Blind Bartimeaus

1 Good evening, friends. Very happy to be here tonight again, serving the Lord, trusting with all my heart for a great outpouring of His Divine blessings tonight on us all. I just did get here. I was just coming in in the back, and they were waiting out there for me, one of the ushers and my boy. Just as then I heard, "Only Believe," and we just had to hurry to get in. And so we're--are sorry to be just a little late.

Brother Cauble was standing at the door and told me to remember tonight about the praying over the handkerchiefs. And that's very fine. We like to do that, because we've had a great lot of blessings for the people. We send out many handkerchiefs each day around the world for sick and afflicted people, and have a great success in doing so. And I'm sure that it'll be a great blessing to all, even if you don't need it at the present time, to carry around your house, some little symbol of--of that.

2 Here, some time ago, I was--I have a testimony that... Now this is... I never seen this, so I--I wouldn't know. But I have no right to doubt it, because it was a minister, and I believe a very good Christian man. And he was--had one of those handkerchiefs in his Bible, keeping it on Acts 19, and as I usual, ask them to do it. And his boy was struck down by a car. And the... Now, they tell me that they taken him to the hospital, put him under x-rays; and the bones were so broken that they had to handle him lightly. And in his arms and legs and his back was out of place. Now, this is his story. And he--they went and got the handkerchief and laid it on the boy, and the next morning when they went to x-ray to see how to set the bones, there wasn't a broken bone in his body. That's right. Now, I--I never seen it. I only know the man. That's the testimony.

3 I know this testimony. Sometime ago, it just seemed to be so remarkable to me. There was a... It happened in, I believe, at Fayetteville, Arkansas, or near there. They was--I was having services, and I'd ask the people with handkerchief... I'd pray over them and had them put them in their Bible. And--and so I was at Jonesboro at the time. And a little lady had had a handkerchief prayed over and she put it in the Bible. And so they... She... One day, about two or three weeks later she was washing--or cleaning a lamp chimney.

Did any of you ever clean a lamp chimney? I used to have to do it at home, 'cause I had the smallest hand. My mother, setting there looking at me; she remembers that. We used to have a big old lamp chimney that had the--a moon and owl on it. You remember them old chimneys? I'd get my hand up in there and clean the chimney out. Did you ever run out of--of coal oil, lamp oil, kerosene, or what you call it, and have to put some water in the bottom of the thing to make the wick reach the kerosene? Did you ever do that to make it burn? Say, I'm right at home tonight amongst country folks, sure enough, ain't I? So we just live here in the city; we're still country folks, aren't we?

4 And this young--young married woman, she was washing her--her lamp chimney out. And her husband had gone to the city to get food and--and--food for his cattle, and so forth. They were cotton raisers. And she cut the artery or the veins, whatever it was, in her wrist there. And the blood started spurting up. Well, the first thing she done was first the old superstition of get some cobwebs and put on it. Well, she went and got cobwebs. 'Course, the blood would just throw the cobwebs off. It wouldn't be nothing; but might bring some kind of a disease to it anyhow; 'cause it's just a superstition. And she bled a--one of the pillowslips. It got real wet with blood, saturated. Then she got a sheet. And her closest neighbor was about two miles. You have to walk in with boots on if they didn't drive a team. And so she seen that she was getting weaker and weaker. She couldn't live much longer, and the blood wouldn't stop. She was trying to hold it and screaming and frantic.

Now, this is her story. She went and thought of that handkerchief was in the Bible and went to the... I don't say the handkerchief done it now: it was her faith that did it. See? She went. She said, "God, I'm dying, and there's no help that I can get anywhere, but if You'll just help me..." And he went and got this handkerchief, and laid it on her hand. It never even stained the handkerchief.

5 And that same night, she walked with boots on out through a muddy field for two miles or better, to a highway; and got out of her boots, and had her shoes under her arm. I've seen a many time, young ladies, sixteen and eighteen years old, very fair, coming to church, packing their shoes under the arms (Not fifty years ago: last year), and get near a church, and set down on the side of the road, and dust off their feet, and pull on their hosiery, put on their stockings and come to church. Might be people in here did that long time ago, but that still exists down in Arkansas and some of those countries.

Then, she gave the testimony: Come by Greyhound Bus, hung her lantern on a limb, where she seen how to get out to the bus. And came in and gave that testimony, walking in the building before thousands of people at Little Rock, and gave the testimony that the blood stopped immediately as soon as she put the handkerchief on.

6 I'm remembering another one, just while waiting, them bringing handkerchiefs. One time there was a little lady, in first part of the ministry. It was a great upset that night. It just lives old memories over. Lady was standing with a little a baby, very typical southern type, with its little legs around her hips like this. And she was holding it. And the woman had a--a female trouble. And I prayed for her, and it just looked black around her, and I prayed again. This had been about, I guess, eight years ago. And I'd prayed again, and the--it just--just stayed black right around her. Well, I was, in them days, sometime I didn't... I just stayed to a patient till I had some assurance of something. And I prayed again, and I noticed and very seldom ever a vision taken place. I'd know what was wrong, but just by vision. And there was a lady, and a horrible thing had happened. And it told her of living untrue to her marriage vow, which just a few days before that... She started crying, dropped her head down. And the man behind her was her husband. He pulled her around and said, "What's this?" And she said--started confessing. And It turned around and told him of the same thing for him. And they put their arms around one another, pulled the little baby between them, and--and forgave one another, and knelt down there and give their hearts to Christ, and a minister baptized them in the church the next morning.

7 That night, coming through, there was a--a lady wanted a handkerchief prayed over, like you're coming tonight. And it was sent to a club-footed baby, way down somewhere in--in the country. And so the lady, not being at the service, not knowing instructions, not knowing how to take a hold of faith... That's a hard thing then. So they just, the lady put the handkerchief. The lady told her, said, "Tie it around its ankle. Well, the handkerchief stayed on there for nearly three months. It'd gotten dirty. She'd washed it. And--and she wrote and told her sister that sent it, said, "There must not be nothing to that."

Said, "Well, if your faith ain't strong enough for it, mine is." She said, "You just keep it on there."

Said, "Well, the thing's just coming to pieces."

She said, "Tie strings on it and tie it around anyhow. Keep it right there." For they, regardless of what taken place, how long that... You're the one that gets in a hurry, not God. And one morning, not many mornings after that, they went back to the crib and found the baby normal and well. See?

8 Now, many things like that has happened... handkerchiefs. Now, it is--it's not some... It's Scripture. If you think it's superstitious to believe the Scripture, then it would be a superstition. But now, the... Many people anoint the handkerchief, anoint them in oil. Well, that's perfectly all right. Whatever our Lord will bless, I'm sure for it. I know you are too. But if you'll watch the Scripture, they never anointed the handkerchiefs. They taken from the body of Paul, handkerchiefs or aprons: the body of Paul; handkerchiefs and aprons and little things that he wore on him. I often wondered where they got that to be Scripture, and I believe they got it here. I'm not sure where Paul picked it up. When the Shunammite woman went to Elijah, and he told her, he said... Told Gehazi, said, "Take my staff and go lay it on the baby."

Now, if the Lord hadn't just put something on my heart a few minutes ago, standing there, I'd speak on this tonight. But I'm... Tonight's Friday night, and I know I'll keep you late. And tomorrow's a big rushing day. I'll let you out early tonight and hold you a long time tomorrow night.

9 So then, they... The Shunammite woman went to Elijah, and Elijah took this staff, sent it by Gehazi, and said, "Lay it upon the child." Now, Elijah knew that whatever he touched, when he had the anointing of the Spirit on him, that it was blessed. And I think that's what Paul did. And that's what the people saw. It wasn't Paul; it was God on Paul and just a token or a symbol of faith. You see? And so, they taken from his body, handkerchiefs and aprons; and diseases went from the people. What is that? What would you imagine? The people...

Some people touched the garment of Jesus and was made well. Others smacked Him in the face and hit Him on the head with sticks, and spit in His face, never felt any virtue at all. It was their attitude of approach. It--it depends on what attitude you come in. If you come believing that you're coming to get help and you're confident that you're coming to the right Person, Jesus Christ, and you're coming His provided way of approach, you're going to receive something if you come reverently. If you come, "Well, I'll go touch and see if it helps me," that won't do any good at all. See? It's your--it's your approach to God's Divine article is what does it.

Just like the brass serpent. Why, the serpent didn't have no virtue in it; it was a piece of brass they'd brought it up out of Egypt. Neither did the pole have any virtue in it, not a bit. But it was obeying what God said do, what brought the power, what brought the virtue, is obedience to the Word of God. And that's the same thing tonight.

10 And now, as I pray over these handkerchiefs, with all my heart, and I would... If you'll excuse me for not doing it, and Dr. Cauble, I'll ask you to help. Now, I... If you fail to get this, or if you're from any part of the country, you'll know your handkerchief.

I don't know whether my secretary's here tonight or not. I suppose so, somewhere in the building. But we send out scores of those things. Thousands a year goes all over the world and great testimonies return.

Now, we'd be glad... Free of charge, everything we have is free. Now, if you fail to get yours, we don't have handkerchiefs, 'cause they cost us so much, maybe twenty-five cents a piece. And you send out couple thousand a week, you know what it would cost you, so we just don't have the money. But we buy hundreds of yards of ribbon. And I pray over that ribbon; cut it in little bitty pieces, and send it to all different parts of the world. And the people pin it on their underneath garment. Instructions is given on what to do. And we'd be glad to send...

Now, it's not that we want you to write to us, friends. I know a lot of these radio programs today, that they... "Just write me... I want your address. Just let us know you're listening at us." I have nothing against that, but you know yourself, it's a publicity stunt to try to get your address to keep carding and mailing you and billing you for--to send them money and so forth. Which, that's all right. I have nothing against it. If God tells you to do that, all right. But, brother, we can hardly answer half the letters we get now. See? So it isn't to get your address; it's trying to help you. That's the only alternative we have.

11 And now, I will pray for these after I'm sure His anointing Spirit is on me. See? It would be better, 'cause I... And it's... And God, to serve Him, is like a dual personality, I guess, or something. I--You go out here and you like to work and build, to help build a house, go fishing or hunting, or whatever it is, you're just on your own then. But when that Spirit of God strikes you, it's something different then. It's the anointing of God using that individual vessel. And--and if it's true, if it is the truth, then them Words that come forth, uttered by a being, it's either God or the devil. You'd know that. Now, it's what you think it is, is what will determine what you get from it. See?

Now, if you believe it to be God... There's only two things could speak. It'd have to be supernatural. And then supernaturally only come from two resources; that's either God or the devil. And I want somebody to ever put their finger on a Scripture, or any person, that was ever healed by the devil, or any Scripture that even pertained to the devil healing. There... The devil can put curses on you, but he can't take them off. The Lord's the only One Who can heal sicknesses or diseases, is the Lord. So the... That's what they claim Jesus: "He was Beelzebub." They--they said He was Beelzebub, because He could read and know what was wrong with those people; and know what their diseases was; and know what their names was; and who they was; and where they come from. Not everybody, I suppose. He said just as the Father would show Him.

But they said, "Well, He's a fortuneteller." But the thing of it was, He healed the sick by that, and they couldn't understand that. So that got them all tore up, so they didn't know what to do about it. So it's the same thing tonight. But, on this here, is a--God obeing--obeying His command, is what God has said do.

12 I am glad tonight. I don't know whether Brother Daugherty has said--raised up or give a testimony and Sister Daugherty. Betty with you, Brother Daugherty? One of my first books I published, called, "I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision," to a little lady, a little girl, dying with something like Saint Vitus' dance, just screaming and going on. And doctors had give her up and ministers had prayed. And I was having meeting. There's men setting right here tonight, pitched in fifty cents apiece to pay my railroad fare to come over here in Louisville, catch a train to go to St. Louis to see this little girl. And laying there in the bed, poor Brother Daugherty and Sister Daugherty, all worn and torn. I was in then several hours. And went down to his church and prayed. And the poor little child laid there, gnawing its tongue and eating... It's, oh, horrible condition, a little blond headed girl. Just very pathetic like a animal, just a screaming and going on, till it screamed so much and been sick so many months until it just didn't look like a human being.

And I waited. I went down to his church. I prayed and made all kind of promises to God, come back, and was setting in his Ford car, setting out in front of the house. I can just almost see it now. Looking out across the hood of the car, and there come a vision: THUS SAITH THE LORD. That settled it. Where you at, Betty, honey? I... And there she is, right there. All right, there's the little girl now, a young woman, fine and healthy by God's grace. And her mother and dad sets there too, and her little sister.

13 The first case that was my going to St. Louis, my call to there, went there for my first revival, begin with Betty's testimony in St. Louis, Missouri. How many ever read her--that little book called "Heavenly Vision," then? You may remember the testimony of the Daugherty family? That's the little lady setting right there now...?... same one.

How the Holy Spirit told me, said, "Have Reverend--the young Reverend here, to stand to one side, and the father to stand to the other side. Have the mother to get a little piece of white cloth and wet it, and stand there and be wiping down the baby's face and hands and to his feet, just as I repeated, "Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name..." When it come right to the end, then, the Spirit of the Lord come down, said just exactly what to do. There's Betty's setting there, a testimony, living and well.

Well, He's just God. That's all. And we just love Him. We're trying to think it's way off somewhere else when it's right with us. "I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world."

14 The Lord bless you now. And--and I promise to try let you out just as early as possible. I'll read a Scripture here, and go right straight to the services, and speak a little; and then we'll have the prayer for the sick.

And now, I think, if I'm not mistaken, Brother Cauble, isn't it Sunday night at the... Memorial Auditorium. And so, that's down on Fourth Street. And some of the visitors and so forth... And you been real lovely this week, all of you, to come to the church.

Sometimes people don't want to go to church. They say, "Well, it's these people that's in a church." But remember, we're--you're just as much interdenominational here as you would be in the auditorium. Just the same: "No creed but Christ; no law but love; no Book but the Bible." That's the way they do it. Yeah. And we don't have... We have fellowship one with the other, while the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness." Isn't that wonderful?

15 Now, in the Book of Saint Luke and beginning with the 10th chapter and the 46th verse, I shall read just a portion of the Scripture:

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, set by the highway side begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, ... saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

.. Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, arise; he calleth thee.

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What will thou that I... do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith has made thee whole... immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

16 Shall we speak to this One now that this is written after. Kind heavenly Father, we address Thee in Jesus' Name, thanking Thee for this Scripture and for it being alive today. Many things has changed in the world. Times have changed. Transportation's changed. People has changed, but Thy Word never changes. It's forever the same. And I thank Thee for it. And may that same lovely Jesus and the faith of this blind man, who could stop the Master on His road, may it stop Him tonight. Many the people here that are sick, and may He heal them all.

Forgive us of our sins and shortcomings. And may Thy love be with us tonight. And may it be brought through Your servant. As we being units or offsprings of God, sons of God, a part of God with God's Spirit to minister one to another... And may the love of God so wrap our hearts together, that there'll be no place at all for doubt. And may just perfect love and faith exist in this building tonight. And may many be healed, saved, backsliders reclaimed, and the Angels of heaven rejoice when the meeting's finished. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.

17 Now, our scene for the next few moments is--is a tragic one in one way. There's hardly anything--way I could describe the darkness of this scene, that the blind man, he's setting by the walls of a great wicked city.

And I've often thought that how that man could say that people were blind for the glory of God. I never could see that: "a person shut off in darkness and blackness for the glory of God." God created men to have five senses and then take the sense of sight away from him, and say it's God's will? That's always been a hard thing for me to see. I can hardly believe it.

And it's just like I was talking to a fellow not long ago, about--nothing about--if there's perhaps, maybe a Catholic friend setting here, I'm not saying this for any down. Remember, the Protestant religion needs to be built up a whole lot before the Catholics can be criticized. That's right.

But the Carmelite order of the Catholic Church, for them ladies to go in, young ladies, and just stay behind prison walls all their life; it'd be a lot better off, to my opinion, out trying to do something for the glory of God; I--I think. But now, we Protestants have things just as bad: We know to do good and do it not; and then to us, it would be evil.

But, some of those things are hard things for me to see. Maybe it's because of me. I don't know.

18 But, this poor blind man, setting outside of a big wicked city: always was a wicked city, and as far as I know, still a wicked city. In the Bible, it's represented as the roads to hell. It come yet... Jerusalem sets on a hill; Jericho sets in the valley. And the good Samaritan found a man coming from Jerusalem down to Jericho when he fell among thieves. Think of it. He was backsliding, coming from the heavenly to the cursed. Jericho is a cursed city. Jerusalem is a blessed city. And he was on his road backsliding when he fell among thieves and robbers that stripped him. And that's when you'll fall among thieves and robbers, when you start backsliding away from God. Just expect the enemy to be along the road.

19 And here, we see this blind Bartimaeus a setting at the gate, maybe a cold November day. And the winds a blowing his ragged coats, and he's a setting there. Not only that, but perhaps hungry... A man blind and then hungry. Many beggars was in that day, so he had a lot of competition. Very few nickels was give to him. I imagine there was so many beggars, till there was no way at all the man could--could have any assurance. And everything that he had, he had to beg for it. And so many other beggars along; just now and then he got a coin. And that was a hard life.

There's no surgery. And if he--was such a thing as surgery for his eyes, well, he didn't have the money to pay for it. And perhaps the doctors wouldn't have done it without money. I doubt them having surgery of that type, or maybe in his case. I understand, according to some theologians, that he was born blind. So the man, anyhow, was blind, setting there, wintertime coming on: hopeless, helpless, nothing to eat, hungry, setting outside of the walls of a great cruel city; and it coming wintertime, shivering in the cold; what a tragic scene. My, that could picture some darkness. And not knowing that just down the road a little piece, come relief for him.

20 There might be some of you setting here tonight, may, in almost in that condition: hopeless, as far as medical is concerned; helpless as far as any helps is concerned; and don't know that maybe standing right near you, stands your healing, right--just as close as it was to blind Bartimaeus.

And there he was, setting at the gate, a begging. And I can imagine as he was setting there, a--a begging coins, it'd been a, perhaps wintertime coming on, not many travelers that day. The great stones, cobblestones in the road, that road led from Jericho to Jerusalem, was well polished with travelers as they traveled over it. The great Joshua, the conqueror for Israel, led the Israelites up this same road to Jericho. And also, on that same road went Elijah and Elisha one day, to the translation of Elijah. Many great historical marks was along the side of the road, but the scream had come like it is in Louisville, Kentucky, tonight, "The day's of miracles is passed." Poor fellow, without a hope, setting outside of the gates; no church to take him in, nobody to help him; and what help could be done, couldn't--couldn't console him; because the man was blind and he wanted his sight. And then there he's setting then.

21 And then I could imagine, the first thing you know, somebody begin to slip by, and he begged for a coin, setting in his prison of darkness, and no coin dropped in. He hears something. Now as, after a while I hear some footsteps approaching. What is it? Somebody says, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." Oh, my. Faith cometh by hearing. Somebody had told him that there was a Man Who prayed for the sick and opened the eyes of the blind; healed the sick. He was God's Son.

Now, but what little chance did blind Bartimaeus have setting by the side of the gate, a beggar himself, and in this distress, setting there and all hopes gone. And yet, the only hope that he had was passing by. Now, he had one thing he could do: that was call.

22 Now, if faith cometh by hearing, hearing of the Word; and he knew that Jesus come by, he couldn't say, "Now, wait. I might see Him another day. I'll try tomorrow night at the next meeting." He didn't have that opportunity. That was his first and last opportunity: the only opportunity he ever had or ever would have to ever receive his sight. So he had to do something. He raised and screamed to the top of his voice, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me."

There, Jesus, facing up that road, a road that you and I tonight, all of us are guilty of sending Him up that road. On His mind, He knew that He was going to Calvary, up that road. On that road He knowed He was going to Gethsemane. He was going to Pilate's judgment hall. He was to be beaten, mocked, and then His great gifts of God was to be put at trial. Going to put a rag around His head and smack Him on the head and--and say, "Now, if you know all what's in the people's hearts and minds, tell me who hit you." All those things faced Him. A quivering, bittering death, there, He had to face. He knew also, hanging in His mind there, that He was going up to have His hands placed around a pole; His clothes stripped off of Him, and lashes that would burn plumb into the bone, was going around Him. And His Blood would bathe His sides and a cruel thorn crown would be placed on His head, and He'd be nailed to a cross and hang there, bleeding, bleating, dying, as the most bloody sacrifice was ever offered in the world. And all of that confronting Him, and He's walking. I can see Him in His air of quietness as He walked straight and the disciples going on, putting the people off the road.

23 And to think, what little chance, with all of that hanging before Him, did this poor, unseen, unthought-of, blind beggar, clutched against the wall... When businessmen come by, half--one half, not even a--a speck of authority to the size of this, would pass him by without giving him a penny. But yet, how's he going to attract that Man? With one thing: "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." And to think, with all that hanging in front of Jesus, that blind beggar's cry stopped Him still in His tracks. He stopped.

Oh, friend, His love and compassion for the sick was so great, till no matter what the task was, ahead of Him, He is always willing to minister to those who were in need. It stopped Him still; a cry from a--an unprivileged, from a blind beggar. An old ragged beggar standing by the side of the wall, stopped the Son of God still in His journey. Your cry tonight will stop Him. He's passing through here, tonight. Your--your cry will stop Him. He said, "What... Bring him here to me." And they brought--when the... My...

24 Now, I want you to notice another dramatic thing here. Wish we had time to get into it. Something come to my mind. Now, notice, he didn't know how he was going to find Him. The only thing he knowed, he set in a dark world. He'd never seen. But there, he raised up, throwed aside his old ragged coat. It'd been a hour before that, if he'd a lost that coat, or if he'd have had to lay it down, he'd folded it neatly and laid it to one side; because he knowed he couldn't find it any more. He was blind, and hardly anybody would help him. But now, faith takes a hold. Faith springs on what? "I've attracted the attention of the Son of God and He's bid me come to Him."

Every one of you here tonight's got the same bidding: "Whosoever will, let him come." "I've--He... I've attracted His attention. He's called me. Now, I won't need the coat any more as long as I obey Him. He would've never give me the invitation if He didn't mean to give me help." And He'd never been wounded for your transgressions, if He hadn't have meant to take them away. He'd have never been striped for your healing, unless He meant to take it away from you.

25 You've got His attention now. What did he do? Here's faith going in action: throws aside the garment. "I won't need it any more. I'm going to be a new creature from now on." He throwed aside his garment. How can he see? Out in his dark black world where he couldn't see nothing, he spread forth his ragged sleeves like that and his bony arms sticking through it, he made a way to find Jesus. No matter what condition he was in, he had His attention. He didn't know which a way he was going. He knowed it come from that direction, so here he goes with his arms stretched out, his ragged sleeves a hanging down, tears running from the place where the eyes should be, running to Him. Didn't know how he was going to find Him, but the Word of God said, "Come," and he was going. There's the main thing.

No matter how sick you are, how bad you are, how many trials you've had, when He said, "Whosoever will, let him come, He meant you." That's right.

"How am I going to get to it, Brother Branham? The doctor said I can't get well." Throw it aside; let go. We've got His attention tonight. He's passing this a way. He's been here every night this week. He's here now. He'll be anywhere where two or three are gathered in His Name: "I'll be in their midst. Whatever they agree upon and ask, they shall receive it." We've got His attention now. He's moving through the building. Now, raise your hands of faith to Him and say, "Lord, that I might receive my sight," he said.

26 "What would you have?" Now, Jesus didn't say, "Now, will you sign a pledge card to go to church six months out of the year? What church will you join if I heal you?" That wasn't even in the question. The main thing was get the man his desire. And that's the same tonight, no matter whether you're a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, or whatever you are, if you ask Jesus Christ for healing tonight, He'll do it. That's all. He's promised it in His Word and He's obligated to His Word to do it. That's right. He'll take care of the rest of it, if you'll just obey Him there. Just believe His Word.

There he was, "That I might receive my sight, Lord."

And He looked around to him and said, "Thy faith has saved Thee." He never said, "Now, I know that you're going to be well." He just said, "Your faith has saved you." He knew that if that man respected the gift of God in that measure, God would be obligated to reward him of his faith. There you are. He come with a full heart. Jesus knowed he--what he was coming for. Jesus knowed what he was looking for. He knew the depths of his faith, and He said, "Thy faith has saved thee."

The man turned around and said, "I'm going to get it. It'll be mine." Walk up. Said, "I begin to see daylight already." And away he went. He could see daylight. God had healed him.

27 I read a little story here not long ago. Maybe it's mythical; maybe it's not. I don't know. They say that Bartimaeus was born blind. Said he used to have a--a two little turtledoves, that they would turn over one another and do little enchantments to attract the tourists attention that was coming by. In order, so many beggars, if they--if they didn't have something to attract their attention, he'd never get a coin. So they would do little tumbles over each other.

Said, he had a little girl he had never seen. And the girl got sick one night, and the doctor couldn't do nothing for her. And he went out and prayed, and said, "Lord, if You will heal my little girl, tomorrow, I'll offer these turtledoves as a sacrifice."

Well, the next day the little girl was better. Immediately, blind Bartimaeus goes up to the--the sacrifice to the temple and gives the sacrifice over. He didn't have no turtledoves now.

28 And then, one night they said his wife got sick sometime later. And nowadays, a blind man is lead by a dog. Them days, a blind person was led by a lamb. A dog was a cursed thing amongst the Jews. And they... So they had a--had a lamb. And so the lamb led him. And so the, one, the next morning he was going up to the sacrifice to offer his lamb, because his wife got well, or was better the next morning. And it's said Caiaphas, the great high priest said, "Where goest thou, blind Bartimaeus?"

He said, "Oh, priest, I am going up to offer my lamb for a sacrifice." He told him the story that his wife was sick, and he promised God that he would give the sacrifice of the lamb if He would heal his wife; and God had healed his wife, so he was going to make his word good.

"Why," he said, "Blind Bartimaeus, I'll give you the price of a lamb and you buy it at the stalls."

He said, "No, I never offered God a lamb. I offered Him this lamb. This was the lamb that I offered."

That's it. You try to say, "Well, God was good to me, I'll do this..." No, God wants you; you're the lamb that God's after. See? "I'll send my children to Sunday School." That's wrong; you must take them to Sunday School. See? See, you must go too. God at--wants you. Now, be an example.

29 Now, notice, and then the high priest said, "Blind Bartimaeus, you cannot offer this lamb. Why, blind Bartimaeus, that lamb is your eyes. Why, you can't offer that lamb; it's your eyes."

And said he said, "O high priest, God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. I promised Him this lamb and I must offer it."

Well, on that cold afternoon when that noise came down the street, God had provided a Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes, to give him back his eyes. And that same Lamb is provided tonight here in this church, for your sickness, for your troubles, for your heartache, for your diseases; for whatever you have wrong God has a provided Lamb. That's the Lamb of God that gave His life at Calvary for every one of us. For your sickness and your sins, the Lamb is provided for you tonight.

While we're on this well beaten ecclesiastical road, where many are passing by saying, "The days of miracles is passed." Can't you hear that little noise somewhere down in your heart? [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] "He rose from the dead. And He's liveth forevermore," and "I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." May He be so real to you tonight, you believers, until you can't help from believing. And may He come and do something just a little different tonight and make it so real to you, till you go away saying, "Yes, I believe."

30 My ministry's not to minister to individuals. The thing of it is is to come together, set in heavenly places. Then when you see God's Spirit moving, and you're sure that it's God's Spirit moving, then you just accept God where you are. Accept Jesus and healing will take care for its own then. Shall we pray.

Lord, in the Name of Jesus, the Son of God, that Lamb provided from the foundation of the world, that was made sin from the foundation; that was wounded back there from the foundation for our healing; I pray that people here tonight, in Louisville, Kentucky, in this little church tonight, will close the doors of their hearts from all unbelief and refuse to accept it. And may they tonight, just look to Calvary, and say, "Lord, I have known in Thy Word that You said, 'The things that I do, shall you also,' and 'I'll be with you, even in you, to the end of the world. And a little while and the world seeth Me no more (the unbeliever), but yet ye shall see Me; for I'll be with you, even in you to the end of the world.'" Come, Lord Jesus. Manifest Your love and compassion and Yourself to this audience of people tonight, by taking away their iniquity and healing their diseases. In Jesus Christ's Name, the Son of God, I ask it. Amen.

31 All right, I believe we was in Q's last night. Is that right, beginning prayer cards Q. Well, let's take 85 to a 100, if that number hasn't already been called. [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]

.. do what... He could only know as the Father showed Him. Is that right? Now, how many believers in here know that that's the truth that Jesus didn't know nothing, or could do nothing, unless first the Father showed Him by vision? Let's see your hand. That's exactly. He said that; we're aware of it. Now then, the Father dealt with Him. He said, "I can do nothing... I do nothing in Myself; but what I see the Father doing, that I'll do." Then He walked down amongst people who were sick, dying; walked by the dead, everything else, but He didn't... He raised some of them; He healed some of them; but He only did it at the command of Jehovah God, His Father. Is that right? And Jehovah God, His Father, was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. So Christ was Jehovah God. That's right. He was either God, or the biggest deceiver the world's ever had. If He was just a man, and a different person from God, then you're in sin; His Blood was no more than mine or yours. He was either God, and that was Emmanuel's Blood, or you're still in sin.

32 Today when they try to break up God and make Him something that He isn't, I tell you, that's one of the biggest curses on the Christian church today. They say, "Oh, He was a good man; yes, He was a teacher; He was a philosopher. Oh, He was a prophet, what He said come to pass." He was more than a teacher, yet He was a teacher. He was more than a prophet, yet He was a prophet. He was God. God was in Christ. He was the Emmanuel, Jehovah anointed, walking here on earth, living among men. I Timothy 3:16: "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: for God was manifested in the flesh, seen of angels, preached on in the world, believed on in the world, received up into glory": God, Himself. So now, Jesus was God's manifestation of His own Being on earth, unfolding Himself into a human being to take away sin and make a way for sickness to be healed. And if there is no Divine healing, there is no resurrection of the dead. It's the earnest of your resurrection. Amen. I quit preaching quick tonight; you noticed it. The Angel of the Lord is here. That's right.

Now, in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I take every spirit in here under my control for the glory of God; and may the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is my full Guide, that my life is now surrendered to Him as a empty channel that He speaks through; may He have control in my life, that His Spirit may control everything that's in here, and cast out every evil spirit, heal every sick person that's in the building. Believe me, as God's servant, for I speak in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

33 Now, Father, to these handkerchiefs, You know the people; You know what they mean. And I pray that You'll heal every one these handkerchiefs represent, as I lay my hands upon them. After... They're not mine now at this time. They're given to You, that they're Yours. May Your Holy Spirit charge every handkerchief with a blessing. Grant it, Lord. May every sick person be healed and God glorified.

One place in the Scripture where the--God looked down through the--angry eyes through the Pillar of Fire and the Red Sea got scared and moved back, and Israel went over into the land of promise. And may sickness tonight, that's cut these people off from health, may God look back through that Pillar of Fire tonight at every one of these handkerchiefs. And when they're laid upon the sick bodies, may the enemy move back, and the people cross to the promise, of God's promise of good health. For I ask it in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.

34 All right, bring your patient. Now, would... Every one reverent, just as... Just a moment. This man standing here, a deaf spirit's on him. Bow your heads till we can get that to leave. O Lord, kind heavenly Father, feeling this enemy now as it shakes, and would try to hold the man; but he may be so deaf that he can't even hear Your Word. I don't know; Thou does. And now, Lord, if that be the case, let Thy servant's faith mount, Lord, highly, move down into his body, knowing this, that Thou hast promised by laying on of hands, casting out spirits... And here's a spirit of deafness. The man can't hear, perhaps, but Thou, Lord, can give him his hearing. And now, with faith believing, I come to challenge this spirit that's on him. And in the Name of Jesus Christ, Who I represent, Calvary, where He won the victory over you, Satan, and all your kind, and your sickness... For He triumphed and He sent His servants, that they might minister His blessings to the people. Come out of the man. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I charge thee to do this.

Can you hear me? How deaf was you? Yes, sir. Thirty years. You may raise your head. Hear me all right? Say, "Amen." "I love the Lord." What I say low, you say real loud. "Praise the Lord." "I love Jesus." Now, watch. I'm whispering; this microphone's alive...?..." Glory to God." Now, hold this ear. "Praise the Lord." "Glory to Jesus." The man's well. Sir, your faith has made you whole. Now, God has blessed you; you serve Him.

Yes, I see there's something else wrong with you also. You have a rupture, don't you? Is that's right? You believe He's going to make that well? God bless you. If He could give you your hearing, He can do that, can't He? You're standing close and I have a contact to your spirit. You're aware that something's going on, isn't it? Yes, sir. A strange feeling, you haven't never felt this. This is a... Isn't that right? If it is, raise your hand high. See? You're so close now and the anointing of God here... Say, don't you do some kind of a work around a jail or jail services. Isn't that right? In a jail? That... Yes, sir, I see you do. Yes, sir. And isn't your name Kopp or something like K-o-double-p? That is right. Go home now; you're well. God has made you well. God bless you. Go and just be happy and rejoice. Believe.

35 Now, you might wonder why I challenged that spirit of deafness. The man, not able to hear the Gospel (See?), then he don't know how to receive faith. Other, perhaps just leave it to them. Sometimes cripples or something or something like that, you can challenge it. Now, the man can hear. He'll be able to hear the rest of his life, if he keeps that faith. But now, in about in another thirty-six or seventy-two hours, that man will get just as deaf as he ever was (That's right.); 'cause that thing in there which was cutting off his hearing, will swell again. What it was, it's just like...

What if there's a transparent band around my hand and the circulation's cut off. The doctors would come and say, "Well, the nerves is dead in your hand, Reverend Branham. We'll amputate this finger." No matter how much salve, how much you put on, that'll never get well until those nerves get right. Well, if the nerves is dead and just died that far, what didn't it die up this a way? Now, the doctor, the only thing he can work on is what he can see or feel, or some of his senses will declare. Well, there's nothing can do--see a spirit.

36 Now, in that man's ears, the ear drums that was in his ears, the life that operated those ear drums, was cut off--circulation. Now, the doctor says, "Well, the nerves died." Well, what may them die; that's what I want to know. They didn't die all over his body: they just died there. Now, how many...

You Bible believers believe God, don't you? Well, the Bible said when the deaf spirit come out of the man, he could hear. The deaf what? Spirit, deaf spirit come out. When the deaf and dumb spirit come out, he could speak and hear. The same spirit like, a--a deaf spirit that was holding his ears, a dumb spirit holding on this--on this nerve here on his vocal; well then, when they left, it was loose. Now, if I cut the band loose from my hand, well, the first thing you know, it gets to feeling different. I can tell it. Well then, that'll be all right for a little while, then it'll get to hurting, aching, it'll get worse than it ever was. Don't you disbelieve. Just keep holding right on.

37 I've seen people come to this platform totally blind: not here, but in my meeting, stand and read the Bible. I've never seen the spirit challenged yet, but what something happened. Read the Bible, in less than a week, be back here the following meeting again, trying to get their sight. They just... They got knowledge, but they haven't got faith. Faith... The Bible said, "When the unclean spirit's gone out of the man, he walks in dry places." Is that right? "And then he returns back bringing seven other devils, worse than he was." Now, if the good man of the house isn't there to keep him away, he'll enter in by force. So the good man of your house is faith. Hold there and don't...

I felt a little feeling moving across the audience a few minutes ago, about calling the man's name. Well, didn't Jesus tell Peter who you are? Don't be skeptic; believe. Just--just think--just... It's nothing unscriptural. Anything's a little worry in your mind, just put a note up here. You'll see it's THUS SAITH THE LORD in the Bible. So just don't do that, 'cause that hinders the work.

38 All right. Was this the lady? All right. Howdy do, lady? All right. Jesus Christ, of course, knows everything. He knows all of us. He knows you; He knows me. And perhaps, maybe... I don't know, we may never have met in life. I--I don't recognize you. If we ever have met, I don't recognize you, and perhaps wouldn't now anyhow. But if we've ever met on the street, or met anywhere else, you can realize that something's going on now that wasn't going on then. Is because it's in the Presence of His Being, not mine, your brother: in the Presence of Him. That's right.

And I see a--a man and a woman standing in a woman's place. And there's something... You got a baby, a little child, little girl baby. I see that this child's of a school age and there's something in the--the legs. it's something wrong. It's a--it's you. You--you was born with something wrong in the leg. It's a vein condition in the leg. Isn't that right? And aren't you got somebody on your mind that's near death with a cancer? Lord Jesus, merciful heavenly Father, send Thy loving Spirit to this one tonight, and grant Your blessings to her as I bless her; in Jesus Christ's Name, may it be so. Amen. God bless you, sister. Go, and live now. May God be with you and bless you. Amen. All right. Be reverent.

39 You were praying, wasn't you, sir? You believing with all your heart? You want to get over that back trouble? You do? If I told you you were healed, would you believe me as God's prophet? Stand up and accept it then. Your faith has saved you, brother. Go in peace. God be with you. All right.

You? Supposing that we be strangers to each other, only God alone knows between us. That's all. But one of these days we're going to have to meet again into His Presence and give an account for all that we've done and said here on earth, when the great Book is opened in the judgment. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. That's it, isn't it? Baptism of the Holy Ghost, you desire it. That's it. You got high blood pressure, caused from a nervous condition. Go, you're going to receive it. Jesus Christ will grant it to you. God, grant this, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

May the mercies of God rest upon those His children, who believe Him and have faith in Him. God, be merciful.

40 You believe that rupture's gone? You do? Well, stand up then; accept it. God bless you. All right.

We are strangers to each other; I suppose. You believe the things that you see comes from God? Well, you realize that you must have His help and must have it immediately if you live much longer. You realize it's cancer, don't you? And now, that cancer's located in the ear, isn't it? Isn't that right? Almighty God, grant that this horrible demon will leave the woman; in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Amen. Go, believing. Don't doubt. You shall be well. Just have faith. Take His Word, don't...

Mother, I thought it was you, but it's the lady setting near you He's hanging over. There is grace of God. You got bowel trouble, haven't you, lady? Isn't that right? Mother, lay your hands over on her there, will you? Kind heavenly Father, be merciful to her and heal her. And my poor dear mother, setting there is sick tonight too. Grant it to her. May this be done through Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.

You believe? Do you know my mother? Ever acquainted with her? You just met her. Huh? You know the know the reason you just met her; you've come from a long distance coming here. You live in Illinois, don't you? If that's right, raise up your hand. That's the reason you don't know mother. God bless you now, you're going back to be well. See?

41 Have faith. Don't doubt. Just believe God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You do? All right, if you do, you can be made well. All right now. Are you believing? With all your heart? 'Course, you know, longer I speak with you, the more would be known about you. Get sick once in a while, don't you? That gallbladder, what does that. Isn't that right? Causes something in the stomach, but it's a gall duct, emptying into the stomach. At least that's what the doctor tells you. Nice little fellow. You're worried about a child or a son. He's not here. But the son suffers, had polio. Isn't that right? Not reading your mind, lady. You're in the Presence of God. You believe for you and your son? Come here. Father, I bless this poor woman and may Your blessings be upon her. You said, "Whatever you bind on earth, I'll bind in heaven. What you loose on earth, I'll loose in heaven." Therefore, I ask for the blessing of my sister, heart's desire. In Jesus Christ's Name. Amen. God bless you, lady. Go now. Receive and believe with all your heart. All right.

42 Howdy do, sister? You believing now with--with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, believing God is going to do this for you? Such great faith... Do you believe the asthmatic condition's going to leave you, don't you? All right, you go ahead now, you'll receive from...?...

Got spinal trouble, haven't you? Uh-huh. You believe God's going to make you well? You're a stranger too here. You believe God would tell me where you're from? If I will, would you stand up and accept your healing. You're from Michigan. Stand up, go home and be well. God bless you. Uh-huh. Amen. Just have faith. Don't doubt. Believe with all your heart. God shall grant it.

Howdy do? You believe with all your heart? Been getting weak lately, haven't you? Something's slipped up on you here that you don't know about. Besides your eyes burn, you have--you got TB also. You're acquainted with that, are you? Wouldn't look to look at you, but you are. You believe He's going to make you well now? Do you know that's the first disease that God ever healed in the Bible? First promise He ever made to take away consumption. You believe you have it now? While you're in His Presence, do you now, like blind Bartimaeus of old, accept it now, go, saying, "Jesus, I take Your Word. I believe I have it." What you're wanting me to do is lay hands on you, 'cause that's where your faith lays. Come here. Kind Father, spare the life of a dying woman. And may Thy mercies be given to her, and may she live, through Jesus Christ. Because He lives, may she live also. Amen. God bless you, lady. Go now; be of--be of a good cheer.

43 You can come, sir. I want to ask you something. You've ask for this opportunity to God in prayer. And you said if you could ever get here to this platform, I'd offer this prayer, that you could go home and eat, your stomach trouble would be over, and you'd get well. You was thinking that when you was setting down there. Is that the truth? Now, go eat, for your faith has saved you.

Do you believe, sister? With all your heart? You believe He heard your prayer, sir, with that internal trouble, setting there? You believe He did? He did. Raise up now. You can go home, be made well. God bless you...?... can go on. Amen. God bless you. Your faith saved you, brother. You can go rejoicing and being happy. And the gentleman setting next to you there, having that bronchial trouble all the time. Isn't that right, sir? Now, you all, let--put your arms around one another. Put your arm... That's right. O Lord Jesus, grant this blessing; for Jesus Christ's sake, I ask it. Amen. God be with you.

44 You believe, you can be healed of that tumor without an operation? You accept your healing right now? May the Lord bless you, my sister. God bless you. In the Name of Jesus Christ, praying that you'll never have to have the operation. Amen. Go now. As you have believed, so will it be to you. Oh, He is wonderful.

Excuse me. You believe the kidney trouble's going to leave you and you're going to get well? You do? Raise up your hand and say, "I accept Jesus Christ now as my Healer." O God, merciful One, Who sent Jesus Christ, Thy Son, and raised Him up from the dead, and He'd show forth the same signs that He did while here on earth, may our sister be healed. Amen. God bless you. Go now, believing with all your heart.

45 Howdy do? Into His Presence we both enter, and only for His glory, lady. And it's Him, the One that can help you. I'm just your brother. Been having some troubles: a stiffness coming into your body. I see you trying to move from a bed or something, and you just kinda stiffen. It's arthritis. Is that right? A little trouble too, like a heart trouble's been sputtering around, trying to bother you too. Isn't that right? Will you obey me as God's prophet? You ask God to fill your soul full of the Holy Ghost. Go off the platform just stomping your feet like that and get rid of the arthritis, in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen. Let's say, "Praise be to God." "Obedience is better than sacrifice, hearkening unto the fats of rams." You must believe Him.

I seen someone get hurt. I can't place it. Oh, yes, I do. It's a lady. And she was... Today she's hurt her ankle. Yes, you sprained your ankle. Somehow, I seen you limp or turn sideways. You were at a step, and that--that was a--had initial of some--YWCA. Is that right? You sprained your ankle today, there. Is that right? Same clothes. All right. Stand up. Jesus Christ healed your sprained ankle. You can go now and be made well. The rest--the rest of you could be healed too. You believe It? Let's bow our heads just a moment.

46 Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, come near now and bless this people who is waiting. And as Thy servant's strength is going, more must be done. And I ask Thee to be merciful to the people. And at this time, may Your Spirit come upon them.

And now, with your heads bowed, every one of you, your eyes closed, I'm going to ask you. They touched my side and I know that I can't tell my own being. It's time for me to go. But He's here to make well every one of you. And if you'll just believe with all your heart... Surely, I trust that I've found grace in your sight, that I've told you the truth after God telling me so. And God has confirmed it to be so. And I would that you'd just lay your hands on someone near you. The Scripture said, "These signs shall follow 'them' that believe. They shall lay 'their' hands on the sick; they shall recover." And you all are believers. Then put your own faith out to work and lay your hands over on one another. And each one of you start praying right now, praying right out, as you would in church, and asking God to heal the person next to you. And while you're asking healing for them, healing shall come to you. Now, just start praying for one another, praying that God will heal one another.

Lord Jesus, I ask You to grant this blessing tonight. Now, I send the power of God, through Jesus Christ's Name, into every human body in this building for healing.