<TITLE>12. Par 47-50</TITLE>L-47 He tested every piece. Finally he... Before he put a bolt on, he tested it. He tested everything. Then when he got it all done... Now, the scoffers stood by and said, "It will not hold up. It can't do it."
That's what they're saying today. "This here Holy Ghost religion you're talking about, it won't be long, that tree will burn down." But it don't burn down. Oh, the--the fire only waters it. It only gives us new hold. It only--it only strengthens it, every trial testing. Every time a wind hits a tree and shoves it back and forth and back and forth, it only loosens the roots, so it can go deeper and get a better hold. Every time sickness strikes your home, every time trials strikes your home, every time the neighbors say something bad about you, it's only shaking you, loosing you up, so you can get down and get a better hold on the eternal Rock of God's unmovable Word. That's how God does it; He sends those trials to test you, to prove you, to shake you up, and to give you a new hold.

L-48 Then, we find out, when he got all that done, the critics stood by and said, "It can't work." But what the architect knowed his bridge would hold. He knowed it would, because it would been tested.
That's the reason God said, "I'll have a Church without spot or wrinkle." Amen. She'd went through the test. And every child that comes to God must be tested.

L-49 On that great memorial day when they was going to--when the two sides... They started from both sides; when they met in the middle of the bay, the man who built it, he said, "I'll not ask any man..."
The architects all stand around and said, "As soon as any vibration hits that bridge, she'll go right straight down. It'll be dangerous."
No insurance company would give him insurance on it. He didn't need any insurance; he said, "My bridge will hold." He had confidence. Now, he must test it because his reputation is at stake. Certainly it is. And if it did hold, it would be a memorial.
That's the reason I know that old time God, heartfelt salvation will hold. The reputation of Christ is at it. He will not give us just something to build a church out of, not man-made theology, not upon some school experience, or build some seminary, as they wanted to this morning to educate preachers. The real preacher comes from the seminary of God's grace, God's calling. And it's time-tested. That's right. It'll hold. God's got confidence in you. We got confidence in Him. The bridge will... The old poet said, "My anchor holds within the veil, in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil." We don't know what's a holding, but something's holding. That's right. She's anchored yonder in the haven. And there's a rope of salvation that holds the human heart, that a man's that's ever been borned again is passed from death unto Life, all the devils out of hell couldn't make him doubt it. There's something holds within there. Let her rock. Let her shake. Amen. She'll hold every time, because it's in Christ Jesus.

L-50 Then this man said, "I'll not ask no one." But said, "I'll go myself."
The mayor of the city walked out and said, "Mister, I certainly have confidence in your bridge."
He said, "If you have confidence in my bridge, follow me." All right, put it to a test.
The mayor said, "My car will be setting there on that certain morning; I'll go with you."
The railroad company called up and said, called and said, "Sir, we've got confidence in your bridge, we'll have..."
Said "If you got confidence in my bridge, bring out four full locomotives, stand on the bridge. You've got confidence, follow me. If you believe it's tested and tried, you believe it, come, go with me."


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