Is the Message Still Worth It?
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19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Is The Message Still Worth It?
Is The Message Still Worth It?
If you truly believe something there is a cost associated with that.
Example: Flat Earth
Believing in and following Christ has a cost associated with it. You will be persecuted. Jesus was very clear about that, and there is no expiration date on that persecution.
There is a persecution that comes with believing this Message. Some of you have forsaken all to follow it.
The question I want to challenge you with is this: Is the Message Still Worth It?
I think most if not all of us would instinctively say yes, but the Message will only be worth it to you if it has value to you.
The value of something to you is the price you will pay for it.
11 My foot hath held his steps, His way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Someone in Japan paid 3.1 million dollars for a bluefin tuna.
The Bible speaks of those who paid more. 2 Kings Chapter 6 tells of a disturbing time in Jerusalem when mothers boiled their own sons and ate them out of hunger.
That’s a steep cost to pay for a meal.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Is this Message worth more to you than your necessary food?
I am not speaking simply of books or recordings but the truth that we hold dear to us, the revealed Word of the hour.
Most if us would say yes, but can we say why?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
What gives the Message its value to us?
The Message does not have value to you unless you believe the Bible.
This Book is our standard. If we believe any of it we must believe all of it.
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. All that was written of Him would be fulfilled.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
All Scripture is given to us for our maturity.
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.
This is the complete revelation of Jesus Christ.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
This is serious stuff. the Bible is the Word of God. Period.
This is our foundation of faith.
We are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.
As Bible believers we interpret current and historical events by a Biblical worldview.
Illustrate: Destruction of Jerusalem
The Bible is the history and prophecy of redemption.
(Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Judah and Tamar, Salmon and Rahab, Boaz and Ruth)
It is a love story between Christ and His Bride.
Through the lens of this Book we interpret the events of our lives and God’s dealing with us as individuals, as a church, and as an age.
How we understand this Book is of utmost importance.
Illustrate: Misunderstood orders and the Battle of the Light Brigade
The main purpose of a prophet is to cause the Word to be clearly understood.
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
They had the Books of Moses, but no revealed Word from a prophet.
Why did John have to come before Jesus? To prepare the way for the Messiah. How? By taking the Words of Moses and identifying the Messiah among them.
He said “Behold the Lamb”. This is the lamb Moses spoke of.
Who could identify that? Only a prophet.
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, But he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
There were things in this book of redemption that we were not supposed to understand until the time of the end.
10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, And hath closed your eyes: The prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, Which men deliver to one that is learned, Saying, Read this, I pray thee: And he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, Saying, Read this, I pray thee: And he saith, I am not learned.
These things were to be sealed unto the time of the end.
The Book was not physically sealed, our understanding was sealed.
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Shut up how? In symbols. Write it in such a way that it will only be revealed in its time.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
People still do not have a clue what this means, but we do, because God sent a Message.
God did this.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
He hides His purpose in this age just like He hid it in Jesus time.
There was a prophesied season when all things written in the Book were to be revealed and understood, and the mystery finished.
This isn’t just something to make us feel better or know more, the opening of the Book is essential to redemption.
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Without the opening of the Book, there could be no complete redemption. There could be no manifested sons and daughters of God.
We cannot be overcomers of this age without the Message.
Even though He had paid the price, the Book still had to be opened, because it is the revelation of the Word that identifies our part in redemption.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Look how much time is devoted to worship. We do not worship Him enough.
This Book shows up again in Chapter 10.
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
The thunders are the voice of the mighty angel, they are the mysteries behind the symbols. The open vision. Do not open the vision yet John!
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
No more delay after this event. So this must be the end time Daniel spoke of.
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Who is that Seventh Angel?
If he was a heavenly angel, he would have to appear to each of us individually.
The clue is at the end of the verse, he must be a prophet.
Is there a prophet to appear at the end time?
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, And the heart of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Was that John the Baptist?
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
There is an Elijah prophesied at the end time.
The early church understood this.
Ancient Faith Study Bible: Notes Chapter 17
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: There will be a forerunner of his second coming about the time of the consummation. Also this time he is to restore all to true knowledge, restoring everyone who obeys him.
There is only one ministry in church history that fulfills both the coming of Elijah and the opening of the Book, and that is William Branham’s ministry.
Prophecy has become history, the mystery has been finished, Elijah has come and restored all things.
What does that mean?
We have a voice of authority, we are not prisoners of imagination, our lives can be surrendered to the Word.
This Message allows us to grow up, to put away childish things.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
So all these little things of jumping up and down like a kid, trying to talk in tongues, and all these other things, when that which is perfect…And we do have today, by God’s help, the perfect interpretation of the Word with Divine vindication! Then that which is in part is done away with. 64-0823E - "Questions And Answers #2"
How could Bro. Branham say that?
He was a vindicated prophet.
I wasn’t the One that appeared down on the river; I was only standing there when He appeared. I’m not the One that performs these things and foretells these things that happens as perfect they are; I’m only one that’s near when He does it.
I was only a voice that He used, to say It. It wasn’t what I knew; it’s what I just surrendered myself to, that He spoke through. It isn’t me, it wasn’t the seventh angel, oh, no; it was the manifestation of the Son of man.
It wasn’t the angel, his message; it was the mystery that God unfolded. It’s not a man; it’s God. The angel was not the Son of man; he was the messenger from the Son of man. The Son of man is Christ; He is the One that you’re feeding on.
You’re not feeding on a man; a man, his words will fail. But you’re feeding on the unfailing Body-Word of the Son of man. 65-0725M - "The Anointed Ones At The End Time"
If this Message is the Body Word that keeps us alive during the famine, it must be of more value than our necessary food.
The Open Book of redemption reveals to us all the things of God.
Illustrate: Comfort during our loss
It’s not a new book, it is the Bible revealed.
Illustrate: Phillip and the Eunuch
Bro. Branham was the vessel God used in our age, in the hour it was prophesied, to show us ourselves in the Word.
If you are true seed, if you are truly baptized with the Holy Ghost you will esteem His Word above your necessary meat, and yearn to live by EVERY Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages (4 - The Smyrnaean Church Age)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Is the Message still worth it? YES
This Message is life to us.
