<TITLE>05. Par 16-18</TITLE>L-16 I read in the "Reader's Digest" recently that the doctors pronounced how many... tens of thousands of Americans this year were doomed to death, because of smoking cigarettes. How many in the insane institution will take this year because of drinking whiskey? How many homes will be broke up because of modern drinking, sociable drinks, selling whiskey, beer, just at random? And tens of thousands of church members indulge in it. How can we ever expect God to bless that?
But as it was in the days of Ahab, so is it now. The government said it's all right. So they wanted to be modern. Oh, the call had been so great until the modern preacher had broke down, give in to it.
That's the way it is today. Modern preachers just break down, because their congregation won't put up with it: to preach the Gospel in the power of the resurrection, and the old fashion baptism of the Holy Spirit cleaning up a man's life. They put them out. They get a preacher that'll preach things that they want to hear. I ought to be their pastor a little bit.

L-17 Some woman got on me a few days ago, 'cause I made a remark about the modern American wearing these... ladies wearing these immoral clothes. How they come down the streets with little skirts on that... like they were poured into them. And all sexy dressed. And she said, "Mr. Branham, that's the only kind of dress that you can buy in the store."
I said, "Your excuse is thinner than the broth made out of a shadow of a chicken that's starved to death." I said, "They still sell sewing machines and goods. You don't have to do it. 'Cause you want to do it."
Let me say this to you here, and also in radio-land: You might be as pure as a lily to your husband, or to your boyfriend; but if you dress and get out on the street like that, and sinners look at you to lust after you, you have--going to answer at the day of judgment for committing adultery with that man. You will be turned down at the day of judgment, and whose fault is it? Not the sinner, it's your fault for pushing yourself out in front of him like that. Modern patterns of Jezebel. That was the dark ages of the Hebrews; this is the dark ages of the Gentile.

L-18 Oh, but there was one during that time, a little number of people, a poor little widow woman in the city, and a prophet setting up on the hill fed by the crows.
Ahab hated him, and so did Jezebel. They wouldn't have give him a drink of water if he was dying. But God was taking care of him.
The Christian looks to God for his care, not to the world. Some ministers look to their congregations for a meal ticket, preach what the congregation wants them to preach. I'd rather lay on my stomach, and eat soda crackers, and drink branch water, and preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, than to have fried chicken and live in the best house there is in the city. Right. Be right with God. That's the great thing. Preach the whole Word; tell people of their sin. You'll be hated.


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