Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-14

refutation was logical. He reminded
them of the fact that it was only 9
o'clock in the morning. and drunkenness
was impossible at that hour. Oriental
lists tell us that 1t was the Jewish law
to touch no wines until after the morn
ing prayer, which was at o'clock. His
negation however, was not so strong as
drunkenness" he said, but this is that,
which was spoken by Joel the prophet
He shows a marvellous knowledge of
scripture, being able to quote at length
from Joel and the Psalms. No doubt
he had studied these passages as boy,
but without any conception of their real
meaning until now, being filled with the
Holy Spirit, he was enlightened and able
to Sc their cal import. He showed now
this phenomena was but a partial ful-
flment of Joel's prophecy, the very thing
that they ought to have expected If they
had been as careful students of their
scriptures as they should have been.
Then he began Immediately to preach
Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and eXalt-
ed. In a very few words-and this IS
one of the marvels of the Holy Spirit
power of condensation-he gave, a sue.
cinct history of the life of Jesus OF
Nazareth, showing that He must be, and
that no other could be, the Messiah for
whom they had long looked, Brleny
stating this he showed this Jesus as
man, human in every respect approved OF
God by signs which He had done, cruel
fed by them. raised from the dead by
God. witnessed by the disciples, exalted
at the right hand of the Father, and all
of this proved by the fact that He hath
shed forth this which they now see and
hear. rv,
"HE HATH SHED FORTH THIS"
The sum and substance of Peters ex-
nlanation headed up in the Lordsnlp OF
t-,e Messiah, who was none other than
Jesus of Nazareth; and as Lord, lie mao
given this seal of His authority by SEND eno
ing the Spirit of God to dwell In every
heart and effect the change IN their
lives, to enable them to DO innings
which they could not otherwise 40
The explanation which Peter nlauS
mas that these men were not drunk WIN
fermented spirits, but with the Spirit OF
cod. and that, as men under the IN
Nuence- of liquor would do things wnlch
they would not and could not otherwise
do. under the influence or the Spiiit VI
God they had done things winch they
otherwise could not do
One of the things was the holiness Oh
Peter. His sermon was logical clear'
scriptural, convincing. bold, dogmatic'
and doctrinal The effect OF II was 10
produce conviction in the hearts Oh hls
hearers, a conviction whlch leu 10 d clS
for mercy. a complete change OF their
lives. which we speak of as conversion
and communion. Three thousand re-
snonded to the invitation which ne gave
that day to repent and be baptzed IN
the name of the Lord Jesus that tney
might receive remission or tneh SINS
And as the result of that change in their
lives they had fellowship one with an
other: they had all trings common; this
is communion.
been foretold by the prophets. 1t Is tor
Won and your children, and to all VINO
far off. even to as many as the Lord
our God shall call You are included In
the offer which God makes to you that
He will give you the fullness OF HIS
Shirt If YOU will receive Him.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the
result of the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
He was not shed forth until after Jesus
had been exalted at the right hand OF
God. the Father. The Holy Spirit can"
not be shed forth in your life until you
have exalted Jesus as Lord and Christ.
The moment you give your allegiance to
Him as the Lord of your life to control
YOUR thoughts and motives and plans,
that moment He will shed forth His
Spirit in your heart.
And when He has come in, there Will
be change in your life just as marked
as there was in Peters. Your witness
ing will be with power as Peters was
You may not be the preacher that ne
was, but you will be enabled to DO
things for the glory of God with COM
parable results. Have you received the
Holy Spirit?