God’s Only Provided Place of Worship # 2

The Pulling away of the Shick

Sunday Morning November 9, 1994

3 GOD'S.PROVIDED.PLACE.WORSHIP - SHP.LA - V-7 N-4 - 65-1128.1M Talking to my little friend, Ernie Fandler. I guess some of you out on the hookups will remember Ernie, how he was converted, how he was led to the Lord. He doesn't talk good English, or I'd like to have him come say a word. And he gets his we's and W's all mixed up. He was asking me if I remember the time at the Shawano where he lives. There was a man died right in the meeting, dropped over in his seat dead, Lutheran. And we had everybody keep quiet. Spoke the Word of the Lord over him, and he come back to life. He come that other way. They had never got over that, wants us come back again. 4 And I understood that in France, this morning, there's better than two thousand Frenchmen on a several-day fast that we will come bring the Message to France in French. The whole Protestant nation, Protestant part of the nation of France. And so we are... 5 It's just begin blooming now, just begin, the shuck's pulling away so the wheat can lay out there now. See? So just keep reverent, keep praying. See? Remember, "They that wait upon the Lord, renew their strength."

I would like to focus our thoughts on this statement brother Branham is making here because it is very important for us to understand this if we are to understand what is happening today. He said, The shuck is pulling away so that the wheat can lay out there now. Now, the word “So” is a conjunction and a conjunction is a word used to link to thoughts. The shuck is pulling away ... that is one thought...

The wheat can lay out there now, to ripen. That is another thought.

"So". The shuck is pulling away, So what? So that the wheat can relax and just lay out there. or put this way... the shuck has to pull away in order for the wheat to lay out there. Look, as long as there is a mixed multitude, there will continue to be problems among the believers. But get rid of the mix and the problems and unbelief goes away, and so does the atmosphere that keeps things all stirred up. Brother Branham taught us that the make-believer is the one who just hangs on looking to find fault. And that creates an atmosphere of unbelief, and tension among the saints.

Matt 13: 10 - 17 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Notice it is not meant for them to know. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].

Notice what Jesus tells us here. They hear but are not capable of understanding. Then what are they hearing? Not what is being said! But what they want to hear. Notice in the following quote that Brother Branham tells us the same thing. To hear means to understand, and to see means to understand, but just because you look with your eyes does not mean that you understand what you are looking at.

HEAR RECOGNIZE ACT ON WORD 60-0221 30 First, faith cometh by hearing, hearing of the Word of God. Then the believer hears It, recognizes It, and acts on It. The carnal man will hear It, the sound of It, but never... "Hear" means to "understand It". Look at, is looking at something; but to see it, is to "understand it". "Except a man be born again, he cannot see or understand the Kingdom of God."

Genesis 1: 3 - 11 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 ¶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 ¶ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry [land] appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry [land] Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that [it was] good. 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

Notice, the first time God speak, what happens? Separation takes place. The Light from darkness. Then the second time God speaks separation takes place again, This time the waters from above are separated from the waters from below. Finally the third time God Speaks, the same thing takes place. Separation. But what is separation for one Group - is a gathering for the other group. And so today as God is gathering together his elect, they must first separate from unbelief, and so what one calls separation, the other calls a gathering.

Notice, brother Branham said, “It’s just begin blooming now.” What’s blooming? The shuck pulling away of course.

According to Websters - the word "Bloom" means To be at the prime of season. The period of most health and vigor. Actually, the period where the fruit is beginning to come forth. A tree must bloom or blossom then the blossom or flower begins to evolve into real fruit. So we see the pulling away of the shuck is a characteristic of it’s nature.

John 3: 17 - 21 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

But this desire to come to the light must first be given to the believer. For it is a gift. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 13: that it is given to some to understand while to others it is not given. So we are talking about a gift from God. JOHN 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Acts 20 : 24 - 35 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men]. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The gift is for other - not for self.

EX: toward the end of Paul's life he told Timothy that He felt like he was being poured out like a drink offering.

Phillipians 2: 1 - 17 ¶ If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. 3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. 14 ¶ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Even Br. Branham could not lay hands on himself for healing. He told Br. Billy Paul to take his hand and lay it on Meda after the crash, but when Billy Paul asked him if he wanted him to take his hand and lay it on himself, he told Billy Paul the gift was not for him, but he was sent with the gift for others.

GIFT:

Ephesians 4: 1 - 7 ¶I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Every one is given Grace according to the measure of the gift. So what is this Grace?

We find out in 1 Corinthians 1: 4 - 10 The gift is understanding... ¶ Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes [our] brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched (this enriching is like we enrich the soil, it is like using fertilizer, so to take it from a seed to a fully developed and mature or ripe plant) by him, in all utterance(this word is logos), and [in] all knowledge; (So we see this grace is to enrich us in all logos, and all knowledge and to receive all logos could only come at the end time when all the Word is to be revealed according to Hebrews 6, the Once for all enlightenment. )6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed (This word confirmed means established) in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift (the word gift here is the Greek word charisma and it means endowment, and when we speak of someone being endowed we usually mean they are gifted, and typically we use this phrase when speaking of someone who is brilliant. Therefore, I want you to understand that this Grace is to bring forth a special understanding); waiting for the coming (Apokolupsis which is revealing or manifesting) of our Lord Jesus Christ (And when could this be except at this hour.) 8 Who shall also confirm (that means to establish you) you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (Paul also speaks of this being found blameless at the time that we are to come into His Parousia Presence in Ephesians chapter1). 9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing,(Now, how can we all say the same thing unless we say only what He said, and understand what He said so that we will say the same thing, because if several people hear the same thing but do not understand what was said, they will all have there own idea of what was said, and in turn will say what they think they heard. But if we all have the same mind, then we will all say the same thing, and that is exactly what Paul is alluding too here as we continue to read.) and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (Because the only way you can all be in agreement is that you all have the same understanding, in other words, let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. And that is what this Grace is to bring forth at this hour.)

1 Corinthians 2: 9 - 13 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for THE Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but THE Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but THE spirit which is of God (Now, whenever you read this acronym of you should always read it as OUT FROM, therefore in this instance it tells us this Spirit that we have received has come forth out from God.); that we might know the things that are freely given to us of (Out from) God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Now, this Scripture is telling us when we receive the Spirit of or out from God, it leads us to the deeper things of His Word, and causes us to hunger and thirst for the things of God.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God: but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children for ever, that [we] may do all the words of this law.

Now the things which have been revealed now belong to us and to our children, but as long as it has not been revealed it belongs only to God. So when the Message came forth from God to His prophet, it now became the prophets message, and when it went from the prophet to us, it now becomes our message, for when it is revealed is when we receive title deed and ownership of it.

1 Peter 1: 13 ¶ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Notice at the time of the revelation of Christ we are to be prepared to move out with that revelation. When you gird up your loins you are getting ready to run, only these loins are the loins of your mind, suggesting to us that we will have a word that will be breaking as fast as we can move with the revelation of it.

2 Corinthians 2: 14 - 17 Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour (Fragrance) of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour (Fragrance) of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one [we are] the savour (Stink) of death unto death; and to the other the savour (sweet fragrance) of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. In other words we find here a paradox. The same word brings forth a Fragrance but to some that Fragrance is actually a stench, but to those who understand it, that fragrance is a sweet fragrance of Life, God-Life. And that is in fact what the word Grace or Charis means. The Divine influence upon the heart and it’s reflection in the Life.