Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-01-13
LESSON FOR JANUARY Is.
PETERS SERMON At PENTEcosT,

Comparing verse one Or. W with
the last clause of verse Is. We con-
clude that this was one early morning
prayer meeting which drew a crowd.
In this crowd (vv. 9. l0l and on this
occasion We see in miniature the
evangelism of the world. What Peter
hoped to accomplish is an interesting
speculation and is answered BY his
manner and mode Of testimony. His
famous sermon" consists OF - verses.
and the balance in quotations from
Joel. Psalms. etc.
!. The Empowered Witness, w.. ~.
So. % Peter testified that Jesus Is
alive. Ia These men. speaking by
the power OF the Spirit, are hot drunk.
en-, but are speaking in sobcrness OF
a great fact. tbl This that they hear
is that prophecied by joel l2:2S.
2sl. This Jesus OF whom thAy have
been speaking had fulfilled th.s proph'
ecy by mighty deeds ". 22). by hav.
ing risen from the dead ". 23) and
OF this the disciples were all witnesses
". 32) he had also been exalted
". SS). and his glory Peter had wit.
messed upon the mount III Peter l.:
1919. (2) Peter asserts that whose.
ever believes in Jesus as Lord and
Christ. the Amounted One. the Mes 'iah.
shall be saved wv. 81. So. TAI He
shall be saved from sin and misery in
this world; (b> saved unto a life eter.
nal: (c) he shall receive this same
power the disciples had received. Pc.
ter's witnessing is the same as Jesus
has a right to expect of US, the testi.
mony OF personal experience. backed
up by the word Of God. Jesus vas in.
dorsed by his miracles. the testimony
Of those who had seen him as the
risen Lord and by his fultillment OF
Messianic prophecy.
He was also exalted in the testi.
mony given in all tongues by the EN-.
towering spirit.
H.. The Powerful Result. w. 37.42.
The truth of Peters words vas car.
ried home by the Holy Spirit produc.
ing deep conviction Of sin. % Con.
version. The question of verse 81
las a result. They had seen the
place OF Jesus in the plan Of prophecy
Of God. They saw the boldness OF
these disciples and they also saw
their sin. t2D Confession. Peters an.
swer to their question was plain and
simple. (a) Repent" /. e., change
their minds and their attitude towards
Jesus. from that which had caused
his crucitiXion. to one Of absolute sur.
render, of repentance and remuneration
OF sin; the surrender Of the will to
Jesus as Lord. (2) BE baptized"
Outward water baptism is involved.
but 1t Is the symbol Of the inward
change OF heart, OF the remuneration
of sin, death to self from. 6:4l and
the putting on of Christ tGal. 1926. 2D.
go Continuance ". AZ. Having &C
cepted and comics sed Christ, they were
to teach others, to have fellowship
with believers II. prayer and in break.
ing of bread, to continue in the way"
~. Added Evidence Of Power. w.
43.47. This passage is not a brief for
communism. 1t is interesting to note
that this communism was among be.
levers ". 44). 1t was for a special
occasion, for they had 'tarried at Je.
rusalem' many days, and beyond
doubt had not provided for a long
visit. 1t was according as each had
need" 1t was purely voluntary Is:
4, 81. The Holy Spirit, however. does
bring unity and altruism among be-
levers which expresses itself in social
relations and service. There Is a
difference between the gift of the Holy
Spirit and the Holy Spirits gifts q
Cor. l2). The baptism of the Holy
Spirit or the gift Of the Holy Ghost
is always dependent upon real re,
pentance and Is accompanied by re.
mission of sins. This experience Is
the blood.bought right OF every be.
lever in the Lord Jesus Christ. To
receive Is to take or to claim. and
by simple prayer and faith that to
which we have a right tActs 4:3l; 3:
Is, lG: Luke Heb: | John 5:li. l5).
BY making Jesus Lord and Christ we
shall receive the promise ". 39) which.
Peter declared, was for jewish be.
levers, their children for coming gen.
erations, and "all that are afar on.
even as many as the Lord our God
shall call" |. G., gcntilcs OF every
coming century.
In other words. Pcntecost was but
an episode which ushered in an age.
the age Of the Holy Spirit. and he
is for every child of God. Jewish and
gentle, in every age and in every
church.
The result Is not necessarily some
spectacular demonstration: there was
none with Timothy or with Lydia. but
the individual must enter into the
experience alone. Believers who have
thus been baptized will find fellowship
with other believers, will have power
in testimony and will produce results
upOn the community in which they ave
tGal. 5:22l.
During that apostolic age every new
manifestation of the spirit through Its
accompanying addition to the mum
Der of belicvcrs-"The Lord added day
by day those that were saved . . .
many believers; believers were the
more added multitudes OF
both men and women . the
word of God increased; a great com.
pany OF the priests were obcdient to
the faith"
These and similar references inhi.
Cate the steady and rapid progress OF
the Spirit.iiIIch church.
Peter 8 sermon hOnors the Scripture,
Christ and the Holy Spirit. The spirit
can and does use the living word
in preparing men tor tho kingdom OF
God.
II might be well to ask. Is there any