Archived Thoughts

3   For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:  4   But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. ~I THESSALONIANS 2:3-4

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While the whole context of this scripture is beautiful, Paul speaking of his love and care of the church of Thessalonica, I thought the statement, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel” was an amazing confession. It is the Vine putting into the Branch His Own life, that the fruit would increase. That seems elementary but it is more profound than we might think. This is not just about Paul, or the ministry. He has entrusted us with His Word. What have we done with It? While the results are not our responsibility, it is clear there is a purpose for our having possession, and we must be willing participants in His Kingdom work.

Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. ~ HOSEA 10:1

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The image of the vine and the branch is evident in this scripture. Israel has used the life of the Vine (Christ) to produce fruit for themselves. Perhaps they gave away their excess in order to justify their condition, but those works were not accepted by God because they were done out of duty instead of nature. The Spirit of God, as we see in Melchisedec, serves Communion to anyone who desires it. THAT is why the wine represents the life. It is the extending of life. The Lord’s Supper doesn’t just represent that WE are partakers, but also that we have in us that same life of the Vine for the purpose of producing fruit for others.

6   He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.    7   And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. ~ MATTHEW 28:6-7

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As we enter the Easter season, it is a reminder of His resurrection. When He bowed His head and said, “It is finished”, He accomplished complete redemption from the curse, restored us back to our original condition, and then proved it by raising from the dead. His resurrection proved the power of His death. For ages after that event, we have not come to full realization of the efficacy of the cross, but in this age there is the fullness. We have already died IN HIM. The price has been paid. Having the Mind of Christ, we now know exactly what and why it happened, and can enter into a complete redemption.

“I am the Vine, the Tree; ye are the branches. He that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also,” Saint John 14:12. Now, “He that abideth in Me, he that…him that was in My root at the beginning.” That’s the reason Jesus was both the Root and Offspring of David. He was before David, in David, and after David, both Root and Offspring of David; the Morning Star, the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley, Alpha and Omega; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. “In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Both Root and Offspring of David! ~ 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time

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It is interesting that the prophet ties the Vine and branches in with the Root AND Offspring of David. The Vine, like the Root is the source, while the Branches are what comes out of the Root, the part that bears the fruit. The wonderful thing is that they are the same. How can you separate the Root from the Branches? “He that was in my root at the beginning”, when manifested, will be the Branches.

5   I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.   6   If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.   7   If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.   8   Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ~ JOHN 15:5-8

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In Jesus’ analogy of the vine and branches we must think about a literal tree. When something wants an apple from the apple tree do the branches ask the vine to give it to them? Seems ridiculous doesn’t it, but that is what we do. The branches just naturally bear the fruit because the life of the vine is in them. In fact, the fruit is the evidence of the life of the vine and the vine cannot bear fruit without the branch. Now, think about our prayer life. Jesus said “ask what you will”. Eternal life is living for others and the reason you are the branches is so OTHERS can benefit from your connection to the Vine.

23   For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.   24   Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. ~ MARK 11:23-24

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“He shall have whatsoever He saith.” Who is the “He”? When Bro Branham spoke squirrels he later said, "Heavenly Father, I'm going down here to that tree where those squirrels was spoke into existence by YOU, one morning”. Our prayers are not US praying to a God out somewhere else, or even praying to the God within us. Our prayers should be that God within us declaring His Word. While we believe the same Voice that spoke Lazarus’ resurrection, will speak the resurrection in our day through the Bride, what about any need that comes. The fullness of the God that answers EVERY prayer dwells in the Bride.

That every little jot, everything, you must be faithful in. Always the little--the little vine, the little--the little fox that spoils the vine. Sometimes you leave... It's not the big things you do, it's the little things you leave undone. Remember, a chain is only its strongest at its weakest link. "Blessed are they that do all the commandments of God, that they might have a right to enter in." Do all God said, and It said for women to have long hair. You say... A man told me not long ago, said, "I don't preach a clothes-line religion." I said, "Then you're not preaching the Gospel." ~ 65-1128M  GOD'S ONLY PROVIDED PLACE OF WORSHIP

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What kind of clothes are we wearing? I’m not talking about your literal clothes; I’m speaking of your spiritual clothes. In an hour when this Message, the Word, is clothing us with theophany, what kind of other things are we wearing? Jesus’ raiment was white as the light (Matt 17:2). Adoption, separation from the tares, makes us “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt 13:43).

1   And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.    2   I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.    3   For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ~ I CORINTHIANS 3:1-3

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The word “carnal” means “having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites; governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God”. He addresses this letter to them “that are sanctified” (I Cor 1:2). They must have been real believers, but they didn’t apply themselves to the Word in a way that it affected their life and brought real growth. We think because we understand things of God and seem to live sanctified lives, that we are adopted sons. We refuse to look at our actions and how they make us look just like the world and don’t consider the source of those actions. True Headship is being governed by the Spirit of God, the life we ARE by a born again experience.

I said, "Therefore, speaking face to face with this supernatural Being, I believe it with all my heart. And if I can get you to believe me with all your heart, that's what moves God, and then you're healed. Your faith has saved you." You see what I mean? Your faith to believe has saved you. Not what you worked up and thought in your mind, but what you really know, the very evidence of things not seen. You see what I mean? Then the girl said, "Brother Branham, I truly know that there's something above where I have ever reached." She said, "I'll try with all my heart, and God have mercy on me." She said, "Let me believe." And I took a hold of her hand then. There was a vibration pouring from that ruptured appendix, had prayer for her and it stopped immediately. I said, "God bless you, sister. Your faith now has saved you." ~ 47-0412  FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE

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“Brother Branham, I truly know that there’s something above where I have ever reached.” This girl was going to die if she didn’t come to the place of knowing that what she had was not real faith. Bro Branham said, “I believe a great bunch of people that claim to have the Holy Ghost don't know one thing about It”. People think It’s an emotion or feeling. It is a knowing that unlocks Who God is in you. It is eyes to see as He sees. It is the “ears to hear” that the scripture talks so much about. The Gospel is not about God DOING something. It is about recognizing what He has already done.

Let me tell you something. I know this is on tape, but here it comes anyhow. Listen I'm going to tell you something. It's a shame, people trying to... I've never believed that the Holy Ghost was shaking. I've never believed that the Holy Ghost was--evidence of speaking in tongues, or crying, or shouting. Them's emotional sensations. I believe the Holy Ghost can do that. But the Holy Ghost is tabernacling Deity. I believe a great bunch of people that claim to have the Holy Ghost don't know one thing about It. You meet God. ~ 61-1112  A TRUE SIGN THAT’S OVERLOOKED

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The evidence of the Holy Spirit is to receive the Word for our day. That is not doctrine. It is a condition. The Word for the day is tabernacling Deity. It is the full potential of the Holy Ghost in you, fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation. If Christ is our life, and He is, then we think His thoughts, we speak His Words, when our hands move they are His Hands. He is the life behind everything we do. Anything short of this is not adoption. This is a condition where He says, “This is my Beloved Bride, hear ye Him!”