Right now, so close to the return of Jesus Christ, the following Scripture takes on special significance:

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins…” (Heb. 10:24-26)

Here sin is connected with the congregation, worship and, how we read here, with “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”. No one from the Church has the right to forsake the Church's services and thus despise the Church of the living God. The point is that at this time we must discern the body of the Lord and not transgress against the Church of the living God. The Lord Himself paid the highest and greatest price and redeemed us to be His own property. Through the Holy Spirit, the Church is united into a living organism, the body of Jesus Christ. Jesus then said to His disciples:

“You will all be scattered and offended at me.”

But then they gathered again and had fellowship with each other until they received the promise of the Father. As children of God, we must pay attention to our reactions especially in critical situations. In Luke 9:51-55, a unique event is described. Our Lord was on the way to Jerusalem. He sent His messengers before Him who came to a village of the Samaritans to take care of the overnight stay of their Master, and as we all know, the Jews and the Samaritans did not have any dealings with each other, as we read in the Gospel of John 4:9 Because the Lord wanted to go to Jerusalem, but the people there were not ready to receive Him. Then, astonished, we read the words of the two apostles who said:

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”

They were upset and didn't know what they were saying. Although outwardly they acted for their Master. Despite how upset and stricken they were, they first asked the Lord. “Lord, wilt thou…?” Isn't this a lesson for all of us to ask in every situation, “Lord, what do you want us to do?” Therefore, it must be said that although they asked for the Lord's will in their words, they did not have the salvation of those people in mind, but their destruction. They even referred to Elijah. As believers, we can find ourselves in the same situation every day: having good intentions, being zealous for our Lord, yet still under a false influence. The good spirit seeks salvation, the bad spirit seeks destruction. The Lord corrected them with these words:

“Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”

Going back to the Word from the introduction, prudence and sobriety in connection with praying and acting must be emphasized again. The end is near ahead of us, and only he who endures to the end will be crowned. Satan knows that he has little time and is furious and wants to destroy everything. But the Lord will build His Church. He is not only the beginning, but also the finisher, He lays claim to the blood-bought multitude of the firstborn who are transformed into His image. Only that character, formed in us, we will take with us, said Brother Branham.

Right now, so close to the return of Jesus Christ, the following Scripture takes on special significance: 

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins…” (Heb. 10:24-26)

Here sin is connected with the congregation, worship and, how we read here, with “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”. No one from the Church has the right to forsake the Church's services and thus despise the Church of the living God. The point is that at this time we must discern the body of the Lord and not transgress against the Church of the living God. The Lord Himself paid the highest and greatest price and redeemed us to be His own property. Through the Holy Spirit, the Church is united into a living organism, the body of Jesus Christ. Jesus then said to His disciples: 

“You will all be scattered and offended at me.”

But then they gathered again and had fellowship with each other until they received the promise of the Father. As children of God, we must pay attention to our reactions especially in critical situations. In Luke 9:51-55, a unique event is described. Our Lord was on the way to Jerusalem. He sent His messengers before Him who came to a village of the Samaritans to take care of the overnight stay of their Master, and as we all know, the Jews and the Samaritans did not have any dealings with each other, as we read in the Gospel of John 4:9 Because the Lord wanted to go to Jerusalem, but the people there were not ready to receive Him. Then, astonished, we read the words of the two apostles who said: 

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”

They were upset and didn't know what they were saying. Although outwardly they acted for their Master. Despite how upset and stricken they were, they first asked the Lord. “Lord, wilt thou…?” Isn't this a lesson for all of us to ask in every situation, “Lord, what do you want us to do?” Therefore, it must be said that although they asked for the Lord's will in their words, they did not have the salvation of those people in mind, but their destruction. They even referred to Elijah. As believers, we can find ourselves in the same situation every day: having good intentions, being zealous for our Lord, yet still under a false influence. The good spirit seeks salvation, the bad spirit seeks destruction. The Lord corrected them with these words: 

“Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”

Going back to the Word from the introduction, prudence and sobriety in connection with praying and acting must be emphasized again. The end is near ahead of us, and only he who endures to the end will be crowned. Satan knows that he has little time and is furious and wants to destroy everything. But the Lord will build His Church. He is not only the beginning, but also the finisher, He lays claim to the blood-bought multitude of the firstborn who are transformed into His image. Only that character, formed in us, we will take with us, said Brother Branham.