Edna Lister on the Miracles of Jesus Christ

God wrought many miracles as recorded in the Bible; in the New Testament, He granted miracles through His Only Begotten Son, while he walked earth, and later through the Apostles. God grants miracles to those who had faith and believe God will heal them.

God brings miracles to pass in order to fulfill His will regarding the destiny of mankind, but only after the faithful souls cry out to Him in petition for mercy. While you may ask on behalf of another, having the one in need ask and to state his or her need, is always best.

Many believe that miracles ceased with death of the Disciples and Apostles, but this is not true. Miracles abound wherever the message of Jesus the Christ is preach and believed.

"John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." – Mark 9:38-40.

Miracles and healing power are among the greater works that Jesus said are the heritage of all those who believe on him. This is our Christed heritage:

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth 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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." – John 14:10-14.

A Miracle of Loaves and Fishes

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for March 16, 1934. Scripture: Luke 9:10-17.

"The apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets." – Luke 9:10-17.

In each realm, phase or technique, you must use every resource on a higher plane to bring a miracle to pass from the invisible. Jesus did this when he used physical loaves and fishes to manifest enough to feed the multitude.

Formerly, metaphysical teachers taught people to concentrate, which is the mental use of the law, with which a student can create force by separating Mind from Substance and Power. Many teachers still teach this way.

On the Via Christa, we teach this process differently. Lift everything into the kingdom of heaven first by giving it to God. Then, while still on a lower plane, build the form of what you desire with every good mental picture of imagination in the present desire-level substance.

Never use force by demanding anything. Call your miracle into visibility by using love and voicing praise. The only way to succeed in doing so is by looking up to heaven in expectancy of soul.

The Lord blessed the bread and broke it, gave it to his disciples to distribute for five thousand people to eat. And still, twelve baskets full were left to share.

The Life Practical

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for September 14, 1934. Scripture: John 11:41-44.

"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, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." – John 11:41-44.

Every idea of men points in one of two directions: Disintegration of the old, or construction of the new, from the old into the new. This keeps you on your toes. The new must include more life. That life must be good, perfect, and just. It must contain good for each soul, from lowest to highest. It may not be less, but more.

God's invisible shelves are filled with divine supply. Bring your needs in, leave them on the altar, and take away your supply. The secret of abundance is dwelling in the heart of God, together with treating every case of need perfectly.

The Master said, "Lazarus, come forth," and a dead man came to life. Jesus had spent years in preparation to raise the dead, yet waited another three days before he told his disciples that Lazarus had died. He knew in advance what he would do, and how he would do it.

As a mystic, you are now dwelling in the heart of God. The walls fade out until no walls, no space, no time exist. Present your claim, and God will provide the supply. This is how love fulfills the law.

The Life More Abundant

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for January 4, 1935. Scriptures: John 10:7-11 and Matthew 28:20.

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." – John 10:7-11.

Who was Jesus Christ, the Son of God? He may have wept in Gethsemane when finished with this life, yet he is alive today, not weeping, but glorying in joy. "Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." – Matthew 28:20.

Like Christ, we have no time for sorrow, for we are too near the close of an old era. The Christian world is moving from the vibration of Resurrection of the dead into ascension of soul consciousness.

God has made man of Christed substance, which is always here, expressing through different soul bodies, but alive as Spirit, living. The life abundant is flowing from the Source of Light. You must stand under it, but how, and where? Right now, right where you are, surrender self to become the servant of all the Power.

The whole human race is filled with Light. Entire nations have been prepared for wholeness because they have accepted God and Christ in faith.

"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, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." – John 11:41-44.

Having all faith in God confers immunity to the ills of earth because the vibration is raised above disease. Redouble your declarations and decrees. "Lazarus! Come forth!" It takes a loud tone of voice to resurrect the dead today.

Stand firm on all decrees until Light establishes them in form. You can have abundant life, strength, and health now. Because just as Solomon asked for intangible wisdom and understanding and, God gave him all tangible added things, so you can ask and receive the life more abundant.

Faith in God's Power

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for September 29, 1936. Scripture: Mark 6:41-52.

"And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened." – 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. Scripture: John 6:5-13 and Mark 6:34-44.

"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men." – Mark 6:34-44.

A miracle is a natural law accelerated, as 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

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for April 18, 1937. 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.

Jesus: The Great Physician

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for March 26, 1938. Scripture: John 21:1-13.

"Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits); dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.0 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise." – John 21:1-13.

The disciples had seen Jesus heal the ten lepers, the man with palsy, the centurion's servant, the woman with the issue of blood, cases of lunacy and possession, Lazarus, the widow's boy, and Jairus' daughter.

Yet in this text, the disciples worked all night at fishing, but with no results. Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side. The right side represents execution, and use of what you have. When they did so, their nets were filled.

You are always either negative or positive, empty or full. You are like a bobbin that fills a shuttle.* Empty, the bobbin is useless. When full of thread, it gives the shuttle the thread with which to work.

What do you give? You give what you have, which is free.

* A shuttle is a wooden device with two pointed ends holding a bobbin, used for carrying the weft thread between the warp threads in weaving.

A Mother's Investments

Edna Lister created this Mother's Day sermon outline for May 10,1942. Scriptures: John 2:1-5 and 1 Kings 3:16-28.

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." – John 2:1-5.

"Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment." – 1 Kings 3:16-28.

These texts are all about mothers and mother love. The way in which Mary, the mother of Jesus, handled the situation at the wedding in Cana shows that she was the type of mother who understood her son and intuitively knew what he needed.

Solomon had to deal with two women, both of whom claimed to be mothers, yet acted very differently. What is this love called mother love?

Love can be balanced or unbalanced. Love, balanced by wisdom, is wise. Love can say yes, or love can say no.

Jesus balanced his love with wisdom; therefore, his love had a yearning, mothering quality. Love your own creations with this type of love. You must simply love, love, love them into being. Love enough will bring success, triumph and glory.

A young woman may be a beauty at age sixteen, but at sixty, she is beautiful. Love confers beauty of soul that shines through the physical.

Many American mothers were first pioneers, living in wagons, in camps, and on farms. They worked, bore pain and sought glory in the ease and comfort of others. They suffered divorce and war, but mothers are brave.

Once more, America's mothers are standing. They are yearning, working, serving and toughening up again.

Inspiration for Living

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 13, 1945. Scripture: John 6:1-13.

"After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." – John 6:1-13.

The miracle of the five loaves and two fishes is so dramatic a story. Yet another real miracle is how any baker can turn wheat into bread, which is also a dramatic miracle of transformation and increase.

A great multitude of people, about 5,000 had gathered to hear Jesus speak. He had thrilled them with his message. When it came time to eat, they were expectant. He had the disciples tell them to sit while they were waiting.

Every miracle has three phases: First, you must do the next thing next. Second, you must make perfect use of what you have. Finally, you must ignore everything else on the outer, and depend on the inner for fulfillment.

So, a great plan for a miracle begins with taking time to live, to dare, to love, to do the next thing next in love, graciously. Take the time to be lovely. Then you must make perfect use of what you have now, including things, people, and time, etc. Ignore the outer with its distractions, disappointments and obstacles. To do so, you must obey several laws:

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" – Matthew 6:33. "What is that to thee? Follow thou me." – John 21:22. "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him." – Matthew 5:25.

Do you depend on God? You must depend on Him for anything you cannot do for yourself. How greatly do you want the object of your desire? How greatly do you aspire? Enough to ascend in consciousness and receive inspiration from above?

The greatness of the miracles you experience is in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of your effort. You must have a plan for life.

Do the next thing next on the outer, while you give lavishly on the inner. You must give lavishly to receive lavishly.

Are you giving a series of ten-cent gifts, or of the richness of all love? What you give lavishly returns to you on the outer as a gift.

Bless and break and share the loaves and fishes you have, then gather up the leftover fragments, keeping the secret of the miracle of abundance.

The Dead Shall Arise

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for April 19, 1950. Scriptures: Mark 5:22-23, Mark 5:35-43 (see also Luke 8:41-42, Luke 8:49-56, and Matthew 9:18-19, Matthew 9:23-26).

"Behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him... While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat." – Mark 5:22-23, Mark 5:35-43.

Healing, to Jesus, included raising Jairus' young daughter from the dead. Notice the differences in the Gospel accounts.

Mark says that the Master took only Peter, James and John with him. He chose them because their love was enough to build up the Power. Faith rides forth on love, not indifference, disbelief, scorn, or hatred.

In Luke's version, Jesus says to Jairus, "Fear not, only believe, and she shall be made whole." This is all about the truth of appearances versus the truth of reality. The child's body appeared to be dead, but the soul is immortal.

What do you believe? You must make up your mind. You must choose, then act on that choice.

"They laughed him to scorn." The crowd's ridicule is the single element that remains exactly the same in all three accounts. Jesus' poise in the face of their contempt made a great impression on his disciples.

Mark and Luke record his admonition to tell no one what had happened in the room. Why did Jesus insist on their silence? Describing a miracle gives the doubters a club to use over you. Power works best in the silence, so resist the urge to talk about it; remain silent.

Integrating Mind and Power

Edna Lister created this Bible study outline for June 22, 1952. Scripture: John 6:1-13.

"Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." – John 6:1-13.

What a dramatic story this is about the five loaves and two fish that Jesus multiplied and added to feed the multitude. Jesus had studied universal Mind, which is forever the same, deathless, ageless and abiding. Do you really believe that this Mind and Power work through your mind now?

Only a hair's breadth separates your legitimate uses of your mental and spiritual faculties, and the flexible "letting" Power of universal Mind. You learn by the process of trial and error, bumbling along. Yet God always works now, smoothly and perfectly. When you straighten out your relationship to God as Power, Substance and principle, miracle after miracle comes.

God has given you three phases of mind to use, subconscious, conscious and super-conscious. Subconscious mind is the source of all your delays and troubles, yet is supposed to run the body and be the servant of the super-conscious. It must have a pattern to follow.

If you are body-conscious in any way, you are living by subconscious dictation. The subconscious is like a robot machine. It cannot change the design, but works out every habit pattern you set for it.

If you allow others to dictate to you and thereby change your life's structure, confusion results in your life pattern. Stated another way, if you let others' emotional advice recondition you away from logic and principle, you will confuse your mental patterns.

The soul is perfect as an individualized manifestation in the image and likeness of God. That which is unconscious in a baby becomes conscious as you change the patterns of your life, and broaden into greater awareness and later, into full consciousness.

The subconscious mind is the memory storehouse of past actions and experiences, which creates the "fate line" if you live by self, not soul. The subconscious is the seat of hunches, which are its form of plausible deductions. The subconscious mind cannot originate thoughts or think.

The subconscious is always fishing in the waters of life, catching fears and doubts, and creating more failure. When you have a hunch of right or wrong, you allow subconscious mind to condition your thoughts from past events and experiences only.

Your conscious mind uses reasoning, comparison, deduction, induction and synthesis united as thinking, which can change, evolve new patterns, and combine others' experiences with its own to create new patterns. You must consciously recondition your life of mind, which is a slow process to overcome subconscious habits.

The conscious mind is the functioning phase of the individualized rational soul that breathes itself into the body at birth to awaken the body for its use. Your super-conscious mind changes your course in life from the fate line to the pattern of destiny. Giving up habits for the destiny pattern is like pulling teeth.

The law of perfect abundance and increase states that you increase that which you dwell upon, spiritually, mentally or emotionally. So, let addition and multiplication rule your life, which requires you to balance Wisdom, which plans, and Love, which sustains. Do you love your creations enough?

You present your check on life's account to the Father, but receive only what remains after the foolish deductions, your debits and subtractions. Oh yes. You receive exactly what is left of your joyous praise and love of God enough, minus your fears, doubts, wavering, lukewarmness, indifference, and self-pity.

The Golden Chalice

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for September 14, 1952. Scripture: Acts 9:1-22.

"Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." – Acts 9:1-22.

"I hear. I accept. I obey" is the synopsis of St. Paul's miracle on the road to Damascus. As Saul of Tarsus, he had been sick with hatred and intolerance, yet he was healed in a flash of Light.

Saul, who had never seen Jesus in the flesh, recognized his voice instantly. The men who were with him heard the voice also, but saw no one. Their silence about the miraculous event is evidence of their acceptance of the whole affair. Without argument, he let them lead him into the city.

The contrast between self-righteous Saul, who had the mighty power of Rome behind him as a Roman citizen, and his new incarnation as Paul was remarkable. He had turned humble.

He obeyed the voice he heard and went into the city to wait. Imagine Saul, the impatient man of action, waiting for three days. Then another man, Ananias, heard the Lord's voice and orders. After questioning once, he also heard, accepted and obeyed.

Paul had spent three days in the golden silence. The first step in the silence is to arise in consciousness, to look up and listen up. You really have only one automatic lifter, praise. Using the love of God, your praise opens all doors and lifts all things, persons and situations.

The second step is to give, but how? You can give praise until your "cup runneth over" and you are overflowing with Light, life and glory that then spills out onto the world.

The third step is to wait upon the Lord and listen. No matter the question, your right answer is "I love God, my fellow man, life and my lessons." Love even the little bits of darkness because you can lift them for the Father, not in irritation with "I hate this" and that.

Declare, "I AM in love in all my dealings." Love is the only intimate approach to God or your life. Everything is a gift or your own creation.

All parents know you cannot send your children back, as though they were presents you do not want. Your only lifting answer is, "I love life."

The Golden Silence

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated September 28, 1952. Scribe: Ruth Johnson. Scripture: Acts 9:1-22.

The story of Saul's conversion of soul is tremendous. A great light shone around him and he heard, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Blinded by the Light, his escort took Saul to Damascus, where he lay three days fasting and praying. Ananias, a disciple, heard the Lord tell him to find Saul, lay hands on him and return his sight. Saul received illumination, changed his name to Paul and preached the gospel.

Saul's story is like the prodigal son's. He had never met Jesus, but was obsessed with a revenge idea and was cruel to Jesus' followers. Previous chapters of Acts say he was a violent man who lashed them. His mission to Damascus was to persecute Christians. Yet, he submitted completely after the Light blinded him.

A spiritual reason always backs any instant illumination. Jesus told Saul that he kicked against the pricks, but was really asking, "Why are you going against your soul nature?" Saul's Oversoul was calling him to follow Christ, even when his worldly concept of honor made him fight and persecute the Christians. Saul erased his past in one question, "Lord, who are you?"

His love for truth had been growing under his outer expression of violence. Blinded, but believing and in utter submission, he allowed the men to lead him to be used by God's Power. Saul, who had been agnostic, heard the voice and saw the Light. His companions heard the voice but saw no one.

God speaks as personality through personality to personality. To say, "I follow the Master" or "I follow this teacher" is like saying, "I follow personality." The Power of this Christed Age is so great that the Master's followers may take on some measure of his personality. Conventional people are afraid to admit to God's personality. You need not acknowledge God to hear Him, but your innate ability helps you to listen and hear His Voice.

Supreme Power can express through anyone, whatever race, gender or spiritual status. Even a trickle of Power can awaken your full capacity for God's Power.

Saul sat three days in the golden silence, waiting upon the Lord in complete surrender of self. The first step to the golden silence is to submit to God's law. The golden silence is that place of praise, hearing, accepting, obeying, and complete submission where you surrender to be possessed by God's love.

Silence under blame is incomprehensible to the average person, but is a great soul defense. You will achieve outer perfection when you express the perfection and glory of inner law.

You can have the Golden Age now, if you choose it, declare it and know it is here now. No negative words that anyone spews can change this.

Praising God is the second step to the golden silence. Praise, as loving declarations of perfection, changes black clouds into Light instantly. Love sustains all visions and creations, so picture shafts of love's magnetic fire surrounding families, nations, cities and the whole world.

Declare, "Light now heals every agent of God, and they are putting this healing into practice." Your soul expands in the golden silence because you are busy loving God.

The third step to the golden silence is to lift everything for metaphysical scrubbing. God must use many who are now actively negative, including criminals, dictators and materialists, because their experience has trained them.

Lift everything and everyone into the kingdom of heaven, including family and friends. See them standing with their soul wings uplifted in the golden silence. Paul was lucky to have spent three days there.

The fourth step to the golden silence is pure soul exaltation. In the silence, wait three days on the Lord while you maintain a direct line of Light to God.

Your Oversoul remains in the silence, filling you with atomic energy. Your desire body becomes lighter in vibration, while you return to work out your salvation here on earth consciously.

You begin to comprehend the glory and presence of the living God within you, your tongue is silver-tipped, and you stop scattering yourself over earth's distractions. Nervous tension is a physical sign of a scattered self.

Draw in the soul substance that self has invested in those you have hated or blamed, and return your misused soul substance to God for purification. God stamps your Oversoul name and number on the star substance you redeemed while in your golden silence.

Say, "I am the wealthiest person in the world." See baskets filled with large denomination bills to cover your needs, obligations and pet projects. See baskets filled to overflowing for others and for the world.

Ananias was accustomed to hearing God's Voice. He heard Jesus' order, but fussed about it before he obeyed: "Lord, I have heard from many about this man."

People often descend to the basement in criticism before following orders. Ananias was playing with the idea of darkness, not sure if he agreed, not sure if he wanted to soil himself by healing Saul, who had harmed many people whom Ananias loved. Yet he finally accepted, and went to heal Saul.

So many people are like Ananias. God always gives you time to accept and obey. Saul had already accepted in the golden silence and was ready to obey as Paul.

"Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." – Acts 9:18. Paul's eyes were opened, and he arose healed from his desire for fame, status and fortune.

God created us through almighty Power as the living expression of love for law to use. To hear, accept and obey will lead you into submission to law.

"Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." – Acts 9:22. The number of this verse, 22, symbolizes completion, so declare, "Father, let all I have done be transmuted," and God changes it into love, kindness and power.

Enemies are a creature soul luxury you simply cannot afford. You can stop the power of others' negative thoughts when they criticize you, if you do not permit it. It hurts because you accept the belittling, give it power, and put a head, eyes and stinger on it when you feel the sting.

Criticism returns like a boomerang to the one who threw it. Someone must transmute such darkness into Light, and that someone could be you. It would take twenty-four people praying together for three years to fulfill a thousand days of perfection, to transmute earth's evil into Light.

Jesus said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." – Matthew 11:20. The way of self is hard. Willfulness is a greased pole that is exhausting to climb. Like Saul, people are always kicking against the pricks of conscience.

Visions come through Oversoul, which remains in the high place to watch, worship and wait upon the Lord in the golden silence.

I Ascend (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for July 11, 1954. Scriptures: John 1:50-51, John 2:1-11.

"Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. And he said to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." – John 1:50-51.

"The third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." – John 2:1-11.

What is ascension? A mystical term, ascension is to the mystic what atomic research is to the scientist. It is a positive, deliberate moving inward, a "getting behind" the visible material appearance. Ascension is a refining process of the soul, the moving up from self-confidence, which is a variable factor, to soul confidence, which is a constant, based in divine principle.

Science penetrates though the outer husk into that inner substance, held within the outer shell as in a protective sheath. You cannot see the finer substance released from the atom with the physical eye. Yet you can see the effect during the controlled release of this substance. A mind penetrating this sheath of appearance is called ascension of consciousness. You may not see the soul of man with the physical eye, but you can see the effects of the soul's release of Power. Soul-power, unleashed, acts on the outer sheath.

Self-expression shows as what we call personality. Soul expression not only shows as personality, but the world feels it. Self-confidence impresses no one because you see through it. Soul confidence shows, and inspires the world. Living by self dulls the personality, while living by soul makes it shine. Self-confidence is based in outer things, but soul confidence places its trust in unfailing principle, which never falters.

Mary herself had been born of an immaculate conception. She had fully open spiritual seeing and hearing, and knew that Jesus must begin his ministry. Yet Jesus, who also knew, must have had a moment of something like dread. Remember, he suffered in all ways, even as other men suffer. He had to endure every experience to hold fast the lines of responsibility when he took them up through the Gates of Light.

The six stone waterpots symbolize a solid foundation. "Six" represents the creative cosmic Father and Mother, the double trinity of all creation. When his mother told the servants to obey him, she opened his mission on the love vibration, the Mother ray. She knew what he meant when he said, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." She prepared the way. Jesus then ate his words. Immediately he opened his ministry by telling them to fill the waterpots. Simply, with no fuss, he told them to draw some wine and take it to the master of the feast.

When you pray, you must use all that you have now. At this point, selfish desire and self-centered will fuse into free will, the infallible perfect will of God. Soul, which is already part of God the All, instantly absorbs self-confidence into the I AM of soul confidence. Self-confidence must change into soul confidence when selfish desires and self-centered will become soul desires and free will, which form I AM consciousness, the fusing of desire and will.

Why does your neighbor not ascend in consciousness as you do? An immature chick in the shell is too weak to peck its way out, but would die if you opened its shell from the outside. A mother hen sits on the nest, alert to the tiniest peep, ready to get off, not to smother the chick. You cannot take anyone up too soon or too suddenly. Self-confidence must change to soul confidence slowly and gradually, or the explosion can burn out the finer soul function of the endocrine glands, which take a long time to replace.

Take ascension one step at a time, to ascend in consciousness slowly, gradually filled with the full Power of God. The full atomic Power is ninth dimensional substance, which burns out the dross. It is dynamic, dramatic, self-sustaining and self-renewing. Nothing on earth can resist its irresistible movement, for it changes anything it touches, and transforms your life.

How do you apply this to your daily life? Lift all your lines of Light and responsibility. You already hold the lines of earth responsibility, from all people in all the signs, in your hands. If you let go of the lines, they fall back, and entangle you with others. Yet all are safe while you are standing in the white Light of the Christ, holding the lines.

Mary, representing the feminine Mother of Love in this text, is soul intuition, a part of "I AM," saying, "The time has come." Every day is your miracle day. Love must always prepare the way. The son in this example is the little self, saying. "How does this relate to me?" Self is always afraid to let go of its "little" self-confidence, yet self must become soul confidence to know the glorious freedom from bondage to earth. Then is the promise fulfilled, ""Verily, verily, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. – John 1:51.

I Ascend (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated July 11, 1954. Scribe: Ruth Johnson. Scriptures: John 1:50-51, John 2:1-11.

To ascend, you must first know what ascension means. Different cults and sects have made ascension so personal that especially self-confident persons apply it until they become too saintly to live with their families, break marital vows, and leave their loved ones with aching and broken hearts.

Soul ascension is to the world of devotion to God, to searchers and students of God's principles, exactly what atomic research is to scientists. Moving from outer to inner, science breaks the sheath of an atom, releasing protons, neutrons and electrons. Spirit moves through the five outer senses to the inner world of the soul where you find life's essence, but only if you accept.

You cannot prove these truths wholesale, and each must prove them for himself. You cannot break an atom, though your body does so constantly, but believe it can be done. You take the physicists' word on faith, although you are not in the lab, because you see the results. So you can take Jesus' words on faith because enough people have proven his words through the last nineteen centuries.

Ascension is moving inward and upward to the world of miracles. The mundane world will see and believe when enough people ascend to the miraculous world. You cannot contact your full powers of soul without three phases of ascension: Emergence from outer to inner, maturity or expansion in consciousness, and ascension inward and upward to the ninth dimension, which you use in healing and soul ascension.

The whole process of ascension is a travail of soul moving from self-confidence, which is egotism, to soul-confidence. "Father, I surrender to be possessed by all Power." You may not use Power, but it uses you. Self-confidence splits and cracks when needed most, but soul confidence is immutable and unchangeable because you have ascended to God. It increases your capacity to release Power and you can see the results. You see such self-expressions in the faces of people you meet. Failed self-confidence shows as the wrinkles of time. Soul has personality, which you can see as the Light within shining from the eyes. Eyes like a dead fish's show that the person has used up his soul substance. No self dims the eyes of an ascending soul.

This text paints a picture of Jesus and Mary at the wedding in Cana. Mary interfered when she said, "They have no wine," and Jesus told her to mind her own business. Yet she instructed the servants to do his bidding and he changed the water into wine. Jesus had to eat his words only twice, at the wedding, and in Gethsemane when he said, "Let this cup pass from me." Everyone must lift and wipe out his idle words and misused soul substance.

Pride is the adulterous taint that kills hope. Watch for it on your path. Most people think that admitting they are wrong is degrading, and flatter themselves if another rephrases to admit his error. Erase your misused words instantly, and admit you are still learning. Saying, "I do not know," is no disgrace. Every library is full of books that can give you the answers. [Today, the internet provides many answers, but practice discrimination about what you find there.] You release Power when you answer a question. One who answers under great Light is responsible for the Power the answer releases, though the Masters pick up the slack or cover any slip.

Mary's incarnation was an immaculate conception. She knew her role in the overall plan for Jesus' mission, but did she know, as she started him on his ministry, that it would end in his death? She knew he would ascend, perhaps before thousands, but not after a crucifixion. Mary simply knew that Jesus had to begin his ministry on the vibration of Mother Love before he could ascend. The water at the wedding represented the ruling Wisdom vibration, which draws out, being changed into the wine of Spirit, the Love vibration that draws everything back to the Source.

This story describes how Jesus ascended from self-confidence to soul confidence. We are all self-confident in varying degrees, yet few of us have yet attained full soul confidence. Why, you ask, won't your family and friends accept this new idea, too? Accepting new ideas and concepts means cracking the old idea's shell. You may not prematurely or harshly crack others' shells under ascension laws. You would smash atoms, destroy the endocrine glands and they would have nothing left with which to understand.

The best way to crack another's shell is to be such an ensample of unconquerable faith, unquenchable love, invincible joy and irresistible attraction that the ninth dimension of universal fellowship reaches out and enfolds everyone. Never ask why, but simply follow the Via Christa to become an instrument of all Power. Would you follow a moth-eaten teacher? Then why follow old, worn out ideas? Do you not seek a God of beauty, love, wisdom and joy? You are now ascending from self to soul confidence. How do you apply this to your life?

Jesus came to experience every earth lesson and lift every line of darkness through the Gates of Light when he ascended. So did you. Someone on earth must reach out and draw in the fallen lines, and this is your duty today. The Zodiacal Path is the Wheel of Fate, and its center is the hub of white Christ Light. Withdraw your past and step from your birth sign to the hub of Light when you ascend, though others may clutch and try to pull you off.

You cannot drag others with you as you go to God, yet you can and must pick up their lines of Light and put them on a cloud continent for Light to transform them. Then you are responsible for holding the lines until they, too, ascend. Stand on the hub of the wheel, in your room of Light when a blow strikes. The choice is yours. You can wallow in birth sign negativity, or ascend to the wheel's hub, lifting the darkened lines.

Mary, prompting Jesus at the wedding, symbolizes the Mother preparing the way with love. Your time has come. The world needs the wine of Spirit, the Mother Love vibration leading from self to soul-confidence.

The six vessels of stone represent your creative powers based on immutable principles. Your Guards pour Power from waterpots to make your creative powers blossom. Declare, "Fill the waterpots," and they will. Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast of God's love.

Two Miracles of Increase

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for March 11, 1956. Scriptures: Mark 8:1-9, John 6:1-13.

"In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away." – Mark 8:1-9.

"Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." – John 6:1-13.

From the Old Testament prophets to Jesus, from Jesus' time until today, history has recorded miracle upon miracle. People have as many miracles today as there were then, and even more. Miracles are frequent and common.

A miracle is an acceleration of law in action. All miracles have something in common, running through them like a golden thread – an active, producing faith, with no negative, passive indifference or lukewarmness, an individual faith acting upon substance, never substance acting on the individual.

From seeking ways of personal survival to ascension of soul, you have only one basis, one foundation, steadfastness of purpose, positive and dynamic. Jesus shortcut the process from seed to bread by his knowledge of law, into an act of increase from five loaves to enough to feed 5,000 souls.

I may not turn stones into bread for myself, although I use what is available. Yet I do not hesitate to apply the law of increase of substance for others.

In Mark's version of the story, Jesus had them sit in companies of fifty. In the symbolism of numbers, fifty represents spiritual freedom (five) in unity (zero). Five barley loaves, and two small fish equals seven, the number of the Priest. You can speak the Word and have a miracle only when you act as the Priest, who serves and gives to others. Then the "impossible" of man becomes the "possible" of God.

The Gospels record many other types of miracles, but only two duplicate the seemingly "impossible" miracle of the increase of substance. Mark records the miracle of increase that followed three days of other miracles, while John tells about the one after Herod beheaded John the Baptist.

"When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do." – John 6:5-6.

Jesus tested his disciples' faith. He spent his whole ministry training a few people to live by faith unconquerable. Step by step, they established their faith in law and grew. You need firm, unshakable faith in the Power of God to do the work after you have spoken the Word. You become a Priest who speaks the Word for miracles in three stages.

First, seek, search and find the Power to act, to do for you and through you. Second, step onto the newly opened path and reach up in stature to grasp this Power. Finally, you receive the reward in growth of consciousness and expansion of your horizons, which leads to extended soul vision to see around corners.

As you gain in steadfastness of purpose, you become "inner minded" instead of "outer minded," thinking of heaven, not the world. You ascend into a new paradise of the soul. As soon as you enter this lovely place, you begin to settle down to enjoy your newly gained peace. Immediately, Light jolts you up and out of self-satisfaction.

Law never allows you to settle down once you start walking the path of soul ascension. You outgrow last year's ideals, and last year's soul robes burst at the seams. You may even outgrow the people, places and things you have loved the most. Yet, you cannot return to or squeeze yourself into the narrow, confining quarters.

Growth of consciousness and expansion of the soul's horizons is good, now and always. The old is not bad, but less good. What does it matter if family and friends refuse to share your vision? You have no time for weeping, no time for self-pity because you are so alone.

To help you accept a new horizon as a goal, you receive an endowment of heavenly, loving compassion to trade in for old personal affection. Compassion is better, gives more freedom for all, and has no "me" or "mine" in it. No one ever misses your old ways of love.

You cannot return to the past. An "angel with a flaming sword" stands at the gate of each lost paradise. Each new paradise beyond has another angel beckoning. Each angel and flaming sword means a fulfillment of the soul, not a wall to limit your access to Power.

Never allow your ideals to become your jailor, or to become moth-eaten crystallized opinions, decrepit on crutches and canes. Move on. Look forward to greater glories. Suddenly, an angel stands before you, pointing his flaming sword to a new Star, the gate to a new paradise.

Finding the path of Power, following it, receiving the rewards you earn on it is glorious. Here is God's Power as faith, perfect to do, the Source of all miracles. And your answer? "Well, I'll try. I'm trying to pray." Waste no time concentrating on trying, just bless, bless, bless what you have, and use the visible for increase now.

This lesson is outstanding. You must use what you have. Bless the visible. Give in spiritual freedom from fear or doubt. Always gather up the fragments, the twelve baskets to use again.

I Ascend (c)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for April 8, 1956. Scriptures: John 21:1-14, John 20:1-9.

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." – John 20:1-9.

"After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead." – John 21:1-14.

Jesus appeared to his disciples some seventeen times between his Crucifixion and the record of his Ascension, before they knew "the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." This reading is peculiar: They had not yet written the scripture.

He had told them, but they had only half-believed. The story of his death by Crucifixion, his Resurrection and the Ascension are easier to believe when you read about them.

According to the Gospel of John, Jesus first appeared to Mary, who had lingered at the tomb, weeping, after Peter and John had left. Mary believed what the first angel had said, that Jesus had risen from the dead.

When she turned from the tomb, she saw Jesus, but thought he was a gardener. He said, "Woman, why are you weeping. Whom do you seek?" She never recognized his voice until he spoke her name. We all recognize our friends, mostly by voice.

Jesus appeared the second time that same day, in the evening. Thomas was not with them, and when they told him they had seen the Lord, he said, "I will not believe" unless I see the marks of the nails, and touch his wounds. The others had not thought to look for the marks first, but were just glad to see him alive.

On the eighth day, Jesus appeared to them in the same room, and this time, Thomas was present. Jesus invited Thomas to touch the holes in his hands and side, and said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Then Jesus appeared to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, and two others at the Sea of Galilee. They had fished all night and caught nothing. In the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but they did not know him – interesting. He told them to cast their fishing net on the "right side," and when they pulled it up, overflowing, they knew it was Jesus, for it was a miracle.

Impulsive Peter swam to shore, while the others brought the boat and catch. They saw fish and bread, baking on a fire of coals, which must have been burning a long time. Jesus had materialized the fish and bread to "prove" himself, but only enough fish for one. He told them to bring some of the fish they had just caught. None of the disciples dared asked him who he was, for they knew he was Jesus. They must have been consumed by awe and curiosity.

What is this act that we call ascension? How can you attain it and remain in the world, balanced and functioning? Ascension, to the student of truth, who is seeking inner causes to account for outer effects in his life, is exactly what atomic research is to the physicist.

Seekers in the past have tried many methods to accomplish this ascension. They have sought it through suffering and flagellation of the body, through starving the body, living on fruit, eating no meat, fish or fowl, by withdrawing from the world, never speaking or using their voices, living alone in a hut or in the desert.

None of these methods will ever work. All they do is to damage or destroy the body vehicle. Unless any method will work for the whole world, then it is not founded in principle, the Master's teachings, or divine law. Law, when followed, must work for all in manifestation alike. Observe. Many sects are based on personal interpretations of law, founded on individual peculiarities, opinions or prejudices.

Ascension and atomic research are both refining processes – positive, moving inward, getting behind or beyond the visible material world. Atomic research is focused on substance. Ascension is devoted to soul. The inner substance of soul is forever held in a protective sheath. You cannot see the finer grade of substance released from the atom, but you can see the effects and results of its liberation.

You cannot see the soul, but can feel its power when released, and when unleashed you do see its effects in the transformed life of the physical body. Soul ascension is a mental penetration through the outer sheaths of substance into the realm of the unseen.

How do you ascend the body today? Ascension is so utterly commonplace – a moving up from outer self-confidence into that realm of soul-consciousness and soul-confidence, which is all-inclusive in its nature, which partakes of God.

Self-confidence is intermittent. Self-expression builds itself an outer reputation, but soul-expression shows character, which is felt. Self-confidence has no followers, while soul-confidence inspires the world. Self-confidence dulls the personality, but soul-confidence makes it shine. Self-confidence is based on outer intellect, while soul-confidence places trust in God's principles, which cannot fail.

Self-confidence fishes all night with no results. Soul-confidence hears the Voice saying, "Put the net on the right side," the up side, and the net will be filled. You have one fish on the fire and one loaf of bread. Start with what you have, pray, and use all that you have now, where you are.

The soul is already a part of God. Your job is to ascend the self that you have fused with your soul to this point. Exchange self-confidence for soul-confidence. Grow from seeing to believe through Ascension into believing to see. It's a slow growth as you take one step at a time to ascend in consciousness slowly and safely. The force of atomic power can destroy cells because the movement is too fast.

Full Christ consciousness, which bestows soul confidence, is of the ninth dimension world of power. Christ consciousness is soul-sustaining and renewing, and burns out all dross to heal the body. Nothing on earth can resist its upward flowing movement.

Follow the findings of science and apply them to your spiritual life. You know finer grades of substance exist, which you do not see with the physical eye. Yet, you believe to see beyond the outer sheath that enfolds all Spirit on the outer. It changes all that it touches, and transforms your life. The right side is the up side. Ascend in consciousness.

Declare, "I arise. I ascend. I stand in the heart of the fire, the white Light of the Christ. I am free. I reach for the stars. Power uses me for its own glory."

Lazarus, Come Forth! (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for September 2, 1956, November 18, 1956 and December 2, 1956. Scripture: John 11:20-46.

"Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 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, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done." – John 11:20-46.

Jesus was well into his ministry before the events described in this text. He had ample time to build up a mighty faith among his followers. Lazarus was beloved of Jesus and his sisters were both dear to him. When word of Lazarus' illness came, Jesus said that it was not a sickness unto death, but for the glory of God. He loved his friends and would not do anything to hurt them, yet he waited two more days.

You cannot always act as your love would demand of you. For example the parents of a family may not act to please only one member, but must act for the good of all in the family as well as the individual members.

Jesus knew from afar when Lazarus had died. He told his disciples that Lazarus slept. They did not understand him, so he spoke plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him." – John 11:14-15.

The eye-minded disciples had to see to believe before they could have a miracle. Martha listened to Jesus teaching while she worked at housekeeping and gained greater faith. Mary sat and listened to Jesus' every word, but her lack of faith proves that listening is not enough.

Apply what you know to what you do. As you act on your faith and put it into action, you build the quality and quantity of your faith. Martha met Jesus while he was still on the road, saying, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." – John 11:21-22.

Jesus told her that he would rise again, and Martha admitted her faith that her brother would "rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Then he proclaimed, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." – John 11:25-26.

Martha illustrates that God registers your vows as high as your present ability to practice your faith. Making high vows opens the way for Power to move through you when you pray. While your vows may register no higher than your ceiling, you are responsible for living by high laws. The credits you receive for the greatness of your vows are always greater than your strength to practice them.

The main idea in this chapter is what Jesus was telling Martha. Life is the resurrection. Enough life is to live in him, in Christed consciousness, to believe in him as the I AM super-conscious mind – never to die, never to regress or lose soul consciousness.

Following this climactic passage comes the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept." They must have known the importance of this, because his tears impressed both John and the Jews who were attending Mary in her bereavement.

Why did Jesus weep? Was it because he had to teach them the lesson of faith? Was it because he had delayed for two days? Or like his tears at Jerusalem, was he sorry that they had learned so little?

He had counted on Mary and she had failed him. She lost faith and fell in consciousness. Was it because his love for Lazarus and the others was so great that his heart swelled and burst in overwhelming compassion and joy that he could surprise them with the gift of life?

"Jesus said, Take ye away the stone." – John 11:39. With this command, Light restored Lazarus' physical body to be resurrected. He returned to the flesh. Take away the stone of ignorance, greed, hatred, whining and self-pity from your heart and resurrect the good. Only this will bring the soul back into the body now.

Lazarus represents the physical and emotional dimensions of humanity. Jesus symbolizes the mental and spiritual aspects of humankind. You must roll away two stones. First, as at Lazarus' tomb, you remove the stone of the emotional life until it is caught up and you achieve Resurrection. Then, as at Jesus' tomb, you roll away and lift your mental blocks to reach Ascension. Only then can you free your Oversoul I AM consciousness to enter. Your desires, mated with will, become the intuition and illumination of the "I AM." Then you stop asking, "Is God really there? Am I on the right path?"

"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." – John 11:41-42. Lazarus had been dead four days, which is the symbolic time it takes to awaken the I AM consciousness and let the full Light shine in. You need four days of mystical service to step from Resurrection to Ascension. Pay no attention to the whining little self as soul declares the truth.

"He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." – John 11:43. Jesus cried out loudly to start the life vibration flowing through Lazarus strongly. He had to pull him back into his body fully by using a loud voice. Sometimes people drift too far from the Light. This is common after an accident or in the crisis during an illness. They then can hear only a loud voice of complete love.

"And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." – John 11:44. Never try to hold onto a miracle or talk about it. To hold onto one miracle creates a bondage and you cannot then make room for another miracle. Instead, praise the miracle and love it. Love God and let your miracle go free. You loose everything and everyone as you love God enough. Hold onto nothing, knowing that you are free to use all that the Father has.

When you approach your I AM and "let" state of consciousness, all your prayers will be, "Father, I love You!" As you grow stronger in the Light, you will stop being like the little boy, who prayed, "Father, please send me cake and ice cream instead of castor oil and spinach."

Simply lift your load onto a cloud of Light. When you ascend in ascension of consciousness, you can stand in the midst of any situation and watch it dissolve and disappear. Nothing can withstand your soul's decree once you loose it and let it go to soar on wings of love. Life is the abundant miracle. You are God's miracle of creation. Priceless glorious life is yours when you tune in the miracle station of limitless life.

Lazarus, Come Forth! (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated September 2, 1956. Scribe: Ruth Bender Collord. Scripture: John 11:20-46.

Metaphysicians speak of resurrection, but not about ascension. Jesus was well into his ministry and well known in the world of religious orthodoxy when the events in this text occurred. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he spoke to his disciples directly with these words: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." – John 11:4. Jesus was building forward and down through the ages; he saw who he was and where he was going.

He loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus next to James and John. He has talking to his disciples and he told them what was coming. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him." – John 11:11-14.

Jesus had deliberately waited until Lazarus had died before he went to Bethany. Mary was hurt and disappointed, and remained in the house grieving and sulking when he came. She flopped her test. Martha learned while she was on the fly, always working; she rushed to meet him on the road. She said, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." – John 11:21-22.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" – John 11:25-26. Faithful Martha answered, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." – John 11:27. Martha had applied what Jesus taught, and used it.

You must build your faith in quality and in quantity. Sitting at the feet of the one you love, gazing with adoring eyes, listening is not enough. Mary came to him, weeping and accusing him, saying, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." All her friends were weeping with her, but Jesus "groaned in the spirit, and was troubled." None of them believed. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept."

Have you poured your love on another, then, when you needed their aid, they still lacked faith enough? We have all had a loved one fail us as Mary failed Jesus. He had poured so much on her – he wept in compassion, in anguish, in joy of the glory of the gift he had for them, the gift of life. His heart was overwhelming him as he said, "I am the resurrection and the life." To stand hard and stiff and say, "This is principle," is not enough. Tears must accompany joy and ecstasy.

"Jesus said, Take ye away the stone." – John 11:39. Before resurrection, you must roll away the rock of your stone age ignorance and darkness, where comparison enters to cause misunderstanding. The angel rolled away the stone after Jesus' Resurrection. A mystical phoenix, which recognizes only eternal life, resides inside everyone.

Then Jesus commanded, in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" Lazarus had not gone far because Jesus had held him in arms of love. Love words create a vacuum and protective wall around the "sleeping" soul. A loud voice or a voice of complete love of God can call them forth. They come if the voice of love and compassion ignites a "green light."

Jesus had spoken a prayer that evoked life on the wave of joy. He prayed aloud because all those listening needed to know what he was doing. "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." – John 11:42. Then Jesus commanded them to "Loose him, and let him go."

Miracles are of the soul. Instantaneous miracles arrive when you are up high in consciousness. If you have a miracle, "Loose it and let it go." All opinions and prejudices must go."Father, I know you hear me. This is the high time, now." You think of the future and what must happen, but, you do not talk about your miracle. Let it build future miracles.

A legend says that the devil called his highest councilors together, saying, "I want you to advise me where to hide man's soul, where he will never find it again." They pondered and recommended hiding it in the deeps of the sea. "No," said the devil. "Man will build undersea ships and find it.

Then they recommended hiding man's soul in the depths of the earth. The devil refused, saying, "Man will dig deep in his greed, and find it." Finally, the devil decided to hide man's soul within man himself. Yet man's soul can never be hidden so far within or behind that he cannot find it.

Every prayer prefaced with "Let" uncovers your soul. Say, "Lazarus, come forth" to the past to bring all remaining good together to lift. You must be "loosed" in soul to lift wherever your feet have trod, to give this gift of enough life to all and to resurrect the dead as you go.

You: The Miracle

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated December 2, 1956. Scribe: Ruth Johnson. Scripture: John 11:20-46.

The episode of raising Lazarus from the dead, which was well along in Jesus' ministry, was unlike anything he had done before. When you live together as Jesus and his followers did, the constant action is so magnificent that you often may not understand what has happened until well after the event.

Jesus had told them how they would crucify him, but his disciples were used to him escaping danger. He used Lazarus' illness to prepare them for his own Crucifixion and death. He had healed others, but raising Lazarus from the dead was how he built the foundation for his own Resurrection and Ascension.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary were among Jesus' most beloved friends. You do not deliberately hurt those you love, yet Jesus intentionally delayed going to Lazarus, who was so ill. Two days of delay signify the time you must remain quiet when loved ones want you to do something you know you should not do. In two days' time they will forget what they wanted.

Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God." Live by the law of love to glorify God. They could not understand why Jesus waited, but two thousand years ago, he showed us that we must wait under law when it means freedom for everyone in the end. They did not understand when he said, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe." He meant to build their firm foundation in faith as part of his long-range plan of sacrifice to bring God's ascension glory to fruition.

Mary was like a loving child, but Martha was the woman of the house. Martha had listened, and put Jesus' every word into action. Mary adored Jesus without really hearing him. Not having listened, she berated and blamed him for not coming sooner. Martha recognized his Power and accepted his rebuke for being a self-righteous martyr, and he rewarded her, telling her he was the resurrection and the life. Mary loved self more than she loved Jesus. Martha did not blame, but Mary did.

Then Jesus wept. It does not say why he wept. It could have been in compassion for the mourners' lack of understanding. He could have wept about Mary. He may have wept in exultation and the joy of soul knowing that he would raise Lazarus, and his heart burst with the joy of it. Lazarus was four days in the tomb, the number representing service, illumination, death and resurrection. Jesus wanted them to understand that the soul does not die when you go from earth to heaven at transition. You die every day that you live by self, which is crucifixion of the soul.

When Jesus went to that tomb, he created a vivid memory for everyone to recall when he was gone. He said, "Take away the stone." You may have a stone of doubt, fear, willfulness, rebellion or self-pity in your heart that you must roll away before you can resurrect self into soul. Soul cannot rule when self drags it to the cellar of rebellion.

"Ye are gods," so be creators. Act like creators, and make life an adventure instead of a deadly bore. This is the miracle of life from the inside out, the resurrection of self added to the soul qualities. Exalt the self into holding, move it up where it will do you the most good. Truth is not something you try to obtain, but what you accept and become. "Take away the stone" means to remove the blocks in your imagination. Resurrection lifts your self-created blocks.

Jesus prayed aloud so they would know how he did it. He was always "prayed up" and ready. He took no credit but gave all the credit to God, the Power that does all the work. "He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth!" It takes a loud, high love-filled tone to change a low earth vibration. Jesus said, "Loose him and let him go." Loose your loved ones from the faults you find in them. See them perfect on a cloud before God, knowing the inner man is perfect. Perfection finally surfaces to become "flesh and blood" when you coax it.

Substance has the power to become, so free all your miracles. Never put yourself in bondage, even to a miracle. Live each day as if you expect a miracle. You are your own miracle. Your Power tools are imagination, thinking and desires, and your precision instruments are intuition and illumination. Imagine God's glory pouring through you, and make it bold enough to pay dividends. Declare, "I am a miracle!" Roll away the stony mental block of self.

A Miracle of Increase (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for April 27, 1958. Scriptures: Mark 6:31-44, John 6:5-14.

[Jesus] "said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men." – Mark 6:31-44.

"After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." – John 6:1-14.

These stories describe the miracle of expansion through increase. It is an outstanding lesson in the perfect use of what you presently have, yet it outshines almost every experience you can have. You can gain a more comprehensive view of each phase of this miracle if you compare the Mark's version with John's. First, Mark says they had arrived by boat, obviously along a shoreline.

Many people were coming and going, and no one had time to rest or eat. So Jesus told them to come apart to a deserted place, by boat. Then John says he went up on a mountain, so it must have been a rugged coastline, a high hill near the shore. According to Mark, the huge crowd had arrived before Jesus and his disciples. They must have watched the direction they were headed, and guessed their destination. They went by land, spreading the word along the way.

"Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." – Mark 6:34. He was not "in" another place, as in the sense of being in a building. He came out of the golden silence, had compassion, and began to teach them.

He taught them two great truths: Heaven is a state of consciousness and a place, where he said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Also, he taught that God is both principle and personality, and the many ways in which we must take care of life's every department. For example, you "render unto Caesar" in earthly commerce. You "Look up and be saved" in your mental life, and do not worry about tomorrow at the emotional-psychological level. Jesus had fed their souls by teaching them.

Everyone was tired and hungry. Mark says the disciples wanted him to send the crowd away, but Jesus said, "You feed them." Two hundred pennies must have been the size of their purse. John says that Jesus asked Philip, "Where shall we buy bread?" Jesus knew but wanted to make them "increase-conscious." Philip knew that they did not have enough money for bread if everyone were to eat. Andrew, who represents strength, knew that one boy had five loaves and two small fish. Five loaves represent freedom, and two fish represent agreeing and adjusting. The loaves were symbols of increase, and the fish of abundance.

Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." He knew they were weary, and would forget everything he had taught them unless they relaxed. He had them sit in groups of one hundred, the number representing a spiritualized individuality, and by fifties, the number symbolic of spiritual freedom. In this case, it also represents assimilation. As they ate, they also assimilated the spiritual food he had fed them. While standing, the individual looks down, but while sitting, he looks up. This was a perfect approach, psychologically.

The Master held the bread, and visualized what he held as a "seed." He comprehended the great law of increase, to bless and to praise the seed, no matter how small. For example, California's giant redwood trees, which grow more than three hundred feet tall and live for 3,000 years, throw tiny winged seeds. An oak tree lives 200 to 300 years, producing thousands of acorns annually, feeding many forest creatures.

You can have no miracle without a vision of what your seed can grow. Vision is seeing the results of increase and expansion while still holding the seed in your hands mentally and blessing it. If your miracles are partial or delayed, something is clogging your channels of increase and expansion. You must release some opinion or prejudice. You need a spiritual Roto-Rooter to cut through the blockage.

People are afraid to let go of the old, for they fear giving away something they might need later. Yet you must give to start increase and expansion flowing. Use the new seed. Bless it, praise it and put it on a cloud of Light to grow, never forgetting to sustain and nourish it. Then go about your business. Jesus never taught us to sit and concentrate to produce something from nothing, out of thin air.

What did Jesus see? Not just five loaves and two fishes. Wheat fields produce millions of loaves of bread. Oceans produce billions of fish. Five thousand needed to eat of the loaves and fish. The Master did not have several jobs to do, just one. The hungry 5,000 were waiting expectantly on the outer. Their need became a payable on demand draft on Power, which Jesus added to his soul vision. He drew Power into visibility as substance.

Never ask for self, or say "my" or "mine" to draw on Power. You need a payable on demand draft to draw it through you. Seek a need in another, and use it to envision enough for everyone and to spare. When you think you are giving too much, you stop giving, cut off the Power moving through, and sag at the seams. Your vision must be great to start the flow of increase. No vision on earth today is great enough, none. No one has ever touched the fringes of what "might be."

"Ye are gods," and "It does not yet appear what you shall be." God's vision encompasses universes. He is all you see, all you shall see, all you shall use. The Power of increase is limited only by you. Picture only the results of your vision, not the need.

Miracles never end. They gathered up twelve baskets after they had fed the crowd. It went right on increasing until he put the fragments into the baskets. Do not be foolish about this. Jesus never said you needed to feed 5,000, yet if the need arises, step up to the task. Let your vision be great enough, and never stop nourishing that vision.

A Miracle of Increase (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated April 27, 1958. Scribe: Virginia Whitehead. Scriptures: Mark 6:31-44, John 6:1-14.

The story of the loaves and fishes describes the miracle of increase, and is loaded with action, for it illustrates bringing the invisible into visibility. Mark and John recorded the miracle under the same chapter number, six, which represents the double trinity of increase.

Mark says Jesus went to a deserted place, which describes a perfectly serene and uncluttered consciousness. John says Jesus went up on a mountain, a high place in consciousness, and when he "came out," he emerged from the golden silence. The crowds who followed Jesus always respected his retreat into the silence. Jesus had communed with God, was inspired, and the poor people moved him to compassion because they were leaderless, like sheep without a shepherd.

He began to build the crowd's vibration to a higher rate. He taught them that heaven is a state of consciousness and a place. By speaking of the Father, he taught that God is personality and principle. Most religious creeds go just so far in one direction or the other, but we worship God as both.

Jesus unfolded the mysteries in the Sermon on the Mount, and opened Wisdom's Gates to his disciples. That sermon lifted their consciousness so high that they could increase from exerting their self-will to precipitating substance into visible manifestation. He never taught people to sit and concentrate, but that you must enliven the seed in your hand to increase it.

Heaven is a place and a state of consciousness right here, right now. You have seven bodies that occupy seven different rates of vibration. For instance, you continue in a body of atomic substance when you leave the physical body during sleep or at transition. You are aware of heaven when you raise your rate of vibration by ascending to higher consciousness. As you enter heaven, you occupy a place and a state of consciousness. Thus, you may breathe Power to inflate the atomic body and higher vehicles for healing, which is a complete, pure vibration.

The versions in John and Mark are a little different. Mark reports that the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away. They understood the crowd's hunger, but did not consider supplying the demand. John states that Jesus asked Philip what they should do, but Philip could see only the insufficiency of supply. Jesus saw the people's need, the miracle-seed in his hand, and knew how to make the seed increase to supply the demand.

This episode teaches us to agree with God that this is good, and adjust to others' needs. Seeing, then agreeing and adjusting is one of life's big problems since no two people view life the same way. You become nonresistant when you ascend in consciousness. Enemies expect opposition, so you confuse and bewilder them when you agree until you have no enemies.

Jesus had the people sit in both versions. They were hungry, tired of standing. So, he had them relax to better integrate his words, or they would have forgotten what he taught. In Mark, Jesus told the disciples to have them sit in perfectly numbered groups, in ranks of hundreds and fifties. Thus, they sat in a heavenly arrangement and were open to assimilation. Five loaves represent a physical increase, as bread increases when yeast causes it to rise. Two fish represent spiritual abundance.

In John, the Master broke the bread, blessed it and prayed before they ate. The people needed a common denominator of faith and joy to produce the miracle. You, too, must sit in a heavenly state of consciousness you create. Jesus held the miracle-seed of increase when he took the bread and fish. A miracle's success depends on whether you are concerned with your seed, and the work you must do. Bless the seed and use imagination to envision the size of the miracle you want. You delay the miracle unless you see the need only to surrender to it fully.

You need a spiritual drain cleaner to remove your fears and open your channels of thinking and imagination. Simply surrender to God and give up negativity to unclog your channels. If you cannot conceive the need, or the work you must do, you lack vision. Without vision, you can have no miracles. Each is free to increase his effort and double his output. Jesus went directly to the Source of Power and increased the supply so 5,000 ate of just five loaves and two fish.

The group was fervently expectant, and absolutely believed that the Master could do anything. Their fervent belief drafted God's Power and lowered the vibration of invisible substance to solid form. Never treat just for yourself, but others' problems too. Spiritual vision precipitates Power from the invisible to the visible world. You must have a need and a fervent desire to help. What you release in prayer fulfills others' prayers, the Father then doubles that and fills your need. Twelve baskets left over represent the manifestation of the increase. The Power released was so great that if Jesus had not ordered the baskets gathered afterward, that Power would have continued to flow and the increase would have become waste.

You cannot have miracles without envisioning them to increase the Power. When you do, the result is miraculous. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth 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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." – John 14:12.

Your vision has grown to be so great that it pulls you through difficult times, but is puny compared with what you will be able to do. Your vision for the world must be greater. We are the New Jerusalem, and our government needs Christed men and women in office. See those who hold government office as ascending creator gods. Declare them good.

Today, our vision releases only a dribble of Power, and the greatest miracle has not yet come to earth. Power works perfectly when your vision is great enough. You may not act smugly or talk about your vision. Work in silence, without self. Nurture your vision and increase your expression of faith, love and joy.

The need is the seed. Take it in your hand, and bless it. Fill your aura with Light, then go about your business. Surrender to Power and let only soul radiance shine from your eyes. Every effort you make is a vibration that accumulates after its degree and kind and returns as goals fulfilled, new security, new increases, new friends, new illumination, new beauty in your life.

"The Almighty will be thy treasure and precious silver unto thee." – Job 22:25.

Realization (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 3, 1959. Scripture: John 21:1-14.

"After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead." – John 21:1-14.

One writer called winter the "time of buried treasure." The sap falls back to the roots during autumn, sleeps through winter, gathering strength from earth's magnetic currents, making ready for its next expression. Come spring, life is ready to push forth again, to burgeon into beauty. A gardener digs, plants new seeds, destroys weeds and the destructive insects feeding on the life-giving sap.

Everyone on earth has experienced falling back into the darkness of a subconscious winter at least once. Emotions become frozen in rebellion and resentment drags consciousness down until you bury your life-treasures of joy and love. Every soul experiences this seasonal change. Some meet their winter in summer, others in winter, but you can run into a low spot in consciousness anytime.

Finally, through a process of awareness, inspiration and realization, you begin to loosen the soil around the buried roots and bulbs of self, allowing life to seep in as Light from above. One day, you find you have finally dug up the tough weeds of self. Lo, your lesson-experiences have become treasured possessions.

All the way up the scale of evolution, you find the same thing. From the winter of the creature, who has only the instinctive intelligence of so-called human nature, soul emerges in the son of man stage, the intellectual intelligence of the first self-consciousness, the coldly calculating spring. Later, soul enters the warmth of the full spiritual intelligence of the creator's life, the summer flowering of expression. You can achieve this ascension heat only by constantly digging at the roots of subconscious self.

The hardest is the first step up from the creature consciousness of appetitive soul. The son of man clings to self, offering excuses, such as, "It's only natural. It's just human nature." The instinctive intelligence in raw uncontrolled "human nature" is just one short step, one incarnation from the creature. He declares, "I can't help it. I'm just a product of my environment."

Intellectual intelligence is a controlled, calculated expression, good at taking risks and running hazards. Many are joyous sinners, who say, "If I've sinned, if I'm wrong, I'll pay." To realize the nature of God's Intelligence, which rules the universes, requires growth and greater development of soul. You must expand upward in consciousness as you grow outward in physical expression. To illustrate this premise, Jesus appeared to his disciples eleven times after the Resurrection. His goal was to give them a necessary comprehension of divine Intelligence above all lesser forms of imagination, knowledge, thinking and wisdom.

Realization is balance. Ascension is perfect balance of the self, soul and Oversoul. Both forms of soul growth are expressions of ascension.

The disciples fished all night on the wrong side of the boat and caught nothing. Many sides may be wrong, for only one side is right, which is God's side, or up in consciousness. The wrong side of the boat is the self-side, of course. Self thinks, "My way is best. My way is the only right way." In any group, each member's self is usually going in a different direction. "My way" can mean possession of things ("This is mine"), or control of people ("Do it my way"). You can easily become a slave to what you have depended on in the past, and tied yourself to in the present.

Working all night with no results is like a sleepless night spent digging in the subconscious for your buried treasures of darkness. Yet with every hour spent digging, you uncover and tear out weeds, loosen the roots of self, and prepare your treasures for lifting. Jesus never said, "Lift the net, and I will fill it from above," but told them to let it down on the right side, the faith side of divine Intelligence. The net brings all the old submerged ideas to Light to become your treasures of life.

The right side is the same for all Christed ones. To hoist the old makes room to receive the Power and Substance to move through and become new ideas and material forms. Once you lift the self's subconscious mind to become one with the rational soul's conscious mind, you cannot leave it alone for a moment. If you allow it to get by with a single thought of darkness, you let "human nature" take charge. Conscious mind must always be aware of what the subconscious is doing. Since you are on earth, you must deal with the taints that earth living smears on soul.

The embodied rational soul must have constant contact with Oversoul above, symbolized in the Christ-consciousness "on the shore." Rational soul must rule its own house. Only then will the realization of divine Intelligence, ruling overall, forever fill your awareness and inspiration.

John knew that it was Jesus on the shore. Peter, who knew also, dared not ask, but dashed to him. Jesus announced himself by a miracle of fire, fish and bread. He called fire from heaven, materialized fish, to show that abundance is Spirit, and bread, as a symbol of inspiration. He fed them. The 153 great fish total nine (9), the number of universal abundance ready to flow from above. Realization opens the subconscious treasure house, and causes conscious mind to stop, look and listen.

It is time you moved up from manipulating the lesser stepped-down Power that must conform to you. Ascend to that place where Power moves through you as an extension cord to the Source. A pianist, for instance, must practice for years before he plays his first perfect concert. You may not waste time, but only yourself. Time is.

Unearth your outer lessons and experiences. You must always maintain your contact with the kingdom of abundance, the Christ consciousness on the beach above, spread with fire, fish and bread for spiritual food. Always be aware that you are a creator, inspired to do all the greater works, realizing your identity with God, who is your Source. It is time to walk earth as a creator, calling forth new wealth, ideas, glories and youth.

Realization (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 3, 1959. Scribes: Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scripture: John 21:1-14.

All nature obeys the laws of expansion and contraction. In fall, the sap descends from the tree's branches to the darkness at it roots, instinctively obeying the laws of nature regarding its particular degree of life. In winter, the tree's life lies sleeping while it gathers to itself the magnetic currents of earth, the strength you see portrayed in the buds, leaves and blossoms of spring. Here and there a tree dies, escaping life, which is not beyond an unconscious or instinctive consciousness.

Every person on earth follows the seasons. Spring opens a time of expression and great expansion. Homeowners are busy digging weeds, planting, pruning and preparing for growth. The sap of your consciousness ascends during the weeks of ascension, from Easter to Ascension Day. Each has an unconscious, instinctive phase of mind that responds to the seasons. You dictate your own temporary season – spring, summer, fall or winter – when you ascend and descend the pole in consciousness.

During your fall and winter seasons, your desire, vitality and consciousness recede to subterranean depths. You bury yourself and may have a grand time wallowing in the trough of self-pity. Some people live through four seasons a day.

The Eternal created you, and your every life spark is divine. You are responsible for your physical body and must gather and take every life spark with you when you go home. Fortunately, the time comes when you realize that continuing as you were pays no dividend. Right there, you start the process of real ascension. Under some inspiration, you eventually begin to search for buried treasures of darkness to ascend. You dig around your subconscious roots, as in a garden. Planting new seeds of consciousness, you begin to try not to take offense. By digging and pruning, you lift self into the Light to live where it belongs.

Self is your seat of subconscious premonitions and protective warnings. A premonition means that it is time to get busy and pray. Maintain a sphere of Light around yourself to dissolve dark clouds. You may think this wasted effort, but it is all part of being a good caretaker in your garden of soul.

From instinctive creature consciousness, you ascend to intellectual intelligence and to the divine intelligence of Christed consciousness. Ascension involves awareness, realization and inspiration. Realization chooses to be possessed by divine intelligence. All powers of the universe stand ready to back you in ascension.

Instinctive intelligence is fine in the creature but pays you no dividend. The first step to intellectual intelligence is the hardest. Falling back is the greatest obstacle to overcome. Many people offer alibis, such as, "It's just human nature." They give their subconscious mind power of attorney, declaring to the world that they prefer to let animal-like creature consciousness run their life.

Under intellectual intelligence, you begin to calculate the end of your effort, to recognize where your efforts will lead. Still, instinctive mind blunders when self is involved. As a rational soul, you ascend in consciousness to lift the subconscious, conscious and super-conscious phases of mind into divine intelligence. Subconscious mind is a treasure house of darkness collected over centuries of living. Resolutely, you leave behind your worn-out past.

No matter how often you dig in your subconscious garden, you find weeds to pull. This is good. You can change weeds of hatred, coldness, rebellion, selfishness, jealousy, self-pity and resentment into beautiful flowers of tenderness and love. Your only possible emancipation from slavery to self is to balance self, soul and Oversoul. Demanding that yours is the only "right way" puts others in bondage. If you persist, eventually you find yourself in bondage to learn this lesson.

Instinctive intelligence likes to possess things or people until you are in bondage to them, slaves to family and loved ones. You must dig out the weeds to learn why you are enslaved. Keep digging for the gifts of self the Father desires you to give Him. Emancipation comes only when you know what you think you have learned. As you lift subconscious darkness, the appetitive soul rebuilds your body according to a divine new pattern.

Be a faithful excavator of hidden self. Remove the darkness and make room for the Power of the living God to enter. Every effort you make is like a vibration on one keynote that accumulates after its degree and kind. It returns to you as goals fulfilled, new security, new increases, new friends, new illumination, new beauty in your life.

"After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing." – John 21:1-3.

When Jesus joined the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee), it was the third of eleven times he appeared to strengthen them following the Crucifixion. Otherwise, he would not have left his disciples on a high point of spiritual consciousness, and the world might never have known of him.

Thomas saw Jesus' wounds and it lifted his doubt about the Resurrection. The Master wiped away Peter's guilt complex for denying him when he asked him, "Do you love me?" Three times he gave Peter the chance to avow his love and pay his debts of denial.

Jesus' third appearance was the finale, a final polishing for his closest disciples: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, the sons of Zebedee and two others not identified. They caught nothing, though they had fished all night.

"But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." – John 21:4-6.

Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side to find food. Each is satisfied to fish on what he thinks is the right side of the boat. The way you see a thing is your opinion of the right way to do it. Many intellectuals toss off statements such as, "Jesus was a good man but not divine." This horizontal view is not ascension, just so many nets cast that only confusion results, not good fishing.

You can attend any church, use any ritual and receive some inspiration. You may fish many ways, but only one is the right way. Fish on the right side, the up side in consciousness to augment the atomic power coming with Power from above. All valid mystery schools teach the same truth in different terms: All Power comes from above, not from within.

As you cast your net up, your spiritual head centers open and in rush the etheric currents of Light. Magnetic currents rise through your feet, the creative fire rises up the spine, and Light floods every cell. To balance the Power of inspiration, hold your hands above your solar plexus and lungs, at least level with your ears.

Jesus showed the disciples that life continues after death of the body. Those who believed saw his precipitated body. He illustrated the continuity of life. The gods [Elohim] still walk in the Garden of Eden, though usually unseen. All the vastness of space with its innumerable galaxies is the Mind of God. How much of it can you grasp? How much can you visualize? When you think your mind is full, and close it to the vision of the Almighty, you become frozen.

Always water your garden of imagination with images of beauty. To declare that the love of God moves through as perfection is your ascension. Realization is the perfect balance of subconscious, conscious and super-conscious, of the appetitive soul, embodied rational soul and Oversoul. Ascension is perfect balance. The lessons you have learned are your treasures, your gifts to God. You lift all your treasures of darkness into Light as you learn all your lessons.

Ascension is the struggle is to balance body, mind and soul until they work together the right way. Jesus accomplished all this. He did not tell the disciples they were wrong; he knew they had been working, but ineffectively. He said, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." They cast their net, believing in the Word he spoke and were unable to draw out the multitude of fish. Their faith in the Power of his spoken Word brought the miracle. By your faith in the spoken Word, you will have a miracle.

"Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread." – John 21:7-9.

The text suggests that the disciples did not recognize Jesus on the beach. Only John, "that disciple whom Jesus loved," knew it was the Master and said, "It is the Lord!" Peter impulsively swam to him. Jesus had prepared a fire on the beach and was cooking fish and bread. No one has ever yet told us what Jesus said to them there. Someday, perhaps, the answer will come.

The Dead Sea Scrolls prove that many of the same principles Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount had been taught thousands of years ago. Some scholars have suppressed or concealed texts from the masses because they were afraid that people would lose their faith in religion.

"Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead." – John 21:10-14.

The disciples caught one hundred fifty-three different kinds of fish in their net. This totals nine, the number symbolizing the universal intelligence of God. The symbol of no fish on the wrong side of the boat illustrates the subconscious and how you must fish up your treasures of self. Let no day pass without lifting and redeeming self. You cannot really waste time; time is. When you let time slip by unused, you waste yourself.

Seers and healers have often invoked heavenly fire on altars to cleanse and purify their offerings. Jesus called on the same creative fire, on the beach. The fish symbolizes the Holy Ghost and Pisces, the abundance supplied by the Almighty. Bread symbolizes the substance of Virgo, representing the inspiration of the Almighty. What wonderful lessons of wisdom and truth Jesus must have taught them that day on the beach, because they were fully open to all the Power. Unless you are fully open, God must dilute the Power that uses you, for pure, undiluted Power would harm your body.

The same Power that blasted the barren fig tree also heals. God can release only as much Power through you as your squinched-up consciousness and body can take. Finally you realize that you have played and dawdled, creating a wrinkled, aging body, and you repent. As you ascend, Power can permeate you to heal in all ways. When you speak the Word for healing, you become an open instrument to be used by all Power. God's Power is greater than atomic energy. Your body becomes an extension of the Source Power that heals. You can recreate any miscreation in the image and likeness of God, which is deathless, ageless and abiding.

Light is there, waiting, yours to contact, so go right to the Source and surrender to it. Do not release just a dribble, sit on the sidelines or lie down for a nap. Go out and do. When full realization comes, you cannot rest until you accomplish. Divine inspiration expands you upward in ascension and outward in compassion. The symbolic fire, fish and bread will appear. God will fill your net of expectations in reward for your surrender to be used by Power.

Manifestation (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 24, 1959. Scripture: John 2:1-11.

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." – John 2:1-11.

The first two chapters of the Gospel of John give an account of Jesus' first "manifestation" of his scepter of Power. The Priests and Levites from Jerusalem had asked John who he was, the Messiah or a Prophet. John's answer was marvelous: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord'." The next day was the first day of Jesus' ministry, which opened in a three-day period. First John baptized him, and the Spirit descended on him, never to depart. Indeed, God added more Spirit every day through Jesus' ministry.

On the second day, the day after his baptism, Jesus called and collected his disciples. On the third day of his ministry, he made his first challenge to darkness, when he said to Nathanael, "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these." – John 1:50. That afternoon he attended the wedding at Cana, and met his own challenge. It is so interesting. Jesus was reluctant to step onto the path that led to Calvary.

His mother presented the challenge when she told him the wedding party had no wine. He answered, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." Love, the Mother, always challenges you to make good your word, to prove yourself. Love instructs the servants, the subconscious, to stand by for orders from Oversoul I AM consciousness.

Self says, "I'll try," since it's reluctant to speak the Word, fearing failure. It looks into the past with longing, and waits awhile. Watching, clutching at the dead or dying past, makes today an invalid. "I'll try" cannot act, but immobilizes the now. Like the timid little boy who said, "I want to be a hideaway scarecrow," self is stuffed with straw fortitude, and does nothing.

Jesus met his own challenge so easily, so simply. He issued three orders that contain so much of the mystical element in this miracle. The six waterpots each contained two or three firkins apiece. Six is the number of the creative Father-Mother Trinity, indicating your creative capacity. The two-firkin pots hold your measure of agreeing with God and adjusting to man. The three-firkin pots measure the Holy Trinity of expression (Mind, Substance and Power) in your creations. The three symbolize how Mind uses the faculties, just as a technician operates a computer.

Mind touches the brain neurons to set them in action. Then you apply logic, reason, discrimination, discretion and discernment to get your answer. Students of the mysteries behind manifestation know that the number six (6) represents the Power to create miracles. Use the Sermon on the Mount as your guide to agree with God, and the Beatitudes to regulate how you adjust to your fellow man. Thus, you apply the two-firkin laws.

The first order, "Fill the waterpots," causes faith to pour forth to fill the mold for a miracle. The second order, "Draw out now," prepares for a miracle. The third order, "Take it to the Master," says to walk softly, speak gently and carry yourself as if you held a chalice of love. How do you apply this to yourself metaphysically? "Fill me" causes you to step out in faith fearlessly, opens the windows of heaven and releases the substance waiting for you to use in your creations.

As the heat of the first warming rays of sunlight reach a seed or bulb, they arouse an unconscious faith that sends roots seeking life. The first idea you draw from the concepts in the universal Mind reaches down and touches your faculty of conscious faith to release the substance waiting.

You "draw out" by praising, as Paul and Silas did when they prayed, praised and sang to God while in prison. Praise lifts the dark clouds. Without praise, the heavy clouds of doubt and negativity drag you down in consciousness. You either give up, sink into rest and quit, or give up the doubts in surrender to be the servant of all Power, and go up in ascension of consciousness.

You "bear unto" the master of the feast through joy and a singing heart that calls your own home to you. "Bear" whatever comes, lifting it to the Ruler of the Universe. God does not take a poll to discover opinions about your virtues. God has named you. Why, when you do your best, do you accept the false names little people call you? Declare, "I have my own name and it is Good." God named you "I AM Good" in the beginning. The "master of the feast" explained how hosts usually served the good wine first and inferior vintage later. Yet at this wedding the best wine was served last.

Thus, Jesus manifested his glory. He showed himself plainly, clearly, and obviously. Everyone could see what he had done. Your manifestation shall be glorious also. You shall empty yourself, so faith can fill you. "Draw out" your soul radiance through praise, and "bear unto" high thrones through joy. As you transform the weak water of self into the wine of Spirit, you shall manifest the glory now.

Manifestation (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 24, 1959. Scribes: Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scripture: John 2:1-11.

The first chapter of John is the basis of law. Everything unfolds to you when you stand on law, your foundation. Like fiery coals, high ideals will burn away opinions and prejudices in your heart, or you will descend to a cooler degree. How can anyone read just the surface meaning of Bible stories without searching for the deeper layers of truth? My amazement at the hidden mysteries grows with each reading. You must study and open new brain cells to comprehension and unveil the mysteries.

John 1 contains the first principles of creation and the history of John the Baptist. John 1 also holds the key vibration of John 2, which is true of many chapters. A chapter's key is often found in the atmosphere created in the preceding chapter, which prepares you for penetrating the veil of the mysteries. Pharisees, priests and Levites had come from Jerusalem to ask John if he were the Messiah. He told them he was not, but that the Messiah was among them. John baptized Jesus that day, though he did not publicly recognize him until the dove of the Spirit descended. The dove symbolized the Oversoul substance continually added to Jesus until he finished his mission. Then, his Oversoul departed while he was on the cross.

The next day, John publicly proclaimed him the Lamb of God, the Messiah, and described how he had recognized Jesus. This was the first day of Jesus' earth ministry, the day after his baptism. On the second day after Jesus' baptism, John again proclaimed Jesus the Son of God, which was the third public annunciation of Jesus' identity before the world. Jesus began to gather his disciples when he found Philip and said, "Follow me." This was also his first great challenge to evil, because he spoke the Word to claim Philip from the world's darkness.

Philip then brought Nathanael, who had said, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Jesus astonished Nathanael by reading his thoughts and saying, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." – John 1:47-51. You must prove every declaration you make about yourself. Further, you must also pay the debt your challenge creates when you denounce darkness.

Jesus, his mother and disciples were invited to a wedding at Cana in Galilee on the third day. Mary told Jesus there was no wine, but he said, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His words have universal meaning. The "woman" here represents Love, the Oversoul saying that your time has come to ascend. Self is replying, "How does your concern relate to me? Go away." Jesus was not disrespectful, he merely had reluctant feet. With reluctant feet, you would like to return to the days when you knew nothing about law or Ascension. Jesus knew that once he stepped forth with his first miracle, he could not turn back or rest.

Self-confidence creates limitation, but soul confidence begets fortitude. You fail when you stop, or put off your responsibility for speaking the Word because "I'm not yet perfect." Mary paid no attention to his answer, but spoke the Word of Love and told the servants to be ready. Self might run away to escape responsibility, but when Love calls, you finally give in and ascend. Jesus gave three orders for the miracle: "Fill the waterpots. Draw out now," and "Take it to the master of the feast."

These verses unveil the mysteries. A firkin is a ten-gallon measure, and ten marks a completion that contains a beginning. Six symbolizes the double trinity of the Father of Wisdom and Mother of Love, which Jesus needed for this miracle. Faith filled the molds to overflowing when Jesus told the servants to fill the pots. Two is the number that represents agreeing and adjusting, and three symbolizes the highest trinity of Mind, Power and Substance expressing. Mind forms the mold, Substance fills it, and Power manifests the miracle. All these principles must work together for a miracle. They filled half the pots with two firkins, symbolizing agreeing and adjusting, and filled two with three firkins representing Mind, Substance and Power.

Study the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, which outline the principles of agreeing with God and adjusting to man. The same Power creates, whether you agree or disagree. You must fill your waterpot of soul with the River of Life as Mind, Power and Substance in action, before it can change into the wine of Spirit. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for," of every fulfilled desire, and it opens the windows of heaven. Universal Mind flows forth when the first mystical rays of the faith of God touch you. Faith carries the mysteries with it, ready to unfold. Soul grasps the concept and impresses it on the mental faculties of logic, reason, discernment, discrimination and discretion.

Many degrees of understanding lead to the full faith of God. You can have an idea that something may happen, you can think it will happen, you can believe it may come to pass, or you can know as God knows. The little self's unconscious creature instinct is the first step. Animals instinctively know the seasons will change. When you begin to believe in your immortality, divine qualities and attributes, you ascend from instinct to conscious belief in the possibility of miracles. God named you Good first, and He is not taking a poll about whether you need a new name. No one can change your God-given name, but you accept a cheap earthly name when another's curses hurt you.

Ascend from belief into conscious knowing. Say, "I am that good, I AM. I am that joy I AM. I am good and shall stand under the Light. I am obedient to all law I see, hear or know. I now comprehend." To say, "I am good" gradually opens the way for a new portion of your original Oversoul, to descend in Power, might and majesty. The pure faith of Oversoul I AM consciousness will possess you after you lift the subconscious mind, and mate selfish desires and will to illumination and intuition. Intuition and illumination form little "eyes of the Lord" for spiritual seeing, like wings of whirling white Light above your physical eyes.

I AM is the name God gave you to earn on earth, His gift for winning the long, tremendous struggle to lift and sacrifice self and live by soul. You either give up the ghost and sink, or ascend in surrender, to sacrifice the hurts of self. Surrender of self is most important, for your desire to surrender determines your ability to hold and stand fast. Your words are the fruit you bear, "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." – Matthew 12:37.

"Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it." – John 2:7-8. You prepare to see your miracle made manifest in the outer world by "drawing out now." Faith is like a Power switchboard, and your faculties are the switches. Your praise throws the main faith switch that activates the Power circuit. Praise God always that the substance of faith pours forth as great radiance from the Source, and bear it to the world. God cannot force you to do anything, for you must choose. Look at God when others upset you with criticism, and say, "I am Your good child, now. Good I am, and good I shall stand." Visualize what is coming as good. Show the world a shining face and manifest God's glory.

Jesus manifested faith by agreeing with God and adjusting to man. He manifested glory when they filled the waterpots to overflowing with the faith of God. You can use your God-given name of "I AM good" to "draw out" from this radiant glory, to bear every ideal into manifestation. This is the law: Manifestation is almighty glory shining as radiance of soul. Jesus had created a debt with his challenge to darkness when he spoke to Nathanael. He began his ministry with the miracle at Cana, the first proof of his Messiahship, which paid the debt and "manifested his glory."

The miracle wine did not turn red, but had the flavor of wine. Change your weak water into the wine of fortitude. Know that your name is Good, as Light transforms you into the image and likeness of God. Let the wine of Spirit bubble as your soul's enthusiasm.

Miracles Through Comprehension (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for July 10, 1960. Scriptures: James 1:17, James 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?" To conquer doubt, 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 means to perceive. Also, apprehension means fears, worries, suspicions and anxiety. Sometimes you are up and sometimes you are 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 upward 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.

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 the 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!"

"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.

Miracles Through Comprehension (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated July 10, 1960. Scribes: Ruth Johnson and Virginia Whitehead. Scriptures: James 1:17, James 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. 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, but if your scales tip, you'd 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 God's ideas in 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. First, lay your doubt-gift on the altar and go pay your debts.

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." 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. 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, "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.

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 from the first, yet was limited by 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 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, but 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 doubt, to be suspicious" or "to perceive," and Paul went up and down the pole on it. You may not demand or challenge the law on this. Fearful apprehension results in a rainfall 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 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's 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 statements you have: "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 your 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 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. It is impossible to set His promises aside, 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 Soul's Exaltation

Edna Lister created this speech outline for the Prayer Circle, Washington, D.C. November 13, 1961. Scriptures: Psalm 86:4 and John 12:32.

"Rejoice the soul of thy servant, for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." – Psalm 86:4.

"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." – John 12:32.

To be exalted is to be "lifted up." The Psalm says to lift up your soul in praise. You can experience no exaltation without aspiration. You must aspire toward something, for life is as dull as ditch water unless you have some goal.

From birth to transition, you constantly shift your center of attention. Wherever you center your attention, there you have miracles. You must choose whether you focus on Light or dark, up or down, self or soul. Your lifeline moves along your attention-line. When you pay attention to self, you notice aches, pains, lacks and needs. You have a miracle of needs. Your whole life flows into needs-molds, which are full of holes, such as self-pity, and so are always empty. You are using God's life, Mind, Substance and Power, but the soul substance leaks out.

When you pay attention to soul, the fullness of supply makes your molds self-sealing, and the substance does not leak. Soul-attention creates joy. Self-attention creates grimness in appearance, which finally creates a grim attitude. The "nobody loves me" look drives people away, including opportunities and money.

You need a high goal, a goal to reach up to that will stretch you. You must aspire toward a high goal. Through inspiration, you automatically move into prayer. Prayer comes in several kinds and degrees. "Duty prayer" gets up at 6:00 a.m. every day, because "I must have my time of silence." This attitude creates a "ceiling bumper," who gets no farther than the room. Joyous prayer always praises God. "I thank Thee, Father, for what I want. I know I have it. Let it be visible."

Prayer can be conscious or unconscious. Some have no trouble praying rejoicing prayers. Others would be tongue-tied if they were asked to pray. Some never pray, and thus never enjoy the silence. Yet every breath is a prayer. Unconsciously, some live this way, because they are joyous, vital with life, and have a good word for everyone they meet. These people pray with their whole soul.

At the crown of your head, you are always in contact with God. This is your prayer room. You must take three steps to enter this room and close the door on the world. First you must tune out all earth noises. Then, tune out all earth sound waves. Finally you must tune out all earth thought waves. This process is not mental concentration.

You came to earth equipped with a master switch that you can use to tune in on the high frequencies, deep in the golden silence. You use a lower instrument panel for low-level flights of imagination, and a high instrument panel for soul flights of pure joyous exaltation.

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." – Psalm 91:1-2. The golden silence is the "secret place of the Most High," the source of the soul's life. Do not clutter it with feeble words. Time fits itself into space here, and results in harmony. You will find all your missing parts in the silence. You have been running on half the parts you need, some you have thrown away, used up, some rusted out. Other parts are still in their original wrappings, untouched.

God is all potential Power, life attributes and qualities of Mind. When you use these, the result is Transfiguration and Ascension, the final steps in joyous exaltation of soul. You have moved up in consciousness. Center your attention on the Light, the Power, the universal substance of God. Right here you take stock. Are you clinging to anything of the past? Are you seeking more love or appreciation where someone has already given you your quota?

A higher moment of ecstasy, of glory is always possible. You must surrender the last tiny bit of self, as the Master did on the cross. Then you can say, "I commend my spirit to God's care." This includes your body, feelings, thinking and imagination. The Master commanded us, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." You can be. For this one moment, I am perfect because God's life is perfect when unobstructed by self. This is your Mount of Transfiguration and Ascension of the soul in its joyous exaltation.

Loyalty (a)

Edna Lister created this Palm Sunday sermon outline for April 15, 1962. Scripture: Matthew 21:1-22.

In the previous chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told his disciples many things on the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. He wished to remind them that he would fulfill prophecy. "Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." – Matthew 20:17-19. They did not understand him. He spoke of himself as the Son of man, because no person or power could or can condemn or crucify the Son of God part of him.

The mother of Zebedees' sons, James and John, asked that her sons be placed on the Master's left and right in the kingdom to come. He refused her, saying that only the Father can place a soul.

As he passed from Jericho, two blind men cried for mercy from him as the "son of David." He restored their sight, then told his disciples, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." – Matthew 20:26-28. When you follow the Master, you must be the willing servant of all.

"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." – Matthew 21:1-9.

Jesus knew that he had to leave a record of the prophecies he had fulfilled. Entering Jerusalem that day, he rode the colt of an ass, the humblest of animals. In doing so, he taught us how to accept praise with humbleness of heart.

Two events happened that day that are greatly misunderstood. With the crowd's joyous praise still ringing in his ears, he entered the Temple. He must have felt a special tenderness toward the people. He knew they would be puzzled and hurt when he was disgraced, and wanted to teach and comfort them while he could.

Then he came upon the money changers, many of whom were so obviously greedy. They lent money at high interest, and casually took the poor people's farms when they could not pay. They cheated by taking everything a man had in exchange for a tiny dove to sacrifice. He couldn't bear it. He drove them out, whipping them with his sash of cords. While he showed firmness, determination and desire to have the Temple remain undefiled, no anger is legal, righteous or otherwise. He cleansed the Temple for the day, and made it a "house of prayer" for all people. He healed people all day, while the children sang. That evening, Jesus went to Bethany, where he lodged with his good friend Lazarus. You can imagine his disciples and followers asking him about his anger in lashing the moneychangers and use of Power as force.

On the way into Jerusalem the following day, he blasted the barren fig tree. He was teaching them how Power can destroy as well as heal. The fig tree made a good example because it was barren and would not be missed. "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." – Matthew 21:21-22. When you "doubt not," you can do anything, solve any problem and cast any mountain into the sea of oblivion! Ask in prayer, believing to see, and "ye shall receive."

Believing is the keynote of loyalty, faithfulness to law, with no wavering, no doubt, no fear. Being faithful without a foundation of loyalty based on honor is impossible. When you honor God, your attitude toward Him is loyal and strong in its integrity. Any inability to reconcile your loyalties stems from the fact that you are only talking about reconciliation. Reconciling your loyalties is difficult unless you are first loyal to God. Jesus' loyalty to his Father was outstanding. When you are loyal to God, all else follows.

Always enfold the best of the old into new when you make a choice. Each new choice is like a little death because you are always giving up something old for the new thing you choose. Each new freedom you gain eventually becomes too tight a fit. Every vibration in life shrinks under grief, or disappointment. Then you must move on. To reconcile your desire and will, look up in consciousness until your desire becomes a flame. You cannot kill it, but let it burn up to God.

God is forever. Earth is still whirling along in its orbit. The sun is still shining. The stars and planets are still there. When you are loyal to God, as was our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God, you know His will for you is good. You are no longer happy in spite of, but happy because you love God. Loyal faith is bold and unconquerable. You are now joy invincible.

Loyalty (b)

This Edna Lister Palm Sunday sermon transcript is dated April 15, 1962. Scribes: Ruth Johnson, Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scripture: Matthew 21:1-22.

The story of Palm Sunday and Holy Week is never complete unless you have faithfully read about it in all four gospels. Matthew recorded one of the most significant speeches Jesus ever made to his disciples: "Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." – Matthew 20:17-19.

No matter how important this speech was for the disciples, it rolled off their shoulders. They never dreamed that he would not release himself if he were arrested. They would have, had they been in his place and known what he knew. He had walked among them and disappeared when the crowd would have stoned him. They must have watched Jesus walk away many times, so they never thought he would submit to death on the cross.

In Matthew 20, Jesus describes how he would die by crucifixion in Jerusalem. Jesus, the descended creator god, spoke, and described how his Son of Man portion was to be sacrificed. They thought he was speaking symbolically. They came to Jerusalem and he sent for the colt of a donkey. He must have previously told this man what he planned so this colt would be ready for his use. Jesus also ordered the room for the last supper to be prepared ahead of time.

You must bring an imaginative quality to bear when you read the Bible. The disciples had spent only three and a half years with Jesus, yet they spent the remainder of their lives spreading his teachings. What have you done with your truth in three years? How much do you absorb in three years?

Jesus healed and preached to the common people in the daytime, but stayed with the disciples and taught them the mysteries privately at night. These mysteries are in The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, the Apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls and possibly in other as yet undiscovered texts. Just reading and researching is boring, but it awakens brain cells. These texts are repetitive, yet here and there you find that Jesus taught truths that the later Christian church did not include in the New Testament. Jesus wanted to leave a record to prove that he had fulfilled the prophets' prophecies with his words and deeds.

"Then the multitudes who went before and who followed, cried out, saying, Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" – Matthew 21:9.

Jesus taught us how to receive praise in this one outstanding Palm Sunday act. If you repudiate praise, you disobey law. Even if it is rank flattery, or to get something from you, accept praise as though it were coming from God Himself. God turns it into good when you accept words of praise and term them good. He who praises must make it good at some future date. Do not relish flattery (heaven help those who believe all the compliments they receive), or deny the truth in the flattery. Of course, it may be a terrible exaggeration, but when you declare it good, the flatterer must make it good.

God wants all His sons and daughters healed. If you want someone healed, look him in the eye, accept that he is a son of God, and good according to his degree and kind. Ascend words of praise to the Most High, as you would incense, even those that taste like ashes, and declare, "Let his life sparks be cleansed and returned to him purified."

Jesus accepted the crowd's acclamation and praise as he rode the colt, knowing many of them would turn on him Friday, while rest would scatter, confused. He could have gone to the cross without his acclamation, but accepted it to show us how to accept praise in our turn. Accepting praise gracefully is the best form of good manners. Though this can be a test and an initiation, lift it to the altar and declare that it belongs to God.

Jesus drove the money changers from the temple in apparent anger, and those who thought him a saint could not understand. He went to the temple dedicated, ready to ascend, and found the money changers, squeezing coins from the poor. He saw them as desecration in God's house. The Power had never been stronger than that week, and he knew the temple must be pure enough to release that Power to open the Gates of Light at his Ascension. Yet their vibration prevented the needed Power from coming through as it should, nor could he heal or teach in that earthy vibration. Jesus loved God, showed bold determination, and paid no attention to what anyone would say.

After teaching in the temple all day, he went to Bethany, to lodge with his friend, Simon the leper. The disciples had fasted and were hungry, though Jesus, who could fast for forty days, was not. They credited him with withering the fig tree because he was fasting, and perhaps ill tempered after routing the money changers. They were hungry, but he wasn't. Jesus blasted the fig tree to impress them while they were hungry. He told them that if he had been angry, he could have killed the money changers because the Power was great enough to kill or to heal. This chapter is tremendous in nuance. He must have wrestled with them all night to put the point across, the danger of mixing anger with Power. He explained Power's dual creative and destructive nature, to bring it home to them that if you use killing words, you will kill.

Jesus' Holy Week message is outstanding, "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." – Matthew 21:21-22.

Loyalty to God is the second great attitude you must assume. You must be faithful to the great new idea, backed with loyalty to God. People face many mountains of problems in life, and fail because they try to move mountains without loyalty based on faithfulness. Honor, loyalty, integrity as one is the role God assigned to us on the stage of life. Honor, loyalty and integrity to God first, then to man.

When you reconcile yourself, God can open a new Garden of Eden for you. It may be difficult, but it is new. If you are faithfully bold in your statements of truth, and believe, you can move mountains. Those who pray do release Power for God to work things together for good. Stand and declare a situation or person good without wavering. All you can do is to stand in loyalty to statements made under honor, and God does the work. The prophets of old understood this principle. They often ended their declarations by saying, "It shall be so." Stand in loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ. Most people make statements in honor, then speak disloyally two hours later. Stand in honor and loyalty despite people who say it cannot be done.

Do not pray in spite of, but because God hears prayer. Love God enough to stand in honor, believing that He can bring prayer and statements to pass. Do not be disloyal to your own prayers. Can anything but good happen when Jesus is your high point, no matter how long it takes? To believe means to honor God. Love God enough and keep on declaring it in the name of Jesus the Christ, the only Begotten Son of God. To pray despite the world is not the right way, but like destroying the fig tree. This is Holy Week, testing your ability to accept. Accept with no weaknesses. Be courageous and strong. Stand. To believe is the unconquerable attitude of ascending creator gods.

If you speak in truth, then look back in doubt and fear, you are disloyal to God. Do not do right things "in spite of," but because they are right. God's Power can make anything right. You cannot be faithful to God when you are disloyal to the Master. Unless you can say, "This is good," and remain loyal to your word, you cut your own lines of Light. You have no belief without loyalty backing your honor and integrity. Honor, loyalty and integrity are the Begotten Son of God in action. If you stand, the Father justifies and glorifies Himself through you. Then you are invincible joy.

Identity: Your Hope of Glory (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for April 29, 1962. Scripture: John 21.

"After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, loves thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, loves thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, loves thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." – John 21.

The events of this chapter of the Gospel of John cover the three phases of all life, the physical-material, the mental-emotional, and the spiritual. The physical-material dimension of life is concerned with things and the body. Consciousness moves from nothing to abundance when you fish on the "right side of the boat."

John's whisper, "It is the Lord," and impulsive Peter, who immediately jumped into the water, illustrate the emotional-mental aspect of life. Yet they were afraid to say they knew him.

When Jesus wiped out Peter's three denials with his own three questions, he perfectly illustrated life's spiritual facet. Peter did not understand why Jesus was questioning him. Later, Peter stuck his nose in John's business and received another lesson. Then Jesus told them he would appear to John.

All Jesus' teachings deal with your relationships, your identity, first with your own soul, then with others and finally, with God. You must be related to something to identify with it.

All revelations deal with knowing, first the nature of God, second, the nature of man, and third, the nature of God's relationship to man. To arrive at the answers of any of these questions, you first must ask, What is God's nature? After centuries of observation and pondering, the religious have arrived at the answer, to love and to give. God sent His Son to show us the way to Him.

Man's nature is to desire, to accept, to learn and to receive. When you inquire into the nature of God's relationship to man, you find it exemplified in the first and only Begotten Son, Jesus. He said, "Our Father" to show us man's relationship to God. Through Jesus, you witness God's relationship to man in the words, "My Son."

God is always waiting for man to accept that life is a training school. To live now, to be well now, you must establish your Source through faith. The Word is your method of finding your Source. You know your Source in the revelation that the Word becomes flesh and "dwells among us." You establish your Source through faith, and prove it through practice.

"Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." – Malachi 3:10. The Lord calls on you to "Prove me now," not to disprove. You prove Him under faith when you go to Him, as He says, "Come and see."

Light is forever "becoming" all things. Some people grow weaker and weaker. Some grow older and older. Once upon a time, an alchemist discovered the secret to eternal youth after many long years of searching. A rich old man, who had heard of his discovery, came and offered him much money for a young body. The alchemist's secret was indeed able to change his tired old frame into a youth's body, and he paid gladly and left happily. He returned in a year, unhappy that his young body had grown old, while the old alchemist remained young. The alchemist's true secret was that he had established his identity with God and life, the other man with death.

The Word is your method: The only way of knowing who you are is to be born again. Then you bear witness to the truth by thanking God and praising Him for one small thing. Love enough. Stand solid, and firmly. Praise God for life itself. Praise Him for life.

Jesus said, "I am the Way." From earth eyes through the mind's eye, to the mystic eye of revelation, you learn your true identity. The glory of feeling immortal possesses you. Your praise is like using a pair of bellows to fan your faith into a flaming glory. Praise God until you feel like singing. A song of praise is a song of immortality.

A woman once heard of a teacher who sold the secret of eternal life youth and beauty. She paid $1,000.00 for it, with one stipulation: She must take a long sea voyage and open the envelope on board the ship. She took the voyage and when at sea, opened the envelope. In it was a note that read, "God IS LOVE." She was furious: God is love – indeed! The idea, God is love. She snorted, but kept saying it over and over in scorn, and in anger that she had been rooked.

She kept thinking about what she would do to that teacher when she returned. Out in the middle of ocean, she stood at the ship's rail, and said it aloud, "God is love." A blinding flash of Light and God's love flooded her. God is love! She cabled the man, thanking him.

Love is a way of life, a way of living. Love is a way of facing this hour, of meeting things, a way of Light, a way of holding your identity with your Source. Love opens your immortal vibration now. As a gunshot or shout can start an avalanche, so does a song of praise start an avalanche of good. Love is the only way you can hold your own identity.

A new Christed Order being born in the world. We are destined to follow the same ideals, to have the same goal of consciousness, to be malleable, flexible, nonresistant, yet to sway with the glory of God.

"I know who I AM. I follow my Lord. His Love way is my way. Light is the glory of God forever."

Identity: Your Hope of Glory (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated April 29, 1962. Scribes: Irene White and Virginia Whitehead. Scripture: John 21.

This chapter of John's Gospel is a complete version of the Master's teaching, touching lightly upon all areas. In it, he covers every outer relationship, mental, emotional, spiritual, the teaching of law, and the time coming after his Ascension.

This fishing episode describes a gathering of seven of the disciples after the Crucifixion. Peter led them to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They had fished all night with no luck. When morning came, they saw a man standing on the shore. He told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat, which is a great law.

Often you want things, but are on the wrong side of the boat to get them. You ask, but tear down your lines of responsibility and Light by asking why, which nullifies your request. The laws of ascension are exact and never permit you to ask why it isn't happening your way, the way you expected.

What your words declare returns to you under the law of action and reaction. "Cast the net on the right side" means the right side of thinking, the imagination and emotions together. This is one of the greatest of the laws.

After the Resurrection, when the disciples, who were of one mind, saw him on the beach, they all knew in their souls it was the Lord. At once they cast their nets on the right side of the boat as he advised.

Jesus had built a fire on the beach and had materialized bread and fish to feed them, to show them that they must take care of their physical body needs. Everything is more upsetting and irritating when you are hungry. Jesus, by taking care of their physical needs first, made sure they could listen.

When John whispered that it was Jesus, Peter swam to shore. Since he had denied Jesus three times, he regretted it and thought of it always. When he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had told Peter to stay away, but he had disobeyed and followed him. His disobedience, put him in a position to be questioned, which led to his three lies in denial.

This was the Lord's third appearance after the Resurrection. The 153 fish in the net represent the individual who is free to approach perfection. This adds to nine, the individual free to teach, the number symbolizing the brotherhood of man under God. When they finished eating, they all knew he was the Lord, but dared not say it. They were speechless, in awe.

When he had asked Peter three times if he loved him, it grieved Peter, but spiritual law applies here. The question, "Do you love me," set a vibration to wipe out Peter's three denials, and covered his transgressions.

John lingered, Peter looked behind and asked what John was going to do. Jesus then taught a great ascension law, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me." – John 21:22. Live your law, but do not just talk about it. Let your actions (doing) take care of what you are being. "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" – John 21:23.

Mary went with John to the Isle of Patmos, where the Revelation says that John was caught up in the Spirit. Yet, Mary was the mediator, who revealed the words to John, who wrote the Revelation. This is the background for knowing that you can "commune with the saints." Communion is a different grade of substance, and you use it every day of your life. You have the equipment to look through space and see your own home. This is imagination, the ability to look through the outer physical substance and see the third through the fifth grades of substance.

Jesus teaches about relationships. First, man's relationship to himself, second, man's relationship to his fellow man and understanding other people. The third phase is even more important, your relationship to God and God's to you.

All revelation is the unfolding of spiritual knowing. To know your identity, you must know the nature of God, the nature of man and your relationship to each other and to the Divine. God's nature is to love, give and create perfection. Man's nature is to desire, to accept and to receive. Your whole nature drives you in that direction.

Jesus revealed his relationship to God – "my Father." This is your relationship, too, so your relationship to God is as "my Son." How does knowing that help you? God's nature is to give all the time, and He is always waiting to give. Your nature is to seek and to receive.

You must get into action two ways. First, you must understand your Source. Then you must know your Source and the method of reaching it. Your source is "the Word." Faith is the only way to have identity with the Source. Geometry is faith, all science is faith. The Word that has become flesh is also faith. You are the sum total of your own identity, what you put your faith in and what you practice. You need the faith of God, not just faith in God. Then you must do something about it. You can fully hold consciousness of your identity to the Source when you practice this.

The two essential laws are to be reborn and to be a witness to this Rebirth. You must practice this rebirth in consciousness and witnessing of it in yourself and all others. Be a witness to this rebirth, and to the glory of God. Be happy, and lift any disappointment into the Light. When you grumble and complain, you are only witnessing your self. When you identify with God, you have something. The Source, and the method, praise, will enter the equation.

Grab one point of praise. Identify yourself with God every minute, then praise and praise and praise. See everything in your body as perfect, and your rate of vibration increases. Your vibration decreases if you only use worldly eyes. Move beyond the world's way of viewing life. Look through the mystical eye. When you put your faith in the Source, you will get somewhere.

God is love, the descent of Power, the descent of Light, rebirth, and illumination. These magical words take you to the Source. God is love. Love is the answer. God is love and only love can establish your identity in God and hold you there. God's love is firm, founded in judgment and wisdom, the way, the truth and the life. Love is beginning to reign. Love is the Christed way of life, and you can know your identity only through being in love with the Source, God. God is always waiting. Hold to your identity and know that a Source of that Power exists. Hold fast to your Rebirth through love.

You could pout, say, "I don't want to hold," but you can hold. You can't get away by denying or mouthing negatives. There is no such thing as "I can't move up in consciousness." Nobody has any right to say, "I can't do it." You're really saying, "I won't do it."

Let love fan the flame of faith, your identity with God, in your heart. Receive from the Source of all Power, and let it use you now. You are established in the keynote of your Ascension. This is your own identity, the consciousness of an identity with the Source, fully, faithfully held to the Source. You must make the decision yourself. This is a joyous way of life. Let's use it.

How Strong Is Your Net? (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for December 2, 1962. Scriptures: Matthew 13:31-33 and John 21:1-6.

"After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, "I go a fishing." They say unto him, "We also go with thee." They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, "Children, have ye any meat?" They answered him, "No." And he said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." – John 21:1-6.

Two phases of Power — aggressive wisdom and permeating love — must go into production before you can have results with casting your nets. The sea represents water, and the outer world where you earn your living. The combination of the sea and the net catching fish, or substance, represents the principle of action in the outer. The principle of action is always "working for" you when you declare it so. The net represents what you must earn by your use of Wisdom and Love.

Seven of the disciples were together. They were still puzzled and wondering about what had happened to Jesus. They had doubts, a certain disillusionment. Surely they were pondering why Jesus had let himself be taken and crucified. They were staying together, holding onto each other, not going to God. They were hungry, and Peter, who represents the power of faith, said, "I go fishing!"

With their unfocused start, no wonder their result was nothing. They did not know what to do first, or where to go. They'd had no sleep. Although Jesus had done his best to prepare them, they were not ready. The events had been so sudden. They entertained a guilt complex because they had slept in Gethsemane while he prayed. They had no time to get organized and were too dazed with grief and shock. They couldn't catch anything under such inner confusion.

Which is the right side of the boat? Why, it is where the fish are now. A fisherman knows that depending on the tide, the fish feed in outer deep water, other times near the shore. The disciples were weary and hungry, not using their mental faculties of logic, reason, discernment, discrimination, or discretion, on what they were doing. They needed direction and control to help them reorganize themselves. Even a stranger was good to and for them, someone to tell them what to do. Jesus told them to try the "other side." They not only put their net on the side where the fish gathered, having someone give them a command reconditioned them mentally and emotionally. There were the fish!

Before you fish, you must do several things. You have to mend your net or the fish escape through the holes. You mend net with joyous expectancy so your miracles won't fall through. It isn't enough to mend the holes, to clean up old thoughts, emotions and imagination. You must make sure you are using the great principle of love to draw, to encompass, to enfold substance, to pervade the world with your absorbing leaven of love.

If your net does not fill on one side (a delayed miracle), don't stop. Don't quit or think God doesn't want you to have it. Thinking "It's not for me" is silly! Keep your eyes up on God and the goal. Try the "other side" of the boat, the "right side." Use another approach, but never give up joyously expecting results. Every time you drop your net, you invite soul growth, soul expansion upward and soul expression outward. The self side is always the wrong side. "My way is best" scatters your miracles in every direction. "This is my way" squeezes the miracle to death.

You cannot waste time – you only waste yourself. Time is. You hold this precious hour in your hands. How will you fill it? How will you breathe the Breath of Life into it? How will you make it pay you dividends for tomorrow?

If you believe in an available God, if you grant a known God, if you accept His closeness as of now, if you decide to "live and move and have your being in Him," then become interested enough to be expectant of a miracle. You must be joyous enough to feel alive, strong, beautiful and triumphant.

How Strong Is Your Net? (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated December 2, 1962. Scribes: Ruth Johnson and Irene White. Scriptures: Matthew 13:31-33 and John 21:1-6.

The Bible is the history of a great civilization, but is also a textbook, which had to correlate and bring together the events of 7,000 years. We are already in a new 7,000 years. John said that if all Jesus' sayings were written, the world could not hold the books. Every 2,000 years a new Messiah, o'ershadowed by the Source, must give these revitalized truths.

The King James Version is the only translation retaining even a hint of the mysteries relatively. Newer translations of the Bible touch the masses. When redactors (editors and translators) delete the mysteries, the Bible appeals to those who otherwise find the Bible's size and mysticism appalling. Nevertheless, through these diluted truths, God still o'ershadows them and endows them with a divine soul.

Some Bible verses may use the same words to describe apparently conflicting points. Both statements are true, but their meanings are different. You must spread out and push up to illumination, which is the way to soul expansion. If every Christian pulled up the masculine magnetic current (the etheric current is feminine) through this power Wisdom, then such expansion of soul would result that great Light would encompass earth and destroy evil.

The heart of every cell is rich with Light and the life of God. Your eyes are capacitated for inner vision. Light strikes the optic chiasm of the thalamus and shines through form, if you want to see spiritually. Everything you touch must be permeated by universal Mother Love. The vitality of your spoken Word depends on the quality and quantity of your love, twenty-four hours a day, twelve months a year.

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. The sea represents universal life. Casting out the fishing net represents what you gather in from life. Casting the net represents action of individual after living up to law of nonresistance that is the aggressive power of Wisdom. You are not aggressive, only the Power itself is.

When you say no, you punch a hole in your mold for substance. It is a painful labor to stand, and takes intestinal fortitude. Stand and wait in Love and Wisdom, and the person who refused will later call and say yes. Tyrants and dictators use the same law in a negative way for brainwashing.

"Not I but my Father does the work." God has given us two gifts: First, the power of leaning on His Wisdom. Second, God has given us the power to make personality malleable through divine Love.

When your love is great enough, the feminine power of love permeates and breaks up emotional and mental rigidity. The Light only goes forth if you invoke it from above, which sends it through you. What can evil do with that Light it cannot extinguish? What it cannot conquer, it must join, so evil joins Light to be subsumed in it.

The net represents things for which you must work, and your actions in life. These seven strong men, the disciples, were disillusioned, stricken in their faith. They knew Jesus could have avoided Crucifixion, but he didn't. They were without a leader, unprepared for the shock and dazed with grief. Jesus had told them, but they had not believed him. They had heavy guilt because they slept when Jesus was going through agony of preparation at Gethsemane.

Finally, Peter said, "I'm going fishing," which was action. He did what he knew how to do and they were hungry, so they, needing a leader, said they would go too. But they were dazed when they dropped the net on the left side of the boat. The right side, like the right hand, represents execution of power, so this was execution, action so the fish would be on that right side.

You become responsible for the life sparks of whatever you eat — vegetables, fish or meat — to lift the soul substance. The seven men who went fishing were unorganized because of the shock of Jesus' Crucifixion. He stood on shore and they began to organize through his vibration, becoming fully settled in their bodies. This process took in every law of action.

The right side of the boat is to go to where you can make the right contacts for a specific need or situation. If you pray in the wrong way or act wrongly, you don't waste God's time. You just waste yourself. Any prayer is good. You have God as all good things, even as a hat. You cannot have God and anything, even money. You can have only God as, and when you act on that basis, everything smooths out.

Declare past time as that from which you gather up as it goes by. What are you extracting from this hour? Take your share and it will not be missed. What are you doing with each new shining hour? Nothing can return to you except what you send out. To say that you have wasted time is a sin.

If you believe God can create miracles, then stand up, act as if you were beauty, health, wealth. The whole world is ready to fulfill your miracle. Live life triumphantly and gloriously!

The Crown of Thorns

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for July 7, 1963. Scriptures: Revelation 3:11, Joshua 1:1-7, 12, Joshua 3:14-17, Joshua 5:13-15 and Joshua 6:1-16.

The story of Joshua succeeding Moses, leading the tribes across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, and taking the walled city of Jericho illustrates four great steps to God. From the degrees of Rebirth to Ascension, they are promise, preparation, protection and obedience.

The story of how Joshua took over as leader of the children of Israel begins with God's promises. "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." – Joshua 1:3. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." – Joshua 1:5.

"The waters [of the Jordan River] which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan." – Joshua 3:16-17.

God caused the miracle of crossing the Jordan to build their faith in preparation for taking the walled city of Jericho. "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so." – Joshua 5:13-15.

Later, to prove God's protection of them, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua, telling him to remove his shoes because where he stood was holy ground. "And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho." – Joshua 6:2. The Lord then told Joshua that He had given them Jericho, and what Israel must do to cause the walls of Jericho to fall. The promise is that every foot of ground you conquer is yours. If you are strong and courageous, you shall prosper. God will be with you as He was with Joshua and Moses. Follow straight on the path, turning neither right nor left.

During the preparation, Joshua took charge and commanded the officers of the tribes. The twelve tribes represent the twelve endocrine glands and nerve plexus centers. He ordered them to prepare food, for in three days they would cross the Jordan River. Then Joshua spoke to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, ordering them to leave their wives and children to go ahead of the other tribes and help them conquer. They all promised to follow and do as ordered.

Joshua represents the I AM consciousness of the Oversoul. Manasseh represents the rational soul. Joshua, the Oversoul, spoke in terms of law to the conscious mind. Reuben was Jacob and Leah's oldest son, and saved Joseph's life. As the eldest brother, he represents logic and reason. Gad represents the flexibility to change with no crystallization.

People make or receive promises for a reason. What is being promised? Credits? Rewards? Those who say, "I don't want credits," or "I'm not here for the loaves and fishes," are not noble, but are repudiating personal responsibility. You can interpret this in many ways. The loaves and fishes represent substance and love. If you are in it for the joy and beauty of ascension, how can you advance without a promotion? God does not let you through the gates of Light because you feel noble. You must work to advance.

Israel's protection was the covenant of the bris (circumcision). God's first covenant was with Abraham (Genesis 17:11), when He ordered the circumcision of every male child at eight days after birth. The second covenant with the Israelites was immediately after they crossed the Jordan River. They were ordered to circumcise every male who had not received circumcision in the wilderness (Joshua 5:1-9).

The River Jordan represents the River of Life. Israel putting their feet in the water symbolizes understanding in purity. Joshua called on the tribes to elect a man, one from each tribe, to follow the priests and to stand in the river as they bore the ark of the covenant into the Promised Land. The men and the priests stood in the river, which parted and remained dry until the tribes had crossed dry shod.

In the human body, the ark of the covenant is in the head, which is also called the golden bowl (Ecclesiastes 12:6). Each of the twelve powers in man, represented by the endocrine glands and plexus centers, serves to support the head. If you are deficient in a gland or plexus center, your head is unsupported in that area, and you experience weakness and pain. Raise your hands in prayer to support the ark. When you raise your hands in prayer, you can win against all odds (Genesis 17). The sun may stand still (Joshua 10). And as when Israel crossed the Jordan, the water may stand still. Pray for Power from above to cross over situations and problems. You may also take all things for all your needs from the River of Life.

Jericho is the first city in the Promised Land, and it represents faith in God. You must deliver every part of your self in surrender. God provided His final high protection while Israel stood in front of Jericho. This represents the high throne, the high altar, spiritual seeing, knowing, hearing, and comprehending.

An angel of the Lord appears and you remove your shoes, for this is holy ground. Start where you are in crossing the River of Life, the Jordan River, from the fate line to your Path of Destiny.

Obedience is the final step. Unless you obey, you hit a hard wall of your own willfulness, rebellion, opinions and prejudices. Jericho's walls must fall! Marching six times around the walled city represents creative power, and building up a high vibration. Seven times seven equals forty-nine, the number of times you must forgive an offense. Obedience leads into forgiveness which loosens the wall. Your shouts are your spoken words, which cause the wall to fall. Now you need more obedience, more forgiveness and more compassion.

What is your crown of thorns? A device for deflating a big head, a swelled head. This is true, but it is more. The head is the golden bowl, the ark of the covenant that holds the thousand-petaled lotus, one thousand lights, each representing one burnt offering, a day of sacrificing one thing of self. The thorns represent a thousand "candle snuffers," or something you permit to put out your light. The crown of thorns represent ridicule, contempt, mockery, insults and offenses from the outside.

If you believe you have outer enemies, a thorn snuffs a petal juncture and destroys its light, if you allow it. Or you may let the self douse your light through self-condemnation, feeling guilty and blaming self. "I'm not worthy," and feeling regret pokes another thorn, and rips open another petal.

One thousand "burnt offerings" represent a thousand sacrifices of self to open a thousand lotus petals, a thousand rays of repulsion to protect the ark from evil and destroy darkness. Looking back leaves you vulnerable and defenseless.

Faith takes you into the Promised Land. Obedience gains you your crown of life. Forgiveness, having no enemies, holds all your gains. Instead of thorns, you earn a thousandfold stronger crown of lights.

Life: Your Glory and Splendor (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for April 26, 1964. Scriptures: John 11:20-44 and Psalm 24:7-10.

Glory means to praise and to honor. Splendor means a magnificent brilliant, a brilliant light. Jesus had received word that Lazarus was ill and said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

"Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was." – John 11:5-6. Instead of going to Lazarus, Jesus remained where he was for two more days, then announced that he was going to Judea. Then he said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." – John 11:11.

The disciples questioned the decision because the temple leadership had so recently tried to stone him. He told them to walk in the Light. They did not understand that he spoke figuratively of Lazarus sleeping, so he said, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him." – John 11:14-15.

Mary and Martha were distinctly different types. Mary used expensive lamp oil to light the evenings for conversation. She sat at Jesus' feet and listened, absorbing all he said. Martha listened on the fly, and gained a smattering through the bits she heard while working. Yet when Jesus arrived at their home in Bethany, Mary was a mess of tears and weakness, while Martha was the strong and reliable one. Mary sat to be comforted by the neighbors and friends because she had lost her brother. Martha was strong and saw to the details of caring for the many visitors.

Martha represented the higher rational soul, the Mother principle of protection for the weak. She was always the worker, offering a brisk selfless love while doing what must be done. Mary represented the little self's type of love, personal and possessive, for me and mine. Martha spoke secretly to Mary saying, "Jesus calls you." The higher Oversoul and ways call the self up in consciousness. Both sisters said, "Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died." But Martha declared him the Christ in full faith, knowing he could do anything right now. Mary blamed Jesus, saying he was too late. Yet it is never too late, only too soon. When Mary knelt at his feet and wept, he "groaned in the spirit" and was troubled. He asked, "Where have ye laid him?"

"Jesus wept. – John 11:35, is the shortest verse in the Bible. He wept because he was groaning in spirit again. To be the Messiah, Jesus had to suffer, personally, every experience that a man could have. Imagine the full picture. So many people were gathered near Lazarus' tomb, all the mourners, friends, neighbors, the curious and Jesus' followers with the disciples. Jesus was responsible for all these people. They, too, had to pass their initiations or they would forget the laws he had given them. His compassion for their suffering was boundless. He groaned in spirit because he had deliberately delayed to prove great laws to them, to impress them.

"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him?" – John 11:33-34. He put his beloved ones, especially Mary, through one of the hardest initiations and they were not coming through. Through these events, Jesus proved that he did not snoop. He knew Lazarus was dead. He did not ask where the tomb was, but where they had put Lazarus to rest.

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." – John 11:41-42. Knowing that he had put his beloved ones in a tight place, he thanked God and prayed aloud so that all could hear. He prayed that the Father would let him cover all the debts the people involved had created.

He cried, "Lazarus, come forth" in a loud voice, and he came forth. "Loose him, and let him go." Would it have been better just to have healed Lazarus' illness instead of this spectacular "Come forth"? He heard the crowd's comments. Had he done right to put their faith through such a test?

"If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God." – John 11:40. "Lazarus, come forth" is still your glory. It has lasted and shall last for centuries to come. Metaphysically, to resurrect the old is not enough. You must "Loose him, and let him go." You must be loosed from past bondage to the subconscious mind. For example, when you perform an exorcism, you must follow it with the declaration, "Let go," to the little self.

Once resurrected from self, you can permit the self no more blame or weakness, no more bondage. Once you are called forth, even your curses are cleared away. Everyone has a past filled with swearing and curses, which are anything that is now a blessing. Anyone who curses God or our Lord Jesus names them more often than you do. No harm comes to the world or God on the misuse of these names. The names of God and Jesus the Christ can do no evil. Their names lift, no matter who uses them.

Each who curses creates a debt to pay, but the greater debt accrues to the intolerant one who blames and curses the one misusing the name. He who curses falls at the Master's feet immediately on passing to the other side. The intolerant one is too heavy to ascend, and needs the treatment to "Come forth."

Splendor is glory, brilliant Light and illumination. Glory is honor and praise. Hear me! "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, he is the King of glory." – Psalm 24:7-10.

Glory is an ecstasy, a magnificent rapture of soul. When engulfed with glory, you are too full to hold it without rejoicing.

Life: Your Glory and Splendor (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated April 26, 1964. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson and Irene White. Scriptures: John 11:20-44 and Psalm 24:7-10.

In Bible study, you can never segregate just a few verses and hope to understand the whole. You need to understand what occurred in the passages preceding and following the portion you are currently studying.

The preceding chapter, John 10, is one of the greatest descriptions in the Gospels of Jesus' mission on earth. His enemies had again tried to stone him for blasphemy. He had healed a blind man on the Sabbath and said, "I and my Father are one." This was just too much for them. Caiaphas the high priest and others of the Sanhedrin were seeking to destroy him.

When Jesus first heard of Lazarus' illness, he said, "This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." This unites all Jesus' miracles and shows that he was preparing himself for the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.

Jesus had to live through and suffer all that a man could, the full gamut of human emotion and experience, so that the world might truly believe. He had to prove that resurrection and ascension are possible.

Jesus deliberately delayed for two days in going to his beloved three, Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Just as Jesus had felt a little reluctance in changing the water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana, so did he hesitate in raising Lazarus. His disciples thought it was because of the threats of violence made against him in Judea.

Jesus stood in the Light during those two days of delay. He knew the cross would be the next step and this is how he prepared himself. You can do anything when you stand in the Light twenty-four hours a day.

Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus was asleep and that he was going to awaken him. The disciples thought this meant "rest in sleep." It clearly states that Jesus already knew Lazarus was dead and he told them so plainly. Then Jesus said, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."

Thomas, the disciple known through history as the one who doubted, said, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." They had no idea of Jesus' true intent to raise Lazarus from the dead. He said all this to build his followers and disciples' faith and to set the stage for the miracle. To this day, the raising of Lazarus builds your faith.

Martha, Mary and Lazarus were sisters and a brother. Jesus was very close to this family during his ministry. They were good friends as well as his followers and he spent much time with them. Mary was converted first and loved Jesus greatly but she was never sure of herself. She always needed special attention.

"Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house." – John 11:20. Most verses mention Mary before Martha but Martha is mentioned first here because she met Jesus as soon as she heard he was coming. Martha, the strong one, usually did all the work while Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened. Martha got her truth "on the fly" while she worked and took care of the details. Mary, when it came down to brass tacks, listened but did little.

John 11:2 records that Mary once anointed Jesus with oil and wiped his feet with her hair, a courtesy Jesus' host had ignored. Mary paid attention to detail in this instance but Martha applied truth through attention to detail constantly, so she courteously went to greet Jesus when she heard he was coming. Mary remained inside and sat and wept with the Jews, being comforted and perhaps enjoying it. It also could be that Mary was keeping the Jews occupied because of the danger to Jesus.

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." – John 11:21-27. Martha had complete faith when she declared him the Christ.

"And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there." – John 11:28-31.

Martha called Mary outside "secretly" and told her that Jesus had called for her, knowing this would rouse Mary from her depression. The Jews all followed her to Jesus. "Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see." – John 11:32-34. Where Martha had faith, Mary pouted and blamed, thinking, "If Jesus loved me, why did he let this happen?" God pays no attention when you pout. The only thing you get from pouting is a debt for the time you spend doing it. Martha's calling to Mary symbolizes the Oversoul calling to the little self to come up.

Jesus "groaned in the spirit" and was troubled. He asked, "Where have ye laid him?" This is proof that Jesus minded his own business; he never snooped. He did not call on his great soul vision to see where they had laid him. You do not ask God to do those things you can do for yourself. Never in his ministry did Jesus lower his high vision or divert the Power to cover mundane things.

Jesus said to Martha and Mary, "Thy brother shall rise again. I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" At their reaction, Jesus "groaned in the spirit" and wept.

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept." Jesus wept that the doubts and blame of the subconscious had taken over in his loved ones. He loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus personally. His friends asked why he had let this happen. Mary was hurt and thought he did not love them. Had he come before Lazarus' death he would have pleased them but Jesus chose to do the thing that would glorify God and always be remembered.

Jesus knew his textbook had to be strong enough to fortify his disciples and followers and great enough to last two thousand years. Everything he said and did has meaning at many levels. Years later, Jesus engineered and supervised the writing of the Gospels from above.

"Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid." – John 11:36-40.

Jesus put his loved ones through a great initiation and they came out limping. This is why he "groaned in spirit," wondering if all those who watched would really see. He knew it was essential that they all truly comprehend the significance what he was doing. He had raised others from the dead but never before had there been such a crowd of witnesses. He heard the doubts of the crowd and their criticism as he went to the grave. Even Martha said, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days."

Jesus knew this miracle would bring the wrath of the Sanhedrin on his head and that his crucifixion was close. This was the beginning of his travail, which lasted through Gethsemane and ended on Calvary. Jesus knew the Power he released must be great enough to hold his disciples and followers in faith through all that would come.

"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." – John 11:41-42.

With this prayer, Jesus wiped out their doubts, curses and blame. You can wipe out curses and debts of blame through high prayer. Anyone who curses in the name of Jesus Christ or uses his name in vain creates an anchor to God that will eventually bring him home.

When a man uses the name of God or Jesus in vain, he is caught up in spirit before a Council at death of the body. The curse is wiped out when he kneels at Jesus' feet. Yet, though he did not know, he must still pay the debt on earth for all who heard his curses.

Never judge or blame another for his idle words. The intolerant one who judges and says, "You are doing it wrong," pays the greatest debt. It is impossible for the name of God to do wrong, no matter who speaks it.

"When he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." – John 11:43. Jesus called upon the Power, breathed deeply and cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" The Power did the work under the principles of Light, color, tone, number and name.

You can speak the Word to breathe a soul back into the body. The declaration inflates the mental body the atoms, and a shaft of life sparks draws the soul back to the physical body. History is filled with accounts of persons being revived after being declared dead. "He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him and let him go." – John 11:44.

Martha had said that her brother's body would stink because he had been dead four days, but there was no decay or stench when the tomb was opened. Lazarus was dead by the world's standards. He had left his body and was escorted to a temple on the inner where his body was held on the fifth breath for four days. Jesus knew that Lazarus was awaiting the call to return. Though Lazarus was bound hand and foot, yet his grave clothes were white and unstained.

"Lift up your heads, oh ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, oh ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah." – Psalm 24:7-10.

Jesus is the king of glory come to do the "greater works" and to teach us how to also. The greater works are under the principle of expansion encompassed in glory, the Shekinah glory and the splendor of the Light. Glory means honor and praise. Splendor is joy, Wisdom, Love, illumination, comprehension and brilliant Light. You must express this joy.

Do you know how to Praise God? Read Psalm 24. Reach for the stars so Power can move through, possess and cleanse you. Let the king of glory enter, the Lord, mighty in battle. Be a militant Christian, strong in holding your high place so you cannot be pushed off by the self or the other fellow. Possess every foot of ground on which you stand that your little self is lifted, eradicated by your Oversoul.

When the door of the crown of the head opens, the gates swing wide. These are the gates to the ten cities that man must rule within himself. The Oversoul says, "Lazarus, come forth!" to the little self. Joy opens the gates of your eyes and ears to let Power move in and possess you. The glory of the Supreme gives you Power to stand.

Be zealous! All the Power you need comes through from the Source, from thrones, from the River of Life. Let Love move in to fill you that you may fulfill the law. The joy of love, the splendor and glory of God possesses you as beauty, and is yours for the simple step of accepting it. The whole of the glory of the Lord moves through when you open your gates. Then, through you, His glory fills the earth as splendor.

Your Soul's Accomplishment

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 30, 1965. Scripture: Matthew 14:24-33.

"But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." – Matthew 14:24-33.

Before these events Matthew describes in his Gospel, Herod had just given Salome the head of John the Baptist. His disciples told Jesus when they heard about it, after John's followers had buried his body. Immediately, Jesus went by ship to a desert place, apart.

Whenever people heard that Jesus was near, they followed him on foot, out of the cities. Jesus was touched by compassion for them and healed their sick loved ones. When evening came, the disciples wanted to send them back home, into the city for food. Instead, Jesus increased the five loaves and two fishes and they were left with twelve baskets to share. They had fed 5,000 men, including their women and children.

Then Jesus "constrained" his disciples to go by ship before him, which means he used a mild but persuasive influence on them. He was firm, but final. When you are constrained, you are obliged to conform, but through loyalty, not force. He wanted his disciples to leave for the farther shore that evening, while he returned to the mountain, the high place in consciousness, to pray and complete his vigil for John the Baptist. He planned to meet them later.

A storm blew up and their boat was being tossed about on the sea. In the middle of the night, they saw Jesus walking toward them across the water. They thought he was a spirit, a ghost, and feared him. He said, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

Peter was always brash, and he was fully sold on Jesus. He wanted to walk to him, and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Jesus answered him with one word, "Come." Peter's faith was sublime, as long as he looked up in consciousness. He saw only Jesus, as Daniel saw only the Light in the lions' den. The difference here was in the quality of their faith. When Peter wavered, he cried, "Lord, save me."

Peter's faith had grown as he watched and participated in the feeding of the 5,000. He held a new conviction. He saw the stature of a man, God-high. He focused his attention on Jesus' stature, and he had a new goal. As long as he centered his attention on his newly realized stature of Jesus, he remained afloat, walking on water. When his attention flagged, he sank.

Your lifeline of Power always moves along your line of attention, and the Power follows. When your attention sags into aches and pains, for instance, the Power line follows, and flows into the aches and pains to nourish and sustain them. When you center your attention on needs, you have more needs, a "miracle of needs." Any increase from the invisible to the visible is a miracle. This is how you can increase the aches and pains into ever larger miracles of pain.

Power is always working miracles of increase. What are you feeding with your increase of the five loaves and two fishes? Your faith conditions your loaves and fishes. What quality and quantity of faith is yours?

Three factors are involved in producing a miracle: First, you must have a goal. Second, you need sufficient depth to your conviction. Third, the quality of your faith and the quantity of your love is critical. The goal is to be God-high as you follow the stature of the Christ. How high is God? Do you want to be God-high? You may believe in someone else being God-high, yet not be willing to do the hard work necessary to become God-high yourself.

Your conviction must be to center your attention steadfastly and unwaveringly. You cannot succeed if you blow hot or cold. You scatter the Power if your attention wavers in intensity. You are constantly focusing your attention on something, from birth to transition.

Since Power concentrates wherever you focus your attention, you have a miracle there. If you focus your attention on nothing, you have a miracle of nothing. When you center your attention on the stature of Christ in you, God-high, your soul will accomplish a God-high life.

The quality of your faith and quantity of your love must be exceptional. Your faith stretches your soul, and your love sends the substance to fill your creative prayer molds. Remember to constantly send up more praise, for praise carries your gifts of faith and love upward to God.

Do you believe, in faith, that God is? Do you believe, in full faith, that a man can be God-high? Are you now convinced that your soul can accomplish anything? Do you center your attention on what you want? Become enraptured with God, enthralled with the stature of Christ, his beauty. Be enthralled with life itself, always with twelve baskets left over to share.

The Golden Fleece (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for June 20, 1965. Scriptures: Judges 6:7-22 and Judges 6:36-40.

"And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; and I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face." – Judges 6:7-22.

"And Gideon said unto God, "If Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said." And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, "Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray Thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." – Judges 6:36-40.

The Golden Fleece is the subject of two Greek myths: The cloud goddess Nephele begged a favor of Hermes (Mercury) to save her two children from Athamas, the King of Orchomenus (modern Boeotia in Greece), her former husband. Athamas had fallen in love with Ino, a sorceress who hated his children by Nephele, a son, Phryxus, and a daughter, Helle.

Hermes chose a magic ram with a golden fleece from the heavenly flocks, and gave the ram to Nephele for her children. She put them on the ram, telling them to hold tightly to each other. As the ram flew east to the sea, Helle failed to hold tightly enough and tumbled into the sea at the Hellespont (named for her), now called the Dardanelles. The ram reached Aeetes' kingdom of Colchis, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, where he safely landed the boy Phryxus.

On king Aeetes' advice, Phryxus sacrificed the ram to Jupiter, and gave the golden fleece to Aeetes, who placed it in a consecrated grove, in the charge of a dragon that never slept. Jason was Phryxus' cousin, through his father, Aeson, king of Iolcus in Thessaly. Aeson had been supplanted by his brother Pelias. When Jason came of age, the goddess Hera appointed him her champion and ordered him to kill Pelias, who has insulted her.

Jason confronted the wily Pelias, who agreed to give him the throne if Jason retrieved the golden fleece. The king wanted the fleece because it had come to symbolize magical rescue and protection. Jason's voyage with the Argonauts and their many adventures is one of the great collections of heroic myths. Jason's quest for the golden fleece would have failed without the aid of king Aeetes' daughter, Medea, a mighty sorceress.

All orders of knighthood during the Medieval era descended from these heroic legends. They represent our soul initiations, even today. Gideon's entire story in the Book of Judges illustrates initiations excellently. He was the son of an ordinary man of the tribe of Manasseh, who had the usual sense of unworthiness, which is good unless carried too far.

The first step is to reach balance between inferiority and superiority. Read Kipling's poem "If" on the subject. Gideon made sacrifices of a kid, cakes and broth to be found worthy in body, mind and spirit.

Both Jason and Gideon represent man's evolution from creature to creator consciousness. Ino represented evil, while Nephele symbolized Light. Phryxus and Helle represent the positive and negative aspects of the rational soul. The golden fleece represents the Light of illumination and full soul ascension of consciousness. Gideon's sacrifices, the kid, the unleavened cakes and the broth, symbolize body, mind and Spirit. Gideon's fleece represents faith.

Gideon had scouted the Midianite camp under cover of night and heard a man telling of his recent dream: "And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host." – Judges 7:13-14.

Before the battle, Gideon ordered his men, "When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon." – Judges 7:18. The battle was a rout, in favor of Israel. Gideon had to pass three initiations to overcome his fear. The first test was offering the kid, the cakes and the broth. The second initiation was testing the wet fleece on dry ground. When Gideon wrung out the fleece, the water in it filled a bowl. This was the water of Spirit.

The third initiation was having the fleece remain dry while it laid on wet ground. This symbolizes moving up in consciousness, into the golden Light. This initiation has also come down to us as the Quest for the Holy Grail. In the golden silence you learn of true love and compassion and receive the Chalice of Comprehension. Then, after proving God for yourself, comes the action.

Moses began the action of freeing Israel from its bondage in Egypt and wandering forty years in the wilderness. Moses did not enter the Promised Land; instead, Joshua led the tribes of Israel across the River Jordan. Once they crossed the Jordan and were safe from their greatest fear, Pharaoh, all the petty irritations, quarrels and complaints began to show again. Life is a series of stops, starts and advances with the same old family and friends.

Israel was destined to start again after Gideon called himself the least of his father's house, of a poor family in Manasseh. The Lord commanded him to cast down the altar and cut down the grove sacred to Baal. He had to act secretly because the worshipers of Baal would have killed him has they known what was planned.

Gideon called the tribes and 30,000 men answered. Then the Lord spoke and said that was too many, and to send home all those who were fearful and afraid. Twenty-two thousand men left, all those who were filled with opinions, prejudices, doubts and fears. These men had yet to finish their initiations for fear on the twenty-two Yetzirah Paths to spiritualize the appetitive soul. Ten thousand men remained, those who were high in consciousness and could hold to that height without fear. These men were unafraid, but they also lacked fervency, being filled with complacency.

The second test, to see who lapped water as a dog does, versus who used his hand, was proof that never being afraid is not enough. Be alert and alive to your surroundings and environment. An indifference to danger is no good. The three hundred men who passed had all remained alert and poised. They drank water from their hand, while standing, ready to respond to their surroundings immediately. Even while they quenched their thirst, these men observed everything going on. Not one of them was filled with complacency or self-satisfaction.

Then the Lord sent Gideon and his servant to spy on the Midianite camp in the valley below the armed guard of Israel. They overheard one soldier telling a frightful dream that his friend interpreted as the Lord's wrath smiting Midian through Gideon's sword. In the darkest hours of the night, Gideon led his three hundred men to surround the enemy camp. They blew their trumpets, held their lamps and swords high, shouting, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" The Midianites were completely routed – they ran away in fear.

You can do anything once you have spiritualized your identity with God. All initiations on fear are to test and to build your faith. God allows you time to prove to yourself that He is there for you. Return to Him repeatedly and ask, "Father, have I really heard Your voice?" Surrender the self to God to be free of self. Lay self on the altar for "three days," which is a mystical term meaning three hours, three days, or three weeks.

Never dash off after receiving what you think is your first order, but check and recheck. "Wait upon the Lord" to make certain that you are on your Path of Destiny the soul's way, not the fate line that self treads. When the same idea sticks with you consistently and will not go away, you can be sure it is an order that the Lord has spoken.

The Golden Fleece (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated June 20, 1965. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson and Irene White. Scriptures: Judges 6:7-22 and Judges 6:36-40.

The legend of the Golden Fleece is thus: Greek king Athamas had grown bored with his wife, Nephele and had taken Ino, the sorceress daughter of King Cadmus, as his second wife. Ino wanted her own son to succeed to the throne, and hated her stepchildren, especially Phrixus.

Realizing that her children were in grave danger because of their stepmother's jealousy, Nephele prayed to the gods for help. Hermes sent her the winged ram Chrysomallus, whose fleece was made of gold. The ram snatched the children up and bore them away eastward on his back. As he was crossing the strait that divides Europe and Asia, Helle slipped from his back and fell into the water and drowned. They named the site for her: Hellespont, the Sea of Helle.

The ram safely landed Phrixus in Colchis, a country on the Black Sea, ruled by King Aeetes. In gratitude to the gods for saving his life, Phrixus sacrificed Chrysomallus at the temple of Zeus, then gave the precious Golden Fleece to Aeetes, who placed it in a sacred grove under the watchful eye of a dragon that never slept. Zeus placed the ram Chrysomallus in Aries as its constellation.

Jason, the heir to the throne in Greece, had been usurped as a child by his half brother Pelias, yet courageously returned to regain his kingdom. Pelias said that Jason must first undertake the quest of the Golden Fleece, which was the rightful property of their family. Jason assembled a crew of fifty of the noblest heroic young men, including Hercules, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, and Peleus, to sail with him on the ship Argo.

After a voyage of incredible perils, the Argonauts reached Colchis, where King Aeetes agreed to give up the golden fleece if Jason would yoke two fire-breathing bulls, and sow the teeth of a dragon, from which would spring up a crop of armed men. The goddess Hera had intervened for him by making princess Medea fall in love with him.

Medea gave Jason a charm to sprinkle on his weapons that made him invincible for the day of his ordeal and helped him steal the fleece that night by charming the sleepless dragon that guarded it. Jason, Medea, and his crew managed to return the golden fleece to Greece.

The ram with the golden fleece is a symbol of protection and all glorious things. Zeus put the ram's fleece in the constellation of Aries. The fleece is protection. The fleece became a symbol of everything wonderful and protective. The golden fleece and Holy Grail are synonyms of the protective powers of God over the world. The two fleeces represent the thirty degrees of Masonry, a great initiation symbolizing soul ascension. Man must ascend through all stages of created evil, to the Mount of Transfiguration.

You take three groups of 33 Degrees under the twelve labors of Hercules. The second group composes most of the stumbling-blocks in your path. Be more wary and increase your praise when you have conquered, for only praise will take you through these 33 Degrees. Praise is the only thing that starts faith, the fuel on which you run. Praise is your eye salve. Eye trouble is a lack of appreciation and gratitude.

Orpheus went with Jason for harmony. When you cleanse all past-life toxins from the medulla oblongata, the opened lotus petals form the golden fleece. The pineal body has twenty-two petals, and an eleven-petaled lotus lies above each ear. As you learn, these lotuses become whirling buds, sparkling like crystals.

The thousand-petaled lotus of the mental body sits about three inches above the head. The petals are delicately-shaded blue on the intuition side and pale yellow on the illumination side. Lotus petals can freeze under spiritual misuse and become a cap over the head, the cause of brain tumors.

As you open the illumination petals curled under and folded up, as you stand on the Mount of Transfiguration, you stand on the golden fleece until you stand in the golden silence. Do not weaken the petals or snuff their Light. The stirring up of the eleven-petal lotuses will awaken the petals of the sixteen-petaled crown lotus that were awake in the past. It has eight intuition and eight wisdom petals.

The golden fleece is a halo that represents the heart of the head lotus. When one expresses negatively, it becomes like the head of Medusa, a thousand snakes. The golden fleece represents desires, will and imagination, and we call misuse of these "Medea dividing the golden fleece" into a trinity of perdition.

When you are three-headed, you can amputate one but it grows again because it is receiving female procreative nourishment. Orpheus' lyre represents the ark of the mother and music, which is harmony. You can only raise the creative centers to balance by raising desire to mate with will.

In opening spiritual vision, everyone goes through the silver or gray fields, where they hear about and talk about truth. In the fields of color, you still use force and your voice may become coarse and raucous. Yet this is the point of doing.

When you ascend, what you see becomes the golden fields of the golden silence. As you become, the voice of silence possesses you. As you go out at night, the Master may walk toward you across the silver fields, but you can go directly to the golden silence.

At times, when earth has called you down, you plod through the gray fields first. You tear down and misuse the substance of your own golden tunnel, then have trouble getting back there. If you are not willing to plod, you dangle.

Are you willing and desirous to be all the beauty required to become the golden fleece?

The Golden Fleece (c)

Edna Lister created this speech outline for the International New Thought Alliance 50th Anniversary Congress, July 4, 1965. Scripture: Judges 6:36-40.

Today, our society is called "a society in a dilemma." No one can foresee what the results of any given decision may be, whether personal, political or financial. Personal fears are magnified into world fears. Air travel and communications have made us into a "neighborhood," without making us into a "brotherhood."

The worship of material things has caused good, old-fashioned faith to shrink until there is no more Shekinah glory in the sanctuaries. We have no pillar of cloud by day, no fire by night to guide us, no more mysteries in our temples. Faith has grown obsolete.

In ancient Greece, with its mysteries from Egypt, handed down from Abraham, with its legends, its myths, all feeding fuel to the fires of faith in God, faith reached a burning peak of sacrificial splendor. The Crusaders went forth to sacrifice life itself for their faith.

Knighthood grew out of the legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece. Jason slew a dragon and carried the golden fleece to Thessaly, where it became the symbol of a goal, the goal gained by selfless sacrificial service through the growth of the soul.

The golden fleece symbolized magic, protection, rescue and miracles. It epitomized the soul in its search for the Holy Grail. The golden fleece was the golden silence. The Holy Grail was oneness with God.

Forty years after Moses, the Midianites pushed the children of Israel into caves in the mountains and still pursued them. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, telling him that he was to save Israel, he felt unworthy and doubtful. His father's house was the least in Israel. Imagine him trying to lead! They were four generations past Moses, and would rather be captured than to move. Gideon knew one thing: God gives us time, never pushes, never forces. Gideon took the time and used a fleece to prove God's word before acting.

"Gideon said to God, If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said, look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said. And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more; Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground. – Judges 6:36-40. "

If the fleece was wet, it proved that divine Mind was flowing through as inspiration. If the fleece was dry, it proved that Gideon had moved up into oneness, which was his goal, his golden fleece, his golden silence, with no doubt or fear.

Everyone knows the story: Gideon started with 30,000 men, but ended with only 300. Yet the 300 were fearless, watchful men, who carried pitchers, which hid candles, symbolizing their faith with Light breaking through their bondage to fear. The Light of the silence banishes any darkness that earth can produce. They shouted, "By the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" Gideon wielded the sword of faith in action.

Today's astronauts are in search of the Holy Grail under selfless sacrificial service. Their golden fleece goal is conquering the stars. Gideon, Jason and the astronauts all have one thing in common: Obedience to orders through selfless sacrificial action, in two steps.

The first step is being in the right place at the right time to reach the goal, the golden fleece. Time and place must dovetail, or no miracle can result. All parents must teach this to their children: A miracle may be as simple as knowing the right thing to say. Yet first you need the right time and be in the right place. For time and place to meet, you must wait upon the Lord in the high place.

The second step is to keep your attention centered on the goal, on what you want. Your Power-line always follows your attention. The Power-line of faith, focused on the goal, increases a miracle. If your attention is on pain, Power moves in and increases the pain. Hold your attention focused, without wavering, on the object of your desire.

Your Eternal Destiny

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for the Washington, D.C. Prayer Circle, October 3, 1966. Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-8.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." – Ephesians 4:8.

This is the great age of miracles. Miracles come in two types, mystical miracles, which result from prayer, and scientific miracles, which result from labor and hard work. You find yourself forced to work hard when you forget that only one Source, one Substance, one Power and one Mind exist. Only one Light exists; without the Breath, life fails.

Miracles of science and technology began with a log across a stream and progressed to stepping stones. Then they produced the first bridge, anchored on the stream banks, to huge suspension designs that loft the road into the sky. Someone cut the first wheel from stone, which has progressed to the jet propellers that work on electronic power. All these inventions are examples of the one Mind acting on the one Substance in many forms to produce varying degrees of the one Power.

In all this, what is your destiny? your inheritance is "all the Father hath." It's an individual matter: What do I, personally, believe? What do I think? Do I run on a part-time basis?

God moves into your soul and into every affair-mold and outer part of your life with all His Power. He takes over and brings every prayer request to pass on one high conscious breath. You then keep the Power moving and active through continued deep, high breathing, which both releases and draws it from the Source. The Source is open to all alike, according to their faith. Great visions require a continuous flow of great Power. Your courage, conviction and burning desire must grow up to match the size of your vision. Vision touches the Source of All Substance, which is Light. Light must be lowered in vibration to become concrete and solid as form in outer substance.

Water is one substance that gives us physical life. As steam and vapor it is too high in vibration to see. As ice, it is too low in vibration to drink. A too-low vibration always results in crystallization, which describes disease. Your destiny is your ability to hold substance at that point of form to be seen. Your great gift, by which you may envision your inheritance, is joy.

You create because you are a creator. Every vision touches its own reserve of substance, enough to become your fulfilled desire. Praise siphons substance from the Source to lower it into your creative molds. So, use each day's supply of Light and life. Like manna, enough falls only for today. You cannot run on yesterday's depleted, stale life. Instead, you praise today to produce today's manna. Inhale today's fresh supply. You cannot even use this morning's Power.

Life is eternal. How do you create with this eternal Godlike, God-given substance? Do you bog down in worldly ideas and doubt God? Praise takes the Power from evil's grasp. Praise bridges the chasms you may have created with idle words. Your words return to you for nourishment. Do you speak more idle words than high-vision words?

Your destiny is "You are gods. I and the Father are one. Let there be Light." Your destiny, knowing that God is over all, is to feed on life eternal, hour by hour, for this is your manna. Rev. Charles Spurgeon said, "I am on fire for Christ. And when I preach, people come to watch me burn." When you are set afire, you know that God has taken charge.

Choice: Your Glorious Foundation (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for October 16, 1966. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3.

Today is beautiful because we are in the center of a great age of miracles. Miracles come in two distinctly different types, mystical miracles and scientific miracles. Mystical miracles result from prayer. Scientific miracles are the product of labor. Both forms of miracles come from the one Source, the one Mind, the one Substance and the one Power. Both forms arrive through God as personality using principle.

Labor is physical or mental exertion directed toward a specific task. To labor means "to strive, to exert oneself to accomplish something." It also means "to labor under a false impression." Man has moved, technologically, from stepping stones and a log across the stream to huge bridges that are engineering and artistic marvels.

Through the one Mind, you are always creating from what are termed "two seeds of life," positive and negative, meeting and expanding. This is true from the level of inanimate machines [consider the advances in self-constructing nanotechnology] to the cell's ability to repair and restore the body.

All creation is the result of the one Mind in its myriad forms, creating from the same substance of the one Breath of Life. Substance, from the inanimate to the Godhead itself, need a personal identity and a foundation, a place from which to labor. To cause substance to take on some form, a personality requires an identity for its soul-existence, a foundation on which to stand. You must have choice. You are free to choose. To create miracles, you must identify with both the personality of God and His principles. You must identify with the foundation of form, God's Son, Jesus the Christ.

Scientific miracles you must "see to believe." Mystical miracles you can "believe to see." Choice means "to select, to prefer one way or one thing over another." To create miracles, you must be identified with principle, with God as the Source of principle. This is your choice. Today, many people believe they have no choice. They are blown about by the winds of opinions, permissive in action, informed by erosive permissiveness through the churches. Like a child with a razor, people need firmness in leadership. Countries lack good leaders because people have little or no identity with the goodness of God themselves, in mass. If you cannot give assurance, you cannot expect others to provide that assurance to you.

"I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" – 1 Corinthians 3:1-5.

These verses describe the conditions of the world. Churches need teachers who have a firm foundation in Jesus Christ. Only then shall the people have identity with God as their Source and as their goal.

You can physically measure scientific miracles. Yet to discern many mystical miracles, you must believe in faith to see. Soul knowing manifests in different ways. Some smell the fragrance but cannot see the flowers. Many hear music but cannot see the angel choirs or symphony orchestras in the cities of heaven.

It remains your choice to look up in consciousness objectively, or down at the subjective world of appearances. Mao Zedong destroyed the books in China and tore down the schools to obliterate knowledge of the soul, yet this will not stop faith in God or ascension.

Ascension of consciousness gives you a foundation, such as Paul described when he spoke of himself and Apollos. When you build wrongly, the heavenly fire will destroy your creations but will save your soul. Christ is your foundation, the Vine of whom you are many branches. To be fruitful, you must live by personal responsibility and nonresistance.

In Moses' day, God fed His children manna that lasted for only one day. He provided that manna fresh daily. Today, through His Son Jesus Christ, our Father feeds us eternal life through the Breath of Life. You cannot run on yesterday's breathing. So gather your heavenly manna as the Breath of all life from above, every hour. It is free for your choosing and breathing. God's Breath of Life is always flowing from the Source.

Choice: Your Glorious Foundation (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated October 16, 1966. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson and Irene White. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3.

Miracles come in two varieties, mystic and scientific. You believe you will see a mystical miracle, while you have to see a scientific miracle to believe it. You cannot have a miracle without the main ingredients of divine personality and principle.

What ails the world? Countries lack leaders who provide a firm foundation. More importantly, Christians lack a clear identity with God and thus are blown about by the four winds. Some throw away their inheritance, weep and muddy the ground around them with their tears. Others tolerate and sanction erosive permissiveness which allows people to retrogress.

You cannot live without a foundation in God, and Jesus, the Christed of God, is your foundation. You cannot live without an identity, so you must identify with God, the Source.

God has provided us a space suit of protection, a cushion of blue Light. You are immortal! You are living in eternity now! Eternal life is everywhere evenly present, and has been from the beginning. Stars can explode, planets can implode, nations can fail, but God goes on forever.

Mystical miracles come through prayer and labor. Scientific miracles come through labor and prayer. A poet said, "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed." (James Montgomery, Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire) The scientist's sincere desire is to succeed in bringing through something new. An obstetrician's desire is to bring new life into the world. Many doctors and scientists pray. Labor is a physical and mental expenditure of energy, as in the labored breathing of childbirth, for example.

He who evades work and seeks to escape his responsibilities in life works just as hard as those who produce. Electric lights, the great bridges of the world, instant communication and jet flight are scientific technological miracles. All progress is a miracle, from the two seeds of life that form the body of a child to the healing of the body or affairs. People who have been called back from death are often the recipients of a mystical miracle through prayer.

">Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. God fashioned us according to His eternal law of all love, all courage, all everything, all good. Your application of God's Power and Substance as personality gives you identity with Him. You can draw upon the Breath of Life to touch the Source anytime.

Paul asked, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"– 1 Corinthians 3:3. Today's erosive permissiveness is creating a new cult of phallic worship and perversions. Permissiveness results when parents exert no control over their children, so you must put the Power of love into all you do or say. You would not permissively sanction evil, yet complaining, criticizing, worry and negativity all cause divisiveness and strife. When you are tolerant, instead of just tolerating, you are no longer aware of strife because you have become the law of tolerance. Heavenly pride in the law of tolerance gives no permissive sanction to evil.

Do you have God and weakness and ill health or God as health and all good? You cannot have God and, but God as the one Mind that you can contact to move through your creative faculties. Say, "Let a shaft of Light move through this" person or thing. Are you declaring, "Let there be Light" when you see evil anywhere? How often a day do you say this when you see, read about or hear of evil? Do not sanction evil.

Every time you swat erosive permissiveness, you serve as an instrument of God. For example, declare, "Let there be Light in all drugs, and perversions, to strip them and reveal them." When you take a deep breath and declare Light is in "it," you tap the Source of God, which then moves into the "it's" source of supply. Thus, God uses you for His work. It is a mystic miracle that you must believe to see it. God gives the increase as promotions and rewards on the inner.

Practice steadfastness while laboring in the vineyard of God. "Let there be Light," is mystical prayer as you labor. Declare, "I am of the Source. The Power does the work. The Light does the work." Pay no attention to delays, which are just gopher holes on the road of Power.

The breath of life is your day's manna. You cannot use yesterday's manna, faith, Power or Light. Manna falls fresh every hour. You have a firm foundation in the River of the Christed Life. This is your heritage now, eternal life, and divine omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence. The Spirit of God is your begotten portion, your identity as a star, prince, princess or creator.

Labor is either physical or mental. When you labor and say, "Let there be Light," the Light moves into your project. You do labor when you pray. How often do you have to make yourself pray? It takes steadfastness, determination, the love of God, and faith to produce the mystic miracles you need. your relationships are all under the mystic miracle of labor.

The world accepts a scientific miracle only after it has been accomplished, and some always refuse to accept. Accept your inheritance and do not deviate. Do not lose your identity with God because worldly problems beset you. Why do you waver, doubt, or lose faith? Declare, "I am of the Source. The Power does the work." This is the Source of all healing. You can touch nothing that is not of the one Power and Substance of God. Delays are the gopher holes into which you stumble.

God said, "Let there be manna" to the children of Israel, and manna lay on the ground like snow. The law was that they could pick enough for only one day, but the leftovers would spoil. The Breath of Life is your day's manna. You cannot use yesterday's Breath of Life today or you are using spoiled manna, which depletes the body's atomic substance and brings on old age. You shrivel up because you try to live on the manna given when you were younger. Manna falls fresh every day.

When you say, "Let there be Light," you invoke fresh Light daily. Do this and you can experience new mystic miracles daily. It is your choice, a glorious foundation of life.

Power and Imagination

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for May 21, 1967. Scripture: John 1:43-49.

"The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." – John 1:43-49.

A miracle is an outstanding example of how the law of expansion and growth works. When Jesus prepared to feed the 5,000, he called Philip, because he had implicit faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus knew what he would do. Jesus acted to prove himself to the other disciples, and to provide proof for them. The crowd was incidental. Imagine the talk and questions that night among his followers.

Mark 6 says that Jesus sat them down in ranks of fifty and a hundred. Then he blessed and shared the loaves and fishes with the disciples. The twelve gave of what they had.

Elijah performed a similar miracle with a barrel of barley meal that wasted not, and a cruse of oil that failed not. The barley meal represents life's substance, which the Power expanded; expanded substance is usable substance.

The fish represent abundance. The loaves represent the life substance. The increase of bread and fishes is about having faith, believing to see, and the power of the spoken Word. Jesus used five loaves and fishes. Five represents the vibration of freedom and life, in this case freedom from hunger, which increased the crowd's expectancy of receiving food. Zero represents unity.

Seating the people in ranks of fifty and one hundred served to arouse their attention and bring them into one mind, focused on the Master, free from doubt that a miracle could be performed. Psychologically, this was the power of suggestion perfectly aimed. He had their complete attention. Wherever you center your attention, Power will follow and there you will have a miracle.

The five thousand who were with them had eyes to see with, focused not on the miracle to be done, but on the Light. They were expectant in attitude, waiting to hear, to see. When you must have another miracle, you must turn on the heat or the vibration lowers. Placing the people in ranks of fifty served to quell their five senses. Seating them then in ranks of one hundred lifted their desire to ascend.

Look around after you've received your miracle. What do you have left? Twelve baskets represent twelve high virtues or vibrations in action. If you let the vibration die down, law can't fill the baskets. Love fills law. What do you fill the baskets with when you spend your last cent paying the bills? Reach for the twelve baskets left over from your last miracle. Imagine a special cloud with twelve baskets safely stored on it. Declare, "I am sending this check as a gift to pay this bill."

When you have finished making your declarations, look around, fill your baskets again from invisible faith, life, substance. Take time to apply the law of increase. Sit down in ranks of fifty and one hundred to pay attention. Have you used imagination to fill your twelve baskets? Have you seen them overflowing with hundred dollar bills?

Tomorrow is yours. To see your barley loaves, fishes, meal, and oil growing and expanding will create a glorious joy of expectancy. Today's challenge is "Do I release enough Power to lift the burdens I face?" For example, a house fire started and two young sisters carried a heavy trunk from the attic to the lawn. The next day, they could not lift it. A father and son were felling trees, and a log rolled onto the boy's legs. His father lifted the log to free him, yet it took three men to move that log the next day.

You can release enough Power to hold a vibration by your discipline of focus and attention, and your right use of imagination to see the increase you desire. God cannot fail you. Tomorrow is yours, if you meet today's challenge. Are you strong enough? Are you a powerful instrument? What is your soul temperature today, now?

Moving Mountains (a)

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for March 3, 1970. Scriptures: Matthew 17:14-21, Matthew 21:18-21 and Luke 24:50-53.

"There came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." – Matthew 17:14-21.

"Now in the morning as [Jesus] returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." – Matthew 21:18-21.

"He led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." – Luke 24:50-53.>

A mountain symbolizes a high place, a place to which you may ascend. The first verse in this scripture summarizes Jesus' answer to his disciples, who had asked why they were unable to exorcize the demon from a boy: "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." – Matthew 17:20.

A grain of mustard seed is tiny, almost invisible, yet it holds one untouchable, invincible idea inside, to grow into a mighty tree. This is absolute faith. Nothing is impossible to faith. To a mountain of despair or darkness, you can say, "Let there be Light." Light fills you, and the love in the Light can absorb the darkness until the mountain disappears.

In the verse from Matthew, the twenty-first chapter, Jesus had just withered the barren fig tree, and his disciples had marveled. Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." – Matthew 21:21. Water, as represented by the sea, symbolizes emotion. Under your declarations of Light, love absorbs the emotions that hamper you.

What is your mountain? What have you asked to have removed? Instead of questioning whether God will send you a miracle, which is doubting that you can trust Him, ask yourself, "Can God trust me? Do I trust myself?" Where are you headed? – into the world, or upward to see your soul, to see God? You can put every trouble in the world on a cloud of Light for lifting. You may fill as many clouds as you want or need. You only need to keep them clear and uncluttered in the eye of your mind.

Redeem your time. Remit enough love. Retain your own soul and give up the darkness of self. Then, "It shall come to pass," those sweet words of promise, which are always followed by "And it came to pass."

Moving Mountains (b)

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 10, 1970. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson, Florence Waldorf and Ross Whitehead. Scriptures: Matthew 17:14-21, Matthew 21:18-21 and Luke 24:50-53

Jesus healed a child, whom the disciples could not heal, and they asked why they had failed. "Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." – Matthew 17:20.

Jesus used a tiny mustard seed as an example because it starts small but grows into a tall tree under the principles of expansion and growth. Wisdom will expand in proportion to the completeness of your faith. You can pray for a miracle, but if you wonder if it will happen, it will not.

For example, say that you ask for money to pay the bills. Thank God that He is supplying it, and leave your request on the altar at that higher level, even if you do not stay there as you go about your day. Do not cut the vibration with the scissors of doubt or anxiety.

If a loved one is near transition, you may not pray for him to die, but you can pray, "Father, remove Name to his rightful place as a child of God. Let Light consume any and all darkness that may still anchor him to earth."

In regard to a difficult situation or person say, "Father, remove Name into the Light of God. Remove this mountain of bedevilment in Name," which can be your own misunderstanding, resentment or hurt feelings. Do not run away or close out any situation or person emotionally or mentally.

You can declare, "Let Your Light, Father, remove evil from my eyes and ears. Let Your Light remove this mountain of criticism, resentment, and judgment. Please, remove my unbelief. Father, move in and possess me until I cannot hear Name's voice." The key to removing mountains is to stand on the perfect principle of faith and say, "You are good. Let there be Light." A tiny grain of mustard seed is perfectly capable of growing into complete faith.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." – Matthew 21:21. The barren fig tree illustrates the opposite pole of contraction, for it illustrates the process of shrinking something by faith. This applies to illness, such as a tumor, gallstones, kidney stones or arthritis. Ask the Father to remove the condition into a sea of Light, for evil starves to death in Light when nothing and no one feeds it.

Light will also shrink a bad disposition. Say, "This is good. Let there be Light. Let me stand in a shaft of Light," and ask that the Father gives you the knowingness of the full faith of God. You must move beyond believing it into knowing it, but do not question the miracle. You resurrect self by your belief.

No more evil infests the world than before. It has just come to the surface and our task is to thin out the darkness and lighten the load. The whole earth is ascending. You will hear the nastiest atheists change their tune, saying that there must be a God. Stand and know this, without turning back.

Today is Mother's Day. Strive to live by the Mother Love of God, which is complete compassion. Miracles are coming faster. More and ever more proof of your faith in God shall be made manifest. Ninety percent of the delay in answer to prayer that people experience is because the person praying does not really want what they have prayed about. Many pray for healing, yet are not ready or are unwilling to give up their unbelief and to live as descended creator gods.

Jesus' Miracles: Water Becomes Wine

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for November 1, 1970. Scripture: John 2:1-11.

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." – John 2:1-11.

All miracles recorded in the Bible unfold some inner mystery. Jesus' whole life had been but a preparation for his mission. The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ outlines his work, which he pursued behind the public scenes. It gave the priests of the temple and the descended creator gods information about what his mission was to accomplish.

We are only now bringing the real reason into the open. Only now do a few accept. Explain clouds of glory. Substance condensing to be used for healing. Rays of Power, use of Mind and the spoken Word.

How many millions, even of those in the first life wave, accept? Do you attempt to see the unseen? Do you have the idea of "seeing" the mysteries? Just listening to the words makes us feel good, but our service means more than that.

Mary and her cousin Elizabeth came to earth knowing exactly who they were, who their sons were and what they had to do. They trained them in readiness for their great mission.

John the Baptist knew that he must be ready when the Orders came from the great Council to open Jesus' mission. Each of the twelve souls who were to become the disciples had been sent and had to be ready for Jesus' call. We, too, are in the right place and ready to hear the call.

The first chapter of the Gospel of John sets the keynote for Jesus' mission. John the Baptist opens the first day of Jesus' mission to renew our knowledge of the Source and our identity with that Source. All else was but a preparation.

Study the verses 12 to 28, for they give you the story of that first day. The second day is revealed in verses 29-51. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and he chose the first of his disciples.

The second chapter opens with the third day, when Mary initiates the public portion of Jesus' ministry. Love must be the opener for every new day. Only Love can send forth the rays that Mind knows must be the next step. Love, as Power, speaks the Word. When you speak the Word, you must first say "Let" to absorb and consume all evil to make way for the miracle.

The six waterpots of stone represent our firm prayer molds. They must be constant and unwavering and filled to the brim until the mold is complete. Yet even then we must keep the Power flowing and send the Substance forth from the brimming molds.

Water represents pure substance from the Source, which we must use. The blood-red wine represents energy and movement. The pure invisible substance must be turned into energy to become visible as a miracle. You must know that the substance is waiting there, condensed to become visible on your spoken Word of Mother Love.

To speak the Word includes knowing the right time to act. The third day represents the right time. Six is the creative number we use to start the flow by "acting as if" we already have the miracle. Knowing is standing unwaveringly, Now, rejoice! For this spreads the flow.

Jesus' Miracles: Increasing the Loaves and Fishes

Edna Lister created this sermon outline for December 13, 1970. Scripture: Mark 6:31-46.

"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray." – Mark 6:31-46.

We need some background to understand this miracle. In the first part of chapter six, Herod had married his brother Philip's wife Herodias, while his brother was still alive. John the Baptist publicly chastised her wickedness. She knew she dare not kill him while he was in prison, so she had her daughter Salome work her wiles on Herod, to trap him into killing John. Just before this miracle, the disciples had buried John the Baptist. They were still grieving his loss.

Jesus was busy, and had no time to eat. "Come ye apart." The disciples told him to send the people away. He asked how loaves and fish they had, and was told, "Five, and two fish." Then Jesus had them sit in ranks fifties and by hundreds. There must be order to have a miracle, and this created an expectant attitude. They became quiet. Jesus must have been speaking to them about obedience.

"And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled." – Mark 6:41-42.

What happened? Power and Substance obeyed Mind, condensing Substance as it descended. We all do this at night; we draw down the next grade of Substance above the visible from our Oversoul Star when we pray for forgiveness.

Our effort of love, the quality of our belief in love governs our giving. We cannot hold any past idea, but must forgive first. We must be cleansed to the point of being unable to remember the past.

The whole New Testament is a living recital of the fourth dimension of glory, where every breath is a new incarnation of Mind and Substance as our very cells.

Discard the statement "I'll never do that again" for a new declaration of intention: "I repent. I accept. I ascend." Now we can say, "My measuring rod is that I make myself good so everyone else can be happy. I have my new plan, my new code of life, and am all ready to face it."

"I plan to give of myself lavishly, to forget self control, to live by soul conquering. My orbit is now unconquerable faith. I compare myself with the Christ only. I have no past, for this triumph over darkness, ecstasy of soul and rapture of love blots it out.

My faith dares to say, "It shall come to pass." I share my five loaves and two fish with the five thousand varieties of world darkness. I always have twelve baskets left over to share, one for each zodiacal sign today. I praise and I rejoice."

Resurrection from All Darkness

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 9, 1971. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson, Linda Mihalic and Irene White. Scripture: John 11:1-45.

"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 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, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him." – John 11:1-45.

Many people, from all walks of life, followed Jesus. Earlier in the Gospel of John, he had announced that he was the Son of God, offending some, thrilling others, and confusing many. Some called him a blasphemer and regularly sought to stone him. He made himself invisible and escaped those who wanted to kill him.

Becoming invisible when necessary is one of the eight great powers of being. Jesus could walk unnoticed through the crowds because his righteousness cloaked him from their view. They could not see him because his vibration varied so greatly from theirs.

In this episode, Jesus sacrificed his personal safety and returned to where those whom he had offended had tried to stone him. A messenger brought him news of his friend Lazarus' illness unto death.

He told the disciples that Lazarus was not dead but merely asleep. Further, he declared that Lazarus's illness was for the glory of God, so that the Son of God might be glorified. Then he tarried for two more days. Jesus knew that the story of Lazarus' miracle would live down through the ages. He declared everything good before he said, "I go to awaken Lazarus."

The Master wept when Mary failed to understand that love could conquer even death. To weep in sympathy is not disobedient to law, but betrays an emotional weakness. He also groaned in spirit, yet he was closer to God than ever when he commanded Lazarus to "Come forth!"

You must face and make every new sacrifice in the sure knowing that the time of this sacrifice will end, and the condition will be lifted. To conquer, you must know that Power is moving through you as Light, absorbing darkness, and every problem.

If you desire to conquer fear and remain conscious of the Light, you must walk in the Light twelve hours a day, without any doubt. Then God will take care of the night hours for you.

Under sacrifice, you grow closer to God through your devotion to Him. Light then absorbs all darkness near you, but first you must become an ambassador of Light. Declare, "Father, please fill my aura and my body with Light." Then you are ready to look every problem in the face, and make it pay great dividends as you pray for Light to penetrate, fill and lift the lines to evil. Do not lift the evil itself.

Declare Light is moving into the situation. Let Light take over, then stand ready to declare that whatever comes is good. Know that the Light does the work.

Whatever it is, declare it good and know that God will take care of you and all those who are on your lines of Light. Say, "Father, please take of me and those for whom I am responsible. Absorb me into Thy Light."

Declare that darkness cannot take over the government. "Light shall take over, for Light always wins." Lift and declare good for whatever comes. You can say in a loud voice, "Good, come forth," and good does come forth.

After returning to Lazarus' house and speaking to Martha, Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." When you leave the physical, you leave your old worn out shell and return to a spiritual body that is whole and complete. Life just goes on after the death of the physical vehicle.

What is the temperature of your zeal about the Resurrection and the life of God? Send your line of faith to the Source of God, and Light comes forth to conquer evil. Everything is made of Light. Say, "Let there be Light." Then stand, saying, "Come forth," knowing that Light is Power, which can resurrect anything, if you believe.

You are an heir to the kingdom, and an ambassador of Light, which moves through this outer sheath you wear. Declare, "Let God come forth for the world as in the beginning. God, as Light, is going forth, conquering now. With every breath I draw, let me declare that God is sending forth Light that is conquering darkness."

Say, "Let there be Light," then stand. Declare, "Come forth," and meet whatever is there. Let the Light do the work. Know that your declarations are good. You are returning home to God. Live, move, have your being in Light, which is the Resurrection.

From Surrender of Self to Soul Ascension

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 16, 1971. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Lotus Landis, Ruth Johnson, Linda Mihalic, Irene White and Ross Whitehead. Scripture: John 21.

"After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. his spake he, signifying by what death [Peter] should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." – John 21.

The Sunday before Ascension Day is so important that we must set the stage with a scripture from Holy Week. The women went to Jesus' tomb after the Sabbath. "There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it." – Matthew 28:1-7.

I desire that you know the beauty and greatness of your Guardian Angels, who care for you. Be grateful that your Guards have carried you through this period of darkness, and appreciate that they gather you unto the Source while you are here on earth.

The countenance of the angel at the tomb "was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow." He had descended to gather and lift the dark substance of evil that Jesus' Crucifixion had attracted and that was still floating around.

Do not look to a man for this glory, but behind the scenes. The Roman guards were so frightened that they shook with fear when the angel appeared. The angel told the women that Jesus had risen.

You reach the point in soul ascension where your sacrifice of self burns away your silver cord, which carries your records of earth life. A golden cord of Light then descends, as did the angel at the tomb. The golden cord is a ray of Light with a thousand strands, named and numbered to suit only your specific identity. You must weld this golden cord to the silver cord's thousand strands to ascend.

Since Easter, the Light has doubled the Power of your spoken Word, day after day. Accept this; believe to see, to feel it. The Power of your spoken Word is now so great that if you were all on one vibration, you could move the whole world and heal everyone on earth. Until now, you have had miracles and seen miracles in bits and parts. Now you are purging earth of evil and darkness, and Light is moving through.

Today, I discover something new in this chapter, John 21, which records the events following the Crucifixion and Resurrection: Here we have a whole book of lessons on how to act. Each time he appeared after the Resurrection, Jesus asked for something to eat. Religious orthodoxy ignores this fact. He invited the disciples to breakfast, and he himself furnished something to eat.

Eating, as a symbolic action, is also an element in Acts 27. During the storm, while the Romans were taking Paul to Rome, he told them to stop and eat. "And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat." – Acts 27:33-36.

Your body needs to be well fed and rested before you undertake any strenuous activity or important work. To save themselves in their situation, the seamen and passengers needed to eat and drink, to recover from their long fast.

Jesus, in this Resurrection lesson, is teaching you to pay attention to the upkeep of your physical body. People are paying more attention to this. The entire natural food movement is to raise the body's rate of vibration, to prepare us to recreate new physical bodies.

You use everything that earth produces (vitamins, minerals, meat and herbs, not just fruit, nuts, grains, etc.) to fulfill the law of taking care of your outer physical bodies. While they ate, Jesus expounded about the prophets, and opened their eyes, their hearts and minds.

Jesus appeared to his disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-53), and "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." They did not know him until he broke bread with them that evening. "He opened their eyes, and they knew him." He had fulfilled a prophecy. In each of his appearances, he taught important lessons, which they discussed. The disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the others. Eleven met, commenting and questioning, especially about Jesus eating and why he emphasized food.

Jesus appeared to them, and challenged Thomas. Some of us, like Thomas, must put our fingers in holes to believe that Power is coming through. Must you see to believe before you can accept? Jesus continued appearing in a body that was almost as dense as flesh. He had to appear to them before they could really accept that he had risen. Thus, he showed them how he could leave earth, taking his body with him.

Finally, he told them to tarry in Jerusalem for the descent of Power at Pentecost. This was about thirty days after the Resurrection. Peter, the Aries, was impatient with waiting. "Why can't we go to work?" He said, "I am going fishing" tonight. Six others went with him. They fished all night, but caught nothing. They had discussed everything that Jesus had said and done, but had not prayed themselves up in consciousness. Then they saw Jesus on the shore.

"Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." – John 21:5-6.

If you pray and do not have a miracle, you have not cast your net on the right side of the boat. The miracle is coming from the Father above, the up side, not from the net under the water of your emotions. The right way to pray must include your repentance. For instance, if you have been doubtful, you must change your net to the other side, the faith-full side of the boat.

To say, "I am sorry" at night, then to hold the same old doubts and fears in the morning, is like remission and relapse in an illness. The same lessons remain to learn again. You must lift the negative vibrations you have created. At the same time, you must also move the net to the right side of the boat.

When they had cast their net on the right side, it became so full they could hardly get it in the boat. The catch numbered 153 fish. Mystically, the 153 fish symbolize: One (1) the individual, five (5) freedom of choice, and three (3) perfected personal expression. This totals nine (9), a trinity of expression, the complete release of God's Power.

Jesus had built a fire and was cooking bread and two fish on the fire when they put the net on the right side of the boat. He told them to bring their fish to the fire. They were hungry and they ate their fill.

John had said this was the Master, but they did not dare ask if he were Jesus, because they were supposed to know. Then three times, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Twice, Peter said yes, and Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." The third time, Peter was wounded, grieved, and said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus wept in the garden of Gethsemane because they still needed him. Peter had tried to eavesdrop on Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin, but he had no right to be there. When accosted, he denied Jesus three times to save himself for the work. Yet that lie went out to permeate the whole world.

So on the beach, Peter was brokenhearted. He had learned that "I am sorry" fails to pay the debt. When Jesus asked, "Do you love me," he sent forth a vibration to lift every life spark enmeshed in Peter's denials. Peter's repentance of his lies, and Jesus' remission of the sin, covered Peter's transgressions and lifted them into the Light. To repent, stand and declare, "Let Light cover this debt." Do you obey the law? Have you obeyed perfectly this year?

"He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." – Psalm 91:11. The Father has charged Councils to assign angels to have charge over you, who have held and supported you as the Power is moving through you. You must accept this and know the Power that is touching you is real. If you make a mistake, say, "Let there be Light. Let the Light move through everything I have done," and lift it into the Light immediately. Let there be enough Light on it, and move your net to the right side.

This week is the preparatory period for the descent of Power on Pentecost, next Sunday. Believe, and the food you eat will be manna from heaven. Prepare to receive and you will see your Guards and the face of your Begotten Father. Stretch your vision to know, and that altar will be lowered on a cloud to whatever height you can reach.

Power shall be increased, according to your surrender, hour after hour. Pray fervently without ceasing, not as a mental act. More Power will fill your spoken Word. Your whole Oversoul will move in and possess you, depending on your surrender and desire to touch the Source of God.

The High Altar

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated May 23, 1971. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson, Linda Hildebrand Mihalic, Irene White, Ross and Virginia Whitehead. Scripture: Acts 1.

"The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom also he presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ye have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. Then returned they to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about an hundred and twenty), and said, Men and brethren, this scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us, and obtained a part of this ministry. (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that the field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the Book of Psalms, Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it: and let another take his place. Therefore of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles." – Acts 1.

No time or space exists in eternity, which is One. When you reach for eternity, space begins to collapse on itself and you can stand as you did in the beginning, one with God. I erase time and years so that we, as a group, stand on the Mount of Olives with the Master at his last appearance. So this morning, we stand with the Master, whose bodies had been enfolded one into the other, who had been resurrected and was about to ascend.

This morning we are one with the Messiah. You each become a little messiah in your place, according to your belief. The first chapter Acts is the foundation Jesus established by his Resurrection and Ascension. He opened the Gates to Heaven, which were more closed than they are today, merely unlocked.

I am pleased and joyous to ask you to go with me now to view the record of the Power and glory that followed the Crucifixion, and the storm that rent the temple veil that day. Among you are those who followed devotedly. Those with enough faith and devotion will be there in the Light.

The high priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin had stopped their evil-doing for a time because their venomous wishes had been granted. Jesus had been crucified. They were not watching the disciples, who were thus allowed to do what they wanted. They were not hounded again for two weeks, until after Pentecost.

The most mysterious time in the Master's life was the period between his Ascension and the Pentecost. Jesus was with his disciples forty days. While they beheld, he was taken up on a cloud into heaven. They walked from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, as he had told them. Then the disciples and other followers gathered in the upper chamber. Their faith was marvelous. They had not yet established a ritual, but they gathered, each with his idea of how to carry on without their leader. Their teacher had just gone, and each wanted to add what he had heard.

Peter, the Rock, took the lead, and began his ministry right there. I am sure that Peter told them to pray for Judas. Judas' suicide by hanging is the movie version. Judas let go of his body as the atoms burst with Jesus' forgiveness, and he fell onto the rocks. Many persons in both Testaments died with the invasion of divine Power. Intestinal disease results partly from greed and the desire to be exalted, self aggrandizement, all of which are misuses of Power. When you treat for intestinal disease, lift all pride, greed and selfishness.

Peter was the first disciple to hold fast to what Jesus had said. He told them they must appoint another to take Judas' place, and that it had to be someone who had been at the River Jordan with John the Baptist. They proposed two to succeed Judas: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. They elected Matthias.

Peter spent the time before the Pentecost organizing and teaching. Others wanted to know what Jesus had said to the women and Peter. He wanted to gather all the lessons and stories Jesus had told each. He told them about the Holy Spirit and how to prepared for the descent of Power.

The second chapter of Acts tells of Pentecost. They were waiting eagerly to see how the Power would come. It came as a sound from heaven, as a rushing wind. Cloven tongues of flame sat on each who was filled with the Holy Spirit. They began speaking in tongues, and strangers in the multitude observing were surprised to hear their native languages. It was the event spoken of by the prophet Joel.

Peter preached to the House of Israel and told his audience to be baptized and, "Be saved from this perverse generation." They probably used a garden pool for the baptisms before the religious authorities could act.

I saw the Holy Spirit in operation when my younger son was only eighteen months old [1917]. I knew he was dying of a high fever, but held him up and went to God, counting on the promise that whoever called on Him could be healed. Because I was in "one accord" with God, the very events of Pentecost happened in our cabin in the Idaho Rockies: The Holy Spirit, which seemed like a rushing, mighty wind, came at once. It filled that small pioneer homestead and actually shook the house.

I thanked the Father that He had heard my prayer and sent the Holy Spirit. I do not know how long it lasted, but it continued for what seemed many hours. When it stopped, everything was cooler. It was summer. The birds were singing. My son was asleep, completely well, just as beautiful as an angel.

It has happened. It will happen again today. Healing is in the wings of the Holy Spirit. They began with 120 and added 3,000 souls that first Pentecost day. You do not need to be dunked in the Holy Spirit, but you do need to accept that the Holy Spirit is descending. Your privilege is to accept and to declare it for yourself and for the world.

Today we establish a new Pentecost and descent of Holy Spirit. The Father is doing the work of making it so. Reach for it and declare that it is part of your healing work for the world. The Holy Spirit is pure, undefiled Light, coming as rays of Light from the Source. It moves through your body, cleansing and purifying. Light will destroy every germ, virus, or bacteria that can touch the physical body for those who believe. You must believe this.

Do you believe your spoken Word stands fast? As you believe, the work is done. As you think and declare it, Light is cleansing everyone. The work is being done. Lift the newspaper headlines and stories. Declare the Holy Spirit is taking care of them. Do not take in what is happening in the world. This is how to lift the effects of evil from earth. Look at the world around you. Jesus the Christ is known throughout the world today. Evil is doomed to be consumed by groups like this, by families who pray, by churches that believe.

How much Light do you want to ask the Father to send through you? Send Light through the evil concocted by committees, groups, governments, people. From today on, we begin to finish Christ's work. The world is turning again to God. The Holy Spirit now descends on the vibration from heavenly choirs o'ershadowing the earthly singers throughout the world. Accept and declare that the Master releases the Power from above and the Holy Spirit is doing the work.

The Light of Illumination

This Edna Lister sermon transcript is dated June 6, 1971. Scribes: Elizabeth Barnes, Ruth Johnson, Linda Hildebrand Mihalic, Irene White and Ross Whitehead. Scriptures: Acts 8:39-40, Acts 9.

"Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea." – Acts 8:39-40.

"Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner." – Acts 9.

The disciples clung together because they were persecuted for having followed Jesus. Stephen, an apostle, was stoned to death. I have always wondered what Stephen said to so anger the mob that they stoned him for it. We are now closing out violence. Everything points to how we are reaching up in consciousness and away from killing.

Stephen had prepared the way for Philip, who was also outspoken, but he continued, taught with all the fervor of his love for Jesus, and spoke at many places. The Ethiopian Queen Candace sent her eunuch to Philip, who interpreted scripture, converted and baptized him. Philip was caught up by the Spirit of the Lord and disappeared.

Philip fulfilled the law of becoming invisible by being used by the Power of God, one of the eight great powers of being. The disciples used this law to great advantage, especially to save their lives. This is important, and explains how you can avoid involving yourself or another in a mess. The moment you desire to become invisible, your rate of vibration increases.

The eight powers of being include conquering the forces working in the lower self, command of all inner forces under the process of growth, command over all outer forces, setting aside gravity (becoming too light to be held by earth gravity), becoming too heavy to be moved, becoming invisible, to create or to invoke life by the spoken Word, overcoming death by becoming law and comprehension.

The story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) is tremendous. Saul was born into a good family. Yet he hated Jesus' followers and held a revenge motive toward the early followers of Christ. A great light suddenly blinded him, and he fell to the ground. (Some skeptics have theorized that Saul was an epileptic.) He and the men with him heard a voice, saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

They took Saul, still blinded, to the house of a Christian. In three days, his illumination was complete. Jesus sent the disciple Ananias to Saul of Tarsus, and he declared that Saul's eyes were healed. He was given not only spiritual vision, but hearing also. When someone stubbornly refuses to accept, and uses great force, all the Power released through him turns inward on him. The heavier the repudiation and cursing, the greater his subsequent love, devotion, and release of Power will be when he does accept. For instance, the greedier one is, the more violently he reacts to having no money.

Ananias feared to go to Saul and bless him, but he believed and trusted God and went. The Holy Spirit later possessed Saul, and as Paul, he immediately began to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul became completely devoted to Jesus and preached more than any other follower. This experience is having the scales fall from your eyes. As you accept your new place, it grows greater. When you look back, you see when you put on the spiritual blinders.

The first great miracle is more than having the scales fall from your eyes. The second is discovering that you are always watched over and hidden in Light.

Paul's supporters hid him in a basket and slipped him into and out of Jerusalem and brought him to Caesarea, a meeting place of early Christians.

In Lydda, Peter healed Aeneas of palsy (paralysis accompanied by involuntary tremors), which had afflicted him for eight years. Peter said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: Arise, and make thy bed." – Acts 9:34. So we know that the Word can heal paralysis.

In Joppa, Tabitha (Dorcas), a woman who had made robes for the men, had died. They called Peter and he met with the disciples who were mourning her. Peter put all the mourners out. He could not have that deadening vibration, but could only speak Jesus' words. He knelt and prayed, then spoke the Word, "Tabitha, arise." She did. "She opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. – Acts 9:40.

You can be empowered to raise the dead. You do not need to be in a church or surrounded by the faithful to speak the Word. If Jesus Christ has given us the power of the spoken Word, then the power of the spoken Word is strong enough to work through you, as you, alone.

All healing occurs on the power of the spoken Word, but you do not need anyone else to speak the Word. If you are with someone who has let go of the body, you have the right to apply the Power of the spoken Word. The individual could have momentarily stepped from her body. You can say, "Jane, move back into your body. You are needed here." Do not be afraid. If someone faints, put your fingers on their wrist at the pulse point, breathe with them, and say, "Move back into your body."

The law that applies to calling someone back is that you must promise the Father that you will share their indebtedness while they remain in the body. Some change their lives and pay their own debts. Declare that people will be changed as Saul was changed into Paul. Hold them on a line of Light and declare that they are perfect. "John is perfect. Let there be Light."

When a call comes to attend an ill one, do not be afraid. When you make the right declarations, taking responsibility for the debts is not always necessary. Yet you must know that he will always be on your prayer lines of Light. I truly want you to see that this is part of your work. Declare, "The Father reaches out with arms of Light to lift this group," and you will have miracles.

What is illumination? The scales will fall from your eyes as the Light of the living God heals your vision. You lift the effects of evil according to your faith.