twomessageministers

Was Bro Branham "Sola Scriptura" (Part 3)

2012-02-16T08:35:00.004-05:00

(Author's note. This is Part 3 of 3 on a thought on Sola Scriptura)
Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 can be found here.

Are YOU Sola Scriptura?

Let’s follow all this up with a discussion of Malachi 4:5,6. We're looking for a prophet to come, as John the Baptist only fulfilled half of Malachi 4:6. (Luke 1:17) Biblically, Sola Scriptura, we're looking for a prophet to come.
We also see in Revelations 2 and 3 there are seven Church Ages; it's obvious to see by the condition of the church and by belief that we're in the last days that we are in the seventh Church Age. That seventh Church Age had an angel/messenger that was spoken to. We’re also looking to a fulfillment of Revelation 10:7. This is Sola Scriptura – just looking at prophecies in the Bible that are yet to be fulfilled.

If that Seventh Church Age messenger wasn't Bro William Branham then tell me who was? There HAS to be a seventh church age messenger. So who is it? There has to be a fulfillment of the last half of Malachi 4:5,6. There has to be a seventh angel to come so that “the mystery of God should be finished”. If you are Sola Scriptura, you believe ALL that the scripture, ALL that the prophets have spoken. IF you are Sola Scriptura you are LOOKING for that fulfillment.
If you aren’t looking for that to be fulfilled, or know how it was fulfilled, how can you claim to be Sola Scriptura?

Those who follow Bro Branham’s teaching as the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5,6 and Revelation 10:7 are waiting for the coming of Christ just like self proclaimed Sola Scriptura protestants. Unlike most Protestants we believe there is a prophet is supposed to come first, because the BIBLE declares it.

Sola Scriptura indeed.

Was Bro Branham "Sola Scriptura" (Part 2)

2012-02-14T08:35:00.001-05:00

(Author's note. This is Part 2 of 3 on a thought on Sola Scriptura) Part 1 can be found here.

Trinitarianism

Now, I’d like any protestant friend to understand something about Trinitarianism. Most Protestants that would claim they are “Sola Scriptura” will also claim they are Trinitarian. They’ll also note that Bro Branham was not. They then reason that if Bro Branham wasn’t Trinitarian he obviously isn’t Sola Scriptura.

I think it's important you see the similarities first. We believe that Jesus was God, that the Holy Spirit is God, and that the Father is God - just like you do. HOWEVER, we don't believe that GOD is 3 different people who can have a conversation with each other. We believe that God is ONE, just like he told the Hebrew Children in Deut 6:4. He changed his mask in how he dealt with men. He created a sinless body that he could dwell in. He was not 3 distinct individuals. See Matt 1:18 and tell me who was Jesus’ Father if you disagree.

Trinitarianism also speaks of how one baptizes. Paul said,” One Lord, one faith, one baptism”. Now, if you aren’t baptizing like Paul, then how can there be one baptism? The book of Acts shows us how Peter and Paul and their converts baptized. There is only one baptism.

I would also point out that the trinity is actually a CATHOLIC doctrine and cannot be found Sola Scriptura. If there is one baptism and Paul used Lord Jesus Christ, then how do you have a different baptism, and why aren't you baptizing like the original church did in the book of Acts? The Catholic Church is anything but Sola Scriptura, yet Trinitarians who have only reformed from the Catholic Church, still use their baptism and claim Sola Scriptura. It just doesn’t make sense.

Visions:

Now many will say that Bro Branham often spoke of visions that he had. Then they tell us that isn’t Sola Scriptura because it’s “Extra Biblical” as those visions aren’t found in the Bible. Let’s just look at that for a moment though.
Paul told the sailors of the ship he was on that an angel of the Lord stood by him, and that if anyone got off the ship they would all be killed. Was that sola scriptura of the day? No, it wasn't.

Isaiah had a vision that a virgin shall conceive. What Scripture did he base that on? Oh by the way, he died before that vision came to pass - did the people of the day disbelieve him because his vision didn't come to pass before he died? It's a good possibility.
You can't expect visions of current events to be Sola Scriptura. However, those current visions and such are typically not doctrinal teaching. You can have visions of current events that are not talked about in the Bible and still be Sola Scriptura.

Biblically, you have to look at what a prophet says, and test it. If it continues to pass the test over and over again, and you find that he's not taking you to some other god. (Deut 13:1-3) Then it would behoove you to listen, because it’s God speaking through that man.
Another point is the vindication of Moses to the Children of Israel. God gave him two signs to vindicate him to the people. If another prophet were to be vindicated on the same basis, would that then be Sola Scriptura? I believe it would.

Was Bro Branham “Sola Scriptura”? (Part 1)

2012-02-10T11:59:00.008-05:00

A question similar to this was asked of me the other day. I felt the answer might be beneficial to others.

First off, there are many of our readers who might not know what “Sola Scriptura” means. Stated as simply as possible, the theological concept “Sola Scriptura” means Scripture Alone. A snippet from Wikipedia:

“Consequently, sola scriptura demands only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid deductive reasoning from scripture. However, sola scriptura is not a denial of other authorities governing Christian life and devotion. Rather, it simply demands that all other authorities are subordinate to, and are to be corrected by, the written word of God. Sola scriptura was a foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation held by the Reformers and is a formal principle of Protestantism today”

So, what it basically is saying is that Scripture is the foundation of faith. There are those who claim that Bro Branham was NOT Sola Scriptura. What they mean is, that they don’t believe Bro Branham relied on scripture alone, but on visions and other such things to form his doctrine.

Let’s analyze some of the things Bro Branham has said.

60-1113 CONDEMNATION.BY.REPRESENTATION_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_
230 I'm going to say this. Listen to it. Say, "Brother Branham, your ministry is not compared nowhere in the world of its supernatural." Great men (I could call their names, if it wasn't for this tape.) called me, come, go with them. "Your ministry's the only thing that'll save the world." Why is that not somewhere else? Come back to the Word. God can only build upon that foundation; then if I'm so firmly wrong in the way I baptize people, and the way I talk of the Holy Ghost, and the things that I do, then why does God honor it? Produce something like it? See? Why is it? I don't say that for myself, that would be wrong; but I'm trying to say because I stand on the Truth, the Word and the Word alone.

So Bro Branham attributed his success to his standing upon the WORD and the WORD alone. So, I'd say that's Sola Scriptura right there.

He often quoted

GALATIANS 1:8
» 8 † But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

And what he meant was exactly what it said. If he preached different than Saint Paul, he felt he would be accursed according to this scripture. Men, questioning him on his doctrine, would tell him they would believe him if he told them the Angel told him his doctrine was correct. His response was this scripture. If his doctrine wasn’t correct based on the Bible, he didn’t care if the angel agreed with him or not. It had to be Biblical. It had to be Sola Scriptura

He also often quoted:

MATTHEW 5:18
» 18 † For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

He was for EVERY WORD of the Bible. No more, no less. He exhorted people to believe the entire Word of God. That’s Sola Scriptura. If Bro Branham was, those that follow him should be as well.

People might be quick to point out that some of the followers of Bro Branham's teachings don't seem to be Sola Scriptura. They quote from his sermons a lot. This is akin to the people of the Apostle Paul's day reading his letters.

To be honest, most of Bro Branham's followers have never even heard of "Sola Scriptura", but I can tell you they believe the Word of God as it was written in the Bible, or they really don't believe what he said.

As Bro Branham said it "I have preached the same Word he [Paul] did, just exactly stayed with the same Gospel." and we all can truly say "We're resting on that!"

Florida Trip Report (Dec 2011 - January 2012)

2012-01-12T13:10:00.009-05:00

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

Christmas Eve

(The journey of 2,800 miles begins with a single step)

Our journey began later than expected due to delays with packing, etc. We drove until the small hours of the morning & stopped in Johnson City, TN to spend the night.

Sunday, December 25th, 2011

Christmas Day

(Johnson City, TN)

Sunday morning we attended service at 'Happy Valley Church Of Jesus Christ' (Bro. Donny Reagan - Pastor), and heard Bro. Paul LaFontaine preach a timely Christmas message on how 'Wise Men Follow The Word Made Flesh'.

After service some friends graciously opened their home for us to join them for their Christmas luncheon. We were able to meet some new friends as well, and enjoyed our time of fellowship there.

After lunch we got back on the road, and learned a valuable lesson that Joseph & Mary learned two thousand years ago; don't travel on Christmas day! There were hardly any stores open, which made finding a place to eat supper was difficult, but thankfully (in our case) we did find a room in the inn.

Monday, December 26th - Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

(Orlando, FL)

On Monday we made it to Orlando, where we picked up my parents at the airport, and were able to enjoy a few days of family vacation.

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

(Okeechobee, FL)

On Thursday we drove to Okeechobee, and listened to part of 'The Oncoming Storm' (60-0229) where Bro. Branham mentions the hurricane that destroyed much of that area in 1928.

I preached at 'Bible Truth Tabernacle' (Bro. Willie Smiley - Pastor) on the thought of 'Be It Unto Me (According To Thy Word)'. The LORD blessed the service, and the fellowship afterwards. My wife (Sis. Rebekah) was excited to finally be able to meet Bro. Smiley's wife (Sis. Jeanna)

Lake Okeechobee

(60-0229) THE ONCOMING STORM (Phoenix, AZ)

"... they lived close to the great Okeechobee Lake, and the waters begin to rise as the typhoon lifted the waters all the way from the bottom of the lake. That's what makes them so dangerous; they're shallow; the boats rock, and that's how the waves come up and turn the boats beneath them. The storms comes and just whirls up the water and packs it for miles."

Friday, December 30th, 2011

(Okeechobee & West Palm Beach, FL)

On Friday we visited Lake Okeechobee (where we took some beautiful pictures), and then drove on to West Palm Beach.

After eating at a local fast food chain we had quite a few pieces of our chicken left untouched so my Dad offered it a little Hispanic family. After talking to them briefly we found out that they were Pentecostal, and had heard of Bro. Branham. Having previously packed some materials for such an occasion; I was able to share several sermon books & the 'Life Story' CD (59-0419) with them.

Once we were back in the vehicle I commented that he had given them some of our natural food, and I was able to offer them some 'Spiritual Food In Due Season' as well.

Upon leaving the restaurant we drove to Palm Beach Island where our boys were able to see the ocean for their first time, and even play in the water for a little bit.

Palm Beach Island

BEHOLD A GREATER THAN ALL OF THEM IS HERE

62-0715 (Spokane, WA)

"... the old salt said to the young poet, said, "Where goest thou, my good man?" He said, "Oh, sir." He said, "I am a poet." And said, "I've wrote of the sea, and--but I have never seen it yet, and I'm going down." Said, "Oh, I just can't wait till I see the sea, to hear the gulls, watch the bright blue skies reflecting itself in it's--in its big body of water, to smell the brine of the salt, and to see the whitecaps spraying up like that." The old salt took his pipe out, and spit, said, "Huh. I don't see nothing so thrilling about it. I been there for sixty years." See? That's right. He'd been on it so much, it was common to him. See? That's what's the matter with the church. We've seen the goodness of God so much till it's become common to us."

We checked into our hotel in West Palm Beach, and met Bro. Jack Duff (pastor of Spirit & Truth Tabernacle in West Palm Beach, FL), and part of his family for supper. They had just returned that day from services he had preached at in Zimbabwe, and they had some wonderful stories & pictures to share with us from their journey.

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

New Year's Eve (West Palm Beach, FL)

We met with Bro. Jack & his family for lunch, and then went back to the hotel for some rest before the evening service.

Saturday night I preached on 'The Message of Deliverance' at 'Spirit & Truth Tabernacle' (Bro. Jack Duff - Pastor) for their watch-night service. It was wonderful to see all of our dear friends at 'Spirit & Truth' again.

Bro. Smiley, and many of the saints from 'Bible Truth Tabernacle' in Okeechobee were able to attend the service as well, and we had a wonderful time bringing in the new year in the presence of the LORD.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

New Year's Day (West Palm Beach & Sarasota, FL)

After a few hours of sleep we returned to 'Spirit & Truth Tabernacle', and I preached on 'Be It Unto Me (According To They Word)'. The LORD blessed both services at 'Spirit & Truth' tremendously.

Immediately after service we drove to Myakka / Sarasota where I preached on 'Finding The Little Shoe' for the afternoon service at the 'House Of Fellowship' (Bro. Danny Stemen - Pastor). The saints responded to the message, and we truly enjoyed our time of fellowship there.

The church in Myakka is beautiful, and the character of the people certainly match it's beauty.

GOD HIDING HIMSELF IN SIMPLICITY

(63-0317M) Jeffersonville, IN

"May it be a consecrated place to our Lord, a consecrated people, for no matter how beautiful the structure is (that we certainly do appreciate), the beauty of the church is the character of the people. I trust it'll always be a house of God of beauty."

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

(Sarasota & Tampa, FL)

We checked out of our hotel in Sarasota, drove to Tampa to drop my parents off at the airport, and began the long drive home. We stopped at a hotel a little earlier than planned because the wind was very severe, and the children were fussy & ready to stop.

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
(Atlanta, GA & Huntsville, AL)

On Tuesday we made a couple of slight detours to meet some previous friends for lunch near Atlanta, GA, and some more for supper in Huntsville, AL. It was very nice to spend some time with brothers and sisters of like precious faith, and it helped break up the trip home for our children (and their very tired parents).

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
(Jeffersonville, IN)

After running into some bad traffic in Nashville we made it home on Wednesday evening. When we pulled into the driveway we had driven almost exactly 2,800 miles since leaving home on Christmas Eve.

We appreciate the hospitality & Christian love that was shown to us at every stop along the way. It was a blessing to see our old friends, and to meet many new ones as well.

The LORD blessed the services, our time of fellowship with believers from many different churches, and our time vacationing as a family far beyond what we could have ever imagined.

"... unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (I Timothy 1:17)

- Bro. Nathan

NBM site update

2012-01-05T16:52:00.001-05:00

We are starting off the new year with a newly updated web-site:

http://nathanbryantministries.com

Special thanks to Bro. Trevor for all the updated features!

Contradictions?

2011-12-29T12:29:00.006-05:00

THE.REVELATION.OF.JESUS.CHRIST - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.1
"Now remember this. Christ in the True Church is a continuation of the Book of Acts. But the Book of Revelation shows how that the antichrist spirit would come into the church and defile it, making it lukewarm, formal and powerless. It exposes Satan, revealing his works (attempted destruction of God's people and the discrediting of God's word) right down to the time he is cast into the lake of fire. He fights that. He cannot stand it."

I’m not intending for this post to be controversial.

It probably will be for some. I’ve decided I can live with that. It’s been on my heart for quite some time.

I want to deal with this subject from the eyes of a parent.

You see, I’ve known some who have had children come across issues of “contradictions” that they see either in the Scripture or in the Message. I know one such who has totally left the faith. (although I pray the faith hasn’t left them!) They claimed that Bro Branham contradicted himself all the time.

So what do we do when our children notice an apparent contradiction? The easy answer for many of us is to say something very spiritual sounding: “I don’t understand it, I just believe it”.

Now, I understand that sentiment, and I agree with it. It’s often just not enough for a smart child. It becomes an easy excuse for the parent to remain ignorant and not search the Scriptures. The children see this as the “easy out” that it is. They see the uncertainty underlying our own understanding or they see that we’ve taken our doctrine out on a limb, and we don’t believe the FULL Word of God ourselves.

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Let’s just deal with the toughest one out there. One I personally know has happened to some.

62-0531 THE.CONFLICT.BETWEEN.GOD.AND.SATAN_ CLARKSVILLE.IN THURSDAY_
« 180 † Noah went in. He followed the will of God. God shut the door behind him, but it never rained for seven more days. Wonder what Noah thought, all that time in there? Noah setting in the ark, the door shut. He thought, "Just any time, children, you'll hear it. We'll pull the door, the lid up here on top." They was up on the top floor, you know. The animals on the bottom, the birds in the next, and they was on top. That sun... "Oh, in the morning, there'll be--there'll be something over there, a darkening, the rain will come." But, the next morning, up come the sun.

181 Maybe some people, that kind of half way believed Noah, might have went up there and stood around the ark, said, "You know what? That old man might have been right. We better stand here." Well, then they "seen a mistake."

God's prophets make no mistake. God's Word can't fail.

182 You heard me preach on, about Jonah going to Nineveh. They said he was backslidden. He sure wasn't. He was right in the will of God. Exactly. He had the Word of the Lord, and he walked in It.

Surely we’ve all heard this one. How many times have we been told that “God’s prophets make no mistake!”

This is as true as any other part of the Word of God. I am in NO WAY denying this, downplaying this, or otherwise contesting this quote. I believe this fact wholeheartedly!

Yet, what happens when in church or in personal study, our children come across the following quote?

61-0611 REVELATION.CHAPTER.FIVE.1_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN ROJC 717-746 SUNDAY_
I don't know where our Lord will lead me to, and that I have no control of, or whatever He will have for me to do. But I am thinking at the end of the road where I must come. And down along life's journeys I have made so many mistakes that I am very sorry from my heart of, because of, I guess, being human and in weakness and so forth, causes a person to do things or say things that... and even act that they would not want to act otherwise. But being the weakness of a human being, why, we--we have those times.

Or like this one:

53-0403 THE.CRUELTY.OF.SIN.AND.THE.PENALTY.THAT.IT.COST.TO.RID.SIN.FROM.OUR.LIVES_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN V-25 N-4 FRIDAY_
Lord, while I'm here at this pulpit tonight, this little old concrete structure, I consecrate my life to You. I thank You for what You've done for me. And I consecrate myself anew, at this crucifixion night memorial to You. Take me, Lord. Forgive me, all my mistakes and troubles. Make me strong and powerful, Lord, in the Spirit of God, that I might win souls to You.

Or finally:

64-0617 THE.IDENTIFIED.CHRIST.OF.ALL.AGES_ TOPEKA.KS V-20 N-1 WEDNESDAY_
« 148 † Now just one moment for the prayer line. We've got exactly fifteen minutes, to get out on time. Now all I could say, I'm a man, my words can just fail just like any other man, all of us. I've proved to you tonight, that every prophet, everything else, they made their mistakes. But God makes no mistakes. His Word is the Truth. How many believes that He is the Word? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] God bless you. That's where my faith is built, on nothing less than Jesus' Blood; and, right, Jesus is the Word.

Of course the mind must then ask itself, "Was Bro Branham a prophet? Didn’t Bro Branham just say right here he has made mistakes. And did He not say God’s prophets make no mistake?" The child will then ask, "Daddy, I thought you said God’s prophets don’t make mistakes?"

So then, you have an apparent contradiction. What will you tell your child? Will you say "Amen" to all quotes with equal gusto? Or will you downplay some, not quite calling them inaccurate, but not really sure what else to do?

They are either ALL God’s Word, or none of them are. If they are ALL God’s Word, than we must say "Amen" and we have to be able to reconcile them together.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We have to then be able to somehow EXPLAIN to our searching children, where the truth lays in ALL the quotes and scriptures. Make no mistake, the devil would LOVE to drive a wedge in this area. Satan wants to “discredit God’s Word”.

I could tell you what I believe makes these quotes line up perfectly; merely the angle you look at them in, but that’s not really the point of this post. The point is: what do you do when you see 'apparent contradictions'? Do you look the other way? Do you try to downplay the part you don’t like or understand? Do you tell your children,"Don’t worry, just believe"?

For me, I’d rather tackle these things head on. My children have enough to worry about in this old world we live in. I want to arm them with as much as I can arm them with. If they see a contradiction, and I don’t understand, I want to go to the Word with them, and I want to be in prayer with them, for God to reveal it to all of us. “With true revelation in our lives, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us, but we will prevail over them.”

JAMES 1:5 - 8
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Diary Of A Message Dad (Is Santa Claus Real?)

2011-12-19T15:10:00.002-05:00

"Lord, take away the fiction of Santa Claus

and bring to them the real Christmas gift."

'The Great Shining Light' (57-1222)

Millions of people around the world teach their children not to talk to strangers (or accept gifts from strangers), but the majority of them seem to make one exception; Santa Claus. They teach their children of a mysterious, chubby, jolly, old man dressed in red who will magically deliver toys around the world via his flying specie of 'Rangifer tarandus' (aka 'caribou', or 'reindeer').

In our society parents live in fear of pedophiles & child predators, yet somehow millions of them will stand in line this holiday season at malls around the world so their children can sit on the lap of a total stranger to get their picture taken.

One has to ask; could someone 'of that nature' think of a more convenient job to apply for?

A few lyrics to the old song go:

"He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake."

"O! You better watch out!"

"I'm telling you why;
Santa Claus is coming to town."

St Nicholas

from The Boyana Church in Bulgaria

Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop (known for giving to the poor) in what is now Turkey. He is known best as being the inspiration behind the fictitious character of Santa Claus.

So what should we tell our children about Santa Claus? As with any topic; we always want to point you to what the Message of the hour says about it:

(59-1219) Questions And Answers On The Holy Ghost (Jeffersonville, IN)
Q99. What about a Christmas play in a Holy Ghost church?
Well, if it's about Christ, it might be all right. But if it's about Santa Claus, I don't believe in him. I--I done growed--I done growed away from that. I don't believe in Santa Claus at all. See? And some of these little Christmas things they have, I think is ridiculous. And... But I think they've took all Christ out of Christmas and put Santa Claus in it.
And Santa Claus is a fiction story. (I'm not hurting any of your feelings, I hope, about the children.) But I'll tell you. Here not long ago, about twenty-five, thirty years ago, when a minister here in this city, the pastor of--of a certain big church here in the city, that I knowed real well, a bosom friend of mine, he walked to me. And Charlie Bohanon (Brother Mike, you remember Charlie Bohanon, a good friend of mine.)... Set there in his office and said, "I'll never tell my kids or have my grandchildren told that lie no more." He said, "My own little boy walked up to me after he got about twelve years old, and talking about Santa Claus..." And he said, "Why... Honey, I've got something to tell you," Said, "Mommy..." You know, and go ahead telling him what he did.
Then after he come back, said, "Then, daddy, is this Jesus the same thing?"
Tell the truth. Santa Claus is a Catholic getup about a fellow, a Kriss Kringle or Saint Nicholas, an old German Catholic saint of many years ago who went around doing good to children. And they've carried it down as a tradition. But Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He's real, and He lives.
Now, here's a question, the last one, which is a very...
Now look. You might disagree with me at that. But if you do disagree with me, remember, let it be friendly, will you? I love you, and I don't want to--don't want to hurt you. I'm just--I'm wanting to be honest. If I can't--if I tell my boy a lie, then I'm a liar. See? I want to tell him the truth.
Now, I tell him about Santa Claus; I say, "Yeah, sure, there's Santa Claus. Watch daddy on Christmas night." See? Yeah.
You know, the other day I was down there, and I tried that on a little girl just to see. I sure got paid back day before yesterday. I was in the building. And they was standing there, down here at the Quaker Maid. And I went down there to get the groceries. And so we, wife and I, was in there. And there was a little bitty girl, wasn't over about eighteen months old, and she was standing there going--singing, "Dingle Bells, Dingle Bells..."
And I said... In her little stand, you know, setting in the back of the little cart. I said, "Are you looking for Santa Claus?"
She said, "That's my daddy, mister."
I said, "Bless your little heart, honey. You got wisdom."

Known as 'Sinterklaas' in Dutch folklore

"What's any more of a myth than Santa Claus? Never was such a thing. Telling children lies, you'll be responsible for it at the day of the judgment. Yes.
No wonder people don't know what to do. They're... They--they just don't want the real thing. They'll take anything artificial, but they don't want the real thing. They don't want the gifts of God."

'God's Wrapped Gift' (60-1225)

"(Santa Claus) is a figure with legendary,

mythical, historical and folkloric aspects..."

(wikipedia.org)

Give your children the gift of Truth this Christmas,

Bro. Nathan

Sermon Index App

2011-12-13T10:21:00.001-05:00

There is a new Sermon Index App available for free

through Voice of God Recordings on iPhone & iPad.

Note: "You must be running IOS 5 on
your mobile device for the app to work."

Happy Thanksgiving (2011)

2011-11-24T07:58:00.002-05:00

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I know that ('as for me and my house') we have been blessed far beyond what we deserve.

"He hath done all things well."

(Mark 7:37b)

I pray that you are surrounded by families who love you this Thanksgiving holiday. Take the time to consider all the wonderful things that God is doing in your life, and to thank Him for all the blessings He has given.

To God be all the praise, and honor, and glory forever. Amen.

Bro. Nathan

* The links in this article are to a short video on the
'Young Foundations' web-site that we wanted to share with you *

Let The Fire Fall

2011-11-22T11:35:00.005-05:00

'The Invisible Union Of The Bride Of Christ'

(65-1125)

"Now, before closing. One time I was up in Glacier National Park. We heard, all day long, that they had a--they had a fall, a glacier fire that was going to fall at night. So the people was busy, all day long, getting that thing ready, because they was going to pour that fire out, that night. They put a liquid fire falls, like a great glacier of water. But it's... Looked like a rainbow, almost, when it comes out, of that fire falling out of this glacier. All around through the park, wife and I, and children, walked around through the day. We want to stay to see that fire exhibition. So it--it--it was promised us that we would see it, and we'd witness it again. They said they have it ever through the summer seasons and so forth. I said, "Well, will we be able to see it?"
Said, "We promised it tonight. We're promised that." Said, "They're up there getting it ready now."
After all had been made ready for the event! That's what's taking place right now. All has been made ready for the event, a Church being pulled out for His Name's sake, taking His Bride out from amongst the world, these denominations and all the world, and the filth and things of the world.
Everybody; the event was made ready. Everybody was standing out. They said, "Now keep watching, right up on top the mountain there."
That's the way It's always come. That's the way It's to come this time. That's the way It always come. Not through a denomination! Never did God use a denomination, never!
The reformer goes forth, he gets the Word of the Lord. And then when he dies, they build a denomination out of it. That's what the Pentecostals and all did. When the new issues, everything, that's just the way. That's the way the thing come out. A new word added, then they build a church out of it, made a denomination, separated themself. It had to be that way.
Now, you can't beat--you can't beat nature. Nature falls in the same routine, all the time: stalk, leaf, tassel, so forth, shuck, then the wheat.
Now notice. All was ready. Everything had been kindled and made ready. And everybody was standing out. I had my head sticking up; my arm around my wife. We was looking. And children standing there, all of us looking up, like that. My! It was something, 'cause we was expecting it. It was promised to us.
Amen! The Word promises This. "It shall come to pass, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come, behold, I will send unto you Elijah the prophet. He shall turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers."...?... "It shall come to pass in the last days, I'll pour out My Spirit from on High." "The former and latter rain shall come together in the last day." All these promises, through the Scriptures, been given. We're looking upward. Watch at the true Bride across the nation this hour, looking up. Church, He is coming, one of these days. Just as sure as He come the first time, He is coming again. Get everything ready. Separate yourself from shuck. Lay before the Son. Keep looking up. Be under expectation.
All at once, we heard something from the top the hill, a voice come down through the loud speaker, said, "All things are ready."
Then this man, standing right there by the side of me, said, "Let the fire fall." Here it come, pouring down across that mountain, a glacier of fire and blazes a licking, a sight to behold.
Brother, let's get all things ready, for one of these days the Fire is going to fall. We're going up. Now let's get ready for the Fire-falling time."


'Fire Fall' (Glacier Point - Yosemite National Park)

A precious friend of ours (Bro. Jack Duff - Pastor of 'Spirit & Truth Tabernacle in West Palm Beach, FL) visited us recently for some special meetings. On Friday night (11/11/11) he used this quote for the basis of a sermon he titled 'Let The Fire Fall'.

Yesterday, Bro. Trevor sent Bro. Jack & myself the link to a video he had found of a park ranger telling a very similar story about the 'Fire Fall'. The video also included the details of how the 'Fire Fall' started in 1872, and why they stopped performing the event in 1968 (due to the overwhelming amount of visitors & traffic caused by the event, and because it was not a 'natural event').

My first thought was, 'It would be fun to re-create this event'. Spiritually speaking however; you cannot try to re-kindle, or re-create the fire from another generation. We mustn't try to make our experience match someone else's, but our experience MUST match the Word of God.

As nice as it would be to have a video of this event from back in the 1960's; 'you can't get warm by a painted fire'. While the historical record would be nice to have; by Itself the Letter killeth, but mixed with the Spirit It is quickened to give Life.

The tree bark the park workers used was dead in & of itself, but when they mixed it with fire it provided life-sustaining warmth. So must we become dead to ourselves & dead to the things of the world so that the Holy Ghost & Fire can be kindled in our lives until it is no longer us, but Christ that lives in us!

"For our God is a consuming Fire."

(Hebrews 12:29)

I also like that this was not just a monthly event (taking the communion), or an annual event (waiting for a revival), but preparations were made all day long, every single day so that the fire could fall daily!

May we live so close that a fresh anointing of Fire can fall on us daily!

- Bro. Nathan

'What Is The Holy Ghost?'

(59-1216)

"Not from revival to revival, but from eternity to eternity you are sealed by the Holy Spirit."

Up2Date VI (Veteran's Day)

2011-11-11T03:53:00.001-05:00

In 1918 (93 years ago today) World War I mysteriously ended (as a fulfillment of Revelation 7:1-3), and what we now call 'Veterans Day' began as the 'Armistice Day' celebration.

 "All the world was going to war; and all of a sudden, it stopped. And I've read the decline of the World War One. No man knows today why it stopped; no man give any orders for it to stop. But it was stopped on November the eleventh (That right?), the eleventh month in the year, the eleventh hour in the day, the eleventh minute after eleven. What was it? That the eleventh hour people could come in." ~WMB (55-0312

"They was writing on the decline of the First World War. Nobody knows today whoever made a issue of peace. Kaiser Wilhelm said he didn't do it. No general said he didn't do it. But notice, how strange it was. It was on November the 11th at eleven o'clock in the day. The eleventh day of the month, the eleventh month in the year, the eleventh hour of the day, and eleven minutes till eleven. What was it? Hold, stop mysteriously... What did it? God's issue went forth to hold it. "Hold the four winds." "Winds" means "war and strife"; we know. Until we have got Israel back in Palestine again, "Hold the four winds," and it stopped right there on the eleventh hour because...
Remember Jesus speaking of the eleventh hour, people? And the one that come in on the eleventh hour, what did He say? Oh, don't be dumb; be spiritual. Look, how did He say? The eleventh hour people got the same wage the one did that come in the first hour. Then the baptism of the Holy Ghost has to go right back and seal the Jew, like the first one was sealed, that eleventh hour people. "Hold the four winds; don't let the world be destroyed until we seal the servants of our God in their forehead." ~WMB (61-0217)

REVELATION 7

1 ¶ And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Diary Of A Message Dad (The Golden Rule)

2011-10-13T11:26:00.004-04:00

In St. Luke's gospel our LORD Jesus tells his disciples, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Most of us are probably more familiar with the paraphrased version of this verse that is known as 'The Golden Rule' ("Do unto others as yo would have them do unto you").

Everyone wants to be treated fairly. Our country has gone to war time and time again, civil rights movements and human rights movements have been established, many have shed their blood and given their lives all so that people could be treated fairly.

We want to be treated fairly at church, at school, and at work. We want to be treated fairly by our friends, our family, our teachers, our employers, and our government. Most of us aren't looking for special treatment above and beyond what everyone else receives, but none of us enjoy being humiliated in front of others, or when we are treated less favorably than our peers.

Are we as willing to constantly check our own actions to ensure we give out equal treatment to others as we are to fight for our own equal rights? Do we limit this checking of actions to our interactions in public (school, work, church, etc), or do we strive to treat our family and friends with the same level of respect?

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (St. Matthew 7:12)

When it comes to marriage; do we treat our spouse the way that we want to be treated? Do we stop long enough to truly listen, and communicate back? Do we give them the attention and respect that we expect to receive?

When it comes to our children; do we remember how we felt at their age, and give them the time, and patience that we desired from our parents?

I see so many parents (and have admittedly caught myself being guilty of the same from time to time) who expect very young children to act like adults.

Personally I don't want to look back in twenty years to find that my memories of our children growing up are that my wife and I were able to train them to sit like little soldiers so that they never embarrassed us as parents, never did anything out of line, and grew up despising us.

My wife and I want our children to respect us as parents. We want them to understand their position as children and ours as parents, but we do not want our children to live in fear of us. We do not want them to feel that they can never make a mistake, or that they cannot come and talk to us when they find themselves in trouble.

I would like to look back in twenty years and be able to say that my children were not perfect little soldiers who never made mistakes, but that they were good children who were full of life, and love, and laughter. I want to remember that we allowed them to be children (even if it meant the occasional dirty clothes, or trips to the bathroom to apply band-aids as a result of their 'adventures', and maybe even a few random pieces of broken furniture).

I want them to be able to look back and see that their parents were not perfect, but that we tried to teach them all that we knew about Jesus, and how to live their lives to their fullest ability.

I hope that they will be able to look back and find that their fond memories heavily outweighing the bad.

I trust that they will realize their parents had their best interests in mind with every decision we made, and that we treated them equally, and loved them each the same for their own unique ways.

If you have children please recognize that you are their hero, and try to live up to those expectations before you prove them wrong.

Bro. Nathan

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (St. Matthew 18:10)

*** 'Diary Of A Message Dad' is a new blog label that we plan to use as a platform to share personal stories, insights, quotes, and scriptures related to parenting and marriage. ***

Up2Date V (Commercialization)

2011-10-07T23:09:00.000-04:00

WILL THE CHURCH GO BEFORE THE TRIBULATION? (58-0309E)

Oh, there never was a day that's so much commercial as today. Just used car lots and everything, so much till you can buy a refrigerator this year and pay about four or five hundred dollars for it, and next year nobody wants it. It's out of style. Don't you see where the commercial world has your nose to the grind wheel.
You can buy a car this year, and next year it's probably as good as the one you could buy then, but it'll depreciate a thousand dollars, because they change the radiator cap, or they done some little silly something to it. It's only a sales talk to fulfill the Bible. "As it was the days of Noah... and in the days of Lot..."

INVESTMENTS (63-1116B)

This "get rich over night." I had a friend once that had his life savings in a bank, drawing a small interest, and someone come by with a shortcut. You know, we hear today of so many, shortcuts the thing. The world is full of it; advertisements, and television, radio, newspapers. And if the American people fall for such as that!
Here long ago, I was listening at an advertisement of a--a--a woman, or talking on the--on the radio. I was in my car, going somewhere, and they said, "Use these fine dishwashing powders," of some sort, "you don't even have to wash the dishes. You just put them in there, and pour a little bit in and shake it up-and-down; and it's no washing, no rinsing, no drying, no nothing." And it was one of the greatest things that science had ever given us.
And right back over, about the next commercial, was, "Don't use these new detergents. Look at mother's hands, how pretty they are. They burn your hands up. Be... have pretty hands like mother, and don't use the new detergent."
And I happened to live in Jeffersonville, at that time, where Colgate Palmolive Peet big factory is, and the same company made both products. See? See? It's a--it's a gimmick. And there is so much of it in the world today!
And I say this with reverence and respects, and I hope it doesn't sound sacrilegious, but that same thing has got into the church move. God has no shortcuts. You just pay the price. You come and take the way that God provided for us.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

2011-10-03T12:45:00.010-04:00

*** Update: U.N. "silent no more about Pastor Youcef" (10/21/11) ***

On October 12th, 2009 Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani of Rasht, Iran was taken into custody for charges of apostasy ("renouncing Islam"). He has constantly been under the threat of execution since that time. He has repeatedly been offered freedom if he will but recant his faith in Jesus Christ, but he replies,"I cannot".

February 9th, 2010 - Voice Of God Recordings began covering the story of the imprisonment of ten believers in Iran on their blog (more reports with greater detail about Brother Youcef followed as they received further information).

Present Truth Ministries (founded by Brother Jason Demars of Minnesota) has covered Bro. Youcef's story in great detail on their blog.

In October of 2010 the USCIRF (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom) "(urged) the Obama Administration to Demand Release of Pastor Facing Execution in Iran for Apostasy".

January 11th, 2011 - Voice Of God Recordings reported that Congresswoman Giffords (who had recently been shot in Tucson, AZ) had "embraced the efforts to help free Brother Youcef Nadarkhani and Brother Behrouz Sadegh-Khandjani in Iran. She brought the case before the United States Department of State, where they began efforts to halt the extreme persecution of these believers (when the situation with the believers in Iran came to her attention)."

Only recently has Bro. Youcef's story gained high-pofile, global coverage (with detailed reports being picked up by Fox News, CNN, etc).

On September 30th, 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released a brief statement on the U.S. Department Of State's website condemning Iran for the continued violation of human rights (specifically mentioning Pastor Youcef in the following statement).

"We are particularly concerned by reports that Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution on charges of apostasy for refusing to recant his faith."

In thinking of Bro. Youcef I am reminded of the words Martin Luther spoke on April 18th, 1521, "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen!"

Please continue to remember Bro. Youcef and his family in your prayers. I know that God is more than able to deliver him, and restore him to his family. I pray that the leadership in our nation will be instrumental in quickly restoring his freedom.

Bro. Nathan

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

"And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." (Daniel 6:20-22)

The Predestinated Snails

2011-09-29T00:25:00.000-04:00

"Let's dramatize just a moment, so you get the picture".

- Rev. William Marrion Branham

The following is a little drama that I felt inspired to write many years ago (February 11th, 1998). 

I hope the little thought that the Lord laid upon my heart during that time will be a blessing to you as you read it. 

- Bro. Nathan Bryant

Genesis 6:18-20

"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive."

Our drama is set right around the time of the flood.

God told Noah, "Build an ark", but He didn't tell him to go collect the animals. The animals came on their own.

The flood was coming. Noah had preached it, and now it was right at hand. There [were] going to be two of every animal (one male, and one female) [to preserve life].

[There had to be a group of snails] living in Noah's time [who were overcomers].

Now the horses could run, and the birds could fly (making pretty good time), but these little snails [would] have to crawl every inch of the way.

That's like the bride. Some people are [granted eternal life after the second resurrection because they are] kind to the bride [St. Mark 9:41, Church Age Book p278], but [the true Bride of Jesus Christ will] have to crawl every inch of the way [overcoming] the devil's temptations and torments [on every hand].

[These little snails would have to make it in] the ark, or their entire species would be wiped off the face of the earth forever.

After a few days this group of snails [were] just like Israel in the desert (murmuring and complaining).

After a few weeks almost half of them had given up [with all kinds of excuses].

"I just can't do it."

"I can't live that kind of life."
"It's just too hard!"

But one little snail looked over at [one of those] hypocrites and said, "But God said He would never give us anything too hard [I Corinthians 10:13]. He [will] provide a way!"

"But if only two are going to make it what chance have I got?"

That same Godly snail looked over and [quoted St. Matthew 22:14], "Many are called, but few are chosen".

"But I just don't have the strength to go on. We may not even be going the right way..."

[One other faithful little] snail looked over at him and started singing, "I know the Lord will make a way for me. I know the Lord will make a way for me. If I live a Holy life, shun the wrong, and do the right; I know the Lord will make a way for me!"

Oh, it made those other snails so mad. These two (no matter what the situation was) always had a scripture or a song, and they always seemed so happy! Even though they were just as tired as the others, they pressed on to the mark of the high calling [Philippians 3:14].

[Some of those make-believer snails] tried to change God's Word a little bit.

"Well, what if He didn't really mean [literal rain]?"

"What if we're doing this for nothing?"

"What if there is no [ark]?"

Those chosen snails looked at [them] and said, "If God said It, I believe it. I'm standing on It, and claiming [It]. Praise God! Every promise in the book is mine!"

[The vast majority] of the snails gave up, or died in the journey, but these two 'Predestinated Snails' pressed on because they had the faith to accept the Word, and apply it to their own lives.

[It would not have been enough for them to simply say they believed Noah. They proved they really did believe his message by making themselves ready (Revelation 19:7).]

Now in the last days (right before God closed the door) the sun was beating down. [Those two little 'Predestinated Snails'] were in an awful state. The [doubting] snails that had given up were making fun of them, [and] trying to get them to [quit].

One of [those] 'Predestinated Snails' turned to the other and said, "Resist the devil, and he will flee" [James 4:7]. The other one [shouted], "Praise God!", and they kept on.

After a while the other snails [gave up trying to bother] them, and went away.

[As they came over that final hill] they could see the ark sitting there. Praise God! We're almost that close today. "Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" [St. Luke 21:28b].

They had just enough time to make it in before the door was shut.

If God knew the snails were predestinated to be there before the foundation of the [world], how much more [does] He know that we'll be there?

If we'll just press on (and not just read the Word, but write our own names in there and apply it to our own lives) then we'll be able to make it in before He shuts the door, just like 'the predestinated snails'.

"Someone said, "Well, there's no need in me trying it. Brother Branham said there's only going to be one saved out of Jeffersonville." See? Now, see, it's showing a parable. That--that--that isn't... That--that isn't it. There might be thousands saved. I don't know. I hope every one of them is saved (See?), but I don't know. But here's the way I want to believe it: I'm that one. You believe the same for you. If you don't, then there's something wrong with your faith. You're not sure what you're doing." - Rev. William Marrion Branham

Romans 8:29-31

["For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"]

*** Text in between brackets indicates newly added and/or modified text. ***

Up2Date IV (Instinct)

2011-08-25T20:06:00.003-04:00

(63-0607) BE NOT AFRAID (TUCSON, AZ)

"When Billy and I flew into India, just recently, they had a piece of paper. It's a bilingual country. And said, "The earthquakes must be over. The birds are returning back."
Now, India, they don't have these fine woven fences like we have. They pick up rocks and make their fences, and build their houses, and most of them. And for a day or two, all the little birds that lived in these rocks flew away, and went out. They wouldn't come back to the rocks, back to their nest. And then what happened? All the cattle that used to come in the--in the evening, when the sun would be hot, and they'd stand in the shadow of these walls, to keep cool; the sheep; they wouldn't do it. They got right out in the middle of the field and stood against one another.
They thought, "That's strange. What's happened to them?"
And then, all at once, an earthquake swept the country. All the walls fell down. And then it was down for two or three days, the earthquakes. Then, all at once, what was left standing up, the little birds begin to come in again, come back. They said, "The earthquakes must be over."
Don't you see, friends? The same God in the days of Noah, who could take the birds and the animals, and put them in the ark of safety, away from destruction, that same God still can warn the bird. And the bird only has instinct to go by. If the bird, by instinct, God warning him to get away from the big, falling walls, surely, that by the baptism of the Holy Ghost, that we can get away from these big old walls that's being traditions that's built around us, and get out there, if we have to stand, one against the other, and keep in the shadow of the Bible."

The following are excerpts from an article we found on the Discovery News web-site:

"The Smithsonian National Zoo put out a comprehensive list of how animals at the zoo reacted to Tuesday's 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia. Here's a look at how they responded..."

Great Apes
* The earthquake hit the Great Ape House and Think Tank Exhibit during afternoon feeding time.
* About five to ten seconds before the quake, many of the apes, including Kyle (an orangutan) and Kojo (a Western lowland gorilla), abandoned their food and climbed to the top of the tree-like structure in the exhibit.
* About three seconds before the quake, Mandara (a gorilla) let out a shriek and collected her baby, Kibibi, and moved to the top of the tree structure as well.
* Iris (an orangutan) began “belch vocalizing”—an unhappy/upset noise normally reserved for extreme irritation—before the quake and continued this vocalization following the quake.

Small Mammals
* The red ruffed lemurs sounded an alarm call about 15 minutes before the quake and then again just after it occurred.

Bird House
* The Zoo has a flock of 64 flamingos. Just before the quake, the birds rushed about and grouped themselves together. They remained huddled during the quake.

The Body Of Christ Q&A

2011-08-24T12:50:00.000-04:00

We have been receiving more, and more e-mails to our blog@twomessageministers.com account. Many are prayer requests, some are encouragements to 'keep up the good work', some are requests for advice, and counseling, and some are Scriptural, or Message-related questions.

Last night I responded to one of the Scriptural questions we received recently, and thought it was worth sharing as a 'Bible Study' post for those who have had (or been asked) similar questions.

Q. (paraphrased)

"If God was in Christ, and Christ was the body of God; does Christ in us mean (that) a body dwells within us? Also, does "by one spirit we are baptized into one body" means, we get into a body?

A.

I trust that yours is a sincere request in search for truth, and not simply a mocking question of unbelief.

Either way I will try to answer your question to the best of my ability, as I set aside a little time away from my family to follow up on a few ministry-related e-mails.

II Timothy 3:16 tells us that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".

I believe that if you can take the time to study the Scriptures, and ask God to reveal them; you will find that they do not contradict one another. They dovetail perfectly together if you will set aside carnal thinking long enough to take an honest, open-hearted look at them.

I Corinthians 2:13-14 reads: "We speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

You have asked a Scriptural question, so I will do my best to give you a Scriptural answer.

Jesus tells us in St. John 4:24 that "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

God is a Spirit. You cannot see a spirit, you cannot kill a spirit. Jesus even says in St. Luke 24:39 (referring to His earthly tabernacle), "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."

Because man had fallen into sin there had to be a yearly sacrifice made to atone for those sins, but the blood of bulls & goats could not permanently rid sin (Hebrews 10:4), so there had to be a pure, sinless, Holy sacrifice made, but there was no one found who was worthy (Revelation 5:2-9).

God was the only one who was worthy, but He could not die as a spirit, so He created a body in the womb of Mary that would be born a virgin birth as promised in Isaiah 7:14. Colossians 2:9 explains that "in Him (Jesus) dwelleth ALL the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

All that God was He poured into Christ. The body of Jesus was a tabernacle that God dwelt in to be a tangible being that could be seen, and touched (St. John 1:1), and could die to rid sins for all those who would accept His sacrifice.

Jesus told His disciples in St. John 6:53, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." Many of his followers left him because of this saying (St. John 6:66), because they thought he was speaking literally, and that he was a cannibal that wanted them to eat His literal flesh. Had they only asked Him further, or waited until they could have received the spiritual discernment to understand they would have seen He was referring to Communion / The Lord's Supper (I Corinthians 11:24-26).

It seems that you are thinking along the same carnal lines of those who left Jesus in St. John 6:66 (a physical body inside of a physical body). This is similar to how Nicodemus misunderstood Him when He told him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus thought He was literally saying that a man had to "enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born" (St. John 3:1-10).

Jesus told His disciples in St. John 14:18-20, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." A short while later we find in Acts 2:1-4 (after the physical body of Jesus had ascended into Heaven in Acts 1:9) we find that He sent The Comforter to 120 of them in the upper room (Acts 1:15), and filled them with the Holy Ghost.

The same Spirit (the Father) that dwelt in Christ (the Son), was now dwelling in His people (in the form of the Holy Ghost just as Jesus had promised). "I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." The same Spirit / Person in three different offices (or attributes).

It wasn't an actual body living inside of Jesus, but it was the fulness of the Spirit of God dwelling in an earthly tabernacle / body. So is it not the physical body of Jesus living inside of our physical body, but a portion of that same Spirit (God's Life) that dwelt in Him in fulness, dwells in each individual who receives the Holy Ghost.

Romans 12:5 says, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

If you read all of I Corinthians chapter twelve with an open heart it should help explain this thought more thoroughly. The spiritual body of Christ has many different offices & gifts (apostles, prophets, teachers, preachers, evangelists, singers, workers, etc) but if each member has the Holy Ghost they are all performing some work for God as part of His spiritual body.

I hope that my response has helped you to understand what you are questioning further. I would not be able to see the continuity of the Scripture in this way if it had not been for the fulfillment of Malachi 4, Revelation 10:7, Matthew 17:11, and Luke 17:30 as God has allowed to be fulfilled in our age through the humble ministry of William Marrion Branham.

Thank you for your inquiry, and may God bless you, and reveal to you the answers you are searching for.

Bro. Nathan Bryant
Co-Founder & Co-Author
Two Message Ministers
blog@twomessageministers.com
www.twomessageministers.com

Ridiculous

2011-08-17T14:14:00.006-04:00

How is your life viewed by others? Do most people find you normal? Do you “fit in” with relative success, no one really seeing the effects of your Christian walk?

I’d like you to stop and consider a few Bible characters for just a moment. Consider Moses, he fit in for such a long time in Egypt, yet when he finally stood for God, he was viewed in a different light. When the commission to serve God really came forward, it was ridiculous to the Egyptian mind.

“Why would someone give up the chance to be Pharaoh, to lead an oppressed people out into the wilderness?” Ridiculous! Then he turns around 40 years later and goes to take over the world power of the day with a stick in his hand!

Of course we all know how ridiculous Noah looked when he began to do something for God. “It’s never rained, and you’re building a boat on the top of a mountain. Ooo-kay!”

Of course, we could talk about Abraham going to offer Isaac on top of the mountain, Gideon paring down his army to 300, Shamgar attacking 600 philistines with a farm implement, little David taking on big Goliath or apostles staggering around like drunk men on the day of Pentecost. The list could go on and on.

What do all of these have in common? From the outside looking in, they are quite ridiculous!

I CORINTHIANS 3:18-19
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

So, I ask again. How is YOUR life viewed by others? Do they find you a little odd? Quirky? Ridiculous? They should. All throughout the Bible we find such instances. If the world looks at our lives and sees nothing strange, then I wonder what kind of lives we are living?

Bro Branham says:

“You know, sometimes when you get persistent and hear the Voice of God, it makes you do things ridiculous to the carnal mind. You act strange, funny. You're an odd person.” (62-0719E PERSEVERANT)

He also said:

“Faith finds a source that others don't see. Faith finds a source that others can't see it. Faith is ridiculous to everybody but God and the fellow that's got it. It's ridiculous to everybody besides God and the person that's got the faith. Now, it's all--it's all--it's a surety to them. It's a sure to God, and it's a sure to the person that's got it. But the rest of them thinks they're crazy. Always have.” (62-0719E PERSEVERANT)

So, do the people at work find you crazy? Perhaps they find you praying at lunch time. Perhaps they find you in a corner reading the Word with tears streaming down your cheeks at break time.

How about the people at your church? “Man, that brother/sister just LOVES everybody. They’re always happy. You can’t get them to say anything negative about nobody.” (Unfortunately, many people conclude that person is just wishy-washy, but that’s a topic for another post!) The spirit of Christ in you should have SUCH POWER that you would LOVE the unlovable. You would love the ones that talk bad about you. You would press in to the Spirit even when all others have given up. That sounds ridiculous to far too many!

Are you ridiculous? Are you serving Him? Are you displaying Him? Your faith in action should be ridiculous to the carnal mind. If your faith is not in action click here!

Prayer Requests

2011-07-07T14:42:00.002-04:00

"... your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." (Matthew 6:8b)

Brother Frank Prater (Pastor of Eagle Lighthouse Tabernacle in Ft. Smith, Arkansas) alerted us to an urgent prayer request for little Laurie McGuire. She fell into a fire, and is not expected to live. She is only ten years old. Please remember this little girl in your prayers. I know that our God is more than able to restore her completely, and I pray that His Presence goes to her bedside now.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

Also please remember Daniel (Nathan) Phillips in prayer. He is the son of Brother James & Sister Betty Phillips, and the grandson of Brother Willard Collins (Pastor of the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, IN). Over fifty percent of his body was burned severely last week, and the last I heard his situation was very serious.

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD (53-0604)

"... Hezekiah's prayer changed the opinion of God. Oh, my. I like that. Prayer changes things. It's the most powerful force that God ever put in the hands of man, is a sincere prayer offered to God. Jesus said, "Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, that I'll do." Believe it. Try it once, and see if it isn't true."

We serve a present tense God who is more than able to come on the scene in both of these situations for His Glory & their good. "Prayer changes things".

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper

and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (III John 1:2)

*** UPDATE ***

07/10/2011

Update on little Laurie McGuire (per Brother Frank Prater): "... talked to a friend of the family. He said she would recover. She must have fallen backward into a campfire. She will need skin grafts. Thank you for your prayers, and praise the Lord for this testimony."

Is “Heaven is for Real” for real?

2011-07-02T15:50:00.002-04:00

(Book review)

Recently I have seen many references from friends about the book “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo. I decided to download the book to my kindle, and give the relatively short book a quick read.

I must say, having a daughter that had a ruptured appendix at a very young age as well, I could identify with the author and the book really gripped me for the first half.

In this book Todd Burpo, a Methodist minister, writes about a situation that happened to his four year old son. Young Colton Burpo has a ruptured appendix, and after 5 days of misdiagnosis, undergoes emergency surgery. During the surgery and the grim prospect of his little boy making it; his father finds a room to himself to cry out to God, and his mother is in a waiting room calling family and friends, and praying. During surgery, young Colton slips away from his body and sees his father in one room and his mother in another room.

The young boy makes it through surgery and recovers. Months later, he astounds his father and mother by telling them of different things that he should not have known about. He accurately describes where his mother and father were and what they were doing while he was in surgery, a fact he could not have known. He also mentions he has a sister in heaven. Mom and Dad are astounded by this because they’ve never told their son about a miscarriage they had prior to him being born. Other things begin to emerge over a period of months about him seeing his grandpa as a much younger man now in heaven and other such things.

It was a really nice story. Sadly, after we get through the tale of the physical surgery and such, and him seeing his mother in one room and his father in another, I have to stop believing it’s anything BUT a story.

You see, it just doesn’t line up with what a vindicated prophet of God taught us. In the book, Colton mentions his grandpa had bigger wings than he did. Bro Branham never mentions this. He tells us that not even all the angels have wings.

Colton mentions sitting on Jesus lap, yet when Bro Branham went beyond the curtain, he was told Jesus was “higher than this”. Colton also describes God having a big throne, Jesus having a smaller one, and the Holy Spirit having a different one as well. This is obviously a problem as the Bible tells us there is one throne, and that God is ONE Lord.

I could point out all the disparities between what we’re taught by Bro Branham and what is set forth in this book, but there would be no reason to continue, really.

It may sound harsh or hard to take, that I’m disagreeing with a four year old boy, but what else can I do? A vindicated prophet of God tells me something, I will take that over a Methodist minister’s tale of what his young boys tells him.

I do want to clarify though; I do believe HEAVEN IS REAL. I just don’t believe the book in question accurately depicts what Heaven is like. I know there are many who are encouraged by this book and the many others out on the market like it. I'm encouraged to know Heaven is real myself. In fact, we have a timeless Book that was given to us called the Bible. IT tells us Heaven is real, if we'd just put our faith in THAT, we wouldn't need an unlikely story from a youngster to give us a spiritual lift.

If you chose to read it, take it for what it’s worth…a nice story, a tale of something incredible, and perhaps a bit of embellishment.

"Nothing but lost souls..."

2011-06-28T14:52:00.001-04:00

LOVE (56-0726)

"Nothing but lost souls, is the only thing that's got any value in it. Money passes away. Homes decay and go away. Everything in the earth moves away. The only value, lasting value, I'd rather have one soul in glory, that I won to Christ, to know and see that that Light of God circles around that soul, through all eternity, my name to be associated with that, than to have every penny of money in the whole earth, 'cause I'd have to lose--lose it all. But what you send up there, is Eternal. And that's the reason we're trying."

"NOTHING but lost souls."

Not our money, not our homes, or our vehicles.

Not our prestige, not our retirement accounts, or our Social Security.

Not the size of our church, not the number of our faithful members, or the amount of money we spend on our Christmas productions & outreach programs.

Not our knowledge of our pet doctrines, not our ability to memorize Scriptures and quotes, or even our ability to prove others wrong... (all of which is fine & dandy).

But even if we are anointed with gifts of the Spirit, the ability to understand all of the mysteries, the zeal to donate our goods to feed the poor, and the passion to subject our bodies (even to be burned for the Gospel's sake if need be); our works are nothing without a genuine burden & love for others (I Corinthians 13:1-3).

Not just love & concern for those within the small circle that we feel agree closely enough with us to retain our lofty stamp of approval, but a burden & concern for those outside our walls, and even those who seem to literally hate us, or go so far as to despitefully use us (St. Matthew 5:44).

It's an easy thing to love those who love us, and agree with us, but Christ loved us when we were unlovable. He loved us before we could even claim to be Christians, and long before we came to the knowledge of the Truth (the Message of the hour). Isn't He our example? Doesn't being a Christian mean we are to be Christ-like?

Where were we when He found us? What slime-pit of moral decay did He have to stoop to in order to redeem us from the miry clay? Where do we see that type of love being manifested for others? Where do we see that kind of burden for lost, suffering, sinful humanity?

THE INSIDE MAN (53-1212)

"And you give me someone that's just so tore up about lost souls that they just cry and are--are wanting a revival so bad till they can hardly eat, just simply can't...
If you'll read the history of the world and the religious history, you'll find out it always taken that kind of a spirit to bring a revival."

WHEN LOVE IS PROJECTED (56-0218B)

"Until the burden gets on the Christian Church for lost souls, we're fighting the air. Let us stop speaking... I believe in gifts and signs and wonders, why, certainly. That goes with the body, but let's not put that ahead of love and lost souls."

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1 (54-0103M)

"If I'd say, this morning in this little group of people and I... God say, "Now look, William Branham, I'm going to make you answer for that group of people, what you tell them. Now, do you want them all to shout?"
"Sure, I want them to shout."
"Do you want them all to speak with tongues?"
"I want every one of them to."
"Do you want them all to dance in the Spirit?"
"I want every one of them to."
"All right, well, that's very good, but what would you rather have them to do?" Uh-huh.

"I'd rather have a church that had such a burden on their heart for prayer that they just stayed at this altar and would be here day and night, and everything else; and in their house, was constantly in prayer, and humble, and trying to get people to come to God, and making calls at the hospital, and visiting the sick, and trying to get people to come to church and do right. I'd rather have that than all the other put together; although the other is right, it belongs in the church."

Miami, FL (2011)

2011-06-26T08:35:00.003-04:00

Thursday, May 12th - Sunday, May 15th

Thursday

Bro. Trevor met me at my house early in the morning, and we drove to the airport. As many times as we have ministered together, this was the first time we've flown on the same flights because of different work schedules, etc.

We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and drove to 'The Church Of Perfection' in Miami, FL (Bro. Famil St.vil - Pastor) where we were to preach their 32nd annual convention.

Thursday night I preached on 'A Present Tense God' for the opening of the convention, and many came through the prayer line at the end of the service accepting that our God is still Hebrews 13:8.

Friday

Friday afternoon Bro. Trevor, and I drove to the Everglades, and took a ride in an airboat. We were constantly seeing alligator after alligator during the forty-five minute ride in the shallow, muddy, sawgrass marshes, thanks to the drought they were having. We estimated close to fifty decent sized ones, and just as many babies. Several were close enough that we could have literally reached out, and touched them (had we been so careless as to lean out of the boat and put our hand out).

Friday night Bro. Trevor preached on 'Culture Degrades Truth'. I have heard him preach that sermon many times, but not like he did that night. God really anointed him, and several came forward for prayer. It was a wonderful service. Afterward we had the privilege of some fellowship with our good friend, Bro. Jack Duff (Pastor of 'Spirit and Truth Tabernacle' in West Palm Beach, FL).

Saturday

Saturday afternoon we drove over to Key Biscayne for a relaxing time kayaking in the salt water just off of Miami, and enjoyed the rest of the day in quiet study at the hotel.

Saturday night Bro. Trevor preached on 'Separation', reminding us of the separation that Christ went through to take our place on Calvary.

Sunday

Sunday morning I had the privilege of preaching on the radio for my first time. Bro. Famil has a radio broadcast Sunday mornings at 7AM in Miami that he cordially invited me to speak on. I preached on 'Who Is Jesus, And What Is The Message?' (giving a short introduction to why we believe Jesus is the Messiah, and that God sent a prophet in these last days).

After leaving the radio station we stopped for a short breakfast, and then went on to 'The Church Of Perfection' where Bro. Trevor taught Sunday school. After the Sunday school, I preached on the thought of 'The Same Devil Under A Different Name' (describing how Satan changes his name, and tactics slightly to deceive people). Several came forward for prayer at the end of the service.

Sunday night Bro. Trevor preached on how the Bride of Jesus Christ is 'Extraordinary'. Our time of fellowship in Miami truly was an 'extraordinary' experience, and I pray that the words that were spoken over the weekend will sink down deep into the hearts of both young and old to help them in their journey.

Up2Date III (Nature)

2011-06-06T16:26:00.002-04:00

WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 

LAKEPORT, CA

60-0722 

He said there would be... The sea would be roaring. Look at it today: tidal waves, never heard of them before in history. Here they are breaking on the shores and killing people. Earthquakes in divers places... I just don't have the right statistics, but I forget how much that the earthquake has come to a place where every so many hours, there's so many earthquakes all over the world. Just coming all the time, for the little shell that we live on is becoming thinner and thinner all the time.
And men go right on living, saying, "There is no such a thing as hell," look up in the face of God, and deny there is such a thing as hell, and setting on a pot of it. Falling volcanics... And the earth all out of cater... Science says the earth, out in the sea, it's becoming more shallow; at the North Pole, it's becoming deeper, because the earth is a spreading out. Oh, it's just about ready to be delivered. And people see these things... And He said there would be an unrest in the last days, no peace, unsettled. Look at today, at every nation scared to death. The radio and television screens are set everywhere, I... of the... I mean, radar screens setting everywhere, watching somewhere for a missile to be let loose. And the first missile lets loose, it's going to be explosion all over everywhere, because every nation is ready. The little nations can't be ignored any more, because they got the same thing the big nations got. And it's ungodly men, and it's ungodly nations.

Delaware (2011)

2011-06-03T15:13:00.002-04:00

Saturday, April 30th - Sunday, May 1st

My flight left early in the morning, and (after an extended layover so mechanics could replace the computer on the plane I was getting ready to fly on) arrived in Salisbury, MD where I was greeted by my Uncle (Bro. Jeff Bryant - Pastor of 'Christian Life Church' in Blades, DE).

I preached Saturday night & Sunday morning, and the LORD really blessed the services.

After the service Sunday morning Bro. Jeff took me out to eat, and then my oldest brother (Bro. Allen Bryant who is a deacon, and musician at Bro. Jeff's church) took my back to the airport in Salisbury, MD for my flight home.

It was a very short visit, but the LORD had His Hand in it, and it was very wonderful to see family and friends that I don't get a chance to see very often.

You MIGHT be addicted to Facebook IF:

2011-05-28T09:16:00.011-04:00

If you hear you kids ask “Where’s Mom?” only to be answered by “She’s on Facebook…again”…you might be addicted to Facebook.
If your kids are crying in another room, and you have to finish typing your status, reading someone else’s status, finish a quiz, or a silly video before you can go see what’s wrong. You might be addicted to Facebook.
If you spent time on Facebook but your house is a wreck, supper is never cooked, and your kids are untended…you might be addicted to Facebook.
If you wake up in the morning and your FIRST thought is to grab your phone or PC to check Facebook, there’s really no “might be” about it, you ARE addicted to Facebook.
If you haven’t even THOUGHT of reading your Bible and praying, but you’ve been on Facebook, you got an idol on your hands!

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:14-16

We live in a day where we must be conscious of the time we spend and where. Can you imagine if you lived 30 years ago, and you wanted to listen to a tape of the prophet? Break out the reel to reel player, wind it up, set and listen. Now days we have mp3s, ipods and everything else making it so easy to listen - yet it seems our desire to hear the end time message is less and less. Our desire for the Word of God in any form, even Bible reading and prayer, seems to have dwindled.

After all, why find out something God said sooo long ago, when we can hop on our electronic devices and find out what is happening in a friends life 3 seconds ago?

You see the danger we fall into? Quick updates, always changing…it’s very alluring compared to the timeless and unchanging Word of God. Yet, isn’t that the Word of God’s strength? It’s unchanging, unwavering, uncompromising stand. It’s “truth endureth to all generations”.

I’m reminded of something that happened last week in Sunday School. I had chosen to speak on “The Love of God”. Not having paper for the printer, I just uploaded my notes to my Kindle E-book reader and used that to refer to my notes. As we discussed the topic during class, one young lad kept interrupting, asking me about my Kindle and its features. Finally, just a touch exasperated, I exclaimed “Son! We’re talking about the Love of GOD here, and you want to know about my KINDLE? Are you kidding me? The Love of God is INFINITELY more amazing than my Kindle!”

And that’s the point. God is so much more amazing, so much more endlessly unsearchable, so much more glorious than ANYTHING we could put our eyes or thoughts on, and yet Facebook, which probably all of us would agree is stupid and a great time waster, grabs our attention instead.

Think about it, think on HIM

God Bless,

Bro Trevor

The following are quotes that have inspired me over the years to think on the Glories of Christ more than anything else over the years. Perhaps you’ll enjoy them as I have.

Lord, I want to be free. I want my desires so changed into accord with reality so that I can do what I want to do and never regret it. That's what I want. And so I'm going hard after Jesus to change me, because many of my desires are stupid.

It occurs to me to say, Father, that we Christians would be utterly insane to envy people who pitch themselves out of the window of sin—on top of a skyscraper—to enjoy a vapor's exhilaration of the freefall of greed, or the freefall of drugs, or power, or fame, or sex, or job success—and then death. We would just be insane to envy the world. Forgive us for our folly.

-John Piper http://www.desiringgod.org/

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak.

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

- C. S. Lewis in “The Weight of Glory”

Never will any one admire the works of man, if he has recognised himself as the son of God. He degrades himself from the height of his nobility, who can admire anything but the Lord.. Let the faithful Christian, I say, devote himself to the sacred Scriptures,[5] and there he shall find worthy exhibitions for his faith. He will see God establishing His world, and making not only the other animals, but that marvellous and better fabric of man. He will gaze upon the world in its delightfulness, righteous shipwrecks, the rewards of the good, and the punIshments of the impious, seas drained dry by a people, and again from the rock seas spread out by a people. He will behold harvests descending from heaven, not pressed in by the plough; rivers with their hosts of waters bridled in, exhibiting dry crossings. He will behold in some cases faith struggling with the flame, wild beasts overcome by devotion and soothed into gentleness. He will look also upon souls brought back even from death. Moreover, he will consider the marvellous souls brought back to the life of bodies which themselves were already consumed. And in all these things he will see a still greater exhibition--that devil who had triumphed over the whole world lying prostrate under the feet of Christ. How honourable is this exhibition, brethren! how delightful, how needful ever to gaze upon one's hope, and to open our eyes to one's salvation! This is a spectacle which is beheld even when sight is lost.

Cyprian, Ante-Nicene Fathers