King's Business - 1919-04

362

THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S

minds, but as mouth-pieces of the Holy Spirit, the praises of God in various languages hitherto, and possibly at that time, itself unknown to them.—Alford. Being baptized with the Spirit always manifests itself in some new power for Christ.—K. B. 16. One who is pos­ sessed of the Holy Spirit is, compelled to testify.—Sel. v. 6. Multitude came'together. It is when the Church praises God, realiz­ ing her union with Christ and her per­ fect acceptance in Him that the multi­ tude "will come together.—-Saphir. Every man heard. They understood and were' benefited, not by the man gift some people get today (1 Cor. 13:8).— Frost. In his own language. The Church is responsible to translate the Word of God into every tongue.—Hurl- but. v. 7. Were all amazed. The world cannot account for the Spirit-filled man. He is beyond their philosophy.—Torrey. A Spirit-filled Church spreads amaze­ ment.—Sawyer. And marvelled. It was to dignify and so to distinguish these men as messengers from heaven, and therefore like Moses at the bush, they were turned aside to see this great sight.—Henry. v. 8. How hear we every man in our own tongue? There is no description here of any jargon or incoherent speech. —Camb. Bible. v. 14. Peter lifted up his voice. The first sermon after the Spirit’s coming. It is a model sermon. Compare it with some of our modern preaching.—Sel. Notice what sort of a sermon the Holy Spirit used as His channel. Nothing could have been further from an intel­ lectual or literary display. It was no essay or oration elaborated with phil­ osophy, it was a simple and straight­ forward address and appeal—-in sub­ stance a citation from inspired prophecy with its verification in the resurrection of Christ and the Pentecostal gift of the Holy Spirit. Be this known unto you.

It was positive preaching, not “ms- thinks” or “it seems to me.” See vs. 22, 29, 36.-—Johnson. v. 16. That which was spoken by Joed. See 2:28, 29. He does not say that Pentecost was a complete fulfill­ ment of that prophecy which will not take place until the end of the age, but it was a foretaste of it.—-Gray. The Holy Spirit, Our Helper. Our Lord’s long conversation with His disciples in the upper room before His trial and crucifixion, was the climax of His teaching. The crown of all this wonderful discourse is MY CLASS the revelation of the OF GIKLS Holy Spirit. The dis- Clara Silliman ciples could nôt see that Christ’s departure should be best for them, but this was certainly the case for it was the condi­ tion of the coming of the Holy Spirit-^ the Comforter. Christ’s Promise of the Holy Spirit. Our Lord had finished the work His Father had given Him to do. Without hesitation, He had journeyed the weary road from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, and had faced the horrors of Gethsemane. The work of Calvary was done and His resurrection had con­ quered death. Standing on the summit of the Mount ready to ascend back to the Father, He repeats the promise often made, that thé Promised One would come and with Him the power to accomplish great things for God. He was going away to make possible the coming of the Holy Spirit. Why His coming was dependent upon the depart­ ure of Jesus can only be partially under­ stood. The life of sight was to be replaced by a higher life of faith. Jesus in the flesh could not be present in every place at the same time, but Christ, by His Spirit can dwell in the hearts of millions at the same moment. The Holy Spirit—the Comforter was promised as

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker