The Wedding Ceremony

When you go to a town for a meeting if God sends you into that place then that means something is about to happen. Now if you just go to a town to have a meeting that's one thing, but like the prophets of old when God would tell them to go into a city to say thus saith the Lord then there would be something to take place. Then on occasion, such as it was with Paul when Paul said he went to visit with Peter by revelation, that was a great turn of events. And if a minister comes to town, God has sent him into the place then that means a great thing is about to happen. Or a great thing is happening and they that are spiritual are able to discern and understand. Therefore then with all curtsey, with all respect, giving honor to whom honor is due, a minister with a local assembly is not very wise to continue their services when God sends somebody into town that is sent of God. Not meaning that they're not sent of God. Not meaning that it isn't right for them to have their local assembly to come together. But meaning that they're not very wise in that they are not moving with the Spirit of God and that they don't understand. May be that they are great men and great leaders but not very wise in the Spirit. And so then that means they don't understand and the move of God comes and goes right along and people fail to receive the benefits of God. Then when problems come, troubles come they begin to wonder what they have done, or what is it they failed to do in that they did not receive the benefits of God, or something went wrong. It's like when Jesus came. Jesus came to visit. Jesus came on a visit. You know, every once in awhile God drops down to visit the people, and Jesus came to visit. He dropped down and He visited Israel and Israel did not recognize Jesus. Therefore they did not receive His visit because they did not recognize Him. He came in a humble way. Came in a manger, came in a humble way. But they were not wise. They thought that they were wise. They thought that they were great Bible scholars. They had great Cathedrals, and they thought that they were the wisest men in all the earth. But they were not wise in the Scripture. Had they been wise in the Scripture they would have known that if God should come to visit He would come in humility because God is the all wise God. They did not look for Him like that. They looked for Him in a different way all together. So coming to visit with them in simplicity He came to fulfill the Scripture where it is written "humble thyself and make sure thy friend." So He came in real humility to humble Himself, to make sure His friend. To find out who would befriend Him in the time of His humility, His birth in the manger. In the time of being very poor. The Bible teaches that He that hath money hath many friends. Or he that hath riches. So he came in humility and humbled himself, to make sure his friends, to find out who His friends really were. The Bible teaches that a friend loveth at all times, whether poor or rich. So then they not being very wise they did not receive Jesus, or recognize the time of their visitation. So when Jesus got ready to depart He said, Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, how oft would I have gathered thee as a hen would her brood, but ye would not. He said, Now, because you did not recognize the day of your visitation, or in that you did not recognize that Jehovah had come to visit with you , he said, Now your houses are left unto you desolate. And he said that will remain that way until there will come a day when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. And so then, the Spirit of God withdrew and the desolation set in. Everything became desolate to the extent that the Spirit was with them no more. The ground became barren and there was no more harvest. And they went into a great tribulation period of the dark age and death stalked their loved ones and they were killed and mutilated. The holocaust. All of those things followed them because they did not recognize the day of their visitation. And so it is, and so it has been all down through the ages. God comes but people doesn't recognize the day of visitation. The Olympics come and people recognize the day of the Olympics for the world loveth it's own. And the things of the world come, and frolics, and parades, festivals and that which pertains to the gluttony and the gullibility of the flesh in that Satan savors the things that be of the flesh, and the world goes that way. Whereas the Bible tells us that in the day that God would reject the people that all of the world would wonder after the beast. All of the world would wonder after the beast. You know, we speak of the beast, and the mark of the beast. So it says all of the world will wonder after the beast. I know this may sound foreign, and ordinarily I wouldn't say it just like this. I would lay a little foundation and build up to it to kind of break it down a little to where you could receive it, or understand it. Ordinarily I would do that, but in that our visit is short here and we don't have time to go into a lot of detail, I've just kind of compounded things in a statement that I know that you didn't understand, but later on maybe the Lord will quicken them to you. That's the way I'm going to say this tonight. All the world wondered after the beast. Everybody is looking for the beast to come. He's going to set up his kingdom. He's coming and those that don't have the Spirit of Christ is going to receive the mark of the beast. So then, when we say they wondered after the beast, we just kind of start thinking about being on guard and watching and being sure that we don't take the number six, six, six, or the mark of the beast. Then we comfort our self with this thought, that we will know when it's coming and God will warn us, and God will let us know. We're so sure that God is going to give us a forewarning and He's going to let us know and He's going to protect us from that. But have you ever considered this one thing: that is, why should God warn you, and why should God let you know. I don't see any reason at all why He should warn you and let you know because it is His plan for you to take the mark of the beast. It is His way for you to take the mark of the beast because you have rejected the truth, and because you have rejected the word of God. And in as much as God has warned you continually day after day, and year after year and you did not want to go God's way, nor listen to God why should God at the last minute keep you from taking the mark, or warn you of the coming of the mark of the beast. I can tell you for sure that you won't know nothing about it. Just as you get your Social Security number and just as they call you up to the local courthouse to run you through like a heard of cattle for your tag and the different things that you have to have, which of course, is a number, they will do the same way. When the mark of the beast comes they'll just call you and run you through and you won't hardly know anything about anything until you have already taken the mark of the beast. And the Bible teaches that when you have received the mark of the beast that you will have no rest day nor night, but you shall be tormented in the presence of God and the holy angels in the fire where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. For as a snare shall it come upon all of them that dwell on the earth. But not ye that are children of light, even children of God. It shall not come upon ye unaware for ye shall be children of light, children of understanding. You shall receive the warning. You shall receive the Word. You shall not be hypocritical and playing a game, a religious game. But you will be spirits. You won't be carnal minded, to interfere with the preacher and with the Word of God and with the church and everything that God does. You won't be contrary to God's way, but you'll be genuine. You'll be born again. You'll be children of God. You'll have life. You'll have understanding. You'll know when it is nigh, even at the door. 

So then, I said that to say this in a compound way just before I read. And that is, all of the world wondered after the beast. So then again we would say all of the world. Brother Pike, they're going to wonder after the beast because they have rejected the word of God. But I want you to stop and think again. As a snare shall it come upon them that dwell on the earth. We as people, as we would use the terms, we wait for the mark of the beast. We wait for the beast to come. But this is what we overlook. Confessing ourselves to be wise as people, if we don't have the Spirit of God, then the Bible said that they became fools. And God took them in their own craftiness, and though they professed themselves to be wise, as it was in the days of the coming of Jesus, they did not recognize the time of their visitation. So then, professing themselves to be leaders, and trying to lead the people they failed to see that if the blind lead the blind they all fall into the ditch. So then, when we say that all of the world wondered after the beast what do we mean? That we're going to wait until some man comes along that is a beast, that's going to have power and authority and give everybody a number. No. That's not what we're saying at all, and that's not what God is saying. God is simply saying that he that is not born again is a beast. And that every person in the entire world that is not elect of God, and is not born again, they are beast. And that all the world wondered after self, and they wonder after the flesh, which is the beast. And the Bible said some of them brute beast made to be taken and burned. All of them are wondering after the flesh. They are wondering after the gullible things of the life. They are wondering after the natural, tangible side of life. They're wondering after the ball games and the powder and the paint. They're wondering after the bathing suits, and the frolics and the beaches. They're wondering after everything that pertains to the flesh because Lucifer, or Satan, who is the prince of this world loves the things of the flesh and savors the things that be of the world. So then, they all wondered after the beast. They wondered after human desire. They wondered after their flesh. They wondered after the things that the flesh loves. The frolics. The great social benefits. The great places in the world, seeking after the social life. They wondered after education, after wealth and prosperity. They all went after the beast. All of them love the beast. Lovers of the beast. That is of self more than lovers of God. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. And they all wondered after the beast. Instead of self-denial. Instead of swearing to their own hurt, instead of mortifying the deeds of the body, instead of taking up their cross and following Christ, Instead of withdrawing from the human part and the outer man. Instead of crucifying the flesh with Christ Jesus and withdrawing and not walking in the flesh. That is to say not walking in the spirit and to seek heavenly things they went after the beast. Instead of having their conversation in heaven they had their conversation in the world among the beast. Instead of laying up treasures in heaven they laid up their treasures up in the earth so that they could console the beast and be part of his operation and part of his kingdom. So then, professing themselves to be wise they were taken in a snare, watching for something that didn't happen. But what they thought wasn't going to happen was happening all the time. And while you are converted over to the beast way of life, in the sense of your natural birth and conformity of the ways of the world, the children of God have received an invisible light. An invisible tutoring. Something that is be known to you, something you cannot see. Something that you cannot hear, something that you cannot know. And they've been receiving this day after day, and this Godly power, and this Godly wisdom, and this Godly instruction has taken them away from the beast and away from the things of the world and has gradually converted them and caused them to conform to the image of the lovely Son of God. So then, there are people that are sitting here tonight that have the mind of Christ, and the Bible speaks of being ye therefore transformed by the renewing of your mind that you might be converted over into the wonderful image of the lovely Son of God. So then, when we speak of the beast and we speak of the sons of God there is a great world of difference. There is nothing less than a world of difference. There is something that separates. And the Bible says that God placed the waters above the waters, or above the firmament. And the other waters below these waters, or below the firmament. So then there is a great firmament. In the book of Genesis it says that God saw the earth and it was void and without form and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the great Spirit of God moved upon the face of the earth and God said let there be light and there was light. And then came form from the light. And so then tonight there is light in the earth for this great wonderful light of God, the Bible said, shined in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. This great light. This mind of Christ. This understanding it is shining in the midst of intellectual darkness but your eyes of understanding have been blinded and you can't see. You can't comprehend this great light, and a new world is coming in, a new thing is taking place. I think about a photographer friend here tonight from Columbus. You know the saying fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue? There came a new world. There came a new thing and America was called the new world. Something was taking place and those that were spiritual could see it. Before we came here we spoke of the things that had to do with this area, and the things that had to do with Columbus, Georgia being near by, and the things that would transpire and the way they would happen, and what they had to do with concerning the old going out and the new coming in. And there would be a new world, a new thing, something new taking place. And so then tonight this great light is shining. But the Bible says the god of this world, even Lucifer, the one that savors the things that be of the flesh, the Bible tells us that he has blinded the eyes of those that are in darkness to the extent that they are not able to comprehend, nor able to see, but God has moved upon the face of the waters. John spoke of the waters of revelation as being people in multitudes. And the Bible said the Spirit moved upon the face of the waters and God said let there be light and there was light. And the Bible teaches in the end time when gross darkness of intellectual reasoning covers the people, that at that very moment God will say, let there be light and there shall be light for the Spirit of God shall move upon the face of the people. So then, God is moving in this latter time by His Spirit. And God is moving over the face of the waters and there is a great transformation that is taking place. There is something that is beginning to happen, something that you don't understand, and something that I don't understand unless God quickens it to us. Unless God makes us to know these things we don't understand, for the Bible says having eyes ye see not, and having ears ye hear not. Tonight we have eyes but what do we see? Having ears tonight what do you hear? See, the Bible says we must hear what the Spirit is saying unto the churches. Jesus said, Through eyes of understanding I do always the things that I see my Father do. Are you seeing tonight? Do you see the spiritual moving of God? Do you see the things that the Father is doing? Do you have ears to hear tonight? The Bible said, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying unto the churches. So then, professing themselves to be wise they became fools and they didn't recognize the day of their visitation and Christ, even as God in the garden in the day of Adam, Christ is walking through the garden. Christ is walking through the garden, and Christ is saying, Adam, where art thou? Adam, where art thou? And the answer comes back, I was naked and I hid myself. I was naked and I hid myself. Naked for what reason? What reason? For what reason, Adam, are you naked? Who told you that you were naked? Have you communicated with the wrong source, Adam? Who told you that you were naked? Adam said, But we're naked and we hid ourselves. But He said, Who told you that you were naked? Where did this indoctrination come from? What kind of communication is this? Evil communication has corrupted good manners. Who told you that you were naked? I did not say that you are naked, Adam. 

I want you to think for a minute, now. I want to bring out a thought. I want to read just a little Scripture in a minute. I want to bring out a thought. Did Adam hide himself because he was naked in the sense of being without a garment? Did he actually hide himself because of that? Did Eve hide herself from God, being naked without a garment, because they felt that they were without clothing? That couldn't have been it. You say, Brother Pike, why is it that it could not have been that? Because they had been naked all the time. They had not had any clothing, therefore that could not possibly be the reason. Then what was the reason? There was a nakedness within the inner man. There was a nakedness within the spirit. There was a condemnation; there was a shame. They had never been ashamed before, but they said we saw that we were naked and we became ashamed and we hid ourselves. But God said this wasn't because of the flesh. It wasn't because of the body. But, Adam and Eve, it's because of your thinking. You've been thinking wrong. Somebody has indoctrinated you with the wrong understanding. I clothed you with the glory of God. I clothed you with the brightness of my presence. I gave you a covering from heaven. That's why the Bible today tells us, It says, you cover with a covering but not of me. You've got a covering but not of me. Do you know what God had to do? He had to cover them with skin. You got a covering today, but that covering is in the image of the beast. And your first birth is in the image of the beast and you reflect back toward God the image of the bastard child. And He said, when the great light comes in to bring the morning and the darkness is moved and the intellectual night has been turned away. I will despise your image in the morning because it will not be a spiritual birth under the image of the Son of God. It will not be under the Heavenly Father. And when the light comes and I see the darkness has moved away, I will destroy your image. I will despise your image. And so then, He said you cover with a covering but not of me. It is the covering of Lucifer, in that the Bible speaks of Lucifer being the covering cherub that was cast down. You cover with a covering but the covering is of Lucifer. You cover with a covering. And God said to Lucifer, I saw you, Lucifer. I beheld you as you walked amid the stones of fire. I saw you. He said you were adorned with pearls and diamonds, and all of these beautiful gems. I saw you. I saw you in your stardom as you walked the earth, living and abiding in the temple of mankind. I saw you as you come in to the congregation of the righteous and as you come in to my presence as you hid yourself behind human skin. I saw you, Lucifer, in your power and your wealth as the great powers of riches and wealth in the earth. I saw you as the celebrities. I saw you as the great stars. I saw you as the dignitaries of the earth. I saw you when you were adorned with the great beauty of the would. You had the diamonds and you had the pearls and you were arrayed with this. And I saw you walk amid the stones of fire. That is to say stones, jewels, that belong to God, in that He said, I will remember you when I come to make up my jewels. I will remember you and I will spare you as a man sparest his son. I saw you, Lucifer, as you walked amid the stones of fire, those radiant stones that belong to God. I saw you walking among them in the earth. Where have you been, Lucifer? Lucifer said, Going to and fro in the earth, walking up and down in the midst of the earth. I saw you as you went in and out of the church among the jewels of God arrayed in your splendor and your magnificence. He said, Though thou climbest up to heaven I shall cast thee down to hell. Though thou makest thy nest among the stars from thence I shall cast thee down. So then, we see tonight that there is a covering but it is not of God but is an image of the bastard child. But did you know that Jesus came at Calvary to bring you a covering, friend, so that you wouldn't be naked. He came at Calvary to bring you a covering so that you wouldn't be naked. He came down into this world as the second man Adam. He put away your sins and that same lovely Shekinah glory that God had placed over Adam and Eve before they fell into the knowledge of sin, that same Shekinah presence of God, that same image in which He had made them, even the image of the Son of God, there the same covering the same glory, the same great wonderful overshadowing Spirit of God came down and this God of Heaven covered you with His glory. He covered you with His Shekinah. He covered you with that great glory for He said, Moses, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and I'll cover you with my hand. That is, I'll let the five fold ministry of your day come upon you. And I'll let the five fold ministry perfect your faith, and I'll bring forth the little hand as it was in the days of Elijah when that great hand came out and he called for the rain. And the Bible said he saw the hand likened unto a man's hand. Even the ministry of that rain that God promised He would bring upon the church. Even the former and the latter rain in it's season. And the Bible said it rained because the heavens became exceedingly black and the rain literally poured out from heaven. Hallelujah! I feel the Spirit of God tonight. I feel the rain of God close tonight. I feel God rending the heavens and rolling back the clouds tonight to bring you that rain from God. I feel that anointing. I feel that quickening. I feel that spirit moving upon the face of the waters tonight. I can tell that Christ is nearby tonight. I can tell that His glory is in the midst of us and the power of God is here. So there is a covering that God spoke of and that covering is the covering of His glory for the Bible speaks of the covering of God's glory. Ye cover with a covering but not of me. But there is a covering of God that is the glory of God, even the Son of God. Whereas, the Bible speaks of the Son of God. And the Bible said He alone was made heir to glory of God. And tonight He is your hope of glory. If you don't have Christ in you tonight you don't have the hope of glory for He alone is made heir to the glory of God. And the Bible speaks of the covering of the glory of God. You cover with a covering but not of me. But, beloved friend, ever since Adam and Eve lost that covering they've had nothing but heartaches. They've had nothing but problems. But Jesus came at Calvary that you might receive the covering of His glory. Christ came to give you a garment. Adam, where art thou? I'm naked. Eve, where art thou? I was naked and I hid myself because I was ashamed. Who told thee that thou wast naked? Have you eaten of the tree that I told you not to eat of? Have you eaten of the tree that I told you not to eat of? Who told you that you are naked? He said, And the serpent beguiled me. The serpent beguiled me. Not being steadfast God said don't eat of that tree for the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. I tell you not to eat of that tree for the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. But put forth your hand and eat of the tree of life and life forever. Stay away from that tree; that tree that's unlike God, that tree that is not producing the fruits of the Spirit, that tree that's bringing forth the things of the world. Stay away from that, He said, for Satan savors the things that be of this world. But, he said, stay away from that tree. And ole Brother John came at Calvary; he had an axe within his hand. Hallelujah And he came along and he looked at that tree. Glory to God, the same tree that cost the Master His life. The same tree that they nailed Him to. That same intellectual tree that caused the problem and caused the fall in the garden. And John drew back the axe. Hallelujah! And God said, John, lay the axe to the root. And John laid the axe to the root of the tree. Hallelujah. I never will forget, like I've said before, ministering to the Full Gospel Business Men out in Anaheim, California and I went to get a sermon and I thought, God, I've got to have a sermon for these business men. I want to be sure I have something that is edifying. I tried to find a sermon and I couldn't find it. I kept searching and I kept looking and I couldn't find it. And finally God wouldn't give me nothing. So He waited until I got up behind the sacred desk and when I got ready to preach I was going to try to say something that might be beneficial as to what I thought and I heard a voice scream out, said, The axe is laid to the root of the tree, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and thrown into the fire. Lay the axe to the root of the tree. And, Brother, I began to preach and the axe was laid to the root of the tree. And it wasn't long before those men were down on their face crying before God. And the women were down on their face crying before God. And my wife was down on her face crying before God because God laid the axe to the root of the tree. Hallelujah! Can you say hallelujah? So then, John came out of the wilderness having that rustic appearance, having that he-man look. He came out of there rough and rugged. Come out of the wilderness, a man of the wilderness. Calvary was near at hand. That old tree that had crucified God in human life, all the way down through the years, that that had stolen the life of the mother, that that had stolen the life of the little child, that old wicked tree. That tree of intellectual wisdom. That tree of Lucifer, that understanding of the world. That tree had reached it climax and there the Master was to be hung on it. For the Bible said, Cursed is everyone that hangeth upon the tree, or upon a tree, and God had to hang the serpent upon the tree as it was in the days of Moses when God said the serpent is hang upon the tree and everyone that looks upon the serpent, the other serpents will not be able to bite them. They will not be able to devour them because that serpent represented a great king serpent. The great king snake which is not poison but it devours it's enemy and nothing can stand before it in the battle. And God said the serpent is hung upon the tree, so here comes Calvary, and Jesus being made in the image of the Serpent, being made in the image of the fallen man, being made in the image of sin. And the Bible said he that knew no sin was made sin that we might be made the righteousness of God being made in the image of the bastard child and they say he is a bastard. He doesn't have a father; he's a bastard child. And God let him come in the image of the bastard child. What kind of image? The image that God rejected. The image that God smote, for the Bible said we esteemed him smitten of God. We esteemed Him smitten of God and He tasted sin for everyone of us and He became the image of the fallen man and He was made in the likeness of humanity. And when they looked upon Him they searched for God and he said, God is not around. You don't know God, He said. You don't understand God. He said, you have never seen His image at anytime. How could Jesus say that they had never seen the image of God when He was the image of God. He was the image of God that was hid behind the veil of humanity which was the image of the beast, which was the image of the fallen one. And so then, there it was God. God standing in the veil of humanity. The fullness of God. The Word of God made flesh and the veil ready to be rent while Christ was going to Calvary. I said last night the Bible said, And God rent the veil in two. How did He rend the veil in two? We esteemed Him smitten of God. He was bruised for our transgressions and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. And the Bible said, by whose stripes we have been healed, or we are healed. And so the temple was rent in twain, and those carnal minded people they couldn't understand. They said, You say destroy this temple and in three days you're going to raise it back up, said, we don't understand that kind of thing. We don't understand that it took us many years to build this temple but the Bible said they understood not that He spake of His body. And after His death and after His burial, and after His resurrection then He came forth and the Bible said they remembered the words that Jesus had spoken unto them for the Bible said the veil of the temple was rent in twain. And the Bible said that God rending the veil in twain He brought forth that wonderful light that John wrote about a few years later called the expose, or the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, listen. The veil of the temple was rent in twain. What was the veil of the temple that it be rent in twain? I said the other night, the Bible said in the book of Acts that He made two within Himself. That He made within Himself twain. He made both Lord and Christ. And so then, God had to rend the temple in twain. He had to rend the veil. How did He do that? He had to separate the Lord from the Christ. Why did he do that? He had to separate the Lord from the Christ. He had to do that to rend the veil in twain. Why did God do such a thing? Because the body of sin, the image of sin, that which was unlike God had to be crucified. Had to be smitten. Had to be buried. Had to be laid away so that God would never see your imperfections anymore. So that God would never see your sinful image anymore. So that God would never pour out his wrath upon you, nor appoint you unto wrath, knowing that you are the image of that which is unbecoming to God by means of putting away your sins, by means of putting away your unbecomingness. By means of doing away with your imperfections. God has buried your outer man, your outer woman. God has done away with it. Having been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the remission of sins. The Bible said as many as has been baptized into Christ has put on Christ. The Bible said put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lust, or the desire thereof. Are you listening? For as many as has been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Baptized in to the membership to become a member of the body of the Lord by one great Spirit. That is, baptized in to the church by the washing of the water of the Word. Baptized into the body of the Lord Jesus. That same life moving in your body tonight that moved in to the body of the Lord Jesus Chris as He walked this earth. So then, we esteemed Him smitten of the Father, and we esteemed Him smitten of God. Would God smite His own son? The Bible said God so loved you and I that He gave His Son that we might be free. So then He smote His Son to keep from smiting Brother Pike. He smote His Son to keep from smiting you and you and you. He smote His Son that He might take the unbecoming part away. So then, the veil of the temple was rent in twain and he took the outer part away. The unbecoming part, He took it away. He folded it up as the law, and as that of the transgression of the law, and of that of that which fulfilled the law, for where there is no transgression of the law there is no sin, and where there is no sin there is no death. Beloved friend, if you cannot transgress the law you cannot sin. If you cannot sin you cannot die. This is why the Bible said the last enemy to be conquered is death. And the Bible said death shall be swallowed up in victory. For it is written, death shall be swallowed up in victory in that it says, Death where is thy sting and grave where is thy victory? Where death has no sting the grave has no victory. In the death of Jesus rending the veil in twain, letting the inner man go out of the tomb, for at death the Spirit goeth back to God who gave it and the body is buried within the watery grave. And today in the resurrection we are the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, members in particular, and our spirit today is dwelling within the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the becoming one, and every time God looks down He doesn't see my unbecoming part. It's smitten. It's buried. It's gone away, and He sees my becoming part as a son of God and sees the spirit on the inside of me like unto Christ and this outer image to His own glory and to His own likeness. Somebody would say, Well, Brother Pike, you've got to sin a little bit. You've got to sin a little bit; there ain't no perfect folks. Now, listen. That is what we think. That is what we talk about. That is what we believe as human beings. But, beloved friends, what does the Bible say? Faith is by the hearing of the Word. If I believe in what I think, if I believe in what I've figured out, if I believe in what somebody said, if I believe in old wives fables, if I believe in doctrines, no matter what church it comes from, if I believe in his-story, or history, then that means I don't believe in God's story. If I believe anything that is aside from the Word of God then I don't have faith for any kind of believing, any kind of believing that you can have. It is not faith unless it is believing in the Word of God because faith cometh by the hearing of the Word of God. If you believe there is one God you do well. The devil believes and trembles when he thinks about it. So that is not faith. That can't bring salvation, but believing in the Word of God is faith. So then, what does the Word say? The Word says, O death, where is thy sting. Grave, where is thy victory. Why has death lost it's sting? Why has the grave lost it's victory? There has got to be a reason. Why is this? It is for one reason. It is because he that is born of God cannot sin. Are you listening, folks? Somebody would say, Brother Pike, I'm going to keep myself, and if I keep myself real good I may be able to make it in. I may be able to overcome. Beloved friend, let me tell you something. The Bible said, He that is born of God cannot sin. Somebody says, Well if he does all right he won't sin. It didn't say anything about Him doing all right. He has nothing to do with it. The Bible said, He that is born of God he cannot sin. Are you listening? Let me tell you something, folks. To get over death it's going to take more than an idea. To get over death it's going to take more than someone preaching a sermon? To get over death it's going to take a truth, a revealed truth, that you can put faith and confidence in that will cause death to be swallowed up in victory. And what is this victory that overcometh this world, even your faith? And your faith in what? Your faith in the finished works of the Son of God. When He rode over Calvary, when He mastered death, and the Bible said, I have destroyed him that hath power over death. I beheld Satan, Lucifer, as lightning fall from the heavens. So then He says to you and I, Behold, I give unto you power over all the powers of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. And what is the powers of the enemy? The Bible says the last enemy to be conquered is death. Do you mean to tell me, Brother Pike, that I have power over death? Tonight you have power over death. Tonight you have eternal life. Somebody would say, Brother Pike, if I live good I believe God is going to give me eternal life. Brother, if you've been born again you've already got eternal life. You've passed from death unto life and the Bible said you shall never come into condemnation. There isn't going to be any sin to you. Why is it there isn't going to be any sin? Because you can't sin. You can't sin. Somebody would say, Brother Pike, do you mean to tell me that I don't sin? The Bible said he that is born of God cannot sin. How have you been sinning? How can you sin when the Bible said you cannot sin? Would you dare come against the Word of God and take your reasoning against the Word of God, and tell me that the Word of God isn't right? Would you lose your eternal life tonight by confessing the error of your own human reason by the infiltration of Lucifer that is within the flesh, in that the Bible says there is no good thing that dwells within the flesh. You're going to tell me that I can't sin? What kind of preaching is that? That's the old time Holy Ghost way. Hallelujah! I feel Him here saying amen to it, don't you? I feel Him here. The Bible says where the Spirit of God is there is liberty. Beloved friend, I feel liberty. Don't you feel liberty? Don't your very spirits feel at liberty tonight? You don't feel Lucifer binding you tonight because you feel your faith in God and you feel your victory over that. You've got faith in God tonight, even the victory that overcometh the world. The victory, even the victory of the faith. So then, tonight you tell me that I don't sin. Listen to the Scripture. The Bible said he that is born of God keepeth Himself and the evil one toucheth him not. He is without spot He is without blemish. He doesn't have a spot. He doesn't have a blemish, and God is coming back after a church without spot, or blemish. Somebody would say, But, Brother Pike, the minister is going to have to work with us a few years and clean us up and God is going to come back. You mean to tell me that I can do more tonight by preaching to you than Jesus done by spilling His blood at Calvary? You mean to tell me that some preacher has more power to clean you than the blood of Jesus Christ that was spilt at Calvary? Brother, I'm just a helper of your faith. I'm sent here to prefect your faith. The only perfection you'll ever get is believing in the blood of Jesus Christ and believing in the righteousness of the Son of God, for the Bible said He that knew no sin was made sin, my sin, that I might be made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. I've been found with my own righteousness but being found with the righteousness and the glory of my lovely Savior. Can you say amen tonight? Hallelujah! That faith in God, that victory that overcometh the world. Hallelujah! And the Bible said He that is born of God keepeth himself. He keepeth himself. How does he keep himself? Because I give him power over all the powers of the enemy. He's got power to keep himself. The Bible said let not your heart be troubled, neither let your heart be afraid. Hallelujah! Behold, I give unto you power over all the powers of the enemy and ye shall tread upon serpents. If you drink any deadly thing, He said, it won't hurt you. Why? I got a purifier. A built in purifier. Hallelujah! Do you love the Lord? Can I say a few more things to you? Get excited, Buddy. Hallelujah! That thing is getting close by. Praise God! Do you love the Lord? Hallelujah! That thing is getting close by out there. Closer than you think. Nearer than a brother. Hallelujah! Something is taking place. What is it? Jesus. Somebody said, Where two or three or gathered together in my name I'm in the midst of them. Do you believe that? How many believe God is here tonight? Let me see your hands. So then, God tells us tonight that we keep our self. We keep our self. Are you keeping yourself? And the Bible said He's coming back after that lovely Bride. She don't have a spot, and she don't have a blemish. Hallelujah! I said she don't have a spot and she don't have a blemish. God is coming back after a Bride that doesn't have a spot and that doesn't have a blemish. How is that going to be? Because the Bible says he that is born of God keepeth himself and the evil one never puts a spot or a blemish on him. He keepeth himself and the evil one toucheth him not. He cannot sin because he is born of God. Can you say amen? You can't sin. Oh, Hallelujah! First Corinthians 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." Hallelujah! Why are we going to be changed? He said, because death is going to be swallowed up in victory. Come on, folks. He said death is going to be swallowed up in victory. O grave, He said, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Listen now. The sting of death is sin. How many believe that the sting of death is sin? And the strength of sin is the law. Listen now. Paul said, I was alive until the law came, but when the law came sin revived and I died and that which was ordained unto life I found it to be unto death. O wretched man that I am, he said, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Then he waxed bold and he said, I'll tell you who will deliver me. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Jesus Christ came in the image of the sinful flesh and God nailed it to the tree taking the keeping of your ordinances and commandments out of the way, breaking down the middle wall of partition that there would be no accusation of him that dwelleth in between. And today God looks at my spirit by the Spirit of Jesus Christ and God is reminded of my death in the putting away of the sins of the human flesh of the red dragon of the blood stream that I spoke of last night, every time he sees the blood on the mercy seat. Are you listening? O death, where is thy sting? Listen now. And Paul said that which is ordained unto life I found to be unto death. He said, is there unrighteousness with God?. He said, is the law unrighteous? No. He said the law is righteous. And if there had been a law to save men God would not have sent His own Son to die for sin. But he said, Seeing that the law magnifies sin. This is where the problem is. He said, it killed my confidence for the law said thou shalt not kill and thou shalt not commit adultery, and thou shalt not do these things. And he said, and I began to remember; I was guilty. And when I began to remembered that I was guilty I got under condemnation and my faith was killed. And in that the just shall life by faith, I did like Eve in the garden, I didn't believe in the words God spoke to me and I died. But you see he didn't have the word of God to speak to him until Jesus came. Eve did so she died. So God took away her sins because she was ignorant. And God bringing the law to magnify sin that we might clearly see the thing that is killing us. That is what the preacher is for. He's not trying to kill you. You are not appointed unto wrath. You are appointed unto peace and salvation. All the ways of God are peace. God said, I love you. I make you to ride upon the high places of the earth. I'll feed you with the heritage of Jacob. I'll bless you and give you the blessing that maketh you rich and adds no sorrow. I'll make all your beds in the time of your sickness. I'll give you the desires of your heart. Whatever you do shall prosper. So then God, what does He say to you and I? The law -- Listen, now. The law. The law gives strength to sin. What is sin? Unbelief in God's Word. The law strengthens sin. How does the law do it? The law is holy. The law is good. The law is godly. How does the law do that? The law does that by saying, thou shalt not. Thou shalt not. And when we our witness we know that we're guilty. As I said the other night, when you give a law, even a natural law, it's of no benefit to the people unless it's seasoned with an element of grace. God gave the law and the law became a pillar. So then, God seasoned it with the element of grace at Calvary that it might be beneficial to those that believe. You that are ignorant, you that don't understand, you that didn't mean to do it, the law doesn't have any power over you because the element of grace at Calvary took away the sting of sin and the strength of sin in your behalf. In that you are innocent. the law let's you go; it was not premeditated. You understand what I'm saying? So Paul the apostle, in getting the Revelation of Jesus Christ, he understood what Satan had done, and the craftiness of Satan. So what did he say? What did he do? He said, And the law brought sin and death. And listen now. For the sting of death is sin and sin gets it's strength by the law. The sting of death is sin and sin gets it's strength by the law. So then, Jesus said I'm going to fold up the law. I'm going to fulfill every jot and tittle. I'm going to lay it away. And when I lay it away there won't be anymore law. And hallelujah! If there is no more law there won't be any more sting for there won't be any more strength to the sting of death. I'm going to fold up the law. I'm going to lay away the law, and if there is no more law there is no more penalty, for where there is no more law there is no more transgression, and the transgression of law is sin, and the sting of death is sin. If there is no more law there is no more transgression. If there is no more transgression there is no more sting. If there is no more sting there is no more death. Can you say hallelujah? O death, where is your sting? Wouldn't you like to mock him a little bit like Elijah did the prophets of Baal, and say, Death you're so bad, where is your sting, death? And wouldn't you like to mock the grave a little bit? When Jesus rose up out of the grave and he cried, Grave, where is your victory? Brother Pike is free. Brother Fontaine is free. Brother Mike is free. I've destroyed him that hath power over death. Death is swollen up in victory, even this victory, the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith in God. Glory to God, I'm feeling better, ain't you? All of our life we were subject to bondage because of the fear of death and we don't fear death no more. Come on, folks. So then it's gone. Who are you tonight? O hallelujah! Who are you tonight? Sons and daughters of the living God. Come on, folks. Lift up your hands. You know you are. You know that you are. Glory to God. Ten million demons can't bind you and touch you. You keep yourself and you are unspotted from the world because Christ perfected forever them that are sanctified. Somebody would say, Brother Pike, I've got to get saved and sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. And I say, Amen, glory to God, let's get the job done. Let's get started; it's growing late. But on the other hand what are we talking about? How am I saved? Not of works lest any man should boast but it is the gift of God. I get eternal life through Christ. Are you listening, folks? How do I get sanctified? The Bible said sanctify yourself daily. I know that. That sanctification is so that I'll be a fit vessel, to be able to use in the presence of God. Not fit in the sense of my salvation and my purging, but in the sense of everyday walking in the newness of life, of laying aside the things that hinder me from doing the things that God wants me to do. Sanctifying and re-sanctifying myself to the works of Christ Jesus daily. That is, to get away from the entanglement of the things of the world. But, beloved friend, that sanctification has nothing to do with your salvation. Where is sanctification for salvation? The Bible says God has sanctified. He has sanctified and perfected for ever. The Bible said God has sanctified us once and for all by the offering up of the body of Christ at Calvary. Are you sanctified? Somebody says from one revival to another. No, beloved friend, God has sanctified you once and for all. Forever He has sanctified you by the offering up of the body of the Son of God there at Calvary. Don't you feel real good and sanctified? I believe John Wesley, being Methodist, would like this tonight. Sanctified once and for all. Are you listening? Sanctified. Talking about sanctified folks. What has God done? He has sanctified us once and for all. How did He do it? By the faith that is in Him by the offering up of the body of Jesus at Calvary. Hallelujah! So He sanctified us once and for all by the offering up of the body of Jesus Christ. And listen. Here is comes, now. He has sanctified us once and for all. You say, What are you talking about, Preacher? The Bible said that God has sanctified us once and for all by the offering up of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you listening? And the Bible said that God has perfected forever them that are sanctified. Hallelujah! You sanctified folks, lift up your hands tonight. What do you mean tonight? What do you mean, Brother Pike? Are you sanctified tonight? I thought you said there wasn't no perfect people in the world. Why are you testifying to perfection tonight? Why are you lifting your hands up to perfection tonight if there is no perfection in the world? If there is nobody perfect why are you lying against the truth? Brother, you know that you are perfect in Christ tonight. You are sanctified in Christ and perfected forever by the body of the Son of God. Come on, perfected folks. We are set here for the perfecting of your faith. Hallelujah! That's what I'm telling you about. I'm telling you about your security tonight. I'm telling you about your benefits tonight. I'm telling you that you can shout the victory tonight. Glory to God. You've got something to shout about. You've got power over death tonight. You've got power over sickness tonight. You've got power over poverty tonight. You've got power over all the powers of the enemy tonight. You've been perfected forever the Bible says. Are you perfect forever? Everybody that's perfect forever lift your hands up. Glory to God, look at them perfect folks. Look at them perfect folks. Hallelujah! Don't you ever let the State of Alabama say there ain't no perfect folks in Alabama. Don't you ever say that again. Glory to God. There's people all around that are lifting their hands that say they are perfect. And I believe every word of it cause I believe the Bible and faith in the Word of God is what made them perfect. O, Hallelujah! Feeling better. Glory to God. Hallelujah! We'll be had a rapture around here in a few minutes. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Somebody said, I'm going in the rapture. How are you going to do that? There ain't no such word in the Bible. We've got to find a new thing. God said, I'll do a new thing? Is that right? Ain't no such word in the Bible. Well, somebody says, you can't do that, Brother Pike, cause we're going in the rapture. Can't do that cause there ain't no such word in the Bible. Said, My God, you've done killed all the churches. You can't do that. Why I didn't do nothing; I just said what the Bible said. You mean to tell me, you know, that you can't do that? The Bible said we're changed from glory to glory. You don't start in grammar school and say hallelujah, and in two hours say, I'm going to get my diploma. You don't do that. It's kind of a glory to glory thing. Isn't that right? While these other people are just riding around and eating and drinking and saying glory to God, I've been born again; God is going to come and take me away just like Prince Charming did Cinderella. After awhile they're going to find out everything is going to turn into a pumpkin and they're going to be back in their rags. Are you listening? I said when the grace of God lifts from this earth there's going to be a whole lot of pumpkin and a whole lot of rags and a whole lot of rat race around. Come on, folks. I think we're getting in a rat race, don't you? There's going to be a whole lot of rat race around cause Prince Charming is going to lift that grace, cause that midnight cry is coming. Hallelujah! Reminds me of that sermon we preached on Prince Charming and Cinderella and when Pat Boone the singer heard it he said, I never knew there was so much gospel in a fable. Hallelujah! Isn't that wonderful that God speaks to us the way He does? Do you believe that Prince Charming is in your midst tonight? I've already heard His voice. I've already heard Him speak to us. In the name of the Lord when you come together Prince Charming comes in the middle and that means that Cinderella is somewhere around, the little girl with the dishpan hands that wasn't too outstanding in the world. She didn't have the position the rest of them had. It's the little Cinderella of God; hallelujah! and she's got dishpan hands but Jesus is saying, I'm looking for a real Bride. Hallelujah! Glory to God! The Bible said, My Father, my Father, the chariots of Israel and Prince Charming thereof. Hallelujah! My God, my God! The fiery prancing horses, the chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof. I'm looking for those things to sweep down any time. Are you getting over the Jordan tonight? Are you getting over the Jordan tonight? You know that old intellectual Jordan is a killer for the Bible said to be carnal minded is death but to be spiritual minded is to enter into Canaan. It's life and peace. It's the mind of Christ. Are you spiritual minded tonight? Are you getting over the Jordan tonight? Are you withdrawing from the world tonight? Are you a son of God tonight? Are you going to be bound by the beggarly elements of the this world, or are you going to go into Canaan? Come on, folks. it's changing time. It's changing time. And the Bible said the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and He said, Let there be light. And they said, Glory to God, I understand. The enlightening of my understanding. God said, Paul, you've got an understanding, son; turn these people from that intellectual darkness unto the light of the Word of God. I'm the light of the world, Jesus said. I'm the word. I'm that understanding. I'm that that came into the world. I'm the wisdom of God, He said. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And He said, Let there be light, and they said, I receive it. But the Bible said the others said, I comprehended it not. I comprehended it not. I don't know what you're talking about. But the others said, Glory to God, I do. Hallelujah! Cinderella said, I might be in rags but I know the tones of love when I hear it. Hallelujah! I know sincere words. You mean what you say, Prince Charming, when you stretch out your hands and you say, Cinderella, out of all the pretty girls, out of all the powders and the paints. Come on, folks. Out of all of that of stardom, out of all that that's suppose to be flashing. Oh, he said, O, Israel, I don't want it. Where is Cinderella? Where is that real girl? Oh, and she heard the tones of love. Glory to God. And though those sisters didn't believe it, you know, they said, We're uptown. We're uptown. We're uptown folks. Come on, folks. Cinderella said (?). I still believe it. Do you really believe he's coming back after you? Oh, that's a joke. You're across the tracks. Come on, folks. You mean he's coming back after you? Said, Well, He promised. Oh, my! They've been saying that for years, Cinderella. No, but He promised. Well when did he say he was coming? Well, said, it's about the spring time. He said he's coming round about that time. You know, that time of resurrection when the birds begin to sing, and the little flowers they begin to show themselves. And the Bible said, And the voice of the turtle is heard in the land. You can hear the voice of the turtle say, whooo and when the turtle calls that turtle dove answers back, says, whooo. And the voice of the turtle is heard in the land and the face of the little poppies begin to come forth. Cinderella said, He promised. Yeah, but Cinderella, you don't believe that. You don't believe the Word of God, now do you? Oh, yes, she said, I believe it. Well, you're a simple minded person anyway; that's why we've got you washing the dishes. That's why you're not a celebrity. You don't fit with our social benefits. Somebody say, Praise the Lord! Well, I can't help it, that's the way I am, you know. The preparation of a man's heart is from God. I still believe it. And there came the morning. There came the morning and I remember the story of a man that went west. A great rich man that came down from New York that went west to get that little bride, and he found this little Cinderella. He found her washing the dishes and he found the other girls glamorous, all painted up that came to the party, but he got disgusted and walked out in the night. And when he walked out in the night, he walked down by the corral and he saw this little girl come out with the dishpan hands, and emptying the dishwater in the moonlight and he eased over to where she was and he told her some things. And she said, But you're suppose to be at the party; I'm just washing the dishes. Aw, he said, I'm disgusted with that. There's nothing that interests me out in the world, folks. The glamour of the world is nothing. Let me say this and I'm going to close. I say this a lot of times. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? And the mirror of the world answered back and said, That bewitching woman. Paul said, who hath bewitched you that you should not believe the truth? And the mirrors of life said, Why, she's got powder. She's got paint. She's got makeup; she's got everything. She's slim and she's trim and she's not out of proportion. Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Why, anybody can see, the ones that sparkle. Lucifer, you walked up and down amid the stones of fire with your diamonds and your pearls. But one day the story of Cinderella. One day Cinderella would be more beautiful and more beautiful. You know the more you walk with God the more beautiful you'll get. The Bible said Jesus appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration in glory, that He appeared and His raiment was so white, whiter than any fuller's soap on earth could white it. It was said, Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? That old bewitching one. But one day she went -- Are you listening? Listen. One day she looked in the mirror and she said, Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? And the mirror said, Snow White. Oh, she was furious. Snow White. Why? Why? Because you know what the powder and the paint had brought her? You know what the late parties at night had brought her? Bags under the eyes, cancer of the belly. Are you listening? The Bible said God put the old serpent on his belly and all his labor is for his belly because his belly craves it of him. She wasn't as pretty. That witch today, that bewitching one today, she's becoming like an old hag. With her night parties she's becoming a freak with her dope. She's becoming a dope addict. But little Cinderella, Snow White, they're still pressing in. Snow White is still bathing herself in the water of the Word. Snow White is still walking in the ways of God. Snow White is saying leave off with the drinking and the frolics and let's go to God's House and let's be adorned with the glory of God for God beautifies the meek with salvation. Let's get that salvation of God that will perfect us and makes us perfect in His sight. And so then the mirror said, Who is the fairest of them all? And the answer came back, Snow White. Snow White. Did you know we're coming to that place right now? Snow White. And though you're sins be a crimson God shall make them white as snow. You're coming to that place right now. Snow White. You're getting ready to reveal that righteousness of God on the inside. So the man walked up to Cinderella and said, I'm disgusted with that out there. I don't want that out there. I don't want to marry the powder and the paint. I want some reality. I want to marry a real woman. I want a real wife. This is what the man said to the girl. This actually happened. Said, I want a real genuine wife. I'm rich. I've got everything that heart could wish for. I'm wanting a real wife. I don't want the powder and the paint of this world. I heard a testimony on the radio one time. A woman wrote a minister and she said, Pray that God will give me a good husband. She said, I'm a famous person. Said, My name is in lights. Said, I won't tell you my name. Said, My name is in lights. Said, I'm famous. Said, There are plenty of men around me, suppose to be tall and handsome. Said, They're suppose to be fine looking men, she said, but I can't stand them. She said, I want you to pray that God will give me a real man that will come in with the mud on his boots and throw his boots over in the corner, that come from hard work. Somebody that loves me, that's a real man instead of these sissy fellows that I see around. Can you imagine that? That man said, I want a real woman, looking for Cinderella. So then the woman said, He'll come back. And the sisters said, No. But she said, He will. He will. And about the time that he was due back in the spring time -- He said, Listen, I'll come back for you. I give you my word; I'll come back for you. I tell you tonight in the name of the Lord, Christ is coming back after a Snow White, a church without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish. God is going to send His Son back into this world to get you and me. I believe what He said about it. He purposed to me. He asked me for my hand in marriage. I said, God, I'll give it to you. He said, I'll be back. Brother, tonight I say that he'll be back. The Word of God says that He'll be back and you can't tell me that He's not coming back. He's coming. God said He would come. O, little simple, simple minded Cinderella, the girl with the dishpan hands. When the day came she pulled off her rags and she sat on the porch, and they laughed at her, and they mocked her. And the story said, it wasn't long, out among the trees and among the stones there was heard the rattling of the buckboard and the prancing of the horses. You could hear the feet coming, and the buckboard began to rattle, and the prancing horses feet began to hit the rocks. And this little girls heart began to swell up. They say this is real. This actually took place. And all of a sudden, out of those trees and out of the shadows there came the buckboard and pulled up in front of the house. That lovely chariot, as we say, pulled up and down stepped Prince Charming. And he said, Cinderella, I'm back. I gave you my word. And she sprang up and got into the chariot and away she went. You know what she done? She left the others standing there with their mocking and their laughing and they couldn't figure it out. They were the prized ones. They were the great ones, but Cinderella had kept the promise. She kept the faith, hallelujah! and he came back to get her. God is on His way back. I can hear the rattling of the buckboard tonight. I can hear the prancing of the horses. Glory to God. I can hear those hooves as they hit the stones. I can just see him getting out now with the hand out stretched. Oh, hallelujah! I can see Him coming for the church. Can you say amen? Hallelujah! And so then, God will send His Son back. Prince Charming will come back. Hallelujah! This old world is going to turn into a pumpkin. Hallelujah! And that midnight cry is coming. But when He comes with that little glass slipper, (That's the name of the little book that we wrote; the sermon we preached. The Little Glass Slipper.) when he comes to find out whose foot it will fit. You know, it's going to be like my wife. I preached over near Atlanta, Georgia one night, over at a place called Cabbage Town. In was a rough place, but as I started in some little unconcerned fellow that seemed to be a nobody, as the world would say, said, Brother Pike, (out of the shadows of the night). I said, Yeah, what is it? He said, I want to give you something. I said, What is it? He gave it to me and it was a beautiful little glass slipper. And that's where the sermon came from. But after the service I gave it to my wife. I said, Here, I've got something for you, Honey. She said, What is it? I said, I want to see if this will fit your feet and I gave her the little glass slipper. You know the feet they represent the preparation of the gospel. Isn't that right? The soul. I said, I want to see if this will fit you soul. I want to see if this will fit your feet. She looked at it and she admired it so much she wouldn't turn loose of it. She said, It won't fit my feet but it sure will fit my soul. Hallelujah! And she's still got it today. Hallelujah! So Prince Charming has got the little glass slipper. He's walking around tonight. Do you want to hold up your foot? You want to hold up your foot and let Him try it on you tonight? Do you want to hold up your soul tonight? You want to see if it fits your soul? Brother, if this sermon doesn't fit your soul tonight you're one of the sisters. If this doesn't fit your soul you're one of the sisters. You're one of the sisters, but if this fits your soul you're God's Cinderella. If this will work in your soul tonight, if it will work for you, if it will fit you tonight then you're Cinderella. I want God's Cinderellas to stand up; I want to see how many of them we've got. Glory toGod. We've got a whole tent full of Cinderellas. Hallelujah! Somebody say hallelujah! Got a whole tent full of Cinderellas tonight. Glory to God! Do you love the Lord tonight? Okay. Let's sing just a little bit together and praise God. If you're God's Cinderella tonight I believe that fits just exactly tonight. God has perfected forever them that are sanctified; sanctified them once and for all by the offering up of the body of Christ. And the Bible said them that He hath perfected forever them He hath also glorified. Come on, folks. By faith you are healed. Come on, now. Are you glorified tonight? He hath sanctified you. He hath perfected you. He hath glorified you. Are you glorified tonight? Somebody said, Well, I'm waiting for that Brother Pike. But in this we call those things that are not as though they are, the Bible said, and we believe to see. Isn't that right? And the Bible said He has glorified us, and I believe God has glorified us. Somebody says, Well, I can't see that, Brother Pike. If you've got eyes of understanding you can see the glory of God all around. You say, But, Brother Pike, now like you, you're standing there in the flesh. That's just a lying vanity. The Bible said you are not to know any man after the flesh, but after the Spirit. He that is born of the Spirit is spirit. I'm born of the Spirit; all you're looking at is lying vanity. Come on, folks. We're looking at glorification tonight. You're suppose to be God's Cinderella tonight. God has glorified them that He perfected for ever. Are you going to believe that? If you believe that you can have that tonight. If you're sick and I pray for you and you believe that you are heal by the stripes of Christ you can be healed tonight. But you've got to believe it's a finished work in God. Isn't that right? For by His stripes you were healed. Are you listening? By Whose stripes you were healed. By Whose stripes you were healed. Can you believe that? Sure you can. Why should you be sick? Why should you be in poverty? Aren't you sons of God? I say this again, beloved friend. I'm going to say something and I want you to listen good. They wanted to stone Jesus to death. Jesus said, Why do you want to stone me? Going on up Jacob's ladder now, looking for the top round. Said, Why do you want to stone me? Said, For what good work would you stone me? They said, For a good work we don't stone you. You opened the eyes of the blind, you unstopped the deaf ears, you made the lame to walk again; for this we do not stone you. Well, Jesus said, what is your dispute and argument with me? For what reason do you stone me? And they looked at Him and they said, We tell you why we stone you. Said, You being a man you make yourself God. Come on, folks. Said, You being a man you make yourself God. You make yourself God. Being a man you make yourself God. Jesus He didn't back up from that, did He? No, He didn't do that. What did He do? He said, Is it not written in the Scriptures that I have called ye Gods? I began to thumb through the Scriptures. I began to look through the Old Testament cause He had to be quoting from the Scrolls. I thought, Now, where is that at? I know I've read it cause I've read that old Bible through and through. You know, I looked and there it was. He said, You are Gods but ye shall die like men from the lack of knowledge. And I thought, My God! That's the answer to it right there. We don't have the knowledge of God. And the Bible said, I speak this to your shame, that you have not the knowledge of God. And I thought, this is why we die, because we don't have the knowledge of God to believe in. But if we had the knowledge of God that told us who we are and what we are, and what He's done for us, and we could get a hold of it, and we could believe it, that like Enoch we could be translated. I read where Enoch was translated and I said, My God! Enoch had been translated and I saw that in the New Testament Paul was speaking about being translated by faith and referred to Enoch. And I thought, there is the rapture; there is the translation. That's the catching away, by faith. He walked with God three hundred years and he was not because God took him, because before his catching away he that this testimony that he pleased God. And the Bible said without faith it's impossible to please God. That is, he had faith in what God said. Are you listening? There was Jesus looking at Nicodemus and Nicodemus was asking Him questions. And Jesus said to Nicodemus, said, Nicodemus, art thou a ruler of Israel and know not these things? That I say unto you that no man -- We're talking about men, folks. We're talking about flesh and bones. He said, No man has ascended into heaven except me, Nicodemus. That is, the son of man. He said, and he that came down from heaven. Said, Nicodemus, I've been in Heaven. I'm flesh and bones, but feel of me. A spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have. Said, I've been in heaven. Said, Nicodemus, I came down from heaven. And this is what really shook Nicodemus up. When he looked He said, Nicodemus, And the Son of Man who is in heaven. You know, that was more than Nicodemus could take. Now, you say you've been to heaven, you say you came down from heaven, and now I stand here looking at you and you tell me you're in heaven. Come on, folks. I spoke last night about being in heaven. You remember that? And I made the statement, I said, Some of you folks don't believe that. But I said this, I said, If you ever go to hell, and if you ever get in the flames of the fire you'll look back and know that this is heaven. You'll be able to tell the difference then. You'll be able to tell the difference then. See? There are three stages of heaven. First, second and third. We don't have time to elaborate on that. We do have tapes where we preach messages on it. But, I'm saying this. How could Jesus say that He was in heaven? Talking about the rapture, talking about the translation.. Talking about the catching away. You mean Jesus Christ was in heaven, and there He stood? You mean He was in heaven? Paul said, caught up to the third heaven, whether in the body, or out of the body I don't know, he said. More that one heaven; the third heaven. You mean Jesus was in heaven. He said, The Son of Man who is in heaven. Why did the Bible say to you and I, Rejoice? Rejoice, ye that are in heaven. I said, O lord, I wish you would do me like Enoch. I wish you would translate me into heaven. And the Lord spoke back to me and said, I did. I said, You did? He said, I did. Said, Did not I say unto you that you have passed from death unto life? Didn't the sermon prove that tonight? that I have passed from death unto life? That you shall never come into condemnation? Didn't I say in the Word that I have - right now? I have already translated you into the marvelous kingdom of your God? Didn't I say the law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom has been preached, and men have been pressing their way into it? And I have been translating me into the Kingdom of God? Didn't I say repent and you'll receive the Kingdom of God? Didn't I say rejoice ye that are in heaven? Come on, folks? Somebody said, But look at me. The Bible said the flesh profiteth nothing. It's dead by the body of Jesus. It's buried; it's laying out there. God doesn't see that until the change. He sees you as the body of the Lord Jesus Christ tonight. Not to know a man after the flesh, but after the spirit. Where do spirits dwell? In heaven where you shall be as angels. I make my angels spirits. There's a world of difference, folks. You that are son's of God, you that are daughters of God, you're in another dimension. You're in another world. I know you haven't recognized it. I know that. It's like the little story about the eagle in the barn yard with the chickens. One day when the mother came over and gave a scream, though it had been there all the time, all of a sudden it flapped it's little wings and it learned that it was airborne and it wasn't like the chickens. After awhile you're going to hear that scream. And He shall descend with a trump, the trump of God, the voice of the archangel, and with a shout and He's going to scream. That mother eagle is going to scream and you're going to stretch out those wings and you're going to get airborne, and you're going to find out you don't belong in the barn yard. What is the rapture? It's from glory to glory. It's from revelation to revelation. It's from coming into the truth and perfecting your faith until you change worlds and you come to the recognition that you are in another world, and when all the people of God are tutored in this, and when they come to that recognition they will say, My God! My God! Here I am in heaven. Jesus said, Nicodemus, I am in heaven. And they'll say, I am the body of the Lord Jesus. I'm hid with God in Christ. That is, in the spirit with Jesus. I'm hid with God in Christ whom the heavens have received until the millennium, the time of the restoration. The restoring of all things, even the species that is extinct, or that which has been lost. Your eyes are going to be opened and the Spirit of life is going to move upon the waters, and there is going to be light, and that which was dark -- There ain't going to be no darkness anymore. The intellectual darkness is going to be expelled by the brightness of his coming. And the man of perdition, even Lucifer that sets in the temple of God, even the body, showing himself that he's God, ruler of the world, will be destroyed, even that knowledge with the brightness of this revelation, understanding. And so then, the form. The world won't be without form anymore. It will come around to the image of Jesus Christ. Your physical depleted form that lost it's image and likeness of God, will suddenly take on that wonderful covering of that holy covering cherub, the covering of His glory and you'll be found in His image. And there you'll be. There you'll be with Him. And it's going to be a whole lot different from what you think, my beloved Sister, Brother. The hour is at hand. Let him that is filthy be filthy still and let him that is holy be holy still. Do you love the Lord? Something is happening. Having eyes to see they see not for the God of this world has blinded their eyes that they see not. Cannot see the light, but from glory to glory we comprehend. That you may comprehend the height, the depth, the length and the width, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. Something is taking place, beloved friend. Knowledge from knowledge to knowledge and they move and they move and they move. From knowledge to knowledge they move and they move and they move in sight. Knowledge falsely so-called and they move until they make their nest among the stars, even that intellectual power; from thence I shall cast thee down to hell. The little nest landed up there, and the intellectual power scored a victory. But, folks, spiritually there is a godly knowledge and we're moving from glory to glory. We've been moving from one world to another and from one dimension to another. And something is about to be seen, and an expose is about to come. And a cry and a shout and all of a sudden the veil is going to be rent in twain and the ark of His covenant is going to appear. And God is suddenly going to appear within the temple, even your body, in the clouds of His glory to be glorified within His saints. And all the world is going to come and kneel before you, the Bible said, and know that I have loved you. For in a good thing, Paul said, I praise you. And they glorified God within me. Not you speaking, as it was with the preacher, but God was speaking within. Let all the world keep silent, God is in His temple. Do you love the Lord tonight. I want you to lift your hands up. There are so many things I'd like to say to you tonight but I got a late start and I had to hurry along. But, listen, folks, something is taking place like has never taken place never before. Never in the history of mankind. Something is happening that has never happened before, never in the history of mankind, and at this hour, at this moment God is coming for Cinderella, and God is looking for Snow White. And you remember the little story of the poison apple and the bewitching one, but one day the prince came and he reached over and he kissed the lovely lady and she awoke from her deep sleep. Awake unto righteousness, He said, and sin no more. That lovely kiss of charity, you can feel it from the spirit. To greet each other with a kiss of love. And that kiss of God. that holy agape love that comes from God, that kiss of charity; though we've been asleep you can feel the warm lips of the great Prince and you can feel the kiss of charity as it comes forth and you can hear the voice saying, Awake, my beloved, awake. And as Solomon said, Come away with me. The voice of the turtle is heard in the land and the poppies are beginning to put forth their little face. Come away with me, my beloved, come away with me. And you can hear Him. I can hear Him. In my soul I can hear Him. I can feel the rippling of that clear water. I can feel that great wonderful quickening, that verbal inspiration that runs up and down my body. I can feel it and I can hear the lovely voice of Him saying, Come away with me, the spring is near. The resurrection is here, come away with me, my beloved, come away with me. Are you ready? Are you ready? Oh, the wooing in the spirit. The great wooing God. I can feel that tonight in such a great and mighty way. The wooing of the Spirit. Do you feel the wooing of the wooing of the Spirit tonight? Oh, my Brother, that's power tonight, the Spirit that was in the body that raised Christ from the dead that's quickening your mortal body, even by His Spirit that dwelled within you. How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of great joy. So tonight your His beloved tonight. You are the apple of His eye. You are His prized possession. While we sing this little chorus together I want you to think on this. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortality must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortality shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord that means that the message is going to be preached. It is the hour, Revelation 10, the mysteries of God are going to be finished. Great is the mystery of godliness. I'm a steward of the mysteries, Paul said, and the mysteries are going to be finished. In Revelation 10, He's going to set one foot on the land and one foot on the sea, raise his hand to heaven and swear by Him that liveth forever that time shall be no more. Time shall be no more. Tonight I wish that I had sufficient time, as we would say, as to man's reckoning, to be here to explain to you what has taken place. But he will raise his hand to heaven, and he will swear by Him that liveth for ever and ever. The Bible said, Thou shalt not swear. But it said he will swear. Who is He that sweareth? God alone shall swear, even Him that standeth upon the sea and the land. That is, one foot in the spirit and one foot in the natural. Only He, God, can swear by no greater because there is none greater than Himself. So He will swear by Himself that time shall be no more. And tonight if you understood what time is, if you understood where time got it's start, the origin of time, if you understood what time is, if you had the explanation and the detail concerning time and the transition of time tonight; Oh, how thrilling it would be as you received it if you had never known about it, but I can tell you that it is happening just the way that He said it would happen. Just exactly the way that He said it would happen, it is happening. I wish we had another week here just to talk to you, beloved friend, for we are a lot farther down the trail than you could ever imagine and with all of the great knowledge of the professors of the world and the great scientist of the world, and Paul said, I speak this to your shame, you have not the knowledge of God. And you have what I call, Paul said, science, knowledge falsely so-called. So then, tonight there is a knowledge of God. And if science tonight knew what really had happened, and if they understood something beyond the frivolous beggarly elements of this world. If they could look beyond the atomic particles and see Satan as the prince of this world, and if they could look beyond the minute particles of the atoms, and the electrons, and the neutrons, and the protons, if they could look beyond the enzymes of the body, if they could go a little farther and cross over into infinity and see into that other world, Oh, what it would be like. Then they would understand. Then they would have knowledge. Then they would know truth from error. Truth from error. Let's sing this little chorus together. Ponder on these things. The Bible said, and Mary pondered these things in her heart. Ponder on them tonight. We sing this little chorus from night to night, Sweep Over My Soul. Let's sing it tonight, can we? (Singing) I want you to sing it with me. Can you sing it with me? Sing it like this. (Singing) Sing it with me now. (Singing) Sing it with me one more time now. (Singing) Can you lift your hands up now? Lift your hands up with me. While we're singing tonight, or playing, I want you to ponder the things that I said. And since this is the closing night of the revival I want you to step down to the altar tonight. You raised your hands tonight that you are God's Cinderella and you raised your hand tonight that you wanted to be in this number, and your raised your hand that you belonged to God. Tonight, you did that. You did that on your own tonight I want you to come tonight and I want you to stand before God as a confirmation before Christ of the wonderful deity in your heart. I want you to come tonight, beloved friend. God loves you tonight. God has not appointed you unto wrath, but He's appointed you unto salvation and unto the glory of God. Come on, friend. Don't be left. Don't be left behind. When this great wonderful turn of events takes place, when this great God of heaven begins to move, when God's royal one, when the Prince Charming of Christ begins to come into view don't be left. Don't be left. If you've never made that great commitment to God, if you've never made it, if you've never committed to God the keeping of your soul do like Jesus. Lift up your hand and say, Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit. I commit my spirit, O God, into hands that it may be spotless and without blemish that at the coming of Christ I may be found Holy. Not in my own righteousness, not in my own righteousness but in the lovely righteousness of the beloved Son of God. Come on, beloved friend, make that commitment tonight. Paul said, I am persuaded to believe that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that great day. There is a great day coming. As the song writer said, There's a great day coming after awhile, when the sinners and the saints shall be separated and parted right and left, are you ready for that great day to come? Have you made peace with God. Is everything ready? Can you lay down at night? Can you lay down at night and feel the peace and the relaxation of Christ? Can you lay down at night, beloved friend, and feel that blessing tonight? Oh, lift your hands up and let's love Him. Will you do it tonight? Can you lift your hands up and let's love Him tonight? Will you give your heart to Jesus tonight? Friend, this is the last night of the meeting; will you give your heart to Jesus? Can I leave here tonight, can I leave here tonight praying that you've surrendered your heart to God? Can I leave the great state of Alabama by smiling on it, and by saying, Father, these people love You? These people receive You? God bless the great state of Alabama. God bless this valley. May Your great Spirit be upon it, My Father. Think upon it, Jesus. In the time of Your blessings smile upon it. When the wrath of God begins to move, Father, lift the tornadoes, lift the hurricanes, lift the floods. Father, lift the disaster. Take it from the valley. Let it ride over the valley, O God. Let it not be seen. Father, lift that harshness. Lift that wrong thing, God. Lift that judgment of God and raise it over the valley and see these holy hands. I would that holy men everywhere lift up holy hands without wrath and without doubting. And you can lift up those holy hands and say, O God! O God! Hear my prayer. Hear my prayer. God spoke to me in El Paso. In El Paso, Texas. Showed me a vision, said, Son, a great tornado, a great siege of judgment is going to come through your area. He said there is going to be great destruction. He said, Son, when these tornadoes come I want you to lift up your hands and I'll make them ride over you. Brother, one day standing in front of the church, all of a sudden it became as black as night and I said, My God! what is taking place? And I heard a voice say as we ran to the front door, we ran out on the front of the church and I heard a voice say, I told you in El Paso, Texas that judgment was going to strike. He said, Raise that hand. I raised that hand. And, Brother, about that time two of the great pillars under our church on each end, they went out like match stems. They flew out like match stems and I raised my hand up and that great whirling power, as it begin to roar it lifted up and went up over our church. Brethren, it didn't go but just a little ways from here, as we would say, and it sat back down and it did thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of damage. It killed folks. It destroyed people and numbers of tornadoes were whirling in the same place. But God lifted it up over us. The radios came out; they wanted to know what happened. The radios said, We want to put that on the radio. You raised your hand and that thing came right down behind you and destroyed thousands upon thousands of dollars in a turkey farm. It just swept it clean and tore up everything around the area. Folks, when judgment drops down in the valley I want you to raise up your hands. Hallelujah! When judgment comes to the valley I want you to raise up your hands and I want you to say, Father, remember me. I'm one of them that Brother Pike preached to. I'm one of them that said I love the Lord. I'm one of them that said I am a believer. Father, the judgments are coming now, remember me; I lift up my hands. Remember the people, God, for my sake like you did down in Sodom and Gomorrah when you remembered Lot. I'm one of those folks. And you'll see that thing lift up, and you'll see the judgment go by, and you'll see the light come and you'll see the glory of God. The Bible said, if you'll awake, if you'll look you'll see the glory of God. And you'll see the glory of God, beloved friend. Come on, lift up your hands tonight. Lift up you hands. Remember, as long as they kept up their hands with Moses they won the battle. Isn't that right? They won the battle. When they took their hands down they lost the battle. Keep your hands up in God. Keep your hands up in God. Keep your faith up. Keep your hands up in God. Keep your hands up in God because God is going to do something with you. Lift them up and let's praise God. Now, come on, and let's praise God. As we close out this meeting tonight let's praise God tonight. 

By Rev. George Leon Pike Sr.

Founder and first President of Jesus Christs Eternal Kingdom of Abundant Life, Inc.

Holiness Unto The Lord