Ewald Frank

3. 5. 1987, 10:00, Krefeld, Germany
aired on 29. 12. 2021

Subject: "What does revelation mean?"

We extend many greetings from all who love the Lord. And we just have to say it for the sake of the truth: He who truly loves God, he loves all who are born of God [1J 5:1]. He who has trouble with this, deceives himself. He has put a new garment over an old nature. He who has received a new life from God has the nature of Jesus Christ and the nature of Jesus Christ is the love of God manifested in human form. We do not need to make an effort to love, but we love with all our heart, regardless of the several interpretations. For we know very well that it is the enemy, not the beloved brothers, but the enemy who brings discord into the Church of the living God. And that is why we cannot be against any brother, but only the enemy’s game that must be put to stop.

Brother Russ mentioned a handkerchief here and I would like to say once very clearly here. With brother Branham, this was a bit different. He said on the film or somewhere, that a sack full of handkerchiefs was brought according to the number of people, from thousands to tens of thousands. We don’t have this problem. And I say it quite frankly, we want to do everything as biblically as it can be done. And I don't read in the Bible that Paul prayed over handkerchiefs. I don't read that he anointed them with oil, as it is the case with some full gospel churches, but this I read:

“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” [Acts 19:11-12].

Whoever brings me a handkerchief; I will always use it. I have never said this publicly, but since many years, I am led with my heart to take the handkerchief and wipe the sweat with it while preaching. And then pass it on in faith and confidence that the preached Word, will become a power of God to those who believe it and will accomplish what God has sent it for. But that only as a side note.

So much I also say from here: I do not have time. The time I have, I must manage and use it for the cause of God. When I think of all the journeys, on everything that has to be done, then I find it difficult to be brief in conversations sometimes and perhaps give the impression that I don't mean well. But Brother Branham said, "I can either devote myself to the cause of God or to the people." I always have a little time. But hours and days, I don’t have. I only have that for the cause of God. May the Lord give us deacons who care for earthly things, who take on tasks. In the days of Moses, his father-in-law Jethro came to him, a pagan, and said, "Listen, it's not right that you have to do everything alone. Look around you to see where the people are who can take on tasks." [Ex 18:14, 17-18]

I would like to look around for brothers who can take over tasks. And may God just bless them and put it on their hearts.

Now we are going to look into the Word. I haven't even had time to look up the scriptures. But you know how we do it here. We believe in the leading of the Holy Spirit. We don't believe in worked out sermons. We believe that wherever we open the Word, it speaks to us, and that through every scripture God can speak to everyone and give the answer.

When you read the letter to Ephesians, you feel the depth that Paul had in spiritual things. And when he writes in the letter to the Romans and writes, "O what a depth of wisdom and knowledge of God!" [Rm 11:33], these were not just words, this was reality to him. He had an insight into the depth and the height, the breadth, and the width of the divine plan of salvation - however, by revelation. And the same we can also say.

Today, when I was thinking about the meeting in Brussels, I thought of the Word from Revelation 15 (I won't read it now, you all know it), where it says about the multitude of overcomers at the sea of glass [Rev. 15:2]. And then the thought came to me: How crystal-clear God has revealed his Word to us! For me, going beyond every understanding. No man could have made it clear to us. People have always been writing and there are many commentaries on God's Word. Some go quite deep, knowledge increased [Dan 12:4], but we don't live in the days where knowledge is added to knowledge, we live in the time in which God reveals everything.

And I want to say this clearly too: when God reveals something, then behind this revelation, there can be seen something. There is something behind that revelation. There are people who talk about revelation, and if you ask what the content is, what the thing is, this revelation they are talking about, then there is no content, then there is nothing, then there is only the term "revelation", and behind it everything is empty.

It is not like that with God. When the first words or lines were written in Revelation 1, then it says "Revelation of Jesus Christ … " [Rev 1:1]. And when it says, "revelation of Jesus Christ", that means "unveiling of Jesus Christ", then He must be seen, if He was revealed, if He was unveiled, then we must see him as He is. If we do not see him, then He was not revealed unto us. Thus, it is with everything. If God has revealed something to us, then we must see it, see it clearly, not blurred, but see it very clearly.

John, who received the revelation of Jesus Christ, He saw him who was revealed to him. Hallelujah! He saw him walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks [Rev 2:1]. He saw the seven stars in his right hand. He heard him speak with a mighty voice. It was not just the word "revelation", it was a thing that was revealed. And I believe that we can testify this just as it was testified at that time.

When Brother Branham uses the term "revelation" then we know what is meant by it. That what was earlier hidden - but the thing was there, only it was hidden, and then it was revealed. When it’s revealed, then you see the thing that was revealed. I think, this is something precious.

We have the term "revelation" not only in the Holy Scriptures, but we also use it ourselves many times. And Paul also writes to the Ephesians:

"Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets … " [Eph 3:5]

Everything divine is built upon revelation. And faith leads into this revelation. And faith in Jesus Christ, leads to the revelation of Jesus Christ. We see him as He is, who He is. We see him walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks [Rev 2:1]. We hear him speak and understand what it means when it is written:

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." [Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22]

God inspired His servants and prophets by the Spirit! [2Pt 1:21] And I want to tell you: Therein is the secret. Many heard only Paul in their time, and they even said:

"For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." [2Cor 10.10]

And they thought, "Yes, this is Paul."

Then there were others to whom Paul could write:

"When ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God." [1Th 2:13]

Some saw the man, others saw the work of God, the message of God, the revelation of God, the Word of God - to them it was revelation. The others saw only the outward tabernacle. Was it not so with our Lord and with all the prophets? Did not the multitude say:

"We know him and his brothers and his sisters, they stay with us? From where hath He this authority and these miracle powers?" [Mt 13:55-56]

They knew him according to the flesh, but not according to the spirit, so that our Lord had to call out:

"Who are my brothers? Who are my sisters?" [Mt 12:48-50]

And He did not wait for anyone to give an answer, He gave the answer:

"All who do the will of my Father in heaven, these are my brothers, and my sisters."

Sometimes we give the answer, and don't wait for Him to give it.

The thought that God has revealed His Word to us so crystal clear, overwhelms me. And this is not just a claim, this is a reality. I say once again: We do not live in the days in which people search and search, interpret and interpret. Nothing wrong with that. Whoever reads the exposition of Martin Luther about the epistle to the Romans, he has to take his hat off, and simply has to say that: This man had such an insight as it was unique on earth. We admit that. But when it comes to revelation, then we have to say: At that time, it was not yet the time for that.

But now, now is the time of divine revelation of all things. And for this we are grateful. When God speaks, his speech is clear. When He reveals something, it is also clear. Then one does not need to teach the other. Then we are all taught by God [Jn 6:45], and see the same through the same Spirit, because of the same Word.

What was read to us here from Ephesians 2 is actually the core of the proclamation. What would it be if we were talking about revelation and had to be reminded about Isaiah 28, when God said to the prophets:

"To whom will you teach revelation? For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean … " [Isa 28:7-8]

Revelation can only be taught and passed on, where people come into the sanctuary of God, leaving everything of their own behind, and know that the veil was torn, that the ark of the covenant was made visible, and there no man speaks any more, there God speaks to the people.

We have also understood this: This is not the time in which people speak about God, this is the time in which God spoke to us through a prophet! We are grateful for it.

In the same way, we have to say: many heard him and many were enthused and many use the term "the prophet said …, the prophet said … ". And even with that we cannot make any progress. Everything what the prophet said came from the Word of God and leads back into the Word of God. Whoever has this revelation, that this is a divine cycle … For thus it is written in the prophet Isaiah:

"The Word that goes forth from my mouth will not return unto me void … "

It does return, but not void:

" … it accomplishes for what God has sent it for." [Isa 55:11]

At all times, every time God gave a message, there were people who received it and people who rejected it. And all those who received it, confirmed by it, that God was true. They not only believed in God, they believed God. Herein is the big question today. If you could ask the devil, "Do you believe in God?", no one would answer "Yes" any faster or louder. It is written in James:

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." [Jk 2:19]

The faith in God is a very general thing. But who is willing to believe God? Yes, how can I believe God? By believing what He has said! And what did He say? How did He speak? Here is the speaking of God. Here is the Word of God. And by this we also see and understand why our Lord said:

"My sheep hear my voice." [Jn 10:27]

From how many pulpits also this Bible verse is proclaimed! Of course, all of the world all who stand in front can read from the same Bible any Bible passage. The priest, and whoever they may be, they all can say: "My sheep hear my voice", with the difference the one with a bit more anointing, the other a bit slower, the third a bit faster … But what is the matter really? Only those who have truly become sheep of his pasture understand this. This is understood only by those who are born of him and who have truly become partakers of his divine nature. [2Pt 1:4] The Holy Scriptures are read everywhere. And we see how politicians pick out Scriptures. What right have they have for it?

People who believe God's Word, to them it is revealed, they receive a connection to God through the Word. We have emphasized this often enough: through the proclamation of the Word, people are brought into connection with God! Not with a thing, but with God and then being placed with God into the matter of God. That is also very, very important.

We also mentioned it: When John was sent, he was commissioned to prepare the way for the Lord. Not for himself, but for the Lord:

"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." [Mark 1:3]

Not for a prophet to pave the way for himself and then become saucerful, but

"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low … " [Isa 40:4]

For what? So that the glory of the Lord can be made revealed. More brother Branham did not want. As a forerunner before the second coming of Jesus Christ, he was to make a way for the Lord, and to remove every offence from the people of God who are to follow the Lord. For this also is written:

"Take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people." [Is 57:14]

And also there, many things had to be cleaned up, and some things still have to be cleaned up. And for that God must give us grace.

The Word here in Ephesians 2 from verse 4, for example, brother Branham used for a sermon. It says here:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved." [Ep 2:4-5]

What a wonderful Word! Paul had also recognized this mystery. The Bride was in the Bridegroom. She died with him, was crucified with him, was buried with him, was raised with him to a new life.

And what does Brother Branham say, and also the Scriptures? We don't need to mention him so often, because he didn't say anything different from what God's Word says:

„All who will ever be saved have already been saved at Calvary. There, the redemption was accomplished.“

Now it is our task, since we do not know whom, God will save. Therefore, we have to go into all the world to preach the Gospel so that all who are ordained to be saved may be saved. And that is why the Scriptures also say in the prophet Isaiah:

"Be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." [Isa 45:22], " … and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." [Isa 52:10]

I tell you something today: Even what we have just read must be divinely transfigured and revealed to us by the Spirit of God. Otherwise, we will ask all our life for the salvation of our soul, for justification, for forgiveness, until finally we lay in despair on our deathbed. And that is not what God wants.

It must be revealed to us by God: As certain as Jesus Christ suffered, died, was crucified, and was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, so certain we were in him, for thus it is written:

"Before the foundation of the world God chose us in advance in Christ, predestinating us to be sons and daughters." [Eph 1:4]

These, after all, are the thoughts that Paul expressed so clearly in his letters to the Ephesians. Has it become a divine revelation to you that you died with Christ, that you were crucified with him [Gal 2:20], that you were buried with him, that you no longer even exist, that you are no longer even live, but that Christ wants to live his life in you and me.

Then there are people who mix up the divine and spiritual, with the earthly, and they always get into a conflict of conscience and the devil makes sure that they go round and round in circles.

I was also thinking about this today, and I looked in my album, in which I have many photos of Brother Branham, and I saw him in cowboy outfit, on one picture with a rifle, then with a shot animal, whatever it was there, and sometimes like this, sometimes like that, but really once with a beard that was three weeks old. And then the thought came to me: If the priests and high priests would see a man in such a format, and somebody would then come up with a thought and say to the high priest: "Do you know that this is a prophet of God?" The prayer book would fall out of the man's hand, and he would run away and say, "Listen, I believe you are totally mistaken! You must have meant someone else."

No, we didn't mean anybody else. What am I trying to say? A prophet of God, and yet with both feet on earth. And this is what we are missing. We sometimes want to be in heaven with our feet and be on earth with our heart, instead of staying on earth with our feet and being in heaven with our heart! We have turned some things upside down, and that is why we have so much trouble with ourselves and with each other!

I laughed last night. There were occasions for it. I haven't laughed for months, but last night I laughed because there was an occasion. And I thought to myself, what would people say when they see me now, that after years I had a reason to be convulsed with laughter. We have to remain human beings. We must know where the earthly realm belongs and where the divine realm belongs. I'll say it again: You used to see it, people walking with the prayer book, the long gown, the head was here, they looked over the book. They knew all the prayers by heart. If someone on earth were to say: „Caiaphas, who was so decorated like Father Christmas, that could be the right man, but the man in the cowboy outfit, with a thick leather, as you can only see it in Texas. And this is supposed to be a prophet?“ And I say to you today, "More than a prophet." He not only prophesied, as John didn't prophesy either. He has put prophecy upon the lampstand, showed Bible prophecy in its fulfilment and in its realization.

The prophets spoke of it – John could show how it is fulfilled. That is how it was with the ministry of Brother Branham, prophets and apostles, even our Lord - all have spoken of the last days. And God sent a man, not only a prophet who announces things, but a prophet who found what was announced, what was prophesied, he dug it up, put it on the lampstand to make it visible for all, to whom God reveals it. The things can be shown as clearly as they can be by God, and unless God opens our eyes, we cannot see it.

Look, at the first coming of the Lord, after all, it was written in the prophet Isaiah 35:

"The Lord thy God shall come and save you … " and so on … "and then shall the blind see, and the lame shall walk, and the tongue of the dumb shall speak." [Isa 35:4-6]

All was written, after all. It happened, it was among them, and yet they did not see it. And then the Lord gave the parable, saying:

"I have come for this reason into the world, that the blind may see, and those who see get blind." [Jn 9:39-41]

And already the scribes felt addressed and said to one another: "Does He mean us to be blind?" And then the Lord gives the answer. He saw through their thoughts and said:

"If you were blind, you would have no sin. But because you think you see; therefore, your sins remain with you."

What was it? People thought they had a clear view and an insight. Only God can give that, and to it one has to be ordained by God. Nobody can say: "So, dear God, now I am here and now I am going to get on with this, and I need your assistance." It doesn't work that way. God must call, God must commission, God must give ministries, He must reveal. And then we just need to follow the Spirit of God, not more. And to that what He has spoken we must not, and need not, to add anything.

May God reveal to us today what is written here:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." [Eph 2:4-5]

How many believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead? How many believe that we have been raised with him? This is the mystery. Yes, you may say, "But we are still waiting for the translation of our bodies." Paul was waiting for that too. And yet he said:

"Now I live no more, but Christ lives in me." [Gl 2:20]

And he said:

"When the time comes for us to put off this mortal tabernacle, then we have a tabernacle made by God." [2Cor 5:1]

He could place all these things correctly, and this we also must do.

Here then it is emphasised:

"By grace ye are saved."

Amen. By grace! And further it says:

" … and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." [Eph 2.6-7]

Is what I am reading here right? I am not reading from the newspapers or a magazine. I am reading from the Word of God, from Ephesians chapter 2. I am reading precious and true Words of God! But the Words have to become a revelation to us, so that it ignites in us. And that is what we lack. We hear the Word, and it does not overwhelm us! We have to make an effort to say "Amen!" or "Hallelujah!". I wish the time would come when we would struggle not to say it. That the tide would turn completely.

Somebody, I don't mind saying it, it was there in Zurich last Sunday, two ladies came and said: "Mr. Frank, we are here for the first time, but we would like to tell you that we have very little time, and please don't be angry if we get up and walk out in the middle of your speech, so that has nothing to do with it. We have an obligation." And I said, "Ladies, feel as free as you can be, but take your seat near the exit." I said that lovingly and I meant it that way. And really, they both got up in the middle of the sermon because some kind of another event took place here in this building, which they wanted to attend. They didn't have to tell me. Actually, nobody needs to tell me anything, let alone everything. I won't tell you everything either. But what can I tell you? A few minutes passed and behold, I don't know if it was ten, twenty minutes, I don't look on the watch while preaching, partly, when it’s transferred into eternity and not in time no more. But so much I then still understood. The two ladies came in with bowed heads, took their seats, and the Word of the Lord spoke to them and grabbed them. And at the end of the meeting, they both came forward to the front. One could see how the tears took their course, and they said: "Mr. Frank, would you forgive us, we didn't know you, we wanted to attend another meeting, we only read the advertisement in the newspaper, but the few minutes in the other room showed us the difference. Please forgive us. We come here. This is where God's Word is preached."

"God is still on the throne and everything is subject to Him!" [song]

Somebody said, or made a remark: "Brother Frank, doesn't it bother you when someone walks out?" "No," I said. "And I want to tell you why not. Because I know for a fact that the tide is turning, and the time is coming when people will not go out during the sermon but will come in to hear the Word of the Lord! This time is coming, this time is coming. The Spirit of God will still work mightily. But it is not us who work all this, but indeed the Spirit of God. And what would we wish for more than that we too would be grabbed anew! Don't you sometimes have the impression that winter has come to the Church, and everything is a bit cold? Wouldn't a spring, a warmth, a revival, an emergence of new life, wouldn't that all do us good?

I have a Word from the Old Testament. There God speaks to the people of Israel, in Hosea, chapter 5, the last lines and then in chapter 6 God says:

"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." [Hos 5:15, 6:1-2]

The other translation says, " … and will have new life."

Praise be to our God! One day with God is like 1000 years with us [2Pt 3:8]. The prophet prophesied by the inspiration of the Spirit: "After two days", so after two thousand years, and this time is now almost over, and " … I will turn to them again. And on the third day I will revive them, I will raise them up". It says: " After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up."

Here we probably notice that with all our calculations, we're not so correct. Do you understand what I mean? There are mathematicians they cannot only find the root of a number, but they also pull some kind of roots, and wisdom teeth.

Let us read the Holy Scripture:

"After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up and we shall live in his sight."

Amen! This is God's holy Word!

So, let us forget all calendars, ours, and others', and let us believe what God's Word says! Let us count on nothing at all, but only on the fulfilment of Bible prophecy, on the return of Jesus Christ! Who wants to calculate with years at all? Biblically it is 360, we calculate with 365, what a difference there is over one or two thousand years? Let us forget all calculations. Let us only count with God, with the fulfilment of his Word, with the calling out of his Bride Church, with the preparation, with the turning to Israel, for this Word is addressed to them: "After two days will He revive us." Praise God! Everything comes to fulfillment before our eyes.

Coming back to this Word that we already mentioned a few times. And I'll just quote it and come back to Ephesians there.

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men." [Jn 1:4]

It doesn't say, "in him was a doctrine," or "a knowledge" – "in him was life." The life of God was in him. And if you read 1 John 5 verse 20, it says:

"He is the true God and eternal life." [1J 5:20]

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men." [Jn 1:4]

Not "the wonders", not "the signs", not, but "the life", the divine life was the divine testimony here on earth. And when we are then told everything what was in God was poured into Christ, and what was in Christ was poured into the Church. Then we must now clearly count with the fact that we not only have a doctrine, that means teaching. Yes, we are thankful for it, but that divine life can be manifested in divine authority. And the Lord says: "Without me you can do nothing." [Jn 15:5]

And do you know that in his earthly body as the Son of Man He said the same thing? John 5:19:

"The Son can do nothing of himself but what He sees the Father do. The Son doeth likewise." [Jn 5:19]

Who are we that we could do something, or know what we have to do? There are people who always know – when one programme doesn't work anymore, then there is a new one and then again, they always know exactly what to do. But to this, we are neither born nor born again.

We know that we have to give an account before God. And when I got the call today about the death of our brother, I remembered the Words from the Psalm:

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." [Ps 90:12]

Only that person who understands that one day he has to die, and has to appear in judgment, to him is granted a little bit of divine wisdom. All the others just live as if, there will never have to give an account before God.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Let us return to our Word here. Divine life can only be manifested after we die. That is why it is written:

"He hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." [2Tm 1:10]

Yes, where? In whom? Where does God dwell today? Sure, you can say the throne of God is in heaven and God dwells in heaven, that is also true. Is it not written:

"God dwells with them who are of a broken heart and of a contrite spirit … "? [Ps 34:19]

Is it not written:

"I will dwell and walk among them and be their God"? [2Cor 6:16 et al.]

Have we not enough promises in the Word of God to make it plain to us that God is not only in heaven, but also on earth? But when someone tells me that if they want to find God, that they must then go into nature, oh, I wish I could say from my heart, to be able to say: "If you want to find God, then come into church, then come to a church service!" Wouldn't that be nice if we could tell people that? Would you like to experience that? I want to experience that. I want to experience when anybody tells me, "If I want to find God, I'll go to nature". Oh, then I want to tell them (it burns in my heart), then I want to tell them, "If you want to find God, come to Jesus Christ. Come and experience God who has revealed Himself in Christ!"

We have also emphasised this again and again: We can only meet God where He has met us. God only reveal himself to us there where He has revealed himself to us, namely in Jesus Christ our Lord. And if anyone thinks that they have a revelation of God that bypasses Christ, that does not exist, that is not possible at all. Christ is the revelation of God. 1 Timothy 3, verse 16:

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit … " [1Tm 3:16].

… and so on. When? In Christ Jesus our Lord. And therefore it is by grace that this revelation has been given to us.

Now briefly the next verses:

" … and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."[Eph 2:6.]

Can you believe that? We, who walk here with both feet on earth sometimes with a clog around the neck, and then we shall sit with Christ in heavenly places? Today you must decide whether you want to believe that what surrounds you and what you see, or whether you want to believe what God has said and done! What do you want to believe today? Whom do you want to believe today?! You? The circumstances and everything? Or do you want to believe what God has said here? To my opinion, we have decided not only to believe in God, but to believe Him. Namely, to believe what He said.

"He has raised us together with Christ … " [Eph 2:6]

Hallelujah, praise be to God! This is true. This is one hundred percent right, because that is what the Scriptures say, and there will be no other salvation. A perfect work has been done at Calvary. What are we waiting for?

And I am thankful to God for that too, that Paul, this man not only wrote Romans 8, but also Romans 7. I am thankful to God that this man could write:

"We are sealed unto the day of our bodily redemption." [Eph 4:30]

We are redeemed, but in hope and waiting for it, for a hope that is already seen is no longer a hope [Rm 8:24]. So we must wait until the fullness of the gentiles enter in into the Church, and then the Lord come with the trumpet of God, with the voice of the archangel. Then the dead in Christ will rise first and we who are still alive and remain will then experience the changing of our bodies. [1Ths 4:16-17]

Do you know what needs to be said here? Many are busy to change their body and do not realise that the soul must be changed before the body can be changed. So first of all, our soul, our heart … Didn't God say: "I will give you a new heart, a new spirit, a new life" [Ezek 36:26]? And the changing of our body comes when the hour of God has come for it. It even goes beyond the present time. Ephesians 2 verse 7 states:

" … that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." [Eph 2:7-8]

If you are given a gift and you are polite enough, you accept it and say: „Thank you“. And I believe what we are all supposed to do is to thank God from the bottom of our hearts, that He represented us. Imagine, everything that separated us from God, our Saviour has taken from us and loaded onto Himself. And everything that connects us to God, He has given to us, the redeemed, by grace. Who has words for it? Who shall continue to preach here? A wonderful message, a message of God, a message of salvation, a message of grace, a message of love, of redemption and power.

"How shall He not with him also freely give us all things?" [Rm 8:32]

"Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." [Eph 2:9-10]

So, we are God's workmanship, and everything what we shall do for God and thru God, He has before ordained that it can be done.

In the end, there is no person who could then glory before God. For even what we do by his commission, in his name, He has already ordained in advance so that it can be done. And so the Scripture is fulfilled once more:

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants." [Luke 17:10]

Who is able to do even the least thing? His creation, His workmanship are we, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before ordained.

Everything, (let me say it now in closing) everything, is planned in advance by God, determined by God – beforehand Christ as the Lamb of God was ordained to die for us. We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be sons and daughters of God [Eph 1:4]. Everything that happens to the Church is determined beforehand. God has even already determined that in the end there will be a Church without spot or blemish [Eph 5:27], untouchable, unblameable [Col 1:22] she will stand before His throne.

Did not John already see the various images on the Isle of Patmos? Be it Revelation 7, be it Revelation 15, be it Revelation 19 - everywhere he has already seen completed things, things that were far in the future. But with God it is all already there. The multitude that John saw will be there [Rev 7:9]. Not one will be missing, everyone will be there, all those he saw in Revelation 15 at the sea of glass [Rev 15:2], they will be there. Everyone he saw in Revelation 19 when it was said:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." [Rev 19:6-7]

He has already seen everything, as if it were already in the past, as it would be here. With God there is no past and no future. With God, everything is always present. He is, the "I am", the "I am", the "I am." [Exo 3:14] Perfected for the eternity. This gives us faith, this strengthens us. This makes us glad. This makes us grateful that we can give honour to our God without much effort. He has torn in pieces the divorce certificate, He abolished enmities, He made peace with us, peace with God, and has made us peacemakers [Eph 2:14-15].

Also this is the genuine evidence of a person who has found peace with God. He who found peace with God, when he enters a house would say, "The peace of God may be with this house." How many are there? Among the believers who can say that with all their heart when they come into a house, that they can wish the divine peace that God has given them to the house [Lk 10:5-6]. And when there are people of peace, that peace remains. As a substance, not just as a word. Then the peace remains. Not just the term peace, then the peace remains.

But if peace is to remain, then I must bring it, I must be able to give it if it is to remain, must I not?

Brothers and sisters, the time has come when all these words must become divine reality in our lives! When we speak of love, it must be there. Of peace - it must be there. The things that God has promised us in his Word and given us in Christ must become divine reality. Words have all the others - from us God expects deeds. And we just heard it, that the deeds which we should do, He has ordained them before for us.

Why do I say this again? So that nobody begins to make effort, to make a special long pious face. With that it will not work. But believing with all the heart that what God has given us is true, that it is a substance. The peace is not just a word, peace is a thing, it is a component. "He is our peace … " [Eph 2:14] Amen! He is our reconciliation, He is our sanctification, He is all in all and when we have Him, we have all that God has given us through Christ.

And Christ is the Word made flesh [Jn 1:14]. And in the Church the whole Word must become flesh. And this time is here now. May God bless us all. Amen!

We stand up for prayer.

We bow our heads, open our hearts, and pray to God. If there is anyone here who has not yet consciously made the decision for Christ, who cannot yet report of a day, of an hour, of an experience when he met the Lord, when he was pardoned, when he received redemption, having experienced salvation, and received forgiveness, and who, through the Spirit of God who bears witness to our spirit. Whoever does not yet have this certainty of being a possession of the Lord: Dear heart, today can be the most beautiful and important day of your life on this earth. It can be. The greatest day is the day when Jesus, not a doctrine, not an idea, not a philosophy, Jesus Christ, the Son of God comes into your heart, into your life.

As we are in this way in reverence and in worship before the throne of God, I would like to ask, if anyone would like to be included in the prayer, raise your hand briefly and put it back down. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God bless you! Is there anyone else? Thank you! Is there anyone else?

Heavenly Father, you have heard the word. The whole sermon is recorded in heaven. Faithful God, what more can we do than to pass on your offer of grace? The Word of the cross, of reconciliation, of forgiveness, of salvation, of the grace.

Faithful God, as ambassadors in Christ's stead, we cry out to all, "Be ye reconciled with God!" Faithful Lord and to all of us, give a new experience, a reviving. If Israel is to be revived after two days, how about us? You have given a message, a living message. Your Word is spirit and life. We have received it. We have believed it. May it now produce life, divine life in us through the Spirit.

Faithful Lord, bless all who have raised their hands, and all who have not yet done so, and us who wish to rededicate ourselves anew to you. Give us grace, faithful Lord, that you could manifest yourself. Confirm your Word, glorify your name. Bless us together from the riches of your grace.

We commit all, truly all, the whole blood-bought multitude to you and to the Word of your grace, as Paul said in Acts 20: "To you, and to the Word of your grace!" Faithful Lord, here we are, thanking you for pardoning us. The prison doors have opened. You took captivity captive, and you gave gifts unto men. You set the captives free. You made the blind see, the lame walk. Lord, we thank you for this and ask you to let all that is written in your Word and meant for the Church be manifested in it, that is, in us, in all who belong to you as members of your body. Lord, this is our prayer. You have promised, you will do it. Praised and blessed be your wonderful and holy name of Jesus. Amen.