Jackson County journal., 1919-06-27

i$$$338&$
aasas.s;sa@ e. \ss%2Z.MMl ture of Christian
living.
Early believers were vividly con-
sciOus Of the crucified, risen and exalt-
ed Savior. The cross was too near to
be merely shadowy object Of history.
The risen Christ had moved among
them dispelling the darkness of their
despair, and giving evidence that he
was indeed the Redeemer of Israel
and the world. He had manifested
himself by many proofs during 40 days,
and then the little group Of disciples
had seen him ascend to heaven, rising
toward the azure blue of the sky and
passing beyond the fringed border of
cloud. More than this, two heavenly
visitors, clad in the white of heavenly
purity, had given assurance that "this
same Jesus" taken up from them into
heaven, would $50 come in like man.
ner," as they had seen him go into
heaven. With this assurance they re-
turned to Jerusalem with great JOY,
not because the Master was gone, but
because they had absolute assurance
|
enly places, and of his glorious and
triumphant return. This vivid con-
sciousness of the risen and exalted
Christ should still be a marked fea-
ture Of Christian experience. It is pos
sible to let thought of church organiza-
ton, UNCONVENTIONAL tenets and
schemes Of effort become so absorbing
as to lose vital consciousness Of
Christ himself.
VitaIIy Interested In His Purpose and
Promises.
Early believers were vitality inter-
ested in the purposes anc promises of
their ascended Lord. They recognized
his worldwide purpose of redemption,
and had no thought of being satisfied
with a successful local organization
in Jerusalem where little company Of
believers could worship in comfort
with but meager thought or sacrifice
fer a worldwide propaganda. They
also depended entirely upon the full
fillment of Christ's promise for power.
He had said: aye shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit is come upon
u.
pectation for the baptism and inf1lling
of the Holy Spirit, which was Christ's
greatest and last promise for their
equipment.
Vivid consciousness Of Christ and vi
tai interest in his purpose and prom
ises produced a third important thing,
which was visible union IL prayer and
s testimony. ''They were oil with one
= accord in one place." United prayer
K marked the fellowship of early be
q levers. God could not have effected
IS the great ends of Pentecost had there
4 not been a unity Of believers in pray
% er and expectation. With such union
. the. power of God came upon them
g and with this there came united tes
IS timony to the world as to what Coo
{ had done and as to what God wOul6
Is ., do for a needy humanity. Pentecos
d made preachers Of all believers. Pc
u occasion. 'They were all filled will
l. the Holy Spirit and began to speal
with other tongues as the Spirit gav'
It them utterance" All believers ar
Of still expected to be witnesses t,
y, Christ A church with united testi
W mony will challenge the attention o
!. the world.
e PentecostaI Features Continued.
n Pentecost can never be repeated Il
the history of the church in it's pr
= mary sense of baptizing believers int
9. one body, so as to give union with tn
ri exalted Christ. The Holy Spirit wa
given for all time at PentecOst, bu
81 the infilling of believers for service
y Gods continued purpose through tn
T. ministry of the Holy Spirit, and whel
n ever men wait with prayer of fait
III there will be the bestowal Of powe
4 Just as surely as the great energy {
u electricity has laws of movement an
81 yields itself to the service of me-
M just so surely is there claw Of til
III spirit of life in Christi which whe
- observed secures for waiting believer
the power of God. There is not
church in hamlet, town or city whiC
may not through faithful waiting {
God have repeated in their experlen,
the pOWer-featureS Of PentecOst,
far as enduement for testimony
concerned and the making of savi1
impression on the souls of men.