God Has Only One

It could be within a few days. This thing has already been passed as far as I know, and within a few days the military will be taking it. They'll be walking in and they'll be putting it into their skin. And perhaps in a few days the prisoners under the gun will be walking up taking it. The military takes it under governmental rule, and stress, and the prisoners at the point of a gun. Then what are you going to do? Somebody would say, Well, I'm not in the military, and I'm not in prison. I won't take it. But as I said to some of my men last night in talking to them, the Bible said you can't eat, because you can't buy, and you can't sell. You can't do anything. You're an outcast. You're a bum until you come and submit to that. And folks, let me tell you. The way that you labor for your belly and the concern that have for your belly, and the way that you spend everything you got, taking bread out of the mouth of an orphan to feed your belly, and letting the widows go lacking, the needy, I'll tell you you'll never get past the mark of the beast. You can be sure of that. You are doomed and damned for eternity because you'll never get past it. Even though there are some that will. But you will never do it. Some that will realize their mistake, and they will diligently subject themselves to Christ. And as it is said, Jacob will pass through the fire. Some getting in as if by fire. You with your programs for your careers, for your jobs, for your business, for your person, human person, for your advantage, for your comforts, for your conveniences, to have money to eat, drink, ride, you'll never get passed it. You'll never get passed it. And we're right on the verge of it. And if the mark is that close the Church is suppose to go out before then.

So, as I said the other night, how close is it? How close is it? It's for sure it's all leading up to the mark, and the number. Everything is leading up to it. The harvest is passed, and the Bible said we're not saved yet. So I tell you these things because I love you, and we're suppose to be children of light to know when the day is nigh at hand that it not come upon us unawares, for the Bible said, As a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the earth. Having eyes they'll not see. They're going on eating and drinking. They're going on doing the things they want to do. They're going on making everything convenient. Homes. Lands, Houses. Everything. They're continually doing this. See? They're going on. Knowing all these things they're going on doing that, and then they feel they will have the stamina to pass and not take the Mark when you're not even doing a good job of by-passing the temptation and enticement of just natural surroundings, as to the carnal things of life. Having the love of the world in you the love of God isn't there. Folks, you need to get born again. Are you glad to have Sister Charlotte? I believe this is Sister Charlotte back here. Is that right? If it is raise your hand back there. Whoever is is. Sister Charlotte. We're glad to have Sister Charlotte Smith. I understood that Mike was suppose to be here tonight. Maybe Jonathan Kirk, and a few others. I don't see them, but maybe they will get by. I talked with Mike a few minutes the other day. We're glad to have you. Glad to have Dale. Glad to know that you're here. And we've got a job to do. You've got a job to do.

You know, some people can do just any old way, any old thing. They've got a program. And that program is as they think, as they desire. They go where they want to. They say what they want to. They do what they want to. And they criticize who they will if don't work the way they want it to work. But others have a program and that program is God, and He - the Bible said the steps of a righteous man is ordered by the Lord.

I want to read from chapter twelve, second Corinthians. If you've got your Bibles I'd like for you to read with me. I want to say that I appreciate you very much. Very much. You come with a regularity to hear the gospel, and you've heard it many times. But you still come back to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, and to help me. And I've got some here that really genuinely loves the Lord, that's really trying to live right, trying to get into the Kingdom of God, and trying to do something for the Lord Jesus. Glad to see my Gracie here tonight. Now I want to read a little bit here, and share what I can with you. This is our way of doing things every night that we come together. Fast a little bit. Pray a little bit. Study a little bit. Invite somebody to the camp meeting. Sister Betty invited somebody today. A stranger. Gave him a tract, invited him. Quite a ways from here. He said, You know, I might just come over. And you never can tell. Highways and the hedges, compel them to come in.

Chapter twelve. Let's read from the first verse, can we? "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." Now you heard me read that so you know there's a third heaven. Sometimes I talk about the first heaven, the second heaven, the third heaven, and here this man talks about being caught up to the third heaven. So, you know that there is a third heaven. All right. "And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise." Now you know there is a paradise. "And hear unspeakable word which it is not lawful for a man to utter." Now we know there is a third heaven. We know there is a paradise. And we know now that what paradise is is the third heaven. Is that right? Let's give the Lord a hand. (congregation applauds.)

When we put it all together we try to understand then we know, because if he says he's caught up into the third heaven, and all of a sudden now he says caught up into paradise, then we know that it's one and the same. That the third heaven is paradise. Now we have to differentiate, but how that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Not just utter as out of season, but was not lawful for him to utter period. Things that he could not utter. Sometimes someone would say to you, and I do, myself as a minister, I say, There are some things that I don't say to you. God will share certain things, and those things you are not to utter. Now, someone would say, Well, I thought we had an unction that we should know all things. That's right. Paul apparently did know all things here. Things that he couldn't even utter. But it doesn't mean that everybody is going to get this unless they submit, even as Paul did. Unless they go the same route. If they go the same route of life, then God will give them the same things. But if they expect to, as I said earlier, do nothing while a little group takes the load, and not to live right, and feel that they are special and God is going to consider them, then they are not going to get anything. It's of your labor that you receive a reward. If you pray that's labor. If you fast that's labor. That is if you're going it unto God. The Bible said do all things as unto the Lord. If you sacrifice and give that is labor. If you come out here and work with these men, as it was with Noah building the ark, that's labor. Building a building for a press to put out a pamphlet that will win a soul, publish the gospel in all the world, that's labor. Whatever it is that's labor. And when you do that then you are rewarded according to your labor. When you do labor then you may get a revelation. You may get a healing. You may get a blessing. You may get a greater understanding. You may have some natural benefit that God will give you, as an automobile, or home, or whatever, while other don't get it.

A lot of people say, Well, I just don't understand. You know, this person over here is so great, and they get so little. That's where you're wrong. That person's not so great. That person may have you fooled. But the Scriptures cannot be broken. When God said, I'll restore it four fold He meant it. And when He said, Godliness is profitable for this world, and the world to come, He meant it. And the Bible said that the man that confesseth His sins, and forsaketh his sins, whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. God meant it. There's no mistaking about it. And when you don't prosper it's because you have not confessed your sins, and forsook your sins. If you are, as the old saying goes, from hand to mouth, and can't get things to come together to meet you bills, and the different things, it's because you have not confessed your sins and forsaken them. Somebody would say, Well, I cry before God all the time, Brother Pike, and I confess my sins. But that wasn't what He said. He said confess the sin and forsake the sin. And then, the Bible said, that man shall prosper. Whatever he does will prosper. It don't matter what he does, whether he's a carpenter, whether he's a painter, whether he's a preacher, whatever, he'll prosper. See? And when you confess your sins, and you do the will of God, the Bible said, to hear the Word of God, as to the minister, or the prophets of God, that man shall prosper. And the Bible said, He that delighteth himself in the laws of the Lord, that man will have the desire of his heart.

So then, he goes on to say here how that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter. "Of such a one will I glory; yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth;" Paul said, I'm tempted just like you are, but I'm not going to yield to it. "But now I forebear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he hearth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength if made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Paul said, I besought the Lord thrice to take away this thorn of the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me.

See? A lot times there are things that come to us, it's a bridle. God has put a bridle on us, and this bridle is for our benefit, and the benefit of the Kingdom of God. And so then, He puts a bridle on us that we should be controlled by this bridle to be more profitable to God, and Paul said, While you abound I am abased. While you have good things to eat and go everywhere, I am terrified of these sorcerers, and cast into prison, and stoned, and beaten, and all of these things come upon me daily, as well as the care of the church, as to an overseer, in that he said, God is doing this to magnify Christ in my life, and to show the sufferings of Christ that you may take courage to know that if I endure these things by the strength of God that your problems are but small. And that you should be able to overcome very easily. That if God's grace is sufficient for me, most assuredly they'd be for you. As it was with Moses, Moses said, I want to go into Canaan. God said, Moses, I'll let you see it. I don't want to hear no more about it. That's it. He said to Paul - Paul said, Thrice I've sought it. And he said, Paul, My grace is sufficient. That is, I don't want to hear any more about it.

Will someone check and see who's walking out across the campground? There they go again. And it's good to find out who feels they have the right to come in and out. They do it with a regularity. Those people are not welcome to the church, nor on the camp ground that do those things. That's evil spirits. Wondering spirits that trouble God and God's people. One bad apple will spoil the whole barrel. All right.

So then, he said that he sought the Lord that this should be taken away from him. And I'm going to say this again, folks. This was not a sickness. And these intellectual people that come out of college with their degrees, they come out and they say that this was a trouble that Paul had with his eyes. That is not true. That is their own intellectual way of trying to explain it, because they have no answer to the people because they don't understand. I tell you again as I told you in the past, that you might be in remembrance of this. And Peter said, Thought you know these things, I feel to stir up your mind again toward them. This was a messenger of the devil. It was a fallen angel. It was an evil spirit. It was someone to buffet Paul. As I've said, When you buffet a floor you take a thing, I used to buffet floors. You put it down against what you have done as to the work on the floor to polish the floor to glorify the floor. To bring out the beauty of the floor. And this was a devil that went behind Paul, as it was with the woman that had the familiar spirit, kept going behind Paul saying, These are the messengers of the Most High God. These are the messengers of the Most High God. And for many days, the Bible said, she did this until Paul was grieved. And Paul then turned and rebuked the devil, and said, Come out of her. And when the devil came out of her, the Bible said, the gain for her masters was lost, because she was a soothsayer. Or that is, she was saying things, telling things, had a familiar spirit like a fortune teller and they got money out of it. But this spirit recognized Paul.

Like it was with the sons of Sceva went over there. They were going to cast out the devil, and the spirit spoke back and said, Paul I know. Jesus I know, but who are you? And the man in whom the devils were in overcame them and tore their clothes off, and they fled naked away. So then, it was a devil that followed Paul. And the reason for it was it had to abase Paul. It had to keep Paul abased in the eyes of the people because he was such a great speaker. He was so powerful. He had seen such great things in revelation that he would have been exalt above measure, not necessarily as him being exalted in his feeling, which he could have done that. Satan progging at his flesh, but the people would have lifted him up. For on one occasion they took Paul and they said the Gods have come down to us. And outside of the gate they were fixing to do sacrifice unto Paul, taking him as a God, and Paul rent his clothes, and said, I'm but a man as you are. Don't do that, Brethren. And scarcely restrained them from doing sacrifices unto him as a God, because he was so mighty and so great. And the Lord let him be cast into prison. Let him be abased in the eyes of the people. And let what he called the baser sort always say things.

That's one of the reasons that Bethlehem as been done the way that it has been done. Nobody has bothered those people out there. Even the sheriff. I tell you again, as on one occasion, I said something to him about my people. He said, I hear all things about your people, but he said, I've never found them guilty of one of them. See, but nevertheless, all the dirt, all the mud, all the scum, everything, is thrown at Bethlehem, and thrown at the people, and especially at the minister to abase him, and to say all kind of things to degrade me in the eyes of the people. The low downest things that could be imaginable is said about me. But, you know, it's okay. The Bible said, When the say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake, to be exceedingly glad and leap for joy for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the ministers, or prophets, before you. So, this is why that you go through what you do. Suffering shame for his name. The Bible said they were glad to do it in the early church. You should be ashamed that you are ashamed to suffer shame for His name. So then, for those that are doing it for the sake of the Lord Jesus, you are encountering the same thing that Paul did.

See? The messenger of Satan to always stir up strife and problems wherever Paul went. And He said to Paul, My grace is sufficient. A bridle, Paul. Paul said, Because of this I will glory in my infirmities. All of these problems that I have. Problems, you say, infirmities? Sure. When somebody beats you with stones you're going to have some bruises. You are going to have some cuts. They left him for dead. When you are beaten four or five times till they plow your back like a field you are going to have a few problems, and some infirmities. And on and on and on, as to what Paul was exposed to. "Most gladly therefore I will glory in mine infirmities." Why will you do this? He said, So that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Knowing this, that I do not refuse these sufferings, I know then that the power of God is resting upon me.

Somebody said, Well, Brother Pike, that's my problem. I'm sick, and I have problems. So I know I must be great, and I know the power of God is resting upon me. I'm telling you again. The Bible said if you'll do the work of God, do the things you should, share with the orphans, and the widows, that your health will return to you speedily, and your light will go before you. What you are suffering from is just plain old problems that the devil has caused you, not because you are following Christ but because you are playing around with iniquity. See? And then there are those that are bridled. Not with sickness, but in that they have exposed their bodies to certain things continually. Wherein, the Bible uses the terms, a certain man was nigh unto death because he did not try to keep his body back from the things that God said, as to the sacrifices, and said he was nigh unto death because of this exposure to these things for the sake of Christ. There you have to differentiate between Godly riches, and Satanic riches, and differentiate between the infirmities that are of God, as to that which you've submitted yourself to for the sake of Christ to spread the gospel, differentiate between that and the infirmities of the devil that is brought upon you. Like casting out the infirm spirit. And Jesus went about doing good, healing all the were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. That is to say many sicknesses are of the devil. All sickness is of the devil, but many things, as I say, is unprofitable all together. It's not helping you. It's not exalting you, and it does nothing for the Kingdom of God. It hinders you as to making a living for your family. Hinders you as to having joy and peace to praise God. It hinders you when you pray. It hinders you in everything you do. That's of the devil. This thing that Paul had did not hinder him, but rather magnified God in his life, and the Kingdom of God, to a great extent. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities," now listen to it. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake for when I am weak then am I strong. Paul said, Then, therefore, I glory. I glory in my infirmities. I glory in the reproaches. I glory in these things, he said, because I find out that when I am weak, so far as the flesh and being reproached, and people are saying hideous, horrible things about me, God's got His eyes on me. Great is my reward in heaven, for woe unto that man, unto that woman, we will say, that everybody speaks well of. They did that to the false prophets. They do that to the hypocrites. The Bible said if you are of the world the world will love you. They'll say all kind of flattering things to you.

That's one thing about Bethlehem. A lot of people won't stay at Bethlehem. They won't come to Bethlehem. They won't remain a person, as to the membership as we say, of Bethlehem. They're not going to stay here because I preach against sin, and I preach against ungodliness, and I preach against their tongue of backbiting, the misdemeanors of life that they give themselves to. I preach against that. And they don't like that. And the devils that's got a hold of them don't like that, and they rise up against it, and I still preach against it. And they don't like that. So off they go to another church, or another place, or to do another thing. And if they can't leach and have their way, and everybody let them have their way they're not going to be with us, see. They are going to go out and blast us, and say things against us. But there is one thing about it, it doesn't matter what they say. We're still going to preach the gospel. We're still going to live for God, and they can let their tongue be cut loose, as somebody said, at both ends and tied in the middle, we're still going to preach the gospel. We're still going to live holy and godly, and if we don't have but one left we'll preach to that one, and if we don't have that one we'll close the door and go evangelize. Let's give the Lord a hand. (congregation applauds.) Because somewhere in the world God has got people that want to hear the gospel, and they want to know the truth, and have these glad tidings that makes them free from sin, and from death.

And folks, let me tell you, when you follow God, when you follow the right thing, when you love one another, when you work together for the Kingdom of God you are going to be rewarded with health and happiness, and finance, and God is going to give the blessings of your life, and the desires of your heart. But, let me tell you this. If you happen to get the blessings of life, and the desires of your heart, as to the things you want and you are not serving God, then remember that you are doing it through the act of iniquity, and you are engineering something, and you are manipulating, and you are cheating, and you are robbing, and you are swindling. And not only robbing people, but the Bible says robbing God. Will a man rob God? Robbing God. So then, when you get that kind of prosperity, the Bible said you'll be cut off in the midst of your days, and in the end you'll be a fool. Whereas, the Bible says the blessings of the Lord maketh rich, addeth no sorrow. If I serve God He'll make me rich, but He won't add any sorrow with it. But if you get it any other way somewhere down the trail you're going to find sorrow like you never dreamed of.

So then, let's serve the Lord. Let's have the riches that comes from God. Let's lay up treasures in heaven. Not only to have the riches here, as to God meeting all of our needs here, giving us all things that pertain unto life here, but giving us that eternal life on the other side, and the wonderful things that come with what we call paradise, or the third heaven. You can be sure that we're going up to the third heaven. No doubt about it. There's a first heaven, second heaven, third heaven. And God will let us come short of nothing. As of the third heaven, that's our eternal abode. The paradise. The Bible said the rich man died, and was buried and lifted up his eyes in hell. And the Bible said that Lazarus died and was buried and the rich man saw him afar off in paradise. Over in the bosom of Abraham. So then, we know that there is a hell. We know that there is a heaven. And we know that that means that there is another world that we are not acquainted with unless we become children of God, and we are exposed to that thing through the eyes of understanding, in that the Bible said we have an unction from the holy one that we should know all things, and these things are given to us by revelation, and the world doesn't know them.

There's no need of you going out saying, Well, we belong to this church, or they belong to that church, and they know the same things that we know, and the world knows the same things we know, because you don't and they don't. Did you know you don't know the same things that the world knows to the extent that there are professors, there are scientists, there are great and mighty men that can talk over your head. You wouldn't even know what their vocabulary expression was, let alone what they were telling you. See? Because they are so advanced, and they use terms that you can't even understand. Sometimes going to a doctor to get a prescription you can't even understand the prescription that he wrote out. So, we have something, the Bible says that's between you, and between God, and even the angels desire to look into this thing. And they can't look into it. They don't understand this wonderful communication between you and God. The song of the redeemed. They can't even sing that.

So then, I'm saying that we do see, and we do know, and we do understand things that they do not understand. And that many hundreds and millions of people that are religious do not understand. I know. They'll come around to you, you know, and they'll say, I know it. I got it. Bless God, no more than I am. Bless God. Bless God. You know, they say this so often to me, these things. But they don't have it. And like a man that called me yesterday, I believe it was, and he let the Brethren know that he had it, and he was going to get it just like Brother Pike got it, and all these kind of things. But when the wrath of God went out against him he called Brother Pike, and he pleaded for prayer, and that for his loved ones. And he said, And I know now, Brother Pike, that I was vainly puffed up and that I did not know the message was of God, and did not understand, and will you pray for me. Because when I talked to him he realized that he didn't even have the infilling of the Spirit. Said, Pray that God will fill me with the Spirit.

So then, somebody said, Well, he can go get it just like Brother Pike got it. Or go get it just like Brother Taylor got it, or whoever. No you can't do that. Somebody would say, Oh, yes I can. Oh, no you can't. Ain't no need making a joke out of God. You can't do that. Somebody said, I can get it just exactly like you got it. Not a chance. In the first place like this individual, he couldn't go get it like Paul had it, because he'd lived such a wretched life after he come to the truth. And he'd done laid up so many things against him, even if he straightened his life out, he'd have nothing but problems, and it's a good possibility that he can't even get into the Kingdom because of what he's done, in that you come to know the truth and turn away, there's a fearful looking forward to of the fiery indignation of God. Some of you people, some ministers, some people, some laity, some that may be of great standing in the church as to a man appointment, can't ever get it that way. You'll never get it that way.

So then, you be sure that if God does give it to somebody like Paul, the Apostle, that he's giving it to for a purpose. He processed him for a purpose. He did this and then give it to him, and you be sure that you go to him to get it, and thank God that you got the opportunity to get it. (Applauds with congregation.) One thing for sure. You're not going to get any water that belongs to a certain stream unless you go by the way of the well. That's what I said about my system tonight. If you want the benefit go through the system. See? And if this man over here is selling bananas, and this man over here is selling apples, you're not going over to the banana place to get apples. Because he don't sell apples. You're going to go over to the apple place. And you're not going to get bananas over at the apple place because he don't sell bananas. So then, that means that you're going to have to go by the way of the street called straight, as I said this morning. The way of the street called straight like Paul did, that's the way he got it. And this Bible is written, Paul said, that you might understand my knowledge and the mystery of God when you read it. And I being the overseer of the Gentile church, not Peter, not James, not Brother Pike, not Brother Taylor, not Brother Branham, not Brother Roberts, not any other Brother. He said, And I magnify my office. Says, it is me. Not two. Not three. Not five. No record of another. Just one. And as the gospel was committed unto Peter, too. And this is after Calvary. Committed unto Peter for the Jews, it has been committed unto me for the Gentiles.

Now folks, I know it's not necessary for the boys to go down continually. I see them go down two and (Begin tape one, side two.)....I know it ain't necessary. Now it can just be a trouble spot, you know, and in that one spot everybody just moves, moves, moves, moves, and just do nothing but interrupt, and let a spirit interrupt. Now, be reverent in the house of God. To know how to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the ground and pillar of the truth. And I'm not being insulting. It's just my job to keep order. All right.

So then, we see that it did not say there was two overseers, nor two Pauls, nor two of them that He gave the revelation there to. And then when we come down to John, as to the revelation of Jesus Christ, after the decease of Paul. John was still on the scene. We do not find two. We do not find three. We only find one. John, the revelator. If you can dispute that dispute it. It's open to you. The services are open to you here. My services are open to you around the world, wherever you hear it. Dispute it. There ain't no dispute to it. What we say is absolutely the fact. It is the Word of the Lord. So that means that when you get it, if you get it, you're going to go to Paul and get it. Somebody says, Oh, bless God, I'll get it in my day just like Paul got it in his day. You'll never get it in your day just like Paul got it in his day, because this is the overseer, and you go through the overseer to get what you want. Not two overseers. One overseer. He hath the oversight over the church entirely, as to the Gentile church, and not only that but the gospel to the Gentile church, and no other man had it to the church. No other man. It was Paul alone. And the gospel being given to Peter for the Jews so was it given to Paul for the Gentile church. So then, we see that when God opens up something it doesn't matter if it's after Calvary, before Calvary, it's going to that way.

There wasn't two Elijahs. I've said this before. I've heard people mock, and they'd say, Brother Pike, Elijah thought he was the only prophet. You ever had anybody to say that? I've had them to come and tell me that. Said, Bless God, God had seven thousand. And I've told you over and over there ain't no such teachings of the Bible anywhere where God had seven thousand. He only had one. That was Elijah. And I challenge anybody in the whole world to come to me and prove that He had more that one. Just one. That was Elijah. At that time that was all that was on the scene. The Bible said He had seven thousand people who had never bowed their knees to Baal. That is to say, the God of the flesh. And even so at the present time, Paul said, that we're living in. And I can say the same for our day that there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if be of grace it's not of works, but of Him that calleth so that we can give the glory to God, as the song said. So then, He had one Elijah. That's all He had, just one Elijah. Prove it to be wrong! When Elijah went off the scene He had one. Elisha. That's all. Just one. When Abraham was here He had one Abraham. When Moses was here He had one Moses. All down through the Bible from beginning to end that's all He ever had whether it was the Old Testament or the New Testament.

So then, when Jesus was born He had one Jesus. He was born in a manger in one place called Israel. Not in every place in the world. One place that He was born. And if you see the tomb that He was resurrected from you'll go to that one place. If you see where Golgotha was, as to where He was crucified you'll go to that one place. And folks, that's the way it is with God. There is but one. That's all. Just one. When God makes a move that's all there is. There's not two revelations, three revelations, a half a dozen revelations, as to call the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Jesus. And the Bible said, He sent His angel and signified it unto His servant John. One revelation of Jesus Christ that He gave not to Paul, nor Peter, nor anybody else, but to the Lord Jesus Christ that He might reveal it to Paul, and reveal it to His servants, and He revealed it to one, even Paul of his day, and one, even John, of his day.

And so then, there is only one. There is not going to be two, and if anybody can prove it to be otherwise the floor is open here, and wherever my voice is heard. There has never been, there never will be, there's no record of it, and when it comes to God using you, there's only one of you. And He's going to use you, because there's one of you, and there ain't going to be two of you, and there ain't going to be nobody coming along, as we say to take Moses place, or someone to take Joshua's place, or to take Elijah's place, or Brother Branham's place, or anybody else's place. The Bible said Judas went to his place. A true prophet goes to his place. That's his place. There's no two places. That's his place. And when we get up and try to do the same way that another person does we're pantomiming, and that's hypocrisy. And that's not the move of God, and God's not in it. But if we are children of a certain move, if we are children of a certain age, if we are children of a certain thing, whether it be the revelation, or whether it be as it was, children of them under the law, or children of them on this side of the law that was under grace, then we are part of what God is doing, and we are the same. And if we bid it God's speed we're partakers of the righteousness as to what God did in that day, that hour, that person, or that move of God, which is the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, we need to see here that this is the way God works. And sometimes He has people that are outstanding. One person may be outstanding, like in fighting a battle. One person may be a hero. And they may give their life, or they may chance their life to save the life of others, and they may do things that others may never do, and yet others may hold their place and be great in what they are doing. But the others may step out front, maybe they carry some wounds, a purple heart as we say, as an award. See? But there is one thing about it. These men, also, may bear some infirmities. They may go through some reproaches, and they may go through other things that you couldn't bear up under.

There are some people so temperamental that if somebody said something about them, they'd just be ready to split their throats. And sometimes I have to simmer my wife down. Because she hears things that's said about us, and she'll hit the telephone, or get word - she'll rise right up in their face and tell them. You say, Well, she wouldn't mine. Well, you better not try it, because she has a whole lot of them. And she really has to pray and fast, and seek God to keep from saying things, because of the reproaches. And she's a very diligent person. See? And if we don't watch out we can't take it. When people go to degrading us, and tearing us down we don't like that. You know, we want to be magnified. We're God's Elijah. We're God's Moses. We're on television. You know, we're one of them outstanding people. Say, Well, it's okay. But we don't want none of that reproach. We don't want nobody saying bad things about us. And we don't want to have to hit it rough. You know, the Lord - You said you'd supply all of our needs and our wants, and we want to have a nice home, nice car, and we want to spend money. And we want to do just like we want to want to do, you know. And, Lord, we'd like to incorporate you in to our operation, so that you can go with us and take care of all of our needs. But, folks, it don't work like that. What it is is that you die, and it's Him that lives. And He incorporates you in His operation, and you do what He says. And you do what He things. And you follow His program, and then he magnifies you that He may project Himself through you. And your reward is that He will give you eternal life, and eternal substance as the blessings of God throughout eternity, and that He'll make your enemies be at peace with you, and supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory.

So then, we see that Paul was a great mighty man. So great and mighty he had to have those things, as to the reproaches, those infirmities, and he said, I'm not going to tell God anymore to take them away. Thrice I besought Him to move this devil that aggravated me, but I know now that's it's for my purpose. It's to magnify me. The grinding wheel, as the stone against the ax. Against the ax.

All right. You saw that it was a spirit like I said. You questioned me when I said something about it, but now you're wondering about the return. It's Satan just like I told you. It'll lead to trouble. All right. And there's some of you that don't understand what I'm saying, but nevertheless they that know, they hear, they understand.

So, we find out that we are as one individual, man or woman, neither. There's no respect of person in God, male nor female. There was great and mighty women. There was great and mighty men. Those women, like Mary in the thing that Mary did in keeping herself holy and clean and pure. She said, From henceforth all people will call me blessed. I know a lot of people say, Well, I don't say blessed Mary, one, two, three, and count beads. The Catholics are not stupid, as the world says, because the say blessed Mary. The Bible said blessed Mary. And the Bible said, All people will call me blessed Mary. And you know what Brother Pike said? Blessed Mary. Just like the Book said it. See? Blessed Mary. Very wonderful woman. Blessed Mary. One of the most blessed that ever lived. You don't like that. Say, You're Catholic. Let me say it again. Blessed Mary! The mother of our Lord. The mother of our Lord! Somebody said, Bless God, I don't believe she's the mother of our Lord. Well, she was. She's the mother of our Lord.

So then, great and mighty Blessed Mary. The Bible said, And from henceforth they'll all call me Blessed. God's done to me great things. And then the woman that washed Jesus' feet, dried His feet with the hair of her head. Sad to say some of you don't have enough hair to do that today. But nevertheless, dried His feet with the hair of her head. This woman, and though she was criticized, called evil names, yet the Bible said because she did this that it would be a memorial unto her, and that wherever in the world the gospel is preached that this will be a memorial unto her. Can you imagine that? Now, you're talking about fame and popularity. Somebody said, If I can just get in to television business, why everybody would know about me. Which I don't know why, because you know, they're going to feed you to the worms. But, anyway, nevertheless, this woman didn't do anything but humble her heart, washed The feet, and she received world fame.

Folks, that's where we make our mistake. We're looking for something out of the lust of the flesh when we should be looking for God, and let God do what He wants to to us. We want to be something great in the flesh, and that's Satan. But what we should do is want to be great in God, as to humility, and sacrifice, as Jesus when He bowed down, and washed the feet of the disciples, and said, If I, your Lord and Master, do this as an example, what ought ye to do to follow in My steps? And He become the greatest of all. So then, what we need to do is to take the humble way. Go the humble way. Seek humility, and he that humbleth himself, God will exalt him. But you that magnify yourself you are going to come down. You're going to come down. I don't care how high you climb, as long as you publish yourself, and build yourself, and carry on yourself, you know, the Bible said let another say it of you. Not yourself. You seek the welfare of another. You esteem others better than yourself, and you magnify them, and God will take care of you.

So then, that's what we need to do, is to be like Paul, to humble ourself under the mighty hand of God that He might exalt us in due season, in that the Bible said be not weary in well doing for in due season we'll reap if we faint not. All right. So, I'll glory in my reproaches. I'll glory in my infirmities. I'm not going to fly up. I'm not going to run out there, and I'm not going to say things. I know the mouths must be stopped, and God has killed people to stop their mouths. But the thing is; as long as I can help win somebody to God, even them that have loose tongues, if I can win them to God I'm going to love them and try to win them. And vengeance is His, not mine. He'll take care of that. He'll fight my battles.

Let's everybody stand together. I appreciate your kind attention tonight. I want to say again we're glad to have you here. Tried to hurry through just as fast as I can not to hold you, because I know that you're tired and you have your Monday morning plans and you have to get out and do things that you have to do, and it's certainly not wrong for you to go to your job to do whatever there is to be done when you have it laid out according to the will of God, and you're following the steps of Christ, and when you're doing it to take care of your little family, putting Christ first there's nothing wrong with what you do. But you that are not doing anything here with your hands physically, you that are not doing anything for God as to sacrifice and give, and you're just taking yp space, you know, and all you do is just your routine of taking care of your little family, and if you have some pennies left over you drop them in, your little routine, as for you, you don't have anything from God. You don't have anything. I say again, as the little widow gave, she gave all that she had, and the rich man gave but God didn't notice their giving. Said she gave more than all. It's when you make a sacrifice, as to a bodily sacrifice, a living sacrifice. When you put off yours for God, in seeking Him first, then God will take care of yours.

Somebody says, Well. I pay my bills. I've got my car. I've got my home. And nobody can take it away from me. Somebody else says, Well, I gave to God. I lost my car. You didn't lose it because you give to God, but sometimes people will go all the way, and give and even give the car, or lose the car whatever just to give to more to God. You know, and you say, Foolish people. No. You're the foolish one. They've laid up their treasure in heaven, whereas I've said in giving away a car a number of times that I'll have that car forever. I would have worn it out here, but I have it as a treasure in heaven. To lay up treasures in heaven where thieves don't break through and steal, and moths doesn't corrupt in that the Bible said wherever our treasure is our heart will be also. Even our conversation, the Bible said, should be in heaven. So in this they are sharing with God. And the thing is they'll get another car. God will abundantly bless them with more vehicles. The Bible said, No man has left houses, or home, or wife, children, or whatever, that but what he will receive a hundred fold in this life, in this present world, and then everlasting life in the world to come. So he's going to be blessed bountifully here with a fourfold restoration, and health to be able to enjoy it. Solomon said, I see an evil under the sun whereas, God has given him much, given him plenty, and yet he's not able to eat thereof, because he withheld from the poor and the needy. And though he got all those things he can't enjoy any of them. He's a miserable wretch.

So, I exhort you to do something for God with your time, with your understanding, with your talents, whatever you have, your skill, do something for God. Put Him first, and then let all these other things be added unto you, and then you won't lose them. Somebody says, Well, I take mine. I won't lose them. God can take you away from them. Right in the midst of them, the Bible said, you'll be cut off. You'll be a fool in the end. And who'll get your riches. The Bible said they'll be left to a fool. So you heap together treasures, the Bible said, as to be a witness you against you in the last day when men will cry and throw their riches to the bats, and cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the face of Him that's angry with them because they've took from God, and robbed God, and took away from the hungry, the poor. So, let's give to God. Not just of money. You have times. You have talents. Your mind should be given to God all day long, to meditate in His laws all day long until you subject every thought to the obedience of Jesus Christ, to become a living sacrifice for Him. When you have a little problem don't go mopping around, and melancholy and all them kind of things. If you have a little problem don't blame God. To begin with it's your fault. See? Even Paul's infirmities, it was his fault. He had had Christians killed. He's done all kind of things. There was nothing come on him undeserving. He'd thrown them in prison. He reaped it. Not only that. He reaped everything he'd sown. You will. And I will. The devil didn't like that. You'll reap it. I'll reap it. He reaped everything he'd sown. Not only that, but did you know he said, I compelled them to blaspheme. I compelled them to blaspheme. Paul actually made people blaspheme the name of Jesus. Think about that. Blaspheme the name of Jesus. He forced them to do it. And he, himself, was a blasphemer. It doesn't say blasphemer of the Holy Ghost. And the Bible said, All manner of blasphemy shall be forgiven you. So, you can get forgiveness, and Paul said, Because I did it in my ignorance I was forgiven. I blasphemed, and compelled them to blaspheme. And all manner of blasphemies will be forgiven you except blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.

So then, it's wonderful to understand and to know that God did not do anything to Paul, but what he deserved, so far as reaping what he had sown. He even stood by while they stoned Stephen to death, and held the clothing. He said so in the Scripture. Let's sing a little chorus together. Can we? (Leads in singing At The Cross, Room At The Cross, Sweep Over My Soul, and I Need Thee.) Can you sing that with me? (Sings Don't Turn Him Away, and Bringing In The Sheaves.) Can you sing it with me? (Continues.) Sister Betty come up here and help me sing. (Continues singing with Sister Betty helping lead.) Can you sing that with me? And let's worship the Lord. (Continues singing.) One more time together. Let's sing it. (Continues.) All around the world. (Continues.) That's what you're doing all around the world. You're helping us. We're working together bringing in the sheaves. Letters from around the world speaking of your faith in Christ, and your liberality. (Continues singing.) One more time together. (Continues.) Give us a key, Brother Taylor. (Sings He Touched Me.) Sing that chorus again, can we? (Continues singing, and sings I Don't Want Your Gold And Silver. (Begin tape two, side one.) I want to sing it again. (Continues singing, and sings He Was Here All The Time.) Sing it with me, now. (Continues singing. Sings Jesus Gave Her Water.) Sing it with me, now. (Continues singing.) Can you say Hallelujah? (Leads in singing Gone.) Sing it again. (Continues singing. Sings I Can Make It After All.) Can you sing that one more time? (Continues singing.) Let's give the Lord a hand. (Sings Across The Bridge.) Can you sing it with me? (Continues singing.) Can we sing it one more time? (Continues singing.) Somebody say Hallelujah! Praise God. Across the bridge. Let's sing one or two more choruses. Give me a key, Frank. (Leads in singing Time Shall Be No More.) Sing it with me, can you? (Continues singing and sings We'll Overcome.) Sing it with me, now. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) Let's give Him a hand. So then, we'll overcome by His goodness, and by His grace. Let's sing another chorus or two, can we? Let's sing I Love Him, Brother Taylor. (Leads in singing.) Let's sing this chorus. Give me another key, Brother Taylor. (Leads in singing Amazing Grace, I'm Going To Wear A Crown, and Are You Ready For The Bridegroom To Come?) Let's sing it again. (Continues singing.) Sing it again, now. (Continues singing.) Can you sing it one more time? If you're ready sing it. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) Let's give Him another hand. (Congregation applauds. Sings Supper Time, and Standing Somewhere In The Shadows.) Can you sing it one more time? (Continues singing)

You know, I think about that song, and I think about that song Wasted Years. Wasted years, oh how foolish. About the many, many songs that have been written down through the years. Being a song writer you can help but think, you know, about the story that's told in song. So many beautiful songs. So many beautiful stories expressed by the melody of song. David of old playing on his harp, he warmed the heart of God, because he had a melody in his heart. That's why he was a man after God's own heart. He had a melodious heart. In his heart he was always making melody to God. And the Bible said we should make melody to God in our heart. Have a pleasant heart. A cheerful heart. A melodious heart. You know, to sing songs unto God. He set on the hillside watching the sheep, nobody around maybe for many, many miles. But he'd wandered way off out in the mountains, the Judean mountains, and setting there he'd sing songs, you know, and say beautiful things to God. And his heart was so lovely inside of his heart. It was so lovely. I know David got into problems. I realize that, but you know, down in his heart, he had such a lovely heart. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. And David said, Though my ways don't please thee, O God, my heart is perfect before Thee. Making melody in his heart to God. Let's sing that little chorus, can we? Give me a key. (Sings Wasted Years.) Sing it again. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing, and sings They'll Come From The East And The West.) Sing it again. (Continues singing, sings We'll Walk In The Light, and Sweet Jesus) give me a key, Brother Taylor. (Sings Everybody ought to know. Begin side two, tape two.) Can you sing it one more time? (Continues singing.) Let's give Him a hand. (Congregation applauds.)

And on and on and on we could go singing the wonderful praises of God and worshipping God. But we worship the Lord together in song. Let's lift our hands together. Search our hearts. Examine our hearts and see if we're in the faith tonight. Always search your hearts. See if you're in the faith. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We need to always search our hearts to make sure that what we believe is God's Word, because that's the only thing that can save us. To hear the Word, to believe the Word, to honor the Word is to be saved. That is to please God. And he that abideth in my Word, that is continue to do the things I tell them, and let my Word abide in Him. That is acknowledge it in all your ways as to say, to think, to do the right thing. Jesus said he can ask what he will. I will give it to him.

Folks, that's the truth, so help me God. He will. He'll give it to you. Don't be afraid to ask. Don't say, I've asked and I didn't receive. The Bible said you've asked and you didn't receive because you didn't have the right motive, the right plan. You know, you ask amiss to consume that on your own lust. That is, your lustful desire, and that is why you didn't get it. I tell you don't be weary in well doing. Ask Him. Everyone that asketh receiveth. Ask Him. Just do those things I said. Abide in the Word. Let the Word abide in you, and you just say in your heart, Glory to God. I know that what Brother Pike has said that's the Word of God, and It's true. And I'm going to have my hearts desire. Go on telling him. Go on believing. Go on everyday expecting it, and Brother and Sisters, I promise you from the bottom of my heart you'll get it. I mean you'll get it. It's there. There's no alterations, no changes. It doesn't matter what the devil has said, or anybody else has said. You just stay right there and I guarantee that you will get it. Praise God. And let me tell you.

I just picked up something from the man over here that wants his wife. The desire of your heart, your family. I picked it up. You'll get it. Put your faith to the test. Believe Him. I'll guarantee you it'll work. I'll guarantee you it'll work. Whatever you want you'll get it. Like I told a young man a few days ago. I said, You'll get your wife back. She'll come back. Oh, he couldn't believe that. He was going to commit suicide. I said, Don't do that. She'll be back. She's back. The homes back together. Everything's going good. Let's give the Lord a hand. (Congregation applauds.) Whatever you ask in my name, Jesus said, I'll go it. You are children of faith. And children of the resurrection. So that means that God is going to do something for you. He wants to do something for you. God gave His Son to do something for you. Isn't it wonderful to know that God made you. God made your appetite. God made your desires. God made the world and everything in there just for you. And wanted you to live eternally. Let's get the devil out of the way. Let's get our inheritance, our health, and our happiness. Let's believe the way God wants us to believe, and go on in God, and have these wonderful things that God's got for us. Somebody say Hallelujah. Praise God. I feel the victory. I feel like camp meeting now. Don't you? Let's give Him another hand. Say Praise the Lord. Glory to God. I tell you if you have this kind of spirit under the tent there's some people that's going to get shook up. Do you believe that? Somebody say Hallelujah. Hallelujah! Brother Taylor says we're living on the hallelujah side. Glory be to Jesus. Let the hallelujahs roll. Let us sing and spread His praises far and wide. I've opened up toward heaven all the windows of my soul. I'm living on the hallelujah side. Can we sing that chorus. (Leads in singing I'm Living On The Hallelujah Side.) Sing it. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) Can you give Him a wave offering. One more time let's sing it. (Continues singing.) Let's give Him a hand, can we? Say I love You Jesus. (Congregation applauds.)

Let's lift our hands again, close our eyes together. Let me say to you again it's my pleasure to have you here with us tonight. Always, always glad to praise the Lord with you, to tell you what little we can to encourage you, and to fix it to where your heart will be strong for the coming week when you meet the oppositions of the temptations of life. Brethren, be filled with the Spirit. The Bible said be filled with the Spirit. Let's worship God. Turn your hearts over to God, and your spirit loose into His hands. Trust Him. Believe what I tell you. Just forget about your own thoughts altogether, your own reasoning. Just forget about it. Get everybody, everything off of your mind. Troubles, problems, forgetting the things of the past, your stumblings, your staggerings, whatever it might be. Say, God, Your mercy is new everyday. I'm a brand new creature beginning right now, and I'm going to let the hallelujahs roll out of my soul. Hallelujah! Somebody say Hallelujah! Going to let the hallelujahs roll, Glory to God, and I'm just going to trust you. Ain't going to try to think. I ain't going to try to reason. I'm just a Christian. I'm yours. I'm your responsibility. I'm all Yours, and You are all mine. And glory, Hallelujah, I'm going to have the desires of my heart, and I'm going to live perfect before my Maker by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

While you've got your hands up I'm going to ask out little Brother Rodney to come up here to dismiss us if he will, and while Rodney is coming to pray let's lift our hands high to heaven, open up our hearts, the windows of our souls, and the Bible said God will pour you out a blessing that you won't be able to receive by opening up the windows of heaven on you. He did that for me a few days ago. He does that all the time for me. While Rodney is standing here with you praying tonight consider the Lord. Consider the Lord. Consider the people throughout the world, to go into all the world to help them. And folks, consider us through the camp meeting. Consider us. For God's sake consider us. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Do His will and His work and have eternal life. And rejoice forever more, the Bible says. Brother Rodney.

By Rev. George Leon Pike Sr.

Founder and first President of Jesus Christ’s Eternal Kingdom of Abundant Life, Inc.

Holiness Unto The Lord