Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-01-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson lI.~-FirSt Quarter, For
Jan. 10, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of The Lesson, Act IL, 1.21--Mem-
Org Verses, 2-4-Golden Text. John
xiv, 16, 17-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. NJ. Stearns.

| ory verses, Zs4-Goiden ext, Johr
xiv, 16, 17-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright 1908, by American Press Association,
, On that last night before His cruel
! fxion He said, at Is expedient for you
that go away, for II go not away
the Comforter will not come unto you
but If depart will send Him unto
you. and when He Is come He will
convince the world of sin and Of right
eousness and Of Judgment GOhn 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. 14), who had evidently come to the
point Of receiving their brother as the
| shCcSAahs SOHlAdot JOhh VIZ ~.
this Is the last mention Of Mary, His
mother How blessed to say farewell
to her till we meet her In glory at a
prayer meeting! with one accord" Is
a very important phrase In this book
1t is used just seven times In a good
connection and four times in q bad
one u, II; II. l, 46; ", "a; v. II; viii. g.;
Nv. 25, and VII, 81; Kill 20: xviii, ~;
xix, 29).
This is suggestive also. for seven Is
the greatest number denotlng perfec
ton, while four Is the worldwide mum.
Der, and we know that the whole world
lieth In the wicked one Il John v, 10,
r. W. Seven is also three and a
four, the Trinity and the resurrection,
on behalf Of the whole world. If any
do not see significance In numbers. let
them be teachabie and patient Wit
those who do II 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 City 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 filled 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 flied with the Holy Ghost
and began to speak with other tongues
as the Spirit gave them utterance
oversees pa. Thus was His word be-
fore His ascension fulfilled. I'VE shall
be baptized with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence" Ii. 81. The women
present must have been filed as we'll
as the men. This filling was not suffl-
cient for all future time, for we find
some Of the same people filed from
time to time, again and again Nv, 8.
81. In chapter Z, Al, 46. we read that
the Spirit fell ca 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
deyout men out Of every nation under
heaven o.. and In their own native
tongue they heard these men speak
the wonderful words OF God III 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. |
~, but here at Pentecost people of one |
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 Q9OS). but it 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 !
Cor. Kill. The love that exalteth the
Lord alone, that unites believers in one
great desire to magnify Him regardless
If all sects or divisions Of the church
md to give the glorious gospel to all
he world as quickly as possible-thiS
s the filling Of the Spirit to be greatly
desired.
At Pentecost many mocklngly said,
These men are full OF new wine"
verse 49,, but Peter became the
Of the Holy Spirit to call
heir attention to the prophecy Of Joel
and other Scriptures to be considered
n our next lesson and that this was Il
ulfllment Of that prophecy concern
ng the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
t was said by man OF God that
prophecy has many a germinant and
bringing accomplishment throughout
he ages, while the complete fulfill
nent may be for some future period
That the complete fulnllment Of Joeps
prophecy will be in connection with
he return of Christ in power and glory
s evident from our Lords own words
n Matt xiv, 20. 80. Joel Ill, l. ,.
Ihows that 1t will be in connection
With the resurrection Of Israel and the
Judgment Of nations which precedes
he millennium of Christ's personal
eign to subdue all things unto Him
elf The special word for every be-
lever now is Eph. Y. 1927.