The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1917-05-31
A SERMON DELIVERED AT THE
M. E. CHURCH. SUNDAY MORN
ING, MAY 20, BY w. F. PITTS.

ING, MAY 20, BY W. +. PITTS.
eve do hear them speak in our
tongues the wonderful works of
God" Acts 2:II.
One of the greatest religious
scenes the world ever witnessed was
consummated with the coming of
Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was
poured out on ministers and men,
beers of the Christian Church. Repre-
sentatives from all parts of the
civilized world were in Jerusalem to
celebrate the Jewish Feast Of
Weeks. Under the influence of the
Spirit, the Apostle Peter delivered
a sermon that swept three thousand
souls into the Kingdom. After the
marvellous events of 1900 years and
repeated displays of Divine power in
the Church nothing has happened
to equal Pentecost in power, slgnl-
ficance and far-reaching influence.
The power of Pentecost has gone to
the ends of the earth and stirred
every denomination of the Christian
Church.
The Son of God had finished his
work, taught his last lesson, spoken
his last parable, delivered his last
sermon, performed his last miracle,
suffered, died, risen, assembled to
glory. A few days before ne told
his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem
until endued with power for their
world commission. When his dis
ciples wept at the thought of his
going away, he said, at is expedient
for YOU that l go away; for if go
not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if depart, |
will send him unto you. He shall
glorify me: for he shall receive OF
mine and show it unto YOU. 1e
shall receive power after that the
HOLY Ghost is come upon you. and
We shall become witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem and in all Judea,
and in Samaria and unto the utter
most parts of the earth" The Dis
ciples had received the highest
theological training in the School OF
Christ, but they needed the baptism
of the Spirit for their tremendous
work.
After ten days and nights in pray
err the Spirit descended upon them
from heaven as a rushing mighty
wind and filled the house
where they were, and sat upon. each
of them as cloven tongues OF hre.
They were enabled to speak IN many
languages they had not learned.
Visitors said they were drunk on new
wine. St. Peter answered that the
remarkable display of power, ton.
CUES and fire was the fultillment OF
the prophecy of Joel: "And it shall
come to pass in the last days that /
will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh. and your sons and daughters
shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men
shall dream dreams, and on my
servants and on my handmaidens
nl pour out my Spirit, and they
-. z il sffiallll come to
Z 10 rs IS christ shah
1be saved" -, Ia
Notice a few things which entered
into the necessary preparation Tor
this revival; for it came not une%-
nectedly. nor without special pre-
marathon. % There was a special
time which God honored. God
works on time and by method. lie
never does things at haphazard'
Everything in the Universe moves
according to well-ordered, system,
the sun, moon, stars, sect time ana ana
harvest summer and winter. =
There was special place. w "''
the disciples it was an upper room;
With us the meeting place with Uou
is the Church. The Jew that was
absent received not the big blessing
of Pentecost. We ought to pray at
home. on the streets, in shop ana
store as we work, but Solomon
teaches us that the best place to pray
Is the house of God. Pentecost
proves it. 81 They were OF one
ccord-united-o one mind-no
debates. dissension, contentious, d.
visions-no malice, hate, or unfof-
giving spirit, but absolute harmony
and Iove-they all thought and spoke
fine same thing, and waited and pray,
ed for the same great blessing, ana
thank God it came. God cannot
bless A divided Church, nor can a
divided Church ever stand against
Itself or it's enemies. (4) The bless
ing came suddenly. l do not thlnk
MANY people ever get converted or
bantized with the Holy Ghost gradu-
allv. although some may. 1t came
suddenly like a mighty cyclone; ana
when it came it moved things There
was mower in it. The dynamo, OF
heaven was turned loose and wonder
full things happened.
Thank God the great leaders OF
the Methodist Church are waking up
to the tremendous need OF the
Spirits power. l have just READ q
marvellous sermon by our Bishop
Berry in the Methodist Advocate
Journal in which he pleads for 1 me
nraver life and the Spirit-hlled me
throughout Methodism. . tha1
more of our great leaders would
thus speak out. We preachers ne e,9
Il. The great Church needs 1t. we
have no right to let the world perish
when God has placed within our
reach power to save it. We nave nc
right to allow the temples of God 70
90 to ruin and remain empty. we we
have the power of learning OF wealth.
of numbers of machinery, ou'
more than these we need the power
Of Gods Spirit to do Gods work.
Please notice the miracle of tongues ,gG,
and it's significance. Ihey
spake with other tongues as s5r In !