Preparation #4 (The people judge)

Wednesday February 17^h, 1999

Deuteronomy 18:15 ¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Now, this is not just some sort of take it or leave it proposition that God is speaking of here. God tells them through Moses that there is coming a Prophet like Moses that the people had better take notice of and pay close attention to what He has to tell them. He says that you had better hearken to this prophet and this word hearken is the Hebrew word, shama' {shaw-mah'} and means 1) to hear, listen to, obey and give heed.

Now, what do we infer when we say that you need to pay heed to something. What does the word heed mean anyway? It means to pay close attention, careful attention to, and it has a reward associated with it. Can anyone tell me what reward is associated with tasking heed? The answer is your protection.

Now why do you suppose the lord said that the people had better take heed to what this prophet speaks to them? We find the answer in verse 18.

In verse 18 we read, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and [I] will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.

In other words, When I send this prophet, he is coming to cause the people to have make a choice. They will be put to the test, and they will have to make a decision. In other words, they are going to have to judge whether they want to or not. And with what judgment they make, they will either be saved or destroyed.

Jesus said, Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Deuteronomy speaks of the True prophet who comes to tell you what God wants you to know. This is the man you are to listen to. And what he comes to tell you is not what is already done, and already known, but what is being now forth told. Not what is foretold, but what is forth told, that is the key. What is forth told is already done, but what is happening now, is what is being told forth or forth-told.

In Hebrews 12 we see that God is in His Prophets. The Prophet then is God to the people. When a prophet comes in the name of the Lord it is because He has something to tell you from God. Either you receive what he tells you or you don’t. There are rewards for receiving, and there are rewards for rejecting. Now, no man can receive it lest it be from God for him to do so. God never muddies his water. He does not reveal His Word to unbelievers, or even make believers. His Message is for the believer, and His Message is safety, and protection. Therefore the prophet of God comes for the Elect. It is a Message to them, from God.

The prophet comes forth as a judge and the people judge it true or false, and they will be held accountable for their judgment.

In 2 Cor 3:1 Paul asks us to discern, “Where does he come from?” “Who sent me?” And if God sent me, then what need of support do I need from a bunch of people? Paul eye-balled the people here and told them right out. And brother Branham did the same thing when he challenged those ministers up in Chicago. Later he said to brother Vayle, “Lee, the first man to come up and challenge me, would have been carried out feet first.”

Paul then said, his sufficiency comes from God. And he went on to say, if they stumbled and fell when the law was given, what about when the full Word is brought into view and declared openly.

Vindication is what we are speaking about. And vindication is actually God manifesting Himself in a measure which can be apprehended and understood. Jesus said, “They have both seen Me and My Father, therefore their sin remaineth.”

In verse 10-12 Paul tells us that we must forget the past, forget that which does not excel, and focus on what excels. When God has moved on, forget that which was left behind, and move on with the Word. In 1 Cor 13 he said, there was a time when we spoke as a child because we thought as a child, but when we come to full maturity, we put away from us the things we did and spoke as children. It’s not that those things were wrong when we did them, but they are wrong for us now. Talking like a young child is cute for a young child, but not for a grown person, or even a young adult.

Verses 13-18, therefore we don’t look back. Moses was a good man, and He was sent by God for the day he lived, but his message will never work again. It’s a one time shot and it’s over. Miss it in the day it’s given and you’ve missed it altogether. This is not Moses day, but the Lord’s Day, and we should be focused on that. Paul turned down the peoples commendation, he did not need it to know where he stood with God. Because God stood with him. Backed him up. Vindicated him to be the man who had it right. Who understood what God had done in that hour.

Notice 2 Cor 5:12-13, 11 How could a man say those things with just talk…

2 Cor 10:7

2 Cor 12:1-18, esp 12, He was a vindicated man and yet he could not commend himself to them.

Align 2 Cor 11 with Matt 7 and Deut 18, and we see how God works. He did not need the commendation or approval of the people because he knew where he stood and who stood with him. He had God with Him vindicating him to the people.

Romans 9 14-17, Moses was vindicated before pharaoh, and yet we know by what Paul tells us here, that God raised up pharaoh to bring about a show-down. Pharaoh said hogwash to God and His Words. 18-19, Pharaoh only played out the part he was ordained to play out. 20-23, God has had a Word for the elect, and yet when the lost hear it they turn it down. Why? Because it wasn’t meant for them. Paul says, what right have you to judge God? He’s sovereign, and no one tells Him what to do and how to do it.

When you stand with this word and find yourself going to the word for all your answers, then you are found standing with God, for He is the Word. You’re testimony proves that you approve.

God said to Cain, “Why are you so wroth? Why are you so mad at me? ‘you have rightly offered, but you have not rightly divided. And Cain said, I can’t hear it, I won’t take it. You have no right, I don’t like what you are doing.

Jesus said, “If I had not done these works you would have no sin, but because you have seen therefore your sin remaineth. For I came not of my own but the Father which sent me, He it is which you both hear and reject. These people then who do not approve of Moses, Paul and William Branham show that they don’t approve of God.

Paul placed himself upon Deut 18 and so did the other Apostles. Men can not approve or disapprove except on the grounds that we are seed and see God Himself in manifestation of Deut 18.

Romans 8:28-39 esp. 38-39 I am persuaded that nothing can separate me…When People went to brother Branham to tell him what others were saying about his family, he said, “forget it, God must have known that I needed that or He would not have allowed it to happen.” For all things are to work together for our Good, and if it wasn’t for my good it would not have happened.

John 14:11 believe me for the works sake, believe me for the vindication sake. Then why can’t they look at it and believe it? Jesus said, Moses spoke of me! Where? Deut 18!

Hebrews 4:12 “when you see God descend from the heavens, stand before groups of men, and declare Himself as ever He did, that is God in His Prophet.

1Cor 13:8-9 When the perfect is come the part is to be done away with. Then why do the people go back to the part.

1 John 3: 1-2 You have got to see Him as He is, not as He was. That is how you get your change.

1 Cor “what came the word out from you, or did it come to you only!

All we can do is what Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and follow, no other will they follow.”