Time Tested Faith Bro. Vayle’s Introduction of Bro. Branham New York, 1958 1. …to take the gift of healing to the world, and he was born to the end that he might pray for the sick. And that is one hundred percent scriptural, because God has set men within the body of the church that they may minister. And He has also given gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they are also set forth in the church amongst the people. 2. Well, God called him to that particular end, and it’s roughly twelve years ago that his ministry became as spectacular as it has been, although previous to that he was known as the little Baptist preacher who, when he went into the Jeffersonville hospital, something was bound to happen. And I remember one case in particular where a man was in an oxygen tent dying with double pneumonia and complications. He had just a little while yet to live when they called on Bro. Branham, that he should go and visit that man. And, when the nurses knew that he was coming in, they said, “Don’t worry, doctor. That man is going to go out.” He [the doctor] said, “Yes, he’ll go out all right, but he’s not going out well. He’ll go out dead.” And they said, “No, I’m afraid you’re mistaken, because when that little man prays, something happens.” And sure enough, Bro. Branham went in and rolled back the oxygen tent and prayed, and he said, “He’ll do! ” Sure enough, the next day he was home, one hundred percent—one hundred percent fine. It got so that, whenever they saw him coming, they knew that they were going to lose a customer. 3. My, how the Lord blessed, and how the Lord healed. That’s before even this divine call came, wherein you have seen him minister in the last twelve years. When I remember seeing him, it’s just roughly not quite twelve years ago. It’s eleven years ago when he came to Canada, and there we saw him, in one night, minister to roughly two thousand people; and there was not one miss. 4. Now, when the Lord called him, He told Bro. Branham that there would be two evidences or signs given him, as there was to Moses. And the first sign was to be the evidence of a particular phenomena in his hand. And I think you folks know that; you read about it at least. Many of you were in the meetings, and hundreds attested to it, when the right hand of the afflicted one was placed upon his left hand that the hand would become angry and swollen and various little peculiar things would happen to cause him to know that there was an infirmity there; and then, God would reveal what that infirmity was. 5. Well, I had never seen it, but I knew that it was true. And last night, or the night before in New Haven, the night before last in New Haven, Connecticut, he took a lady by the hand, and he said, “Sister, just place your right hand on my left hand and keep your eyes open and watch what happens to my hand here.” Well, I was very curious, so I just stepped over in the light, and I saw that hand become angry and afflicted and those white marks move back and forth. And he prayed for her. And I’ll be frank with you, I do not believe that her faith was at a level to receive healing. And so, nothing happened. He said, “You can see it still there.” But he said, “Now, watch; it’s going to go.” And with the authority that God gave him, the gift of healing in operation, that angry mark left; the woman immediately ceased to have any affliction within her. She was set whole perfectly. 6. Now, that was the beginning of his ministry. And we saw thousands of people who actually were healed. As I say in one night, I saw two thousand. Now, I’m not a fool. At least I hope I’m not. And I can tell when a club foot turns around. I mean, I’m that intelligent, at least. I know when a hunchback like this, all just suddenly straightens up. I know when blind see. I know when deaf hear; and I know when dumb speak. I’ll grant myself that much intelligence. And, when I saw two thousand, I began to grant that there was One Who was the same yesterday, today, and forever. 7. And brother/sister, we saw the reality and the manifestation of God, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. But there came that time when God had said to him, “My son, if you remain humble and sincere, I will also give you the ability to read the thoughts and intents and the secrets of men’s hearts, so nothing shall be hidden from you, that which you need to have revealed to you, and I will let you know it by vision.” 8. One day in Regina, Saskatchewan, in Canada, as Bro. Branham was in the prayer line ministering, suddenly, as a man came before him, the vision appeared, and he knew all about that man. He called him by name; he told him his affliction. Everything was exactly right, as the Lord gave in the revelation. Bro. Branham told me that he was so surprised that he could have fallen in a heap on that platform that God showed him all of those wonderful things. 9. Now with this, however, there came an influence in Bro. Branham’s life, which has been very difficult for people to apprehend—to grasp the meaning; because, instead of the long prayer lines now, there were shorter prayer lines, where Bro. Branham was carried away in a trance and in a vision, and the effects of the vision upon him were so weakening that he could not now minister to large numbers of people. 10. Now in the human mind, this immediately brings what we might suggest, a paradox, or at least something contrary to what we would feel in the ministry of the Lord by the Spirit of God in our midst, because we know the Scripture says from glory to glory and face-to-face. But this ministry seemed a diminishing rather than a multiplying and showing the power of the Lord in a greater way than ever. So, many people were perplexed. They did not realize that, even as when Samson, under the anointing and the influence of the Holy Ghost, was able to take the jawbone of the ass and slay the thousands, it was all right as long as he was played upon and moved upon by the Spirit of God. But as soon as the Spirit of God had moved from him in that particular ministry, you’ll notice that he went to pieces. And he just got even upset with God, and he said, “Lord, I’m so thirsty. I’m going to die, and you’re not doing a thing about it.” 11. And you know how that Elijah came down off of Mount Camel at the zenith, the peak, of his ministry, having defied the gods of this world, and shown forth the true God of this world, and he ran from a little old woman and wanted to die in the wilderness. And God found him way back in a cave somewhere. And you know how that Daniel, after his vision became weak and he fainted, he became sick. And even Paul said, “Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know.” You see the Spirit of God moving upon a mere man, even though justified in the spirit, made righteous through Jesus Christ, is still a mere man. And no man can stand that tremendous influence of the Spirit of God and not faint in his own spirit. 12. So, Bro. Branham became very weak in that ministry. And many people didn’t understand. And they’d say, “Well, you just said a minute ago that that ministry wherein there seemed a diminishing of healings, it shouldn’t be compared to the other part of his ministry where there were more healings. I’d like to go back there.” Yes, but I want you to notice something right now. The miracle of the vision by the revelation of the Holy Spirit is a far greater ministry than when we emptied wheelchairs, and took patients out of cots of death. And I will tell you why. And, if you folk were here the last time Bro. Branham preached, you will remember that he spoke to you of the sign of the Messiah, that, when Peter stood before Jesus Christ, Jesus did not ask him his name. He did not look up any reference as to statistics concerning his birth and all. He simply said, “I know who you are. You’re Simon, the son of Jonas. From now on, we’re going to call you Cephas.” 13. There was a man, named Philip, who heard that. He was greatly impressed, and he knew that that had to be in the realm of the seer, and it could be, if he were a seer, that he could be that great prophet spoken of by Moses. Right? Absolutely. The One Who knew all things. He went and got his friend, Nathaniel, and said, “Come, see who we have found.” He knew Who He was, but he didn’t want to make too bold a statement. Nathaniel said, “Well, can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” He didn’t know where Christ was born, you see. And a lot of people get mixed up on that. They don’t know who he is. This man didn’t know, so his friend said, “Well, you come on down and see for yourself” When Nathaniel came before Jesus, Jesus immediately operated once more in the realm of that great Prophet, and he said to him, “I know who you are. You’re an Israelite in whom is no guile.’’ And so, right away Nathaniel said, “Well, how did you know me? We’ve never met. Why are you telling me my history, if we’ve never met?” He was perplexed. And He said, “Before you came here, I saw you under that tree; before you were even brought here.” And, what did he say? He said, “Thou art the Christ.” Why? Because the Messiah would come revealing the hearts of men. That was the sign of the Messiah, the great Prophet, the One Who knew just like Moses, when he knew what was in the heart of Miriam, and in the heart of Korah, and those men; he knew. And brother/sister, that’s the ‘seer’—the ‘one who knows’. 14. Now, let him go before the Samaritan lady. And he immediately demonstrates once more the power of the great Seer. And He said, “Go call your husband.” She said, “I don’t have a husband.” And He said, “That’s right. You don’t have a husband. You’ve had five now, and none of them are your husband. You’ve got one man you’re with now, and he’s not your husband either.” And she said, “You must be a prophet! And, when Messiah comes, He’ll tell us all things.” Why? Because that’s the sign of the Messiah—the great knowledge. 15. You say, “What’s important about knowledge?” My friend, knowledge is the most important asset in this world. If you’ve got an atomic bomb, but I know how to build a bigger one, I’ll lick you every time. If you’ve got a billion dollars, but I know how to get it away from you, you won’t have your billion. Knowledge! “My people perish from lack of knowledge.” And they knew that was the key! The Giver of all knowledge. They knew ‘in Whom was all knowledge’ would come. 16. And she said, “When He comes...” And He said, “I’ve come. I’m He.” The sign of the Messiah. But, when did He come to the Jew? He came in the end of their dispensation. When did He come to the Samaritan? He came in the end of their dispensation. But He never came to the Gentiles; never went to them. So now, if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and His mode of dealing with people does not change, then He must appear by the Spirit as the great Prophet to the Gentiles as He appeared to Israel and the Samaritans. That’s logical. 17. And so, what do we see today? We see today the sign of the Messiah once more. Brother/sister, that’s the great miracle. And, what is that great miracle? That soon the trump shall sound, and he whom we love with all our soul shall appear. It will be with the Voice of God, with the trump of the archangel, the heavens shall be rent, and he shall appear! And this is a sign unto you here in New York, that you may be warned, and warn your friends, that Jesus is coming soon. And He shall not tarry, because God has spoken; and His Word shall forever stand, because It cannot be altered! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, and He manifested this very hour! 18. Praise God, He is speaking tonight. That’s the great and mighty miracle, and we love the Lord for it. But it isn’t going to be very long now before this will change once more. You say, ‘Why will it change?” Because brother/sister, God has vindicated Himself amongst His people. You don’t need to carry a sign on forever; you go on with the business of the Lord. And, what is that further business? I believe that it could be possible this meeting in New York tonight, if God so leads Bro. Branham, this shall be the last time that a meeting is conducted in this particular way of the trance and the vision. The final warning has gone over America. Every state has been covered, New England, the last states are now covered. Canada has been covered, Mexico, the North American continent has seen the power of God. It’s gone all around the world, where men must know that Jesus Christ is coming soon. 19. And so, now, back to the original Message that God gave to Bro. Branham. Back to the original pattern, “I’ve called you to pray for the sick. I’ve called you to take a gift of healing to the world.” And I believe with all my heart that that day is just around the comer. Yeah, I believe that it could be within this 24 hours that the next great move of the ministry God has given him shall once more come to pass in such a way that there shall be nothing, absolutely nothing, stand before the power of God, which has been given to man, not as though he had power, but had authority because of that Name. 20. And I trust tonight, I’m hoping with all my heart, that this could well be that last night. And it could be, too, as we believe in a great burst of glory as these meetings are closing after this thirty days, and North American continent has been covered. Who knows, it could circle out and circle out from New York here, the good tidings of the tremendous power of Almighty God, Who has sent His Spirit, (We’ve been here a long time.) but Who has sent His Spirit in a special way this last day, where as once the former glory was great, how much more now the latter glory? Even as the former rain were moderate, once more the latter rain that much greater. And I believe with all my heart that this new phase in his ministry is about to take place. Bro. Branham will be here in just a minute, if he’s not here already. He’s here already? Let’s rise and sing “Only Believe”. Strong in His Faith Date Unkown [NOTE: This message is incomplete, starting part way in. It is not known how much is missing from the beginning.] 1. Faith is your assurance that you can have what God says is available to you by the Word. What else is it? It’s the conviction of things not yet seen. Now, what does that mean? Well, to begin with, these things cannot mean only those things that cannot be seen by reason of their spiritual nature, but they mean ‘unseen as in your possession’. In other words you don’t yet see them brought to fruition in yours or in your possession. Now, if you don’t think that is correct, let’s turn to Romans 8. Now Romans 8, and we’ll just read a couple of verses: Rom 8:24-25. Now, notice: (24) For we are saved by hope: (the word ‘saved’ means ‘delivered by hope, by earnest expectation’) but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for (it)? (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Now here, let’s just put it bluntly to you. If you never knew a thing existed, you couldn’t hope for it. See. You couldn’t expect it, if you didn’t know it existed. Now, what is it that we want? We want the things we have seen and yet do not possess. 2. Now, that’s what it is saying here. “For we are saved or delivered by earnest expectation, but earnest expectation that is seen is not any longer earnest expectation.” What does It mean? It means, as seen in your possession, because when I see things that I earnestly expect, but I don’t see them in my possession, that doesn’t do me much good. I’ve got to keep on, until I what? Until I get it. You see. “For what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for?” That’s the proof of it, that it means that you see it in your possession, then you stop looking for it because you got it. Now, if I lost a dollar bill, the minute I found it, I wouldn’t bother looking any more. Why? Because I don’t have to look for it any more. I don’t have to expect any more. I’ve got it. It’s in my possession, see. It’s all over. For if we hope for what we see not, if we earnestly expect what we don’t yet see, then we with patience wait in order to see it. See it what? Fulfilled. Fulfilled, see. So, this Scripture here, as I see it tonight, is the looking, is the proof or the conviction, or, let me put it this way: tonight we have a conviction of the Kingdom of Almighty God. We have a conviction through this measure of faith that we have passed from death unto life, and we positively will not stand in the judgment, but will stand before the Lord justified by the blood and faith of Jesus Christ, clothed in His righteousness and joined to Him eternally. 3. See? We have it. Are we going to get it? We are going to have it all consummated. Don’t worry. But listen; that faith or that conviction concerning that which is to come in the Kingdom of God, is the very same faith you use right now to get the promises that God said are yours here upon earth. The faith is no different. “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,” is the very same faith that Paul says, “I live by the faith of the son of God.” The faith that you’re born again by, is the faith that you live by, the faith that you daily put in Christ for Him to supply your needs, to heal your body and work in and through you, and give you the things that the Scriptures say are yours, is the identical faith. If, therefore, that faith is the conviction of the reality of the Kingdom of God, and you are part of the Kingdom of God, then that same faith is your reality, conviction of the reality, that you’re going to have what God said is yours right now. Isn’t it? Do you follow me? I’m not a Philadelphia lawyer, but I’m trying to help you to see this. 4. Tonight, how many do have an honest conviction that you are a child of God and positively will stand in Christ and, then, have fulfilled in you those things that are in the future Kingdom of God? You’ve got it. You don’t have another kind of watered down faith that God now says ”Here son, you got this good, big faith to get in the Kingdom. Now here’s this watered down stuff to live by.” No sir. It’s the same faith. Then, if that faith is your conviction of reality, because it’s from reality, because Christ is real, (“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”, and the word in the Greek for truth is reality: “I am the Way and the Reality”.) then tonight, if faith brought reality, (You follow me?) the same faith, gives you conviction of the reality of God’s promises that He says are yours. You say, “Bless God, they’re mine. Hallelujah. I’m convinced of it; I’m convinced.” You get it? Now we’re getting somewhere, if you can see that. And I think you have. 5. This faith that gives us the reality of the Son of God, that has given us the reality of the Kingdom which we shall inherit, of the glories that shall be ours, causes us, like Moses, to positively spurn the pleasures of the world and deliberately press our faces as a flint to suffer, if necessary, and to disdain what the world will give us, or how the world will harm us, because we know we’ve got Christ. Is that correct? Then, if the assurance of the faith is the conviction that causes us to disdain the call of the world, to disdain the trials of the world, to disdain what men do to us, to attempt to destroy us, then this same faith causes us to disdain what is against us, while we wait in patience to get what God says is ours. Is that correct? Did you get it? Now, do you follow me? I’ll go over it again. 6. There isn’t one person truly born again but who is just like Moses, positively disdained the treasures of the world and positively ignored the tribulation of the world, because he’s got something bigger. The same faith, my brother/sister, gives us the ability to disdain that which is against us until we get what we are looking for from the Word of God. Now, let me show you what I have been driving at. Faith is the conviction of things not yet seen in your possession. Now, look; no man living can have opposite convictions about any one thing. You can’t be convinced you’re going to be healed the same time you’re convinced you’re not going to be healed. 7. Now, you’re sick tonight. Let’s say you have a need; you have a problem. You have something missing that God’s Word says you can have. You have faith tonight, the same faith that gives you the power to turn your nose up at the world and what they would do to you, ignoring it because your eyes are on God for a better reward. That is the very same faith that gives you the conviction that you can disdain what’s against you, though you’re sick, though you’re down, though you’re destroyed, though you’re pressed out of measure, and you say, Forget it, because I got my eyes on what God says is mine.” It is, too. And He said it, and it’s mine. So, I don’t care what it looks like, because you can’t get brambles off a fig tree. Hallelujah. And I’ve got a fig tree connection. And no matter what, if it looks like brambles, I don’t care. There’s a fig there, and it’s mine. 8. Now, this is exactly what Scripture teaches. This faith is your assurance that you can have it. It is your conviction of what is yours, even though you don’t see it in your possession, but will see it because you’ve got what it takes. Now, God has given us, therefore, a tremendous ability whereby we can disregard what seemingly is against us because we have what it takes to get what God says is ours legally by the word of God. 9. Now, let me carry this right back to Abraham because he is the one we are studying in relation to faith. Now, let’s go, then, to Rom 4:17-25. I might not even have to read them all. (17) (As it is written I have made thee a Father of many nations before him whom he believed, even God… Now, notice that Abraham was believing God; then he wasn’t believing anything else. Oh, come on. Oh come on! If he was believing God, then he wasn’t believing anything else. Oh, you don’t like being shut up to God, do you? Then you’ll all be glad you were, though. (17) (Now) God, who quickens the dead and calleth those things that be not, as though they were. (18) Who (when) hope (was gone…, Moffet’s translation)… Who when hope was gone, hoped on in faith, (Leaving the translation… This is by the Spirit of God; don’t worry.) that he might become (what God said he already was.) Now, did I change Scripture? I did not change It. God said he was the Father of nations, and he became what God said he already was. And, when there wasn’t even any use hoping, when it was even too late to expect, there you are pressed out of measure, God raising the dead. See. Right there, there’s your definition. If you’re going to try to use your faith in God, honey, tonight, one thing you gotta do: you gotta be prepared to go the limit or forget it. 10. When you go to God, you don’t fool around. Oh, we think we do, but we’ll discuss this later, when we talk about faith and confession. We’ll find out about what God says about our mouth. Tomorrow night we’ll find what God says about our minds. You’ll hear some startling things, because you’ll find out you were one hundred percent wrong on what you were taught and what you thought, when you go to the Word of God. Not because Lee Vayle says it, but I’ll prove it from the Word of God. This is Thus Saith The Lord. Not on what I say, or what you think; it’s what God said: Thus Saith The Lord. 11. Now, listen. (18) He calleth those things which are not, as though they were, and who when hope was gone, hoped on in faith) that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith… Tell me one reason, why was Abraham strong in faith? Well, how could he be weak? He had God’s faith, didn’t he? Didn’t think of that, did you? How can you be weak in faith, if you have God’s Own faith? “Bro. Vayle, I’m weak in faith.” You liar. You’re a born liar. Certainly, you were conceived in sin, shaped in iniquity. But it’s time to get over that, put on the new man, stop your lying. Put on the new man who is renewed in righteousness, by the renewing of the mind. All right. 12. Are you weak in faith tonight or strong in faith? What are you? Weak in faith or strong in faith? Oh, you’re batting your eyes now; go ahead and bat them. I don’t mind. Let’s expose the devil and repent. For years you’ve being saying, “I’m weak in faith.” You’re a liar! Right? I’m not meaning to excoriate you. I’m a liar, too. One of the best. Let God be true but every man a liar. Abraham was not weak in faith. How can you be, if you’ve got God’s faith? Now, you may not have learned to use it, huh? 13. (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; was strong in faith giving God (the) glory (21) (And was) fully persuaded, (and so on and so forth). Now, listen. What was Abraham wanting? He was wanting a son by Sarah; is that correct. Now, if I was in Abrahams shoes, and I wanted a son by Sarah, what would I look at? I’d look at my body; I’d look at her body. Right. Because that’s where sons come from. But, you see, seminally speaking he was dead; he was well past the time of life. And the Bible said “He considered not his body, nor hers.” The word ‘consider’ means ‘to thoroughly perceive or to contemplate by meditation’. Now, listen to me: they wanted a son. The son had to come from their bodies, because bodies produce children. But that was what was against them: he was too old; she was too old. That was their problem. 14. Now, according to modern day science, we would have gotten in somebody from Russia or somebody from Great Britain, and we’d get all these men who talk about the fountain of youth and eat all kinds of potent things and take hormones, shots and injections and do a hundred and ones things. Wouldn’t we? Oh, yes. That’s the way humanity does. They do their very best to do some things, but the Bible says this old fellow just ignored it. “Abraham you’re getting older.” “Oh, well, I’ll just ignore it.” “But Abraham, don’t you know it takes sperm and eggs, a womb that’ll bear a child?” “Well,” he said, “So what. I know that, but just ignore it.” “Oh, brother, you gotta be sick! Don’t you know it’s a sensible thing to fuss and to worry. Don’t you know the sensible thing is to be responsible.” Oh, yes, that’s the way the world always comes in. Responsible, they call it. Solid citizen, Abraham, surely you can’t mean that, that you ignore your body.” He said “Absolutely, absolutely.” “But that’s your problem.” “So what? I know it is.” “And you mean to say you ignore your problem?” “Certainly” “Why don’t you do something about it?” “Not me. Well, I tried. I learned my lesson once. No thanks for Hagar and anybody else. Goodbye. No, no, you won’t catch me again” 15. You see what I am driving at? You can’t have opposite convictions on any one thing at any one time. No fountain gives forth bitter and sweet water at the same place. You’ve got a problem. So what? You’ve got a bad condition. So what? Listen to me. Let’s say I’m in debt. What good does it do me to pour over the debt, day after day; look what’s against me. “Oh, my debts are getting me down. Oh, the business is getting worse. Oh, this is getting rough. Oh, that’s getting worse. Yes, I can see it.” What’s it do for you? That’s not going to help you. God works in spite of those things, even works through those things. No problem to God. 16. Now Abraham gives his whole attention to what he does not yet see. What does he not yet see? He does not yet see their bodies rejuvenated. He sees only the Word of God concerning it, and he has planted that Word, and he has nourished that Word, and he has watered that Word, and that Word’s got to bring forth what that Word says. So, why worry about his body? The body can’t do it; the Word does it. So, he keeps looking at that Word and looking at that Word. Because why? Because he’s got faith, and he ignores what’s against him, and he gets the promise. 17. This is exactly what David did in Ps 27:13. (13) I had fainted, (I had fainted.) (I would have passed out; I would have given up.) unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. David said he would have fainted. It would have ended it. He never would have got the promises of God. He did not look at what was against him. He kept his mind on what God said, looking to the unseen, and it came into his possession. He took over the throne and became the greatest king that Israel ever had. None before him, none after, ever touched him. There’s only one that’s ever going to beat King David, and that’s the greater David that sits upon his throne. 18. Now David said, “I would have fainted.” Now, listen. David said “I would have fainted by keeping my eyes or my mind.” Remember; you don’t see with your eyes. You see with your mind. That’s right. You don’t see with your eyes. You see with your mind. David said I would have fainted, if I would’ve constantly looked at and thought about and kept in mind the conditions that were against me. I put them out of my mind, and I got my eyes on what was not yet seen in my possession, and I’ve possessed it. Why could he do this? Because he had faith. 19. Now, let’s look at 2 Cor 4:17-18. We all know these Scriptures. I think perhaps most of us have memorized this little portion of Scripture, but we’ll read It tonight and use It now. (17) For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us, not against us, but worketh for us a far more exceeding…eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen. (What things are seen? The things that are against us.) (Looking) not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. What’s eternal? God’s Word forever settled in heaven is eternal. Look at that Word. Never mind the condition; ignore it, ignore it. Now I’m screaming at you, and I got a reason to keep talking the way I’m doing now. I’ll explain shortly. I just haven’t got there yet. 20. Now, listen to me. In Eccl 11:4 It says: (4) He that observeth the wind shall not sow; (Now the Bible says we sow in hope and) he that regardeth (the wind or) the clouds shall not reap. That’s human, it’s in the Bible. It’s simple. And It says, if you observe the conditions which are against you, you’ll never get anywhere. And, if you keep on looking at what’s against you, you’ll never get anything. You’ll never do anything; you’ll never get anything by looking at conditions. The way to use your faith is to tear your eyes off the condition. Now, I haven’t told you why you can do it. I’ll tell you why you can do it after a while; just hold onto your seats and believe what I am telling you, because this is the Bible. Tear your eyes off the conditions; launch out in faith, like Peter walking on water, and then, begin to look for God to do something for you, and He’ll do it. 21. Listen to Jer 17:5-6. Now, here’s something you’ve read many times. I’m going to put a new slant on it. (5) Thus saith the LORD; (Now this is God talking, so you better listen.) Cursed (is) the man who puts his trust in man and maketh flesh his arm… Didn’t James say, “Have not the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons”? For you see a rich man come in, and you try to use them and butter them up and get him to do something God wants to do—try to use his money and his prestige, when you have the faith of Jesus Christ. You don’t look to man. You look to God. 22. Now: (5) Thus saith the LORD; Cursed is the man that puts his trust in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart (And, of what? Faith.) departeth from the Lord. (“Cast not away thy confidence,” see.) (6) For he shall be like (a) heath (a little tiny dry tree) in the desert and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness in (the) salt land(s)…not inhabited. Now, what does this Scripture say? It says, ‘if a man does not stop looking at conditions, does not begin to use his faith, he will not see when good cometh’. Now, good is coming, but he won’t see it. Do you follow me? Good is coming because there is a good God, and God sowed that thing in a seed and gave him a trial, and out of the trial was going to come victory, but he wouldn’t look away from the trial. He wouldn’t look to God first. And good came, but he missed it. Good came but he missed it. And brother/sister, I’m going to tell you, the world is…according to Psalms: the earth is full of the abundance of the goodness of God. On every hand there are immeasurable goodnesses and goodies from God, and we go through life with our eyes on the troubles, and we miss the good things. 23. I’m going to tell you something. A lady had a vision some years ago. She saw the Lord Jesus Christ walking through the audience, all on their knees praying. And they’re all saying “Oh, God, do this. Oh, God, give me this. Oh, God, be gracious. Oh, Lord, please. Oh, Lord, help. Oh, my lovely Jesus, do something.” And He was there with a basketful of good things, and to each one He looked, and there was, “Oh, Jesus, do something. Oh, my lovely Lord, bless Your Name; I know your goodness for something.” Yeah, they sounded hypocritical. Didn’t they? And they were just talking up a storm, and He tried to hand each one something and tried to give everybody something, and they kept on fussing up a storm. And He walked out of the building, and didn’t do a thing for anybody. 24. Now, you see, you can’t fool God. And yet He was there with His good things, and they all had in their power the ability to get it, and not one got it. Why? Because not one was looking for it. Not one looking. They had their eyes on their troubles, and all they could talk was their troubles, see. The Scripture says that the people who begin to put their trust in things (That means ‘conditions’.) or withdraw their trust because of conditions, It says that good will come, but they won’t see it. That’s true. I wonder tonight how much we have missed. Jonah says, “They that observe lying vanities,” or ‘symptoms’, As Daddy Bosworth said, “forsake their own mercy.” 25. Numbers 21:8 says: (8) …he that looketh, (and the word in the Hebrew is ‘to continue to look’, and look, and look) (at the brazen serpent, he shall be healed.) And over here in Hebrews 12, It says: (1) Wherefore seeing we…are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, (What’s this witnesses? Witnesses of faith.) let us lay aside every weight and the sin which easily besets us, (That’s unbelief.) and let us run with patience the race that’s set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus, (See, looking unto Jesus…) the author and (perfecter) (The word ‘finisher’ means like a carpenter finishing up things nicely.) the (perfecter) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, (Notice, the joy was set before Him. He did what? He) endured the cross, despised… (He didn’t look at the shame, endured the trials, despised what was against him, couldn’t take time with it.) “If you’re a prophet, who hit you?” Didn’t even answer them. “If you’re the Son of God, come down.” Didn’t even answer them. “If you’re this, do that.” Didn’t answer them. He didn’t bother or nothing. No, he wouldn’t touch it; drew himself aloof from the whole thing. Never mind it. Don’t get embroiled; don’t get taken up. Keep your eyes right on God. That’s what counts; that’s what Jesus did: despising the shame. And, what is he? He is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 26. Consider Him, as the Scripture says in Jas 1:8. Let’s read verse 2. (8) My brethren count it (pure) joy when ye are fallen into divers (testings); (9) Knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience. (10) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (11) If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, (who) giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (12) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like (the) wave(s) of the sea driven with the winds and tossed. (13) …Let not that man think…he’ll receive any thing of the Lord. (14) A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (and doesn’t get one thing from God.) Put your eyes on the Lord, and what He said was yours, and forget what’s against you; because, if God be for you, who can be against you. You say, “Well, surely the things are against us.” God doesn’t mean it that way. He means, if God be for you, what does it matter? What if…? Who cares? If you got God, you got a majority. And, if God’s got you, that’s much nicer still. 27. Now, let’s turn over here to Deuteronomy 20, because we want to see this. And remember; I’m going to explain exactly from the Bible why all this is so and why God demands it of us. Deuteronomy 20:1-4—and I love this. (1) When thou goest…to battle against thine enemies and (thou) seest horses, and chariots, and (even) a people more than thou, be not afraid of them; be not afraid… (There it is: God said when you go out against overwhelming difficulties, don’t be afraid, see.) for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (For the LORD thy God is with thee, Who saved thee from thy sins and gave thee eternal life.) (2) And it shall be when we are come nigh the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, (In other words our priest is Christ, and He’s going to fight our battles.) (3) And they shall say…, Hear O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, (don’t be) terrified because of (it); (4) For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, (and) to save you. (And God will cause you to triumph over every difficulty, and you will be victorious and get the end of your desires.) 28. Now, over in 2 Kings, which we compare with this, and in chapter 6. Now, listen; if God tested Israel just like He tests us, in the end, in 2 Kings 6:15-17, It says: (15) And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariot. And his servant said unto (Elisha), Alas, my master! (what are) we (going to) do? (Look at the mess we are in.) (16) And (Elisha) answered, Fear not: (My, what a man.) for they be with us are more than they that be with them. (17) And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD I pray thee, open (this young man’s) eyes (so he can really see what is the score; so he can really see what it is all about; so he can really see what God is really prepared to do, no matter what seems to be.) And God opened that young man’s eyes, and he saw that the chariots and horses of God outnumbered those fellows a thousand to one, for all I know. In other words, it was just a…just a no-show contest or a no contest show. And it wasn’t. God just took the whole thing in hand. 29. Now, listen to me. I think of a story Bro Branham told. He said, a little boy once said to his mother; he got intrigued; he said, “Mother, can a person see God?” He’d heard enough about God, so he wondered if he could see Him. And the mother said, “Well, son, that’s the question perhaps that your Sunday school teacher knows a little more about than I do. Although I might answer you, I think she’d answer you a little better, because she’s a trained teacher. You ask her” So, he said to her, “Well, now ah, can you really see God?” And the Sunday school teacher said, “Well, now, I think the pastor had better answer that question, because when he answers you, you’ll be more satisfied.” He went to the pastor, and the pastor said, “Well, yes you can, in a way, see God.” But by the time he got through explaining it, the poor little kid was confused, and he still didn’t know. So, one day he was out fishing with an old fisherman friend of his, and they were on the lake fishing away, and suddenly a little ol’ squall came up, and the rain begin to fall down. And in a few minutes the wind blew the rain clouds away, and the sun broke through, and here was a beautiful rainbow. And the old fisherman was just looking at that rainbow with adoration, tears trickling down his cheek. The little boy looked at him, and he knew something was going on in the old mans heart. He said, “Sir, can a man see God.” And he took him on his lap, and he said, “Sonny, for forty years all I’ve ever seen is God.” 30. See? That is what I am trying to show you. See? That is what I’m trying to show you tonight. You’re not going to see God and trouble at the same time. You’re not going to see what’s against you and what’s for you at the same time. You’re not going to have a conviction of what’s against you and what’s for you at the same time. You’ve got to tear your eyes off what’s against you and look what God says is for you. And don’t be disturbed; don’t be disturbed because, remember; this faith raises the dead. Somebody’s got to be pressed out of measure before Gods acts, see. You’re going to be pressed, but God raises the dead. 31. You say, “Bro Vayle, what if God takes everything I’ve got.” He took more than what I’ve got, and I got back more than I ever had. God has given me so much at times, that I’ve gotten ashamed. I’ve gotten embarrassed. I have! I’m not fooling. I told you I did. You give hundreds, you get thousands. That’s right. All right. I have turned down one time, an amount in the vicinity of ten thousand dollars cash. I’ve turned it down flat, but I’ve received at one time eighteen hundred, twelve hundred, one thousand, five hundred, five hundred, hundreds and hundreds. You say, “Gotta lot of money.” Nope. Easy come; easy go. I don’t mean it the way it sounds. I just mean, who needs it. You aren’t going to be satisfied with money. You’re not going to be satisfied with beautiful homes and things. You’re only be satisfied with one God with one thing, and that’s God and a God moving in your life. And that takes faith, see. Look for God, because God wants you to look for Him. 32. Now, let’s get right to the truth or the heart of what I’m talking about tonight, because I want you to see exactly why God says that this faith is the conviction in your heart; this faith in what you don’t yet see in your possession, though everything’s against you, you still see in the midst of trials that it’s pure joy, no matter what’s happening. Now, to do it, listen carefully, because I’ve got to go round it in a way that kinda leads you to it, like I might be teaching it in a school. Now, listen carefully, because here’s the foundation in order to make us strong and sure in the Lord. And to illustrate it, I want to ask you a question, which I don’t think you’ll ever forget. Now you don’t have to answer me, but I want you to think about it. 33. Now, listen. “Was God a savior before He died on the Cross, or did He become the savior of mankind having died and risen again? Now, see, there’s a question: “Was God a savior before He died on the Cross, or did He become the savior because He did the work of a savior on the Cross?” Well, you know, if God can’t change, then God had to be a savior before He ever died. That means that there was a saviour before there was a sinner. Is that correct? Here is what Iraeneus said, “God being a Saviour, it was necessary that God predestine a sinner,” (You never thought of that did you?) “in order to give God a reason and purpose of being.” God, because He was a Savior, and He had nobody to save, He had to make a man who would need salvation in order that He could be God. Was He a healer before He died on the Cross, “By His stripes”? Then it was necessary for God to predestine a sick man in order to heal. Anybody got any doubts that what I’m telling you is the truth, because I can quote it right now. They said, “What was this man doing blind? Did his parents sin that he became blind? Or did he sin and became blind.” “Neither one. He was blind for the glory of God.” God said, “I did it.” 34. God being a provider, it was necessary He predestine you. Most of you are pretty broke; you’re like me. He predestines a people who needed financial help in order to give God a reason and purpose of being. Because God, though truly a saviour and a healer and a provider, could not manifest that He was, unless somebody needed saving and healing and providing. God being a shepherd it was necessary that God predestine a sheep-like people, kinda dumb. God being a shepherd, (He was a shepherd.) so He had to predestine or bring about a sheep-like people to give Himself a reason and purpose of being. God being a giver of peace, “I am the Lord of Peace, the Banner, the Protector” and all that was necessary, that God predestinate a people who would live in the midst of strife in order that God would calm their storms. 35. Now, here is what I am driving at: listen carefully and ask God to help you now like you have never been helped in your life, to understand. Before there was ever a problem there was already an answer. You follow me? Before there was ever a problem, before your wife left you, God had the answer. Before your husband turned you out, God had the answer. Before you got sick, God had the answer. Before one thing that tells you that was not the way you loved it or would like it, God had the answer. For, my brother/sister, the answer is everything, and the problem has only one value, and that’s to point you to the answer. Once it has pointed you to the answer, forget it. Abraham’s problem was his body. The answer was God’s Word, so he forgot his body. Why bother? I’ve been pointed to the answer. We are too much like the people who see the sign that says, “To the bus,” and they get on the sign, and ride the sign instead of the bus. It is time to get off the sign and to ride the bus. 36. Let me show you how ridiculously simple this all is in contrast to human reasoning. When you went to school, and I’m sure every one of you did, there was no teacher who ever gave you a problem that didn’t have an answer. The reason she gave the problem, was in order to get the answer, which was already there. If there is no answer, then there is no problem, or where there are answers there have to be problems. And God has given us all problems to point us to Him. And, when they do, forget it, because you have here the ability to get that answer. So, this is the conviction of things which are not yet seen in my possession, and I can’t double conviction on any one thing, that is, opposite conviction about any one thing. My faith goes to His Word; my faith cannot go to conditions. 37. Let me read you something in the Book of Psalms, which doesn’t really explain it, but just kinda helps, because I can’t get anything out of the Bible God’s never really given me, any Scripture, to make this any more real than I have made it for you. But listen to Ps 139:16. It says: (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, being yet unperfect; …in thy book all my members (are) written which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there (were) none of them. In the Book it was done when not a thing was visible. Did you get it? In the Book it was done when not a thing was visible. God said, “Abraham, you are the father of nations.” And he became what God said he already was when nothing was visible. And he believed what the book said, and he said what the book said, and he became what God said he already was. Tonight He said, “You are healed.” That’s right, He said, “You’re healed,” and you will become what God said you are, if you’ll get eyes off your body and get it on that Word. God says “I’m healed.” 38. Let me show you something in Rom 8:33. (33) Who shall lay anything of the charge of God’s elect; It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth; It is Christ that died. Here’s what Way’s translation said: “Who shall dare arraign God’s chosen ones?” ‘Arraign’ means ‘to bring up to court and, then, throw an accusation against them according to law. “Who dares to arraign God’s chosen ones.” God says I am righteous; God says I am healed; God says I am provided for; God says I am taken care of. And listen; if God said It, what about It? That ends it. All right. There you have it. 39. Faith is the conviction of things not yet seen in your possession. Why? Because it is. How can anybody be convinced of those things that are going to pass away, when the Word of God abides forever. Why would you put your stock in those things which are against you, if God be for you. That’s why we are to be cheerful people with an up look, with the apostolic optimism. This is the rest of faith, if of haven’t caught on to it. This is peace instead of frustration; this is understanding instead of confusion. Sure you have a problem honey, but God already has the answer waiting for you. Get you eyes off your problem; it’s served its purpose. 40. You say, “Well, Bro Vayle, I believe I’m suffering from some of the things I’ve sinned in.” It serves its purpose; rise up and ask forgiveness. Rise up; believe it; walk on in victory; turn it. Remember; God hasn’t called you to bitterness and agony of soul. He paid the price. This is resurrection week we’re living in, bless God. We are looking for restoration, the end of the Laodicean age, Rapture coming. We’re going all the way back to what Pentecost was. The terrors and the ghosts are going to be leaving our midst pretty soon, and we’re going to be back to purity and the power of God. This is no time to worry about the end of the age and everything’s getting rough, communists moving here, and the ecumenical council moving there, pope soon will take over. Never mind that. Forget it. You’ve seen the problem, it did its work. It’s pointing you to God. Look up. Your redemption draweth nigh. Abounding iniquity wrought on every hand. It’s done its work; forget it. Christ is our righteousness. Who is sufficient for these things? What things? The problems they made. You ask the question; forget it. Christ is the answer. Follow me? Now you see why your faith is your assurance and conviction. You got a measure of God’s Own faith. It disdains what’s against you. Why? Because it’s the thing that gets you through. 41. It’s just like a bill collector coming by and saying, “Hey, you owe me some bills.” You say, “Fine I got plenty in the bank. I’ll just write a check. What do you want?” The title deed from God’s Word says, “It’s yours.” Faith is the assurance of things that God says you can have, because it is what it takes to get it. You’re not weak in faith. It’s this faith that can’t fail. Your faith can fail, but God’s faith can’t fail. God’s faith gives you the “mountain, be thou removed”. Human faith can’t do that. God’s faith does it. Just think; believe it. You haven’t got that; God gave it to you. You’ve seen your mountain, now you’ve seen your problem; now just keep your eyes on God, and let God take you through. You say, “Shouldn’t I worry?” No. We don’t go to sleep at night worried. We’re not supposed to. You know the world thinks it smart to lie awake and fuss, and you know, go into every facet. Don’t analyse, just say, “Problem, you’ve done your work. Goodbye, honey.” 42. We’re too much like the old lady who was always fussing. Then one day she had a dream, and it did a wonderful thing for her. It changed her whole life. And the preacher thought he’d better find out what happened to that dear old sister. She was such a fussbudget; she drove everybody crazy, and mostly him. But now she was living so supremely and serenely. So, he went by and asked her. “Oh,” she said, “haven’t I told you.” “No,” he said, “you hadn’t.” “Well, I forgot and I’m sorry. But,” she said, “you know, not too many weeks ago I had a dream, and I was out in the garden all entangled with many strings around my neck; all weighted down with problems, and I was so loaded with my problems that I was bent over. And the Lord Jesus found His scissors, and every time He cut one, I tied a knot and put it back on again.” And she said, “I woke up the next morning, and I knew that the Lord wanted me to cast all my cares upon Him for He careth for me.” I’ll just look to Him to take care of the goodies, and let go, because I know He will take care of the problems. Look, if you let God take care of the problems, He’ll take care of the goodies, see. Faith is my conviction of things not yet seen in my possession. As I said tonight, He has the answers. I can see them. Come on. And I’m going to tell you, you’ll get cross-eyed and ruin your vision trying to look at the problem at the same time. Huh? You know, I wouldn’t worry about hunger if I saw some good food in front of me. Get you eyes on it. 43. Let me just tell you a story. (Most of the time is gone.) I was in a meeting years ago, and there’s a dear old lady named Sis. Scram. And Sis. Scram was a dear old saint of God. Now me, I do not like the smell of water, salt water, fresh water, any water. To me it stinks. I don’t know why, unless it’s a babbling brook or something, where there’s no smell. I just don’t like it. I remember a lady once, and she crossed over a bridge in Canada where we were living: “Oh, [sniff] it reminds me of Scotland, [sniff] smells so good” And I said, “What smells good.” Well, anyway, Sis. Scram was by this body of water; didn’t smell too good. And I don’t smell so good, and I don’t think she liked the smell of water, either. But, you know, she said, “Smell that stink water—stink water; [sniff], smell that clover, [sniff] smell that clover.” It all depends on what you want to smell. She smelt clover; I smelt stink. It’s just that simple. You can believe what He said, and spend all your time on it and forget what’s against you, because it’s done it’s use. It’s all over. Once it’s done its job, it’s all over, see. You burn up the chaff when you get the wheat. So, if you’ve got the wheat, you burn up the chaff. See what I mean? But you can’t take time with your problems and get the goodies from God. It just won’t work. 44. But you see, your faith is your ability to forget what’s against you; you can afford to do it. Now, if you didn’t have it, you’d have to scramble and fuss and do everything you could to make it work out, but you don’t have to now. You can lie down beside the still water and roll over in the green grass and let your enemy just froth while He, God, prepares a table before you. You follow me now? God help us. Let’s rise and be dismissed. The Lord loves you; you’ve been good people. Gracious Jesus, it’s been good to be here tonight, and it’s good to know your Word. But Lord, tonight, as we’re coming along slow but sure. We are getting a little anxious for a real revelation of the truth of what we brought tonight, something so energizing, something so dynamic, that it will be back at restoration; will be back with Enoch walking with God, all the way in the Word by faith; then one day You’ll take us, Word Bride advancing with the Bridegroom, Who is the Word by the …?... be prepared to be united with Him Who is the Word, and all the while, the mighty works will be found in this lovely woman, the Bride of Jesus Christ. Lord, I believe that’s our portion. I thank You for it. And we’re coming, Lord, a little anxious for this quick work, and we believe. We thank You tonight, Lord, that we are strong in faith. We are not going to lie ever again and make You a liar, because You gave us the measure of faith; strong in the faith. We’re going to start giving You the praise, perceiving not our own body and those things against us, but looking unto Jesus, Who, if God spared Him not, but gave Him up, giving His all… Now unto the King eternal, the only wise God, be power and honor, and especially be glory, by these lives surrendered so thoroughly to Him, that He is living His life out, as we become living epistles, read and known of all men. Amen. God bless you.