Who is this Melchisedec #138

“Crucifying the Word Afresh”

July 17, 2002

WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC 65-0221E 163 Dear God, I believe the Scriptures, that You have said You was the same yesterday, today, and forever. And as sincerely in my heart, Lord, I know that something's fixing to take place. I cannot strictly identify it; I'm afraid to say anything, Lord. Thou knowest the heart of Your servants. And how many times down through the age when You sent things, people failed to get it. Man is constantly praising God for what He did, and saying what great things He's going to do, but ignoring what's He's doing. So has it been through the age. Why did the Roman church fail to see Saint Patrick as God's prophet? Why did they kill Joan of Ark when she was a--a prophetess, burnt her as a witch? Father, it's always past. You hide it from the eyes of the wise and prudent. No wonder You said to them priests, "You garnish the tombs of the prophets, and you're the one that put them in there." After they're gone they see their mistake. They always persecute You, Lord, in whatever form You come in.

There are two things which I would like to bring out here that brother Branham is speaking to us.

#1) The people fail to recognize the manifested Word for their hour.

#2) As a result, they crucify to themselves the Lord afresh.

#1) The fail to recognize the Manifested Word for their hour.

A) Because they are always looking forwards, and backwards.

B) Because God never fulfills His word in the way they think it should be.

C) Because they are not ordained to understand what it is and what it is all about.

#2) Therefore they crucify the Word of God Afresh and put it to an open shame.

Tonight however, I would like to focus just on point number one.

#1) The fail to recognize the Manifested Word for their hour.

A) Because they are always looking forwards, and backwards.

MATTHEW 13:10 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. (Now, I want you to understand here that Jesus is telling them the reason He speaks in parables or stories, si because not everyone is ordained to understand. He say, it is given for you to know but others it is not given 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.

Notice Jesus tells His disciples that parables are mean to do something. For the ones who understand, the parable clinches the nail so to speak, but for those who do not understand, it hides the truth from them so they can not understand. Therefore, stories are meant to blind those not intended to 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: (How much like today, that brother Branham came telling stories and it completely hid the doctrine to those it was not intended for, and to those it was intended the same stories were used to illustrate the doctrine.) 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].

Now, Jesus is not through here yet. He goes on in this same chapter to illustrate further this point I am making concerning the Election.

MATTHEW 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Notice this parable Jesus tells shows us the outcome of those who understand versus those who do not. And again we see Jesus tell this parable in the Book of Mark, but with a slight alteration to the wording.

MARK 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

Notice in this parable we find Jesus again telling us the purpose behind using the illustrations and stories, or parables is for the purpose of blinding the understanding of those on the Outside.

Again in the book of Luke we find the same scene once again.

LUKE 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 They on the rock [are they], which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.

Now, if we believe that God changes not, then we should be able to see this same scene in other ages with God and His Elect.

GENESIS 18:16 ¶ And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Now, I want you to notice that God could not hold back from His Elect, to bring them to an understanding. And so we find in the next few verses God telling Abraham His plans to bring Sodom to judgment. Now, contrast this with the angels in Sodom and notice how their message blinded the people.

GENESIS 19:1 ¶ And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.4 ¶ But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as [is] good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said [again], This one [fellow] came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, [even] Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that [were] at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

And remember, Christ is the Door and He is the Word. And so we see that the ministry of these two angels was for the purpose of blinding the hearts of the sodomites so they could not find Christ the Door and thus be saved. Notice then, the preaching of the Cross blinds those who are not ordained to receive it’s reward.

II CORINTHIANS 4:1 ¶ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Notice here that Paul tells us that the Gospel is hid only to those who are lost, and notice it is their minds which are blinded. That means they can not with the mind understand it.

Paul further tells us in Ephesians chapter 4 that the blinding of the mind shuts off the Light which then shuts off the Life that is in the Gospel.

EPHESIANS 4:17 ¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Notice Paul tells us that the blindness is ignorance, and this ignorance is darkness which shuts off the Life of God to them, and thus they must perish.

Now, in II PETER 1:9 he tells us that those who lack an understanding of the Word are considered blind to it. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

In the Book of Romans Paul also tell us that Israel was blinded on purpose untilt he Gentiles came in.

ROMANS 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

And of course we all know that this is the condition of the people in the last church age which is the Laodicean church age.

REVELATION 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

And where are you going to get that eye salve? He says, I will come and stand at the Door, at the Word, and I will come in and feed you Spiritual food in Due season, and then you will know.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Now, why is it that they fail to recognize the Manifestation of the Word in their age? Brother Branham said it is because they are always looking backwards, and always looking forwards and failing to recognize what God is doing in their age. Peter told us that men would return to what they came out of like a dog to its vomit and a hog to it’s wallow.

II PETER 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Notice how Jesus would say things to purposely cause them to leave knowing that they would go back to what they came out of.

JOHN 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 ¶ Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.