<TITLE>39. Par -</TITLE>L-63-1 Then one day... (Where's I want to get to now before we close.) One day these two great sources--or powers met for a showdown on the Word of God. Now, we're going to come to the climax. We could go back; I could take a dozen... I could stand here for a week and never even touch the surface of it, how that I could prove that right there, what I'm talking about, but I hope you get it. See?
One day it come to a showdown, Wisdom and faith come to a showdown: Jesus and Satan met. That's right. Jesus and Satan met; these two great forces, wisdom and knowledge came to a showdown. See?
Now, both of them used the Word. Is that right? (Oh, brother, this gets good to me! Don't miss it now. Oh, I say, "God open my heart.") Both of them used the Word of God, the same Bible. But It won't work in an unconverted channel. It sure won't. Certainly won't. Both of them used the Word of God. But Satan used It from a head knowledge (See?), a head knowledge, and It didn't work.

L-63-4 I got a Scripture here; you mind if I read It? Let's take Hebrews the 4th chapter right quick, just a minute. I want to read this; it just looks so good to me right here. Hebrews 4, and let's get Hebrews 4 and start from 1 to 2:
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us to enter into his rest, as of... You should seem to come short of it.
For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with... (knowledge? wisdom?)... faith in them that... (faith in them that what?)... heard it,

L-63-5 You can have all the Word; you can know that Word from A to Z, and It will never work for you. Have you seen man take that Word and try to make It work? Say, "Brother, Glory to God..." It just won't work. You can't fool with the Word. No, no! No, no! No matter what you profess, the Word testifies of Itself. No matter what you claim, the Word gives the testimony. That's right.
Now, Satan knowed the Word; he knowed It from A to Z. Well, you know what? I imagine, if he'd have a degree, he'd have enough titles to stretch across four or five pages of paper. Doctor, Reverend, Elder, Ph., L.L., Q.D., all the alphabet, and every way. His degree would be in that Bible. He knows every word of It. Sure he does. See?

L-64-2 So Satan said, "Now, I know the Word." I know that he knowed the Word when he come to Eve. So he had It by head knowledge, but It wouldn't work. Jesus knowed It by faith in the revelation of God's Word in His own predestinated Life. Glory! I hope that soaks plumb to the--into your heart. Jesus knew Who He was! Satan was wondering. He knowed that He was a predestinated creature of God, that God Himself was manifested in Him. It wasn't Him doing the works, it was the Father that dwelled in Him. Amen! Let the devil fly with all of his theology.

L-64-3 Jesus... Satan knew it; he knew the Word. Now, he could quote that Scripture, boy, just like a walking Bible, he could just quote It like that. See? [Brother Branham repeatedly snaps his fingers--Ed.] But Jesus just stood still, for He knew where He was standing. He knowed that He was predestinated, was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world; He knowed He was that Person. Oh, brother! "He that has an ear let him hear." He knowed that He was predestinated for that, and that's the way He knew the Word. See? And It worked. Sure! Satan knew It by wisdom; it failed. He quoted the same Word Jesus quoted, same Bible. He quoted from Psalms. "He'll give... It's written," Satan said, "He'll give his Angels charge concerning you, lest any time you dash your foot against a stone; they bear thee up."
He said, "And it's also written." See?


<A HREF="P40">Next Page</A>