The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-12-17
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlNSC1OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 20.
THE ASCENSION.
Cry r. q. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course.D

LESSON TExT-Luke 1905; Acts III
H.
GOLDEN TENT-He was taken up; and
a cloud received Him out OF their sight
Acts i:9
We have now reached the final les
son OF the present course In the life
OF Christ, next Sunday being devoted
TO the review. The lesson committee
have selected the continuous account
OF this final earthly act OF our Lord
as given us by ST Luke. for the Book
OF Acts In continuance OF the Cos
pei Of Luke (Acts I'D. Inasmuch as
this In really but one account we will
consider only that found In the Acts.
.. The Proof Of the Resurrection.
w. ia. This book OF The Acts" is .
continuation Of what Jesus began to
do" and gives us the record Of how he
continued this work by means Of those
whom he had chosen" ". ~. Fol-
lowing his resurrection he gave them
commandments through the Holy
Spirit" viz In the power OF
the Holy Spirit A like honor resi-
upon every believer to hear and ~
obey the commands OF Jesus given In
the power and demonstration OF the
Holy Spirit The allsufiicient proof
tsee also Cor. i5:4-s) was that Jesus
had been seen for a period of 20
days. This Is the many infallible
proofs" During that time they not
alone saw the risen Lord. but con-
versed with him. ate with him. and had
communion with him. During these
days OF communion he gave them his
commands as to the things concern
ing the kingdom OF God" This en-
tailed n burden that these commands
be proclaimed In ever widening cir
Giles 10 the utmost bounds OF the earth
Additional Experience.
%. The Promise OF the Father.
w. "a. The disciples were not to be-
gin the proclamation OF their message
until they were fully equipped. until
they had received that all essential
preparation, the enduement OF the
Holy Spirit. Here. again. the Scrip
lures are 10 be fulfilled lisa. 4t:3:
Joel as. also Luke 2i:ts). That ten
days delay was not time lost. for time
spent in preparation Is never time
lost. We must not suppose these
men as not regenerate John 1870:
1850. but as lacking an equipment
necessary for the successful execution
OF their important task We as be-
levers cannot call him Lord except
by the power OF the Spirit Il Cor.
~ -. but we do not all have that In
filing OF the Spirit which alone will en-
able US to render effective service
THIS IL an additional experience. but
one open To all who will honestly and
intelligently seek II tsee Acts s:i2.
and other referencesD. This expert
ence = (a) commanded. charged not
to depart till. ETC." tbl to be preceded
by repentance" and (c) to carry with
II authority, v. Z R v. II does not
mean. either. temporal power nor 70 II
the prerogative of q visible church
and confined TO an elect few. This
kingdom 10 a spiritual one. The pro
gram Of Jesus is Spirit.flled men to be
his witnesses. and to begin at Je-
rusalem." A true reception Of the
Holy Spirit means world. wide mission
AIRY endeavor.
Prssumptivs isnsssWss.
~. The Present Pises Of Jesus.
w. ell. Even yet the disciples failed
to grasp the Idea Of . spiritual king
dom as evidenced by verse six. In
a most emphatic way he tells them
that II In not for them to know the
times and seasons which the Father
hath set within his own power" tau
thority. v. Z, r. W. Their power 10
not to be earthly. but spiritual ". 81.
II IL the height Of presumptive isnor
ance for any one to set the date OF
our Lords return (Deut fs:2s).
Jesus has given US explicit informS
ton on this question Matt N:3A
and his parallels all warn 10 -
watch" While Jesus TALKED with
his disciples concerning the recep
ton OF this new power and the place
where they were to begin to exercise
Il, his feet were parted from the earth
and q cloud received him from their
sight as he assembled into heaven"
tLuke 24:5i: Pet s:22: see also
Gen 5:24 and Heb. s:2s r. W.. His
parting benediction was an adjuration
to life OF service not In their weak
ness, but In the blessed enduement
OF power. Yonder into heaven he had
gone to prepare q place for Us John
H:2. Heb. 9:24) There he ever liv-
eth to intercede for US Heb. 7:26).
His presence there makes us eter
nally secure from. s:34. Heb. 7:2b).
His presence In the heavenlies 10 the
guarantee that we. too. shall one day
be with him" John 1926. Rev. 2:2l.
This hope inspires the church TO
evangelism. TO holy living and TO
faithful service. II was necessary that
our Lords work be transferred from
his invisible person
Lifted up he was on Calvary. lifted
up he was into glory. that If ] be
lifted up. viii draw all men unto me-"
Mysterious birth. wondrous life. slorf-
Gus, marvellous ascensioni