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Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1960
Alive in Easter Glory
Edna Lister Prayer Circle outline, April 17, 1960, Washington, D.C. Matthew 28:1-10.
“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”–Matthew 28:1-10.
To be in glory is to be in a high state of joyous exaltation of the soul. Glory has nothing to do with gifts, relationships or things, but is an inner, personal joy for each. What then is so special about Easter glory?
As the power of the spring sun’s rays draw nature from the tomb of winter and its many little deaths, to put leaves and blossoms on bushes and trees, to resurrect the life entombed in bulb or seed, so Easter Power draws humanity toward new illumination. The tremendous Light of the Source of All Life draws us upward from Ash Wednesday to Ascension Day.
The power of illumination is ascension. As Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, so Easter is the beginning of new, joyous illumination, rising to Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday. Lent is the period of soul-searching and sacrifice of the self to make room for the greater illumination during the forty days from Easter to Ascension Day, when you receive higher Power. All life is resurrected in just one short week, from Palm Sunday to Easter.
That first Holy Week was the longest in the history of the world. Jesus then summarized all the principles he had taught during his thirty-three years on earth. From his Palm Sunday exaltation, through his last seven messages of ascension, which he spoke from the cross, he made his messianic message available and workable for everyone. In the instant the stone was rolled away from his grave, he proved them all true.
Jesus taught the principles necessary for living a completely Christed life. The disciples did not comprehend his message, though he had warned them repeatedly. They thought, until the last, that he would save himself. They did not question him, even when he told them, “Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”–Mark 11:2-3.
They did not wonder when he told two of them, “Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.”–Mark 14:13-15.
They did not see how he had prepared the way before him. He had planned his final days down to the last detail. If Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on a white horse on Palm Sunday, no one would have remembered him. Every haughty rich man did the same. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”–Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5.
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, and proclaimed himself as the long-awaited Messiah without saying a word. He acted the role of complete surrender of self to set the example of humility still in use by great men and women today. He knew that before the week was out the very ones who would exalt him with palm leaves and Hosannas, would shout, “Crucify him,” on the way to Calvary. His riding on a humble colt opened a vibration of soul exaltation in personal humility to last through the ages. Jesus’ Passion involved not just one man and his followers, but was planned to reach the whole world. Today, the world knows him as Messiah and spiritual leader.
The Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate, ordered a sign made and nailed to the cross, over Jesus’ head. The sign read, “This is the King of the Jews.” The Jewish priests rebelled at it, but Pilate was adamant. Thus, he opened the greatest crusade of all ages, the real reign of the Begotten Son. The sign was lettered in three languages, Latin, the language of the mundane business world, in Greek, the language of the mental-intellectual pursuits of the day, and in Hebrew, which dealt exclusively with the religious life of the Jews.
The Roman soldiers, who gambled and cursed at the foot of the cross while he suffered, represented the indifference of the mundane Latin world. The priests and Sadducees, the elite snobs who stood by and mocked him, represented the Greek world because although they were Jews their practice of religion was intellectual. The Hebrew message, which witnessed for Jesus’ disciples and followers, represented the world of pure spiritual and devotional religion.
Jesus spoke seven times from the cross while being crucified, opening seven new vibrations that would lift the world’s heaviness. His speech to his mother and to John, exalted woman and commanded man to protect her. His messages resurrected the best of the past and lifted all three phases of earth life through the Gates of Ascension. All apparent loss is ultimately a gain for nothing can ever remain lost. The Elect will ascend and enfold everyone and everything for God, through love for Him and compassion for humanity. Imagine the gloom, the disappointment, heartache and soul-searching prayers offered that Friday and Saturday. Then imagine the joy and the glory of that Resurrection morning!
Through the ages, man has discovered the need for knowing the Resurrection, and for expressing the principles of ascension. You personally know resurrection each time you garner all good from the past and move on to a greater, better life. You express the principles of ascension when you arise and climb in Christ consciousness. You set yourself in a groove of opinions and prejudices when you don’t express or show what you know of joy in your speech, actions and your social life. Sharing is another word for ascension. Life is growth, expansion and expression. Yet unless you ascend in consciousness and give of the new illumination you receive, today’s ideas become tomorrow’s opinions. Resurrection lifts the past into new Light.
Ascension rolls the stone of a hardened heart from the tomb of crystallized past doubts, fears, opinions and prejudices. Let the “angel of the Lord,” the illumination of the law, roll away the stone, setting you free, and expanding your freedom to grow. Let the next forty days of Ascension pay you great dividends of joyous, expanding glory. Let the Christ Light enlarge your kingdom, so that you may express the compassion, graciousness and loveliness of the Christ to everyone in your life. Stretch your wings to far horizons, to know that your freedom is timeless, tireless and as limitless as the love of God. Let Light transform your mind, heart, body and affairs with Easter glory!
Edna Lister Prayer Circle outline, April 25, 1960, Washington, D.C. Matthew 28:19-20, 16:19.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”–Matthew 28:19-20.
“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:19.
Teaching the nations to observe the commandments includes the Law of Moses, Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Psalm 119, and the entire Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes. Remembering all the commands Jesus had given is nearly impossible. So, you must be selective. Each of the many methods, many teachers, and every approach to truth is good according to its degree and kind. It is your choice as to which is right for you.
Let us examine four important points: To be assured and comforted into confidence in God is essential. To establish your identity with God is critical. Without this confidence and identification, you cannot know your service, or find the Way. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”–Matthew 28:20. Earth is our planet, our home away from our Father’s House. “I am with you” are words of comfort and assurance, which you need, first of all. The world includes the activity on earth and within our solar system. The world deals with God manifest as humanity, and our ruling stewardship. You need to establish your own identity: “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”–John 10:34, from Psalm 82:6. “He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”–John 14:12.
Next in order is your service, which is doing the greater works. Finally, the keys of the kingdom show your Way: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:19. You need signposts such as these four promises, which are also warnings, or you could get off the path. The dictum, What you bind on earth, you bind in heaven, sounds cryptic.
As a child of God, you inherit a kingdom. If you liken the kingdom to a vault, having a master key overall is essential. Your master key is unconquerable faith. It opens heaven wide and every other door needs only an extra turn of the key, applied with still more love. So, faith is the actual possession of all things hoped for. Once you open a vibration by using unconquerable faith, your Word becomes law.
Here you may stumble over or recognize the reason for your delays and seeming failures. A great relative law of doing is to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”–1 Thessalonians 5:22. This includes not merely acts of darkness, but even the appearance of evil, beginning with idle words. What you bind on earth, you bind in heaven. Idle words block your way on the path according to the degree and kind of the words you use. God may know that you do not mean them, yet law requires that each word creates in degree after its own kind according to your vehemence and tone of voice. Only the right words can drop your net of expectancy over the right side of the boat.
Only a tone of joyous expectancy can fill your nets, your prayer molds, to overflowing. Burning expectancy keeps unconquerable faith moving through you and as you filling your creative molds. Joyous expectancy keeps your nets mended. You cannot have doubt, fear or delay and joyous expectancy. Your choice is one or the other. If you allow holes to widen in your net, the miracles fall through. Joyous expectancy loosens bondage on earth and loosens the law in heaven. So, you can travel in a circle back to “Lo, I am with you.” The Christ vibration is present in every life spark of substance.
Best of all, once you grasp unconquerable faith firmly, the “I AM” of Christ consciousness is with you unto the end of your outer world of appearances, the world of darkness. “I AM” is always with you, day and night, hour by hour. The mind of Christ lifts you, upholds you to keep you alive and alert. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”–Zephaniah 3:17. Declare, “God in the midst of me, is mighty to heal.” Love’s irresistible power demands that you give and give and give.
A minister’s brother gave him a new car, which he drove into a poor district to make calls on the sick. When he returned to his car, a small boy was admiring it, and asked, “Where did you get it?” The minister answered, “My brother gave it to me.” The child said, “I wish I could be a brother like that.” Give, not to get for self, but to give for God. A miracle is only pure Light moving through your love. Joy is pervasive, penetrating and permeating, an escalator moving you ever higher into the Power, the glory and the vital life of God.
From Gethsemane to Ascension
Edna Lister outline, May 8, 1960, May 15, 1960, Buffalo, NY. May 15, 1960, Cleveland, OH. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 2 6:14-18.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”–2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”–2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
Jesus opened the full Light of Mother Love for earth. His whole mission was about love and his purpose was to make a love offering of himself to his Father. Throughout his entire ministry, Jesus taught and expounded on the law. During Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter, he used four great episodes to reach out to draw the people in to these newly opened vibrations. His triumphal entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday set the keynote of self-sacrifice and fulfilled the prophecy regarding the true Messiah. He rode a small white colt into Jerusalem, which symbolized humility, and proclaimed that he was the Messiah without words. So, he set the keynote for ascension by full self-sacrifice, knowing that some of those who proclaimed him would be crying, “Crucify him,” before the week was complete.
In Gethsemane, he set the keynote of compassion when he lifted his grief to the Father. Why did Jesus weep in the Garden of Gethsemane? He felt he had done so little while so much remained to do. He had only opened the 2,000-year Messianic vibration. His disciples slept while he prayed in agony, and after awakening them twice, finally he let them. He knew how thorny their path ahead would be. He knew his own way, and that he could not be free of earth until some actually lived by his teachings, including full ascension of the body. This is still true today. As above, so below.
Jesus spoke seven times from the cross, speeches that we call words because he spoke the Word to open vibrations that swept the world. His seven words paid debts and brought in seven lines of responsibility to the world. For example, when he said, “Woman, behold thy son,” he paid any remaining debt from his discourtesy to his mother at the wedding at Cana. He lifted millions of lines of Light to cleanse anything he had done or left undone.
Jesus’ trial fulfilled outer law. He not only opened Gates of Light for mankind, he lifted the lines of Light attached to all earthly affairs in the world. The Sanhedrin wanted a sign saying that Jesus had claimed he was king of the Jews. Pilate ordered a sign that read, “This is the King of the Jews,” written on a board, and had it nailed to the cross. Caiaphas and the priests were angry and demanded that it be changed, to which Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.” Thus, despite their anger, Pilate performed an act that paid his debt almost in full. The sign was written in three languages, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Latin was the language of the commercial world, of the common man, unconscious of God, represented by the Roman gamblers at the foot of the cross.
Greek was the language of the intellectuals, represented by the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, and the officials in the temple. They could not stand that Jesus’ love of God was greater than his attitude toward their interpretation of the law of Moses. Hebrew was the language of religion, represented by the disciples who loved Jesus. Thus, Jesus left his life in the outer world holding the three great lines of responsibility for all earthly life in his hands, the commercial, intellectual and wisdom.
You are like unto the Father in that you must know where you are going, how you will get there, and what will happen when you do. So, you need a plan, an outline to follow as you take four steps from Gethsemane to your ascension—aspiration, reconciliation, reconstruction and action. Aspiration is the soul’s need for greatness, answering God’s call to “Come up now.” Aspiration brings joyous exaltation, and opens the only way to an understanding of that yearning, brooding Mother love, the sustaining, nourishing quality in the love of God, when you let it use you.
Reconciliation means “to tie together, to make one, to bind as one,” to find the relationship between God and man. You must reconcile your relationship to God and man to gain a common understanding. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”–2 Corinthians 5:17. Reconciliation is to declare and to become, “This is good.”
Reconstruction is to accept your new life, to become an ambassador for Christ. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”–2 Corinthians 5:20-21. Lift the lines of Light to all those souls damaged by sin into the Light.
The period between Gethsemane and ascension is the reconstruction phase of your life. Yet you can reconstruct nothing without resurrecting it first, which includes digging up the old and knowing the new. To be ready for action, prepare for the new by thinking about the new. Under action, all things become new. Action is active expression, by becoming law. The great abyss stretches from immaturity in Gethsemane to the maturity of ascension. Immaturity lasts as long as a soul is unwilling to be responsible for its actions. Maturity is acceptance of your responsibility. Only love can bridge the abyss. Every time you love an enemy, you toss a line of Light across the abyss to ascension. It fastens around the person or thing you regard as an enemy. Yet love enough builds it into a cable, strand by strand, until it is strong enough to bear your weight to the side of full ascension.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”–2 Corinthians 6:14-17. To be unequally yoked is to be bound with your own disbelief. In your choices and words, you have only blessings or curses. To maintain fellowship with the Holy Ghost permits the self no communion with the negatives in life.
When you permit no self-deception or distortion of reality, symbolized by Belial, the Father of Lies, you will no longer find agreement with idols, such as pain, sorrow, or idle words. Until then, you are allowing others to condition your mind, heart, body or affairs. To “touch not the unclean thing” includes with your mind, eyes or lips in speech.
“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”–Luke 3:5-6. The reward for all your efforts between Gethsemane and ascension is to see the salvation of God as a son or daughter of perfection. To achieve this requires your burning desire.
From Gethsemane to Ascension
Edna Lister transcript, May 15, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 2 6:14-17.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”–2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”–2 Corinthians 6:14-17.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus set ascension of consciousness as the ruling keynote of earth’s vibration. Ascension Day is far more important today than the Resurrection vibration of Easter, which had served as earth’s ruling vibration since Osiris had taught it in Egypt, thousands of years earlier.
By the time Jesus reached adulthood, Judea had become a hotbed of religious and political revolt against pagan Rome. The Middle East was full of false messiahs who had proudly proclaimed their missions before the Romans crucified them as political troublemakers. Most of these men were Zealots, a political sect that advocated the overthrow of the Roman yoke. Many were well-educated Pharisees, whose ideals included a theocracy and zeal for the law, which they carried to the extreme.
Judas Iscariot was a Zealot who had participated in a rebellion shortly before Jesus’ ministry began. He continued his ties with the party leadership after he became a disciple. The Zealots in Jerusalem expected Jesus to overthrow the Roman yoke during Holy Week. Instead, he exalted women and the Mother love of God as the “ministry of reconciliation” keynote for our life.
Some called him unmanly when he introduced the ascension vibration, because he taught the law of love, which reconciles and fulfills all law. Jesus venerated womanhood as the ensample of Mother love, yet even today, the world does not understand the greatness of the law of love. All the mysteries of Jesus’ message were played out in the events between Palm Sunday and Easter. Four great Ascension episodes occurred during Holy Week, each vitally involved in Jesus’ plan for lifting earth.
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”–Zechariah 9:9. First, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem riding a donkey, an event he used to initiate Ascension for earth. Nothing exemplifies humility better than the little white foal of a donkey.
Jesus illustrated how to sacrifice all self, chiefly pride of position, to reconcile the self to God. The donkey he rode proclaimed him as Messiah without saying a word. All Jerusalem could see that he had fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah. He silently watched as the huge crowd spread palm leaves before him and cried “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” He knew it had begun. Before the week ended, they would shout as vigorously, “Crucify him!” Thus, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy and started the vibration that carries us all to ascension.
After the feast of the Passover, the last supper he shared with the disciples, the Master went to pray in a garden called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. The disciples who loved him most fell asleep, pleased that they had completed the mission he had set for them. Luke says he prayed in agony while his disciples slept. Jesus wept not for himself, but for his loved ones, because so much remained to be done in so little time. He asked them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” He wept because he knew what they would face, how they would suffer and despair.
Jesus opened the vibration of personal soul reconciliation through surrender and sacrifice of self when he completely gave up his grief in Gethsemane. He lifted it for his Ascension. In so doing, he lifted the grief of all descended creator gods who followed him, yet “did not keep their first estate” (see Jude 1:6). His tears at Gethsemane lifted all disciples, yet all future disciples would have to learn to surrender and completely sacrifice self.
Jerusalem was seething with political unrest at the time of Jesus’ trial. Pontius Pilate, the Roman Procurator, was balancing different factions: He had freed the popular Zealot, Barabbas, but could not simultaneously appease the Jerusalem crowds, the powerful Sanhedrin and Jesus’ followers. Pilate had ordered his subordinates not to irritate the common people more than they were already, but they kept asking the Roman guards why they were crucifying Jesus. Pilate fixed a marker to Jesus’ cross, announcing Jesus’ crime, because rebellion against Rome was punishable only by death. It read, “This Is the King of the Jews” in Greek, Latin and Hebrew. Pilate paid half his debt for the Crucifixion by approving this statement of truth.
The three languages represented common world vibrations: Greek was intellectual, Latin was material, and Hebrew was spiritual. The Latin-speaking Romans had wanted to abase the Jews and exalt themselves, but they ended gambling for Jesus’ robes at the foot of the cross. The money changers in the temple also represented the Latin commercial world. Many Sanhedrin scholars were intellectuals of the Greek world, but Jesus’ kneeling disciples represented the Hebrew world of spiritual devotion.
Jesus must have reviewed his entire ministry while he was on the cross at Golgotha, knowing he dared leave nothing undone. He spoke seven times from the cross, setting seven future keynote vibrations. His final statements gathered seven different phases of misdirection in human consciousness, to lift them, to set the keynote for forgiveness. He lifted all the petty taints whereby you may fail.
His loved ones had gathered near the foot of the cross. Seeing his mother, he remembered his rebuff at the wedding at Cana when she had wanted him to change the water to wine. He found a taint of leftover pride in his response, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.” Jesus then reached into the great abyss where misused life sparks are stored as frozen crystallization. With arms of love, he started a drawing vibration to free the life sparks when he said to John, “Behold thy mother!” He reconciled the remnant of self to Mother love as he said, “Woman, behold thy son!” Thus, he freed himself and the world from the clutches of selfish pride revealed in the implied disrespect of his words to his mother at Cana.
When Jesus committed his spirit to his Father, he reached into the abyss and lifted the twelve world vibrations that result in grief and sorrow. At his Ascension he lifted them through the Gates, to reconcile the world vibration with the will of God for mankind. Jesus aspired greatly. Aspiration is the soul’s call for something greater than itself. Without aspiration, you are nothing, for aspiration is the only way to cut through self love to become the Mother love of God. Every soul aspires to a Source higher than self. You want to know where you are going, how you will get there, and what you will find when you arrive. All joy comes through aspiration, which is the candle of desire that you light with the flame of praise.
Reconciliation is the first step in ascension to bridge the abyss of self. It means “to reestablish a close relationship between, to bring oneself to accept, to make compatible.” Reconciliation is finding a common meeting point in the relationship between God and man. To remain unreconciled puts you in conflict with God. Most people reconcile themselves to the world by accepting the truth of appearances that what happens is God’s will when, in fact, it is a lesson they created for themselves to learn. “This is the will of God” is a step up from self to God. Yet when you live by the truth of reality, even acceptance is not enough, for you must add love.
The second step, the only way you can reconstruct your bridge to God, is to resurrect the old and build the new by Ascension. Resurrection is knowing law, but Ascension is becoming it. You ascend by applying Resurrection and Ascension, but cannot eliminate your taints unless you add more love. When you reconcile your self to God, you become an ambassador, not charging their trespasses to others, but reconciling them to God. Soul ascension is action. You change your reaction, no longer talk about others’ trespasses, and forget suspicion.
When Jesus brought the lines of responsibility to the twelve tribes through the Gates of Light, he began to lift the sins of the world, the worldly vibrations. To ascend, you move right into the law to become law and must act as a creator, not react as a creature. You must bridge the gap of becoming between Gethsemane and Ascension. Though immature when you start, you mature as you take on personal responsibility for your life. Each soul ascends along a stairway of love to meet a great black abyss of pride, self-pity, resentment, hatred, revenge motives—all the negatives of self, your enemies. Soul ascension, which includes love, assuming responsibility and forgiveness, is the only way to throw a lifeline of love across the abyss.
You ascend every time you mentally say, “I AM loves you,” to an enemy. Your love of God constructs the bridge, and your Guardian Angels weave these lines into the Master’s net that lifts and holds you. If you pray for something that doesn’t happen, you can be sure that you are praying wrongly or interfering with God’s work in some other area. Offer it as a sacrifice, and do not use force to get your way.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”–2 Corinthians 6:14. Being unequally yoked means to be bound by doubt, fear, or negative emotions. Never try to change another’s belief. Keep declaring “I AM loves you” to free the one who would bind you to earth and a worldly vibration. Righteousness is being morally upright to become your highest vision. “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness” means that you do not let go of your high vision. If Light fills you, the Light will absorb all darkness you meet. The size of the Light you choose to become determines your degree of illumination, a dim bulb or a floodlight.
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”–2 Corinthians 6:15. When you say, “I can’t,” the little fellow speaking in your heart and mind is the unbeliever. You are an unbeliever if you think that any cabal of men or plan of darkness can destroy the world. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”–2 Corinthians 6:16. God permits no idols in the temple. What is your “idol?” Some prefer beefsteaks, others carrots. Anything you worship is your idol—opinions, prejudices, money. “I will live in them and walk among them” refers to the o’ershadowing the Christ Light.
Do you realize that your expression of what you are is only as great as your desire, and it shall ever be so? You need desire first, because the only realm you can open is on the level of your desire. This is a fundamental law. Reconciliation makes you accept that you must reconstruct your bridge to God. Then you ascend to love God more than you love life.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”–2 Corinthians 6:17. Unclean refers to negative thoughts and acts, not only to your hands. Anything that allows you an idle word or thought is unclean. Jesus’ teachings are all practical.
“Every valley shall be filled and every mountain be brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth.”–Isaiah 40:4. As a civilization, we aspire—we build bridges over valleys; airplanes bring the mountains low; superhighways run straight through crooked mountain passes. Urban renewal is smoothing the rough ways, as we tear up entire cities and reconstruct them. Your aspiration builds your flaming desire to agree and adjust, to reconcile. You reconstruct your bridge over the abyss from self to soul by digging out the old to make way for the new—to love God anew. Prayer and your desire for selflessness will enable you to give up the world for ascension. This is reconciliation.
When you have ascended, your only prayer is for perfection. We have passed the point where the Elect’s prayers could save earth—“For the Elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” The Elect have already saved earth and we are ascending. Let’s be big brothers and sisters to cleanse the world of darkness in all ways. Father, we open our hearts, minds and cells of our bodies to be flooded with Thy radiance!
From Adam to Jesus
Edna Lister outline, May 22, 1960, Cleveland, OH. John 1:1-18, Proverbs 8:22-31, Genesis 1:1-3, 1:26-28, 2:1,4-8, 2:18-23.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”–John 1:1-18.
Adam symbolizes the man of earth. Jesus represents man in the image and likeness of God. Adam represents man moving up from creature consciousness to become a creator. Jesus represents man as a creator. In the first chapter of Genesis, Elohim made man in the “image and likeness of God.” In the second chapter of Genesis, man appears as the “son of man.” These two chapters are extremely misunderstood.
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”–Proverbs 8:22-31.
The Garden of Eden, as described in Proverbs 8, is where the first molds of Light for form became visible. Metaphysically, the earthy or “red” Adam, is the Adam with energy as vitality. We took this Adam-man form after we descended from our high estate, which is called “the fall of man.” The fall was not the result of sin, but the plan to open a Day of Creation. When the sheaths of the descending creator gods grow too thick to admit enough Light, it triggers a “fall” in the rate of vibration. In this case, man, ascending from the son of man to the son of God, has not yet reached the stature of the Son of the Father.
This first chapter of John, when compared with the first two chapters of Genesis, establishes our unmistakable identity as descended creators. Anyone may recognize a descended creator anywhere, because they accept Jesus as the Word, without question. To understand, integrate the first chapter of Genesis with the first chapter of the Gospel of John.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”–Genesis 1:1-3.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion.”–Genesis 1:26-28. “Let us make man” refers to the creator gods who were begotten at the Source, created in the perfect image and likeness of God. “Male and female” describes the androgynous beings, each pair encased within a sphere of Light.
The second chapter of Genesis describes six great days of creation used for planning and making molds, and giving substance time to condense and fill those molds. “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”–Genesis 2:4-9.
This passage describes the time elapsed before the creation of the physical, visible Garden of Eden. The sixth verse, “There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground,” describes the androgynous beings
a non-physical being having or partaking of both masculine and feminine mental characteristics or qualities; a term descriptive of various soul vehicles that are precursors to the physical state; a supra-physical Holy Pair of begotten creator gods, encased within a sphere of Light, joined at the umbilical center by a cord of rainbow lights. Even when differentiated into masculine and feminine, they retain their essential unity in the Light.
–ViaChrista.org.
When they were ready to inhabit their first earth body, the pairs were called into separate individual sheaths, and put into a deep sleep. They were separated when their umbilical cord of rainbow lights was severed and they were sealed within their own spheres. Collectively, they were named Adam. Out of the “ground,” from a fiery “dust” came Adam, the herbs, trees and animals. From this dust, all the creative molds were filled and made visible. A symbolic 7,000-year cycle culminated in Jesus.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”–John 1:1-5. The Word made the world. The descended creators “received” the Word. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”–John 1:12-13.
“The Lord possessed me [the Word] in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”–Proverbs 8:22-23. What good is all this information? Your soul security is your identity as a descended creator, which you have through the Word, which integrates your identity with his glory! Adam symbolizes man climbing a ladder in consciousness from creature to creator, from the earthy son of man to the celestial son of God. This includes increasing your soul’s developed mental capacity to meet the increased needs for outer expression. Jesus is forever the symbol of all good in man, of human perfection; he epitomized the application of law to life. He synthesized the laws of being and doing into the Sermon on the Mount, presented in terms men and women could understand and obey. Today his simple parables remain understandable by the common man in every culture and level of society.
From Adam to Jesus
Edna Lister outline; May 22, 1960, Cleveland, OH. John 1:1-18, Proverbs 8:22-31, Genesis 1:1-3, 1:26-28, 2:1,4-8, 2:18-23.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”–John 1:1-18.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion.”–Genesis 1:26-28.
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”–Genesis 2:18-23.
Without the faith of God, no manifestation is possible. Before He sent us out, God had to know that He could bring us back to Him. Without faith, we would have no country, no city of residence, no railroads, airlines, no commerce, no truth. Everyone is seeking a spiritual identity with his Source of being and life.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”–Genesis 1:1-3.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”–John 1:1-5. The first two chapters of Genesis stir controversy, and the first chapter of the Gospel of John is almost a repetition of them. Both begin with “In the beginning.”
{Edna Lister's side notes:} Explain the story of the six days of Creation. Tell the story of the descended creators, and of the man that God made from the dust of the ground. The dust is composed of the life sparks of primordial substance.
“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”–Genesis 2:4-9. This passage describes the first appearance of man in the visible world. This man came from the ground, or adamah in Hebrew, as did the trees and animals. Adam's name reveals that he was formed of the red earth. In contrast, Jesus was made in the image and likeness of God. At Jesus' first public appearance, John told of his cousin's divine origin as the Word: That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
Proofs of the Word: “The Lord possessed me [the Word] in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.”–Proverbs 8:22-23, 30.
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”–Psalm 82:6. “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”–John 10:34. You were there also in the beginning, and God made you of the substance of that faith. Faith has four phases that are important to us as souls wearing bodies of flesh: the faith of God, faith in yourself, faith in others, and faith in your soul's freedom. The faith of God is unconquerable. Two phases of faith are important, first and last, the faith of God and faith in your individual freedom.
“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”–John 1:10-13.
The whole process, from the Adam of earth to Jesus the Christed Son of God, is one of developing and unfolding the actual brain cells with which to know. As an instrument of God, you are always increasing your capacity, as does an infant, through exercising the four faiths under law.
We have built our nation through faith in ourselves. You have faith in your fellow man through brotherly love. You have faith in freedom, but may claim no freedom where it hurts another. Today’s difficulty is that some overstep that Godlike freedom, which is ruled by the principles of honor, loyalty, integrity and justice. Yet faith alone is nothing. Back your faith with the works and the words of life. Each new problem is an “In the beginning.”
You create your own life in one of two ways. You can choose to create after your own pattern from the Light and life from the void, or you accept the bondage of an earthly family pattern. Jesus set such beautiful patterns for us. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”–Matthew 6:22. Faith fulfills this promise.
After Adam came Joshua, who declared, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”–Joshua 24:15. The two most important faiths are the faith of God, which is basic, and faith in freedom to express, to expand, and to become. You seek freedom to free others.
Wisdom, Love and Joy, the three Emanations, then fall into the seven degrees of breath you breathe as the Holy Spirit. The three higher degrees of the Breath of God feed the soul as faith to become the four lower degrees of breath.
Through breath, the faith of God provides fortitude to achieve glory. The glories of God are too beautiful for words. Faith in freedom is not mine versus yours. Free the world and your fellow man of “me.” Only so can you be free to unfold gloriously.
From Adam to Jesus
Edna Lister transcript; May 22, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. John 1:1-18, Proverbs 8:22-31, Genesis 1:1-3, 1:26-28, 2:1,4-8,; 2:18-23.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”–John 1:1-18.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”–Genesis 1:1-3.
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”–Genesis 2:18-23.
Without faith, none of us would be here today. We would have no nations, huge cities, railroads or airlines, nor would we be conquering the pathway to the stars. Faith is presumptuous! You must presume something before you can do anything. We take for granted that certain laws will work, Newton’s laws of motion, for example. Where would we be if scientists, inventors, and manufacturers were not presumptuous? Someone once told me I was presumptuous to give a sermon on this topic. People who are bored by a class or irritated by a sermon do not disturb God. He knows who has been touched and received illumination.
Some intellectuals object to the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis because they record two different accounts of creation. Nevertheless, every soul who comes to earth seeks to identify with something. It may be mundane, as in earthly love, money or material goods, but everyone seeks something in which to trust, an identity in which to have confidence. Genesis says that God created the heavens and earth in six days, the creative number representing the Father and Mother combined. Six symbolizes the creative substance that you use to build a mold in the invisible world. “Day” is simply a term meaning a time, in this case, a vast time. The first six days of Creation are great ages in which earth was still a fiery gaseous orb. All the lesser creator gods as Elohim, met as one in silence to build molds for form.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion.”–Genesis 1:26-28.
“Let them have dominion” refers to the descent of the ;androgynous beings.
a non-physical being having or partaking of both masculine and feminine mental characteristics or qualities; a term descriptive of various soul vehicles that are precursors to the physical state; a supra-physical Holy Pair of begotten creator gods, encased within a sphere of Light, joined at the umbilical center by a cord of rainbow lights. Even when differentiated into masculine and feminine, they retain their essential unity in the Light.
–ViaChrista.org.
God rested on the seventh day of creation, which was as long as the previous six days combined. The creator gods waited for their impregnated molds to condense to lower the vibration into visibility.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them...These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”–Genesis 2:1,4-8.
“These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.”–Genesis 2:4, before everything appeared. The world existed before it became visible in the Garden of Eden. Humankind was still in androgynous form. The androgynous beings radiated life sparks as a mist that “went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground” in Eden. Creation is a scientific process. This mist consisted of the life sparks evolving through the stages of creation: Gas, minerals, vegetable, then the animal with a physical sheath.
God, as the plural “They,” formed man from the dust of the ground. The Father then breathed a living soul into this sheath, through the crown of the head. “Eastward in Eden” means toward the rising sun, the first mold visible in all its pristine beauty, which emerged from the six days of creation. The life sparks vitalized the ground, the dust and man. Eden represents the mother of earth arising to the Holy Spirit. Adam raised the creative fire under the vibration of the musical D chord, which symbolizes resistance.
Each pair of the androgynous beings of the first life wave were connected by an umbilical cord of rainbow-colored Light. Adam was the first, and he had a mate. “The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam.” God put the androgynous beings to sleep and severed their umbilical cords of Light to separate them.
The “fall” was how the androgynous beings precipitated a form and came to earth, which was the only way to open civilization on earth. Their fall was not a sin unless or until they misused this creative power. Each pair that descended was called Adam. God brought all the creatures to Adam, who named them, which means they were ready for God to form them into a sheath.
All the animals that Adam named corresponded to parts of his body. When the time was right, God called forth Adam’s mate from his symbolic rib, tselah in Hebrew. She was his helpmeet, neqivah in Hebrew, designed to be his protection and support for the Holy Breath.
God created the heavens and the earth by saying, “Let there be Light,” because you can create only in the Light. John starts with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”–John 1:1. Then the Word changed to Light: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”–John 1:5. The instant darkness comprehends, it becomes Light.
Between Adam and Jesus was a vast process of time, space, and evolution of consciousness. The first Begotten Son, part of whom we know as Jesus, was in the world, yet he made the world as the Word of God. The only way to unfold this passage is to understand the doctrine of many lives, reincarnation. Descended creator gods of the first order “born not of blood but of God,” believe that Jesus is the only Begotten Son of the Father, without doubt or need for conversion.
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”–Proverbs 8:22-31.
This passage is full proof that Solomon, who wrote the Proverbs, was a part of the Begotten Son. The androgynous beings hovered above the earth before “the beginning of his way.” You are born of the love of God and with the key to open every mystery.
First, you need faith, for without faith, you can do nothing. Faith has four phases: Faith in God, faith in yourself, faith in humanity and faith in freedom. When you have no faith in your soul, you have no confidence or trust.
You must know that you are a descended creator god, then you need faith that God uses you, and ascend as a creator god. When you have enough faith and trust in the Father, you become faith and confidence. Often those, who are confident in themselves, criticize those who lack confidence. If you pull another into your aura by criticizing him, you put yourself in bondage with him. Declare, “I AM loves you,” but way over there, so he will not press in or bind you. Free the other fellow of you. Lift him, put him on a cloud with honor, loyalty, integrity and justice, which takes care of so-called enemies.
Faith in humanity means you may hold no suspicions. You have heard others say, “I think he looks untrustworthy.” Yet, to say that about someone, ties him to your aura coattails to assume his debts. Pour Light on him instead, and declare enough Power to lift him and pay his debts. Your only freedom lies in honor and justice. Every soul who comes to earth carries his soul records in the midbrain, the mesencephalon. Outer stimuli awaken them to unfold and develop gradually, which brings maturity. When something makes you respond with distrust, you are awakening a past life record and remembering your lessons. This is the only way a soul learns to mature from suspicion into a just appraisal.
For example, measuring cups come in all sizes. You make a just appraisal when you decide which one to use, based on experience. You cannot put a quart of illumination in a pint-sized consciousness. Further, you must know the difference between leaky vessels and containers that will hold. This is the difference between suspicion and a just appraisal: If you think a sieve will leak, why not use a bowl? The law states, never put a burden on a soul’s back that he is not strong enough to bear.
Jesus gave us the perfect patterns for integrity, honor and justice in the Sermon on the Mount. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”–Matthew 6:22 is the pattern by which anyone can expand, grow and become as a creator god. He has given you the molds and it is your fault if you substitute another kind of life.
With the faith of God, you can grow, expand, express more compassion and pay more debts for those who are helpless yet need to ascend. Light as the Wisdom, Love and Energy Emanations express as the faith of God, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Breath. You breathe seven degrees of breath as one great Breath of Life.
You inhale four degrees of earthly breath through the nostrils, but the three higher degrees of spiritual breath through the crown. The four lower degrees of breath as faith are the substance of all that is. If you lack conscious faith, you cannot breathe the three higher degrees of breath through the crown. The higher degrees of breath add the soul substance of God to you. The four lower degrees of breath are the Spirit of God.
As faith, you move into action. Faith occupies a degree above the Holy Spirit. You cannot breathe the Holy Spirit without faith. You need Wisdom, Love and the Logos, the Son as the Word, the Holy Spirit, joy and faith. You take the seven great degrees of breath in through the crown as the Holy Spirit in action. The Holy Spirit is the pure spiritual substance of God and He renews it in you daily. Yet “faith without works is dead,” so do not cut off the three higher degrees of breath.
You are a creator, with dominion over your body, thoughts and words. Step up into freedom and acknowledge God now. Breathe the Breath of Life and accept your place as a son or daughter of God. Ascend, as did Adam, the man of earth, to become like Jesus, the Christed Son of God.
Consider the Lilies
Edna Lister outline; May 29, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Luke 12:16-21, 12:22-32.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”–Luke 12:16-21.
“He said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. How much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 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 today in the field, and tomorrow 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 knows 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.”–Luke 12:22-32.
I approach this passage about the lilies of the field with “fear and trembling,” in awe and consecration. It seems ambiguous and contradictory as you read it. Yet, Dr. Paul Tillich, of Harvard University School of Divinity, said that we cannot unfold the mysteries of the Bible from a horizontal position. To ascend, you must reach higher. The outstanding contradiction in this text is to “take no thought” for your life, what you will eat, drink or wear. Compare this with other verses that say you have to work out your salvation, faith without works is dead, and as you sow, so shall you reap.
Remember that the New Testament is just the report of what Jesus said. Yet Jesus took them apart at night, into the desert, alone, to explain and unfold the mysteries he had taught to the masses. You cannot just unfold scripture verse by verse. The mysteries are hidden between the lines, often far removed from any obvious mystical interpretation. Each individual hears and interprets according to his present understanding of law and truth. For the purpose of analysis, we divide this text into three parts: “Take no thought,” “seek not,” and “wait upon the Lord in the high place.”
“He said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”–Luke 12:22-23. “Take no thought for your life” means to spend no time worrying about it, considering or pondering it. In these verses, Jesus identifies different levels of consciousness according to degree and kind.
Ravens, which are a kind, represent the unconscious world mind. Ravens are unconscious of law and therefore have no debts or payments to make. God provides on each level, according to degree and kind of consciousness. Ravens cannot sow or reap, and have no storehouse or barn. This passage does not say that you may not build a storehouse or barn, or that you cannot provide for the future, just that ravens cannot at their level, which is their degree.
In the second phase of unfolding, Jesus describes how the grass grows each year, the sun dries it out, then it is gone. This happens faithfully, every year. Yet it serves a warning that too little faith or a doubtful mind can become as a grass level of consciousness. “Grass consciousness” can consume everything, home, family, business, all burned out and dried up. If you seek not the kingdom, you dry up and sink back into a parched nothingness.
“Behold, I make all things new.”–Revelation 21:5. Yet, you can climb again, in another year, as the grass grows back from its roots, resurrected. You hold the same immortal seed of life and grow now in all ways. Grass cannot return to the life it had, nor can you have both the old and the new.
In the third phase of unfolding, Jesus spoke of “taking thought” and spending time trying to add a cubit to your height. Some people practice sitting to bring their desires into visibility. They call this “demonstration,” or “precipitating” abundance directly from the invisible.
One story tells of a couple who practiced this mental process by concentrating together. Eventually, they brought forth a red lump, like a stone. What did they have for their effort? Proof? Some even do this sort of thing for money, which is all they may gain, but no soul development. Faith is easier. This way, you never mentally concentrate under surrender to the Power of God. Instead, you accept, and ascend in consciousness.
“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. “Consider the lilies” is one of the greatest truth statements of all time. Lilies do not toil or spin, they just hustle. They push, push, push up to reach the Light. This is not toil, but letting the Light, visible and spiritual, pull them up and out of the darkness. They never stop.
Jesus uses the lily metaphor to point out the only easy, happy way to live. All mentally focused ways are hard. Letting the sun or God’s Light draw you up is the easy way, appropriating life from everything around you. The Father does it. Letting is the royal way. The lily lesson is to stay in your place now, to work now, without looking around to see what else is happening. Pay no attention, but rightly use what you have in the right place.
“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, [but] it shall not come nigh thee.”–Psalm 91:7. “Take no thought for your life” admonishes you not to worry so much. Instead, the Master says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matthew 6:33.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 2:5. You need to let this mind be in you. Then, as with the ravens and the grass, you let divine Mind put you in the right place at the right time. All miracles are a matter of timing. Take the time to be as still as a lily bulb, and listen. Then, invest your money, your love. The Father knows your needs and the answers before you call. It is easy when you see that God’s life is your life. Then you are always in the right place at the right time.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”–Luke 12:16-21.
If you think to lay up treasures for self, you are not conscious of being rich toward God. Seeking treasures on earth leads you into a wilderness of debts and needs, obligations for clothing, food, and material objects. When you feel right toward God, you always think of God pouring out and giving. What you give God makes you rich. A faith that is focused upward does not lean or create an impoverished consciousness. To grow this faith, you must love enough.
“I am become rich, I have found me out substance.”–Hosea 12:8. When you are rich in God, you are wealthy in harmony, joy and love, eternal youth and immortality. Declare, “I am rich toward God. I spread my wings and hold them up, as do the seraphim and cherubim.”
Consider the Lilies
Edna Lister transcript; May 29, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. Luke 12:16-21, 12:22-32.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”–Luke 12:16-21.
“He said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. How much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 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 today in the field, and tomorrow 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 knows 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.”–Luke 12:22-32.
Of all the verses strung together as a unit, and they wrote the Bible in units, this text in Luke is the most ambiguous. The formula, whether a kitchen recipe or a great scientific experiment, is so important. “Do not worry about your life” seems a travesty because you must plan and work to obtain your living, what you eat and drink, how you house and clothe yourself. I have always avoided this verse and approach it now with fear and trembling, which means awe and consecration. I knew it would catch up with me sometime and I think you will be as surprised as I was. It’s no wonder that the Bible bewilders the world. The world tries to interpret Scripture from a horizontal position, but trying to understand the Bible that way will fail. The formula, whether a kitchen recipe or a great scientific experiment, originated in divine Mind. Your best ideas spring from divine Mind. Ideas come from above but they cannot enter a closed mind, so don't be a “skull bumper.”
The disciples were narrative reporters who recorded the Master’s speeches from memory. Their personalities color what they wrote. Unconsciously, you will emphasize even a verbatim report based on your personal problems. These men wrote the Gospels from memory. Various events and ideas impressed Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and each interpreted what he saw and heard differently. Some recorded events in great detail, others commented on it, and the rest never even mentioned the event.
The Bible holds the mysteries, but the learned initiates could not reveal them for all to read or they would not be mysteries. When you read a chapter, one verse will contain a mystery woven in, followed by two or three verses that seem to be unconnected, and they are. Search for the mysteries and integrate them for yourself. Then weave them together and interpret. Never in all your life has illumination burst as suddenly as it can and does now. As you approach your studies of God’s revelation with awe and a consecrated purpose, the Light of illumination will explode within you.
“Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”–Luke 12:22-23. This is the most important verse in this chapter. “Your life” is the selfish part, separate from the Almighty. You can disconnect no part of life from God. You either believe that God is all, or you do not. If you believe that God is all the substance and glory of life, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If you “seek the Christ within,” you just sit in the silence and let your responsibilities go. He who says, “I seek the Christ within for my answers,” considers the self repeatedly and withers. He is so busy seeking that the rest of his house becomes dirty. Waste no time worrying about your life, just continue to climb. When you consider God’s life, you are like a lily bulb that pushes up to unfold a perfect blossom. To become God’s image and likeness is the secret of creation.
“Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”–Luke 12:24.
The Bible never says not to sow and reap, but the ravens are not accountable to law. You are. God looks after you with the whole Mind and Power that oversees all creation. This is the same “mind that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). You do not take thought for your life, because your body is more than raiment and food. A group soul watches over ravens and all other migratory species of creatures, and guides them by lights and tones imperceptible to human senses.
A group soul governs each species and guides the unconscious yet instinctively intelligent creatures upward in conscious awareness, eventually into human bodies. We call these “young souls.” So many creatures are now taking on human form that the world is experiencing a population explosion. If every soul incarnated at once, the population really would explode. God cares for the creature class before they have a full living soul, but we are more valuable than the creatures.
“Which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?”–Luke 12:25-26. This verse applies to those who seek to change their appearance. It directly forbids concentrating to make things visible, which early 20th Century metaphysicians called “precipitation” or “demonstration” under the Adept Degree, though some think it a miracle. [See 2 Corinthians 8:9-14.] If you read the Bible and pray hard enough, you can have your miracle within ten minutes. If you cannot increase your stature by patting self on the back and talking about your accomplishments, why do these things? The Master warns not to waste time.
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”–Luke 12:27. Lilies do not toil or spin. However, lily bulbs hustle to grow and let the sun’s glory and life pull them up from the darkness. They grow around obstacles through complete faith, by holding one idea, remaining in rhythm with divine Mind. The lily bulb is always active, busy and displays purity of heart and mind and singleness of purpose, so the Master used it for his example. A lily grows single-eyed to reach the Light. The lesson is to remain active and in harmony with the divine. You can work in rhythm with your own life chord and be obedient to the color and tone about you without having to toil and spin. You can go faster, but do it in the Master’s quiet and confidence.
“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?”–Luke 12:28. The Master always used the homeliest analogies with his audience. If the sun burns the grass, it grows again from the same roots, which the earth protects. This is important, because it exemplifies Resurrection. A man can burn himself out in many ways, alcoholism, for instance, but below is the seed of life that can always grow again to make all things new. This includes the intelligent one who misuses Power and soul substance, yet whom Light can redeem on your spoken Word. “O ye of little faith”–if your faith is little, you will be “cast into the oven” of experience, which is to become vulnerable to your spiritual debts. The oven burns away dross as heavenly fire cleanses the soul substance you lift.
“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.”–Luke 12:29-30. The “anxious mind” is the selfish little me part you have disconnected from the Almighty. This verse explains the phrase, “do not worry about your life.” While you are not supposed to worry, you can maintain a storehouse. The greatest mystery in “do not worry about your life” is to store up “riches in heaven” for God first. You must be rich in God. The two great secrets in this chapter are to take no thought for your self, and to feel rich toward God.
“God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 4:19. God will provide whatever you need, if you love Him enough. If you are not rich in God, you will be full of cares about material things. We see this everywhere. Unless you make God the center of your life, you cannot love Him enough. Ponder and consider God’s life, like a lily bulb working to make perfect blossoms. Miracles are a matter of timing. Give your good faith earnest money time to produce a miracle. The creator’s secret is to lay up your treasures in heaven, grow like a lily, always still and listening while you hustle. You will always be in the right place at the right time. The material benefits will come automatically.
“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.”–Luke 12:31-32. Do not worry about your mistakes along the way. God loves a joyous sinner. Joy enfolds the sin and wipes out the debt. A long face and self-blame increase the weight and lengthen the penance, but joy shortens it. If you feel zealous enough, ascend high enough, love God fervently enough, your tests and temptations will end. Though you are God’s wealthy sons and daughters, this is not enough. You must also sow and reap. The lily is a perfect example of the right attitude toward God. When you praise God and rejoice, you create the unadulterated attitude of the lily within your heart. The world asks God to give, and He does, but miracles come only when you feel rich toward God and give on His behalf; after all, you are his emissary! Cherubim and Seraphim surround you, protect you, but to whom do they belong? Every living thing, including your soul, belongs to the Father.
Eternity Is Now!
Edna Lister Prayer Circle newsletter, June 1960, Washington, D.C. Philippians 3:13-14, 4:13.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”–Philippians 4:13.
You stand upon now as on a golden parapet preparatory to flight. Will you soar up, out and around or down? Will you fly straight as an arrow shaft released to its mark, or wavering in its flight direction? The Now is the most priceless gift a wise, loving Father could give to His sons and daughters. Now is a moment of time that God uses in which to create through you. It's also that breathless moment you fill with your idea to form your creation.
You send forth each moment of now stamped with your own seal, which can return only as the created manifest. You can fill and live but one moment, one now at a time. Will you build a mansion of stateliness and grandeur, a monument as an ensample of your Father’s generous outpouring of substance through you? Or are you content to build your own of materials self-chosen, whose foundation you have laid on a plain of ever-shifting sand?
The undeviating desire, the attitude, the pictures created in imagination, the thoughts formed, the gestures and more important, the spoken Word, these you create in the now for the now to come. The seed lies in your wedded desire and will, mated with imagination and determination, then waiting upon the Lord’s release of building substance.
Each now, large or small in concept, will herald that creation that one day you will place before your Father as your work, well done. Each now is a step on the ladder of life taking you back home to your Father. Let each now be filled with a new song of praise unto Him, and an added “Thank You, Father, for this now, filled to the brim with the joy of creating, with Thy strength, Thy love and Thy Light, a new and shining tomorrow.”
“This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 3:13-14.
God is Safe and Dependable
Edna Lister outline; June 5, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ephesians 6:10-20, Acts 2:1-4.
“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; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”–Ephesians 6:10-20.
“When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”–Acts 2:1-4.
Pentecost is the celebration of two events. It is the Jewish harvest festival, Shavuot, when people bring the first fruits of bounty to the temple. It is also the anniversary of God giving the law to Moses at Mount Sinai. Pentecost occurs exactly fifty days after the offering given on the second day of the Passover. It is fitting that the descent of the Holy Spirit should have come on such as day of thanksgiving and devotion.
The disciples and followers were “with one accord in one place,” in harmony. They were giving thanks for a bountiful harvest that fulfilled their belief in a safe and dependable God. It seems fitting to unfold how to reach this place of complete confidence and trust in God. The secret is to put on the whole armor of God—not half, not part, but the whole armor—to withstand and having done all, to stand. The important thing is to stand, not to cut down your lines by faltering or growing weary. To stand unmoved and steadfast after you have done all you know how to do, with no doubt, no fear, no looking back—this is good!
You can take six steps to protect yourself: Gird your loins with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, and take up the sword of Spirit. Since these are six ways of protection for standing, there must be six laws that govern the six ways.
First, gird your loins with truth. Truth is all principle as one. The loins are a particularly vulnerable place in the body, between the ribs and the hips, across the lower Land of Egypt, which covers the abdomen. From the navel (umbilical line) to the hip joints is the lower Land of Egypt. From the umbilical line (navel) to the breastbone is the upper Land of Egypt. To gird the loins, place a band of Light around lower Egypt, to include the sacrum nerve plexus at the base of the spine. This band of Light is Truth, the name of all fundamental principles, and it upholds the liver, spleen and gallbladder. The liver represents sincerity, the spleen patience, and the gall bladder symbolizes unity.
Bile, the gall bladder secretion, consists of many chemical waste toxins the body forms from food, fatigue and negative emotional and mental states. Symbolically, bile represents the poison of untruths. Only truth, a blend of all principles, can mix into a beneficent all-healing product. Truth stands the test of time, but lies and insincerity fall of their own weight. To gird your loins, invoke the law, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matthew 6:33.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness to cover the stomach, heart, and lungs, which comprise the Promised Land. Righteousness means to be law-abiding, upright, and applying the highest vision to all you do. The lungs represent inspiration and aspiration. The heart represents right action. The stomach represents assimilation of all new ideas. Its center is the solar plexus, the
Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace to understand and to stand under the Light. To gain complete understanding, walk as peace. You have no enemies or adversaries because you obey the third law: “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”–John 21:22. You are too busy, minding your own business, to pay attention to what the other fellow is doing.
The fourth step is taking up the shield of faith. Faith unconquerable is your protection from the world vibrations. The left hand receives from Spirit. You hold a special light of protection over the left arm. You can move it up, down or sideways to protect yourself. The fourth law is to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”–1 Thessalonians 5:22. By faithfully minding your own business, you avoid, that is, abstain from, finding yourself in a situation that will make you look bad, or from using idle words. Faith is the substance of your words, idle or wise. We say, “By their works (and words), ye shall know them.” ["By their fruits ye shall know them.”–Matthew 7:20.]
The fifth step is putting on the helmet of salvation, which provides protection for the golden bowl, the head. Light, whirling down through Christ consciousness, forms a helmet of Light around the head to protect the soul faculties, seated there. The helmet saves you from the four worldly winds of criticism, condemnation, opinion, and prejudice. God does not ask you to love evil or wrong-doing, but gathering up the associated life sparks to be burned and cleansed is your job. The fifth law is, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”–John 12:32. When you cover the transgressions of evil, put them in a blinding Light. The world always sees the truth, given enough Light. Sometimes the evil one sees the error of his ways.
The sixth step is to take up the sword of Spirit. Hold the sword in the right hand, which gives of Spirit, when you love enough. The sword is the Word of God, whose servant you become when you declare the sixth law, “This is good! Let there be Light!” from Genesis 1.
The world can tell if you are a true “ambassador in bonds” because your breastplate shines. The Pentecost flames set all twelve jewels afire as the Holy Spirit descends on your devotion, your rejoicing, your believing to see. The breastplate becomes dull when you slip back into old habits. You may speak boldly as an ambassador, and can easily persevere because you are “bonded” in the Light to stand safe and secure. The very fact that you are bonded tells you that God is dependable now. Your understanding is your guarantee of God’s faithfulness in fulfillment of law.
The Legend of the Breastplate of Righteousness: The breastplate of righteousness covers the solar plexus, the stomach, heart, and lungs. The high priest wore one with twelve stones in the chromatic colors, representing twelve rays of light. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies, and came out to the people with the twelve lights of the breastplate shining. The combination of the twelve lights carried the message from God, which the high priest spoke in authority.
One or more lights would shine from the breastplate on the person needing help. If the priest was disobedient or used force by speaking from self, no light shone and the stone of the breastplate remained dull. When someone stood before the high priest with a tale or falsehood, a stone on the breastplate either sent light to the person or lost its glow. The stones reflected whatever the witness was thinking, as well as his speech. A lying witness put on his own “robe of death” and condemned himself, but only the high priest knew this. Therefore, the judgment of the breastplate remained a mystery because the people never knew how the priests could tell they were lying. Each of the Elect has his or her own breastplate. The stones of the breastplate always hold some glow when you wear it as part of the whole armor of God.
God Is Safe and Dependable
Edna Lister transcript; June 5, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Irene White, scribes. Ephesians 6:10-20.
“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; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”–Ephesians 6:10-20.
Today is Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of thankful gratitude for the past and the future. Pentecost is a Christian festival, called Whitsunday, held the seventh Sunday after Easter to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit to the apostles in Jerusalem. Pentecost coincides with the Jewish festival of harvest, which they call Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. Seven weeks after the second day of Passover, they brought thank offerings to the temple in gratitude for the Passover, and to celebrate Moses receiving the law for Israel on Mount Sinai.
Pentecost is a thank offering for a bountiful harvest in faith, for believing to see, and harvesting the seeds you planted long ago. Pentecost is a day of devotion and gratitude, of expressing complete faith in what is to come. This sermon topic of the whole armor of God is perfect for Pentecost because it describes a God of past and present safety, who is dependable for the future. We celebrate Pentecost under true ascension laws, in gratitude with all Judaeo-Christian faiths, Jews, Catholics and Protestants. No separation can exist in faith.
Paul defines two ways to ascend in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. First, he describes a preparatory period where you learn to “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”–Ephesians 6:10. Second, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.”–Ephesians 6:11-12. Principalities, powers, world rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places still beset us today. To “put on the whole armor of God” means being ready to stand with God on the inner and spiritually visualize the ways of protection. This armor of Light assures that you “may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Just to open an umbrella is not enough. Unless you become the whole armor, it cannot protect you. This text describes six ways to protect yourself as you ascend.
The loins are vulnerable, and a pulled groin muscle is severely painful. The loins contain the liver, which represents sincerity, the spleen, which represents patience, and the gall bladder, which represents unity. Your body sends every physical chemical toxin to one of these organs for cleansing. Unity establishes harmony among them, but insincerity, anger or bitterness upset them.
You must gird your loins in truth so they will not sag and drag you down the greased pole in consciousness. The land of Egypt extends from the thighs to the diaphragm, above the navel. To gird your loins protects your stomach, which represents assimilation with God’s principles of being, including faith. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and see yourself as wearing a girdle of Light over the land of Egypt.
The Promised Land extends from the diaphragm to the clavicles (collarbones). The breastplate represents righteousness as a state of consciousness in action, which is the application of your highest vision, to send the Spirit of the Lord into the world before you. The breastplate covers the stomach, heart, and lungs. It also protects the epigastric nerve plexus, which controls and coordinates these organs into righteousness, the right use of law. The lungs symbolize high spiritual inspiration and aspiration, as well as physical respiration.
The stomach represents your assimilation of new ideas. The heart symbolizes courage and honorable action. If your assimilation of ideas, action and inspiration disagrees, it causes trouble with the stomach, heart and the lungs. All parts of you must agree and adjust, and conflict prevents coordination. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”–Matthew 6:33.
Aaron’s breastplate had twelve stones, called Urim and Thummim, or lights and virtues, also called lights and perfections, and revelation and truth. Each petition ignited a light in one stone, if the petitioner told the truth, or the lights of the breastplate dimmed. The lights descended as rays from great Councils when the Israelites worked under law and obedience. The high priest entered the tabernacle to pray, and some could see the breastplate glow when he stepped forth. If the response was negative, no Light shone.
The breastplate you wear is the Light going before you to clear the way and open the right doors to let God’s Power do the work. Move all the way up in consciousness, into the kingdom of heaven. Keep yourself cleansed so all Power can move through you. You can always visualize yourself a step higher, one step at a time. Too many people live by, “I let go and let God sometimes, then I let go and let me.”
Cover your feet, which represent understanding, with the preparation of the gospel of peace. You cannot find or live in peace without understanding, which ends all inner conflict. Adversaries will beset you until you obey the law of “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”–John 21:22. Lift the results of evil. Lift your loved ones, government employees, and politicians into the Light. “Follow thou me” means to follow law. You need not love what people do, but see them, on a cloud continent of Light and declare that Light is the result of their action. Step aside and let Power do the work. See the Light, not the need, or no healing can come. When Light fully armors you, Power will move through your spoken Word and do the work. “The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.”–John 14:10.
You hold the shield of faith with the left hand, which signifies faith protecting the spiritual side. It provides ten thousandfold more protection than the right hand. The right hand of execution says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”–1 Thessalonians 5:22. Up goes your shield of faith, which is the substance of Light, to provide protection from self and others, especially from idle word creations.
The helmet of salvation protects the golden bowl, the head. Whirling Light descends through the golden bowl to protect the pineal body and pituitary gland, which are parts of the higher creative center. Light motivates the Christ mind of I AM, the super-conscious mind, and it adds soul substance to your Oversoul star. Integrate this with “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”–John 12:32. Lift — do not condemn! You give others your precious life sparks of soul substance when you live under the four worldly winds of criticism, opinions, prejudices, and condemnation. This cyclone of force shuts off your salvation and closes doors. Most people have only peeked at the kingdom, never really seen it in all its glory.
For example, a bookkeeper is accountable for all month-end figures. Everyone’s work depends on the numbers they generate, so they come under pressures from every sort of conflict. The four worldly winds in the figures tear off bits of their soul substance. They may even lock shreds of their soul substance in the safe with the books overnight. Enter the Gates of Light to the kingdom of heaven, be lifted up, and stay there. Let the Father do the work, without using your own soul substance.
The two-edged “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” is Love and Wisdom balanced. Together, they open the way to pour enough love substance to heal anything completely. If nothing happens when you lift, take another step, raise your sword of Spirit and declare, “This is good!” This is the only way to cut through negativity to heal. The truth protects you, if you definitely hold to your inner harmony, and remember to wear your armor.
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that in it I may speak boldly.”–Ephesians 6:18-20. This directive applies to each in his own way. Never forget that you are an ambassador in bonds to God.
God’s abundance will always pay your bond, but prepare yourself, put on the armor, and stand on the crossbar to immolate the self-will. God’s promises move into fulfillment on your declaration, “This is good. Now is the good, high time to be saved from all darkness.”
Your Measure of Light
Edna Lister outline; June 12, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Luke 11:14-26, 12:16-21.
“And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”–Luke 11:14-26.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”–Luke 12:16-21.
Today’s world is calling for signs to “Show me proof.” “Prove it to me.” We now live in a world where the need for casting out demons, devils and evil spirits is a thousandfold greater than in the time of Christ. Groups are researching the spirit world, proving a life after death, and invoking spirits. Psychiatrists are relieving many patients of obsessions and possessions. Whole groups are searching to uncover evil, chicanery, and treachery in high places. Many souls are digging around in their own subconscious basements for hidden darkness and evils lurking there.
This whole passage in Luke mainly deals with subtraction and division. Although you cannot have it both ways, the chapter illustrates how easy it is to divide and conquer. The opening and closing of these particular verses deal with two forms for casting out a devil and an unclean spirit. We will deal with these later.
The main body of this text deals with Jesus’ answer to the scribes and Pharisees who had publicly accused him of casting out devils in the name of Beelzebub, the chief devil. Others among them later tempted him by asking for a sign as proof of the truth in what he was saying. His answer was clever, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.”–Luke 11:17-19.
Logically, Jesus is doing good by casting out demons. If he does good, then he is not evil. Further, their own sons were also casting out demons, so if they call Jesus evil, their sons must be also. “If I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”–Luke 11:20. Notice, the Master reveals the way to add Light as power and to expand a healing vibration by using the finger of God. Meanwhile, he warns that expansion can, in fact, subtract from stability and available substance.
“When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.”–Luke 11:21-22. A palace is a place of soul integrity, a stronghold. Hold fast to your gains at every level—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If you allow someone to use power over you, you divide and thereby waste your “spoils,” the treasures you have won by conquering self. A strong man’s “goods” include faith, love and joy, which he holds safe and inviolable.
As you ask for something through soul prayer, you must know that you shall receive and be happy with it. The “stronger man than he” pops up as fear, worry, rebellion and resentment, and divides the spoils of glory. Each time you give in to the demons of self, you dissipate the Light as power meant to do the work. You receive as much as you have built, minus the deductions from Light to pay for your weaknesses. Half the time you let God, but half the time you still let “little me” run the show. This scatters your treasures. Just remember this—soul is alive right, but self is dead wrong. When you allow self to take charge, it uses power, creating force. If you allow another to take over, he adds your share of Light as power to his and uses it. This leaves you weak.
Of the two examples of casting out, the first is a devil, also called a
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”–Luke 11:24-26. A mind swept clean of old ideas, but as yet empty of new ideas, is inert, unoccupied. The unclean spirit gathered seven more, making eight, the number symbolizing the power that ties earth to heaven. The unclean spirits knew that strength often lies in numbers. A weak person has little influence. How does this work? Well, for example, thinking that you have paid all your debts to law is such an illusion. You return to an old situation only to find your past waiting to confront you, the same family, the same problems, the same complaints. You find that you have paid only the interest due on them.
What has all this to do with power? Light is Energy, which is potential within the Godhead, but which becomes power when exercised. Power is that potential put into action as vigor and kinetic energy, the ability to do or to act. You have instant access to the power to subtract all your weaknesses, and power to gather your scattered self. What counts is what you do with this ability to do and to act. The Butterfly Story: Some butterflies are weak and timid and cling to the branch, fearful to fly away. Others are brave, strong and unafraid. We live in a push-button age. Everything seems so easy, but the houses and offices must still be wired for power and light. By practice, you can learn how to use new machines and technology. Still, technical convenience is not enough is not enough to lift your mental, emotional and spiritual burdens.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”–Matthew 11:28-30. Unless you are aware of self’s push-buttons, it is like searching Grandma’s cupboards in the dark for candles and matches when the power is out. Be aware every moment, and know how your push-buttons of faith, love, joy and strength are wired. Each is a power.
Your measure of Light is your awareness of God’s Power and how you put it into practice in ascension. You have the power to burn with fervency, and to see and hear spiritually. Yet, you also must be aware of the power of beauty to appreciate the good. Exercise your power to expand and to love, to feel rich toward God.
Your Measure of Light
Edna Lister transcript; June 12, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. Luke 11:14-26, 12:16-21.
“And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”–Luke 11:14-26.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”–Luke 12:16-21.
This story and parable deals with casting out
Luke deals with these different kinds of possession, and mentions casting out devils in nine different places. Where a devilish entity moves in and possesses, it deals with a possessing personality. “He was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.”–Luke 11:14. After Jesus cast out a mute demon, the mute spoke. This story deals with the devils of multiple personalities. This man had allowed a floating entity to enter through his navel center. He was mute because the entity had possessed his throat center, which is the seat of power for the spoken Word. Your voice contains twelve chromatic tones, which you use when you speak. The Master used tone as a shock method and produced an instantaneous reaction when he commanded the devil to “Come out.” The man’s soul reentered his body and instantly spoke in response. Jesus might well have said, “I come to possess when the devil has come out.”
You must wear the whole armor of God and the breastplate of judgment, for without it, you attract a world vibration of evil. The people marveled although many had seen Jesus cast out other devils. The family that fears a loved one is possessed needs a sign that their loved one is truly healed. Jesus had two goals here, to cast out devils and to give the family involved a sign to strengthen their faith.
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”–Luke 11:24-26. An unclean spirit deals with principle, the three phases of the One Mind within the person—subconscious, conscious and super-conscious—as in Luke 11:24-26. An unclean spirit describes subconscious mind possessing the soul. An unclean spirit is spiritual substance, but is not a living soul, such as the devil of personality that had moved in to possess the first man.
This chapter describes how to divide and conquer. Some believed in Jesus, yet others accused him of exorcizing in the name of Beelzebub, the chief of devils. Jesus knew their thoughts and that they were divided in opinion. He taught them that every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every house divided falls. If Satan is divided against himself, how can he stand? Satan was dual-minded so his house had to fall, and it is still falling today. The Master has separated us from evil. He alluded to their sons casting out demons to confuse his accusers. They could hardly admit their sons were not doing good, since he and they used the same Power.
“If I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”–Luke 11:20. If these men accepted that Jesus was working with the finger of God, and their sons were under God, they were admitting Jesus’ authority and who o’ershadowed him. Jesus effectively proclaimed that the kingdom of God was now possessing them.
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils.”–Luke 11:21-22.” In Bible study, ponder where the emphasis is placed in a verse. Guard your body palace, which contains the conscious mind, the mental faculties, the foundation of New Jerusalem, the fortress, the holy place, the head. If you guard these, you keep your palace in peace, but thieves can rob and divide the spoil. A stranger, who negatively persuades you, takes your armor first, but will soon take your hope, joy and faith, for your guilt complex will disturb your faith in God.
“God speaks as personality through personality to personality.”
“He who is not with me is against me” describes a man damned with faint praise.1 God speaks as personality through personality to personality. Jesus might have said, “He who is not with God is against God.” The crowd had no more questions after Jesus said, “He who does not gather with me scatters.” If you feel scattered in vibration, ascend in consciousness, reach out with arms of Light, gather your scattered soul substance and negative emotions. Lift your life sparks for cleansing, and declare, “Let this be cleansed and returned to Thy servant. I am that good, I AM. I am that Light, I AM. I am that Love, I AM.” The I AM is, of course, the Christ consciousness of the Oversoul, that mind which was in Christ Jesus.
Jesus then taught them about the man healed of an unclean spirit. Fears, doubts, self-pity, pride, opinions and prejudices, all negative vibrations he had allowed, filled and “possessed” his subconscious mind. Healed, he was converted and perfectly free, but was not grateful enough. He did not take an offering to the temple, or turn to God and fill himself with the Holy Breath by praising. Jesus freed the man’s subconscious mind, yet he had to speak the word for Light to absorb the misused Power and Substance of his idle words and emotions that waited on a cloud.
You must ascend high enough in consciousness for the glory of God to fill you after you are healed. Unless you do, your last curse’s cloud of negativity will find other unclean spirits, form an entity army and return. Thus, “The last state of that man is worse than the first.” For instance, a man formed spiritual debts with his family. He moved away, unwilling to work it out. He made good in his new place, returned home and was shocked to find that his debts awaited him, for he had paid only the interest. He could have paid those debts if he had not blamed his wife. Had they prayed together, they could have lifted everything onto a cloud continent of Light.
You cannot pay your debts by changing your mental or physical address, or running from a situation, for it will always catch up with you. Pay the soul debts you created with negative thoughts. Let the Power of the River of Life flow through and change you. Power is vigor and energy, the ability to do or to act. Like a chameleon, you have power to change the colors of your aura when you move from self-pity to praising God.
People say, “This taxes my strength.” If you use only your small power, it is taxing. Draw on God’s infinite Power as divine action through you. Make Power a soul faculty, not just a remote Emanation or a squib of physical energy. Use the term “power” as encouragement, as in “more power to you,” which evokes the other fellow’s full Power faculty of judgment and leadership.
“My yoke is easy and my burden is Light.”–Matthew 11:30. Jesus never mentioned how hard it would be to get that burden of self up and onto the altar. You must ascend in consciousness to be healed. Put your burden up on the altar and make it Light. Stay up and fill your consciousness with the love of God so “it” will not return. Let go and let God! One day we watched several butterflies emerge from the chrysalis. The instant each butterfly learned to let go, it flew. All flew away except one that was too timid. We prayed for a breeze and he spread his vividly beautiful wings and fluttered away.
Because Power is a phase and function of Light, its action is automatic. You get results the instant you let go and let God. What good is this marvelous Light as Power unless you are aware of its magnificence? When you accept, you know that Light moves forth as you. Soul is alive right. Self is dead wrong. What is your measure of Light as Power? Are you aware of what love can do when you conquer self? You must become aware of the Power, beauty, joy and expansive quality of conquering. Love does all else when you conquer self.
How much of the beauty you see around you becomes yours? How aware are you of the many blessings you receive each day? Family is a blessing, though they seem to pick on you sometimes. When they prune your flaws, they cast out your devils. hat is your measure of Power? How you act, what you think, what you do determines your measure of Power, which is the quantity of your love, appreciation, gratitude and joy, the riches you can bring God.
1^To damn someone with faint praise:
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.
–Alexander Pope, Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot
Steadfast Vigilance
Edna Lister outline; June 19, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Hebrews 2:1-8, 3:12-15.
“We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man that Thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”–Hebrews 2:1-8.
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”–Hebrews 3:12-15.
“We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.”–Hebrews 2:1-3. This text speaks of escaping, but escaping what? It must be personal responsibility. Your personal responsibility runs three ways—toward God, toward your fellow man, and toward yourself. God trusts angels with positions of such tremendous responsibility and power. The Elect must stand steadfastly in respect for the dignity and greatness of their office. This kingdom of the angels was of the world to come, the hereafter, which is in complete subjection to them. Someone must run heaven since it cannot run itself, but needs direction and control.
“What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? … Thou crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of Thy hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.”–Hebrews 2:6-7. Imagine this! What a glory, honor and responsibility. Hold, treasure and use the works of God’s hands, never to misuse them or betray His trust.
“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”–Hebrews 2:8. The feet represent understanding. If you do not yet see all things, you lack sufficient understanding. Let us analyze “the works of Thy hands.” We are rapidly subduing nature in everything we do—air travel, chemistry, medicine, industry, etc. In 1860, Webster’s Dictionary defined uranium as “a useless metal not found in the U.S.” In 1910, two men went to jail because a court had decided that they could never invent a radio. Today, we use peanuts and crude oil to make clothing. We have devised untold combinations of metallic alloys and plastics, and we even have solid fuel. All this progress has come about through steadfastness and vigilance, allowing nothing to get by without examination and scientific investigation. This is but one part of man’s advance.
To be steadfast is to be “resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering; standing firm, not fickle.” Vigilance is “to keep careful watch for possible danger or difficulties; watchfulness, caution, circumspection.” Without these faculties, a scientist could destroy himself. The atomic age requires eternal vigilance in research, experimentation, air travel, machinery and technology. Any careless mistake could cause a chain reaction and destroy the world, so they tell us. Always remain alive and alert. Therefore, the only way to hold all things in subjection under your feet is through unwavering constancy to and devotion for responsibility. Practice steadfastness in riding herd on self, and maintain vigilance over earth’s obstacles.
As the angels are justly rewarded for their service, so must humanity be for their transgressions and disobedience. It must be so to hold all things in subjection, and to prevent destruction. All progress from self to soul moves through transformation into transfiguration, by way of heeding lest you slip. Progress depends on your steadfastness and vigilance. The price of security is eternal vigilance. The transformation from the restrictive cocoon of self to the glory of transfiguration, where you earn your white wings of the soul, is a long struggle with the self. Transformation comes through faithfulness to responsibility.
We may all have confidence in the facts that earth is swinging ’round the Sun in its orbit, and the sun always shines above the clouds. The seasons abide, as do the mountains and rivers, and the stars and planets fill the night sky. Yet with all this, heed the warning: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”–Hebrews 3:12-15.
Guard against unbelief, and exhort, advocate and entice each other while it is called today. Provocation means “to be baited, tempted, incited and roused,” and most provocation comes to you through lesser persons. You must hear God’s voice, the Word of the one glory, the one honor, to be over the works of His hands. Drill for the crude oil of self, which comes gushing up for you to refine into soul stuff. Thus, you lift yourself into transfiguration.
Ask yourself, Am I bold enough, strong enough to do this? Are my efforts good enough, great enough? Am I really ready to have all things in subjection under my feet? Am I ready to pay the price of glory and honor for steadfastness and vigilance? Am I bold enough to declare my own glory and honor, my dominion over my body and life — not another’s, but mine? Do I feel rich because of my full responsibility? Do I love my new white wings of glory enough to keep them unblemished by self?
Can you steadfastly say and mean, “This is good"? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matthew 6:33, for it is the only way to gain all added things. Can you declare it good when you receive just recompense for your disobedience and transgressions? To accept your personal responsibility is your crown of glory and honor.
Steadfast Vigilance
Edna Lister transcript; June 19, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. Hebrews 2:1-8, 3:12-15.
“We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man that Thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”–Hebrews 2:1-8.
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”–Hebrews 3:12-15.
“We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”–Hebrews 2:1. Ten thousand visual images support every audible image, which is why we say, “A picture is worth ten thousand words.” To “give the more earnest heed” is to shine Light on your photographic memory. Someday schools will teach children to use their photographic memory cells. Opening brain cells is crucial when you study, for you use them to remember, which is why you study.
It pays to see a law written first, to strengthen your visualization faculty. To see it written is the only way to prevent a slip after hearing a law. Just reading and research does not make what you read become part of you. When you write a law, you invest soul substance. The power of visualization etches a photographic negative on memory cells that creates perfect balance for simultaneous spiritual hearing and seeing. You can make a grocery list, but if you forget to take the list, you are lost. Visualize the list, concentrate as you write it. Beware, lest you let your attention slip. When you coordinate your seeing and hearing faculties, you make it yours, and can see it in your aura. True love is always poised in Light. Cover others’ transgressions, without dwelling on evil or darkness. Everyone has glanced at a deformity, then turned away and forgotten without lifting.
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”–Hebrews 2:3. Escape what? You are personally responsible to God, to others and to yourself to express a high sense of honor and not hurt others. You may never exalt your sense of honor at the expense of another. When you hurt someone, it is selfish. The responsibility is yours to rise up to a much higher sense of honor. If you may not kill to please yourself, can it then be legal to speak words that wound? You are just as responsible for slaying love, joy or hope as for killing a person. You never sin alone, but always involve others, too. The world is full of people who do just as they please, and it may appear as if they “get away with it.” Yet this is only temporary, an illusion. Some say that God does not punish the evil afoot in the world today.
“For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”–Hebrews 2:8. The universe is run by angels, and God justly recompenses even them for their transgressions, disobedience, and failures in responsibility. Paul describes an unseen world in these verses. Albert Einstein said that he knew a great Being was behind the universe. He said, “I believe in Spinoza’s God
In 1860, Webster’s Dictionary published a definition of uranium as “a useless metal not found in the U.S.” In 1910, two men went to jail because a court had decided that they could never invent a radio. Today we wear peanut oil and plastic fabrics that men said could never be, yet someone’s steadfastness and vigilance brought them all into visibility. Steadfastness is unwavering firmness, vigilance is caution, and you can get nowhere without both. You can have confidence in the steadfast and vigilant ones of the world: Engineers, astronomers, pilots, physicists, builders, teachers, and the armed forces.
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”–Psalm 8:4-5. God has made us a little lower than the angels because we are in physical bodies, and they are not. When you are in the body, you cannot spiritually see and hear as well as the angels, so to be responsible, be vigilant. You bear honor to God, to others and to yourself. Your works will show your honor. Stand on your honor in the face of a challenge, but stand on your head only to meet a challenge. Honor is not related to worldly position or fame. A saint can scrub floors, and anyone who smiles while he works is well coordinated under God’s laws. You are the work of His hands, together with the stars and all things. God set you over the works of His hands, so hold vigilantly and steadfastly, lest you let some detail slip. God has set all things into subjection under your feet, which represent understanding. What is under your feet is a point in time-space from which no one can push you, but you can slide down the side of a ditch if you talk about it.
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”–Proverbs 16:32. To rule your self, accept all responsibility wherever and whenever you meet it. Take responsibility joyously, without talking about how much you have accepted, or it will become a constrictive cocoon of self. If you are slapped once, you need not stay or return to the same place to be slapped again. If someone socks you twice, recognize that you need it. Work out the lessons of your responsibility so that no one is hurt.
Your responsibility is threefold, to God, to others and to yourself, and you must understand all three phases. You base all your progress on transformation and transfiguration. Transformation is to be changed from one thing to another. Transfiguration is when you have achieved, and brought all materialistic ties under subjection to the soul. Thus, you progress from the cocoon of self. The work manager of the soul takes over on the Mount of Transfiguration and says, “Follow your own pathway through the Gates of Light.” You can be transformed from anything to something else, yet nobody can be transfigured unless he knows that responsibility to God is the greatest of all. When you live by the dictum, “Honor above all things,” Light transfigures you from the cocoon of self. Your white wings of soul unfold and you follow your own pathway through the Gates of Light. It’s a hard road, but good. Light can transform anyone from illness to health, from illiteracy to literacy, and can transfigure even your appearance when you honor your responsibility to God.
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”–Hebrews 3:12. Self takes you out into darkness, but no selfish person is happy in “departing from the living God.” In reality, you cannot depart from the living God. What causes the air you breathe to sustain you? Air is more than the gaseous combination the scientists propose. The life sparks within the air are the living Breath of God as atomic energy. You cannot say, “Atomic energy fills me,” then conk out before noon. Breathe through the top of your head, say, “Father, move in and possess me” and energy will fill you. How do evil men continue doing evil for so long? They misuse the substance of honor and glory. It works for them because they know how to breathe the atomic substance.
“Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”–Hebrews 3:13. To exhort means to urge or persuade. A little exhorting is good. Stand on your point of truth today, but without saying the wrong thing. Those who suffer from logorrhea [a tendency to extreme loquacity, talkativeness] shoot off their mouths. Others may love them “in spite of” what they say and do, but being loved and crowned with honor “because of” is better. Grab your negative words instantly, before they enter the world. You are the ruler of your tongue. It is a sin to let anything conquer you. This body is yours, the one thing you can make demands of and remodel. Be responsible to your soul for your self. Have too much pride to let anyone hurt you or to whine if they do.
Are you good enough for honor, for glory? Are you ready to take the recompense for disobedience and transgressions? When you must take a reprimand, you have somehow sidestepped the law. Are you bold enough to live up to your understanding of glory and honor? Do not say, “I didn’t hear it,” or “I didn’t know.” When you reprimand another, speak without self, as if the Master were speaking. Heaven help you if you reprimand for self-satisfaction, in reprisal or with force in your voice; you are wasting your own soul substance. Do not just lash out, but softly and gently to cover others’ transgressions with love.
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”–Hebrews 3:14-15. These verses say that what you think of self makes you happy. Selfishness tears down unselfishness, and most people fear “facing the music” to pay their unfulfilled vows or responsibilities. When you stand on your point of recompense, you face your responsibility. Acknowledge it in your heart, give the Father the mess and do not wallow in guilt. The first rapture is seeing how law works. You may not harden your heart in rebellion. You always have plenty of provocation from the outside.
What will you do about your responsibility toward yourself? Integrity of soul informs you that you need not let anyone provoke you. Begin by cleaning up your own selfish mess at home. Do you think you are good enough for transfiguration? Can you walk the path of steadfastness and vigilance? Are you bold enough to say, “Father, I am ready for this crown of love and honor"? The white wings of the Christ, invisible to the worldly eye, descend when you love enough, become your own living soul and spread God’s glory. Do not drag your soul wings on the ground. You have been a wing-dragger when you awaken in the morning feeling low, feeling you are a nonentity. Ascend in consciousness. Keep your wings unblemished.
“Oh, I didn’t hear you say that. Oh, I didn’t mean it that way.” Cut the excuses from your vocabulary. Say, “I am equal to hearing every word and order accurately and completely,” and all else is then added to your soul. You are bold enough to accept and fulfill your responsibilities. You can live up to your crown of love and honor through responsibility, but only under steadfastness and vigilance. Go forth with your brain cells alight, armored in the glory of God.
Realization Through Praise
Edna Lister outline; June 26, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Philippians 4:4-19.
“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. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonika ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 4:4-19.
Paul wrote the Philippians, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”–Philippians 4:12. To abound means “to be copiously supplied; to be rich, to overflow.” To abase means “to depress, to humble, to put down, to lower.” Kipling said it differently: If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch.
Paul is teaching balance in this Epistle. His people had forgotten him and he had been hungry. Yet, he calls them his joy and his crown. When you truly love, someone you do not blame, and therefore have nothing to forgive. He tells them, “Let your requests be known” through prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, three ways operating as one. We are bound together in Spirit, first with rejoicing, to which we add perfect vision: “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.”–Philippians 4:8. Under prayer, you finally realize that only God can ever satisfy you. Rejoicing so fills your soul with longing for Light that your desire becomes too big for your body to contain. The resultant explosion is prayer.
You must talk to God. To “be careful for nothing” means to become so absorbed in the love of God that nothing else counts. Then your realization of God’s glory grows until God becomes real to you, and you know that love can convert hope and plans into outer miracles. You know that only love can bridge the abyss from the past across the now into the future of added things. You know that your love’s capacity determines the miracles you have. Supplication isn't begging for favors, but is how you petition God for His help as more energy and strength. Supplication is invoking Light and an outpouring of Power. Under supplication comes the quiet and confidence that are peace in action.
Yet first comes understanding, which is “to stand under the Light.” Inspiration comes from breathing deeply while standing under the Light. Desire, which is a great longing, looks up in consciousness while standing under the Light. To have any form of illumination you must be under the Light. Understanding ignites the first great longing that brings peace, which is composed of quiet and confidence. Quiet says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”–Psalm 46:10. The One who says, “I AM God,” also says, “I AM now ever ready, ever available to succor thee in thy need.” Quiet brings you up in consciousness to peace. Rest, be quiet and abide under the shadow of the love of Almighty God. Your soul, the “knower” within, takes time to be quiet, to stand still and love until you see the salvation of God.
Confidence is “the mental attitude of trusting in or relying on a person or thing; firm trust, reliance, faith, assurance, boldness, fearlessness, arising from reliance on oneself, on circumstances, on divine support, etc., and is synonymous with trust.” The difference between success and failure depends on your confidence. Failure comes when self feeds the soul the sedatives of doubt and fear. Fear of failure puts soul to sleep, shuts it in the dark office at night, or in the golf bag Sunday evening.
Self says, “If I’d only had his advantages. If I had only been given a chance.” When self lowers soul to half-mast, it wanders, wanting to die and leave it all behind, all the disappointments and the joy. Success demands great things of soul in confidence, but not in self-confidence. First, have confidence in the power of God’s love, which is bracing and building. Soul moves up in consciousness from the Valley of Dread into the sunlight of praiseful thanksgiving. You can then use the now perfectly because soul ignores the past.
Thanksgiving is high praise. Praise sets spiritual substance into action to form your abundance “according to His riches in glory.” Spiritual substance pours forth to fill your prayer molds. Some praise looks like a long strand of sausage links, fat and squeezed together, sometime made happy by life, sometimes tied down by people. If your love and praise are weak, the opposition wins. If love and praise are strong, the opposition weakens and dies. Is your praise the sausage variety, or is it outstanding? Does your praise invoke the whole beauty of God’s universe?
Dare to love beauty, hold it close and feed your soul on it. Dare to praise and invoke that beauty, for you are the sum total of your kingdom of Light, love and beauty. Nothing outside can touch you if you feel beautiful inside. Dynamic love and praise are vital, energetic and soul-satisfying. Today’s praise is tomorrow’s glory. Your realization of God’s love is poise. Your realization of the praise of God is Power itself.
Realization Through Praise
Edna Lister transcript; June 26, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Edna Bender, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, scribes. Philippians 4:4-19.
“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. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonika ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-19.
Paul wrote the Letter to Philippians, who had not supported him, but left him to starve. He wrote in thanks that they had finally remembered him so he could eat again. “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”–Philippians 4:12. Abundance is wealth, abasement is a lowered vibration, to be diminished, and Paul knew both. Kipling said you must reach the place where neither praise nor blame affects you: If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch.
Peter taught a gospel of love. Paul, who had come up through a hard school, laid down law, but was gentle about it in greeting the Philippians: “My beloved and longed for brethren, my joy and crown.”–Philippians 4:1. These people had forgotten him, yet Paul could say this, which showed that no blame lay under his surface. He had no need to forgive because he attached no blame. Paul really knew the love of God.
“Let your requests be made known to God” means to ask, not demand of God. Supplication and thanksgiving were Paul’s kind of prayer. They knew Jesus’ formula for prayer, which is based on love of God. They knew about Power and the descent of the Holy Spirit, so they prayed for greater comprehension of law.
Two dynamic laws, rejoicing and praise, encompass this. Rejoicing raises your rate of vibration. Joy ascends you to a high point of appreciation, realization that God is all joy. If you want to pray the kind of prayers that bring answers, rejoice and ascend to this place of glory. You may not be full of care or doubts when you “come to Me.” Ascend in consciousness, and love brings everything into outer expression.
Rejoicing, which opens all doors and lifts everything, ascends you above the world’s idiocies, to a high point of appreciation for the answers to come through. God becomes real to you and rejoicing fills you so full of illumination that your body simply does not contain it. You invoke an explosion of Light from the toes upward during prayer. You can touch this ecstasy of knowing God, and reach illumination only under rejoicing.
“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.”–Philippians 4:8.
If you are to pray the prayer that gets things done, prepare the way by rejoicing, just because God is. Think of God as your Father, as Jesus said, someone who understands you in all you do, good, bad or indifferent, even when you miss the mark of your high calling. Go up, up, up in bursting glory where prayers are efficacious. That is prayer.
“Be careful for nothing.” God says, “Do not be anxious, full of cares, worries, doubts or fears when you come to Me.” Ascend in consciousness when you feel yourself slipping, and grab your armor of Light. Surrender the anxieties, ascend and think of God, not outer concerns, even when someone reviles or despitefully uses you.
“It is impossible but that offenses will come.”–Luke 17: 1. People offend you when they are not doing what you want. Do not expect one who always forgets birthdays and anniversaries to remember them. God gives humanity free choice. Weeping over another’s offenses is useless.
Go up in consciousness on praise, which is your only chance to relieve the world of evil. Have joy enough to ascend above it, and your prayer lifts the evil from way up there next to God. You cannot lift when you are wishy-washy. The Father must use the Light-Substance you release to lift you, and each gives according to what is in his heart. Love enough brings forth every dream and hope of life, and you will watch love transform others before your eyes. Be alive.
Your prayers must broadcast the love of God. If someone needs a promotion or an increase in salary, a good treatment is, “Get ready. Here comes Name, ready to receive her raise. Her increased paycheck is on its way.” For example, to treat for an election, say, “Get ready. God is on the march. Justice shall prevail.” Make a joyful declaration. “Watch out below! Love bombs are falling!” Love carries you from the past into a future of Power and illumination. The minute you sink down in consciousness, nothing happens. Love works only if you let it.
The old idea of supplication prayer was to beg, wheedle and entice, which says you need more Light, joy and love, even outer added things. A perfect prayer of supplication is a petition: “Let Your Power fill me to overflowing for every need and my service in the world. Let Light fill me with more illumination, more health. Lord, help my unbelief. Let Thy Light wipe out my doubts and fears.”
If you want God to sign your petition in His heart, present it in love, backed with peace. Paul identifies the “peace of God, which passes all understanding.” This means that peace is above understanding, which is the Light descending. Peace is the essence of inner quiet and confidence, not stagnation but a “do something” peace.
When you work for peace from the outside, you get more conflict to conquer, but when you ascend to peace, it descends on you. Your desire starts a vibration of activity. If you really want peace, start a vibration of giving. Understanding means “I stand under the Light. As Light descends, all things come to me.” Stand squarely under the Light, in the quiet and confidence of God’s life, as a rod of Power.
Your very desire to have something immediately puts you under the Light. How much Light descends depends on the quality and quantity of your enthusiasm. How great is your desire for the Light? How greatly do you desire to have the full Light of God flow through you? Most people have little time for prayer or God. To many, prayer is a lifeless daily repetition. Take time to be quiet, not to go blank, but to wait upon the Lord. Stop and consider the beauty of the Lord. “Be still and know that I am God.”–Psalm 46:10.” Be quiet and the Light will descend, more or less, depending on you. Give it a chance, just a little more rejoicing and love as it sweeps away the debris and frees you.
Light gives you great confidence and trust in your ability to stand and know. When you stand at the point between the outer vibration and ascension, the Power and love show, they shine from you. People may call you egotistical because they misunderstand the Power. When you release more love with the Power, love is all they see. The Power of God touches everyone, wherever you go. Fill all your destinations with a sun center of Light.
The difference between failure and success is soul-confidence versus self-confidence. You move from self-confidence into trust in God and the power to become like Him. “I am created for Power to use. The greater a servant of Power I am, the more Power moves through and uses me.” Confidence in God assures you that He is doing the work. Those who lack soul-confidence begin to grow a sense of failure. They come home disgusted with their day’s efforts, lock half their souls in the office for the weekend, and are so full of care, they have nothing left to give at home. Treat your whole office daily until it is a sun center of Light. Declare that everyone is held in a sphere of Light: “God is touching your brain cells to be alive.”
When you golf, play soul golf. As you address the ball, see it going 300 yards. Reach for the feeling of soul coordinating with the physical. You need coordination for the soul-confidence of God. Move through confidence to a place of automatic thankfulness. Be grateful for what has been, what is, and for what is to come. You have praised and prayed, and offered your petition of supplication. Now, under under thankfulness, know the truth, the honor of God above all things, the justness of God. Look on only the good. When you receive something negative, do not blame the other fellow. You can receive only what you send forth. You sent forth the vibration, and it came home to roost. The law of God is just and perfect. The reaction is perfect and complete.
Were it not for God’s forgiveness, none of us could bear the weight of our self-blame or self-righteousness. It does not pay to live with your soul at half mast. Escape is no help. Only moving up to confidence in Power, to “I AM loves you,” sets you free. Praise and rejoicing will lift your soul, and you can see the other fellow ascend in consciousness as you say, “I AM is lifting you.”
Are you a sausage-linker when you praise, or do you praise constantly? The love of God is yours now. Are you afraid to invoke the power of beauty into your life, the symphony of nature, all good? You can love beauty wherever you are. Meditate on beautiful things. When you hold this beautiful feeling inside, people begin to seek you. Power puts the right words on your lips and all things good are added, promises fulfilled. A cloud of loveliness and beauty forms for every good thought or deed. Light is all beauty. The minute you recognize that beautiful feeling, call your sheep by name. You have so much past good out there, haven’t you redeemed enough ugliness? Call home the sheep of your love and beauty, not the black sheep of negativity.
Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always: And again I say, Rejoice.” Stand under the Light in the quiet and confidence of the life of God, and you will be full of peace. You can get peace only by standing under the Light, not by working on the outside or all you get is more tests to try you. Ascend under the Light and your gift is peace. You will have confidence in the love of God, the Light of God. Best of all, you will no longer call yourself a single name.
“God shall supply all your need according to His riches.”–Philippians 4:19. Prayer is love that catches you up in its arms today and lands you safely tomorrow. Today’s praise is tomorrow’s glory. Our God is a God of riches according to His glory to bestow upon you, so ask. Praise is the Power of God Himself moving through your affairs. As Christian Larson said, “All things respond to the call of rejoicing; all things gather where life is a song.” Cover your family with Light, and call them “my joy and my crown.” Say, “Here I come. God fills this house with glory. The Christ mind of ’I AM’ is enveloping them. Dear God, build the Light around them so thickly that all I will see is the Master’s face on the Mount of Transfiguration.”
So, Father, we come to You this morning with love and joy, and we are crowned. We walk in such poise and glory. This world is Yours. You still hold it in the hollow of Your hands, despite humankind and what they have done in selfishness to destroy it. Yet, O Father, we know that love wins. Watch out, evil! The Father is marching! Good shall result when your praise is strong. Love always wins. In this we can have confidence and trust, which we know from that quiet place of soul, where we entertain only beauty. Lift us and use us, in thy name, Master.
Increase Through Prayer
Edna Lister outline, July 3, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Acts 16:25-35.
“At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.”–Acts 16:25-35.
{Edna Lister's side notes:} Tell the story of the girl with a spirit of divination, and how Paul commanded it to come out of her. Her masters, losing their profit, brought Paul and Silas before the magistrates, accused them of being Jews who were corrupting Romans. The court had them stripped and beaten with rods. They were thrown in prison and their feet locked in stocks.
Paul and Silas wasted no time weeping or blaming. That is the first outstanding factor in this story. They got together and agreed as one. Together they opened an irresistible vibration, as a violin can be played to create a crystal-shattering note. All healers who use music in their work take advantage of this law.
Paul and Silas prayed, praised and sang until they triggered an earthquake. The jail’s walls fell down, the doors opened and the stocks sprang open. The vibration shook the jailer and his whole family into the kingdom of heaven. This earthquake happens with your first illumination. It jars the walls self built, the barriers of self fall, and the doors to self-imprisonment open. Remember, not one prisoner escaped. All were saved in the kingdom of God. All the old subconscious content is lifted up into soul substance. Until the earthquake of illumination, self is always in argument and opposition to soul. When illumination strikes, soul takes charge and moves self up, into agreement with God. When soul is weak, self’s opposition grows fat and strong, and wins. When soul is strong, self’s opposition weakens, shrivels and dies.
All increase comes under the great principle of faith. Soul faith in the good is strong and aggressive, a powerful challenge to all self’s weaknesses and world ideas. Self, using faith inverted as negative and passive, causes good to shrink until it disappears. You have no increase of the good under self. When soul love takes over, the barriers fall. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?”–Jeremiah 32:27. What, then, is high prayer? The question presupposes a low point in prayer, which does exist. You can be a half-and-halfer, someone who had an almost perfect day, who says, “Well, I feel pretty good.”
High prayer is a combination of prayer, praise and singing. High prayer is loving God with all your heart’s desire, mind’s thinking and soul’s vision. When you use ordinary metaphysical statements, you bind yourself north, south, east and west under an intellectual dome. What do you desire? Do you think that prayer is just a bunch of statements for self and others? A cool statement is a low prayer. Self is a very low point of intuition and illumination where one believes a God, a Power may exist. From such a point of self, even prayers for others are low. “I am so good. I do pray.” They sit, thinking of statements by the mile while their subconscious mind wanders all over the world without ever leaving the basement of consciousness. No one can ever reach a state of soul ecstasy in such self-centered worship.
Intellect worries, “Will this work? Will the money come? If it doesn’t, what will I do?” All statements are weak in conviction when compared to the way Jesus prayed: “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! And he that was dead came forth.”–John 11:41-44.
“Father, You always hear me.” Remember his prayers in Gethsemane. Prayer is the soul’s strong desire uttered or unexpressed. Only praise can give you a strong conviction that faith works now. The quality of your praise determines the height to which your prayer ascends. When praise takes over, you are not thinking about it, but communing with God. Praise sends the principle of faith into action, and increases the flow of love’s power. Light’s action through praise shrinks evil and darkness. Good expands and increases, and opens every creative power. Praise endows principles, laws, your faith and words with authority and conviction. Your praise may not be lukewarm or indifferent, never “I’m trying” or “I’m thinking about it.”
But oh! Singing! There is the glory. Singing opens the greatest of all Power builders, vision. Soul vision starts a glory of healing love flowing from the original life sparks to the outer cells. Singing transforms and renews your vision, pushing it up and out front. When soul vision drops below eye level, you start slowly dying. When you get up in the morning, full of aches and pains, your vision has dropped.
High vision is high prayer without words. It transforms you, body, heart, mind and affairs, and renews your strength, hour by hour. Singing opens the way for perfect use of all you are and all you have in talents, love, time and effort. When you praise and sing fervently, God moves in with lavish increase. Look around for darkness, anything to lift to a cloud continent of Light, not to name it, but to lift. Sing your prayer treatments. Make prayer pay you dividends. Sing everything into a high point of Power. With prayer, praise and singing, build an earthquake to shake down the barriers between you and your own. Sing yourself to a high point, then hold fast to your high point of glory.
Increase Through Prayer
Edna Lister transcript, July 3, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, scribe. Acts 16:25-35.
“At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.”–Acts 16:25-35.
This chapter of Acts is among the greatest in the New Testament. Paul’s letters to the churches are the records of his growth and ascension from his years of hate. He had asked to enter jails and lash Christians in the past, and here the Romans lashed him with rods, a most painful punishment. Paul did not have the privilege of being with Jesus, as the disciples had. He fumbled at times, but always came through on a point of glory.
Paul had chosen Silas to accompany him. At Thyatira in Macedonia, where they were staying with Lydia, a convert, they had attracted the attention of a young slave girl “possessed with a spirit of divination.” She was not completely possessed, but just enough of a medium to make a profit for the syndicate who had reared her and took the money she earned. She followed Paul and Silas for days, begging them to release her from the possessing spirit and declaring that they were men of God. “Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”–Acts 16:18. This angered the syndicate, who could make no more money through her. They dragged Paul and Silas to the marketplace before the magistrates and accused them of preaching falsely. They stripped, lashed them and threw them into prison in stocks. They charged the jailer on pain of death to keep them from escaping.
Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. What happened was the outcome of the truth that “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”–Matthew 18:19-20. The angel, who appeared to Abraham, wanted only twenty men who were good enough to save Gomorrah. Christians would lift evil from earth if every church in this city prayed together for twenty-four hours.
The vibration of praise and singing can shatter any evil earth can produce, but it works only if you do not doubt. A great earthquake shattered the prison walls, opened the doors and loosed the prisoner’s stocks, but it injured no one. Though the jail door was opened, no one tried to leave. The Light was so great, they had no desire to run. The earthquake shook the jailer into the kingdom of heaven and frightened the magistrates into releasing them. A spiritual earthquake is illumination that loosens the bonds of self when you stand and worship God. The prisoners symbolize the small parts of the little self, and each has “little self” conflicts boiling below the surface. If soul consciousness is strong, these conflicts subside, but little self must surrender all its negativity. Soul moves into the background until self surrenders.
You need unconquerable faith, invincible joy and show soul conviction in the outer world. Paul said, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed. Let them come themselves and get us out.”–Acts 16:37. And the magistrates released them. Paul and Silas stood on their dignity as bishops in the Master’s new kingdom. You must know and stand on “Behold, I am here, O God of all Israel, waiting to serve Thee.” Too many are half-and-halfers, half believing and half doubt-ridden. Do you look around the corner after you pray to see if it happened? Do you say, “Well, today I’m pretty good"? You must wholly convince your self, or you get nowhere. You reach out for miracles, establish long lines, then cut them with the scissors of little self.
High prayer consists of praise, prayer and singing. A statement is good, but puts nothing into action because it does not have the Light and glory of high prayer. Sitting in a chair and just speaking is good, but is not enough. Statements are good, they show you believe in God, they can bring peace, but will not bring you to the exaltation of high prayer. Low-vibration prayer to the self is just above the creature stage. Thousands of miles of statements through weeks or months can eventually bring a miracle, but you can have an instant miracle through high prayer, when you love God with all your heart, mind and soul. The heart’s desire must flame and burn.
Jesus declared, “Lazarus, come forth!” in a loud voice. “With all your soul” means your vision is focused on heaven, not earth. So, your mind and thinking cannot be on outside trivia, but on God. Every strong, vitalized, quickened thought, every burning desire is a prayer. Love, the higest point of desire, moves in through prayer, praise and gratitude, and quickens your faith. Praise opens the vibration of activity for a miracle. All the substance required is in your Oversoul Star, which the Father fills from your first moment of yearning. A firm statement such as, “Father, You always hear me. Glorify me with that glory that was in the beginning. Let these words come to life,” vitalizes and quickens the prayer. Praise starts the life sparks in the fire body whirling to affect the physical body until you stand on the Mount of Transfiguration and your face shines like the sun.
To gain this conviction, use praise and song as Paul and Silas did. A vibration to shatter glass or walls must be continuous. A cool statement or even a fervent one will not do it. It takes fervent praise. Do you praise and thank God daily for each body member? “Thank You, Father. You are building new eyes.” One day your glasses will throw you away. It works the same with cigarettes or any habit. Praise absorbs subconscious opposition. Praise starts pouring the substance from your Oversoul star into your molds. Praise pulls the starter cord on the motor of your life and affairs. You may sputter along for a while, but enough praise automatically bursts into singing as the glory of God made manifest.
You can praise and sing in your soul to bring forth high vision. Evil shrinks, for nothing on earth can resist the power of a singing soul, which is God Himself in action. The walls collapse, and the bonds of self fall apart as you become untouchable and immovable under the Light of God. The prisoners symbolize the small aspects of the little self. Yet nothing bothers God, who is deathless, ageless and abiding, nor bothers you when your soul is singing. All negativity dissolves. You are as deathless, ageless and abiding as God is when your soul is singing. When you awaken aching, your high vision has descended overnight. When a patient does not respond to prayer, sing your prayer and praise.
Finally, your wordless song rises to the Source. The Father’s o’ershadowing, everlasting arms uphold you, a wondrous feeling. Fervency, love of God, praise, singing, and music opens the door to heaven. Praise is the glory and singing takes you to the Source. Nothing bothers a singing heart and soul. Expect the Father’s o’ershadowing. Expect His everlasting arms to uphold you.
Miracles of Comprehension
Edna Lister outline; July 10, 1960, Cleveland, OH. James 1:17, 1:5-8, Philippians 3:9-14.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”–James 1:5-8.
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 3:9-14.
“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. Only good and perfection can come from above. The Father casts no shadow, for the Light goes before Him. His Light is invariable, constant and steady as it descends from above.
“Ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.”–James 1:5. If you ask, why, then, do you not always receive? “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”–James 1:6. Ask in faith unconquerable, which is not wind-tossed or wavering, or you can receive nothing. Unstable means you are allowing other people and life experiences to condition you. A double-minded person makes up his mind tonight, but unmakes it in the morning. People ask, “Is this good for me? Does God really want me to have it?” Here your rational soul must move in and take charge to change conditions and stop allowing them to change you.
“And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”–Philippians 3:9. What is the Christ faith? What is this Christed crowning? You need faith in “the power of his resurrection.” To apprehend is to perceive. Apprehension also means fears, worries, suspicions and anxiety. Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down in consciousness. Paul’s whole story is like this, a history of his rise from self to soul. He found it exactly as hard as we do. What good is it then to seek to apprehend? Apprehension is the first step up to full comprehension, which is above knowing. Comprehension is the faculty of understanding, an all-inclusive power to grasp the Christed crowning from above. It is the good gift, the perfect gift. To attain this good and perfect gift, examine your purpose, aim and goal. Your purpose may be selfish or universal. Your aim may be high or low. Your goal may be good or evil.
Your purpose is your intention, the thing you intend to do. Purpose may take you up to soul or down to self. Soul has a universal purpose. You are here to learn lessons, to accept the place you occupy, to ask by faith and to hold through love. Your aim may be high or low in its direction and control of your life. It requires coordination of thought and body, eyes, nerves, muscles, etc. You aim to condition your life, not to allow life or your fellow man to condition you. Back your aim by desire, the liaison officer between your ideas and words. Your desire must become a flaming challenge to Power so that Power can move and act through you with a deathless determination to hold all gains. Your goal is to become a crowned Christed one, to know, to practice and to act as a Christed one.
“This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 3:13-14. Every man’s words become either his burden or his wings of glory. Every practice is a step in preparation for the renunciation of self, which you must sacrifice to soul. Self must renounce all idle words, all darkness in thought, word and deed. Every act must ascend you one step higher in becoming as Christ. The measure of your obedience to law determines the measure of the Power that can use you.
How great is your idea of God’s perfect gifts? How great is your idea of God’s all for you? An adulterated, diluted or weak approach to faith’s asking means ineffectual, small gifts in return. An all-conquering unconquerable faith brings all good gifts. By your works, wrought in faith, others know you. Make your new proclamation as a crowned and Christed one: “I AM of royal birth. I AM now from the crowned ones. This is the ‘I’ of me. This is what I AM. Before me is set an open door, and no man can close it. I AM ascending in comprehension. I AM my own miracle!”
Miracles of Comprehension
Edna Lister transcript; July 10, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. James 1:17, 1:5-8, Philippians 3:9-14.
“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.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”–James 1:5-8.
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 3:9-14.
“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. This verse is a complete creed, all-inclusive—it even has “This is good.” You cannot receive the “good and perfect gifts” until you give lavishly of yourself and of your love. Can you expect to receive more than you give? How often have you asked, “How could he do this to me? I’ve been so good to him!"? You always collect the interest you have earned and receive pure justice under God’s balanced law. God balances the scales, and if your scales tip, you had better get busy.
This creed is definite as to the source of all good, “from above,” not below. All you are and all you have is in your head. The universe is in your head. You have everything you need in your computer mind, the brain, but you must push the buttons and issue the commands. You take in God’s ideas from above, from the “Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Light moves through the Father whenever He has form, and it always goes before Him. If this is your creed, why do you not use it?
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”–James 1:5-6. If you lack wisdom, go higher and ask. Solomon first asked for wisdom, then for understanding. Wisdom is a great vibration that includes God’s Love and Energy. When you ask for Wisdom, you ask for the heavens above and the earth below, and God gives you all. You get it, if you ask in faith without wavering, and listen long enough to hear it. Put your lines of Light up to the Father.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”–James 1:6-8. Too often you give your works to God, then take them back. You try to do it yourself instead of leaving it to gestate with Him. Leave it to God to gestate, not to wonder if it will happen. Go and pray your “maybe it could happen,” if you must. But first, lay your doubt-gift on the altar and go pay your debts. You spend days, weeks, months putting up prayer lines to the Father, then cut those lines of Light with shears of doubt. Others stand on the same step, at one point for incarnations. A double-minded man is unstable, ambivalent, changes his mind repeatedly. He says, “I can’t make up my mind. I must have asked for the wrong thing. I guess God doesn’t want that for me.” Be daring enough to accept the answer, even if you were wrong. Decide never to waver again, pay your debts, and have the good sense not to doubt it again.
Paul wrote to the devout at Philippi, “That I may know him… if, by any means, I might attain… not that I have already attained… but I press on, that I may apprehend… I do not count myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do… I press toward the mark.” Paul was right, but he slipped more often than anyone. He filled his letters with accounts of his trials and tribulations, and often used personal pronouns, since he was “I"-minded.
Paul never knew Jesus, but suffered with a leftover guilt complex about his life as Saul. He returned for several incarnations with the same complex, which he has lifted. Paul knew he had to live the law, at first, his own idea of it. Later, he sought to live up to Jesus’ teachings “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.” Were it not for the Resurrection, none of us would be strong enough to return to God. The power of the Resurrection is the soul’s desire to make it work. Paul knew he had to be resurrected from his past. When you say, “I’ve learned my lesson on this. It will never happen again,” you fool yourself and challenge God. You may say, “I have learned this law at this level,” then ask to ascend in consciousness. Resurrect your past, do not drag it along with you.
“I press on, that I may apprehend that for which Christ Jesus has also apprehended of me.”–Philippians 3:12. To apprehend is “to perceive”; to be apprehensive is “to doubt, to be suspicious”—Paul went up and down the pole on this. You may not demand or challenge the law on this! Fearful apprehension results in a “rain” of spiritual debts every two hours as a new sign rises over the horizon. Paul meant “I perceive” in this passage. He did a great job of lifting, and his immortal words will last, for they are a history of his struggle from living by self to soul surrender. Paul’s story of his struggle is our history, too.
What good is it to apprehend? Apprehension is the first step toward comprehension, a state of knowing in the Light above, a step toward perceiving truth. To have Light shine on what you know is like Saul’s illumination on the road to Damascus. Comprehension represents the thirteenth Via Christa Path of glory. Comprehension gives you a grade A in your ascension scholarship skills, to earn your Christed crown. Comprehension is a necessity.
To walk the Via Christa, you need a purpose, an aim, and a goal. Your purpose is an intention to bring something great to the world, either for self or at a universal level. To ascend, ask, “What is my purpose?” Learn every earthly lesson the best you can, to accept responsibility and law, to live by law, and hold through love. Faith asks, and love holds. You ask by faith, and hold through law. The love of God opens when you hold to the simplest declarations—“This is good! Let there be Light!” Love enough will awaken the memory cells.
Aim takes coordination of thought, eye muscles and nerves. Thought is the liaison between the idea and its expression, or action. Aim your thoughts upward and outward. The switch to press on your brain cortex “computer” is marked “aim,” which comes under your conscious direction and control, so your aim will be true. If you stand above your universe, and press your switch from above, you will remember. Your words become either a burden or wings of glory. You can lose or spoil a whole day of joy with two or three idle words as you get out of bed in the morning. You forget to bite your tongue because you fail to love enough. Watch your words so you need not pay debts. Your thoughts must aim your words and actions with conscious control.
Your goal is to ascend to be crowned with the white wings of the Christ. How will you get there? The measure of your obedience to law is the measure of the Power that goes through you. Be the servant of the Power, not to use it, but be used by it. Further, you must want to be the servant of Power by your purpose and aim.
The measure of added things and good gifts will be according to your obedience to law. Your flaming desire challenges the Power until it all moves through you. When desire reaches that point of white heat, it challenges darkness. It goes into action under your words of rejoicing, but decreases when you are not flaming joy. When good gifts come, your desire has been flaming. Be determined to hold all your gains, every foot of ground that you attain. First, learn to know that the Father is good, and that your words do go to high thrones, whether you see them or not, when you stand immovable. So you practice perfection, act in coordination, stand and know. Then comprehension moves in and ties you safely to God’s limitless Love and Power lifeline.
Give up the idle words. Renounce self in favor of soul. Every time you give up idle words or actions, you take one step farther in rejuvenating self. The Power is not in the self, but comes from above, from the Father of Lights. God’s promises go into action when you stand without weakness. You close out the Power only when your faith becomes double-minded, wavering and weak. Setting His promises aside is impossible, but you can shut them out of your life if you turn off the Power to your computer mind. God’s Power works only under complete faith, burning desire, and standing.
What is your idea of the Power of God? What composes your love? What is your degree of faith? Ordinarily you live by your own laws of righteousness now, but how about moving up to the full comprehension of the love of God? The greatest love you can give God is little in comparison to what you could give Him. Declare, “I am of royal birth, a princess, prince, queen or king in and under Christ Jesus.” Forget those things that are behind and reach to what is ahead. Press on to the high mark of God, which is all good and perfect gifts. God then establishes anything you ask because you have ascended to the Crown of Christ. Comprehend God’s glory, and ascend to the realm of miracles.
The Four Faiths
Edna Lister outline; September 11, 1960, Tacoma, WA. James 1:17, John 1:1, Romans 8:38-39.
“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.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”–John 1:1.
“I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:38-39.
“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. This plural word “lights” holds the secret of all miracles. Supernal spiritual Light is the basis for man’s illumination. The Christed “I AM” consciousness of each soul looks up to its Source, reaches up and touches the I AM THAT I AM of God. The result is an explosion called illumination.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”–John 1:1. The illumination is a vibration of Light which is the Word that was with God, and was God. The Word still is God’s substance, called faith. The Word as Mind is Christ consciousness in man. One illustration of the Word becoming form is how you send a vibration over a wire that then becomes a telegram. You can translate vibration into outer words direct, but it is still God as the medium and the Word.
Everyone knows what love is. Faith is as important because it is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The four phases of faith seem obvious when named. First, faith is the pioneer. Second, faith is the coordinator. Third, faith is man’s vision. Fourth, faith is your challenge. Men and women founded our nation on faith as pioneers, unwavering, untouchable, and courageous.
The Founders did not sit on Plymouth Rock and rationalize away their courage with, “Will this work?” Today’s Plymouth Rock faith is like an overstuffed chair. You can sit in comfort while making miles and miles of statements assuring God of your faith in Him. They did not expect God to come down and clear this land and build their houses. They hustled every minute, just as the lily bulb spends its days and nights.
Then came the second faith. They coordinated their lives into communities, then drew up laws for the common purpose of good for all. A new thought stepped in as the third faith. It was a new vision of hope and freedom from creeds and dogmas, soul freedom for and through each individual. Here man learned to obey certain definite laws to produce miracles. For example, your obedience to law determines the size of your “added things,” or miracles.
Believing to see brings you to the fourth faith, the challenge of law. Religion is not for show, but to serve God. You seek God to be used by His Love and Power. You ask through the faith of God. You hold your gains through the love of God.
Faith has proved itself. It is. Your faith of God must be great enough to condition your whole world. The Elect creator gods are the new space pioneers. Men have created the ENIAC and UNIVAC computers.
Here and the Hereafter
Edna Lister outline, October 9, 1960, Cleveland, OH. 1 John 5:1-14.
“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 Spirit: 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. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”–1 John 5:1-14.
So many who follow the Master express a keen interest in a life “hereafter,” and most people believe that religion is a kind of insurance policy for a far-off afterlife. Instead, they should realize that everyone makes his or her own hereafter in the now. Your whole life is a preparation to live “hereafter.” As the Begotten Son instructed, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.”–Revelation 1:19.
Each day, everyone is preparing some kind of accessible hereafter, holidays and birthdays are examples. In the same sense, then, you are preparing for that far off, yet ever near hereafter. With the many, the masses, religion is an insurance policy taken out for the hereafter, meaning, of course, after death. In the fourteen verses of this Epistle chapter, John has written our insurance policy.
“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?”–1 John 5:4-5. These verses identify you, give you identity. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the First Begotten Son of God, you hold this policy. Then, your policy is witnessed both on earth and in heaven. Before you came to earth, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit signed your life policy. Those who seek reassurance need only read the following, which is a covenant, a guarantee, a signed insurance policy for your life after death of the body:
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.”–1 John 5:7. In this passage, the Holy Spirit refers to the Son of Energy, and contains all that God, the Father-Mother, has sent forth. This Trinity of the Father, Word and Holy Spirit includes the Mother of Love as the loving spoken Word of “let.” The Father of Wisdom plans, the Mother of Love says, “let.” The Son, as the Holy Spirit, supplies the energy. The Son contains all that the Father and Mother are, for they bestow it on him. Thus, the Holy Spirit bears witness to this record.
“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 5:8. So three are in heaven and three also on earth. The Father then has written and signed this covenant that first, He has witnessed your life record. Second, He will be forever deathless. Third, He will forever send you forth and draw you back on the River of Life under divine Wisdom, the planning principle of Mind.
You sign that covenant when you really believe that Jesus the Christ is the Begotten Son of God, which gains access to the highest form of spiritual substance for your creations. You are going home. Never plan how, just keep visualizing your completed high vision. You cannot stop. The heaven you go to will depend on how much ballast you carry, your doubts, fears, opinions, prejudices. You can go no higher than your ballast of self will allow.
The silver cord is your line of Light to the Oversoul that God provides in your insurance policy. No matter how often or far you slip, the door is always open. Even if contaminated, you receive healing when you witness and sign your earthly record and cast off the ballast. Many, for instance, give every part of self to God, except their eyes and the need for glasses. You can have 100 percent miracles if you give it all to God. All is one God, Love and Substance, the Father, Mother and Son.
You make your payment when you sign the record with water, blood and Spirit. Water represents the Mother blue of Love. The amount of water in the human body ranges from 50-75 percent.
You sign your record with a promise to believe in Jesus the Christ, so the insurance policy works for you to fulfill miracles. Each must visualize his desires for material things, miracles of abundance and healing for loved ones. After you have agreed and promised God, you declare, build a creative mold and move into the hereafter. What kind of hereafter are you going to make? You cannot live Friday on Sunday, but you can live your hereafter now if you give up the ballast of self, all the selfishness that is not square with God. You can draw the hereafter into the now, and live right. God’s commandments are grievous only when they conflict with something self wants, and you buck them and Him. When you recognize that the law and the compassion of God are really worthwhile, you make yourself a miracle.
“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 5:12-13. Do not argue about what you cannot accept. Put it on a shelf of Light and Light will resolve it at the right time. Project yourself into an orbit of joy riding a three-stage rocket: The first stage is love, the second is praise, the third is joy, to “be joyous about everything.” God will grant anything you ask according to His will, if you “have confidence in Him.” Jesus the Christ guarantees your insurance policy. Jesus’ way, the Via Christa, is your guarantee of comprehending the love of God. You write in water, blood and Spirit.
Knowing that all good and perfect gifts come from God, you vow to keep His commandments and orbit him in joy. Not considering the things that are grievous, the greatest shock can be a powerful booster rocket lifting you into joy, which is ascension. You cannot straddle the fence by trying to live today and tomorrow at once. The way of the Christ life is to live in the now, and the next day will be good. Always surround your house with life and fill the sun centers of every room within it. Fill chairs, rooms, offices, and the driving route to and from work with Light. To prepare the way to your hereafter, make your office, desk and chair into sun spots of Light each evening so that only God remains, not the day’s negativity. If you open your soul ears, you can hear the Father speak:
“Sons and daughters of Light, be thou confident in our powers. Walk thou as Light comprehending that thy service is love. I hold the stars and planets in the hollow of My hands and no harm shall come unto thee. The Elect’s prayers have been heard and shall be satisfied. I give angels charge over thee. I keep that covenant strong, vital and supreme. On earth, love shall grow and prevail. The love of God shall lift all darkness and Light shall prevail. Let earth rejoice and pray prayers of love. Thy service is under the commandments of God. So shall all the earth come speedily according to the desire of My sons and daughters on earth.”
When your heart’s desires are flaming to let the full Power of God use you for success, God gives you success. As you let yourself be caught up in the ascension of Spirit, you bear witness, you are open, and you are the Word. Beloved ones, prepare your way. Sign your contract now. Start practicing joy consciousness constantly, without considering any of God’s commands burdensome!
Here and the Hereafter
Edna Lister transcript; October 9, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Ross and Virginia Whitehead, scribes. 1 John 5:1-14.
“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 Spirit: 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. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”–1 John 5:1-14.
So many who follow the Master express such keen interest in a hereafter that this seems the right and proper time to say to those who seek reassurance, “Read 1 John 5, verses 1 through 14.” They are a covenant, a guarantee, a signed insurance policy for the life after death. These verses identify you, give you identity. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the First Begotten Son of God, you hold this policy, witnessed both on earth and in heaven.
Before you came to earth, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit signed your life policy. The Father therefore has written and signed this tripartite covenant: First, He will be the same today, yesterday and forever. He will be deathless, ageless and abiding. Finally, the River of Life, on which everyone rides forth, will bring everyone back home. In this scripture, the Holy Spirit refers to the Son of all Energy, which contains all that the Father-Mother God has sent into manifestation. The Three signed the policy as personality. You add your signature to that covenant or contract when you really believe that Jesus the Christ is the Begotten Son of God.
The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit promised that the River of Life would return to the Source. They covenanted that no life spark of spiritual substance should ever be lost or destroyed, although a soul may lose identity through practicing evil. They promised that there would always be a line of Light from the heart of the soul to the heart of God at the Source. God neither slumbers nor sleeps. Angels, as personality, will always be watching over you to direct you on your path
You cosigned an agreement to obey law and live the Christed life after you descended to earth. Then, three more witnesses signed your policy of eternal life: God, as all Mind, Substance and Power, signed by the water, the blood and the Spirit. Spirit used etheric “waters,” a ray of energy to build the form in which you dwell. Spirit is the pure vibration of the Word, the Mother, and truth, the Father, as the Son, acting under divine law to condense substance into form.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”–1 John 5:12-13. Thus, these verses establish your identity, which validates your signature on your hereafter contract. When you sign your policy, keep the third verse as a vow: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”–1 John 5:3.
You believe that Jesus was the Son of God, your way-shower, your Light and salvation. Jesus is your guarantee that your life policy is good, and eternal life guaranteed. Most people believe that religion is a kind of insurance policy for a far off hereafter. Yet they should realize that everyone makes his own hereafter in the now. Each day, everyone is preparing some kind of accessible hereafter, whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, or their next birthday. In the same sense, you prepare for that far off hereafter right now. What kind of hereafter are you going to make? Bring your hereafter into the now and live right, remembering that God’s commandments are grievous only when they conflict with something you want.
Don’t straddle the fence between the hereafter and the now. Recognize that the love of God and the comprehension of God are really worthwhile. What must you do now? Make your own miracle. Project yourself into an orbit of joy by riding a three-stage rocket. You need to perfect your three firing stages to put your guided missile in a new ascension orbit. The first booster is love, the second is praise and the third stage, joy, lifts you to your new higher orbit.
Most people try to live their here and hereafter now, which is the wrong way. If you worry, fret and seek to force the answers for tomorrow, next week or next month now, you are tearing down the hereafter your good has built. Yet a perfect way to live both your here and hereafter every hour of every day does exist. Promise yourself. As soon as you make the promise or covenant, time becomes your hereafter on the promise. Do you keep it?
Be joyous about everything. When you are joy-filled, God will grant anything you ask in accord with His will, providing you have “confidence in Him.” Everyone goes to some kind of heaven. The ballast you carry, fears, doubts and prejudices, determines the heaven to which you ascend each day. Yet no matter how often or far you slip back, the door is always open.
Consecrate your life in surrender to God. Do you defile your consecration? In one hour, you are living in your hereafter. Open a new vibration of immortality in your new joy orbit. “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us.”–1 John 5:14. Beloved ones, prepare your way, sign your contract now. Start practicing joy, and consider not one of God’s commands grievous.
<Here and the Hereafter
Edna Lister Prayer Circle outline; November 14, 1960, Washington, D.C. 1 John 5:1-4, 5:14, 3:1-2, Romans 8:38-39.
“Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves Him that begat loves 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 overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”–1 John 5:1-4.
“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us.”–1 John 5:14.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see him as He is.”–1 John 3:1-2.
“I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:38-39.
You hold this precious newborn hour in your hands. How shall you give it life, growth, maturity and make it pay God dividends? You do so through your faith and love. People spend their whole life in a preparation to live “hereafter.” Parents buy insurance policies for their child’s college education, annuities to provide security for their old age, and insurance pensions, to say nothing of those who save for a rainy day.
Every hour of the future is a hereafter, here and now. With many, religion is but an insurance policy taken out for the hereafter, meaning death, of course. Faith is the name of your insurance policy, and it guarantees that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is deathless, ageless and abiding. Nothing can be lost or destroyed. God is always available, always sending Light. His angels have charge over you. He guarantees eternal life.
How do you pay the premiums on your faith policy? “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loves Him that begat loves 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 overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”–1 John 5:1-4.
“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us.”–1 John 5:14. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you love God and your neighbor as yourself, and keep God’s commandments, which are not grievous. His commandments are grievous only when you hold onto opinions, prejudices, pride of self and act as a know-it-all.
Steadfast faith overcomes the world. Yet, how can you hold fast? “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see him as He is.”–1 John 3:1-2.
You must know your identity as a son or daughter of God. You could fill a volume with God’s promises to you in payment for keeping His commandments and loving your neighbor as yourself. If you are willing to accept the terms of this policy, which define your relationship to and with God, you sign your contract with God. Paying your faith premiums means security against fear, darkness and illness. Then you can build new prayer molds for your hereafter now. Every hour of every week of every month of the year is your hereafter. You cannot live one hour of it now or answer one question about it now. Trying to live both here and hereafter simultaneously is impossible.
Live now gloriously, and build beautiful prayer molds for your next hereafter. Then, when that hereafter becomes the present, you will have the answers and the faith-substance will fill your molds. Once your prayer ends, your hereafter begins. Stop dragging your now into your hereafter. People have so many approaches to faith and different types of faith. For example, a paralyzed woman dreamed for twenty years of dancing on a cloud. You need a three-stage rocket to boost you into an ascended orbit of faith. In the first stage, faith looks up and soars. In the second stage, faith looks around to serve while loving its neighbor. The third stage sets you forever in your new orbit of joyous faith, unconquerable and victorious. Increased faith gives you a new feeling of Christed immortality now.
“I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:38-39. Nothing can separate you from God. This is your glory, your assurance, your confidence that God is over all. His everlasting arms are beneath you, our nation and the world, and His almighty o’ershadowing wings cover everything and everyone in protection.
Praise, the Soul’s Exaltation
Edna Lister Prayer Circle newsletter, November 1960, Washington, D.C. John 15:11, 1 Peter 5:13, Romans 15:13, Psalm 43:4.
“These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”–John 15:11. You might well ask yourself: What have I done with this extra joy our Lord left with me? How have I used my share of joy? Do I share this gift of a joyous Spirit with the world?
“But rejoice…that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”–1 Peter 5:13. To rejoice raises the cells of the physical body, and the fire of fervency awakens the glory within the heart into a flaming desire to reach for the stars.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Spirit.”–Romans 15:13. When joy takes over, the Holy Spirit always descends. The Holy Spirit fills the molds of your desires with the Substance of God and begins to attract everything you need for your outer expression. Joy is the active energy of all creation. Joy is the “live wire” of omnipotence.
“Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: Yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God, my God.”–Psalm 43:4. Joy is your open sesame to life. The door of life swings wide for you to enter into the joy of the Lord.
A song of joy awakens full soul confidence and you walk your path of destiny in glory. Your whole life then becomes an outer expression of the rapture of the soul.
The Brotherhood of Man
Edna Lister outline; December 4, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Hebrews 2:1-7, Ephesians 1:10.
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.”–Hebrews 2:1-7.
“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”–Ephesians 1:10.
We must found the brotherhood of man under creative spiritual values. No matter what the work, such a foundation would make the individual a better, larger person with higher ideals. The Vision: To serve God and follow the Master, to lead the world to follow, requires people who believe the words of Jesus’ message without doubting. Such servants must make themselves as perfect as possible to be able to truly hear, heed and obey. Louise Eggleston,
When you know that nothing limits God’s love, and the Spirit of the living Christ has no boundaries to hold, prevent or block, then you welcome each struggle. Just because you did not pass the exam does not mean that God changed His mind. All your difficulties come from repudiation of law, getting scared, weary or bored. Boredom is a lack of life. Life is bracing and glorious. Death is boring. Stop following your old worn out opinions and prejudices. Gather together all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth, through love.
God gave His Son, which reveals a nearly impossible superhuman love. Jesus was this love, for he, too, was God and became a greater part of Him as he lived and served. To erase a record from a UNIVAC computer, they use an immense charge of electrons, which are one form of God’s Power. Like Saul, after his illumination on the road to Damascus, your task is to erase old ideas from the world. To do this, you must release an immense charge of love. You must reach this seemingly impossible love and be and act from there.
Discernment: A Gift
Edna Lister outline, December 11, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Matthew 16:13-28, Ephesians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:20.
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 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? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”–Matthew 16:13-28.
“[Pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”–Ephesians 6:19-20.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”–2 Corinthians 5:20. We are ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador is a permanent minister between countries, someone who acts on behalf of his nation, and has the power to sign treaties.
“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:19. This beautiful chapter of Matthew opens with Jesus’ exclamation, “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”–Matthew 16:13. It’s the same today. Some people are still demanding proof and signs. The greatest thing is hidden in between: “And he left them, and departed. And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.”–Matthew 16:4-5.
Tell the story of the sixth to the twelfth verses. “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”–Matthew 16:6-12. Thus, he taught them, “Do not run around to listen to everyone who talks or you will become confused.” In other words, stick to Jesus’ teachings. Then he dealt with the doctrine of many lives, reincarnation. “Whom do men say that I am?” When they answered, “John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets,” he said, “But who do you say that I am?” How gently he led them into the mysteries.
Peter, whose name symbolizes the enduring power of rock, answered that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Explain how Jesus would build his church on the rock of faith and vision, not the man. He made Peter responsible for the vision. Then it entered a new phase, as Jesus explained his mission. Peter repudiated what the Master was saying. He was loving, impulsive, protective and vulnerable, which you cannot afford to be. “Get thee behind me, Satan” is a phrase whose common meaning is, “Do not tempt me.” Jesus knew that listening to enemies weakens, softens you and drags you down in consciousness. This chapter contains seven distinct steps: “Take up your cross and follow me.” It does not say to climb on the cross and be nailed to it. Integrate this with “My yoke is easy, and my burden is Light.”–Matthew 11:30.
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”–Matthew 16:25. An example of this is someone who fears losing his vision. Fearful earth consciousness says, “Save my eyes,” while heaven-focused God consciousness says, “Lord, use my eyes.” What price shall a man give in exchange for his soul? God will give your soul eternal life and immortality. “Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”–Matthew 16:28. This refers to the gift of discernment. It takes keen discernment to penetrate the shell and see the seed of God behind the outer appearance, ready to burst into life.
Your difficulty is that you see only what you believe you will see. Stop viewing life as light versus dark, loss versus gain, or weakness versus glory. God life, His gift to you is the Light, gain and glory.
Discernment: A Gift
Edna Lister transcript, December 11, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. Matthew 16:13-28, Ephesians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:20.
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 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? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”–Matthew 16:13-28.
“[Pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”–Ephesians 6:19-20.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”–2 Corinthians 5:20.
I love this chapter, which has eight distinct types of expressions, and opens that many vibrations. Every word you speak opens a vibration of blessing or cursing that pushes your creative powers over the line from dormancy into activity. Early in this chapter, the Sadducees and Pharisees had demanded that Jesus show them a sign from heaven. He called them hypocrites, a wicked and adulterous generation, and told them they could not read the signs of the times.
Matthew 16:4 says he left them and departed across the water. The next verse says his disciples came to the other side, but they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus had disappeared between verses four and five, but his disciples knew where to find him. “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” he tells them, speaking of the leaven of criticism, doubt and hatred that would spoil everything mixed with it. They thought he was talking about the bread that they had forgotten.
He tells them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the 5,000 and how many baskets you took up?” He meant for them to beware of talk against him.
Jesus asked them, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They gave him various answers, so he asked them again, “But whom do you say that I am? Simon Bar-Jonah had the illumination and answered him, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus named him Peter, which means “rock” and “power.” Jesus wanted his church built on what Peter’s name represented, not on Peter himself.
“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” includes the world’s “isms,” such as communism, imperialism, materialism, rationalism and vibrations of the Antichrist. Do you believe it? You can turn your back temporarily, but you are going home. Civilization is coming up. The dirty crust on earth is surfacing and being cleansed.
“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.”–Matthew 16:21. Peter was vulnerable when Jesus told of his coming death, and exclaimed, “Far be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you!” Jesus answered saying, “Get behind me Satan!”—meaning, “Do not tempt me.”
Jesus must have wondered if he’d had enough time with his disciples, knowing that he may not have gotten his message across in three years. He may have wanted more time. He told Peter, “You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” He was still training the disciples in obedience to law, because love becomes soft when it forgets to accept and obey law. Peter had no right to say it would not be.
The law is, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”–Matthew 16:24. Take up your cross, balance it, start walking, and declare that whatever comes is good. I know of no verse in the Bible that says you must go all the way to be nailed to the cross. You can make your cross of worldly or family criticism into Light, declare it good until it becomes lighter, disappears. You will wonder why you were upset. Choose to appear to take things lightly under joyous lifting. Say, “My yoke is easy and my burden is Light.”
“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 16:26. What price do you put on your soul? If you lay your cross down irresponsibly, you can lose your own soul or part of it. Rewards come to each according to his works, and you are credited according to your ability. Everyone always makes his vows from the teeth out at first. Yet you must accept and continue.
“Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”–Matthew 16:28. A ray from the Source illumines every picture of the Master. All who believe do see the Master before death, and the disciples did see him.
Discernment is insightful perception. Your soul vision must penetrate through the appearance into the seed of God that is in everything earth produces, down to the tiniest mustard seed. Can you see the God seed? If your love has become a true vibration of law, the seed will burst from within. You see nothing that you do not believe you will see. If you believe that you see the Master before you, you will see him.
Solomon asked, and God gave him understanding to discern judgment. Malachi said discernment was judgment, or common sense. To me, judgment means a “just appraisal.” For example, when you see someone on the street who looks gray, you know he needs lifting. You must discern to penetrate the appearance of time to use it well as it comes. You can use time as it passes, but you cannot make it hurry. When seeking to penetrate time, you must desire to give it your greatest expression. Flow smoothly with time, without conflict.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”–2 Corinthians 5:20. A nation’s ambassador has power to sign treaties for his government. However, an ambassador of Light has authority to speak for God. God puts the right words on your lips at the right time. Yet you must be conscious of it to know what agreements you have signed.
“[Pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”–Ephesians 6:19-20. Before you speak, think, “I am an ambassador in bonds.” A bondsman is a sponsor. When in bonds, you dare not speak without assuming full responsibility for every word. As an ambassador in bonds, God gives you the keys to the kingdom. Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever you bind in heaven is bound on earth. When you leave a high position above, it remains open to whoever has earned the right to it through honor and justice, not through covetousness. Only one who loves God more selflessly than you do may take your place.
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”–Matthew 28:20. The Master holds the same love for us that he always had. The Master has equal Power with the Father because of his great sacrifice, and only he can give us the keys of love, compassion and understanding to unlock the kingdom for the souls of children of men. It takes joy consciousness to push these keys through the rusty locks of heaven’s doors.
When you go home as an ambassador in bonds to Christ, you do not need keys, for you are already there. You are an ambassador, honor-bound to give love, compassion and understanding to everyone whom you contact. So use these Keys of the Kingdom to unlock Heaven’s Gates for humanity.
The Ladder of Faith
Edna Lister outline; December 18, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Matthew 6:5-15, Revelation 8:1-5.
“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.
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”–Revelation 8:1-5.
Incense represents darkness from earth that ascends with your prayers to the angel with a censer, who receives it. Its substance is then added again to God’s Light as Mind, Substance and Power, as one. Mind, Substance and Power are like triplets with a shared umbilical line joining them. If Power and Substance are torn loose from Mind by the wrench of force, they must be redeemed the same way, through force.
The substance can be added this way at the altar. Power, however, must be redeemed by absorbing the force through an object, represented by the thunder, lightning and earthquake in this text. You do this through prayer. Thus, your ultimate reason for prayer is to reintegrate all separated Mind, Power, and Substance, which must be added to the whole again.
What is prayer? What does it do for you? Prayer is the only key to unlock the master switch to turn on the full Light of the Source of All Power. Without it, nothing happens. The proud Pharisees stood on street corners holding the gifts they were taking to the temple for everyone to see. Jesus pointed out that by doing this, they had their reward. Your reward is exact. You receive just as much as you put into your prayer. Skull bumper prayers are lukewarm. Ceiling bumper prayers are getting warm.
Some who pray get bored and go to sleep in the golden silence. People often complain that group prayers are boring. Do not listen to the words of others, but ride out on silent praise and devotion to see and hear spiritually. Prayer is the only way to really contact the Source. Do not try to take self into the silence with you. Lift the day’s episodes onto a cloud of fire. One statement is enough. You need only a glance at the negatives, not pondering them.
Many use the silence to contemplate, analyze, and rationalize, which is the self. Yet the only way into the heart of prayer is through praise. Prayer opens on praise and ends on praise, never, ever on self or on needs. Praise forms a shaft of Light, direct from the Source, over your head, the same Light that protected Daniel in the lions’ den.
If your mind is full of needs of self, sit down and write God a letter, telling Him all about it. Seal it, then mail it with a match. Burn it and say, “Thank You, Father.” Then go sit in the golden silence, offering praise.
Perfect prayer covers eight needs of life. “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.”–Matthew 6:9-13.
“Our Father which art in heaven.”–Matthew 6:9. Our Father is the world sponsor of all humanity. He is all-inclusive, a shared Father, the One God, over all. “Hallowed be Thy name.”–Matthew 6:9. To hallow is to honor as holy. Approach God with awe, devotion, and honor, to stand on holy ground.
“Thy kingdom come.”–Matthew 6:10. What kind of kingdom is this? Jesus spoke of the kingdom in the parable of the pearl of great price. He also said it was like a mustard seed, aggressive, like leaven, able to expand, and pervasive. To make bread, you must knead and mold it. Your results, light or dark, depend on the kind of leaven you use, of the soul or the self.
“Thy will be done.”–Matthew 6:10. Wisdom operates as will in man. You have free choice as to how you use your will. A hair’s breadth separates determination and personal force. There is no danger if you use “let” when you speak the Word. Then lay it on the altar and forget about it. Continue to thank the Father that you already have your desire. Proverbs 22:4 says that the rewards of humility and fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”–Matthew 6:11. Be thankful, and use what you have this day. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”–Matthew 6:12. Give love for whatever comes your way. Then you will have no past because you have forgiven. “Lead us not into temptation.”–Matthew 6:13. You lead yourself into every temptation you choose to pursue. God uses every tempter to fulfill His purposes.
“Deliver us from evil.”–Matthew 6:13. Your task is always to ask God to send Light. Light is the “ladder of faith.” Prayer is an emotional outlet and your only way of adding Mind, Substance and Power together again. Prayer becomes your ladder of faith. When you pray without ceasing, your prayers build that ladder rung by rung.
Love is principle. Faith is the application of principle in the outer world. Faith is your expression of an inner love of God. Prayer will carry you any distance, up in consciousness and ascension, or to outer success. ascend in consciousness first, and consider the outer last, but your prayer must be continuous. Prayer is your jet engine. Faith is the Power to run it.
Faith is also the great finale to prayer. Some folks never listen to God. They never hear, never have time, but are just too busy to wait for the answer. Once you use praise to make your contact and God is on the line, remember to turn your switch to God and say, “Over.” Then you will hear God’s Voice.
The Ladder of Faith
Edna Lister transcript; December 18, 1960, Cleveland, OH. Ruth Johnson, Virginia Whitehead, scribes. Matthew 6:5-15, Revelation 8:1-5.
“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.
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”–Revelation 8:1-5.
We have never taught this portion of Revelation as part of our prayer formula, but it is. It gives us a universal reason to pray. Include yourself in prayer, because you are part of the whole. You get exactly what you fish for in the River of Life. Your fishing rod of divine Mind must be well baited with love of God or you catch nothing, your prayer brings no results. Unfortunately, some people feel self-important when they pray. Prayer must be well-nigh boiling with the love of God, or no answer comes.
“And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.”–Revelation 8:2. The angel trumpeters are agents of God, who sound the trumpets on January 12 and August 10, and life quickens. These verses mention thunder and lightning. Thunder heralds God announcing a new, increased vibration in the universe. Lightning symbolizes seven Light rays, which means God is revving up universal activity, rewinding the celestial clock to accelerate time or release new Light as Power. Time ticks faster when God releases Power. Time now seems accelerated, and it is. We are moving faster than ten years ago, and put more into a day, so we know the trumpets have sounded again.
“Another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.”–Revelation 8:3-4. These verses assure us that a divine personality always hears our prayers. We are those saints, the ascending Elect, whose prayers rise as incense before the throne.
To pray for someone who has misused law, lift his negativity as a dark cloud of “incense” that rises to an inner altar. God neglects no one. Your prayers of love for others ascend to the proper altar, which absorbs the substance as smoke.
“The angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth.”–Revelation 8:5. The love of God within that fire cast to earth draws all similar force left on earth to itself. When you misuse law, you separate Mind, Power and Substance. Power and Substance fill your molds and churn Substance into visible manifestation. You can separate them only through misuse of Mind. Yet the result then is lifeless. For instance, negative emotions such as resentment, revenge motives, and criticism can emotionally tinge soul substance. A mother who says, “Just wait, my dear, some day someone will do to you what you are doing now,” is expressing a revenge motive.
“There were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”–Revelation 8:5. When you separate Mind, Power and Substance, the wrenching causes “earthquakes” of illness or accidents. Lift the “thunder and lightning” force, which describes spiritual debts contracted by personalities. Personality must lift force. You sent out the force, so it returns to you to endure and lift, to show you where you are remiss before God.
The meaning of the Golden Age is to live both sides of life, inner and outer at once, as Jesus did. Live in the world while you maintain consciousness of the golden silence, which you can enter only on praise. Praise God and lift all others to their own secret place.
“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.”–Matthew 6:5. The Pharisees stood and prayed publicly on the street corners. Their reward was having others see them. If you take self into prayer, you get your reward, more self. Self is an illness. Get rid of it.
“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.”–Matthew 6:7-8. You need not mention anyone’s ills or needs, for God knows all needs. Say, “Father, please let my voice lift this force.” Ascend into the golden Light where the angels stand, and lift that force in love and praise.
Most people tell God how they ache because others misunderstand them. You need not pray for self. If you must pray for self, write God a letter and burn it. Set a match to the kindling of self and let the incense of your prayers arise. Put the troublemakers on a cloud continent of Light, surrounded by fiery lights, saying, “Let the Power go forth, Father, to fill them and blanket earth.”
Prayer is the flowing water of the River of Life. Prayer is knowing that God is, an assurance and confidence, the glory of soul expressing. High prayer is a glory. Your room of Light is right here, right now. Enter your temple of soul, close the door to the world and say, “Here they are, Father.”
The eighth angel in the text from Revelation symbolizes the eight phases of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”–Matthew 6:9. Every world religion has an equivalent of the Our Father. You invoke Him when you say, “Our Father which art in heaven.” If the whole world talked about the Father, we could have no false gods. We are all one. With this phrase, you knock on the door to heaven.
“Thy kingdom come.”–Matthew 6:10. What is your idea of being in heaven with the Father? Is it to be happy and make the other fellow good? Your job is to be good and make the other fellow happy. You can ask for a raise today but it may be a bad day for the boss. Fill the boss’s office with a sun center of Light before entering. Ascend above the sidereal vibration, to the Source of God.
How big is your heaven? How big is your reward? Like a mustard seed that will grow into a mighty tree? Like leaven that causes a loaf to rise? Love fills a room like leaven. Love fills a family when you love enough. Leaven thoroughly permeates bread, as your Father permeates you.
You get leaven to work by kneading it, then deflating it so it can inflate again. You pummel it to mix it thoroughly and cause it to rise. When life pummels you, God is preparing you to expand. Life needs to deflate you before you are any good. This hurts, but it works to your glory.
“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”–Matthew 6:10. The will of God is Wisdom expressing as absolute perfection, a principle flowing through the River of Life, and all the Power released by exercising free will. Choice is free, but your results will depend on what you choose. You can let your will express as the love of God, or love of self.
When you use your great faculties of determination and steadfastness, it stiffens your spine to bear the difficulties of earth, not like a rod of brittle iron, but like a strong yet pliable willow. The spine is your rod of Power. When someone injures his stiff and brittle back, he has used will for the self.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”–Matthew 6:11. If you ask for something next June and not for this day, what will you have today? Nothing, for you will spread today’s good thinly on next June’s slice. Put your plans on clouds of Light, and arrange different prayer molds on different clouds. Keep your molds for future months separate from today’s. Pray for today’s good first. Do not let anything fog your molds as you pray for today’s good. Keep your future molds polished and fill them at other times. Pray in steps, in the right order, or scattered prayer will delay your miracles.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”–Matthew 6:12. This phrase mentions debts and debtors. If you forgive the debts others owe you, your Father will forgive your debts. Pouring love on everyone is crucial. Live as the Christ would live and imagine that you are Christed.
God cannot forgive you if you still charge a debt of blame or guilt to yourself or others. If you cannot declare that Light absorbs the past, you have not forgiven your debtors. What you bind or loose on earth is bound or loosed in heaven. “Father, forgive my debts” is self-thinking that blocks your good. “Father, forgive me” is the prescription. Debts blossom when you want someone else to pay them.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”–Matthew 6:13.God never leads you into temptation, but you lead yourself with self-thinking and devotion to self. Do not blame yourself for the past, just ascend high enough to lift the force you have created to the altar. Grab negative thoughts, ascend them, and change them into Light. Every day you cry, “Father, deliver me.” Every day God delivers you from something, from your one small inanity to your million stupidities. He delivers you from your self-created evils all the time. For everything you lift, He lifts you miles and delivers you. He makes you remember to return and finish what you have left undone. God speaks to you as your conscience.
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”–Matthew 6:13. Prayer builds your ladder of faith, and you build another rung when you stand firm. Love is the principle. However, faith builds your love into visibility, and keeps it operating and working. Faith is the expression of love that makes things visible. Prayer is too often a one-sided affair. Many reach the golden silence, and may stay there all day, but complain that they do not hear God’s Voice. To see and hear spiritually, you must listen. High prayer tunes you to God’s broadcasting station. You can train your ears until you rev your spiritual hearing up to a higher band. Say, “Here I am, God. Over,” as aviators do, then listen.
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Edna Miriam Lister
1884–1971
The original Christian Pioneering Mystic,
Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.
References
The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).
The Compact Edition of The Oxford English Dictionary: 2 volumes. Oxford University Press, 1971.