Faith in God's Power

This Edna Lister sermon outline is dated September 29, 1936, Buffalo, New York. Scripture: Mark 6:41-52.

Immediately after Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, he constrained his disciples to get into the ship and sail to Bethsaida while he dismissed the people. To constrain means "to compel or to oblige, to bring about by compulsion."

Jesus himself went to pray alone, planning to join them later. He saw them, from the shore, struggling to row against a contrary wind, and walked toward them, across the water.

The disciples, with their hardened hearts, has already forgotten the miracle of the loaves and fishes, in which they had just participated. Distracted by the contrary wind, they did not consider that it might be Jesus walking toward them. Instead they thought a disembodied spirit was walking on water, and cried out in fear.

An ancient story tells of an etheric ocean of energy. Earth was on the bottom. One traveled either by floating or dragging along. For example, faith is buoyant, but fear is heavy.

Peter, when joyously faithful, could walk on the water, but sank when he feared. Water represents emotions, and fish symbolize understanding all passions, all selfish desires.

Two thousand years later, you must ask yourself, Am I like Peter in faith, or in fear? Today, Peter is acknowledged as the most steadfast of all the Master's disciples. How about you? You can do better than to cry, "Lord, save me" from yourself, your resentment, your creations.

We have all heard, "Be of good cheer! It is I, do not be afraid." The glory is in the attainment. You are being trained for great places. So arise. Let's work!

Loaves and Fishes

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for February 21, 1937, Buffalo, New York. Scriptures: John 6:5-13 and Mark 6:34-45.

A miracle is a natural law accelerated, for instance, an increase in life expectancy or an increase in freedom. You must understand the law of increase to understand the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes.

The world's idea of a miracle's timing is usually one of delay and waiting. This has been humanity's background for centuries. Yet, when you need equal balance between demand and supply, God's idea of timing is always now.

When Jesus dealt with his own hunger in the wilderness, he said to the tempter, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." – Matthew 4:4.

The miracle of feeding the 5,000 implies two phases. Jesus could not have intended merely to show off. The peoples' physical needs were great, and Jesus knew that no one is open to receiving truth if he is hungry.

Secondly, he intended this miracle as a lesson for his disciples, also. He asked Philip where they could find bread to feed the multitude. Philip replied that all the money they had among them could not pay the bill for bread alone.

Andrew was listening and reported that he had seen a small boy who had five barley loaves and two small fishes, but it was not enough. What good is it to have too little, and not enough? Yet, at this point, Jesus acted in faith, believing.

God's idea of supply, equal to the need, is always capable of fulfillment right now. In this miracle story, our Lord taught us to speak the Word for the release of Mind, Substance and Power to fulfill the need.

Peace, Power and Plenty

This Edna Lister sermon outline is dated April 18, 1937, Buffalo, New York. Scriptures: Mark 4:39-40, Luke 7:12-14 and Luke 5:4-10.

Jesus "arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" – Mark 4:39-40. Jesus used the declaration, "Peace, be still" to command obedience. He controlled the elements, the wind and waves. Water represents emotions, false vibrations and disobedience, which are destructive.

"Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." – Luke 7:12-14. The widow of Nain, weeping over her son, awakened the Master's compassion. He declared, "Young man, I say unto thee, arise!"

His command, simple and concrete, was to live. The Power in the spoken Word is released through tone, the tone of your voice, unto the resurrection of all life by lifting all good.

Jesus "said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." – Luke 5:4-6.

The disciples were finished. They had quit because continuing to fish was useless. They had worked all night in the darkness, and caught no fish. They knew that nothing was there. Then the Master told them to cast their nets once more.

It takes peace, power, and plenty of persistence to do anything, to resurrect anything, or to make ascension possible. A miracle consists of having peace, power and plenty, right here and now. Do you believe this? Do you act as if you believe?

You can triumph over the elements and enemies within and without through conquering self and by resurrection of soul into all strength. You must resurrect all your past dreams and wishes before soul ascension is possible.

The Pillar of Fire

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline is dated June 3, 1937, Cleveland, Ohio. Scripture: Exodus 13:17-22.

Moses was born to a great destiny if he fulfilled his life's mission, which was to conquer self and lead the tribes. In his time, many had strayed from the Path of Destiny. They were living life on the line of fate, in a worldly way, without considering God.

Moses had been raised not as a slave, but as a prince of Egypt. At age forty, he slew an Egyptian overseer for beating a Hebrew slave. When accused, he fled into the desert.

He finally wandered into Midian, where he became a humble sheep herder for another man. It took him another forty years to conquer Moses. He showed us that anyone can move from a humble position into a princely kingdom.

When he was eighty years young, Moses heard the Voice after forty years of listening in the silence. Yet when he finally got started, Moses performed one miracle after another.

"The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." – Exodus 13:21-22.

The children of Israel finally left Egypt under Moses' leadership, but Pharaoh pursued them. God guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day, and with a pillar of fire by night.

He led them from camp to camp in the wilderness, until they had conquered all their enemies. They lived as nomads until they had sufficiently conquered self.

Your personal kingdom is also portable, like a ship of Light. Load your ship with all the needed provisions and fire protection. As a ship's master, you are responsible for many added things, everything it takes to care for your crew and passengers.

Travel lightly, but send out your boys and girls protected by a pillar of fire. Tell them, "You are surrounded in Light. Nothing can ever hurt you or touch you if you remain walled in Light."

Fill your business with life and Light at night before you leave for home. Let divine fire fill you and your dreams to vitalize, quicken, and accelerate their fruition.

God's pillar of fire makes you invincible. You have such thick armor of Light that no darkness can penetrate it. Bearing and declaring the Light is your present responsibility.

Who can be a successful enemy to Light? The Lord has told you to sit down by Him until Light makes your enemy into your footstool. Hate has no life or power except what you give it.

In the face of the greatest darkness or obstacle, you can declare, "This is Power, the love and Light that makes me powerful and strong."

Like a ball thrown against a wall rebounds, the other fellow's darkness striking your wall of love-as-Light returns to him as love and Light. If you return hate for hate, that hate returns to you redoubled. As a soul accepts the Light returning to him, the Light, as Power, lifts him.

You are lifting all these people on your lines of Light and responsibility through life. All the loads of darkness you give to God — everything becomes part of your precious cargo when you speak the Word and let God do the work.

Heavenly Manna

This Edna Lister Bible study outline is dated July 8, 1940, Buffalo, New York. Scripture: Luke 8:41-56.

The prefix, en, of ensample, means "in, upon, giving intensity." The prefix ex, as in example, means "out." An ensample signifies expression from within one's own character. An example is an attitude on the outside, which is why people think and ask such questions as, "What will they think? How will this affect me? What will it get me?"

An example is also a pose for gain, an attitude assumed to please another. Setting an example is an affectation meant to enhance the veneer of one's reputation. An ensample is what one really is. If you set an example, you are self-conscious. When you are soul-conscious, you are an ensample.

You can hear intuition speak to you when you are open to the Light above. Intuition told the woman with the issue of blood that she would be healed if she touched the Master. She was ready to crawl to him, since her friends could not take her to him because she was ritually unclean.

How greatly do you want a miracle? Desire dictates the quality and quantity of your effort. Inspiration is breathing the Breath of Life, and when you do, it inspires you.

Before the woman's miracle, Jairus had beseeched the Master on his daughter's behalf. Then Jairus' servant came and told him, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master." Jesus told him, "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole." When he reached Jairus' house, he sent everyone from the child's room.

You must decide whether you want mountains or molehills in life. When another is likely to interfere with your work for a miracle, evict him from your plan, or better yet, do not tell him what you plan in the first place.

Open a new account with the Source of Life. If you deposit plenty of praise in your heavenly account above, you will receive blessings below, since you can withdraw what you deposit, freely. Stand on the bedrock of faith and know that your miracle will come.

The One Miracle

This Edna Lister Bible study outline is dated April 26, 1942, Buffalo, New York. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13.

We define charity as benevolence or generosity. To have charity toward others includes covering their transgressions.

In ages past, seven avatars have come to earth, each bearing a portion of the message of love, which is charity. Osiris and Isis brought the mystery of the soul's immortality. Moses gave the law.

Zoroaster taught the fiery Light. Aphrodite brought the mysteries of the Mother. Buddha preached the sacrifice of possessions. Mohammed brought the sword. Jesus taught love, and the sacrifice of self.

Each of these avatars merely demonstrated their teachings, except Jesus, who worked miracles. We must understand the difference between demonstration, versus speaking the Word for a miracle.

A demonstration is intended to show something or prove it, and begins with an imperative command, a demand, such as "Come." A miracle is the result of seeking God first, and speaking the Word, "Let."

You are a potential miracle worker when you speak the Word. To prepare, first say, "I so love," then make your declaration. Nothing is impossible to love.