Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
LESSON FUR DECEMBER 2
THE POWER OF THE EARLY
CHURCH

LESSON TEXT-Acts 2:l-s: 37-42.
GOLDEN TENT-"Whosoever snail
call upon the name OF The Lord shall
be saved'-Acts 2:2l.
PRIMARY IOPlC - Fster Telling
About Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPlC-Three Thousand
Converted IN one Day.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-A Brave Preacher and "a Great
Revival
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Source of Missionary Power
The power of The early church was
the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit has
been the power of the churcl in all
ages. The wutchword of Gods might
lest men throughout the centuries has
been, Not by might nor by power.
but by my spirit saith the Lord of
Hosts" Czech. 4:6.) The migntlest
forces In the world are spiritual.
!. Tho Coming of the Spirit tActs
2 IA.
l. Time OF ". ~. 1t was on the
day of Pentecost. DAY of Pentecost'
means the feast which wus held fifty
days after the wave sheaf was Of
fered U.ev. 23 1910. 1t was OBJ
served by presenting two loaves made
of the new wheat (Iev. % 10. These
loaNes were baked with heaven. while
leaven was excluded from the Pass
over feast Uev. % :6). The reason
was that the Passover feast typitied
Christ's So -rllce, while Tentecost reT
resented the church. composed of J ,ws
and Gentiles-the two loaves. Christ
had no sin in Him while the men and
women composing the church have sin
in them
The feast of Pentecost in a tigura-
tive sense still continues. for the body
of Christ is not yet complete. Pente-
cost was a most fitting time for the
coming of the Spirit.
2. Upon Whom the Spirit Came (v.
/; CT. 1915.
The twelve and others to the num-
Der of 12O. The coming of the Sn.rit
was not merely for the twelve t for
all believers-members of the body OF
Christ. They were in ''one place, with
one accord" waiting for the fulfill
ment of Fathers promise" Uuke
"a :49). With group of believers thus
with eyes fixed upon Christ in expecta-
tion of the fultiiiment of His Iromises.
wonderful blessings are sure to come.
If the church would be with one ac-
cord in one place wonderful blessings
would come still.
II. The Marks Of the Spirit wv. 2-4.)
These marks were external and in
ternal.
l. External.
~ the Sound of Mighty Wind.
There was no win1-only the sound
thereof. This suggests the all-pervasive
lifegiving influence of the Holy Spirit.
(2) Tongues of Flame. Each of the
120 was crowned with such a tongue.
pose of the Spirits gifts. and the fire
indicates His purifying energy, plrg-
ing the dross and making fit witnesses
for Him.
(3) Speaking In Foreign Tongues.
For these humble Galileans to thus
speak caused great amazement.
.. Internal.
This is seen In the transformation
wrought in the disciples. They have
great courage and self-possessiun.
Peter, who Il little while before was
covering before Jewish maid. now
with lion boldness stood before the
thousands of Jerusalem and a little
later before the chief rulers Of the
city and declared that they had mur-
dered their King.
III. The Converting Power Of tho
Holy Spirit (Acts . :37 -42).
Many people were convicted of their
sins-about three thousand repented
and were baptized. This revival was
real because:
l. They continued steadfast in the
apostles teaching. They did not grow
cold or run after every fad that came
along. This is the real test of con-
version.
2. They continued In fellowship with
Is to keep in fellowship with Chris
tians Death is sure to follow the
neglect OF the fellowship of the
brethren In Christ.
3. In using the means of grace. In
the breaking of bread" God has in
stituted ordinances in His house and
those who are genuinely converted
will avail themselves of their Use.
4. In prayer the apostolic church
life cannot be lived without prayer.