The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson First Quarter, FoI
Jan. 3, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


xiv, 51-commsntary Prepared by
Dew. D. N. Stearns.
Copyright, 1908, by American Press Associsticn.l
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 ascended on high. who hath led
captivity captive and received gifts
for men-yea. for the rebelllous also
that the Lord God might dwell among
them FPS. xviii, 1S; Eph. iv, Z, 81.
Many people desire as they begin q
new year to make a better record than
In the past, and It is always possible ir
the power Of the Holy Split. who rep
resents on earth Him who is at God's
right hand for us. This book In which
we are to spend the whole OF this yeaI
might, as some one has suggested. bt
called the acts Of the Holy Spirit
through the apostles. and the same
Holy Spirit desires to live In us and
possess lis fully for the glory Of God
as 1t ia written, THE Spirit whom He
caused to dwell in us jealously desirctb
us" JAS iv. s, X. ", margln,. He de.
slres 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 K, SO, 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
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 vii, %; xiv. 10; Acts iv. 20
John 1, 3. 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
lfest ascension. and He was always
speaking Of the kingdom Of God (verss
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 Israe
shall be the earthly center der. i'll, II
49,. The little company had been will
Him two or three years, under the best
teacher that ever taught, and the time
had nearly come for them to 60 out iT
His name and live as He had lived ant
teach as He had taught, but they were
not vet qualified to do 20. They needed
the same person to live In and contro
them as had lived and wrought In Him
even the Holy Spirit, whom they ha(
already received, but who had not ye
been given in power, al He soon woult
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 unit
the uttermost part Of the earth. II
Israel He had said long before. "Ye ar'
| My witnesses" Qsa. Kill, 10, II; Xiv
| 81, and He said Of them, "Thls peopl
have formed for Myself; they shal
shew forth My praise" Qsa. Kill. 21)
He brought them out of Egypt b.
Moses: Il bare you on eagles wing
and brought you unto Myself Y
shall be peculiar treasure unto NJ
above all people" (Ex. xix, 4, 81.
The word to us Is the same, "Wh
gave Himself for US, that He might re
deem us from all iniQuity and purif.
unto Himself peculiar people zealou
of good works." or, more literally, Z"
people for His own possession" ''pur
chased to be specially His own" CTit
II, ~. AS He was wholly and vi
terly for God, 80 He would have us
for He said, "As the Father sent me
even so send you" John xx, 81,
Having instructed them about tn
waiting and concerning their commits
sion, while He blessed them, He wa
parted from them and carried up int
heaven Golden Text. Imagine yoursel
one Of them that day. All are gain
upon Him and listening to Him whe
suddenly He seems to be taller tha
the others and yet taller. They look a
His feet and they no longer touch tn
earth; they turn again to His face. an
He is looking so kindly upon them, bu
He is leaving them. Higher and high
er He ascends, while they gaze in dunn
astonishment until a cloud hides Hir
from their view, ana a. they steadfas'
ly gaze upon the cloud. hoping doub'
less to see Him again, two men 1
white apparel (heaven's livery said t
them, This same Jesus. which Is take
up from you into heaven. shall 30 com
In like manner as ye have seen HiI
60 into heaven" (verse III. Then, Wit
great Joy and full Of praise to GOO
they returned to Jerusalem Nuke xiv
50, bS).
While we continue with one accor
in prayer and Bible study and wha
ever ministry he appoints us our att
tude should be always waiting fc
the coming OF our Lord Jesus Christ
Il Cor. l. 7; xi. &c; Phil. III. 20, 21;
Thess. 1, 10; Tit. II. IS; Heb. IL. %;