Spiritual Conviction

September 12th, 2024

From The Bible

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
(Proverbs 28:1)

¶ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; ...

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me...

... ¶ And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me...

David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. ...

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came...

And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; ...

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
(I Samuel 17:4, 5 (to ;), 6–11, 32–35, 37, 40, 41 (to ;), 44–46 (to 1st ;), 47–49)

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, ...
(II Timothy 4:7, 8 (to 1st ,))

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: ...

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. ...

... there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
(Mark 5:21 (to :), 22–24, 35–42 there)

... be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ...

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ...

... that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
(Ephesians 6:10–13 be, 18, 20 that)

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

It is believed by many that a certain magistrate, who lived in the time of Jesus, left this record: “His rebuke is fearful.” The strong language of our Master confirms this description.

The only civil sentence which he had for error was, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Still stronger evidence that Jesus’ reproof was pointed and pungent is found in his own words, — showing the necessity for such forcible utterance, when he cast out devils and healed the sick and sinning. The relinquishment of error deprives material sense of its false claims.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 6:29–7)

Our Master cast out devils (evils) and healed the sick. It should be said of his followers also, that they cast fear and all evil out of themselves and others and heal the sick. God will heal the sick through man, whenever man is governed by God. Truth casts out error now as surely as it did nineteen centuries ago.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 494:30–3)

When error confronts you, withhold not the rebuke or the explanation which destroys error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 452:12–14)

Insist vehemently on the great fact which covers the whole ground, that God, Spirit, is all, and that there is none beside Him. There is no disease. When the supposed suffering is gone from mortal mind, there can be no pain; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 421:15–19 (to ;))

The counter fact relative to any disease is required to cure it. The utterance of truth is designed to rebuke and destroy error. Why should truth not be efficient in sickness, which is solely the result of inharmony?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 233:28)

The more destructive matter becomes, the more its nothingness will appear, until matter reaches its mortal zenith in illusion and forever disappears. The nearer a false belief approaches truth without passing the boundary where, having been destroyed by divine Love, it ceases to be even an illusion, the riper it becomes for destruction. The more material the belief, the more obvious its error, until divine Spirit, supreme in its domain, dominates all matter, and man is found in the likeness of Spirit, his original being.

The broadest facts array the most falsities against themselves, for they bring error from under cover. It requires courage to utter truth; for the higher Truth lifts her voice, the louder will error scream, until its inarticulate sound is forever silenced in oblivion.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 97:11–25)

Resist evil — error of every sort — and it will flee from you. Error is opposed to Life. We can, and ultimately shall, so rise as to avail ourselves in every direction of the supremacy of Truth over error, Life over death, and good over evil, and this growth will go on until we arrive at the fulness of God’s idea, and no more fear that we shall be sick and die.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 406:19–25)

Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.

Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 393:12–18)

In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders. With like activity have thought’s swift pinions been rising towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual cause of those lower things which give impulse to inquiry. Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect. Materialistic hypotheses challenge metaphysics to meet in final combat. In this revolutionary period, like the shepherd-boy with his sling, woman goes forth to battle with Goliath.

Human philosophy has made God manlike. Christian Science makes man Godlike. The first is error; the latter is truth. Metaphysics is above physics, and matter does not enter into metaphysical premises or conclusions. The categories of metaphysics rest on one basis, the divine Mind. Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 268:1–18; 269:9)

“Work out your own salvation,” is the demand of Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you. “Occupy till I come!” Wait for your reward, and “be not weary in well doing.” If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race.

When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving. Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 22:11–27)

These two contradictory theories — that matter is something, or that all is Mind — will dispute the ground, until one is acknowledged to be the victor. Discussing his campaign, General Grant said: “I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.” Science says: All is Mind and Mind’s idea. You must fight it out on this line.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 492:14–21 (to 1st .))

... Christian Science speedily shows Truth to be triumphant. ... All the evidence of physical sense and all the knowledge obtained from physical sense must yield to Science, to the immortal truth of all things.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 493:1–2 Christian, 6)

Hymnals

God is my strong salvation; / What foe have I to fear? / In darkness and temptation, / My light, my help is near: / Though hosts encamp around me, / Firm in the fight I stand; / What terror can confound me, / With God at my right hand?

Place on the Lord reliance; / My heart, with courage wait; / His truth be thine affiance, / When faint and desolate: / His might thy heart shall strengthen, / His love thy joy increase; / Thy day shall mercy lengthen: / The Lord will give thee peace.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 77)

O’er waiting harpstrings of the mind / There sweeps a strain, / Low, sad, and sweet, whose measures bind / The power of pain,

And wake a white-winged angel throng / Of thoughts, illumed / By faith, and breathed in raptured song, / With love perfumed.

Then His unveiled, sweet mercies show / Life’s burdens light. / I kiss the cross, and wake to know / A world more bright.

And o’er earth’s troubled, angry sea / I see Christ walk, / And come to me, and tenderly, / Divinely talk.

Thus Truth engrounds me on the rock, / Upon Life’s shore, / ’Gainst which the winds and waves can shock, / Oh, nevermore!

From tired joy and grief afar, / And nearer Thee,— / Father, where Thine own children are, / I love to be.

My prayer, some daily good to do / To Thine, for Thee; / An offering pure of Love, whereto / God leadeth me.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 551)

I love Thy way of freedom, Lord, / To serve Thee is my choice, / In Thy clear light of Truth I rise / And, listening for Thy voice, / I hear Thy promise old and new, / That bids all fear to cease: / My presence still shall go with thee / And I will give thee peace.

Though storm or discord cross my path / Thy power is still my stay, / Though human will and woe would check / My upward-soaring way; / All unafraid I wait, the while / Thy angels bring release, / For still Thy presence is with me, / And Thou dost give me peace.

I climb, with joy, the heights of Mind, / To soar o’er time and space; / I yet shall know as I am known / And see Thee face to face. / Till time and space and fear are naught / My quest shall never cease, / Thy presence ever goes with me / And Thou dost give me peace.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 136)