Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 2, 1965. Scriptures: Matthew 21:19-22 and Matthew 21:28-32.

Intellectuals are calling ours "a society in a dilemma." Wherever we turn, we find a heavy problem. No one can foresee what the results of any given decision may be. Everyone is in bondage to some kind of fear until personal fears are magnified into world fears.

Improvements in communication and transportation have made us a neighborhood without making us a brotherhood. We are fast learning that we must be our brother's keepers, or we will destroy ourselves.

We have permitted the forces of secularism and materialism almost to destroy our faith. Your capacity for faith diminishes as world opinions and ideas leave God out of the equation entirely. Worship of worldly opinions causes people to conform to secular humanism, and worship of material things causes faith to shrink.

No Shekinah glory fills the sanctuary. No pillar of cloud leads us by day or pillar of fire by night. We hear no fluttering of angels' wings over us, see no miracles. No exultant praise fills our temples, and no mysteries are revealed.

Prophesied for the end of this age is a series of events that will be as short and sharp as they are swift and sure. Veil after veil will be lifted as we walk along the pathway of greater revelations. The Light of prophecy sheds a brilliance, limited only by temporary shadows imposed by the evil not yet lifted from earth.

What does the "first one through" mean, through to what, from where? The "from where" must mean right where we stand this very hour, of course. The "what" can mean every goal for happiness that each chooses. Yet fundamentally, everyone is seeking security, contentment, serenity, peace and all other virtues.

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. – Matthew 21:19-22.

The story of the barren fig tree epitomizes this lesson. Jesus withering the fig tree symbolizes wiping out all evil. Saying to the mountain, "Be cast into the sea," refers to lifting all burdens, as in Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. – Psalm 55:22. "Cast your burdens on me, and I will make them Light."

Finally, to create and bring forth all your heart's desires, you must ask in faith. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. – Matthew 21:22.

We have learned that the purpose of Creation is to express, to give. If life has no purpose, you live a useless, miserable existence each day.

You must have a goal, and your purpose is then to reach it. Once found, you put your faith in the goal, give it your devotion and must serve it. Is it a goal just for you, competition in the world, pushing your way through to be the first one there? Oh no.

When you, as a creator god, descended from your heavenly place above, you gave up your position, exactly as you do on earth when you move from one city to another. If you want to return to your place, you must earn it again. Achieving your goal means sacrifice, surrender of self and, the greatest of all, devotion to that goal.

A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. – Matthew 21:28-32.

The story of the two sons explains that not everyone who starts first finishes first. Failure results from indifference. Everyone has opportunities to forge ahead, if they hold steady.

We are all swimming in the River of Life. The weak and indifferent laggards are along the shores, backwashes and stagnant places, but regularly, the river sweeps them back into the mainstream.

Prayer keeps us all afloat. Every prayer for those who are struggling draws someone into the sparkling waters again, though they may have been delayed.

I must be my own "first one through." My first call must carry me through the first time, without blame, regret or slipping backward.

My faith unconquerable takes me through any problem the first time I pray. Faith is my justification, my glory, my triumph. My prayer of unwavering faith breaks through any barrier.

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 2, 1965. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes and Irene White. Scriptures: Matthew 21:19-22 and Matthew 21:28-32.

Society is in a dilemma of secular materialism, leaning to science, denying the Power of God or that Jesus is the only Begotten Son of God. The world must face the truth that the Power of God exists.

People magnify their personal fears into world fears. World trend requirements have made us a neighborhood, but not a brotherhood.

Yet, you take yourself along with yourself, day and night, wherever you go. Be sure to bring your loyalty to God and personal integrity with you.

History reveals many who were the first one through with idea – George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and our Founding Fathers, William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, Marie Curie, Winston Churchill, the Buddha, the astronauts, etc. Everyone with a new idea, who breaks through the static barrier of "the way things are," suffers for it.

People who have a goal are purposeful. Without a soul purpose and goal, a man is lost. To reach any goal, you must be the first one through for yourself.

When he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. – Matthew 21:19-22.

Jesus taught the lesson of the barren fig tree because everyone is like a fig tree in potential. Each has come through a barren state, some mental block to success. You must break through the barrier of self's barrenness to access the vast soul potential within you that is not yet bearing fruit.

Each of the Elect is a creator, begotten by and descended from God. We were thrown from the Garden of Eden and are earning back our place by good hard work.

In life, you go through periods of progression and regression. When a tree bears no fruit, you must uproot it. This is symbolic also of old emotions, ideas, beliefs and idle words.

You must center yourself and focus on a goal, which in this case is returning to your original state. You are building a mansion in the sky. Never let go of your overall goal to attain any short-term goal.

You are building your road back home after what seems like eternities in the wilderness of consciousness. For every little surrender of the self, you are working on the inner to promote soul growth, earning back your position in heaven.

A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. – Matthew 21:28-32.

You are breaking through the barrenness of self to those potential soul qualities within. Only your own weaknesses keep you from attaining. You cut your own vibration with idle words, and soul taints.

You may even destroy your own creative prayer molds just as you fill them to overflowing. Yet do not waste one moment in guilt.

Instead, quicken your consciousness and circumstances until you break through, and ascend in consciousness. Lift the past. Forget the past, and move forward, reaching toward the mark of the high calling of God.

Any idea you receive from the source of all ideas carries the power of that source with it. Release the Power. Declare, "Here I am, Father! Please shoot the Power through me to fill this mold. Let it come to pass."

Do not take time to deny that you have a pain or any other hindrance. Break through now. Ascend in consciousness into a new concept of where you are going. Give the goal all your faith, all your service, and serve no false gods on the side.

When God puts a new beautiful heavy task before you, He says, "Child, no one out there can take away this beautiful form you have created. The substance is Christlike. It comes together again, and no one can tear it down. It will come together again."

God has already poured out the substance for your miracle-molds, and you cannot ask for anything too big. You can be the first one through with prayers for everything.

When you pray a prayer for release of Power to gather some politician or public figure into the Light, declare them good, even if the news says they are black. Every time you pray, surround them with a brighter sphere of Light, no matter how dark they are.

Some people pass away under a dark cloud of hatred. Your task is to surround them with love, for the Light to heal them on the inner.

You can be the first one through. Lifting the darkness of earth is a wonderful goal.