God Being Misunderstood
61-0723E, God Being Misunderstood, Branham Tabernacle, Jeffersonville, IN, 128 min




I believe, Brother Neville, if we'll turn that around on you, how about that? Me speaking, I get a little, get that air on me and then I... This bald head of mine lets that come down and stop up my throat.
Now, I gave out some--for some questions tonight, and answers just to kind of... The reason we do this is to kinda find out what's on the hearts of the people.

And then I... Up till about a half hour ago I only had about two or three that I'd--Billy had picked up after the service this morning and he brought them up to me. And then I went in and studied on a Scripture, thought I'd speak then a little bit tonight, being I'd mentioned it, and of being up here. Then he called me a few minutes ago, said, "Just hold it, I got a handful now."
So I'll try to get right in on these and answer them the best of my knowledge. And then if I get finished in time, I have a text I'd like to--to speak on for just maybe twenty or thirty minutes, just a short text.

And we have started from Revelations 1, got over in the 6th chapter. And of course, we get in now to the seven last Seals. And those Seals will run from the 6th--last part of the 6th chapter unto the 19th chapter inclusive. So it would take a long time. Now, I could take, say, seven nights, and run the Seven Seals, opening them up. But if you do it that way, then the people will miss the great part back here that fills in this. And if they're not really taught, it might not be good. But the first three or four of them is just happenings that we could take all right, just coming right in a row; but the next of it, then you have to go back into Daniel again, come back over into Genesis, go back over into Revelations, come back down into the Gospels, and just weave it in there, because it's the trace of Israel, God dealing with Israel. For when the church goes up, that's the last of the church until she comes with Her Lord as Bride and Bridegroom in the 19th chapter; during this time it's dealing with Israel. And to get the Seventy Weeks of Daniel in now, it sets the picture for this coming opening, First Seal.

Now, tonight we've got some questions, and they're all sensible, reasonable questions. There was one here that I'd like to speak of first, just a moment. It was someone asked... It's not a question; it's just someone asked me: Where are my keys? Please tell me. They--they'd lost them this afternoon.

Brother Welch Evans come up here and lost his car; somebody stole it in Louisville. He and Brother Fred Sothmann and some of the brethren... Brother Tom Simpson, I believe, was along that day. Or was you, Brother Tom? And they come up to the house, and there was Brother Evans without a car, without clothes, everything that he had was in that car. And they pulled in over at Miller's and somebody took it.
Well, we got a racket, a ring in Louisville, where they pull these cars off, and they'll run them down to Bowling Green or somewhere like that and respray them. And in Kentucky you don't have to have a title anyhow to your car, and they can change those cars in a few minutes and sell them any way they wanted to.

Many times people have said that certain things, and they'd ask, and I'd go before the Lord and wait for those visions, and now, waiting till they come. But I find out that that has brought a great stumbling block before the people. Really, the people of America are not ready for such a ministry, the churches. That's right. It's--it's beyond their time, See? And it causes everything; some call you a devil; some call you a spiritualist; some call you a son of God, a god, and everything. See? So I just promised the Lord that I'd let it go and just wait and use that ministry in Africa or on personal interviews when I have them here.

Now, we have gifts in the church. We have Brother Neville here who has received a gift of prophecy. Brother Higginbotham setting here, who has a gift of speaking with tongues and interpreting tongues. I would advise you... I'll pray that God will give you your keys, but I--I advise maybe that if the Holy Spirit would speak tonight maybe through Brother Neville, or Brother Higginbotham, or some of these gifts in the church, that we're got some questions on in a few minutes, that maybe they could do that.

And--but now... And then, now, Billy Paul, if someone has such a thing like that, if they'd call him, he would refer them to the church; I try to take the emergency cases when I'm at home.


There is one, Lord, who has lost some keys. Thou knowest right where they are laying, I pray that You will reveal it and will bring them right straight to those keys. It's a precious thing to them; it's to their car. And I pray, Father, that You will grant this request to those people.
Now I pray that You will bless our pastor, our beloved Brother Neville. We're so glad to see You working in our midst in these great spiritual gifts in our church, the part of the body of Christ that is worshipping on this corner of Eighth and Penn. We are so glad to be numbered with that group of people, and to know that God reveals the secrets to His people. I pray that You'll bless Brother Neville, our pastor, and Brother Higginbotham, Brother Funk, Brother Junior Jackson, and our sisters, who are speaking with tongues and giving interpretations. We pray, Father, that You will continue to manifest Yourself through these great gifts, that our church might be known as a spiritual church, that where people that are weary can come and set in the Presence of Almighty God and know He speaks and reveals the secrets of the heart.

Now, Father, if it's Your will, I pray that You'll deal with us this week and will help me as I'm studying on that Seventy Weeks of Daniel, that I might be able next Sunday morning, if it be Thy will, to open the Scripture to those people. God, grant it, that their souls might be refreshed. Teach those, Lord, who are seeking deep things. Save those who are lost. Heal those who are sick. We're all waiting on You, Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

132. Brother Bill, please say something about both children and adults being so noisy in morn--moving about during the service. This tabernacle needs some lessons in reverence.
Amen. Children, do you not know how to obey yourself in the house of God? Do you not know this is the sanctuary of God? God is in His holy temple; let everybody keep quiet. It's the place of God where people are coming, meditating, trying to find salvation to the soul, trying to find the problems of the people's lives, trying to help someone. The least you can do is be reverent, be quiet. Get you a drink of water 'fore church starts; I know little ones has to have drinks. Mothers that's got those little fellows, if you'd set near the back, keep them just as quiet as possible. And there should never be a whisper, never one whisper. We're all guilty. But when that Bible is read and that minister enters the pulpit, we should be silent, waiting on the Lord. Now, please try to do that.

And I know; I got little ones too that squirm around, and Joseph. And Meda says, "I don't get anything out of the service, trying to keep Joe quiet." Well, she's trying to do that so somebody else can get something out of the service. See?
And we always want to respect one another, honor one another, and above all things, honor God and honor His house.

133. The two children aged six to eight years were here at the altar this morning. How soon is it advisable to have them baptized?
Just as soon as you can. Repent immediately and be baptized, that's in the Name of Jesus Christ. Now, that's question number one. I would advise that. But we find out in the Scriptures...
You say, "Is that Scriptural?"
When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, three thousand souls were saved and baptized the very same time. "As many as believed on the Lord were baptized." So as soon as you believe on the Lord and accept Him as your Saviour, go right straight to the water and make your confession start right there: young or old, no matter who it is.
You say, "Well, these children might be very young."
Jesus said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me; forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of God." I would daresn't put my hand upon a child that wants to come to the altar or be baptized at any age; I don't care what age they are. [Acts 2:38, 41], [Mark 10:14]

134. A minister friend of ours baptizes in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Would we be held responsible for not telling him of his error?
I believe, as a Christian, as a duty, and if he is a personal friend of yours... Not to pick an argument with him; if you do that, then you're not right; your--your spirit's not right. But if you love that brother, which you must, because you said, "A minister friend..." Then... No names is signed to any of these notes; I do not know who they come from: these questions. [Acts 2:38], [Matthew 28:19]

Now--now, don't try... If you're not really a student, and you don't know what you're talking about, better leave it alone. See? You can just tell him, say, "Well, I wish you'd come up..." If he seems to be sincere, say, "Wonder if you'd meet our pastor or someone and discuss it?"

And of course, he is in error. That's true. The man is in error when he baptizes like that. And any man that baptizes in the name of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" is Scripturally in error. That's right. [Acts 2:38], [Matthew 28:19]

135. In a statement of faith, they said, 'We believe in one God, Eternal, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, 18 and 19; I Corinthians 13:14." Should this not be three offices instead of three persons?
You are correct. There's no three persons in the Godhead. And there cannot be a personality without being a person; it takes a person to make a personality. There is no three Gods. There's only one God, and that God is Jesus Christ. God is a Spirit that lives in Jesus Christ, and is living in His church, you and I today, separating Himself to us in the form of the Holy Spirit, which is God almighty Himself living in you.
Now, you are right; it is "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," is three offices of the same God, but not three Gods; that is Scripturally wrong. [Matthew 28:19]

136. Can a Christian go to heaven if he or she does not pay tithe?
Now, that's one that I could not answer Scripturally.
Now, this "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," if the minister is sincere, just let--let us know (You see?), we'd be glad... Brother Neville, myself, or Brother Beeler, or Brother Collins, or any of these ministers here who are ordained to this ministry, and so forth, can--can do so.
Now, but now: Does a Christian not get to heaven because they do not pay tithe?
I--I could not say yes or no to that. But I do believe that every Christian is obligated to pay tithings because it is a commandment of the Lord. "And blessed is--are they that do all His commandments, that they might have a right to enter into the Life, the Tree of Life." Now, I do believe that tithe-paying is essential to a Christian experience. For I'll get to that in another question in a few moments; I know there's another one in here pertaining to that.

137. Brother Branham, I am saved and have been baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, but how do I get away from a stubborn spirit that I can't seem to break away from?
Well, my Christian brother or sister, whoever it may be, now, most times when you find people that's got stubborn spirits, it's usually a complex that causes this, either they have inherited it from a mother, father, uncle, aunt, or grandmother, grandfather, somebody like that. And if you'll chase back down through your life, you'll find... Now, I've taken it by experience under discernment, because I have met cases on the platform, thousands of those that had that spirit. And the first thing you know, I'd chase that spirit right back by discernment and find that there was a granddaddy, there was a grandmother, there was somebody else back down there, and you inherit that by nature.

So when you feel that you got a stubborn spirit, lay the thing on the altar, and believe God that the thing is dead and you will never have it no more, and go on and don't even pay any attention to it no more, and the thing will leave you. Resist the devil and he will flee from you; that's "get away quickly." So that would be my advice how to overcome it. We overcome the devil by faith. That's what we overcome all evil, is by faith. [James 4:7]

138. Why do you baptize in the Name of Jesus Christ in place of the name of the "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"?
Well, there is no such a thing as a name of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." That's the reason. There was nobody in the Bible ever baptized in the Name of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Every person in the Bible, or three hundred years this side the Bible, was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Not one apostle, not one Christian, not one time was the "Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost" ever used for baptism until the Catholic church was organized at the Nicene Council, three hundred and six years after the death of the last apostle.
There is no such a thing as name of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Father is not a name; Son is not a name; Holy Ghost is not a name. It's three titles, three office titles to a Name: Jesus Christ. So therefore, there is no such a thing as the name of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." And it's no... There's no name to it, so I baptize in the Name of Jesus Christ which is the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Clear? [Acts 2:38]

139. Some people say that "Christ was in hades before the resurrection." Is this... Is there Scripture for this?
Now, here's a Scriptural question; I'd like to answer you from the Scriptures, 'cause they've asked, "Is it in the Scriptures?"
I would that you would turn with me to I Peter 3:18 and 20, you that wants to hear it, whether you asked the question or not, so that you won't have to take someone else's word. You may read it and find out whether this be true or not. We always want to stay with the Truth, and where the Bible says it. And this dear person, whoever it was, has asked it as wanting to know for a reference from the Bible if this is so or not.

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (quickened by the Spirit)
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
[I Peter 3:18, 20]By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Where...
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had swore with an oath to him, that of the fruits of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did His flesh see corruption (Christ's body).
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did His flesh see corruption (Christ's body).
His soul descended into hell and preached to spirits, or souls that repented not in the long-suffering in the days of Noah. His soul did descend into hell and He preached to spirits, and rose on the third day. That is Scriptural, the Truth.

I presume that they are asking the question, "the five virgins," the five wise and the five foolish. Now, if you were with us in the last teachings in Revelation, you find out there that those virgins, the--the five foolish virgins were not lost; but they were not permitted to go into the wedding supper, but they suffered persecution, and was martyred, and raised again at the general resurrection in the last day. Those are the people where He separated the sheep from the goats (See?); they stood before judgment.
You say, "Well, Brother Branham, don't we stand, the Church?"
No, sir. We do not stand before the judgment. We are now standing before the Judgment. God put our sins upon Christ, and we... "He that heareth My Word (St. John 5:24) and believeth on Him that sent Me has Eternal Life, and shall not come into the judgment but has passed from death unto Life." No more judgment for the Church, it's took up in the rapture, and comes back to pass judgment upon the people who did not receive the Holy Spirit. Does not Paul say that he dares any of us to take a--a matter to the court, to the unjust magistrate, when, "know ye not that the saints shall judge the earth?" We will set with Christ and judge, kings, and priests, and judge these people that we preached to and told them about the baptism of the Holy Ghost and they refused to receive It. Think of it.
No, they were not lost, but they will never be in the Bride. They were come in the second resurrection, but never be in the Bride, to be judged according to the way they treated the Light that they received. Now, that part will be up to Christ. They were not lost though. [Matthew 25:2], [John 5:24]

Now, you are... And this is a real hard question, and I can only answer it the best that I know how. See? Now, I could not judge, because I was not sent to judge. But I think there's so many times... I got another question down here somewhere that goes right along with that. But if a person is speaking in tongues, they are anointed of God. See? They may be out of order; that may be true; and they may be doing something that's not right; but I wouldn't want to say that it wasn't the Holy Spirit, because I wouldn't know. See?
And now, there's many times that this... that people misjudge one another. And it is a bad thing to do. You say, "Why, she's got short hair; she's wearing a dress that's too short; that--that's not the Holy Spirit upon her." Don't do that. Don't do that, that's not right. You don't know what's in that woman's heart. You don't know nothing about it. You know that the Holy Spirit would make her conduct herself a little better; now that may be true. But I'll tell you: as you and I, let God do the judging of that, and let's you and I just pray for that person that God will show them the Light. [I Corinthians 14:34-35]

"Well," I said, "I think the woman has a good spirit in her. I certainly do not agree with that, you know, the skirt part up here, the two pieces; one of them is down here and one kind of up here; it's a shirt like they wear." And so it's real thin and shows that underneath garment that they have around there. I don't think that--that should be done. I--I don't like that; I really don't." Now, I can't say; they might be just as Spirit-filled as anybody else; I don't know; God knows that. But I wouldn't condemn that woman and say that she was going to hell by the sight.
This same person had in his church a lady who had long hair and wore long dresses, and had a temper enough to fight a buzz saw, and just as mean as she could be. Now, long hair and long skirts don't take you to heaven. No, sir. It's the Spirit that's in you takes you to heaven. But if you as a Christian...

And I think that any woman that's motherly and godly and sisterly ought to go to such a person, and with sweetness of the Spirit, just set down and talk to that lady. And if she is of God, the Holy Spirit will understand those things, and she'll correct herself. But when you real quickly condemn her and drive her away, you might harm that young born baby. See? So I--I wouldn't condemn the person.



"Baptize for regeneration in the Name of Jesus Christ," I do not believe that. I do not believe that water saves you from sin. I believe it's the Blood of Jesus Christ is regeneration. But the Oneness people baptize unto regeneration. The Name of Jesus, just baptize them in Jesus Name, and that's--they're saved, because he said 'Repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.'"
But what comes first? Repentance, godly sorrow for your sins, then turn away. Then be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, it's all right. You've done all of this for remission of sins. [Acts 2:38]


They'd turn white around the mouth, and raise up and speak with tongues. And the other one stand right up and say, "THUS SAITH THE LORD, 'Jones over here, he did a certain thing day before yesterday. When you walked around the house you picked up that pocketbook that belongs to this man, this man lost over here.' THUS SAITH THE LORD, 'Take it back!'"
"God, have mercy on me, here it is."
See, truth, just say such as that, tell people right out. I thought, "Oh, my, isn't that wonderful." So then I thought, "This is God." [Romans 11:29]

I met--met the next man coming around the corner about a half hour later, and I talked with him. And if I ever talked to a hypocrite, he was one of them. His wife was black-headed, and he was living with a blond and had two children by her; and yet speaking with the same Spirit this man was speaking with, and giving the same interpretation, just exactly right. Then I knew.

So I said (You see?), "I've got amongst devils," and I left the whole thing go.

"We which were once enlightened, made partakers of the Holy Ghost, seeing we fall away... to renew ourselves again unto repentance. The rain bringeth forth the... earth bringeth forth fruits and the rain is sent to water it, and thorns and thistles which is nigh unto rejecting, whose end is to be burned," something on that order.
Well, I read it and I thought, "Well, praise the Lord." Turned it over to another one, I thought, "Well, I'll just read somewhere over in here somewhere else." Laid it down like that, wiped my eyes, the wind blowed it back to Hebrews 6 again. Well, that happened three or four times, as many as three anyhow. I thought, "I don't see nothing wrong with that. What's in there?" [Hebrews 6:4, 8]

The rain cometh oft upon the earth to water it, to dress it (See?) for its fruit. But thorns and thistles which is nigh unto rejection, whose end is to be burned, be gathered and burned."
I couldn't get nothing out of that. Thought, "Well, thorns and thistles to be burned; God takes His Wheat to the garner, and that settles it." Said, "I don't see nothing about that."
I was setting there; I was looking out like that, and a vision came before me. And I seen a world turning like this, and it was all disked up ready to be planted. And a man with a white robe on, head bent down into a feed sack, or a seed sack, rather, he was going along. And I don't know whether any of you remember the old broadcast system, how you... I seen papa do it. Throw it with his hands like that, and they'd just fall on the grounds, them seeds like that. Well, this man was sowing seeds like that. And as soon as he went along, up behind him come wheat coming up. [Hebrews 6:8]

Well, I thought, "That is a shame for that man to do a thing like that." In a vision, I wasn't thinking of it being Scriptural. See? And I said, "That man's sowing them weeds in that man's wheat field."
Then it got real hot. The little wheat held its head over and going "huh, huh, huh" like that, just panting like this for breath. The little weed had his head over, "huh, huh, huh," he was panting for water too. Everybody prayed for the rain.
After while it got... A great thunder cloud come up and just rained all down, and when it did, the rain struck the earth. And the little wheat begin to jump up-and-down, hollering, "Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord." And the little weeds a-hollering, "Praise the Lord," straightened right up, the life come to the weed just the same as to the wheat.
And then the Scripture come, "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." There I caught it. See? [Matthew 5:45]


The women speaking in tongues. Now, if a woman with short hair speaks in tongues in the church, it is the spirit... Let's see. Is it the Spirit of the Holy Ghost that speaks through her or is it a false spirit?
You see, I wouldn't say nothing. And if you thought the woman wasn't just exactly right by having short hair... (I believe that was the subject.)... yeah, "short hair," why not you, brother, if you're a married man and this is a married woman, why--why don't you take your wife or get your wife to sweetly talk to this little lady? Let's believe she has got the Holy Ghost. If she's in this church, I'm--I'm going to believe that she has. And then, just say, maybe she's a...
Did you know, once in a while, we might examine and find out we might have a little something wrong too. You know, that--that's right, you know. So somebody might have to tell us something. Lot of times people has told me a lot of things was wrong, that I was doing wrong; I appreciate it.

Now, if the interpretation of that holy spirit gives something, a curse to Christ... "No man speaking by the Spirit calleth Christ accursed." If that woman is speaking in tongues and the interpretation comes that Christ is accursed, then you know that's an evil spirit on the woman. But as long as it's blessing you and edifying Christ, then believe that Spirit. See? Amen. I hope that doesn't confuse. I hope that gives a little light on it anyhow.

142. Deuteronomy the 23rd chapter, the 2nd verse, doesn't it teach that a person whom out of wedlock cannot be saved? It says that God will visit the iniquity of the parents upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Explain what this means.
All right. Adultery was such a horrible thing in the time of the Bible until even if a man had a child by a woman that wasn't his wife, that child, its children's children's children, for four generations, four hundred and something years, could not enter even into the congregation of the Lord, because that the blood of bulls and goats and heifers was not sufficient to take away sin. It could only divorce--or could only cover sin, it could not omit sin. See? It could not omit sin, it could only cover sin. Adultery is a horrible thing.
A woman, a precious jewel, that God has made her to be a mother, and entrusted her with motherhood, that if she would bring forth a child from another man not being her husband, then there was a curse upon that child, and his children, and his children, and his children, to three and four generations. Even many times such as syphilitic, and--and blindness and things struck the people. Yes, it was a horrible, horrible thing for a woman to have a baby outside of holy wedlock. Now, not only then, but it's still a horrible thing, sure is, always. [Deuteronomy 23:2-3]

143. Will Ezekiel 38 and 39 come to pass before the rapture?
Now if you will notice, Ezekiel 38 and 39 deals with Gog and Magog, which is Russia, the north country. Now, I do not say that this is correct, but to my way of teaching it, that, it comes to pass after the rapture, after the church is taken up. And God deals with Gog and Magog when they come down before Israel there. And I think that will come to pass after the rapture. Now, that doesn't make it so. See? But that's just my way of teaching it. I suppose that's what they wanted to know, what my idea was. [Ezekiel 38:2]

144. The Lord has told us through prophecy to witness unto others of the things which we have heard and seen here, such as the nearness of the coming, baptism in the Name--in Jesus' Name, and such things. We have told these things to some who seem to be Christians, yet they don't seem to believe. What do you think will happen to those people? Will they go in the rapture?
Now, I'm glad you said it that way, "What do you think?" Which that wouldn't make it right because I would think it. I believe that no man can walk in the Light of God until God reveals It to him. And I don't believe that any man that... All these hidden things are hid from the people, and no man can see them except God reveals them; I believe it; 'cause in the Bible it's always been that way.

And Jesus said, "No man can come to Me except My Father calls him first, and all the Father has given Me will come to Me." That settles it. See?
Now, you're--you're responsible for spreading the Light; you're not responsible for them receiving the Light. You're responsible to take it to them, but you're not responsible for their reaction. And then if God lets them in, that'll be up to Him. If they haven't got the garments on, and so forth, and they don't... But they... Remember, they cannot see it until God reveals it to them. [Jeremiah 5:21], [John 6:44]

145. Brother Branham, in Daniel the 11th chapter, the 31st verse, teaches of the day... taking away of the daily sacrifice, and the abomination that maketh desolation. Would you please explain what these are?
Oh, this person has signed their name to this one. That is my subject on next Sunday, and that comes in with the--with the Seventy Weeks of Daniel. But... And I might just say this to you, my most precious brother that signed this here, which is a very dear friend to all of us... Yes, "the abomination that maketh desolation," Jesus, in Matthew 24, spoke of it. The abomination (means filthiness) that maketh desolation, the abomination was the Moslem--Mosque of Omar that was built on the temple grounds where the holy place stood. [Matthew 24:15]

Jesus referred to it, said, and in parenthesis, "(let he that readeth understand)." See? Therefore, He give so many days from that time until the--after the Prince and so many days, and so forth, which we get into next Sunday. And I'll try to, the best of my knowledge, to get that in for you for next Sunday. But that abomination is the Mosque of Omar that took the place of the temple, that, "When you see the abomination that maketh desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place..." See, standing where the temple stood (the holy place), the Mosque of Omar...

146. Brother Branham, don't you feel that everyone who claims to be a Christian should pay tithes, pay their tithes into the storehouse of the Lord? Please give Scripture to this question.
All right, if you will... That is right, that the Bible said in Malachi the 4th chapter, "Will a man rob God? And you say, 'Where have we robbed Thee?' In tithe and offerings. Bring all your tithe and offerings into My storehouse and prove Me," saith the Lord, "if I will not open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there'll not be room enough to receive."
That's a challenge to any individual. And if I only had the time, and would not get to this little Scripture that I wish to get to in about the next ten minutes, I would like to give you a personal testimony of how that I was even hungry, and my mother and them hungry, and my daddy sick, but I took my tithes out first and give it to God, and you ought to see what happened. I have never seen in my life, that any man or a woman, that if you only make one dollar a week, will bring the ten cents of that money and put it into your storehouse, your church where you come, if God don't bless that, call me a hypocrite. Yes, sir. That's a challenge to anybody. And every Christian... That goes to this other question. Every Christian should pay tithes. That's right. It should be done. [Malachi 3:8-10]

147. If a person or persons speaking in unknown tongues in the same tone of voice each time, the same thing, but the interpretation is different by the interpreter each time, could that be the Holy Spirit?
Now, let me read that again.
If a person or persons speaking in unknown tongues in the same tone of voice (in other words, just saying the same thing like certain-certain word over and over and over) each time, and the same thing each time, but the interpretation by the interpreter is different each time, could this be the Holy Ghost?
Now, there is a stiff one, but let me shed just a little light on this if I can. And I'm sure you'll understand that this is just Brother Branham trying to do my best, but let me just give this as my own personal experience of dealing with spiritual things. And I appreciate your confidence of asking me questions like this. If you didn't have confidence in me, you wouldn't ask me no such. I believe a Christian wouldn't ask questions to raise an argument; I believe they're trying to find what's truth. See? And I would answer, and if they... And I answer it, and if I've made myself clear it's the best of my knowledge, and then if that spirit in you gets angry, that shows it isn't the Holy Spirit in you. See? So then the Holy Spirit will not anger, it'll be corrected each time with the Word, and stand correction.

Now, many times, people... I--I want to... I... It's just the church folks here, I guess, tonight anyhow, about. Isn't it, Brother Neville, just about what comes? So if the strangers are here and you different with this, I'm trying to speak to my own church. See?

Now... But now I'm not trying to--to--to flatter or to shake down; I'm only trying to make a truth. Now, someone speaking in tongues, and another one gets up to interpret tongues... Now listen close. (And I think this is being taped. Is it?) In interpretation of tongues... Now, I'm going to have to get down in some doctrine now with this. In the interpretation of tongues, many people interpret tongues by a extraordinary expression of them feeling to say such a thing. That is not interpretation.

But someone getting up just saying like some certain word, over and over, or some same tone of voice running right down, right down, right down, right down...
I tell you. I don't believe Junie Jackson's here tonight. Is he? I don't think he is. But I've always amazed at Junior Jackson and his speaking in tongues, and Brother Higginbotham, and many of you people here, how that you see that change of voice in the interpretation. See? Now--now, that's all right. Now, I don't... I ain't boasting my church up. No, sir. If my church needed correction, I--I'm going to stand here and do my best for my Saviour (That's right.), whether it hurts or whether it doesn't. I'm--I'm your father in the Gospel (See?), and I want... You don't want a wrong spirit; you want the right spirit. You do all...
Why take--take a substitute when there's a whole Pentecostal skies are full of the real? Why eat in a garbage can when there's a fine, big, clean table set here with chicken and dumplings and everything? See? Why don't we do that? See? Let's get the real; that's what we want, the real, genuine one.

Here, here's an interpreter. Now, I can stand up, and I--I only know two or three words in a--in a--in a different language, that I know of. Now I'm just taking this one literal, not in spiritual now. Now I'm going to say, "Baie, baie bly. I... Ekke wil Afrikaans sprekken." Now, I doubt whether there's a person here know what I said. Yeah, brother, what'd I say? [A brother in congregation says, "You said you could speak Afrikaans"--Ed.] Afrikaans, "Baie, baie bly," "I am very, very happy. I am here to speak Afrikaans (See?), Afrikaans sprekken." See? "I am here to speak Afrikaans." [Acts 2:6]

And if you're speaking in an unknown tongue, and interpreting, you're hearing in the language that you were born in, because that's the only way you can interpret what they're saying; because the Holy Spirit has interpreted it to you, and you're just speaking for the Holy Spirit.

I said, "Certainly, it's of God. Certainly, I believe it's of God." But he was speaking in tongues, but I couldn't say what he was saying 'cause I don't know. But the Presence of the Spirit was there.
So if the Presence of the Spirit is there, and this person's just saying one word over and over and over, and this other one jumps up and tries to give an interpretation, yet he don't know what he's saying... If this man is not giving the interpretation, he's prophesying; the spirit of prophecy's upon him and he's prophesying, not giving an interpretation.


Why, certainly. That's right. Sure. I know where you're getting to. There's Paul said, "If they... If you prophesy and speak in tongues," something like that, Paul speaking of...
Little later on, when you all... Brother Neville, when you all want to now, these people that's got these spiritual gifts... Now, if you'll trust my understanding of the Scripture, I will come down to the meeting just with you people alone who has these gifts, just with you all, so we can set together... And if you feel... And you watch, Brother Neville, and see in the church, that it is God and God a-moving among them, that's what we want, but we want to put that in order so it can go to blessing the church and doing something. Now, God ain't... I know, and know the Scriptures, what to do. And that's what we want to do.

It's like someone give us up there... Like Brother Sothmann raised up and give a message in prophecy or speaking in tongues. Interpretation of tongues is prophecy (See?), spirit of prophecy. Now, if you just speaking in unknown tongues, there be no interpreter, that person's blessed of the Spirit, but he doesn't hurt the church.
Now, what Paul was trying to get at is this, "You use the whole service just in speaking in tongues (See?), and the unlearned said, 'What--what's this about, anyhow?'" See, they don't get it but there be an interpretation. And let there be one, two, or as many as three messages in a meeting.

But this man prophesying is to the whole body; let that be two or three messages and then stop it. Though the Holy Spirit may still want to speak, but wait a minute, give the Word a chance to go out. You see? And then, really, that speaking should be either before or after the Word, nothing should interrupt the Word as It's going out. But, however, we get that in order later on when the spirits and gifts begins to get into perfection.
We're talking now on--on the seriousness of the Pentecostal church, I mean the real Pentecostal church. And we're glad that God still lives and reigns and speaking to us.

Now, then for instance, the prayer line's called, and Brother Neville or myself or any other minister goes down to this individual, that's not to the body; that's to this individual. And the Spirit of God comes upon him to tell this individual something, then tell them, 'cause he's not speaking to the congregation. He's speaking to this individual, not to the congregation, so that is all right.

149. All right. Dear Brother Branham, time after time the Lord shows me things in dreams. He has showed me things about my son in the navy, which my son told me were secrets. He has showed me of people's deaths and of the secrets of people's hearts. Is this a gift from God? When He shows me in dreams the hearts and minds of people, everything has always turned out like the dream shows me.
Why, yes, my brother or sister, whoever it may be. The Lord bless you. That is, to my opinion, the gift of God. It's a gift of God. Don't you know the Bible speaks of dreams? Joseph, how he dreamed dreams and interpreted, and how others dreamed dreams. Those things are of God. Now, if it's of God, it'll always be truthful, it'll always happen just exactly the way He said.

If that person says, "You are wrong. That is a lie. I did not do that."
Now, the thing to do then is go back and say, "Heavenly Father, was that wrong?"
Now, if that person... Then if that person was telling you the truth, then you've got the wrong spirit. But if that person was lying, and he did do it, God will deal with that person. See? Yes, sir. Because (See?), what he's done there? He's blasphemed against the Holy Ghost, denying what the Holy Ghost has called to his attention. See, so it's the wrong thing.

150. Brother Branham, how can a--a church dance, shout, speak in tongues, and let the Spirit... (Let's see, now wait a minute.)... and get lost in the Spirit, and ever very seldom any time Scripture read. I don't understand it.
Neither do I, "shouting, dancing, speaking in tongues, and not even read the Scripture..." I--I--I say this, remember, William Branham, which could be a million miles wrong. I believe that most of the people... I was asked that question today by a brother, something on that order, that when they go to pray for the sick, a brother will maybe pray for one, then get them all singing or dancing in the Spirit, thinking that brings power amongst the people. No, I--I... For myself, I believe that's wrong.

But we see so much of that in our Pentecostal meetings; it's a constant... I believe it's a worship; I truly believe they're worshipping God. Yes, sir. I believe it with all of my heart. And I believe in speaking with tongues, shouting, and dancing. And I believe it every bit, yes. I believe anything that they do in the Bible is just as good today as it was then (Sure.), but I believe it has its time and its order.
Now, the great blessing's on, and the people are shouting, and the glory of the Lord is a-falling, and people want to scream and shout and do whatever the Spirit tells them, go ahead. That's right. But when a man's coming to be healed, where the question between death and life is involved, I believe we should be reverent and speak to Father and talk to Him for this brother. Instead of worshipping Him, let's ask Him, "Father, I'm--I'm a worshipper of Yours. I love You. You know I do. I express my love to You. Now I'm expressing my faith in You; help my brother to be well, will You, Father?" I believe you'll get a better results by doing that. I really do. And reverence the Spirit of God.

And as we're coming up, don't let Satan creep in now. Boy, he's smart. Hmm. Don't outwit him; don't try to, because you can't. You just depend on God and just keep walking humbly; God will do it, and you'll find out that God will use you more and more and more like that. The Lord bless you.

Let's turn to Psalms just a moment. The Lord seemed to give me a little thought here I would like to express to you all tonight just in a matter of a sermon, if you will, just--just a few minutes. I know it's hot, and it's hot up here too. But remember, we won't meet any more, maybe, till Wednesday night. So let's just wait and--and 'fore we sing the good old song of "Blest Be The Tie That Binds," let's--let's talk about the--the written Word. These questions kind of make us--leave us in a stew. Let's--let's get out of it now and--and speak in the Word. Now can we bow our heads again just a moment?

We pray, Father, that You'll bless these gifts and manifest them in the church. And may it come to pass that pilgrims and strangers coming by, and drop in that door and set down a few minutes, and may the Spirit of God be so great in here till it'll make known the secret of every heart that enters the door. Grant it, Lord. May it be with such sweetness and humility, never harsh and rebuking and tearing down. We know the Spirit of God isn't like that.
So we pray that You'll bless us in everything. Bless our church; bless our people. Bless the people of other churches. And, Father, we know that there are only one church and we are all born into that.
And I pray, Father, that You'll bless us further as I read this little text that You seemed to give me, setting there by the desk this afternoon. And help me, Lord, not to keep the people too long, but just to speak a few expressions here. I pray that You'll be in it. And give us a little thought, that we can go home with it and thank the Lord for His goodness. We ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even... the Red sea.
I'm going to read the next verse:
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
I'm going to read the next verse:
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
The Lord add His blessings. I'm going to speak to you, if the Lord willing, on the subject of the misunderstanding, God, misunderstood. I'll take it like that: "God Being Misunderstood." [Psalms 106:7-8]

Now, to misunderstand is just not to say, "Well, I didn't hear what he said," but to see something done and misunderstand what it's for, that's a--that's you're missing the boat all completely then.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt;... (see, they didn't understand it)... they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even... the Red sea.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
See, they did not understand why that God, down in Egypt, performed these miracles. He was trying to show them His mercies. He was trying to get them to understand that He was God in their midst. I love that. [Psalms 106:7]

The female eagle's sometimes the largest. They are said that eagles sometime, many females has wings fourteen feet from tip to tip, pick up a calf and fly away with it. Fourteen feet, tip from tip to wings, far as across this platform right here, from post to post.

"See how strong my wings are? I can pick you up and pack you anywhere I want to. I'm powerful."

And that's what He's trying to do today. He just doesn't heal people just to--because He can heal. He's trying to get to you that He's the Resurrection, that He can make you well, He can raise up your body. He can do whatever He wants to; He's Jehovah. I like that.
But the people misunderstood Him. God is so easily to be misunderstood by unbelievers, by those who don't want to understand. Many people try to understand. Many don't want to understand; they just shut up themselves and say, "There's no such a thing," and, "I don't believe in such." Then they can never understand. [Deuteronomy 32:11]

That's the reason that people cannot believe in miracles today, because they don't have anything in them to believe with. They've got to have something in there to believe with. And when the Spirit of God is in a man, he will say "amen" to every Word of God and every miracle of God. But as my mother used to say, "You can't get blood from a turnip, because there's no blood in it." So that's the same way; you can't get belief out of unbeliever, because there's nothing there to believe with.

And that's the way; God uses something that's got faith in it. He don't send you out here in a healing campaign when you ain't got faith enough to believe it. How is He going to send you out in a miracle-working revival when you ain't got faith enough to believe it? He wants something that's got something in there that He can produce something with. So the people misunderstood. [Isaiah 1:18]

"How could a man..." Though You say, "There's never no rain come from the sky. What is rain?" Never had rained; God irrigated the ground. "Noah, where's that rain at?"
"I don't know."
"Show me where it's at."
"I can't show it to you."
"Well, how do you know it's going to come down from up there when there's none up there to come down?"
Noah might've said something like this: "God told me it was coming down. And if God said it's coming down, He's able to take it up there and then bring it down." So that--that settled it. If God said so, that's all there is to it. See? He was misunderstood because he was following God. [Genesis 6:14-15, 18]

He was misunderstood. Why? He was following God. It was not Elijah they misunderstood; it was the working of the Holy Spirit in Elijah that they misunderstood.

And no matter if it's on your brother, sister, or mother, no matter who it is, it's sin in the sight of God and the judgment will come upon them for it. Misunderstood...


And anybody that follows God is misunderstood. Jesus, our Lord, when His birth, He was misunderstood.
The Magi, they were misunderstood; they were following a supernatural sign to find a King that was born King of the Jews. They knowed there was a star rising out of Jacob, according to the prophecies of Daniel. And they knowed this King would be a Saviour; He would be the King of Israel. And they come two years, all the way from India down by the Tigris River, and across the deserts and through the mountains, everywhere, and come into the city of Jerusalem one evening about sundown, screaming, "Where is He that's born King of the Jews? Where is He?" [Matthew 2:2]

He was misunderstood in His birth when He was born. And Mary was to be mother before she was married to Joseph. Misunderstood... They thought It was born out of holy wedlock; they did not know that the Holy Ghost had conceived this Child in her. But it was misunderstood. It was a act of God, and people misunderstood it. They still misunderstand it, an act of God is usually misunderstood. [Matthew 1:18]

It wasn't an earthly king; He said this earth is not His kingdom, "If this was My kingdom My subjects would fight for Me, but My Kingdom is of up above." Herod misunderstood it; he thought it was an earthly king. [John 8:23]

"None."
They don't get it. See, they can't understand it. They think a denomination means a Christian. It's vice versa, very much so. But it's misunderstood by the people.
Now, we find out that Herod misunderstood it; he couldn't understand it.
Nicodemus couldn't understand it, the new birth, when he came to Jesus by night. Someone condemned him. I don't condemn him. He was a good man; he wanted to find out something. He was busy through the day, maybe he was at his priest's office, or something another; he had to come by night. Anyhow he got there; he done a lot better than a lot of people does now. They won't come day or night. He finally arrived; 'fore you condemn him, have you? He finally got to Jesus, and let's not condemn him if we haven't been there. And if you get there, then I don't think you'd condemn him. No, he--he got there. And he come by night; maybe he was busy. Anyhow he come. Maybe Jesus was too busy out praying for the sick and things, only time he could catch Him for this interview would be at nighttime. But he finally got there; he stayed there till he got an interview with Jesus. And when Jesus said...
He--he said, "Rabbi, we know that You are a man sent from God, for no man could do these things that You do except God be with Him."
Jesus said, "Except a man be borned again he cannot enter the Kingdom, not even see the Kingdom."
And the great rabbi, master in Israel, said, "Me, an old man, to be a--enter into my mother's wombs and be borned again?" See, he misunderstood what Jesus was talking about; he just didn't get it. Because that Jesus was talking about a spiritual birth, and he was trying to apply it to a natural birth. So he misunderstood Him; he didn't get it. He just... The way people do... Just like Nicodemus, many of us misunderstand the things of God, because we just take it and apply it for a natural thing. [John 3:2-4]

I heard a doctor tell a woman in an office one time, said... And she didn't know... He wanted to know what become of a growth she had. She said, "Brother Branham prayed for me, and the Lord healed me."
He said, "I do not believe it." He said, "I can never--I can never believe anything like that." Said, "Tell me who took it off."
Said, "Find the scar."
Said, "What did you put on it?"
Said, "Nothing, not at all." Said, "He just called me out of the meeting and the thing left."
And I was setting right in the next room (That's right.), setting right in the next room listening. She didn't know I was in there. And he didn't know I was in there, 'cause he didn't even know me. See? And there I was setting in there. And he said... Taking somebody else to a doctor's office. That's exactly right. And I could overhear what he said; I got--I got the patient and got out of there when I found that, that he didn't believe.
So he said, "I don't believe one word of it." Said, "I've never seen anything yet that could do anything like that. I just don't believe it." Said, "I've got to see it before I believe it."
She said, "Well, what about my--my growth?"
He said, "I'd have to see it leave before I'll believe it."

People say today, "Oh, I don't believe in that Divine healing. I don't believe in that Holy Ghost. I don't believe in that speaking in tongues. I don't believe in that shouting. I don't believe in all this stuff like that. I don't believe in it." Why? It's a mystery. You're just misunderstanding. It's God; here it is in the Bible. Here it is bringing the same results that the Bible spoke of bringing; then it's got to be God. You just misunderstand it; that's all. God is misunderstood. [Hebrews 11:1]

That's what's the matter today with people. They want to make Him a little mascot boy, or something another that carries the bat. They want to make Him just a little fellow around the camp.
He wasn't a little fellow around the camp; He was Jehovah God. They misunderstood it. They expected Him to be just one of them. He wasn't one of them; He was God among them. He was more than a man. As I've often said, He was a man when He was hungry, but He was God when He fed five thousand with a biscuit--two biscuits and some pieces of fishes. He was a man when He was tired on the back of a boat, but He was God when He ceased the winds and waves and made them obey Him. "What manner of man is this?" He wasn't a manner of a man; He was God manifested in a man. They misunderstood Him. They thought Him to be a man, Mary's son, a carpenter, but He was God manifested in the flesh. Amen. [Matthew 8:27], [Matthew 14:21], [Mark 4:39-41]

See, they misunderstood that Jesus said, "I do only what the Father shows Me to do. I do what the Father shows Me, and then I do what He tells Me to do." They misunderstood it. [Luke 22:64], [John 5:19]

Many of them thought He was born out of holy wedlock, come up out of a bad family that had these desires and so forth, and a bastard child. Which we just had the question, they could not even... Why, they said, "Why, we know that you were born out of holy wedlock. You got a devil on you. Why, you try to teach us? We're rabbis."
He said, "You are of your father, the devil." See, they misunderstood. [Luke 11:31], [John 8:44]

It was not a man speaking; it was God. Yes, sir. Man didn't speak like that. A man tells and speaks the Scriptures; Jesus makes the Scriptures live. A man don't live like this: "The Scripture says this here; here it is." Man can say the Scripture says it, but that's about all he can do. But Jesus could say, "I and My Father are One; My Father dwells in Me. He that's seen Me has seen the Father." Nobody else could say that. Amen. Hallelujah. That's right. "He that's seen Me has seen the Father." Nobody else could say that.
No wonder them soldiers said, "There never was a man spoke like this." He don't speak like a scribe or a preacher; He speaks with authority. And even the devils obey Him, and the winds and the waves obeyed Him. They thought He was a man, but He was God. See, He was misunderstood. [John 14:9-10]

He said, "You're of your father the devil."
Yes, they misunderstood Him; they didn't know Who He was. That's what's the matter today, people trying to make Him something that He isn't. He's not just a man; He's God in man: no third person, He's the only Person. Yes, sir. Sure, they misunderstood Him. [John 8:44]

Jesus stood up and said, "Simon, I got something to say to you." Amen. He just misunderstood; that was all. He said, "I... You invited Me to come, and I left My busy schedule to come to your invitation. And when... You never met Me at the door. You never have washed My feet. You never anointed My head. You never kissed Me welcome. You just let Me come in, dirty and stinking and full of sweat, and set Me over here in a corner to make fun of Me. But this woman, this woman, she's constantly kissed My feet, and she's washed them with the tears of repentance (What beautiful water.), and wiped them with the hairs of her head. I've got something against you, Simon. Verily I say unto you, her sins which are many are all forgiven her." Amen. Simon misunderstood; she understood.
Simon said, "He's just a man."
She said, "He's God, my Saviour." He was misunderstood. He's still misunderstood. [Luke 7:38-40, 45-48]

The devil misunderstood Him. The devil said, "Surely that cannot be a Son of God that would stand there and be mistreated like that, and them cussing, and my disciples down there just treating him any way, and him taking it. He's not the Son of God."

The thief on His left misunderstood Him, said, "If thou be the Son of God, take us off the cross, save yourself and us too."
But the thief on the right understood Him; he said, "We have, and we've done evil and we deserve what we're getting, but this Man's done nothing. Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."
Watch that Voice come back, said, "Today shall thou be with Me in paradise." He understood that that was God dying for our sins. The only way He could die, would be put to death in the flesh. He can't be put to death in Spirit, because He's the Eternal Spirit. And He had to be in flesh to be put to death, so they just misunderstood. He understood it. [Luke 23:35-37, 42-43]


Then God had a prophet there who could stand up and speak, Peter said, "You men of Jerusalem and you that dwell in Judaea, don't misunderstand this. This is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel, 'And it'll come to pass in the last days,' saith God, 'I'll pour out My Spirit upon all flesh. And upon My handsmaids and maid servants will I pour out of My Spirit; they shall prophesy. I'll show wonders in the heavens above and in the earth below, and fire, and vapor, and pillars of smoke. It shall come to pass, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come, that whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." It was the work of God. It was the Holy Ghost, but they misunderstood it. [Acts 2:2, 6, 13, 16-21]

When the people in now... After the day of Pentecost, when they was all filled with the Holy Ghost, had this great big meeting up there, they called a man down there that's crippled from his mother's womb, two of them was going along the street and this beggar shook a can and asked for some money. And he said, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I'll give it to you." He said, "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." And he took the man by the hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. He begin walking, and leaping, and running, and jumping, and praising God, went into the temple. And all the people begin to come together, and screaming and carrying on. Why, it was unusual. [Acts 3:6-8]

And Peter said, "Who should we listen to, God or man?"
And they turned them loose, thinking because they'd whipped them a little bit and threatened them that they'd hang them the next time, or burn them, or put them on the cross, or something, they'd stop it. But the next thing they found; they was out on the street doing it again. Why? They misunderstood. It wasn't them people; it was God in those people doing those things.

He said, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. Why do you resist the Holy Ghost? Like your fathers did, so do you." Amen.
They found out that it wasn't him. For they picked up clods, and throwed their hands in their ears, and begin to gnash upon him, and clod him to death. And when he raised his head up towards that, and the bats beating him from one side to the other, he said, "I see the heavens open, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." Amen. And he fell asleep in the arms of the Lord Jesus. When he died, he said, "Father, lay not this sin to their charge."
See, they misunderstood what they did. Paul, standing there look at it, later on it got on his nerves, and said, "I'm the least among all of them, because I bore witness to Stephen's death, Thy saint." Amen. That's it. [Acts 7:51, 55, 60]

So God's misunderstood. It's not you that's misunderstood; it's the Holy Spirit making you do that that they misunderstand. Amen. They're not speaking against you; they're speaking against Him. People are misunderstood.
There they let them go, but they get right back in the street and start again. The same today, they misunderstand the people. They don't know what it is. [I Corinthians 3:1]

God's always been misunderstood. And those who live with God are misunderstood with God, because it's God working in them. Amen. You believe it?
I love Him, I love Him
Because He first loved me (Do you love Him? Raise up your hands and say praises.)
... purchased my salvation
On Calvary's tree.
Because He first loved me (Do you love Him? Raise up your hands and say praises.)
... purchased my salvation
On Calvary's tree.

Then they say, "Well, what is it?"

Sure, you're misunderstood; all that live godly in Christ Jesus is misunderstood, all the way from righteous Noah, all the way down till the modern day saint today is misunderstood: always been, people misunderstand it.
Israel misunderstood it. They don't understand; they just can't because they are carnal in spirit, and not... It won't deviate with the spiritual, because it will not mix.


I love Him, I love Him
Because He first loved me
And purchased my salvation
On Calvary's tree.
Isn't He wonderful? Don't you love Him? Aren't you glad that you're a peculiar, royal priesthood, chosen people, peculiar people, offering spiritual sacrifices, the fruits of your lips, giving praise to Him? I'll sing you a song now; I feel like singing.
I find many people who can't understand
Why I am so happy and free;
I've been filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, that's what's the matter with me,
Oh, that's what's the matter with me;
I've been filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
You like that? Let's all sing it then.
We find many people who can't understand
Why we are so happy and free;
We're filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, that's what's the matter with me, (Praise God.)
Oh, that's what's the matter with me;
I've been filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, when I get happy, I sing and I shout,
Some don't understand it, I see;
But I've crossed over Jordan to Canaan's fair land,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, that's what's the matter with me, (Praise God.)
Oh, that's what's the matter with me;
I've crossed over Jordan to Canaan's fair land,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Because He first loved me
And purchased my salvation
On Calvary's tree.
Isn't He wonderful? Don't you love Him? Aren't you glad that you're a peculiar, royal priesthood, chosen people, peculiar people, offering spiritual sacrifices, the fruits of your lips, giving praise to Him? I'll sing you a song now; I feel like singing.
I find many people who can't understand
Why I am so happy and free;
I've been filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, that's what's the matter with me,
Oh, that's what's the matter with me;
I've been filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
You like that? Let's all sing it then.
We find many people who can't understand
Why we are so happy and free;
We're filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, that's what's the matter with me, (Praise God.)
Oh, that's what's the matter with me;
I've been filled with the Spirit, there isn't a doubt,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, when I get happy, I sing and I shout,
Some don't understand it, I see;
But I've crossed over Jordan to Canaan's fair land,
And that's what's the matter with me.
Oh, that's what's the matter with me, (Praise God.)
Oh, that's what's the matter with me;
I've crossed over Jordan to Canaan's fair land,
And that's what's the matter with me.

Said a Stephen was a man full. Full of what? Full of what? He was full of the Holy Ghost; he was full of power; he was full of wisdom; he was full of might. What'd it all make up? He was full of the Holy Ghost. That's where all these things dwell. That's what the church of the living God is. Aren't you happy for it, Christians? That's rightly. If you're misunderstood, "All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall be misunderstood." They've always been down through the Bible.
Now, what am I trying to say? To you people who speak with tongues, to you who shout, dance in the Spirit, people say, "Oh, it's nonsense," just remember I've went right back and showed you. Right down through the Scripture, they're always misunderstood. Remember, you're in the Scripture, and you're doing that which is right. Stay right with it. God's with you. Stay right in the Scripture. God will take care of the rest of it. Amen.

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye,
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
Oh, I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
When shall I reach this healthful place,
And be forever blest.
When shall I see my Father's face,
And in His bosom rest?
Oh, I am bound for the promised land,
Oh, I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
All o'er those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised...
Let's just sing that again and shake hands with somebody around you.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
And cast a wishful eye,
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
Oh, I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
When shall I reach this healthful place,
And be forever blest.
When shall I see my Father's face,
And in His bosom rest?
Oh, I am bound for the promised land,
Oh, I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
All o'er those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised...
Let's just sing that again and shake hands with somebody around you.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

I am bound for the promised land,
Well, I'm bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
I haven't seen this for a long time. Ladies, reach in your purse and get a handkerchief. Gentlemen, reach in your hip pocket and get your handkerchief out. Now we're going to have a wave-gift to the Lord. All right, all of us together, we're going to wave like we're going into Canaan now, wave your handkerchief. All right, now.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land,
Now, if there is someone here that hasn't made their election and calling sure, that would like to come while we sing it again, would like to pull out your handkerchief and wave with us again. The gate's open now; the tickets are free. Won't you come? Step aboard the old ship of Zion; she's going, moving out. Let's go.
I am bound for the promised land, (It won't be long.)
Oh, I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
Well, I'm bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
I haven't seen this for a long time. Ladies, reach in your purse and get a handkerchief. Gentlemen, reach in your hip pocket and get your handkerchief out. Now we're going to have a wave-gift to the Lord. All right, all of us together, we're going to wave like we're going into Canaan now, wave your handkerchief. All right, now.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land,
Now, if there is someone here that hasn't made their election and calling sure, that would like to come while we sing it again, would like to pull out your handkerchief and wave with us again. The gate's open now; the tickets are free. Won't you come? Step aboard the old ship of Zion; she's going, moving out. Let's go.
I am bound for the promised land, (It won't be long.)
Oh, I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

To be like Jesus, just to be like Jesus,
On earth I long to be like Him;
All through life's journey from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
From Bethlehem's manger came forth a Stranger,
On earth I long to be like Him;
All through life's journey from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
Don't forget Sunday. Don't forget Wednesday night is prayer meeting. Remember, pray much; pray for me; pray for your pastor; pray for your neighbor, your deacons, your trustees; pray that God will have His way with us all.
To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus,
On earth I long (That's my heart's desire.) to be like Him; (He's understands. Lots of people don't understand, you just remember God will make a...?...)... from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
[Brother Branham begins humming the song--Ed.]...
... humble and lowly,
On earth I long just to be like Him;
All through life's journey from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
On earth I long to be like Him;
All through life's journey from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
From Bethlehem's manger came forth a Stranger,
On earth I long to be like Him;
All through life's journey from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
Don't forget Sunday. Don't forget Wednesday night is prayer meeting. Remember, pray much; pray for me; pray for your pastor; pray for your neighbor, your deacons, your trustees; pray that God will have His way with us all.
To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus,
On earth I long (That's my heart's desire.) to be like Him; (He's understands. Lots of people don't understand, you just remember God will make a...?...)... from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
[Brother Branham begins humming the song--Ed.]...
... humble and lowly,
On earth I long just to be like Him;
All through life's journey from earth to Glory
I only ask to be like Him.
With our heads bowed now, and our eyes closed, and our hearts centered on God, we will call on my precious, good friend, Brother Roy Borders from California, if he won't have--pronounce the benediction upon this meeting. Brother Borders.