Can there be a denomination in this message? The short answer is yes. The message itself cannot be a denomination, because there is nothing left to go to, the message is Christ revealed in the fulness of the restored Word. Where would you go from there? However, men will always try and place human leadership, which is the spirit of denomination in the place of God’s Holy Spirit.
QUOTE – “Dear dying Lamb, may it never do that. If I go in this generation, may the people who believe this Message never stand still for a denomination! You’ll die right in your track! Remember that! The very hour that you mention denomination among you, I don’t care how sincere you are, take man for your leader instead of the Holy Spirit to confirm this Word, that’s the hour you die! The genuine Seed cannot, because there’s nothing left after the seed, it’s the same thing was back at the beginning. It’s the Bride that fell into the ground to bring forth the corn of wheat again.”
65-1128M — God’s Only Provided Place Of Worship
Rev. William Marrion Branham
THE CYCLE OF REVIVAL AND DEATH
The Lutherans could denominate after the death of the messenger (Martin Luther), and the life moved on with John Wesley’s ministry. After his death they denominated to preserve and protect their message with a religious hierarchy of men and a set of beliefs to follow. However, Wesley’s message moved on into the Pentecostal age with the restoration of the gifts to the church. It was a higher order, but again to protect what they had, they build an organization upon the leadership of man, and it always becomes a political event of who is the next greatest man or men to lead the church. This leads to the death of a spiritual movement.
The Pentecostal movement was Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) and they denominated, by refusing to move with the Holy Spirit. They followed the leadership of man, great men with great abilities, anointings, and took the gifts above the true Word and end-time message. The same thing Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for and called them carnal immature believers (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).
I find that our message churches today have greater means and obtain greater monetary possessions than ever before. We have bigger churches, activity centers, and Sunday school departments, to draw the people. Now with electronics, the internet and the music of the world it becomes something different than the original.
It is evident that many in the ministry becomes more interested in building their personal ministries then God’s kingdom, and the church becomes more interested in proselyting from other churches, than seeing sinners saved. It is the same denominational cycle of death that has followed every denominational move.
FOR MANY THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY GOOD THING
A denominational way of worshiping God outwardly seems like a very good thing. It promotes unity, it clarifies what is believed and accepted. And it promotes those who have the greatest ability and are the most qualified to teach and preach within the guidelines of the leaders that set the standards. The people LOVE to rally around it and attend the same meetings year after year with the most popular and anointed speakers. The best singers, music and worship, and energy are felt by all that love the experience.
DENOMINATIONS SETS THE PATTERN TO FOLLOW
Every preacher and every church involved tries to follow the same patter to be excepted. There develops a pecking-order with those that have ambition to rise higher in their respected ministries as they pursue the approval of men. This denominational spirit will control ministries into their denominational likeness and will support any that follow their leadership.
The Apostle Paul refused such persuasion; For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (Gal 1:10).
DENOMINATIONAL SPIRITS OVERSHADOW THE TRUE LOCAL CHURCH
Gifted people and families that could be a great blessing and helpful in their own communities and the local church where they found Christ are persuaded to leave and become a part of what is called “the move of God.” This so called “move of God” overshadows the true local church where a humble dedicated pastor can know and care for the flock which the Holy Ghost entrusted him with. And the faithful men that do not go along with such are thought to be lacking spiritually.
WHAT WORKED FOR THE DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH WILL NOT WORK FOR US
It is the way of man and is merely a “new cart” that worked for the Philistines (denominations) but it will not work for what our message really is. It is a terrible wrong spirit that GOD hates and I hate.
As a Pastor, I wish I could put my arm around these brethren and say let us go forward together – but I can’t do it and be a follower of Christ the Word.
Quote: I would like to join my hands with all the denominations, say, “Brethren, let’s go.” I’d like to do that. If I do, I take my hand out of His. Far be it from me ever doing that. If I stand alone, I stand with Him and His Word. For, as Eddie Perronet said:
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
And Christ is the Word. “In the beginning…”
62-0318 — The Spoken Word Is The Original Seed
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Pastor Bill Ivy, Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri USA – www.livingwordtabernacle.com