Sermon for October 16, 2011

Comm-Unity On the Hill Congregation, Washington, D.C.*

Rev. Robbins S. Hopkins, Ed.D.

Thank you for asking me to speak.  It is delightful to be here this morning. The question I am exploring today is, “What is authentic prayer”?  Just plain and simple, authentic prayer is prayer that works.  It is prayer that brings results. It is prayer that produces energy shifts.  Authentic Prayer is powerful business.  Well then, how do we accomplish this?

The Bible has a few things to say to us about prayer.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds ….” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:18).

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26).

The week before Hurricane Irene, exactly 7 days before it hit this area, we decided last minute to book a house in North Carolina for the week for my husband and myself.  We have been going to the beach in August for 41 years and we realized we were not going to go because none of our family were free to join us.  We discussed this at length and decided to make a reservation and take a weeks’ vacation just for us. That felt very wonderful, celebratory in fact! One day later, we realized that there was a Tropical Storm in the Atlantic. We thought, we had better arrange for trip insurance in case something more serious became of this storm. We called for the insurance and were told that we could not get insurance now because there was a named storm in the Atlantic, specifically now called IRENE.  So, my energy was very focused on this storm not only because of this reservation but also because I had been going to the North and South Carolina coasts literally all my life except for 4 years when were lived overseas.

So the prayers began in earnest.  Every time I went into prayer, I got the feeling I was simply nipping at the heels of Hurricane IRENE. I did all the things I usually do in working at the global level but I could not feel any shifts in energy which is how I know the prayers have been effective.  One day about the 4^thday into the prayer effort, I finally asked in sacred space, “How do we do this?” I was feeling overwhelmed and completely under effective.  Someone had shared with me that the Hurricane itself covered an area as large as Arizona.  This left me totally amazed.  I could feel the power and strength of Irene when in prayer and something I called powerful fury but I did not know how to address it in prayer.

To continue reading this sermon, follow this link to the full  text.  http://www.robbinshopkins.com/sermons/authentic-prayer-and-global-healing/

*Comm-Unity on the Hill, through November 2011,  meets in Hearst Hall on the grounds of National Cathedral at the corner of Woodley Ave. and Wisconsin Ave, NW in Washington, D.C. Services are weekly on Sundays at 10 A.M.  

As of December 4 we will be moving to 10 and G Street, N.W. to join First Congregational Church of Washington D.C. in jointly shared space.  Services here begin at 1 PM on Sundays.  Comm-Unity can be reached at cothdc@verizon.net or  703-379-4450 . All are welcome.

** This sermon was preceded by a guided meditation for the congregation.

When we are on a conscious spiritual journey, sooner or later we spend time in Silence. But this is just the beginning of our potential journey.

In search of peace by Bindaas Madhavi

After Silence, we may need to spend time on imbalances in our field.  This can happen when our “quiet time” results in tough, yucky stuff appearing on the scene.   Thoughts and feelings which are out of balance, unpleasant, heavy or unprocessed do frequently show up.  Unsettling issues are a part of our dialogue with the Greater Whole.

This is the Divine Presence talking with us about what we need to focus on  to remain in balance. Unsettling feelings are not the result of being in Silence. They are the result of our seeking inner peace! When we go into Silence we are seeking peace, balance, wholeness and centeredness.  If we have unresolved issues with a co-worker, a spouse or a friend, we are likely to have them pop up after a period of sitting in Silence.  In fact, many people never go into the Silence for this very reason.  They are afraid that issues they do not want to look at will show up.

Guess what?  Unpleasant issues, thoughts and feelings are ALREADY in our energy field, draining us of our Light and life force energy!  They are already causing imbalance.  Just because we are not thinking about them, does not mean they go away.  In fact, because we are trying to “resist” them, they are even more demanding of our attention. The quickest way to resolve any unpleasant issue is to work in sacred space with our unresolved thoughts and feelings which are causing us stress or anger. 

Anyone want to join me at the beach for a good conversation? by Stuck in Customs

It is easy to say well “she should do this” or “he would be a whole lot happier if …”. However this will never bring resolution to an imbalance affecting us.  These responses are actually a  form of gossip and can perpetuate and expand the imbalance.  As long as we focus on what others could or should be doing, we miss the lesson for ourselves.  We are the ones who  have to take the steps to re-establish inner peace for ourselves. Then others sense a shift in us and they are also affected by our coming into greater balance.

Coming into balance and inner peace is our part of the partnership with All That Is.  No one else can do this work for us. The more we engage in this self-work,  the more expansive our inner peace becomes. It begins to permeate our entire being and all our affairs for the positive.  If this is hopeful or of interest to you,  keep seeking and you will find exactly what you are meant to discover.  There are infinite ways to undertake a work out process from Silence to release.   Here is one you might try and adapt for you own purposes.

Step by Step by Alice Popkorn

WORKING OUT with DIVINE PRESENCE–  When we notice charged feelings and thoughts, causing imbalances, one option is to work them out within a sacred space, through writing to Divine Presence and then letting the imbalances go.  Here are some steps towards that goal.

1.  Open a sacred space in which to work.  This gives us access to Divine wisdom, energy, love and support even when we are writing by ourselves. ( See Note A, for ideas of how to do this.)

2.  The letter

• Get a journal solely for these writings and date each letter. Sign your name as you would in any letter.
• Address the letter to Dear God/ Beloved Oneness/ Perfect Love/ Great I AM/  Mohamed/Mary/Jesus/Buddha/Saint Germain/Ascended Masters, etc.
• Keep this journal in a safe place where you are sure no one will find it or read it.

3.  Explore the specific situation around which you have strong feelings which is causing you imbalance.

• Begin by writing about your feelings.
• Write as clearly as possible and with total honesty.
• Include thoughts as well as feelings about the situation.
• Write as much as you can until you feel really done.
• Sign your letter each time you finish for the day

4.  Ask in the Silence what fears and blocked energy you are carrying which are manifesting as imbalanced energy specifically related to you journal topic.

• Specify the fears and other blocked energy in the journal as notes after your letter.

5.  Go into a space of stillness and call for the sacred flame (within all of us) to consume all blocked energies you have identified which are causing turbulence and imbalance in your energy field from their originating source in this lifetime or from any previous life form you have taken.

• If forgiveness comes to mind forgive self and others completely.

6.  Give thanks for the healing support and vibration clearing of your energy field.

7. Continue to write about this imbalance as long as it remains in your consciousness following this process each day you write about it.

• Every time you enter into stillness for clearing, healing energy will consume the low vibrating thoughts and feelings separating you from Peace.
• You are only responsible for your own feelings. If you change, others involved in your situation will be profoundly affected as well.
• Take as much time on the issues as you need, knowing that your desire and intention for Inner Peace will be completely supported.

NOTE A:  Here is one way to open sacred space.  ” I call forth my Highest “I AM” Self , the Angelic Host, the Ascended Masters (Jesus/Krishna/Mary/Mohammed/ Moses/St. Ignatius/Buddha ,etc.), the Nature Intelligences, Cosmic Light Beings of the Universe, Divine Ancestors and Divine Physicians  to help me hold this sacred healing space.  I may then say, “Spirit of the Living God/Great Oneness /Divine Wholeness/Holy Spirit, come forth into this space dedicated to wholeness and balance.  My thanks.”

I had a neighbor once who when asked how things were going would sometimes reply, we have the neggies.  I loved that because it was so expressive.  The neggies can overtake a whole group when complaining, arguing and bickering breaks out.  For me, the neggies often show up when my body hurts, when I am feeling overwhelmed, unproductive or when I have no time to take care of myself.  This looks like washing my hair at 12:45 AM or trying to dry clothes at 6 AM for the coming day!

Grumpy Rainbow by Jenn and Tony Bot

Frequently when these thoughts and feelings begin to invade my space, all the above feelings come at the same time.  It is as if, when I open that doorway to one little neggie, all the other little neggies lurking in the background gang up on me and have to get their kicks in as well. Recently for example, I was “over” solid booked for weeks with clients.  I contracted a sinus infection, then a major virus over Christmas (ugh) and t0 top it all off, I fell while cross-country skiing and badly sprained my knee.  I think sometimes these things come all together to get me to pay attention and ask what in the world is going on here with me?  The neggies are invading!

Seriously though, when this happens I am not a happy camper.  I frequently am anxious and prickly and don’t sleep well and can’t even be dressed up to be taken out anywhere. That’s the biggest clue that I have succumbed, when I can’t  even be roused to put on a good face to go out.  Alas, time for serious self-searching.

Though I can write about this state of affairs with levity, I assure you when I am in that state, I am really not centered and in serious need of clearing and balance.  I have also noticed people taking wide berths around me and the wearing of velvet gloves.

365:60 ARGH by seq

So having been recently in an expanded state of the neggies, here is what Divine Guidance came up with for me.  Be quiet, have a day of doing little or nothing, get frustrated, get angry, get sad, be quiet again, and then finally ask  WHAT AM I DOING TO ATTRACT THESE EXPERIENCES TO ME ??

Looking at attracting the neggies and manifesting imbalance comes from the spiritual view that we create our own experiences of our lives.  We can be as angry, sad, depressed, fearful, joyful, grateful or as accommodating as we can imagine.  It is our choice. When my body hurts, I have a choice to obsess about the pain or to get some help from preparations, pills or from people.  I also have a choice about how I react to hurting.  I can attend to it and then do something that focuses my mind differently or I can feel sorry for myself and eat.  I can complain to whomever will listen or I can be still and call forth new balance in my body.  I usually do a mixture of haranguing and harumphing before I realize that this does not help me at all.  Then I try to move directly to the deep well within, which is very patient with me I have noticed, until I remember to call forth my I AM Energy for the re-balancing of whatever is setting me off.

Here is what that looks like for me.  There is only One Power, One Presence, One Energy Source.  That Energy and Presence is pure, unadulterated Love which is waiting for me to call it forth.  I say something like this.

I call forth my I AM Energy (Highest Self) to infuse my mind, my heart, my body, my affairs and my home with Love, Light and Balance.  I release all the blocked energy I am carrying which is manifesting as my hurting body and my complaining self.  I command out my blocked emotional, mental, thermal ( self-protective) and spiritual energy which is producing this imbalance in my body and my mind.  I ask forgiveness of my body for creating this imbalance and this hurt I am experiencing.  Come forth.  Let there be balance in my body.  And So It Is.  My thanks.

Why does this work?

It works because we are all, everyone one of us,  Divine Energy regardless of the circumstances of our lives here.  We can command this I AM Energy, our Highest Self, because we are eternally connected to this energy even though we may not be conscious of this.

This works because I am calling out the blocked negative energy which I have created my very own self in my human life.  If my intention is for that stuck energy to go, it will go.  I command it out and that stuck energy goes because I am the total creator of that energy in the first place.

This approach works because I am taking full responsibility for the neggies, I am feeling.  In doing that, I re-engage with my own power and redirect it to the source of the negative feelings and the source of the imbalance or pain.

This way of working with imbalance recognizes the Divine Presence within which is eternal and on call, 24-7.

Try a different approach to the imbalances in your life. Try something you may not have tried before or may have tried not believing it could work for you.  The first time I worked with deep pain in my back in this way,  the pain instantly subsided.  In complete astonishment, I burst into tears.  I could hardly take it in.  The pain was completely gone for 1 entire day.  I was so overcome though by self-” neggie” talk that I began doubting that the shift had taken place at all. I could not trust the shift in energy.   So, the next day the pain was back.  That was a HUGE learning for me.

Enthusiasm by h. Koppdelaney

Stand fully in the knowing that you have all the power, right, authority, intention and all the chutzpah necessary to command your I AM Energy to manifest balance in your life. When I was learning to do this for myself ,  I tried to embrace infinite possibility with a measure of humility, two nods of passion, a thimble of mystery and a shot of gratitude.  See what works for you and let us hear from you.

For nearly a year, I have been working with a group of folks to publish a newsletter on conditions and areas of the globe needing prayers.  We have over 85 people getting this newsletter through email.  Recently I was asked how I pray for global healing and what my thoughts are about such processes.

NASA Blue Marble by By NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

As our bodies indicate imbalances in the form of infections, viruses, diseases and pain, so Mother Earth indicates her own set of  imbalances when unseen energy is out of balance. Our globe is a vibrant alive organism much as our bodies are vibrant alive organisms. Global imbalances  manifest as violence, corruption, terrorism, war, poverty, epidemics, economic instability, air, earth and water pollution, ethnic hatred, religious hatred, subjugation, slavery, sexual trafficking, volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate shifts, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes and many other imbalances.

When the unseen energy of a given city, state,  nation or a continent is out of balance, Mother Earth visually indicates imbalances at the physical level of the Earth.  All global imbalances no matter how deeply flawed or seemingly intractable can be affected by prayer.  Our prayers can directly affect the re-balancing of  chronic imbalances around the globe.

How do we as a people, for example, heal from prejudice, hatred and subjugation of those different from ourselves? We have ethnic and religious hatred the world over.  Each geographic area of the world has its own form of hatred and darkness history unique to that area of the world manifesting as ethnic hatred, prejudice and subjugation.  However at the root of all hatred and violence against others are humanly created thoughts, feelings and fears which we may have carried for centuries passed down from generation to generation.

Through the calling in of Divine Presence, we can clear the old stagnant, gnarled energies of the past and present.  All fear, thoughts and feelings which are out of Right Relationship with All That Is, can be cleared beginning with us. Even centuries of blocked fear and blame can be cleared through our partnering with God for our people now living around the globe.  Our prayers can hold the intention for global peace and healing in infinitely powerful ways.

The blue flame by Artnow314

To begin any and all healing prayers, I open a sacred space with Divine Beings including the Angelic Host, Ascended Masters, Highest Divine Cosmic Light Beings, Divine Ancestors, Divine Physicians and Nature Intelligences.  I then listen.  I work with the Sacred Flame image of the Divine Presence.  This concept is helpful for consuming all blocked, humanly created energy manifesting as global imbalances.

Let’s take the energy of  hatred between Jews and Christians as our example of imbalance in the Americas. Here is one way to pray for this clearing.  I say these prayers out loud to give more power to their form in our earthly dimension.

Sunset Flames by Brian Auer

Sacred Flame, come forth in all your power.  Clear all blocked emotional, mental, thermal(self-protective) and spiritual (fear and doubt) energies originating from the 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21st centuries now manifesting as the energies of hatred between Christians and Jews in the Americas. Clear all blocked emotional, mental, thermal and spiritual energies,  back through all time and space manifesting as the peoples of the Americas, attracting hatred energy to themselves between Jews and Christians.  Let there be full Forgiveness, Peace and Love with regard to these imbalances.   And So It Is.  Our thanks, Amen.

Sometimes I am then guided to take these same prayers to the rest of the globe. I work with six geographic areas as given by Divine Presence in supporting me in global prayer.  The other five areas of the globe beyond the Americas which I work with include Africa, Europe and Eastern Europe, India and China, [Russia, Middle East and Asia], and [Oceania, Oceans and the Poles].

When I complete this process,  I go back and ask if these geographic areas are in Right Relationship with All That Is in regards to the energy of hatred between Christians and Jews for this day.   If not, I continue until there is Right Relationship indicated for the day with the issue being addressed.  When balance for a given day is indicated, healing at the physical level can begin.

Let’s use the AIDS epidemic in Africa as our next example. This is one way to call for the clearing of the old compromised and blocked energies which are fueling the present imbalances we see as the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Sacred Flame, come forth in all your power.  Clear all blocked emotional, mental, thermal(self-protective) and spiritual (fear and doubt) energies originating from the 18, 19, 20 and 21st centuries now manifesting as the AIDS epidemic in Africa.  Clear all blocked emotional, mental, thermal and spiritual energies,  back through all time and space manifesting as the peoples of Africa attracting an AIDS epidemic to themselves.  Let there be Balance, Healing and Wholeness with regard to the AIDS epidemic in Africa and So It Is.  Our thanks.  Amen

The core blocked energies from the past for a government, nation, condition or group of people contribute to the visible imbalances in the country or region in current times.  If these old patterns of energy are cleared back through centuries, then the present imbalances can clear.  I ask how far back the imbalances go and usually I get a century. If you are not sure, pick a century and call for the clearing from that century forward. Anything we do to clear the present of old blocked energies from the past allows for balance to be restored.

Apophysis-Globe by HocusFocusClick - Johanne

All clearing of this sort will contribute to balance.  So, whatever you do will be helpful. When we work in Divine Space with Divine Beings our prayers can be significantly amplified and are therefore more powerful than if we think we are working as lone individuals.  When we pray in earnest from our hearts, all that is needed is provided and so we are truly contributing to the greater whole within the world.

Let us hear from you.  May powerful praying be actualized by us all!!

New spiritual information is coming through for those with Crohn’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS, high cholesterol, vitiligo, chronic fatigue, glaucoma, HIV/AIDs, common cold, epilepsy, body’s electrical system, and irritable bowel syndrome.  Recently, each of these conditions has been described by Divine Knowing to me as the result of imbalances in energy which have attracted a virus to the physical body. The viruses are doing the damage at the physical level manifesting as these various conditions or diseases.  Despite the fact that medically several of these conditions have not been linked to viruses, this is the pathway for healing that has been given spiritually.

Virus by twenty_questions

Imagine my total amazement when over time, more and more imbalances such as those listed above have been addressed by Divine Knowing as caused by viruses.  Through spiritual explanation, we contract a virus to our bodies because of some blocked energy, emotional, mental, thermal (self-protective) or spiritual (fear and doubt) which has compromised our immune system.   I am seeing healing for clients when bodies have been cleared of this blocked energy manifesting as a “Crohn’s causing virus” or as  a “glaucoma causing virus”, for example. This is the exact wording coming from Divine Knowing.

It may be years before we have medical confirmation of this spiritual information regarding virual sources for these imbalances.  However, if you or a loved one is suffering with the above mentioned imbalances, you can use the following prayers for support and healing.

Prayer in my applied definition is working with Divine Presence or Universal Energy to bring forth the needed healing vibrations for shifting imbalances.  All prayers are helpful though I have found that the more specifically directed this call for healing is, the more powerful it is.  We are going to jump to graduate level prayer for maximum impact. Some background might be helpful before we put the prayers to use.

1. The major types of blocked energy so far revealed are emotional, mental, thermal (protective) and spiritual  (fear and doubt).
2. The sacred flame is a form of Divine Presence within each of us.  This energy is eternal, all knowing and all powerful.  This concept comes  from the Saint Germain teachings.
3. Open a sacred healing space for all prayers with a call to Divine Presence. I open my prayers by saying, “I call forth my beloved I AM Energy, the Ascended Masters, the Angelic Host, the highest Cosmic Light Beings of the Universe, the Nature Intelligences, the Divine Ancestors and Divine Physicians”.
   

   Would You Die For The Glory Of Russell's Teapot by Dude Crush

Thurman was diagnosed with glaucoma and it was affecting both eyes.  He asked me to pray for his healing.  I opened the Sacred Space with my I AM Energy and that of the Divine Realm and said:

I call forth the sacred flame from within Thurman.  Consume the blocked emotional, mental, thermal and spiritual blocked energies from this lifetime and any previous lifetime manifesting as a “glaucoma producing virus”. Virus,  return to complete balance with all other tissues in the body.  Let there be balance in Thurman’s eyes. And So It Is.  Thanks to All That Is.

Say the prayer knowing it will be heard.  All we ask, think, say is heard.  Every hair on our head is counted!  Stand in partnership with Divine Presence and know the call will be heard. It is your spiritual birthright to call the Energy of Divine Presence into this dimension for healing.  Hold the intention for balance and wholeness and when it can manifest, it will do so.

This is a prayer you could say for yourself  if you have high cholesterol or any of the other conditions listed in the first paragraph. Open the sacred healing space to begin.

I call forth the sacred flame from within me.  Sacred Flame consume the blocked emotional, mental, thermal and spiritual energies I am carrying from this lifetime or any previous lifetime manifesting as a “high cholesterol causing virus” at the physical level.  Virus come into perfect balance with all the tissues of my body.  Let there be balance with this virus and my cholesterol levels.   And So It Is. My gratitude and thanks.

You may have a friend or family member who is not open to prayer.  Therefore, it makes no sense to try to get their permission at  a human level,  for healing prayer.  Their minds are not open to this.  In sacred space though we are ALL ONE, created from Universal Love Energy.  Your love for this person will be strongly channeled for their highest good through your prayer of healing love for them.   You can do no harm by sending Love energy in their direction by calling it into their field. They will feel the love even if the healing cannot be received.  Eventually love heals all.

Here is a prayer for a person whom you might not have spoken to about prayer.  Open the sacred healing space first.

I hold Kalli in this Sacred Healing Space for her highest benevolent outcome. I call forth her I AM Energy.  Sacred flame, come forth from within Kalli. Consume all blocked emotional, mental, thermal or spiritual energies from this lifetime or any other lifetime which are currently manifesting as a “cancer producing virus” at the physical level.  I command this virus to come into right relationship with the rest of Kalli’s body at all levels. All cells in this body balance in the name of the Most High.  And So it is. Blessings of the Light.  My loving thanks.

Spirit of Meditation by h. koppdelaney

This prayer energy works powerfully because we have chosen to partner with Divine Presence.  We have come knowing that we will be heard.  We are commanding Divine healing energy into this earthly dimension through our own commitment to love and service, to self or others.  We are commanding the return of balance for ourselves or for another.  Use these prayers when you or others are facing these imbalances.  I give deep thanks together with all of you, that this approach to healing is being shared with us at this time in our evolution.

See Update to this information at this link http://www.robbinshopkins.com/2010/12/update-to-prayers-for-the-seemingly-incurable/.