Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1944

The Chalice of Love
Edna Lister outline, May 21, 1944, Cleveland, OH, John 12:32

  “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”–John 12:32.
  The chalice of love is the cup of love the Master used at the Last Supper. Selfish love has caused our present world chaos.
  We all say that we love our mothers, our homes, our country. We have great love of humanity and of God. Yet let us consider the love of mates, the love of mother, the love of home, love of country and love of God.
  The chalice, the Holy Grail, is associated with the shrine at Lourdes, France. The origins of the pilgrimage to Lourdes began with Bernadette Soubirous, 1 the fourteen year old daughter of devout Christian peasants. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, Bernadette saw apparitions of a white-robed lady eighteen times in a small grotto called Massabiele, along the banks of the river Gave de Pau. In the apparitions the lady told Bernadette to “go tell the village priest to build a chapel here” and that many people would soon come in procession to the holy grotto. On the day of the 16th apparition, March 25, the lady revealed herself as Mary. During her ecstatic trance in front of the grotto that day, Bernadette suddenly rose from her knees, walked a short distance, and fell to the ground. Fervently she began to dig in the earth until a small puddle of water appeared. Over the next few days the puddle gradually formed into a pool and eventually became the sacred spring for which Lourdes is now so famous.
  Love equals faith, if you are lifted up, in truth, out of the self-centered “I.” Faith is the chalice of love.

1 “In 1858, four years after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed, Mary appeared to a very poor young girl, Bernadette Soubirous, eighteen times between February 11 and July 16, 1858. On March 25, 1858, on the feast of the Annunciation, Our Lady revealed to the uneducated Bernadette, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.’ Because the dogma had been officially proclaimed less than four years earlier, and Bernadette could not even have known of its existence, great credibility was given to Bernadette by her repetition of the Blessed Mother’s word. It was an affirmation from Heaven of the truth of the dogma. In addition, Mary told Bernadette to begin digging in the ground; she obediently did so, to the townspeople’s scorn. Water immediately began flowing from the spot where Bernadette dug, a tiny stream that since has grown to the size of a small river. Thousands of healings have been reported as the result of bathing in or drinking this miraculous water. The walls of the grotto where the Blessed Mother appeared are lined with the crutches of the lame who have walked away from the waters, totally healed.” Learn more about Lourdes.

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God’s Timing
Edna Lister outline, May 28, 1944, Cleveland, OH, Matthew 20:1-16, Romans 13:10

  “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”–Matthew 20:1-16.
  “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”–Romans 13:10.
  Time and space are irrelevant to God. Yet the human finite mind requires the twelve-hour clock and twenty-four-hour day to provide a sequence to experiences. Every hour has its meaning. One o’clock represents individual understanding. Two o’clock represents the Light’s purity. Three o’clock symbolizes gracious expression. Four o’clock signifies charity in service.

  Five o’clock represents sincere obedience to God’s law. Six o’clock means forgiveness and to create, selflessness in creation. Seven o’clock illustrates gratitude and praise. Eight o’clock signifies power through faith. Nine o’clock represents empathy and compassion. Ten o’clock signifies tolerance. Eleven o’clock symbolizes Wisdom. Twelve o’clock represents love and justice. The minute hand on God’s clock is love. The second hand is selflessness, balance, and common sense, so very important.
  In this parable, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a householder, and his laborers in the vineyard. At the first hour, when the householder hired the first crew, so much work lay ahead, twelve hours’ worth. He hired additional crews at the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hours, promising that if they served him in his vineyard, he would pay them “whatsoever is right.”
  All the laborers he hired were just standing around, waiting for work. Yet, what profit is there in standing idle during any hour? When Love, Wisdom and Selflessness are looking for workers, it’s always the right time.
  The owner of the vineyard told his foreman, “Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.”–Matthew 20:8. The first worker hired is paid the same as all the rest. The last come first, the first come last. When the first hired workers realized that the men hired later were receiving the same wages, they rebelled. Yet the vineyard owner said, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”–Matthew 20:16.

  Some souls labor long, but never learn. The workers hired in the first hour had never learned understanding. Those hired in the third hour had never learned graciousness. The men hired in the sixth hour had never learned forgiveness. The workers hired at the ninth hour had never learned sympathy or compassion. Finally, the men hired at the eleventh hour had never learned wisdom or justice.
  God’s timing is the heartbeat of love, and love fulfills the law right now, in the moment you love. No matter what time it is, the hour is now.

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Rewards for Service
Edna Lister outline, June 11, 1944, Cleveland, OH, Genesis 3:22-24, Ephesians 6:1-18

  “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”–Genesis 3:22-24.
  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”–Ephesians 6:1-18.
  The flaming sword of Genesis, and the sword of Spirit, described in Ephesians, are one in the same. The flaming sword “turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life,” the way of obedience to law.

  When you serve the Lord, you are strong in the Power of His might, not your puny efforts. By donning and wearing the armor of God daily, you protect yourself with God’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation. Thus, you earn the crown of salvation.
  You are all children of the Light, of the Father of Wisdom and the Mother of Love. As the servants of poise and Power, you are the parents to peace and patience. The poor little self sees nothing ahead to give it a clue, but the soul wields the flaming sword, which is the Word of God, to speak the truth.
  The flaming sword of Spirit gives you the power to comprehend God and to understand people. The Cherubim stand in the east, at the point of the rising sun. The word “Cherubim” implies both feminine and masculine, symbolizing the pituitary gland and pineal body, which the Holy Spirit uses.

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Knowledge of Good and Evil
Edna Lister outline, June 11, 1944, Cleveland, OH, Genesis 3:22-24, Matthew 12:31-37

  “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”–Genesis 3:22-24.
  “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”–Matthew 12:31-37.
  To understand desire, you must first acknowledge that it is a principle teamed with decision and action. You desire, decide and act, in that order. You begin with an amorphous sea of desires, but for what? Do you desire more life, or less life? Desire is a glowing ember before it becomes a flame, and it must burn within you so brightly that it possesses you. Life must be an adventure, so interesting that you desire to bring it under your conscious direction and control.
  A decision is a choice, and you must constantly choose, but what, how, and when? You must choose to have something, to be something, or to do something. Your decisions dictate whether you have good and strong relationships or separation between yourself, God, and others.
  How will you do this? You may choose the soft and easy ways or the hard road. When will you act? Will you wait for the right time, for your family to agree, or when money permits? One wit asked, “Who is money?”
  Your action is another choice. Will you write about life or live life? When you live the Word, it makes itself into flesh and blood, into physical being for you. When you begin to comprehend God, you will finally understand man.

  Light is the Holy Breath of Life, contained within the very air you breathe. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”–Matthew 12:34. If the abundance within your heart is good, it will justify you—if not good, it will condemn you.
  The Holy Ghost is Light as Spirit. Ghost is from the Old English gast, or “breath; spirit, angel, daemon.” “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”–Matthew 12:31-32.
  God cannot forgive the blasphemy of speaking against the Light as the Holy Ghost, for it is a terrible misuse of the absolute principle of the Word, a perversion of reality. The Father can extend the scepter in mercy for many sins, but you must pay the debt for misusing principle and earn your way back to God.
  “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”–Genesis 3:22-24.
  When the archetypal Adam ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, mankind placed itself under the necessity to know, obey and become the law. This is why God drove us from the Garden of Eden. The law teaches that your desire prevents you from moving on until you find the right way. Every choice made is a decision that will live on until you have fulfilled it. The path you choose will provide you with plenty of action until you see the flaming sword that points the way to the Tree of Life.
  You came to earth to do, to learn life’s lessons and to leave behind an ensample, a legacy of good. What would happen if you died tonight? What legacy would you leave? You must live each day as if it were your last day on earth. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”–John 12:32. Where, how and why are you lifted up from earth? Reality operates under the law of reciprocity, of cause and effect. The light you carry can be as small as a match or as large as a billion candlepower searchlight.
  As members of the Elect, you have talents and faculties beyond compare. You have more than enough to speak the Word and to achieve the triumph of victory!

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The Blossoms of the Kingdom
Edna Lister outline, July 2, 1944, Cleveland, OH, Luke 12:27-35

  “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.”–Luke 12:27-35.
  Earth boasts so many kingdoms, good rulers, autocrats and dictators. Yet all these kingdoms and nations are but parts of the Kingdom of God, subject to His righteousness. When you seek His kingdom first, everything you could need is added to you.
  “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”–Luke 12:27. Lilies do not toil or spin, but just expand and grow into the Light. They do not run around looking down, fretting and worrying, but keep their heads up, looking to the Light.
  So many people look at life as though it were a hunting expedition—shoot to kill and bag your game! Flowers do not use force to gather Light-as-substance and grow. Light is your game. When God looks down, He sees you as the beautiful flowers blossoming in His garden.

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The Jewels of the Mother
Edna Lister outline, July 9, 1944, Cleveland, OH, Luke 1:46-55, Philippians 4:4-9

  “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”–Luke 1:46-55.
  “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”–Philippians 4:4-9.

  Rejoicing works magic, the magic of the Father and Mother virtues at work in man—illumination and intuition, wisdom and love, will and desire. The soul virtues, or powers, report different things to your physical senses. For instance, illumination tells you whether a story or a person is true, honest or just. Intuition informs you whether that soul is pure, lovely, or of a good report.
  People give jewels as gifts so that another may use them. Some receive them to wear them as ornaments of beauty; others store them in vaults for safekeeping and forget them. God has given you these virtues as precious jewels to have and to hold, so that you may learn, receive, hear, and see spiritually. The greatest of jewels is faith, which you can neither see, touch nor hear.
  The intuitive jewel is to “look,” to perceive the reality beyond appearances. It is simple and easy to use, just look with the eyes of your soul. Wear your jewels and enjoy the beauty they are and that they attract.

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