Article March 18, 1944 Issue

The Quickening Spirit

ALBERT M. CHENEY

Christ Jesus , the master Christian and best friend of mankind, was the most spiritually-minded man ever to dwell upon earth. With genuine humility the Master declared that God, Spirit, Love, accomplished all the great and good works of healing and redemption which were quickly and abundantly in evidence whenever and wherever those in need sought his loving aid.

Long before Jesus appeared among men there were those who understood and utilized the power of Spirit, Mind, God to overrule the assumed power of evil, manifested as sin sickness, war and death. Such notable characters as Daniel, Elijah, Elisha and David proved through strict reliance on Spirit and humble obedience to God that complete deliverance— healing and protection—could be achieved through an understanding of the supremacy of Spirit.

The epistles of St. Paul are replete with admonitions to cultivate spirituality, to overcome carnal-mindedness with spiritual understanding in short, to gain the Mind of Christ. Yet until his journey to Damascus, Saul had been a persecutor of Jesus' followers. As he neared the city, we are told that "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" At this turning point in his life, Saul was keenly conscious of his blindness to divine Truth, but humility and willingness to gain the needed enlightenment won for him the new name of Paul. This spiritual healing brought about a complete transformation in his nature and in his purpose. After spending certain days with the disciples in Damascus, Paul boldly preached in the synagogues the truth concerning Jesus as the Son of God. This great apostle to the Gentiles had discerned and proved the practical value of the Christ-spirit which animated Jesus, and in writing to the Romans he declared, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Comfort ye my people"