The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-01-02
IMPROVES umroRn INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSQlOOL
LESSON
(By REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1890 Western Newspaper union)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 4
PETER breaches AT PENTEcosT

PETER BREACHES AT PENTEcosT
| LESSON TEXT-Acts 2:1-42.
| GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoever shall can
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
| Acts 2;21
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Joei 2:2S-s2:
John 16;7-15; Acts 1:1-26
| PRIMARY TOPIC-Peter telling about
Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The Story of Pente-
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOP
| IC-Three Thousand Won in a Day.
| YOUNG PEOPLES AND ADULT
| TOPIC-The Permanent Meaning of Pen
tecost.
I. The Day of Pentecost Fully
Come wv. 1-13).
1. Significance of the day. Pente-
cost means fifty" 1t was the feast
held fifty days after the wave-sheaf
Offering (Lev. % :16). The wave sheaf
typified the resurrection of Christ Il
Cor. Is :20-23).
2. The gift wv. 2-4). On this day
the Holy Spirit came upon the dis
ciples in a new way, and from that
time forward he has worked on new
basis. having the crucfied. risen and
ascended Christ to present to the
world.
8. Upon whom the Spirit came ".
/, cf. :13-15)-the twelve and others,
both men and women to the number or
| one hundred and twenty, showing that
the gift of the Holy Spirit was for all
believers. 1t was for this promise
of the Father" that the disciples were
to tarry at Jerusalem Guke "a :49).
4. The marks of the Spirit wv. 2-4.
The sound of a mighty wind ". y.
This is suggestive of the mysterious,
aIl-persuasive and powerful energy
of the Spirit. Tongues of flame
| ". 81. Tongues show the practical
purpose of the Spirits gift-wit-
Messing; and the fire indicates his
purifying energy burning up the
dross, making effective witnessing
for Christ (c) Speaking in foreign
tongues ". ~. This was temporary
endowment for this special purpose.
5. The effects wv. 5-13). D The
multitude were filled with amazement
and wonder. for these common men
were transformed into men of power
and influence (2) Some mocked and
foolishly accused the disciples of be-
ip- tr+n-ic~4ei' --------- -----.--4--
II. Peters Sermon wv. 14-4O.
His analysis is perfect. He begins
with brief defense and scriptural
explanation of the phenomena OF
tongues wv 14-2D. and by three
fold argument proves the Messiahship
of Jesus wv. 22-36).
1. The introduction wv. 14-2D. ~
| atx1Ia n nSt
charge of being drunk ". 15). This
he does by citing Jewish customs.
showing that they would not be drunk
at such an early hour of the day. (2)
A scriptural explanation. He shows
that it was a partial fulfillment of that
which Joel predicted (vv. 1921, CT.
Joel 2 :2S-32) would come to pass be-
fore the Messianic judgment namely,
an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and
the salvation of all who car upon
the name of the Lord.
2. The argument wv. 22-36). 1t is
threefold: "a From Christs works
(v. 22). He was approved of God
among the Jews by his miracles, won
ders and signs which God did by him
in their midst, with which they were
familiar (2) From his resurrection
wv. 23-32). The Old Testament scrip
lures had foretold the death and resur-
rection of Christ (Psalms 16:S-10).
The disciples were living witnesses of
Christ's resurrection. for they had
seen and talked with him, and handled
him since his resurrection ". 32). I'D
From his ascension to be at the right
hand of God ". 32). The proof that
he had ascended on high was the won
derful miracle of the Spirits operation
in their midst; for he had said that
upon his ascension into heaven he
would send forth the Spirit. The con-
cluson is that Jesus of Nazareth is
both Lord and Christ, the one of whom
Joel prophesied ". 36), and that the
Jews are guilty of an awful crime in
crucifying him.
4. The effect of the sermon wv. 81
42). Many people were convicted OF
their sins, some 5000 of whom re-
pented and were baptized. The daily
life of these believers was proof of
the Spirits gift. The evidence that
| the coming of the Spirit was real is
that 1) they continued steadfastIy in
the apostolic teaching ". 42) that is,
they were learning about Jesus Christ,
being taught by the apostles instead
of the scribes; they turned away from
their blind guides and followed new
ones. (2) They continued in fellow
ship with the apostles ". 42). This
fellowship was in the spirit around
Christ as the head the one body be-
ing Illustrated by the one loaf. t3)
They continued in prayer ". 42).