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A Search For God |
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| Lesson 9: In His Presence (262-31 to 262-34) The truth is that God is within and will be with us always. In this lesson we are working on our attitudes about this truth. "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." (Leviticus 26:12) AFFIRMATION Our Father who is in heaven... May Your kingdom come into earth through Your presence in me. May You manifest through me. May the light of Your word shine to those that I meet day by day. May Your presence be in others that I may glorify You. May I conduct my life that others may know Your presence abides with me. May I always glorify You. 262-30 edited We are the Gates. We are the Ancient Doors. Let God in. Lift up your heads, O you gates; Be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7) INTRODUCTION Our thinking is motivated by how we know God. Our speech is motivated by how we see God. Our actions are motivated by how we love God. Our view of life is motivated by our concept of God. The truth is that God is within and will be with us always. In this lesson we are working on our attitudes about this truth. Our inner life, our reaction to all situations and our actions/reactions to others are all expressions of what we have done with "the knowledge and consciousness of His presence abiding with us." Everything we do is based on what we know about God's presence within us. "To abide in His presence" does not mean: (1) An experience, knowledge or understanding that is apart from us. (2) Something to be experienced later. (3) Something to be aware of in future. (Q) What is the meaning of "To abide in His presence?" (A) It is the experience, the knowledge, and the understanding of all who seek to do His bidding. It is the "doing" of His bidding that creates the "experience,knowledge and understanding of" His presence. His presence abides with us always. It is in Him we live. It is in Him we move It is in Him we have our being (existence). We must realize this. We must know and understand that we are sons of God. God is Spirit God is behind everything in creation. God is one. We can not separate God from His creation. We may try to separate God from His creation but in so doing we become dual, mystified, and confused. When we separate ourselves or think ourselves apart from our Maker, we are like ships without rudders. God's oneness is ever existent in everything that surrounds us and in us. It is only through our "realization and our acknowledgment of its existence" that the change is worked in us, and life takes on a new aspect. We must seek His presence. We are free-will agents. God is not a person in the sense that we think of persons. Yet God is very personal to those of us who seek His presence . He is God to all - Father, to those who seek. It is our "oneness with the Father" that Christ stressed while on earth in a physical body. When Christ declared that He could do nothing of Himself: He meant that it was the Father within Him that did the works. For us to do the works of God, we must seek ever to be conscious of the Presence within. All the guidance, help, supply, joy, peace, and whatever goes to make life worth living is within. "Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9) For personal growth we have to move toward God. Know, O ye children of men, the Lord thy God is One. Each spirit, each manifestation - either in this or any other sphere of development - moves toward the knowledge, the understanding, and the conception of that One - Him, God, Jehovah, Yah - the All One. It is only when we listen to the still small voice within and know that His presence is with us that we come to the realization that we are one with Him. THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS PRESENCE The Human soul is the simplest unit of God. It is within the human soul that we will find Him abiding. Let us sense the presence of God within and without. The knowledge of His presence will make us calm. The knowledge of His presence will remove all anxieties. The knowledge of His presence will make us conscious of a renewing power. (Q) How do we know that the Spirit of God (the soul forces) speaks through the soul? (A) We must study and meditate until we realize what attitude we hold concerning His presence. His presence within is truth. We are working with our attitude about this truth. "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." (Psalm 139:6) We may feel at times that it is physically impossible to gain that knowledge. Let us take God at His word and accept His free gift of grace, love, and mercy. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) "I the Lord do not change." (Malachi 3:6) God always have been and forever will be. It is our mind that needs to work on this truth. Let us not obscure the knowledge of His presence by considering it as a thing apart. Let us not quench the spirit within. Let His spirit bear witness with our spirit. Let us understand ourselves better by understanding our brother, our friend, or our enemy. Let us trust in His care. Let us know that His presence will be with us whereever we are. Let us go fearlessly on into whatever work is before us. Let the Light shine ahead and show the way. Let His presence keep our stumbling feet from faltering Let His presence allow no harm come to us. Let us live each moment aware of His presence Let our work testify for us of His presence. Let self be less and less magnified. Let more hope and reliance be sought in His Word. Let each of us become more and more aware of His abiding presence. Let all who would know Him believe that He is. Let all know that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How often have we read, "The Lord is my shepherd," (Psalm 23:1) and doubted the truth of it as applying to us. By submitting our will to divine guidance we come step by step into the realization that He will withhold no good thing from those who seek Him, who seek to do His will. HOW DO WE PREPARE OURSELVES SO WE CAN BE IN HIS PRESENCE The realization that we are ever in His presence is not always easy when we allow the cares of the world to creep in and draw us away in body and mind. We are in various stages of growth, so we are in different states of consciousness. What might be absolutely necessary for the preparation of ourselves, may not be as important for another person. It is well, however, for all to observe: (1) The laws of righteous judgment and clean living. (2) Special hours for meditation and prayer -- that we may be strengthened during times of severe temptation and trails. (3) The realization that He is ever with us -- whether we are in sorrow or joy (mind is the builder.) (4) Such standards of conduct -- that others may know that what we profess with our lips to believe is in keeping with that which we hold as our ideal. May we be living examples of what we profess. May our actions be in keeping with the Christ Consciousness. May we give others the right impression of His attributes manifesting through us. "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15) What are His commandments? "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brother of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:3) Finally, as we abide in His presence, though there may come trials of every kind, and though tears may flow from the breaking up of the carnal forces within, the spirit is made glad, even as He in the hour of trial smiled upon those who denied Him. Let us remember that physically, mentally, and spiritually we continually reflect our understanding of His presence. Let us study to show ourselves approved by Him day by day. When we are approved by Him the light of His presence is shown through our precepts, in our examples, in our words, and in our works. As we look upon others, we find that their activities, in whatever sphere they may be, are expressions of the attitudes they have builded regarding God. Their life reflects what they worship. Their actions show the spirit which is within them. Are they not using the same measure towards us? In the physical body, good health is a reflection of our observance of physical laws. Even the small details involving the care of the body are important, for they are either in accord with laws that bring the best type of expression or that will lead to inharmony. The physical surroundings, the type of companions sought, and every physical action express to others our concept of how near God, law, and love are to us. As the activities of the body reflect the strength of the physical body, So the activities of the mind reflect the strength of the mental body. The question of controlling our actions physically is in part answered by our laws and customs; but the problems of controlling our thoughts, which truly may be just as harmful and out of tune with the Infinite, are personal matters which must be met by each individual. Our vibrations go out, our words are spoken, our deeds are done, All carry to others their influences and their impressions of our understanding of God. How spiritual are our lives? How often do we seek through meditation and prayer contacts with our Creator? Do our attitudes and our philosophies of life center about a spiritual ideal? Others look for these signs and are influenced by them. We believe, but do we express our belief in our words, thoughts, deeds, and attitudes? EXPERIENCING HIS PRESENCE The consciousness that God walks and talks with us brings abiding peace. The consciousness that His promises are ever present brings abiding peace. The consciousness of His presence makes for joy in service, even though service requires that there be greater and greater sacrifices of the carnal forces within our experiences. Joy does not come through service that benefits self. He that serves others through kind words, thoughts, or deeds, gives of himself, even as He, the Master. With the realization of being in His presence comes that peace which casts out all fear and loneliness. There comes a feeling of being a part of the scheme of things. This is recognizing the God within as well as without. With this realization the way is easier. We will have more consideration for others. Condemnation will be cast aside and we have a desire to bless. "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14) The protection of the Holy Spirit is His promise, if we are faithful. As we use what we know, not waiting for physical results before going on to the next step, we will find - when we least expect it - that which we desire has been granted. We are children in faith, knowledge, and understanding; we have to be taught and disciplined. Could a child be trusted with a live wire? No more could we be trusted with divine power until we, through love, discipline, and faith come to understand the divine law. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom. It is ours only when we learn through patience to possess our souls. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Personal Experience 1: "I was arrested on a false charge. In the presence of hardened officers of the law these words came to me: 'If God is for you, who can be against you?' (Romans 8:31) And then came the words of the Master, 'Be not afraid.' (Mark 6:50) His presence was greater than any other, and the situation, which had the material outlook of humiliation and shame, was turned to the glorifying of His name in the earth. My awareness of the great need of His presence made me more consciousof it. In Him we do, indeed, live and move and have our being. Each thought, word, and act is an opportunity to advertise His presence. Let us then be an advertisement for God." Personal Experience 2: "I was asked to give a talk in public. The request came so suddenly that I had no opportunity to prepare myself. I was tempted to devote my period for meditation to study the subject, but the spirit forbade, assuring me He that is within is greater than he that is without. I harkened and with scarely a though appeared before the congregation. Never had I felt so keenly the presence of the Spirit as on this occasion. The words came without effort. I felt that there was a message of helpfulness, inspiration, and power being given through me. It was not I, but the Spirit within, that was doing the work. Others bore witness that the message was to them one above the ordinary, not only in words, but in power, and in presentation. Surely, we are strong when we acknowledge our own weakness and rely on the Presence within. It is only when we forget God that troubles overtake us. If we today, at this time of testing, would place our hope of deliverance in the hands of the Father instead of man, we would not fail to come out more than conquerors." Personal Experience 3: "There is within me a knowledge that His presence abides with me always as a part of me, not apart from me. Through the toil of the day, through the quiet hours of the night, He is always near. When burdens of the material life are heavy. If I stop and listen. He assures me that He is with me." LET US REMEMBER THAT OUR GUARD IS EVER IN HIS PRESENCE Let us not be afraid in the presence of our Maker. He is willing to fulfill His promises to His children. He is ready to make known His ways to those who will seek His face. The God who brought the beauties of nature, The God who set the laws which govern the harmonious symphony of the universe could not have left a part of His creation without guidance or without a sustaining force. The way is exemplified in the Son. There are those universal Forces ever ready to aid and strengthen those who seek to travel this way. Bow thine heads, O ye men that would seek His presence. Be strong in His might. Falter not at thy own weak self. Know that thy Redeemer liveth and May this day make known in thy own heart His presence abiding with thee. Root from thy body, thy consciousness, aught that would hinder His entering in, for He would sup with thee. Wilt thou then, O man, make known thine own decisions? Will ye be one with Him? The way which I guard leads to that of glory in the might of the Lord. I, Michael, would guide thee. Do not disobey. Do not falter. Thou knowest the way. 262-33 Let the glory in the Lord, not in self, and not in the wisdom of the earth - knowing that those who partake alone of the mental may easily become stumbling stones in the way of many. Let the Spirit of Truth that is within separate the chaff from the wheat, that we may enter into the full knowledge of His presence, and shut out those things that would hinder or cause doubt or in any way make us afraid. (See 262-32.) LET THIS BE OUR PRAYER: Our Father who art in heaven, may Thy kingdom come in earth through Thy presence in me, that the light of Thy word may shine unto those that I meet day by day. May Thy presence in my brother be such that I may glorified Thee. May I so conduct my own life that others may know Thy presence abides with me, and thus glorify Thee. 262-30 Come! Let our hearts be lifted in praise and adoration of the wondrous love that the Father sheds upon the children of men. Come! Let all be glad in the opportunities that are given to serve in His name day by day. Come! Let us be joyful in the truth that "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." (Matthew 25:40) Come! Let the love of the Son be magnified in our lives that others may know that the joyousness of service brings peace and harmony to our hearts as we serve. Come! Give thanks unto Him, for we would make our own lives and our own bodies a dwelling place of the love that the Father would manifest unto His children. Come! Give place to His Holy Name that there may come joyousness in the hearts of men at the coming of the Christ into the lives and the experiences of many. (See 281-14.) ----------------------------------------- 262-031 In building the thoughts upon which the mind of each individual should center, in preparing self for the realization of practical application of lessons, and the lesson In His Presence, taking all that has been presented in the manner in which each individual has put to use that gained by the meditation upon the thought and application of each lesson, one comes to the realization of now being in His presence; for each has gained (that have applied the lessons) that innate expression of being in His presence. The motivative forces in life itself are the composition or composite activity of the spirit of life; hence, as individuals first, we recognize that each activity, each expression of self in its relationships to that from without and that from within, is the expression of that we have done about - or with - the knowledge and the consciousness of His presence abiding with each. As we look upon our fellow man we find his activities, in whatever sphere of activity they may be, but an expression motivated by that same concept of what that individual has done about that he worships, or would present as that force the individual would use to manifest the spirit that abides in life. Then, the central thought is: Would we be forgiven, we must forgive; would we see good in our fellow man, we must reflect that which is well-pleasing in His presence, knowing that all power, all force, emanates from Him. He, the Lord thy God, is One! All power emanates, then, from Him. What would you, as an activating force for manifesting that power in the earth, do respecting same? In preparation, let each individual - in his own imaginative self - set himself as in that position of giving forth from His presence that which would make known to those he meets or contacts day by day the more awareness of that presence, first in their own lives; and how gently one (or self) would look upon the shortcomings of his brother! Judge not that ye be not judged, for with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again; for He hath made man a little lower than the angels, with that ability through his (man's) will to make himself equal with the Father, that man may even judge angels! There has been given oft, first must it come to the individual consciousness that there is that worthy and acceptable to be given to others. Then, with that same might and power that comes from that one source will it be given, through the study of that given, as to how such goes to the groups, the classes, the masses. How has it been set that cooperation is to be sought in self, in the group, in association? How has it been given ye shall know self? How ye shall know even as ye are known? How hast there been set that faith must come by the hearing of that which is building in the lives and experiences of others? How judgest thou thy neighbor? How hast thine patience made known thy understanding and thy activity in opening the door for those that seek His presence? Apply that thou hast in thine own experience, for the activities of life are practical, in the material, the mental, the spiritual life; for it must be one, even as He is one. "In that thou hast seen a light, be not dismayed" (262-30) This as given, seen in thine own experiences that there is a way opened before thee. With fear and with trembling hast thou put forth efforts in uncertain manners at times; hence the injunction "Be not dismayed;" Remembering that He hath given His angels charge concerning thee, that thine guide, thine guard, is ever in His presence, even as He gave "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. I will not leave thee comfortless, I will come and abide with thee." Then be not afraid to declare thyself at any and all experiences. 262-032 As each contribute to the lesson there should be that continued thought of: self being one in His Presence, self and that expressed in keeping with that He would have each one be. Knowing that as others view the expressions of self in the lessons there is gained by them a concept of what His Presence means to those that would walk with Him day by day. Let each in the light of their understanding so live that they bespeak that they profess with their lips to believe, that others may know that that individual is keeping that presence they hold as their ideal in such a direct consciousness as to be a living example of that they profess. In such ways and manners do the truths gained in meditation and thought become living truths and acceptable truths in His sight. So do we show forth that we would crucify the flesh, that the spirit of Him may be made manifest in this material world. Each recognize that the world, the country, the nation, the people are passing through a period of seeking, a period of adjustments in the spiritual thought, the spiritual intent. The mental world is looking to the spiritual-minded for hope, to those who are in their material walks representatives of the spiritual forces in the thinking people, for that thought that will guide all men closer to His presence. So may this group as a group, so may each individual as their contribution to the work of the group, so may each individual as their contribution to their Maker and their Elder Brother in the Christ, bring soon that day when all may know they stand in His presence. If the country, the nation, the land, is to be lifted up as a light to the world, they must be lifted in Him and His presence abiding in them day by day. Each should recognize that heritage that all are entitled to a place in His presence, for He wills that none should perish but that all should come to the acceptable understanding of His Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit. As to the application of that gained, or that may be gained from the study of those things given, each must answer for themselves; for as given, "My Spirit beareth witness with thy spirit whether ye be acceptable in His presence or not;" remembering, then, as He gave, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my little ones ye have done it unto me." Have the activities of thine heart and mind led thee to act towards thy neighbor, thy brother, thine enemy, in the manners that have been presented in approaching this thought, those understandings that come from being conscious of His presence abiding with those that would seek His face? Then know He, the Father, is ever ready to hear; for He wills not that any should fall short of that grace which comes with the acknowledging of, the thoughtfulness of, the living of, the communion with Him. Study to show yourself approved by Him day by day. So does the light of His presence shine unto others in precept and example. Not by faith alone, but by "my word, by my works," show ye forth the love of keeping in His understanding and in the consciousness of being in His presence. With the living of that given all will come to the knowledge, to the understanding of, we are all in His presence whether we acknowledge it in the present or not; for, as has been given, it is in Him we live and move and have our being; hence to induce, to persuade, to give that which will bring others, take their positions, their place, see as by the light of His presence the needs of the inner man, and so present that He gives thee day by day. Thus, as He has given, may we find ourselves happily/haply [ Acts 17:27?] in His presence; for, "I will not leave thee comfortless but will come to thee, and bring to remembrance that necessary of my strength to meet the needs of the hour, of the day." As self is less and less put forth, and more and more faith, hope, reliance sought in His word, each as individuals may become aware of His presence abiding with each; for those that would know Him must believe that He is, and if He is He abides ever with those that seek His face. In Him is the light; hence in His presence does light shed abroad that which prevents stumbling feet from faltering. In His presence all stand, and as that we see reflected in the mirror of life shows what manner of shadows are cast, so does keeping in the consciousness of the indwelling of the Spirit of the Master keep all in the way of truth and light. As the reflections of self come through the awareness of His presence through the activities, whether in fact, in thought or in deed, so does the consciousness make aware the presence of His forces in a manifested manner in the lives of others, as well as to self; for as in water the face answereth to face, so in His presence must our deeds, our thoughts, be reflections of Him. Not in that of long-faced or in mourning, or in sorrow, but in gladness of purpose, of service, worshipfulness in Him. In the activities of the body so reflect the strength of the physical man; so in the activities of the mind reflect the strength of the mental body as directed by the presence of His Spirit as may be sought, as may be found, as is ever present with each that seeks to abide in Him. Keep that patience of faith, that oneness of purpose in His presence, that as many bless thee in their thoughts so may self hold that glorious oneness of purpose in Him; for all are witnesses unto the effect of His presence in our lives. So do the expressions in word, in thought, in deed, reflect whether we are conscious of His presence abiding in us. Keep in the way of understanding, so that there may be more and more that glorious consciousness of His presence abiding in us; for as one conquers in self that which makes for hindrances, the souls of men pass from glory to glory until the glorious knowledge of His abiding presence is ever before us. Unto him that hath shall be given; unto him that seeketh shall he find; and as we grow in grace, in knowledge, in understanding, we come into the presence with that desire of the mind, of the heart, that opens the way for the greater understanding in Him. Keep in the way that leads to the higher planes of light, for though the way may be heavy and His presence as of shadows, yet the shadows are only of thine own misunderstandings, and His glory will make for the glorifying of self in a service that brings more and more the knowledge of entering into the joys of thy Lord; for His presence abides with those that love Him. "If ye love me keep my commandments. Learn of me, for my yoke is easy, my burden is light" to those who come to the knowledge that His presence abides with those that seek His face. Know in whom thou hast believed, that He may call thee by name as ye enter into His presence day by day. Even in laying aside those things that so easily beset may the consciousness of His abiding peace be in thee, bringing harmony to the mental, the physical body, that ye may go on in that way that leads to the closer walk with Him. Minister to those who seek, but minister in His name. Glory in the Lord, not in self; not in the wisdom of the earth, knowing that those things that partake of the earth are earthy, those that partake alone of the mental may easily become stumbling stones in the way of many. Let the spirit of truth separate the chaff from the wheat, and enter in with the full knowledge of His presence, shutteth out all those things that would beset to him that believes and acts in that manner. Keep in the knowledge, in the understanding that His ways are to many past finding out; for to those that are called does He give the power to become the Sons of God by dwelling in the consciousness of His presence abiding in the steps of self day by day. Study to show self approved rather unto God than man, rightly dividing the words of truth, that thy ways, thy thoughts, thy deeds, may bear witness of His glory being manifest in the earth; for "Lo, I am with thee always, even unto the end of the earth." Day by day show forth that thou hast seen, hast known, the glory of His presence in thine own understanding. As self has been chosen, as self may make self a channel of blessings to many that He may speak face to face with His own, so let thy yeas and thy nays be such that His presence abides with thee in thy daily walks of life; for His strength, His power may cleanse the world of sin through the glorifying of Him in the life of those that seek to do His biddings. Keep the faith. Keep in His presence day by day. As self finds the spirit of truth keeping the way open for a more perfect understanding in Him, so may we pass step by step into the consciousness of His presence abiding with us. In the light of His presence do we measure our own shortcomings, leaving those things behind that are not in accord with His ways, and taking on more and more that love that He showed forth in His walks among men. So do we become conscious of that abiding faith that may make for the consciousness of His presence abiding with us through every trial, every temptation that arises in our experience. Give the glory when glory arises. Give the praise when the praise is near. Seek at all times to be conscious of His being near. As self finds the mirrors of life showing forth those lights of the thoughts of the inner man, whether directed to His ways or to the shadows of life, so may we in reflecting upon the glory of His presence in our lives come to measure those steps that we must take in our journeys of meditation and prayer. Seek, then, to show self approved unto Him; for in Him is the light. The light may be reflected in us through those mirrorings in our own selves of His glory, for that as was given Him of the Father abides in those that seek through His name to know the Father's presence in their own life. As the varied stages of developments in the consciousness of the soul forces find in the various planes that which to the body-consciousness represents the various stages of activity and development, so that experienced in the vision represents to the self the necessary understanding of the various planes or stages of the mental visions of that which represents either the sliding into the consciousness of the material things or that as in the bubbles, which represents the life even in the spheres that to man's own understanding is incapable of being the dwelling place of man alone, that in these spheres come the various stages of development as to meet that necessary for the gaining of the presence of that power from which all spiritual force emanates. In the various planes of development there are those abilities to reach only that to which that influence, that entity, that represented in the presentation of the spirit to give out - see? A continuation, just as the house, the water, the rope, the manner in which the tying of one. It is one. O, that all men would know, "Know, O ye children of men, the Lord thy God is One!" Each spirit, each manifestation of life is One, and a manifestation either in this, that or the other sphere, or scope, or space of development Towards the knowledge, the understanding, the conception of that One - Him - I Am - God - Jehovah - Yah [?] - All One! 262-033 For each keeps His presence as a thing apart, something to be experienced, something only made aware of when one is disturbed in some manner or form, when it should be the experience, knowledge and understanding of all that His presence abides with those as they seek to do His biddings. Not with that outward show which may be experienced by attempting to solve some problem that there may be the enjoying of the reward for same, but rather that there may be the experiencing of the joy, the happiness, the harmony, the love, that fruit which comes from recognizing and using the privileges that are for those who - in their simplicity of manner recognize, know, experience His presence; which abides with thee, wilt thou but recognize, understand its own closeness to thee in thine daily experiences. In this manner, then: In putting into practice that thou knowest to do, in the little things, being led by that which has been given to each, thy contributions may be such from this as to aid others who may seek to know His presence, the joy of His presence, the harmony, the peace that comes with abiding in Him. As we have given above, the greater fault from the realization is that it - His presence - is kept as a thing apart. He wills that all should come to the knowledge of His presence abiding with all. We come to this knowledge and consciousness by doing those things that are conducive to bringing into every atom of our being that which gives the attributes of His presence in the earth; and in doing this do we come to know His presence. How we may prepare ourselves that we may abide in His presence. This would refer rather to the individual experience; For in the preparations of self there are varied consciousnesses, and what to one might be necessary to another would be secondary, and to that which may be the attribute of good judgement, clean living, without thought of same being a command or a law of universal nature; Yet as we, as individuals, become more and more conscious - through meditation and prayer, and application of that we seek in the way of preparation - of that which keeps or holds, or preserves us as individuals in the consciousness of His presence, we become more conscious of His presence abiding with us, as we let that mind - through meditation and prayer - be in us during and at all periods. Whether in joy, in sorrow, in trouble or in pain, let that mind be in you as was in He that gave, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Will that consciousness of the Christ love make our joys the more joyous, our sorrows the more in accord with the manner in which He met sorrow, or disturbances in the material affairs more in accord with the manner in which He met the material conditions? As individuals we oft find that that as He gave, in the "thought of the morrow," or "wherewithal shall ye be clothed" was meant for someone else; not us. That consciousness as He gave, "In patience possess ye your souls"; What becomes aware of His presence, the physical-carnal body or the spirit of life that impels the soul in its development? Then, as His love is shed on us, as we muse and meditate and pray to that we hold as our door to His presence, do we become aware of, do we enter in, do we find ourselves abiding in His presence. As we may experience by that abiding presence, what are the fruits of same? Worries pass away, joys take their place; For as He looked upon Peter in the hour of trial and of denial by him, who had been declared to be - that spoken by him - as the foundations of that He was to leave in the earth, did He frown or did He smile? What broke the heart of the man, the frown or the smile? Then, when ye abide in His presence, though there may come the trials of every kind, though the tears may flow from the breaking up of the carnal forces within self, the spirit is made glad; even as He in the hour of trial, the hour of denial, smiled upon him and brought to remembrance - even as He has said to each that has named the Name, "I will bring to remembrance the promises I have made, if ye will abide in my presence." The promises, then, are sure; and not a thing apart from those that abide in His presence, but are ever remembered in the hour not only of sorrow; not only is He the resurrection, not only is He to come in the hour of trial, but He supped also in the hours of joy with those in Cana, He enjoyed even the feast with Zaccheus, laughed and joked. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - thou art with me; though I fly to the utmost parts of the heavens thou art with me." Will we, as individuals, then, know His presence? How? "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Are they then so burdensome, those commandments? What are His commandments? How may we abide - how may we show the love? "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my little ones, ye have done it unto me." What we should do that we may receive power It is in Him. Do not allow self to become cold, even as the church, but rather let the simplicity of the service be done day by day through the knowledge that His love, His promises abide; for there is power in the Name, there is strength and glory to those that are faithful, there is the abiding hope to all that come in humbleness seeking even as He, "Not my will but Thine, O God, be done in me." There is no power, no strength, save in Him. That puny strength man may assert in the power of his own manhood is but the shadow of that shown by Him, in the ways that lead to the thoughts of everyday action. Then, the power as needed by all is the realization of abiding in His presence; even as may be seen in the next lesson - which is to be, The Cross and the Crown, but gain that strength in the cross ye bear day by day; for He is willing, the flesh is weak. Humble thyself, that the glory and the power may come from Him, from the Father, from the Son, in the consciousness of "We love Him, He loves us. We abide in Him, He abides in us." What is the meaning of my experience during meditation? That the strength of the Spirit arouses every atom of the physical and mental body, even as the experience is the shadow of the fire and the strength to do that as is known to be in His way. What might one who reaches the point of realization of His Presence expect as a result in their daily life and activity? As given, the consciousness that He often walks and talks with thee, that His promises are ever present; not retro-active, but very active in the causes of the actions in the daily life; that there is the abiding hope, and not the doubts nor the fears that make men afraid; not that that makes for faltering steps, but rather the joys, the pleasures in service, even though it require that there be yet greater and greater sacrifices of the carnal forces within our own experiences - rather, the all, "that I may know more and more of the joys of His service." The service may not be rendered to self, only to another; and he that serves - either in the kindly word, the kindly thought, the kindly deed - is lending to the Lord, is giving of himself even as He. Bow Your Heads, O You Men that would seek His Presence! Be strong in His might! Falter not at thine own weak self! Know that thy redeemer liveth and may this day make known in Your own heart His Presence abiding with You! Root from thine body, thine consciousness, aught that would hinder His entering in; for He would sup with thee! Wilt thou, then, O Man, make known thine own decisions? Will ye be one with Him? The way which I guard leads to that of glory in the might of the Lord. I, Michael, would guide thee. Do not disobey. Do not falter. Thou knowest the way. [See 262-33, Par. R1.] ----------------------------------------- Updated: 8 August 2013 |
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