If not for the grace of God, we would not spend the time we do answering
some of the patent nonsense you will find in this series of letters
from the followers of Branham. It seems the height of foolishness to
know better and yet to answer such foolishness as comes from the mouths
of idolaters. But, dear reader, we have all been in darkness, and you
are too, to whatever degree you have not come into the Light. God has
determined that all things be brought to Light, that He might judge
the foolish and rebellious that vex Him by the lies and deluded ways
they attribute to Him by falsely taking His Name upon themselves while
causing others to blaspheme on account of the evil report they bring
of Him. That is what He is doing here, through us, that you might also
repent of every false way and come to know the Lord as He is in Truth,
in all patient rebuke and demonstration of His righteousness.
Then will come that glorious day when the saying shall be fulfilled: “And
they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the LORD; for they shall all know Me, from the
least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive
their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more” (Jeremiah
31:34 HNV).
Thanks for your email. I came across your article yesterday as I
was browsing through your homepage. There is so much that you have
brought out that is so close to the message of Bro. William Marrion
Branham which I have been listening to since I was a young seventeen
year old lad since 1972.... about Godhead, women preachers, organized
religion, God’s sovereignty and ‘predestination’,
the truth about salvation, etc... I was quite amazed and almost thought
could it be you may have even heard of him... ? I could very much
relate with your expose of “The Purpose driven Life” book,
as it is just what I been trying to share with others on similar
subject lines. In my postings, I use various quotes of Brother Branham’s
to help everyone I know realize how ‘blinded’ this age
is, because he brought these things out very powerfully during his
ministry on earth when he was alive. His sermon recordings are from
1948 right through to 1965, and to me, are nothing but the TRUTH.
God powerfully vindicated his ministry, and I believe, today stands
as a “writing on the wall” to this generation. Your views
and exposes are not far from his, on these vital subject lines so
relevant today.
The list of addresses in the “undisclosed recipients” are
mostly my own contacts - of about 450 addresses of family, friends,
and interested believers who have chosen to remain on my mailing
list from around the world, and who regularly receive from me, poignant
quotes and any interesting articles that I come across.
Anyway, Paul, I do apologize if perhaps I should have asked your
permission to do so first..? I felt the liberty to do so because
I believe the truth is for everyone to know far and wide as you said,
and if it was myself writing it, that would not be an issue. I could
identify with so much of all that you and Victor Hafichuk have written,
that I had already thought of contacting you. Well now you have contacted
me, which is just as well.
I will actually copy below just a few of my previous
postings (of
Bro. Branham’s quotes) to my family and friends, which are
saying what you are saying too.
God bless,
Joseph
Paul’s reply:
Hi Joseph,
No problem at all with sending out our writings as you did here. We
appreciate your doing so, and also that you included our website and
addresses. As I wrote in my first letter, we welcome anyone sharing
the truth the Lord has given us, even when it is our enemies trying
to defame us. The Word of God goes out all the same. That is cause
for rejoicing.
We are familiar with William Branham. Victor went to a meeting of
Branhamites in 1981, and more recently we have had involvement with
a couple that attended a Branhamite church. They were quite messed
up, and their minister was not helping them at all. In fact, he was
exacerbating their strife and problems. He also took advantage of them
financially. It was a terrible mess, and while they were greatly responsible
for their own woes, they were not finding the answer in a Branhamite
church or doctrine.
That is the problem, or issue, Joseph. Doctrines, even true ones,
are not enough to save anyone, or to deliver from sins, problems, or
darkness. Consider: If they were then all peoples professing to believe
the Bible as the Word of God and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would
be in agreement, having peace and prosperity of soul. But we see the
opposite: strife, contention, unrest, and confusion. Babylon.
The only answer and effectual Word of God is the living Word made
flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ, not the Bible, religion, philosophies,
doctrines, professions of faith or miraculous powers in whatever form,
from whatever place:
“For false christs and false prophets will be raised up, and
they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible,
even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 EMTV).
The Lord has shown us that Branham was a false prophet. More appropriately
said, He has opened our eyes so that we recognize the difference between
true and false. Without this miraculous work of grace, we are certainly
deceived, or at least in the dark.
The false may have many true doctrines, as Branham (though he also
had many false), but there is one great dividing factor between the
sheep and the goats, those that are the Lord’s and those that
talk about Him but do their own works, and that factor is the cross.
Branham did not preach the cross. He could not, because he had not
experienced it. He was doing his own thing, religious, and possibly
with miraculous powers, but not of God.
The cross is not hardship, opposition, persecution, nor is it identifiable
by any external marker, though those who take up the cross will experience
all of those things. The cross is an internal event arranged by the
Lord, entered into by faith, and suffered unto death of our hopes,
aspirations, gods, and everything we have and are or think to be. It
is the end of us, and the beginning of Jesus Christ, the second Adam.
Thereafter, we are crucified with Christ, and it is no longer we, but
He that lives in us. The life we now live is by the faith of the Son
of God.
I will give you an example from your postings that demonstrates Branham
did not know the cross, though it will require faith on your part to
discern the truth of what I show you. The quote from Branham:
“Our heavenly Father, You said in Your Word: ‘If I be
lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto Me.’ And, that
is our purpose in life, is to lift up before a dying generation of
people, that Jesus Christ is still the Son of God, the Saviour of the
world. And I’m so happy to know that I live where there is people
who believe that, and along with the thousands that has accepted Him
as their Saviour.”
There is only one way that Jesus Christ is lifted up, and Branham
does not mention that, because he did not know it himself. That way
is in the same text preceding the words of Jesus that Branham quoted:
“In most solemn truth I tell you that unless the grain of wheat
falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was--a single grain;
but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. He who holds his life
dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in
this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. If a man wishes to
be My servant, let him follow Me; and where I am, there too shall My
servant be” (John 12:24-26 WNT).
Christ is only lifted up by and in those that die in Him. He is not
lifted up by men’s preaching using His Name, or by any amount
of Bible teaching, meetings, singing, or religious works. Only those
that go into the ground with Him, baptized into His death, can join
Him where He is now, being lifted up by His resurrection power, presently,
and not just after physical death. The grain of wheat is planted alive,
not dead. It goes into the ground to die. Then the Lord, being lifted
up in these earthen vessels yielded to Him, will draw all men to Himself.
God forbid that this is something to happen only after physical death!
He is no liar that promises what He cannot, and does not, deliver.
His will is done on earth, as in Heaven. But Branham puts these things,
and, yes, the Lord Himself, into the future. Here are Branham’s
words, following the ones quoted above:
“And knowing that after this life is finished, there will be
a life on the other side that’ll be so glorious that this toils
and few hours that we’re passing through these shades and shadows
of life here in the testing ground, that we are merely entering into
the orbit now, waiting for the countdown, for soon there will come
a time that when God’s time is fulfilled. The great arm, that’s
held back the time so long, will finally let go, and His church will
move off from this earth in space out yonder into a land where there’ll
be no sickness, sorrow, old age, death. That’s why we are gathered
today, Lord, is to express our feeling about these things.”
I do not discount the life to come in the next realm. The problem
here is that Branham does not confess the Life that is here in this
one, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord went on to say this after the
verses I just quoted:
“And if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John
12:26 LITV).
William Branham was killed in a car accident. Is that the kind of
honor Jesus was talking about, that God’s faithful servants could
expect? Or do these words of the Lord apply here?:
“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed
them, do you think that they were sinners above all men who lived in
Jerusalem? I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise
perish” (Luke 13:4-5 MKJV).
Even Branham alludes to the sinful and lying state of one dying as
he did, in the messages you sent me:
“And you’ll see a accident that just almost takes your
life and you’ll say, ‘Oh, if I would’ve died... Lord,
thank You for sparing me. I’m going to serve You.’ Then
forget about it (See?), until one’s done caught you. See? And
then--then it’s too late.”
“I am going to serve You”? That is the flesh speaking.
How about repenting in dust and ashes? Who is the sinner that is rebuked
by the circumstances God brings upon him that will dare to say to Him, “But
now I will serve You”? Can a man give anything to God, or bargain
with Him? What a despicable notion! No man is good. None can serve
God, except those to whom it is given:
“And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called
of God, as Aaron was” (Hebrews 5:4 MKJV).
Jesus said that we should confess ourselves unprofitable after we
have done His will, but Branham declares himself profitable before
he does it. In a single statement, that is the difference between true
and false religion.
We are, all of us - those who know and serve God, unprofitable servants,
doing only what He has given us to do. If He does not give it, we are
all toast, goners, with nothing whatsoever to recommend us to Him,
or to others.
What we hear from Branham are the ramblings of an incoherent, boastful
fool. That does not say much for where you are at, Joseph. But we hope
better things for you, which is why we speak the truth to you, as we
must with every person, not seeking the favor of men, but of God, Who
is for all.
Paul
Joseph, in response, sent us excerpts from a writing from William
Branham with a large picture of “Jesus” carrying the cross,
and this question:
You said he didn’t personally know God and the message of the
cross....??
He also sent Gene Shaparenko’s site of false accusations to
his recipient list.
And this reply to us:
Paul, Victor, and associates,
Although I had misjudged you at first, it is absolutely certain now
to me that you both have unashamedly blasphemed against God.
Whether you accept it or not - it needs to be declared unto you,
if someone else hasn’t already done so by now.
Deception is always so close to the truth, but some of your comments
are a blatant and outright refute to God’s own Word.
I would rather not go into too much detail, but generally you do
not even trust the BIBLE as God’s Word, which is a true Christian’s
ONLY ABSOLUTE and protection against Satan!
Have you ever heard of these three witnesses in the BIBLE...? (Perhaps
you need a most basic lesson?):
MATTHEW 24:35
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
MARK 13:31
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
LUKE 21:33
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
That’s the irrefutable importance God places on HIS WORD. ... and you
have clearly declared, which I quote you:
“The only answer and effectual Word of God is the living Word made flesh,
the Lord Jesus Christ, not the Bible...” !!!
- An absolute contradiction to the SPIRIT OF TRUTH - WHO
HIMSELF WAS THE WORD MADE FLESH, and WHO HIMSELF MADE THOSE STATEMENTS - LOCKED INTO HIS WORD, FOR
ALL MANKIND OF ALL AGES TO KNOW AND TAKE REFUGE BEHIND!
Even a novice ought to be able to discern that with no hesitation.
No matter what or how you try to get out of the BIBLE as God’s absolute
infallible Word, it will fall back on you, even as in the Garden of Eden.
Satan deceived Eve through the serpent using God’s Word, with an
element of error added.
She and Adam fell BECAUSE they failed to rightly discern this, and
went out from the PROTECTION of GOD’S COMPLETE WORD, being the
cause of all SIN... which is UNBELIEF IN HIS WORD.
It’s as simple as that.
As such, I will not, and do not wish to go into any further dialogue
with you.
It is also now clear to me that an evil religious spirit has anointed
you and upon those who actually sympathize with you.
As another fellow human being, I can only pray for your souls - if
they are redeemable. ”Claiming” yourselves to be exceptional
in what you do is just fulfilling the scripture for YOUR
OWN PART and destiny. Enough said.
In parting here are just some
responses I have received from my friends
about your diatribe against God’s Word-prophet.
You don’t need to respond please. Thanks.
Goodbye,
Joseph
Victor’s reply:
You use images, Joseph, breaking the Second Commandment.
You point to an historical Christ and an historical cross, neither
of which will save you, any more than it saves Catholics.
You accuse us of denying that the Bible is the Word of God. You lie.
We do no such thing. What we do is point to the Present, Living Christ,
Who dwells in us, the Author and Substance of the Bible, and Whom we
love and serve by the cross.
“Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of Me. And you will not come
to Me, that you might have life. I receive not honour from men. But
I know you, that you have not the love of God in you” (John 5:39-42).
You and your people have jumped to all sorts of false conclusions
about us and made false accusations, being without knowledge. You do
not clarify or seek to understand; you only attack and revile. And
now you slink away with tails between your hind legs, as fearful cowards.
How is it we are of Satan, yet unafraid to stand up to you and your
great “jesus”? We are not afraid of you, for fear is not
of God. You are the ones who are afraid.
You people have religion and idolize a man, which would do you no
good even if he were a true man of God. You have nothing but vain religion,
foolish doctrine, manifest emptiness and confusion. It is you who blaspheme
and not we. You are the ones in danger of Hellfire and unforgiveness,
and not we who speak to you by and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, without fear,
ignorance or apology,
Victor
Victor also asked, in relation to Gene’s site:
Another question, Joseph,
Why would you use this information, being a false testimony against
us, spread it to your group, even though the source of this information
would also deny Branham to be a man of God? Does that make sense?
Joseph’s reply:
There are “countless” sites on the Internet that put out
false, damning, and inaccurate articles against Bro. Branham, this
one by ‘Aqua Technology’ included, which has sadly “bagged” him
along with you chaps!
Yes, although it was more dedicated to “exposing” you
and Paul, it also invariably dumped Bro. Branham in as of the same
false light..!
Yes, in spite of that, I sent it out to some of my friends in
confidence,
simply because I know them well and who are all true believers who’ve
had a genuine experience with God.
I thus had NO fear in me to let them read and judge these
things for themselves, without my cencorship, to draw their own conclusions.
In these last days, the worldwide body of the SPIRIT OF TRUTH within
the Bride of Christ HAS sharp spiritual discernment (sharper than a
two-edged sword), and she is able to decipher any false witness/es.
Her filter is GOD’S REVEALED WORD OF THE HOUR - the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself, with her, Who is her protection - according
to HIS
WORD.
We know for ourselves that Bro. Branham was totally 100% surrendered
to the WORD, whilst you are the exact opposite to him, who do
not trust
the Bible as your absolute.
To place the two together under the same “group” only
goes to clearly show us the false prejudices and ignorance of all such
writers. However, it at least offered us a secondary view of your works,
from which to draw our own conclusions, or even make further searches
if necessary.
At the very start, it was I who had forwarded your article (on ‘the
purpose driven life’ book and it’s author Rick Warren),
to all my 470-over contacts.
At that time it happened to interest me, as it had ’appeared’ to
have ‘elements’ of truth, which I wanted to check out with
my friends.
So I sent it out for their study and further information in order
to receive their feedback.
It was with the SAME motive by which I sent out this particular article
(by ‘Aqua Technology’) which you’ve questioned.
It was actually forwarded to me by someone first.
We can now all quite clearly see the utter falsity of BOTH camps,
and have drawn our own conclusions.
By their fruits ye shall know them.
The cards are now opened on the deck and we know nothing is ever hid
from God.
Paul’s reply:
Joseph and associates,
You are false accusers, who, to maintain your darkness and sins, speak
lies. I did not say the Bible was not God’s Word. I said it was
not the effectual and Living Word of God - the One made flesh. That
is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a big difference between Him and
the Bible, but you do not see it. That is because you are Bibliolaters,
idolaters of the Bible.
According to your wicked interpretation, Jesus Christ was a Bible
before He took on the form of a man. To you, that is the Word made
flesh. You have exchanged God for ink on paper. The glorious Creator
for the creature! Him you do not know, see, or believe, and therefore
you do not believe the revelation of His Book, or those who have been
sent to preach in His Name. Jesus spoke to your kind as follows:
“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you
have eternal life; and these are they which testify about Me. But you
are unwilling to come to Me, so that you may have life” (John
5:39-40 EMTV).
And what do you say to the Lord Jesus when He speaks these words to
you? We have your reply, as follows:
“An absolute contradiction to the SPIRIT
OF TRUTH... No matter what or how you try to get out of the BIBLE
as God’s absolute
infallible Word, it will fall back on you, even as in the Garden of
Eden...the cause of all SIN... UNBELIEF IN HIS WORD...an evil religious
spirit has anointed you and upon those who actually sympathize with
you...As another fellow human being, I can only pray for your souls
- if they are redeemable. ’Claiming’ yourselves to be exceptional
in what you do is just fulfilling the scripture for YOUR OWN
PART and destiny.”
In other words, “He has a devil.”
It is not we, but you, who blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
Stephen writes that your god is not a god of fear and that, ”William
Branham’s proof was come stand next to me and argue, then we
can see who’s god is God.”
How can you see anything in your darkness? That is why you stumble
while fleeing, slobbering gibberish and slashing yourselves on the
altar of your idol, which will not save you. Nevertheless, you will
know that we have spoken the Word of God to you.
Paul
Victor’s reply:
Go for it, Satan; do your very worst, which is nothing to us. We have
nothing to fear. You are finished.
What did Jesus say about signs and sign seekers and those who bid
others to believe any signs but the Resurrected Christ, Whom none
of you know?
Here:
“
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there
shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
And he left them, and departed” (Matthew 16:4).
You simply do not deceive us, Satan. And even if William Branham
were a true prophet of God, it did you no good; you certainly have
nothing of God.
Victor
Sara also sent:
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible,
they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24 KJV).
Joseph’s reply:
II TIMOTHY 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
____________________________
I CHRONICLES 16:22
22 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
_________________
PSALMS 105:15
15 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
_________________
EXODUS 4:8
8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken
to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter
sign.
_________________
MATTHEW 12:38
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master,
we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation
seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign
of the prophet
Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly;
so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the
earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall
condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and,
behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here.
__________________________
LUKE 11:29
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This
is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it,
but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man
be to this generation.
31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this
generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.
32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and
shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold,
a greater than Jonas [is] here.
33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither
under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy
whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also
[is] full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
________________________________
JOHN 6:28 - 64
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works
of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe
on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see,
and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them
bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you
not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life
unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me.
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.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him
up at the last day.
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came
down from heaven.
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and
I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every
man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto
me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath
seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof,
and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give
us [his] flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat
the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in
him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that
eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did
eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This
is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto
them,Doth this offend you?
62 [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not.For Jesus
knew from the beginning who they were that believed not,and who should betray him.
_________________
JOHN 12:37-50
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not
on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake,
Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been
revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not
see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted,
and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of
the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but
on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should
not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came
not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth
him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me
a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak
therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
______________________________________
- KJV BIBLE
Gerald’s reply:
Yes, Victor, I know what Jesus said about sign-seekers. At
the same time He pointed them to a great sign - the sign of the prophet Jonah
- pointing to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
Jesus also rebuked the Pharisees for NOT being able to discern the “signs
of the times”. I am NOT a sign-seeker, but when
I see a sign I look to what the sign is pointing to. I get nowhere by hanging around
the sign post.
Unfortunately, during the Healing Revival of the 40’s and 50’s
most professing Evangelicals started leaning on the sign post, instead
of moving in the direction which the sign was pointing - the Coming
of the Lord Jesus. William Branham rebuked the preachers for putting
too much emphasis on “signs and wonders” and not enough
on “Salvation”. They wanted William Branham’s signs,
but they didn’t want the Word he preached - it was the same
with Jesus ministry. Jesus told us that the “works” (signs)
He did testified of who He was and if the people couldn’t believe
Him - His Words, He told them to believe the “works” He
had done among them. They choose to believe neither Him nor His works
(signs).
Gerald, it is to that very sign, the one and only one given, as Jesus
plainly declared, that we point you. We are that sign, raised from
the dead in Him. Your sign is that light over Branham’s head,
to which you have appealed, you or whoever had the “Believe the
Sign” site. That is idolatry of the rankest order. Signs and
wonders are not only from God, as you should know, but that does not
matter to a mesmerized idolater with glazed eyes.
We are not making Branham the issue here, as much as your companions
have evidently, yes, dramatically made him so. We have indeed touched
the apple, not of His eye, but of your eye. We have simply exposed
the corruption and death that is there, and the vicious reaction says
it all, a reaction of which you are aware if you red the letters of
those sent to Joseph, along with his letters.
Victor
Gerald, Paul here. The sign the Lord spoke of is also called the doctrine
of Christ. The apostle John said this about it:
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and
an antichrist.... If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (2
John 1:7-10 KJV).
Gerald’s reply:
Victor;
I wish you peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You signed your e-mail “Contending for the faith”. But,
judging from some of the things I read at your site and/or links
from it to other sites, I see people who are “bringing reproach
on the Word instead of bearing reproach for it”. Many anti-Branham;
anti-this preacher and anti-that preacher are no more than “religious
tabloids”, spreading religious gossip. I certainly don’t
see much Agape Love. I don’t see many, if any articles encouraging
the people to keep a right spirit and attitude. It’s more like
the same spirit that caused the Roman Catholic church to kill 68
million Christians during the Dark Ages. Our Lord Jesus rebuked His
disciples for “loving only those that loved them”. That’s
the same spirit the Pharisees had.
Abraham (because he lied), David because of his adultery and murder,
Moses, because of his stuttering and temper, Hosea, because he married
a prostitute, John, the baptist, because he dressed & acted like
a wild man, etc., etc. - they would in this day be thrown in with
Brother Branham and all the other preachers that many web sites condemn
and crucify.
I assure you sir, I do not idolize a man. I respect Brother Branham
as a Servant of God. He is now history, but I continue to move on
with the Lord in His Word. I Thank God for the many blessings I’ve
received and continue to receive through Bro. Branham’s ministry.
I love the Lord Jesus more than ever and I love his children.
It’s unfortunate that sometimes people focus on the fanatics “around” the
message brought by William Branham, rather than on those who hold
a “balanced revelation” in their hearts. It’s like
Balak, taking Baalim around the Camp of the Hebrews - hoping to get
Baalim to see them from a different angle and condemn them - but
he could only say what God put in his mouth.
I assure you that my e-mail is not meant to antagonize anyone - just
to express what I feel and what I see.
Thank you for your time.
Gerald Lush
Victor’s reply:
Gerald, I don’t know if you genuinely wish me peace through
our Lord Jesus Christ or not, but I can tell you, in all joy and thankfulness,
with a full knowledge of undeservedness, that we have His peace.
I would also say that it is impossible for you to have that peace
of Him you say you wish us, if you cannot perceive who and where we
are in Him, His sons and anointed brethren.
Your judgment of our site and our writings is after the flesh. Your
religiosity, the works of men, darkens your understanding. You have
no discernment. We bear much reproach for our stand in the True Lord
Jesus Christ, Creator and Savior of all, being one with and in Him.
This altercation with Joseph and his foolish companions is but a snippet
of what we suffer and bear patiently, with joy.
You are those who say you have God for your Father and Abraham for
your father, yet you do not hear or receive us, misinterpreting what
we say and accusing us of things for which we are not guilty. You have
no objectivity, no love for the Truth. If you did, you would hold your
tongue, pray, study, examine what we say – in context – and
then speak, unless you realize you have nothing to say because wrong.
Your “agape” love is of man and not of God. You have never
known His love. You don’t have it in you. If you did, we would
know it and receive it from you. You would love us. You don’t.
Why? Because we have touched your god.
Joseph scatters Scripture at us as one crazed, not even seeing that
the very Scriptures he uses apply to him. He thinks that he wields
the sword of the Spirit and that it will have its impact on us. For
his sake we write, but no, he thrashes on the ground in his foolishness,
foaming at the mouth, as though a demon has thrown him down. We come
to deliver, not to condemn. Paul’s original letter to him displays
that plainly, truthfully, we knowing fairly well the reaction would
come as it did. We have simply disturbed a den of vipers, a partisan
religious group centered on a man and on religion, thinking that in
so doing it centers on Jesus Christ. There is nothing further from
the truth.
Do we condemn you when we say these things? God forbid. We simply
speak the truth about you as given (unpalatable to you as it is and
must be) and leave the judgment to Him Who judges.
But you don’t see it as “encouraging the people to keep
a right spirit and attitude.” You see it as condemnation. That
is because you are already condemned, not believing. The only way we
can speak the way we do is because we truly love. Your love is of man,
phony, pleasing to the flesh, but disgusting to God, I truly and solemnly
tell you. You are deceived, Gerald, you and your companions. That is
why, out of true love, you are now exposed to God’s rebuke by
us.
We do not judge you by others, fanatical or not. We judge you by the
Spirit of Truth, judging righteous judgment, even as He has commanded
us.
While in your letter I recognize a hint of restraint, patience and
tolerance, unlike most if not all the other letters from your associates,
there is nevertheless great darkness. The examples you cite as you
apply them to us are unfair and without knowledge because, in fact,
you are not free of idolatry as you say. Your eye is far from single.
If it were single, you would see us.
If you truly desire to “move on with the Lord in His Word,” then
you had better reconsider, examine yourself and take a prayerful second
look at what we have to say; prayerful, I say, because without the
grace of God, you can see and hear nothing. And you do not now see
and hear as you think. Fasting and sackcloth are in order, Gerald.
Your politeness, yet apparent direct honesty, though in pride and
ignorance, gives me hope that you will listen and be moved to repent
in dust and ashes. Perhaps you will consider there is more here than
you bargained for, something very different from those with whom you
lump us. However we have seen far too much to count on that, at least
in the immediate future.
Read our testimonies and consider that one need not believe that any
man was “the last prophet” or even that he was a man of
God in order to be saved. That is not what the Scriptures say, unless
one reads into them, as many, if not all, Branhamites do with Malachi.
The Word testifies of THE Word, which is what we have been saying all
along, do say in our site, and now say to you. The very Scripture Joseph
sends us applies to you all. We are in Him of Whom the Testimony testifies:
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal
life. And they are the ones witnessing of Me, and you will not come
to Me that you might have life” (John 5:39-40 MKJV).
I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving that He was crucified,
buried and raised up from the dead for me that I might have His Life,
which can only be had by Him. I had not heard of William Branham and
did not need to hear of him. I am very thankful that I did not, especially
if what happened to you all were to happen to me. God forbid. Again,
read the testimonies and then tell me we err, as you do.
Yes indeed, contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
and ever so thankful that we are so privileged to be granted such a
high honor, to identify with the Lord Jesus in a religious atmosphere
heretofore inspired and ruled by the prince of darkness, an angel of
light, the usurper, but whom we now vanquish by the Sword of Light,
in the Lord Jesus Christ’s might, with alacrity and delight,
Victor
Paul’s reply:
Hi Gerald, Paul Cohen here,
Your letter and tone come across as somewhat reasonable. The same
cannot be said for Joseph. At least you are talking to us and we do
hear what you are saying, and understand where you are coming from.
You have opened the door for dialogue. Good. So let us talk about your
observations.
You say you see people bringing reproach on the Word. Be specific.
How do you see this? How are we bringing shame to Christ? Let’s
deal with a real and authentic measure of His teaching, example, and
doctrine. Read The
True Marks of a Cult and then tell us specifically
how we are in error, in spirit and deed, according to the ways and
teachings of the Lord. “Specific” means giving Scriptural
backing and examples as applied to our precise words and deeds.
You talk about encouraging people to keep a right spirit and attitude.
Just who are you proposing has a right spirit and attitude? Joseph?
It is obvious he does not. All he can do is sputter and produce massive
amounts of Branham quotes that say nothing apropos, and Scripture quotes
that are taken out of context and misapplied. You call that “Agape
Love”? Our letters are encouraging him to repent of his idolatry
and to get a right spirit and attitude. What do you propose for him?
What does your “Agape Love” tell you to do with him?
How about your attitude? You accuse us of having the same spirit as
the Roman Catholic Church. How do you see us having that? While they
committed crimes against humanity, which you cite (whether accurate
or not), where are our crimes that prove the same spirit? If you have
no evidence of any, then how can it be the same spirit? Where is the
fruit? Did not the Lord say to judge by the fruits?
Where do you see the Roman Catholic Church speaking out against hypocritical
and false religious leaders and their doctrines, as we do? You say
we are “anti-this preacher and anti-that preacher,” implying
that we are gossipers. Prove it. You show us where we are wrong in
what we preach or what we have said about anyone.
According to my dictionary, making accusations without evidence or
proof, as you do, is the spirit of the most pernicious and evil kind
of gossip. You are in the company of those who wag their tongues without
truth or any care to ascertain it.
By your standards, John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and all the myriads
of saints that appear with the Lord Jesus Christ to contend for the
faith “and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly deeds
which in their ungodliness they have committed, and of all the hard
words which they, ungodly sinners as they are, have spoken against
Him” (Jude 1:15) are out of line. You condemn us all. You, sir,
blaspheme the Holy Spirit, just like your fathers did, who also practiced
their form of “Agape Love,” worshipping at the altar of
Ashtoreth, the goddess of the kind of love you talk about, a love of
feelings rather than of Truth, of darkness, not of Light, which darkness
hates and strikes at in fear, as evidenced by the reaction of your
clan to my letter.
You are a hypocrite, Gerald. Your love is a lie and full of dung.
You condemn us for rebuking false professors of Christ, as though rebuking
is wrong, yet cite an example of the Lord rebuking His disciples, as
though you do not judge Him for doing the same. How was He not wrong
for not encouraging them? Are you not condemning God? If the Lord is
not wrong in rebuking His own, and we know He is not, then how are
we wrong for rebuking the wicked? If we are wrong, the Lord is even
more so. That is your wicked stance and accusation, Satan. We are aware
of your devices, as you know.
But we know that as many as the Lord loves, He rebukes and chastens.
He scourges every son He receives. It is Satan who coddles men in their
sins and encourages them in their foolish deceptions about their relationship
with God. “Yea, your eyes shall be opened to be as God.” And
so they think themselves to be. That is where you are at.
You seem to insinuate (if not outright accuse) that we are in the
same spirit as the Pharisees, and loving only those that love us. That
is exactly what you are doing. You are speaking up for your own, with
no thought or care for the Truth. Joseph and his partisan supporters
can rant and rage as a rabid dog, but you focus on us as the problem.
Did you not hear or know how Joseph approached us to begin with? He
had sent out one of our writings to his group. I contacted him to find
out more about him, and why he did this, and here is what he wrote
back:
“I felt the liberty to do so [share our writing with his list] because
I believe the truth is for everyone to know far and wide as you said,
and if it was myself writing it, that would not be an issue.
I could identify with so much of all that you and Victor Hafichuk have
written....”
Joseph was in agreement with us at first. We were thankful for his
sending out of the writing, and told him so. My letter to him, which
has stirred up the “hornet’s nest,” was not written
to one expressing enmity, but to one that “loved” us. What
you think to use against us backfires on you big-time. It proves the
opposite of what you are trying to prove. Instead of us loving only
those that love us, we are seen to love all, including those that falsely
love us, not suffering them to live in darkness and lies by denying
them the Presence of the Lord.
When Simon the Pharisee invited the Lord to his house for a meal,
did the Lord withhold Himself from pointing out Simon’s self-righteousness?
This is the love of God, forsaking the favor of man to speak the Truth,
which you condemn in us.
It appears you are also saying that we would harshly judge the saints
of the past if they were here today. Basically you are accusing us
of judging after the appearance. As I have been pointing out, that
is what you are doing. It is not whether one speaks harsh words or
not, but why they speak them. The same goes for apparently loving words.
You are not judging righteously yourself, according to the heart and
motive, but after the appearance, according to how you see things from
your carnal viewpoint. If you think we would condemn the saints for
their sins and faults, then you have not red our
testimonies.
You say you do not idolize a man, referring to Branham. To which we
say, “When we see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like
a duck and quacks like a duck, we call that bird a duck.” You
have set up a shrine to your idol, and worship at his altar. You are
right, though, when you say he is “history.” He is dead,
as are his works, and they are not yet speaking to us as are Abel’s.
If Branham gets the credit for your faith, then his was surely counterfeit,
because you do not recognize or know the Lord Jesus or His children
and brethren, whom you say you love. If you did, you would hear and
love us, because we are surely His. Read the links I have sent you.
Prove otherwise, or hold your peace.
It is another “Jesus” that you serve, made in the image
of corrupt man, Baal, and another love, the deceitful love of Ashtoreth.
The sins of men will be forgiven them, but not blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit. You are blaspheming the Spirit of God, which is why you
find no quarter in our sight, or in the sight of God, which is one
and the same.
“And then will come the revelation of that evil one, whom the
Lord Jesus will put to death with the breath of His mouth, and give
to destruction by the revelation of His coming” (2 Thessalonians
2:8 BBE).
Glory Hallelujah!
Paul
Gerald’s response to Sara:
Sarah;
Thank you for your e-mail and the admonition re “false Christs” and “false
Prophets”.
I agree - there are 100’s of 1000’s of false Christs
(anointed ones) and prophets all over the earth. Every Sunday the
pulpits are filled with such - teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men or some church creed - making the True Word of God of none
effect to the people.
The people swallow it hook, line and sinker and, in the words of
Evangelist Jack Coe, they’re going to hell at 10 or 20 miles
an hour, setting in a church; whereas the drunkard and harlot is
travelling at a 100 miles an hour.
One time Peter came under such an anointing, and Jesus rebuked him
saying that he didn’t know what spirit he was under. Yet Peter
(in the natural mind) had Jesus’ best interest at heart. He
was trying to stop Jesus from going up to Jerusalem, because Jesus
had said that it was there He would be betrayed and put to death.
There was a wrong anointing on Peter trying to hinder the fulfillment
of the Scriptures. Jesus stayed with the Word, even though it meant
that ALL men would forsake Him and eventually kill Him.
Thank God for a few ministers like Wigglesworth, Freeman, Coe, William
Branham and others, who in spite of rejection by the majority of
the clergy and people - they stayed with the True Word.
Re “false prophets” the Lord, in His Word gave us guidelines
for distinguishing a “true” prophet from a “false” prophet.
DEUTERONOMY 18:21-22;
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which
the LORD hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing
follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath
not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt
not be afraid of him.
JEREMIAH 28:6-9;
6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD
perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the
vessels of the LORD’S house, and all that is carried away captive,
from Babylon into this place.
(Here we have Jeremiah, the TRUE prophet saying AMEN to the words
of another Hebrew prophet Hananiah, from the school of prophets.
400 Hebrew prophets were all saying the same thing as Hananiah; and
he was right in that the ‘land’ belonged to Israel, etc.
But it would be restored to Israel in God’s way, not Ahab’s
way).
7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears,
and in the ears of all the people;
8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied
both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war,
and of evil, and of pestilence.
9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when
the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet
be known, that the LORD
hath truly sent him.
(In this age God can send a 1000 prophets and all their prophesies
can come to pass, but if he crosses up on the people’s doctrine
or ideas, they will not receive him. When the God-Prophet himself
- Jesus Christ came on the scene, He was rejected, not because of
His “signs and “wonders” but because He crossed
up their doctrines and religious ideas. NO SURPRISE that the religious
people are ready to crucify Him again. And they would use the same
Scripture that you gave concerning “false Christs and false
prophets”.)
NOTE: EZEKIEL 33:30-33;
30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are
talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses,
and speak
one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray
you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the
LORD.
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they
sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but
they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their
heart goeth after their covetousness.
32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that
hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for
they hear thy words, but they do them not.
33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall
they know that a prophet hath been among them.
The re-action of the majority to Jesus is the re-action of the
majority to all True servants of God: “We will not
have this man rule over us”. Remember, even in the New Testament, God always deals
WITH man THROUGH man. Ephesians 4:11 tells us that God has sit a
five-fold ministry in the Church - FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS.
The Holy SPirit teaches through the teacher, preaches through the
preachers, Evangelises through the Evangelist, etc.. Sad to say that
we have come to that time in history when “Every
man does that which is right in their own eyes”.
Grace and Peace.
Gerald Lush
Sara’s reply:
Mr. Lush,
Your letter is quite unclear.
Regarding your assertion that those following false preachers and
prophets are “going to hell at 10 or 20 miles an hour,” while
the drunkard or harlot is going there at 100 miles an hour, you contradict
what the Scriptures preach. They say:
“Which of them did the will of his father? They said unto Him,
The first. Jesus said unto them, Truly I say unto you, That the publicans
and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came
unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but
the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had
seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him” (Matthew
21:32).
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven” (Matthew
5:3).
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you
shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves,
neither suffer you them that are entering to go in” (Matthew
23:13).
Regarding the Scriptures I gave: So what if others, who do not want
to submit to those whom the Lord has sent, would use the same Scriptures?
The question is: Do the Scriptures apply, or do they not? Are you
going to discard the Scriptures because people have done things they
ought not with them? Also, you are following signs (such as those
demonstrated in the link given by Joseph Saigal), so people may justifiably
quote those Scriptures to you, as I did.
Concerning following true men of God, Paul and Victor were sent to
minister to me in the Lord. You can read my testimony: Sara
Schmidt.
Sara
Gerald’s response to Victor:
Victor;
Again, allow me to say that the “Light” over Brother
Branham’s head is not the ‘sign’ which I reference
when I speak of “the Sign” which accompanied William
Branham’s ministry. I am not responsible for the “believethesign.Com” site.
Thusfar, my only contribution to that site is an article on the “Journey
To Salvation” in our Lord Jesus Christ. There were many “signs” in
Brother Branham’s ministry. I focus on the “Messiah Sign” of
Hebrews 4:12, the Word discerning the “thoughts” AND “intents” of
the heart, etc.
The “woman at the well” recognized that sign (John
4), saying “when Messiah cometh He’ll tell us these
things”.
In John 1:45-51 Nathanael recognized that sign and
said, “Rabbi,
thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” That
same Lord Jesus Christ was in His servant showing the same sign in
these last days. Many of the religious people and their leaders called
it “the Devil”. The Pharisees accused Jesus of healing
the sick and doing what He did, by the power of the Devil. But Our
Wonderful Lord Jesus sit the record straight, saying:
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or
house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how
shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children
cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the
Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. MATTHEW
12:26-28
The theme of William Branham’s ministry was “Jesus
Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever”. In my 42 years as
a Christian, and 30 years as a Minister of the Gospel - I can honestly
say, from my heart, that, he, more than any other preacher I ever heard
exalted Jesus Christ in Word and Deed. He took no credit unto himself
- he would remind the people, “Now, you know that’s not
me. A man can’t do these things. That’s none other than
our Lovely Lord Jesus, showing His Presence with us”.
You accuse us of idolatry. I don’t doubt that there are many
who idolize William Branham. But I don’t blame the man for
that when I know that he personally warned a number of the people
following his ministry NOT to make his ministry and message some
sort of a cult. He told them to “not make it any bigger than
what it is, or smaller than what it is”. I’m sure that
Paul in his day was idolized, especially in light of the fact that
he said, “FOLLOW ME, as I follow Christ”. Many would
take the first two words out of context to justify their condemnation
of Paul’s ministry. And there were divisions in the early church: “.....every
one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.”
I ‘listened’ to what the man had to say, and PERSONALLY,
I found it to be Scriptural Voice behind these signs. And God forbid
that I should hold anything in my heart against anyone who may differ
with me. It’s so easy to fall under that wrong anointing -
like Peter (good intentions but little discernment) when Jesus said, “But
he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art
an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of
God, but those that be of men.” Then there was James and John
- when a certain village of the Samaritans refused to allow Jesus
entry for an overnight rest stop on His way to Calvary; they said
to Jesus “shall we (like Elijah) call fire down from God and
destroy them?”. But the Lord Jesus, pressing toward His destiny
said, “Ye know not what manner of spirit
ye are of.” (Luke
9).
They never lacked “zeal”, but it was a “zeal that
lacked Spiritual wisdom”. We ought to
be able to look into the Word and learn, and experience in a New
Birth the attitude of
our Lord Jesus. He was “tough yet tender; courageous,
yet compassionate; strong, yet sensitive; exalted, yet humble; wise,
yet always learning”. Of Him the Bible says that “He
(His flesh) learned obedience, by the things which He suffered”.
I cannot answer for all that “profess” to follow the
Word-Based Message of William Branham; and without a doubt there
are many fanatics among them. But, such has followed every Message
God ever sent to the earth. Satan does a good job of putting up smoke
screens in an attempt to discredit what God does - it’s a trial
of our faith. The Apostles in the early church had their hands full,
trying to keep the people in line and under a right spirit.
It’s not my desire to “provoke” anyone to anger,
just to express my faith. PROVERBS 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir
up anger.” PROVERBS
15:18
“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to
anger appeaseth strife.” PROVERBS 16:32 “He that
is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his
spirit than he that
taketh a city.”
Thank you for your time.
In Christ, the Prince of Peace to the Children of God.
Gerald Lush
Victor’s reply:
Gerald,
Yes, you can point to the gift of discernment, prophecy, or word
of knowledge or miracles as signs, but so can false prophets point
to such gifts. And, indeed, Jesus said, “These are the signs
that will follow them that believe....”
As to the argument that Branham did not take credit, saying no man
could do the things he was doing, that it was only the Lord Jesus,
I have heard Benny Hinn say the selfsame thing, and Kuhlman, and
others. That is no proof of anything.
But you are right in this: A man ought not necessarily to be held
responsible for followers in error claiming to follow him; otherwise,
Jesus Christ would be responsible for much evil. Even so, like I
said, this is not about Branham. This is about Jesus Christ and you.
Gerald, something I have noticed before with Branhamites, and discern
here, is that you know Christ after the flesh, which is still the
other, earthly side of the cross. You are not worshipping Him after
the Spirit, in spirit and in truth. These words in particular give
you away completely:
“We ought to be able to look into the Word
and learn, and experience in a New Birth the attitude of our Lord Jesus.
He was ‘tough
yet tender; courageous, yet compassionate; strong, yet sensitive;
exalted, yet humble; wise, yet always learning’.”
We are still in the same position of addressing you, the one and
only sign being the death and Resurrection of Christ within. You
have the doctrine of the Risen Christ, as most Branhamites do, but
you do not have the reality, His Spirit within. Is that not so?
Let me ask you a question: Do you yourself have those signs, those
you point to with Branham?
Victor
Gerald’s reply:
Victor;
It’s amazing isn’t it - What you said below to me could
very easily be turned around and applied to your attitude. It would
appear that, no matter HOW I approach you, you will not believe me.
In your mind, it is signed sealed and delivered - YOU are the good
and WE are the Bad. Therefore, in the Love of Christ, I commit you
into His hands. And when you stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ,
then shall you know that, from my heart, as a Son of God, I have
loved you with the Love of God. I regret your apparent unbelief and
hardness of heart concerning my attitude, motive and objective.
In Christ, the judge of all hearts,
Gerald Lush
Victor’s reply:
Gerald, I understand. We have had very similar situations with persons
of other groups as well - SDAs, Pentecostals, Baptists.... It is as
though we are each looking in the mirror and thinking to see someone
else, right? But we are holding a mirror up to you (as you might say
of us). Nevertheless, I must say that “we are the good and you
are the bad.” If I did not say it, I would be a liar like you.
You have said, “I assure you that my e-mail
is not meant to antagonize anyone - just to express what I feel and
what I see,” and, “It’s
not my desire to ‘provoke’ anyone to anger, just to express
my faith.” Do you accuse us of meaning to antagonize or provoke
to anger? It seems so. Are we accusing you of that? No.
We are telling you that you do not have the love of God. You are
in your own righteousness. It is the man of sin, Gerald. You are
on your own throne in His Name, thinking it is right, but we are
here to tell you that you are wrong.
I do hope you will read our testimonies, but that is the Lord’s
work.
His will be done.
Victor
Paul’s reply:
Gerald, as Victor has said, this is not about Branham, but about you
and your state of rebellion against God.
Nevertheless, we can point out to you, as I have done so already in
my letter to Joseph, the true marks of a false prophet manifested in
Branham, which you do not see because you have the same marks yourself.
You are blinded by your sin, which is why the Lord has delivered you
over to strong delusion that you should believe a lie, Branham’s
demonic testimony and teachings. Insisting that you are righteous and
that you can see has brought on your head the one sin the Lord will
not forgive. Your sin, as He said, remains.
I quote a definitively revealing recounting of Branham’s testimony
from your site:
“At about the
eleventh hour in the evening,
the Pillar of Fire came into the cave where he was sitting. Then
he heard footsteps; and
into the light cast on the floor by the Pillar of Fire, walked
an Angel.
Bro. Branham was very fearful. But, speaking gently, the Angel said, ‘Fear
not, I am sent from the Presence of Almighty God to tell you that your
peculiar life and your misunderstood ways have been to indicate that
God has sent you to take a Gift of Divine healing to the people of
the world. IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE AND GET THE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU,
NOTHING SHALL STAND BEFORE YOUR PRAYER, NOT EVEN CANCER.’”
Let us compare this angel’s gospel to the testimony of God in
Scripture:
IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE AND GET THE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU – “Good
for you, Simon son of John! answered Jesus. For this truth
did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly
by My Father in Heaven. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and
on this rock foundation I will build My church...” (Matthew 16:17-18
GNB).
IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE AND GET THE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU – “GOD
answered Samuel, Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are
not rejecting you. They’ve rejected Me as their King” (1
Samuel 8:7 MSG).
IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE AND GET THE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU - “He
has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should
see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them” (John 12:40 EMTV).
IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE AND GET THE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU – “And
He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief” (Matthew
13:58 EMTV).
I suppose Jesus was not sincere enough. That is what Branham’s
angel is suggesting. Satan comes as an angel of light!
Gerald, you, as did Branham, and the devil that spoke to him, put
your trust in man, in his righteousness and power to persuade, to perform
signs, to impress and convince men. That is the flesh. It is utterly
corrupt and unacceptable to God. He comes to destroy it, and destroy
it He will. Satan, you are finished. The angel (if there was one; it
does not matter) speaking to Branham is the kind of which Paul the
apostle spoke:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians
1:8 KJV).
Even so, amen. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your Word and power that
destroys the enemy.
Paul
Joseph’s response:
GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!
PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST.
Victor’s reply:
Joseph, how you do expose your falsehood in those few giant words.
We could write volumes about it to prove you are a child of darkness,
not to condemn you, but to bring you to Jesus Christ. Let me explain,
that you might easily know, though we know full well that these things
can only be received by the grace of God, no matter how simple they
are to the learned of the Spirit of God.
One, why shout, as though your printed or vocal volume has any power
with Satan? It does not. Only Satan and man think so, because there
is no light in them.
Two, “Please”? You say “please” to Satan?
We don’t, and neither would Jesus or any true disciple of His.
Three, would Jesus ask us to remove Him from our mailing list with
shouts, reacting in anger or fear or passionate plea? We don’t
think so; in fact, we know He would not do so. You do so because
you are on the defensive. You are defeated and afraid, with no substance
to counter us. Is that not so? Pretend all you will; put the greatest
face on it, but you do not fool us and especially, you do not fool
God, Whom you profess and presume to serve. Heaven knows.
You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Your number
is up. By the grace of God, that can be good, if only you would get
completely honest and repent. But you aren’t prepared to do
that right now, are you, Joseph? You have too much at stake - your
image, your comfortable nest (which is not so comfortable any more),
your friends and companions, whom you are not prepared to forsake
for the Lord’s sake. You are afraid of the cross and, therefore,
you will not believe and obey the Truth, Who must inevitably bring
you to the cross, to die in Him, so that you might have life. Therefore,
thus says the Lord: “Because you say you see, your sin remains
to plague and to wreak its havoc on you, until the end, when you
have finally had enough of the ongoing and increasing consequences
of your religious games and hypocrisy in My Name.”
Joseph, if you truly desire for Satan to get behind you, repent of
your sin, forsake all, take up the cross, stop worshipping idols,
and he will have no choice but to get behind you. Until then, he
has you completely in his power.
In Jesus Christ’s Wonderful Name and by His Power and Love,
Victor Hafichuk
Joseph’s response:
I have decided to write you this once and hope never to, ever again.
You speak of “another Jesus” - NOT the LORD JESUS CHRIST
of the BIBLE.
Mr. Hafichuk, I am not insecure as you are. Your writings and taunts
only expose you and your deep-set insecurities evermore so, whether
you are aware of it or not... they emanate of your gloom and sadness,
that stems from the unfortunate path you’ve chosen. However ‘religious’ and ‘right’ you
may be made to feel by the enemy, you have been completely engulfed
by his lies.... until your senses of right or wrong have become so
crossed that you no longer can decipher one from the other. I have
literally seen this phenomena far too often, and it is a truly sad
state to be in.
II THESSALONIANS 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
Your “path of truth” is as deceiving as the father of all lies,
because it comes from him. Satan is very very religious, more than you or I
even know. We are not ignorant of his tactics. That is why I do not wish to
communicate with you at all. Was Jesus ever “afraid” of Satan??
... absolutely not! He also NEVER clowned for him either! But he spoke to him
with AUTHORITY, and ordered him to “get thee behind !”.... without
mincing His words. No explanations, no yakity-yak... just plain and simple
recognition of who he was and projected His authority.
I read Sara’s testimony and truly truly felt very very sorry
for that dear young lady. I have a daughter who I think is just about
her same age, and I absolutely feel so very grieved for her poor mum
and dad. I shared her testimony with my wife and she felt exactly the
same.
Sara, if you are reading this, PLEASE JUST RUN RUN RUN FROM THESE
TWO...... AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Go to your mum and dad and repent to
them FIRST, and then to GOD, for your disobedience. From my honest
and sincere observation, darling, these men have sealed their destinies,
and God willing you can still RUN BACK TO YOUR HAPPINESS, if it’s
not too late already. They are NOT telling you ALL the truth. Deception
is usually 99.9% truth mixed with 0.1% lie. I have judged them by their
spirits, and they have passed with flying colors as ‘classic deceivers’. I speak in love and complete concern for you dear
sister. Your mum and dad were not wrong, as unreasonable as it may
have appeared then to you. Even if they may have been unreasonable
or harsh, going with these men was NOT going with GOD! ... so you have
been absolutely hoodwinked! You have allowed your OWN reasoning to
blur your discernment of their spirits FIRST. They may say all they
like sounding as religious as ever, but if the spirit is wrong, just
FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE!! I kid you not. They have SEALED their end. So
they have NOTHING more to lose. You have EVERYTHING to lose, and if
it’s not too late already, PLEASE just pack your bags and GET
OUT OF THERE!!....QUICK! You had not just disobeyed your dear mum and
dad, you absolutely broke God’s commandment:
EXODUS 20:12
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon
the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Go and make your dear mum your best friend again, and reconcile with
your daddy in repentance. You will be so much more blessed that way.
These men may “appear” to be ever so righteous, but they
have foul religious spirits, which they may or may not even be aware
of themselves.
I know who I am, what I’ve believed, and don’t need to
prove anything to or debate them. Jesus NEVER EVER ‘clowned’ for
Satan. Their name-calling is typical of Satan’s traits, and
reflects upon their allegiance to him. This trait is rampant in the
world, especially in these deceptive days. All their taunts are not
the least bit different from the man in the street simply wanting
to pick a fight. I have not picked to fight or debate with them.
I do no such things with outright deceivers. My discernment comes
from within me. I will only discuss or reason with someone who hasn’t
yet blasphemed God, and who has manifested an upright spirit. Their
follies WILL be made manifest to all - already has for me. They have
idolized YOUR THEIR OWN SELVES, and are drawing innocent souls to
THEMSELVES as carriers of “their version of their truth”!
How pathetic. And claiming to have ‘extraordinary’ revelations
of the ‘truth’. The ultimate tragedy is they have blasphemed
and it’s unforgiveable. For your soul’s sake do not partake
of their sins, and FLEE!
II CORINTHIANS 11:3-4
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached,
or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another
gospel,
which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].
Goodbye, and no more mails !!
JS
Victor’s reply:
Not so fast, Joseph.
Can you not see your religiosity? Can you not see your emptiness?
What authority do you think you have? You accuse and condemn us with
all kinds of opinions but give absolutely nothing to back them up.
You do not specify where we are wrong and how we are wrong. You toss
out random Scriptures, as a painter splashes paint on walls, windows
and carpet, thinking he is doing a beautiful job. We have been specific
with you and your companions. All you have is religion - vain, empty,
foolish religion.
No, Joseph, you are the one who blasphemes, and your take on Sara
is revealing too, not that we need further revelation of you. If
you could only know the difference in her life before and after.
If you could only know a fraction of what went on, but you don’t,
and, with your words, you would put her back in Hell if you could
because you do not know the Lord or the cross, as we have said.
The cross is anathema to you and to all Branhamites. We have met
others and they are no different. They have doctrine, they quote
Scripture, but they are never able to understand or divide the Word
of Truth rightly. They have no reasoning power at all, so deceived
are they in their righteousnesses. Fools are they all, stumbling
and bumbling, and all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet serving
the angelic counterfeit.
You stubbornly refuse to hear, lest you should be healed and delivered.
How miserable are your ways, full of pain and sorrow, loss, defeat,
disease, losing children, health, finances and all God-given things.
Had you been willing to forsake these for His sake, they would have
been returned to you manifold. Instead, you cling to your stale,
moldy bread and stagnant water in your slums. How awful! How grievous
to the Lord God, Creator of Heaven and earth and all that is!
What choice do we have but to let you count His blood as nothing,
destroying yourselves?
Victor
Joseph’s reply:
Why am I replying? ... because of my concern for Sara....
Who is “miserable”? ”What authority do you think
you have?”
Answer: I am a part of God. His Blood runs through my veins!
I CORINTHIANS 6:2-3
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall
be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain
to this life?
II TIMOTHY 1:12-13
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith
and love which is in Christ Jesus.
About Sara:
“If you could only know a fraction of what went on, but you don’t,
and with your words, you would put her back in Hell if you could because you
do
not know the Lord or the cross, as we have said.”
Answer:
She is already there if she doesn’t get out IMMEDIATELY! Others
have gone through extremely hard trials, but if she is the child of
God, she will come through ALL of them as GOLD, as through a fiery
furnace! Sara, get to learn that the trials of THIS life are to be
born with joy, as they are but ‘growing pains’ of His grace.
Don’t look for a “heaven on this earth”. A Christian
lives in the realm of God constantly, and is literally DEAD to the
conditions concerning this flesh. His or her only requirement is to
RECOGNIZE HIS OR HER DAY OF RECKONING, and know who he or she
is - a SON or a DAUGHTER of GOD. Old things are passed away, behold all
things have already become NEW for him or her.
II CORINTHIANS 5:16
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have
known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.
17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Don’t fear trials and testings. God is IN FULL CONTROL of the lives of
ALL HIS CHILDREN.
You said: “Had you been willing to forsake these for His sake,
they would have been returned to you manifold.”
Answer: ...Prosperity gospel? We lack nothing both spiritually and
physically, for your info.
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-10
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
As Bro. Gerald rightly wrote you:
I cannot answer for all that “profess” to follow the Word-Based
Message of William Branham; and without a doubt there are many fanatics
among them. But, such has followed every Message God ever sent to the
earth. Satan does a good job of putting up smoke screens in an attempt
to discredit what God does - it’s a trial of our faith. The Apostles
in the early church had their hands full, trying to keep the people
in line and under a right spirit.
It’s not my desire to “provoke” anyone
to anger, just to express my faith. PROVERBS 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” PROVERBS
15:18
“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth
strife.” PROVERBS 16:32 “He that is slow to anger
is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that
taketh
a city.”
Thank you for your time.
JS
Sara’s reply:
Joseph,
I was contemplating this very subject this morning (what the Lord
has done with me and given me as a result of my life here – being
involved with, and believing, His servants and having a resultant walk
with Him), before ever reading your original letter of me. The Lord
called to mind the many things that He has done for me since my coming
out here, and believing Him through those whom He has sent to me.
One thing that was brought to mind was my deliverance from demons
and my sins. The circumstances and deliverance took place in this
way: When I came out (after the events related in my testimony),
I was fearful and hiding my sins, but also unbelieving when the Lord
said I needed to repent. When the Lord showed me that it was “do
or die,” that I needed to get real and confess my sins, He
gave me the grace to do so. I confessed that I was holding onto imaginary
characters, from which I gained companionship and comfort, instead
of walking in truth and reality. This led to deliverance from the
demons that had plagued me my whole life (despite my sin nature,
it was also revealed that the demons came from my mother – that
she gave them to me; I only say this because of your spiritual approval
of her and assertion that I should return to her).
I also confessed the sin of masturbation. This confession led to deliverance
from this sin for good, which I knew was beyond my power – I
had tried to quit for years, unsuccessfully. So you can see that Victor
was not speaking poetically when he said, “…you would put
her back in Hell if you could….” I was a wretched, wicked
woman, and a tormented sinner. I was also religious and self-righteous
on top of it all, of which I needed to repent, realizing that I was
nothing but scum, and grateful for the Lord’s having anything
to do with me whatsoever.
I am not here to bad-mouth my mother. Just for the record, the Lord
gave me a vision of her, at a time when I was struggling - wanting
to hold onto our relationship, but also not wanting to deny Him. In
my vision, I saw my mother’s face, and it was attached to the
body of a large snake. She was coiled in front of me, at the mouth
of a dark cave (her home), and her body, coiled, was three times my
height and twice my thickness (circumference). I was standing on higher
ground than her, a bit above her, and I was unafraid. I was rebuking
her evil ways. The vision was a demonstration of victory in Him. I
have been given that victory (it was incomplete at the time of the
vision). Now you come along, and you would want me to dwell in the
cave with her, instead of confronting her on her dark ways.
I will give you another, outside witness of the things I relate to
you:
About a week ago (last Friday), Paul and I spoke to Aunt Sally, my
mother’s sister. She had been out to visit me a couple of times
since my moving. In the first visit, only a couple of months after
my arriving here, she asked me if I had been brain-washed (she had
heard only my mother’s side of things). I answered that I had,
in that I saw things in a different light than I ever had before, and
shared a recent experience with her to demonstrate what I was saying.
She answered that, by my answer, she knew that I had not been brain-washed
in the way that she had feared. She said that she was glad to see what
was happening with me.
In the second visit (a couple of years ago – and a couple of
years after the previous visit), she told me that she saw me being
at home for the first time in my life. She said that when I was with
my parents, under their roof, I seemed awkward, like I was not in my
element, not at home in my world. She said, “Sara, I believe
that, for the first time in your life, you are doing and being what
you were always meant to do and to be.”
In this recent phone conversation, she was talking to Paul as I listened
in. She said heartily, “I want to thank you, Paul, for the part
that you have played in giving Sara what she has today. I know that
you would say that it is not you [she was referring to the fact that
we give glory and credit to the Lord, which she also does not deny],
but you are involved, or else she would not be out there and involved
in what you are doing. I see her having peace of mind for the first
time in her life, and I want to thank you for your part in that.”
A far cry, and a very different reaction, from what my mother has
said and done towards me, and towards Paul and Victor. She has done
nothing but curse and condemn them, and has denied all the good things
that have happened with me. Why do you choose to stand with evil, Joseph?
Why are you quick to condemn me and Paul and Victor? Is that not evil?
Do you know what (or Whom) you are condemning?
You are blaspheming the Holy Spirit, Who has done this work in me.
For this, there is no forgiveness. How can you do this and yet claim
to be a part of God? Is He so contradictory? No, He is not:
“…for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness?
And what partnership does light have with darkness? And what agreement
does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with
an unbeliever? And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols?...” (2
Corinthians 6:14-16 MKJV)
Sara
Paul’s reply:
Joseph,
If anything has been clearly stated in our letters to you, it is that
you are not part of God, as you falsely claim to be. You stand in opposition
to Him, and to all that He does. That is why you tell Sara to go back
to Hell. That is why you cannot answer us with substance, though we
give you Scripture and the testimony of Jesus Christ, but tell us to
go to Hell. You speak of your own, as a child of Hell.
You are a damned fool. The fool denies God in his heart, but the damned
fool claims to be with Him while contradicting and opposing Him.
At every turn your mouth betrays you, crying out, “I am a fool,
the son of a jackass; take the whip to me!” You ask if the taking
up of the cross, and forsaking of the things of this world, which the
Lord Jesus solemnly declared was the only way one could be His disciple
(Luke 14:33), is the “prosperity gospel.” How darkened
are the minds of idolaters and those that are wise in their own sight!
You have nothing, Joseph, and, if not abusing the Scriptures, can
only borrow the words of other religious, like Gerald and Branham,
who also have nothing. In this the saying of the Lord Jesus is fulfilled:
“Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. And if
the blind guides the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew
15:14 EMTV).
Preferring your pit, you keep that which you insist on having, with
more on the way.
Paul
Joseph’s response:
MATTHEW 5:22
22 .... but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
PROVERBS 26:4
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
PROVERBS 26:12
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool
than of him.
PROVERBS 27:22
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle,
[yet] will not his foolishness depart from him.
PROVERBS 29:20
20 Seest thou a man [that is] hasty in his words? [there is] more hope of a
fool than of him.
MATTHEW 15:14
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead
the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
As if you haven’t already, with your last note you have thoroughly manifested
your spiritual inclinations.... as the blind leading the blind ...they all
fall into the ditch.
Sara, if you think I had ‘misdirected’ you in my advice then keep
going on this road to find out for yourself where it ends up. It’s ultimately
your life and only you have to make or already have made your own decisions.
I cannot comment on your personal life which you have so openly shared... some
things are better left as secrets, if they have been repented off. You do
not bring them out if you truly believe they have been erased and you’ve
been truly cleansed by the Blood. You were young and impressionable (still
are), and were/are still in need of help which you think you have found in
these two individuals. You have placed your trust not in God, but in them.
Sadly though, they are thoroughly unstable and vile individuals. Quick to damn
anyone to “hell” - if that anyone dared to stand up against them.
It also goes to explain why you have also so unashamedly condemned your very
own mother to ‘hell’... using their twisted and patchy interpretations
of your “vision” and God’s Word, according to their own understandings.
Unaware, they are playing religious games with people’s lives. But then
again, every one on this earth has a part to play in God’s plan. You
are all doing exactly what you are supposed to do. The Romans and the ‘religious’ Jews
who crucified the Lord, sincerely THOUGHT they were doing God a service! ...
yet they were, in their own way... in the fulfilling of scripture - for THEIR part. Someone had to play those parts. It applies through all ages of humankind....
the same in this, our day.
LUKE 23:34
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do....
As this is getting us nowhere and simply wasting our time and efforts, it’s
best we simply go our individual way which we have chosen for our own destinies,
and we shall reap what we sow. As I said before, I have no ‘axe to grind’ with
you guys. Thanks for not replying.
js
Paul’s reply:
Joseph, you are speaking for yourself when you say “we” are
getting nowhere. Because you do not know the Scriptures, or the power
of God, and stubbornly refuse to listen to those who do, it is only
true that you are getting nowhere. Yet the Word we speak is not in
vain, and will perform all of God’s will as He expresses it.
You go on, as we have said, wildly quoting Scriptures without rightly
dividing them. That is because you do not know or understand the One
you blindly quote, in this case about fools. The Lord our God, Who,
as the Son of Man, said that those calling men fools were in danger
of hellfire, also spoke these words to men:
“Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple
that sanctifies the gold?...Fools and blind! For which is greater,
the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?” (Matthew 23:17-19
MKJV)
“Fools! Did not He Who made the outside also make the inside?” (Luke
11:40 MKJV)
It is not calling a man a fool that is the problem. What is the problem
is speaking out of the wrong diagnosis and motive.
The Lord also said this to the sons of men, through the wisdom He
gave Solomon:
“Answer a fool according to his foolishness, so that he may
not be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:5 MKJV).
The Scripture you choose, and typically abuse, to rebuke the use of
the term “fool” is this one:
“But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his
brother, Raca, shall be liable to the Sanhedrin; but whoever shall
say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell” (Matthew
5:22 MKJV).
One, those born of God are our brothers, and not those who are simply
indoctrinated, idolatrous, confused and incoherent fools, babbling
Scripture they know nothing about.
Two, even if you and your Branhamite whoremongers (you are pimping
your gods, deceiving) were brethren in Christ, it is not without
cause that we speak, calling you fools.
We follow His precepts, and speak to you accordingly.
You say that it is better not to openly admit to having committed
some sins. What sins are those? The ones of which you are still guilty?
What sins are you harboring in your mind, if not your flesh? You condemn
Paul for his ministry and speech, which are recorded as Holy Scripture:
“And I give thanks to the One Who empowers me, Christ Jesus
our Lord, because He considered me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
I, who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent
man;
but I was shown mercy because, being ignorant, I did it in unbelief,
and the grace of our Lord superabounded with faith and love which is
in Christ Jesus. Faithful is this word, and worthy of all acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom
I am first” (1 Timothy 1:12-15 EMTV).
And Paul, according to you, sinned even more by bringing up the shameful
sins of others, who were already forgiven:
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor covetous, nor thieves,
nor drunkards, nor abusive people, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom
of God. And such were some of you! But you were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and
by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 EMTV).
Joseph, you fool! A woman is delivered from her sins, those over which
she had no power, which is signified by the sign of freely and openly,
without provocation or shame, confessing what she was, and giving glory
to Jesus Christ for her deliverance. What a glorious thing, but you
condemn it, and God for doing it. You wicked, wicked fool! You remind
me of David’s wife, Michal:
“When David returned to bless his family, Saul’s daughter
Michal came out to meet him. ‘How dignified Israel’s king
was today! He was exposing himself before the eyes of the slave girls
of his palace staff-like a mindless fool might expose himself!’ David
answered Michal, ‘I didn’t dance in front of the slave
girls but in front of the LORD. He chose me rather than your father
or anyone in your father’s house, and He appointed me leader
of Israel, the LORD’S people. I will celebrate in the LORD’S
presence, and I will degrade myself even more than this. Even if I
am humiliated in your eyes, I will be honored by these slave girls
you speak about.’ So Saul’s daughter Michal was childless
her entire life” (2 Samuel 6:20-23 GW).
It is clear that you are the one who does not know what he is doing,
but we know full well what you are doing, and what we are doing in
what we say about what you are doing. We know Jesus Christ by Whom
we see these things to speak His righteous judgment.
You lie without knowing what you are doing when you say you have no “axe
to grin
