Edna Lister on the Parable of the Prodigal Son

A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. – Luke 15:11-32.

Your Place in the Light

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for August 22, 1934. Scriptures: Luke 15:11-24 and 1 John 3:2.

"I will arise and go to my Father's house." Who is my Father? Where is His house?

The Upanishads teach that Mind, the Father, is the beginner; speech, the Mother, is the sustainer, and life, the Child, is the expression, the product, or the outer form.

The Father is the first person of the Trinity, the second person is Christ, the Son, and the third person is "I AM," which is you in your righteous estate, your rightful place. Now are you the sons and daughters of God.

The I AM consciousness within you is the gathering point, the centralizing point, the focusing point. By your word, you become that which you take in, and by your words, you display what you are. So you take yourself into what you take into yourself.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. – 1 John 3:2.

Each has an embryonic desire, which is your potential capacity, to be "like the Father." You must "mother" your desire until the world fades, and your desire becomes manifest and tangible. Failure results from failure to mother your desire "son."

Further, you must tarry until you fulfill the original creative motive within you. To do so, you must continually speak the Word, "let."

Never confine your progress to your virtues or retard your virtues by indulging vices. Instead, return to your Father's house now. The only suicide is forgetting who you are. You cannot be wrong when you remember to surrender to the Source.

Life begins in life, in the life of God. Life does not begin out here in the world of dense matter. Only eternal divine life can cure what ails your temporal individual life.

Changing Your Mind

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 5, 1935. Scripture: Luke 15:11-24.

The parable of the prodigal son is a story all about sin, repentance and faith. You progress from being and doing to knowing. When you sin, you repent because of the loss or hurt you experience, resulting from the sin.

A lighthouse is a tower, usually situated on a shoreline to show sailors where the shoals, rocks, reefs or shallows lie. It has a huge spotlight, fog horn or bells, which sailors can both see and hear.

A ship has a captain, an engineer and a crew. They have regular duties, charts to read and schedules to follow. If the captain is like the unruly prodigal son, he will mislead the crew. If the captain is faithful, he will make an effort to obey.

William Henley, a wise man and a poet, said, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." As your ship's master and captain, you must steer the ship into dock, off-load the cargo and any passengers.

Then you tend the ship, casting out ballast and keelhauling it if necessary to scrape away the barnacles that self gathers. Your ballast is self, and your barnacles are opinions and prejudices that slow your ascension to a crawl. Next, load your new cargo, new passengers and crew. When your freight is evenly balanced, you are ready to set sail.

There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. – Acts 27:23-24.

When you serve God as your ship owner, you, too, save everyone on your ship. You are filled with life, Light and strength. All you need is to declare, "I will arise and go to my Father's House."

The Go-Getter

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for August 25, 1935. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

Life is immortal. Earth life is a school and a play ground, but most importantly, earth life is the great personal soul developer. Life is exactly what you make it. You may accept or discard what life offers, which is your choice to exercise your free will. That is exactly what the prodigal son did.

Life is like a baseball game. One child, a go-getter, finds the players for the game. They must have like minds and the same desires. The kids assemble for the game. To play, they must learn all the rules and learn how to cooperate. Cooperation is all about learning how to agree and adjust. Otherwise, the team or group experiences dissension in its ranks.

Teamwork means, first, knowing that you cannot reach the goal alone. Each team member must be in his particular place, and be satisfied to play his own position. In baseball, for example, all the team members must watch the ball while remaining aware of what the other members are doing.

At this point, the team is ready to play the game itself. The bases are loaded. The man on third base is ready to make a home run. He has the attitude of a winner. To win, the go-getter who started the team must remain with the other players.

The prodigal son had to live the life he had chosen after he made all his wrong choices and mistakes. Life then required that he become a go-giver instead of a go-getter.

You stand on third base, which is your position, with the spotlight on you. Your attitude, while you are there, is contagious. You must play the role of a conqueror. Your rewards are the splendors of glory. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me? – Jeremiah 32:27.

Ask well, even if you must ask again. Accept all that comes and praise God. When you declare that you have received, you do receive joy, radiance, glory, life and victory.

The Prodigal Son

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for July 4, 1948. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

The prodigal son claimed his earthly inheritance, left home and spent all his money. Alone and hungry, he thought of his home and how well he had loved there. Now he was reduced to living with unclean pigs as a swineherd.

Starving, he thought of his father constantly. Finally, he declared, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." – Luke 15:18-19. The young man declared it, then he did it. He did something about his sorry state. He had found out what wealth really is. He arose.

What is wealth? Do you feel like a millionaire right now? People usually answer these questions one of four ways. The most common answer is, "I don't know what being a millionaire feels like." This is the blame-type, who just soaks up what comes in life, like a sponge. Having no imagination, they remain lukewarm and indifferent to change. Where there is no vision, the people perish. – Proverbs 29:18. They know nothing about arising.

The second most frequent answer is, "Why should I want to be a millionaire? I'd have a lot of trouble managing that much money." The wisher-type can't seem to give up self or what self wants to do. They discount using their talents and abilities to accrue wealth because it's too much trouble. It takes too much hard work and long hours. "Why should I?" is the conclusion they reach. Yet in this stage, they are at least thinking about it and talking about it.

Some people say, "But I don't want to be a millionaire." These folks are the off-in-a-corner-type, who are seeking self-satisfaction. They would rather live in a hut on a mountainside, all alone, than deal with family, business or social affairs. They also say, "I like to study truth work by myself. Groups bother me." They cannot see why they need to arise, since they are already there.

Others say, "I wouldn't know what to do with so much money." This is the fearful-type. "Oh no! That much responsibility is not for me!" God already trusts you with money now, but when will you trust yourself?

When will you know that you have arisen? When you receive the robe, the ring and the shoes for following the Via Christa, the Way of the Christ. When will you feel wealthy inside? When you can declare, "I do feel like a millionaire" – and mean it.

Declare, "Each of my friends is worth a million. Each child is worth a million. Each new illness I hear about is worth a million. Each instance of conquering is worth a million. I AM a multimillionaire now."

"I accept my robe of responsibility. I surrender to become the servant of all God's Power. I ascend to stand in the heart of the fire that purifies. I become so one with the Light that I AM the Light reaching out as love."

To Bear and to Forebear

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for July 10, 1949. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

This scripture paints a picture of a family with a father and two sons, but no mother. The older son is steady, conscientious and a hard worker. The younger son is lighthearted, like his mother had been. His father had indulged and spoiled him. He was usually in the wrong while a child, but got away with it, which irritated his older brother.

The elder son was remarkably self-disciplined, and expected everyone else to be so, too. The baby of the family grew tired of his brother's criticism, and the restraints on his freedom. So he asked for his share of the inheritance and left home for the city.

He soon spent everything in living riotously among friends whom he would never have had as guests at home while he lived with his father. When the money ran out, so did his false friends. Alone and penniless, he was reduced to manual labor, but being so inexperienced with work, even that failed. Soon, the only work he could get was herding swine for a non-Jew, and living with the pigs. He had fallen about as low as he could go.

He never had enough to eat, so he resorted to taking scraps from the pig slop. The idea of food consumed him. He dreamed about how well the servants had lived back home, but here he was living with pigs and eating like one.

Finally, when he thought he really was starving to death, he said, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." – Luke 15:18-19.

His father saw him coming and rejoiced. Secretly, he had kept watch on that road since his boy had left. Praying and hoping that his son would return, he had saved a robe, a ring and new sandals for him. The robe is a symbol of spiritual protection. The ring represents unity of heart and mind in devotion to God. The new sandals symbolize new-found understanding.

Without doubt, the older brother was a good man, who always did his duty. Yet he was selfish. What he did, the service he offered was for his own benefit. He appeared almost perfect in action, but worked from a selfish motive. He resented the fuss being made over his lazy spendthrift brother. He judged by the appearance and the standard of his own opinion and prejudice.

The younger son had repented of his choices and actions. He must have felt unworthy and embarrassed. Yet his relief at his father's forgiveness, mercy and love caused his heart to open, too.

Everyone knows people who are just like this father and his two sons. The question is, Which one do I resemble most? Declare, "I will arise and go to my Father." Your Father's House is always open to you when you repent.

I Will Arise and Go to My Father 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for November 19, 1950. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

We are all like the prodigal son. If you are looking for ways to shirk responsibility, you will find them. God is just and merciful; He is all powerful, perfect and good.

This text paints a picture of a household. The older brother was jealous when the prodigal son came home to his father's celebration. The father had given the boy money, but had not divided his land or the house.

The young man had wasted everything while the older brother had increased his material wealth. The younger son loved his father. The older son loved the land, crops and animals.

Something is always wrong when a boy leaves home. Elaborate on the story of the prodigal son as a swineherd, poor for first time in his life. He became aware of what he had left behind. In sorrow, despair, hunger and loneliness, he thought of how well his father's servants were fed. His love for his father was stronger than his dread of his older brother.

"I will arise and go to my father's house. I have sinned against God and my father and will tell him so." He assumed the blame for his whole life, from childhood on, and was ready to pay his debt. He gave up everything for the sight of his father and to have his belly full.

The gift of a robe, ring and shoes meant the initiation was on complete surrender of self. Faith is like a grain of mustard seed, grown into a mighty tree, which describes how unconquerable faith grows to comprehend God as love.

The Wanter type belongs in the blame class. Whatever goes wrong, it must be God's fault. "If God wants me to ascend in consciousness, He should lift these obstacles from my path."

The Wisher type is always waiting for it to fall into his lap. "I wish God would just give it to me, if I am supposed to have it." Everything else is too much trouble.

The Off-in-a-corner type says, "I can't stand the vibration of a group. I can only get it by staying in my little corner and getting it alone. I don't need a teacher."

God help the fellow who gets everything he wants; he is already on the slide into decline. You can arise and become a creator god instead. One good shot of Light could lift you like an atomic bomb.

The Fearful type is afraid to be wealthy in strength, afraid to be trusted with money. Those who say, "I did not come for loaves and fishes" are foolish. You cannot pay the bills by being proud of being poor.

God already trusts you with free will, so why shouldn't He trust you with His endless substance? If you cannot imagine spending, you have no million dollar plans. You should be able to decide on what to buy within an hour or you have no plans. Stop being afraid that if it is good for you it will hurt someone else.

If you have had enough poverty of self, rise up and say so. Learn not to be soft with self or with others who infringe. You do not receive a single credit in heaven for being overly soft. Continue planning, despite family or worldly opposition.

The boy had forgotten that his father had more land. No injustice can exist in God, only whole, complete love, and justice tempered with mercy. The Father's love is so great that He gave us His Son. Can you see how much love this is? Wisdom must balance the love of God.

Declare, "I arise! I accept my responsibility. I surrender to live the Christed life. I ascend to love my Father with praise, undiluted by any petty self. I will go to my Father's house to dwell in pure, perfect, glorious love."

I Will Arise and Go to My Father 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated November 19, 1950. Scribe: Ruth Johnson. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

The story of the prodigal son paints the picture of a household and its members. Family life is meaningful because we all live life in cycles, and must face the same annual vibrations, which are ever new, never old. We are all like the prodigal son in one degree or another. You can invariably find ways to shirk responsibility if you look for them.

Something is always wrong in the family when a young boy leaves home abruptly. The older brother was envious when his father celebrated the prodigal son's return, which probably reveals a lifelong pattern of jealousy.

The younger son loved his father, but tired of his brother's nagging rivalry. He took his inheritance, left for the city, spent his money entertaining fair-weather friends, and became a swine herd when he had nothing left. In regret, despair, hunger and loneliness he remembered what he had left behind and how well his father fed his servants.

Meanwhile the elder brother had increased his father's material wealth because he loved the land, crops and animals. He also had chosen to do what he enjoyed.

The father had not divided his land or bequeathed the house, but the younger son had forgotten the other property. He knew he had sinned, but love for his father won over dread of his older brother.

Through suffering and sorrow, the prodigal son learned that true wealth is intangible, not money or material things. And when he finally knew the truth, he did something about it.

The initiation was about complete soul surrender of self, which comes in several degrees, and most people yield no more than from the teeth out. The prodigal son assumed the blame for his whole life, gave up all false pride, and was ready to pay his debt, to see his father and fill his empty belly.

When he used the magic words, "I will arise and go to my father," he had perfect faith that his father would love him anyway, despite his flaws and former lack of character. Faith is like a mustard seed grown into a mighty tree, which symbolizes unconquerable faith comprehending God as love.

His father's gifts illustrate your divine inheritance, the ring of unity with God, the robe of soul purity and sandals of complete understanding. From poverty, he returned to the riches of his father's house.

Do you feel wealthy, like a millionaire now? So many poverty-conscious souls answer this question with, "I can't feel like a millionaire while I'm in this fix. Why should I want to feel like a millionaire? They have so much trouble. I don't want to be wealthy. It's too much responsibility. I wouldn't know what to do with so much money."

To feel wealthy, you must first accept your inheritance. Too many people balance the world's ideas against their divine inheritance, and find God to be wanting! The "I don't know" type says, "I don't know what I want."

The "sponger" wants God to do it for him, and blame Him when life does not go his way. You can tell who they are by what they say: "If I knew what God wanted, I'd do it. God never answers my prayers. If God wants me to ascend, He should lift these things from my path. God is punishing me."

The "wisher" class waits for it to fall into his lap, and everything is too much trouble, effort, work and long hours: "This is so hard. I just wish God would take care of it. I never get what I want. God doesn't answer my prayers." The fellow who gets everything he wants is on the slide into decline.

The "off in a corner" type wants to live in a hut on an island, and says, "Why should I arise? I already pray. I can't stand the vibration of a group. I don't need a teacher. I can get enlightenment by staying in my little corner and doing it alone."

The "fearful" type is afraid to be wealthy. How foolish to say, "Money isn't important to me." Who can pay the bills by being proud of poverty? Some say, "I don't want that kind of money. I can't trust myself with it." God trusts you with the priceless gift of free choice, so why shouldn't He trust you with His infinite substance?

The hopeless type says, "Oh, well, God must not want me to have it." Stop being afraid that if it's good for you, it will hurt someone else.

You have no million dollar plans if you cannot imagine spending your first million. Continue planning despite your family or friends' opposition. You don't get a single credit in heaven for being soft, so be flexible, not flabby.

Arise and say, "I've had enough of this." You can arise and become a creator god. One good shot of Light could lift you like an atomic blast! Your soul wealth increases each time you conquer and receive new illumination.

God shows no partiality, only complete love, and justice tempered with mercy. So must you balance love with wisdom and learn to love with Godlike Wisdom. The Father's Love is so great that He gave us His Son. Can you see how much love this is?

"I arise! I accept my responsibility. I surrender to live the Christed life. I ascend to love my Father with praise, undiluted by my petty self. I will go to my Father's house to dwell in pure, perfect, glorious love."

A Design for Living 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for November 2, 1952, and also used it November 16, 1952. Scripture: Luke 15:11-24.

The parable of the prodigal son is a story about a father who had two sons. The younger son had no design for living at all, and the elder son's design was purely materialistic.

A design is a pattern that you use as a guide. If you have no design for living, then no matter what you choose, dissatisfaction sets in and a time comes when life turns sour, fails to satisfy, and you become tired of living.

As you grow in experience, you find that people live in one of several ways. Everyone has a pattern. Some are unconsciously using their grandma's pattern, some old world pattern, or a new and modern hedonistic pattern.

People live by mistaken ideas, without consideration for God or others. Others float indifferently as the playthings of the four worldly winds – criticism, condemnation, opinions and prejudices. Yet some people live consciously, directing and controlling their lives through rightly focused desire and will in obedience with God's law.

The prodigal son was a self-centered hedonist, who spent his inheritance in riotous living until he had nothing left. Then he said, "I will arise," which is always the soul's call to the flesh. He completely surrendered self, from top to bottom, from the inside out. We know this because he was willing to face his brother's criticism, and he came home.

When he arrived, his father gave him gifts – a robe, symbolizing purity of purpose, a ring, which represents unity or oneness, and shoes, which symbolize understanding and compassion.

To weave these patterns into a design for living, you must first make a life plan, then put it into action. Both your plan and action must include the right use of time and space, which are great abstract principles. Take time to live, to love, to dare and to do. Take time to be lovely and gracious as well. Your right life's action is to take time to listen to God's Voice in the golden silence.

Declare, "I do the next thing next with no complaints or self-pity, which is the right use of time, because I know that only my own can come to me." This is the perfect use of what you have, which is your present supply, in the place you occupy.

Ignore the truth of outer appearances and declare for good. Depend on God, bless everything below, praise all above, and pray, praise and sing. Let God do the work. Leave it in God's hands. You believe or you do not believe. Name your own creations "good." You have no time to name the weeds in your garden, so do not rehash the day's negatives.

When the elder brother complained about the gifts, his father said, "Son, you are always with me," which infers that you receive no credits for doing what you must do, but only for your struggles against the dominance of self.

When the Master calls, answer, "I will arise." Your desire for complete surrender of self becomes your whole aim. Your desire for heavenly knowledge and to know God, becomes your whole goal. Now you are taking time for the golden silence, daring to live, to love, to do. All things are added, a robe, a ring, shoes. Praise, pray and sing until you walk in triumph and victory.

A Design for Living 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated November 16, 1952. Scribe: Ruth Johnson. Scripture: Luke 15:11-24.

The parable of the prodigal son provides a blueprint, a design for living. The two sons represent stark contrasts, utterly opposed ideas and choices.

The younger son was selfish, but he loved his father or he would never have returned to him. His father had spoiled him. Perhaps the boy looked like his mother, who had died bearing him, and whom the father had loved and missed.

The older son ran the farm and increased his father's fortune because he loved wealth and materialism. He loved husbandry, and grew everything divinely. He loved the farm into perfection, but his design for living was rigid.

Their patterns differed, yet they reached the same end. Bored and soured, the older son made no time for friends because he was always working. The younger son "bought" friends, so he ended, like his brother, with no friends. Each had only his father to turn to in the end.

People fall into patterns through desecration, which can include too much drink, invalidism or recurring ill health. They expect colds or flu in winter, or allergies in summer.

Some do not even have enough energy to fall into patterns, but become playthings of the four world winds through indifference, lukewarmness, opinions, prejudices and condemnations, which will draw and quarter you. These are not designs for living, but they are static patterns.

First you must plan a design using the universal Mind, which thinks, plans and consciously directs and controls your life. Your perfect design must be as strict in self-discipline as the measures the older son used to manage his father's farm. The younger son had probably scorned his brother, who stank of cattle, until he learned to appreciate their aroma while he reeked of swine.

Second, your design must dare to do. The younger son had to live with swine to appreciate his father's farm laborers, and had to love his father enough to choose to go home. Then he had to dare to return, face his family and live with his I-told-you-so brother.

The boy completely surrendered and emerged from his negative pattern to a design for living when he said, "I will arise and go to my father." You, too, may say, "I will arise and go to my Father's house, where I will await my salvation."

You have twenty-four hours a day to choose how to love, work, play, and use each moment for important constructive action. You may not use law, but you do use time, so use it well in an active expression.

No matter how much others interrupt or interfere, you can take time to love and live in a Godlike way every second. You are living by the world plan in darkness if you are hurt, critical and condemning. Live by a consciously directed design.

Third, make do with what you have. Do not wait, but reach out to others, which activates your vibration. Give enough love. Ignore the truth of appearances, declare the good and depend on God to fulfill it.

Do the next thing next without being a plaything of the four winds. Fill the next task with the love, compassion and understanding of God.

When others blame, criticize or condemn you or your efforts, praise and pray for them. "I love you, too" or "I think you're beautiful, too" is the answer to a statement that spits at you. Any adversary will run out of spit before you run out of prayers.

After the young man created his design for living, his father welcomed him with a robe, a ring and new shoes for his sore feet, gifts that represent rewards for initiations by fire. The robe represents purity of purpose, the sandals, understanding and comprehension, and the ring symbolizes unity, the Power of God moving into the soul.

Throw out the old patterns, and look up to God to multiply the Power a thousand times a second. When your great design becomes the love and faith of God, you gain comprehension.

I become as perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect. I surrender to all the Power. I treat for the other fellow's eyes if my eyes are weak. If I need money, I pray for all who need money.

Arise and see Light through darkness, hear the Master's voice. Kneel before the high altar, saying, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Your sight."

Ascend until your works show in the world, and you express God with strict self-discipline. Plan your new design for living, using your full capacity of divine Mind.

Let your soul wait upon the Lord while you work out your salvation. Dare to act on your perfectly designed plan until you obtain victory over the little self.

God robes you in purity of purpose, absorbs you into the ring of unity with almighty Power, and gives you the sandals of understanding to wear. All the Father's gifts, a robe, ring and sandals, the fatted calf, are yours for the conquering.

Because I AM

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for March 4, 1956. Scripture: Luke 15:11-24.

You must understand the nature of the elder brother to get the picture in the parable of the prodigal son. The oldest son was good, and incapable of being anything else. He was fixed on increasing his wealth, had no time for fun, no sense of hunger for adventure, but was overly serious. He loved to work, to see the increase. This was his joy, his pleasure, and it satisfied him. He received no credits for his hard work because he made no sacrifice.

How can we know this? Because he objected so strenuously, saying to his father, "You've never given me a feast," when his younger brother returned. He had not wanted a feast, but he was angry because his father did not love him specially.

His father said, "You've always been good. It's easy for you, since you love your work. It has been no sacrifice. You've done it for yourself. Your brother has had suffering, loneliness and sorrow as his teachers, which taught him to love. You hold self as precious, but your brother gave his up to God. You must learn to love."

The younger son had a sunny, carefree nature. He must have been the image of his mother, and he loved his father with smiles, as she had. In turn, his father loved him too much to discipline him. He never meant to ruin the boy. He must have repented of his selfish love often, because of the way he acted when the boy returned.

The prodigal son had learned the lesson of false friends. He was a "good friend" until his money ran out, then they left him alone. None of those on whom he had spent his money cared if he starved. He ate husks with the swine, which is as near to nothing as anyone can get. Finally, he took stock. He had nowhere to go but up, so he looked up in consciousness. He thought, "Even my father's servants have enough bread."

Can you see the picture this story paints of the boy saying, "I will arise"? First, he repented. Then he decided, and third, he gathered courage. His repentance was deep and complete, because he not only prayed aloud, but meant it. He did something about it, and put his repentance into action.

His decision to tell his father was also a public acknowledgment of his mistakes, and he was willing to become his father's hired servant. "I will arise" and confess that "I have sinned." Finally, he gathered courage to face that smug I-told-you-so brother. He knew he would meet his brother's scorn and gloating: "See me. I increased my inheritance. You failed!"

His father's love was so great. He met him a "great way off," kissed him and claimed him as his son. He had not issued adoption papers, the boy was still his son. He forgave his son's debt, as the boy had forgiven his brother.

Repentance, the decision to give up self, and the courage to face ridicule, which is the price of surrender, earns the robe of purity, the ring of unity, and the shoes of understanding. As you forgive, you open a channel as large as your ability to forgive. God washes the pages as clean as the "soap and water" of your forgiveness reaches.

The profligate son gave up all, and all was cleansed. His father gave him a feast of love and a "fatted calf," symbolic of the outpouring enfolding Light to feed the soul. But remember, he received no more money.

The father represents I AM consciousness. His ever-loving father could not set aside principle or law to make him rich again. All he could do was to give his son the opportunity to earn his way honorably. The younger son had misused his soul substance, and the elder son misused his material intellect.

God cannot set aside law to please you, to make you happy. He bathes you, robes you, and puts shoes on your feet, but you must redeem and earn back all the Mind, Substance and Power you have misused.

"Because I am a son/daughter of God, because Oversoul 'I AM' consciousness now rules my life, because I am become a living sacrifice, I am a joint heir with Christ."

Your Capacity for Freedom 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for November 17, 1957. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

We all know the story in the parable of the prodigal son, two brothers with very different types of disposition, but who were both in bondage to self.

The younger son was in bondage to gratification of the senses as pleasure, and the older son was in thrall to greed as his pleasure. Oh, yes! Greed is counted as a pleasure.

One brother's bondage was more joyously irresponsible – he had more fun, and was always ready for change. The other son was rigid and stiff, always driving himself and others.

The story itself is interesting. The father so indulged the younger son that he was free to enjoy his laughing open nature. He, in turn, loved his father.

The older son was dour, and had no time for self-indulgence. He spent his time tending his investments in the farm. He never ceased finding fault with his brother.

The younger son decided to be free of his brother's complaints and unasked-for advice. He claimed his inheritance and immediately took off for the city to do as he pleased, just as he had dreamed of doing. He learned the hard way that pleasuring self brings no freedom. He loved his father and missed him, his thoughts turning toward home.

He remembered the family's well-kept farm, the good food and how everyone always had enough to eat. Since he had been reduced to herding swine and eating husks, he was in a worse state than the lowest of his father's servants. Thinking of his brother, he knew the sneers he would have to endure. Swallowing his pride, he reached for the true freedom he needed.

He said, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. – Luke 15:18-19. He sacrificed his old ideas of self-centered freedom for his father's love. He had learned the hard way, through loss, lack and hunger. He admitted, "I have sinned."

His father was starved for his younger son's love. He received none from his older son who had little time for anything besides making money. Seeing his youngest, he ran to meet him, and ordered a feast prepared.

The older son was angrier than ever, incensed by the generous treatment of his wastrel brother. He refused to attend the feast. All his self-credited goodness was as nothing since he was unjust in his opinions and worked only for the self. His enslavement was as deep as his brother's had been.

No common meeting point is possible between such opposites, other than through great love. The elder son did not know how to love as personality. He loved on principle only, treasuring things and the farm.

What is freedom? True freedom comes with acceptance of full responsibility as an ascending creator god. The only true measure of your capacity for freedom is the measure of your ability to surrender self and become the full-time servant of all God's Power.

No bondage exists in Light, love's power – self is the only bondage. Under Light, the soul soars.

You follow a threefold path to complete freedom of the soul when you use the faculties of discernment, discrimination, and discretion. Your use of the mental-soul faculties also frees you in body and in your affairs.

Discernment is the ability to see the truth, the keenness of your perceptions. You use perception to realize the relationship of outer experiences to your inner life of emotions and thinking. Discernment gives you the ability to penetrate the veils of illusion, the mist that veils the Light. By using discernment as insight, you can see around corners and through the masks people wear. Lies and deceits become obvious to you. Thus, you can be aware of something happening before news of it arrives.

Discrimination is the ability to observe, to notice fine distinctions, and make observations applied to actions. Observation is discrimination raised to its highest pinnacle. The resultant fine sense of balance and timing gives you the power of discriminating taste and choice. It is the basis of all true choice, how you make up your mind.

Discretion is watchful prudence over your emotions, thinking and imagination. It is your restraint, the brakes on what you think and feel. Discretion is the ability to distinguish between the fine shadings of truth, and confers the full liberty of deciding what you think as you think it. It is the basis of being able to hold to your choices.

Further, discretion is the art of diplomacy. All tact stems from discretion. By applying discretion, you never have to eat your idle words, since you speak none. You give no one a verbal club to wield on you, or a mesh to trip you.

As the younger son in this parable, you must learn to use that beautiful discernment that enables you to declare everything good and as all love because love does fulfill the law. As the younger son, you may then arise!

You must learn to discriminate between good and poor choices, to recognize and accept your need to surrender self. To know the right pathway, you must seek first the kingdom of God.

Finally, you must practice discretion as wisdom in your speech and actions. To do this, you must avoid the appearance of evil. Count the cost of your transgression, take your discounts and give up all pride of self to be fed of Light.

Ascend from the Land of Egypt and travel through the Promised Land into your Garden of Eden. Arise! Move! Accept God's promises for your destiny. Remain in the Garden of Eden, in the refuge of the soul, the Light. Give up any old patterns of a frozen heart center, rigid muscles, or fiery burning nerves to be possessed by the love of God, the faith of God.

Permit no weeds to grow in your Garden of Eden – no sitting and waiting, resting or grieving for self, which freezes your body and affairs. The thaw begins the moment you declare that everything is good. Your capacity then becomes limitless.

Acting in discrimination, discernment and discretion is your glorious freedom from darkness. As you arise, you grow silvery white wings of joy.

Declare, "I arise! And God, my Father, prepares for me a take, a feast in the midst of all my loved ones."

Your Capacity for Freedom 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated November 17, 1957. Scribe: Ruth Johnson. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

We can all relate to the famous parable of the prodigal son. We have been as lukewarm to love as the older brother was, and as selfish as the younger son. These brothers were both in bondage to self.

The older son was a slave to his greed. He loved adulation of his virtues, thrived under it, but would not offer a cent to feed his flatterers. He must have heckled his younger brother. He probably loved that people told him, "Your brother is no good, but you are wonderful."

The younger son was irresponsible, but he loved greatly. Since he had no idea of the value of money, he thought his portion would last forever. He was a joyous sinner. He had a great time.

Finally, the inevitable happened. The younger son tired of it all. He ran out of money and was demoted to feeding swine, a degradation and defilement.

Suddenly, he had a vision of his father, and knew he had to change. He determined to return to his father, to accept any lowly position, even to be his father's goatherd. He gave up all pride and went home. Only the joyous sinner can give up sin all at once. Greedy ones can give up sin only an inch at a time because they love God only an inch at a time.

The father saw his son coming with Light on his face, and knew he was free of sin. So he called for a ring, robe and sandals to be brought, and had a fatted calf killed for a celebration feast. He wanted everyone to know that his son loved him enough to come home.

The older son had given his father only a lukewarm love, but now he was furious. The father said, "You are with me all the time, son," to end his griping. "But he who was dead is alive." It was a joyous moment.

This parable is the history of a soul coming home to Light, returning to the heavenly Father. You can find many ways to do it. Religion, ministers and books so easily bore us. The suddenly a sunset or symphony excites us to hold fast to new found inspiration. You have to awaken three great faculties, discernment, discrimination, and discretion. You never get bored if you use these three with logic and reason.

What is freedom? The prodigal son found no freedom in his wild spending. The older son had no freedom in his love of being a miser. True freedom is the greatness found in your capacity to surrender self to become a servant of all Power. This is not bondage to self.

You become a creator god walking earth, a servant of God's Power, Love and Wisdom. This is how you stand on earth as a creator god, looking, being, and acting the part.

Each brother had to learn in his own way. The younger son was an irreverent wastrel, but loving and lovable.

The older son was good, but that was not enough, for he was self-consciously so. He never killed the fatted calf for a good friend, and everyone loved him in spite of his selfishness.

These two sons reflect the difference between letting Power use you (as the younger son) or using Power (as the older son).

Discernment is the art of high vision and is based in perception, or insight. With discernment you may say no or yes correctly. Heed what you discern. You have no way to explain a lack of discernment.

Discrimination is the art of observation raised to its zenith and pinnacle of power. If you live life blindly, you have no perception of the other fellow and his feelings. You let the chance slip to do fine, little things, to love, to praise.

Through observation, you develop that fine sense of timing and balance. You must watch where you step and what to say to keep your balance. Discriminatory abilities are your entree to a limitless capacity to enjoy freedom. Discrimination gives the power of right choice.

Discretion is the art of reaching the highest point of diplomacy; without it, you have no tact. All tact and diplomacy stem from discretion. Diplomacy is the perfect training for the stamina and ability to make the right choice. With discretion, you speak the right word at the right time.

Discernment, discrimination, and discretion must back all logic and reason or they are useless. You have all these faculties in the golden bowl, the Garden of Eden, your contact with the computer Mind of God, that mind which was in Christ Jesus.

The Land of Egypt is below the heart. Soul moves through the Land of Promise (stomach of assimilation, heart of love, and lungs of inspiration), but only to ascend to your Garden of Eden. Your garden is in the golden bowl, your head. It is your divine instrument, a broadcasting station gathering in divine Wisdom to make you a servant of all the Power.

First, you discern that which is good. Then discrimination gives you compassion. Discretion gives you the right words, leads you from the pit of others' accusations and avoids the appearance of evil.

God wants all His sons and daughters to come home. He awaits His children to discern their qualities and to lift them, whether we like them or not. If you believe someone can harm you, you still believe in enemies. Who can harm you save the self? You must discern and declare everything good if you want to arise from bondage to self.

Do you love God enough? Are you the selfless servant of God's Power? Are you freely loving enough in His service? Is a third-grader who misses a math problem a sinner? You dare not call the world's third-graders sinners. You soil your soul by spoiling the other fellow's credit card.

Reach out with arms of Light and cover him with a cloud of glory. Let no weeds of opinion or prejudice grow in your Garden of Eden. The weed killers are DDD, discernment, discrimination, and discretion. Use them constantly.

Ascend to God's Powerhouse, where you cannot lay the lash of your tongue on another. Remain in that Powerhouse where your least favorites cannot harm you, if you do not entertain their negativity.

The prodigal son's robe was the reward for discrimination, the ring was for discretion, the sandals were for discernment. The robe, ring and sandals cannot fail.

Remember the silver wings of glory that loft you before God. Maintain your golden silence to remain still.

Declare, "Thou, oh God, preparest a table before me in the midst of my loved ones. Thou hast placed a great dish of the fruit of love before me," (or anything your heart desire on that table).

Your Full Birthright 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for December 6, 1959. Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-15 and Luke 15:11-32.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. – Hebrews 12:1-15.

A birthright is something that you are legally born to inherit. To inherit is to receive. An inheritance is received or handed down by law, legally. The prodigal son is an outstanding story of the phases of an inheritance. Tell the story of the prodigal son to the point where he decides to return. Only by realizing that you have a home and a Father can your desire flame to return to your home. You never can return by yourself.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. – Hebrews 12:1-3. You must look unto Jesus, who endured the cross, despised the shame and ridicule, endured the contradictions of sinners against himself, to keep your mind from weariness, fainting and weakness.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. – Hebrews 12:4. To stand, you need endurance, which means to stand firm. Endurance's motto is "I can always last one day longer than anyone else on earth." Endurance has a twin, acceptance. Declare, "I can smile broader, stand straighter, and accept more." Without acceptance, endurance is just suffering. To accept everything as and in joy, then to stand, is winning. With just endurance, you are always laboring to stand. By adding joy, you overcome internal conflict.

How do you endure? By considering "him" (Jesus), by becoming like him, by keeping your mind on him, by making every day a Judgment Day of self. You endure by making certain that you are sitting on a cloud at night and not in the mud at the bottom of life's greased pole. You cannot afford to be weary or faint.

You may not despise the chastening of the Lord: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. – Hebrews 12:6. To be scourged is a reaction of law. You reap what you sow, and it comes to you to lift it onto a cloud of Light.

An indifferent and lukewarm father never corrects his children. A father who loves his child corrects that child. "Fathers of flesh" chasten for their own pleasure of the self. The "Father of spirits" chastens you to your own profit.

Your profit is all God's Mind, Substance and Power available for your use. No chastening produces no profit and "almost-hardly" results. No chastening seems joyous when it is happening, but when the rewards come, receive them in sweetness and joy. Remember that you are not looking for outer rewards, but inner.

After you make straight your path, you must maintain that state of joy consciousness. You can lose your healing unless you remain at the top of the greased pole. You can heal your problems with attaining outer success by making statements of law under principle. Your problems of personality need God as personality to heal them. You find no comfort in cold law. Instead, you need the Master's love and protection. You need a Father who understands you, and to know what love is.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. – Hebrews 12: 14-15. Your second need is for diligence. You must be diligent in seeking, in lifting out hands and straightening your sagging knees, all of which are signs of old age.

Most importantly, you must practice diligence in discharging all your responsibilities. Responsibility is your third great need. You must not fail in the grace of God or allow any bitterness to spring up, or many may be defined as a result. One bitter person affects many, in a family or at the office.

Finally, your responsibility is to keep your path straight. This is your real reward for endurance in joy and diligence in love. You are responsible to remain on top of the pole in grace. The prodigal son said, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you.'" To this, we add, "I love You and I will become one of Your servants."

When you arise and go to your Father, He immediately puts you on His payroll. The rewards for returning are the robe of purity, the best robe, a ring on your hand, the ring of unity, and sandals for your feet, to protect your newborn spiritual understanding.

Your Full Birthright 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated December 6, 1959. Scribes: Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-15 and Luke 15:11-32.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. – Hebrews 12:1-15.

The Letter to Hebrews, the twelfth chapter, deals with our birthright and inheritance as sons and daughters of God. We receive an inheritance through a legal process, yet we need not be born to a legacy to inherit it.

Our full birthright under divine law is different. We are sons and daughters of the King, heirs to the kingdom of heaven with fully royal heritage. We believe in God as personality and principle, and because God made us, we know that we are born of personality and principle.

The parable of the prodigal son teaches all this. The younger son was a rebellious, undisciplined spendthrift, the offspring of a "soft" father. The elder son was hard-working, out for a profit, disciplined, but rigid. He knew how good he was and how badly his younger brother behaved. He criticized and told on him to their father until the boy left home.

The younger son spent his inheritance and ended eating husks with the swine before he realized his brother was a good manager. He had done as he willed, lost everything, and was completely humiliated. He sacrificed self when he decided to crawl back home and work as a herder. At least he would have food, and that was worth all his brother's goading.

This parable includes every variety of earthly struggle and sin. Deciding to return to your Father's house brings you to sacrifice of self and humility, because going home is a struggle. You can curse God and leave it all, or endure and "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us," which is missing the mark of holding to your high ideals.

The race goes to the one who can endure to its end. Endurance is a term that describes physical fitness, and the intake must equal physical expenditure. Endurance also applies to the mental and emotional life. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, for example, build endurance. Some have no endurance, yet no one goes very far without it. You develop more endurance when you return to complete an unfinished task.

Endurance's twin is acceptance. Jesus did not whine when the world gave him the cross, but accepted it in joy. Some people run from a difficult family life, or conflict at the office that they must eventually endure. The reason floats hidden in the aura of anyone who causes repulsion. You can endure in peace only by accepting in joy. Decide to make your life an adventure, and count your blessings.

You are in your own place, working out your salvation and comprehension of law, which compensates you in proportion to your stingy giving. Consider the Master always, and make each day a day of judgment. Look around, make sure the words that disturbed you have not sent you down the pole in consciousness, for you can slide and still feel righteous.

Clean up any mud you've splashed, and you will not feel so "holy" when you realize it has caked on you. Use a flyswatter on the pests of self, but do not "martyrize," carry a grudge or sulk. A pouter drives friends and family mad. Fill every minute of life with enough love. Endure with joy, for your reward is great.

We have had human fathers who corrected us and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live? – Hebrews 12:9. The Father must chasten you. What good is an undisciplined child or adult?

You reap whatever you sow, and find yourself caught in others' reactions if you act or speak amiss. Discipline is a pattern most easily learned at home when you are young. Rigid self-discipline is essential in chastening the self. Life pins back your ears when you step out of line, but life will not need to discipline you if you obey law.

No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11. Unless you chasten your self diligently, law surely will. No chastening seems an occasion for joy when it comes, and people usually sacrifice self grudgingly.

Be diligent in uprooting the taints, such as bitterness, frustration and resentment. Taints grow from tiny hurts and leave traces on your face, which reflects what you really are beneath the surface. You always receive a reward, but not always in the outer world. One person can change the atmosphere in a family, business or social setting, if he makes the path straight. How do you do this?

Lift up the hands which hang down and straighten your feeble knees. Aging starts in the knees, and we cannot endure in joy with sagging knees. Practice stepping toe first instead of heel first to keep the knees strong and to stay young.

Love heals, so practice diligence in love, which builds the good and opens doors. Truth statements based on principles work in business, and you can declare that abundance or promotions are coming to you. Yet when it comes to healing the body, emotions and mind, you must definitely stick to your declarations and love God enough.

The parable of the prodigal son illustrates that the only way to enter your Father's house is to accept in humility your full birthright of receiving and of giving. You must confess that you have misspent your inheritance. Confess, "Father, I have wasted Your Power, Substance and Mind with idle words. Please accept me as Thy servant though my behavior is unworthy."

Your heavenly Father will bring forth the reward for endurance and diligence, and say, "Prepare the robe of purity, bring the ring of unity and sandals of understanding for my child." To earn the robe of purity, you must practice diligence and discipline to keep your vows. You do not make vows beyond what you can fulfill, but do your best to keep any foolish promise you make.

Discipline yourself to be popular and successful. Chasten yourself daily to live up to your high ideals. Put on the robe of purity. Wear the sandals of understanding, which represent your responsibility to lift. Wear your ring of unity of body, heart, mind and soul to make sure they are working together as one, with no conflict.

Do you realize how many others are praying while you are enduring? Conflicting always prayers surround us: One person prays for sun, another for rain. Heavenly Councils answer prayer in the order of "the next thing next," doing what they can. Sometimes the delay for one is better for another, whose prayers are answered sooner.

Stand, wait upon the Lord, endure in joy without letting go, and keep thanking God for the answer's inevitable arrival. Steadfastly know that God will keep His promises to fulfill every good desire of your heart at the right time.

Declare the delay good, mean it, and know that when you are positive, you can last longer than anyone negative. Endure past the point where the world can touch you. Surrender, and stand on law with integrity, honor and love.

Triumph and victory are yours when you say, "I ascend and enter my Father's House, to remain there forever."

The Life Triumphant

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 27, 1962. Scribes: Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

History often repeats these outstanding brother figures, and most families have their equivalent. Worldly opinion would call the older son "good" and the prodigal son "bad," but both lived according to self-consciousness. They were not alike, yet both did what they wanted. The older brother was penurious, couldn't loosen up to love, had no warmth, and so was frozen. He loved his animals more than people.

The younger son, who had probably been motherless from birth, was the happy one, the joy of his father, because he supplied the love for his father. A bright boy, who loved everyone in all walks of life, he spent money freely. The older son loved his possessions, and it wouldn't have pleasured him to go out philandering. He wouldn't have enjoyed it.

Both sons were unbalanced. The elder son expressed Wisdom without Love, while the younger expressed Love without Wisdom. His father didn't discipline him, but his older brother criticized him. So he left with his inheritance with no idea of the value of money. He didn't think, he just spent and enjoyed himself.

The younger tried his wings, then realized what he was doing when he had nothing left. When he was broke, his "friends" left him. He had no trade, so he sought work and ended up tending pigs. Yet in his heart he longed for his father because he loved him.

When he was starving (many people never think beyond the next minute until their stomachs are empty), he pictured his father's farm and flocks and cattle and the good food they had. He realized his stupidity and decided to go home as a servant in his father's house. He thought for the first time that now his father would let him work for him. He became aware of his selfishness and all he had neglected.

He recognized his brother's great ability as a worker, but he also knew that his brother would criticize him if he returned. His brother would make life rugged for him, but he didn't care. He reached the point where he could go to his father and freely confess his sins. If he confessed what he had done, then he could stand up and ask a chance to become the person he could have been.

God is your Father, and when you return to Him, He is always there. You are sons and daughters of God. He is your Father. He doesn't adopt you, for He created you.

The father had been watching for his son daily, hoping he would return, and ran to embrace him when he saw him. God does that for us. He ordered his servants to bring best robe, ring, shoes, and kill the fatted calf to be cooked. The robe, ring and shoes represent inner abundance, the Substance with which you fill your prayer molds, but the fatted calf represents outer substance.

As you pray, God adds Power and glory to your molds to make them outwardly manifest. Sometimes you pray, but you can divide the substance of your answer and scatter it by your fear, doubt and resentment later. Your answer is delayed because you worry after praying, and others pick the substance of your answer. You must make new molds.

When the prodigal son decided to return, he didn't give just one inch at time, or peek through gates. No, he went all the way. He said, "I will go to my father and declare my sins. I will accept the lowliest place because that is all I have earned, and I will not compare it with what others earn." He surrendered completely to God, and went all-out on awareness, acceptance and surrender of self. His father took him in and clothed him beautifully.

Most surrender is from the teeth out, but it must be from the toes up. You cannot fool God; He knows if you are completely sincere. God loves and understands us but He does not change law for us. You must earn your way back. If you have earned only a low place, that is what you get.

The robe stands for purity of heart, mind and purpose, all together in one piece. The ring stands for the unity of the individual with his father. The feet are the symbol of understanding and when you put on sandals, you put on comprehension of everything you thought you knew. True freedom and a glorified life triumphant come only under comprehension.

The son finally realized that he was living in the land of Egypt, in the darkness of the world, from the sacrum plexus to the solar plexus. This is an emotional realm, really the Desire Plane. When the prodigal son said, "I will go to my father," he was going to the Promised Land, the place you gain by surrender of self. The Promised Land is the mental world of love (the heart), inspiration (the lungs), and assimilation (the stomach). When you give up doubt and fear, you ascend to the Promised Land.

Your Garden of Eden is the golden bowl, the creative centers in the head. You can find your own Garden of Eden by saying, "I will go into my Father's House. I will be humblest of all," and meaning it. Here you give up self and do the things that you know are right before God.

Some people fear the Garden of Eden. They peek through the gate and see only their own negatively created jungle of prejudice, opinions, judgment, fears. When you clear your jungle of self and enter the beauty and serenity of the Garden of Eden, you are where the father took his prodigal son in, with love and abundance.

The older brother came home and was angry about the celebration. He questioned his father about why he treated the wastrel brother with a feast and merriment. He was furious in his self-righteousness. The father had watched for the younger son daily, but the older son only thought about the farm. He always did his duty, but never loved enough.

He told his father how good he'd been all this time, but since he only thought about money, his self-congratulatory crown fell into the mud. As he protested, "You never killed a kid for me," he never considered that he had everything every day and had used his privileges, not to make merry, but to make projects.

You get not only what you earn, but to the limit of what you envision. The law is that you get just what you vision, and love begets love. You receive no credit for doing your duty, and God cannot give credits to anyone who credits the self. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot boast and receive credits from God too. This is the law.

Some people never get beyond asking for credits. Many "good people" are rigid and stiff, never touching the Garden of Eden because they are busy crediting themselves. Do not give yourself credit. The law is complete surrender to be used by all the Power.

Crediting yourself uses up soul substance, which is riotous living to the self. You get credits when you give up self. You've heard the expression, "I'll pocket my pride." Why should you have self-pride to pocket? When you ascend, contact God and see perfection, you can be merry, happy, and achieve joy consciousness.

The prodigal son surrendered self to enter the Garden of Eden, his father's house. He returned to work there, having triumphed over self. This is the way to the Life Triumphant, and it makes you aware of the practicality of God's Garden of Eden, and certain that it is a place you may go.

The Life Triumphant gives you an awareness of the little self. Cut off the past and begin right here today. Just plant your feet in the place you have earned, then move on straight ahead from there. You cannot fail, because you are growing.

Under this law of surrender, you will be completely happy in the place you have earned. The Power is free, limitless according to your faith. God given silver white wings will always carry you.

We have all been prodigal sons or daughters. Let us give up those things that limit us. Put on the shoes of comprehension and the robe and purity of purpose. With your surrendering, let the Light move through to wipe out guilt, fear and doubt. Lord, keep us together in a Sphere of Light.

The Prodigal Son 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for December 20, 1970. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

The parable of the prodigal son is the story of a wealthy father who had two sons, one driven by a sense of duty, the other a light-hearted spendthrift. The older brother lived on a three-dimensional self-centered plan; subconscious soul piled up criticism along with material profit, and added to his soul's weight and spiritual debts.

The younger son was like his mother, blithe, not greedy or hoarding, just an innocent selfishness. His brother always made him look wrong. He thought, "I'll rid them of me." He believed all that his friends told him, spent his inheritance and discovered what false gods are, which is nothing. His repentance, when it came, was of a high dimension of soul, not from the teeth out.

The younger son loved, but knew he would meet the same jealousy from his brother, and that he was everything his brother had accused him of being. When he gave up his sin, he knew he would must pay. He returned to accept the place of a servant and must have been greatly surprised at his reception and his reward, a robe, ring and new shoes. No gift exists without the giver, no love without one who loves; otherwise, all giving is all for self. When you give up self, you must make your plan, not just float or slip into the same pig trough again.

The elder brother heard the music and laughter, and must have experienced the same old jealousy and wanting credit for doing what he wanted to do and for what was plainly his duty to do. His father told him that everything he had was already his.

Which of these brothers does the world see when it looks at you? What do you see when you look at God? Consider, His glory on you and through you can dazzle the world.

The robe, the shoes and the ring represent the dimension of depth. The robe is the garment of the oracle, which is Light, with no idle words. You must accept your inheritance and make your plan to ascend in consciousness into the vibration of nonresistance.

The shoes represent understanding that must climb to comprehension. An oracle gives of his or her gift of prophecy, and is able to set aside all evil, darkness and destruction by declaring, "It is good."

Tomorrow is good, if you have the burning desire and vivid imagination that it shall be so. To do this, you must become Light as the principle of tone, which serves as the tuning fork for physical glands, spine and nerves, your desire body vital centers, mental body lotus centers and soul sun centers.

Living by soul, not self, will keep them properly timed, adjusted to one another, so that you may walk tall without sagging. Then shall you be brilliant, triumphant and victorious.

The Prodigal Son 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated December 20, 1970. Scribes: Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Ross Whitehead. Scripture: Luke 15:11-32.

To most people, the prodigal son is an old story. Many families have had a prodigal son or daughter. People often call them problem children or black sheep. Let us look in the background of this parable. An older man had two sons. It mentions no mother, so he had likely raised his sons alone. The firstborn was already working on the farm when his younger brother was born, so their mother had probably died in childbirth.

The younger son may have reminded his father of the beloved wife he had lost, loving and merry. He probably did not realize that he was favoring the boy, perhaps doting on him. The elder son pitied himself that his father did not appreciate him. Though a hard worker, he was austere. The younger son acted outrageously to spite and irritate his brother. The older son pointed out his failings to exalt himself in their father's eyes. He was just as undisciplined, untrained and foolish as his brother had said.

As he grew, his friends persuaded him to collect his inheritance and leave. So he took their advice, asked his father for his portion and received it. The boy left, went to a far country, lost everything, then learned all about false gods and false friends who helped him squander his money. His inheritance finally ran out in the midst of a famine. He had no work and became a lowly servant, herding swine and eating husks.

Finally, he became hungry enough to turn back to God, confess his sins and go home. He thought of his father's generosity, of all the food, clothing and shelter he provided his servants. He knew he must face his older brother and his "I told you so" friends. Yet his father's love touched him, and he made a soul confession with conviction. He realized he should return and acknowledge that he had been wrong. He accepted his responsibility and started home to take the place of a lowly servant.

His father had always prayed and "known" his son would return, while the jealous elder son kept knocking his brother. The father missed the boy's love and personality, so much like his wife's. He was so glad to welcome him that he ran to meet him. Then he brought out the fatted calf, a robe, ring and new sandals amid much merriment. The gifts are evidence that the son's repentance was the perfect nonresistance of the fourth dimension of soul, the dimension of the Holy Ghost. The boy reached the soul dimension when he repented, told his father he was truly sorry and so glad to be home. We must apply this to our own soul.

The elder son was hurt and sulky, angry with the disposition of one born jealous and greedy. He complained that he'd never been given a feast, but only wanted to see his money and possessions accumulate. He had never asked for a calf, but preferred to see them running around alive. If you want to enjoy what you have, you must share. His father said, "Son, you have always been with me. All I have is yours." With all his hard work and conscientiousness, the elder son was still jealous and vindictive. He flattered himself about being such a good manager. He liked to work and make money.

This story contains a lesson. You do not receive credits for doing what you like to do. When you do as you like, your reward is from the world, not God. Do not take your credits in words, as flattery, or as possessions when you have no desire to share. Some people never learn.

Both extremes are selfish, but the younger son also had the soul qualities of generosity and sharing. Although he used them wrongly on earth, he repented and returned to agree with God and adjust to his brother. He knew what love was, which his elder brother did not. He received the soul rewards. The older brother already owned everything, but your desire must be for something better than piling up "things." You must desire not only to accumulate things, but to love.

When people look at you, do they see a Christed one? When you look at them, do you see a Christed One looking back at you? What do you see when you look at God? You must reach the forth dimension where you desire to see only the Father's face. His face is so glorious and bright it blinds your eyes. His warmth enfolds you, gives you a consciousness of personality, of glory, of the Holy Spirit, of nonresistance.

Unless you touch the forth dimension of soul-conquering and self-sacrifice, you cannot earn the white robe of the Holy Spirit, the robe of nonresistance of the saints. Do you share yourself with family and friends freely and spontaneously, unknowingly, or do you flatter self by knowing that you pay them attention?

The younger son received the oracle's robe because he knew that his father was always there. The older son received worldly goods. The oracle's robe is the gift of prophecy, which means understanding all timing and place within the universe. This story paints a picture of an oracle, and of the prophetic gift. Are you a prophet, able to tell what will happen next week?

The ring is a symbol of belonging, of unity, of sharing everything without the taint of self. Look up, ascend and see the blinding Light of the Father's Face in His glory. No one can take your robe or ring once you have earned them. The ring means "I belong forever. No one can separate me from the love of God." Sometimes the cross-vibrations from the world veil the Face on the other side.

Before you go to bed, declare that the robe of prophecy is yours. Do not forget to praise and thank God daily; otherwise, you fall into the ditch. Have you forgotten to say, "Thank You, Father," for a whole day? "Thank You, Father, that You have been on the job even if I have not." Always declare that tomorrow will be good.

Your declarations can be your prophecies. The Power you release is from the Holy Ghost, filled with Wisdom, Love and Energy. Do you prophesy as an oracle that everything is already perfect? Declare that the glory of God fills every hour of the day and night with illumined love. Take advantage of your oracle status, the robe, and prophesy that tomorrow is already good.

What do you see in your neighbors, in the government, the good they do or all the wrong? Watch, declare that everyone is coming through in love, all receiving new white reabsorbed prophesy that a miracle cannot happen. All things are possible to God, who is working through people. Yet to be used, you must stand in the fourth dimension, wearing your ring, robe and sandals, which are your heavenly rewards on earth to coordinate all your physical affairs. When you do, Light shall make your health, emotions, family relations and money perfect.

When you look into another's face, do you see a Christed one looking through his eyes? Or, do you see the critical older brother's austere face? See the Christ in all whom you meet, and watch as the Christ Light lifts the world's darkness. All will come to pass on the gift of Christed love.

The feet symbolize understanding, and shoes represent protection for your understanding. You clothe yourself with the robe, ring and sandals of God, with Light. These gifts provide the musical tuning and timing of your endocrine and central nervous systems to align with the music of the spheres. The Power that is coming through will time these things with God's timing. Say, "The love, comprehension and timing of the universe, the Power of God from the Source fills me in this hour. This is my good hour, opening a new aura, timing of a new illumination."

The harmony, the adjusting timing of the Almighty is yours now. All God's love fills the hour. The Power of God from the Source is the comprehension and timing of this universe.

What kind of smudge can anyone put you on when you have declared all things good? Your declaration of good establishes the timing of the vibrations of love, wisdom and nonresistance. Good is your declaration of Power, which is illumination. Does Light resist you as you walk through the room? Light is nonresistance. Nonresistance is God waiting to go into action for you.

Say, "Let the Light of God move through me. Let the Light of God fill this aura. Let the Light do the work. The glory of God is being established in my body, and it is established for tomorrow. Father, You are the Power. Father, You are the perfection. Father, You are the glory."

"Tomorrow is the greatest day of my life. I accept it and I live it. I declare it is an oracle that tomorrow is already my perfect day. All that the Father has is mine already now. We are shining in Your glory as we go forth."

This is the nonresistant glory of God's Face. Look into His Face. You, the prodigal, can return to your Father. He awaits you with a robe, ring and sandals. Let people see the glory of God in your face.