Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31


copyright, 1905. 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 Ops. xviii. IS; Eph. iv. Z, 3.
new year to make better record than
In the past, and IL is always possible In
the power of the Holy Spirit, who rep
resents on earth Him who is at Gods
right hand for u.s. 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 it is written. ''The Spirit whom He
caused to dwell In us jealousy desireth
us" GAS. iv, 8, r. ", margin). He de-
sires more full control of us, more than
we can desire to be filed 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 II is stated
In X, 3S, Amounted with the Holy
Ghost and with power. He went about
doing GOOD opd haa1in0 oil that uara
oppressed of the devil, for God was
with Him." What He began to do and
teach He desires to continue doing and
teaching In us by the same Holy Spirit.
Note how the doing always precedes
the teaching In Matt. v, 10: Mark vi,
80; Luke VIII %; xiv. 10; Acts iv. 20;
I John /. 3. This ministry continued
till the day in which He was taken up,
for after His resurrection we find Him
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
ifest 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 fill this whole earth with peace
and righteousness and of which Israel
shall be the earthly center der. iii. 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
them as had lived and wrought in Him.
even the Holy Spirit. whom they had
already received, but who had not yet
been given in power. as He soon would
be. They are therefore TO tarry at Je-
rusalem until He. the Spirit, should
come upon them. Then, having receiv-
ed the power of the Holy Spirit com
ing upon them, they would be wit
nesses unto Him from Jerusalem unto
the uttermost part of the earth. To
Israel He had said long before, "Ye are
My witnesses" 0sa. xiii. 10. -: Xiv,
81. and lie said of them, This people
have | formed for Myself: they shall
shew forth My praise Qsa xiii. 2D.
He had said the same virtually when
He brought them out of Egypt by
Nose. Il bare YOU on eagles wings
and brought Won unto Myself. Ye
shall he a peculiar treasure unto Me
above all people" Eek. xix. 4, -.
tn ~ g ha
gave Himself for us. that He might re-
deem us from all iniGuity and purify
unto Himself "A peculiar people Jealous
OF good works" or. more literally, "a
people for His own possession" ''pur-
chased TO be specially Ills own" Crit.
H. 40. As He was wholly and ut
terly for God. so He would have us.
for He said. LAS the Father sent me.
even so send | you" Gohn Xxx. 2n.
Having instructed them about the
waiting and concerning their commits
sion. while He blessed them. He was
parted from them and carried mp into
heaven Golden Text. Imagine yourself
one of them that day All are gazing
upon Him and listening to Him when
suddenly He seems to be taller than
the others and yet taller. They look at
His feet and they no longer touch the
earth: they turn again TO His face. and
He is looking so kindly upon them. but
He is leaving them. Higher and high
er He ascends. while they gaze i'm dumb
establishment until a cloud hides Him
from their view. and as they steadfast-
~ gaze upon the cloud. hoping doubt.
less to see Him again. two men i'm
white apparel (heaven's livery said TO
them. This same Jesus. which is taken
up from you into heaven. shall so come
in like manner as We have seen Him
go into heaven" Verse III. Then. with
great Joy and full of praise TO God.
they returned TO Jerusalem duke xiv.
90. so.
While we continue with one accord
I'm prayer and Bible study and what.
ever ministry He appoints us our atti-
tude should be always waiting for
the coming Of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Il Cor I. Z: xi. 26 Phil Ill., 20. 81: I
Thess /. 10: Tit ii. i3: Heb tx. %: I
John Ill. I. -. for He has never yet re-
turned according TO the message Of
these two men. Tie will come to re-
store all things o. which the prophets
have spoken Ctcts III. 21 lie viii first
welcome His church to Himself and
then bring her Will Him In His glory
(Col III :; to estab ish Ills kingdom
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