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Word Gems exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
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Since ancient times, a visitation by heavenly messenger was deemed to be high veridical evidence of the truth and God's existence. This principle might be inferred from the apostle Paul’s statement in Galatians 1:8: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! (NIV) In other words, Paul is saying, “even if you experience what’s considered to be universal stamp of authority, an appearance by an angel, do not accept this as truth.” people are impressed by the concept of angelic visitation So impressed, in fact, that nine seasons of a television series came to be; and then several other spin-off programs. Some people, especially in the New Age movement, say that we should try to get in touch with our guardian angels, or Spirit Guides. And some report that they've actually done this; and maybe it's true, but I don't think there'd be any great advantage to it. For one thing, the Guides are not supposed to tell us what to do, which would interfere with the very purpose of our coming to the Earth; but, also, even if we could speak to them, this "taking orders from another" would make us co-dependent, causing our own latent abilities to commune directly with God to be stifled. And this is the very reason why Jesus told his men that it was better, for them, that he leave. would miracles performed by angels cause people to change for the better This policy of sensationalism did not work out well for Jesus. See the writings of British Pastor Dr. Leslie Weatherhead. As he analyzes the ministry of Jesus, it appears that it began with high hopes that miraculous works would convert many thousands. Near, the end, however, Jesus realized that this was not to be, and that exceedingly few would embrace authentic spirituality by this process of external power. what if people could experience the ultimate miracle, would that make them turn to God In the Gospel Of Luke, we find Jesus making the statement, to the effect, "even if someone returned from the dead, even with this stunning miracle, they would still not believe." And in our own day, rare though they are, "direct materialization" mediums have facilitated the solid-body appearance of those who've passed to the other side. See the "direct materialization" page. Also see "afterlife item #59", the work of one of the greatest mediums of all history:
Carmine Carlos Mirabelli a full materialization, beating heart and warm body, of the deceased daughter of one of the government investigators "During one seance held for the [Brazilian] academy [of investigators] at the unlikely hour of 9:00 AM, the dead daughter of Dr. de Souza materialized. The doctor recognized his daughter and the dress in which she had been buried. He was allowed to embrace the spirit form and numerous photographs were taken of the scene. The spirit being remained in material form for a period of 36 minutes. This seance was witnessed by a large assembly, including 20 medical doctors and seven professors. Investigated by scientists and psychic researchers from all over the world." But none of this ultra-grand sensation -- even the appearance of the deceased daughter of the govenment official -- caused no widespread turning to God. Spirit Guides themselves misjudged, admitted their own naiveté, that mere knowledge of the wondrous afterlife would change the world Ancient Spirit Guides, channeled by Stainton Moses, in the latter 1800s – see extensive quotations on this page – sent themselves on a mission to the Earth to begin a spiritual revival. They thought, surely, with more information about the marvelous conditions awaiting all in Summerland, that the whole world would soon turn to God. Later, however, these powerful “angelic messengers” admitted defeat, in that, they had no idea just how recalcitrant, how steeped in fear-and-ego, is the average person on planet Earth. I myself have known people, several accounts, who've personally met a Spirit Guide, an ‘angelic messenger’; however, after the initial thrill of the moment, the experience did them little good You can read of these accounts on “the angel page”. Now, one would think that if you actually met a supernatural being, one who could disappear into thin air, and do some spectacular things, that this would mean something to you; maybe, give you more impetus to make God real in your life. But, I have to say, this is not the case. I see some of the activities of these people, the aftermath of the angelic encounter, and there is no special spirituality as a result. In fact, I hesitate to say but, in more than one case, their lives took a left turn and became more darkened. does all this remind you of anything There is the common accusation against God, "why doesn’t he do something to set the world right, why doesn’t he just appear in a great pillar of fire, and then we’d all know, and the bad guys would go running.” This issue has been addressed in many WG writings; e.g., “Why the world doesn’t need Superman.” Think of this accusation in light of the above data. If God were to send an army of angels to appear, and interfere, in the lives of Earthlings, they’d soon be hating God for “you never let us do anything, we don’t have any freedom, you’re just a control-freak, a dictator like all the rest.” what is the real issue here, why do people think that being ‘touched by an angel’ would save them Well, we could frame an answer from different perspectives, but here’s an important one. The unenlightened mind, in its neediness, believes in external saviors. It believes that God, or angels, or a third-party sacrifice, or some unreachable power – all these, externals -- will offer salvation. And on this list of externals is experience. “If I could just have the right heavenly experience, or enough of it, then I’d be changed.” This is the illusion of reincarnation – and this is why it’s a fraudulent doctrine. As we’ve discussed on 10,000 WG pages, our problem cannot be defined in terms of externals. We don’t need salvation. We were “made in the image,” and need nothing. What we lack is the “eyes to see” what we’ve been given. And this is why an encounter with an angel cannot really help us. No externally-oriented experience could ever help us. None of that “power from the outside” could begin to offer an atom’s worth of solace to the dysfunctional ego’s cravings of “I don’t have enough” because “I am not enough.” Listen to words of Elizabeth Fry, just about the wisest person I’ve ever come across in my readings of channeled information: "I think that people will only recognize … what Christ really was, when they begin to discount a lot of untoward creeds and dogmas, tacked on over the centuries by men who desired power and position – I would say to you, above all things, if you want to discover truth, avoid men of power and position, because … [they desire] power and position because of their material perception of things - you cannot, surely, build a truly spiritual realization of God on something which is of a material conception – God is not found, in a sense, in buildings or places … God is found within one’s soul, within one’s inner consciousness.” (read more on the "500 tape-recorded messages from the other side" page) God is not a “sky-god, way up there somewhere.” We are linked to God at the soul-level. God is part of us. God is near. God is within. And the day we open our eyes to this truth, will be the day when our progress will begin to expand exponentially.
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