Contend for THE Faith!
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Yours in Christ,
-The LWBC
Listen to this blog post.
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Ephesians 4:8 ESV
This afternoon I’d like to do a study on the Old Testament saints that were contained in Paradise. Last Sunday, I drew some parallels between the atmosphere they maintained while waiting for Christ the Deliverer and the Bride today who is waiting on Her hour of deliverance (1 Thess. 4:16). Today, I’d like to dig deeper into what exactly happened in Paradise and what the Bible tells us is waiting for us right around the corner.
First, let me start by saying that we, the universal Bride of Christ, have every reason to be excited about what’s going on in the world. Every sign, every prophecy shows us that the Coming of the Lord is at hand–and that everything the saints have cried out for throughout the millennia is about to be realized. Be excited! Rejoice and don’t let the negativity of this world sap your enthusiasm for the one that’s about to shatter the gloom.
Prior to Christ’s death on the cross, those who died in faith (Heb. 11) could not enter the presence of God. Because the blood of a perfect lamb had not been shed upon the earth to redeem them, they still suffered some of the effects of the curse and had to remain outside the direct presence of God. They did not deserve to go to hell because they couldn’t help that they came to earth before the Messiah was born and they all died in faith. So God sent them instead to Paradise which, according to Christ’s parable of the unjust ruler, was separated from Hell by a great divide (Luke 16:23-26).
So, whereas Abel, for example, died believing in the coming of the Lamb of God, he still could not enter the presence of God until that Lamb came to earth and paid the ultimate price for his sin. We see right away how seriously God takes sin and how grateful we should be for the perfect Atonement that has been offered for us through Jesus Christ.
Now, because this atonement hadn’t been offered, those who died still wore the form/body that they held when they died. A classic example of this is Samuel. The witch of Endor pulled up his spirit from Paradise (1 Samuel 28). When Samuel’s spirit stood before Saul it looked just like it did when he was on Earth. Samuel was an old man and he still had the robe that was associated with him in this life. That physical robe may have been rotting away in a grave but it also existed with Samuel in Paradise. It goes to show that our actions, our clothing, and our very words live on after we leave this world.
So, sisters, when God says to dress modestly you see how important it is! I wonder how many women are associated with bikinis and other immoral dressing in God’s sight? It never leaves you and will meet you again at the judgment.
How did this witch bring Samuel up? Let me break this down a little by God’s grace. Paradise lay next to Hell or the prison house of the lost. Using her gift, the witch could break into that dimension of Paradise because it was the dimension right below the dimension we all inhabit now. We may think that’s incredible but the reality is it’s very simple. Whenever we believers break into the atmosphere of the Holy Ghost we are also crossing dimensions but toward Heaven instead of Hell.
Some of us are gifted to break into the realm of tongues, prophesy, etc. It just depends on which way your soul is aligned and what abilities God has placed within you (Romans 11:29). But note this: whatever body a person died in, that body would be the the one in which he would be judged before God (2 Cor. 5:10). So all the souls that didn’t repent in the days of Noah etc. were awaiting judgment in the form that they died in when Jesus came and preached to them (1 Peter 3:19-20). Let me share a quote from Brother Branham here that might make this a little clearer.
There is a great mass of souls, lost and screaming. And beautiful girls and wrinkled hags and everything else, crying. Oh, my. If they only had a chance. The heavens has done said He was the Son of God.
54-1204 – God Perfecting His Church
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Another example is on Mt. Transfiguration where Peter, James, and John all recognized Moses and Elijah in a moment. While this also shows us that, in the Rapture we will know each other instantly, the truth is that these men looked like they did while they were here in flesh and the disciples were able to know who they were.
While the saints were no doubt grateful to be in Paradise, it wasn’t the end product. It wasn’t what they had fought for, believed for, and died for while they were in the flesh. As beautiful as it may have been, a prison covered in gold is still…well… a prison. So all they could do was look forward to the day when the Woman’s Seed would come and set them free. I imagine they had some very powerful testimony meetings in that place as they shared stories about their experiences in this life. Still, they were prisoners.
But Jesus was about to change everything.
Every demon in hell knew the Lion of Judah was on the prowl. There was no corner dark enough for them to hide. No evil spell that could bind the conquering Son of God who had come to rescue that group of His Bride from the hands of His enemy. Jesus came like a whirlwind, shattering every wall that death, hell, and the grave had erected. The Bible says He grabbed the keys from Satan (Rev. 1:8). And then, when His enemy cowed in the dust, He turned His eyes toward that great gulf that separated His children from the children of Hell.
Remember that God still sets a gulf between the sinner and the saint. We are to be different, to walk differently, to live in a different atmosphere even though we’re in the same physical location as the sinner. Let us keep our atmosphere a heavenly one that shows we are “set apart (Eph. 4:1-6).”
Then when Jesus came to Paradise, all the saints that waited in expectation were thrilled beyond measure to see the answer to their prayers. The hour of deliverance had finally come! Adam took Eve’s hand. Eve took Abel’s. Then Seth. One by one the great family of God linked hands and followed their conquering Lord, their Deliverer, out from their prison house.
Jesus left Paradise as a heap of rubble. Frankly He destroyed it. The hour of deliverance had come and He led capitivity captive.
Let’s zero in here on a few things that I trust will do you a lot of good. It’s important to note that, as the saints left Paradise, their bodies changed. It became like Christ’s body. No longer old. No longer wrinkled. Now it became a glorified body that reflected His own great glory. The blood price had been paid and they no longer had to endure the shame of grey hair and wrinkles. Adam could look into Eve’s eyes again and see the original sparkle they once had in the Garden before sin ever dulled their shine.
How do we know this? Because of what happened next.
The Bible says that when Christ arose, many of the overcoming saints rose with Him (Matt 27:52). But not only did they arise–they APPEARED to many other elected Bride members. Listen to me church. This was a family reunion of both Old and New Testament saints. Have you ever realized how much detail Peter and the others went into about Abraham’s life? Did you ever consider the fact that they sat down and had conversations with Enoch and the others? The Bible said they did. “They appeared unto many” for 40 days before they took the flight home with Jesus.
Now here’s where it gets really good to me. Brother Branham shares how Abraham wanted to see the city of Jerusalem. While he and Sarah were exploring prior to the Ascension, a little something happened that tells us quite a lot.
Caiaphas said, “Who is that couple there? Seemed like I seen them somewhere.” Abraham said, “Sarah, Sarah. We’re being recognized.”
They had a body like Jesus’ body. They could disappear like He did through the walls. Just disappeared out of their sight. And Caiaphas said, “You know? Something’s going wrong around here. I don’t know what’s happening.” Oh, my.
54-1204 – God Perfecting His Church
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Jesus’s glorified body allowed Him to fly. To appear and disappear. To change appearance so His friends didn’t recognize Him. And now Adam could once again do the things he once did prior to the fall. Now all the saints could act as Jesus did. The Hour of deliverance changed their bodies.
The happenings of 2,000 years ago were a foreshadowing of what will happen–and is happening–to the Bride. Our bodies will be changed to be like His just as their bodies were changed so many years ago (Philippians 3:21). Whereas Abraham once ached and groaned, now he no longer has that problem. Whereas we groan, our day of deliverance is at hand.
Just like that early church, this end-time church will have a spiritual “Family reunion” and will gather in the skies.
In the days that are to come, the Bride will be translated or changed from this earthly house into a theophany (or spiritual body) according to 1 Corinthians 15. But that’s not the end. Lord willing we’ll drill down deeper into what happens in the Millennium and New Jerusalem next time.
This week, feed your soul on the message An Absolute and focus your reading on 1 Corinthians 15 (whole chapter) as well as Philippians 3 (whole chapter).
My heart has been deeply burdened these past few days and I took some time today to go before the Lord in prayer. Especially burdening my heart are the host of signs that all point to imminent persecution for the Bride and the Foolish Virgin group. The clampdown on free speech, the use of social media to hunt down participants in the recent riot in Washington, and the naked hostility of political parties to Christianity are all signs that we cannot ignore.
I only know one Place to go when I’m troubled and that’s to the Lord Jesus. Today in prayer, the Lord revealed something to me that I want to share with you. I hope it will comfort and encourage you as we face the future.
Let’s turn to the book of Isaiah.
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19
God deals with us all differently. For me, deep consecrated prayer is a means of getting myself out of the way so I can hear from the Lord. Often, I will find my questions answered, or find direction as the Spirit prays through me (see Romans 8:26). This evening, as I was unburdening myself before the Lord, I was led back to this Scripture–the Standard.
I saw, as it were, a warrior—like a knight—in battle holding the Standard (or flag) of his nation. I wouldn’t call this a vision. It’s just something the Lord seems to use at various times (including while I’m preaching) to get me to understand something I need to know. This warrior in white was lifting up the standard as the enemy streamed in.
You may not know this but the standard has a reputation for being where the enemy strikes hardest. It’s the most visible target. The bravest of men are the ones who lift up the standard. And that’s what stunned me.
We know that the Bride is the Word-Standard of this hour.
Now, God’s church keeps moving up. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God raises a standard against it. That’s right.
58-0207 – Jesus Christ The Same Yesterday, Today, And Forever
Rev. William Marrion Branham
But I realized we’d only focused on half the picture.
The standard is important, yes. But what is the standard if there aren’t strong Hands to lift her up? Just as the standard bearer must be next to the standard in order to lift it up, so Christ will be with His Bride in this dark hour. The Bible says that the “Spirit of God” will lift up the Standard! Truly brother and sister, we see the enemy rising, roaring, and threatening. He will continue to do so. He will grow in power and will crush all opposition to fulfill the word of God spoken by John the Revelator. He will kill. Steal. Destroy.
But, in the midst of all of it, Jesus Christ will stand by His Bride. He will defend Her, protecting her as He uses her to achieve glory. He is the bravest of all. And, just as the standard bearer must stand next to the standard in order to lift it up, so will Christ stand next to His elected Bride, vindicating her in this great day of spiritual battle.
The Bible bears out this truth in many places. God has always stood by His people. In Joel, He promised, “…and my people shall never be ashamed.” Jesus Christ promised to be with us “until the end of the world.” It is in these times of great stress and persecution that the Bride of Christ (the true Church) truly experiences the power of God.
That was my answer. It had me sobbing before the Lord. His divine promise is all that I needed and I trust that this assurance will strengthen you for the days ahead.
Remember, it doesn’t matter what we see or what happens to us. All that matters is that the Word of God is fulfilled. They can take our homes. They can close our churches. They can shut down your internet accounts. They can stop you from streaming sermons. They can even take our lives. But they cannot take the Holy Ghost out of the heart of a born again son or daughter of God.
Just as the standard bearer must stand next to the standard in order to lift it up, so will Christ stand next to His elected Bride, vindicating her in this great day of spiritual battle.
I want to close with this quote and a scripture.
53 He said in Joel, “In that day I’ll pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; your young men shall see visions: upon My handmaids and maids will I pour out of My Spirit. I’ll show signs in the heaven above,” flying saucers and everything, all kinds of mystic signs in the heavens above. Signs on the earth below, there’ll be sea a roaring, tidal waves breaking along Chicago, and all down along the places, great sea a roaring. Men’s heart failing, perplex, the time distress between the nations. Oh, my.
And in that day the great anointed Church was to rise to Her power. Jesus Christ was to come in. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God raises up a standard against It. And today when science is doing all their different things, then God sending down supernatural signs to show to His Church. Take your mind off the things of the world and look up. You’re in the ladder now, you’re anchored both in glory and heaven.
56-0404 – The Infallibility Of God’s Spoken Word
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Following this time of prayer, I went back to the book of Jeremiah which I had been reading earlier. The Bible was still open from where I had been reading during the day but I hadn’t notice that there was a verse which went right in line with what I had received in prayer.
But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
12 But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
13 Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
Jeremiah 20:11-13
Like us, Jeremiah was living in a time where religious insincerity, political corruption, and the weakness of the pulpit had led to apostasy and the downfall of the nation. Like us, he (the true servant of God) was being persecuted by the government that had once been lifted up by God to serve His divine will.
And, while Jeremiah suffered, he saw God’s deliverance. That is what I want you to see. Jeremiah was the standard for his age and God stood beside him. And He will do the same again today.
Bro. Joseph Robinson
This morning I focused on what it means to “pray through.” Tonight I’d like to identify what barriers have to be broken in order to pray through and give an example of someone who did just that.
Praying through means to pray until we get through to God. But, as I said this morning, our enemy is out there to sabotage our efforts. So we need to commit to pressing through every spiritual barrier until we achieve our prayer objective.
If you can see my diagram, you’ll note that I have the three parts of our human makeup labeled. Body, spirit, and soul. To pray through we need to make contact with God. But where does God live?
Not in heaven—as in somewhere a million miles away—but in you.
When the Lord Jesus prayed, He was directing His prayers to His divine Father that lived within Him. So must we.
So first, we need to punch through the barriers of flesh. That’s the part that is too tired to pray. Or can’t find the time to pray. Or maybe gets distracted, thinking about the laundry or the other things that need to be done. This is the part that gets shy and tries to keep you quiet instead of turning loose in prayer.
This barrier must be broken. If not, you simply won’t get through to God. Think of it like the first veil in the biblical temple. You had to go through it to get to the Holiest of Holies where God lived.
The second barrier
Okay, so you’re no longer self-conscious. You’ve no longer thinking about the hardness of the floor or how sick you might be feeling if you’re fasting. Now we’re in the area of the spirit. You might feel happy. Maybe like shouting. Or perhaps Satan is targeting your mind, trying to get you to doubt that God will hear your prayer.
Whatever the case, this second level will stop your prayers if this is as far as you go. Remember, our objective is to touch God not just feel good. We don’t just want an internal jubilee—we want results! This is where many believers get tripped up. They think that, because they feel blessed, it means they’ve touched God. Well, the holy place was a wonderful area with a lot of God’s blessings, but it still wasn’t where God lived.
I’m sure you can see the parallel with the sanctification and even Pentecostal movements. Certainly, God was moving. But there was still farther to go to touch Heaven.
The third barrier
Now let’s get to the heart of the matter. We’ve prayed through the senses and the distractions of our flesh. We’ve kept on praying through our emotions and we’re deep in prayer. Now, we’re getting ready to enter the presence of the King. It doesn’t go by how you feel. Or by how you don’t feel.
Making contact with God is less about emotion and more about certainty. It’s about finding your positioning, understanding what it means to be able to approach Him because you’re family thanks to the Blood. Yes, there’s emotion. But there’s more than that.
Yes, there might be reverent fear. But that’s not all. You see, here, in the Soul is the Throne Room of God when you’re converted. He takes up the kingship in your soul and is ready to give you an audience if you’ll press through all the barriers. Here is where you come to the place of faith.
This is why prayer is really a sort of travelling. It’s a spiritual journey from where you are to the very heart of the presence of God. And it’s taken without you needing to move one physical step. In the Throne Room you can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you, reassuring you of His plan. He provides guidance. Rebuke. Whatever is needed for your situation to be resolved.
You all probably recall the testimony of the insane woman that Brother Branham prayed for. He references her story several times in the message, From that Time. Immorality, alcohol addiction and self-degradation had brought her to this point. But although church groups had prayed for her–and Bro. Branham also prayed for her–we find that she was still unable to overcome the situation.
She prayed but had never gotten past the first or second barriers. If you recall, at one point, she looked up at him and said, “Things are going to be different now.”
And he replied, “No they won’t.”
Stop and think. Why would a preacher tell a sincere young woman that she would continue to sin? It’s because he knew that, although she was sincere, she hadn’t really touched God yet. She perhaps had cried and her emotions were stirred but she hadn’t come into the Throne Room–the place where her faith could be ignited by the fire of God.
So he told her to keep praying and left her alone for a while. He noted that there came a point that “she being to change her notes in her prayer. In other words, she struck home run.” What was it? She’d broken through the barriers and come into the Throne.
Praying through changed that girl’s life. Praying through will change your life.
Break through and pray until you know the situation is over.
Last week I stressed that spiritual adoption means that God places us in His Body for service and that He gives us a responsibility that we control in His Name. Today, I’d like to dive really deep into what this means for Bride of Christ as we approach the Millennium. Today we’ll study:
I’m excited to study this with you and I hope you are too!
Let me start by quoting Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:50 where he says “flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The Lord Jesus drove this point home when He taught Nicodemus that we must be born again (1 John 3:3-6) because a sexual birth can’t produce a child of God.
Our New Birth brings us spiritually into condition with God (see Adoption Study #1) but our bodies are still full of corruption.
This must change.
Referring to nature, Paul writes,
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:23
Now this is where I believe some get confused and put off all adoption into the future. But Paul here isn’t talking about our soul’s status before God—he is talking about our body. Whereas here we struggle with aches, and combat viruses like COVID, our body will one day receive the acknowledgement of its placing as a son or daughter of God just as our soul receives its acknowledgement when God places us into His Spiritual Body for service.
In other words, we are groaning and crying out for Christ’s return because then, like nature, we will be changed to have a perfect body that will never age, get sick, or die. This is the adoption of our body—not our soul. That has already happened when Christ placed us for service in His spiritual body.
Adoption here is the moment that we stop groaning and we receive the condition we ought to have enjoyed all along. It is the moment where nature recognizes us as supreme lords that rule this world in the place of our Heavenly Father. It is the moment when we regain the supernatural abilities that Adam possessed, and Jesus demonstrated, but we robbed of by our fallen birth.
Again, Paul prophesies the things that are to be.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21
This does not happen at death for death takes a Christian to a temporary body (a theophany according to 2 Corinthians 5:1). Remember, those who go to be with the Lord “sigh and cry” wondering how long until they can come back to Earth (Rev. 6:10).
When Christ returns, then the children of God receive the adoption of their bodies. Take some time to pause and think about this. Compare it to John the Revelator who wrote,
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2
Pause and think about this. When you’re ready, pick back up here.
Okay, so to drive home my first point, there is coming an adoption of our body (not our soul) in which we will have a body that will be similar to Christ’s at the moment of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). You see, prophet after prophet in the New Testament understood that there was coming a time that nature itself would recognize the authority of the adopted children of God.
What’s everything waiting on? What’s the whole creation waiting for? The manifestations of the sons of God. It’s waiting for the Church to become into its position. Who was the son of God, when Adam, where was his domain? The earth. He, he had domain over the earth. Is that right? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.]
He wasn’t Elah, Elah, Elohim then; He was Jehovah. See? That is, “I am God, and I’ve made some lesser ones under Me. And I have give them a dominion. And in their domain, the dominion under them, is the earth.” Man had dominion over the earth. And all the whole creation is waiting for the sons of God to be manifested. Oh!
60-0522M – Adoption #3
Rev. William Marrion Branham
In that day our bodies will be changed to wield the authority that God will entrust to us.
“What authority?” you ask. The authority to carry out His commands and rule over this world (and possibly others) as He entrusted to Adam. This is yet another reason why the Rapture is necessary—we cannot fulfill the original commission in this feeble flesh. We need something higher, something divine.
At the Rapture, we are changed to a theophany, and when Christ returns, we receive a glorified body. But we’ll go into details on that another time, Lord willing.
Satan will be bound during the Millennium because there is no one for him to work through. We, who were once his slaves in sin, rule over him and sin when we are born of the Spirit. During the Millennium and beyond, the Bride will rule over this world. How can Satan tempt or rule when the sons of God have dominion?
Impossible.
Nothing will be out of order. We will enforce the law of God and nature will willingly humble itself to the leadership of the redeemed. Satan, the one who brought death to man and nature, who turned animal against animal, will be scorned according to Isaiah 14:16-18.
Now, he tries to make us fear him as he bluffs us and attacks our mind. But let us remember that we have already overcome him (1 John 4:4) and we are pressing the battle to the final victory when the spiritual will be manifested and the devil will be our captive (Rev. 20:1-10).
Take some time to think about that before we move into our final segment for today.
I said previously that adoption is a service as well as rulership role. That is true. We are placed in the Body of Christ to serve and are given authority within our role, just as the priests, prophets, singers, and righteous kings of the Old Testament had their specific levels of authority and duty.
Just as we spiritually are placed with authority over a specific area (spiritual gifts, the ministry, the career God has chosen for us or our domestic relationships etc), so will we have specific authority in the world that is to come.
Didn’t Jesus promise us, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev 3:21).” ? We see here again the parables He taught of the servants who used their talents (responsibilities/callings) wisely and received rulership under the king’s dominion (see Luke 19:11-27).
To the Bride is given the privilege of ruling with Him, not because She is worthy humanly speaking, but because Her character meets His standards for She is part of Him. In recognizing the sincerity of our faith, Christ places us in His Body (or adopts us).
Throughout this life’s journey, we must remain faithful to His calling, giving him interest on the talents (Luke 19) that He has laid in our hands. At His return to Earth, we will receive the adoption of our bodies and usher in a thousand year ruling period in which the Earth will be repopulated and Satan will be bound.
But then comes the really good part—the Eternal world and the New Jerusalem.
Lord willing, we’ll get into that some other time.
In today’s message, I want to do two things. First, I’d like to reinforce your understanding of when a child of God is placed (or adopted) and second I’d like to show how this placing reflects the coming kingdom of our God. As we go through this lesson remember to pause, study, and write down any questions that come to your mind.
I’d like to take them in early December if the Lord tarries.
Last week I focused on what adoption is and we showed that a son of God is adopted when the Holy Spirit places him into service within the body. Now, I’d like to drill that point home.
First, the spiritual is often like our natural relationships. We all at times wanted things from our parents. Maybe we couldn’t wait to drive their car or to do something independently. Well, most parents won’t hand you the keys to their car when you turn 10. If they’re thinking parents, they’ll wait until you reach legal age, then make you go through a driver’s Ed course or teach you how to drive themselves.
Then, when they’re convinced that you can handle the responsibility, and after you’ve passed your licensing test, your parents will probably let you drive their car or get you your own.
My point is that, while you were always their child, they will only give you the responsibility once you’ve demonstrated that you’re worthy of it.
God does the same thing.
After we are born of His Holy Spirit, He tests us to see if we’re responsible, zealous for His kingdom, and if we’ll live in a way that glorifies Him. When He sees that continuous faithfulness, He gives you responsibility within His body. It might be a gift of prophecy, placing you as a model single man or woman, using you to serve as a help within His church or moving you into the ministry etc.
The point is, that God has a place for everyone and, if the church pulls together in that great unity of the Spirit, letting Christ position us as He desires, we will have a spiritual Body that cannot be defeated.
Let me pause to say that God’s placing is not only spiritual. Your natural job can also be God’s positioning within the body—a farmer, a housewife etc. Do you understand? It’s not just preachers or those with spiritual gifts.
Alright, let’s move on.
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Galatians 4:5
Paul shows us that God’s purpose was to place us within Christ’s body. Compare this to Ephesians 1, where he tells us that God predestinated our purpose in Christ’s body from before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1: 5). Then you can see that the adoption of a believer is when he or she is placed within the Body of Christ by the Spirit to do a certain work or hold a certain office.
Doesn’t every part of your natural body serve a function? Or is it there only to say, “I’m a part of the body?” We may be tempted to think that adoption’s purpose is to exercise God’s power but that would lead to pride. Adoption is not only to rule—it is also here to serve the entire spiritual Body of Jesus Christ.
Did not the Lord Jesus show us by His words and example that the one that truly rules is the one that serves?
Now, here is a good time to pause and think about how your natural body functions while keeping in mind what Paul taught the church at Corinth.
For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12
When you’re ready, pick back up here.
Okay, so now that you’ve thought on that, let’s look at this parallel of the natural body a little more closely.
Every part of the body has a specific place and a specific purpose. The kidney cannot move over to the lung’s grounds and say, “this is where I belong, I’ll do my job better here.”
No. Body parts that don’t function as they ought to—or leave their original position—lead to dysfunction and disease. The same is true in the spiritual body.
God has a place for each of His own and He leads us to it as we show our zeal, love, and faithfulness to His Word.
When God places you in the Body, or gives you a spiritual gift, you are responsible for its use. You rule that spiritual territory. Now this might sound strange, but it shouldn’t. The Bible says “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” (1 Corinthians 14:32). You therefore, rule over the portion of the Holy Ghost that is given to you. Now by you I don’t mean the human element, I mean that aspect of God that’s on the inside of your soul.
Just like in biblical Israel, each Isaraelite inherited or ruled over a certain part of the possession that served to benefit the whole tribe (and ultimately the nation of Israel), so each member of Christ’s body rules a portion of God’s spiritual kingdom. Through good stewardship of what God has given to you, the entire body benefits.
Now this is true for pastors but it’s also true for the laity who have been gifted with various gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12) or have been called to serve. You are responsible to give God a good spiritual return on what He has given to you and use it as He would for He has given you authority because He trusts you.
How was our inheritance given to us, through what? Predestination. Predestination is foreknowledge. How did God know He could trust you to be a preacher? His foreknowledge. “Not he that willeth or he that runneth, or he…It’s God that sheweth mercy.” That’s right, predestination. He knew what was in you. He knowed what was in you before you even come on the earth. He knowed what was in you before there was an earth for you to come on. That’s—that’s Him. That’s the infinite God, the infinite.
Rev. William Marrion Branham, 60-0522E – Adoption #4
Now this, to me, is where things really get rich. Just as God brings us individually to a place that He can use us and work through us, so He has been building His Bride for 2,000 years to get her to a place of adoption—a time where the Word that leaves Her lips is backed up by God Himself.
Now this has happened as individuals. We see and know that when you are correctly placed by God in your ministry or role in life, God will honor your words to minister to those He has given to you.
If you’ll permit me to say so, that’s one of the secrets that I have held before God constantly as a pastor these may years. When I have a dire need or situation to face that involves the people (not myself), I am confident that I can use my status before God as a minister to intercede. You may have heard me in prayer say things like “I claim this one” etc. That is what I mean.
Because this is my office, or my place in the Body, by His Grace there are times when He will honor that faith that I hold over this spiritual ground. Now I do not often talk about this but, I believe it’s a time for things to be said plainly so we can understand. To quote Paul, “I magnify my office (Romans 11:13).”
Now, we are in a time where the Bride of Christ is pulling into shape to operate collectively as representatives of the Lord Jesus—what we call adopted sons of God.
Forgive me for what I am about to say. Adoption is not something to look to like a Hindu/Buddhist Nirvana. I do not mean to be disrespectful but that is the clearest way I can make my point.
It is not something that we can be “good enough” to attain. As the individuals within the spiritual Body of Jesus Christ take their place, the Body collectively will take its place. Israel as a nation settled Canaan land under Joshua as each individual family possessed the land.
In the days of Nehemiah, the entire land was resettled as each family group repaired their own inheritance.
We are now in the season of adoption, where the entire family of God moves under the Spirit’s anointing to speak creative Words, but that moves as individuals take their place in the Body.
You remember I taught that adoption means to stand in the place of Jesus Christ? Frankly that was the whole point of adoption in the ancient world. A son could represent his father in any business deal. His word was just as powerful as his father’s word.
That is what the Bride of Christ is to be doing today. Throughout the ages, we had portions of Christ representing Himself in the church but now we are here to speak and act on His behalf.
“Go right back to Genesis, to the original, what is it? Now the world and nature is groaning, crying, everything’s moving. What? For the manifestation of the sons of God, when true sons, born sons, filled sons speak and their word is backed. I believe we’re on the border of it right now. Yes, sir. Say to this mountain, let it be so.
81 “Brother, I—I desire so-and-so, a certain thing done. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ.”
82 “I give it to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen. There’s a manifestation.
83 “Oh, brother, my crops are burning up out yonder. I haven’t had any rain.”
84 “I’ll send you a raining, in the Name of the Lord.” There she’ll come. Oh, waiting, groaning, all nature waiting for the manifestations of the sons of God. God ordained it at the beginning.”
60-0522E – Adoption #4 Rev. William Marrion Branham
This couldn’t happen in any other day because now the End-Time Word has been revealed. Now, the Seals have been opened. Now, the antichrist is enthroning himself in the church and now Christ is enthroning Himself in His Bride.
Let’s pause here for today and next week, if the Lord tarries, I’d like to look at what this means for the Millennial rule. You’ll understand why our adoption as a Bride is necessary for the Millennium to take place, what adoption has to do with our change of body and why Satan will be bound for 1,000 years.
Main takeaways:
Tonight I’d like to approach the subject of Spiritual Adoption. Let me say before I begin that the biblical principle of spiritual adoption is a deep topic that has many different perspectives. By no means do I want to discredit any minister.
For myself, I tend to be rather individualistic— I like to avoid other ministers thoughts when it comes to sounding out the deep things of God’s Word. I try to prove everything by the Scripture and line up my conclusions with the Message of the Hour. One thing is certain. None of us can honestly claim to know the full scope of God’s plan. Like so many things in the Word, adoption has many aspects to it.
But, seeing as God has given me the oversight of my flock, and that we are in a season of great spiritual trial, I believe every Christian must develop a clear understanding of his or her place in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. To that end, I want to devote the next few podcasts to a close study on Adoption.
Each episode will not be long. I’m cutting them short so you can pause the recording, take your Bible out, and study. Write out any questions you may have and I’ll address them in church the first weekend in December, Lord willing.
Spiritually, adoption means the placing of a son of God. It is a moment where God confers trust and power upon His children, giving them an authority that is equal to His own in that specific calling. Now, this is hard for a lot of western churches to accept so let’s dig back into the scripture (our absolute).
In the Garden of Eden, God gave His original seed children (Adam and Eve) an authority on Earth that was equal to His own in heaven. Genesis 1:28 reads,
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 1:28NIV
Just as the Father ruled over heaven and earth, He now had given dominion to His children. This was His original purpose. This is still His original purpose. Adam ruled with love over God’s creation, taking care of the planet and keeping it in perfect order.
I want you to notice that God gave this responsibility to His children after He recognized them as being in HIs image (Gen. 1:27). He could only trust them with such power after He recognized them as looking like Himself and knew that they would think like Him and remain true to His Word. Now Adam was not an adopted son—he was a created son—but I want to lay a basis here by showing you what God’s plan is for His family.
This is a good spot to pause for a few minutes, go through the Word, and make sure you get what I’m saying. When you’re ready, pick back up here.
Alright, so now that we’ve established what God’s plan was, we realize that the Bible says He never changes (Malachi 3:6a). So He still wants to trust His children with responsibility. Paul expresses this clearly when he writes the following:
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:4-7KJV
I encourage you to read the whole chapter as you study. Now, Paul shows us that although sin separated us from God, through Christ we are redeemed so that we can receive this placing (or adoption) of sons. This doesn’t mean that you are now coming into the family of God. As Paul said, because we are (already) sons, God gave us the Holy Spirit. We were already children of God, even when we were in sin. But God couldn’t recognize us as His children because we weren’t in His own image or likeness. We were in the image of sin, tarnished by evil…but we were still children of God.
Our second birth is simply a recognition that we are sons of God. Then our lives start to conform to God’s Word and we grow in the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 121-2). Now, when God looks at you, He can see His own image and likeness.
Sound familiar? I hope so. In other words, God can trust us with authority as He did Adam because we have grown into His image and likeness.
This might be the most thorny part of my talk on adoption. Let me start off by quoting Ephesians.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:5-6
Some put adoption off to a future time. There is a truth to that as we’ll discuss next week. But the adoption as a whole is not in the future. Part of it is to be fulfilled right now. The Scripture declares we are the sons of God right now (1 John 3:2) and are adopted, or placed into the Body of God after being filled with the Holy Ghost.
Your adoption is not your birth. Your adoption is your placing. When you were born again, I believe, when we are born of the Spirit of God, we are sons of God. But we were predestinated. Now here’s what I’m trying to get you to, for this sons of the last day, you see. To…See? We were predestinated to (unto) adoption.
60-0518 – Adoption #2 Rev. William Marrion Branham
The New Birth is not the adoption. As I said before, we’re born of the Spirit of God when we recognize our status as sons of God by divine revelation. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us and fills us with His power, and we are totally regenerated. However, God watches our life after that New Birth to see if we can be trusted with a position of authority or service. That is what the Holy Ghost came to do—to set us into service within the Body.
Now, you’re a Christian when you accept Jesus. And when the Blood of Jesus Christ was applied to you, your sins are (your habits and filth of this world that you wallowed in), is gone from you. Smoking, drinking, gambling: all these unclean habits leave you by sanctification. And then the Holy Spirit comes in, and anoints you, and puts you in service, to do something for Him.
54-0516 – Questions And Answers (Law Having A Shadow) Rev. William Marrion Branham
For example, Christ’s spiritual body is filled with all kinds of gifts and callings. Paul referenced this (1 Corinthians 12). God’s purpose is to give us all a part, a responsibility, within this great body. It is not all tongues—some are apostles, housewives, prophesiers, pastors etc. Our adoption comes when God places us into the role that He has called us to within the body.
Now, I know that might go against the grain a little but pause this podcast and search it through the Scripture. When was Joshua adopted? It wasn’t in Egypt nor in the wilderness journey. It was just after he entered the Promised Land.
You say, Joshua? Adopted?
Didn’t God recognize his word? God honored Joshua’s word as an earthly angel to save Rahab the prostitute. Because Joshua said that Rahab would be spared, God shook down the entire city but spared Rahab’s apartment. Because Joshua said “Sun, stand still!” God from heaven halted the entire process of nature. Was this at the end of his life?
No.
Was it when he began his service to God’s earthly body called Israel?
Yes.
After forty years of testing in the wilderness, God made Joshua’s word as good as His own in the role as leader of the army of the Lord, the Church, the Body of the Lord.
What is the Body of Christ? Some are apostles, some are prophets, some are teachers, some are evangelists, and some are pastors. Is that right? We’re called to. Others has gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongue, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, working of miracles, all these different gifts.
60-0518 – Adoption #2 Rev. William Marrion Branham
Let’s fast-forward to the Lord Jesus, the Head of this great Body. Jesus was really a begotten Son, for He was born in the womb of a woman as we are. Adam was a created son, Jesus was begotten, and we are adopted. But I want you to realize that regardless of how we came to earth, we all have the same opportunity, the same status before God as we show our faithfulness to Him and to His Word.
When was Christ adopted?
On Mount Transfiguration, God placed all authority in Christ’s hands (Matthew 17:1-8). He was born the Son of God. He had preached the Gospel and done miracles. God had already publicly declared that He was His Son. But now Christ was about to serve the Body and culminate His ministry by dying and rising again on the Third Day.
And a Voice came from Heaven, said, “This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him.” Amen. “I’ve placed Him positionally. That’s My Son. What He says, I’ll back up. He’s kept My Words. He’s fought through all these denominations and everything else and has kept the faith. He—He’s pulled no punches. He—He’s been true. He’s always about My work. When people look at Him, they see Me. This is My Son, hear ye Him.”
61-0317 – Abraham’s Grace Covenant Rev. William Marrion Branham
Spiritual adoption truly means that we stand in the place of God in a specific role. Part of that entails rulership and dominion, for God is the sovereign King of Kings. But it’s also carrying out His will. Doing the work that He wants done on Earth for we are His representatives. That’s what mature sonship is all about.
So often we disagree on petty things and act as spiritual children. So often we adopt the habits, dressing, and desires of the world which keep God from placing us as His sons and daughters. In short, the enemy has the victory in our lives. But adoption comes to change that.
Adoption means we enforce the rule of God and bind the enemy wherever he is. This is a beautiful study that goes into the millennium and Satan being bound for 1,000 years with a chain of circumstances. Next week, Lord willing, I’d like to dive into that part.
But tonight, I’d like to close tonight with a Scripture found in the Old Testament that speaks of the End Times.
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Malachi 3:17
Sonship is equated with service or ministry. The same truth is shown in the last book of the New Testament where John shows the Bride as the one who “serve Him day and night in His temple” (Rev. 7:15).
A few weeks ago, I made a very important decision. I disconnected from my cell phone, shut down everything, and disappeared into God’s office which most people call simply… the woods.
I was there for a meeting with our most wonderful Lord Jesus and He did not disappoint.
Even before I showed up, that still small Voice in my heart began to point out some things that I needed to change. I believe now that these “life pointers” are not just for my benefit but for yours as well.
So, let me share two strategies that can help you go from being an overwhelmed Christian to an overjoyed one.
Each of us has a million things screaming at us each day. Tasks that need to be done, homework deadlines etc. And—sinner or saint—we all struggle with the constant daily grind. But God’s Word shows us that Jesus came so the Christian can have “life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b).
So how do we get rid of the anxiety and despair that sometimes stems from simply having a “to-do” list that’s just too much?
First, remember that, while God will never give us more than we can bear, we can take on more than He meant for us to carry.
Simply put, ask yourself if the responsibilities on your shoulders are all part of God’s plan…or yours? This is where many of us make a critical mistake.
If we take too much upon ourselves—or allow others to push us into a situation where we’re trying to do God’s will PLUS their will—we run the risk of burning ourselves out and increasing our anxiety levels.
Remember, God is all about peace. Simplicity. Focusing on one major task that He has given us to accomplish.
This can be quite challenging, especially if you are a gifted person. Realize that every gift of God is also a burden. As the Scripture writes,
A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.
Proverbs 18:16
In other words, your talents and gifts will manifest themselves in ways that will connect you to others. Depending upon your gifts, this can easily translate into a spiritual or mental burden.
For example, Moses was gifted with leadership abilities and faith. While God had a purpose for these talents, they quickly became bogged in day-to-day decisions, and Moses became overwhelmed. Jethro wisely advised Moses not let his gifts control him and to let others shoulder that responsibility.
The point is, Moses was quickly becoming overwhelmed because he didn’t step back and focus his talents on the calling of God in his life. Like many of us, he had a heart for people and this streak in his nature would drive him to ruin if left unchecked.
The same is true for you. Control your gifts; don’t let them control you.
You might be gifted with a nature of compassion. If you’re not careful, you can take responsibilities onto your shoulders that God did not direct you to take. If that’s the case you will become overwhelmed.
Even though your desire is good and your motive may be pure, as Christians we must be wise stewards of our time and stress loads—especially now.
Warren Buffett is a billionaire and, one of the top ten wealthiest people in the world in 2020. He made a statement that I believe is a sound lesson for Christians to apply to their lives.
“The difference between successful people and really successful people, is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
Warren Buffett
Why do I believe we can learn something here? Because, although I don’t equate success with money, the truth is, that effective Christians live very focused lives. They live in ways that are centered around the calling God has placed within them.
Now, this doesn’t just mean the ministry. Your calling might be your career, it might be your role as a housewife, or a work in society, such as an orphanage etc. Whatever God has called you to do will bring its own share of burdens—burdens that God has promised will not overwhelm you.
Don’t go beyond the scope of that calling unless the Spirit specifically directs you to do so.
We sometimes feel guilty for turning down requests for help, especially from fellow believers. I’m not advocating for selfish living. I think we need to be willing to help one another even if it’s a sacrifice. But that has to be kept in balance.
If your sacrifice to help someone will hinder you from fulfilling other roles for which God has placed you on earth, then you need to say no.
The Lord Jesus lived an extremely focused life. And He did say “no.” Critics might consider Him myopic but not once did He go beyond the scope of the ministry that He had been given, although He had the power, the wisdom, and the talents necessary to do so.
For example, the zealots knew He was the perfect man for their cause. Jesus had the people in the palm of His hand. Just one word from Him and every Israelite who believed in Him would rally against the power of Rome. The Sadducees and Pharisees also recognized the potential political influence that Jesus could wield.
But the Scripture is clear:
But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,
John 2:24
Focusing exclusively on the calling of His life caused Jesus to turn down many opportunities–including opportunities to serve. But in doing so, He was able to successfully accomplish the mission that had been entrusted to His care. As a result, the world would never be the same.
God does not want you to be overwelmed. He does not want you to be stressed. His plan is that you rejoice continuously throughout this life, realizing His power and His presence more with each day. So don’t complicate you life by falling into the trap of equating success with productivity.
Don’t fill up each moment. Leave many empty spots in your day so that Christ can fill them with His goodness. In so doing, you will find that life is richer. Sweeter.
And, instead of being overwhelmed, you will be overjoyed at what God is doing in and through you.
This week, enrich your time with God by listening to:
Letting off the Pressure, 05.18.1962
Meditate on Psalm 103 (the whole chapter).
The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of my personal favorites. Not only is it rich in breathtaking imagery, but the wisdom that fills each verse is beyond human comprehension. Inspired by the Spirit of God, Solomon presents us with very realistic insights into life, death, and God’s plan for each of us between those two points.
In today’s post-sermon, I want to draw on Ecclesiastes 1 to focus on how to overcome stagnancy in our natural and spiritual lives.
Many times we find ourselves in spiritual/mental “ruts”. These are places where we can’t move forward. We feel stuck. Confused. Sometimes even like a prisoner.
We may pray or seek spiritual guidance, but we don’t always see the results that we want right away. Sometimes we need to cling to things or people too much and that hinders us from being able to move on. Our memories of the past can stop us from embracing what God has planned for our future.
No matter what the reason, we need to overcome stagnancy to grow into the men and women that Christ envisions.
One generation passes away and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:4
To overcome stagnancy, we need to recognize that our time on this earth is too precious to stand still.
Change is all around us. Sometimes it is good and sometimes not. We can only live a full and complete life when we align ourselves with the opportunities for positive change that God brings to us.
On my way up to church this morning, I almost missed my exit off the highway because I saw a brilliant maple tree that lit up the road with its gorgeous leaves that were painted in shades of red.
What allowed that tree to change?
It accepted the fact that the season had turned. Somehow, unbeknownst to you and me, a message was sent to all creation in our area that the fall season is here.
Ecclesiastes 1 shows us that life is filled with great cycles. Distinct seasons of change happen—spring and summer, birth and death. They are all part a great circle that keeps our world turning.
If we hold onto one stage we will never be able to embrace the next. This is why the Christian must always look forward. That is why we must always be willing to let go of what we have now to accept what God has in store.
For that tree to stay in tune with God’s program, it had to change.
So do you and I. Stagnancy, or the refusal to let go of the past and move on, can keep us from fulfilling our part in God’s plan.
Sometimes we get a certain thought in our minds—a desire that we have or a goal that is un-reached. Stagnancy will keep us focused on that desire or goal while God may have another path to which He is trying to attract our attention.
Many of us have heard of Fanny Crosby, the author of more than 9,000 hymns. One of the first things that comes to mind about Fanny is that she was blind. She wasn’t born blind— her affliction came from the wrongful treatment of a pretended doctor. You can imagine the disappointment this produced, especially when it was followed by the death of her father a few months later.
A stagnant approach would be to focus on her blindness. But Fanny once made the following remark.
Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind? Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”
Fanny Crosby
Her refusal to remain stagnant—or to focus her attention on her condition instead of what she could do for the Lord—led Fanny Crosby to become one of the most influential songwriters of of all time. By age 23, she had addressed Congress and wrote hymns for several U.S. presidents.
Why? What allowed this woman to move forward instead of remaining stagnant?
When we understand that we only have this brief span of life to be all that God wants us to be, we become driven to accomplish God’s purpose. We embrace the challenges His Word offers us and grow by them. We accept the difficult situations of life, no matter how unpleasant, because we know that through them He is molding us into His image.
Yes, the earth endures but you and I only have a few heartbeats. So make every moment count.
What if a tree could talk? Imagine if it could say, “well I’m comfortable where I am. I don’t want to push forth the effort to grow or to change.” It would die. But all of nature portrays that change is life and life is change. Likewise, to be stagnant is to die on the inside. We must push forth the effort to grow in Christ and as human beings.
The past may comfort us. The past may be filled with things we’d rather forget. It can inspire us, or make us laugh. But the past should never rule over us. It should never dictate how we live in the present. Because today is a new day—a day that brings us closer to the Eternal Day which will never end.
Fanny Crosby died about a month before she turned 95. Her last verse of poetry read, “You will reach the river brink, some sweet day, bye and bye.” I’m confident that she got her wish and that the first face she saw was the Lord Jesus.
As our world and our lives change in ways most of us never imagined, let’s focus on our attitude.
Look inside. Do you recognize the opportunity that this new season brings to you? Or do you focus so much on the negative that you can’t see the beauty of what’s right ahead?
Recognize that we only have today. And, with that mindset, embrace God’s plan for this season in your life.
Brother Joseph
Ecclesiastes 1 (whole chapter)
1 John 2 (whole chapter)