Word To The Church

 ^{Back to the message, brother! Back to the  original back to Pentecost! Back to the real blessing! Back to the name of Jesus Christ! Back to the baptism of the Holy Ghost! Back to the signs and wonders! Back to Pentecost! away with your organizations! Back to the Holyghost! He is our teacher!}

                                                           ^Faith  

^{what is faith? what is the anointing? how do you receive it and walk in it? The word "faith" defined in the Webster's dictionary is: belief or value of something, or trustworthiness of somone or something(n). Faith in the (verb) means: "to believe" as an act of faith. The word anoint (verb) means: to apply oil in a religious ceremony; to bless someone. Faith is a deep subject expressed throughout the old and new testament and exercised by men of god and the holy prophets. There are many views on faith and many teachers, pastors and noted evangelists such as Oral Roberts, Kenneth Hagin, and Kenneth copeland have taught on the subject and have material on faith. Some of these preachers are known as the initiators of the "word of faith movement." Most Christians and believers of the Message claim to know what faith is and that they possess it: Unfortunately, this is not accurate with the majority. In reality perhaps 1% to 2% of christians around the world actually know what faith is, walk in and exercise it to their full potential. To collaborate this Jesus said in Luke 18:8,"nevertheless when the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" why would Jesus say this if he could not fortell the future that there would be a lack of faith in the last days? So many christians and pentecostals think if they listen to tapes sermons every day or listen to a good preacher that they are feeding on or drinking from the word: this is not neccissarily true. In hebrews 4:2 Paul said,"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them,not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." We know that you cannot please god without faith according to heb 11:6. Now, the First question what is faith ? The apostle Paul declared in Hebrews 11:1,"Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen." Secondly how is faith obtained? Actually in the bible there are 4 references of how faith was and is administered; # 1. In Romans 12:3 we learn that god has dealt with everyone a measure faith which indicates there are levels of faith. To confirm this in Matt 8:10 Jesus told the centurion servant,"I have not found such great faith no, not in Israel." Secondly, There is the spiritual gift of faith which is something a person is born with listed in I Corr 12:9 which, is operated by the spirit and is without repentance. Thirdly,the Hearing of Faith Galations 3:2 and in Romans 10:17 Paul Declared,"So, then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of god." In Gal 3:2 paul said that you receive the spirit, minister in the spirit, and work miracles by the hearing of faith: this is 3 things. You walk in the spirit by the hearing of faith then, you will be led by the spirit Gal 5:18. Faith is not by an intellectual sense of the mind thinking positive and "the power is within yourself" which humanistic psychology suggests and teaches. The anointed word of god (seed) transcends through your ears and settles into your heart as jesus taught in the parable of Mark Ch 4:3-20. Thus, the more water of the word the more cleansing and your heart increases in faith. Paul admonished and exhorted us to walk in faith and to put on the shield of faith in 2nd corrinthians 5:7 and ephesians 6:16 . In acts 15:9 and acts 26:18 the scripture indicates that are hearts are purified and sanctified by faith. The fourth administration of Faith is impartation or the stirring of the gift that is in you 2nd Tim 1:6-9. In a natural sense the more (Healthy) food and protein you eat the more energy your body stores and creates. In a spiritual sense are spirit (man) needs spiritual food in which to come alive and have spiritul energy if you will. This can be accomplished by feeding on the word and by reading the word daily. In Jeremiah 15:16 he said," Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart."  also in chapter 36:6 The Lord instructed Jeremiah to "read the words of the lord on the fasting day." Paul declared," If we live in the spirit; let us also walk in the spirit: for if you walk in the spirit ye will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." John the Disciple exhorted us to walk in Truth; III John 1:3. how do you walk in faith and in the spirit? by reading and hearing the word of god: the word is god John 1:1. Filling your innerman (spirit and soul) with God's word will strengthen your spirit thus, crucifying the flesh. Jesus said," he who will not take up his cross daily and follow me is not worthy of me." I have experienced many times after reading the word for hours until the words seem to roll off the page and I felt dizzy and sensed intense heat all over my body (The Anointing). David said in Psalms," His circuit goeth forth to the ends of the earth and, there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." This is not an isolated manifestation or experience Jeremiah declared in ch 23:9, "I am become as a drunken man like a man whom wine hath overcome because, of the lord and the words of his holiness." The bible declares in Isa 10:27 the anointing destroys the yokes and, the apostle and disciple john said,"you need no man teach you: for the anointing teacheth you all things."In Ezek ch 2:9," And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein." In ch 3 1-3 the Lord said to him Ezekiel," son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. vs 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the roll. vs 3 and he said unto me, son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness." The roll is the word of the Lord we must eat it and partake of it. The reason that many ministers lack the anointing is because they lack faith. The reason many lack faith is that they don't spend enough time in God's word, prayer and fasting. As a result many hungry souls seeking do not receive a blessing, healing in their body or a transformation. I have two uncles that are pastors and I know several pastors sadly, most preachers and pastors may only spend 15 to 20 minutes in bible study and prayer before they minister to their congregation. When is the last time you prayed all night and cried out to god or spent hours in his word where is the dedication and consecration? William Branham, said himself many times he prayed to god all night and, one time he was lost in prayer for 4 hours and a revival followed on a street in Jeffersonville In. Three main things that I have witnessed that will take place if you sincerely, earnestly seek god and read the word #1 your faith will increase #2 god's presence will intensify and will release his anointing #3 the holyspirit will reveal himself and things to you: This coincides with Jeremiah 33:3. In Ecclesiastes Solomon said," A three fold cord is not quickly broken". 1. The word Increases our faith. 2. the word heals us psalms 107:20. 3. faith which worketh by love releases god's anointing in our lives. Jesus said in this order; when you 1.pray, 2.when you fast 3.when you give: this is three fold. In essence it is when you 1. PRAY 2. FAST and 3. READ THE WORD OF GOD 4. Give an pay your vows (tithes & offerings) the Number 4 means deliverance. One thing I have learned is "the greater the Anointing, the greater the attacks of the enemy." I have experienced this in my own life whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially the devil knows your weaknesses. This is why we must take up the cause of the cross daily and put on the whole armour of god Ephesians ch 6:16. For those who truly have a call of god on their life and obey it there is a price to pay. Here are some sermon excerpts to what william branham said on faith and reading the word which he lived and practised himself as an example: The Inner Veil (quote) "Just drink untill you can't drink no more. If you have need of divine healing, go to god's word and drink from it untill you push it out. If you need more of god, just keep drinking, pushing out." (End Quote) True Sign overlooked (quote) " People won't read and they won't pray. so god is soverign and sends his prophet to be a sign. the people won't read and they won't pray,because they got other things to do. They can't take time to pray and the bible is boresome to them. god wants his people to pray. "further in the excerpt he said," I'm thinking of cornelius's house, but they we're fasting and praying. and when the man of god, that prophet stood there, and while he spake these words, the holy ghost fell on them that heard the word. God grant that kind of meeting." (end quote MosesCommission (quote) "Becuase if you haven't got enough faith for your sick body, how are you going to have faith enough for the rapture?" (End Quote) William Branham Speaks (quote) "Faith cometh by hearing, hearing by the word. and the holyghost is god's officer he will come and cast him out. amen have faith."(end Quote) Communion Vol 10 # 1 page 17 (quote)  "So each day we've got to commune with christ. We have to talk to him each day! so if your physical body needs food each day to survive, your spiritual body needs spiritual food and communion with the lord each day to survive. so each day we've got to study the bible. But a real believer, thats really spiritually built up, he reads his bible every day." (End Quote) Who do you say this is ? pg.18 (quote) "The word and us would be the anointed word. that is the oneness of god, see? The oneness of god is the anointed word in you."(End Quote) Tower of Babel (quote) "while peter yet spakes these words at the house of cornelius,the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the word. faith cometh by hearing, not by laying on hands, but by hearing! hearing what? the word of God!" (end Quote)  Bro Branham said (quote) "I believe thats one of the reasons the lord moves in my meetings is because I like to read a lot of scripture because, there is a lot of sick people."  March 6,1957," Read the word. some of you don't read the word once a week. you ought to read  chapter after chapter every day meditate." (end quote) November 20, 1959," I think one of the greatest things among christians today; they don't read the word enough. I think every home should have the bible read in it two or three times a day." The Easter Seal pages 27,34,35 (quote) "the neighbors say,oh, that person has lost their mind, pray all nite to read the bible...I don't care what they say, it's what god has called you to do. thats right. why they say we can't have those old fashioned pentecostal revivals. oh yes we can too." (end Quote)}

                                                    ^{Prayer & Fasting}

 ^{Fasting is a Bible doctrine just as much so as Salvation by a New Birth, Divine Healing, Teaching on Heaven and Hell, and etc. At the same time it is a lost art in the modern church. One wonders why it is not more spoken of and practiced in view of the many things the Bible had to say about it. For example the Apostle Paul knew that his flesh body was an enemy to his SPIRITUAL MAN and warned us about it in Gal. 5:17, "For the flesh lusteth against the spirit (against the SPIRITUAL MAN); and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would." Paul had learned from the Old Testament scrolls that the secret to keeping the FLESH MAN under control is FASTING. He studied the same scriptures that are available to us today. There is no doubt in my mind but what Paul made Isaiah's teaching on fasting a part of his routine of life.Isa. 58:6-12, (We will quote parts of these scriptures and ask you to study them in your Bible.), "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke." In this scripture we see at once that God has CHOSEN that we should fast. As we read we will see that He is sharing with us His secret weapon for a ministry of deliverance. Verse 7, "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh." In this verse God is explaining that fasting will prepare the SPIRITUAL MAN in us to take the BREAD, or the WORD, and minister it under a powerful anointing that would not otherwise be upon us. To hide ourselves from our own flesh is to refuse to fast to obtain this anointing, so that our life and testimony will be effective toward the saving of the souls of our own family. Verse 8, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the Glory of the Lord shall be thy reward." THEN that is to say AFTER we have fasted and brought our OUTER FLESH MAN under control of the INNER SPIRITUAL MAN, our light ,or our life and testimony, will break forth and be effective upon those around us. When the OUTER MAN is under control, then the INNER MAN, who is RIGHTEOUS, will be able to manifest this righteousness through the FLESH MAN.Did you notice also that God said, "After we fast, our HEALTH shall spring forth speedily." It needs to be taught from the house tops that in America we are digging our own graves with our teeth. Over-eating is by far the biggest single factor in the failing health of most Americans.I read from the manual of a medical doctor the following statement, "Every bite of food that we eat which the body does not actually need to maintain it's strength for daily activities becomes toxic waste and does actually poison the system. This poison then, which is self-administered by our over-eating, does in fact become the root from which most of our bodily ailments grow. Our medicines cannot hold their own against this growing cause of death. We must educate the people concerning this modern, American way of self-destruction. (End quote)Medical science has learned what our God told us in the Bible hundreds of years ago. To maintain a healthy body we must restrict our intake of food, and not only that, we must miss some meals as the Lord leads us. God calls it FASTING.Although many are discovering the physical benefits of controlled eating habits, the church seems to have lost sight of Bible teaching about fasting for the health of the SPIRITUAL MAN. Fasting is the key to keeping the FLESH MAN under control, and the INNER, SPIRITUAL MAN is only strong to the degree that the OUTER FLESH MAN is kept under. Many of you will be able to testify of the following truth: the more food we give the physical body the stronger it becomes (up to a point), and the stronger it becomes, the more of it's natural lusts it demands to be satisfied. This is why the Bible says, "Make no provision for the flesh." (Rom. 13:14) When given all it's demands, the FLESH MAN quickly subdues the SPIRITUAL MAN. Therefore, Paul said, "I keep my body under subjection." (I Cor. 9:27) Have you ever noticed that when the body is denied the food that it craves, then all other activities that normally give us pleasure, loose their ability to comfort us? This is because food is the key to keeping the FLESH MAN under control. He thrives on physical food; the more of it he gets the more are his fleshly lusts stirred up. But on the other hand, when he is denied food, except for what is actually needed to sustain him, these lusts are subdued (kept under) and the SPIRITUAL MAN comes to the front.When the FLESH MAN is being kept under, the SPIRITUAL MAN is tall and strong, and when the flesh is catered to excessively the SPIRITUAL MAN is pale and anemic. Therefore the scriptures we are studying in Isaiah, and many others we will look at, call the church to this God-chosen work of fasting. Continuing our look at Isaiah 58:9 we read, "THEN shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer, thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here am I ." Did you notice? The Lord said, "THEN",or, "AFTER" we have fasted He shall answer and say, Here I am. We do know that our Lord answers the prayers of faith. Can we see then that the scripture is telling us that fasting has to do with increasing our faith? The absence of fasting has much to do with the absence of power in our lives. When God promised in the book of Joel that He would restore the Church to it's original place of power, He sent us a Prophet with a message to bring about that restoration. Concerning this power Brother Branham said, QUOTE: PERSEVERANCE, PAGES 1-2, "Now this is the night that I try to put these three nights for praying for the sick, and speaking to the sick, prayer for the sick-----If I preach hard I have to eat, and if I eat I can't have these kind of services (healing services)---You are full of food and your blood is gone to your stomach to digest the food, and then your brain just don't work right, in that way." (End quote) QUOTE: THE WAY OF A TRUE PROPHET, PAGES 22-23, " Someone even laughed at me when the Lord came here not long ago and gave me a vision that I always wanted to see, about binding the serpent. I always wondered if I should step out like that, when that's what I wanted all my life. Then I begin to FAST and pray. They (those who laughed) said, "What did you do that for?" I said, "In there He said I was not sincere enough." I had to come now to purge myself. Purge your souls." (End quote) (Fasting purges our souls and makes way for faith.)QUOTE: REALITIES OF THE LIVING GOD, PAGE 8, "And I said, here is Gene Goad, Pat Tyler, and a whole bunch of them, like these fellows here. When I'm in one of those meetings they lay on their face and FAST for days, don't even eat, and pray for me. That's what carries me on. That's the strength. Their help cometh from the Lord. Just so many of them, of my friends that just FAST and pray. They refuse their meals and FASTING and praying."(End quote) QUOTE: SPOKEN WORD IS ORIGINAL SEED, PAGE 98, "Oh I remember sitting there in a room, three days in there, praying and waiting on the Lord and FASTING." (End quote) QUOTE: ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH PART 2, PAGE 61, "God shake this little old Church like never before. May the Holy Ghost get a-hold of every person here, cause them to FAST and pray, and lay on their face day and night, screaming out Lord, until the old fashioned revival breaks out." (End quote) Fasting has always been a powerful weapon in the hands of God's called people. It was so in the Old Testament, as we shall see.Moses fasted 40 days while receiving the law. Exodus 34:28, "And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."When Elijah was fearful for his life, and running from Jezebel, in his desperation he fasted forty days until he reached Horeb the Mount of God. I Kings 19:8, "And he arose and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the Mount of God."When the enemy gathered against Jehoshaphat, he set himself to seek the Lord and called a FAST throughout all Judah. II Chro.20:3, "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a FAST throughout all Judah."Ezra and his helpers fasted while seeking God about rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Ezra 8:21, "Then I proclaimed a FAST there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance." Esther, a type of the Bride, fasted and prayed before taking her life in her hands by going before the King uncalled. Esther 4:15-16, "Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and FAST ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days---I also, and my maidens will FAST likewise, and so will I go in unto the King, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish." When the Lord was about to send judgment on Israel, Jehoiakim called a FAST. Jeremiah 36:9, "And it came to pass-that they proclaimed a FAST before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem." The people of Nineveh believed the preaching of Jonah concerning their destruction and proclaimed a FAST at Jonah's warning; God spared them. Jonah 3:5, "So the people of Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a FAST." Ps. 35:13, David said, "I humbled my soul with FASTING." Ps. 69:10, "I chastened my soul with FASTING." Ps. 109:24, David said, "My knees are weak from FASTING."Daniel 9:3, Daniel set his face to seek the Lord "By prayer and FASTING." Joel 2:11-12, "And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army----therefore also now saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with FASTING and weeping, and with mourning." These scriptures, and others, prove that in Old Testament days FASTING was a key to drawing closer to the Lord and being able to hear His voice. Is it not when we hear His voice that our faith is anchored? Our faith is perfected as we receive His orders, and thereby know where we stand. Then can we see that FASTING has to do with our being able to hear His voice? God speaks, but our spiritual ears grow dull when our outer FLESH MAN is ruling. God's ordained way to move the FLESH MAN out of the way, so that the SPIRITUAL MAN may come to the front, is to subdue him by FASTING.IF you have been following the teaching series, you remember that we have gone to great length to separate, in our minds, the INNER MAN from the OUTER MAN. One is of God and the other of the enemy."The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other." (Gal. 5:17) In the natural world there is a law that says, "The strong shall rule." In the spiritual world it is the same, as the flesh and the Spirit war for control of the Christian. The strongest shall rule. Physical food, over and above the actual need of the body, does actually diminish the strength of the INNER MAN. This is because the lust of the flesh depends on the strength of the flesh, which strength is built up by an abundance of food, allowing the flesh man to rule.So in I Cor. 9:27, Paul said, "I keep my body (OUTER MAN) under control and bring it into subjection." He had learned the secret of FASTING in order to control the carnal desires of his flesh.Rom.8:12-13, "Therefore Brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."Rom. 7:25, Paul said, "With my flesh I serve the law of sin." This law of sin that always remains in our flesh, is weakened and subdued by FASTING. Until the flesh is kept under, we do not have the Spiritual discernment we need. QUOTE: DISCERNING THE BODY OF THE LORD, PAGE 10, "We should come together arm and heart, and pray and FAST and call until God sends back the Holy Ghost, that we might have spiritual discernment." (End quote) In II Cor. 11:27, Paul said he was, "In FASTINGS often." Fasting was a part of his routine of life, and so was it for our last Church Age Messenger. QUOTE: TEACHING ON MOSES, PAGE 20, "You know sometimes, people when they pray get tired, Oh they get so tired. I sometimes get so tired I almost faint, when I go to praying a long time. Just get so faint, go without eating and things for days, and pray, and pray, and preaching too. I just get to a place I go to faint nearly." (End quote) QUOTE: WHAT IS THE HOLY GHOST, PAGE 4, " Then when we're coming tonight, we're coming upon Holy Ground, among a people who has been praying and FASTING and making restitutions and getting ready to receive something from God. QUOTE: FOOTPRINTS BOOK, PAGE 369, "I was planning on taking a FAST to the Lord. I told Him I would go out and FAST, A FAST in the body is a feast with the Lord, we know that." (End quote) QUOTE: A TRUE SIGN THAT'S OVERLOOKED, PAGE 3, "Right now I'm not eating pleasant foods in these days, haven't since the going of my mother. I'm seeking the Lord for a new vision. Just eating soft things, and as little as I can get by with. I've lost twenty pounds." (End quote) (Mother Branham departed this life Oct. 27, 1961. Brother Branham preached this message Nov. 12, 1961. According to his testimony, he was on this partial fast 15 or 16 days.)  (Some of these writings and quotes were taken from Pastor C.W. Woods in Dewitt, Arkansas.)}

^Revival

 ^{what is revival ? The word revive (verb)  in the webster's dictionary is to restore,refresh,recall; return to conscienceness or life. The word revival (adjective) means "a meeting whose purpose is religious reawakening." Genuine, real, revival has faded away from the modern church and christian culture especially, in america. Many churches who call for or anounce a revival meeting dosen't mean it is really a revival but, merely a social gathering with maybe some music or singing and preaching or lecturing. America needs revival but how do we get "revived" ? First we must all truly repent and call on the Lord and seek his face with fasting and weeping according to joel 1:12-13. Hosea the prophet declared in ch 6:1-3,"Come let us return unto the lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten and he will bind us up." In verse 2 "after two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up: and we shall live in his sight." Third verse "Then shall we know if we follow on to know the lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." So the bible gives us a mandate and a call: if we turn unto the lord will all of our hearts and follow on to know the lord he will:  1. heal us  2. Revive us 3. raise us up  4. he will rain down on us the former and latter rain. Most sinners and proclaimed christians alike in america do not have a deep hunger for god; to sincerely know god and to have a close walk with him but, have rather rejected his truth. Here are some sermon excerpts of what the prophet said concerning this last day revival before the rapture. (quote) The Angel of the Lord 1951 "what we need is an old-fashioned, breaking up, tearing down, rooting out revival that starts in every home, and sweeps through the city, and they'll close all the bootleg joints and everything else, and straighten things up. thats a revival. see? When you see these crowds gathering that dosen't mean revival. thats just a gathering. but a revival is when people get really right with god, pray through, and it starts a revival throughout the city and everything . you see? they put away their sin, put away their iniquity, and turn to god." (end quote) The Mark of the Beast 1954 (quote) "There is to be a great shaking, and a revival, just before the closing of the gentile dispensation, before the jews pick it up again."(end quote) At kadesh Barnea 1956 (quote)" and god's word said we can take it. god's word said we can have a revival. we've got to do is get together and start the revival, for something to move." (end quote) A blushing prophet 1956 (quote) "When you see a servant of godget so sincere till he's on his face,with his hands in the air, praying to god and blushing because of the iniquity of the people, then your going to see a revival start." Three paragraphs down" we need a revival to start in the church and sweep the nation across. we will die; we will perish; we are gone without that type of revival." (end Quote) Thy loving kindness 1958 (quote) "you  gentiles have a short revival at the end." (end Quote) Just one more time, lord 1963 (quote) "oh you say," we still have revival, bro Branham." what kind of revival? you have church gatherings." (end Quote)}