Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16


tory, against their own welfare. The!
now deserved nothing bat wrath. and hat
they saw hanging over their heads. They
did not attempt 10 cTtenuate their sin.
but cried on. Men and brethren. what
shall we do" Chapter ix:6l They
recognized the apostles as felow-coun-
trymen. spiritual advisers and in
structors They turned Ia tie whole COM
pany agreed and appealed To ali as a
unit. That was great victory. Sinners
inqUiing OF the ministers of Christ
genuine thorough work had been wrought.
INSTRT-CTIO\-W n man has
repented. and not before. lie is ready I"
be instructed concerning the method or
pardon. Peter did not long delay his an
Swer to the question OF that anxious COM
pany oversees IS ~ His first word WAS
the great message of John. lie forerul-
ner Matt. iii:2l. and of Jesus Repent
Ii was not an emotional state 10 which
he called them. but to an act. Repent
! ance does indeed signify sorrow for sim
but that. 30 some extent. they had al
ready experienced. Genuine sorrow leads
to change of conduct. and ii was that
which Peter urged Matt. iii:Sl. Having
repented he directed them TO be baptized
"in the name of Jesus. thereby conse-
Grating themselves TO Him and blottins
out their sins. This done, he declared
| that they should receive the Holy Ghost,
| for the promise was not limited. 1t in
Guided all who heard and their posteritN.
and those who were afar Off even al
who should be called TO God-an intima-
ton of the worldwide mission tMa,I.
/ Nxviii:l9D. Here is model for all mir.
| listers dealing with inuuircrs. Peter did
not use soft words to get men into the
| church.
ADDITIONS.-Now we shall see tie
result Of faithful preaching oversees 4l-42'
| Three thousand souls were added that
day 70 the church. They all cntered by
| baptism. the initiatory sacrament. II all
| the apostles officiated each baptized 10
That was a mighty inSathering. I ne
I 4 ia Lot
And each came gladly" The message
of salvation was received with joy
| These new disciples Of Jesus Christ. the
I, first fruits of the apostolic ministry. out
numbered the original company (Acts. i:
! l5) more than twenty times. BY one SER
mon. accompanied by the power of the
Spirit. more had been accomplished n
| soul saving than the Master Himself had
! done in all His three years Of PREACHING
| and of miracles John. Xiv:12l. Moreover.
these were genuine conversions. TheN
| continued steadfastly in the doctrine. or
| teaching of the apostles. attending upon
the further instruction giyen- They aiso
engaged in prayer and in breaking OF
| bread, the exercise by which the early be-
| levers were edited.
WONDERS-One summary state
mert in the lesson. which might be over
looked by some, deserves particular at
| tention MANY wonders and signs were
| done by the apostles tversc i3F for
| the expansion of tnis utteTance one mus
! turn to other Scripture. Tic meaning IS
| that miracles were wrought och, ili:.p as
the unmistakable Endorsement Of God. the
! credentials of His servants, the signs or
| His presence. Despite the cavis OF men
| every result obtained outside the use OF
| natures forces is t.roof Of "a power above
nature. of Personality superior 10 man.
! John, Xiv:11.) In this WAY the mission
! of Moses (EX.. ~ Sd and OF tie prophets.
| and of Jesus was authenticated. SO nero
we are informed that the apostles were
| leo, 1,,-t to airyllf
| credited as ambassadors for God. They
did what men could not DO. what
| awakened wonder in the minds OF 1859
| who beheld and carried conviction that
| they were men of God tJohn. iii:oI. COM
miSsinned sanctioned and supported. $"
that what they did vas by the power of
Gcd. fActs. iii:l21
FELLOWSiIIP.-The internal condi-
ton of the church Is also presented in
| our lesson oversees 4l-47. The members
were together" blended into one COM
! pact spiritual bcdy. each del'ghtinG i'm tie
| society of the others. all held together
! by a common faith and mutual love. re-
alizirg the Masters PRAYER. John.
| xvii:o1.) They had community Of goods.
| the property Of all constituting one store.
| from which the need Of each was sup
/ piled This indicates that they suspended
! all business to attend religious services.
an inference warranted b. tie fact, also
| stated. that they were daily in the tenn
| pie. 1t is possible that they were look
ing Tor the 81 eeu! coming III 1HtiSt-
! oh. IT'D. Al least the zeal was SO great
as. quite 10 eXpel worldly matters from
their minds. They praised God and had
great gladness of heart. Such was thei"
conduct and spirit as to win the favor
of ali the people. and result. there
We're daily acceSsions TO the church OF
those who were being saved.
CONCLUSION.-In all Scripture
study ii is important to distinguish Re
tween the temporal and the permanent.
Some things were for certain times and
seasons. for persons and places. Other
things are for all times and occasions. In
this passage the miracles were doubtless
intended to prepare for apostolic useful
ness and destined 10 disappear as the
wears advanced We have no reasons
now to expect thousands TO be converted
by single sermon. except on rare occa-
sions made ready by remarkable infiu-
enceS. The members of the church ought
not to erpetuate the communism Of Pen.
teccst time. or refrain from labor. Re
ligion prospers most when society main
tains its established order Of industry
and economy. CEph.. N:2s.) But these
truths are plainly taught in lesson
that the Holy Spirit clothes Il preacher
with power. and enables him to reach
the hearts of men: that God 5 people. hap
tized by the Spirit. will dwell tosethc---
IN holy love, and will he esteemed by Tie
ungodiy: that a church of spiritual be-
lfeVers will prosper. win souls and grow
What all Christians need for good serv-
| ice. in every generation, is a large en-
duement from above ,Eph.. vi:loD
ure in work for Christ psalm, li:l2-13D