L-1 Let's bow our heads for prayer.
Our Father, we thank Thee, this morning, for this grand time of coming together again, and to opening up the Word of the Lord, laying It here before us. And--and with prayer now, that the Holy Spirit will take that which is God, and will deliver It to us, that we might leave this place of worship today with happy hearts full of joy. See Your great power of deliverance, Lord, how it delivers the captive and sets them free, makes known to us "the things that was, and which is, and shall come." And we just thank Thee for these things.

L-2 We pray that You'll bless us as we study Thy Word now together. And when we leave, may it be said in our hearts, as we go along the way, "Our hearts burned within us as He, the Holy Ghost, talked to us while we were in the way." [Luke 24:32]

L-3 Bless every minister today, everywhere, Thy servants that's standing for This, Thy Truth. Answer their prayers for the sick. Heal the sick bodies of those that are suffering.

L-4 Lord, we would ask that You'd go out among the people and seek out that predestined seed out there, Lord, and bring it around, in some way, that the Light will fall across the path, Lord. For, we believe that the hour is getting late, the sun is swiftly sinking in the west, then will soon be that "time shall be no more." Time and Eternity will blend together when God and His people blends together. And we pray, God, that, at that time, that we will be numbered among those that'll be blended into Christ, that's called His Bride. [Revelation 10:6]
Help us, today, as we prepare, knowing not what tomorrow will hold, but we are ready to receive anything, Lord, as far as we know, that Thou has for us. We are ready to receive It. We ask this blessing for the glory of God, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
You may be seated.

L-5 I was sure happy, this morning, when I walked in and saw that the--the people gathered together for the service of the Lord. And we are giving announcement now for tonight. There will be healing service tonight. We'll be praying for the sick, tonight. Just a few moments ago, they...

L-6 As I come in, Billy, my son, told me, said, "There's a--a gentleman here, that's just a poor man that's drove from a long distance." And said, "I--I put him in the room, dad."

L-7 I--I got in late last night, and--and didn't get to study much on the Sunday school subject that I was going to talk on, this morning. So I picked up some little notes that I picked from what I heard some brother say, and took from that a text, to kind of have the Sunday school lesson this morning; and while we prepare, make ready for the evening service.

L-8 And Billy said, "There's a man in there that's sick." Said, "I--I--I wish you'd go by and see him." So, I went into the room just now. And a brother about my age, and his wife, setting in there. And the Holy Spirit came down among us in the room just now.

L-9 Just think, just making mention of healing service, and there He was. See? And He told this brother all about what he had done, and what he had been doing, and what caused his trouble, and where he come from, and all about him. And there was a great dark shadow hung in the room. Then it started getting lighter, lighter, lighter, and lighter, then the Holy Spirit took a hold.

L-10 I think the man is in the... somewhere back here now. He and his wife maybe can't get into the building, but they said they were going to stay, anyhow, for the service. They come from up around, near Yakima, Washington, and drove in. And he's a minister of the Gospel.
But just to see the grace of--of God there! Where, the man had been in the institution and had treatments and everything. The Holy Spirit revealing all this. When, the doctors trying hard to do everything that they could, perhaps, for the man, but it just took that certain little touch from God, to turn the tide. Shock treatments is all right, but it's kind of like we'd call "a shot in the dark," you know. You, it might make you worse, see, 'cause you'd forget everything you ever knew, when they put that medicine in you. But the Lord God, how His grace and mercy! And even before I ever offered a word of prayer for him, it was already over. See? Just took that certain something of God, that certain touch, to do it.
I oughtn't to say this. Yeah. I'd look over, see the man now. Well, I didn't know whether you'd make it today, or not.

L-11 Down in the country where I been staying, this week. I--I--I love my friends down there. It's a little vacation before these big meetings, you see. And I come home, to go down there and go out squirrel hunting with these brethren. And this family, families, rather, that I stay with down there, are certainly lovely people. And the man, real brother, friends, they are.
And one of them is a great lover of--of hunting dogs. And he has a pen full of them up there. And--and I seen the prettiest little hound down there, a little fellow, was what I call about that, "half a dog high and two dogs long," you know, that--that was running around the house there. I thought, "My, wouldn't Joe like to have something like that!"

L-12 And, course, out in Arizona, couldn't use him. He'd get in the cactus, and that would be the end of him. So then I said, too, "You can't have it. They don't use dogs in there, in that part of the country. Cause, they, well, they just couldn't use them. They, too, the weather, the--the condition of the country with cactus, and they'd get killed. And then, true, a hound out there, a--a wolf, or something would kill him, perhaps, anyhow, if he'd get out.

L-13 So then this man said to me, "You can just have him." But I--I couldn't take him. I--I appreciated it. Come to find out, it was one of his favorite dogs.

L-14 And this man has got a lovely little wife and little kiddies. And the other day, she started to back out with his car, and she had this Oldsmobile car. And the little dog is only about that long, just a puppy. And she run right straight over him. That Oldsmobile going right across the little dog, in its back here, and mashed it down, where the rocks on the driveway had just pinched across its little stomach down here, you know. And--and the little wife, instead of running the little dog over to the veterinary... Course, the veterinary would just put it to sleep right then, and killed it. See?
There was another young man with me. And soon as he got up there, said, "That was my dog, I'd shoot it." Said, "That's all. Let it suffer like that?"

L-15 I said, "Well, let's not shoot it." I said, "Let's wait a little bit."
Got everybody away, and went and prayed for it. The little dog followed me up on the porch. And he, yes, he... See? "Whatsoever things that you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive it; ye shall have it, be given to you." "Whatsoever things." That's our Lord God. Isn't it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] He's--He's marvelous and wonderful. And we certainly love Him, this morning; and expecting Him, and knowing. [Mark 11:24]

L-16 Seen, the other day, a--an old couple, the mother and father of a very fine member of this--this congregation of believers. And the mother is, oh, I guess she's close to hundred, and the dad is, too. And for around twelve years this man has never moved; on his back, just laying straight out. Or, can't lay on his side, or nothing. Laid there for twelve years. Just old age! And the mother is now about his age, I guess, somewhere close to a hundred, and poor old thing is just about lost her mental control. She is thinking somebody is taking all she has.
And I looked at the... across the table, at all of us, young and old, setting there. And I said, "Where are we going? What are we doing?" And the lady that I was staying with then, that was her mother and dad. And I said, "You're headed that way, too. Exactly, every one of us." See?

L-17 Just think of it, just a moment, before we start our lesson. That's where you're headed. What are you struggling for? So you can live. What are you living for? So you can die. Wouldn't it be most foolish if we didn't accept God's provision for Eternal Life? What could we think about? What--what could be on our mind, that would attract our attention from... to anything? What if you owned a hundred million dollars, and you owned the state of--of Indiana, or any other state, or even a nation, or, as far as that concern, the entire world?
You live long enough, you've got to come to that, too. See? And constantly, day by day, every time your heart beats, you're going right straight to that. See? You, there's no winning for you. You're on the losing side, and, you, you've got to lose. But remember the promise, that, "He that'll lose his life for My sake shall find it." Now, what would be any more of a treasure to find than Life, though you found the whole world to be yours? But, if you--if you find Life, you found the greatest thing that could be found. I want to... [Matthew 10:39]

L-18 Looked to my left and saw again, just now, another trophy of the grace of the Lord. About a few weeks ago, I was called to the phone. And a lovely member of this church, or this body... I don't want to call this so much as a church. I--I want to call this, that...
Like I was talking to some people, they said, "Well, what church you belong to?"
I said, "I don't belong..."
"What denomination you belong to?"
I said, "None."
Said, "Well, what do you belong to?"
I said, "A Kingdom."

L-19 A Kingdom! "And by one Spirit we are baptized into that Kingdom." By one Spirit, all, into this Kingdom! Jesus said, "Pray, 'Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.'" Now, He stood one day before Mount Transfiguration, He said, "Verily I say to you, that some stand here, shall not taste death, until they see the Kingdom come in power." It was foreshowed, as we've been through it, Mount Transfiguration. And the Bible said, "The Kingdom of God is within you." So, this is a Kingdom people that professes that this is not their home. This is not our home. We are looking for the Coming of the King, set up the Kingdom. [I Corinthians 12:13], [Matthew 6:13], [John 8:52], [Luke 9:27], [Mark 9:1], [Matthew 16:28], [Luke 17:20-21]

L-20 I was called on an emergency case, of a--an old brother that's been like a daddy to me. And he... I hadn't knowed him very long, but I remember the day that I took him in here for water baptism. And the man will soon be ninety-one years old. And his lovely wife called me, and her being a nurse, said, "He had a complete heart failure." Besides that, he had... Oh, I call... can't call the name. Heart attack. [A sister says, "Coronary"--Ed.] Coronary heart attack. Thank you. Coronary heart attack, and a complete heart failure. Doctor give no hopes, at all. And the man was dying, and he called for me.

L-21 And I got in my little old Ford, and started up the road to Ohio, as hard as I could. And didn't know, one of my wheels out of line, ripped the tire off of it. So then I... getting up there. Coming out of a filling station, about eleven o'clock. I was worried about him. I--I love him. And I know, if--if it continues on, the Lord tarries, why, sooner or later, we're going to have to give each other up.

L-22 But, that won't hurt the Rapture, now. See? No. They come first, then. Them are privileged, that's gone on. They come first. See? See? "We which are alive and remain, to the Coming of the Lord, will not hinder or prevent those that are asleep. The trumpet of God shall sound; the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then when our eyes behold our loved ones, then we'll be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, and with them shall be caught up together." See? The ones that goes first are privileged above those that are living. [I Thessalonians 4:15-18]

L-23 As I stepped out of the station, just at eleven o'clock, the Holy Spirit said to me, "Don't worry about him. You'll shake his hand, on the street again, and he'll come in the church," man ninety-one years old, dying.
When I met his wife and his loved ones in the hospital at Lima, they told me about his condition. Went in, looked at him in there. He said, "But he's something strange." Said, "He--he started changing for the better, at eleven o'clock." Well, and I'd... The Lord had showed them people so many things, they know that I just didn't say that. Because, they said it to me first, "He started changing." They knowed that I would tell them the truth.

L-24 So, last Sunday, as I was going into the Blue Boar Cafeteria in Louisville, where I think about eighty percent of this congregation gathers on Sunday afternoon, to eat, who did I see coming down the street? I tell you, my heart quivered when I seen our Brother Dauch coming down the street, exactly what He told me. I shook his hand, on the--on the street.

L-25 Then I--I come back here for last Sunday night and spoke on the subject of the unity, of The Uniting Of The Time Sign. So... And then that brought that to pass, just what He said. And here he sets in the church today, right here by us, as a trophy of the grace of God. When shaking his hand under the tent, oxygen tent he was under, I said, "Brother Dauch, you'll be all right. I'll see you in church again. That, that's THUS SAITH THE LORD." See? Here he sets in the church, right here now, Brother Dauch.

L-26 If I'm not mistaken, the minister I talking about, a few moments ago, the Holy Spirit came in and revealed all these things; told him how it happened, and told him what he done; how it happened, how it come to pass, all that's been taking place since then, even to the character of his family, and all about that. And told him, that, "It's over." And the minister is setting right over here, at the right hand. Would you just raise up your hand, sir? There, he and his wife, exactly, just now.
Here sets Brother Dauch, right here now. Oh, my!

L-27 Isn't He wonderful? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "Those things which was, which is, and shall come to pass." One, two, three witnesses. "The things which was, what you have done; the things that's going on now; and the things that will come to pass." And every time, exactly, exactly upon the Word. That's only God can do that. Oh! Aren't we most happy for these things? ["Amen."] [Revelation 1:8]

L-28 Now, reason I was taking just a little bit extra time, Billy had to go get his wife and baby. And he said, "Daddy, don't start preaching till I get back." So, I--I think he's back now. And I ought to have that much time, anyhow. I'm trying to get away from these four hours of strain that I put you all under here, and make it thirty-five, forty minutes, you see, and trying to keep it.

L-29 Now, I was commented one time in Chicago. I got it to a thirty minute, or something, thirty-five minutes. And last Sunday night was only forty-five minutes. Billy said, "You're really improving, dad. I'm kind--kind--kind of proud of you, for that."

L-30 Well, maybe, this morning, to make it a little Sunday school type, I won't keep you too long. Then you can go out and have your lunch, and pray, and come back tonight for healing services. We're going to form a prayer line tonight and pray for the sick.

L-31 Now, if you know any peoples around, anywhere, that's sick and wants to be prayed for, you bring them here tonight. See? If you have to bring them, any way, get them here. See? That's the main thing, is, bring them here tonight. We all meet together. That way... It's hard to make calls, going place after place; then you leave off somebody, there's a hard feeling. But if I can get them all in one place, then I could pray for them. Now, if you'll... If the people wants to be prayed for, they... You say, "Will they?" Oh, certainly. They'll be prayed for. Bring them on in. The Lord willing, we'll be here, pray for everybody. Cause, I feel that that third pull is beginning to move, you see, with--within me. I--I--I want to pray for everybody.

L-32 Now let us turn, this morning to a familiar old Scripture where I kind of picked up in a hurry last night, being real sleepy, and wrote out a few more Scriptures to go with it. And taking kind of complimentary. I heard some brother, once, use this text. I thought... I jotted it down. I thought, "Well, I believe I'll jot that down, 'cause it might come in handy."
Lot of times we do that. I notice, many of you here, had a piece of paper. And a minister can be saying something, and then you'll--you'll hit that point, something will strike within you. And then if the Holy Spirit is doing that, then you'll start building from that very point right there, a message for the Lord. And that's all right. I've noticed in meetings, wherever you go, just preachers and people jotting down. That's all right. We--we are here, that's what we're here for, is to try to help one another along these roads.

L-33 And now let's turn to Revelations, the 3rd chapter, at the church ages, repeating a church age. But now we are... we... there. Yeah. I could take this one text, and with the Holy Spirit, preach on It a hundred years and never get what's in It out. Because, in this one text, like all other texts of the Bible, It's all tied together.
And I want to take my subject, this morning, of this: How Can I Overcome? Now, I chose this because that I think that it's a time that we should never let the Spirit of revival die. We've got to keep in revival, constantly revived, every day. Paul said he had to "die daily, that Christ could live." And we must never let that revival die, within us. [I Corinthians 15:31]
Now, Revelations, the 3rd chapter, and beginning with the 21st verse, we read this.

L-34 Did you notice the--the 'rangements of that? See? "Set with Me in My throne," not "on My throne." "In My throne," that's in His domain. See? And now, as--as Christ is the Ruler, throne Ruler at this time, of the complete domain of God, so will the Church be with Him, the Bride be with Him, in His throne, in the entire domain. See? Not "on My throne," but "in My throne," see, where His domain reaches. A throne is over a domain, and--and a domain reaches just as far as its boundaries does. And this is from Eternity to Eternity. Just think of it! [Revelation 3:21], [John 14:1-4]

L-35 Now, as we study this, my purpose of this is just not to come here to--to fellowship with you people. Which, I love to do that. But if--if I had a chance to do that, I would come to your home, and shake your hand and talk with you, and set down, eat dinner with you; and set down, under the shade tree, and talk and fellowship a while.
But when we come here, we are here for one specific purpose. This is the house of correction. This is the throne. This is the throne of God, and judgment goes forth from the house of God. And here is where we come together, gather in love, with one another, as only Christians can love. But, in here, we are--we are under a--a--a--a leadership of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is among us. And we're here to be... to take reckoning among us, to see where our short places are, our shortcoming, and how can we catch from where we should be, over to where we ought to be now; where we are, and where we ought to be. And that's what we study. Ministers study those places, for their people. When they see the people, the lack, then they begin on that. [II Timothy 3:15-17]

L-36 Now, soon, I think that the church maybe should be taking just a little step higher at this time. I don't plan on doing it this morning, of showing these things. But I--I think, shortly, the Lord willing, before we preach on those Trumpets, I want to--to--to bring the Church just something that--that you should know, I believe, now.

L-37 And now we're speaking on this, "overcoming." The word overcome, of course, you know what it means. You've got to have something to overcome. And this church age that the Holy Spirit was speaking about here, at the Laodicea Church Age, as we have just been through it, needed a rebuking. Laodicea had to be rebuked, because of its--its different towards Christ. It had put Christ outside, in--in their age. And Christ was on the outside, trying to get back on the inside. That's love. After He had been put out of His Own house, was trying to come back in, and said, "He that'll open the door, I'll come in to him." See? The church, itself, in whole, had put Him out. [Revelation 3:14-21]

L-38 But now notice. His call here is not to just the church. "He that overcometh." See? Not the church; that would be she, see, the church body. But it's "he that overcometh," the individual that will overcome, now. [Revelation 3:21]

L-39 And Laodicea had it coming to her. Now we see, then, knowing that this is the Laodicea Age, and knowing that this age needs a sharp rebuke from God. It needs a sharp rebuke. And when our clergy gets so soft and doty, like some aged grandfather to his grandchildren, ever what they do is perfect. And they're... [Revelation 3:14-21]

L-40 It's been said so much, that God is such a good God, until they try to make God just a big doty grandfather. You see? But He is not. He is a Father, and a Father of righteousness, of correction. And love is always corrective. See? Love corrects. No matter how bad it hurts, it still corrects.
A real mother will correct her children. A real dad will correct. See? If you just get soft and doty, and let it...

L-41 I was crossing an old log the other day, down a--a wash, or what is called a hollow. And I jumped up on this log. On the outside, it looked good, looked like a big old beech log. But when I jumped on it, oh, a great chunk of it fell off. It was real rotten and dotty. I said, "That's the way the Christians are becoming." They been dead in sin and trespasses, so long, till become doty. They can hold no weight, at all. They--they don't know what the overcoming means. I begin to think of this text, then. Overcome, keep Life in you. When life went out, that's what brought that log to that condition. See? And it made it worse than ever when it laid in the branch where the water was. [Romans 8:10], [Revelation 3:21]

L-42 And then, there, you take a Christian, that's supposed to be a Christian, let the Life of God go from him, and the experience, the joy of serving Christ; and, living in a church where such is going on, he rottens twice as quick, right, living right under. [Revelation 3:21]

L-43 So, if we are trying to follow the Message of the hour, or at least this part of the Message, we should live constantly in the Life of Christ. See? Cause, if it don't, you lay around, and know That, these things that you're supposed to do, and don't do it. The Bible said, "He that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it's sin." Then you become doty, rotten, when you're separated from the Life of God. So, strive with all that's in you, to stay in the Life of Christ, that you be fruit-bearing. [James 4:17], [I Corinthians 15:31]

L-44 We see this age that we're living in. It's one of the grandest ages of all ages. This Laodicea Church Age is the grandest of all the church ages, because it's the ending of time and the blending of Eternity. And, then, it's the greatest sinful age. It's more sin in this age than there's ever been. And the powers of Satan is--is many times harder to fight against than it was in any age. See? Here! [Revelation 3:14-21]

L-45 Back there in early ages, a Christian could, for his profession of in a church, of belonging to Christ, could be beheaded for it. He could be killed, and put out of his misery, and go to meet God, quickly.
But now the enemy has come in, in the name of the church, and it's so deceiving. This is the great age of deception. When, Christ said so, "The two spirits would be so close in the last days till it would deceive the very Elected if it was possible." See? See? See? Remember, Christ spoke of an elected people for the last day. See? "It would deceive the very Elected if it were possible." So close! The people so live, people can live a clean, holy life; not be sinful, adulterers, and drinkers, and liars, gamblers. They can live above that, and still not with It. That's right. [Matthew 24:24]

L-46 This is the--the age of Life, personal Life of Christ, where, the--the chemical of His Body, what was in Him.
First, under justification, the water baptism. Second, under the new Birth, of Wesley, sanctification, which cleanses. And thirdly, under the baptism of the Holy Spirit, putting that sanctified vessel into service. See? The word sanctify means, it's a compound Greek word which means "cleaned and set aside for service," set aside for service. Now the Holy Spirit puts it in service. See? [Revelation 3:14-21], [Matthew 24:24], [John 14:20]

L-47 And we'll notice, "When the unclean spirit is gone from a man, he walks in dry places." That's exactly what the church has done, Baptists, Methodists, those who believed in sanctification. "Then," Jesus said, "the unclean spirit that went out, returns back to this church body and finds the house garnished, swept clean, living pure, clean lives." All right. "But then if that house isn't filled, occupied, then he comes in with seven other evil demons worse than he was, and the last stage of this place is seven times worse than it was at the first place." They had been better to stay Lutheran, than it would to be to receive that Light and fail to follow It. So will the Pentecostals, see, you know what I mean, the house is garnished. [Matthew 12:43-45], [Luke 11:24-26]

L-48 As I was talking to someone, the other day, said, "They're very careful, even many of the holiness groups, not to call the Holy Ghost, 'Holy Ghost,' 'cause they identify themselves with Pentecostals when they do that. They say, 'Holy Spirit,' see, keep from saying, 'Holy Ghost.'" Because, the Pentecostal, common people, just call It what the Bible says, "Holy Ghost." Which, Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost is the same thing. But they're very careful about it. They don't want to be identified with them tongues-speaking people; and that's the Holy Spirit, Itself. See?
What happened then? When the enemy, that went out under sanctification, that was washed out, returned back and found the house not filled with the Holy Spirit, now the state of the church is joined with the--with the league of churches, with the World Council of Churches. And it's a state now that connects it with Roman Catholicism and all the rest of it, and now it's seven times worse than it was when it come out of Lutheranism. That's where man takes it. [Matthew 12:43-45], [Luke 11:24-26]

L-49 And then look at the Laodicea Church Age after has received the Holy Ghost, and with the knowledge and the Spirit of God within It, and then the works of God is denied by It, and call It "an evil work." Then what about that? There is where Christ is put out of His Own church. See? He... It never showed Him in the church until it come to Laodicea; and when He got to Laodicea, He had been put out of His church, trying to get back in. [Revelation 3:14-21]

L-50 Now, see, justification never put Him in. Sanctification just cleaned the place for Him. But when the baptism of the Holy Spirit come, it put Him in the people. And now they turned Him out, when He begin to show Hisself, that He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. They turned Him out because they have denominated, and the--the Spirit of the Lord don't agree with their denomination. You understand now? [Congregations says, "Amen."--Ed.] That, they put Him out. "We don't want nothing to do with His telepathy. It's--it's of the Devil. It's fortune-telling. Or..." See?
They don't understand. "Eyes and can't see; ears, and can't hear." See? God only opens eyes as He will. "He hardens who He hardens, He wishes to, and--and--and gives Life to those who He desires to." That's what the Scripture said. [Hebrews 13:8], [Romans 8:29-30]

L-51 Now, we see these hours that we're in, this stage, and we see what it was. And the Holy Ghost is rebuking the age that put Him out. But, in all that, did you notice, "To him that overcometh"? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Even in that worldly, wicked church age, "Him that overcometh." [Revelation 3:21]

L-52 We find here that God has always had overcomers. He's had overcomers in every age. There's always, every time, in every age that there's been on the earth, God has always had somebody He could put His hands on, as a witness in the earth. He's never been without a witness, though sometimes just one. But somebody overcome, now, like the saints of old. [Revelation 3:21]

L-53 And a--a very fine man, a scholar, was saying, after The Seven Seals, he said, "Brother Branham, you being a--a typist, typologist, rather," said, "how in the world are you going to put that Church in the Rapture without the Tribulation period, in a type?" he said.
You see, if it's a type, there's got to be a... there's got... If there's an antitype, there's got to be a type for that antitype to come from. And everything I say, that is true, has a type. It has a type. You have a shadow. And the Bible said, "The old things was a shadow of the new things to come."
He said, "But now you took the Old Testament as a shadow. Now," he said, "what you going to do with this Church?" [Colossians 2:17]

L-54 This man comes from a... A great man, a great teacher that's a bosom friend of mine, very good man, and he's a lovely brother. I--I'd be daresn't to say one word against the brother. I wouldn't, anyhow. As--as a... As a Christian, I wouldn't say nothing against him. He--he--he don't agree with me on that one subject, but he--he's my precious brother. We eat together. And, oh, he's just a dandy fellow. I take his magazine, read his articles. And he writes some of mine, and so forth. And I've took a many a texts out of what I--I've read--read of his articles, hear him say. He's a great man, but he--he just can't agree with me. I appreciate that, of his sincerity. Though he don't just, one of these pushover, just have to agree with everything you say. He's got his own conviction, and he stands for it. I appreciate that. And he's a good man. Oh, I--I am not a teacher or scholar, at all, but this man is both teacher and scholar.

L-55 But I--I can't agree with him, 'cause I don't see it. But, it doesn't pertain to salvation, it's pertaining to the Coming of the Lord. He sees that the Church has to go through the Tribulation period, for purification. I say the Blood of Jesus Christ purified the Church. See? It needs no...
I believe that the church goes through the Tribulation period, church organization, but the Bride does not. Would you choose a woman you had to purify before you married her? See? Christ's Bride is chosen, and She is Elected. And She is God's Bride, the Bride of Jesus Christ.

L-56 And now he said, "How you going to type that, if that Bride goes forth, goes up before She goes through the Tribulation period?" Said, "I got Scripture that shows you that the Church is in the Tribulation period."
I said, "Just read the Sixth Seal, that's all, she is right there under the Tribulation period. But find out, just before that, the Bride is done gone. See? She is in Glory at that time. She has no purification." See?
"He that believeth on Me has everlasting Life, and shall not come into condemnation or the Judgment, but has passed from death unto Life." Christ gave the promise that we would not even stand at the Judgment. So freely did he take my place, until I'm absolutely free. When I'm pardoned, I'm pardoned. How can He take me out of the pawn shop, got a clear receipt, if... How can He be my Redeemer, and take me from the pawn shop, and the broker still say I belong to him? I got a written receipt, amen, see, wrote by the Blood of Jesus Christ. See? Now, in that, here is where we come.
He said, "Now, how are you going to get, separate that elected Bride you talk about now, how you going to put That under a type?" [John 6:47], [John 5:24]

L-57 I said, "Very good." I say, "Here it is now, in Matthew, the 27th chapter and the 51st verse." If we...
Let me just read it, and then we--we got it good. Then we find out whether it was typed or not, whether it's the elected Bride. Matthew, the 27th chapter and the--and the 51st verse. All right. We read this, at the crucifixion of our Lord.

L-58 Now, that was the law. The law ended right there. Because, the veil kept the congregation from the holy articles of God. Only an anointed priest went in there, and, that, once a year. Remember? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Now, God, with His Own hand, notice, "from the top to the bottom," not from the bottom to the top. It's some forty-feet high. Notice, not from the bottom to the top, but "from the top to the bottom," showed it was done by God. Rent the veil in two, then the anyone, whosoever will, may come and partake of His holiness. See? All right.

L-59 There is that Elected, that Bride. Not all of the Jewish church come forth at that time. All of them made the same sacrifice. All of them was under the shed blood of the lamb. But there was an elected Group; and that elected Group, as soon as the event come, that really believed in It with sincerity. Now I'm coming to the word overcome. Now hold that. These that had really overcome, sincerely making the same offering that the rest of them made, but, in sincerity, overcome the things of the world. When the propitiation correctly was made for them, they were in paradise until that play at that time. When that time was made, they had overcome and was resting, sleeping; see, "many bodies of those that slept in the dust," see, slept. [Matthew 27:51-53]

L-60 Now, if we had time, we could go on back to Daniel, when, Daniel, that elected one that had overcome. And He said, "Close up the Book, Daniel, for thou shall rest in thy lot. But when the Prince shall come, which will stand for the people, thou shall stand in that lot." Here it is. Daniel, this prophet of God, saw the end time coming. And He said, "Daniel, you'll stand in your lot at that day." And here he was, come forth; not all of Israel, but the Bride-type of Israel. Now, the rest of Israel don't come forth until the general resurrection. [Daniel 12:9-13]

L-61 And now, at the Coming of the Lord Jesus, those who are really loving His Coming, that's living for it; when He appears in the sky, the Church that's dead in Christ shall rise, and those will be changed in a moment. The rest of them will know nothing about it. Remember, "Appeared to those in the city." See? The--the--the Rapture will be like that. We'll see each other, and we'll see them. The rest of the world won't see them. It'll be caught away as a secret going. Waiting for that time! [II Timothy 4:8], [I Thessalonians 4:14-18]
Then returning back to the earth for that glorious Millennium then, the thousand years. "The rest of the dead lived not for a thousand years." [Revelation 20:5]

L-62 And then come forth the general resurrection, where, all Israel. And also, looky there, the twelve apostles, the twelve patriarchs, all represented. And we ain't never got to that yet. Maybe, the Lord willing, we'll get to it in the Testament, how that those walls of jasper, and twelve stones, twelve gates, twelve foundations, all of that's represented. Here they are on twelve thrones, the angel-messengers of those days, to pass judgment upon those who rejected their message. Amen. There comes forth that great hour. Yeah. [Revelation 20:6, 11-15]

L-63 What a day, what a time that we're living! How that we should check up, Church. Now we talk about these things coming, that's going to come. Now, today, let's drop back here and see, check ourselves and see if we're right in the Faith.

L-64 Now let's talk of a few overcomers for a few minutes, in the days of Noah's time, which was typed by Jesus Christ, of being like today. [I Peter 3:20]
I suppose to have ten minutes. Now I'll be a half hour. I just getting started, the first page. I'll skip a few of them, if I can. And get what...

L-65 In Noah's time, type of today. Jesus referred to it, and said, "As it was in Noah's time, so shall it be in the Coming of the Son of man. In Noah's time, so shall it be in the Coming of the Son of man." Notice, there were all that antediluvian world, perhaps of millions of people, there was eight overcomers. Eight people overcome, that was real, genuine overcomers. There was Noah's three sons and their wives, and Noah and his wife. Eight overcome, that entered the ark at the appropriate time. How did they do it? They listened to the Word of God. They wasn't caught outside the door. They were caught inside the door. [Luke 17:26], [I Peter 3:20], [Hebrews 11:7]

L-66 Oh, my beloved friends, don't let that door shut. Jesus said, "As it was in that day, so shall it be in the Coming of the Son of man." (Thank you, brother.) "So shall it be in the Coming of the Son of man." Now, there's somebody is going to get caught outside that door.
Many of them might have had good intentions, and, "Some day, if such things happen, we'll go in with Brother Noah, 'cause he's a fine fellow." But, you see, it caught just eight inside. [Luke 17:26]

L-67 Now, think hard now. If you are laying around, getting doty, get in. Hurry, quick, 'cause the door might close at any time.

L-68 And there's always been an ark in God's economy. There was an ark in the days of Noah, for the saving of His people. There was an ark in the days of the law, ark of testimony. In the days of the law, they followed the ark.
And there is a third dispensation now; like Noah's time, Lot's time, and now this time. There is an ark now. And that ark is not a denomination, neither is it a good works that you do. "It's by one Spirit," Romans 8:1, "we are all baptized into one Body, in the domain of that Kingdom, one Spiritual baptism." No matter how good, how bad, whatever, you're in that Kingdom by--by Holy Ghost baptism. See? That's the only way you overcome. It's all that is under the shed Blood is overcomers, 'cause you cannot overcome, yourself. It's He that overcome for you. You're resting. [I Corinthians 12:12-18]

L-69 "How will I know then, Brother Branham, that I'm in There?" Watch what kind of a life you're living. Just look around. See if it's just lived out of you, automatically. Or, you have to strain and pull, see, then you're doing it. But don't try to do it. Did you ever try? Yeah. Don't.

L-70 Just like putting a little baby's arm in a sleeve hole, you see. He's just up, down, over, and everything else. See? He can't do it. "Put on your coat, honey." He can't do it. Little arm is up, down, around. It takes your steady hand.
Oh, how glad I am, I can just yield my hand to Father, say, "Lord Jesus, I can't get in There. You help me. Put the coat on me." I quit trying. Just let Him do it. See? [Psalms 46:1], [I Corinthians 15:31]

L-71 If the little baby keeps trying, "Oh, I can do it. I can do it." And he's just everywhere. He can't do it.
Neither can you, neither can I, but if we'll just hold still and let Him do it. Just yield to Him, "Here, Lord, here I am. Just--just let me be nothing. I--I yield. You put my hand in the right place." That's the victory. That's overcoming. [Psalms 46:1], [I Corinthians 15:31]

L-72 The thing you have to overcome is yourself, your idea, your thing, and surrender yourself to Him. He overcome for you. He knows the way; we don't. [Psalms 46:1], [I Corinthians 15:31]

L-73 But in Noah's time there was eight overcomers, and that's what went in. They were caught inside. [I Peter 3:20]
Now look, friends. I believe they're taping this. And if it's on television, or not tel-... pardon me, a tape. Whatever you do, who is listening now, or who will listen hereafter, the hour is very late, and you do have good intention, but be caught inside. Now, don't struggle. "Not him that willeth, or him that runneth, but God." Just let God. Just yield yourself to Him and walk on, with a perfect, satisfied faith, that, "What God has promised He is able to perform." Not joining one denomination, another denomination, running this, that, or the other, trying this. Just yield yourself to God, and walk with Him, peaceful, quiet, not interrupted. Just keep on walking with Him. That's right. [Romans 9:16], [Psalms 46:1], [I Corinthians 15:31], [Romans 6:10-15]

L-74 That's what I told our brother that just had the--the breakdown. See? "Just yield to Him. He's here, He Who knowed what you have done, and what caused your being and doing this way, and all that. He knows all about you, and now He's just told you back just what to do. Now," I said, "only thing you have to do is just go do it. That is, forget all about the past, walk, live for the future, in the Glory and Presence of God. [Psalms 46:1], [I Corinthians 15:31], [Philippians 3:13-15], [Romans 6:13]
Eight overcomers. [I Peter 3:20]

L-75 In the days of Daniel's time, there was four overcomers that could stand the test of fire and lion. [Hebrews 11:33-34]
Now, we're expected to be tested. That's a good lesson for my--my brother back there, also. "He that cometh to God must first be tested." Tested (what?) with the Word. That's God's test. Do you believe it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "He that cometh to God must be tested." That only shows a true child, then, see, be tested, and when the test comes on. You can't overcome 'less there's a test give to you. And when test is given, it's to see whether you can overcome or not. And Jesus said, "To him that overcometh," the test. The test is the greatest thing that ever happened to you. I believe it's written in the Scripture, Peter said, that, "Our trials are worth more to us than precious gold." It's a testing time. It's one good evidence to us that God is with us, when we're tested, for all children of God are tested and tried. [Revelation 3:21], [I Peter 1:6-7], [I Peter 4:12-19]

L-76 And Daniel, a man, a prophet. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel was the prophet, and that was the size of the Church in that day, I mean, the Bride. There's lots of church, about two million of them went down there. But there was... That was the size of the overcomer. And them overcomers was put to the test. And every overcomer has to be put to the test. When they said, "You take back what the Word says, or either be throwed in the fiery furnace." They refused anything but the Word. [Daniel 3:11], [Hebrews 11:33-34]

L-77 And when Daniel was given a test, that he should take back what the Word said, that they should lean towards the temple, as Solomon prayed, and He would deliver them from all things. God would hear from Heaven if they'd lay... look towards the temple and pray. And said, "If any man prays within these amount of days... And we are Medo-Persians, who cannot change or alter our laws. That man will be throwed into the lions' den." [Daniel 3:8-26], [Daniel 6:1-24], [I Kings 9:1-9], [II Chronicles 7:12-21]

L-78 They set a trap for him. I believe that prophet knew that. But they set a trap for him. He walked humbly. When it come time for him to pray... When, he knowed, at the home place in Jerusalem, there was a burning sacrifice on the altar. Daniel wasn't afraid of them spies. Raised up the shades, and threw back the shutters, and knelt down on his knees, and throwed his hands up to God and prayed. Why? Live or die, he had the victory. And, therefore, so much victory till the lions couldn't eat it. He--he overcome. [Daniel 6:1-10]

L-79 The Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, had so much victory until the lion... till the fire couldn't burn them. You know, victory is a hard thing to burn out, or eat up, or anything. See? So, they, they had it. [Daniel 3:8-26]

L-80 I might mention another character. In the days of Lot, Jesus referred to it, there were only three that overcome, Lot and his two daughters. Not even his wife; didn't overcome. She--she started out. She's a type. Wish we had time. My thirty minutes is up right now. See? See? She, she done all right, she left. [Genesis 19:29-30]

L-81 Now I've got to give this to you, just a moment. Many of you has left, too. Many of you left these things, to take your stand, after you search It through the Scripture and find It's right. You seen the vindication of Almighty God; not by some, what somebody said was a vindication. What the Bible said would be, and here It is doing it. You saw It was the Truth. So, you've set out, to leave Sodom, leave the denomination, leave the things that bind you to a creed; and to follow Christ, by the Holy Spirit vindicating Himself by the written Word of God. Other words, you took the Bible instead of the creed. You've set out, to follow. [Genesis 19:15-26]

L-82 Well, Lot's wife did the same thing, you know. She set out, to go with Lot, follow her husband, her children, her loved ones, but It wasn't in her heart. She still loved the world. So it's possible you can make a start, and still be the world in you. See? She never overcome. And even though she was well on the road, it finally overthrowed her. She had to take that one big, long, last look. There's where she got caught. Don't even look back. Don't have no desires. Keep going. Put your mind on Calvary and keep moving towards Christ. See? [Genesis 19:15-26]

L-83 She started out, as an overcomer, but she never did overcome. Oh, she left the denomination. She did. She walked out of Sodom, with Lot. But she wanted to go back and have her hair cut. You know what I mean. See? She had to go back. She just couldn't stand the--the test. She had to look back again, to see what the rest of them was doing. "Oh, you know, I had some good friends down there, after all. And, after all, this might be just a little--a little move. I don't know whether it could be right or not. I--I've only got this man's word for it, though he's my husband. But yet..." Your pastor is your husband, spiritually speaking, you see. "Now, whether it could be right or not, I don't know. Maybe his revelation wasn't right."
Then, if you're not perfectly satisfied, you're not perfectly know that It's the Word of God, then--then you can't go. See? You got to be really sold out. You've got to know. Not just say, "Well, I see others doing it. I see a sign." [Genesis 19:15-26], [Numbers 35:9-28]

L-84 You know, Israel started out, I could say the same thing and bring it in here. They started out, two million strong, and ended up with two men. Right. They saw the works of God. They saw the manifestation of the Spirit. They saw great, mighty miracles being done there in Egypt, and everything, and started out. But it--it wasn't in their heart. They didn't overcome. They just come out. And Jesus said, "And they perished in the wilderness," and are Eternally dead. "Every one of them is dead," that means Eternal separation. Every one of them rotted in the wilderness. [Numbers 14:2], [I Corinthians 10:1-11]

L-85 But there was two men, Joshua and Caleb. And when it come to the showdown, the obstacles was so great till they looked like grasshoppers side of them. Joshua screamed out with Caleb, and said, "We are more than able to do it." Why? "God said so." And they were overcomers. They overcome. They was the ones that was privileged, out of that whole great organization of people, to take the real, elected Bride into the promised land. Joshua and Caleb in the front lines out there, as the two generals, led them right down to the river, and crossed the river, over into the promised land. Why? They believed the Word, no matter what. [Numbers 14:26-38]

L-86 Then, Dathan raised. Dathan, rather, raised up, and so did Korah, and they tried to say, "This man is trying to make himself above all the rest of us; he's more holy than the rest of them." After God had thoroughly vindicated the man. They said, "We'll just start a group of people. We'll make this, that, or the other. We'll make our organizations. We'll do." And they died and perished.
But those men had that Word of the Lord, and they stayed with It, and they went over.
"Not he that starts; he that finishes." Many start the race, but there's One finishing it. There'll be many churches start, many groups of people. There'll be one Group finish. That's the overcomers. [Numbers 16:24-35]

L-87 Lot's day, yes, she had to have that one great, long look back. "Oh, I'm leaving So-and-so down there, them fine times we used to have. I'll never forget it." And she was caught, shut out, like it was in the days of Noah. She was shut out, without mercy, and she perished. And the--the lump still stands there today. They claim (I don't know) you could break a piece off of it and it'll grow back, a salt pillar. You ever see that picture of Sodom And Gomorrah, you'll see the original pillar of salt that stood there. [Genesis 19:15-26]

L-88 Now, there's a difference between a pillar of salt and a Pillar of Fire. See? You have to turn one way. Yeah.

L-89 Notice, in John the Baptist's time. In John the Baptist's time, there was found six that had overcome. All ages, they've had overcomers. In John's time they had six, that was Joseph and Mary, Zacharias and Elisabeth, Simeon and Ann. A man and a woman, a man and a woman, a man and a woman; see, type of Christ, the Church; Christ, the Church; Christ, the Church; Christ, the Church. See? See?

L-90 Notice, it starts from the natural man. No, Mo-... Joseph, the natural man, Joseph, what was he? A carpenter. Then the priest, what was he, see? A minister in the house of the Lord; Zacharias. And from that, to Simeon, a prophet and a prophetess. See?...?... Justification, sanctification, baptism the Holy Ghost. Amen. Don't you see it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Perfectly. Six overcome. All the rest of them, they offered their sacrifice and everything, but these were Elected. They overcome.

L-91 Notice each church age. The same overcome when they, each son out of each church age, overcome the temptation of that age. I got the Scriptures here. I don't think we really have time to make it, but we know each one of the church ages. Same now. It's just like someone who is...

L-92 See, as I said at the beginning, you are born defeated. And that birth can never bring you to--to Life, because you're born defeated. And you're in a defeated world, amongst defeated people, amongst defeated creeds, defeated denominations. You've got to come to victory some way.

L-93 It's just like a lily. Where is... A lily, I think, is one of the most prettiest flowers that there is. I'm very fond of those great calla lilies and pond lily. I think there's nothing hardly as pretty as a great big pond lily, call it water lily. How it's radiance! Now, where does it come from? It's a little seed, down in the bottom of a muddy, mucky pond. And that little seed, yet, all the radiance that'll ever shine in it, is in it right then, when it's in that mud. But it has to strive, daily, knowing that there is something. It's black. It's dirty. It's mucky. It's slimy. In that slime that it's living in, yet it presses its way through the mud, the muck, and the waters, and the stagnant places, until it sticks its head above, in the light, and expresses what's been hid in it all the time. [Matthew 6:28], [Luke 12:27]

L-94 I think that's an overcomer, that, once in sin, once did things that was wrong, don't worry about it now. Once did things that was wrong, then, now why look back into the pond again? See? Look, you have...

L-95 God, by His predestination, see, has brought this seed to life, and it's pressing itself, see, coming to light. And now, on top of all of that, it has overcome. See? It doesn't express itself down there. It's getting up, to express itself.
Neither did you, in your--your sin, and adultery, and everything that you lived in. You didn't express nothing. But there was a seed in there, and it got a chance to press itself into Light. And now you're in the Presence of Jesus Christ, with the Son Light. It brought out what you really was in the beginning. You see what I mean? You saw the Light. You bloomed out. You laid your heart open, and now you're a lily. [Ephesians 1:11], [Romans 8:29-30]

L-96 You remember my sermon on the lily? Reverend Lily, how he toils. "And, yet, does he not spin. And yet, Solomon, in all of his glory, is not arrayed like one of these." He--he--he--he--he... Look at him. He's ready to gi-....He takes nothing for himself. The lily don't care nothing about himself. What does he do? He--he throws his beauty out, his life, that others might see. His life is expressed out, that others might see the glory, what's in him, that was in him in that mud. Now he's on top.
That's the overcomer. He overcome the mud. He overcome the things of the world. And now he freely gives hisself out. Everybody can look at him. His life, you can't put a finger on it. See? He's a real overcomer. You can't say nothing about him now. Say, "He come out of the mud." But he's not in the mud now. He's on top of it. Amen. You can't now point back what he was. What is he now? He's on top. [Matthew 6:28], [Luke 12:27]

L-97 Then the bee comes by and say, "That's wonderful perfume. I believe I'll go and get my part."

L-98 He just opens up his heart, "Come on now. All right." Everything takes from him. See? He, he's a real pastor. He expresses the Glory of God. And look where he come from. He had to overcome, to do that.

L-99 One time, he or she was young and fair, beautiful. They had a lot of temptations to go through, but they overcome that. See? They overcome. Now they're expressing the real beauty of Christ in their life. Notice, expressing, through the mud.

L-100 Jesus gave us the example, how to do it. Now we want to know how to overcome. Jesus told us how to do it. See? Humility! Girded Himself, took a towel, and washed the disciples' feet and wiped them. The very God of Heaven humiliated Himself. [John 13:4]

L-101 We don't want to be humiliated. That's the reason women don't want their hair to grow out; the reason they don't want to dress like ladies should dress. Like, men don't want to, see, it's the same thing. They don't. They, they get humiliated.
But, Jesus, constantly! Look Who He was. Greatness! I'm going to say something. Greatness humiliates itself. Great humbles itself. Greatness! [Matthew 18:4], [Luke 14:11]

L-102 I've had the privilege of getting, meeting some great men. And it's these guys that got a change of clothes, and fifty cents in their pocket, and to rattle, that's the guy that thinks he's something when he's nothing. But I stood by great men, I mean great men with ragged sleeves, cuffs. They make you think you're the great person. See?
Greatness is humility. Don't forget that, Church. Greatness is expressed in humility, not how fine you can be.
I don't mean dirty, now. I--I mean humble in spirit. See? I don't mean just get--get out and... Go to wash and clean up. That, you should do that. You know that. See?
But I'm talking about humility, genuine humility, not something is put-on. Something that is, that's real humility. [Matthew 18:4], [Colossians 3:12], [Luke 14:11]

L-103 Jesus told us how to do it. He overcome. Means... Overcome means "to stand the test," that's right, like all the old saints did. Like Jesus did, amidst of all of His enemies, He stood the test. Everything He was tested against, He stood it. In the very face of sickness, and Him being Messiah, He healed them. In the face of death, He brought it back to life. In the face of Calvary, His Own death, He defeated it by surrendering Himself. Why? By the Word. Said, "You destroy this Temple, and I'll raise it up in three days." The Word said so. See? And in the presence of death, He defeated it. He overcome death. In the presence of hell, He defeated hell and overcome hell. Yes. In the presence of the grave, He overcome the grave. Why? All by the Word, and humility. Oh, my! There's the real Man. There's the One to make your example. See? He defeated everything, overcome it. [Matthew 27:40]

L-104 Look. Temptation was for Him. You know that? The Bible said, "He was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin." He was tempted by--by drinking. He was tempted by women. He was tempted by everything that could be tempted by. He was tempted by everything that we are. He was a Man, and yet you couldn't put a mark on Him. Yes, sir. [Hebrews 4:15]

L-105 Overcome means "to recognize the Devil in every one of his tricks." Lot of people says, "There is no Devil. It's just a thought." Don't you believe that. There's a real Devil. He's just as real as you are, anybody. A real Devil, and you must recognize him real. You must know he's a devil. Then, the same time that you--you recognize him, and know that he's a devil and he's against you, then, to overcome, you must recognize that the God in you is greater and mightier than he is, that the One that's in you has already overcome him. And, by His grace, you are more than a match for him. Amen. There's real overcoming, when you recognize. [Matthew 13:39], [Mark 16:17]

L-106 You look back, say, "I'm doing this and I'm doing that," then, no, you--you, you're defeated.
"But there's no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Then you realize that you've overcome.
And you know that he's a devil. You can't say, "I got a sickness, and I--I--I--I don't believe it is a sickness." Oh, yes, it is a sickness. You got cancer, you "don't believe it is a cancer." It is a cancer. It is a cancer.
But, remember, "Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world." You must realize that the Holy Spirit that's in you has already overcome this thing. And He's in you, and you can overcome by Him. That's exactly sensible, exactly the way the Scripture is written. Overcoming!
I got to hurry. I done got forty-five minutes now. I'm really running overtime now. [Romans 8:1], [I John 3:4]

L-107 Notice, overcome! The God that's in you is greater than the one that's in him. The god of the world is not as great as the God of Heaven, which is in you, no more than darkness can stand in the presence of light. [I John 4:4]

L-108 Now, darkness cannot stand in the presence of light. I don't care how dark it is, light will put it out. It can't stand. Glory! But you take as much darkness you want to, and try to stand against light one time, see what happened.
That's the One that's in you, is Light. And the one that's in the world is darkness. So, the Light has proved to overcome the darkness, and the man that's in Christ and knows that he's overcome the things of the world. Amen. It has no more ties to you, at all. You're free. "Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, and we have fellowship one with another." There you are. [John 16:33]

L-109 "He that's in you is greater than he that's in the world." Now, if you look back, you're condemned, then you're still in the world. But if you're living above that, then He that's in you has led you above the darkness.
Like the lily, he's above the darkness of the mud. He's above the darkness of the muddy waters. He's in the light, reflecting the beauty that was put in him before he left the mud. Amen. [I John 1:4]

L-110 Now I--I feel like a shouting Christian. What was in there by God, at the beginning, it pressed its way through, overcome. It overcome the shell. It overcome the mud. It overcome the waters. It overcome everything, and was an overcomer, and reflected the beauty and Glory of God.

L-111 That's the way every believer does. That's the way Noah did. That's the way Lot did. That's the way. Look what a mess he was in. That's the way Moses did. That's the way Joshua did. That's the way Daniel did. That's the way Shadrach, Meshach did. That's the way John the Baptist did; Zacharias, Elisabeth. That's the way that Simeon, that's the way that Anna, every one of them did. They overcome the mud that there was around them and packed into them. Stuck their head above the thing, and shined forth the Glory of God. That's what a real Christian does.

L-112 Remember, Jesus showed Her how it's done. Forty days of temptation, He was tempted above any man that ever could be tempted, in the temptation of Jesus Christ. Watch. He showed us how it's done.
Now I will close, just in a few minutes. [John 15:7], [I John 4:4]

L-113 Look. He showed us how it's done. How did He do it? By the Word. That's how He done it, for He was the Word. And Jesus said, "If ye abide in Me, and My Words in you," you're back to Word again, the Word of promise. What is the Word of promise to every Christian? "Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world." Then how do I overcome? Not me, but the Word that's in me. The Word is God. Then I overcome the things of the world, because it's the Word in me. "If ye abide in Me, My Words in you, then just ask what you will." Just keep pressing up. You're coming to the top, as sure as anything. See? You got to come to the top. [Matthew 4:1-11], [Luke 4:1-13]

L-114 His forty days of temptation, by God's Word He overcome. I want to express something here just for a few minutes. Satan made three major assaults upon Him in that temptation. Watch. It's always in them three. Don't forget it. See? He made three major assaults, from the highest to the lowest. He tried his best to conquer Him. But He was the Word. Amen. What did He use? Himself, the Word. Satan's three major attacks or assaults upon Him, but He met it with the Word. Every attack, He could make it with the Word. Watch this now, from the highest to the lowest. [Matthew 4:1-11], [Luke 4:1-13]

L-115 The first he made his attack upon, to use His great power. Which, He knowed He was the Word. He knowed His position. You believe He did? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "I the Son of man." He knowed His position. And Satan come and want Him to use His Own power on Hisself, to feed Him, want to feed Hisself. He was hungry. A man gets hungry, he can do almost anything. He'll steal, rob, beg, borrow, anything. See? He had that appetite. And Satan used his first great major assault upon Him, to take His power that He had been given to overcome with and use it on Himself. He didn't use it on Himself. No. He used it on others. That's right. He used it on others, not Himself. It wasn't for Him. Though, He could have done it. He certainly could have done it. [Matthew 4:1-11], [Luke 4:1-13]

L-116 But see how the Devil gets? The Devil wants you to mind him. He minded only what the Father said do. That's right.
He said, "Why," Satan said, "it's written, 'He'd give the Angels charge... '" [Matthew 4:1-11], [Luke 4:1-13]

L-117 He said, "Yes, but it's also written..." See? There you are. See? He knew Who He was. Satan did...
The Thought runs deeper than what It's wrote. See? It's inspiration. The kernel is on the inside of It, you see, what It really is. [Matthew 4:1-11], [Luke 4:1-13]

L-118 Though He could have done it, He didn't do it. But He--He never paid heed to Satan's proposition.
Now, here is a good thing. See? Sometime Satan can take you, and when you think that you're doing the will of God, and can make you a proposition, you'll fall for it. Yes, sir. He sure can. [Matthew 4:1-11], [Luke 4:1-13]

L-119 Now let's just take, for instance, like our sisters. They're pretty. And he can get you to a place, that, you let your hair grow out, you didn't realize. It looked so nice on you, and, the first thing you know, you get kind of feeling a little stuck-up, little above something else. Some of you men, you know what I mean. See? And he can take that same thing and proposition it with you. That's right. You got to overcome that.
Just remember, you're living for God. You have one objective, and that's Jesus Christ. Outside of that, there's nothing else counts. That's Him. Then, secondly, for your family. Then, thirdly, for yourself. But, first, for God; next, for your family; and next, for you. You're number three; that's the end of the road. Put yourself last; He did.

L-120 Look what He could have done. Said, "I could call My Father, speak to Him, He'd straightway send Me twelve legions of Angels." When, one of Them could destroy the world. Said, "If My Kingdom was this world, then My subjects would fight. But My Kingdom is of Above." There you are. See? He could have done that, but He didn't. See? Though, He could have done it. He never listened to Satan's proposition. [Matthew 26:53]

L-121 Now, have you heard people say, "If--if you believe there--there's a Divine healer... If you're a Divine healer... Go get your Divine healer. I got a man over here, sick. I'd like to see him heal him." See that same Devil? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] He's trying to proposition with you. He's trying to make you listen to him instead of God. But a real, true servant of God will listen and see what Father says, first. See? [Matthew 27:40], [Luke 23:37-39], [John 10:24-25]

L-122 Like the little Stadsklev baby, when they sent over here. And Mrs. Stadsklev said, "Brother Branham, I called from Germany." There was an American army, with one of their jet planes setting out here at the field, would fly me to Germany and back, in a day. He was a chaplain. And the baby was laying, dead. And that little mother screaming, she said, "Listen!" Said, "I know. I stood right there and seen that woman hold that dead baby in her arms, that died that morning. I seen Brother Branham walk right out there, lay hands on that dead baby, and it come to life." Said, "This is my baby, Brother Branham." Never been a death in their family. See? And this little thing took sick one morning and died that afternoon.
Here was all of them standing around, and giving prophecies and things, "The baby is going to raise up," and all like that.

L-123 I said, "Well, that's mighty nice, Sister Stadsklev. But let me see what Father says."
I went out to the woods. And I prayed. Come back in; she done called two or three times 'fore I got back the next morning. Nothing.
The doctor said, "All right." Said, "If that's it, if you have faith like that, lady, we'll never let the baby leave the hospital. Let it lay right here. You stay right here with it. That's all right."
Brother Stadsklev went and seen the army major. They said, "Sure. We will fly him over, and bring him back."

L-124 And there was a plane setting, waiting, to take me over that morning and bring me back that night, to Germany, to Heidelberg, Germany, for the resurrection of this baby. I said, "Sure, God can do it, but let's see what His will is."

L-125 Then I went out, prayed all night. Nothing happened. Come back the next morning; nothing happened. And I started into the room. Just then I looked there, and there stood that Light hanging there in the door. Said, "Don't put your hand on that. Don't rebuke that. That's the hand of God."

L-126 I got her on the phone. I said, "Sister Stadsklev, bury your baby. It's the hand of the Lord. It's God's will. Something would happen to that baby down along the line. You let it go right where God knows where it's at. You can go to it now. It lives, you won't. You leave it right like that."

L-127 That great Lutheran preacher in Germany wrote a letter and said, "How I can appreciate, what, Brother Branham waiting for that clear-cut decision of God, before he said anything."
That's it. Hold to God's decision. No matter what others say, whatever it is, don't proposition Satan, at all.

L-128 If Satan says, "Now, water baptism, name of 'Father, Son... '" If that, he even proposition, you leave it alone. God said otherwise. He said, "You're a good man, you don't have to be... You're a good woman, you don't have to do..." Don't you proposition. If the Word says something different, you stay with the Word regardless of what it is. That's the example Jesus give to you, and there's that major assault, see, that he made on Him. [Matthew 27:40], [Luke 23:37-39], [John 10:24-25]

L-129 Then, the second assault. I'll hurry. Just looks like the time just goes so fast. The next great assault was, that he made upon Him, that He would be a show-off.
And how that does hit God's servants, to be a show-off, to show what you can do. "Glory to God! Hallelujah! I'm a deliverer! I'm so." See? See? [Matthew 4:5-7], [Luke 4:9-12]

L-130 "Come up here, on top of the temple, and set down here." He tempted Him to do it. Now, remember, He was tempted to do it, hard. Said, "Now, if You want to be something before the people, stand up here on this temple, jump off." See? "I'll give You a Scripture for it, because it's written, 'He'd give the Angels charge over Thee, lest, any time, dash a foot against a stone. He'd bear Thee up.'" To make Him a show-off, to show His authority. [Matthew 4:5-7], [Luke 4:9-12]

L-131 No true servant of God ever does that. You see a man showing off, his chest out, and all like that, just remember, there is something wrong there. No. God don't want that. Jesus set the example. He could have done it. He certainly could have done it, but He didn't do it. No servant of God is a show-off, of himself, to try to take God's power and show himself above somebody else. [Matthew 4:5-7], [Luke 4:9-12]

L-132 You remember Moses did that? Remember it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] God give him power to do whatever he wanted to; made him a prophet. He walked down to that Rock, and he smote the Rock the second time. That was against God's will.
God said, "Speak to that Rock. Don't smite it again. You break all the--all the--the type here. The Rock is only going to be smitten once." But he spoke of the weakness of the Word when he did that; That wasn't sufficient. Yeah. The Word was what was going on. That Rock was the Word. See? [Numbers 20:1-12]

L-133 He, first time, he smote the Rock and the waters come forth. And then they got thirsty again. He said, "Now go back and speak to the Rock." It was only smitten once. See?
"The insufficiency of the Word," Moses testified to it. "The Word wasn't right; He had to be smitten again." [Numbers 20:1-12]

L-134 So Moses went down there and smote the Rock like that, said, "Come forth!" Didn't come forth, so he smote it again, and said, "Come forth! I command you to come forth." And the waters come. [Numbers 21:11]

L-135 God said, "Come up here. Come here. You glorified yourself. You took My power; instead of sanctifying Me, you sanctified yourself. Now you're not going over in the land. Look over, see what it looked like; but, here, you're going to leave right here." Oh, my! There never has been one like Moses, you know. No, no. [Numbers 21:12]

L-136 When he come to that show off with Jesus, he said, "Get up on the temple here and jump off." [Matthew 4:5-7], [Luke 4:9-12]

L-137 He said, "It's written," amen, "'Don't tempt the Lord thy God.'" See? He met him with the Word, that, every major assault. [Luke 4:9-12], [Matthew 4:5-7]

L-138 No true servant ever tries to show himself off, with--with God's power. He does, he loses right then. [Matthew 4:5-7], [Luke 4:9-12]

L-139 Third great assault, Satan offered to forfeit this kingdom to Him. He did. Satan said, "See these kingdoms of the world? These are mine. I do with them whatever I want to. I'll forfeit them to you."
But, remember, he was trying to get Him to forfeit it without the cross. If He did, we'd be lost. He could have took the kingdom. But He must follow the... He must come back. He was tempted to do it, now. Death is a hard thing. He was tempted to take His liberty and be the King of the earth, without the cross. But, if He did, His subjects would have died. Satan would have gladly made that proposition with Him. But He said, "Get behind Me, Satan." He didn't do it. [Luke 4:5-8], [Matthew 4:8-10]

L-140 He come and suffered, and took the hard, rugged route. He took the route of persecution. He took the route of death.
Are we, this morning, willing to do, take that same route that He taken? Are we willing to die. Are we willing to give ourselves up to God, forfeit all the world and the things, to serve for Him? See? [Matthew 10:38], [Matthew 16:24], [Mark 8:34], [Mark 10:21], [Luke 9:23], [Luke 14:27]

L-141 Now, He failed to do it. Willingly to--to forfeit it, Satan was, to Him. But He didn't do it. Though Jesus was tempted, He overcome for us. He--He endured all temptations for me and for you. See? He could have took it right then. But what did he take the other route for? So that we could come, be with Him. And if He paid such a price as that, then how little would we be not to take it? When, remember, there's nothing here, anyhow. [Hebrews 12:2]

L-142 If you live a hundred years, what are you going to come to? Mental, and your mind gone, all crippled up, and old and shaky. That's where you're going, and that's the end of it. You come now, overcome the thing. How you do it? By the Word. What the Word says, you do it. Walk humble. Live before Jesus. [Matthew 18:4], [Luke 14:11]

L-143 He endured all things for you and I. He is our example how to overcome our evil generation, as He overcome His evil generation. [Hebrews 12:2]

L-144 Remember, when He come to the earth, there's just as much unbelief, or more, than there is at any time. It didn't bother Him a bit. When they called Him a devil instead of God, when they called Him everything that could be done, it didn't bother Him a bit. He had one object, "Mind the Father. Keep the Word." The Word is God. He had one mind. [Luke 2:49]

L-145 We're sometimes tempted to go back. Many of you, tempted to go back to the denomination, go back and take up, 'cause all the world say, "What denomination you belong to? What church you affiliated with?" We're tempted to do that; all of us are. Our sisters are tempted to go back, go back and join up with some of the rest the churches, with some of the Assemblies, or churches of God, or some of them; still be Pentecostal, let your hair cut off, and dress just about any way you want to. See? You're tempted to do that, go back and be popular with this wicked generation that we're living with.
When, this is the major sin of our days. It's the major sin among our people, worldliness, as the Bible said the Laodi-... Laodicea Age was. She's worldly, "Rich, have need of nothing; don't know that she's naked; miserable, wretch, and blind." That's the sin of our day. When you hear the Word of God call out against it, then you take the other route, you're unpopular with the world. You're tempted to go back. [Revelation 3:17]

L-146 I know. You keep saying to me. I know you're saying, "All the time." I know you get tired of me harping on these things. I get tired seeing you do it, too, that's right, this sin that I'm trying to tell you about. Say, "What are you harping on it for?" Stop doing it, then. I'm trying to save your life, by the Word. I get tired, also. So, just straighten up. This is a sin, shouldn't be done. Yes, sir.

L-147 We are to overcome these things. We expect to be tempted by them, the world. "You love the world, the things of the world, love of God is not in you," said Jesus. [I John 2:15]

L-148 Now we'll just close, and say this. There's a reward for the overcomer.

L-149 Let me read something here to you. Turn in your Bibles. Let's go back to Revelations, the 3rd, the 2nd chapter. Watch here now, all these things I been talking about, to overcome. Now just look at yourself and see. Examine yourself in the spiritual looking-glass, see if you've overcome.

L-150 Now, the first message, to the--to the angel of Ephesus, I want you to listen to what He said. And Revelations, the 2nd chapter, the 7th verse. This is to that church age, when He told them all what they done, "Left their first love." 7th verse:

See? The overcomers in Ephesus.

L-151 Now, the next was Smyrna. Now, to overcomers in that, we listen to this. Now, the 11th verse.

See? They overcome it.

L-152 Now, that, now look to Pergamos, we'll find out what the overcomer had left for him, in this. We'll read the 17th verse, to the Pergamos church.

That, that's the individual, not the whole group. The individual, that's Bride coming out, you see, the Church.

That's the overcomer, of the church age.

L-153 Now, the next is the Thyatira. Let's find out what the overcomer had in that day. Let's take the 26th verse.

See, "With Him, in His throne." Christ is to rule the nations, with a rod of iron. And here is the Church that overcomes, "Setting in there, with Him, to break the nations with a rod of iron."

L-154 Now let's take them to the Sardis church. Now the 5th verse of the 3rd chapter.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and the holy angels. [Revelation 3:15]
That's to the overcomer in Sardis.

L-155 Now, let's take now the 12th verse. Now, this is to the church of--of Philadelphia, in the 12th verse.

L-156 Watch what the overcomer is promised. See?
Now, now Laodicea, that's the last church age. There's going to be some overcomers in there. Watch here. They, remember, each church age, the one proceeding it inherits all that the other ones offered. Watch up here. Now, here, it's after they done received all these powers, these new names, and everything written, that He promised, and eat the hidden manna, and all down through. Watch this last church age, Revelations 3:21.

L-157 There's a reward for overcomers. Press on, lily. If it's in you, lay aside the mud and everything else, and press towards the top. Yes, sir. "To sit with Me on My throne." [Revelation 3:21]

L-158 You know, one time, the mother of James and John... We won't have time to read it. The mother of James and John came and asked for this place. You know that? Remember that? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] "Lord, let my son set on one side, and my other son set on the other." There's a mother's desire for her son.
But watch. But, "That place," Jesus said, "was predestinated." This position was not in existence at that time. Why? Notice. "It will be granted to them who it is meant for." What? The one to set at the right hand, and the other closest to Him, was yet an overcomer. See? It was still... He said, "I--I don't grant this. I can't grant this, but it will be given after the trial comes." Amen. See? "I can't give this. But after the trial comes, they'll set on the right hand and on the left. There's a predestinated seed waiting out yonder for that. It will be given to the ones that it's promised to. It'll be given there, but the test hasn't come yet. Yeah. He hasn't overcome yet." See? [Matthew 20:20-23]

L-159 The person that was to take this place on one side, and another one to take it on the other side, next to Him in the Kingdom, it wasn't yet given, see, that that overcome. The test hadn't fell yet. "It will fall in the future."
"If we suffer for Christ and His Word, we will reign with Him, for He is the Word." Remember, "If we suffer for Him and His Word, we'll reign with Him, in His Word." [Matthew 20:20-23]

L-160 Notice. He, our example, overcome, and then ascended up, after he conquered death, hell, sickness, grave. Everything, He conquered. "Then He ascended up, and led captivity captive, give gifts unto men." That was the Old Testament, with the Old Testament saints that had overcome. They looked for such a Person, and they died before It got there. But when this Person come, "It didn't prevent them which were asleep." Amen. Can't lose, any way. Live or die, what difference does it make? "Won't prevent." See? They looked for that. [Revelation 1:18], [I Thessalonians 4:15]

L-161 Even Job back there, he looked for it. He said, "I know my Redeemer liveth. And at the last days He'll stand upon the earth." There was a just man, a perfect man. He offered sacrifice. He done everything that God told him to do. He did it with reverence and respect. He was a prophet. And then Satan come around, to tempt him. (Just like he comes to tempt you.) What did he do? He kept standing there.
His wife even come out, said, "Won't you curse God and die the death? You look so miserable setting there." [Job 19:25], [Job 2:10], [Job 1:21]

L-162 He said, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman." Now, never said she was foolish, but she talked like one. See? Said, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman." Said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." He overcome. [Job 2:10], [Job 1:21]

L-163 He overcome what the neighbors had to say. He overcome what all the church members, Bildad and all them, had to say. He overcome the bishop and what he had to say. He overcome the cardinal and what he had to say. He overcome the denomination, what they had to say. And he stayed with the justification of the Word. Amen. Yet, it cost him everything he had, even his children. He scraped the boils with a piece of crock, setting on this, and yet he overcome. And when the great hour of temptation had finally succeeded, then the clouds rolled back. [Job 2:8]

L-164 He looked at every reasonable thing. He said, "There's a hope in a tree if it dies; it lives again. And a seed falls in the ground, it rots away; it lives again. But a man layeth down and giveth up the ghost; he wasteth away. And his children come, his sons, to honor and to mourn over him; he perceived it not. He don't raise no more. Oh, there he is. What's the matter? I'm a seed, too. I'm something, that it's a seed, and I'll go to the ground. I can't rise no more. I'll lay there. Oh, hide me in the grave, keep me in the secret place till Thy wrath be past. Appoint me a time and judge me. As the rocks wear away, water wears away the stone." Oh, he went on, saying all these things. He could see all the examples out there, what it was. Oh, he just couldn't see it. [Job 14:7]

L-165 And, Sister Rodgers, remember when I preached that at Busty's funeral. See?

L-166 How, that, "He'd wear away the stone," how these things. "Oh, O Thou, hide me in the grave, and keep me in the secret place." He kept on pressing. He said, "I wish I knowed. I wish I knowed where I could go, to a Man that could put His hands on me, a sinful man, and a holy God, and talk to Him for me." Oh, my! "He's There. I know He's There. There is Someone There that can do that. There is Someone somewhere. Where can I find that Person? Where can I find? I'll knock on His door and talk to Him? If Somebody could only put His hand on me, and on God, and--and bridge the way for me, talk! If I could only find that Person! Oh, where is He at?" [Job 14:13]

L-167 He searched through his church. He had searched through his organization. He couldn't find such a Person.

L-168 And all at once, the clouds rolled back, and he saw that Person coming. Oh! His old heart beat for joy. Then something happened. "I know my Redeemer liveth. There is such a Person." Amen. There is still such a Person. "I know my Redeemer liveth. And though, after the skin worms destroys this body, yet in my flesh I'll see God, Whom I shall see for myself. He'll stand on the earth in the last day." [Job 19:25]

L-169 On that Easter morning, when He rose out yonder, and Job's body no more than a spoonful of ashes, he was waiting. He was that elected Group. He rose from the grave and entered into the city, with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job. Oh, my! Amen. For, they looked for such a Person. [Matthew 27:53]

L-170 "And to those Who look for Christ the second time," that can overcome the things of this world, by His grace, to come into Him, and shut your eyes to anything else but Him and His Word, "He will appear the second time in Glory."
"For the trumpet of God shall sound, the dead in Christ shall rise; those which are alive and remain shall be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, be caught up together, to meet Him in the air." [I Corinthians 15:52], [I Thessalonians 4:17]

L-171 Whether I'm a spoonful of ashes, or whether I'm living when He comes, it matters me no difference. Amen. Doesn't matter, because I've caught the vision. The veil rolled back, and I see Him. One that could stand, and put His hand upon me, a sinful man, and upon a holy God. And He is my propitiation. He is the Word that I stand for. "In the beginning was the Word." He's that Word, and He represents me, There. Amen. And I'll scream it, as long as I have breath, "He is my Resurrection and my Life." And all other grounds are sinking sand. All other grounds are sinking sand. [John 1:1]

L-172 As He caught them who looked for that, so will He come to each New Testament saint that's overcome every denominational critic, who has ever overcome all the popular sins of this day, of this age that we live in now, like He did in all the other church ages, those who overcome in that church age. Those who overcome what? "'I am rich. I have need of nothing. I have... Oh, I'm all this and all this. And I'm the Bride. I'm this. I have need of nothing.' And don't know that you are naked, blind." [Revelation 3:17]

L-173 See that deceiving age that I said? It's not like them that had their heads cut off, back yonder, to get the white stone; not those who died under martydoms, and burnt with stakes, and things like that; who won the crown. But it's this deceiving age now, that think that they're everything. "Well, I'm a church member. I'm a good man. I'm a good woman. I do this. I don't have to do This." [Luke 21:8]

L-174 "But he that overcometh," he that overcomes all those worldly things of this age, what will they do? All will set with Him in His throne; will go in the Rapture when He comes. Oh, my! What do I care, then? What should we care what the world says? What should we care what anybody else says? The great Holy Spirit is among us. His Pillar of Fire leads us and guides us. His Word is vindicated before us. His love is in our heart. The world is in the back. We've passed from death unto Life. The world thinks you're crazy. [John 5:24]

L-175 Thirty-three years in the field, and this consecrated cross I'll bear till death shall set me free.

L-176 Let my brothers turn me down, say whatever they want to, what turn me down. But on this Word I stand, and This alone.

L-177 That's what we all want. Isn't it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] That's what we want. That's our--that's our hope and plea. No other thoughts have we, but that one upon Jesus Christ. And upon His righteousness we stand, alone, and His righteousness in His Word. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." And the Word is still vindicating Itself. [John 1:14]

L-178 Overcome how? By taking the Word, the promise, in humility, humbly walking.

L-179 For, "When that Trumpet sounds!" You can bury me in the sea, but the Trumpet will awake me. Right. I'm going Home, one day. Amen. Until then, I'll struggle on, amen, bearing this cross; keeping my eyes not on people, but upon Calvary yonder, for He was my example. He showed how to do it. And His example, we'll gladly follow it, day by day.

L-180 Don't you like that? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Oh, how I think, follow Him, day by day, each step of the way.
Let us pray.

L-181 Lord Jesus, hour and fifteen minutes now, standing here, trying to take Your Word and explain to the people how to overcome. You told us how it's done. You didn't only tell us, but You showed how it was done. You led us. You showed us how to do it: receive the Word inside of us, and be sure to hold to that Word, "It is written," in every temptation; but be humble, walk humbly. Then we have conquered, through You, through Your power which has already conquered our enemy. And the only thing we have to do is--is just walk humble with faith, believing That, and our badge of identification of the Holy Ghost, and Satan has to move. [Matthew 18:4], [Luke 14:11]

L-182 There is handkerchiefs laying here. They represent sick people. They're needy, Lord. And they read in this infallible Word where they took from the body of Saint Paul handkerchiefs and aprons. They were laid upon the sick people. Evil spirits went out of them, and great miracles were done. Now, You're the same Lord Jesus today. [Acts 19:12]

L-183 Paul preached this Word, and wrote this Word, the same Word that we're trying to follow. Because, he took the Old Testament and patterned it, and showed that it was a type, that all of the Old Testament was a perfect type of the New. O Lord, may we follow that example.

L-184 We see our Lord, what He did. And we realize that, those Old Testament saints, this morning, we find out that they did go. When Jesus raised, they went with Him. And, Lord, we believe that we'll go when He sounds the Trumpet. We believe it, that the Bride will go forth at that Day and will join with the--the Hebrew group of It, and, together, there'll be a Wedding Supper in Glory. Those are waiting.
We pray now Your mercy and grace upon us overcomers. Lord, overcomers, we long to be overcomers. Lord Jesus, You overcome the world. Now I pray that You'll let every person here, this morning, "Lay every sin aside, lay aside the weight that doth so easily beset us, that we might run with patience the race that's set before us." [Matthew 27:52]

L-185 Paul spoke this, our Heavenly Father, over there in the Book of the Hebrews, that, "We should lay aside every weight," that 12th chapter, that he spoke this, after he had already showed by example, back there: those who did go on; those who did not go on; those who lukewarmly followed; those who followed up in the front; those who lingered behind. Oh! He showed the example. Then he turned and said, "Let us lay aside every weight, every little teeny thing that besets us, that we might run with patience the race that's set before us; looking to Him, the author and the finisher of our Faith, Who gave us the example." We do that this morning, Father. [Hebrews 12:1], [John 16:33]

L-186 Now, with our heads bowed, now check real close, real, real close. And, then, be real deeply sincere. It just--it just takes... That's all it takes: your check and your sincerity. Be real careful as you're checking now. "Search me, Lord. Try me. Is there an evil in me? If there is, Lord, let me lay it down, right here now. This place, where I'm bowed, is Your altar. I lay it down, right here now, put my feet upon it. When I walk away, it's going to lay there. The power of Your Blood will consume it. I want to be an overcomer. I have something that's bothering me, Lord. I want to overcome, this morning. I can, by You. I've been told that, by Your Word. I lay it down now, Lord, and I lay my feet on it. As I pass out of this building this morning, go, to know that it's put in the--the tub of God's bleach. It'll never be remembered no more. I will now confess it and ask for mercy." [Psalms 139:23]

L-187 With our heads bowed, our eyes closed; our hearts thinking, that's the door to the soul now. Is there something that you want to lay aside this morning, something that you want to overcome? And you've tried it so hard, but, this morning, you're just going to quit trying. You're just going to accept what He did. I want you just raise your hand, "Lord, I want to overcome. A certain thing bothers me."

L-188 Lord Jesus, You see those hands. Now, as Your servant, stand between the living and dead, I condemn everything that's bothering these people and myself. And I ask it in the Name of Jesus Christ, we can leave it laying here on the altar of God, and walk away this morning, free, as overcomers.

L-189 If our sisters hasn't had the grace before, may it be granted now, Lord. If our brothers hasn't had the grace, may it be granted now. And may, in humility, mother with her children, instead of being arrogant. She knows she is setting... She is a preacher to them little children. Her life is an example. Dad is an example to mother, for he is the head of the house. The mother has been trying to boss him around; she'll never do it no more. If he's been using her for a floor mat, it'll never be done no more. She's a helpmate. Grant it, Lord. May all these things that hinder us, Lord, be taken away.

L-190 We--we are consecrating ourselves, Father, for what time of life we have ahead of us, knowing this, that we've got to come to the end of it, and that right away. So, this morning, we take this opportunity, after this Message. We take the opportunity, Lord, to come, because we are bidden to come. "Cast your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." I know You care, Lord. You cared enough to die for us. And we surely can care enough to come and accept what You died for. [I Peter 5:7]

L-191 Sanctify us, Lord. Fill us anew with the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Ghost just reign in our hearts, supremely, that we'll walk, forgetting the things that are in the past, the muck and mire that we once lived in. We'll press towards the mark of the high calling, where our Lights can so shine in sweetness and humility, till every passer-by can say, "There's a Christian lives there on that hill. That person, that woman, that man, is a real consecrated flower of God. They're so sweet and so kind, always loving and sweet, and understanding." Grant it, Father. Let us be salty, that the earth might thirst; grant it, Father; and overcome the things of this world, and the cares of this life. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
. [Philippians 3:14]

L-192 Now, do you mean it? Now close your eyes.

[Brother Branham begins to hum Where He Leads Me--Ed.]

L-193 Just consecrate yourself, deeply, sincerely, all your heart. What if this was the last time you'd ever be permitted to pray? It might be. I hope not. It may be. Then, be sure now, real sure, real sure. Remember, the door will close, one day, then it's all over. "Ask, you shall receive."
[Brother Branham begins to hum Where He Leads Me--Ed.]

L-194 Just think of all the glory that He's offered to you, everything that He's done. "I believe, Lord. I believe. I believe that You're my overcomer. I just walk with You, Lord. I want to stay close to You, that where You are, there I want to be."

L-195 And remember, You told us, Father, that, "We would forever be with the Lord, when we be caught up." We just got a--a glimpse of Him now, as He walks with us now. But then we'll... What a great thing it is, just to know that He's in our--our midst! What will it be when we'll be with Him forever? We so love all of our activities: we can go out a riding; we can go shopping; we can go hunting, fishing, or whatever we might do in pleasures. But, oh, when the church opens, see, we want to meet our Lord. That's greatest of all things. Then, think, He promised us. "And forever be with the Lord. Set with Him in His throne, and be with Him forever." O God, we humbly, with--with bowed heads, we accept it, Lord, in the Name of Jesus Christ. [Revelation 3:21], [I Thessalonians 4:17-18]

L-196 Do you feel you can just leave, now, everything, every burden? You can just walk over, above it now? If you do, raise up your hand, say, "By God's grace I lay this trial down. I won't fight it, any more. I'm just going to take a hold of His hand, start walking on."
"I've fought, Brother Branham. I tried to quit smoking. I--I tried to let my hair grow out. I've tried to do this. I done... I've tried, so hard, Brother Branham. I just can't do it."
Don't try it, anymore. Just take a hold of His hand, say, "Father, You put my hand in the sleeve." See? "I'm just going to give You my hand. I'm going to walk on, Lord, looking to You." It'll happen. It'll dress you like a real Christian. You'll be a real Christian. [Matthew 11:28]

L-197 Until I see you, tonight, God love you and be with you. You're my children of the Gospel. You're the purchased.
Now I give your pastor back to you, for the dismissing, Brother Orman Neville.