MUSIC

CHRISTIAN HYMNS AND WORSHIP

The following excerpts have been selected from

different sermons preached by the brother

William Marrion Branham

Between the years 1947 and 1965. We hope it is of
Maximum blessing for the reader.

Let them remember me singing. Just believe, will they do it? That is my
don't forget to pray for me, when you are praying and every time

favorite song. Paul Rader wrote that song, he was my friend and
One night I entered the church while they were playing it, I didn't even...
he knew that he had written it, immediately after that
the Angel of the Lord had visited me and something shook me.
So that has been the slogan of the campaigns. Just believe,
Everything is possible... If they find out that I have left, at that moment
stop anywhere and remind me. Hum for yourself
Just believe, because I believe that one day I will rise again.
time.
EXPECTATIONS. 11-07-50

All our songs here are of jazz music and other things
screams... One can't even enter a restaurant and eat
without that thing sounding. It's a shame. When I go to
I observe, look around me and if I can, I get out and leave.
there. No sir. That kind of thing leads directly to destruction. The
the devil is in that thing and will finally drag you into it. Run away from the
appearance of evil now, you will think that I am a fanatic, with
safety; but brother, I am telling you, I am warning you
MUSIC CHANTS AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
separate from all that belongs to sin. Correct.
Compendium of the works of William Marrion Branham DO YOU BELIEVE NOW? 17-08-52
Believers International U.S.A.
Translated from English to Spanish in March 2003,
I'll tell you something: I really like to sing. You know, there's something
in the booth tavern, Venezuela
In the music and the songs that bring the Spirit of God to the worship, does it
2 MUSIC CHANTS AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP The COMPENDIUM 11

Screen? That's true. heart. But in reality, I dislike hearing those shrieks that
Today they call it singing, right. I think it's the most ridiculous, it's a
TALK ABOUT THE WORD. 21-08-53 perversion, Correct.
We have to give credit to the Pentecostals for one thing SED. 19-09-65
Good, there are many. There is something good and that is those true songs.
ancient ones that transport you somewhere in the fourth, You know that songs give value. You know it, right? When
fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth dimension, anywhere, over there where the soldiers go to war, do they know what they are doing? They play music and
habitGod. they sing, to give themselves courage. When we go into battle,
we sing and that gives us strength to continue.
EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT LOVE IS. 28-02-54
LEADERSHIP. 10-31-65
Not long ago, I was talking to a man who did not believe in that.
music in the church. He argued with me about it and said: 'Oh, the
...There is solemnity in the church, it seems that everything has turned.
music from the world.” I said to him: “But the Spirit of God did not come
rock and roll and a fashion show, instead of being the church of
about that prophet until he sought the player and began to play
Living God where Jesus Christ can manifest in power. No
ancient song of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended from
It has to be like this. There is something wrong somewhere; they are slipping.
immediate about the prophet.” Correct. God does not change and if He liked
The Bible says it would be so. See where it is, be careful, wake up.
The music on that day, God likes the music today. Yes, sir.
before it's too late.
Brothers, I will tell you that when we shake off all the chains MODERN EVENTS CLARIFIED BY PROPHECY. 06-12-65
formal, may the Spirit of God be in the new songs and
let's go back to the point where the Spirit of God moves again in
Then the prophet will see a vision.

...You will say: 'Brother Branham, I am not a prophet.' Well, if

You are not a prophet, but you could be one of the
instruments. Keep playing. Correct. If you have nothing more than those
ten fingers, beat them as hard as you can. If you are not the prophet,
do the deltañedor part, do something to bring the Spirit of the Lord
Amen. The prophet could not do it alone, he had to have a helper.
that will help him.

ELIAS AND ELISEO. 04-03-54

But today we say, 'Everyone is having a good time, everyone is beating the '
hands, everyone shouts hallelujah and everyone does this. Oh, how
We have a commotion! Amen. God... We have these new praises.
and they sing so fast that it seems we are going to cross the
wall with them or something like that. When I think we should sing:
"near closer, oh God of You". It would be much better for the
10 MUSIC CHANTS AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP The COMPENDIUM 3

You know that God heals through music, did you know that? God heals. church, the old hymns. There are many people who play in
for music. God heals out of love, God heals through dance orchestras, a young woman who played around there last night in a
medicine, God heals through prayer. God has many ways to dance orchestra and tonight it is playing at the church of God
to heal, that depends on the type you need. Sometimes Living being. That is an abomination in the sight of God. May that
when one feels completely unmotivated, as we call it, downcast, Let a man be tested first and let him yield fruits of repentance.
Put on one of those tapes, that music on records and play it. to show that he was okay with God.
the first thing you will notice is that it is already tapping with the
foot or hand and everything is gone. It's ready to start from INVASION OF THE UNITED STATES. 09-05-54
new.
Our apologies to the visitors, I am now heading to the church.
LOOK. 28-04-63 a beating of the Gospel Look. Correct, that is exactly what
what do they need.
...When I was coming, I tuned in the radio and found a station that
they only constantly transmit Christian music... Do you know what You will say: “Oh, we have it.” They stand up there and play the piano.
I have done? I bought a radio just to be on all the time, as strong as we can, there are many drums and they run through the
because my children and my husband may not go there correctly. floor; then they go out and fight with someone else. Do you have something? Oh no, no sir.
The only thing we have is lukewarmness. As long as the music is playing,
Because in most stations that one turns on there is we are marching; when the music stops,
always that kind of worldly music or anything else that it is, we stop. Brother, don't tell another, examine
rock and roll or those other nonsense that we have to do everything firstsownyourdoor. Amen.
they can to keep that station there. Correct. Tune it in at
places where your children can go is not correct. THE SEVEN AGES OF THE CHURCH. 12-05-54

DO NOT FEAR. 07-06-63 Do you like old hymns? Listen, I want to tell you this:
If we had more of those old songs instead of these
Pablo said: 'If I sing, I will sing in the spirit...' Now I do not the disturbances we have, I believe the Church would be much better.
I imagine that spirit is to shout at the top of one's lungs. I believe that the Spirit I like those ancient songs written by the Holy Spirit in
of Christ is love, gentleness, and peace, that brings something to our those veterans.
souls that nourish us. I believe that is how they should be enchanted.
anthems. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 15-05-54

THE STRANGE. 31-05-64

When I arrived, I heard them singing that good hymn. Really
Well, what has happened to sincerity? Where are those it was wonderful. I certainly appreciate the good songs. I used to say:
old people used to sing and we enjoyed in the When I arrive in Heaven and the Lord allows me to enter, upon touching the
spirit of God while the tears ran down the cheeks? door or whatever way we enter, I would like to be
Now we try to hold our breath until we run out of air. where there are songs, because I really like them a lot and I hope
yellowroseponblue, to try to show that we are singing shadow s . many of these singers we have heard before and
that
Look,wecopiedthatfromHollywoodandallthose. now, be there singing those ancient and glorious hymns of
programs that we see about how to sing hymns intellectually redemption for all eternity.
and training the voice. I like to hear good songs, I like to hear
the good Pentecostal chants from the old days that are felt in the THE GREAT REVIVAL THAT IS APPROACHING. 18-07-54
4 MUSIC CHANTS AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP The COMPENDIUM 9

Here we really like good songs and we are grateful. He saved me, to His Name glory. Something like that. "Near, closer Oh
for these men who walk with us, for Sister Shakarian, God of You. "Rock of eternity, you were opened to me." "Close to
the others who sing, the musicians and others, for presenting us with the the cross. Something like that, soft music, slow, while he or she, whoever
Gospel in the form of songs and music. May the Lord bless them. sea.
richly. I have always said where there are stones, that is the place
where I want to be. ORDER OF THE CHURCH. 06-10-58

I AM, DO NOT BE AFRAID. 20-07-54 So, I think that due to the influence that music exerts
about the children, it would be beneficial for every Christian from those places to
where this radio station reaches, keep your radios on tonight
The reason we do not see visions and have ideas tuned to a station like this, because it leads us to our
narrow, it is because we do not pray enough or do anything about children the right influence class through music and
sufficient way, until the Spirit of God becomes present in preaching of the Word. That puts them in a better environment.
our-median
CERTAIN STATES OF GOD. 08-07-59
They used to sing the ancient hymns until the
tears ran down the cheeks and sinners were saved, still Oh, if we didn't have so many things on our minds, you all.
before the preacher went up to the platform. But today Everyone. Sometimes we come to church thinking about the day of
We have a ritual, a written program. We do this, we do that. tomorrow: "I have to do this tomorrow, I must do this," when
another. I fear that we are grieving the Spirit of God in when we come to church we should set aside all thoughts
us, don't you all think? and all things of the world and enter into fellowship with Christ and
to adore. Meditating, adoring in His goodness and what He means
THE PROPHET ELISHA. 07-23-54 for us, worshipping in the Spirit, singing hymns
spirituals, producing melody in our hearts. The
How many believe that God loves music? Thank you. A while ago The Bible says: "If anyone among you is afflicted, let him sing psalms."
Once someone said to me: 'Brother Branham, I have something against you.' Rejoice, meditate hoping that God will appear to you at any moment.
And it is that you have music in your services." I said to him: "The Lord has moment What are they doing now before this worship of
he likes it.” He said: “Oh, the musican. No, no.” I told him: “Once a health?
the prophet was somewhat agitated because some came to see him and he
MARY'S BELIEFS. 11-03-60
They put us in a bad mood. His name was Eliseo. We don't like it.
to think that way, but it is the truth, he said: "If I did not have respect for the Forgive me my Pentecostal friends, I am Pentecostal;
the presence of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, will not look at you, not even you but my Pentecostal friends have reached a point where they have
"sister". Brother, what words for a prophet! But he said: "From There has to be a lot of fast music, some bands playing, there has to be
Anyway, bring me a player. Right? And when the player... clap hands and tambourines to make there be shouts. That is for
he began to play, the Spirit of the Lord descended upon the prophet emotion. Before entering battle, the bands play to create
Elijah, who had visions and began to see things and prophesy, to get people into the emotion of battle. I believe in music,
when he entered into the Spirit and the music helped bring it over him I believe in clapping my hands, but I believe in these things. That is
"prophet" [II Kings 3] exactly right. We should have that, but they have stopped.
do the important things...
If music helped back then, it will help today too. Won't it?
Screen? So I am a music lover and I know that the Lord THAT DAY AT CALVARY. 25-09-60
8 MUSIC SONGS AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP The COMPENDIUM 5

the same words that our blessed Savior spoke in the Bible: she also loves music.
Tibia, dancing to the music, they shout and clap their hands Oh, those
things are fine, but if at the end of mixing the hands, when HAVE FAITH IN GOD.
stop speaking in tongues, when the healing service is over,
..And I think the singing is good, but you can ruin it.
when the music stops, Christ is not there, if that peace
a cult with songs. Look, with too many. We can sing, but
deep, if those doors of faith are not well opened to let it in
the house of God is for correction, for the Word, for understanding,
He who is in charge of the situation will not do us any good by touching the
through instruction, so that we know how to conduct ourselves.
music, clapping hands, speaking in tongues or having a service of
health. Correct. THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN. 24-10-54

THE DOOR OF THE DOOR. 12-12-57

You should be ashamed of yourselves for not believing in music.
Sometimes that is what the Spirit of the Lord brings. God does not change. If you
Start singing hymns, start reading the Bible and that it liked then, it likes today... If you cannot be Eliseo,
Strange will appear to you as well. Meditate on His Word. It was be one of the instruments or one of the strings of the player
while those were on their way to Emmaus, they began to talk So. There is something, you are invoking the Lord, because this
from Him along the path and He came out from among the trees and walked with together brought the Spirit of God. Correct? The presence of the prophet
they all day. and the touch of the ringers....
HIS WONDERS TO BE DONE. 12-01-58
They began to play a good old hymn with those
The other day I was driving down the road and I turned on the radio. It was musical strings, they played the tambourine and everyone joined in the
I started listening to a song, I had to listen to almost all of it. Spirit. You know what? Here's another point. He [Elisha] was
before I could distinguish whether it was absolutely unchanting or sitting there all indignant about this, that, or the other, Spirit of
No. The devil is trying to bring God's things to the level of God could not deal with him. You must stay away from that kind of person.
world. You cannot do that. God have mercy! situation. 'I am Methodist, I am Baptist, Doctor Jones does not believe in
So, my pastor says that those are nonsense, do not attend there, do not listen to him.
The devil is trying to bring down the high things of God so that "pay attention to that." You will never see anything, you must enter the
they can mix down here. People will no longer look up. Spirit. Amen.
They will say: "Well, this is the same thing." It is not the same thing!
Elijah entered into the Spirit and God began to show him some
FOR THE FAITH MOSES. 20-07-58 things; if you really want to see some things, enter the
Spirit.
Speak to Him enchantments, pray and believe and He will respond.
SEPARATION OF INDISBELIEF. 28-02-55
TAKING IT OUT OF HISTORY. 01-10-58

I believe that the Branham Tabernacle should always have a I really like singing and music. I know everyone does too.
pianist filled with the Holy Spirit, who arrives early and is How many know what the order of battle for the Lord is? Do you know?
filled with the Holy Spirit, let us play spiritual music What was the first thing to go before the battle? The singers and the
gently, very softly, like: "Next to the cross where he died the musicians who went out singing, they were not crying and lamenting but instead
Salvador, for my sins I calmed the Lord, what a wonder Jesus singing. Then came the Ark of the Covenant. They went before the
6 MUSIC CHANTS AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP The COMPENDIUM 7

Then there were those who fought. and the Holy Spirit does not govern our life to match with
That's it, we don't have the Holy Spirit. That's not skim milk,
That is a good sermon. This is a very scriptural order for a but brother, it is what the church needs. Life can only
religious service. The first is the music, then comes the word come through the Holy Spirit.
And after the battle. Then everything is in order by the Lord.
WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A CHRISTIAN LIFE? 01-13-57
THE LAW HAVING A SHADOW... 06-21-56
I don't like to mention people's names, but
You know, that's the kind of spirit I like. That spirit. now I will have to mention someone's name, I pray for that one
gentle and peaceful of the Lord Jesus. Don't you like that? It seems like young, I pray for him all the time, he is an instrument in the hands of the
if he cleansed the whole heart when he enters. "Gently Jesus devil, and this man is Elvis Presley. The American people have
is calling..."I love those old shims, the old ones driven crazy by the boogie-boogie or rock and roll and with that same
church hymns, I like them more than many of these danceable songs. they are trying to bring that into the church.
and other things that we have today. I am an old-fashioned preacher and
I like things old-fashioned. "Closer, closer, oh God to You." I like the music played in church as music.
"Rock of eternity, you were opened for me." All those from the church and not rock and roll in the church. But when they
famous ancient hymns. I believe they were inspired. they receive those spirits, behind that there is something and the devil presents it
while the one who wrote them did so under the inspiration of the Spirit as a challenge. It happens that this poor Pentecostal boy
Saint. Don’t they believe it? disoriented, said that his maneuvers, the way he
he twists and moves, he learned it in church. He is a member of
THE INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD. 06-04-56 the First Assembly of God in Memphis, Tennessee. Its pastor is
my friend, but he is the instrument of the devil to deceive and
corrupt the minds of these young people.
Talk a little about Jesus, testify, sing, and like the bread
You will return someday. Correct. GOD FULFILLS HIS WORD. 20-01-57

THE BOOK OF THE LIFE OF THE LAMB. 03-06-56 ...What happened? A mixed crowd went out with him [Wesley] and
When Wesley left, the mixed crowd came in and what have they done?
You hear them play only Creedy others, then the Spirit. They corrupted the church to the point that many of them no longer have.
descend. The priests make Him descend, then the gift of songs that speak of the Blood of their hymnals. Indeed.
God begins to operate.
GOD FULFILLS HIS WORD. 07-04-57
TO THE OID. 15-12-57
Listen, I want to say this. That is the type of song I...
Show me what you read, show me what you listen to, let me hear I would prefer them to all that busy boggie-boggie stuff.
the songs you like the most and I will tell you what it is feeding on [a certain type of worldly music] that you try to introduce into the
realize. You will know them by their fruits. correct. church to take the place of the ancient hymns. Never it
He will do. No sir, the Holy Spirit loves those ancient saints.
GOD FULFILLS HIS WORD. 15-01-57
SED DE VIDA. 13-06-57
Living God Church, it was there where our failed
Pentecostal movement, we have music made by man, it Do you see in what condition the Gospel church has fallen?
They clap their hands and there is emotion that comes and goes. If we go out to the street Complete? It is the age of Laodicea for events to occur.