Božia cesta, ktorá bola urobená pre nás
1Teraz spolu, zodvihnime to, teraz naozaj mocne.
Vzácna milosť, ako sladko to znie,
ktorá spasila trosku, ako som ja.
Raz som bol stratený, ale teraz som nájdený,
bol som slepý, ale teraz vidím.
2Skloňme teraz naše hlavy. Náš nebeský Otče, ďakujeme Ti za tú veľkú výsadu, ktorú máme, že môžeme prichádzať ku Tebe. V prvom rade, nemôžeme prísť inak ako cez Krista. A tak, z toho dôvodu umiestňujeme Jeho Meno pred našu modlitbu. A tak potom skrze Jeho Slovo vieme, že Ty na to odpovieš, lebo o to prosíme v Jeho Mene. Žiadna naša vlastná spravodlivosť, nič, čo vlastníme, čo by sme mohli urobiť; ale prichádzame len skrze samotnú milosť, prosíme o to v Kristovom Mene.
3Otče, môže tu byť dnes večer mnoho mužov a žien, naokolo v tejto budove, ktorí sú hriešnikmi. Ty si zomrel za hriešnika. Nech je toto ten večer, keď bude Boh hovoriť do ich srdca a povolá ich skrze Svoju milosť do Kráľovstva. Udeľ to, Otče. Možno premárnili mnoho rokov, blúdili naokolo v hriechu, ale nech toto môže byť tá hodina.
4Vďaka Ti, Pane, dnes večer za Billy Paula, môjho úbohého malého chlapca bez matky, ktorý bol zmietaný naokolo. Ďakujem Ti, Pane, že si mu teraz dal Ducha Svätého ako istotu, jedného slávneho dňa znova uvidíme mamu, všetky veci budú v poriadku. Ó, Bože, nech jej to anjeli dajú dnes vedieť. Tak veľmi kričala pri svojej smrti, „Slúž Bohu... jedného dňa z Billyho Paula bude muž a prijme Ducha Svätého.“ Modlitby sú zodpovedané. Bože, požehnaj teraz toho chlapca. Nech napreduje vpred v stopách toho Majstra. Ako sa mu jeho malý hlas chvel, keď povedal, „Oci, práve som prijal Ducha Svätého. Som tak šťastný.“
5Bože, nech je to prežitím každej neznovuzrodenej osoby, ktorá je dnes večer tu. Nech dnes večer prijmú Ducha Svätého. Ak sme urobili nejaký hriech, odpusť nám, Pane. Uzdrav nemocných. Obviaž tých, ktorí majú zlomené srdcia.
6A teraz, Pane, ani neviem, kde mám dnes večer začať hovoriť, ale Ty sa o to postaráš. Verím Ti a prosím, aby si nám dal niečo, čo by pomohlo ľuďom, lebo o to prosíme v Jeho Mene. Amen.
7Mám tu len krátke miesto Písma, ktoré chcem čítať, Izaiáš 35. Pretože moje slová zlyhajú; Božie Slovo nikdy nezlyhá. Preto žiadna bohoslužba nie je kompletná bez toho, že by sa prv prečítalo Písmo.
Veseliť sa bude z toho púšť a vyschlá pustina, plesať bude step a zkvitne jako voňavá ruža jasná,
bude, bude rozkošne kvitnúť a plesať, áno, plesať a radostne prespevovať; dá sa jej sláva Libanona, nádhera Karmela a Sárona; ony uvidia slávu Hospodinovu, nádheru nášho Boha.
Posilnite spustené ruky zomdlené a klesajúce kolená zmocnite.
Povedzte tým, ktorí sú bojazlivého srdca: Buďte silní! Nebojte sa! Hľa, váš Boh prijde s pomstou, s odplatou Božou; on prijde a spasí vás.
… otvorí... otvoria sa aj uši hluchých.
Vtedy poskočí kulhavý jako jeleň, a jazyk nemého bude radostne prespevovať, lebo sa vyprýštia vody na púšti a potoky na pustine.
A poveterný prelud bude skutočne jazerom, a suchý kraj vypráhly zmení sa na vyvierajúce pramene vôd; v peleši šakalov bude ležisko pre stádo; tráva narastie v trsť i sitinu.
A bude tam hradská a cesta... svätou cestou; neprejde po nej nečistý, ale bude pre nich pre samých, takže idúc tou cestou ani hlúpi nezablúdia.
Nebude tam ľva, ani nijaká zver dravá nevyjde na ňu, nenajde sa tam; ale pojdú po nej vykúpení,
a vyslobodení Hospodinovi sa navrátia a prijdú na Sion s radostným prespevovaním, a večná radosť bude na ich hlave, veselosti a radosti dojdú, a zármutok a vzdychanie utečie.
8Nech Pán pridá Svoje požehnania k čítaniu Jeho Slova. Chcem, ak Boh dá, dnes večer hovoriť ku vám, len na chvíľu. Budem tu sledovať moje hodinky, aby som vás dnes večer nedržal príliš dlho.
9Po tých zhromaždeniach tento týždeň som sa snažil ukázať ľuďom, že nie je žiaden dôvod, aby sme boli vystrašení. Najhoršia vec, ktorú na vás môže diabol naložiť, je strach. Keby ste mali aj rakovinu a nebáli sa a verili by ste Bohu, že vás uzdraví, neboli ste v tak zlom stave. Boh sa o to stará; ak ste boli nemocní, čokoľvek to je, ak ste sa nebáli... Takže strach je jednou z najhorších vecí, ktorú môže Satan umiestniť na nejakú osobu.
10No, tento týždeň som sa pomocou Písma snažil dokázať, že človek, ktorý je znovuzrodený z Kráľovstva Božieho, sa nemá čoho báť. Ste absolútne bezpečne zabezpečení v Ježišovi Kristovi. „Všetko, čo Mi dal Otec,“ povedal, „príde ku Mne. Žiaden človek nemôže prísť, ak ho nezavolá Otec. Otec ho má ku Mne priviesť; a toho, kto ku Mne prichádza, nevyženiem von. A všetci... Žiaden človek ich nemôže vytrhnúť z ruky Môjho Otca; žiaden človek nie je väčší, ako je On. Ten, kto čuje Moje Slová a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má večný Život; nepôjde do odsúdenia, ale prešiel zo života... zo smrti do Života. Ten, kto je Moje telo a pije Moju krv, má,“ nie bude mať, „ale má (prítomný čas) večný Život a Ja ho vzbudím v posledný deň.“
11„Preto nezarmucujte Svätého Ducha Božieho, ktorým ste zapečatení až do dňa vášho vykúpenia.“ Tak vidíte. „Zapečatení až do dňa vášho vykúpenia.“ Nie iba od jedného prebudenia k druhému, ale až do dňa vášho vykúpenia.
12Ó, ako dnes ráno prišiel Duch Svätý a požehnal nás v tom, držal nás tu až do 13:30, dnes ráno, asi od 9:30. Ako nás požehnal.
13No, dnes večer chcem hovoriť na... Izaiáš tu povedal, „Bude tam hradská a cesta svätosti.“ No, chcem hovoriť na tému: Božia cesta, Božia cesta, ktorá bola urobená pre nás.
14 No, keby som šiel do mesta New York, nebolo by pre mňa najlepšou vecou geograficky zistiť, kde sa nachádzam, a vydať sa na sever. Ale najlepší spôsob, ako to urobiť, je zohnať si mapu a nasledovať mapu (Je to tak?), cestu. Ak by som to tak neurobil, dostal by som sa do problémov.
15V Kráľovstve Božom nie sú žiadne skratky. Viete, snažíme sa urobiť si skratky; dostaneme sa tu niekde ku rybníku a zapadneme do bahna. A to je to, čo robíme, keď odchádzame z tej veľkolepej, starej hradskej, z cesty Božej. Boh urobil cestu, trasu.
16Keď deti Izraela vyšli z Egyptskej zeme, nasledovali Božiu cestu. Viedla ku Červenému moru. Je to divné, že Boh Svoju cestu viedol takým smerom, ale Jeho cesta išla rovno cez more.
17A tak, keď prišiel čas a rozhodujúce vyvrcholenie a Izrael tam stál pred Červeným morom, Božia cesta viedla cez more. A tak sa Boh pozrel dolu cez Ohnivý Stĺp, more sa vystrašilo, uhlo preč a Izrael cezeň prešiel po suchej zemi. Božia cesta viedla cez to.
18Potom šiel rovno do púšte ku prameňu Mary, ku „horkej“ vode. Nie je to divné, že Boh viedol Svoje deti cez horké vody? Ale oni všetci išli po tej ceste. Ale keď tam bol On, liek pre horké vody stál na brehu. Mojžiš zoťal strom, hodil ho do vody a ona sa znova stala sladkou.
Niekedy cez vody, niekedy cez potopu;
Niekedy cez ťažké skúšky, ale vždy cez Krv.
19To je spôsob, ako Boh vedie Svoje deti: Božou cestou, Božou pripravenou cestou. Ak by sa deti Izraela pokúšali o nejakú obchádzku a išli by okolo, dolu touto cestou, dostali by sa do problémov. Museli nasledovať Oblak Ohňa, Ohnivý Stĺp, ktorý ich viedol. Oni To nasledovali.
20A ak dnes večer bude Cirkev nasledovať len Ohnivý Stĺp, Ducha Svätého, prídete do Kanaánu s takou istotou ako čokoľvek. Boh má cestu, pripravenú cestu.
21Sú tu dve cesty, ktorými človek môže ísť: a to je jeho cesta, alebo Božia cesta; a to je správna cesta alebo nesprávna cesta. A tvoja cesta je vždy tou nesprávnou cestou; a Božia cesta je správnou cestou. A nemôžeš byť v rovnaký čas na svojej vlastnej ceste a na Božej ceste, takže sa musíš dostať preč zo svojej vlastnej cesty, aby v tebe Boh mohol mať Jeho cestu. Je to tak. Boh vytvára pripravenú cestu.
22Človek si vždy chcel vytvoriť svoju vlastnú cestu. V záhrade Eden Boh učinil človeka, takže on sa nemusel kvôli ničomu posúvať. Boh ho učinil dokonalého, ale človek chcel svoju vlastnú cestu. On sa do toho chcel miešať. Chcel to vyskúmať. A potom, akonáhle upadol... Prešli sme cez to tento týždeň v štúdiách Písma. On si vytvoril náboženstvo. Nečakal na Boha, aby mu nejaké vytvoril. On si nejaké vytvoril sám, ale zistil, že jeho náboženstvo, jeho prikrytie nefungovalo. To bol vždy človek. On chcel svoju vlastnú cestu. Ale Boh má cestu. A tak si človek vytvoril figové listy a dal si ich na seba, na seba a na svoju ženu, ale keď prišiel pred tvár Božiu, zistil, že to nemohlo fungovať.
23A poviem vám, priatelia, bolo mnoho ľudí, a je dnes večer, ktorí prichádzate dole na koniec cesty a zistíte, že to malé plytké náboženstvo, ktoré na sebe držíte, nebude fungovať. Nič kratšie, ako byť narodený znova, nebude fungovať. Ježiš povedal, „Ak sa človek nenarodí z vody a z Ducha, nemôže vojsť do Kráľovstva.“ Nijakým spôsobom. Nezáleží na tom, či je metodista, baptista, presbyterián, čokoľvek je, nikdy nevojde dovnútra, kým nie je narodený z vody a z Ducha. „Narodený“ znamená, že je „premenený.“ Predtým, ako sa môže narodiť, musí zomrieť. Tak musíte zomrieť samému sebe, byť narodený znovu v Kristu Ježišovi. Presne tak.
24No, chcem, aby ste si všimli, že on sa ukázal ako taký, ktorý sa snaží urobiť si svoju cestu. Dnes ráno sme mali, ako sa Kain snažil vytvoriť svoju cestu. Priniesol zopár jabĺk, hrušiek, broskýň a tekvíc, čokoľvek to bolo, položil to na oltár a povedal, „No, Pane, postavil som tu oltár. Vybudoval som cirkev. Som dobrý člen cirkvi.“ Vidíte? „Chodím každý deň do zboru. Prišiel som sem, postavil som oltár, dal som naň obeť. Teraz si kľaknem a budem sa modliť. A teraz, Pane, chcem, aby si ma prijal.“ Ale Boh ho odmietol.
25A ten istý starý nábožný duch dnes žije rovno medzi cirkvami, tá istá vec, tak nábožný, ako len môže byť, a o Bohu nevie viac, ako by Hotentot vedel o egyptskom rytierovi. Viete, že je to pravda: nábožní duchovia. Nemyslite si, že Stalin je antikrist. Biblia povedala, že tí dvaja duchovia budú tak blízko seba, že by to zviedlo aj vyvolených, ak by to bolo možné.
26Zisťujeme, že Judáš Iškariotský prichádza rovno sem a vyšiel, radoval sa a kázal Evanjelium, prišiel späť a jasal a vykrikoval, mal ohromný čas s ostatnými učeníkmi. Svätý Matúš, 10. kapitola. Ale nasledoval celý čas učeníkov a jednako bol stelesnený diabol a napredoval rovno ďalej; ako Ježiš bol stelesnený Boh; Kain a Ábel zo záhrady Eden. Ale keď nastal pre neho čas, aby šiel do Letníc a dostal požehnanie, ukázal svoje farby.
27A keď idete hovoriť o tom byť narodený znova, o prijatí krstu Duchom Svätým, deväťkrát z každých desiatich, ich duchovia ukážu svoje farby, čím sú. Povedia, „To je skupina fanatizmu. Nechajte to tak.“ Brat, to je dnes Božou pripravenou cestou pre človeka. Haleluja.
28Pozrite, Boh vždy urobil pripravenú cestu. Boh je zaviazaný povinnosťou urobiť cestu. Boh robí cestu pre prírodu. Prečo máme tieto veľké povodne po celej krajine? Vyrúbali ste všetko drevo a také veci, čím spôsobujete, že ju voda zmýva. Staviate tu dole priehradu a plníte riečne koryto; tam tečie voda. Zasahujete do prírody. Boh mal pripravenú cestu. To je to, čo spôsobuje povodeň. Všetko, do čoho sa človek mieša, čo Boh učinil dokonalým, potom to robíte nedokonalým. Je to tak.
29No, práve ako, napríklad, ako kačky. Rád pozorujem kačky, v obdobiach, keď chodím poľovať hore do hôr. Bývam tam na jeseň. Všetky tie kačky z Louisiany, tam zdola, a zdola z močiarov sa zlietajú. A idú hore na sever a usadia sa tam, urobia si hniezdo a vychovajú svoje malé káčatká. Potom tí maličkí vyrastú, prídu možno okolo septembra, v tomto ročnom čase, alebo koncom septembra. A potom tá malá kačka, malý káčer, on nikdy neopustil ten rybník. On bol len na tom rybníku.
30Po nejakom čase tam hore na kopec zaletí mráz. Napadne tam trochu snehu, studený vietor zafúka dole z toho kopca. Ten malý káčer to zacíti. No, on nikdy nebol nikde inde než na tom rybníku, nemá ešte ani jeden rok. Vystrie hore hlavu, trochu zagága a ženie sa do stredu toho rybníka a pokračuje „gá-gá;“ každá kačka z toho rybníka príde ku nemu. Každá kačka z toho rybníka vie, že on je rodený vodca. A ten malý káčer sa vznesie z toho rybníka, bez kompasu alebo niečo iného, a ide rovno priamo do Louisiany, na ryžové polia, ako len môže.
31Vyzerá to, že Kresťania by mali mať kačací zmysel, každopádne. Či nie? Je to pravda. Presne tak.
32Prečo? Poviete, „To je inštinkt.“ Nie, oni idú po Božej pripravenej ceste. Boh im dal cestu, inštinkt, aby ich doviedol tam dolu, a oni tomu veria.
33Ale Boh dal človeku Ducha Svätého, a on To odmieta, on chce svoju vlastnú cestu, spôsob. Ale Boh pre nás má pripravenú cestu. Haleluja. Dnes večer sa cítim trocha nábožne, po tomto, a po niekoľkých zhromaždeniach.
34Všimnite si, tam to je. Tak veru. Tá malá kačka pôjde tam dolu.
35A poviem vám niečo ďalšie. Mohli by ste ísť sem von a v novinách by písali, „Zajtra bude pekné počasie,“ a išli by ste poľovať a pozorovali by ste zajace, ako sa idú ukryť v tráve. Nezaujímali by ste sa o to, čo píšu noviny.
36Pozorujete tú starú prasnicu, ako berie tie šupky preč zo severnej strany kopca a berie ich tam na južnú stranu kopca a robí si tam na južnej strane kopca svoj pelech. Ona o tom vie viac než všetci novinoví komentátori na svete. Presne tak. Ona má inštinkt. Ide okolo na južnú stranu, aby sa ukryla pred tým prichádzajúcim chladným severným vetrom. [Brat Branham niekoľkokrát klope na kazateľňu. – pozn.prekl.]
37Ak má prasa dostatok zmyslu na to, aby sa schovalo pred vetrom, čo potom ty s Duchom Svätým? Haleluja. To je tvoj inštinkt. Tak veru.
38A Boh im dal inštinkt. To je pre nich Božia pripravená cesta. Oni žijú v Božej pripravenej ceste.
39 Vezmite si kvet, keď zomiera, ide dolu do zeme. To nie je jeho koniec, on znova ožije. Boh mu pripravil cestu a on tomu verí.
40Boh stále urobil pripravenú cestu. Niekedy to nevedie cez príjemné veci; niekedy to ide cez ťažkosti; ale to je Božia pripravená cesta. Boh ju aj tak robí.
41Raz mal človeka na Božej pripravenej ceste, ktorý musel ísť cez jamu levov, ale išiel Božou pripravenou cestou. Boh ho znovu vyviedol z tej jamy. Haleluja.
42Môžem vidieť nejaké hebrejské deti, ako boli tam raz ráno dolu v Babylone. Oni sa odmietli pokloniť modle. Je to tak. Povedali, „Neurobíme to. Rozozvučte všetku hudbu, ktorú chcete, a nech znejú vaše poľnice a trúby, ale my sa neskloníme vašej modle.“ Haleluja.
43Daj nám viac Sadrachov, Mezachov a Abednégov (tak veru), ktorí sa nebudú klaňať vášmu svetskému nezmyslu. Nemusíme sa tomu pokloniť. Boh nás učinil slobodnými skrze Ducha Svätého. Haleluja. Tak veru.
44Teraz môžem vidieť, ako tam raz ráno... Len otočme na chvíľu naše kamery dolu týmto smerom a sledujme a dívajme sa. Môžem vidieť tam tých chlapcov v to ráno. Povedali, „Pozrite sa teraz, kráľ povedal, 'Každý, kto sa nepokloní, hodíme ho do ohnivej pece'.“
45A oni jedného večera išli a premodlili sa. Na ďalší deň, keď zaznel zvuk, aby sa poklonili pred tým obrazom, no, oni sa tomu otočili chrbtom.
46A tak, on išiel okolo a povedal, „Chlapci, urobili ste to?“
„Áno.“
„No, rozpálime pec o sedemkrát viac, než kedy bola.“
47No, nie je to divné? Bola tam vysunutá lávka, ktorá smerovala do úst pece.
48Po celom Babylone bolo v to ráno červeno, blčal oheň. Môžem vidieť kráľa Nabuchodonozora, ako moderného človeka dnes, sedel tam vonku a hovoril, „No, jednoducho z tých chlapíkov vypálime celé to náboženstvo Ducha Svätého.“
49Ó, áno, nemyslite si, že diabol vás nepopáli. On to iste urobí. Ale pamätajte, Duch Svätý je Sám Ohňom.
50Dobre, chcem, aby ste to sledovali. Božia cesta viedla rovno tou lávkou. Môžem vidieť, ako Sadrach, Mezach a Abednégo kráčajú pochodom smrti. Môžem počuť Sadracha, ako hovorí, „Abednégo, premodlil si sa?“
„Áno.“
„V tom prípade je to v poriadku.“
„Ste si istí, že ste na Božej ceste?“
51„Tak veru. A nám Boh vo Svojom Slove povedal, aby sme sa neklaňali modlám, a neurobíme to. Boh je schopný nás vyslobodiť z tejto ohnivej pece. Ale ak to neurobí, čo s tým. Neskloníme sa. Ideme Božou pripravenou cestou.“
52Môžem niekoho počuť, ako hovorí, „Ste si istý, že máte Jeho pripravenú cestu?“
„Áno.“ Haleluja.
53Niekto povedal, „No, nemyslíte si, že by možno mohli mať pravdu všetci tí ľudia a vy sa mýlite?“
54„Nie veru. Biblia tak povedala a my stojíme na Tom.“ Išli rovno po tej lávke. Môžem... Teplo skrátka tak... Prudké teplo bolo takmer... Zabilo to ľudí, ktorí ich tam priviedli.
55Už sú práve pripravení vstúpiť dnu. Boh nepovedal ani slovo. Stále kráčajú pripravenou cestou. Kráčali rovno do úst pece. Práve vtedy, keď boli pripravení vstúpiť do ohnivej pece... Viete, mám tu pred sebou práve teraz hrozný čierny obraz. Muži, ktorí sa snažia žiť verne Bohu, kráčať Božou pripravenou cestou, majú byť spálení, čo za scéna...
56Všimnite si, po celý čas, keď sa deje niečo tu dolu, niečo sa deje tam hore, v tom istom čase... Pozrime sa na chvíľu tam hore a viďme, čo sa deje. Môžem Ho vidieť, ako tam sedí v kráľovskom rúchu. Haleluja. Môžem vidieť, ako prvé, sprava prichádza veľký mohutný anjel, nazýva sa Michael. Majú tam takého. Vedeli ste to? Môžem ho počuť, ako vybehol tam hore ku Nemu a povedal, „Majster!“ Môžem ho vidieť, ako takto vyťahuje meč a hovorí, „Díval si sa dnes ráno dolu na Babylon? Sú tam ľudia, ktorí kráčajú Božou pripravenou cestou. Sú tam ľudia, ktorí sú dnes ráno ochotní spečatiť svoje svedectvo. Naši bratia majú byť za chvíľu spálení.“ Môžem ho počuť, ako hovorí, „Dovoľ mi ísť tam dolu. Zmením tú scénu.“ Verím, že on by to mohol urobiť; verím tomu.
57Môžem Ho počuť, ako hovorí, „Nie, nemôžem ti to dovoliť urobiť, Gabriel, bol si... či vlastne Michael, bol si veľmi dobrý Anjel. A tak vlož svoj meč naspäť, stoj tam v pozore.“
58Tu prichádza ďalší Anjel. On je nazvaný Wormwood (Palina); spôsobuje, že vody sa stávajú horkými. Tu prichádza hore a hovorí, „Majster, pozri sa tam dolu. Mám plnú kontrolu nad vodami. Pridelil si mi to v čase zničenia potopou a ja som zmyl celý svet, všetko okrem Noeho a jeho ľudí. Teraz,“ povedal, „dovoľ mi ísť tam dolu a zmyjem Babylon z mapy.“
59Môžem Ho počuť, ako hovorí, „Woodworm (Palina), môžeš to urobiť, to je pravda, ale nemôžem ti to dovoliť. To je práca pre muža.“ Ha, ha.
60Ó, môžem Ho vidieť, ako takto povstal. Oni sú práve pripravení urobiť posledný krok. Môžem Ho vidieť, ako sa tam natiahol a povedal, „Poď sem,“ obrovskému búrkovému mračnu, ktoré tam viselo. Ó. Ono Ho poslúchlo.
61Môžem Ho vidieť, počuť Ho, ako hovorí, „Východný vietor, severný, západný a južný, poďte sem a zaneste toto búrkové mračno. Budem na vás jazdiť ako na koňoch. Sadnem si dnes ráno na toto búrkové mračno ako na voz. Idem dolu do Babylona; Ja Sám.“ Haleluja.
62Môžem Ho vidieť, ako sa natiahol a vzal kľukaté blesky a rozprskol ich takto naprieč oblohou; práve, keď robili svoj posledný krok, kráčajúc Božou pripravenou cestou. A asi vtedy, keď tam padli, On prešiel vedľa Mora Života, vzal palmu, zastal tam dole a rozdúchal to od nich vetrom preč. Haleluja. On je tam vždy, keď ľudia budú kráčať Božou pripravenou cestou. Tak veru.
63Raz tam bol jeden starý „šarlatánsky“ kazateľ, starodávny kazateľ svätosti, raz dávno, ktorý sa volal Noe. Povedal, „Viete, bude pršať, prichádza búrka.“
64Môžem počuť ľudí, ako chodia okolo a hovoria, „Hej, počul si tam toho starého náboženského fanatika? On povedal, 'Bude pršať.' No, nikdy na zemi nepršalo. A bude pršať? Ako, odkiaľ by tá voda prišla? No, poďme, zoberme vedu a zistime, či je tam hore nejaká voda. No, nie, tam hore nie je žiadna voda. Čo sa deje? Ten starý kazateľ sa pomiatol v hlave.“
65Ale Boh tak povedal. Boh povedal, „Priprav archu, Noe, na záchranu svojej domácnosti, na záchranu ľudí.“ A Noe mal dostatok zmyslu na to, aby to urobil. To je celé. On išiel a pripravil archu.
66A jedného dňa, počujem niektorých z nich dolu na rohu, ako sa rozprávajú, dolu na obchodnom rohu. Niektorí z nich hovoria, „Hej, čo s tou historkou o daždi, o ktorej hovoril ten 'šarlatánsky' kazateľ, že tam hore bude pršať? Počuli ste niekedy o niečom takom? A on si myslí, že je na Božej pripravenej ceste.“ On bol. Amen.
67Tá prvá vec, ktorú zistíte, že prichádza hrmenie a blýskanie. Vidím tam starú, veľkú matku ťavu, díva sa a hovorí, „Otec ťava, počul si, čo to bolo? To bol hrom. To je to, čo hovoril Noe. Poďme do archy.“ Išli dolu kopcom, a tu prichádza otec kôň a matka kobyla a všetky ostatné páry, rovno jeden po druhom do archy. Boh zavrel dvere, poslal dážď. Noe bol na Božej pripravenej ceste.
68Niektorí z nich vyliezli na brvná a hovorili, „Preplávame cez to.“ Ale poviem vám, keď začali besnieť búrky, archa sa vzniesla hore. Haleluja. No, oni boli na Božej pripravenej ceste. Boh bude vždy žehnať ľudí, ktorí budú kráčať cestou, ktorá je pripravená. On nikdy nepripravil brvno. Toto nikdy nepripravil. On pripravil archu.
69A dnes, môj brat a sestra, je pripravená cesta pre mužov a ženy, a to je cez Ježiša Krista, Syna Božieho, ktorý zomrel tam vtedy na Golgote, a skrze Jeho Krv máme odpustenie hriechov a môžeme prijať krst Duchom Svätým ako potvrdenie Božie, že On nás prijal do Svojho Syna, Krista Ježiša, definitívne v bezpečí. Haleluja.
70Jednako ma budete nazývať fanatikom, tak môžete začať. V poriadku. Cítim sa veľmi dobre. V poriadku.
71Veríte tomu? To je Božia cesta a jediná cesta. Nie je to metodistická cesta, nie je to baptistická cesta, nie je to presbyteriánska cesta, nie je to letničná cesta. Je to Kristova cesta. Kristus je Božou pripravenou Cestou. On je Božou pripravenou Obeťou. On je Jehova-Rafa. On je Jehova-Jireh. On je Jehova-Manasses.
72Keď Abrahám obetoval Izáka, on tam to miesto nazval Jehova-Jireh, „Pán si zaobstará obeť.“ A tu to je, Syn Boží. Amen. Boh vždy robí cestu úniku. Tak veru.
73Raz tam dolu kázal jeden starý kazateľ, ktorý sa volal Elizeus. Dostal sa tam hore, obzrel sa po krajine a povedal, „Poviem vám, to je to najhoršie, čo som kedy videl.“
74 Ten starý kráľ tam zdola išiel a oženil sa s vymaľovanou Jezábeľ, na jej tvári bolo dosť farby na to, aby to urobilo... Jediná žena v Biblii, ktorá si kedy maľovala svoju tvár. A viete, čo jej Boh urobil? Boh ňou nakŕmil psov. To je jediná, o ktorej viem.
75Vidíte ženu, ktorá má na svojej tvári veľa farby, viete, ako ju môžete nazvať? Poviete, „Ahoj, 'slečna psie žrádlo'.“ To je to, čo ona je, ako psie žrádlo. Ó, počúvaj, brat, práve som sa vrátil naspäť z Afriky. Ten nezmysel prišiel z pohanstva. Pohania sa maľujú.
76Ó, brat, keď sa muž alebo žena dajú do poriadku s Bohom, nemusíte im to hovoriť, sami sa hanbia. Haleluja. Je to tak.
77„Chlapče, prvá vec, ktorú zistíte, ona dostane všetkých Izraelitov do toho, aby to robili.“ Eliáš povedal, „Pane, zatvor nebesia. Urob s tým niečo.“
78Boh prehovoril dolu a povedal, „No, Eliáš, poviem ti, čo máš robiť. Choď dolu a prehovor s Achabom.“
79A tu prichádza starý kazateľ, kráča tade dolu s veľkým kusom ovčej kože, ktorý má takto okolo seba, drsná tvár s fúzmi ako chlpatá húsenica. Prišiel pred kráľa a povedal, „Nepadne ani rosy, pokiaľ o ňu nezavolám.“ Haleluja. On bol na Božej pripravenej ceste. Tak veru.
80„Ach, odíď odtiaľto, ty fanatik. V poriadku, my vieme, čo robíme.“
81Starý Eliáš povedal, „Pane, čo mám robiť? Ukáž mi, ako mám ísť ďalej. Tamto som už vykonal.“
Povedal, „Choď tam hore ku potoku Karita a sadni si.“
82„V poriadku, to je veľmi zlé miesto, ale idem hore a sadnem si. Povedal si, 'Choď tam hore.' Ak Tvoja cesta vedie tam hore, pôjdem tam hore.“
83Ide hore a ukrýva sa tam. Povedal, „No, Pane, čo tu budem robiť?“
„Buď tam. Len tam zostaň.“
84A to prvé, ako viete, on začal byť hladný. Povedal, „Pane, začínam byť trocha hladný.“ A tu letí okolo krkavec.
85Niektorí z nich povedali, „Pozrite na toho starého pomäteného kazateľa, sedí tam hore na kopci. No, či nie je blázon? No, ten chlap sedí tam hore na slnci, veď zomrie. No, on je fanatik.“
86A prvé, čo zistíte, že všetky vody vyschli. Tam dolu v kraji nie je žiadna voda na pitie. Ale zakaždým, keď sa Eliáš chcel napiť, on sa len sklonil ku potoku Karite a pil. Potom, keď vyhladol, tu okolo letí krkavec so sendvičom v zobáku povedal, „Nech sa páči, Eliáš.“
87Poviete, „Odkiaľ ten krkavec vzal...? Chceš povedať, že tomu veríš, brat Branham?“ Samozrejme. Áno. „Chceš povedať, že ten krkavec nosil Eliášovi niečo na jedenie počas tých troch rokov a šiestich mesiacov?“ Verím tomu. Poviete, „Odkiaľ to vzal.“ Neviem. Jediné, čo viem, je, že ten krkavec to niekde zohnal a priniesol to Eliášovi; Eliáš to jedol a žil na tom tri roky a šesť mesiacov. Je to tak. Verím tomu.
88Tak isto to je s... Poviete, „Čo ťa robí tak šťastným? Čo spôsobuje, že kýveš rukou?“ Neviem. Jediné, čo viem, je, že Golgota za To zaplatila, Biblia To učí, Duch Svätý To priniesol, ja To mám. Haleluja. Ani neviem, odkiaľ To prichádza, ale mám To. Haleluja. Je to tak. Neviem vám povedať, odkiaľ To prichádza, ale prišlo To sem. Ó. To spôsobuje, že vám váš kabát lepšie sadne. Iste. Haleluja. Nevzrušujte sa. To znamená „chvála nášmu Bohu.“ Amen. To znamená „Tak je.“ Ó. Iste, je to tak. Neviem...
89A oni povedali, že bol blázon, keď sedí tam hore? Ó. Prišiel čas jedenia, tu prichádza farebný nosič a povedal, „Nech sa páči, Eliáš. Tu sú tvoje raňajky.“ No, bol na tom lepšie než polovica ľudí tu dnes večer. Nemyslím si, že tu je mnoho takých, ktorí majú farebných sluhov. Ale on mal nejakých farebných sluhov, nejaké krkavce mu donášali niečo na jedenie v každý čas jedla. Haleluja. Sláva. Boh mal niekde jedáleň; On to pripravil, uvaril, poslal mu to. Haleluja. Ten istý Boh dnes žije a vládne.
90On zostával na Jeho pripravenej ceste. Boh povedal, „Choď hore a usaď sa tam,“ tak on išiel. To je všetko, čo vedel, že má robiť. Čo si o tom myslíte? Veríte, že to je pravda? Tak je. Amen. Tak veru.
91Malé dievčatko raz išlo dolu ulicou, povedala...?... išla a povedala... „Ó, haleluja, haleluja.“ Práve prijala Ducha Svätého.
92A tam na rohu stál nejaký neveriaci, povedal jej, „Z čoho sa tak raduješ, maličká?“
93Povedala, „Ó, Ježiš ma práve spasil a naplnil ma Duchom Svätým.“ Povedala, „Som tak šťastná.“
94Povedal, „Pozri, čo to máš v ruke?“
Povedala, „Moju Bibliu.“
Povedal, „Veríš tomu, čo je v nej?“
„Samozrejme“
95Povedal, „Veríš všetkému z Toho?“
„Všetkému z Toho.“
Povedal, „Veríš tomu príbehu o Jonášovi?“
„Áno.“
96Povedal, „Veríš, že tá veľryba skutočne prehltla toho muža?“
„Áno. Verím tomu.“
Povedal, „Ako to dokážeš niečím iným okrem viery?“
97Povedala, „No, keď sa dostanem do neba, jednoducho sa opýtam brata Jonáša.“
Neveriaci jej povedal, riekol, „Čo ak brat Jonáš nie je v nebi?“
98Povedala, „Potom sa ho budete musieť opýtať vy.“ Haleluja. Ostalo pre neho jediné miesto, a to je peklo.
99Ak odmietnete Božiu cestu, musíte ísť do pekla. Musíte. To je jediná ďalšia cesta. A tak, buď ste na jednej, alebo na druhej. Amen. V poriadku.
100Môžem ho tam dolu vidieť, ako tam hore sedí a krkavce mu prinášajú niečo na jedenie.
101Vykročil naspäť tam dolu. Jedného dňa išiel dolu z kopca. A Boh povedal, „No, nádrž vyschla. Chcem, aby si išiel tam dolu do domu vdovy.“ Čo za miesto pre kazateľa, aby tam išiel. Boh mu povedal, aby išiel. To je pripravená cesta. Išiel tam dolu. A ona ani nebola Izraelitka. Nie, nebola. A ona išla tam... A on išiel dolu z kopca.
102A ako schádzal z kopca, stretol nejakú vdovu, ktorá stála na dvore, lámala spadnutý konár. Povedal, „Choď dnu a daj mi niečo na jedenie a prines mi trocha vody.“
103Povedala, „Ako že žije Pán a tvoja duša nikdy nezomiera, mám v dome dosť jedla len na to, aby som urobila malý bochník pre môjho syna. Beriem dve drevá, aby som mohla upiecť tento bochník, a on a ja to zjeme a zomrieme.“
104Povedal, „Choď, prines mi najprv trocha vody a upeč koláč a prines mi ho.“ Haleluja.
105Čo ona ide urobiť? Tam je Božia pripravená cesta. „Hľadajte najprv Kráľovstvo Božie a všetku Jeho spravodlivosť.“
106Povieš, „Brat Bill, moja matka utiekla z domu.“ „Môj manžel so mnou nechce žiť.“
107Hľadajte najprv Kráľovstvo Božie a všetku Jeho spravodlivosť (Haleluja); všetky tie ostatné veci vám budú pridané.“ Je to tak.
108„Ako to urobím, brat Bill?“ Len choď vpred a urob to. Ježiš povedal, „Nasleduj Mňa.“ Presne tak. Zachovávaj si svoje oko zdravé. V poriadku.
109A prvá vec, ktorú zistíte, ona ide dnu: berie tie dve drevá a láme ich. Poznáte starý indiánsky spôsob lámania dreva? To bol kríž, samozrejme. A v tom kríži, zapálili to rovno v strede. Tam bol ten oheň, zapálil tú pec na tú kukuričnú placku.
110Priniesla tú placku a dala ju tomu kazateľovi; on tam stál a jedol. Povedal, „A teraz choď naspäť a sprav placku pre seba a pre svojho syna. Lebo, Tak hovorí Pán, hrniec sa nevyprázdni ani džbán nevyschne, až do dňa, kedy Boh na zem pošle dážď.“ Haleluja.
111Čo? Pretože ona najprv hľadala Kráľovstvo Božie, lebo kráčala Božou pripravenou cestou; Boh ju odmenil. Veríte tomu? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ – pozn.prekl.] Tak veru.
112Raz bola jedna žena, ktorá stratila svojho brata. Volal sa Lazár. Ó, bol to dobrý chlapec; a ona nezniesla to, že sa ho má vzdať. A on zomieral. Poslala po svojho Pastora alebo Evanjelistu, to bol Ježiš. Ona vyšla von z cirkvi a vzdala sa všetkého, čo mali, a poslala po Ježiša, aby prišiel a modlil sa, a On jednoducho išiel ďalej. Poslala znova a On len išiel ďalej. Povedal, „Nerobím nič, pokiaľ mi to neukáže Otec.“ Otec Mu už ukázal, že Lazár ide zomrieť.
113Po chvíli prišiel, asi po troch alebo štyroch dňoch. Povedal, „Lazár je mŕtvy a kvôli vám som šťastný, že som tam nebol. Ale idem ho zobudiť.“
114Tak potom počula, že prichádza Ježiš, a tak vyšla, aby Ho stretla.
115To bola Božia pripravená cesta, ísť stretnúť Ježiša. Je to tak vždy. Keď v tvojom dome nastane smútok, choď stretnúť Ježiša. Máš vo svojom dome chorobu, choď stretnúť Ježiša. Máš vo svojom dome zármutok srdca, choď stretnúť Ježiša. Haleluja. Ak máš akúkoľvek potrebu, choď stretnúť Ježiša. Choď Ho stretnúť. On má všetok liečebný prostriedok na každú vec. Nemá liečebný prostriedok. On má úplné vyliečenie. Amen. Potom Ho išla stretnúť a padla k Jeho nohám.
116A ona raz čítala príbeh o tom, ako tam dávno v Biblii bola žena, Sunamitka. Ona bola veľmi všímavá ku kazateľovi, ktorý sa volal Elizeus. A tak postavila malú komôrku na bočnej strane svojho domu, dala tam posteľ, sviečku, stoličku, a tak ďalej. A Elizeus išiel okolo a videl všetku tú dobrotu, ktorú urobila pre kazateľa, platila svoje desiatky a všetko ďalšie, rozumiete. A tak povedal, „Choď a opýtaj sa, uvidíme, čo môžeme urobiť, či prehovorím s kráľom alebo s hlavným veliteľom.“
117Povedala, „Prebývam so svojím ľudom a všetko je v poriadku.“
Povedal, „V poriadku, choď sa jej opýtať, čo môžem urobiť.“
Geházi povedal, „Ona je neplodná, nemá žiadne deti.“
118Povedal, „Choď jej povedať, ‘Tak hovorí Pán, o tomto čase za rok, podľa života, že dostane syna'.“ A ona ho dostala.
119Dieťa malo okolo jedenásť alebo dvanásť rokov. Jedného dňa okolo poludnia bol so svojím otcom vonku na poli. Verím, že dostal úpal. Začal kričať, „Moja hlava. Moja hlava.“ Poslal jedného zo sluhov domov s dieťaťom, s malým chlapcom, dal ho matke do lona. Napoludnie zomrel.
120Čo za vhodné miesto. Ona ho vzala hore a položila do kazateľovej postele, tam, kde ležal prorok. Dobré miesto, kam ísť. Ležal rovno na prorokovej posteli.
121Povedala, „Osedlaj mi teraz mula, choď vpred a nezastavuj, až kým ti nepoviem.“
122To sa mi páči. Choď vpred a nezastavuj sa. Len stále choď. Presne tak.
123Ten problém je, že sa zastavujeme a rozprávame sa s príliš mnohými ľuďmi. Zastavujeme sa kvôli príliš mnohým sociálnym večierkom. Máme tak mnoho šitia a šitia a organizujeme večierok štrikovania, viete, „Štrikovanie a šitie a rozprávanie sa o pani Takej-a-takej.“ Viete, ako to je. Všetky tieto rozličné veci prišli do cirkvi, keď by ste mali všetok ten odpadový odtok vyhodiť von a mať starodávne, Bohom poslané prebudenie. Premodliť sa, až kým by ste nezniesli dolu nebesia a Duch Svätý by prišiel ako náhliaci sa mocný vietor a naplnil to miesto a ľudí. Amen. To je to, čo potrebujeme.
Povedala, „Nezastavuj sa.“
124A jej manžel povedal, „Ten človek nie je na Karmeli.“ Povedal, „Nie je ani nový mesiac, ani sabat.“
125Povedala, „Všetko je v poriadku.“ Chcela sa dostať ku prorokovi, a tak išla rovno ďalej.
126Elizeus sa pozrel von a povedal, „Tu prichádza tá Sunamitka. Niečo s ňou nie je v poriadku; neviem, čo to je.“
127Ona vybehla hore. A on povedal, „Je všetko v poriadku s tebou a tvojím manželom, tvojím dieťaťom?“
128Povedala, „Všetko je v poriadku.“ To sa mi páči. Ona berie Božiu pripravenú cestu. Povedala, „Teraz je všetko v poriadku.“ A potom to začala vysvetľovať.
129On povedal Elizeovi, riekol, „Choď, vezmi moju palicu a polož ju...“ Či vlastne, povedal Geházimu, „Choď, vezmi moju palicu a polož ju na to dieťa.“
130Ale ona povedala, „Neopustím ťa.“ Tak prorok tam šiel a modlil sa, chodil hore a dolu po miestnosti, položil svoje telo na mŕtve dieťa a ono prišlo do života.
131Tá žena, Marta, vedela, že tá Sunamitka pochopila, že Boh bol vo Svojom prorokovi. A ak bol Boh vo Svojom prorokovi, bezpochyby Boh je vo Svojom Synovi. Tak keby sa mohla dostať ku Ježišovi, mala by liečivý prostriedok. A tak bežala a padla pred Ním. Povedala, „Pane, ak...“ To je to, čím On bol. „Pane, ak by si tu bol, môj brat by nezomrel. Ale aj teraz, o čokoľvek poprosíš Boha, Boh to urobí.“ Ó, to sa mi páči. „Aj teraz, o čokoľvek poprosíš Boha, Boh to urobí.“
132To je dobré i dnes večer. Povieš, „Som hriešnik, brat Branham.“ Aj teraz, o čokoľvek poprosíš Boha, Boh to urobí. „Buď milostivý mne, hriešnikovi,“ On to urobí. Ak si chorý, „Buď mi milostivý, Pane,“ a On to urobí, aj teraz. Povieš, „Doktor sa ma vzdal; ale 'aj teraz, Pane.' Päť rokov som nechodil; ale 'aj teraz, Pane.' Nič som nepočul, neviem odkedy; 'aj teraz, Pane.' Neprehovoril som ani slovo, neviem ti povedať odkedy, ale 'aj teraz, Pane, o čokoľvek poprosíš Boha...'“ a On sedí po pravici Otca, vykonáva príhovor na základe tvojho vyznania. Haleluja.
Povedala, „Aj teraz, o čokoľvek poprosíš Boha, Boh to urobí.“
133On vzpriamil Svoju malú postavu, povedal, „Tvoj brat znova vstane.“
134Povedala, „Ó, áno, Pane, vo všeobecnom vzkriesení v poslednom dni, on znova vstane.“
Povedal, „Ja som vzkriesenie a Život.“ Ó.
135Biblia povedala, „Nebolo na Ňom žiadnej krásy na pohľad, malý útlo vyzerajúci chlapík.“ Ale On povedal... Keď sa vzpriamil, tam bol Boh.
136Povedal, „No, tvoj brat znova vstane.“ Povedal, „Ja som vzkriesenie a Život,“ hovorí Boh. „Ten, kto verí vo Mňa, hoci by bol mŕtvy, jednako bude žiť. Ktokoľvek žije a verí vo Mňa, nikdy nezomrie. Veríš tomu?“
137Povedala, „Áno, Pane. Verím, že Ty si Syn Boží, ktorý mal prísť na svet.“
138Povedal, „Kde ste ho uložili?“ Tu začína ísť ku hrobu. Ježiš zaplakal.
139Prednedávnom mi jedna žena povedala, veľmi dobrá žena, z kresťanskej vedy, ktorá neverila, že Ježiš bol... a Božstvom. Ona verila, že On bol prorok. Verila, že bol dobrým človekom, ale nebol panensky narodený. Oni zapierajú panenské narodenie.
140Nielen to, ale prieskum ukázal, že osemdesiatpäť percent protestantských kazateľov zo Spojených Štátov tvrdí, že panenské narodenie bol podvod. Áno. Mohol by som to ľahko urobiť, mohol by som na to ľahko prísť podľa toho, ako to žijete. To je úplná pravda, uverili, že to bol podvod. A ešte väčšie percento neverí, že Ježiš sa znovu viditeľne vráti. Niet divu, že potrebujeme prebudenie.
141Brat, počúvaj toto. Počuješ dnes tak mnoho o prebudení. Nikdy sme nemali prebudenie.
142Prednedávnom som tu sledoval iného človeka, tam, kde hovorili o mnohých takýchto veciach. Povedal, „On išiel do jedného mesta a mal päťtisíc obrátených.“ Išli sme hneď po tom (nie ja), skupina kazateľov, a vzali tie karty a znova ich vypátrali, a v priebehu tridsiatich dní nedokázali nájsť tridsiatich, ktorí tvrdili, že sú spasení. Viete, čo si myslím? Myslím, že to je presvedčenie namiesto obrátenia. Keď je človek narodený znova z Ducha Božieho...
143To, čo dnes potrebujeme, nie je preťahujúce zhromaždenie, ale starodávne, Bohom poslané, prebudenie Ducha Svätého: staromódne, nebesky-modré, hriech–zabíjajúce, náboženstvo umyté Krvou. Amen. Ktoré spôsobuje, že vraciaš naspäť to pracovné náradie na pneumatiky a činíš pokánie. Presne tak.
144Ona potom povedala, riekla, „No, pozri sa sem, brat Branham, môžem ti dokázať, že On nebol nič viac než človek.“
145Povedal som, „Urob to. Ak mi môžeš dokázať, že On nebol Bohom, potom to prijmem.“
146Povedala, „Nie, On nebol Božský. Bol iba človekom a môžem to dokázať skrze Bibliu, že On bol iba človekom.“
147Povedal som, „Ak to môžeš dokázať skrze Bibliu, potom to prijmem.“
Povedala, „Si pripravený?“
Povedal som, „Som.“
148Povedala, „Keď On prišiel, v svätom Jánovi 11, keď prišiel ku hrobu Lazára, On zaplakal.“
149Povedal som, „Čo to s tým má spoločné?“
150Povedala, „No, to dokazuje, že On nebol nič viac než človekom; On plakal.“
151Povedal som, „Pozri sa sem, pani. On bol skutočne človekom, ale On bol viac než človek. Bol to Boh-Človek.“ Boh bol v Kristovi, zmierujúc svet so Sebou Samým. Tak veru. On prišiel, aby konal vôľu Otca. Kráčal Božou pripravenou cestou. On sa nikdy nedíval napravo alebo naľavo; robil to, čo Boh povedal, aby robil. On bol Božou pripravenou Cestou.
152A na ceste k Lazárovi, On zaplakal. On bol človekom, keď plakal. Ale keď sa tam postavil vedľa hrobu, v ktorom bol štyri dni mŕtvy človek; a hemžiace sa kožné červy sa plazili dnu a von z jeho tela, a naokolo bol smrad; keď On povedal, „Lazár, vyjdi von,“ človek, ktorý bol štyri dni mŕtvy, sa postavil na svoje nohy a znova ožil.
153To bol viac než človek. Haleluja. Tak veru. On bol človek, ktorý plakal, ale v tom vzkriesení On bol Boh.
154On bol človek, keď v ten večer išiel dolu z vrchu, hladný, rozhliadal sa naokolo, po stromoch, po niečom na jedenie. On bol človekom, keď bol hladný.
155Ale keď vzal päť chlebov a dve malé kúsky ryby a nakŕmil päť tisíc ľudí, to bol viac než človek. To bol Boh v tele. Haleluja.
156On bol človek, keď si vtedy večer na loďke ľahol, keď vyšla z Jeho rúcha moc, až bol tak unavený, že až – mocné more revalo, desaťtisíc morských diablov prisahalo, že Ho tej noci potopia; keď tam tá maličká loďka bola zmietaná naokolo ako zazátkovaná fľaška na búrlivom mori. Viem, že On bol človek, keď si tam ľahol a spal, ale keď povedali, „Či nedbáš, že hynieme?“
157Postavil Svoju nohu na lodný povraz a povedal, „Pokoj, utíš sa,“ a bol tam pokoj. To bol viac než človek. Haleluja. To bol môj Boh. Haleluja. Presne tak, On bol; áno, skutočne, je.
158On bol človek, keď visel na Golgote, keď Mu udelili tú najväčšiu poctu, akú kedy urobili. Keď povedali, „Iných zachraňoval, Seba Samého zachrániť nemôže.“ Čo za nádherná pocta alebo kompliment, ktorý Mu udelili. Ak by zachránil Samého Seba, nemohol by zachrániť ostatných. Tak musel dať Samého Seba, aby zachránil ostatných. On bol človekom, keď kričal o milosrdenstvo, keď povedal, „Môj Bože, Môj Bože, prečo si Ma opustil?“ On zomrel ako človek. Áno.
159Ale keď na Veľkonočné ráno vstal z mŕtvych, On dokázal, že bol Bohom. Niet divu, že prorok povedal:
Miloval ma, keď žil; Spasil ma, keď zomrel;
Keď bol pochovaný, odniesol moje hriechy ďaleko preč;
Keď vstal z mŕtvych, navždy ma slobodne ospravedlnil;
Jedného dňa príde, ó, čo za slávny deň!
160Haleluja. Milujem Ho. A vy? Kráčajte po Božej pripravenej ceste.
161Môžem vidieť, ako raz nejakí múdri muži idú k Jeho narodeniu, aby sa Mu poklonili. Môžem ich vidieť, ako sa všetci pripravujú. Nakladajú svoje ťavy.
162Môžem vidieť Jima Jonesa a všetkých ostatných, a Johna Doeho, ako sa balia. Môžem ich vidieť, ako tam nakladajú tieto stolíky, na ktorých hrajú karty, takto to zabalili, nakládli tam všetko možné a išli uctiť Ježiša. Ale zistili, keď sa dostali ku tomu, rozhodli sa ísť, že tie ťavy nedokázali kráčať.
163To je presne to, čo sa dnes deje s cirkvou. Nabalili ste s tým tak mnoho sveta, že vás to obracia späť. Je to tak.
164Môžem ho vidieť, ako sa takto vydal na cestu, a všetci z nich. Prišli tam ku kopcu, nedokázali cezeň ani prejsť, pretože, „Tesná je brána a úzka je cesta, ale bude ich málo, ktorí ju nájdu.“ Tak veru.
165Môžem vidieť jedného muža, ako sa balí; on sa robí svetlom, „Pretože ja sa balím, lebo idem do neba.“
166Brat, ja sa nebalím, keď idem do neba. Ja sa vybaľujem, keď idem do neba. Haleluja. Existuje vytrhnutie; odrezanie všetkého. Biblia povedala, „Odložme nabok všetko bremeno a hriech, ktorý nás tak ľahko obkľučuje, aby sme mohli bežať tento beh s trpezlivosťou.“
167Môžem vidieť, ako ten chlapík ide...?... Môžem tam vidieť jeho ženu, ako hovorí, „Ján, čo sa deje, chlapče? Kam ideš?“
Povedal, „Idem uctievať Pána.“
„Ako vieš, že ideš?“
„No, idem.“
168„No, nemáš ani kompas. Nenadobudol si si ani kazateľskú licenciu. Čo sa to s tebou deje? Prijmú ťa? Ty ideš uctievať Pána?“
„Áno.“
„Vezmi si kompas.“
„Nie, nepotrebujem ho.“
„Nepotrebuješ ho? Ako sa tam dostaneš?“
169Môžem ho vidieť, ako ukazuje na rannú hviezdu a hovorí, „Idem po Božej pripravenej ceste.“ Amen. Boh pripravil hviezdu, aby viedla tých múdrych mužov. Nepotrebovali kompas; potrebovali Božiu pripravenú cestu, hviezdu. Sláva.
170A ten istý Boh, ktorý viedol tých múdrych mužov ku Kristovi skrze hviezdu, je tu dnes večer vo forme Ducha Svätého, aby ťa priviedol ku Kristovi, novému narodeniu, krstu Duchom Svätým, čo je Božou pripravenou cestou. „Ak sa človek nenarodí z vody a Ducha, nemôže ani vidieť Kráľovstvo Božie.“ Muži a ženy, prijali ste To?
171Môj čas vypršal. Ó, práve sa cítim, akoby som vchádzal do toho. Mám ruky vo vreckách na nohaviciach a kážem ako starý dedinský kazateľ. Prečo? Milujem to. To je v poriadku mať zmrzlinu, ale musíte mať aj nejakú slaninu a fazule, aby ste sa poriadne nasýtili, nič okrem Ježiša...?... hore. To je to, čo potrebujeme. Či tomu veríte? Skutočne.
172Boh má pripravenú cestu. Ste na nej dnes večer? Prijali ste Ducha Svätého od tej doby, ako ste uverili? No, vy, moji dobrí baptistickí priatelia, a viete, že som patril... Bol som baptista a môj pastor tu je baptista. Ale chcem vám niečo povedať. Skutky 19 hovoria, „Prijali ste Ducha Svätého od vtedy, ako ste uverili?“ Nie „keď“ ste uverili, ale „od vtedy,“ ako ste uverili. Tak veru. Ak To nemáte, dnes večer To je pre vás. Boh má pripravenú cestu.
173Brat, sestra, nesnaž sa ísť svojou vlastnou cestou. Nechoď skrze figové listy. Nechoď plávajúc na brvne, ako to skúšali robiť v čase zničenia potopou. Nedávaj cez seba figové listy, ako to urobil Adam. Nesnaž sa ísť cestou kráľa Nabuchodonozora, aby si prenasledoval Cirkev Božiu. Nechoď všetkými týmito inými rozličnými cestami, týmito formami a cestami, ktorých by sme mohli spomenúť mnoho.
174Nechoď tak, ako išli farizeji, ako nejaká veľmi nábožná osoba, povedali, „No, pozri sa, sme vo vysokom postavení; a ak sa tu niečo bude diať, budeme vedieť o tom všetko.“
175A Boh sa tam prekĺzol, dal narodenie Dieťaťu v betlehemskej maštali, vzal Ho dolu do sveta; a preč zo sveta, trest smrti; oni o tom nič nevedeli. Presne tak. Božia pripravená cesta.
176Ó, raz tam bola žena, ona minula všetky peniaze, ktoré mala. Haleluja. Doktori jej vôbec nedokázali pomôcť. A jedného dňa skoro omdlela. Mala mnoho, mnoho rokov krvotok. A jedného dňa počula nejaký hukot v...?... Pozrela von a tam prišla Božia pripravená Cesta. Je to tak. Ó.
177Môžem ju vidieť, ako ide dolu okolo významných, klasických baptistov. „Dni zázrakov pominuli.“ Ona sa len preplazila rovno pomedzi ich nohami. Museli uhnúť.
178Vidím ju, ako prichádza tam ku Brighamovi Youngovi a všetkým jeho ženám; ona proste prešla rovno cez to. Čo povedala?
179Počujem ich, ako hovoria, „Marta, kam to ideš, či ti lekár nedokáže pomôcť? Kam to ideš? Videla som ťa ísť tam s tým...?... Učiteľom.“
180Povedala, „Idem Božou pripravenou cestou.“
„Kde to je? Nemyslíš tam toho pokrytca?“
„To je to, kde to je. Idem rovno ďalej do toho.“
181Pretlačila sa cez to a naokolo, až kým sa nedostala tam ku tomuto chlapíkovi. A on patril do takejto cirkvi a takejto a takejto a všetci sa ju snažili zatlačiť naspäť. Ale ona si urobila svoju cestu k Ježišovi.
182Niektorí z nich povedali, „No, počkaj chvíľu, sestra. Ak ješ mäso, nezvládneš to.“ Ona išla Božou pripravenou cestou.
183„Ak si nebrala hadov, nezvládneš to.“ Ona išla Božou pripravenou cestou. Chcela sa dostať k Ježišovi. Presne tak.
184Premýšľam o dávnom Dávidovi. Haleluja. Tak veru. Keď tam povedal... Tam, kde hovoril o... Povedal, „Ochutnajte a vidzte, že Pán je dobrý. Chutí to ako med zo skaly.“ Zvykol som používať malý opis, mám na mysli starý batôžtek, ktorý zvykli nosiť tu na svojom boku, malé vrecko, do ktorého dávali med, starí pastieri to robili. A keď nemocný dal... keď ovca ochorela, oni vzali trocha z toho medu z tej vreckovej tašky, dali ho na vápencovú skalu, zavolali chorú ovcu a nechali tú chorú ovcu, aby išla lízať z tej skaly. A keď išli lízať med z tej skaly, zlízala trocha z toho vápenca, zatiaľ čo lízala med. A viete, čo sa stalo? Tá chorá ovca sa uzdravila.
185No, pozri sa, brat. Mám Toho dnes večer plnú vreckovú tašku. A nejdem To dať na baptistickú cirkev, metodistickú cirkev, presbyteriánsku cirkev alebo letničnú cirkev. Dávam To na Ježiša Krista, tam, kam To patrí, a ty, ktorý si chorou ovcou, poď lízať a istotne z Toho niečo dostaneš. Tak veru. Líž z Neho. Ako ten starý človek...?... Líž z Neho; dostaneš To.
186Nevenuj žiadnu pozornosť tomu, čo hovorí tvoja cirkev. Venuj pozornosť Kristovi. Nasleduj Jeho, lebo v Ňom, On je Cirkvou. Vidím, choď Božou pripravenou cestou. On nikdy nepovedal, že metodista bol Božou pripravenou cestou, ani nepovedal, že ňou bol baptista alebo akákoľvek iná cirkev. Povedal, „Ja som Cesta, Pravda a Život.“
Povieš, „No, ako viem, že som v Ňom?“
187„Jedným Duchom sme všetci pokrstení do jedného Tela,“ stali sme sa členmi toho Tela, 1. Korinťanom 12. Presne tak, poddaní Božiemu...
188Všetko, čo On má vo Svojom Kráľovstve, nám patrí. On len berie celú veľkú Knihu plnú šekov a podpisuje ich dolu Svojím Menom a hovorí, „Tu si, môj synu. Čokoľvek potrebuješ, choď a vezmi si to.“ Amen.
189Neboj sa to vyplniť. Vyplň ho a odovzdaj, povedz, „Ďakujem Ti, Pane.“ Haleluja. To príde do vyplnenia.
190„Všetko, za čokoľvek prosíte (Marek 11:24), keď sa modlíte, verte, že to dostanete, budete to mať.“
191Vyplň ten šek a povedz, „Pane, potrebujem uzdravenie.“ Odtrhni ho, povedz, „Tu to je, Pane, prosím o uzdravenie v Ježišovom Mene.“ Povedz, „Ďakujem Ti, Pane,“ a choď rovno ďalej, ver za uzdravenie. Je to tak. Ako tie krkavce, ktoré Eliášovi nosili to jedlo. Tu to je.
192Povedz, „Potrebujem spasenie pre svoju dušu.“ Čo urobíš? Len vypíš a povedz, „Povedal, 'Poďte ku Mne všetci, ktorí pracujete a ste obťažení; Ja vám dám odpočinutie.' To je pre mňa, Pane.“ Vyplň šek. „Potrebujem spasenie. Podaj mi to, Pane.“
„Tu to je.“ „Ďakujem Ti, Pane.“ Odchádzaš s tým.
193Potrebuješ Ducha Svätého? Tak veru. „Zostaňte v meste Jeruzaleme, až kým nebudete odiati mocou z Výsosti. Potom, ako na vás príde tento Duch Svätý, budete Mojimi svedkami v Jeruzaleme, Júdei a Samárii a v najvzdialenejších končinách sveta.“ Veríš Tomu? Vyplň šek a pošli ho hore podpísaný, dávaj pozor, čo sa stane. Boh To udelí: Božia pripravená cesta. On ti pripravil šekovú Knižku; choď napred a vyplň to. Boh to zasľúbil. Veríš tomu? Samozrejme. Boh má vždy pripravenú cestu.
194Raz bol jeden chlapík, ktorý sa volal Jairus. Ó, on bol tak trochu pripojený k skupine neveriacich, tak, ako je celkom dosť kazateľov, ktorí sú dnes pripojení rovnakým spôsobom. Biblia povedala, „Nezapriahajte sa medzi neveriacich.“ V poriadku. Tá prvá vec, ktorú zistíte...
195Zaujímalo by vás, kto to povedal? Áno?
196No, Biblia povedala, „Tieto znamenia budú nasledovať tých, ktorí veria. V Mojom Mene budú vyháňať diablov, hovoriť novými jazykmi, budú brať hadov, piť smrteľné veci; budú klásť ruky na chorých, oni sa uzdravia.“ Kážte to dnes v polovici cirkví, vykopli by vás von. Je to tak. Presne tak. Nepoznajú Božiu pripravenú cestu, ale to je to, čo On povedal. To je to, čo povedal Ježiš. Veríte tomu? Tak veru.
197A potom, ak to tak povedal, „Amen, verím Tomu.“ Myslím si, že To je Pravda, a kráčam Jeho cestou, robím to, čo On povedal. A On to potvrdzuje znameniami, zázrakmi, ktoré nasledujú. Presne tak.
198Tak len robte to isté, vkráčajte rovno do toho. To je pre každého... Ktokoľvek chce, nech vojde. Poď. Boh ťa zavolal, musíš prísť. Tak vojdi rovno do toho. Nečakaj ani o chvíľu dlhšie. Vezmi to, dnes večer.
199Vidím tohto chlapíka; on sa pripojil. Miloval Ježiša, ale jednako, on bol tak trochu na ceste... On nechcel stratiť svoju prestíž, viete, požehnania. Tak oni vyšli...?...
200A tak Pán povedal, „No, pozrime sa na toho chlapíka, ktorý je tam dolu. Predurčil som ho do večného Života a on tam je s tou skupinou neveriacich. Tak ho teraz napravím.“ On proste nechal, aby jeho dcéra ochorela.
Povedal, „No, zavolám doktora Doeho.“
201Doktor Doe ju prehliadol, povedal, „Pulz sa znižuje, Jairus. Poviem ti, čo by sme mali radšej urobiť; mali by sme radšej spraviť toto, tamto.“ A on jej dal všetky tie lieky, a tak ďalej. Jej stav sa ďalej zhoršoval, zomierala.
202Potom povedal, „Zaujímalo by ma, či Boh má pripravenú cestu?“ Ó.
203Ten Človek, ktorého tak veľmi kritizoval kvôli Božskému uzdravovaniu, alebo o Ňom počul... Povedal, „Áno, áno. Aha.“
204„Jairus, nemyslíš si, že On je pokrytec?“
„Nie,“ povedal Duch Svätý, „On nie je pokrytec. Ver v Neho.“
205„Ó, v poriadku, áno. Ó, myslím, že On je.“
206Vidíte, takí sú niektorí z týchto hraničných kazateľov (Presne tak.), skrátka vystrašení. Ó, nech z vás Boh vezme tú tenkú vtáčiu kosť a dá do vás chrbtovú kosť.
207Páči sa mi to, čo je svedectvom Buddyho Robinsona. Povedal, „Pane, daj mi chrbtovú kosť silnú ako brvno. Daj množstvo hluku do priečelného múru mojej duše. A daj mi bojovať s diablom, až kým mi nezostane ani jeden zub, a potom ho hrýzť ďasnami, pokiaľ nezomriem.“ To sa mi páči. Presne tak. Povedal, „Mal som starého loveckého psa. Ona zomrela stará. Zápasila s medvedíkmi čistotnými, až kým jej nezostal ani jeden zub, potom ich len zahryzla ďasnami a skučala.“ To sa mi páči. Áno. Haleluja.
208Povieš, „Brat Branham, sotva mám trocha vzdelania. Som príliš malý. Kazatelia ma odmietnu.“
209Poďme len naspäť ku tomu príbehu. „V boji nezáleží na veľkosti toho psa; ide o veľkosť boja v tom psovi.“ To je to, o čom to dnes je. Stoj tam. Presvedč sa dnes o tom, pes tam bude stáť.
210Ako raz povedal jeden starý náčelník, keď sa pripravoval odísť.
Povedal, „Ako sa ti darí, náčelník?“
211Povedal, „...?...“ Povedal, „Sú vo mne dva psi. Jeden je čierny a druhý je biely. Čierny chce, aby som robil zle, a biely chce, aby som robil dobre.“ Povedal, „Oni stále bojujú a hádajú sa.“
Povedal som, „Ktorý vyhráva, náčelník?“
Povedal, „Záleží na tom, ktorého z nich náčelník najviac kŕmi.“
212A to je tiež pravda. Tak veru. V poriadku, brat. Hovorím ti, to, čo svet dnes večer potrebuje, je dobré starodávne zatrasenie.
213Jairus povedal, „Počkaj teraz chvíľu.“ Dcéra bola skutočne chorá. Jediná nádej, ktorá bola, kde ju vôbec dostať, bolo ísť ku Ježišovi. Ona... Oni poslali po Ježiša.
214Zatiaľ čo bol na ceste... Vidím ho, ako ide tam hore. A práve bola uzdravená tá žena, ktorá mala krvotok. Tu on ide, povedal, „Moja dcéra teraz leží... Nestarám sa o to, čo hovorí kňaz, čo ktokoľvek hovorí. Prídeš, položíš na ňu Svoje ruky? Verím, že Ty si Božou pripravenou Cestou pre jej uzdravenie. Prídeš, položíš na ňu Svoje ruky a ona sa uzdraví.“
Povedal, „Pôjdem.“
215Tu začína, ide. Tá prvá vec, ktorú zistíte, tu beží človek z ich domu a hovorí, „Jairus, neunavuj Majstra, pretože ona je už mŕtva.“ Ó. Vidím, ako v ňom takto poskočilo jeho malé srdce.
216Vidím tie milé, láskavé Ježišove oči, ako sa obrátili na neho, povedal, „Nepovedal som ti, 'Neboj sa a uvidíš slávu Božiu'?“ On je Božou pripravenou Cestou.
217Bol tam starý muž, ktorý sa volal slepý Bartimeus, raz sedel pri bránach, žobral o almužny. Začínalo studené počasie, okolo októbra. Počul, ako dolu ulicou prichádza hluk. „Čo to je?“
„No,“ povedal, „to je Ježiš z Nazaretu.“
218On nikdy nepozeral... Vyzliekol si svoj plášť. Nikdy ho takto nepoložil a neposkladal, viete, aby mohol poslepiačky ku nemu nájsť cestu späť. On svoj plášť odhodil nabok. Boh pripravil Cestu a on za tým išiel. Musel tam dolu bežať.
219Niekto...?... povedal, „Sadni si. Sadni si. On nemá čas na to, aby sa s tebou zaoberal.“
220On skríkol oveľa hlasnejšie, „Ježišu, Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa nado mnou. Zmiluj sa nado mnou.“ Pretláčal sa tade. „Zmiluj sa nado mnou. Viem, že Ty si Božou pripravenou Cestou pre moje oči. Ó, Pane, zmiluj sa nado mnou.“ Je to tak.
221Čítal som raz históriu o slepom Bartimeovi, malý príbeh. Povedali, že on bol slepý veľa rokov. Mal malú dcérku, ktorú nikdy nevidel. Jedného večera... A on zvykol chodievať tam hore a sedieť na ulici. Mal malého baránka. Baránky zvykli viesť slepých ľudí tak, ako to dnes robia psy; psy vedú slepého človeka. Oni mali vycvičeného baránka, aby viedol slepého. A potom niekto povedal, jedného dňa, že...
222On mal dve malé hrdličky a ony robili malé kotrmelce, takto, aby upútali pozornosť turistov, ktorí išli do Jeruzalema alebo do mesta, a oni mu hádzali do pohára mince. On bol slepý.
223A jedného večera jeho žena vážne ochorela, tak odišiel k Pánovi. Povedal, „Pane, nemám nič. Som chudobný človek. Som slepý muž. Nemám nič, čo by som Ti dal. Ale verím Ti, Pane. A ak len budeš mať milosrdenstvo a necháš moju úbohú manželku nažive, zajtra Ti dám moju hrdličku ako obeť.“ Tej noci Pán uzdravil jeho ženu.
224Na ďalší deň prišiel späť ku kňazovi, obetoval obe hrdličky ako obeť. Potom mu neostalo nič, okrem baránka.
225Onedlho potom ochorelo jeho malé dievčatko. Doktori pre ňu nedokázali nič urobiť. Povedal, „Pane, zostala mi iba posledná vec,“ a povedal, „to je ten baránok. Ale ak necháš moje malé dievčatko, ktoré som nikdy nevidel, ak ju len necháš uzdraviť sa, potom Ti dám môjho baránka ako obeť.“ Potom Pán uzdravil jeho malé dievčatko.
226O pár dní neskôr, on začal ísť po ulici, ten baránok ho viedol. A Kaifáš, najvyšší kňaz, prišiel a povedal, „Slepý Bartimeus, kam to ideš?“
227Povedal, „Idem, ó, najvyšší kňazu, do chrámu. Baránok ma vedie do chrámu, aby som obetoval baránka ako obeť.“
228„Ó,“ povedal, „nemôžeš to urobiť.“
Povedal, „Áno,“ Bartimeus.
229Povedal, „Tu, dám ti čiastku, ktorú stojí baránok. Pôjdeš si jedného kúpiť.“
230Povedal, „Nesľúbil som Bohu nejakého baránka. Sľúbil som Mu tohto baránka, tohto baránka.“
231Povedal, „Slepý Bartimeus, nemôžeš vziať toho baránka. Ten baránok je tvojimi očami. Bez toho baránka nedokážeš vidieť. Ten baránok ťa vedie. To sú tvoje oči, slepý Bartimeus. Nemôžeš toho baránka obetovať.“
232Povedal, že ten starý muž sa trocha zachvel a povedal, „Ó najvyšší kňazu, Boh pripraví Baránka pre oči slepého Bartimea.“ Nech Boh žehná jeho srdce. Keď počul, ako ide okolo; Boh pripravil Baránka. Tam On je.
233On je dnes večer Božím pripraveným Baránkom. On je Baránok, ktorý je pripravený pre naše oči, pre tvoje duchovné oči. On je Baránok, ktorý je pripravený pre tvoju dušu. On je Baránok, ktorý je pripravený pre tvoj únik z pekla. On je Baránok, ktorý je pripravený pre tvoju slávu v nebesiach.
234Či Ho prijmeš, ako sa budeme modliť, zatiaľ čo skloníme svoje hlavy?
235Ó, Pane Bože, Stvoriteľu nebies a zeme, Autor večného Života, Darca každého dobrého daru, pošli Svoje požehnanie na týchto ľudí. Na týchto biednych, oni sústredili svoju pozornosť, Pane. Ale ja viem, že Ty máš pripravenú cestu.
236Povedal si, „Ako bolo vo dňoch Noeho, tak bude pri príchode Syna človeka.“ Čas prípravy, čas, keď má byť pripravené miesto pre tých, ktorí chceli uniknúť hnevu. Modlím sa, Bože, aby práve teraz, aby ten Baránok Boží, ktorý bol pripravený pre oči toho slepého muža alebo ženy, ktorá mala krvotok, aby zastavil ten krvotok, Baránok, ktorý bol pripravený pre mŕtveho Lazára... Bože, zmiluj sa.
237Keď o tom premýšľam, to je ten istý Baránok, ktorý bol pripravený pre moje slepé oči, keď mi raz klinika bratov Mayových povedala, pred troma rokmi, že nemám šancu, aby som bol znova zdravý. Boh pripravil Baránka.
238Keď si poslal dolu Svojho Anjela tam dávno v Green's Mill a povedal, „Choď, urob toto,“ ako by som to mohol urobiť pred veľkým svetom ateistov a neveriacich? Ale Boh pripravil Baránka.
239Bože, môj malý úbohý zbor, ktorý tu je, Pane, ako sa dívam na to... A premýšľam o mnohých tisícoch míľ naprieč morami, cez zamrznuté pláne a ľadovce. Ako som mnohokrát sedel tam v osamotenej miestnosti a modlil som sa, rozmýšľam o tých chvíľach, o ktorých som myslel, že nebudú, ľudia tu prichádzali, potriasali mi ruku... Na podlahe boli rozhrnuté piliny, okná sa chveli, keď fúkal vietor...
240Myslím na to, ako priniesli moju vlastnú drahú ženu a položili ju sem dolu ku spodku kríža, kázal som na jej pohrebe, pamätám si, ako som videl moje malé dieťa, Pane, ktoré ležalo na jej ruke.
241Pamätám si úbohého malého Billy Paula, ktorého si pred pár hodinami naplnil Duchom Svätým, ako išiel v to ráno k jej hrobu, aby naň položil veľkonočný kvet, a začal plakať; objal som toho malého chlapca a povedal som, „Boh má pripraveného Baránka, Obeť za hriech. Jedného dňa sa tento malý hrob otvorí; mamička vyjde von; a tak to bude s malou sestrou. Boh má pripraveného Baránka.“
242 V jednom z týchto dní, Bože, keď bude odkázaná moja posledná kázeň; môžu ma dať do nejakej izby a pocítim, ako môj pulz ustáva, chladná vlna smrti vchádza do mojej izby, ako bude otvorené okno, záclony budú viať, vystrč potom záchranný čln, Pane. Vydám sa na svoju poslednú plavbu. Len rozviniem plachty. Zavrú vrchnák a plachty ma zakryjú.
243Chcem kráčať cez dolinu tieňa smrti. Chcem prísť ku Jordánu, „Rozostúp sa mi z cesty.“ A zakričať, „Odstúp sa, Jordán. Prechádzam.“ Pane, pošli potom po mňa záchranný čln. Prijmi ma, urobíš to, Pane? Prijmi ma potom, urobíš to, Pane? Udeľ to. Potom, v tom čase, bude tam mnoho z nás, ktorí prejdú na druhú stranu a pôjdu naspäť do raja a budú žiť naveky.
244Otče, ak je tu dnes večer taký muž alebo žena, ktorí Ťa nepoznajú, nevedia o tom, akú to všetko má cenu, nikdy neboli znovuzrodení, nikdy nenašli Božiu pripravenú cestu, nech ju nájdu práve teraz, ako sa modlíme skrze Meno Ježiša Krista.
245S našimi sklonenými hlavami, môj priateľ hriešnik. Nech Boh žehná tvoje srdce. Mnohých vonku alebo vo vnútri... Duch Svätý je tu. Prijal si už Božiu cestu von, Božiu cestu pre teba? Nemôžeš urobiť nič, aby si si to zaslúžil. Boh to pre teba pripravil. Či prídeš a prijmeš to? Prídeš dnes večer? Ak je tu nejaký hriešnik, priateľ, pozdvihni svoju ruku a povedz, „Brat Branham, modli sa za mňa. Chcem vo svojom živote Božieho pripraveného Baránka“.
246Nemáme tu miesto, aby sme urobili oltárne zavolanie okolo oltára. Nie je tu miesto, a tak vás len žiadam, aby ste zodvihli svoju ruku. Urobíš to, hriešniku? Nech ťa Boh žehná, pane. Nech ťa Boh žehná, pane. A nech Boh žehná teba, sestra. Nech Boh žehná teba a teba. Ešte raz tam vzadu, niekto tam vzadu?
247Teraz po mojej pravej strane? Nech ťa Boh žehná. Nech ťa Boh žehná. Nech ťa Boh žehná. Niekto ďalší zodvihne svoju ruku a povie, „Pamätaj na mňa. Ó, Bože, udeľ mi dnes večer milosť... Život Tvojho Baránka.“ Nech ťa Boh žehná, sestra. Vidím ťa, ako tam sedíš.
248Niekto vonku, vykročte a položte svoje ruky na obrazovku a povedzte, „Brat Branham, pamätaj na mňa. Chcem Božiu pripravenú Cestu.“
1 Together now, hold it up, real big now.
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I'm found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Let's bow our heads now. Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the great privilege that we have to come to Thee. First, we cannot come except by Christ. So therefore, we place His Name ahead of our prayer. And then we know by His Word, that You will answer it, for we ask in His Name. No righteousness of our own, nothing that we possess that we could do; but by grace alone we come, asking in Christ's Name.
Father, there may be many men and women in here, around this building tonight, who
are sinners. Thou didst die for the sinner. May this be the night that God will
speak to their heart and call them by His grace into the Kingdom. Grant it, Father.
Maybe they've wasted a many a year, wandering around in sin, but may this be the
hour.
4 Thank You, Lord, for Billy Paul tonight, my poor, little, motherless boy, tossed about. Thank you, Lord, for giving him the Holy Spirit as the assurance now, some glorious day we'll see mommy again, all things will be all right. O God, let the Angels let her know today. She cried so at her death, that, "Serve God... someday Billy Paul would be a man and receive the Holy Ghost." Prayers are answered. God, bless the boy now. May he follow along in the footsteps of the Master. How his little voice was trembling when he said, "Daddy, I've just received the Holy Ghost. I'm so happy."
God, may that be the experience of--of every unborned again person here tonight. May they receive the Holy Ghost tonight. We've did any sin, forgive us, Lord. Heal the sick. Bind up the brokenhearted.
And now, Lord, I don't even know where to start to speak tonight, but Thou will
provide. I believe Thee, and I ask that You'll give us something that would help
the people, for we ask it in His Name. Amen.
7 Just for a little Scripture reading here, in Isaiah 35 I wish to read. 'Cause my words will fail; God's Word will never fail. Therefore, no--no service is complete without first the reading of the Scripture.
The wilderness... the solitary places shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even in the joy... singing: and glory shall come to Lebanon shall... give unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Say unto them that are of... fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with... recompence; he will come and save you.
.. he will open,... the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing: for in the wilderness shall the waters break out, and streams in the desert.
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and a thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass and reeds and rushes.
And an highway shall be there, and a way,... of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go... thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there in:
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting
joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing
shall flee away.
8 May the Lord add His blessings
to the read--reading of His Word. I want to speak tonight, if God willing, just
a few moments to you. I will watch my watch here, that I don't keep you too long
tonight.
9 After through the services of this week, trying to show people that there's no need of being scared. The worse thing the devil can put upon you is fear. If you even had a cancer and didn't fear, and believed God would heal you, you wouldn't be in too bad a shape. God take care of that; if you were sick, whatever it is, if you didn't fear... So fear is one of the worst things that Satan can place upon the person.
Now, this week I've tried to prove by the Scripture, that the man that's born again of the Kingdom of God has nothing to fear. You're absolutely safely secure in Jesus Christ. "All the Father has given Me," He said, "will come to Me. No man can come 'less the Father calls. The Father has got to lead him up to Me; and he that comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out. And all the... No man can pluck them out of My Father's hand; no man is greater than He is. He that heareth My words and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath Everlasting Life; shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from Life... from death unto Life. He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood hath," not will have, "but hath (present tense) Everlasting Life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
"Wherefore grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you're sealed until the day
of your redemption." There you are. "Sealed away until the day of your redemption."
Not just from one revival to another, but till the day of your redemption.
12 My, how the Holy Ghost come in this morning and blessed us on that, kept us here till one-thirty, this morning, from about nine-thirty. How He blessed us.
Now, tonight, I want to speak on a... Isaiah said here, "There shall be a highway,
and a way of holiness." Now, I want to speak on: "God's way, God's Way That's Been
Made For Us."
14 Now, if I was going to New York City, the best thing for me to do is not try to find, geographically, how I'm situated and take off north. But the best way to do is get a map and follow the map (is that right?), a highway. If I don't, I get in trouble.
There is no short cuts in God's Kingdom. You know, we try to make a short cut; we
get out here in a pond somewhere and mire down. And that's what we do when we get
off the grand old highway of God. God's made a path, a way.
16 When the children of Israel come out of the land of Egypt, they followed God's path. It led up to the Red Sea. It's strange, that God would lead His path up that way. But His path went right through the sea.
So when it come time, and the showdown, and Israel stood there before the sea, God's
path led across the sea. So God looked down through the Pillar of Fire, the sea
got scared and moved back, and Israel went across on dry land. God's path led through
it.
18 Then He went right up to the wilderness into the spring of Marah, "bitter" water. Isn't it strange that God would lead His children through bitter waters? But them all goes along the road. But when He was there, the remedy for the bitter waters was standing on the bank. Moses cut down a tree and throwed it in the water, and turned sweet again.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through deep trials, but all through the Blood.
That's the way God leads His children: God's path, God's provided way. If the children of Israel would have to try to bypass, and go around, down this way, they'd have got in trouble. They had to follow the Cloud of Fire, the Pillar of Fire that led them. They followed That.
And if the Church tonight, will only follow the Pillar of Fire, the Holy Spirit,
you'll make Canaan as sure as anything. God has a way, a provided way.
21 There's two ways a man can go: and that's his way or God's way, and that's the right way or the wrong way. And your way is always the wrong way, and God's way is the right way. And you can't be in your own way and in God's way at the same time, so you got to get out of your own way so God can have His way in you. That's right. God makes a provided way.
Man has always wanted to make his own way. In the garden of Eden, God made a man so he didn't have to shift for nothing. God made him perfect, but man wanted his own way. He wanted to tamper. He wanted to find out. And then as soon as he fell... We've went through that this week, in the studies of the Scripture. He made himself a religion. He didn't wait for God to make him one. He made one hisself, but he found out that his religion, his covering, wouldn't work. That's always been man. He wants his own way. But God had a way. So man made fig leaves and put them over him, him and his wife, but when he come down to face God, he found out that wouldn't work.
And I tell you, friends, there's been a many a man, and is tonight, that's coming
down to the end of the road, will find out that that little shallow religion that
you're holding onto won't work. Nothing short of being borned again will work. Jesus
said, "Except a man be born of water and Spirit, he will in no wise enter into the
Kingdom." No wise, no matter if he's Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, whatever
he is, he will not enter in until he's born of water and Spirit. "Born" means he's
"changed." He has to die before he can be born. So you got to die to yourself, be
reborn again in Christ Jesus. That's right.
24 Now, I want you to notice, he found himself trying to make his way. We had, this morning, how Cain tried to make his way. He brought down some apples, and pears, and peaches, and pumpkins, ever what it was, laid it upon the altar and said, "Now, there, Lord, I built an altar. I built a church. I'm a good church member." See? "I go to church every day. I come here, built the altar. I put the sacrifice upon it. Now I'm going to kneel down and pray. And now, Lord, I want You to receive me." But God refused him.
And that same old religious spirit lives right down amongst the church today, the
very same thing, just as religious as it can be, and knows no more about God than
the Hottentot would know about Egyptian night. You know that's the truth: religious
spirits. Don't think that Stalin is the antichrist. The Bible said the two spirits
would be so close together, deceive the very Elect if possible.
26 We find out that Judas Iscariot come right down, and went out and rejoiced and preached the Gospel, come back, hollering and shouting, and having a big time with the rest the disciples. Saint Matthew, the 10th chapter. But he followed the disciples right along, yet the incarnated devil, and come right along; as Jesus was the incarnated God; the Cain and the Abel from the garden of Eden. But when it come time for him to go up to Pentecost and get the blessing, he showed his color.
And when you go to talking about being born again, receiving the baptism of the
Holy Ghost, nine times out of every ten, them spirits will show their colors, what
they are. They'll say, "That's a bunch of fanaticism. Leave it away." Brother, it's
God's provided way for man today. Hallelujah.
28 Look, God has always made a
provided way. God's under obligation to make a way. God makes a way for nature.
Why do we have these big floods through the country? You cut off all the timbers
and things like that, let her wash down. You build up a dam down here and fills
up the riverbed; there she goes, the water. You interfere with nature. God had a
provided way. That's what causes the flood. Anything that man tampers into, that
God has made perfect, then you imperfect it. That's right.
29 Now, just like, for instance, like the--the ducks. I like to watch the ducks, of seasons when I go hunting up in the mountain. I'd be up there in the fall of the year. Well, there the ducks all come out of Louisiana and down there, and down in the swamps. And go up north and they settle down, make a nest and raise their little ducklings. Then the little fellows raise up, maybe come along about September, this time of year, or late September. And then the little old duck, little drake, he's never been off that pond. He's just right there in a pond.
After while the frost flies up there on the mountain. A little snow hits up there,
and a cold breeze blows down across that mountain. That little old duck feels that.
Now, he's never been nowhere but on that pond, he ain't a year old yet. He sticks
his head up in the air, a little honker, and run out in the middle of the pond,
and go "honk-honk," every duck on the pond will come to him. Every duck on the pond
knows that he's a born leader. And that little old duck will rise off that pond,
without a compass or anything else, and go just as straight to Louisiana, to the
rice fields, as he can go.
31 Looks like Christians ought to have duck sense, anyhow. Doesn't it? That's right. Right.
Why? You say, "It's instinct." No, they go God's provided way. God give them a way, an instinct to lead them down there, and they believe it.
But God give man the Holy Ghost, and he rejects It, he wants his own way. But God has a provided way for us. Hallelujah. I feel kind of religious tonight, after this, and a few nights of revival.
Notice, there it is. Yes, sir. That little duck will go down there.
35 And I will tell you something else. You'd go out here, and a newspaper say, "Tomorrow it's going to be pretty weather," and you'd go hunting and watch them rabbits go to settling down in that grass. Don't you be interested in them newspapers.
You watch that old sow take the shucks off of the north side of the hill and take
them over yonder, south side of the hill, and make her a--a bed over on the south
side of the hill. She knows more about it than all the newspaper commentators in
the world. Right. She's got an instinct. She's getting around on the south side,
to hide that cold north wind coming down. [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit
several times--Ed.] Oh, my.
37 If a hog's got sense enough to hide from the breeze, what about you with the Holy Ghost? Hallelujah. That's your instinct. Yes, sir.
And God gave them an instinct. It's God's provided way for them. They live in God's provided way.
You take a flower, when he dies, he goes down in the ground. Not the end of him,
he lives again. God made a provided way for him, and he believes in it.
40 God always has made a provided way. Sometimes it don't lead through pleasant things; sometimes it goes through the hardships; but it's God's provided way. God makes it anyhow.
One time He had a man in God's provided way, he had to go in, through a lions' den,
but he went God's provided way. God brought him back out again. Hallelujah.
42 I can see some Hebrew children setting down there in Babylon one morning. They refused to bow to an idol. That's right. They said, "We won't do it. Beat all the music you want to, and sound your cornets and trumpets, but we'll not bow down to your idol." Hallelujah.
Give us some more Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednegos (yes, sir), that'll not bow down
to your worldly stuff. We don't have to knuck' down to it. God has made us free
by the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. Yes, sir.
44 Now, I can see down there, one morning. Let's--let's--let's turn our cameras down that way a minute, and watch and see. I can see them boys down there, one morning. They said, "Now look, the king said, 'Everybody that don't bow down, we're going to throw him in the fiery furnace.'"
And they went and prayed through, one night. The next day, when the sound come that they'd bow before the image, why, they turned their back to it.
So he come around, said, "Boys, did you do that?"
"Yeah."
"Well, we'll heat the furnace up, seven times hotter than it ever was."
47 Now, isn't that strange? There was a gangplank laying out here, going up to the mouth of the furnace.
All over Babylon was red that morning, the fire roaring. I can see King Nebuchadnezzar, as a modern man today, he set out there and said, "Now, we'll just burn all of that Holy Ghost religion out of them guys."
Oh, yeah, don't you think the devil won't burn you. He sure will. But remember,
the Holy Ghost is Fire Itself.
50 Now, want you to watch. God's way led right up that gangplank. I can see Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, walking the death march. I can hear Shadrach say, "Abednego, did you pray through?"
"Yep."
"All right, then."
"Are you sure you're in God's way?"
"Yes, sir. And God said in His Word for us not to bow to idols, and we won't do it. God is able to deliver us from this fiery furnace. But if He don't, what of it. We're not going to bow down. We're going God's provided way."
I can hear somebody say, "Are you sure you got His provided way?"
"Yes." Hallelujah.
Some say, "Well, don't you think all them people possibly could be right, instead of you?"
"No, sir. The Bible said so, and we're staying with It." Right up that gangplank
they go. I can... The heat just so... The intense heat was almost... It did kill
the men that brought them up.
55 They just about ready to step
in. God hadn't said a word. They're still walking the provided way. Walked right
up to the mouth of the furnace. Just about time they got ready to step into the
fiery furnace... You know, I got an awful black picture here in front of me just
now. Men that tries to live true to God, walk in God's provided way, fixing to be
burnt up, what a picture...
56 Notice, all the time there is something going on down here, there is something going on up there, the same time. Let's look up there a little bit and see what goes on. I can see Him sitting there, and His princely robes around Him. Hallelujah. I can see, the first thing, coming from the right, a great big angel, called Michael. They got one up there. Did you know that? I can hear him run up there by the side of Him, say, "Master!" I can see him taking his sword out of his shield, like this, and say, "Have You looked down at Babylon this morning? There is men walking God's provided way. There's men who's willing to seal their testimony this morning. Our brethren is just about to be burned." I can hear Him say, "Let me go down there. I will change the picture." I believe He could've done it; I do.
I can hear Him say, "No, can't let you do it. Gabriel, You've been a... Or, Michael,
You've been a very fine Angel. So put your sword back, stand at attention there."
58 Here comes another angel. He's called Wormwood; makes the waters bitter. Here he comes up, said, "Master, look down there. I've got all the control of the waters. You turned it over to me in the antediluvian destruction, and I washed the whole world away, all but Noah and his people. Now," He said, "let me go down there and I will wash Babylon off the map."
I can hear Him say, "Woodworm, you can do it, that's right, but I can't let you
go. It's a man-size job." Ha, ha.
60 Oh, I can see Him raised up, like that. They're just about to make the last step. I can see Him reach over there and say, "Come here," to a big thunderhead hanging back yonder. Oh, my. It obeyed Him.
I can see Him, to hear Him say, "East wind, north, west, and south, come here and carry this thunderhead. I'm going to drive you like horses. I'm going to set on this thunderhead, this morning, like a chariot. I'm going down to Babylon, Myself." Hallelujah.
I can see him reach up and get a hold of a zigzag lightning and crack it across
the skies, like that; just as they make their last step, walking in God's provided
way. And about the time they hit in there, He passed by the Sea of Life and picked
up a palm, and He was standing down there fanning the breeze off of them. Hallelujah.
He's always there when men will walk God's provided way. Yes, sir.
63 One time there was an old "quack" preacher, an old holiness preacher back yonder, a long time ago, by the name of Noah. He said, "You know, it's going to rain, going to come a storm."
I can hear the people go around and say, "Say, do you hear that old holy-roller up there? He said, 'It's going to rain.' Why, it never rained upon the earth. And it's going to rain? How, where'd that water come from? Well, let's go get the science out and find out if there's any water up there. Why, no, there's no water up there. What's the matter? That old preacher is off at his head."
But God said so. God said, "Prepare an ark, Noah, for the saving of your household,
for the saving of the people." And Noah just had sense enough to do it. That's all.
He come and prepared the ark.
66 And one day, I hear some of them down on the corner, talking, down at the business corner. Some of them say, "Hey, what about that rain story up there, that old "quack" preacher talking about it's going to rain up there? Did you ever hear of such a thing? And he thinks he's in God's provided way." He was. Amen.
The first thing you know, there come a thundering and a lightning. I can see the old, big, old mammy camel out there, look up and say, "Papa Camel, do you hear what that was? That was thunder. That's what Noah said. Let's get to the ark." Down across the hill they went. And here come papa horse and mama horse, and all the rest of the pairs, right into the ark, one by one. God closed the door, sent the rain. Noah was in God's provided way.
Some of them got on logs, said, "I will float through." But I will tell you, when
the storms begin to rage, the ark went up. Hallelujah. Why, they were in God's provided
way. God will always bless people that'll walk in the way that's provided. He never
provided a log. He never provided this. He provided an ark.
69 And today, my brother and sister,
there is a way provided for men and women, that's through Jesus Christ the Son of
God, Who died yonder at Calvary, and through His Blood we have remission of sins,
and can receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as approval of God, that He's accepted
us into His Son, Christ Jesus, safely secure. Hallelujah.
70 Going to call me holy-roller,
anyhow, so you might as well get started now. All right. I feel pretty good. All
right.
71 Do you believe that? That is God's way and the only way. It ain't the Methodist way, ain't the Baptist way, ain't the Presbyterian, ain't the Pentecost. It's Christ's way. Christ is God's provided Way. He's God's provided Sacrifice. He's Jehovah-Rapha. He's Jehovah-Jireh. He's Jehovah-Manasses.
When Abraham offered up Isaac, he called the place there Jehovah-Jireh, "the Lord
will provide Himself a sacrifice." And there it is, the Son of God. Amen. God always
makes a way of escape. Yes, sir.
73 One time there was an old preacher down there preaching, by the name of Elisha. He got up there and he looked out over the country, and he said, "I tell you, it's the awfullest I ever seen."
The old king down there went and married a little old painted-up Jezebel, enough paint on her face to make... The only woman in the Bible that ever painted her face. And you know what God did to her? God fed her to the dogs. That's the only one I know.
You see a woman with a lot of paint on her face, you know what you can call her? Say, "Hello, Miss dog meat." That's what she is, like dog meat. Oh, my. Listen, brother, I just turned back from Africa. That stuff come from the strain of heathenism. The heathens paint themselves.
Oh, brother, when a man or woman gets right with God, you don't have to tell them
that; ashamed, themselves. Hallelujah. That's right.
77 "Boy, the first thing you know, she'll have all these Israelites doing that." Elijah said, "Lord, close the heavens. Do something about it."
God spoke down and said, "Now, Elijah, tell you what you do. Go down and speak to Ahab."
And here come an old preacher, walking down through there, with a big piece of sheepskin around him like that, face burred out with whiskers like a woolly worm. Walked up before the king and said, "The dew won't even call--fall till I call from it." Hallelujah. He was in God's provided way. Yes, sir.
"Ah, get away from here, you fanatic. All right, we know what we're doing."
81 Old Elijah said, "Lord, what must I do? You provide the rest the way. I've done that."
Said, "Get up yonder by the brook Cherith and set down."
"All right, a very bad place, but I will go up and set down. You said, 'Go up there.' If Your path leads up there, I will walk up there."
Walks up and set down. Said, "Now, Lord, what am I going to do here?"
"Set there. Just stay there."
84 And the first thing you know, he begin to get hungry. He said, "Lord, I'm getting a little bit hungry." And here come a raven by.
Some of them said, "Look at that old holy-roller preacher setting up there on the hill. Why, isn't he crazy? Well, that guy setting up there in the sun, will die. Why, he's a fanatic."
And the first thing you know, all the waters dried up. There's no water to drink down in--in the land. But every time Elijah wanted a drink, he just stooped down to the brook Cherith and drank. Then when he got hungry, here come a raven by with a sandwich in his mouth, said, "Here you are, Elijah."
You say, "Where did the raven get...? You mean you believe that, Brother Branham?"
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. "You mean that a crow brought Elijah something to eat for three
years and six months?" I believe it. Say, "Where did he get it?" I don't know. The
only thing that I know, the crow got it somewhere, he brought it to Elijah; Elijah
eat it and lived three years and six months on it. That's right. I believe it.
88 That's the same thing about...
You say, "What makes you so happy? What makes you shake your arm?" I don't know.
The only thing I know, Calvary paid for It, and the Bible taught It, the Holy Ghost
brought It, I got It. Hallelujah. I don't even know where It come from, but I got
It. Hallelujah. That's right. I can't tell you where It's coming from, but It's
got here. Oh, my. It makes your coat fits you better. Sure. Hallelujah. Don't get
excited. That means "praise our God." Amen. That means "so be it." Oh, my. Sure,
it is. I don't know...
89 And they said he was crazy, setting up there? My. Come a... Come time to eat, here come the colored porter up, said, "Here you are, Elijah. Here's your breakfast." Why, he was better off than half the people in here tonight. I imagine there ain't very many in here tonight that's got colored servants. But he had some colored servants, some crows bringing him something to eat at every meal. Hallelujah. Glory. God had a dining room somewhere; He fixed it up, cooked it up, sent it to him. Hallelujah. That same God lives and reigns today.
He stayed in His provided way. God said, "Go up there and set down," so he done
it. That's all he knowed to do. What do you think about that, believe that it's
true? That is. Amen. Yes, sir.
91 A little girl was going down the street one day, she said...?... going, said... "Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah." She just got the Holy Ghost.
So there was an old infidel setting over in the corner, said "What's you so happy about, young'n?"
Said, "Oh, Jesus just saved me and filled me with the Holy Ghost." Said, "I'm so happy."
Said, "Look, what's that you got in your hand?"
Said, "My Bible."
Said, "Do you believe That?
"Sure."
Said, "Do you believe all of It?"
"All of It."
Said, "Do you believe that story about Jonah?"
"Yes."
Said, "Do you believe that actually that whale swallowed the man?"
"Yes, sir. I believe it."
Said, "How you going to prove it any other way besides faith?"
She said, "Well, when I get to heaven I will just ask Brother Jonah."
The infidel said to her, said, "What if Brother Jonah is not in heaven?"
Said, "Then you'll have to ask him." Hallelujah. Only one place left for him, that's hell.
If you reject God's way, you've got to go to hell. You have to. It's the only other
way. So you're in the one way or the other. Amen. All right.
100 I can see him down there, sitting up there, and the ravens bringing him something to eat.
Walked back down there. He went down the hill, one day. And God said, "Now, the
pool is dried up. I want you to go down there to a widow's house." What a place
for a preacher to go. God told him to go. That's the provided way. He walked down
there. And she wasn't an Israelite, either. No, she wasn't. And she walked back
there... And he went down the hill.
102 And as he went down the hill, he met an old widow standing in the yard, a breaking her stick together. Said, "Go in and give me something to eat, and bring me some water."
She said, "As the Lord lives, and your soul never dies, I've only got enough meal in the house to make one little cake for my son. I'm taking two sticks that I might bake this cake, and he and I eat it and die."
Said, "Go, fetch me a little water, first, and bake the cake and bring it to me." Hallelujah.
What's she going to do? There's God's provided way. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of
God and all His righteousness."
106 You say, "Brother Bill, my mother run away from home." "My husband won't live with me."
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Hallelujah); all these other things will be added." That's right.
"How am I going to do it, Brother Bill?" Just go ahead and do it. Jesus said, "Follow
Me." That's right. Keep your eye single. All right.
109 And the first thing you know, she goes in: she takes these two sticks and break them. You know how the old Indian way of breaking a stick? That was the cross, of course. And in the cross, they burn it right in the middle. That's where the fire was, burnt that hoecake oven.
Brought the hoecake out and give it to the preacher; he stood there and eat. Said, "Now, go back and get one for yourself and your son--son. For, THUS SAITH THE LORD, the barrel is not going to run empty, or the cruse dry, until the day that God sends rain on the earth." Hallelujah.
What? Because she sought the Kingdom of God first, 'cause she walked in God's provided
way; God rewarded her. Do you believe that? [Congregation says, "Amen"--Ed.] Yes,
sir.
112 There was a woman one time who lost her brother. His name was Lazarus. Oh, he was a good boy; she hated to give him up. And he died. She sent for her Pastor, or the Evangelist, which was Jesus. She had come out of the church, and she had give up all they had. And she sent for Jesus to come, pray, and He just went on. Sent again, and He just went on. He said, "I do nothing till the Father shows Me." The Father had already showed Him Lazarus was going to die.
He come, after while, after about three or four days. He said, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I'm glad I wasn't there. But I go wake him."
So then she heard Jesus was coming, so she went out to meet Him.
115 That was God's provided way,
go meet Jesus. That's right, always. When you got sorrow in your home, go meet Jesus.
Got sickness in your home, go meet Jesus. Got heartaches in your home, go meet Jesus.
Hallelujah. If you got a need for anything, go meet Jesus. Go meet Him. He's got
all the remedy, everything there. He ain't got the remedy. He's got the cure. Amen.
Then she went to meet Him, and she fell down at His feet.
116 And she had read a story, one time, where there was a woman way back in the Bible, and a Shunammite. She was very mindful of a preacher by the name of Elisha. So she made a little chamber on the side of her house there, put a bed and a candle and a stool, so forth. And Elisha come by and he seen all this goodness she had done for the preacher, paid her tithes and everything, you know. So he said, "Go and ask, see what we can do, if I shall speak to the king or to the chief captain."
She said, "I abide with my people and everything's all right."
Said, "All right, go ask her what can I do."
Gehazi said, "She's barren. She has no children."
Said, "Go tell her, THUS SAITH THE LORD, 'About this time of the year, according
to life, that she'll receive a son.'" And she did.
119 The kid got to be about eleven or twelve years old. One day, about noontime, he was out in the field with his daddy. I believe he got a sunstroke. He begin to holler, "My head. My head." He sent one of the servants in with the baby, the little boy, set him on his mother's lap. At noon he died.
What an appropriate place. She took him up and laid him on the preacher's bed, where the prophet had laid. Good place to go. Laid right on the preacher's bed.
She said, "Saddle me a mule now and go forward, and don't stop your riding until
I bid you."
122 I like that. Go forward and don't stop. Just keep going. That's right.
The trouble of it is, we stop and talk to too many people. We stop for too many social parties. We have so much sew-and-sew, and organize a stitching party, you know, "Stitch-and-sew and talk about Miss So-and-so." You know how it is. All these different things come into the church, when you ought to throw all that gully-wash out, and have an old fashion, God-sent revival. Pray through, till you've bashed heavens down and the Holy Ghost comes like a rushing mighty wind and fills the place and the people. Amen. That's what we need.
She said, "Don't you stop."
124 And her husband said, "The man's not at Carmel." Said, "This is neither new moon or sabbath."
She said, "All is well." She wanted to get to the prophet. So she went straight on.
Elisha looked out and said, "Here comes that Shunammite. Something's wrong with her; I don't know what it is."
She run up. And he said, "Is all well with thee and thy husband, thy child?"
She said, "All is well." I like that. She's taking God's provided way. Said, "Everything's all right now." And then she begin to reveal it.
He told Elisha, said, "Go, take my staff and lay it..." Or, told Gehazi, "Go take my staff and lay it on the child."
But she said, "I'm not going to leave you." So the prophet came back over, prayed,
walked up-and-down the room, laid his body upon the dead child, and it come to life.
131 The woman, Martha, knew that
the Shunammite realized that God was in His prophet. And if God was in His prophet,
surely God was in His Son. So if she could get to Jesus, she'd have the remedy.
So she runs and falls down before Him. She said, "Lord, if..." That's what He was.
"Lord, if Thou would've been here, my brother would not died. But even now, whatever
You ask God, God will do it." Oh, I like that. "Even now, whatever you ask God,
God will do it."
132 That's good tonight. You say, "I'm a sinner, Brother Branham." Even now, whatever you ask God, God will do it. "Have mercy on me, a sinner," He will do it. If you're sick, "Have mercy on me, Lord," and He will do it, even now. You say, "The doctor give me up; but, "even now, Lord." I haven't walked in five years; but, "even now, Lord." I haven't heard nothing, for I don't know when; "even now, Lord." I haven't spoke a word, in I can't tell you when, but, "even now, Lord, whatever You ask God..." and He's setting at the right hand of the Father, making intercessions upon your profession. Hallelujah.
Said, "Even now, whatever you ask God, God will do it."
133 He straightened His little Self up, said, "Thy brother shall rise again."
Said, "Oh, yes, Lord, in the general resurrection in the last day, he will rise again."
He said, "I am the Resurrection and Life." Oh, my.
The Bible said, "There's no beauty to look at Him, little frail-looking Fellow."
But He said... When He straightened Hisself up, there was God.
136 He said, "Now, your brother will rise again." Said, "I am the Resurrection and Life," saith God. "He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
She said, "Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Son of God which should come into the world."
Said, "Where you laid him?" Here He starts to the grave. Jesus wept.
139 A woman told me not long ago,
a very good woman, a Christian Science, who didn't believe that Jesus was the...
and Deity. She believed He was a prophet. She believed that He was a good Man, but
He was not--He wasn't a virgin born. They deny the virgin birth.
140 Not only that, but a survey showed that eighty-five percent of the Protestant preachers of the United States claim that the virgin birth was a fake. Right. I could easily do that, I could easy think that by the way you live it. That's exactly the truth, believed it was a fake. And a greater percent than that didn't believe that Jesus would visibly return again. No wonder we need a revival.
Brother, listen here. You hear so much about revival today. We never had a revival.
142 I followed up another man, here not long ago, where they talk about a lot of this. Said, "He went to one city and he had five thousand conversions." We followed right behind it (not me), a group of ministers, and took the cards and followed them back again, and in thirty days time they couldn't find thirty that claimed to be saved. You know what I think? I think it's conviction instead of conversion. When a man is born again of the Spirit of God...
What we need today is not a protractive meeting, but an old fashion, God-sent, Holy
Ghost revival: an old-time, sky-blue, sin-killing, Blood-washed religion. Amen.
Makes you take them tire tools back and do repentance. That's right.
144 She said then. She said, "Well, looky here, Brother Branham, I can prove to you that He wasn't nothing but a man."
I said, "Do it. If you can prove to me that He wasn't God, then I will accept it."
She said, "No, He wasn't Divine. He was just a man. And I can prove it by the Bible, that He was just a man."
I said, "If you can prove it by the Bible, then I will accept it."
She said, "Are you ready?"
I said, "I am."
148 She said, "When He went down, in Saint John 11, when He went to the grave of Lazarus, He wept."
I said, "What has that got to do with it?"
Said, "Why, it proved He wasn't nothing but a man; He was crying."
I said, "Looky here, lady. He was a man truly, but He was more than a man. He was
a God-Man." God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. Yes, sir. He came
to do the will of the Father. He walked God's provided way. He never looked to the
right or to the left; He done what God said do. He was God's provided way.
152 And on the road to Lazarus,
He wept. He was a man when He was weeping. But when He stood there by the side of
a grave, where a man had been dead four days; and the crawling skin worms running
in and out of his body, and a stink around; when He said, "Lazarus, come forth,"
a man had been dead four days, stood on his feet and lived again. That was more
than a man. Hallelujah. Yes, sir. He was a man crying, but He was God in the resurrection.
154 He was a man when He come down off the mountain that night, hungry, looking all around, over the trees, for something to eat. He was a man when He was hungry.
But when He took five biscuits and two little pieces of fish, and fed five thousand
people, that was more than a man. That was God in flesh. Hallelujah.
156 He was a man when He laid on the boat that night, when virtue had went out of His garment; till He was so weak till even, a mighty sea roaring, ten thousand devils of the sea swore they would drown Him that night; when that little old boat, tossed about out there, like a bottle stopper on a mighty sea. I know He was a man when He was laying there asleep, but when they said, "Carest thou not that we perish?"
He stuck His foot upon the brail of the boat, said, "Peace, be still," and there
was a calm. That was more than a man. Hallelujah. That was my God. Hallelujah. Right,
He was; yes, indeed, is.
158 He was a man when He was hanging on Calvary, when they give Him the greatest tribute they ever did. When they said, "He saved others, He cannot save Hisself." What a wonderful tribute, or compliment, they paid Him. If He saved these others, Hisself, He couldn't save others. So He had to give Hisself in order to save others. He was a man when He cried for mercy, when He said, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" He died like a man. Yes.
But when He rose on Easter morning, He proved He was God. No wonder the prophet said:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
Someday He's coming, O glorious day.
Hallelujah. I love Him. Don't you? Walk in God's provided way.
161 I can see some wise men one time, going to His birth to worship Him. I can see them all getting ready. They're packing up their camels.
I can see Jim Jones and all the rest of them, and John Doe packing up. I can see them laying these card tables, packed here on the side like that, and they laid everything else on, and they was going to go to worship Jesus. They come to find out, when they got there, decided the old camels couldn't walk.
That's just what's the matter with the church today. You've packed so much world
with it, it turns you back. That's right.
164 I can see him start out like that, and all of them. They get to the side of the mountain yonder, they can't even get through, 'cause, "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way, but few there will be that'll find it." Yes, sir.
I can see one old guy packing up; he was making hisself light, "'Cause I'm packing up, to go to heaven."
Brother, I'm not packing up to go to heaven. I'm unpacking to go to Heaven. Hallelujah.
There's a rapture; cut loose everything. The Bible said, "Let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, that we might run this race with
patience."
167 I can see that old fellow going...?... I can see his wife around, say, "John, what's the matter, boy? Where you going?"
Said, "I'm going to worship the Lord."
"How do you know you're going?"
"Well, I'm going."
"Well, you haven't even got a compass. You haven't even got your ministerial license. What in the world's the matter with you? Will they receive you? You're going to worship the Lord?"
"Yes."
"Take your compass."
"No, I don't need it."
"Don't need it? How you going to get there?"
169 I can see him point up to the morning Star, say, "I'm going God's provided way." Amen. God provided a Star to lead the wise men. They didn't need a compass. They needed God's provided way, the Star. Glory.
And the same God that led the wise men to Christ, by the Star, is here tonight in
the form of the Holy Ghost to lead you to the Christ, the new birth, the baptism
of the Holy Ghost, which is God's provided way. "Except a man be born of water and
Spirit, he won't even see the Kingdom of God." Men and women, have you received
It?
171 My time's up. Oh, my, I just
feel like getting into it. Put my hand down in my pant's pockets, and preaching
like an old sassafras preacher. Why? I love it. It's all right to have ice cream,
but you got to have some bacon and beans to stick to your side, nothing but Jesus...?...
up. That's what we need. Don't you believe it? Truly.
172 God has a provided way. Are
you in It tonight? Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Now, you
good Baptist friends of mine, and know that I belonged... I was a Baptist, and my
pastor here is a Baptist. But I want to tell you something. Acts 19 says, "Have
you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" Not "when" you believed, but "since"
you believed. Yes, sir. If you haven't, It's for you tonight. God has a provided
way.
173 Brother, sister, don't try to go your own way. Don't go through fig leaves. Don't go floating on a log, like they tried to do in the antediluvian destruction. Don't put fig leaves over like Adam did. Don't try to go King Nebuchadnezzar's way, to persecute the Church of God. Don't go all these other different ways, these forms and ways, that we could men... mention many.
Don't go like the Pharisees did, a very religious person, said, "Now, looky here, we're in a high place. And if there be anything go on, we'll know all about it."
And God slipped out there, and born the Child in a Bethlehem manger, took Him down
to the world; and out of the world, capital punishment; they didn't know nothing
about it. Right. God's provided way.
176 Oh, one time there was a woman, she had spent all the money she had. Hallelujah. Doctors couldn't do her no good. And one day she just about to faint. She'd had an issue of blood for many, many years. And one day she heard some roaring in a...?... She looked out, and there had come God's provided way. That's right. Oh, my.
I can see her come down by the high, classical Baptists. "The days of miracles is passed." She just crawled right between their legs. They had to move.
I see her come there to Brigham Young and all of his wives; she just passed right
on through. What did she say?
179 I hear them say, "Martha, where are you going, that the physician can't do you no good? Where are you going? I seen you down there, with that...?... Teacher "
She said, "I'm going God's provided way."
"Where is it at? You don't mean that hypocrite over there?"
"That's where it's at. I'm going right on in."
She squeezed through, and around, until she got to this fellow here. And he belonged to--to this kind of a church, and this and that, and they all tried to push her back. But she made her way to Jesus.
Some of them said, "Now, wait a minute, sister. If you eat meat, you can't do it." She was going God's provided way.
"If you haven't taken up serpents, you can't do it." She went God's provided way.
She wanted to get to Jesus. That's right.
184 I think of David of old. Hallelujah.
Yes, sir. When he said there... Where he talked about... He said, "Taste and see
the Lord is good. It tastes like honey in the rock." A little old description I
used to use, thinking about an old scrip they used to carry on their side here,
a little sack that they put honey in, the old shepherds did. And when the sick would
give... the sheep would all get sick, they'd take off some of the honey out of the
scrip bag and put it on a limestone rock, and call the sick sheep, and let that
sick sheep go to licking on that rock. And when they go to licking the honey off
of the rock, he went and licked some of the limestone in while licking the honey.
And you know what happened? The sick sheep got well.
185 Now, look here, brother. I got a whole scrip bag full of It, tonight. And I ain't going to put it on the Baptist church, Methodist church, the Presbyterian church, or the Pentecostal church. I'm putting It on Christ Jesus, where It belongs, and you sick sheep go to licking and you're sure to get something out of It. Yes, sir. Lick on Him. Like that old man...?... Lick on Him; you'll get it.
Don't pay no attention to what your church says. Pay attention to Christ. Follow Him, for in Him, He is the Church. I see, go God's provided way. He never said the Methodist was God's provided way, neither did He say the Baptist was, or any other church. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
You say, "Well, how do It know I'm in Him?"
"By one Spirit we're all baptized into one body," become members of that body, I
Corinthians 12. That's right, subject to God's...
188 Everything He's got in His Kingdom belongs to us. He just takes the whole big Book full of checks, and signs His Name on the bottom of them, say, "Here you are, son. Anything you need, go get it." Amen.
Don't be afraid to fill it out. Fill it out and hand it in, say, "Thank You, Lord." Hallelujah. It'll come to pass.
"Whatsoever things you desire (Mark 11:24), when you pray, believe you'll receive
it, you shall have it."
191 Sign out the check, say, "Lord, I need healing." Tear it off, say, "There You are, Lord, I ask in Jesus' Name for healing." Say, "Thank You, Lord," and walk right on, believe for the healing. That's right. Like them crows sending down that food to Elijah. There it is.
Say, "I need salvation for my soul." What will you do? Just write out and say, "Said, 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and heavy laden; I will give you rest.' That's for me, Lord." Fill out the check. "I need salvation. Hand it to me, Lord."
"Here It is." "Thank You, Lord." Walk away with it.
Need the Holy Ghost? Yes, sir. "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem till you're endued
with power from on High. After this the Holy Ghost come upon you, you will be witness
of Me in Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world."
You believe It? Fill out the check and send it up signed, see what happens. God
will give it: God's provided way. He provided you a Checkbook; go ahead and fill
it out. God promised it. You believe that? Sure. God always has a provided way.
194 There was a little old guy by the name of Jairus, one day. Oh, he had kind of joined hisself up with a bunch of unbelievers, like a whole lot of preachers who've joined up the same way today. The Bible said, "Yoke yourself not amongst unbelievers." All right. The first thing you know...
Wonder who said that? You are?
196 Well, the Bible said, "These signs shall follow them that believe. In My Name they shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, drink deadly things; they lay hands on the sick, they shall recover." You preach that in half the churches today, they'd kick you out the door. That's right. That's right. Don't know God's provided way, but that's what He said. That's what Jesus said. Do you believe it? Yes, sir.
And then if He said so, "Amen, I believe it." I think It's the Truth, and I'm walking His way, what He said do. And He's confirming It with signs, wonders, following. That's right.
So just do the same thing, walk right in. It's for every... Whosoever will, let
him come on in. Come on. God's called you, you've got to come. So come right on
in. Don't wait any longer. Take it, tonight.
199 I see this little old fellow; he joined himself up. He loved Jesus, but yet, he was just kind in a way... He didn't want to lose his prestige, you know, the blessings. So they come out...?...
So the Lord said, "Now, look at that little old fellow down there. I predestinated him to Eternal Life, and there he is with that bunch of unbelievers. So I will fix him up." He just let his daughter get sick.
He said, "Well, I will call in Doctor Doe."
Doctor Doe looked her over. He said, "Pulse is getting low, Jairus. Tell you what we better do; we better do this, that." And he gave her all the drugs, and so forth. She went right on, dying.
Then he said, "I--I wonder if God has got a provided way?" Oh, my.
203 The Man that he had criticized so much about Divine healing. Or heard about Him... He said, "Yes. Yes. Uh-huh."
"Jairus, don't you think He's a hypocrite?"
"No," said the Holy Spirit, "He's not a hypocrite. You believe in Him."
"Oh, all right, yeah. Oh, I--I--I guess He is."
206 See, that's the way some of these borderline preachers is (That's right.), just afraid. Oh, God take the wishbone out of you and put a backbone in you.
I like what Buddy Robinson's testimony is. He said, "Lord, give me the backbone
the size of a saw log. Put plenty of noise in the gable end of my soul. And let
me fight the devil as long as I got one tooth left, and then gum him till I die."
I like that. That's right. He said, "I had an old coon dog. She died, old. She fought
coons till she didn't have one tooth left, then she just gum them coons, and squeal."
I like that. Right. Hallelujah.
208 You say, "Brother Branham, I hardly got very much education. I'm too small. The preachers will turn me down."
Let's just go back to the story. "It ain't the size of the dog in the fight; it's
the size of the fight in the dog." That's what it is today. Stand up there. Find
out today though, the dog would stand there.
210 Like the old chief said one day, as he was getting ready to go.
Said, "How you getting along, chief?"
Said, "...?..." Said, "There's two dogs in me. One's black and one's white. The black one wants me to do wrong, and the white one wants me to do right." Said, "They're always fighting and quarreling."
I said, "Which one wins, chief?"
Said, "Depends on which one chief feeds the most."
212 And that's about right, too.
Yes, sir. All right, brother. I'm telling you, what the world needs tonight is a
good old shaking.
213 Jairus said, "Now wait a minute." The daughter got real sick. The only hope there was, to ever get her, was to go to Jesus. She... They took off for Jesus.
While he was on the road... I see him come up there. And the woman just got healed with the blood issue. Here he goes on, he said, "My daughter is laying now... I don't care what the priest says, what anybody says. Will You come, lay Your hands on her? I believe You're God's provided Way for her healing. Will you come, lay Your hands on her, she'd get well?"
Said, "I will go."
Here he starts, going on. The first thing you know, here run a man from their house, saying, "Jairus, don't weary the Master, because she's already dead." Oh, oh, my. I can see his little heart jump in him, like that.
I can see those lovely, tender eyes of Jesus roll over to him, say, "Didn't I say,
'Fear not, and thou shall see the glory of God'?" He's God's provided Way.
217 There was an old man by the name of blind Bartimaeus, set at the gates one day, begging for alms. It was getting cold weather, about October. He heard a noise coming down the street. "What is that?"
"Why," he said, "that's Jesus of Nazareth."
He never watched... He pulled off his robe. He never laid it down, and fold it up so, you know, he could blindly find his way back to it. He threw his robe aside. God had provided a Way, and he was after it. He had run down here.
Some...?... say, "Set down. Set down. He ain't got no time to fool with you."
He screamed the much the louder, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Have mercy
on me." He was pressing through. "Have mercy on me. I know You're God's provided
Way for my eyes. O Lord, have mercy on me." That's right.
221 I read the history of blind Bartimaeus one day, a little story. They said that he had been blind for years. He had a little daughter he'd never seen. One night... And he used to go up there and set at the street. He had a little lamb. The lambs used to lead the blind people like the dogs does today; the dogs lead the blind man. They had a lamb trained to lead the blind. And then one said, one day, that...
He had two little turtledoves, and they would do little tumbles, like that, to attract the tourists' attention, going into Jerusalem, or into the--the city, and they would drop coins in his cup. He was blind.
So one night his wife got real sick, so he went to the Lord. He said, "Lord, I haven't got nothing. I'm a poor man. I'm a blind man. I haven't got nothing to give You. But I believe You, Lord. And if You'll just have mercy and let my poor wife live, tomorrow I will give You my turtledove for a sacrifice." The Lord healed his wife that night.
The next day he went back to the priest, offered up the two turtledoves for a sacrifice.
Then he had nothing but the lamb.
225 Not long after that, his little girl got sick. The doctors could do nothing for her. He said, "Lord, I only got one thing left," and said, "that's the lamb. But if You'll let my little girl, who I've never seen, if You'll only let her get well, then I will give You my lamb for a sacrifice." Then the Lord healed his little girl.
A few days after that, he started up the street, that lamb leading him. And Caiaphas, the high priest, come, said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where goest thou?"
He said, "I go, oh, high priest, to the temple. The lamb is leading me to the temple to offer the lamb for a sacrifice."
"Oh," he said, "you can't do that."
Said, "Yes," Bartimaeus.
Said, "Here, I will give you the price of a lamb. You go buy one."
He said, "I never promised God a lamb. I promised Him this lamb, this lamb."
Said, "Blind Bartimaeus, thou cannot take that lamb. That lamb is your eyes. You can't see without that lamb. That lamb leads you. That's your eyes, blind Bartimaeus. You can't offer that lamb."
Said, the old man trembled a little bit and said, "O high priest, God will provide
a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes." God bless his heart. When he heard that coming
by; God had provided a lamb. There He is.
233 He's God's provided Lamb tonight. He's the Lamb provided for our eyes, your spiritual eyes. He's the Lamb provided for your soul. He's the Lamb provided for your escape of hell. He's the Lamb provided for your glory in heaven.
Won't you receive Him, while we pray, while we bow our heads?
235 O Lord God, Creator of heavens and earth, Author of Everlasting Life, Giver of every good gift, send Thy blessings upon this people. These poor little things, they have prepared remarks, Lord. But I know that You have a provided way.
You said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the coming of the Son of man." A preparation time, a time when a place to be prepared for those who wanted to escape the wrath. I pray, God, that right now, that that Lamb of God that was provided for the blind man's eyes, or the woman with the blood issue, to stop the blood issue, the Lamb that was provided for dead Lazarus... God, have mercy.
When I think about it, that's the same Lamb was provided for my blind eyes, one
day when Mayo Brothers told me, three years ago, I didn't have a hope of ever being
well again. God provided a Lamb.
238 When You sent Your Angel down yonder at Green's Mill, and said, "Go, do this," how could I do it before a great world of atheists and unbelievers? But God provided a Lamb.
God, my poor little church here, Lord, as I look at it... And I think of many thousands
of miles across the seas, and frozen plains and icebergs. How I've set there many
time in a lonely room, praying, think about the times that won't come by here and
shake my hand... The old sawdust spread on the floor, the windows shaking when the
wind blowed...
240 I think of bringing my own darling wife, and laying her down here at the foot of the cross, preaching her funeral, remember seeing my little baby, Lord, that's laid on her arm.
I remember poor little Billy Paul, that You filled with the Holy Ghost a few hours
ago, coming down to her grave there that morning, to put an Easter flower on it,
and he started crying; I put my arm around the little fellow and said, "God has
provided a Lamb, a sin offering. Someday this little grave will open; mommy will
come out; so will little sister. God has a provided Lamb."
242 Some of these days, God, when my last sermon's preached; might lay me out in a room, and I'd feel the pulse coming up my sleeve, the cold death tide's floating into my room, as the window's open, the curtains blowing, shove out the lifeboat then, Lord. I will take my last ride. I will just spread the sheet. Lid will close down, and the sheet will be covering me.
I want to walk down through the valley of the shadow of death. I want to come to the Jordan, "Spread out of my way." And scream, "Give away, Jordan. Crossing over." Lord, push the lifeboat by me then. Receive me, will You, Lord? Receive me then, will You, Lord? Not only me, but every one in here, may be received at that time, will You, Lord? Grant it. Since then, there'd be many of us cross, and go back to the paradise and then live forever.
Father, if there is that man or woman here tonight that doesn't know You, don't
know what the value is all about, never been born again, never found God's provided
way, may they find it just now, as we pray, through Jesus Christ's Name.
245 With your heads bowed, my sinner friend. God bless your heart. Many outside or inside... The Holy Spirit is here. Have you ever accepted God's way out, God's provided way for you? Nothing you could do to merit it. God has provided it for you. Won't you come, receive it? Won't you, tonight? If there's a sinner friend here, raise up your hand, say, "Brother Branham, pray for me. I want God's provided Lamb in my life"?
We haven't got room here for an altar call around the altar. There's no room, so just ask you to raise your hand. Will you do it, a sinner? God bless you, sir. God bless you, sir. And God bless you, sis. God bless you and you. Back in the back again, anybody back there?
Over on my right hand side now? God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Somebody else would raise their hand, say, "Remember me. O God, give me grace tonight... Your Lamb Life." God bless you, sister. I see you, setting here.
Somebody on the outside, walk up and lay your hands against the screen, and say,
"Brother Branham, remember me. I want God's provided way."