Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-12-30
LESSON FOR JANUARY 2
THE ASCENDING LORD.

LIE ASCEN0tNG GOHD.
LESSON TExT--Acts 1:1-l<
GOLDEN TExT-When he ascended on
high. he led captivity captive. and gave
gifts unto men.-Eph. 49,
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 iH continuation of the Gospels
". -, and is yet q closed book.
!. The Proof Of the Resurrection.
w. 1-3. ~ Its reality. No bette.
proved event is recorded in history
than the resurrection (see Cor. 1861
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 who
beheld, his enemies hever saw him ar
ter Calvary. (2) Its burden. Just be-
fore his ascension Jesus ". b gave his
disciples definite instructions, CON-
mandments Matt. 28:19, 20. etc. (a)
to tarry in Jerusalem, Obj to be clothed
with power, Co 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.
II. The Promise Of the Father, w.
4-8. Read carefully Joel 2:2s, lisa.
44:3, and compare with Luke 24:49,
and also the words of the Baptizer,
Luke 3:16. % To receive the Holy
Spirit is an obligation upon all, they
were charged not to depart from Je-
rusalem" ". A (See also Eph. 5:18).
OBJ 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 q Cor 12:3). Co
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 a 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
it's place among the nations and In his
reply he intimates that such is pos
sibility (see lisa. 1:25-27, Eek. 49,
%, 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.
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 (see
1912, 81, 33, 5:32. GIT, 29)-an that
beginning at home, in Jerusalem.
then to the ends of the earth. A spir
home missionary and foreign evangel>
list as well. Finishing his message, he
lifted his hands and in benediction he
assembled 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, 20
appear in Gods presence for US in our
beh.ase and to prepare place for US
that where he is we may be also
(Heb. 1924, John 1879. His presence
now on high guarantees our presence
there hereafter John 1926, 1873,
Rev. 3:21).
~. The Present Pface Of Jesus, w.
cit. While he talked with his disci-
pies he assembled even as Enoch
walked land was not (Gen. 5:24. Heb
1928. R. w. The query must natural
ly have arisen in their minds. when
shall we have another interview with
him?" AS that question arose behold
two were near to answer ". 10) and
their answer was a practical one:
why stand looking into heaven?"
There are times to gaze and times to
go. Now is the time to be fulfilling
his command wv. 4, 12) and not t.
be lost in wonder and speculation. But
to cheer their hearts these men in
white gave them, and us, wonderful
promise, viz, Jesus is coming back.
visibly, personally (the words of the
original text are very plain and posi-
tive) and, as he was received in the
clouds, he will come in cloud.
This promise is and has always been
the great hope of the church Titus
2:13).
w. The Place Of Prayer, w. f2-14.
The disciples were hidden to tarry, to
tarry at a specified place. Jerusalem,
and to tarry at specified place for
particular purpose, viz, power" They
obeyed The empowering blessing can
only be received through obedience