bunch of fanatics? Sit down."
He turned a deaf ear to them. He said, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. My only hope is leaving me. O God, be merciful to me, a blind man." And something touched the Master, and the faith of that blind, ragged beggar stopped Jesus Christ in His tracks. It'll do the same thing tonight.
He stopped, looked around, said, "Bring him here." Oh, now...
Some of them said, "Be of a good cheer; He calleth thee." Oh, look at faith go to work now. Faith leaps up. Grabs his ragged coat and throws it sideways, not laying--noticing where he lays it nice so he could pick it up or find it when he was feeling his way around the wall. He had a audience with Jesus. He knew he would get what he wanted as long as he could have an audience with Jesus.
And brother, sister, tonight, let's just have an audience with Jesus tonight. "Ask," He said, "and you shall receive. What you ask the Father in My Name, that I'll do." Let's ask an audience with Him tonight. [Mark 10:46-52], [Mark 10:46-52]
He turned a deaf ear to them. He said, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. My only hope is leaving me. O God, be merciful to me, a blind man." And something touched the Master, and the faith of that blind, ragged beggar stopped Jesus Christ in His tracks. It'll do the same thing tonight.
He stopped, looked around, said, "Bring him here." Oh, now...
Some of them said, "Be of a good cheer; He calleth thee." Oh, look at faith go to work now. Faith leaps up. Grabs his ragged coat and throws it sideways, not laying--noticing where he lays it nice so he could pick it up or find it when he was feeling his way around the wall. He had a audience with Jesus. He knew he would get what he wanted as long as he could have an audience with Jesus.
And brother, sister, tonight, let's just have an audience with Jesus tonight. "Ask," He said, "and you shall receive. What you ask the Father in My Name, that I'll do." Let's ask an audience with Him tonight. [Mark 10:46-52], [Mark 10:46-52]
L-22 Now, watch. He wasn't distressed any more. His old thin poor arms... Probably eat a bowl of soup every three days, from his nickel or coin, as it dropped in. His ragged arms, poor arms, rather, goes through his ragged sleeves, and he throws his arms out like that. "What? I've stopped Him. I've got an audience with Him. I'll be able to speak to Him." How's he going to see Him? He's blind. Didn't make any difference. He attracted the attention of the Master. Down through his dark world he went plunging towards where the sound come from, not knowing how he was going to get back in that crowd, what was going to take care of it, how he was going to find his ragged coat; that didn't make any difference to him. The main thing was get to Jesus right now. His old bony hand, reaching out, moving towards where he heard the voice... [Mark 10:46-52]
L-23 Jesus didn't say. He said, "What would you that I would do for you?" Never rebuked him. He didn't say, "Bartimaeus, are you a Pharisee, or a Sadducee, or a Publican, or what are you, Bartimaeus?" That didn't matter nothing to Jesus. A man in need had faith enough to stop Him. He didn't say, "Do you belong to the Sanhedrin council? Are you a good member of some church?" He said, "What would you then, that I would do for you? Now, you stopped Me; I don't know; the Father hasn't showed Me. But what do you want?"
He said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." Amen. Down in his heart, turning over: "They told me the days of miracles is past, but I believe something's going to happen to me soon." [Mark 10:46-52]
He said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." Amen. Down in his heart, turning over: "They told me the days of miracles is past, but I believe something's going to happen to me soon." [Mark 10:46-52]
L-24 Now, He didn't say, "The days of miracles is past." Jesus didn't. He didn't try to... Bartimaeus wasn't asking, "Lord, that I might... I'm a blind man. I've been told the days of miracles is past. But I'm told if I'm a believer in God that I'll go to heaven someday. Oh, good Master, tell me what heaven looks like. Will I receive my sight when I get to heaven? Is this God's blessings for me to be blind, as I've been told? Is it God's... God wants me to go to heaven, then what does heaven look like? That wasn't what blind Bartimaeus wanted. Blind Bartimaeus wanted to receive his sight. That was the first thing: get out of that dark world he was living in.
And Jesus said, "Thy faith has saved thee," turned and walked on, on up the road.
I can see old blind Bartimaeus; he's staggering yet in the dark. Walked over and got out of the crowd, said, "Let me see now if I can see my hand. I believe I am; He done told me. What His Word is, He's God. What He said's true." Waited a little while, and the crowd going on up the road, he said, "Let's see, He told me, 'as I believed it.' I believe. Oh, I see now." Light begins to break into his eyes. Scream to the top of his voice and down the road he went to follow Jesus. There it is. Why? All because he had found an audience with Him. Let's just have an audience with Him now. Let us confess our sins and our weaknesses of human beings. [Mark 10:46-52]
And Jesus said, "Thy faith has saved thee," turned and walked on, on up the road.
I can see old blind Bartimaeus; he's staggering yet in the dark. Walked over and got out of the crowd, said, "Let me see now if I can see my hand. I believe I am; He done told me. What His Word is, He's God. What He said's true." Waited a little while, and the crowd going on up the road, he said, "Let's see, He told me, 'as I believed it.' I believe. Oh, I see now." Light begins to break into his eyes. Scream to the top of his voice and down the road he went to follow Jesus. There it is. Why? All because he had found an audience with Him. Let's just have an audience with Him now. Let us confess our sins and our weaknesses of human beings. [Mark 10:46-52]
L-25 We every one have a right to have an audience with Jesus just now. Let us pray.
Kind heavenly Father, O God, is there somebody here with faith enough to stop You just a few moments? Years has passed. It had been many, many years since Joshua had been at that gate. Been many years since Elijah and Elisha walked down the road, one by another. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Many years has passed since then, but You're here in Shreveport tonight because You promised to. He said, "The things that I do, shall you also." Then, heavenly Father, I pray that You'll anoint Your people here tonight. I know this is a great thing, Lord. I'm unworthy to ask it but will You let Thy servant have of Thy Spirit tonight, once more, that these people might know that they have an audience with You. And while they are looking this way, and their hearts filled with joy, anticipation, great expectations, may the same lovely Jesus speak to them: "Thy faith has saved thee." Grant it, Lord. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen. [John 14:12]
Kind heavenly Father, O God, is there somebody here with faith enough to stop You just a few moments? Years has passed. It had been many, many years since Joshua had been at that gate. Been many years since Elijah and Elisha walked down the road, one by another. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Many years has passed since then, but You're here in Shreveport tonight because You promised to. He said, "The things that I do, shall you also." Then, heavenly Father, I pray that You'll anoint Your people here tonight. I know this is a great thing, Lord. I'm unworthy to ask it but will You let Thy servant have of Thy Spirit tonight, once more, that these people might know that they have an audience with You. And while they are looking this way, and their hearts filled with joy, anticipation, great expectations, may the same lovely Jesus speak to them: "Thy faith has saved thee." Grant it, Lord. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen. [John 14:12]
L-26 I wonder why... Sometimes I'm made to wonder why the people could doubt our Lord Jesus. Scripture just come into my mind, just before calling the prayer line. It's found over here in Saint Luke the 11th chapter, 14th verse.
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
But some of them said, He casts out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
And others, tempting him, sought... him a--show them a sign from heaven.
After making a man that couldn't speak, to speak, and then wanted a sign from heaven... Shreveport, God bless you, you people here. You've been blessed with money. Great men has passed through your borders. I look around tonight at the vacant seats through this place. I think about over the places, perhaps, churches the same way. It's just a little warn.
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
But some of them said, He casts out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
And others, tempting him, sought... him a--show them a sign from heaven.
After making a man that couldn't speak, to speak, and then wanted a sign from heaven... Shreveport, God bless you, you people here. You've been blessed with money. Great men has passed through your borders. I look around tonight at the vacant seats through this place. I think about over the places, perhaps, churches the same way. It's just a little warn.
L-27 About the same time, a year or two ago, there was a great man passed through here by the name of Billy Graham: a glorious, wonderful servant of the Lord. He came into this city, and he roared out with a voice of judgment to you. He condemned your church goings and your cold formal conditions. He condemned your politics. He blasted it from one side to the other. Shreveport was very religious during that revival. He moved out there. Even to my friend, Brother Moore called me, said, "Brother Branham, I wish you'd come down and pray for the sick." Said, "Everything in Shreveport's become God-minded since that man has been here." Why'd you forget so quick?
L-28 I want to read another Scripture: Saint John 5:33.
Jesus speaking of John, said, "You all went out to see John." Said, "You had a great time when John was here." Said, "For a season you liked to walk in his light. And John came, neither eating or drinking, fasting, had a great meeting till all of Jerusalem and Judea was moved. And John bear record of Jesus. And then when Jesus come, confirming John's ministry with signs and wonders, they didn't receive him." May the Lord bless now. And may you keep in the sweet spirit of prayer, until the services is ended. If I have truly testified of our Lord Jesus Christ, the truth, I know that He will come tonight and confirm the words that's been said.
You sent unto John, and he bare witness of the truth.
But I receive not testimony from man: but the things that I say, that ye might be saved.
He was a bright and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to walk in his light.
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has give me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, ... the Father... sent me.
And the Father himself, which has sent me, has bore witness of me. [John 5:33-37]
But I receive not testimony from man: but the things that I say, that ye might be saved.
He was a bright and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to walk in his light.
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has give me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, ... the Father... sent me.
And the Father himself, which has sent me, has bore witness of me. [John 5:33-37]
Jesus speaking of John, said, "You all went out to see John." Said, "You had a great time when John was here." Said, "For a season you liked to walk in his light. And John came, neither eating or drinking, fasting, had a great meeting till all of Jerusalem and Judea was moved. And John bear record of Jesus. And then when Jesus come, confirming John's ministry with signs and wonders, they didn't receive him." May the Lord bless now. And may you keep in the sweet spirit of prayer, until the services is ended. If I have truly testified of our Lord Jesus Christ, the truth, I know that He will come tonight and confirm the words that's been said.
L-29 If there be any strangers here, that has never been in the meetings before, I want to make this clear so that you'll always know. I have never one time said I was a healer. And I don't believe there is a man on earth that's a healer. Even Jesus Christ was not a Divine healer. He said, "It's not Me that doeth the works, it's My Father that dwelleth in Me; He doeth the works." [John 14:10]
When He passed by, a big bunch of cripples, and blinds, and twisted, and halt, and lame at the pool of Bethesda, He healed a man with a prostate trouble, or something... He... Wasn't going to kill him. He'd had it for thirty-eight years; it was retarded. He could walk, get around. Laying on a pallet, he said, "Will thou be made whole?" He said he had no one to put him in the water. He said, "Take up your bed and walk." If you notice, Jesus knew he was laying there. He went on. The Jews questioned him in the 19th verse: that's the 5th chapter of Saint John. Why don't He heal them all? Why'd He walk through that crowd? Full of mercy and full of power, He was God on earth, why'd He walk through that crowd of great multitudes three or four times as many as is this building tonight: great multitudes, lame, halt, blind, withered. Walking right through them and never healed a one, but this one man, and he wasn't too bad. He said, "When I'm coming down to the pool, somebody else can outrun me, beat me to the pool." [John 5:1-19]
When He passed by, a big bunch of cripples, and blinds, and twisted, and halt, and lame at the pool of Bethesda, He healed a man with a prostate trouble, or something... He... Wasn't going to kill him. He'd had it for thirty-eight years; it was retarded. He could walk, get around. Laying on a pallet, he said, "Will thou be made whole?" He said he had no one to put him in the water. He said, "Take up your bed and walk." If you notice, Jesus knew he was laying there. He went on. The Jews questioned him in the 19th verse: that's the 5th chapter of Saint John. Why don't He heal them all? Why'd He walk through that crowd? Full of mercy and full of power, He was God on earth, why'd He walk through that crowd of great multitudes three or four times as many as is this building tonight: great multitudes, lame, halt, blind, withered. Walking right through them and never healed a one, but this one man, and he wasn't too bad. He said, "When I'm coming down to the pool, somebody else can outrun me, beat me to the pool." [John 5:1-19]
L-30 And they questioned Jesus. Listen at His words, Saint John 5:19: "Verily, verily I say unto you..." That's "Absolutely, absolutely, I say unto you: the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." That's His Word. And He said...
Now He did know the thoughts of the people. He perceived it in the audience. He felt the pressure of blind Bartimaeus' faith calling Him. A woman touched His garment one time, because she said if she did it, she'd get well. She touched His garment. She'd spent all of her money with the doctors; she'd had it for many years, about eighteen years. None of them could help her. And she touched His garment and run back in the audience and thought, "Oh, thank God. I--I'm going to be well, because I thought if I could only touch Him, I'd get well."
And while he was standing there, Jesus walked along, people crowding around Him, He stopped, looked around till He found this woman. He said, "Thy faith has healed thee, my daughter." There you are. He's a High Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. [John 5:19]
Now He did know the thoughts of the people. He perceived it in the audience. He felt the pressure of blind Bartimaeus' faith calling Him. A woman touched His garment one time, because she said if she did it, she'd get well. She touched His garment. She'd spent all of her money with the doctors; she'd had it for many years, about eighteen years. None of them could help her. And she touched His garment and run back in the audience and thought, "Oh, thank God. I--I'm going to be well, because I thought if I could only touch Him, I'd get well."
And while he was standing there, Jesus walked along, people crowding around Him, He stopped, looked around till He found this woman. He said, "Thy faith has healed thee, my daughter." There you are. He's a High Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. [John 5:19]
L-31 He found a woman at the well. He talked to her awhile till He found out what was wrong with her and told her. [John 4:1-35]
He knowed where a fish was, had a coin in it's mouth. [Matthew 17:27]
When Philip got converted, he went and found Nathanael, said, "Come, see Who I found, Jesus of Nazareth.
He said, "Could any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
Said, "Come, see." Philip was standing out in the audience perhaps, Jesus a casting out evil spirits, praying for the sick. He turned around and seen Philip. He said, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
"Why," Philip said--or Nathanael, rather, said, "How did You know me?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you."
He ran forth and said, "Thou art the Son of God. You're the King of Israel." [John 1:43-51]
He knowed where a fish was, had a coin in it's mouth. [Matthew 17:27]
When Philip got converted, he went and found Nathanael, said, "Come, see Who I found, Jesus of Nazareth.
He said, "Could any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
Said, "Come, see." Philip was standing out in the audience perhaps, Jesus a casting out evil spirits, praying for the sick. He turned around and seen Philip. He said, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
"Why," Philip said--or Nathanael, rather, said, "How did You know me?"
He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you."
He ran forth and said, "Thou art the Son of God. You're the King of Israel." [John 1:43-51]
L-32 Jesus said, in leaving the earth, "A little while and the world will see Me no more. Yet ye shall see Me, for I will be with you, even in you to the end of the world." That Scripture? Now, there's going to be some world that can't see Him, and there's going to be some "ye's" that will see Him. "For the things that I do shall you do also, even more than this, for I go unto My Father": Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Here is my contention, stranger. Jesus is not dead. Death couldn't hold Him. He come up from the grave. And His body went to the right hand of the throne of God. His Spirit is here on earth, dwelling in men, doing the same work that It did when It was in the body, Christ Jesus. And His body is the church. Surely that's clear. May the Lord add His blessings.
All right. Where's Billy? Now, did he give out any cards out? All right. Is the prayer cards given out? What--what was they? You remember what they were? They were given out. [Matthew 28:20], [John 14:12]
Here is my contention, stranger. Jesus is not dead. Death couldn't hold Him. He come up from the grave. And His body went to the right hand of the throne of God. His Spirit is here on earth, dwelling in men, doing the same work that It did when It was in the body, Christ Jesus. And His body is the church. Surely that's clear. May the Lord add His blessings.
All right. Where's Billy? Now, did he give out any cards out? All right. Is the prayer cards given out? What--what was they? You remember what they were? They were given out. [Matthew 28:20], [John 14:12]