Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-07-07
The Descent of the Spirit.

found In Acts 2: 1-12.
INTRODUCTORY.
IL is the beginning of the dispensation of
the Holy Spirit This Spirit has spoken In
time past through priest and prophet, but
now he is poured forth upon all flesh. and
the scripture leaves I'm no manner of
doubt that this Is the beginning OF new
and marvellous things under the power OF
the Holy Ghost. John says John z; 39) re-
garding Christ's promise OF the rivers OF
living water flowing from believers hearts,
hThis spake he OF the Spirit, which they
that believed on him should receive; for
that Jesus was not yet glorlAed.n The
Holy Spirit was waiting for Jesus gloriR-
cation in his death and resurrection and
his return to the right hand OF God. When
shall the full dispensation of the Holy
Ghost begin with you and me- brothersT
When the Christ of God is glorlfed in usl
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
The day of Pentecost Meaning fftieth.
Literally, when the iftieth was completed.
One OF the three great Jewish festivals,
the second; thus named because IL fol-
lowed the Passover by the space OF fifty
days.--With one accord. One word in
the Greek. Together The thought of
Haccord" Is an imported thought
Suddenly. Or unexpectedly, unannounc-
edly. The same word is used OF the Ggreat
earthquake Acts 16: 26 As of, 1. e.,
resembling 1t was more than wind. -
Rushing, mighty wind. Greek: A sweep
ing blast, violent - Filled all the house
where they were sitting. This and not the
toach OF the cloven tongues was the SYM
Dol OF the baptism of the Holy Ghost 1t
was evidently an immersion
| Ihere appeared. Or. were beheld -Clo-
ven tongues. Literally, divided. Possibly
IL means distributed among them So the
Margin and Bible Union. Revision:
| Tongues, parting asunder, like as OF fire.
| Like as of fire. 1t was not wind, IL was not
| fro; 1t resembled each.
Began to speak Or. talk, discourse, not
the word for preaching-Utterance The
word refers to weighty, solemn speech.
From the Greek here comes our word
apothegm.
There were dwelling in Jerusalem, Greek
order: There were, in Jerusalem, making
their home, or abode. Devout The word
etymologically means to take hold or well
(eulaDeis) l. e., to take strong careful hold;
cautious; hence. pious.
When this was noised abroad. Or, rather,
when this noise went abroad. Or, more
literal STILL was made. de.-Confounded.
signifying, at first, to pour together,
hence. TO throw into confusion. Heard
them speak More accurately aud graphic
ally. as In Revision. heard them speaking
in his own language. Greek: Dialecto,
from which our word dialect, referring to
peculiarities or shadings OF language
Amazed. Literally, thrown out OF place.
As we say, beside ones self.-Marveied.
To express wonder They cried out in their
amazement -Ialileans Such the popu-
lar conception OF the following of Jesus
Matt. 26; 61)
In doubt Our expression. In a quandary, |
would more nearly give the sense. Break |
ing the word up into its constituent ele- |
ments, IL stands, utterly -without-a way |
So It is with the worlds scrutiny still |
There is but one way TO account for 1t ALL
Christ.
WHAT TnE LESSON TEACHES.
All with one accord In one place. There
are conditions TO supreme blcssedness. con-
ditions that are To be learned and acce pied.
What were these Spirit blessed disciples
doing when the promise was fulfilled unto
them? In the first particular. they were
together, at one time all OF them. For
another thing. they we're together I'm one
place, all of them. "One accordn does not
necessarily mean unanimity. Find an In
stance now where these conditions OF sim
pie. loyal waiting upon God have been full
filed without the promise being fulfilled.
There need not be the early miraculous ac-
compartment, but the Spirit is there with
his miraculous power Let band OF Chris
ttans earnest hearted and sincere come
together and resolutely and persistently
wait upon the Lord Let their prayer be
as the prayer OF one man, and that one
Christ. Verify they may have what they
will-what he will.
We have been, perhaps. uAduly compli-
eating the situation. We have laid too
much emphasis on the word Gaccord ~
II is a very simple thing; IL is just to obey
the word await for the PROMISE They
may have been far from ain accord;n John
may have been expecting one manifesto
tion, Peter another, James another; Mat
thias, the newly elected member of the
apostolic college, may not yet have put
himself into closest intimacy with the rest
OF the witnesses OF our Lords death and
resurrection. But this they could do and
they did do-they brought all their varied
moods nGniFntinna fntN |
act or waiting obedience That was all
God wanted; that he blessed lie will
bless IL to-day.
And they were all filed with the Holy
GHOST IL was supernatural. and yet quite
natural There stood the empty vessels,
the Spirit came In like food aud filled
them. And now what wait we for? Not
for another outpouringof the Spirit-rather
for another inpouring. The Spirit is al
ready given, as Peter says directly after
this great event land why not for all
time?) abe hath shed forth this.p Tho
HOLY Ghost is simply waiting for empty
vessels. Or like the ocean outside the
dtkes, tarrying but FOR the barrier TO be ,
taken down and the gates thrown open.
Christians are filled to-day, according. as
In meek obedience TO Christ they make
room for the Spirit @Unto every one OF us '
IS given grace according to the measure of
the glft OF Christ" Grace, indeed, is the I
gift of Christ.
We do hear them speak I'm our tongue the
work. of God. And here are the !
results of the Spirits work. We understand I
The conditions They are faith in Gods /
Tord and obedient waiting on Gods Son
Here now is the evidence OF the Spirits
Every man hears him u
elf spoken to. he is jroached at his most v
amiliar threshold, In his most intimate I
peech. The wonderful works OF God are
'rought TO his everyday senses with IN .
yonted closeness and efficacy. Does not =
he Spirit thus always signalze his COM 4
ngI Christians are let as never before in a
o the hearts of their fellows and the one q
heme is-God. lake IL n I in all. tongues
re still the sign and measure of revival
nergy. When men have rich testimony,
power. we know the Spirit is q
resent The gift OF tongues. in its more Il
important and abiding features, pray for o.
+ exercise II. Take the might and good
ess OF God right home 10 the heart of
eedy man. n
Next Lesson -sThe First Christian .,
hurch." Acts 2: 37-47 - -
I.ORn DIrREFRTN fo uar,, fon1 -