1971-72-LV Your Measure of Gods Faith - BroLavins church

Now,

as usual, it's obligatory in our part to remember the word of the Lord. By that I mean that we do not have our own thoughts. We have to discover from the word what God's thoughts are. He has cautioned us that the natural man receiveth not of the things of the Spirit of God. The human mind of itself is not able to comprehend the word of the Lord. It can apprehend it, it can receive it, memorize it, know it, but it takes a revelation for that word to become living word in the vessel. Unless it becomes living word by the revelation of the Holy Ghost, we are, I wouldn't say, receiving the word in vain, but... I would say it was something close to that. We want to pray the Lord again tonight to give us revelation concerning the scripture because we need to have the word made alive to us by the word being made alive in us. Scripture said we're living epistles written and known of all men. And that means that the word of God then is being wrought out by the spirit in our lives. It seems that... We're afraid of the word. The word is very hard on nature.

According to the word, we have partaken of the divine nature. And the divine nature in ink is the written word. And the divine nature in flesh is the living word. So it seems we need a revelation of the divine nature, the same as we need a revelation of the faith tonight. Everything depends upon revelation. I'm convinced of it. I believe that's our one major lack, our one major sore spot. We don't possess revelation. So, in the days to come, we must bind ourselves together by coming together and seeking God for revelation. And I've cautioned you, this revelation is not to be sought by yourself. That is concerning doctrine. Certainly God speaks to individuals at home. I remember years ago in Canada, I left a pastorate. I had intended to go back to it. We had a good church, the only church ever pastored. It had 60 % men and 40 % women. You say, why did you leave? Well, you'd care to examine my head and find out. You help yourself. I left, and it was falling to do a thing, to leave a condition that gracious. Imagine, 60 % men.

Do you know, I believe if I went back to Ohio and pastored, I'd have at least 12 heads of families to start with. Why don't you do it? If you'd like, you come and examine my heart. I don't think you need to. I'm afraid I might be outside the will of the Lord. Don't you like us women? I sure do, but I like men. I love men because I like to talk to men. I've found so few I can talk to, but I still look around to see with whom I can have good fellowship. We need the word of the Lord revealed to us. As I was saying, well, I was home that time and suddenly the Lord impressed on me that after I was gone a while, some of the men took it upon themselves to turn down the building which I had gotten to rent. And, oh, it was wonderful and such a cheap figure. I just knew they had done it. Well, that was a revelation. That's all right to get a revelation because that concerned me. But the revelation which Paul spoke of in the book of 1 Corinthians, the 14th chapter, when they all come together, one after this, one after that, one after the revelation, that refers to doctrine where it's all judged. And so if you should receive revelation, it ought to be where people are gathered together. Then perchance you think you have a revelation from God apart from the ones. Then you must bring it before the people and have it examined. Don't run off and say, I've got something from the Lord. I've got this revelation. Because you might be completely in error. You say, well, Brother Dale, how do you know? Because by the hardest study I've been able to do, the most consecrated praying and seeking after God by my own desire and through help from many spiritual brethren by reading their books and all, I have still been 100 % wrong.

if we just caution you along that line, in order to be healthy. Revelation, especially on his word, in relationship to ourselves, by the walk and by fruit bearing, is so necessary. Even as we mention each day that we need a revelation of the faith of God with which we have a measure. Now let's bow our heads in prayer. Father, we come again into your presence at this time. preparing our hearts, Lord, for the hearing and receiving of the word. Let it be, Lord, as though your servant might hear you speaking to him and he in turn bringing that very same word to the people that we together might hear that same voice. May your spirit graciously do tonight the work which your word has already said he would do. And Father, if that is true and we... would have no reason to doubt it. We would only doubt ourselves if we are true seed. But God, if we are tonight, then you, Lord, are obligated by that word which you have exalted above your own name and sworn that you stand behind it, that you must reveal to us tonight, dynamically, truthfully, completely spiritually, the word, O God, until it becomes a part of us even as the food we take becomes a part of us and we in turn by that are energized to manifest life that now the word Lord becomes so thorough yes the greater part of us that we'll be able to manifest it give our minds an illumination tonight in our hearts and impetus oh God that we may know really what is this faith of God and what we have. And we know we're not paying amiss tonight because even he who was God manifest in the flesh wept over Jerusalem saying, O Jerusalem, if you had only known what belonged to you, to your peace, but now your house is left desolated. My Lord, we do not want to be in that condition. We want to know direct from you by the word, by the spirit, they being one, exactly what we have and are in Jesus Christ. Therefore, Lord, rebuke every spirit which would be against truth, would hinder in any way, even bringing the spirit of man into captivity to the authority of Jesus Christ and causing every thought. to bow to those thoughts which are of God tonight. And, Father, we would esteem it such an honor to have this done, such a pleasure, my God, as well as such a tremendous necessity fulfilled. Therefore, Lord, we commit ourselves to you in and through Jesus and his holy name. Amen. Now, we have discovered by reading the word of God that faith...

which is so important to utilize, has been dropped into the heart of every single believer in a specific measure called the measure of faith. For, said Paul, to the brethren God hath dealt, literally dealt out, measured out, the measure of faith. We know that reprobates do not have this faith, for the scripture said wicked and unreasonable men have not... faith. So God has given each one of his own, the elect of God, the measure of the faith of Jesus Christ himself. We know it's the faith of Jesus Christ because James describes it saying, have not the faith of, not in, our Lord Jesus Christ with respect to person. This does two things, of course. It causes you to cease respecting people and it causes you to cease fearing people. and so therefore your position is now a most happy one in the Lord, for you are most proficiously enabled now to live a victorious life. And the scripture does, of course, bear that out, because it says that this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. It also says in Galatians 2 and 20, I live by the faith of the Son of God, and that, of course, the Son of God is Jesus Christ. And again, in the book of Acts, the third chapter, Peter, describing the healing of the man and denoting the power from whence the healing came, said that Jesus' name and faith in Jesus' name, yea, the faith which is by or from him, hath given this man this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And then, of course, over in the book of Ephesians, the third chapter, And in verse 11 and 12, we read, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness, we have the ability to speak boldly to God. And that is all you can do is speak to God. You cannot touch him. You actually cannot feel him. You actually cannot hear him. It is all one -sided. It is you in faith believing that he's there. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is. And this faith gives you the dynamism of a boldness to talk to God and you know he's there and you know he hears you and that's all there is to it. It is that simple and concrete spiritual substance. So we in whom we have boldness and access with confidence. On what grounds do you have this? Because you are a sweet person? Because you've been a kind, considered person? Because you've been a justified person? Because you've been living correctly? No! It's because of the faith of Him. You have the key that unlocks the door to God, giving you access and confidence. Even as John said, this is the confidence we have in Him. We ask anything concerning his will, we know that he hears us. And that's what it says. In whom we have boldness, he hears us. He's got to hear us. I've often said to people, you're sure that God heard you when you said what they call holy jamming? When you used his name in cursing, you were so sure that every wicked thought was heard and recorded? How come you're not so sure he doesn't hear your prayers now? Surely God can't be all alive through the wicked things. And completely deaf to the good things. A little bit. From this verse. It says we have boldness and access. With confidence on the grounds of the faith in him. But where is that faith? That faith is in the human vessel. Because God has dealt to every believer. The measure of faith. The scripture says by grace are you saved through faith. And that not of yourself. It is a gift of God. And every gift from God is good and perfect because it cometh from above. Now, remember in this Laodicean age, which parallels in a way the Pergamian age, it says here, I know thy works where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is. That was ancient Pergamus. But Satan's seat today is now in Rome. And where Satan merely had a seat, now today he will soon be enthroned in a man. Just the same as God came down and indwelt Christ, putting in him all those attributes which were requisite for the salvation of man, so Satan will put in this man all of those requisites by his own spirit in a man so he'll be incarnate in the last day. And Jesus said in that day, you have not denied my, not faith in me, but my faith. and he said concerning the last day when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith? Yes, he will find faith. He'll find it in the very few elect, because they alone have been given the measure of the faith of Jesus Christ. Many other verses in Scripture bear this out, that this faith that we possess, whereby we were born again, whereby we live, whereby we conquer, whereby we have access to God with the boldness and confidence, This faith whereby we see because we walk not by sight but by faith. This perfect faith whereby we, as Paul said, we put it over every single one of the armaments of God to make them effective. This faith whereby we please God. Scripture tells us was predicted that it would be our portion and our lot in the book of Mark, the 11th chapter. Remember that Jesus was on his way, I believe, to Jerusalem. And as he went by a certain way, there was a fig tree which should have been bearing fruit. At least he said it should have fruit. And when he went there, there was no fruit. He said, henceforth let no man eat fruit of thee. And a few days later they came back and the fig tree was completely dead from the roots up. The disciples were very amazed and no doubt they said, how was this done? And so Jesus explained what he had done for an object lesson. And he said, here is what it is. I have the faith of God. And because I've got the faith of God, I've got the ability to say what my heart desires. I've got the ability to believe what my heart desires because I've got unfailing faith. And I say it and it comes to pass. And he said to these disciples, have the faith of God. He did not say have faith in God, but have faith, the faith of God. And furthermore, he was not jesting. He was not saying, now, if you can only get a hold of that faith, but of course you can't have it. I alone got it. Now, if you could get a hold of it, you see, you'd be able to curse fig trees. In fact, I'll go further. If you simply have this faith, which of course you don't have and can't have, well, you'd be able to say to a mountain even, be thou plucked up and cast in the sea. And such faith you'd have, your heart would not even know. Your mouth would say it, and it would come to that. But of course you can't have it. Now, is that what he said? It's what he did not say. That's exactly what he did not say. Because Deuteronomy 29, 29 says, The secret things belong unto the Lord our God. If they're secret, then he hasn't told you about them. They haven't been revealed, so you can't have them. Is that correct? Well, now, come on. That's exactly what it says in the book of Corinthians. Remember what I read to you the other night? In the second chapter, it said, But as it is written, I have not seen your ear hurt, neither have I entered the heart of man the things which God hath prepared them of him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. But the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For no man knoweth the things of man, say the Spirit of man to him. Or what man knoweth the things of man, say the Spirit of man to him. Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God. And so Paul tells us right here, the revelation of God are ours. Now the secret things belong unto the Lord our God. But faith is no longer secret. It says the secret things belong unto the Lord our God. But those things which are revealed belong unto us. So therefore the faith of God being revealed. And the scripture says that the faith of God is revealed. Oh we need the revelation tonight. So it might become real. This faith of God was predicted. And he said have the faith of God. You can have the faith of God. You have the ability to receive the faith of God. It is a gift and it's yours if you'll be an elect child of God. And he said, Notice,

he connected the faith of God with the apostles. Did you notice that? Have the faith of God and truly I say unto you concerning this faith, that whosoever, not just Jesus, cursing a fig tree, but anybody with this faith of God can say to the mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and with it will not go to his heart, but shall believe the things that he says, shall come to pass, he's got the power to get them.

Notice what he says, therefore I say unto you, whatsoever things you desire when you pray, believe that you have received them. That's the exact translation. Look it up in Worldview Translation, Mrs. Montgomery. Anybody? Vincent Word Study. Believe that you have received them and you shall have them. Now you will notice that Jesus was enunciating the principle how to move mountains and kill fig trees. The faith of God. That's the secret. Then

he says, I therefore I say to you, what's everything you desire? When you get that faith, you will have the ability to put into practice the faith of God exactly as Abraham did. You follow me? Can you see this? To me, this is as simple as A, B, C.

Because it's got to be. You see the lesson? He killed a fig tree. How was it done? I say this microphone is a box that I dropped nickels and dimes in to get the music going. You don't know. Very soon these loudspeakers begin to blare up here. You say, wow, I like that music. How was it done? I said, all you got to do, honey, is have a dime and you drop it in here. Because anybody that drops a dime in here will have music come out there. But of course, you haven't got a dime, so you're not going to play the music box. Verse

that way if it's not written that way. But

all you got to do is have the faith of God. I'm revealing to you the possibility of having what made that tree die. But there's something bigger than just killing fir trees and pine trees and fig trees. You can have mountains removed with this faith. And he says this faith of God is not human faith because that fails. You see, you could say all you want with human faith. I'll command something to happen. I'll command it to happen. It won't happen because you haven't got what it takes to make it happen. But now, there's no longer any room for doubt because you've got something that works.

Therefore, I say unto you with this faith of God, when it comes, you'll be able to say whatever you want in the past tense. And it's got to come to pass because the dime works in the Nickelodeon. You

don't doubt when you put the dime in, do you? Oswald

said, if you must doubt, doubt your doubts are unreliable. But never doubt your faith. Why? Because it's God's giving. Now, Not only is this so, but this faith of God, which we talked about here, which was predicted by Jesus Christ, I said last night, if we could go to Scripture and find in Scripture a single solitary person, or maybe person, who understood this faith, this measure of faith, and used it, we could by study put ourselves in a position whereby we too could successfully use this faith by understanding it and employing it. And there is such a man, and his name is called Abraham, and the scripture tells you and me to walk in the steps of faithful Abraham. So let's study about Abraham. The fourth chapter of the book of Romans, beginning at verse 16. Well, let's read verse 13 to get it. For the promise, we're talking about promise, promise to be heir, promise anything, doesn't matter long as it's a promise. For the promise that he should be heir of the world was not made to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

There's that faith again. For if they which are heirs, they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none of faith. because the law worketh wrong. For where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, the promise, that it might be by grace. To the end the promise might be sure to all the sea. Did you get it? If promises of God are sure to all the sea, why? Because they've got the faith of God. Strange

sounding, isn't it? But thank you for the amen, because that's the Bible's sin.

not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. Right back to faith again. Now this describes faith, and Abraham and God puts them all together. As it is written, God said, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom ye believe, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were, who when hope was gone, on in faith. That's Moffat's translation. I like it there in King James. Who, when hope was gone, remember I told you last night about that thing called death? No use hoping, but you hope anyway.

Hoping. That's

the gramophone rock going around. Something happened to it. Power wouldn't stop. That's what the faith of God's like. Abraham couldn't stop hoping when there wasn't any use hoping. We'll

discuss that later. Just hold that in your mind for another night.

hope was gone, hope drawn in faith that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. He not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead. He's about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, was strong in faith, giving God the glory of being fully persuaded that what God had promised, God was able and going to perform. It was counted to him for righteousness. God said, you've got it, son. It's all yours. Now, this

faith of God analyzed talking

to God in a particular manner. In

relationship to God, in a particular manner of raising the dead and calling things which are not as though they were. Raising the dead signifies the moving of mountains. And calling things which are not as though they were signifies the thing spoken. Believe that you have received it, it shall be yours. The very faith that Jesus talked about in Mark 11. Now, as I said last night, I can't have faith to use my handkerchief as a microphone. Because, you see, the qualities of this handkerchief are not the qualities that are necessary for me to repose my faith in them in order to be magnified or act like a microphone. The object of my faith must have the qualities which will give me what I have need of. Now this is a microphone and it does have the qualities resident in it, so therefore my faith is justified. Now, God then, who is the object of our faith, must have certain qualities which justify the use of our faith. Now, just like I can go to this microphone and say, you're a microphone, I know that you work, let's get working. I can do just the same with God. God, I know that you're God, I know about you, you're going to do exactly what I need done in the realm of faith, so here we go, I put my faith in you, and we're going to get some results. What is there about God? The scripture says, That God raises the dead and calleth things which are not as though they were. Now, as I said the other night, that man can blow us all to pieces. He can sort of uncreate everything created, but he can't bring back from the dead. Nobody can do it. But it says God, in showing his power, illustrating it, so that men may perceive it, God raises the dead. In other words, there are no limits to God. He's got the ability. He's omnipotent. What would be the use of having an omnipotent God or like a microphone here that works today but won't work tomorrow? If this microphone will always do the work, then it must have immutable qualities as well as enabling qualities. That's the way God is. He's not only omnipotent, he's immutable. He said, I, the Lord, I change not. There is neither variableness nor shadow of turning in God. You see? Now, what does he say? He said heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away. The

ability of God lies in his word. His power lies in himself. You see? That's exactly what Joel said. In the second chapter in verse 11, it said the Lord shall utter his voice before his army. For his camp is very great. Why can he do this? For he is strong that executed his word. God never fails in his word. His

word is immutable.

Watch this because word and faith go together.

They don't become separated. These

three are in heaven. They are in the word. And they are the

ability. And his immutable word causes him to. Back up that word, or to bring all things to pass, or bring out his omnipotence. Now, this definition of Abraham in dealing with his faith, as he looked toward God, he said, God can raise the dead. What did that mean? Well, we found it in 2 Corinthians, the first chapter. You know, the Bible interprets the Bible. You can tell what symbols are. Paul

said, we would not, this is verse 8, chapter 1, Corinthians 2. Do not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, Asia Minor, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despair even of life. There was one step between them and death. One more step and it was all gone. Is this the time to run? Is this the time to quit? Is this the time to stop believing? Notice what Paul said. but we have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves. Notice it. Into the place, he said, where the circumstances were so overpowering and unbearable, it was death as far as we were concerned because we were finished.

God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver in whom we trust, he will yet deliver us. What

does that literally mean? It means that you and faith,

You have to come to the place where you no longer fear the cataclysms, the catastrophes, and the pressures of life. It

means that you have the power so, like Paul, you don't have to fear it. The day

I prayed for Anahia, she was going blind. And after I prayed three times, and every time I prayed, the darkness got deeper and deeper. The Lord spoke to me, and then spoke through me to her. And I said, Sister, the doctor said you're going blind. She said, That's right. And God told me to tell her this, Sister, when you believe God that you are going to be healed as thoroughly as you have believed the doctor that you will be blind, you will be healed. You see, she said in her heart, I am going blind. I will be blind, and then it's all over. But God heals blind eyes. He stops

you from using your faith.

pushed over here any further, I'm going to quit. And you get pushed and you do quit.

I've been not feeling too good. I've got arthritis. I'm going to be put in a wheelchair. And when I get in the wheelchair, it's all over. Not so. God empties wheelchairs. It

means the doctors will operate and I'll die. No, sir. God heals cancer.

Don't you know one of the commands of the word of the Lord was to raise the dead? This

faith that you and I have got was made. So we could be in the direst and the severest extremities with death facing, destruction, bankruptcy, those kids in jail, God knows, and still come right through.

And stop

usurping. The

vessel's a mess. Learn

the principles how to get the vessel under control. Now, Abraham was called by God to give up his son in death. He was not only going to kill him, slaughter him for sacrifice, he was going to burn him to ashes and bones. Then

stand

back and say, now God raised him up and bring him right back. That's the kind of faith you and I have tonight. But we've got to come to the place where we'll lay Isaac on the altar and not only cut his throat but burn him. Now

we've got the faith that does it. And if we will not allow ourselves to be placed in a position For the outworking of that faith, my brother, my sister, God calls it off. And if you don't believe it, all you've got to do is examine the exodus of Israel from Egypt. God gave a promise to Moses, sent him down, I'm going to deliver Israel. But he said, before I do it, I caution you, I'm going to harden Pharaoh's heart and he won't let you go until I make him let you go. And it's going to get rougher and tougher and rougher and tougher. And Moses, like you and me, went pitter -patter -patter, bring him down to Egypt. How are we going to lead him out? Bless God. And Moses, Pharaoh turned on Moses and made it rough. And Moses, oh, my God, my God, what's happened anyway? It hasn't got better. It's got worse. And God said, shut up. That's just what I said. It happened. And

Moses smiled up. He went down, stood back. He said, just go ahead, Pharaoh, make it worse.

And Pharaoh made it worse. He said, okay, make it worse again.

And God struck. And he struck him dead. killed Pharaoh's son and the rest of them, but he took Israel out alive. He had to face death because he said, without the blood, there's going to be death. Bless

your sweet little heart. If I was a muscle man could lift 500 pounds, you think I'd go around demonstrating how big I was? 15 little one -half pounds. Look at what I can do. They say, Dave, you've caught and picked a nut. Pick up something big. You

think he's going to ask us anything short of letting him raise the dead in our lives with the faith of God?

I'm just trying to get us all ready for some trouble ahead because it's coming. The

dead means exactly what it says. You've got to come to the place where it's got to take God or brother, sister, it's all over. And then even then, when it's all over, you can still crawl out waving the flag of victory.

Do you want me to tell you a story? I'll tell you a story. If you read the story of Polycarp, where Polycarp wrote in a little pistol, You will find that the early church fathers were so anxious to believe God and did believe God, like I'm talking about, they even accepted the myth of the phoenix bird. The phoenix bird is supposed to be a bird, it's a mythological bird that I believe is born or hatched in Egypt. Then it goes up to Asia Minor. This is mythology now. And when it gets so old it's time to die, it flies back to Egypt and gets in a nest and it dies. And a worm inside the bird eats the bird. And then it grows feathers and wings and flies back to age minor.

And they said that's the type of the resurrection. Those men believed anything. Didn't matter what it was, as long as it looked good, they believed it. It

came to the power of God and miracles. We

sit back and what do we do? We don't use this gift and we've got to write it out as bold.

Like a bunch of millionaires that are afraid to write a check for 25 cents as we go broke in the rain. The book

of Isaiah says the mountains shall be removed and the hills shall depart. But it says the peace of God's covenant shall not depart. And why are people they going to pieces all the time? Because of a bit of pressure. Christian

is supposed to welcome pressure. Wait

to get in the ring and fight. If

you call the cops and duck down the back alley,

you will be afraid tonight. You spend 50 bucks if you had 5 ,000, unless you're sick. Now, if you're sick, don't answer the question. You

say, certainly not, because you see, I can do it. That's the faith of God, too. Without repeating anymore, we'll repeat it last night. We want to give ourselves time to go ahead. The second part of this definition is, the

faith is described as God calling those things which are not... As though they were. That's the immutability of God. Exalting his word above his name. For heaven and earth shall pass away. But my word. My given promise. Shall not pass away. It

won't pass away or change. It's immutable. If God and the word are one. And God's immutable. There is neither variableness nor shadow of turning. God doesn't get smaller. God doesn't get bigger. God doesn't change His mind. If God is the Word, then there is neither variableness nor shadow of turning in the Word of God. It's the Word, and you better believe it. Eve didn't believe it. Adam didn't believe it. Then the proof of it is they brought every heartache, sorrow, worry, sickness, and poverty, and you name it, in this world today.

But believing God's Word will reverse all of that and put you in the paradise of God and the bride of Jesus Christ. Because the bride is the word bride. Turn back to Genesis, the story of this man Abraham. In Genesis, the 17th chapter, in verses 5 and 6, it says, Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham. For a father of many nations have I made thee, and I make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee. And kings shall come out of thee, and I will establish my covenant between me and thy seed after thee. In their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a god of evil. Listen, the only seed that God recognized of Abraham was Isaac. As Abraham had two sons, one by Hagar called Ishmael and one by Abraham. Yet when the time came to test Abraham, God said, take now thy son, thy only son. And in Hebrews 11, it says, Abraham took his only begotten son, and the covenant of God, which is immutable, is to the seed.

Because if you're seed, God's immutable to you. You're

a father nation, and I will multiply you. In other words, God put it right in the past tense. God

says that it is, and that's all there is to it. And

in prayer, what favorite things you desire, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. Why?

You know something?

I've been in that kind of Tommy Rock for years. Not for years, because I quit a long, long time ago. Well, you ought to have been, if you're emotional, you ought to have been running around this building about now, just what you heard tonight. The

word of God. I never played chorus and got you lumped up. It's the truth, not the choruses that set you free, honey. It's not the emotions that set you free. It's the truth that set you free. You weren't even saying amen. You know why? You didn't have a chance. You had to listen. And that's just the way I like it. Keep listening. God

said, Abraham, I have made you the father of nations. Bring

it to pass. Give

what God...

Everybody hates, especially Pentecostal people. Well, you're not organized Pentecostal, so you're all right. You're... I trust rapture, real Holy Ghost Pentecostals, not by doctrine, but by the literal infilling. Because do you know that God told a big fat lie? He called Abraham what he wasn't. You

heard people say, I won't say that because I'd be a liar. I

wasn't healed 2 ,000 years ago, and I'm not healed because, you see, I won't be a liar. Well, I got news for you, honey. The Bible said every man be a liar. To let God be true. And God said, Abraham, I have made you a father of nations. And he wasn't a father of anything.

When Abraham said what God said he was, he became.

You're preaching Christian science. Oh, I don't care what you call it, honey. But I can read my Bible. This man called God, this spirit individual, is supposed to never change and be all the things he said he was. He looked down on the poor old boy that hungered for his son. Had a barren wife and couldn't do anything about it. Getting old now. He said, I've made you a father of nations. And he said, hallelujah, that satisfies me. He

believed what God said he already was and he came in. You

notice how God worded it? Said, see, that's a revelation. It's got to be revelation because poor old Abraham, look, he said, don't you think? See,

I

have made you a father of many nations.

Multiply me.

Why does God put in the past tense? What matter does it make where God puts it? He's not the great was or the great will be. He's the great I am. There's no future or past with God. It's all present anyway. But he speaks this way to you and to me to get us to understand that God's immutable and his word's immutable, that he's omnipotent, his word's omnipotent, God and his word are one. And if he said it, that's it. Now

Abraham's going to get older. sicker and God knows what, but that's still it. He's going to bring you right down to the place and we'll talk about it later. He was seminally dead. I said he was seminally dead. But God raises the dead. Man,

I've got that kind of faith. Oh, you're just getting wise now. You're just getting it. That's why I'm not praying for the sick. We may be before the week's over. When you can come and say, Brother Dale, I've got it. I'll pray for you. You'll be healed right then. But I'm not going to waste my time and yours otherwise because we don't hurt you. Here's one of the hardest things to learn about faith. And yet it's within our power to do this very thing with this faith, even as God caused Abraham to follow in that the principle of faith. And that is to learn to put things in the past tense and recognize them done in spite of the fact that it's not yet manifestly done.

If you're receiving a letter from your lawyer saying, I have placed in the bank in trust that deed do some property. It's over in Australia and it's worth a lot of money. And you're so happy because you know that deed is placed in your name. That's yours. You haven't seen the property, but just the same. That doesn't bother you because you know it's yours. You've got the deed. This word is great. Any type of thing a man can give anybody because God gave it. Now, if you think I'm giving you a story which isn't true, I want you to turn to the book of Luke, the 13th chapter. In the book of Luke, the 13th chapter, we'll read it, verses 12 to 13, and I want to see you where Jesus, who was God, very God, manifest in the flesh, did a very, very, very terrible thing. Read

in verse 10 down, 13 Luke. And Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, and behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together. and could in no wise lift herself up. It was all over. She was tied. It was finished. So don't even bother praying. It's too late. Is that so? Listen to the rest of it. And when Jesus saw her, that's the difference, he said unto her, Woman, thou art the greatest woman you have.

Who said she, I, me? What's this fellow? Who says he's Jesus, the Son of God? I can't get up. I'm all back over here.

Pentecostal, 20th century, assembly of God, oneness and what have you, teaching and reaction.

Syrians, Baptists, Methodists, Nazarene, Brethren, Church of Christ. Now you can forget about them because they don't believe it. Church without Christ may be more like it. So just mark them off. That's

what he said to Abraham. He said to his daughter, the daughter of Abraham, You have to know. She said, Hallelujah. Next

verse says, And then he laid his hand on her, and she was made whole.

Everything you desire when you pray, believe that you have them. And you shall have it. You

say, Brother Vail, that'll make me learn to talk like God. What do you think I'm driving at? Brother

Branham taught you. He said when you say this mountain be thou removed, he said it may be just one teaspoon of that mountain starts to go.

And maybe a little later on it's a cup full gone. Maybe later on it's just a scoop shovel gone. The time goes on, it's just a chunk that the bulldozer tore out. But the day comes and that mountain's gone. Why? Because don't you see we have the equipment? You see now I keep saying we've got to come for revelation and see this thing because I'm giving you the truth tonight. I'm quoting you the word. I'm not telling you one single solitary life, but it's going to take God's spirit to make this thing dynamic in your life and mine.

If we do nothing else but come together for the next six weeks and pray three hours a night, it'll be more than worth our time to do that. Just say, God, give me the revelation. Of what I have in you and from you.

Because it's got to be alive. It was alive to Abraham. When God said see I have made you a father. He said that's it. That's it. That's it. I am a father. And he changed his name. He's happy to change his name.

Because God said he was a father. And this woman. The daughter of Abraham. Responded in the very same way. When he said thou hast been loose. On Calvary you were healed. He

said praise God to God.

It was only then that Christ laid hands on her and she was healed. Now every child of God, every true seed, because remember it's the seed that has it, not the rest. Just the seed. Because if you've got that measure of faith that brings the Holy Ghost right into your life, you're baptized with the Holy Ghost, baptized into his body, and that word redeemed means to buy back. You were pre -existent and him were brought back. And now as he was the one -membered manifestation of God together, if we're bright, we are the many -membered manifestation. And see, we've got that faith. We'll respond the same as Jesus did, as this woman did, as Abraham did.

Exactly right. No other way about it. Tonight you may say, I can't feel it. How many can feel it? I'm going to sit in my hands. I can feel it.

Good. If you have hands enough for us to get out to write this, I'll pray for you.

You see, I've got it. Let God be true, but every man alive. Exactly

correct. I can feel it.

You can if you will. He

was a man of light passions. He had his troubles too, but he shut the heaven for three and a half years. He called and he called down fire too. On three groups of 50. I don't admire him for it, but I sure admire he could do it. It

doesn't seem to work. Not the face fall, it's the vessels fall. See,

I don't feel it. Naturally. You people feel your hair. Everybody's bald -headed. Well, there you are. I knew it. I thought you were the funniest looking ducks I've seen. Nobody with any hair. Not a person with any hair. I'd think that'd be kind of cute, wouldn't it? Does anybody feed your stockings? No, nobody got stockings on you. Aren't your feet cold?

Well, that's the way it is with faith. You don't feed it. In fact, many times you have to go against your feelings.

Certainly. Nothing to do with your feelings. Why? Because your feelings aren't God. Faith

is based upon God. It's a gift of God. It's literally the actual attribute of Christ himself when he said, have faith in God. To the men that couldn't understand why the child wasn't healed of the epilepsy and all. If

all things are possible, then there is no limitation or any place where we may be placed. But what we are able to more than overcome, as the scripture says, we are more than conquerors. We're killed all the day long. We're counted as sheep for the slaughter. But in all these things, we are coming out more surplus than victorious.

You may not see it. You may doubt it. You may refuse to use it. But you still have it if you see it. And you are responsible to use it or you'll never please God. Don't

you admire heroes of faith? Every missionary's book, anything you read, you love to see about the man that believes God. It makes you weak to read about a Hudson Taylor who deliberately would not ask even his boss for his salary because he knew when he hit the mission field there'd be no one to ask but God. and God would have to do it. And there he was, penniless and hungry, with no money to buy anything or pay his rent. He was literally locked out, and he just sat waiting, and the boss suddenly came in, and literally in tears, and said, Why didn't you ask?

Because I was going to make either God make you do it, or somebody else do it. And

that's living. I

think it's tremendous to look at these pictures where you see little kids in acapulco places, many guys 150 feet. Sure, that's nice. But I'll tell you, there's nothing thrills me like seeing the story of a man who can stand up and believe God.

Because everything pales into insignificance in the face of a hero of faith marching against prince of paladin powers and defying them, coming out victorious when all around was death and decay. And every single one tonight that's a seed of God has got to measure the faith of Jesus Christ, not one Latin. Now, the trouble is we are not recognizing the presence of our faith. and admitting it and working that out as we ought to. Now, it may come as a shock to us tonight to think of possessing this measure of faith with so little result. That shock may be so great we'll wonder if we've even got it. But listen to me. If you and I are children of God, then tonight we have something even greater than faith, which is the life of God himself. And how much of that are we showing tonight?

You deny your faith and you're on your way to hell because that's exactly scripture. You deny Jesus Christ, you're on your way to hell. But would you deny tonight Jesus Christ at the chance of your eternal life, would you? Yet how much fruit can anybody here dare to stand to his feet and say, I truly manifest the living God as I am a son?

You wouldn't dare any more than I. Yet you cannot help but confess that he is in your life. You are joined to him. Or you're reprobate and you're on your way to hell.

And if you've got Jesus Christ, then you've got his faith. Is that correct?

We're gaining ground. Let

me show you why I speak this way. Over here in the book of Isaiah, and

I guess I could quote it, maybe a little stumbling around, but it's easier to find it. Try to quote it. Isaiah 55 and 8, it says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, but are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the heavens. Are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts? Is that correct? In other words, you couldn't even begin to think in your wildest moments the thoughts of God. Is that right? Turn now to the book of Romans, the 7th chapter. To

get the same thing, 7 and 33. Both of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his what? Judgment.

You couldn't dare to try for them. And his ways are past finding up. It takes revelation.

Turn to Romans with me now. We're going to talk about something that should thrill you and make you scared. In Romans, the first chapter, verse 16, 17. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein, what therein? For in the gospel is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written that justly by faith. What is revealed in the gospel? Tell me somebody.

Now sure, but you missed it. Not that one.

The righteousness of God. Whose righteousness?

Does the gospel reveal your righteousness, tell me? Are

you sure? What

righteousness is revealed?

Righteousness. You're satisfied? Turn

to the third chapter. And in the third chapter, verse 25, it says, Whom God has set forth to be the propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness. Is that your righteousness? Whose is it? righteousness. Verse 26. To declare at this time his righteousness. To declare at this time whose righteousness that God may be just and the declarer or justifier, the one who declares righteous, who believe in Jesus. Do you follow it? Now

to 1 Corinthians 1

and 30. But of Jesus of God. Same person.

The word is

wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Let's become our righteousness. You sure? 2

Corinthians 5, verse

21. Jesus

to be sin for us. This Jesus who knew no sin. That we might be a

picture. That

is joined to the glorious one spirit. Is that correct? Make

your spirit.

Tonight are you the right. Righteousness of God. Do you feel like it? No. Do

it with me. Do you act like it? Are

you the righteousness of God? Say it. Righteousness of God. All together. I am the righteousness of God.

You're going to come to hell. You

took the righteousness of every man since Adam. Even without sin. And put it all in one human being. You wouldn't dare to approach unto God. However,

in the life. of the judgment of God. He wouldn't dare to approach you.

Tonight it is either grace or perish. It is either Christ or death. And if you are not the righteousness of God, not on your own, because the gospel does not declare your righteousness, but it declares, blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. God will not impute sin to you. He never has and He never will. This,

of course, means the guilt from the offending one.

means that he never can sin.

Heartache, if you can get it. Take away your heartache. It may leave you with a headache, but take away your heartache if you can get it. God

did impute sin to the bride. He couldn't. He

bought her out.

Propitiate means to turn away the wrath of the offender from the offended one. And that's what Jesus did. Turned away the wrath by his death. And God could not impute sin to her. Why? Because she always has been of his members. She He was in him before the foundation of the world. As God came, a single member being in Christ, now the bride, a single born -again member since the time of Jesus' resurrection, has become a part of the many -membered body of Jesus Christ. And yet that imputes him to God because God sent him to make

even the evil thing work together for good. So he couldn't impute sin himself, but then he died for the members.

And tonight you are as absolutely as righteous as God, because you have become His righteousness on the grounds of your unity. Now that's difficult, but it's true. I've told you the truth. You accept that tonight? And if you accept that, you must accept you have a measure of His faith. That's all there is to it.

I'm going to tell you about this righteousness. This is the very thing that Dr. Kenyon discovered in his studies. When you come to the place of a revelation of God's righteousness, then you can lick the devil, but not before. Because every single time the devil is going to point his finger at you and he's going to say you haven't got the power because you are a failure. Dr.

Kenyon said, when I realized that I had become the very righteousness of God by my union with God, no more, no less, but by an absolute union with God, so I have become a new creation. God broke down that middle wall of partition. He was that missing link between God and man. And God and man met in Jesus Christ. And now God meets in you, making you the same God -man. Remember, it's the body. The church has the fullness of God. One member once had it, but now all together we've got it. And he said, when I knew that I was the righteousness of God, then every devil trembled and every cancer flicked. From that time on, my ministry was victorious.

People try to lie and say that Dr. Kenyon died of sick disillusion. Poor old decrepit man, that's a lie. And every one of these mealy -mouthed, foul, Christ -word -hating detractors will do it. Whether they're Nazarene, Baptist, Pentecostal, Mormons, or just plain heathen without a title. Like the heathen with the title, so sound brief. Oh, they try to besmirch his character and say he died. I heard them, but I happen to know the howlsies who were prophets in his ministry. They're still living in their 70s in Seattle, having a great time glorifying God. And they knew because they were there that one night their old brother Kenyon, right in years but healthy, strong, simply went to bed, slept on this side, and got up on that side right away. Just like the Bible says, God just took his breath.

This is the lesson that God kept trying to show Brother Branham. When we were with him in Topeka, Kansas, the word came that a young man building a church, the entire wall fell on him. He split his spleen and ruptured his liver, caved his chest in. And in the news came Brother Brannell having breakfast. And he said, now, he said, isn't this something? He said, here I am, just a man. If Jesus were here and the word came saying this young man that loves you is almost dead, what would he do? He said, why, he just don't heal him. But he said, of course, I'm not Jesus. And he thought within himself, well, he said, I can't very well go and pray too much for prayer of faith, although they expect me to. Because he said, you see, these hands aren't too clean. I'm not the kind of man like God. Jesus could do it because he was perfect. But I can't do those things. And he thought, yes, but every now and then I get a vision. Now if God gives a vision, I can lay on hands because that never fails. I'll go and lay on hands with a vision. And I'll say arise, the man will arise. And the Spirit of God said, aren't they the same hands with or without the vision? And he said, I'll go and pray. And he went down there and the face of that wife just snarling and sneering. Because God doesn't do those things, you know. Brother Brandon prayed that prayer of faith and that man was out of that hospital.

When you realize those hands are as righteous as the hands of God, don't look at the flesh now. That prophet's nothing. I'm not saying to let him get messed up. I'm just saying you look at those hands. They're as righteous as God's hands. Because there is where righteousness is. His righteousness declares not yours and not even your righteousness. that comes out of his righteousness is declared, it's his righteousness is declared. And that's where it leads you. But you get it by being united with him. You can say tonight, I am as righteous as God. You can also say, I have that measure of the faith of God. I've got mountain moving faith. You have too. I may never use it. I may be ashamed to say it, but I've got it. If I simply put it away in a napkin and put it under a pillow or hidden in the ground, I've still got it. Repeat after me. I have the faith of God. Say it. I have the faith of God. Say this. I have God's own faith. I have God's own faith. I have within me now mountain moving faith. Within me now mountain moving faith. I do have it right now, the very faith of Jesus. I do have it right now, the very faith of Jesus. I have the ability to call things which are not as though they were. There is nothing impossible to me. The measure of faith brings all the promises of God.

Now, you know why I had you confess it? Because it says over here in 2 Corinthians 4 and 13, we have the same spirit of faith according as it is written, I have believed and therefore have I spoken. We also believe and therefore speak. You see why you confessed it? Because you've got the faith of God. Everyone tonight is a child of God as a measure of that mountain -moving faith. Now our time is gone. At least I'm going to quit at this particular spot here. I may review a little bit tomorrow night, but you can see each night I cut down. And the reason I review is because it gets a hold of you. In other words, it becomes a power to give a repetition. Even the Apostle Paul repeated. He wasn't against repeating because it says over here, and I can't quote it for you, but I can find it in the book of Philippians, I think it is, in the third chapter. He says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord to write the same things to you. to me indeed is not grievous, and for you it's safe. He said, I don't mind doing it, and I know it's good for you, and I like repeating it, and I know it'll help you too. So that's why we do. It's absolutely scriptural. In fact, I know that there isn't anybody here that's in the genius class. You know, even when we were little kids and heard the little verse, Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, and all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. Now, the first time you heard it, you couldn't say it. You might have tried, but you missed it. But after somebody kept saying it over and over and over, it got hold of you. And that's what I do, because the secret of memory depends upon retention. And retention depends upon impress. And if the first impress is enough, if I can get some method either to make you laugh or see yourself looking silly, and you get it, that's good. But the way the first, the rule of successful pedagogy you're teaching is go over and over. And we're going over it. You've got to measure the face of Jesus Christ. There's no doubt about it. You never would be born again without it. It's a measure of the faith of God himself. It's the faith that he predicted. It's the faith that Abraham had. It's the kind of faith that knows all about the kind of God there is. He called up those things which aren't all as though they were. Put them in the past tense because it can't help but be that way. He's the God that raises it. Nothing shall be impossible to him. See that? Just take the revelation of it. But keep saying it. Keep saying it, and keep saying it. It's just like eating olives. Your first time you eat olives, you didn't like them. Some people never do learn to like them. But you eat enough olives, you learn to like them.

Just like shrimp. I don't like shrimp. You keep eating shrimp, you'll like it. Another thing, you get hungry enough, you'll like it. So either you keep on eating the words concerning your faith, or you get hungry enough. If you keep on, you'll come to a place where you'll get it. You'll get hold of it. You'll

get so hungry, you'll... Begin reading, look into the map. So there it is. You've got a measure of the faith of God.

It makes every promise sure.

But remember, don't forget that this faith puts you in a place where Paul was, pressed out of measure.

What are we afraid of? Aren't we afraid of being pressed out of measure? That's it. You don't need to be anymore because you've got what it takes. See?

You don't need to worry about debts when you've got a million dollars in the bank. Say, who cares? Let them roll in the fund writing check. You know something? You couldn't spend a million dollars, could you? Neither could I. You can never exhaust your faith either. There's no limits to it. You know what Paul said about faith? He said, though I have all faith to move mountains, but Jesus said, though I have the faith of a grain of mustard seed, I can move mountains. So big faith and little faith aren't big and little faith at all. It's the same thing that can either do big things or little things.

Big faith is simply you taking that measure of faith and doing big things like moving mountains. If you're happy to just have a little walk and move, And you can't believe the God that took care of the world will take care of a cancer? You'll never gain your cancer. But you see, the God that took care of the world by the measure of faith is the same God with the same measure of faith that takes care of the cancer. You know that? That's all. I'm not lying to you. That's the absolute truth. I've proved it to you because Jesus said, A grain of mustard seeds faith moves among. Paul said, All faith moves among. So therefore, put little and all together means what? It simply means the same faith will do anything, either big or small. It's up to you. He's big. You

know why Brother Branham is so unique? He's the only man I know in the 20th century who's bigger on the inside than he was on the outside.

Most men are bigger on the inside and pretty small on the outside and pretty small on the inside. But that man was bigger on the inside than he was on the outside. That's why he could have a prayer line. And by his faith, before he died even, he admitted that if God would allow him, every person in the building would grow healed because he had that power.

But God said, get them to believe.

You want to get help tonight? I'm here to help you only one way. I don't know how. Just get your faith. Get you to see you have the faith of God. And that measure is sufficient. If it weren't enough, he'd have given you more. But it's enough. Let's pray. Let's run, gentlemen. Tomorrow again, we'll get right back to study. Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you again tonight for your presence. We thank you, Lord God, that thou art here in the midst of these because thou art in them. And because you're in them, we believe you're going to work through them, but it's going to be according to your word. Because even when you were upon earth, you said, What I hear my Father say, that I say. What I see my Father do, that I do. And the will of that man, that God -man, was in perfect subjection to the Spirit. Lord, tonight we are in a position here, as the many -membered body of Christ, if indeed we are, and we believe we are, Lord, part of that body, to see the Lord of glory, that Father Spirit, work in and through us. according to the word. There is none of us that do not have the sufficiency, the sufficiency of thy grace, O God, the sufficiency of thy faith, of thy spirit, of thy love, of thy word, of all thy attributes, Lord. We have not been walking, but we're surplus Christians. We are more than conquerors. Yea, though we've encountered the sheep of the slaughter, killed all the day long, we're more than conquerors. Not life, and that scares some of us, and not death, that also fights us. Creation, things to come, things past. Oh, we live in a shadow. We're afraid to face the sun. No, none of those things, Lord. Nothing scares you. Because we're surplus Christians, hallelujah. Let it be dark, God makes it light. Let it be light, God makes it light. No matter what it is, we're more than conquerors, surplus, because of the faith of God himself. We don't need to worry about our condition. We don't have to fuss about ourselves because we know we have become the righteousness of God. It's simply letting faith cover that breastplate of righteousness and advancing in faith that we are what he said we are. And we become manifestly so, those Christians who walk like Jesus Christ. Lord, when they told you to deny that you're the Son of God, he said, if I do, I'm a liar just like you. And if you're to deny that, that minute I know is that even as that God -man, they see that man there walking, he walked into sin. You know, Lord, I know you to walk right into sin. But as long as you confess that truth, you could say to people, which of you can find even one word wrong with me? And nobody could do it. Because you confessed what was true. Lord, tonight it is true that we have become your righteousness by our union. It scares us. But thank God we took a step by sin. And go on, Lord, till the revelation becomes ours. Now, Father, we're going away again for a little while. Come again tomorrow night, if you so please, to do things again. Father, don't let one word be lost.

Your own word once more told us that we're relying on. That's why we're talking this way. That the Spirit was given to bring all things to our remembrance. And I don't know anything more important, Lord, to remember than what you have become to us.

It would be so dishonoring that you came and became and made us. and we knew it not. How tragic, how ungrateful, how rebellious. Surely, Lord, we wouldn't even have a right to look at Satan and challenge him that he was certainly a wrongly constituted person to do what he did. If we tonight, with all the attributes of God accorded to us, impeded to us, imparted to us, we stand back and deny what we have become through our union with Christ. Father, Forgive us because we have been just that night. Lord, we need a fresh bath in the blood, as it were, another cleansing through the Spirit of God. Lord, please tonight then, illuminate our minds and our hearts until the torch flames once more. We being those flaming torches, the burning living word, the sword of God, manifest living efficiency, read and known of all men. Father, I believe that's true. The kind of prayer you want to hear from our lips tonight. Because it's in your word. Grant it therefore. None the king, eternal, immoral, invisible, the only wise God. Be all power and honor and glory through Jesus Christ indwelling these lives. Because we want to give him glory. Amen. God bless you. Amen. See you tomorrow night.