<TITLE>03. Par 9-12</TITLE>L-9 And then after He told me and sent me into the work, I knew that there would be things that we'd have to watch. And one of them is money, the other one's popularity, and women. There's three things that man falls with, and ministers especially.
Now, notice in the Bible, seers. We find out that Balaam fell because of money. Samson fell because of women, and Saul fell because of popularity. So I had to notice those things. I knowed popularity, and--and women I shunned, but...?... He... I don't... Sisters, I don't mean a brotherhood, fellowship, but I mean in the--in the way when I was a kid, I... A voice spoke to me. You've read my life story, all of you, haven't you? When He told me, "Never smoke, drink, or defile my body," well I, that I kept reverent.

L-10 And I didn't... wasn't much afraid of that, because... But the test of money, that was the thing that bothered me. And I was raised so poor, my, I thought money will just be... So I said, "Lord, going out in the meetings, I'll certainly keep money in the background. And if You'll help me, and if I'll never let anybody beg for money in my meeting. And then if there's ever a time that You ever fail me, just by taking up the offering, and You fail me, I'm coming off the field." Well, for nine years He kept me going.
And then recently in California on a meeting, I lost five thousand dollars in one meeting. The next meeting I lost ten thousand dollars; I'm still owing it. So then, the... That the meetings didn't pay out... Now, that... I come... I went home that night. I went to--went to the cabin where I was staying, about two o'clock in the morning when we finished up. I told the wife, "I want to go out and pray a little." So I went out and prayed. I come back in, almost towards daylight. We were leaving for home, face red, tear-streaked. She said, "Billy, what's the matter with you?"
"Oh," I said, "I was just out talking to the Lord." And I couldn't have the nerve to tell her I'd quit the meetings. And I told the Lord, I said, "This is my promise."

L-11 On the road home I said, "When I get over and out of California, I'll tell them when I get in Arizona," Billy and--and my wife. And he's... And then I said, "I'll do it when I get over in Texas." And then when I get to... Well, I told them when I come in home in Indiana. And--and my wife couldn't understand it. She said, "Bill, I'm afraid you're doing wrong."
And Billy Paul said, "Now look, daddy, that's what you promised God. God never told you to do that."
I said, "Yes, but a man of honor will keep his promise." And that's one thing true.
Said, "Well, you... I don't believe you... You just couldn't do it, daddy." Said, "Don't the Bible say, Paul or somebody said, 'Woe to me if I preach not the Gospel'?"

L-12 I said, "I'll preach the Gospel. So I'll rent the old theater down there, and get a broadcast, and have the people come in here to Jeffersonville and pray for them, whatever." I said, "But on the field, no, where you have to have a lot of money through this time." And so I said, "I'll pay this off, and I'm going back to work and get me a job. I promised God I'd do it and I--I'm going to do it." And then that was in my heart.
And then went to bed that night, and the next morning got up. I just got off on the side of the bed which we never got in till rather late. My wife said, "We got to get the little girl off to school, Billy." And I said...
And so I got up on one side and she was getting out on the other side. We always go and--and kneel and pray by an old chair there every morning when we get up. It's been a custom all my life of doing that since I've been a Christian, and it was she also. And so then when she was just setting on one side of the bed, one side. And I was rubbing my eyes like that.


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