FATHER DIVINE
At the Banquet Table on Monday night and Tuesday morning of January 17th and 18th, FATHER had three of HIS Messages previously given, to be proofread by one of HIS secretaries. Instead of proofreading HIS Messages in HIS private office on the upper floor, HE had them proofread at the Blanket Table where the congregation could both hear HIS Messages and at the same time enjoy HIS Personal Presence with them. After the reading of these Messages, FATHER arose and delivered another of HIS enlightening Messages, as follows:
PEACE EVERYBODY! Is everybody happy? ("Yes, FATHER !" assured the multitude.) Don't say it unless you mean it. I thought to say as you sang, how great it is to know the Truth; by knowing the Truth, the Truth will set you free. This is a theory in the world of religions, but in your experience it is a reality. The Truth of which you all are stressing will set you free and all humanity from every undesirable condition, because of your faith as though it is real. Your faith is made real in weakness, and the reality is established in strength.
While listening to one of the first songs which you sang; I thought of how marvelous it is to perceive an idea and conceive the same that that perception and conception might be established in your memory; and when you dwell upon it, if it is real, if it is true, it will bring you out victoriously a conqueror.
If you take such a belief as these MY followers have, and can reiterate it until it gets in your heart, because it actually changes your bodies; it changes your minds, it changes your surroundings and it changes all conditions that concern you. Aren't you glad? It actually changes the atmosphere in which you are living. It causes you to become to be new creatures and express in altogether a different disposition.
Men should rejoice and should be exceedingly glad to know of your religious conviction being established among them. It frees you from sickness and diseases. It frees you from aches and pains. It frees you from all undesirable conditions and emancipates you from all of your obligations under which you have been bound ... I mean to say, from all of your obligations, such as old debts. It frees you from your old debts, for it causes you to go out and pay them and come clean before GOD and man. When this is done you become to be new creatures, by being new mentally and spiritually, in short, characteristically.
How marvelous it is to see what MY Spirit has actually done and what it is daily doing! It is changing the very physical system—the bodies of the children of men and causing them to be new creatures physically as well as mentally and spiritually.
Now the belief, as I aforesaid, is that life line of which was spoken of by one of the composers by a composition, saying:
"Throw out the life line across the dark wave, There is a brother who someone should save."
The very Name of GOD, if you take it with you harmoniously, it will free you from every undesirable condition and give you your eternal emancipation.
Not one of MY real followers would owe a bill unless they pay it, unless for some cause it would be impossible for them to meet the persons to whom they were indebted.
Oh, it is a privilege to live in the Actual Presence of GOD where the Scripture is fulfilled in the midst of you all:
"He shall turn the hearts of the children to their father."
The hearts I can say, of those who were credit-debtors are turned to them in sympathy and in harmony and in obedience and in respect for the children of men. How marvelous it is to observe this great unfoldment and to see what GOD has done and is doing. Thousands and thousands under the sound of MY voice, by the Spirit of MY Presence, according to their religious conviction, they can declare with ME :"Here you all are, and there I AM."
We are all One by some characteristic, some disposition, belief or something. We are all in common on some phase of expression. For this cause I say, by harmonization you will become to be in the Unity of the Spirit completely, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose; in spirit, words, deeds and actions, and you will become to be a living factor in this light of understanding.
I need not say more at this instance as I have spoken and AM speaking in actions. I cannot stress this thought too vividly; "Actions speak louder than wards." Let us speak in actions continually, for after a while man will not know the different languages that men are speaking, for they shall all be of one language and of one speech, and this language and speech will be an expression of practicality in the act of doing your duty to all humanity.
How marvelous it is when we can look out on the field and observe millions and millions expressing the same identical actuated language, and the same identical mental and spiritual language! If you are in a far country away from home and happen to come across someone who can speak in your language, you feel as if though you are in heaven, do you not? If, as a stranger you are a pilgrim and a stranger in a far country, and you happen to be there without another individual with whom you come in contact speaking your language, and at last you come in contact with one who can speak your language distinctly, you feel as though you are in a new bright world, translated in the country in which you are then living. So it is concerning the mystery. Since you are as pilgrims, and as travelers, when you find someone speaking the language of love, the language of kindness, the language of actions instead of words so much, if that is the language that you have learned by the Spirit of MY Presence you can enjoy the actuated language others are speaking.
Let us speak continually in actions and in deeds; after a while mankind will be obliged to see and believe, for the actions that are spoken, they are re-acted in unison when you come in harmony with others with whom you come in contact, and when they are in harmony with you, by consciously agreeing along certain lines.
There has not been an expression that could bring the millions and millions together in the Unity of Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose, saving the Name of GOD ALMIGHTY. The Name of GOD of whom you say I AM, has brought you in the Unity of the Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose, and has shown you the way, and is showing you the way to have victory over every difficulty, over all of your trials and tribulations and to give you your real emancipation over every adverse and antagonistic, conflicting and undesirable expression, even to such of your former obligations which you neglected to obey, and get out of the way. Aren't you glad!
How marvelous it is to live in the Actual Presence of GOD. When you shall have fulfilled MY Word and denied yourself completely, you will bring yourself to your extremity. When you shall have brought yourself to your extremity, GOD will have an opportunity, and GOD will express within you when you shall have eliminated yourself to the very limited degree of expression.
Oh, it is a privilege to observe the mystery that GOD might be in evidence in each and every one of you, for as long as you are in evidence and reckoned in your own consideration, or in the consideration of others, you cannot express accurately and perfectly in the Name of the ALMIGHTY.
When I say, "Here you all are, and there I AM," I AM not merely using this as a motto for rehearsal or for rehearsing, neither for the purpose of conveying a thought merely to appease your conscious mortal mind, but for the purpose of declaring the reality of the Impersonal character transmitted, that you might be in reality partakers of it. When you become to be partakers and reiterators of the perfect character as exemplified, you, as well as I, will be an exemplifier by exemplifying the perfect picture and dwelling upon it; and in your expressions, deeds and actions stressing it vividly, you will tend to materialize it, and others as well as yourself will realize that which you shall have materialized.
Perfect health, perfect happiness, perfect success and all prosperity, every good and desirable expression, even though they may not be called all blessings, I will cause them to be used to the glory and honor of HIM Who liveth forever. When this is established within, you will become to be new creatures. Do we not look new? Oh, it is a privilege to observe it — to express in the newness of the Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose, and become to be new creatures in reality, by putting off the old man with all of his deeds and putting on the new man in Whom you should live.
Upon this Foundation if you will stand, if you take the Name of GOD with you, of Whom you say I AM, you will find the very Spirit of MY Presence always lifted and is lifting you to deeper depths and higher heights, until you shall have been lifted from every undesirable condition of sickness and of disease, of aches and of pains, of undesirable handicaps and conflicts, that GOD might be reckoned with you, even as I really AM. The Name of GOD is the life line. The Spirit is the same. It will reach into the depths of humility and will lift you above undesirable humiliation. It will establish your going in the land of the living, and cause you to be exalted where you have been abased. If exaltation is essential for the convincement of others, GOD may do such, for such a purpose.
Oh, it is a privilege to observe the mystery, for with meekness and mercy Christ came in the lowliness of Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose; yet GOD through HIS condescension, lowered Himself lower and lower to the very depths, that HE might reach you on the lowest plane of expression and in the least degree of consideration, that GOD might be in evidence in your actions and in your dealings; and then HE exalted Himself to reach the conditions of all living people.
Oh, it is a privilege to know the Truth and to realize if the truth is in you, you will not consciously and selfishly be exalted; but with the spirit of meekness, obedience and mercy, you will stand even though exalted above all mankind. If you are, you will be great when you are small, and yet you will be small when you are great, for you will hold the same position in consideration: "I am nothing without my Saviour!"
Oh, it is a privilege to observe the Truth, and allow the Truth to always observe you. If you consider the Truth, the Truth will consider you. If you ignore the Truth, the Truth will ignore you. But if you bring yourself to your extremity, as an individual, and eradicate and dispel once and forever your personality, your individuality after the mortal concept of the children of men, GOD will exalt Himself in you, for there is where GOD in you will begin.
How marvelous it will be when all of the inhabitants of the earth ahall produce that of which you call "ME." It is a Production to be brought to fruition, and each of you should be the producers to produce such an unfoldment of fruit as the tree of itself, according to the Spirit. Oh, it is a privilege to observe it. Bring yourself into subjection to the great Fundamental, and as you live it and express it, lo, I will be with you now, henceforth and forever.
I need not tell you Personally, neither need I tell you again, for the Spirit of MY Presence has already told you. Let this thought be established within and take MY Name with you and realize it! Such a recognition will change all undesirable conditions to be desirable—will change everything undesirable to be desirable; for as you are converted in reality, all of your mentality and a11 of your physical ability and all of your mental world of expression and all things that would concern your mental world will be converted so far as you are concerned.
As I said the other day, where there is light, there was darkness; when the light appears, darkness disappears. The darkness of this room is no longer seen when the light is turned on. When you turn the light of Truth in your life, and live it and express it vividly, there will be no darkness in you; the atmosphere in which you are living will be changed to a different atmosphere apparently.
This is quite a pleasant atmosphere in this dining room tonight, isn't it? ("Yes, FATHER !" responded the angels.) This very auditorium, as it may have been termed, reception room, once upon a time, it was not such a pleasant atmosphere. It was not a conscious state of expression in the consciousness of the masses, and the atmosphere in this very room in which we are now sitting and standing was not an atmosphere of abundance. It was an atmosphere to the extreme reverse of such an abundance as we are now enjoying.
Then I say, with this recognition and this conviction, such as you have as individuals, you can change the atmosphere in which you are living to be a different atmosphere completely. As you are changed, the very atmosphere and environment will become to be new by the renewing of your mind, and by the transformation of your nature and characteristics. Everything is changed.
Then I say, if you allow the seed idea to be established in your mind, as I AM and have been in success and prosperity, you will carry the "Lucky Stone" with you. Aren't you glad ?("So glad!" forcefully exclaimed the host.) I heard one say, and I heard you all sing: "FATHER is that Stone that came rolling through Babylon." Aren't you glad? It was hewn out of the mountain without hands—without the minds and the theories and doctrines of men. That is the way I came! I have not been hewn out by the theories and doctrines of men. I have not been sent to you by being hewn out by the theories and rituals of religion, to come to you as a missionary to teach you something. "I AM that Stone," I heard you say, "that was cut out of the mountain without hands." Aren't you glad? And the Stone came rolling through Babylon.
Oh, it is a privilege to observe it as it is coming and as it came. By this you will see the only way of deliverance, to get your emancipation, is to carry with you that Lucky Stone of Salvation. . . One writer declared,
"He gave me a new stone, a little stone with a new name written on it,"
the Stone of which you declare I AM!
Oh, it is a privilege to observe it — something that has not been formed by the customs of men. It has not been appointed, and it has not been mortal mindedly elected, neither human-mindedly selected. By the Spirit of MY Presence it was ordained from the foundation of the world to be just what it is, and what it was. Aren't you glad? By this, the Name of this of Whom you say I AM, can and will adjust matters satisfactorily, will give you your real emancipation from every ache and from every pain, from all undesirable conditions and will establish your going in the land of the living, if you will but let ME. Then I say, bring your bodies into subjection by concentrating on the Fundamental and relying on it with the spirit of sincerity; lo, I will be with you from now, henceforth and forever, regardless to the oppositions. Aren't you glad?
Just try it tonight if you wish to. Think on ME harmoniously; adverse and undesirable conditions will be dispelled, for a harmonious contact with the light that is in this room will cause the darkness that has been herein to remain on the outside. It cannot come in so long as you keep the switch of the light turned on; so the Spirit of GOD's Presence will be with you once and forever. So long as you keep your switch turned on and dial in on the Fundamental, naught can come to hurt nor harm you. You will have victory now, henceforth and forever, and you will continue and continue to advance scientifically, until Perfection shall have been attained in the midst of the children of men. I thank you.