Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-12-18

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 is a continuance of the Cos
pei of Luke (Acts LID. Inas1nuch as
this is really but one account we will
consider only that found in the Acts.
l. The Proof Of the Resurrection.
Wv. 1-3. This book of ''The Acts" is a
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 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-sufficient proof
(see also Cor. 15:4-S) was that Jesus
had been seen for a period Of 40
days. This is the many infallible
proofs" During that time they not
alone saw the risen Lord, but con-
yersed 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 burden that these commands
be proclaimed in ever widening cir
cles to the utmost bounds Of the earth
Additional Experience.
II. The Promise Of the Father.
w. 4-8. The disciples were not to be-
gin the proclamation of their message
until they were Sully equipped, until
they had received that all essential
preparation, the enduement of the
Holy Spirit. Here, again, the Scrip
lures are to be fulfilled lisa. 44:3:
Joel 2:S. 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 1910;
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.
1879 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 experience, but
one open to all who will honestly and
intelligently seek 1t (see Acts 6:12,
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
it authority, Y, z R.y, 1t does u0tl
mean, either, temporal power nor Is IL
the prerogative of visible church
and confined to an elect few This
! kingdom is 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 worldwide mission
airy endeavor.
PresumptIve Ignorance. a
Ili. The Present Place of Jesus.
Wv. Gil. 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 it is not for them to know the
times and seasons which the Father
hath set within his own power" eau
thority, v. z. R. w. Their power is
not to be earthly. but spiritual w. g..
1t is the height of presumptive ignor-
ance for any one to set the date OF
our Lords return tDeut 29;29).
Jesus has given US explicit informa-
tion on this question (Matt. :36l.
and his parallels all warn us to
watch While Jesus talked with
his disciples concerning the recep-
tion of this new power and the place
where they were to begin to exercise
it, his feet were parted from the earth
and a cloud received him from their
| sight as he ascended into heaven
(Luke 24:51: / Pet. 1922; see also
Gen. 5:24 and Heb. 9:2S r. VI. His
| parting benediction was an adjuration
| 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 place for us John
14:2, Heb 9:24) There he ever liy-
eth to intercede for us Heb. 7:25).
| His presence there makes us eter-
nally secure (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25)
His presence in the heavenlies 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 time for gazing upward and
time to be going about the execu
ton of the Masters commands (sea
ch. 1850. Did they expect another in
| terview? II SO the answer to their
question is suggested in the words OF
the heavenly messengers, this Jesus,
which was received up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner
as We behold him going into heaven"
! (R. VI. For nearly two thousand
years the church has been waiting for
another interview with her risen Lord.
We are looking for another Jesus, but
this same Jesus Just as he went,
personally, visibly, and in great
| glory" What a mockery to say that
| (R. W. What mockery to say that
he came in 1874 or any other year,
or that in.1914 he came with spiritual
power, the manifestation of which ia
yet to be seen. Or on the other hand,
il we honestly face his parallels, what
need that we watch" II his coming be
not till after the millennium? This
promise is the great hope of the
church (Titus 2:13): for that return,
we are not only to be ready, but earn
estly looking (Rev. 22:3e).
This hope inspires the church to
evangelism, to holy living and to
faithful service. 1t 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, will draw all men unto me. =
Mysterious birth. wondrous life. glori-
| GUS, marvellous ascensionl
Ao thio 10 rriffan E,rrono &c hafhoS