The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-05
READING FOR THE DAY.
sunday-school Lesson for Sept. IL, 1ss

Sunday School Lesson for Sept IL, 1886.
THE MISSION OF THE SpIRIT-John xvi, 500.
Golden Textile will guide you into ell truth.
John xvi, 49,
Christ about to leave the world and go to
His Father It was important that the minds
of His disciples be prepared for an event 80 I'M
expected and one so likely to demoralize them.
He tells them in language that they could not
misunderstood that He was about to die at the
hands of His enemies, and that as His followers
they were to suffer persecution. But He fore
tells every event with such minuteness that they
might afterward recall and believe His other
prophetic words-words full of comfort and
hope, and that assured them that His departure
was expedient for them, and that it would be
followed by the gift of the Spirit and the mani
festations of power far greater than any they
had seen in His ministry. He thus builds a
strong foundation for their faith in himself and
His word
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
/. Needless Causes of Sorrow-As the idea of
the departure Of Christ filled their hearts with a
needless sorrow, since His departure would
make way for the greater gift or the Holy
Spirit, We often greve over the loss of ex-
periences and possessions that are taken to make
way for the coming of greater good. We sorrow
broken acorn that has made way for a
growing young oak. We mourn over lost feel
lngS ana experiences CnRC nave passed TO make
far better and richer things.
2 The Holy Spirit Our Comforter-Names
are often most expressive, and no other title of
the Spirit seems quite so blessed as this. This
shows the character of His ministry, His large
adaptation to our needs, His power to heal the
heart He first smtes with conviction, His tender,
patient, gracious ministry
g. The Spirit, the Teacher, Helper-He goes
before US to prepare the heart to hear of Jesus.
He convicts of sin. he wakens the feeling of
need, he gives the of guilt and fear of
judgment, and follows our teaching by his work
in the conscience of the sinner. He illuminates
the word and leads into truth If we trust
the spirit we cannot fail to do good work for
God. It is ours to present the truth given by
the Spirit with all possible ciearness; tits the
work of the Spirit to make that truth effective
TO convince to arouse to move to action
SPECIAL TEACHING
The Holy Spirit our Guide in the Discovery of
the Truth-In an Independent, self-sufficient age
men have deifed reason anC made it the guide
and test of all truth. But there are realms of
truth not contradictory to reason, but far above
and beyond it's vision, and the unregenerate man
can only know of them as the blind know of the
world of color, through such description as the
ar can convey to the mind. In the world of
highest spiritual truth the Holy Spirit acts as
our guide. and if we are willing to be led, and
if we patiently follow, it will open to US spir
tual things and make them as real and glori
Gus to us as are the wonders of the higher
mountains to those who follow the guides. This
truth. like all others. may be abused, and men
may claim to have spiritual guidance when they
only follow their preconceived fancies and pref
erences. Every good and valuable thing has its
counterfeits but these really enhance the value
of the genuine. and certainly imply there is
genuine to be initiated. He will guide you into
all truth. The Guide leads the way, and then
you must use the facilities God has given YOU;
If You are willing to be taught, the Spirit will
give you evidence of the certainty of tha great
verities of Christianity SO convincing that you
need never doubt again.