Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-05-13

white already to harvest.--John ABS
The Church as it grows has prob
lens, and so God calls leaders to
serve Him in meeting and settling
them for His glory and the good of
the Church.
Philip had gone to Samaria Gas
result Of the first persecution Of the
church, and there he had been used
of God to bring many to faith in
Christ. Now that the new groups
Of believers needed guidance and in
struction, Peter and John were sent
to help them ". Ia.
A proper understanding of, and at
titude toward, Gods gracious gift Of
salvation is Of first importance. New
converts must recognize that 1t is
a gift: that It cannot be earned or
bought, and that 1t issues in a life
of service and testimony.
All three of these matters are COW
cred in our lesson.
1. Spiritual Life and Power Is
Gods Gift to Believers wv. AID.
The Holy Spirit was received by
these early members Of the Church
by the laying on Of the apostles
hands, but later He came directly
into the believers heart the moment
he had faith in God. This is now
our blessed privilege, and the pro-
vision for our every need as follow
ers Of Christ, to recognize the in
dwelling Holy Spirit.
What a glorious truth it is that the
believer is indwelt by the Holy
Spirit, He who is a divine person,
not just power or influence Il Cor.
GID. Thus every believer, includ-
ing the humblest as well as the
greatest, has in him the One who
gives spiritual life and power, who
gives grace for holy living, and en-
powers for service.
The greatest power in all the
world-the power Of the infinite God
lis thus available to every true and
yielded believer, as Gods free gift.
Gone then is all Boosting of our
own strength, and gone are all ex-
cuses for weak and careless living.
The power and grace are His, and
He gives them to US as His gift
Christian friend, are you allowing
the Holy Spirit who dwells in you,
to infill and use you as He will?
II. Spiritual Life and Power Can
not Be Bought by Works or Money
(vv. 1920.
Men of this world are so used to
putting their trust in money that
they come to think that one can buy
anything. To them every man and
every desirable thing must have its
price. Let us be clear that there
are men who cannot be bought, and
that the best things in life bear no
price tag. A mothers love, friend
ship. fellowship with God-priceless
they are, but not for sale.
Above all let 1t be clear that eter-
nal life, and the power of God the
Holy Spirit, cannot be gained by pill
ing up good works. nor by payment
in the coin of this world.
Simon Magus wanted this power
to improve his business as a magi-
clan. He made very gross pro-
posal, but one wonders whether he
was any more to be censured than
many in the Church today who are
doing the same thing, though by
more cultured and skillful methods.
Not only are there those who are
trying to buy their own way into
heaven, but also those who by hold
ing the purse strings, try to con-
troll the message Of the preacher.
What about those who by their finan-
cial gifts seek to gain control of
church organizations?
Their efforts are doomed to ulti-
mate failure-God will see to thatI
but in the meantime they do much
harm to the cause of Christ. Many
a church and pastor would like to
rise up and say with Peter, Thy
money perish with thee"
III. Spiritual Life and Power
Should Result in Testimony ". 25).
Peter and John set the Samaritan
Christians a good example as they
went back to Jerusalem, by permit
ting the Holy Spirit to use them to
testify and to teach the Word of the
Lord in many of their villages.
One Of the great hindrances to the
carrying out Of the great commits.
sion has been that Christians have
received spiritual life. and even spir.
itual power, as though it were some
thing for their own qualification or
comfort. God saves US to serve Him
in testimony and in life.
The Holy Spirit does not speak OF
Himself. He guides the believer in
all truth John 1913, particularly
the truth regarding Christ. The Spir-
it's primary interest is to glorify
Christ John 1910.
II follows then that the Spirit. |
filed believer will be busy about |
speaking for Christ and clarifying
His name. The Holy Spirit is ready |
to teach even the words to say that
Christ NAV he lifted lin and mon he |