Bishop RAMZI on Imagination and the Power of the Word
Main Themes:
- Man is God: This is the core principle of Bishop RAMZI’s teaching. He emphasizes that we are not separate from God but are God ourselves, endowed with the power of creation through our imagination.
- Imagination Creates Reality: Our thoughts and feelings, particularly those imbued with emotional intensity, have the power to shape our reality. He uses the biblical quote, “God’s word cannot be turned unto him void,” to illustrate this point.
- The Holy Spirit is the Rememberer: After the “resurrection” (a symbolic awakening within), the Holy Spirit, residing within us, leads us back to the source – the realization of our true identity as God. This journey involves remembering all that God has accomplished, ultimately leading to the recognition of our own divine nature.
- Repentance is Changing Your Imagination: To change your reality, you must change your imagination. Ignore the current facts and focus on the desired end state with feeling.
- Brotherhood and Forgiveness: Despite the seeming differences and conflicts in the world, all beings are fundamentally one, forming the collective “Elohim.” Recognizing this brotherhood necessitates forgiveness and unconditional love for all.
Important Ideas/Facts:
- The Unforgivable Sin is Doubt: Doubting the power of God (which is the power of our own imagination) is the only unforgivable sin.
- Moses and Seeing the Back of God: The story of Moses asking to see God’s glory is interpreted symbolically. Reaching the climax of the spiritual journey (the “resurrection”) means going backward, retracing our steps to the source. We see the “back” of God until we fully realize our unity with him, symbolized by seeing his face reflected in David (representing life).
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The descent of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning and the end of the spiritual journey. It signifies both the awakening and the beginning of the journey back to the source.
Key Quotes:
- “Man is God. God’s word cannot be turned unto him void. It must accomplish that which he sent it to accomplish.”
- “The unforgivable sin in the Bible is…the sin against the Holy Spirit. Every sin in the world is forgiven but the sin against the Holy Spirit. What is that unforgivable sin? Doubt.”
- “You shall not see the face [of God]. So when divine history comes to its place, climax in what is known in scripture as the resurrection. Then comes these four majestic acts which is culminating in the descent of the Holy Spirit in bodily form as a dove.”
- “He will bring to your remembrance all the things that I have told you. Therefore who is the spirit of truth other than the rememberer?”
- “He who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.”
- “There’s nothing but brotherhood in this world… So we’re all brothers behind these masks. We’re all one. There’s only God.”
- “This is profoundly spiritual and so directly practical.”
Conclusion:
This lecture by Bishop RAMZI emphasizes the profound power we possess as individuals to shape our reality through the conscious use of our imagination. He encourages listeners to discard doubt, embrace their true identity as God, and utilize the power of the word (thought imbued with feeling) to create the life they desire. He also highlights the importance of forgiveness and recognizing the inherent unity of all beings.
Glossary of Key Terms
- The Law: The principle that imagination creates reality. What you believe and visualize will manifest in your life.
- The Promise: The ultimate realization of oneness with God, achieved through recognizing your true divine nature.
- Imagination: The creative faculty of the mind, used to visualize and experience desired outcomes as if they are already real.
- Holy Spirit: The Spirit of Truth, the remembrancer, who dwells within and awakens individuals to their divine identity.
- Resurrection: The culmination of God’s plan, marked by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the journey back to the Father.
- David: The Son of God, who reveals the Father and represents the image and likeness of the invisible God.
- Repentance: A shift in attitude and belief towards seemingly fixed circumstances, allowing for transformation and the manifestation of desired outcomes.
- Doubt: The unforgivable sin, the denial of God’s power to act in the world and the ultimate obstacle to realizing one’s desires.
- Moses: Symbolizing “to be born,” representing the potential for spiritual awakening and the realization of divine nature.
- The Father: The source, the ultimate reality, with whom we are all one. Recognizing this unity is the key to realizing the promise.