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Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1934
Edna Lister outline, April 15, 1934, Buffalo, New York, May 4, 1947, Tacoma, Washington; Matthew 18:21-35
“Peter said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus said to him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owed. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”–Matthew 18:21-35.
His disciples’ questions set the stage for Jesus to teach this parable. They were asking questions such as, “Why do I need to forgive? How forgiving, how unselfish, how tolerant must I be? How much must I overlook?”
This particular initiation has two stages, each with two phases. When you first see the Light, which is the Face of the King, your soul condemns the past and feels complete imprisonment is too good for its indiscretions and sins. You become conscious of self and all self’s relationships. The second phase is your relationship to God as being one with Him, inseparable. Then your seeking and devotion push up, through earth’s influence, until you become a living sacrifice, giving up self, climbing into the sunlight where only love pours forth as an ever-living, ever-loving stream.
The second stage is your relationship to the manifest world and the aggressive quality of intellect. The Master commanded us to judge only righteous judgment, but often it is better to render none at all. Remember the law of “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”–John 21:22. The first phase in your relation to the world is generally condemnation of others, where you hold grudges. You are cast into prison, subject to tormentors, and the lesson returns until you learn it.
The second phase is love, the feminine quality, which enables you to become conscious of oneness with all that is outside you, and mercy—all blended into patience and forgiveness. To forgive is to give love for everything. Patience isn’t your goal. If you work to develop patience, it attracts more occasions in which you can develop it. Love fulfills all law. Use a private wailing wall instead of a friend’s shoulder.
How many times should you forgive? Jesus said seventy times seven, which equals 490, or until forgiving becomes an automatic habit and response.
Recognizing Your Good
Edna Lister outline, April 22, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Luke 18:18-27
“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”–Luke 18:18-27.
The episode of the rich man and the kingdom of God is a perfect sample of lecture and class work, Jesus’ inner and outer teachings. The lesson is divided into three parts, three great ideas under three questions that personality or intellect asks when it becomes dissatisfied with its present place and knowledge. Personality is always seeking, wanting more. The first idea deals with becoming a creator, and the first question is, How can I get more life, love, more of what I want?
The first four commands are warnings not to misuse Power. “Thou shalt not kill” anything in form that is seeking experience, for if you destroy form, you are responsible to give experience to the life that possessed that form. You cannot go on your way until you pay the debt.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery” means you may not misuse any facet of the creative fire or the Creative Impulse within the one Power on any level of consciousness. Otherwise, you pay a severe soul debt. Adultery includes unclean thoughts and emotions of any kind. For example, a negative thoughts and feelings indicate adulterated truth.
“Thou shalt not steal” means that you dare not take without having earned it, or you pay. You must earn everything, and what you receive you earn through giving.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness” refers to misuse of speech in idle words, lies or curses. The seat of Power is in the throat, because the voice, speaking the Word, releases the most Power.
The last two commands deal with your adherence to principle. You must live by principle and honor the Father and Mother God principles of Wisdom and Love.
“Thou shalt love your neighbor as you love yourself” means to be selfless, which is the Christ-consciousness principle. Service is Wisdom, Love and Selflessness in fourfold action: To protect others, to maintain purity, to give to others, and to praise.
The second question deals with how to get personality and intellect interested: How do you reach your ideal? The second idea is willingness to let go, to surrender on the outer plane until you can dimly see another higher level of consciousness.
The first phase is to surrender material things, to hold no possessions, no “me” or “mine” as more important than your soul’s ascension. The second phase is surrender of self to follow Christ. Obeying the letter of the law is not enough, for you must include the law’s spirit as well. Passive obedience never satisfies aggressive intellect. Jesus seized this opportunity to teach his disciples this inner mystical truth, but he could not reveal the hidden reason to the unprepared souls.
A Bactrian camel has two humps, which we may symbolically name as desire and will. The “eye of the needle” is the symbolic name of the optic chiasm 1 of the thalamus. You can give up selfish desires in favor of your soul’s desire for Light and its heavenly source, and push the first hump through. The second hump, the self-centered will is harder to surrender. When you realize that you, of yourself can will nothing, you turn on your now undiluted desire, and God performs the miracle.
The third question is, What shall I receive? The Master again is speaking about the mysteries to teach the third idea. The son of man includes everyone. The son of man loves impersonally, and is forever giving.
Regeneration is lifting up the body’s vibration. The “throne of glory” is the higher creative center 2 in the head. Twelve physical centers direct the Power, and your degree of self-control is the extent of your “dominion.”
The disciples knew that those who believe they are first may linger and loiter. Someone must be last. You must remain keen, alert, alive and eager, or you fall back and another takes your place. Someone is always ready to move into a higher place.
Do you, will you believe it when God answers your prayers? Where do you center your faith? Oil well drillers use a diamond-faceted drill bit to cut down into the earth. You drill upward to tap principle. Faith is your diamond drill bit, which sharpens itself as it pierces through the crust of your intellectual selfishness.
The laws govern what you do on the physical-material, emotional-personal, and mental-intellectual levels of the inner mysteries. With what do you identify with, self or with God? Will you forever be satisfied with substitutes, or recognize your so great destiny, reach forth, and press on?
Edna Lister outline, May 27, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”–Matthew 25:31-46.
All thoughts are either constructive or destructive, yet you must bring them all before the judge of conscience, to be self-reviewed. “All the nations” are different states of consciousness, positive and negative, ranging from good to worthless.
Using your mental faculty of discrimination, you set the sheep on the right, and goats on the left. Sheep represent mild and guileless inheritors of the Father’s kingdom “before the foundation of the world.” The “hungry” are hungering for all things to be lifted into the Light. The “thirsty” are trying to partake fully of life.
The “stranger” has left himself out of God’s kingdom. The “naked” lack their robes of spiritual radiance because they have misspent their soul substance. The “sick” are negative in their attitudes toward life, weak from lack of contact with the Source of all life. The “prison” describes souls who have held back, living in a house of bondage to fear, carrying a crust.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”–Matthew 25:37-39
Usually, you are unconscious of being yourself. The Lord’s advice on how to be conscious is, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”–Matthew 25:40
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”–Matthew 25:41. The left-hand goats are the resentful souls, rebellious against God, and life. Their conscience eventually curses them to the eternal fire, burning them about what they have left undone, until they feel unclothed and cold, hunger to lift their debts, and thirst for truth and righteousness. Lift your idle, worthless thoughts to an altar of fire, knowing that nothing is lost. Let them “burn forever” while you purify your thinking, until it is clear and clean.
In this life, you are learning that now is the Day of Judgment, each night and every day. The dividing line is your discrimination faculty unfolding as you lift and choose each night whom you will serve. How have you applied love, praise, desire, imagination and the spoken Word? So shall you be sons and daughters of God “from the foundation of the world,” in your place.
Edna Lister outline, June 10, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Matthew 27:33-50
“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
“Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.”–Matthew 27:33-50.
The initiation of Crucifixion through renunciation has two distinct phases. The first phase occurs in the high place, in the head, at the pyramidal decussation, below the pons of the medulla oblongata, under the skull. You must lift all selfish desires and will to the high place first. Jesus’ first choice was between sour wine, which represents vitality, and gall, which symbolizes bitterness. How do you give and receive life’s offerings, in joy or in misery?
The second experience is to see your so-called possessions divided. You see folks take what you cherish, and experience the loss of what is precious, while giving up the need to possess things or people. The third experience is to receive contempt in situations where no one can see your history of success. For example, even the robbers, who were also strangers, cast reproach on Jesus.
You must offer even your raised vitality in sacrifice. For example, you may have found many old ideas to have been pleasurable. Yet pleasures, which are those who rob you, and laugh in reproach as did the one thief. You come to the same place under the same laws as the outer world, but the reaction is that the higher you lift, the more responsible you become.
Darkness covered the land from the sixth to the ninth hour. The sixth hour represents complete mastery, in which you balance Mother Love and Father Wisdom to become a creator. Three hours of darkness is the time between finally passing the Crucifixion initiation and the subsequent release of Power to perfect and to polish the creature soul. The ninth hour holds the three trinities, the physical, mental and spiritual, Mind, Substance and Power, Wisdom, Love and Selflessness.
To complete an initiation you must fulfill its requirements. Imagine the Christ principle descending to fill Jesus: He had to pass this great test alone, until he had wiped out, crossed out his last bit of personal will so that he had no need to be nailed onto that cross. To reach the final glory, you must pass through the Crucifixion to renounce self. Only then you achieve the fulfillment of the soul.
Edna Lister outline, August 19, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Mark 12:28-31, Hosea 12:8
“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”–Mark 12:28-31.
You think of keeping or obeying the laws concerning your daily private life, and those laws that pertain to our nation and the world. Yet people seldom consider the law that governs the relationship between things and substance.
Hosea said, “I am become rich. I have found me out substance.”–Hosea 12:8.
As the pursuit of “things,” such as material goods and success, consumes you, you shift your focus from God to the world. In keeping the law that governs the relationship between things and substance, you must fix your eyes on God.
Worship the one God, Him only, with mind, heart, body, soul, and no “false gods” of material wealth. This is one way to keep the law. You can achieve balance in keeping the law through charity and giving up self and its expressions.
Often you can see divine law work, but many people seem so surprised that it does. Anyone, anything can push you off the path, off-track, if you let them. Anyone can disconnect anything, but you should never pull your plug to the Source, nor let another pull it.
We are sons and daughters of God, all glorious, radiant, and powerful. All things are possible now. Father, we give ourselves up to Thee, to Thy way of life.
Edna Lister outline, August 26, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Hosea 11:1-9
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. And My people are bent to backsliding from Me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt Him. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.”–Hosea 11:1-9.
This lesson describes three states of consciousness. First, Hosea is looking into the past, but finding nothing he recognizes. “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.”–Hosea 11:3. Ephraim is one of Israel’s tribes. The name means “will,” and its nature is headstrong, willful, rebellious and stubborn. Ephraim represents the English-speaking nations. Our states predominate in this characteristic of will, seeking recognition, but finding none.
“How shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim?”–Hosea 11:8. Admah means “red earth, earthy.” Zeboim means “destruction of life.” Hosea is speaking for God as if He were a man. Hosea’s anger caused his difficulty and misunderstanding. All the prophets of old credited God with their anger.
You cannot know God unless you become like Him. What we call “being human” is living after an age-old pattern, ready to drop family, friends, situations, and truth for greater freedom and comfort. If you feel that you are no longer responsible, your enthusiasm is dying.
In thesecond state of consciousness, love is overcoming even the desire for personal recognition. You are thinking about loving, planning to love. Enthusiasm is returning, and life is arousing your interest. You begin thinking about how the other fellow will react to what you do or say.
In the third state of consciousness, you give lavishly of love, without desire for recognition or anything else in return. When you walk in justice, the weight of your transgressions falls away. Now you are completely enthusiastic, enthralled with God because love is the divine tempter, sent to tempt you to serve God. You forget anything that is not good.
Moses led Israel for forty years, yet scripture never says that Moses’ clothes or shoes wore out. You must fall out of step with world ideas, and in step with divine Power. Daniel was out of step with “lion-like desire” so the lions had no power over him.
So, being linked to God, you become enthralled. You become tireless, for time means nothing as you march on steadfastly. You love to the point of complete absorption, agreement and accord. Anyone enthralled with things is their slave and lives for them. If you are body-conscious, your body enthralls you. If your affairs become your life, they fascinate you. If the sound of your own voice enthralls you, you become a loudspeaker for self. If you are enthralled with your self, you are always playing to a grandstand.
Anyone enthralled with an idea becomes a success at it. Anyone enthralled with the idea of selfless service is successful, because Power doubles their ability. Anyone enamored with this divine love, which is Power, shall become a world leader. Stop prowling in the outer world of mere materiality. Begin searching for the joys found only in the inner kingdom.
Edna Lister outline, September 2, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Hosea 12
“Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually. He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
“And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.”–Hosea 12
This lesson highlights four ideas. First, the I AM Oversoul consciousness is speaking to the intellectual self, the self-centered rational soul—the prophet speaks to the people. Second, intellect is speaking to the Oversoul’s I AM consciousness—the people speak to the prophet. Third, the I AM of Oversoul is telling the rational soul intellect—the prophet is telling the people. Fourth, Jehovah is warning the rational soul of hidden factors and appetitive soul detriments.
Four ideas are embodied in two words—loyalty and obedience. You must have your torch lighted. Browning wrote of truth as “imprisoned splendor” in his poem, Paracelsus.
Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise
From outward things, whate’er you may believe.
There is an inmost centre in us all,
Where truth abides in fulness; and around,
Wall upon wall, the gross flesh hems it in,
This perfect, clear perception—which is truth.
A baffling and perverting carnal mesh
Binds it, and makes all error: and to know
Rather consists in opening out a way
Whence the imprisoned splendour may escape,
Than in effecting entry for a light
Supposed to be without.
–Robert Browning
Edna Lister outline outline, September 9, 1934, Buffalo, New York; October 2, 1955, Tacoma, Washington; 2 Chronicles 30:1-20
“Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be ye not stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
“So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord. And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.
“For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.”–2 Chronicles 30:1-20
The world today seems to be in chaos. People are fumbling in the dark, trembling in fear. We must turn to God or we could lose another great civilization.
When Hezekiah was sick unto death, he prayed to the Lord to heal him, and the Lord said “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.”–2 King 20:5. Hezekiah’s name means “strengthened by Yahweh.”
Later, when he became king, he immediately cleansed the temple and sought to renew Israel’s covenant with God. Then he issued a call to all the tribes, including Ephraim and Manasseh, which symbolize the English-speaking countries, England and America, which have unified the speech of the world, undoing the curse of Babel:
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”–Genesis 11:1–9
For lack of consecration and purity, the priests and the congregation could not eat the Passover. Yet they were stiff-necked and unyielding. You purify the self through surrender to and agreement with Christ in the midst of you. You build a bridge to the unseen by the love you’ve given that has been returned to you. Yet to do so, you must be so lavish with giving love that you glow.
Giving love creates a glory so blinding, a glory so great, and freedom beyond man’s ability to fathom—not freedom to do as you please for a few, but freedom for everyone. You should be working for tax-free homes instead of penal servitude, here and now. Our call to arms is, “With me is the arm of Jehovah my God. Prepare ye the way.” Does this ring in your heart? Does it answer your questions? Does it thrill you?
Everyone must now assemble at Jerusalem. When you seek sanctuary within the refuge, you shall not be moved. Your offerings must include a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep, burnt offerings for a thousand days. When you offer that many gifts of self to bring wisdom and understanding, you will have all things, beyond your dreams for all. You can have as much as you like and are willing to earn.
“Prepare ye the way.” What are you doing? Lifting is your gift to the world. You are free to express, yet the only way to do so rightly is to prepare the way by ascension of consciousness.
Edna Lister outline, September 16, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Luke 17:22-32
“And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife.”–Luke 17:22-32
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities near lime deposits and pits of burning asphalt. Lime symbolizes crystallization. Sodom was a place stinking of perversion, secrets and intrigue. Gomorrah represents ruthless oppression and corrupt tyranny. All this represents the soul’s lowest possible states of consciousness.
The Master is speaking to all those who have disobeyed, issuing a warning call to those who are off the path, but who try to do something better on the outside. Outer sacrifices are vain unless you make them as precious gifts of self. You must cleanse and purify yourself. Yet how are you to do that, using what? Self must accept soul’s decision to “reason together” with higher soul consciousness. Soul must set a policy to allow the petty little self to be persuaded, not forced. Thus, soul encourages willingness and obedience to law.
The Master also issues a stern warning against refusal and rebellion, or the sword will devour you. The sword represents truth, double-edged as Love and Wisdom, opposing all powers of darkness. You are always learning little things daily. Whatever you must do, you must do it well. The first step is the recognition that “This means me.” Most important is, “This applies to me.” Otherwise, your life remains a question mark with no resolution.
All prophets have always pointed one way, the Christ Way, the Via Christa, though they have used many expressions and titles for it. After Jesus came, we later learned that all Christians are destined to become Christed Ones. You must reason this out for yourself and apply it as your Creed. You cannot dream ascension into your life, but may allow Christ divinely to tempt you into ascension. You, the soul, must lay your earth life on the anvil. The hammer is within as the Spirit, but the anvil is outside, in the outer world. Thus you forge a conquering soul.
Edna Lister outline, September 21, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Job 22:25
“The Almighty will be thy treasure and precious silver unto thee.”–Job 22:25
To become an expert in doing good takes a long time. Thornton Wilder wrote, “Of all the forms of genius, goodness has the longest awkward age.” 3 Your thoughts may be beautiful, but if your acts or words are ungainly, others will perceive you as always wrong. If your thoughts and approach are powerful, success should follow.
You must release the indwelling Power. It’s not a question of where the Power is, or what Power it is, but of how to release what you have from where you know you have it. For example, the aeronautics industry has designed a “little black box” {a flight recorder} to record flights so that no matter what, they will know what happened to the aircraft. Hundreds of inventions are waiting in divine Mind, ready to brought into form when we are ready to use them.
When you have accepted that you have “all power and dominion,” you confront the how-to-do-it issue, how to release the Power. Anyone can become an expert if he chooses to do so and be so. Richard Mansfield 4 worked hard to become famous as a skilled and expert Shakespearean actor.
It makes no difference what you desire to do, you may do it if you invest ten minutes each day in exercising your talent, and another ten minutes a day in study. Doing this repeatedly, you win the race as did the steadfast tortoise, who won against the skittish hare in Aesop’s fable. Too much time is the curse of the world. You always have plenty of time when you practice inner calm and approach life’s tasks gradually, just a little at a time.
A Chinese proverb says that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Take that first step toward becoming “an expert in doing good.” This is the journey that leads to true prosperity. “The Almighty will be thy treasure and precious silver unto thee.”–Job 22:25
Edna Lister outline, September 23, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Isaiah 31:1-9
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord! Yet He also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; and they all will perish together.
“For thus the Lord has spoken to me: As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey (when a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor be disturbed by their noise), so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. Like birds flying about, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also preserve it; passing over, He will preserve it. Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
“For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold—sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves. Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword, not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labor. He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.”–Isaiah 31:1-9.
This whole lesson is about the triumph of God’s Power over every evil limitation. Men worship false gods and idols that they make with their own hands. Yet, the bondage and darkness cannot become too great, for all things of the world are temporary and shall be overcome.
The horsemen and chariots represent outside worldly forces. These things are man-made, by the Egyptians, not God. If you depend on them, both the helper and the helped fall. A lion represents courage. The wings of birds symbolize the protective power of Spirit, or courageous Power loosed. When you release Power, you have created your own protection. A wall of Light then surrounds you.
Zion, the Lord’s fortress, holds fire. Jerusalem, the city of peace, is a furnace. Passivity includes lukewarmness, and indifference in action. Many are born to peace and make good stoppers—they stop bullets, and may stop work. Yet you need an active peace. “Yet He also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.”–Isaiah 31:2. How? Is this truth?
The Assyrians represent intellect, false reasoning, and reactionary judgment based on insufficient outer world facts. “Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.”–Isaiah 37:36.
Five thousand one hundred and eighty men were killed, which represents individuality, represented by the number one; power, symbolized by the number eight, and freedom, represented by the number five. Once dead to the outer world, they may be reborn in a new heaven.
An ocean liner must undock and lose sight of land as it voyages to its destination. In ascension, you must willingly give up the safety of the old for the new life ahead. Every ship has a propeller, an engine room, and a bridge. Controlled, these represent the individuality, power, and freedom that outwardly display the unconquerable Power of Spirit available to you.
Edna Lister outline, September 30, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalm 91
“The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.”–Deuteronomy 33:27
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
“Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”–Psalm 91.
God is the unchanging principle of life and all wisdom of the one Mind. A divided mind is confused and reveals a lack of balance in thinking, desires and imagination.
God is divine love, the “still small voice” of all understanding, fearlessness, justice, and obedience. God is the Oversoul’s I AM consciousness in man, the personalized I AM THAT I AM. When you share His I AM consciousness, you experience radiant life, health, stamina, power, longevity, etc.
When you practice the principles of right living, little things take care of themselves immediately. Transformation includes the added things of the kingdom, and increase in every department of life. So many new ideas are coming through, new ways, new places, trying new things. The Light shining through.
The Armageddon begins now, the supreme conflict between nations. The Israelites, Egyptians, and Ethiopians are in conflict. Light must conquer! Declare that darkness has no Power, and you put it to flight.
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”–Deuteronomy 33:27. “He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou trust.”–Psalm 91:4. You are a creator god now.
Edna Lister outline, October 7, 1934, Buffalo, New York, John 15:1-13
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”–John 15:1-13.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”–John 15:4-5.
To abide means “to rest; to sustain, remain; to continue, dwell; to stand firm, to remain faithful to.” Abiding means permanent.
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Christ principle
Christ is the true vine, through which we produce the fruits of the Love principle, the Wisdom principle, and the Christ principle. A husbandman provides careful vine management. Our Father is the overseer, the King of Heaven. An over “seer” is one who sees all minds and hearts, all hidden things clearly. He knows exactly the moment when a lesson must come.
When you abide in Christ, you continually maintain your contact with Light, which ensures that you will produce perfect fruit, and a perfect harvest. Your Father, the great Pruner, will prune every broken branch eventually.
You may also assume greater responsibility and use the word “let,” which is your great pruner. The Master’s promise for those who abide is, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will and it shall be done unto you.”–John 15:7. “Done unto you” is a peculiar wording when “done with” or “done for” would make more sense. “Done unto” implies all “added things.”
You have glorified, justified, and pleased your Father when you abide in the Christed consciousness. Christed love and joy then abides in you. This is no hollow, shallow promise, but the Word of the universal Christ. He has promised that he shall make your joy full.
The Master commands you to use love, to give your life for a friend, which means lifting your loved ones each day. When he calls you friend, he makes you his equal in opportunity for Ascension.
You are chosen to go and bear much fruit, but you must choose: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”–John 15:16.
In 1291, Moslems converted the ancient Church of St. John into a mosque. 5 It bears an inscription, which one must crawl over the roof to see, “Thy Kingdom, O Christ, is an everlasting Kingdom.” [See Psalm 145:13.] We have reached the point where the world must and shall acknowledge Christ.
Imagine being transported to a beautiful room with a dozen doors with no locks or knobs. Behind just one is untold treasure: Life, beauty, wealth, power, love, and youth. The door will open only by standing perfectly still, only by abiding in perfect steadfastness, only to the right word of praise. You have only one chance. If you move, you may open the wrong one. What would you choose to do?
Only Light sent forth from above will open the kingdom to you. Finally, you must stand in Christed courage. Is your life filled with counterfeits in Power? Why take the false or settle for the vain? You must be an ensample of Christed love and wisdom, acting as compassion. You must be cleansed and pruned to grow and to bear much fruit.
Edna Lister outline, October 14, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Acts 8:26-39
“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot reading Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
“The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.
“And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”–Acts 8:26-39
“Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”–Acts 8:26: This scripture is loaded with action. It begins as an angel of the Lord orders Philip to go southward, down from Jerusalem, symbolizing heavenly peace, to Gaza, representing worldly power, a stronghold, a fortified place of strength.
Some people believe that spiritual action means to sit in peace, meditate and play with the idea. A place of power is a place of action where everything else is added because of your “right-use-ness,” which implies that you must use something.
You may not sit and just think, contemplate and dream. You must use your resources and act. Philip used his resources to baptize the eunuch, who was a servant to Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. In this context, the Ethiopians represent darkness within, dark emotions and desires such as greed, passion, etc. The Egyptians represent dark thinking.
The eunuch represents thoughts from which all outer desire has been lifted, absolutely selfless thoughts, but without any desire to create behind them. You do not accomplish real contemplation by sitting still, but by activity. The eunuch’s study of Isaiah with Philip led him to understand the thoughts that were standing highest in rank of their purity.
Philip teaches that baptism can come only by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Power is the life of Light. Power incites words. Words are the carrier media for Power. Words open the door between Power and the world without using any action beyond speech or the power to create, but you may use no force in doing so. A soul who lacks the Spirit of baptism, or who is not high enough in consciousness, often cannot find the words of praise to speak because he lacks a sufficient infusion of the Holy Spirit.
You either arise or go down in consciousness. You cannot afford to go down to think in Egypt or Ethiopia, the lower self of creature consciousness. You must go as a strong, arisen son or daughter of God. Then your chariot is awaiting you. When you hear the call, you may choose to arise or go down, which is disobedient. Stand still for the answer.
First, John baptizes with water those who accept that Christ is. Philip releases the Power of the Baptism by Fire that makes you a Christed one. Arise! You have a desert to cross all alone, to reach the Temple in the City of God. John’s baptism sends you out into the desert of denial, where you find no peace.
Philip teaches praise that opens your eyes to see the glories awaiting and the chariot of fire. Philip was caught up again into peace. The Ethiopian eunuch, who represents freedom, stood bathed in the divine radiance and said, “Here is water,” which represents recognition. “Just a little way” means you, not a few, but every one of us. You shall all find strength through praise, Power, poise and peace.
Edna Lister outline, October 21, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Matthew 6:5-15
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”–Matthew 6:5-15.
Prayer deals with the soul’s inner life. Prayer is how the embodied soul communicates with God, the Source of All That Is. Hypocrites embrace two extremes: For example, while they love the limelight, they are afraid to be seen in some places or doing certain things.
The Lord’s prayer lists several things not to do, for example, do not waste time in mouthing vain repetitions. The Father knows your needs already, and is eager to supply all recompense.
The Lord’s prayer also lists some steps to take: Maintain secrecy to avoid being caught doing good. When your pride and ego are no longer on display, others will offer no reaction or interference, for they will find nothing in what you say or do to resist or to overcome.
Edna Lister outline, October 28, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Ephesians 4:17-27, Ephesians 5:15-21
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”–Ephesians 4:17-27
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”–Ephesians 5:15-21
St. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, always prayed that they would have eyes of understanding, and enlightened Spirit of wisdom and revelation. He prayed that God would “grant you according to His riches in glory,” the “fellowship of the mysteries.” You must put off the old man of earth, the Adam man, and all old ways of living. Then you must put on a new standard of living, a new life consisting of discipline. A disciple is a disciplined one.
To create orderly thinking, you must follow six steps. First, give yourself a mental house cleaning. Live in the now, not in the past. Put Christ in the midst of your thinking, paying attention to the inner voice of Spirit. Second, fill yourself with Spirit, which is a conception of God’s life. Then His universal concepts become ideas made plain to you.
Third, focus on redeeming time through paying attention, and by surrendering to God. Fourth, practice daily meditation upon the wisdom of God. Fifth, seek to find the relationship of all life through coordination of your personal will, common sense, good judgment, reason, imagination, and so forth. Sixth, achieve illumination through conscious realization that you are a son or daughter of God.
Then weave it all together through “giving thanks,” by “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Hold yourself to this practice through praise.
All paths to glory climb upward on the single path of destiny. If you get off the path, you must climb over rotting logs, rocks, and fallen trees. Destiny always follows the right path ahead.
Conquering is declaring that everyone and every thing is good: “This is the best, just perfect. I love it, and the way is gloriously open.” Yet if you turn from the Light, you can see no way to climb but fall to the bottom, and must retrace your steps. When you finally achieve the glory at the mountain top, you see heaven. You realize that the world really is God’s.
Edna Lister outline, November 4, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Luke 2:40-52
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”–Luke 2:40-52.
Tradition has it that Joseph was a master of Jewish law, and Mary had been raised by a priest of the Temple. Both had a marvelous background. Mary knew that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus knew he was the Messiah.
His parents spent three days seeking the young Jesus in Jerusalem. When they found him, he asked, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” His questions reveal his amazed astonishment
Jerusalem, which means “city of peace,” is set upon a hill, so they “went up” to it. Jesus was twelve years old, yet he knew this law—“Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”–2 Peter 3:8.
At least once each day, spend time in quiet meditation on the message of the Christ. Practice listening and hearing, without talking. How silly it is to seek the Son outside the silence, in the outer world. “I am always in my Father’s house,” he would say, “about my Father’s business.” God is always seeking His Son in you.
You are subject to the Father God of Wisdom, and to the Mother God of Love. You must also be obedient to all duties on the outside until your faithfulness promotes you beyond them. All virtues are born through diligence and self-control, which leads to mastery.
South African diamond mines have been operating for at least a thousand years. The diamonds were formed 1 to 3 billions of years ago in darkness, under a combination of factors, heat, first of all, and immense pressure. [Learn more about how diamonds are made.] Uncut and unpolished, a diamond appears as nothing special. To bring a stone to light, the gem-cutter cuts and polishes it at high speed. The diamond lends itself to the polishing process one facet at a time.
The soul, encased in the darkened matrix of self’s flaws is also drab and unimpressive at first sight. Light cuts away self’s weight, and God polishes you with divine activity, a high vibration. When soul shines brilliantly and gloriously, you can see that it wears the sign of its cutter.
God made you to let your Light so shine. To let your love so overflow. To let the Power so use you to all diligence and self control. You wear the sign of the Great Cutter, cut and polished, to shine always.
Edna Lister outline, November 11, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Galatians 5:13-15
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”–Galatians 5:13-15.
What is peace? To some, it means freedom from unrest, or quiet, calm, and harmony. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you are a student of truth, but what is that truth? You are sworn to live by and as truth, which implies activity.
God has “called us to liberty,” which means that He has given you the freedom to express either after the pattern of Spirit, or after the world. Liberty has no one to bind, no one to bully.
You have freedom of choice as to how you shall use your freedom and liberty. If you choose to live by the world pattern, it will devour you. The world is always trying to devour people and things until it consumes everyone. Spirit lives by opposing all darkness. It may look like division and strife, but works only to bring peace.
If you choose to worship false gods, you live under the law of sin, death and crystallization. Yet you can choose to inherit the kingdom of God, to live and walk by Spirit. If you live your inner life alone, without compassion, you see only the negatives when you walk abroad. If instead of love for your neighbor, you are vainglorious, proud of having everything yourself, you turn the love-power moving through you into force.
Flesh is spiritual substance. Yet you crucify it by debasing the good, by misuse of Power, and by adulterating pure foods. Eventually you learn that no substitution or dilution of Spirit works.
Love builds character. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, 6 “Your self-made man, whittled into shape with his own jackknife, deserves more credit, for he made a good job of it,” which perfectly describes a finished job of soul polishing.
No magical formula for love exists, yet love works magic. All you need to do is to let it work without interference or forcing. Who is doing the work? God, the Master Craftsman, within and through you.
While loving your neighbor, you are strict with your self, but lenient and charitable with them. Never adulterate or dilute the Power as you release it. Your outer actions show whether you are really letting the Power use you. Determine to walk in Spirit. Life is then fascinating, an ecstasy, thrilling with glory beyond compare.
First, love yourself enough to know how great you are. Then you can love your neighbor. Your responsibility is to be your brother’s keeper by holding all the lines of responsibility and Light in your hands.
Edna Lister outline, November 18, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Acts 2:38-43
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:13-16.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”–Acts 2:38-43.
“Ye are the salt of the earth.”–Matthew 5:13. Without salt, food is insipid, tasteless. Without spiritual salt, life is boring, unattractive, with nothing to live for. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”–1 Corinthians 12:27. No human or outer agency can give you pep, ginger, effervescence, joy, enthusiasm, or point the way. All this comes from within.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”–Matthew 5:14-15. You must place a lamp on a stand, on top of the table, not below or hidden from view.
You commit yourself to divine distribution because the Baptism of Spirit creates a quickened desire to serve, a quickened desire to cooperate because you wish to share, to give of the Creative Impulse itself.
“Fear came upon every soul.” In this context you may interpret fear as meaning awe or obedience. “Fear of the Lord” is obedience to God’s law. The Father has given you the ability to choose because He has given you freedom to choose.
Only one house is ultimately attractive to you, your Father’s house. God has put you on a long tether line, which Einstein says will circle back to Him. Of course, some of us have our backs to the Light. Imagine backing all the way home. What a long, laborious process. To turn and face Light is so very easy. You may claim sanctuary under the Light, knowing that no darkness or adversity can touch the soul who stands under the Light.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”–James 1:17. The Father of Lights is the source of all good descending from above. Just declare, “Thank You Father. You always say yes.” If you plan darkness, God will say, “Yes.” If you plan Light, He will always answer, “Yes.”
Become fascinated with Light, obsessed with the divine idea of Light. Use this Light, and appropriate more. When? Now. To whom does this apply? To you. Glorify God and He will clothe you with the sun!
Edna Lister outline, November 25, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Matthew 25:14-30
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”–Matthew 25:14-30.
The Spirit coming to earth is like the man who journeyed to a far country. You must trust the conscious mind to see and do and be for you. The five talents—inspiration, perception, apperception, intuition, and illumination—represent the five physical senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. The two talents represent desire and intellect, or love, wisdom. One talent represents diligence and selflessness to work for others’ profit. Unless you are diligent, fear deadens every faculty.
Spirit reaps the soul experience from work, travel and family. Making a banker’s investment in selflessness and giving, makes you wise. He who has and uses what he has, improves, and to him more shall be given. “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”–Matthew 25:29. An unprofitable servant is cast into the outer darkness, with much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable is all about faithfulness. How faithful are you? What is your capacity? You must use all you have to the glory of God. Have you said “yes” all week?
Spirit is the divine tempter, sent to entice, lure, and tempt. If you invest even one talent, you show diligence in standing under the Light, in faithfulness. You have a choice to continue prowling on the outer, or searching on the inner for hidden splendor.
Edna Lister outline, December 2, 1934, Buffalo, New York, 1 Thessalonians 1
“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”–1 Thessalonians 1.
After Jesus had left his disciples, they knew, by what he had taught them, when others had really received the truth. They revealed the evidences of truth in their lives. The disciples carried on with the Master’s flocks as they had been taught. They taught them about thankfulness, soul gratitude for what they had received of the Lord.
Jesus had taught them that praise increases your thankfulness, and that you must remember to pray and praise without ceasing. You can increase your gratitude by praising the other person, telling him how wonderful he is. Do not be afraid to spoil children or the other fellow. Praise helps others to pass their tests.
Paul wrote to the church of the Thessalonians that they were “elected.” To be elected is to be chosen. You are “called” in the instant you hear of and about truth. You act on your calling when you choose by your faith to labor in love, and have patience in hope. You become the Elect by your choices; this is how you are elected. Yet, by what sign did the disciples know? How did those whom God called show their choice?
Because they heard the Word, it released Power that lifted them to the place of spiritual seeing and discernment of truth. The descent of the Christed Holy Spirit filled them with assurance. Through their initiators, the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ paid their vows, and became “ensamples” 7 of the law versus “examples” of those who merely obey the law. Thus, Christ called them into a larger field of service.
The Word of God is truth sounded forth, wherever faith has gone forth. Where? How? By lifting all people and situations into the Light, Paul and Timothy proved that they were in service to the living God.
The disciples knew the truth as the Master had taught them. When he called Simon Peter and Andrew, he said, “Follow me: I will make you fishers of men. And straightway they left their nets and followed him.”–Matthew 4:19-20. Today, he still says, “Follow me.” A fisherman uses faith, because he cannot see the fish he plans to catch. He makes a net, and gets a boat. He knows the fish are there. The tide is inevitable, it invariably comes in every day. Men are of greater value than fish. When you act “straightway,” the reaction of law is inevitably instant.
Your use of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope inevitably produce the evidence of glory. You may cast your nets for fish and nothing may happen. Yet if you cast your net for men, you and they are lifted into glory sublime.
Edna Lister outline, December 9, 1934, Buffalo, New York, Matthew 7:24-29, Acts 16:25-28
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”–Matthew 7:24-29
“A certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”–Acts 18:24-28.
These two stories, a parable and an account, illustrate a right way and a wrong way of doing and being. Early in your involvement in truth work, you ask, Why does this come to me? When will the miracle come? Why does that teacher have trouble, or experience limitation? Teachers put up guide posts, post signs, issue warnings, admonitions, and advice on the path, the road they have just traversed. Yet everyone must apply this advice to his own path.
One immediately sees the need for building on a solid foundation. During the San Francisco earthquake, the Call Building suffered the explosive equivalent of twenty tons of dynamite, yet still stood afterward. The same is true in character building. A poor foundation, with even one brick missing, will cause your building to fall. Your foundation must be solid enough to reach the skies. So, you must clear out the rubbish before you begin building.
Use objective principles as your building blocks, not subjective personality. Use Love, Wisdom, and Selflessness, the Mother, Father, and the Son, the Word, Mind, and Light. Use Mind and speak the Word, then stand under Light.
Everyone must be like John the Baptist. In the beginning, he shouted, “Make way for the truth.” You may want everyone to become perfect. Yet if you force them higher, you destroy their tiny, tender shoots and they will blame you for it.
Jesus went to John the Baptist for baptism, but John said that he was unworthy to baptize him. Then Jesus answered, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”–Matthew 3:15. You must be humble, not aching to do things for outer credits. Eventually, you must reach the place in consciousness where you can do without always receiving a reward.
Seek to learn only of one who tells the truth. Too many so-called teachers tell you to get leave some old idea of truth behind without being able to tell you what to put in its place. To destroy the weak, false or outworn is necessary, but you must also have the love and wisdom to fulfill the law.
To lead others from error by pointing continuously toward the Light, you need to really love them. Think of your loved ones with kindness, and dream of seeing them with what they need. As you remain conscious of them, woo them to stand in the Light with you. So must you also stand under the Light, wooing greater truth, wooing more life, wooing increased strength. And when you do, you shall see streamers of Light marking the descent of Power until you are possessed by love, no longer possessing your loved ones.
Receiving the Christ Substance
Edna Lister outline, December 16, 1934, Buffalo, New York, 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, John 6:48-57
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation.”–1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.”–John 6:48-57.
When Paul used the story about Jesus and the Lord’s Supper, he was teaching them about a great spiritual being, Jesus the Christ, and his preparation for the descent of the universal Christ Spirit. The Lord’s Supper shows the way for both sides, inner and outer. Then Paul made two points, both physical: “If any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation.”–1 Corinthians 11:34. When your mind is on your stomach, you are unable to see spiritually.
Second, “When ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.”–1 Corinthians 11:33. This bidding teaches unselfishness. Paul’s injunctions teach us how to be worthy for growth, soul unfolding, and universal service. He also paints a word picture of what being unworthy looks like, to get to gain, to be seen of men, and the misuse of Power.
“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”–1 Corinthians 11:29-30. These verses describe the reaction of laws resulting from a lack of discernment.
“This is my body” reveals that flesh is a symbol of wisdom. “This is my blood” reveals that blood is a symbol of love. Jesus said, “I am that bread of life. Your forefathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead.” The Lord’s laws do bring death if you refuse to see clearly. Wisdom and love, brought down into flesh and form, will “die“” when you ignore the Source.
It’s easy to become too busy looking around, planting too many seeds in same old ground. When you restlessly feel like finding a new “family,” when you simply must move to a new city, it’s time you stop planting seeds, leave them alone for a while, and give them time to grow.
If you partake with no discernment, you are in “danger of the judgment.” God moves you when you are ready. The Voice of authority speaks the living Word as you partake of the flesh and blood, the bread of love and wisdom.
Use truth as a resurrection from the false and the appearance of things, and for a “living life.” “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”–Isaiah 60:1. “Thy light” is you, the light of your soul.
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”–Ephesians 5:14. Arise victorious, triumphant and glorious as a Christed standard bearer.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle on you.”–Isaiah 43:2.
We are here to stay until the end. No more war, no sorrow, no tears, no death. The voice of authority speaks the living Word of flesh and blood, partaking of love and wisdom. Declare, “Father, move in and possess me. Make my personality a burning flame of life. I arise.”
Let your seeds of discernment, truth and resurrection result in your living life to the fullest. As the standard bearer of a new life, make your personality a burning flame of life.
“Arise, and behold thy Light. Thou art the mouthpiece of the voice of authority, so arise and shine!” If you have been asleep, arise to become a victorious, triumphant and glorious you, a creator!
Edna Lister outline, December 23, 1934, Buffalo, New York, March 18, 1956, Tacoma, Washington, Luke 2:1-16
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”–Luke 2:1-16.
Two thousand years ago, God gave man the Christ idea. His humble birth was symbolic of humility. “There was no room for them in the inn”—the keynote of the written record of his birth is the great law of agreeing with God that “This is good!” and adjusting to outer conditions.
The story of Jesus’ birth, whether viewed historically or symbolically, is filled with reverence and worship. Angels of the Lord are like God’s “thoughts.” You could say that an idea was born in Bethlehem, the city of David. Bethlehem means “house of bread,” a place of spiritual substance. The city of David means “well beloved.”
Today, Christ is the embodiment of a new ideal as flesh and blood. The world has completed its travail, and Christ is now born. Shepherds are no longer afraid of ridicule from those in power, but minister unto the flock. Yet, make no mistake, certain men and women, shepherds of the Christ Spirit flock, have arisen in every age.
For example, Cato, a Roman senator, visited Carthage, a hostile North African trading competitor. He returned to Rome and argued that Carthage must be destroyed. The Senate laughed, but he continued his speeches until aggressive Carthage, which had invaded Italy, was wiped out completely in the Third Punic War. Benjamin Kidd 8, a true shepherd, said that the women of the world could wipe out all negativity and darkness in one generation. We, as sons and daughters of God, can do it in six months by living, doing, lifting and standing under the Light, heaven’s flood lights.
We share a newborn vision as angels watch over the delivery of a new message of power that we must accept and apply. We can transcend any and all outer limitations. Nothing can harm you as you remain untouched and undaunted. If you hold your torch high for God, you, one man or woman, can sweep the world.
The Father says, “Come” to both foolish and wise, to the hard and the limited. “Bring it all into My House today. Give it up. Be ye creator gods, radiant, alive to speak the Word victoriously.”
The Proof of Christ’s Divinity
Edna Lister outline, December 30, 1934, Buffalo, New York, 1 John 5:1-12
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”–1 John 5:1-12.
Humanity has for ages had difficulty believing in the divinity of Jesus the Christ, since they have no belief in their own divinity. Jesus Christ “came by water and blood.” Water, whether it is a cup of the water of life, or the whole sea of life, symbolizes Wisdom as the Father God principle. Blood symbolizes Love, the Mother God principle. Spirit is all of God as Mind. Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the Spirit as the Son principle of Selflessness, or the Word.
The proofs of the Son’s identity are simple. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, you also then know that he is begotten of God. First, you love God, then you love His Son. God does not make or unmake you His own—you are His son or daughter. You must consciously know this. Second, you obey God because you love Him and all His children. You can express your love as understanding for your fellow man.
Third, keep the Lord’s commandments. They are not grievous when you obey. The lessons you face in life are not punishments, but opportunities to grow and learn. Obedience to law is not hard, but glorious. Fourth, the Begotten of God has overcome the world. You can have faith in this when you open your eyes, your heart, and your mind. Then you will know to keep your lines of Light connected to the Source of all Light.
God’s appointed King is Christ, with crown and scepter, issuing royal commands. The honorless masquerader “prince of this world” is clad in ragged garments. Still, the reverse appears to be true, just as Jesus rode the humble donkey’s foal into Jerusalem. We bow the knee to a King almost no one knows in full. We live to see the day when we are at home with him, dressed in royal robes, members of his court. God the Father has granted us eternal life, which is victory over death.
Endnotes
1^ The optic nerve emerges from the eye and passes along the thalamus on the underside of the brain to the optic chiasm, an X-shaped structure into which the optic nerves from each eye converge. Half the nerve fibers from each eye continue to the visual cortex on the same side of the brain, and half cross over at the chiasm to join fibers from the opposite eye and continue to the visual cortex on that side, producing binocular vision.
2^ The higher creative center: The organs of the creator located within the skull include the hypothalamus, pineal body and pituitary gland, the optic thalamus, the brow and crown vital centers and the lotus centers.
3^ Heaven’s My Destination, a humorous novel of a traveling salesman who explains his belief in God at a bawdy house in Kansas City, a court of law, and a Chinese restaurant, according to YesterdaysGallery.com.
4^ Richard Mansfield (1857-1907) was regarded as the greatest actor of the closing decades of the 19th Century.
5^ The Order of the Knights Hospitaller built the Church of St. John the Baptist in Beirut, Lebanon, in the late 1180s with a hospital to care for sick or injured Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. After the conquest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1291, Moslems forcibly converted the church to the Al-Omari Grand Mosque.
6^ Oliver Wendell Holmes in “The Autocrat at the Breakfast Table,“” The Casquet of Literature.
7^ An ensample is a pattern or model for imitation; to exemplify, to show by example. “Being ensamples to the flock.”–1 Peter 5:3.
8^ Benjamin Kidd (1858-1916) was a British sociologist who viewed Christianity as the major civilizing and creative factor in Western culture. He held that religion is essential to societal and cultural survival.
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Edna Miriam Lister
1884–1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.
Edna Lister became Minister of the Unity Center in Buffalo, New York, in December 1933. She resigned in June 1937, when the local directors ordered her to cease preaching and teaching the divinity of Jesus Christ as the first and only Begotten Son of God.
References
"Optic nerve", Encyclopedia Britannica, March 19, 2024.
Browning, Robert. Paracelsus, Part I. London: Effingham Wilson, 1835.
Fletcher, John. “An Honest Man’s Fortune,” Parnassus: An Anthology of Poetry. Ralph Waldo Emerson, ed. Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1880.
Guyton, Arthur C. and John E. Hall. “The optic chiasm of the thalamus,” Textbook of Medical Physiology, 9th ed., Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1996.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. “The Autocrat at the Breakfast Table,” The Casquet of Literature, ed. with notes by Charles Gibbon, Second Series, vol 1. London, Blackie and Sons, 1874, p. 319.
The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).
The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Ed., 2 vols. E.S.C. Weiner, ed. Oxford University Press, 1971.
Rotherham, Joseph Bryant. The Emphasized Bible: A New Translation. London: H.R. Allenson, 1902.
“Abide,” “Attitude,” “Cipher,” “Ensample,” and “Knowledge,” “Mystic.” Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 3rd ed. Springfield, Massachusetts: G. & C. Merriam Co., 1929.
Wilder, Thornton. Heaven’s My Destination. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1935.
Learn more about Ralph Waldo Emerson, and his importance in the Transcendentalist Movement.