CHRIST JESUS declared and proved the omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence of God in a degree that attracted wide attention wherever he went. His demonstration of dominion over the claims of evil constrains us to conclude that he was continuously conscious of "the power of the Spirit." In the gospel of Luke we read in connection with the beginning of his ministry that "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee." Moreover, he plainly indicated that this power could be shared by all who would obey the will of the Father.
In Mark's gospel, prefacing the wonderful narrative of the transfiguration, it is stated, "And he [Jesus] said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." Here is a promise that the kingdom of heaven should come in the lifetime of some of his auditors; and that its coming should be with power. This message is definite in its terms and of great import,—that the understanding which constitutes spiritual consciousness, that is, the kingdom of heaven, is accompanied with power over the false claims of evil in demonstration of man's dominion, which we are assured that God, the Father, gave him.
Mrs. Eddy claimed and proved that '"the power of the Spirit" is available now in just the ways Christ Jesus demonstrated, in overcoming the so-called physical laws—the manifold false manifestations of power—and in destroying all erroneous beliefs and their seeming effects, including sin, sickness, and death.
Mortals have invariably sought for power, for strength to assert dominion over the conditions of their environment; but their sense of power has been a mistaken one. They have, to a great degree, wasted their energies because of failure to grasp the true character of power, and in consequence the meaning of its might and majesty. On page 483 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, with her inimitable directness, "Mind transcends all other power, and will ultimately supersede all other means in healing." Our Leader thus foretold a condition which is rapidly coming to pass; for Christian Scientists, through their understanding of the power and presence of Mind, are proving its potency over the material claims of power, proving God's dominion over the entire universe.
Furthermore, the power of Spirit not only is revealed, but is being utilized in promoting mankind's progress in seeking the kingdom of heaven. How significant the fact that the means is at hand to destroy the false belief under which mankind has so long labored, that evil is power, disputing the omnipotence of God, good. Even Christian Scientists themselves have barely glimpsed the import of the fact that they, like Jesus, may constantly abide in the consciousness of Spirit, demonstrating dominion over every phase of evil exactly in proportion to their grasp of spiritual truth.
How to gain and utilize this sense of power is mankind's most important problem. Our Leader has pointed the way; and one's success will depend wholly upon his willingness to be obedient to her precepts, to follow in the Master's footsteps in humility and gratitude, and earnestly and faithfully to apply his understanding. "There is no power apart from God," declares Mrs. Eddy on page 228 of Science and Health; and she adds, "Omnipotence has all-power, and to acknowledge any other power is to dishonor God." How important, then, that we do not give power to any claim of evil! We forget that evil's only claim to power lies in our acceptance of a lie as truth, as possessing power which has not the slightest claim to reality or to be recognized as possessing the slightest trace of power. How completely, then, does it lie within our own experience whether or not we shall permit the dominance of aught but God!
The necessity to recognize that God, the only power, is never available for an evil purpose is no less urgent. Christian Scientists are awake to the fact that not only is evil not power but that there is no power under whatsoever name that may be used for promoting evil. James inquired, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" plainly implying that good and evil proceed not from the same source. And no more can we gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles; that is, evil comes not from good, and. conversely, good never results from evil. In consequence, Christian Scientists utilize the power of Spirit only to further the welfare of mankind. This power, not being susceptible of misuse, has no efficacy in promoting selfish aims and ambitions, or in aught but advancing the coming of the kingdom of God into human experience.
Accordingly, one's first step in gaining and utilizing the power of Spirit is to be sure his desire is to realize more of good, to gain a greater sense of God's presence. Our Leader's words are very explicit. On page 410 of Science and Health she says: "The Science of mental practice is susceptible of no misuse. Selfishness does not appear in the practice of Truth or Christian Science. If mental practice is abused or is used in any way except to promote right thinking and doing, the power to heal mentally will diminish, until the practitioner's healing ability is wholly lost." Thus, they who would abide in the power of Spirit may do so only as they are spiritualized in thought and Christianized in deed.
