Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-12-31
LESSON FOR JANUARY 2
THE ASCENDING LORD.

that the great trouble with Christians ,
is that the life of Jesus for them closes
with the gospels. We seem to fail to
that he is living today as
much and even more than he was nine
teen hundred years ago. The Book of
Acts is continuation of the Gospels
tv. u, and is yet closed book.
|. The Proof of the Resurrection,
w. 1-3. ~ Its reality. No better
proved event is recorded in history
than the resurrection tsee | Cor. 15: A.
81; it stands absolutely unchallenged.
The all sufficient proof was that during
forty days" his disciples had talked
with him concerning the kingdom
Note, it was only his disciples wLo
beheld, his enemies never saw him af
ter Calvary. (2) Its burden. Just be-
fore his ascension Jesus (v. q gave his
disciples definite instructions. com
to tarry in Jerusalem, tb) to be clothed
with power, (c) to go forth and to pro-
claim or herald his sospel During
those intervening days of waiting for
the endowment with power they alone
knew the gospel and men were perish
ing, which gives point to the necessity
of receiving the spirit before under
taking the work of witnessing. To
many the idea of the kingdom" is
nothing more than the question of sal
walton, whereas to be saved is but to
enter into his kingdom. The agent to
carry on his work in the kingdom is
the Holy Spirit.
II. The Promise of the Father, w.
4-s. Read carefully Joel 1928, Isa
44:3. and compare with Luke "a: 40.
and also the words of the Baptizer.
Luke 3:16. (D To receive the Holy
Spirit is an obligation upon all, they
we're charged not to depart from Je-
rusalem" ". A. (See also Eph. 5:1S).
(b) The reception is to be preceded
by repentance for sin. though the con-
fession of sin and the acknowledgment
OF Christ as Savior is only possible
through the spirit Il Cor. 12:3). (cl
With the spirit comes power. author
ity ". D.. This power is Of God, it is
spiritual, it is not temporal" nor of
the church The kingdom is a spirit
ual idea (Luke 17:21) and the vice-re-
gent of that kingdom is the Holy
Spirit. The program of Jesus is
"spirit-flled men as witnesses" and
beginning at Jerusalem" This prom
Use of Jesus Nv. 81 suggested to the
disciples the restoration of Israel to
it's place among the nations and in his
reply he intimates that such is pos
sibility (see lisa. 1:25-27, Eek So: g.
28, Hosea. 3:4, 5, Joel 3:16-21, Amos
9:11-15), but in a most emphatic man.
ner he tells them that of that hour
| God has reserved to himself the
knowledge (Matt. 24:36, Mark 1920.
| dom he does not tell, but when they
should receive power he tells them
plainly, viz: when the spirit should
come upon them. The spirit is not
for mere happiness or qualification
but comes upon us for usefulness (see
( Asp. 81, 33, 5:32, GIT, 29) and that
beginning at home, in Jerusalem
then to the ends of the earth. A spir
TITLED Christian or church is a good
home missionary and foreign evangel
ist as we'll Finishing his message. he
lifted his hands and in benediction he
ascended on high, and this act has
ever since been continued. His ascen
sion is a blessed historical fact, fully
attested and deeply significant He as
cended to lead captivity captive, tt
appear in Gods presence for us in oul
behalf and to prepare place for us
that where he is we may be alst
(Heb. 9:24, John 14:2). His presence
now on high guarantees our presence
there hereafter John 1926, 14:3
Rev, 3:2D.
i'll. The Present Place OF Jesus, w
9-11. While he talked with his disci
pies he assembled even as Enocl
walked land was not" (Gen. 5:24, Heb
9:28, R. W. The query must natural
ly have arisen in their minds, 'Whel
shall we have another interview witt
him?" AS that question arose beholt
two were near to answer ". I0) ant
their answer was a practical one
why stand looking into heaven?
There are times to gaze and times t.
CO. Now is the time to be fulfilling
his command (vv. 4, 12) and not t
be lost in wonder and speculation. Blu
to cheer their hearts these men Il
white gave them, and US. a wonderful
promise, viz, Jesus is coming bach
visibly, personally 1.-THE words of th
original text are very plain and pos
tive) and. as he was received in tn
clouds, he will come in cloud
This promise is and has always bee
the great hope of the church tTitu
2:13).
~. The Place of Prayer, w. 12-1'
The disciples were hidden to tarry,
tarry at a specified place, Jerusalem
and to tarry at specified place for
particular purpose. viz, power" The
obeyed The empowering blessing ca
only be received through obedienc
(Acts 5:32). The time of waiting wa
not idly nor lstlessly passed, for
was spent in prayer.
. The disciples had seen the risen an
!. ascended Lord. had seen him disa
pear in the Shekinah glory beyond th
cloud and their hearts were knit t
gether in common prayer.
"a There was an overwhelming sens
, of their personal relations to him WI
). had taught them during his earth
life and who continued to do and
;, teach after his resurrection.
. Jesus is yet. and shall ever more,
doing and teaching for and throug
those who love him, who look for b
I glorious appearing.
' Next Sundays lesson is the recol
of the answer to their prayer.