The True God Identified and Worshipped Bro. Lee Vayle - July 22, 1972 [Sound quality is poor] …this afternoon I'd like to bring a message that perhaps would help us to realize a little more fully like Bro. Branham saying, as he did talk of his ministry being that of the prophet Elijah, there's a definite purpose for it. And also help us to understand a little more fully why it is that many people who are worshipping God, will fail to be part of the First Resurrection. And we know of course many in this church system will be condemned of the Lord. So, I want to bring a message on 'The True God Identified and Worshipped'. The true God identified and worshipped, and we're going to take our reading in the Book 1 Kings 18:17-24. Shall we bow our heads in a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, again we come unto You knowing, Lord, that many things used to be, and many times too often, but never to pray too much especially at the right time to pray. And You said we ought to always pray and not to faint. And so, Lord, we're praying again that You'll give us the ability to bring forth the Word exactly right, Lord, and make It very, very clear, easily understood so that there'd be no dispute of the fact…but It might come forth with the simplicity that You said actually what's in Your Word. "For a wayfaring men, though fools, do not err therein." [Isa 35:8] And, Lord, we …?... ourselves, we would be wayfaring and foolish except for one consolation we had that we're trying to believe with all our hearts, and go all the way in our faith. And so, we're looking to You, Lord, we believe we've got a right to look to You, for You are our Father. Help us now, may the Spirit of God be with us in our lives in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen. 1. Beginning in [1 Kings 18:] 17, (17) And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said… Art thou he that troubleth Israel? (18) And (Elijah) answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that (you) have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baalim. (19) Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. (20) So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. (21) And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt (you) between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if (the Lord be) Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. (22) Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. (23) Let them therefore give us two bullocks; let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: (24) And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 2. Now, here in 1 Kings of course we have the marvelous story of the true God identifying Himself amongst the people. Because that's exactly what the question was: "Who was the true God?" He makes Himself known most unmistakably, so that there would be no room for argument. And anyone then who would not waste …?.. continue in the way we're going would be under condemnation of Almighty God. Now, we're all familiar with the story of course how Israel went into idolatry by Ahab marrying Jezebel who was Ethbaal's daughter, who was the brother of the priest king unto Baal. And this woman brought her religion, her priest and her theology into Israel, and Ahab began to propagate it for her. Now, there comes a clash between Ahab and Elijah, and also Ahab's prophets of Baal are against Elijah too. And this prophet Elijah who claimed to be the servant of the true God, (the one and true God) runs afoul of Israel, and Ahab claimed that Elijah is causing Israel great trouble. 3. Now, since the trouble hinged on who was serving the true God, a showdown is called upon Mount Carmel. Just as Elijah said here, "If the Lord be God, follow Him, and if Baal be God, then you follow that one." Now, there in a great text of worship the true God identified Himself to the people. Now you noticed that I said it was in a text of worship. And this is exactly true, and many people do not understand this. There was a text of worship. It wasn't some question like the atheist may ask and say, "Well, if there is a God at all, then let Him reveal Himself. Now, it's not a matter of 'if there's a God at all'. It's not proven that there is a God, that's not the question. The question is proving who is God. And there is a big difference. Not whether there is a God, but Who is God, or What is God? Now, both side worship, they were worshippers and devoted to their worship. They actually lived in it, that was their life, and here is what we found to prove it reading in verse 25-26. (25) And Elijah said…Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for (you're) many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. (26) And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar (that) was made. 4. Now, you'll notice also… (It goes on) (27) And it came to pass…that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or pursuing, or in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. (28) And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. (29) And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, (and) there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. (30) And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. (31) And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, (notice, he's going according to the Word of God) saying, Israel shall be thy name: (He's recognized by God also.) (32) And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. (33) And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. (34) And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. (35) And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. (36) And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, (notice, that sacrifice was mentioned two times now) Elijah the prophet (said, come) near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, (now, they're worshipping Baal also, see?) that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. (Now, he's with the Word and staying on It.) (37) Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. (38) Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (39) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is God. Now, the religion of Baal, was a corrupted religion. And you'll find that the word, 'Baal' is one of the titles of God, one that he uses. For He said, "My name shall no longer be Baal, but it will be another name where …?... " But their religion was perverted no doubt from the days of Balaam who entered into a worship of God according to his own understanding and his own ways. 5. Now, you'll notice the showdown here was by fire. And that God indicated that He was a true God, and he was worshipping Him correctly when the Fire of God descended, just as it did back in Genesis 4: now, we'll go back and read It, and notice in verse 4, the last sentence: (4) … And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: And verse 5, (5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect…(at all.) Now, you may wonder why I say that this was the same as in Genesis 4: Because if you will notice under the Mosaic law when God had fully revealed Himself at that time and accepted an offering and a sacrifice in worship that the Fire came down from Heaven, It wasn't a matter of the people lighting the fire. God sent the fire, and God's way has always been to indicate that He is satisfied by lifting up the offering with the Fire that God sends down. 6. Now, you'll find this also in other places in the Book of Genesis chapter 15. And if you want to read It for yourself, you read all the way from [verses] 7-17. But notice, when Abraham made the sacrifice he made it during the day and he cut the fire's up, he cut the animals up, then he drove away fowls of the air, but leaving the sacrifice until the time of the evening offering. Now remember, in the evening hours that God came down and talked with Adam and Eve. So therefore, it was in the evening hours that God found them naked, and therefore He offered a sacrifice to Himself, which was a killing of the beast, the shedding of the blood which clothed Adam and Eve. Now, it was in the evening hour. And you see the same thing here it was already evening. The evening sacrifice when God could be approached, that God would recognize the worshipper and reveal Himself. And It says in [Genesis 15:] 17, (17) And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. Once more the Pillar of Fire came down and consumed the sacrifice. 7. Now notice, let's go over to the Book of Exodus and see the Pillar of Fire, or God showing Who He was through the worshipper. Exodus 3:1-6 (1) Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and (he) came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. (2) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. (3) …Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. (4) And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. (5) And (God) said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (60 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. Now remember, the God of Abraham was the One Who came as a Pillar of Fire and licked up the sacrifice that God had made there. Now, He is identifying Himself with the Pillar of Fire in the burning bush. 8. Now, let's read verses 13-14. (13) And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? (14) And God said (to) Moses, I AM THAT I AM: (In other words, I am Elohim, and the self existed One who is able to maintain Himself.) …Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Now, let us understand the real reason for God identifying Himself, or coming into the open as it were. It was in order that the people might know whom they worship. First of all, and the meaning of that is in order that God might receive the worship and not some other god, or something else that is reckoned to be God. Now, remember Paul ran across that in Mars Hill. They're worshipping Agnostos , the unknown god. And he said, "The unknown god I'm going to declare unto you." [Acts 17:23] In other words, he was going to make God real to them. Now, not only that this is so that God might receive the worship, and not something else reckoned to be God, but also it fortifies the faith of the people. Because, if you know for sure who you are worshipping, then you are on good ground. Your faith is not vain. But if you don't know, then you can be just like Israel divided, thinking that they were right when all the time they were wrong. 9. Now, this thought takes us right to Exodus 20: where God gave the 'Ten Commandments'. (1) And God spake all these words, saying, (2) I am the LORD thy God, (notice) which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Notice what He said first of all: "I'm the God, I am your God by identification, by deliverance, I brought you out." Now, (3) (You shall) have no other gods before me. (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,… In other words, you cannot make an image, or an altar, or anything else whatsoever. You cannot have any solitary thing that will get between Me and you, I am your God. (5) …for I the LORD God (I'm) a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Now, you notice right in here that God is speaking of Himself as a Husband. The law of jealousy. (See?) And that's what was wrong with the worship of Israel was gone into, that they were following Baal, which recognized him as their husband. (See?) Saying, "God is my Husband." Now, right here God said, "If I'm going to be a Husband, I want to know I take the supreme authority over that which calls herself My wife." Now, He said, "I will visit the iniquity unto the children from the third and fourth generation ." 10. Now, many people, and I know that we all are prone and I don't blame us, because I think you could use it this way, you say, "All right, people sin, and the cup of iniquity comes to pass in the fourth generation." (See?) And the sins of the people did will be visited by God upon their children. But, you'll notice that God is speaking in terms of Himself and the people pertaining to worship. So He says here: "I will not hold anybody jealous." Now watch it, we're get that later on, but just read a bit further. (6) And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Now remember, to this point the commandment is: "No other gods before Me." See, the solid absolute knowledge of God recognizing Who He is, and in that temperment worshipping Him. (7) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for (Thou) will not hold him guiltless (who) taketh his name in vain. Now, the word 'take' means 'to bear'. To bear the Name of God you cannot bear It in vain. God will not allow anybody that calls himself a servant of God, or a worshipper if he does not have an absolute revelation of Godhead. And He said, "When the people don't have it, (He said) under the third and fourth generation I will visit the sins upon the children." [blank spot] In other words, the relationship to God is fainter, and fainter, and fainter. Why? Because they brought forth bastard children out of a wedlock, they claim they have consummated with God, and they're still in a doctrine. And I hope you see this. Until the fourth generation there's no hope at all. Call yourself a Christian, call yourself a servant of God, you have no relationship to God whatsoever. (See?) And He said, "I'll not hold you guiltless who do it. I'll make you stand up in judgment as though you were one of my children." (See?) Now, this is pretty tough, this is pretty hard teaching, but this is the Bible. And I can't do other than teach the Bible. The trouble is, that people just haven't had it taught right till the prophet came by. (See?) Now, here's a perfect picture here. We had to know God by revelation, and it must be a proper revelation. It's got to be according to God's Own revelation of Himself. 11. Now, this takes a Bible to Genesis 12:1-8 (1) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: Now, right here you can understand that this man must have got out in the fourth generation. Way back there they went wrong on their worship. Now: (2) …I will make of thee a great nation, and bless thee, and… (so on.) Now, let's go on down to verse 7. (7) And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. Now, you notice right here that there's no doubt that there's a sacrifice offered so that God could appear. (7) …(and he) builded (him) an altar unto the LORD… (8) And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, …and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. Now, in here you'll notice that God revealed Himself to Abraham, and He took him away from the iniquity that had been stored up to the previous generation to the end of Abraham could truly worship the true God, and he would be inviolate in that worship. Otherwise he would have been condemned. He had to come out in order to worship God. 12. Now, this also shows us again Exodus 3:10-12 (10) Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. They were there four hundred years. Is that right? And God said, "I'm going to let the Midianites' cup overflow for four hundred years, the fourth generation. Right? Now, they were in Egypt how many years? Four hundred years. The Pharaoh had a chance to know God. Four hundred years they were in Egypt, four hundred years away from Midian. (See?) Now what happened? The judgment of God falls on Egypt when Israel …?... and the judgment of God falls on the Midianites, because God is going to destroy them. (See?) There you are, your perfect picture. Now, He said here, (10) …bring (them) out of Egypt. (11) And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go (in myself)… and I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (12) And (God) said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, …(here is going to be the evidence. (See?) This is what it's all about. Now,) that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, (you) shall serve God upon this mountain. They were brought forth in order that they might know the true God and worship Him according to truth. 13. Now, this brings us absolutely perfectly over to John 4: beginning at verse 21. (21) (And) Jesus (said to the woman,) Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when (you) shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Now, see there's going to be a move evidently they had run their course. Evidently it's all over. Now God is going to do something different. Now listen: (22) (You) worship (you) know not what: …(a slap in the face.) She said, "Now listen here young man, I want to tell you something, I may not be much of a person even though I believe in Jehovah. And I may be a pretty low character , but I want to tell You, I know who I worship, I worship the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the one true God …?... and don't tell me I don't know who I worship." Now, she could have said that. Now if she was a modern day Twentieth Century ever been here in Canada, United States and around the world that's what she would have said. Or, she would have said, "I work for trinity, bless God, don't tell me. I tried to kiss the pope's toe, get to heaven." (See?) …?... Modern Jezebel, Baptist, Pentecostal, and all the rest would have said, "Now, don't tell me I don't know." Well, they'd have a mountain right there. He said, "You don't even know what you worship." And yet He turned to her and said, "It's not in this mountain, or in Jerusalem that you're going to worship the Father." He recognized that she worshipped the one true God, and yet she didn't know the first thing about Him, so she wasn't accepted. Now, there you are. Her worship was vain. 14. Let's keep reading: (23) (For) the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Now, you can see right here there was something wrong with the system. There was something wrong with the worship. There was something wrong with the people. It wasn't that they weren't worshipping, it wasn't that they didn't recognize God. They weren't saying, "If, and there's no God." They weren't saying that. (See?) They knew there was a God, and the strange thing is, that they were the only ones who were worshipping God making any real job, because they alone knew everything about God, being one God, and …?... And yet, they were not accepted. And Jesus said, "It won't do you any good." 15. Now, let's go to Mark 7:7, and see how strong He put it. (7) Howbeit in vain do they worship me,… (See?) Now, It doesn’t say they were worshipping something else. He said, "They're worshipping Me." But He said, (7) …(it's) in vain (that they) worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Now, you can see here what we're talking about this afternoon. See, they're worshipping God. But their worship is absolutely not accepted, because there is no revelation of God, even though they know there is a God. Even though they're putting their acceptance and service in the right direction, God will not accept it. And He said, "I cannot accept it, because you are worshipping Me in a tradition. You're not worshipping Me according to the true Word revealed, the Word revealed. Now, God can only be God as the prophet said, if He is the object of worship. Now, He does according to Scripture, according to just even rational thinking, He must identify Himself as the true God, or He will not be worshipped. He's got to identify Himself. And He's always done it in order that the people may worship Him. 16. Now, God recognizes absolutely that others, or something else can attract worship. Now, He recognized that in Exodus 20: we go back to just see It again so we know what we're talking about. That's your Ten Commandments, verses 3-5. (3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me. See, He recognizes that there is a potential of a problem here, of something getting between Him, so that the people are carried away. Now: (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, (notice that word 'image') or any likeness…that is in heaven above, (that's) in the earth beneath, or water under the earth. (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity… That's your iniquity, not worshipping a true God, not worshipping correctly, it's factual iniquity to come into a service, (that's right) to come into a service without a true revelation no matter how much God is amongst you. For He said, "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity," I will not hold him guiltless, but I'll visit that iniquity upon him, (see?) even though he swears he's a hundred percent conforming to reality. Now, that's the way the Bible teaches. Hear what He says? He calls it, "Hating Me." Hatred towards God. 17. Now, let's go to Exodus 34:12-17. God recognizing that things can go amiss. All right, (12) Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, (now, they're going in amongst the people that I can see worshippers, and God warned them through Moses) lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: (13) But (you) shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: Now notice: Israel only in my understanding, (now …?... to play fairly) and I believe it's only in one place where Israel cut down the grove. They'd smash the idols, they'd break the altars, but they never would cut down those groves. Now notice that, He said here, "break the altars." (See?) Worshipping, they're …?... cut them down. Break the images, break up your organizations, if you possibly can, (because images are organizations) brake up the time of worship, cut down the groves. Now, what would they cut down the groves for? Because the cutting of the groves is a green tree. And the green tree signifies life. And that's what I see today where people are not listening to God. They come out of the organization, they break away, but they take with them their creeds and their dogmas, because there is some kind of life in it. (See?) That is all in Pentecost. They can't see that God can be in midst of them, and yet God not in them. And they won't cut down those groves. That's the hardest thing to do. It's for people to get away from what they think is reality in the face of what a vindicated prophet said it's not reality. Now, that's a tough one. Too many people took it …?... "I think I see the Scripture this way." Now, if the prophet sees it one way, you're supposed to see the way he sees it. You're not just supposed to break up those altars, and to destroy the images, come out of your organizations, get away from the formal worship. But, you got to come to an actual vindicated revelation of that Word. Now, that's what I think those trees are, those groves. 18. And you set yourselves all through the 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles you're going to find I believe only in one place did they ever cut down those groves. They said they broke the altars and they broke the images, but they never cut down the groves. (See?) And that became the trap to them. Every single time it rose up again. Now, if you want to have an absolute hundred percent Christian worship toward God and be accepted, then you've got to come out of organization. You've got to get rid of your former worship, and you've got to revise your thinking on the Word. Never mind what the other brothers said at the camp meetings last year, the Greek still said, "Repentance is changing the mind." I don't care about your feelings. You can be so mad when I'm finished here, and maybe I should preach for fun get you mad. That would be alright, big joke on you. (See?) That would get you hopping mad. (See?) Doesn't make a difference, It's what the Bible said. I don't care what your feeling are, give you that point. (See?) "Godly sorrow worketh repentance ." [2 Cor 17:10] Godly sorrow is not repentance. Now remember that. (See?) What …?.... (See?) Now, we follow this, (see?) because if you don't cut down those groves, that's the potential sore spot. (See?) You've got to chuck the whole thing. Just like It says in the Book of Hebrews. Putting aside all the doctrine, all the fundamental teaching. You lay it all aside, because there's no table, not full of vomit. But no, it wouldn't do that. (See?) And God warned them. He said, "When you get in that land, the first thing you do if you're going to worship me, is you blast everything out of your way, you have a clear slate. You don't take the test, and hybridizing anything whatsoever that has to do with My worship, or I'll cut you off." That takes four generations to do it, but He said you're beginning. (See?) Of course thank God you won't have four generations here for this Church Age. 19.`Now, watch this also in 1 Corinthians 10:19-21, (19) What say I then? (Paul says) that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? (20) But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that (you) should have fellowship with devils. There you are, people worshipping God here in the Corinthian church, and that are swayed by devil worship even. Now, don't tell me you can't do that. But, some years ago now, I was in Tampa, Florida. A lady whose mother she's a Pentecostal preacher, (that what she was and her husband) and her mother was a Pentecostal. And this little nephew of theirs was going into spiritism, into séances and all. And what does grandma say? She said, "I don't think I'd be rough on Tom, because who knows, he may have something deeper than we've got." I said, "It's children from hell if that's what you want." In Chicago, Illinois in the Full Gospel Business meeting, a man, (what's his name now? I forget his name) He had a …?...in Miami, Florida. And he got up from that platform and he told those, he said, "You and I have the same spirit." But he said, "I think you think mine's wrong." And they said, "Amen, hallelujah," the guy's spiritism. Yeah. Little Japanese …?... a Catholic theologian, she said, "Oh, the Holy Spirit's got a home in the Catholic church." Then she warns them, "Don't try to change my theology, amen, hallelujah." The Corinthian church were so fooled in the worship of God, that they could get sucked into devil worship, the Bible says so. We've got the same thing right today. Nobody can deny it, it's the truth. (See?) 20. Now, Let's go to Genesis 11:4 (4) And they said, (Let's) Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. And now nobody in his right mind is going to try to build a tower in the skies. You couldn't even build a tower up high enough to reach the clouds on a …?... day like this. Unless there's fog comes down that's different. (See?) How many little clouds up there? They weren't trying to build a tower into heaven. That thing that they built was a stamp for many, many years, it was about eleven acres a day and had huge circular foundation. And they put about three thousand on top of each other, would climb up to the heaven. And the face of the obelisk, (because it's south) was the twelve signs of the zodiac which was a Bible in the skies, but misinterpreted and they made a religion out of falsified Word of God. That's what it was. They were trying to reach out to God, they were trying to worship God, but they had perverted the Gospel in the stars as you've got astrology today. And so God confounded them. (See?) 21. Now listen, Israel in chapter 18 …that I read, they are prince with God, and they had adulterated the worship of Almighty God, until God repudiated them. They even had God another name for God. Just called Him Husband. They didn't call Him the Lord. He should have been their Master. Now, they were already mixed up in such idolatry as to have incorporated into their midst as still …?... worship. And it was absolutely wrong in the sight of God. Now, notice watch this: by the time that Jesus came on earth, (I'm going to jump now) when He came among Israel was a hundred percent full of idolatry in the sense of raw heathenism. (See?) That's right, In the sense of raw heathenism. But, Jesus called them, "of their father the devil," so they weren't mixed up in raw heathenism. 22. Now, let me explain it to you by going to Mark 12:28-33 (28) And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? Now, here's what we're talking about. (See?) (29) And Jesus (said,) The first of all the commandments is (this:), Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (32) And the scribe said… Listen, this is the man, he was a scribe, and the scribes and Pharisees were responsible for the propagation of the Word of God in Israel. And here's what this fine, fine person said. (52) …Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: (330 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (34) And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, (He was wresting His answer) he said…Thou art not far (but he wasn't in it) Thou art not far from the kingdom of God… 23. Now listen, this man had a wonderful answer to Jesus. He had a wonderful knowledge of God. He had a wonderful knowledge of Scripture. But he failed the crucial test, he didn't know to whom he was speaking. He didn't know the revealed Word of the hour. He didn't know God's revelation. He didn’t know it. (See?) And he failed, and Jesus did not say, "You are in the kingdom, (He said) you're not far from it." Now, do you want to be in it, or want to be out? Now, the outside of the kingdom, it doesn't matter there's only one inch or two inches, or half an inch you're still out. And you just can't have one toe in it either, or one foot in it. You've got to be baptized into the Body of Christ, which is absolutely immersed from the soles of your feet to the last pores of your head, must be immersed right in that body. Now, you see Jesus had to commend him to a point. But he couldn't go all the way, because his spirit said, "In vain do you worship Me." That's what Jesus said to Israel, and you cannot deny they were a fine, fine bunch of people. That's right. They were not a bunch of hoodlums. They were not atheist. They were not ribald in what they were doing. They never had licentious orgies in their worship. No siree, they too preached the letter. But their worship was in vain, it was not accepted, because of their creeds and their dogmas. 24. Now, let us go back to Genesis 4:4-7, again, for that's what we're working on. Right back and forth over the New Testament. (4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: Abel knew God, right, Cain knew God. (5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Now, there you are, two men both knew God. That's right, God said it both to them. Yep, both worshipping Him. Both sacrifices. Yep. (6) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? why is (your) countenance fallen? Here's a literal translation of verse 7. (7) (Thou has offered right, yet, if thou hast not rightly divided, hast thou not sinned.) The very worship of God, (listen now) the very worship of God based on a wrong divided Word constituted sin. "I will not hold him guiltless who bears My Name in vain. I will not hold him guiltless who worship Me, outside of the Word of God and come to some form and supposition." Break down those altars, destroy the images, and cut down those groves. (Right?) In other words, when God vindicates Himself, and identifies Himself, then everything goes, you don't hold on to one thing. You stand in absolute awe. Because now God has identified Himself informing that He might be worshipped, less something else takes his position, or we worship in vain. Now, that's the Bible. They're cutting it awfully close, Bro. Branham said, "the prophet …?... the church." And I'm trying to preach what he preached. 25. Now, God did not accept Israel, because the Word was mis-divided. He couldn't accept them, or He did wrong in not accepting Cain. So, they say, "Well, don't we tithe, don't we anise and cummin?" [Mt 23:23] And He said, "Sure you do, but you missed the revelation." You're going through the motions. And I will admit you're doing a good job as far as you are. But He had to condemn them, because of His Own Words. Now, God now identifies Himself to Israel, (that's Jesus does) He shows that He is the One through God, but they don't recognize Him. 26. And notice what they did in John 15.22-24. And remember, this time He's not the Pillar of Fire, he's veiled in flesh. (See?) (22) If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. (23) He that hateth me hateth my Father also. Now listen, (24) If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin:… If I had not fully identified Myself, and exposed Myself, then they could just go on their way to …?... I say, 'Amen', thank you it's alright. Would have been alright. But notice: (24) … but now (watch) but now they both seen and hated both me and my Father. That's right, never forget those Words. Okay. 27. Turn back to Matthew 21:1-9, I won't read It for you, we just look at It. Now, this is when Jesus comes riding upon the foal of an ass. And you know what? Now watch: And they cried saying, verse 9 (9) …Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus could not rebuke them. Now watch, they caught a momentary vision of the true God having identified Himself, that this was indeed the Christ, and they turned right around and crucified Him. Right. Wrong, because they couldn't go all the way on the Word. They could not go all the way with the Word. 28. Notice, John 14:7-11 (7) If (you) had known me, (you) should have known my Father also:… Now, a man said this. A Man, Jesus said this. What if William Branham had said it? Same thing. If you can find one, you've found the other. If you find the one that God sent, you have found God, because that's what Jesus said. You receive the one that God sends, you receive God. Pentecost called Bro. Branham a prophet sent from God. Something's wrong somewhere. See, on judgment day the Bible says your own words will condemn you, every one of us. If we ever stand in that judgment, God's got a record of what I'm saying here, and what you're believing. Maybe off …if I'm off that Word, we're off that Word, we won't be in the Bride, we'll stand in the judgment. And our own words will condemn us. If there be something in there, that we will have said, the quote, they will be right up against that Light and turn It down somewhere. You can't have it otherwise. Now: (7) …and from henceforth (you) know him, and have seen him. (8) Philip (said,) Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (9) (And) Jesus (said) Have I been so long time with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Now, Jesus wasn't the Father, He's the Son. They said, He saw the Father. (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? (now, there's your secret right there) the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. There you are, He said, "Now, the works today, why don't do you believe the words that I say?" 29. Now, Jesus showed Who He was, John 10:30 (30) I and my Father are one. (Certainly.) Now, Israel refused the vindication. So, they reject Him as prophet and Lamb. They do, they rejected them both. They said, "Can't take the prophet, can't take the Lamb. Because the prophet revealed the Lamb. In other words, what He came for. So, they refused Him, they don't …?... and in the resurrection they refute the Holy Spirit. That's why Paul said in Acts 13:44-46, Israel turned Him down, we go to the Gentiles. 30. Now then, the church is set in order. …?... Israel go to the church. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:… There you are, that's why Paul has got to be jealous. It's not Paul, it's the Holy Spirit in him. God said, "I'm a jealous God." What's He jealous over? Worship. (See?) Because God can't be God unless He's worshipped. Now He said: (2) …I have espoused you to one husband, … I'm admitting (he said) that you’re my wife, you're bearing my name. The woman bears the husband's name. Certainly, she's supposed to. You go to some nations where the husband bears the woman's name, something is ridiculous. (See?) No headship, no nothing there. Heathenism, raw heathens. Now, He said, (2) …I have espoused you to one husband, … God said, "I've espoused you to Me, I'm your Husband, and I want you as a chaste virgin on the day when you come to me." (See?) Now: (3) …I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve (now watch)…so your minds should be corrupted… Now, watch the picture, he said, "Look, I feel as the serpent beguiled Eve, lest there come between me and you in worship that will give offensive and I cannot take it." (See?) Because we're going to talk about God He's a jealous one, because that's where jealousy comes from. "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God. [Ex 34:14] I won't stand any other gods, I got to have worship the only one, I won't take it." You're under condemnation, and I won't hold you to it. No sir, because you said, "I tried to worship,…I don't know." He said, "You're guilty." "Oh Lord, I bore Your name." "Oh, I know, you're still guilty, I'm jealous." Same law, same God, same thing. Now, he said right here, he said, "Your minds be corrupted." Remember, a corrupt mind brings reprobate faith. It won't work, you can't have worship. You can't have reality here. (See?) 31. Now, let's keep reading, [2 Corinthians 11:] (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, if (you) receive another spirit, which (you) have not received, or another gospel, which (you) have not (taught and so on.) Now, who was this one to Paul? On the road to Damascus he said, "Who art Thou Lord, Who are You Jehovah, what am I talking to what God?" [Acts 9:5] And He said, "I'm Jesus." …?... A couple of Jesus' so to speak at this rate. Because Jesus is Jehovah, yet they made Him the second person of the Godhead. Notice also, another spirit. What was that Spirit that come back? They made Him a comforter, a third person. Who is He? He's the Spirit of the Father which indwelt Jesus. What about the Gospel,? It becomes creeds and dogmas. It's no longer the unadulterated Word. 32. Let's go to 2 Timothy 3: and follow It through. Let's look at verse 1. (1) …know (this) also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. That's the key note. Now 5-8. (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. "Generation after generation, (Paul said) they're going to be seeking to know the truth, but they're never going to come to it." What truth? The truth of Who God is and His Word revealed in order to be what you might say identified by Him, or accepted by Him. No worship without it. 33. Let's go to 2 Peter 2:1-3 (1) But there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. So, that's true, …?... Now you see what's going to change …?.. it's absolutely the man is God. It brings it something between, and something else, three in the Godhead, ridiculous. They deny the very Lord that bought them. It was Jehovah Himself Who became incarnated in a creative body through the creative egg and sperm which the woman's body nurtured to bring It into this world. Was the body. Now, (1) …bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And remember, this is a worship system, doesn't take it to God. Right. (3) And through covetousness (see?) …with feigned words make merchandise of you:… Well, you know what, they think, "Oh, I've got a good crowd, I've got a great following, I must be of God. Look what I'm bringing them to God. (See?) (3) …whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their (judgment) slumbereth not. 34. Now, here's your picture, now watch …?... Last day religion ends in a great test of worship. Amen, it does. It ends in a great test of worship. Because that's exactly where men in sin finds himself in a test of worship. And when the test came to Cain and Abel, Cain flunked out, though he was right with that Word, to mis-divide It, and …?... from God. And God said, "No! I will not take it. I will not vindicate you. I will not stand with you. I will not accept you. You come by the divided Word, and offer that blood by the revelation, or out." And he said, "I'm going to worship You anyway. And I'm going to take the Bible anyway, and then nobody is going to change it." And God said, "You're through." And remember, he killed his brother for doing it. He killed his brother in his anger. In a great test of worship this is death. 35. [Now:] 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (that's the end of it) and by our gathering together unto him, (no more to be gathered.) (2) That (you) be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of (Jehovah, not Christ, but Jehovah. The word is not Christ in your Bible, it's Jehovah Himself) is at hand. (3) Let no man deceive you…for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who (opposes) and (exalts) himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God (sits) in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. It's a test of worship right here, because It says ,'worship'. "Exalts himself above all that is called God," for that is worship. That this age ends in a test of worship. In other words, it is not communism that people say it is. It is not atheism. It is not people denying God. It is the world all rejoicing and worshipping a god, they're doing it. But they flunked the test, just like Cain …?... and they die as they did in Sodom and Gomorrah, raw heathen. That's right, they die like raw heathens. 36. Now, Revelation 14:9-10 (9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,… When does He point that out? Because of the first commandment they're worshipping God correctly. Now: (10) …which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:… You can see right here what God says about this beast system. About the worship of him, that ends up worshipping the devil. 37. Notice in Revelation 13:4 (4) And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? There you can see right here this world system of churchianity ends up in an absolute worship of the antichrist. Now, but before this happens as in the days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah God identifies Himself. 38. In the Books of Acts chapter 3 you'll see it, beginning in verse 19 (19) Repent (you) therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which (was appointed) unto you: Not preached, he wasn't preached, he was there. He was appointed unto them. (21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of (restoration) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Notice, It says here, there's going to come a time of refreshing before God, (see God Jehovah) comes in judgment. The Bible says so. And It says this refreshing, (this revival) is going to come from the Presence of the Lord. And the word 'presence' there is that part of anything that's visible to the eye. 39. Now remember, nothing of God is visible to the eye except His works. His Eternal power and Godhead is manifested in creation. Then therefore, if the words of a man will produce only what God can produce, then you're looking at God. That's why when you saw Bro. Branham you didn't see a man, you saw God. Not that he was God, that's where people got so mixed up, I cannot understand it. Can't you understand this people, let it stick to your mind. The only part your eye which can see God is what God produces. So, when you see a miracle you're looking at God …?... When you see nature, you see God. Not that you see God in person, all you can see is of God is the fact there's something out there that's created. Then when a voice of a man makes a miracle take place, then you are seeing God. And that's what God ordained here. And remember, like Jesus, it was ordained that He have a ministry that no one else had. 'Thus Saith the Lord', and a magnitude that no one else could attempt to even come near it. Now, I never knew it, but they say God, that Bro. Branham did, by the power of God, did miracles here in Saskatoon. Some say they were very in it. 40. Now, It says here, that after this is done, after this revival (see?) that foreruns Jesus, the heavens still retain Him until restoration. (See?) Now, keep reading. (22) For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall (you) hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (Right.) (23) And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. But remember, Jesus does not come and destroy until that prophet has been heard. That's right. Doesn't come. So therefore, you have a prophet coming who will bring the Word to the people. 41. Now, we've been in that enough, so we just go back to Luke 17:30. And in here notice, It says: (30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. The Son of man is going to be revealed once more. And it's not going to be from heaven taking judgment. It's as it was in the days of Noah, the very days of Noah repeats, the very days of Jesus repeats. And that word 'days' in the Greek means 'experiences'. For the experiences that Noah's days repeats, and the experiences of Jesus' days repeats. In other words, once more God is giving the people an opportunity to see God absolutely revealed and who the true God is. (See?) But of course we know they are going to turn It down. 42. Let's prove He does it, Revelation 10:1 (1) And I saw another mighty (messenger) come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: (Well, you know whether that was Jesus Christ.) But the Bible says, "If only the feet that comes down to earth, therefore once more Jesus, It's the Christ veiled in…or the Spirit of God, (that's what It is, Logos, Spirit of God) comes down veiled in a Pillar of Fire." In order to do what? Identify Himself to the prophet who will in turn will bring the Word of God to the people, who in turn will have a revelation of God in order that they might worship Him, and be worshipping correctly in the showdown of worship. Because that's the whole test. The true God identifies Himself, and true to form He identifies to man. He uses a prophet, and the prophet projects to the others. Just like Moses. Now, let's to prove it in Malachi 4: I'm taking this back, but I'm sure you know the subject well enough to judge it. Now, Malachi 4:4-6 (4) Remember (you) the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Now listen, Horeb is Sinai, (see?) Christ, God took Moses to Horeb, and Christ, He gave him the Word. The first sign because of Israel's idolatry. (See?) Being the Word was destroyed. Moses goes back and gets the Word the second time. Now notice, He said, remember Moses, what happen? (5) Behold, (based on Malachi 4:4) I will send you Elijah the prophet… (to do what Moses did, to bring you the Word the second time in order that you might know Who It is that you worship, and worship in Spirit and in Truth.) Now, God identified among the people doing the same works He did on earth. 43. Notice, 1 Kings 18:37 (37) Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. What was it? The Pillar of Fire, God identified Himself. Now remember, Jesus didn't have the Pillar of Fire, He was the Pillar of Fire. But He identified Himself by His ministry, the works that no other man did, or could do. We had the same thing happen right today with the prophet who had the Pillar of Fire. (See?) 44. Now, let's go to 1 Kings 19:11 (11) And he said, (to Elijah) Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: after the wind an earthquake; the LORD was not in the earthquake: (12) And after the earthquake a fire; the LORD was not in the fire: after after the fire a still small voice. (That's where the Lord was, in the wilderness.) Now, you will notice that Bro. Branham had unmistakably the identical signs of Elijah. The whirlwind came in the presence of the people that broke the rock in pieces. The earthquake came following his word which said, "The West Coast will be shaken." Out there in Sabino Canyon the school children and many other saw the Pillar of Fire rising and falling. And remember, there was also beside the Pillar of Fire, was Bro. Branham would not talk about, but others did, because they saw it, was also a conical cloud descending and ascending which was black. That's absolutely the way Moses got the Word. The Pillar of Fire was there and the black cloud was there. But remember, it was in the Voice that the Word came. And the Word came back, "Your sins are blotted out, you're forgiven from your whoredom." And remember, spiritual fornication is typed by physical fornication. But spiritual fornication is idolatry. (See?) So, therefore, the Word of God came back. Bro. Branham speaking in 'Marriage and Divorce', [65-02-21] said, "All your former alliances, all your formal marriages, all your formal fornications, all your false teaching, all your wrong concepts are all blotted out, (he said) to whom, those who follow this Message." Nobody else. Nobody else has any forgiveness. The blotting out of the sins had occurred. When? In the time when God told Who He was, (always a few …?...) the return of Elijah with the Word of God, and the forgiveness then which completes. He said, "I call you not church anymore, I call you Bride." And this is where the age of the move of the Bride is on, coming out of Laodicea, but you've got to cut down every single one of your groves when you do it. People are coming out of organizations that's not enough. They're breaking with the traditions, that's not enough. You've got to come to revealed Word of God, of which is 'Thus Saith the Lord'. 45. Now, what is it for? It is to lead us back to God. Remember when that fire fell when God identified to Elijah, He said, "Now, you have turned the hearts back." Now, who's hearts are to return back? "Seven thousand hasn't bowed the knee." [1 Kings 19:18] Never mind the rest of the crowd. God said, "I've reserved them seven thousand." What about the three million? They went down. They thought, they recognized, they wrote books, 'A Man Sent From God', 'Bible Days Are Here Again', and turned right back from the very thing they said, went back to their hogwash, their wallow, their vomit. That's what the Bible said they were going to do it. (See?) Now, why did He reveal Himself? He did this in order that we might know who the true God was, and that we might worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. (See?) Now, there's your test that's taken place. The showdown has already come, and the test, the worship is here. It says, "Those who love that truth will not take the mark of the beast." Of course they will be caught away. But, those who do not love that truth will find themselves in antichrist system and they will pay the death penalty if they don't worship. (See?) 46. Now, no worship except that based on the truly divided Word will be accepted. That's exactly what the Scripture teaches, why I read to you in the Book of Genesis. Let's go to 1 John 3: notice: (9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. How anybody can miss that it's more than I know. A clear cut statement tells you the reason this fellow can't commit sin, or doesn't commit sin, is because he can't do it. That's all you need to know. Over here It says, "If you do sin you've got an adjective, sounds like two different things. What is this thing he's talking about? He's talking about the sin of Cain in the days of Abel. It says right here, if you're absolutely born of God, you cannot be guilty of not knowing Who God is, and you cannot be guilty of a wrong division of His Word. Yeah, that right. You can't be guilty, it's impossible, the Bible says. You cannot wrongly divide It. You will not do it, because the Scripture says, "If a man doesn't divide that Word right, he will not be approved of God." The Scripture says, "Study to show thyself approved of God, [2 Tim 2:15a] rightly diving the Word of Truth." And now if a man doesn't rightly divide he cannot be approved, because that's where sin was. 47. Then how can a man stand approved in his worship outside of the revealed Word when that Word is revealed? Now remember, Israel, they just worshipped one God. You love Him with all your heart, you love your neighbor next to him. But he still missed it, and Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, and the works that your father you do." [Jn 8:44a] Now, what is the works of the devil? The mis-dividing of the Word. Lead in the worship of God by Satan. And you tell me that God will accept that? The minute Satan got outside of that Word in heaven, God kicked him out with one third of the angelic host. (See?) Now, God cannot accept service and worship apart from revealed Word in truth. 48. Let's go to Numbers 16: I said God cannot accept favors in worship apart from revealed truth. As Bro. Branham said, 'Trying to Do God a Service Without It Being God's Will'. [65-11-27] Numbers 16:15. Here's what It says: HYPERLINK "http://branham.ru/message/messagee9c1.html?sermonum=1116" \t "_top" (15) And Moses was very wroth, and said (to) the LORD, Respect not their offering:… Hold off, don't respect them. You know why? Because they rose up against Moses because of the Word. And they said, "Well, God's blessed us, He's amongst us we've got signs and wonders. We're doing miracles, we've got prophets and all these things. I want to tell you, we've got a right to worship God." And they went in there and they worshipped God, and God sent down fire, opened the pit and they went down there alive. Judgment of God. People listen to me now, He said, "Save the censer." Showing that what they did was right, the gifts were genuine, but they were false anointed. Off that Word. They intruded where they didn't belong. How many people are guilty today, intruding where they don't belong. Trying to under- stand this Word when the prophet has the understanding, and he tells what's to understand. Those are Pentecostal's. Now, if you can't see what Bro. Branham is teaching all these all these years, I preach my sermon in vain. But, I didn't preach this just so that we get thinking nobody understood it. I preach it in order to help you understand even more what's going on today. (See?) Because everybody…well, the majority of you are just wrong on this subject. See, they think it's going to be communism. It's not communism. 49. Remember, over here in Matthew 7: Jesus said, "In vain. (He said over there and then, "I will make …?... many shall come to Me in that day and say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name, cast out devils and done wonderful works'?" He said, "I never knew you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity." [Mt 7: 22-23] Now listen, how can you call casting out devils iniquity? How can you call doing wonderful works iniquity? How can you call prophesying iniquity? If it's right? (See?) Wasn't done according to the Word. See, wasn't done according to the Word. How can people right today prophesying on the church floor? Why you could have a wonderful prophecy come off that floor and just as crooked as Balaam. And the church be one hundred percent condemned because they allowed it there. "Well, glory to God we're edified." The Bible says, "glory to God, I cast out devils." "Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity." 50. You're trying to worship God, trying to serve God outside of what God laid down. This clearly clarifies Matthew 24:24. It tells you, "these false prophets, coming with greats signs and wonders." Clearly clarifies 2 Thessalonians 2:12, It said: (12) That they all might be damned (that) believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Which is the mis-divided Word in worshipping God. That's what unrighteousness is, that's what John said it was. He said the reason that Cain killed his brother, is because he had an unrighteous seed. That isn't worshipping God. He got mad because, Abel was accepted and he wasn't. Unrighteousness. (See?) Deceptive. Aw, something that you can put your finger on and say, "Look here, see that man is a devil, kill him." It's right in the church and it's so subtle that people love it. Can you …?... …?... You can't do it. 51. Bro. Branham said, "Every time that woman rose up, the trinitarian club wielded by the husband denied the worship, …?... the church down," That's what people say, "Well, I don't understand how you talk about this man Branham, our preacher never even heard of him." Well, my, my, my, would I except a pig to hear of a butterfly? Not running them down, just saying the truth. Their lord and master denomination told them to turn him down. You think for one minute he couldn't…he couldn't have done these same miracles over the years? If the heads of organizations just opened the doors? Certainly just open the door. But they turned him down. Sure. . Now, thus we see why God will send strong delusions to those who turned down the truth. They will worship another god, through the beast system while they think they're worshipping the true God. In other words, it's the god of their imagination, based on what they see around the Word, and what they hear from that Word, and it's not the God at all. How often have people said, "Well, I couldn’t believe in a God like that?" "Well, (I say) that's the God of the Bible." How can you believe in a God that reprobates one, and lets another? Oh, that's the God of the Bible. (See?) 52. Now listen, God has identified Himself make no mistake about it, 'Thus Saith the Lord'. People still don't grasp that. You know, I found the other day that, a little buddy of mine, a little Mexican chap is what he is, and he said, "You haven't said 'Thus Saith the Lord." I said, "…?... And he's trying to find a Scripture that will refute It. You know where he went? Deuteronomy 13. That doesn't say 'Thus Saith the Lord' at all. That just says, they got signs and wonders. They still don’t understand when God sends a man with 'Thus Saith the Lord', that's unique and different and you got to hear them. And if you haven't got 'Thus Saith the Lord', they've got a million …?... you don't have to hear him. But nobody else has 'Thus Saith the Lord'. Oh, that stuff in the audience where anybody, 'thus said the Lord my little children'. That's a bunch of nonsense, that's "Thus Saith the Lord' you're just quoting Scripture. All ready done said it. (See?) 53. Now listen, worship apart from revelation is idolatry. (Right) Bro. Branham said, he said, "That witch doctor they even go to, to get healed." He said, "The reason they get healed is that they believe they're approaching God, just like those Methodist's and Baptist's do." They're well. That's what Paul said, "Corinthian church, you're Babylon." You wouldn't go church …?... Now, that's the sore spot, …?... with me. I just can't figure these guys are …?... about. If anybody here think you have something, then maybe you do have something. You got a beautiful basement down here. You got a little cry room back there. Borrow it. Your pastor would be only too glad to come with you. If not…it's not out of spirituality, out of curiosity believe me. I'm not offended …?... yourself. I'm not offended myself if, you ought to know that, he'd be the first man to admit it. I admit it. If it wasn't I wasn’t spiritual I'd be curious. I don' t want to put the dampers on anybody. …?... put it on the elders. As Bro. Branham said, "If any man's ministry is ruined by the Word of God, it better be ruined." Amen, that's the truth. Because it proves exactly what I'm talking about today. You cannot do this thing off what the prophet taught. Don't care how many letters anybody says he's got with Bro. Branham's signature. Go to the tapes. He said, "I've put the church in order to prove there's a bastard child." 54. Now, Bro. Branham said, "Even though …?... served God, as you do, through the messengers that God sends." (See?) To worship apart from revelation is idolatry. Call God what you will, there is only one true God, and that's the One identified by Elijah. Right. How is it now? "Well, I believe in the same God." He said, "You don't even know who you worship." He said to the lady at the well. [Jn 4: 22] And she was Seed. Just caught fire just like that. She said, " …?... Why don't they ask? They weren't Seed. Now, this is the major revelation of this Age. There is one true God and His Name is the Lord Jesus Christ, and you must be baptized in His Name. Every message of every Age is neither more nor less than the revelation of Jesus Christ. And as Bro. Branham said to the Seven Church Ages, "It's been Jesus Christ all the time." And of course, He's the Word, (See?) 55. Now, we might ask, since God has identified Himself how will you identify the… I caught it this morning, get baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Bro. Branham said, "You can have the people lay hands on, …?... somebody else, and then you start listening to the Holy Ghost to fall." You don't have to tarry day and night, but set your hearts, as this was a step of faith, and from now on, you walk right into the baptism with the Holy Ghost. I don't know how long you have to wait, that's between you and God. You won't speak in tongues, it's not a necessity. He doesn't come that way. Bro. Branham said, "This time He comes a physical manifestation." You'll come to a place with absolute assurance, the Holy Spirit filling your life, you'll just walk right on in the depths of Christ, you haven't walked before. We're not looking for these things anymore that Bro. Branham put his finger on. 56. Now, how will I identify with God? You start with 'Thus Saith the Lord' and you go on and grow right up into Jesus Christ to the full stature and the manifestation that lies ahead whatever that is, that's up to God, not me. There is no other way to do it, except by the Word which reveals to us the worser of the worse. We found him identified in Scripture. Which were revealed to us, there is only one true God. In other words, God sent a man on the scene. It's a tremendous ministry. Well, he could say, "I challenge you, bring me twenty-four of your worse cases, I guarantee healing." God again. "Bring me the worse case." What man can say that? 'Thus Saith the Lord' never failed. It was the miracle ministry that proved that he had the right to speak in the Name of the Lord. (See?) And this is what we grow up into is this Word, which has been shed abroad in our hearts. 57. Let's go back to John 10: (37) If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. (38) But if I do, though you) believe (me not), believe the works: that (you) may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Notice right there, the works. He said, "Check them out, who's got what I've got? Who can do what I can do? Who can stand up with 'Thus Saith the Lord' and can challenge in the Name of the Lord, and God backs him up, who can do it?" Nobody could do it. Another place, he said, "You don't believe my works." But, he said, "Sit down and go over it again, who has the ministry I've got?" That's Jesus. Bro. Branham the same way. Now that he said, "You've got to believe those works, you know the devil doesn't heal." You got to believe that God's with me, because of 'Thus Saith the Lord'. Now, you see if they got that far they would have caught the Word, but they can never get even to 'Thus Saith the Lord'. (See?) 58. John 14:9-12 (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. In other words, you got a list of God doing the works, and you better believe God's saying the word's true. How many can believe that about Bro. Branham? That's a tough one right there. "Well, I believe that I see …?... Well, I believe when he said so and so. But I don't believe he said it." (See?) Well, why don't you prove something. (Uh?) Find some friends that might show us something. (See?) Can't do it, can you? No, can't do it. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Comes right back, can anybody do what I did? Is anybody producing what I am producing? The prophet said the same thing. "Show me, (he said) wherever It failed, 'Thus Saith the Lord'. (See?) (12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go (to) my Father. When was that fulfilled? Bro. Branham said, "Christ had more success in [His] ministry in me, than He had in His Own Life." Sure, because it went around the world. That was when He was on earth, He was on earth. He said, "The true ministry, (the ministry of Christ in Bro. Branham) was of greater magnitude than the literal ministry of Jesus Christ." Because he covered nations, and he had crowds that Christ never had. (See?) How often would He challenge a heathen? You don't find even Jesus doing that. Just quietly ministering. But, at the end time that last great manifestation, demonstration proving that this is indeed the Christ. 59. Now, if you saw a minister like Bro. Branham you couldn't say, "This ministry, this William Branham, this is Jesus the Christ." No siree. Yet, you can say this indeed is Christ ministering in the flesh. Then you come right back to the Word. What's it there for? What's it there for? To believe what He said. (See?) There you are brother/sister. The …?... bare evidence is very simple, there is a great showdown of worship, that's already started. It started when God sent a prophet down to that Ohio river, in 1933, June 11th I think it was. When the seventeenth person being baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Pillar of Fire came down, scattered the crowd. People saw it, and the Voice said, "As John the Baptist foreran the First Coming, so your Message (it's a Voice, see) shall forerun the Second." The Word of God revealed. Now, why did God do It? [blank spot] …now look at that silly Branham baptizing in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, no such thing. Now, they weren't there. No, no, they got a worse thing. Hundreds …?... Oh, they knew there was a God. But He came down and identified Himself exactly as to Who He was. And when God does that, it's for only one purpose, to lead them out, to lead them in to worship. And from that moment on, He assumes the form of a jealous God. The Husband who will not tolerate infidelity. That's right. 60. Now, where do we stand in worship? Did they ove the Truth? No. Did they hate the Truth? No. Then what are we going to do? They are going to end up worshipping their creeds and their dogmas, end up worshipping the antichrist in an antichrist system. All the while thinking they're approaching God, just like that man approached the witch doctor so the Methodist and the Baptist, and the Pentecostal's are called idolaters in the Word of God. Not Lee Vayle, I've nothing to do with it. I've said many a times, under the principles I've tried to preach It the way It's written. And I finally took the prophet …?... This is why he came. He never came to see that you're born again. Hundreds of good preachers can do that. They're got good ministeries. He never came just to, (you know) to tell us a little more about the Lord. No, …?... He came to lead us back to God at a juncture at a crucial period of time where the road split. Now, which way are you going? Are you going all the way with the prophet in the Word? That means bring every thought into captivity. (See?) Judging everything by the Word the prophet taught. Read your books, study the tapes. (See?) And when anybody is contrary to that Word, you have every right to go in love and say now, "Just a minute, what did the prophet say?" (See?) Well we're about wondering about that last vision the little woman, his mother. And that big ugly man, the father, and yet he knew it wasn't his mother. Right? And he knew it wasn’t his mother, yet he was born in that mess. Here is a prophet ordained, born in Egypt. (Right?) The prophet himself partaking of Egypt. Part of it. And you and I in that mess. Who is going to tell us come out of her, except an ordained man, a vindicated man. Who is going to do it? 61. In what form are you coming out? What form? The worse. The Spirit and the Truth, that we can be acceptable. The road, the two forks brother/sister have already appeared forming that letter 'Y' . There's a tiny, tiny group going right down that little tiny road. That the lady on a high hill is different, thought she could make it, but she couldn't do it. Right? The other way is broad, and it's got big ditches, and the blind are leading the blind. Now, one group is going to judgment, because they love not the Truth. That's the Christ. (See?) Talk about God all you want, query Him all you want. Sure, they're doing it. But it's the same as that heathen going to the witch doctor, they think it's God, just like those Methodist, and Presbyterians, and Baptist and Pentecost. They're wrong, not because you say so. When I ask you a question who's got the vindication? Nobody but us. I know it's God, by the man that God sent.The true God identified and worshipped. Now, you put this morning's message with what I had this afternoon and that ought to take the roof off. That ought to have settled everything really. What more do you want? Nothing, really, but to just keep consecrating ourselves, just like the prophet said to that Word. The Lord bless you, shall we rise. Gracious Eternal Father, as we praise and thank You that allowed us to come together again for a great time, Lord, of going into Thy Word to see exactly what the world has missed. To see why the prophet came in its simplicity. And all of these things, Lord, are now before us, and we need not that any man should be deterred, or flatter or failed. O God, put iron in our blood, put strength in our backbone. Take Your scalpel and circumcise the mind, deep down and circumcise the heart. Sanctify whole body, soul, and spirit unto the Word of the living God, until we come to that place of joy unspeakable and full of glory. Not only in our own hearts, but in Thine O Lord, because we measure up, hallelujah. Oh, let God arise by His Spirit in the world, and the enemy be scattered. Bringing every thought into captivity, and taking every consolation in Christ, until one day we wing away as it was with Enoch and Elijah. God, give grace and give glory to Thy people. I pray, Lord, not once to falter or fail. Not once to miss, but everyone in step, O God, rise to meet You in the air. I pray that, Lord, I want it, and they want it. Grant it, O God, at any cost. And unto the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God be all power and honor and glory, even unto Jesus Christ, Lord God Jehovah. Amen. The True God Identified and Worshipped (1872) Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 26