The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-07-06
The Descent of the Spirit.

The lesson for Sunday, July TO- may DO
found I'm Acts 2: liz
INTRODUCTORY.
1t 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 Us I'm no manner OF
doubt that this is the beg aiming OF new
and marvellous things under the power OF
the Holy Ghost. John says John Z: 30) re-,
garding Christ's promise OF the rivers of
living water flowing from believers hearts,
"This spake he OF the Spirit, which they
that believed on him should receive;
the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because
that Jesus was not yet glorl6ed." The
Holy Spirit was waiting for Jesus glorid-
cation in his death and resurrection and
his return to the right hand OF God. Wien
shall the full dispensation of the Holy
Ghost begin with you and me, brothers?
When the Christ OF God is glorfed i'm us!
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
The day OF Pentecost Meaning fiftieth.
Literally, when the fiftieth 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
"accord" Is an imported thought.
suddenly. Or unexpectedly, unannounc-
eddy. The same word Is used OF the "great
earthquake" Acts 10: 26. AS OF. l. e.,
resembling 1t was more than wind. -
Rushing, mighty wind. Greek: A sweep
ing blast, violent Filled all the house
where they were sitting his and NOT tn o
touch OF the cloven tongues was the SYM
Dol of the baptism OF the Holy Ghost 1t
was evidently an immersion
here appeared. Or, were beheld -Clo-
ven tongues. Literally, divided. Possibly
II 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, it was not
fire; IL resembled each.
Began To speak. Or talk. discourse, not
the word for preaching -Utterance. The
word refers to yeighty. solemn speech.
From the Greek here comes our word
apothegm.
There were dwelling in Jerusalem, Greek
o der: There were, in Jerusal lem, making
the ir home, or abode. Gevout. The word
alphabetically means 10 take hold or well
(eulaDeis) l. C., to take strong, careful hold;
cautious; hence, pious
When this was nosed abroad Or. rather
when this noise went abroad Or, more
literal still, was made -Confounded.
Simplifying. at first, to pour together,
hence to throw into confusion Heard
them speak More accurately aud graphic
ally. rs 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 -Marve ed.
To express wonder They cried out in their
amazement - iali!eans. Such the popu-
lar conception OF the following of Jesus.
Matt. %: co.
In doubt. Our expression. in n quandary,
would more nearly give the sense. Break
int the word up into Its constituent ele-
ments, 1t 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 THE LESSON TEACHES.
All with one accord in one place. There
are conditiC rs to supreme bleSsedness. con-
ditions that are TO be learned and acce Dted.
What were these Spirit blessed disciples
doing when the promise was fulfilled unto
them? In the first particular, they wero
together, at one time, all OF them. For
another thing, they we're together IN one
place, all OF them. zone accor1 4" does not
necessarily mean unanimity. Find an in
stance now where these conditions OF sim
ple 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 il there with
his miraculous power Let a band of Chris
tians, 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. unduly compli-
eating the situation. We have laid too
much emphasis on the word "accord, A"
which. by the way, is not in the original
1t Is very simple thing; il is just u obey
the word await for the TrDmise" They
may have been far from ain Accord" John
may have been expecting one manifesto
ton, 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 and aspirations together, into one
act OF waiting obedience. That was all
God wanted; that he blessed. lie will
bless IL to-day.
And they were all filed with the Holy
Chest 1t was supernatural, and yet quite
natural. There stood the empty vessels,
the Spirit came liz like flood and filed
them. And now what wait we for? Not
for another outpouring OF the Spirit-rather
for another importing. The Spirit is al
ready given, as Peter says directly after
this great event land why not for all
timcD. abe hath shell forth this" Tho
Holy Ghost is simply waiting for empty
vessels. Or like the ocean outside the
bikes, tarrying but FOR the barrier TO be
taken down and the gates thrown open.
Christians are filed to-day, according, as
In meek obedience to Christ they make
is given grace according to the measure OF
the gift OF Christ" Grace, indeed is the
gift of Christ.
We do hear them speak I'm our tongue the
wonderful work of God And here are the
results of the Spirits work. We und srstand
the conditions. They are faith in Gods
word and obedient waiting on Gods Son
Here now Is the evidence OF the Spirits
presence-tongues. Every man hears him
self spoken to, he Is ap reached at his most
familiar hreshold, In his most intimate
speech The wonderful works OF God are
brou yht 60 his everyday sensfs with un-
wonted closeness and efficacy. D5es not
the Spirit thus always slgnallze his COM
ing? Christians are let as never before in
to the hearts of the r lows. and the che
theme is--God. Take IL a | in all. tongues
are still the sign and measure OF revival
energy. When men have rich testimony,
witnessing power, VIC know the Spirit Is
present. The gift OF tongues. I'm It's more
important and abiding features, pray for
IL, exercise Il. Take the might and good
ness Of God right home TO the heart OF
needy man.
Next Lesson -1The First Christian
Church Acts 2: 37-47