Tithes and Offerings

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TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Malachi 3: 8 -10 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”.

HAGGAI 1:6 “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes”.

1. NECESSITY AND IMPORTANCE OF TITHES

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.1_ JEFF.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0915E

10 Now, tonight, we’re starting now for a little teaching lesson. And if I’m… I don’t think we’ll get down, maybe we will tonight, to… This is the great chapter of teaching on tithings, to the church. And it’s a great subject, which we could stay on it for weeks and weeks, on that one thing, how Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, and whether it’s essential.

WITNESSES_ JEFF.IN V-25 N-6 SUNDAY_ 53-0405E

190 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” Have you ever witnessed that to be the truth? Put God first. Pay your tithes first. Pay everything first. Pay God. Pray first at morning. Pray all through the day. Give God the first place in everything. You’ll be a witness.

She runs right in. She had two sticks. In the old oriental way, they use two sticks. It was two sticks crossed, like this, and the fire was in the middle. The Indians still use it, and they move the logs up as they burn. That was the cross, Christ, where the fire was in the middle.

They took a little of the meal offering, put that ground meal, all ground just the same: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever,” poured in the oil, which was the Holy Spirit, and mixed It together, the Holy Spirit and Christ; going to make some kind of a hoecake now, brother. Amen. Oh, don’t think I’m crazy. I’m just religious tonight. All right.

Notice, “Make me a little cake, first.”

THE.PERGAMEAN.CHURCH.AGE_ JEFF.IN ROJC 229-285 WEDNESDAY_ 60-1207

129 And what do we have in our Protestant churches? Soup suppers, entertainments, skating (oh, my), rag sales, and everything else. See? Now, you know that’s the truth. Well now, if that–if that is God’s Word, friends, it’s the truth. And all Protestant churches are guilty. See?

Now, never was God’s plan to–to have soup suppers and dances in the basements, and all that there carrying on to pay off the pastor and the things. If people was just taught to pay their tithes, that’d be all there’d be to it. That’s God’s plan. But God has a plan, but man wants to make his own plan, hybriding God’s plan. All right.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 61-1015M

680-178 If you sent me downtown to get a loaf of bread, and you give me twenty-five cents to get the loaf of bread, and I met somebody on the street wanted something else, and I’d give him the twenty-five cents (See?), I give them your money. If they asked me for something, let them get it over here in this pocket and give them my money; but this is your money. And a tenth of it is the Lord’s. And Levi the priest could live by the tenth.

The tenth is to be a tithing that’s to be brought into the storehouse with a promise of God to bless it and a proof. He said, “If you don’t believe it, come and prove Me and see if I won’t do it.” See? That’s right.

The tithings goes into the church for the pastor and so forth like that to live on. And then the–the–the building funds and things like that is a separate fund altogether. Now, that–that is Scriptural.

One time when we get started, I want to take a night… I’ve went here some time ago before I left the tabernacle and taken about two or three weeks and just on subjects like that and went plumb through it and showed what tithings was in the church.

MY.LIFE.STORY_ CLEVELAND.OH SUNDAY_ 50-0820A

E-9 I never took up… I tried to take one offering in my life, and I failed on that. But I didn’t… I never–wouldn’t let me do it. I worked and pastored the Branham Tabernacle at Jeffersonville, which is a interdenominational institution. I worked every day, sometime with a pick and shovel, sometimes on patrol, sometimes in line work, and so forth: worked twelve years and pastored a church and never received one penny, not one cent. I was able to work. Now, not as I got anything against anyone… A minister, he’s to live by the Gospel. But I was young; I was healthy, why shouldn’t I work and not be an obligation to the people? Not because that they wouldn’t do it; they would be glad to do it. But I just felt like if the rest of them worked, then I’d work also. So I worked and–and paid my tithings right at the church. I believe in tithe paying. Now… God has blessed to me millions of times. And I never would take up offerings.

2. TITHING IS AN ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.1_ JEFF.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0915E

123 What would a man take tithings for, if he had any… If he never was born, and never will die, and was from beginning to end, and–and never had no father or mother or descent, and owned the whole Heavens and earth and all in it, why would he take tithe? Why would he ask Abraham to pay tithes? You see what a strict thing it is to pay tithes? Tithing is right. Every Christian is duty bound to pay tithe. That’s right. Never has been changed.

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.1_ JEFF.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0915E

124 Now:

And as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithe, payed tithes in Abraham.

125 Now, oh, here is something.

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

126 What, Levi? Abraham was Levi’s great-great-grandpa. And the Bible said here, that, “Levi paid tithes when he was in the loins of Abraham.” Four generations before he ever come to earth, he was paying tithes to Melchisedec. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

127 Then, you that can’t believe in predestination before ordination; and here, four generations before Levi would ever come out of the loins of Abraham, was paying tithes to Melchisedec. Wish we had time to run this through the Scripture.

ENTICING.SPIRITS_ JEFF.IN DE 79-112 SUNDAY_ 55-0724

72 Notice, they… Instead of this, they had tried to adopt handshaking for the old time experience we used to have. Today the church has become modern. They walk up and they give the right hand of fellowship. And that’s about the way they do it. But it’ll never take the place of the old fashion mourners bench where sinners called out and got right with God. That’s right.

Today they’re trying to take the place of God’s tithing. They’re trying to adopt something. They’re trying to make it different. They go down and have bunco games in the churches, play lottery. Lottery will never take the place of God’s tithings. Suppers, blanket selling, picnics to raise money to pay different debts off. It’ll never take the place of God’s eternal tithe and offerings; it’ll never do it. But yet we’re trying to do it.

THE.QUEEN.OF.THE.SOUTH_ GREENVILLE.SC FRIDAY_ 58-0620

E-5 Billy told my just now that they’ve taken a love offering. Is that right? A love offering for me. I appreciate that. I–I didn’t come for that; I never ask for that. I never took a offering in all my life. I’ve never took a offering. I’ve been a minister twenty-seven years, and I never took one offering in my life, or never had one penny of salary in my life. I just live by the alms of the people.

I worked seventeen years as game warden and for a electrician, as a public service company, and pastored the Baptist Tabernacle at Jeffersonville, taking what tithe that was giving in, never even seen it, passed right through the church, and built the church and so forth. And paid tithes and offerings to the church, seventeen years without one penny. And I wo–wished I had a job that I could go to with a pick and shovel, or a hammer, or something another, is about all I could–got gumption enough to do, dig a ditch or something, work, some electrical work, and wouldn’t have to take up an offering any time. If I could do it, I’d gladly do it. I’m not as young as I was then, and…

3. WHEN TO PAY TITHE?

I CORINTHIANS 16:1 – 2: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come”.

54-1114 REDEMPTION.BY.JUDGMENT_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN SUNDAY_

« E-57 † … And–and let the elders come forward for the Sunday School offering at this time.

Then we’ll have the healing service just in a few moments. And now, shall we bow our heads just a moment.

4. WHERE AND TO WHOM TO PAY TITHE

LET.US.SEE.GOD_ SAN.JOSE.CA V-14 N-2 SUNDAY_ 59-1129

28 But, you know, I feel like this, that a member of a church, their first obligation is with their tithe and offerings, is to support their church. If you’re members of these fine churches that’s represented here, you support your church. That’s your first duty to God. “Bring your tithe and offerings into the storehouse.” And the storehouse, you surely know what that is; it’s where you get your food. So there’s where you get your spiritual food, and your obligation is to your church and not to an evangelist like me.

WHAT.IS.THE.HOLY.GHOST_ JEFF.IN V-4 N-2 WEDNESDAY_ 59-1216

115 When God was setting in order, He said, “All you Levites, I’ve called you out and made you priests. And all your brethren, the other–the twelve tribes–and not–other eleven tribes will pay you a tithing.”

“When you get a–nine bushels of apples, pour one bushel to the Levites. When you run your sheep through the–the hall here, pick up the tenth sheep. I don’t care if it’s a little one, or a big one, fat one, or poor one; that belongs to the Levites.

“Now, Levites, when you get all this, then you tithe too to the Lord. You make the wave-offering, the heave-offerings, the different offerings. You tithe to the Lord.”

DISCERNMENT.OF.SPIRIT_ PHOENIX.AZ V-9 N-3 TUESDAY_ 60-0308

18 A New Testament prophet is a preacher. We all know that. Just any minister that’s a preacher is a prophet, a New Testament prophet, if he’s prophesying, preaching, not to try to edify himself to make a big name, or to edify his organization. Which, he should be in an organization. Here I am without one, but yet preaching you should be. That’s right. Every man ought to have a church home. You ought to have a place, not just to float about from pillar to post, but have somewhere that you go to church and you call it your church, somewhere you pay your tithe, and somewhere that you help support the cause. Take your choice, but then don’t never disfellowship the other man because he don’t belong with your group. See? Discern his spirit and see if he’s got the same purpose in heart, then you got fellowship one with another. You’re working for one great cause. That’s the cause of Christ. I think that that is absolutely true.

THE.PLACING.OF.DEACONS_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 58-0720E

353-1 And that is, that the first is the placing some deacons into the church. And our little church here is sovereign. It doesn’t have any denomination or anything to send its deacons; it elects its own deacons. It elects its pastor; it elects its trustees; it elects everything that comes in and out of the church. No one person has the say-so over anything; it’s the church. And the church are those who come and support the church with their presence, with their tithe and offerings, are always the ones that has legal say-so in the placing of such.

WHY.ARE.WE.NOT.A.DENOMINATION_ JEFF.IN V-11 N-7 SATURDAY_ 58-0927

78 Listen, you young people today. I don’t know whether you come to this church, or where you come, you young boys and girls. Did you realize, the things that you’re doing, if there is another generation, your children will be judged for what you do? Haven’t you no respect or decency? You girls that’s out here wearing these little old shorts and things around, you know, that’s reflecting on your daughter. Did you know your grandmammy was a–a flapper, and your mammy a chorus girl, and that’s the reason you’re a striptease today? It’s certainly. What will your children be? Yes, sir. God said He’d visit the iniquity of the parents upon the children and their children, to three and four generations.

79 And did you realize, my brother, every time you do that which is right, that’ll be visited on your children?

Look here, let’s take Hebrews the 7th chapter. The Bible said, when–when Melchisedec met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the king, and blessed him, and said… Now, Levi, is talking about paying tithes. Said, “Levi had an order from the Lord to receive tithes from his brethren.” And Levi who received tithe paid tithe, for he was yet in the loins of Abraham when he met Melchisedec. And Abraham was his great-grandfather. Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, Jacob begot Levi; Levi, father, grandfather, great-grandfather. And while Levi was in the loins of Abraham, the Bible said he paid tithes to Melchisedec. Hallelujah.

Don’t let nobody tell you that any kind of a move in the world can ever interfere with God’s great cog; she’s moving right on. It was planned back there in the beginning. There ain’t a devils or enough devils can interfere with His program.

82 Now, the Bible didn’t say potentially he paid it; the Bible said he paid tithes when he was in his great-grandfather’s loins. Glory. That’s my Lord. Oh, He knowed it even before the world was ever formed. He knowed everything. And in Abraham he paid tithes.

And sister, brother, how can you run out here, and people live and run around with men’s wives, and wives breaking up homes, and–and living the way you do, what do you expect another generation to be? Here’s what it is: it’s become now nothing but just a bunch of illegitimate, messed-up-born bunch of corruption. And there’s one thing left for it, and that’s the atomic day that we’re living in. That’s exactly right. We’re at the end time.

THE.FAITH.OF.ABRAHAM_ LA.CA WEDNESDAY_ 59-0415E

E-57 Watch when he come back. They had a great big jubilee, homecoming time. And there was all the kings around thanking Abraham, and then they met another King, Melchisedec. He was the King of Salem which was Jerusalem: the King of peace, the King of righteousness.

Who was this great King? I want to ask you something. Who was this great King? He did not have any father. He never had a mother. He never had a beginning of days or ending of life. Who was that King that met Abraham coming home from the slaughter of the kings?

And to you people that don’t believe in tithe paying, look at this. The Levitical priesthood paid tithes. And the Bible said that Levi paid tithes when he was in the loins of Abraham, and that was his great, great grandfather. And when Levi was in the loins of Abraham, when Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, the Bible reckoned Levi paying tithes. How ought you people to live. If your sins are visited to the children, what about your blessings?

WHY_ PHOENIX.AZ WEDNESDAY_ 60-0309

E-12 Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift that was in him, that come from his grandmother, Lois. We find out that in the 7th chapter of Hebrews, that Paul speaking on tithe paying, that he said, Levi, who had an order from God to receive tithing of his brother, paid tithes, for he was yet in the loins of Abraham when he met Melchisedec, which was his great, great-grandfather. And it was accounted to him for paying tithing.

Your life will impress your children, and have–influence your children by the example you set before them. And I think it’s a good thing that we put every effort we can before our children as godly parents. Make an example, be an example.

DOOR.TO.THE.HEART_ PHOENIX.AZ SATURDAY_ 60-0312

E-2 This has been a mighty short two weeks to me, and knowing that tomorrow it ends this meeting. I was just telling Brother Shore, how I appreciate his fine cooperation. And brother–all the brothers, and all the sisters, and all that’s come in, the Foursquare, Church of God, Jesus’ Name, chur–Faith Tabernacle, and all of them, Assemblies, and everyone, we sure appreciate your cooperation.

And now tomorrow, there’s visitors here, and I want you to find these churches where you–your own church of your own denomination and go there, church of your choice, wherever you wish to go… There’d be services at all of them tomorrow. And now, we’re don’t–we’re–we just here, kindly, come in like this and to visit…

And, of course, we… If you have no church we’d be glad to have you tomorrow night. But if your church is having service tomorrow night, that’s your duty; that’s your post of duty at your church. We never want anyone to shirk their own church. We never want anybody to take money, if they would put in their own church to sponsor one of these meetings. No, sir. That… Your tithe and offerings goes into your own church.

JEZEBEL.RELIGION_ MIDDLETOWN.OH V-6 N-14 SUNDAY_ 61-0319

57 Dirty, filthy thing, it’s… A dog is the worse thing that God speaks of. Even the tithe off of them can’t even be paid in the house of God. “It’s like the whore, a tithe of the whore,” the Bible said. And yet, there you are. They’ll practice birth control and pay a thousand dollars, nearly, for a little old dog, and lead it around, and give it a child’s love, so she can run out all night long, and will practice birth control.

GOD.BEING.MISUNDERSTOOD_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 61-0723E

604-Q-136 136. Can a Christian go to heaven if he or she does not pay tithe?

Now, that’s one that I could not answer Scripturally.

Now, this “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” if the minister is sincere, just let–let us know (You see?), we’d be glad… Brother Neville, myself, or Brother Beeler, or Brother Collins, or any of these ministers here who are ordained to this ministry, and so forth, can–can do so.

Now, but now: Does a Christian not get to heaven because they do not pay tithe?

I–I could not say yes or no to that. But I do believe that every Christian is obligated to pay tithings because it is a commandment of the Lord. “And blessed is–are they that do all His commandments, that they might have a right to enter into the Life, the Tree of Life.” Now, I do believe that tithe-paying is essential to a Christian experience. For I’ll get to that in another question in a few moments; I know there’s another one in here pertaining to that.

GOD.BEING.MISUNDERSTOOD_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 61-0723E

617-Q-146 146. Brother Branham, don’t you feel that everyone who claims to be a Christian should pay tithes, pay their tithes into the storehouse of the Lord? Please give Scripture to this question.

All right, if you will… That is right, that the Bible said in Malachi the 4th chapter, “Will a man rob God? And you say, ‘Where have we robbed Thee?’ In tithe and offerings. Bring all your tithe and offerings into My storehouse and prove Me,” saith the Lord, “if I will not open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there’ll not be room enough to receive.”

That’s a challenge to any individual. And if I only had the time, and would not get to this little Scripture that I wish to get to in about the next ten minutes, I would like to give you a personal testimony of how that I was even hungry, and my mother and them hungry, and my daddy sick, but I took my tithes out first and give it to God, and you ought to see what happened. I have never seen in my life, that any man or a woman, that if you only make one dollar a week, will bring the ten cents of that money and put it into your storehouse, your church where you come, if God don’t bless that, call me a hypocrite. Yes, sir. That’s a challenge to anybody. And every Christian… That goes to this other question. Every Christian should pay tithes. That’s right. It should be done.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 61-1015M

680-Q-161 161. Would it be wrong to use tithes on church building funds?

Well now, here–here’s a touchy little thing for the church now. No, correctly, tithes is to go to the minister. That’s right. In the Bible they had a box they’d set at the door in the Old Testament when the–building. This box was a fund where the people put in there for the repairing… You’ve read it many times in the Old Testament. They kept up the buildings and things like that… All the repairs on the buildings was taken care out of that fund. But a tenth of that went–a tenth of the tithings–all the tithings went to their priests, their pastors. Yes, tithings are to go for nothing else.

I know people take their tithes and give them to a widow woman. That’s wrong. If you’ve got anything to give the widow woman, give her, but don’t give her God’s money. That’s not yours in the first place. That’s God’s.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 61-1015M

680-178 If you sent me downtown to get a loaf of bread, and you give me twenty-five cents to get the loaf of bread, and I met somebody on the street wanted something else, and I’d give him the twenty-five cents (See?), I give them your money. If they asked me for something, let them get it over here in this pocket and give them my money; but this is your money. And a tenth of it is the Lord’s. And Levi the priest could live by the tenth.

One time when we get started, I want to take a night… I’ve went here some time ago before I left the tabernacle and taken about two or three weeks and just on subjects like that and went plumb through it and showed what tithings was in the church.

PUTTING.ON.THE.WHOLE.ARMOR.OF.GOD_ S.PINES.NC THURSDAY_ 62-0607

E-71 But when it come to real down-inside-of-him courage, he didn’t have it. No, he didn’t have it. When he had seen that Word… Now, I’m going to get religious. When he had seen that Word made manifest, and knowed that that was the day for it to be there, and seen it proved exactly what God said it would do, and then with all of his intellectual strength, with all of his physical being…

That’s the way it is today. Men who just walk up and put their name on a book, those who shake hands with a minister… And when it comes to standing in the office and the boss passes a drink, they’ll take it. They’re afraid of their job.

It comes to paying your tithes into your church, you’re afraid to do it, because you’re afraid you’ll starve to death, even though, God’s made the promise that He would take care of you. All these things…

And when you come to the church, and the Holy Spirit falls amongst the people, and something in your heart tells you, “This is it. That’s the Word.” When you see the baptism and everything else brought out in the Word, you’re afraid to take it. What’s the matter? You’re lacking courage, spiritual courage to stand up.

JEHOVAH.JIREH.1_ GRASS.VALLEY.CA JJ 37-72 THURSDAY_ 62-0705

124 Abraham, then Abraham took the… In the 14th verse of the 13th chapter, after Lot separated himself, and Abraham completely obeyed God, then God come to him. Now, He’s ready to bless him.

And until the Pentecostal church gets away from all of its creeds and dogmas, and acting like the world, and looking like the world, and talking like the world, and stay home on Wednesday night to watch “We Love Susie” instead of coming to prayer meeting, and things like that, paying your tithes out to some preacher out here on some kind of a radio program to make fun of the very thing that you stand for (That’s right.), and all this kind of stuff that’s carried on in the name of Pentecost, it’s a disgrace.

THE.SEVENTIETH.WEEK.OF.DANIEL_ JEFF.IN DA 89-141 SUNDAY_ 61-0806

14 Now, you think that people here (I started looking, over from Chicago, just different places) driving hundreds and hundreds of miles just to attend a service. Then when they get here, no room to set down, not an air-conditioned room, an old hot building to stand in–wiping perspiration, taking the money from the table from their children to come here to listen to that message. You mean to tell me there’s not a–beyond this serene somewhere that there’s a place they’re going one of these days? Sure there is. That’s faithful. Those people are tithe payers. Not only do they come, they bring me their tithe and offerings, and bring it into the house of the Lord, trying to do what is right. God richly bless a loyal people like that. God’s mercy and grace be with them.

BEHOLD.A.GREATER.THAN.SOLOMON.IS.HERE_ SALEM.OR SATURDAY_ 62-0721

E-57 Brother, that little queen looked around at that and said, “But I’ve been hearing about all this; but I’ve never seen nothing yet.”

“Well, if you go, we’re going to excommunicate you.”

“Well, you just might as well give me my papers now, because I’m going.” See, when Christ begins to move in a heart, it’s gone. That’s all.

So remember she had a lot to confront her. She had a lot. Now, she lost her membership. And another thing, she said… I thought it was very good. She said, “If that thing is the truth, it’s worth supporting.” So she gathered up a lot of money, frankincense, gold, silver, and myrrh, and put it on the camels.

But here was her thought, I believe. “If it’s the truth, I’ll support it. If it isn’t, I can bring my treasures right back.” She could teach Pentecostal people something: supporting radio ministries out here that would make fun and laugh at the very religion that you are representing. That’s right. And your own church suffering for the tithe that you would–ought to be giving them (yes, sir); just because they got some kind of a big name or something like that…

Haven’t you never learned spiritual things yet? We should. That’s right. We should learn to discern the spirit to see where it comes from. Now, that’s not skim milk, now, if you can dissolve it.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 64-0823E

1034-Q-307 307. Should a person pay tithes to an individual, or should a Christian work?

Sure he should. He’s the one man that will work, is a Christian.

“Pay tithes to an individual?” It depends on who the individual is. See? That’s right. In Hebrews 7, the first time tithings was talked about in–in a stand that we… Wait a minute, I believe, number two question. No. Uh, uh. No. For Brother… Said, “Two questions for Brother Branham.”

When… In Hebrews the 7th chapter, when Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings met Melchisedec, he paid Him a tithe. That was Melchisedec, the King of Salem, which is King of Peace, and King of Righteousness, which was nobody but God Himself. See?

But when you pay tithings… Really, where you owe tithings is where you get your food. “Bring ye all your tithings into My storehouse, saith the Lord. (That right?) And prove Me wherein saith God, that if I’ll not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that you would not have room enough to receive it.” I challenge any man or woman that’s not a tithe payer to accept that.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 64-0823E

1034-184 I could stand here till in the morning, telling you just what happened when I seen that, and what condition I was in. But just as loyal as I ever could, I paid tithes. And when I took my own money from the church here or from my campaigns, I’d take more… I’d give a tenth. Then I’d give it out to the ministers, and give the rest of it to ministers. Then when I couldn’t do that, then the thing I did, I kept ten percent and give God ninety. And then, when the law told me I couldn’t do that, I’d have to take… And if I did, it was going to be charged to it, then I had to take and bypass it into foreign missions and so forth, and then just take a wage out of that of a hundred dollars a week; and I pay my tithes from that.

Yes, sir. I believe in paying tithes. It’s one of God’s blessings that’s proven to be a blessing. You say, “That’s of the Old Testament.” It is of the New Testament too. Yes, sir.

THE.BEGINNING.OF.JESUS.FAME_ CONNERSVILLE.IN FRIDAY_ 53-0605

E-7 Standing in a conference or gathering of ministers of my own church, after coming back, some of the Doctors of Divinity said, “Brother Branham, we’d like for you to speak tonight.” Oh, how it made me feel to get to stand and say, “Brethren,” (The minister that ordained me was present.) I said, “What you said that I had a nightmare…” I said, “We sent missionaries to Africa the–for the past hundred years. And when I got over there, I found them packing mud idols, calling themselves Christians.” But I said, “What you call fanaticism, what you call the devil’s work, won more souls to Christ in five minutes, than all the missionaries we’ve sent in a hundred years, and the millions of dollars that we spent.”

Brother, sister, the church ought to get in God’s program, then the church will move all right. Just like suppers and dinners and so forth to appropriate money, that’s not God’s way of doing it. Pay your tithes; that’s what God wants you to do. See? Just keep in God’s program, and He’ll bless the giver and so forth. He promised it.

So if we substitute something else, just like we’ve substituted theology today to take the place of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it’ll never work. It can’t. We’ve substituted multitudes instead of power. It’ll never take the place of power. God is power. He’s the Almighty God. The power of all powers is God.

GOD’S.PROVIDED.WAY.OF.DEALING.WITH.SIN_ PHOENIX.AZ FRIDAY_ 54-0305

E-13 The Church is to be operated by nine spiritual gifts, by the Holy Spirit. He has gifts, signs, and wonders in the Church. That’s God’s provided way of perfecting His Church. We try anything else: theology, teaching, anything else, it’ll never work. It never did, and it never will.

We’ve got to come back to God’s way. God has a way to support a Church, not making blankets and having soup suppers, but every man paying his tithes and offerings into the church, doing the way God said do. That’s God’s provided way for that.

God’s got a provided way for a man to come into the Church. Today the way we bring men into the church, is give him a letter, bring him into the church, the right hand of fellowship, sprinkle a little salt shaker full of water on top of his head, and bring him into the church.

ELIJAH_ PHOENIX.AZ TUESDAY_ 55-0301

E-25 Way up the mountain side, she said to that servant, “Don’t you let that mule even catch his breath. Just keep him a going.” That’s the way to do it. Lay it on to the church; let’s keep moving. The trouble of it is, you load the church down.

I heard an old colored brother here sometime ago, preaching on the wise men coming to see Jesus. And he–he sure give a good illustration. He said that the… “Went to pack out the old camels, you know,” and said, “the first thing you know,” said, “two of them struck out. ” And said, “Then this one fellow begin to pack the camel, got him so loaded down till the old fellow couldn’t move.” And that’s just about the way it’s been with the Church. We bring in all kinds of little societies and all kinds of this little, that, and the other, and little entertainments, and so forth, and cut out the real value of the prayer meeting. The upper room turned into a supper room. That’s right. That’s good for you. They can get some old tough rooster, and boil him up, and sell it about a dollar a plate to pay the preacher. If you can take God’s plan, all paid tithes, and do what the Lord told you to do, you’d be a lot better off, and turned that room into prayer room at nighttime. Amen.

THE.HANDWRITING.ON.THE.WALL_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 56-0902

E-46 Brother, when I see the ensign lifted yonder in Jerusalem, when I see the Jews returning back, when I see that middle eastern problem, little old India is laid down there all these years and now she’s a keynote, illiterate people, but a keynote. We failed to preach the Gospel to them. We’ve done everything else. We’ve built great big churches and spent billions of dollars to put in the church. And missionaries can’t go because they haven’t got the finance to go on.

And we went over there. And what missionaries went over there and try to tell them about the Lord, here come the others over-falling in great big fine finery, and even making fun and shunning them. I stood and watched it with my own eyes.

Brother, we’ve been weighed in the balance and found wanting. The missionary had the penny march on the altar, and the beer company got his–the tithes money that should’ve went to God. Exactly the truth. That’s exactly the truth.

THE.HANDWRITING.ON.THE.WALL_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 56-0902

E-47 We have absolutely donated to the wrong thing. We put everything into those so-called organizations, and little charities, and things like that. When men rode around in great big green cadillacs with stub rings on, a fifty cent cigar in his mouth, getting five hundred dollars a week to distribute to his friends. That’s right. That’s the backbone of all of it.

GO.AWAKE.JESUS_ SHREVEPORT.LA V-17 N-9 SATURDAY_ 63-1130E

127 That’s what caused communism to raise up in Russia. Well, the communists is not no great party; there is only one percent of Russia is communism now, one percent. Ninety-nine percent is still free, but they’re the ruling. They’re the ruling. Why did it raise up in the first place? Because the corruption of the church. That’s what done it. They took all the money from the people, to the church, and they live the same kind of lives. They wasn’t no more but just like any other lodge. And the people got sick and tired of it, and that’s how communism was born.

128 That’s how worldlyism is born here. That’s why we’re having a Council of Churches. That’s why we’re going into this confederacy and the things that we’re doing, is because that they have rejected the Word. Why they have a soup supper in the church, to pay the pastor? Because they reject God’s way, of paying tithes. Certainly. Why do they take a creed? Because they don’t want the Bible. Why they take an error? Cause they don’t want the Truth.

INFLUENCE_ BEAUMONT.TX SUNDAY_ 64-0315

98 Hold yourself clean and clear, to your calling. Stay with God’s Word and don’t move for nothing. And stay, abide in your calling. If He give you a job out there, as a farmer, farm good. God bless you at it, and pay your tithes and whatever it is, your offerings, to help the ministry go on. If He made a mechanic out of you, and blessed you in that work, stay with it and thank Him for it. See? You just abide where God calls you.

CHRIST.IS.REVEALED.IN.HIS.OWN.WORD_ JEFF.IN V-4 N-10 SUNDAY_ 65-0822M

13 I remember a time when I was sick, once when I was a boy. I came out of the hospital owing about two thousand dollars. And used to be a drugstore here, Mr. Swaniger, I owed him about three or four hundred dollars, a medicine bill. He didn’t even know me. And the man… I went to him. I didn’t know him. And he just send it up there, anyhow, never refused to send it. And I said, “I owe you.”And I said… I believe, Swaniger… It was Mr. Mason down on Court Avenue and Spring.

And I said, “I owe you. And I’m–I’m just still awfully weak, but I’m trying to go to work. Now, if I can’t pay you…” I just become a Christian. I said, “First thing, Mr. Mason, as my duty to God, I owe Him my tithes. I want to pay Him my tithings, first.” And I said, “Then my next duty is pay my debts.” I said, “My father is sickly, and he… And we got… There’s ten of us children in the family.” But I said, “I’ll… If I can’t pay you no more than twenty-five cents on that bill, each payday; if I can’t pay you even the twenty-five cents, I’ll come by and tell you about it. I’ll tell you, ‘I–I–I can’t do it this time.'” Now, by the help of God, I paid every bit off. See? But that’s what I mean, see? Just don’t somebody say…

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.1_ JEFF.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0915E

88 Now, this Melchisedec, the King of Salem, Prince, Priest of the Most High, met Abraham and blessed him. And gave Him his tithings, Abraham did. And He was the King of Salem. And He brought out bread and wine, the communion, and gave it to Abraham after the battle, after the men had been won over.

62 Now I want you to notice a little further, as we read.

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after he returned from the slaughter of this king Chedortaomer, and… the kings… were with him, in the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

63 They went out. King of Sodom was brought back. His brother was brought back. The children was brought back. And here went out the kings to meet him. And, also, here is where I want to get to, the message now. Watch here.

And–and Melchizedek, king of Salem (King of Jerusalem, King of peace) brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abraham of the most high God, possessor of heavens and earth:

64 Melchisedec, the King of Salem, also represented Himself among the other kings. And notice, the battle was over, the Spirit of God in Abraham, of Christ, that had brought back his fallen brother, then restored him back to his rightful condition, to all that he had lost. He had brought it back. And when he did, He brought out bread and wine, the communion. Can’t you see who that Melchisedec was? It was God. Brought out the communion, after the battle.

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.1_ JEFF.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0915E

75 Now, I want you to notice, Abraham said, “I’ll not take from a thread to a shoelatch.” He didn’t fight the war, to make a lot of money. And real true battles are not made with selfish motives. Wars are not fought for money. Wars are fought for–for motives, for principles. Men fight war for principles. And when Abraham went out to get Lot, he didn’t go out because he knowed he could whip the kings and take all their possession, he went out for the principle of “saving his brother.”

76 And any minister that’s sent out under the inspiration of the King of Heaven, will not go for money; neither will he go to make big churches, neither will he go to inspire denominations. He’ll only go for one principle, and that is, “To bring back his fallen brother.” Whether he gets a dime in the offering or whether he doesn’t, it won’t make a bit of difference to him.

77 As I say, “Real wars are fought and waged for principles and not for money.” And men and women who join church and come into church, to be popular, because the Joneses belong there, or they change their church from a little church to a big church, you’re doing it for a selfish motive and the right principle is not behind it. You should be willing to stand at the battle front.

WHY_ PHOENIX.AZ WEDNESDAY_ 60-0309

E-51 Search the Scriptures, friend, join the church ain’t enough. Now, joining the church is fine. I believe that every person should join the church. I absolutely believe that every person should stand at their post of duty, and–when their pastor’s there preaching or evangelists or something, I think they ought to stand at their post of duty. They ought to support that church with everything they got in them with their tithes, with their offerings, with anything that they’re called on to do. Be willing and happy, if your pastor ask you to do something in your church. You should do it. That’s good. But don’t let that just be the only thing. get inoculated first. That’s what I’m trying to tell you; get the Holy Spirit first, then the rest of it comes on all right. Then you go get into whatever you wish to, whatever church that you–of your choice.

AS.THE.EAGLE.STIRRETH.UP.HER.NEST_ YAKIMA.WA THURSDAY_ 60-0804

E-75 This little old eagle… The mother, after she got him off the nest, you know, he’d kinda puttering along behind. You remember how out of place, you seem? “My, my,” said, “this don’t seem right.” Walk in that old dusty yard, and–and where the cows has walked, and the horses, and that old dust flying up, hmm, what a stink. Said, “This don’t seem right.” He looked up like that and said, “Say, what about up there?

And the old hen said, “Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck: Days of miracles is past. No such thing as flying up in the air, that’s impossible.” Just didn’t set right, you know. It just–it didn’t suit his gastronomics. He knowed there’s something better up there somewhere, so he kept walking with his head up.

And she said, “Children, don’t listen to him. He’s one of them odd guys.” You see?

That’s the way a eagle is when he’s kinda out of place amongst the chickens. See? So she goes over on the big old manure pile, and she begins to scratch and said, “Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, we’re going to have a–we’re–we’re going to have an old supper over here tonight, we got to pay the pastor. We got to have some kind of a sale to pay the…”

When it gets to a place like that, the church ought to close it’s doors. Pay your tithes and the pastor will be paid.

“We’ll have a bunco game; we’ll have all these other things here.”

That little eagle start and said, “Whew, I couldn’t stand that. My. Hmmm. Hmmm.”

THE.CHURCH.CHOOSING.LAW.FOR.GRACE_ MIDDLETOWN.OH THURSDAY_ 61-0316

E-31 God will provide the works. If you’ll just walk in grace, you’ll be more at work than you are right now with the Ladies Aid Society and all this other nonsense that’s been added into the church. Soup suppers to pay the preacher, where’d you ever get such a thing as that Scripture? Tithes pays the preacher. He’s to live by the tithes of the people. But we had to get something else to do. We have to have our part into it. And then if the–they can’t make it up, there’s another society will do it, another society. God’s way is right. Tithes and offerings goes to Levi, which was the minister. If everybody would pay their tithes you wouldn’t have to have any soup suppers. See, you adopted something else and leave the tithings off. Say it’s an Old Testament ar–argument. I’d like for you to prove it to me. That’s right. You can’t do it by God’s Word; it’s a New Testament order too. God makes one order, it can never be changed. It has to remain that way.

5. TITHES SHOULD BE ON EVERY POSSESSIONS, PROSPERITY, INCREASE … NOT JUST WAGES AND SALARIES

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.1_ JEFF.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0915E

14 Now, this morning, in leaving the last verse for the 6th chapter, so we can go right into the 7th.

Whither the forerunner for us has entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.

15 Now we’re going to read the first three verses, or the first two verses, or the first three verses, rather, of the 7th chapter, so we can get started right off.

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, (there is your tithings); first being by interpretation King of righteousness,… after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Without father, without mother, without descent,… neither beginning… having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

PERFECTION_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 56-0610

E-38 Who was this King of Salem? A great King of Jerusalem, not the earthly, the heavenly. The earthly Jerusalem was a type of the heavenly; and here come the King of Salem which is first the King of righteousness, the King of peace. He didn’t have any father, didn’t have any mother. He didn’t have beginning of life or ending of days. Oh, my. Without a descent, none other than Christ, Himself. That’s Who the Church meets when they go up into the air.

And when Abraham met Him, he give Him the tithes of all that he possessed. You know what they did? The first thing they did was set down (I feel really emotional.), set down and broke bread and drink wine and taken the communion after the battle was over.

A.BLUSHING.PROPHET_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 56-1125E

E-6 And God represented Himself once in the Fullness beforehand in the book of Genesis, in the order of Melchisedec, Who had no father, no mother, no beginning of days, or ending of years, or ending of life. And He was a priest, the King of Salem, a priest of God, of the most high God, Who was without beginning or without ending. He was none other than the prefigure of the Lord Jesus Christ, ’cause He was the King of Salem which is the King of Peace which is the King of Jerusalem. And He was in prefigure, even the patriarch Abraham paid tithes to Him. He was a prefigure of the coming of the Lord Jesus.

This same Melchisedec met Abraham out on the plains before the destroying of Sodom and Gomorrah. And–and He met him after Sodom and Gomorrah when Abraham paid Him a tithings of all the spoils that he’d taken from the king. All these things is shadows, typed up to Christ.

And now, all the shadows of the Old Testament saints, their ups-and-downs, was a shadow and type and example for us today.

6. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CHURCH MONEY

THE.FAITH.OF.ABRAHAM_ LA.CA WEDNESDAY_ 59-0415E

E-5 Someone, some time ago, was going to give me a large offering. He said it was a tithing, but it was too much for me; and I told him I wouldn’t receive an offering like that. He said, “But Brother Branham, I must give it to you.” Said, “It’s tithings.”

I said, “Well now, if it’s tithings, it goes to God’s church.”

He said, “That’s right.”

And I said, “Well, if the Lord is giving you those tithes, He’s got people somewhere to give it to. They’re all out on the field everywhere.” And when I know of missionaries preaching on the field with no shoes on, two meals a week, I can do without something myself. And I think we all could do that to help those poor brethren who are struggling for the cause of Christ.

THE.SUPERNATURAL_ OWENSBORO.KY SUNDAY_ 56-0129

E-2 I was just looking across the street there where you’re going to build a new church, or something over there, that he was telling me about this morning at the breakfast table. And that’s wonderful, seeing you–you progress like that. That just shows that you’re–you’re backing up the right thing. And God’s servant is trying his best to give the best he can to God’s people. I’d… Every congregation will appreciate a pastor like that, that you see what your finances, your tithes, your offerings, and so forth, you are… He’s going straight into the Kingdom of God, to embetter the Kingdom of God, make a better place, not for himself, for you. He–He’s got the sheep on his mind, the shepherd always has.

7. CONSEQUENCES OF REPORTING WRONG AMOUNT OF MONEY

ACTS 5: 1-11 Ananias and Saphira

I.WILL.RESTORE_ OWENSBORO.KY TUESDAY_ 53-1110

E-49 “I will restore,” saith the Lord. Restore what? What it was in the beginning, the first early apostolic church. Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist, whatever that we want to call it. It was right there in the beginning, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. In there they had signs and wonders and miracles.

There come a man by the name of Peter. They knowed he was a prophet. Old Ananias walked up before him one day, and he said, “I sold this so-and-so.”

Peter said, “You’re lying.” Is that right? Went right down with that Spirit of Jesus Christ upon him and said, “You kept back a portion of the money.” It frightened the old boy so bad till he fell dead, and they packed him out. And here come his wife in. Peter said, “You’re into it, too.” And away they packed her.

8.OFFERINGS

No Offering = no complete service: must be every service…
Leave your offering + go and be in agreement with your bro. sister

A.MAN.RUNNING.FROM.THE.PRESENCE.OF.THE.LORD_ JEFF.IN V-5 N-8 WEDNESDAY_ 65-0217

16 But I think of these standing, and people saying, “Who will give fifty dollars? Who will give twenty dollars?” I think that’s detrimental to your–to your intelligence. I–I think that the people realizes that it takes money to–to run a–a meeting. And I never would let them do it, the managers. I said, “Whenever you have to do that, then it’s time for me to return back to the tabernacle. So, we won’t have to do that.” But I–I do think that we have to pass the offering plate, in–in order to make it a complete religious service.

17 And so they probably will pass a little offering plate each night, say something like, “Well, we’re take up the offering now.” And they’ll pass the offering plate, and that’ll–that’ll be the end of it.

ELIJAH_ PHOENIX.AZ TUESDAY_ 55-0301

E-10 People who give to people thinking that they’d get a reward for it, well, they don’t have any reward. It’s those who give freely from the bottom of their heart, that says, “I just give it freely, not that I expect anything in return.“

Jesus said that, “The Gentiles, or unbelievers do such as that. They give when they’re expect to be given back.” But we, the children of God, give when we don’t want any return. We just give it.

And now, the woman had no… She proved it a little later. She had no alternative of giving to this man, the–the blessings that she was to him of giving him. Food, money, whatever she give him, had a little offering for him when he passed by, she only give it in respects of God. She said, “I know that he’s a holy man. I know that he’s a man of God. And I… He don’t belong to my denomination. He doesn’t belong to my church, perhaps, but maybe my pastor wouldn’t agree with him; but yet, I believe that he’s a holy man of God. I believe he’s God’s servant. So I’ll just give him this little offering.” So she did that in her kindness.

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

95a Brother Branham…

There’s three, two questions on this card here.

Brother Branham, what should be the policy of taking up offerings in the church for people? How should this be done?

96 I think taking up offerings in the church for people should not be done unless it’s for your pastor. And I think if someone comes in for charity, or something like that that… Or someone in–in bad need, like one of our members here or congregation, say if one of our brothers, and they had some trouble; well, I think then that should be announced at the platform, and let the pastor do that, I think it’s his duty to do that; some brother that’s in need of something, let him present it to the church, if it wants to be taken that way.

97 If it’s someone in need and–and then you don’t want to take the offering up for the person that’s in need, then let the boards meet together and agree upon certain sums that they want to give to this person out of the treasury. But if the treasury is low at that time and they can’t afford to do it, then it has to be taken up, well, let–let the… let it be talked with the board, giving orders to the pastor, and let the pastor ask for this certain thing. Say, “Now, tonight, our Brother Jones, he had a–a horrible accident, his house burned down. And tonight, as Christians, we’re going together, to each one of us make a pledge of what we can do to help Brother Jones back with his house again.” See, or–or whatever it is. See, we–we’ll do that. Let that be said from the platform, that’s the way to do that. And then let the pledges be give in, and then give it over to the treasurer of the church. And these pledges be paid through the treasurer of the church, and give to them. And–and give the person a receipt for it, ’cause I don’t know whether that’s tax redemption or not; I guess it is for something like that.

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

98 Now, but when it comes to like a–a stranger come in, a stranger come in like he’s… A man comes in and says, “Well, you know what? I–I–I’m on a journey and I–I blowed out a tire, and I want a new tire. Take me up an offering tonight for a new tire.” Now, that shouldn’t be done. No, that should not be done. And if it seems to–if it seems to be a worthy thing, of somebody that you know, the board could meet and designate a certain amount of money from the treasurer to buy that man a tire or whatever it was. Or either if the church treasury is low, and it’s decided by the board that these… The pastor shouldn’t have nothing to do in this, the–the deacons is supposed to do this, see, or the boards. And now if this… If it’s agreed, then give to the pastor, the pastor can take the offering. But, notice, if it’s a stranger, it’s in an emergency, a fellow needs a little money and you feel that it’s for a just cause, (now this is my opinion), if it’s for a real just cause and you know it is for a just cause…

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

99 Now, first, if you go up there and look on my books at the house, of people coming by and say, “I’m Reverend So-and-so from this certain-certain church, and I–I had some trouble down the road here, and I–I need a set of tires,” and knowed that I just come in from the meeting and had an offering, or something another like that, I’d give it to him, nearly, to go get a set of tires. And look in the minutes, there never was such a minister as that, never lived in such a place. And there is ten or twenty thousand dollars on the books from these years that I’ve give out like that, never know nothing about them where they was. Come to find out, other ministers say, “Why, he made me for so-and-so and so-and-such.”

100 Now, the church is not responsible, only for their own. That’s right. Their own, they’re responsible.

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

101 But if there seems to be a worthy cause, and then if you–if you trustees might say, “Well, now wait a minute. This man, there is his car down there, that’s his (did happen), and this. It’s not of our congregation, see, but it is.” Then if they want to do it like that, and would say something special about an outsider…

102 Not our own, now, see, not our own people, our own people be taken up right here amongst their–their own, their brothers here, see.

103 But if it’s somebody on the outside, and a fellow says he’s hungry or… and somebody wants to reach down in his pocket and give him some charity, that’s up to you, but I’m talking about from the church. And then if the church people are asked to donate, then…

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

104 Now, if you got an evangelist, of course, in here preaching, then you take… you… that’s understood before he comes, you know, that you’ll give him an offering, or pay him salary, or whatever he wants to do.

105 But then if this person is here, and it’s for a just cause, and the pastor… and the board would want to agree and tell the pastor upon it, then let the pastor say, “A certain-certain person is setting here, we don’t know the man, he come in and he asked us for… he says his children are hungry. We haven’t got the time… we haven’t had the time to investigate the–the–the–the–the claim.” See?

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

106 If there’s anything like that, then our–our… If there’s anything among our own, our–our own deacons go investigate those claims. See? And then if it’s worthy, then do it. If it isn’t worthy, don’t do it, don’t have to. But now if it’s a man here, you–you–you let the pastor say, “Now, the trustee board told me they did not know this person. But the man is sitting here, he says his name is Jim Jones,” or whatever it might be, “and he’s sitting right here. ‘Would you stand up, Mr. Jones? Now, Mr. Jones, at the end of the service, you stand just at the back door there, as you go out.’ And if any people feel in your heart, or anything that you want to do for this man, give it to him as you go out.” Is that understood, now?

107 Did you get that on your… To those who are on the tape… And one of the… Brother Collins missed it on his tape. I want to reinstate that quotation again if… ’cause he’s one of the deacons.

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

108 If–if there be any of this, one man comes in that you… and is in emergency and he wants an offering from the church, let the trustees or deacons meet together, and let the… meet together, and make the decision, then tell the pastor that it might be done like this. Let them… Let the pastor say that “This certain man,” call him by name, “and we know him not. And our policy here is to investigate before we take offerings for people, and, that is, of our own. But this man here, he says he’s broke down, he’s had an emergency, he’s got sick children, he’s trying to get medicine for his children,” or whatever it might be, the emergency. “Now, he’s standing right here, ‘Would you stand up, sir?'” See, and let him stand up. And say, “Now you people see what… who he is. Now, at the close of this service this man shall stand there at the front door, and people going out, that feel that you want to contribute to this, you’re at liberty; we only announced it in the church.” You’re not sanctioning it, you’re only announcing it. See, that’s hospitality to a stranger. See? Understand now? All right.

109 I think that settles that question.

A.MAN.RUNNING.FROM.THE.PRESENCE.OF.THE.LORD_ JEFF.IN V-5 N-8 WEDNESDAY_ 65-0217

A.MAN.RUNNING.FROM.THE.PRESENCE.OF.THE.LORD_ JEFF.IN V-5 N-8 WEDNESDAY_ 65-0217

12 Course, we will take up a offerings, I suppose. And we don’t want them man to pay for that themselves; we’ll pay for… pay them back. But when we get our expenses and things, well, then, of course, we stop taking offerings. We don’t…

13 If there’s any strangers with us, we’ve made that a policy, to never beg, bum, push people for money. We pass the collection plate, which is just… That’s a religious act. I’ve tried it, many times, not even to pass the collection plate, at all, but it don’t work. See? Because, giving is a part of our religion. It’s a part of our duty. No matter if it’s just a dime, or whatever it is, or a penny, it’s all…

14 So you remember, Jesus seen a widow passing by, one day, where the rich man was putting in much of their treasure in the treasury. And this widow passed by, maybe a couple little, hungry children walking by her side, and gave everything she had, three pennies. And Jesus said, “Who paid the most?”

15 Now, if I had been standing there, I’d a-said, “Don’t do that, sister. We–we, look, we got plenty of money.” But He never stopped her. See? He–He knew He had something greater for her down the road. So, see, after all, she had a home in Glory, that she was going to. And He never stopped her. He let her put her three pennies in, because it was just she wanted to do it. And she had to want to do it; with children, and a widow, and only three pennies to live on. She, she had to want to do that. So, you see, when people want to give, you’ve got to give them the opportunity to do so.

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16 But I think of these standing, and people saying, “Who will give fifty dollars? Who will give twenty dollars?” I think that’s detrimental to your–to your intelligence. I–I think that the people realizes that it takes money to–to run a–a meeting. And I never would let them do it, the managers. I said, “Whenever you have to do that, then it’s time for me to return back to the tabernacle. So, we won’t have to do that.” But I–I do think that we have to pass the offering plate, in–in order to make it a complete religious service.

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E-57 Now, I think now we’re going to have the–the–before we change to… Is there any here to be prayed for that’s sick in their bodies? Let’s see your hands go up if there’s some to be prayed for. That’s just fine. Just before we do that, ‘fore I forget it, I believe now as they… Do you have a Sunday School report, you make any report of the Sunday School? All right. Next thing then would be, I believe it’s Sunday School offering. I forgot that. Would the elders come forward? Teddy, you get to the piano, come if you will. And–and let the elders come forward for the Sunday School offering at this time.

Then we’ll have the healing service just in a few moments. And now, shall we bow our heads just a moment.

Our kind heavenly Father, Thou hast taught us in the Word, that, “Let every man lay aside that which God has prospered him, that when the first day of the week, when we come together that we should bring in our tithe and offerings into the place, Your house. And we thank Thee for the privilege that we have of worship Thee in this manner, which is such a little way. But we thank Thee for it, Father. And with grateful hearts we come to give this morning. Bless all those who do give that has to give from. And bless those who do not have of these natural substance to give from. We pray that You’ll give them many and much of the natural substance as Your steward. Help us to watch over it in the right way, that it’ll be spent for the right thing. This we ask in Christ’s Name, Thy Son. Amen.

All right.

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1-6 But I want to say that I certainly do appreciate every one of you, inside and out, and for your fine cooperation, and for all that you have done. And this morning in the Sunday school, I thanked the people for the offering that was give to me last night, which was an unsolicited offering. Frankly, I told the pastor here (our beloved pastor, Brother Neville) and them, I’d rather they would not do that, but they did it anyhow, so I just wanted to report on it.

Now, this is a small place, and it won’t seat over about three hundred people, I don’t think, and the offering was $324.00, which means that they averaged about one dollar apiece. That’s the best offering I ever had given me in my life for the amount of people. The… Usually it’ll average about twenty-four cents a person. Twenty-five, twenty-seven cents is a great offering to a person, but this averaged around a dollar apiece, and I certainly do appreciate that.

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73a Who should be over the Sunday school to keep it in order?

74 The Sunday school superintendent. And that’s what his business is. He’s not supposed to have anything to do with the deacons, trustees, pastors, or nobody else, he’s got a office of his own. Whoever your Sunday school teacher is, I know not. But that Sunday school teacher is supposed to see that every class is in its place, and every teacher is present, or substitute another teacher for that teacher if they’re not there on that day.

75 Then just before the Sunday… While the–the lessons are going on, the Sunday school superintendent is to go by and take up the offerings that they’ve had in there (the Sunday school collections), and the report of how many present, how many Bibles they had in this class, and so forth, and make a report of it. And then stand before the audience just before the preaching service, when he’s given a spot to do it, when they have the Sunday school report after the Sunday school is over, tell how many teachers, how many present, and how many of the whole Sunday school total, the whole–whole total of offerings, and so forth like that. Deacons, trustees, pastors, are not supposed to do that. They have nothing to do into it, that is the Sunday school superintendent’s job.

76 And then if he sees that the Sunday school needs certain things, then he is to present that to the–to the trustee board, and the trustees has a meeting upon it, first. And then the trustees, if they find that there is sufficient funds and so forth, through the treasurer, then this can be purchased; if he wants something another for literature, or whatever it is, or some Bibles or something, they want to buy a Bible for the one, you know, that can find the most words and quote the most Scriptures, some prize or something they’re going to give away like that, present, and they want to buy it through the church. Then let that be presented to the–to the–to the–the deacons… and then let them find out if it’s–if it’s–if it’s in the treasury. See?

77 And then I think that takes care of them five questions on that.

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66 I’m sued at the law right now for a half a million dollars. And they said, “Why, you went out… That money that you taken up out there to pay your bills, it was yours before you paid your bills. You passed it through your church, but it was yours first.”

I said, “But I never done one thing for it.”

Said, “Yes, you did,” said, “you told them you’d take up a love offering.”

I said, “I want someone to tell me when it was.”

“Well, you solicit through the mail.”

I said, “Search my office: not a penny.”

You know, the Bible said, “Don’t take no thought what you shall say, for it’ll be given to you in that hour.” And setting there by those federal attorneys and each one busting again to me from one side to the other, and me hardly know my abc’s and with those smart men who’s trained to make you say things that you really don’t mean to say it… Now, how can you match wits with someone like that? He can never match the wits with my Master though. The Scripture said, “Don’t you take no thought when you’re brought before kings and rulers.”

I know the money that I’ve taken up there, I’ve spent it for… And they didn’t dispute that. It had been spent just as legitimately as it could be, but they said, “It was yours first and then you turned it to the Branham Tabernacle.”

I said, “But I am the treasurer of the Branham Tabernacle.” And this… Well, they said, “I don’t know about that. Then why didn’t the trustees to do this, that, and the other?”

One… I said, “And then you call me dishonest.”

Said, “We think you’re very honest.” Said, “I want to show you something, Mr. Branham,” that attorney. I’m just saying this for the glory of God now only and especially for the young. He said… I want to show you something to show you how if you live by the Bible, God will live by you. And if your spirit disagrees with what God said, then you’re not living by the Bible.

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69 You remember last night when we talked about women preachers? When they said, “Oh, I believe the Holy Ghost called me to preach,” and so forth like that, the Bible said, “If any man says that he’s a prophet or even spiritual, let him acknowledge that this is the commandments of the Lord, but if he’s ignorant just let him be ignorant.” So when you hear men say that they believe in women preachers, it shows that they’re not right with God or don’t know truth. That’s the truth. The Scripture says so; we found it there. And it coincides into the Scriptures. Now, no matter how real it looks, it’s a contrary; it’s not right.

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70 Now, we’re going to get something here now. Notice. God, the infinite God, Who made the earth, and the heavens, and knowed all things, and knew it before the world was ever formed, every flea, every fly, every gnat, everything that would ever be… If you live by His Word…

Then standing there by those attorneys… This attorney walked over there and said, “We are not by no means trying to say that you’re dishonest.” Said, “You were ignorant of the fact that when anyone give you money it was yours first.” Said, “You signed a check from Mr. Miner Arganbright from a–from California of the Christian Business Men’s Full Gospel Fellowship for so many thousands of dollars. And the same day you took it out of your bank and bought four or five tickets for an overseas trip, about twenty-four thousand dollars.“

Said, “Yes, sir.

He said, “You owe income tax on that.”

Well, I said, “We stood right in the same bank, and he gave me the check and I passed it into the bank and wrote the tickets right back.”

He said, “If you had the check one minute,” said, “Half of that was yours; you had a half a minute, it was yours a half a minute before it become the church property.” Said, “You owe income tax on it.”

“But he gave it to the church. He paid income tax on it, and he gave it to the church.”

“He gave it to you.” And I said… “You pay income tax on it; it goes to the church, then it’s untaxable.” Said, “We’re not taxing your church; we’re taxing you.”

I said, “Then… Why,” I said, “the very man that signed his name, the federal income tax told me to do it this way.”

He said, “He’s not with the government any more.”

I said, “They who wrote the Constitution’s not with the government any more, is it still stand?” I said, “Someday you’ll not be with the government any more, and what are you saying then?” I said, “What kind of a government are we serving?” Certainly.

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71 But then… And the other man said, “Mr. Branham,” he said, “we find here, let me show you that we know where every penny that you spent is.”

I said, “All right.”

He said, “Here is a place where you was having a meeting in Canada, in Alberta; and in there you was given a love offering of three thousand dollars.”

I said, “Yes, sir.”

And said, “The following–Sunday previous, rather to that, you went out and found where there was an old church, and they were worshipping in this church and had no roof on it, and you give that three thousand dollars to them people to build a church.“

I said, “That’s right.”

Said, “But you owe income tax on it.” Said, “You gave it to the church.” Said, “See, it was yours before it was the church’s.” He said, “Isn’t it the truth, that a certain man (and I won’t call his name, ’cause many of you know him), his house burnt down here in the country, and you coming off your meeting and you had fifteen hundred dollars (Now, that may sound a whole lot of money to one of you all, but that’s just fifteen days for me to loaf or rest, costs me over a hundred dollars a day whether I preach or whether I don’t to take care of the office and things.)…” and said, “You had fifteen hundred dollars, and that man was–house burnt down, he had about six children, and you gave him that fifteen hundred dollars.” Sure, they had my check laying here.

I said, “That’s right.” I said, “What would you do: a man with five children living in a tent and it zero weather and snow on the ground? You think I could set a decent house and know that that man and them little children out there freezing, and coats tucked around them–with money could’ve helped him?”

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71a He said, “Isn’t it true that a man died in a alley up here, and he come from Kentucky; he didn’t even have money for his funeral service, and you buried the man, and you and your wife took money and went down to J. C. Penney’s (pulled it out, the check),” said; “you spent over two hundred dollars just for clothes for those children.”

I said, “That’s right.”

He said, “Isn’t it a fact that an old woman right here in this certain city (that lives in then New Albany),” and said, “you gave her three hundred and something dollars to pay a back grocery bill that they’d cut her off on, and you paid nearly five hundred dollars for her rent that they was going to set her out in the winter, and you’ve paid up her–her rent till the following June, and also stood good for her grocery bill which mounted up to fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars again?”

I said, “I remember the case well, an old mother, eighty years old with a afflicted daughter and a preacher boy in Georgia afflicted by rheumatism, and laying on a bed and no other support.” (What would you do about it?) I said, “Yes, I did.”

Said, “Did your trustee board know this?“

I said, “No, sir, they didn’t.”

“Did your wife know this?” I said, “No, sir, she didn’t.”

Said, “Then why did you do it?”

I said, “Because my Lord said, ‘Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.'” I said, “Have you got any law higher than God’s laws?“

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72 And just then the Holy Spirit came to the rescue so beautifully the way He does it. You say things subconsciously not knowing you’re saying it if you just let the Holy Spirit do the talking. I said, “Well, well, if–if you claim that I owe that,” I said, “I’ll do the best I can…” I said, “I’m no boy no more, but I’ll do my best to pay it.” I said, “Don’t owe anybody anything as I know of.” I’ve tried to be honest; I went thousands of dollars in debt and paid it back at a dollar a week, but by God’s grace I’ve got it paid. I said, “If you claim and prove to me that I owe that money that I give those people…” And they went ahead to show where there was nearly twenty thousand dollars in the last ten years I give away like that.

And he said, “The trustees knowed nothing about this.”

I said, “It wasn’t necessary for them to know it.”

And so he said, “Well…” Then he said…

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73 I said, “What hurts me, is to know that those poor old widows and orphans, they’ll have to pay income tax on it too or die owing the government.” I didn’t know what I was saying. That was the Father speaking, and I didn’t know it.

“Oh,” he said, “no, they’ll not have to pay income tax on it.”

I said, “Why won’t they have to pay it?”

Said, “You see, that was a unsolicited gift.” Then the Holy Spirit woke me up.

“Oh,” I said, “then a unsolicited gift is not taxable.”

Said, “That’s right.”

I said, “Then I don’t owe the government anything, for I never took an offering in my life.”

Then my attorney raised up, and he said, “Mr. Branham, can you…”

I said, “I can have you two million letters in Washington and prove that.” I said, “I never took a offering…”

Said, “But when you go out in these meetings and this money that’s taken up by these ministers and pays off this,” said, “you have some kind of understanding that you’re going to get something.”

I said, “Not a thing.”

He said, “Then well, don’t you solicit through the mail?”

I said, “Not a thing.”

Said, “How do you get your money?”

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74 I said, “What people send me.” I’m looking in the face of people right now that sends me tithing continually. I never ask them; they just do it. That’s the Holy Spirit. He’s able to take care of His own.

And he said, “Well then, Mr. Branham,” said, “can you prove that? Can you get me letters for at least eight or ten years back that you received offerings without soliciting?”

I said, “As many as you want.”

He said, “I want three out of each year.”

I said, “All right, you’ll have them.”

Said, “Then, will you give to me your post office box key and let me–let your mail accumulate for two or three days, and then go down and open it myself?“

Said, “You can do anything you want to. You can come to my office also.”

He said, “What kind of soliciting do you do?”

I said, “Nothing.”

“What do you send out in mail?”

“Prayer cloths.”

“Do you charge for it?”

I said, “Come, read the letters I sent with them.” That was it. Now the government owes me for all I’ve paid income tax for the past twenty years. “Take no thought what you shall say, for it’s not you that speaks; it’s the Father that dwells in you that doeth the speaking.” See? That’s why we believe in staying with the Word. It may be a long time, but it’ll work out just right according to the Word.

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1-5 One thing I’d like to announce, while many of them are together–many of you together; it’s something that I’ve… I’ll refrain from announcing for the last couple weeks; that is, your prayers has been answered concerning the tax case that I had with the government. It’s settled. And so we are… It’s–it’s all over now. As many of you understand, what they had against me was those checks that had been made out for the campaign. And yet, they tried to say they were mine out there, and wanted to charge me three-hundred and fifty something thousand dollars for being my personal property. And it wasn’t; it was the campaign’s. And the church knows about that; all of you know about it.