It Is I, Be Not Afraid

...and see our crowd growing, even this second night. We are very happy for this, and trusting that there was a great time here last evening, how the Lord blessed.

And I haven't talked to Brother Sullivan today to find out just how the altar service finally come out. [Brother Sullivan says, “Wonderful.”] Good, I'm so happy to hear that. You know, when we get souls saved, then God is pleased. That's the first thing.

Usually, when we're going to have a few nights like this, why, we always try to have the altar services and things first, because it's written, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then other things will be added.” And I'm happy for that. And we all want to find all the favor with God that we can find, because we need all the grace that He can bestow upon us. I'm speaking for myself.

I'm not mistaken, I'm looking at Brother and Sister Kidd sitting down here. So glad to see you.

I was reading a little testimony of you the other day and you know, you all were preaching the gospel five years before I was born, and I'm an old man. So, I certainly do respect this little old couple here from here in Ohio, Brother and Sister Kidd. And nearly all of you know them.

She sends down every once in a while and gets a big bunch of prayer cloths that I've prayed over to send to her people that she knows that's sick, and gets the testimonies back. Just a little old mother and dad in the gospel. So happy to see them.

I got a letter last night from my friend, Rosella Griffith here from Joliet, Illinois; she was one of America's noted alcoholics. The Alcoholics Anonymous could do nothing for her, and the doctors in Chicago could do nothing for her. And one night, she was brought to the meeting, and the Holy Spirit revealed all these things to her and healed her. And now, she's a jail worker in Chicago in the slums, for the kingdom of God.

Her little friend, I believe one brought the other; I don't know which it is. And if I'm not mistaken, that's ... you're sitting there tonight. Also a dope addict, I believe it was.

And say, Brother Sullivan, if you know them, you must get their testimonies before the people. There might be others here that's drank and dope fiends, and so forth, can see what God can do. It is no secret. That your husband, sister? So happy to see you, my brother.

And so, Christ has certainly made a difference in that life. Certainly has. It's from the rat holes of the earth to the highest pinnacle that a person can be led, to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is no secret what God can do.

And you must, by all means, Brother Sullivan, get their testimony. I'm sure all of you would like to hear it, wouldn't you? How from dope to what she is now, a saint of God, her and her husband.

Not only that, I was telling Rosella was a worker in the slums of Chicago. They are evangelists on the field, preaching the gospel. I tell you, that makes my heart jump for joy.

Wait till I get to shake your hands on the other side. That's when we're going to have a wonderful time. We won't have to go home, because we are home then. And the sun will never go down in that city. No, sir, it'll always be light. We're struggling for that time.

And as I said last night, since I've been saved, I've always felt like that I was in a nightmare somewhere. There's just something beyond.... If I could just wake up to it. We will, one of these days, wake up to the reality of God, and standing in His presence, and saved by His grace, conformed to His image. Oh, what a time that will be.

I'm happy to be here tonight again, to be in fellowship with these ministers, the different ones of you, my brethren, and with Brother Sullivan. And he's a Kentuckian, but he got forgiveness for it, and come on and become a minister. Now, it happens to be that I'm a Kentuckian too. So I will just show you there's a lot of them here. How many's from Kentucky, raise up your hand? Is there a Hoosier in the bunch?

My mother runs a boarding house—or, she did—and one day, I went down there, and every one she had of twenty-three men were Kentuckians. I went up to my church, and I said, “All from Kentucky, stand up,” and the whole congregation stood up.

Well, Kentucky has something that they have offered to the Lord. Been many saints come from Kentucky. In the early days, the pioneer days when we came in the wagons with horses, and over across the hills and they produced some great preachers and great saints of God. It'll be well represented in glory when we get there.

And I trust that we, as the oncoming generation, the off-springs from them, that we're not ashamed of our forefathers or the gospel that they preached. And let's stand for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, leaving those things are behind, let's press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ. That's my heart's desire, is to meet that high calling.

Now, last night I just spoke to you a little. And tonight, it's a healing service. We don't claim now—if there happens to be someone by who would not understand that—we do not heal anyone. We only pray for the sick. I've seen tens of thousands of people healed, but I never did heal one. I've had some direct answers to prayer for praying for the sick, but I've never healed anyone. And I don't believe that lays in the power of man. It's a finished work that Christ did at Calvary.

Healing doesn't lay within man, not even to doctors, hospitals, medicine. There's no doctor, hospital, or medicine can heal. God's the healer. Medicines will aid. A doctor can set a bone, diagnose a case, give medicine to kill germs; but God does the healing. He could set my arm, but he couldn't heal my arm. He could pull the tooth, but not heal the place it come out of. He might operate and take an appendix out, but he cannot heal the place he cut, see. It takes God to do that.

And we're not against doctors, hospitals, or medicine; we are for them, and pray for them that God will give more knowledge to His servants. But when a doctor has come to the end of the road, and his medicine will not help the patient any longer, and he pronounces the patient has to die, I believe that patient has the right to come to a great Physician, and ask for mercy.

And that's the type I pray for. God's children, my friends, and the doctor's patient, is what I come to pray for. And I don't only pray for it myself.... I don't even credit the healings to my prayer. I credit to the prayers of all the people that's in the audience that's praying at the same time for the people I'm praying for. It's together we stand.

It was after Pentecost, when they had assembled in one place and all with one accord begin to pray, that the Holy Spirit shook the building where they were assembled together, see. Together we stand. We're Kentuckians. Together we stand; divided we fall.

So many times getting into meetings, coming to meetings, letters come to me, “What's your doctrine, Brother Branham? You was a Baptist; do you still believe in eternal security? Are you Jesus only? Have you.... Do you baptize at all? Do you sprinkle?”

I will say this: I have one doctrine, the great fundamental evangelical doctrine of the Bible. I've never left a meeting to my knowing with any confusion. I've always tried to leave the meeting with sweetness of the Holy Spirit. Never tried to make ... proselyte, I never try to take someone's disciples. The thing I try to do is add the sinner to any church that he wants to go to. As long as he's borned again of the Spirit of God, he's my brother and she's my sister.

And the doctrines.... I have my own ideas, but I keep them to myself.

And then when I come here, or anywhere else, if I take sides one way or the other, it would be ... I would be throwing all the influence that the Lord has given me to one certain denomination. Therefore, I don't take sides with any of them. I stay on sides with all of them, and try to pull them together, and say, “We are brethren. We are brethren.” And that's the reason that I don't take sides or take issues.

All of us, we fundamental people, we absolutely believe in the great evangelical doctrines. We believe that there is a Saviour who saves; there is a Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. We do believe in divine healing; we believe in the second coming. There's the things that I preach on, is that. Let.... The rest of it, that's up to the pastors, the shepherds to lead the flock the way that he sees to do it. I'm an evangelist.

Now, we are fixing to open the Word ... or, read the Word. Only One is able to open the Word, and that's “He that was slain from the foundation of the world, who came to Him that set upon a throne, and taken the book out of His right-hand, and was worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof.”

So let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer, while we speak to Him. How many would like to be remembered tonight, that God will give you faith to be healed tonight, raise your hand, say, “Remember, Brother Branham. God, I'm raising my hand.” That's good.

Lord, Thou art God since the beginning. And You never had a beginning, for You are the eternal One. You never did begin, or You never will end. When the sin has heaped itself in the earth until the stars refuse to shine, and that the seas has wept themselves into deserts, You'll still be God.

And we approach Thee tonight in that all sufficient name of the Lord Jesus, Thy loving Son, who came and took our place willingly, and become a propitiation for our sins. And tonight, we feel that we are washed by the water of the Word and are cleansed, and candidates for the Holy Spirit and His divine works.

And we come tonight with open hearts to receive Him, knowing that we are living in the closing days of the world's history, knowing that at any minute Jesus could come. And we see the earth in the turmoil: nations against nations. And now, there's a division amongst churches; there's a division amongst peoples and individuals. But the house of God should be united as one. “Onward Christian Soldiers,” said the poet. “We are not divided; all one body we.”

So we pray tonight, heavenly Father, that these who have gathered here for the purpose of being healed by Your power.... And we contend for that, that You have risen from the dead and is alive tonight among us. We are so glad that we're not worshipping a tradition of some pagan god that's made out of wood, that can't speak or hear. But we are worshipping a resurrected Jesus, who is the Son of Jehovah, who was made sin in our stead. And He was wounded for our transgressions, and with His stripes we were healed. And we pray tonight that He will manifest Hisself, that He is not dead, but alive among us, and will heal the sick and the afflicted, and save the lost, and bring courage to the weak. Get glory unto Thyself, Lord, for we commit the service to Thee now.

In the name of the Lord Jesus, take the written Word and sink it into our hearts, and mix it with the oil of the Spirit, that it might bring forth great results. May every person that held their hands up and those who could not hold their hands, may this be the night of perfect deliverance. May there not be a feeble person in our midst when we leave. For we ask it in Jesus' name, and for His sake. Amen.

I would desire your prayers as I speak just briefly for the prayer line. We want it to be just as long as possible. And tomorrow night, we will continue on praying for the sick each night, and maybe in different ways.

Now, I'd like to see if there's any people here has never been in one of my services, where I prayed for the sick before; would you just raise your hand, that's never been in one of the services? There's a good many here that's never been in the meeting.

Now (Thank you.), I do not claim to be a healer. Very much contrary to that, I believe that healing is ... all healing is divine healing. I believe there's no other healing but divine healing. For if that isn't so, then God told something wrong when He said, “I'm the Lord who heals all your diseases,” see. He heals all. That doesn't shut off the doctor's work, or so forth; that brings it in. He just makes it ready for God's healing: washes it out, or sets the bone, and gets ready for the healing. But God has to create cells. And there's only one Creator, and that's God. I do not believe that there'd be power in any minister's hands to heal a person. But it's a commission of the Lord that we should lay hands on the sick.

And I believe that healing is a finished work that's been completed for two thousand years. When Jesus died at Calvary, He saved you from sin and healed your sickness. And every blessing, redemptive blessing is yours by faith in that finished work, see. It's yours if you can believe it.

As one said some time ago, “I don't believe in divine healing. I don't care what you say.”

I said, “Certainly not. It wasn't given to unbelievers; it was given to believers. He that believeth....” There is a question mark. If you're a believer, divine healing is for you. If you're not a believer, it's not for you.

And each person in here that's sick does not have to come to this platform. They do not have to do one thing but confess their sins to God. Sin is unbelief; we all know that. Because you smoke, drink, gamble, commit adultery; that's not sin; that's the attributes of your unbelief, see. It's because you don't believe Jesus is the reason you do those things, if you do. But if you believe Him, you don't do those things, is because you are a believer. So there's only one initial sin, and that's unbelief. And if you believe God, then you can just accept it anywhere you may be. God is everywhere.

I've chosen tonight for just a little short text.... And I trust that you'll catch what the Holy Spirit is trying to say in this. It's found in Saint John the 6th chapter and the 20th verse.

But he said unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

It must have been that great strong fisherman called Peter, who a few hours before had pushed the boat off of the bank into the Sea of Galilee. And then, walking up from the bow of the boat which was headed into the shore, taking his seat by the side of his brother, Andrew, and picking up an oar. For in those days, they were a man on one side and one on the other. Maybe six or eight men oared the little boat, what they called “ships.” And as they pushed out and pulled the boat around into the position to cross the sea.... And they was waving good-bye to those Christian friends, believers on the bank. And we're taught here that it was almost dark. And they had been bidden to go over to the other side.

And as soon as the last one quit waving, and they turned back to their homes, it must have been young John, as he was the youth of the group, with his hand on his face said something like this, “I don't see how He did it, for I looked and seen there was only five of those little biscuits and two little small fishes. But how did He break that and feed five thousand, five thousand men besides the women and children? And I watched His hands, for I was standing near each time I come with the basket, and seen Him take up a little biscuit and break off a chunk of it and put it in the basket, and reach back and break out another piece.”

He was young. He said, “I just can't understand how there was more bread baked. Oh, if He would've had an oven and had baked it, and had the wheat and so forth, I might have understood it, but He didn't. He bypassed the procession and the regular natural run of raising the wheat, and grinding it, and milling it, and sifting it, and shortenings, and salt, and seasonings, and put it in the oven and break it. He just broke it and handed it.”

Then one in the back, maybe it was Bartholomew, said something like this, “You know, that proves that He is the Son of Jehovah. For we are taught in our holy Scriptures that our forefathers lived forty years on created bread that come from God out of heaven.”

And as the little boat moved on, the conversation continued how that He must be somewhere in contact with God. Of course, God was in Him working His will. The Scripture says that God was in Christ reconciling Himself to the world.

And then Peter said, sitting by the side of his brother, Andrew, looked over to him and said, “Andrew, when you first come and told me of such a man that you had found, I doubted your word. But when I walked up in His presence, and He said, 'Your name is Simon, your father's name is Jonas,' that settled it with me.”

“For we are taught in our holy Scriptures that Moses, the one that we believe, wrote unto us and said, 'The Lord your God shall raise up a prophet liken unto me.' And I knew that the Messiah must be a God-prophet. And when I knew that He did not know me, and that was the first time He ever saw me, and yet called me by my name and told me about my daddy, I knew that was Him.”

And then, one sitting about, towards the stern of the boat, by the name of Nathanael, put his shoulders against Philip, as they were pulling together, and said, “Philip, I could testify something like Simon. For when I was out under that tree praying when you found me, and you told me the story that this man had told Simon his name, I almost laughed at you. I could not believe it. And then when you said that He come from such a low place as Nazareth, then I knowed you must be out of your mind. So I said, 'Could any good thing come out of Nazareth?' I shall never forget what you said, 'Come and see.'”

That's a good thing. That's a good answer to anybody. Don't criticize it; come find out for yourself, and then examine it by the Scriptures. The Scriptures are always right. Jesus said, “They are they that testify of me.”

And he said, “As we went along the road, I shall never forget our conversation. And I was still in doubt, Philip, though I knew you were a just and an honest man, and you were truthful, and I believed that you'd just been carried away with some kind of a fanaticism. But when I walked into His presence and heard Him speak, He spoke different from any man I ever heard, for He spoke like He had an authority, and He knowed what He was talking about.”

And He said, “As I walked up, when He turned those eyes and looked at me, and said, 'Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile,' it almost floored me.

“And I said, 'Rabbi, when did You know me?'

“He said, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you.'”

Said, “That settled it for me once for ever. I knew that was the Messiah. That was the God-prophet that Moses said would rise. I don't care what others think; that settled it for me. I believed it because the Holy Scriptures taught it. And, Philip, that's why I fell on my face and said, 'Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel.' Because I knowed the Scriptures said that that would be the sign that would show that He was the One that Moses spoke of.”

Then Andrew must have stopped oaring just a moment. And he said, “Brethren, did not our hearts burn within us when we seen Him, no more than a man weary in His way. And He sat down on the well and He was so tired, He couldn't go down into Samaria with us that day when we went to get some victuals for Him. And how we talked on the road about how we loved Him. And before they would even give us the food, here come a woman down the street screaming, 'Come, see a man who's told me the things I've done. Isn't this the very Messiah? Isn't that Him? For He said to me when I was out there to get a bucket of water.... I just went to the well like I always do, and I heard someone ask me for a drink and I looked over and seen a middle-aged Jew. And He said to me, ”Woman, bring me a drink.“'

“'And I said to him, ”It's not customary for you Jews to ask Samaritan's such.“'

“'And He said, ”If you knew who you were talking to, you'd ask me for a drink. I'd give you water that you don't come here to draw.“'

“'And we got to talking about the different denominations and the places to worship. And He told me that God was a Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship in Spirit and in truth.'

“Then, I shall never forget, she might have said this, 'When He turned those piercing eyes against me, and He said, ”Woman, go get your husband and come here.“'

“'And I said to Him, ”I don't have any husband.“ And you men know how I have lived.'

“'And He said, ”No, you have no husband, because you've had five husbands, and the one that you're now living with is not yours.“'

“And of course, she'd say something like this, 'I was surprised. We don't have such in our churches today. And I turned quickly to look at Him. And I said, ”Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. We know the Messiah will be a prophet, for when He comes, He will tell us such things.“'

“'And this is the words that He said, ”I am He that speaks to you.“'

“'Now, gentlemen of the city, you Scribes and scholars, take it upon yourself. Did not Moses say that the Lord God, in these last days, would raise up a prophet liken unto him? Isn't this He? Isn't this the sign of the very Messiah? This is Him!'”

Oh, how they must have turned loose the oars for a few moments and rejoiced to know that that had been a great day. They had fellowshipped with Him that day. Oh, it's always a great day when you fellowship with Jesus. There's always something left on your heart that you can never be the same. You'll never forget them hours of fellowship.

Must have been almost completely dark when there was a sack of money jingled at the very stern of the boat. And the ill-tempered looking fellow raised up and said, “Just a minute, gentlemen.” Of course, we know who that fellow is, always somebody to break up the fellowship: Judas.

And he said, “I'm well acquainted with many fine rabbis. I know many fine priests in our land. And there's none of them.... No seminary can ever point out that He ever darkened their doors. And we have no record. And you too was standing present when you heard the rabbi say that this fellow is Beelzebub. Of course, we know. We have to take His claim. He claimed that His Father was God. But there's no evidence of that, because usually, children that are born out of wed usually have phenomenal things that happen to them. And we could be deceived, gentlemen, because this man could be a fortuneteller, or He could be some evil spirit that's doing these things. And we could be deceived.”

About that time, the wind begin to blow. The waves begin to come up high on the boat. Satan's servant had the floor. And there's always trouble when he gets that floor. The waves come in angrily; harder and harder the winds blew. No doubt, Satan himself gleaming with his lizard eyes, saying, “I'll spear them, stiffen them, drown them. I've got them away from Him now.” And the winds got so contrary until the boat was all water-logged, and half full of water, and the oars was breaking. And the great white caps, as they rose up, just swept the little boat from one way to another. All hopes was gone.

And when all hopes was gone, after they was pressed from one wave to another....

And perhaps, there's people sitting here tonight in that same condition. Maybe you've longed to find God, and you've been swept from one church to another, from one denomination to another, taking your letter from church to church, from Methodist, to Baptist, to Presbyterian, to Lutheran, to Pentecostal, to Nazarenes, just wave after wave.

Or maybe you have been swept from one doctor's office to the other. The angry waves of sickness has swept you to a doctor, and he'd look you over and say, “There's nothing I can do.” And another wave will send you to a clinic, only to hear the physician say, “Your case is advanced. There's nothing can be done for you.”

But when all hopes is gone, they happened to notice. They seen someone coming, walking on the water. That's the way He does it. Right at the last moment, the darkest hour, Jesus comes along. And He come walking on the water.

Now, the tragedy of this scene is that the people without hope was sent hope, and was afraid of it when it got there. Just about like today, the only hope they had was the mercy of Christ. Their boat was sinking, their oars was gone, and they was at the mercy of the devil on the sea, and a storm twisting them.

And the only hope they could have was coming to them, and they were afraid of it. They were afraid that it was a ghost, some sort, as we'd say it in the street language, “a spook,” come walking on the water. And they cried out with fear.

But there come a voice from there, that all sufficient voice that takes to still it, said, “Fear not, It is I. Be of a good courage.”

That's the same One that comes to us tonight. That voice when we're at the end of our wits, when we're at the end of our journey from church to church, bringing our letter from church to the Methodist, to the Baptist, to the Presbyterian, to the Pentecostal, to so-so.

Listen. All them churches are fine. But that's still not the answer. When you went from doctor's office to doctor's office, to clinic; that's all right. But that still isn't your answer. They've turned you down.

The answer is in the building tonight: the Holy Spirit of God. Don't be afraid of it. It doesn't make fanatics; it takes fanatics and makes saints out of them. Don't be afraid of it; it's the only hope that you have.

You might've heard them crying out and say, “That's fanaticism out there at the Chatauqua. Don't go near it.” Don't you believe it. You search the Scriptures, for they are they that testify of Christ. Compare word with Word, and spirit with Spirit, for the Holy Spirit can only bring forth the works of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do the works of my Father, then believe the works. If you can't believe me, believe the works,” He said.

They thought He was gone. The devil thought He was gone, because He said He had to go rest a little while. He was tired, and He had to go rest and pray.

I can imagine some of them said, “We oughtn't to have left without Him.” And that's a good policy. You'll always get in trouble if you start somewhere without Him, because the devil's on your track.

So He came. Why? He had not went to pray or to rest.

The preachers and many people try to tell us today.... Not all preachers, not all people; but many try to tell us, too many, that He doesn't care no more. He's gone to rest, and the world's just left up to the church to do what they will.

But He hadn't did that; He'd climbed the highest mountain in Palestine, and had been watching them all the time. He isn't dead; He's alive. He's climbed so high.... Higher you go, more you can see. And He's went all the way to the Father's throne and sat down on the right-hand. He watches.

When the little ship, he said, was out in the midst of the sea, and the waves were contrary, He was sitting up there watching it. He isn't sitting on a mountain tonight, but He's sitting in glory; His eye's on the sparrow, and I know He watches us. He knows how contrary the waves is to you. He knows what the doctor said, and He cares for you. He loves you, and He will come at the last hour. But don't be afraid of Him when He comes. Accept Him.

When they finally got the scare off of them, and He got into the boat, there was a sudden peace. And oh, what a sudden peace it is to a troubled heart that's went from place to place to try to find something. And when they stopped for a few minutes, and let the Holy Spirit come into their heart, what a sudden peace it brings.

All the turmoil of this church and that church rising, and this congregation, that.... It's all settled, and you know your Redeemer liveth because He lives in you.

When the man's went to the doctor's office or the woman with a little baby, and the doctor's done everything that lays within his power, don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit and His promise, for He's watching you.

He said in the Scriptures here: He will not leave us nor forsake us. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” The Scripture says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same Jesus that climbed up on the mountain to watch that ship full of people, has climbed the ramparts of glory to watch this congregation tonight, and your action towards His Spirit and His Word. Before He left, He said, “A little while and the world won't see me no more. Yet, ye shall see me (the believer), for I will be with you, even in you to the end of the age.”

Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same Christ who cares, the same Christ who watches over you, the same Christ who performs the same miracles bringing the same results, did not He say in Saint John 14:12, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.” Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He is not dead, but He's alive. And if He is in our midst tonight, He will bring the same results that He did when He was here on earth, that we might leave this building tonight saying the same thing that they said (them who came from Emmaus on that first resurrection). “He did something just like He did it before He was crucified.” They knowed that it was Jesus.

Tonight, if He is alive, and He's not dead but He's among us, He will do the same things He did before His crucifixion, for He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Be not afraid. Don't be afraid of some evil thing. It's according to the Scriptures. Be not afraid; it's not spooky. Be not afraid; it's not fortunetellers. Be not afraid; it's not fanaticism. “It's I,” says the Holy Spirit. It's God's Spirit giving witness that Jesus is alive and in His church. Do you believe this? Then let us pray as we trust Him.

O Lord, who brought again Jesus from the dead, and has presented Him to every generation down through the ages.... And tonight, we're in the shadows of His coming the second time in glory. And as a shadow begins to come close, all the positive that's making the shadow, the object, it becomes more plainer all the time. We cannot look back to the ministry of our great friend, Martin Luther, and brother; and we cannot look back to our Brother John Wesley, or Moody, or Sankey, or Finney, or Calvin, or Knox. They reflected Your gospel in their day. And that same gospel is reflected tonight in a more powerful way, because the Lord is soon coming. The object is becoming to blend into the shadow as they become one, the ministry and Christ.

Father God, may this congregation not be afraid, but may they believe that You are risen from the dead, and that You are here to help each individual. How Your servant, Lord, by a commission of an Angel and a divine gift can only reflect as You will reflect. But may it be done tonight, Lord, that the people might know and not be afraid, those that are in distress, “Be not afraid; It is I.”

That same Jesus who ministered, promised that in these days that the very signs that He did would be done again, to give the sign to the Gentiles as it was did then to the Samaritans and the Jews; for they were the only ones looking for the Messiah. And You manifested Yourself in that manner.

Now, You're infinite God. You're no respect of person. Whatever You do, You do perfect every time. And You did it perfect. That's how You picked Your people in the last day, for them that was looking for You, Jew and Samaritan. And now, Lord, choose Your people tonight in the Gentiles. Let Your Holy Spirit move and perform and work the works of Christ. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus said, “Be not afraid; It's I.” And tonight, the “I” is the Holy Spirit. That's the Holy Spirit of God that's come down in ... to live into the church. God first lived in a pillar of fire, then He was made flesh by a virgin birth and dwelt in Christ. Then at the going away of Christ, He sanctified a church that was born sexually, that He might sanctify this people and live in them, His presence, the Holy Spirit, to carry on the work.

And tonight, the Holy Spirit is here finishing up, binding up, finishing the work, sealing up the book, for the last name will go in it someday, and He will never add an extra. If you're not ... or, your name's not on the Lamb's book of life tonight, my dear degraded friend, please ask God to put your name there now while we pray for the sick.

Now, I believe.... How many prayer cards, Gene, did ... or Billy? Are you there? Did you give them out? 1 To 100. All right. They give out a hundred prayer cards. Now, you hold your card. If you're not called tonight, you'll be called. You'll come right up here to the platform. Tonight, I want to ... I want to do one thing. Tomorrow night, I want to change and do another, and the next night another. All of you has read my book on the different things that the Holy Spirit....

There's one prophet, not gifts of prophecy, gifts of prophets. But there is gifts of healing. It's in the plural, the other is singular.

Now, we cannot bring all at once, so.... I promised that I'd let you out as early as I could, so let's just start from number 1, and run them through. Who has prayer card number 1, would you raise your hand, somebody? What's the letter? A? A number 1. Someone here that's got a prayer card, A number 1, if you can stand on your feet? You have it, sir? All right, would you come right over here.

We're not going to be able to stand too many out.... Is that all the room you got, just right in there? Right through the back. All right.

While this man is making his way out, who has prayer card number 2, would you hold your hand up? Number 2. They're just anywhere.... The lady way over here. All right, lady, would you take your place right here? [Blank spot on tape.]

And we are strangers to one another I suppose. We don't know each other. God does know us.

Now, this man, standing here by me is a total stranger to me so far as I know; God knows. I have never seen him in my life. If I did, I don't know it. And he just witnessed that we were strangers to one another. How many in the prayer line now, or each one of you knows that I don't know you, raise up your hand, all along the prayer line? All right. How many out there in the audience knows that I don't know you, that you're sick, raise up your hand. All right, see. Just so you'll see that it's the Lord Jesus.

Now, if He will do.... If this man's sick, is needy, whatever he is, I don't know. I don't know what he's here for. But if the Holy Spirit will reveal to this man after this message, then all of you will believe that He's the same Messiah.

Now, He will never work through me until he works through him, see. It's his faith. It takes your faith out there. I wish I could speak to each one of you. I can't. It's your faith that touches Him.

And then He just takes me, and I don't know what I'm saying. I know what I'm saying; I don't mean that. I mean that I don't have an understanding of what I'm going to say. I just say what He says. And there it is; you have it, see. It's a yielding to the Holy Spirit. If yielding to the Holy Spirit will manifest Jesus here as Messiah, won't He manifest Him as Healer and all that He is?

Now, Lord, it's Your service, and these are Your people, and I am Your servant. Now, let the people see, these who are so sick and needy, that they might know that You are the Son of God. And You are not dead, but You are alive tonight to manifest the same signs and wonders that You promised. The books will soon be closed; the doors will be shut; and judgment will be on hand. We see it hanging in the hangers today, Lord. We know that it's near. So may there.... In the audience tonight, Father, maybe one person who is not saved; may the presence of the Lord Jesus bring that person to conviction that they will receive the Holy Spirit this night. We ask this for God's glory.

And now, Lord, let the Holy Spirit give to us these things that we ask, that the people might know that You're God, and you live forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now, watch this way real close, and be in prayer. But now whatever is said, you do just what it says. I don't care what condition you are in, how crippled you are, how ... what.... If it speaks to you.... Now watch, it might reveal something. Now watch that; it's just revealing. But then if you hear it say, “Thus saith the Lord,” you jump, do ever what it tells you to do. You can go right just as quick as you can. How many's been healed that way in our meeting? Let's see your hands go up so that they can witness. See, many. Watch it.

See, one thing is the person's faith, and it's revealing what's the trouble. Then I can pray for that person. But when it calls in the audience with “Thus saith the Lord,” you watch it and do just exactly what it says. If it says, “Bow your head,” bow your head. It's whatever it says do, you do it now, because it be the Holy Spirit.

Now, you can realize, you Christians, where I'm standing. Here's God's Word that teaches this thing to be the truth. It's the truth: Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Now, if He will prove that He is here, and that He can prove it by this one person, it ought to make everyone of you realize that you're in the presence of Jesus Christ, and accept your healing. Is that true? Raise your hand if it's true. It's the truth, see. It's truth.

Now, the man and I are strangers, but God knowing us both. I have no idea, sir, what you're here for, but God does know. But, if somehow, that I can yield myself to His Holy Spirit, and He will reveal to you like He did to Simon Peter, or to Nathanael, or to the woman at the well, or to the woman with the blood, any way (see) just like He did then.... See, He said He wasn't a healer. He said, “The Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing. I do nothing in myself,” He said. “But I do just as the Father shows me, what I see (not hear), see.” It's a vision.

And if He will tell me what your trouble is, or something about you that you know that I don't know.... If it's anything, I don't know it. But if He will reveal it, will you accept Him and believe for it? May the Lord grant it to you, brother. For we're both men; we both got to meet God. We got to stand in His presence someday.

The man's trouble, what he's looking for, need to pray for him, is an extreme nervousness. That's right. And he also has some sort of a cough; it's an asthmatic cough. It bothers him much at night. That's right, isn't it? If that's right, raise up your hand.

Do you believe that? The man's a witness. Do you believe that that was Christ that did that? Christ permitted that Spirit to make that.... You say, “You might've just been a guessing at that.” No, I wasn't. Let us turn to the man again.

I don't remember what it was, but I believe it was nervousness. Now, that is right. He's been nervous all of his life. But he's developed a cough. Yes, it's a asthmatic cough. He raises up and coughs hard. And then there's something about his arm, or.... No, it's low blood pressure. He's suffering with low blood pressure. That's exactly the truth. That's “Thus saith the Lord.” I tell you something else: This is not your home. You're not from here. You're not from this state even. You're from Kentucky. Do you believe God can tell me who you are, the same as He knowed Simon Peter? Then, Mr. Martin, you can return home and be made well.

Do you believe with all your heart? Then just raise up your hands and worship Him, and say, “Lord, I believe. With all my heart, I believe, Lord.”

Help the people tonight, Lord to understand. And may each person be healed. May the great Holy Spirit begin to bathe every sick person just now into His goodness and His mercy. Through Jesus' name, I ask this. Amen.

Now, be alert, be in prayer. As the Holy Spirit reveals, you make it yourself. What He's doing here, He's doing out there also. How many of you is sick out there, you say, and haven't a prayer card, raise up your hands? Pray then just a minute.

Here's a lady sitting right here in front of me. She's black headed, got glasses on, wearing a yellow dress. She's suffering with headaches. That's right. If that's right, stand up ... raise your hand up, lady. Stand up on your feet. You were praying that God would call you. You're healed now of your headaches. Go home and be well. Jesus Christ....

Now, tell me what she touched. She touched the High Priest. She's twenty yards from me, but she's in the reach of the High Priest. He's raised from the dead, and He's here. Now, you out there without your cards, do the same.

Do you believe, sister? Do you believe that God could reveal to me.... If this could be another.... Just like the woman at the well, He could tell what your trouble is, the same as He could tell what her trouble was. Frankly, you're not here for yourself; you're here for somebody else. That person's really sick. They're in the hospital. It's a woman, a younger woman. It's your daughter-in-law. She's got something wrong with her bones, something spreads through her bones. That's right. Then I see a young fellow, little one. That's a grandson. Like a Bright's disease or something.... You're praying for him. That's “Thus saith the Lord.” Go believing, and you shall have what you've asked for.

Have faith in God.

All right. This the lady? Do you believe, my sister, with all your heart? If God will reveal to me what your trouble is, then you'll accept it? Does anybody here know the lady? Well, sure. All right, you know her trouble then. You believe now. I couldn't heal, because I'm not a healer. But it's a gift. See, I cannot.... [Blank space on tape.]

God has already did it. He's already healed. If Jesus was standing here tonight, and you'd say, “Lord, I want You to heal me,” He'd say, “I've already done it. When I died at Calvary, I paid the price for your healing. I set you free from your sickness when I died at Calvary.” He would have to say that, because that's what He done. He did that once for all.

But He could make Himself known that He was the Messiah, and that's what He's trying to do now to let the people know that this, what we believe to be the Holy Ghost is the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Christ in us a-doing....

If the spirit of a gangster was in us, we'd do the work of a gangster. If the spirit of a singer was in us, we'd sing. If the Spirit of Christ is in us, we will do the works of Christ.

Your trouble is nervousness and a throat trouble. That's “Thus saith the Lord.” That's true. You got something else on your heart, and you're wanting me to pray for somebody. Do you want me to take that handkerchief and send it? If God will tell me who it is and what it is...? It's your daughter; she's paralyzed, and she's just had a baby. She might know me to be your ... or, the prophet of the Lord; take that handkerchief and put on her. Don't doubt, you can have what you ask for. God bless you. God be with you now.

Let's just praise Him, raise our hands up, and say, “Thank You, Lord Jesus.” Praise You, Lord. You're good to us, Lord. You're here, and You want us to worship You. And we can't hold it any longer, Lord. You're just so good to make known to us that You're alive in this great hour when all hopes is gone. Yet, You are our hope. We're not afraid of You, Lord; we worship You; we love You. Come into our little bark tonight and give us faith, give us healing, give us Your Spirit, and satisfy us with that everlasting portion. Grant it, Lord. We worship You in Jesus' name. Amen.

Just let Him come into your little bark that's been floated around by doubts and cares. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to accept it; just accept it.

Excuse me. You believe, do you, with all your heart? You believe that God can show me what your trouble is? One thing you want prayed for is your eyes. Of course, you got glasses on also. But it's eyes is what's troubling you. But here's something that don't show. You got back trouble. You believe God.... If God will tell me what caused that, will it increase your faith? You fell. That's right. Now go; you're healed. Jesus Christ makes you well. Just believe with all your heart. Have faith in God.

How do you do, sir. I don't know you; perhaps you don't know me. That's right. But God knows us both. You think God could reveal to me what you're here for, sir? If He could tell ... see Philip coming and saying ... or, Nathanael, say, “Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile.”

And he said, “Thou art.... Rabbi, how did You know me?”

Said, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you.”

That same Lord Jesus, His Spirit.... Now, His body, is at the right-hand of God, sitting up there as a High Priest. But He sent back His Holy Spirit to represent Him. And you see, as Jesus becomes drawing near.... Like the shadow of my hand. See how dim it is? But, watch how bright it comes when it comes real close. See, it isn't the day of Martin Luther, John Wesley, or down through the age; but this is in the age of the coming.

Just before a destruction hit Sodom and Gomorrah, which this nation is a type of, a man came down, which was actually God in flesh. And there was three angels. Two of them went on down in Sodom to preach to the elect ... or, to the ... just to an ordinary Christian, like a modern Billy Graham or so forth, not performing miracles, but just preaching. But there's One stayed back with Abraham and his group, which was the elected. Watch what that Angel done.

Listen. Watch. Just before the fire fell, He looked at Abraham and He said, “Where is Sarah, thy wife?” A stranger! How'd He know he was married? How'd He know his wife's name was Sarah? He was a stranger.

And Abraham said, “She's in the tent behind You.” And the Bible said that Sarah was in the tent behind the Angel.

And He said, “Abraham, I'm going to visit you according to the time of life.” And Sarah, inside the tent, within herself, laughed.

And the Angel, with His back turned, said, “Why did Sarah laugh?”

Sarah run out and said, “I didn't laugh.”

Said, “Yes you did.”

See that witness? A witness to the church that the end was at hand. Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man.” That same thing would return. You're looking at it tonight, not me, Him. You're watching it. You can't see it, but you see it working among the people. It's working with you the same as it's working with me. I couldn't say nothing unless He would say it. And He can't do nothing with you till you believe it. So there you are. The Lord bless.

You have trouble with your eye. That's what you want prayed for. You have a rectal trouble also: piles. That is true. If that's right, raise up your hand? You're not from here; you're from Springfield, Ohio. You're a minister, preacher of the gospel. Reverend Hillford, return home. Believe and you have your request, if you believe. God bless you now, brother.

Do you believe the Lord Jesus is real?

Do you believe God will heal you of that stomach trouble? Well, go eat, and just get well [unclear words].

How do you do? I don't know you; God does. Your baby? It's a mighty pretty little baby. But without the help of God, it must die; got heart trouble. That's right. There's a greater thing than that needed in your family; that's you need to be a Christian. You're not a Christian; you're a sinner. That's good faith for a sinner to bring your baby, because it's the love of a mother that would call it out. Will you accept Jesus as your Saviour? He become your Saviour? Now, you confess your sins and promise, if He will let your baby live, you'll raise that baby in a Christian home for the glory of God?

O Lord God, Elohim, the great Jehovah God, heal this child. Heal the parents; forgive their sins. May this baby live to the honor and glory of God. Perhaps this was done to bring this family to You, Lord. Now that they've come, I pray for mercy for the baby in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you, sister. Take up your place. Did you see I regarded you “sister,” the Holy Spirit did? See, you're a sister now. Go on your road, and God be with you.

Some minister see her, baptize her into Christian faith now.

If thou canst believe! Do you believe the heart trouble would leave you and you'd get well? Just keep moving, and saying, “Praise be to God.”

You got a nervous heart yourself. Do you believe that God will make you well? Just go on praising God, thanking God and believe.

My, another one, do you believe He will make you well too? All right.

Just a moment. Something happened in the audience. The lady sitting right down here towards the post, gray headed with a blue dress on. Got sinusitis trouble. You believe the Lord will heal you, sister? Do you believe it? The lady behind her with the green dress on, maybe she will accept the blessing. You have high blood pressure. Right here, sister, sitting right here, looking right at me. You, looking around. Yes. Stand up and believe it. All right. There you are. Now, go home and be well.

Do you believe God?

Have faith. Having trouble with your stomach. Let me show you something; let me have your hand. Now, you're human, just as I am. See how my hand looks? Now, put my hand on yours; now watch it swell. See how red it turns and swells up? Take your hand off; now look how it goes. Now, take this other hand. Put that hand on it. There's no difference. Doesn't look that way, does it. Now, put this hand on; watch it start swelling. Look at them little white things running over it. See, that's your stomach trouble; you got ulcers.

Now, do you believe? Will it encourage you if I'd ask God and you look at my hand to see if it happens? Come here. Now, you watch my hand. Now you see it. (Now, where's Billy. Come here, Billy.) Take your other hand. I know what's wrong with you, but I want your other hand. Put this hand on. Nothing. He's as human as you are. Put this hand on it: nothing. Put this hand on: nothing. Lay this hand on. Huh, something there. See, that's the first gift that was given (see) to make known to the people.

Now, come here. Watch the hand. Let's bow our heads. Lord Jesus, as the woman's looking at my hand, we do not ask for miracles, but we know that You're God, and she's watching my hand. Let it come to pass, Lord, that while I am praying, that You'll manifest the healing to the woman as You take it away from her. Satan, in the name of Jesus Christ, leave the woman. Come out of her.

Now, before I open my eyes; I've never moved my hand, but the hand quit vibrating. It stopped, didn't it. Now, you be the judge then. Now, tell us, is it gone? Now watch. Put this hand on now. There it is. Now, put this hand on. Just exactly the same. Your stomach trouble's over. You're healed. Go home and be well.

Now, you were trying to look in on that. I don't know nothing about it; the Spirit leaves me now for a minute, for that part of discernment. You've read my book, have you? All right. You know how He said the first gift would be: make known to the people by taking their hand, then it would come to pass that they'd know the very secret of their hearts, and they'd believe that, because they'd have to, because it'd tell them.

Now, give me your hand. Now, I'm not going to ask for discernment. I'm just going to put your hands. Now, look here. Now, lay your hand on. I don't know even what's wrong, but God does. Now, looky here. Look at my hand; see it swelling? See the little white things jumping over it there? Now, watch it; I'm going to take my hand off. Now, put your other hand on; not there any more. See, not there now. Now, put that hand on. Because He told me your right hand, that's your pledge of faith that I told you the truth. It's my left hand, next to my heart to God, see. That's why it come out. See it? Now, you want me to tell what your trouble is? I don't know, but just a moment. Just relax and don't think, see. If you.... If I think myself, then it's wrong. I just don't think; I just wait. Female trouble, ladies' trouble; if that's right, raise up that hand. See, that's discernment in another way, see. Healing is in gifts.

How many ever seen that happen, that we had in other meetings? I'm sure.

Now, you be the judge. Come here, so it'll encourage you. Now, you watch. I will lay my hand right there. So you see it's not positionally the way I hold my hand, see. It's just the same, isn't it. Now, take your hand off (see) gone. Now, look at. Now, take the other hand and lay it just exactly the way that was. Not a thing. That's His promise. There it comes, watch it. See it? Now, that arm feels just like it's numb, see. What is it? There's a disease. And right now is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. That's the reason I never try to use my own thoughts. Let Him speak it. He knows what it is. It's a gift. I brought myself right back in again. Shows it again, shows it physically. It takes an effect.

That's the reason that ministers.... You ministering brother are to lay your hands on the sick. You're anointed, and you're supposed to lay your hands on the sick. That confirms the Bible to make it right. See, you're supposed to lay hands on the sick.

Let's see if they ... look here. Can you see my hands in the audience? Now watch here. Take the lady's other hand. Now, watch. Put this one on there. Watch it there. Now, look. See, there it is. Swells up, turns red, little vibrations, just feels like it was “phhhhht” [Brother Branham illustrates.] Just like that.

Then when I.... That don't mean anything. I just relax myself, don't think about it, then something will speak right this what it is. It never fails. It's the truth.

How many ever read my book, my life's story? Now, didn't He say that? And many of you remember, that was the only thing I had for a long.... But He told me way back, years before. When He told me that night, said.... Then it would come to pass if you be sincere, you'll tell the people the very secrets of their heart. Said, “As Moses was given two gifts—one to turn a stick into a serpent, and the other to heal his hand of leprosy—you've been given two gifts.” And there it is.

Now, let me have your hand, just so.... We had her here. I want you to watch. I don't say I can make it go. I don't know. But if we will believe, if we will believe with all our heart, it will go. Now, you watch. Don't you close your eyes, you just watch my hand.

Lord Jesus, not for a show, but that the people might know that they not be afraid, and know that your words are perfect, that Your commission. “These signs shall follow them that believe: If they lay their hands on the sick.” Many's wondered, “How could it be by laying hands on the sick would have anything to do with it.” But it's the commission. An anointed servant of God might not be able to discern the spirit every time, or the sickness, but he's still anointed to do it just the same when Your name is called. That makes disease depart.

The woman's watching my hand, Father. And I pray that You'll make it manifest into her eyes, and she's knowing that my hand is holding as still as I can. Now, let the name of Jesus Christ be magnified. May the power of the devil that's holding my sister.... It's written in the Scriptures, “In my name they shall cast out devils.” By the commission of the Holy Spirit, ministered to me by an Angel, Satan, leave the woman in the name of Jesus Christ.

Now, it's gone. I've never looked at it, but it's gone. Is that right? Is that right, sir? Look. You look at that. Something happened. You know it did. Now, go on your road, and rejoice, and be happy. You're healed.

And if you'll believe the arthritis you had has left you also while you were standing there, go on your road and rejoice.

And your back trouble you had: Do you believe it's healed? Just go on your road and rejoice, and say, “Thank You, Lord Jesus.”

Go eat. Nervousness, the stomach trouble's left you. So go and rejoice and say, “Thank You.”

Your back's healed, and God makes you well. Go rejoicing, say “Thank You, dear God.”

You had back trouble also, nervous, and upset, and a little lady's female trouble. Go on your road and rejoice. You're healed. Jesus Christ makes you well.

Do you believe? The little lady sitting right there with lung trouble, do you believe that God will heal you, lady, looking right at me?

The man right behind you has got leg trouble. Do you believe God will heal you, your legs, sir?

Raise up your hand, little lady, if you want to accept your healing.

All right. The man right behind him sitting with high blood pressure. Do you believe that God will heal you, sir? Raise up your hand. Amen.

How many in here believes that God will heal them? Do you believe that the Holy Ghost is here? Are you afraid of it? If you're not afraid of it, stand up on your feet and receive it. In the name of Jesus Christ, raise up your hands and praise Him. Don't be ashamed of Him.

Lord God, Creator of the heavens and earth, send Thy Holy Spirit at this minute. I charge the devil and all the powers of sickness to depart from this congregation. Leave them in the name of Jesus Christ. Come out, Satan.

Every sick person. There's a lady on her feet off the stretcher. Everything that I see in wheelchairs, or anywhere else is up on their feet glorifying God. Raise up and praise God and be made well.

Doctor Sullivan....