<TITLE>06. Par -</TITLE>L-8-5 Now, that's the kind of man that the people like to choose today. The people does not seem to be satisfied with the way that God placed His church to be governed and controlled by the Holy Spirit. They want somebody, some man, some denomination, some certain people to govern the church that they're not able to throw themselves completely into God's hand to be spiritual to be led by the Holy Spirit. They want somebody to do their religion for them, somebody that will tell them just how to do it and all about it. So this man seemed to suit the place exactly, because he was a very intellectual man.
And it's a whole lot like today. We like to choose such people too, to control our churches, to control the church of God. Nothing that I have to say against it, but just merely to make a point, that it is not, it was not, and it will never be the will of God for such to be. God is to rule His people, to govern each individual.

L-9-2 Then we find that this son of Kish, great man, and--and his statue, and his... He seemed to suit the people that his robe upon him would look great and the crown on his head, way and above all the other people as he walked, would be a--a real asset to the kingdom of Israel. For the other kings would--of the other nations would think, "Look what a man."
How they could point their finger and say, "Looky here what a great king we got. Look what a great man that's over us."
And sad to say, but how true it is today with the church. They love to say, "Our pastor is not a narrow-minded man; he is a great man. He is a graduate from Hartford or some great school of theology. He has four degrees out of so-and-such a place, and he's a very good mixer amongst the people." All that may be all right and have its place, but God's way for His church is to be led by the Holy Ghost and by His Spirit. But they like to say that, "We have this great denomination that we belong to. We have started back in the early pioneer days when we were in the minority, just a very few people and small. And now we have grown until the place that we are among the largest denominations there is. We have the best schools and the best educated ministers. We have the best-dressed crowds, and the most intellectual people of the city attends our denomination. And we give to charity, and we do good deeds and all such"; and nothing at all, God forbid that I should speak one word against that, for that is all good; but still it isn't the will of God that man should rule over man.

L-9-4 God sent, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost to rule in man's hearts and rule in his lives. It was not meant for man to rule over man, but we love to say that.
It's a very outstanding thing when we can say we belong to such a great organization: "Are you a Christian?"--that's how I fell upon this text. When I was at the hospital, and I would ask one, "Are you a Christian?"
"I belong to such-and-such."
"Are you a Christian?"
"I belong to such-and-such."
And the little nurse came in to the bedside where I was reading the Bible, and she was a new nurse on the floor, and she said, "How do you do?" She said, "I believe that you're Rev. Branham here for a--a physical checkup."
I said, "I am."
And she said, "May I rub your back, a--a make you feel a little better, with the alcohol?"
And I said, "You may do it."
And while she was rubbing on my back, she said, "What denomination of church do you belong to?"
And I said, "Oh, I belong to the oldest denomination that there is."
And she said, "What denomination is that?"
I said, "It's the one that was organized before the world was ever organized."
"Oh," she said, "what... I don't believe I know just that..." She said, "I belong to a certain church. Is it that organization?"
I said, "No, ma'am. That was only about two hundred years ago, that organization. But this organization started when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy, "When they seen the coming of a Saviour to redeem mankind."


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