Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-04-17

ALL.
In the right place at the right
time and in the right attitude
these are unfailing conditions Of
divine blessing.
Note also how fitting it was that
on that Sunday morning-evidently
in the upper room-the disciples
were with one accord in one
place." ready for the great gift of
power and grace for life and minis
try which God had for them, and
through them for the world. One
wonders what might happen today
II Christian people would be in
Gods house on the Lords day, in
complete accord and unity. expect
ant. looking for His blessing.
L The Holy Spirit Poured Out
Ola.
1--WE are not to imagine that at
this Pentecost He first came into
the world. In all ages He had been
imparting life and guidance and
strength and holiness to the people
Of God; but He was now to work
with a new instrument, namely, the
truth concerning a crucified, risen,
assembled, divine Saviour. For the
proclamation of this truth the
Church was the appointed agent. The
story Of Pentecost, therefore, is the
first chapter in the history of the
Church as it witnesses for Christ,
and 1t embodies the impressive les
son that in all successful Witnessing
the power Is that of the Spirit and
the instrument is the message of the
gospel"
The outpouring of the Spirit on the
day Of Pentecost was accompanied
by signs of great power. and a spe-
cial enduement which enabled all
the strangers in Jerusalem to hear
the gospel in their own tongue.
This ability to speak in foreign lam
guages not previously learned was
merely a temporary endowment
granted for a special purpose. It
was one of those miraculous spiritu-
al gifts which marked the age Of
the apostles. In modern times the
claim to possess this power has
never been established on credible
evidence, nor Is the dominance of
the Spirit in the Life Of believer
to be tested by the presence of any
special gift" Charles r. Erdman).
II. Mighty Works Performed a:
81.
Reference is made here to the
healing Of the lame mana miracle
which resulted in the Imprisonment
Of Peter and John. It was a work
Of power, but only the first of many
which the disciples were to perform.
An even greater work was that Of
the Spirit-filled preaching Of the
gospel which brought 1000 souls into
the church (2:41). AS we marvel at
that event. we need also to keep be-
fore US the recurring day-by-day
miracle Of the regeneration Of in
dividuals (2:4D. This was, and Is,
accomplished through the teaching
Of the Word (2:42).
III. True Witness Presented a:
8-12). s'
The rulers and leaders Especially
the skeptical aristocrats of that day
the Sadducees) were angered by
the proclamation Of the resurrection
Of the One they had crucified. They
also feared that their rich revenues
from the temple might be cut off If
the people were to follow Christ
(4:D. SO they took the disciples into
custody and brought them before
the Sanhedrin.
Humanity speaking, one might
have expected these men to stand
in fear and awe before that august
body. and either become dumb with
terror or brazenly defiant. But sucn
is not the operation Of the Holy Spirit
in a man. They spoke tactfully. but
boldly, of the death and resurrection
Of the only One In whom there is
any salvation.
Nv. Faithful Though Prosecuted
(4:13-20).
Not being able to make any real
charge against the disciples. the
rulers let them 60. but only after
threatening them and forbidding
them to speak any more of Christ
They. like so many religious leaders
Of today. were quite willing that the
disciples should preach, II they
would only leave out the name Of