The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-04-03

of the earth.-Acts 1:S
Important things bear repetition.
Luke, who wrote both the Gospel
and the Acts, presents the ascension
of Christ, His promise of power, and
His command to witness, at the con-
clusion of the Gospel and at the
beginning of the Acts. 1.-THE one is
all sutfused with evening light; the
other is radiant with the promise of
a new day. The one is the record
of a tender farewell; in the other,
the sense of parting has almost been
absorbed in the forward look to the
new phase of relationship which is
to begin. "-(Alexander Maclaren).
1. The Proof of Christ's Resurrec-
ton wv. 1-3).
Before telling of ''the day in which
he was taken up" Luke makes it
clear that the assembled Christ, who
had made the promise of power to
His disciples, was the very one who
died for our sins, but who could not
be holden of death or the grave. He
arose, of which there are indeed
'many infallible proofs" ". 81. At
Easter time we recall the fact that
leading historians and experts in the
field of evidence have declared that
the resurrection is the best estab-
lished fact in all history.
The fact that for forty days after
His resurrection Christ was among
His disciples, speaking to them of
the things of the kingdom of God, is
significant and conclusive proof in
itself.
AS the indispensable dynamic of
their service as His witnesses, He
now assures them that they will
receive power.
ii. The Promise of Christ's Power
wv. 4-8).
They were to tarry in Jerusalem
until the power of the Holy Ghost
came upon them. This took place
on the day of Pentecost (Acts y
when the Holy Spirit came to abide.
We no longer are called on to tarry
for the Holy Spirit to fall on us, for
the moment we believe. He comes
into our lives in blessed abiding
presence. But we do need to tarry,
to wait for His fullness of power,
before we attempt to minister for
Christ. We need to yield to Him for
lis fullness, bringing out emptiness
that He may fill US and then use us.
The disciples had an important
question to ask ". 81 regarding the
restoration of the kingdom. The re-
ply of Jesus turned their attention
from that future matter to their
present obligation to witness for Him
and their need of power for that wit
ness. This does not mean that His
followers are to lack interest in the
Kingdom which Christ will one day
establish, nor that they should fail
to be interested in prophecy and its
fulfllment. 1t does clearly mean
that we must leave times, seasons
and dates to the Lord and be dill
gently about the business of witness
ing for Him.
How greatly the little band of
disciples needed power in that day
to face hostile, unbeieving world,
sunken in bondage to Satan, and
bring to it the convicting and con-
verting message of the gospel. They
received that power, and in spite of
every hindrance the gospel through
the centuries has made its way to
the hearts of men, and won its vic
tories for God.
We need that power today. The
Holy Spirit is here to give it to us,
as we yield our lives to God. There
are many Spirit-empowered men
and women in the Church today, but
relatively their number is small.
Who is ready to yield to His control
now, and thus swell the host of faith
full and effective witnesses?
III. The Pledge of Christ's Return
wv. 9-12).
We mentioned last week that SER
mons are seldom preached on the
ascension of Christ, although it has
an important place in the Bible.
Even more glazing and disturbing
is the failure of preachers and teach
ers to declare the truth of the Sec
ond coming of Christ. The promise
of it is written large on the pages
of the Bible, but some men seem to
ignore it.
How plain and understandable is
the promise in this passage. "This
Jesus"-not some other-"sllall so
come; that is, personally, literal
ly, and visibly. There is no ground
here for spiritualizing, to say, for
example that He comes in death,
or that this was but rnetaphorical
expression.
The text is very plain and en-
phatic. In agreement, we find,
among others, such texts as Luke 81:
z; John 1873; Philippians 1920, 81;
I Thessalonians 1:7-10; l Thessaloni-
ans 4:16; II Timothy 4:8; Hebrews
9:28; Revelation II. Unless we re-
ject Gods Word, we must receive
this truth, and should receive it with
joy, for it is the blessed hope of the
Church Titus 2:13). He is coming
again!