FATHER DIVINE
The Banquet Hall at 20 West 115th Street, New York City was filled to capacity with eager children, believers and friends from every quarter of the Globe when FATHER Personally took His Seat at the Banquet Table on what the calendar said was Monday morning March 5th. But it was not a Monday morning in the Kingdom, "where Sabbaths never cease," and this was quite evident, because it was not a Monday crowd. Where on the face of the earth, except under FATHER DIVINE'S Jurisdiction, could such a multitude of people be brought together on a Monday morning, for a so-called religious service? No church in the land, even on Sundays, gathers such overflowing throngs as these that gathered in the Peace of one Eternal Sabbath, in the atmosphere of the Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD, to Praise the Name of FATHER DIVINE.
Many were the Songs of Praise and testimonies of Thanksgiving for blessings received, until one who had come from California testified that he wanted to give his body and all that he had, to FATHER for His Service; but that he had felt that it was such a broken down wreck, neither GOD nor the D-v-l wanted it. As he told of his regret and lamented over his condition FATHER DIVINE arose, singing and speaking thus:
'If your wreck is the best, if your wreck is the best,
You can be blessed, you can be blessed
by giving GOD Praises for all.
Give GOD all the Praises for all that you have;
You can be blessed, you can be blessed.
Rejoice and be happy and never be sad;
You can be blessed of GOD.'
Good Health, Good Appetite and Good Will I call. This is the Mission of the LORD, to call these Qualities and Attributes into expression as quickly and as fast as individuals will bring their bodies into subjection. According to the immediate or recent composition brought forth for consideration, even though you are a wreck, if you will give it -- it being the best you have -- "You can be blessed, you can be blessed of the Lord." Truly might one of our recent modern compositions have brought forth the same consideration --
'Just as I am without one plea, O Lamb of God, I come.'
If each and everyone of you would come whole-heartedly seeing the nothingness of matter as a person, or in short, of personalities and the Allness of GOD Almighty, you would be partakers of the limitless blessings and you would come to your rightful inheritance of Peace and Joy and Happiness.
When I say, Good Health, Good Appetite and Good Will, remember I AM not merely saying these words as a formula to be repeated or rehearsed, but I AM saying them from the sincere desire of My Heart, as it may be termed, to reach the hearts and lives of the children of men. If you speak words of positiveness, in other words, positive words, not merely from the mind but from the heart, it will reach the hearts and souls of others and it will quicken them and bring them into subjection and cause them to be partakers of your characteristics.
That is why one writer says,
'Evil communications corrupt good morals; ill qualities are catching as well as diseases, and a man is known by the company he keeps.'
The reverse is equally true. If you will keep company with the positive, the true and the real, you will be partakers of His.
These qualities are contagious with the characteristics of the producer of same. Hence I send out these thoughts for your consideration -- good health, good appetite and a good will to all mankind. This was broadcast on the day or days around about the time that individual was born that was called Jesus of Nazareth, or in other words, of Bethlehem. The spirit of the mind of the Wise Men, conveyed to them a thought within, as though it was the angels singing -- saying,
'Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace, Good Will to men.'
The same Message today is conveyed to you that you might have this Peace and good will, good health and good appetite. You can have it if you will give your best. If you are a sinking wreck, if you will give your best you can be blessed. It is Wonderful! These are facts and figures too stout to be denied. They have been
'purified, made white, and tried,'
for you all can realize there is a reality in every Word I say.
Live in this recognition and stay in these vibrations. Attune yourselves to the rhythms of this atmosphere that we are expressing and the Spirit of My Presence will work with you effectively. When you leave this place as an individual, still you will be here and I will be there. That is the mystery of the great reciprocation of Spirit, of Mind, of Love and of Devotion, the Love of GOD for man and the Love of man for GOD. Each of these are "reciprocatable," and whatsoever you measure unto HIM, HE will measure unto you automatically.
You can feel the very Love of GOD'S Presence through such a belief. If you deny yourselves whole-heartedly and give your best unto GOD, even though you do not have very much -- if your best is the worst -- you will be blessed according to your consecration and according to your sacrifice you are making by giving the best. It is a privilege to live in this recognition and be at the fount of every Blessing, the Well of Salvation, from which flows the Wisdom and Knowledge of GOD'S Omniscience that has been lying dormant from the earliest existence of man's creation.
All man has ever brought forth into expression of himself, the end thereof was death. Men have built themselves up and at their best they have brought forth that which is termed by My Version to be the chaff. GOD spoke through the mouth of Solomon and said,
'Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the end thereof is death.'
This last speaker is not the only one that has brought a sinking wreck to GOD. Why, each and everyone of you have been shipwrecked from some point of view. If you are not wrecks from a physical, from a mental, or from a Spiritual point of view, you have been shipwrecked from some angle. Therefore bring your bodies as a living sacrifice, even though they be wrecked apparently. This great Wrecking Crew of Salvation is making up new inventions through and be the wrecks of the different engines. Speaking of reincarnation, I heard one say a little while ago, that the spirit of your mind has been reincarnated from time to time. I AM here to say, this is
'The General Assembly of the Church of the First-born, where the spirits of Just men are'
supposed to be made perfect. For this cause I have called the Spirit of Justice, the Spirit of Righteousness, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Devotion, the Spirit of Honesty, the Spirit of Obedience, the Spirit of Right Living, the Spirit of Right Thinking, the Spirit of Right Acting, the Spirit of Right Doing, that I might bring these qualities into materialization and cause you to be the personification of same.
For this purpose I came, and for this purpose I come. These desirable qualities will be brought to fruition, and will be made perfect through your meekness and obedience; will be made perfect through your willingness to live evangelical and that is why I stress so vividly and enthusiastically, the Life and the Teaching of CHRIST that was in that body called Jesus, as a Sample and as an Example for each and every individual to deny himself even as He did.
Live in this recognition, being consecrated, being a living sacrifice, that the CHRIST might become the actuality of your life and of your lives collectively. In that, the spirits of just men are being made perfect. The spirits of just men collectively, are being made perfect as the spirits come together and are brought into subjection to the CHRIST Consciousness.
Truly might one of the writers have said, fearing GOD,
'The fear of GOD is the beginning of wisdom.'
In other words, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of GOD. Therefore, through your fearing to not serve GOD, you will bring your bodies into subjection to the Wisdom and Understanding that await you. Your spirit and your mind is being made perfect. As one writer said on another occasion,
'Abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very GOD of Peace sanctify you wholly'
-- W H O L L Y, wholly. Every particle part of your physical body can be sanctified WHOLLY; not merely the expression of H-O-L-Y, Holy, as being perfect in spirit and in mind, but every part of your physical body can and SHOULD be sanctified wholly by bringing your body -- your physical body -- into subjection to the CHRIST Consciousness through denying all of your human fancies, tendencies, pleasures, denying all of your preconceived ideas and opinions, denying all of your will, your ways and your ideas, and living in this recognition, especially sacrificing your human tendencies, your human inclinations and fancies; for they are all the chaff which we are now burning. They should be cast into the great Spiritual furnace of Salvation, to be burned into the nothingness of nothing from whence they came.
Human tendencies, human fancies, human pleasures, human inclinations, are your expressions brought forth with your from your earliest existence and they are not actually sin or sinning, but your prenatal influences. That is what they are. Therefore you must
'Put off the old man with all of his deeds.'
Your fancy to do this or to do that, it matters not how small or simple it may appear to be, it is essential for you to deny yourself of that version, of that mortal fancy, of that mortal tendency, of that mortal pleasure. These are the mortal, human chaff that Jesus was speaking of through the mouth of John by inspiration, when He declared,
'He shall gather the good wheat in His Garner, but the chaff He shall burn with unquenchable fire.'
Do you not see that I AM burning up such tendencies, such fancies, such pleasures, and such inclinations, such as have been the inheritance of man from his earliest existence? You are putting off mortal and putting on immortality. That is the way you will have the victory over sickness and diseases and over all of your afflictions. You can only get the victory over such conditions by putting off your human inclinations, fancies, pleasures and their tendencies, for in them lie the germs of all of your sickness, afflictions and diseases.
'Put off the old man with all of his deeds.'
'Copy after the Fashion I have shown you on the Mountain,'
in the highest light of GOD'S Understanding to this generation and you will find yourselves becoming new creatures. This is not merely a saying to be repeated or words of philosophy to be heard and seen of men, but it is the very Words of GOD while HE is speaking and teaching you to
'look and live.'
'GOD in the midst of you is mighty to save;'
but remember, you cannot be saved from your afflictions, sickness and diseases, ailments and complaints and from your undesirable characteristics, until you shall have put off all of your human fancies, pleasures and their tendencies and every human inclination.
'He shall sit as a refiner and as a purifier of silver.'
For this cause I come, setting Judgment on the earth.
'He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war.'
For this cause the nations of the earth collectively are being stirred with jealousy toward this great Cause. Oh, that man could but learn the great significance of putting off the old man with all of his deeds. You will become a new creature. Your physical bodily form will take on new life and vigor. Live exactly according to the Life and the Teaching of the CHRIST that was in that body called Jesus as a Sample and as an Example. Do not copy after other individuals that are not producing the identical Life and Teaching of CHRIST as a sample and an example. CHRIST in the Person of Jesus, was an open expression and outward manifestation on the material plane of what YOU should do and how YOU should live.
Some of you may say within yourselves, "Why, my teacher, my leader, I know a good man or a good woman that did this or that." If they did and lived exactly according to the Life and Teaching of the CHRIST that was in the Body called Jesus, you can copy after such Fashion; but remember, you must X-rayedly behold the CHRIST, and not try to behold Him after the similitude of men, after the personality of an individual. X-rayedly beholding the CHRIST, give each and every individual an X-ray as your physical surgeon will give YOU an X-ray if necessary when you desire to be carefully examined. The outward expression of the X-ray, is but a sketch and a reflection of the reality of the Mystery of GOD'S Presence, and of how you should X-ray HIM in the hearts and lives of the children of men and not copy after the exterior or the external appearance of them.
For you that are true and faithful, I AM stressing these points of view the same as I AM for others, that you might observe the great significance of visualizing the Perfect Picture without or within, refusing to try to observe the physical personality or personal bodies of the children of men. By throwing off My Body as a Person, of which you say is the Perfect Picture, I feel elated, I feel as one that is free from all cares, obligations and responsibilities when I throw off My Person as an Individual, and show you the Perfect Picture of My Impersonal Life that was in the Body called Jesus.
For Christendom I have lifted up this Standard, I have shown you whereby you should copy after this Fashion, the Life and the Teaching of the CHRIST that was in that personal Body called Jesus, as a Sample and an Example. Since the CHRIST Consciousness from that angle has been elected LORD of Lords and KING of Kings and the LORD of the whole earth, from this angle I A M stressing that all of the nations, languages, tongues and people, should accept and recognize this Principle that was brought to fruition in Jesus as the Fundamental and as the Perfect Picture.
For every nation, language, tongue and people, for all of the creeds, denominations and organizations of all Religions, this Picture has been brought to fruition as a Standard for all of the people. I have elected the CHRIST that was in that Body called Jesus, that Degree of expression, the CHRIST Consciousness that was brought to fruition, as LORD of Lords and KING of Kings, over each and every nation, language, tongue and people and over every organization, person or persons, wheresoever they may be found.
Therefore it is essential for you to copy after this Fashion for it has within itself the victory for each and every individual.. If you could or would but know the great significance of visualizing something that is Perfect, something that is Pure, something that is True, something that is Real, something that is Positive, something that is Profitable, something that is Desirable, you would copy after the Fashion according to My Instructions. If you could but know the great essential of visualizing such -- it tends to produce and materialize the same and bring it forth in your experience and in your experiences in every issue. That is the great Mystery! Oh, that you could observe it, denying your mortal versions, your mortal human tendencies and pleasures, denying yourselves whole-heartedly entirely, GOD would rise in their places, and you would be the expressers and manifesters of HIM that Liveth forever and forever.
If this is not true, believe ME not. You can tell whether it is true by contacting these versions and these points of view that I AM conveying to you. Truly might the Apostle have said on one occasion,
'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, it is the evidence of things not seen.'
Therefore, by your having Faith, implicit Faith and utter confidence, you will get the substance of that of which I AM talking about.
A composition was brought forth for consideration many years ago by one of the composers,
'Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, oh, what a foretaste of Glory Divine.'
The composer, at that particular juncture, had not been born into this light of Understanding; therefore he did not say,
'Oh, what a foretaste of FATHER DIVINE,'
but by inspiration he received it according to his light, and according to his understanding,
'Oh, what a foretaste of Glory Divine. Heir of Salvation, (he said) purchased of God, born of His Spirit and washed in His Blood.'
In the prophetic song it was brought forth through the composer at that time, he was but bespeaking this day and this time and how you would be
'purchased" and "born of His Spirit and washed in His Blood.'
'Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight (he said).
Angels descending bring from above Echoes of Mercy and whispers of Love.'
He prophesied as a committee of one, representing the day and time that would come, when you would be
'purchased of God, born of His Spirit and washed in His Love.'
Many of the prophets and seers prophesied and predicted these sayings and these things that have been fulfilled in your hearing, yet they themselves did not see them. Truly might the Apostle have said on one occasion,
'Many sought these things, but they died without the sight.'
The composer of that song was prophesying of what would come and what would be in your day, as being termed with ME.
From henceforth when you sing that song you can think of these sayings and you can see they are fulfilled this day in your hearing.
'Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.'
The transposed version for this time, according to yours, you would say and you would sing, "Blessed assurance, Father is mine; oh, what a foretaste of -- ("Father Divine," shouted the assembly.) These limitless blessings that you are now enjoying are but a slight sketch and a reflection of a foretaste of Glory Divine. You can say
'Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight.'
Angels have descended; they brought from above,
'Echoes of Mercy and Whispers of Love. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my --
("Father," again shouted the audience)
am happy and blessed.'
Since you have come to this recognition from this angle, you can see that all of the compositions that were positive and profitable, real and true, are being now fulfilled in you,
'who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.'
Dear ones, live in this recognition! Live
'where the Living Waters flow'
and you will not have an occasion to think of conditions and circumstances, handicaps and adversities, for GOD in the Name of Faith, in YOU is the Victory. From henceforth, now and forever, observe Perfection, denying the reality of negation and negativeness, denying the reality of unprofitableness. Visualize Perfection, the Perfect Picture, and the desirable, the pure, the true and the real and you will be partakers of same if you will allow such a conviction to enter into your heart as well as your mind. The conviction will not change the condition of a person until it shall have entered into his heart as well as his mind. Mentally and Spiritually, it may be termed, something may enter your mind, but not entering into your heart it will not change the condition. That is why the Word says -- What says it?
'The Word is nigh thee, in thy mouth and even in thy heart, and if you believe in your Heart and confess with your mouth you shall be saved.'
Do you not see the great significance of allowing these convictions and these realizations and recognitions to get not only in your mind and in your intellect but also in your heart? Your heart will change the condition of your physical bodily form. Your head is not sufficient to change conditions with all of the brains you may have had.
'If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you shall be saved; for with the heart men believe unto Righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.'
'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,'
and according to his Faith so will it be.
But one must get these convictions in his heart and live according to same by bringing his body into subjection to the great Creator and the Creative Forces of Nature and live according to the Great Creator, the great Universal Mind Substance, by being lost in His Will. If this is not food for the heart, for the soul and for the mind, call on ME and I will come some other time and try to impart to you something that is still hidden in the depths of My Mind. I thank you.
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