<TITLE>08. Par 48-56</TITLE>L-48 Now, let's just wonder, why would a man, a minister, associate like Demas was to Paul, ever leave Paul?
You know Brother Baxter, many of you remember him. He used to read this about Demas. He said, "You know what I'm going to do, Brother Branham, when I get to heaven, the first thing I'm going to do?"
And I said, "What?"
He said, "I'm going to walk right up and find out where Demas is; I'm going to sock him just as hard as I can." And said, "He's going to turn around and say, 'Baxter, what'd you do that for?'" He said, "Why'd you leave poor little Paul when everybody forsaken him?" I don't prescribe to that; I don't believe they'll have some fights up there; but I just thought about Brother Baxter saying that 'cause he felt so sorry for Paul.

L-51 Well, what had Paul done? He had preached just as loyal as he could, and the Holy Spirit was on him. And when he wrote down there about those lady ministers and things, I imagine there's a blow up. Said, "Let the woman keep silent in the churches, not permitted them to speak," and him in jail right then.
Could you imagine what some of them bishops said, "Huh. That guy up there in jail, what business he got writing down here with us? (See?) And he's got Timothy, a wine-bibber, with him. And so here he is up there now, that he's feeding Timothy on wine, and here he is laying in jail, and writing down, tell us what the Holy Ghost ought to tell us to do."
But he said this, "What? Come the Word of God out of you? And came unto you only. If any man thinks himself to be spiritual or a prophet, let him acknowledge that what I write is the commandments of the Lord." See?

L-54 See, the time comes, friends. And I want the people in the land that the tapes goes to, to remember that the separating time has to come. It must do it. I don't know how far I am from the end time, my end of the road. I don't know. That's up to God. I don't know what tomorrow is, and who... I don't know what it holds, but I know Who's holding it. So that's where my faith is built, on that.
Now, I imagine Demas didn't forsake him and start off to nightclubs. I don't imagine Demas did that, 'cause Demas was a Spirit-filled man. He was a great helper. If you ever took the history of Demas, he was a notable preacher, a fine cultured man, highly polished, educated. He was a smart man. But why would he forsake Paul? That's the thing. What made him do it, forsake Paul? I don't believe he wanted to go to a nightclub or anything. But I believe it was God separating Paul. Now, I imagine Demas...

L-56 Let's take some of Demas' thoughts. As I was sitting down on the hillside, wondering the other day, about daylight, and I was thinking, "Why would Demas want to leave that fellow? Why would he leave that poor little preacher that led him to the Lord, the man who spearheaded the revival amongst the Gentiles, a prophet indeed?" No one could say but what he was a prophet. He was more than a prophet; he was an apostle, and a great and mighty apostle to the Gentiles. And Demas would associated with Paul, had fellowship, and seen the Spirit of God move upon that man. And why would he turn his back on such a person as that, had been vindicated that he was a servant of Christ? Did you notice Paul here, "... loving this present world." I don't think Demas backslid. I don't think he did that. But I think he--he got the wrong opinion of Paul.


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