We learn from the teacher a clear understanding of the scripture, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me…"
The author also states "Modern Christianity is a shivering skeleton of dead works clothed with the glorious word 'Christianity.'" So many times in this book she makes a point of bringing to our attention that Jesus Christ promised that we could even do "greater works" than he did because he went to his Father. And that we have failed as a body to truly have faith in the words of Jesus because if we did have REAL (living) faith then we would be able to do the works that Christ did! Even cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, drink any deadly thing without being hurt, lay hands on the sick who would recover, move mountains - and do even greater works, if we only truly believed in the name of Jesus Christ. Later in the book we discover what the NAME of Jesus Christ really is - it is more than what we've always understood it to be.
The following is a chapter of love and mercy and light. If you believe in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost, then of necessity you also must believe in the promises of the scripture, for Christ said, "The scripture cannot be broken,"1 and they shall all be fulfilled even to the last "jot" and "tittle," or even to the dot on the "i" and the cross on the "t". When Christ said "The Scripture" in this instance, he was referring to the 82nd Psalm. If the book of the Hebrew songs was so inspired that they were considered scripture, and so sacred that they would stand before God until completely fulfilled, then the words that Christ Himself spoke would be doubly sacred and important.
We understand His teachings of faith, repentance and baptism, and most Christians accept them with all their hearts, thinking they have accepted all his words and instructions, yet the Sermon on the Mount is so often ignored. So very few think that it applies to mortal living, yet that is just where it does apply.
"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for what things soever he doeth, these also do the son likewise." (John 5:19).
"I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:50).
"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak.
"And I know that his commandment is life everlasting; Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (John 12:49-50).
The foregoing teachings had been given at various times during Christ's ministry, undoubtedly to prepare them to receive the greatest and last sermon of his mortal life. The following was given after the Last Supper, in the remaining minutes he had with his beloved disciples who had stood by him in his ministry. Judas had departed and the eleven were given the most precious, endearing teachings he could impart to them. John, it seems, was the only one who fully grasped these teachings and applied them in his life, and wrote them in his record.
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; But the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
"Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very work's sake.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth in me (or believes these things I am now teaching) the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto my Father (that if you believe, I will be able to direct you even as my Father has directed me).
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
"If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.
"If ye love me and keep my commandments," (or these sayings). (John 14:10-15).
"At THAT day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (At That day when you understand and believe these words and apply them literally ye shall know the full meaning of these highest teachings).
"He that hath my commandments (teachings) and keepeth them, He it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
"If a man love me he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him." (John 14:20-21, 23).
These teachings are also verified in Revelations, chapter three, verse twenty: "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 sup with him, and he with me." He stands at the door of every man's soul and knocks, and any man who will only listen, and open the door shall have the privilege of a heavenly guest.
In the undefiled, unmutilated record of Moses, is given an account of this closeness of contact between God and man. It is beautiful and clear. Enoch, the outcast, hated and despised, and of slow, stammering tongue is instructed in the majesty of God and His power: "Behold, my spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify: and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you, therefore walk with me."2 The great works which followed in the life of Enoch testify to the truth of Christ's teachings: "And so great was the faith of Enoch, that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him."3 (Moses 6:34 and chapter 7).
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
"Every branch in me that beareth no fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bearest fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
"If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15:1-2, 4-5, 7-8).
Though these are the most important sayings of Christ's life few have ever given them a thought, or if they have it is with the idea that they are not to be taken literally any more than the Sermon on the Mount is to be taken at its full value. Thousands insist that they believe the Bible, that they believe the teachings of Jesus Christ, yet they deny the true fact of these teachings, or worse still, ignore them completely. These teachings can no more be explained away and ignored than can the Life of the Master. And the command is, "Thou shalt live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God!" "If you love me, you will keep my words." To keep His words means to live by them -- or at least to keep them alive in the chambers of "inner knowing" until they are perfectly comprehended. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering . . ." etc.
It is time that those who profess to be Christians, and followers of the Son of God stop running away from issues which they do not comprehend. Every word spoken by Jesus Christ is a direct guide to true living, and no one is living true to the pattern He set unless he lives by every word that proceedeth forth from His mouth. Of course faith is necessary because He taught it, and because without it a life is a vain and useless thing. Of course repentance is necessary -- and repentance means a "right-about-face", or a complete changing of one's life. This can only come as one learns to understand the true teachings and turns from the old, dead way of living to the way of Life. Repentance does not belong just to the sinner. It belongs just as much to those who have only lived on half-truths and ignored, or denied the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course Christ taught that authority was necessary, but authority in the hands of a man who denies the power thereof, or who cannot use that power is vain. How can anyone claim to believe in Christ and to be a follower of Him, yet deny or ignore anything He taught as a part of the way of life? No wonder the works of Christ are dead -- no wonder there are none who have ever done the greater works that were promised to those who believe. Modern Christianity is a shivering skeleton of dead works clothed with the glorious word "Christianity."
"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 men; wherefore, if these things have ceased woe be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, AND ALL IS VAIN."4 (Moroni 8:43-44).
Christ never wasted words. Certainly on the last eve of His mortal existence He was not going to start chattering just to hear himself talk, or to fill in the time. In the last hour of his mortal ministry He was giving the deepest, most loving message of all his teachings -- words that hold the glory of majesty and the keys of power to do even "greater works" than He had done -- the keys to ask anything and have it granted -- the power to receive the Second Comforter, or the personage of Jesus Christ and the Father to attend one.
After Christ had spent as much time as there was left, trying to give the true understanding of His words, "Abide in me and I will abide in you," he gave this saying, "I have yet many things to tell you, but you cannot hear them now." (John 16:12).
If Christ, of Himself, could do nothing, except the Father which abode in Him, did the works, how can any mere mortal think that any authority will give him the power to do the works of Christ, unless he abides in the vine? Or lives life as Christ lived it? Yea, He must live in direct contact with that "Still small" voice of God centered in his own soul. He must develop his ears to hear, for this source of all-knowing is the "vine".
One thinks with the mind. One feels with the heart. But the center of the soul is situated just a little below the heart, in the center of the body. That is why it is given that we should love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. When the intelligent desire of the physical mind can unite with the love of the heart and the great power of the soul then can the words of Christ be completely fulfilled; "If you love me you shall have whatsoever ye ask." We are to love with ALL our hearts, ALL our minds, and ALL our souls.
As these forces blend and unite we find that at the center of the soul is a fountain of light. This can only be contacted through that great INNER STILLNESS -- "BE STILL and know that I Am God."
With this great stillness comes such glory and peace as the outside world can never comprehend. As one learns to abide near this fountain of light, he finds that he will never again thirst or hunger. It is at this source of light, or where the life force of the vine contacts the branch that life and true knowledge comes flowing in. It is here where the seed of faith is planted, and eventually grows into knowing. It is from here that all great power is manifest, all works are done -- not from the human intellect, but where the vine contacts the branch. This is the point where one comes to the great faith where he knows that nothing is impossible for God is working through him. Gradually, oh, so gradually, it is possible to learn to abide always in this source of joy, majesty, glory and divine light -- AND CHRIST IS ITS SOURCE. Thus He abides in us, and we learn to abide in Him, or His eternal source of light until we are filled with light and comprehend all things.
This fountain of light is the fountain of living waters mentioned in John 7 and verse 37: "If any one thirst let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me as the scriptures has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water." Many have interpreted this to mean, "Out of their mouths will flow rivers of living waters, or words." With the words must be the power to back up the words -- "For my kingdom is not in word, BUT IN POWER." (I Cor. 4:20-21).
As one learns to turn to this source of light and stops depending on his own intelligence and power, the work becomes an everlasting joy of achievement. Quite suddenly the point of high attainment is reached and there are no fears nor darkness left. They are gone completely, banished as the darkness of a room is banished when the lights are turned on. Or as the darkness of the night dissolves when the sun comes forth. "For it is not by measure that God gives the Spirit," but in all its complete power and glory to those who are prepared to receive it. The confusion of a wrangling, dismal world cannot reach him, for confusion and fear are only a lack of light even as darkness is a lack of light. When the soul is filled with light there can be no darkness. He who has learned to Be still and know that God is God has opened the door and Christ no longer needs to stand without knocking, but enters and sups with him, and his inner being becomes a temple and he needs go no more out into darkness and confusion.
When one learns to turn to the great source of divine light within, where the power of God and Christ can contact him, there is nothing that can hurt him, for truly that person is abiding in Christ. "And in THAT day you shall know that I abide in you and you abide in me."
It may take days, weeks, even months of constant work and practice to attain this perpetual state of Celestial light. In quiet moments -- in the dusk of evening or the dawn of light learn to become still. It is the point one reaches when he takes his burdens or problems with which he has been heavy laden, to the Lord. "Come unto me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy (for it is love) and my burden is LIGHT." This "light" does not mean light in weight, but it is the great light that completely disperses darkness.
Gradually one learns to retire into this stillness of dynamic power in moments during the day -- any moment -- every moment -- then eventually the fountain of light enfolds him and he becomes filled with light and comprehends all things. Then only he is born of the Spirit. He truly becomes one with Christ, seeking only to express the words of Christ, when one no longer speaks his own words, but the words of the Redeemer of man. It is then that life finds its full expression of meaning and it is as though the Christ were living the life of the individual and the individual were living the life of the Messiah, because they have become one in purpose -- and that purpose is to diffuse light.
That is the point where we truly become one with Him -- then it is that we truly "love Him and keep His words." (John 14:23).
Then it is that we realize that He is the vine and we the branches -- that of ourselves we can do nothing, but He does His great and mighty works in and through us. This is the power by which miracles are wrought, and no man can perform any miracle unless he is cleansed from all sin, all bigotry, all pride, all self-seeking, and as a humble believer in the power of God, acknowledges that God does the works.
It is when we have contacted this great source of light and power that we appreciate more fully the great glory of God being manifest in every seed, bulb, flower and tree -- the power of life, growth and perfect expression. Within the seed is all the desire and fulfilling reach of perfection to draw upon the eternal forces of light and energy to bring forth and express the gorgeous blossom that is enfolded within the seed. The seed conceals the satin petal, the vivid colors and the perfume of the flower. The dark bulb holds eternal secrets -- the acorn majesty. Such is the expression of God moving in eternal power and everlasting life. If within the seed, the bulb, the acorn, the breath of God whispers and lights the flame of desire and fulfillment, then surely within the soul of man lies potential powers to complete the march of godhood and fulfill the perfection of the Celestial children of God our Father -- not just the power of completing our drab mortality -- but the sublime power of glory and light and perfect achievement.
It is then that we know that "FAITH PROMISES ALL THINGS, AND THAT IT PERFECTS ALL THINGS." We know that within the branches (which are us) are the tiny buds of divine aspirations. We cannot produce them nor bring them forth, for of ourselves we can do nothing, but as we reach into the Divine source of light centered in our souls, or the vine, which is Christ, the buds of our desires, which are always God's desires, will blossom and ripen into a glorious harvest of fulfillment. We then shall do even the "greater works" because He went to His Father, from whence He can direct this great source of power into our souls whenever we are open to receive.
"Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto my Father." (John 14:28).
When a branch of a peach tree produces an especially large luscious peach, no one ever goes to that branch and brags on it, saying, "My, how marvelous you are. What a wonderful bit of work you did in producing such a magnificent peach." Not a bit of it. Nor does the branch expect such praise. Behind the branch is the tree, and behind the tree is the husbandman, the soil, the elements -- besides men glory in the fruit rather than in the branch. Yet every man who achieves anything wants all the praise and all the glory. When we learn to walk in true humility then we will find the door to His Holy Spirit wide open.
Exercising faith means contacting that divine power of light. Faith is not just dead, inactive believing. It is divine energy set in action by the mind. Faith is Spirit. "It is the substance of things hoped for -- the evidence of things not seen." It is the life-giving seed out of which all tangible things materialize.
From the Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, page 294, is given the following: "Brother Joseph, while in the spirit, rebuked the Elders who would continue to lay hands on the sick from day to day without the power to heal. Said he: 'It is time that such things end. LET THE ELDERS EITHER OBTAIN THE POWER OF GOD TO HEAL THE SICK, OR LET THEM CEASE TO MINISTER THE FORMS WITHOUT THE POWER.' "
Yea, let all men cease to administer the forms of Christianity without the power to do the works that Christ did -- "For these signs are to follow those who believe: in my NAME they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues, (or the divine tongues of angels).
"They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." . . . Etc. (Mark 16:15-18). They shall have the power to move mountains and do even greater works if they will learn to believe in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, and understand and fulfill the meaning of that name.
1. John 10:35-36 IVB: If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? return to paragraph →
2. Genesis 6:36 Behold, my Spirit is upon you; wherefore all thy words will I justify, and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me. return to paragraph →
3. Genesis 7:15-17 IVB: And so great was the faith of Enoch, that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them, and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command. And the rivers of water were turned out of their course, and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness. And all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him. return to paragraph →
4. Moroni 7:38-42 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: 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 to you, Nay, for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; Wherefore if these things have ceased, wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain; return to paragraph →