Edna Lister's Sermons from 1940

Vows
January 7, 1940 Outline
Cleveland, Ohio
Matthew 5:25-26

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:25-26

We are all subject to seven great Vows of Ascension: The Neophyte vows "to make my body a fitting dwelling place for my soul." The Disciple vows, "to surrender completely to become the servant of all the Power." The Adept vows, "to be selfless in my release of Power." The Mystic vows, "to keep my silence shining and golden." The Master vows, "to be master in all responsibility." The Priest vows, "to keep pure in heart, mind and purpose." The Christos vows "to make my supreme vow of complete surrender of self."

We must have something to help is to hold to these vows, to keep them. We follow the Master, whose footsteps are always before us.

The period from Christmas to Lent encompasses a whole lifetime of 33.5 years. That is why it is so difficult always to hold to our vows, especially during the sacrifices of Lent.

"Agree with your adversary quickly" is one verse that covers all problems with the self. The subsoul self is the adversary; the egoic soul is the judge, and Oversoul is the officer. Self casts us into prison. Soul lifts us into Light!

Life's highway is marked with many milestones, and each bears a record. What sort of year has passed? What sort of year lies ahead?

This is our world. This is our life. What is our choice on this opening Sunday of the New Year? What are our high goals? What is our high destiny?

Walking With God
February 10, 1940 Outline
Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and 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 was 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

His disciples walked with Jesus easily. They were walking with the Son of God, who was walking as a Creator god. Walking as a Creator god is different.

Imagine vast gates, broad and tall, built of a golden opalescent material, intricately designed in lacy patterns. If opened, many people could walk abreast through them, but they are closed, with no handles or locks upon them. A vast throng lines the way before the great gates in either direction. They press against the gates, an impassable barrier through which no one is able to move.

Some look weary enough to fall, others cry and lament. Others look cheerful and speak in soft tones to their neighbors, and all are waiting for something to happen. At times, some hardy one pushes through the crowd from the rear.

Suddenly one woman makes her way silently and gently through the throng before the gates. She sees nothing of those about her, but fixes her gaze steadily upon the Light beyond the gates. Suddenly, her face lights up with an unearthly radiance, and she pushes right on, moving with beauty and grace through the gates exactly as if they are not there.

There are no barriers at all when we keep our eyes on the Light, which is our goal. When we look to the world, however, all we see are obstacles.

"Immediately" is repeated three times in this text: First, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat, then when they saw him walking on the water and were afraid, and when Peter cried, "Lord, save me!"

Jesus had sent his disciples on a ship on the sea, which represents emotions. Jesus, who here represents the Oversoul, went higher to rest and to contact God.

Peter, who represents the egoic soul, which first says, "Let me come to you," then looks down, and he's gone! This is when we all cry, "Lord, save me!" This is not too long a prayer, just three words.

When we walk with God, we are likely to let go. When we walk as a Creator god, we are God's! Walk as a Creator god, living the virtues of Honor, Loyalty and Integrity.

Bearing Witness
June 30, 1940 Outline
Buffalo, New York
1 John 5:4-8

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood -- Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 1 John 5:4-8

Three bear witness in heaven: The Source of All Life is the Father. The Word contains all Mind, Substance and Power. The Holy Spirit is the Breath of Life, of all vibration and energy.

Three bear witness on earth: The Spirit, which is the Holy Ghost or the Son, water and blood. Water represents the emotions and the Principle of Desire. Blood represents the expression and energy of Faith.

Push out, and push up. Illustrate verdure and supply. Illustrate instruments, players and being played upon.

Heavenly Manna
July 8, 1940 Outline
Cleveland, Ohio
Luke 8:41-56

Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes thronged him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years; who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of his garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, "Who touched me?"When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press you, and you say, 'Who touched me?"' But Jesus said, "Somebody touched me, for I perceived power going out from me." Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched him and how she was healed immediately. And he said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." While he was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." When he came into the house, he permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but he said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed him, knowing that she was dead. But he put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately, And he commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:41-56

The prefix, "en," of "ensample," means "in, upon," and "giving intensity." The prefix "ex," as in "example," means "out."

An example is an attitude on the outside, which is why people thin and ask such questions as "What will they think? How will this affect them? What will it get me?" An example is a pose for gain, an attitude assumed to please another. Examples are meant to enhance the veneer of one's reputation.

An ensample signifies expression from within character. An ensample is what one really is. If you set an example, you are self-conscious, but when you are an ensample, you are soul-conscious.

Intuition can speak to us when we are open from above. Intuition spoke to the woman with the issue of blood, and told her that it she touched the Master, she would be healed. She had crawled to him, since even her friends wouldn't take her to him because she was ritually unclean.

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

Before the woman's miracle, Jairus had beseeched the Master on his daughter's behalf. Then Jairus' servant came and told him his daughter was dead, so "don't bother."

Jesus told him, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." When he reached Jairus' house, he put everyone out of the child's room. We all must decide whether we want mountains or molehills in life. When another is likely to interfere with your work for a miracle, "put them out," or do not even tell them what you plan in the first place.

Open a new account with the Source of Life. Plan your life with praise and love above, and you'll fill your account. Then you'll receive blessings below, since what you put in, you can draw out. It's free! Stand and know!

Shangri-la, the Temple of the Soul
August 4, 1940 Outline
Buffalo, New York
Matthew 16:21-26

From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you!" But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:21-26

The end goal of faith is receiving your own soul. What profit is it to gain the whole world, if you lose your soul in so doing? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Weeds always grow faster and multiply faster, spread wherever there is ground for soil, a human to prey on. Flowers need love, light and care to be kept beautiful.

So does your temple, your body. Your heart must be clean as the water of Spirit. Your mind must be open to the inflow of divine rays, regardless of environment or otherwise conflicting conditions.

You are an individual flower, each and every one of you, each a different variety, shade and size. God needs you all to make the perfect bouquet, the gathering of earth's production. Each of you receives the same spiritual waters, the same soil of opportunities -- "ask and ye shall receive."

The easier road is the crushing out of spirit, the opening to the influx of the world mind, the seven great sins: Lust, passion, greed, malice, hatred, indifference and envy.

God's ray is stronger than all else and will reach you through any condition if you but ask, if you but call, if you but desire.

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