the acts of the apostles-第7部分

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had　explained　to　the　disciples　stood　out　before　them　with　the　luster　of
perfect　truth。　The　veil　that　had　prevented　them　from　seeing　to　the　end　of
that　which　had　been　abolished；　was　now　removed；　and　they　comprehended　with
perfect　clearness　the　object　of　Christ's　mission　and　the　nature　of　His
kingdom。　They　could　speak　with　power　of　the　Saviour；　and　as　they　unfolded　to
their　hearers　the　plan　of　salvation；　many　were　convicted　and　convinced。　The
traditions　and　superstitions　inculcated　by　the　priests　were　swept　away　from
their　minds；　and　the　teachings　of　the　Saviour　were　accepted。

〃Then　they　that　gladly　received　his　word　were　baptized：　and　the　same　day
there　were　added　unto　them　about　three　thousand　souls。〃

The　Jewish　leaders　had　supposed　that　the　work　of　Christ　would　end　with　His
death；　but；　instead　of　this；　they　witnessed　the　marvelous　scenes　of　the　Day
of　Pentecost。　They　heard　the　disciples；　endowed　with　a　power　and　energy
hitherto　unknown；　preaching　Christ；　their　words　confirmed　by　signs　and
wonders。　In　Jerusalem；　the　stronghold　of　Judaism；　thousands　openly　declared
their　faith　in　Jesus　of　Nazareth　as　the　Messiah。

The　disciples　were　astonished　and　overjoyed　at　the　greatness　of　the　harvest
of　souls。　They　did　not　regard　this　wonderful　ingathering　as　the　result　of
their　own　efforts；　they　realized　that　they　were　entering　into　other　men's
labors。

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Ever　since　the　fall　of　Adam；　Christ　had　been　committing　to　chosen　servants
the　seed　of　His　word；　to　be　sown　in　human　hearts。　During　His　life　on　this
earth　He　had　sown　the　seed　of　truth　and　had　watered　it　with　His　blood。　The
conversions　that　took　place　on　the　Day　of　Pentecost　were　the　result　of　this
sowing；　the　harvest　of　Christ's　work；　revealing　the　power　of　His　teaching。

The　arguments　of　the　apostles　alone；　though　clear　and　convincing；　would　not
have　removed　the　prejudice　that　had　withstood　so　much　evidence。　But　the　Holy
Spirit　sent　the　arguments　home　to　hearts　with　divine　power。　The　words　of　the
apostles　were　as　sharp　arrows　of　the　Almighty；　convicting　men　of　their
terrible　guilt　in　rejecting　and　crucifying　the　Lord　of　glory。

Under　the　training　of　Christ　the　disciples　had　been　led　to　feel　their　need
of　the　Spirit。　Under　the　Spirit's　teaching　they　received　the　final
qualification；　and　went　forth　to　their　lifework。　No　longer　were　they
ignorant　and　uncultured。　No　longer　were　they　a　collection　of　independent
units　or　discordant；　conflicting　elements。　No　longer　were　their　hopes　set　on
worldly　greatness。　They　were　of　〃one　accord；〃　〃of　one　heart　and　of　one
soul。〃　Acts。　2：46；　4：32。　Christ　filled　their　thoughts；　the　advancement　of
His　kingdom　was　their　aim。　In　mind　and　character　they　had　become　like　their
Master；　and　men　〃took　knowledge　of　them；　that　they　had　been　with　Jesus。〃
Acts　4：13。

Pentecost　brought　them　the　heavenly　illumination。　The　truths　they　could　not
understand　while　Christ　was　with　them　were　now　unfolded。　With　a　faith　and
assurance　that

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they　had　never　before　known；　they　accepted　the　teachings　of　the　Sacred　Word。
No　longer　was　it　a　matter　of　faith　with　them　that　Christ　was　the　Son　of　God。
They　knew　that；　although　clothed　with　humanity；　He　was　indeed　the　Messiah；
and　they　told　their　experience　to　the　world　with　a　confidence　which　carried
with　it　the　conviction　that　God　was　with　them。

They　could　speak　the　name　of　Jesus　with　assurance；　for　was　He　not　their
Friend　and　Elder　Brother？　Brought　into　close　communion　with　Christ；　they　sat
with　Him　in　heavenly　places。　With　what　burning　language　they　clothed　their
ideas　as　they　bore　witness　for　Him！　Their　hearts　were　surcharged　with　a
benevolence　so　full；　so　deep；　so　far…reaching；　that　it　impelled　them　to　go
to　the　ends　of　the　earth；　testifying　to　the　power　of　Christ。　They　were
filled　with　an　intense　longing　to　carry　forward　the　work　He　had　begun。　They
realized　the　greatness　of　their　debt　to　heaven　and　the　responsibility　of
their　work。　Strengthened　by　the　endowment　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　they　went
forth　filled　with　zeal　to　extend　the　triumphs　of　the　cross。　The　Spirit
animated　them　and　spoke　through　them。　The　peace　of　Christ　shone　from　their
faces。　They　had　consecrated　their　lives　to　Him　for　service；　and　their　very
features　bore　evidence　to　the　surrender　they　had　made。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　5

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Gift　of　the　Spirit


When　Christ　gave　His　disciples　the　promise　of　the　Spirit；　He　was　nearing　the
close　of　His　earthly　ministry。　He　was　standing　in　the　shadow　of　the　cross；
with　a　full　realization　of　the　load　of　guilt　that　was　to　rest　upon　Him　as
the　Sin　Bearer。　Before　offering　Himself　as　the　sacrificial　victim；　He
instructed　His　disciples　regarding　a　most　essential　and　complete　gift　which
He　was　to　bestow　upon　His　followersthe　gift　that　would　bring　within　their
reach　the　boundless　resources　of　His　grace。　〃I　will　pray　the　Father；〃　He
said；　〃and　He　shall　give　you　another　Comforter；　that　He　may　abide　with　you
forever；　even　the　Spirit　of　truth；　whom　the　world　cannot　receive；　because　it
seeth　Him　not；　neither　knoweth　Him：　but　ye　know　Him；　for　He　dwelleth　with
you；　and　shall　be　in　you。〃　John　14：16；　17。　The　Saviour　was　pointing　forward
to　the　time　when　the　Holy　Spirit　should　come　to　do　a　mighty　work　as　His
representative。　The　evil　that　had　been　accumulating　for　centuries

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was　to　be　resisted　by　the　divine　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit。

What　was　the　result　of　the　outpouring　of　the　Spirit　on　the　Day　of　Pentecost？
The　glad　tidings　of　a　risen　Saviour　were　carried　to　the　uttermost　parts　of
the　inhabited　world。　As　the　disciples　proclaimed　the　message　of　redeeming
grace；　hearts　yielded　to　the　power　of　this　message。　The　church　beheld
converts　flocking　to　her　from　all　directions。　Backsliders　were　reconverted。
Sinners　united　with　believers　in　seeking　the　pearl　of　great　price。　Some　who
had　been　the　bitterest　opponents　of　the　gospel　became　its　champions。　The
prophecy　was　fulfilled；　〃He　that　is　feeble。　。　。　shall　be　as　David；　and　the
house　of　David　。　。　。　as　the　angel　of　the　Lord。〃　Zechariah　12：8。　Every
Christian　saw　in　his　brother　a　revelation　of　divine　love　and　benevolence。
One　interest　prevailed；　one　subject　of　emulation　swallowed　up　all　others。
The　ambition　of　the　believers　was　to　reveal　the　likeness　of　Christ's
character　and　to　labor　for　the　enlargement　of　His　kingdom。

〃With　great　power　gave　the　apostles　witness　of　the　resurrection　of　the　Lord
Jesus：　and　great　grace　was　upon　them　all。〃　Acts　4：33。　Under　their　labors
were　added　to　the　church　chosen　men；　who；　receiving　the　word　of　truth；
consecrated　their　lives　to　the　work　of　giving　to　others　the　hope　that　filled
their　hearts　with　peace　and　joy。　They　could　not　be　restrained　or　intimidated
by　threatenings。　The　Lord　spoke　through　them；　and　as　they　went　from　place　to
place；　the　poor　had　the　gospel　preached　to　them；　and　miracles　of　divine
grace　were　wrought。

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So　mightily　can　God　work　when　men　give　themselves　up　to　the　control　of　His
Spirit。

The　promise　of　the　Holy　Spirit　is　not　limited　to　any　age　or　to　any　race。
Christ　declared　that　the　divine　influence　of　His　Spirit　was　to　be　with　His
followers　unto　the　end。　From　the　Day　of　Pentecost　to　the　present　time；　the
Comforter　has　been　sent　to　all　who　have　yielded　themselves　fully　to　the　Lord
and　to　His　service。　To　all　who　have　accepted　Christ　as　a　personal　Saviour；
the　Holy　Spirit　has　come　as　a　counselor；　sanctifier；　guide；　and　witness。　The
more　closely　believers　have　walked　with　God；　the　more　clearly　and　powerfully
have　they　testified　of　their　Redeemer's　love　and　of　His　saving　grace。　The
men　and　women　who　through　the　long　centuries　of　persecution　and　trial
enjoyed　a　large　measure　of　the　presence　of　the　Spirit　in　their　lives；　have
stood　as　signs　and　wonders　in　the　world。　Before　angels　and　men　they　have
revealed　the　transforming　power　of　redeeming　love。

Those　who　at　Pentecost　were　endued　with　power　from　on　high；　were　not　thereby
freed　from　further　temptation　and　trial。　As　they　witnessed　for　truth　and
righteousness　they　were　repeatedly　assailed　by　the　enemy　of　all　truth；　who
sought　to　rob　them　of　their　Christian　experience。　They　were　compelled　to
strive　with　all　their　God…given　powers　to　reach　the　measure　of　the　stature
of　men　and　women　in　Christ　Jesus。　Daily　they　prayed　for　fresh　supplies　of
grace；　that　they　might　reach　higher　and　still　higher　toward　perfection。
Under　the　Holy　Spirit's　working　even　the　weakest；

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by　exercising　faith　in　God；　learned　to　improve　their　entrusted　powers　and　to
become　sanctified；　refined；　and　ennobled。　As　in　humility　they　submitted　to
the　molding　influence　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　they　received　of　the　fullness　of
the　Godhead　and　were　fashioned　in　the　likeness　of　the　divine。

The　lapse　of　time　has　wrought　no　change　in　Christ's　parting　promise　to　send
the　Holy　Spirit　as　His　representative。　It　is　not　because　of　any　restriction
on　the　part　of　God　that　the　riches　of　His　grace　do　not　flow　earthward　to
men。　If　the　fulfillment　of　the　promise　is　not　seen　as　it　might　be；　it　is
because　the　promise　is　not　appreciated　as　it　should　be。　If　all　were　willing；
all　would　be　filled　with　the　Spirit。　Wherever　the　need　of　the　Holy　Spirit　is
a　matter　little　thought　of；　there　is　seen　spiritual　drought；　spiritual
darkness；　spiritual　declension　and　death。　Whenever　minor　matters　occupy　the
attention；　the　divine　power　which　is　necessary　for　the　growth　and　prosperity
of　the　church；　and　which　would　bring　all　other　blessings　in　its　train；　is
lacking；　though　offered　in　infinite　plenitude。

Since　this　is　the　means　by　which　we　are　to　receive　power；　why　do　we　not
hunger　and　thirst　for　the　gift　of　the　Spirit？　Why　do　we　not　talk　of　it；　pray
for　it；　and　preach　concerning　it？　The　Lord　is　more　willing　to　give　the　Holy
Spirit　to　those　who　serve　Him　than　parents　are　to　give　good　gifts　to　their
children。　For　the　daily　baptism　of　the　Spirit　every　worker　should　offer　his
petition　to　God。　Companies　of　Christian　workers　should　gather　to　ask　for
special　help；　for　heav