<TITLE>17. Par 407-417</TITLE>L-407 He wandered out, down there where the grass was greener. And when he got down there, he told that king that his wife was his "sister," to save his own hide. Now, that was a lie. And any man, would take his wife and give her over to another man, to save his hide! There he was, setting out there in a little tent, backslider, telling a lie, and plum out of his, cut altogether away from the promise and everything, but he was still God's prophet.

L-408   And there was Ablimelech, he was a good, holiness man. Sure, said his prayers every night. Found this grandma, of a hundred years old, come down there, beautiful and young again. He said, "That's the girl I've waited for, so I'm just going to marry her."

L-409 Abraham said, "You can have her. She's my sister."
She, "That's my brother."

L-410 So he takes her over there and has the women to wash her all up and--and put on nice clothes, and fix her up like a--like a princess. And he said his prayers, stretched out on the bed, and turned his feet up, and said, "Tomorrow, I'll marry that beautiful Hebrew girl, that--that boy's sister out there. Oh, it'll be wonderful. O Lord, You know how I love You! Yes, sir. Wonderful!"

L-411 And God said, "You're just as good as a dead man." Uh-huh!
[Brother Branham coughs--Ed.] Pardon me. Abra-...

L-412 Why, Abraham was setting over there, a lie, and backslid. And here was this man, an honest and just and upright man. "Why," he said, "Lord, You know the integrity of my heart. Did not he tell me, that was his 'sister'?"

L-413 Said, "I know the integrity of your heart. That's the reason I'm keeping you from sinning against Me. That's right. I know the integrity of your heart. But her husband is My prophet." Hallelujah! Oh, if that ain't grace, what is? "Backslid, telling a lie, and setting out there, but that's still My prophet. You take an offering, and go to him, and take his wife back, or you're a dead man. I won't hear your prayers no more. Let him pray for you." Amen. There you are. "That's my prophet."
Now, you say, "Oh, I wish I'd have been Abraham."

L-414   "If we are dead in Christ, we are Abraham's Seed, and are heirs according to the promise." Right. That's what the Bible said. Would you like to read It? Why, the Bible said that, that the promise was not only to Abraham and his seeds. Like you, Abraham had many seeds, sure, many children. Ishmael was his child. He had seven or eight children after Sarah died, by another one, Keturah. But, look, the seed was the promised one, which was Isaac, and through Isaac came Christ, through Christ came us. The promise is unconditionally.

L-415 Now, what about Abraham? Why, he'd have been done, it'd been impossible for him to ever get back again. Sure. It'd been impossible for Saul to ever get back again, if that, you'd have to read the Scripture that way. See? But it wasn't. God's promise endures forever.

L-416   Let's read here just a minute. I want you to read It. I want you to get Galatians 3:16, and read this, and see now what the promise is, and see what if--if we are His promise or not, 3:16. Listen here. All right. I'm going to read the 15th verse, too.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man disannuleth, or addeth thereunto.
Now to Abraham and his seed, seed (s, double e, d), to his seed were the promise made.
"To Abraham and his Seed." Now watch.
He saith not, And to thy seeds (plural), as of many; but as... one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

L-417 Then, Christ was the Seed of Abraham. "And we being dead in Christ, and baptized into His Body, we are Abraham's Seed, and are heirs of the promise." Then how is it, how are you ever going to fall away, if God made the promise to you? How are you going to ever backslide, and go away and have to go to hell for it?


<A HREF="P18">Next Page</A>