Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-29
LESSON FOR DECEMBER z
THE POWER OF THE EARLY
CHURCH

/. CHURCH
LESSON TExT-Acts 1:1-S; s7-l1
GOLDEN T1xT-.Whoaoever sshall
ell upon the name Of the Lord shall
~ Asd."-Acts 2:21.
r NARY TOPIC Peter Isliips
Jt6lloR roP1c-rhres Thousand
oeQvertsd Ia One Day. ~
T1tTrR1(ED1ATE AND SENIOR TOP
Ca IFHss Preschsr snd Great
ToUN0 PEoPI.E AND ADULT TOPIC
The Source 81 AissfonAry Power.
Tho power Of the early church was
ths Holy Spirit. This same Spirit has
been the power of the church In Al
ages. The watchword Of Gods might
lett men throughout the centuries has
been. mot By might nor by power.
but BY my sptrit saith the Lord Of
Hosts" Czech. 4:6.) The mightiest
forces in the world are spiritual.
l. The Coming Of the Spirit (Acts
2:14. s..
j Il. Time OF ". ~ IA IT. was on the
day ,of Peutecpst. DAY .of Pentecost''
means the feast which was held fifty
days after the wave sheaf was Of
fared (Lev. % 1870. II was OBJ
served by presenting two 'oaves made
Of the new wheat (Lev. % ;1EAs These
leaves were baked with leaven, while
heaven was excluded from the Pass
over feast (I4ev. % 80. The reason
was that the Passover feast typi1ed
Christ's sacrifice. while Pentecost rep
resented the church. composed Of Jews
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 fgura-
tive sense still continues, for the body
q Christ Is not yet complete. Pente-
cost was most fitting time for the
coming Of the Spirit.
2 Upon Whom the Spirit Came ".
/: CT. 1:13-15). -
The twelve and others to the mum
Der of 40. The coming Of the Spirit
was not merely for the twelve but for
Christ. They were Ii zone place. with
one accord" waiting for the fulfill
nsnt Of "Fathers promise Lake
n :40). with Z group Of bslievefs thus
with eyes flxed upon Christ IN expscta-
hon OF the ful6llmefit Of Ems promises.
wonderful blessings are sure to come.
II the church would be with one ac-
eotd In one place wonderful blessings
would come. still.
H. The Marks 81 the Spirit wv. 2-4.)
These marks were external and in
tsrnal.
/. External y.
az The Sound Of Mighty Wind.
There was no wtnd-only the sound
thereof. This suggests the all-pervasivs
nfe-giving influence Of the Holy Spirit.
(2) Tongues Of Flame. Each Of the
12O was crowned with such Z tongue.
The tongues show the practical pur-
pose Of the Spirits gifts. and the Ore
Indicates His purifying energy. purg-
Ing the dross and making ct Witnesses
for Him.
(s) Speaking IN Foreign ATongues.
For these humble Galileans to thus
speak caused great amezensnt. s
2. Internal.
This Il seen n the Transformation
wrought In the disciples, m They have
great courage and SELF fpossesaion.
Peter, who little while before was
covering before Jewish hdid, MOVE
With lion holiness stood before the
Thousands OF Jerusalem and . little
later before the chief rulers Of the
city and declared that they had muir
dered their King, .xfsss,szs
III. The Converting Power Of the
Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-42).
Many people were convicted Of their
sins-about three thousand repented
and were baptized. This revival was
real because:
/. They continued esdfast In the
spostles' teaching. They did not grow
cold or run after every fad that came
along. This II the real test Of con-
v~rsiS,nF hi
2. They continued In Fellowship with
the apostles. The surest way to grow
y to keep In fellowship with Chris
dams. Death Is sure to- follow the
aesisct Of the feIlowA1lp Of the
brethren In Christ.
5. 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
was praying church. The Christian
lite cannot be lived without prayer.
Good peadn.