The Same Holy Ghost Part 8 "Can You Smell the Water?"

Romans 6:1 KJV 1900

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Romans 6:2 KJV 1900

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 6:3 KJV 1900

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Introduction.

I think it goes without saying that many people are afraid to die.

A wealthy woman named Sarah Winchester's husband passed away of influenza in 1918. Because of her grief and her long time interest in spiritism, Sarah sought out a medium to contact her dead husband. The medium told her, "As long as you keep building your home, you will never face death."

Sarah believed the spiritist, so she bought an unfinished 17-room mansion and started to expand it. The project continued until she died at the age of 85. The mansion had 150 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 windows. And Mrs. Winchester left enough materials so that they could have continued building for another 80 years.

People will do almost anything to stay alive. the same is true spiritually. They don’t want to come to an old fashioned altar and die.

Lets continue reading in Romans 6

Romans 6:5 KJV 1900

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Romans 6:6 KJV 1900

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:7 KJV 1900

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Romans 6:8 KJV 1900

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Romans 6:9 KJV 1900

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Romans 6:10 KJV 1900

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Romans 6:11 KJV 1900

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:12 KJV 1900

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:13 KJV 1900

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:14 KJV 1900

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Robespierre famously said “King Louis must die so that the nation may live”.

You must die to be born again. If anything is more important than the Word it must die.

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV 1900

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

What about altar calls? Are they still necessary? Was Bro. Branham against them?

The call at Pentecost was the sermon. Peter proved who Jesus was and that they were guilty.

Acts 2:36 KJV 1900

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The response was immediate and voluntary. The ones who responded presumably made their way to Peter’s soapbox.

Acts 2:37 KJV 1900

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

They came forward and asked the disciples for instructions to be saved.

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Kneeling is an act of submission. It isn’t required, but there are plenty of biblical examples.

Daniel 6:10 KJV 1900

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

The altar call as we know it came into being in the 2nd great awakening, around 1830, especially with Charles Finney. Finney was persecuted by the Presbyterians and Baptists for having them. Here is what Bro. Branham said about Charles Finney.

9 When Charles G. Finney, to my way of thinking (and I’m just one), was one of the greatest ministers since Saint Paul. He claimed to have won a million souls to Christ.    51-0727 - The Church Of The Living God

92 So therefore we know that Luther could not get to It; Wesley, and so forth, the reformers, Knox, Finney, Calvin, on down, so forth, they didn’t get It all, but what they had was the Gospel Truth.    65-0117 - A Paradox

125 Now, we have an old-fashion custom of altar call, bringing the people up to the altar. God be praised for that. That’s a good old-fashion thing that the Methodist church started years ago. And it had a…It was good; it’s still good today.

126 But it ain’t necessary that you come to the altar to become a Christian. They never had it during the Bible days. They just counted them as believers.

They never made a altar call, all the time, in the apostolic age, there was no altar calls. They said, “As many as believed was baptized.” That right? They become believers. 54-1003E - Jubilee Year

Bro. Branham did not believe in persuading unconvicted people to come the the altar. He wasn’t against people coming, he was against the way they were persuading them to come.

196 I’ve always been against an altar call. Might as well say it. I don’t believe in them. No such a thing in the Bible. How can any man come ’less God calls him?

You couldn’t keep him away. You don’t have to call anything. God has called him. Altar call is a Methodist idea. That’s right. Altar calls, they get a hold of them, say, “John, you know, your mother died a long time ago.” “Ooh-ooh-ooh, yes, brother, ooh-ooh!” That’s not conversion.

198 Here, a few nights ago, we had a display in Louisville, of a woman brought in in a casket, laid up on a platform of the armory. “Hundreds of people,” said, “run to the altar.” The Gospel is not a scare. It’s not a sympathetic feeling. It’s a conversion of conviction.

199 Watch of these meetings, these great evangelists, and even in my humble little ministry, not excluding me. Sometimes I feel like ashamed, going out. That’s right. What are we to do?

Stand and make altar calls and persuade them. Little girls come up there, and all chewing chewing-gum, say, “See? See? I’m going. Uh-huh.”

You tell me that’s conversion? That’s a mockery of God. Bible said, “It’s a sin and a disgrace for them to cut their hair.” 61-1112 - A True Sign That's Overlooked

The last thing Bro. Branham says about Altar Calls:

The old-fashioned altar calls, they’re out of style today, but God still moves in them. Can’t you feel It moving on you, church? 65-1207 - Leadership

My! As brother said, “How can you get the fish in the boat?” That’s right.    65-1206 - Modern Events Are Made Clear By Prophecy

338 Now, we have no place for an altar call, but right at the table where you’re setting. The place is packed and jammed, overflowed. I couldn’t call you to an altar, there’s no altar here to call you to. But the altar is in your heart.

Won’t you let that little conviction that “Jesus Christ is real” move right up close today and call the rest of His body to you, manger Him in your heart? If He isn’t there, would you raise your hand, in a sign to Him, saying, “Lord, fill me, fill me with Your Word and with Your Presence, that I might live by You”?    65-1127B - Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will

365 I’m just going to wait, ’cause there’s many, many, around the altar now. See? Maybe one of them, if I held just a little longer, there might be another one out there, might be somewhere in New York, it might be somewhere in Philadelphia, out in California, Arizona.

Somewhere, there might be another one coming. Pastor, wherever you are, don’t give the altar call up now.    65-1125 - The Invisible Union Of The Bride Of Christ

333 I believe God is going to do some great things tomorrow. I’m hoping He is. That’s the reason I make altar calls, do everything I can, to find favor with Him.    64-0404 - Jehovah-Jireh #3

161 I know we all come up around the altar and pray. That’s an old Methodist idea. They never did do that in the Bible. The Bible said, “As many as believed was baptized.” That’s right. No such thing as an altar call in the Bible. That’s something we added, which is all right. Anything God blesses, it’s all right.

162 Like they anoint cloths. There never was such a thing in the Bible. “They taken from the body of Paul handkerchiefs and aprons.”

163 But any way you want to do it, it’s all right, in your seat, at the altar, wherever it is. The only thing, apply That, a Token to you.

Then look yourself over, and look what kind of life what’s going on, see if It’s been applied or not. If It hasn’t, then lay ever what you got, aside, and come back, till the Token is applied. 64-0308 - The Token

27 Now, we all know that a birth, I don’t care where it is, or where, whereabouts, it’s a mess. If a baby’s born on a shuck pile, on a hard floor, or in a pink-decorated hospital room, it’s a mess, anyhow. A birth of a calf, birth of anything else, is a mess.

28 And the new birth is nothing less than a mess! But people so starchy, “We’ll go over where they shake hands. We’ll go over where they don’t bawl and cry, and beat on the altar and cry out.”

You want to be too human! What we need is birth, dying out, that brings forth Life! 59-0628M - A Deceived Church, By The World

30 And a man or woman can never have new birth until their intellectuals and their own self is rotten, dead, die out at the altar, and scream, get all messed up, to a place the starch gets out of your collar, and you are borned again by the Spirit of God.

I don’t care if you squall, speak in tongues, jump up-and-down, flop like a chicken with its head off, you’re bringing forth new Life! But we substituted something for it, we want the classical way, sure.    59-0628M - A Deceived Church, By The World

The real altar is in your heart, and yet when Jesus began to suffer with our sin, He found a place of prayer, He died on His altar.

How would he subdue His own will to the will of the father? At an altar of prayer. How would he wrestle with sin, not His own, but yours and mine? At an altar of prayer.

Luke 22:39 KJV 1900

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

Luke 22:40 KJV 1900

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

Luke 22:41 KJV 1900

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Luke 22:42 KJV 1900

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Luke 22:43 KJV 1900

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Luke 22:44 KJV 1900

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 22:45 KJV 1900

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

Luke 22:46 KJV 1900

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Prayer doesn’t save you, you are saved by faith, but prayer is how you die.

You’ve got to die like He died. The rich young ruler wanted another way.

Mark 10:21 KJV 1900

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 KJV 1900

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Bro. Branham tells a story of a duck in the barnyard, who got a scent of water.

193 Now, if there is any of you got duck nature, we got a great big pool back here, see. If you can smell, if you’ve got a whiff that God remains God, if you’ve got a whiff from Heaven tonight, that God keeps His Word and He’s a miracle-working God, and you haven’t received the Holy Ghost yet; smell the water, the first thing He said do. Certainly.

Repent, from the bottom of your heart, and lay yourself as a sacrifice on the altar; and you will be consumed, of the world, and born again of the Spirit; and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, He’ll fill you with the Holy Ghost.

Go through the right process; not come shake hands with the preacher and put your name on the book, but, die so dead that you don’t know the world no more.

194 Abel died on the same altar with his lamb. And the only way you are ever going to get right with God, is die on the altar with Christ, until everything becomes blackened around you.

Die there! And when you raise again, you’ll be a new creature in Christ. Sure. 61-1231E - If God Be With Us, Then Where Is All The Miracles?

139 And when God’s in a heart, it’ll call you to an old-fashion, Holy Ghost meeting. Glory to God! Glory! That’s right, brother, I know it’s my nature. Hallelujah! Unless your nature’s been changed, you’ll still listen to the cluck of the old hen.

But when you smell water, if you’re a duck, you’re a gone gosling, ’cause you’re headed for the water. Hallelujah!     53-0328 - Israel And The Church #4

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

94 Now, a lot of people don’t want to get the birthright because they think that It’s just a little unpopular. They don’t want to get down at the altar and cry a little bit, or go without a few meals, and something another.

They don’t want to do it. A lot of the women…a lot of, you know, mani-…makeup on, they think if they’d cry they might wash it off, have to put it on again.

...They just don’t want It. They don’t want the New Birth, because the New Birth is kind of messy. It’s like any other birth. Any birth is a mess, I don’t care where it’s at. If it’s in a pig pen or in the barn, or if it’s in a pink, decorated hospital room, it’s a mess.

95 And so is the New Birth a mess! Amen. It’ll make you do things that you didn’t think you’d do; stand on a corner and beat a tambourine, or sing, “Glory be to God! Hallelujah! Praise God! Glory to God!” Why, you’ll act like a maniac.

That’s what it done to the apostles, that’s what it done to the virgin Mary, she act like she was drunk. She was a mess in society, but it takes a mess for life to come out of. Amen!

96 Unless anything dies and rots, life can’t come from it. Unless a man dies and rots in his own thoughts, Christ can’t get into his heart. When you’re trying to think for yourself, “Now, if I walk up to the altar and say, ‘Yes, Lord, I’m a fine fellow, I’ll take You. I’ll pay my tithes.

I’ll do this,’” you got to die and rot right there to your thoughts. Let the Holy Ghost take over and just do whatever He wants to with you. Get kind of messy with it.

97 What was more of a mess than that dignified bunch of Jews that day, than to see these people coming out there with stammering lips? You know what a stammer is? Huh, huh, uh, uh, uh, uh…?…Other tongues, and acting like drunk people. [Brother Branham demonstrates how a drunk person acts.—Ed.] Huh, huh, uh, uh, uh. That’s exactly what they were doing. They looked messy!

98 And he said, “Are these men all full of new wine?” But after one kind of got to himself, he said, “Let this be known to you, and hearken to my words, these are not drunk like you suppose it is.”

But he went back to the Scripture, “This is that that was spoke of by the prophet Joel, ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days,’ saith God, ‘I’ll pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.’”

99 That’s the way the Church was born first. How many believes that God is infinite? Then He cannot change. And if that was His idea of a Church at the beginning, that’s the kind of Church He’ll have at the end. He cannot change.

So how are you going to substitute shaking a hand, or sprinkling, or some other thing that it didn’t happen right there? Each one of the apostles went right back to that. 60-1205 - The Ephesian Church Age

Conclusion.

Can you smell the water? When a real genuine duck gets a whiff of the Holy Ghost water, he gets excited. I invite you to respond to the preaching of the Word.