<TITLE>02. Par 10-23</TITLE>L-10   I had something to happen last night, that, or yesterday afternoon, rather, that was really kind of strange to me. And I'll be brief, because I don't want to take my brother's time, as he is going to speak. But I suppose it's kind of a complimentary to my ministry.

L-11 I--I watch little things. Just every little thing has a meaning, to me. I don't believe that anything happens to a Christian by chance. I think it's ordained of God, 'cause Jesus said He would make all things work together for good to them that loved Him. So therefore I believe that every little thing in--in the little humble ministry that He has given me, to help you people, to help everyone, and you all are a help to me, helping each other to get to Glory. In that, every little thing has a meaning, to me. But it was hard for me to believe that, yesterday afternoon, when I lost my text up here. I--I tell you, I never was so gotten in my life. And, then, my--my wife gave me a new Bible for Christmas.

L-12   My old one was just worn out. I've had it almost twenty years now, was give to me by the Houston Gospel Tabernacle people, many years ago, when I started out on the campaigns. And so I just, I cherish it so much, and I... the leaves and pages, of crossing the sea, and around, until I... it's just dropping out. And I pick up a page maybe in Genesis, and have to look back over in Deuteronomy somewhere to find it, you know, where I just stuck it back in the Bible. So, she got me one for Christmas. And I hated to lay the old Book aside, it's been so dear to me. And I said, "If I went before Jesus comes, lay it on me. And let this go down with me, and I'll come up with it when we come up." So then, that's my opinion, anyhow.

L-13   As I used to tell a little story. Hope this is not sacrilegious. But I went to... A man told me one time, I believe it was Brother Earl Prickett, a meeting up in New York; and I met a man, he said, "Say, what are you doing with these businessmen, being a preacher?"
I said, "I am a businessman."
And he said, "What kind of business you in?"

L-14 I said, "Assurance." Now, he thought I said, "insurance," you see. So I said, "Assurance."
He said, "Oh, what kind of insurance you sell?"

L-15 I said, "Eternal Life." Eternal! Said, "I don't sell It. I'm just a policyholder, myself, and I try to prescribe It to others."

L-16   I remember a boy I went to school with, one time, and he was an insurance salesman. Now, insurance is alright, but I don't have any. Then, so he come to my house, and he said, "Billy, I'd like to sell you some insurance." Said, "I know your brother." My brother sells for Metropolitan. He said, "Well," said, "I would, I'd like to sell you some insurance."
I said, "Oh, Wilmer, thank you."

L-17 And you'll... he may be here tonight, his brother, he writes the articles in The Upper Room, the book, The Upper Room. So he...
I said, "I have assurance."
He said, "What?"

L-18 And my wife looked at me as if I was a hypocrite. She... and I said... So she said, "Billy?"
And I said, "Yes, uh-huh, I have assurance."

L-19 And he said, "Oh, I'm--I'm sorry," said, "I didn't... I heard that you didn't have any insurance."
And I said, "No, I have assurance."

L-20 And--and he caught me, what I said then. He said, "What did you say?"
"I said, 'Assurance.'"
And he said, "Well, what do you mean?"

L-21 I said, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; oh, what a foretaste of glory Divine! I'm an heir of salvation, purchased of God; born of His Spirit, washed in His Blood."

L-22 He said, "Billy, you know I appreciate that." Said, "That's a very good thing. But," said, "son, that will not put you out here in the graveyard."

L-23 I said, "But It'll get me out." I'm not afraid... [Brother Branham and the congregation laugh--Ed.] I'm not bothered about getting in; it's getting out, see. So I think that's the way we feel about it.


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