FATHER DIVINE
During the course of a conversation with FATHER and a few of the Staff, FATHER began speaking concerning the experience of Christ in driving out of the temple, the money-changers —those who sold oxen, sheep and doves. As the subject delved deeper and deeper into the mystery, FATHER handed the Bible to one of the secretaries to read from St. John, second chapter: verses twelve through twenty-one. Starting from verse twelve, the secretary began reading as follows:
"After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusale,m
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changer's money, and overthrew the tables";
(At this point FATHEB interrupted by saying:) He overthrew the foundation for speculation and He did not have any more ambition or foundation, or understanding for speculation—those characteristics left Him .(At this time the secretary reading, continued:)
"And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make -not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
But he spake of the temple of his body.
FATHER continued speaking as follows:
See, that plainly brings out the interpretation right plain, point blank, when He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." It goes to show it was the Jewish characteristics and disposition that were handed down to Him traditionally, prenataled within Him after the manner of men. It was destroying Him and He had to overthrow the foundation for such tendencies and not even allow the sense of that desire to any longer exist within Him. Therefore, He made it clear, and when He brought that out convincingly, I declared it as far as He would go Personally, that He meant or spake concerning the Temple of His Body!
So all of those things you have to get out of you, although it is parably speaking in the actuated words of expression, something that is an abstract expression—it is telling you something concerning the Temple of His Body in which you are living. So, it was just so Wonderful.
So then, I did not even touch a penny of money you see, and those who came under ME and in this calling the same—just as if though they had been the same as I was—a child should be as the parent is or as the parents are but they should be as the parent was or as the parents were. So, the Spirit is now revealing the Truth to you. Every one of you should be even as I have been, with not a desire to touch a penny of money .
Why, I did not want to touch it! What would I want to touch it for, so long as I had the things I needed; and that was the time I had extremiated MYSELF and I had afflicted MYSELF to the fullest measure of extremity economically, that I might suffer the necessary torture to bring about that sacrifice that was required of GOD to produce and to be a Sample and an Example for others. So, it was not strange.
So, truly as Mr. — — no doubt he was "crazy" naturally —way back in those days I was "crazy" from that angle of expression to those who were Qualified or so-called intelligent. And I just feel like everybody who is of ME, if they can harmonize with ME, associate with ME, fellowship with ME or participate with ME and be partakers of MY Spirit, of MY Mind and of MY Love and of MY fellowship from any angle expressible, as being one with ME Personally from any angle expressible, they too should be even as I have been and should not desire or want to have a penny or claim anything. But. if they desire to still aquire, and try to get this fellowship of MINE and be one with ME from any other angle otherwise, they are trying to do something or get something dishonestly. That is MY Conviction!
Truly might have one said, "Will a man rob God? They are trying to rob G0D, for it is not due those who are living in mortal consciousness and living in personality and individuality; it is not for them! It is not for the person who is living selfishly, it is for that person whose mind it is that has paved out the way absolutely unselfishly and impersonally. You see the mystery? Because that is what it was for, and I feel it is—I know it is the same—and if you get anything otherwise, you have not acquired it honestly. That is the mystery!
That is why I look at you all so strange at times, when you fail to produce MY Spirit and MY Mind and you say you are MY child or MY children, for the child or tree—the child or fruit bear witness of the Tree or Parent who bore it! You see the mystery? Therefore, I can tell if you are of ME! That was the reason when Miss— came, we fell right in line—one of the first of recent years who was found worthy, who transcended— and— and many others; even those of whom Miss — would criticize, in a way of speaking, because she would often speak of — and — making the sacrifices they made and denied themselves, you see.
But I know, if you are of ME, you would have the same Mind. I need not tell you, "Do this, or do the other"; you would be Statute-walkers automatically without MY Personal consideration. So, when Miss— came in, she was a theatrical girl, you see, according to the mortal version; being theatrical, still she was to the extreme of formality and artificiality. She eliminated all of those things immediately without MY telling her and without ME even hearing any of the children mention it personally ... Because along then lots of people would come to the house—it was not just like we are preaching now all the time in the public meetings. Way back then the crowds would come out there, the mortal mind would come there with all kinds of perfumes and makeup on, and she made that sacrifice to that extent—washed everything off her face and combed her hair and refused to reflect any artificiality but expressed the naturalness of herself effectively. It was just wonderful!
Then I say, the same thing that was in the Body called Jesus must be reproduced in every individual, according to MY Conviction, for them to be real Followers of MINE! For them to really come to ME they must come through by the way of Jesus, by the way of His Actions, of His Deeds and of His Disposition, of His Nature, Characteristics and of His Spirit. And He did not have any speculating spirit in Him, for He drove them all out and drove the foundation for such a consideration out, by overthrowing the table of money-changers. And it came so vividly and so volitionally in expression, in other words, in illustration when I declared it—that those things were not in Jesus and they must be cast outof you and everyone who follows in the foot-steps of Jesus; they must deny themselves completely to get to the FATHER.
So, I did not touch a penny of money for a season until all of the Scripture was fulfilled effectively. I do not bear record exactly how long it was, but at that time I had that sense of feeling as if though I would never touch another penny as long as I would "sling the ball"! But after fulfilling that perfectly and bringing a new light of understanding into expression and putting it forth on display whereby I could handle money, and it was necessary for ME to handle money, and handle it constructively and unselfishly for the benefit of others, the unlimited resources of supply came forth into expression— even the means of exchange, money, of which I AM now speaking.
And until now it has been the same, but yet with only a different thought but not for a selfish gain. That is why I say, I AM not doing anything— saving money—trying to deny MYSELF and all these things, just for a selfish purpose. I hope I AM not, and I hope I was not. And I would not pay fifty-five or sixty-five cents for a hair cut as the people would. I hope I was not doing it just to save forty or fifty cents a hair cut, just for a selfish purpose; I hope the results of it will show you definitely, I did not do it selfishly, while others may try to do the same thing for a selfish purpose as old misers or something of that sort, with no thought of putting their money into exchange or putting it into circulation profitably and conveniently for the benefit of others unselfishly—they may not even think of such. But that was a thought.
So, without a coat, without an overcoat I travelled and would not take even two dollars to that extent; I would always try to go one better than that which was required, or whatsoever may be required. So,
"The dying Lamb, (or living Lamb) and the Precious Blood
Has never lost its power—
And it will never lose its power,
Until all the ransom church of GOD,
Be saved to sin no more."
So, when you start talking of life-giving streams and things that pertain to life like that, why it does something to you. It causes you to lose all contact with the earth, and when you know yourself aright, why, you lose all contact with the earth so effectively you are willing to trust ME wholeheartedly and leave the results with the ALMIGHTY.
But it really means something to make a sacrifice like that and let it become to be a part of you—you have the witness in yourself. Now those who do not know, who come along for fishes and loaves, for what they can gain selfishly because of what they see externally—they may not even be impressed with that which is going on. It is a new Birth. It is a New Birth! "GOD is your help in every need, (GOD) will your every hunger feed."
But it is a beautiful scene to carry out the commission of the Apostles to the letter and then observe it after you have done it—just what you are doing! When I in the Person of Jesus told them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, that was but bespeaking the full measure of the imperfect, the lack of a full consecration, a self-denial—and of self-denial whichever; and also the lack of a wholehearted sacrifice, for they would have the desire to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel because they were the ones with whom they had been connected traditionally and they would have that mortal tendency to go to save them, just as you say— "Well, our people," and all such as that.
That is not in this world; not in this commission; not in this light of understanding wherein we function— "Go to our group, for they are the ones who need help." Well, Jesus said it because He had not yet been crucified—but after Jesus was crucified, His Body made a living sacrifice and He died from that angle of expression— when He was resurrected He had a different version:
"Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." ". . . and, lo, I will be with you."
To every nation, every language, every tongue and every people—the commission that we are now representing—but the first one, to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, was just as these people are now: "Go to our group— send senator for our group," partisanly or sectarianly. They want something for themselves —they are not representing ME where I stand.
Secretary: They are working against themselves anyhow. That's all they are doing.
FATHER: It is the lack of understanding. So, after Jesus sent them out like that, He had to be crucified. See the mystery? Because it was not a commission for all of the people, to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. You see the mystery? But after He was crucified and resurrected, He then commissioned His disciples to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Then, you see, He did not die any more! You see the mystery?
Then to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, for a selfish purpose—that was the most severe sacrifice requested of them—that commission which was for all of the people: that commission— the last commission which was for all of the people: Then a great sacrifice was made selfishly for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, when He said:
"Go without purse and without scrip ... and take nothing for your journey."
That was even a sacrifice selfishly for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet it was a sacrifice required, and a consecration such as others had not been accustomed of making.
Secretary: And when YOU went without purse and scrip and without two coats, it was a special commission that YOU commissioned YOURSELF, you might say—to go to those who were enslaved, especially in the South, wasn't it?
FATHER: Apparently the same indirectly, but of course in consciousness I held it and in the actuated words of expression the under-privileged especially I stressed of every nation, every language, every tongue and every people. But as I said, when I first went South—even before I went South I said, "I will go to the South to prove that the Gospel can be preached without money and without price." Because it had become so obnoxious, it was crucifying MF; it was actually hurting ME physically in a way of speaking—every person, matters not how religious they would seem to be—when they would come out, if they did anything for you, or whatsoever they would be preaching, it would come out, money would be the thought.
And so 1 said, "I will go South!" I said, "I will go South and prove to the world the Gospel can, be preached without money and without price"; and I said, "I will go South and present MY Body as a Living Sacrifice to break down that wall of partition and bring an end to the line of demarcation between races, colors and creeds, and unify the people together. I will present MY Body as a Living Sacrifice."
Of course, I did get the test of it. And so, MY Body was as a Living Sacrifice, by going to that end for that purpose. So you see, it was a Living Sacrifice I had offered. I said there were three special points for consideration in this great commission, to prove to the world the Gospel can be preached without money and without price .
So you can plainly see it was not a national or sectarian question especially, but yet it was summed up in it—I mean, it reached the national problem and the sectarian problem, and I said, "I will prove to the world the Gospel can be preached without money and without price, and I will also prove to the world that Jesus died that you might have Life and not die."
And I will also prove to the world that He said, "Let there be no division among you," and I will present MY Body as a Living Sacrifice to break down that line of demarcation and segregation, and prove to the world conclusively GOD said, "Let there be no division among you!" And I sacrificed MY Body to that extent, and that is why I went stressing it, because I jumped up— I had not gotten any further South than Baltimore— I was just jumping around saying, "I AM going South! I AM going South!" because it was so pronounced.
Jim-crow ism arose! Of course, that stirred the zeal of John Brown and by transmission, resurrected in John Brown that which had already been created, you see. And it stirred MY Zeal by others claiming to be preaching the Gospel, saying that it could not be preached without money and without price—you couldn't do what Christ said do.
Then the next thing that stirred MY Zeal was, saying "From dust thou art, and to dust thou shall return." And really, every preacher preached that, and you couldn't hear anything else but that—saying, "You all have to die. The soul never dies, but the body—oh, this old body has to die!" and all such foolishness as that, and it stirred MY Zeal and I said, I will prove to the world Christ said:
"If you keep my sayings you shall never see death."
And it was a special commission when I said, "I will go forth MYSELF and tell it to the world," and so I did. And it was through this Mighty Love, in the hands of thirty-two lynch mobs I came, and brought MYSELF out Victoriously a Conqueror—but I had to put off the BODY in consideration as a Living Sacrifice, as though It had been slain—for the purpose for which I came. And I accomplished MY endeavors, and from time to ti:ne I would return back North and come through this part again and all different places, but I would not or could not be satisfied until I had accomplished that for which I came, and it was just wonderful!
And you see the results of the seed idea implanted or reproduced, or manifested within the actuated words of expression in MY Soul as it may be termed, if I speak as a Person; because the way you sit and stand just at this particular instance, I AM telling you by your own experience what I had gone for, and what I accomplished by going. By your own experience and by your own self I AM telling you, this is the result—this is what I was doing—what you all are now enjoying! I made such sacrifices that were necessary, for this you have gained. See the mystery?
So, it would have been just unbelievable—and then some come along and try to condemn or try to compete with, in a way of speaking, or criticize this great unfoldment of the mystery. If you were to die personally for the work which you are consciously convinced that is justifiably established, you would not mind, because you know the body would be the only expression that would die—the spirit would go on.
So you see how I have wrought up MY Spiritual Zeal with the reproduction of it as I AM, as that which could have been termed a reflection of His, in other words, a reflection of MINE, to do the Will of GOD.
"Sacrifices and offerings he wouldst not, neither had he pleasure in them."
"Lo, I come in the volume of this book as it is written of me, to do thy will O God."
And so I did. And if you could lose physically for such a sacrifice, it would be perfectly all right, because you would feel perfectly happy and satisfied.
Secretary : FATHER, YOU know when you stop to think of it, it is really wonderful, considering, out of all the people in the world there was not one willing to make a complete sacrifice for the salvation of the people. That in itself proves that no man could do this work—GOD alone can save the people.
FATHER: Everybody, practically everyone would try to evade the issue from some angle of expression. They may go to a certain degree, but there are certain other degrees; the majority of them fail to be willing to pay the price to that end to apply or acquire that degree on them.
Secretary: John declared he did not even see one worthy to look on the Book. You know, if they were not qualified to look on the Book they were not qualified to start to open it.
FATHER: So, things were not on record but borne record of according to the Truth. So, the Spirit of GOD's Presence is just the same to you as it was to those who then appeared on the scene. But going without purse and without scrip and taking nothing for MY journey and refusing to touch one penny of money, I stressed this thought for consideration. I do not bear record how long I did it, but I do bear record of doing it until I had fulfilled all that was recorded in the Book concerning ME, concerning such a sacrifice and concerning the request of those whom Christ commissioned to go.
(And with this last vital thought for consideration FATHER ceased speaking on this subject.)
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