"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Yea, blessed are those who become the attitude of loving humility for to them will be opened the great kingdom of expansion. An attitude that is held becomes a reality. And "Beatitude" means literally to be the attitude. Being that attitude fulfills it and the reward it contains.
Be in the attitude of mourning, not in self-pity or angry rebellion, but through sincere sorrow, and you will be comforted -- or receive that divine and Holy Comforter Whom the Father sends to all who mourn. The gift is always sent to those who mourn but there are few who accept of His comfort, for they love darkness and their sorrows and misery more than they love Light. But no one ever mourns who is not offered this great divine comfort.
"Blessed are the meek," or those who become the attitude of meekness, "for they shall inherit the earth." And this does not mean to carry a false attitude of meekness and humility. It means actually to BE that attitude. Neither does it mean that they shall inherit the earth in some great, far-off "hereafter." It means here and now -- for all things will become subject unto them, for they will have learned obedience. And by their obedience they become willing to let God's will be done. And only God's will is perfection. And it is His will to bestow all gifts and blessings on those who have learned true obedience or meekness.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (with the Holy Ghost)" says one translation. And it is definitely sure that when one truly hungers and thirsts after righteousness he is going to ask, seek and knock until his desire or craving is appeased. And the bestowal of the Holy Ghost is the gift that leads to all knowledge and into all truth. Therefore, to become the very attitude of seeking and searching and desiring fulfills the promise that everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and unto him who knocks it shall be opened. It also proves that such a one is not already so burdened with seals and convictions that he already possesses all truth and all righteousness. It is the great open invitation of the soul seeking to be taught. Those who are already convinced that they possess all righteousness, and all knowledge concerning it, have damned their own progress. The very attitude of hungering for perfection helps to fulfill it.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." When the heart is completely pure then can the great love of God be so perfected in it that God will be revealed. This is a promise that automatically has to be fulfilled as the conditions are met.
Thus as one becomes the attitude necessary to live up to and fulfill the requirements the great promises unfold in all their divine glory here in this life.
And now, leaving the listed Beatitudes for a moment let us discuss the greatest of all attitudes. This one is gratitude. Gratitude is the Great-Attitude. It is that glorious song of thankfulness, or praise and joy and love that opens the very windows of heaven and fulfills the great promises mentioned so often by Annalee Skarin, that: "He who is thankful in all things shall be made glorious; And the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even a hundred-fold, yea more."
Become this Great Attitude of singing devotion and praise and all things shall be added unto you, both in heaven and on earth. This is the deep joy and gratitude that desires only God's will to be done, that rejoices in anything that He brings -- and in that joy and rejoicing and obedience all things are transmuted into blessings and glory and power and complete perfection. And it is this attitude that overcomes darkness and the powers thereof.
Such is the meaning of His words and such is our power of fulfilling them.
Yea, "Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake," if you will but rejoice and be exceeding glad. The blessing comes not in the persecution but in the attitude of gratitude and gladness and in the rejoicing. This great love and thanksgiving in God's will being done contains the very keys of heaven. It holds the keys of knowledge and understanding that one is having the privilege of being tested and tried (in all things) that he might be permitted to enter with great honors into the great Assembly of Light. Such persecution should bring the greatest joy to the human soul and will if rightly understood. But know that it is not the persecution nor the reviling that contains the promise, or the blessing -- it is the attitude in which they are received.
This Assembly or the Church of the Firstborn is composed of "Those who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
"They are they who are the Church of the Firstborn.
"They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things --
"They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fullness, and of his glory . . .
"These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn . . .
"They who dwell in his presence are the Church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fullness and of his grace:
"And He makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion."
And these who are admitted into the Church of the Firstborn "Are ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of EVERY nation, kindred, tongue and people BY THE ANGELS TO WHOM IT IS GIVEN POWER OVER THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH, to bring as many as will come to the Church of the Firstborn."
And those who fulfill all laws and "Keep all commandments will have the heavens opened unto them, and be able to commune with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant."
Yea "If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things -- that which bringeth joy, and that which bringeth life eternal."
Then know that prayers are answered, desire fulfilled when it is possible to ask without doubting in one's heart. They are fulfilled when one literally becomes the attitude that fulfills the law. When the doubts are conquered by love then faith is perfected and the attitude is established. When you can get the feeling that you actually possess the gifts you require, without doubting, they will be yours completely and fully. It is the feeling, or the attitude, not the thinking which brings the fulfillment. It is the power of holding to an attitude until one becomes that attitude which fulfills it. Be the attitude of meekness, not occasionally, but be it and its promise shall be yours. Be grateful and you shall become the greatest of all attitudes, the great powerful fulfillment of gratitude and will be made glorious and the things of this earth shall be added unto you, even a hundred-fold; yea more. Rejoice and be exceeding glad when persecution comes, which is one of the greatest human tragedies when considered on the surface, but one which holds the examination papers for graduation with honors -- the certificate of membership among the prophets of old. For thus were the prophets persecuted before you -- and so was their reward.
It is these great ones who sacrificed themselves gladly and with great joy for the enlightenment of the whole who make up the great membership of the Assembly of Light. These are the ones who were willing to lay down their lives for their friends, even to the complete sacrificing of themselves, their positions, their honor, their reward and hope of glory even that Truth might shine forth in ever greater brilliance to light the way of the wandering footsteps of their fellow men.
Back in 1512 Erasmus said: "The yoke of Christ would be sweet if petty human institutions had not added to the burden . . . Yea, would that people let Christ rule through the command of His word, and not try to build their tyranny with human decrees."
Seek not to know God through churches or men or leaders, but seek God through your own heart and through your own divine attitudes fulfill His holy promises. Perfect these holy attitudes and you will be dissolved and will become that which you interpret. Seek to become love in all its compassionate, divine, forgiving, Christ-like mercy and you will know the mysteries of Godliness -- or the great mystery and power of becoming Godly.