Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1940

The Vows of Ascension
Edna Lister outline, January 7, 1940, Buffalo, NY; Matthew 5:25-26

  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.”–Matthew 5:25-26
  Every soul on earth is subject to seven great Vows of Ascension. Eventually, each soul must take them as part of the seven great Degrees of Initiation, the Neophyte, the Disciple, the Adept, the Mystic, the Master, the Priest and the Christos.
  As a Neophyte, you vow to make your body a fitting dwelling place for your soul. As a Disciple you vow to surrender self completely to become the servant of all the Power. As an Adept, you vow to be selfless in your release of Power.
  As a Mystic, you vow to keep your silence shining and golden. As a Master, you vow to be a master in all responsibility. As a Priest, you vow to remain pure in heart, mind and purpose. As a Christos, you vow to make your supreme vow of complete surrender of self.

  You need something to help you to hold to these vows, to keep them. Follow the Master, whose footsteps are always before you. The period from Christmas to Lent encompasses a whole lifetime of 33.5 years. That is why it is so difficult always to hold to your vows, especially during the sacrifices of Lent.
  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.”–Matthew 5:25. This one verse covers all your problems with the self. The self is the adversary, soul is the judge, and Oversoul is the officer. Self casts you into prison. Soul lifts you into Light.
  Life’s highway is marked with many milestones, and each bears a record. What sort of year has passed? What sort of year lies ahead? This is your world. This is your life. What is your choice? What are your high goals? What is your high destiny?

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Walking With God
Edna Lister outline, February 11, 1940, Buffalo, NY, Matthew 14:22-33

  “Straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”–Matthew 14:22-33
  His disciples walked with Jesus easily, on land. They were walking with the Son of God, who was walking as a creator god. Walking as a creator god is different, like walking on water.
  Imagine vast gates, broad and tall, formed of a golden opalescent material, intricately designed in lacy patterns. If opened, many people could walk through them abreast, but they’re closed, with no handles or locks on them. A vast throng lines the way before the great gates in either direction. They press against the gates, an impassable barrier through which no one is able to move. Some appear weary enough to collapse, while others cry and lament. Some look cheerful and speak in soft tones to their neighbors. All of them are waiting for something to happen. At times, some hardy soul pushes through the crowd from the rear.
  Suddenly a woman arrives and makes her way, moving silently and gently through the throng before the gates. She sees nothing of those about her, but fixes her gaze steadily upon the Light beyond the gates. Her face shines with unearthly radiance as, moving with beauty and grace, she pushes ahead to the gates. Then she passes through the gates exactly as if they are not there.

  The Light is your goal. You meet no barriers at all when you keep your eyes on the Light, but when you look to the world, all you see are obstacles. “Straightway” is repeated three times in this text: First, straightway Jesus made his disciples get into the boat. When they saw him walking on the water and were afraid, straightway he told them not to be afraid. When Peter cried, “Lord, save me!”—straightway (immediately), Jesus held out his hand.
  Jesus had sent his disciples by boat to cross the sea, which represents emotions. Jesus symbolizes the Oversoul in this context. He went higher in consciousness to rest and to contact God. Peter represents the embodied soul, which first says, “Let me come to you,” then looks down, and sinks. This is when you cry, “Lord, save me!” This prayer is not too long—just three words. When you walk with God, you are likely to let go. When you walk as a creator god, you are a creator. Walk as a creator god, living the soul virtues of honor, loyalty and integrity.

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Three Witnesses
Edna Lister outline, June 30, 1940, Buffalo, NY, 1 John 5:2-8

  “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.”–1 John 5:2-8
  Three bear witness in heaven: The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit. The Source of All Life is the Father. The Word contains all Mind, Substance and Power. The Holy Spirit is the Breath of Life, of all vibration and energy. Three bear witness on earth: Water, blood and the Spirit, which is the Holy Ghost or the Son. Water represents the emotions and the principle of desire. Blood represents the expression and energy of faith.

  To ascend, you must push out the limitations that hold you back from accomplishing, and push up like a seed or a bulb into the Light. Push self out of the way so you, the soul, can get through. Push up in consciousness, into the Light of understanding and comprehension. Earth’s verdure renews itself each spring in an astonishing display of beauty and blossoms. Summer sees the fruiting of plants, vegetable, shrubs and trees, and autumn invariably provides God’s boundless divine supply.
  Even the finest musical instrument is useless without a musician to play it, just as the musician stands idle without an instrument he or she may play. God is the orchestral conductor and the souls He has created are the instruments His Light plays. We, being the embodied souls, are the instruments of His orchestra of Creation, played upon by his splendid Light.

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Heavenly Manna
Edna Lister outline, July 8, 1940, Buffalo, NY, Luke 8:41-56

  “Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.”–Luke 8:41-56

  The prefix, en, of ensample, means “in, upon, giving intensity.” The prefix ex, as in example, means “out.” An ensample signifies expression from within one’s own character. An example is an attitude on the outside, which is why people think and ask such questions as, “What will they think of me? How will this affect me? What will it get me?” An example is also a “pose” for gain, an attitude assumed to please another. Setting an example is an affectation meant to enhance the veneer of one’s reputation. An ensample is an essence, what one really is. If you set an example, you are self-conscious, merely a surface display. When you are soul-conscious, you are an ensample, the essence of the Godly virtues you have developed.

  You can hear intuition speak to you when you are open to the Light above. Intuition told the woman with the issue of blood that she would be healed if she touched the Master. She was ready to crawl to him—her friends could not take her to him because she was ritually unclean. How greatly do you want a miracle? Desire dictates the quality and quantity of your effort. Inspiration is breathing the Breath of Life, and when you do, it inspires you.
  Before the woman’s miracle, Jairus had beseeched the Master on his daughter’s behalf. Then Jairus’ servant came and told him, “Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.” Hearing this, Jesus told him, “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” When he reached Jairus’ house, he sent everyone from the child’s room. He was not just healing her of an illness, but was about to raise her from the dead.
  You must decide whether you want to face mountains or molehills in life. When another is likely to interfere with your work for a miracle, evict him from your plan, or better yet, do not tell him what you plan in the first place. Open a new account with the Source of Life. If you deposit plenty of praise in your heavenly account in God’s bank, you will receive blessings below, since you can withdraw what you deposit, freely. Stand and know that all good things are yours, given by God.

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Shangri-la, the Temple of the Soul
Edna Lister outline, August 4, 1940, Buffalo, NY, 1 Peter 1:3-11, Matthew 16:21-26

  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”–1 Peter 1:3-11
  “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”–Matthew 16:21-26
  The book, Lost Horizon, made the idea of Shangri-la an overnight success because it’s all about finding a utopia, a paradise hidden in the uncharted regions of Tibet. Every soul longs to find the ideal home, which most people think is a heaven on earth. We seek a heaven of the soul, available as a state of consciousness. The end goal of faith is making your soul whole. What profit is it to gain the whole world, if you lose your soul in so doing? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?

  Weeds always grow and multiply faster than the good plants in a garden. They spread wherever soil exists, or near where there are seed carriers to prey on, for example, sand burrs or nettles. Flowers need love, light and frequent care to be kept beautiful. So does your temple, your body. You must keep your heart as clean as the pure water of Spirit. Your mind must remain open to the inflow of divine rays, regardless of environment or otherwise conflicting conditions.
  You are individual flowers, each a different variety, shade and size. God needs you all to make the perfect bouquet, the gathering of earth’s production. Each receives the same spiritual waters, the same soil of opportunities. You need only to ask. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”–Matthew 7:7.
  The initially easier road leads inevitably to the crushing of spirit, the opening to the influx of the world mind, the seven great sins: Lust, passion, greed, malice, hatred, indifference and envy. God’s Light is stronger than anything else and will reach you through any condition if you but ask, if you but call, if you but desire.

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