The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-01
LESSON FOR JANUARY 2
THE o r
TExT-Acts lila.

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 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
". u, and is yet a closed book.
1. The Proof Of the Resurrection,
w. 1-3. ~ Its reality. No better
proved event is recorded in history
than the resurrection lsee l Cor. 1914
81; it stands absolutely unchallenged.
The all sufficient proof was that during
forty days" his disciples had talked
with him concerning the kingdom.
Note, 1t was only his disciples wlo
beheld, his enemies never saw him af-
ter Calvary. (2) Its burden. Just be-
fore his ascension Jesus ". % gave his
disciples definite instructions, com
mandments Matt. 2S:19, 20, etc. (a)
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
he 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.
4e. Read carefully Joel 1928, lisa.
44:3. and compare with Luke 24:49,
and also the words of the Baptizer.
Luke 3:16. Q) To receive the Holy
Spirit is an obligation upon all, they
were charged not to depart from Je-
rusalem" ". ~ (See also Eph. 5:1S).
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 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 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 ". 81 suggested to the
disciples the restoration of Israel to
Its place among the nations and In his
reply he intimates that such is a fos-S
sibility (see lisa. 1:25-27, Eek. SO: 20.
%. 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 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 (see
Asp. 81, 33, $3.50. GIT, 29) and that
beginning at home, in Jerusalem.
then to the ends of the earth. A snir.
TITLED Christian or church is a good
home missionary and foreign ~eyangel-
list as we'll. Finishing his message, he
lifted his hands and in benediction he
assembled on high, and this act has
since been continued. His ascen.
sion is a blessed historical fact, fully
and deeply significant. He as
cended to lead captivity captive. to
appear in Gods presence for us in our
behalf and to prepare a place for us
that where he is We may be also
(Heb. 9:24, John 14:2). His presence
now on high guarantees our presence
there hereafter John 1925. 14:3.
Rev. 3:21).
III. The Present Place of Jesus. Wv
s-11. While he talked with his disci.
pies he assembled even as Enoch
walked land was not" (Gen. 5:24. Heb.
s;2S, r. W. The query must natural
ly have arisen in their minds, when
we have another interview with
AS that question arose behold
were near to answer ". I0) and
answer was a practical one:
Why stand looking into heayen?"
There are times to gaze and times IN
Now is the time to be fulfilling
his command (vv. 4, 12) and not to
be lost In wonder and speculation. But
to cheer their hearts these men IN
white gave them. and us. a wonderful
promise, viz, Jesus Is coming back
personally 1.-THE words of he
original text are very plain and posi.
tlVe) and. as he was received in the
clouds. he win come in a cloud.
This promise is and has ALWAYS hean
he great hope of the church tTitus
2:13).
~. The Place of Prayer, Wv. 1914.
rhe disciples were hidden to tarry. to
larry at a specified place, Jerusalem.
md to larry at a specified place for q
particular purpose. viz. "po yer" They
'Deyed. The empowering blessing can
'niy be received through obedience
Acts 5;S2l. The time OF waiting was
1ot idly nor ~listlessly passed. for IL
vas spent in prayer.
The disciples had seer the risen ana
iscended 1 ord mad seen him disan-
'ear In the Shekinah glory beyond the
and their hearts we're Knit To-
In common PRAYER