Zacchaeus (58-0517B)
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E-1
Thank you very much, Brother Vayle. And I noticed the people are just
sometimes a little… You’re turned sideways; if you want to turn right
around, I would just do that. Just move your chairs right around, so we
can all look at each other. That’s a…?…
As the brother has just said, that I belong to one organization, the
Christian Businessmen’s organization. I just happened to show him my
card of the fellowship, so you know how I think of the Christian
Businessmen. It’s the only organization that I belong to, because I
think they have something that we all have in common, Christ.
E-2
And I want to greet you fine group of people here this morning. And
night before last, I was talking to your president, Demas Shakarian,
which is a very bosom friend of mine, and he sends special greetings to
each and every one of you from the chapters around the world. And he
just called me to come as quick as I could, from Africa back to–to
Stuttgart, Germany, where they’re holding off now, to see if we could
be their night speaker. And he sends a–a–a special invitation to all
you people, for the service that’s to be held in Philadelphia,
the–beginning the thirtieth, I believe it is, of June, until the
fourth of July in Philadelphia. And there, the Lord willing, I’m to
speak for them again at this great convention at Philadelphia Hall, I
believe it is. I’m not sure. But you’re all invited to come.
E-3
And now, it’s such a privilege to stand before such a lovely group of
people. And it… We do not realize that… What could happen right at
a breakfast like this, this morning. Around the world, I’ve spoke for
the Christian Businessmen. Los Angeles, sometimes we have about a
thousand at the breakfast, which I’ve had the privilege of speaking
many times. I’ve seen the blind get up with their sight; the cripples
walk away; and hundreds of people, businessmen, doctors, attorneys,
critics would come in, just fall right under the power of God and just
a… You’ve got something gentlemen.
Now, remember this one thing; we’re all in here of–of one belief this
morning. Here’s what we got. We got something in common, but we got to
know how to use it. See? It’s like the gun’s good to hunt with; but
you’ve got to know how to use it. So that’s the way the gospel is. So
let’s use it to the glory of God, to get every soul in the Kingdom that
we know how to get into the Kingdom.
E-4
And now, may God bless this little group here that gathers, and just
keep having these breakfasts, and above everything keep it spiritual.
Never let that Spirit die. Sing those old fashion songs, clap your
hands, praise the Lord. That’s the way you’ve got to keep…
I’m a Southerner. I’m–I’m emotional. I can prove to you anything
without emotion is dead. And if your religion hasn’t got a little
emotion in it, you’d better bury it, and get one that has. It’s dead.
So we got to have emotions; Jesus said, “If they hold their peace, the
rocks will immediately cry out.”
Something, life and death can’t exist together. Where Christ comes, He
never preached a funeral in all of His life, ’cause death can’t stand
around where life is. They raised from the dead. When He comes into a
group of people, Life comes, because He is Life. And we love Him this
morning, supremely with all of our heart, and we offer Him in these
little meetings, the very adoration of our hearts, that we truly love
Him. And it’s little meetings like this…
E-5 Excuse me? [An announcement is made concerning a car to be towed away–Ed.]
That let’s me clean. But it could be not in our group here; it could be
someone upstairs visiting or anything, just run their car in. So we
appreciate the brethren doing this though, so that no one will be
inconvenienced when they–they leave.
This is where I have my joy, just get a group of… You know the old
Southern expression, “Birds of a feather flock together?” I’m so glad
to have feathers like these birds here this morning. There’s just
something…
It’s–it’s not any healing service. The healing service, you’re under
that strain of my, the anointing, and when I go in the room in the
afternoon, and there stay alone with God, and come out. Then you have
to watch, because Satan is–is a real enemy. And he’s setting at any
time to confuse, and as tired as I am now, it could be easy to be–get
confused. But when He comes this way, you can just feel like you got
fifty miles of elbow room. You can just set around, and have a good
time. Look at all your faces, and see the smiles, and the–the cheer,
and the Presence of Christ. Well, that’s just a–a real spiritual,
gastronomical jubilee…?… just we get together to hear it.
E-6
And you hear that singing, I love that good old fashion singing. If
there’s anything I love, it’s singing. And I… If there’s anything
I–I hate is an over-trained voice, you know, one of them kinds that
holds till they gets blue in the face, and see how long you can hold
your breath, and come back down. They’re not singing to the glory of
God; they’re seeing how long they can hold their breath.
I think there’s nothing more beautiful than good old fashion,
pentecostal singing, just singing in the gospel… that’s right. If you
couldn’t carry a tune in a coal bucket, just sing anyhow. Make a joyful
noise to the Lord. There’s nothing formal about this, and God is
without form. That’s what the Bible says. So He doesn’t have a formal
people; He has an informal people. Everywhere, the Spirit doing
anything… Oh, we’re so happy for that.
E-7
And now, in these coming services, I am trusting… I want to say this
with all sincerity, ’cause I realize there’s people here from different
places, but I have never, since I left New York, ever met a night,
where the first time, the first service, that faith was right there to
meet us, as I have in this city. Prayer has been made here somewhere, I
don’t know where it’s been, but somebody has been talking to the Lord.
I appreciated the little brother there, this morning, that led in
prayer, and that’s giving a testimony. As soon as the man got up and
was speaking to the Lord, I said, “He talked to Him before.” Because he
knows Who he was talking to. And that’s good soul winning, the greatest
thing. And brethren, we’re at the end time. We’re–we’re here at the
end of the road; you’ll–you are saved, and I believe you’re going to
heaven, that’s true, but you’ll never have an opportunity like you got
right now. And the eons that is to come, what if you knew that if you
had the opportunity to come back as a mortal, to do some witnessing
after you had been there before Him, and you see how lovely He is. It
will be–it’ll be too late then. Let’s do it now, while we have the
opportunity. Let’s be on, day and night.
E-8
Some time ago down in the southland, there was an old negro. And one
night at an old plantation meeting, where they would have had their
supper… Now, ‘course, I believe it’s dinner to you all up here. See?
You have your dinner at night, you have just… I’m at home then. When
you talk about that dinner, I–I feel like I’ve missed a meal…?… We
have breakfast, dinner, and supper. If I… If–if supper is my dinner,
then when do I get my dinner? So I… This… And you know, we’re right
in that folks. Sure we are, because it was the Lord’s supper, not His
dinner, you know so… We are sure right.
So then, down there they were having a supper on the old plantation,
and there was a–an old negro, who had gave his life to the Lord Jesus.
Afterwards I tell you, it’s–it’s wonderful to hear those, when they
sing that old-fash–old fashion songs and it’s such a melody, it just
like… “I will arise, and go to Jesus, He will embrace me to His
heart.” [Brother Branham sings–Ed.]
Did you ever hear a melody like that? Well, that’s the way they sing
it. But, oh, my, the Spirit’s there. Yes, it’s from their heart.
E-9
And at such a place, this old negro got saved. And the next morning, he
was out telling the folks that he was–he was saved, and he was free.
Now, this was during the slavery. And he said… And it got to the–the
plantation owner’s ears, so he went out to him, he said, “Mose, what’s
this I hear, you’re saying, this morning among the slaves, that you’re
free?”
Said, “Yes, boss.” Said, “I’m free this morning.”
Said, “Come up the office, Mose.” And he went up to the office; he said, “Set down.” He said, “Mose, what did you say you was?”
He said, “Boss,” said, “I’m still your slave, but,” said, “I’m free
from the law of sin and death. Christ set me free last night at a
little old meeting.”
And he said, “Mose, do you really mean that?”
Said, “Yes, I do, boss.”
He said, “Well, Mose, I’m going down to sign your emancipation this
morning, I’ve set you free as a slave. Preach your–the gospel to your
brethren.” He said, “I’m a Christian too.” Said, “You go among your
brethren and preach the gospel.”
E-10
After years of service, the old negro come to his death. Many of his
white brethren had gathered in to see–see him and shake his hands for
the last time. And he was laying in–in a coma. And after while he woke
up, looked around, and he said, “Oh, am I back to earth again?”
And they said, “Mose, where were you?”
He said, “Oh, I just got in the door.” And said, “I looked, and I saw
Him.” And he said, “This old darkie’s heart was so thrilled, I never
wanted to come this way again.” And he said, “While I was standing
there,” said, “there was an Angel walked up and said to me, ‘Mose, come
over here, I want to give you your robe, and your crown.'”
He said, “Don’t talk to me about robe and crown. I don’t want no robe and crown.”
Said, “What do you desire then, Mose for that long life, and the service you give?”
Said, “Just let me look at Him for a thousand years.”
E-11
I think that’s the feeling of all of us. It isn’t the interest in our
money, and our businesses, or what we do, or the testimonies you give,
sir, just let me look at Him. That’s what I expect to do some day,
crawl up to His feet, kiss those precious feet that was scarred for me,
let me look at Him a little while.
I don’t want to mansion, just to corner, somewhere where I can fellowship with you brethren.
E-12
Setting here looking this morning, and I was looking across to these
young people, lovely… I asked about a young couple here, that’s just
been married recently, and Brother Sweet told me they’re on fire for
God.
I noticed an older man, some of you gray-headed, probably older than I,
preaching the gospel when I was a boy. And I thought to myself, while I
was eating listening to different ones talk, “Wonder if this is our
last time to meet like this on earth.” Could be, you know. But it isn’t
our last time meeting.
I think some of you men was out here on the corner, preaching the
gospel, and beating an old guitar, throwed in jail, and run out of the
city, for the very cause, paving the road that I’m running smooth on.
You’re the men should be honored; you’re the women that should be
honored. It should be you up here, and not me. When I was a sinner boy,
out yonder astraddle of a horse, trying to see who could ride a bucking
horse the longest, or roping calves or something. You were on the
corner preaching gospel; I was running horse races.
E-13
You’re the men and women that deserves the honor; you should stand
here. But you were making a road, that I could come behind on. I’ll
meet you again, brother and sister. It may not be another breakfast,
but there’ll be a time when that great wedding supper will be spread
out across the sky yonder. And when we get there, will be different.
When I look across the table and see you men and women, no doubt the
little tear of joy will trickle down our cheeks, as we shake each
other’s hand. “Yes, Brother Branham, I was at that Bangor meeting that
morning.”
“Oh, I remember you, oh, here’s So-and-so. And us setting there
weeping, I can just see the King come out in His glory, walk down along
the line, wipe all the tears off your eyes, and say, “Don’t cry,
children, it’s all over now. You’re home. Enter into the joys of the
Lord, which has been prepared for you since the foundation of the
world.” That’s the day I look forward to.
I’m your brother. I’m here to help you, put my shoulders to the wheel
to push the load, that you’ve got rolling down the road, paving the
way. God bless you now. Let’s bow our heads just a moment now for
prayer.
E-14
Merciful God, it’s such a privilege to come to You, to come into this
Divine presence, where the units, and the gift, and the movings of
God’s Holy Spirit is working amongst His dear children. And here we
are, today, setting here as maybe strangers to each other. But we’re
not strangers; we’re fellow citizens of the Kingdom. We’re pilgrims and
strangers to the earth, but we’re citizens of Thy Kingdom.
First time meeting, but beloved in the Lord. We would ask that You
would bless us together. Continue this Spirit, Lord. May It never die
away from the people. May every minister be blessed, and every worker,
ever member of the laity; may souls be born. We love You, Father. And
our hearts just burn, when we hear Your precious Name, and hear these
old songs of the redeemed.
We ask now, that You’ll bless our little effort in the city. O God,
start an old fashion revival fire in every church and every heart. Call
the elected, Lord, from the pool rooms, and the gambling dens, and from
the places of ill fame, and off of the streets into the Kingdom. Heal
Your poor, suffering children, Lord. Declare Thy presence and love to
them.
Bless the Words that we shall now read, and may we fellowship around
the reading of the Word. For we ask it in the Name of the Lord Jesus,
our Saviour. Amen.
E-15
Just for a little text, and I know we can’t keep this too long, but I’d
like to speak to you just on a little subject, or a little drama (if I
could have your attention for a few moments.), and it’s found in the
book of Luke, 19th chapter, the 4th verse:
It must have been a terrible night on the little fellow; he couldn’t
rest. He would toss from one side to the other side of the bed, because
he–he happened to live in a strange day, very odd, because the church
and the message that was going forth was at ends with each other.
You see, he was an orthodox, a Jewish believer. And it came that in
that day there had been a–a rumor of a Nazarene Prophet, One called
Jesus of Nazareth, which was claimed to be the Son of Joseph, a
carpenter.
E-16
And it must have been very strange how the people felt in those days,
that a Man Who came along with a supernatural ministry, that was
absolutely contrary to the Jewish belief. They didn’t believe in such a
thing. They thought all the days of these things had passed with Moses,
many years ago, and not spiritual minded enough to know that God
remains the same, and that they were at a junction of time.
So it must have been very hard on him, because he believed what he’s
preached at, and was forbidden by the church to attend any of such
meetings, that this Prophet was holding. And there was all kinds of
talk about this Prophet.
E-17
And so, he had a restless night, for his wife, Rebekah, she was a
believer of this Prophet. She attended the meetings, and she had told
him many strange things that had happened, which he consulting his
priest, said, “Now, that’s nonsense. There’s just no need of believing
nothing like that, Rebekah. We belong to one of the finest churches
there is in the country. Our synagogue is the greatest. And here I am,
a businessman of this city; my name is Zacchaeus. And I own the
greatest restaurant there is in this city. And I have the greatest
business, and we’re respected people. Therefore, it’s not ethical for
me to degrade my prestige to dip myself down into a group like some
fanatic Prophet, as you would call Him, Who is going about, which none
of the priest or rabbi’s will have anything to do with. And in my
position as a businessman, it would hurt my business, if I become
associated with such a thing. And Rebekah, it would be better for you,
if you just discontinued your following this so-called Prophet.”
E-18
This got on Rebekah’s heart, so you see, she begin to pray for
Zacchaeus. Though him being a businessman, very much in the world, and
the church league, yet she thought that if this Prophet was what He
said he was (the Son of God), that she wanted her husband to believe on
Him. That’s a real true wife. Every businessman should have that type
of wife, that would pray for him. Don’t criticize him; just pray for
him. That’s the best way to get Him to Christ.
And you know there’s something about it, when you pray for someone real
sincerely, you know, it–it kindly makes them restless. I don’t know
whether you ever had an experience of that or not. But God begins to
move in answer to prayer. Sometimes a husband becomes more irritable
than ever, but just remember, God’s answering prayer. He knows how to
do it.
A man has to come to the end of his rope sometimes before he will
recognize… Or maybe God has to lay him on his back, sick, hurt, until
he will look up. But God has strange ways of doing things, but His ways
are always right.
E-19
So Rebekah had been praying for her dear little husband, Zacchaeus. And
all night long he had tossed, and rolled, and tumbled. See? God was
answering Rebekah’s prayer. I wonder if there’s any Rebekah’s here,
that’s ever been praying for their businessman husband?
Then when… Come close to morning, Rebekah had kindly dozed off to
sleep, but all night long, in her heart, she had been saying, “Thank
you, Lord, I know You’re working with him.”
I can just tell He said… “What’s the matter, Zacchaeus?”, she’d say often through the night.
“Oh, I don’t know; it must be my business is on my mind.” See, He’s
just trying to find a little escape, that’s all. It was God dealing
with him.
So as the night passed on, in early morning, Rebekah kindly dozed off
to sleep. Early in the morning, she found Zacchaeus up, grooming
himself. And he goes to the–to the robe, and–or wardrobe rather, and
he gets the best robe that he’s got and puts it on. You see, there was
a special occasion going to be in the city that day. It had been noised
abroad that that Prophet was going to visit that city, that day, and
was going to dine while He was there.
E-20
And Zacchaeus was all tore up, because He’s going over to Mr.
Levinski’s restaurant. “Well, of course, my restaurant is the best, and
if my wife be a follower of such a Fellow, why wouldn’t He bring that
business my way.” You see, he was Jewish, and he wanted the business.
And he knew this Prophet, so-called, would attract a lot of attention,
so there must be… The business come his way. And he was one of the
great businessmen of the city, so why shouldn’t this Prophet come his
way, or pass his way? So he… That night, after a restless night, and
many dreams of–of torment and so forth, the next morning he grooms
himself real nice, and Rebekah pulled her head out from under the cover
and said, “Zacchaeus, dear, where goest thou so early?”
E-21
“Oh I thought I’d step out and have a–a bit of fresh air.” You know
you can find plenty of excuses, when conviction is on. We all know
that. “I’m just going out for a bit of fresh air.” And he is–put some
perfume on, and fixes his hair down, and, oh, he’s just all groomed up.
And out on the street he walks, and Rebekah sits up, and raises up the
window shade, and looks out. She sees Zacchaeus all straightened up,
you know, like a real typical good businessman, walking down the
street, with the best of his clothes on, you know.
She gets down on her knees and she says, “Dear God, I thank You,
because I believe that You’re dealing with my husband, today. And now,
we know that Your dear Son, although with the bad name that He has
among the people, as a fanatic, and some evil spirit possessing Him,
yet I believe Him to be Your dear Son. And I pray Thee, dear God, that
somehow You will have my husband, in His presence. (That’s the way to
pray.) And don’t let him be critical, but just let Your dear Son do
something that’ll convince my husband that that is the Messiah.” And
she thanked God for it, and went about her work.
E-22
Let’s follow Zacchaeus for a few minutes. Walks down the street; it’s
very early. Not many people out, but he said, “You know, if that
certain Fellow… I’m going to meet Him today, and I’m going to give
Him a piece of my mind.” You know conviction sometimes works that way.
And he said, “I’ll tell Him off. And He’s got my wife to leave her
church. Why, I’m one of the presbyters. So I tell you, I’m–I’m going
to Him all about it, when I see Him. Just wait, I’ll tell Him.” As he
walks down the street, you know, well groomed. “And I hope that when
I’m standing around, that many of my business associates are standing
there. I would like to have the rabbi standing near, so he could see
where I stand. And I want to let them know, that I don’t believe in no
such fanaticism. So I’ll go down… He surely will enter from the south
gates, because He’s been in Galilee, and He will be coming this way. So
I’ll go down to the gate and meet Him. Right there when He enters the
gate, I’m going to give Him a piece of my mind, when I get there.” Not
knowing that Rebekah covered that all over with prayer. You see?
E-23
So when he gets down, he begins to hear a noise, and he tries to get a
little closer. And when he does, he finds all around the gate, people
are hanging on the fence, and on the walls, and why, he–he couldn’t
even get close at all. And then everybody crowded, and the–the police
trying to get the people back, “What’s the matter here?”
So he said, “Well, I guess maybe I’m not the only one down here. And
just look at the kind of people there is, who stands here though. These
people are the poor people. Of course you know, I’m just a businessman,
so I–I–I shouldn’t be associating with such, but anyhow, I’ll get
myself up here to the corner.”
E-24 Well, come to find out, he was little, just a little, bitty guy. So there was so many there, he couldn’t look over their heads.
And
he would arm his way through, and “Get back out of the way, I’m
Zacchaeus.” You know sometime people gets that idea in their head.
You’re somebody. Who are you anyhow? Six foot of earth. When you die,
you got a soul. And that’s soul either going to take either a journey
upward, or down, one. And it’s going to determine by the way you accept
Christ. Turn Him down, you go down; receive Him, you go with Him. But
you’re not very much anyhow, none of us.
E-25
I was standing at a little museum here not long ago, and looking at two
boys who were giving… looking on a little card there that said, “The
actual weight of a hundred and fifty pound man, and the value of that
weight.”
Do you know how much you’re worth, if you weight a hundred and fifty
pounds? That’s the male. You’re worth eighty-four cents. That’s right.
You got just about enough potash in you to… And enough calcium, and
a… Just enough of it to sprinkle a hen’s nest. And eighty-four cents,
and then you put a five hundred dollar mink coat on it, a hat, a
hundred dollar suit, turn your nose up; if it would rain you’d drown,
and then think you’re somebody. What are you? You’re worth eighty-four
cents.
E-26 And you’ll go to a restaurant, and you’d pick up a bowl of soup, and it had a fly in it, you’d turn it down that quick. [Brother Branham snapped his fingers–Ed.]
“Yes sir, I won’t have nothing to do with that. Well, I’ll see if the
paper knows it, the Chamber of Commerce, what about the president of
the restaurant, the owner, what it is?” See, you watch that eighty-four
cents. You won’t put nothing poison in that, but let the devil pack
anything in that soul that he desires to, and that soul’s eternal.
That’s right.
Just any little creed, that you want to say a few prayers, and run over
a few beads, or–or do a certain thing a certain way, make a certain
vow, or… See how it is? Oh, ho-ho. Satan’s a better businessman than
you’ll ever be. That’s right.
E-27
But I want to ask you something. Then when you–we feel that we’re
somebody, that’s when we’re nothing. So, we… When he stood there, he
begin to have that inferiority complex; he said, “I’ll know what I’ll
do. I know where He’s going to pass, because He’s going over to
Levinski’s restaurant. And I’d have to come down the street Straight
just to… After He leaves Hallelujah Avenue here. So I go down to the
street called Straight, and there I’ll wait for Him, ’cause He’s got to
pass by that way. And when He passes by, there I’ll tell Him.”
So down the street went this little strutting fellow, with his face
red, because he wasn’t respected as a businessman; so down the street
he went. And he gets down there to Straight Street, and he stands on
the corner, well groomed, waiting… “Just wait till He turns the
corner of Hallelujah Avenue; I’ll tell Him, as He passes by.”
E-28
And he stand there, and he happens to remember, “That same crowd that
were meeting at the gate will be double, time it gets here, and I’ll be
just as little here as I was down there. So I won’t be able to see Him;
they’ll just run over the top you.” See, God has a way of doing things.
He made him little for that purpose. See?
But he–he said, “Well anyhow, you know, I’ve just got a good idea.”
And he had to stand and look, and there was a sycamore tree standing
there. Now, that’s my native tree of Indiana, but in them days it was
called, I think, an olive tree or something, was the right name for it.
E-29
So he said, “You know, the limbs are kindly high, but if I could get up
there in that tree, nobody would step on me up there, and then I’d see
Him when He passes by. And as soon as I lay my eyes on Him, I’ll make
up my mind, right then, what He is.” See, Rebekah was still praying.
See?
So Zacchaeus happened to think, “But I’m too short to get to the first
limb.” That’s the way a lot of us get…?… “I’m too short for the
first limb.” So well…
If you want to see Him, you know, God will make a way for you to see
Him. It may be ridiculous, but God will make a way for you to see Him.
And you know, it–you might have to even come to a Full Gospel
Businessman’s meeting some morning, very ridiculous to your prestige,
but if you want to see Him, God will make a way for you to see Him.
E-30
You say, “I hear they’re having a meeting down there, and oh my,
they’re–they’re shouting, they’re… You know, I’ll just go in, ’cause
I don’t really believe it. But I’ll just go down and see what they do
at one of these breakfasts.” You see? God will make a way for you to
see it, all right.
And then little Zacchaeus got an idea. Excuse me, I’m about to deafen
you here. I been used to preaching out doors in stadiums, and so forth,
so I don’t mean to be yelling at you, friend.
E-31
But Zacchaeus got an idea, that if he could get to that first limb,
there’s nobody that’d be that tall. So when Jesus came down the street,
he would see what He looked like, and then he’d draw his idea what He
was. Then if he didn’t like Him, he’d tell Him off, right out of the
tree.
So then… How’s he going to get up this tree now, is the next thing.
So the garbage collector hadn’t come by yet, and there was a garbage
pail setting on the corner.
“Well,” he thought, “that would be ridiculous, but it’s about the best
way to hit the first limb.” So he looked all around to be sure that
nobody’s around. He goes down to the garbage pail, and he tries to lift
it up. And the collector hadn’t been by yet. you know, so it was filled
up. But that’s the only thing in sight, so he will have to use it.
Well, he’s got his best robe on. Now, what’s he going to do?
E-32
Well, you know, if God’s determined for you to see Him, you’ll see Him
anyhow, no matter what you have to go through. If there’s something
there pulling, you might be intellectually over the top, thinking one
thing, but God’s down here working in your heart. Rebekah had been
praying. That’s what made that faith last night (See?), been praying.
So he thinks, “Well there’s just one thing to do; that’s get this
garbage can in my arms.” And he gets down (businessman), gets a hold of
the garbage can, and here he comes. And he looks around, and if there
isn’t Levinski himself, with more of them watching him. Just like he
went to the breakfast, and he happened to look over, and there’s Jones
setting there. My, how God can move on a man when his wife will pray
for him, or vice versa. He may be a big shot in the city, but God knows
how to make him a little shot. Prayer does it.
E-33
So he gets the garbage pail, and he looks, and his little face turns
red, and he looks this way, here’s the shoe man, here’s the man that
sells the robe, and he… Oh my, he’s caught now, so he just might as
well go ahead.
So some of them said, “Have you noticed gentlemen, this morning,
there’s Zacchaeus at that breakfast… I mean at the a… With the
garbage can in his hand?”
And here he goes, and he gets down to the tree, and his face is red.
And he’s already caught in the act, and so there’s no need in getting
up, and going out now. You’re done known; you’re here. If you get in a
meeting, if you get up, that just–that shows you already been there,
so there’s something moving.
E-34
So as he raises the can up, and runs over, and sets it down, and now
look at his pretty robe, all full of garbage–the businessman of the
city, outstanding businessman. All right, the first thing he does then
is climb up on top of them. Levinski and them goes on down the street,
saying, “You know, our friend Zacchaeus here runs the famous restaurant
down there at the Grouch Avenue. (See?) He–he also has become the
collector; he’s the garbage disposal of the city.” Oh, his little face
was burning; oh, my, his righteous indignation had rose.
“Maybe we should tell, the rabbi that he has… The…?… doctor, you
know, Ph.D., that he has… One of the members of his church has become
a–a–the collector of garbage in that great aristocratic church, that
he goes to.” See?
E-35
And so, after they had past, little Zacchaeus gets up on the garbage
can; he still can’t reach the limb. Now, he’s in an awful place, so he
just shinnies up the tree. Well, I don’t know whether you know what
“shinny up the tree” means; that’s a southern expression: “pile up, get
a hold of it, just pull up.”
And so he gets to the first limb, and he looks over here, and there he
sets. And if that ain’t a good look at a–at a Chris… at a–a man,
businessman of the city, with his robe full of garbage, hands full of
splinters, getting in a tree to look at a holy-roller Preacher coming
by. You can imagine what kind of… Oh yeah, that’s what He was
considered: Somebody that’s called a devil, a Beelzebub, a Galilean,
which had a bad name to begin with, born a illegitimate child, as they
thought. See, the–the world never knows Him, brethren. They don’t know
it yet. They think we’re crazy. They just haven’t met Him yet; that’s
all.
E-36
So as he’s setting up there, cross-legged, weaving back and forth on
this limb… Now, if that isn’t a pretty picture. A man of his standing
in the city, the garbage can, the flies all around it. Now, the flies
is on Zacchaeus. And here he sets up here, full of garbage and stinks,
splinters in his hands, all to get to see some fanatic Prophet of
Galilee, called a Prophet. His own church against it. But you see,
Rebekah was still praying; that’s what does it.
So he thinks, “Now wait, if I set here, He might see me. Do you know
what? I’m just remembering that Rebekah told me that that Man could
discern the thoughts of the mind. You know what, I’ll hide from Him.”
So he goes just a little bit higher in the tree, and he finds where two
limbs meet. That makes a good place to set down. That’s a good place
for us all to set down, where two ways meet, yours and God’s. There’s
where the decision has to be made.
E-37
So he sets down on this limb, and he said, “Now, wait a minute, if this
Galilean Prophet… Now, when I go back home, Rebekah will say, ‘Did
you see Him, like He did to Philip, or He did to Peter, or He–He did
to some of the rest of them? How He could look out into the audience
and discern what they were doing or their thoughts.’ So sure, me
setting right here before Him; He might actually look up, this olive
tree is not too tall, and what if He happened to see me setting up
here? Well, sure He’d look at me. But–and then again, what if Levinski
would happen to see me up here, and then all of them get around the
tree and point their fingers at me?” Now, wouldn’t that be something?
So the best thing for me to do is to disguise myself.”
E-38
So he gets the limbs, and he pulls them all around him, covers himself
up like a good camouflage; no one can see him. And he only leaves one
little leaf, so he could raise it up like this, look out. And that
little leaf, you… There’s no one can see him; the tree limbs are all
pulled around him, and he’s a little bitty fellow setting back up
against the trunk of this tree, limbs all around him, the leaves all
around him, with the little leaf, he could raise up and look. He said,
“Now, they’ll never know. No one will ever see me here. I’m really
hid.” Don’t you worry, somebody knows where you are.
And as he sits there a few minutes, mediating, and the flies getting on
him again, and he happens to hear a noise. He said, “He must be
coming.” There’s usually a noise where He’s around, you know. They
always hear…?…
E-39
You know, in the old temple, when the priest was anointed and went into
the–the temple, on his… Aaron, on his garment was a special made
garment, and there was a bell and a pomegranate, and it required a
certain type of walk. That when he walked, these garments, the bells
and the pomegranate, played, “Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord,” as he
walked. And the only way the audience knew that he was still alive was
by this noise. I wonder sometimes.
Bangor ought to know that somebody’s alive around here, and it’s knowed
by the walk you do too: Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord. The noise gives
praise and glory; we’re a high priests offering spiritual sacrifice,
the fruits of our lips giving praise to His Name. That’s what we are.
The fruits of our lips giving praise to His Name.
E-40
Then when He was coming around the corner, there it was, the great
noise. And he raises up his little leaf to see. He said, “No one will
never see me here.”
So he looks around the corner, and he noticed, pushing around the
corner, came a great big man, pushing…?… it, “I’m sorry, you’ll
have to step out of the way.”
Two or three men behind him, “I’m sorry, the Master’s on His road to
His breakfast this morning, and we–we can’t interrupt, sorry. Stand
back.”
He said, “That must be the description of the fellow called Peter, that
man that He told who he was, his father. That must be him, that’s in
the lead there, pressing the people back.”
E-41
And just then, little Zacchaeus looks over, and there stood one of
his–of his customers. “Why,” he said, “they’ve got that child out here
this morning. When I know that the doctors said, two days ago, that
child was dying. If they should move that child in this early morning
air, it would be death; they cannot do that. How fanatic can people
get? And there the father and mother standing with this fevered baby,
rolled up in a blanket, and the doctors said in my restaurant the other
day, when I asked about that baby, ‘That it’s dying. And it’s seriously
with a disease that just a little air exposure would kill it
instantly.’ And here that father and mother has so worked up by this
fanatic preacher, that they brought that baby against the doctor’s
rules, out on the street.” And now look, they’re being pressed back.
Those twelve men along with Him, must be the one who protects Him, and
keeps Him away from the crowds. That’s what Rebekah said. Well, I tell
you, that man ought to be put in jail for taking that baby out.”
All at once the faithful little father takes the baby into his arms,
and a lovely little mother runs right on out into the street, and
almost falls on her knees.
This great man Peter, gentle, says, “Sister, dear, we are so sorry, our Master can only stand so much.”
“But oh, kind sir, my baby is dying. It hasn’t got but just a few
minutes to live, and I believe that one word from your Master will
change the whole course.”
Zacchaeus raised the leaf a little higher, said, “What’s that?” Just
one word, He knows about it. Not even a sparrow can fall in the street;
He knows it. He knows your prayers for this meeting. He knows all
that’s gone on. He’s lovely, kind, sweet, and…
And He stopped, like He did to blind Bartimaeus, just out the gate, a
few hours later. He couldn’t have heard Bartimaeus’ cry; there’s too
many people screaming, carrying on. His faith touched Him.
He stopped and turned in the back, and He said, “Daughter, take your baby back home, for your faith has saved the baby.”
Now, I can see Zacchaeus, “Did ever you hear such a fanaticism as that?”
And at that time the father also, raised his hands, and he said,
“Praise be to the living God, I believe and accept my baby’s healing
right now.” Unwraps the baby, sets her on the street, and a little six
or eight year old girl starts down the street skipping the rope. That
was Jesus.
E-42
Zacchaeus said, “That’s amazing. You know what, I’ve just decided I’d
better keep my big mouth shut. Maybe I been wrong. I sure don’t want
Him to see me.” So he picks up his little leaf again, saying, “Wonder
if He’s close.” And he looks down. Here He is coming right under the
tree. And He stopped. Zacchaeus said, “How glad I am that He can’t see
me.”
And He stopped; He looked up in the tree, said, “Zacchaeus, get out of
there; come on down. I’m going home with you today for dinner.” Didn’t
even know–only know he was up there, He knowed who he was.
I guess all the days of his life he was glad that he went to that place
where Jesus was to pass that way. He became a member of the Full Gospel
Businessmen’s Association of Jericho. I’m glad to be a member of the
same.
He never was the same after that. Rebekah was rewarded for her prayer.
Her husband got saved that day, and Jesus eat dinner at her house. “I
must go home with you today,” He said.
E-43
And friends, He can go home with you too. There may be a Zacchaeus
setting here, I don’t know. He does. If you try to hide behind
something, to really keep from making your real confession and
receiving Christ, the Holy Ghost, in your heart, He knows right where
you are. He speaks to you right now. Let’s bow our heads just a moment.
Dear God, something unusual struck me at that time. I felt; I don’t
have how to express it, Lord, if not for these people was here, I’d be
a hypocrite, but I didn’t finish my story. It seem like this must be
the time. Maybe, there is a Zacchaeus here. Of some man and some woman
that You just spoke to their heart, “I want to go home with you today
too.”
E-44
You found them setting here at the table. They heard that You were to
pass this way this morning, and they sit down. O Lord God, may they be
like Zacchaeus, climb down out of the tree, and say, “Lord God, if I’ve
did anything wrong, I’ll make it right.” If they’ve neglected the
church, if they’ve neglected their prayer, if they’ve neglected the
duty as a Christian, or as a believer, or a church member, if they’ve
neglected receiving the Holy Spirit, inviting You, You’re knocking at
their heart this morning.
Grant it, Lord, that right now, that such a person will move back the
little camouflage, and slip right out into the open, say, “Lord go home
with me today and abide with me. I want to take You…?… Maybe my
praying wife prayers is being answered, or my praying husband, or
mother. The prayers is answered, Lord. You found me right here at this
table. I want You to know, Lord, that I recognize it’s You. I raise my
hand to You, and ask for mercy.”
E-45
And while we have our heads bowed, and every person praying. Right down
in the bottom of your heart, I want you to be honest now. If you
receive me as your brother, the same Holy Spirit Who knows of the
thoughts of every heart, is here now. He knows your heart, and
something stopped me in my message, said, “This is the hour.” He’s
spoke to somebody. While no one raise your heads here, we have a little
sister to play.
But I want you if He’s dealing in your heart… You here that feel that
God has knocked at your heart, consecrate…?… If something maybe
they receive Him as your Saviour. Would you just raise your hand? Say,
“It’s me, Lord.” Be honest with God. God bless you. Someone else? The
Lord bless you. God bless you. Someone else?
All right. He’s knocking at… You want to go home with Him? Want to
take Him home with you? Are you still going to… Say, “Well, we’ve
found Him.” But you refuse to come down out of the tree. Can you do
that? Do you want to home with Him?
E-46
You’ll want Him to go to your deathbed. You might refuse Him this
morning, and He wouldn’t be there at the deathbed. You can grieve the
Spirit of God. God bless you. Someone else now?
You say, “What does it do, Brother Branham, if I raise up my hand?”
Well, it changes death to life. You break every scientific rule when
you raise your hand. God bless you, sister.
Science says that your hands must hang down; gravitation holds it down.
But there’s a Spirit around you, and one in you The Spirit around you
is the Holy Spirit, and He’s changing you, “You’re wrong. You’re
professing to be a Christian with all this evil in your heart.”
E-47
Like Zacchaeus, he thought he was a believer. You’ve criticized the
meetings; you didn’t believe them in the first place. Now, I’m speaking
to you, Child… It’s certainly, when you raised your hands then, that
breaks the laws of gravitation, you raise your hand. The Spirit in you
has made a decision, “I want Jesus. I don’t care what it cost me. If I
have to lose my prestige and everything, if I lose myself, I’ll find
it, Lord, in You. I raise my hand, God, here it is. I profess a
Christian, but I have temper, and evil, and everything’s in my heart.
Take it out, Lord, this morning. You found me here at the table as You
did Zacchaeus up the tree.” Will you raise your hand?
Four fathers raised their hands, but there is one yet present. God is just speaking now.
If you believe me to be His servant? One yet left. God bless you,
sister. All right. The decision is yours. Jesus could not have got up
in the tree and pushed him out; he had to come out on his own.
E-48
As we continue to pray, Lord God, the Creator of heavens and earth, the
Author of Everlasting Life, and the Giver of all good gifts, Your Holy
Spirit is the Gift that Christ sent to us, and we love Him. He is our
Shepherd, and we shall not want. And we’re so glad that He leads by the
side of the still waters, and restores our souls. He plants us by the
rivers of water, and the leaf shall not whither, even in death shall
not wither the leaf. As this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have
one already waiting. Nothing can wither; we’ve got Eternal Life, God’s
own Life dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit, that cannot perish. It must
be raised up as Christ promised it.
And I pray now, that You’ll bless exceedingly, abundantly, these who’s
raised their hands, and for those who should have done it, and did not.
And I pray, God, that this Spirit of love among the brethren and
sisters, that it will never die, it’ll always be alive among them,
Lord, and the differences will all be under the Blood, and that
fellowship will exist until Jesus comes, and we’ll be blended together
as one great body. Grant it, Father.
E-49
Bless those who are here that’s sick; as I know now they are. Seeking
help from You, and let them know that that which is speaking to them is
the Holy Spirit. He’s the Healer of all of our sickness. And we pray
that He will now heal every disease that’s among us, taking away, the
weakness, the diseases of the bodies, of those pilgrims and strangers
to the world, Your own dear children.
Grant it, Father. May when we go from here this morning, may we go
happy, rejoicing, healed, and well, renewed in our spirit, and heart.
We can go to the different corners, and testify at the gas stations,
whatmore. Jesus remains the same Lord. Grant it, Lord.
Bless the ministers here this morning too, the businessmen, may their
business prosper. Let us all know that the most, and greatest business,
that has the need today is the business of our Father. God, may we be
about His business as His dear children, conducting ourselves as
Christian gentlemen and Christian ladies. Grant it, Father. For we ask
it in Jesus’ Name, Thy Son. Amen.
E-50 Do you feel real good? Have I got five minutes more? Are you in a real big hurry? I just want to say something to you.
The
reason that I am where I am today in these Full Gospel ranks is because
I believe it. I believe that our bodies came from the dust of the
earth. We’re all aware of that. The Bible says it first; science proves
it. We’re made of sixteen elements of the earth: petroleum, potash,
cosmic light, so forth, atoms. Then if that be so, when this world was
nothing but a bleak volcanic, our bodies laid on this earth. Just a
little encouragement for you.
People think I’m a mystic, an isolationists. But I’m not. I’m your
brother. Yes. I’d like to go home with you for dinner, really have some
real fellowship. There’s a little room upstairs waiting for me. I can’t
be a servant of God, and a servant of man at the same time; I must stay
partly to myself, pray, and just to talk to you about the matter…?…
It’s later than we think.
E-51
We must get the seed in the earth. When I left Finland, sometime ago
right after the first war, or the last world war, they was out there
tying men, women, hooked up in harnesses; little children running
before them packing lanterns at night, and they scratched the ground.
If they don’t break the surface someway, get them seed in there,
they’ll all starve the next year. They got that in before the snow
comes. They must get it in, there’s no night. They can’t stop no time.
Lanterns. They couldn’t use tractors; they had none. They put their
women with harnesses on them to pull the harrow, just to scratch the
ground, the men right behind. Got to get the seed in, or there’ll be no
crop.
Brethren, sisters, it’s later than you think. We’ve got to scratch the
ground someway; there’s no stopping day and night. We’ve got to get the
seed, the Word, in the–in the hearts of the people. If we don’t
there’ll be no harvest… [Blank.spot.on.tape–Ed.]… and from the earth…?…
Jesus has come to the home of my heart in this sermon and by faith in d heart of my spouse bcos i pray for her as Rebbekah pray for Zaccheus. Shalon Brethren.