Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-05-10
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BeRinning May IL.


BY REV. S. H. DOYLE
Tcpic.-Spirit filed Christians.-Acts ii,
- a-47
The Acts of the Apostles is~the first
history of the Christian church, and
with special emphasis it sets forth the
fact that the power Of the Holy Ghost
b absolutely necessary for successful
Christian work. To do the work of
God the early church needed the Holy
Ghost The Christians of that day as
well as today. We're weak and needed
divine strength; they, too. were en-
gagged in conflicts where divine grace
and power were absolutely necessary
If they We're to win the victory; hence
Christ instructed them to larry at Je
rusalem until the promise of the Father
that they should receive the Holy Ghost
should be fulfilled. Then. filed with
the Spirit they We're to 20 forward
overcoming their own sin and selfish
ness and winning the world for Christ
And only as we are Spirit filled can we
win personal victories over sin ana
lead others to Christsas their Saviour
Let us therefore be thankful that God
Is willing TO give bis Spirit to those
that ask Him, and let us ever ask that
we may be filed with Gods Spirit and
used in His service.
The conditions under which the Spirit
was given were faith, patience and
prayer. God promised the Spirit, and
the disciples believed His promise.
Christ commanded them to wait at Je-
rusalem for the promise of the Father
and they waited. And as they waited
they prayed, for the Master had also
said that the Father was willing to
give the Spirit ''to them that ask Him"
Then on the day of Pentecost the Spirit
was given. They had fulfilled all con
ditions. and God kept His promise.
'.They We're all filed with the Holy
Ghost" Would we be Spirit filled? Let
Us believe, let us wait Gods time. and
rs we tarry let us pray, and there will
come Pentecost in our lives, and we
also shall be filed with the Holy Ghost
The results of the coming of the
Holy Ghost were most marked. The
disciples began to speak with other
tongues as the Spirit gave them ut.
terance." In reply to the criticisms OF
onlookers Peter preached the gospel
with such power that 5000 We're con
verted. The Christian church was or.
GaniZed, and its activities We're won
derfully blessed of God. Believers per.
severed in doctrine, in the ordinances,
m fellowship and in prayers. Joy was
abundant, God was praised, and con
verts were daily made And these
manifestations are possible today If,
feeling our need of the Holy Ghost, we
will pray unto God for Him. To be
Spirit filed Christians should be our
most earnest desire. We should not
be satisfied with the work of the Spirit
at regeneration, but we should earnest
" desire and pray for the Spirits bap-
tism for service. 1t is not only His of
dce work to regenerate the human soul
but from Him alone can come spiritual
power that will enable us to serve God
acceptably and to win men for t,,lo
kingdom of God. God is willing to use
us. Are we willing TO be used?
BIBLE READINGS.
II Kings ii, ia; Ps. Ii, 1919; lisa
Xxi, IA; Eek. xxxvi, 22-3S; Acts /. 10:
II, 1921; X. 30-44: Luke XII, 9-13; John
xiv, 16, II; Rev. xii, /. ..