In this last church age the complete message of God's revealed Word went forth right to the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mt. 25). But to be ready our lamps must be cleansed, filled with oil and burning. Also our vessels must be filled with the oil of the Spirit. In reference to the symbol of the vessels. we are told that the golden vessel with the manna was placed into the Holiest of Holies (Heb. 9:4). The concern is not only oil but rather includes the food which comes from heaven – the manna, the Word fresh revealed from the throne by which we live. The vessels of the wise virgins of Matthew 25 contain both, Word and Spirit. Some speak lightly only about the oil. The Spirit is not just wind blowing somewhere, the Spirit reveals the divine substance of the Word and in that manner our vessels are Spirit-filled. Thus saith the LORD, “It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (Jn. 6:63) “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” And do listen to what the Spirit says unto the churches.

By God's grace we were very deeply led into all profound Bible teachings and also into the prophetic part pertaining to the Plan of Salvation. Now it seems a great necessity according to the divine commission to stress the personal teaching and our personal life to be ready on that glorious day of Jesus Christ. In that day all the true believers will make up the entire Church which will appear before the LORD without spot or wrinkle, without any blemish (Eph. 5:27). At the return of the LORD we will not be asked about the perfect teaching, the perfect knowledge, or the perfect revelation of the Divine Message, at that moment only one thing counts, namely that which God could bring about in those who were redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb by His Word and Spirit. At that moment will be fulfilled as it is written, “… and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut.” (Mt. 25) Our preparation is now the most important thing.

At this moment the Church is not yet one heart and one soul. The Body of Christ is torn as never before. Brother Branham in one sermon made a statement like this: “The sickest body I know is the Body of Christ.” He referred to the passage of Jer. 8:22: “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why, then, is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” What would he say today? Those who refer to him are in a worse state than the rest. Never in the church history was there such a chaos after a God-sent revival. The blame for this humanly speaking hopeless situation must go to those who appointed themselves as ministers, who constantly refer to the pet utterances of their choice of the words of a prophet, but they themselves having no divine call for the proclamation of God's Word, therefore, failing to connect them with the written Word. They are the ones who have sown the seed of discrepancy and are responsible for all the divisions.

Now we are concerned with the distribution of the stored-up spiritual food and the proclamation of the whole counsel of God. The table of the LORD must be prepared in a pleasant and correct way. As stated in the inaugural passage, we are concerned with the true belief of the elect and with the right knowledge of the truth which is expressed in a godly walk with the LORD. By the grace of God, the elect are practically living out the written Word in their lives.

Only if we look into the mirror of God's Word, we can see ourselves and recognise the state we are actually in. The LORD had to say admonishing words before establishing His New Testament covenant. He presented the natural man as the old being, “And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me, every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from outside of a man that, entering into him, can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them. Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatever thing from outside entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the stomach, and goeth out into the draught, purging all foods? And he said, that which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mk. 7:14-23)

In various epistles Paul refers to those things which defile, for example in Rom. 1:29-32, “…being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents; without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; who, knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.”

In Gal. 5, from verse 19, the apostle describes both realms a believing person can dwell in. Firstly, the walk in the Spirit, secondly, the walk in the flesh. One realm is against the other and is not able to submit. Therefore, he speaks of the battle within a person and then puts before our very eyes the nature and the attributes of the old and the new man.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, factions, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and the like; of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (vs. 19-21)

After this he refers to the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control,' against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23) Again everyone can look into the mirror of this Word and with a clear mind recognise his position. It is not necessary to be especially spiritual to understand into which category the biblical description places us. If the first description does not apply, the second certainly will. We lean towards putting the works of the flesh into different levels of light and severe, but God places everything which is devilish human and also against which is of the divine-human nature into one catalogue.

At the top of this list are found things on which some believers would shake their heads: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery.

The rest found on the “blacklist” in the eyes of God is just as bad: hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, factions, seditious, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one, no, not to eat.” (1 Cor. 5:11)

Who ever is not guilty of the things we would classify as heavy but starts enmities, and quarrels, and permits envy and jealousy to break through, is also dominated by demon powers. The talebearers and deceivers are classified with idolaters and with the rest found in the long list. Selfishness and partitions connected with jealousy and strife have been the cause of many fractions in the Body of Christ. Often people lose control of themselves, if they are under such negative and destructive influences. Because all those things are used by Satan to destroy the Body of Christ, they are placed in the same level, and whoever is guilty of submitting to the enemy in such a way, will not see the Kingdom of God. Misunderstandings, suspicions, partiality, ill talk, etc., every kind of bad manner one can think of is being found among the believers who claim to belong to the Bride Church. It does not only look like it, admittedly to say, it is so. Satan has his play of deception with the believers as betrayer, as talebearer, as accuser, he is busy directly as the old diabolos, bringing about total confusion. Adding to this all the false teachings which have all come about by wrong inspiration. On all levels the enemy has penetrated into the Church and is destroying God's people.

The persecution from the outside has always brought believers closer together. The inner strife has always brought about splits. Those living in times of persecution came together for prayer not just for a tea or coffee party. The Church is divided into different groups who fight each other and claim that only they and those belonging to them will partake in the rapture. Many live in an unreconciled state being high-minded but not realising it.

In reference to the many problems within a church, Brother Branham made a statement to the end that ninety-nine percent of those who bring forth complaints are the ones having caused the same. Only those to whom God can still speak will be the ones who will take correction. The rest will reject God's admonition and think for themselves to be right without noticing how well the LORD meant with them. “But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, that is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Col. 3:8-10)

Does the Scripture in this case make idle words? No and again no. Not unbelievers are called upon for self-examination but rather the believers. In any case, from the long list one or more of the things described as the fruit of the flesh by which the enemy has his way among the believers are found. The apostle, therefore, calls upon us to withstand the enemy in all his subtle ways.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:10-12) Satan does not come against us with horns, in that case we would recognise him immediately. We have to watch the unseen forces of darkness which try to influence our thinking and try to inspire our acts.

How often do believers allow thoughts to come up which are directed against others! The evil forces have the capability of making plausible to them that their thoughts are reality. Faith always starts in the heart and is embedded in thoughts of love and peace; the destroying thoughts against one another start also in the heart and occupy the thinking inspired by the enemy. We should reject every thought which has the goal of personal and church destruction. The enemy always comes to scatter and to destroy.

Everyone can read the text of Eph. 6 to the end and take the words to heart. Never before an honest self-examination was the command of the hour as right now. Only those who are deeply sincere will present themselves before the LORD and be convinced by the Spirit of the things not right. They will take off the old man and take on the new man, “…which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:22-25). One member should not lie or deceive the other. We should not even be angry with one another, and if something comes up, we should not let the sun go down upon our wrath. If this is not practised, Satan, the accuser, will have his way as slanderer.

The life of Jesus Christ with all its virtues (2 Pet. 1) can only be in those who are begotten and born by the Spirit of God and thereby have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). In the fruit of the Spirit, the actual virtues of Jesus Christ are being manifested, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.”  (Gal. 5:22-23).

Only those who permit the fruit of the Spirit to grow within themselves will see the Kingdom of God. How can people in that day enter the Kingdom of God, if they are now outside and in fact participate in the destructive work against the Kingdom of God? How can one belong to the Church of God then, if the same rejects and is not within the Church now? The spirit of this time has not stopped at the doors to the churches. Many wish to have their independence. They like to decide for themselves not recognising God's order. The confession with their mouth is, “I belong wholly to the LORD”, but the life testifies of the contrary. With many it is obvious that they are not within the church, they decide for themselves about their time, tithes, and everything else. God seems to have nothing to say to them for their practical life. They are independent now and will be independent then standing disappointed outside.

It is therefore necessary that all have the true experience of renewing and not only putting a new patch unto an old dress, and remain the same in their innermost being. Everyone must recognise in what way the enemy is misusing him or her for the destruction of God's people. The adversary has much experience, and therefore avails himself of every method as long as damage can be done in the most efficient way.

Most certainly some have given consideration to the thought why one's spiritual life is so fruitless and also about the personal condition. We must ask ourselves what the reasons are for such a general state of emergency and how we can come out of it and be a blessing to others. All the many fruits of the flesh are mentioned together with jealousy and sorcery and idolatry. How can we escape those things? By permitting God to create in us a new life having the fruit of the Spirit by the virtues of the Redeemer, fully expressed by the redeemed! From that moment the enemy will not be able to misuse the believers.

Envy and jealousy led to the first murder. Cain saw that God was pleased with the sacrifice of Abel, and that is where it happened. Jealousy came into his heart, hatred and murder followed automatically. If God testifies, if He blesses somebody, that is not in the hands of a man. Every child of God has only whatever the LORD gave. It is not because of the merits of anyone – God distributes the gifts and callings according to His own pleasure. If somebody has more in earthly goods than others, it should not bother us. There were always the rich and the poor, but there were also those who were satisfied with whatever they had. The LORD said, “But seek ye first kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt. 6:33). It is also written, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Tim. 6:8). There is absolutely no reason to let anything come up in our hearts whereby jealousy would prevail. It also makes no difference if it happens in the earthly or the spiritual realm.

In the natural special talents are admired and highly esteemed. Those who have good voices to sing in operas, the talents in different sports, those in arts and inventors, etc. are admired. Why has Satan so much room among the believers? As Brother Branham so well said having a football game in view, “If one of the team has the ball, the others should protect him and not try to take the ball away from him.”

“For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Cor. 12:24-26)

All believers are profoundly asked to withstand the destructive forces of the enemy and resist “unto blood, striving against sin” (Heb. 12:4), that is, between life and death. This we can only do, if we recognise in what way the enemy has attacked, so that one was against the other. Only if we totally submit under the mighty hand of God, the devil will have to flee.

“Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law.” (Jas. 4:6b-11)

The apostle Peter wrote admonishing, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

Whosoever cannot give his consent towards every Word of God from all his heart will further on be misled by the enemy. How often did one judge the other from his own standpoint? How often did gossip have the effect of a vicious cancer which destroys? How quickly does one come to conclusions about others by what they heard! It cannot continue like this! Nowadays everybody says about a brother or a sister what they like. Nobody seems to remember that we must give an account for every idle word. Who is interested to verify whatever is being said with the person concerned?

One spreads about the other whatever they think, and everyone adds a little to it. No one demands that the person spoken about should be present. A wife can say about her husband, a husband about his wife, and everybody about everyone whatever they want to. Nobody feels any condemnation about it, no one seems to be judged by the Spirit of God. Everyone thinks to be right. No one seems to comprehend the destruction that is connected with it. How long are we going to remain in this desolate state within the church? Everyone should say about others only what they would be saying in their presence and also in the presence of the LORD. It would be advisable not to speak about others at all, but rather make use of the time praying for others and testifying about the LORD.

To make the slandering gossip believable the remark is being added, “I know him … I know her … Nobody needs to tell me anything…” That may be true, but such people do not know themselves. There are those who do not realise their destructive deeds and ways. As the Holy Scripture points out, such people have no peace with God and wherever they go they create trouble with their tongue which is kindled by the fire of hell (Jas. 3:6). Whenever they speak, their tongue is as poisonous as a serpent's bite. Often there is no remedy, and spiritual death follows. Such people can speak with old and also with new tongues, and most of the time they do speak with a double tongue. It depends in which way the enemy can use them the most to make the greatest damage to individuals and the Church. Once they bless, then they curse, it depends if the person concerned is declared to be a friend or an enemy. How long can this continue? What solution does the Holy Scripture offer?

In this last church age the complete message of God's revealed Word went forth right to the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mt. 25). But to be ready our lamps must be cleansed, filled with oil and burning. Also our vessels must be filled with the oil of the Spirit. In reference to the symbol of the vessels. we are told that the golden vessel with the manna was placed into the Holiest of Holies (Heb. 9:4). The concern is not only oil but rather includes the food which comes from heaven – the manna, the Word fresh revealed from the throne by which we live. The vessels of the wise virgins of Matthew 25 contain both, Word and Spirit. Some speak lightly only about the oil. The Spirit is not just wind blowing somewhere, the Spirit reveals the divine substance of the Word and in that manner our vessels are Spirit-filled. Thus saith the LORD, “It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (Jn. 6:63) “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” And do listen to what the Spirit says unto the churches.

By God's grace we were very deeply led into all profound Bible teachings and also into the prophetic part pertaining to the Plan of Salvation. Now it seems a great necessity according to the divine commission to stress the personal teaching and our personal life to be ready on that glorious day of Jesus Christ. In that day all the true believers will make up the entire Church which will appear before the LORD without spot or wrinkle, without any blemish (Eph. 5:27). At the return of the LORD we will not be asked about the perfect teaching, the perfect knowledge, or the perfect revelation of the Divine Message, at that moment only one thing counts, namely that which God could bring about in those who were redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb by His Word and Spirit. At that moment will be fulfilled as it is written, “… and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut.” (Mt. 25) Our preparation is now the most important thing.

At this moment the Church is not yet one heart and one soul. The Body of Christ is torn as never before. Brother Branham in one sermon made a statement like this: “The sickest body I know is the Body of Christ.” He referred to the passage of Jer. 8:22: “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why, then, is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” What would he say today? Those who refer to him are in a worse state than the rest. Never in the church history was there such a chaos after a God-sent revival. The blame for this humanly speaking hopeless situation must go to those who appointed themselves as ministers, who constantly refer to the pet utterances of their choice of the words of a prophet, but they themselves having no divine call for the proclamation of God's Word, therefore, failing to connect them with the written Word. They are the ones who have sown the seed of discrepancy and are responsible for all the divisions.

Now we are concerned with the distribution of the stored-up spiritual food and the proclamation of the whole counsel of God. The table of the LORD must be prepared in a pleasant and correct way. As stated in the inaugural passage, we are concerned with the true belief of the elect and with the right knowledge of the truth which is expressed in a godly walk with the LORD. By the grace of God, the elect are practically living out the written Word in their lives.

Only if we look into the mirror of God's Word, we can see ourselves and recognise the state we are actually in. The LORD had to say admonishing words before establishing His New Testament covenant. He presented the natural man as the old being, “And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me, every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from outside of a man that, entering into him, can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them. Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatever thing from outside entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the stomach, and goeth out into the draught, purging all foods? And he said, that which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mk. 7:14-23)

In various epistles Paul refers to those things which defile, for example in Rom. 1:29-32, “…being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents; without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; who, knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.”

In Gal. 5, from verse 19, the apostle describes both realms a believing person can dwell in. Firstly, the walk in the Spirit, secondly, the walk in the flesh. One realm is against the other and is not able to submit. Therefore, he speaks of the battle within a person and then puts before our very eyes the nature and the attributes of the old and the new man.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, factions, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and the like; of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (vs. 19-21)

After this he refers to the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control,' against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23) Again everyone can look into the mirror of this Word and with a clear mind recognise his position. It is not necessary to be especially spiritual to understand into which category the biblical description places us. If the first description does not apply, the second certainly will. We lean towards putting the works of the flesh into different levels of light and severe, but God places everything which is devilish human and also against which is of the divine-human nature into one catalogue.

At the top of this list are found things on which some believers would shake their heads: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery.

The rest found on the “blacklist” in the eyes of God is just as bad: hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, factions, seditious, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one, no, not to eat.” (1 Cor. 5:11)

Who ever is not guilty of the things we would classify as heavy but starts enmities, and quarrels, and permits envy and jealousy to break through, is also dominated by demon powers. The talebearers and deceivers are classified with idolaters and with the rest found in the long list. Selfishness and partitions connected with jealousy and strife have been the cause of many fractions in the Body of Christ. Often people lose control of themselves, if they are under such negative and destructive influences. Because all those things are used by Satan to destroy the Body of Christ, they are placed in the same level, and whoever is guilty of submitting to the enemy in such a way, will not see the Kingdom of God. Misunderstandings, suspicions, partiality, ill talk, etc., every kind of bad manner one can think of is being found among the believers who claim to belong to the Bride Church. It does not only look like it, admittedly to say, it is so. Satan has his play of deception with the believers as betrayer, as talebearer, as accuser, he is busy directly as the old diabolos, bringing about total confusion. Adding to this all the false teachings which have all come about by wrong inspiration. On all levels the enemy has penetrated into the Church and is destroying God's people.

The persecution from the outside has always brought believers closer together. The inner strife has always brought about splits. Those living in times of persecution came together for prayer not just for a tea or coffee party. The Church is divided into different groups who fight each other and claim that only they and those belonging to them will partake in the rapture. Many live in an unreconciled state being high-minded but not realising it.

In reference to the many problems within a church, Brother Branham made a statement to the end that ninety-nine percent of those who bring forth complaints are the ones having caused the same. Only those to whom God can still speak will be the ones who will take correction. The rest will reject God's admonition and think for themselves to be right without noticing how well the LORD meant with them. “But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, that is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Col. 3:8-10)

Does the Scripture in this case make idle words? No and again no. Not unbelievers are called upon for self-examination but rather the believers. In any case, from the long list one or more of the things described as the fruit of the flesh by which the enemy has his way among the believers are found. The apostle, therefore, calls upon us to withstand the enemy in all his subtle ways.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:10-12) Satan does not come against us with horns, in that case we would recognise him immediately. We have to watch the unseen forces of darkness which try to influence our thinking and try to inspire our acts.

How often do believers allow thoughts to come up which are directed against others! The evil forces have the capability of making plausible to them that their thoughts are reality. Faith always starts in the heart and is embedded in thoughts of love and peace; the destroying thoughts against one another start also in the heart and occupy the thinking inspired by the enemy. We should reject every thought which has the goal of personal and church destruction. The enemy always comes to scatter and to destroy.

Everyone can read the text of Eph. 6 to the end and take the words to heart. Never before an honest self-examination was the command of the hour as right now. Only those who are deeply sincere will present themselves before the LORD and be convinced by the Spirit of the things not right. They will take off the old man and take on the new man, “…which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:22-25). One member should not lie or deceive the other. We should not even be angry with one another, and if something comes up, we should not let the sun go down upon our wrath. If this is not practised, Satan, the accuser, will have his way as slanderer.

The life of Jesus Christ with all its virtues (2 Pet. 1) can only be in those who are begotten and born by the Spirit of God and thereby have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). In the fruit of the Spirit, the actual virtues of Jesus Christ are being manifested, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.”(Gal. 5:22-23).

Only those who permit the fruit of the Spirit to grow within themselves will see the Kingdom of God. How can people in that day enter the Kingdom of God, if they are now outside and in fact participate in the destructive work against the Kingdom of God? How can one belong to the Church of God then, if the same rejects and is not within the Church now? The spirit of this time has not stopped at the doors to the churches. Many wish to have their independence. They like to decide for themselves not recognising God's order. The confession with their mouth is, “I belong wholly to the LORD”, but the life testifies of the contrary. With many it is obvious that they are not within the church, they decide for themselves about their time, tithes, and everything else. God seems to have nothing to say to them for their practical life. They are independent now and will be independent then standing disappointed outside.

It is therefore necessary that all have the true experience of renewing and not only putting a new patch unto an old dress, and remain the same in their innermost being. Everyone must recognise in what way the enemy is misusing him or her for the destruction of God's people. The adversary has much experience, and therefore avails himself of every method as long as damage can be done in the most efficient way.

Most certainly some have given consideration to the thought why one's spiritual life is so fruitless and also about the personal condition. We must ask ourselves what the reasons are for such a general state of emergency and how we can come out of it and be a blessing to others. All the many fruits of the flesh are mentioned together with jealousy and sorcery and idolatry. How can we escape those things? By permitting God to create in us a new life having the fruit of the Spirit by the virtues of the Redeemer, fully expressed by the redeemed! From that moment the enemy will not be able to misuse the believers.

Envy and jealousy led to the first murder. Cain saw that God was pleased with the sacrifice of Abel, and that is where it happened. Jealousy came into his heart, hatred and murder followed automatically. If God testifies, if He blesses somebody, that is not in the hands of a man. Every child of God has only whatever the LORD gave. It is not because of the merits of anyone – God distributes the gifts and callings according to His own pleasure. If somebody has more in earthly goods than others, it should not bother us. There were always the rich and the poor, but there were also those who were satisfied with whatever they had. The LORD said, “But seek ye first kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt. 6:33). It is also written, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Tim. 6:8). There is absolutely no reason to let anything come up in our hearts whereby jealousy would prevail. It also makes no difference if it happens in the earthly or the spiritual realm.

In the natural special talents are admired and highly esteemed. Those who have good voices to sing in operas, the talents in different sports, those in arts and inventors, etc. are admired. Why has Satan so much room among the believers? As Brother Branham so well said having a football game in view, “If one of the team has the ball, the others should protect him and not try to take the ball away from him.”

“For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Cor. 12:24-26)

All believers are profoundly asked to withstand the destructive forces of the enemy and resist “unto blood, striving against sin” (Heb. 12:4), that is, between life and death. This we can only do, if we recognise in what way the enemy has attacked, so that one was against the other. Only if we totally submit under the mighty hand of God, the devil will have to flee.

“Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law.” (Jas. 4:6b-11)

The apostle Peter wrote admonishing, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

Whosoever cannot give his consent towards every Word of God from all his heart will further on be misled by the enemy. How often did one judge the other from his own standpoint? How often did gossip have the effect of a vicious cancer which destroys? How quickly does one come to conclusions about others by what they heard! It cannot continue like this! Nowadays everybody says about a brother or a sister what they like. Nobody seems to remember that we must give an account for every idle word. Who is interested to verify whatever is being said with the person concerned?

One spreads about the other whatever they think, and everyone adds a little to it. No one demands that the person spoken about should be present. A wife can say about her husband, a husband about his wife, and everybody about everyone whatever they want to. Nobody feels any condemnation about it, no one seems to be judged by the Spirit of God. Everyone thinks to be right. No one seems to comprehend the destruction that is connected with it. How long are we going to remain in this desolate state within the church? Everyone should say about others only what they would be saying in their presence and also in the presence of the LORD. It would be advisable not to speak about others at all, but rather make use of the time praying for others and testifying about the LORD.

To make the slandering gossip believable the remark is being added, “I know him … I know her … Nobody needs to tell me anything…” That may be true, but such people do not know themselves. There are those who do not realise their destructive deeds and ways. As the Holy Scripture points out, such people have no peace with God and wherever they go they create trouble with their tongue which is kindled by the fire of hell (Jas. 3:6). Whenever they speak, their tongue is as poisonous as a serpent's bite. Often there is no remedy, and spiritual death follows. Such people can speak with old and also with new tongues, and most of the time they do speak with a double tongue. It depends in which way the enemy can use them the most to make the greatest damage to individuals and the Church. Once they bless, then they curse, it depends if the person concerned is declared to be a friend or an enemy. How long can this continue? What solution does the Holy Scripture offer?