Spoken
Word no 46
“A Sweet Spirit in the midst of Confusion”
Brian Kocourek
Wednesday evening we spoke from brother Branham’s
sermon The
Spoken Word is the Original Seed, and paragraph 35 concerning what he said, “Jesus said, the Scriptures must be fulfilled.
That is, that all that's written in the
Scriptures... Now bear this in mind, 'cause you who are getting the tape
now; at the end of these tapes you'll find I come back to that again, that all that's in the Scriptures must be
fulfilled. Now, let that soak just a
minute, class. See? All that's in
the Scriptures has got to be fulfilled. Then if God said anything, there you are; It's got to be fulfilled. Or if it isn't, that's not the Word of
God. Then if that isn't the Word of God, then where are we at? Let's get
something that looks like God or anything we want to do: as the Bible said,
"Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." See?
We went into the Scripture to show that in this Hour
God Himself was to come down and do three things while here. We looked at the
chronology of this age according to what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say
unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.
Now, we examine these verses and showed that the Lord Himself
will do three things in his descent. (1) a Shout, (2) a Voice, (3) a Trumpet.
So we began to look at the Parousia Ministry of the
Pillar of Fire, which is God’s own presence and what He is prophesied by
Scripture to do while here.
We examined the first of the three which is the shout,
and showed the many things which we can see scripturally that he is already
doing during his Parousia Presence.
Now, we know that William Branham taught us that the Shout
is the Message.
Rapture the 65-1204 P:75 A
"shout," what is a "shout"? It's the Message going forth
first, the living Bread of Life bringing forth the Bride. Now, God has a way of
doing things, and He never changes His policy. He never changes His... He's the
unchanging God. In Amos 3:7 He said He would do nothing on the earth until
first He revealed it to His servants the prophets. And just as certain as He
promised it, He'll do it.
Ok, so we see that the
Shout is the Message and it must come through a prophet vindicated by God. And
then we must know what that message is supposed to do, because God does not
just give us a message for the fun of it.
And we examined that the Message is “to gather a people unto the Lord.”
William Branham also told us during the time of this Great Presence that we
must lay in this Presence to ripen, to become tender in our spirit so that we become
like those people that he saw beyond the curtain of time.
From his sermon God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:20 brother
Branham said, I believe the church is begin to hear the message, and beginning to understand. But, friends,
listen, we've got to lay in the Presence
of the Son; we've got to be ripened. Our faith isn't ripe. Intellectually we're hearing the message
that God has give us, and seeing the signs that He showed us, and proving it by
the Bible as that; but, oh, how the
church needs to lay in His Presence till it tenders up, you know,
and gets sweet in the Spirit so
that it can bathe down. Sometimes in
speaking the message, you get harsh,
have to break it in like that, because
you've got to clinch a nail to make it hold. But when the church once gets it,
the Elected is called out and separated then in the Presence of God, I know
it'll be something like the people was there when it takes its rapture.
So you see, he is telling us that the church did not get it yet. He is
telling us that at that time they were just beginning to get a mental
understanding of the message, but that it took laying in that Message to ripen
with the result of tenderness in our character and sweetness in our spirit.
Now, Wednesday night we spoke on many things that are to take place or
are taking place under the Shout.
We know that an Exodus was to take place and that the Pillar of Fire is
the One who is here leading us to the Millennium.
We know according to 2nd
Peter chapter 2 that this is the age for false teachers to enter in
among us bringing in alongside of true doctrine destructive heresies, and even
denying the Lord that bought them. That’s the Son of God. And we see it
everywhere in this Message.
We are also warned that God will allow someone to come in among us with
mighty miracles just to test the people to see if they will stay with the truth
or they will go after other gods. That has not happened yet, but is on it’s
way.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets
also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, (notice it says as there were false prophet among the
people so shall there be, so it is speaking of the future here. And notice also
it says they shall be among you, so it is speaking of those right in our ranks
who claim to be teachers. Now, remember, if God has a real teacher the best way
for the devil to hide it is to use many counterfeits. So we know that God has
set in the church teacher(s) plural, so there will be more than one, but satan
has his five-fold ministry as well. For we know the Bible speaks of False
apostles, false shepherds or pastors, false teachers, etc. and notice what
these false teachers will do…) who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
(notice that they privately bring in their damnable heresies. And where do they
bring them? It says they bring them in. In where? In among you. So these false
teachers will make there way right into this message. And in bring forth their
damnable heresies, they will) even deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
Now, we need to know who bought them? For this is the
one they will be denying with their damnable heresies. So we have two items to
look at here. One there is this heresy that denies the Lord that bought them,
and then this heresy is damnable. So we need to see what this means.
Now, the word that was used in the Greek for the word
deny is the Greek word arne-omai, and it means to disavow,
reject, abnegate:--deny, refuse.
Now, the word, disavow according to our dictionary
means: To disclaim knowledge of, responsibility for, or association with.
And the word, reject, means: to refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or
make use of. 2. To refuse to consider or grant; deny. 3. To refuse to
recognize or give affection to (a person)
And to abnegate means: To
deny (something) to oneself
So we see that through there erroneous teaching these
men will inject into the Message a teaching that disclaims this Lord that
Bought them. It disclaims knowledge of the Lord that bought them. It refuses to
accept, and refuses to submit themselves to the Lord that bought them. And this
destructive heresy they will bring into the Message refuses to recognize or
give affection to the person of the Lord that bought them. And this heresy is
called damnable? Why? Because it is destructive and leads to destruction as the
scripture tells us, and shall bring upon themselves swift
destruction.
Now, we know that if you do not have the doctrine of
Christ then you do not have God. And if you do not have God then you do not
have Life. Then there is nothing left but death and destruction.
And Peter continues in verse 2, And
many shall follow their pernicious ways; (so although they privately bring in along side of true doctrine these
damnable heresies, they are not alone in doing so, for Peter tells us that many
shall follow these destructive teachings. And in doing so they will) by reason of whom
the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (So we see that the truth will be held in contempt
while these errors will propagate among the people in general. For Paul told us
that many more are the children of the harlot than she which has a husband.) 3 And through
covetousness (what’s that? The Greek word is Pleonexia, which means: avarice,
and by implication it means fraudulency, and extortion, greediness…The
word Covetousness in the English means: Excessively and culpably desirous of the
possessions of another, so they are ordained to come on the scene and
come in among us… so watch out for your bank accounts brethren, because these
ones who come are ordained to have their eyes on them. Oh you say, where does
it say that pastor? Well, just read on what Peter says here…) And through
covetousness (avarice, extortion, greed ) shall they with feigned words (those
are molded words, artificial, put on words, and with such words they shall) make merchandise of
you: (in other words they have one motive and that is to see what
they can get from you. Better watch your wallets in their churches. They might
have some pretty big deacons grab you by the leg and hold you upside down and
shake you until they get it all out of your pockets. You know, I went to one of
these guys who claimed to have the spirit of discernment one time and they
passed the plate at least 5 times before the healing line could begin. Making
merchandise of you. ) whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their
damnation slumbereth not.
Now, I like what the Wuest
translation says here. The Wuest Translation
says: 2 Peter 2: 1 But as there arose false prophets also among
the people, even as also among you there shall be false teachers who will be of
such a character as to bring alongside of true doctrine destructive heresies
even denying the Lord who purchased them, bringing upon themselves swift
destruction. 2 And many shall follow their
licentious conduct to its consumation; on account of whom the way of truth will
be reviled. These men will come into the Message and give a wrong understanding
of the Word of God and the people will be caught up into what these men say as
evil interpreters of the Word of Truth. 3
And in the sphere of covetousness with fabricated words they will exploit you,
from whom: for whom from ancient times their judgment has not been idle.
We see
the same warnings by the apostle Paul as well in Acts 20: 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 showed you all things,
how that so laboring 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.
So we see at the time of the parousia Presence of Christ, there will be
much deception. We also saw the following 11 points.
1)
He is here to
gather His Elect & claim His Inheritance.
2) He is
here to make ready a prepared people.
3) He is
here to save the Elect from deception.
4) He is here to save the righteous from perishing.
5) He is
here to seal in the wise Virgins.
6) He’s here
to separate chaff from wheat.
8) He is
here to change the living.
9) He’s here to put us in a rapture.
10) He is here to Glorify His saints.
11) He is
here As Judge to Judge the Living and the dead.
Now, another characteristic of this end-time that we
live in was given to us by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 3, and I would
like to read it from the Amplified version to bring out the characteristics a
little more openly than the King James version.
AMPLIFIED: But understand this, that in
the last days there will set in perilous times of great stress and trouble -
hard to deal with and hard to bear. For people will be lovers of self and
utterly self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by inordinate and greedy
desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be
abusive, blasphemous and scoffers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy
and profane. They will be without natural human affection, in fact callous and
inhuman, relentless-admitting of no truce or appeasement. They will be
slanderers-false accusers, trouble makers; intemperate and loose in morals and
conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. They will be treacherous
betrayers, rash and inflated with self-conceit. They will be lovers of sensual
pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. For
although they hold a form of devotion and sanctity, they deny and reject and
are strangers to the power of it - their conduct belies the genuineness of
their profession. Avoid all such people-turn away from them. For among them are
those who worm their way into churches and captivate silly and weak-natured and
spiritually dwarfed church members, loaded down with the burdens of their sins,
and easily swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses,
These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them; they are forever
inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a
recognition and knowledge of The Truth. Now just as Jannes and Jambres were
hostile to and resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to and oppose The
Truth. They have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and
counterfeit and to be rejected as far as The Faith is concerned. But they will
not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everybody, as was
those men mentioned. Now you have closely observed and diligently followed my
teaching, conduct, purpose in Life, patience, Love, Steadfastness.
Persecutions, sufferings, such as occurred to me at
Now, with these Scriptural warning in mind, I want to
go back to look at what we read from brother Branham’s statement concerning how
we ought to live, and how that we are to lay in the presence of the Son of
ripen and to become sweet in our spirit. Because Peter said the same thing in
his epistle.
2nd Peter 3:10 But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless
we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such things, be
diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
brother Branham said he does three things in his descent. So we see that under
the shout we have all these events to take place and many of them are already
in the process of being completed.
What manner of people ought we to be. With all these stresses that this
age is providing us, we are given promises that God will not leave us nor
forsake us. He is here to take us above it all.
Paul tells us that Love will conquer everything. 1st
Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the
tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in
the truth; 7 Beareth
all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there
be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be
tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in
part shall be done away. 11 When
I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a
child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a
glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know
even as also I am known. 13 And
now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
And brother Branham tells us that by laying in the Word for this Hour, it
is to produce in us a spirit that is sweet and tender, and will not become
hardened through all our trials and tribulations. In brother Branham’s sermon God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:20 brother Branham said, I believe the church is begin to hear the message, and beginning to understand. But, friends,
listen, we've got to lay in the Presence
of the Son; we've got to be ripened. Our faith isn't ripe. Intellectually we're hearing the message
that God has give us, and seeing the signs that He showed us, and proving it by
the Bible as that; but, oh, how the
church needs to lay in His Presence till it tenders up, you know,
and gets sweet in the Spirit so
that it can bathe down. Sometimes in
speaking the message, you get harsh,
have to break it in like that, because
you've got to clinch a nail to make it hold. But when the church once gets it,
the Elected is called out and separated then in the Presence of God, I know
it'll be something like the people was there when it takes its rapture.
But if we try to go through this time alone, we will most certainly
become hard of heart. Ashamed of Him 65-0711 P:35 And
it's not only a desert; is it hot, but it's spiritually a desert. Oh, my.
There's no spiritual life at all in the churches, they're against... Why, you
never seen such in your life. We don't even have a church to go to or nothing.
And then when... The people almost perish spiritually. I noticed it in the
people that come out there, see the differences in them, watching it. And so
you stay under the Spirit of God; your life becomes sweet, tender, like water
brings this grass and soft buds. If... This grass in
Now, certainly some things we must hit from the pulpits are hard but
brother Branham tells us that the Word must be hard in order to make us soft.
And Jesus told us that the Word is like a Rock that we must dash ourselves
against if we are to become soft in our spirit. But if it comes down on us it
will crush us. That’s a paraphrase, and maybe not the best but close to the
thought that Jesus told us in the parables.
And from his sermon, From that time 62-0713 P:95 brother Branham
said, What good is stones without a stonemason? People wants more members
in their church. Will you make a decision, roll up a stone? That's a
confession. Certainly. But what good is that stone, if there isn't a stonemason
there with a sharp two-edged Word of God to shape it into a son or daughter of
God, to make it fit into the building? We need stonemasons, stonecutters by the
Word of God, to cut the confessions into real genuine pillars of the
I know 60-0417S P:46 When I lost my baby, and my
little Sharon, I... That was one thing that stumbled me. I said, "How can
that be for the good? How can it be for the good?" And months later, when
I seen her standing there in all the beauty of a young girl, speaking to me,
standing by the side of that old wagon broken down there. I knowed if she would've lived, she might've turned out wrong. God had to take her while she was tender
and sweet. I know I'll see her again. I know I shall see her; I know it
beyond any shadow of doubt.
God identifying Himself 64-0320 P:3 All
of our things in
Leadership 65-1207 P:111 And
the Spirit speaking through this brother a few minutes ago, said, "I'll
take that stony heart out of you, and give you a heart of flesh, tender towards God." Look how it's
become now, just a intellectual emotion (See?), not a tender heart full of love and sweetness towards Christ. Don't
you want that kind of a heart? How you going to face Christ with an
intellectual conception of Him?
Presuming 62-0408 P:84 Bless
these people now. Forgive their sins. May the sweetness, and mellowness, and
tenderness of the Holy Spirit rest upon each of them.
Speak to the rock 60-0723 P:26 Carnality
had cut off their spiritual supply. Carnality had cut off all their joy, all...
They begin murmuring and fussing; they took them off in the desert. If anything
I hate is a desert. It's hot; there's nobody hardly can live there, and everything
you get against in the desert's got stickers on it. Every kind of little old
vine's got stickers on it. You know why? It's because there's no water there.
Now, if that same little plant grew up in my country, or up in a country that's
got rain on it, that little plant would not be a sticker. That little sticker
would unfold, and it would be a nice tender leaf when it comes into a watered
place. That's what's the matter with the churches, the reason they fuss, and
quarrel, and stew, and so called Christians, because they've been bypassed from
the land of blessing, from the fountain that never runs dry, from the Rock in
the weary land. And they have become dry and carnal. They want to stick and
say, "The days of miracles is past. That's a bunch of holy-rollers. No
such a thing as that." Oh, just let them come to the water one time. It is to unfold and get tender and sweet,
and kind and humble. Something takes place when you put him in water. I
don't know why, but it happens that way. Oh, carnality had cut them off.
God's provided way fellowship 60-0709 P:81 You
know, the Scripture speaks of a little child leading them in Isaiah, 10th
chapter. Their heart's not been pulled through so much of the world, till
they're young and tender. They love
God, and God loves them, and He can talk to them. We've seen so many disappointments and things; it's hard for our hearts. And many time we pulled it through old
"True Story" magazines and stuff of the world, that should never have
been there. It's callused it. God will take every callous off you, if you
just let Him make you tender, sweet, kind hearted, loving, forgiving one
another, if you'll just have faith, just believe. I'm just waiting a
moment.
Thirsting for life 57-0630 P:54
It's a real sweet feeling in your heart, knowing that you've passed from death
unto life, that you're at peace with God, real tender heart that feeds on the
things of God, than to have all the... Now, remember, I believe in shouting; I
believe in speaking with tongues; I believe in everything God said. I believe
in every miracle, every sign. But I
would rather have this than all the rest of it put together. Wouldn't you
rather have it? I'd rather have that
real sweet, mellow Holy Spirit moving into my life and making all the world
pass away, than to have all the noise and...Now, I believe in shouting,
sure. I shout and scream myself. That's right. I believe in every gift. I
wouldn't be here preaching healing. I believe in all those things. But brother,
that isn't it yet. That's not it. These gifts and signs, that's not it. It's Christ in the heart. That's it.
Then you'll stay. That's life. God bless you now.
Living dying buried rising coming 59-0403
P:42 Listen friends, I'll ask... take any
student here to--to--to discuss that. The Scripture said that the Angel of God
could only seal those who weeped and cried for the abominations did in the
city. All that has read that, say, "Amen." There it is. Just those
who sigh and cry for the abominations of the city. "Oh," you say,
"I been a Pentecostal a long time." That's good. So have I. But
brother, what about that spirit of concern about the lost world if you're about
the Father's business. You say, "Well, I--I--I get a blessing every
night." And if that good, humble, sweet, meek Spirit isn't on you... What is the fruits of the Spirit? Love,
peace, joy, long-suffering, goodness, gentleness, patience. Don't take no
chance. In the morning may be too late. A hour from now may be too late. Why
don't you come now before there's any healing service, before there's anything.
Come right down, say, "Lord, I want to get right. I want a Spirit in me that'll make me love. I want a Spirit in me
that'll make me appreciate what Jesus did for me, insomuch that me heart will be tender and loving, and I
can forgive the people from my heart, not because it's a duty."
Way to
have fellowship 55-1009 P:18 I'd
rather have a church... Listen, just a moment. I would rather have a church that knows nothing about any spiritual
gift, and just be so in love with each other and with Christ, I'd rather have
that than every spiritual gift operating in the church.
Questions and answers COD 54-0103M P:67 I'd
rather have a church that had such a burden on their heart for prayer that they
just stayed at this altar and would
be here day and night, and everything else; and in their house, was constantly in prayer, and humble, and trying to get people to come to God, and making calls at the hospital, and visiting the sick, and trying
to get people to come to church and do right. I'd rather have that than all
the other put together; although the other is right, it belongs in the
church."
Thirsting for life 57-0630 P:54 It's a real sweet feeling in your heart,
knowing that you've passed from death unto life, that you're at peace with God,
real tender heart that feeds on the things of God, than to have all the... Now,
remember, I believe in shouting; I believe in speaking with tongues; I believe
in everything God said. I believe in every miracle, every sign. But I would rather have this than all the rest
of it put together. Wouldn't you rather have it? I'd rather have that real
sweet, mellow Holy Spirit moving into my life and making all the world pass
away, than to have all the noise and...Now, I believe in shouting, sure. I
shout and scream myself. That's right. I believe in every gift. I wouldn't be
here preaching healing. I believe in all those things. But brother, that isn't it yet. That's not it. These gifts and signs,
that's not it. It's Christ in the heart.
That's it. Then you'll stay. That's life. God bless you now.
Where I think pentecost failed 55-1111 P:70
I'd rather have the Giver than all the gifts. Paul said,
"You... though I could have the gifts, without the Giver..."Now, if
we had have went to seeking the Giver instead of the gifts, I believe the
Church would've been farther up the road, don't you think so? If we'd stayed
close to God, and loved Him, and just kept living for Him, and not trying to
push things over; just live for God, and live a pure, holy life, and live, and
pray everyday, keep yourself refreshed in His Presence. God will take care of
the rest of it.
Where I think pentecost failed 55-1111 P:65
I've often said this: "You be salty; the earth will be
thirsty." He said, "You're the salt of the earth." You just get
salty, the earth will get thirsty. You live such in your neighborhood and
around your people, the people know, say, "There's a real Christian; I'll
tell you that. If there ever was a Christian there she is, or there he
is." That's the way to be. I'd rather
have that in my heart than all the gifts there is, God has in His Bible.
That's right. For the Bible said, "Though I speak with tongue of men and
angels (He could do it.), have not charity, I'm nothing. Though I have wisdom
and understand all the Word of God, I'm nothing without charity. Though I have
faith to move mountains..." Come out here and have faith, not only to heal
the sick, but to move mountains, and have not love, though I could--though I
could, it's possible you could.
I’d rather have favor with God than to have
favor with man.
I’d rather have my name written down in His
book than to have it on all the Newspapers, and billboards throughout the entire world.
I’d rather have a little
mission church like this one than to preach to the largest church in the world
full of stuffy and starchy people.
Hear ye Him 58-0209A P:45
Men and women, hear me today as your
brother. Let all your little isms and your little sensations drop; find the
love of God. I'd rather have His love
than every gift He's got in His Kingdom. Give me His love. That's what the
world is looking for today, is to see a display of real love. It'll win souls
when you got love. They can tell it when you got love. We got to much make-believe
love.
Thirsting for life 57-0613 P:56 I wished I had the love of God in my heart in
such a way, that's what I want, to present the Gospel to the people in such a
way they'd just fall and receive Christ. I'd rather have that, than all the
gifts of healing and everything else there is in the Bible. Give me love and take the rest of it. Let
me love Him. That's what I want to do, is love Him. I'm thankful for the
little portion.
Jehovah Jireh 57-0326 P:40 I'd
rather have the Presence of God with me and be called a "holy-roller"
than be a archbishop in some other church that couldn't believe the powers of
God. That's right. If I had to worship in a mission or a brush harbor, I'd like
to be where the Spirit of God is. That's exactly right.
Enticing spirits 55-0724 P:27 I'd
rather have a drunkard with me any day than a liar (See?), a liar.
Uncertain sound 60-1218 P:58 Now,
pardon me, church members. That's the reason we're trying to say this morning,
you can't evaluate your big church, your big steeples, and things, with the
love of God that's in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. No comparison. These things
come supernatural. You may think that we're odd because you hear them speak
with tongues and interpret, and people cry and shout and scream. I'd rather
have it than all... I'd rather be a pastor of a little old rackled-up building
like this, where the power of God meets with the people, where the Church comes
together with those things like that, than to have the biggest cathedral there
is in all the world to preach in, with a lukewarm bunch of cold, professed,
so-called Christians, that have to watch what every word you say. And you can't
preach by inspiration; you have to have it so--so, and watch every judge and
every doctor and everything in there, so you don't say something to hurt their
feelings, because they're big payers on the church. I'll take the way with the
Lord's despised few. See? You can't evaluate it. There's no way of doing it.
In
closing, Let me read a few Scriptures that paul speaks to us about having the
right kind of Love towards one another.
2 Corinthians 13: 11 Finally,
brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in
peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 6: 6 By
pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by
love unfeigned,
2 Corinthians 5: 14 For
the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for
all, then were all dead:
2 Corinthians 2: 8 Wherefore
I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
2 Corinthians 2: 4 For
out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears;
not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have
more abundantly unto you.
1 Corinthians 2: 9 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.
Philippians 4: 8 Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.