"I came to bring an abolition to lacks, wants and limitations, adverse and undesirable conditions,
and to bring about the Universal Brotherhood of man and the realization of the Fatherhood of GOD"
FATHER DIVINE

 


A garden at the Welcome Center at
The Mount of the House of the Lord

A garden at the Welcome Center at
The Mount of the House of the Lord

Our FATHER'S Sermon Given Whilst at the Nazareth Mission Church, Home and Training School of Pennsylvania
1606 1/2 Oxford Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Friday Night & Saturday Morning January 16-17, 1948 A.D.F.D. Time—2:25 A.M.

This profound lecture was given by our Condescending SAVIOR following the testimonies of several visiting guests and friends present at the Holy Communion Table, who had been benefited by FAThER'S Presence in the community. Some testified of how FATHER'S Presence had stopped them from many of the abominable habits of this world, just by coming in the atmosphere of Virtue and Holiness and being receptive and appreciative. They gave FATHER all the Glory, to WHOM all Glory belongs.

As FATHER arose, to the delight of one and all, and imparted these profound Words of Spirit and Life, the inspirational composition was fulfilled in our hearing where it said:

"FATHER is going to have it like this
All over this world
If it costs a million bodies
Or a million dollars a day!"
Therefore, all rejoiced at the Wonder-working Power of the Actual Presence of GOD for the increase of HIS Kingdom by impregnating Righteousness, Justice Honesty, Competence and Truth in the hearts and lives of the children of men, for truly the Word does say;
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner, that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

For THY Saving Grace, Almighty GOD, we humbly thank THEE!

(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber and the following is FATHER'S profound Sermon with FATHER speaking as follows:)

Peace Everyone! Good Health, Good Will, Good Appetite! Good Manners, Good Behavior, All Success and All Prosperity; Life, Liberty and the Reality of Happiness! These and all other Blessings, MY fellow citizens, hearers and friends, to you I bring .They are just as operative and expressive for you as they are for ME!

While sitting a little while ago, I retraced MY thoughts back to when this edifice — in other words this building — was first purchased and was on the way to renovation and Judge McDevitt and other officials happened to be talking to ME and said they certainly hoped I would, as quickly as possible, open up here in this vicinity; and I thought of how I desired to do, and especially this winter. I said, I mean to feed and feed, by the Grace of GOD, with the abundance of the fullness of the consciousness of good, and we shall find no space vacant of the fullness thereof!

The material food for the sustenance of the body, we use it and put it forth into expression in our Holy Communion, for we realize, when the food is blessed, it is good for the body and also for the soul! And I have been thinking how marvelous it will be when others recognize the Work of the Spirit and the Mission of CHRIST on earth among men!

I came to bring an abolition to lacks, wants and limitations, adverse and undesirable conditions, and to bring about the Universal Brotherhood of man and the realization of the Fatherhood of GOD for which you all have prayed! This is not strange among those of MY Following for lo, these many years; wheresoever I AM, we find the Abundance of the Fullness of the Consciousness of good, no space is vacant of the fullness thereof! And because MY Followers have unlimited purchasing power by the Spirit of MY Presence and by the Presence of MY Spirit, I do not want these Blessings to be summed up for them alone! Aren't you glad! ("So glad, FATHER Dear!" exclaimed the masses.) I desire to see others enjoy the Blessings we have access to enjoy! Aren't you glad!"So glad!" again came the response.) For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believeth in HIM shall not perish, but have everlasting life!

"I Thank YOU, FATHER!"

We do not want to see you hungering and thirsting physically, not more than I desire to see you hungering and thirsting spiritually! Remember, from your infancy, a good many of you have been taught to say your grace, as GOD'S Blessing on the food you eat! I have heard you say:

"LORD make us truly thankful for the blessings we are about to receive for the nourishment of our bodies and for the benefit of our souls!"


I have made you thankful automatically, and you heard Dr. Scott say a little while ago — the Reverend that was speaking — he said he said, "I thank YOU, FATHER!"

There is a thanksgiving I AM transmitting and reincarnating by reproduction into the hearts and lives of men and they are fulfilling the Scripture when they say it, for it is written:

"In everything give thanks, for this is the Will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you."


We do not merely teach you to say thanks or give thanks, but we inspire you to give thanks! Now aren't you glad! ("So Glad, Almighty GOD!" responded the multitude.) I have long since declared:

"If you ask, GOD will give: and as you have received, if you give thanks, GOD will increase and as you praise GOD. GOD will multiply your blessings!"


Can you not see the Mystery? And that is the reason for the unlimited blessings flowing so free in the midst of a perverse and crooked generation! But GOD in the midst of thee is Actually transforming the children of men and changing the tides of governmental affairs! Can you not see how I AM breaking that line of demarcation, not only with those of MY following, but others! Aren't you glad! ("So glad, LORD came the happy reply.) GOD deals in the affairs of men and GOD rules in the affairs and changes the tides of governmental affairs and causes men to think differently!

As some of you have heard the testimony of some, how they are traveling through the south now without the expression as commonly considered as Jimcrowism, because I have set up a sample and an example! I have lifted up a standard for this people and I AM telling Israel her transgressions and the house of Jacob her sins!

All Religions Are of the One Spirit

What a privilege to live in such a recognition! Since MY ambition has been to bless all the people, regardless to race, creed or color it is immaterial to ME what denomination or representative; you may be from any denomination;

"Out of one blood GOD created all nations of men for to dwell upon the face of the whole earth."


Not only so but I have declared as a Message by inspiration in MY quotation : Out of one Spirit GOD created all denominations of all religions! Aren't you glad! ("So glad, LORD!" shouted the assembly in one voice.)

But just as the Reverend said a little while ago, the religions as organizations or as creeds I AM not condemning, but there may be some among the different denominations that he said are rascals, many of whom are wicked and violent as those who do not pretend or claim to be religious at all. Nevertheless out of One Spirit CHRIST created and has established all religions under the Christian Movement! I AM bringing them all together. for this truly is the beginning of the amalgamation of all nations, of all languages, of all tongues and of all people! This is the beginning of the establishment of the Utopian Government on earth among men, where none shall lack in GOD'S abundance, for GOD HIMSELF is here with them!

I AM very happy to have our ministerial brethren in our midst! We want you to feel free to come to our places, feel free to speak and move as you are led to speak by the Holy Ghost! I want you to feel free to do it, for I AM going on! I shall not be discouraged and I shall not be disturbed until I shall unite all nations of people on the face of the earth and all mankind shall realize e pluribus unum religiously as well as politically and legalistically, shall be the Fundamental Principle! Aren't you glad! ("So glad LORD!" echoed the assembly.) All shall be composed of ONE! Though we have been omnifarious, we shall be united together so effectively until we will lose all racial abstractional concept of division! We shall live together as real citizens of the Kingdom!

Some Did Not Appreciate the Work

I AM happy to hear our fellow brethren, both the young men and the old men making this declaration known, that they do appreciate the Work and what I AM doing! If I could have been discouraged at one time when we first opened up these two places here on the corner, The Unity Mission's Church, Home and Training School's Bible Institute next door and also The Nazareth Mission Church, Home and Training School, this building on this corner, I could or would have been discouraged when there were those whom I desired to feed, I desired to help from other angles of expression as I have helped millions and it seemed that there were some that did not appreciate it.

However, I AM happy to say now, we have the witness of not only the Spirit, but we have the personages of the children of men bearing witness that they have been ben fitted by MY Presence here in the midst of them! If it was only for that purpose, those of MY followers who have spent thousands and thousands of dollars here on this corner in the renovation of this place and in feeding the public and the general public together, including ourselves as members and followers, I do not regret it! And if it was only for the sake of knowing someone has experienced what these gentlemen have testified to and experienced tonight, I do not regret it if it did cost, or if it has cost a few thousand dollars!

MY fellow brethren, ladies and gentlemen and citizens of a real democracy for which I stand,I do not regret even if MY followers would spend a hundred thousand dollars or would have spent more than a hundred thousand right here on this corner if that would save the minister from the habits that he confessed of having been saved from! But not only the minister as spoken a little while ago, but others you have heard testify to the same!Aren't you glad! ("Yes Almighty GOD, so glad!" came the dynamic response.)

Willing to Spend $1,000,000

If MY Presence, MY Work, MY Mission can stop men from drinking, smoking and fighting and doing other things that are contrary to the Life and Teaching of CHRIST, I AM willing for MY followers to spend a Million Dollars to save them!

You have heard them say — heard the gentleman say a little while ago, how these, MY followers are cooking and cooking and working and serving! They are doing it with the Spirit of MY Presence as a free gift to the world, gratis to mankind! Aren't you glad! ("Yes, LORD, so glad!" shouted the masses.) They serve volitionally, gratuitously and voluntarily from every angle expressible! As I afore said, I do not have to ask any person to serve ME! They come automatically voluntarily and are willing and ready to serve ME and serve you too! Aren't you glad! ("So glad, FATHER Dear!" came the reply.)

So I say, let us live in this recognition and let us build upon this Foundation continually and you will find,

"The Abundance of the Fullness of the Consciousness of Good, no space is vacant of the fullness thereof."

You will also find, MY fellow citizens, hearers and friends, that

"The Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD is truly the source of all supply!"


Your homes can be blessed with the abundance of Peace and Good Will towards each other! Aren't you glad! ("So glad, LORD!" echoed the assembly)

As I blessed a young man here recently who came to ME down at MY office study on Catherine and Broad Streets in South Philadelphia, if he adheres to MY Message, his companion will return to him!; I AM speaking of his wife and his little child, of whom he said had left! That is what I AM talking about! GOD in the midst of thee is mighty to save and Bless to the utmost if you will allow HIM to and if you will but be faithful and true and do exactly what I bid you do!

Making It Universal

Then I say to all of our visiting guests and friends as well as to those of MY immediate followers, I mean to Universalize whatsoever I have expressed! I did not mean to have it limited to and for MYSELF! Can you not see the mystery? We could have these banquet halls open only for MY members and MY immediate followers, but we mean to universalize it, and if the world at large will but recognize the Supernatural Presence of GOD and come in these audiences and act decently and respectful, we are happy to serve them as I do MY Companion! We all sit and eat and enjoy the Blessings of GOD on the material plane right here and there and everywhere, of the same food at the same table when it is possible to have a table large enough to accommodate as many as possible! Can you not see the Mystery?

I cannot lose! It is a matter of impossibility! To those of our visiting guests, whether I AM here Present Personally or not, you may feel free to come in these audiences and worship in the auditorium as well as you are free to come and take part in the food and other comfort and convenience we have for this is not all! There is more to come! I have not done anything yet to what I will do, in comparison to what I have done! I say, I AM going on! It is wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Just think of it!

The New and Living Way

And as the Reverend said, GOD has dedicated a new Way! The Bible speaks of a New and Living Way, a Way that is thrown up in the wilderness!

So it is a wonderful privilege. I said, lift up a standard for MY people! This High and Holy Way, this is the Standard that I have lifted so all might enjoy and realize GOD is Present among them! And with such a conviction, all doubts and fears, afflictions and adverse and undesirable conditions will be dispelled once and forever as you live in such a conviction and be conscious of GOD'S Actual Presence!

Take these thoughts to consideration and lo I will be with you now, henceforth and forever! There are many things I have or will have to tell you. I desire to refrain from speaking tonight, as when we have visiting guests and friends, we desire to hear from them, but especially the ministers of the Gospel; we want you all to feel free to come and break bread at any and at all times whensoever you will. You have a standing invitation, because I believe that you know that you, as well as ourselves, have been looking and waiting to sit some da at the welcome table, as one of our brethren said a little while ago,

"WE shall sit at the Welcome Table some of these days!"

And I declare unto you, the Table has been spread for lo these many years! And in New York City alone, it has been conservatively estimated for more than twelve or fifteen years, that I have been saving the City of New York three million dollars annually by taking the people off the relief rolls and taking them away from the dole and causing them to be independent, happy and free! Then I say live in this recognition and I will be with thee! I thank you.

Peace Everyone! I would like to say, it has been said by one of MY secretaries, if the lady who speaks mostly in French, if you desire to speak in French, you are welcome to do so. We will translate it for you. I thank you.


***************