Savings of a Lifetime
February 16, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 6:19-21 & Psalm 37:5
Do not store
up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
Commit thy
way unto the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:5
Our earthly savings, money, houses, land, are all things that we leave behind when we pass from this life. Yet our main responsibility is to save treasures in heaven – friends, love, service, hard work, giving, education, joy, peace, happiness, confidence, trust.
The Divine Substance for all these things is available for our use, yet what is it, where is it, and how do we find it? Trees, flowers, vegetables, and fruit all have a seed of Desire to grow toward the Light. Desire is your seed also. You fill your invisible mold with your thoughts, emotions, and pictures of imagination.
February 22, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
I Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, do
not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding
be mature.
I Corinthians 14:20
How can I keep my contact with Power every day? To hold our contact with the Divine Power that is forever filling and renewing the River of Life, we must maintain our awareness of God. While we are still "children in understanding," we constantly think of what "we" must do, and how we will do it. If God is our consciousness, then the right answers are always there, for God has all the answers we need!
Why do I lose my contact? We break our circuit with God when we "take in" another’s malice, or think unworthy thoughts. We lose our hold on that smooth-flowing Power when we use it to make another do our will. Every bit of pushiness or force causes it to slip from our grip. Forgetting God breaks our contact with Power.
How do I treat others for the thing I need myself? Imagination is the kingly faculty, and it is free! Anyone can imagine himself a prince instead of a pauper. Yet the greatest, the finest use of imagination is to picture what you want or need as happening to someone you know. Pour out the prayer and declarations for another, and the overflow returns to you!
February 23, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 25:14-30 & Job 22:15-18
For the kingdom
of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants,
and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another
two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately
he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded
with them, and made them other five talents. And likewise he who had received
two, gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground,
and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants
came, and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came
and brought other five talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to me five
talents: look, I have gained five more talents besides them." His lord
said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant: you were faithful over
a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of
your lord." He also who had received two talents came and said, "Lord,
you delivered to me two talents: look, I have gained two more talents besides
them." His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant;
you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord." Then he who had received the one talent
came and said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have
not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid,
and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours."
But his lord answered and said to him, "You wicked and lazy servant, you
knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered
seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming
I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from
him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will
be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what
he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer
darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 25:14-30
Will you keep
to the old way which wicked men have trod, who were cut down before their time,
whose foundations were swept away by a flood? They said to God, "Depart
from us!" What can the Almighty do for them? Yet He filled their houses
with good things; but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Job 22:15-18
The servant who was given responsibility for five talents gained five more for his master. Then the servant who had been given two talents to account for earned two more. Yet the servant who had been given charge of one talent did nothing with it. His talent was taken from him because he had not discharged his responsibility! Often the people who cry "unfair" the loudest are those who do the least.
Every idea carries its own ability to perfectly release all things associated with its completion. Why complain because others may have many ideas when you have only one? That’s walking in the "old way." If you act on that one idea, you will undoubtedly think of more. The use of one idea makes room for more.
The one Light, as Substance, Power and Mind, is "all that the Father has," and flows as a stream, the River of Life — we may keep any of it or none. Each day we save our leftover milk, but we must use money, or "talents," like a free-flowing stream. Anyone who holds onto Power is withholding. Anything we hide, we must bring forth.
March 15, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" means obedience to the Laws of Wisdom. Will God hold it against us if we have said "Father" instead of "Father-Mother?" The Father is the letter of the Law, but the "Spirit" that "makes alive" is the Mother. The Father-Mother, in real "knowledge of the holy," means walking as Creator gods on earth.
"Chosen" means that we choose now to live in Light, to lift, and make a kingdom of heaven of our life on earth now. To obey the letter of the Law is hard. Spiritual balance is Wisdom, Love and Selflessness, in equilibrium.
April 12, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Romans 13:8 & Romans 13:10
Love one another:
for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law.
Romans 13:8
Love works
no ill to its neighbor: Therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Romans 13:10
The Supreme Trinity is composed of Love, Wisdom and Selflessness. It is the opposite of the world trinity of Hate, Intolerance/Ignorance and Selfishness. Love is active on the inner plane, but passive on outer plane until we act, never demanding, never asking, but always giving others freedom to choose their own way.
Love, colored by the world, is polluted, diluted, a tiny stream. Love is an active flame on the inner plane, ever seeking an outlet. Love burns up and burns out, melts all barriers and is glorious. Declare that any black wall that bars progress is a glory. Declare it so to make Love active on the outer. God is waiting for us to do this now!
April 15, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter came
to him, and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and
I forgive him? Till seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I say not unto
thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom
of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, who owed him ten
thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him
to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to
be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, ‘Lord,
have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the lord of that servant
was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the
same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him
an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying,
‘Pay me that you owed.’ And his fellow servant fell down at his feet,
and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the
debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and
came and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had
called him, said unto him, ‘O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that
debt, because you desired me: Should not you also have had compassion on your
fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?’ And his lord was wroth, and
delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts
forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses."
Matthew 18:21-35
The disciples were asking, "Why do I need to forgive? How forgiving must I be? How unselfish? How tolerant? How much must I overlook?"
This particular initiation has two stages, each with two phases. First, when we see the Light, the king, our real self, condemns the past and feels complete imprisonment is too good for the sin. We become conscious of self and all self-relationships.
The second phase is our relationship to God as One. Then our seeking and devotion push up through earth until we become a living sacrifice, giving up self, climbing into sunlight where only love pours forth as an ever living stream.
The second stage is our relationship to the manifest world and the aggressive quality of intellect. We are commanded to judge only righteous judgment, but it is better to render none at all. "What is that to you? Follow me."
The first phase is condemnation of others, where we hold grudges. We are cast into prison, subject to tormentors, and the lesson comes back until we learn! The second phase is Love, the feminine quality, where we become conscious of oneness with all that is outside us, and mercy, all blended into patience and forgiveness. To forgive is to give love for everything. If we work to develop patience, it brings us more occasions and places in which to develop it.
Love fulfills the Law. Use a wailing wall instead of others’ shoulders. How many times should you forgive? Jesus said seventy times seven, which equals 490, or until it becomes a habit.
April 20, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Proverbs 11:24-25
There is that
scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet,
but it tends to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat.
Proverbs 11:24-25
When you concentrate upon supply, you must demonstrate. Concentration is forcing the mental faculty of Thinking. You can concentrate on only one thing at a time. It does not pay enough dividends.
Surrender to Power, which is working now. Lift physical, subconscious mental into the spiritual. Part time surrender is like wind that blows from every quarter. Lift idle words about self-affairs. Let them follow the heart’s conviction.
Let go in your mind! Prosperity requires willingness to be used, led, and lifted until each hour pays dividends.
April 22, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Luke 18:18-27
A certain ruler
asked him, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? None is good but One,
that is, God. You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
‘Do not kill.’ ‘Do not steal.’ ‘Do not bear false witness.’
‘Honor your father and your mother.’" And he said, "All
these have I kept from my youth." So when Jesus heard these things, he
said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And
when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, he said, "How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God." And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"
And he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with
God."
Luke 18:18-27
This text is a perfect sample of lecture and class work, Jesus’ inner and outer teachings. The lesson is divided into three parts, three great ideas under three questions that personality or intellect asks when it becomes dissatisfied with its present place and knowledge. Personality is always seeking, wanting more. The first idea deals with becoming a Creator, and the first question is, How can I get more life, love, etc.?
The first four commands are warnings not to misuse Power. "Do not kill" anything in form seeking experience, for if you destroy form, you must be responsible to give experience to the life that possessed that form. You cannot go on until the debt is paid.
"Do not commit adultery" means we must not misuse any creative fire or the Creative Impulse within the one Power on any plane. Adultery includes unclean thoughts and emotions of any kind. A negative thought is an adulterated truth.
"Do not steal" means that you dare not take without having earned, or you pay. We must earn everything, and we receive through giving.
"Do not bear false witness" refers to misuse of speech. The seat of Power is in throat, because the voice releases the most Power.
The last two commands deal with adherence to Principle. We must live by Principle and honor the Father and Mother God Principles of Wisdom and Love.
"Love your neighbor as you love yourself" means to be selfless, which is the Christ-consciousness Principle. Service is Wisdom, Love and Selflessness in fourfold action: To protect others, keep to purity, give to others, and to praise.
The second question deals with how to get personality and intellect interested: How do I reach my ideal? The second idea is willingness to let go, to surrender, which you have already done on the outer plane until you dimly see another plane. The first phase is surrender of things, to hold no possessions, no "me or "mine." The second phase is surrender of self to "follow me." Obeying the letter of the Law is not enough, we must include the spirit of the Law. Passive obedience never satisfies aggressive intellect. Jesus seized this opportunity to tell his disciples this truth on the inner plane, but couldn’t reveal the inner reason to the unprepared.
A camel has two humps called desire and will. The "eye of the needle" is the optic chiasm of the thalamus. [The optic nerve emerges from the eye and passes along the thalamus on the underside of the brain to the optic chiasm, an X-shaped structure in which the optic nerves from each eye converge. Half the nerve fibers from each eye continue to the visual cortex on the same side of the brain, and half cross over at the chiasm to join fibers from the opposite eye and continue to the visual cortex on that side, producing binocular vision.] You can give up self-desires in favor of desire for Light and heaven, and get the first hump through. The second hump is harder, to give up the self-will. When we realize that we, of ourselves can will nothing, we turn on desire, and God performs the miracle.
The third question is, What shall I receive? The Master is speaking again about the mysteries to teach the third idea. The Son of Man is everyone. Regeneration is lifting up the body. The "throne of Glory" is the head. Twelve physical centers direct the Power, and self control is "dominion." The Son of Man loves impersonally, and is forever giving. The disciples knew that those who believe they are first, may linger and loiter. Someone must be last. We must be keen, alert, alive and eager, or we fall back and another takes our place. Someone is always ready to move into a higher place.
Do we believe when God answers our prayers? Where is our faith centered? Oil well drillers use a diamond faceted drill bit to cut down into the earth. We drill upward for Principle. Faith is our diamond drill bit that sharpens itself as it reaches through the crust of our intellectual selfishness. Are we going to be satisfied with substitutes forever, or recognize our great Destiny, reach forth and press on?
May 27, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son
of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall
he sit upon the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before
him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep
from the goats. And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on
the left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave
me drink, I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed
me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me."
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you
hungry and fed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger
and take you in, or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in
prison, and come to you?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly
I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you have done it to me." Then he will also say to those on the left hand,
"Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels."
Matthew 25:32-41
All thoughts are constructive or destructive, and we must bring them all before the judge of conscience, to be self-reviewed. "All nations" are different states of consciousness, positive and negative, good and worthless. The faculty of Discrimination sets the sheep on the right, and goats on the left.
Sheep are mild and guileless inheritors of the Kingdom of the Father "before foundation of the world." The "hungry" are hungering to lift all things. The "thirsty" are trying to partake fully of life. The "stranger" is one who is left out God’s Kingdom. The "naked" are those who lack the spiritual robes of radiance. The "sick’ are negative, weak from lack of contact. The "prison" means held back, a house of bondage to fear, a crust.
"Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?" We are unconscious of being ourselves! The Lord’s advice on how to be conscious is, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Then he will say to the goats to the left, "Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." The goats are resentful souls, rebellious against God, life. They are cursed to eternal fire of burning conscience about all that they have left undone, until they are hungering to lift, thirsting, feeling unclothed. We must lift our thoughts "forever," knowing that nothing is lost, and let them "burn forever" until we purify our thinking, clear, and clean.
We are learning that now is the Day of Judgment, each night and day. The dividing line is the unfoldment of the Discrimination faculty, lifting, choosing each night.
How have I applied Love, Praise, Desire, Imagination and the spoken Word? So shall we be Sons and Daughters of God "from the foundation of the world," in our place.
August 19, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Mark 12:28-31
One of the
scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that
he had answered them well, asked him, "Which is the first commandment of
all?" And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is,
‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.’ And ‘you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
And the second, like it, is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:28-31
We think of keeping the laws concerning our daily private lives, and those laws that pertain to our nation and the world. Yet we seldom consider the law that governs the relationship between things and Substance. Hosea said, "I am become rich. I have found me out substance."
When the pursuit of "things," such as material goods and success, consumes us, we take our eyes off God. In keeping the Law that governs the relationship between things and Substance, we must keep our eyes fixed on God. We worship the One God, Him only, with mind, heart, body, soul, and no "false gods" of material wealth.
We can achieve balance in keeping the law through giving. Giving up! Giving, UP!
We often see Divine Law work, but so many seem so surprised that it does! Anyone, anything can push us off the path, off-track, if we let them. Anyone can disconnect anything, but we should never disconnect our plug to the Source, nor let another pull it.
We are Sons and Daughters of God, all glorious, radiant, and powerful. All things are possible now. Father, we give ourselves up to Thee, to Thy way of life!
August 22, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Luke 15:11-24
A certain man
had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give
me the portion of goods that falls to me." So he divided to them his livelihood.
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed into
a far country, and there wasted his substance with prodigal living. But when
he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to
be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and
he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his
stomach with the husks that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. But
when he came to himself, he said, "How many of my father’s hired servants
have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go
to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like
one of your hired servants.’" And he arose, and came to his father.
But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion,
and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, "Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to
be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Bring out
the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on
his feet. And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it, and let us eat, and be
merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
Luke 15:11-24
"I will arise and go to my Father’s house." Who is my Father? Where is His house? The Upanishads teach that Mind is the Father, the Beginner; Speech is the Mother, the Sustainer, and Life is the Child, the expression, the product, the outer form.
The first person of the Trinity is the Father, the second person is Christ, the Son, and the third person is "I AM," you in your "righteous estate," your "rightful place." Now are we the Sons and Daughters of God. "I AM" within us is the gathering point, the centralizing point, the focusing point. By our word we "take in." By our word, we "put out" what we are. So take yourself "into" what you "take into" yourself.
Desire is embryonic in each one of us, our potential capacity to be like the "Father." We must "Mother" our Desire until the world fades out, and our Desire "becomes." Failure results from failure to "Mother" our Desire "Son." "Tarry until the original Creative Motive is fulfilled in you." Speak the word, "let."
Do not confine progress to your virtues! Do not retard your virtues by vices! Get back into your Father’s house now. The only suicide is forgetting who we are. We cannot be wrong when we remember to surrender to the Source. "Life begins in Life," the Life of God – life does not begin out here in matter. Only Divine Life can cure life.
August 26, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Hosea 11:1-9
When Israel
was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them,
so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Baalim, and burned incense to
carved images. I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they
did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of
love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped
and fed them. He shall not return to the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall
be his king, because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his
cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels.
My people are bent to backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High,
none at all exalt Him. How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I deliver you,
Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you as Zeboim? My heart
is churns within me, My compassion is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness
of My anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the
Holy One in your midst; and I will not enter into the city.
Hosea 11:1-9
This lesson describes three states of consciousness. First, Hosea is looking into the past, but finding no recognition. "I taught Ephraim to walk." Ephraim means will, also one of Israel’s tribes. Headstrong, willful, rebellious and stubborn. Ephraim represents the English-speaking nations. Our United States predominate in this characteristic, seeking recognition, finding none. (Adamah means red earth.)
Hosea is speaking of God as if He were man. Hosea’s anger caused his difficulty, and misunderstanding. All old prophets credited God with anger. We can’t know God unless we become like Him. What we call "being human" is living after an age-old pattern, ready to drop family, friends, situations, and truth. We are no longer responsible, our enthusiasm dying out.
In the second state of consciousness, Love is overcoming even desire for recognition. We are thinking about loving, planning about loving, our enthusiasm is returning, our interest being aroused. We begin thinking about how the other fellow will react.
In the third state of consciousness, we give lavishly of love, without desire for recognition. We walk in justice and our transgressions fall away. We are completely enthusiastic and enthralled with God because Divine Love is the divine tempter, sent to tempt us divinely to serve God. We forget anything that is not good.
Moses led Israel for forty years, yet Scripture says that Moses’ clothes and shoes never wore out. Daniel was out of tune with "lion desire." Lions had no power over him. We must get out of tune with world ideas, and in tune with Divine Power.
One so linked to God becomes enthralled. We become tireless, and time means nothing when we steadfastly march on. We love to the point of complete absorption, and complete agreement.
Anyone who is enthralled with "things" is their slave and lives for them. If your body enthralls you, you are body-conscious. If your affairs enthrall you, they become your life. If the sound of your own voice enthralls you, you become a loudspeaker. If you are enthralled with yourself, you are always playing to a grand stand.
Anyone enthralled with an idea is a success. Anyone enthralled with the idea of selfless service is a success, because Power doubles their ability. Any individual who is enthralled, enamored with this Divine Love, which is Power, shall become a world leader! Stop prowling in the outer. Begin searching on the inner.
September 26, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 6:1-18
Take heed that
you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise
you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable
deed, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you,
they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in
secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. And
when you pray, you shalt not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing
in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by
men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray,
go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who
is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think
that they shall be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them.
For your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him. In this
manner therefore pray: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when
you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure
their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly. I say to you,
they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your
face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who
is in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you
openly.
Matthew 6:1-18
The Lord’s Prayer is perfect, covering each phase of life and every need. The needs of the now is the predominating idea. Yet what does God get out of it? The seed is glorified in the flower. Everything the Father has works to our infinite benefit, available in limitless supply. Yet God is glorified in our completeness and perfection. Anyone who needs anything, "Let him ask of the Father."
Prayer is the only way out of a confused condition. Under the Law of Forgiveness, a vicious circle is broken, and only the evil is destroyed. Prayer lifts all that comes to you. Your life is only an expansion of "you," an extension of your consciousness.
An internal combustion engine uses gas, a steam engine uses steam, an electric motor uses electricity as power. God has designed our bodies to burn the fuel of spiritual energy, cosmic rays! If you try to use the "world energy" of human emotions, your vigor is gone!
The motive power of a "wicked, stiff-necked generation" is selfishness and greed, which produces only stiff necks. Spiritual Power has a refined force, potency and power. Scripture says that the "Spirit of God created them," and Elijah saved a boy when he "breathed into him health of life." We must return to the spiritual filling station for more life! Our refill must be steady, not spasmodic. We must keep our tanks full, so we fill up every night with the right kind of Power. "A double minded man is unstable." What about "minute-minded men?" We must keep our feed line up to refined Power.
Fasting is the discontinuance of cheap mental and emotional fuels, which casts us into a "den of thieves" of energy. Going without food makes the body more "sensitive." Therefore, negativity will seize the body if we are mentally and emotionally negative before we start. We must fast from negatives and whatever has robbed us of our innate divinity.
Prayer is the application of Divine Principle. Prayer is to the servant of Divine Principle what practice is to a musician. First, we must surrender in devotion, which is a process of sublimation, a process of making the self perfect. A successful musician must practice constantly, so we know that to be successful in prayer, we must "pray without ceasing." The urge to prayer started in the deepest longings of humanity’s nature. Prayer releases the hidden, inner manna. A soul making a prayer is like a musician playing a musical instrument.
We must overlook the problem, move into the Fourth Dimension, and see God. The ancients believed that the gods loved prayers fit to pull the answer down. We say, "God here I am! I’m ready!"
People have too many "little gods" in the way. Ordinary prayer is like going begging every time we want anything! At the end of a day, a beggar has only small change to show for his effort. Someone told a woman that "There is no hope, only God can save you." She said, "Oh! Has it come to that?" We need more than nickels, dimes and quarters. My portion is all that the Father has now, available for me to draw upon.
Say the Lord’s Prayer through once, without letting go of God-consciousness, and you will receive complete illumination. Prayer is the magic, and prayer is your luck. Prayer gives you the will to stand still long enough to "let" the Power move forth and create. Wisdom and strength belong to the brave heart. Declare that all delay is good, and a greater door will open.
September 28, 1934 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Isaiah 59:19
When the enemy
shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard
against him.
Isaiah 59:19
Arthur Brisbane said that "If men want to go up 500 miles above earth and look around outside our atmosphere, they will do it." Twelve thousand years ago, we lived in the Stone Age, and used tools of flint! Professor Milliken once said that our present land speed record of twelve miles per hour "will stand forever!"
Yet, while we are perfecting our ability to produce anything we can think of, we have neglected distribution! We don’t need to use our whole brain to get rich. At Yale they have been experimenting with monkeys and apes, which they’ve taught to find food and go pay for it! Dr. Charles Abbot, at the Smithsonian Institute, has devised a machine that bakes bread. It provides ample heat in the morning to broil bacon and bake biscuits.
We are finding something new every day. So many new ideas are coming through each day, but people don’t have enough help or time to carry them out. Radio is a new invention, yet experts say they will revolutionize it within a few years.
What does a "Victorious Life" mean? It isn’t having power over anyone, anything, or any place, not money or success, not force, not any single outer thing. A victorious life is rooted in man’s pride in his own ability to create. He starts to create something. For instance, he may desire to lay the world at the feet of some woman, but loses sight of his ideals and allows "things" to absorb, to own him, which will leave him unhappy, no matter his degree of success. Only creating can satisfy us. We are creating plants to cool the air, turning barns and blacksmith shops into garages. We see change everywhere, new growth, new Light.
A victorious life grows from knowing we are victors, confident in our ability to create, to accomplish. We want to go somewhere! We are glorious, divine, so be fearless and go!
The enemy comes in like a flood! The Israelites lived in a parched and arid land, cut by only a few rivers, subject to flash floods. A flood is immensely powerful and sweeps everything before it, leaving only barren destruction in its wake. A flood will level everything unless we raise a dike or levee to contain its flow.
We must lift up a standard against the enemy! A standard is a banner, an ensign symbolizing support, and it is something that stands. "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" When God is our standard, no enemy can prevail. The Light, shining from our eyes when we remain at one with God, is our unbreachable levee.
October 3, 1934
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately
Jesus made his disciples to get into the boat, and to go before him to the other
side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes
away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Now when evening came,
he was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by
the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus
went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on
the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried
out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good
cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered him and said, "Lord,
if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." So he said, "Come."
And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to
Jesus. But when he saw that the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning
to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus
stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little
faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "Truly
you are the Son of God."
Matthew 14:22-33
Fear is faith reversed. Every miracle comes "according to your faith." Fear is belief in the negative! Faith is seeking possibilities, while knowing that we never waste any time.
God gets a thrill, real pleasure from His own creation. As Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" Faith is free, a gift from God. The kingdom of heaven is a free gift, but we must "raise Hell!" Thus, we delay God’s pleasure, and become the "lost sheep" that the Master descended to save.
We have all experienced giving someone a gift, which they then received with indifference, and it is not pleasurable. God has to plan, to contrive to sneak up on us, to entice us to take the whole "kingdom of heaven." Every time it catches up, we dodge. We have dodged so much that we have become experts. We need only to reach out our hand, and it is there. Spread your arms, and expand your mind.
Faith is an expansive idea. A piano has no value if no one is playing it. Possessions are useless unless we can use them! The world judges a person’s worth by the material value set on his assets. Our only valuable heavenly asset is faith, which determines how much we have of anything else. If our faith is choked off, our supply is shut down. Our enemies are our thoughts against supreme Faith.
The hand symbolizes the working principle of the body. Faith symbolizes the working Principle of Mind. Imagination works as forming the Principle of Mind. The finished work of imagination is judgment, which is the retarding principle of man’s life. Ideas such as "I’m too old, too weak, too late," stop all expansion and growth. People say, "He’s gone to seed." Every plant goes to seed! Old age means that the body has gone to seed! Seedy things are hard-shelled! Defend your faith, and avoid anyone who tries to kill your faith, for they have the lowest type of mentality.
People are the most egotistical when they are doubting, setting up their own opinions as false gods and worshiping them. You cannot be egotistical when you are accepting.
God calls us good! He has said that we are gods! Accepting this is not egotistical! "I know I can do anything for my Dad. I can do all things through Christ." Disbelief creates an absence of Spirit and a vacancy of mind, no matter what the mentality or attainments.
If we constantly embrace our faith within, the magnitude of our Faith becomes Majestic! Peter, who represents Faith, was the first disciple called, and the first to "see" the real Christ! Let no one rob you of your Faith, Defend it as your Companion of Soul.
Daringly Peter crawled out of the boat. He got his feet wet! Yet the physical called, and he got cold feet from a lack of daring. Cast yourself out! Climb out!
Try risking little things first. Many small miracles make up a large miracle! Faith is the gateway. Faith controls the portals of Mind. God dares! Dare to surrender, and risk everything, no weighing the matter, no judging the pros and cons. Climb out, and take a chance now!
October 7, 1934
Buffalo, New York
John 15:1-13
I am the true
vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear
fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it
may bear more fruit. You are already clean because the word which I have spoken
to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am
the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much
fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he
is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them
into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in
you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this my
Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.
As the Father loved me, so I also have love you; abide in my love. If you keep
my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s
commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that
my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than
this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:1-13
To "abide" means "to rest, to sustain, to remain, to continually dwell, to stand firm, to remain faithful to. Abiding means permanent! Christ is the true vine, through which we produce the fruits of the Love Principle, the Wisdom Principle, and the Christ Principle.
The "vinedresser" is one who is in charge of careful management. Our Father is the overseer, the King of the Court of the Heavens. An over "seer" is one who see all minds and hearts, all hidden things clearly. He knows the exact moment when a lesson must come!
When we abide in Christ, we continually maintain our contact with Light, which ensures that we will produce perfect fruit, a perfect harvest. Our Father will prune every broken branch eventually, but we also by assuming greater responsibility may use the word "Let, " which is our great pruner.
The Master’s promise for "abiders" is, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." What will be "done for you" shall be all "added things."
My Father is glorified, justified, and pleased when I abide in the Christed consciousness. Christed Love and Joy then abides in me. This is no hollow, shallow promise, but the Word of the Universal Christ. Your joy shall be made full!
The Master commands us to use love, to give life for a friend, which means lifting our loved ones each day! When he calls us friends, he makes us his equals in opportunity for Ascension. We are chosen to go and bear much fruit, but we must choose: "Whatever you ask of the Father, in my name, He may give it you."
In 1291 the Muslims converted an ancient Church of St. John into the Great Mosque of Beirut, adding a minaret.
Yet an original inscription remains on the roof, which you must crawl over the roof to see: "Thy Kingdom O Christ is an everlasting Kingdom." Religion and the world have both reached the point where we must acknowledge this.
What would we do if we were suddenly transported to a beautiful room, with a dozen doors with no locks, no knobs, and told that behind just one was life, beauty, wealth, power, love, youth, and treasure untold? The door will open only by standing perfectly still, by abiding in perfect by steadfastness, will open only to the right word of Praise. We have only one chance! What would we do? If we move, we may open the wrong one. Only Light sent forth from above will open the kingdom to us! We must stand in Christed courage.
Are your lives filled with counterfeits in Power? Why take the false or settle for the vain? We must be ensamples of Christed Love and Wisdom, acting as Compassion. We must be cleansed, pruned and grow to bear much fruit.
Attainment
November 7, 1934
Buffalo, New York
John 1:1-14
In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing
was made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There
was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to
bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that
Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light,
which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and
the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own,
and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-14
We are the "Word" made flesh. We are the Spiritual Word. Tending the Word means growth, expansion, expression. Training outer mind, the intellect to grasp the meaning of outer words. Training the inner mind to see through us, as us! Letting.
Expansion of our own nature or ability to grasp, means attainment. Our keynote is attainment through the Silence. Attainment is also a personal accomplishment, attained through way of the Silence. Silence is cessation of all outer movement. I cannot stop living, cannot make my mind blank. Bats always fly into empty belfries! People, who don’t pay attention, stop one moment, begin another, give up one thing, begin another.
Some people pay attention to pain, rather than giving it up before going to bed at night, they crank it up in morning! Heart trouble, goiter, diabetes, all become worse when you are paying attention to them. Mind your own business of Ascension. Sustained attention means new discovery. Sustained, continuous attention means revelation. Training of outer mind, and "inner seeing." Sustained and continuous revelation means attainment of that revelation in reality. In truth, we have only one sense, seeing.
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of the Universal Living Christ
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