Issues Of Faith

• Letter on: Gifts, Signs & Wonders

Our Dearly Beloved Pastor,

Grace, mercy, and power of God be richly multiplied unto you and the Ministry, in Jesus Name. Peace and Love of the Lord unto your family. Amen.

I greet you in the name of our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the king of kings, and Lord of Lords. Glory to his name forever and ever. Amen.

First, I thank and give glory to our God, through Jesus Christ for you -your faith towards the Lord, dedication, and anointing, and for your love towards the flock of God under you. For God is my witness, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, that the purpose of the Lord be made manifest throughout the world in your life, and that the power and anointing of God should burst forth in your ministry, vindicating and making the Word alive. Amen.

I must also thank you for your love and care for me. It is the Lord's doing, and I give Him praise and thanks for it. Brother, may God's love and mercy never depart from you too, in Jesus name. Amen.

More importantly, I have a word to share with you, stemming out from the ministrations we receive, particularly from you. It is the essence of this letter, as my heading indicates. And I must admit, it is very serious - for the Word of the Lord is life Eternal, and therefore serious, having been sealed with the blood of the Holy and Righteous One of Israel. For God, who cannot lie, indeed declares: "Let God be true, but every man a liar". As it is written: "Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." Amen.

I have been in the church now for about a year. And if I say I am not greatly blessed having you as my pastor, I would be lying. I am not ashamed to say I thank God exceedingly for having you as my pastor, as I rejoice in God's ordination. Amen. But this places an obligation on me - the obligation that when I disagree on Scriptural points, or see anything wrong in the fellowship, love should constrain me to bring it to your notice. And that's exactly what I am doing by this memo. The Word is our Urim Thummim. Amen.

I decided to write rather than see you in person, because I don't think I would be able to argue Scriptures with you, considering your anointing, and hence, your highly persuasive influence.

ONE WORD BROKEN:

I believe with all my heart, and for which I thank God, that you are very sincere and dedicated to your calling. I believe you are also determined to stay true to the Word - The Endtime Message, despite all the odds you face daily. But I also believe that if we reject one Word, we fall short of full restoration, and are thereby guilty of unbelief, our sincerity notwithstanding:

"Now to go back in Genesis, which is the beginning. Genesis means "the beginning". We find that God gave His family Eternal Life as long as they stayed in this Word and lived by this Word. But when they broke it, just one link in the chain of promises, death struck them, which was a promise also. It's a chain. You're hanging over all hell with it, and that's the only thing that'll carry you through. When the believer becomes a make-believer and lives on one word that's contrary to this Word, he cuts his fellowship with God. One link broke! And, remember, your faith in this Word is like a chain One Word, separated man from its Eternal Life chain" (The Harvest Time, by William Branham).

THE LINE OF THE CHURCH:

Many times I hear from the pulpit statements to this effect: "We believe in divine healing; We believe in miracles; We believe in tongues and interpretation of tongues; We believe in prophecy, and in casting out devils." Good! I believe too. But, Brother, where is it at? Don't you think true faith would have it to produce? Otherwise, it would mean we don't really believe but are merely professing. And to my mind, that amounts to nothing, since we are to manifest it.

I am also equally grieved when I repeatedly hear from the pulpit thusly: "I believe in gifts of healing; I believe in gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues; I believe in prophecy, miracles and casting out of devils: "BUT THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT, WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS LOVE, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT IMPORTANT." Brother, how on earth can we use First Corinthians Thirteen to make First Corinthians Twelve of none effect??? Think about it. How can we use it to nullify 1 Cor. 12? How can we use 1 Cor. 13 to make John 14:12 of none effect? How can we by the same Scripture render useless Mk. 16:17, 18? How can we nullify Joel 2: 28-30 and still claim we believe?

It is trite knowledge to say that we should strive for the ultimate - Eternal Life - the Holy Ghost - Love. Of course! BUT THAT SHOULD NOT MAKE US LEAVE THE OTHER UNATTAINED (Matt. 23:23B). IN FACT, IF WE ARE REALLY POSITIONALLY PLACED IN CHRIST, WE WOULD MANIFEST GIFTS - FOR WE ARE PLACED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST, SUBJECT TO THE NINE GIFTS FOR SERVICE! 1 Cor. 12 is settled on that. Brother Branham spoke clearly on this in "Ephesians" and "Restoration".

Thus, it is as if we are saying, and truly, that's what we are implicitly saying anyway: "We want the Holy Spirit, but He should not speak with tongues, interprete tongues, cast out devils, prophesy, or perform miracles, or other." Not to be rude, but just to let you see the seriousness of it: Don't you see this amounts to an insult to the Holy Spirit? Beloved Brother, I do not mean any harm, but to let you see where you're standing, by hitting the truth on the head, as love is corrective. YOU WOULD EITHER HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT MANIFESTING AS HE WOULD (1Cor.12:4,6,11,12,14) I.E. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, OR YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HIM AT ALL. That's true!

The Methodists too wanted the Holy Spirit, but didn't want the kind of manifestation they were receiving in their midst. They threw cold water on the people and fanned them from the effect of the Holy Spirit. How are we different? How are we different from the Jehovah Witness who claim that gifts have ceased and erroneously stand on the same 1Cor. 13 to back themselves up? IN OUR CASE, WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT IT HAS CEASED, BUT THAT IT IS NOT IMPORTANT! THE FORMER IS OUTRIGHT DENIAL AND MISCONSTRUCTION OF SCRIPTURE (UNBELIEF), WHILE THE LATTER IS S-U-B-T-L-E UNBELIEF - MAKING THE WORD OF GOD OF NONE EFFECT! Brother, can't you see that?

Let us ask ourselves these pertinent questions: Was it because the church at Pentecost did not have LOVE (the Holy Ghost), that accounted for the operation of the gifts in their midst? Or is it not rather that they had the Holy Ghost (LOVE, ETERNAL LIFE), and therefore rightly manifested the gifts of the Spirit? Or is it that the Holy Spirit who gave the promise in Joel 2: 28-30; Acts 2:38,39; Mk. 16;17,18; John 14:12, and also confirmed it in Acts 2:16, Mk. 16:20, to mention just a few, did not know it was not important before giving 1 Cor. 12? Or do we now know more than the Holy Spirit and the Apostles? Wisdom is justified by her children. It is quite a serious matter.

I am a firm believer in the Word and the Word only. I believe and cling to every promise - Word FOR MY AGE. And I don't sincerely believe it is for me to say that one promise-Word is not important. That would be overturning people's faith in that respect, however sincere one may be. "Heaven and earth shall pass away" For man shall live by "EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God". That is our bread. Indeed, "it is not meet to take the CHILDREN'S BREAD, and cast it to dogs", was the reply of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Canaanite woman who needed the deliverance of her daughter in Matt. 15:22 -28. If Jesus calls it my bread, it is my bread -I must live by it. That settles it. And I verily believe it is important, for every Word of the Lord is life, and abideth forever.

Indeed it is written: "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these LEAST (seemingly unimportant) Commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall DO AND TEACH (not only teach, but have it to produce) them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" - Matt. 5:19. For God has to be true and justified in ALL HIS sayings. We just can't use 1Cor. 13 to nollify 1Cor. 12, or make it of none effect. Each has its place. The same Holy -Spirit that gave 1Cor 13, gave 1Cor. 12; Mk. 16:17,18. See? AND UNLESS WE RECEIVE IT, WE WOULD BE LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE "A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENY THE POWER THEREOF" -The power of the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues and interpret; the power of the Holy Spirit to cast out devils; the power of the Holy Spirit to prophesy, heal the sick, and raise the dead (performing signs and wonders), or at best, we would be like those that talk a lot about what they don't have, and have never experienced! And candidly speaking, that is what we would be unless we can show it. We would end up with dry theology (however beautifully and well broken down), and a dead church! But how else can the church be stirred than by the Spirit of God manifesting in diverse ways with power?

I would also like to remind you that we claim we have the Word, and that is what is important. True! And thank God for it. But was it that the church at Pentecost didn't have the Word that accounted for their having gifts and signs and wonders in their midst? IS IT NOT TRUE THAT THEY HAD THE FULL WORD, AND THEREFORE HAD THE TRUE GIFTS AND SIGNS AND WONDERS? IS IT NOT THE SAME WORD OF GOD THAT GIVES US 1 Cor. 12; Mk. 16;17,18; John 14:12? THEN, IT APPEARS WE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THE FULL GOSPEL.

It is indeed wonderful to read the prayer offered by the Apostles and the believers, even after they had received the Pentecostal experience: "And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy Word, BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL; AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE BY THE NAME OF THY HOLY CHILD JESUS. And when they had prayed, the place was SHAKEN where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word of God with boldness -" Acts 4:29-31.

Notice Peter here. This is Peter, for he was among, praying for signs and wonders; peter who had the keys to the kingdom! Why??? It is simply this: WHERE THE TRUE WORD IS, THERE THE POWER OF GOD IS, MANIFESTING IN SIGNS AND WONDERS, TO MAKE THE WORD ALIVE (2 Cor. 3:6; John. 6:63; Heb 4:12), AND ALSO TO VINDICATE THE MESSAGE AS TRUTH TO THE WORLD, AND APPROVE OF THE PREACHER. Please see: John 3:2; John10:37,38; Acts 8:6,7; Acts 2:22.

Hence, preaching is of power: "FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT IN WORD, BUT IN P-O-W-E-R"! (1 Cor.4:20). No wonder then, Paul, the first prophet-messenger, further states: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing (fine) words of man's wisdom, but IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF P-O-W-E-R; That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but IN THE P-O-W-E-R OF GOD"! (1 Cor 2:1-5).

I would also like to point you to another wonderful truth: "And they went forth, and preached every where, THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM, AND C-O-N-F-I-R-M-I-N-G (What?) THE WORD (How?) WITH S-I-G-N-S FOLLOWING. AMEN." Mk. 16:20. Beautiful!

The Lord, the same Lord, for there is only one Lord, who gave the promise of signs in verses 17 and 18, is already seen backing up His Word with signs as promised in verse 20! Why? "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power". He is duty bound to vindicate His Word, if it is truly His Word. Amen. But what is material here is that the Lord backed up the preaching of the Apostles, and not of the Apostles only, but also of other preachers sent forth - e.g. Philip (Acts 8:5-13); Stephen (Acts 6:8-11). I ASK: Is it not the same Gospel we are preaching today? The Apostolic Faith? IF JESUS CONFIRMED THEIR WORD, AND JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER, HE IS OBLIGATED TO CONFIRM HIS WORD TODAY! Note that. The only thing that hinders is unbelief. If we would remove the cloud of unbelief, the sun of Pentecost has been shining since. I believe so with all my heart.

Also, if the church at Pentecost is the first church, which is referred to as the Acts of the Apostles, yet not really the Acts of the Apostles, but the acts of the Holy Spirit in the Apostles, then, if that vine should put forth another branch of its own, our precious Bro. Branham says, there would be written behind it again: The Acts of the Apostles! IF WE ARE TRULY RESTORED TO THE FIRST CHURCH, WE WILL DO THE WORKS OF THE FIRST CHURCH! And notice, Pentecost is not what is coming -Pentecost has already come. By faith we come into the experience. The gifts have already been restored - its not in future! WE MUST GO THROUGH Pentecost, not by-pass it. And going through it brings the same experience, the same signs, the same result, the same gifts. It must be so, since we are feeding on the same vine -Christ, THE WORD OF GOD! Amen. That is why we find the various (Local) churches at Pentecost having the gifts. The Corinthian church had it (1Cor. 12 and 14). The Galatians church had it (Gal. 3:5). The Ephesian church had it (Acts 19:6-20; Eph.4).The church in Thessalonica had it (1 Thess.5:19-22). The church in Jerusalem had it (Acts 2; Acts 5:12-16). The church in Samaria was wrought with signs AND WONDERS (Acts 8:5-25). The list goes on. We would see what the prophet has to say about gifts and every local church, later.

I also ask: Who do you think should manifest the genuine gifts of God if not the restored church? At least, the genuine must be somewhere! And we would expect it to be with the true children of God. Why are we then not manifesting it? And we cannot because of counterfeits reject the true manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Bible says: "Quench not the spirit" - 1 Thess. 5: 19; and "Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee" - 2 Tim. 1:6. Also: "Neglect not the gift that is in thee" - 1 Tim. 4:14. Perfect love, the Bible says, casts out fear. He that fears is not yet perfected in love. We ought to know that God cannot give his Word-Bride counterfeit. He doesn't even have counterfeit in His being to give to anyone (Lk.11:11-13; 1 John. 1:5). Moreover, counterfeit only speaks of the genuine. We should expect the devil to counterfeit God's move - since he (the devil) must move too, to get his own church - the false church. See?

But ask yourself, why didn't Peter, or Paul, or Bro. Branham, because of the fear of imitation, stop the gifts of God from operating in the churches, particularly in view of the carnality that obtained even in their midst? And in what condition do you imagine the church would be in without it? How can they stop God's move because of the devil's move? The truth is that we cannot be more jealous for the church of the living God than the Holy Spirit Himself. Otherwise, we would be taking the leadership of the church from the Holy Spirit, though inadvertently, and though without cognizance. And what would we then become? An organized church!

It should also be noted that we cannot because of fear quench the spirit and expect to be truly restored, or experience a mighty move of God, more so that we are making the Word of none effect! Otherwise, can we sincerely say that we are like the church of Pentecost? Without the power? And when we are even rejecting what is written! Consider this truth very closely: BECAUSE WE ARE REJECTING THE WORD, THE POWER IS NOT PRESENT WITH US, AND BECAUSE THE POWER IS NOT PRESENT, WE CANNOT PRODUCE THE LIFE OF THE WORD, WHICH LIFE, IS A SUPERNATURAL ONE - THAT WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT ALONE BEARS. Why? Our unbelief! The church at Pentecost had the Holy Ghost, and so had the gifts, and the Life of the Word, and signs and wonders followed their preaching! See? (Ref: Acts 5: 1-16). Unbelievers couldn't dare join them. Even sin could not stay in their midst! The Holy Spirit would call it out - just as in Bro. Branham's church, and as also is in Bro. Frank's church in Krefeld, West Germany.

An argument often proffered, which never Ceases to amaze me, is the statement usually made to the effect that God would not question us for not casting out demons, or prophesying, or healing the sick, or interpreting tongues, or speaking in tongues or other, if He has not given us the power or gift. Honestly, this to my mind is pure unbelief. What of Mk. 16:17,18? The first question is, do we sincerely believe it, realizing that fear looks but faith jumps? Secondly, even if we don't have recourse to Mk. 16:17,18, have we been told by the Lord that we are not given? And notice that God cannot act contrary to His Word. We must bear in mind 1 Cor. 12:1,4-12, particularly verses 14,17,19-22. The body is not one member, nor does it have only one manifestation or operation. Where then are the eyes, and ears? It appears that in our case, we are all just one member. See? We cannot do away with 1 Cor. 12. In the church of Christ, there has to be gifts!

The gifts are there already, since Pentecost. We may through unbelief refuse to enter the Promised Land, like the Jews in the wilderness. But God had given it to them anyway, just as He has given us too! (Acts 2:38, 39). The question is not whether God had given us the gifts, for He definitely has - to those that believe (Acts 2: 38, 39), But whether we are ACTUALLY ENTERING INTO IT. And, although those Jews, apart from Joshua and Caleb, failed to enter in, through unbelief, nevertheless God had given them the land. Their not entering (possessing it), does not nullify the fact that the land was actually theirs - for God had given it to them. It was, and still is, a matter of faith. Simple! Mk. 16:17,18; John. 14:12; Joel 2: 28-30 is there.

We must also realize that we are prone to condemn or play down what we don't have. And if we don't have it, it is not because God has withdrawn the gifts, or stopped giving it, but because we are saying we don't need it - "it is not important". The saying is true, that we sell gold only to those who appreciate it. We must covet the gifts God has ordained personally for us. It is unbelief that is hindering God from moving. We must humble ourselves to God's Word, and hence, to God's Spirit, knowing that God is not a respecter of persons. I say this with all reverence.