GEMS TO HELP US PROVE OUR AT-ONE-MENT WITH GOD!
USE BIBLICAL EXAMPLES AS SPRINGBOARDS FOR MODERN-DAY PROOFS!
Insights by Cobbey Crisler and others** for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Doctrine of Atonement”
for October 17, 2021
(shared with Janet Crisler’s blessing) by Warren Huff
CedarS Executive Director Emeritus warren@cedarscamps.org
AVOID THE WRONG REMEDY—RELY on the STABLE, PERFECT MEDICINE of MIND
Cobbey Crisler on Psalm 19:7, 8/cit. B3 and the sure stability of Mind-cure medicine
“Read Psalm chapter 19:7-9 and you will discover there are quality controls as far as God’s medicine is concerned: all the things you would want to see on the label. Look at the words “perfect,” “sure,” right,” “pure,” “clean,” and “true,” which has the meaning in Hebrew of stable. You want a stable product. You want a clean product. You want it pure. You want it right. You don’t want the wrong remedy. You want it sure. You want it perfect.”
“Leaves of the Tree: A Prescription from Psalm,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
THINK AGAIN TO PROVE THAT IT’S NOT PROBLEMS, BUT HEAVEN, THAT IS AT HAND!
Cobbey Crisler on Matt 4:17/cit. B4: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
[Cobbey:] “Verse 17. … Jesus’ opening word, according to Matthew’s gospel is “Repent.” Change your concept. Again, just as John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:2, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That is radical good news for mankind.
“It’s not a far-off event. Many denominations have left the impression that heaven is something attainable in the far-off future. But, the opening words of John the Baptist, as well as of Jesus, are “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” right here. That means that we must be able to do something with it and about it. And, apparently that had something to do with the changing of our concept, even theologically, that heaven can do something about the problems that that seem to be at hand.
“… Are the problems at hand, or is heaven at hand? That’s the test question that Jesus met in the preceding verses so beautifully as a sovereign over it in the wilderness. He proved that heaven was at hand.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
[W.] We follow our Master Jesus, as we dismiss dualism like he did to feel a heavenly harmony that heals EVERY PERSON & EVERY ISSUE! (Matt. 14:23) As a prelude to these verses from this week’s lesson, you’ll enjoy Cobbey’s insights on Jesus’ wilderness testing experience where he overcame feeling isolated and alone, by feeling ALL One with his Abba “Daddy”! You’ll enjoy this even more if you’re feeling vulnerable to attacks from a devilish, divisive virus! (Devil or diabolos means to try to throw in 2 opposite directions at the same time.)
Cobbey Crisler on Jesus “acing” his long isolation tests & healing all, Matt. 4:1-11 before verses 17, 23 (in citation B3):
[W. Before the Matthew 4:17 and 23 verses in this week’s lesson is what enabled Jesus to heal everyone.]
[Cobbey:] “There is what we might call an identity-crisis test in Chapter 4 (of Matthew). The Anglo-Saxon word “tempt” has almost picked up a theological meaning. It really means “test.” That’s what the word means. It’s a test. (Verse 1) So, “Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness” to be tested on the fact that had recently been revealed (directly from God in Matthew 3:17 (and Mark 1:11) that Jesus was God’s “Beloved Son”).
Verse 23. And “healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Here are human problems that had defied solution, and Jesus solved them all based on his concept of theology, namely the kingdom. Remember a kingdom is not chaos. It’s an ordered government of heaven and harmony at hand.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master, A Tax Collector’s Report,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
SEE GOD BY APPLYING JESUS’ PRINCIPLES of HEAVENLY HAPPINESS with MATHEMATICAL CERTAINTY!
Cobbey Crisler on the Beatitudes (cit. B6/Matt. 5:8)
[Cobbey:] “The Beatitudes, the blessings. The word “blessed” in our sermon on the mount is not really the accurate translation of the Greek. The word is “makarios” which means “happy.”
Just think of the search for happiness among humanity. Here are rules laid down by Jesus simply stating that happiness can be obtained in the following ways…
… we should remember that Jesus never uttered anything that he hadn’t practiced.
The Sermon on the Mount is in essence a description of the life of Jesus…
The Sermon begins with the Beatitudes. (Verse 3). “Happy are the poor in spirit.” Doesn’t sound like they should be happy does it? But we find out the reason. Because such humility gets what results? And where is the kingdom of heaven? What was Jesus’ first announcement? “Right at hand” (Matt. 4:17/cit. B4). Later he says, “Within” (Luke 17:21 & SH 476: 28-32 & 248:29).
“We’ve talked about mathematics. How would you like to view Jesus as a mathematician par excellence? You can take his beatitudes and make equations out of them. Which shows how much of a mathematical thinker he was. For instance,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Thus, B x PS = KH. When you invest on the left side of the equation, what is the yield on the right side? The “Kingdom of Heaven.” “B” multiplied times “PS” equals “KH,” i.e., B x PS = KH.
“You have measurable results. Do you see a difference here in Jesus’ approach to religion? … here is the essence of Jesus’ thinking. And we have results…”
“… As you go down the Beatitude, read them all, scan them as they are in front of you. See if you can find results in every one of them. See if you can analyze them for those results. That becomes a very practical clue for how to lead one’s life.
The Commandments and Beatitudes have often been placed side by side. Many parallels have been used. Is that justified?
For instance, we are told in the Book of Revelation that those who have overcome the beast will stand on the sea of glass with harps. They’re singing two things representative of what has been given them. The victory over the beast, the animal origin of man.
How can we overcome that animal connection?
Those who have overcome are said to be singing two things: the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. That sounds like they’re inseparable. They operate together. Do you know why? Because it’s part of the heavenly mathematics.
“Why did the Commandments say, “Thu shalt not,” taking care of the minus aspects in human nature? And the Beatitudes, “happy are they” that do certain things, are plus? What do you do with the minus in thought, the chaff? It is dealt with by fire. You deal with the plus in thought through the Holy Ghost. They operate together for a single purpose and a unique commitment to the totality of One infinite, God, good. The Beatitudes must be considered in conjunction with the Commandments in your study.
“These Beatitudes took the same forty days preparation of Jesus in the wilderness as the Commandments took forty days of preparation in the wilderness for Moses. It may take the same wilderness experience for you and me to really appreciate what really is there behind the Commandments and the Beatitudes. They are really the staff on which we lean. If we try to go very far without that staff it must discipline us. {Discipline is] The same root word as disciple. We must come back and learn how to deal with the plus factors and the minus factors in our own thinking. That’s the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire…
“Let me make recommendations for your own research. I have previously assigned my high school students to see on their own, through their own Scriptural research, whether there was any Old Testament precedent for each Beatitude. In other words, is this something that Jesus is saying, “Hey, here is a new idea of humanity, why don’t you consider it?” Or was he pointing out stones already in the foundation that had been neglected?
“These are interesting things. I’ll give you one as a lead. Verse 5 of chapter 5, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” You’ll see in Psalms 37, Verse 11, that almost word for word, we find that Beatitude there.
“So, you see, it’s not always being original, but recalling human attention to something that has been already revealed, already discovered, but essential to our progress and growth.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
REVERSE the DUST-RECORD CURSE of MOB THINKING, of ADULTEROUS ACTING & of LUSTFUL LOOKING. (Matt 5:28)
Cobbey Crisler on Jesus saving the adulterous woman, John 8:3-11/cit. B7 +cit. S6/447:30 “”A sinner is afraid to cast the first stone.” & SH 11:1”When forgiving the adulterous woman, he said ‘Go, and sin no more.’”:
[Cobbey:] “John 8:3 Suddenly here is “a woman taken in adultery.” One should at least ask the question, where is the husband who would usually make the charge, and where is the fellow she was with? How come only the woman is here?
The event takes place in the area of the temple. If the stones suddenly start flying, both Jesus and the woman were there. Who did they really care about eliminating?
John 8:5 They face him with a rabbinical question. “Moses said that this “lady” should be stoned. What do you say?…
John 8:6, While they’re all saying this, Jesus has disappeared from view, which would actually happen to those in the rear rows if they’ve encircled. You have to look around. Where did he go? He just disappeared. He’s writing on the ground. A record about as evanescent as the material in which he’s writing. Is that the permanent record of womanhood? It’s a dust record. A dust record that can be dominated by the first foot that walks over and decides to change it or trample it.
John 8:7, “They keep asking him,” because he’s doing nothing but writing on the ground. This is a brilliant way to control a mob. It was a method that was successful. He has kept the mob from being an unthinking gang. He’s kept them all as individuals because they’re thinking, “What’s he doing? What’s he doing?”
“So, they continue asking.” He says “He that is ‘anamartetos’, that is, above error, who never erred or who cannot error or sin among you, let him first throw a stone.” He hasn’t objected to Moses’ sentence. He hasn’t set himself apart. He simply returned the sentence to everyone’s individual conscience and let it be established in the mental courtrooms of those present. You can’t have a mob scene when conscience is at work individually. That’s what destroys a mob.
John 8:8, “Again he stoops down and writes on the ground”— giving them a chance for it to work. It’s an impersonal treatment of the situation for all concerned. No condemnation. No anything.
John 8:9, What happened? “They filtered out and they began at the eldest.” This is a significant start. The custom in the Sanhedrin… was that after a decision of any major import was made, the youngest left first. The honor was for the eldest to be the last one you saw.
Not in this case. The eldest were the first you saw leaving. This is not surprising when you think since they had been around longer, they likely had accumulated more sin. So, the eldest left first. “The woman is left standing in the midst.”
John 8:10 What is Jesus going to do? Is he for permissiveness? He said, “Woman” again, “womanhood”, “Where are your accusers? No man hath condemned you?”
John 8:11, “I’m not in that business either. But,” and you can imagine the authority that went behind this, “go, and sin no more.” Terminate that link to the flesh.”
“Book of John: A Walk with the Beloved Disciple” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
[Ken Cooper writes:] The Golden Text this week, taking the full verse, “I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool”, CEV, builds so well on the assurances from last week’s lesson and the story of the three Hebrews. They had been found guilty of disobedience to Nebuchadnezzar’s decree, caught in the very act of praying to their God and not to the idol the king had created. They were therefore sentenced to death. However, in holding fast to their love of the one God, they were saved, and the king was forced to acknowledge the power of their God. The smell of fire did not touch them. With the woman caught in the very act of adultery, the sentence was the same, — death, but this time under the Mosaic law. However, as with the Hebrew boys, the Christ was present to save her. There was no condemnation, not even the smell of accusation, and she was healed.
The monologue, “Go and Sin No More”, read by Sue, traces the thoughts of the condemned woman. Jesus addresses her accusers, turned the lie upon itself. He recognized her true nature. His knowledge of man’s purity, his expression of Love, washed through her thoughts, cleansed the past so that it was no longer part of her, and left her renewed, — whiter than snow! She saw the man / woman of God’s creating, in which is complete freedom, the desire to be good and do good.
Communing with God, we discover our inherent purity, for our prayers shut the door on materiality and behold all that God sees and is.
When we behold the reality, the all-inclusiveness, of Love we see the powerlessness and unreality of anything unlike Love. We see our existence as Love’s reflection of Itself, and there is nothing that can harm us, nothing that can separate us from the love that Jesus knew, experienced and shared. The unreality of all so-called forms of error is the consequence of the reality of the Allness of Truth, Love, Mind, the ever-present excellence of God, here and now.
The printable PDF versions of this offering (for color and black printers) are located under Downloads in the upper right of CedarS GEMs webpage.
LIKE JESUS, STICK WITH THE ONLY REAL POWER, THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT!
Cobbey Crisler on Luke 4:14/ cit. B9
“Luke indicates that he understands that this Jesus’ period of temptations in the wilderness has been a power test for Jesus. In Verse 14 he uses that word, “Jesus returned” not in any form of power that Satan had tried to impose upon him [“to take personal power, political power, and priestly power”]. But rather, “in the power of the Spirit into Galilee”— [“in the law that relates man directly to God, the source of the only power there is.]
We find that Jesus’ radical challenge to the human mind is such that this devil is absolutely removed from his mentality, shown never to have been a part of it. Normalcy, dignity of manhood, are restored.
No one had witnessed such authority before, where the word is followed by the deed. Just like creation where God said (in Genesis 1:3), “Let there be, and there was.” There is no lapse between promise and fulfillment from God’s point of view. Breathing in the Holy Ghost is our way of imaging forth God’s authority on-earthas-in-heaven, imaging forth that “Let there be Light.”
“Let there be health is our breathing in the divine fact that the Holy Ghost is inspiring us to feel. Our utilization of that fact is like our breathing out, giving out what we’ve taken in. It becomes “and there was light” or health. Just as natural as that. Breathing in, “Let there be,” and breathing out, “and there was.”
ACCEPT CHRIST’S ABILITY TO BRING THE SAME HEALING AIR TO EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME.
[Cobbey:] “In Luke 4, Verse 40 as healing increases, we find that many healings occur, especially around the Sea of Galilee. Is it any more difficult for Jesus to heal collectively than it is individually? It doesn’t seem to take much more time, does it?
Who does Jesus say is responsible for the healing? If God is responsible for the healing, does He love all His creation as instantly as he loves each individual part of His creation? Can that love reach collectively? Is it present collectively? If that’s the basis for Jesus healing, then we see that healing a multitude was just as normal and natural as breathing, and as healing an individual.
What is the atmosphere there? If the Holy Ghost is there, then we all can breathe that same air simultaneously.
The healings were apparently permanent. There was no standing in line. Jesus didn’t say, “All right, all the ears, eye, nose, and throat people over here.” He didn’t deal with them as a specialist would deal with them. He dealt with them as a general practitioner, as if he could be consulted and he could join with others in prayer and to be at-one with God, whether it was one individual or hundreds or thousands. Remember, he fed thousands from that same point of view.”
“Book of Luke: Luke the Researcher,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
FIND ONENESS with God “AS A HUMBLE RAY OF SUNLIGHT THAT IS ONE WITH THE SUN”
from a Jesus quote in John 10:30/cit. B11 also amplified in Science & Health p. 315:3+361:16
as sung in “I and My Father” Music Video on YouTube
Below is a YouTube link to an inspiring song by a CedarS mom and award-winning Country Music artist, Cherie Brennan. It emphasizes the “I and my Father are one” mindset of Christ Jesus and mentioned in this week’s Bible Lesson citation B11/John 10:30.
Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZMNlpZavkA
You can learn more about Cherie and buy her CD “You are Loved” (“I and My Father” is the 4th song) on her website through Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Ii5CBrdNs6f8Y3t4l5XHl
Or, on Watchfire Music by CedarS friend, Peter Link, — LISTEN TO A SAMPLE of “I and my Father are one” SUNG by Mindy Jostyn and BUY IT and the SHEET MUSIC for SOLOISTS at: https://watchfiremusic.com/shop/recordings/songs/i-and-my-father-are-one-2/
TAKE ACTIVE STEPS to FEEL AT-ONE with GOD STARTING by ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST JESUS’ ESSENTIAL ROLE in YOUR AT-ONE-MENT with GOD by SAVING YOU
from SIN, SICKNESS & DEATH. (citation S17/497:13-23)
Check out the downloadable history of evolution of the Fourth and Fifth Tenets of Christian Science (below) as researched by The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity. Click on it in the upper right Download section of the webpage.
(Tenet) “4. We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.” (citation S17/487:13)
BE MOVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN YOUR NEXT 40 DAYS!
Cobbey Crisler on Acts 1:1, 2/cit. B18
“I’m sure you realize the Book of Acts is a second volume of a two-volume work, the first volume being, Luke, right! And the reason we know that: What’s verse one in the book of Acts tell us?
It starts out with…really giving us that information, doesn’t it? It says
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Now, why in that brief group of words do we have clues about the Gospel of Luke and similar authorship? Do you know?
Well, the Gospel of Luke, if you check the opening verses there, you will find that that Gospel is addressed to “Theophilus” as well. (See below)
Luke 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
And here, we’re told in the opening verse of Chapter One of Acts, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus….” (See Acts1:1 above)
So, it doesn’t take too much more than common sense to at least link the books in terms of the one to whom it was written and in terms of the author….
Now, Theophilus – who is he? No one knows, but translated from the Greek it means what? Do any of you know? What’s “Theo” like in theology, God and Logos. All right, it’s…well, not Logos, that was theology, but Theo-PHILUS, Philus meaning, like Philadelphia, love. So, God-loving, literally, which has again caused some to think that it might not be addressed to an individual named Theophilus; it could be to us if we qualify in that definition, collectively.
“O All those who are God-loving.” (See below, Paraphrased) Again that is conjecture, but something worth considering.
We know that the first treatise that Luke wrote had to do with – what does the first verse tell us? … Right. What “Jesus began both to do and teach.” (See partial below)
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
So, it really, it sounds like it was a gospel such as we have. And the progress of the gospel, narrative wise, would take us, according to Verse 2, “until the day in which he was taken up after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.” …
Now, probably the most extensive use of the concept and phrase Holy Ghost is in the Book of Acts. So, we’re talking about not only church but a very close relationship to church of the concept of Holy Ghost. So, let’s review that a bit. The word Ghost in Greek is pneuma. Can you see this? I hope I will become more transparent as the evening wears on and you’ll be able to see through me to the blackboard.
But, pneuma is spirit, or ghost, or wind, or breath, or air – and very much associated with movement, isn’t it? For instance, you know how the Bible opens: “The spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (See Gen 1:2 below)
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters
And then, look what happened in the next seven days, rather remarkable accomplishments. So, the pneuma is/has something to do with movement.
And even the definition of prophesy, given to us in Second Peter in the first chapter, tells us that prophesy really is the result of holy men of God being moved by the Holy Ghost. Alright, now we’ll see several examples of that movement as we go through.
Reviewing the narrative in the gospel at the end, how many days between the resurrection and the ascension did Jesus have to get across to his students what they apparently had failed to get during the preceding three years? (Murmurs from audience) 40 days. Right.”
“After the Master, What? – The Book of Acts,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
BE OF ONE ACCORD! LIFT ALL MIXED-UP MESSES TO SPIRIT FOR “DRY-CLEAN” BAPTISM of WIND & FIRE! Cobbey Crisler on Acts 2:1-44 (citation B19 plus some other bonus verses from Acts 2 for context)
[Cobbey:] “Acts, Chapter 2, Verse 1, introduces right away the phrase that we’re to look for. What is it? “With one accord.”
“The day of Pentecost” is fifty days past Passover and when you realize the Jesus was crucified just prior to Passover and within the tomb roughly three days, how many days since Jesus’ actual departure via the ascension have transpired? (See below)
“Well, fifty days, Pentecost, fifty days from Passover – all right, so it’s about a week since Jesus is gone. This is a real test for the church, isn’t it?
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
“He’s not going to be back physically, personally, but he told them where they could find him, which is where? In the scriptures.
“And they seem to be obeying this, don’t they? They’re looking to the scriptures for inspiration for church decisions. And “in the day of Pentecost…they were all with one accord in one place,” there is church fulfilling its destiny – “all with one accord in one place.” (See above)
“And suddenly, look at the result of this collective harmony! And it may be the reason why we haven’t heard this kind of thing.
The “sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind…” remember ‘wind,’ pneuma, the movement. (See below, Partial)
“The church is an expression of the movement, then. “The rushing mighty wind…” spirit, and remember “holy spirit, Holy Ghost” is very much in the forefront in the Book of Acts. (See below)
“It filled all the house where they were sitting,” showing that the early church started out in houses: the early house church. (See below, Partial)
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
“And, this wind is needed. It’s needed in our own consciousness today. It’s needed in our churches. It may start as a sound and then move to movement and then even become something visible in our midst as we work together, and arrive at something together that we never could have arrived at individually – namely the victory over collective problems because we’ve applied the solution collectively, to blow away the stagnant air around church, all those neatly stacked theories that we can line up on call — the encrustations of Ecclesiastism needs the wind of “the Holy Ghost.” (See below, Partial)
“And not only that wind but “cloven tongues like as a fire.” (See below, Partial) Now, it’s talking about communication which you know immediately breaks down when you get more than one. Co-mmunication. Co- involves more than one.
And these “cloven tongues like as a fire sitting on each of them:” (See Acts 1:3)
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
“Communication possible more than ever before possible for each individual, now that they’re working collectively. And they’re “filled with the Holy Ghost.” What a church meeting in consciousness: “Filled with the Holy Ghost” and feeling it, and seeing it, and able to do something that never had been possible individually. And they “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (See above)
Now, at this moment, let’s first explore why this combination of wind and fire is so important.
“If you remember, John the Baptist said that “his baptism by water would be succeeded by a higher sense of baptism, which Jesus would bring,” and what was it? — “The baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire.” (See below, Paraphrased)
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
“That combination, absolutely working together, or it would not be mentioned. What does wind do to fire? (Murmurs) Burns faster.
“So, if your hearts are burning in you, and the Holy Ghost is also moving within you, what happens to the fire in your heart? It spreads.
And that’s what attracts and draws, and the church just glows. (Murmurs and laughter)
“All right, now, to illustrate the Holy Ghost and fire, just from an everyday incident in the Holy Land today, in separating “chaff and wheat.”
“There are several steps that are necessary:
“1st) The one trying to separate this mixed-up mess of chaff and wheat has to locate a very high place – a threshing floor that has no obstacles between it and what? — the wind.
[Warren application idea:] Hope you can do this mental baptism for yourself daily! And, that you can even come to Mt. Nebo in CedarS Bible Lands Park to use a “FAN” as a lifter and “Separator of fable from fact.” (SH 586) so that all fables that have been mixed into your thought are burned and left behind forever—while the facts are remembered consistently “which gives action to thought.” (SH 586)
[Cobbey again:] “So, if we’re translating this mentally and this is the kind of baptism we’re talking about, it looks like a mental baptism, a spiritual thing. What would that suggest itself to you as being required or pre-requisite for this baptism to occur in our own thinking?
“Step One is…uplift your thinking? What? Clear everything out, right? – And give priority, unobstructed priority, to this threshing floor, because we’re about to sort out things, which Jesus in many of his parables and other statements indicates is the kingdom of heaven – a sorting out type of thing.
“All right, now, once we’re on that exposed height available to the wind, there is something that is our responsibility, and there is something that belongs to God. Let’s make sure we don’t confuse the roles.
“Our responsibility with that mixed-up fact/fiction, truth/error, chaff/wheat, looking very much alike all bundled up together, which describes our own consciousness at times, what do we do? Man’s responsibility is to apply the fan.
“Now, it’s called a fan, but what it really is – it’s not a Madame Butterfly type – it’s a fork, pitch-fork type of thing. And you go into the mixed-up mess, and then what do you do with the (mess)? You throw it into the air! That’s man’s responsibility.
“2nd) What is the Holy Ghost’s responsibility? The wind does the separating.
“Now, that should come as a great relief to us because we’re usually down there trying to do the Holy Ghost job, especially for someone else – to do the separating for them. (Laughter)
“It’s the Holy Ghost’s responsibility to do the separating. We dig into it, be willing to get up on that highest plateau of mental consciousness, dig into the confused sense of good and evil – throw it up to the air and the wind, and let the Holy Spirit blow the chaff, which is lighter, of no substance, away, while the wheat, productive, nourishing, heavier in content, falls back at your feet.
“Now, some of the intelligent threshers still today in Israel will build a fire over on the side where the chaff will blow. It saves time.
“When the chaff is separated by the Holy Ghost, the chaff just goes right into the fire where it is burned up and has no opportunity to mix back with the wheat again.
“That shows that those two processes are necessary, aren’t they: the Holy Ghost and fire, working together in consciousness, are essential. And each has its own specific responsibility.
“The fire takes care of the chaff; the wind takes care of the separation. But by golly, we’d “better be up there” with the fan – which might be why God has that very strong demand for Moses when he tells Moses to come to the top of Mount Sinai in the morning. And he says, “And be there!” Humanity needs that: those last two words, “Be there!” And the necessity for us to be there with our fan is important. (See Ex 24:12) …
“Now, today we have a great deal of emphasis on speaking with tongues. It’s reached into religion like never before; even established denominations are beginning to work with this concept, not just the Pentecostal and the Charismatics.
“Let’s study it (speaking in tongues) as it’s introduced in its earliest form. We find in Acts 2, verse 4 that the early members here find they begin to “speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Paraphrased)
…“We’re about to see the first public presentation of the church, the first lecture, or sermon, publicly presented. And therefore, we want to see how it was done, because they were doing this “with one accord;” the spirit was impelling them to every move at this early period of the church. (See below, repeated)
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
The inspiration which, really, was the Spirit of the scripture was with them at every point.
And, Acts 2, Verse 6, I think maybe sheds a little further light on this “speaking with tongues,” because it clarifies it somewhat by describing “that every man heard them speak in his own language.” (See Acts 2:6) …
It seems to convey, then, that they were “hearing” in tongue, rather than speaking in tongue, which might make more sense because individual receptivity is preserved in that sense – tailor-made for each receptive thought, even in the language of their own country. The possibility, then, may be that it is hearing in tongues, rather than speaking in tongues, but I think very early there may have been a confusion of the two. …
… in Chapter 2, in Acts, they heard in their own tongue, and we find that the Bible is presenting here a solution or a remedy to something that occurred very early in the Bible.
Pentecost and what happened on the day of Pentecost is a remedy for what? The what? Tower of Babel. (Added the audience) All right.
Why? What was the effect and result of Babel versus Pentecost? Babel is the collective problem of not being able to communicate. It’s still around. Pentecost, the collective solution of showing that even human languages and their differences make no difference when the spirit communicates.
There is a uniting of humanity, when language disparity begins to break down as barriers and the spirit begins to take over in communication. I think that many of us perhaps in meeting those of over lands may have had the experience of,
even though you cannot communicate in their language, you had very touching moments of being able to share the basic human yearning to be one and at one, and language has receded as the primary factor enabling you to communicate. And here it is subordinated completely after this being “of one accord,” and Acts 2, Verse 11 shows you what the disciples were talking about. (See below, Partial)
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
They were speaking of “the wonderful works of God.” (See below, Partial)
That’s what was being shared. They couldn’t understand how it happened.
Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues
the wonderful works of God.
And a sad commentary on human nature is that the human mind finds it difficult either to recognize inspiration or to give it credit as inspiration. And the closest thing that it can grasp for is to suggest that the source of inspiration is intoxication.
And that’s exactly what they suggest in Acts 2, Verse 13:
“Others mocking say these men are full of new wine.” (See below)
Acts 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
(They say) that’s it’s impossible to be inspired unless you’re chemically induced to be so; you’re on a “high.”
And “Peter has to open his first public lecture telling everybody he isn’t drunk.” (See below, Paraphrased) Too sad, but that’s where thought was.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
He explains the reason why they can’t be is that it’s only nine o’clock in the morning, for one thing – it’s “the third hour of the day.” (See below) (Laughter)
Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But what is Peter’s method? He goes where? To the scripture. You see, it goes back to “the prophet Joel.” (See below, Acts 2:16)
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Here is again a use of scripture as fulfillment! Here is prophesy, and here is fulfillment, dovetailing – all, subordinate to the Holy Spirit.
And, the prophecy we read about is about “pouring out the Spirit of God on all flesh.” (See below, Paraphrased) Please note that Acts 2, verse 17, included “not only sons, but daughters, shall prophesy.” (See below)
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And this free, uninhibited, and still disciplined, access to the one Spirit by all nations, peoples, sexes, social levels, economic status, characterizes Christianity from the very beginning – not necessarily in the member’s thought, but that’s what the Holy Ghost is communicating, whether the members believe it or hear it, even today.
The separation into denominationalism was not the Holy Spirit’s idea. The embracing of universal humanity was. And here, we find even the ability to prophecy, both sexes, and not necessarily limited to nationality.
Now, in Acts 2, verse 22, Peter begins his lecture in earnest, and his sermon includes a definite documentation that “Jesus is the Messiah of scripture” and not just the Messiah who is the king and political leader but “the one who would be forced to meet every obstacle the world put in his path and overcome every one of them, certainly a way-shower to whom all humanity could relate.” (See below, Paraphrased)
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Here he says in Acts 2, Verse 23 that “Jesus was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” Now, that’s just another way of saying what? Where do you find the “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”? (See Acts 2:23) In the scriptures, specifically – prophecy.
… And, if Jesus then went through all these things according to prophesy, look at Acts 2, Verse 25. Here are some of the specifics.
Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Now, I ask you to study the next 10 verses and see how beautiful the logic of Peter is in this first lecture sponsored by the first Christian church.
Acts 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
… And Peter says the very first words Jesus said in his public ministry, according to at least one gospel, and that is the word “repent.” And that word “repent” which turns most of us off in this room, and probably most of the world off, in its original is an exciting concept and absolute a pre-requisite before we can even unite with the church that the Book of Acts is talking about.
“Repent” in Greek, coming from the – well the noun is “metanoia” m-e-t-a-n-o-i-a, metanoia, meaning to change your concept about things. Change your mind about things. Change you concept about things.
Now, that is the call of the church; it was the call of Jesus to his first listeners. Change your concept; that’s all that’s needed to get totally different results. The Christ summons humanity to change its concept it’s been adhering to all along – the atrophy. Because the Holy Ghost is moving through these changed concepts, and separating the old out from the new.
And when this happens, all this scriptural exegesis, the walk to Emmaus and the changing of concept, verse 41 shows that “three thousand new members joined the church.” (See below, Paraphrased)
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
BONUS NEXT VERSES FOR CHURCH WORK: WORK OUT the BEING “OF ONE ACCORD” PART of CHURCH (INSTEAD of LEAVING EARLY) Cobbey Crisler on Acts 2:44-17/after cit. B19
Now we talk about what is needed to get members in our church. The ingredients better be there; it’s the Holy Ghost pattern. Peter didn’t invent all that, and it was the result of the church praying “with one accord” to come out with the Holy Ghost. There’s no obstacle to the Holy Ghost.
Getting our church up to the highest possible platform with nothing standing between it and the Holy Ghost – and that’s moving – both in thought and action.
Look what occurs as a result of it. In Acts 2, verse 43: “Many wonders and signs are now done by all of the apostles.” (See below, Paraphrased)
Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
They’re healing everywhere! Not just understanding the Bible, but healing, but it looks like our comprehension of the Bible is essential to it, and both come from the Holy Ghost – both prophecy and understanding the scriptures, the key to the scriptures comes from the Holy Ghost, and no lesser source.
They, in verse 46, again with a familiar phrase, do what? … “With one accord in the temple…one accord.” (See below)
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
That’s the secret! But instead we opt for the easier alternative. If it isn’t working out “in one accord,” we leave early. (See above)
But, sticking it out on that high level, knowing that nothing can interfere between you and the Holy Ghost, you, collectively – that movement occurs and things happen that we never dreamed were possible.
And even Peter had to reach back into prophecy to explain what was going on because God had notified his people that this thing was possible collectively. And Acts 2, verse 47 ends: “The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
“After the Master, What? The Book of Acts,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
SOLEMNLY PROMISE TO THINK & LIVE IN A CHRIST-LIKE WAY
as in the Evolution of revisions to the SIXTH TENET (Science & Health 597:24/cit. S24) as documented by
The Mary Baker Eddy Library for The Betterment of Mankind (CHWIP01: researched April 1997, revised June 2007)
| Current edition | 6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure. |
|
1879 “Tenets and Covenant” |
3D. — And we solemnly covenant to faithfully obey the ten commandments; to walk worthy our high calling, to deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God; to abhor a lie, to love truth, to do good to man, to have but one God, and to strive habitually to reach that higher understanding of Christian Science contained in the sermon on the Mount, whereby to cast out error and heal the sick. We give no credence to Spiritualism or Mediumship, and object to mesmerism and medicine, never in any case using any ourself. |
| 1887 “Tenets to be Signed by those Uniting …” | Third. — We promise to love one another, and to work, watch and pray; to strive against sin, and to keep the Ten Commandments; to deal justly, love mercy, walk humbly; and inasmuch as we are enabled by Truth, to cast out evil and heal the sick. |
| 1892 (from “Church Tenets and Rules”) | 3. We solemnly promise to strive, watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. To love the brethren, and, up to our highest understanding, to be meek, merciful, and live peaceably with all men. |
| 1893 (from “Church Tenets and Rules”) | 5. We solemnly promise to strive, watch and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. To love one another, and, up to our highest understanding to be meek, merciful and just. |
| 81st edition (1894) | 6. We solemnly promise to strive, watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, to love one another, and to be meek, merciful, just, and pure. |
| 1908(a) edition | 6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.
200 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, BOSTON, MA 02115 ∙ (617) 450-7218 |
