The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-16
INTERNATIONAL,
SUMYS0O0L
Z. LESSON
(By e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 20.
THE ASCENSION.

LESSON TExT-Luke A:5O-5s: Acts IL
GOLDEN TExT-He was X up; and
a cloud received Him out Of their sight
Acts 10. I.
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 tails final earthly act of our Lord
as given US by st. Luke, for the Book
of Acts is continuance Of the Cos
pei of Luke lActs 1:1). Inasmuch as
this Is really but one account we will
consider only that found in the Acts.
1. The Proof of the Resurrection.
wv. 13. This book of 1.-THE Acts" isIa
continuation Of what Jesus began to
do" and gives us the record of how ne
continued this work by means of those
whom he had chosen ". D.. Fol
lowing his resurrection he gave them
commandments through the Holy
Spirit" viz. in the power OF
the Holy Spirit. A like honor rests
upon every believer to hear and to
obey the commands Of Jesus given In
the power and demonstration OF the
Holy Spirit. The all-suficient proof
(see also I Cor. 15:4-s) was that Jesus
had been seen for q period Of 40
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 a burden that these commands
be proclaimed in eve widening cir
cles to the utmost bounds OF the earth.
Additional Experience.
II. The Promise Of the Father.
w. 4-e. 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 to be fulfilled elsa. l433;,
Joel 2:8, also Luke 24:49). 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
1879, 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.
12:3), but we do not all have that in
filling of the Spirit which alone will en-
able us to render effective service.
This is an additional experiences, but
one open to all who will honestly and
intelligently seek it (see Acts 8:12,
and other references). This expert
ence is (a) commanded, charged not
to depart till, etc." (b) to. be preceded
by repentance" and tc) to carry with
1t authority, v. z R. v. 1t does not
mean, either. temporal power nor Is 1t
the prerogative Of a visible church
and confined to an elect few. This
kingdom is a spiritual one. The pro-
gram Of Jesus Is Spirit-hlled men to be
his witnesses, and to begin at Je-
rusalem." A, true reception OF the
Holy Spirit means worldwide mission
airy endeavor.
Presumptlve Ignorance.
H.. Tho Present Place Of Jesus.
w. gil. Even yet the disciples failed
to grasp the idea of a spiritual king
dom as evidenced by verse six. In
a most emphatic way he tells them
that it is not for them to know the
times and seasons which the Father
hath set within his own power" (au-
thority, v. 7, R. W. Their power is
not to be earthly, but spiritual ". 81.
It is the height Of presumptive ignor-
ance for any one to set the date OF
our Lords return (Deut. 29:29).
Jesus has given US explicit informa-'
ton on this question Matt. 24:36),
and his parallels all warn US, to
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
it, his feet we're parted from the earth
and a cloud received him from their
sight as he assembled into heaven"
(Luke 24:51; I Pet. 1922; e also
Gen. 5:24 and Heb. 9:28 R. W. His
parting benediction was an a%djuration
to a life of service not In their weak
ness, but In the blessed enduement
of power. Yonder into heaven he had
gone to prepare a place for us John
14:2, Heb. 9:24.) There he ever liv-
eth to intercede for US (Heb. 7:25)i
His presence there makes US eter-
nally secure from. 1884, Heb. 7:25).
His presence In the h~eavenlies is the
guarantee that we, too, shall one day
be with him" John 1926, Rev. 2:21).
Gazing thus into the heavens, "look-
ing unto Jesus" two men In white
raiment stood by and asked them the
reason for their upward looking.
There Is a time for gazing upward and
a time to be going about the execu-
ton of the Masters commands (see
Oh. 1859. Did they expect another in
terview? If sc the answer to their