12/18/32 The following is Lesson IX IN HIS PRESENCE (First
Series), compiled by the NORFOLK STUDY GROUP NO. 1 of the
ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC., Virginia
Beach, Va.:
"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy
spirit from me."
HOW TO STUDY A LESSON
1. Read the lesson as a whole.
2. Memorize the PRAYER given.
3. Study the lesson by topics.
4. Study the lesson by questions.
5. Meditate upon it.
6. Listen in meditation for the truth you need, for it will
come to all who seek.
7. Apply that learned in everyday life.
IN HIS PRESENCE
AFFIRMATION
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 GLORIFY THEE. MAY I SO
CONDUCT MINE OWN LIFE THAT OTHERS MAY KNOW THY PRESENCE
ABIDES WITH ME, AND THUS GLORIFY THEE. [
262-30, Par. 14-A]
IN HIS PRESENCE
QUESTIONS
1. Repeat the affirmation for the lesson.
2. What is meant by His Presence?
3. Where should one seek God?
4. How can we come into the knowledge that His Presence
abides with us?
5. How does the physical body reflect an understanding of
His Presence?
6. Discuss the reflection of the knowledge of His Presence
through the mind.
7. What is the importance of the spiritual tone in our lives?
8. Give several experiences of those who have come, in part,
to realize His Presence abiding with them?
9. What is the real meaning of preparing self to abide in
His Presence?
10. How can we keep ever before us the knowledge of being in
in His Presence?
11. Who is one of the guards of the Way who is ever ready to
help us and what is promised through Him?
12. Repeat the prayer of joyousness at the end of the lesson.
IN HIS PRESENCE [Based on 262-31--34]
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."
[Ps. 24:7,9]
INTRODUCTION
Our thoughts, our words, our activities, our general outlook
on life, are motivated by our concept of Him whom we worship.
Just how we express ourselves in our relationship to that
from within and that from without is the expression of what
we have done about or with the knowledge and consciousness
of His Presence abiding with us.
When we keep His Presence as a thing apart, something to be
experienced, something to be aware of when we are disturbed
in some manner, we lose sight of the fact that to abide in
His Presence is the experience, the knowledge and
understanding of all who seek to do His biddings. His
Presence abides with us always; for it is in Him that we live
and move and have our being. We must realize this, come to
know and understand this, know ourselves to be sons of the
Most High.
"God is Spirit," standing back of everything in creation.
"God is One." Everything is God; hence, God is everything.
We cannot separate Him and His creation. We may try to do
so, but then we become dual, and it is then we begin to
misunderstand. When we separate ourselves, or think
ourselves apart from our Maker, God, we become as "a ship
without a rudder."
When we have the realization of His Presence, of our Oneness,
it is then that life takes on a new aspect. The oneness is
ever existent, but it is our realization, our acknowledgment
of its existence that works the change in us. We are
freewill agents in the matter; therefore, we see that whereas
God is not a person in the sense that we think of persons, He
is at the same time very personal.
It was this Oneness with the Father that the Master stressed
while on the earth plane in physical form. "I of myself can
do nothing; it is the Father within that doeth the works."
Hence, we ever must seek the Oneness or Presence within. It
is there. All the guidance, help, supply, joy, peace, and
whatever goes to make life worth living, is within, if we
will just realize, acknowledge, and use our great storehouse
- God, His Presence. It is when we listen and follow this
"still, small voice" that we know the Presence is with us.
Truly the Holy Spirit is "God in action."
"Know, O ye children of men, the Lord thy God is One. Each
spirit, each manifestation, either in this, that, or the
other sphere, scope, or space of development moves toward
the knowledge, the understanding, the conception of that
One - Him - God - Jehovah - Yah - All One."
Then we should know that we are one with Him.
HOW TO COME INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS PRESENCE
In the earth we would naturally turn to the most beautiful
palace to find the earth's greatest ruler, to the greatest
schools to find the wisest men, to the greatest churches to
find the greatest teachers, to the most profound philosophers
to find depth of understanding, to the greatest centers of
commerce to find the richest and most powerful men. There
need be no great search, no great disturbance to find God.
His Presence abides with us now, whether we be the greatest
among men or the humblest. It is within the human soul, the
simplest unit of God, which man would make complex, that we
will find Him abiding. Sensing the Presence of God within
and without we may become quiet, throw off anxiety, and feel
the renewing power within. Then the Spirit of God speaks
through the soul and we realize His Presence blessing and
protecting us.
It is well worth while to study and meditate until we realize
just where we are in regard to the attitude we hold
concerning His Presence. Wise men of old said, "Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is so high I cannot
attain to it;" and we, too, may at times have felt that it is
physically impossible to attain to that knowledge. May we
not take God at His word and accept the free gift of grace,
love and mercy? "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not." If that
was the place for wisdom in the day of the apostles, it is
the right place for today; for, "I am God; I change not."
The great cause that so often obscures the knowledge of His
Presence is that we consider the Presence as a thing apart,
and know not that we come into the knowledge and
consciousness by doing those things that are conducive to
bringing into every action of our being that which gives the
attributes of His Presence in the earth.
Let us give thanks as we feel and realize His abiding
Presence. We should not quench the Spirit, but rather let
go of self and think on His Oneness, Oneness with man,
Oneness with the Infinite Life itself. May we not lift up
our eyes to the Light? If we will but know His Spirit bears
witness with our spirit; realizing the abiding Presence of
the Everlasting Arms, it will impart to us such knowledge
that we will better understand our brother, our friend, and
our enemy. May we enter fearlessly on what is before us.
"My Presence will go with you," saith the Lord. Let us
trust His care, using the faith we have without wavering,
for the Light will shine ahead and show the way. He will
keep our stumbling feet from faltering and allow no harm to
overtake us. May we not live each eternal minute aware of
His Presence, and let our works testify for us?
"As self is less and less put forth, and more and more hope
and reliance sought in His word each individual 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 abideth
with those that seek His face." It is gratifying, as well
as comforting, to know that we are entitled to a place in His
Presence and are one with Him. How often in the past have we
read, "The Lord is my shepherd," and doubted the truth of
it as applying to us? But when we have the knowledge of His
Presence we at once claim the promise. Through prayer and
meditation we come to a clearer understanding of the real
purpose of life. By submitting our will to Divine guidance,
by daily walking the path with the Christ Life as a guide, we
come step by step to the realization of the abiding
Presence, knowing in truth that He will withhold no good
thing from those who seek him.
"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 our Spirit."
If we cooperate one with another, work together in loving and
harmonious service, service to Him, service to others in the
fulfilment of His command, "bear ye one another's burdens,"
thus fulfilling His Law, we shall attain to that
consciousness of His abiding Presence. May our prayer be as
a group, as individuals, that we may have daily conscious
knowledge of living moment by moment IN HIS PRESENCE.
WE CONSTANTLY REFLECT OUR KNOWLEDGE AND CONSCIOUSNESS OF
HIS PRESENCE
Let us all remember that physically, mentally and spiritually
we continually reflect our understanding of His Presence.
"Study to show thyself approved" unto Him day by day; thus
does the light of His Presence shine unto others in precept
and example; not by faith alone, but "by my words, by my
works" show ye forth the love of keeping in His understanding
and consciousness of being in His Presence. With the living
of that given, we all will come to the knowledge, to the
understanding, of ourselves and those we contact. As we look
upon our fellow man, we find his activities, in whatever
sphere he may be, but the expression motivated by that same
concept of what he, the individual, has done about that he
worships, or would present as the force he would use to
manifest the spirit that abides in life. Is He not using
the same measure for us?
In the physical body good health is a reflection of His
Presence, for it results from applying laws that make
possible the more complete expression of the soul forces
through an adequate physical vehicle. Even the small details
involving the care of the body are important, for they are
either in accord with laws that bring a finer type of
expression or lead to inharmony. The physical surroundings,
the type of companions sought, every physical action, express
to others our concept of how near God is to us.
As the activities of the body reflect the strength of the
physical man, so the activities of the mind reflect the
strength of the mental body - as directed by the presence
of His Spirit that may be sought, that may be found, that is
ever present with each that seeks to abide with Him. The
question of controlling one's actions physically is in part
answered by man-made laws and customs, but the problems of
controlling one's thoughts, which truly may be just as
harmful and out of tune with the Infinite, is a personal
matter which must be met by each individual. Thought
vibrations go out, words are spoken, deeds are done, and
all carry their influence, their impression to others of our
understanding of God.
How spiritual in tone is our life? How often do we seek
through meditation and prayer a contact with our Creator?
Does our attitude, our philosophy of life, center about a
spiritual ideal, a spiritual concept? Others look for these
signs and are influenced by them. We believe, but do we
express our belief in word, thought, deed, attitude?
"All stand in His Presence 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 Spirit
of the Lord keep all in the way of truth and light. As the
reflection of self comes from 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 of 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 long-facedness or sorrow, but
in gladness of purpose, of service, worshipfulness in Him.
Keep in the way that leads to higher planes of light, for
though the way may be heavy and His Presence as of shadows,
yet the shadows are only of thy own misunderstanding and His
glory will make for the glorifying of self in service that
brings more and more the knowledge of the entering into the
joys of thy Lord, for His Presence abides with those that
love Him. 'If ye love me to keep my commandments. Learn
of me, for my burden is light,' to those who come to the
knowledge that His Presence abides with those that seek His
face."
EXPERIENCING THE ABIDING PRESENCE
"The consciousness that He often walks and talks with thee,
that His promises are ever present; not retro-active, but
very active in causes of the actions in the daily life; that
there is the abiding hope and not the doubts and fears which
make men afraid; not that which makes for faltering steps,
but rather the joys, the pleasures in service, even though it
requires that there be greater and greater sacrifices of the
carnal forces within our own experiences; rather, 'the all,
that I may know more and more the joys of 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."
With the realization of being in His Presence comes that
peace which eliminates all fear, loneliness or separateness,
and in their place - through that peace - comes the feeling
of contentment, oneness in Him, the feeling of being a part
of the scheme of things, a co-creator with Him. This is
realizing the God within, as well as without, making oneself
in tune with the universe. With this realization it is
easier to overcome obstacles. There is the power in action
to aid; and this is guided by mind, which is the builder.
With this realization, the way is easier. There will be more
consideration felt for others. The condemnation of self and
others will be cast aside and, instead, there will come the
desire to bless. With this Presence abiding there will come
transformation of the whole countenance. Out of the face
that did frown will shine the love, peace, and contentment
that can come from no other source. The more we realize this
Presence, the more and more we are pressing forward to the
attainment of that perfection for which we are striving.
"My Presence shall go before thee, and I will give thee
rest." The overshadowing protection of the Holy Spirit of
the Father is the promise if we are faithful to the calling
wherein we are called. This protection will be so evident
that all our adversaries will not be able to deny it. As
we use that we know, not waiting for physical results before
going on to the next step, we will find - when we least
expect it - that what we desire has been granted. We are
children in faith, knowledge and understanding; we have to be
taught and disciplined; unless we have the faith and loving
trust of little children we cannot hope to come into the full
knowledge of His Presence. If we wait in unbelief for the
mountain to be removed, it will never be removed; for we are
letting our lack of faith stand in the way. The very
realization would destroy us, destroy the development in
faith that we need. Could a child be trusted with a live
wire? No more could we be trusted with Divine power until
we, through love, disciplining and exercising 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, and are ready to take
possession.
The realization of His Presence prompts us to be kind,
long-suffering and patient, forgiving and loving to our
fellow man. How well we begin to realize that this same
Father who is so near to us is the Father of our less
fortunate brother as well, and that we have a duty to him;
that he, too, may come into the knowledge of the nearness of
the Father's loving providence.
Some who have realized this blessed privilege relate their
experiences as follows:
"I was arrested on a false charge. In the presence of
hardened officers of the law these words came to me: 'If
the Lord be with you, who can be against you?' and then the
words of the Master, 'Be not afraid.' 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 and in the earth. My awareness of
the great need of His Presence made me more conscious of it.
In Him we, indeed, do live and move and have our being. Each
thought, word, and act is an opportunity to advertise His
Presence. It pays to advertise for the merits of the
advertised are ever before those who have eyes to see. Let
us then be an advertisement for God."
"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 of the
subject, but the Spirit forbade, assuring me, 'He that is
within is greater than he without.' I harkened and, with
scarcely a thought, appeared before the congregation. Never
so keenly had I felt the Presence of the Spirit as on this
occasion. The words came without effort. I felt, indeed,
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 presentation. Surely we are strong
when we acknowledge our own weakness and rely on the Presence
within."
"I marvel at the fact that I have no worry, and yet I have
no income whatsoever. There is a certain satisfaction that
there is just ahead houses and lands, friends and unbounded
resources, together with the grace to stand persecutions. I
give thanks for the realization of His abiding Presence that
makes this possible within me."
"What does it mean to be in His Presence? If I am a child
of God, then I must realize that I must be like Him in some
way. Jesus said that God is Spirit and they that worship
Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Spirit is
everywhere; then in Him I live and move and, truly, have my
being."
"God is Intelligence, and there is an intelligence in me that
is capable of knowing all things. This intelligence in me is
the voice of God; it it is God's revelation of Himself to me.
Realizing this nearness of God, let me realize that He is
ever present with me even in the discharging of the simple
home duties. He works through me, causing me to be able to
perform duties beyond my strength."
"It is only when we forget God that troubles overtake us.
If we now, at this time of test, would place our hope of
deliverance lovingly in the hands of the Father instead of
man, we would not fail to come out more than conquerors."
"When I know myself, I know His Presence. 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, when I have time
to come to myself, through the trials and temptations, He is
always near. When burdens of the material life weigh
heavily, when the clouds hang so heavy and dark that I feel
I can't take another step, if I but stop and listen He
assures me that He is with me, the tempest will calm, the
harbor is near. I have but to ask and receive. He never
fails me."
PREPARATION OF SELF TO ABIDE IN HIS PRESENCE
Realizing that we are ever in His Presence, the preparation
becomes rather the way of keeping self in the realization of
being in His Presence. As each individual is at a different
stage of progression, each must seek an individual approach.
There are varied states of consciousness, and what to one
might be necessary, to another would be secondary. The laws
of good judgment and clean living must be observed without
thought of their being a requirement, without their being
continually a source of disturbance as something that must
be done. Meditation and prayer will aid us to keep in
contact with the inner self; and will open the way for the
magnification of the inner soul attributes, strengthening us
during times of severe trial. Most important, however, is
the old command, "Use that thou hast in hand and more will be
given thee." "Keep the truth - as thou knowest and seest it
- burning ever bright in thy heart, and it will grow to fill
thy whole being." The complete realization of His
ever-abiding Presence - would that not be truth, indeed?
"Let us remember that He is with us always, whether in joy or
sorrow. As His love is shed on us when we muse, meditate and
pray to that we hold as our Door to His Presence, we become
aware of, we enter in, we find ourselves abiding in His
Presence."
"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 smiled upon him by
whom he was being denied."
We are prepared by acknowledging His Presence with us now,
today. The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth
keep silent before Him. We are prepared through living so
that others may KNOW what we profess with our lips to believe
is in keeping with the Presence held as the Ideal. We are
prepared through being living examples of that we profess;
for, whether we will or not, we are the expressions of the
God we worship. That is the reason many often give others
the wrong idea of Him, as their actions are not in accord
with His attributes.
"We are prepared through keeping in the way of understanding,
so there will be more and more that glorious consciousness of
His Presence abiding with us; for, as we conquer in self that
which makes for hindrances, our souls pass from glory to
glory until the glorious knowledge of His Presence is ever
before us."
Lastly, we are prepared through keeping His commands. "If ye
love me keep my commandments." What are His commandments?
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these,
my little ones, ye have done it unto 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
ever willing to fulfill His promises to His children, ever
ready to make known His ways unto those who will seek to know
His face. The God who wrought the beauties of nature and set
the laws which govern the harmonious symphony of the universe
could not have left a part of His creation without guidance,
without a sustaining force. The way is exemplified in the
Son; and there are those Universal Forces ever-ready to aid,
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 THINE OWN WEAK SELF.
KNOW THAT THY REDEEMER LIVETH AND MAY THIS DAY MAKE KNOWN IN
THINE OWN HEART HIS PRESENCE ABIDING WITH THEE. 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 GLORY IN THE MIGHT
OF THE LORD. I, MICHAEL, WOULD GUIDE THEE. DO NOT DISOBEY.
DO NOT FALTER. THOU KNOWEST THE WAY." [
262-33]
"Glory in the Lord, not in self; 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 separate the chaff from the wheat and enter
into the full knowledge of His Presence, shutting out all
those things that would hinder or cause doubt or in any way
make afraid." [
262-32, Par. 19-A]
COME! LET MY HEART BE LIFTED IN PRAISE AND ADORATION OF THE
WONDROUS LOVE THAT THE FATHER SHED 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 JOYOUS IN THE TRUTH THAT, "INASMUCH AS YE
DID IT UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE, MY LITTLE ONES, YE DID IT
UNTO ME." LET THE LOVE OF THE SON BE MAGNIFIED IN OUR LIVES,
THAT OTHERS MAY KNOW 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,
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. [
281-14]
