1. MANY NATIONALITIES ASSEMBLED Sun, Dec 14

a. When was the fulfillment of Christ’s promise of special power for His disciples noticeably observed for the first time? Acts 2:1–4. “The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted. The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 39. b. Why was the gift of tongues needed on that occasion? Acts 2:5–11. “During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile they had learned to speak various languages. Many of these Jews were on this occasion in Jerusalem, attending the religious festivals then in progress. Every known tongue was represented by those assembled. This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime.”—Ibid., pp. 39, 40.

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2. WITNESSING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES Mon, Dec 15

a. What does the apostle say concerning the genuine gift of speaking in foreign languages? 1 Corinthians 12:28, 30. How does this apply today? “There are among us those who, without the toil and delay of learning a foreign language, might qualify themselves to proclaim the truth to other nations. In the primitive church, missionaries were miraculously endowed with a knowledge of the languages in which they were called to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. And if God was willing thus to help His servants then, can we doubt that His blessing will rest upon our efforts to qualify those who naturally possess a knowledge of foreign tongues, and who, with proper encouragement, would bear to their own countrymen the message of truth? We might have had more laborers in foreign missionary fields, had those who entered these fields availed themselves of every talent within their reach. . . .“It may in some cases be necessary that young men learn foreign languages. This they can do with most success by associating with the people, and at the same time devoting a portion of each day to studying the language. This should be done, however, only as a necessary step preparatory to educating such as are found in the missionary fields themselves, and who, with proper training, can become workers. It is essential that those be urged into the service who can speak in their mother tongue to the people of different nations.”—Gospel Workers, pp. 82, 83. b. What talents did God promise to His servants, and what should we do to develop these talents? Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7–11. “Not that all the gifts are imparted to each believer. . . . But 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.“The cause of God needs efficient men; it needs men who are trained to do service as teachers and preachers. Men have labored with a measure of success who have had little training in school or college; but these might have attained a greater measure of success, and might have been more efficient laborers, if at the very start they had acquired mental discipline.”—Gospel Workers, p. 92.

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3. VITAL KEYS TO SUCCESS Tue, Dec 16

a. Why are missionary schools such a valuable resource—and what is the first duty of anyone seeking to share the gospel efficiently? 2 Timothy 2:15. “The work of winning souls to Christ demands careful preparation. Men cannot enter the Lord’s service without the needed training, and expect the highest success. Mechanics, lawyers, merchants, men of all trades and professions, are educated for the line of business they hope to enter. It is their policy to make themselves as efficient as possible. Go to the milliner or the dressmaker, and she will tell you how long she toiled before she had a thorough knowledge of her business. The architect will tell you how long it took him to understand how to plan a tasteful, commodious building. And so it is in all the callings that men follow.“Should the servants of Christ show less diligence in preparing for a work infinitely more important? Should they be ignorant of the ways and means to be employed in winning souls? It requires a knowledge of human nature, close study, careful thought, and earnest prayer, to know how to approach men and women on the great subjects that concern their eternal welfare.”—Gospel Workers, p. 92.“It is only at the altar of God that we can kindle our tapers with divine fire. . . .“God’s messengers must tarry long with Him, if they would have success in their work. The story is told of an old Lancashire woman who was listening to the reasons that her neighbors gave for their minister’s success. They spoke of his gifts, of his style of address, of his manners. ‘Nay,’ said the old woman, ‘I will tell you what it is. Your man is very thick with the Almighty.’ ”—Ibid., p. 255. b. What divine protection has been promised to Christ’s disciples who go forth to spread the message of truth? Mark 16:18 (first part). Cite one instance of the fulfillment of this promise. Acts 28:1–5. “At that time [the early Christian era] poisoning was often practiced. Unscrupulous men did not hesitate to remove by this means those who stood in the way of their ambition. Jesus knew that the life of His disciples would thus be imperiled. Many would think it doing God service to put His witnesses to death. He therefore promised them protection from this danger.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 821.

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4. MINISTERING TO THE SICK Wed, Dec 17

a. What additional power did Jesus grant to His disciples, and what was their declaration acknowledging this power? Luke 9:1; 10:17. How did Christ answer them? Luke 10:20. “Rejoice not in the possession of power, lest you lose sight of your dependence upon God. Be careful lest self-sufficiency come in, and you work in your own strength, rather than in the spirit and strength of your Master. Self is ever ready to take the credit if any measure of success attends the work. Self is flattered and exalted, and the impression is not made upon other minds that God is all and in all. . . . When we have a realization of our weakness, we learn to depend upon a power not inherent.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 493. b. What was the result of Jesus giving priority to the work of healing the sick? Luke 4:38, 39; 5:12, 13; 6:6, 10. “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. His righteousness went before Him, and the glory of the Lord was His rearward. 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 wherever He went.”—Ibid., p. 350. c. Following Christ’s example, what work did the disciples do? Acts 3:1–7; 9:32–34; 28:8, 9.

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5. RELIEVING HUMAN SUFFERING Thu, Dec 18

a. What far-reaching commission belongs to us until the end of probation? Matthew 10:7, 8; Mark 5:19; 16:18 (last part); Luke 9:1, 2. “The followers of Christ are to labor as He did. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the suffering and afflicted. We are to minister to the despairing, and inspire hope in the hopeless. . . . The love of Christ, manifested in unselfish ministry, will be more effective in reforming the evildoer than will the sword or the court of justice. These are necessary to strike terror to the lawbreaker, but the loving missionary can do more than this. Often the heart will harden under reproof; but it will melt under the love of Christ. The missionary cannot only relieve physical maladies, but he can lead the sinner to the Great Physician, who can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin. Through His servants, God designs that the sick, the unfortunate, those possessed of evil spirits, shall hear His voice. Through His human agencies He desires to be a Comforter such as the world knows not.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 350, 351. b. What biblical principle likewise affects some methods by which the Lord’s work is carried out? Ecclesiastes 3:1; 8:5. “Spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought.“For this reason the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward a work of physical healing combined with the teaching of the word. Sanitariums are to be established, and with these institutions are to be connected workers who will carry forward genuine medical missionary work.”—Medical Ministry, p. 14.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Dec 19

1. Why was the gift of tongues necessary in the days of the apostles? 2. What am I doing with the talents entrusted to me? 3. How can I improve my service to others in medical missionary lines? 4. Under what circumstances does Jesus offer protection against fatal dangers? 5. How can I expand my usefulness in the Lord’s cause?