A Study in Leadership Pt.3
So we learn from this that the pathway to the heavenly city is not the pathway of the easiest choice of flowery strewn pathways all our lives through.
God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through,
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labour,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing kindness
Undying love ...
**In the message “Leadership - 7th December 1965”, brother Branham takes the story of the rich young ruler and shows us how he continues to proper and be blessed under his own leadership.
**So if we study the natural life’s journey of the rich young ruler, we will notice that after he rejected the leadership of the word in his life, in his case, his pathway continued on being very pleasant and prosperous, but the problem was of where his own pathway choice led him to at the end, because we know that the end of his story was a bad one – it did not end happily ever after, but if he had followed the leadership of the word then his destination would have been different and he would have had eternal life with abundant joy – so we want to look a little deeper into this story.
LUKE 16:19-25
19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Notice that this is not stated as a parable - the message of this hour shows us that Jesus is looking into the future life of the rich young ruler and is telling us at the beginning of what happens to him at the end because of his rejection of the leadership of the word – he was convinced that by being unyoked with Christ and going his ways would give him an easier life here on earth, but then in the life after death we see that his burden becomes heaver and much harder to bear and he is not at rest)
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. In other words – having a soft life here on earth wasn’t conducive to developing his character for him to become a citizen fit for heaven; we see a little later on that he starts arguing with Father Abraham.
LUKE 16:26-31
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham (in other words, you are wrong about that): but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
(***Notice his argumentative spirit that he had taken with him to the other side - he still thought he knew best, he still exalted his own thoughts above the thoughts of the word of God, in other words his character was never changed while he was on earth, and that is exactly what following the Lord down that harder way would have done for him, it would have dealt with this problem in his spirit, and that is what trials do for us, God uses them to deal with our character problems so we will become fit citizens for the kingdom and life that is to come)
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Notice how this rich young ruler’s life also influence his other five brethren, so that one day they would also end up where he was. ***That is why when people leave following the Lord they influence many others, especially of their family members to do the same.
LEADERSHIP_ COVINA.CA V-7 N-7 TUESDAY_ 65-1207
288 I know that's a stern, cutting Message, brother. But I didn't come here and choose a--a message to the people just to try to make them sing, shout, holler. I been in heathen meetings where they done the same thing. I'm interested in your life. I'm a servant of God that's got to answer to God someday, and the ministry that the Lord has given me has vindicated itself thousands of times before you.
289 Remember, Jesus said, "Follow Me. Follow Me. Get rid of what you got, and follow Me." (In other words – follow the word even if you have to give up what you’ve got – he is not saying for us to sell everything and live like beggars, but if the word requires us to give up things in order to follow the Lord, then that is what we must do in order to inherit eternal life, and remember, you can’t give up something without God giving it back to you in a far greater way, even in this lifetime) And that's the only way to have Eternal Life. That's the only remedy He give this man, was the only remedy He give this businessman, it's the only remedy He gives anybody. His choice, He makes His decision, it's perfect every time. And we must follow Him, is the only way to have Eternal Life. So the leadership of God is: follow the vindicated Word of the hour by the Holy Ghost.
MARK 10:28-30
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
*Read the Story of a man that gave up and got back far greater in this lifetime and also got eternal life in the ages to come – that is why I personally believe that the rich young ruler would have received more back in his lifetime than what he would have given away by being obedient to the words of Christ.
FAITH.WITHOUT.WORKS.IS.DEAD_ CLEVELAND.OH TUESDAY_ 50-0822
E-8 One time, I thought it wasn't right to receive a present someone give you. Brother Sharritt, a man corrected me on that. He said, "Brother Branham, I hate to correct you on anything." But said, "You're mistaken there." He said, "You've caused those people for not receiving their presents; you cause them to lose their--their reward." He said, "It's more blessed to give than it is to receive."
Then he told me of his story. I did... I just believe I'll tell this right now. It just comes to my mind for a moment. John B. Sharritt from Phoenix, Arizona, one of the business managers of the campaign...
Many of you has met him, no doubt. If anybody here would happen to know Brother Sharritt, or anybody, John Sharritt, Phoenix, Arizona? Well, he's a product of God's Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The dean of the college was just talking to me long distance a few moments ago, a very fine man, Brother Stanley. Many of you hear Brother Stanley from the... God's revivalist. He's at my house waiting for me now.
E-9 And he and Brother Raymond T. Richey... Many of you heard of him, haven't you, from Houston, Texas. He belongs to the church, Assemblies of God, and has a Evangelistic...?... there.
And so Brother Sharritt, he was borned kind of--of a fellow that didn't have very much of the world's goods. His father was a very poor man, and he was very rowdy. And he left his mother. And John Sharritt, about fifteen years ago, was selling apples at a nickel apiece out in front of him like this in St. Louis, Missouri. Apples... On a little bi... couldn't have a cart to take care of his mother.
And he had an impediment of speech. He couldn't talk at all. If you go to talking, just stand at just...?... He just... he try again. And like if he was going to say, "Good evening, he'd say, "Goo... [Brother Branham makes unintelligible noises--Ed.]" Wait a while and say, "Goo..." And that's about the way he'd try to get it; awful bad...?...
E-10 Well, but he begin to seek the Lord when he was a boy. And all the boys was running out to different places with young ladies. He said, "Lord, I--I'm going to trust You. I--I--I'd--I'd be awful out trying to talk to young ladies. But I want to be married and have children. And I'm going to serve You, and You give me a wife." He committed it to the Lord: age of about twenty-five.
If he could've pass every woman by in the world, he couldn't have a better one than what he's got. God give him a lovely little saint.
But one great thing he loved children so well... She was barren. He was married for many, many years, six, seven, eight, ten years, no children.
He cut concrete on the street, twenty-five cents a hour to make a living. And they'd saved their money, and they bought a little three room house. I think it cost about fifteen hundred dollars back in the time of the depression. And they'd paid, and paid, and paid. And...?... paid until till they paid all of it off.
E-11 But just about the time they got it all paid off, they had a revival in Phoenix. And there was a man by the name of Doctor Sutton. Don't know whether you know him or not, a...?... A Gospel--full Gospel preacher came down there to Phoenix, and he was staying in a tourist camp.
And the Lord appeared to Brother Sharritt one night in a dream. He said to him, "Take your silverware and your clothes and your wife, and leave your home, and turn that over to this Brother Sutton."
Think of it. After about ten years of hard labor in the depression, saving and striving, and the Lord told him to turn that place over to Doctor Sutton, which was a--a well known minister.
Brother Sharritt said, "All right, Lord."
Went to his little companion, said, "Honey, the Lord has spoke to me and told me to turn our house over... Just to take our silverware and our clothes, and turn the house over to Doctor Sutton."
When he went and told her, she said, "All right, dear." She believed in her husband, said, "If the Lord said for you to do that, God's got something else for us to do."
E-12 So she... He turned all he had now. And he didn't have no place to take his wife that night. And they found the tourist camp that cost seventy-five cents. And they stayed in the tourist camp that night, and making twenty-five cents a hour cutting concrete on the street (That's right.), working daily for... He's a great big man, weighs about two hundred and twenty-five pounds.
And about a week later, some rich lady told him that--that she would move some of her things back in her garage, if he wanted to live in her garage, up towards Camelback Mountain (You know where this place is.), kind of a big old aristocratical part of the country there. Said, "You... If you'll keep my yard trimmed of...?... come in, and keep the grass watered, and so forth." Said, "You can live in my garage free."
He moved up there without one thing. He got some boxes, got him a...?... and laid on the floor, got him a mattress...?... him and his wife slept there.
Brother Sutton said, "Brother Sharritt, I don't..."
Said, "The Lord had said for me to do that. That's all right."
E-13 And he went on. And he was that way about a year, lived a good Christian life. Finally, the lady that he lived with was a multimillionaire woman. And she seen his honesty. He was a Christian just like a Daniel down in Babylon.
She went up to him one day. She said, "John," she said, "you know what? The Lord spoke to me last night in a dream, and told me that I shall loan you ten thousand dollars to go in business."
"Why," he said, (he couldn't talk) Said, "Lady, I--I can't even talk. I'll never make a businessman."
She said, "But the Lord told me to do it, and here's the check."
He said, "Well, ah, I--I--I couldn't let you do this." Said, "I--I don't want ten thousand dollars laying on my... No, huh-uh."
So she said, "But the Lord said for me to give it to you. I notice you've been a good honest man, seen you reading the Bible. And I got me a Bible and was reading. And the Lord told me to give you the check, loan it to you, for ten thousand dollars to go in business."
E-14 So he took the check. He didn't know what to do. So he went on. And one evening he was walking up and seen a little old five room house for sale for two thousand dollars. So he went down there and cashed the check and bought it for two thousand dollars. And went down there, him and his wife, and begin to knock the plastering off of the place and replastered it nicely, Him and his wife working together. And he plastered up the house, fixed the ground, and put a sale sign up on it. And if he'd have got three thousand, they'd have made money. And he sold it for six thousand.
Today John Sharritt's worth a half a million dollars. That's been about six or seven years ago since he started, worth a half a million dollars. He's the father of three fine little children. Oh, my.
He said, "Brother Branham, what if I would have... What if Dr. Sutton wouldn't have taken...?... what God told me to do. See what it would've been?"
E-15 And now, he stood there, said, "Lord, whenever I see your program, I'll..." Just, he had so much money, said, "I don't want..." He owns orange groves, ranch houses. He owns the big Thunderbird Ranch there, one of the greatest there is in Arizona.
And he said, "All these things..." He said, "I--I've got more money than I know what to do with."
And God give him a fine little girl, then a little boy, then a little girl. That's the reason he isn't with us tonight. The little baby's just recently born. His wife had been barren for all these years. And now, she's bearing children, just...?... doing. Oh, what a happy family.
And he said, "When I come to Phoenix..." He said, "Went up to the meeting one night," and he said, "Lord, isn't that where You was talking about?" And then he said... come to me. He said, "Brother Branham, you don't owe me a penny. But if I can pass your hat, or bring your coat, I want to be in the campaign."
And I had prayer for him, and God restored his speech back to--to him again. Now, he's healed, with his fine home, everywhere. Gives his tithes to the Lord of everything he makes. Oh, my. He's just blessed. So it is more...
E-16 Now, if you want to write to him, just write to John B. Sharritt, Phoenix, Arizona. It'll get to him. And ask for the testimony yourself.
Now, he printing tracts and everything, scattering the Gospel everywhere. He'll probably be with us shortly again in the campaign.
It's more blessed to give than it is to receive. See? To...
And now, that isn't saying... You let God tell you what to do. See? And when God tells you that Mrs. Jones over there is a widow woman, and needs some--some clothes, and He speaks to you to go, help that widow woman, you go help her. You--you do that. Because listen, friends, all the money that we have will pass away someday. That's right. It won't be no more. It's just the eternal things. That's the things that we have in our soul. Is that right?
We came into the world naked; we go out of the world naked. As Job said, "The Lord gave, the Lord taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord." That's right.
The way to get is to give – the more you give, the more that will come back to you.
We do not preach a prosperity doctrine in the message – our prosperity is guaranteed for eternity, but there are scriptural truths of how to receive blessings in this life, and that is to first give and to be a blessing to others – develop the attitude of giving more than getting, and you will eventually get more that you give.
The rich young ruler should have used his financial power to be a blessing to others, and then he would have received so much more back even in this life because you cannot sow and then not reap, but because he didn’t follow the instruction of the leadership that the word had given him, then in the end he lost not only all the things that he had gained in this life, but he also lost his own soul in the life that was to come.
MATTHEW 16:25-26
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (that is for the sake of following the leadership of the word)
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Jonah thought he would choose his own way because to him the burden seemed lighter, but Jesus said that his burden was lighter, and we know that Jonah ended up in a whale’s stomach.
Brother Branham would have ended up in a dump by a burning rubbish fire trying get warm if he had chosen what he thought was the easier way than what the Lord had called him to. But “Because though has chosen the harder way – a huge portion of heaven awaits you”.
Because Ruth chose the harder way to go with Naomi, and to make Naomi’s God her God, a huge portion of inheritance awaited her.
MATTHEW 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
His yoke is easy – His burden is light.