<TITLE>23. Par 235-247</TITLE>L-235 God come down. He showed them a Pillar of Fire. Showed by His prophets, signs and wonders, He was with him. They didn't believe It. Oh, they liked to see the miracles. They liked to hear the prophet. But as far as believing It, they didn't. Their lives proves they didn't.

L-236   "Now," He said, "don't you fall after that same example of unbelief." For in this last day, to the Gentile church, God has appeared again; same sign, same wonder, same Pillar of Fire, vindicated, proven. Let us not harden our hearts and fall in that temptation back yonder, of unbelief, for we'll rot on earth and that'll be all of it.

L-237 And when the Holy Spirit knocks at your heart, [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit--Ed.] "After so long a time, when you hear My Voice, harden not your heart." Say, "Child of Mine, this is the Truth." Don't look at the messenger. Listen to the Message. Believe It. "Harden not your heart, as in the days of provocation."

L-238   When he hears "Your Voice," harden not your heart. Then you say, "Yes, Lord, I believe." Then you enter into Life, the Holy Spirit comes into you. Your old spirit dies out, that makes you lust and hate, and malice and enmity, and--and hatred and all them things, dies away. And you become full of love, joy, peace, resting. No matter how the winds blow, it's all right.
My anchor holds within the veil.
Through every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
For on Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other grounds is sinking sand.

L-239   There you are. Eddie Perronet, as he wrote that famous song. "All other grounds," all denominations, all creeds, all doctrines, fade away. Christ!
You say, "Well, I know the Bible." You don't have Life by knowing the Bible.
"I know my catechism." You don't have Life by knowing your catechism.
"Well, I'm a Christian." You don't have Life by professing Christianity.

L-240 You have Life by knowing Him. Knowing Him, you have Life. "Then you enter into His Rest. You cease from your works, as God did from His." You are made a Son of God, a partaker of God. And if that--if that Holy Spirit woos to you, and you woo back and say, "Yes, Lord," or coos.

L-241 Coo, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. I'll give you Rest."

L-242 And you say, "Ah, I'm young. I got... Oh, my pastor don't... All I got to do..." See? You'll never find It.

L-243   But when you say, "Yes, my Lord. I hear Your Voice. I don't harden my heart. I don't care, Lord, It's your Word and I believe You. Take me Jesus. 'Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy Blood was shed for me. And there I'll promise, "I'll believe." O Lamb of God, I come.'" Lay your hands upon His dying head, say, "Lord, I'm a sinner, and You called to me."

L-244 "All the Father has given Me will come to Me, and I'll raise him up at the last days."

L-245 "Yes, Lord, I come. I harden not my heart, as they did in provocation, I truly believe Him."

L-246 Then what does He do? He gives you His Life, Zoe, Eternal Life. And if God could raise us from the dust of the earth, where we come from... Did we come from the dust? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Everything you see, come from the dust. And if God could make me what I am today, without having any choice; just because His desire was to make me, and give me the opportunity to face Calvary and make my decision; and I made my decision and believed on Him; how much more will He raise me up! If He made me what I am, without a choice, then I took a choice and took Him in; when He laid His hands by Himself, and swore by Himself, that He would raise me up in the last day. I'll rest assure.

L-247 I have Rest, not because I worship on Sunday, not because I worship on the sabbath. That has nothing to do with it. I worship because I've entered into His peace and Rest: peace, rest, love, joy. Let the storms fly. My anchor holds.


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