Nadprirodzeno

 

 

No, chceme vidieť a umiestniť pred naše poslucháčstvo toto, že Boh je stále rovnaký, aký vždy bol. Ľudia sa dostávajú preč od Boha, ale Boh zostáva rovnaký. Jeho povaha, Jeho moc a Jeho túžba je vždy rovnaká po všetky generácie. Nikdy sa to nemení. Je to stále rovnaké. Ľudia sú tými, ktorí odchádzajú od Boha a nie Boh od ľudí. Strácajú svoju vieru. Boh pokrýva všetok priestor, všetko, všade. On je všadeprítomný. Takže je všade a vždy bol všade a vždy bude všade.



Ale postoj ľudí je tým, čo prináša výsledky. To je dôvod, prečo na Letnice museli ísť do hornej miestnosti a modliť sa, až kým nezostúpil Duch Svätý, pretože sa dostali na jedno miesto a do jednoty. Atmosféra je tým, čo prináša výsledky. Veríte tomu? Nech každý muž a žena, ktorí sú dnes ráno v tejto budove, chlapec alebo dievča, dostanú preč zo svojej mysle všetko okrem Pána Ježiša a nech veria, že On tu práve teraz stojí prítomný a uvidíte, že sa udeje niečo, čo spôsobí titulky v raňajších novinách. To je pravda. To je atmosféra.


1Ďakujem ti, brat Rogers. Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne. Nech vás Pán žehná, priatelia. Ďakujem vám a na chvíľu si môžete sadnúť. Vždy to spôsobuje, že sa cítim dobre, keď sa cítim vítaný. To je trocha... Sám som Kentačan, viete, a rád počujem niečo, čo robí, že sa cítite vítaní. A tak pekné privítanie v tomto meste a medzi vami, moji kresťanskí priatelia, istotne spôsobuje, že sa voči vám cítim vďačný. A brat Rogers, milujem ho. Bol pre mňa skvelým bratom a ako bol istotne skutočným nástrojom v Božích rukách tu v Owensboro.

2Díval som sa práve na druhú stranu ulice, tam, kde sa chystáte postaviť nový zbor, alebo tam niekde, kde mi o tom dnes ráno hovoril pri raňajkovom stole. A je to skvelé vidieť vás, ako takto postupujete. To skrátka ukazuje, že podporujete správnu vec. A Boží služobník sa snaží, ako najlepšie vie, aby dal Božiemu ľudu to najlepšie, čo môže. Ja by som... Každé zhromaždenie si bude takého pastora vážiť, keď vidíte, čo vaše financie, vaše desiatky, vaše obete, a tak ďalej, ste... On ide priamo do Kráľovstva Božieho, aby urobil Kráľovstvo Božie lepším, vytvára lepšie miesto, nie pre seba, ale pre vás. On má na mysli ovce, pastier vždy má.

3Kým som nebol v Palestíne, alebo lepšie povedané tam v krajinách orientu, často som sa divil nad podobenstvom v Biblii, lepšie povedané nad podobenstvami Biblie, čo niektoré z nich znamenajú. A vy takmer musíte ísť do orientu, aby ste zistili, čo táto Biblia skutočne znamená. Raz som mal... Sedel som a mnohí z vás kazateľov zo západu ste boli nad tým v rozpakoch a premýšľali ste, „Čo týmto mysleli? Čo znamená toto? A čo znamená tamto?“ A ak niekedy pôjdete do východnej krajiny a uvidíte ich nemeniace sa zvyky, no, potom sa dozviete viac o Biblii. Potom, čo som išiel na východ, sa pre mňa stala novou Knihou.

Napríklad, ako povedal Ježiš, myslím, že v sv. Jánovi 10, myslím. „Ja som dverami do ovčinca. Ja som dverami do ovčinca.“ Často som sa divil, čo to znamenalo, že On stál pri bráne a prijímal všetkých ľudí, keď vchádzali dnu, alebo som si myslel, že možno tam stál pastier, keď takto prichádzali dnu. To je... Zvykol som o tom takto premýšľať. A azda mnohí z vás mojich bratov a duchovných si myslelo tú istú vec.

4Ale keď ste raz tam, zistíte, že je to inak. Nie je to počítanie oviec, ale sám pastier sa stáva dverami. Tam je ohrada pre dobytok, niečo ako miesto so strieškou na vrchu. A on privedie dnu všetky ovce a dá ich tam dnu, potom ide a líha si do dverí. A ovce, či vlastne vlk nemôže vojsť dnu, alebo ovce vyjsť von bez toho, že by prešli cez pastiera. Pomyslel som si, „Nie je to úžasné?“ Vidíte, On je Dverami do ovčinca. Rozumiete? Ku ovciam nemôže prísť nič, ak to pastier nedovolí. A ak máme pri dverách Pastiera, akí bezpeční a šťastní by sme mali byť. Satan sa vás nemôže dotknúť, ak to Pastier nedovolí. A všetko to je na dobré, čokoľvek to len je. Rozumiete, čo tým myslím? A to je... Keď On povedal...

Znovu som si všimol, a pastier... V tejto krajine pastier neznamená príliš mnoho, no, len nejaké starodávne slovo. Ale tam pastier, ó, a ovce... Ľudia žijú pri svojich ovciach. A pastier sa o ne stará.

5Raz, keď som prechádzal cez krajinu, všimol som si na ďalekom východe, taký malý... Ako mali v Indii – pastier prechádzal a viedol svoje ovce, a on... Pomyslel som si na to podobenstvo, tam, kde je povedané, „Moje ovce čujú Môj Hlas. Cudzinca nebudú nasledovať.“ No, tá ovca sa narodila pod výchovou tohto pastiera. On pozná ten hlas; nebude nikdy venovať pozornosť akémukoľvek inému hlasu. On sa naučil ten hlas pastiera. Mohol by volať nejaký iný pastier, mohli by robiť, čokoľvek by chceli, ale tam na tom pastierovi je také niečo malé, čo tie ovce rozpoznávajú. Vidíte, tak je to s Božími ovcami. Cudzie hlasy, oni – to skrátka neznie správne; oni jednoducho nepôjdu; to je celé. A ak môže byť ovca pokúšaná, ale keď zistí, že to je nesprávny pastier, otočí sa preč.

6A všimol som si, ako ovce nasledujú príklad pastiera. Prechádzajú dole cez ulice, tam, kde sú najužšie ulice z ulíc, ktoré tam vo východných krajinách sú, boli vytvorené v dňoch kočov, keď mali vozy, ktoré jazdili cez ulice a jazdcov na koňoch. A sú veľmi úzke. Veľmi zriedka nájdete také široké, ako sú tam tie stĺpy od seba, veľmi zriedka. Niekedy možno, ó, dvanásť stôp široké [asi 365 cm. – pozn.prekl.], ulice. Mnohé z...

Ako v Oslo, v Nórsku, ulice sú tam v starom meste iba asi osem stôp široké [asi 240 cm. – pozn.prekl.]; to je asi 1500 rokov staré a potom zistíte, že oni nemali automobily, ako to je v tomto modernom veku, kde sa vlečú a tlačia cez hlavné cesty. Rozumiete, Náhum ich nazval „široké cesty“ [v ROH preklade Biblie „námestia“ (Náhum 2:4) - pozn.prekl.].

A potom, ako som stál na tej vonkajšej ceste v Chicagu, premýšľal som o tom mnohokrát, ako tie tri a štyri idú bok po boku každým smerom, hlavné cesty. A výškové oddelenie ulíc v strede...?... do miesta. A o niekoľko míľ sa koľajnice takto zdvihnú, aby oddelili vašu dopravu v rôznych časoch večera a v rôznych časoch dňa: Široké cesty. Jeden z týchto pruhov by bol v ich dňoch kompletnou hlavnou cestou.

7Ale ako som videl prechádzať tohto pastiera cez mesto, bolo to ako poplach. Šla tam celá kolóna oviec, ktoré ho nasledovali. No, ľudia z východu vystavujú všetky svoje lahôdky vonku na ulici; dokonca ich mäso a všetko ostatné leží vonku na ulici a všetko ich ovocie a ich produkty ležia rovno na ulici ako... Takto je tu váš obchod; nechávajú svoju veci tam vzadu, ale vy nakupujete rovno z chodníka. A tam nie je žiaden chodník; je to len ulica. Tak všetci kráčajú rovno po ulici, proste rovno dole ulicou, ulicou s dlažobných kociek.

A tu prichádza dolu ulicou pastier, kráča, kráča tadiaľ a za ním kolóna oviec dlhá ako mestský blok. A tie ovce kráčajú popri tých produktoch a veciach a neotočili by sa ani napravo ani naľavo, držali svoje oči na pastierovi, pohybovali sa cez to rovno ďalej. Pomyslel som si, „Ó Bože, čo znamená pastier, nie pozerať sa vpravo alebo vľavo, nie byť pokúšaný týmto alebo tamtým, ale kráčať v stopách pastiera. Oni chcú nasledovať pastiera.“

8Jedného dňa, keď sme jazdili v malom britskom džípe, som si všimol, že tam bol pastier, ktorý tam mal hore na kopci veľké množstvo zvierat a kŕmil ich. Oni ich viedli a poskytovali im miesta na pašu. A on tam mal v tom ovce; mal v tom kozy; mal v tom muly, mal ťavy, všetko možné. On ich všetky kŕmil; všetky sa pásli. A ten pastier na ne dával pozor. Povedal som, „Ó, pastier tu znamená mnoho vecí. Taktiež...?... pastier pasie.“ Ale povedal, „Vieš, je to zvláštne, brat Branham,“ povedal, „keď prichádza večerný čas, sleduj,“ povedal, „všetky tie ovce idú rovno k pastierovi.“ Povedal, „Muly zostanú vonku na pastvisku.“ A povedal, „Ťavy ostanú vonku na pastvisku,“ ale povedal, „a kozy ostanú vonku na pastvisku.“ Ale povedal, „Ovce idú všetky k pastierovi, keď prichádza večerný čas. Prečo?“ Povedal, „Pretože ovce sú v noci vzaté a držané v bezpečí.“

Povedal som, „Počuj, nehovor tak; spôsobíš, že tu začnem vykrikovať rovno uprostred ulice.“ Rozumiete? Prichádza večerný čas. Mnohí sa pasú na tej istej veci, ale On rozpozná iba ovce. Rozumiete, čo tým myslím? Len ovce, znovuzrodené. „Mnohí sú povolaní; málo je vyvolených.“

Ó, dnes Ho milujem, aj vy? Prehovorme teraz k Nemu predtým, ako otvoríme Jeho Slovo.

9Náš Nebeský Otče, prichádzame k Tebe v tento deň sabatu, vonku prší... Mohli by sme to nazvať bezútešným hmlistým počasím, ale ako by mohol farmár posadiť svoje plodiny, ak by sme nemali v túto jar dostatok vlahy? Nenarástlo by tam žiadne jedlo; pôda by bola vysušená; ľudia by zahynuli.

Uvedomujeme si, že toto je ako prežitie Kresťana. Niekedy musíme prechádzať cez hrozné trestanie, potrestanie od Pána, cez mnohé veci, aby nás napravili, nech môžeme byť Kresťanmi, ktorí prinášajú ovocie. Niekedy je potrebné nás orezať, osekať, odobrať preč, vziať niečo z našich rúk. Niekedy si myslíme, „Ó Bože, čo nám to robíš?“ Ale On vie, čo robí. A tak sa modlíme, Otče, aby si dnes orezal každého jedného z nás, od najmenšieho po najväčšieho, pastora. Bože, modlíme sa, aby si orezával každého jedného z nás. Vezmi preč všetko, čo nie je z Teba, Otče. Vezmi preč veci, ktoré nám zabraňujú v tom, aby sme boli Kresťanmi, ktorí prinášajú ovocie. Prichádza ten deň, keď sa bude stmievať. A potom chceme ísť do ovčinca. Chceme byť dnes ovcami, Otče. Chceme napredovať rovno v stopách toho Pastiera. On nám dal príklad, povedal, „Neprišiel som konať Svoju vôľu, ale vôľu Toho, ktorý Ma poslal.“ Nech by to bol dnes večer náš motív, Bože, aby sme robili vôľu Boha, ktorý nás spasil.

10Požehnaj dnes zbor a nedeľné školy po celom svete. A pamätaj na nás, Pane, dnes na toto malé miesto v Owensboro, aby si na nás vylial Svoje požehnania, pretože sme núdzni a hladní a smädní po spravodlivosti. Tvoje zasľúbenie je, „Bude to naplnené.“ Modlíme sa o to v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.

11V týchto bohoslužbách na návšteve u brata Rogersa, čo je vždy veľkou výsadou, prísť sem a stretnúť sa s bratom Rogersom a s vami, milými svätými ľuďmi, ktorí tu ste, a s ostatnými cirkvami, ktoré sú v Owensboro a mestách naokolo. Naučil som sa toto: Nezáleží na tom, či to je Číňan, Japonec, Kórejčan, Nemec, čokoľvek on je, pokiaľ je bratom, alebo ona je sestrou, nie je v nich ani trochu rozdiel. Oni sú všetci skrátka ovcami z tej istej ohrady.

Sledoval som to v rôznych národoch po celom svete. Ako komunist... Dostanete sa do komunistickej krajiny, kde som musel byť, musel som mať okolo seba ľudí s puškami, aby držali zástupy stranou a musel som mať ľudí, ktorí boli vojakmi, musel som mať sklonenú hlavu a okolo seba vojakov, aby ma chránili pred zastrelením, až kým ma nedostali niekde na tmavé miesto, kde by ma nemohli vidieť a zastreliť ma, alebo niečo, za kázanie Evanjelia, prinášanie dobrej zvesti a veľkej radosti Pána Ježiša Krista. A potom to je – je to úžasné vedieť, že Ježiš je uprostred toho všetkého práve tak príjemný a dobrý, milý. On je skrátka... Nie je na tom nič znepokojujúce, len prijímanie posolstva.

A dnes je to pre nás výsada, že tu môžeme byť s vami v športovom centre dnes popoludní, alebo lepšie povedané dnes večer na bohoslužbe. Modlíme sa, aby ste si všetci našli miesto. Ak váš vlastný zbor nemá bohoslužbu, no, poďte a navštívte nás. A radi by sme urobili všetko, čo môžeme, aby sme vám pomohli zľahčiť bremená, spraviť spoločenstvo trochu lepším miestom na konanie dobrého, trochu ľahším, a ťažším miestom na robenie zlého. To je to, na čo sú tie zhromaždenia určené.

12Teda dnes, ako sa práve chystáme na chvíľu hovoriť. Mám veľmi zlý hlas a mám vo svojom srdci predstavu. A dnes ráno na nedeľnej škole som premýšľal, tesne predtým, ako som išiel popoludní kázať... A ak bude dnes Boh chcieť, v toto popoludnie chcem hovoriť na veľmi (alebo lepšie povedané dnes večer), na veľmi výnimočné Písmo, pokiaľ ide o čas, v ktorom žijeme. A verím, že s Božou pomocou, téma, pravdepodobne sa k tomu potom priblížim z odlišného smeru... Prvé, jedno z prvých posolstiev, ktoré som kázal po veľkolepom navštívení Svätého Ducha pred pár týždňami... A premýšľal som, keď sme tu dnes ráno boli spolu, tak, ako malá skupina Kresťanov, že by sme mohli na chvíľu len hovoriť od srdca k srdcu jeden s druhým. A viem, že tam dole v srdci každého človeka je niečo, že túži vidieť to nadprirodzené.

13Tu prednedávnom, sedel som na zhromaždení v Kalifornii, mal som na hlave príčesok a mal som na sebe tmavé okuliare, len aby som si vypočul bratovu teológiu. Pretože oni by ma spoznali, ak by to tak nebolo. Sedel som s ľuďmi hneď vedľa seba; oni ma ani nespoznali. Len tam tak sedím, len sa pozerám, dívam sa dookola, dokonca som ich počul o mne hovoriť. Nevedeli, že som to bol ja, len som tam sedel. A stalo sa mi, že som sedel vedľa muža, ktorý mal obrátený golier. Na pódium tam prišiel kazateľ a ten človek je jeden z mojich obrátených k Božskému uzdravovaniu. Ale chvíľu kázal, potom šiel späť a komorník mu vymenil oblečenie, keď sa trochu spotil a on prišiel znova späť na pódium. A tento významný človek tam sedel, krútil hlavou a pozrel sa na mňa, povedal, „Či sa takto správa Kristov služobník?“

14Povedal som, „Nie som sudcom.“ Povedal som... On povedal... „No,“ povedal som, „myslím, že jeho posolstvo je nádherné.“

Povedal, „Si Kresťan?“

Povedal som, „Áno, som.“

A povedal, „No,“ povedal, „myslíš, že Kristov služobník by mal robiť takéto predstavenie a takto sa prezliekať a správať sa takto?“

A ja som povedal, „No, pozri, podľa mňa má Boh ľudí v rôznych kategóriách, aby chytil ľudí, ktorí žijú v rôznych kategóriách.“

Rozprával o tom, povedal, „No, ten človek má každý rok dve El Doráda.“

Povedal som, „Som veľmi vďačný, že je Boh k nemu tak dobrý.“ Rozumiete? Ale on sa na mňa pozrel trocha podivne a povedal, „Si Kresťan?“

Povedal som, „Som kazateľ.“

Povedal, „Ja sa volám Tak-a-tak.“

A ja som povedal, „Ja sa volám Branham.“

Povedal, „Nie si ten Branham, ktorý sa modlí za chorých?“

Povedal som, „Veru som.“

„Ó,“ povedal, „rozumiem.“

15A mohol rozumieť, prečo som sa zastával tohto druhého brata. A povedal, „Pán Branham,“ povedal, „nie si baptista?“

Povedal som, „Bol som. Tak veru.“

Povedal, „Chcem sa ťa niečo opýtať.“ Povedal, „Som istý doktor teológie v určitej cirkvi, no, presbyteriánskej.“ A povedal, „Vieš čo? Tu na tomto západnom pobreží,“ povedal, „my, presbyteriánski ľudia sme mali celé západné pobrežie.“ Povedal, „Mali sme najväčšie zbory a najskvelejšie zhromaždenia zo všetkých cirkví, ktoré sú na západnom pobreží.“ A povedal, „Vieš, čo nás rozlámalo?“

Povedal som, „Nie veru.“

Povedal, „Prišiel ten kult kresťanskej vedy a rozlámal našu cirkev.“ A povedal, „Teraz prichádza táto letničná skupina a rozlamuje kresťanskú vedu a všetko ostatné.“

Povedal som, „Aha.“ Povedal som, „Doktor, vieš o tom, že vyhladované deti budú jesť z odpadkového koša, ak sú hladné?“

Povedal, „No, myslím, že to je pravda.“

Povedal som, „Ak vy, presbyteriáni, ako si povedal, že ste, ak by ste zostali so Slovom Božím a dávali deťom Chlieb Života, ten kult by ich nikdy nerozlámal.“ Povedal som, „Skrátka ste popustili; to je všetko.“ A povedal som, „Ľudia sú stále ľuďmi a sú – každý človek sa snaží nahliadnuť za oponu. Snaží sa vidieť, odkiaľ prišiel a kam ide. A ak to nevyprodukuje cirkev živého Boha, potom diabol vzbudí nejaké kulty, aby im dal nejaké falošné veci.“ Povedal som, „Preto by ste mali zostať so Slovom Božím; oni by všetci boli presbyteriáni.“ A to je naozaj pravda. A to je to, ako si myslím, že to vo všeobecnosti ľudia cítia.

16No, chcem tu prečítať krátky text Písma a možno do toho Pán pridá Svoje požehnania. A tak sledujem čas na svojich hodinkách, pretože viem, že vaše triedy nedeľnej školy čoskoro zakončia a máme niečo ešte po zhromaždení. A myslel som, že by som k vám len hovoril – len na chvíľu od srdca k srdcu dnes ráno v lekcii nedeľnej školy. A zisťujeme, že toto je len na druhej strane odtiaľ, odkiaľ som kázal minulý večer z 2. Kráľom; toto je teraz 2. Kráľom, 5. Počúvajte 4. verš. [2. Kráľom, 5:8 – pozn.prekl.]

A stalo sa, keď počul Elizeus, muž Boží, že izraelský kráľ roztrhol svoje rúcho, poslal ku kráľovi s odkazom: Prečo si roztrhol svoje rúcho? Nože nech prijde ku mne, aby zvedel, že je prorok v Izraelovi.

17Takže vec, o ktorej dnes ráno chceme chvíľu hovoriť, je: Nadprirodzeno. Všetci sme hladní po nadprirodzenom. Vy, bratia od metodistov, ste hladní po nadprirodzenom. Mám so sebou metodistického kazateľa, ktorý je hladný a smädný po nadprirodzenom. Vy, baptisti, ste hladní a smädní po nadprirodzenom. Všetci z nich sú. No, bezpochyby, ak je Boh stále Bohom, On je stále nadprirodzený. Veríte tomu? On musí byť.

Takže, snažíme sa Boha umiestniť do nejakého praveku, alebo urobiť z Neho nejakého historického Boha, ale čo dobrého nám dnes urobí historický Boh? Na aký úžitok je Boh Eliáša dnešnému človeku, ak nie je tým istým Bohom? Čo sa o Ňom učíte v seminári? No, a ak On bol iba nejakým historickým faktom a nie je tým istým i dnes, radšej by ste sa mali učiť poľnohospodárstvo alebo niečo také, niečo, čo by niekomu mohlo pomôcť. Je to tak? Bolo by lepšie, ak by ste sa naučili... aby vaše dieťa bolo architektom, namiesto toho, aby bolo kazateľom, ak je On iba historickým Bohom a nie je tým istým i dnes. Čo dobrého urobí Boh Mojžiša, ak On nie je tým istým Bohom i dnes? Len o tom teraz popremýšľajte vo svojej mysli. Sme tak... vždy sa tak veľmi zaujímame o naše prežitia.

18Minulý večer mi povedala jedna malá pani, ktorá je v našom strede... [Prázdne miesto na páske. – pozn.prekl.] Kazateľ z istej významnej denominačnej cirkvi... A ja som sa jej opýtal, či jej otec bol niekedy pastorom, a tak podobne?

A ona povedala, „Brat Branham, môj otec mal iba vzdelanie zo základnej školy; preto mu nedovolili kázať vo väčších cirkvách, pretože jeho vzdelanie bolo biedne.“

Možno skvelý Duchom naplnený muž, ale organizácia by ho nepodporila, nezáleží na tom, ako bol naplnený Duchom, kvôli nedostačujúcemu vzdelaniu. Tam minuli Boha. Peter sa ani nedokázal podpísať a on mal kľúče od Kráľovstva Božieho, ktoré mu boli dané od Ježiša Krista. Hľadíme na vzdelanie. Vzdelanie je fajn, ale to sa učí v školách. Cirkev je miesto, kde poznávame Boha a učíme sa od Boha a to je v nadprirodzenom. A Boh je nadprirodzený a ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.

19No, chceme vidieť a umiestniť pred naše poslucháčstvo toto, že Boh je stále rovnaký, aký vždy bol. Ľudia sa dostávajú preč od Boha, ale Boh zostáva rovnaký. Jeho povaha, Jeho moc a Jeho túžba je vždy rovnaká po všetky generácie. Nikdy sa to nemení. Je to stále rovnaké. Ľudia sú tými, ktorí odchádzajú od Boha a nie Boh od ľudí. Strácajú svoju vieru. Boh pokrýva všetok priestor, všetko, všade. On je všadeprítomný. Takže je všade a vždy bol všade a vždy bude všade.

20Ale postoj ľudí je tým, čo prináša výsledky. To je dôvod, prečo na Letnice museli ísť do hornej miestnosti a modliť sa, až kým nezostúpil Duch Svätý, pretože sa dostali na jedno miesto a do jednoty. Atmosféra je tým, čo prináša výsledky. Veríte tomu? Nech každý muž a žena, ktorí sú dnes ráno v tejto budove, chlapec alebo dievča, dostanú preč zo svojej mysle všetko okrem Pána Ježiša a nech veria, že On tu práve teraz stojí prítomný a uvidíte, že sa udeje niečo, čo spôsobí titulky v raňajších novinách. To je pravda. To je atmosféra.

Neverím v robenie si žartov spoza kazateľne, pretože kazateľňa nie je miestom na vtipy. Je to posvätné miesto. Spomeniem niečo, iba kvôli tomuto tu. Pán Bosworth má veľmi dobrý zmysel pre humor a on povedal, „Brat Branham, na dôkaz toho, že to je atmosféra,“ povedal, „mohol by si vziať slepačie vajce a vložiť ho pod šteňa a priviazať ho a ono by vysedelo kurča.“ Rozumiete? Teplota tela toho šteňaťa je tým, čo by vysedelo to vajce. Ono nemusí byť pod sliepkou; ono môže byť pod šteňaťom. Mohlo by byť v inkubátore. To je tá atmosféra.

A atmosféra je tým, čo prináša nadprirodzené a zázraky a moci Božie medzi ľudí. Je to atmosféra ľudí. A keď sa ľudia dostanú na miesto, kde rozumujú, premýšľajú, lámu si hlavu, uvažujú, sú rozrušení a nevedia, kde stoja, polovica z nich ani nie je biblicky vyučovaná, ako môžete očakávať, že atmosféra bude v poriadku? Nemôžete to urobiť; nebude to v poriadku. Musí to byť v jednote, na jednom mieste a nastavení na jeden motív, jednu vec, potom uvidíte, ako sa niečo bude diať.

21Nefunguje to iba takto, ale ak by ste sa na to pozreli vo vedeckom svete. Povedzme, že ste úplne všetci skupinou obchodníkov a budete predávať autá značky Chevrolet, alebo Pontiac, alebo nejaký typ auta. A jeden si vo svojom srdci v skutočnosti myslí, že autá značky Studebaker sú lepšie, a tak ďalej podobne. Doveďte nás všetkých sem dnu a povieme, že najlepšou značkou auta je Buick, a iný povie nejaké iné auto, doveďte nás takto spolu, nikdy by ste nemohli mať ten správny druh stretnutia. Vezmime to v diablovej činnosti...

22Choďte a... Povedzme, že ideme na tanečnú zábavu. Jeden človek stojí a hovorí, „No, teraz...“ On nevie, či chce tancovať alebo nie. A tamto dievča, ona toto, tamto... A hudba hrá, „Bližšie k Tebe, môj Bože,“ juj, čo to je za atmosféra k tancu. No, to nie je žiaden rozdiel, než to, čo mnohé atmosféry... do zboru idete kvôli službe Bohu, takže to je v takom protiklade. Správne.

Jediná vec, ktorá potom prinesie tú správnu atmosféru k tancu, je zapnúť tanečnú hudbu a všetci myslia na to, aký ohromný čas budú mať pri tanci, a tak ďalej, a budú mať veľký čas nadšenia a radosti. Zahrajte na klavíri, na organe ten správny druh hudby a nech sú všetci v takej atmosfére, že je tam Ježiš Kristus, a On uskutoční všetko, na čo majú potrebu, niečo sa bude diať: atmosféra. Ale to je tá najťažšia vec, ktorá sa má robiť. A to je to, aby sa ľudia dostali do tej atmosféry, atmosféry uctievania, atmosféry veriť.

23A to je dôvod, prečo sa niekedy Boží život, ktorý bol povolaný a oddelený, stal fanatickým, alebo bláznivým, alebo záhadným, alebo niečím takým v očiach širokej verejnosti, je to preto, že ste považovaní za... povedal by som neurotickú, alebo pomätenú osobu, je to preto, že ste zmenili miesto svojho prebývania a dostali sa do odlišnej atmosféry. A váš vlastný motív, vaše úmysly sú, aby ste ostali v tej atmosfére. Akákoľvek osoba, ktorá niekedy raz vojde do tej atmosféry, nebude nikdy spokojná nikde inde. A to je dôvod, prečo verím, že by sme naše zbory mali mať pod vedením Svätého Ducha, aby muži a ženy vo svojej práci, a kdekoľvek by boli, aby mali neustále túžbu, a budú ju mať, ak niekedy raz vošli do tej atmosféry.

24No, tým, že rozprávam v cirkvi Zborov Božích medzi letničnými ľuďmi... No, naučil som sa milovať letničných ľudí; sú to moji bratia a sestry. Ale mnohokrát sa naše vlastné letničné rady obmedzujú tak, že niekedy sa naša atmosféra stáva emóciou namiesto uctievania. A to čoskoro zomrie a členovia sa stanú tým a tamtým. Ale ak by sme niekedy mohli dostať dohromady skupinu ľudí na miesto, kde by bola skutočná atmosféra Svätého Ducha, posvätnosť, úprimnosť a uctievanie a muži a ženy, ktorí tam sedia, sú si vedomí Boha a vedia, že veľkolepá Božia všemohúcnosť je prítomná, pripravená uskutočniť všetko bez jediného tieňa pochybnosti, to bude mať vplyv dokonca na neveriacich, ktorí tu dnes večer sedia. Nikdy nemôžete vojsť do takej atmosféry bez toho, že by sa niečo stalo.

25Prednedávnom som kázal, tí nahrávači pások... Tí chlapci boli so mnou, vzali kázeň „Skrytý Život Krista,“ ako sa dostať do Krista a ako sú niektorí ľudia raz hore a raz dole, oni nemôžu... To je miesto, ktoré musíte nájsť. Vonkajšie nádvoria produkovali mannu, iste. Mnohí ľudia žijú rovno na tej manne; jedia tú mannu; ale nežijú tým správnym druhom života. Raz sú hore a raz zase dole; majú vchádzania a vychádzania, a zlé dni a dobré dni. Ale stretli ste ľudí, ktorí absolútne bez ohľadu na to, aké bolo počasie, alebo aké boli podmienky, oni sú po celý čas „hore na streche.“ On našiel to tajomstvo. Našiel atmosféru, aby v nej žil.

26V Starom zákone, ako bolo to zhromaždenie kŕmené chlebom z neba. Oni žili v troch rôznych atmosférach. V nádvoriach, tam padala manna a Izraeliti jedli mannu. On jedol rovnakú mannu, ako jedli oni na všetkých ostatných miestach, rovnakú mannu. Ale spomeňte si, že vo vnútri tých nádvorí, v arche, bolo pevné miesto, kde oni – tá manna sa nikdy neskazila. Inak sa skazila. Nevydržala by do deviatej hodiny ráno. Oni to vymleli a spravili z toho jedlo, urobili z toho nejaké koláče a jedli to. A zistili, že predtým, ako zašlo slnko, boli hladní, ak toho nezhromaždili dostatok.

A to je to, čo sa dnes deje s ľuďmi; oni majú kempové kŕče. Idú na prebudenecké zhromaždenie a majú ohromný čas. A prvá vec, ktorú o nejaký čas zistíte, predtým, ako by mohlo prísť ďalšie prebudenie, oni sú znova späť vo svete.

27Istý človek napísal o mne prednedávnom článok, čo je úplne v poriadku; milujem ho. Nehovorím to, aby som bol pokrytec; hovorím to, pretože to je pravda. Johnova cirkev, vy, nazarénski ľudia,... On povedal... Napísal proti Božskému uzdravovaniu. Povedal, „Jeden z ich kľúčových ľudí, pán Branham,“ povedal, „nikdy vo svojom živote som toho človeka nestretol.“ A pomyslieť na rozumnosť človeka, ktorý píše článok o osobe, s ktorou nikdy vo svojom živote nehovoril. To ukazuje, že tam niečo nie je v poriadku. Náš zákon hovorí, „Ako môžeme odsúdiť človeka bez toho, aby sme ho najprv vypočuli.“

Povedal, „Nepoznám toho človeka, nikdy nepočul – nikdy v živote som ho nevidel. Ale prišiel ku mne jeden človek a povedal mi, že sedel... Chcel, aby som sa za neho pomodlil, aby mohol byť uzdravený od problémov s prostatou. A on povedal, 'Raz som bol už uzdravený.' A povedal... Porozprával mi ten príbeh. Povedal, 'Sedel som v zhromaždení,' a povedal, 'vzadu na balkóne.' A povedal, 'Bolo to zhromaždenie brata Branhama.' A povedal, 'Zrazu som začal pociťovať, že na mňa prichádza divný pocit.' A povedal, 'Potom sa ten muž otočil odtiaľ, kde kázal, a povedal, 'Muž, ktorý sedí tam hore je Ten-a-ten, istý človek z určitého miesta,' a povedal, 'modlí sa, aby bol uzdravený od problémov s prostatou.' A povedal, 'Ak to len teraz prijme a bude tomu veriť, môže ísť domov a byť zdravý.' On povedal, 'Niečo ma zasiahlo; nikdy v živote som necítil nič také.' Povedal, 'A celý rok ma moja prostata neobťažovala, a prišlo to na mňa znova.'“

„Pán cirkev,“ povedal, „či potom nevidíte, že to ukazuje, že pán Branham je falošný? Ak Boh uzdravil človeka, On ho uzdravil do konca života.“ Pomyslel som si, „'Pán cirkev,' koľkokrát ste prišli na táborisko Silver Hills a zhromaždili ste všetkých tých Nazarénov a posvätili ich v tomto roku a na ďalší rok posväcujete z nich niektorých ďalších. Možno to od začiatku nemali, tak potom by Boh nebol skutočný.“ Rozumiete?

28Božské uzdravovanie a posvätenie a moci Božie trvajú dovtedy, kým v tom zotrváva vaša viera. Keď vaša viera zlyhá, potom je vaše prežitie preč. Je to založené takýmto jednoduchým spôsobom na dokončenom diele Krista na Golgote. Ste posvätení tak dlho, ako je vaše svedectvo v poriadku, tak dlho, ako žijete posvätený život a veríte, že to Boh vás posvätil; ste posvätení, všetko to pripisujete Jeho milosti a Jeho zásluhám. A tak dlho, ako ste prijali uzdravenie a veríte vášmu uzdraveniu, a pokračujete a takto tomu veríte, budete uzdravení tak dlho, ako tomu veríte. A začnete o tom pochybovať...

A vezmite človeka, ktorý tu dnes ráno sedí a ktorý nie je ani trochu chorý, a nech začne vo svojom srdci veriť, že je chorý, oni ho vynesú z budovy. Aká je vaša viera, tak sa vám stane. To nie je kresťanská veda. Nemám na mysli, že myseľ je nad hmotou. Ale vidíte, tá vec, o ktorú ide, to je atmosféra, v ktorej žijete.

29No, tento človek, o ktorom budeme na chvíľu hovoriť, potom vám chcem vydať svedectvo... Tento muž Eliáš, veľký prorok, bol mužom, ktorý žil v tej ustálenej atmosfére. Bol povolaný muž od nazarejského narodenia. „Všetky dary a povolania sú bez pokánia.“ To nie je nič, čo by ste mohli urobiť, ako spraviť jeden vlas čiernym alebo bielym; nemôžete pridať jeden lakeť ku vašej postave. Keď sa snažíme napodobniť niečo, čím nás Boh neurobil, potom máme iba telesné napodobeniny. Ak sa snažíme robiť niečo, do čoho nás Boh nepovolal, aby sme to robili, ak to budeme robiť, úplne zlyháme. Ak by sa muž snažil zo seba urobiť ženu, žena zasa muža, ako by ste to urobili?

Stretol som ženu, ktorej mali spraviť chirurgické testy a mala byť prerobená na muža, prerobená na ženu, akokoľvek to bolo, v Taliansku, v Ríme. Tam bola, hanbila sa za to, že je ženou, tak opitá, ako len mohla byť, kráčala hore a dole po uliciach, ó, najhoršia vec na pohľad, akú ste kedy videli.

30Všimnite si, nemôžete sa urobiť ničím iným od toho, čo Boh určil, aby ste tým boli. Všetko ostatné je falošná napodobenina. A tak, ak je vaše obrátenie iba preto, že sa snažíte za niečo ukryť, alebo sa snažíte urobiť lepšou osobou, odohrávate iba rolu pokrytca. Až kým do vášho života skutočne nepríde Kristus a nepremení vás a neprivedie vás do tej atmosféry, v tom je ten rozdiel. To je ten dôvod, prečo ideme cez tak mnohé rozličné formy a hovoria, že musia vykonať toto. Ježiš povedal, „Ten, kto čuje Moje Slovo a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má Večný Život.“

Nie vytvorená viera, to je absolútne niečo, čo sa stalo, obrátenie srdca, ktoré vás zmenilo a prenieslo do inej sféry. Nepochopení muži, Kresťania, ženy, muži, chlapci a dievčatá, zostali nepochopení, tí, ktorí žijú v tých miestach, pretože to je v protiklade s tým prirodzeným kolobehom života medzi ľuďmi tohto sveta. A som si istý, že všetci chceme žiť v tej atmosfére.

31Pozrite, ľudia, ktorí jedli mannu tam vonku na tej zemi, jedli tú istú mannu, ktorú jedol najvyšší kňaz vnútri pod Slávou Shekinah. Ale táto manna sa skazila vonku na zemi, ale tá vo vnútri toho skrytého miesta sa nikdy neskazila. Vydržala dlhé roky. A človek, ktorý tam vstúpil, keď najvyšší kňaz vošiel poza tú oponu, tú oponu, ktorá oddeľovala svätyňu od svätyne svätých, keď tam vošiel, padla za ním opona, ten človek, on... Bolo to dokonca dokázané zvukom. Zostal odrezaný od celého sveta a okolia. Nepoznal tam nič iné okrem života v Prítomnosti Božej.

A muž alebo žena, ktorí niekedy vošli do tej Božej Slávy Shekinah, celý svet za ním zostal odrezaný. Nezáleží na tom, čo hovorí diabol, nevenuješ tomu žiadnu pozornosť. A on (ten človek) žije v odlišnej atmosfére. On žil tam, kde vložili Áronovu palicu. A to nebolo nič iné, než stará mŕtva palica z olivového stromu. Ale keď ju raz vložili do Prítomnosti Božej, to prinieslo to, čím to malo byť od začiatku. Počas jednej noci vypučala, zakvitla a priniesla mandle.

32Tak isto to je, keď je raz neveriaci alebo hriešnik položený do Prítomnosti Všemohúceho Boha pod vplyvom Ducha Svätého, on sa rovno vtedy stáva novým stvorením. Jeho život začne prinášať ovocie, čerstvé; do vnútra prichádza Život a on prináša to, čím mal byť, syn Boží. Bol odlomený zo stromu, tak bol tou olivovou vetvou. Bol odlomený zo stromu, avšak hriešnici a vlažní členovia cirkvi sa stali suchými palicami s trochou spomienok na to, že niekedy tam v minulosti bol nadprirodzený Boh, ktorý mal život a to bolo tam dávno.

Ale ak veríte a ležíte v Jeho Prítomnosti, to pre vás vyprodukuje to isté. Uvedomíte si, že ste sa narodili ako synovia a dcéry Božie, a budete prinášať ovocie Ducha. Ale vy to nemôžete robiť tam vonku na nádvoriach; musíte to robiť tu dnu, vo vnútri, skrytí.

33Človek, ktorý bol vonku na nádvoriach, kráčal za denného svetla. Niektoré dni to bolo takéto, pršalo. V iné dni mohlo svietiť slnko a v noci mohla byť búrka a temnosť. On bol raz hore a raz zase dole. Takto vidíte ľudí. „Ó,“ hovoria, „kŕmime sa dobrou Božou mannou.“ To je pravda. Ale kde žijú? Žijú tam vonku, jedia ju v atmosfére, v ktorej by ju nemali jesť.

Ďalší človek, on mal iné svetlo, ten, ktorý bol pri oltári. Bolo to osvetlené siedmimi zlatými svietnikmi, v malých lampách. A niekedy tie lampy začali slabšie horieť a začali dymiť, viete, ako to robia lampy, dymia a zhasínajú. A človek, ktorý prišiel na miesto, kde šiel do cirkvi, preč z nádvorí, preč od vlažných členov cirkvi a vykročil hore, aby žil pekný dobrý život v Kristovi, on je oddelený a veci z... Ale on stále žije pod tými svetlami, ktoré zoslabnú a dymia, umelé svetlo. Ale keď raz vošiel poza tú svätyňu svätých, vkročil do Prítomnosti Božej a spadla za ním opona, tam je miska manny, kde môže jesť každý deň, každú hodinu v týždni. To je miesto, kde žije v Sláve Shekinah, kde sú spojené krídla Cherubov, veľký Ohnivý Stĺp a Shekinah tam odpočinula. A on tam pod Tým žije; nemôže byť ničím iným, než skutočným pravým Kresťanom po celý čas: Atmosféra.

34Muži a ženy, ktorí tam v tom žijú, sú neporozumení. Rozumiete to? Stávajú sa čudnými. Oni nepočujú veci toho sveta, alebo ak áno, nevenujú im pozornosť. Oni len idú napred. Boh to tam nikdy nedal len tak, pre nič. Boh nikdy neprišiel len nejakou náhodnou cestou. Modlitba nie je „možno“. Modlitba je úprimná vec. Modlitba je rozhovor s Bohom. Modlitba nie je ísť dolu, zavrieť oči a myslieť o vašom praní, alebo o vašej práci, ktorú robíte. Poviete, „Pane, pomôž mne a Johnovi a uzdrav slečnu Jonesovú, a tak ďalej.“ To nie je modlitba. To je opakovanie nejakých slov. Ale modlitba je prísť do atmosféry, kde si uvedomíte, že ste v Prítomnosti Božej, a potom sa tam pohybujete do tej najhlbšej úprimnosti. Najprv poviete malú chválu, „Ó, Jehova, ako Ťa milujem.“ Vidíte to? Potom, po chváliacej modlitbe, potom prichádzate s úprimným srdcom a prosíte.

„Ak zostanete vo Mne,“ nie vyjsť dnes vo svete von spoza opony a behať okolo a snažiť sa dostať večer späť za oponu. „Ak zostanete vo Mne, keď Moje slová zostanú vo vás.“ Inak, ak ste ako Áronova palica, ktorá bola položená do slávy Shekinah ku zlatému vedierku manny, kde ju môžete kedykoľvek jesť, a vaša duša je občerstvená a kvitne a poddáva sa. Pretrvávanie. „Ak zostanete vo Mne, Moje slová zostanú vo vás, potom si proste, čo chcete, bude vám to dané.“

35Vidíte tie úpadky cirkvi, letničnej cirkvi, metodistov, baptistov, a všetkých? Je to upadnutie od tej pretrvávajúcej milosti Božej. Dnes večer budete kričať a tlieskať rukami, a tancovať v uličkách, hovoriť v jazykoch. To sú dary. Dary nie sú dobré, pokiaľ nezostávate v sláve Shekinah. Vidíte?

Tie veci sú dobré. Nemám proti nim čo povedať; oni sú z Boha. Kričanie a žehnanie Boha je nádherné. Hovorenie v jazykoch, alebo výklad jazykov, to je to isté, a všetky tieto ostatné veci, dary uzdravovania, proroctiev, a všetky tieto veci sú úžasné, ale nie sú na nič dobré, nie sú plodné, oni nemôžu zo seba vydať to správne, kým nežijete v Prítomnosti Shekinah, atmosféra okolo vás je Božia.

To je ten dôvod, prečo muži a ženy nemajú prístup k týmto veciam, lebo idete tu von a voláte po požehnaní v niečom, čo Boh preklial, alebo preklínate niečo, čo Boh požehnal. Je to pretrvávajúca Prítomnosť, poznať Božiu vôľu. Potom sa nepozerajte na to, čo o vás povie svet. Je to to, čo si Boh o tom myslí. Potom žijete v Jeho Prítomnosti.

36Vo dňoch tohto proroctva, alebo lepšie povedané proroka... Boh nikdy nebol bez hlasu, alebo hovorcu, ktorého by na zemi niekde mal. A Eliáš bol Jeho hovorca. A pokiaľ viem, v čase odpadnutia Izraela... Vždy sa stávali chladnými, formálnymi a odpadlíkmi. Pretože to ukazuje, priatelia, že tu nemáme žiadne zostávajúce mesto, ale očakávame na to, ktoré má prísť.

Prednedávnom som stál a díval sa. Zvykol som byť boxer, ako viete, bojovať. Vyhral som pätnásť profesionálnych zápasov (nechválim sa tým, hanbím sa za to), ale pätnásť profesionálnych zápasov bez toho, že by som jeden prehral, deväť z nich boli “knokauty.“ A mám tam svoju fotku, keď som bol v najlepšej forme, svalnatý a na krku mi viseli čierne strapaté vlasy. A díval som sa a pomyslel som si... Moje malé dievčatko prišlo dnu a videla moju fotku v izbe; povedala, „Tati, nevyzeráš tak, ako si zvykol vyzerať.“ Iste nie.

Lebo tu nemáme zostávajúceho mesta; toto smrteľné telo zaniká. Na miestach, kde mával silné svaly, prichádza staroba, a tam sa začína vkrádať tuk. Pamätám si raz jeden mohutný strom, vedľa ktorého som zvykol stáť, a jeho veľké majestátne vetvy, povedal som, že bude žiť navždy. A dnes je z neho pahýľ.

37Prednedávnom som stál v Ríme, kde raz vládol svetu. A tam, to veľkolepé mesto sa dnes stalo ničím, ale museli by ste kopať tridsať stôp [asi 9,5 metra – pozn.prekl.] pod zem, aby ste našli jeho ruiny, teraz je jedným z najslabších, zdegradovaných národov na svete. Nie sú ani sebestační.

Stál som v Aténach, v Grécku, kde raz stála iná veľkolepá ríša, a takmer tam nezostal po tej ríši ani len symbol. A stál som v Káhire, v Egypte, kde raz Egypt riadil a ovládal svet, na stolici faraónov, a nezostalo tam nič, len Sfinga a zopár pyramíd, ktoré tam stoja ako pozostatky kedysi veľkolepej celosvetovej ríše.

Brat a sestra, naša veľkolepá Amerika a naša veľká ekonomika, ktorú máme, hnije od základov a jedného dňa, vidím to tak, že sa to deje rovno teraz, ona klesne v ruinách. A vy, muži, ktorí ste dnes mladí, vy, mladé ženy, s krásou mladosti, rumenec mladej tváre, nerozum mladého srdca, ale jedného dňa bude plesnivieť tam niekde na cintoríne. Prečo? Pretože všetko smrteľné musí uvoľniť cestu nesmrteľnému. Každý národ musí padnúť, pretože prichádza národ, ktorý nebude ovládaný človekom, ale Kristom. Tieto veci padnú.

38Izrael padol. A to padá... A práve predtým, ako to padá, povstal tento veľký prorok, ktorý bol medzi ľuďmi fanatikom. Ale on žil v atmosfére, v ktorej bol neustále v Prítomnosti Božej. A slúžil Bohu pomimo, aby bol sám, takmer ako odlúčenec. A dokážem si predstaviť ľudí, ako o ňom hovoria. Viem si ich predstaviť, ako hovoria, „Veríte tej historke o tom, že ho tam hore kŕmia vtáky? Veríte všetkým tým rozličným veciam?“ Vo dňoch Noeho, „Veríte tej historke o daždi, ako prichádza dolu voda, od toho fanatika?“ Ale on žil pod atmosférou Božou a nie ľudskou.

A potom, keď prišiel čas, bol tam... Prišli Sýrovia a vzali malé dievča do ich národa. A potom ten veľký hlavný veliteľ armády, Biblia povedala, že bol mocným mužom, ale bol malomocný.

39Vonku v týchto – dnes v tomto svete, rovno tu v Owensboro, v Kentucky, sú tu ľudia, ktorí tu vo vašom meste majú veľký vplyv. Nepoznám ich, ale mesto tejto veľkosti by veľmi ťažko mohlo byť modernou Sodomou bez toho, že by malo vplyvných ľudí. Ale záleží na tom, kde nechajú tento vplyv prebývať, aký druh života to prinesie. Ak to je pod politikou... Pričom nemôžem povedať o nich nič; potrebujeme politikov, a tak ďalej. Ale čímkoľvek on je, ak nechá seba, alebo tento vplyv ležať v správnej atmosfére... On by mal ležať v Prítomnosti Božej.

40Všimnite si, tento Náman bol veľký človek, ale bol malomocný. Dnes je tak mnoho ľudí, až som smutný, že to poviem, že dokonca za kazateľňou, to sú významní ľudia, ale počúvajú na ľudskú teológiu namiesto toho, aby zostávali v Prítomnosti Božej, a stále sú malomocní, „Majú formu pobožnosti, ale zapierajú jej moc.“ Vplyvní rečníci, pôsobiví, ale stále vôbec nevedia, čo to je byť znovu narodený do – alebo veriť v nadprirodzeno a nedokážu tomu porozumieť, až kým nevojdú do Kráľovstva Božieho... On sa to zakaždým bude snažiť zahovoriť skrze rozumovanie. No, on nikdy nežil v tejto atmosfére. Ale človek, ktorý tam raz vstúpi, sa musí stať synom a dcérou Božou, potom je jeho prirodzenosť ako Božia. Verí nadprirodzenému.

41A tak tam mali to malé dievča. No, chcem vám ukázať moc svedectva dieťaťa, ktoré žilo v národe, alebo možno rodiny, ktorá bola pod vplyvom Boha. Ona milovala svojho pána a svoju pani. A tak, keď videla Námana, pravdepodobne to bol dobrosrdečný, dobromyseľný človek... Pokiaľ vieme, podľa histórie, Elizeus nikdy neuzdravil malomocného človeka. V jeho dni tam vôbec nebol prípad uzdravenia malomocného.

Ale to malé dievča, ktoré vyrastalo a bolo vychované pod vplyvom v Izraeli, aj keď bola cudzinka, správala sa ako veriaca. A tak by sme to mali robiť po celý čas, správať sa tak, nezáleží na tom, aká je naša pozícia, správajme sa ako veriaci, vždy pripravení dať odpoveď o nádeji, ktorá leží vo vás. Rozumiete tomu?

42Pred nejakým časom tu dolu na juhu, Nemci, alebo Holanďania priviedli, holandské kolónie priviedli do Ameriky černochov z Afriky a predali ich v južných štátoch za otrokov. A stali sa osobným vlastníctvom otrokára. A pracovali v lopote dňa a ich jazvy od bičov a niekedy krutí páni. A boli obťažení a preč z domova. Mnohokrát nechceli pracovať a oni ich prinútili silou do práce.

A na istej plantáži bol jeden veľký majiteľ, ktorý vlastnil mnoho stoviek otrokov, dvesto alebo tristo otrokov na tejto rozľahlej plantáži. On kupoval a predával otrokov. A raz tadiaľ prechádzal jeden kupec. Povedal, „Rád by som od teba kúpil tamtoho otroka.“ Povedal, „Sledoval som ho, ako sa správa.“ Povedal, „Kráča vyrovnane; nikdy ho nemusíš bičovať.“ Povedal, „On je vždy ochotný a pripravený urobiť čokoľvek.“ Povedal, „Vyzerá, že je udatnou osobou.“ Povedal, „Možno si ho urobil šéfom nad zvyškom z nich.“

On povedal, „Nie, je len otrokom.“

Povedal, „Možno ho trocha lepšie kŕmiš, a to je to, čo spôsobuje, že sa správa odlišne.“

On povedal, „Nie, jedáva s ostatnými.“

Povedal, „Čo spôsobuje, že sa správa odlišne?“ Tu to je, bratia.

On povedal, „Nie, ja sám som sa čudoval, čo spôsobuje, že on má vždy hore bradu, vypnutú hruď, je pripravený v akomkoľvek čase, nikdy nie je zhrbený, nikdy nie je skleslý. Potom som zistil, že on je synom kráľa kmeňa. Hoci je cudzincom, hoci je preč z domova, stále sa tak správa, vediac toto, že je synom kráľa. Udržuje morálku zvyšku z nich vysoko, lebo vie, že je synom.“

43O čo viac by to dnes ráno malo byť v kresťanskej cirkvi a čo za výzva je to. Nezáleží na tom, čo robia ostatní ľudia a čo robia tí, ktorí vyznávajú Kresťanstvo, my musíme kráčať ako synovia a dcéry Kráľa. Naša morálka by mala byť skvelá. Nikdy by sme sa nemali správať ako ten svet, alebo žiť so svetom. Mali by sme našu odvahu držať vysoko, vediac toto, že sme cudzincami. Nezaujímame sa o svet a o to, čo si myslia. Sme cudzinci, pútnici, hostia. Ale raz pôjdeme domov. Ale v tomto čase sme pútnici.

44Táto mladá dáma bola tiež taký typ. Povedala svojej panej; povedala, „Priala by som si, keby môj pán, Náman, bol v mojej krajine, pretože tam máme proroka, ktorý by ho mohol uzdraviť z jeho malomocenstva.“ Ó, ako Boh to dieťa použil. Ako to vedela? To je to isté, ako som hovoril minulý večer: Inšpirácia práve z tej atmosféry.

No, všimnite si. To dieťa bolo pod inšpiráciou vedené, aby povedalo tie slová. Nevieme o Eliášovi, že by uzdravil niekedy niekoho iného a možno nikoho iného, nezáleží na tom, za koľkých sa modlil. Ale ona povedala, „Priala by som si, keby Boh dal, že by môj pán, Náman, bol v mojej krajine, pretože v mojej krajine máme proroka.“

Ó, keby sme to mohli povedať o našich dnešných cirkvách. Prial by som si, keby Boh dal, aby si mohol prísť pod vplyv, pod ktorým žijem ja, a pod ktorým žije moja cirkev, pretože my veríme, že Boh je Uzdravovateľ. Veríme, že Boh je Spasiteľ. Veríme, že Boh dáva Svätého Ducha. Prial by som si, keby Boh dal, že by si žil v mojej krajine.

45Všimnite si rýchlo, keď vošli do takéhoto miesta, kde je predstavené nadprirodzeno, Náman okamžite poslal k svojmu kráľovi. A on napísal list inému kráľovi; povedal, „Istotne, ak sa tam v tej krajine teraz deje takáto veľká vec, kráľ by o tom mal vedieť. Ak je tam v tej krajine prorok, kráľ by o tom mohol vedieť. Iste, tí vysoko postavení by o tom mali vedieť.“ Vidíte, to je stále telesná myseľ.

To malé dievča nikdy nepovedalo slovo o kráľovi; ona hovorila o prorokovi. Amen. Ó, dúfam, že to vidíte. Ó, ona hovorila o prorokovi. Možno nikdy nevidela uzdravený prípad malomocenstva, ale vedela, kde žil niekto, kto bol pod vplyvom tej atmosféry nadprirodzena. Povedala, „Ak tam pôjdeš, niečo sa stane.“

46Ale tu ide kráľ okľukou, či vlastne Náman, ide ku kráľovi. A dnes hľadáte... Hovoríte, „Patrím do cirkvi.“ Ó. To nemá nič spoločné s atmosférou, vôbec nič.

Všimnite si, a on posiela list izraelskému kráľovi. A vyzerá to ako dnes, ak bol v krajine prorok, ak bolo v krajine uzdravovanie, že tí vysoko postavení by to mohli vedieť. Boh nekoná vždy s vysoko postavenými. Sme jednotlivcami v Kráľovstve.

47Raz som s niekým hovoril o polygamii (mnohoženstvo). Povedal som, že v celku by na tom národ bol lepšie, ak by sa praktizovalo mnohoženstvo. Bol by. Sme najvyššie hodnotený národ na svete v rozvodoch, sobášenie a zmiešané manželstvá, sobášenie a zmiešané manželstvá. Pretože sa pokúšame o to, aby ľudia, ktorí sú vonku vo svete, aby sa zhodovali s kresťanskou náukou, a nemôžete vložiť prirodzenosť baránka do prasaťa. Mnohoženstvo by bolo pre neho lepšie. Možno tomu nebudete veriť, ale Boh by sa díval na mnohoženstvo a prepáčil by to oveľa rýchlejšie, než to, čo by On...

No, pamätajte, nehovorte, že verím v mnohoženstvo; neverím v to. Ja... čo Boh povedal... Mojžiš povedal, že... farizeji povedali Ježišovi, hovorili, „Prečo Mojžiš pripustil rozvodový list?“

On povedal, „Urobil to kvôli tvrdosti vášho srdca.“ Áno. Ale od počiatku to tak nebolo, nikdy nebude. Boh to urobil kvôli tvrdosti ich srdca.

Ale v krajinách, kde majú mnohoženstvo, sú rozvodové súdy na ústupe, nízke. Ale tu, kde sa snažíme tvoriť a riadiť túto krajinu ako národ, pretože sme kresťanským národom, ale pomenovanie “kresťanský národ“ ho nerobí kresťanským národom. A nemôžete riadiť svet pomocou pravidiel Božích. Nemôžete. Nemám nič proti hriešnikovmu pitiu. Nemám nič proti hriešnikovmu páchaniu cudzoložstva, nič proti hriešnikovi, ktorý robí toto. Ale to, o čom hovorím, sú ľudia, ktorí by mali byť Kresťanmi, a potom to robia.

Ak chce prasa strčiť svoj rypák do hromady hnoja a celý deň jesť, to je jeho vec, pretože ono je v prvom rade prasaťom. Ale baránok to nerobí. Hriešnik, on je od začiatku prasaťom. Ale potom, keď sa snažíte z prasaťa spraviť baránka, musíte mať obrátenie a on musí vojsť do odlišnej atmosféry. A keď vchádza do tej atmosféry, jeho túžby sa zmenia a premení sa jeho prirodzenosť. Takýmto spôsobom to dnes funguje.

48A tak ide ku kráľovi a má list. Mám tam pre neho tento list. Nepáči sa mi to. V baptistickej cirkvi teraz ľudia hovoria, „Ktokoľvek chce prísť pomocou vyznania alebo priniesť list, alebo zmeniť list, odstrániť list...“ Vezmú to z jednej cirkvi do druhej. Je v tom asi toľko vplyvu, ako je to tam pri tomto kráľovi a Námanovi, ktorý bral tomuto izraelskému kráľovi svoj list. Čo to má do činenia s Bohom?

Boh nepríde do cirkvi a nebude sa dívať na tvoj list. On má v nebi Knihu nazvanú Kniha Života. A ak tvoje meno nie je v tejto Knihe Života, si stratený, aj keby si mal list v každej cirkvi na svete. Presne tak. A tvoje meno tam nikdy nebude zapísané, pokiaľ nevojdeš do tej atmosféry, žijúci a milujúci s Bohom. Boh je milujúcim Bohom. On chce byť milovaný. Nemôžeš byť chladný, krutý a ľahostajný a dostať sa niekedy niekam s Bohom. Musíš byť milujúci a láskavý.

49Všimnite si. A táto malá dáma, povedala mu, aby šiel k prorokovi, ale on namiesto toho, aby išiel k prorokovi, išiel ku kráľovi. A kráľ nevedel nič o Božskom uzdravovaní; on nevedel nič o tej určitej veci. No, nevedel, že tam v tom kraji je prorok, ktorý by mohol konať zázraky. Nič o tom nevedel. Hoci mal byť Izraelita, obrezaný, ale vidíte, že jeho atmosféra nebola taká ako Elizeova atmosféra.

A keď dostal tento list, natiahol sa, vzal svoje rúcha a roztrhol ich, povedal, „Či som ja Bohom, aby som mohol oživiť alebo usmrtiť človeka?“ Povedal, „Chcem od vás všetkých (jeho vláda), chcem od vás všetkých, aby ste dávali pozor. Tento človek proti mne vyhľadáva zámienku.“ Rozumiete tomu?

Vidíte, svet, viete, to ich trhá. Vidíte, on nežil pod... Jednako bol podľa vyznania Izraelita. Ale myslel si, že dni zázrakov pominuli. Ó, vďaka Bohu, tam vzadu v pustatine bol starý prorok, ktorý žil s Bohom pod odlišnou atmosférou. Počul o tom, že kráľ roztrhal svoje šaty. Povedal, „Prečo si roztrhal svoje šaty?“ Povedal, „Prečo si ho neposlal sem ku mne?“ On nevedel, či tam v Izraeli bol prorok alebo nie. Kráľ to nevedel.

50Dnes tam je mnoho ľudí, ktorí nevedia, že Ježiš Kristus je stále nažive. Nevedia, že On stále vládne a panuje. Nevedia, že Krv na Golgote pre všetku dostatočnosť... Vidíte, že to dokonca zostalo zaplatené tam na kríži za vaše prestúpenia a pre vaše uzdravenia. Oni nevedia, že to je dnes skutočnosťou. Potrebujeme trochu viac malých slúžok, aby šli po okolí a svedčili o týchto veciach. Nemyslíte si to? Dostaňte sa do atmosféry toho.

Nie som vystrašený z toho, čo hovorí svet, pretože kým sa rozprávajú so svetom, sú stále v odlišnej atmosfére. Rozprávate sa s hriešnikom, ale nie ste v jeho atmosfére. A ste v tak slávnej a zaclonenej atmosfére, vtedy je všade okolo vás Sláva Shekinah, a tie opony vám svet zakrývajú. Môžete sa rozprávať so svetskou ženou, alebo svetským mužom, alebo s kýmkoľvek to je, a stále žiť v tej Sláve Shekinah hovoriac im o milujúcom Bohu, ktorý vstal z mŕtvych.

51Pred pár týždňami som bol v Karlsruhe, v Nemecku. Cirkev tam dole, ktorá je nejakou Zwingliho, nie luteráni, ale oni majú... Prišiel som tam. Billy Graham bol minulý večer tam v Zűrichu a ja som prišiel na ďalší deň. A moja reklama a Billyho Grahama boli spojené dokopy. Billy Graham má miesto v mojom srdci ako pravdivý služobník Boží. On káže pokánie a robí v tom veľmi dobrú prácu. Boh ho používa; vieme to.

A on bol – mal tam zhromaždenie a v ten deň som sa nedostal do zhromaždenia, hoci som mal pozvanie, aby som prišiel a sedel v lóži. Ale bol som tak unavený a uťahaný z dlhého letu okolo krajiny cez niekoľko tisíc míľ v lietadle, až som bol vysilený. A vošiel som do izby a vošiel som, aby som si ľahol, šiel som si pospať a bolo už neskoro. Tak som sa natiahol a zapol rádio a počul som ho kázať cez prekladateľa.

52A na ďalšie ráno, keď prišli noviny, uvidel som, aké ohodnotenie dali Billymu Grahamovi. Cirkev zaprela, samotné telo cirkvi, že kedy takú osobu do svojho národa pozvali. A povedali, že on si dal do vlasov manikúru, čo je, alebo si ich navlnil, viete. Ako to voláte? Je to trvalá. Trvalá...?... v jeho vlasoch. A povedali, že keď prišiel na pódium, aby kázal, vyzeral ako zo škatuľky namiesto toho, aby vyzeral ako služobník Boží... Povedali, že nemal ani trochu pokrčené šaty. A povedali, že keď kázal, tak kričal a mával rukami ako fanatický predavač mydla z Ameriky, a povedali, že jeho parfém bol tak silný, že ste ho mohli cítiť na vzdialenosť troch metrov. Kázal na tému Najvyššieho Božstva Pána Ježiša Krista. A vedel som, čo potom čaká mňa, pretože som tam mal byť desať dní.

53Rozumiete, cirkev v Zűrichu a Švajčiarsku a v Nemecku neverí, že Ježiš je Syn Boží. Oni hovoria, že je syn Jozefa, ktorý bol len nazvaný Synom Božím. To rúca samotný základ Kresťanstva. On bol panensky narodený Syn živého Boha. A Billy Graham sa vôbec neodťahoval; kázal to presne tak. Tak veru. A vedel som, že budem nasledovať rovno za ním.

A Boh nám tam na tom bezbožnom mieste dal, na ďalšom zhromaždení, pomysleli by ste si, že tam nastalo milénium, vyzváňanie a zvony na kostoloch, a jednako Billyho Grahama nazvali predavačom mydla a mňa veštcom. Môžete vedieť, v akom druhu atmosféry žijú.

54Ján vystúpil a kázal pokánie, prikladal sekeru ku koreňu stromu. Neurobil žiaden zázrak. Po ňom prišiel Ježiš, nekázal, ale uzdravoval nemocných a konal zázraky. A oni povedali, že ak by nazvali toho, ktorý prišiel, Jána, povedali, že má diabla, pretože nejedol a nepil, a že Syn človeka je žráč a je priateľom hriešnikov... Múdrosť je ospravedlnená od svojich detí.

A dnes, vidieť, že v ich vlastnej krajine vystúpil Ježiš Kristus ako Ján, ako prorok, ako Ján, Billy Graham kázal pokánie, a potom príde späť v starodávnych kampaniach s uzdravovaním nemocných, proroctvom a všetkými druhmi znamení a zázrakov, stále to je ten istý bezbožný farizejský duch, ktorý žije rovno v cirkevnej atmosfére namiesto Slávy Shekinah. Amen. Bože, odpusť mi, ak som povedal niečo nesprávne. Rozumiete, čo tým myslím? Oni neveria.

55Presunuli sme sa do Karlsruhe, potom, ako sme mali 50 000 z tých studených formálnych ľudí kľačiacich pri oltári a odovzdali svoje srdce Bohu a prijali Ducha Svätého. Presunuli sme sa do Karlsruhe a cirkev tam hore rýchlo poslala správu, „Nedovoľte mu tam vystúpiť (Rozumiete?) Nedovoľte to.“ A oni nedokázali nájsť štadióny a podobné veci, a tak sa ľudia dali dokopy a postavili miesto a pokryli niekoľko akrov pôdy a natiahli cez to plátno ako na veľkú katedrálu a v prvú noc sa tam nahrnulo tisíce a tisíce ľudí. Pretože... Napočítali až stoosemdesiat a dvesto autobusov každý večer z Nemecka, z Belgicka a odvšadiaľ naokolo, ktoré prichádzali na zhromaždenie v Zűrichu. A potom sme vybehli tam hore, rýchlo, oni povedali... Dr. Guggenbuhl, ktorý tam bol mojím zástupcom, prišiel tam hore a oni povedali, „Nie, polícia povedala, že on nemôže prísť.“

Povedal, „Mali ste Billyho Grahama, čo s ním?“

„Máme nariadenia od cirkvi, aby sme ho neprijímali.“

A cirkev kontroluje štát, ak ste pod – v Zűrichu a Švajčiarsku, alebo v Nemecku, v jednom alebo druhom. Cirkev a štát sú spolu, cirkev je nad štátom a cirkev a štát sú zjednotené. A tak sme to nemohli urobiť. Dr. Guggenbuhl vyšiel a povedal, „Bože, nemôže to tak byť. Priviedol si brata Branhama sem hore a on by nemohol prísť, ak by si ho nepriviedol; a tak sa tu musí niečo stať, Bože.“

A ja som odpočíval, povedal som, „Áno, Pán ku mne hovoril, aby som išiel do Nemecka.“

On povedal, „Bože, niečo nie je v poriadku.“

56A vyzeralo to ako žitie v tej atmosfére, nie videnie, nie hlas, ale niečo dole v jeho duši povedalo, „Toto je americká zóna; choď dole k americkému ústrediu (veliteľstvu).“ A šiel tam k primátorovi a primátor... Vošiel dnu a povedal, „Primátor, som Dr. Guggenbuhl z Zűrichu vo Švajčiarsku,“ čo je splnomocnenec, ktorý má celonárodnú známosť a vernosť k národu. Povedal, „A máme tu brata z Ameriky, ktorý sem pre nás prichádza kázať.“ A povedal, „Postavili sme tu vonku pre neho veľkú katedrálu.“ A povedal, „Mali sme to mať na štadióne hore v Hamburgu, ale počasie je príliš daždivé a museli sme to premiestniť sem do Karlsruhe (čo znamená 'Karlov odpočinok').“ A povedal, „Museli sme ho teraz priviesť sem a on cíti, že by sem mal prísť, a cirkev zamietla naše privilégium dovoliť nášmu bratovi, aby prišiel.“ Povedal, „Mali tam hore Billyho Grahama.“ A povedal, „Jemu dovolili prísť. No, čo je zlé na príchode nášho brata?“

On povedal, „No, myslím, že ak dovolili prísť pánovi Grahamovi, mali by dovoliť prísť i vášmu bratovi.“ A samozrejme, to je riadené Amerikou, viete.

A tak povedal, „No, poviem vám,“ povedal, „oni mu nedovolia prísť.“

57On povedal, „Čo majú proti príchodu vášho kazateľa?“ Povedal, „Čo... Prečo nechcú, aby prišiel?“

Povedal, „Milý pane,“ povedal, „tu je ten dôvod.“ Povedal, „Pretože náš brat sa modlí za nemocných a má výsledky a oni sú proti Božiemu nadprirodzenu.“

On povedal, „Aké je meno vášho brata?“

Povedal, „Brat Branham.“

On povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „on sa modlil za moju matku a ona vstala z invalidného kresla vo Virginii.“ Povedal, „Povedzte mu, že je otvorené, nech príde. A nielen to, ale armádny tábor bude rozpustený a prídeme.“

Iste, Boh je stále na tróne. Keď cítite vaše vedenie, choďte do toho; dostaňte sa do atmosféry a napredujte smerom, ktorým sa pohybuje. Ak to ide na východ alebo na západ, hýbte sa. A v prvý večer sa tam von dostala skupina komunistov a zhlukovali sa v kríkoch s puškami, aby ma zastrelili, oni hovorili. Keď sme vyšli, nemeckí vojaci, ktorí sľúbili svoju lojalitu, išli naokolo a držali nado mnou svoje ruky, a okolo mňa, až kým som sa nedostal do auta. Jeden takmer dostal môjho syna Billyho predtým, ako sa dostal do auta, fanatik.

58A na ďalší večer, ako som stál v budove, kde sa pohyboval Duch Svätý, nedokázal som ani pomenovať nemecké mená ľuďom v poslucháčstve, musel som to hláskovať, a tak im to hovoriť. Videli ma pracovať. Sedelo tam médium, sedel tam s očami upretými na mne. Povedal, „Prídem dole,“ a povedal, „ja mu ukážem.“ Povedal im v ten deň; hovoril, „Privolám búrku z nebies,“ a povedal, „spôsobím to, aby to roztrhalo toto miesto.“ A hrom burácal, blesk blýskal tak silno, ako len mohol. A tu on prichádza, učinil svoju vyhrážku, napísal ju. Keď som sa tam otáčal... Mňa nezaujímalo to, čo hovoril. A keď som videl prichádzať búrku a ľudia začínali byť nervózni a jeden neustály hluk blýskania takto za ďalším, obzrel som sa naokolo a uvidel som, kde sedel. Povedal som, „Ty diablovo dieťa, možno si schopný predvádzať zázraky, to je pravda, a odhalil som ťa tu.“ Povedal som, „Biblia povedala, že ako Jambres a Jannes odporovali Mojžišovi, tak budú aj títo, antikrist, máš moc predvádzať zázraky, ale bojíš sa dotknúť Božieho nadprirodzena.“ Áno. Povedal som, „Pretože si toto vykonal, zaplatíš za to.“

Tej noci ho vyniesli ako mrzáka. A zatiaľ čo sme tam boli, búrka pokračovala, jednoducho som pokračoval s mojím posolstvom. Stále som vo svojom srdci volal ku Bohu a po chvíli, asi v priebehu desiatich minút, búrka zmizla preč a obloha začala veľmi pekne svietiť. Pán Ježiš... Prečo? Ľudia sa dostali do atmosféry, keď uvideli, ako sa začala pohybovať Sláva Božia.

59V tom čase začali modlitebný rad a boli tam dole a dvíhali ľudí, ktorí prichádzali hore na pódium. A nikdy na toto nezabudnem, ako zdvihli hore na pódium malé dievčatko, vôbec som si ju nevšimol; hovoril som s mojím tlmočníkom, ktorý bol v ten večer veľmi dobrý, Nemec narodený v Amerike. A otočil som sa, povedal som, „Pane, len sa pozri.“ Povedal som, „Hviezdy sú jasné, nikto nie je zranený.“ A povedal som, „Pozri sa na neho, ako sa tam teraz díva dolu, sedí tam s hlavou dolu, takto má ruky.“ Povedal som, „Niečo sa mu stalo.“

A v tom čase, pozrel som sa naokolo a niekto začal kričať a divil som sa, čo sa to deje. A oni dali to malé dievčatko takto vysoko, roztomilé malé nemecké dievčatko, malé vrkoče jej viseli na chrbte... A dovoľte mi povedať vám, my, Američania, zaraďujeme Nemcov a máme zlý odhad. Skutočne znovuzrodené nemecké deti sú práve tak príjemné a milé, ako akékoľvek dieťa, ktoré je kdekoľvek.

60Kazateľ mi povedal, hovoril, „Bol som poverený, aby som urobil prieskum,“ a povedal, „vyšiel som na vrch kopca a oni mi povedali, „Život alebo smrť, musíš ísť v každom prípade, aby si zničil guľometné hniezdo.“ A povedal, „Zastavilo to na chvíľu streľbu.“ Objal ma, nemecký kazateľ, ktorý bol nacistom v armáde, nie z oddielu S. S., teraz vy, vojaci. Ale toto bol len nemecký vojak a bol poverený a musel to urobiť, aby urobil tento prieskum.

A keď sa dostal tam hore, povedal, „Poobzeral som sa tam, brat Branham; nazeral som ponad kopec a očakával som, že budem v ktorejkoľvek chvíli zastrelený.“ Povedal, „Vieš, čo som objavil?“ Skupinu amerických chlapcov, ktorí boli v tomto guľometnom hniezde s otvorenou Bibliou na svojich kolenách, modlili sa.“ Povedal, „Vedel som, že by tam mohli hodiť ručné granáty, akonáhle tam vypália z tých 88-milimetrových pušiek a vyhodili by ich do vzduchu.“ A tak som vzal svoju pušku, strelil som „bum, bum, bum, bum, bum“ hore do vzduchu, bežal som rýchlo späť, povedal som, 'Neviem, či som ich dostal alebo nie.' A oni presunuli to guľometné hniezdo.“

Prečo? Ak to spôsobí, že vojaci takto cítia jeden s druhým, čo urobí Krv Ježiša Krista, ukončí navždy všetky vojny, keď môžu muži a ženy niekedy vojsť do tej atmosféry a národy do prostredia živého a vzkrieseného Boha.

Ten človek, ktorý so mnou sedel pri kazateľni, potom, ako skončilo zhromaždenie, sme sa spoločne objali. A tam Američan so mnou, bol pár rokov predtým vojakom, pod politickým vplyvom by jeden po druhom strieľali a tu boli navzájom v objatí pod iným vplyvom, ktorý činí mužov, bratov. To je váš vplyv.

61V ten večer, keď toto malé nemecké dievčatko, jej malé šaty, jej malá biela tvár. Vôbec som si ju nevšimol, počul som ich kričať. A šiel som a otočil som sa týmto smerom a nikto sa ju nesnažil usmerňovať. V tej krajine museli mať človeka, ktorý by mohol hovoriť ich jazykom, aby im rozdali ich modlitebné karty. A tak, on nebol veľmi dobre vytrénovaný a nechal to malé dievčatko, namiesto toho, aby ju odviedol, on ju len postavil tam hore na pódium. Bola asi tretia alebo štvrtá na pódiu. A pozrel som sa a ona bola blízko okraja pódia, ktoré bolo omnoho väčšie ako strop, kráčala pár krokov, aby sa ku tomu dostala.

A keď som sa pozrel, ona bola... Natiahol som sa a takto som ju chytil a tlmočník ku nej začal hovoriť. A ona niečo mumlala. Povedala, „Chcem sa stretnúť s mužom, ktorý sa za mňa bude modliť,“ malé slepé stvorenie. A on...

Prekladateľ povedal, „To je on, ten, ktorý ťa drží.“ A pohla svojimi malými rúčkami. Mimochodom, mal som na sebe tento istý oblek, bol mi daný asi pred šiestimi rokmi v Oslo. A tak dala okolo mňa svoje malé rúčky, takto, a položila svoju malú hlavu na moje rameno. Pomyslel som si, „Ako moja malá Becky.“ A pohladil som takto jej malý, dlhý vrkoč a pomyslel som si, „Biedne malé stvorenie.“ A počul som, ako vzlyká na mojej hrudi ako malé dieťa. Pozdvihol som jej malú hlavu a jej oči vyzerali biele, díval som sa do jej malej tváre, ako sa takto opierala o moju ruku.

62Tam, skrze milosť Božiu, videl som prichádzať videnie. To malé dievčatko, videl som ju ležať v rukách jej matky a jej doktor sa na ňu díval, povedal, že bola slepá od narodenia. Vysoká, chudá matka s blond vlasmi, videl som jej otca, malý, ťažší muž s tmavými vlasmi, videl som, kde boli, a opisoval som to videnie. A matka sedela v obecenstve a otec vzadu medzi tisícmi a tisícmi a tisícmi ľudí, sedel tam vzadu. A keď som sa pozrel späť, povedal som, „No, ja, samozrejme, nemám žiadnu moc.“ Čo to bolo? To bola atmosféra. Shekinah bolo Tým, čo dávalo tú vec.

A ja som sa díval, videl som to dievča, že ide ako tieň, von z tohto dievčatka, ide, kráča pozdĺž so zodvihnutými rukami, obzerá sa dookola a rozpráva a ukazuje na veci. Vedel som, že Boh nebies žil a vládol... modlil som sa za ňu, zodvihol som ju a ona sa na mňa dívala a jej malé oči zízali a trblietali sa. Niečo zamumlala.

A tlmočník sa pozrel dolu; povedal, „Brat Branham, ona môže vidieť.“

Povedal som, „Nechaj si to na chvíľu pre seba.“ Povedal som, „Čo hovorí?“

Povedal, „Pýta sa, aké sú to tam veci?“ To boli svetlá. A keď ten tlmočník... Bola dostatočne blízko svojej matky a počula hlas a zvyšok z nich. A pozrela sa hore a začala nahlas plakať. A jej matka, bola tak rozrušená...

Vplyv, ktorý zasiahol tú budovu; celé to bolo pod nebeským vplyvom. Diabol bol roztrhaný. Vplyv... Jej matka začala kričať a bežala tak rýchlo, že až vybehla zo svojich topánok, odleteli za ňou. Predrala sa na pódium; hodila svoje ruky okolo dieťaťa a to dieťa povedalo, „Ty si moja mama?“ Po prvýkrát, ako ju videla, povedala, „Ó, mama, ty si tak krásna. Ty si tak krásna, mama.“

63Na ďalšie ráno Všemohúci Boh skrze Svoju neohraničenú moc, keď prišla nemecká cirkev a povedali, „Dokážeme rozumieť a veriť tvojej teológii a tvoje učenie Biblie je nádherné, brat Branham.“ Ale povedali, „To Svetlo, ten Anjel, nedokážeme To rozumieť.“

A mali tam raňajky s asi šesťsto kazateľmi, ktorí sa stretli spolu, a umiestnili tam veľký nemecký fotoaparát, a Duch Svätý v tom istom Ohnivom Stĺpe zostúpil dolu a bol v to ráno trikrát zachytený tým nemeckým fotoaparátom a pohyboval sa cez... Atmosféra sa zmenila. Presne tak.

Škoda, že som na to nemyslel a nevzal som si to so sebou. Bolo to u kresťanských obchodníkov tento mesiac, alebo vlastne pred pár mesiacmi. Čo to je? To je atmosféra. Muži a ženy by mali žiť pod tou atmosférou. Nedostaňte sa von pod nejaký obyčajný existujúci vplyv toho sveta, ale zostaňte pod atmosférou Pána Ježiša.

64Skloníme len na chvíľu svoje hlavy, zatiaľ čo sme v Jeho Prítomnosti, každý muž a žena so sklonenými hlavami, chlapci a dievčatá. Vypnite tú malú páčku, ktorá je umiestnená rovno vo vašej mozgovej bunke, vypustite všetky tie rozumovania cez vaše uši ako nezmysel. Potom otvorte ten malý ventil, ktorý smeruje dolu do ľudského srdca, do vašej duše. To nerozumuje; to bude veriť. To povie, že Božie Slovo je správne a Ježiš Kristus je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.

Som dnes ráno tak vďačný, že je prinesený do vašej prítomnosti, nie historický Mojžiš, nie historický Eliáš, nie historický Boh, ale vzkriesený Boh, Ten, ktorý zomrel. A jediný účel, kvôli ktorému sa tu stal telom, Sám Boh sa stal telom, aby odobral hriech a urobil možným to, aby mohol prísť do ľudského srdca Jeho Svätý Duch. Historický Boh je dnes s vami v Prítomnosti Pána Ježiša. Ak máte potrebu, hovorte teraz ku Nemu, zatiaľ čo sa modlíme.

65Veľký Jehova Bože, ktorý si žil predtým, ako tam bola večnosť, bol si bez otca, bez matky, bez začiatku dní, alebo konca rokov a na stránkach tejto posvätnej Knihy čítame, aké veci si vykonal v dávnych dňoch, ktoré pominuli, a máme tú výsadu žitia v tomto temnom veku, práve tu pri konci sveta a máme tú výsadu vidieť Ťa znovu povstať na scéne, žiadne domnienky, žiadna ľuďmi vytvorená teológia, žiadna chladná atmosféra pripojenia sa do cirkvi alebo podpisovania papiera, ale žitie v Sláve Shekinah a vplyv vzkrieseného Pána Ježiša, ktorý potvrdzuje, vypĺňa Svoje Slovo, prináša do vyplnenia všetko, čo povedal...

Milosrdný Otče, odovzdávam dnes toto poslucháčstvo Tebe, aby si vo Svojej veľkej láskavosti tejto hodiny urobil pre toto poslucháčstvo to, na čo majú potrebu. Spas hriešnika; povolaj odpadlíka naspäť ku pokániu. Uzdrav nemocných; daj prežitie tým, ktorí Ťa potrebujú, Pane, v tom druhu prežitia.

Zatiaľ čo prosím toto poslucháčstvo, Otče, aby na Teba očakávali, nech sa Tvoj Duch pohybuje nad poslucháčstvom a udelí im jednotlivo to, na čo majú potrebu. A zatiaľ čo zostávame uzavretí vnútri s Tým, ktorý vstal z mŕtvych, prosíme Boha Otca v Mene Ježiša, Jeho Syna, ktorý povedal, „Ak budete o čokoľvek prosiť Otca v Mojom Mene, urobím to.“ A toto nie je mýtus, ani to nie je na ľudskú slávu. To je na Tvoju slávu a aby si vzbudil malé slúžky a malých chlapcov a dievčatá v tejto komunite, ktorí by mohli povedať nemocným a postihnutým, že existuje balzám v Gileáde. Udeľ to, Otče, pre Ježišovo meno.

Zatiaľ čo sedíte so sklonenými hlavami, ak ste nemocní, hľaďte teraz na Neho pre vaše uzdravenie. Ak potrebujete spasenie, hľaďte teraz na Neho, zatiaľ čo zostávame zavretí s Bohom, zaujímalo by ma, či by mohol pastor pokračovať vo vedení modlitby.

1 Thank you, Brother Rodgers. Thank you very much. The Lord bless you, friends. Thank you, and you be seated just a moment. It always makes me feel good to--to feel welcome. That's kinda of A... I'm a Kentuckian myself, you know, and I--I like to hear that--making you welcome. And such a nice welcome to this city and among you, my Christian friends, Certainly makes me feel grateful to you. And always, by Brother Rodgers, I--I love him. He has been a wonderful little brother to me, and how he's certainly been a real tool in God's hands here in Owensboro.

2 I was just looking across the street there where you're going to build a new church, or something over there, that he was telling me about this morning at the breakfast table. And that's wonderful, seeing you--you progress like that. That just shows that you're--you're backing up the right thing. And God's servant is trying his best to give the best he can to God's people. I'd... Every congregation will appreciate a pastor like that, that you see what your finances, your tithes, your offerings, and so forth, you are... He's going straight into the Kingdom of God, to embetter the Kingdom of God, make a better place, not for himself, for you. He--He's got the sheep on his mind, the shepherd always has.

3 While in Palestine, or over in the orients, rather, I often wondered on the parable of the Bible, the parables, rather, of the Bible, what some of them meant. And you almost have to go into the orient to find out what this Bible really means. Once I have... I've set down and many of us as--as western ministers has quandered over a thought, "What did they mean by this? What does this mean? And what did that mean?" And if you ever go to the eastern country and see their unchanging habits, well then, you find out more about the Bible. It become a new Book to me after I went to the east.

For instance, like Jesus said, I believe in Saint John 10, I think. "I am the door to the sheepfold. I am the door to the sheepfold." I often wondered how that meant, that He stood at the gate and received all the people as they come in, or I thought maybe the shepherd stood and numbered the sheep when they come in like that. That's... I used to think that. And perhaps many of you, my brethren and clergymen, have thought the same thing.

4 But once there, you find out that it's a difference. It isn't the--the numbering of the sheep, but the shepherd himself becomes the door. There's a corral, like a place with shelter over it. And he brings in all the sheep and puts them in there, then he goes and lays down across the door. And the sheep, or the wolf can't come in, or the sheep go out without crossing the shepherd. I thought, "Isn't that wonderful." See, He is the Door to the sheepfold. See? Nothing can come to the sheep unless the shepherd permits it. And if we got the Shepherd at the door, how secure and--and happy should we be. Satan can't touch you unless the Shepherd permits it. And it's all for the good whatever it has to be. See what I mean? And that's... When He said...

I noticed again, and the shepherd... In this country shepherd doesn't mean very much, why, some ancient word. But over there a shepherd, oh, my, and sheep... The people live by their sheep. And the shepherd takes care of them.

5 One time while going through the country, I noticed in the far east, of a--of a little... In India how that they had the--a shepherd came down and was bringing his sheep, and he... I thought of that parable there where it said, "My sheep know My voice. A stranger they will not follow."

Now, that sheep was borned under the tutorship of this shepherd. He learns that voice; he will never pay attention to anybody else's voice. He learns that shepherd's voice. Another shepherd might call, they might do whatever they want to, but there's some little something about that shepherd that the sheep recognizes. See, that's the way it is with God's sheep. Strange voices, they--it just don't sound right; they just won't go; that's all. And if sheep can be tempted, but when it finds out that it's the wrong shepherd, it'll turn away.

6 And I notice how the sheep follow the example of the shepherd. Coming down through the streets, where there's a little narrow streets of streets in the eastern countries there, were made in the days of chariots, when they had the chariots that went through the streets and horse riders. And they're very narrow. Very seldom you find one as wide as them posts there, very seldom. Sometime maybe, oh, twelve feet wide, the streets. Many of the--of the...

Like in Oslo, Norway, the streets there is only about eight foot across in the old city; it's around fifteen hundred years old, and then you find out they didn't have automobiles in this modern age where they shuffle and jostle through the broad ways. See, man called them broad ways.

And then standing on the outer drive in Chicago I thought of that many time, how that a three and four abreast going each way, the broad ways. And the elevation of the separation of the streets in the middle...?... into place. And for several miles a rail will rise up like this to separate your traffic at different times of the evening and different times of the day: Broad ways. In them days one of those lanes would've been a complete highway.

7 But seeing this shepherd come down through the city, it was a--it was alarming. There come a whole string of sheep following him. Now, the easterners put all their dainties out on the street; even their meats and everything else lays on the street and all their fruit and their pro--produce lays right on the street just like... Here's your store like this; they keep their stuff back in there, but you buy right off of the side of the walk. And there's no sidewalk; it's just a street. So everybody walks right in the street, just right down the street, the cobblestone street.

And here come a shepherd down the street, walking, walking along, and behind him a string of sheep a city block long. And them sheep walking right by that produce and things and wouldn't turn right or left, they kept their eyes on the shepherd, moving right on through. I thought, "O God, what the shepherd means, not look right or left, not be tempted by this or that, but walk in the footsteps of the shepherd. They want to follow the shepherd."

8 I noticed one day while we were in a little British jeep riding around, there was a shepherd had a whole lot of animals up on the hill there, and he was feeding them. They were leading them, and taking them places. And in there he had sheep; in there he had goats; in there he had mules, had camels, everything. He was feeding them all; they was all grazing. And the shepherd was watching them. I said, "My, a shepherd here means many things. Also...?... a shepherd is a grazer." But said, "you know the strange thing it is, Mr. Branham," he said, "when nighttime comes, you watch," said, "all those sheep go right straight to the shepherd." Said, "The mules will stay out in the pasture." And said, "The camels will stay out in the pasture," but said, "and the goats will stay out in the pasture." But said, "The sheep all come straight to the shepherd when it comes nighttime. Why?" Said, "Because the sheep are put up at night and kept safe."

I--I said, "Mister, don't talk like that; you'll make me start shouting right in the middle of the road." See? Nighttime's a coming. Many are grazing on the same thing, but only the sheep will He recognize. See what I mean? Just the sheep, the borned again. "Many are called; few are chosen."

Oh, I love Him today, don't you? Let us speak to Him now before we open His Word.

9 Our heavenly Father, we come to Thee on this sabbath day, raining on the outside, me... We might call it gloom, hazy rainy weather, but how could the farmer put in his crops if we didn't have much moisture this spring? There'd be no froo--food raised; ground would be dry; people would perish.

We realize that this is like experience of a Christian. Sometimes we have to go through terrible chastisement, chastening of the Lord, many things to correct us that we'll be fruit bearing Christians. Sometimes has to prune us, cut off, take away, take out of our hands. We think sometime, "O God, what are You doing to us?" But He knows what He's doing. So we pray, Father, that today that You'll prune every one of us, from the least to the greatest, the pastor. God, we pray that You'll prune every one of us. Take away all that's unlike You, Father. Take away the thing that's hindering us from being fruit bearing Christians. The day's coming when it's going to get dark. And then we want to go into the sheepfold. We want to be sheep today, Father. We want to follow exactly in the footsteps of the Shepherd. He gave us as example, said, "I come not to do My will, but the will of Him that sent Me." May that be our motive today, God, to do the will of God Who has saved us.

10 Bless the church today and the Sunday schools throughout the entire world. And remember us, Lord, this little spot here in Owensboro today, that You'll pour out Your blessings upon us, for we're needy and hungry and thirsting for righteousness. Thy promise is, "It shall be filled." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

11 In these services a visiting with Brother Rodgers, which is always a great privilege to come and to meet with Brother Rodgers, and you dear saintly people here, and other churches through Owensboro and the cities around about. I've learned this: that no matter if he's Chinese, Japan, Korean, German, whatever he is as long as he's a brother or she's a sister, there's not a bit of difference in them. They're just all sheep of the same fold.

Watching it through the different nations throughout the world. As communist... You get into a communistic country, where I've had to be, I've had to have people with rifles to keep the crowds back, and I've had to have people that were soldiers that I had to duck my head down and mill around me to keep from getting shot till they get me out into somewhere into the darkness where they couldn't see to shoot me at, and things like that, preaching the Gospel, bringing good tidings of great joy of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then it's--it's marvelous to know that Jesus, in the midst of all of that is just as sweet, and good, dear. He's just... There's nothing alarming about it, just taking a message.

And today it's our privilege to be here with you and at the sports center this afternoon, or this evening, rather, of the service. We pray that you'll all find a place. If your own church is not having service, why, be out to visit with us. And we'd be glad to do all that we can to help you to make burdens a little lighter, make the community a little better place to do right, a little easier, and a harder place to do wrong. That's what the--the meetings are intended.

12 Now today, as we're just going to speak a little. I have a--a very bad voice, and--and I--I got a vision in my heart. And I thought this morning at Sunday school, just before the--the coming forth of the preaching this afternoon... And if God willing today, this afternoon, I want to speak on a very, or this evening, rather, a very outstanding Scripture concerning the time that we're living. And I believe by God's help, the subject, I probably will approach it from a different way then... The first, one of the first messages that I preached after the great visitation of the Holy Spirit a few weeks ago... And I thought being that we were together this morning, just as a little group of Christians here, that we would talk just heart to heart with one another awhile. And I know that down in every man's heart there's something that yearns to see the supernatural.

13 Here not long ago, I was setting in California in a meeting, wearing a hairpiece on top of my head, and wearing a pair of dark glasses, just to listen at a brother's theology. 'Cause they'd recognize me if it wasn't. I set with people right next to me; they didn't even know me. Just setting there, just see, looking around, even hear them talk about me. They didn't know it was me, just set there. And I happened to be setting by a man with his collar turned around. There was a minister come to the platform, and the man's one of my converts to Divine healing. But he--he'd preach awhile, then he'd go back and a valet would change his clothes when he'd get a little sweaty, and come back out again on the platform. And this great man setting there shaking his head, and looked over to me, and said, "Does that act like a servant of Christ?"

14 I said, "I am not the judge." I said... He said... "Well," I said, "I think his message is wonderful."

He said, "Are you a Christian?"

I said, "Yes, sir, I am."

And he said... "Well," he said, "do you think a servant of Christ should just put on a whole lot like that, and dress like that, and act like that, and..."

And I said, "Well, you see, for my opinion, God has people in different categories to catch people that live in different categories."

He was talking about, said, "Why, the man has two El Dorado's every year."

I said, "I'm very thankful that God's that good to him." See? And... but he looked down at me kinda strange, and he said, "Are you a Christian?"

I said, "I'm a minister."

He said, "My name is so-and-so."

And I said, "My name is Branham."

He said, "You wouldn't happen to be the Branham that prays for the sick?"

I said, "Yes, sir."

"Oh," he said, "I see."

15 And he could see why I was taking up for this other brother. And he said, "Mr. Branham," he said, "aren't you a Baptist?"

I said, "I was. Yes, sir."

He said, "I want to ask you something." He said, "I am a certain doctor of theology in a certain church, well, a--a Presbyterian." And he said, "You know what? On this West Coast here," he said, "we Presbyterian people had the entire coast sewed down." Said, "We had the biggest churches and the finest congregations of any churches on the West Coast." And said, "You know what broke us up?"

I said, "No, sir."

He said, "That cult Christian Science come in and broke up our church." And said, "Now this Pentecostal group's coming in and breaking up Christian Science and everything."

I said, "Uh-huh." I said, "Doctor, do you know hungry children will eat from a garbage can if they're hungry?"

He said, "Well, I guess that's right."

I said, "If you Presbyterians, as you said you were, if you would've stayed with the Word of God and give the children the bread of Life, that cult would've never broke them up." I said, "You just let down; that's all." And I said, "People are still people and they're--every man is trying to look beyond the curtain. He's trying to see where he come from and where he went to. And if the Church of the living God won't produce it, then the devil will rise up some cults to give them some false things." I said, "Therefore you ought to stayed with the Word of God; they'd all been Presbyterians." And that's right truly. And that's the way I think, generally the feeling of people are.

16 Now, I want to read a little text of Scripture here, and maybe the Lord will add His blessings to it. And I'll lay my watch out, because I know your Sunday school classes will be adjourning pretty soon and we have some after service. And I thought I'd just talk to you just--just heart to heart a little bit this morning in the Sunday school lesson. And we find this just across the page from where I preached last night from II Kings; this is II Kings the 5th now. Listen at the 4th verse.

And it was so, when Elijah the man of God... heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes... he sent unto the king, and said, Where you rent your clothes?... come to me and... know there is a prophet in Israel.

17 Now, the thing we want to talk on this morning for a little while, is the supernatural. We're all hungry for supernatural. You Methodist brethren are hungry for supernatural. I got a Methodist preacher with me that's hungering and thirsting for the supernatural. You Baptist are hungering and thirsting for supernatural. All of them are. Now, surely if God is still God, He's still supernatural. Don't you believe that? He's got to be.

Now, we are trying to place God in some prehistoric, or some historical God, but what good does a historical God do today? What benefit is a God of Elijah to a man today if He isn't the same God? What are you learning about Him in the seminary? Well, and if He was some historical fact and not the same today, you'd be better to learn agriculture or something, something that would help somebody. Is that right? You'd be better off if you learned to... your children to be an architect instead of a minister if He's a historical God and not the same today. What good does the God of Moses do [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] if He isn't the same God today? Just reason that in your minds now. We are so in--so always concerned about our experiences.

18 A little lady told me last night, which is in our midst... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] A preacher of a certain great denomination of church... And I asked her, did her father ever pastor so-and-so? And she said, "Brother Branham, my father only had a--a grammar school education; therefore, they would not permit him in bigger churches, because his education was too poorly."

Perhaps a fine Spirit filled man, but the organization would not promote him, no matter how Spirit filled he was, because of a inadequate education. There they missed God. Peter couldn't even sign his own name, and he'd had the keys to the Kingdom of God given to him by Jesus Christ.

We're looking to education. Education's fine, but that's taught in school houses. The church is the place to know of God and learn of God, and in the supernatural. And God is supernatural and the same yesterday, today, and forever.

19 Now, we want to--to see and place this before our--our audience that--that God still is the same that He ever was. The people gets away from God, but God remains the same. His--His nature, and His power, and His desire is always the same through every generation. It never changes. It's always the same. It's the people that gets away from God and not God from the people. They lose their faith. God covers all space, all everywhere. He's omnipresent. So He's everywhere, and He's always has been everywhere, and He always will be everywhere.

20 But it's the attitude of the people that brings the results. That's the reason at Pentecost they had to go to an upper room and pray until the Holy Ghost came, 'cause they got in one place and one accord. It's the atmosphere what brings the results. You believe that? Let every man and woman in this building this morning, boy or girl, get everything from their minds but the Lord Jesus, and believe that He's standing present right now, and you'll see something happening that'll cause headlines in newspaper in the morning. That's right. It's atmosphere.

I don't believe in joking from the pulpit, because the pulpit's no place to joke. It's a sacred place. I'm quoting something, just to--for this here. Mr. Bosworth, very good sense of humor, and he said, "Brother Branham, to prove that it's atmosphere," said, "you could take a hen egg and put it on a--under a puppy and tie him down and it would hatch a chicken." See? It's the warmth of the puppy's body that would hatch the egg. It don't have to be under the hen; it can be under the puppy. It could be in a incubator. It's the atmosphere.

And it's the atmosphere that brings the miraculous, and wonders, and powers of God among the people. It's the atmosphere of the people. And when people get to a place they're reasoning, and wondering, and stewing, and thinking, and all tore up, and don't know where they do stand, half of them not even Scripturally taught, how can you expect the atmosphere to be right? You can't do it; it won't be right. It's got to be in one accord, one place, and settled down with one motive, one thing, then you're going to see something happen.

21 It don't only work that, but if you'd look at it in the scientific world. Say you're all a whole bunch of salesmen and you're going to sell Chevrolets, or Pontiacs, or some kind of a car. And one in his heart really thinks the Studebakers are better and so forth like that. Get us all in here and saying the Buick is best, and the other one some other car, get us together like that, you could never have the right kind of a meeting. Taking in the devil's work...

22 Go over and... Say we're going to a dance. One man standing up and saying, "Well now..." He--he don't know about whether he wants to dance or not. And this girl over, and she this, that... And the music playing, "Nearer, My God, To Thee," huh, what an atmosphere for a dance. Well, that's not any different than what a lot of atmospheres... you go into church for a service of God, just that contrary. Right.

The only thing to bring the right atmosphere then for the dance is to put on your old music that makes dances, and everybody get thinking what a good time they're going to have dancing and so forth, and they'll be having a big whoop-uping time. Put the right kind of a music on the piano, the organ, and everybody in the atmosphere that Jesus Christ is there and going to meet everything that they have need of, something will go to taking place: atmosphere. But that's the hardest thing there is to do. And that is to get people in that atmosphere, the atmosphere of worship, the atmosphere of believing.

23 And that's the reason sometimes a Divine life that's been called and set aside has become a fanatic, or crazy, or--or a mystic, or something to the eyes of the general public is because you're considered a--a--a--a, I'd say a neurotic, or a insane person, is because that you have changed your dwelling place and got into a different atmosphere. And your own motive, your one thoughts is to stay in that atmosphere. Any person that ever come into that atmosphere one time will never be satisfied nowhere else. And that's why I believe that we should have our churches under control by the Holy Ghost, that men and women in their work and wherever they should be, should continually desire, and they will, if they've ever once come into that atmosphere.

24 Now, being that I'm speaking in the Assembly of God church amongst Pentecostal people... Now, I've learned to love the Pentecostal people; they're my brothers and sisters. But many times defining our own ranks of Pentecost, that sometimes our atmosphere becomes an emotion instead of a worship. And that soon dies out, and the members become one thing and another. But if we could ever get a group of people together where was genuine Holy Spirit atmosphere, a sacredness and sincerity and worship, and men and women setting in there are God conscious, and know that the great omnipotence of God is present, ready to do all things without one shadow of doubt, it'll even have an effect upon the unbelievers that's setting in this evening. You can never come into that atmosphere without something happening.

25 I was preaching not long ago, the tape recorders here... The boys was with me, they took a sermon on the "Hidden Life Of Christ," how to get into Christ and how that some people has ups-and-downs, they can't... It's a place you have to find. The outer courts produced manna, sure. Many people are living right in that manna; they eat in that manna; but they don't live the right kind of a life. They're up-and-down; they have ins-and-outs and bad days and good days. But you've met people that absolutely no matter what the weather was, or what the conditions was, they're on the housetop all the time. He's found that secret. He's found an atmosphere to live in.

26 In the Old Testament how that the congregation was fed from bread out of heaven. They lived in three different atmospheres. In the courts, in there the manna fell, and the Israelites eat manna. He eat the same manna they did at every other place, same manna. But remember that inside the courts in the ark, was a place fixed where they--the manna never did get old. Otherwise it got old. It wouldn't last till nine o'clock in the morning. They'd grind it up into meal and make some cakes out of it and eat it. And they'd find out before the sun went down they were hungry if they didn't gather enough.

And that's what's the matter with the people today; they got the campground cramps. They go to a revival and have a great time. The first thing you know a little after that, before another revival could come along, they're back in the world again.

27 A certain man wrote an article about me not long ago, which is perfectly all right; I love him. I don't say that to be a hypocrite; I say it because it's the truth. John Church, you Nazarene people's man... He said... He wrote against Divine healing. He said, "One of their key men, Mr. Branham," said, "I've never met the man in my life." And to think of a sensible man writing an article about a person he had never spoke to in his life. That shows there's something wrong. Our law says, "How can we judge a man without we hear him first."

He said, "I don't know the man, never heard--never seen him in my life. But a--a man come to me and told me that he was setting... He wanted me to pray for him, that he'd be healed of a prostate trouble. And he said, 'I was healed once.' And said... He told me the story. He said, "I was setting in a meeting,' and said, 'way back in a balcony.' And said, 'It was Mr. Branham's meeting.' And said, 'All at once I begin to feel a strange feeling come over me.' And said, 'Then the man turned around from where he was preaching and said, 'The man setting up there is so and so, a certain man from a certain place. And said he's praying that he will be healed of a prostate trouble.' And said, 'If he will only accept it and believe it now, he can go home and be well.' He said, 'Something struck me; I never felt anything like it in my life.' He said, 'And for a solid year my prostate never bothered me, and it come on me again.'"

Mr. Church said, "Then don't you see that shows that Mr. Branham is false. If God healed a man, He'd heal him for life." I thought, "Mr. Church, how many times have you come up on the Silver Hills Campground and get all those Nazarenes sanctified this year, and next year you sanctify another bunch of them. Maybe they didn't have it to begin with, then God wouldn't be real." See?

28 Divine healing, and sanctification, and the powers of God is as long as your faith lasts in it. When your faith fails, then your experience is gone. It's based that way simply upon the finished works of Christ at Calvary. You're sanctified as long as your testimony's right, as long as you live a sanctified life, and believe that God sanctified you; you're sanctified, counting it all to His grace and His merits. And as long as you've accept healing and believe your healing and--and go on believing it like that, you'll be healed as long as you believe it. And you start doubting it...

And you take a--a man setting here this morning that's not a bit sick, and let him begin to get in his heart, believing he is sick, they'll pack him out of the building. As your faith is, so be it unto you. That's not Christian Science. I'm not meaning mind over matter. But you see, the thing of it is, it's the atmosphere that you live in.

29 Now, this man that we're going to speak of for just a few moments, then I want to give you a testimony... This man Elijah, the great prophet, was a man who lived in that constant atmosphere. He was a called man of Nazarite birth. "All gifts and callings are without repentance." It's nothing. You can't make one hair black or white; you can't add one cubic to your stature. We only have carnal impersonations when we try to impersonate something that God hasn't made us. If we try to do something that God hasn't called us to do, we'll be a total failure doing it. If man would try to make himself woman, woman man, how would you do it?

I met that woman that they supposed to have a surgical test and be made a man, made a woman whatever it was, in Italy, in Rome. There she was, a disgrace to being a woman, drunk as she could be, walking up-and-down the streets and, and, oh, a horriblest sight you ever seen.

30 Notice, you can't make yourself anything different from what God intended you to be. Anything else is an impersonation. Therefore if your conversion is only because you're trying to hide behind something, or trying to make yourself a better person, you're only playing the part of a hypocrite. Until Christ has actually come to your life, and changed you, and brought you into an atmosphere, that's the difference of it. That's the reason we go through so many different forms and saying they have to do this. Jesus said, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Everlasting Life."

Not a make-believe, it's absolutely something that's happened, a conversion of the heart that's changed you and brought you into another realm. Men misunderstood, Christians, women, men, boys, and girls, that misunderstood who lived in those places, because it's contrary to the natural run of life among people of the world. And I'm sure we all want to live in that atmosphere.

31 Look, the people who eat the manna out here on the ground was eating the same manna that the high priest eat in under the Shekinah Glory. But this manna withered away out on the ground, but that in the hidden place never did wither away. It lasted through the spans of years. And a man who walked in there, when the high priest went in beyond that veil, that veil that separated the holiest from the holiest of holies, when he walked in there, the veil dropped behind him, that man, he... It was even soundproof. He didn't... He was shut off from all the world and the surroundings. He knowed nothing in there but the living in the Presence of God.

And a man or woman that ever walked into that Shekinah Glory of God, the whole world's shut off behind him. No matter what the devil says, you don't pay any attention to it. And He's living in a different atmosphere. He lived in there where they put Aaron's rod. And it was nothing but an old dead stick off of an olive tree. But once laid in the Presence of God, it yielded what it was supposed to be in the beginning. In one night's time it budded, blossoms, and brought almonds.

32 That's the same way that an unbeliever or a sinner is ever laid in the Presence of Almighty God under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he becomes a new creature right then. His life becomes fruitful, fresh; life comes in, and he yields what he was supposed to be, a son of God. He was took off of the tree, so was that olive branch. He was took off of the tree, but sinners and--and lukewarm church members become dry sticks with some kind of a memory that sometime there was a supernatural God of the past, that had life, and way back there.

But if you believe and lay in His Presence it'll produce the same thing to you. You will realize that you were born sons and daughters of God and will yield the fruit of the Spirit. But you can't do it out there on the courts; you got to do it in here, on the inside, hid away.

33 The man out in the courts, he walked by daylight. Some days it was like this, raining. Other days if was sun would shine, and the nighttime would be dark and stormy. He had his ups-and-downs. That's the way you see people. "Oh," they say, "we're eating the good manna of God." That's right. But where are they living? They're living out there, eating it in a atmosphere that they should not eat it in.

The next man, he had another light, that one at the altar. It was lit by seven golden candlesticks, in little lamps. And sometimes them lamps burnt low, and they smoked up the chimneys, and you know how a lamp does, smokes and goes out. And a man who comes to the place where he comes into the church, out of the courts, out of a just a lukewarm church member, and comes up to live a pretty good life in Christ, he's separate and things from the... But he's still living under lights that will get dim, and smoked up, and artificial light. But when he once walked in behind that holiest of holies, walked into the Presence of God, and the veil falls behind him, there's a pot of manna there he can eat every day, every hour of the week. There's where he's living in the Shekinah Glory, wherein the interlocked wings of the Cherubim, the great Pillar of Fire, and the Shekinah, rested there. And he's living under there; he can't be nothing but a real genuine Christian any time: Atmosphere.

34 Man and women who live in there are misunderstood. You see it? They become peculiar. They don't hear the things of the world, or if they do they don't pay attention to them. They just move on. God never put that in there for nothing. God never come for just any haphazard way. Prayer is not a--a perhaps. Prayer is a sincere thing. Prayer is talking to God. Prayer is not get down, shut your eyes, and thinking about your washing or your work you're doing, say, "Lord, help me and John, and heal Miss Jones and so forth." That's not prayer. That's repeating some words. But prayer is to come into an atmosphere where you realize that you're in the Presence of God and you're moving to then in the deepest of sincerity. First you say a little worship, "O Jehovah, how I love You." You see it? Then after the worship of prayer, then you come with a sincere heart asking.

"If ye abide in Me," not go out from behind the curtains in the world today and run around and try to get back in the curtains tonight. "If ye abide in Me, My words abide in you..." Otherwise, if you're like Aaron's rod that's pulled up to the Shekinah Glory by the golden pot of manna where you can eat it any time... And your soul is refreshed and blooming and yielding. Abiding. "If ye abide in Me, My words abide in you, then ask what you will, it'll be given to you."

35 You see the failures of the church, the Pentecostal church, the Methodists, the Baptists, and all? It's a failing to that abiding grace of God. Tonight you'll shout and clap your hands, and dance in the aisles, speak in tongues. That's gifts. Gifts is no good unless you're abiding in the Shekinah Glory. See?

Those things are fine. I have nothing to say against them; they're of God. Shouting and blessing God is wonderful. Speaking in tongues, or translation of tongues, or I mean interpretation of tongues, it's the same, but... And all these other things, gifts of healing, prophecies, and all these things are marvelous, but they're no good, they're not fruitful, they can't yield the right, unless you're living in the Presence of the Shekinah, the atmosphere around you is godly.

That's the reason that men and women are not permitted to these things, because you'd go out here and call a blessing over something God had cursed or--or curse something God had blessed. It's a abiding Presence to know the will of God. Then don't look what the world's going to say about you. It's what God thinks about you. Then you're living in His Presence.

36 In the days of this prophecy, or prophet, rather... God has never been without a voice or a mouthpiece somewhere on the earth. And Elijah was His mouthpiece. And as far as I know, during the time of the backslidings of Israel... They always got cold and formal and backslid. Because it goes to show friends, that here we have no continuing city, but we're seeking one to come.

Not long ago I stood and looked. I used to be a pugilist as you know, fight. I won fifteen professional fights (not bragging, I'm ashamed of it.), but fifteen professional fights without losing a one, nine of them knockouts. And I had my picture there, when I was in my very best, muscles over me and black shaggy hair hanging around my neck. And I looked and I thought... My little girl come in and seen my picture setting in the room; she said, "Daddy, you don't look like you used to." Sure not.

For in here we have no continuing city; this mortal body is fading away. Where I used to be strong, old age, fat begins to slip in. I once remember of a great tree that I used to stand by and its great stately branches I said it'll live forever. And today it's a snag.

37 I stood not long ago in Rome, where once ruled the world. And there, that great city has now become nothing, but you'd have to dig thirty feet under the earth to find the ruins of it, now one of the weakest, degraded nations in the world. They're not even self supporting.

I stood in Athens, Greece, where another great empire once stood, and there's not even hardly a symbol of that empire left. And I stood in Cairo, Egypt, where Egypt once knowed and ruled the world and chair of the Pharaohs, and there's nothing left but the Sphinx, and a few of the pyramids is standing as relics of a once great worldwide empire.

Brother and sister, our great America and our great economy that we have is rottening under the foundations, and someday, I see it in the making right now, she'll lay in the ruins. And you young men today, you young women, with the beauty of youth, the blush of the young cheek, the folly of the young heart, but one day will mold yonder in a graveyard somewhere. Why? Because all mortal has to give a way to immortality. Every nation has to fall, because there's coming a nation that'll not be ruled by men, but by Christ. These things fall.

38 Israel fell. And it falls... And just before it falls, this great ten--great prophet raised which was a fanatic among the people. But he lived in an atmosphere that he was constantly in the Presence of God. And he served God away to himself, almost like an isolationist. And I can imagine the people talking about him. I can imagine them saying, "You believe that story about the birds feeding him up there? You believe all these different things?" In the days of Noah, "You believe the rain story, how it's going to come water down, out of that fanatic?" But he lived under the atmospheres of God and not of men.

And then when it come time, there was a... The Syrians came over and took a little girl over into their nation. And then the great chief captain of the army, the Bible said he was a mighty man, but he was a leper.

39 Out in these--this world today, right here in Owensboro, Kentucky, there's men of great influence in your city here. I do not know them, but a city of this size could not yield hardly enough to be a modern Sodom without having men of influence. But it depends on where they let this influence dwell at, what kind of a life it produces. If it's under politics... Which I can't say nothing about them; we need politics and so forth. But whatever he is, if he lets hisself or this influence lay in the right atmosphere... He ought to lay in the Presence of God.

40 Notice, this Naaman was a great fellow, but he was a leper. There's so many people today, even I'm sad to say, that even in the pulpit, that's great men, but listens to man's theology instead of staying in the Presence of God, and still a leper, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Influential speakers, forceful, but still never knows what it is to be borned again to--or to believe in the supernatural, and cannot understand it, except they come into the Kingdom of God... He will explain it away through reasonings every time. Why, he's never lived in this atmosphere. But a man ever comes in there he has to become a son and daughter of God, then his nature is like God. He believes the supernatural.

41 So they had a little girl there. Now, I want to show you the force of a testimony of a child who lived in a nation, or perhaps a family, who was under the influence of God. She loved her master and her mistress. So when she seen Naaman, probably a good hearted, good natured man... As far as we know, according to history, Elijah had never healed a man with leprosy. There'd never been a leper case healed in his day.

But the little girl, being raised and brought up under the influence over in Israel, yet an alien, she was conducting herself as a believer. And that's the way we should do all the time, is conduct ourselves, no matter what our position is, conduct ourselves as believers, ready at all times to give an answer for the hope that lieth within you. You see it?

42 Here some time ago, down in the south, the Germans, or the Dutch brought over, the Dutch colonies, brought over to America Negroes out of Africa and sold them in the southern states for slaves. And they become personal property to the slave owner. And they worked at the toils of the day, and their scars over them from whips and sometimes unkind masters. And they were burdened and away from home. Many times they wouldn't want to work, and they would make them and force them to work.

And in a certain plantation there was a great owner who owned many hundred slaves, two or three hundred slaves on this great plantation. He'd buy and swap slaves. And one day a buyer came by. He said, "I would like to buy from you that certain slave." Said, "I've watched him in his conduct." Said, "He walks straight; you never have to whip him." Said, "He's always willing and standing ready to do anything." He said, "He seems to be such a gallant person." Said, "Perhaps you've made him the boss over the rest of them."

He said, "No, he's just a slave."

Said, "Maybe you feed him a little better and what makes him act different."

Said, "No, he eats with the rest of them."

Said, "What makes him act different?" Here it is brethren.

Said, "No, I wondered myself what made him always with his chin up, chest out, ready any time, never droopy, never mopey. Then I learned that he is the son of the king of the tribe. Though he's an alien, though he's away from home, still he conducts himself, knowing this, that he's the son of the king. He keeps the morale of the rest of them high, for he knows he's a son."

43 How much that ought to be to the Christian Church this morning, and what a challenge. No matter what other men do and what those who profess Christianity does, we must walk as sons and daughters of the King. Our morale should be wonderful. We should never act as the world or live with the world. We should keep our courage high, knowing this, that we are aliens. We don't care about the world and what they think. We are aliens, pilgrims, and strangers. But someday we're going home. But at this time we're pilgrims.

44 This little lady was that type. And she said to her mistress; she said, "I would God, that my lord Naaman was over in my country, for we have a prophet over there that could heal him of his leprosy." Oh, my, how God used that child. How did she know? The same thing I was talking on last night: inspiration from the very atmosphere.

Now, notice. That child under inspiration was led to say those words. We don't know of Elijah ever healing anyone else and maybe no one else, no matter how many he prayed for. But she said, "I would to God that my lord was over with my country, for in my country we have a prophet."

Oh, if we could say that about our churches today. I would to God that you could come under the influence that I live under and my church lives under, for we believe that God is a Healer. We believe that God is a Saviour. We believe that God gives the Holy Spirit. And I would to God that you lived in my country.

45 Notice quickly, when they entered into a place like that where the supernatural is introduced, Naaman at once sent to his king. And he wrote a letter over to the other king; he said, "Surely, now if there's a great thing like that going on over there in that country, the king should know about it. If there's a prophet in the land the king would know about it." Sure, the higher-ups should know about it. See, that's still the carnal mind.

The little girl never said a word about the king; she spoke about the prophet. Amen. Oh, I hope you see it. My, she spoke of the prophet. Maybe she'd never seen a case of leprosy healed, but she knowed where someone lived under that atmosphere of the supernatural. Said, "If you'll go over there, something will take place."

46 But here goes the king on a roundabout way, or Naaman, going to the king. And today you seek... You say, "I belong to the church." Oh, my. That has nothing to do with the atmosphere, not a thing.

Notice, and he brings the letter over to the King of Israel. And looks like today, if there was a prophet in the land, if there was healing in the land, that the ups-and-ups would know it. God doesn't always deal with the up-and-up. We are an individual kingdom.

47 Speaking to someone the other day about polygamy. I said the nation in a whole would be better off if it practiced polygamy. It would. We're the highest rated nation in the world with divorces, marrying and intermarrying, marrying and intermarrying. Because we try to make the men of the world outside coincide with Christian doctrine, and you can't put the nature of a lamb in a pig. Polygamy would be better off for him. You may not believe it but God would look at polygamy and excuse it a lot quicker than what He would...

Now, remember, don't you say that I believe in polygamy; I don't. I...?...what God said... Moses said that... The Pharisee said to Jesus, said, "Why did Moses suffer a writing of divorcement?"

Said, "He did it because the hardness of your heart." Right. But it wasn't so from the beginning, never will be. God did it because of the hardness of their heart.

But in the nations where they have polygamy the divorce courts are at ebb, low. But in here where we're trying to make and govern this country as a nation, because being a Christian nation, but the name of Christian nation doesn't make it a Christian nation. And you cannot govern the world by the rules of God. You can't. I have no--nothing against a sinner drinking. I have nothing against a sinner committing adultery, nothing against the sinner doing this. But what I'm talking about is these people who are supposed to be Christians and then doing that.

If a pig wants to stick his snout in the manure pile and eat all day, that's his business, 'cause he's a pig to begin with. But the lamb doesn't do that. The sinner, he's a pig to begin with. But then when you try to make a lamb out of a pig, you have to have a conversion and he has to come into a different atmosphere. And when he comes into the atmosphere his desires will change and his nature will change. That's the way it is today.

48 So he goes to the king and has a letter. This letter to him. "I just don't like it." Now at the Baptist church the people say, "Anybody want to come in by profession, or bring your letter, or the change of a letter, remove a letter..." pack it from one church to the other. Just about as much influence in it as there is in this king Naaman taking this King of Israel his letter. What's that got to do with God?

God isn't going to come to the church and look up your letter. He's got a Book in heaven called the Book of Life. And if your name's not on this Book of Life, you're lost if you got a letter in every church in the world. That's right. And your name will never be written there unless you come into that atmosphere, living and loving with God. God is a loving God. He wants to be loved. You can't be cold, cruel, and indifferent and ever get anywhere with God. You got to be loving and kind.

49 Notice. And this little lady, she had told him to go to the prophet, but instead of the prophet, he went over to the king. And the king didn't know nothing about Divine healing; he didn't know anything about certain-certain thing. Why, he didn't know that there was a prophet in the land that could perform miracles. He didn't know nothing about. Though he was supposed to be an Israelite, circumcised, but you see his atmosphere wasn't like Elijah's atmosphere.

And when he got this letter, he reached and got his garments and tore them up, said, "Am I God to make men alive or to kill?" He said, "I want all of you (his cabinet), I want all of you to take notice. This man's picking a quarrel with me." You see it?

See, the world, you know, it tears them up. See, he didn't live under... Yet he was a professed Israelite. But he thought the days of miracles was past. Oh, thank God, there was an old prophet way back there in the wilderness who lived with God under a different atmosphere. He heard the king tore his clothes up. He said, "Why did you tear your clothes up?" Said, "Why didn't you send him out here to me?" He didn't know whether there was a prophet in Israel or not. The king didn't know.

50 There's many people today that doesn't know that Jesus Christ is still alive. They don't know that He still rules and reigns. They don't know that the Blood at Calvary for the--for the all sufficient... See, that it even purchased there at the cross for your transgressions and for your healings. They don't know that that's real today. We need some more little maids to go around and testify of these things. Don't you think so? Get in the atmosphere of it.

It's not afraid what the world says, because while they're talking with the world they're still in another atmosphere. You're talking to the sinner but you're not in his atmosphere. And you're in such a glorious and shrouded in, then Shekinah Glory all around you, and the veils of the world hid. You can talk to the worldly women, or the worldly men, or whoever it is and still live in that Shekinah Glory telling them of a loving God that's raised from the dead.

51 A few weeks ago I was in Karlsruhe, Germany. The church down there which is a some Zwingli, not a Lutheran, but they had... I went in. Billy Graham was there one night in Zurich, and I went in the next day. And my advertisement and Billy Graham's was setting together. Billy Graham has a place in my heart as a true servant of God. He preaches repentance, and he's doing a very fine job at it. God is using him; we know that.

And he was--had a meeting there, and that day I didn't get to the meeting, though I had an invitation to come set in the box. But I was so tired and worn from a long flight around the country for several thousands of miles in the plane, till I was wore out. And I went into the room, and I went in to lie down, and I--I went to sleep and it was too late. So I reached over and turned the radio on, and I heard him preaching through the translator.

52 And the next morning when the newspapers come, I seen what a raking they give Billy Graham. The church denied, the main body of church, they ever invited such a person to their nation. And they said that he put a manicure in his hair, what is, or--or waved it, you know. What is it you call it? A permanent it is. Permanented...?... in his hair. And they said when he come to the platform to preach, he looked like he was going to a bandbox instead of a servant of God going... Said, not a wrinkle in his clothes. And they said that when he was preaching that he screamed and waved his arms like a fantastic soap salesman from America, and said his perfume was so great that you could smell him ten feet away. He preached on the Supreme Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I knew what I was in for then, 'cause I had ten days there.

53 See, the church in Zurich and Switzerland and Germany does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They say He's the son of Joseph called the Son of God. That knocks the very foundation from under Christianity. He was a virgin born Son of the living God. And Billy Graham never held any strings; he preached it that way. Yes, sir. And I knew I'd follow right up behind him.

And in there God gave us in that ungodly place, another morning, you'd think the Millennium had struck there, the chimes and bells on the churches, and yet, they called Billy Graham a soap salesman and me a soothsayer. You can know what kind of an atmosphere they're living in.

54 John went forth preaching repentance, laying the axe to the root of the tree. He did no miracles. Jesus come behind him, not preaching, but healing the sick and performing miracles. And they said if they'd call him who come, John, said he had a devil because he didn't eat and drink, and the Son of man a gluttonous and a friend of sinners... Wisdom is justified of her children.

And today to see in their own country Jesus Christ coming forth as John, as a prophet like John, Billy Graham preaching repentance, and then come back around in old fashion campaigns a heal the sick, and prophecy, and all the different signs and wonders, it's still the same ungodly Pharisee spirit that lived right yonder in a church atmosphere instead of under the Shekinah Glory. Amen. God forgive me if I say something wrong. You see what I mean? They don't believe.

55 We moved up on into Karlsruhe, after having fifty thousand of those cold formal people kneel at an altar, and give their heart to God, and receive the Holy Ghost. Moved on up into Karlsruhe and the church sent word up there right quick, "Don't let him come up there. (See?) Don't permit it." And they couldn't find any stadiums and things, so the men got together and built a place and covered several acres of ground and spread canvas over it like a big cathedral, and thousands times thousands poured in there the first night. 'Cause... They counted as many as a hundred and eighty and two hundred buses every night from Germany, and from Belgium, and all around coming into the Zurich meeting. And then we were run up there, quickly, they said... Dr. Guggenbuhl my representative there, went up there and they said, "No, the police said he cannot come."

Said, "You had Billy Graham, what about him?"

"We have orders not to receive him from the church."

And church controls state to if you under--in Zurich and Switzerland, or Germany, either one. Church and state's together, and the church is over the state, and church and state united. So we couldn't do it. Dr. Guggenbuhl and went out and he said, "God, it can't be so. You led Brother Branham up here, and he wouldn't have come 'less You led him; so there's got to be something happen, God."

And I was off resting, I said, "Yes, the Lord speaks to me to go to Germany."

He said, "God, something's wrong."

56 And seemed like living in that atmosphere, not a vision, not a voice, but something down in his soul said, "This is American zone; go down to the American headquarters. And he went in there to the Major, and the Major... He went in and said, "Major, I'm Dr. Guggenbuhl from Zurich, Switzerland," which is an attorney which has nationwide publicity and--and loyalty to the nation. He said, "And we have a brother from America comes over here to preach for us." And said, "We have built a great cathedral out here for him." And said, "Up at Hamburg we was going to have it in the stadium, but weather's too rainy, and we had to put this place up here Karlsruhe (which means 'Karl's rest')." And he said, "We--we have brought him over here now, and he feels that he should come here, and the church has denied us the privilege of letting our brother come." Said, "They had Billy Graham up here." and said, "They let him come. Now, what's wrong with our brother coming?"

He said, "Well, I think if they let Mr. Graham come, they ought to let your brother come." And 'course that's American controlled, you know.

So he said, "Well, I'll tell you," said, "they won't let him come."

57 Said, "What do they have against your--your preacher for coming?" Said, "What do they... Why they don't want him to come?"

He said, "Kind sir," said, "here's the reason." He said, "because that our brother prays for the sick and gets the results, and they're against the supernatural of God."

He said, "What's your brother's name?"

Said, "Brother Branham."

He said, "Brother Branham," He said, "he prayed for my mother, and she was taken from a wheelchair in Virginia." Said, "Tell him it's open, come on. Not only that, but the army camp will turn loose and we'll come."

Sure, God's still on the throne. when you feel your leading, move to it; get in the atmosphere and follow the way that moves. If it goes east or west, move. The first night a bunch of communists got on the outside of the place, and they was rioting in these bushes with guns to shoot me, they said. When we went out, German soldiers pledging their loyalty, come around and held their arms over me, and around--around me, till I got in the car. One almost got my son Billy before he got to the car, a fanatic.

58 And the next night standing in the building there where the Holy Spirit moving, I couldn't even call the German names to the people in the audience, had to spell it out and tell them. They seen me working. There set a medium, setting over there with his eye cast on me. He said, "I'll come down" and said, "I'll make him to know." He told them that day; he said, "I'll call a storm out of the skies," and he said, "I'll cause it to tear that place down." And the thunder was a roaring, the lightning a flashing as hard as it could. And here he come, and he made his threat wrote it out. When I was turning there... Didn't... That didn't matter to me what he said. And when I seen the storm coming and people getting nervous and one constant roar of lightning after the other one like that, I looked around, and I seen where he was setting. I said, "You child of the devil, you may be able to perform miracles, that's right, and I've exposed you here." I said, "The Bible said as Jambres and Jannes withstood Moses, so will these, the antichrist, having power to perform miracles, but you're afraid to touch the supernatural of God." Right. I said, "Because you done this, you'll pay for it."

They packed him out that night as a cripple. And while we were there, the storm going on, I just continued with my message. I kept calling to God in my heart, and after while, in about ten minutes, the storm cleared away, and she begin to shine out real pretty. The Lord Jesus... Why? The people got into the atmosphere when they seen the glory of God begin to move.

59 At that time they started a prayer line, and they were down there lifting the people to the platform coming. And I shall never forget this, as they lifted up a little girl to the platform, I never noticed her; I was talking to my interpreter, which was a good one that night, American born German. And I turned around and I said, "Sir, just looky." I said, "The stars are bright, not one harm." And I said, "Look at him the way he looks down there now, setting there with his head down, his hands like that." I said, "Something's happened to him."

And about that time, looked around, and somebody begin to scream, and I wondered what. And they'd set a little girl about this high, cute little German girl, little plaits hanging down her back... And let me tell you, we Americans, we classed Germany and got the wrong impression. The real borned again children of Germany is just as sweet and dear as any children there is anywhere.

60 A minister told me, said, "I was detailed to do a reconnaissance," and said, "I went up to the top of the hill, and they told me, "Life or death, you have to go anyhow to break up that machine gun nest." And said, "It had ceased firing for awhile." He put his arms around me, a German preacher which was a Nazi in the Army, not the S. S. troop, now you soldiers. But this was just a--a--a--a German soldier, and he was detailed, and he had to do it, to do this reconnaissance.

And when he got up there, said, "I looked over there, Brother Branham; I peeped up over the hill expecting to be shot at any minute." Said, "You know what I found? A bunch of American boys in this machine gun nest with a open Bible on their knees, praying." Said, "I knowed they'd throw hand grenades there as soon as those eighty-eight millimeter guns got trained in there, and they'd blow them up. So I picked up my rifle, went bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, up in the air, run back real quick, said, 'I don't know whether I got them or not.' And they moved the machine gun nest."

Why? If that'll make soldiers feel that way about one another, what will the Blood of Jesus Christ, will cease all wars forever when men and women can ever come into the atmosphere and nations into the environment of the living and resurrected God.

That man setting on the pulpit with me, after the service we had a little one together with our arms around one another. And there American with me, was a soldier in them a few years before, under political influence would be shooting at one another and here with their arms around one another under another influence that makes men, brothers. It's your influence.

61 That night when this little German girl, her little dress on, her little white face. I never noticed her, heard them scream. And I went and turned this a way, and nobody was trying to direct her. In that country they had to get a man who could speak their language to give out their prayer cards.

And so, he wasn't very well trained, and he let the little girl, instead of walk off, he just pitched her up there on the platform. She was about the third or fourth one on the platform. And I looked, and she near the edge of the platform which was much higher than the ceiling, went up several steps to get to it.

And when I looked, she was... I reached and grabbed her like that and the interpreter begin to talk to her. And she was mumbling off something. She said, "I want to meet the man that's going to pray for me," little blind thing. And he...

The interpreter said, "That's him that's got a hold of you." And she moved her little hands. By the way, I had on this same suit, was give to me about six years ago in Oslo. So she put her little arms around me, and like this, and laid her little head over on my shoulder. I thought, "Like my little Becky." And I stroked her little, long plait like that, and I thought, "Poor little thing." And I heard her snubbing like a child on my bosom. I raised her little head up and her eyes looked white, looking at her little face, as she was leaning back like that on my arm.

62 There, by the grace of God, I saw a vision come forth. The little girl, I seen her laying in her mother's arms, and her doctor looking at her, said she was blind from birth. Tall, thin mother with blond hair, I seen her father, a short, heavy set man with dark hair, where they were at, and the speaking the vision. And the mother was setting out in the audience and the father way back under many times thousands and thousands and thousands of people, setting back there. And when I looked back, I said, "Now, of course I have no power." What was it? It was atmosphere. It was Shekinah was the One that was giving the thing.

And I looked, I seen the little girl was going like a shadow, out of this little girl, going, walking along with her hands up, looking around and talking and pointing to things. I knew that the God of heaven lived and reigned...?... prayed for her, raised her up and she was looking up at me, and her little eyes staring and sparkling. She mumbled off something.

And the translator looked down; he said, "Brother Branham, she can see."

I said, "Keep it to yourself just a minute." I said, "What's she saying?"

He said, "She's asking what them--them things are there?" It was lights. And when the translator... She was close enough to her mother had heard the voice and rest of them. And she looked up and she begin weeping out loud. And her mother, so excited...

The influence had took over the building; the whole thing was under heavenly influence. The devil was paralyzed. Influence... Her mother let out a scream and run so fast, till she run out of her shoes, they flew up behind her. She rushed to the platform; she threw her arms around the child, and the child said, "Are you my mother?" The first time she'd seen her, said, "Oh, mother, you're so beautiful. You're so beautiful, mother."

63 The next morning Almighty God by His infinite power, when the German Church come down and said, "We can understand and believe your theology, and your Bible teaching is wonderful, Brother Branham." But said, "That Light, that Angel, we can't understand It."

And they had a breakfast with about six hundred ministers met together, and they put a big German camera there, and the Holy Ghost in that same Pillar of Fire came down and was took on the German camera three times that morning and swept through the...?... The atmosphere changed. That's right.

Wished I'd have thought and brought it with me. Was in a Christian Businessmen this month, or a couple months ago, rather. What is it? It's atmosphere. Men and women should live under that atmosphere. Don't get out from under some normal world existing influence, but stay under the atmosphere of the Lord Jesus.

64 Shall we bow our heads just a moment while we're in His Presence, every man and woman with their head bowed, boys and girls. Turn that little lever that sets right at the top of the brain cell, bypass all those reasonings out through your ears as nonsense. Then open up that little valve that runs down to the human heart, to your soul. It won't reason; it'll believe. It'll say God's Word is right and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I am so thankful this morning to bring to you in your presence, not a historical Moses, not a historical Elijah, not a historical God, but a resurrected God, One Who died. And the only purpose when He was made flesh here, God Himself become flesh to take away sin and to make it possible that His Holy Spirit could come in the human heart. The historical God is with you today in the Presence of the Lord Jesus. If you have a need, speak to Him now while we pray.

65 Great Jehovah God, Who lived before there was an eternity, You was without father, without mother, without beginning of days, or ending of years, and reading upon the pages of this sacred Book how the things that You did in the days of yore that's passed by, and to have the privilege of living in this dark age just here at the end of the world, and seeing You rise on the scene again, no guessing, no man-made theology, no cold atmosphere of just joining a church or signing a paper, but living in the Shekinah Glory and the influence of a resurrected Lord Jesus, confirming, fulfilling His Word, bringing to pass everything that He said...

Merciful Father, I present this audience to You today, that You in Your great kindness of this hour, will do for this audience that which they have need of. Save the sinner; call back to repentance the backslider. Heal the sick; give experience to those who need You, Lord, in that type of an experience.

While I ask this audience, Father, to wait on Thee, may Your Spirit sweep over the audience and give to them individually what they have need of. And while we stay shut in with Him Who raised from the dead, we ask God the Father in the Name of Jesus His Son Who said, "If you ask the Father anything in My Name, I'll do it." And this is not a myth, neither is this for man's glory. This is for Your glory, and that You might raise up little maids and little boys and girls in this community, that could tell the sick and afflicted there is a balm in Gilead. Grant it, Father, for Jesus' sake.

While you set with your heads bowed, if you are sick, look to Him now for your healing. If you need salvation, look to Him now for salvation while we stay shut in with God, I wonder if pastor would continue on leading in prayer.

1Ďakujem ti, brat Rogers. Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne. Nech vás Pán žehná, priatelia. Ďakujem vám a na chvíľu si môžete sadnúť. Vždy to spôsobuje, že sa cítim dobre, keď sa cítim vítaný. To je trocha... Sám som Kentačan, viete, a rád počujem niečo, čo robí, že sa cítite vítaní. A tak pekné privítanie v tomto meste a medzi vami, moji kresťanskí priatelia, istotne spôsobuje, že sa voči vám cítim vďačný. A brat Rogers, milujem ho. Bol pre mňa skvelým bratom a ako bol istotne skutočným nástrojom v Božích rukách tu v Owensboro.

2Díval som sa práve na druhú stranu ulice, tam, kde sa chystáte postaviť nový zbor, alebo tam niekde, kde mi o tom dnes ráno hovoril pri raňajkovom stole. A je to skvelé vidieť vás, ako takto postupujete. To skrátka ukazuje, že podporujete správnu vec. A Boží služobník sa snaží, ako najlepšie vie, aby dal Božiemu ľudu to najlepšie, čo môže. Ja by som... Každé zhromaždenie si bude takého pastora vážiť, keď vidíte, čo vaše financie, vaše desiatky, vaše obete, a tak ďalej, ste... On ide priamo do Kráľovstva Božieho, aby urobil Kráľovstvo Božie lepším, vytvára lepšie miesto, nie pre seba, ale pre vás. On má na mysli ovce, pastier vždy má.

3Kým som nebol v Palestíne, alebo lepšie povedané tam v krajinách orientu, často som sa divil nad podobenstvom v Biblii, lepšie povedané nad podobenstvami Biblie, čo niektoré z nich znamenajú. A vy takmer musíte ísť do orientu, aby ste zistili, čo táto Biblia skutočne znamená. Raz som mal... Sedel som a mnohí z vás kazateľov zo západu ste boli nad tým v rozpakoch a premýšľali ste, „Čo týmto mysleli? Čo znamená toto? A čo znamená tamto?“ A ak niekedy pôjdete do východnej krajiny a uvidíte ich nemeniace sa zvyky, no, potom sa dozviete viac o Biblii. Potom, čo som išiel na východ, sa pre mňa stala novou Knihou.

Napríklad, ako povedal Ježiš, myslím, že v sv. Jánovi 10, myslím. „Ja som dverami do ovčinca. Ja som dverami do ovčinca.“ Často som sa divil, čo to znamenalo, že On stál pri bráne a prijímal všetkých ľudí, keď vchádzali dnu, alebo som si myslel, že možno tam stál pastier, keď takto prichádzali dnu. To je... Zvykol som o tom takto premýšľať. A azda mnohí z vás mojich bratov a duchovných si myslelo tú istú vec.

4Ale keď ste raz tam, zistíte, že je to inak. Nie je to počítanie oviec, ale sám pastier sa stáva dverami. Tam je ohrada pre dobytok, niečo ako miesto so strieškou na vrchu. A on privedie dnu všetky ovce a dá ich tam dnu, potom ide a líha si do dverí. A ovce, či vlastne vlk nemôže vojsť dnu, alebo ovce vyjsť von bez toho, že by prešli cez pastiera. Pomyslel som si, „Nie je to úžasné?“ Vidíte, On je Dverami do ovčinca. Rozumiete? Ku ovciam nemôže prísť nič, ak to pastier nedovolí. A ak máme pri dverách Pastiera, akí bezpeční a šťastní by sme mali byť. Satan sa vás nemôže dotknúť, ak to Pastier nedovolí. A všetko to je na dobré, čokoľvek to len je. Rozumiete, čo tým myslím? A to je... Keď On povedal...

Znovu som si všimol, a pastier... V tejto krajine pastier neznamená príliš mnoho, no, len nejaké starodávne slovo. Ale tam pastier, ó, a ovce... Ľudia žijú pri svojich ovciach. A pastier sa o ne stará.

5Raz, keď som prechádzal cez krajinu, všimol som si na ďalekom východe, taký malý... Ako mali v Indii – pastier prechádzal a viedol svoje ovce, a on... Pomyslel som si na to podobenstvo, tam, kde je povedané, „Moje ovce čujú Môj Hlas. Cudzinca nebudú nasledovať.“ No, tá ovca sa narodila pod výchovou tohto pastiera. On pozná ten hlas; nebude nikdy venovať pozornosť akémukoľvek inému hlasu. On sa naučil ten hlas pastiera. Mohol by volať nejaký iný pastier, mohli by robiť, čokoľvek by chceli, ale tam na tom pastierovi je také niečo malé, čo tie ovce rozpoznávajú. Vidíte, tak je to s Božími ovcami. Cudzie hlasy, oni – to skrátka neznie správne; oni jednoducho nepôjdu; to je celé. A ak môže byť ovca pokúšaná, ale keď zistí, že to je nesprávny pastier, otočí sa preč.

6A všimol som si, ako ovce nasledujú príklad pastiera. Prechádzajú dole cez ulice, tam, kde sú najužšie ulice z ulíc, ktoré tam vo východných krajinách sú, boli vytvorené v dňoch kočov, keď mali vozy, ktoré jazdili cez ulice a jazdcov na koňoch. A sú veľmi úzke. Veľmi zriedka nájdete také široké, ako sú tam tie stĺpy od seba, veľmi zriedka. Niekedy možno, ó, dvanásť stôp široké [asi 365 cm. – pozn.prekl.], ulice. Mnohé z...

Ako v Oslo, v Nórsku, ulice sú tam v starom meste iba asi osem stôp široké [asi 240 cm. – pozn.prekl.]; to je asi 1500 rokov staré a potom zistíte, že oni nemali automobily, ako to je v tomto modernom veku, kde sa vlečú a tlačia cez hlavné cesty. Rozumiete, Náhum ich nazval „široké cesty“ [v ROH preklade Biblie „námestia“ (Náhum 2:4) - pozn.prekl.].

A potom, ako som stál na tej vonkajšej ceste v Chicagu, premýšľal som o tom mnohokrát, ako tie tri a štyri idú bok po boku každým smerom, hlavné cesty. A výškové oddelenie ulíc v strede...?... do miesta. A o niekoľko míľ sa koľajnice takto zdvihnú, aby oddelili vašu dopravu v rôznych časoch večera a v rôznych časoch dňa: Široké cesty. Jeden z týchto pruhov by bol v ich dňoch kompletnou hlavnou cestou.

7Ale ako som videl prechádzať tohto pastiera cez mesto, bolo to ako poplach. Šla tam celá kolóna oviec, ktoré ho nasledovali. No, ľudia z východu vystavujú všetky svoje lahôdky vonku na ulici; dokonca ich mäso a všetko ostatné leží vonku na ulici a všetko ich ovocie a ich produkty ležia rovno na ulici ako... Takto je tu váš obchod; nechávajú svoju veci tam vzadu, ale vy nakupujete rovno z chodníka. A tam nie je žiaden chodník; je to len ulica. Tak všetci kráčajú rovno po ulici, proste rovno dole ulicou, ulicou s dlažobných kociek.

A tu prichádza dolu ulicou pastier, kráča, kráča tadiaľ a za ním kolóna oviec dlhá ako mestský blok. A tie ovce kráčajú popri tých produktoch a veciach a neotočili by sa ani napravo ani naľavo, držali svoje oči na pastierovi, pohybovali sa cez to rovno ďalej. Pomyslel som si, „Ó Bože, čo znamená pastier, nie pozerať sa vpravo alebo vľavo, nie byť pokúšaný týmto alebo tamtým, ale kráčať v stopách pastiera. Oni chcú nasledovať pastiera.“

8Jedného dňa, keď sme jazdili v malom britskom džípe, som si všimol, že tam bol pastier, ktorý tam mal hore na kopci veľké množstvo zvierat a kŕmil ich. Oni ich viedli a poskytovali im miesta na pašu. A on tam mal v tom ovce; mal v tom kozy; mal v tom muly, mal ťavy, všetko možné. On ich všetky kŕmil; všetky sa pásli. A ten pastier na ne dával pozor. Povedal som, „Ó, pastier tu znamená mnoho vecí. Taktiež...?... pastier pasie.“ Ale povedal, „Vieš, je to zvláštne, brat Branham,“ povedal, „keď prichádza večerný čas, sleduj,“ povedal, „všetky tie ovce idú rovno k pastierovi.“ Povedal, „Muly zostanú vonku na pastvisku.“ A povedal, „Ťavy ostanú vonku na pastvisku,“ ale povedal, „a kozy ostanú vonku na pastvisku.“ Ale povedal, „Ovce idú všetky k pastierovi, keď prichádza večerný čas. Prečo?“ Povedal, „Pretože ovce sú v noci vzaté a držané v bezpečí.“

Povedal som, „Počuj, nehovor tak; spôsobíš, že tu začnem vykrikovať rovno uprostred ulice.“ Rozumiete? Prichádza večerný čas. Mnohí sa pasú na tej istej veci, ale On rozpozná iba ovce. Rozumiete, čo tým myslím? Len ovce, znovuzrodené. „Mnohí sú povolaní; málo je vyvolených.“

Ó, dnes Ho milujem, aj vy? Prehovorme teraz k Nemu predtým, ako otvoríme Jeho Slovo.

9Náš Nebeský Otče, prichádzame k Tebe v tento deň sabatu, vonku prší... Mohli by sme to nazvať bezútešným hmlistým počasím, ale ako by mohol farmár posadiť svoje plodiny, ak by sme nemali v túto jar dostatok vlahy? Nenarástlo by tam žiadne jedlo; pôda by bola vysušená; ľudia by zahynuli.

Uvedomujeme si, že toto je ako prežitie Kresťana. Niekedy musíme prechádzať cez hrozné trestanie, potrestanie od Pána, cez mnohé veci, aby nás napravili, nech môžeme byť Kresťanmi, ktorí prinášajú ovocie. Niekedy je potrebné nás orezať, osekať, odobrať preč, vziať niečo z našich rúk. Niekedy si myslíme, „Ó Bože, čo nám to robíš?“ Ale On vie, čo robí. A tak sa modlíme, Otče, aby si dnes orezal každého jedného z nás, od najmenšieho po najväčšieho, pastora. Bože, modlíme sa, aby si orezával každého jedného z nás. Vezmi preč všetko, čo nie je z Teba, Otče. Vezmi preč veci, ktoré nám zabraňujú v tom, aby sme boli Kresťanmi, ktorí prinášajú ovocie. Prichádza ten deň, keď sa bude stmievať. A potom chceme ísť do ovčinca. Chceme byť dnes ovcami, Otče. Chceme napredovať rovno v stopách toho Pastiera. On nám dal príklad, povedal, „Neprišiel som konať Svoju vôľu, ale vôľu Toho, ktorý Ma poslal.“ Nech by to bol dnes večer náš motív, Bože, aby sme robili vôľu Boha, ktorý nás spasil.

10Požehnaj dnes zbor a nedeľné školy po celom svete. A pamätaj na nás, Pane, dnes na toto malé miesto v Owensboro, aby si na nás vylial Svoje požehnania, pretože sme núdzni a hladní a smädní po spravodlivosti. Tvoje zasľúbenie je, „Bude to naplnené.“ Modlíme sa o to v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.

11V týchto bohoslužbách na návšteve u brata Rogersa, čo je vždy veľkou výsadou, prísť sem a stretnúť sa s bratom Rogersom a s vami, milými svätými ľuďmi, ktorí tu ste, a s ostatnými cirkvami, ktoré sú v Owensboro a mestách naokolo. Naučil som sa toto: Nezáleží na tom, či to je Číňan, Japonec, Kórejčan, Nemec, čokoľvek on je, pokiaľ je bratom, alebo ona je sestrou, nie je v nich ani trochu rozdiel. Oni sú všetci skrátka ovcami z tej istej ohrady.

Sledoval som to v rôznych národoch po celom svete. Ako komunist... Dostanete sa do komunistickej krajiny, kde som musel byť, musel som mať okolo seba ľudí s puškami, aby držali zástupy stranou a musel som mať ľudí, ktorí boli vojakmi, musel som mať sklonenú hlavu a okolo seba vojakov, aby ma chránili pred zastrelením, až kým ma nedostali niekde na tmavé miesto, kde by ma nemohli vidieť a zastreliť ma, alebo niečo, za kázanie Evanjelia, prinášanie dobrej zvesti a veľkej radosti Pána Ježiša Krista. A potom to je – je to úžasné vedieť, že Ježiš je uprostred toho všetkého práve tak príjemný a dobrý, milý. On je skrátka... Nie je na tom nič znepokojujúce, len prijímanie posolstva.

A dnes je to pre nás výsada, že tu môžeme byť s vami v športovom centre dnes popoludní, alebo lepšie povedané dnes večer na bohoslužbe. Modlíme sa, aby ste si všetci našli miesto. Ak váš vlastný zbor nemá bohoslužbu, no, poďte a navštívte nás. A radi by sme urobili všetko, čo môžeme, aby sme vám pomohli zľahčiť bremená, spraviť spoločenstvo trochu lepším miestom na konanie dobrého, trochu ľahším, a ťažším miestom na robenie zlého. To je to, na čo sú tie zhromaždenia určené.

12Teda dnes, ako sa práve chystáme na chvíľu hovoriť. Mám veľmi zlý hlas a mám vo svojom srdci predstavu. A dnes ráno na nedeľnej škole som premýšľal, tesne predtým, ako som išiel popoludní kázať... A ak bude dnes Boh chcieť, v toto popoludnie chcem hovoriť na veľmi (alebo lepšie povedané dnes večer), na veľmi výnimočné Písmo, pokiaľ ide o čas, v ktorom žijeme. A verím, že s Božou pomocou, téma, pravdepodobne sa k tomu potom priblížim z odlišného smeru... Prvé, jedno z prvých posolstiev, ktoré som kázal po veľkolepom navštívení Svätého Ducha pred pár týždňami... A premýšľal som, keď sme tu dnes ráno boli spolu, tak, ako malá skupina Kresťanov, že by sme mohli na chvíľu len hovoriť od srdca k srdcu jeden s druhým. A viem, že tam dole v srdci každého človeka je niečo, že túži vidieť to nadprirodzené.

13Tu prednedávnom, sedel som na zhromaždení v Kalifornii, mal som na hlave príčesok a mal som na sebe tmavé okuliare, len aby som si vypočul bratovu teológiu. Pretože oni by ma spoznali, ak by to tak nebolo. Sedel som s ľuďmi hneď vedľa seba; oni ma ani nespoznali. Len tam tak sedím, len sa pozerám, dívam sa dookola, dokonca som ich počul o mne hovoriť. Nevedeli, že som to bol ja, len som tam sedel. A stalo sa mi, že som sedel vedľa muža, ktorý mal obrátený golier. Na pódium tam prišiel kazateľ a ten človek je jeden z mojich obrátených k Božskému uzdravovaniu. Ale chvíľu kázal, potom šiel späť a komorník mu vymenil oblečenie, keď sa trochu spotil a on prišiel znova späť na pódium. A tento významný človek tam sedel, krútil hlavou a pozrel sa na mňa, povedal, „Či sa takto správa Kristov služobník?“

14Povedal som, „Nie som sudcom.“ Povedal som... On povedal... „No,“ povedal som, „myslím, že jeho posolstvo je nádherné.“

Povedal, „Si Kresťan?“

Povedal som, „Áno, som.“

A povedal, „No,“ povedal, „myslíš, že Kristov služobník by mal robiť takéto predstavenie a takto sa prezliekať a správať sa takto?“

A ja som povedal, „No, pozri, podľa mňa má Boh ľudí v rôznych kategóriách, aby chytil ľudí, ktorí žijú v rôznych kategóriách.“

Rozprával o tom, povedal, „No, ten človek má každý rok dve El Doráda.“

Povedal som, „Som veľmi vďačný, že je Boh k nemu tak dobrý.“ Rozumiete? Ale on sa na mňa pozrel trocha podivne a povedal, „Si Kresťan?“

Povedal som, „Som kazateľ.“

Povedal, „Ja sa volám Tak-a-tak.“

A ja som povedal, „Ja sa volám Branham.“

Povedal, „Nie si ten Branham, ktorý sa modlí za chorých?“

Povedal som, „Veru som.“

„Ó,“ povedal, „rozumiem.“

15A mohol rozumieť, prečo som sa zastával tohto druhého brata. A povedal, „Pán Branham,“ povedal, „nie si baptista?“

Povedal som, „Bol som. Tak veru.“

Povedal, „Chcem sa ťa niečo opýtať.“ Povedal, „Som istý doktor teológie v určitej cirkvi, no, presbyteriánskej.“ A povedal, „Vieš čo? Tu na tomto západnom pobreží,“ povedal, „my, presbyteriánski ľudia sme mali celé západné pobrežie.“ Povedal, „Mali sme najväčšie zbory a najskvelejšie zhromaždenia zo všetkých cirkví, ktoré sú na západnom pobreží.“ A povedal, „Vieš, čo nás rozlámalo?“

Povedal som, „Nie veru.“

Povedal, „Prišiel ten kult kresťanskej vedy a rozlámal našu cirkev.“ A povedal, „Teraz prichádza táto letničná skupina a rozlamuje kresťanskú vedu a všetko ostatné.“

Povedal som, „Aha.“ Povedal som, „Doktor, vieš o tom, že vyhladované deti budú jesť z odpadkového koša, ak sú hladné?“

Povedal, „No, myslím, že to je pravda.“

Povedal som, „Ak vy, presbyteriáni, ako si povedal, že ste, ak by ste zostali so Slovom Božím a dávali deťom Chlieb Života, ten kult by ich nikdy nerozlámal.“ Povedal som, „Skrátka ste popustili; to je všetko.“ A povedal som, „Ľudia sú stále ľuďmi a sú – každý človek sa snaží nahliadnuť za oponu. Snaží sa vidieť, odkiaľ prišiel a kam ide. A ak to nevyprodukuje cirkev živého Boha, potom diabol vzbudí nejaké kulty, aby im dal nejaké falošné veci.“ Povedal som, „Preto by ste mali zostať so Slovom Božím; oni by všetci boli presbyteriáni.“ A to je naozaj pravda. A to je to, ako si myslím, že to vo všeobecnosti ľudia cítia.

16No, chcem tu prečítať krátky text Písma a možno do toho Pán pridá Svoje požehnania. A tak sledujem čas na svojich hodinkách, pretože viem, že vaše triedy nedeľnej školy čoskoro zakončia a máme niečo ešte po zhromaždení. A myslel som, že by som k vám len hovoril – len na chvíľu od srdca k srdcu dnes ráno v lekcii nedeľnej školy. A zisťujeme, že toto je len na druhej strane odtiaľ, odkiaľ som kázal minulý večer z 2. Kráľom; toto je teraz 2. Kráľom, 5. Počúvajte 4. verš. [2. Kráľom, 5:8 – pozn.prekl.]

A stalo sa, keď počul Elizeus, muž Boží, že izraelský kráľ roztrhol svoje rúcho, poslal ku kráľovi s odkazom: Prečo si roztrhol svoje rúcho? Nože nech prijde ku mne, aby zvedel, že je prorok v Izraelovi.

17Takže vec, o ktorej dnes ráno chceme chvíľu hovoriť, je: Nadprirodzeno. Všetci sme hladní po nadprirodzenom. Vy, bratia od metodistov, ste hladní po nadprirodzenom. Mám so sebou metodistického kazateľa, ktorý je hladný a smädný po nadprirodzenom. Vy, baptisti, ste hladní a smädní po nadprirodzenom. Všetci z nich sú. No, bezpochyby, ak je Boh stále Bohom, On je stále nadprirodzený. Veríte tomu? On musí byť.

Takže, snažíme sa Boha umiestniť do nejakého praveku, alebo urobiť z Neho nejakého historického Boha, ale čo dobrého nám dnes urobí historický Boh? Na aký úžitok je Boh Eliáša dnešnému človeku, ak nie je tým istým Bohom? Čo sa o Ňom učíte v seminári? No, a ak On bol iba nejakým historickým faktom a nie je tým istým i dnes, radšej by ste sa mali učiť poľnohospodárstvo alebo niečo také, niečo, čo by niekomu mohlo pomôcť. Je to tak? Bolo by lepšie, ak by ste sa naučili... aby vaše dieťa bolo architektom, namiesto toho, aby bolo kazateľom, ak je On iba historickým Bohom a nie je tým istým i dnes. Čo dobrého urobí Boh Mojžiša, ak On nie je tým istým Bohom i dnes? Len o tom teraz popremýšľajte vo svojej mysli. Sme tak... vždy sa tak veľmi zaujímame o naše prežitia.

18Minulý večer mi povedala jedna malá pani, ktorá je v našom strede... [Prázdne miesto na páske. – pozn.prekl.] Kazateľ z istej významnej denominačnej cirkvi... A ja som sa jej opýtal, či jej otec bol niekedy pastorom, a tak podobne?

A ona povedala, „Brat Branham, môj otec mal iba vzdelanie zo základnej školy; preto mu nedovolili kázať vo väčších cirkvách, pretože jeho vzdelanie bolo biedne.“

Možno skvelý Duchom naplnený muž, ale organizácia by ho nepodporila, nezáleží na tom, ako bol naplnený Duchom, kvôli nedostačujúcemu vzdelaniu. Tam minuli Boha. Peter sa ani nedokázal podpísať a on mal kľúče od Kráľovstva Božieho, ktoré mu boli dané od Ježiša Krista. Hľadíme na vzdelanie. Vzdelanie je fajn, ale to sa učí v školách. Cirkev je miesto, kde poznávame Boha a učíme sa od Boha a to je v nadprirodzenom. A Boh je nadprirodzený a ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.

19No, chceme vidieť a umiestniť pred naše poslucháčstvo toto, že Boh je stále rovnaký, aký vždy bol. Ľudia sa dostávajú preč od Boha, ale Boh zostáva rovnaký. Jeho povaha, Jeho moc a Jeho túžba je vždy rovnaká po všetky generácie. Nikdy sa to nemení. Je to stále rovnaké. Ľudia sú tými, ktorí odchádzajú od Boha a nie Boh od ľudí. Strácajú svoju vieru. Boh pokrýva všetok priestor, všetko, všade. On je všadeprítomný. Takže je všade a vždy bol všade a vždy bude všade.

20Ale postoj ľudí je tým, čo prináša výsledky. To je dôvod, prečo na Letnice museli ísť do hornej miestnosti a modliť sa, až kým nezostúpil Duch Svätý, pretože sa dostali na jedno miesto a do jednoty. Atmosféra je tým, čo prináša výsledky. Veríte tomu? Nech každý muž a žena, ktorí sú dnes ráno v tejto budove, chlapec alebo dievča, dostanú preč zo svojej mysle všetko okrem Pána Ježiša a nech veria, že On tu práve teraz stojí prítomný a uvidíte, že sa udeje niečo, čo spôsobí titulky v raňajších novinách. To je pravda. To je atmosféra.

Neverím v robenie si žartov spoza kazateľne, pretože kazateľňa nie je miestom na vtipy. Je to posvätné miesto. Spomeniem niečo, iba kvôli tomuto tu. Pán Bosworth má veľmi dobrý zmysel pre humor a on povedal, „Brat Branham, na dôkaz toho, že to je atmosféra,“ povedal, „mohol by si vziať slepačie vajce a vložiť ho pod šteňa a priviazať ho a ono by vysedelo kurča.“ Rozumiete? Teplota tela toho šteňaťa je tým, čo by vysedelo to vajce. Ono nemusí byť pod sliepkou; ono môže byť pod šteňaťom. Mohlo by byť v inkubátore. To je tá atmosféra.

A atmosféra je tým, čo prináša nadprirodzené a zázraky a moci Božie medzi ľudí. Je to atmosféra ľudí. A keď sa ľudia dostanú na miesto, kde rozumujú, premýšľajú, lámu si hlavu, uvažujú, sú rozrušení a nevedia, kde stoja, polovica z nich ani nie je biblicky vyučovaná, ako môžete očakávať, že atmosféra bude v poriadku? Nemôžete to urobiť; nebude to v poriadku. Musí to byť v jednote, na jednom mieste a nastavení na jeden motív, jednu vec, potom uvidíte, ako sa niečo bude diať.

21Nefunguje to iba takto, ale ak by ste sa na to pozreli vo vedeckom svete. Povedzme, že ste úplne všetci skupinou obchodníkov a budete predávať autá značky Chevrolet, alebo Pontiac, alebo nejaký typ auta. A jeden si vo svojom srdci v skutočnosti myslí, že autá značky Studebaker sú lepšie, a tak ďalej podobne. Doveďte nás všetkých sem dnu a povieme, že najlepšou značkou auta je Buick, a iný povie nejaké iné auto, doveďte nás takto spolu, nikdy by ste nemohli mať ten správny druh stretnutia. Vezmime to v diablovej činnosti...

22Choďte a... Povedzme, že ideme na tanečnú zábavu. Jeden človek stojí a hovorí, „No, teraz...“ On nevie, či chce tancovať alebo nie. A tamto dievča, ona toto, tamto... A hudba hrá, „Bližšie k Tebe, môj Bože,“ juj, čo to je za atmosféra k tancu. No, to nie je žiaden rozdiel, než to, čo mnohé atmosféry... do zboru idete kvôli službe Bohu, takže to je v takom protiklade. Správne.

Jediná vec, ktorá potom prinesie tú správnu atmosféru k tancu, je zapnúť tanečnú hudbu a všetci myslia na to, aký ohromný čas budú mať pri tanci, a tak ďalej, a budú mať veľký čas nadšenia a radosti. Zahrajte na klavíri, na organe ten správny druh hudby a nech sú všetci v takej atmosfére, že je tam Ježiš Kristus, a On uskutoční všetko, na čo majú potrebu, niečo sa bude diať: atmosféra. Ale to je tá najťažšia vec, ktorá sa má robiť. A to je to, aby sa ľudia dostali do tej atmosféry, atmosféry uctievania, atmosféry veriť.

23A to je dôvod, prečo sa niekedy Boží život, ktorý bol povolaný a oddelený, stal fanatickým, alebo bláznivým, alebo záhadným, alebo niečím takým v očiach širokej verejnosti, je to preto, že ste považovaní za... povedal by som neurotickú, alebo pomätenú osobu, je to preto, že ste zmenili miesto svojho prebývania a dostali sa do odlišnej atmosféry. A váš vlastný motív, vaše úmysly sú, aby ste ostali v tej atmosfére. Akákoľvek osoba, ktorá niekedy raz vojde do tej atmosféry, nebude nikdy spokojná nikde inde. A to je dôvod, prečo verím, že by sme naše zbory mali mať pod vedením Svätého Ducha, aby muži a ženy vo svojej práci, a kdekoľvek by boli, aby mali neustále túžbu, a budú ju mať, ak niekedy raz vošli do tej atmosféry.

24No, tým, že rozprávam v cirkvi Zborov Božích medzi letničnými ľuďmi... No, naučil som sa milovať letničných ľudí; sú to moji bratia a sestry. Ale mnohokrát sa naše vlastné letničné rady obmedzujú tak, že niekedy sa naša atmosféra stáva emóciou namiesto uctievania. A to čoskoro zomrie a členovia sa stanú tým a tamtým. Ale ak by sme niekedy mohli dostať dohromady skupinu ľudí na miesto, kde by bola skutočná atmosféra Svätého Ducha, posvätnosť, úprimnosť a uctievanie a muži a ženy, ktorí tam sedia, sú si vedomí Boha a vedia, že veľkolepá Božia všemohúcnosť je prítomná, pripravená uskutočniť všetko bez jediného tieňa pochybnosti, to bude mať vplyv dokonca na neveriacich, ktorí tu dnes večer sedia. Nikdy nemôžete vojsť do takej atmosféry bez toho, že by sa niečo stalo.

25Prednedávnom som kázal, tí nahrávači pások... Tí chlapci boli so mnou, vzali kázeň „Skrytý Život Krista,“ ako sa dostať do Krista a ako sú niektorí ľudia raz hore a raz dole, oni nemôžu... To je miesto, ktoré musíte nájsť. Vonkajšie nádvoria produkovali mannu, iste. Mnohí ľudia žijú rovno na tej manne; jedia tú mannu; ale nežijú tým správnym druhom života. Raz sú hore a raz zase dole; majú vchádzania a vychádzania, a zlé dni a dobré dni. Ale stretli ste ľudí, ktorí absolútne bez ohľadu na to, aké bolo počasie, alebo aké boli podmienky, oni sú po celý čas „hore na streche.“ On našiel to tajomstvo. Našiel atmosféru, aby v nej žil.

26V Starom zákone, ako bolo to zhromaždenie kŕmené chlebom z neba. Oni žili v troch rôznych atmosférach. V nádvoriach, tam padala manna a Izraeliti jedli mannu. On jedol rovnakú mannu, ako jedli oni na všetkých ostatných miestach, rovnakú mannu. Ale spomeňte si, že vo vnútri tých nádvorí, v arche, bolo pevné miesto, kde oni – tá manna sa nikdy neskazila. Inak sa skazila. Nevydržala by do deviatej hodiny ráno. Oni to vymleli a spravili z toho jedlo, urobili z toho nejaké koláče a jedli to. A zistili, že predtým, ako zašlo slnko, boli hladní, ak toho nezhromaždili dostatok.

A to je to, čo sa dnes deje s ľuďmi; oni majú kempové kŕče. Idú na prebudenecké zhromaždenie a majú ohromný čas. A prvá vec, ktorú o nejaký čas zistíte, predtým, ako by mohlo prísť ďalšie prebudenie, oni sú znova späť vo svete.

27Istý človek napísal o mne prednedávnom článok, čo je úplne v poriadku; milujem ho. Nehovorím to, aby som bol pokrytec; hovorím to, pretože to je pravda. Johnova cirkev, vy, nazarénski ľudia,... On povedal... Napísal proti Božskému uzdravovaniu. Povedal, „Jeden z ich kľúčových ľudí, pán Branham,“ povedal, „nikdy vo svojom živote som toho človeka nestretol.“ A pomyslieť na rozumnosť človeka, ktorý píše článok o osobe, s ktorou nikdy vo svojom živote nehovoril. To ukazuje, že tam niečo nie je v poriadku. Náš zákon hovorí, „Ako môžeme odsúdiť človeka bez toho, aby sme ho najprv vypočuli.“

Povedal, „Nepoznám toho človeka, nikdy nepočul – nikdy v živote som ho nevidel. Ale prišiel ku mne jeden človek a povedal mi, že sedel... Chcel, aby som sa za neho pomodlil, aby mohol byť uzdravený od problémov s prostatou. A on povedal, 'Raz som bol už uzdravený.' A povedal... Porozprával mi ten príbeh. Povedal, 'Sedel som v zhromaždení,' a povedal, 'vzadu na balkóne.' A povedal, 'Bolo to zhromaždenie brata Branhama.' A povedal, 'Zrazu som začal pociťovať, že na mňa prichádza divný pocit.' A povedal, 'Potom sa ten muž otočil odtiaľ, kde kázal, a povedal, 'Muž, ktorý sedí tam hore je Ten-a-ten, istý človek z určitého miesta,' a povedal, 'modlí sa, aby bol uzdravený od problémov s prostatou.' A povedal, 'Ak to len teraz prijme a bude tomu veriť, môže ísť domov a byť zdravý.' On povedal, 'Niečo ma zasiahlo; nikdy v živote som necítil nič také.' Povedal, 'A celý rok ma moja prostata neobťažovala, a prišlo to na mňa znova.'“

„Pán cirkev,“ povedal, „či potom nevidíte, že to ukazuje, že pán Branham je falošný? Ak Boh uzdravil človeka, On ho uzdravil do konca života.“ Pomyslel som si, „'Pán cirkev,' koľkokrát ste prišli na táborisko Silver Hills a zhromaždili ste všetkých tých Nazarénov a posvätili ich v tomto roku a na ďalší rok posväcujete z nich niektorých ďalších. Možno to od začiatku nemali, tak potom by Boh nebol skutočný.“ Rozumiete?

28Božské uzdravovanie a posvätenie a moci Božie trvajú dovtedy, kým v tom zotrváva vaša viera. Keď vaša viera zlyhá, potom je vaše prežitie preč. Je to založené takýmto jednoduchým spôsobom na dokončenom diele Krista na Golgote. Ste posvätení tak dlho, ako je vaše svedectvo v poriadku, tak dlho, ako žijete posvätený život a veríte, že to Boh vás posvätil; ste posvätení, všetko to pripisujete Jeho milosti a Jeho zásluhám. A tak dlho, ako ste prijali uzdravenie a veríte vášmu uzdraveniu, a pokračujete a takto tomu veríte, budete uzdravení tak dlho, ako tomu veríte. A začnete o tom pochybovať...

A vezmite človeka, ktorý tu dnes ráno sedí a ktorý nie je ani trochu chorý, a nech začne vo svojom srdci veriť, že je chorý, oni ho vynesú z budovy. Aká je vaša viera, tak sa vám stane. To nie je kresťanská veda. Nemám na mysli, že myseľ je nad hmotou. Ale vidíte, tá vec, o ktorú ide, to je atmosféra, v ktorej žijete.

29No, tento človek, o ktorom budeme na chvíľu hovoriť, potom vám chcem vydať svedectvo... Tento muž Eliáš, veľký prorok, bol mužom, ktorý žil v tej ustálenej atmosfére. Bol povolaný muž od nazarejského narodenia. „Všetky dary a povolania sú bez pokánia.“ To nie je nič, čo by ste mohli urobiť, ako spraviť jeden vlas čiernym alebo bielym; nemôžete pridať jeden lakeť ku vašej postave. Keď sa snažíme napodobniť niečo, čím nás Boh neurobil, potom máme iba telesné napodobeniny. Ak sa snažíme robiť niečo, do čoho nás Boh nepovolal, aby sme to robili, ak to budeme robiť, úplne zlyháme. Ak by sa muž snažil zo seba urobiť ženu, žena zasa muža, ako by ste to urobili?

Stretol som ženu, ktorej mali spraviť chirurgické testy a mala byť prerobená na muža, prerobená na ženu, akokoľvek to bolo, v Taliansku, v Ríme. Tam bola, hanbila sa za to, že je ženou, tak opitá, ako len mohla byť, kráčala hore a dole po uliciach, ó, najhoršia vec na pohľad, akú ste kedy videli.

30Všimnite si, nemôžete sa urobiť ničím iným od toho, čo Boh určil, aby ste tým boli. Všetko ostatné je falošná napodobenina. A tak, ak je vaše obrátenie iba preto, že sa snažíte za niečo ukryť, alebo sa snažíte urobiť lepšou osobou, odohrávate iba rolu pokrytca. Až kým do vášho života skutočne nepríde Kristus a nepremení vás a neprivedie vás do tej atmosféry, v tom je ten rozdiel. To je ten dôvod, prečo ideme cez tak mnohé rozličné formy a hovoria, že musia vykonať toto. Ježiš povedal, „Ten, kto čuje Moje Slovo a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má Večný Život.“

Nie vytvorená viera, to je absolútne niečo, čo sa stalo, obrátenie srdca, ktoré vás zmenilo a prenieslo do inej sféry. Nepochopení muži, Kresťania, ženy, muži, chlapci a dievčatá, zostali nepochopení, tí, ktorí žijú v tých miestach, pretože to je v protiklade s tým prirodzeným kolobehom života medzi ľuďmi tohto sveta. A som si istý, že všetci chceme žiť v tej atmosfére.

31Pozrite, ľudia, ktorí jedli mannu tam vonku na tej zemi, jedli tú istú mannu, ktorú jedol najvyšší kňaz vnútri pod Slávou Shekinah. Ale táto manna sa skazila vonku na zemi, ale tá vo vnútri toho skrytého miesta sa nikdy neskazila. Vydržala dlhé roky. A človek, ktorý tam vstúpil, keď najvyšší kňaz vošiel poza tú oponu, tú oponu, ktorá oddeľovala svätyňu od svätyne svätých, keď tam vošiel, padla za ním opona, ten človek, on... Bolo to dokonca dokázané zvukom. Zostal odrezaný od celého sveta a okolia. Nepoznal tam nič iné okrem života v Prítomnosti Božej.

A muž alebo žena, ktorí niekedy vošli do tej Božej Slávy Shekinah, celý svet za ním zostal odrezaný. Nezáleží na tom, čo hovorí diabol, nevenuješ tomu žiadnu pozornosť. A on (ten človek) žije v odlišnej atmosfére. On žil tam, kde vložili Áronovu palicu. A to nebolo nič iné, než stará mŕtva palica z olivového stromu. Ale keď ju raz vložili do Prítomnosti Božej, to prinieslo to, čím to malo byť od začiatku. Počas jednej noci vypučala, zakvitla a priniesla mandle.

32Tak isto to je, keď je raz neveriaci alebo hriešnik položený do Prítomnosti Všemohúceho Boha pod vplyvom Ducha Svätého, on sa rovno vtedy stáva novým stvorením. Jeho život začne prinášať ovocie, čerstvé; do vnútra prichádza Život a on prináša to, čím mal byť, syn Boží. Bol odlomený zo stromu, tak bol tou olivovou vetvou. Bol odlomený zo stromu, avšak hriešnici a vlažní členovia cirkvi sa stali suchými palicami s trochou spomienok na to, že niekedy tam v minulosti bol nadprirodzený Boh, ktorý mal život a to bolo tam dávno.

Ale ak veríte a ležíte v Jeho Prítomnosti, to pre vás vyprodukuje to isté. Uvedomíte si, že ste sa narodili ako synovia a dcéry Božie, a budete prinášať ovocie Ducha. Ale vy to nemôžete robiť tam vonku na nádvoriach; musíte to robiť tu dnu, vo vnútri, skrytí.

33Človek, ktorý bol vonku na nádvoriach, kráčal za denného svetla. Niektoré dni to bolo takéto, pršalo. V iné dni mohlo svietiť slnko a v noci mohla byť búrka a temnosť. On bol raz hore a raz zase dole. Takto vidíte ľudí. „Ó,“ hovoria, „kŕmime sa dobrou Božou mannou.“ To je pravda. Ale kde žijú? Žijú tam vonku, jedia ju v atmosfére, v ktorej by ju nemali jesť.

Ďalší človek, on mal iné svetlo, ten, ktorý bol pri oltári. Bolo to osvetlené siedmimi zlatými svietnikmi, v malých lampách. A niekedy tie lampy začali slabšie horieť a začali dymiť, viete, ako to robia lampy, dymia a zhasínajú. A človek, ktorý prišiel na miesto, kde šiel do cirkvi, preč z nádvorí, preč od vlažných členov cirkvi a vykročil hore, aby žil pekný dobrý život v Kristovi, on je oddelený a veci z... Ale on stále žije pod tými svetlami, ktoré zoslabnú a dymia, umelé svetlo. Ale keď raz vošiel poza tú svätyňu svätých, vkročil do Prítomnosti Božej a spadla za ním opona, tam je miska manny, kde môže jesť každý deň, každú hodinu v týždni. To je miesto, kde žije v Sláve Shekinah, kde sú spojené krídla Cherubov, veľký Ohnivý Stĺp a Shekinah tam odpočinula. A on tam pod Tým žije; nemôže byť ničím iným, než skutočným pravým Kresťanom po celý čas: Atmosféra.

34Muži a ženy, ktorí tam v tom žijú, sú neporozumení. Rozumiete to? Stávajú sa čudnými. Oni nepočujú veci toho sveta, alebo ak áno, nevenujú im pozornosť. Oni len idú napred. Boh to tam nikdy nedal len tak, pre nič. Boh nikdy neprišiel len nejakou náhodnou cestou. Modlitba nie je „možno“. Modlitba je úprimná vec. Modlitba je rozhovor s Bohom. Modlitba nie je ísť dolu, zavrieť oči a myslieť o vašom praní, alebo o vašej práci, ktorú robíte. Poviete, „Pane, pomôž mne a Johnovi a uzdrav slečnu Jonesovú, a tak ďalej.“ To nie je modlitba. To je opakovanie nejakých slov. Ale modlitba je prísť do atmosféry, kde si uvedomíte, že ste v Prítomnosti Božej, a potom sa tam pohybujete do tej najhlbšej úprimnosti. Najprv poviete malú chválu, „Ó, Jehova, ako Ťa milujem.“ Vidíte to? Potom, po chváliacej modlitbe, potom prichádzate s úprimným srdcom a prosíte.

„Ak zostanete vo Mne,“ nie vyjsť dnes vo svete von spoza opony a behať okolo a snažiť sa dostať večer späť za oponu. „Ak zostanete vo Mne, keď Moje slová zostanú vo vás.“ Inak, ak ste ako Áronova palica, ktorá bola položená do slávy Shekinah ku zlatému vedierku manny, kde ju môžete kedykoľvek jesť, a vaša duša je občerstvená a kvitne a poddáva sa. Pretrvávanie. „Ak zostanete vo Mne, Moje slová zostanú vo vás, potom si proste, čo chcete, bude vám to dané.“

35Vidíte tie úpadky cirkvi, letničnej cirkvi, metodistov, baptistov, a všetkých? Je to upadnutie od tej pretrvávajúcej milosti Božej. Dnes večer budete kričať a tlieskať rukami, a tancovať v uličkách, hovoriť v jazykoch. To sú dary. Dary nie sú dobré, pokiaľ nezostávate v sláve Shekinah. Vidíte?

Tie veci sú dobré. Nemám proti nim čo povedať; oni sú z Boha. Kričanie a žehnanie Boha je nádherné. Hovorenie v jazykoch, alebo výklad jazykov, to je to isté, a všetky tieto ostatné veci, dary uzdravovania, proroctiev, a všetky tieto veci sú úžasné, ale nie sú na nič dobré, nie sú plodné, oni nemôžu zo seba vydať to správne, kým nežijete v Prítomnosti Shekinah, atmosféra okolo vás je Božia.

To je ten dôvod, prečo muži a ženy nemajú prístup k týmto veciam, lebo idete tu von a voláte po požehnaní v niečom, čo Boh preklial, alebo preklínate niečo, čo Boh požehnal. Je to pretrvávajúca Prítomnosť, poznať Božiu vôľu. Potom sa nepozerajte na to, čo o vás povie svet. Je to to, čo si Boh o tom myslí. Potom žijete v Jeho Prítomnosti.

36Vo dňoch tohto proroctva, alebo lepšie povedané proroka... Boh nikdy nebol bez hlasu, alebo hovorcu, ktorého by na zemi niekde mal. A Eliáš bol Jeho hovorca. A pokiaľ viem, v čase odpadnutia Izraela... Vždy sa stávali chladnými, formálnymi a odpadlíkmi. Pretože to ukazuje, priatelia, že tu nemáme žiadne zostávajúce mesto, ale očakávame na to, ktoré má prísť.

Prednedávnom som stál a díval sa. Zvykol som byť boxer, ako viete, bojovať. Vyhral som pätnásť profesionálnych zápasov (nechválim sa tým, hanbím sa za to), ale pätnásť profesionálnych zápasov bez toho, že by som jeden prehral, deväť z nich boli “knokauty.“ A mám tam svoju fotku, keď som bol v najlepšej forme, svalnatý a na krku mi viseli čierne strapaté vlasy. A díval som sa a pomyslel som si... Moje malé dievčatko prišlo dnu a videla moju fotku v izbe; povedala, „Tati, nevyzeráš tak, ako si zvykol vyzerať.“ Iste nie.

Lebo tu nemáme zostávajúceho mesta; toto smrteľné telo zaniká. Na miestach, kde mával silné svaly, prichádza staroba, a tam sa začína vkrádať tuk. Pamätám si raz jeden mohutný strom, vedľa ktorého som zvykol stáť, a jeho veľké majestátne vetvy, povedal som, že bude žiť navždy. A dnes je z neho pahýľ.

37Prednedávnom som stál v Ríme, kde raz vládol svetu. A tam, to veľkolepé mesto sa dnes stalo ničím, ale museli by ste kopať tridsať stôp [asi 9,5 metra – pozn.prekl.] pod zem, aby ste našli jeho ruiny, teraz je jedným z najslabších, zdegradovaných národov na svete. Nie sú ani sebestační.

Stál som v Aténach, v Grécku, kde raz stála iná veľkolepá ríša, a takmer tam nezostal po tej ríši ani len symbol. A stál som v Káhire, v Egypte, kde raz Egypt riadil a ovládal svet, na stolici faraónov, a nezostalo tam nič, len Sfinga a zopár pyramíd, ktoré tam stoja ako pozostatky kedysi veľkolepej celosvetovej ríše.

Brat a sestra, naša veľkolepá Amerika a naša veľká ekonomika, ktorú máme, hnije od základov a jedného dňa, vidím to tak, že sa to deje rovno teraz, ona klesne v ruinách. A vy, muži, ktorí ste dnes mladí, vy, mladé ženy, s krásou mladosti, rumenec mladej tváre, nerozum mladého srdca, ale jedného dňa bude plesnivieť tam niekde na cintoríne. Prečo? Pretože všetko smrteľné musí uvoľniť cestu nesmrteľnému. Každý národ musí padnúť, pretože prichádza národ, ktorý nebude ovládaný človekom, ale Kristom. Tieto veci padnú.

38Izrael padol. A to padá... A práve predtým, ako to padá, povstal tento veľký prorok, ktorý bol medzi ľuďmi fanatikom. Ale on žil v atmosfére, v ktorej bol neustále v Prítomnosti Božej. A slúžil Bohu pomimo, aby bol sám, takmer ako odlúčenec. A dokážem si predstaviť ľudí, ako o ňom hovoria. Viem si ich predstaviť, ako hovoria, „Veríte tej historke o tom, že ho tam hore kŕmia vtáky? Veríte všetkým tým rozličným veciam?“ Vo dňoch Noeho, „Veríte tej historke o daždi, ako prichádza dolu voda, od toho fanatika?“ Ale on žil pod atmosférou Božou a nie ľudskou.

A potom, keď prišiel čas, bol tam... Prišli Sýrovia a vzali malé dievča do ich národa. A potom ten veľký hlavný veliteľ armády, Biblia povedala, že bol mocným mužom, ale bol malomocný.

39Vonku v týchto – dnes v tomto svete, rovno tu v Owensboro, v Kentucky, sú tu ľudia, ktorí tu vo vašom meste majú veľký vplyv. Nepoznám ich, ale mesto tejto veľkosti by veľmi ťažko mohlo byť modernou Sodomou bez toho, že by malo vplyvných ľudí. Ale záleží na tom, kde nechajú tento vplyv prebývať, aký druh života to prinesie. Ak to je pod politikou... Pričom nemôžem povedať o nich nič; potrebujeme politikov, a tak ďalej. Ale čímkoľvek on je, ak nechá seba, alebo tento vplyv ležať v správnej atmosfére... On by mal ležať v Prítomnosti Božej.

40Všimnite si, tento Náman bol veľký človek, ale bol malomocný. Dnes je tak mnoho ľudí, až som smutný, že to poviem, že dokonca za kazateľňou, to sú významní ľudia, ale počúvajú na ľudskú teológiu namiesto toho, aby zostávali v Prítomnosti Božej, a stále sú malomocní, „Majú formu pobožnosti, ale zapierajú jej moc.“ Vplyvní rečníci, pôsobiví, ale stále vôbec nevedia, čo to je byť znovu narodený do – alebo veriť v nadprirodzeno a nedokážu tomu porozumieť, až kým nevojdú do Kráľovstva Božieho... On sa to zakaždým bude snažiť zahovoriť skrze rozumovanie. No, on nikdy nežil v tejto atmosfére. Ale človek, ktorý tam raz vstúpi, sa musí stať synom a dcérou Božou, potom je jeho prirodzenosť ako Božia. Verí nadprirodzenému.

41A tak tam mali to malé dievča. No, chcem vám ukázať moc svedectva dieťaťa, ktoré žilo v národe, alebo možno rodiny, ktorá bola pod vplyvom Boha. Ona milovala svojho pána a svoju pani. A tak, keď videla Námana, pravdepodobne to bol dobrosrdečný, dobromyseľný človek... Pokiaľ vieme, podľa histórie, Elizeus nikdy neuzdravil malomocného človeka. V jeho dni tam vôbec nebol prípad uzdravenia malomocného.

Ale to malé dievča, ktoré vyrastalo a bolo vychované pod vplyvom v Izraeli, aj keď bola cudzinka, správala sa ako veriaca. A tak by sme to mali robiť po celý čas, správať sa tak, nezáleží na tom, aká je naša pozícia, správajme sa ako veriaci, vždy pripravení dať odpoveď o nádeji, ktorá leží vo vás. Rozumiete tomu?

42Pred nejakým časom tu dolu na juhu, Nemci, alebo Holanďania priviedli, holandské kolónie priviedli do Ameriky černochov z Afriky a predali ich v južných štátoch za otrokov. A stali sa osobným vlastníctvom otrokára. A pracovali v lopote dňa a ich jazvy od bičov a niekedy krutí páni. A boli obťažení a preč z domova. Mnohokrát nechceli pracovať a oni ich prinútili silou do práce.

A na istej plantáži bol jeden veľký majiteľ, ktorý vlastnil mnoho stoviek otrokov, dvesto alebo tristo otrokov na tejto rozľahlej plantáži. On kupoval a predával otrokov. A raz tadiaľ prechádzal jeden kupec. Povedal, „Rád by som od teba kúpil tamtoho otroka.“ Povedal, „Sledoval som ho, ako sa správa.“ Povedal, „Kráča vyrovnane; nikdy ho nemusíš bičovať.“ Povedal, „On je vždy ochotný a pripravený urobiť čokoľvek.“ Povedal, „Vyzerá, že je udatnou osobou.“ Povedal, „Možno si ho urobil šéfom nad zvyškom z nich.“

On povedal, „Nie, je len otrokom.“

Povedal, „Možno ho trocha lepšie kŕmiš, a to je to, čo spôsobuje, že sa správa odlišne.“

On povedal, „Nie, jedáva s ostatnými.“

Povedal, „Čo spôsobuje, že sa správa odlišne?“ Tu to je, bratia.

On povedal, „Nie, ja sám som sa čudoval, čo spôsobuje, že on má vždy hore bradu, vypnutú hruď, je pripravený v akomkoľvek čase, nikdy nie je zhrbený, nikdy nie je skleslý. Potom som zistil, že on je synom kráľa kmeňa. Hoci je cudzincom, hoci je preč z domova, stále sa tak správa, vediac toto, že je synom kráľa. Udržuje morálku zvyšku z nich vysoko, lebo vie, že je synom.“

43O čo viac by to dnes ráno malo byť v kresťanskej cirkvi a čo za výzva je to. Nezáleží na tom, čo robia ostatní ľudia a čo robia tí, ktorí vyznávajú Kresťanstvo, my musíme kráčať ako synovia a dcéry Kráľa. Naša morálka by mala byť skvelá. Nikdy by sme sa nemali správať ako ten svet, alebo žiť so svetom. Mali by sme našu odvahu držať vysoko, vediac toto, že sme cudzincami. Nezaujímame sa o svet a o to, čo si myslia. Sme cudzinci, pútnici, hostia. Ale raz pôjdeme domov. Ale v tomto čase sme pútnici.

44Táto mladá dáma bola tiež taký typ. Povedala svojej panej; povedala, „Priala by som si, keby môj pán, Náman, bol v mojej krajine, pretože tam máme proroka, ktorý by ho mohol uzdraviť z jeho malomocenstva.“ Ó, ako Boh to dieťa použil. Ako to vedela? To je to isté, ako som hovoril minulý večer: Inšpirácia práve z tej atmosféry.

No, všimnite si. To dieťa bolo pod inšpiráciou vedené, aby povedalo tie slová. Nevieme o Eliášovi, že by uzdravil niekedy niekoho iného a možno nikoho iného, nezáleží na tom, za koľkých sa modlil. Ale ona povedala, „Priala by som si, keby Boh dal, že by môj pán, Náman, bol v mojej krajine, pretože v mojej krajine máme proroka.“

Ó, keby sme to mohli povedať o našich dnešných cirkvách. Prial by som si, keby Boh dal, aby si mohol prísť pod vplyv, pod ktorým žijem ja, a pod ktorým žije moja cirkev, pretože my veríme, že Boh je Uzdravovateľ. Veríme, že Boh je Spasiteľ. Veríme, že Boh dáva Svätého Ducha. Prial by som si, keby Boh dal, že by si žil v mojej krajine.

45Všimnite si rýchlo, keď vošli do takéhoto miesta, kde je predstavené nadprirodzeno, Náman okamžite poslal k svojmu kráľovi. A on napísal list inému kráľovi; povedal, „Istotne, ak sa tam v tej krajine teraz deje takáto veľká vec, kráľ by o tom mal vedieť. Ak je tam v tej krajine prorok, kráľ by o tom mohol vedieť. Iste, tí vysoko postavení by o tom mali vedieť.“ Vidíte, to je stále telesná myseľ.

To malé dievča nikdy nepovedalo slovo o kráľovi; ona hovorila o prorokovi. Amen. Ó, dúfam, že to vidíte. Ó, ona hovorila o prorokovi. Možno nikdy nevidela uzdravený prípad malomocenstva, ale vedela, kde žil niekto, kto bol pod vplyvom tej atmosféry nadprirodzena. Povedala, „Ak tam pôjdeš, niečo sa stane.“

46Ale tu ide kráľ okľukou, či vlastne Náman, ide ku kráľovi. A dnes hľadáte... Hovoríte, „Patrím do cirkvi.“ Ó. To nemá nič spoločné s atmosférou, vôbec nič.

Všimnite si, a on posiela list izraelskému kráľovi. A vyzerá to ako dnes, ak bol v krajine prorok, ak bolo v krajine uzdravovanie, že tí vysoko postavení by to mohli vedieť. Boh nekoná vždy s vysoko postavenými. Sme jednotlivcami v Kráľovstve.

47Raz som s niekým hovoril o polygamii (mnohoženstvo). Povedal som, že v celku by na tom národ bol lepšie, ak by sa praktizovalo mnohoženstvo. Bol by. Sme najvyššie hodnotený národ na svete v rozvodoch, sobášenie a zmiešané manželstvá, sobášenie a zmiešané manželstvá. Pretože sa pokúšame o to, aby ľudia, ktorí sú vonku vo svete, aby sa zhodovali s kresťanskou náukou, a nemôžete vložiť prirodzenosť baránka do prasaťa. Mnohoženstvo by bolo pre neho lepšie. Možno tomu nebudete veriť, ale Boh by sa díval na mnohoženstvo a prepáčil by to oveľa rýchlejšie, než to, čo by On...

No, pamätajte, nehovorte, že verím v mnohoženstvo; neverím v to. Ja... čo Boh povedal... Mojžiš povedal, že... farizeji povedali Ježišovi, hovorili, „Prečo Mojžiš pripustil rozvodový list?“

On povedal, „Urobil to kvôli tvrdosti vášho srdca.“ Áno. Ale od počiatku to tak nebolo, nikdy nebude. Boh to urobil kvôli tvrdosti ich srdca.

Ale v krajinách, kde majú mnohoženstvo, sú rozvodové súdy na ústupe, nízke. Ale tu, kde sa snažíme tvoriť a riadiť túto krajinu ako národ, pretože sme kresťanským národom, ale pomenovanie “kresťanský národ“ ho nerobí kresťanským národom. A nemôžete riadiť svet pomocou pravidiel Božích. Nemôžete. Nemám nič proti hriešnikovmu pitiu. Nemám nič proti hriešnikovmu páchaniu cudzoložstva, nič proti hriešnikovi, ktorý robí toto. Ale to, o čom hovorím, sú ľudia, ktorí by mali byť Kresťanmi, a potom to robia.

Ak chce prasa strčiť svoj rypák do hromady hnoja a celý deň jesť, to je jeho vec, pretože ono je v prvom rade prasaťom. Ale baránok to nerobí. Hriešnik, on je od začiatku prasaťom. Ale potom, keď sa snažíte z prasaťa spraviť baránka, musíte mať obrátenie a on musí vojsť do odlišnej atmosféry. A keď vchádza do tej atmosféry, jeho túžby sa zmenia a premení sa jeho prirodzenosť. Takýmto spôsobom to dnes funguje.

48A tak ide ku kráľovi a má list. Mám tam pre neho tento list. Nepáči sa mi to. V baptistickej cirkvi teraz ľudia hovoria, „Ktokoľvek chce prísť pomocou vyznania alebo priniesť list, alebo zmeniť list, odstrániť list...“ Vezmú to z jednej cirkvi do druhej. Je v tom asi toľko vplyvu, ako je to tam pri tomto kráľovi a Námanovi, ktorý bral tomuto izraelskému kráľovi svoj list. Čo to má do činenia s Bohom?

Boh nepríde do cirkvi a nebude sa dívať na tvoj list. On má v nebi Knihu nazvanú Kniha Života. A ak tvoje meno nie je v tejto Knihe Života, si stratený, aj keby si mal list v každej cirkvi na svete. Presne tak. A tvoje meno tam nikdy nebude zapísané, pokiaľ nevojdeš do tej atmosféry, žijúci a milujúci s Bohom. Boh je milujúcim Bohom. On chce byť milovaný. Nemôžeš byť chladný, krutý a ľahostajný a dostať sa niekedy niekam s Bohom. Musíš byť milujúci a láskavý.

49Všimnite si. A táto malá dáma, povedala mu, aby šiel k prorokovi, ale on namiesto toho, aby išiel k prorokovi, išiel ku kráľovi. A kráľ nevedel nič o Božskom uzdravovaní; on nevedel nič o tej určitej veci. No, nevedel, že tam v tom kraji je prorok, ktorý by mohol konať zázraky. Nič o tom nevedel. Hoci mal byť Izraelita, obrezaný, ale vidíte, že jeho atmosféra nebola taká ako Elizeova atmosféra.

A keď dostal tento list, natiahol sa, vzal svoje rúcha a roztrhol ich, povedal, „Či som ja Bohom, aby som mohol oživiť alebo usmrtiť človeka?“ Povedal, „Chcem od vás všetkých (jeho vláda), chcem od vás všetkých, aby ste dávali pozor. Tento človek proti mne vyhľadáva zámienku.“ Rozumiete tomu?

Vidíte, svet, viete, to ich trhá. Vidíte, on nežil pod... Jednako bol podľa vyznania Izraelita. Ale myslel si, že dni zázrakov pominuli. Ó, vďaka Bohu, tam vzadu v pustatine bol starý prorok, ktorý žil s Bohom pod odlišnou atmosférou. Počul o tom, že kráľ roztrhal svoje šaty. Povedal, „Prečo si roztrhal svoje šaty?“ Povedal, „Prečo si ho neposlal sem ku mne?“ On nevedel, či tam v Izraeli bol prorok alebo nie. Kráľ to nevedel.

50Dnes tam je mnoho ľudí, ktorí nevedia, že Ježiš Kristus je stále nažive. Nevedia, že On stále vládne a panuje. Nevedia, že Krv na Golgote pre všetku dostatočnosť... Vidíte, že to dokonca zostalo zaplatené tam na kríži za vaše prestúpenia a pre vaše uzdravenia. Oni nevedia, že to je dnes skutočnosťou. Potrebujeme trochu viac malých slúžok, aby šli po okolí a svedčili o týchto veciach. Nemyslíte si to? Dostaňte sa do atmosféry toho.

Nie som vystrašený z toho, čo hovorí svet, pretože kým sa rozprávajú so svetom, sú stále v odlišnej atmosfére. Rozprávate sa s hriešnikom, ale nie ste v jeho atmosfére. A ste v tak slávnej a zaclonenej atmosfére, vtedy je všade okolo vás Sláva Shekinah, a tie opony vám svet zakrývajú. Môžete sa rozprávať so svetskou ženou, alebo svetským mužom, alebo s kýmkoľvek to je, a stále žiť v tej Sláve Shekinah hovoriac im o milujúcom Bohu, ktorý vstal z mŕtvych.

51Pred pár týždňami som bol v Karlsruhe, v Nemecku. Cirkev tam dole, ktorá je nejakou Zwingliho, nie luteráni, ale oni majú... Prišiel som tam. Billy Graham bol minulý večer tam v Zűrichu a ja som prišiel na ďalší deň. A moja reklama a Billyho Grahama boli spojené dokopy. Billy Graham má miesto v mojom srdci ako pravdivý služobník Boží. On káže pokánie a robí v tom veľmi dobrú prácu. Boh ho používa; vieme to.

A on bol – mal tam zhromaždenie a v ten deň som sa nedostal do zhromaždenia, hoci som mal pozvanie, aby som prišiel a sedel v lóži. Ale bol som tak unavený a uťahaný z dlhého letu okolo krajiny cez niekoľko tisíc míľ v lietadle, až som bol vysilený. A vošiel som do izby a vošiel som, aby som si ľahol, šiel som si pospať a bolo už neskoro. Tak som sa natiahol a zapol rádio a počul som ho kázať cez prekladateľa.

52A na ďalšie ráno, keď prišli noviny, uvidel som, aké ohodnotenie dali Billymu Grahamovi. Cirkev zaprela, samotné telo cirkvi, že kedy takú osobu do svojho národa pozvali. A povedali, že on si dal do vlasov manikúru, čo je, alebo si ich navlnil, viete. Ako to voláte? Je to trvalá. Trvalá...?... v jeho vlasoch. A povedali, že keď prišiel na pódium, aby kázal, vyzeral ako zo škatuľky namiesto toho, aby vyzeral ako služobník Boží... Povedali, že nemal ani trochu pokrčené šaty. A povedali, že keď kázal, tak kričal a mával rukami ako fanatický predavač mydla z Ameriky, a povedali, že jeho parfém bol tak silný, že ste ho mohli cítiť na vzdialenosť troch metrov. Kázal na tému Najvyššieho Božstva Pána Ježiša Krista. A vedel som, čo potom čaká mňa, pretože som tam mal byť desať dní.

53Rozumiete, cirkev v Zűrichu a Švajčiarsku a v Nemecku neverí, že Ježiš je Syn Boží. Oni hovoria, že je syn Jozefa, ktorý bol len nazvaný Synom Božím. To rúca samotný základ Kresťanstva. On bol panensky narodený Syn živého Boha. A Billy Graham sa vôbec neodťahoval; kázal to presne tak. Tak veru. A vedel som, že budem nasledovať rovno za ním.

A Boh nám tam na tom bezbožnom mieste dal, na ďalšom zhromaždení, pomysleli by ste si, že tam nastalo milénium, vyzváňanie a zvony na kostoloch, a jednako Billyho Grahama nazvali predavačom mydla a mňa veštcom. Môžete vedieť, v akom druhu atmosféry žijú.

54Ján vystúpil a kázal pokánie, prikladal sekeru ku koreňu stromu. Neurobil žiaden zázrak. Po ňom prišiel Ježiš, nekázal, ale uzdravoval nemocných a konal zázraky. A oni povedali, že ak by nazvali toho, ktorý prišiel, Jána, povedali, že má diabla, pretože nejedol a nepil, a že Syn človeka je žráč a je priateľom hriešnikov... Múdrosť je ospravedlnená od svojich detí.

A dnes, vidieť, že v ich vlastnej krajine vystúpil Ježiš Kristus ako Ján, ako prorok, ako Ján, Billy Graham kázal pokánie, a potom príde späť v starodávnych kampaniach s uzdravovaním nemocných, proroctvom a všetkými druhmi znamení a zázrakov, stále to je ten istý bezbožný farizejský duch, ktorý žije rovno v cirkevnej atmosfére namiesto Slávy Shekinah. Amen. Bože, odpusť mi, ak som povedal niečo nesprávne. Rozumiete, čo tým myslím? Oni neveria.

55Presunuli sme sa do Karlsruhe, potom, ako sme mali 50 000 z tých studených formálnych ľudí kľačiacich pri oltári a odovzdali svoje srdce Bohu a prijali Ducha Svätého. Presunuli sme sa do Karlsruhe a cirkev tam hore rýchlo poslala správu, „Nedovoľte mu tam vystúpiť (Rozumiete?) Nedovoľte to.“ A oni nedokázali nájsť štadióny a podobné veci, a tak sa ľudia dali dokopy a postavili miesto a pokryli niekoľko akrov pôdy a natiahli cez to plátno ako na veľkú katedrálu a v prvú noc sa tam nahrnulo tisíce a tisíce ľudí. Pretože... Napočítali až stoosemdesiat a dvesto autobusov každý večer z Nemecka, z Belgicka a odvšadiaľ naokolo, ktoré prichádzali na zhromaždenie v Zűrichu. A potom sme vybehli tam hore, rýchlo, oni povedali... Dr. Guggenbuhl, ktorý tam bol mojím zástupcom, prišiel tam hore a oni povedali, „Nie, polícia povedala, že on nemôže prísť.“

Povedal, „Mali ste Billyho Grahama, čo s ním?“

„Máme nariadenia od cirkvi, aby sme ho neprijímali.“

A cirkev kontroluje štát, ak ste pod – v Zűrichu a Švajčiarsku, alebo v Nemecku, v jednom alebo druhom. Cirkev a štát sú spolu, cirkev je nad štátom a cirkev a štát sú zjednotené. A tak sme to nemohli urobiť. Dr. Guggenbuhl vyšiel a povedal, „Bože, nemôže to tak byť. Priviedol si brata Branhama sem hore a on by nemohol prísť, ak by si ho nepriviedol; a tak sa tu musí niečo stať, Bože.“

A ja som odpočíval, povedal som, „Áno, Pán ku mne hovoril, aby som išiel do Nemecka.“

On povedal, „Bože, niečo nie je v poriadku.“

56A vyzeralo to ako žitie v tej atmosfére, nie videnie, nie hlas, ale niečo dole v jeho duši povedalo, „Toto je americká zóna; choď dole k americkému ústrediu (veliteľstvu).“ A šiel tam k primátorovi a primátor... Vošiel dnu a povedal, „Primátor, som Dr. Guggenbuhl z Zűrichu vo Švajčiarsku,“ čo je splnomocnenec, ktorý má celonárodnú známosť a vernosť k národu. Povedal, „A máme tu brata z Ameriky, ktorý sem pre nás prichádza kázať.“ A povedal, „Postavili sme tu vonku pre neho veľkú katedrálu.“ A povedal, „Mali sme to mať na štadióne hore v Hamburgu, ale počasie je príliš daždivé a museli sme to premiestniť sem do Karlsruhe (čo znamená 'Karlov odpočinok').“ A povedal, „Museli sme ho teraz priviesť sem a on cíti, že by sem mal prísť, a cirkev zamietla naše privilégium dovoliť nášmu bratovi, aby prišiel.“ Povedal, „Mali tam hore Billyho Grahama.“ A povedal, „Jemu dovolili prísť. No, čo je zlé na príchode nášho brata?“

On povedal, „No, myslím, že ak dovolili prísť pánovi Grahamovi, mali by dovoliť prísť i vášmu bratovi.“ A samozrejme, to je riadené Amerikou, viete.

A tak povedal, „No, poviem vám,“ povedal, „oni mu nedovolia prísť.“

57On povedal, „Čo majú proti príchodu vášho kazateľa?“ Povedal, „Čo... Prečo nechcú, aby prišiel?“

Povedal, „Milý pane,“ povedal, „tu je ten dôvod.“ Povedal, „Pretože náš brat sa modlí za nemocných a má výsledky a oni sú proti Božiemu nadprirodzenu.“

On povedal, „Aké je meno vášho brata?“

Povedal, „Brat Branham.“

On povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „on sa modlil za moju matku a ona vstala z invalidného kresla vo Virginii.“ Povedal, „Povedzte mu, že je otvorené, nech príde. A nielen to, ale armádny tábor bude rozpustený a prídeme.“

Iste, Boh je stále na tróne. Keď cítite vaše vedenie, choďte do toho; dostaňte sa do atmosféry a napredujte smerom, ktorým sa pohybuje. Ak to ide na východ alebo na západ, hýbte sa. A v prvý večer sa tam von dostala skupina komunistov a zhlukovali sa v kríkoch s puškami, aby ma zastrelili, oni hovorili. Keď sme vyšli, nemeckí vojaci, ktorí sľúbili svoju lojalitu, išli naokolo a držali nado mnou svoje ruky, a okolo mňa, až kým som sa nedostal do auta. Jeden takmer dostal môjho syna Billyho predtým, ako sa dostal do auta, fanatik.

58A na ďalší večer, ako som stál v budove, kde sa pohyboval Duch Svätý, nedokázal som ani pomenovať nemecké mená ľuďom v poslucháčstve, musel som to hláskovať, a tak im to hovoriť. Videli ma pracovať. Sedelo tam médium, sedel tam s očami upretými na mne. Povedal, „Prídem dole,“ a povedal, „ja mu ukážem.“ Povedal im v ten deň; hovoril, „Privolám búrku z nebies,“ a povedal, „spôsobím to, aby to roztrhalo toto miesto.“ A hrom burácal, blesk blýskal tak silno, ako len mohol. A tu on prichádza, učinil svoju vyhrážku, napísal ju. Keď som sa tam otáčal... Mňa nezaujímalo to, čo hovoril. A keď som videl prichádzať búrku a ľudia začínali byť nervózni a jeden neustály hluk blýskania takto za ďalším, obzrel som sa naokolo a uvidel som, kde sedel. Povedal som, „Ty diablovo dieťa, možno si schopný predvádzať zázraky, to je pravda, a odhalil som ťa tu.“ Povedal som, „Biblia povedala, že ako Jambres a Jannes odporovali Mojžišovi, tak budú aj títo, antikrist, máš moc predvádzať zázraky, ale bojíš sa dotknúť Božieho nadprirodzena.“ Áno. Povedal som, „Pretože si toto vykonal, zaplatíš za to.“

Tej noci ho vyniesli ako mrzáka. A zatiaľ čo sme tam boli, búrka pokračovala, jednoducho som pokračoval s mojím posolstvom. Stále som vo svojom srdci volal ku Bohu a po chvíli, asi v priebehu desiatich minút, búrka zmizla preč a obloha začala veľmi pekne svietiť. Pán Ježiš... Prečo? Ľudia sa dostali do atmosféry, keď uvideli, ako sa začala pohybovať Sláva Božia.

59V tom čase začali modlitebný rad a boli tam dole a dvíhali ľudí, ktorí prichádzali hore na pódium. A nikdy na toto nezabudnem, ako zdvihli hore na pódium malé dievčatko, vôbec som si ju nevšimol; hovoril som s mojím tlmočníkom, ktorý bol v ten večer veľmi dobrý, Nemec narodený v Amerike. A otočil som sa, povedal som, „Pane, len sa pozri.“ Povedal som, „Hviezdy sú jasné, nikto nie je zranený.“ A povedal som, „Pozri sa na neho, ako sa tam teraz díva dolu, sedí tam s hlavou dolu, takto má ruky.“ Povedal som, „Niečo sa mu stalo.“

A v tom čase, pozrel som sa naokolo a niekto začal kričať a divil som sa, čo sa to deje. A oni dali to malé dievčatko takto vysoko, roztomilé malé nemecké dievčatko, malé vrkoče jej viseli na chrbte... A dovoľte mi povedať vám, my, Američania, zaraďujeme Nemcov a máme zlý odhad. Skutočne znovuzrodené nemecké deti sú práve tak príjemné a milé, ako akékoľvek dieťa, ktoré je kdekoľvek.

60Kazateľ mi povedal, hovoril, „Bol som poverený, aby som urobil prieskum,“ a povedal, „vyšiel som na vrch kopca a oni mi povedali, „Život alebo smrť, musíš ísť v každom prípade, aby si zničil guľometné hniezdo.“ A povedal, „Zastavilo to na chvíľu streľbu.“ Objal ma, nemecký kazateľ, ktorý bol nacistom v armáde, nie z oddielu S. S., teraz vy, vojaci. Ale toto bol len nemecký vojak a bol poverený a musel to urobiť, aby urobil tento prieskum.

A keď sa dostal tam hore, povedal, „Poobzeral som sa tam, brat Branham; nazeral som ponad kopec a očakával som, že budem v ktorejkoľvek chvíli zastrelený.“ Povedal, „Vieš, čo som objavil?“ Skupinu amerických chlapcov, ktorí boli v tomto guľometnom hniezde s otvorenou Bibliou na svojich kolenách, modlili sa.“ Povedal, „Vedel som, že by tam mohli hodiť ručné granáty, akonáhle tam vypália z tých 88-milimetrových pušiek a vyhodili by ich do vzduchu.“ A tak som vzal svoju pušku, strelil som „bum, bum, bum, bum, bum“ hore do vzduchu, bežal som rýchlo späť, povedal som, 'Neviem, či som ich dostal alebo nie.' A oni presunuli to guľometné hniezdo.“

Prečo? Ak to spôsobí, že vojaci takto cítia jeden s druhým, čo urobí Krv Ježiša Krista, ukončí navždy všetky vojny, keď môžu muži a ženy niekedy vojsť do tej atmosféry a národy do prostredia živého a vzkrieseného Boha.

Ten človek, ktorý so mnou sedel pri kazateľni, potom, ako skončilo zhromaždenie, sme sa spoločne objali. A tam Američan so mnou, bol pár rokov predtým vojakom, pod politickým vplyvom by jeden po druhom strieľali a tu boli navzájom v objatí pod iným vplyvom, ktorý činí mužov, bratov. To je váš vplyv.

61V ten večer, keď toto malé nemecké dievčatko, jej malé šaty, jej malá biela tvár. Vôbec som si ju nevšimol, počul som ich kričať. A šiel som a otočil som sa týmto smerom a nikto sa ju nesnažil usmerňovať. V tej krajine museli mať človeka, ktorý by mohol hovoriť ich jazykom, aby im rozdali ich modlitebné karty. A tak, on nebol veľmi dobre vytrénovaný a nechal to malé dievčatko, namiesto toho, aby ju odviedol, on ju len postavil tam hore na pódium. Bola asi tretia alebo štvrtá na pódiu. A pozrel som sa a ona bola blízko okraja pódia, ktoré bolo omnoho väčšie ako strop, kráčala pár krokov, aby sa ku tomu dostala.

A keď som sa pozrel, ona bola... Natiahol som sa a takto som ju chytil a tlmočník ku nej začal hovoriť. A ona niečo mumlala. Povedala, „Chcem sa stretnúť s mužom, ktorý sa za mňa bude modliť,“ malé slepé stvorenie. A on...

Prekladateľ povedal, „To je on, ten, ktorý ťa drží.“ A pohla svojimi malými rúčkami. Mimochodom, mal som na sebe tento istý oblek, bol mi daný asi pred šiestimi rokmi v Oslo. A tak dala okolo mňa svoje malé rúčky, takto, a položila svoju malú hlavu na moje rameno. Pomyslel som si, „Ako moja malá Becky.“ A pohladil som takto jej malý, dlhý vrkoč a pomyslel som si, „Biedne malé stvorenie.“ A počul som, ako vzlyká na mojej hrudi ako malé dieťa. Pozdvihol som jej malú hlavu a jej oči vyzerali biele, díval som sa do jej malej tváre, ako sa takto opierala o moju ruku.

62Tam, skrze milosť Božiu, videl som prichádzať videnie. To malé dievčatko, videl som ju ležať v rukách jej matky a jej doktor sa na ňu díval, povedal, že bola slepá od narodenia. Vysoká, chudá matka s blond vlasmi, videl som jej otca, malý, ťažší muž s tmavými vlasmi, videl som, kde boli, a opisoval som to videnie. A matka sedela v obecenstve a otec vzadu medzi tisícmi a tisícmi a tisícmi ľudí, sedel tam vzadu. A keď som sa pozrel späť, povedal som, „No, ja, samozrejme, nemám žiadnu moc.“ Čo to bolo? To bola atmosféra. Shekinah bolo Tým, čo dávalo tú vec.

A ja som sa díval, videl som to dievča, že ide ako tieň, von z tohto dievčatka, ide, kráča pozdĺž so zodvihnutými rukami, obzerá sa dookola a rozpráva a ukazuje na veci. Vedel som, že Boh nebies žil a vládol... modlil som sa za ňu, zodvihol som ju a ona sa na mňa dívala a jej malé oči zízali a trblietali sa. Niečo zamumlala.

A tlmočník sa pozrel dolu; povedal, „Brat Branham, ona môže vidieť.“

Povedal som, „Nechaj si to na chvíľu pre seba.“ Povedal som, „Čo hovorí?“

Povedal, „Pýta sa, aké sú to tam veci?“ To boli svetlá. A keď ten tlmočník... Bola dostatočne blízko svojej matky a počula hlas a zvyšok z nich. A pozrela sa hore a začala nahlas plakať. A jej matka, bola tak rozrušená...

Vplyv, ktorý zasiahol tú budovu; celé to bolo pod nebeským vplyvom. Diabol bol roztrhaný. Vplyv... Jej matka začala kričať a bežala tak rýchlo, že až vybehla zo svojich topánok, odleteli za ňou. Predrala sa na pódium; hodila svoje ruky okolo dieťaťa a to dieťa povedalo, „Ty si moja mama?“ Po prvýkrát, ako ju videla, povedala, „Ó, mama, ty si tak krásna. Ty si tak krásna, mama.“

63Na ďalšie ráno Všemohúci Boh skrze Svoju neohraničenú moc, keď prišla nemecká cirkev a povedali, „Dokážeme rozumieť a veriť tvojej teológii a tvoje učenie Biblie je nádherné, brat Branham.“ Ale povedali, „To Svetlo, ten Anjel, nedokážeme To rozumieť.“

A mali tam raňajky s asi šesťsto kazateľmi, ktorí sa stretli spolu, a umiestnili tam veľký nemecký fotoaparát, a Duch Svätý v tom istom Ohnivom Stĺpe zostúpil dolu a bol v to ráno trikrát zachytený tým nemeckým fotoaparátom a pohyboval sa cez... Atmosféra sa zmenila. Presne tak.

Škoda, že som na to nemyslel a nevzal som si to so sebou. Bolo to u kresťanských obchodníkov tento mesiac, alebo vlastne pred pár mesiacmi. Čo to je? To je atmosféra. Muži a ženy by mali žiť pod tou atmosférou. Nedostaňte sa von pod nejaký obyčajný existujúci vplyv toho sveta, ale zostaňte pod atmosférou Pána Ježiša.

64Skloníme len na chvíľu svoje hlavy, zatiaľ čo sme v Jeho Prítomnosti, každý muž a žena so sklonenými hlavami, chlapci a dievčatá. Vypnite tú malú páčku, ktorá je umiestnená rovno vo vašej mozgovej bunke, vypustite všetky tie rozumovania cez vaše uši ako nezmysel. Potom otvorte ten malý ventil, ktorý smeruje dolu do ľudského srdca, do vašej duše. To nerozumuje; to bude veriť. To povie, že Božie Slovo je správne a Ježiš Kristus je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.

Som dnes ráno tak vďačný, že je prinesený do vašej prítomnosti, nie historický Mojžiš, nie historický Eliáš, nie historický Boh, ale vzkriesený Boh, Ten, ktorý zomrel. A jediný účel, kvôli ktorému sa tu stal telom, Sám Boh sa stal telom, aby odobral hriech a urobil možným to, aby mohol prísť do ľudského srdca Jeho Svätý Duch. Historický Boh je dnes s vami v Prítomnosti Pána Ježiša. Ak máte potrebu, hovorte teraz ku Nemu, zatiaľ čo sa modlíme.

65Veľký Jehova Bože, ktorý si žil predtým, ako tam bola večnosť, bol si bez otca, bez matky, bez začiatku dní, alebo konca rokov a na stránkach tejto posvätnej Knihy čítame, aké veci si vykonal v dávnych dňoch, ktoré pominuli, a máme tú výsadu žitia v tomto temnom veku, práve tu pri konci sveta a máme tú výsadu vidieť Ťa znovu povstať na scéne, žiadne domnienky, žiadna ľuďmi vytvorená teológia, žiadna chladná atmosféra pripojenia sa do cirkvi alebo podpisovania papiera, ale žitie v Sláve Shekinah a vplyv vzkrieseného Pána Ježiša, ktorý potvrdzuje, vypĺňa Svoje Slovo, prináša do vyplnenia všetko, čo povedal...

Milosrdný Otče, odovzdávam dnes toto poslucháčstvo Tebe, aby si vo Svojej veľkej láskavosti tejto hodiny urobil pre toto poslucháčstvo to, na čo majú potrebu. Spas hriešnika; povolaj odpadlíka naspäť ku pokániu. Uzdrav nemocných; daj prežitie tým, ktorí Ťa potrebujú, Pane, v tom druhu prežitia.

Zatiaľ čo prosím toto poslucháčstvo, Otče, aby na Teba očakávali, nech sa Tvoj Duch pohybuje nad poslucháčstvom a udelí im jednotlivo to, na čo majú potrebu. A zatiaľ čo zostávame uzavretí vnútri s Tým, ktorý vstal z mŕtvych, prosíme Boha Otca v Mene Ježiša, Jeho Syna, ktorý povedal, „Ak budete o čokoľvek prosiť Otca v Mojom Mene, urobím to.“ A toto nie je mýtus, ani to nie je na ľudskú slávu. To je na Tvoju slávu a aby si vzbudil malé slúžky a malých chlapcov a dievčatá v tejto komunite, ktorí by mohli povedať nemocným a postihnutým, že existuje balzám v Gileáde. Udeľ to, Otče, pre Ježišovo meno.

Zatiaľ čo sedíte so sklonenými hlavami, ak ste nemocní, hľaďte teraz na Neho pre vaše uzdravenie. Ak potrebujete spasenie, hľaďte teraz na Neho, zatiaľ čo zostávame zavretí s Bohom, zaujímalo by ma, či by mohol pastor pokračovať vo vedení modlitby.

THE SUPERNATURAL, 56-0129, First Assembly Of God, First Assembly Of God, Owensboro, KY, 79 min

1 Thank you, Brother Rodgers. Thank you very much. The Lord bless you, friends. Thank you, and you be seated just a moment. It always makes me feel good to--to feel welcome. That's kinda of A... I'm a Kentuckian myself, you know, and I--I like to hear that--making you welcome. And such a nice welcome to this city and among you, my Christian friends, Certainly makes me feel grateful to you. And always, by Brother Rodgers, I--I love him. He has been a wonderful little brother to me, and how he's certainly been a real tool in God's hands here in Owensboro.

2 I was just looking across the street there where you're going to build a new church, or something over there, that he was telling me about this morning at the breakfast table. And that's wonderful, seeing you--you progress like that. That just shows that you're--you're backing up the right thing. And God's servant is trying his best to give the best he can to God's people. I'd... Every congregation will appreciate a pastor like that, that you see what your finances, your tithes, your offerings, and so forth, you are... He's going straight into the Kingdom of God, to embetter the Kingdom of God, make a better place, not for himself, for you. He--He's got the sheep on his mind, the shepherd always has.

3 While in Palestine, or over in the orients, rather, I often wondered on the parable of the Bible, the parables, rather, of the Bible, what some of them meant. And you almost have to go into the orient to find out what this Bible really means. Once I have... I've set down and many of us as--as western ministers has quandered over a thought, "What did they mean by this? What does this mean? And what did that mean?" And if you ever go to the eastern country and see their unchanging habits, well then, you find out more about the Bible. It become a new Book to me after I went to the east.

For instance, like Jesus said, I believe in Saint John 10, I think. "I am the door to the sheepfold. I am the door to the sheepfold." I often wondered how that meant, that He stood at the gate and received all the people as they come in, or I thought maybe the shepherd stood and numbered the sheep when they come in like that. That's... I used to think that. And perhaps many of you, my brethren and clergymen, have thought the same thing.

4 But once there, you find out that it's a difference. It isn't the--the numbering of the sheep, but the shepherd himself becomes the door. There's a corral, like a place with shelter over it. And he brings in all the sheep and puts them in there, then he goes and lays down across the door. And the sheep, or the wolf can't come in, or the sheep go out without crossing the shepherd. I thought, "Isn't that wonderful." See, He is the Door to the sheepfold. See? Nothing can come to the sheep unless the shepherd permits it. And if we got the Shepherd at the door, how secure and--and happy should we be. Satan can't touch you unless the Shepherd permits it. And it's all for the good whatever it has to be. See what I mean? And that's... When He said...

I noticed again, and the shepherd... In this country shepherd doesn't mean very much, why, some ancient word. But over there a shepherd, oh, my, and sheep... The people live by their sheep. And the shepherd takes care of them.

5 One time while going through the country, I noticed in the far east, of a--of a little... In India how that they had the--a shepherd came down and was bringing his sheep, and he... I thought of that parable there where it said, "My sheep know My voice. A stranger they will not follow."

Now, that sheep was borned under the tutorship of this shepherd. He learns that voice; he will never pay attention to anybody else's voice. He learns that shepherd's voice. Another shepherd might call, they might do whatever they want to, but there's some little something about that shepherd that the sheep recognizes. See, that's the way it is with God's sheep. Strange voices, they--it just don't sound right; they just won't go; that's all. And if sheep can be tempted, but when it finds out that it's the wrong shepherd, it'll turn away.

6 And I notice how the sheep follow the example of the shepherd. Coming down through the streets, where there's a little narrow streets of streets in the eastern countries there, were made in the days of chariots, when they had the chariots that went through the streets and horse riders. And they're very narrow. Very seldom you find one as wide as them posts there, very seldom. Sometime maybe, oh, twelve feet wide, the streets. Many of the--of the...

Like in Oslo, Norway, the streets there is only about eight foot across in the old city; it's around fifteen hundred years old, and then you find out they didn't have automobiles in this modern age where they shuffle and jostle through the broad ways. See, man called them broad ways.

And then standing on the outer drive in Chicago I thought of that many time, how that a three and four abreast going each way, the broad ways. And the elevation of the separation of the streets in the middle...?... into place. And for several miles a rail will rise up like this to separate your traffic at different times of the evening and different times of the day: Broad ways. In them days one of those lanes would've been a complete highway.

7 But seeing this shepherd come down through the city, it was a--it was alarming. There come a whole string of sheep following him. Now, the easterners put all their dainties out on the street; even their meats and everything else lays on the street and all their fruit and their pro--produce lays right on the street just like... Here's your store like this; they keep their stuff back in there, but you buy right off of the side of the walk. And there's no sidewalk; it's just a street. So everybody walks right in the street, just right down the street, the cobblestone street.

And here come a shepherd down the street, walking, walking along, and behind him a string of sheep a city block long. And them sheep walking right by that produce and things and wouldn't turn right or left, they kept their eyes on the shepherd, moving right on through. I thought, "O God, what the shepherd means, not look right or left, not be tempted by this or that, but walk in the footsteps of the shepherd. They want to follow the shepherd."

8 I noticed one day while we were in a little British jeep riding around, there was a shepherd had a whole lot of animals up on the hill there, and he was feeding them. They were leading them, and taking them places. And in there he had sheep; in there he had goats; in there he had mules, had camels, everything. He was feeding them all; they was all grazing. And the shepherd was watching them. I said, "My, a shepherd here means many things. Also...?... a shepherd is a grazer." But said, "you know the strange thing it is, Mr. Branham," he said, "when nighttime comes, you watch," said, "all those sheep go right straight to the shepherd." Said, "The mules will stay out in the pasture." And said, "The camels will stay out in the pasture," but said, "and the goats will stay out in the pasture." But said, "The sheep all come straight to the shepherd when it comes nighttime. Why?" Said, "Because the sheep are put up at night and kept safe."

I--I said, "Mister, don't talk like that; you'll make me start shouting right in the middle of the road." See? Nighttime's a coming. Many are grazing on the same thing, but only the sheep will He recognize. See what I mean? Just the sheep, the borned again. "Many are called; few are chosen."

Oh, I love Him today, don't you? Let us speak to Him now before we open His Word.

9 Our heavenly Father, we come to Thee on this sabbath day, raining on the outside, me... We might call it gloom, hazy rainy weather, but how could the farmer put in his crops if we didn't have much moisture this spring? There'd be no froo--food raised; ground would be dry; people would perish.

We realize that this is like experience of a Christian. Sometimes we have to go through terrible chastisement, chastening of the Lord, many things to correct us that we'll be fruit bearing Christians. Sometimes has to prune us, cut off, take away, take out of our hands. We think sometime, "O God, what are You doing to us?" But He knows what He's doing. So we pray, Father, that today that You'll prune every one of us, from the least to the greatest, the pastor. God, we pray that You'll prune every one of us. Take away all that's unlike You, Father. Take away the thing that's hindering us from being fruit bearing Christians. The day's coming when it's going to get dark. And then we want to go into the sheepfold. We want to be sheep today, Father. We want to follow exactly in the footsteps of the Shepherd. He gave us as example, said, "I come not to do My will, but the will of Him that sent Me." May that be our motive today, God, to do the will of God Who has saved us.

10 Bless the church today and the Sunday schools throughout the entire world. And remember us, Lord, this little spot here in Owensboro today, that You'll pour out Your blessings upon us, for we're needy and hungry and thirsting for righteousness. Thy promise is, "It shall be filled." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

11 In these services a visiting with Brother Rodgers, which is always a great privilege to come and to meet with Brother Rodgers, and you dear saintly people here, and other churches through Owensboro and the cities around about. I've learned this: that no matter if he's Chinese, Japan, Korean, German, whatever he is as long as he's a brother or she's a sister, there's not a bit of difference in them. They're just all sheep of the same fold.

Watching it through the different nations throughout the world. As communist... You get into a communistic country, where I've had to be, I've had to have people with rifles to keep the crowds back, and I've had to have people that were soldiers that I had to duck my head down and mill around me to keep from getting shot till they get me out into somewhere into the darkness where they couldn't see to shoot me at, and things like that, preaching the Gospel, bringing good tidings of great joy of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then it's--it's marvelous to know that Jesus, in the midst of all of that is just as sweet, and good, dear. He's just... There's nothing alarming about it, just taking a message.

And today it's our privilege to be here with you and at the sports center this afternoon, or this evening, rather, of the service. We pray that you'll all find a place. If your own church is not having service, why, be out to visit with us. And we'd be glad to do all that we can to help you to make burdens a little lighter, make the community a little better place to do right, a little easier, and a harder place to do wrong. That's what the--the meetings are intended.

12 Now today, as we're just going to speak a little. I have a--a very bad voice, and--and I--I got a vision in my heart. And I thought this morning at Sunday school, just before the--the coming forth of the preaching this afternoon... And if God willing today, this afternoon, I want to speak on a very, or this evening, rather, a very outstanding Scripture concerning the time that we're living. And I believe by God's help, the subject, I probably will approach it from a different way then... The first, one of the first messages that I preached after the great visitation of the Holy Spirit a few weeks ago... And I thought being that we were together this morning, just as a little group of Christians here, that we would talk just heart to heart with one another awhile. And I know that down in every man's heart there's something that yearns to see the supernatural.

13 Here not long ago, I was setting in California in a meeting, wearing a hairpiece on top of my head, and wearing a pair of dark glasses, just to listen at a brother's theology. 'Cause they'd recognize me if it wasn't. I set with people right next to me; they didn't even know me. Just setting there, just see, looking around, even hear them talk about me. They didn't know it was me, just set there. And I happened to be setting by a man with his collar turned around. There was a minister come to the platform, and the man's one of my converts to Divine healing. But he--he'd preach awhile, then he'd go back and a valet would change his clothes when he'd get a little sweaty, and come back out again on the platform. And this great man setting there shaking his head, and looked over to me, and said, "Does that act like a servant of Christ?"

14 I said, "I am not the judge." I said... He said... "Well," I said, "I think his message is wonderful."

He said, "Are you a Christian?"

I said, "Yes, sir, I am."

And he said... "Well," he said, "do you think a servant of Christ should just put on a whole lot like that, and dress like that, and act like that, and..."

And I said, "Well, you see, for my opinion, God has people in different categories to catch people that live in different categories."

He was talking about, said, "Why, the man has two El Dorado's every year."

I said, "I'm very thankful that God's that good to him." See? And... but he looked down at me kinda strange, and he said, "Are you a Christian?"

I said, "I'm a minister."

He said, "My name is so-and-so."

And I said, "My name is Branham."

He said, "You wouldn't happen to be the Branham that prays for the sick?"

I said, "Yes, sir."

"Oh," he said, "I see."

15 And he could see why I was taking up for this other brother. And he said, "Mr. Branham," he said, "aren't you a Baptist?"

I said, "I was. Yes, sir."

He said, "I want to ask you something." He said, "I am a certain doctor of theology in a certain church, well, a--a Presbyterian." And he said, "You know what? On this West Coast here," he said, "we Presbyterian people had the entire coast sewed down." Said, "We had the biggest churches and the finest congregations of any churches on the West Coast." And said, "You know what broke us up?"

I said, "No, sir."

He said, "That cult Christian Science come in and broke up our church." And said, "Now this Pentecostal group's coming in and breaking up Christian Science and everything."

I said, "Uh-huh." I said, "Doctor, do you know hungry children will eat from a garbage can if they're hungry?"

He said, "Well, I guess that's right."

I said, "If you Presbyterians, as you said you were, if you would've stayed with the Word of God and give the children the bread of Life, that cult would've never broke them up." I said, "You just let down; that's all." And I said, "People are still people and they're--every man is trying to look beyond the curtain. He's trying to see where he come from and where he went to. And if the Church of the living God won't produce it, then the devil will rise up some cults to give them some false things." I said, "Therefore you ought to stayed with the Word of God; they'd all been Presbyterians." And that's right truly. And that's the way I think, generally the feeling of people are.

16 Now, I want to read a little text of Scripture here, and maybe the Lord will add His blessings to it. And I'll lay my watch out, because I know your Sunday school classes will be adjourning pretty soon and we have some after service. And I thought I'd just talk to you just--just heart to heart a little bit this morning in the Sunday school lesson. And we find this just across the page from where I preached last night from II Kings; this is II Kings the 5th now. Listen at the 4th verse.

And it was so, when Elijah the man of God... heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes... he sent unto the king, and said, Where you rent your clothes?... come to me and... know there is a prophet in Israel.

17 Now, the thing we want to talk on this morning for a little while, is the supernatural. We're all hungry for supernatural. You Methodist brethren are hungry for supernatural. I got a Methodist preacher with me that's hungering and thirsting for the supernatural. You Baptist are hungering and thirsting for supernatural. All of them are. Now, surely if God is still God, He's still supernatural. Don't you believe that? He's got to be.

Now, we are trying to place God in some prehistoric, or some historical God, but what good does a historical God do today? What benefit is a God of Elijah to a man today if He isn't the same God? What are you learning about Him in the seminary? Well, and if He was some historical fact and not the same today, you'd be better to learn agriculture or something, something that would help somebody. Is that right? You'd be better off if you learned to... your children to be an architect instead of a minister if He's a historical God and not the same today. What good does the God of Moses do [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] if He isn't the same God today? Just reason that in your minds now. We are so in--so always concerned about our experiences.

18 A little lady told me last night, which is in our midst... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] A preacher of a certain great denomination of church... And I asked her, did her father ever pastor so-and-so? And she said, "Brother Branham, my father only had a--a grammar school education; therefore, they would not permit him in bigger churches, because his education was too poorly."

Perhaps a fine Spirit filled man, but the organization would not promote him, no matter how Spirit filled he was, because of a inadequate education. There they missed God. Peter couldn't even sign his own name, and he'd had the keys to the Kingdom of God given to him by Jesus Christ.

We're looking to education. Education's fine, but that's taught in school houses. The church is the place to know of God and learn of God, and in the supernatural. And God is supernatural and the same yesterday, today, and forever.

19 Now, we want to--to see and place this before our--our audience that--that God still is the same that He ever was. The people gets away from God, but God remains the same. His--His nature, and His power, and His desire is always the same through every generation. It never changes. It's always the same. It's the people that gets away from God and not God from the people. They lose their faith. God covers all space, all everywhere. He's omnipresent. So He's everywhere, and He's always has been everywhere, and He always will be everywhere.

20 But it's the attitude of the people that brings the results. That's the reason at Pentecost they had to go to an upper room and pray until the Holy Ghost came, 'cause they got in one place and one accord. It's the atmosphere what brings the results. You believe that? Let every man and woman in this building this morning, boy or girl, get everything from their minds but the Lord Jesus, and believe that He's standing present right now, and you'll see something happening that'll cause headlines in newspaper in the morning. That's right. It's atmosphere.

I don't believe in joking from the pulpit, because the pulpit's no place to joke. It's a sacred place. I'm quoting something, just to--for this here. Mr. Bosworth, very good sense of humor, and he said, "Brother Branham, to prove that it's atmosphere," said, "you could take a hen egg and put it on a--under a puppy and tie him down and it would hatch a chicken." See? It's the warmth of the puppy's body that would hatch the egg. It don't have to be under the hen; it can be under the puppy. It could be in a incubator. It's the atmosphere.

And it's the atmosphere that brings the miraculous, and wonders, and powers of God among the people. It's the atmosphere of the people. And when people get to a place they're reasoning, and wondering, and stewing, and thinking, and all tore up, and don't know where they do stand, half of them not even Scripturally taught, how can you expect the atmosphere to be right? You can't do it; it won't be right. It's got to be in one accord, one place, and settled down with one motive, one thing, then you're going to see something happen.

21 It don't only work that, but if you'd look at it in the scientific world. Say you're all a whole bunch of salesmen and you're going to sell Chevrolets, or Pontiacs, or some kind of a car. And one in his heart really thinks the Studebakers are better and so forth like that. Get us all in here and saying the Buick is best, and the other one some other car, get us together like that, you could never have the right kind of a meeting. Taking in the devil's work...

22 Go over and... Say we're going to a dance. One man standing up and saying, "Well now..." He--he don't know about whether he wants to dance or not. And this girl over, and she this, that... And the music playing, "Nearer, My God, To Thee," huh, what an atmosphere for a dance. Well, that's not any different than what a lot of atmospheres... you go into church for a service of God, just that contrary. Right.

The only thing to bring the right atmosphere then for the dance is to put on your old music that makes dances, and everybody get thinking what a good time they're going to have dancing and so forth, and they'll be having a big whoop-uping time. Put the right kind of a music on the piano, the organ, and everybody in the atmosphere that Jesus Christ is there and going to meet everything that they have need of, something will go to taking place: atmosphere. But that's the hardest thing there is to do. And that is to get people in that atmosphere, the atmosphere of worship, the atmosphere of believing.

23 And that's the reason sometimes a Divine life that's been called and set aside has become a fanatic, or crazy, or--or a mystic, or something to the eyes of the general public is because you're considered a--a--a--a, I'd say a neurotic, or a insane person, is because that you have changed your dwelling place and got into a different atmosphere. And your own motive, your one thoughts is to stay in that atmosphere. Any person that ever come into that atmosphere one time will never be satisfied nowhere else. And that's why I believe that we should have our churches under control by the Holy Ghost, that men and women in their work and wherever they should be, should continually desire, and they will, if they've ever once come into that atmosphere.

24 Now, being that I'm speaking in the Assembly of God church amongst Pentecostal people... Now, I've learned to love the Pentecostal people; they're my brothers and sisters. But many times defining our own ranks of Pentecost, that sometimes our atmosphere becomes an emotion instead of a worship. And that soon dies out, and the members become one thing and another. But if we could ever get a group of people together where was genuine Holy Spirit atmosphere, a sacredness and sincerity and worship, and men and women setting in there are God conscious, and know that the great omnipotence of God is present, ready to do all things without one shadow of doubt, it'll even have an effect upon the unbelievers that's setting in this evening. You can never come into that atmosphere without something happening.

25 I was preaching not long ago, the tape recorders here... The boys was with me, they took a sermon on the "Hidden Life Of Christ," how to get into Christ and how that some people has ups-and-downs, they can't... It's a place you have to find. The outer courts produced manna, sure. Many people are living right in that manna; they eat in that manna; but they don't live the right kind of a life. They're up-and-down; they have ins-and-outs and bad days and good days. But you've met people that absolutely no matter what the weather was, or what the conditions was, they're on the housetop all the time. He's found that secret. He's found an atmosphere to live in.

26 In the Old Testament how that the congregation was fed from bread out of heaven. They lived in three different atmospheres. In the courts, in there the manna fell, and the Israelites eat manna. He eat the same manna they did at every other place, same manna. But remember that inside the courts in the ark, was a place fixed where they--the manna never did get old. Otherwise it got old. It wouldn't last till nine o'clock in the morning. They'd grind it up into meal and make some cakes out of it and eat it. And they'd find out before the sun went down they were hungry if they didn't gather enough.

And that's what's the matter with the people today; they got the campground cramps. They go to a revival and have a great time. The first thing you know a little after that, before another revival could come along, they're back in the world again.

27 A certain man wrote an article about me not long ago, which is perfectly all right; I love him. I don't say that to be a hypocrite; I say it because it's the truth. John Church, you Nazarene people's man... He said... He wrote against Divine healing. He said, "One of their key men, Mr. Branham," said, "I've never met the man in my life." And to think of a sensible man writing an article about a person he had never spoke to in his life. That shows there's something wrong. Our law says, "How can we judge a man without we hear him first."

He said, "I don't know the man, never heard--never seen him in my life. But a--a man come to me and told me that he was setting... He wanted me to pray for him, that he'd be healed of a prostate trouble. And he said, 'I was healed once.' And said... He told me the story. He said, "I was setting in a meeting,' and said, 'way back in a balcony.' And said, 'It was Mr. Branham's meeting.' And said, 'All at once I begin to feel a strange feeling come over me.' And said, 'Then the man turned around from where he was preaching and said, 'The man setting up there is so and so, a certain man from a certain place. And said he's praying that he will be healed of a prostate trouble.' And said, 'If he will only accept it and believe it now, he can go home and be well.' He said, 'Something struck me; I never felt anything like it in my life.' He said, 'And for a solid year my prostate never bothered me, and it come on me again.'"

Mr. Church said, "Then don't you see that shows that Mr. Branham is false. If God healed a man, He'd heal him for life." I thought, "Mr. Church, how many times have you come up on the Silver Hills Campground and get all those Nazarenes sanctified this year, and next year you sanctify another bunch of them. Maybe they didn't have it to begin with, then God wouldn't be real." See?

28 Divine healing, and sanctification, and the powers of God is as long as your faith lasts in it. When your faith fails, then your experience is gone. It's based that way simply upon the finished works of Christ at Calvary. You're sanctified as long as your testimony's right, as long as you live a sanctified life, and believe that God sanctified you; you're sanctified, counting it all to His grace and His merits. And as long as you've accept healing and believe your healing and--and go on believing it like that, you'll be healed as long as you believe it. And you start doubting it...

And you take a--a man setting here this morning that's not a bit sick, and let him begin to get in his heart, believing he is sick, they'll pack him out of the building. As your faith is, so be it unto you. That's not Christian Science. I'm not meaning mind over matter. But you see, the thing of it is, it's the atmosphere that you live in.

29 Now, this man that we're going to speak of for just a few moments, then I want to give you a testimony... This man Elijah, the great prophet, was a man who lived in that constant atmosphere. He was a called man of Nazarite birth. "All gifts and callings are without repentance." It's nothing. You can't make one hair black or white; you can't add one cubic to your stature. We only have carnal impersonations when we try to impersonate something that God hasn't made us. If we try to do something that God hasn't called us to do, we'll be a total failure doing it. If man would try to make himself woman, woman man, how would you do it?

I met that woman that they supposed to have a surgical test and be made a man, made a woman whatever it was, in Italy, in Rome. There she was, a disgrace to being a woman, drunk as she could be, walking up-and-down the streets and, and, oh, a horriblest sight you ever seen.

30 Notice, you can't make yourself anything different from what God intended you to be. Anything else is an impersonation. Therefore if your conversion is only because you're trying to hide behind something, or trying to make yourself a better person, you're only playing the part of a hypocrite. Until Christ has actually come to your life, and changed you, and brought you into an atmosphere, that's the difference of it. That's the reason we go through so many different forms and saying they have to do this. Jesus said, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Everlasting Life."

Not a make-believe, it's absolutely something that's happened, a conversion of the heart that's changed you and brought you into another realm. Men misunderstood, Christians, women, men, boys, and girls, that misunderstood who lived in those places, because it's contrary to the natural run of life among people of the world. And I'm sure we all want to live in that atmosphere.

31 Look, the people who eat the manna out here on the ground was eating the same manna that the high priest eat in under the Shekinah Glory. But this manna withered away out on the ground, but that in the hidden place never did wither away. It lasted through the spans of years. And a man who walked in there, when the high priest went in beyond that veil, that veil that separated the holiest from the holiest of holies, when he walked in there, the veil dropped behind him, that man, he... It was even soundproof. He didn't... He was shut off from all the world and the surroundings. He knowed nothing in there but the living in the Presence of God.

And a man or woman that ever walked into that Shekinah Glory of God, the whole world's shut off behind him. No matter what the devil says, you don't pay any attention to it. And He's living in a different atmosphere. He lived in there where they put Aaron's rod. And it was nothing but an old dead stick off of an olive tree. But once laid in the Presence of God, it yielded what it was supposed to be in the beginning. In one night's time it budded, blossoms, and brought almonds.

32 That's the same way that an unbeliever or a sinner is ever laid in the Presence of Almighty God under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he becomes a new creature right then. His life becomes fruitful, fresh; life comes in, and he yields what he was supposed to be, a son of God. He was took off of the tree, so was that olive branch. He was took off of the tree, but sinners and--and lukewarm church members become dry sticks with some kind of a memory that sometime there was a supernatural God of the past, that had life, and way back there.

But if you believe and lay in His Presence it'll produce the same thing to you. You will realize that you were born sons and daughters of God and will yield the fruit of the Spirit. But you can't do it out there on the courts; you got to do it in here, on the inside, hid away.

33 The man out in the courts, he walked by daylight. Some days it was like this, raining. Other days if was sun would shine, and the nighttime would be dark and stormy. He had his ups-and-downs. That's the way you see people. "Oh," they say, "we're eating the good manna of God." That's right. But where are they living? They're living out there, eating it in a atmosphere that they should not eat it in.

The next man, he had another light, that one at the altar. It was lit by seven golden candlesticks, in little lamps. And sometimes them lamps burnt low, and they smoked up the chimneys, and you know how a lamp does, smokes and goes out. And a man who comes to the place where he comes into the church, out of the courts, out of a just a lukewarm church member, and comes up to live a pretty good life in Christ, he's separate and things from the... But he's still living under lights that will get dim, and smoked up, and artificial light. But when he once walked in behind that holiest of holies, walked into the Presence of God, and the veil falls behind him, there's a pot of manna there he can eat every day, every hour of the week. There's where he's living in the Shekinah Glory, wherein the interlocked wings of the Cherubim, the great Pillar of Fire, and the Shekinah, rested there. And he's living under there; he can't be nothing but a real genuine Christian any time: Atmosphere.

34 Man and women who live in there are misunderstood. You see it? They become peculiar. They don't hear the things of the world, or if they do they don't pay attention to them. They just move on. God never put that in there for nothing. God never come for just any haphazard way. Prayer is not a--a perhaps. Prayer is a sincere thing. Prayer is talking to God. Prayer is not get down, shut your eyes, and thinking about your washing or your work you're doing, say, "Lord, help me and John, and heal Miss Jones and so forth." That's not prayer. That's repeating some words. But prayer is to come into an atmosphere where you realize that you're in the Presence of God and you're moving to then in the deepest of sincerity. First you say a little worship, "O Jehovah, how I love You." You see it? Then after the worship of prayer, then you come with a sincere heart asking.

"If ye abide in Me," not go out from behind the curtains in the world today and run around and try to get back in the curtains tonight. "If ye abide in Me, My words abide in you..." Otherwise, if you're like Aaron's rod that's pulled up to the Shekinah Glory by the golden pot of manna where you can eat it any time... And your soul is refreshed and blooming and yielding. Abiding. "If ye abide in Me, My words abide in you, then ask what you will, it'll be given to you."

35 You see the failures of the church, the Pentecostal church, the Methodists, the Baptists, and all? It's a failing to that abiding grace of God. Tonight you'll shout and clap your hands, and dance in the aisles, speak in tongues. That's gifts. Gifts is no good unless you're abiding in the Shekinah Glory. See?

Those things are fine. I have nothing to say against them; they're of God. Shouting and blessing God is wonderful. Speaking in tongues, or translation of tongues, or I mean interpretation of tongues, it's the same, but... And all these other things, gifts of healing, prophecies, and all these things are marvelous, but they're no good, they're not fruitful, they can't yield the right, unless you're living in the Presence of the Shekinah, the atmosphere around you is godly.

That's the reason that men and women are not permitted to these things, because you'd go out here and call a blessing over something God had cursed or--or curse something God had blessed. It's a abiding Presence to know the will of God. Then don't look what the world's going to say about you. It's what God thinks about you. Then you're living in His Presence.

36 In the days of this prophecy, or prophet, rather... God has never been without a voice or a mouthpiece somewhere on the earth. And Elijah was His mouthpiece. And as far as I know, during the time of the backslidings of Israel... They always got cold and formal and backslid. Because it goes to show friends, that here we have no continuing city, but we're seeking one to come.

Not long ago I stood and looked. I used to be a pugilist as you know, fight. I won fifteen professional fights (not bragging, I'm ashamed of it.), but fifteen professional fights without losing a one, nine of them knockouts. And I had my picture there, when I was in my very best, muscles over me and black shaggy hair hanging around my neck. And I looked and I thought... My little girl come in and seen my picture setting in the room; she said, "Daddy, you don't look like you used to." Sure not.

For in here we have no continuing city; this mortal body is fading away. Where I used to be strong, old age, fat begins to slip in. I once remember of a great tree that I used to stand by and its great stately branches I said it'll live forever. And today it's a snag.

37 I stood not long ago in Rome, where once ruled the world. And there, that great city has now become nothing, but you'd have to dig thirty feet under the earth to find the ruins of it, now one of the weakest, degraded nations in the world. They're not even self supporting.

I stood in Athens, Greece, where another great empire once stood, and there's not even hardly a symbol of that empire left. And I stood in Cairo, Egypt, where Egypt once knowed and ruled the world and chair of the Pharaohs, and there's nothing left but the Sphinx, and a few of the pyramids is standing as relics of a once great worldwide empire.

Brother and sister, our great America and our great economy that we have is rottening under the foundations, and someday, I see it in the making right now, she'll lay in the ruins. And you young men today, you young women, with the beauty of youth, the blush of the young cheek, the folly of the young heart, but one day will mold yonder in a graveyard somewhere. Why? Because all mortal has to give a way to immortality. Every nation has to fall, because there's coming a nation that'll not be ruled by men, but by Christ. These things fall.

38 Israel fell. And it falls... And just before it falls, this great ten--great prophet raised which was a fanatic among the people. But he lived in an atmosphere that he was constantly in the Presence of God. And he served God away to himself, almost like an isolationist. And I can imagine the people talking about him. I can imagine them saying, "You believe that story about the birds feeding him up there? You believe all these different things?" In the days of Noah, "You believe the rain story, how it's going to come water down, out of that fanatic?" But he lived under the atmospheres of God and not of men.

And then when it come time, there was a... The Syrians came over and took a little girl over into their nation. And then the great chief captain of the army, the Bible said he was a mighty man, but he was a leper.

39 Out in these--this world today, right here in Owensboro, Kentucky, there's men of great influence in your city here. I do not know them, but a city of this size could not yield hardly enough to be a modern Sodom without having men of influence. But it depends on where they let this influence dwell at, what kind of a life it produces. If it's under politics... Which I can't say nothing about them; we need politics and so forth. But whatever he is, if he lets hisself or this influence lay in the right atmosphere... He ought to lay in the Presence of God.

40 Notice, this Naaman was a great fellow, but he was a leper. There's so many people today, even I'm sad to say, that even in the pulpit, that's great men, but listens to man's theology instead of staying in the Presence of God, and still a leper, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Influential speakers, forceful, but still never knows what it is to be borned again to--or to believe in the supernatural, and cannot understand it, except they come into the Kingdom of God... He will explain it away through reasonings every time. Why, he's never lived in this atmosphere. But a man ever comes in there he has to become a son and daughter of God, then his nature is like God. He believes the supernatural.

41 So they had a little girl there. Now, I want to show you the force of a testimony of a child who lived in a nation, or perhaps a family, who was under the influence of God. She loved her master and her mistress. So when she seen Naaman, probably a good hearted, good natured man... As far as we know, according to history, Elijah had never healed a man with leprosy. There'd never been a leper case healed in his day.

But the little girl, being raised and brought up under the influence over in Israel, yet an alien, she was conducting herself as a believer. And that's the way we should do all the time, is conduct ourselves, no matter what our position is, conduct ourselves as believers, ready at all times to give an answer for the hope that lieth within you. You see it?

42 Here some time ago, down in the south, the Germans, or the Dutch brought over, the Dutch colonies, brought over to America Negroes out of Africa and sold them in the southern states for slaves. And they become personal property to the slave owner. And they worked at the toils of the day, and their scars over them from whips and sometimes unkind masters. And they were burdened and away from home. Many times they wouldn't want to work, and they would make them and force them to work.

And in a certain plantation there was a great owner who owned many hundred slaves, two or three hundred slaves on this great plantation. He'd buy and swap slaves. And one day a buyer came by. He said, "I would like to buy from you that certain slave." Said, "I've watched him in his conduct." Said, "He walks straight; you never have to whip him." Said, "He's always willing and standing ready to do anything." He said, "He seems to be such a gallant person." Said, "Perhaps you've made him the boss over the rest of them."

He said, "No, he's just a slave."

Said, "Maybe you feed him a little better and what makes him act different."

Said, "No, he eats with the rest of them."

Said, "What makes him act different?" Here it is brethren.

Said, "No, I wondered myself what made him always with his chin up, chest out, ready any time, never droopy, never mopey. Then I learned that he is the son of the king of the tribe. Though he's an alien, though he's away from home, still he conducts himself, knowing this, that he's the son of the king. He keeps the morale of the rest of them high, for he knows he's a son."

43 How much that ought to be to the Christian Church this morning, and what a challenge. No matter what other men do and what those who profess Christianity does, we must walk as sons and daughters of the King. Our morale should be wonderful. We should never act as the world or live with the world. We should keep our courage high, knowing this, that we are aliens. We don't care about the world and what they think. We are aliens, pilgrims, and strangers. But someday we're going home. But at this time we're pilgrims.

44 This little lady was that type. And she said to her mistress; she said, "I would God, that my lord Naaman was over in my country, for we have a prophet over there that could heal him of his leprosy." Oh, my, how God used that child. How did she know? The same thing I was talking on last night: inspiration from the very atmosphere.

Now, notice. That child under inspiration was led to say those words. We don't know of Elijah ever healing anyone else and maybe no one else, no matter how many he prayed for. But she said, "I would to God that my lord was over with my country, for in my country we have a prophet."

Oh, if we could say that about our churches today. I would to God that you could come under the influence that I live under and my church lives under, for we believe that God is a Healer. We believe that God is a Saviour. We believe that God gives the Holy Spirit. And I would to God that you lived in my country.

45 Notice quickly, when they entered into a place like that where the supernatural is introduced, Naaman at once sent to his king. And he wrote a letter over to the other king; he said, "Surely, now if there's a great thing like that going on over there in that country, the king should know about it. If there's a prophet in the land the king would know about it." Sure, the higher-ups should know about it. See, that's still the carnal mind.

The little girl never said a word about the king; she spoke about the prophet. Amen. Oh, I hope you see it. My, she spoke of the prophet. Maybe she'd never seen a case of leprosy healed, but she knowed where someone lived under that atmosphere of the supernatural. Said, "If you'll go over there, something will take place."

46 But here goes the king on a roundabout way, or Naaman, going to the king. And today you seek... You say, "I belong to the church." Oh, my. That has nothing to do with the atmosphere, not a thing.

Notice, and he brings the letter over to the King of Israel. And looks like today, if there was a prophet in the land, if there was healing in the land, that the ups-and-ups would know it. God doesn't always deal with the up-and-up. We are an individual kingdom.

47 Speaking to someone the other day about polygamy. I said the nation in a whole would be better off if it practiced polygamy. It would. We're the highest rated nation in the world with divorces, marrying and intermarrying, marrying and intermarrying. Because we try to make the men of the world outside coincide with Christian doctrine, and you can't put the nature of a lamb in a pig. Polygamy would be better off for him. You may not believe it but God would look at polygamy and excuse it a lot quicker than what He would...

Now, remember, don't you say that I believe in polygamy; I don't. I...?...what God said... Moses said that... The Pharisee said to Jesus, said, "Why did Moses suffer a writing of divorcement?"

Said, "He did it because the hardness of your heart." Right. But it wasn't so from the beginning, never will be. God did it because of the hardness of their heart.

But in the nations where they have polygamy the divorce courts are at ebb, low. But in here where we're trying to make and govern this country as a nation, because being a Christian nation, but the name of Christian nation doesn't make it a Christian nation. And you cannot govern the world by the rules of God. You can't. I have no--nothing against a sinner drinking. I have nothing against a sinner committing adultery, nothing against the sinner doing this. But what I'm talking about is these people who are supposed to be Christians and then doing that.

If a pig wants to stick his snout in the manure pile and eat all day, that's his business, 'cause he's a pig to begin with. But the lamb doesn't do that. The sinner, he's a pig to begin with. But then when you try to make a lamb out of a pig, you have to have a conversion and he has to come into a different atmosphere. And when he comes into the atmosphere his desires will change and his nature will change. That's the way it is today.

48 So he goes to the king and has a letter. This letter to him. "I just don't like it." Now at the Baptist church the people say, "Anybody want to come in by profession, or bring your letter, or the change of a letter, remove a letter..." pack it from one church to the other. Just about as much influence in it as there is in this king Naaman taking this King of Israel his letter. What's that got to do with God?

God isn't going to come to the church and look up your letter. He's got a Book in heaven called the Book of Life. And if your name's not on this Book of Life, you're lost if you got a letter in every church in the world. That's right. And your name will never be written there unless you come into that atmosphere, living and loving with God. God is a loving God. He wants to be loved. You can't be cold, cruel, and indifferent and ever get anywhere with God. You got to be loving and kind.

49 Notice. And this little lady, she had told him to go to the prophet, but instead of the prophet, he went over to the king. And the king didn't know nothing about Divine healing; he didn't know anything about certain-certain thing. Why, he didn't know that there was a prophet in the land that could perform miracles. He didn't know nothing about. Though he was supposed to be an Israelite, circumcised, but you see his atmosphere wasn't like Elijah's atmosphere.

And when he got this letter, he reached and got his garments and tore them up, said, "Am I God to make men alive or to kill?" He said, "I want all of you (his cabinet), I want all of you to take notice. This man's picking a quarrel with me." You see it?

See, the world, you know, it tears them up. See, he didn't live under... Yet he was a professed Israelite. But he thought the days of miracles was past. Oh, thank God, there was an old prophet way back there in the wilderness who lived with God under a different atmosphere. He heard the king tore his clothes up. He said, "Why did you tear your clothes up?" Said, "Why didn't you send him out here to me?" He didn't know whether there was a prophet in Israel or not. The king didn't know.

50 There's many people today that doesn't know that Jesus Christ is still alive. They don't know that He still rules and reigns. They don't know that the Blood at Calvary for the--for the all sufficient... See, that it even purchased there at the cross for your transgressions and for your healings. They don't know that that's real today. We need some more little maids to go around and testify of these things. Don't you think so? Get in the atmosphere of it.

It's not afraid what the world says, because while they're talking with the world they're still in another atmosphere. You're talking to the sinner but you're not in his atmosphere. And you're in such a glorious and shrouded in, then Shekinah Glory all around you, and the veils of the world hid. You can talk to the worldly women, or the worldly men, or whoever it is and still live in that Shekinah Glory telling them of a loving God that's raised from the dead.

51 A few weeks ago I was in Karlsruhe, Germany. The church down there which is a some Zwingli, not a Lutheran, but they had... I went in. Billy Graham was there one night in Zurich, and I went in the next day. And my advertisement and Billy Graham's was setting together. Billy Graham has a place in my heart as a true servant of God. He preaches repentance, and he's doing a very fine job at it. God is using him; we know that.

And he was--had a meeting there, and that day I didn't get to the meeting, though I had an invitation to come set in the box. But I was so tired and worn from a long flight around the country for several thousands of miles in the plane, till I was wore out. And I went into the room, and I went in to lie down, and I--I went to sleep and it was too late. So I reached over and turned the radio on, and I heard him preaching through the translator.

52 And the next morning when the newspapers come, I seen what a raking they give Billy Graham. The church denied, the main body of church, they ever invited such a person to their nation. And they said that he put a manicure in his hair, what is, or--or waved it, you know. What is it you call it? A permanent it is. Permanented...?... in his hair. And they said when he come to the platform to preach, he looked like he was going to a bandbox instead of a servant of God going... Said, not a wrinkle in his clothes. And they said that when he was preaching that he screamed and waved his arms like a fantastic soap salesman from America, and said his perfume was so great that you could smell him ten feet away. He preached on the Supreme Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I knew what I was in for then, 'cause I had ten days there.

53 See, the church in Zurich and Switzerland and Germany does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They say He's the son of Joseph called the Son of God. That knocks the very foundation from under Christianity. He was a virgin born Son of the living God. And Billy Graham never held any strings; he preached it that way. Yes, sir. And I knew I'd follow right up behind him.

And in there God gave us in that ungodly place, another morning, you'd think the Millennium had struck there, the chimes and bells on the churches, and yet, they called Billy Graham a soap salesman and me a soothsayer. You can know what kind of an atmosphere they're living in.

54 John went forth preaching repentance, laying the axe to the root of the tree. He did no miracles. Jesus come behind him, not preaching, but healing the sick and performing miracles. And they said if they'd call him who come, John, said he had a devil because he didn't eat and drink, and the Son of man a gluttonous and a friend of sinners... Wisdom is justified of her children.

And today to see in their own country Jesus Christ coming forth as John, as a prophet like John, Billy Graham preaching repentance, and then come back around in old fashion campaigns a heal the sick, and prophecy, and all the different signs and wonders, it's still the same ungodly Pharisee spirit that lived right yonder in a church atmosphere instead of under the Shekinah Glory. Amen. God forgive me if I say something wrong. You see what I mean? They don't believe.

55 We moved up on into Karlsruhe, after having fifty thousand of those cold formal people kneel at an altar, and give their heart to God, and receive the Holy Ghost. Moved on up into Karlsruhe and the church sent word up there right quick, "Don't let him come up there. (See?) Don't permit it." And they couldn't find any stadiums and things, so the men got together and built a place and covered several acres of ground and spread canvas over it like a big cathedral, and thousands times thousands poured in there the first night. 'Cause... They counted as many as a hundred and eighty and two hundred buses every night from Germany, and from Belgium, and all around coming into the Zurich meeting. And then we were run up there, quickly, they said... Dr. Guggenbuhl my representative there, went up there and they said, "No, the police said he cannot come."

Said, "You had Billy Graham, what about him?"

"We have orders not to receive him from the church."

And church controls state to if you under--in Zurich and Switzerland, or Germany, either one. Church and state's together, and the church is over the state, and church and state united. So we couldn't do it. Dr. Guggenbuhl and went out and he said, "God, it can't be so. You led Brother Branham up here, and he wouldn't have come 'less You led him; so there's got to be something happen, God."

And I was off resting, I said, "Yes, the Lord speaks to me to go to Germany."

He said, "God, something's wrong."

56 And seemed like living in that atmosphere, not a vision, not a voice, but something down in his soul said, "This is American zone; go down to the American headquarters. And he went in there to the Major, and the Major... He went in and said, "Major, I'm Dr. Guggenbuhl from Zurich, Switzerland," which is an attorney which has nationwide publicity and--and loyalty to the nation. He said, "And we have a brother from America comes over here to preach for us." And said, "We have built a great cathedral out here for him." And said, "Up at Hamburg we was going to have it in the stadium, but weather's too rainy, and we had to put this place up here Karlsruhe (which means 'Karl's rest')." And he said, "We--we have brought him over here now, and he feels that he should come here, and the church has denied us the privilege of letting our brother come." Said, "They had Billy Graham up here." and said, "They let him come. Now, what's wrong with our brother coming?"

He said, "Well, I think if they let Mr. Graham come, they ought to let your brother come." And 'course that's American controlled, you know.

So he said, "Well, I'll tell you," said, "they won't let him come."

57 Said, "What do they have against your--your preacher for coming?" Said, "What do they... Why they don't want him to come?"

He said, "Kind sir," said, "here's the reason." He said, "because that our brother prays for the sick and gets the results, and they're against the supernatural of God."

He said, "What's your brother's name?"

Said, "Brother Branham."

He said, "Brother Branham," He said, "he prayed for my mother, and she was taken from a wheelchair in Virginia." Said, "Tell him it's open, come on. Not only that, but the army camp will turn loose and we'll come."

Sure, God's still on the throne. when you feel your leading, move to it; get in the atmosphere and follow the way that moves. If it goes east or west, move. The first night a bunch of communists got on the outside of the place, and they was rioting in these bushes with guns to shoot me, they said. When we went out, German soldiers pledging their loyalty, come around and held their arms over me, and around--around me, till I got in the car. One almost got my son Billy before he got to the car, a fanatic.

58 And the next night standing in the building there where the Holy Spirit moving, I couldn't even call the German names to the people in the audience, had to spell it out and tell them. They seen me working. There set a medium, setting over there with his eye cast on me. He said, "I'll come down" and said, "I'll make him to know." He told them that day; he said, "I'll call a storm out of the skies," and he said, "I'll cause it to tear that place down." And the thunder was a roaring, the lightning a flashing as hard as it could. And here he come, and he made his threat wrote it out. When I was turning there... Didn't... That didn't matter to me what he said. And when I seen the storm coming and people getting nervous and one constant roar of lightning after the other one like that, I looked around, and I seen where he was setting. I said, "You child of the devil, you may be able to perform miracles, that's right, and I've exposed you here." I said, "The Bible said as Jambres and Jannes withstood Moses, so will these, the antichrist, having power to perform miracles, but you're afraid to touch the supernatural of God." Right. I said, "Because you done this, you'll pay for it."

They packed him out that night as a cripple. And while we were there, the storm going on, I just continued with my message. I kept calling to God in my heart, and after while, in about ten minutes, the storm cleared away, and she begin to shine out real pretty. The Lord Jesus... Why? The people got into the atmosphere when they seen the glory of God begin to move.

59 At that time they started a prayer line, and they were down there lifting the people to the platform coming. And I shall never forget this, as they lifted up a little girl to the platform, I never noticed her; I was talking to my interpreter, which was a good one that night, American born German. And I turned around and I said, "Sir, just looky." I said, "The stars are bright, not one harm." And I said, "Look at him the way he looks down there now, setting there with his head down, his hands like that." I said, "Something's happened to him."

And about that time, looked around, and somebody begin to scream, and I wondered what. And they'd set a little girl about this high, cute little German girl, little plaits hanging down her back... And let me tell you, we Americans, we classed Germany and got the wrong impression. The real borned again children of Germany is just as sweet and dear as any children there is anywhere.

60 A minister told me, said, "I was detailed to do a reconnaissance," and said, "I went up to the top of the hill, and they told me, "Life or death, you have to go anyhow to break up that machine gun nest." And said, "It had ceased firing for awhile." He put his arms around me, a German preacher which was a Nazi in the Army, not the S. S. troop, now you soldiers. But this was just a--a--a--a German soldier, and he was detailed, and he had to do it, to do this reconnaissance.

And when he got up there, said, "I looked over there, Brother Branham; I peeped up over the hill expecting to be shot at any minute." Said, "You know what I found? A bunch of American boys in this machine gun nest with a open Bible on their knees, praying." Said, "I knowed they'd throw hand grenades there as soon as those eighty-eight millimeter guns got trained in there, and they'd blow them up. So I picked up my rifle, went bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, up in the air, run back real quick, said, 'I don't know whether I got them or not.' And they moved the machine gun nest."

Why? If that'll make soldiers feel that way about one another, what will the Blood of Jesus Christ, will cease all wars forever when men and women can ever come into the atmosphere and nations into the environment of the living and resurrected God.

That man setting on the pulpit with me, after the service we had a little one together with our arms around one another. And there American with me, was a soldier in them a few years before, under political influence would be shooting at one another and here with their arms around one another under another influence that makes men, brothers. It's your influence.

61 That night when this little German girl, her little dress on, her little white face. I never noticed her, heard them scream. And I went and turned this a way, and nobody was trying to direct her. In that country they had to get a man who could speak their language to give out their prayer cards.

And so, he wasn't very well trained, and he let the little girl, instead of walk off, he just pitched her up there on the platform. She was about the third or fourth one on the platform. And I looked, and she near the edge of the platform which was much higher than the ceiling, went up several steps to get to it.

And when I looked, she was... I reached and grabbed her like that and the interpreter begin to talk to her. And she was mumbling off something. She said, "I want to meet the man that's going to pray for me," little blind thing. And he...

The interpreter said, "That's him that's got a hold of you." And she moved her little hands. By the way, I had on this same suit, was give to me about six years ago in Oslo. So she put her little arms around me, and like this, and laid her little head over on my shoulder. I thought, "Like my little Becky." And I stroked her little, long plait like that, and I thought, "Poor little thing." And I heard her snubbing like a child on my bosom. I raised her little head up and her eyes looked white, looking at her little face, as she was leaning back like that on my arm.

62 There, by the grace of God, I saw a vision come forth. The little girl, I seen her laying in her mother's arms, and her doctor looking at her, said she was blind from birth. Tall, thin mother with blond hair, I seen her father, a short, heavy set man with dark hair, where they were at, and the speaking the vision. And the mother was setting out in the audience and the father way back under many times thousands and thousands and thousands of people, setting back there. And when I looked back, I said, "Now, of course I have no power." What was it? It was atmosphere. It was Shekinah was the One that was giving the thing.

And I looked, I seen the little girl was going like a shadow, out of this little girl, going, walking along with her hands up, looking around and talking and pointing to things. I knew that the God of heaven lived and reigned...?... prayed for her, raised her up and she was looking up at me, and her little eyes staring and sparkling. She mumbled off something.

And the translator looked down; he said, "Brother Branham, she can see."

I said, "Keep it to yourself just a minute." I said, "What's she saying?"

He said, "She's asking what them--them things are there?" It was lights. And when the translator... She was close enough to her mother had heard the voice and rest of them. And she looked up and she begin weeping out loud. And her mother, so excited...

The influence had took over the building; the whole thing was under heavenly influence. The devil was paralyzed. Influence... Her mother let out a scream and run so fast, till she run out of her shoes, they flew up behind her. She rushed to the platform; she threw her arms around the child, and the child said, "Are you my mother?" The first time she'd seen her, said, "Oh, mother, you're so beautiful. You're so beautiful, mother."

63 The next morning Almighty God by His infinite power, when the German Church come down and said, "We can understand and believe your theology, and your Bible teaching is wonderful, Brother Branham." But said, "That Light, that Angel, we can't understand It."

And they had a breakfast with about six hundred ministers met together, and they put a big German camera there, and the Holy Ghost in that same Pillar of Fire came down and was took on the German camera three times that morning and swept through the...?... The atmosphere changed. That's right.

Wished I'd have thought and brought it with me. Was in a Christian Businessmen this month, or a couple months ago, rather. What is it? It's atmosphere. Men and women should live under that atmosphere. Don't get out from under some normal world existing influence, but stay under the atmosphere of the Lord Jesus.

64 Shall we bow our heads just a moment while we're in His Presence, every man and woman with their head bowed, boys and girls. Turn that little lever that sets right at the top of the brain cell, bypass all those reasonings out through your ears as nonsense. Then open up that little valve that runs down to the human heart, to your soul. It won't reason; it'll believe. It'll say God's Word is right and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I am so thankful this morning to bring to you in your presence, not a historical Moses, not a historical Elijah, not a historical God, but a resurrected God, One Who died. And the only purpose when He was made flesh here, God Himself become flesh to take away sin and to make it possible that His Holy Spirit could come in the human heart. The historical God is with you today in the Presence of the Lord Jesus. If you have a need, speak to Him now while we pray.

65 Great Jehovah God, Who lived before there was an eternity, You was without father, without mother, without beginning of days, or ending of years, and reading upon the pages of this sacred Book how the things that You did in the days of yore that's passed by, and to have the privilege of living in this dark age just here at the end of the world, and seeing You rise on the scene again, no guessing, no man-made theology, no cold atmosphere of just joining a church or signing a paper, but living in the Shekinah Glory and the influence of a resurrected Lord Jesus, confirming, fulfilling His Word, bringing to pass everything that He said...

Merciful Father, I present this audience to You today, that You in Your great kindness of this hour, will do for this audience that which they have need of. Save the sinner; call back to repentance the backslider. Heal the sick; give experience to those who need You, Lord, in that type of an experience.

While I ask this audience, Father, to wait on Thee, may Your Spirit sweep over the audience and give to them individually what they have need of. And while we stay shut in with Him Who raised from the dead, we ask God the Father in the Name of Jesus His Son Who said, "If you ask the Father anything in My Name, I'll do it." And this is not a myth, neither is this for man's glory. This is for Your glory, and that You might raise up little maids and little boys and girls in this community, that could tell the sick and afflicted there is a balm in Gilead. Grant it, Father, for Jesus' sake.

While you set with your heads bowed, if you are sick, look to Him now for your healing. If you need salvation, look to Him now for salvation while we stay shut in with God, I wonder if pastor would continue on leading in prayer.