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==Session 20==
==Session 20==
*01/26/92 Sunday a.m., first assignment for Machiventa Melchizedek
*01/26/92 Sunday a.m., first assignment for Machiventa Melchizedek
===Opening===
It is often said that to [[earn]] a place in [[Heaven]] you must do so through [[Jesus]], the [[Christ]]. I say to you that [[Michael]]'s gate is but one gate on this [[path]]. [[The Father]]'s road is broad, and to walk His road is to [[travel]] across [[eternity]].
Good [[morning]] to you, my [[friend]]. I am [[Machiventa]] Melchizedek, and I [[wish]] for you to deliver a [[message]] on my behalf. I see the [[work]] that you are doing on our instruction, and it is good. Please take down these [[words]], and at the finish, I will name the [[person]] who is to [[receive]] them, with other [[practical]] instructions.
===Lesson===
===Lesson===
===='''''[[Chance]]'''''====
First, on another note, we [[approve]] of your [[technique]] in introducing your [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming Wyoming] [[friend]] to these teachings, and the [[relation]] of your initial contact should also be useful for him. Also, we note that you do not press for people involved in Vincent's life to [[participate]]. You and Soldette have correctly [[discerned]] that there is a [[complicated]] interpersonal [[dynamic]] going on in that area, the result of Vincent's previous life [[attitude]], which is inconsistent with his new attitude. Now [[record]] these [[words]]:
First, on another note, we approve of your technique in introducing your Wyoming friend to these teachings, and the relation of your initial contact should also be useful for him. Also, we note that you do not press for people involved in Vincent's life to participate. You and Soldette have correctly discerned that there is a complicated interpersonal dynamic going on in that area, the result of Vincent's previous life attitude, which is inconsistent with his new attitude. Now record these words:
The churches have largely contented themselves in these same recent years with raising palaces to the material wealth status of their memberships. No more useless expenditure of capital could be found on your planet to serve as an example of what not to do with resources. The Father in Heaven has no use for money; He is already spectacularly housed. What the Father asks for cannot be bought -- only given, and only from the hearts of individual humans. The Father desires that you show your love for Him, who needs nothing, by service to your less-fortunate brothers and sisters, who need everything. For just as the Father lives in you, so does He live through your brethren. If you truly desire to show your love and respect for the Father, then put your riches to service in His name. There is nothing in your larder that is too precious to place before these, His children.
Wherever you look, when [[traveling]] [[the Father]]'s road, the [[majesty]] and intricacy of His [[Creation]] stands forth [[boldly]]. The Father's [[plan]] is complete, notwithstanding the [[apparent]] [[conflicts]] which exist on your world. [[The Father]] must allow for [[adversity]] in the spiritual [[growth]] [[experience]], so to cause His [[children]] to feel [[confidence]] in the [[faith]] which they hold as a result of [[belief]] in His [[wisdom]] and [[leadership]]. Untested faith is only [[incipient]] faith -- not wholly formed, nor useful. The only [[equitable]] way for [[the Father]] to allow [[adversity]] to affect the lives of His [[children]] is through the [[mechanism]] of [[chance]]. Many, though not all, of the misfortunes which befall the people are the result of this [[random]], [[impersonal]] [[mechanism]]. There is no reason why some are born high, while others are lamed. It is simply [[chance]].
===='''''[[Society]]'''''====
[[Chance]] rules on the backward [[planets]]. An [[examination]] of your own planetary [[development]] clearly shows a [[progressive]] mastery over the vagaries of [[nature]] and, of course, [[chance]]. It is the duty of the people to [[compensate]] for the unfortunates of your world who are burdened with unmanageable or devastating misfortunes, but this they have largely failed to do. There is a generalized [[sentiment]] among the people of your country that [[responsibility]] falls to the [[society]] at large to [[administer]] this program of [[rescue]] and aid, but [[resistance]] is strong. The [[society]] is not ready for such [[governmental]] [[programs]], although they would work well enough. The past two decades have built an overaccumulation of [[selfish]] mistrust of all [[social]] [[services]] carried on through [[government]] [[action]]. It is therefore the [[responsibility]] of the [[churches]] to [[administer]] the [[necessary]] aid and rehabilitation.
===='''''[[Tradition]]'''''====
The [[churches]] have largely contented themselves in these same recent years with raising [[palaces]] to the [[material]] [[wealth]] [[status]] of their memberships. No more useless expenditure of [[capital]] could be found on your [[planet]] to serve as an example of what not to do with [[resources]]. [[The Father]] in [[Heaven]] has no use for [[money]]; He is already spectacularly housed. What the Father asks for cannot be bought -- only given, and only from the [[hearts]] of [[individual]] [[humans]]. The Father [[desires]] that you show your love for Him, who needs nothing, by [[service]] to your less-fortunate brothers and sisters, who need [[everything]]. For just as [[the Father]] lives in you, so does He live through your brethren. If you truly [[desire]] to show your [[love]] and [[respect]] for the Father, then put your riches to [[service]] in His name. There is nothing in your larder that is too precious to place before these, His [[children]].
The Master taught truly when, near the end of His ministry, the woman used expensive oils intended for the burial, lavishing them on his feet while he lived. Is that not the better use? What will you pass on to the next generation? This empty shell of a building, for them to divine its purpose? Or will you begin from here, building the living church that the Master taught, and put his enlightened and progressive teachings in action this day, in this place, for the Father to look upon with loving approval? Time is wasting, and only so many days are allotted to each of you. If not today, then when do you propose to get about the Father's business?
[[The Master]] taught truly when, near the end of His [[ministry]], [[172:1|the woman used expensive oils]] intended for the [[burial]], lavishing them on his feet while he lived. Is that not the better use? What will you pass on to the next [[generation]]? This empty shell of a building, for them to [[divine]] its [[purpose]]? Or will you begin from here, building the living [[church]] that [[the Master]] taught, and put his [[enlightened]] and [[progressive]] teachings in [[action]] this day, in this place, for [[the Father]] to look upon with loving approval? [[Time]] is wasting, and only so many days are allotted to each of you. If not today, then when do you [[propose]] to get about [[the Father]]'s business?
So I say to you that even though Michael's gate is but one on the road, there is no way to avoid it without leaving the true path. If you wish to approach the Father, you must pass this gate. And having absorbed this lesson, and gained the growth in spirit power that such a success naturally inspires, you will know without question that you are traveling the right road, and that the road lies open before you.
So I say to you that even though [[Michael]]'s gate is but one on the road, there is no way to avoid it without leaving the true [[path]]. If you [[wish]] to approach [[the Father]], you must pass this gate. And having [[absorbed]] this lesson, and gained the [[growth]] in spirit power that such a success naturally [[inspires]], you will know without question that you are traveling the right road, and that the road lies open before you.
The Urantia Book teaches that no matter how much institutional charity exists, it will be insufficient to solve the problems of the damaged and bereft of your society. It will not suffice because what is needed is not professional service, but personal service. The Master certainly had the wherewithal to establish institutions of service. Such institutions existed under the patronage of the Jewish leaders, then, as now, showing little result. The Master, whose life was perfectly pleasing to the Father, ministered to the people, and those such as he encountered as he passed by.
The [[Urantia Book]] teaches that no matter how much [[institutional]] [[charity]] exists, it will be insufficient to solve the [[problems]] of the damaged and bereft of your [[society]]. It will not suffice because what is needed is not [[professional]] [[service]], but [[personal]] service. [[The Master]] certainly had the wherewithal to [[establish]] [[institutions]] of [[service]]. Such institutions existed under the [[patronage]] of the [[Jewish]] [[leaders]], then, as now, showing little result. [[The Master]], whose life was perfectly pleasing to the Father, ministered to the people, and those such as he encountered as he passed by.
===='''''[[Service]]'''''====
It is unnecessary to [[travel]] about, in search of [[the Father]]'s work. An [[abundance]] [[surrounds]] you. The people will come to your door. See that you are there to [[receive]] them with a true [[heart]]. And as for those who are inclined to shrink back from the unfortunates, [[encourage]] them to step forward in the company of a [[friend]], in the loving brotherhood of the [[community]] which will give them the [[strength]] and [[courage]] to master their [[fears]], and [[glow]] in the bright light of [[God]]'s [[love]]. Let them not pass the cup; they shall drink deeply, or not pass the gate.
This you shall teach to the people -- to open their [[hearts]] to their [[Siblings|brothers and sisters]], those living in the woods and byways. [[Provide]] them [[shelter]], and [[hope]], and the [[example]] of [[the Father]]'s [[love]] brought to life on [[earth]], as it has from time to time in the lives of the [[prophets]] and [[teachers]] and great men and women of your [[history]]. Teach this to your people, and their [[names]] will be recorded on the rolls as [[citizens]] of [[the Kingdom]], and you will have [[honestly]] [[performed]] the [[work]] you were called long ago to do. Teach this, and the gates will swing wide.
You will take these [[words]] and deliver them to the [[minister]] encountered last week by Vincent, a man who is on the [[path]], but [[wonders]] where it [[leads]], and how to bridge the gap between this life and the life in the [[spirit]]. He will welcome you, and question you, and you will answer. I will [[assist]] you. I thank you now for your [[service]]. You are chosen for this task because you lack [[fear]], and can perform momentarily the tasks which I direct. I will [[speak]] through you, and my [[words]] will resound through the [[heavens]], as they should. [[Shalom]]. -- [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]]
==Session 21==
==Session 21==
*01/28/92 Tuesday a.m., addendum and further instructions
*01/28/92 Tuesday a.m., addendum and further instructions
