Edna Lister on the Parable of the Strong Man

"Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." – Matthew 12:25-30.

"No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." – Mark 3:27.

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." – Luke 11:21-22.

Jesus said: It is not possible for anyone to go into the strong man's house (and) take it by force, unless he binds his hands; then will he plunder his house. – Gospel of Thomas, Saying 35.

The Way of Surrender 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for June 14, 1942. Scripture: Matthew 12:25-30.

"How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." – Matthew 12:29-30.

What are surrender and renunciation? Surrender is to yield or to give up. Renunciation is sacrifice or repudiation.

As a follower of Jesus the Christ, you give up bondage to the self in favor of yielding to the will of God for you: To be perfect. Willingly, you sacrifice the self and repudiate the ways and acts of evil or darkness.

Once you have gained the surety of your identity with God, you never let it go. You hold fast to the Light, no matter what.

John Paul Jones, an American naval hero, was an officer of the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. As his ship, the Bon Homme Richard was sinking, he had only the Alliance left when the British demanded that he surrender.

Instead, he rammed the larger British vessel, HMS Serapis, boarded it and won the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779. In the midst of the battle, Jones shouted his famous declaration, "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Our own Teddy Roosevelt had very poor and undiagnosed vision as a child. He made himself excel in sports and headed the Rough Riders.

He had a close call in Milwaukee during the 1912 campaign, when a deranged former saloon-keeper shot him. Undeterred by the bullet, slowed by a steel eyeglasses case and a folded 50-page speech in his breast pocket, Roosevelt delivered the speech before heading to the hospital.

A man once inherited a book shop, and in ignorance overstocked and expanded until his money was gone. His creditors put his store up for auction and claimed the proceeds. They left him with a load of old and damaged secondhand books.

He took his unwanted book stock, built a shack beside a well-traveled road, specializing in used books. In three seasons he made his money back and plenty to spare. From this we can learn at least one thing: Start easy, with what you have, where you are.

You must snatch your profits from defeat. All defeats must pay you dividends. A defeat cannot make you a failure.

Spending hours trying to love what folks do is a waste of time. Instead, remember to love them for what they are – the children of God.

Set your life's pace from your own soul, and never let the outside dictate your pace. Always strive to keep to your soul's pace, even if you die trying. You are strong, so let nothing bind you except for the Light of God.

The Way of Surrender 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated June 14, 1942. Scribe: Ruth Bender. Scripture: Matthew 12:25-30.

The Leap of the Serpent is a 25,000-year Hindu cycle. We are now in a crucial time. We cannot afford to lose all we have accomplished in the unseen life for the Lords of Life, due to outside influences. Yet there are still princes of darkness, from the tribes of Cain and Ishmael who have incarnated and sworn to enter the abyss of annihilation if they do not win.

We have completed 6,000 years of the 7,000-year Adamic civilization. We are living in the New Jerusalem phase of the Book of Revelation. The Plan of Salvation has sent lesser racial messiahs to every race and tribe on earth, but only one world savior, Jesus Christ.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and [things] in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." – Philippians 2:9-11.

A racial savior or teacher can step into the same past incarnation and fall back into that which is a rut. In the next thousand years we will open more neurons. The Venus race will amalgamate all the religions of earth to worship the one God of Love and Wisdom, as the one Son of Light within the next 2,000 years.

Anyone who has heard of Jesus Christ is of knowledge. Surrender and renunciation of self walk hand in hand. Anyone who still seeks has not yet found Jesus Christ because you cannot find him on the outside.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." – Matthew 11:28-30.

The one who still has to seek after hearing these words of Jesus the Christ, has not renounced all self or surrendered to the Light of God. Why does the petty little self hold out on God? Self wants its own way and is always getting hurt feelings or being insulted. Even a single-celled creature draws back in irritation when offended.

"Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." – Matthew 12:25-30.

The contest is between appetitive soul and Oversoul, each of which uses the term, "I AM." Big I AM is all Light, Power, glory and strength. Little "I am" believes in defeat. He decides to struggle because he is just trying to follow Jesus the Christ.

"Well, I am trying. I am praying. I am trying to love everybody." When a child says this, he is just trying to get by without being disciplined.

Lukewarmness and indifference hypnotize earth to sleep. The Word of God is available. We've had the New Testament for 2,000 years, and the Old Testament for longer than that. Is the Bible vital in your life?

Being satisfied with making general statements of truth means you have to work at it constantly, because you are just using the words mentally. Surrender and renunciation mean that once you have set your mind on praising and know, you are pressing on consciously knowing.

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." – Philippians 3:13-14.

Why try to love the things people do? Why waste time on this? Do not see what they do. Do not notice them. Say, "The Christ in me salutes the Christ in you, and you are free from my idea of you."

To turn defeat into success is the simplest thing in the world. Surrender the negatives and silly notions of life to the Son of the universe.

A man inherited a book shop, and in ignorance overstocked and expanded until his money was gone. His creditors put his store up for auction and claimed the proceeds, leaving him with nothing but old and damaged secondhand books.

He took his unwanted stock, built a shack beside a well-traveled road, specializing in used books. In three seasons he made his money back and plenty to spare. From this we can learn at least one thing: Start easy with what you have, where you are.

John Paul Jones, with the Bon Homme Richard sinking, and only the Alliance left, rammed the larger British vessel, HMS Serapis, boarded it, and won the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779. In the midst of this battle, he shouted, "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Teddy Roosevelt, during the 1912 campaign, was shot in Milwaukee by a deranged former saloon-keeper. Undeterred by the bullet, which was slowed by a steel eyeglasses case and a folded 50-page speech in his breast pocket, Roosevelt delivered a 90-minute speech before heading to the hospital.

These men all found the strength of their own souls during a fight to survive. Look within and find that strong giant that you are. The power of the universe will move in and possess you.

How sad it is to look into another's eyes and have him say, "Well, I just can't see it. I must find out for myself." Yet, most of us have let someone else take charge of our life or our thoughts at some point.

Still, you must set your own pace, not follow the world's pace. Chart your course by the highest laws. The great soul that you already are can descend and possess you only when you command the little self to give way.

The Father's Light is always waiting to be your Light to light your way. You can always become a leader, if you do not care what the world says. Hold fast to that integrated point of being where your soul is drawn into your great Oversoul above.

Yet the law is that each must share and share alike. If a mother divides the dessert unevenly, shorts herself or goes without, she sets a poor example. Each must take the smallest piece in turn; otherwise, you become a martyr.

The path of renunciation has surrender on both sides. Must you renounce the good things like beauty, joy, pleasure and fun? No. You renounce weakness, doubts and fears.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28. Declare, "I will arise and go to my Father's house. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

The Father's house is magical, so Light-filled that no darkness can exist within it. When you dwell in the house of the Lord in consciousness, you are always facing home. Make up your mind that soul possesses you, not self.

Do your Father's work on earth. Be about His business. Be a miracle worker. When you are living by soul, you are an open channel for Light. Whatsoever you ask is established unto you.

The way of beauty, joy, Light and conquering is the path of surrender of self. Renounce all the worn out creeds, dogmas and concepts.

Be an agent of peace in the world. You could stand in the middle of a boiler factory yet dwell in a house of calm. Stand on the bridge over the abyss between God and the world, and let the Father use you.

Never admit defeat. Let the law of life use you. You will be amazed at how Light protects you. Lay all your burdens on the Father's altar.

The last few steps over the top are the hardest, but the reward is beyond imagining. You will find it easy then to renounce and sacrifice the old ways because everyone who looks to God has that strength and dedication, the endurance needed to save the world.

Your Measure of Power 1

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for June 12, 1960. Scriptures: Luke 11:14-26 and Luke 12:16-21.

Today's world is calling for signs to "show me," a world of casting out demons, devils and evil spirits a thousandfold greater than in the time of Christ. Groups are researching the spirit world, proving a life after death, and invoking spirits. Psychiatrists are relieving many of obsessions and possessions. Whole groups are searching to uncover evil, chicanery and treachery in high places. Individuals are digging around in their own subconscious basements for hidden evils.

This whole passage in Luke mainly deals with subtraction and division. Although you cannot have it both ways, the chapter illustrates how easy it is to divide and conquer. The opening and closing of these particular verses deal with two forms for casting out a "devil" and an "unclean spirit." We will deal with these later.

The main body of this text deals with Jesus' answer to the men who accused him of casting out devils in the name of Beelzebub, the chief devil. Others later tempted him by asking him to give them a sign.

His answer was clever, "But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges." – Luke 11:17-19.

Logically, Jesus is doing good by casting out demons. If he does good, then he is not evil. Their own sons were also casting out demons, so if they call Jesus evil, their sons must be also.

"If I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you." – Luke 11:20. Notice, the Master reveals the way to add Power and to expand a healing vibration by using the finger of God. Meanwhile, he warns that expansion can subtract stability and substance.

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." – Luke 11:21-22. A palace is a place of soul integrity, a stronghold. Hold fast to your gains physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

If you allow someone to use Power over you, you divide and waste your spoils, the treasures you have won by conquering self. A strong man holds his goods, which include faith, love and joy.

When you ask for something through soul, you must know they you shall receive and be happy. The "stronger than he" pops up with fear, worry, rebellion and resentment, and divides the spoils of glory.

Each time you give in to self's doubts, you dissipate the Power meant to do the work. You receive as much as you have built, minus the deductions in Power for your weakness in catering to self. Half the time you let God do the work, but half the time you still let "little me" be in charge This scatters your treasures.

The soul is alive right, but self is dead wrong. When you allow self to take charge, it uses Power, creating force. If you allow another to take over, he adds your share of Power to his and uses it. This leaves you weak.

Of the two examples of casting out, the first is a devil (demon) and the second is an unclean spirit. These are two distinct types.

The first devil was actually an entity that had taken possession of the victim's throat center of power for the spoken Word. When cast out, the mute person spoke. A healer could cast such an entity out by the shock method, which causes such surprise the result is instant speech.

An unclean spirit, on the other hand, does not take complete possession of a body. The entity is just interfering at times, using idle words and curses, causing confusion, confrontations, and so on.

"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." – Luke 11:24-26.

A mind swept clean of old ideas, but as yet empty of new ideas, is inert, static, doing nothing. The unclean spirit gathered seven more, making eight, the number symbolizing the Power that ties earth to heaven. The unclean spirits knew that strength often lies in numbers. A weak person has little influence.

Thinking that you have paid all your debts to law is such an illusion. You return to an old situation only to find your past waiting to confront you, the same family, the same problems, the same complaints. You find that you have paid only the interest on them.

What has all this to do with Power? Power is vigor and energy, potential and kinetic energy, the ability to do or to act. You have instant access to the power to subtract all your weaknesses, and power to gather your scattered self. What counts is what you do with this ability to do and to act. For example, some butterflies are weak and timid and cling to the branch, fearful to fly away. Others are brave, strong and unafraid.

We live in a push-button age. Everything seems so easy, but the houses and offices must still be wired for power and light. By practice, you can learn how to use new machines and technology. Still, technical convenience is not enough is not enough to lift your mental, emotional and spiritual burdens.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." – Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus was the strongest man in the world, and you can be, too. Yet, unless you are aware of self's push-buttons, it is like searching Grandma's cupboards in the dark for candles and matches when the power is out. Be aware every moment, and know how your push-buttons of faith, love, joy and strength are wired. Each is a power.

Your measure of Power is your awareness of Power and how you put it to practice in ascension. You have the power to burn with fervency, and to see and hear spiritually. Yet, you also must be aware of the Power of beauty to appreciate the good. Exercise your power to expand and to love, to feel rich toward God.

Your Measure of Power 2

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated June 12, 1960. Scribes: Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scriptures: Luke 11:14-26 and Luke 12:16-21.

This story and parable deals with casting out demons and unclean spirits (devils and possessing entities). It is a most ambiguous passage, but we must integrate it, since it clearly applies right now. We are casting out more devils and unclean spirits now than ever. The Elect must release the world from persecuting demons such as anxiety and guilt complexes, which are among the worst.

Many people think Jesus relieved the world of all such, yet more unclean spirits roam the world today. Committees search for evil in the world, and all are releasing devils, as Jesus did. Psychiatrists relieve people of the little devils that beset them through private and group therapy. Ministers do it through prayer and spiritual advice.

Luke deals with these different kinds of possession, and mentions casting out devils in nine different places. Where a devil entity moves in and possesses, it deals with a possessing personality.

"He was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered." – Luke 11:14. After Jesus cast out a mute demon, the mute spoke. This story deals with the devils of multiple personalities. This man had allowed a floating entity to enter through his navel center. He was mute because the entity had possessed his throat center, which is the seat of power for the spoken Word.

Your voice contains twelve chromatic tones, which you use when you speak. The Master used tone as a shock method and produced an instantaneous reaction when he commanded the devil to "Come out." The man's soul reentered his body and instantly spoke in response. Jesus might well have said, "I come to possess when the devil has come out."

You must wear the whole armor of God and the breastplate of judgment, for without it, you attract a world vibration of evil. The "the people marveled" although many had seen Jesus cast out other devils. The family that fears a loved one is possessed needs a "sign" that their loved one is truly healed. Jesus had two goals here, to cast out devils and to give the family involved a sign to strengthen their faith.

"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." – Luke 11:24-26.

An "unclean spirit" deals with principle, the three phases of the One Mind within the person (subconscious, conscious and super-conscious) as in Luke 11:24-26. An unclean spirit describes subconscious mind possessing the soul. An unclean spirit is spiritual substance, but is not a living soul, such as the devil of personality that had moved in to possess the first man.

This chapter describes how to divide and conquer. Some believed in Jesus, yet others accused him of exorcizing in the name of Beelzebub, the chief of devils. Jesus knew their thoughts and that they were divided in opinion.

He taught them that "every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation" and every house divided falls. If Satan is divided against himself, how can he stand? Satan was dual-minded so his house had to fall, and it is still falling today.

The Master has separated us from evil. He alluded to their sons casting out demons to confuse his accusers. They could hardly admit their sons were not doing good, since he and they used the same Power.

"If I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you." – Luke 11:20. If these men accepted that Jesus was working with the finger of God, and their sons were under God, they were admitting Jesus' authority and who o'ershadowed him. Jesus effectively proclaimed that the kingdom of God was now possessing them.

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils." – Luke 11:21-22. In Bible study, ponder where the emphasis is placed in a verse. Guard your body palace, which contains the conscious mind, the mental faculties, the foundation of New Jerusalem, the fortress, the holy place, the head.

If you guard these, you keep your palace in peace, but thieves can rob and divide the spoil. A stranger, who negatively persuades you, takes your armor first, but will soon take your hope, joy and faith, for your guilt complex will disturb your faith in God.

"He who is not with me is against me" describes a man damned with faint praise. God speaks as personality through personality to personality. Jesus might have said, "He who is not with God is against God." The crowd had no more questions after Jesus said, "He who does not gather with me scatters."

If you feel scattered in vibration, ascend in consciousness, reach out with arms of Light, gather your scattered soul substance and negative emotions. Lift your life sparks for cleansing, and declare, "Let this be cleansed and returned to Thy servant. I am that good, I AM. I am that Light, I AM. I am that Love, I AM."

Jesus then taught them about the man healed of an unclean spirit. Fears, doubts, self-pity, pride, opinions and prejudices, all negative vibrations he had allowed, filled and "possessed" his subconscious mind.

Healed, he was converted and perfectly free, but was not grateful enough. He did not take an offering to the temple, or turn to God and fill himself with the Holy Breath by praising. Jesus freed the man's subconscious mind, yet he had to speak the word for Light to absorb the misused Power and Substance of his idle words and emotions that waited on a cloud.

You must ascend high enough in consciousness for the glory of God to fill you after you are healed. Unless you do, your last curse's cloud of negativity will find other unclean spirits, form an entity army and return. Thus, "The last state of that man is worse than the first."

For instance, a man formed spiritual debts with his family. He moved away, unwilling to work it out. He made good in his new place, returned home and was shocked to find that his debts awaited him, for he had paid only the interest. He could have paid those debts if he had not blamed his wife. Had they prayed together, they could have lifted everything onto a cloud continent of Light.

You cannot pay your debts by changing your mental address, or run from a situation, for the debts will always catch up with you. Pay the soul debts you create with negative thoughts, words or deeds.

Let the Power of the River of Life flow through and change you. Power is vigor and energy, the ability to do or to act. Like a chameleon, you have power to change the colors of your aura when you move from self-pity to praising God.

People say, "This taxes my strength." If you use only your small power, it is taxing. Draw on God's infinite Power as divine action through you. Make Power a soul faculty, not just a remote Emanation or a squib of physical energy. Use the term "power" as encouragement, as in "More power to you," which evokes the other fellow's full Power faculty of judgment and leadership.

"My yoke is easy and my burden is Light." – Matthew 11:30. Jesus never said how hard it would be to get that burden of self up and onto the altar. You must go up in consciousness to be healed. Put your burden up on the altar and make it Light. Stay up and fill your consciousness with the love of God so "it" will not return. Let go and let God.

"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." – Luke 12:16-21.

One day we watched several butterflies emerge from the chrysalis. The instant each butterfly learned to let go, it flew. All flew away except one that was too timid. We prayed for a breeze and it spread its vividly beautiful wings and fluttered away.

Power's action is automatic. You get results the minute you let go and let God. What good is this marvelous Power unless you are aware of its magnificence? When you accept, you know that Power moves forth as you. Soul is alive right. Self is dead wrong.

What is your measure of Power? Are you aware of what love can do when you conquer self? You must become aware of the Power, beauty, joy and expansive quality of conquering. Love does all else when you conquer self.

How much of the beauty you see around you becomes yours? How aware are you of the many blessings you receive each day? Family is a blessing, though they seem to pick on you sometimes. When they prune your flaws, they cast out your devils.

What is your measure of Power? How you act, what you think, what you do determines your measure of Power, which is the quantity of your love, appreciation, gratitude and joy, the riches you can bring God.