Bible Study Minutes (9/12/1939) - Paralleling "In His Presence"

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paralleling ASFG 1 lesson on IN HIS PRESENCE

BIBLE READING: John, 9th and 10th Chapters

ASFG Lesson 9: In His Presence - The Preparation of Self

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(pages 72 and 73)

The Preparation of Self — Understanding “In His Presence”

1. Faith as Active Cooperation with God

In John 9, when Jesus healed the man born blind using clay, Cayce explains that this act wasn’t arbitrary. Jesus used a material substance so that the man would have something tangible to do—a way to express his faith through action. The instruction to “go, wash in the pool of Siloam” required obedience, humility, and trust.

“He was told to go and wash… and it was there that he received his sight.”

This mirrors the lesson from “The Preparation of Self”: spiritual growth always requires our personal participation. We cannot passively expect divine awareness; we must act in faith—through meditation, righteous living, and obedience. Preparation means being ready to cooperate with divine instruction when it comes.

2. Blindness as Opportunity for Divine Awareness

When Jesus said the man’s blindness was not due to sin but “that the works of God should be made manifest” (John 9:3), Cayce interprets this spiritually: every limitation or trial can become an opportunity to realize our oneness with God.

“His blindness was his opportunity.”

In The Preparation of Self, the same truth is emphasized: all experiences—joy or sorrow—can bring us into greater awareness of God’s presence if we approach them with right attitude and conduct. The text says,

“The realization that He is ever with us, whether we are in sorrow or joy, for mind is the builder.”

Thus, the blindness in John 9 is symbolic of the inner blindness we all must overcome by faith and spiritual awakening. The cure comes not through intellect or argument, but through trust, obedience, and spiritual perception.

3. The Contrast Between Seeing and Claiming to See

In John 9:39–41, Jesus declares that those who claim to see—the Pharisees—are actually blind because they refuse to recognize the divine presence before them. Cayce equates this hypocrisy with spiritual blindness:

“All those are blind (or in sin) who claim one thing and live another.”

This directly relates to the Preparation of Self, which warns us to live as “examples of what we profess.” It is not enough to say we believe in Christ; our actions, attitudes, and habits must reflect that belief. True spiritual sight comes when faith expresses itself through living truth.

“Such standards of conduct that others may know that what we profess with our lips to believe is in keeping with that which we hold as our ideal.”

4. Becoming Aware of His Presence

Cayce’s Remarks on Paragraph: Preparation align with the inner message of John 10, where Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd and His followers as His sheep:

“All who believe are His sheep.”

In both John 10 and The Preparation of Self, the theme is about intimacy and awareness of God’s presence. Jesus’ sheep hear His voice because they live in attunement with divine will. Likewise, Cayce teaches that we must prepare ourselves to recognize that “we are ever in His presence,” not by preaching to others or finding fault, but by living divine love inwardly and outwardly.

He writes:

“It may not be accomplished by nagging and finding fault… We must live toward others so that we do not find fault, but find the good in every experience.”

This echoes Jesus’ call in John 10:27:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

The preparation, then, is inner alignment—purifying thought, word, and deed so that we may hear the divine voice guiding us daily.

5. Living the Ideal — Christ as Our Pattern

Both the lesson and the Gospel stress that preparation is not intellectual but practical. To “be in His presence” is to embody the divine attributes—love, mercy, patience, and service. Cayce challenges:

“We say that Christ is our ideal, but is our manner of living in keeping with this?”

This question parallels Jesus’ teachings in John 10, where He contrasts the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep with the hireling who flees. True discipleship demands self-giving service:

“Giving our life in the service of others is living the ideal we should hold.”

Spiritual preparation, therefore, is a daily discipline of cleansing thought, exercising compassion, and expressing God’s presence in all we do.

Summary of Key Insights

Faith in Action: Cayce teaches that physical action expresses belief and opens the soul to healing. In John 9:7, the blind man obeyed Jesus’ instruction to wash in the pool of Siloam and was healed, showing that faith must be demonstrated through obedient action.

Trials as Opportunity: Cayce explains that every challenge can awaken divine awareness. In John 9:3, Jesus reveals that the man’s blindness was not due to sin but existed so that the works of God might be manifested in him, showing that difficulties can serve as opportunities for spiritual growth and realization of God’s presence.

Living Truth: According to Cayce, true vision means living what we profess rather than merely claiming belief. This aligns with John 9:39–41, where Jesus exposes the Pharisees’ spiritual blindness—they claimed to see truth but failed to live it—teaching that genuine sight is expressed through integrity of action.

Oneness with God: Cayce describes humanity as “gods in the making,” gaining awareness of divine presence through inner understanding. In John 10:30, Jesus declares, “I and my Father are one,” affirming the same truth of spiritual unity that each soul must awaken to through consciousness of God within.

Love in Action: Cayce emphasizes that service to others reveals the Christ within. In John 10:11, Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, demonstrating that divine love is known through self-giving service and compassion in daily life.

Affirmation

“I live and move and have my being in the presence of God. Each thought, word, and deed expresses my faith in the Christ within. I see through the eyes of spirit, and I act in love.”

This affirmation echoes the blind man’s awakening in John 9 and Cayce’s teaching that awareness of God’s presence is gained through faithful action and pure intention. Repeating it daily helps align mind and body with divine purpose.

Prayer

Father of Light, open my eyes that I may see Thy presence in every experience.

Teach me to act in faith, to serve in love, and to live in truth.

When I am blind to Thy guidance, remind me that even my trials are opportunities to know Thee more deeply.

Let my words reflect Thy wisdom and my deeds reveal Thy love.

In Christ’s name, Amen.

This prayer draws upon Jesus’ healing of the man born blind (John 9:1–7) and His promise as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). It invites us to walk in spiritual awareness and humble service.

Meditation

Stillness: Sit quietly and center your breath. With each inhalation, say inwardly, “In His presence…”; with each exhalation, “…I find peace.”

Reflection: Visualize the moment Jesus anoints the blind man’s eyes. Imagine this as your own awakening — the clay representing the blending of spirit and matter, faith and action.

Realization: Feel divine light entering your inner vision. Know that every thought aligned with love reveals God’s presence in you.

Closing Thought: Rest in silence, affirming, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I know His voice and follow Him.” (John 10:14)

Bible Study Minutes (9/5/1939) - Paralleling "In His Presence"

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paralleling ASFG 1 lesson on “IN HIS PRESENCE”

BIBLE READING: Matthew 9:23-27

ASFG Lesson 9: In His Presence - Introduction/The Knowledge of His Presence

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(page 71)

1. Being “Odd” in a Godly Way

When a person sincerely lives by the divine attributes—truth, compassion, humility, forgiveness, patience—they will often seem strange or out of place in society. The reason is that most people unconsciously reflect the moral and spiritual “color” of their surroundings. Those who live by worldly values find it odd when someone actually lives out the teachings of Christ rather than just talking about them.

Even sincere seekers of God are not free from this tendency. We may study the Bible and believe we’re trying to live rightly, yet we still hesitate when someone takes faith to an extreme that challenges our comfort zone.

Edgar Cayce gives a vivid example: imagine if someone spent every Saturday visiting prisoners—or if, at a funeral, a person insisted the deceased was merely “asleep,” not dead. Most of us would think that person was out of touch with reality. And yet, that’s exactly what Jesus did—He spoke life where others only saw death.

2. The Example of Jesus and the Girl (Matthew 9:23–27)

In Matthew 9:23–27, Jesus enters the ruler’s house where the girl has died. The people laugh at Him when He says, “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth.” They could not see the divine life standing before them.

But when Jesus took her by the hand, life returned. In that moment, death was in the presence of Life itself. The girl’s resurrection symbolizes the spiritual rebirth that happens when the Christ Presence enters our own “house” — our consciousness.

Cayce emphasizes that it was the father’s faith that made the miracle possible. The father believed even when the situation appeared hopeless. Similarly, the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:1–8) was healed not by his own merit, but through the faith of those who brought him to Jesus.

The message: when we carry the faith of Christ into a lifeless situation—whether it’s physical illness, despair, or moral death—divine life responds.

3. Knowing About Christ vs. Knowing Him

Cayce draws a profound distinction between knowing about Christ and knowing Him.

To know about Christ is intellectual: we study His teachings, speak His name, and regard Him as a great figure or example.

To know Him is intimate and experiential: His Spirit becomes part of our consciousness.

When we have this “Christ Consciousness,” we are no longer worried about how others see us. We lose self-centeredness and take on the individuality of Christ Himself. Our actions flow naturally from divine presence, not from ego or fear of judgment.

This is what Cayce means by being “in His presence.” It’s not mystical escapism; it’s a daily awareness that God is alive within us.

4. The Lesson for Spiritual Practice

The takeaway is that authentic spirituality often appears unconventional. To the world, true faith looks like foolishness because it challenges the accepted order of fear, doubt, and conformity.

But those who truly know the Presence of God act from an inner certainty that transcends appearances. They recognize that life, not death, is the ultimate reality; that faith can raise what is lifeless; and that the Spirit within is stronger than any external judgment.

Summary Insight

When we live with the awareness of Christ’s Presence, our lives may look strange to others — but we walk in divine reality.

As Jesus showed in raising the ruler’s daughter, faith sees life where the world sees death.

The true disciple does not just believe in Christ, but lives from the Christ within — fearless, compassionate, and fully awake in God.

Affirmation

“The presence of Christ within me is life, light, and renewal.

In His presence, fear fades, faith rises, and I am made whole.

I walk each moment aware of the living God who dwells in me and through me.”

This affirmation reminds you that divine life is not distant—it flows through your awareness when you consciously align your thoughts with God’s presence, just as life flowed through Jesus to the ruler’s daughter.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Giver of Life and Light,

In Your presence there is peace that silences doubt and love that restores all things.

Help me to live in such awareness of You that I may see life where others see loss, hope where others see despair.

Strengthen my faith as You strengthened the faith of the ruler who sought You, believing even when hope seemed gone.

May Your Christ presence shine through me so that I act with compassion, walk in truth, and live without fear of the world’s opinions.

Grant that my life may be a testimony that death, doubt, and fear have no power in Your light.

Amen.

Meditation

Sit quietly and bring your attention inward.

With each slow breath, whisper within:

“Be still and know that I am with thee.”

Visualize yourself standing before the Christ Presence—a calm, radiant light that fills you with peace.

Feel all confusion, self-judgment, and anxiety dissolve.

Let the awareness of His living Spirit replace every thought of limitation.

In this stillness, listen—not for words, but for the quiet assurance of Life itself.

When you rise from meditation, carry this awareness into your actions.

As you walk, speak, and serve, remember: You are standing always in His Presence, and His Life moves through you.