You Too Can Do These Works by Rev. Christine Emmerling D.D. 5/18/2025

My talk today is based on the promise of Christ Jesus’ in John 14:12, “Truly, Truly I say to you, He who believes in me shall do the works which I do; and even greater than these things He shall do, because I am going to my Father.” This verse alone has inspired so many people. I know for me it was an eye opener, that right here in the Bible it states that I could through faith follow in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples and also do healing work. It brought me back to the Christian faith, not of the old kind but of New Thought. My spiritual path had begun based in a new faith of works.

From the Bible in books Luke and Mark, it speaks of Jesus sending out his disciples in twos to teach and heal in his name. First it was his inner circle of 12, and then he sent out another 70 disciples. And, they returned home joyous from their success to heal the sick. On their journey they saw a man that was doing healing work in Jesus name, and was concerned because he was not part of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus was not concerned, because the man was doing good works, and in his name.

When Jesus spoke of doing healing in his name, it didn’t mean to just literally speak his name. Metaphysically, a name means a person’s nature. So when Jesus said to heal in his name, he was referring to being in a like mind of consciousness which is having the same faith and spiritual understanding. It means having the same consciousness as Christ Jesus. To invoke this Christ consciousness in our self is to be in that same mind, and having that same faith. It is knowing that the Father-God, Christ Consciousness within us does the work. Healing is done when we see beyond the physical appearance to the God Presence - Spirit in Action.

In the book of Acts following Jesus’ ascension, and after the Holy Spirit descended upon his disciples, it is recorded that many miracles and wonders were done by them. In Chapter 3:2-8 “There was a man lame from birth, being carried daily by men to the gate of the temple so that he might ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Simon Peter and John, he begged of them to give alms. And they looked at him and said, “Look at us.” And he looked at them expecting to receive something from them.

“Then Simon Peter said to him, gold and silver have I none; but what I have I give to you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and in that very hour his legs and his feet received strength. And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.”

Then in chapter 8:36-41 “Philip went down to a Samaritan city and preached to them about Christ Jesus. And when the people of that place heard his word, they gave a heed and listened attentively to everything Philip said, because they saw the miracles which he did. Many who were mentally afflicted cried with loud voices and were restored; and others who were paralytic and lame were healed. And there was a great joy in that city.”

In chapter 9:36-41, “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, this woman was full of good works. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, and they laid her in an upper chamber, and they sent for Peter... Then Peter arose and went with them. Peter kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”

In chapter 14:8-10, “There dwelt in the city of Lystra a cripple who had been lame from birth, who never had walked. He heard Paul speak; and when Paul saw him and perceived that there was faith in him to be healed, he said with a loud voice, I say to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, stand upright on your feet. And he leaped and walked.”

This is just a few of the many recorded healings that throughout the years have inspired so many people to have faith in spiritual healing. The Christian movement grew spreading the good news through healing and preaching first as part of the Jewish tradition.

Then Paul spread the teachings to the gentiles. When Christianity became a formal religion and tied to government the focus of healing waned, and almost became a lost art in the Christian Church until the mid 1800s when there was a resurgence in the United States.

The first was Phineas Quimby 1802-1866, he was living in Belfast Maine. Quimby first practiced mesmerism, a form of hypnosis for about 20 years. From this he learned that what we believe we create. Quimby then began to study the words of Jesus, and through prayer healed some 12,000 people in seven years. He is referred to as the father of New Thought.

One of his patients and student, was Mary Baker Eddy who founded Christian Science. A student of her’s was Emma Curtis Hopkins who went on to start her own college; Hopkins is known as the mother of New Thought as so many of her pupils started their own movements.

Then we have Malinda Cramer living in San Francisco California who founded Divine Science. She had been a Quaker. Malinda was ill for some 20 years. It was 1885, when she had her spiritual experience that led to her own healing. Malinda knew if she was to be healed it was to be through spirit. A complete healing came as soon as she gave up her old beliefs about illness. Malinda quickly began to practice healing and teach. In 1887 she formed her college and published the Harmony magazine. In 1891 she chartered the International Association of Divine Science; the prototype of today’s International New Thought Alliance and traveled across the country to teach and heal.

In 1887, Nona Brooks living in Pueblo Colorado, had her experience of the light which instantly healed her of a life long illness. She and her sister Alethea had been attending classes held by a friend who had been healed by Emma Curtis Hopkins. Nona and Alethea began the healing work and their sister Fannie started writing and teaching. They also explored other teachings. They came to the conclusion that they didn’t agree to everything that was being taught, especially about the body being separate from God.

Then in 1890, the Brook sisters heard Malinda Cramer speak in Denver, and realized she was teaching exactly the same thing. They asked if they too could use the name Divine Science, and it was agreed. The Brook sisters moved to Denver to carry on their ministry. Malinda Cramer died shortly after the 1906 earthquake. In 1955 the Divine Science Federation International was formed in Denver, and is now located in Florida.

Friends of the Brook sisters, the Fillmore’s moved from Pueblo to Missouri, and founded Unity in 1889. They had studied with Emma Curtis Hopkins and Malinda Cramer. Ernest Holmes founder of Religious Science was ordained in Divine Science, and had also studied with Emma Curtis Hopkins. Authors Joseph Murphy and Emmet Fox were also ordained Divine Science ministers.

The corner stone of New Thought was formed. Its like an idea that found its time, and came through those that were receptive and willing to do the work. Once again healing became the focus. This time for just not the few, but for the general public to know and practice.

It was 1941 in Santa Cruz, CA, before I was born, when my sister Naomi was just 2 years of age. She accidently drank turpentine thinking it was a glass of water. Immediately our mother called for medical help, and they worked on her for about an hour before covering her little body and pronouncing her dead. Our mother immediately yelled for the neighbor who lived behind, knowing she was into Unity, and requested for her to pray. About 15 minutes later mom noticed the cloth covering Naomi slightly moving. She was breathing. Naomi was totally healed.

I myself have experienced healing through the power of prayer. It was 1961, when I experienced an instantaneous healing. I had slammed the car door on my thumb and yanked it out creating a deep cut. My parents sent me to the emergency room to have stitches. When I arrived nurses soaked my thumb, and then couldn’t figure out where the blood had come from. Later I found out that my parents had done a prayer treatment.

The power of prayer has been proven in hospital studies where groups of people pray for a patient. That patient would heal much faster then those not receiving prayer.

Jesus said two or more in agreement it is done. That is why it is so important to have the faith of the one asking for help. The practitioner, has faith, but it takes also their faith. Jesus so often said, your faith healed you.

Nona Brooks once asked a little girl who had injured her ankle, if she believed God could heal her, and she responded yes. Nona got the agreement, prayed, and the little girl was healed that very same day.

Besides having two or more people in agreement, I also take it to mean our own consciousness. Our conscious mind, and our subconscious mind being in agreement. So often our conscious mind is saying “yes” to being healed, and then the gut feeling, our subconscious thought, isn’t in agreement. The gut feeling will win out, unless it is reasoned with, made to understand its false belief and replaced with truth.

This is what we do in a Divine Science prayer treatment. First we acknowledge the Divine Presence, the Omnipresence of God. Then we Identify ourselves and the person with God. This Divine Presence, this living power of God is within us both - the Christ within. Then we reason out the false beliefs, and affirm the truth. This is an intuitive process that goes on until our conscious and subconscious mind is aligned in Truth. Then we release all concern, praise and give thanks for the healing that has taken place. Now it is time to sit in silence, and let the Father within do its mighty works.

What do we know? We know the Truth that sets us free. We are dealing with spirit not material law, or mankind’s law of beliefs, but the law of spirit. And, when God finished its creation, said, “It is very Good.” This truth we always go back to when we are faced with diversity, trauma, and the challenges of life.

Instead of poor me, how awful or bad – we go back to truth to see with the eyes of spirit – to the goodness that we know is there, even if we can’t see it in our own worldly experience or by our physical eyes. Yet, we have faith in the invisible truth – in the word of God. And, this faith and truth sets us free from our miseries, as well as releasing the miseries of others.

We no longer have to struggle with the appearances – for we know there is no power in them, except that which we give with our focus of mind and emotions. We consciously choose to give up the fight, to abide in Truth – a quiet stillness – a knowingness takes over, and then it is done. Even if the appearance is still there, we know that in truth it shall not live long – for it has no life of its own, no law or Principle to sustain it.

To me it is like a big balloon full of hot air, and then we puncture it, and watch it empty to its nothingness. Blowing itself out. It is but a shell of its prior self unless we re-inflate it. When we focus on problems or worry about potential problems we are inflating the appearance in our life, and giving it life and power. We take our attention away, and it deflates.

Why not give life to what we want to experience, rather than to what we don’t want? Its amazing how easy it is to fall prey to the fears of lack, sickness and harm. But, remember it is just as easy to rise above them. We don’t have to stay there. We have the power to put it behind us, no matter the condition or appearance.

In closing we’ll have a mini spiritual treatment: The Omnipresence of God is right here and now everywhere present. Therefore I am one with God, and as an offspring of God illness or disease, regardless of its diagnosed name or prognosis, has no authority, no law, and no Truth to sustain itself. This holy temple, this body, is made in the image and likeness of God; whole holy spirit, Divine eternal life perfect in every way. I now release all concern into the nothingness from which it came. I accept it is done. And so it is, Amen.