Theme: Patience
Hymn 6
William H. Burleigh – Adapted
Abide not in the realm of dreams,
O man, however fair it seems;
But with clear eye the present scan,
And hear the call of God and man.
Think not in sleep to fold thy hands,
Forgetful of thy Lord's commands:
From duty's claims no life is free,
Behold, today hath need of thee.
The present hour allots thy task,
For present strength and patience ask;
And trust His love whose sure supply
Meets all thy need abundantly.
Readings from the Bible.
Luke 8:4‑15 when
when much people were
gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a
parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the
way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it
was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns
sprang up with it, and choked it. And
other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And
when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him
hear.
#And his disciples asked him,
saying, What might this parable be? And
he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but
to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might
not understand. Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God. Those by
the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the
word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they
hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while
believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard,
go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and
bring no fruit to perfection. But that
on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard
the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Romans 5:1‑5 being
being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access
by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God. And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:12‑25 brethren
brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to
live after the flesh. For if ye live
after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the
deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God. For ye have
not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of
God, and joint‑heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may
be also glorified together. For I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. For
the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the
sons of God. For the creature was made
subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the
same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth
and travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to
wit, the redemption of our body. For we
are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why
doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for
that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 12:9‑18
Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business;
fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to
hospitality. Bless them which persecute
you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with
them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind
not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own
conceits. Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men.
Hebrews 6:9‑12 beloved
beloved, we are persuaded better things of
you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your
work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have
ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the
full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of
them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 10:35‑37
Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye
have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall
come will come, and will not tarry.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us,
James 1:2‑6 (to 1st .)
My brethren, count it all joy
when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your
faith worketh patience. But let patience
have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering.
James 5:7,8
Be patient therefore,
brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.
Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and
hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
II Peter 1:2‑8
Grace and peace be multiplied
unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his
divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust. And beside
this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity. For if these things be in you,
and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:2,3
I know thy works, and thy
labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and
thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found
them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast
laboured, and hast not fainted.
Readings from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
4:3‑26
What we most need is the prayer of fervent
desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good
deeds. To keep the commandments of our
Master and follow his example, is our proper debt to him and the only worthy
evidence of our gratitude for all that he has done. Outward worship is not of itself sufficient
to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude, since he has said: "If ye love
me, keep my commandments."
The habitual struggle to be always good is
unceasing prayer. Its motives are made
manifest in the blessings they bring,‑‑blessings which, even if not
acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be partakers of
Love.
Simply asking that we may love God will never
make us love Him; but the longing to be better and holier, expressed in daily
watchfulness and in striving to assimilate more of the divine character, will
mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness. We reach the Science of Christianity through
demonstration of the divine nature; but in this wicked world goodness will
"be evil spoken of," and patience must bring experience.
20:24
Material belief is slow to acknowledge what
the spiritual fact implies. The truth is
the centre of all religion. It commands
sure entrance into the realm of Love.
St. Paul wrote, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us;" that is, let us put aside material self and sense, and seek
the divine Principle and Science of all healing.
242:9‑20
There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and
Christ in divine Science shows us this way.
It is to know no other reality‑‑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.
Self‑love is more opaque than a solid
body. In patient obedience to a patient
God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of
error,‑‑self‑will, self‑justification, and self‑love,‑‑which wars against
spirituality and is the law of sin and death.
253:32
The divine demand, "Be ye therefore
perfect," is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are
indispensable. Individuals are
consistent who, watching and praying, can "run, and not be weary; . .
. walk, and not faint," who gain
good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to
discouragement. God requires perfection,
but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory
won. To stop eating, drinking, or being
clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by
step, is not legitimate. When we wait
patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path. Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of
spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin
aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being,
is doing much.
365:15‑2
If the Scientist reaches his patient through
divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the
disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning
sunshine. If the Scientist has enough
Christly affection to win his own pardon, and such commendation as the Magdalen
gained from Jesus, then he is Christian enough to practise scientifically and
deal with his patients compassionately; and the result will correspond with the
spiritual intent.
If hypocrisy, stolidity, inhumanity, or vice
finds its way into the chambers of disease through the would‑be healer, it
would, if it were possible, convert into a den of thieves the temple of the
Holy Ghost,‑‑the patient's spiritual power to resuscitate himself. The unchristian practitioner is not giving to
mind or body the joy and strength of Truth.
The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as peace,
patience in tribulation, and a priceless sense of the dear Father's loving‑kindness.
366:30
If we would open their prison doors for the
sick, we must first learn to bind up the broken‑hearted. If we would heal by the Spirit, we must not
hide the talent of spiritual healing under the napkin of its form, nor bury the
morale of Christian Science in the
grave‑clothes of its letter. The tender
word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears
and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories,
stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so
many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love.
454:5‑24
The understanding, even in a
degree, of the divine All‑power destroys fear, and plants the feet in the true
path, ‑‑the path which leads to the house built without hands "eternal in
the heavens." Human hate has no
legitimate mandate and no kingdom. Love
is enthroned. That evil or matter has
neither intelligence nor power, is the doctrine of absolute Christian Science,
and this is the great truth which strips all disguise from error.
He, who understands in a sufficient degree
the Principle of Mind‑healing, points out to his student error as well as
truth, the wrong as well as the right practice.
Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and
teaching. Love inspires, illumines,
designates, and leads the way. Right
motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and
action. Love is priestess at the altar
of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love
to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must "have her perfect
work."
514:26‑10
Understanding the control which Love held
over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions' den, and Paul proved the viper to be
harmless. All of God's creatures, moving
in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible. A realization of this grand verity was a
source of strength to the ancient worthies.
It supports Christian healing, and enables its possessor to emulate the
example of Jesus. "And God saw that
it was good."
Patience is symbolized by the tireless worm,
creeping over lofty summits, persevering in its intent. The serpent of God's creating is neither
subtle nor poisonous, but is a wise idea, charming in its adroitness, for
Love's ideas are subject to the Mind which forms them,‑‑the power which
changeth the serpent into a staff.
Silent prayer followed by the audible repetition of the Lord’s Prayer.
Hymn 85
Edith Gaddis Brewer
God of Truth, eternal good,
Lift our hearts to revelation,
That Thou mayst be understood,
Thou, the Rock of our salvation;
All Thy love we have for loving,
All Thy truth is ours for proving.
Open now our eyes to see,
As the clouds of sense are riven,
We behold reality,
Know the glory of Thy heaven;
So we seek Thy perfect healing
Through the Truth of Thy revealing.
All the way that we must go
We will take at Thy direction,
Where the floods of trouble flow
Find Thy perfect, calm reflection;
On the path that has no turning,
Patience, courage, meekness learning.
Sharing of experiences, testimonies and remarks by members of the congregation.
Hymn 234
Washington Gladden*
O Master, let me walk with thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broadening way;
In peace that God alone can give,
With thee, O Master, let me live.
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