Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-12-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson First Quarter, For
Jan. 3, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

sS~>N " WV EsssS't nv " '-iT-mem'
DRY Verses, 8, s-Golden Text. Lux.
xiv, 51-cemmentary Prepared b.
Dew. D. M. stearns.
Copyright, 1908. by American Press Association
We could not have better lesson for
the new year than the story Of the as
cension of our Lord, for the only way
to live here the life that He desires us
TO live is In the power of Him who
hath assembled on high, who hath led
captivity captive and received gifts
for men-yea. for the rebellious also
that the Lord God might dwell among
them (Ps. xviii, IS; Eph. iv, z, 81.
Many people desire az they begin a
new year to make better record than
In the past, and It Is always possible in
the power of the Holy Spirit, who rep
resents on earth Him who Is at Gods
right hand for US. This book In which
we are to spend the whole Of this year
might, as some one has suggested. be
called the acts Of the Holy Spirit
through the apostles. and the same
Holy Spirit desires to live In us and
possess us fully for the glory OF God
as II IL written, 1.-THE Spirit whom He
caused to dwell In us jealousy desireth
US" JAS. ", 5, r. v, margln). He de-
sires more full control Of US. more than
we can desire to be filled with Him.
In the gospels. the former treatise Of
which Luke speaks, we see Jesus per-
fectly controlled by the Holy Spirit,
doing and teaching, or. as 1t is stated
In Z, 80, Amounted with the Holy
Ghost and with power. He went about
doing good and healing all that were
oppressed Of the devil. for God was
with Him" What He began to do and
feach He desires to continue doing and
teaching In rs by the same Holy Spirit.
Note how the doing always precedes
the teaching in Matt. Y. 10; Mark vi.
30; Luke vii, %; xiv. 10; Acts ". 20;
John l. 8. This ministry continued
till the day IN which He was taken up.
for after His resurrection we find Hin
still teaching, as In Luke xiv.
At least ten times He showed Him.
self alive during those forty days be-
tween His resurrection and final man.
fest ascension, and He was always
speaking Of the kingdom Of God Verse
81, the same kingdom of which we
have been hearing recently In our Old
Testament studies, the kingdom which
will Gil this whole earth with peace
and righteousness and Of which Israel
shall be the earthly center Jer Ill. II.
49,. The little company had been with
Him two or three years, under the best
teacher that ever taught. and the time
had nearly come for them TO go out in
His name and live as He had lived and
teach as He had taught, but they were
not yet qualified to do so. They needed
the same person to live In and control
hem as had lived and wrought in Hin,
even the Holy Spirit, whom they had
already received, but who had not get
been given In power, as He soon would
-usalem until He, the Spirit. should
ZONE upon them. Then, having receiy-
ID the power Of the Holy Spirit COM
ng upon them, they would be wit
lesses unto Him from Jerusalem unto
he uttermost part Of the earth. To
israel He had said long before, ''Ye are
Ny witnesses" lisa. kill. 10, ~: xiv.
b, and He said of them, This people
lave formed for Myself; they shall
hew forth My praise" lisa. xliii, 2D.
lie had said the same virtually when
lie brought them out Of Egypt by |
doses: Il bare you on eagles wings |
nd brought you unto Myself Yc |
hall be a peculiar treasure unto Me
bove all people" EK. xix, 4. 81.
The word to US Is the same. who
ave Himself for as, that He might re-
eem US from all iniquity and purify
INTO Himself a peculiar people jealous
{ good works." or, more literally. "a
eople for His own possession" "pur.
hased to be specially His own" Git.
!, 14). As He was wholly and ut.
erly for God. so He would have US.
or He said. AS the Father sent me.
ven so send l you" John Xxx. 2D.
Iaving instructed them about the
rafting and concerning their commits
lon, while He blessed them, He was
arted from them and carried up into
eaYen Golden Text. Imagine yourself
ne Of them that day. All are gazing
pom Him and listening to Him when
lddenly He seems to be taller than
he others and yet taller. They look at
is feet and they no longer touch the
,rth; they turn again to His face, and
e Is looking so kindly upon them, but
.e is leaving them. Higher and high
! He ascends. while they gaze In dumb
until q cloud hides Him
'om their view, and as they steadfast
gaze upon the cloud, hoping doubt
Is to see Him again, two men In ,
hite apparel (heaven's livery said to
EN-, This same Jesus. which is taken 1
, from you into heaven. shall 80 come I
like manner as ye have seen Him I
} into heaven" (verse III. Then. with q
eat Joy and full Of praise to God, q
ey returned to jerusalem duke xiv. =
!, 53). I
While we continue with one accord Y
prayer and Bible study and what. @
er ministry He appoints us our atti- q
de should be always "waiting for Q
e coming Of our Lord Jesus Christ" r
Cor. 4. z; II, 20; Phil. Ill. 20. 21; | |,
less. 1, 10; Tit. Il, 10; Heb. *. %; | d
hn I'll, 1, p. for He has never yet re- 4
rned according to the message OF A
csc two men. BE win come to re- D
IRE all things Of which the prophets /,
We spoken (Acts III. 2D. He will first n
,lcohe His church to Himself and n
en- bring her with Him In His glory
ol. III. A to establish His kingdom