IN HIS SERVICE

“IN HIS SERVICE” Paper No. 47 November, 1932

This Paper is going to be in the nature of a heart to heart talk with you. We have journeyed together now for nearly four years, and we have gone far— those of you who have accompanied us all the way; and many wonderful things have been accomplished, especially by those who have earnestly striven to prove the truths unfolded to them.

By this time you will have realized that the questions in the September Paper were not asked to satisfy any personal interest in the disciples’ understanding; but it was an opportunity given to enable each one to face him or herself and to learn just where each had arrived on this journey we are travelling.

Some of you found you had not gotten so very far and felt rather dismayed, especially when you realized you could not answer positively and with definite knowing certain of the questions, which from the teachings received should have been learned and proven long ago. In answering these questions you surely also found what you have not yet attained, and what is still ahead. And so this article is to help you to realize it fully and to inspire you to more determined efforts to reach the final goal.

What is that goal? Some will say, the finding and abiding in the Kingdom. But do you know what finding and abiding in the Kingdom means? The questions were designed to learn just that; also who were those who glimpsed and who were approaching the real goal—which is Divine Union, or the final uniting of your Higher and lower selves, or of your human consciousness with that of your Son of God Consciousness.

Let us try and show you the distinction. The finding of the Kingdom is the heritage of every disciple of Christ. The Christ Consciousness is the door—the only way there, the only truth, and the only life that exists in the Kingdom.

Some of you have found the Kingdom. Some of you think you have found it. Some of you think you have found the Comforter. Yes, if you are allowing Him to teach you all things and to lead you unto all truth, and you know Him as God’s Holy Spirit in you, your own Christ Self, truly a Son of God,—then you have indeed found the Comforter, and the final goal is near.

A disciple as you have been taught is one who is following the Christ, either Jesus Christ, our Beloved Master and Teacher; or the Christ within, the Comforter. These represent two different and distinct stages of unfoldment, as Jesus taught; the former leading into the latter, wherein the disciple has grown to the point where all outer teachers must leave him—even including Jesus, so that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Christ within, may come forth unto His own, and henceforth be the sole Teacher and supreme Authority for the disciple.

It is the Christ within who then gradually leads the disciple unto the finding and abiding in the Kingdom. And as the consciousness unfolds and all outer attractions and influences fade away into the nothingness from which they were created, and the Kingdom becomes the one and only life and the Great Reality, the last sense of self and of separateness disappears and the consciousness little by little, having found and now abiding in the Kingdom, takes on first the Power and later the Glory of the Christ, and knows Itself as I AM, a Divine Son of God, having finally returned to its Father’s Home, His Consciousness, the real goal of the human soul.

To understand this clearly a full comprehension of the purpose of the soul’s birth, nature, life expression and destiny must be had, and these are definitely taught in Papers 9, 10 and 11 and subsequent articles. It is the soul in its long, long journey back to its Father’s Home, its consciousness having strayed away many world periods before there was a planet earth, that is what is united again with its Father’s, now a Son of God’s Consciousness, and brings about the Great Consummation, the greatest that can be accomplished on this planet.

We tell you this now for a two-fold purpose—that you may have a confirmation of what some of you have glimpsed as a glorious possibility—yes, even for this life; and that it may spur you on to unrelenting efforts at cooperation with your Higher Self.

For remember, some of you are very old souls. All of you are old souls, and are here for a definite purpose, closely related to Christ’s second coming to Earth and His ushering in the New Dispensation. Therefore it behoves all who receive this Paper to think long and seriously over what has been stated and especially over what follows; for perhaps what we will show you is the most important thing that now faces you in this life.

We wonder how many of you fully realize why you came into this Work; that it was no accident, but that all your previous life, nay lives, were a preparation for It, and that you were definitely led to It to receive the final training and a clear understanding of WHY you are here in this present life, of WHO you are, and of WHAT you are a part.

You will note that the seventh and last question asks you to describe “just what this Work means to you, what it has done for you, and what you deem it to be.” It was from your answer to that question that we learned what you have really gained spiritually from your association with the Work. For only those who have a true understanding of what is this Work have any realization of Who they are and of What they are a part.

Do you grasp what that means? If not, it is because you have not yet glimpsed the real purpose of your own life, and why you are journeying with us, despite all the great truths we have been sending you. The time is now here when we must make this so plain that all those receiving this Paper will not fail to understand what is this Work and why they are a part of It—if they really are a part. And that each one will have to determine, after reading what follows.

We were lead recently to write the enclosed pamphlet, explaining the inner purpose of the Impersonal Work; but we were not led to send out a copy of it, although it has been printed and ready for over eight weeks. We have simply waited until we were shown when and to whom to send it.

We are sending it herewith, and only at this time to you who have had all the Papers, because we consider you as one of us. In your soul nature we are truly one with you, even though your human minds may not as yet realize it. Therefore you will understand and be glad to know all that is stated therein, for of course it is as much your concern as ours—you who are a part of this Work, as you will learn after carefully reading and prayerfully considering all its truths.

We are sending it to you then first to acquaint you with the inner nature of the Work, Its Spiritual importance, and what It is sent to accomplish in the world at this particular time; and then to spur you on to redoubled efforts to become an actual and integral part of It, to find your individual part and place in It; so that your heart’s yearning will become so great that you will draw to you the means and opportunities for serving that the Master always provides for those who compel His attention.

Some of you of course have found this out already, and are wonderfully helping and serving, and much that is stated in the pamphlet does not apply to you and is not intended for you, as is clearly shown therein. In fact, this Paper has only to do with your Spiritual progress and concerns, the pamphlet but showing those who belong in the Work how intimately such progress and concerns are related to the needs, plans and possibilities of the Work Itself.

So with this preface we ask you to take up the pamphlet at this point and read it once slowly, before continuing this present article.

A great many thoughts have come to us while reading and studying the several hundred answers to the questions received. We have learned from them who are the truly consecrated ones; and those who are earnestly studying the Lessons but still allow the things of the world and self to come between and distract them from gaining the fulfilment of their souls’ desires. In other words, the finding of the Kingdom is second, not first, with the latter.

Then there are those who clearly see in the Teachings great Spiritual Truths; who read each Paper two or three times, marvel over them, and wish they might gain and enjoy the blessings that undoubtedly await those more able to give the time and effort to their attainment. With these the finding of the Kingdom is third or fourth, many things crowding in between, and always causing a postponement of the effort they intend sometimes to put upon proving the Truths.

Then we find there is a fourth group, who continue to receive the Teachings because of the stimulating effect it has on them for the time being like going to church on Sundays. They do not want to miss any, love to read them, contribute to the Work; but make little if any real use of the Truths in their lives.

All this naturally makes us wonder how much further we should go in the sending of these priceless Truths to the second, third and fourth groups; for we clearly realize that enough, nay more than enough Truths have been given— even in the first twenty Lessons—to enable any earnest, determined seeker long ago to have found the Kingdom and to be abiding and working in and from it now. We believe there is no doubt of this in the mind of anyone who reads. And remember, in the first Paper it was stated that this Work was only for those who were making the finding of the Kingdom first and supreme in their lives—not second or third or fourth.

We said at the beginning this would be a heart to heart talk with you. All of you have grown very dear to us, for during these four years we have received many letters telling of your problems, and into which we have entered with you, helping you to solve most of them; and naturally we are deeply concerned about your souls’ welfare and want to see every one of you a conscious part of that Great Brotherhood of Christ to which you dedicated yourselves when coming into this Work.

Do you realize what we mean? Do you realize what it means to you to attain to a conscious knowing of your part in that Brotherhood? Do you realize what we are trying to do for you and to have you do?

Who are we who write these words to you? No, not the human personality through whom we write. He is but the consecrated instrument, the servant of the Brotherhood, and of himself is nothing. But having given himself to Christ, We of the Brotherhood, Who, remember, are all One in Christ, are able through him to reach you and show you these Divine Truths, in an effort to recall you to the purpose of your coming to Earth at this time, and of your contacting this Our Work.

For this is an effort of the Brotherhood to draw together all those who went into incarnation to be on Earth at this particular period; to awaken them to a realization of Who they are, and to uncover to their brain minds much of the Divine Truths they in their souls know, so they will be able to work for and with Us, when the Master calls them to definite service.

From this you will gather that most of you—the truly Christ consecrated ones— are in your soul lives a part of the Brotherhood, and that these Truths are to quicken and unfold those faculties in you that will enable you to be fully conscious of Us and of your mission on Earth.

Those of you who have failed to recognize, from the Truths given, Who we are and what you are, and have deemed this Work but another effort on the part of some personality to give forth truths he had learned, and that they are similar, only more advanced, to the many other teachings you had already contacted, are the ones who on reading this now regret that they put so little study and effort on the Teachings—if what is stated herein has awakened them to a realization of its truth and of what they have missed.

On the other hand, if what is here said but confirms what some of you have felt deep within to be true, and your heart gladly responds and longs to make yourselves fully fit and ready for the Master’s Call, We say to such, strive daily to prove what has been shown you in the last few Papers, and particularly ASSUME now your identity as a Son of God, KNOW your Oneness with Us, ACT as a member of the Brotherhood, and BE a representative of Christ here on Earth, even as you are doing with Us now in Spirit.

In that attitude of mind and soul you link your outer consciousness with Ours and enable Us more easily to inspire and quicken in you the Christ powers that will enable you to throw off the sense of self and separation and to become wholly One with Us. For of course we are very close to you, ever working to bring about that consummation, so you can work consciously with Us in the outer, even as in the inner.

Think what that means! You would be always then conscious of Us, conscious of your Christ powers, conscious of your home in the Kingdom, of your real life there, and that your life on Earth is but an illusion, a dream of your human mind, from which it is now awakened, so that it too now knows that You and You alone are, and that it and its life and world are false dream-pictures it had been taught to believe were real, when the only reality is what it now sees in You and Your life in the soul realm of consciousness.

That is what awaits all real disciples in the near future, and We give you this vision and promise to spur on your minds to more determined efforts—having now learned the great truths taught them—to surrender themselves utterly to the God in You. For they must by this time clearly realize that it is only their sense of separation from You that prevents Divine Union; and more than anything else We want to help them to let go of that sense—to yield all to God, so that He in and through You may accomplish what He has been preparing you for all of this life.

Do you want to be ready when Christ Jesus comes, so you can meet Him “in the air,” and can be with Him henceforth, ever working under His direction? Then, dear ones, this Work is to help you to make ready for that glad event.

Can you not see it? Cast off the illusion of the senses, all beliefs in separation and of mortality, and lift up your eyes and see Him in Spirit calling you and lovingly offering you a place in His Army of Light, among His Warrior-Servers, Who are busy night and day carrying the Light of Christ to those still wandering in darkness.

The time is growing very short and the enemy forces are unbelievably active, using every possible means to lead those in whom they see any light into bypaths of error, deception and evil. On the other hand, there are the vast hosts of those whom they have exploited and kept in the darkness of ignorance, who if they could have brought to them the light of Truth, would eagerly follow that light to a full understanding of it. Therein are all possible workers on Earth needed—to save these lost sheep and bring them back into our beloved Master Shepherd’s fold.

Another thing, We wish you to know that this is not in any sense an earthly organization with which you have aligned yourselves, but it is a heavenly organization, one that has existed from the beginning and is composed of the “innumerable hosts of Angels, . . . the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born, who are enrolled in heaven, . . . and the Spirits of Just Men made Perfect;” and all working under “Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant,” in complete cooperation with “God, the Judge of all,” and all “dwelling on Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the City of the Living God,” as spoken of by Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews—12:22-24.

These are not mere fanciful terms describing an imaginary condition in a Utopian heaven, but are Paul’s words telling of an actual organization of God’s Officers and Warriors forming a great Army of Servers in the Spiritual Realms, whose sole aim and work is the redemption of humanity and the bringing of as many as possible into the Light of Christ, through the cooperation and assistance of Its members working among men on Earth.

Are you one of Its members? Does your soul yearn to have you be a member? Surely by this time, from the many teachings received and all We have told you about this Army, you know; something within must tell you whether you are a member now, or that your soul intends that you be one as soon as your mortal self assents.

Erase from your mind all belief that in your mortal self you are anything; for you are a soul, a Spiritual being, and what your soul is, you are. And if your soul is a member of this Army, your human expression must fall in line and do the work of the Army. Further rebellion on the part of the mortal self only brings suffering, mental and physical, and hardships of various kinds; until your mind realizes the soul’s will and purpose and surrenders completely.

Have you not had enough of suffering and hardship? Then why not yield to your soul now, and let it lead? The moment you truly surrender, the way will open wide, and all you need do will be to walk straight ahead, do what is before you to do, and everything will be made easy for you. Is not that better than the life of self you are now living?

This has indeed been a heart to heart talk, and now we have come to the place where We must ask you what is your wish and purpose as to this Work. Are We to send you more Lessons, when you have not really learned many that you already have? Or should We cease for awhile, until you get caught up and prove to Us you are ready for more?

Or shall We give you some definite work to do, and by the evidence you furnish of your ability to do that work well, will We know what to send you next? From this you can see We are deeply concerned about your Spiritual needs, and that We want to help you to come quickly into that consciousness where you can be of the greatest possible value and assistance to the Brotherhood. Not that We do not know that your own Higher Selves know best what you need and will always provide just the help and guidance necessary; but as We of the Brotherhood are One in Christ with your Higher Selves, We through Our agent in the outer are helping Them to bring your human minds into a realization of the necessity of earnest and steadfast consecration to the Work from this time on—those of you whose souls are really a part of It and of the Brotherhood.

One thing more. We have noticed in the past that those who have grown the fastest and made the greatest progress Spiritually are those who have kept in close touch with the Centre, writing often and of the things dearest to their hearts, thus proving their deep interest in the Work and of their desire to fit themselves for the Master’s service.

Because of this fact, we are wondering if it were not best in the future to devote our time and efforts only with such truly in earnest ones. Not that we seek to take on the additional task of the increased correspondence such help will entail by thus inviting it, but that if it will aid those disciples who are determined speedily to reach the goal, no labour on the part of any or all members of the Brotherhood will be too great to bring about that result. For the more consecrated conscious Brothers We have working in the outer, the more sure and speedy will be Our victory over the forces of darkness.

In conclusion We now ask you to think over most carefully all of the above, reading it again and again, until all of its real meaning becomes clear in your consciousness. These four years we have journeyed together have been fraught with deep and vital consequences to your souls, and these consequences have been reflected in your outer lives. Do you wish to go on the conclusion of what your souls intend? If so, are you willing and ready to do your part?

Then write us your ideas, your intention, your wishes. For upon them will be based the future policy of this outer phase of the Master’s Work.

Regarding the answers to the questions, they are being gone over as fast as possible, and are being graded into the four groups mentioned. Not all answers are in, and We are going to assume that those who have not responded, or who do not respond after receiving this Paper, are not sufficiently interested and therefore do not belong with Us. They will receive no more Papers or communications.

Your reply to the above will be attached to your answer to the questions and will help Us to place you with regard to the possible work We may call upon you to do in the Master’s Service.

Do you realize what a wonderful power and significance is hidden in this little word “No?”

Very few, even so-called Truth students, have had their attention called to this mighty little word, and for the good reason that they have not yet unfolded to the point spiritually and mentally where they can comprehend and use its power.

There are those among you, however, who are ready, so in this short article we will open up the subject, preparing you for a more elaborate treatise to be brought out in booklet form, and to which this will serve in the nature of an Introduction.

There are few that are able properly to say, “No,” and to mean it when they say it. Why? Because they do not definitely and positively know if they mean “No” when they say it. Think, and see if this is not true.

Of course, if you are one of those “positive” individuals who always know your own mind, or think you do, you may say “No” often, and create the impression of speaking with knowledge and authority. But even with such the real power and meaning of “No” may not be comprehended.

Can you conceive of an individual who, when a wrong thought or belief about his body, his life, his affairs, or about another person comes to his mind, can say, “No” with such power that such thought or belief instantly disappears from his consciousness, and it no longer exists to him?

Do you grasp what we mean? Think this over for a moment, before you continue reading.

We mean that when the true power of speaking the word “No” is gained or unfolded in you, not only does the wrong thought or belief disappear from your consciousness, but if it was in manifestation as a physical fact, condition or an appearance of any kind deemed to be real—it will actually and immediately dissolved and appear no more.

Do you think that possible? It is not only possible, but it can be proven by anyone who can clearly see that all outer manifestations are but creations of the mortal separate mind; and if they are not wholly good, beautiful and perfect, even as God sees them, they are counterfeits and imperfect pictures of the real things, conditions or beings that exists in the Kingdom. It can be proven by simply seeing instead the true image as it exists in the Kingdom, and positively and with all the power and feeling of your soul saying, “No,” to any false picture, thereby wiping it completely out of consciousness. As surely as it is thus wiped out of consciousness it is wiped out of physical existence.

To give an illustration of how this truth works, we will tell of an incident published in a Truth Magazine a number of years ago that made so powerful an impression upon the writer that it has always remained vivid in his mind. He has seen similar proofs in minor ways many times since in his own and experience.

A Truth Practitioner was visited one day by a woman whose face was horribly distorted by an enormous tumour. The moment the Practitioner saw the face the horror of it so stirred her soul that it roused all the conviction of Truth in her to the surface, and with holy indignation and voice filled with the divine power stirring her, she said:

“No! You are abominable lie! There is no truth or reality in you; for you do not exist in God’s Mind. Be gone, and free this soul for God’s true expression and use!”

She then closed her eyes, and saw the God expression in that soul, and praised and thanked God that His Truth and Perfection exist as the One and Only Reality.

When she opened her eyes, she was not surprised—because of the intensity of her feelings and vision—to see half the tumour gone and it actually disintegrating and being absorbed inwardly before her eyes. In a short time it was almost gone, and in a few days the face showed few signs of its former disfigurement.

When you can consciously know and experience this power in you and arouse it at need, can you not realize the mighty force you have at your command? And when you can concentrate it at will in this little word, “No,” you can drive out of your consciousness, your nature, your life, any undesirable factor, quality, state or condition, and see in its place the perfect state existing in God’s Mind, and actually see it all change before your eyes, even as did the Practitioner in the experience described.

Therefore, beloved, know that this power is yours as a Son of God, that you are a Spiritual Being, having dominion over the flesh and over all physical or outer states and conditions. Study carefully the way the Practitioner destroyed and dematerialized the lie on the face of the woman, who was carrying it about in her consciousness until it out manifested in that horrible tumour.

Study the Practitioner’s intense feelings and how she utilized them by pouring them into those powerful Words of Truth, using the wedge-word “No” to break down the mental opposition of the woman. Realize that these intense feelings are the mighty forces of Spirit ever ready to come forth at will for the accomplishing of any need in your life or in the life of another. Study and learn from it all how to control, direct and utilize these forces, for herein is disclosed to you a very wonderful and much needed Truth.

As said before, this is but a taste of what is possible in the conscious and true use of the word “No.” We have in press a booklet of that title, by A. Lura Douglas, that should be ready for delivery in thirty days. It is a book on the Pyramid, giving its symbolic meaning and showing that there is a very wonderful analogy in its various passages, anterooms and chambers to the growth and development of a man’s soul and the unfoldment of his Spiritual powers. You will be very agreeably surprised and greatly profited by studying and proving the truths of this little book. Its price will be 53c for the paper edition, and $1.03 for cloth edition.