The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-01-05

great days in the life of the Jewish
church, and accounts for there being
so many persons from all parts OF the
then known world at Jerusalem at the
time told of in the lesson.
1t will be remembered that Jesus be-
fore going away told His disciples to
tarry at Jerusalem until they should
receive power from God. He said, "Ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon YOU" We learn in
our lesson of last Sunday that the
disciples did return to the city after
the ascension and were with one &C
cord together in prayer and supplica-
ton. 1t was after these days Of prep.
aration that the wonderful event of
the descent of the Holy Spirit took
place.
There is often hindrance to believ-
ing and understanding the bible by the
limitations of the powerful words to
rightly convey to us spiritual things.
Our bible as it comes to us has been
translated number of times. II IS
always a mistake to place great stress
on the words rather than upon the idea
meant to be conveyed. The record
tells us of sound from heaven as Of
rushing of mighty wind and some
thing like fire which was seen and that
then "They were all filled with the
Holy Ghost and began to speak in var.
ious tongues" What may have been
the way it appeared to the writer, the
effect was changed natures for the dis
ciples, and those on whom the Holy
Spirit descended. Things were super
naturally done that day, for the dis
ciples were given power to speak in
languages which before to them were
unknown, so that the gospel message
was given to many diverse peoples on
that day, who. upon going to their
homes, were able to tell what they had
seen and heard.
1t is not called for us here to enter
into talk on the Trinity" Father,
Son and Holy Ghost. 1t is sufficient
to know that Jesus told His disciples
that new force or power would come
to the world and to them after He had
gone from them personally. He said
that it was expedient that He go away
50 that the Comforter might come, and
that He would lead them into further
knowledge Of the truth. The bible rec
ord tells us that with the coming of
the Spirit the disciples were seeming.
ly changed in nature; that whereas
they had been doubling and fearful,
now they spoke with bOldness: now
they seemed to have a new insight in
to the coming of Jesus; His fulfillment
of the Old Testament promises, and
what it was necessary for mankind to
do to be saved from their sins.
Every true christian has felt the in
dwelling OF the Holy Spirit in his or
her heart. All have seen the effects
of such indwellihg in the lives and
conduct of others. AS a result OF the
five weeks revival meetings held in
this city by Evangelist Forsythe there
seemed to be downpouring of the
spirit of God on hundreds of people.
No one heard sound or saw tongues
of fire on the person OF the new con-
verts, but there was and is seen re-
markable change in their lives. Men
whose lives apparently were given
over to cursing, carOusing. drunken
ness, filthy words and thoughts. seem
as new men before the community.
They seem clothed in their right
minds" They are loving, peaceful,
their words show no violent passions
of hate and i'll will toward neighbOrs,
they are delight to be with. They
certainly have a new spirit within
them; they seemed to have been
.born again." No mere human agen-
cy could have accomplished this. 1t
is more than turning over new leaf
with the resolve to live different life.
/ have no trouble in believing all that
is said as to the occurrences on the
Day of Pentecost, when having before
my eyes the incoming of the same spir-
it spoken of in the lives of dozens
whose names could be given.
Let it be noted that those on whom
the new spirit came were prepared for
it by prayer and earnest desire. There
was a preparation of heart and readi-
ness to receive. This means that If