The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-04-17

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
if Christian people would be in
Gods house on the Lord S day, in
complete accord and unity, expect
ant, looking for His blessing.
/. The Holy Spirit Poured Out
(2:1-4).
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 crucifed, 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 it 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 Ian
guages not previously learned was
merely a temporary endowment
granted for a special purpose. 1t
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 a 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. 1t 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-flled preaching of the
gospel which brought 5000 souls into
the church CAD. 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 (2:47. This was, and is,
accomplished through the teaching
c: the Word CAD.
HI. True Witness Presented a:
8-12).
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 crucifed. They
also feared that their rich revenues
from the temple might be cut off if
the people were to follow Christ
go, 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 such
is not the operation of the Holy Spirit
in man. They spoke tactfully, but
boldly, of the death and resurrection
of the only One in whom there is
any salvation.
w. Faithful Though Prosecuted
(4:13-20).
Not being able to make any real
charge against the disciples, the
rulers let them go, 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, if they
would only leave out the name of
Christ.
Note the answer in verse 10.
There is only one message ". 12).
Neither is there any other name
under heaven, that is given among
men, wherein we must be saved !;
thus Peter asserts not only that the
miracle has been wrought in the
name of Jesus Christ, but that he
and his judges can have eternal sal
walton in no other name. His words
are at once a rebuke, challenge,
and an invitation. They need to be
reviewed and weighed today by GER
tain benevolent but superficial talk
ers who are asserting that Chris
tianity is only one among many
religions, and that it is only neces-
sary for one to be sincere in his own
belief. Such teachers must recon
cile their statements with those OF
Peter and John, who were filled
with the Holy Spirit when they
declared that there is but one name
wherein we must be saved"