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All power belongs to God — There is no other power!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on

Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?
for June 13-19, 2022

by Kathy Fitzer, Lake St. Louis, MO
kathyfitzer@gmail.com


SUMMARY:  The fact is that God is the only power! God’s power is all good, because God is Love.  So, there is only Good — not a mixture of good and bad.  Whatever is not from God — whatever is not good — has no power. Anything that appears to oppose God’s power of Good is a false sense of things, which Truth corrects. So, NO … the universe, including man (all mankind), is not evolved (developed from a simple to a more complex form) by atomic (or material) force (power)!  God’s universe has always been complete and is entirely spiritual.  It is the perpetual unfoldment of eternal Mind, governed by a divine Principle.  We have examples in this week’s Lesson of Elisha and Jesus proving that what we call miracles are actually the natural manifestation of God’s supreme power … of God’s primal order and unchangeable law of good.

Having glimpsed the supreme authority of God, Job tangibly feels God’s presence in Section 1.   Elisha demonstrates abundance for a widow woman in Section 2; Jesus stills a storm in Section 3 and heals a man of leprosy in Section 4. And an individual testifies to the healing efficacy of Christian Science in Section 5. The lesson is summed up in the last sentence of Section 6.  It is the final verse of the Lord’s Prayer, including Mary Baker Eddy’s spiritual sense of it: “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  For God is infinite, all power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All. What cannot God do?


 The GOLDEN TEXT states clearly that nothing has power except God. It goes on to say that the “powers that be” (i.e. human governments) are “ordained” — that is ordered — by God.  That argument could be used to defend a political agenda or justify a governmental action. But, what I see as a preferable interpretation is to argue that because all power belongs to God, and God is good, then any oppressive or hurtful governmental action truly has no power. God could not have ordained (ordered) that which is not good, and so it can have no lasting influence.  There will always be opposing human views on what is best in any particular situation.  But, as we maintain the fact that God is the only governing power — and God’s will is always good — we can trust that agreements can be made and solutions found that will bring blessings and peace, rather than harm, to all.

Acknowledging God as the only power, also applies to seeing that the human body and all of nature must be governed harmoniously by God.  When evidence to the contrary argues that God is not in charge, and there is another power, we must take our stand and stick to what is true.  As we will see in examples throughout the Lesson, taking such a stand enables harmony to be experienced where inharmony appears to be.


David’s prayer, given in the first two verses of the RESPONSIVE READING affirms God’s supremacy and greatness.  It is echoed in the last line (or benediction) of the Lord’s Prayer.  In the next verses, Isaiah reminds the people of all that God is and has done.  Nothing can even be compared to God.

We can think about God’s authority like a one-sided scale.  There aren’t two sides — good and evil — only good!  And, Isaiah asks the people (asks us) to look around and acknowledge that all is actually the creation of God.  The Responsive Reading ends with a reminder that God (the Creator and Maintainer) never fails or fades, never even gets tired.  Furthermore … He gives His power to all!  When we feel overwhelmed — feel discouraged or disheartened, or physically tired — all we have to do is turn our attention to the abundance of God’s power.  Accept the strength that is forever flowing out to us, as we would drink of a fountain, fed by a perpetual spring. And rejoice!


SECTION 1: AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE? THE POWER OF GOD IS PRESENT! 

 Job had hit rock bottom.  He had gone from great prosperity to having nothing, and was suffering bodily.  From a human perspective, it may be understandable that he was confused, depressed, and mad at God.  His friends had tried to help, but the breakthrough came when Job heard God speaking directly to him.  Interestingly, it says that God came in a whirlwind.  In other words, it looked like things were getting even worse … now Job is in the middle of a storm.  But, right at the lowest point, God speaks in a way that Job hears.  And the message is that creation is not material, governed by humans.  GOD has made all things. We need to give up feeling personally responsible for fixing things, as well as the belief that we are victims of random material conditions (citation B2, Job 38:1, 2, 3, 4, 25, 31, 32).  Once Job shifts his perspective from a material to a spiritual view, God becomes more than just something Job has heard of in a vague sort of way.  Now, God comes into full, focused view. Later chapters also reveal that Job will again experience the fullness of God’s abundant goodness!

At one point or another, each of us faces some kind of situation that pushes us beyond anything we’ve had to deal with before.  But, if at such times we seek God more deeply, humbly, and sincerely than we ever have done before … and if we are willing to give up (relinquish) “a material, sensual, and mortal theory of the universe, and [adopt] the spiritual and immortal”, we will, like Job, be able to see God’s goodness right where the material discord (the storm) appears to be (cit. S3, 547:19-30).  We will bear witness to Mind’s “all power, all presence, all Science” and feel Love’s ever gentle presence (cit. S4, 275:20-23).

Stick to the facts … “God creates and governs the universe, including man.  The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves [unfolds], and they are obedient to the Mind that makes them” (citation S1, 295:5-8). Regardless of appearances, rejoicing in this fact will enable thought to shift from the mortal (material) to the immortal (spiritual), and good will be experienced.  Look for the blessings — and expect healing — as you acknowledge the realm of Spirit present here and now!


SECTION 2: MIRACLES ARE JUST EVIDENCE OF THE POWER OF GOD’S MERCY

 When something “too good to be true” happens, our tendency is to call it a miracle!  A miracle is generally thought of as a supernatural event, or at the very least, “a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences” (Webster).  Mary Baker Eddy perceived that “a miracle fulfills God’s law…” and “introduces no disorder, but unfolds the primal order, establishing the Science of God’s unchangeable law” (citations S5, 134:31-1 and S6, 135:6).  God, being love, and being the source of all power, it is natural that the mercy of God will reveal the ever-presence of good for His/Her children — regardless of how impossible the situation appears humanly.

If God always has a solution, what is our job?  How do we open thought to perceive evidence of God’s great mercy? The Psalmist emphasizes the need to “praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” (cit. B7, Psalm 107:8, 9, 13). That is certainly something we can all do — rejoice in the might of Love that meets every human need — for those we know and for those we do not know.

The story of Elisha and the widow woman in this section serves as a great example of an effective response to a need — ours or another’s (cit. B9, II Kings 4:1-7).  First, the woman sought out help from God through Elisha.  We need to remember to turn to God expectantly!  Elisha, knowing that the solution was at hand, asked the widow to consider what she already had.  Then, rather than either of them looking at how little oil was there, the direction was simply to use what was there.  The woman obediently poured out the oil — as the disciples later willingly distributed the loaves and fishes to the multitude.  As thought stayed focused on present good, there was no opportunity for a limited mortal view to prevail.  And abundance was realized as the outgrowth of God’s law.

It is likely that many of us have rolled our eyes at the statement, “Trials are proofs of God’s care” (cit. S7, 66:10).  We may have even muttered, “I wouldn’t mind if God didn’t care so much if it would mean I could skip this trial.”  But … let’s remember that God doesn’t send the trials.  God, Love, provides the solution.  The trial simply provides an opportunity to see evidence of God’s tender mercies come to light!  So, don’t shy away from challenges.  As the widow woman did, turn to God and watch!


SECTION 3:  GOD’S ALL-POWER SILENCES THE WAVES OF PHYSICAL SENSE

 Ever feel like you’re about to be pulled under by the waves of sorrow, fear, pressure, doubt, confusion, loneliness …?  The list seems endless.  But, the psalmist assures us, “the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea [or the waves of thoughts listed above]” (cit. B11, Psalm 93:3, 4).  When faced with a dangerous storm at sea, the disciples sought Christ, and Christ Jesus “gave an order to the wind and to the stormy water; they quieted down, and there was a great calm” (cit. B14, Luke 8:22-25, GNB).

Jesus went on to reprimand his disciples a bit, asking them, “Where is your faith?” (v. 25) This says two things to me.  One, Jesus demonstrated the power of God to still every kind of storm.  And, two, we must demand more of ourselves.  As we cultivate our faith, we’ll be able to skip the severe fear, and act with a sense of dominion and confidence as Jesus did — expecting a similar change in evidence.

We need to practice shifting thought to see spiritual reality all the time, so we’re ready when the so-called biggies come alongMary Baker Eddy explains that Jesus “plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause” (cit. S11, 31:23-26).  We need to practice doing the same thing.  Refuse to accept the outward appearance of a material universe, with its good and bad elements. The spiritual cause is always and only good! And, it is the only cause!  If you’ve ever looked under the surface of the ocean through glass (a mask or the bottom of a boat) you know that things appear that have always been there, but could not be seen from the surface.  So, as we look beneath the surface of the ocean for a better view, let’s look beneath the surface of physical evidence to see the good that is always present in God’s creation!


SECTION 4: THE POWER OF GOD BRINGS HEALING

Jesus presented the light of God that shines in the darkness of mortal belief and brings healing to every discordant human condition, as naturally as the light of the sun shines and “brings healing” to the darkness of night.  We have the example in this section of Jesus healing a leper who humbly came to him, expressing confidence that if Jesus were willing, he could make him “clean” (cit. B16, Luke 5:12-17).  Question … Do we have as much confidence in the Christ when we seek healing?  And do we have enough confidence in God’s power to heal that we are willing to reach out and touch the “unclean” thought — whether it’s called disease, or corruption, or terror, or whatever — with the light and love of Christ, Truth?  As we read in Science and Health, “No power can withstand divine Love” (cit. S19, 224:31) The Christ light is not limited!  It is ever available because God’s power if ever-present!

Although Jesus asked the leper not to tell others about his healing, he couldn’t help himself!  So, the news spread.  And there was no limit to who was healed.  First multitudes of seekers.  And then it is stated specifically that Pharisees and “doctors of the law” came from all around and “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”  Surely that power is still present to heal everyone that comes seeking.  Question … are we willing to recognize “the Science of Christ and love our neighbor as [ourselves]” sufficiently to “realize God’s omnipotence and healing power of the divine Love” (cit. S20, 55:15)? This Science is too precious not to share.  The healing power comes from God.  Let’s give our consent to witness Love’s power!


SECTION 5:  REDEMPTION FROM THE PAST — GOD’S LAW IS IN OPERATION NOW

How tempting it can be to get in the habit of “living with” a situation that feels as though it has been around forever.  But, because God’s “word is settled in heaven” — and because “as in heaven, so on earth, God is omnipotent, supreme”, we can expect harmony to be demonstrated in all areas of life — for ourselves and for all (cit. B17, Psalm 119:89,111; Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 17:2-3). Time is never a factor in God’s world.  And, we live in God’s world!!

We don’t need to have a perfect understanding of our status as the child of God before we can expect healing.  Paul admitted that he wasn’t perfect.  But, he shared with the Philippians his secret — which is great advice to all of us … “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (cit. B18, Philippians 3:13-15, NKJV). God knows only good, and this good (this wholeness, harmony, peace) is ours as we keep moving forward, our thought focused on God’s promise of good for all!

Mary Baker Eddy lays it out clearly. If we are to know harmony, we need to “have no other consciousness of life — than good, God, and His reflection, and to rise superior to the so-called pain and pleasure of the senses” (cit. S25, 242:9). To me, that means resisting the temptation to be satisfied with mediocrity — accepting less than stellar habits or conditions just because we’ve identified with them for a long time.  I’m not talking about trying to be a human perfectionist.  But, stay focused on the perfect model of God’s harmonious creation, and know that God loves you enough to free you from what He did not create!

Our textbook tells us the “truer sense of Love (that Jesus taught) redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit, — the law of divine Love” (cit. S21: 19:6). This law of love governs ALL!  Let’s accept it, stay focused on it and strive to set mortal mind right!  In so doing, we find freedom — no longer engulfed by the pains or empty pleasures of the material senses (cit. S24, 382:24).


SECTION 6: THE HOLY GHOST REVEALS THE ETERNAL POWER OF GOD

God is the all and only power!  And His Holy Spirit — Her Science — His/Her law — known today as Christian Science —reveals that power to human consciousness. Mary Baker Eddy defines Holy Ghost as, “Divine Science; the development of eternal Life, Truth, and Love” (cit. S26, 588:7). Healing isn’t something we have to work hard to achieve.  We simply, continually, “learn of the real and eternal, and prepare for the reign of Spirit, the kingdom of heaven, — the reign and rule of universal harmony, which cannot be lost nor remain forever unseen” (cit. S27, 208:20). How do we prepare?  By expectantly looking in the right direction — forward, rather than behind — staying focused on Good and its solutions, rather than on problems.

Just as film naturally develops when properly processed, right ideas naturally develop as we immerse thought in the light of Love and express gratitude for the tiniest of blessings — as well as the large.  No matter how dark a situation may seem, the fact remains … “God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All” (cit. S28, 17:12-15).  And the Holy Spirit — Divine Science — the ever-present law of God breaks through the darkness and reveals the power of God, Good!


GEMs of BIBLE-BASED application ideas from COBBEY CRISLER and others will be POSTED and SENT soon. Check on CedarS INSPIRATION website or in your email if you have  SUBSCRIBED FOR IT HERE.


Ken Cooper POETIC POSTLUDE contributions related to this Bible Lesson may not arrive till midweek because Ken is on holiday. But whenever they arrive they will be POSTED on  CedarS INSPIRATION website & be EMAILED TO THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE FOR THEM HERE.


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