The Doctrine of Election and Reprobation

The Doctrine of Election and Reprobation

'As Many as Were Ordained Unto Eternal Life'

Bro. Lee Vayle - July 13, 1966

a) ...big sign, do not enter, or do enter, the arrow going in certain direction. That there'll be no discussion tonight of circle traffic, you know it's going to be all in one direction, except for a little minor illusion. I want to tell you that now in order to help you to understand that we're going to use those strong Scriptures on Election. Then another time, we can begin to discourse on those which seem contrary. And in other Scriptures, another time on the reprobation, and then begin to weave them together.

Now, before we study this, I want you to recognize that the 'Doctrine of Election and Reprobation', is known as a part of the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. Now, a sovereign is a King, and a King is its supreme authority within the kingdom. Now, many people are ignorant of the fact, that God does not run a democracy. No sir! A democracy is Laodicean-ism. Twentieth Century Laodicean-ism. (See?) The people running and taking over authority. (See?) That's what's wrong today in the world where the people are in a state of anarchy against God. The churches are full of it. The elect boards and elect preachers, and where's 'Thus the Holy Ghost'? (See?)

b) You say, "Well, I'll invite, and we've got a pulpit committee. And a pulpit committee very ceremoniously studies all the men, and of course they're supposed to have just the right requirement that they feel the congregation needs. Well what does God feel about it? (See?)

Now, God being a sovereign Person, we treat sovereignty in this respect: that God, because He is God will act like God. (See?) In other words, what is God? God is a Supreme Being. Then, if He's a Supreme Being, He must be treated as a Supreme Being. In other words, He is completely the great authority and everything that He says is the Word of the Supreme authority. So, there is nothing that anybody can do about Him. He has all supreme power, He reigns in the heavens, He reigns in the earth.

c) Now, many people don't think that He reigns in the earth. That's why dispensation-ism is such a terrible thing. I don't know if I mentioned this when I was here before, but to give you an illustration it was a sarcastic, or a bite to it a satirical way of bringing it out. Because sometimes you need the satirical, like the Scripture says, "He shall laugh in derision." [Ps 2:4] Can you consider God laughing in derision? Says, He does. (See?) And then again It says, "Kiss the Son, less he be angry." [Ps 2:12a] So, that's not satirical there, but It has a little implication.

Now, let's go back to the creation of man in the dispensation. In the beginning God put a man and a woman in the Garden of Eden. And according to what many people think who don't under-stand the sovereignty of God, they say that God put man on probation. which in a sense is, true. But the probation was not such that God stood back and He said, "Well, I really don't what's going to happen here, but I started this thing out, and we'll stand back and see what happens. Well, He turns the devil loose in the Garden of Eden. And the devil of course by way of the serpent seduces Eve. And Adam being the caliber that he was, and remember he's the first Adam. And who's the last Adam? Christ.

d) Now, the second Adam's got to do what the first Adam did, but this time He's got to do it right. (Oh yeah) Adam deliberately took his wife back and stood in the gap. But they all died in him. Then Christ came around and He deliberately stood in the gap, and all that died in Adam came alive in the last Adam. (See?) So, that's fine.

Now, according to man's thinking however that don't understand this, see they don't see how in Adam all died, and in Christ all came alive. Because they don't connect the two, that He was the last Adam. They don’t even understand He was the second creation of God, that God created Himself in a human body. He was the second man that God created. That's right. He only took a part of human flesh according to Hebrews 2: He didn't take all of it, and He didn't come in sinful flesh, He came in the likeness of sinful flesh, because He didn't have an earthly father.

e) That exactly why that Bro. Branham was right when he said, "He created the egg." Which He did. He built a house for Himself. "Lo, a body hast Thou prepared." The second literal creation of men. This was the One not of the earth earthy, but the Lord of Heaven now in a body. "That's why in Adam all die, in Christ all are made alive." [1 Cor 15:22]

Now, but man's ideas, He put them in a Garden. And then of course what happened was that man failed. And God said, "Well, this is pretty tragic." But He said, "I'm their resourceful thinker. so I'll try conscience." Well according to our dispensationist, Cain killed his brother, that took care of conscience. And God said, "This is really, really bad, I lost two grounds now, so I'll put him on to a promise…or human government." Human government failed. Promise, failed. The law, failed. Grace, failed.

f) Now, as I said, and here's the satirical part: if you went to the race track to play a horse, would you bet on a six time, loser? You couldn't, would you? Could you bet on a six time, losing God? He's lost every round to date. Grace hasn't worked either, because grace ends in complete apostasy. Now I bring sovereignty of God, out this way to do it, to shock you. If you're holding in your mind the legalistic concept that God is simply standing back and not ruling in the affairs of men. If He's not ruling in the affairs of men, how can He dare to prove that this Bible will come true?

So, the doctrine of sovereignty is, that because God is God! See, most people don't even know what they...who's God?

"Oh, He's a Supreme Being."

"What do you know about Him?"

"Oh, well He's God, He made everything."

And... "hmm”

g) Let’s see, that's where most people are stuck right there. What is God? Think a minute, He must be if He's God the One that is running the universe.

It took Nebuchadnezzar a long time to come out with the most tremendous statement, "that He ruleth in the armies of the heavens and of the earth. He sets up whom He wills, and He puts down whom He will, and He does what He wants and nobody can stay His hand." [Daniel 4:35]

h) Say, "But Bro. Vayle, what about all this terrible sin, and all this terrible war, and perversion and all?"

I want to tell you something, God's behind the whole thing. If He isn’t then, He's already lost the battle with the devil. And you better try to butter the devil up. See, the heathen do that. They don't know that God's God. (See?) You don't need to be afraid of the devil and butter him up for any-thing, just believe in God. (See?) The sovereignty of God makes God, God. (See?) That He is actually ruling in the affairs of men. That He is, there's no mistake about it. He didn't put man in the Garden and then say, "I wonder if he'll hold down?" He didn't do that.

i) You think for one minute that God doesn't know that the beginning from the end? He does. How does He know the end from the beginning? Not just beginning from end, but end from the beginning. That's because we're looking at the end. Now why? Because He's God. (See?) Now, with that thought in mind, we're going to tackle sovereignty, and before we do, this is the election through grace. Before we do let's pray.

Heavenly Father, we come to You now in the Name of Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing, O God, that we have set the premise the people that this subject, Lord, deals with the fact that whatever is being done in the earth, is being done, because of Thy express will and commandments. And so therefore, Lord, we know it would not be a strange thing to hear from Your Word, that You are electing and reprobating, and You are doing it, Lord, according to Your Own will, in which You did not invite us to participate, but, Lord, You did it according to Your Word on Your Own.

May the people tonight realize that this whom we worship, even Thee, Thou Great Eternal Spirit, is not some lesser being, not someone that man has but little to do with. But, Thou, the

Great Creator, sovereign God, manifesting Yourself in Your ways even now. And, Lord, that Thou are in complete control with thy great ability. And so therefore Thy people, Lord, should wonder at Thy majesty and greatness, and praise Thee, O God, without fear, or undue wonder. But to worship

Thee, O God, according to truth, according to Thy Word in the Spirit, and glorify Thee, as Thou art worthy.

And which, Father, we know that no one could begin to glorify Thee as those who understand the truth of election, we pray that, Lord, the people like me hear Your Word. And that Your every Word may be what You would have said, and not what we would say, Lord. Nor anyway, O God, of what should be said in the right and prober spirit, and to receive it that way.

Lord, let the Word stick tonight. Let every Scripture which is read be that one-way street, so that no one can fail to understand, but all going in the same direction, receive the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Grant that tonight which we believe, Lord, that You've already done. And therefore, hasten to praise Thee for it, and thank You in Jesus' Name. Amen.

1. Now, of course we're going to read from Romans. Now, that's just as logical a-b-c. In Romans 9:1-24

(1) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

(2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

(3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

(4) Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

(5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

(6) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect....

Notice that, see? You say, if they had all of this, why didn't it take effect? Look at it. Let's read this with understanding, shall we? What is it that Israel have from God? They were Israelites. Princes with God. Right. To whom pertaineth what? The adoption, the placing of sons. The glory, God attending and manifesting Himself in wonders and signs. The covenant, that's God entering and swearing by Himself to perform for them and for them alone, certain specific agreements. And services, they alone serve God, nobody else could. And the promises, the rich promises that God made, whose are the fathers, they both worship, sons of Israel, Jacob were the fathers. And of whom concerning the flesh Christ came. That's true, because He came out of Judah. They were people wonderfully blessed. (See?)

2. Now, the Scripture says this, "If that's the case, what went wrong?" Why, God manifested Himself by the Word. Because remember, in the Book of Samuel, that the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel. The Scripture says, "The Lord appeared again in Shiloh to Samuel. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel by the Word of the Lord. (See?)

Now, this was God revealing Himself to Israel. And this was the revelation. And the revelation was tremendous, because it showed what Israel was to God. Now, the Scripture comes out and says, "Just a minute, if this is so, something's got to be wrong with that Word."

"Oh, (He said) it wasn't the Word that went wrong, you don't understand." Then he launches into election and reprobation. You follow me, you get it now? (Huh?) See, nothing in this Word is written for just passing fancy. (See?) You got to read It with understanding.

3. Now, he says, "This is Israel. This is it, what went wrong? Nothing went wrong. (Huh?) This is the day of grace, the mercy of God, whosoever will may come. Restoration, glory, a Millennium. Yet, it’s going to end in apostasy and bring forth an antichrist. What went wrong? Nothing. Well, come on. (Take my glasses off the better see you.) Nothing's wrong. (Huh?) Well certainly. Not as though the Word of God have taken of it.

(7) ...For they are not all Israel, (that say they're) Israel:

But to whom was all this given? Israel! (Huh?) Now, you see what I was talking about awhile ago? The people say, "Oh God, He put them in Eden, and oh what a failure." There's no failure, …my, my. My, now:

(7) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

(8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of promise... (promise.)

Who did He make the promise to? (Huh?) Oh, never thought of that one either, did you? (Huh?) See, Abraham had a lot of kids. Ishmael, seven sons by Keturah. But don't stop there, he had concubines. But only one was a child of promise. (See?)

4. What does Galatians say? "Christ." So, who are the children of promise? Christ’s. He had a lot of children. Sure, now let's read some more. We're getting there.

(9) For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, ... (there's a relationship to God now isn't the promise. Has everything to do

with God. He said, "I'm going to come." And He did too,) and Sarah

shall have a son. (See?)

(10) And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

(11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

(12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

(13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

5. Now, before they were born, before they done good or evil. So, people say, "Well you see, God knew what kind of children they'd be, or grow up to be". Oh, He knew that, but that's just begging the question, It says, "He hated him before they were born."

(14) What shall we say then? (Now, there's a good question) Is there unrighteousness with God? ...

Now, He doesn't even answer it. (See?) Doesn't answer. Like we talk about the love of God. What is the love of God? Burping you like babies, and taking care of your diaper rash? Doesn't say that, it's elective love. Is the only love that God knows. "I love Jacob, I hated Esau." You can't figure it out, but you've got to prove It wrong. That's why the brethren love each other, because they have God's love for the brethren in them. Funny people. There's...he just goes around the question. "Is there unrighteousness?" He doesn't answer it? He just says:

(14) ...God forbid.

And then he goes on and he explains election and reprobation.

(15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, (I'll) have compassion (or compassionate, as Newell brings out, I'll compassionated him) on whom I will have (compassionate.)

(16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

(17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

(18) Therefore, hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

(19) Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault?... (See?)

Once again, he does not answer the question. How can he? Because you can receive a million revelations like Paul, and still never get to the bottom of God's wisdom. The fact that the man's a prophet, doesn't make him God. He can only tell what God tells him to tell. You don't need to know all the answers. It says here:

(19) ...Why doth (God) find fault?...

6. Now, what does Paul say?

(20) Nay but, O man, who (are you to reply) against God? (See, that's sovereignty. Right there, that man Paul understood sovereignty.) Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Perish the thought.)

(21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel (out of that lump to) honor, and another (vessel out of that same lump to) dishonor? (Make a Moses,

make a Pharaoh?)

(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

(23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

(24) Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

(25) As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

(26) And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

You see, of course he's talking now about the Gentiles, and he was telling them that actually in the sight of God they are Israel by election. (See?) Spiritual Israel.

7. Now, verses [Romans 9:] 21-23, let's read Them again"

(21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another of dishonor?

(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

(23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Now, theses verses of course are about the hardest verses in the Scripture to accept. They are not the hardest to understand, except when one refuses to take them the way they are written. And then of course, they cannot be understood. For one group will come along and say:

"Well, it's this way: election and reprobation are really that God is taking individuals and is electing one as against another. But you see, reprobation refers to the old nature. For you see, we're all dead in sin. And that's we're all reprobates, and now by the rebirth we become the chosen of God."

Now, that's what they say. Another group turns around and says:

"Well now, I can't accept that business of reprobation by the sovereign act of God, because in [Romans 9: 22] (which I read) It says, according to the Greek Septuagint, some kind of a tense, I don't know what it is, but the big authorities tell me that these vessels fitted themselves to destruction. "

Now, that would be good, that’s fine, they do fit themselves for this reason, everybody's born in sin. But did [John] Dillinger [gangster in the '30's] have to kill people? Just because a man born in sin? Does he [man[ have to let off an atomic bomb, just because a man is born in sin? Does he have to assault, and mug, and gag, and rob, and rape, and mutilate? No, I admit they are fitting themselves. I admit they're doing a good job using what's within them.

But in the light of verse 23, how can you attempt to establish doctrine? Because It says:

(23) ...that, he (that's God) might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which (God) had afore prepared unto (His) glory, (So, don't let them throw you.)

8. Now listen, this we have been thoroughly taught by the prophet that God is His Own interpreter. Which He is, then He has to make known His Own understanding of what He said by bringing it to pass. Now, what did He say? He said in [Romans 9:11-13] to begin:

(11) (...the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

(12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

(13) As it is written, Jacob have I (already) loved (before they were born, and) Esau have I (already) hated.

We're beginning in verse 21

(21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another (unto) dishonor?

Now notice, it's the same lump. (See?) That's why people get confused.

(22) What if God, willing (see, willing?) to shew his wrath, …

Notice, there's two things that God wants to make known about His Own august and terrible presence which is God who can't be changed. He's got to make His wrath known, He's got to make His love known. And remember, that this is s supreme wisdom of God! Now what do you think of the Garden of Eden? "I just don't know how I slipped up. Think maybe the devil was too strong for us?" Yes, I think he was.

Now, where does your dispensation go? Right down the drain where they belong. (Huh?) Oh come on. What's God going to do? He's going to make His wrath known, He's going to make His mercy known. Is that correct? It says, "Whom He He hardeneth, and whom He wills, He shows His mercy." [Rom 9:18] "So, it's not him that willeth, nor Him that loveth, what if God would should show mercy?" [Rom 9:16]

(22) What if (He) endured much longsuffering (those) vessels (who on judgment day would prove their utter worthiness of) destruction.

That's right,

(23) ...that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, ...

9. Now, in these verses God is likened to a potter. And this potter has one lump of clay, and no more to work with. He has taken the material out, and it has become one solid lump. Now, He puts this clay, a portion of this clay upon the potter's wheel. And He deliberately turns out each portion according to what he has in mind, and the clay has nothing to do with it.

Now, that's exactly what Scripture says, or He wouldn't have said it. Mankind is that lump of clay, we all came from the dust, even the beast, in Genesis, came from the dust. God has the right to make any human beings the kind of person that He desires, because He is God! (See?) And that is just what He did. (See?)

10. Now, we told you God interprets His Own Word by what He does about It. (See?) And He speaks of the purpose of God standing in election, and in reprobation, and He turns around and gives us concrete illustration in the lives of people who are there, in order to illustrate reprobation and election, He takes a Moses, but Moses is an Israelite, and Pharaoh's an Egyptian. He said, "They're one lump of clay whether you know it or not.” But He said, "To cinch my point so that no one makes a mistake, let's go right back to two twins of one mother and of one father, namely Isaac and Rebekah.” And of that lump, because the children would be identical in their substance, because the only substance they had was from the identical parents. That's all. The sperm that was to produce, and the egg that was produced, that Jacob, was the identical sperm, (not that identical one sperm) but the sperm that the egg that produced Esau. The same sources. And yet God said, "I loved one, and I hated the other.”

So, therefore we know that election and reprobation are positively scriptural and of God, whether we like it or not. And Paul rebukes anybody who would impute evil to God, because this is the way He's running His business. Now, that's hard for a man to realize, but we're not through yet, because many a person says, "Well, I just couldn't adore and praise a God like that." You wait till we get to Scripture, we're going to find out.

11. Now, with this in mind, we'll look at the doctrine of 'election' under a three-fold proposition. First of all, God's foreknowledge of the Elect, Christ’s purchase and redemption of the Elect, in other words, with Calvary and the atonement limited. And also, the regenerated work of the Spirit with whom does He deal. Well, of course if the election is true, then we have foreknowledge, we have the work of the Cross, we have the work of the Spirit, al…dealing with one particular group of people God's Own.

"As in Adam all died, even so in Christ, all are made alive." [1 Cor 15:22] How does He get around the sin question, how does He bring it back to life? (See?) That's what we're dealing with.

12. Now, first of all, let's deal with God's foreknowledge of the Elect. And we're going to use certain pointed Scriptures like I say, ‘a one-way street.’ And we're going to use the most outstanding verse in Scripture, and the one that nobody, but nobody, no theologian living can get around this one. I'm amazed that they don't take and carve It out of their Bibles. Because that's what I'd do if I didn't want It.

Now, you say, "Bro. Vayle, I can't do that." Why not, if you reject the Word of God, rip It out! "Well, you see, I’ll leave It in there." Listen, you leave It in the rejection, you're still cutting It out. Yeah, did you get it? Don't add to It, and don't take from It.

13. So, if that's the case, let's read Acts 13:48. This is where Paul turns to the Gentiles according to the Word of God.

(48) And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, ...

Now, he was preaching to a bunch of Gentiles. He said, the Jews have rejected the Gospel, and God spoke to me and told me that I was supposed to be a light for the Gentiles in order to bring them salvation to the ends of the earth. And the Scripture says, (the Scripture says) "The Gentiles, said, 'Hallelujah, praise God'." Because they knew the Israelic history. They knew when God was blessing them they were the most blessed people in the world. That knew that it was a feast day, which was three times a year, when every male went up to Jerusalem to worship, never once was Israel attacked. They knew that Israel was the pinnacle of great glory and in the earth. Oh, they knew it, and they were just happy. They said, "Well, this is wonderful, God has turned to us."

And then It says, "The whole bunch got saved." Oh, why not? The way It should be read, if you don't read It right. It says,

(48) ...as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

14. This is the verse that they can't get around. Because try as you might, desire as much as you want, pervert to your heart's content, it will never, never, never, never, never fade. That they who believe, were ordained. It says, "That those who were ordained, believed. Believing is the consequence, not the cause of God's decree. (See?) Man wants to make everybody can come on the grounds of believing. But, the Bible doesn't say so. The Bible says, that only those believed who were ordained unto Eternal Life.

Notice, a limited number believed. "As many as were ordained." I might say tonight as many as came in that door with while shirts on, would receive a new Bible. Now, anybody in a colored shirt wouldn't get one. And not one more, nor one less, then the numbered that had white shirts, would get a Bible.

You say, "Bro. Vayle, I'd like a Bible."

Let me see, you got a white shirt?

"No, it's a little pink, little pink stripe in it."

I'm sorry!

"Yeah, but the thing is, I want the Bible."

I'm not going to give you one, because you're not in the many.

"Well, wouldn't it look better to have more?"

No, No, I said white shirts.

"Hmm, tell... I'll buy it."

Ah, no, no, you don't understand. See, Bibles are free, but you've got to have a white shirt. And as many... you see...

"Well Bro. Vayle, it's not fair, change your mind."

15. God doesn't change His mind. "As many as were ordained unto Eternal Life." Not something less. (See?) I don't say, now that these were ordained to go part of the way, and then they can go on from there. It says, "As many as were ordained unto Eternal Life believed."

So therefore, (listen now, now follow it) those who are ordained unto Eternal Life are going to believe. Not just given the chance to believe, they will believe. Follow that? That's right, because that's what the Bible teaches. So therefore, you see this verse clearly now? "As many as were ordained unto Eternal Life believed unto Eternal Life, because that's what they were ordained to unto. Who did it?

The Potter took a lump of clay, and He took the hand former, and blang, blang, blang, blang...all over the place. You know what He was doing? And He said, "These are ordained to Eternal Life." And He didn't re-total...just a minute now: one, two, three, four, five, six...oh, I think I could use a few more, bling, bling, bling, bling. Did He do that? "Oh, I've got too many. Oh, this is such a nice lump of clay, I think I'll take a few more."

16. Now look, if God's Word put it this way about a potter and clay, I'm going to use it to the hilt, or He shouldn't have put it in there. Because He knew a guy like me would come along and take advantage of it.

Now, supposing somebody, supposing you went to the mail order catalog and you order two dozen tumblers. And they sent you four dozen charges. You'd say, "Look, I only two dozen and that's as many I'm going to pay for." (Huh?) Certainly. As many as were ordained." To what? Eternal Life. What are we striving for? Eternal Life. (See?)

What's the First Resurrection depend upon? Eternal Life. What does the old salvation depend upon? Eternal Life. What is the whole plan of God and you in relationship to it depend upon? Eternal Life. What is it that you need? Eternal Life. Who gets It? Those who believe. So, why don't they all believe?

"Well, you see..."

See what?

"Well Bro. Vayle, you see, that fellow's too hard."

Oooh, and you weren’t?

Paul said he was the chief sinner that God's said. And I believe he was, because he persecuted the Church, tried to destroy and was successful in the sense of putting to death the very members of the Body of Christ.

You say, "Well, man it's not that... Not that she's too tough, you see, he just won't."

How come you did?

"What maketh thee to differ O man?" And if thou receive, then why do you boast as though you didn't receive it?

Check into your hearts tonight, and find out exactly, how come? How come that fellow didn't come and received Christ the way you did? Same lump of clay. No different. "Well, the thing my mind was different." It, was it? Prove it. You can't do it. It was those who believed and they did believe where those ordained to Eternal Life.

17. Now, let's follow up with Romans 11: and let's see this. Let's see why it is this way. In Romans 11:5-6. And this is the story of Elijah when he was burdened, because he couldn't see one person as evidence of the worship of God as it ought to be in his nation. And he said, "I alone, Lord, am left." And what did God say?

(5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

(6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Now, you will notice here that his man, this prophet who was greatly burdened, because he said, "I am left alone and they seek my life." [Rom 11:3b] God said, "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand." [Rom 11:5b] And then, Paul said,

(5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

(6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

18. So, you will see here that Paul says, "That's it's according to the election of grace." And what is election? That's what we're talking about. The Elect, not a polling booth. You see modern day words on election make it so tragic. This is a scriptural term. The chosen, the called-out ones. (See?)

Now, It says, "That is the election of grace, and if by grace then it is not of works." That's something that man produces. Otherwise grace is no more grace. (See?) Don't mix grace and works. I know that's real tough, because the Bible seems to just reverse this when he talks about conduct. See, he does. He just seems to reverse it. Because, conduct is very, very important. But Paul is not now talking about what a Christian, produces. He's telling you how a Christian is produced. (See?) Later on you can discuss what a Christian produces, but this is how The Christian produced. Like It tells you how God was manifest in flesh, by the Seed of the woman. (See?) That doesn't tell you what those seeds produces, you got to find out in Scripture for that. This is the first production of the same.

19. Now, you'll notice as I said the illustration by Paul, concerning Elijah and the seven thousand. And It says that, "This remnant was reserved by God." They didn't do it themselves. It's according to election...[blank spot]...didn’t know anything about it, just knew what would happen. But we'll show you that is not true. They were not chosen because had seen faith in them, they were chosen because of grace. And grace is gratuitous gifts. (See?)

Now notice, works is works, and grace is grace. And if it's by grace, works don't have a thing to do with it. The simple carnal illustration is this: what did you have to do with your birth? Nothing! It was by whom? The will of your parent's flesh. But the Scripture mentions the Elect of God are not by the will of the flesh, nor the will of blood, nor the will of anything else, but the will of God. And that's what grace is, it hasn't a thing to do with works. I hope you're getting this. Evidently is what you need, because I'm drilling on it. I'll go someplace else I'll bypass this. So, there's got to be a bit of Armenian spirit here somewhere. (Huh?)

I don't have to read you like a book to know it, I just know which way the wind's blowing the way I'm talking. See, there's that funny fear in your heart. Can I really believe that this is all of God? Yes! You see? Because Paul is using the illustration which I brought to you. And It says right here in Scripture, even so, right now today in the economy of God within His Own true believer. It says, "At this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." [Rom 11:5] And It says, "God reserved them." God is doing it by grace. It was found in Him, you had nothing to do with it. (See?) God foreknew you.

20. Now, let's show you this, let's illustrate by taking first of all 1 Corinthians, and we'll read some very strong Scripture here, and after all Scripture is strong. Scripture is how strong is It? As strong as God. (Huh?) Oh, this must be strong. This is strong meat. All right, [1 Cor. 1:] 26-29

(26) For (you) see your calling...

Your election, not, "Oh John, hi John, oh hello Lord. " That's not the kind of calling. "Bill, I'm calling you Bill." No! This is not calling, "Hey, come over here." This is not that kind of calling. This is I'm saying this for a purpose, because evidently, we've got to get this straightened out. "Oh child, child would you like to come to me?" No.

(26) ... (you my) brethren, (seeing your election, your vocation too) how that not many wise men after the flesh, (doesn't say 'any', but 'many,') not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

(27) But (notice) God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen... (Who's doing the choosing? God see, not you) the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

(28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, (the) things which are not, (and things are not) to bring to (nothing the) things (which) are:

(29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Now then, what about it? What is one of the greatest attributes of a Christian? Humility. Yet, how smug have we often felt, because we're saved? "Well, let him point his finger at me. When I get to heaven he'll find out different." Now, that is the smugness of a hypocrite, and the rottenness of pride, because God chose you, you didn't choose Him. Well, I know there was a choosing that you did, you thought you did anyway. Sure.

21. Isn't it strange how that pride can enter in here? (Huh?) "Oh, we'll go along with this. Oh yes, I'm one of the weak things, one of the base ones. Well, I don't know how base, I'm not quite fussy about that one. But, yes, and despise? Yes, they do hate me, I admit that. That's because you see, I made the Lord my choice. (Huh?) That's the Bible says." The Bible doesn't say that. Bible says, "That God did the choosing." God chose. Didn't I answer the question why I often brought up. Isn't funny that the man and woman sitting beside you that night was hundred times better than you were really? Look at him, he might be, yeah, fearless, good hearted, lovable, honest, transparent, you name it. Success? Yes! Oh, we’ve often said carnally, because we thought we done the choosing.

22. "Now, if I could just get that dentist, if he'd just come our way." Yeah, but all he'd do is pull your teeth for nothing. Sure, God doesn’t out to chose the mighty. He said, "Not many." Didn't say, "Any." But He said, "Not many of the mighty." Why? Because we people, have a predisposition to hang on to, to cultivate and to butter up and anything at all to those who already made the grade. And if you had a bunch of them in your church, you wouldn't need God. That's why there is going to be a separation at last day.

Right now, some of you folk may have a friend at city hall. You know Bro. ...?... he speaks for our people. "Oh yeah, we'd just be sweet." [blank spot] "Well, Bro. Vayle you see our minority group have somebody else for us." Okay antichrist. "Bro. Vayle, don't you dare..." Oh yes, I dare say, because that's the antichrist spirit. Because one day all of those political minded people are going to be in the Ecumenical Council.

If you're scraping, and bow now honey, you'll scrape and bow harder when the pressure comes on. If you want something done, you let God do it. Follow me? Right, that's for Bro. Vayle, not for you so much as for Bro. Vayle. Oh, I'm not as political as I used to be. Thank God, I'm learning. [Bro. Vayle chuckles] Yeah, I'm human. One lump honey, all one lump. Sure. God chose the base, and the weak in majority, to prove that It would be God. Because you see, if the sensible successful people went true to form, they'd be bound to chose God, they have it all here, and they make sure they got it all there. But it's not brains that does it. Not wisdom that does it. It's not in man, that does it. It says, "Election is by grace." (See?) God chose.

23. Over in John 15:16, (I think I'll be able to quote that without reading It, it's got to be the one where He says, "I've chosen you.")

(16) (You) have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that (you) should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit remain: (and) whatsoever (you) shall ask of the Father in my name, (He'll) give it (to) you.

Now, you'll notice here the word is 'ordained'. Now, I noticed awhile ago the Scripture talking about the fact where It said, that God reprobated some, and elected others. Then It says, "How is it, why does God yet find fault," and so on? And then the Bible said, "Who art thou to reply against God?" [Rom 9:20a]

Now notice, if that's the case, then if God chosen us and ordained us, then we are going to bring forth fruit. The secret of fruit is what? Ordination unto Eternal Life. Eternal Life fruit. That's what Moses had. That's why Pharaoh couldn't produce it, because what? Election lay in grace, and grace supplies Eternal Life, to gain the fruit. Well come on! Ain't that, right? You got plum life in you, you're going to bring forth plums. You got peach life in you, you bring forth peach. You got God Life, it's going to bring forth some God. "I'm the vine, you're the branches." [Jn 15:5a] (See?) What is it? It's the branches that are bearing the fruit from that life.

24. Over in Matthew 20:16, notice what It said:

(16) So, the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few (are) chosen.

The call goes forth to multitudes, but Who does the choosing? God does the choosing. We have a great arena full of people, there may be thousands of people. The Word of God goes forth, something happened. People receive the Holy Spirit of God. Maybe tonight we just…receive conviction. They make up a declaration of faith in Christ. Maybe the next day they're baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the day after, hands are laid on, and they receive they baptism of the Holy Ghost, placed in the body of Christ. Now, how was it done? Multitudes were there. These people chose only for one reason, God had chosen them. They're the choosing of God. It is God Who decrees who shall be the recipients of His grace. (See?)

That's proven over here in the Book of Ephesians 1:3-5, 11

(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

(4) (Notice) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him...

Now, put your period there, and start It right. Read any other Bible, but the King James, the translator's got it wrong here. It's:

(5) In love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

That's what the Bible teaches, love is elective. (See?)

(6) To the praise of the glory... (and so on.)

Verse 11

(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will:

25. Now, what time did God do the choosing? Before the foundation of the earth. So then, watch it: People as I say, stand, they say, "God stood back and He simply knew what Esau would do, He knew what Jacob would do. He knew the kind of man you would be, He knew the kind of man your brother would be."

It doesn't say that. It said, "Before there was a speck of stardust, before God has started creating anything, He already knew exactly by His Own choice who were going to be elected, who were going to come in. That's what the Bible says.

Now, let's not try to say what the Bible doesn't say, and let's not try to prove it. It says, "According as He has chosen us." Now, It says, "Blessed be the God and Father, Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessing." [Eph 1:3] Based on the fact that He chose us to have them when there wasn't even a foundation before the world was. And He ordained, "that we should be holy and stand without blame." [Eph 1:4] "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's Elect? It is God who justifies." [Rom 8:33] "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin, iniquity, whose sins are covered. " [Rom 4:8]

26. As Bro. Branham said, "God could not impute sin to the Bride, because she was tricked." That's what It says here. "That we should be, we're holy." How holy? As holy as God Himself, because the Bible said, "That we have become the righteousness of God by our union with Him, and without blame."

"Who shall dare to lay a charge against God's Elect?" [Rom 8:33a] On what grounds? According to the choosing before the foundation of the world. (Huh?) That's what It says. "Having predestinated us." [Eph 1:5a] Having a destiny worked out before there was even a speck of star-dust. What was the destiny? Placed as a son. How? By being filled with the Holy Ghost, and put in the Body of Christ.

Notice It says: "To the praise of the glory of your accusing, because you were so smart." No, it doesn't. No, it doesn't. (Huh?) I didn't hear a shout in the whole camp. Isn't it funny years ago we go in a meeting and we’d whump them up with guitars, and (you know) get the all 'hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo', run around the place like a bunch Wahoo's or something. But here's the verse that says, you're to shout, “Glory!” Hallelujah! Well, isn't? Come on! Well, come on! Aren't we a funny people?

27. That's why we need the Holy Ghost to reveal truth. This, should make us shout intense, praise the Name of the Lord. To glorify God. This is what, to give Him glory. I'll give you some more, another verse later on. I just thought I'd throw this in for good measure.

Now, It says in [Ephesians 1:] 11

(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, (see, that's in Christ) obtained and inheritance, being predestinated... to us.

In other words, that's our destiny. (See?) We’re formed for It.

(11) ...according to the purpose of him who... (is doing it. In other words, he's forcing the issue, because he's working it according to) ...the counsel of his will:

My boy may say, "Dad, I want to go to the ball game tonight."

And I say, "You're staying home, there’s a prayer meeting.

"Well Dad..."

"Say look, don't Dad me, you know that this is the law in our home, so we don't fight, we don't fuss, we do it. You're coming to church. (See?) That's the human example of what I'm telling you. "He worketh all things according to the counsel of His will." Why? Because He's God. "Who will you see that resist His will?" [Rom 9:19b] Nobody, because He's God. "Why do you yet find fault?" [Rom 9:19a] He's not finding fault. He's doing two things. He's showing His wrath, because He's got it. He's showing His mercy, because He's got it. And He's showing that He is God, because He is God, and it's the only way He can do it.

28. Don't find fault with God. Why? Well, I'm up here. You say, "Bro. Vayle, draw me a portrait."

I say, "You just stop talking like that, I can't draw portraits."

"Oh, come on, paint us a lovely picture, go with a landscape."

I say, "Look, I'm not born with those qualities."

"Well, pooh on you." (Huh)

You weren't right you guys are talking that way about me."

"Bro. Vayle write me a little sermon."

"Sure, be glad, I can do that."

"Preach a little message."

“Love to, I was born to that end." (See?)

I'm just giving you a human illustration here. You can't go after me, because of what's in me. I was born that way. Don't you dare lift a finger against God. Because you can't change God. God is God, and because He is God, He's a certain kind of a God. (See?) And this is the outworking of God Himself. Well, aren't...this is what your life the outworking of you. Huh?) Oh, come on! And isn't this the outworking of God? No man should reply against God. No, we don't dare, we're beginning to see a little truth now (See?)

29. The time when God did the choosing then, that's before the foundation of the world. What was His purpose? "That we should be holy and without blame, adopted and obtain an inheritance." What was His motive? Love! People say, "Listen, if I thought if God’s like that, He'd be a tyrant." The tyrant say to this man, "Come on." Why shouldn't I say to this fellow, "Come on?" (Huh?)

What kind of a God you got? I've got the God of the Bible, what kind of a God you got? My God's a Bible kind of a God. "I don't believe in that God." I know. (See?)

How can anybody reading the Word say, "If I believe that?" I just say God's a tyrant. You're getting close honey, but you missed it. Improve something, you haven't got something you need. Because if you're Elect, how can you be a tyrant? He said, in love, He did it.

30. Now you say, "Well, God lied." Then if He lied, that Spirit that said that you're a son of God lied too. Don't tell God He lied, believe what He said. It was in... what was His motive? Love! In love He chose me, we hate to believe that! Because the devil is always accusing, always wants to put thoughts in. Always want to say, "Why you see, you read It wrong." No, you didn't read It wrong. It says, "In love He predestined us." [Eph 1:5] It was love that gave us a pre-destiny.

Remember, the Scripture says, "Run with patience the race that is set before us, there's a certain course." The thought is there's a race that I must run. There's a course that I must run. There's a way that I must go. It's a pre-destiny. There's something ahead, you're going to get to, whether you want to or not. Oh, you want it alright, if you're a child of God Elect. Because you see, they're laying up treasures day by day too.

31. Now it was this spot also involved, that God's will and God's will alone, was involved. Because It says, "He worketh all things according to perfect in Him...who worketh all things according to the counsel of His Own will." [Eph 1:11b]

And in Isaiah It says, "Where were you?" And to Job he said, "Did I call you in?" No, it's God Who does it.

If this is scripturally true, we go to 2 Thessalonians 2:13, now listen:

(13) ...we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, ...

Beloved of God is what? Elected. And he goes on and he repeats it:

(13) ...because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Now, you'll notice in here that the Elect are chosen to salvation, because Elect means 'chosen'. Now, what are you chosen to? It says here, "Because God hath from the beginning, (there it is again, see, before the foundation of the world) chosen you to salvation." Right.

32. Now, notice they are not saved apart from the means of grace, because He has chosen you to salvation through the separation by the Spirit. It takes the Spirit of God to separate the one lump from the other. The lump that's ordained unto glory has to have a work of the Holy Ghost, even though he is of that vessel. Where it’s bound to give you that thing. She's bound to do that thing. In other words, got to do it. We're bound to give thanks always to God, because God has done some choosing.

Oh, we get so hepped up about, “Praise God, I got healed.” Well, that's wonderful, that's good, nothing wrong with it. "Praise God I got a hundred dollars." That's good too, that will help. "Praise God, they've got a little more peace in the family." Well, that wonderful, that's better than any of them so far. But, It says, "We're bound to praise God and give Him thanks." Why? Because of the fact that we were chosen in Him to be placed as a son. And every time that somebody else comes in to make up that membership perfect, one body many members, many cells as it were. Then you just get to praising God all the more, and worshipping God. Not because some poor dear sinner was saved from hell. Now because some poor fellow now finds he had already sinned. But the fact is that you can see God bringing one of His members forth, one of His thoughts being spoken into existence as it were manifested. Another Word coming into the Word body.

Here is why that we should praise God. And you bring up the subject of predestination and people right away go sour. (Huh?) Sure, must be a different subject according to God's and according to man. Because the Holy Ghost said we're bound to praise God when we get on this subject to see about God's grace and beauty.

33. Now, notice again what It says over here in 2 Timothy 1:9

(9) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, (notice) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Now watch it: "Salvation is not according to works." Is that what It says? That's what It says. He has called us with His holy calling and it's not of works! In other words, it's not the results of anything we produced. What is it the result of? His Own purpose. If you're born again, it's the result of God's purpose.

Now notice, it's by grace. But read your Bibles, when was this grace bestowed? When was it given? Before the foundation of the world. Nobody even sinned. You don't need grace, unless there's a problem. You don't need grace unless there's a need. You can't do something for somebody, unless something needs to be done. But here even the grace… "Oh, (they say) well you see, what it really means is that...well God, was God and therefore he had all this in Him and then you know, at a later date, they did all sort of so and so." That's not what the Bible said. The Bible relates it to mankind, and shows us that this grace was bestowed even before Adam's fall. Why? Well, we'll go into that in a minute.

34. 1 Peter 1:2; Roman's 8:29, we'll read the both of them. I'll read them for you:

(2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: ...

And again: [Romans 8:]

(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, ...

Election again precedes the work of the Spirit of God. In other words, the Spirit of God does not work where…unto salvation, unto Eternal Life now, (see?) where there is no Elect. I'm not saying He won't work on the tares, He will. But we're talking now about Eternal Life. (See?)

And what is it, unto obedience, or sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. Election precedes the works of the Spirit, and our obedience the faith whereby we are saved. This again reveals sovereign pleasure. Notice, It says, foreknowledge of God. "And as to whom He did foreknow, He did predestinate." Foreknowledge does not refer to the omniscience of God, nor, of the pre-eminence of God.

See, many people think that the foreknowledge of God refers to God knowing, because He knows all things. That is not true! No sir, it isn't true. And if you caught what Bro. Branham taught, you'll know that he positively taught you that you were in the mind of Christ.

35. Dr. Pink does pretty good, he says, "You were before the mind of Christ." Not so! Not so! You were in Him. You're in the Logos, the thoughts of God. Logos means 'word'. A word is a thought expressed. He was a complete thought of God expressed in mankind. And now we are those little thoughts as it were, that finally will make up all what He was. And when we're all brought in, the Rapture is bound to take place very soon. Because the fullness of the Gentiles, see, the completion of the Gentile has got to come. And maybe it's all over by now, just a little work being done within the Bride. I might talk on that sometime.

36. Now, you will notice here that this signifies where the Saints were eternally in the fore-knowledge of God in His mind. We were His thoughts, yet unexpressed. You'll get that in the Seven Church Age's under the Book of Life. Very clearly brought out to you. So, if you haven't read it, get a book and read it. You were in Him, see, in His mind. He's the thought of God. As Adam was a thought of God, then he became God's Word expressed. (See?)

But in that Word which was fallible, that power. See? That's why God had to redeem. The word 'redeem' means to buy back. (See?) Buy, that's out of slavery. Buy, that out of bondage. Bought it back. (See?) In Christ. Now, they were in the mind of God eternally.

Now notice, this is what people don't want. They don't want to believe that God Himself forced this issue. In other words, that God decreed it to be so. They say, "Well you see, God didn't decree that this man would be the way he was, He just foreknew the way he was." That's not true. Fore-knowledge is that you were in Him. (See?) In His thoughts, you were there. Then you became expressed. And that this was a decree, so that you couldn't be born of any other parents, and at any other time, or any other way. I'll show you.

37. Let's turn to Acts 2:23. See, we must read the Bible the way It is written. Now, I'll read It.

(23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore- knowledge ...

Why doesn't the Bible read it this way: "Him being delivered by the foreknowledge and determinate counsel?" Because It can't! Because foreknowledge is based upon the determination of God. Now, I’ll prove it to you. No man can know for sure he's going to leave this building. You don't know for sure you'll draw one more breath. You don't know. "Bro. Vayle, I'm going to go uptown tomorrow." You don't know you're going to go uptown. I think I'm might go uptown tomorrow and do some looking around myself. But I won't say I will. God warned me, He said, "Don't you dare say I'll go to such and such a place, and I'll do so, and so, and so, and so."

He said, "You say if God wills, I'll do something." (See?)

38. Notice the wording, 'by the determinate counsel', (see?) and foreknowledge. The counsel or the determined will of God precedes foreknowledge. Foreknowledge is based upon the fact that God's going to do it. Now, that's what people hate about election. Oh, they don't like this. Say, "Bro. Vayle, don't you dare tell me." Oh, I don’t dare tell anything, I'm just telling what God said. That make me very safe. [Bro. Vayle laughs] Oh brother, because he's got to back it up. (See?)

The Elect, according to foreknowledge of God are those chosen of Him for His special love and approval. That's why He will say to the others on judgment day, "I never knew you." Now, it is evident that the Elect are only elect, because of God alone. It is all of God, and it is not of man. Even as …?... He says, "There is none good, no not one." [Rom 3:10] And if any man can do good, the best good that he ever did is when he chose God. But the Bible says,

"You can't do anything good. There is none that doeth good, no, not one, there is none that seeketh after God. They have all like one lump gone out of the way. They have all, the sheep have gone astray. But the sheep hear His Voice. And He calls them and He knew who would call, because they were sheep."

39. What is it then? It is as Acts 18:27

(27) And when he was...pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive (Paul): who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

"By grace are you saved through faith, and that faith is not of yourself: it's a gift of God." [Eph 2:8] (See?) It's all of grace according to Scripture. And I told you I'm using all Scripture in one direction. I could use other Scripture. And you'll say, "Bro. Vayle what about this and that?" Well, we're not going into those, we're going in the strong ones for the time being. We can argue the case later on, or bring up the reason later on.

40. Now, let us look at this picture of our subject tonight from the thought of the atonement of Jesus Christ. If salvation is utterly dependent upon election that is based upon God Himself, then of necessity no matter how great the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was, it can only be truly effectual in behalf of the Elect. Because the others couldn't have it anyway. Because God said, "In spite of the fact that the Son is dying upon the Cross, shedding His Blood, giving His Life to the world, in spite It, you're still going to go someplace else, because I've decreed it," That's what it amounts to. It all boils down to that.

41. All right, let's go to Isaiah 53: and we won't read the whole chapter, we'll read something.

(8) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? ... (notice he's going to have a generation) for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

(9) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

(10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, (or shall see seed) he shall prolong his days, ...

Isn't that beautiful, Christ living in His Own children. That's what a parent does, he prolongs his days. He has his immortality by passing on his life line to his son. (See?) That's why Christ has sons.

(10) ...he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD...

Notice the pleasure, according to the purpose and His Own good pleasure, God's elected. (See?)

(10) ...(He's) the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. (See?)

Remember, God's pleasure is unto His vessels of mercy. His pleasure is His Own choosing. Notice then in verse 12 now:

(12) Therefore, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of (whom?) many, ...

What many? "As many as were ordained unto Eternal Life believed." [Acts 13:48b] Always the many, no more, no less.

(12) ...and made intercession for the transgressors.

42. Now, let's go to the Book of Hebrews 9: and follow this through in the New Testament, because that's what we have to do. Now, I know throwing this much at you at one time is kind of hard, but it's the only thing to do is to give you...at least you'll get the thought of it, and the feel of it behind what we're talking about. Beginning in the Book of Hebrews 9:25-28

(25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest (enters) into the holy place every year with blood of others;

(26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: (see?) but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

(28) So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of (the whole world. No! Doesn't say that. See?) bear the sins of the many; ... (See?)

You say, "Bro. Vayle, what about the fact though it mentions it? The Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." It says, "All we like sheep, it's the sheep that went astray and the Lord would not impute sin to them." Doesn't say the whole world.

43. Say, what about John 3:16, "He loved the world." Is that so? The Scripture says, "The world of the ungodly perishes." There's two worlds. And you know there are two worlds. They're opposite as day and night. One belongs to the prince of this world, and one belongs to the Prince of the King of kings, the Lord or lords! "God so loved the world." Who? His Own! Not the world of the ungodly. Typified by bringing the ark in. But who did He say, ...?...righteous. Why? Because He couldn’t impute sin to bear His Own. The reason they were saved.

Now, It says,

(28) ...Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Who are they? They are the many.)

Now, as we look at these Scriptures we find, we understand very, very clearly that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ was ordained of God. In other words, it was the will of God.

44. Hebrews 10:7, It says,

(7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written...) to do thy will, O God.

Now, that's true, Jesus Christ came to do the will of God. That's all He did was the will of God. He did no more, He did no less. If He'd have done more, then He would have gone beyond God. Right? He couldn't have said He did His Will.

Supposing I said to you, "Now look, you’ve got to lay just thirty-five bricks in that row. That's all I want is thirty-five bricks, and don't lay anymore. You come along and say, "Well, I think I'll look real good. Old Vayle he's not a bad old guy, just talks mean, I'll just put fifty bricks."

So, you lay fifty bricks. When are you going to smarten up? You don't have a thing to do with running this, you do what I tell you!

"Weren't you hired to do the will that I gave you?"

"Yeah!"

"All right then, take those fifteen out, thirty-five is all I want."

"Well, (you say) that Vayle, never please him."

"All right, I'll fix it more, thirty-five."

"How may laid Mr. Vayle?"

"Thirty-seven, well you do twenty-six."

Never learn. You see, I'm showing you about Jesus Christ, if He came to do the will of the Father, then, the will of the Father, is exactly what the Father specified. Right? If He’d done one thing less, He'd have been wrong. Right? If He'd have done one thing more, He would have been a monster. (See?) You follow me? That's what Saul did. Saul said, “Samuel's not here, I'll just go ahead and offer sacrifice, because that's the thing to do."

And Samuel was testing him. He said, "You did the wrong thing. Now, (he said) the kingdom is rent out of your hand." [1 Sam 15:26-27]

"Why, (he [Saul] said) look, it's something that should be done."

He [Samuel] said, none the less, enemy or no enemy, trouble or no trouble, burden or no burden, you do what I said."

Now, could Christ have said that He did the will of God if He'd done one thing more, one thing less? Now sir! He said, "I came to do Thy will." And that's exactly what His will was going to be, the only way the will, would be done.

45. So, let's turn back to,

John 6:38 and He said:

(38) … I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

All right, that's the will of God. Now what's the will of God? The will of God at this particular of Christ manifest in the flesh was that, the sacrifice and work of God. Of God manifest in the flesh could not exceed the plan of God for the Elect. Now, let's find out if that's true. We're back here in John 6:36,

(36) But I said unto you, (you have) also seen me, and believe not.

Now in verse 39,

(39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

And what does He say?

(40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:...

But you see, up there, you see, they couldn't believe. They saw Him, they couldn't believe. They hadn’t got the revelation from God. Now, what was this so?

46. Because over here in the Book of John 17: we get Jesus Christ praying, and He reveals in His prayers exactly what was taking place. Now notice It:

In [verse] 1

(1) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

(2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

How many? As many. Verse 6,

(6) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, ... (see, they already were God's, and God could only give what were His.)

Why? Don't you know there were two plantings in the earth, one God planted, and one the devil planted? Then how in the name of common sense can God give to anybody what the devil planted? They weren't His to give. You can feel as tender hearted as you want, and if you say, "But ah Bro. Vayle, (you own ...?... don't tell me, or maybe you do) you said there's a man down there in the Island and he's a preacher and he could use that set of books you just bought. Give him the set of books."

"See, look I bought them myself."

My back's turned, he's going to come in and take my set of books.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, what's going on?"

"Oh Bro. Vayle, he needed those books. Now you know you're better off than he is. Now, you know that fellow down there couldn't afford them, so I just gave him your books."

I say, "You’re a thief. You can't take what's mine. You can't give to anybody what's mine." (See?)

47. God couldn't give to the Son, give to Himself by virtue of His great office and work He's done. He couldn't give the devil's planting.

Well, a lot of people say, "This fellow needs salvation, because he's the worst sinner of the whole works. He might be the biggest reprobate too. I want to tell you right now there wasn't a more helpful, more diabolical, lustful, old boy than Pharaoh."

And God didn't say, "You know Moses, I'll manifest my grace by doing a big job on that old fellow." God said, "I hardened that man for one reason, I elected you for the other. One I've got to show My wrath, and one I've got to show My mercy."

You see, God could not give any of those, they were not his to give. And Christ could not take anything but what God had given him. And in [John 17]: 9, say,

(9) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, ...

Now, that's a hot verse right there, and that's a real tough one. Of course, Paul said, "We don't know who they are, so we pray for everybody. We pray for governors, and we pray for men every-where. But, (he said) especially for the believer." It's okay to pray for sinners, but real deep praying is for the Saints. Because that's the kind of praying the Holy Ghost does, and that's the kind of praying that Jesus did. (See?)

48. All right,

[John 17:] 24 and He goes on and says:

(24) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast ... (notice me now, God has given them to the Son, that) thou hast given me, be with me... that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

When was it, He loved us? In Him, before the foundation. See, we're in Him. Certainly, we were in Him. Weren't you in your father's loins? (Huh?) If you're a true man and a woman, you were back there in Abraham's loins. It had to be, because in Abraham was the Son of God. Listen, they all died in Him, they were all made alive in the last Adam. Said, "You gave them to Me, because You loved them before the foundation." Now, this same Christ, (believe it or not) is back in Spirit in many, many believers making one body. The Son of man revealed in flesh, has been the Bride in every generation, every day.

Now, notice again on this atonement. When Christ became the curse, the sins of all people were not discharged. For if He had become a curse for all people, then the sins of every single person were discharged and God could not judge the world. He couldn't do it, He had no right to do it. (See?) That's right. Now, the Word was, the curse of all men discharged.

49. Let's turn over here in the Book of Isaiah 53:10

(10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, ...

All right, what about that? What He did, He put Him on Calvary. Alright, now what does the Book of Galatians say about something like that? Turn to the Book of Galatians 3:10-13 and It says here:

(10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

(11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

(12) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

(13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (But what does the Word of God say about this?)

Now, if Jesus Christ became a curse for the whole world, for every single solitary person born in the world as many people try to tell us, then God cannot curse mankind. But what does It say in Matthew 25:41?

(14) ... Depart from me, (you) cursed, ... (See?)

The atonement was limited. The very present mediatoral work of Christ does not avail to any-body, but the believer. You see. Never mind now the death on Calvary.

50. Let's look at the His mediatoral work, the fact that His is interceding for us in [Hebrews] 9:24

(24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (See?)

[Hebrews] 7:25

(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Who's He making intercession for? Is He saying like a lot of people are saying, "Oh, Father have pity on the wicked, have pity on the wicked, do save this one, do save that one.? No sir! His intercession is for one reason only. Why? It's for the Elect, because only the Elect have Him as their High Priest.

50. Over there in John 17: 9, which we read we have the very same thought, we won't need to read It. We get back there to,

Romans 8:33, and that's one of my favorites verses

(33) Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? ... (See?)

Who can do it? Now remember, mediatorial work is involved here. Why? Because the charge has been laid. Now, who's our Attorney? Christ the Mediator. He's the One that stands between. I'll stand wrath. God Himself. Now It says:

(33) Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? (And It says:) It is God that justifieth.

Don't you see the picture, how can God now curse of hurt, or un-justify when He's already justified?

"Condemn him Lord."

"I'm not the condemner." (See?)

"Kill that man."

"I'm not a murderer."

"Then we'll murder you."

"Go ahead, I'm not a murderer." (See?)

"Now, bring it to God."

"Condemn that man!"

God says, "I can't, I'm a Justifier."

"Yeah, yeah, couldn't You do it?"

"No, because I'm a Justifier. Don't you understand? If I've justified him, then he's declared righteous. Now, if I've declared him righteous then there's nothing he has done, or will do, it's impossible to declare that man anything but justified." (See?)

This is a positive Gospel. Here is where we need to understand the righteousness of God.

51. Now, to our final point: the Spirit of God deals only with those who are the Elect. In John 3:8. I want to read It the way it should be written. Not, "the wind blows where it listeth." Nobody should understand that to be wind, because it's not wind. The word in the Greek 'pneuma' refers to the spirit.

[John 3:]

(8) The (spirit breatheth where he willeth) and thou hearest ...(his voice.)

That's what the Bible says, "We hear the Voice." (See?) My sheep hear My Voice." [Jn 10:27a] Why? Because of the Spirit, the Spirit breatheth where He willeth."

(8) ...thou hearest (his voice, but knowest not) whence (he) cometh, and wither (he) goeth: (in this manner) is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Now, what does this speak of? This speaks of the Spirit of God being sovereign like the wind is sovereign. You don't say, "Oh wind, blow over here." The wind might want to go over there. "Oh wind, I control you, come down and blow here." No, you'll never control the wind. You don't control the Spirit. "The Spirit breatheth where He willeth." (See?) Why? Because it's election! How can the Spirit of God now do what wasn’t in the mind of God? Could you have the Spirit of God going contrary to the mind of God?

52 Do you see now, where women got to preaching? From nonsense by not believing God's Word. God's decrees stand. You don't go against His Word. Christ couldn't go against the Word manifest in flesh. Now, that He's gone in the flesh, It came back in the Spirit, can this Spirit now say, "Oh Father, I did Your will on earth, now, ...?... I can have a good time, because I grew up. I'll do what I want. I'm a big boy now."

Well, if you read It any other way then I've read It, you're just making that very same foolish thought in your mind tonight. God knew, decreed, foreknew, predestinated right down the line. That Christ came manifested in flesh, carried out exactly what God wanted done. Now, that He went back and came back in Spirit, He still continues to do exactly what's to be done. (See?)

53. Now, just quickly looking at this again in 2 Thessalonians, the verse I read over here in,

2 Thessalonians 2: 13

(13) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit...

And the very one I read over in,

1 Peter 2:2 also, and mentioned it:

(2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: ... (See?)

In other words, what's the Spirit doing? The Spirit is working upon the very Elect of God.

54. Now, to prove this is in Galatians 3:26

(26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in (Jesus) Christ.

So, what happened? In [Galatians] 4:6

(6) ...because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, (whereby you cry), Abba, Father.

To whom does God give His Spirit? To sons. You don't become sons by receiving the Holy Ghost like people try to teach you, you are a son. (See?) So, the Spirit of God cannot fill anybody but sons. Oh, He can come and contact the tares, and they can work with a lot of wonderful acts and things, but that doesn't do it.

55. In [Galatians] 3:2 It says,

(2) This only would I learn of you, Received (you) the Spirit by the works of the law, (see?) or by the hearing of faith?

What's the hearing of faith? "It's grace, because by grace you're saved through faith, and that's not of yourselves." [Eph 2:8] "As many that are ordained unto Eternal Life believed." [Act 13:48] They've got to be ordained to Life, then you believe. And you believe what? And you get what? You believe in the Son and you receive the Holy Ghost. Right! See, you just don't get by it, brother/sister, the Word of God is full of it.

You can see therefore then by Scripture as we look at the work of the great mind of God way back in eternity, before there was a speck of stardust the whole plan was worked out. God in a purpose, and that purpose was that He was going to show forth His wrath, and He was going to show forth His mercy. And He had to do it amongst people. (See?) And that's His great plan came into effect and out of one lump by election. The purpose of God stands, He takes one, and by His Own sovereign will, He decreed. And by His decree He'd foreknow, and by His foreknowledge He'd predestinate, and He brings forth the vessel unto honor and unto glory, it's already prepared.

56. And that same way He ordains as the Book of Jude and Peter said. Those were reprobate and they were ordained to that very end. "As for this Paul that I raised you up, that He might show His wrath in those men." Why? Because He is going to show the Spirit of God in contradistinction, for He puts this Spirit in a meek little humble vessel. And this little meek humble vessel is brought up against tyrant like a Pharaoh the crushing brute spirit of mankind.

But what is this man doing because of the Spirit of God in him? The Spirit of God moving in him. He let God fight his battles, and God change him and God mold him, as it were, becoming fit for that very Christ in him, until that image come forth. And what's God done for him? He's prepared him a place like Christ, he's going to receive an inheritance. It's all worked out brother/ sister. And it's not as though as God were taking him and taking mankind and making him an automaton.

57. It isn't as though the mind of man were in such a position that God just takes and squeezes. But, what God's done, He's worked it out so as we're born naturally, not decreeing who our parents were. Not knowing what we'd be like. God, in His same way brought us here, and then now by His Spirit making everything propitious. [favorable] How? Mostly propitious through the enemy. (See?) Because the vessels prepared unto mercy are going to reflect His glory. But can only be done because of those vessels of wrath. (See?) Sheep don't go around chewing up sheep.

As Bro. Branham said, "If you see a sheep that's picking the wool off another sheep, and picking at him, he's sick." He's sick sheep. What it? It's the reprobate out there. (You see) It's the Pharaoh, that are against the Moses. It's the Herod, that's against the Christ. It's the Judas, that betrays the Lord. It's the antichrist spirit, against the Spirit of Christ. (See?) It's the wicked, against the righteous. (You see) In order that molding process goes on. And God now has foreknown that vessel unto glory, but He's fitted those for His wrath.

Say, why? Because just as Bro. Branham had loved so clearly, he said, "Adam couldn't fall himself, Adam could not be deceived." (See?) It's Eve was deceived. It's taking as it were, that taking that byproduct, making her fallible in order that Adam being what he was would stand in the breach. (See?) And he stood in the breach, bring the plan all down. God did it. We don't understand all of it, we never will. But we can see by Scripture tonight the strong verses indicate the sovereignty of God in election. God knew you. He knew you before you were born.

58. Say, "Why? Look at my condition." Start praising Him, because He foreknew you. Look what I'm up against. Praise Him, because He's going to bring forth His mercy and His glory. We praise Him, why? Just because He's coming, and You're going to see Him? That's lovely, but remember, also to praise Him, because you are an inheritance in Christ Jesus. And He's come back to be glorified in His Saints. He's being glorified right now, too.

Why? Because the world and its wickedness is against us. But remember, we were in Adam. See, we were there in Able, and Cain slew him. We were there in Seth, and He see us, right down the line. Now, Christ sees His generations. Sure, they cut Him off, but He's living in us. (See?) Carry Him on, God's doing it. May the Lord help us to see this. Because the Scripture says, "We're bound to praise God." Because of it. (See?) We've got a new orientation here, in the mind. (See?) It's a completely new education, as it were.

59. It's time to get back to the Bible. Never mind what the theologian taught. That's out, that's wrong. Remember this, there are two spirits in the world. And those spirits are manifest by their age. And this Age is that old Laodicean Age. Man rising against God. (See?) Man's bonding himself. Man producing. (See?) Back there they built the tower of Babel. Right now, we've got a space age our-selves. (See?)

Man says, "Let's build out own ways, we're doing this thing." (See?) Now watch it, (see?) because that spirit can get you. That’s right, you say, "Bro. Vayle, if that's the case how come Wesley didn't understand it?" Listen, if Wesley had understood this, we wouldn't have a Laodicean spirit today. See, the spirit's got to come out of the church! Sure, it does. They got to be in there, side by side. Had Wesley been a prophet, his Age would have wound it up. But it couldn't, because his Age had to bring on the Laodicean Age. (See?) He was all love. Sure, it was love.

60. Wesley said, "Now listen... (Ah, he learned his lesson under Whitfield, he rebuked Whitfield and caused trouble, and Wesley repented. Now he said,) listen, we're not going to talk about doctrine, no sir, (he said) if you're a Calvinist, just keep quiet, we're going to love each other." (See?) That's right, they did it. Wesley was not a theologian, his messages were punky. Pardon the expression, I just used earthly common language...kind of slang, but it's true. You could go to sleep under his messages. They never contained much. It was the man himself with such a spirit of God upon him, but he wasn't a prophet. Had Wesley preached the truth and brought it as it could have been in the sense of the truth to the doctrine, this Age could not have come. It wouldn't have brought on in the age of man, of man pitted against God, and man being the big thing. It would have been God bring the great God.

But you notice, there was a remnant within that age that gave us the greatest truth the world has ever known. They were the Puritans, the Covenanters. They were your Bunyan's and the rest of them. That brought out your Owens', great and might men. (See?) But it took that little group that saw sanctification and nothing else. And its spread around the world, and out of it coming the second, and third, and fourth generation people. It had to go to a works program, "we lack nothing, we're big and great you see it now?" I hope you can see, because the truth.

61. Now, we're back to where we're shut up to God. (See?) Ecumenical society, great big movements, beautiful churches, big endeavors. You look at the men out there in the field brother, sisters that are so far from truth, and they're producing the biggest thing this world has ever seen. But it's going to bring forth a cockatrice, because that's the age that's there right now. It going to bring forth an antichrist, because it's anti-Word. See, why we need a prophet? Believe what the prophet said.

Say, "Bro. Vayle did Bro. Branham absolutely before God teach that foreknowledge was based upon decree?" He did, because I was challenged in my teaching in Beaumont, Texas. One brethren whom I recommended do a certain study on sovereignty came up and he said, "I won't touch that book."

Another brother...stood back and they said, "Bro. Branham does not teach that."

"Oh, what does he teach?"

He teaches that God knew what kind of a man Esau would be. That's why he said, "He foreknew, because He knew what kind of man."

I said, "Yeah." I said, "Hogwash."

Bro. Branham knows his Bible better than that, and he's not stupid enough that he doesn't know that nobody can ever know anything, unless he's got the ability to make it come to pass. Because you don't know you can tie your shoelace. Unless you can prove it by the fact you've got the ability to tie them.

62. Well they wore me down, until one got on the phone. You want to see the phone bill, I turned it into the government last year, cost me twelve dollars plus tax for forty-five minutes to phone Bro. Branham. And I said, "Bro. Branham, here is what I am saying, is this what you are saying? I am saying that God didn't only foreknew the reason, He foreknew was, because He decreed that He knew it, because He was going to see it done."

He said, "Certainly that's what I'm saying. I'll give you some more Scripture." And he gave them to me too for the book. But they didn't catch what he said, or they’d have got the whole picture, because he said, "You were in the mind of God." That's foreknowledge, see?

63. Where were you? In the mind of God. That was the foreknowledge. See, you were there. And what did He say about the thought? Each thought became expressed. Why? To express God. You see Scripture now? Jesus expressed God as one member. Right? Now, we express Him many members. That's why we're all different. I'm glad my thumb is not like this finger. Of course in the church, you know, I’d like all fingers, and me be the wrist, will go... [makes a noise] (Huh?) That's wrong. Follow me? Everyone in his day. Praise God. God did it. God raised you up to it. Oh, that's a humbling thought, because that kind of makes you scared, doesn't it? So, it says that make you grateful. Does it make you grateful? You're not used to it. Think about that, you're grateful. It said, "It's going to make us grateful, we rejoice. (See?) Amen. Let's bow in prayer.

Gracious Father, we've taken time tonight, Lord, to go over so many Scriptures, and yet we know that except the Lord build the house we labor in vain who build it. And, Lord, it's not given to man of himself, nor any man to pass on a revelation. But, You did set in the body, pastors and all who would teach. And Your Spirit, Lord, was given to teach. And, Father, tonight we know that there is something in our hearts to receive Your Word if we're Elect. Even as You said to the Pharisees, "You can't receive My Words, because there is nothing in there to get It." But, we're also warned, Lord, that some of it was difficult, as Peter said, that Paul said many things that some wrested to destruction. It wasn't that it wasn't true, it was just that they that took a wrong slant to it.

Perhaps, Lord, many people in days gone by have gotten lazy, because they thought, well election means that there's nothing that I have to do at all. Wouldn't have to talk to anybody, witness, be led of the Spirit of God, take part in sowing seed, but, Lord, You never said that. Help them just to realize tonight, Lord, what we're talking about as individuals Elect. But elected to a purpose. Elected to an outworking. Elected for God to dwell in that house. And even as the will of God was consummated in Jesus, as He came in the flesh. Now, that same will is consummated through the Christ in us, we're Christians manifesting the same life to the world. Amongst the tares, amongst the reprobate.

Lord, tonight may we enter in to the beautiful place of understanding and praising thereby of understanding. The choosing, You're, choosing us. Help us to see it tonight, Lord, thereby be oh so happy, oh so built up in the fervent praise of our God. Lord, I pray for each one tonight, there may be folks here tonight with troubles, maybe some very difficult problems, maybe some that are sick. Suffering pain, tired in body, anxious, O God, for help in the Spirit. Lord, touch them tonight. Touch them tonight, Lord.

Let them see that it was in love that You predestined them. In love. Special children of Your care, love children. Give them that sense of security now, Lord, the children need. That sense of belonging, the children need. That sense of care, the children need. Because I don't know one word in Your Word, Lord, that tells us that we're ever anything, but really dependent upon You. That make us children. Lord, just at this time touch everyone here. Hallelujah.

This time when they're believing, Lord, let You Spirit touch bodies, O God, hallelujah. Praise You, Jesus Lord, I feel Your Presence here now. Like the great eagle, mother eagle hovering over us tonight, screaming to each one of us to look up. Calling to each one to just spread his wings of faith and soar up into the heavenly. Rising above the aches and pains, like an eagle stirring its nest tonight renewing itself. Grand it, Lord, tonight. And, Father, touch each mind, Lord, please tonight touch each mind. Let each mind be at peace tonight. Let each mind see this special grace in care of God before the foundation of the world. Grace bestowed before Adam fell, the same care of the body and all of its various ramifications were cared for even then, because it's by grace.

The faith to have is the faith of God. Lord, I pray tonight great understanding, great peace. Tone Your people down, Lord, calm them down, quieten them down tonight. Don't let anybody leave here with an awareness that they've have a good time, but let them leave with the awareness of Christ in them, that Christ is their Peace, that He's their surety. That the Holy Ghost is their rest. You proved election, Lord, tonight, You gave the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah, You didn't give it to the world. They couldn't see, they didn't want It, which You gave Him to Your own. You've proved election tonight. Lord, You've worked it out, just like with Esau and with Jacob. You manifested Who Your children were. You placed them before the world by the Holy Ghost.

Father, tonight we submit ourselves to Thee and to Thy Word. We admit our completeness in Thee, O God, and we thank You for the Spirit who gives us revelation, whereby we are enabled to take the things of God which are now real and to utilize. Each one a professional, each one real. Hallelujah. Lord, from this moment on, may it truly be our portion as Your prophet indicated, after the eyes come the mind, and with it 'Thus Saith the Lord'. O God, hallelujah. Lord, we know that day is coming, glory to God. In everything that we've been praying about tonight, will be just something we look back upon, not just look back upon an answer, I don't mean that, Lord, although that's true, that we'll be using it, and thank You for it. Lord, we're in a way, belong is a special group that Your prophet taught. And he warned us to not to give way to placing ourselves in jeopardy by dissention, or division. But to edify each other in love. Forgive us all, Lord, where we have failed in doing that.

Renew us in the inner man, so that never again, Lord, will we brandish any weapon of cruelty against our brother, but let our only weapon be love. Help us to build walls of love. Let that be the only instrument besides faith that we hold up with the Word, nothing else. To entreat in love, to bear in love, to watch in love, to exhort in love, to correct in love, whatever necessary, to walk in love. Father, this is what we want tonight. And according to what Your Word has given to us at this hour, be believe that, Lord. So, we commend ourselves to You, Lord, most sincerely, we do and in faith great desire in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.