The Spirit of the Age # 1 Bro. Lee Vayle - Dec. 31, 1980 Remain standing, for prayer. Our kind Heavenly Father, again we approach unto Thy Presence now, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing Lord, that You are our life, our breath, our very being, O God. Without You, we are not only nothing, Lord, but are far past even that. So, Father we pray, that You’ll just help us now, to live up to the expectations of Thy Word, be worthy of Thy great Name. Constantly with us, Lord, in such a way that we’ll recognize Thy Presence. Now, lead us into truth tonight , O God, and get us ready for whatever days are ahead of us, that we might be ready for whatever comes upon this earth. More than conquerors, in the Name of Jesus Christ. We’ll be careful to give You all the praise, in Jesus Name. Amen. You may be seated. 1. Certainly a privilege to be here again tonight in the house of the Lord. And it’s certainly fine to hear the ministers, tell of what the Lord has done in this past while. And what their expectations are according to the Word. You know, there’s a word that is really misunderstood in the Scripture, and that word is ‘hope’. Now, by the faith, hope and love. And if faith is such a great word, and love is such a great word, it would be very strange if the word ‘hope’ meant, well, just wish something would work out. Maybe it will. The word, ‘hope’ in the Greek is, ‘earnest expectation’. In other words, what a sober, sincere person, can honestly expect. And what we can expect is what God’s Word has revealed to us by vindication. So, now there is faith, and there is earnest expectation, and there is love. So, we thank the Lord for the earnest expectation, that has been set forth by the brethren. The note of praise, for what has been done. And since He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, It will continue, to be done. Certainly, nice to see the brethren come and be with us. I've a great fondness myself, for Mexico, and the nations below. I certainly wish I were a linguist. I’m ashamed of myself, because I’m so lazy. I know that they can …they don’t have it any easier time to speak English, than I guess I would Spanish. Except I think that maybe though, they are a little smarter than I am. I don’t know, I had years of French, and it didn’t do me any good. Really, I never used it. And I had four years of Latin, that was extra good, because it gave me to understand root words. 2. I could read and converse in Hungarian, and I can’t even hear it anymore. So, along with being a lot dumber than they are, I’m a lot more forgetful. So, I’m just happy when I go down and have a good interpreter. And that’s where my faith is, [BV chuckles] in a good interpreter. Sure, appreciate the brethren down there. And pray the Lord will bless them. I know they’ve been going through some trials, but let’s face it, they had it easy enough, long enough. They’re supposed to go through those trials. It’s a manifest token of their son-ship in the Lord. And if they’re not going to get all of these peculiar ‘isms’ and ‘was-ims’ and ‘will be-ims’, down there like we're already had; well they couldn’t be one of us. So, welcome to the saints of Church of the first born, to the redeemed of the Lord. And seeing you’re saints, you’ve got it coming to you. And I just trust it won’t cease, until you’re thoroughly trained up in the Lord. And I trust it won’t cease here either, until our cup is full, and everything rooted out, that doesn’t belong to the Lord. So, there’s just one thing we can do for each other, is pray in faith, and just keep marching on. That’s what we’re going to do anyway. And so, we’ll just keep on doing it. 3. Now, there were a few questions came here, and we’ll answer them very, very rapidly. We’re in no rush to go home. I always like to upset Bro. Bell’s apple cart, because he upsets mine. It’s no secret that I’m a very vindictive type of person, who likes to get back at a fella. He said, “If I came down, I wouldn’t have to preach every day, and so on”. No, he just wants it morning, noon, and night. [laughter] When a fella qualifies himself in my thinking a certain way, but he’s got another thought a certain way, you know, that’s bad. So, he was saying he didn’t really care about a midnight service, and as long as I’m in voice, just may be here until midnight. So, that’s all right, that’ll teach you a lesson son. You must be nice to your elders. I’m a whole lot older too. And I feel it too. 4. Question 1. It says, please explain concerning the Holy Ghost, and still be lost. Isn’t that anointing on the Spirit as the false anointed ones have, and have not been born again? Now, you’ve got to understand that Bro. Branham cannot make statements contrary to basic doctrine. And you have to also understand that when he preached, that he preached in two ways. The first way, was to preach the revealed Word of God, and let the chips fall where they may. And this was a puzzle always to those who had fundamental knowledge, or were Pentecostal. And they interpreted the Word that he preached, which was strictly a revelation from God, in his own understanding by the Spirit. And I say, they would interpret what he said in their own understanding, as fundamental and Pentecostal people. Then the second thing was, that he could turn right around and take their own way of expressing themselves, and just run it to the people. And this is where great confusion was caused concerning this question. For he would say to the fundamental legalists, particularly, the Pentecostal, "You can have the Holy Ghost and maybe a hundred times a day, and still be lost." And on the other hand, he would say with his own basic revelation from the Lord, when you’re sealed in, that’s it. You’ll not be lost. But there was a real eternal security. 5. Now, when he was saying that there were many people who as it were, could be baptized with the Holy Ghost, or receive the Spirit of God, many times a day, and still be lost. This puzzled many people. It didn’t puzzle me, as far as I was concerned, I was quite sure I understood what he meant. But it finally got to me, with so many people questioning, and I myself, also seeing so many peculiar things around the prophet. I went to him one day and I said, “Bro. Branham, in the light of what you said, you were referring to a simple anointing upon the people, that a person could be anointed in his spirit, by the Holy Ghost many times, and still be lost, because he had not been truly baptized with the Holy Ghost. Wherein the Spirit of God Himself, went down into the soul the inner man, of the believer.” And he said, “That’s right.” So, please don’t ever worry again. Don’t ever worry again, just understand, if you’ve been truly baptized with the Holy Ghost, you’ve been sealed to the Day of Redemption. Like he said, “That boxcar was loaded exactly right, the seal was put on it, and nobody could break that seal.” and then, if you ever hear him say that, “You can receive the Holy Spirit many times, and be lost.” That’s exactly right, because the Scripture distinctly says, “Many will prophesy in that day.” [Mt 7:22] And they might have had a thousand prophesies, and everyone true, everyone an anointing, and that person lost, as lost can be. So, that’s your question answered. Just please, keep it right there, because that’s the truth, I went to him personally on it. 6. Question 2. Is there anything wrong with marking in our Bibles? As far as I’m concerned, there is not. This is just a book, a bunch of paper and ink. When it comes to the material itself, in there wonderfully, is the Word of God, parented to us. But underlining for your convenience, I don’t think is wrong. The prophet to my knowledge, never said it was. I said, I have no Word to tell you from what he said, nor can I find in the Bible. So, I wouldn’t worry about it. If I was worried, I think the Lord would check me. My Bible is full of markings, and the only trouble is, I wish I had every marking I’ve made in every Bible since I knew the prophet, because oh, I’ve lost so many goodies. [BV chuckles] I wish I had a Bible made of tin almost, so it wouldn’t wear out. I flip my pages so fast, I ruin a Bible in just no time. So, I wouldn’t say, you should not do that. I don’t know a thing to tell you against it. 7. Question 3. If the Lord tarry, and you have little children, would you put up a Christmas tree, and exchange gifts? If so why? If not, why? Just before Bro. Branham left for Tucson, the last sermon he preached, …just about the last anyway…he told the little children to wait at the end of the service, they’d receive little gifts, and just to make them feel good, and he explained about them. And he also said, “That you never attempt to teach the children a lie, anything about Christmas that’s wrong. But you present the true Christmas story. Now, my own experience is this, and I’m not trying to make it the criterion, but I believe, that we’ve come to the day that if we wish to put a day aside, like December 25th, and honor the Lord, then I don’t think we ought to go beyond at this late hour, anything other than is truly Scriptural. In my estimation, that would be a review of the birth of Jesus Christ, where He was born in a manger, and I would tell something along that line. And I wouldn’t think it was wrong, but that's up to you. …Today I just wouldn’t do anything at all myself, but if you feel so inclined, that the children feel cheated, that they are worried about not getting little things like the others get. I would think a manger scene is as far as I would go, if I went anywhere at all, in that direction. Or when Bro. Branham mentioned the swapping of gifts, he meant just what he said. “That’s kind of a church program.” But to give little gifts, myself, see nothing wrong with it. 8. In fact, I get a little worried about some folk who don’t understand, and if they didn’t understand, I’d sure give them a gift to make them feel good. I would, now, the reason I’m saying this, …and I’m watching my language...is because I was in Bro. Branham’s home, the year before he was taken away, and he had a beautiful Christmas tree, and the children enjoyed the little decorations, the cards around the door. And I said, “Say, that’s a beautiful tree.” It didn’t bother me one little bit. And he said, “Bro. Vayle, you know myself, I wouldn’t have a tree, but,” he said, “the children don’t understand. And so, it’s just a little decoration for them, and I tell them the truth of the whole matter, and we have a little time together, we worship the Lord, and so on.” Now, some people get a little worried about that. Some people say, “Well, he was giving us a little test and so on.” Well, I don’t buy that. Now, you maybe knew the prophet I didn’t know. But I think I knew the prophet a little different from that whatsoever. So, in this late day though, I believe our children have come to the place now, where we can dispense with everything but the fact, that He was born, and to just be right concerning It. And say the right thing, do the right thing, but again, I just couldn’t feel in my heart to offend anybody. Now, I guess we could stop sending cards out, but I believe really, that I have too many relatives, and too many friends, who’d misunderstand me. And as long as I understand right, I feel no check myself, in doing simply what the prophet did. 9. Stay with the Word of God, and people like a little thing, I don’t go and do what they do, but I just go along to the extent that I’m safe and sound in my own soul, and I’ll just be friendly and nice to people. Now, that’s the whole attitude, and I trust you understand what I’m saying. And this has been brought up so many times, that…and so many questions concerning it, as I say that I feel we should just pass on now, leave it all, except in the case if someone gets too offended. Now, if you can tell the folk, “Look, I don’t send cards anymore, don’t give gifts anymore, now please don’t be offended, and so on. That’s all right. That’d do just fine. Don’t step on somebody’s toes, and make big issues. Now, I trust you get what I’m driving at here. But, I was around Bro. Branham too much, like Bro. Neville. He stood, like Bro. Neville said, “Bro. Branham was never fanatic. He stayed in the middle of the road.” 10. Now, believe me, I know you can quote Jeremiah, and talk about a tree. Now, if I had a tree in my home today, which I haven’t had for many years, because why would we have one anyway? Children are all gone, be silly. But if I were to have a tree, believe me, I wouldn’t take a tree, I wouldn’t nail it down, I wouldn’t decorate it, I wouldn’t make anything of it. If I had a tree, I’d set it on a stand, and screw the screw in so that it wouldn’t fall over, put a little water in the holder, decorate the tree the way I like it, and I’d call it a decoration, and I would no more associate it with the things of God, than nothing. It’d be a decoration. See? Now, that’s what we believe, where there’s no problem then to take the next step, … I wouldn’t bother to putting up a tree. If you said, “We’ve come this far, you don’t you even worry about one.” The kids really want something, then put a little manger scene up, and tell them about the Lord. And tell them why He was born in a manger, why you give gifts. Unfortunate people need a little help. Do something which is Scriptural. And that’s the way to just…you see folk, look you don’t take things away, you put something in its stead. Even psychology teaches, you don’t break habits, you build new ones. You see? 11. Years ago, in a Pentecostal church, I tried to take away their rattles. It just caused havoc. And they all got blistered. And the Lord showed me that I’ve taken away their little toys, and He said, "You don’t do a thing like that, you ought to know better." See? When I was crying, and not crying, but wondering how the fuss came, He said, “It’s all your fault.” Well, I get a little sheepish, and I grin and I said, “Well, Lord, I…most everything is my fault anyway.” Look, what happened? Now, He said, “You took away their toy, you should’ve given them something else, and when you gave them that thing, and they liked it, then, you take it away.” The other thing you don’t want there. See? And I found out, the Pentecostals wanted the gifts, and all. So, I promptly gave them the gifts back. He said, “Now, you…” Yes, you bet I did it, because God said so. Now, you show me where this is contrary to what the prophet taught and how he did it. I’m right in line. He took away nothing, he gave first of all, then the others things should have gone. And if it didn’t, we had to talk about it. See? So, that’s this Christmas thing as a same little thing there, that’s all. 12. Question 4. Now it says; Bro. Vayle, do you believe even at the beginning, the children of God would’ve been spoken out of the dust of the earth, if the fall had not occurred, and you don’t feel they would’ve come through Eve’s womb? Could Eve’s womb be considered the dust of the earth? No, she never came out of the dust. No, I can’t find one place where the prophet said it would be done that way. Not one place. Why would the woman have to go through the sorrow of child bearing and everything else, while the man just spoke it? It won’t work. I can find nothing anywhere, that would say that. Bro. Branham said they would have come out of the ground. Now, whose womb is God speaking to now? Nobody’s. He’s going to speak, and they’ll come out of the dust. See? The Spirit body is going to come down, and meet the one that came out of the dust, giving that full life, and they’ll walk around. I find no Scripture whatsoever. And nothing to base it on. The Scripture that was mentioned here, [Genesis] 3:19, looking at it. (19) In the sweat of thy face (you'll) eat bread, till thou return (to) the ground; … That was spoken to Adam. Eve never came out of the ground. See? That’s the whole trouble, she came by a chemical process. And if you’re going to speak a child through the womb through a chemical process, you’re not going to the original. Won’t work. See? You’ve got…everything Bro. Branham said, would be perfect with the Word. 13. Question 5. The question came up, that we should never eat anything with the slightest hint of blood, because it is still alive. I think you heard a joke somewhere. [BV chuckles] About the man whose steak was so rare, that he thought the animal was still alive. No. No, no, that’s not right. It’s dead. Now, if you mean germs could be there. You’re right. There’s no life there. There’s none whatsoever. Because the blood is still alive, means strangulation? Please explain. No sir. Strangulation, is where you take and choke something’s breath off until with no breath in there, it dies. And water can strangle you too, because no more air can get in the lungs. Strangulation, is strangulation. Now remember, after Paul went to Jerusalem, they said, “Refrain from strangulation, and fornication, and things offered to idols.” [Acts 15:29] 14. Now, if you can endorse in strangulation, you’d have to endorse fornication. Can’t buy it. Unless the prophet has got something, I haven’t found yet, where he endorsed strangulation. I couldn’t say one thing for it. But strangulation is not simply killing an animal, and bleeding it, and a little bit of the…you know, the taint there, I don’t see that. I find no Scripture. I wouldn’t worry about it whatsoever. In fact, Bro. Branham ate a rare steak himself. It was so rare, that my wife and I would gag when it came to his plate. I can’t stand blood. My own, or a cow’s, anybody else’s. I’m sorry. Now, he’d feel pretty good when he poured all the junk on top of it, and it looked better. And I’d shudder, and think to myself, “Oh Bro. Branham, you’re ruining such delicious steak with all that sauce on it.” But if I had to eat it that raw, …like the doctor said, for better digestion, … I’d think I’d pour molasses, or almost formaldehyde on it. No, don’t worry about that, please don’t worry about that. 15. Question 6. Would you please explain about the sin being upon a person, if he speaks of a deed someone has done, but it’s all under the Blood. Now, I can’t give you the quote on that. But to the best of my understanding, the thought is this; If people in the church have settled their differences, brothers, sisters, or anybody else, and it’s been a problem amongst the people, or amongst two people, then, somebody…and it’s been settled…forgiven, rectified, then somebody brings it out again, to talk about it, to mull over it, to set it in motion. It is my understanding, …now I’ll try to have to get this for you, where it’s all found. That this person who did it, that sin would fall on them, and they’d be judged for it. In other words, put it plain and simple. Which anybody realizes, to do this, to bring it from under the Blood, you would stand in judgement, regardless. See? So, we must never ever do it. 16. Question 7. Are we right or wrong if we accept money, when we are called to give blood, in an emergency, for anyone who uses your kind of blood? Well, I don’t know any Scripture that says it’s wrong, but I think love would dictate that we give that to somebody, free of charge. I don’t know that we would be like the world…you know. What’s happened is, the Red Cross and these people need blood so badly, that they’re willing to buy it. And then you get a lot of people running there with blood, so that they can get money for a little bottle of the cheapest kind of liquor and rotten stuff in the world. And then of course, when you go, they charge you for it. But of course, if you gave, that goes to your credit, so if something happened, you would if possible be able to have it in payment back. I just couldn’t believe myself, but, I see no Scripture. I’m just talking as myself, you do what you want about it. I wouldn’t criticize anybody. But myself, I don’t think I’d want to charge if I were a person giving blood. I think giving means giving. Selling means selling. And in other words, it’s something that…I tell you frankly. You couldn’t get me to sell a drop of blood, I’ve got. You couldn’t hold me down to take it away. [laughter] But if I was going to give it, I’d give it. It’d be a different story. You could just have it, welcome to it. Now, you do what you want. I don’t know too much about it. I’m just quoting what I know about it. But to sell, I don’t believe that I would. But of course, now you’d have to do what you want. [End of question and answers] 17. Now, tonight I want to talk awhile, and how long that while is, I don’t know. But every New Year, it’s a time for resolutions. And of course, the world makes its resolutions, only to break them. But you and I have something better than that, and that is to go to the Word of God, and to check up on the Word, in order to gauge our conduct. To see what we ought to do, and how we ought to do it. And also, to find out about ourselves. You know, there’s nobody really knows himself, only God knows the person. But the person can begin to realize as he looks in the Word, what kind of a person he is. Now, tonight therefore I want to speak upon the ‘Spirit of the Age.’ The Spirit of this Age, and as we do so, we’ll take seven or eight little check points, to see exactly how we’re doing. 14. We’re going to turn first of all to the Book of Jeremiah 13:15-16. (15) Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. (16) Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while (you) look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. 15. Now, that absolutely refers to our day. Now, with this, we go to Malachi 2: and just the last part of verse16. (16b) …therefore take heed to your spirit, that (you) deal not treacherously. (or faithlessly) Now, we want to talk as I said about the Spirit of this Age. What is the temperament, or the inclination of the people as indicated, by what is going on amongst them? As Malachi 2:16 says, your dealings reveal your Spirit. Watch, because your Spirit can be manifested. And it will be manifested, by what is going on. Now, you’ll notice, that the stern warning that was given in our Scripture, as we read in Jeremiah, ‘hear ye’ and ‘give ear.’ This means; listen, pay attention, and understand. Open your mind. Now, He’s telling that. People closed their mind, to the things of God. But He’s warning them, to open their minds. Then He says, “Be not proud.” In other words, watch your Spirit. Don’t get big ideas. Don’t think you know it all. And don’t lift up your heart against My Word. Now, why do I know that means that? Because He says, “For the Lord has spoken.” Now, you can see then if we believe that God has really spoken, there would be a tremendous jarring influence amongst us, that would cause us to pay such sober and serious attention, that nothing else would matter. See? 16. Now, notice what He said. “Give glory to the Lord your God.” How? By coming fully into the Word. Why? For God has spoken. See? And for you to listen, and understand and obey, proves a right Spirit. The wrong spirit, is to refuse to pay attention, to refuse to listen, and refuse to obey, and want what God says. See? Now, also it notices, that God says here, “You are to do this, before God causes darkness.” What darkness? The darkness of the mind. Not, darkness upon the earth. See? No, darkness of the mind. Spiritual blackness. And your feet stumble upon the high mountain. What high mountain? The valleys that God has exalted. What God is doing. What God is saying. And they stumble over it…see?... because, the spirit is wrong. God’s great hidden truths, the mysteries, that have been revealed and sent down from heaven. And notice, and He said, “And while you look for light.” See? The people are doing it, claiming it. Looking for light, you turn aside the Word. See? And what does God do then? He turns it into the shadow of death, and gross darkness. In other words, these people were looking for light, …now listen, they were looking for light, and stumbling over the light. Now, that’s what the Bible teaches, right here. 17. People looking for light, and stumbling over the Light. People asking for light, God sending the Light, and then, people stumble over It. “There shall be light about the evening time.” [Zech 14:7] Then It says, “Gross darkness will cover the people.” [Isa 60:2] Why? Because they turned down the Light. They don’t want the Light, …See?... because they have not the ability to receive the revelation. Yet, they are looking for Light, that is compatible with what they got, or in line with the kind of revelation they want. Now, just think it over. The Book of 2 Timothy [3:7] tells us that. (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. See? They can’t receive It. But, they’re looking. But when the Light strikes, it’s contrary to what they want to construe as light. See? 18. Now, there is another exact picture of the spirit of this age, in Revelation 3:17. This is the verse for our age. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; …(See?) Notice, ‘thou sayest.’ Notice the pride. See? A wrong spirit. Now, how do I know it’s pride and a wrong spirit? Because God has already spoken, in verse 14, and 17 is three verses down the road. (14) And unto the (messenger) of the church (which is in Laodicea) … These things saith the Amen, … The God of Isaiah chapter 66: The same one in the Greek, and Hebrew. [Rev 3:14] (14) … the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; God has spoken, and in the face of His speaking, their spirit is one of pride. Because they speak back and said, “I’m rich, I’m increased in goods, and I don’t need a thing.” [ Rev 3:17] Now remember, the Message is given to a messenger, but the Speaker of the Message is God. And never forget that. People don’t want to recognize that. Messenger comes on the scene, he’s not the speaker of the Message. No. A delivery boy comes to your door, and there’s a type written message there. He merely hands you the message, and the real speaker, is the person who over the phone, phoned the operator, and said, “Send this message.” See? 19. Now remember, God spoke, not the messenger. If the messenger was the real speaker, this would not be the Word of God. This would be the word of Moses. The word of Amos. The word of Isaiah. The word of Jeremiah. And there wouldn’t be one, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, in the whole bunch. But because it is ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, then God is the Speaker, not the messenger. The messenger, is only the delivery boy. How great to be trusted with a message from God. “He that heareth you, heareth Me.” [Lk 10:16] He that receives you, receiveth Me. [Mt. 10:40] Such an identification. Now, never forget, God spoke It, so we should glorify God just as it says in Jeremiah 13:16. We have heard from God. Therefore, let us not have a proud spirit, …and be lifted up, but let us give glory by listening to His Message, apprehending His Message, and obeying His Message, because It is come from the Lord. 20. Now, let us examine the Spirit that was in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. We go to the Book of John 3:19-21 (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought (of) God. 19. This, is a tremendous Scripture. It’s telling you the very things I just told you, that's in the Laodicean Church at this age, that Jeremiah cried out concerning this very age. And here that same Spirit, was in the day of Jesus Christ, and is now repeating Itself. And here is condemnation, here is why judgement will come, here is why God must deal. Is because Life came into the world, God spoke, “Let there be light.” And there was light. God’s Word always brings light. “The entrance of Thy Word, bringeth light.” [Ps 119:130] But men don’t want to hear really what God has to say. They only say they want to hear what God has to say, and if it doesn’t measure up to what they want to hear, they turn It down. You’ve got the same spirit right today, in the Roman Catholic church, with the pope. I feel a little sorry for him. Because he’s right on one point, and that’s birth control. The Roman Catholic people say, “Well popey old boy, I’ll tell you what, we don’t want you making any rules to the game, that you’re not employed in.” That’s exactly what came out of Rome. Sounds like a dirty joke, but it’s not. It’s an absolute truth. And they say, “Now listen old fellow, we want to tell you something; we want to practice birth control, and we’re going to practice birth control. So, we want to hear from you that it’s all right to do it.” That’s the spirit of this age. See? You see it all around here. They don’t want to come to the Light, because it’ll show them up. 20. Now, to whom was Jesus speaking at this time, giving this most illuminating, marvelous, revelation, that I just read in verses 19-21. He was speaking to one man. One man called Nicodemus, who realized that something was going on, so, he began checking on his own spirit. Now, [John 3:1-10, 12, 19-20] (1) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler (a teacher) of the Jews: (2) The same came to Jesus by night, and (he) said…Rabbi, … I’ve caught something, got to make it check, undisturbed. Something’s going on, something too deep and too great. But, it’s just casual, that I can overlook it, something is stirring in him. (2) …we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles …except God be with him. (3) Jesus … said … (Truly, truly), I say (to you), Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus, (You can’t see what you’re trying to see, until you get born again. See?) Now, this is something in the Spirit. Something has got to happen. See? Got to be a change. (4) Nicodemus (said,) … How can a man be born when (he's) old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb? … 21. Now listen. Nicodemus never caught the drift. If he had been on his toes, as he should have, his mind should’ve flashed to the fact that when you baptize a Gentile into Israel, or you were to try to change a man’s identity concerning a tribe, they fully immersed him in water, and as he arose, he was called ‘born-again’. See? But he was blinded even to that extent. See? (5) (And) Jesus (said, Truly, truly, he has got to) be born of water and the Spirit, (to) enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I (say, You) must be born again. (8) The (Spirit breatheth) where (He willeth), and (you hear) the sound (of His Voice. But you can’t) tell (where He comes from, and where He goes): so, is every one that is born of the Spirit. (9) Nicodemus answered and said… How can these things be? (10) Jesus (said)… (Aren’t you) a master of Israel, and (you don’t understand it?) Here’s a man trying to reduce what Jesus said to His own understanding. To make everything fit in His own pattern… like we discussed a while ago. People heard Bro. Branham, and they began to translate him according to their own understanding of the Scripture. And it won’t work. See? You’ve got to lay it all down. (12) If I … told you earthly things, and (you) believe not, how shall (you) believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (And so, on here.) 22. Now, here was a master in Israel, right face up against verse 19. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds (are) evil. Who was that, that was the light? The Word was the Light. Now, the Word of God came in. The Word of God, which is Light, but men love darkness…that which is contrary to the Word. Why? Because their deeds are evil. They couldn’t stand the inspection of the Light of God’s Word, they didn’t want It. See? (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, (and so on.) … Now, just let our thinking go straight here. 23. And to do so, we’re going to go back to a Scripture that has been tremendously important to me. In 1 John 3: we’ll look at verses 11 and 12. (11) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we …love one another. (12) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Now, you notice in here, we have the distinction between two kinds of works. One man’s works were evil. Now, what was that evil work? That evil work was to worship God, according to the Scripture that was wrongly interpreted. I can never cease to talk too much about this. Because, the Scripture tells us, [Heb 11:4] (14) Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice, than Cain. Now, if Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice, then Cain offered an excellent sacrifice, and it was. And the Word of God says, [Gen. 4:6] (6) Thou has offered right, yet if you have not rightly divided, hast thou not sinned. This man did an evil work, and he couldn’t stand the Light of the revelation of God’s Word. Because he loved what he did, and would not change it. Yes sir. That’s where you’ve got to watch the spirit, brother/sister. 24. Now listen. Let me put this straight in the words of Jesus Christ. “Once the revelation comes…” Now, please listen…I am reading what I wrote down here. I told you, I compose my sermons by writing. And I don’t care what I write. “If that Spirit of God is in me is going to come a hundred percent with this Bible, and what the prophet taught…now listen…once the revelation comes, once God speaks the Word of the hour, everything, but that Light, listen, everything but that Light, which is that Word, is under condemnation. You might not like that, I’m sorry, for you. There’s only one Light. There’s only one God. There’s only one Spirit. There’s only one truth. There’s only one Word. Then when that Word strikes, there is nothing that is there, that is not under condemnation, except that Word. You prove me wrong. That’s why I have such strong feelings and emotions about this Message. Listen, every deed becomes evil. You say, “Oh no, Bro. Vayle.” Oh, yes. What every deed? Every deed, that doesn’t stand the scrutiny, or doesn’t want it. All the Word, except that revelation, becomes worm eaten. All acts outside of revelation…listen…all acts outside of the revelation, all faith outside the revelation; everything spoken outside the revelation, unless it’s one with It, is reproved. 25. Go to Ephesians 5:13. (13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: ... In other words, if there is anything whatsoever that needs a check up on, you’ve got to bring the light which is God’s divine revelation. Now you see why the prophet, …" I don’t care how much you jump up and down, how much you speak in tongues. You can have that thing one hundred times a day, and still be lost." I don’t care how good it is. Prophesy, perfectly cast out devils, do miracles, win souls, be off that Word, it’s reproved, and it’s condemned. See? Not because I say so, I don’t care two cents what Lee Vayle says. See? Prophet of God says nothing outside of this Word, shall come to life. I have to bend every one of my sermons to meet that Word perfectly, identically, or it’s got no life in it. 25. Say now, so, whatsoever doth make manifest, is light. Shows It up. You show me a ministry, like Jesus Christ, and I’ll show you something that shows up everything else. We have the same thing in our day. He further says, "They don’t want the Light, because they love both darkness and evil deeds." [Jn 3:19] What are those evil deeds? Practicing the Word of God, mis-divided, without a revelation. See? Now that’s cutting the line right down. Never forget, these people of whom He spoke, were worshipers. But, they lined up with serpent seed. You can see that this is the same spirit that Paul spoke of. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 notice, (5) Casting down (reasonings), … The word in the Greek is; ‘reasonings’, not ‘imaginations’, though I think it could be used all right. (5) Casting down (reasonings), and every high thing… What’s the highest part of you? Your head. And every high thing, (see) things of God. High things, same thing, Word, Word. Casting down every high thing. (5) … that exalt(s) itself against the knowledge of God, (even) bringing not 'and' even,) it’s explaining what you’re supposed to do) bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (the Word) 26. Everything must be brought into obedience to Christ. Why? Because, it’s got to be that way. He must bring everything in obedience into Him. Then turn It back to God. And if you’ve got a bunch of people, that cannot come in obedience to Christ that Word, you'll never be turned back to God. You’ve missed the First Resurrection, you’ve missed the Rapture, and the Millennium, and you’ll take your chance in a Second Resurrection, which is the White Throne judgement. Now, they didn’t listen to Paul. And they haven’t listened to the messengers through the ages. Let’s find out what happened to those people. Reading it, I’ve read it many, many, times, and you’re hearing. 26. Over here 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; … (their evil deeds, their refusal to accept the Light) because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause… What? Turning down the truth. Refusing to look at their spiritual eyes, in the light of revelation, delivered in this hour. God brings condemnation. God’s going to judge this world, brother/sister, not because I said so, because It says right here. (11) (He’s going to turn them over to such a reprobate mind, they’ll) believe (the) lie: What is the lie? "You will not die, you’ll live." Don’t worry, millions now living will never die, they’re going to be Raptured. Why trains are going to run down the track there, the public track about and the engineer, and maybe the conductor is going to be missing, and the train will go hurling on. Big joke on Charlie, there’s no more trains like that. Now, where’s their theory gone? God will make a perfect fool out of anybody that comes against His Word. Sure. (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Notice where their pleasure was. Their deeds were evil. What deeds? Their spiritual deeds towards God. And let me put it this way, lack of spiritual deeds, is the same as wrong spiritual deeds. Because a fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” [Ps 14:1] God said, He’ll judge him. So here, we have the Word warning, and exhorting us, “Take heed your spirit.” [Mal 2:15] What spirit? The Spirit of this age. Lest we have a part of it. 27. Now, listen to what God says about us in our Spirit, we go back to Jeremiah chapter 17 this time, verses 9-10. (9) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Now, God alone can show us, what to be aware of. Show us the pitfalls, and help us to have a great…or to have a right, and perfect Spirit within us. So, we then must go to God’s Word, and find what warnings He would give us in this hour, in order that we might watch our spirits, because of ourselves we don’t know. See? Now, since Malachi is definitely an end-time prophecy, it will be our privilege to study this Book of our day. 28. Turning then to the Book of Malachi 1:1-2, because that is truly the Book of this day. (1) The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. Here is a solemn heavy Word from God. As it were His voice, struck with the tragedy of the hour. Now watch, (2) I have loved you, saith the LORD. (God speaking, God saying It. I have loved you,) Yet (you) say, (Wherein) hast thou loved us? … That’s the spirit of the age…pride. God wanted to show Light. God shedding Light. The people coming up against It, refusing It, refusing the revelation. Wanting something that lines up with them, not worrying about lining up with God. They’re already convinced, they’ve got Him. See? Now, they said, (2) … Wherein hast thou loved us?… This, is a question of unbelief. For if God said, “I have loved you,” they should say, “Amen.” As the prophet said, “Punctuate every Word of the Bible, with Amen.” See? God says, “I have loved you.” And they said, (2) … Wherein hast thou loved us? 29. Now listen, let me tell you this is, in my own thinking. This is unbelief, in the revealed Word, because, of their own personal experiences. (2) (God said,) I have loved you… (I do love you,) And they looked around and said, “Do You call this love? Boy, if that’s love You can have it.” Beat them pillar to post. "Philistines over here, Amalikites over here, Babylon took us to town. Caesar can't wait to get a crack at it." Their own personal experiences, (See?) said, “How can God love us?” Now, listen. Let’s reverse this. “I’m rich, I’m increased in goods, don’t lack a thing. Bless God, we aren’t dying down there on the street corner anymore, with an old tambourine and a wash tub, or something else, to beat on. Bless God, we’ve got a million-dollar church, we’ve got hundreds of members. We’ve got missionaries, television, Hallelujah, glory, I want to tell you, bless God, we're rich. I want to tell you we've got it. Hallelujah, we’ve arrived.” 30. The Word of God says, “You are blind, you’re wretched, you’re miserable.” “Hold it. Don’t tell me, that I’m wretched, miserable, naked and blind. Because my experience says, ‘Look at my Fifth Avenue clothes.’ My hundred and fifty-dollar beautiful black coat. Why we’re so far now, we can wear those nice fish-tails down our back, and the striped pants like the undertaker.” That’s what they’ve got too. “And we’re beautiful.” Their own experience, caused them to deny the Word of God. Now brother/sister, do you think for one minute this rich Laodicean church, is going to stand the light of the revelation? Which absolutely, is contrary, to visible experience. 31. Jesus over here, stood up against this old fellow Nicodemus, this teacher in Israel. And Jesus said, to him, "And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than Light, because, their deeds were evil." [Jn 3:19] And they said, “What evil deeds are you talking about? Do you mean to tell me that’s evil?” They said, “I can’t take that.” See? (20) For every one that doeth evil (hates) the light, neither (comes) to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [Jn 3:20] You tell me that Pentecost today could stand the searching truth of William Branham, prophet of God, in the light of their experience? No! He was beat to the punch, when the Jesus Only people came on the scene and started a battle royal with the Trinitarians. And it caused enough stink, and there was enough filth in all of Pentecost, that they could fight and snipe each other. See? There was no such a way that Bro. Branham could come, as the anointed servant of Almighty God, and in the light of Pentecostal experience, do anything with them. Why? They were babies. And they tried to take that little old shoe there, and he tried to take a half inch thong, and put it through an eighth of an inch hole. 32. God said, “You can’t teach Pentecostal babies doctrine.” Now, if you can’t teach Pentecostal babies doctrine, or spiritual things, which is the revealed Word of God, come down from heaven, He could not reach them. Their experience said, “I’ve talked in tongues. I’ve cast out devils, don’t tell me Pentecostal women can’t preach. We’ve got a girl here in Pittsburg, bless God, got a bigger meeting that you’ve got now. Don’t tell me I’m not to be Trinitarian, I’ve got a bigger tent that you’ve got.” I want to ask you a question. When were there big prophets in the Word? Never were big. They’re little men, servants of all. Therefore, they’re misunderstood. In the Light, of the revealed Word, contrasted with the experience of Pentecost, could not accept Matthew 24:24, they booed at It. And said, “Don’t you tell me, I’m not of God. The sick, are being healed, and the dead, are being raised. And therefore, only a Spirit of God can do It. So, if the Spirit of God alone does that, then I've the Spirit of God and I got that from talking in tongues.” Shut your mouth, prophet so-called. 33. Now, listen to me, John 3:21 (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought (of) God. How many people can apply that today? How many are willing to come to the revealed truth, and find if these things be so? Ha. Nail them on your hand. Spirit of the hour. Spirit of this age. Not many can do it. How many can deny all manifestation unless it comes under church order, and is according to the Word of God, in 1 Corinthians 14:23, 27? How many? It's been a bone of contention ever since one man had the nerve to go to Bro. Branham and say, “Bro. Branham, is that for your church, or is it for mine also?” And of course, he said, “It’s for mine.” Not realizing, Bro. Branham said he was the pastor of that end-time church. Not realizing, a ‘Thus saith the Lord’ prophet, was over everybody. Beyond the five-fold ministry. That Word prophet, never was in the five-fold ministry. He did the work of an evangelist, he did the work of a prophet…that is, in the minor sense, he did the work of a pastor, but he was not that. 34. It was Malachi 4:5-6, the Elijah of this hour. See? And did you notice, what this Spirit manifests in man. See? Who are called to a five-fold ministry. As Bro., Branham said, “You get around a bunch of preachers, they’ll ruin you.” What kept the Word from the people in this hour? The preachers. But don’t think that the people wanted the Word anyway. They didn’t. Because the Word of God came and said, if you’re spiritual, you’ll understand what I say is the truth. And you put your church in order, they turned it down. Why? Because they had experience. Men today say they believe this very Message. Let me tell you, I’m not lying to you. My words are on tape. But I got them from the mouth of the very man himself. How that his wife absolutely prophesied to such perfection, she uncovered a murderer. But he said, “Bro. Vayle, when Bro. Branham said the church is edified, he wasn’t talking about those gifts in that little room out there.” Where, ‘Sis. Brown, leave your home a train is going to strike it.” Because when the train strikes it, that edifies Sis. Brown.’ But you ‘ve got to have it on the floor of the church, to edify the church.” Where did the prophet say it? “Oh, in the light of my wife’s experience.” Nuts, to your wife! Pardon the expression. My wife interferes with my ministry, she’d better go down the road. That’s right, I’m not bitter, but I’ll tell you flat, many times, I set her down, “Keep out of my hair.” I’m not sweet and gentle like the prophet. I got in his way one day, wrote a note to Bro. Branham, “Is this so?” He wrote back, “Yes, but, hold your peace.” I thought, how sweet, how nice. I got back in the Bible, and I found It, “Hold your peace and shut your mouth, and keep out of my business.” [Prov 21:23] See? That’s some wife thinks she can prophesy, some …?... stand in her way. What is your spirit? Check it out! See? Check your spirit! Can you stand the Light of God’s Word? 35. Bible said right here, “Men love darkness, because their ways are evil.” [Jn 3:19] Cain’s way was evil, though he was worshipping and sacrificing unto Almighty God. Evil churches, that refuse the Word of God, turned to anti-Christ, loving their ways. Why? Because they’d had an experience. A brilliant man talking one day on the telephone, …I was talked to him rather…he was a Lutheran seminarian, a great man. He had been praying and fasting, looking for God to move. One day, there in the mountains by himself, up in New York state, …I think it was…in a little cabin by himself praying away, a powerful light came in the room. He got so scared, he ran out. Then he thought, “I’d better go back. I’ve been praying, haven’t I?” He went back and he prayed some more, light came in the room, he spoke in tongues. Wonderful, bless God. One day I phoned that man, and I said, “Brother, Bro. Branham would like to come to New York, would you be willing, or do you think he ought to come? And he said, “Bro. Vayle, I’d be glad myself, I think he’s a fine man. But, he’s off the doctrine.” A little light in the room, a few tongues, and ‘Thus Saith the Lord’ goes down the river? Because a man’s experience. Let me tell you again, in case you never heard it. After four and a half hours, arguing back and forth, because I did not understand Bro. Branham, over the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. I finally said, “Bro. Branham, are you trying to tell me, that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, and the re-birth is one and the same thing?” He said, “Now, you’ve got it Doc.” 36. And I said, “Hold it, right there.” He put his hand out to go out. I said, “What about your two experiences?” And he said, “What two experiences?” Well you know, you don’t wave a red flag in front of a bull, …and I live in a china shop. I said, “You ought to know, you had them.” He looked at me blank, well I said, “That one where the cross of light, and you spoke in tongues and ran out happy, and justified, and happy your sins are gone. And the next time, you claimed you had an experience where like rain pelted your body, the Holy Ghost rain.” He looked done at me, …a face like you’ve never seen. Drew himself back, “Bro. Vayle, we don’t go by experience, we go by the Word of God.” True, passionate as Paul, as Peter that great man of God, up there in the mountain of Transfiguration, when the heavenly Voice said, “Oh, this is My Beloved Son, hear Him.” [Mt 17:5] He said, “We’ve got a more, sure Word of prophecy, the Word of the living God.” [2 Pet 1:19] What about your experience? 37. Listen, let me tell you flat now, this is what’s wrong with us, we have not put our experiences aside, and held on only to the revealed Word of God, until that seed come forth. We’re letting experience get in the way, “Oh, I’m not so happy any more, I’m not so sweet anymore.” Well, maybe you aren’t. Maybe you’re not. What’s that got to do with the Word? See? People trying to change the Word, by experience. That’s what happened here. Now, well we'll just make it midnight…fine. [BV spoke this message New Years’ Eve] Point number two; We're going to go back to Malachi 1:6-8 let’s check their Spirit, right through. It’s interesting. All right. (6) A son (honours) his father, a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised (Your) name? 38. Yeah, notice that. Nobody getting down in His face. Nobody screaming, “God have mercy.” Nobody repent, just talking back. Spirit of the age. Same spirit we’ve got today. Same spirit as in Jesus’ day. Same spirit of pride. And lifting up against God. See? Thinking God’s got to cater to them. I’m glad God does not cater, or I have no hope, of surety whatsoever in eternity. I’ve got to have an irrevocable Word of God, with an unchanging God. Oh, where is my hope if He could change His Mind in His Word. Got to have a tie-post, and so, He’s the answer. (7) (You) offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and (you) say, Wherein have we polluted (You)? In that (you) say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. (8) And if (you) offer the blind for sacrifice, is (that) not evil? and if (you) offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 39. Now, this to me is the same as over here, in the Book of Isaiah 28:7-13. I say to me, because I am drawing a picture through the Bible. Not trying to teach the doctrine so much. It gets filled with illustrations here, as to what this is all about. (7) But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, … swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. (8) For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. (9) Whom shall he teach knowledge? whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, drawn from the breasts. (10) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line (must be) upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (11) … with stammering lips … will he speak to this people. (12) To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith (you) may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. (13) But the word of the LORD was (to) them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; (and they turned It down) line upon line, line upon line; … It came bombarding anyway, fulfilling Its destiny, and they turned It down. And It gave a little here, and gave a little there, and they turned It down. Why? God’s Word was fulfilled and they fell backward. And they were taken, and they were snared. Who got him? Antichrist. See? Why? 40. Now listen. The polluted bread. And the triple sacrifice is the same. The priest and people ate the bread, and the meat at God’s great atonement feast. And listen, this has been God’s great atonement feast for us. Bro. Branham said, “There were two atonements.” And so there is. And there’s for the Jews, and there’s for the Gentiles, and God sent His Own Word to us. And the people did not want It. They turned It down. They crucified It, and they’re still doing it. They continue to do It. See? In this great atonement. Now, in this great atonement Message, what is the greatest of all? The Word of God coming back by the prophet, “I have forgiven your sins of committing fornication, spiritually”. Not just the physical, that’s not it. Mysterious union of the Bride, the mysterious union proved It, to a point. It is His atonement Message coming. But what do the people want? They do not want the uncorrupted Word. They want to retain the corrupted Word. Now, that Word got corrupted way back here, in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, that’s true, Paul said, (3) But (I’m afraid), lest …your minds … be corrupted… Lest you entertain other thoughts, then I have given you. And you’ll give yourself over to the false Word. 41. It must give way to Revelation 10:7 (7) But in the days of the voice of the seventh (messenger), when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be (perfected, and consummated) In other words, the perfect divine revelation is in order, which is going to end all the ages. (7) …as (God) hath declared (the good news of the gospel by) his (servant) the (prophet). In other words, the good news of the Gospel, to the Gentiles, has to be consummated. It must be perfected, the Word must shine forth, in finished perfection. And at the end-age, the Gospel’s over. See? Now, that’s true. 42. Now listen, we go to Revelation 22:18-19 concerning the end-time. (18) … I testify unto every man that (hears) the words of the prophecy of this book, … Now listen, to hear the Words of the prophecy of this Book, means to understand them. Now listen, in Revelation 10: the Thunders and the Seals were sealed up. Seal it. Now listen, in Revelation 22: It says in verse 10, (10) Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: … 39. In other words, between chapter 10 and chapter 22, there has to be an unsealing of the Book of Revelation, and the Revelation of the Seven Thunders. One prophet is going to do it, and he’s Revelation 10:7. And when that comes It says here, “I testify to every man who in the day of the revelation of this Book, if any man therefore dare add one thing, he gets the plagues. And if any man dare, take … [audio stops] Spirit of the Age #1 (0780) Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 1