The Red Cloud chief., 1915-12-30
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSQlO0L
LESSON
CBy r. o. SELLERS. Acting Director Of
the Sunday School Course OF the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR JANUARY z
THE ASCENDING LORD.
.EssON TgxT-Ac,.f. ,.tl


nigh, he led captivity captive. and gave
gifts unto men.-Eph. 4S.
More and more we are convinced
that the great trouble with Christians
is that the life of Jesus for them closes
with the gospels. We seem to fail to
comprehend that he is living today as
much and even more than he was nine.
teen hundred years ago. The Book Of
Acts Is a continuation OF the Gospels
". -, and is yet a closed book
I. Tho Proof OF the Resurrection,
w. 1.3. % Its reality. No better
proved event is recorded in history
than the resurrection (see Cor. Is. a
81; 1t stands absolutely unchallonged.
The all sufficient proof was that during
forty days" his disciples had talked
with him concerning the kingdom.
Note, 1t was only his disciples who
beheld his enemies never saw him af.
ter Calvary. (2) its burden. Just be-
fore his ascension Jesus ". q gave his
disciples definite instructions. com.
mandments Matt. 28: 10, 20, etc.) ta)
to tarry in Jerusalem, (b) to be clothed
with power. (c) to go forth and to pro-
claim or herald his gospel. 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.
u. The Promise Of the Father, w
4-8. Read carefully Joel 1928, lisa
44:3, and compare with Luke 24:49,
and also the words of the Baptizer.
Luke 3:l6. % To receive the Holy
Spirit is an obligation upon all, they
were charged not to depart from Je.
rusalem" ". ~ (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. 1879. tc)
| With the spirit comes power, author.
ity ". y. This power is of God, it Is
spiritual. it is not temporal nor of
the church. The kingdom Is spirit.
ual idea luke 17:2D and the vice-re.
| gent of that kingdom Is the Holy
Spirit. The program of Jesus Is
"spirit-filled men as witnesses" and
beginning at Jerusalem" This prom
Use of Jesus ". 81 suggested to the
disciples the restoration of Israel to
its place among the nations and in his
reply he intimates that such is pos
sibility tsee lisa. 1:25-27. Eek. 49,: 3D.
| 90, Hosea. "a, 5, Joel 3: 1921. Amos
| BILLED. but in most emphatic man
| ner he tells them that OF that hour
God has reserved to himself the
knowledge Matt. "a :36. Mark 1927
When they were to receive the king.
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 lsee
Asp, 81, 33, 5:32. 9:l7. 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
list as well. Finishing his message, he
lifted his hands AM in benediction he
assembled Oh 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. t
appear in Gods presence for US in oul
behalf and to prepare a place for u!
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. 3:2I.
III. The Present Place Of Jesus. w
Gil. While he talked with his disc
pies he assembled even as Enocl
walked land was not" (Gen. 5:24, Hell
: 9:2S, r. W. The query must natural
ly have arisen in their minds, "Whel
shall we have another interview wit
: him." AS that question arose behol
two were near to answer ". 100 ant
their answer was practical one
3 "Why stand looking into heaven?
There are times to gaze and times t
= go. Now is the time to be fulfillin
D his command wv. 4. 12) and not (
: be lost In wonder and speculation. Blu
: to cheer their hearts these men !
: white gave them, and us, wonderfl
r promise, viz, Jesus is coming bacl
Q visibly, personally (the words OF tn
I original text are very plain and pos
p tive) and, as he was received In tn
Q clouds, he will come in a cloud.
. This promise is and has always bee
the great hope OF the church (Titu
2:13).
". The Place Of Prayer, w. 12-t
a The disciples were hidden to tarry.
II tarry at a specified place, Jerusaler
4. and to tarry at a specified place for
n particular purpose, viz, power" The
Il obeyed. The empowering blessing ca
\. only be received through obedien'
a. (Acts $500. The time OF waiting W,
v. not idly nor listlessly passed, for
r. was spent in prayer,
"a Jesus is yet, and shall ever more,
a