Three Commitments to Courage

Three Commitments to Courage

Bro. Lee Vayle June 27, 1964

a.) It’s certainly a privilege to be back here in the house of the Lord, to worship the Lord together, and very happy to know that Billy Paul arrived. I kind of thought he was coming later on in tonight. But, it’s certainly nice to see him and Bro. George Smith. And last night, Bro. Billy, we talked about Bro. Branham as the prophet of the Lord, and this age showing, I hope from Genesis to Revelation, that it is absolutely possible to have a Word identified prophet of God. Not only possible, but, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, I realize that many people still want to put all the prophets with Israel. But, believe me, that’s not so. Jesus was not an Israelite. You’re neither Jew nor Gentile. He was the last Adam. The second man. The Spiritual One. A God created in human flesh. Or, God actually creating Himself in human flesh. The beginning of the creation of God.

Which is that process, of God creating Himself in human flesh, which He’s doing, even now. Though, people are not aware of it. So, we know that Enoch was the prophet, and Noah was the prophet. You go back to know that Gentile, you’re going way back there. Just like Enoch was. You can’t say these are Hebrews, because they weren’t Hebrews. Though certainly whenever we see what God puts in His Word, and then you see it come just like…picking up a book perhaps, on geography. Now, there’s certain animals that I’ve never seen. But, I’ve had some pretty good descriptions of them. You know, being born in Canada, I never saw a cardinal. And they’re beautiful. That’s pretty well, my favorite bird. I guess just perhaps, living in Ohio, it means a lot to the State there. But, you know, I knew there was such a thing as a cardinal. And when I saw one, that did it. That’s it. That’s a cardinal.

b.) Well my, if the Word of God tells you all abut a prophet, and then that man comes on the scene and has got every earmark. Well, you’re not going to put him down and say, “Well now, let me see. What was that a giraffe? I mean, what was that…I’m not being foolish, I’m just asking a plain pertinent question, “What is the matter?” Jesus said, you can tell the signs of the times, …look at the sky, say, “Nice red sky, lovely tomorrow.” Red sky in the morning…hey better look out for the squalls on the lake. Why He said, “You bunch of hypocrites.” My you’re smart when it comes to signs. You’ve got the red bird down. You know the cardinal, you know the elephant, you know the giraffe. You’ve got all the weather reports, you even watch those hurricanes out there. My, my, you’re sure smart. Identified, Word of God prophet comes on the scene suddenly…everybody is so dumb, it’s pitiful.

I’m a pretty scathing type of preacher. I mean to be, too. I’m not pulling back. I know what I’m saying and why I’m saying it, too. Spiritual ignorance is not brother/sister, to be just simply winked at. God might have winked at ignorance, and He has through various Ages, winked because the people were not knowledgeable by God’s vindication. But, once God vindicates, then the fact they’re ignorant, there is no longer any justification for it. You’re not talking now in riddles any more. It’s the truth. So, I thought maybe tonight, sort of follow on after the same message as last night. Not, actually preaching it, but, building on it. But, before I do, I just want to say that you may wonder why I’m bringing two messages in a row. Well, Bro. Coleman will be bringing three in a row.

c.) His messages run in a series. So therefore, it’s only right that he be given the time…Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning…to bring out what he has in his heart. Because they’re related. I’ll relate a little bit to last night, and then, Sunday afternoon…the Lord willing…just take a topic which might be of value to us. But, apart from any special series. Because I don’t have any special series in mind at all. Also, Bro. Hunt will be coming in tomorrow. And that’s very, very nice. One of our very dear friends. And such a joy in the Lord to be with him. There’s nobody more congenial, and loving, and kind, than Bro. Hunt. Real fine brother. And he’s a little taller than Bro. Coleman. [BV chuckles] He’s a fine specimen of manhood. But, he’s got a heart about as big as he is. That’s a real fine brother.

So, you folk who don’t know him, you’re going to be happy to meet him. It’s always happy to meet new people. This is one reason we like these meetings. At least it’s my idea because always meet so many new people, I hadn’t known before. And they’re all so sweet and so kind, and loving. And, just last night I was going to shake hands with this sister I saw was not too able to get around. She’s an arthritic problem. I suppose that’s what it is. And sitting beside her was another lady, and she said, “Are you Bro. Vayle?”

And I said, “Yup, that’s me, the old boy.”

And she said, “I’m Sis. Eddington, I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.”

d.) And I looked at her, and I think she told me she’s eighty-two years of age. And I looked in her bright sparkling eyes, and I thought, my she’s got a sharp mind I bet. Very bright, lucid. And there she’s that age, and yet so congenial, and loving. And what I liked best of all, she said not just about wanting to meet you, but she said she’d been praying for you. And I said, “Lay it on.” [BV chuckles] That was so thrilling. And I guess maybe I’m you know…sort of maybe a little bit too happy to have the people praying for me. Not that I want to let down in myself, I learned years ago, that I tell you what. You know it’s a little like that joke Bro. Branham told…about the fellow went overseas, and they said it’s a zero hour tonight at midnight. And you’d better have made your preparation to meet God.

Because we might not be coming back. Looks like maybe nobody is coming back. So, they All ran to their priests, and their rabbi’s, their chaplains and what have you. And don’t you know that this one fellow didn’t run anywhere.

He said, “Why don’t you go to somebody?”

“Well, (he said) I just don’t have any religion at all. I just don’t have anything.”

“Well, (he said) you better get something.”

e.) “I thought maybe I better get something after all.” So, he went and saw the Catholic priest, which was just fine. And then he went out there in the zero hour and the bullets were zinging by him so fast. And I never had it happen, but, they say it’s true, some of those high caliber guns, so powerful, that you can get shot and not even know you’re shot. And so, pretty soon that he felt a trickle going down his stomach. And he was telling the story about it. He said, “My, (he said) I want to tell you, that sure startled me.” I was looking around for God, the Roman Catholic fellow who he’d been talking to:

He said, “Did you say ‘Hail Mary’?”

“Listen, I didn’t go to no secretary, I went right to the head man.”

I don’t mean to make a joke out of it. But, some of these things are pretty telling. And I tell you, that’s how I feel about praying. When I first started, I used to get somebody say, “Now, you lead in prayer.” And I used to feel pretty good to get up here and wobble, you know, like shaking around, like cooked macaroni sticks for my feet, my legs rather. And hang on the pulpit like I got balance. I figured if somebody prayed, that’s pretty good. But the day came, when I wanted to do my own praying. See? Now, that’s the way we all are. But oh, how nice it is to know someone is praying for you. Because sometimes you do get so rattled, it’s so hard, you are pressed, that you just can’t see daylight. You want someone to pray. That’s why the Bible says, “…you call…the elders, …and (they’ll) pray (for you).” [James 5:14] Why? Because you’re too close to your problem. But, they’re not.

f.) You’re so close to your problem, you can’t see through. But those men aren’t. And so, they say, “What’s this little thing?” And their heart faith lifts up to God. And God does that great and good thing for you. So, I appreciate my sister. And all the ones who say, “We’re praying for you.” And so many have been praying, it makes me so happy. I just appreciate that so much. You don’t know. Of course, I need so much prayer, you just keep on praying. I can sure soak it up. I sure thank you for it. The Lord bless you, and no end. Now again, another little thing before I get into the Word with you. I want to say this…like I said last night, I’m no vindicated preacher. I just try to say…I hope I’m saying it, what a vindicated prophet said. I’ve got no guarantee I’m doing it, as though I’m anybody. I’m not the prophet. I just don’t have his power.

So tonight, I may say something that you just might not see or understand. You do this. You follow your pastor, I’m not your pastor. Bro. Branham said, he’s the one ordained to see you through. See? So, you listen to him, and you follow him. Because I just may bring out one little point that could be just a little bit different from what some people think. That doesn’t make you wrong and me right. Not for one solitary minute. No siree. Wouldn’t press you to believe what I believe for one second. But, you might not even notice anything. That’s how little, might just slip in there. But, I want to warn you. Because I want to be fair. I am not a pastor. I have no overseeing over anybody. Not for one moment. Except, for the lovely pastors, I wouldn’t have a place to go. That’s why Bro. Branham always honored the pastors.

g.) He said, “Without these men, and these women also, they were helping in his ministry, giving to him. Pastors opening doors, (he said) I’d have no place to go.” And finally, the pastors closed the doors, but, he could go to business groups, and one or two places here. See? So, nothing must ever be said as far as I’m concerned, from me, and taken by anybody over your pastor’s judgement. I just thank God for you faithful brethren, with all my heart. I appreciate what you’re doing. You’re doing that job. If I can lend a little hand to you, I’m just so happy to do it. If you’ve got confidence in me, that you think perhaps that somehow together we may look at something. Not, to draw a conclusion. But say, “Well, is there something the prophet said here?”

You know, many times I don’t know what he said on the subject. I just say, “I’m sorry, I don’t know.” But, any little help I can give, I don’t know how it is. Maybe to encourage, admonish, or something, that’s just fine. But, God called the pastors. They’re the pastors, they’re the shepherds, I am not. See? So, that’s where we stand. I’m putting Lee Vayle in the light tonight, what he believes. Not what anybody else believes. Just can’t say for them, “But, this is my attitude, my stand.” And I want you to know then, you listen to your pastors. I wouldn’t want anybody going home, and saying, “Well now, Bro. Vayle said, ‘So and so,’ and our pastor says, ‘So and so’.” I’m going to have a little bit of a split here. Don’t you do it. You stick with your pastor. He’s ordained, I haven’t been.

h.) As a pastor, I’m a flop and a failure. Just let me tell you what the prophet said. He said, “What are you doing pastoring Doc? You know you ain’t no pastor.” Remember Billy, that was up in about 1955, up there near Sturgis, Mich. Bro. Jackson’s church. We were eating in the restaurant that morning, just bungling my way, and here’s Bro. Branham next door in the motel there.

And he slapped my knee and said, “Doc, what are you doing pastoring? You know you ain’t no pastor.”

I said, “Yeah, I know that, all right.”

Why he said, “Sure (he said) you’re no pastor. Man, (he said,) you just tear up the wheat with the tares.”

Now, where would I be like as your pastor, coming up and pulling you up, and juggling you around?

You say, “Could you do it?”

i.) I must have done it. He said so. I’m not going to deny it. That’s why I’m no pastor. That, clears the record. Thus says, Page number 6, of Edition 4. [Bro. Vayle chuckles] We’ll say no more, but go on. Well, the Lord bless you. You’re the sweetest bunch of people in the world. Make me feel so good, and relaxed, so nice. I just like to look at you and beam, and say, “What’s going on?” Everything nice? We had a nice time this afternoon. I shouldn’t say this to everybody, but, preachers got together with Bro. Coleman because he is exactly twenty-three and a half years old, all of Bro. Branham. Because when he said he, was fifty…twenty-five the second time around, and Bro. Coleman is forty-seven. He’ll never see forty-six again, and he doesn’t give a rip. He wants to go right back to nineteen, in the Resurrection, and the Rapture.

He’s going to be a fine brother. He’s going to look so handsome and proud in that day. And I trust everyone, will be just as handsome and proud with him, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, we had a wonderful time, and we’re going to have a better time as time goes on until, everybody’s going to say by Sunday, “Where did the time go? Why do we have to go home, anyways?” That’s right. All right. Shall we bow our heads for a little word of prayer.

Our kind Heavenly Father, we just thank You again tonight, for Your goodness and mercy. We appreciate You, Lord Jesus Christ. Often think of the little chorus, it might not mean much to a lot of people, but, people sing it. ‘We Appreciate You Lord’. And we do appreciate You, because we know according to the very texture of the Greek words that You set Your Bible forth in, that appreciation, is the biggest part of love. How can anyone say they love You, if they don’t appreciate you. Oh, there must be something deep within our hearts, which is sincere, and full of gratitude toward You, Lord. And we do appreciate You, and we thank You for all Your goodness and mercy. And looking around Lord, we just get embarrassed and ashamed at Your goodness. And what You’re doing for us. And just how little we seem to be responding and reciprocating.

O Lord, a covenant, really a covenant is one of reciprocation. And we’re not going to try to beat our ears down tonight, but we just say forgive us where we missed out. And showing our adoration, and our love, and our appreciation. Because You have been so good. Here we are, everyone of us, enjoying measure of health. The blessing Lord, that’s in the earth. All of these things, and yet above all, we’re privileged that we understood by grace, through predestination, the foreknowledge of Almighty God. A prophet coming to turn the people’s hearts back to You. Lord, that’s stupendous. And we just thank You for it, and love You. And now Lord, bless the message tonight. I pray that nothing shall be said, to upset or hurt anybody. Lord, may it be mainly Your Word O God, and guard lips I pray Lord. Open Your Word to us by revelation, and confirm us in the faith O God. Mature us in Christ, and bring us into dynamism. Grant, it Lord, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our precious one and only Savior. Amen.

1. I want to bring a message tonight on ‘The Three Commitments to Courage’. The Three Commitments to Courage. And we’re going to go to the Book of Joshua, …that was one of Bro. Branham’s favourite books…and we’ll go to his favourite, pretty well his favourite chapter there.

Joshua 1:1-9

(1) Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass,

that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

(2) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou,

and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the

children of Israel.

See? Every prince with God, goes over.

(3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given

unto you, as I said unto Moses.

(4) From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the

going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

(5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:

as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake

thee.

(6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for

an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn

not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whither-

soever thou goest.

(8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt med-

itate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all

that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and

then thou shalt have good success.

(9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not

afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

2. Now, our text here, are verses 6,7, and 9.

(6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for

an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn

not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whither-

soever thou goest.

(9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not

afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Now, you’ll notice that in our text here, that God personally admonishes Joshua concerning a courageous career of duty. Now, God has chosen Joshua to fill the place left or vacated by Moses. In other words, he was to lead the children of Israel. Now, you’ll notice that the choosing was by God, and not by Joshua. Joshua did not aspire to be the leader. Neither was he chosen by the people, as though the people had a voice in it. And said, “We will follow this man. Or, we will follow another man.” The choosing was by God. Without Joshua’s consent, or even his participation in setting up the demands that God made of him. In other words, here is a sovereign God making what we could call today in modern language, ‘unilateral demands for success, by a little bonded…slave to the will of God.

3. God is sovereign, was actually commanding this man who was chosen, perhaps even against his own will, to be an absolute success in the career for which God had chosen him. Which was, to take the children of Israel into the Promise Land because Moses had passed on. But, I want you to notice carefully, the justice of God in this case. Now notice, I presented the case extremely, that God’s sovereignly chose Joshua, to fulfill a commission. Joshua having no say in the matter. And Joshua commanded to be successful. But, in this case, we notice carefully, …the justice of God, as in every case, where you study the Word of God. God not only demanding courage, but He commended that same courage, as the vehicle of Joshua’s success. See? The demand, God demanding success. And God demanding courage for the success.

Why? Because the very demand that God made which was courage, would be the vehicle, or the source of, or the cause of, the success to which he was to attain. That is justice. A just God. Now, see the wisdom in justice of Almighty God. God knew what Joshua needed to lead the people over. He needed courage. Now, someone might think he needed many other things. But, he didn’t. He needed courage. So, God demanded it. And He demanded it for the good, and the success of His servant. See? God’s demands are perfectly just, perfectly righteous, perfectly sensible. And there is a great lesson for us, in this end time. As we take special note of God’s commendation to us. Which to me is the very same as He commended to Joshua, which was to be of a good courage.

4. Now, first let us notice, that the expression concerning courage, is used three times in the three places, where God commended it. [Jos 1:6-7, 9]

In verse 6,

(6) Be strong and of a good courage: …

In verse 7,

(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, …

In verse 9,

(9) … Be strong and of a good courage; …

Now, the word, ‘to be strong’ which God demanded, in conjunction with courage, comes from the root word of the Hebrew, ‘to fasten’. Strong, means fasten. Which in turn, reveals the ability to resist. See? This is not the militant resistance we hear of today in this Laodicean Age. See? Everybody wants to put on a show of resistance. And in this Age, it’s become militant. Let’s do something about it. See? They want to change structure, and the fabric of the system. They want to make many changes. And the Laodicean Age, is one of violence and militancy. See? That’s what’s wrong today. They don’t understand what they should understand. Now, this in the Hebrew, of resistance, is the quality of the refusal to be moved. See? It’s the quality of the refusal to be removed from the position taken. Joshua was to be virtually, nailed down. Unmovable from his position. No matter who, or what assailed him.

The idea here then, is to resist any force or power against us. ...unmovable from his position. No matter who or what assailed him. The idea here then, is to resist any force or power against us. And that resisting, is an un-move-ability, regardless of the opposition. For, we are nailed down. See? Not you going against something violently. But, you standing in the way of the forces of this world. Nailed down.

5. As It says in the Book of Romans 8:35-39

(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? …

All right, who’s going to make me decide to give up on Jesus? Who’s going to get me to put aside my position in Christ, my ordination, what I have from God?

(35) …shall tribulation (which comes against me…oh, never. Shall) distress

(do it?) or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (See?)

(36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; (not going around killing, but being killed. See? Dying to your flesh and ways.) we are (counted) as sheep for the slaughter. (Nailed down)

(37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (nailed down, to) … him (who) loved us.

(38) For I am persuaded, (nailed down) that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, (what’s going on today) nor things to come, (what’s going to happen tomorrow?)

(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any… (creation whatsoever), shall be able to (cause me to become unfastened from my position,) which is in

Christ Jesus…

6. Listen, let me tell you about Bro. Branham, because I like to talk about him. I’m on sure ground then. Billy Paul being with him, about sixteen-year-old boy, if he was even sixteen, went to Africa.

They said, “Bro. Branham, with your great gift, become militant, become strong with your ministry. Go to the interior, go to the mission fields up there. Go and win the heathen…bring them by the millions. You’re endowed.”

He said, “Ah…God doesn’t want me to go.”

They said, “We’ll let you stay here, we’ve got your money.”

Even Bro. Bosworth pleaded. Bro. Baxter pleaded. They all pleaded. Little Billy Paul alone said, “Daddy, don’t do it, stay with God.”

They forced, literally forced Bro. Branham against his will. He said, “I’m going to tell you what’s going to happen. Another car will come tomorrow morning, a different type of car, another man. Bro. Baxter’s going to say see that strange bird. You’re going to see a white man beating a black man with a cane.”

7. Everything came to pass. They still said, “Bro. Branham go. Bro. Branham go.” Bro. Branham was forced to go. And when he went, the thunder and the lightening and the rain. There wasn’t one person saved. He came home with amoebic dysentery, and paid a price. See? Unmovable, nailed down. See? Not trying to be militant. Not trying to be forceful. Not trying to be somebody. Not trying to be powerful. See? Time to learn a few things. Leadership doesn’t rely on that realm. Now you’ll understand the prophet a little better. You understand him before, wondering why Bro. Branham was that peculiar man. You bet he was, God’s peculiar man. Now, the word ‘courage’ to us, signifies ‘boldness’. Yeah. But, in the Hebrew, it comes from a different type of meaning. It means to be alert. See? Physically, mentally, wide awake. See?

Spiritual qualification. And it’s qualified by that word, ‘good’ which means; ‘pleased with, and acceptable’. An acceptable alertness. See? Something in there, that God likes. See? You’re alert to something. See? In other words, you’re like that elder, that deacon. That word ‘blameless’ in there, doesn’t mean you can’t put your finger on it because he’s such a sweet fine man. But that fellow’s like a boxer, can parry every blow. Knows every face. Knows how to guard himself. Knows what’s coming. See? Not a novice, nothing superficial. Why? He’s nailed down. See in there? Now, you get your picture. That’s good. God accepts that. See? Now you can see where we’re getting at. It’s a different meaning from the casual understanding of courage. Our strong courageous men…man is one who in our eyes, strives boldly with disregard to his life, to achieve something.

8. Ah, no, our bold man is one who resists all onslaughts, takes every challenge, goes out and does something. But, that’s not God’s man, he’s one who resists all onslaughts all right. Takes on all challengers all right. Fully alert, physically, mentally, so that his awareness and acuteness in steadfastness, is acceptable to God. In other words, he’s a man with a revelation, against which, nothing can prevail. Even the gates of hell can’t do it. See? He’s got a revelation. Now, this categorically sets forth to our attention, that the requisite and commendation of God, is that every soldier of the Cross, in order to be successful, must have an unshakable revelation, and resolution, to do the will of God. Yes sir. And in such a way that both the effort and the attitude, make the service acceptable, and a delight… a loving sacrifice to our God. I never saw the sacrifice yet, that ran out and did anything, and had to lie that God could use it.

9. Now, in our study we find rules that Joshua had to conform to, and so do we. First is this, the right attitude toward the revelation. Let’s read It. Joshua 1:2-6. We’re going to see it clear, just very absolutely clear as anybody could ever want it. And remember, Joshua parallels Ephesians, and we’re in Ephesians. Heavenly places in Christ…(see?) …we certainly are.

(2) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

(3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

(4) From the wilderness (of) this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

(5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

(6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Now, here is a promise given, …that’s right, a promise given, because they’re going to go in, given to him now…based upon, the vindicated leadership of the great lawgiver, Moses. See? Repeat: the promise given to this man Joshua who is going in, is based upon the vindicated leadership of the great lawgiver, Moses. As God proved the validity and accessibility of the Word of promise by vindication to Moses, even now, it was to be inherited in that hour. Did you get it? Let me repeat it. As God proved the validity and acceptability of the Word of promise by vindication to Moses, even now, it was to be inherited in that hour. See? That is the time for it to be fulfilled. I want us to get that. See? Over four hundred years before Joshua’s commission, God had made a promise to be fulfilled in the very hour that very hour, of Joshua’s life. See?

10. Four hundred and forty years, before the commission, the promise was given. And now, at this hour in Joshua’s life it was to be fulfilled. Now listen, it was the promise of exodus, and entrance, and inheritance. The first was already fulfilled by Moses. They had come out. But now, they must go in to receive the inheritance. At the time, that God had set for the manifestation of the Word, He sent a vindicated prophet with the revelation, and proved it was time for the fulfillment of the promise. The fulfillment of that promise. Not another promise. Not the seed of the woman. Not the coming Millennium. No. That promise, which was to come out of Egypt, and go into the promised land. It was the Word of that hour. The message of that age. See? Now, God takes Joshua and He says to him, He recalls to Joshua’s memory, He recalls to memory…and He said, “As I said unto Moses…” (not unto Joshua, now)

He said, “As I said unto Moses, as I was with Moses.” And there it is. God’s words spoken to a man, and God proving that it was He who had spoken to the man by vindication. See? Not something Moses got out of his head. But something Moses proved he had by vindication. By a supernatural manifestation, that gave him the right, the authority, to be the mouthpiece of Almighty God. That he would become God to that people. And it is the Word of promise. See? That God gave to Moses, that was now to be fulfilled in Joshua’s lifetime. Now notice, the prophet to whom the Word, the vindicated Word came, was no longer with them. “Moses, my servant, is dead.” [Joshua 1:2] He’s gone. He was no longer with them. But the Word was vindicated to be for that hour, even though he was gone. That’s what vindication is all about. Oh, how some people get confused.

11. I can imagine Israel, Moses gone, terror stricken, undone. Terrible. What’s going to happen now? Well, what happened to God? What happened to His Word? Moses, My servant is dead, but, I was with him. Proved it. I talked to him. Proved it. See? Now, here’s the first application. Be strong, and of good courage. Here’s God speaking to Joshua. “Joshua, are you nailed down to that Word? And nailed down by that Word?” See? Well, I said to Moses, “Going to give you the Word test.” Oh, It never changed. They gave the Word test to those false apostles, in the days of Paul. And said, “You’re not saying what Paul said. Out of my way.” Here’s God Himself, giving the Word test. Joshua, are you nailed down to My Word, and by My Word?” And Joshua, do you have some ideas of your own? Like church order, and a few other things. See? Or have you got any ideas of somebody else?

Joshua, before you take one more step, are you a hundred percent, fully convinced and convicted that Moses was vindicated to say what he said. Amen! I’m going to shout right now, Hallelujah. Glory to God. Not what you said, and I said, it’s what He said. See? I’m never nailed down to what I say. Hogwash in what I say. What does somebody else say that’s vindicated? Joshua, are you willing to be nailed down by your faith in Moses’ revelation, that he brought you the Word of promise? And it’s going to be fulfilled in you. Moses is gone. It’s not going to be fulfilled in him. God said, “Moses, you’re not going to see that promised land.” Right? And we’re not talking about typing that to here.

12. We’re just making a bald statement. Moses is gone. But, are you nailed down to that Word of promise, that it’s going to be fulfilled in you. Because though he’s gone on, and he’s up there, you’re going to go in, down here. See? Are you nailed down to it? That it’s going to be fulfilled in you. See? Joshua, the Word is yours now. No longer the prophet’s Word, it’s yours. See? It’s yours now, what are you going to do with it? What are you going to do with that Word? Are you nailed down to it? See? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to take it and manhandle it? What are you going to do? Going to become belligerent? On the offensive? I’m aiming at something here, just keep it all in mind. We’ll get to the end. What’s your attitude? Listen Joshua, for God to be with you, now depends on that first step. For God is that Word. What do you say about that Word?

Do you accept the Word, and thereby accept that God is with you? Because that is it. How are you going to have God outside that Word? Can’t do it. Oh, I know, people say that they can, but they can’t. And I don’t really care what people say. Remember I used to care a few years ago, but that’s all gone. See? Now, do you accept the Word, and thereby then accept that God is with you? But, that’s it. And Joshua said, “Yes.” “Now listen, (said God) you’d better be careful here.” Moses did some mighty strange things, like turning a rod into a serpent. Now, that’s kind of ridiculous. What was the good of Moses turning a rod into a serpent? Well, what was there to Bro. Branham praying for a fish that got resurrected? Well, what about it? What about that fish? Who cares about fish? Some people can’t even stand the smell of them…can’t stand to eat them. Fish means nothing. I’m no fisherman.

13. Why don’t you go to the hospital and raise somebody dying? Moses, that rod, let’s look at that thing. And that’s peculiar. See? Did some strange things, said some mighty strange things, just like he did. See? Can you take it? Come on, how does it go down with you? See? Jesus trifling at a wedding supper, to save some governor’s face. According to Oriental custom, they said, “There’s no wine.” And they all drank it up, and now the poor governor is going to look like a poor, sick, slob. He said, “Tut, tut, I’ll fix it. Put the water jugs there, we’ll make wine.” You say, “You mean, turn into a brewer and doing that? My, Lord, Oh, Lord.” I know, people can’t take it. They say, “It was grape juice.” Ah, ha, ha, ha. Some people can’t take wine. They’re afraid it’ll make you an alcoholic at the communion table. Joshua, looked back on those strange things he said and did.

Now, I’m not a comedian, I’ve got a reason I preach this way. So, I’ll know how to get the point across. Because the Bible has become a dead book to people, with foolish ideas and creeds. Knowing what really is there, and life. Look at it through the eyes of life. Not through some little spirit of something or other. Fetishism nonsense. Look at it the way it is. See?

14. Now Moses, can you make a resolution for eternity now? Because this is eternity Joshua. When you talk about Moses. Will you bank your life on Moses’ word? That’s what he’s asked. Notice, that Jesus did the same as Moses. He did some strange things, like I said, turning water into wine. See? Strange things. Going to one man who didn’t need healing as bad as other men, and said, “If you want to get healed, get up and walk.” See? He said strange things. He had a funny doctrine, “Eat My flesh, and drink My Blood.”

But, the disciples had to be committed to it, or they were lost just like the rest. Then, Jesus died. Yeah. Oh, we thought He was going to be somebody great. Oh, you talk about living and sleeping, with everything else in Him. And we looked to Him to do so and so. And it’s all washed out, He’s gone. Yeah, He died. Yes siree. And we’ve had the same thing in our day, with no difference. William Branham did strange things, and said strange things. Yup. Make the chandelier go this way, then, that way. Tell you flat, he’d take up his parable like Balaam. Wouldn’t tell you what they were. Say those words, and visions brake. “Oooh, mysticism. Oooh, oh yes, Oriental hogwash. Oh yeah, that devil sure got him.” Talked about God being revealed in human flesh. “Oh, He’s making Himself God now.” Oh, yes, yes, yes. Sure, no difference. Said strange things, did strange things. See? Sure.

15. Then, ee died. That’s right. But, the Word lives on. And our resolute dedication to that Word, is the first step in seeing us come into the land, and inherit our promise in this hour. The prophet brought us out from our organization, creeds, and dogma. And now, the Word, is going to have to bring us in. See? Cruel hands, one day with cruel nails, nailed Christ to a tree. Today, the gentle hands of Jesus, nail us to the rock of stability, by the revealed Word. Held in the life grip of His hands by the Word. Because His hands got a life grip in it. For, who’s ever in His hand, shall never perish. Sealed in, unto the last day, as a Bride, by the Word of God. Because she’s dressed in this same Word. Nailed down. See? Not trying to use the Word to force issues. That’s right. We’re not going to get anywhere forcing issues. Oh, people all the time want it. But, sometimes I get carried away myself.

Forget it. Go ahead, try it. You’re going to fall flat on your face, show what you are, anyway. Not preaching rough now. Just preaching out of my heart, the truth. I’m condemned by the same Word I preach, if I don’t obey It myself. Try to fool with It. Not trying to force issues. But, letting that same Word take all issues for us. No different. Christ is the Word. He faces issues. The Word faces issues. Let the Word face it. Give ourselves the Word test. Let’s see what that Word will do in and through us. Let the Word face the issue. See? Certainly. Let the storms of ridicule and abuse, and theological exegesis, hurl itself up against us. No outcry, no problem. Nail it down. We battened our hatches. Let the hurricane come. We’re on the good ship Zion, unsinkable. The Word of God built that ark, It’s building it today.

16. It’s made structurally by the same measurements, the same ordained Word of Almighty God, to take us through our trials. We’ll get there. See? Nailed down. See? Certainly. Sold out by faith to Christ, the revealed Word. See? Remember one day Jesus said, “Eat my Flesh, and drink My Blood…” What happened? The seventy walked out. Yup. Seventy walked out. Remember, before those seventy walked out, Jesus one day in Matthew 10: other Scriptures called Him and said, “Now don’t take script, don’t take this, don’t take that. Whatever house you go to, the Son of Peace be there.” You stay there and go just ahead and preach everything just fine. They went there and, they found out. Why? Because they had signs, and wonders, and miracles.

Everybody say, ‘Happy day, happy day, happy day.” Then He said, “Eat My flesh and drink My Blood.” The seventy said, “Oh, oh, oh, what have we got into?” He didn’t explain it. Said and did strange things all the time. His parents got confused, somebody got confused. Why, they said, “He’s not eating, He must be mad, He’s eating too much, He’s gluttonized Himself.” Oh brother, you can’t win with the world. See? They’re angry at Jesus. They couldn’t understand it.

17. So, what happens now? The seventy leaves Him. And He says, “Are you going to leave Me?” They said, “We can’t do that, we’re nailed down.” See? Then He said, “Listen, I’m going to send you out again. This time, you just reverse it, you can take the script, you can do this. Remember, I sent a sword now.” Why? Because it’s going to be with the Word of God. And once you go with that Word of God, you watch those swords come against you. But, it doesn’t say, you become a sword. Or, you take a sword. Or, you’ll perish with it. Says, “Be nailed down to Christ.” See? Nailed down.

So Jesus said to those twelve, “Well, those six, seventy have gone. The crowds have gone.

Will you go?”

Well they said, “Where are we going to go?”

Well he said, “I’ll make a suggestion, and you could go back.”

They said, “Uh uh…we ain’t going back.”

Well, you’re used to that. Types and shadows, and all those things. And the goodies in the temple. And what you’re used to. Go on back.

“Uh uh…we’re not going back.”

Look it, God’s testing them concerning the Word. God trying them like He tried Job. I said, God trying him, not the devil trying him.

“Well, (he said,) look, tell you what to do. Everybody’s disappointed with Me, maybe you can look forward, maybe I wasn’t that one.”

They said, “Uh uh… we ain’t looking.”

Ho, no wonder people, they come to me and they try to make me think that they’re somebody…follow this, and follow that. You ain’t going to get nowhere with me. Forget it. If this isn’t it, I don’t want it. I know that sounds almost sacrilegious. But, maybe I’m sacrilegious. Just, put it down. What’s to come? I’m not looking for it.

They said, “Uh uh, we ain’t looking.”

“Well, (He said), “What in the world is the matter with you?”

“Oh, (they said), we’re satisfied. We’re nailed down, that You’re the Christ.” (See?)

Listen, nailed down. Nailed down to that Rock. Convinced. A part of that Rock.

18. Let’s go back there to Matthew. I won’t read it to you.

Jesus said, “Who do you say that I am, Peter?”

He said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

And then He said, “That’s the rock of revelation. And Peter, let Me tell you something. You’re a rock, also. You’re a part of that rock.”

Amen. How are you going to deny what you’re, part of? How’s it going to deny you, when you were a part of it? I take a scientist, and he looks at those two rocks, …and let’s pretend it’s something physical…and he looks at these, goes to the test tubes, puts it through the acid test. Does this, …does this, …does the other thing. And he’s a real scientific guy, like George G. Lacey…that said, “The camera lens cannot be fooled by psychology, it took a light.” He looks at the rock, and he says here, “I want to tell you, it looks like it’s a chip of this rock.” That’s what Peter was, …a chip of the rock. Part of the revelation. Part of the living Word of Almighty God. See? Sure, it is. That’s exactly right. One day Satan came to Jesus, and he tempted Him. And Jesus said, “It is written, (He said) I’m nailed down, Satan. In the volume of the Book, it’s written of Me. Lo I come to do Thy will.” [Heb 10:7]

19. He said, “Look devil, if you want to fool with somebody, fool with somebody else.” He said, “I’m nailed down. It’s in the Book, and I’m nailed to that Book. I’m a part of that Book.” That’s exactly right. We’re a part of that Word, through Jesus Christ. The same genes in Him, is the same genes in us, because we’re all of one source…which is Almighty God. See? That’s exactly right. Sure, it is. Now, no matter what comes to us, we say the same thing. It is also written, “Get thee behind Me Satan, because I’m not going to move.” [Mt 4:10] All right, listen. What’s the promise of the hour? What did Bro. Branham say it was? Well, it’s not too hard to under stand, we go through various tapes. There’s one tape; 'Spiritual Food in Due Season' [65-07-18'] could be, I’m not quite positive. But, it’s one of those in there, he brings out various things.

And what’s one of the promises? “Behold, I’ll send you Elijah the prophet”, in the Book of Malachi. See? That was one of those promises. How many people I wonder, are really satisfied that this was he? Oh, as soon as he was gone, we had just about everybody, running around…as Bro. Ruddle one day said, “Here’s a Joshua, there’s a Joshua, everywhere there’s a Joshua, Joshua.” There’s everybody trying to be, and take over where Bro. Branham left off. Yeah. Little pitiful. Look, he was either Malachi 4:5-6, or he wasn’t. I like what Bro. Branham said. “There’s no drunk, sober man, or black, white bird.” Certainly. What nonsense. It’s either this, or, it’s the other. See? Sure. Certainly. That promise of Malachi 4:5-6, certainly we have the hour. The promise of the hour. And that was fulfilled.

20. That promise though fulfilled, is to be further fulfilled in you and me, in the turning of the hearts to God, and put us in a Rapture. See? All right. He said, “This was the day in which the Son of man would be revealed.” [Lk 17:30] Explained It to us. How the ministry of Christ returned to this earth. [Lk 17:22-30] Sure, they did. And he said it would be the gathering of the Bride. And he said, that was over in [2 Thessalonians 2:1]. Being gathered together, which is gathered by the prophet, or the Word at the end time hour. Certainly. It is just as it is in [Mt 23:37] as you read It. Just exactly as the Bible says. There’s going to be a gathering of the Bride to the Word. The soma, the true carcass, the Word of God. And there will be a gathering of the filthy birds, to the toma, the filthy carcass.

Let me tell you right now, there are two carcasses, and two eagles in the Bible. One is ‘soma’, which is healthy body. One is ‘toma’, which is where you get ptomaine poison, is a filthy body. And the filthy eagle, goes to the filthy body, and the true eagle, goes to the live, living body. I want to tell you, that true eagle, he’s got to hit the water to be renewed. He goes way up in the air, then he plummets, and he hits that water, all the feathers fly off him, and he comes out and grows new ones. But, the filthy eagle runs around eating the carrion. There’s an ecumenical gathering by the false Word, because they turned down the truth. And there’s a true gathering, because they go to the Word of Almighty God. See? Yes, sir. Bro. Branham said that the sons of God became living epistles in this age. Read, and known of all men. The age of adoption.

21. Now that’s where I don’t want any ‘Amen’s’. Pardon me, because some don’t agree on this. You believe what you want to believe. But he said, “This was the age which hadn’t been revealed, before the foundation of the world. It’s now, being revealed.” See? He said, “This is it.” Put it where you want, but, it’s still it. Put it before or after resurrection, you’re going to go into it…into the Millennium, and the White Throne Judgement. The Adoption, absolutely, that’s what he said. And it goes all the way through. And it ends up in the Eternal, Holy City, with the Lamb on the Throne, the Pillar of Fire above the Throne. Certainly. And it’s now, that it’s coming forth. Certainly, it’s got to come forth. Why? Because we have been…we are coming to the Resurrection Day.

And already, the Word has been Resurrected from the creeds and the dogmas. And we’re coming to a Resurrection, and Resurrection life, is now working in our bodies, for the glory of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen, I know it’s true. Why? Because a vindicated prophet said so. Hallelujah.

22. Let’s go over here and take a little look at this beautiful thing. In the Book of Ephesians 4:30

(30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the

day of redemption.

The day of redemption is nigh…it’s near, it’s here. He said that Book was open. And there we beheld our names, written before the foundation of the world. We saw ourselves apart. Nailed into it, and nailed down. Certainly. Now, he said, “Don’t you dare grieve it. Because you’re sealed to the day of redemption.” Then, my brother/my sister, let’s face it, if you’re sealed to it, there’s got to be a day when that seal expires, we’re in it. We’re in the day of expiry. In other words, you could lay your papers down, and somebody’s got to meet what’s in those papers. In other words, God’s Word has got to come fulfilled in human flesh. And that’s the day of Resurrection.

23. We’re here right now. Certainly, we are. In Ephesians 1:14

(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance…

It’s simply a down payment.

(14) ...until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of

his glory.

But, he said that fulness was here now. He never put it down in the future. It’s here. Sure, it came. He said it came by justification, sanctification, Baptism with the Holy Ghost. Listen to what he said, “Now the Holy Ghost by restoration of this very person being here.” I never said it, he said it. Forming signs and wonders, like He did at the beginning. The Spirit of God is come upon the earth today, in the form of human beings. Not yesterday, but, today. What is it? Last move of the Spirit of God, in men’s lives. Let me tell you something. When Abraham, …as Bro. Branham put him in the manifestation of adoption, … he was still in human flesh, and he still went down the road, and had his wife tell a lie. Don’t you put him in Glory. Don’t you put him in Heaven. You put him down where he was.

Certainly. The Word of God must be fulfilled. That Word demands a harvest. And I tell you what. When that one seed went in the ground, that one berry of wheat, it meant, what was in that berry, then every single berry that should come forth. And God’s Word cannot fail, and every berry must come forth. And it must be the berry upon the ground now, to match that which is coming up. [congregation says, “Amen”] We’ve been brought the Word, to take us in, brother/sister. Not to just sit here and wonder about it. “When all in whom we have believeth, and are persuaded that He’s going to fulfill what He gave us.” [2 Timothy 1:12] Which is Christ, that Word. Christ in you, the hope of glory. And your hope is that Word. Amen. Why? Because it’s been vindicated. Not what some Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, or Independent says.

24. What was vindicated? Certainly. Yes sir, we’re sold out to this. Nailed down, is the First step. As I was with William Branham. Proved that he had the Word of the hour. I'll be with you and give you your inheritance. Amen. Oh, yeah. That’s what He said. “As I was with Moses, … I was with him, don’t tell Me I wasn’t. Who made the water turn to blood? Who brought those flies? Who brought those flies? Who brought them rain to boil? Who brought the thunder claps in the darkness? Who did it?” Moses, did it. Yeah. Moses’ law, not God’s law. Moses’ law. Paul’s gospel. By My gospel.

But, turn and say, “William Branham’s Message.”

“Ohhhhh. Oh, blasphemy. Oh, my heavens. Don’t you dare associate a man’s name with that Word.”

Oh, come on. Wake up before it’s too late. Something’s wrong somewhere. Are you so full

of Spiritual pride, that you don’t dare let yourself go? Do you want to be somebody? Shame on

you. There’s one place, that’s to cringe in a corner. Reverence and respect where it’s due. It

was Luther’s Message. Wesley’s Message. Paul’s Message. It’s Branham’s Message. The very Word you believe, and are nailed down with, will be revealed in and through you. That’s what He said to Joshua. That very Word is now yours. You will inherit it. You’re going in with it. It’s going to come to pass in you. Certainly, that’s the Word of the prophet. If you have the promise for the hour, you will become that promised Word. Certainly, you will. Promised Word of the hour. Tape after tape…enumerates those promises.

Tells what the Bride is. How she’s going to come to be that Living Word Itself. And when she has that Word, no one will make her do opposite. She won’t do that Word, until God tells her to do it. Then, she’ll do that Word. Why? She’ll have ‘Thus Saith the Lord’ because she is that Word. She’s a part of that Rock. She’s nailed down to it. As Bro. Branham said, “Cemented… we're cemented.” Cemented. Oh, praise God. Now, what’s the next step? Number two:

25. Let’s go to, Joshua 1:7-8 It says here now,

(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, …

Put an emphasis now. He’ll be a little more alert neighbor, intensified. Intensify your

awareness. See? Always watching that Word in respect to everything. Oh, how some people

get criticized, because they’re so careful with that Word. Sometimes the people criticize the

preacher, and back and forth. I’m not saying this for bad now. See? Just saying the facts because people are so aware. Sometimes it just causes friction. Let me tell you something. I’m not afraid or ashamed of that kind of friction, when we have nothing but the awareness of God’s Word, because of the prophet himself, said, “I’m dedicated, I live for it, that’s all I want in my life.” Now he said, “You be very courageous, you be very alert, every sense sharpened now. Every attitude, fully cognizant of the Word of God, by the Holy Ghost.” Why?

(7) … that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

26. What’s He saying here? Do everything My servant told you to do. Now, this is going to hit the pulpit, as well as the people. I’m not preaching to anybody, I’m just preaching the Word now, because this is blanket coverage. Do everything My servant told you to do. Don’t try to find ways to get around it. Looking to the left…I think I can get around here. I think I’ll sneak around here. Oh, I look, I’ll sneak back there. Well, I’ll look ahead and pretend it’s over here. No, no, forget it. No, you’re not to be alert, to try to get around it. You’re to be alert to see that you’re going to do it. See? Don’t look for excuses, and ways out…do it. Ministers, laymen, everybody. See? Don’t tell me it’s not even for the prophet. It was even for the prophet. He knows how he disobeyed and God whipped him. You don’t fool with God’s Word. Be alert, sharp. See? Too much theory, is no good. Put it into practice. See?

What he told us to do, are the commandments of God. That’s what Jesus said. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not the things of faith?” That’s right. Paul said, “Let him admit what I say is the commandment of God. He that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man without a foundation, building his house upon the sand. See? No man is nailed down by any Word that he won’t honor and obey. Bro. Branham said, “You say you love me, then, why don’t you do what I tell you?” Quit believing some foolish things that you’re believing, and quit doing some of the foolish things you’re doing. But, they said, “I know the prophet.” I don’t think they really did. That’s a lot of nonsense. Well surely, let’s be honest. Man said he loves his wife, then goes cavorting around the country. Oh, come on.

27. Well, you just can’t make it reconcile. It won’t do it. See? You’ve got to do what he said. Because the man that doeth these things, is like that wise man that he knows he is building on a rock. He’s nailed down to it. He’s a part of it…he’s cemented. Shows he’s got faith in it. See? Shows he believes it. Certainly. No man's nailed down to any Word that he won’t honor and obey. Exactly, what did the prophet tell us to do? What were the exact commandments? Well, I’m going to tell you something. They were very few. There weren’t very many. There might be more than I can remember at this time. But, there’s one like, …go to church. Yeah. Just go to church. Now, I’m not preaching this for the preachers. I’m preaching for me. I go to church, you go to church, we all got to go to church.

Now Bro. Branham said, “We ought to have such a Spirit on us, that we can’t wait for the doors to open.” You say, “I don’t have that Spirit.” Well, all right, go anyway. Then by faith, we’ll get the Spirit. Sure, I know what he’s talking about. Years ago, I asked him about love, “Well Bro. Branham, I don’t understand.” Back and forth for about two hours.

He finally said, “Well Lee, I want to ask you one more question.”

I said, “Ask me a question, brother.”

He said, “Do you do anything for God, that you wouldn’t do other than doing it for God? Something that you wouldn’t like to do, but, still you do it because you know God wants it?

I said, “Sure. Who doesn’t?”

He said, “That’s love.”

28 . It’s love to roll out of bed though you’re aching and painy, and you don’t feel like going. Maybe up too late, and so on. See? Sure, I know it’s some people think, “Well, we don’t need to go to church to have fellowship.” The Word of God says, “So much the more as you see the day approach.” Sure. Sure, that’s what he said. Now, he said, “Apply the Token, and first of all, kick out the TV.” Now, I know he said TV, if you throw it out, it’s something like a newspaper, and a radio. He was telling us there that there’s everything that is evil, if you use it evil. And it’s good, if you use it good. That’s the Bible. Nothing in itself is impure, it’s what a man does with it. Sure. What about this day? You go to people’s homes like I have, and out of my pure heart, which was pure at that moment at least. On the question. Bro. Vayle, what about the TV? I’d say what Bro. Branham said…and the women especially. You use it as an excuse to keep the lousy TV in the house.

And then look at it day by day. “Well, Bro. Vayle said so.” Hogwash, Bro. Vayle did not say so. You’re a hypocrite and a liar. If you can use that thing exactly right, that’d be all right. But, this is the day you can’t do it. Kick it out. That’s one reason, I don’t have one. I’m not going to condemn a person that uses it right. I won’t condemn a man, though you might think I’m preaching heresy. You do what you want. Listen to your pastor. I gave you my idea. Not going to fuss about it. I just don’t want one…period. Just, phooey on it. See? Now, what else? Well, he said, “Don’t form cliques.” Well, clickity-clack. That’s the old tongues, especially on doctrine. “Well he doesn’t believe like I believe. I can’t have sweet, sweet fellowship.” Something’s wrong with you, bud. Some of my very best friends believe so different from me, it’s pitiful.

29. And some of my greatest joys in discussing the Word, is with those who are diametrically opposed to what I believe...I see in this Message. And do you know why I love doing it? Let me tell you something. They’re nobody’s fools. They can be just as sincere, as sincere as you and I are. And they’ve been digging, and searching. And many a time, I`ve caught a glimpse of sheer beauty come from their conversations, and ah…that adds up, beautiful, beautiful. And just bring it down into my heart, not the way maybe they believe it, but what the prophet said just gels in my heart. See? “Oh, I can’t fellowship, because they see a little different.” I’m going to tell you something. What made you infallible? I’m going to tell you something. Bro. Branham said, “The advances, does not tell the pastor.” I’ll quote him on it. “But, (he said), Pastors don’t tell the prophet.” Then, who is trying to tell who? How about rolling with the punches, for a change?

How about eating pie, like the prophet ate pie, and just spit out the little particles? Now, we’ve been very disobedient here brother/sister. And we’ve been very alert to be disobedient. And I’m pretty guilty myself. Although, God judging my heart, I’ve tried for years now to go down the middle of the road, and have no controversy. I just say, “I don’t see it, God bless you.” It doesn’t make you wrong, and me right. Because I don’t know if I’m a false teacher, or a true teacher. He told me I was a teacher. He didn’t say I was true. It doesn’t take courage to say that. It’s just honesty. What’s there to be hidden? What’s to hide? It’s going to be shouted from the housetop. If we do wrong here, and don’t cover by the Blood, it’s going to come out anyway. And let’s face it, there’s enough long tongues and telephones for you or me to tell anybody else, what’s being said anyway. It ain’t hidden.

30. Nail her down, kid. Clique, clique, and clique. God’s against it. God is against it. And those who do it, will pay a price. And if they’re Bride, the whipping’s coming one of these days my brother, my sister. And that goes for Lee Vayle, up here in this pulpit. I am not playing the hypocrite. God is my judge. He’s in this room, by the Holy Ghost. I’ve got to learn this lesson better and better. Until it comes in honor, preferring each other. Stepping aside. Not denying what you believe, but, being careful. You don’t attempt to be somewhat other than Joshua, to try to fight with that Word, instead of letting that Word vindicate you. And I don’t know, that there’s going to be any vindication, outside of Mount Zion, that’s going to pay off in eternity. That means the Rapture. I don’t care what’s going to happen. I’m looking for the Bride to be one with that Word. Sure. Sure I am.

But, I don’t know that even that moment’s going to give anybody the right to say, “You’re out, and I’m in.” See? God help us to obey what the prophet said. Stop the cliquing and clanning, and get back to the loving, and say, “You believe the way you see it. God bless you.” And it’s up to the pastor, he being the man that God ordained, to say or not say what is in his heart. I’d sooner have a pastor on and say, “Bro. Vayle, we don’t agree with you. Don’t come by.” I’d say, “God bless you, I won’t come by.” But, how sweet it is to hear men say to you, “Bro. Vayle, we know you, but we don’t agree. But you don’t step on our toes and try to make us any harm. Come any day you want to.” I count that some of the sweetest words and say, “Well Vayle, you’re learning a little bit of a little lesson, may God help you some day to have enough brains to make it to the corner.”

31. Certainly. Now he said, he didn’t say too much to women. What he said was very, very little. And very easy, …don’t cut your hair, get rid of the slacks, and let the husband be the boss, it'll rest your mind. Well, you talk about the Millennium, you got it already, and don’t know it. Yeah. Wear the skirts where he said to wear them. That’s not too hard. Especially today, when there’s no style anyway. There isn’t. There’s no style today. You’re perfectly in style to go anywhere you want. They walk down the road literally, naked. They do. Bro. Joe just told of in a New York paper, a woman out of a certain boutique…I don’t know how, a dress salon, or boutique could possibly do…but, here she was, with what Bro. Branham said would be in the future, walk down the road naked.

A woman in Dayton, decided to undress before the men and jump in the pool, …the little what do you call it…fountain. Yeah. Anything goes. Then, what’s odd about just doing what the prophet said? Why, it’s the easiest thing in the world. And the men, to take their place, to become the lawful providers and protectors. And to love their wives, as they do their own flesh. Ooh, that’s a good one right there. Because boy, do I pamper me. My wife won’t take advantage, I get a hard job making her buy dresses. And then she goes on a spree, and I have a hard job quit buying dresses. But, I want her to have just as many clothes as I’ve got. I’m not ashamed to tell you, all our married life, I’ve been in there digging with her, and she’s been digging with me. Now, we’re not perfect, I’m mean to her at times, and she is always sweet to me. I admit it. I’m ashamed of myself.

32. But I’ll tell you one thing. The man should be head of the house. He should have his prayer with his children. He should teach those children right. He should take his place. What is hard about it, when God said you could/should do it, then if we should do it, then we can do it. Because that’s the source of our success. Now he said, “Do those things.” See? Now he said, “Obey Word upon Word, which we’re supposed to do. By believing Word upon Word. Until we come to the full stature, which we will.” You see what I brought out? Be alert. Very alert. See? Take your spiritual muscles, and spiritual hands, and grit your teeth and do it. See? Never mind the cost. Do it. When it’s time to forbear…forbear. You know, forbearance is one of the greatest words in the world, and one of the least used. That is, physically. Is to forbear. See?

Joshua obeyed what the vindicated prophet said to do. Then you’re going to have good success. Why? Because that will pile Word upon Word, until we are of the Word. How can a man say he believes, if he won’t do it?

33. All right, let’s go to step Number three. Time goes rushing on so fast. Number nine, verse 9. [Joshua 1:9,13]

(9) Have not I commanded thee? …

Notice again, God demanding.

(9) … Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou

dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou

goest.

In verse 13, we could read it too.

(13) Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded

you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath

given you this land.

What’s the third thing? Simplicity, itself. Here is rest. Here is consolation. Here is peace. Something like God doing things in threes, as Bro. Branham said, “Ruth gleaning. Ruth resting. Ruth inheriting.” Let me give you my threes about Ruth. Ruth listening to the Word of her inspired mother-in-law. Right. Ruth like Joshua, taking somebody else’s word, that knew more than she knew. Then Ruth gleaning, doing the word of her mother-in-law. Then Ruth resting, because she did the work of her mother-in-law. It’s just like Acts 2:38…repent, be baptized, and you’ve got to receive It. Piling Word upon Word. See? Brings the faith of God which is the rest of faith. So, you see we’re coming to where we really believe. Why haven’t we believed? Because we weren’t nailed down in some cases.

34. And secondly, we just thought all we had to be was nailed down, and never mind your being. But he said, you were alert to be nailed down to the Word, and pin your faith because it’s vindicated. And how much more to be nailed down, and more alert to fulfill the Word that the prophet left you. See? If you come this far, you just can’t get upset anymore. No matter what anybody believes, or, what anybody does. And yet, I hear people today saying, “I was stumbled.” You ain’t going nowhere, honey. You’ve done got stumbled. I went to church one place, and the pastor came out revolutionary, really revolutionary for those, poor folk. And he served wine at the table. And the man almost had a heart attack. And you know me with my unsympathetic, callous, laughter, I just had to laugh out loud. And I said, “If you can get stumbled that easy, I wonder what you got in the first place. If you got anything at all.” How can you be stumbled today? What’s that got to do with it?

What do you care what I do or somebody else does? Then say, “Well, I don’t think I’ve got any faith in that Word, anymore.” How many people were shook off because Bro. Branham died? Oh, many, many were shaken off. Certainly, they weren’t very well secured in the first place. They weren’t nailed down. He kept on saying, “Don’t get nailed down to me. I’ve got a Message, get nailed down to the Message.” Then, when the Message came. They said, “Oh, that’s too strange, who can take it?” See? Certainly, that’s what they did. Stumble, how can you be stumbled? People that are nailed down don’t get stumbled. People cemented in, don’t get stumbled. And the Holy Spirit that great Token, is cementing us in right now. All the little rocks are coming together to make the big rock. Certainly. All little bits of that Word, coming together to be that big Word. Hold right down to perfection, right up here to the next, for Christ Himself to come. Because we’re just Bride. He’s the Bridegroom. He’s going to come. Certainly. See? Now, those who are trying so hard to persuade us. Wonder how nailed down some persuaders are?

35. Let’s take a look at Baptists fighting Methodists, trying to win them over. Who’s nailed down? See if you’re nailed down, or I’m nailed down? No fuss. I know it’s kind of hard to do. I know it’s a little difficult. All that…look it. Everything is difficult, there’s no easy way, trials are trials. Commandments are commandments. It could be rough on our spiritual muscles. Rough on our ego. Many things can be trying sometimes. Sometimes our poor brains get befuddled. I’ve read many times, and heard Bro. Branham say a thing over and over. Roll it back, hear it again, roll it back. And every time I get more befuddle than ever. Where am I going? What’s it all about?

Ten years later, the answer comes, swiftly, silently, perfectly. What are you fussing about? Nailed down, cemented. I don’t see one cemented rock, fussing and jumping up and down, when cemented into another rock. I don’t see it. No problem. No outcry. Now you see, where’s the rest? There’s got to be, there should be a rest among us. A rest of faith. We talk about faith, this is a revelation. Then, where’s the rest? It’s here all right. It’s here. All it takes is being nailed down to that revelation, then, obeying what He said. That’s all. Do what He said. There’s no place else to go. Then it’s up to Him. He’ll do the rest. Never has failed, never will. See?

36. All right. Now, His emphasis was upon the Word that was left. And then it was left to God as we believed It. See? Certainly. It’s not up to us to confirm the Word. It’s up to God to confirm His Word. I have no fuss, I hope, in my heart with any man. And if I should have a fuss, …let me be honest, and you honest with me. Let it not be fussing with each other because you say, “I believe this little point here, and you don’t believe it.” Let it be because there’s something wrong in a man’s life. Then the Bible said, “Go to that man.” Said it to me, and said it to you, too. See? He brought us into rest. Why? Because this is the last age of the Holy Spirit, the fulness.

Now, hear what God said again to Joshua. “This is my commandment to you, don’t be afraid, don’t be dismayed. Rest, rest.” [Jos 1:13] Sure, we’ve come this far and we’re nailed down. We’re not going to go there. We’re not going to go back, it’s what the prophet said. Obedience to the Word. Rest. Certainly. What else? Don’t be dismayed, lie in the sun and ripen. That’s what he told us. That’s the voice of somebody that said, “He didn’t say to lie in the sun and rot.” I don’t like phrases like that.

37. You’re just kind of smarting off what the prophet said. He said, “Lie in the sun.” Give a man credit. See? And when he said, “Lie in the sun.” He meant it. In the Presence of Jesus Christ, by prayer and the Word, until that became our fortress and our high tower. And we became It. Sure. Who’s rotten? Because great signs and wonders aren’t here yet? What if it wasn’t the hour? What if it wasn’t the moment? Brother/sister, if you say you’ve got It, you’d better produce It. William Branham could stand up and say, “I don’t know if He’ll come.” Some people seem a little bigger than Bro. Bill, though. They say, “We’ve got it.” He said, “I don’t know if He’ll come. We’ll ask Him, and see if He will.” And then he said, “He’s here.” Then, watch what happened. Little William Branham, bigger on the inside, than the outside. Stature, like a Samson. Vision, like a Samuel. Prophet, like a David.

Now, where’s your Goliath? “In the Name of Jesus Christ, I take every Spirit in this building under my control, for the glory of God.” Now, try to hide. I don’t say we’re going to be William Branham’s. I’m just saying, “Look folk, you better know what you’re talking about.” You better have the hour, and the moment. It’s coming. And we’ll know when it’s here. There won’t be any forcing. What if it should break tonight? What if there should be a Spiritual sweep, from the Presence of the Lord, because He’s here. And every heart fully turned. What joy for some. What disappointment for others. Let the voice of men arise. Let the sword arise. Let the ecumenical squeeze come. He said it would. Let me be all alone and how and why I am nailed down to this Message in serving God. I’m commanded to fear not, nor to be dismayed. In other words, I am to be at rest, for soon my inheritance will be manifest.

38. Now, Bro. Branham said also, “It is inheritance time, for I have entered into His rest.” That’s what His rest is. That’s proof in Isaiah 28: now he said, it’s evening time, it’s token time, let’s find out. Let’s see if we’re coming in. Growing up into. Piling Word upon Word.

(3) The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

I think that refers to America.

(4) …the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, (just watch those old fading valleys get blotted out) … the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

(5) In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

(6) And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. (Now, listen)

(7) But they also have erred through wine, …

Do you know Bro. Branham said wine was? The stimulation by revelation. Somebody got a wrong revelation. Erring by wrong revelation.

(7) …through strong drink …

They couldn’t handle it. Like a tiger caught by the tail. It couldn’t produce, it destroyed. Strong drink.

(7) …the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, …

The constant reiteration, and adding to their creeds and dogmas until they’ll never get shuck of them.

(7) …swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

That’s what the world is like right today, outside of the Bride.

(8) For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

All right. Now listen.

(9) (To) whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, (of Corin- thianism) and (taken away) from the breasts.

(10) For precept must be upon precept, precept (must be) upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

In other words, Word upon Word.

(11) For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

(12) To whom he said, This is the rest…

What’s the rest?

(13) … precept (must be) upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line,

line upon line; here a little, and there a little…

39. Word upon Word. See? This is the rest. This is the refreshing. This is what was going to come out of that great miracle ministry of Acts 3:19. A revival in the Bride, the Word of Almighty God, bringing forth a version of His Word. Absolutely one with that Word. Then, you and I can’t do it because we’re birthed into it. At this stage, we’re still in brotherly love, that rock box. When the honey of brotherly love, was poured in, could hold it, though it stirred up all the trash amongst us. Say, “Bro, Vayle, I’m so discouraged, I’m going to quit.” Then you haven’t gone far enough. Because there’s rest in this Message. There’s the rest of faith. I’m going nowhere until He takes me. Because I know that I’m piling Word upon Word. I don’t know how it’s working. The Bible distinctly says, “There’s one of the great mysteries, the way of a man with a maid. And the forming of a babe in a woman’s womb.” Nobody understands, you can’t understand this either.

You believe it. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but, He’s doing it. I don’t know how I was formed, but, I know why. I don’t know where I came from, but, I know where I’m going. I bypassed that theophonic body, and going now to meet him pretty soon. I don’t have to figure it. I’m no computer. I’m no smart man. But, I believe it. Piling Word upon Word. Oh, sometimes it doesn’t seem to stick. That’s right, it doesn’t. How many times have you read the books, and then suddenly, a year later say, “Ah…how could that book…he didn’t say that before.” And yet, there it was in print for ten years. I can’t help it. I’m sorry I’m so stupid. I can’t tell you, the book I read it in. But, I can tell you what it said. I just read it five minutes ago…I can’t tell you. I’m sorry. But, He said, He’d bring all things to our remembrance, what we needed to know. He said He’d do it. Why, listen. It says here, this is the rest, wherewith you may cause the weary to rest.

40. The prophet causing it. Oh, a proven cause. Then, it’s got to have a proven effect. Amen, I’m believing it, with all my heart. I’m can’t see anything outside this Message, but this. You see it anyway you want. But, I’ve got to preach it the way I see it. See? Listen. They would not hear. Turned it down flat. But, somebody didn’t. But, the Word of the Lord, was to them, precept upon precept. Precept upon precept. Look at it coming like a giant Sherman tank. “We, don’t want that.” Denominations said, and the independents. “Ah, we can’t stand that nonsense.” Did I change the Word of God? Nonsense. It just came going down, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, like that giant tank. Line upon line, line upon line. Here a little, there a little, Word, Word. You think you’re going to stop it? Get out of the way. You’re going to get run over. God doesn’t call His Bride, ‘a terrible army’, for nothing.

Stand aside for the Word. It is said, those that don’t believe in the great cause to bring the great effect. They’ll be snared and stumbled, fall backward, and broken. I didn’t write the Bible, I just read It. See? Certainly. As we said in verse [Isaiah 28:]13, they would not take His rest. See? They wouldn’t believe, to come into the inheritance, to partake of the adoption. They turned it down methodically, and lost out with God. I believe all that the prophet said. How it’s going to be fulfilled, is none of my business. For I have repented, I changed my mind. That’s what the Laodicean church must do. Repent, repent, repent. I’ve been corrected time after time I thought I saw something. Come, right back, corrected. It’s got to be line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. Yes, brother/sister, coming in to His adoption, and His inheritance.

41. Bride, knowing who she is. Finding her place. He’ll find it for her, by staying with this Word, and obeying It. And when we’ve done it, stood clear, there’s nothing but rest. Why have we lost our peace and our rest? Here’s your answer. You know we can’t have a clear conscience by not obeying. I’m not fooling myself. Do you think for one minute, I know where my nerves come from? Sure. I know where it’s come from. You know where yours come from too. Time to repent and get them under cover, under the Blood. And quit doing those things that bring them on. Then, if the devil takes one swipe against us, just say, “I’m covered. I’m stable. You can’t move me.” Nailed down, cemented in. That’s what the prophet taught us. One last word…I’ll let you go. Hebrews 4:

(1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

That’s not what It says. It says, there’s a promise left us, don’t you feel you missed it. You say, “Bro. Vayle, the way you talk tonight, believing. Sometimes I wonder if I’m right. ” Look, brother/sister, you’re either right or wrong…it’s by revelation. Don’t stew and fuss. Have faith in God. Only believe. When Bro. Branham said, “Raise your hands, who believed it.” Sis. Branham went to Bro. Branham, she said, “Bill, I couldn’t raise my hand. I don’t know if I understood.” She said, “Tears rolled down his eyes.” He said, “Mede, only believe.” He said, “Not that many understood it.” But, we’re growing brother/sister, we’re growing. Oh, the day of redemption is ‘nigh-er’. It’s not just nigh, it’s nigh-er. We’re understanding. Oh, listen. I want to tell you, those old creeds and dogmas, brought out those old ideas. It becomes brighter and brighter, the perfect day.

42. Oh sure. Listen. Don’t you be afraid. I’ve heard people come to me and say, “Well, Bro. So-and-so said, “Since the Seals, nobody can come in.” Well, that’s beautiful. Nonsense. My Bible said, “Don’t be afraid, that you come too late.” Don’t be afraid you’ve missed out. See? Listen. For unto us was the gospel preached. He called it gospel, way back there. Gospel, God’s good news, as unto them. But, the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. If you believe you’re too late, how are going to have any faith? If you believe it’s not for you, how are you going to have any faith? Listen, we are not competitive. Bro. Branham said, “If two people in town going to make that Rapture, you say you’re one of them.” Oh but, there’s four in our town that believe. I’ve got to get rid of somebody in a hurry here. I’m moving next door.

What in the world is the matter with people? That’s blasphemy. We’re not competitive. That’s a spirit of hell, of organization. Don’t you know, the trail of the serpent, is organization? Bro. Branham said so. He didn’t have to preach that sermon. It’s in every sermon. Read it for yourself, I forget even what book it’s in, but it’s there. Man, I read so many, but, I don’t know where it is. It’s there, he said, “The trail of the serpent is the study of organization.” All right, we’ve got an organization spirit saying, “You’re not in, but, I am.” Or say, “Well, it does happen, and we certainly believe so close to light, we’ll let you in.” What is this? Huh? Competitive? No. What if suddenly, everybody should get an idea and just go to one place? I’m not saying I believe this, not for one split second that idea. But, what if one got the idea to go to one place, and the Rapture couldn’t possibly take there.

43. And there might be one hundred and fifty. I don’t believe that. I’m just saying, “What if it happens?” See where the idea goes, it’s just so silly. We’re not competitive brother/sister. I believe, you believe, we believe. Thank God, we’re one of them. Listen, for we which have believed, obedience proves it, have entered into rest. 'As I’ve sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into My rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world'. Now, here’s what he said. “It’s all over, just believe.” You’ve got the Word. Do It to the best of your knowledge, and heart. Obey It. When you were in darkness, then forget it, you’re forgiven. When the light comes, you’ve got to do something about it. And we’ll walk in the Light. Ad when you’ve done it, you’re at rest. Resting. Now we’re like Ruth, the gleaning’s over. We’re resting. And here comes the inheritance. I don’t know how He’s going to do it brother/sister. But, He’s going to do it.

I don’t know how I’m going to be one with that Word. But He’s going to do it. I don’t know how I’m going to have the Word, and only say what he tells me to say, or I won’t say It. I don’t know how He's going to do It, but I’m going to do it. I’m going to tell you, you can do it. Why, he says, “I won’t say what He tells me to say, or I won’t say it.” I don’t know how He’s going to do it. But I’m going to do it. Why, he said, “It could happen, somebody’s out there, his lands are burning up.” 'Oh God, I need rain'. He said, “I’ll send you rain in the name of Jesus Christ, there, it’ll come.” I don’t know how it’ll be done. I don’t know where it’s going to be done. He said it. I don’t understand it. But, He said it. And I believe it, because He said it. See? I’ve got a rest about it. I’ve got rest. Bro. Branham said, “If I don’t make it, I’ll not stand in the way of somebody who can.” Rest.

Don’t you see we sing the song, ‘Sweet is My Refuge, Sweet is My Rest’. No, it is. For the inheritance is coming, by the Word of God. And He stands behind His Word to perform It. The Lord bless you. Shall we pray.

Our kind Heavenly Father, we know tonight You have commended us, and committed us, to courage. To be nailed down. To be alert. To stand there. And having done all to stand, …stand. Because that Word is going to come to pass for this hour, in human flesh. For You Lord know, what the prophet said. I want to ask you, “What do you mean, the Son of God revealed in human flesh?” He said, “The Son of God revealed in human flesh is the Bride in every Age.” And we saw justification, we saw sanctification, we saw restored gifts. And now, the person of the Holy Spirit Himself, being formed in human vessels. The Word of God in this hour. Lord, I don’t understand It. And when I look at It, I get thinking, “Ooh, how could You aspire to such a thing?” But, Lord, I never asked for It…You just said I can have It. May Lord, each one us, enter into rest.

Let the inheritance come. Lord, it’s our portion tonight, not one of us, but all of us. Oh God, just like Jesus asleep in that boat, the waves pitching, the tempest screaming. Everybody frantic, but, not Jesus, sleeping in the boat. Why? Because He said, “Let’s go to the other side.” Not, lay in the middle and sink somewhere. And Lord, I know it’s the same tonight. And I know that brethren and sister’s hearts tonight, beat strong and fast with this same faith, this same conviction, this same courage, this same rest of faith, it’s coming. I don’t know the hour. I don’t know the day. But, it’s coming. Because He said so.

And as the prophet said, “We count ourselves a part.” And as Paul said, “Don’t think you came too late. The gospel is here tonight. It’s for you. Lord God in Heaven, may Your rest be upon each one of us, Jesus. I know we can have it, Lord. I know it, Lord. There’s nobody going to tell me otherwise, because I know it. And we thank You for it. And unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be all power, and honor, and glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

With our heads bowed. I know the majority of you here, positively, without a doubt, in your own way, your own hearts, your own understanding, stand for this Message. And you’d be willing to die for it. You’re nailed down to it. But, there’s that little thing of being cemented in, by obedience. It’s not so little, it’s mighty big, because it’s the second step. And sometimes, we feel that the embarrassment, or, the cost, or something or other. Or just maybe it’ll be a little too hard to put in effect. But, it does seem just too much for us, to sometimes obey that Word. That’s a little sticky point, right now. And you say, “Bro. Vayle, I’m a very weak vessel, just like you are. And I want you to pray for me, what I pray for you. I want to obey that Word, oh so, early. Because that’s the second thing He said. I want to enter that rest tonight. I wandered far away from God, but now I’m coming home.

Paths of this world, and sin, too long I’ve trod down, I’m coming home. No longer time to talk about doing it. It is time to do it. The price is little, compared to what we’re going to have to pay if we don’t get alert, to obey that Word. Because there’s a glorious rest of faith, and inheritance incorruptible, a placing of a Bride, a call to the supper, that’s on its way. It’s actually here now in full potential. It just happened in time for the curtain to be drawn aside. But, it’s here. See? If that cry is in your heart tonight, just raise your hand and just keep your eyes closed. Raise your hands with me. It’s not enough to sing, ‘My Jesus I Love Thee, I Know Thou Art Mine.’ We’ve got to go the steps of that stature. We’ve got to come into it. I’ve got to do it, you’ve got to do it. The day isn’t too late, brother/sister. We haven’t yet fallen short. That’s about the way Bro. Branham had his little time of repentance and altar calls.

We don’t have one here tonight. Raising our hands toward God now at this moment saying, “Lord, help me to obey.” No matter what it cost me Lord, prick my conscience, with me doing anything that’s necessary. If I’m hard O God, reprimand me now, lest it be in Thy wrath, while there’s mercy for reprimanding. But, I’ve got to obey that Word. I’ve got to come to It. It’s got to be. I’m going to enter into that rest of faith, into my inheritance. [BV sings, ‘My Jesus I Love Thee.’] Why do we love Him? Because He gave us another chance tonight, to come in obedience to His Word. May God help every heart tonight. Draw us all the way, not close, but all the way to Jesus Christ. Not unto His bosom, but, into His bosom. Not near, but within. That’s where there’s safety, sheltered by His hand. God bless you.