Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson II.-First Quarter, For
Ian. 10, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Act II, f-21-Mem-
DRY Verses, 2-4-GoIden Text, John
xiv, Is, 7-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. d. M. Stearns.

xiv, 10, 17-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright. zoos. by American Press Assocation.l
On that last night before His cruel
fxion He said, ut is expedent for you
that | go away. for II | 90 not away
the Comforter viii not come unto you.
but II depart viii send Him unto
you, and when lie Is come lie Will
convince the world OF sin aud OF right
eousness and OF Judgment (John xvi,
z, 81. AS He left them on that ascen-
Sion day He told them to tarry in Jeru-
salem until the Spirit came as He said
that He would; hence we find them In
an upper room In Jerusalem. perhaps
the same one where He had kept the
Passover with them, continuing In one
accord in prayer and supplication. The
women are there, too, and Mary, His
mother, and His own brethren (Acts
1, ~, who had evidently come TO the
point of receiving their brother as the
Messiah. Contrast John vii, 8. Ithink
this Is the last mention of Mary, His
mother. How blessed TO say farewell
to her till we meet her In glory at
prayer meeting! with one accord" is
very important phrase in this book
1t Is used just seven times In good
connection and four times In a bad
one q, IA; II. /, 40; ", "a; v. L.; viii, 6;
XIV, %, and vii. 81; xii, 20; xviii, IL;
xix, 29).
Alo 60
the greatest number denoting perfec-
ton, while four is the worldwide num-
Der, and we know that the whole world
lieth In the wicked one Il John v, 10,
X. W. Seven is also three and
four, the Trinity and the resurrection,
on behalf Of the whole world. II any
do not see significance in numbers, let
them be teachable and patient with
those who do. If believers could only
be of one accord. what great things
might be seen In answer to prayer and
patient waiting upon God. Whether
the election OF Matthias was of God or
only OF Peter and the others, we may
know as we are known We shall
surely know when we see the twelve
thrones occupied Of which Jesus spake
Ten days having passed since He left
them, which, added to the forty days
between resurrection and ascension
completed the fifty of Lev. xiii. 1916.
they being with one accord In one
place, the Holy Spirit came as prom
ised. accompanied by sound from
heaven as OF a rushing, mighty wind.
which filed all the house where they
were sitting. There appeared unto
them cloven tongues. like as of fire,
and 1t sat upon each OF them, and they
were all filed with the Holy Ghost
and began 10 speak with other tongues
as the Spirit gave them utterance
oversees %. Thus was His word be
fore Ills ascension fulfilled, "Ye shall
be baptized with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence" q. 81. The women
present must have been filed as well
as the men. This filling was not sun.
cient for ali future time, for we find
some of the same people filed from
time TO time, again and again Div, =
the Spirit fell on those TO whom Peter
was speaking, even as he preached the
word to them. and they also spake
with tongues and magnified God.
When tongues were given there was
always a reason why. In our lesson
story there were gathered at Jerusalem
devout men out OF every nation under
heaven 90, and In their own native
tongue they heard these men speak
the wonderful words of God Old. In
the Babel story of rebellion against
God, all people being OF one language.
they were caused by God to speak
many. TO their own confusion Gen.
language were enabled to speak many
languages, to the glory of God There
seems to be somewhat OF the gift of
tongues granted by God again In these
days 19Os), but 1t is TO be feared that
there is much that Is not of God, much
delusion by the wicked one. There is
great need TO study closely Cor. xiv.
with special attention TO verses 8, 9. 10.
A greater test of the Spirits presence
and power and working than any other
gift Is that OF the love described In
l Cor xiii. The love that exalteth the
Lord alone, that unites believers In one
great desire TO magnify Him regardless
of all sects or divisions OF the church
and to give the glorious gospel to all
the world as quickly as possible-this
is the filing OF the Spirit to be greatly
desired.
At Pentecost many mockingly said.
''These men are full OF new wine"
(verse 49,. but Peter became the
mouthpiece OF the Holy Spirit to call
their attention to the prophecy OF Joel
land other Scriptures to be considered
In our next lesson and that this was q
fulhlment Of that prophecy concern
Ing the outpouring OF the Holy Spirit.
II was said by a man of God that
prophecy has many germinant and
springing accomplishment throughout
the ages, while the complete fulfill
ment may be for some future period.
That the complete fulfillment OF Joel's
prophecy win be In connection with
the return of Christ in power and glory
Is evident from our Lords own words
In Matt. xiv, 20. 80. Joel III. l. 2,
shows that II will be In connection
with the resurrection OF Israel and the
judgment OF nations which precedes
the millennium OF Christs personal
reign to subdue all things unto Him.
self The special word for every be-
Hevcr now * Eph Y 1921