Before one is born of the flesh his body is enfolded in complete darkness. At birth the infant comes forth into another dimension of light, growth and activity in which the seven physical senses are developed and the instructive period of progress in a mortal world is established. Babies are completely helpless at birth because they have to learn how to manage and handle these bodies of flesh and bone and to develop their physical senses, through which all earthly knowledge and information is obtained. In being born of the flesh, the infant is placed in an environment where it can mature physically. It is also endowed with all the divine equipment with which it can mature spiritually if so directed, or if it so chooses as it reaches the age of accountability.
It is usually when one becomes dissatisfied with the material world and its heartbreaking disappointments, with one's physical surroundings that his spiritual growth commences, if he uses the dissatisfaction aright. It is when one begins to yearn to know God that progress really begins. This yearning is the most intense longing within man, yet he knows it not. This spiritual, inner longing is much more intense, though intangible, than is one's hunger for food.
There is no need or desire of man's that was not provided for, if man is only willing to cooperate. The Spiritual hunger is appeased in the fulfilling of the following promises: "Seek me early and you shall find me!" Or, "Seek me diligently and you shall find me!" That eternal promise of finding is proclaimed aloud in these divine words: "Ask and it shall be given. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receives. And he who seeks finds. And to him who knocks it shall be opened."
This great, Spiritual longing is a divine hunger stirring within man. It is a spiritual hunger demanding appeasement. It is a hunger more real than the hunger for food, or the physical desire of sex, or for any earthly things. It is the hunger of the soul, that cries from within, which the human race is striving to silence through the acquisition of wealth, property, fame or any of the desperate, grabbing acquisitions in which modern man is engaged. That hungry cry has often been silenced in the physical being of man because his "ears to hear" have been stopped up by his physical senses taking over to the point of sensuality. "And from that time forth man became carnal, sensual and devilish."
It is impossible for any human being to focus his attention upon that urgent, spiritual desire within without learning to "ask, seek and knock" and hence receive the great feasting which was promised. This feasting is on the hidden or spiritual, manna. As the soul begins to partake of this hidden manna, or food, it speedily grows into its full maturity.
No individual develops to the point of personal revelation until he begins to "Ask, seek and knock", until he begins to desire to know God and is willing to discard all preconceived ideas and orthodox teachings in order to permit Christ to reveal the Father. "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matt. 11:27).
Only in this advanced Spiritual stage of desiring to know for oneself is it possible to reach the point where one can be born of the Spirit. One must reach the point where he is no longer satisfied with a diet of "second-hand food". He must reach the point where he insists upon his food being "first-hand". Then only can he be taught of God. Then only can he be born of God, or of the Spirit. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh. And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
"Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and saith unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God'.
"Nicodemus saith unto him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?'
"Jesus answered, 'Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit'." (John 3:1-8)
The above states clearly that those who are born of the Spirit will have the power to come and go, even as the wind, and that none (who are still in mortality) will know where they came from, or where they go when they depart.
There is so much truth contained in the above quotation it will be necessary to approach it from several angles in order to make it fully comprehensible and to explain this Spiritual birth which is indicated.
An egg is the symbol of creation. It has always been the symbol of creation. It is used also in most ancient lands as the symbol of the Creator.
An egg is born of the chicken. Within the egg, which holds the symbol of potential life, is the embryonic chick. The chick is born of the egg. Whenever the maturing bird reaches the point of development as far as possible within the egg, it must come forth into a new world or perish. It must, by its own efforts and inborn, instinctive intelligence, begin to exert itself in a greater way than it has ever before known. It must begin to struggle in its intensified effort to overcome. The enfolding walls have to be torn asunder. If the chick only makes an opening in the shell large enough to get a glimpse of the new, greater world -- the world of another dimension -- without continuing its efforts to completely free itself, it still has not accomplished its intended destiny.
Many individuals only advance far enough to behold the higher vision in their minds but never go on to fulfill it. If the chick stops its progress at this stage it dies. If man ceases here, he also will be claimed by death.
There is another point which must be comprehended. After the chick comes forth from the egg it can never again return to its cramped, enfolding walls of darkness. Neither can the individual. For such there is only the great freedom.
The same is true of the caterpillar encased in its cocoon. Within the dense, confining, silken web of darkness the worm develops wings and flaming colors of beauty. It develops strength and vision and finally reaches the measure of its progress when it must break its enfolding walls and emerge -- or die. No outside tearing away of that embalming, silken enclosure can be of any help. It has to be rent from within, even as the shell of the egg has to be broken from within. This inside effort is most necessary that the butterfly might develop wings to soar and the chick to walk. The rending of the cocoon must be accomplished by the crawling worm as it progresses into another phase of its existence. It must be when the worm is completely prepared and ready. It must prove its readiness by releasing itself. When the worm has fulfilled the laws of its own being and qualifies itself by its own infinite struggle and efforts, it can come forth a new creature. In that development it leaves the worm stage of its existence and enters a new dimension where it can soar above the fields and flowers. It no longer crawls on its belly in the dust. And never again can it return into its prison of enfolding darkness. It is free!
The same laws are true of the bird, of the rosebud as it breaks its sepal covering, of the acorn as it bursts its outer shell of confining darkness and takes hold of the light, and true of man as he purifies himself and by his own inner efforts releases himself from the binding shackles of earth.
All things that so reach forth into a new dimension of progress never again return to the imprisonment of their former condition and existence. No man enters a second time into his mother's womb to receive his great spiritual release. That which is born of the mother's flesh is flesh. "Mother earth" is the physical mother of all material existence and of all earthly elements, of which mortal bodies are composed.
But that which is born of the Father is spirit. To be born of the Father is the new, spiritual birth which is required. This birth is quite different from the physical birth, yet in some ways it is quite similar.
Every human being is imprisoned within his own qualified, restricted self and its environment. Oh, he may travel and explore. He may have many acquaintances and activities, even as the worm. Nevertheless, he is imprisoned within his personal self -- a creature of earth. He is of the flesh. All mortal beings are of the flesh. They are still confined within the darkness of their restricted, unenlightened, uncomprehending, mortal consciousness. They behold through the eyes of flesh "darkly". They work through the faculties of the flesh whether they be professed prophets, beggars, or kings. Mortal man is restricted and is a third-dimensional being. All the wealth, physical possessions, worldly honors and earthly knowledge will not break man's enfolding shell, or make him other than what his own physical conception holds forth -- a mere mortal being.
Man's existence is a third-dimensional condition and though he has not realized it, it is in a dark and dreary world that he abides. He has little or no spiritual vision, for he has not developed his spiritual eyes to see. He is spiritually blind and is enfolded in darkness. And unless each man begins to exert himself and struggles for his own personal release -- he will die -- even as the chick in the egg will die unless it makes the effort to free itself.
No man has the power to release another from his physical, enfolding walls. Each man must catch the vision and begin the struggle for his own freedom.
"Everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it shall be opened," even the door to a new and glorified dimension. Such a one, as he who makes that divine struggle for himself, will be born of the Spirit and will no longer be of the flesh. He will be able to come and go "As the wind and no (mortal) man will know where he came from or whither he goeth", not any more than a crawling caterpillar will comprehend the comings and goings of the butterfly.
The chick had to do so much developing within the egg, the rosebud within the calyx, the worm within the cocoon and man within his fleshly body.
This physical life is man's state of worm consciousness, compared to that which is ahead, if man will only fulfill the laws of his own progress. This work is given to reveal fully the great issues involved.
When man begins to develop by spiritual expansion, which power is contained in an awakening attitude of understanding, he will be able to reach the measure of progress where he can break the seal of "self", of flesh, and being born of the Spirit, step forth into a new and higher dimension. This higher phase of existence is as far above the present state as the butterfly is above the worm, the chick beyond the egg, the rosebud beyond the green, enfolding sepal.
How is it done?
First, by an awakening of the desires to the extent of spiritual asking and an awareness of that inner longing. It is commenced by developing the spiritual faculty and power to believe. As one beings to believe, hence to hope and to aspire, he naturally begins to grow into the new Spiritual unfolding that is required for release. As long as he is satisfied with what he already believes and knows, as long as he sealed in any orthodox conformity of passivity, or is willing to be led by those who are themselves blind, there is no chance for him to emerge into the greater freedom and comprehend the divine truth -- to know God.
When one reaches the point where the spirit grows into the fullness of the physical confines and surpasses it, that outer shell of mortal crust will have to crumble and give way. It is then one begins to see through his spiritual eyes and hear through his spiritual ears, to comprehend through his spiritual understanding as he steps beyond mortal, physical functioning. The point where the spirit grows into the fullness of the physical being is when all promises begin to be fulfilled, all powers begin to be bestowed, all truth becomes comprehended. When the spirit catches up with the physical, there can never again be any material want.
Below are listed a few of the teachings of John, the Beloved, which reveal the ways of achievement.
"God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all." (I John 1:15).
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: whereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked." (I John 2:4-6).
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." (I John 2:9-11).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (I John 2:15-16).
"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him." (I John 2:29). "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (I John 3:7).
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." (I John 3:9-10).
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (I John 4:7).
Again: praise and love and gratitude are the most dynamic of all powers in developing and bringing forth that divine Light of Christ until it fills one's entire being.
The inspired, beloved writer of The Odes of Solomon, which are contained in the Lost Books of the Bible, when telling of his own translation has this information to give: "-- And great was I among the praising ones." Any individual upon this earth can become great among the praising ones. Praise is an essence released from the soul of man. It is increased with use and becomes potent with power. It has the efficacy and the power to reach to the throne of God instantly. This praise of infinite glory is not the praise of empty words spoken aloud in blasphemous phrases, proclaimed in public places. This is that inner song of loving devotion and singing gratitude which ascends from the soul to be heard only by the ears of God. This is the adoration that is beyond words. It is born of the innermost feelings of man and no words have power to express it. As one's praise of loving gratitude is thus released to the very throne of God, that individual will soon be exalted to that very glory. This praise is sent out from the heart, the soul and the mind to fulfill that greatest of all commandments. It is love in its highest expression. The releasing of this inner praise contains the preparation necessary for the spiritual birth.
Praise and love and gratitude hold the keys to the great Christ door -- the door of the new birth. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will feast with him, and he with me." That Christ door is the door into another dimension -- another phase of glorified existence. It is the door of "overcoming".
"I have overcome the world!" declared Christ. Man can also overcome the world. But he must overcome it through bringing forth that Christ Light from within until it fills the little mortal shell of "self". The Christ Light must fill his mind, his soul and every cell and fiber of his entire being. When that is accomplished the mortal prison of the flesh will have to give way and one will truly be born of the Spirit. Before he reaches this point of complete renewal, or the full rebirth, he must develop into his maturity by living according to the laws of spiritual development. He must begin to live spiritually, partaking of the Spiritual food, the hidden manna.
The Spiritual food is most easily reached through prayer which is exalted to the state of loving praise and gratitude. This symphonic prayer ascends from the very center of a man's soul and is the New Song mentioned in Revelations. This divine center is the point of the great spiritual stillness. It is the place where one can "BE Still and know that I am God!" Even as one's supply of physical sustenance is provided by the mother's milk in the beginning, so is the spiritual supply of hidden manna provided by the Father as one grows into the Fullness of the Father. "Be Still and know" and partake of the Father's inner supply of soul nourishment and spiritual food.
The infant first becomes aware of its mother through her providing the food to appease its hunger. This is how the child first knows its mother. When one receives of the higher spiritual nourishment in the stillness of his own soul, he partakes of the hidden manna of the Father, the food which will help him grow into his spiritual maturity.
When a child reaches the advanced stage beyond infancy where the earthly father supplies the food, it is then necessary that it begin to exert itself in its effort to partake of that food. The child must sit up and learn to feed itself. It is true that the food is supplied by the father, but the child must make the effort to do the eating. So it is when an individual advances to the state where his hungering and thirsting after righteousness prepare him to receive of the hidden manna, the spiritual food provided by the Heavenly Father.
"Be still and know that I am God!" holds the keys. An infant, in order to partake of its nourishment, must first become "still". This "stillness" is not the stillness of sleep. It is the stillness of concentrated alertness. Man, in order to partake of the spiritual food, the manna of God, must also become "still" in a new sense of awakened awareness. This divine food of inner, hidden manna is "The bread of life", which Christ promised. In fact. He stated emphatically that He Himself was that "Bread of Life". And it is most certainly true. This inner, hidden food that is so necessary for the feeding of the soul is the Light of Christ. Man must begin to comprehend its supply of unending power and grow into his own ability to partake of it. As one grows quiet and still in a love of praise and inner gratitude, he will learn the source of his divine supply -- and as he partakes of it he will grow into the knowledge of God.
"Blessed is he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, for he shall be filled" -- with the fullness of God.
The stillness spoken of is only attained as one learns to go within the temple of himself, humble and love-filled. He must enter these sacred precincts reverently and with a tender gratitude of devotion that opens the very doors of glory at his approach. In this way only is it possible for him to enter the "holy of holies" in the very center of his own soul as he leaves his mortal thoughts and feelings on the outside. This "holy of holies" is the place of inner stillness -- "the secret place of the Most High" -- where one finds his own contact with God.
In this divine, inner contact one is led fully to the great Christ Light. He is not only willing to abide by the higher laws; he is grateful for the privilege. And with an awakened vision and intensified desire, he begins to conform his new life to the great truths and principles of a more advanced world. He receives the key to the great Christ door.
As one learns to enter this stillness of his own soul, he finds that all the clamoring of the little mortal "self" is silenced and the power of God takes over. It is in this divine silence that the great powers of God become operative in a man's life and all things begin to work together for his good -- and his full development.
It is in this inner stillness that the Will of God begins the perfecting of His work. Within the Will of God is the complete and utter fulfillment of all that is beautiful, perfect and divine. There is nothing in the Will of God that is not for the joy and glory of the individual.
The Will of the Father is first contacted through learning to believe in that divine Christ Light which has been given to abide right within each and every man who has ever come into the world. "This is the will of the Father, that you believe on Him whom he has sent." Or it could be stated thus, "This is the will of the Father, that you believe on the Light of Christ that has been given to abide within you." This Christ Light is given to abide within you even as the life germ of the chick is given to abide in the egg. And as the evolving chick feeds on the yolk of the egg so is man's supply fully established.
As one learns to believe in that Christ Light, he will learn to feel Its divine reality and know of Its infinite power and experience its expanding glory. As he learns to become still he will learn to abide in It. He will also develop the ears with which to hear and the eyes with which to see. In that development he will learn to see the wonders of eternity and hear the voice of the Almighty. As the Light of Christ is thus contacted in the silent depths of one's soul, Its powers become more and more operative in one's everyday life. One's messes are straightened out. One's weaknesses are overcome. One's vision is expanded until he is able "to overcome the evils of his life and loses every desire for sin, and like the ancients, arrives at the point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of His Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him."
It is in the inner stillness that one makes that divine contact with the redemptive Light of Christ and reaches the point of development where he can actually KNOW GOD!
It is in this stage of progress that one leaves the apron strings of his mother -- earth -- and steps out into the greater world of his Father -- the Spiritual world.
As one enters that inner stillness, or the "holy of holies", within himself he will contact the very source of love. It will fill his heart and soul and mind. Then with all his strength he must use his energy to send that love forth from the great heart center of his own being and from every cell of his body and with every thought of his mind. As he does this, he discovers that love arising as a living flame from the very center of his soul. When this pure devotion is accomplished, one reaches the point where that glorified Light of Christ not only is comprehended but becomes known. It is where one finally knows Christ, for He is the living source of that Light. As one holds his attention upon that Light he learns that Christ's redemptive powers are contained in it. He also comprehends that Christ Light is the holy altar flame within the temple of himself. He knows fully that within the Light of Christ, the holy flame of His Spirit, is contained all the powers of his own individual redemption.
As one learns to contact that Christ Light each day through a few selected periods, he will be taking time out to withdraw from the world of mother earth. In so doing he automatically enters into the world of his Father -- even the world of higher powers and fuller manifestation. "Be Still" according to the things of the flesh and let the things of God begin to become apparent. "Be Still" and partake of the hidden manna of that divine Light of Christ, which "Bread of Life" is so necessary for one's spiritual development. It is only as one continues to partake of the divine spiritual food daily he can possibly grow into the Fullness of the Father.
As one continues in this practice of becoming still, at least as often as he takes time out for his mortal meals, he will not only learn of the source of his all-supply but will grow into another phase of existence. He will become aware of the great spiritual hunger after righteousness and as he learns to appease that hunger he will learn to KNOW God. As one continues to receive the divine, hidden manna of the "Bread of Life" in those periods of inner stillness, he naturally "grows in strength and waxes strong in spirit."
As one continues to partake of the spiritual food, or Christ Light, he learns of Its redemptive powers. He realizes that he is being cleansed and purified, "even as He is pure". This great Christ Light contains the power to right his errors and mistakes and to utterly consume his sins and weaknesses for His Light is the flame of that holy, redeeming Light of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Redeemer of the world.
As one becomes thus cleansed and purified, that Christ Light begins to expand and grow within the individual until it finally fills his entire being. When this is accomplished, the individual is prepared to open that great Christ door -- even the door into eternal life -- the door into another dimension -- the front door into heaven -- the door beyond death.
But no man can fulfill these higher things unless he believes -- and is willing. He has to be willing to fulfill the higher laws by growing into them -- even as the chick must grow into the full size of the egg. He must believe in the higher laws of righteousness, not self-righteousness, and begin to live them in love.
As that Christ door is opened the mortal veil or shell is completely rent. It is rent from top to bottom and one steps through into another phase of divine, glorified existence, for when that veil is rent nothing is impossible!
"But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope purifieth himself, even as He is pure."
This is an individual accomplishment and must be brought about by each individual's own efforts. The purification is accomplished by one's learning to turn within in complete silence and contacting that Light of Christ, which holds the purifying powers of redemption in it. As one learns to open that inner, Christ door, he will become purified "even as He is pure". The learning to turn within in love and adoration is in itself a purifying glory. When one learns to hold himself constantly and consciously in that Christ Light, he is prepared for service.
These are the eternal, everlasting promises of God to the world and they have been waiting down the centuries for man to open his ears to hear. These promises are the "Voice of Christ, which if a man hear and open that door, Christ will appear to him and feast with him." These promises are the eternal "Voice of Christ crying in the wilderness" -- crying to be heard of man. "And any who hear that voice and open that door" will not only feast with the Redeemer of the world, but will also KNOW him. That inner hunger, that yearning of the Spirit, is Christ's knocking. But His voice is the crying of the promises for fulfillment. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and feast with him, and he with me." And that feasting will be on the very "bread of Life" and the individual who partakes thereof will never die.
These are the holy promises proclaimed by His Voice and are crying to be heard of man. If man will only open that door of his own soul they will all be fulfilled -- and more.
The will of God for you is this: Learn to abide in that Christ Light within that He can begin to perform His Works through you. His works are miracles -- not miracles to be seen of men -- but miracles to bless and heal a world in silent love and eternal compassion.
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
"And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
"For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.
"Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for it is by FAITH that miracles are wrought; and it is by FAITH that angels appear and minister unto you; Wherefore, if these things have ceased woe be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain."
In that contact with the Light of Christ, in the very center of your soul, is where the Will of God begins to operate and His perfection and His power begin to be released through you. He begins to do His works -- of glory. Learn to abide in that center consciously and you will soon KNOW God.