Question#241:"How many services are convenient for a week at a church?"

Answer:The number of service days for the week must be determined with due consideration of many factors, the distance that believers must travel to come to church, available transportation and finance for that purpose. Under normal conditions, two or three services are convenient and one of them can be a prayer meetings or both prayer meeting and short preaching services, while the other services can be used for establishing The Word of Truth. However, a minister who is led by the Spirit would not organize the services in such a manner that the Spirit of the Lord cannot move; insomuch that if the congregation seems worn, tired or sick that he fails to call off a service. All services must be left to the control of the Lord. If the Lord leads to pray on a preaching night he should yield to the spirit, or on a prayer meeting night to preach the Word; he should not quench the Spirit. When the need arises for continued meetings he must also drift with the Spirit. Many ministers do not call off any service for fear of losing tithes and offering.

Typical so-called Pentecostalism binds its people to a service each night, to keep the minds busy on their organization and not run the risk of losing membership to other churches. Such an attitude is fanaticism, because it binds the people by a program instead of the Word of God. Message churches have adopted this system and bind the people to their churches by youth groups, sports groups, ladies night, bachelor nights and many other Pentecostal programs. This is an evident sign that the spirit of the Lord is not present in their services, because they have drifted like the other churches away from the Word of God and holiness standards.

Question#242:"We sit under long boring preaching without much substance. Many types are made, thunders elaborated without the spirit. Should this be so?"

Answer: Message believers suffer long and hard by boring preachers without the Spirit. Most ministers do not have the discernment to understand when they become boring to their congregations. They do not understand their individual calling. Some ascended the pulpit not knowing their ability, if they are called as teachers, preachers, evangelists, prophets or apostles. They mix the operation of offices gifts. Some try to teach, when they should preach, and others try to be apostles when they are pastors! Many Preachers are not called of God and are behind the pulpit for selfish gains. Their preaching is without substance.

With true ministers who are gifted, the problem lays in their inability to understand their God given ability. If they are exhorters, teachers or preachers, they should wait on their calling. One gift has the ability to hold the attention of believers and even the unsaved for a shorter period and others for longer periods. But some are interested in displaying their own abilities and try to preach all night like Paul, not knowing that they are destroying their congregations; because the Spirit of the Lord departs after a certain time in their preaching, then they step out into emotionalism of loud speaking, stomping on the ground, hitting the pulpit and begging for "Amens". If the congregations sits long enough under such emotionalism many are trained up to it. Others who do not accept that but recognizes the Spirit are bored. They sit through the service because of sincerity, but they suffer very hard. Services become very boring to young people and older folks, because it is dry and out of the Spirit; backslidings will follow, and lack of assembling. Therefore this system of long drawn out preaching without the Spirit is wrong, and should not be practiced!

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation." (Romans 12:3-8).

Quote: 910-170 "I'd suggest this, that ordinarily... Now, I watched Brother Neville last night when he preached…that was a marvelous message. You see how quick he got that through? See, about thirty-five minutes (See?), and he had it over. See? Now, that was fine…See, that's not long. But where you kill your meeting is all that drawn out stuff before you get to it. See?" (Church Order 63-1226).

So-called seven thunders preachers were trained up in that manner and go through many types, shadows and examples to prove their heresies. Very little of the Word is quoted and the substance of true revelation is absent. The soul of an elect cannot prosper under such a system and will become hungry and thirsty to hear the revealed Word. Hence, when they come in contact with our work of Exposition of damnable heresies and the vital truths, which are exported to them, they respond in a positive manner, by letters, e-mails and phone calls, requesting all our publications.

Question#243:"How is a prayer meeting conducted? Some praying, beat and break the chairs, scream, swing their hands and hit others. Women take the lead while others laugh and talk."

Answer:Many who came out of so-called Pentecost are acquainted with fanatical prayer meetings. Others who are not familiar with the system of so-called Pentecost are alarmed, when they hear of such things. Some who embraced the message, brought over their Pentecostal traits of praying and doing many other religious things, through their former training, and maybe are yet ignorant of what is true prayer and worship, and must be taught. This question reflects that fact. Some demonic activities are involved and much over-emotionalism. There is no scripture to support such fanaticisms of breaking chairs, injuring persons, screaming uncontrollably, women unveiling themselves, speaking in tongues without interpretation and many other unscriptural manifestations.

Such manifestations are accepted by ministers of so-called Pentecost and now even by message ministers as the "moving of the Spirit", but it is not. Its fanaticism and heretical! Though such people maybe sincere, honest and desperate for God and to have their prayers answered, they are untrained and out of scriptural order. The minister himself may have brought over such Pentecostal traits under the message and his church. Thus, such manifestations are commonly accepted by him and from his congregation.

People are out of the Spirit, insincere and as a result are grossly irreverent, who laugh, talk, gaze around, make signs to one another, groom their hair and clothes, pick their nails, play with babies, thumb through a song book, and do other things that are too numerous to mention here, while prayer meeting or preaching service is in progress! Brother Branham said cursed be the man who lifts his head while I pray. He also asked for some to bow their heads while he was casting out an Epileptic demon, they refused and were all possessed by the same demon.

Quote: E-68 "I want you to bow your head. Cursed be the person that'll raise their eyes and look this way until they hear me say, "Raise your eyes." (Jesus Arose 56-0405).

Quote: E-84 "I asked them to bow their head… And I started to pray, and they wouldn't put their head down… And the epileptic left the child and twenty-eight people of a certain denomination pastor and all twenty-eight of them took epilepsy and fell over on the floor frothing at the mouth… that's a curse of God." (God's Covenant With Abraham 56-0428).

Another person irreverently raised their head and suffered from Amnesia! We must be reverent at all times in service and should not do anything to disturb the Spirit or be irreverent in the Presence of the Lord!

Quote: 9-1 "The lady just irreverent raised her head anyhow. And the spirit left the woman on the platform and went to her. And the lady has been in serious condition… Amnesia." (Greatest battle ever fought 62-0311).

Quote: 601-Q-132 "Brother Bill, please say something about both children and adults being so noisy in morn--moving about during the service. This tabernacle needs some lessons in reverence.

Amen. Children, do you not know how to obey yourself in the house of God? Do you not know this is the sanctuary of God? God is in His holy temple; let everybody keep quiet. It's the place of God where people are coming, meditating, trying to find salvation to the soul, trying to find the problems of the people's lives, trying to help someone. The least you can do is be reverent, be quiet. Get you a drink of water 'fore church starts; I know little ones has to have drinks. Mothers that's got those little fellows, if you'd set near the back, keep them just as quiet as possible. And there should never be a whisper, never one whisper. We're all guilty. But when that Bible is read and that minister enters the pulpit, we should be silent, waiting on the Lord. Now, please try to do that. (Qa. God Being Misunderstood 61-0723e).

Real prayer meetings are to be conducted in the most simple and humble manner! The saints of God are gathered, music can be played to invite the Spirit of the Lord, and some singing can be included to get the people into the spirit. Psalms can also be read as a form of prayer, if the saints are not praying out to the Lord as expected. Certain persons can be appointed to lead in prayer one after the next without using the pulpit or having to call upon them Those who are not praying should try to yield to the spirit by repentance, confession of sins, lifting holy hands unto the Lord and agree with the prayer of others who are praying! "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."(Matthew 18:19). It is important to understand that all do not have the same nature and expressions to the Lord and may choose to pray in their hearts like Hannah, whose lips moved and her words were not heard; insomuch that Eli judged her as a drunken woman. Others may weep before the Lord silently and others openly. God deals with his subjects in the way that He designed them and one should not judge another, because they are not loud in their expressions!

Prayer meetings can continue for several hours, the Lord on Mt. Olivet earnestly requested that the apostles pray with him one hour. We should at least fulfill that request. If the Presence of the Lord is in a prayer meeting, believers can pray for two or three hours. All should pray until they are fully satisfied, that their prayers are heard. Jesus continued in prayer all night. The hundred and twenty for many days in the Upper Room before the day of Pentecost. We must remember that he also said that "the revival fires are gone out and people have less burdens for souls". You cannot pray effectively without a burden or emergency!

Quote: 45 "Usually it takes a state of emergency to throw us into desperation. The emergency causes desperation when we ought to do it without the emergency." (Desperation 63-0901E).

Quote: 140 "Where's that first love you once had? See?…Where is them all night prayer meetings and tears on your cheeks? My, goodness, the Bible's even dusty and got cobwebs on It…Oh, mercy. What we need is: Back to our first love. Back to Pentecost." (Ephesians Church Age 60-1205).

It is not wisdom to hold a congregation for several hours and force them to pray, if they are not under a burden of prayer. Many will be bored and later absent themselves from service! It would affect young children whose hearts are not in the Word and are out of the spirit. Teenagers will begin to hate prayer meetings and even other services. When forced by their parents to come, they will be irreverent and misbehave. It will be better that a minister have a short prayer meeting and include a short message at the end of that meeting and let the people be dismissed. Added to this, he should establish in the hearts of the Saints that real prayer as commanded by our Lord should be in secret. He should teach the people to pray at home and in their prayer closets. Open prayer meetings are only to encourage people to pray who are not doing their duties at home.

Question#244:"We heard of prayer chains. Did Brother Branham encouraged such, and how are they conducted?"

Answer:Yes, Brother Branham mentioned, concerning prayer chains.

Quote: E-4"Sending handkerchiefs…Now, when I send these out…At the same time, I ask everyone to pray at nine o'clock at morning, twelve o'clock at day, three o'clock in the afternoon. And that's the world around. And people get up at midnight in the night, in old countries to keep that prayer chain at the same time. Literally, tens of thousands and thousands of thousands are praying at the same time. God's bound to hear." (God's provide way 53-1201).

This is usually done when there is a special need. Ministers and believers bind themselves together to pray at a certain time every hour or three hours and in certain cases, each person or group take a special hour, and pray for an hour or shorter periods. Vows are permissible by the Scriptures, but they must be kept. Prayer chain comes under the category of vows to the Lord. Many French ministers prayed together to have Brother Branham come to France! We can do many things too much, but never pray too much.

"And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." (Luke 18:1). "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubt." (1 Timothy 2:8). "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for [he hath] no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." (Ecclesiastes 5:4).

Quote: E-25 "Friends, you may laugh too much: you may talk too much; but you'll never pray too much. "I would that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without..." (To Who Is Arm Of Lord Revealed? 50-0824).

Question#245:"What is true dedication and consecration in prayer and fasting? Some eat, drink and man and wife sleep together. Are these things right?'

Dedication and consecration to God in prayer is a specific period of time, chosen by the free will of the individual, to draw closer to God. The period of time and the sacrifice of fasting is a personal commitment to God, which should not be broken because it is a vow, which must be paid or punishment will follow (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, Deuteronomy 23:21). Individuals can choose to fast for short periods of time. Whatever time is decided upon must be kept to the letter. They should not break fast before that time. Whatever agreement is made concerning prayer must be fulfilled. Some pray every hour, others pray every three hours and a few pray for several hours consecutively, as they feel led of the Lord. They read the word and listen to tapes at intervals between prayer.

It is important that believers should not cheat on that time which is committed to the Lord, to do their own business! Thus they should get all business out of the way before committing themselves or Satan will use such things to disturb their dedication and consecration to God. We must be reminded that when we pray and fast it should be done in secret as much as possible for only, then we will be rewarded. If certain brethren desire to dedicate and consecrate their souls as a group in a secret place or at the house of God, they should be allowed to do so in an orderly manner, and should have the same agreement with the Lord. They should begin their fast and complete at the same time, least some become discouraged and break their vows. Members should seek council from their leaders.

To eat and drink while fasting is gross ignorance, insincerity and hypocrisy, because the person is not actually fasting. To fast means to deprive yourself of food, though water is permitted, especially if fasting continues for more than a day! It is important to drink water, least you suffer ill health after fasting is over. However there is a partial fast as in the case of Daniel, he said he ate no pleasant meat for a certain period and did not called it a fast, but mourning. If such vows are made to God they must be kept in that order and be fulfilled to the letter. You can be over-sacrificial, but not under-sacrificial.

In the case of husband and wife sleeping together and intimacies involved, it is unscriptural. Young couples should avoid the temptation of sleeping on the same bed. Older people maybe in a different category, but the best benefit can be achieved when someone is alone with God without any distractions. The scripture disassociates intimacies from prayer and fasting and advise that husband and wife should come apart, in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Before Israel crossed over into the promise land they were commanded to sanctify themselves, wash their clothes and come not nigh their wives for three days.

"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency". (1 Corinthians 7:5).

"We have competitions amongst ministers and deacons, in preaching and for offices. How edifying is this for the congregation?"

Answer:All competitions naturally or in religious circles, express pride and pride is of the devil. Competition is responsible for jealousy, envy, hatred, and murder. Such facts are evident by the competitions of the world in politics, business, sports, religion and many other areas. Satan has succeeded in bringing competitions into religions, organizations and even under the message. Ministers strive to prove who is the greatest in the kingdom of God, who has more members and the biggest buildings. This is Satanic and is of the world.

"Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2 15-17).

Competition breeds strifes and contentions and every evil work. Many who strive to win an argument when you try to preach the truth to them. Their minds are closed to the truth and opened to their own heresy. Thus, their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes are blind to the truth.

"This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy". (James 3:15-17).

When ministers compete with each other {and deacons} the congregation will be dis-unified. "A party spirit" will come in and they will take sides with certain officers. Paul found that in his day. He knew the danger of such political spirit and stamped it out by the Word of God. Some were saying that they were of "Paul and Apollos and Cephas", but he pointed them to Christ, Thus it is not healthy, edifying and encouraging to the congregation. Wherever there are divisions there are also heresies, self, pride, jealousy, hatred, malice and roots of bitterness and the church will be divided. Such is responsible for the great divisions around the message, especially since 1974, when "swell headed" men arose to compete with each other on the subject of the thunders. They were influenced by a "swell-headed heretic' from New York who even tried to preach "the Trail of the Serpent Seed" when Brother Branham announced that he will preach on that subject. Competitions have destroyed and continue to destroy many message believers and ministers. The presence of this spirit around the message is evident by their sport programs and competitions with each other, in ball games and other types of sports. Sports spirit are also upon the preachers and they have taken it to the pulpit to fight and do battle against the truth, but they shall not prevail because this is the gospel of Jesus Christ and not sports. The followers of the message are full of unbelief in another outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They have the same traits like Israel, who the scripture spoke about that they "eat and drink and rose up to play". They played with the message, the promise of the hour, God and his Prophet and blaspheme their way to Hell.

Last but not least, Jesus stamped out all competitions from amongst the apostles, when they contended with each other about "who will be the greatest in the kingdom of God", and said "he that desire to be the greatest, shall be the least".

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1-40).

"Some ministers and young men fasted long and prayed to have power like the prophet WMB, and loosed their minds, others died, how can God fail them?"

God has never failed such people. They failed themselves! Satan misguided such sincere, honest and desperate souls. There are no Scriptures which command an individual; minister, lay-member, male or female to have long fasts. Many presume that they should fast for twenty-one days or forty days, because they read in the scriptures, about Moses and Jesus having fasted for forty days, or Daniel for twenty-one days. This is a heresy, which so-called Pentecost has propagated for many years. Many lost their minds and were committed to insane asylums. Others became demon possessed and some died. We cannot do God a service without his will; when we do things contrary to God's will, plan and purpose, He is not responsible for us; but many times because of our ignorance, he has mercy upon us. Many books were written through the ignorance of authors which prompted sincere people to seek God for power to do signs, wonders and miracles. One such book is "Atomic power through fasting" by Franklin Hall. Many were deceived into long fasts and received no power with God because power is not by fasting but by the genuine article of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. "And ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon thee". We learnt through witnesses that Brother Branham preached to people who were associated with Franklin Hall and his teachings on his book. He wisely attacked that heresy by saying that people asked him "if he had many long fasts to have such great power with God", and he said to them "I never fasted for more than 3-4 days in my life".

Quote: 12 "A few weeks ago, there was a circular letter put up here in Memphis, Tennessee, had my name signed to it, photostat copy, and said I had been with this person for thirty days on a fast. Three days is the longest I ever fasted in my life." (Go wake Jesus 63-1130E).

This so-called Pentecostal idea and heresy were brought over under the message by Pentecostal preachers who are ignorant of the truth concerning fasting. This Heresy is based upon the gross misrepresentation of the scriptures. We should take for an example the prophet of our age, William Branham Elijah the prophet, Malachi 4:5-6. He never had long fasts, though he contemplated on doing so. He later called it "nonsense", which he must "forget and move on with God".

Quote: 111e "Forget it. Dump it out of your soul. Say, "God…I want to forget all this foolishness of all these forty day fasts and see if I can get closer to God, and all this, that, and the other, all of this nonsense." Stop it. There's nothing in the Word tells you to have a forty day fast, not a thing." (Enticing spirits 55-0724).

God is not responsible for message ministers or believers, who presumptuously choose to go on long fasts, through their ignorance. Some are conscious of the lack of power and manifestations amongst message believers and have in the past fasted to bring that power into the church. They are ignorant of the fact that power is not by fasting, but by another outpouring of the Holy Spirit, like the day of Pentecost. In the late sixties, three prominent men from USA, one from the Jeffersonville area, who claims to be an apostle and the others also attached to the prophet and the message went on a long fast for power. The whole country and even overseas heard of the announcement before their fast. Jesus said "when you fast sound not a trumpet". It started in pride and ended in shame. They received no power with God. They went to Israel to convert the Jews after they fasted, drank wine and had a fist fight. They all proved to be mentally off-balanced, or demon possessed since that time. One of the main figures had a few dreams, which Brother Branham interpreted. I guess that swelled his head out of proportion! He now assumes that there are seven men to reveal the Seven Thunders, and is associated with the heretic Richard Gan from Singapore. Both preach similar doctrines. One major heresy is "based on pre-historic man" and another is "that the serpent was a tiller of the soil and Adam's servant". These and many other doctrines are outlined and exposed on Exposition Book eight.

Long fasts in the Caribbean were responsible for several deaths of ministers and believers. Two which are outstanding occurred in Trinidad. A middle aged colored man formerly a preacher of the "Yahweh Doctrine" embraced the message and became a personal friend of mine. He was sincere, honest and dedicated to the Lord and lived a sacrificial life. All in Central Trinidad were acquainted with him, love and respected him as a minister. He was never married. Even the revivalist Robert Lambert met him and honored him for his sacrificial life, and fully convinced him of the message. This precious colored brother, friend and minister grew tired of seeing message believers and churches in their poor, deplorable and reproachable state, of having no power and manifestations like the prophet they preached about, encouraged some to have long fasts. He encouraged a young brother and teacher who came under his influence to fast for a long period in his house. The poor brother died, I believe in God's mercy he is present with the Lord.

After this incident which alarmed many; this preacher disciple of the Lord also embarked upon a long fast. After fasting for 54 days, he visited my office on a service night. He made himself known to me, as I failed to recognize him because of his loss of weight. He was in need of certain things, which I supplied. I saw that he needed counsel and visited his home and spoke to him. I took him into my home and gave him my bed to use. Needless to mention, the awful state to which this precious brother was reduced, to. Though he broke his fast he was unable to eat. He developed a diarrhea and suffered severe pains. I counseled him and saw that he was sinking into several delusions insomuch that he indicated to me that he is a prophet, because he heard voices speaking to him. After several days he got a revelation to go to another Brother's home. I took him there. He later changed residence and went to his uncle who was ninety years of age.

I and another old disciple and preacher, Rogers Richardson visited this precious soul, and we were first refused to see him and gave him our gifts. We stood at the gate and consoled his uncle and let him know that we are not in favor of the minister's conduct but pitied his present condition. We noticed in the distance from the gate a naked man creeping in the yard without one stitch of clothes! His uncle said "this man is mad" and rushed to him, and invited us to come in. He had him imprisoned in a room, but he escaped. He was crippled on one side. He was crying for mercy and calling my name. He held on to my feet, while he lay naked on the ground. In the presence of the aged men I spoke to my friend with love, respect, honor and a corrective voice. I told him that "he was doing contrary to the Word and message of the hour and did become a disgrace and a poor testimony to the ministry; also that Brother Branham had a family doctor and never refused to use medication". I said thus; because he was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate and refused to go to the hospital. I preached to him and divided the lines between fasting, divine healing and medical science. His uncle began praising God aloud for such middle-lines on those subjects. He himself being an old Christian, he declared that God sent us there that morning. My friend at this point let go my feet and stopped begging for mercy. He was in utter disappointment because I failed his expectation to stand with him against his uncle whom he considered as a devil, and was trying to kill him.

It is sad to say that, this precious soul was committed to the hospital by force, where I visited him. He subsequently died without receiving any power through his long fast. We cannot do God a service without his will.

The remarkable difference between those who perished by long fast and those who became a blessing and were recorded in scriptures and possible history is that the former were not in the will of God and the latter had the perfect will of God

Question#248:"Are sisters permitted to pray in church?"

My answer to this is yes. [Congregation says, "Amen!"] However, when they are in the presence of men, they must recognize the head of the woman is the man, and should not try to force themselves to lead, but be with understanding and love submit in meekness, this is virtuous and of great price in the sight of the Lord."

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (I Corinthians 11:3).

But let me say this to you my sisters, you are equally valuable as a soul, precious in deed to the Lord. Because other women who might very well be, our sisters, lack this understanding and virtue they literally force themselves into that place of authority, to show that they are equal with the man, it is certainly foolishness, and we have no such custom among us, nor do we have time for such vain show or competition. Beautiful women of God, who kept their place and they prayed in the house of God, place, they were of great price in the sight of God.

"And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation." (I Samuel 2:1).

"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served [God] with fastings and prayers night and day." (Luke: 2:36-37).

So I am saying that sisters are allowed to pray in the church, and I thank God for you sisters who are praying, and I want to encourage you to pray more, but you must understand your place, that God has given you and how to behave your self in the company of men. When you are home by yourself you pray, and you lead your own prayer meeting, but when a man is there, you must submit yourself, he takes the leading roll.

Quote: E-,8 "The pastor can't do it all. It's got to take some members in the church. You have support it with prayer... Two little women that's been hid away in these eight days in the meeting, has been fasting and praying for this meeting. That's one of the reasons that it was a success. That's right. So I appreciate you sisters, and I appreciate you, not only them, but others who've been fasting and praying too, and backing me up with your wonderful faith in Jesus Christ.' (Do you now believe 54-0307E).

So I believe that the sisters should pray in the church, and you come in and pour out your heart before the lord, like Hannah; pray and even though your lips are not moving, still cry out unto the lord, God is going to hear your prayer.

Section of Bethel Congregation

Section of Bethel Congregation