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LESSON VIII.—SABBATH, FEBRUARY 18, 1893

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 6, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 14.

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LESSON VIII.—SABBATH, FEBRUARY 18, 1893.

By Editor

OPERATIONS OF THE SPIRIT.

[For any modification in these lessons, and for the notes, the editor is responsible. For other notes and suggestions the student is referred to the lesson pamphlet, and to the S. S. Worker.]

Lesson Scriptures and Suggestive Questions.

1. John 16: 7-14: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot hear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth; for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak; and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you."
  1. What did Christ promise to send?
  2. Of what things would the Comforter convict the world?
  3. Why of sin?
  4. Why of righteousness?
  5. Why of judgment?
  6. What prevented Christ from saying many things to his disciples?
  7. What did he say the Spirit would do?
  8. Of what would the Comforter speak?
  9. What things would the Comforter declare?
  10. Who would be glorified?
  11. What would be declared?
II. 1 Cor. 2:9-14: "But as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man, whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him. But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged."
  1. Can the human mind imagine what God is preparing for his children?
  2. How does God reveal them?
  3. Why can the Spirit do this?
  4. How can the things of man be known?
  5. How can the things of God be known?
  6. What spirit had Paul received?
  7. Why was it given?
  8. How did he speak?
  9. What are the things of God to the natural man?
  10. Why can he not know them?
III. 1 Cor. 12: 7-13: "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another, divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit."
  1. For what general purpose is the Spirit given to every man?
  2. What nine gifts of the Spirit are mentioned?
  3. What worketh all these gifts?
  4. How are these gifts divided?
  5. What illustration of unity is used?
  6. How are all baptized?
  7. Of what have all been made to drink?

NOTE.

SOME of the operations of the Spirit are brought out in this lesson. God's Spirit dwells in his word (compare John 3:5 with James 1:18 and 1 Peter 1:25), and it is through this agency that it reproves the world. The Spirit is an instructor (Neh. 9:20), to teach all things (John 14:26), according to the promise (John 6:45), and to testify of Christ (John 15:26). It is the agent in inspiration (2 Peter 1:21), testified in the prophets (1 Peter 1:11), and is to speak in those who are persecuted (Matt. 10:19, 20). Through the word it witnesses that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16) and lifts up a standard against the enemy (Isa. 59:19). The Spirit strives with men (Gen. 6:3), helps in prayer (Rom. 8:26; Jude 20; Eph. 6:18), and guides them in the right way (Isa. 30:21). It renews (Titus 3:5), quickens (1 Peter 3:18), and sanctifies (2 Thess. 2:13). The practical importance of receiving the Spirit is apparent, as we see the part which it acts in God's purpose concerning man.
"The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies the Saviour. It is his office to present Christ, the purity of his righteousness, and the great salvation that we have through him. Jesus says, 'He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.' The Spirit of truth is the only effectual teacher of divine truth. How must God esteem the human race, since he gave his Son to die for them, and appoints his Spirit to be man's teacher and continual guide."—Steps to Christ, page 105.