Sunday
May 15
1. THE DIVINE SOURCE OF GIFTS
a. How does the apostle connect the Holy Spirit with the spiritual gifts? 1 Corinthians 12:4–9.
“God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word.”—The Faith I Live By, p. 292.
b. What are the main purposes of the gifts in God’s church? 1 Corinthian 12:3, 7; Ephesians 4:11–13.
“Paul declares that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set in the church . . . ‘till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.’ Ephesians 4:13.”—Ibid.
“The gifts of the Spirit are promised to every believer according to his need for the Lord’s work. The promise is just as strong and trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 823.
Monday
May 16
2. THE WORD OF WISDOM
a. How can we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Luke 11:13; Acts 5:32.
“If they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts. God makes them the channel for the outworking of the highest influence in the universe.”—The Faith I Live By, p. 292.
b. What is true wisdom, according to God’s word? 1 Corinthians 1:30.
“The most inquisitive may safely learn in the school of Christ that which will prove for their present and everlasting good. The uneasy and dissatisfied will here find rest. With their thoughts and affections centered in Christ, they will obtain true wisdom, which will be worth more to them than the richest earthly treasures.”—An Appeal to Mothers, p. 32.
c. What is the essential knowledge for our salvation and where we can obtain it? John 17:3; Proverbs 2:3–5.
“The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives to man the mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. It makes its possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into communion with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasures of the universe.
“This is the knowledge which is obtained by searching the word of God. And this treasure may be found by every soul who will give all to obtain it.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 114.
“[John 17:3 quoted.] These words mean much. It is only by knowing Christ that we can know God. The Sent of God calls upon all to listen to these words. They are the words of God, and all should give heed to them; for by them they will be judged. To know Christ savingly is to be vitalized by spiritual knowledge, to practice His words. Without this, all else is valueless.”—The Signs of the Times, January 27, 1898.
Tuesday
May 17
3. THE GIFT OF FAITH
a. What is faith—and how can we possess it? Hebrews 11:1; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:17.
“Faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer calls for an acknowledgment of the enlightened intellect controlled by a heart that can discern and appreciate the heavenly treasure. This faith is inseparable from repentance and transformation of character. To have faith means to find and accept the gospel treasure, with all the obligations which it imposes.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 112.
“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.
“It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. [1 John 3:24; 2:3 quoted.] This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.”—Ibid., pp. 312, 313.
b. What is the difference between genuine faith and presumption? Galatians 5:6 (last part).
“True faith asks the Lord, ‘What wilt Thou have me to do?’ and when the way is marked out by the Master, faith is ready to do His will, at whatever hardship or sacrifice.”—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 183.
“Presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 126.
Wednesday
May 18
4. THE GIFT OF HEALING
a. What were the main activities of Jesus in His earthly mission? Matthew 4:23. What was the role of healing in His ministry? Verse 4:24.
“During His ministry, Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching. His miracles testified to the truth of His words, that He came not to destroy, but to save. Wherever He went, the tidings of His mercy preceded Him. Where He had passed, the objects of His compassion were rejoicing in health and making trial of their new-found powers. Crowds were collecting around them to hear from their lips the works that the Lord had wrought. His voice was the first sound that many had ever heard, His name the first word they had ever spoken, His face the first they had ever looked upon. Why should they not love Jesus and sound His praise? As He passed through the towns and cities He was like a vital current, diffusing life and joy.”—The Ministry of Healing, pp. 19, 20.
b. In Christ’s gospel commission, what work was included? Mark 16:17, 18.
“In the Saviour’s manner of healing there were lessons for His disciples. On one occasion He anointed the eyes of a blind man with clay, and bade him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. . . . He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.’ John 9:7. The cure could be wrought only by the power of the Great Healer, yet Christ made use of the simple agencies of nature. While He did not give countenance to drug medication, He sanctioned the use of simple and natural remedies.
“To many of the afflicted ones who received healing, Christ said, ‘Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.’ John 5:14. Thus He taught that disease is the result of violating God’s laws, both natural and spiritual. The great misery in the world would not exist did men but live in harmony with the Creator’s plan. . . .
“Christ gave to Israel definite instruction in regard to their habits of life, and He assured them, ‘The Lord will take away from thee all sickness.’ Deuteronomy 7:15. When they fulfilled the conditions, the promise was verified to them. ‘There was not one feeble person among their tribes.’ Psalm 105:37.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 824.
Thursday
May 19
5. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
a. In what position is the gift of prophecy among other gifts? 1 Corinthians 12:28; Amos 3:7.
“From the beginning the church of God has had the gift of prophecy in her midst as a living voice to counsel, admonish, and instruct. We have now come to the last days of the work of the third angel’s message, when Satan will work with increasing power because he knows that his time is short. At the same time there will come to us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, diversities of operations in the outpouring of the Spirit. This is the time of the latter rain.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, p. 278.
b. How essential is the gift of prophecy for the church today? 2 Chronicles 20:20.
“Perilous times are before us. Everyone who has a knowledge of the truth should awake and place himself, body, soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the directions given through the spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken to us through His word. He has spoken to us through the testimonies to the church and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy. The warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept, should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can we offer?”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 298.
Friday
May 20
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How can I better benefit from God’s promise regarding the Holy Spirit?
2. Where can I find greater wisdom from God?
3. How might the enemy of souls be trying to trap me in presumption?
4. In what ways can I develop more to better help others with their health?
5. How can I better appreciate the gift of prophecy given to God’s people?